I crossed over!

Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living. Miriam Beard

The airport is nice, the rental car, perfect, just 7 miles on it, but within the first hour of landing at Orlando International , I was already complaining about the heat. The drive to Kissimmee made me wonder, “What’s special about this place?” Greens all over but it is incredibly boring.

When we were still planning for this trip to Central Florida, my mind was fixed on seeing the place for possible relocation. Having heard a lot of good things about the state from friends and relatives, I strongly persuaded Brack to support me, initially he said I should wait until I see the place first, but he gave in to my prodding and said, "We’ll go wherever you'll be happy."

While driving, I had scenes of this talk flashing back in my mind. Right there and there, I retracted my statement and said, there is no way I’m going to live here. It is just not me. I am used to juggling time, running here and there, and being cast in a place where there seemed no life is just not my thing.

What are we going to do for the next seven days, look at cows and horses? “I’ve never seen a cow for so long now!” MM said. “Look Mommy! The bus stop is on the grass; the people got off and are walking home. Doesn’t make any sense riding a bus if you’re going to walk home too.” Abraham was laughing hard…Within the first hour of arrival; the four of us had the best laughs of our vacation. From there, with motives entirely different from the plans, I just thought, I’ll just make the most of this one week. Happiness or enjoyment for that matter is a frame of mind anyways.

Until we…

Reached Solivita
An upscale retirement community which boasts of several golf courses, a fitness and entertainment hall, several swimming pools, a bank, and other facilities and services meant to make the lives of the not so young ones more convenient but as classy, or even more fancier, as the world outside. Solivita, Venezia, and its sister subdivisions is where you find houses with lakes or preservation forests in the backyard. This is where you find smiling seniors live – where golf carts are a must (a ride Abraham and Lemuel enjoyed much with their Grandpa). You don’t need to go to the Himalayas to experience beauty and serenity, just get a home in Solivita – close to paradise – right in Central Florida. This is what I told my boss when I went back to LA.

Went nuts at Coconut Palms Beach Resort in New Smyrna

The sand is compact, walking is not as tiring as when you’re walking the beaches of Redondo and El Segundo, you can ride your bike through the sand, and the water, much more clearer.

It was “Hula Night” that time. Pizzas, cold drinks, and the funniest, good looking male participants from the audience really made it hilarious. Because all seats around the pool were already taken, we had no choice but to seat at the bar counter. Brack and I were both wearing shirts with the word “Hawaii” printed on it, Auntie Maggie was wearing a sarong, you couldn’t blame the contestants to think we were the judges of the Hula Dance Contest, after all, we looked like island natives anyways. One guy approached me for quick Hula lessons. I told him the last time I danced Hula was when I was in fifth grade and I’m pretty much sure that they’ll be asked to do a different Hula number this time. Still the other guys were convincing Brack to come join them so there’ll be more to laugh at. On top of the free and crazy entertainment, I won the raffle and went back to Auntie Maggie’s Condo by the beach with two nice shirts. That night I told Brack, "I’m loving it here."

Went to the Outlet Shopping Complex

I didn’t buy much. But there was a strong feeling of life…there is retail therapy in this place, and I’m going to survive here…definitely loving the place!

Visited Gatorland


If you’re serious about nature and reptiles, particularly gators where Florida is famous for, this is the place to go. By the ways, that tortoise behind me, it talks…no it doesn’t! I'm just kidding. It’s just the first time I heard a loud tortoise sound. There are a lot of them in this place, even in Solivita.

Spent some thrilling hours at Old Town Kissimmee

“This is it! I loved everything I see here!” This is where you can say, “Only in America!” The bull ride (although the bull is not real) is such an exciting sight.The riddle that I can’t solve at the Grimm Haunted House made it more frightening. Half of this haunted house tour, I walked with my eyes closed. I held onto Brack firmly so scared to detach myself from him. (I do it everytime we try a scary tour or ride, and he is so thrilled to see me like this.) The bikers with big tattooed bodies and flashy motorbikes, splendid! I’ve seen all these before in the movies. It is overwhelming to see in real life. The shops, the karaoke place…my first visit to a wax museum (what? yes! why flew 2,000 miles when the original Hollywood Museum is 11 minutes away from our house in LA?) It was a Thursday night and you wouldn’t expect so much action in Los Angeles or Hollywood on Thursday nights. I definitely love it here!

Drove to Cape Canaveral

NASA is here. The day I looked like a fool trying to do the simulated moon walk at the Astronaut’s Hall of Fame is like a flashback to the best times of my childhood. The time when I do not worry much, the time when fun is real fun. You bet, looking stupid at this picture is so worth the experience. And if you do not want to look and feel stupid like I was, try seeing the space movies first and observe how astronauts walk before trying on the no-gravity walk.

Meeting John Blaha, a retired astronaut with nine space missions on his portfolio is something to remember (by the ways, we were talking when this picture was taken - noticed our lips?) .

Strolled at Downtown Disney

Disneyland Resort in Anaheim is one-fifth of the size of Orlando’s Walt Disney World. Downtown is where you find Gloria Estefan’s Bongos Cuban Café and Wolfgang Puck’s Resto. The Memorabilia shop which sells stuff of actors, musicians, politicians, and other famous people, is worth spending your time with. Beware though, strictly, no photography allowed in this store.

There are a lot more interesting and lovely places in Central Florida that I never get to see. But I don’t need to visit it anymore. I don’t need more amazement or entertainment. I am already touched by the friendliness of the people there, their smiles and relaxed attitude made me realized that this is the life I wanted. So much better than rushing or running, so much better than the busy life in LA. I can do well here. I know I will.

Forget the hurricanes, you will have at least a week’s warning before it actually hits you. The insurance will cover anyways. Earthquakes cannot be predicted, an unforeseen risk of living in California. And besides, Central Florida is not a hurricane favorite destination, if it is, why would Disney, Sea World, and Universal Studios chose to locate there in the first place.

