Daring To Begin

Another year has come to pass. Indeed 2010 was a great year. Still, I'm overwhelmed by things undone, and feats yet to be accomplished. Today I find myself wondering what 2011 has in store for me. More so, I'm daunted by the things I want for myself this new year. Quite frankly, I don't know where and how to begin.

In the last few days of 2010, I found inspiration in these:

A prayer amidst holiday merriment said,

"We may not be where we intended to be, but we are definitely not in the same place we were before."

A song in church said,

"Help us to begin where we are."

And so, here I am, letting go of what-might-have-beens... and, totally in agreement with whoever said that "Making the beginning is one third of the work." Five days into the year I say,

Happy New Year, everyone! Here we go, 2011!

I ♥ Jollibee Chicken Barbeque

Jollibee launched the Chicken Barbeque around August or September of 2009. Back then, I was very much pregnant and had a giant craving for sweet meat. From their website, Jollibee describes the Chicken Barbeque this way:

Tender and juicy chicken marinated in a special sauce that seeps all the way through the chicken meat, giving that sweet smoky BBQ flavor in every bite. It is grilled to perfection and is served with steaming java rice and a special dipping sauce.

Needless to say, I was hooked from the very first time I tried it. I love the sweetness of the chicken. And, oh, how I love the special sauce. While in the hospital after giving birth, my mom asked me what I wanted for lunch. Without thinking twice, my answer was (you guessed it right) Jollibee Chicken Barbeque. My baby is three months old now, and yet I am still addicted to it.

And so yesterday, I was really disappointed when my drive-through order looked like this...

My order came, not with the special sauce, but with toyo at calamansi. What's more, my chicken was clearly not grilled to perfection. It was charred black. I felt cheated! As a drive-through customer, I only opened my order at home, giving me no chance to complain about my food or have it exchanged.

My husband called the customer hotline to complain. And here is what they had to say:

• On the sauce - each store has the prerogative to serve the special sauce or soy sauce. One must request for it to get your order right. Hmp. Couldn't they just ask for the customer's preference as the order is being made?


• On the charred meat - the chicken wasn't burned, it only looked that way because of the marinade. Wouldn't I know burnt meat when I see one? Magpapalusot pa!


• The customer is always right. And yes, they will replace my order with a new one. But we wouldn't want to contribute to the world's food waste, would we? So we politely declined.

After this, I am slightly cured of my addiction...

...but only by a wee bit.

I would certainly know better next time. And here I am again, anticipating to open the next box of Jollibee Chicken Barbeque.

No, Thank You, Mr. Mayor

A sign hangs at the entrance gate of our subdivision...

Thank you mayor for asphalting our roads.

I say, thanks Mayor...FOR NOTHING!

For one, they only asphalted the main roads of the subdivision. Inner roads (such as ours) were left forlorn. Clearly it was just for show; so that even neighboring subdivisions would see the efforts of the "good" mayor. Next, why make road repairs only now that it's election season? What a shameless act of politicking! Tsk. tsk.

I would have re-elected Mr. Mayor. But thanks to him, and every other deceitful politician I now have a clearer picture of whom I wouldn't vote for:

• someone who puts his logos, monograms, or initials on just about anything from lamp posts to school bags Didn't your mother teach you not to vandalize?


• someone who has a private army What did your teacher say about bullying?


• someone who uses charity as an opportunity to make himself known As the Bible says, "When you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do."


• someone who needs a long convoy of police cars/ motorcycles with sirens when traveling Even kinder kids know how to wait for their turn!


• and of course, someone who repairs roads only when elections are near Who are you kidding? Mas maganda pakinggan sa Filipino...Sinong niloko mo?

GTT

How I survived my Glucose Tolerance Test.

Last night
7:00 pm - my last meal

11:00 pm - my last liquid intake

Today
7:30 am - I had my blood drawn at the lab (the first of 4). I was sent home with a bottle of cold orange dextrose. I was instructed to drink the liquid straight and not throw it up. I went home, put the bottle in the freezer for it to cool (to make it taste better), and chatted with my Tita on the phone. All the while, I felt so parched. Ahh, I want to drink some water.

