Back from Fantasy-Land

After 7 years here in the US, I finally was able to realize a childhood dream - I was able to go to Disneyland!!!! What's more, I spent Christmas eve there! It truly is the happiest place on earth - no doubt about that!

It took us 8 hours to get to Lancaster - where my roommate's niece lives. We stayed with them overnight and were off to California Adventure and Disneyland on the 24th. California Adventure is the adult theme park counterpart of Disneyland. We watched Alladin - a musical play - and took delight in the antics of the Genie - what a funny guy! We also watched the Making of Animations - which I know my brother would truly enjoy. His dream is to become a Disney cartoonist.

We also saw One Man's Dream - sort of like Walt Disney's life story. If there's one thing I learned about his life is that he puts his heart and soul in his dream - something he truly believed in. He was willing to risk everything just to be able to make it come true. In the end, he left behind a legacy that everyone from all walks of life would truly enjoy.

Then we were off to Disneyland. There, we saw Disney characters' parade, then Fantasmic - a water and lights show, followed by fireworks display. Finally, there was a shower of snowflakes with the sound of "White Christmas" in the background. What a great experience!

Oh by the way, I cried when I was watching Fantasmic because I remembered how my brother and I share the same dream of being able to go to Disneyland. God finally granted my wish on Christmas Eve nonetheless. It is my hope that I can bring my brother to Disneyland so he'll also enjoy the sights and fulfill his dream.

Thank you Walt, for making children happy. Most of all, thank you for making the child in me experience a christmas I didn't feel like celebrating prior to this trip.

P.S.
By the way, I promised photos didn't I? Well, here they are.... Thank you for looking.

Merry Christmas to you and yours

While Christmas this year isn't as exciting as the previous ones, I am still looking forward to take a few days off. I'm already stretched thin as it is, with work piling faster than I can sigh.

It's half day off for us today and this afternoon, we're going to LA!!!!! I'm going to visit Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Disney princesses.... :) What's more, our tickets are free! Our company gave out about 400 tickets to Disneyland and California Adventure so I'm going to both, yahoo!!!!

After more than 7 years here in the US, I'm ashamed to say that this will be my first time to go to Disneyland. I was able to go to Universal Studios some 5 years ago, but never to Disneyland. I just never had the chance to do it. I even told hubz that I'll just wait for him to come and then we'd go there together, but with a free ticket, who could resist right? harharhar!

So, my bags are packed, I'm geared up to go. We're driving down to LA in a few more hours, and call me weird but I quite enjoy driving. Ask me to drive 12 hours straight and I won't complain.... :)

'Til my next post! I promise to take lots of photos.

Merry Christmas everyone! Amidst all the chaos and feast, please don't forget the reason of the season - Christ!

Cyberhugs to you all!

How times have changed....

I was already working when I got allowed to stay out 'til late. I remembered my dad used to call my friends when I'm not home by 6 or 7. My mom would even pick me up from school when I was in college just to make sure I'd go straight home. Being able to go to school is already a priviledge not every kid is blessed with, so I took that opportunity to do well in school. Perhaps I led a sheltered life but I was never permitted to go to parties unless my mom was with me. I never complained.

Now curfews at 10pm isn't even enough. Some of my cousins debated that parties don't even start 'til midnight, so how is it possible to come home at 10? I was totally shocked! I am concerned about the kind of parties that do start at 12!

I remembered my mom would tell me "ano'ng klaseng babae ang nasa kalye pa ng ganitong oras?" I once defied her and stayed out 'til about 8pm. Oh don't get me wrong, I sometimes sleep over a classmate's house just because we were busy working on our school projects. I was allowed to do that because I didn't have a computer up until the semester I was due to graduate, and only because I needed to do my thesis. But parties? Forget it and don't even dare ask!

And their cellphones! Explain how can a 7 year old kid be able to afford a cellphone? But they do have one, and mind you, they're not cheap-o! A friend complained that her nieces in Manila emailed her asking for a new cellphone because theirs was last year's model. "Ridiculous!" she said "because these girls' family couldn't even afford to put food on their table!". I advised her to tell her nieces to eat their cellphones first and if they're able to do that, then she'll give her a new one! Am I being too harsh?