Eight days in the sunny state and I changed my view of life. This is me. I prefer the luscious greens than the crowded buildings. I prefer to watch the cranes than the cars on the streets of LA. I find more harmony in a sincere warm smile than the cold “How are you?” Did I say the place is also very clean?

I (we) left my (our) heart(s) in Orlando and I’m (we're) flying back to stay...

Traveling with Children

I love this candid quote of Robert Benchley, “In America, there are two classes of travel: First Class, and With Children.” With me on the second classification, travel is more challenging due to the pre and post activities which, based on my experience, were both tiring and enjoyable as the actual activities in my vacation destination. I am always very tired before I take-off for a vacation, I have complained about it in my previous blog. As a habit therefore, I try my best not to exhaust myself too much during the vacation for some strength is still needed for the the final blow, the unpacking, and putting things back in order, or some unexpected extras.

Having a near goldfish-like memory (4-second retention), which I think I do, LOL, is a big handicap for travelers. That is why I find checklists helpful and essential, especially when going on vacations or traveling with children. So after packing the airline tickets, parking and rental car reservations, and driving directions in an envelope, I asked Brack to make his list of things-to-bring checklist, and I added mine to his later. At twelve and ten, I think Abraham and Lemuel were old enough to know what they would need for the trip and would do fine making their own checklist of things-to-bring, I asked them to make their own, and below is what transpired.

Lemuel grabbed a pen and paper ready to start his list…

Lemuel: Okay…I need 18 briefs
Abraham: Whaaat? Why do you need 18 briefs? We’ll be in Florida for only 8 days?

(Brack and I were already laughing at the background)

Lemuel: I need at least 2 a day, 1 for morning, and 1 for night, and if I swim, I will use 3
Abraham: But we can do our laundry at Lolo Eddie’s
Lemuel: Okay, okay…I’ll bring 12 then

(Imagine the laugh of us)

After much contradiction from Abraham, Lemuel reduced the quantity of his things-to-bring and gave me the paper. The list has 90% games and small electronic devices, and the other 10% has the briefs, shirts, shorts, swimming goggles, and binoculars. After reading, I passed the paper to Abraham so he could make his list. Wise, or lazy, as he is, after 15 seconds, he handed the paper back to me, and it read, “Abraham’s things to bring – same as MM”

Hmmm…parenting…always something new everyday.

P.S. Before we departed for Orlando, the four of us agreed that if ever Delta will ask for volunteers to give-up seats (on our way back to LA) in exchange for travel coupons or travelers checks, we will have ourselves bumped so we can have tickets or cash for the next vacation. We didn’t take advantage of this offer when we were in Newark when Continental asked for 6 volunteers to give-up their seats for $240 traveler’s checks, could have been an instant $960 for the four of us. A very good offer considering the flight you will be taking, should you decide to get bumped, will be on air just an hour later the original flight. But then…we are traveling with children, so we passed. (To be concluded on my next entry, but not the blog after this, I meant next, next, entry)

...a thousand things

chaotic schedule, a desk full of papers, a ton of emails, an LP of phone calls and voicemails, upward and downward delegation, emergency shopping, and suitcases to fill...all these before the long awaited vacation...too tired to blog.

'Will be back after my Orlando vacation :-)

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Yesterday…

I saw him through the glass door and told my colleagues at work, “He is the man I am going to marry.” They thought it was a joke, maybe it was. Fifteen months later, on a lovely June sunset, we exchanged vows and professed our love before God, our families, and friends.

Today…

Thirteen years passed, our two boys are growing fast, days and nights are even better. His eyes still melts me; the sound of his voice remains the best music I hear.

Tomorrow…

Our sunset together…just like the sunset when we were joined.

The most wonderful of all things in life, I believe, is the discovery of another human being with whom one's relationship has a growing depth, beauty, and joy as the years increase. This inner progressiveness of love between two human beings is a most marvelous thing; it cannot be found by looking for it or by passionately wishing for it. It is a sort of divine accident, and the most wonderful of all things in life. Hugh Walpole

I love to sing!

I was ready to boycott American Idol promising not to watch the show anymore (as if it would have an impact on the show's rating, LOL) after Chris Daughtry was booted-off. But with Lemuel’s prodding to support Taylor, his favorite, I easily gave in and ended up watching the last 2 shows, and even alternated with the kids voting for Taylor. I don’t know why we’re so hooked up with this show and this year the household was divided equally, me and Brack for Chris, Abraham and Lemuel for Taylor. In the end, the four of us, united for Taylor Hicks, the unique, funny, and silver-haired idol. AI is the only show that we as a family really look forward to watching twice a week. From Abraham’s words, “American Idol only lasts for three and a half months, and we have to wait for a year for their next season, long wait.”

You might think my kids love to sing, no they don’t, and definitely not Brack, he refused to even hum a note for me, even in the shower, no sound at all. But I am. I am a frustrated singer, and will remain to be, not a singer, frustrated I meant.

Two decades ago, I enrolled at the famous Ryan Cayabyab’s The Music Studio in Makati. I learned vocalization and some singing techniques, added knowledge but I never really improved. The only consolation I had from the voice lessons was my time slot caught in between the lesson hours of two popular actresses in the Philippines back then. Lea Orosa, the beautiful Shell model once linked to Robin Padilla and Nanette Medved, who played Darna after Vilma Santos. I saw them once or twice there. It’s also nice to recall when Celeste Legaspi spent a few minutes to hear me sing, not because I had a good voice, but she was just curious of the song I’m singing, Debbie Gibson’s Eternal Flame, was one of the newest songs then.

I guess I’ll forever love to sing. I sing when I’m happy, I sing when I’m bored, I sing when I’m sad, extremely lonely or depressed. I remember when my most loved grandmother passed away; I would stay in the room, lie on the bed, and sing endlessly, to ease my broken heart until I fall asleep.

I sung to Abraham and Lemuel each time I put them to sleep when they were babies, in fact I have original lullabies for them.