8:23 am - I read the bottle label. It says finish all the contents within five minutes. Having been warned of the taste, I was apprehensive. I opened the bottle, had a sip, and hmmm... it tastes like orange soda! No problems there. I just have to wait for an hour to have my second blood test at the lab.

8:40 am - I start to feel nauseous. I keep burping and some of the liquid regurgitates when I burp. Uh-oh! I have to hold this down. I try to sleep it off, but to no avail.

9:00 am - It's time to get back to the lab. My head is spinning. I asked my husband to drive me back to the lab. I endured the short trip with my eyes closed half of the time. My lips feel so dry. I want some agua!

9:23 am - Blood extraction 2 of 4. Ouch! It's on the other arm this time, but it hurt more than the first.

9:30 am - I join the boys for breakfast but I have no choice but to drool. I'm hungry and thirsty! But at least the woozy feeling is gone. I can't wait for this to be over. Over the course of the meal, I tried to convince Blue to come back with me so we can squeeze in a haircut. Lots of complaints and grumbles were thrown, but I was able to persuade him in the end.

10:23 am - I'm back at the lab again. Blood is drawn from the first arm. I'm thinking, I'll never ever get used to this. I'm reminded of why I have an irrational fear of doctors. Huhu. It's a good thing Blue was there to cheer me on.

10:30 am - Blue and I are at the Kiddie Barber shop. I ease up a bit while Blue is having his haircut. It feels so relaxing to be in a different place. I almost can't remember that I have to go back for one more stab. The vein of my left arm starts to turn blue-black. What a friendly reminder! Plus my stomach is starting to roar. I need to eat soon!

11:05 am - The haircut finished earlier than expected. Parking was a problem at the lab. We parked at a nearby supermarket. Despite the semi-long walk, we still got back early for the last test. Oh, the wait is so horrible. I want to eat. I want to drink. I need to eat. I need to drink.

11:23 am - My blood is drawn for the last time today. (Hopefully not again in a long long time.) Since my vein had turned purplish, they had to get blood from another vein. Ouchy! But at least, this is the last.

11:30 am - We drop by the supermarket for a celebratory drink. I get a small bottle of chocolate milkshake. Blue gets a bottle of gatorade.

12:00 pm - I drink water for the first time today. Agua! At last! Alvin blends Four Season Shake to accompany lunch. Ahh, lunch! It's the best meal...EVER! I cap it off with a Krispy Kreme donut for dessert. Oh bliss!

...and that is how I survived my first-ever GTT!

Things A Pregnant Woman Can't Do

First Trimester Onwards

• I can't drink coffee and soft drinks as much as I used to.
  
• I can't eat as much dessert as I want.
  
• I can't stay up late, or pull an all nighter.
  
• I can't do rigorous physical activities.
  
• I can't ride a roller coaster.
  
• I can't wear my skinny jeans.

Second Trimester Onwards

• I can't carry my little boy and any other heavy object.
  
• I can't have "contact" with my husband. (only for difficult pregnancies)
  
• I can't sleep on my back for a long period of time.
  
• I can't wear my normal pants.
  
• I can't wear short blouses.
  
• I can't wear high heels.
  
• I can't get a hair treatment even if I feel so ugly.
  
• I can't sleep through the night.

Third Trimester Onwards

• I can't see my belly button and my lower belly.
  
• I can't see my pubic area.
  
• I have difficulty cutting my toenails.
  
• I can't bend to touch my toes.
  
• I have difficulty using the seatbelt.
  
• I almost can't fit in the driver's seat.
  
• I can't drive.(during severe back pain)
  
• I can't get a massage even if my back is killing me.
  
• I can't walk as fast as I want to.
  

I Want This Job!

Today I was at the memorial park when I caught sight of this giant metal-contraption-with-wheels. "What's that?" I pondered. As I alighted from the car, the smell of newly mowed grass welcomed me. I closed my eyes and inhaled. Hmmmmmm. I feel good... ta-da-da-da-da-da-dan!

