Ir-ruminations

Housebound for a Month

2012-01-21T23:13:00.002-05:00

So what does a person do when they're bed-ridden for a month? There is not much one can do, except:

1. Eat

2. Sleep

3. Pray

4. Read

5. Write

6. Surf the Internet

7. Watch TV

8. Watch and re-watch movies, lots of it.

You Again**

The Lamp**

National Geographic: Collapse***

THe Exorcist****

Paranormal Activity 2**

Paranormal Activity***

No Strings Attached**

From Prada to Nada**

Dreamworks Holiday Classics**

The Secret of Moonacre*

GoldenEye**

Mao's Last Dancer***

UFOs: The Secret History**

National Georgraphic: Amazing Planet: Born of Fire***

Iron Man 2***

Jet Li's Fearless**

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time**

Afterlife**

The Expendables***

The Girl Who Played With Fire (Original Swedish version)***

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (Original Swedish version)***

Trespass**

Precious****

Goldmember**

Trust**

Mars Needs Moms**

Aftershock (Chinese: 唐山大地震; pinyin: Tángshān Dàdìzhèn, Tangshan Great Earthquake) )

Let Me In (Remake of Swedish "Let the Right One In)***

National Geographic: China's Lost Girls***

National Geographic: The Photographers***

The Others****

The Encounter**

Then She Found Me***

Girls Just Want to Have Fun*

Peggy Sue Got Married**

Le Femme Nikita***

Gang Related**

Morning Glory***

Sense and Sensibility****

Cinema Paradiso****

Short Circuit***

Buck***

The African Queen**

Interview with the Vampire****

Breads and Tulips (Pane E Tulipani)****

Nova Science: How Smart Are Animals?***

Kill the Irishman***

Inheritance (Documentary on Amon Goeth's daughter, Monika)***

Secretariat****

Night of the Living Dead** (Color Remake)

Star Trek***

Colombiana*

Dragon Hunters*

The House of the Spirits***

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark*

These Amazing Shadows****

Eames: The Architect and the Painter**

Good, okay or bad, films make good company. It transports to another time and place, which is pretty cool especially for someone who isn't even allowed to go to the first floor of the house, unless it's on the way to go out to visit the doctor. Even George and Katy enjoyed them, barking and howling in reaction to some scenes, to our amusement, and giving me a sympathetic look, paw, or lick when they thought I needed it.

I am grateful for the people who took the time to visit, send flowers/gifts, bring food, send a note/message/text and call. It really brightened an otherwise mundane day. It means a lot. I will always remember those who remembered. Always. You know who you are. Thank you so much.

Eternal gratitude goes to my Mother-in-Law who took time out of her life to help take care of me, as well as my two Sisters-in-Law, and of course to my Husband whom I thought couldn't be any more gentle and caring until the circumstances of the past few weeks. I love you.

A Prince Of A Man

2011-04-29T21:17:00.007-05:00

Today, Paul Coelho asked in a tweet why the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was so important. I think the primary reason was that it was a chance to celebrate a beautiful and joyous occasion amidst the sea of bad news from the Middle East, the natural disasters in Japan and the southern states of the US. Also, we are all predisposed to like stories of prince and princesses because of all the children's fairy tales we've all read as kids. Ergo, all the good feelings those tales brought us then were awakened from slumber today - of hope, of promise, of love.

For us girls, the wedding represented not necessarily a dream to wed a real-life prince but the dream to be the object of the princely love of a man. To a girl, a prince represents gallantry, protection, generosity and everlasting show of affection, loyalty and love. Does it have to come in a body suited up in princely regalia? Not necessarily. Most girls really just want to be loved the way the prince loves the princess in the fairy tale - completely, thoroughly and forever.

Stuff On My Wall

2011-04-27T17:37:00.012-05:00

In the past six years, I have had these "words to live by" posted by my desk. It was given to me by my boss then. I witnessed him continually apply everything that is written in these two laminated cards - the written and the living example before my very eyes for the three years I worked with him. He taught me a lot of things that I cannot even quantify, but if these were all that he taught and showed me, I already would have learned plenty from him. In the light of how I see people relate to each other every day, I thought it was important to share.

Hope you can get as much use of it as I have.

STOP, LOOK, LISTEN, AND ACT
STOP
Stop talking, stop thinking, stop doing, just stop. Take a really deep breath. Now take another one.

LOOK
Look inside. What are you feeling and why? Tell yourself the truth. Remind yourself that you're great and learning all the time.

LISTEN
Listen to yourself. Ask your heart-mind, "What do I really want to accomplish right now?" "Is this the best way?"

ACT
Do the behavior that is right for this situation.

REACTION
A reaction is when we respond to a situation based solely on our past experiences. They are unconscious. Reactions - bad or good, have certain consequences. They prevent us from achieving our present-day goals and our future vision.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Personal responsibility is the understanding that we are the source of our experience and results. It is the ability to choose behavior in every situation. Without being responsible, our behaviors result from being on "automatic pilot" living from patterns formed from past experiences.

GIVING FEEDBACK
Share your experience of a person or a situation relative to the results produced. Present it in the neutral way with nothing added or withheld. Do your best not to analyze.

RECEIVING FEEDBACK
Welcome everything, no matter how you feel. Don't defend, justify, or explain. If you are uncertain about what is being said, ask questions to ensure your understanding.

Simple enough to read but tough to follow but reminding ourselves these things at key moments in life will make a world of difference in our relationships and our future.

Pieces of Me

2010-01-23T15:13:00.023-05:00

While growing up, my brothers called me gaya-gaya (copycat) as a kid. It was because I copied things that everyone did and emulated anything that I saw in others that made an impression on me. Unconsciously, I watched how people acted, listened to what they said and observed how others reacted to it. I took mental notes, instinctively retrieved them and acted accordingly when I found myself in the same situation. I am guessing this was borne from the thought in my mind that I, just by myself, was not that interesting or beautiful enough so I thought being someone else in every situation was a better choice.

Thankfully, my role models improved as the years progressed. I learned more and more to sift and classify who served as an example and who served as a warning. I was surrounded by a very diverse group of people from whom I constantly would learn every day in every way - from church, performing arts, school and work. They taught me what was right or wrong indirectly, when I was being sensitive to the lesson, or directly when I was being dense or arrogant or stubborn.

That's why it grates on me when those people who are in the limelight behave badly and later on give the excuse that they are not role models. We all are, whether we like it or not. And the bigger the spotlight, so is the responsibility to use it for good. Most of everything we do falls under those two categories - example or warning. Whether we like it or not, we are role models to the young people that live around us.

A village - that is really what it took to raise me as the African proverb says. Through the years, all these little pieces of the people I admired became a part of me. I consider myself a jigsaw puzzle of everything I've learned from others - just like we all help raise all the children that are there to observe how we live our lives. May the puzzle piece that we contribute always be a good one.

Ham Chili, Anyone?

2010-01-18T15:39:00.005-05:00

It snowed from last night to mid-day today. Hubby has just finished shoveling outside and he's drinking a cup of salted hot chocolate as he works on his laptop. The chili is stewing while I sit here in the dining room, munching on some leftover chips dipped in the Chimichurri sauce I made last night. The Chili is an experiment, really. We had so much leftover ham from last weekend's get-together and we were sick of ham sandwiches. I wanted to learn to make chili but I had no ground beef - et voilà, Ham Chili. If it turns out okay, I will write down the recipe and add it to my recipe box.

He did a taste test of the chili and made what I think are positive "mmm-mmm" sounds. The true test is if he'll sit down and eat it. The cold weather will work for me. It's always the perfect time for chili when it's chilly. :)

Say That Again?

2009-08-24T07:39:00.005-05:00

If I fight for a country but plunder it later on and plunge most everyone to poverty except my family and friends, I can still be declared a hero and be buried in honor?

I'm all for forgiveness and God is the ultimate judge but what message does this send to our children and future generation?

This dictator sought greatness all his life in whatever means possible, and even in death. He made sure he was well provided for in life and now decades later, he lies in state in a manner that few in our impoverished country can afford as his family demands a hero's burial. It is STILL all about them even after death. I cannot comprehend how this man and his family are totally devoid of humility and repentance. I am not his judge, God is. But, I will not set him up as a role model and bury him in a heroes' cemetery - a place where every single grave should tell ONLY the story of the love of God and country above one's self.

It is troubling that the word "Hero" has been so overused and abused these days. Maybe we have to find another word that can represent it because the standards have gone so utterly low.

Creating Memories

2009-03-29T03:33:00.000-05:00

The reactions that we have to a circumstance reveal a lot about what we have inside our hearts. How we choose to deal with it reveals even more. We can choose to listen to the superficial voice that justifies us lashing out in anger, or to the still, small voice that usually tells us things about ourselves that we don't want to hear about.

Whatever action we take creates a memory. It is up to us whether we make it a good one or not - good not just for us but for those that are around us, as well. How well remembered it will be is determined by the action itself, the timing and ocassion, and how it reverberates with all those that we choose to involve.

We can make ourselves feel good for that moment by lashing out, dealing with the rebuke that follows later on, and picking up the pieces of all the hearts we have broken. Or, we may listen to the still, small voice, ask God to help us deal with our issues and lead us to a wiser course of action and save ourselves and others grief.

My memories evoke different emotions. There are those that make me happy, those that make me sad and then those that embarrass me. The first two usually involve actions by me and/or by those around me within a circumstance. The third one though, I put solely on me no matter who instigated it and how justified I feel at that moment. These are the actions and reactions I have had that does not make me proud - situations that I know I could have handled better if I thought beyond myself and how it made the others around me feel.

Remembering those times is what makes me more determined to create better memories for myself in the years to come. The other thing that helps me is remembering what my father always used to tell me. "No matter how right you are, you give up being right when the delivery of your message is wrong."

Human as I am, I am hoping that I have created and will continue to create more memories that will not cause me to go cold and hot in shame and dismay, but wrap me in happiness and warmth as I grow old.

Change We Need

2009-02-18T16:50:00.002-05:00

I don't mean it in the way of the now famous slogan of Barack Obama. The change I mean is in the way we covet things.

The culture of instant gratification and obscene materialism is the cause of the situation that we find ourselves in right now. Saving and delayed gratification are time-tested values. We do not have to possess the things we want right at this moment. If we do, then what else is there to look forward to? To not get what we want all the time can be a blessing, so we should count it as such.

Why do people who seem to have it all sometimes end their lives? It's because their ability to gratify almost every desire immediately leaves them with less and less to look forward to. Nothing saps the life out of us more than the loss of anticipation.

I find that the happiest people I've known are not necessarily those that accumulate wealth, but those that accumulate the qualities that build their character. If we do not get something that we want, we should consider it a character-building exercise. Good character brings a more lasting kind of happiness than wealth and material things ever will.

Bleepin' Blizzard!

2008-12-21T16:21:00.001-05:00

Leapin' Lizards! We were slammed this weekend with more than a foot of snow. It didn't stop us from going to Maine on Saturday to do some outlet shopping when it was just the flurries. Today, we opted to stay in even though we still had quite a few errands to run. It was coming down as strong as it did last Friday and it still has not let up.

Since we really did not want to venture out and do errands, we just set up the 4-season porch in preparation for the holiday gatherings. The view from the room actually helped get us into the Christmas spirit. We played Christmas tunes while we worked in the room and did chores around the house. We also finally got around to decorating the tree that we got last Friday right before the start of this blizzard. There's finally a sign of the holidays in our home.

Yup, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We pray for a joyous Christmas season for everyone.

Eat Turkey Like A Pig

2008-12-03T16:34:00.002-05:00

That's what I did during the Thanksgiving holiday. I ate like a p-i-g. For us, the holiday stretched out for the entire long weekend because we prepared too much food, as usual. Ergo, we spent the weekend trying to finish it all off.

I prepared a 21-lb. turkey for Thanksgiving dinner of 12 people. Sounds just about right if everyone had a pound and a half, right? But who was I kidding? How many people really eat a pound and a half of meat in one sitting? That, aside from the other yummy dishes that were served - among them, carrot & clementine soup, roasted ham, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, wild rice & crouton stuffing, arroz con gandules, cranberry salad, flan de queso, etc. with Pinot Noir and Reisling to wash it all down. Just thinking about sampling all that is enough to give anyone a heartburn. But the next day, we rallied on. I asked most everyone back for dinner and we again sat and ate with gusto like the first evening. The celebration stretched through the weekend finishing everything off, as well as eating another turkey that my sister-in-law didn't make on Thursday night just because we already had too much food.

Thanksgiving is a pretty new holiday for me as I've only been in the US for about a decade, but it has grown to be my favorite holiday of all. I love its thoughtful and no-frills quality. It's just good food, great company, enjoyable fellowship with family and friends and a reminder to be thankful for every single thing that we have been blessed with in life - the things that really matter.

Just Thankful

2008-11-19T17:21:00.002-05:00

These days, I notice that people are complaining less. The usual whiners at work are now mostly silent...pensive. I guess it's because everyone's sobering up from the material high that we were all on before the economy tanked. The things that we used to whine about now seem trivial in the face of what is going on around the country.

Right now, those who still have it are just thankful to have a paycheck, and those that don't are just thankful to have their loved ones around them. I think it's sad, yet beautiful, to witness people realizing what really matters to them when all the glitters that blinded them before are gone. They become humbler, kinder and gentler in the face of uncertainty - more human. Most instinctively know that when everything else is gone, the only thing left are the relationships that they have built.

Thanksgiving is coming up, and I believe it is going to be a more poignant occasion now than it has ever been in the last several years. This year, more are going to be thankful for the truly valuable things in life - our family, friends, health, life, faith, hope and love. The feast may not be as plentiful but the moment will be more heartfelt.