My husband's cellphone had elicited quite a number of loud laughs before he took the plunge to change it. He had his cell since 1998 (the year after I left for the US) and it was a brand I've never heard of, as big as a landline phone and even heavier! I had to beg him to replace it! He finally did right after our wedding. That's how practical he is about stuff he believes are serving their purpose.

Here's more - whenever I come home, I get asked to bring "branded" clothes - be it CK, DKNY, Prada, Polo, etc, and imported perfumes or colognes. Last year, I had quite a few friends who told me I don't look like I came from America because I wasn't trendy. At least I'm not inviting unwanted attention! I'm one person who has never been held up, and I'm proud of it.

I can only shiver at the thought of what else could change. What would I do if my kids would tell me they want to get a tattoo or have their body pierced? What would I say if they tell me not to wait up because they're not coming home?

I have asked the same questions to hubz and we both do not have answers.

Sigh! Am I getting too old to notice these things?

And they called me "Scrooge"

Just because I am not up for Christmas this year, doesn't mean I don't want it to come. I guess I'm too homesick to even think about decorating the house for the holidays. My roommate has also been bugging me to host a party for either christmas or new year, and I finally agreed after too much prodding!

On Saturday, I queued up several times (on different stores) just because L sent me on an errand to find christmas lights, extension wires, and what-have-yous. Because she started putting on the lights outside the house, and our neighbors didn't see me helping (I was on different stores remember?), they were calling me "Scrooge" when they finally saw me.

I'm still wrapping christmas gifts!

I still haven't sent all the christmas cards!

We're still debating whether to put up the tree or not. Since christmas is only a couple of weeks away, and we'll be in LA anyway, I didn't want to put it up, only to take it down as soon as we come back - or at least after the new year's party here at home.

I guess I also feel guilty celebrating when, on the other side of the world, people in the Philippines are still mourning the loss of hundreds of lives because of the most recent calamity.

Most of all, how can you celebrate when your heart is somewhere else - with the one person whom you'd like to be with?

Do I hear Pasko na Sinta ko in the background - or am I just humming it in my head?

December Greetings

December is quite a busy month for birthdays (too many mothers gave birth this month), weddings, anniversaries. And so, to those you December babies and December couples, cheers to you!

1st - Happy Birthday LYD and AGA
8th - Happy Birthday GJM
9th - Happy 32nd anniversary mom and dad!
10th - Happy Birthday cousin DMA.
- Congratulations and Best Wishes L and S
12th - Happy Birthday CG
16th - Happy Birthday cousins RJM and BS
25th - Happy Birthday JO
28th - Congratulations and Best Wishes R and S
- Happy Birthday LZA
29th - Happy Birthday AT

Skipping the Holidays?

Our holidays usually start on Thanksgiving when we host parties for friends. The first few years, we always had a big turnout - my turkey, a huge success! As friends started buying their own homes, attendance dwindled down too. Who wouldn't want to spend Thanksgiving in the comforts of their own homes with family? So this year, I decided to skip the festivities. Up to the last minute, my roommate has been bugging me to change my mind, but I insisted that I wanted a quiet Thanksgiving this year.

You see, the preparations start a week earlier when we do our groceries - pick the right-sized turkey, depending on the number of those who confirmed to come. Next is the endless cleaning and scubbing - from the kitchen and bathroom floors, to the carpet, to every imaginable corner, to the bathrooms! Then comes the actual food preparation. Wednesday before Thanksgiving meant that we'd have to sleep very, very late to get everything ready for cooking the next day. Thursday meant waking up so early (as early as 5am) to dress the turkey and bake for 5-6 hours, depending on the size. I usually bake the bird for 20 minutes each pound. The first couple of hours meant covering the turkey with foil so it'll cook evenly. The next hour and every hour thereafter, I have to turn it and baste with butter, until it cooks. While doing this on the side, cooking everything else becomes a challenge, and a rush to the finish line! By the time the guests arrive, we have barely finished cooking. It is then time to take a shower!!!!

The party begins a little after lunch, and would usually last until wee hours in the morning. We have to drag our tired bodies to clean up afterwards.

