December Greetings
December is quite a busy month for birthdays (too many mothers gave birth this month), weddings, anniversaries. And so, to those you December babies and December couples, cheers to you!
1st - Happy Birthday LYD and AGA
8th - Happy Birthday GJM
9th - Happy 32nd anniversary mom and dad!
10th - Happy Birthday cousin DMA.
- Congratulations and Best Wishes L and S
12th - Happy Birthday CG
16th - Happy Birthday cousins RJM and BS
25th - Happy Birthday JO
28th - Congratulations and Best Wishes R and S
- Happy Birthday LZA
29th - Happy Birthday AT
Tuesday, December 7, 2004
Friday, November 26, 2004
Skipping the Holidays?
Our holidays usually start on Thanksgiving when we host parties for friends. The first few years, we always had a big turnout - my turkey, a huge success! As friends started buying their own homes, attendance dwindled down too. Who wouldn't want to spend Thanksgiving in the comforts of their own homes with family? So this year, I decided to skip the festivities. Up to the last minute, my roommate has been bugging me to change my mind, but I insisted that I wanted a quiet Thanksgiving this year.
You see, the preparations start a week earlier when we do our groceries - pick the right-sized turkey, depending on the number of those who confirmed to come. Next is the endless cleaning and scubbing - from the kitchen and bathroom floors, to the carpet, to every imaginable corner, to the bathrooms! Then comes the actual food preparation. Wednesday before Thanksgiving meant that we'd have to sleep very, very late to get everything ready for cooking the next day. Thursday meant waking up so early (as early as 5am) to dress the turkey and bake for 5-6 hours, depending on the size. I usually bake the bird for 20 minutes each pound. The first couple of hours meant covering the turkey with foil so it'll cook evenly. The next hour and every hour thereafter, I have to turn it and baste with butter, until it cooks. While doing this on the side, cooking everything else becomes a challenge, and a rush to the finish line! By the time the guests arrive, we have barely finished cooking. It is then time to take a shower!!!!
The party begins a little after lunch, and would usually last until wee hours in the morning. We have to drag our tired bodies to clean up afterwards.
But wait, we still couldn't rest! Black Friday meant that we have to wake up so early to catch the biggest sale of the year. Stores open as early as 5am, and the sale would only last until 12pm. Most stores revert back to original prices after noon! Worse, if you really want something on sale, and you fail to show up early at the store, chances are, you'd have to forget about it because it'll be gone by the time you get there.
Black Friday is when we'd usually do our christmas shopping. Armed with a list and a tight budget, we'd trek down the mall and hop from store to store 'til we complete our list. You should see us with all those shopping bags! I bet even Santa would be amazed at how much we are able to drag along.
Because I opted for a quiet Thanksgiving this year, I also felt most alone. I woke up yesterday with a big fat headache, dressed up, went to church, came home, finished all the Thank you cards for a friend getting married in December, watched a couple of DVDs, and my day is over!
Today is shopping day as usual. I was quite proud of myself because I stuck with my budget and didn't go over! Then comes the gift-wrapping. I'd probably be wrapping gifts up until Christmas eve!
I envy people with families around. I wish hubz is here, or I'm with my family during the holidays. Been telling hubz that I feel so down lately. Though I easily bounce back, what with the long queue on my to-do list, I still can't help feeling this way. I would've wanted to come home for Christmas but coming back would be a torture!
Earlier this week, the radio I usually listen to, started playing christmas songs. I had to change stations because I feel worse when I listen to them. I wish I could just skip christmas 'til hubz comes. I wish I could postpone the holidays 'til next year. I guess this is the downside of being a long distance wife. You could only wish to hug your husband but you can't. You can only wish to spend time with him, but it's not realistically possible. You can only wish to move time forward until you're together again....
Our holidays usually start on Thanksgiving when we host parties for friends. The first few years, we always had a big turnout - my turkey, a huge success! As friends started buying their own homes, attendance dwindled down too. Who wouldn't want to spend Thanksgiving in the comforts of their own homes with family? So this year, I decided to skip the festivities. Up to the last minute, my roommate has been bugging me to change my mind, but I insisted that I wanted a quiet Thanksgiving this year.