Tomorrow, the world changes...

2008-11-03T16:48:00.004-05:00

I'm excited...hopeful...optimistic, and judging from the mood all around, I'm not alone. Tomorrow is going to be a brand new day with as many possibilities as we are willing to explore. It is a great feeling to be a small part of this whole process and I am grateful for the chance to be here for this historic moment.

I'm also glad that all the election mudslinging and story-spinning will be over - definitely not my favorite part of any election. However, I will definitely miss Tina Fey playing Sarah Palin regularly on SNL, unless of course, she becomes VP-elect. Now some people won't find that too funny. Hahah!

Voice your choice!

Blackout and Baby Boom

2008-10-31T06:28:00.000-05:00

Time and again, couples who have a lot of children have been poked and teased about not having a television during their child-bearing years. Well, I stumbled upon an amusing newspiece, among all the tiring political and other grim news here and around the world, that seems to enforce this thought.

We all know through experience that electricity, while a good thing, can be quite a distraction. A blackout forces us to spend time with the people around us because there is nothing else to do. I have fond memories of blackouts during my childhood - like playing with other kids in the neighborhood or swapping ghost stories with friends and family in the dark by candlelight. So whether it is engaging in great and memorable conversations or other more interesting activities, a blackout can be a good thing. :)

Winter blackout results in Dutch baby boom

By Saeed Ahmed,CNN

A small cluster of villages in eastern Netherlands has found itself in the midst of a mini-baby boom -- nine months after a power outage plunged its residents in darkness for two chilly days.

"It was cold in the houses," said Anneleas van Eijkeren, spokeswoman for the municipality of Maasdriel. "They went to bed early to keep warm. And nine months later, we have this -- a little bit more babies."

Forty-four percent more, to be exact. Residents gave birth to 26 babies in September, compared with 18 in September 2007.

Maasdriel is a collection of 11 villages with a population of 24,000. Ten of the 11 villages lost power for 50 hours in December after the blades of a helicopter accidentally sheared the cables providing electricity to the area.

"Some people went to other cities, but a lot of people stayed in their house with low temperature," Van Eijkeren said.

The community is battling a declining birth rate, like the rest of the Netherlands -- which ranks among the lowest in the world.

And while the power cut method worked well, Maasdriel doesn't plan on a deliberate repeat.

"Don't even joke," Van Eijkeren said, laughing. "In Holland, we would like to have more inhabitants -- but not in this way."

Courtesy Is No Longer Common

2008-10-16T16:07:00.000-05:00

Why do I think that? Because it actually surprises and delights me now when children and young adults (and some older adults, too) actually know how to show courtesy and appreciation. The three basic phrases of politesse - "Please", "Thank you", "You're welcome" are words that you just do not hear as often as before, never mind its other, deeper manifestations.

Gratitude is a concept that is seemingly alien to this generation who thinks that every thing is owed to them by their relatives, friends and the world. I think all this fight for rights in the last few decades has gone to an extreme and done a number on the minds of many people, especially the young. Therefore, when others give of their time and themselves, they think it is just within their right to receive it with nary a thought of appreciation or worse, giving back. Miss Manners does not seem to have a whole lot of influence these days.

A person who takes for granted the good that is always done to them will miss out on a great deal in life. After all, who wants to hang around with someone who just takes and takes, be it time-wise, emotionally or financially? Yes, it can be a joy to give but it sure gets old when you're being bled dry.

Those three basic phrases are simple enough to utter - but it sure can go a long way if people learn how to use them.

This Old House

2008-10-12T05:53:00.003-05:00

Redoing a 69-year old house can be very interesting. It definitely reveals to you a lot of how things were done in early 1900s and gives you a glimpse of the life of the former owners. In our case, there was only one owner before us. She was the builder of the house. According to our septuagenarian neighbors, she used to live in what is now the basement, which is mostly above ground because the house is situated on a hill. She started to build the house on her own, with some help I imagine, and continued until she got remarried not long after. So she and her new husband finished building it, had three kids who grew up and moved out, and stayed until they died. She passed away in her 90s in early 2006, a few years after her husband. That put the house on the market and we bought it in the latter part of the year, all spruced up in move-in condition with a minimal number of things to do.

M and I, are doing our remodeling slowly - one room at a time, as finances permit. This month, with the help of our dearest brother-in-law, we decided to winterize the porch into a four-season one before the cold weather came. We tore the room apart and brought it down to the skeletal structure. We replaced old aluminum crank/awning windows with custom-made, low-e, energy-efficient, slide windows which offer a clearer view of the city. We tore out the wall panels to put electricity in for a baseboard heater and ripped off the carpet to put porcelain tiles in. Under the carpet, we found at least two more linoleum sheets. One had a very distinct floral design - cute, but something you won't catch me putting in my house! It was not unlike the floral wallpaper that we found in the bathroom a year ago. Nice enough, but on other people's walls. Haha! Don't get me wrong, it's nice but I'm just not the floral type.

Under the linoleum, we found the hardwood floor lined with old newspapers. The dates ranged from April to June of 1962, so we assume that was the year they built the porch and they put in new flooring at least thrice since then. It was very interesting to see what the news was of that era, and the ads, especially. One was for a whole bedroom set for $89, offering monthly installments of a little over a dollar. The other was for a top-of-the-line console television for $280, offering monthly installments of $5. It was amazing, and almost unbelievable to see prices like those in this day and age where $89 can only buy you a decent pair of shoes!

Anyway, the work continues on the porch and will continue on probably until next weekend. Through the years we plan to tackle the other rooms. I wonder what other surprises we will find behind the walls and under the floors. Money? Jewelry? I wish. :)

Speak Chinese?

2008-09-24T14:30:00.000-05:00

Hearing yet another news story that forced a mother to give up her baby girl under China's one-child policy, Hubby and I had the following conversation.

Me: We should adopt a Chinese baby.
Hubby: No. (Shakes his head.)
Me: Why not?
Hubby: We can't...we don't speak Chinese.
Me: (LOL)

Silly goose.

Everything Counts...

2008-09-17T22:20:00.004-05:00

After Black Monday when the DOW dropped 500+ points and then again today for another 400+ points, this song came to mind again after a friend said that Depeche Mode's songs were socially relevent even today. Millions of people lost a huge chunk of their investments this week.

Giants like Lehman Bros. going under, Merrill Lynch being acquired by Bank of America, AIG being bailed out by the US government and the possible merger (MOE) of Morgan and Wachovia, it is a shake-up the financial world will not soon forget. This time, it's not a terrorism or a natural disaster to blame. We are now feeling the effects of the all around greediness that was rampant at the turn of this century.

What goes up must indeed come down.

The problem is, even those who didn't benefit from the inflated mortgage prices and unscrupulous lending practices of a few years back are going to feel the consequences as hard as those who did. We are in this hole because of people who "grabbed all they can" without a thought to long-term consequences.

Everything that we do does count and has a fruit or a consequence somewhere down the line.

Everything Counts by Depeche Mode

Remember these guys?

2008-09-14T06:19:00.005-05:00

For no reason at all, this song popped into my head. I couldn't remember who sang it so I had to do an extensive search. It's from a band that was a one-hit wonder in the 80s. It didn't rank high in the US Billboard charts but was HUGE in Manila. There was a remake of this that you can find in Amazon, but nothing beats the original. Considering the days we live in, you'll actually find it quite relevant.

"State of the Nation" by Industry

This next song I saw this under the "related videos". From there, I went on an 80's roll. These are songs that I rarely hear on XM Satellite Radio's 80's decades station.

"Feels Like Heaven" by Fiction Factory

"Wishful Thinking" by China Crisis

I'll cap it off with one of my most favorite songs ever.

"The Ghost In You" by Psychedelic Furs

The little, pleasurable things in my life...

2008-08-29T07:18:00.000-05:00

...these are the first 10 things to come to mind.

1. Sinking my teeth into a toasted onion bagel with crunchy onion bits on top, cream cheese and crispy bacon inside.

2. Watching a glorious sunset from my bedroom window and later seeing the moon cut its nocturnal path in the sky as I bid God and the world a good night.

3. Seeing my little pups happily yelp and jump to try and give me kisses as I walk through the door.

4. Driving during the early hours of the morning, not to work, but to a vacation destination and looking forward to days of vegging.

5. Walking into a squeaky clean house without having lifted a finger to do anything.

6. Being on a beach on a warm, breezy but sunny day, listening to the crash of the waves and the wailing of seagulls.

7. Having the pleasure of catching up with an old friend or relative whom I haven't seen in years.

8. Watching people I care about succeed in whatever they are doing and reach a milestone in their lives. Actually, they don't even have to succeed - just watching them try very hard with little fear already makes me proud.

9. Listening to people boldly tell the truth with no disrespect, reproach, or shame.

10. Going straight downhill on skis.

Method In His Madness (MBA for Hire)

2008-08-23T05:27:00.001-05:00

His sign does not predict the end of the world or offer work for food. His sign says, "MBA for hire". He was standing across our building in the Boston Financial District with this sign and a backpack full of his portfolios. Some dismissed him as a nut but I approached him and asked for his resume. Instead, he gave me a portfolio with not only his resume, but reference letters from companies he's worked for, a one-pager personal statement and a really witty memo/cover letter. He has a job in a nearby state but wants to move to Boston and has taken every Friday off with the intention of standing in that corner until he gets a job. I showed the very well-prepared portfolio to one of our executives and she actually went in front of our building where he was standing and chatted with him for a few minutes. Once our pending job requisitions open up, she intends to call him in for a serious interview. A couple of hours later, one of our sales people approached me waving his resume, asking me to take a look at it. I informed him that I already did and have happily passed on his portfolio to our department heads that will be having jobs opening up soon. "If I had an opening, I would have hired him on the spot," he declared, and I agreed.

His resume shows a solid background and the rest of his portfolio showed a personality that anyone would love to have around. His standing there with a sign shows a willingness to do almost anything to get a job done. Who would not want that in an employee or a colleague?

I really admire the guy's self-esteem and fearlessness in looking for a job in this unconventional manner. He didn't want his resume to be in a pile somewhere waiting for someone to pick it up. He wanted to be different, to stand out and make an impression. And let me tell you, he did. Judging from the on-the-spot interviews he was getting every single hour he was standing there, he won't be there too many times more. He will be hired soon and whoever gets to hire him will be very fortunate.

Deceive to Achieve?

2008-08-13T01:02:00.005-05:00

The media doctoring of the fireworks presentation of the Olympic opening which was actually shot on a another, clearer night in Beijing; a "cuter" little girl lipsynching "Ode to the Motherland" because the original singer, Yang Pei Yi, was deemed not "flawless in image, internal feelings, and expression" by the Chinese politburo; and to cap it off, the pre-pubescent looking female gymnasts that they all claim are the minimum age requirement of 16 when previous records in competitions in and outside China show otherwise. All are under 4'11" and 79 lbs - one of them 4'6" and 68 lbs.! I was a little shrimp at 16 but I was still bigger than that. These are a few incidents that have arisen and marred the 2008 Olympic Games in the eyes of many.

What other surprises await the world in Beijing? How many more will be uncovered and how many will forever remain hidden? Do you believe that the Chinese Olympic committee members are willing to deceive in order to achieve? Coming from a country where most of the world's fake/imitation apparel and accessory goods come from, you can guess where my inclination lies. Er...was that a pun? Never mind...

Oh, and Yang Pei Yi IS cute and adorable. I'm sure a lot will agree.

The Big Oh for Audie

2008-08-05T09:06:00.001-05:00

My good friend and brother Audie Gemora is celebrating a milestone birthday today, at least in Philippine time - not quite yet here in the US but I couldn't wait to send his greetings.

I wanted to take the time to thank him for all that he's been to me - mentor, acting coach, director, choreographer, fellow castmember, churchmate, cheerer, sounding board, eating and movie buddy, true friend and big brother. Audie (along with Ninong Freddie Santos) was very instrumental in helping me develop as an artist and as a person by being a big brother from the time I was seventeen. He is one of those I can trust to gently tell the truth no matter how it hurts because he truly cares. Audie and I even shared a house, albeit at different durations. He moved into my place from Greenhills when I decided to move to Makati.

Auds, thank you for being there for me when times were light and, especialy when they were dark. I haven't seen you in years but know that you will always be one of the dearest persons in my life. I hope you have a beautiful and memorable birthday. May your cup runneth over as you mark this golden milestone. Love you, my brother.

I'm a wuss...

2008-07-20T16:43:00.000-05:00

A few years back when we were thinking of buying a house, I was wishing for at least 1/4 of an acre of land. Instead, we found a house that we really liked, in an area that we loved, but on a land that's only a tenth of that. It isn't big at all but today and every single day we do yard work, I thank God for knowing better and not granting me my wish. Horticulture is not a talent that God has granted me nor do I have much love for it, so it was extremely convenient that the lawn and backyard were already professionally landscaped and all we have to do is maintenance. Easy, right? Er...not so much.

Last week, after spending time under the sun pruning some plants and trees in the backyard, I started to feel nauseated. Being not the type at all to get dizzy, faint or throw up, I spoke to a friend who was a nurse practitioner. She said that I was having the symptoms of sun-poisoning which could lead to a sunstroke. WHAT?! I'm Asian, I grew up in the sunny island of the Philippines and I have sun-poisoning? I guess I've been living too long in New England. She told me to have an icy bath, and drink lots of water with ice throughout the day. I've turned into a wuss.