But wait, we still couldn't rest! Black Friday meant that we have to wake up so early to catch the biggest sale of the year. Stores open as early as 5am, and the sale would only last until 12pm. Most stores revert back to original prices after noon! Worse, if you really want something on sale, and you fail to show up early at the store, chances are, you'd have to forget about it because it'll be gone by the time you get there.

Black Friday is when we'd usually do our christmas shopping. Armed with a list and a tight budget, we'd trek down the mall and hop from store to store 'til we complete our list. You should see us with all those shopping bags! I bet even Santa would be amazed at how much we are able to drag along.

Because I opted for a quiet Thanksgiving this year, I also felt most alone. I woke up yesterday with a big fat headache, dressed up, went to church, came home, finished all the Thank you cards for a friend getting married in December, watched a couple of DVDs, and my day is over!

Today is shopping day as usual. I was quite proud of myself because I stuck with my budget and didn't go over! Then comes the gift-wrapping. I'd probably be wrapping gifts up until Christmas eve!

I envy people with families around. I wish hubz is here, or I'm with my family during the holidays. Been telling hubz that I feel so down lately. Though I easily bounce back, what with the long queue on my to-do list, I still can't help feeling this way. I would've wanted to come home for Christmas but coming back would be a torture!

Earlier this week, the radio I usually listen to, started playing christmas songs. I had to change stations because I feel worse when I listen to them. I wish I could just skip christmas 'til hubz comes. I wish I could postpone the holidays 'til next year. I guess this is the downside of being a long distance wife. You could only wish to hug your husband but you can't. You can only wish to spend time with him, but it's not realistically possible. You can only wish to move time forward until you're together again....

What I'm Thankful For

For Thanksgiving, I usually take the time to look at my life and examine those things that I'm thankful for. I know we shouldn't do it only at Thanksgiving, and God knows I am so grateful for everything. So far, here are the things that I can easily recall:

1. A wonderful, faithful, devoted, kind, supportive, understanding husband
2. Good health for me and my family
3. House no. 3 - a rental property
4. A stable job
5. The capacity to help and support my family in the Philippines
6. The capacity to buy things that I want for myself
7. The capacity to give without asking for anything in return
8. Good friends
9. Promotion to a higher and better paying position
10. A house above my head
11. A home for my family in the Philippines
12. My grandma's successful eye surgery
13. My 5 weeks' stay in the Philippines between April and May with my husband
14. The ability to control my expenses
15. The ability to save
16. The ability to invest
17. A rewarding career
18. The ability to support a decent and comfortable lifestyle
19. The ability to help my grandma renovate her house
20. The finances to support my daily calls with my husband - which I cannot live without
21. For all the days - good or not-so-good
22. For delivering me from sickness, accidents, calamities
23. For delivering my family from sickness, accidents, calamities
24. For a smooth-sailing marriage - even when it's long distance
25. For being able to engage in activities that prevent me from succumbing into a depressive state.
26. For answered prayers
27. For prayers that may seem unanswered but is actually not in God's time or plan
28. For all the blessings
29. For life, love, happiness, peace
30. For resolved problems
31. For a roommate understanding enough to tolerate my outbursts from time to time (PMS-related)
33. For helpful and supportive teammates
34. For a generous boss
35. For all those other things - big or small that I forgot to mention

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you find the time to pause and look into your hearts and be grateful for everything - big or small, good or not-so-good. After all, being given the chance to live each day is big enough reason to thank God.

Is it weekend yet?

It's one of those days when ya gotta ask that question - for several reasons:

Reason No. 1 - It took me 45 minutes (vs. the usual 20 minute drive) to get to the BART station in El Cerrito because of the thick fog in Hwy 80.

Reason No. 2 - Add to the low visibility the extremely slow schmuck driving in front of me. I can understand if the person is an elderly or a woman, or if the person in front of him is slow also. But when I passed him by, he was on the damn phone!!!!!

Reason No. 3 - Because of Reasons 1 and 2, I missed the train by a nanosecond. Right when I was at the door, it closed on me! I wanted to scream but it just left - with me standing in shock! I also missed it by a couple of minutes yesterday. Again, because of very slow drivers in front of me - right when I'm close to my exit!