You see, the preparations start a week earlier when we do our groceries - pick the right-sized turkey, depending on the number of those who confirmed to come. Next is the endless cleaning and scubbing - from the kitchen and bathroom floors, to the carpet, to every imaginable corner, to the bathrooms! Then comes the actual food preparation. Wednesday before Thanksgiving meant that we'd have to sleep very, very late to get everything ready for cooking the next day. Thursday meant waking up so early (as early as 5am) to dress the turkey and bake for 5-6 hours, depending on the size. I usually bake the bird for 20 minutes each pound. The first couple of hours meant covering the turkey with foil so it'll cook evenly. The next hour and every hour thereafter, I have to turn it and baste with butter, until it cooks. While doing this on the side, cooking everything else becomes a challenge, and a rush to the finish line! By the time the guests arrive, we have barely finished cooking. It is then time to take a shower!!!!
The party begins a little after lunch, and would usually last until wee hours in the morning. We have to drag our tired bodies to clean up afterwards.
But wait, we still couldn't rest! Black Friday meant that we have to wake up so early to catch the biggest sale of the year. Stores open as early as 5am, and the sale would only last until 12pm. Most stores revert back to original prices after noon! Worse, if you really want something on sale, and you fail to show up early at the store, chances are, you'd have to forget about it because it'll be gone by the time you get there.
Black Friday is when we'd usually do our christmas shopping. Armed with a list and a tight budget, we'd trek down the mall and hop from store to store 'til we complete our list. You should see us with all those shopping bags! I bet even Santa would be amazed at how much we are able to drag along.
Because I opted for a quiet Thanksgiving this year, I also felt most alone. I woke up yesterday with a big fat headache, dressed up, went to church, came home, finished all the Thank you cards for a friend getting married in December, watched a couple of DVDs, and my day is over!
Today is shopping day as usual. I was quite proud of myself because I stuck with my budget and didn't go over! Then comes the gift-wrapping. I'd probably be wrapping gifts up until Christmas eve!
I envy people with families around. I wish hubz is here, or I'm with my family during the holidays. Been telling hubz that I feel so down lately. Though I easily bounce back, what with the long queue on my to-do list, I still can't help feeling this way. I would've wanted to come home for Christmas but coming back would be a torture!
Earlier this week, the radio I usually listen to, started playing christmas songs. I had to change stations because I feel worse when I listen to them. I wish I could just skip christmas 'til hubz comes. I wish I could postpone the holidays 'til next year. I guess this is the downside of being a long distance wife. You could only wish to hug your husband but you can't. You can only wish to spend time with him, but it's not realistically possible. You can only wish to move time forward until you're together again....
Wednesday, November 24, 2004
What I'm Thankful For
For Thanksgiving, I usually take the time to look at my life and examine those things that I'm thankful for. I know we shouldn't do it only at Thanksgiving, and God knows I am so grateful for everything. So far, here are the things that I can easily recall:
1. A wonderful, faithful, devoted, kind, supportive, understanding husband
2. Good health for me and my family
3. House no. 3 - a rental property
4. A stable job
5. The capacity to help and support my family in the Philippines
6. The capacity to buy things that I want for myself
7. The capacity to give without asking for anything in return
8. Good friends
9. Promotion to a higher and better paying position
10. A house above my head
11. A home for my family in the Philippines
12. My grandma's successful eye surgery
13. My 5 weeks' stay in the Philippines between April and May with my husband
14. The ability to control my expenses
15. The ability to save
16. The ability to invest
17. A rewarding career
18. The ability to support a decent and comfortable lifestyle
19. The ability to help my grandma renovate her house
20. The finances to support my daily calls with my husband - which I cannot live without
21. For all the days - good or not-so-good
22. For delivering me from sickness, accidents, calamities
23. For delivering my family from sickness, accidents, calamities
24. For a smooth-sailing marriage - even when it's long distance
25. For being able to engage in activities that prevent me from succumbing into a depressive state.
26. For answered prayers
27. For prayers that may seem unanswered but is actually not in God's time or plan
28. For all the blessings
29. For life, love, happiness, peace
30. For resolved problems
31. For a roommate understanding enough to tolerate my outbursts from time to time (PMS-related)
33. For helpful and supportive teammates
34. For a generous boss
35. For all those other things - big or small that I forgot to mention
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you find the time to pause and look into your hearts and be grateful for everything - big or small, good or not-so-good. After all, being given the chance to live each day is big enough reason to thank God.
1. A wonderful, faithful, devoted, kind, supportive, understanding husband
2. Good health for me and my family
3. House no. 3 - a rental property
4. A stable job
5. The capacity to help and support my family in the Philippines
6. The capacity to buy things that I want for myself
7. The capacity to give without asking for anything in return
8. Good friends
9. Promotion to a higher and better paying position
10. A house above my head
11. A home for my family in the Philippines
12. My grandma's successful eye surgery
13. My 5 weeks' stay in the Philippines between April and May with my husband
14. The ability to control my expenses
15. The ability to save
16. The ability to invest
17. A rewarding career
18. The ability to support a decent and comfortable lifestyle
19. The ability to help my grandma renovate her house
20. The finances to support my daily calls with my husband - which I cannot live without
21. For all the days - good or not-so-good
22. For delivering me from sickness, accidents, calamities
23. For delivering my family from sickness, accidents, calamities
24. For a smooth-sailing marriage - even when it's long distance
25. For being able to engage in activities that prevent me from succumbing into a depressive state.
26. For answered prayers
27. For prayers that may seem unanswered but is actually not in God's time or plan
28. For all the blessings
29. For life, love, happiness, peace
30. For resolved problems
31. For a roommate understanding enough to tolerate my outbursts from time to time (PMS-related)
33. For helpful and supportive teammates
34. For a generous boss
35. For all those other things - big or small that I forgot to mention
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you find the time to pause and look into your hearts and be grateful for everything - big or small, good or not-so-good. After all, being given the chance to live each day is big enough reason to thank God.
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Is it weekend yet?
It's one of those days when ya gotta ask that question - for several reasons:
Reason No. 1 - It took me 45 minutes (vs. the usual 20 minute drive) to get to the BART station in El Cerrito because of the thick fog in Hwy 80.
Reason No. 2 - Add to the low visibility the extremely slow schmuck driving in front of me. I can understand if the person is an elderly or a woman, or if the person in front of him is slow also. But when I passed him by, he was on the damn phone!!!!!
Reason No. 3 - Because of Reasons 1 and 2, I missed the train by a nanosecond. Right when I was at the door, it closed on me! I wanted to scream but it just left - with me standing in shock! I also missed it by a couple of minutes yesterday. Again, because of very slow drivers in front of me - right when I'm close to my exit!
Reason No. 4 - I couldn't find my checkbook anywhere! Over the weekend, I ran out of checks so I replaced it with a new stash. I was a bit late leaving the house because I was busy looking for it this morning. Now I have to call the bank so they can cancel those checks. It's a hassle too because I don't have any other record of my check transactions - what has been cleared, etc. I know I should've maintained my Microsoft Money log. But hey, you can't blame the girl for keeping a manual filing because when my PDA crashed, I lost almost everything - then my old laptop crashed too that I had to end up reformatting my hard drive. Oh well, damn if you do, damn if you don't!
Reason No. 5 - I need to scrap. It's my escape from my daily routine, and my form of relaxation. Try it - it's therapeutic.
Reason No. 6 - Hubz told me last night that electricity at my mom's house has been cut off because they didn't pay the bill. It's a long story but to sum it up, we give them their monthly allowance and they still neglect paying their bills. I can understand if this is the first time this happened 'coz maybe, they just forgot, but if it happened numerous times, I think I have the right to be suspicious.