Then I realize, the "monster" is actually a lawn mower. So big that one actually has to drive it. Wait a minute! I want to be able to do that... on a regular basis. Imagine...just driving around, everything is so peaceful (sans the noisy engine of the mower -- ok, let's think of it as white noise), nothing but green all around, and the divine smell of newly mowed grass. I love it! This is my kind of thing.

I Love Jollibee!

Yesterday, we attended my niece's birthday party. It was held...you guessed it right...at Jollibee! I guess it's safe to say that most (if not all) Filipinos love Jollibee. Why? Perhaps it's the food flavor that's so close to home, or the abundance of choices, or the ambiance, or the Chickenjoy that's absolutely joyful. From yesterday's party, here are the reasons why I love Jollibee:

I love Jollibee reason #1. Effortless Fun.
First of, it was great that it was so near our house. Second, we didn't have to come in anything fancy. The atmosphere was so relaxing, especially since it was a Sunday afternoon. Simply put, you wouldn't have any choice but to enjoy and smile. And so, we donned our party hats (none of the kids wanted to wear them anyway) and braced ourselves for a pleasant afternoon.

I love Jollibee reason #2. (the obvious) Yummy Treats!
Chickenjoy, spaghetti, corn and carrots, brownies, chocolate sundae, and iced tea...need I say more?

I love Jollibee reason #3. Ridiculously Hilarious Party Hosts
They introduced themselves with a quasi-cheer-dance number. They were Jollibee's back-up dancers. They made fun of Jollibee's four fingers (the usual joke, but still funny anyway). When a child mistakenly greeted a different person saying, "Happy Birthday, Maisy!" they quipped, "Sino si Maisy?" "Ako ba yun?" They didn't mind making a fool of themselves, and their brand of comedy worked bigtime!

I love Jollibee reason #4. The Mascot Appearance of a Lifetime!
Normally, mascots would just appear for a dance number, a short picture taking, then run off to change. This time, Jollibee lingered. He joined in the party games and mingled a lot with the kids. I can't forget how he even stooped down to "chat" with the birthday girl. He even helped pull adults out of their seats when they were too coy to join the contests. He was gone for a while, probably to cool off, but he came back with a lot more. He gave a dance number and helped in the candle blowing ceremonies. He even mimed birthday wishes for the celebrant. Jollibee was definitely the life of the party.

With all these, a party at Jollibee is definitely worth it. I had fun, to say the very least. I guess, I now fully understand what they mean when they say "Sa Jollibee, bida ang saya!"

Took A Ride on the Pasig Ferry

I got on board the Pasig Ferry today. Our school is planning to have a fieldtrip for Transportation Day. Since there is a ferry station very near our school, we might try taking the kids for a ride.

The walk from our school to the station was exciting enough. I've never been to that area before. When we got there, I was surprised at how clean and modern the facilities were. The staff were friendly, too. They even encouraged us to take photos outside at the dock.

We came in early for the next trip so we had to wait for a while. It didn't take long when one of the staff announced, "Sir, Ma'am, pwede na po kayong bumaba." It meant we can go down to the boarding dock already. I couldn't help but say, "Yiiiiiiiiiiheeeeeeeee!"

The boat ride to the next station took less than 20 minutes. We were expecting it to be rough since it was a very windy day. Reassuringly, it went very smoothly. The view really did keep me entertained. Normally, I would be on the road, looking down at the flowing river. Seeing the familiar roads from another point of view was definitely a treat. I was also delighted at seeing mini-boats docking here and there, with passengers getting on and off. Pasig River is an actual thoroughfare. Cool! When we reached our stop, I didn't want to get down yet. Oh, I wanted to see more. There will surely be a next time.

Reality. Check.

We took a jeepney then a tricycle on the way back to school. I haven't taken public transportation in ages. I simply loved it! During the jeepney ride, two women and a child got on. They realized they had no loose change, and the driver had no change for their P500. They were volunteering to get off when a man, a stranger, offered to break down their cash. Wow! I've forgotten how much can be experienced from daily commutes. I didn't realize I'm missing out on all that.

A Big Smile

Nature gave us something to smile about last Monday. It was literally "a big smile!"

