This Garden of EDEN

Breaking Point!!!

2010-09-28T05:03:00.000-07:00

A recent encounter with a seemingly "nice" person made me think...

Think a few times of human moralities and principles and that inner strength that we all suppose to have within us. Given, we all have stresses in life, of many different levels, that we each handle in different ways to the best of our abilities and ways of "coping". At some point in our stressful life, we somehow reach the point of "I had enough"... then what do we do? We do different things to try to balance out our lives when we reach that breaking point!!!

My favorite Wikepedia says this about "breaking point" . In human psychology, the breaking point is a moment of stress in which a person breaks down or a situation becomes critical. A breaking point can lead to a shift in morals and world perception.

It is that point at which physical, mental, or emotional strength gives way under stress and to which a condition or situation becomes critical. For some people, they resort in horrific act(s) in attempt to get rid of that one factor in the equation that tips off the scale of life and made it unbalanced. Do we, as the spectators give our understanding and justification of the horrific act that was committed when the mind was literally lost at that "breaking point"??? Do we give understanding to a mother that hurt her child because she "lost it"???

Breaking point??? Something to ponder upon...

Motherhood...

2010-05-09T02:46:00.000-07:00

Motherhood ... the greatest accomplishment there is for a woman, I think. After all, the body of a woman is all about reproduction. The woman's body prepares herself every seconds of everyday for the conception of a human being...

According to many internet sources,it was in 1858, when Anna Reeves Jarvis founded Mother's day in West Virginia in honor of her beloved mother. The rest of her life, Anna Jarvis fought what became of the day she created ... the commercial and political exploitation of it.

It was not until June 1873 that the inaugural celebration of Mother's Day happened.

The nine months of carrying a child in the womb is only the beginning of motherhood. From the first day of pregnancy, the mother is faced with many challenges. Challenges that can make the rearing of the child much more interesting and trying...

As in any facet of life, motherhood has it own ups and downs. As a mother, my approach has been I do my best and think what is best of my child. I must say I have been lucky!!!

TO ALL OF THE MOTHERS IN THE WORLD, a toast and a salute to you!!!

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!!!

As the saying goes ...

A CONCEPT TO PONDER UPON...

2010-03-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since my last post. I apologized. I had been in pretty challenging period in my life that took quite a bit of my time and energy. Now I am in the recovery period and feeling pretty good. So here goes.

Here is a concept for you to ponder upon. An older, wiser woman (the mother of a good friend of mine) from the Eastern world shared this with me as she listened to my woes. As I gnaw on the concept and reflect back on what have been happening in my life… I came to the conclusion that she could be right!!! She said: The wheel of life turns about every twelve years. When it turns, CHANGE(S) occur(s) in one’s life. The manifestation of the CHANGE(S) expand(s) to three years. In this turn of the wheel, one loses someone or something … job, wealth, partner and even one’s life. Be thankful she said if it’s not your life you lose because anything else is replaceable. The first of these three years is when gradual, little negative changes occur in your life. You are able to adapt to the “CHANGE(S). The second year is when you hit the bottom. This is when nothing works for you. It seems like everything and everybody is against you. You can not seem to correct these negativities for all your might. You might even wonder about your “faith”. This second year is the period of self realization … to submit or to fight … to the CHANGE(S). Life adjustments occur. The third year is the trip to recovery as slow as it might seem. This is when you start to feel that things are not as stressful or suffocating in your life as in that middle year. This is when things are looking up and those feelings that are positive are back within you again, and life is becoming “good” again… And so it continues for about twelve years … The turn of the wheel and the CHANGE(S), are what makes you that person that you are… What do you think? Agree? Disagree? Hhhhmmmmm … 2010 is my year!!! WELCOME and THANK YOU!!!

Meet my new doggie!!!

2009-11-17T09:22:00.000-08:00

This summer Zipper - my dog for about 16 years, went up to Rainbow Bridge. My other dog, Duke did not do well without Zipper. There was marked changes in his demeanor... I felt that he was missing his sissy... Zip. I decided that I would find him a sister or a brother from the city pound.

Another Llasa Aphso mixed breed doggy caught my attention. He was charming as can be. He is 1 1/2 years and grayish/black in color.

After a week-end of wait, Prince came home with me to meet his new brother, Duke.

We found out that this little rascal has much too much of an energy, being a young un. He is into everything that his mouth and teeth can get hold into. And whatever that may be, rest assured it is torn into pieces. Now the backyard is Prince-proof!!!

He sure has made Duke a very active brother by getting Duke to play, get into mischiefs, and be the partner in his "crimes"... Poor Duke!!!

I can't wait for Prince to get older and get over all these stages that young dogs go through!!! Until then, my backyard will never be the same!!! LOL

Zipper, Duke and Prince are doggies from the Llasa Aphso breed.

The Lhasa Apso (lha-sah ap-so) is a non-sporting dog breed originating in Tibet. It was bred as an interior sentinel in the Buddhist monasteries, who alerted the monks to any intruders who entered. Lhasa is the capital city of Tibet and apso is a word in the Tibetan language meaning "bearded," so Lhasa Apso simply means "long-haired Tibetan dog."

A one year old female Lhasa with short length hair and a slight underbite.

Male Lhasa Apsos should ideally be 10.75 inches at the withers and weigh about 14-18 pounds, 6–8 kg. The females are slightly smaller, and weigh between 12-14 pounds, 5–7 kg. The breed standard requires dark brown eyes and a black nose, although liver coloured lhasas have a brown nose. The texture of the coat is heavy, straight, hard, neither woolly nor silky, and very dense. Colors include white, golden, rust and parti-colored with various shadings.

Lhasas can be with or without dark tips at the end of ears and beard. The tail should be carried well over the dog's back. The breed standard currently used by the American Kennel Club was approved on July 17, 1978. Lhasas can change color as they get older, starting with a dark brown coat which gradually turns lighter.

A movement called the Tibetan Line Breeding Programme exists, to breed preseve the original Tibetan Lhasa Apso. This movement is based on the premise that after 60 years of Western breeding, the breed is losing key characteristics of their original Lhasa ancestors still living in Tibet and Bhutan.

Smelly good!!!

2009-11-17T08:42:00.000-08:00

Do you ever wonder how perfumes and cologne got to be??? The word "perfume" is a derivative of the Latin word "parfumare" meaning "through smoke".

Back in the olden times in Egypt, they used fumigations in honour of their gods. They sought wood aromatic, grasses, roots, etc... to create perfumes. They burnt the famous incense called Kyphi, a very odorous mixture composed of the myrrh, Matsic tree, bays of juniper, seeds of fenugreek, pistachio and edible shoveler duck, the whole crushed and mixed with wine and a preparation cooked containing resin and of honey.

The Egyptians manufactured ointments, and essential oils for their religious practices and their personal uses. They applied them to their skin to fine cosmetics or therapeutic. The ointments were preserved in cups or mud out of alabaster. There were also small stone or ceramics bottles.One of the supreme pleasures of the Egyptian women was to place, on their head, of the small cones of greases and aromatic resins, which, while melting, scented their hair and their face.