Reason No. 7 - Grandma went back to Pagsanjan last weekend because she had an argument with my mom. She was supposed to wait until next week so the doctor can remove her stitches (she had eye surgery) but because she was so heartbroken, she decided to go home.
Reason No. 8 - I need to finish the thank you cards I'm working on for a friend who's getting married on Dec. 28. She ordered them from me after having looked at the handmade cards I've been making.
Reason No. 9 - L booked their timeshare for Reno starting this weekend. They won't be there until Wed. next week 'coz that's when her PTO starts. She then gave me and my roommate this weekend to get away from it all.... :)
Reason No. 10 - I need to pack my balikbayan box so I can ship it home in time for christmas.
Reason No. 1 - It took me 45 minutes (vs. the usual 20 minute drive) to get to the BART station in El Cerrito because of the thick fog in Hwy 80.
Reason No. 2 - Add to the low visibility the extremely slow schmuck driving in front of me. I can understand if the person is an elderly or a woman, or if the person in front of him is slow also. But when I passed him by, he was on the damn phone!!!!!
Reason No. 3 - Because of Reasons 1 and 2, I missed the train by a nanosecond. Right when I was at the door, it closed on me! I wanted to scream but it just left - with me standing in shock! I also missed it by a couple of minutes yesterday. Again, because of very slow drivers in front of me - right when I'm close to my exit!
Reason No. 4 - I couldn't find my checkbook anywhere! Over the weekend, I ran out of checks so I replaced it with a new stash. I was a bit late leaving the house because I was busy looking for it this morning. Now I have to call the bank so they can cancel those checks. It's a hassle too because I don't have any other record of my check transactions - what has been cleared, etc. I know I should've maintained my Microsoft Money log. But hey, you can't blame the girl for keeping a manual filing because when my PDA crashed, I lost almost everything - then my old laptop crashed too that I had to end up reformatting my hard drive. Oh well, damn if you do, damn if you don't!
Reason No. 5 - I need to scrap. It's my escape from my daily routine, and my form of relaxation. Try it - it's therapeutic.
Reason No. 6 - Hubz told me last night that electricity at my mom's house has been cut off because they didn't pay the bill. It's a long story but to sum it up, we give them their monthly allowance and they still neglect paying their bills. I can understand if this is the first time this happened 'coz maybe, they just forgot, but if it happened numerous times, I think I have the right to be suspicious.
Reason No. 7 - Grandma went back to Pagsanjan last weekend because she had an argument with my mom. She was supposed to wait until next week so the doctor can remove her stitches (she had eye surgery) but because she was so heartbroken, she decided to go home.
Reason No. 8 - I need to finish the thank you cards I'm working on for a friend who's getting married on Dec. 28. She ordered them from me after having looked at the handmade cards I've been making.
Reason No. 9 - L booked their timeshare for Reno starting this weekend. They won't be there until Wed. next week 'coz that's when her PTO starts. She then gave me and my roommate this weekend to get away from it all.... :)
Reason No. 10 - I need to pack my balikbayan box so I can ship it home in time for christmas.
Friday, November 12, 2004
An Exhausting but Exciting Weekend
We had a couple of friends over last weekend. Being the hospitable hosts, we took them around the Bay - from Sausalito, to Marin Headlands for a breathtaking view of the foggy Golden Gate Bridge, to the Palace of Fine Arts, to Crooked Street in Lombard, to Fisherman's Wharf, and lastly, to Ghirardelli Square. We got home a bit late on Saturday but it was really fun. I was just feeling sore because I was given tetanus vaccine the day before (which was really painful). In fact, I had to exert a bit of an effort to drive.
The next day, Sunday, we took them to some wineries in Napa Valley. I have passed through Napa a few times during fall and I know that the colors are beautiful at this time of the year. I just haven't had the chance to stop and take photos. Now, I have tons of photos.... :)
To get an idea of where we've been, and to visualize the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area and the breathtaking Napa Valley (eat your heart out 'coz I live very close to the wineries, tee-hee!) in your minds, I have uploaded some photos. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did taking them.