The first photo above shows a sketch of this unique planetary alignment. The second is an actual shot from someone with a good camera. The third is from my cellphone.

Here's a short explanation from www.thedaze.biz (the first two photos are also from this website)-- In the last week in November and the first week of December 2008, the two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, will be close together in the evening sky, forming a spectacular double. The two are closest together on Monday December 1st, with Venus lying about 2 degrees to the South (left) of Jupiter. On the same night the Crescent Moon will appear just beneath them, forming a "Smiley Face".

Christmas - A Time To Honor Mothers

Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels tried?
And when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

The blind will see, the deaf will hear and the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great I am.

Christmas, as they say, is a time for kids...a time for child-like wonder...a time to remember the baby who was born to save the world. With this song, I realized that Christmas is also about a mother and her ultimate sacrifice.

I often think that being a mother is hard work. I often complain that I don't get enough credit. I still get teary-eyed with every milestone my little guy reaches. I can't stop hugging him, kissing him and telling him how much I love him. And always, it rips my heart to think that someday, my boy is going to leave me to have a life of his own.

Considering what Mama Mary had to sacrifice, I feel so diminutive. I can just imagine how agonizing it could have been to have a son, and yet not really have him. I couldn't even begin to fathom how selfless Mama Mary was to have to share her son with everyone else. For a regular mom like me, it's already unbearable to see my son get hurt or to be disappointed in any way. For Mama Mary, she had to endure the sorrow of watching her son die on the cross.

This Christmas season, I send out a standing ovation to all the mothers out there. Keep on nurturing your children...you'll never know how your love molds greatness in each of them.

PS. I love you so much, Mom!

I'm Sad :'(

If I had no more time
No more time left to be here
Would you cherish what we had?
Was it everything that you were looking for?
If I couldn't feel your touch
And no longer were you with me
I'd be wishing you were here
To be everything that I'd be looking for
I don't wanna forget the present is a gift
And I don't wanna take for granted the time you may have here with me
'Cause Lord only knows another day is not really guaranteed

So every time you hold me
Hold me like this is the last time
Every time you kiss me
Kiss me like you'll never see me again
Every time you touch me
Touch me like this is the last time
Promise that you'll love me
Love me like you'll never see me again

Oh Oh Ohhhhh

How many really know what love is?
Millions never will
Do you know until you lose it
That it's everything that we are looking for
When I wake up in the morning
You're beside me
I'm so thankful that I found
Everything that I been looking for

I don't wanna forget the present is a gift
And I don't wanna take for granted the time you may have here with me
'Cause Lord only knows another day is not really guaranteed

So everytime you hold me
Hold me like this is the last time
Every time you kiss me
Kiss me like you'll never see me again
(can you do that for me baby)
Every time you touch me
(see we don't really know)
Touch me like this is the last time
(see every day we never know)
Promise that you'll love me

My First Time

Oh, rapture! It's my first time to get inside an inflatable jumper.

This was at my son's birthday party. The whole time I was inside, I was pretty much shouting, "Wooohoooo!" Over and over I kept thinking, "Why didn't they have this during our time?" I literally jumped my party stress away. If only for this, the rental payment was indeed well worth it.

Watch Out for the Baobabs!

Looking back at our US trip last summer, I can say that one of the magical moments for me was seeing a baobab tree. This was at the Disney Animal Kingdom safari. The tree reminded me of The Little Prince. Without a doubt, that book is one of the milestone pieces that got me hooked on reading.

Thank you, Lord, for life's simple pleasures like books and baobabs.

Exerpt from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Now there were some terrible seeds on the planet that was the home of the little prince; and these were the seeds of the baobab. The soil of that planet was infested with them. A baobab is something you will never, never be able to get rid of if you attend to it too late. It spreads over the entire planet. It bores clear through it with its roots. And if the planet is too small, and the baobabs are too many, they split it in pieces...

"Sometimes," he added, "there is no harm in putting off a piece of work until another day. But when it is a matter of baobabs, that always means a catastrophe. I knew a planet that was inhabited by a lazy man. He neglected three little bushes..."