The Greeks continued the Egyptian practices with new reported fragrances their voyages. They coated the body of oils and ointments during the bath.The Greeks scented the body of their deaths and they buried them with personal objects of which a perfume bottle. The aryballes made it possible to spread the ointment on the skin. The Greek athletes coated the body with them before each test.

The Romans, in their turn, granted a great place to the perfume. They made improvements as for the ingredients and developed the use at the time of the religious, funerary rites of it and of the daily practices. The Greeks thought that the perfumes possessed medicinal virtues. They consumed some with excess going until sprinkling some on the walls and the grounds of their house. A great innovation was the use of the container out of glass.

Even today, France remains the centre of the European perfume design and trade.

Perfume types reflect the concentration of aromatic compounds in a solvent, which in fine fragrance is typically ethanol or a mix of water and ethanol. Various sources differ considerably in the definitions of perfume types. The concentration by percent/volume of perfume oil is as follows:

Perfume extract (Extrait): 15-40% (IFRA: typical 20%) aromatic compounds

Eau de Parfum (EdP), Parfum de Toilette (PdT): 10-20% (typical ~15%) aromatic compounds. Sometimes listed as "eau de perfume" or "millésime".

Eau de Toilette (EdT): 5-15% (typical ~10%) aromatic compounds

Eau de Cologne (EdC): Chype citrus type perfumes with 3-8% (typical ~5%) aromatic compounds

Splash and After shave: 1-3% aromatic compounds

Perfume oils are often diluted with a solvent, though this is not always the case, and its necessity is disputed. By far the most common solvent for perfume oil dilution is ethanol or a mixture of ethanol and water. Perfume oil can also be diluted by means of neutral-smelling oils such as fractionated coconut oil, or liquid waxes such as jojoba oil.

The intensity and longevity of a perfume is based on the concentration, intensity and longevity of the aromatic compounds (natural essential oils / perfume oils) used: As the percentage of aromatic compounds increases, so does the intensity and longevity of the scent created. Different perfumeries or perfume houses assign different amounts of oils to each of their perfumes. Therefore, although the oil concentration of a perfume in Eau de Parfum (EdP) dilution will necessarily be higher than the same perfume in Eau de Toilette (EdT) from within the same range, the actual amounts can vary between perfume houses. An EdT from one house may be stronger than an EdP from another.

Men's fragrances are rarely as EdP or perfume extracts. As well, women's fragrances are rarely sold in EdC concentrations. Although this gender specific naming trend is common for assigning fragrance concentrations, it does not directly have anything to do with whether a fragrance was intended for men or women.

Fragrance compounds in perfumes will degrade or break down if improperly stored in the presence of:

Heat
Light
Oxygen
Extraneous organic materials

Proper preservation of perfumes involve keeping them away from sources of heat and storing them where they will not be exposed to light. An opened bottle will keep its aroma intact for several years, as long as it is well stored. However the presence of oxygen in the head space of the bottle and environmental factors will in the long run alter the smell of the fragrance.
Perfumes are best preserved when kept in light-tight aluminum bottles or in their original packaging when not in use, and refrigerated to relatively low temperatures: between 3-7 degrees Celsius (37-45 degrees Fahrenheit). Although it is difficult to completely remove oxygen from the headspace of a stored flask of fragrance, opting for spray dispensers instead of rollers and "open" bottles will minimize oxygen exposure. Sprays also have the advantage of isolating fragrance inside a bottle and preventing it from mixing with dust, skin, and detritus, which would degrade and alter the quality of a perfume.

So... what is your smell preference???

As you point...

2009-04-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

At some points in our lives ... we feel the "powerlessness" and we try to deal with this "lessness" in our own ways.

Some of us get angry, some want to die, some get paralyzed, some get critical, some get righteous, some get philosophical, some get into superiority or inferiority, some come out fighting and some just feel beat up. When in this situation, we take on a role to act it out. This is when we get into the so-called ... KARPMAN DRAMA TRIANGLE.

Wikipedia discusses the KARPMAN drama triangle as a psychological and social model of human interaction first described by Stephen Karpman, which has become widely used in psychology and psychotherapy. The drama triangle shows the dramatic roles that people act-out in daily life that are unstable, unsatisfactory, repeated, emotionally competitive, and generate misery and discomfort for both people, sooner or later. The switching that occurs between Persecutor - Rescuer - Victim - generates the drama and the painful feelings that occur when people have hidden agendas, secrets, and then manipulate for dysfunctional personal advantage.

The unfortunate and sad thing is when we handle the"lessness" by calling it in another person, usually ... the partner or the significant other. It is so easy to see it when another person handles this "powerlessness" this way but so hard to catch ourselves doing it. It is so easy to point a finger at someone, usually, at the person that we love. As a good friend would say ...remember that when we point a finger at that person in front of us, the rest of the fingers in that hand are pointing at ourselves.

BE HONEST TO YOURSELF and so you can set yourself free and thus the domino effect of setting free the people around you!!!

Please don't take out your issues on another being... That other person is not there to be your target area or your punching bag...

I will meet her again someday!!!

2009-02-27T07:09:00.000-08:00

On February 25, my longtime, most loved girlie dog Zipper went to Rainbow Bridge...

I miss her!!!

Andy Rooney's ... WHY CHICKS OVER 40 RULE

2009-02-23T04:09:00.000-08:00

I was cleaning up my filing cabinet when I came across this copy of a post made by a member of the message board I belong. I liked it then when he posted it, and I still like it now so I am sharing it here... Since I am one of those chicks over 40.

...by Andy Rooney from CBS "60 Minutes"

This is for all of you girls 40 years and over ... and for the ones who are turning 40 and for those who are scared of moving into their 50 ... and 60's... And for guys who are scared of girls over 40!!!

Andy Rooney says:
As I grow in age, I value women who are over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?" She does not care what you think.

If a woman over 40 does not want to watch the game, she does not sit around whining about it. She does something else she wants to do. And it is usually something more interesting. A woman over 40 knows herself well enough to be assuming in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of 40 give a hoot what you might think about her or what she is doing.

Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserving. They know what it's like to be unappreciated. A woman over 40 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women. Women over 40 couldn't care if you're attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40. They always know.

A woman over 40 looks good wearing bright lipstick. This is not true of younger women. Once you get past wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons.

Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 40+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself to some 22-year-old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize.

I know I like Andy Rooney for something...

My Holiday Season!!!

2009-01-03T05:48:00.001-08:00

I hope you all had a nice Christmas and a promising 2009 so far!!!

I was on vacation... (yep!!! those relaxing, stress less and yet poorer me days) for the first two weeks of December. I needed the vacation and I wanted to really go all out with my holiday decorations. Christmas is my very favorite holiday. Last year I did not put any decoration and hardly celebrated the season. My life was so hectic last year that I did not have the time and energy to celebrate as much as I usually do. So this year, I went back in gear...

I was done with decorations and gift shopping and gift wrapping by the second week. And the baking started at that second week as well. So by the time Christmas rolled in, I was ready ... stress less and looked forward to our family get together.

