wonderings and wanderings

When Brack woke me up a few minutes before six a.m. I asked him when can we have a vacation that all we'll do is sleep and eat. He told me, "Not now, when we retire, for now, you have to get up because we have a lot to cover today." Although in slight somatic distress from the eight hours road trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco the day before, I acquiesced and took a quick shower. After the continental breakfast at the Hotel, we're off the road. It was a day of bridges...Golden Gate Bridge is the most popular of all, Bay Bridge is the longest at eight something miles, but the San Mateo/Hayward Bridge awed me much. It's a mixed prodigious and tranquil moment I had crossing it. I could elucidate but I chose not to, rather urge you to visit San Mateo, cross the bridge, feel it, and experience that feeling.

I stand on a bridge of one span and see this calm act, this gathering up of life, of spring water and the Muse gliding...Denise Levertov

Brack said I cook well, the children agree, but my clam chowder seemed inferior to the clam chowder served with sourdough bread at the Fisherman's Wharf. Downtown San Francisco with its narrow hilly and crooked roads is so alive with people and stores, not like Downtown Los Angeles which seemed like a ghost town on weekends.

Northern California is enticing; I'm zealously looking forward to my next visit.

That was last week...

Saturday night, Abraham and I were here...

The American Idol Summer Tour at the Staples Center

Sunday, we were here...and there...

Coronado Island, Old Town San Diego, Balboa Park, Seaport Village

And if you've watched "Last Days on Earth" tonight like we did and heard the smartest men of science talk on the final days of the planet and how humans will be extinguished, you might slow down and decide to smell the flowers. You wouldn't expect to hear scientists saying something of this effect, "look for love because it'll be very difficult for someone not to have someone to hold onto when that time comes." A lot of people were asked on what they'll do and what's important to them when the final day comes...there were a lot of answers...but one word was mentioned the most...family.

We're just glad, our wonders and wanders, gave us these bonding moments...















...even this duck wanted to bond... it walked towards Abraham and Lemuel several times, seemed to enjoy being photographed. Abraham enjoyed taking pictures, Lemuel wanted to hug it.

...reaching for the world, as our lives do, as all lives do, reaching that we may give, the best of what we are and hold as true...Philip Larkin

(Click on each picture for a larger view, then click Back icon to return to the blog)

a thousand things...Part 2

…running here and there. So much to do for a body and mind undergoing midlife transformation (or crisis? LOL)…just seemed to be lacking time, rushing and constantly stressed. I need to talk to a neutral person…and hear what she or he might say about this totally mind boggling changes. And how do you know you're in that stage actually? assume that you're going to live until 80 and by 40 you are in your midlife? hahaha!!! I am not an actuarian, nor a mortality expert...just a thought.

Will be back after this road trip to Frisco :-)

Birthday Vanities

They say that if you want to stay young, you should lie about your age. Much as I want to, I was so vocal of my age before that it’s too late for me to lie about it this time. Better yet, I’ll just stop counting for I did, celebrate another birthday last month. Upside? Wisdom and experience, I’m a year wiser. Downside? Eye cream, night cream, moisturizers, and every other product I am used to seeing my mother use are now occupying most of my dresser space. Scary…

What’s with birthdays anyways? A week of treat. This is what I like in Uncle Sam’s country. If it’s your birthday, you can expect to have lunches, dinners, and treats without shedding-out a single cent. Very much different with how birthdays are celebrated in the Philippines – its either you throw a party at your home or take your friends and family someplace to have a good time, in both cases however, you most probably will pay for it.

Kristine started my birthday week with a lunch at Pasta Primavera.

The day of my birthday was a Pirate party at AON Center.

Friday was lunch with good buddies in Accounting Department, again Pasta Primavera.


Weekend was a buffet with family and relatives.

Speaking of birthdays, I share birth month with a close friend from high school – igan Bu. I haven’t seen her since the high school reunion in Cavite City, our hometown, in 2000. Bu came to the west coast for business and we got to see each other in Long Beach. Imagine the scene at Westin’s Room 946? Loud? Nope! Worst!!! It was a night of flattery and complementing each other by saying…”Igs, maganda ka pa din!” (Friend, you’re still beautiful!) “Ikaw din igs!” (You too Friend!) Not only that, Brack had to stand at different corners of the restaurant just to get the best angle of us, trying hard to hide the undesirable fats. What do you expect from certified vain people anyways?

But it’s not all vanity; they say too that July-born women are more loving and caring than women of other birth months.

Here, look at igan's luggage-full of just purses and shoes, yes exclusive for just purses and shoes to use for a five-day business trip with matching pirate treasures…she has a big bag, or a chest, full of these thingies she calls “happiness.” Isn’t that loving and caring? Of oneself it is – and vanity is the right word. No matter how it started – it ends up to the V-thingy. Well…it’s our birthday – so just bear with us on this blog.
Igs, thanks for these lovely thingies on my ears and neck :-)

To me fair friend, you never can be old. For as you were when first your eye I eye'd, such seems your beauty still. William Shakespeare

P.S. Big hug and kisses to all my friends who remembered me on my birthday with their emails, ecards, phone calls, treats, and gifts :-)

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