Today it was forecasted to be cloudy and rainy, so it was quite safe for me to do some more yardwork. So after the rain, I continued some of the work that was left off from last week. I did some crab grass and weed-pulling for a couple of hours just on the front lawn. I figured it would be easier to pull and uproot because the soil would be soft. Boy, did I underestimate how easy this work would be. My fingers are raw despite the soil and wearing gardening gloves. I can barely type without my fingers aching at the touch of the keyboard. I know, I'm a wimp.

I look at my fingertips and and they're all pink and raw - definitely no hint of green there, whatsoever. Maybe I should leave this to the experts...

No Family Tree

2008-07-12T18:20:00.011-05:00

I was emailing with a friend and she was telling me how she was creating her family tree. I told her that I don't have the energy to create mine as it will be a big, sordid mess. If I stick with the official "press release," then sure, I guess it can be a nice, little, neat tree. But, to create a true one is going to be a herculean task. I am quite sure an official one exists but I am not sure if my Mother's line is included in there. Still, it would be nice to see so I can imagine where we fit into all that.

You see, my mother is an only child with half-siblings on both sides - one side of which she is one of the youngest and one where she is the oldest. You do the math on what happened there since it's not rocket-science. She was adopted, raised and spoiled by a wealthy, childless couple who were relatives of her biological father, the sweet couple who were officially my grandparents.

Some of these half siblings accept her warmly and some not so much for reasons that only they and God truly know. Besides, I don't blame them as I don't know what they've been told or experienced. Our versions of the truth stems from what we've been told by our elders, right? I'm not sure how I'd react either if I were in their place. Maybe to some of them, she, and we, are a reminder of an episode in their family life that they'd rather forget or it may just be a simple thing of us just not really belonging in their eyes. That's fine. I'm sure we're all both richer and poorer for not knowing each other.

On the other side, it was her biological mother who did her best to keep away since she did not want her younger children to think ill of her for having a child out of wedlock. So we're pretty sure that my Mother will never appear on that tree.

Wow, writing this all out makes me empathize on the kind of emotions my Mother and everyone else probably had and the situations they contended with as they grew up, and still have now that they are growing old. I digress, though - that should probably be for a book of fiction one day "based on a true story." :)

Ours will probably be a phantom branch, a dotted line so I will eventually have to create one of my own. Do I really want to do that? Maybe - when I have the time and energy, sometime in the distant future.

If you got a voicemail like this, would you call back?

2008-07-08T15:14:00.006-05:00

This was entitled "The Douchiest Phone Message in History". *LOL*

This guy is a real piece of work, to put it nicely. I was cracking up listening to this as I couldn't believe this was real. Apparently, the meeting between this Dimitri and Olga took place in the Marina district in San Francisco and it happened in all of about two minutes.

I guess you can't make this stuff up, huh? What sort of parents and village produce this kind of human being?

I'm guessing Olga didn't give him a call back. Yay, Olga!

Hubby's Special Day

2008-07-02T20:43:00.005-05:00

When my husband's birthday comes, I'm usually the one who celebrates more than he does. Because on this day many years ago, God created my husband and I just know that He had me in mind. He knew that five years and twenty five days later, He would create a gal that would want a guy just like him. Ain't I special?! Haha!

We've spent many birthdays together and we've done all sorts of things. Today, we decided to forego the fancy dinner, get some subs and have a boxing match. Yup, you read right. We had a boxing match and I first knocked him out. He then came back with a vengeance and knocked me out twice. The second was so hard that my Mii did a back flip and went down for the count. I couldn't get up after that causing the Wii to declare him the winner. He beat me in all the other games too and ruled the roost the most of the night.

I figured I would let him win. After all, it is HIS birthday!

Cape Cod Stay-cation

2008-06-30T22:03:00.007-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, we went on "stay-cation". Instead of flying off to some far off destination, we opted to stay around and just drive southeast for a couple of hours to take that much-needed break. With the economy the way it is, we thought it wiser to stay close by.

We decided to get to know Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard a little better and do some island exploring. We were in the mood for slow island living this year rather than a tight city-hopping itinerary. This time, we planned to take it easy and let our fancy take us wherever it wants at that moment. So whether it was gorging on seafood, waiting for a perfect photo opportunity, whale-watching, beach-hopping and riding the moped around Martha's Vineyard, we took our time and did a whole lot of nothing with gusto like two silly little kids.

Of course, as with most vacations, it ended all too soon. Now, we're back at home and work, but with new memories to look back and smile upon. This is one vacation that we actually had time for some rest. It sure makes for a nice change.

(Photo of Grey's Beach in Cape Cod courtesy of Hubby)

Isang Gabi, Walang Magawa Si P

2008-06-28T19:11:00.003-05:00

I discovered the site when a friend asked me to listen to her rendition of a few songs. I decided to try it out! So, I put on the best jazz voice I could muster and went for it.

Missed lyrics, timing and pitch problems but what the heck, it was fun! Halata bang na mi miss ko nang kumanta? Mwahahaha!

To the twinkle in my eye

2008-06-11T19:14:00.009-05:00

Many have incessantly asked us when we are going to have you, and in so many different ways. The questions range from the polite to just plain rude.

"Are you planning to have kids?"

"So when are you going to have a baby?"

"Why don't you have kids yet?"

"Are you able to have kids?"

"Is there something wrong?"

"Are you barren?"

It's the inevitable question we get because we've been married for years now but haven't had you. And frankly, up to this point, we have not tried. Why? We have so many considerations with one underlying reason. We love you too much that we want to be as ready as we can be. Yes, we've already been told that no one is ever ready for someone as special as you, but we certainly want to be as prepared as two imperfect people can be.

We've been ready physically for a long time. It would be quite easy to have you. Some people do it without even a thought. We want to be ready, though, emotionally, mentally and psychologically. If we are to be your parents, we want to be certain that we are in a stage that we are ready to give you not necessarily the best things in the world, but the best of who we are. We want to be in that state of being when we can practice true, and sometimes tough, love that exhibits patience, wisdom, joy, self-control and understanding.

Having you would be the most wonderful, life-changing thing that can happen to us, and we want you to enjoy having us as much as we will enjoy having you. We not only want to bring you up, but bring you out - the best of you. In the meantime, we're working on ourselves so that if you ever come around, we can show you love and life, and not just tell you about it.

Spring really sprung this year

2008-06-08T15:04:00.002-05:00

I didn't understand why some people's favorite season is Spring until this year. You see, I never really experienced Spring in New England because it didn't exist, at least not since I lived here. All these years I've felt like it went straight from winter to summer, from heavy coats to tank tops, shorts and flip flops. Spring was something that happened in other places - something that I just read about.

This year is different. We are actually having a beautiful spring and the weather is comfortably cool. Our lawn and backyard are lush and our flowers are abloom longer. In the morning when it starts to get light around 5 am, the birds chirp merrily and the funny woodpecker pecks incessantly. In the evening, we have what I think is a nightingale serenading us to accompany the owl's very amusing hooting. It is like the world has come alive after New England's sleepy, long winter. It's the kind of spring that I have read so vividly described in books - the burst of life and colors after the grey and silent winter.

It has been quite a thrill for me to see it all unfold.

Scammers, Schemers, Spammers, Phishers

2008-05-17T19:51:00.010-05:00

Today, I received a strange email from a friend's old email account. In it, he claims to be in Nigeria for the "Tinapa Opening Ceremony". The email continued that his money was stolen at the hotel by some armed robbers and that he had no money left. He asked the recipients of the email to please send him $2,500 for his mounting hotel bills that he will repay once he's back home from his travel.

Armed robbers supposedly stormed his hotel room and yet the hotel still charges him his daily hotel stay? I just laughed because it sounded ludicrous aside from the fact that in the Philippines, Tinapa is a kind of dried fish. Either he was sending a practical joke email or his email was hijacked by a Nigerian scammer. Hours later, he sends an email from his newer email address warning us that his old email address was hacked.

A few days ago, another friend looking for an apartment via Craigslist.org called me asking for advice. He said that a Pastor and his wife were subletting their apartment for only $600 while they were outside the country. It was such a good deal that my friend actually called the number in West Africa and spoke to this "Pastor". He had a heavy accent and was supposedly in West Africa (read Nigeria) with his wife on a prolonged stay. In the Craigslist posting, he said his wife was in Canada. Anyway, he couldn't show my friend the place because they were both out of the country but would send him the keys after he sends the money for the deposit and rent. This one smelled as bad as the "Tinapa Opening ceremony". I told him to continue looking and stop wasting his time with this "Pastor".

A few months back when Hubby posted something to sell on Ebay, he was contacted by someone who supposedly wanted to buy his item but would send him an international money order for an amount bigger than what he was asking for, but asked that Hubby give himself a big tip and return the balance to the supposed buyer via another international money order. The tone of the email had the same kind of writing that usually came with the original Nigerian email scam promising millions of dollars in a secret European account of a dead relative to a person who can pay for the processing fees to have it released. It has just evolved into many other forms.

These scams are now widely publicized, and have even been exposed by NBC Dateline. They even got a few of these scammers to come and meet them in London and Amsterdam for the "hand-off" of fees in exchange for part of the hidden millions. Everything was filmed via hidden cameras. Amazingly, a lot of people still fall for it - those hoping for a windfall of some sort.

Who doesn't want to get rich? I definitely wouldn't mind it. But if a business transaction sounds too good to be true, chances are, it is!

Who Am I? (Tagged!)

2008-05-13T19:15:00.005-05:00

I was tagged by Charl. I think this is the first time I've ever been tagged or responded to a tag. I've added a couple of things, as well.

Here goes...

I AM … thinking of what the heck to write in this post.

I WANT … to pay off my debt.

I HAVE … the most talented friends in the whole wide world!

I WISH … to go to Bermuda.

I ENJOY … humourous banter.

I LIKE … quiet wit.

I HATE … arrogant people.

I FEAR … not fulfilling what God put me on this earth for.

I SEARCH … for my niche in life.

I WONDER … if gas prices are ever going down.

I REGRET … the ungodly choices I've made in life.

I LOVE … buffalo chicken wings.

I ALWAYS … try to look at the bright side of things.

I AM NOT … the same person I was 20 years ago.

I DANCE … to keep my muscles loose.

I SING … to get away from reality.

I CRY … at a drop of a hat.

I WRITE … to help me sort my thoughts out.

I WON … my husband's heart by being a goofball.

I AM CONFUSED … by people who don't think they can learn from others.

I NEED … to be surrounded by people who I can learn from and make me think.

I SHOULD … really moisturize. *scratch scratch*

THE LAST THOUGHT I GO TO SLEEP WITH IS … "Thank you, Lord."

That's it. I now tag Gigi Posadas, Ralph Pena, and Ariel Reonal. You're it, guys!

Becoming Coupon Crazy

2008-04-30T14:04:00.008-05:00

I used to only use the coupons for clothing, drug, book and electronic stores. I found that those were the ones that offered worthwhile discounts when we shopped, be it Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, Borders, etc. Lately, I've started to pay more close attention to the grocery store coupons that I receive in the mail, especially after I saw a special segment on America's Cheapest Family - the Economides, a family of 7 living on a $35K a year with no consumer debt.

For about a year, I had been receiving coupon books from BJs, a wholesale club here, but due to my impatience to browse and cut coupons, I never paid attention to them and it went to the trash as fast as it came, along with all junk mail. A few weeks ago, inspired by the Economides, I took the time to flip through the booklet and cut coupons of the things I thought I might need. I brought them along on my next visit to the store. At the checkout line, I was amazed to find that I actually shaved $20 off our final bill after scanning in all the coupons I had!

I now use the pocket inside my bag to store all coupons and gift cards I have so I can pull them out at a moment's notice. I also google coupons online when I intend to make purchases. Getting the most out of our money is as thrilling for me as it is practical. With the price of oil inflating all other prices, it is worth the few minutes it takes me to check for coupons to get 5 to 20% off any purchase price! That's a few more dollars in our pockets and why wouldn't I want that? :)

“Third Party” Legislation – Homewreckers may become legally liable

2008-04-22T14:42:00.006-05:00

Usually, a messy divorce follows an affair where the husband and wife duke it out in court for children’s custody, possessions, etc. while the person who is the cause of the break-up can walk away without much consequence.

Now, it may actually be possible for the wronged individual to also go after their spouse’s paramour for damages. Apparently, South Carolina is mulling over a law that would enable someone to sue the third party who caused the break-up of their marriage.

I think it’s a brilliant idea. A lot of people will think twice about something if it can hit them right where it will really hurt – their pockets. If a jilted spouse can prove that a person was the cause of the upheaval in their lives, then I think the homewrecker should be made to pay, literally.

In fact, I would bring it a step further. It should not be just the spouses who can sue but the children that come from the broken home, as well. Boy, I could think of a couple of women I would have happily taken to the cleaners. Their money and possessions in place of my stolen childhood. It still would not have been a fair trade but I would have taken it, nevertheless! :)

Our Madonna on Britain's Got Talent

2008-04-19T20:12:00.005-05:00

Oh, anong say n'yo, mga kapatid???

Go, Mado! Ang luha ko umagos ha!

We'll be praying for you. :)

Leaving Comfort Zones, Embracing Change

2008-04-09T11:40:00.005-05:00

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

I've loved this quote for years and have often chewed on it. But years before I read it, I instinctively knew that change was something I had to welcome and embrace. Somehow, I had drummed it into my brain early in life to use change as a means to explore as many open doors as I can. My circuitry shorts at the thought of “What ifs.” “At least, I tried…” is a more satisfying musing for me, whether I failed at the endeavor or not. Whenever I get too comfortable and life’s humming along, I wonder sometimes what I’m missing out on. That’s when I try to stir the pot and see what comes up – a new hobby, a new place to see, and a new opportunity. I never close a door to a possibility until I feel that I’ve fully explored it.