The Christmas Eve get together was wonderful. Thanksgiving reunion was at my house. Christmas Eve was at my goddaughter/niece' house. It was great to see everyone again. We had plenty of food, wine, laughter, hugs and kisses and pictures. I can't wait for this year's Christmas already.

I received many great gifts from family and friends. I felt blessed and loved.

I had to work on my birthday. My co-workers/friends had potlucks in 2 departments in our hospital. I even had two birthday cakes to blow... Neat!!! And the presents were great!!!

My New Year's Eve was wonderful as well. I have always worked on New Year's Eve but this time I had the chance to celebrate it with a bang.

Free as a bird or two...

2008-09-13T21:20:00.000-07:00

I always say that if ever I were to come back to earth in another lifetime ... that I would like to come back as a bird. I see a bird as a carefree being. Flying free... however, whichever, wherever, whatever ... it wants to.

There it is with its wings all spread out letting the wind blow ... away the broken dreams. Blow away the sadness and hopelessness. Blow away the madness and frustrations. Blow away the heartaches and mental anguish.

And embrace the hopes of tomorrow. Embrace the new promises and the new dreams. Embrace what there will be..

Would it not be wonderful to soar up in the sky and drop down and away all the baggage that I've been carrying in my life and in the part of my heart that is broken? And land on solid ground and start anew...

How about you? What would you like to be in your other lifetime???

My absence... apologies

2008-08-14T14:55:00.000-07:00

I am one of those that know not to get started on something that will preoccupy me for a long period of time. I tend to "get hooked" on whatever that is and end up neglecting everything else around me. That obsessive personality of mine pops up and take over. Let's say, a book of my interest. If I start reading a book and really get into the nitty gritty of it, I have the tendency to not put it down until I finish reading the very last page of it. And so therefore while in the process of the engrossed reading, I will not look up, well, maybe once in a while, just long enough to see the right spot to sit on the toilet... hehehe!!! until I finish that book.

So I have never ever seen any reality shows nor any soap operas because I already know that if I ever get started on any of them that I will not be at peace with myself if I miss any episode so I don't even try to get started.

And so therefore my excuse, as lame as it is, for not blogging for a while... is just that. My focus was somewhere else that I wanted to work and flourish but as luck would have it... did not work.
Oh well!!!

So now, I am taking a break from my heartbreaks and see if I can somehow share some of my "sleeping" thoughts and ideas for this neglected blogspot of mine... shame on me!!!

Move onward!!

Fidelity ... my take on it!!!

2008-05-23T18:14:00.000-07:00

In the matters of the hearts, many variables come into play that make a relationship more challenging. The differences of the man and the woman in the relationship, just as being a man and as a woman - you know, that deal about Man from there and Woman from the other there... complicate the relationship as it is. We are not even going into the outside influences that add to the roller coaster ride in the relationship.

My ex-marriage was not the greatest but fidelity or I should say infidelity never came into play even in the worst of it.

My first personal encounter of this subject, infidelity that is, was when I decided to try a go of another relationship after many years of being alone. The man I thought that could be the second man in my life committed infidelity on his partner of many years. I was deceived, made to believe that he was not in any other relationship beside ours. Come to find out, he was already in a relationship for many years and was still in that relationship when he started chasing me. Eventually, my gut feelings lead me straight into the truth that I was seeking althrough the period of our relationship.

I was glad that I flew over in his world and saw things with my very own eyes... infidelity !!!

Another disguise of this act came into play in my life. The question or challenge that was brought to my senses... how could there be an infidelity when the third party is several thousand miles away???

Good question!!! My concern about this is the emotional effect and hold that the third party has even if she is several miles away. The lies, deceits, sneaking around befits infidelity... my opinion anyway. When I am in a relationship, I choose to be in it and give my all. And expect the same back.... Is that so wrong???

Has it been that long???

2008-05-20T16:54:00.000-07:00

March 25,2007... I just looked back at my very first post on here and shook my head in disbelief!!! Over a year ago had gone by. My dear girlfriend from Arizona who is also a blogger on here sweetly talked me into starting my very own blogspot... and here I am.

What I enjoy the most on visiting my own blogspot is looking at the list of the visitors that come and stop by at this humble spot. Unbelievable!!! People from all over the world have come and read my thoughts and opinions. How neat is that??? I just wish that they would make their visits known.

I have slowed down with my postings for several personal reasons. I would like to try to start posting more.

I hope you are all having a great spring and summer soon!!! I have been in the pool lately...

A Meme Tag: 5 THINGS...

2008-02-25T22:26:00.000-08:00

I decided to take on this meme from my girlfriends ... Belle's and Elyani's blogspots.

5 Things Found In My Bag

cellphone

wallet

make-up kit

emergency medicines

gums

5 Things Found In My Wallet

nursing cards - license, certificates

money

green "lucky" stone

plastic money(s)

other cards... Starbucks, Costco, Safeway

5 Things found in my room

threadclimber machine
TV/VHS/DVD
mattress pad heater
CalKing bed
alarm clock/CD player

5 Things I always want to do

be a tourist in the Philippines

a trip to Gallapagos Island

create a secret garden

across the country drive in a Mercedes SLK

meet in person all of my cyberfriends

5 Things I’m Currently Into

school

my son

home projects

2 volunteer projects

a professional change

Not just a matter of the HEART

2008-02-10T21:09:00.000-08:00

February 14, Valentine's Day, the day that lovers express their love for each other by sending card, candy and or flowers. According to my favorite source of information Wikipedia, the holiday is named after Valentine, a Christian martyr. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

Gone are the days though of handwritten LOVE notes and replaced them with mass-produced greeting cards, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas.

My own personal story on this year's heart day is that I got to celebrate it with a wonderful man. He started it by sending these sweetness the day before the celebration of the hearts...

Then off to the dinner concert of Etta James the following day. The drive to the Bay Area was all worth it. It was such a beautiful night, a great concert, with a wonderful company.

2008 - another beginning. A look at New Year's history

2008-01-09T17:01:00.000-08:00

According to Wikipedia: New Year is originally observed on March 15 in the old Roman Calendar. New Year's Day first came to be fixed in January 1, 153 BC, when the two Roman consuls, after whom - in the Roman calendar - years were named and numbered, began to be chosen on that date, for military reasons.

New Year's Day is the first day of the year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though other dates were also used in Rome). In all countries using the Gregorian calendar, except for Israel, it is a public holiday, often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the new year starts. January 1 on the Julian calendar corresponds to January 14 on the Gregorian calendar, and it is on that date that followers of some of the Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate the New Year.

Since the 1900s has become an occasion for celebration the night of December 31, called New Year's Eve. There are often fireworks at midnight. Depending on the country, individuals may be allowed to burn fireworks, even if it is forbidden the rest of the year.

It is also a memorable occasion to make New Year's resolutions, which they hope to fulfill in the coming year; the most popular ones in the western world include to stop tobacco smoking or drinking alcohol, or to lose weight or get physically fit.

I have never been good about making New Year's resolutions. I guess because I hate to set myself up for disappointments. I do try to make some mental notes about I might try doing different in regards to my behaviors or ways of life or a "must to do this year". This way I have them in my brain and yet not putting any pressure on myself in making them happen.