So, as the little prince described it to me, I have made a drawing of that planet. I do not much like to take the tone of a moralist. But the danger of the baobabs is so little understood, and such considerable risks would be run by anyone who might get lost on an asteroid, that for once I am breaking through my reserve. "Children," I say plainly, "watch out for the baobabs!"

I'm loving this song right now. I just had to blog about it. Go...listen...NOW!

Toothbrush Nightmare

My family is in recovery from a nasty cough. I recall reading somewhere that a toothbrush should be changed after the user gets sick. Toothbrushes harbor bacteria because they are always moist. Germs can spread easily to nearby toothbrushes. (And, gasp, who knows what your virus could have mutated into!) Dutifully, I shopped for new toothbrushes today. I felt excited coming into the bathroom to change the old ones. Such excitement soon turned into scrutiny and later into disgust.

Jeepers! Creepers! There was mold inside our toothbrush holders. (Our toothbrushes are kept in plastic caps that are suctioned on our bathroom mirror.) And why not? After brushing, we keep the toothbrushes in the caps without waiting for them to dry up. (Who has the time to do that, anyway?) It's a breeding haven for molds.

Ok, ok! There were only a few specks of black on the caps. BUT STILL!!! Our toothbrushes stay there more than they stay in our mouths. I wouldn't eat a moldy bread. Why would I put a toothbrush in my mouth that's been a few millimeters away from mold? BLECK!

My husband likes to keep his toothbrush in a case. (A cap that covers only the toothbrush's head isn't secure enough for him.) I checked inside the case, and sure enough, there was mold inside, too!

My parents like to keep their toothbrushes inside a cup. When I checked, there was mold all over the handles, too. YIKES!

Getting overly obsessive, I checked the lid of the cup they use while toothbrushing. You guessed it right. There's mold...on the lid. THE LID! The part that actually touches their mouth. EWWW!

We thought we were protecting our toothbrushes by keeping them enclosed. Yes, we were protected from creepy crawlies. But sadly, we were dumb enough to let mold in. Mold that could and probably already did make us sick.

Well, at least now that I have a new toothbrush, I can use the old one to brush the molds away. You can just imagine how much I scrubbed them away. From now on, these are the things I resolve to do:

1. Check and clean our toothbrush caps often.
2. Change our toothbrushes every three months
3. Not to get too carried away by Stephen King's Dreamcatcher.
It's a story about alien molds.

Enough said!

I'm Raising A Reader! (and you can too)

Sept. 13, SATURDAY. We just came home from the Manila International Book Fair. As with any trip to a book sale, I'm totally beat. I'm tired from all the walking and I'm certain I spent more than I should have. Not to mention, I went home empty-handed again. But look who's smiling ear to ear with all his book purchases. My son, Blue can't decide which book to read first. I can't forget how tightly he hugged me when I allowed him to get one more book. He said, "You're the best, Mom!" Well, I guess I have no right to complain.

Too exhausted as I was, I quickly fell asleep that night. I was awakened by Blue snuggling near me. I checked the time, and it was nearly eleven o'clock. The lights were still on and Blue was still reading his new book. I had to remind him that it's way past his bedtime. He promised to close the book as soon as he finished the chapter he was reading. When he woke up the next morning, he quickly reached under his pillow to commence reading. I had to remind him to have breakfast first. Throughout that day, he was too absorbed in his book that it was doubly hard to call him for meals and other routines. As a mom, it irks me that I have to wait and call him several times. But deep inside, I'm giving myself a pat on the back. "Congratulations! You have raised a reader!"

Rewind...Rewind...Blue didn't suddenly wake up one morning wanting to read books. It's a lifetime of exposure to books that molded him to be this way. Here I'll outline our colorful journey into the world of books:

I started reading to him when he was still a baby. We started with picture books where I would just point out pictures for him. We also had animal picture books where Blue learned to mimic animal sounds. Suffice it to say, reading to Blue at that stage really helped his language development. He learned to speak with ease and clarity, not to mention a vocabulary that any mom would be proud of.

