It seems I have been doing that a lot lately. I don't know what it is but I have this drive to look for old friends and get in touch with them. There are those that I cannot find or I guess refuse to be found for one reason or another. And there are those that I find and are now are a meaningful (and fun!) part of my life once again.
Recently, I got in touch with someone with whom I haven't communicated in 6 years. She was part of probably the most turbulent time in my life. She was one of the people who anchored me and listened to my incessant ranting and raving then. She and her husband, both counsellors and ministers in church, went through some difficult periods because of their support for me. They were dragged through a most unpleasant experience and I really regretted having them suffer through repercussions because of their friendship with me. But there they were, unflinching and ready to defend and fight. I really felt guilty about having them go through such a tumultuous time on my account. We all knew deep inside though that a lot of times, standing up for what is right and exposing wrongdoing entails sacrifice. But as we all believed, God will not let anything touch you for which He does not have a divine purpose. We were both looking back as we chatted, and agreed that no matter how heart-wrenching that experience was, it taught all of us valuable lessons that we would not have learned otherwise. We see in our present circumstance the great fruits of the seemingly bad experience and how we all grew in immeasurable ways from it. She told me that she published a book and that a chapter of it was on that hard road that we travelled years back. Of course, I and the other characters involved had remained unnamed, but it is gratifying to see that something positive is coming out of that unhappy episode. Her books are flying off the shelves and is into its second printing because copies are hard to come by. I can't wait get my hands on one! I am really happy that God can use for good that turbulent time to help and encourage others in their ministry. While I have long joked that I should write about my experience so that I can at least cash in and get something positive out of it, I do know though that it can truly help other people in their own painful journeys. I already have been able to help a number, which I would have been ill-equipped to, had I not gone through what I did.
My friend has encouraged me to write everything down and even suggests that we collaborate on something. That's something to think about.
Friday, June 25, 2004
Friday, June 18, 2004
Routine Check-up
I went to my dermatologist/allergist on Tuesday for a routine check-up. I come out of that office with stitches on two different areas of my left leg. As my doctor, who looks more like a mad scientist with his long, salt and pepper hair in wild disarray, proceeded to examine me, he asked if I had any spots on my legs. I showed him two spots that appeared in the last five years. He became a bit concerned because both looked like very dark and irregular moles. He asked me if I minded having a bit of scarring on my leg. I assured him that since I did not plan on joining any beauty pageants, that it really did not matter to me. Anyone would rather have a scar than risking skin cancer, right? So off he went to get his paraphernalia ready and proceeded to cut and snip away. I wanted to sit-up and watch but didn't think he would like that. I spied him taking two good chunks of flesh from my leg and put it in separate cases. I was quite surprised at how deep he went. It looked like about an eighth of an inch deep and across. He then proceeded to stitch me up. Thank God for novocaine, I did not feel a thing! So now I'll be sporting bandages on my leg for the next couple of weeks. So much for getting a nice, even tan!
Friday, June 11, 2004
The Simple Life - Gag me with the entire silver place setting...please!
What do people get out of watching two real-life brats complain condescendingly about everything that they think is beneath them? Is their ignorance of the real world cute? Is it so amazing to watch two supposedly high-born (financially) and well-bred (obviously not) people act in such a manner?
I don't get it. I was channel surfing the other day and came across a rerun of this show. Going into a family's house that had just one bathroom had this pair in disbelief, Paris Hilton (You'd think her parents would have done a better job raising her) and Nicole Richie. From what I saw, it was clean and a decent-looking one, but they were walking through it like it was the filthiest thing they have ever seen. One of them tries to look behind the shower curtain and the other one quips, "Ewww! I don't even want to look in there." Going shopping with a list (from the family, I assume), and a budget of $50, you could hear them say, "Ewww! Who eats that?" in reference to bottled pig's feet that was on top of the list. Obviously, some people do, hunni. And it's a very impolite thing to do or say. Didn't your mother teach you that? Oh, I guess not. Obviously, she was too busy shopping or having cosmetic surgery that she didn't find the time to teach you manners or even pay someone else to do it for her. In reading "generic bottled water" on the list, Paris says, "What's generic?" They went over the $50 budget, and they asked the cashier if they could just have the rest of the items. The cashier responds, "This isn't a soup kitchen." Predictably, she responds, "What's a soup kitchen?" I read somewhere that she didn't even know what a Wal-Mart is. Give me a break.
I watched the show for a few more minutes and then I changed it because it made me extremely sad. This is one of the many shows that our media inundates us with. And what's sad is, unless parents bring up their kids with very strong moral values, this generation of America will think this kind of behavior is not only normal, but considered "cool". Does being born with a lot of money or being adopted into it, in the case of Nicole Richie, automatically mean that people can act without propriety or manners?