2008, according to my Feng Shui calendar is a great year for a metal rat like me...

We will see!!!

I hope you all had a wonderful celebration. And that you have your positive chi with you in welcoming 2008...

2007-12-28T00:05:00.000-08:00

December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 3 days remaining until the end of the year. This is the date I was born, many moons ago. I am one of the two daughters, second to the oldest of four siblings.

In the Philippines this day is called as Niños Inocentes. It is commemorated on December 28 as Holy Innocents' Day or Childermas in other countries. The innocents referred to are the children who were massacred by order of Herod who was seeking the death of the newborn Messiah. In the Philippines, Spain and Latin American countries the festival is celebrated in a manner similar to April Fool's Day.

... so now you know why I am innocent... hehehe!!!

Christmas in the Philippines as I remember it

2007-12-21T04:13:00.000-08:00

I don't know how many times in the past I have blurted out about my strange (or maybe not) feeling towards the holiday season. I have been living here in America much longer than I did back home, the Philippines. As Christmas season approaches I get progressively home sick, so badly sometimes that I almost go into depression... go figure!!! I don't think I have any reason. I have my entire immediate family here with me in the US. We, in fact almost always have had great Holiday celebrations.

Is it my inner self that tells me each year to look back at my past when scarcity was it, so that I can stay grounded and thankful for what I have now in my life??? Is it my longing to the nostalgia of my youth when life was not too complicated??? I can't tell you for sure.

I know that Philippines has very long Christmas celebration. The predominant religion is Catholicism, thus the activities are influenced by that. WIKIPEDIA described Christmas season in the Philippines so accurately and how I remembered it...

Misa de Gallo (Dec. 16-24) Traditionally, Christmas Day in the Philippines is ushered in by the nine-day dawn masses that start on December 16. Known as the Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass) in the traditional Spanish, and these masses are also more popularly known in Filipino as Simbang Gabi, or "Night Mass". The Simbang Gabi is the most important Filipino Christmas tradition.

These nine dawn Masses are also considered as a Novena by the Catholic and Aglipayan faithfuls. This refers to the Roman Catholic and Aglipayan practice of performing nine days of private or public devotion to obtain special graces. In some parishes, the Simbang gabi begins as early as four in the morning. Going to mass this early for nine consecutive days is meant to show the churchgoer's devotion to his faith and heighten anticipation for the Nativity of the Lord. In traditional Filipino belief, however, completing the novena is also supposed to mean that God would grant the devotee's special wish or favor.

After hearing Mass, Filipino families partake of traditional Philippine Christmas delicacies, either during breakfast at home or immediately outside the church, where they are sold. Vendors offer a wealth of native delicacies, including bibingka (rice flour and egg based cake, cooked using coals on top and under), puto bumbong (a purple sticky rice delicacy which is steamed in bamboo tubes, with brown sugar and coconut shavings as condiments), salabat (hot ginger tea) and tsokolate (thick Spanish cocoa).

Christmas Eve For Filipinos, Christmas Eve on ("Bisperas ng Pasko") December 24 is the much-anticipated Noche Buena -- the traditional Christmas Eve feast after the midnight mass. Family members dine together around 12 midnight on traditional Noche Buena fare, which includes: queso de bola (Span. literally "ball of cheese"; edam cheese), "Tsokolate" (hot chocolate drink) and hamon (Christmas ham), and some would open presents at this time.
In different provinces and schools throughout the Philippines, Catholic devotees also reenact the journey of Joseph and the pregnant Blessed Virgin Mary in search of lodging for the soon-to-be born Jesus Christ. This is the traditional Panunuluyan, also called Pananawagan and Pananapatan.

This street pageant is performed after dark on Christmas Eve, with the actors portraying Joseph and Mary going to pre-designated houses. They chant wika wika bang bang, a traditional folksong that is meant to wake up the owner of the house as the actors ask for lodging. But the couple (actors) are turned away by the owners, also through a song. Finally, Joseph and Mary make their way to the parish church where a simulated manger has been set up. The birth of Jesus is celebrated at midnight with the Misa de Gallo, together with hallelujahs and Christmas carols. Everybody celebrates this tradition happily yet solemnly.

Christmas Day in The Philippines is primarily a family affair. Prior to the ticking of 12 midnight on 25 December, Misa de Aguinaldo is being celebrated. It is usually attended by the whole family. Misa de Aguinaldo is the Holy Mass celebrated to signify the Birth of Jesus Christ, the Roman Catholic Church and Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan) in the Philippines' main means of celebrating Jesus Christ's birth.

Misa de Aguinaldo is also celebrated at dawn or in the morning immediately after sunrise before 10 AM, this schedule is preferred by Filipinos who choose to celebrate Christmas Eve with a night-long celebration of Noche Buena.

Preferably in the morning, Filipino families visit members of the extended family, notably the elders in order to pay their respect. This custom has been an age-old tradition in the Philippines called Pagmamano, this is done by touching one's forehead to the elder's hand saying Mano Po. The elder then blesses the person who paid respect. Aguinaldo or money in the form of crisp, fresh-from-the-bank bills is given after the Pagmamano, most usually to younger children.
A Christmas Lunch usually follows after the Pagmamano. The lunch is heavily dependent upon the finances of the family. Rich families tend to prepare grand and glorious feasts that consist of Jamon de Bola, Queso de Bola, Lechon and other Filipino delicacies. Some poor families choose to cook simple meals, nevertheless still special. When the family is settled after the lunch, the exchange of gifts is usually done. Godparents are expected to give gifts or Aguinaldo to their godchildren.

When nigh time falls, members of the family usually take part in family talks while listening to favorite Christmas carols. Some may opt to have a glorious Christmas feast for dinner.

TO ALL OF THE VISITORS OF THIS HUMBLE SPOT IN THE CYBERSPACE... MARAMING SALAMAT!!! (THANK YOU VERY MUCH). MAY YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON...

MALIGAYANG PASKO!!! (MERRY CHRISTMAS)

Accidental ... whiplash!!!

2007-12-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

October 30,2007 ... the great 2 days spent with my mother ended in a not so great note ... my back tire on the driver side blew that caused an accident. The tires were not old at all and the SUV - 2002 Mitsubishi Montero Sport ES just went through an overall check-up. It was around 3 PM, rush hour so the traffic was about the speed limit of 65 mph and there was a Sheriff car behind me so I was "behaving".

After hearing a big exploding noise, this SUV went out of control and swerved to the right to which I hit the middle part of a big semi truck. So then I attempted to correct it while it was shaking like jello. Luckily it followed my guidance to the left side of the road which was the median island. I put on the brake and checked on my mother then myself. I then attempted to get out to check on the damage(s) but could not open my door. The Sheriff behind me stopped alongside my vehicle and pried open my door so that I can get out.

An ambulance and a CalTran worker were around the area so they stopped and asked if they can help in anyway. I informed them that I was a trauma nursy and that my assessment told me that my mother and I were "okay".