We moved into more complicated topics as the years passed. From reading, Blue learned about dinosaurs and wanted to know more about them. This explains our big collection of dinosaur books (both fiction and non-fiction). He just couldn't stop reading about them. During this stage, Blue learned that books are his friends. There's an endless fountain of knowlede that can be sourced from books.

During this time, too, Blue began to notice that mommy was reading books as well. He started asking me about books that I was reading. He would gladly snuggle up and listen to what my books were all about. Sometimes, he would move away and say, "Your books are corny!" Who cares? At least he has learned that books are part of mommy's life, and can very well be a part of his.

When Blue started reading (around 4-5 years old), we shifted into leveled reading books. Blue loved to show off his reading progress. Wow! When he reads, I can't help but cry. Blue flew from books that had 1 sentence per page to those that had short chapters.

By the time Blue was six, I knew that he was hooked on books. He couldn't sleep without reading first. Sometimes he wants to read on his own. Most nights, he would still request that I read for him. This was the hardest part for me. Sometimes, my throat would be hurting so bad from reading his chapter books. Once, I just read him a page from a cookbook just to satisfy his reading routine. (Hahaha! Imagine how much he complained when I did this!)

Blue would be turning 7 before the year ends. Right now, he's into Captain Underpants, Geronimo Stilton and other chapter books. The label says these are for 7 to 10 year olds. I can't help but be proud that my six year old is reading books that are beyond his age.

*****

As you can see, it wasn't an easy task. It's really a COMMITMENT to read to your child on a DAILY basis. You would have to set aside the day's worries and stress; moreso, squeeze out your last ounce of energy for a storytelling session. You would have to learn to invent different voices to animate what you read. You would have to seek divine providence for extra patience when your child says "Read it again!"

But the fun part is you never run out of topics to talk about. There's always a talkathon on inventing different story endings; or a long chat on what-would-you-do-if-this-happened-to-you? You get to spend nights under the covers with a flashlight and a book. (How many people my age can still do that?) And most of all, it's snuggling with your child every night; and getting to hear, "Thanks for the story, Mom. I love you!" over and over again.

And the cherry on top...I have a reader. In this time of PSP, Wii and endless TV, I'm glad that my son can make time for reading in his daily routine. Somehow I feel assured that he would have a lifelong thirst for learning. I can't wait for him to start reading books that I have read myself. But for now, I will just continue to read with him daily. I hope that more parents would start doing this as well. It's a battle we can surely win...with one bedtime story at a time.

Blue's Random Thoughts(should I start to panic?)

Blue's quietly doing his homework when he suddenly mimicked scribbling in the air. Then he blurted out...

"Tips on how to make your mom fly away!"

My husband's laughing hysterically. I'm starting to get worried.

PURPOLIO

I love bargain shopping! Yesterday, amid the hustle and bustle of last-minute back-to-school shopping, we went to Divisoria. (An ordinary market to some...a shopping mecca to me!) But wait, the purpose of yesterday's shopping was not for personal things but for our school's essential stuff. Never mind that I wasn't able to buy anything for myself. Here are two things that made my day:

1. Garlic Salted Squid - For me, a trip to "divi" won't be complete without a hearty lunch from the Thai Kitchen. It's at the food court of 168 Mall. Good shopping finds plus a tummy full-to-the-brim....haaay....who wouldn't be happy? I can almost imagine myself making that contented Garfield smile.

2. Purpolio - We saw a sign that said "Purpolio - P60." The stand was selling portfolio bags for P60. We lost a little bit of self control, laughing at the misspelled (and mispronounced) sign. We began saying "OH, PURPOLIO!" out loud -- and over and over. The lady beside me was examining expandable envelopes. She overheard us laughing and said, "Hindi nga yan purpolio e, eto ang purpolio!" (translation: "Those are not "purpolio," these, (holding an envelope towards me) are "purpolio." I politely acknowledged her remark and went inside the store. Waaaah! I really laughed my head off with that one! Hilarious!

Today, I still have post-Divi pains (from all the walking we had to endure). But what a day! I love Divisoria! Can't wait for my next trip.