My memories have theme songs, but I’m pretty much selective in singing them, I just chose those which bring back good memories.

I love to sing and since I can’t be a singer, I’ll just enjoy my American Idols. ‘Cant wait to hear them sing, I bought the tickets three months in advance :-)

There is delight in singing, though none hear beside the singer. Walter Savage Landor

Have you ever really loved a woman?

They say mothers are the most understanding people of all. I agree. That’s why I think its okay to post this late “Happy mother’s day!” greeting to all mothers out there, especially to my friends. I don’t want to miss out a name so omit the names; you know who you are anyways. And because blood is thicker than water, I started my mother’s day roll call with an overseas call to the Philippines as early as Friday to greet my Mama and then went on calling across the US to reach a couple of moms starting with my thoughtful mother in-law.

I guess all mothers are “cool” in their own rights and I salute each and every woman for bearing, surviving, and continuously loving this very important role. They deserve to be treated special and pampered, for the very least, a day in a year.

On my first mother’s day in this country four years ago, not only I was blessed and given a long stem rose by the parish priest during the mass but I also received a nice crucifix for having the youngest child in the church that day. From then on, I am always looking forward to attending the mass on mother’s day, to receive the blessing with matching long-stem rose.

When I came to work this Monday, some officemates asked how was my mother’s day. This uniform response I gave, “I had a very good mother’s day!” It was indeed worth the sunburns. Just sitting there and watching the tide relieved me of the accumulated pressures I had the past days. Although feasting on Thai foods, El Pollo Loco’s roasted chicken kicked me off-the-track my supposedly diet, it was still fun. Nothing compares with doing the things you enjoy doing, with people you love. And although I lost the short run race to Abraham and Lemuel, the laughs can’t be bought.

Before sunset, we packed up and headed to my friend Lorie’s house, where the fun continued, more talking…more food. The kids always loved going there because not only they are so comfortable with Nanay (Tagalog term for mother – is how we call Lorie’s mom) they also loved her cooking so much. Off with some take out food, we brought along the fun and laughter back to LA. Indeed, it was a very good day.

And don’t I deserve to have some fun after being debilitated when Chris Daughtry was booted-off from American Idol last week? Oh my, what happened? Why did he get the lowest number of votes? Have we lost our concept of quality? He could have been the best American Idol as obviously he is the best singer of the competition, excellent tone quality with built in vibrato combined with outstanding singing artifice. His going home too soon obliterated the essence of the show – to find a new idol – not anymore. All that remained of the show is a big lacunae – the real idol is out.

Why Chris Daughtry on my mother’s day entry? No offense to Bryan Adams, but I loved Chris’ rendition of Have you ever really loved a woman better. When he sung it on Idol, I felt he is serenading me, it was perfect! Like a scene from a romantic movie, more like Romeo and his sonnets to Juliet. Very appropriate for husbands to sing for their wives – more so, if you have been married for quite some time. A song very appropriate to sing for mothers who does all the good things for people she loves, who serves with pleasure, loves unconditionally and yet sometimes neglected by those around her. (I guess, I belong to the few lucky ones who are pampered and treated well, as Brack and the kids loved to spoil me, which I really appreciate.)

And so Dear Mothers, with my prodigious admiration…this song goes for you.

When you love a woman
you tell her that she's really wanted
When you love a woman you tell her that she's the one
Cuz she needs somebody to tell her
that you'll always be together
So tell me have you ever really -
really really ever loved a woman?

You got to give her some faith - hold her tight
A little tenderness - gotta treat her right
She will be there for you, takin' good care of you
Ya really gotta love your woman...

Give a smile, if nothing else...

Driving after work, my eyes were caught by a creative placard carried by a guy on the road – “GIVE A SMILE, IF NOTHING ELSE.” He looked homeless to me, for obvious reasons. But while begging for coins from drivers, he also flashes a sweet and natural smile. A smile so contagious and powerful, definitely switched me into a better mood. So why don’t we…give a smile if nothing else :-)

Postscript: The guy got coins and bills and a couple more smiles.

Smile and others will smile back. Smile to show how transparent, how candid you are. Smile if you have nothing to say. Most of all do not hide the fact you have nothing to say nor your total indifference to others. Let this emptiness, this profound indifference shine out spontaneously in your smile. Jean Baudrillard

taken for granted

Accomplishing everything changes it from being indispensable and desirable to just being taken for granted. This is what I say.

Have you ever felt being taken for granted after exerting more than enough effort, energy, and dedication into doing something or serving others? Believe me, it is not a happy experience. It actually made me believe that luck really exists. Why? How would you call the people who are not trying hard enough, but make another's life miserable, yet get good rewards and recognition? Lucky, right?

They say life begins at forty, at first I wonder; now I believe them. For when I turned forty, I learned so many things about life, things I thought I knew. But I ended up discovering that life has more hidden agendas that what is on the surface. Suddenly I’m a bit shaky and unsure of what’s going to happen, just like the outcome of a science experiment, you cannot conclude unless all the testing’s are done. I can’t wait to be forty-one for then maybe; I’ll pass this aleatory stage of confusion and stop altercating with myself.

Time please, alleviate my heavy feelings.

Being taken for granted can be a compliment. It means that you've become a comfortable trusted element in another person's life. This is what Dr. Joyce Brothers said. I'll keep it to console me.

It's here!

I love the food here better than McDonald's. This is the newest hangout for Pinoys in LA. I wonder if the white and latino customers I saw in the store loved the pinoy version of spaghetti and the yumburgers. Are they coming back after their first visit? or are they going out disappointed? I knew why they came...curious why such a new shop is crowded with cars and people. As for me and the family, we will be regulars :-)

Puppy (a limerick)

My favorite pet is a puppy,
Whenever I see one, it makes me happy.
It wags its tail,
It runs a trail.
Having a puppy is really jolly!

Abraham
April 5, 2006

('got an A for this!)

that look...

