Surprise Call

Earlier at lunch time I got a call from my boss from a former job. I thought she has forgotten me since it's already been 10 years since I have worked for them. My job with them was the very first I have had since I came to the US. Anyway, I almost didn't recognize her voice, much so the phone number that appeared on the caller ID. Earlier this month I called and left her a greeting on her voicemail because it was her birthday. I didn't expect the president of the company to give me a call back for I know how busy it is to be in that position --- but she took time to remember me and gave me a ring. I am so glad to hear from her! I hope to visit her at the new office in Pasadena. Thank you Mrs. Yatman!

ICAM

Just recently, my sister sent me pictures of our old school in Balut, Tondo Manila where we spent our elementary and secondary education. When I saw the photos, it's like saying "beam me up, Scotty", I was immediately transported back to the days when I was in kindergarten -- my classmates, the playground, the acacia tree, the nuns, the drinking fountain, the old bookstore, the field, the gate .... the building. So clear, so vivid. No matter how much improvements and buildings were added to our school, still it was the old ICAM that I know -- block section, my classmates & schoolmates for 14 years, the slippery pavement, the mass, the hard education, the field trips....

My sister and I talked endlessly over the Yahoo Messenger about anything we could remember about those days... and then there was this classmate of her's who passed away in 1997. Let's call her "M". She was my sister's barkada. Apparently, "M" was a victim of witchcraft. "Nakulam" as we would term it. Bakit nakulam? "M" had a relationship with a married guy, whose wife hired a witch to torture her as vendetta. "M" died 3 days after the torture. During her last hours, "M" apparently had a voracious appetite and ate and ate and ate until her mom could not keep up in giving her food. Her mom said if she only knew that her daughter was going to pass away that night, she would have spent more time with her... "Nagbabaon na pala para sa kabilang buhay", she told my sister. Later pa, when the guy found out that the mastermind of this was his wife, he gave a big punch at the door because he later realized that the same thing happened to his parents. His parents were also victims of witchcraft. To top it all, his wife was dating his cousin. Eeek...!! sad and tragic story.

Anyway, that was just a part of the conversation we had as we reminisce our days at ICAM. Sadly, ICAM has no website pa. Maybe in the future?

Bridal Shower

Last Sunday, we gave a bridal shower for my bro & sister-in-law to be. Wala lang, I just wanted to say how my mom-in-law was impressed how our house turned out over the weekend. We moved to this house early this year from a bachelor's pad. (Imagine how we fit in that single apartment before -- my hubby, ako, and my 2 kids... ako rin nagtataka) Anyway, the point that I was trying to come up is... first of all...you wouldn't believe how much things we've accumulated before we moved, kasi no matter how we try to put things in place, there are still boxes left unopened and to be sorted. It took us 4 grueling months before we can get rid of those boxes when all it takes is hosting a party para maayos ang bahay... you know what I mean? Paano naman, just taking care of the 2 - an infant and a toddler is already a full time job. Actually, we didnt get rid of the boxes... we just put them in the garage to free up space in the house. I dont encourage anybody before to go to our house kasi they might not see us because of the towering boxes, hehehe, pero ngayon siguro pwede ng pagtiyagaan.

All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten

- an excerpt from the book, All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum



All I really need to know I learned in kindergarten.

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:

Share everything.

Play fair.

Don't hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Clean up your own mess.

Don't take things that aren't yours.

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Flush.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.

Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.

And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

Maya Angelou

I got this in my inbox today. Inspiring, witty, funny...


In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Maya really is a marvel who has led quite an interesting and exciting life. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. And, there on television, she said it was "exciting." Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring everyday...like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first. The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words.

"I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life."

I've learned that life sometimes gives you second chance.

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.

"I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. "

Maganda.org

Yesterday nga pala, I stumbled upon a very nice website by Christine. I like her sketches and web design.

Tax Season Again

I finally got to finish doing our tax return! Grabeh, 2:00 am na ako nakatulog. I had to wait for my kids to slumber... yeah my son slept around 11:30 pm. Abi slept around 10:45 pm. Not too bad. That's my normal sleep time nowadays. I have to put them to sleep first so I can concentrate on our income tax return. Mind you, though, I am not a CRAMMER, but I can tell you when you have 2 kids, I will admire you if you can stay on top of things... in everything. Wow!.. that is now just a dream for me. So I don't encourage you to go to our house... magulo eh. Geez, I don't even have time to get a haircut! ... pero ha, I can still blog, hehehe.

I am so sleepy this morning at work, kaya heto, I keep munching on chocolates to keep me awake.

Anyhow, I got my first copy of Guideposts . April issue. So excited ako kasi I've been waiting for this for so many weeks. Actually, I saw a copy of this in the waiting room of my OB many months ago and I got hooked to reading it. Very informative and enlightening issues are there. Try nyo. (No, they didn't pay me to endorse them ;-) )

Holy Alphabet

I was blessed when this "holy alphabet" greeted me in the morning. I hope it does the same to you...

A -lthough things are not perfect
B -ecause of trial or pain
C -ontinue in thanksgiving
D -o not begin to blame
E -ven when the times are hard
F -ierce winds are bound to blow
G -od is forever able
H -old on to what you know
I -magine life without His love
J -oy would cease to be
K -eep thanking Him for all the things
L -ove imparts to thee
M -ove out of "Camp Complaining"
N -o weapon that is known
O -n earth can yield the power
P -raise can do alone
Q -uit looking at the future
R -edeem the time at hand
S -tart every day with worship
T -o "thank" is a command
U -ntil we see Him coming
V -ictorious in the sky
W -e'll run the race with gratitude
X -alting God most high
Y -es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z -ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

Coke Izzit

I stumbled upon this . Interesting.