The SUV was crunched up in the front and on the back passenger part. All fluids leaked out and the trunk door was ajar and I couldn't close it all the way. So we waited for the CHP (California Highway Patrol) for official report, tow truck and a phone call from my sweet car insurance guy.

We got towed and took the taxi back home from the tow park at the outskirt of the city I live in.

The following days were going for medical assessments and dealing with insurance procedures.

The verdict after 16 days... SUV was officially declared ... not financially reasonable to be restored. Another 4 days and I was told how much I would get for my totalled vehicle. I came ahead by 4 thousands...

So then the shopping for the replacement ensued. And here it is...

2004 Land Rover, Freelander. A certified pre-owned vehicle with free maintenance until 2012. All I have to do is drive it to any dealership and it will be maintained or fixed. It had only 36,000 miles on it and looks pretty brand new. It was used as the dealership vehicle. And it is all paid for. No car payment... the best feature. I could have bought a brand new car but did not want to deal with car payment which I haven't had in many years. The features I like about my new vehicle... the seat warmer and heated windows.

Friendship Award - bestowed by Nursy Fe

2007-12-10T05:27:00.000-08:00

I decided to follow this meme from Nursy Fe's blogspot http://maping.wordpress.com/

She is always so generous of thinking of me. Thank you so much!!!

"And The First Class Friendship Award, I’m giving to:
NursyE - a very unselfish friend. She’s one of a kind. We met through a message board long time ago."

MOM (Mother of 2 Munchkins) aka Nursy Fe and I met in a message board turned war zone. Actually it was her darling future husband-to-be that was the co-member and eventually they were entwined and she took over as the active member. She and hubby now blessed with 2 gorgeous children... my cyberniece and cybernephew.

We then moved to another message board that was built by another sweet friend.

Nursy Fe was one Filipina that does not have any problems tackling life changes. She had more than enough education from back home and yet did not have any egotistical qualm about returning back to school for a career that she thinks will give her better "future"... nursing. I can bet to the fact that she indeed made a great decision...

Going to school, being a mother, a wife, a worker... sounds like a familiar story!!!

With that comment, I am bestowing this same award back to the generous giver... Nursy Fe. You indeed deserve this award more than once, twice and many more times over...

City slicker

2007-12-10T02:17:00.000-08:00

Three days after Thanksgiving, very early in the morning, I was doing my usual routine of letting my 2 four-legged children out to do their business outside. Zipper was by the door when I opened my bedroom door to let them back in. It was so unusual not to have Duke with Zipper so I called out his name. No answer. I did it 2-3 more times but no Duke - very unusual. So I donned a robe and went out to see what was causing the mischievous Duke to stay outside. I couldn't find him anywhere everywhere the backyard so I started to get very concerned until I heard some rustling by my garden closeby the gazebo. As I was approaching closer, I can see Duke behind the plant looking up the fence. I looked at where he had his focus on and saw this...

I was surprised to see this early fence visitor. I live in a city. I don't see these creatures around here. It was a big surprise.

And it was just sitting there while Duke was so enthralled!!!

Well, he wanted to get hold of it so badly...

My hunky friend, K, had 6 of these on his porch one morning he said. This is his comment... "They come out at night or early morning.... hide in your trees, bushes. dogs and cats fight them... they have fifty-five teeth.but are harmless. they just look funny... they are more afraid of you. that is why they just stand there a stare at you."

Duke... meet Opossum!!!

Out of this world!!!

2007-11-11T05:45:00.000-08:00

You might not be one of those believers in this kind of out of this world talks but this is just a personal view and experiences, so do as I live by... "have an open mind that is unattach to nothing..."

Near - death experience... NDE!!! You wouldn't believe they even have groups for this phenomenon. People do belong in many groups about this to share and vent out their individual experiences. I personally don't belong in any of these groups. I don't even think my thoughts and experiences with this can be recognized as "official" qualifications. Nonetheless, some things about it, I would like to share.

My "first" encounter about this issue was shortly after I turned into my 40's. I woke up or seemed to be,with amazing weight gain. I never had weight gain ever before so I brushed it off and just put in my mind that I would watch my diet and be active more... although I am the type that needs to be moving or doing something or I will go crazy. And so I did, but the weight gain escalated in a fast rate instead and so I just put more effort into trying to lose it... to no avail.

And so I was alarmed, as a nurse, this was not quite right to me. So I approached my primary physician and that started the many strings of blood tests, Xrays, procedures to check me out. When nothing seemed to be wrong but pointed to hormonal inadequacies that we put in the picture my OB-GYN. The only thing we can point the unusual occurrence was my hormonal switch was totally out of whack from many years of negligence on my part... lack of sleep, hectic work schedule, hectic school schedule, hectic motherly schedule and in the midst of deep depression with my (ex)marriage. I was not eating and when I was eating, I was eating wrong. I was a full time mother, full time student, full time employee and living in a not so harmonious marriage so my body was not given the proper rest and sleep for many years.

So then after group discussions between my primary physician, my OB-GYN, my physical trainer and my dietitian, we formulated a "treatment plan". It took quite a while before a mix of medicinal intervention triggered a favorable result, meaning finally my weight was coming down... hooooraayyy!!! This is all in the span of 4-5 years. So now I am working vehemently to get back to my "normal" weight... it is not that easy but I am thankful, it is the right direction and have not gained any more weight. It is a slow process but I am just glad.

So with that story of years of unknowing what was wrong, I came to a point of fear... fear that I was dying. My medical background did not provide any reassurance on this doubt. I just knew something "big" was wrong with me because it was unexplainable weight gain. So I prepared myself in the possibilities of "death". Can you imagine when I finally had some reason to negate that fear of dying??? I was a changed person. When weight was going down and I have a medical diagnosis to go by that I was celebrating of another chance of life. And that brought me this attitude of "less or no expectations"...

"Less or no expectations" in life is a blessing to have. It brings less sadness and less frustrations.

My second confrontation with death was two weeks ago when my mother and I were involved in a vehicle accident. We had such a great two days together. My first day off, we spent getting our spa pedicures, hair cut for her and hair wash with deep condition for me (I love my head to be massaged), then we had lunch, then off to see a movie. The next day we went to a nearby casino and it was one of my very lucky day... you would not believe the money I came home with!!! But that was dampen by our drive back home. We were talking away when suddenly we heard a big booom and then my SUV went out of control, swerved to the right and hit the middle part of the semi-truck. I was afraid at that time, that it was our end. I finally got control of the vehicle and attempted to swerve it to the left where there was a median road. Thank goodness, the SUV stopped when brake was applied. Thank goodness, I did not panic. I don't actually panic which I learned from many trauma nursing trainings.

So my vehicle is official declared "totalled" but that is not even important. The greatest thing is that my mother is alive and has minimal discomfort. We have to be under some medical supervision for a while... longer for me because I have more extensive "trauma". But we are alive.... and that was my second near-death experience. I joke about now having only eight lives left...

So what do you think? Any similar experiences!!!

Derma/complexion - vanity, youth, flaws, etc...

