January Birthday Greetings



2nd - DM

3rd - RO

7th - FPD

8th - GEM

9th - JDL

12th - LCDC



To all you special people, a very happy birthday!!!!

As we bid farewell to 2004, let me sum up the things I have learned that has proven useful. I hope to continue it on through 2005, and hopefully, add a few more along the way.



Pay yourself first. I have read this from the book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki. I have decided to adapt it in my finances, and it has proven to be very effective. On top of my monthly budget is a specific amount I set aside for my savings. The remainder would then be divided towards other bills - from mortgage payments, to utilities, to little luxuries. In the past, I would usually buy the things I want and the remainder of it goes towards my savings. I reversed it in 2004. By doing so, I am making sure that my savings grow, while trying to live within what's left of it.



Live within your means. This isn't new. I have always lived a simple life - making sure that I don't overspend. Even when I want something, I think a number of times first before I give in to my whims. For instance, there's this digital SLR that I have always wanted to buy. It took me a year to finally decide to splurge on it. I was trying to justify whether it's practical or not, even amidst the prodding of my husband. I did a lot of calculations first and only when I'm sure that I'll be able to pay for it in the shortest time possible did I finally give in. Now, I am trying to justify whether I need a new PDA or not (my old one went bonkers almost a year ago), and this has been an ongoing debate for months now. You see, here in the US, it's so easy to incur so much debt because I get a lot credit card pre-approvals in the mail everyday. I don't allow myself to fall into these pitfalls. After all, I'd have to pay them sooner or later.



Invest, invest, invest. Do not put your future in the hands of the social security system, or the 401K, or your savings. By diversifying investments, you're somehow making sure that when one drops, you at least have your funds invested in other things.



If you can't invest in Real Estate, invest in jewelries. This, I have learned from my grandma, and has helped us through the years. Even when my grandma was earning a measly salary, she made sure she set aside a specific amount to afford jewelries - for herself, and for her two girls. Because my mom had a few valuable pieces (thanks to my grandma), she would bring it to a pawnshop whenever we needed money, and that would pull us through.



Do not take things for granted. From the recent calamities that struck Manila - all four storms, to the tsunami that hit some parts of Southeast Asia, God has proven yet again that we are not indispensable. What He has given us, He can take away anytime - including the gift of life.



Treat each day as if it is your last. God knows I have harbored enough ill feelings in my heart. Now, I am trying, with God's help, to forgive and finally, forget. It is going to be a long haul, and a tough ride. But, deep in my heart, I know that God will help me through.



The power of prayer. Over the years, I have been asked how I am able to survive being away from my loved ones. I have discovered long before the power of prayer. I talk to God when I feel down. I pray when I feel uneasy. I voice out my worries. I pray for my aspirations and dreams. I lift up my problems to Him. I take comfort in knowing that amidst it all, I am not alone. I hold on to His promise that He will be with me always, and I have proven that over and over again.

2004 - The Year that was....



Goodbye 2004 - hello year of the Rooster!!!!



How does someone overseas celebrate the coming of the new year? With dear friends of course! We had a post-christmas get-together here at home on New Year's eve. This has been an ongoing tradition since 1998, and over the years, a few people have been added, but the essence remained the same - to keep each other company for the holidays. We had a table-full of sumptuous food - paella, kaldereta, fried chicken, meatballs, lumpiang shanghai, sotanghon, shrimp, cassava bibingka, macaroni salad, ham - which my roommate and I cooked. Our friends brought mac and cheese, jello, buco salad, jack in the box dessert, kutsinta, and taho! Whew, talk about pigging out! The last of our guests left at 9pm - all were in a hurry to get home in time for New Year.



Filipinos have been known to easily adapt to their environment - wherever they may be. Since our families are all back home, we have learned to depend on friends. We have formed this bond since we first came here in 1997. In fact, I am the godmother to at least one of their kids!



I burned the phone lines at around 12:30am on January 1, Manila time. I had to make sure my husband's fingers were still intact even after firing all those firecrackers to welcome the new year! We reminisced the beginning of 2002 when I went home to spend New Year in Manila. We were together then - in fact, it was on January 3 when he actually proposed! I'm feeling homesick again....



Before the year ended, after the last of our guests left, I lost my voice! To date, I am harboring a little fever, cough, colds. What a way to welcome the new year huh? I guess it's because of the weather, and then of course, I may have gotten it from some of our guests who have just been through flu over the holidays!



Hopefully, 2005 will be a better year! Counting down the days 'til I see hubz again! :)



Lastly, please continue to pray (and help when you can) for all the victims of the deadly tsunami, and the four storms that hit the Philippines before the year ended. May those who passed away rest in peace, and may those who were left behind be able to pick up and go on.

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?