Reason No. 4 - I couldn't find my checkbook anywhere! Over the weekend, I ran out of checks so I replaced it with a new stash. I was a bit late leaving the house because I was busy looking for it this morning. Now I have to call the bank so they can cancel those checks. It's a hassle too because I don't have any other record of my check transactions - what has been cleared, etc. I know I should've maintained my Microsoft Money log. But hey, you can't blame the girl for keeping a manual filing because when my PDA crashed, I lost almost everything - then my old laptop crashed too that I had to end up reformatting my hard drive. Oh well, damn if you do, damn if you don't!

Reason No. 5 - I need to scrap. It's my escape from my daily routine, and my form of relaxation. Try it - it's therapeutic.

Reason No. 6 - Hubz told me last night that electricity at my mom's house has been cut off because they didn't pay the bill. It's a long story but to sum it up, we give them their monthly allowance and they still neglect paying their bills. I can understand if this is the first time this happened 'coz maybe, they just forgot, but if it happened numerous times, I think I have the right to be suspicious.

Reason No. 7 - Grandma went back to Pagsanjan last weekend because she had an argument with my mom. She was supposed to wait until next week so the doctor can remove her stitches (she had eye surgery) but because she was so heartbroken, she decided to go home.

Reason No. 8 - I need to finish the thank you cards I'm working on for a friend who's getting married on Dec. 28. She ordered them from me after having looked at the handmade cards I've been making.

Reason No. 9 - L booked their timeshare for Reno starting this weekend. They won't be there until Wed. next week 'coz that's when her PTO starts. She then gave me and my roommate this weekend to get away from it all.... :)

Reason No. 10 - I need to pack my balikbayan box so I can ship it home in time for christmas.

An Exhausting but Exciting Weekend

We had a couple of friends over last weekend. Being the hospitable hosts, we took them around the Bay - from Sausalito, to Marin Headlands for a breathtaking view of the foggy Golden Gate Bridge, to the Palace of Fine Arts, to Crooked Street in Lombard, to Fisherman's Wharf, and lastly, to Ghirardelli Square. We got home a bit late on Saturday but it was really fun. I was just feeling sore because I was given tetanus vaccine the day before (which was really painful). In fact, I had to exert a bit of an effort to drive.

The next day, Sunday, we took them to some wineries in Napa Valley. I have passed through Napa a few times during fall and I know that the colors are beautiful at this time of the year. I just haven't had the chance to stop and take photos. Now, I have tons of photos.... :)

To get an idea of where we've been, and to visualize the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area and the breathtaking Napa Valley (eat your heart out 'coz I live very close to the wineries, tee-hee!) in your minds, I have uploaded some photos. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did taking them.

Have a great weekend people!

A VERY BIG Surprise

When I arrived at my desk at 6:15am today, there was a HUGE wooden crate waiting for me from my husband!!!! It was nailed shut and had the word "fragile" all over. The packing slip said "capiz lantern". No wonder when I was talking to him last night, he kept insisting I come to work today (I was telling him that maybe I'd better telecommute after dropping our guests off at the train station because I had an exhausing weekend).

I knew something was fishy, but I wasn't expecting anything (until Friday maybe because Nov. 12th will be our 10th year anniversary as bf-gf). If I didn't logoff early on Friday, I would've known about it because one of my teammates emailed me about a big package at my desk.

My reaction when I saw the crate? I fell to my chair crying! How could a girl be so lucky to have a wonderful husband? He never fails to amaze me with his many unexpected surprises. I wanted so much to call him but I know that he might be sound asleep by now. The least I can do is leave him alone to get a good night's sleep.

Good night sleepy head.... I wish you know how happy you've made my Monday, and possibly the entire week!

I love you sweetheart!

Hodge Podge of Stuff

There's so much to write about because I haven't blogged in a while (again!). Seems like blogging is becoming a challenge to me now. Thus, let me just take a moment to sit tight and blog about the many things that has been going on in my life (which for most people isn't exciting, hehehe!):

On Carly Patterson's visit - Sometime in October, we got the chance to meet Carly Patterson when she came to work for a visit. She won gold medal in Women's All Around Gymnastics in Athens. This time, I have photos to prove I met her (unlike when Michael Phelps, Lenny Krayzelberg, and Ian Croker came by).

