Goodbye 2008

2008 was a challenging year for me and I wouldn't have survived it if not for the family and friends who helped me go through everything. With that, I will always be grateful to all of you for making me whole again.

I echo an online friend's plurk - GOOD RIDDANCE to 2008! I can only wish for the best and work harder this year to give myself and Basti a better and fuller life. It's not going to be a smooth ride but I'm sure we'll be just fine.

Happy New Year!

Fab Holiday Finds Week 5: Red and/or Green

Both my father and I believe in Feng Shui. I made some research and asked friends what would be our essential tools and deities for the year of the Ox. I actually got my charm bracelets and necklace last weekend. It is said that people born in the year of the rabbit are prone to being cheated and robbed so I got the recommended protective charms against it.


This is a Jade Ox that we placed near our main door to protect the whole family and household and to invite good wealth, health and fortune for everyone. We were given a big discount on this one because we bought a number of charms, bracelets and necklaces so they did not hesitate to give us a good discount on this one.

We believe in the power of Feng Shui but we don't entrust our whole lives to it. The Chinese also says that Feng Shui is there only as a guide. We still need to work hard and do what we can to ensure that our lives get better. As Papa always tells me, "Life is what you make it" and he is definitely right.

Two more days to go and we're off to 2009. Happy New Year!

A breeze

I appreciate the fact that driving through the roads in Manila have been a breeze since the holidays began. I'm sure this is not going to happen ever again - at least not in the very near future.

However, on my way to work this morning, a lot of these motorcycle drivers have been hogging the roads to themselves without regard for the other motorists. I am waiting for that day when these motorcycle drivers would really have be responsible motorists so that accidents will be lessened. We do not have offices similar to what Seattle injury lawyers have that cater primarily on injuries caused by accidents or work.

I would be totally happy if every day will be a breeze for all motorists. But I guess that is a dream for now - at least here in the Philippines.

Disciplined truck drivers

..this is a dream that every motorist would like to see. I still have yet to see a truck driver who is technically knowledgeable on truck driving rules and regulations. Here in the Philippines, you don't need to go through formal schooling to earn your driving license. More often than not, with just a couple of hundreds of pesos and a good connection, even a 20-year old can be issued the professional driver's license - the one held by truck drivers all over the country.

In the US and in other countries, persons who'd like to drive trucks will have to go through truck driver training or a course on commercially-driven vehicles called the CDL training before you are issued a license. Not only will your technical know-how be gauged but the governments are strictly implementing the qualifications and rules needed to be passed by the individual who wants to be a certified and licensed truck driver. They are one of the best drivers in their field and of course, one of the highest-paid too.

Now if only we could do that here then maybe things will be better for those on the road. Our roads laden with disciplined and knowledgeable drivers - now that would really be heaven for me.

Just thinking

When I came back to work last week, I received an e-mail about the upgrade of our health insurance benefits which also included our dependents for that matter. I didn't have to give it much thought since I have been contemplating on removing my erstwhile spouse from my list of dependents. However, I couldn't get a verified answer to my query, even from the managers on the floor.

We also have a group insurance policy, similar to a no exam life insurance where we can enroll a specific number of beneficiaries. I wanted the spouse to be removed from the list but apparently, none of them has done that before.

I know that I may sound harsh because I have to resort to this thing, but I feel that I'm just being fair to myself. Others may feel otherwise but then again, I'm just thinking out loud.

I gifted myself

I came home at the break of dawn today and slept a couple of hours before hitting the malls again with Papa. I woke up with a very sore throat and I'm once again on the verge of being voiceless. I had to preserve whatever sound I can still produce from my vocal cords so I was kinda quiet today. LOL!

First, we had to get the bracelets and charms we ordered specific for each of our Chinese astrological signs. We ate lunch at Max's and then went to Cash and Carry to buy some more stuff for the house. We went home feeling a little bit spent because we both lacked sleep. I decided to go to SM and after giving it a serious thought, I have finally arrived at the decision to myself a little something for Christmas - something that I can say I deserve after a long period of time.

It's not really something big but they can ease the day's pressures away.



The songs in the albums bring back a lot of my memories as a teenager. I love Lea's and Joey's songs. I didn't make a mistake in getting these albums. Now I have new stuff to listen to in the car and sing along to, that is, if I get my voice back to do so.

I'm one happy gal today!

Talking about the Big C

It's not easy to talk about cancer or diabetes but since both run in our family, I can't help but do so. When I was diagnosed with diabetes, I had to research on stuff and keep abreast (somehow) on the latest developments in the treatment so that I will be in the know regarding my options. One thing is certain though, diabetes has totally changed the way I am seeing my life and myself.