I remember when it used to be the good qualities of a person that were celebrated like courage, integrity, kindness, etc. And most of those born to wealth were brought up with a sense of discipline, propriety, responsibility to give back of themselves and accountability to watch what they do, as they knew that with their status came visibility.
Nowadays, it seems that most of society is riveted with money and those who have it or find a way to acquire it, no matter what method. Yes, the fascination for the rich and their lifestyle is not new. But it has never been so shamelessly flaunted by those who have it in such a crass manner. It isn't a responsibility anymore. It's now more like a license to do whatever regardless of who is offended and, often times, what law is broken. I guess that's what happens when one suddenly comes into money and does not have the breeding and the class to handle it. A pig, in Gucci, is still a pig.
I don't get it. I was channel surfing the other day and came across a rerun of this show. Going into a family's house that had just one bathroom had this pair in disbelief, Paris Hilton (You'd think her parents would have done a better job raising her) and Nicole Richie. From what I saw, it was clean and a decent-looking one, but they were walking through it like it was the filthiest thing they have ever seen. One of them tries to look behind the shower curtain and the other one quips, "Ewww! I don't even want to look in there." Going shopping with a list (from the family, I assume), and a budget of $50, you could hear them say, "Ewww! Who eats that?" in reference to bottled pig's feet that was on top of the list. Obviously, some people do, hunni. And it's a very impolite thing to do or say. Didn't your mother teach you that? Oh, I guess not. Obviously, she was too busy shopping or having cosmetic surgery that she didn't find the time to teach you manners or even pay someone else to do it for her. In reading "generic bottled water" on the list, Paris says, "What's generic?" They went over the $50 budget, and they asked the cashier if they could just have the rest of the items. The cashier responds, "This isn't a soup kitchen." Predictably, she responds, "What's a soup kitchen?" I read somewhere that she didn't even know what a Wal-Mart is. Give me a break.
I watched the show for a few more minutes and then I changed it because it made me extremely sad. This is one of the many shows that our media inundates us with. And what's sad is, unless parents bring up their kids with very strong moral values, this generation of America will think this kind of behavior is not only normal, but considered "cool". Does being born with a lot of money or being adopted into it, in the case of Nicole Richie, automatically mean that people can act without propriety or manners?
I remember when it used to be the good qualities of a person that were celebrated like courage, integrity, kindness, etc. And most of those born to wealth were brought up with a sense of discipline, propriety, responsibility to give back of themselves and accountability to watch what they do, as they knew that with their status came visibility.
Nowadays, it seems that most of society is riveted with money and those who have it or find a way to acquire it, no matter what method. Yes, the fascination for the rich and their lifestyle is not new. But it has never been so shamelessly flaunted by those who have it in such a crass manner. It isn't a responsibility anymore. It's now more like a license to do whatever regardless of who is offended and, often times, what law is broken. I guess that's what happens when one suddenly comes into money and does not have the breeding and the class to handle it. A pig, in Gucci, is still a pig.
Monday, June 07, 2004
Back from Sunny California
It seems like it was only yesterday when I posted my last blog. Well, we are back now after a week in sunny California. It was a nice break from the unpredictable weather in Boston. Everyday was so warm, sunny and bright that I felt I had to give my eyes a break half the time and wear sunglasses. It just goes to show that I have been buried like a mole too long in New England. :)
We stayed in the Welk Resort in Escondido, which is a really nice family resort. They have a golf course, tennis courts, pools of different sizes for kids and adults, some with slides, a clubhouse with foosball and ping-pong tables, a kid's room with different kinds of children's books and toys. There are activities all throughout the week that guests could join like Tai Chi, Yoga, Aerobics, Bridge, Karaoke, movie night, etc. Needless to say, it was wasted on us since we hardly spent any time there. Michael and I spent the week driving to San Diego, Tijuana, the coast and Los Angeles. We did not have a set schedule as we just did what took our fancy on a particular day. It was a vacation after all and we did not want to be under any time pressure. The only exceptions were the two late afternoon dental appointments I had with my cousin in Glendora which both segued into a karaoke party. My cousins love karaoke and do not miss the chance to have me sing when I visit. It is always a hilarious event as everyone just gets crazy, trying to sing and dance. Usually, the kids are made to perform whatever talent they have or think they have. Heheh! It is our revenge for the time our parents made us perform before our relatives. At one point during a disco (karaoke) number, someone said that we ought to have disco lights. My cousin turned the lights off and promptly brought her spinning disco lights with matching smoke machine. Of course, the dancing started. Michael was cracking up! He could not believe that she had the set-up at home. Michael had his time at the microphone too. I think they saw how much fun he had that we were gifted with a karaoke player right before we left!
San Diego reminds me of Florida although the topography is more interesting and the city planning is better. The nearby coastal towns are charming and full of character. We spent our first day just driving around and taking in the sights.