Random Thoughts

Please dont mind me if this entry seems to jump from one topic to another. It's just that I want to write whatever's in my head -- and also to see the flow of thoughts in my mind. I want to know if I will be able to come up with one topic with sense.

We finally decided to collect money from all people who drinks coffee in the morning - particularly those who use the coffee pot by the sink. There are at least 10 people, including me, who cannot stand to work without getting a coffee fix. We used to just bring whatever supply is running low, but a lot of times some people just get coffee and don't think that they have to contribute anything. Some just don't get it, and a lot of times, they are the ones with big coffee mugs who fill it up to the brim. Tsk-tsk...

I slept at about 1:30 this morning. I was doing my taxes.... well, actually before I was able to set my hands on it, I need to make sure my kids have had their dinner, spent my quality time with them by watching tv or playing with them two active toddlers, washed the dishes, get those feeding bottles washed and filled with milk, do a little folding of the laundry, issue checks for the bills, get mine and my husband's clothes ready for tomorrow, fix the bed where my babies will be sleeping, check my e-mail for a few minutes.... then do my taxes. After3 hours I woke up to take a bath and get everybody up and about to get ready and head for work. My eyes feel sandy right now. *yawn* Did I get to finish doing my return? .... nope.

A few times have I heard that one person got laid off from work and then days later won the lottery. Do you also speak to God and say, "Lord, when is my turn to win? Don't you want me to win because I won't be able to handle it? I promise to keep my feet on the ground, promise." Anyhow, I keep buying the Lotto in the hope of not only getting rich but to be able to pay all our debts and the debts and mortgages of my siblings and in-laws, or so we can send our kids to a good school, better yet, home school them. When?

Facts of Life

1. At least 5 people in this world, love you so much they would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you, in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you, is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you, can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

5. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep.

6.You mean the world to someone.

7. Without you, someone may not be living.

8. You are special and unique, in your own way.

9. Someone that you don't know even exists, loves you.

10. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good comes from it.

11. When you think the world has turned it's back on you, take a look, you most likely turned your back on the world.

12. When you think you have no chance at getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you believe in yourself, you probably sooner or later will get it.

13. Always remember complements you received, forget about the rude remarks.

14. Always tell someone how you feel, then they'll know.

15. If you have a great friend, take the time to let them know that they're great.

Oh No!

Nitong nakaraang linggo ay nagpunta kaming mag-anak sa mall upang tumingin ng damit na isusuot ko at ng aking mag-anak sa kasal ni bayaw. Ilang buwan na rin palang di ako napupunta ng mall, ah. Kung wala rin lang kasi akong bibilhin ay ayaw kong magwindow shopping at ako ay nasasabik lamang. Anyway, ang gusto ko talagang sabihin ay ang hirap magpigil ng pagkain!!! (grrr!) Dumampot na kasi ako ng nagustuhan kong damit sa department store upang isukat, kaso ang natirang sizes duon ay 4, 10, at 12 na lamang. Hmmm, sabi ko, baka 4 pa rin ako ah.... So pick-up ko yung size 4. Heto na ang sales lady, "Can I help you choose a dress?" I obliged and said "sure" Nakita niyang size 4 ang aking dala dala, napahinto siya. Tinignan ako at sinabi niya, "Let me look at the other sizes because I think you are a size 10." Accck! (Oo nga pala ano, feeling thin pa rin ako, eh dalawa na ang anak ko!) So sabi ko, "ah yeah, the only sizes left are 10 & 12, and I think I am a size 4 'coz before.... " "Here, just try on both of them" Sabi ko, sige na nga (kaba) baka size 10 na nga ako..acckk! Pasok ako ng fitting room. I started slipping on the size 4. (sa loob loob ko, "Mariosep! ayaw yata ako magkasya! Impossible ito... noooOOooooOOOooo!!!") Tapos try ko yung size 10. OMG! nagkasya siya without labor ha! ...( tanggapin mo na kasi na lumaki at tumaba ka na!... sabi ng konsiyensya ko) *buntunghininga* Ayun, buking na ang aking size... I am 2 size larger now. Pakonsuelo naman ni mister, "Di bale, may anak ka naman, 'no. Normal 'yan." Napatigil ako at nasabi ko sa sarili ko, buti pa si husband marunong tumingin sa bright side. (Bright side nga ba or para matahimik na lang ako?) Hindi ako dati ganito mag isip. Dati rati sinasabihan ako ng aking ina na para daw akong blade sa payat (90 lbs lang kasi ako nuon, ngayon 'wag nyo na tanungin) Namomoblema ako nuon paano tumaba man lang ng konti, kako para naman may korte. Ngee... be careful of what you wish for, you might just get it. Tutoo nga.

Anyway, I am not crying over my weight naman. Wala pa naman nagsabing ke taba-taba ko pero miss ko na yung mga luma kong damit bago ako nagka-anak. Ayun sila, nasa kahon na at tila namamaalam na ng permanente sa akin. Ako lang naman itong umaasang papayat pa ako to a whooping size 4! Pwede ba, get real, 'no?

Kaya kayong mga dalaga, ingatan ang magandang katawan. Kahit may asawa na o wala pa, ingat na lang sa mga kinakain para 'di matulad sa 'kin.