In my late twenties – I was living in a Makati city condo, had a full-time live-in maid, working in a great-paying job, very comfortably entrenched in my family, social and work circles. I was getting a lot of singing and acting jobs, had another steady job and had an incredible network where I had a good standing.

Then change presented itself – an incident happened at work and I quit the following day for integrity’s sake. No matter, I trusted that God had a handle on everything. Besides, I thought I could better focus on my gigs. A few weeks later, a friend of mine told me that her sister, a huge Disney Exec, was asking for recommendations for representatives from the Philippines for a Millennium project that they were doing. She warned me that I was overqualified for the position and the pay wasn’t big but she thought she’d run it through me because she knew that I wanted a short break from hectic Manila life and live and work somewhere else for a couple years. “What the heck...” I thought. This was an opportunity I would truly wonder about all my life if I didn’t do it. Pondering on that and the other things it would have led to would have been utter torture for me. I figured that if I didn’t like suburban Florida, I could always go back to Manila and re-enter its lively, cosmopolitan scene.

So off I went, leaving everything that was comfortable and went to a place where I had little money, no family support, no social network or standing and a totally different way of living. It was tough adjusting in the beginning and breaking the stereotypical myths people thought about me and where I come from, but I didn’t care much as I still had the adventure I intended to have. I had my few sad moments but they were outweighed by my discovery of who I truly was outside all the influences I had been living under all my life. I saw the kind of person that I was even when no one was watching. This was the point in my life when who I am became solidified. The greatest gain I had was growth, and in a way I never could have had I chosen to stay put.

Change is a short but much feared word. At some point, all of us want and need change and we have different attitudes towards it. There are those that are ready and itching for it, those that are fearful but curious, and those that are using every excuse not to do it - a person that they don’t want to leave, age, weather, etc. - refusing to admit, whether consciously or subconsciously, that it is fear and pride that paralyzes them from going into the unknown.

I believe that there is more to fear in not reaching our fullest potential in every way. It’s been said time and again - no pain, no gain. No risks, no rewards.

One day, we’ll look back at our lives and inevitably think of the opportunities – those that we wasted and those that we seized. Will we shrivel in regret or be bursting with thankfulness? I guess that will depend on the choices we make in the present.

Physician, Heal Thyself

2008-03-29T07:26:00.006-05:00

It is funny that just a couple of weeks after I wrote a blog about hate, I came across an article featuring a psychiatrist and his opinions about current events in Manila. He was an object of hatred of mine for sometime. It was almost like God reminding me to test my heart whether I still harbored those ill feelings. And yes, I felt a shadow of my old rage at first but it slowly dissipated as I thought of how God used those years to patiently and lovingly work things out in my heart and make me who I am today.

I still shook my head at the very sad fact that this person ,who crossed professional boundaries and helped destroy my family, is now sought after for his "valued" counsel by the media. I once considered legal action against this man to strip him of his license to prevent him from hurting any more people. I had evidence, too - records I kept of goings-on, witnesses who were ready to corroborate and tell the truth, his own fellow counselors who had sanctioned him, notes he had written encouraging someone to harrass other people through text message and phone calls, etc. A friend of mine still holds it all in safekeeping back home. However, with the legal system being the way it is in the Philippines, I felt it would prevent me from moving on. It would be costly, too and it's not like he had anything then that I could sue him for. He was nobody and had nothing. I had wasted years being manipulated and hurt by this person that to go through a legal process that would take more years would just prolong a very unpleasant episode in my life. I felt that what remained of my life was just too precious to waste. Lucky him. :)

My hope is that all those years between our incident and this present time, he has sought healing for himself and his own deep psychological problems - that he has found his own answers which is what, in fact, drove him to psychiatry according to him. I hope that all that took place before he became visible in the media because if not, then he has a loftier place to fall from when his own problem rears its ugly head again.

In my life, God had turned what someone meant for evil, their own very selfish gain, into good. That's the reason why when the grudge comes unbidden into my heart, I find it hard to hold on to for more than several minutes. I quickly realize that if God has forgiven my own sins and restored me, how dare I begrudge someone else that? I like where I am right now!

God deals with us all in His perfect time so I leave that in His hands. In the meantime, I'll work with my God for all my own issues.

A Time To Hate

2008-03-11T10:56:00.010-05:00

It's hard to hate. No, let me rephrase that. It's very easy to hate, but extremely exhausting. It zaps all our energy and turns us into a person we don't like. It takes over our soul until we eventually turn into the very person we hate, or worse.

We may all enjoy a little hating here and there, to an extent. Schadenfreude, I guess. Anyone who says they have never experienced Schadenfreude has to take an honest look at their hearts. At times, we take pleasure in someone's misfortune when we feel they have it coming. But that can turn ugly, and I don't mean just for the object of our hate, but also for us.

Is it worth it? Some will say yes, and for a time it may seem so. Revenge is sweet on the surface but it can turn sour eventually, and even deadly in some cases. I think the reason why God tells us to leave it to Him, is because we don't see the damage it does to our psyche, whereas He does. He encourages us to seek, pray and cry for justice to Him and I guess through the proper earthly channels. He will deal with it with a timing that is perfect - whether it be in a visible manner or not. People have often called it poetic justice, I call it God's justice.

Truth has a funny way of rearing its head even when people do their best to hide it. Maybe it won't be in the swift manner that we want, but it will. Proverbs says fools get trapped in the snare that they themselves have set up. I've witnessed that happen. They don't need our help, they will do it to themselves, one way or another.

One very good reason to try not to focus on the hatred we feel is that we will miss the other opportunities for happiness that are there because of our seething and devising. A classic example is a person I know who turns off men that she meets because she habitually spews out vitriol, through opinions and jokes about men. She thinks it's funny but it scares them off. There are times she exhausts even me, when I have to listen to her rant and rage. It is sad to witness her continually ruin her own chance at future happiness because she refuses to let go of the past.

Yes, there's a time to hate but we should try to keep it as short as we possibly can, for our own sake. We do ourselves a huge favor when we finally choose to let it go. Holding on to hatred is like trying to hold fire. It will eventually burn and consume us and those that we love, if we hold on to it too long.

On Cruise Mode

2008-03-02T01:00:00.005-05:00

I sit at my desk tonight pondering - a million thoughts go through my head but nothing sticks. I begin with a thought but cannot process it thoroughly. Such has been the state of my mind the past three months. There are so many things I want to express but I can't seem to have the energy to work them all out in my mind. This morning when Hubby and I were having our usual discussion over brunch, I found it very hard to verbalize a point. I know how I felt about a particular topic we were chewing on, but I just could not put it into words. I struggled and gave up. I just said that maybe I haven't really thought about it hard enough.

Come to think of it, I haven't had the time to really delve into my thoughts lately. That's the reason why my blogs of late have been more about events rather than thoughts and opinions. I've been so busy just trying to get by on my schedule that I haven't had that much time to just sit down and ruminate. And when I try, my body tells me I'm too tired. And believe it or not, that is just what it's doing right now.

I miss being able to just sit and have the words flow out. My quiet times are so much richer when my mind is more eloquent. One day, it will hopefully come back, but for now I'm leaving this as is. I need to go get some rest.

President's Day Broadway Weekend

2008-02-24T10:34:00.010-05:00

We celebrated George Washington's birthday in New York City. We took this time to do what we haven't done together in a long time - spend a weekend in Manhattan and see as many Broadway shows as we can.

We booked ourselves right in Times Square and lined up two shows to watch - The Lion King and Legally Blonde the Musical. I had seen the last on its opening week with friends, Lito and Sheila, and I had such a great time that I wanted Hubby to see it and enjoy it with him. And enjoy it, we did!

The Lion King was something we couldn't get tickets to in its first couple of years of showing so we gave up. These days, even if it still doesn't appear on the TKTS show list, it's easier to get tickets as long as you book them a few weeks in advance. Its artistry is really something to see. I've heard it talked about and to finally see it is really quite an experience.

For Wicked, we were hoping to do the lottery since we could never get tickets online for the President's Day weekend, but alas, we didn't get there on time to list our names during the matinee we were free. So, we took a chance and went to Golden Theatre to check out Avenue Q and were fortunate enough to snag a couple of tickets. Hubby loves South Park, and since the brand of humor is quite the same, you can imagine how much he (and I) laughed in this show!

Next on our list was the limited engagement of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof with Terrence Howard, James Earl Jones, Phylicia Rashad and Anika Noni Rose. However, we found out that our TheatreMania discount doesn't apply for the holiday weekend. Paying full price after already seeing three shows wasn't that appealing so we bagged the idea and just treated ourselves to a nice dinner at the original Benihana in New York.

I'm just hoping that the show's still running when we go back in May to meet up with some friends!

Too Many Hats

2008-02-09T08:06:00.000-05:00

For about three and a half months now, I've worn three hats at work. In December, I was doing that, plus a musical. By Christmas, I was so burnt out that I spent the whole Christmas week sick - physically and figuratively. I was sick with a bad cold, as well as sick of thinking, talking and socializing that I went through the holiday season barely talking to anyone to wish them good cheer. I reserved that energy for the few family and friends who lived in close proximity and that I would see during the season. All I could manage for the rest were emails. Writing one was less exhausting than a face-to-face or vocal (over-the-phone) encounter where I would have to exhibit facial expression and vocal inflection to go along with my words. I was tired. I still am.

I thought that staying at home rejuvenating during the weekends would help lift my spirits. I was wrong. Three weekends ago, Hubby and I went to the White Mountains to do some long-overdue skiing. After a couple of tentative runs and we were back in skiing, and falling, form! We managed to get some outlet shopping done, as well, before and after. The weekend was tiring physically, but it really resurrected my spirits. Next weekend, we are planning a trip to New York to watch a few Broadway shows and visit with family. It's given us something to look forward to these very hectic days.

I thought resting and vegging was the only antidote to very stressful workdays, but having fun, even if it's physically tiring, seemed to have done more for me. I guess the key to keeping sanity when you're working very hard, is to "play" equally hard. It did wonders for my spirit, definitely.

Good Knight, Sleep Well

2008-01-22T20:20:00.000-05:00

I was having a conversation over the phone with our Business Support Manager and in the middle of our discussion she exclaimed, "Heath Ledger died! They found him in his apartment!" I asked her if she was sure that she wasn't pertaining to Brad Renfro who died last week. She said, "No! I'm reading it in CNN!"

At first, I was sad. Brad Renfro, the former child actor who debuted in "The Client" and Oscar nominee, Heath Ledger, both young, promising actors following the steps of that other tragic figure, River Phoenix. But the more I thought about it later on, the more mad I got rather than sad. All that talent, life, possibility, opportunity and future gone too soon because of poor choices.

Is it another case of having too much too soon? It seems to be with a lot of these young celebrities. These unnecessary deaths should serve as a warning to the others who seem to be headed down that same path. At least, something good would come out of this tragedy.

Who would have thought this Knight's tale would have such a sad ending?

Snowed In

2008-01-14T09:07:00.000-05:00

We woke up this morning to a winter wonderland - so we donned our warm clothes and started shoveling. It was coming faster than we could clear the driveway and pathways so we both decided to work from home today. Actually, only I am working from home. Hubby's company declared a snow day so he's scot-free, just hanging out here at home while I am stuck to my computer - working. I have never had a snow day ever since I lived here in New England. I've been very "lucky "to work with companies who have been sticklers for working even when there's a blizzard outside and it's the first time I've stayed at home because of snow.

As I write this, the snow is still falling and it has not let up. Everything's white and beautiful outside. That won't last long, however, especially when the salt and sand start to melt everything. It gets slushy, muddy and very slippery. It can be a nerve-wracking ride going up and down our hill during these times and we don't intend to attempt that today. That's the price we pay for a brief moment of breathtaking beauty.

It's 2008 already!?

2007-12-31T11:05:00.000-05:00

I don't know if time flying is more of a modern day phenomenon because of the frantic pace of life these days, or if every adult in all the generations past just feels this way the older they get.

2007 came and went before I could really sit back and enjoy it. Yes, there were a few moments of relaxation here and there, but it was mostly a blur. Maybe just taking off on long weekends and not taking a long vacation of at least 1 or 2 weeks during the year is to blame but there were hardly any STOP signs as far as our life was concerned this year.

Nevertheless, there were a lot of things to be thankful for - the energy and health to work throughout the year to be able to pay our bills; Katy and George, our two quadrupeds who have brought a bucketful of fun and cuteness everyday in our lives; doing the King & I and making new friends at the last quarter of the year; securing a job in a great line of business in the company despite the restructuring; family members in generally good health, etc.

No doubt there will be the same kind of blessings and some surprises in 2008. I just hope we remember to take the time to reflect and thank God for all His constant lovingkindness.

A blessed 2008 to all!

'Twas Two Days Before Christmas Eve

2007-12-22T11:30:00.000-05:00

-my successor remains unnamed,
-projects at work remain undone,
-the tree and house remain undecorated,
-the Christmas shopping list remains unchecked,
-the house remains cluttered,
-my energy remains unreplenished,
-the spirit remains unfelt.

Stop, time! I'm not ready for Christmas!!!

Slowing Down

2007-12-16T20:16:00.000-05:00

It's been a while, I know. I've had thoughts I wanted to write down but my schedule has been pretty intense in the last two months. Things are slowing down a bit though. Thank goodness for the holidays as people take time off and the work pace goes down half a notch. Work and show stress will be replaced by holiday shopping stress. Well, at least for a week. It's really just one thing instead of the other, I guess!