On Scrapbooking - I'm on a roll! I've made three more LOs over the past couple of weeks - You're Invited, Our Love Story, and Viva Las Vegas. I'm slowly starting to scrap our wedding photos - the film based ones. Picking out those that I want to include becomes very challenging. Just imagine, I have to sort and pick out from about 700+ prints! That's enough to drive me to the brink.

On Card Making - Here's another hobby I truly enjoy. It's a theraphy for me (whenever I feel homesick or depressed). In the process, I am also expressing the creativity I never knew I had! I remembered when I was in school, my mom would always do my projects for me because she was afraid that I'd fail if I do it myself. Needless to say I thought I didn't get those creative genes my mom has? :) So, judge for yourselves.

On Guests - One of the reasons why I haven't blogged in a while was because we had guests in and out of the house. First they were my roommate's sister and her family from New Zealand. Next it was my roommate's cousin and her husband from Palm Springs. This weekend it'll be a couple of friends from Texas. In a week or so, another set of friends from Las Vegas. It's never-ending cleaning up and cooking and entertaining. I'm not complaining though. It's always good to have company once in a while.

On Parties - With the holidays just around the corner, so many parties are being organized. In fact, my November weekends are booked to the brim! Last weekend, I went to a birthday and halloween party. Tonight, I'm attending a golden wedding anniversary celebration of a close friend's parents. Next weekend, there are 2 parties I'm supposed to go to (in a single day). The following week, another birthday party. Then there's Thanksgiving.... not to mention Christmas and New Year!!!!

On my cholasterol - I've got to watch out what I eat or my doctor's going to whip my behind because of my cholasterol. Amazing that for someone as petite as I am, I have a borderline cholasterol level (that was last year though!). I guess that was the bad genes I got from my dad. I'm sweating out now because I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon. I do hope I'd fare well on my cholasterol test.

On the upcoming holidays - The air is chilly again, and fall is coming to an end. With winter looming around, it's becoming more and more depressing. I miss my family, I miss my husband, I miss everyone back home. When I was growing up, Christmas is a big deal in our family. Even when my mom would just repair old clothes to look like new, I came to appreciate Christmas as more than just new clothes, new shoes, new toys. For me, it's being with family that accounts for a wonderful christmas.

In high school, I was a member of the church choir (don't ask me how because I could never figure that out) so the three of us - mom, younger brother, and me - would go to church for the Simbang Gabi (around 3am). Breakfast would consist of puto bumbong or bibingka. At 6:30, I go straight to school (which is located just opposite the church - how convenient right?). On Christmas Eve, we'd have scrap ham - I call it scrap because those are the remnants when they cut ham in the market. There's bread, hot chocolate, fruit salad, and some other modest food on the table. I considered it our most extravagant dish because we never get to taste them on regular days. We don't always get christmas gifts but just being together is a wonderful gift for me.

I wanted to go home for Christmas but I figured that if I'm getting so depressed when I come home in May, the more it'll be depressing coming back after the holidays. Like I said before, coming home is always a torture for me because I go through the crying fit going back.

On grandma's eye surgery - We finally had grandma agree on an eye surgery, or, as her doctor puts it, she'd get glaucoma. When I called her before the surgery, she was crying and asking for an apology because she had to ask for money. Of course I had to help. After all, my grandma was one of those special people who helped me reach my goals. Even hubz was open to helping grandma. In fact, he visited her before the surgery, at the hospital, and when she came out of the hospital. He even dropped her off to Pagsanjan. This weekend, he's going to pick her up from Pagsanjan for her checkup on Monday. Grandma told me she felt that I was home all along - the way my husband doted on her. No wonder I'm so in love with my husband. He's just truly a great guy!

On mom's birthday - Hubz took a day off on mom's birthday so he could take them out to lunch. She turned 55 this year!

On my 7th year anniversary here in the US - November 13 is my 7th year here in the US. Time flew by!