Toys R Us, Los Feliz, Saturday night.

The kids are busy checking out the latest game cube games and I am digging out the PS2 games bargain basket out of curiosity. I don't know why but I felt like someone's gazing at me. I turned my head towards my back...Brack, standing a meter away is starring at me. Jokingly I asked, "Why are you starring at me like that? Do you find me beautiful?" He said, "Yes, you are...” And he stared at me even more. Enraptured with his dazzled look, I blushed. Like a young girl, I walked fast to him and leaned my head to his shoulders, wrapping my arms around him. It's like a flashback of time when we were much younger and our love was new. It was a very good feeling...

Sunday morning, at breakfast table.

The four of us, having chocolate waffles and milk. I asked again, "Why were you starring at me last night?" He said, "Because I haven't looked at you like that for a long time."

That look brought back a million memories, when holding hands meant a lot to us. When starring at each other consume our days. The feeling's so strong, kept our love alive. Hmmm...That look of love.

Romantic love reaches out in little ways, showing attention and admiration. Romantic love remembers what pleases a woman, what excites her, and what surprises her. Its actions whisper: you are the most special person in my life. Charles Stanley ( A Man's Touch)

(this is Roselle's orchid which she has on her cubicle. I took a macro shot)

Why complicate?

Do you wonder how mathematicians heat chicken nuggets in the microwave? This was a recent scenario in my household. (A short conversation of father and son...the engineer and the fact wizard)

Abraham: Daddy, how long should I heat my nuggets?
Brack: How many pieces?
Abraham: Seven
Brack: It should be fifteen seconds each.
Abraham: Wait!
(Mommy interrupted and hit the microwave setting to 2 minutes)
Abraham: That's a minute and forty-five seconds!
Mommy: Oh my! That’s silly, you two are complicating it!
Abraham: Mommy, you're violating the rules!
Mommy: Hmmp!!! (I hate Math to the max!)

My, I’m glad the other math wizard was sleeping that time.

Second scenario: wonder how kids describe the taste of a drink?

Brack: Abraham, how does Hawaiian Punch taste?
Abraham: Better than a Tikki Punch!

Simply short!

Now if it's Mommy being asked:

Mommy: It's sweet, tastes like a Tikki Punch but not really, it has similar crispness but not exactly...blah...blah...blah...I don't know, just taste it!

Ha!ha!ha! Life is simple, why complicate?

Man is an over-complicated organism. If he is doomed to extinction he will die out for want of simplicity. Ezra Pound

How to be happy?

Wikipedia defined happiness as a prolonged or lasting emotional or affective state that feels good or pleasing. Why despite the overwhelming pressures of the week that passed and the ton of work at the office would I be reading about articles on happiness? What the heck! It’s the perfect way to console myself, after all watching the rain pour for a couple of days and not being able to do what you want while waiting for the SUV to be restored (had a road accident on my way to work the other Friday which is of course the other person’s fault), is no fun at all.

In order to shift away from depressing moments and to avoid sinking in disappointment, I hit the search engines for the word happiness – self medication. One by one I opened the links to articles on happiness. I came across a couple of interesting theories and paradigms about the subject, intellectual discussions and ideas which are all so informative and really helpful. Overflowing materials, most of them I just banked in my small memory capacity midbrain, who knows if those information will be processed or flushed later – hahaha! Who cares! My current objective is to make me feel better so for the time being, micro preferential reading suits me. I landed into this article called your own happiness manifesto, very appropriate. I told myself, I will account for the things that make me happy for, just thinking about it/them already makes me happy.

So here it is, my own happiness manifesto, people, things, and activities that make me feel good:

• A good laugh – whether it’s laughing with my husband, my children, or with friends, I usually laugh loud, putting all my energy into it.
• Leisure driving – without destination is more effective; adventurously exciting.
• Flashing back selected memories – Memory lane is crowded with sweet and happy thoughts, but the sweetest and funniest I recall over and over is when I celebrated my birthday with Brack for the first time. It was extraordinary and something I won’t forget. Try asking him what happened that night and tell me about his initial facial reaction as you ask him the question.
• Food and Cold Drinks – I’m one of the many who associate happiness with pleasure. I love sashimi, pad Thai chicken, seafood noodles, guava juice, cold tea, and milkshakes.
• Singing without an audience – self explanatory.
• Reading – Between the tube and the paper? I prefer the latter, although one of my favorite shirts says “Why read books, when you can watch the movies?”
• Shop and tell – getting along with girlfriends asking and checking out what they bought this time or vice versa. Giggling about freebies, markdowns and bargains. The principle really is retail therapy.
• Electronic gadgets – closely associated with the principle mentioned above.
• Travel – St. Augustine quoted, “the world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” Very true, near or far, what a pleasure it is to have a firsthand experience of people, places, and things different from yours.
• Sharing and being grateful – beginning or end of day, I count my blessings. There is a reason, there is a purpose, although I’m guilty of questioning sometimes, when things aren’t as clear to me, I do appreciate others, circumstances, events, and material things that come my way. I also feel gratified when I share...

How to be happy?

Stop pursuing happiness, stop asking yourself if you are one, just do the things you love. Enjoy others, enjoy things, enjoy life – cease trying too hard to be happy, happiness will come to you, free of charge!

The pursuit of happiness is a most ridiculous phrase; if you pursue happiness you'll never find it. C P Snow

When it rains it pours...