The reason for a very intense work schedule is, I am in the process of transitioning from one job to another. I have recently switched to a new role in another line of business but I'm still doing my old job until I can find a replacement. All this with one paycheck, of course! I spent a couple of days in Chicago trying to do just that early this week. Hopefully, we will have identified someone for my old role by next week because I don't know how much longer I can stay sane being stretched this way! Please, Lord, let one of the candidates I've identified be the chosen one!

As for the King and I, our show wrapped up today. Not in the way that we all would have liked it, but because of a storm that pummeled New England and the whole Northeastern US. So we had no last show nor did we have a cast party. What a shame! Hopefully, we will all get together once the holiday craziness is over to properly say our goodbyes after a great run. It was a great cast - no divas, just warm people who have good attitude. I'm certainly going to miss them!

So instead of a fun cast party to top off a great experience, Hubby and I spent half of the day digging our car out and shoveling our pathway and driveway. Being the gem that he is, Hubby went on to help a neighbor who was shoveling her long driveway after ours was done as I went in to prepare a late and hot brunch for us. He did the same for the elderly neighbor next door during Thursday's storm. Her husband just had a heart attack so she, ill with cancer, was trying to shovel the front of her house.

Leave it to my Hubby to do such heart-warming deeds despite the arctic blast. It sure warms up my winter.

Deeply Touched

2007-11-21T13:03:00.000-05:00

I woke up today and found Hubby acting strangely. He was sitting in front of my computer instead of his and when he saw me approaching, he asked me how long I would need it. I frowned and asked him why he needs my computer when he has his own, plus a laptop. He didn't respond and just worked on his computer as I worked on mine. I stepped away from our office to get ready for the day and went to the bedroom to make the bed. I lifted up my pillow to find an I-Touch box! I ran back to him and the following conversation ensued.

Me: "I can't keep this. It's too expensive considering all the expenses we've had the last year!"
Hubby: "But you've been wanting one for some time now."
Me: "Yes, but that doesn't mean I always get what I want. It can wait until our finances have more breathing room. I can't keep this."
Hubby: "You deserve it for tolerating me the last 7 years. Happy Anniversary!"

He then reached under my desk and showed me the I-Touch, which he had already taken out of the box, all charged and ready for the day for my use. I couldn't argue after that. I just started thanking him profusely and playing with my new toy.

I have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. My hubby and the way he just is will probably fill the first 100 in that list.

Happy Anniversary, Hunni!

We're Open

2007-11-12T18:29:00.000-05:00

I never usually invite people to the opening night of any theatre performance, but last Friday was an exception. Aside from Hubby who's always there to support me, I had my mother-in-law, who could not watch the later shows because she was flying back to Florida, and my friend Melissa from Germany, who happened to schedule a visit the same week we were opening.

The King and I opening night went much better than I expected. We had a great crowd and an almost seamless show. The standing ovation in the end was gratifying and so was the first review that came out the following day. The critic was generous in his praise to everyone. Here's his kind snippet about me.

"Pia as Lady Thiang has a phenomenal voice. Her majestic delivery of "Something Wonderful" is breathtaking with the lyrics and music moving Anna to return to the King. Pia gives the role of the head wife the necessary backbone to reprimand Tuptim for her betrayal of the King as well as to convince Anna to stay in Siam."

Hopefully, that inspires all of us to keep peforming with the same energy in the next five weeks although I feel a bad chest cold coming on. I really hope I can recover by the time Thursday rolls in.

Things Better Left Unsaid

2007-10-27T23:43:00.000-05:00

I am lifting this off someone else's blog. The rules are to list (20) things you want to say to 20 unnamed people but know you never will.

I thought I'd have some therapy making this list. Since I make it a point to try and always verbalize whatever is good and encouraging, you will find that my list only contains the not-so-good stuff unlike the other lists I've read. I usually am straightforward to close friends who are secure in the fact that I love them enough to tell them the truth. I expect the same from them about things I need to work on. But as you can imagine with the rest of the world, there are a gazillion sarcastic/honest remarks that remain where it should - in my head. :)

1. Stop lying to yourself and the world. Just admit it and move on. Others have.

2. Believe me, you're not all that. The sooner you realize it, the more you can focus on the qualities that you do have.

3. Grow up and get a self-esteem. Adding women to your cap like feathers may win you the approval of shallow and chauvinistic men such as yourself, but it doesn't win you the admiration of people with integrity.

4. Stop living vicariously through her. Go out and get your own life.

5. Do yourself a huge favor and leave him. He's not good for you...or anyone else.

6. I am not the darn Help Desk. Please call them instead of me!

7. Hunni, the Elvira look went out of fashion decades ago.

8. Stay away from me. I already told you I'm married, creep.

9. Enough side remarks and prattle. Let's just move on to the next, please!

10. One of these days, you're gonna get what's coming to you and it's too bad I won't be at the ringside watching and eating popcorn.

11. Your wife is not your slave and baby maker. She's a human being with her own needs and dreams that you should help nurture.

12. If you're so brilliant, how come you're living off the state?

13. You think you're being sly but people can read you like a book. Everyone's just too polite to say anything.

14. I think everyone has a purpose in life. Yours is to serve as a warning to others.

15. Keeping your wife from getting her legal status so you can control her says a whole lot about what's inside you. You need serious help.

16. It's just something I normally do for everyone so please don't mistake it for anything other than friendly consideration.

17. You truly do your children a disservice. I hope they don't turn out like you.

18. Er...how did you do your job before I came?

19. I'm glad you've become a humbler person. I really couldn't stand you before.

20. After decades of being here, you still don't get it. The world does not revolve around you.

Whew! This took me longer than I thought. But there, it's done. Will I ever say it? Who knows. Haha!

High and Dry

2007-10-18T08:38:00.000-05:00

Lately, I haven't been able to focus my thoughts long enough on any particular thing to put them down in writing. It is definitely not for a lack of opinion, or emotion, or things to write about. I guess I'm just going through a dry spell. Sorting my thoughts out and putting them "on paper" is just a real effort these days.

Although the things I've mulled over the past few weeks range from general stuff like the Filipino self-esteem in terms of the Desperate Housewives brouhaha; people who don't put any value to their verbal commitments; my current involvement in the company's campaign for the United Way (non-profit); to more personal stuff like career next-steps, as I've been asked if I would consider moving to another state for the company; and analyzing motivations for a character I'm playing in a show I'm doing. I can expound on each one of these but somehow I am just not in the mood to do so.

I'm just in a rut.

Add me, add me not.

2007-09-30T08:02:00.000-05:00

I enjoy social networking sites because it makes you realize how long and varied the arms of friendship you have established. It also makes you realize people are connected in many ways. The first one I ever signed up for way back in the mid 90s was sixdegrees.com. At that time, the internet was only beginning to flourish in the Philippines so not a lot of my friends were that much into it yet, so the people I connected with were mostly in the US and 'nerds' from different countries who owned computers and were used to subscribing to electronic bulletin boards and chat servers. Six Degrees started charging after a while so I didn't renew my subscription.

A decade later, I can't even count how many free networking sites I am a member of and I can hardly keep up. I get so many persistent invitations to connect with a certain set of friends from different times in my life that I eventually sign up for it. It's always fun to reconnect and know that when you want to reach out to someone, they are only a mouse-click away.

Once in a while though, I get these questionable add-me notices or requests from men that I don't know from Adam. Reading the profile of some can be quite entertaining, and sometimes a little uncomfortable, because you know that they're there for one purpose - and that is to pick-up people. Of course, I just try to ignore these requests and not respond lest I draw more unwanted attention. It can be exasperating though.

I guess there's always going to be a downside to a good thing, huh?

Sledgehammer

2007-09-15T15:28:00.000-05:00

Remember this?

I think it's one of the most memorable music videos ever made. It's definitely one of my favorites alongside "Take On Me" by A-ha.

So Long, Teri

2007-09-12T20:35:00.000-05:00

Today, God embraced a good friend into His bosom. After years of battling cancer, He has given Teri peaceful rest in His arms.

Teri, we will miss your smile, your affectionate ways, your sweetness and your laughter.

Oh, and tell Monique we said hello. We will surely see you both again some day.

In the meantime, we will strive to live the way you did - in faith, in love, in joy and in hope, no matter what the circumstance.

We love you, Teri. We won't say goodbye, just "...so long!"

Darn Boston Pedestrians

2007-09-11T07:56:00.000-05:00

Bostonians take rights very seriously. They abuse one in particular, and that is the pedestrian right-of-way.

Massachusetts Law of the Road, Chapter 89, section 11 says, "No driver of a vehicle shall pass any other vehicle which has stopped at a marked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross, nor shall any such operator enter a marked crosswalk while a pedestrian is crossing or until there is a sufficient space beyond the crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he is operating, notwithstanding that a traffic control signal may indicate that vehicles may proceed."

Boston pedestrians, however, jaywalk with relish, with no regard to the crosswalk or whatever the nearest traffic light indicates. They expect cars to stop for them, no matter if the traffic light says otherwise. We have been stuck at many intersections going through two cycles of green lights, just because pedestrians here just proceed to go on crosswalks without even looking up while they're on their cellphones or busy talking to whomever they're walking with. And even when they realize that they're blocking the whole intersection, they still take their sweet time to get across with not a care in the world. One time, a car to our right dared to toot their horn to get a guy to move quicker because the light was about to change to red again. The pedestrian actually had the audacity to look offended and scream at the driver of the car. In frustration at one point, I rolled down my window and reminded a pedestrian to look at the traffic light before crossing so she won't get into or cause an accident, and she flipped me the bird.

I wish Boston cops would give jaywalking citations, just as easily as other traffic tickets. Yes, people need to drive carefully, but pedestrians need to cross lawfully and responsibly, as well.

Beauty Pageant Q & A

2007-08-27T09:50:00.000-05:00

I guess we, Filipinos, don't have the monopoly on funny answers to beauty pageant questions! Miss Teen South Carolina gives her two-cents' worth on why a fifth of Americans can't locate the the US on a world map.

Poor girl. We all have our embarrassing moments, but to have it happen on national television with millions of viewers watching and at least 51 girls forever recording the event for posterity - that must not be pleasant.

Doggie Spa?

2007-08-16T15:48:00.000-05:00

Last night, I was finishing up painting a wall in one room that I had left undone over the weekend. I decided to take a break between the first and second coat to attend to other things in the house.

I walked into our bedroom a few minutes later and to my horror, saw Katy & George on the beanbag playing with the foam brush I had just left in the other room. There was blue paint on the beanbag, the floor and on them.

Nope, that's not make-up!

And, Katy does not have a pedicure! (She had the paint mostly on her paws, nails and legs.)

The initial feeling of shock was quickly replaced by laughter as we saw both puppies with paint and realized how cute they looked. Hubby quickly ran to get his camera and captured the moment for posterity before I washed the paint off.

These two have definitely wrapped us around their little fingers...er...I mean, paws.

House Stuff

2007-08-12T12:04:00.000-05:00

It only took us nine months, but we have finally picked up the paint brushes and started painting the second level of the house. Last December, we finished all the rooms on the first floor, except those that we plan to remodel. That's when we parked up all the painting paraphernalia in the basement and decided to wait until summer to do the rest of the house. We have been dragging our feet since then.

Yesterday, we somehow found ourselves taping all the moldings at mid-afternoon. We've changed our minds on some colors and we've been perusing the Benjamin Moore site for alternatives. I'm glad we waited a bit to do this as the colors we chose before does not seem as appealing as the ones we have now. Hopefully, it will take only another weekend to finish.

We've also had our baptism of fire in lawn mowing, weed-pulling, etc. Home ownership and maintenance is not a picnic. Although when I'm killing weeds and I look across the lawn and see Hubby catch my eye and smile as he is trimming the plants and trees, it just makes it all worthwhile.

Little George

2007-07-27T08:19:00.001-05:00

This is "who" I get on my special day. We thought we'd get another dog to keep Miss Katy, our playful Westie, company during those hours that Hubby and I aren't home. He's a Rat Terrier, all 1.9 lbs. of him. His mom was rescued from a puppy mill and happened to be on the way, so he and his littermates were all put up for adoption. We originally planned on adopting a rescued Westie, if we ever found one. However, Hubby and I, being the bleeding hearts that we are (read: suckers), could not resist George's puppy eyes.

I mean, can you?

Filipino Inmates do "Thriller"

2007-07-21T10:12:00.001-05:00

This is so hilarious, I just had to share it.

Where else can you find inmates willing to do something like this? I think they did a great job, too!

Talk about channeling energy into something wholesome and positive. I applaud the prison warden!

Fresh Off the Boat

2007-07-10T10:45:00.000-05:00

A lot of people here in the US need to develop a more global view. Many who are born or grew up here, and who have never been out of this country much, take on an attitude that if you're not from here, then you come from some backwater and that you do not know much. If you got here recently, whether it's to stay or just to visit, you will definitely get your share of questions. Here were a few of mine.

"You have a college degree!?" - I was asked in shock when I was having a conversation with someone about master's degrees and mentioned pondering over getting one.

"Are you willing to clean?" - When someone heard that my previous work visa expired and I was waiting for the new US work permit to kick in.

"You speak English so well!" - Someone uttered during a casual conversation.

"You came here on a work visa? How did you do that!?" - Incredulously exclaimed by someone when I answered his question of how I got here.

"So how much do you like it here?" - Someone asked me who assumes that nothing is better than being in the US.

Obviously, these questions come from individuals who lack some couth. In a roundabout way, I usually end up trying to pique their curiosity, and encourage them to read up on other countries, if they can't or won't travel and see the world. I am only too happy to have the opportunity to correct someone's gross misconceptions of people who are "fresh off the boat".

