Back from Fantasy-Land



After 7 years here in the US, I finally was able to realize a childhood dream - I was able to go to Disneyland!!!! What's more, I spent Christmas eve there! It truly is the happiest place on earth - no doubt about that!



It took us 8 hours to get to Lancaster - where my roommate's niece lives. We stayed with them overnight and were off to California Adventure and Disneyland on the 24th. California Adventure is the adult theme park counterpart of Disneyland. We watched Alladin - a musical play - and took delight in the antics of the Genie - what a funny guy! We also watched the Making of Animations - which I know my brother would truly enjoy. His dream is to become a Disney cartoonist.



We also saw One Man's Dream - sort of like Walt Disney's life story. If there's one thing I learned about his life is that he puts his heart and soul in his dream - something he truly believed in. He was willing to risk everything just to be able to make it come true. In the end, he left behind a legacy that everyone from all walks of life would truly enjoy.



Then we were off to Disneyland. There, we saw Disney characters' parade, then Fantasmic - a water and lights show, followed by fireworks display. Finally, there was a shower of snowflakes with the sound of "White Christmas" in the background. What a great experience!



Oh by the way, I cried when I was watching Fantasmic because I remembered how my brother and I share the same dream of being able to go to Disneyland. God finally granted my wish on Christmas Eve nonetheless. It is my hope that I can bring my brother to Disneyland so he'll also enjoy the sights and fulfill his dream.



Thank you Walt, for making children happy. Most of all, thank you for making the child in me experience a christmas I didn't feel like celebrating prior to this trip.



P.S.

By the way, I promised photos didn't I? Well, here they are.... Thank you for looking.

Merry Christmas to you and yours



While Christmas this year isn't as exciting as the previous ones, I am still looking forward to take a few days off. I'm already stretched thin as it is, with work piling faster than I can sigh.



It's half day off for us today and this afternoon, we're going to LA!!!!! I'm going to visit Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Disney princesses.... :) What's more, our tickets are free! Our company gave out about 400 tickets to Disneyland and California Adventure so I'm going to both, yahoo!!!!



After more than 7 years here in the US, I'm ashamed to say that this will be my first time to go to Disneyland. I was able to go to Universal Studios some 5 years ago, but never to Disneyland. I just never had the chance to do it. I even told hubz that I'll just wait for him to come and then we'd go there together, but with a free ticket, who could resist right? harharhar!



So, my bags are packed, I'm geared up to go. We're driving down to LA in a few more hours, and call me weird but I quite enjoy driving. Ask me to drive 12 hours straight and I won't complain.... :)



'Til my next post! I promise to take lots of photos.



Merry Christmas everyone! Amidst all the chaos and feast, please don't forget the reason of the season - Christ!



Cyberhugs to you all!

How times have changed....



I was already working when I got allowed to stay out 'til late. I remembered my dad used to call my friends when I'm not home by 6 or 7. My mom would even pick me up from school when I was in college just to make sure I'd go straight home. Being able to go to school is already a priviledge not every kid is blessed with, so I took that opportunity to do well in school. Perhaps I led a sheltered life but I was never permitted to go to parties unless my mom was with me. I never complained.



Now curfews at 10pm isn't even enough. Some of my cousins debated that parties don't even start 'til midnight, so how is it possible to come home at 10? I was totally shocked! I am concerned about the kind of parties that do start at 12!



I remembered my mom would tell me "ano'ng klaseng babae ang nasa kalye pa ng ganitong oras?" I once defied her and stayed out 'til about 8pm. Oh don't get me wrong, I sometimes sleep over a classmate's house just because we were busy working on our school projects. I was allowed to do that because I didn't have a computer up until the semester I was due to graduate, and only because I needed to do my thesis. But parties? Forget it and don't even dare ask!



And their cellphones! Explain how can a 7 year old kid be able to afford a cellphone? But they do have one, and mind you, they're not cheap-o! A friend complained that her nieces in Manila emailed her asking for a new cellphone because theirs was last year's model. "Ridiculous!" she said "because these girls' family couldn't even afford to put food on their table!". I advised her to tell her nieces to eat their cellphones first and if they're able to do that, then she'll give her a new one! Am I being too harsh?



My husband's cellphone had elicited quite a number of loud laughs before he took the plunge to change it. He had his cell since 1998 (the year after I left for the US) and it was a brand I've never heard of, as big as a landline phone and even heavier! I had to beg him to replace it! He finally did right after our wedding. That's how practical he is about stuff he believes are serving their purpose.



Here's more - whenever I come home, I get asked to bring "branded" clothes - be it CK, DKNY, Prada, Polo, etc, and imported perfumes or colognes. Last year, I had quite a few friends who told me I don't look like I came from America because I wasn't trendy. At least I'm not inviting unwanted attention! I'm one person who has never been held up, and I'm proud of it.



I can only shiver at the thought of what else could change. What would I do if my kids would tell me they want to get a tattoo or have their body pierced? What would I say if they tell me not to wait up because they're not coming home?



I have asked the same questions to hubz and we both do not have answers.



Sigh! Am I getting too old to notice these things?

And they called me "Scrooge"



Just because I am not up for Christmas this year, doesn't mean I don't want it to come. I guess I'm too homesick to even think about decorating the house for the holidays. My roommate has also been bugging me to host a party for either christmas or new year, and I finally agreed after too much prodding!



On Saturday, I queued up several times (on different stores) just because L sent me on an errand to find christmas lights, extension wires, and what-have-yous. Because she started putting on the lights outside the house, and our neighbors didn't see me helping (I was on different stores remember?), they were calling me "Scrooge" when they finally saw me.



I'm still wrapping christmas gifts!



I still haven't sent all the christmas cards!



We're still debating whether to put up the tree or not. Since christmas is only a couple of weeks away, and we'll be in LA anyway, I didn't want to put it up, only to take it down as soon as we come back - or at least after the new year's party here at home.



I guess I also feel guilty celebrating when, on the other side of the world, people in the Philippines are still mourning the loss of hundreds of lives because of the most recent calamity.



Most of all, how can you celebrate when your heart is somewhere else - with the one person whom you'd like to be with?



Do I hear Pasko na Sinta ko in the background - or am I just humming it in my head?

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

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....

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.