(short for a novel...long for a blog...inspired by true life instances)

Sonia lives in a town almost adjacent to the big and busy city of Manila. At 39, she remained single, working in a Provincial Hospital as an Accounting staff for almost half her life. She was hired initially by the same hospital as an accounting clerk; she got the job, her first, when her mother, then a government employee working at the Municipal Hall accidentally bumped into an old friend who worked at this same hospital as a manager of one department. Had it not been a referral, she would still be buying at least two nationally circulated newspapers every Sunday and endlessly mailing out her resumes to companies who would prefer graduates from prestigious universities than take a chance on her, a product of a local college. She never knew how it is to work for other companies; she knows nothing about other industries as she is so afraid to leave the comfort of her known world and mastered routine at the hospital. To her, why waste time looking for another job when there are a lot of college graduates in the area who are more competitive than her but cannot land a job. After all, she is thirty nine and in her country, employers preferred younger people who can put in more energy and time to the job, despite being passed out for promotions twice because her boss thought she couldn’t handle bigger responsibilities, Sonia decided she will stick it out with this hospital, the only place she imagined herself working for the duration of her career. There she goes, nineteen years, with just two records of absences and no tardiness, working quietly and without complains in her little station.

Sonia keeps a small circle of friend, most of them she had known for years, co- workers basically. Her being with a sick and aging mother, her father passed away when she was still sixteen, won’t allow her free time to do much after the regular eight hour work at the hospital. Her routine is generally work, home, and church, with little extras like showbiz magazines, movies with her mother, going to market, cooking and gardening. Sonia had a friend in High school, Tony, whom she secretly adored, although they were really close, sharing secrets, problems, food, books, and neighbors at that, their relationship remained purely platonic, at least to Tony.

Tony’s family moved to New Jersey right after he finished High School. To Sonia, the day Tony left is like the whole world turned black on her. To make matters worst, Sonia’s father passed away of a stroke a year after Tony left. Five years later, Sonia heard from another neighbor that Tony married another batch mate in High School, the one whose family moved to New Jersey too a year after Tony’s family did.

Sonia’s life without Tony and her father evolved with College and her mother. Although she didn’t get excellent grades in school, perhaps because she is naturally timid, she usually gets high scores in written examination and despite being unpopular and the least teacher’s favorite, Sonia did very well in most of her subjects. She was a diligent student, and could have won a lot of awards in Accounting if she didn’t shy-out of competition. She knows this, as the quizzes and contests were mostly held in the open and she knew the right answers to most, if not all of the questions. When she finally got her degree in Accounting, Sonia didn’t even bother to ask her mother is she will be going to the CPA Review classes in Manila. She thought to herself they don’t have the financial resources to pay for the tuition or the everyday allowances as a commuter, and her lack of spirit made her think that she will end up failing the examination anyways. She heard of a couple of honor students who failed in the past and she wouldn’t want to take a chance. Her mother after all, is preoccupied with paying old debts they had incurred when her father was sick, and later the internment expenses. These, plus the monthly payment to the bank for their small house and lot which for many years, they could hardly make up to pay the principal, but made just enough payment for the interest, to keep the property from being repossessed, is too much a worry for a widowed public servant.

On her tenth year of working at the hospital, Sonia’s mother retired from work due to a weak heart and other symptoms of aging. For all those years until the present, her nineteenth year of working, Sonia took care of all the expenses at home and for the maintenance medicines of her mother. Despite the increasing cost of commodities and her meager salary in the hospital, she still managed to keep a few hundred each month in her savings account which was opened by her parents when she was just ten.

Her routine continued and every afternoon before going home, she would pass by the city market to buy food or to look for little something that would interest her, like a new hairclip or a new pair of sandals for example. And when she got what she wanted, she would always pass by this little magazine store to check out the latest showbiz magazines, and finally to buy a lottery ticket, which she always does three times a week whenever the jackpot reaches more than ten million pesos. She thought, if she could only win the jackpot, she can pay all their debts and finally claim the title to their modest house and lot. The property is very dear to her parents, and she cherished it too. Infact their house is the envy of the neighborhood because of its lovely flower and vegetable garden. The front path leading to the door is uniformly fenced with green fern plants, and the entire front yard sprinkled with Cosmos and variegated roses. The back yard is filled with plots of tomatoes, egg plants, patani, with alternating vines of upo and ampalaya. The garden kept her mother busy and going. Both her parents have green thumbs, and Sonia inherited it from them. Sonia may not be as attractive, but she is not also ugly, she’s got light brown complexion with black eyes and wears her straight black hair long. She’s the type of person who won’t get a second look but she’s got the sweetest smile and her eyes twinkles whenever she smiles. Sonia like her loving parents, were religious people and would never miss a mass except when they are really sick to catch that jeepney ride to church. She prays, at least three times a day, and every Wednesday she would recite the Novena to the Mother of Perpetual Help. It’s not important what she prays for, good hearted as she is the merciful Lord listens to her.

One afternoon, on her way home, she picked up the daily newspaper and read the portion of the lottery, her heart trembles as she saw the numbers familiar. “It couldn’t be! It couldn’t be! But it looked like…” she said to herself. Sonia didn’t even remember how she got to the jeepney and finally reached home. She just removed her shoes, threw her bag and went straight to her room to check the newspaper and her lotto ticket. She trembles and her heart pounds fast when she confirmed she won the first prize, forty five million, all in all. She was already in tears when she approached to tell her mother about the winnings. They both ended up in tears…

Sonia and her mother wanted to keep the winning a secret, they tried and although the news said the winner came from their place, the neighbors couldn’t really point out who won because they, being naturally quiet and simple, continued living their normal lives. They paid the debts and the loan to the property. They can go wherever they want or do whatever they want but they lived, just like before. Sonia still works at the hospital, and still buys her favorite showbiz magazine and lotto tickets on her way home.

A month later, Sonia’s new department manager, called her into the Manager’s office and informed her that she was promoted as Accounting Supervisor with a corresponding thirty percent increase in her current pay. She couldn’t believe what she just heard, and can’t help but cry at this very good news. Still overwhelmed with the recent developments in her career, she passed by the magazine store and bought lottery tickets. The following morning, she was escorted to her new work station, it is actually a bigger and fancier table than what she had for the past years and she was so delighted to see a congratulatory banner and some balloons from her coworkers who were so happy for her promotion. They arranged for a lunch celebration for her that day. Sonia was about to go back to her desk when her attention was caught by the newspaper sitting on top of her coworker’s desk. Eyes on the winning numbers…she whispered “it can’t be! it can’t be!”