2008 Shake Up

Half of 2008 has gone yet my mind is still reeling from how much different this year has been.  

JANUARY - The remnants of the New Year celebration were still scattered in the streets.  My nose was still filled with firecracker dust, yet, I found myself queueing to get a Visa at the US Embassy.  How many years ago was it when I was first denied?   As faith would have it, I got a ten year multiple pass to the US of A.  The once called denial queen...ha!...who would have thought?

FEBRUARY - I began swirling into a life so not my own -- bringing the schoolyear to an end (and it's not even March yet), fetching my cousin Danielle from her beauty pageant practices (she won Ms. Congeniality), losing sleep over Daddy's emphysema-labored breathing at night, worrying about a dear friend's failing health, and basically stressing over wanting my easy life back.

MARCH - We made a makeshift stage in our school's backyard. The kids brought Noah's Ark to life. Wow! It was one of those moments that a teacher would never forget. Happy kids, proud parents, and a fulfilled, warm-chocolate type of feeling deep inside.

MARCH (still)- Holy Week came so early this year. It felt weird in many ways -- perhaps an omen of things to come. Our usual routine at the beach (composed mainly of praying, bonding and lots of eating) turned horrible awry! On Holy Thursday night, Daddy had difficulty breathing. He was purple as an eggplant when he got to the emergency room. We were told that we almost lost him that time. Next time I saw him was through a small glass window in the ICU. We couldn't even come to him (not even to say goodbye). All we could do was wave and put on a brave face. I'll never forget when Daddy mimicked a hug with his arms. I had to move away and cry.

Well, Daddy returned to us safely from that one. Albeit with oxygen tank in tow, he went back home soon after that.

APRIL - Summer Vacation! Yehey! This is it! I'm finally going on a vacation! I feel it was a well deserved break, yet there is still one final hurdle to conquer. Daddy was back in the hospital again. His heart's function was still down to 35%. At that time, his lungs was so weak that an operation would have been too risky. I last saw him in the hospital on April 18. I was to leave for my US trip the next day. It was so hard, not knowing if I'll see my daddy again.

I was fortunate that my cell phone messages came in late. I was spared the emotional trauma of worrying while Dad's operation was going on. By the time the phone messages came in, Daddy was already in the recovery room. His operation was a success! =D

MAY - Our US trip ended; we got back home on May 17. The trip was so much fun! Check out our photos: Florida 2008 and California 2008.

Our vacation was a journey into ourselves as well. Alvin and I learned so much about what it means to be a family. We've been married for seven years, yet we never really saw ourselves as one solid unit. This month was really about reconciliation and planning for an exciting future. For the most part, it was a month of returning to family as well. Seeing Daddy and Mommy was sheer joy. My cousins, too, returned from their trip in Australia. We shouted like crazy little kids when we saw each other. Oh, I just love my extended family! For the latter parts, May was also about recovering from jet lag. Haaaa! The grooooove...can't get it back!

JUNE - June? Well, it's only the first week. Blue will be going to big school next week. We're really excited about that (um, in a nervous-parent kind of way, hehe). Things are looking up in our school as well. This schoolyear will surely be more exciting than the last.

SHAKE...SHAKE...SHAKE! Wow! Wouldn't you say it's been intensity gazillion in my 2008?

It takes a lot of courage to release
the familiar and seemingly secure,
to embrace the new.
But there is no real security
in what is no longer meaningful.
There is more security in the adventurous and exciting,
for in movement there is life,
and in change there is power.
--ALAN COHEN

What A Mess!

Can't help but shudder at my half-finished site. 

My laptop's killer virus has been eradicated. I'm fighting the urge to write about 1 whole year's photos that were accidentally erased. Man! I cried buckets over them. I was aghast...broken-hearted... but that's all been fixed now. Thanks to Mr. Data Recovery Guy. He saved my photos! (Not to mention my husband's neck for having lost the files in the first place). Well, credit should really go to my husband. Thanks, hon! You cleaned up well this time! 

Still, there's a lot of work to be done. My laptop still can't connect to the internet. And this site is still undone. tsk. tsk. tsk....