Have a great weekend people!
We had a couple of friends over last weekend. Being the hospitable hosts, we took them around the Bay - from Sausalito, to Marin Headlands for a breathtaking view of the foggy Golden Gate Bridge, to the Palace of Fine Arts, to Crooked Street in Lombard, to Fisherman's Wharf, and lastly, to Ghirardelli Square. We got home a bit late on Saturday but it was really fun. I was just feeling sore because I was given tetanus vaccine the day before (which was really painful). In fact, I had to exert a bit of an effort to drive.
The next day, Sunday, we took them to some wineries in Napa Valley. I have passed through Napa a few times during fall and I know that the colors are beautiful at this time of the year. I just haven't had the chance to stop and take photos. Now, I have tons of photos.... :)
To get an idea of where we've been, and to visualize the beautiful San Francisco Bay Area and the breathtaking Napa Valley (eat your heart out 'coz I live very close to the wineries, tee-hee!) in your minds, I have uploaded some photos. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did taking them.
Have a great weekend people!
Monday, November 8, 2004
A VERY BIG Surprise
When I arrived at my desk at 6:15am today, there was a HUGE wooden crate waiting for me from my husband!!!! It was nailed shut and had the word "fragile" all over. The packing slip said "capiz lantern". No wonder when I was talking to him last night, he kept insisting I come to work today (I was telling him that maybe I'd better telecommute after dropping our guests off at the train station because I had an exhausing weekend).
I knew something was fishy, but I wasn't expecting anything (until Friday maybe because Nov. 12th will be our 10th year anniversary as bf-gf). If I didn't logoff early on Friday, I would've known about it because one of my teammates emailed me about a big package at my desk.
My reaction when I saw the crate? I fell to my chair crying! How could a girl be so lucky to have a wonderful husband? He never fails to amaze me with his many unexpected surprises. I wanted so much to call him but I know that he might be sound asleep by now. The least I can do is leave him alone to get a good night's sleep.
Good night sleepy head.... I wish you know how happy you've made my Monday, and possibly the entire week!
I love you sweetheart!
I knew something was fishy, but I wasn't expecting anything (until Friday maybe because Nov. 12th will be our 10th year anniversary as bf-gf). If I didn't logoff early on Friday, I would've known about it because one of my teammates emailed me about a big package at my desk.
My reaction when I saw the crate? I fell to my chair crying! How could a girl be so lucky to have a wonderful husband? He never fails to amaze me with his many unexpected surprises. I wanted so much to call him but I know that he might be sound asleep by now. The least I can do is leave him alone to get a good night's sleep.
Good night sleepy head.... I wish you know how happy you've made my Monday, and possibly the entire week!
I love you sweetheart!
Friday, November 5, 2004
Hodge Podge of Stuff
There's so much to write about because I haven't blogged in a while (again!). Seems like blogging is becoming a challenge to me now. Thus, let me just take a moment to sit tight and blog about the many things that has been going on in my life (which for most people isn't exciting, hehehe!):
On Carly Patterson's visit - Sometime in October, we got the chance to meet Carly Patterson when she came to work for a visit. She won gold medal in Women's All Around Gymnastics in Athens. This time, I have photos to prove I met her (unlike when Michael Phelps, Lenny Krayzelberg, and Ian Croker came by).
On Scrapbooking - I'm on a roll! I've made three more LOs over the past couple of weeks - You're Invited, Our Love Story, and Viva Las Vegas. I'm slowly starting to scrap our wedding photos - the film based ones. Picking out those that I want to include becomes very challenging. Just imagine, I have to sort and pick out from about 700+ prints! That's enough to drive me to the brink.
On Card Making - Here's another hobby I truly enjoy. It's a theraphy for me (whenever I feel homesick or depressed). In the process, I am also expressing the creativity I never knew I had! I remembered when I was in school, my mom would always do my projects for me because she was afraid that I'd fail if I do it myself. Needless to say I thought I didn't get those creative genes my mom has? :) So, judge for yourselves.