Sonia won the first prize again, this time it is smaller than her previous winnings but still millions, twelve million after taxes. The story of Sonia’s life would go and on…and by the ways, Tony returned, now a widower without any children, looking for Sonia. He confessed that he loved her since they were in High School but was so afraid to tell her because of fear of losing her friendship. They have an altar date schedule already.

It’s hard to detect good luck – it looks so much like something you’ve earned.
Frank A. Clark

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Simple pleasure...

"We should do this more often!"

Just what is Abraham talking about? Well, it's an hour or more spent -- people watching, car watching, cracking jokes, laughing...

After church and a hefty Italian American lunch, the three of us, Abraham, Lemuel, and I were too lazy (or too full) to get-off the car and join Brack for the usual grocery shopping. Rather, with the 50ish temperature last Sunday, we chose to hibernate inside my SUV parked under a shady tree and facing the busy and crowded street of Vermont in Los Angeles. We slid-open the moon roof intending to take a nap, but such planned nap didn't happen because Abraham started asking about the taxi cars used in Europe and in Japan, he later continued comparing the performances of two cars, the Toyota and Ford sedans, and his funny recollection of seeing these cars in action. Where, when, and which car he judged best, is our little secret...it is really a hilarious story which lead into more laughs when the always observant and spontaneous Lemuel won't just give up but cracked more jokes on what he sees around.

When Brack came with his bag of goodies, we were all smiling and said..."we had fun!"
(Thanks to tiny 7.1 Megapix Canon, memories preserved, always in Mommy's purse!)

That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest. Henry David Thoreau

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Can you read my mind?

Sounds familiar? It is borrowed from a very popular song, theme to the movie Superman One.

Can you read my mind?... I guess not…this is why I miss Buh, a long time friend, who even in the absence of words, can read my mind. She doesn’t wonder who I am because she can picture the things I’m thinking of. We are on the same wavelength, tuned to the same frequency, is more like it. I own my thoughts and my feelings but Buh can decipher and interpret them exactly as I have it going inside. Maybe because we spent most of our youth years together, the most emotional, challenging, and learning times of our lives.

But since Buh is just one person and out there are million others who can’t read my mind, I realized that my thoughts are really unique to me. No one can read my mind like Buh does, and that in order not to be misunderstood and to foster quality relationships with family, friends, and colleagues, I should be able to express myself openly, positive or negative, straightly, even confrontational, if the occasion calls for it.

In keeping with my nature of not saying anything that would offend someone else's feelings, I’ve learned one or more lessons in life, and while most people would like to forget painful encounters, I’d like to talk about mine now and let go of it forever. It is hurting to experience the rudeness of jealous people who uses people to get what they need or just have their moments at other's expense. I regret then that I maintained my silence and had I made a timely confrontational response, the pain would not have been as much and I could have felt better sooner. Yet it’s still not too late to realize that the “keep it to yourself” attitude doesn’t work all the time, and that there will be future encounters, moving forward, these I promise myself:

• I will openly communicate my positive and negative feelings.
• I will speak specifically, even if it’s offending, as long as it’s righteous
  
• I will respond timely, communicate descriptively and responsibly depending on whom I am relating to.
  

Then and only then…YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THROUGH ME

The reality of the other person is not in what he reveals to you, but in what he cannot reveal to you. Therefore, if you would understand him, listen not to what he says but rather what he does not say. Kahlil Gibran

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TO THE ONE

To the one, whose voice I love to hear,
and face I love to touch
To the one, who lets me have my way,
yet protects, and supports me in every way
To the one, who brightens up my lonely days,
and gives me strength for life
To the one, who coaches good Math,
and tucks the kids to bed each night


To the one, whose lap Lemuel and I loved to sit on
To the one, with hands so comforting

To the one, who I love to squeeze hug
To the one, who extends me more closet space
To the one, whom with I found the joys of marriage
To the one, who loved me just as I am
To the one, who means the world to me…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

System Recovery

My home computer was paralyzed by a Trojan Zlob virus for a week and it is really a pain for me especially that I needed to download driving directions for our travel agendas. During this infected period, I tried calling Symantec Corporation to have the virus removed. I’m just surprised when they told me they will be charging me sixty nine dollars to walk me through the process. The virus is not included in their live updates and when I asked why, the technical person told me they still don’t know how the virus gets into the system, but they can cure it. Hmmm…Surely I wouldn’t pay that sixty nine dollars, it is thirty nine dollars more than my annual subscription.

Desperately wanting to restore my computer, I read the manual, for the first time (yes, Virginia! it is not my nature to read manuals), on doing a system recovery. My research however was interrupted by the many features I didn’t know, my PC has. I know I have a DVD and CD burner, a nine-slot card reader, multiple USB ports, but I didn’t know I have such incredible software that came with it. So then my desire to have the PC restored was intensified, it must be done fast, the solution a complete destructive recovery, restore the factory settings. At this point, I called HP Tech Support, only to my dismay that I will be charged forty five dollars to walk me through the destructive recovery process as my warranty is one hundred twenty days expired. No way! Am I being doomed because I’m not an extended warranty person? Options? I went to their website and downloaded the instructions free of charge, thanks to them, it is so detailed and user friendly, I am back on the net.

While in dilemma of an infected system, I learned about firewalls and various anti-spy software, a more secure internet browser with built-in anti virus and anti-spy (for free), and a couple of other things which I can do, myself, to protect my computer from viruses. I felt good and secured that my PC is now up to date and equipped with the necessary tools to prevent infection.

I myself was also troubled in the past days as if I was infected by a virus, that despite the hot weather in Southern California for the past week, the sun didn’t shine on mine. The system is corrupted and the memory is failing, problems here and there, or rather, viruses replicating itself, I need a system recovery, and so I did. Armed with a loving anti-virus Brack 2006 and firewalls of prayers, I am back to factory settings. Aside from this shelter, God sent more freebies through a friend named Debbie, I don’t know why, whenever I’m troubled, she always sends me an inspiring email that suits the current situation, Heaven must be using her.