Another anniversary to watch out for - I'll keep this a suspense for now.

Well, that's it pansit! If you're still reading 'til the end - congratulations! I admire your patience.... hahaha!

Have a great weekend everyone!

A Powerful Book on Filipino Struggle

I have just finished reading "When the Elephants Dance" by Tess Uriza Holthe. It's a gripping tale about our ancestors' struggles during World War II.

In Alejandro Karangalan's own words (one of the main characters) "It is up to Roderick and me to build and to teach the other children that it is better to stand together than to let other nations divide us. We fought beside our Amerikano brothers to take back our independence. It was not just given to us. I will remember how we Filipinos stood together and put our differences aside. I shall remember how strong we were. It is up to us now to keep our pride intact."

Growing up, I have always asked my grandparents what it was like during the war. They would try to evade the topic. I remembered having been reprimanded whenever I don't finish the food on my plate. My grandma would tell me "finish your plate because you are lucky to have something to eat. During the war, we were lucky to be able to have water to drink, if at all". The book has made me realize how true those words were. Hunger and dehydration was prevalent then.

The story is quite tragic, but it reminds us of the precious lives our ancestors gave up just so we can enjoy the freedom we have today. I take pride of my roots. The book stirred in me the patriotism that has long been put to sleep.

On the other hand, there were some light moments - stories and folklores. Our culture is, indeed, rich of superstitions and folklores and illogical beliefs.

This is a must-read - truly highly recommended.

It had been a long time since I last blogged, and for some good reasons.

The first week of October was our semi-annual install and I had been busier than a bee. It was a very challenging release, not only because it's the most complex one we've had, but a high profile one at that! Even after the release, we've spent lots of hours resolving problems that were popping up.

On the night of Oct. 7, I flew to Las Vegas for a weekend trip. I met my roommate there with her sister and her sister's family. I was so excited because for one, I'd be able to get away from work for a little while. Next, I was anxious about the photo op. Third, it had been quite a while since I had last been in Vegas - 1999 to be exact. True enough, I became trigger-happy taking lots of photos. Vegas is an amazing city. I wonder how much electricity is consumed there everyday?! Due to budget constraints, we were able to see only one show - Lani Misalucha and the Society of Seven.

I was left home alone for a couple of weeks before I met L and family in Vegas. It was very quiet at home and I was able to accomplish a lot of things. For one, I was able to do a couple of LOs - Love all these years led us to this.

Coming back to work had been as hectic as when I left. There was even a time when I was forced to take the day off because I was getting so hot-headed. E even told me that I looked disgusted while she was talking to me. My day off had been a productive one - I used it to make christmas cards. L was even teasing me that she'll buy some cards from me to send to her family back home. We'll see....

Is my life back to normal? If normal meant I'm not home alone anymore, and that things has slowed down at work, and that our guests have returned back to New Zealand, then yes, my life is indeed back to normal.

Star Struck

Guess who came by the office today? Just Lenny Krazelburg, Ian Crocker, and none other than Michael Phelps himself!!!!!! We had a kick-off staff meeting for FY05 and before the meeting ended, they came out from the backstage and we were on our feet clapping. My jaw dropped to the floor! I couldn't believe they were actually our company guests! I've always hoped they'd (especially Lenny and Michael) drop by the office to thank our company for sponsoring them at the Olympics, but knowing their busy schedules, I doubted that would happen. You can just imagine how star struck I was when I actually saw them up close!

There was an autograph signing and picture taking between 3-5. My friends were there, and they have pictures to show for it, but I, unfortunately, was busy slaving away. Our release went in today and we were having a few problems that I couldn't get away from my desk because I was burried deep with fixes and migrations. I missed that chance! Nevertheless, I will sleep happy tonight because I actually got to see my crushes - Michael Phelps and Lenny Krazelburg!

That Dizzy, Shaky Feeling

An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 shook Parkfield yesterday - a long way away from where I work. Still, we felt the shake because our building is on rollers. I was on conference call, and as soon as I felt the building shaking, I dropped off from the call to get a better feel if I need to hide under my desk. At first I thought I was getting dizzy, but I had gotten used to the shakes (have actually experienced it on this building more than a couple of times already) to know that it's an earthquake. My next-cube neighbor is actually panicking - she wanted to get out of the building as if she's safer there. I was praying silently and deep inside, I'm truly scared. Some folks are actually laughing it off (as if earthquakes are an everyday occurrence in California).