On Guests - One of the reasons why I haven't blogged in a while was because we had guests in and out of the house. First they were my roommate's sister and her family from New Zealand. Next it was my roommate's cousin and her husband from Palm Springs. This weekend it'll be a couple of friends from Texas. In a week or so, another set of friends from Las Vegas. It's never-ending cleaning up and cooking and entertaining. I'm not complaining though. It's always good to have company once in a while.
On Parties - With the holidays just around the corner, so many parties are being organized. In fact, my November weekends are booked to the brim! Last weekend, I went to a birthday and halloween party. Tonight, I'm attending a golden wedding anniversary celebration of a close friend's parents. Next weekend, there are 2 parties I'm supposed to go to (in a single day). The following week, another birthday party. Then there's Thanksgiving.... not to mention Christmas and New Year!!!!
On my cholasterol - I've got to watch out what I eat or my doctor's going to whip my behind because of my cholasterol. Amazing that for someone as petite as I am, I have a borderline cholasterol level (that was last year though!). I guess that was the bad genes I got from my dad. I'm sweating out now because I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon. I do hope I'd fare well on my cholasterol test.
On the upcoming holidays - The air is chilly again, and fall is coming to an end. With winter looming around, it's becoming more and more depressing. I miss my family, I miss my husband, I miss everyone back home. When I was growing up, Christmas is a big deal in our family. Even when my mom would just repair old clothes to look like new, I came to appreciate Christmas as more than just new clothes, new shoes, new toys. For me, it's being with family that accounts for a wonderful christmas.
In high school, I was a member of the church choir (don't ask me how because I could never figure that out) so the three of us - mom, younger brother, and me - would go to church for the Simbang Gabi (around 3am). Breakfast would consist of puto bumbong or bibingka. At 6:30, I go straight to school (which is located just opposite the church - how convenient right?). On Christmas Eve, we'd have scrap ham - I call it scrap because those are the remnants when they cut ham in the market. There's bread, hot chocolate, fruit salad, and some other modest food on the table. I considered it our most extravagant dish because we never get to taste them on regular days. We don't always get christmas gifts but just being together is a wonderful gift for me.
I wanted to go home for Christmas but I figured that if I'm getting so depressed when I come home in May, the more it'll be depressing coming back after the holidays. Like I said before, coming home is always a torture for me because I go through the crying fit going back.
On grandma's eye surgery - We finally had grandma agree on an eye surgery, or, as her doctor puts it, she'd get glaucoma. When I called her before the surgery, she was crying and asking for an apology because she had to ask for money. Of course I had to help. After all, my grandma was one of those special people who helped me reach my goals. Even hubz was open to helping grandma. In fact, he visited her before the surgery, at the hospital, and when she came out of the hospital. He even dropped her off to Pagsanjan. This weekend, he's going to pick her up from Pagsanjan for her checkup on Monday. Grandma told me she felt that I was home all along - the way my husband doted on her. No wonder I'm so in love with my husband. He's just truly a great guy!
On mom's birthday - Hubz took a day off on mom's birthday so he could take them out to lunch. She turned 55 this year!
On my 7th year anniversary here in the US - November 13 is my 7th year here in the US. Time flew by!
Another anniversary to watch out for - I'll keep this a suspense for now.
Well, that's it pansit! If you're still reading 'til the end - congratulations! I admire your patience.... hahaha!
Have a great weekend everyone!
There's so much to write about because I haven't blogged in a while (again!). Seems like blogging is becoming a challenge to me now. Thus, let me just take a moment to sit tight and blog about the many things that has been going on in my life (which for most people isn't exciting, hehehe!):
On Carly Patterson's visit - Sometime in October, we got the chance to meet Carly Patterson when she came to work for a visit. She won gold medal in Women's All Around Gymnastics in Athens. This time, I have photos to prove I met her (unlike when Michael Phelps, Lenny Krayzelberg, and Ian Croker came by).