Of viruses and malicious spies, of troubles and worries, I learned to build a firewall from a reliable source…GOD that is…comes with a free extended warranty.

I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image. Stephen Hawking

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Love on a Deeper Meaning

Time doesn't make this article old as its contents is so very true now as it was thirteen years ago when I wrote it. It'll give you an insight of why I chose this man to spend my whole life with....

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRAYER

As the days draws near, we delight in thinking that Valentine’s is just around the corner. What makes the day exciting is the sharing of love, which is primarily what the season is all about. Inspired by commercialism, we have cast the valentine fever everywhere: roses at the streets, chocolates, concerts, dinners, and other sweet little things - are all but a show of sharing our feelings towards our loved ones. But if we dig deeper into thinking how it is to really share love without showy displays – our minds would really wonder how?...then we think of various ways.

Allow me then, to share with you a personal experience of feeling love on a deeper meaning.

One Saturday evening, after hearing mass, I asked my fiancé what is it that he prayed for, he replied, “that there will be peace on earth” – not surprised, but it sounded so unusual so I asked him, “Why don’t you pray for something specific? Something that concerns you, your life and your wishes?” And he answered, “Because everything that I wish for my life depends entirely on what I’d prayed for – Peace on earth.”

Days had passed and I still wondered over the thoughts – then I stopped upon hearing the world news, “The allied forces had fired bombs against Iraq”, the television footages showed innocent people had gotten hurt – lives had been taken, such a cruel sight – a clear indication that peace wasn’t on that side of the earth. Suddenly, there were no longer specific prayers and individual wishes, for life had been ruined and dreams shattered.

I asked myself, should all the people pray for Peace, would it be the same? Maybe the world would be a happier place to live in. Maybe there’d be no war – we don’t know. But one thing’s sure, our life and everything that we dreamed of will turn to waste if there is no peace.

This Valentine season, let’s live with the tradition, let love flourish in the air, but let’s try to indulge less in spending for commercialized expressions of it. Let’s try a meaningful way of doing this – on a general view, maybe a prayer for peace will manifest our love, not just for our loved ones, but for all the people on earth. For isn’t it what God wants of men? “Love one another” and “Peace on earth.”

As for me, things have changed; I share the same feelings with my loved one.

Now we’re two in wishing for that different kind of prayer…can I count you in?... Maria Elizarah 30 January 1993 (A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRAYER WAS PUBLISHED IN LIVEWIRE ON FEBRUARY 1993)

"The moment you have in your heart this extraordinary thing called love and feel the depth, the delight, the ecstasy of it, you will discover that for you the world is transformed."-- J. Krishnamurti

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Moshi moshi, My Memoirs of Japan

Tokyo? No it isn’t. What you’re seeing is the corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Hope Street. The location filming of the movie Fast and the Furious 3. Noticed the tire marks on the road?

It is interesting to see how the movie production people converted a busy Los Angeles Downtown setting into another major city in another continent, Tokyo it is. I can’t help myself but be amazed at how simple it seemed to be. Just like when Spiderman 2 was being filmed, 7th Street and the Metro train station underneath was New York for about a month. But interesting as it is, this set also made me nostalgic…

Flashback, memoirs of Japan…

This picture taken in front of our office building with the bicycles reminded me of the policemen I saw in Tokyo and Okayama. They don’t ride cars, they don’t carry guns, they ride on pedal bikes like this and they carry clubs, no guns. Gave me sense of peacefulness, somehow.
This picture of Lemuel and Brack by the vending machines and the lights, reminded me of the nights we, my Kumareng Fhe and some friends were roaming the streets of Tokyo at minus four degrees centigrade, admiring the lovely flowers, which seemed to me like green leaf lettuce because they are so big and fresh. I was amazed to see even flowers were sold in vending machines; I enjoyed the hot soup from there.

I was also surprised to know that Camote or sweet potato in Japan is such a popular and quite an expensive treat, especially the roasted ones. We find them everywhere in the markets all over the Philippines and buy them so cheap that is not enjoyable to have anymore. While there, it is usually sold at nighttime by vendors in white vans, and people run to get a share.

We enjoyed the convenient stores and we're flabbergasted that people will buy disposable umbrellas and throw them away as soon as they get on the trains. This is where I experienced a ride on the first overhead electronic train (as in no driver) in Asia, second to the world, I heard the first is somewhere in Europe. Breathtaking to cross over the Yodo River which they say is kind of polluted, is still to me one of the cleanest rivers, at least visually.

I can’t help but smile in front of my monitor when I flashed back to the bloopers we did at the Electronics Conference and Exhibits we attended, like attending a presentation just so to get a convenient seat to nap and getting freebies afterwards. Sashimi, fresh veggies, and a ton of gift from my sweet staff, Gracie, made my stay in Tokyo so memorable.

Tochigi, the city of my first traditional train ride and my first time to hold a snow in my hand. Can’t do this in Tokyo, so embarrassing…First time to eat Soya with soy sauce instead of the sweet syrup we are used to in the Philippines. I learned that eggs, older than a day, are considered old and not good to eat, for people there only consume eggs right from the poultry. Royal treatment, company tour, and real Fuji apples made my day.

Off to Okayama so curious about the Sento, but as fast as I get in, I went out. I can’t be a naked fish in a hot tub, I could bear the hot spring, I love hot springs in Laguna, but I can’t bear me being naked together with other people. No!no!no!no!!! Bullet train? Yes I did, from Okayama to Osaka, it’s fast but not as fast as a bullet as I expected it to be, ha!ha!ha! The view of the mountains is so spectacular, going through the mountains, is dark, of course : - )

Osaka International Airport to me is the most beautiful so far, very good architectural design, so high tech, and clean. I also love the bargain stores there, the Sanrio store is not crowded, a whole store, only one storekeeper who also posts as cashier when customers are ready to pay. Gave me the impression that Japanese are so trusting with their goods. The quest for Game Boy – this egame is made in Japan and is available at all Toy Kingdom branches of SM Shopping Centers in the Philippines, surprising enough not to find one in a major city in Japan as Osaka, thus I settled for Tomica.