Kabayan Issue

2007-07-05T14:46:00.000-05:00

Kabayan, PINOYexpats’ latest edition is finally online after a six-month hiatus. The spotlight is on our beloved Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) - their thoughts, their lives and the sacrifices that they make in order find a better life for themselves and for their families in the Philippines.

Please take the time to check it out. Thank you!

What is worth your husband and children?

2007-06-27T10:57:00.000-05:00

A friend's wife just took off yesterday - leaving a goodbye note for him and for each of her children, a 1-year old and a 5-month old.

The main reason? She could never give enough money to send to her parents and siblings back in the Philippines, so she, in her flawed logic, decided to leave in order to earn more money to send to her family back in the Philippines. Her overblown sense of duty, as well as her father's demands, call for her to put both her siblings through school, pay off her father's debt and support her parents in luxury, even when both her parents are gainfully employed and has good social and community standing in their town.

When her American husband called her father to tell him what had happened, he thought he was going to get some sympathy. To his surprise, the response was, "Well, if you just send the entire amount for her siblings' tuition (which was about a thousand dollars each), then she'll probably come back. Where is that money anyway? She was supposed to have sent it already. She promised." That was it - no concern for the well-being of his daughter, his son-in-law and his grandkids. The money he's asking for is in addition to an average of $300 that they already send per month to her whole family in that little Southern town.

There's more to this story but I can't write more about it without offending sensibilities. I've seen this happen, time and again, to any small town Filipino woman who marries a non-Filipino. It's almost like their family starts to treat them like a charitable institution that will give them money at the drop of a hat every time they want something, whether it's a necessity, a whim or a luxury. And the shameless guilt-trip laying, the made-up stories that they concoct only to siphon off more money is embarrassing, to say the least. I get asked by many people why their spouse's families are like that. They think I can give them a little more insight because I am Filipino and I know our culture. Everyone hates to talk about it, but it's a harsh reality. And I'm finding myself having to try and explain it to people more and more. Believe me, it's not a great position to be in.

Cobwebs In My Mind

2007-06-22T12:20:00.000-05:00

On my way to work this morning in the elevator, I looked up at the elevator screen Captivate network just for the latest news and tidbits. The one-liner that I chewed on long after was, "Chronic pain hampers our memory-making process." It was a sort of a confirmation of what I've been thinking happened to me in my 20s.

My 20s were the busiest, and most turbulent, times of my life. A crazy schedule because of two careers, different gigs and a marriage on the rocks made it all a blur. At that time, I went around feeling like a had 300 lbs. of ACME steel (the kind Wile E. Coyote always tried to use on the Roadrunner) sitting on my chest because of what was happening to my marriage then. Emotional pain was a constant companion, but I somehow managed to function, keep myself busy and find solace and joy in God, my dear friends and work. I remember the highlights and the worst moments, for sure - but everything else seems to have gathered cobwebs in my mind until someone manages to clear it off.

Mom: "I heard from you cousin, V. She and her husband now have a little girl."
Me: "She got married!? When!?"
Mom: "What are you talking about? You sang at her wedding!"
Me: "I did?!"

And I really could not remember a thing even when I saw the evidence - a photo of the beaming bride with me smiling beside her. I have had similar conversations with my friends when I had to dig very deep in order to remember. I assure you, I was not on any mood-altering drug then or at any time - no valium, no Prozac.

I guess the energy my body poured into keeping my state of mind on an even keel then didn't leave much for my memory-making process. I'm not certain it's working that well now, but I think age is to blame this time.

Pants On Fire

2007-06-19T08:23:00.000-05:00

Are you a liar? I am, at times.

What causes us to lie?

Laziness?
Cowardice?
Fear?
Shame?
Malice?

Or do we like to tell ourselves that it's kindness because we're sparing someone's feelings? Is it because we feel that the other person can't handle the truth? Are they emotionally or intellectually inept? Would it be better to continually lie to someone and keep them enabled and in the dark or tell them the truth even if it might hurt and give them a chance to deal with it? Like when someone tells me I'm fat, it might sting but then I can lose weight and look and feel better physically. Just please don't let it be the first thing that comes out of your mouth when you greet me! :)

Yeah, we're all guilty of lying, at one time or another, and some more often than others. It's so insulting when we're the one being lied to. We feel disrespected - taken for a fool.

Maybe that's what we should think of before we lie to someone next time.

My Weight According to Everyone

2007-06-14T05:16:00.001-05:00

"Fat," Mom uttered when I showed her our new photos - Katy's, our pup, and my latest headshots, which I think were nice to say the least. She also said, "Your dog is so cute." That's it. No other comment was made.

"So, are you fat?," is the first thing that a sister-in-law said when I talked to her over the phone for the first time in three years.

"You got fat," a former schoolmate nicely volunteered after looking over another set of photos.

What is it about Philippine old school ways and their obssession with everyone's weight? It's practically the first utterance out of someone's mouth the moment they see you if you haven't seen or talked to each other for a while. I know it's meant in affection most of the time and I usually take it in stride. However, it can be quite annoying when I'm not having a good day.

I'm not as slim as I used to be when I was in my 20s. I see it everyday.

I get it. Thanks for the concern. :)

The Nerve of Paris

2007-06-10T07:39:00.001-05:00

"No! It's not right!"

Tell me, Paris. What's not right - the fact that you drove under the influence of alcohol and endangered other people's lives or the fact that you ignored the law twice after that and drove with a suspended license?

Oh, wait - you think it's not right that you're going to jail? Why is that not right? Is it because you're special? Why, you're Paris Hilton and you are above the law! Your family's wealth can buy you out of any trouble!

"I must also say that I was shocked to see all of the attention devoted to the amount of time I would spend in jail for what I had done by the media, public and city officials. I would hope going forward that the public and the media will focus on more important things like the men and women serving our country in Iraq and other places around the world."

Now suddenly, you want people to have selective attention and look the other way while you're trying to weasel your way out of serving your jail term - telling everyone to focus on "more important things"? Why, you lapped up and made money out of all the attention showered to you by people and the media before!

When are you and your buddies going to stop drinking and driving - when you've maimed and killed innocent people? Believe me, you'll live with that much longer than a 45-day jail sentence.

If you use the time right, this jail term might actually be the best thing to happen to you. I just hope your parents don't continue to mess it up for you. I hope that instead of teaching you that there is always a way to circumvent the law, that they would go buy themselves some parenting skills. They can certainly afford to do so.

Very Merry Month

2007-05-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

The merry month of May was made merrier by the visit of two special people to our home. It is very rare that I get a visit from anyone in the Philippines so to get two in a month is such a treat!

First, my friend Sheila Francisco dropped by after her NY visit en route to San Francisco. It was a short three-day visit, but like a typhoon touchdown - very memorable. Those of you who know Sheila know much of a riot she is to have around. Even our pup, Katy could not leave her alone. She even kept Sheila company in the guest room for a couple of nights. Thanks for taking the time, my friend. We'll see you in London!!!

Our second visitor was my dear niece, Trixie. She spent almost a week with us, which was good because we got the chance to get to know each other better and have some bonding time. I was too busy balancing two careers when she was growing up, so I really didn't see her much except for the infrequent clan get-togethers. I had such a nice time just getting to know this well-adjusted young lady whom I last saw only as a teen five years ago during my last visit to Manila. We had a true meeting of minds, from one adult to another. I got to know her joys, angsts and I must say I really like the woman she has become. I am very proud to be able to call her my niece.

It's always a treat for me to see family and friends from back home. It gives me a sense of connection to the things that are happening there. They bring a piece of home to me.

Blonde and Purple

2007-05-18T05:20:00.001-05:00

This month has been a flurry of activities and I haven't found the time to really unwind and just blog ever since that weekend my friends and I had in New York.

Lito Villareal, Sheila Francisco and I spent the time just eating, catching up, discussing their upcoming auditions and watching shows. We caught the matinee of Legally Blonde the Musical on their opening week and all I can say is "Omigod, you guys!" We did nothing but laugh during the show, and those of you who know this trio know how we can laugh. Starting from that funny opening number in the sorority house, I sat there in disbelief that someone actually penned an entire song called Omigod, You Guys - we were carried through the surreal story of Elle Woods ending up as a Harvard Valedictorian with flawless choreography, witty writing, incredible singing voices, solid ensemble, and two heart-melting dog actors.

Our next stop was the evening performance of The Color Purple, headlined by Fantasia. We were able to get first row seats and were treated to one of the greatest displays of vocal prowess upclose. Fantasia is a natural. Some train all their lives to be on Broadway stage. This is her Broadway debut and she just nails it. She headlined the show with the same passion that won her American Idol, and the support cast rose up to the ocassion and matched her emotion per emotion, note per note. There was not a dry eye in the audience from beginning to end as the show felt more like a religious experience than anything.

I left New York the next day wishing Lito and Sheila well on both their auditions and hoping that one day, I'll be back to watch their opening nights.

Can't Wait

2007-05-04T22:40:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, I'm taking the early train to New York city to meet up with two close friends. It's been a very long while since the three of us were all in one place. I can't count how many shows and other kinds of gigs Sheila Francisco, Lito Villareal and I did together through the years, but there's nothing like doing something you love with people that you really enjoy being with. It forms a bond that remains unbroken by time and distance. So tomorrow, amidst New York city's background noise will be heard the same guffaws and laughter that regaled our Trumpets theatre family in Manila many years ago.

I just can't wait!!!

Girls Will Be Girls

2007-05-01T19:18:00.000-05:00

One of our big bosses dropped by our offices yesterday for some meetings. This man, in his 50s, is the epitome of a Southern gentleman - tall, fit, handsome, confident, intelligent and just emanating charm. He made sure he greeted everyone in each work area he passed. One young grandmother, who's been with the company forever, greeted him and he gave her a fond kiss on the cheek. She blushed and positively glowed. She then asks me shyly if he was going to hang around our floor as she didn't want to risk him walking by her desk as she ate her lunch. I thought it was adorable how a nice, elderly lady still felt like a little schoolgirl beside an irresistible man. I teased her and asked her if she swooned, she said, "Did I ever!"

In the townhall meeting, I observed how he had the same effect on most of the women that he would talk to. Try as they may to hide it, one could not ignore the little girl smiles that they wore after. I even heard a giggle escape a few times. It's fascinating how a worldly, sophisticated man can turn even polished women to mush with the proper attention. It was very amusing to watch!

Friendly No More

2007-04-20T15:22:00.000-05:00

I'm a friendly person. I usually acknowledge a friendly look with a nod, a slight smile and sometimes, even a casual greeting. I've noticed though that when it comes to men from a particular region of the world, an acknowledgement is mistakenly taken as an encouragement because they start to get fresh with the way they give me a look right after or the next time they see me. Sometimes, it even comes with an accompanying, "Hello, baby!" or some other lame come-on. Creepy!

Because of this, I'm less courteous, less friendly. It's safer than feeding the ego of these men who strut about like roosters, puffing up their chests and always trying to gauge how attractive they are from the reaction of any women who might just give them a glance. Grow up, you overgrown boys! There are less juvenile ways to gain and maintain self-esteem. :)

Umpteenth Blog Posting on Virginia Tech

2007-04-18T07:55:00.000-05:00

I was reading about the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting and it is so sad to see how many meaningful and purposeful lives were cut off by a single person whose life did not hold much. Their lives, full of promise and hope for the future of a world they dreamed of changing, ended by someone whose life was spent in silent, simmering anger that finally boiled over - the usual scenario of almost any mass shooting.

Tragic.

Nevertheless, it is not uncommon to hear how individuals, who inspired others in life, galvanize everyone who knew them even more in their death. It shows that no matter how short their lives here were, their bright light still illuminates everything that surrounded them, long after it's been extinguished. Their death, no matter how unexpected and ugly, will somehow serve as a catalyst for change.

Snooty Old Lady

2007-04-12T10:37:00.000-05:00

A colleague and I were chatting about work in a local Starbucks across our building. As she was talking about the new line of business that we had, an old lady who was reading one chair away from us at the counter, tapped her on the shoulder.

Lady: "Excuse, me, could you keep your voice down....?"
Colleague: "Oh...sorry..." She looks at the lady in surprise and turns to me in puzzlement.
Lady: "...it's a public place!" She adds haughtily.
Me: "Exactly. So if you want a quiet place to read. Go to a library."

There was music blaring and the baristas were taking orders loudly. I didn't understand why she thought my colleague's voice made it any worse. After simmering for a bit, she gathered up her stuff in a huff and took her little bum out of the place.

I know it was not good of me to snap. I just couldn't stand the little attitude and tone that she had when she addressed my colleague, not to mention her very lame reason for asking her to hush up. Grrr...

A Morning Like This

2007-04-08T07:10:00.000-05:00

Christendom's reason for existence boils down to this day - the celebration of Jesus' resurrection symbolizing His victory over all our sins - past, present and future. It was a morning like this, centuries ago, that gives me the foundation of who I am and helps me define what I want to be every day of my life.

To me and many others, this day goes beyond the Easter bunny and Easter egg hunts. It is a reminder that if not for this day - nothing else holds much meaning, no matter who we supposedly are and how much we have.

Twila Paris singing "The Warrior is a Child/Do I Trust You"

Live Like A Dog

2007-03-30T20:22:00.000-05:00

The other day, we were driving around with Katy in the backseat of the car. As we waited for a light to turn green in an intersection, a homeless woman approached our car begging for some money. Hubby rolled the window and put some in the cup she was holding. As the woman walked away, she stopped by the backseat window and started waving and talking to Katy, who looked up at her while happily curled up on a soft pillow. Instantly, I felt my throat tighten as I realized that the little pup seems to be living such a comfortable life compared to this woman.