I was browsing through my medical prescriptions and files when I saw that I have to undergo another series of blood work by January to check on how my blood sugar is and to see whether the medicines are helping. I then suddenly remembered that January is always a crucial month for me because this is the time when I have to undergo my yearly breast ultrasound for prevention and early detection of breast cancer. I think I have mentioned before that two of my aunts and my very own half sister are survivors of breast cancer. Thinking about going through the ultrasound actually makes me shudder at the thought that I'm like anticipating that I'm going to have it as my risk of contracting it is high given the figures in our family.

I know that by doing so, I become a pessimist and it invites negative vibes and energy into my system. I guess it's an understandable if I feel and think that way. It's like people afflicted with mesothelioma having expected that they may have the disease someday because of their exposure to asbestos. Maybe they also felt the feeling I'm having this very moment.

I'm known to be a person who always has a positive take on every thing. However, there are things that will make you think and feel otherwise and I am no exception to that. I need to turn things around and rely on God's plan for me. I'm sure every thing will be just fine.

The holiday faces of Basti

As always, my son is such a goofy one. I'm glad I captured his different holiday faces before he went to celebrate Christmas day and the rest of the week with my in-laws.

Holiday Feast

My diet was ruined by the holiday season. And as much as I needed to veer and stay away from sweets and other tempting holiday food to help keep me in better shape, it was inevitable and I've succumbed to the temptation. I just told myself, "I have my medicines, that will help me survive this temptation!" I know, I know, it's a bad way to approach the situation, but I'm weak and food calls. LOL!

I woke up this morning feeling bloated and uneasy. I've been attending parties here and there the past couple of weeks and I totally can see that I've gained back the little weight that I lost for the past months since I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Papa and I have been going out a lot lately, too, and I guess no amount of diet pills can help me ose the weight right away. Besides, it's not going to be a healthy thing for me to do given my condition.

There's still the New Year's to look forward to and this means more food on the table and a couple of more parties and gatherings to attend. I just hope no one else would serve me leche flan or cake or native delicacies or pastries or my favorite pasta dishes. I know that's some wishful thinking given the holidays. I just hope that there will be one or two people who will not offer me to eat those or say that "It's Christmas" or "It's-New Year's-so-it's-okay-to-eat-that" sort of statement.

I'm just glad that the holidays will soon be over and I'll be able to focus more on bringing down my weight figures. And I'd like to leave you with a goofy photo of my little guy taken on Christmas eve.



Enjoy the weekend!

Happy Holidays

I woke up to a quite chilly morning today. And I'm sure most people are still asleep from the previous night's activities. Our family doesn't really have a Noche Buena feast every year to boast of. Whatever we prepare for dinner on Christmas eve is already our Noche Buena feast. We grew up not really looking forward to the Christmas Eve dinner for some strange reason.

I went with Papa to accompany him to do his last minute shopping and after which the family had a sumptuous dinner of homemade beef caldereta, lechon, pastries, native kakanin and cake. Basti and I retired early last night. My little guy is still asleep as I'm writing this and I have already slipped a little gift in his Christmas sock - the gift from Santa. LOL!

I can probably say that this year's Christmas is much better than the previous years. I'm happier in the sense that I wake up in the morning looking forward to better days. I have freed myself from a relationship that slowly killed me inside for the past 6 years and I'm now ready to start anew after the storm. As for my little guy, I just want him to enjoy every Christmas and every single day that he will have with me. He's all there is now to me and I'll do just about everything to make it all right for him.

Merry Christmas to everyone! Enjoy the rest of the holidays with your loved ones!


Credits:
Holiday Spirit Cards by Dani Mogstad at SSD
Font: Vladimir Script

All he wanted for Christmas

Last weekend, Basti and I went to the mall and he told me that he wanted a pet for Christmas after passing by Bio Research. I really didn't want him to see the pet shop because I know that he will be seeing that cute little shitzu enclosed in a dog cage up for sale.

It was an inevitable scene because on the way to the parking area, the barking of the dogs caught his attention. He ran and went into the store and looked at the Shitzu. He even told the saleslady that he wanted the dog. My poor little guy, he really wanted that pet badly.

I had to talk him out of the situation which went on for a couple of minutes. I reminded him that Mommy doesn't have enough to buy the shitzu for him. I also reminded him how much effort, money and time it will cost us to buy the shitzu's needs like food, clothes, pet supplements, shampoo and other stuff and Mommy might not be able to afford his milk and food if that will be the case. Luckily, I was able to convince him that it is not yet the right time for us to buy a pet. He conceded and I won the battle.