This incident reminded me of the 1990 quake that destroyed lots of homes and buildings, and claimed thousands of lives in the Philippines. I was a freshman then and I could vividly recall how two gentlemen carried me out of the cashier's office into the open. I was closed to getting squashed in there when people panicked and were trying to beat each other out of the building. Funny how, after I came out of that cramped space, I thought about the shoe I dropped. The guy came back inside to get my shoe telling me "miss, mamamatay ka na lang, sapatos mo pa ang naisip mo". I was in a daze at that time that I failed to thank these good samaritans, let alone, look at their faces. Well, whereever you are, your act of chivalry is deeply appreciated.

On a lighter note, good thing I got my shoe back because I had to walk home that night. Can you imagine me walking with just one shoe on? :)

Peace and quiet

My roommate's sister Z and her family came to visit from New Zealand. They arrived last Wednesday. Since it was their eldest son's birthday, we invited very close neighbors to celebrate with us. Dinner ended at half past 11. I went to bed late and was dozing on and off almost the entire Thursday. On Saturday, Z's friends from college came by for a get together and we hosted yet another set of guests. It was 12mn when we finished cleaning up. I called hubz and we talked 'til around 1am.

I woke up this morning with a migraine. My roommate and everybody else is busy preparing for their 2 week trip through the West Coast. They plan to go to Yosemite today, then Tahoe tomorrow, then to Utah, Arizona, Las Vegas, then back to San Francisco. My roommate has been telling me they haven't started driving out and she felt stressed already! I don't blame her - that's a lot of driving to do in two weeks! Good luck L!

They left at around 9am and I have the house by myself. I went to church where an elderly passed out because of low blood sugar. There was a commotion inside the church and good thing, the ambulance came quickly.

I was able to finish a couple of pages for our scrapbook. I called them We're Engaged and All About Us layouts. It took me 4 hours to finish both of them, but that included conceptualizing the design and printing photos. I'd like to think my layouts are getting better. Comments please.... :)

And oh, by the way, I finished a greeting card for my bestfriend M's birthday on the 7th of October.

Counting five days 'til we go into Production! Please pray for a smooth and successful install.

Check this out

I get asked what my husband does on his spare time. Well, he has a remote controlled plane which he flies every weekend. When I went home a few months ago, he dragged me to where they're flying these RC planes and I was really impressed at how he manuevered his'. Call me a proud wife but when someone comes up to me to say how good my husband is in flying, I am also flattered. So, I'd like to share you this video of his flying abilities. This was posted at an RC Tech Community website.

Way to go C!

Mushy Stuff

I'm feeling mushy today. I just finished reading Nicholas Sparks' "The Wedding". I thought love stories were always written by women. This book intrigued me because I heard some friends talking about how good it is. Needless to say my friends are as mushy as I am.... :)

This book revolved around a man whose marriage spanned for 30 years until he one day realized that his wife is almost about ready to leave him. He has spent years prioritizing his career over his family. Though his love for his wife never changed through the years, he didn't know how to show it. With this realization, he made it a resolve to court his wife again in order to regain the old feelings back. How he did it is the meat of the story. The ending is oh-so-touching - tugging to my heart! I was in the bus reading the part where he wrote a love letter to his wife and it kept me sniffling. I consider it a good love story when it brings tears to my eyes.

I'd truly recommend this as a must read for romantics like me.... :)

Sigh, I wish hubz is here so I can snuggle with him. There's no better way to read a love story than to have that special someone beside you whom you can hug.

September Birthday Greetings

A lot of people celebrate their birthdays on the same month as I do. December's truly a busy season - not only for weddings but for pregnancies as well! :) To all of you, happy, happy birthday!!!!

M today
our neighbor G on the 16th
D on the 17th
E and my brother M on the 19th
C on the 24th
Ninong B and my second cousin R on the 29th
P on the 30th

Pahabol birthday greetings to
E on Sept. 6
my inaanak M on Sept. 10
my former team lead P on Sept. 10

To all of you, I pray for all the very best that life has to offer!