These days, to live like a dog isn't necessarily a bad thing especially in America. A study I read said that the estimated total pet expenditure in the US in 2007 is $40.8 billion, that includes the pet purchase, food, supplies, vet care, medicines, grooming, boarding, etc. I wonder if that figure includes the ridiculous things that people who've gone overboard buy - i.e. pet strollers, complete pet furniture sets, wardrobe, designer collars, leashes and carriers, etc. That staggering amount can feed thousands of families in third world countries. Heck, it can pay a small country's debt.

It's a sobering fact that we, humans, sometimes tend to go overboard and get our priorities all wrong. There's something wrong with the picture when dogs and cats in the park are better dressed and accessorized than some of the people that are hanging out or sleeping on the park benches; when our four-legged companions are well-fed when some people are foraging for whatever food they can find in the trash .

It's difficult not to dote on our pets, especially when they sometimes behave with more loyalty and unconditional love than some people. We have been hurt so much by our fellow human beings that a lot of us have channeled our affection to our pets.

I guess all this is a symptom of an even deeper issue in society... and I have barely scratched its surface.

Midnight Caller

2007-03-29T13:58:00.000-05:00

My sleep has been continually disrupted by the phone ringing in the last couple of weeks. For several nights now, my phone has been ringing at the ungodly hour of 2:00 am. The ringtone indicates to me that the caller ID is unavailable or unknown, so I would just slip back into my morphean state with no hesitation. I figured if it was really important, the caller would either leave a message or call again. However, in the last three days, I've been a sleep-starved business traveler and hearing that phone ring at night just drove me to distraction. I actually attempted to answer the phone two nights in a row to remind the caller what time it was with as much politeness I could muster at that time of the night. Every time I picked up, there was no answer and the line would go dead. It's creepy - but really, I'm really more irritated than fearful.

I guess I either need to change my number or just turn my phone off at night. My concern is missing a real emergency because of this inconsiderate bugger who has nothing better to do in the wee hours of the morning but dial someone's number. Grrrr!

Responsible

2007-03-08T09:58:00.000-05:00

Responsible.

I've always been described as such by teachers, friends, bosses, etc. It felt good to be thought of that way. I have avoided a lot of unnecessary trouble in life because of that trait. However, it can be such a burden too, especially when you're one of the very few among a number of foolish and irresponsible individuals. I sometimes wish I could just be carefree like everyone else and not worry about other people's feelings and circumstance or the future. Maybe I will be happier.

I always knew being responsible was not easy, I just didn't realize until now how it can be so incredibly lonely, too.

My Dog Ate It...Really!

2007-03-05T15:58:00.000-05:00

If you've been calling us on our landline this past week and we haven't been picking up, we have an explanation. Our little Katy ate our phone - well, not exactly.

I was wondering why the phone was not lit up and charging. I looked down and saw that it was firmly plugged. I looked at the connection at the base and it was securely fastened. So I did the next logical thing. I followed the cord and found what the pup did. She had chewed on the power supply cord clean and it's now in three pieces. Now, we have to look for the correct adapter for this phone, or buy a new set. *Sigh* If she wasn't so cute...

Our dog eating something is not an excuse. Not in our case, anyway!

A Dose of Faith

2007-02-27T12:35:00.000-05:00

Katy, our adorable (or so I say!) little pup, has made me even softer when it comes to puppies and dogs. I saw a clip on this dog on CNN, and it led me to this one. My throat was pretty tight at the end of each clip.

This amazing two-legged dog has bipedally walked into people's hearts. Hers is another poignant lesson on the importance of having hope in seemingly bleak situations because extraordinary joy can actually come from it in unexpected forms.

Her name is Faith, and we all definitely need a little dose of her.

:)

A Young Man's View

2007-02-14T11:04:00.001-05:00

Meralco Theatre Backstage

A young male friend, who I think of as my little brother, wrote this. I found it to be a breath of fresh air in this age of "hook-ups" and casual sex. Today, being the day of "love", I thought I would reprint his view.

Wackie, or Joaquin Valdes to everyone in the Philippines, opens up on his views on love, dating and courtship.

WHY I'VE NEVER HAD A "REAL" RELATIONSHIP

People often ask me why I‘ve never been in a relationship. Why I’ve never committed myself into a lasting romantic engagement. Why I’ve never had a “girlfriend”. Let me attempt to encompass in this short blog the answer I’ve waited 22 years to tell. In a lot of ways, I don’t necessarily think that the answer is complete just yet, but let me share with you what I have so far. Before anything else, let me hazard a disclaimer. My thoughts are mine, share in them as you wish; but if you choose otherwise, no offense will be taken. And vice versa.

A wise person told me once that a person could grow a week in a year or a year in a week. It was always awkward for me being a kid. I always felt that I was older than I really was. I got a long with the older kids; I listened to older music and generally felt I was older than my “body”. Oftentimes I’d wish that I’d sleep at night and then wake up an adult. Kids from broken homes can probably relate. It’s that pressure to “catch up” or to “deal” and adapt to things that make us grow up faster. Meaning to say, that even if I had gone through the normal “kid” stuff like XMEN, Batman, Voltron and The Visionaries, I still felt out of place. Its strange really, because while I enjoyed these “kid” things as a kid, I was conscious that they were for “kids”. Did I lose you yet? I thought so. Basically, I grew up all too fast and was exposed to a lot of things at too early a time in my life…too early. It’s a well-known fact that people reach a point in their lives where they are “awakened” to reality; it’s just a matter of when. Now some would easily translate this to the time they found out that Santa Clause was fake or that the Tooth Fairy was actually mom. Mine was when I found out that not all moms and dads stayed together. My turning point was when I saw that Love didn’t work out the way the books or the movies said it would. The prince didn’t always rescue the princess, and sometimes the evil witch did win. I realized that Love was actually just a word that people use, it wasn’t magical, it wasn’t special, it was just a word. I realized that some people didn’t even say it all that often. I realized that some people said it a little too often. Love had become a Hallmark card, a popcorn movie, a story and a song. Love was reduced to a commodity. But as the theory says: “for every action, there exists an equal and opposite reaction.” Instead of losing hope in the whole Love thing, I figured that Love must’ve had an unadulterated version of it before we people screwed things up. Love isn’t just Romeo and Juliet, Tom and Katie, Brad and Angelina, Dao Ming Tzu and Sunshine; I realized that if my picture was limited to Shakespeare, Neruda or even Wong Kar Wai, much less to the most recent love team, then my doubting “love” would turn out true. I didn’t want that to happen. As much as I wanted my doubts about love to be true, I knew in my heart that there was much more to the word than the feelings you get when she looked back. Love was more than the text messages of sweet nothings. Love was more than holding hands or even kissing. Love was more than sex. Love was more than a trial and error effort to find a “match”. I knew that there was more to Love, but still I doubted. I was jaded by the experience of this so-called Love falling short. But I was out to prove my cynicism wrong. So I made I vow to myself not to drop the L word unless I lived up to its original definition. Reading a lot of things, you more or less get a picture of what different people say about love. I read a lot, but no poet, novelist or even blogger pictured love clearer than this author: “No greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for a friend”. I was never one to spoonfeed so you’ll have to look for the author up yourself. Call me unreal or even preachy…but I couldn’t find a more perfect definition or picture of what Love really is. Then we go to my story.

I realized that being in a relationship is no joke. Dealing with your own life, soul and heart is hard enough, bringing another heart into the picture is almost dangerous. Fun, but dangerous. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m all for taking risks, trying adventures and even making mistakes; but I’d want to do that on my own first before I bring another person into the picture. I’ve had my own slew of “things” (not flings), that always almost ended up in a relationship, but as I look back I’m glad it didn’t. Why? Because looking back, my motivation wasn’t Love, it was loins. I wasn’t out to love someone, I was out to satisfy myself. To fill my need. Like a parasite that clings on a nother to feed its own cravings. That wasn’t love, that was just selfish. I could’ve easily fallen into that trap for the sole reason that it was that…easy. Like a game to be played. Except, I almost didn’t realize that this “game” was played with hearts not tokens, with emotions, not toys. Love was, is and will never be a game. The reason for not being in a relationship is my choice, because I feel that the only time I can actually be in one is when I’m ready to say “I love you”. The only time I’ll be ready is when I’m willing to put my life on the line. The only time I’ll put my life on the line, is when I know that She’s the one for sure. The easiest thing to do nowadays is to commit to something half-heartedly, the hardest thing to do is to withdraw when you realized that it was a mistake. I’m a big fan of Love and Relationships, in fact, I talk about it a lot (too much actually) with my friends, but at the same time I take it seriously. Heart issues are serious issues. If I’m not ready to be in a serious relationship, then why be in one at all? To get the benefits but not work for it? To eat an expensive steak dinner and not pay for it? To get a degree but not study for it? To take the easy way out? I’m not that kind of man. When I love someone, its full throttle. It may take time, and a lot of effort, but I’m willing to take THAT risk. I’d want to be the man that my woman deserves; ready to commit, ready to fight and ready to die for her. Until I’m at that point, I must focus on the fine tuning. When you love someone you want to offer her the best that you have, it may not be perfect, but it’s the best that you have. That’s what I’m working on now. I wouldn’t want to offer her anything half baked. There’s a lot of room to grow, in fact the growing never stops, it wasn’t until now, that I felt grown enough to even begin looking. But recent events have accelerated certain courses. I can’t fully say that I’m ready to drop the L word just yet, but I know that I can begin my real quest. A search that may or may not lead me to “Her” but it’s a search. Dating someone will NOT tell you if you’re ready to love that person, it will just open up a possibility…but the bottom line is you guard your heart.

I'm so proud of how our little Wackie has grown up to be a fine, young man. I pray that no matter what life sends his way, in the right time, he will find that special someone who will treat him with the same love and respect that he wants to offer.

Ain't true love grand? Happy Valentine's Day!

Much Ado

2007-02-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

It's been the front page headline since yesterday afternoon in CNN, and it still is early this morning - the death of Anna Nicole Smith. It's sad that she's passed away and my sympathies go to her loved ones. However, it is making me wonder since there are so many things going on in the world - aren't there more news worthy of the front page of CNN?

Katy the Western Westie

2007-02-04T23:13:00.001-05:00

The experts weren't exaggerating when they said that the West Highland White Terrier is a highly intelligent breed of dogs. Katy has just wrapped up her second day with us, and she has astounded us with the speed in which she learns things. This 9-week-old little Westie pup has already learned to "sit" and use the puppy pads when unable to go outside to do her "business". The challenge will be to keep this very sharp puppy constantly stimulated so she does not get bored and destructive.

It's been a very tiring but fun weekend getting to know this little thing - the morning and evening walks in sub-zero temperature, the cleaning up of little "accidents", etc. I don't know what possessed M and I to adopt a dog as having one is such a responsibility. I guess that's what couples do, whose nurturing instincts have overwhelmed them but are not quite ready for a baby just yet - they get a dog!

New Addition

2007-02-01T18:11:00.000-05:00

She's the new addition to our household. She is nine weeks old and we take her home tomorrow night.

Hubby and I have always wanted a dog. Everytime we see one, the desire just grew stronger. After dogsitting Chloe, a friend's extremely adorable Shih Tzu a couple of times, we decided we could not hold it off any longer. We did our research and decided on the breed that we thought would suit our personalities best. She's a West Highland White Terrier - a handsome little breed when full-grown, and definitely adorable as a pup.

We're deciding on a name. Since she's a Scot by ethnicity, we thought we'd come up with a Scottish moniker - but we're still open to suggestions. Any ideas?

Photo credit: Kingdom of Pets

Freezing Friday

2007-01-26T08:14:00.000-05:00

An arctic blast envelops our nice little city today. As I write this it is 4F outside, -13F with wind chill factor. To folks who use metric, that is -14C, and -26C with wind chill factor. Invigorating weather, isn't it!? It's the coldest it's been in three years here. I felt its full force as I made my way to work this morning. As a person used to island weather, I have acclimated to this place better than I thought. Taking up skiing as a hobby helped as well, because the winter does not seem as long for us when we are out and about enjoying it.

It's a good, clear, sunny, albeit icy morning here. I hope you guys stay warm whether you're here nearby or farway. Before I go, let me leave you with something to mentally chew on this weekend from Helen Keller -

No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.

'Nuff said.

What We Do For A Wii

2007-01-18T10:44:00.000-05:00

Did wii get up in the cold and wii hours just to line up to get one?

Did wii wrestle with people physically or verbally just to get our hands on the last one?

Did wii suffer water intoxication and die just to try to win one?

How much do we want something and what are we willing to do to get it? Our culture is fast becoming one of quick 'fixes', materialism and conformity. Are we not cool or special unless we get something ahead of most people? And once everyone has it, where do our feelings of being special go? I guess it's gone until we find the latest and greatest to own ahead of everyone else again. Is that what it's all about?

It's so sad that Jennifer Strange in Rancho Cordova, California died trying to win a Wii for her children. Even sadder that a radio station, very much aware of the dangers and possible fatal results of water intoxication, still held the water-drinking and pee-holding contest to lure listeners and of course, advertisers. I don't blame her for trying to win one because of all the hype and over-inflated prices. It's heartbreaking that she felt she needed to do this to fulfill her kids' wishes.

Parents, we know we love our kids and would do almost anything to give them what they want - but have we carefully thought of the message that we send our children when they see us willing to fight anyone or do whatever it takes just to get our hands on a friggin' toy? We are telling them that having those material things matter more than patience, frugality, civility and life itself - that we're not good enough if we don't have the latest thing that everyone else has or wants. Is that where we really want our children to draw their self-esteem from?