2007-10-23T05:24:00.000-07:00

As I advance with my age, the physical flaws pile up or so it seems. I am still battling with my forever labile hormonal function that directly affects my weight. I am happy though that I can at least have some control now about this once "my health crisis"... a struggle still ... but is going the right downward direction. I recently consented to be the subject for COMPLEXION ANALYSIS. With this, my facial derma analysis was done. A report is shared.

The catch of course here is to tell me and encourage me to use their beauty products which are not the cheapest. Is it worth the money to hasten the process of aging and deterioration? hehehe maybe for those women who have spare change to use to buy these products.

With spots and blemish that I have... compare to other women of my age range???

I belong to the 34% ones... meaning 66% of women my age are worse off than I am.

I have 2% rating on my pores which is not the greatest. This is my problem area. My skin pore is too big that subject me into flare-ups of adult pimples during that time of the month. Also that makes my skin sensitive to many skin products out there.

Porphyrins is a very complicated chemical ongoing in the body that I can't even break it down to a simpler term that my brain can relate to. Anyways, my number is on the low side which means that I do have enough of this that cause the breakages in my skin which results in the blemishes and adult pimples.

The result of the wrinkle test denotes that there's 18% of women my age that have lesser wrinkle than I have. And 82% is worse off than me.

My complexion is on the 33% range meaning that this adds up to the cause of my skin breakdown. Not too fine but then it is not too bad.

UV Spots, the sun damage present on my skin is 228. The numbers reflects a very low damage and yet could be improved.

I enjoyed the pampering of the free session, the education on my complexion. I have to admit, I ended up buying the facial wash but that was all I was willing to buy into... hehehe!!!

My Desktop - "I am tagging NursyE"

2007-10-15T20:14:00.000-07:00

And this is my desktop. Aquarium theme. I alternate between this one and the Nature theme. When I get tired of the wolf howls with the Nature theme then I switch to this one. Then when I get tired of the drops of water sound, time to do a switcharoo. I like the screensaver on this one because of the sound of water and the fish swimming. So soothing!!!

The icons on the desktop are related to school and work mostly. One of these days, I might put up an inspiring pic of a hunky... just to get me excited being infront of the confuser.

Here is the screensaver when it is still... otherwise it is usually animated...

Thanks, my sweet girlfriend Fe (MOM) for tagging me on this... I apologize for the long delay.

8 Random Facts About Me - tagged by Belle

2007-10-15T15:55:00.000-07:00

This was a hard one so I had to ask a couple of friends for their random assessment of yours truly. I got nauseated... hehehe... of the randomness that Kay and Vincent shared. Anyways, here are ...

8 Random Facts About Me ...

Decent - Kay said because she never knew me to compromise any of my personal principles even it costs me some heart breaks. Hhhhmmm???

Funny - Kay said that she can't remember any encounter with me that she didn't at least smile. Most of the time, she (this is off the record) almost always had to "pee" her pants.

Charm? - Okayyy, this is debatable. I know I recently heard this adjective from the head of my Master's Program which caused havoc in my student life. Dr. C claimed that I was charming my way to that program and that I was charming all of my classmates despite the fact that I have a pretty decent GPA and that I impressed her with some of my work... hhhhmmm??? Kay's word - that I can talk anybody into doing anything... hehehe.

Persistent - that I move forward and only forward in an unstoppable manner when I set my mind into something... ignoring all hindrances.

Determined - I thought this was the same as the latter but Vincent said "no". I guess he'd seen my determination in achieving what I decide to accomplish.

Tenacious - this I think is a learned one from bad and sad experiences. More like a shield to protect me from unnecessary unpleasant "pain". Or that it is because this word comes with those words -- persistent and determination.

Patient - this one is a given. I am a nursy. One has to be a "patient" more ways than one to be in my profession. Although I think that I am less patient or tolerant as my age advances.

Consistent - this is the most nauseating, overly, exaggerated word given but I promised to post it as said. I was told that I am consistent in my love, care, attention, generosity to all that I care about. That "I give only one way"... meaning I don't wait, I don't expect and I don't care about reciprocities.

It's beautiful - up North!!!

2007-10-14T07:09:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to meet a wonderful person and to visit (again) the state of Washington and Canada. I think that where I was is a gardener's heaven because the weather is mild and almost constant all year round. I can walk all I want and not sweat and that tells me that I can be out in the yard all day working out and not perspire. With this kind of weather, the many varieties of flowers and other vegetation flourish with a vengeance. I enjoyed the walks (with Shadow) looking at each plant and flowers along the way. I was so envious that fuchsia was growing like crazy in every yard while I can not grow it here on my part of the world... too hot.

I like being surrounded by nature. And state of Washington provides that. The abundance of sea food and produce is something I can live with everyday. Water, bodies of water, streams, current, any water movement always brings comfort and peace inside me and there was definitely an abundance of that as well. And I can definitely get lost in any of the public markets and or farmers' market they have. My kind of shopping which reminds me of home - the Philippines.

The drive to Canada was fantastic except for the passport showing procedures. The construction is ongoing at the border to get ready for the Olympics. I finally had the famous Tim Horton's coffee. Honestly, I didn't think it was anything special of a coffee. I would drink G's morning French press coffee anytime. He makes it perfect for me. And with a slice of homemade apple pie... geeeezzzz, what a treat!!!

Here are some pics to share.

Shadow, a very smart patient dog. I enjoyed his company. Something about ball... he just loves, loves, loves any ball. He never tires of playing catch and gnawing any ball.

I was enjoying the Vancouver skyline while Shadow was taking a dip in the cold water, catching his ball. This bridge is the one by Stanley Park.

I don't know how many times I saw this same scenario... the water plane taking off and adding to the fascinating view of the Vancouver skyline. Neat!!!

You better believe that salted water is ccooollldddd, just the way Shadow likes it... perfect for his coat. He had that ball in his mouth.

The ever famous Totem Poles at Stanley Park.

The trip was cut short but nonetheless, it was well worth it. I learned a great deal!!!

Salty

2007-10-06T02:36:00.000-07:00

I always wanted an aquarium. The opportunity to have one came when I couldn't think of something to put in the atrium spot in my house. At the end part of my formal living room lies an atrium complete with sprinkler system. I didn't want to have plants there because of poor light source. I decided to put a 75 gallon salt water tank in the spot.

Why salt water aquarium? I like the idea that I can have many different colored fish and other water creatures. I read a couple of books from cover to cover about salt water aquarium. I checked 2 pet stores about prices of things I need to set this all up. I talked at length with a young salesclerk about my "want" and he gave me a website to check out and gave me a few pointers on having one. He later became my helper in maintenance of my tank until I learn to manage it myself. He comes over to my house every 2-3 months to check everything about the tank and my progress in maintaining it.

I was lucky enough that the tank set I bought was on sale with free set-up. It is not a cheap hobby. I am learning as I go along. I have lost 2 fish, just disappeared into the thin air or more like they were eaten... as my helper tells me. I am slowly building it up and learning the ins and outs of owning this fascinating contained salt water world...

It fits pretty good in the spot. I feel secured about where it is in case of glass breakage and or water leakage. It serves as a room divider between the living room and the hallway to the bedrooms.