On Scrapbooking - I'm on a roll! I've made three more LOs over the past couple of weeks - You're Invited, Our Love Story, and Viva Las Vegas. I'm slowly starting to scrap our wedding photos - the film based ones. Picking out those that I want to include becomes very challenging. Just imagine, I have to sort and pick out from about 700+ prints! That's enough to drive me to the brink.
On Card Making - Here's another hobby I truly enjoy. It's a theraphy for me (whenever I feel homesick or depressed). In the process, I am also expressing the creativity I never knew I had! I remembered when I was in school, my mom would always do my projects for me because she was afraid that I'd fail if I do it myself. Needless to say I thought I didn't get those creative genes my mom has? :) So, judge for yourselves.
On Guests - One of the reasons why I haven't blogged in a while was because we had guests in and out of the house. First they were my roommate's sister and her family from New Zealand. Next it was my roommate's cousin and her husband from Palm Springs. This weekend it'll be a couple of friends from Texas. In a week or so, another set of friends from Las Vegas. It's never-ending cleaning up and cooking and entertaining. I'm not complaining though. It's always good to have company once in a while.
On Parties - With the holidays just around the corner, so many parties are being organized. In fact, my November weekends are booked to the brim! Last weekend, I went to a birthday and halloween party. Tonight, I'm attending a golden wedding anniversary celebration of a close friend's parents. Next weekend, there are 2 parties I'm supposed to go to (in a single day). The following week, another birthday party. Then there's Thanksgiving.... not to mention Christmas and New Year!!!!
On my cholasterol - I've got to watch out what I eat or my doctor's going to whip my behind because of my cholasterol. Amazing that for someone as petite as I am, I have a borderline cholasterol level (that was last year though!). I guess that was the bad genes I got from my dad. I'm sweating out now because I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon. I do hope I'd fare well on my cholasterol test.
On the upcoming holidays - The air is chilly again, and fall is coming to an end. With winter looming around, it's becoming more and more depressing. I miss my family, I miss my husband, I miss everyone back home. When I was growing up, Christmas is a big deal in our family. Even when my mom would just repair old clothes to look like new, I came to appreciate Christmas as more than just new clothes, new shoes, new toys. For me, it's being with family that accounts for a wonderful christmas.
In high school, I was a member of the church choir (don't ask me how because I could never figure that out) so the three of us - mom, younger brother, and me - would go to church for the Simbang Gabi (around 3am). Breakfast would consist of puto bumbong or bibingka. At 6:30, I go straight to school (which is located just opposite the church - how convenient right?). On Christmas Eve, we'd have scrap ham - I call it scrap because those are the remnants when they cut ham in the market. There's bread, hot chocolate, fruit salad, and some other modest food on the table. I considered it our most extravagant dish because we never get to taste them on regular days. We don't always get christmas gifts but just being together is a wonderful gift for me.
I wanted to go home for Christmas but I figured that if I'm getting so depressed when I come home in May, the more it'll be depressing coming back after the holidays. Like I said before, coming home is always a torture for me because I go through the crying fit going back.
On grandma's eye surgery - We finally had grandma agree on an eye surgery, or, as her doctor puts it, she'd get glaucoma. When I called her before the surgery, she was crying and asking for an apology because she had to ask for money. Of course I had to help. After all, my grandma was one of those special people who helped me reach my goals. Even hubz was open to helping grandma. In fact, he visited her before the surgery, at the hospital, and when she came out of the hospital. He even dropped her off to Pagsanjan. This weekend, he's going to pick her up from Pagsanjan for her checkup on Monday. Grandma told me she felt that I was home all along - the way my husband doted on her. No wonder I'm so in love with my husband. He's just truly a great guy!
On mom's birthday - Hubz took a day off on mom's birthday so he could take them out to lunch. She turned 55 this year!
On my 7th year anniversary here in the US - November 13 is my 7th year here in the US. Time flew by!
Another anniversary to watch out for - I'll keep this a suspense for now.
Well, that's it pansit! If you're still reading 'til the end - congratulations! I admire your patience.... hahaha!
Have a great weekend everyone!
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