I know I haven't won the war yet on the pet thing and I kinda broke my little guy's heart. It broke my heart, too, not to be able to give him what he really wanted but at least he'll be getting something that he also wants for Christmas - another new toy that he told me that he also wanted. I hope that can make up for the pet that he's dreaming of.

A Great Web Find (Fab Holiday Finds:Gold)

I have been meaning to join the ever-growing circle of followers of The Filipino Mom Blog. Primarily, it was my busy schedule that kept me from visiting and participating. I was made aware of this blog through my high school classmate and friend, Cess, who is one of the main contributors. I was reading through the blog earlier today and definitely, this group of Moms are some of the best Mom-writers I've ever encountered. The blog contains a lot of great tips and musings. I just simply love it.



FMB has this meme for the holidays called Fab Holiday Finds. The full mechanics can be found here. The meme is already on week 4 and there's one more week to go before it ends.



Our Christmas tree is full of red and gold trimmings. Most of the tree's gold trimmings were priced at around 50-300 pesos 2 years ago at SM. It's just great that they were kept in mint condition even after such time.

Holidays are here again

Because I am in the process of financial healing, this year I have decided not to venture into shopping and give out gifts to everyone in my list for Christmas. It's not that I want to be the Grinch or something but I just have to be sensible to prioritize things for now. I'm sure they will understand my reasons for not doing so.

There are quite a few people who received gifts from me already and they were mostly personalized and varied stuff I did using digital scrapbooking. For those who are still doing their last minute Christmas shopping, I found out that there are a number of personalized holiday gifts you may want to consider giving your loved ones, especially those who are technology or gadget lovers.



Did you know that there is already a wooden USB drive? I felt weird hearing about it for the first time but there is really one now that is available in the market. It is an environment-friendly device with an attached cap that comes in two colors and can either be a 2GB or 4GB capacity for more storage. The item also comes with free laser engraving that is sure to make the gift more personalized than ever.

Wouldn't it be nice to receive a business card that could hold 2GB worth of data and could double as a flash drive? This kind of gift is available starting at $15.99 after the 20% discount being offered. The card's front side can also be engraved for free with three lines of personalized text. The card's back has a small USB cable that you can connect to your computer or laptop for your data storage needs.

It would also be nice to give out personalized pens that comes in three unique styles and multiple colors. These pens can be engraved for free which you can buy starting from $1.59 after discounts.

Lastly, the ever-reliable thumb drives are available also as a choice for your Christmas gifts. These thumb drives come in a variety of colors and its capacity as a drive is up to 16GB. The drive can be laser engraved and what's more is that engraving is free. There are 32 themes available so you may want to gift your teacher or friend with one. I would personally like to receive one as a gift.

This Christmas, no matter how big or small your gift may be, it is important to be always grateful and keep in mind the real reason for the season.

24 Days After I Ordered

I've been wanting to use the samples I ordered from Everyday Minerals. Too bad I wasn't able to use it during our company Christmas party but I still have a couple of more occasions where I can use it. And I'm definitely excited.

Finally, the package came today!

Catching Up With A Friend

It's been a couple of years since I last saw Reggie and my godson, Julo. We had a scrumptious lunch at Teriyaki Boy then capped the afternoon with coffee, milk and sugar-free desserts at Starbucks.

It's always nice to see a good ol' friend and catch up on each other. The relationship and friendship never change despite the distance and the lapse of time between you.

Athena Turns 1

My goddaughter, Athena, turned 1 last December 19th. Her parents celebrated her 1st birthday with a Hawaiian Luau Party today.

I was the one who made her invitations, gift tags and tarp. I'm just glad that the party went out very well. Due to Slide's 50-picture limit, I'm only able to showcase so much. But the full album can be found in my Facebook, Friendster, Multiply and MyPhotoAlbum profiles.

Happy 1st birthday Athena!

Pain in my heart

I recently heard this song when I randomly played songs in my PC. This song is actually a real tearjerker for those who are heartbroken. But for me, I treat this song as part of my therapy.

For most of us, we just would like the pain to instantly go away - in a blink of an eye, so to speak. Based on experience, pain doesn't work that way. Some would even dream of having pain pumps so it could pump away the crushing feeling of being hurt and being maligned. There are even people who seek revenge or think of ending their precious lives all because they couldn't stand the pain.

I met a lot of people who caused me so much pain. And it even came to a point where I almost decided to end my life because of one person's deeds. I felt betrayed, I was left alone. But over the years, I've realized that these were the same feelings of pain that brought out the best in me. These were the pains in my life that led me to stand up from every fall I've experienced; the same experiences that made me see the challenge and beauty of life. I am not the perfect person and I will never be. But I become a better one every single time pain comes and teaches me a lesson or two.