I have 100 pounds of treated rocks, a few Damsels for fish. A few snails to keep the tank clean, mainly the glass case. Some cleaner shrimps that eat debris that keep the tank clean as well. A few Emerald crabs for the same reason as to help keep the tank clean by eating debris.

I see many new creatures on the rocks. I can see that the fish are getting bigger. I have to really get the hang of the pH deal so that the snails can be happier ... lost a few of them. Pretty soon I can let loose some bigger fish in there. My mom likes resting on the couch out in the living room because of the soothing sound of the water.

Preserving... my way!!!

2007-10-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

Ahhh summer!!! My second favorite season after spring. But for me, it is a fleeting season. Everything in it seems to happen all at once. For a gardener as myself, summer gets to be hectic in such a short of time. A season of beauty and abundance, summer magnifies all the fundamental joys of a gardener: garden-fresh food; postcard-perfect scenery; a rainbow of flowers in bloom and an outdoor-living mindset that begs for spontaneous picnics. When spring comes, my lusting for summer starts. A reading perfectly describes what summer is for me ... "Like a torrid love affair, my relationship with summer goes through predictable cycles: We crave each other, passionately adore each other, then mutually burn out in the end".

Summer means working hard but having fun. More than any other time of year, the average summer day offers a buffet of options and possibilities. Mow, weed, harvest, repair, and process. Summer’s to-do list never ends. A celebration of seasonal abundance!!! One way I cherish the summer's abundance is preserving its yield. Although I downsized my garden 2 years ago, I still get quite a bit of produce. I resort into drying and vacuum-sealing/freezing so that I can enjoy the yield of summer throughout the rest of the year.

Tomatoes are one of those summer abundance that I have learned to preserve. I enjoy it as much as I can during the season by indulging in tomato sandwiches - smashed avocado on the bread, slices of tomatoes then lettuce and more smashed avocado on the other bread, some freshly ground pepper and eat away. It's heavenly!!!

Sometimes. I take some sliced up tomatoes, put them on the grill, top them with slices of mozzarella cheese then freshly picked Basil leaves, a dab of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) and let them grilled ... great appetizer, snack or sandwich.

Dried up tomatoes, if you look at them at the grocery stores, are expensive. And yet so easy to make at home. After I wash and dry the tomatoes, I slice then cut them at least halves, or three slices if they are "fat". I try to squeeze out most of the seeds. then lay them on my dehydrator. I open all the vents of the dehydrator and plug and leave it be. I check once in a while to take out the ones that are dried up and to rotate the dehydrator plates.

The stages of drying ...

After drying the tomatoes, I divide them into 3 piles. One pile is vacuumed-sealed in smaller quantities so that I can use them in recipes that require tomatoes. When I want to use them, I soak them in water until plumped up then use as the recipe calls for. One pile gets chopped finely and put in a jar with EVOO. The other pile gets chopped in bigger slices then in the jar with EVOO as well. The finely chopped is used for more delicate recipes and the bigger chunks get to be used in sauces and soups and the like.

One other way I preserve is by vacuum-sealing then freezing. I first blanch the tomatoes - boiling the water in the pot, putting the whole tomatoes in and let it quickly boil again until the skin is peeling off. Scoop them out and into a container of iced cold water to stop the boiling process and maintain that natural red color.

Relish summer while it’s here and sing along with Sandy and Danny from “Grease” while sinking in your teeth in those juicy, tasty tomatoes: “Summer lovin’, had me a blast. Summer lovin’, happened so fast.”

Fleurs de Eden

2007-09-26T20:23:00.000-07:00

I was admiring the flower entries at Nursy Fe's blogspot and gave me the idea to share the flowers I have in my garden. The summer might be winding down but the flowers in my garden keep showing off. Do you recognize them???

On top of it all... the worst and the best of it!!!

2007-09-12T05:06:00.000-07:00

From Wikipedia...Hair is a filamentous outgrowth of protein, found only on mammals. It projects from the epidermis, though it grows from hair follicles deep in the dermis. Hair on the head, which can grow longer than on most mammals and is more dense than most hair found elsewhere on the body. The average human head has about 100,000 hair follicles.

I thought I would have another fun entry. This blog shows my best and worst of hair. Through the years, I have gone through so many hair styles. And in my "mature" years, I even have tried different hair color.The main purpose of coloring my hair is to conceal that sign of "maturity". Ironically it is called ... premature gray hair. At the end, I decided that a hair color beside my hair color of brown/black is too radical for me so I have been sticking with the color shade similar to my natural color. So here goes...

There you have it ... the evolution of my hair...

Just like riding the bike... school

2007-09-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

October 1998 was the last time I was in school for my BS Nursing... and now 2007... 9 years, and I am back at it again. Definitely out of practise with school and studying. It took me that long to decide to take on my master's degree. The deal really was that, I did not want to be a Nurse Practitioner which was my only choice when you get in the master's program. Until lately that they offered several pathways to choose from. I decided to pursue the Clinical and Leadership Pathway - Clinical Leader. What is that, you asked? I guess when I get done and somehow survive this that I can... head up the clinical aspect in the acute setting. I can be responsible with the nurses' clinical training and education, making sure each one is competent in their nursing skills. Or I can be an administrative something of a department (I am not into that - management). Or I can be a researcher for a medical entity whether a hospital, company, government, etc... Right now, I don't really have a plan of what to do with that degree when finished. I will cross that bridge when I get there...

This program is either 100% online or 90% online. I am a physical person which mean
I need some kind of human interaction so I picked the 90% online deal. That entails a drive to the campus every 2-3 months. The drive to the campus is great because it is such a beautiful part of California. Sure I have to put up with the Bay Area traffic but I already learned the trick from the 2 drives that I have made up there already. And I already found a reasonable hotel with great internet acess to stay when I drive up. The campus visit takes 2 days and those 2 days are hectic, full of school activities... all day.

First day of school reminded me how I like being in school... yeah, yeah, yeah, might sound strange to some people but that is my truth. Although being at this age, different perspective... especially looking at the majority of the students... YOUNG!!! Oh well, we are all students, carrying backpacks and dealing with the scholastic bureaucracy... no matter what our ages are. Besides I just have to be intimidated by the age factor every 2-3 months.

Online school and studying is something I will be dealing for two years... already a few disappointments and frustrations but I just have to learn to be more patient with the process. The good thing, the program has great resource people and very helpful instructors and hardworking student nurses. My group, 4 experienced BSNs are into this with every research projects and studies for 2 years and I already know I have a great group. We are from 4 different nursing backgrounds but all determined and eager to get through this...

We'll see!!!

Continuation - Universal Health Care - Pros and Cons

2007-08-31T02:22:00.000-07:00

I have talked about the UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE which you can read down below. Here is the positive and negative talks about it...

The positive impacts of UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE discussed here are excerpts from several readings I have done...

PROS:
Cut down or even elimination of using the emergency rooms for primary care. Universal health care can provide the poorest of the poor the free taxpayer funded primary care from non-emergency room doctors.

Universal heath care would definitely get rid of the bureaucracy in the health insurance.

Medical costs currently come from lawsuits. With a government run agency those costs could be easily reduced since there will only be a single agency, the government, involve in the litigation process.