Can’t forget the authentic guava tea, wearing the Kimono, the Japanese slippers, the cleanliness of the places, the politeness of the people, the telephone booths full of advertisements of you know what…

I guess, Japan will be forever dear to my heart, after all more than a decade of my career life was spent with Japanese companies. My only regret is I should have taken my Nippongo lessons seriously, four months learning Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji under Sensei Beatriz Mojica, a noted scholar, should help me a lot, but thanks to my laziness, my line remained: “Sumimasen, eigo de hanashite kudasai ma senka?” (I’m sorry, in English please?)

Travel has a way of stretching the mind. The stretch comes not from travel's immediate rewards, the inevitable myriad new sights, smells and sounds, but with experiencing firsthand how others do differently what we believed to be the right and only way.Ralph Crawshaw

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Front-of-the-line

If you love theme parks you most probably know how a front-of-the-line pass works, and incase you’re not familiar with it, a front-of-the-line pass in Disneyland Resort for example, gives you instant access to enjoy the rides or attractions without having to fall in line. Picture this, you are standing in a long line waiting for your turn to experience Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Three-Hours Wait, ups! I meant Temple of Doom (it just feels like the wait time is 3 hours to get into the ride), and comes this person flashing this card, going straight to the entrance ready for the ride, while you and hundreds of jealous eyes stare in envy, this person takes the ride, enjoy the thrills, came out happy, while you and the rest are still in line waiting for that precious turn. How good a front-of-the-line pass can be?

Last week, Abraham showed me his school’s own version of the front-of- the-line pass which he got as an incentive for having good grades. His is a privilege to bypass any line in the school Cafeteria at Nutrition (popularly known as recess) and Lunch hours. In a school of more than 2,000 young teen students trying to finish their meals within the alloted time, even batch scheduled breaks won't help shorten the lines, a front-of-the-line pass then is a relief. Whoever thought of this special type of pass, depending on how and where it is being used, is quite a genius, creative, or rather has good business sense.

I just can’t help but blast back to the days I was in High School and in College. It would be nicer if we have this kind of pass back then, even if it works only during Enrollment days where students of all disciplines would line up in front of the registrar’s office to enroll. It usually takes me more than four hours to finish a semester’s enrollment and really, skipping lunch is a pain for someone with hyperacidity. I wonder too, with all these online facilities nowadays, if you still need to fall-in line to get enrolled in a class? I just think, today’s generation is quite lucky in this sense.

If you’re like me who experienced the disadvantages of being last, you would understand why I wanted a front-of-the-line pass…My last name (maiden) starts with S, when I was still attending elementary and high school, I was among the last ones if the line or seating arrangement is ordered alphabetically. I usually end up seating at the back where I could hardly hear my teachers or my classmates especially during group discussions. I missed a lot of jokes, comments, and freebies (if you’re one of those lasts in the line, you’ll end up with what others didn’t choose) those days. This is why I was so excited to change my last name when I married, and I’m glad my husband’s last name starts with a D, what a promotion! But gone are the school days when I needed this the most. Oh well…

But despite wanting to be first, I'd also enjoy being last, if… it’s time to... get a shot (immunizations) I hate needles poking me, or to have a tooth or two extracted (never had, hope, I’ll never will). I’m sure each one of us wanted to be both firsts and lasts, where, when, and why?…It would be nice if you can click on the comments and post your thoughts.

Postcript: I can't find a handy quotation for this entry, and I can't end my blog without one, thus I came up with an original, below.

Discipline comes in many forms, waiting in line is just one of them. Maria Elizarah

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Electronic Geek

When the digital video camera and the magic microphone came out years ago, I took advantage of my son’s coming birthday as an excuse to get both, as both will be used for the party. When the camera phone penetrated the US, I was among the firsts to own one, and every year thereafter I would call T Mobile to have my handset upgraded. Same with the digital camera, I didn’t stop until I got hold of the 3.2 mega pix (3 years ago was the top of the line). Upgrade, update, the latest, these are words often in my dictionary. I don’t enjoy reading magazines about celebrities, home decorating, cooking, and fashion, as much as I loved digesting the pages of Popular Science.

My internet leisure hours will not be complete without visiting Shopzilla, Price Grabber, and Amazon.com, clicking on the link to Electronics and although I spend most of my time in these sites to check on the prices , I will be getting what I want from my favorite store (because I hate paying for shipping charges and anticipating the delivery of the item for days, I order online and pick it up from the store the same day) and that is Best Buy, or Circuit City, my second favorite, . In fact when I told my boss I am planning to have a second job at some hotel, he told me he’d rather me work at Best Buy than in a hotel because he knows it is my favorite store and I’ll have fun at work. I think he’s right.

If most women spend money and find pleasure having their hair or nails done, shopping for expensive clothes, leather bags or shoes, going to spas, or trying out the newest cosmetics and fragrances, I will be most thrilled carrying the tiniest digital camera. There’s this unexplainable satisfaction I feel having these things around.

I scrutinize the specifications and regularly read expert and customer reviews of the latest electronic products in the market whether I am buying or not. I don’t like having something on my ears, but I have an MP3 player…hmmm…

As I observed, addiction to electronic gadgets is common to men, so I can’t find a good explanation for my fondness with these inanimate objects that break down, become obsolete in a month, and gets lost. And I would really appreciate it if someone out there could enlighten me on my fascination with these "can live without, non-essential" things.

Two mini e-geeks on New Year's Eve (Like Mother, Like...)

Modern man lives isolated in his artificial environment...Arthur Koestler

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