My First Photo Shoot

After meeting up with other C3X members at Dell's, the group went straight to the American Memorial Park nearby. This was my first photo shoot and my first time to visit the place. And although I'm not fully-equipped with the technicalities of photography, all I did was to enjoy the photo shoot and have fun tinkering with the manual and automatic settings of Sly.

I told myself that I found another place where I can actually ponder and spend time meditating. Being a cemetery, the place is green and serene. It is clear of any electric posts, the busy crowd of malls, and the scenery is something where you'll be embarrassed to use any kind of electronic device, be it your cellphone or even cell phone amplifiers because you might wake up the dead. LOL!



Seriously, I found the place very beautiful. I never thought that there is still such a place in fast-paced and urbanized environment.

I left shortly before 2pm because I had some other appointments but after this day, I was now more than encouraged to go back to photography, get serious with it and strike off "to be a photographer" in my bucket list.

P.S.: Of course, I'd like to thank JM Sison for being the group's "model" for the day. LOL!

Thursday Thirteen: My Christmas Wish List

I know each one of us has a personal wish list. I rarely do this but for this year, I decided to have one for a change. This isn't every thing on the list but I just wanna share with you some of them.

Thirteen Things on My Christmas Wish List

01. Be able to manage my debt and minimize them

02. Be more grateful that I have a stable job in a company that's rising above the global financial crisis despite my underpaid status

03. Have a more regular diet regimen to be able to manage my diabetes even better

04. That I'll be able to transfer my son to a school near my place next school year

05. Rebuild my relationship with my son

06. Get a plasma TV and be able to choose wisely from among the numerous tv lifts available for it

07. Get back into photography and be a full-fledged photographer backed with technical knowledge and the talent for it

08. Get my son's albums scrapped and properly documented in photo books

09. Get to read 2-3 books in a month

10. Have a regular spa day at least 2x a month

11. Have a better grip of my finances

12. Invest in a good life insurance plan

13. Get to travel this year with friends and Basti

Happy Thursday!

Litratong Pinoy: Eksayted (Excited)

It's been a while since I last participated in LP because I've been busy with life's stuff. I kinda set aside photography as a hobby and that's also one of the reasons why I was not visible here.

This is a photo of my goddaughter, Athena. It was my first time to see her when my colleague brought her along for our 2nd year anniversary party. This kid really has a knack for posing.

She got excited when she learned I was going to take her picture. If only I had more flash memory space, I wouldn't mind taking her picture over and over and over again. This was the result of her excitement. Isn't she so adorable?

(Filipino translation:
Matagal-tagal na rin akong hindi nakasali sa LP dahil nga medyo naging abala ako sa mga bagay-bagay sa aking buhay. Medyo napabayaan ko na rin ang aking hilig sa paglilitrato kaya nawala ako.

Yan ang aking inaanak na si Athena. Unang beses ko syang nakita nung party ng aming grupo para sa aming ikalawang anibersaryo at talaga namang bibo ang batang ito sa harap ng kamera.

Na-eksayt sya nang malaman nyang kinukuhanan ko sya ng litrato. At ito ang kinalabasan. Nakakatuwa sya diba?)

Wrapping Up

December's here and after the long weekend I had for Thanksgiving (I was off from November 28 to November 30), I could only be thankful that the new year's coming up and I know that there will be more things for me when it comes.

I've been back to my parents' house for almost 2 months now and I'm slowly gaining my life back. I still have so much stuff to unpack and arrange. There are still boxes that I preferred to serve as my self storage bins until such time I am able to get a couple of days off where I can attend to them. Financially, I'm still not okay but it's manageable now. I owe my parents money but at least I'm now more at ease with my finances than when I was a couple of months back.

It's nice to wrap things up for the year on a positive note. I'm happier now. After everything that happened, I still feel so blessed and loved. And I only have God, my family and friends to be thankful for that.

We turned 2!

The NDR team is known for good food - anywhere, all the time. And our 2nd year anniversary never deviated from that theme. From 18 we're now only down to 10 who stayed on. We've been planning this for weeks and although the 10 of us were not complete, we had a wonderful time with all the food, singing, picture taking and stories we told each other.

We held the party at our house and it was a busy week preparing the place for the party. There were a couple of bathroom light fixtures that we needed fixed. Good thing my brother is a DIY person so we did not have to find someone else to repair it for us.

The day of the party, the weather was kinda perfect but got gloomy and rainy in the afternoon and early evening. But that didn't dampen the party spirit in all of us. Mark, our former teammate and now a CPA working for SGV, made it to the party. It's been months since we last saw him and he still looked good as ever. Thanks for gracing our event, Mark. And we hope to see you again soon.

2 years and still going strong as ever! Happy 2nd anniversary to all of us!