We also went south of the border to Tijuana, Mexico. We left our car in the border and took the bus across. Tijuana reminds me of the less modern urban areas of Manila. Walking through Avenida Revolucion brings back to mind Escolta. They have all sorts of vendors of all kinds of things you can think of. Kids surround you in the hopes of selling some of their wares. Michael, being the softie that he is, ended up with stuff that we did not need just to humor the girls, some of whom were probably barely five years old.
We met up with my friend, Lito and we spent a day at San Diego's Wild Animal Park. It's not as great as Disney's Animal Kingdom though but still leaves you fascinated and entertained. Their collection of animals is impressive and add the three of us to that list, it made for quite an interesting day. :)
Hollywood Boulevard hasn't changed much. Different shops still line the street, a lot of which were either selling souvenir items or clothing and items which can be considered "risque". We went to the new Hollywood & Highland Mall beside the Kodak Center and the Chinese Theatre. They were taping Ryan Seacrest's show there and showed it on the giant screen across from where we were having lunch at the California Pizza Kitchen's outdoor tables. From there, we went to Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills and watched the sunset in Santa Monica Beach.
Venice Beach is like Harvard Square by the sea. You see all kinds of people, artists, performers, flower children, vendors, psychics and tarot card readers enjoying "La Vie Boheme". It's truly a melting pot of all colors and flavors. It is an interesting area and I wouldn't mind spending a few days there just to experience it in full.
After an overdose of sunshine in all these places, Michael and I flew back to a cold and drizzly Boston. It made it an all the more painful ending to a nice, warm and relaxing vacation. Ugh! I want to move! :)
We stayed in the Welk Resort in Escondido, which is a really nice family resort. They have a golf course, tennis courts, pools of different sizes for kids and adults, some with slides, a clubhouse with foosball and ping-pong tables, a kid's room with different kinds of children's books and toys. There are activities all throughout the week that guests could join like Tai Chi, Yoga, Aerobics, Bridge, Karaoke, movie night, etc. Needless to say, it was wasted on us since we hardly spent any time there. Michael and I spent the week driving to San Diego, Tijuana, the coast and Los Angeles. We did not have a set schedule as we just did what took our fancy on a particular day. It was a vacation after all and we did not want to be under any time pressure. The only exceptions were the two late afternoon dental appointments I had with my cousin in Glendora which both segued into a karaoke party. My cousins love karaoke and do not miss the chance to have me sing when I visit. It is always a hilarious event as everyone just gets crazy, trying to sing and dance. Usually, the kids are made to perform whatever talent they have or think they have. Heheh! It is our revenge for the time our parents made us perform before our relatives. At one point during a disco (karaoke) number, someone said that we ought to have disco lights. My cousin turned the lights off and promptly brought her spinning disco lights with matching smoke machine. Of course, the dancing started. Michael was cracking up! He could not believe that she had the set-up at home. Michael had his time at the microphone too. I think they saw how much fun he had that we were gifted with a karaoke player right before we left!
San Diego reminds me of Florida although the topography is more interesting and the city planning is better. The nearby coastal towns are charming and full of character. We spent our first day just driving around and taking in the sights.
We also went south of the border to Tijuana, Mexico. We left our car in the border and took the bus across. Tijuana reminds me of the less modern urban areas of Manila. Walking through Avenida Revolucion brings back to mind Escolta. They have all sorts of vendors of all kinds of things you can think of. Kids surround you in the hopes of selling some of their wares. Michael, being the softie that he is, ended up with stuff that we did not need just to humor the girls, some of whom were probably barely five years old.
We met up with my friend, Lito and we spent a day at San Diego's Wild Animal Park. It's not as great as Disney's Animal Kingdom though but still leaves you fascinated and entertained. Their collection of animals is impressive and add the three of us to that list, it made for quite an interesting day. :)
Hollywood Boulevard hasn't changed much. Different shops still line the street, a lot of which were either selling souvenir items or clothing and items which can be considered "risque". We went to the new Hollywood & Highland Mall beside the Kodak Center and the Chinese Theatre. They were taping Ryan Seacrest's show there and showed it on the giant screen across from where we were having lunch at the California Pizza Kitchen's outdoor tables. From there, we went to Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills and watched the sunset in Santa Monica Beach.
Venice Beach is like Harvard Square by the sea. You see all kinds of people, artists, performers, flower children, vendors, psychics and tarot card readers enjoying "La Vie Boheme". It's truly a melting pot of all colors and flavors. It is an interesting area and I wouldn't mind spending a few days there just to experience it in full.
After an overdose of sunshine in all these places, Michael and I flew back to a cold and drizzly Boston. It made it an all the more painful ending to a nice, warm and relaxing vacation. Ugh! I want to move! :)
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