What happened to teaching the value and wisdom of-

-being our own selves and not having to be like everyone else and give in to peer pressure?
-delayed gratification?
-having the patience to wait for a good thing?
-working hard to save up for something we want?
-building our self-esteem on more lasting things like character?

Oh, I enjoy playing the Wii when my nephew brings his over. I think it's a great videogame as it really gets us off our lazy butts. But, waiting to get something is good, too. If we still want it in a couple of months, then it just might be worth spending for because then we know it's just not going to be a very expensive passing fancy. If not, then that's hundreds of dollars more for our savings. And that can probably buy us something more lasting in the future - like maybe a good education for our children.

Frosted Flakes

2007-01-07T22:20:00.000-05:00

I'm not referring to the cereal. I'm alluding to people who are unreliable - or as the slang says, "flaky". You can't depend on anything they say because no matter how much they assure you that they're going to do something, it just does not happen. The worse kind is the "frosted" - because most of the time, the words that come out of this kind of flakes' mouths are sugar-coated. It's almost like they add the sweetness to make the taste of their BS more apparent when you finally get screwed over.

Nothing gets my goat more than someone who has long promised me something and then not doing it. Especially when what I'm asking from them (which should not cost them money at all if it was planned ahead) is something that I need in order to do the costly favor that they were asking of me in the first place. I have experienced flakiness before, but this kind of took the cake.

Never again will I be scrambling at the last minute, on my own dime, to find what I need, in order to fulfill a favor that has been asked of me. If you don't keep your end of our agreement, no longer will I worry about keeping mine - no matter how much time, effort and money I've already invested into it. Go find someone else to flake out on.

First Week

2007-01-05T16:46:00.000-05:00

I've spent the first week of the New Year fighting off a bad cold. It started as a little tickle in my throat a couple of days before the New Year. From then on, I've been downing medicines like crazy to stave off the microbes that were laying siege to my system. There was just no way I was going to give in as we were slated to host the family for New Year's Eve . We had everything all figured out - dinnerware, flatware, stemware, placecard holders, wine, hors d'oeuvres, appetizer, entrees, dessert, etc. Aside from the fact that I wasn't my usual kissy and huggy self to prevent the spread of my holiday germs, everything went great with the dinner, the countdown, the dancing, the Wii-playing. We had loads of fun! We had so much food left over that I invited everyone back the next day to pick up from where we left off. Am I a sucker for punishment!? This time though, we used plastic ware so we would not stay up washing dishes until the wee hours of the morning. The merriment continued until late into the night as nobody wanted to break up the party. It was torture getting up the next day to get to work - so much that I vowed to take the 2nd of January off every year from now on.

The first week at work was uneventful, thankfully. Given my cold meds-ridden condition, I probably couldn't take our usual crazy week. It was slow enough for me to decide to just work from home today and get over the cold and the extreme muscle ache from too much Wii workout. It's awesome to be able to work in my jammies and take a siesta at mid-day.

After the last two busy holiday weekends, we plan to just veg and chill this weekend to recover. It makes me giddy just to think about it! :)

A fantastic 2007 to all!!!

It's The Most Stressful Time of the Year

2006-12-24T00:12:00.000-05:00

We've done nothing in the past several weekends but work on and spruce up the house - painting, unpacking, shopping, re-arranging furniture, have the pipes worked on, installing garbage disposal, changing lightbulbs, wall sockets, etc. The list is endless. I have never been to Home Depot as much as I have in the past month! Adding to the frantic pace was the knowledge that the holiday season was upon us and we were NOT ready. Moving and settling into a home is already stressful, not to mention having to prepare for Christmas and New Year at the same time.

Somehow, in all the craziness, we drove out early morning last Sunday and got ourselves a fresh tree. We took the time from our home improvement schedule to put it up and hang trimmings. Fortunately, we had stashed safely, our discounted Christmas decors from Crate and Barrel, after we raided the store last year during the day-after-Christmas sale. Little did we know that by the time we used them, it would no longer be in our apartment but our own home.

It was a nice time to slow down and start savoring the holiday season that seemed to pass unnoticed, by us. The smell of pine and the carols playing helped us remember what time of the year it is. For every trimming we hung, our hearts brimmed with thanks at the amazing blessings that God granted us this year.

May we never forget to appreciate the Giver of all the kinds of gifts that we have received.

Have a Joyful and Peaceful Christmas, everyone!

The First Time the Bug Bit

2006-12-21T11:04:00.001-05:00

Sound of Music - 6th Grade
Originally uploaded by MadMuse.

My school had a grand reunion several days ago. Needless to say, I wasn't able to attend in person as I am too house-poor to do any traveling for the next ten years. I was, however, able to attend via video-conferencing, which was okay - but, of course, nothing like being there.

Anyway, they had a slideshow which showed all our horrendous sixth grade photos, plus a few of the activities that we had that year. This photo has a special place in my heart because this was my first ever theatrical venture and it was done in school. Oh, I've had a couple of ballet recitals under Shirley Halili-Cruz by then but this was when the bug really bit and I knew I belonged onstage.

My road to getting the role was not easy, but that's for another blog. Can you pick me out? :)

Not Just Yet

2006-12-07T19:17:00.000-05:00

Today, I officially got blown off the position I was seeking nearly six months after I put my foot forward for consideration. The consolation is, I was one of the "last men standing". It felt good to be even considered for the job, given the short time that I've been with the company. I was encouraged by the senior execs to gain more experience as they believe that I had the potential to eventually grow into the role in the near future. I just wasn't ready now - not just yet. I was told that they are very supportive of me finding another role that would provide me that experience that I need in order to hone and maximize my potential. So yes there is some disappointment, but there is also promise.

From what I've seen of the disappointments in my life, things always have a way of turning out better than I had originally planned or desired. It just takes a bit of patience and faith to watch it all unfold. So I'll give it my best while I wait and see.

In the meantime, Hubby got his year-end review in. He was rated as "Outstanding, without peer". I really didn't know what that meant until he explained it to me. Apparently, it's a rating rarely given out in their company, and it means that he excelled in every aspect of doing his job - above his colleagues. With all the hard work he's been putting in, I'm glad he finally got some well-deserved recognition. Congratulations, Hunni!

:*

You're Gonna Love Me...

2006-12-05T22:25:00.000-05:00

Oh my gosh! GRABE! SOBRA!

No one can ever do this song the way Jennifer Holiday did. My goosebumps give her a standing ovation everytime I replay this clip.

Yup, you gotta love her in that performance!

Back to Reality

2006-11-30T23:09:00.000-05:00

Lito&Pia
Originally uploaded by MadMuse.

After a nice break in Florida for Thanksgiving and a niece's wedding, we are now back to reality - back to our hectic work schedule and to living in our house, out of the boxes that we have yet to unpack.

At my request, Lito Villareal obliged and flew to Florida to sing "The Prayer" with me for the wedding. We started singing together when we were in our teens. And now, decades later, it's nice to know that we still share, not only the same musical chemistry, but the same ridiculous sense of humor like before. Yes, many things in life change, but some things remain the same. That's very comforting - kind of like a nice, King-sized pillow - kind of like Lito. :)

Maraming Salamat

2006-11-21T16:57:00.000-05:00

It's been a wild couple of months - home-buying, business trip, moving, unpacking and trying to settle in our new home while still trying to live and do the day-to-day stuff. It's been quite a ride! We're not even finished unpacking, and we're off in a couple of days to sunny Florida for Thanksgiving and a family wedding. Truthfully, I would rather stay and finish settling into the house just because I hate leaving things in disarray - but family commitments are a priority. Some of them anyway. :) Besides, I've asked an old friend to sing with me in the wedding. It's been at least seven years since Lito Villareal and I sang and were onstage together in Manila. It will be great to sing again with an old friend, especially one whom I think has one of the best singing voices I've ever heard.

Hubby and I have a lot to be thankful for this coming holiday. Year 6 has been packed with blessings - pressed down, shaken together and running over. That goes, as well, for our gratitude to God, close family and friends who have been and are with us all throughout.

Maraming Salamat talaga! :)

Going Offline

2006-11-12T23:28:00.000-05:00

Okay, folks. Since Comcast did not come through with their promise to get us connected with cable and internet yesterday, we're not sure when they are going to get around to it. In the meantime, I am going offline and will try to get settled into our new place as soon as possible. Hopefully, it won't be too long until we're back online.

Hope to catch you all then!

Done Deal

2006-11-04T18:00:00.000-05:00

It's a done deal! A few days ago, we closed on our house and got our keys. We are now officially slaves of the Bank for the next 30 years. Never did I think that I would be happy to be enslaved. :)

Yesterday, we went to Home Depot to buy a few appliances that the house was still missing. Today, we lined up at 7:30 am for an hour and a half to get into the Crate and Barrel warehouse sale a few towns away. We managed to snag a nice, big dining table for a quarter of the original price. Yeah, it has a few scratches but it's nothing that a table runner can't hide. We picked out a few more things and tore ourselves away. There were a few other pieces that we would have wanted to get but we decided that we had spent enough. It was totally out of our usual spending pattern that the bank actually called us after we got home to verify our purchases!

And now, to pack. I wish we could fast-forward and skip the entire thing. It's the part of this entire process that I would rather do without!

Grammar gone wrong

2006-10-27T19:44:00.000-05:00

Lately, I have noticed that my English grammar has suffered quite a bit. I used to be able to spot errors instantaneously, be it verbal or written. Now, it takes a few seconds before it registers in my brain. Sometimes, I don't even notice it at all.

Living in the US these last seven years has made me relax about grammar. People in the Philippines, who speak the language fluently will consider it funny when they hear grammatical errors. There, Filipino comedians doing a script with pidgin' English always elicit raucous laughter.

Here, one butchers the language and nobody gives a hoot. Besides, I don't think anyone can do worse than all those rap songs that hold the airwaves captive these days. So, I have taken to asking Hubby to proofread whatever I write, in case rap songs have made their permanent mark in the area of my brain where my linguistic capabilities lie, and manifest itself in my business correspondences and work projects.

Er...Hunni, can you proofread my blog too?

On Pins & Needles

2006-10-22T06:26:00.000-05:00

In a little more than a week from now, should everything go as smoothly as from when it started two weeks ago, we are scheduled to close on the house that we chose. I can't say that it is our dream house but it's a pretty darn good house to start with - a charming colonial on the side of a hill, in a quaint neighborhood, a few miles from the city. The house is in move-in condition although we have a few updates in mind already for some areas in the future.

Someone told me five years ago that if we didn't buy then, we would never be able to afford anything ever. And she was actually voicing a fear that I had, but somehow my faith kicked in and I responded, "If God wants us to have a house, He will give it to us at the location that we want, and at the price we can afford." True enough, we found this house in the place we've dreamed of living at a price that we would consider miraculous for the area. Who says God doesn't grant us our dreams if we allow Him to work on it?

Please pray for a smooth and speedy closing. :)

One To Call Our Own

2006-10-11T09:46:00.000-05:00

We have decided to bite the bullet and find a home of our own. After years of waiting, it's finally a buyer's market and we're jumping into the fray. It will be a tedious and tough month, but totally worth it -- or so I'm told.

Here's to a couple of years of eating only Ramen, wearing old and worn-out clothes, and staying at home during long weekends, holidays and vacations.

To our dear family and friends, we're afraid that you won't get your usual gifts this year and next. Oh, and if you still do think of giving us a gift for our birthdays and Christmas, please consider a Home Depot or Lowe's gift card. :)

We covet your prayers!

Foolish Advice

2006-09-29T14:58:00.000-05:00

I know of this young, twenty-something girl who's having an affair with a married man. The man, supposedly going through a rough patch in his marriage and is 'temporarily' separated, has sought solace in the arms of this naive, young virgin. Of course, she only knows what he's told her as they see each other in secret - and since they have no mutual friends to verify anything he's said, she's taken his word as gospel.

She considers herself bound to him just because she lost "it" to him. I basically told her that falling for the wrong guy is not that uncommon because it's something from which we can glean great lessons and move on, and that she deserves a man who can commit himself fully only to her. As expected, it was not received too well. Another person egged her on by saying that we all make mistakes and learn from them - but that she's young only once and should to live it up and enjoy.

The affair itself did not shock me. We are all human and do make mistakes in different ways, but that advice did. How can someone give that kind of counsel? Live it up and enjoy? Enjoy...for how long? What and how much will one do for momentary enjoyment? Broken families, wrecked homes, unplanned pregnancy, hurt children growing up with philandering parents who continue the cycle and do it to their own spouse and children, etc.? Is all that worth someone's temporary pleasure?

It sometimes takes one foolish choice to trigger events and set our lives to a certain path, as well as affect others' irrevocably.

No matter how crazy our lives and choices become, deep down in our guts, we know what's right. I have no problems with foolish acts. After all, we all have our share of them. I do, however, have a problem with foolish advice.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

2006-09-25T14:14:00.000-05:00

Dannyboy

While I was talking to my sister-in-law on the phone a few hours ago, Danny, her 3-year-old son (our godson) went to the bathroom by himself to pee. After she hung up with me, she went to the bathroom to check on him.

"Did you do peepee in the toilet?" she asked.

"Yes, Mommy!" He answered.

My sister-in-law responds, "Bravoooooooo, Danny! You are such a good boy!"

He then proudly adds, "Mommy, I did peepee in the toilet, and poopoo on the floor, then I took it from the floor, I put in the toilet and I flushed -- ALL BY MYSELF!"

ROFL!