Club 99

I got this from a friend - a gentle reminder to be thankful for whatever we have - big or small.

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Long ago, there lived a King. This King should have been contented with his life, given all the riches and luxuries he had. However, this was not the case! The King always found himself wondering why he just never seemed content with his life. Sure, he had the attention of everyone wherever he went, attended fancy dinners and parties, but somehow, he still felt something was lacking and he couldn't put his finger on it. One day, the King had woken up earlier than usual to stroll around his palace. He entered his huge living room and came to a stop when he heard someone happily singing away...following this singing... he saw that one of the servants was singing and had a very contented look on his face. This fascinated the King and he summoned this man to his chambers. The man, his servant, entered the King's chambers as ordered. The King asked why he was so happy?

To this the man replied: "Your Majesty, I am nothing but a servant, but I make enough of a living to keep my wife and children happy. We don't need too much, a roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummy. My wife and children are my inspiration, they are content with whatever little I bring home. I am happy because my family is happy." Hearing this, the King dismissed the servant and summoned his Personal Assistant to his chambers. The King related his personal anguish about his feelings and then related the story of the servant to his Personal Assistant, hoping that somehow, he will be able to come up with some reasoning that here was a King who could have anything he wished for at a snap of his fingers and yet was not contented, whereas, his servant, having so little was extremely contented.

The Personal Assistant listened attentively and came to a conclusion. He said, "Your Majesty, I believe that the servant has not been made part of The 99 Club."

"The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?" the King inquired. To which the Assistant replied, "Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is, you will have to do the following... place 99 Gold coins in a bag and leave it at this servant's doorstep, you will then understand what The 99 Club is." That very same evening, the King arranged for 99 Gold coins to be placed in a bag at the servant's doorstep. Although he was slightly hesitant and he thought he should have put 100 Gold coins into the bag, but since his assistant had advised him to put 99 that is what he did.

The servant was just stepping out of his house when he saw a bag at his doorstep. Wondering about its contents, he took it into his house and opened the bag. When he opened the bag, he let out a great big shout of joy...

Gold Coins... so many of them. He could hardly believe it. He called his wife to show her the coins.

He then took the bag to a table and emptied it out and began to count the coins. Doing so, he realized that there were 99 coins and he thought it was an odd number so he counted again, and again and again only to come to the same conclusion... 99 Gold Coins.

He began to wonder, what could have happened to that last 1 coin? For no one would leave 99 coins. He began to search his entire house, looked around his backyard for hours, not wanting to lose out on that one coin. Finally, exhausted, he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to make up for that 1 Gold coin to make his entire collection an even 100 Gold Coins.

He got up the next morning, in an extremely horrible mood, shouting at the children and his wife for his delay, not realizing that he had spent most of the night conjuring ways of working hard so that he had enough money to buy himself that gold coin. He went to work as usual - only not in his usual best mood, singing happily - as he grumpily did his daily errands. Seeing the man's attitude change so drastically, the King was puzzled. He promptly summoned his assistant to his chambers. The King related his thoughts about the servant and once again, his assistant listened. The King could not believe that the servant who until yesterday had been singing away and was happy and content with his life had taken a sudden change of attitude, even though he should have been happier after receiving the gold coins.

To this the assistant replied "Ah! But your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Club." He explained: "The 99 Club is just a name given to those people who have everything but yet are never contented, therefore they are always working hard and striving for that extra 1 to round it out to 100!

We have so much to be thankful for and we can live with very little in our lives, but the minute we are given something bigger and better, we want even more!

We are not the same happy contented person we used to be, we want more and more and by wanting more and more we don't realize the price we pay for it. We lose our sleep, our happiness; we hurt the people around us just as a price to pay for our growing needs and desires. That is what joining The 99 Club is all about."

Hearing this the King decided that from that day onwards, he was going to start appreciating all the little things in life.

Striving for more is always good, but let's not strive so hard and for so much that we lose all those near and dear to our hearts, we shouldn't compromise our happiness for moments of luxuries!