People without insurance can pay a tremendous amount for a minimal time with a doctor. With the Universal Health Care, profit will be taken out of the equation.

CONS:
As with the positive impacts, the discussion of the negativities of UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE is from the several readings I have done.

America has the best medicines and doctors because of the competition that is created by the free market health care system. It has flaws just like any other systems and these flaws would be even worse with the the Universal Health Care System.

Universal health Care system would just give the politicians another social program to boast about and manage.

There are people that are too lazy to take the personal responsibility required to live off of their own effort. Where is the incentive to become unpoor these days? There are people that need health care, true, but there are the leaches to just look to the system to bail them out because working for compensation requires too much of them. These are the people ruining it for a lot of us, but our governmentt hands them a check anyways. America employs lazyness.

Universal health care would be a state- sanctioned monopoly. Monopolies are illegal in this country.

Yes Ma'm!!!

2007-08-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

Yep!!! I did it!!! I even have a library card to prove it, besides the receipts, of course. What am I talking about??? I am officially enrolled, officially a student... AGAIN!!! I even started my financial investment to the educational system AGAIN... not cheap, that's for sure.

Last year, my one and only child graduated from college. His father and I helped him out from the beginning to the end. He did not have to work while going to school. He graduated without any debt to pay back. I have been kind of waiting around and see if he would come to his final decision of going back to school for his master's degree. He decided to wait a little while on that. He wants to be a little more stable in the "adult world". And when I heard that, I started thinking about me... remembering that the last time I was in school was in 1998 for my second bachelor in science degree - in nursing.

I have been checking around for programs. Two weeks ago, I emailed the director of a program and she emailed back with a response that I could be in the program that is starting August 20 if I drive up for the last orientation day which was 8 days ago. And I dragged a co-worker/friend with me to the wine country where the campus is at. It was amazing how things just evolved in seemingly whirlwind fashion. Before I knew it, I was accepted in the program at the end of that day in a promise that I will submit this and that paper work.

And so I bribed my ex-supervisors/friends to sign letters of recommendations for me. I started scribbling my essay. I looked for my college transcripts. All at the same time, I have been subjecting myself to several job interviews.I even started formulating some plans for my future life when school starts and some 1 1/2 jobs along with that. Yep, I can see me without any social life!!!

So, yesterday, after 2 hours and 45 minutes of driving in the ever so famous Bay Area traffic, I spent all day at the campus. And all those feelings came back. It might sound strange but I like that atmosphere, I like school, I like studying, I like the academia' deal. I did not mind at all that I was running back and forth to the book store, library, registration office, nursing department and all over the campus.

For the next two years I will be tackling my master's degree program... oh la la!!!

Summer picture blog... in E's Garden

2007-08-18T08:29:00.000-07:00

Summer here in my part of the world has been cool and even breezy at times!!! It is great for a walker like me. Sometimes it is so nice that I end up walking my doggies early in the evening, too. I walk in the morning most of the times. Yep, I still drag myself to the gym for my Pilatis session and my badly needed abdominal tortures... hehehe!!! But in the garden is where I get my most enjoyable work out... wrestling with the weeds, weight lifting with bags of mulches and potting soil and bark chips and buckets and buckets of cuttings.

And my garden definitely is getting more TLC lately because of that wonderful summer weather. Here are some pictures...

But then you really have to come and visit to enjoy the fragrance in the garden...

How women easily forget!!!

2007-08-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I think flying has a lot of similarities with pregnancy. Okayyy, I have to explain so you can see the parallel in them. You know how some women would have difficulties with their pregnancies. For one thing, the morning sickness where the first trimester is "anorexic/bulimic period" throwing their guts inside out and unable to eat anything. Or some of them develop many "sicknesses" along the way like high blood pressure and diabetes and swelling and weight gain, etc.... right???

Some of them stay "sick" althrough the pregnancy. I personally had minimal problems with my only pregnancy. I did ballooned from 109 pounds to a whopper of 170 pounds but that was it, no medical problems with that weight gain. Well, except the baby inside me would not let me have any caffeine. He literally went berserk inside me, kicking and what have you whenever I consumed anything with caffeine. So I just didn't have anymore after discovering that.

So as I was saying, women easily forget all those "sickness" and anomalies during pregnancy. In about 10-11 months post-partal period their motherly clock is ticking away again and yearning for another child... duh!!!

I fly quite a bit - more than I would like to. It is very rare that my flying venture goes smoothly... usually... it goes from worse, to worst, to worst(er) and to disaster. And still I fly, like pregnancy, I would always say, this is the last time I fly until that next time comes around... then the cycle goes on. This last trip was one of the worst(er), almost a disaster. I am now thinking really hard on the other options of travelling.With this trip, I got sick 4 days prior. I had sore throat, felt like my hunky beat me up (but I don't have a hunky so I can not claim that excuse), just the rundown-I-know-it-is-the-flu-bug-virus. So I was fighting the bug with all my might.

While still fighting the virus, I literally dragged myself to my Park and Fly hotel ... later than I was planning. When I got there I was told that I was not on their reservation list until I showed a confirmation number. Amazingly, my name popped up in the system but then she claimed she did not have a choice but to put me in a smoking room... the hotel was full. To which I sternly said... in my good, healthy condition, I would not mind that deal but I am having some respiratory problems so I better not. So she got busy tapping her confuser keys and yelped out a room number in my direction then got on her walkie-talkie and talked Spanish to the housekeeper to check the "cleaning" status of that room she just yelped out. As I was understanding the walkie-talkie conversation (of course she did not know I understand Spanish ... "that room is occupied so no need to clean".)

And so there she was tapping the confuser keys back and looked up and told me that she needed to put me up in a smoking room.For a minute there I thought I was having a deja vu episode. So I had to answer her the same way I answered her the first time when she asked me the same question.At last I was given the very last non-smoking room after waiting for it to get cleaned... it was 10 at night. And my flight the next morning .... 8 AM. So I got ready as much as I can that night so that I don't have to hurry the following day. Wake-up call was late, instead of 5:30, it was received at 5:45. Already up and almost out the door.

Flight was at 8 AM, arrived at the airport shortly before 6. I was dismayed to see the endless lines to check-in. I got in line and in about an hour in it, I started telling the airlines' workers that I had an 8 o'clock flight to which I kept being told, "it's okay, just get back in line". Half an hour before flight, again I announced to the airlines' personnel about the time of my flight. Again I was told that they will have instructions for me if ever I get late for my flight... did not sound right to me but ... So, of course I was late for my flight when I finally checked-in. One thing that got me was when she said... because I checked-in late that they can't guarantee about my luggage being in the same flight and not even sure when I can have them back in my possession. I decided to bite my tounge so as not to say anything mean.

Not only that I waited for over an hour to check-in but the security lines to the gates were endless... The lines went around the building. And I was even frisked because I had the alarm go off, my belt. I was searched and my purse had to be held because of questionable "liquid". The only liquid in there was an unopened bottle of water so I asked if they can just throw that out. That surely cleared the "suspicions".

I finally reached the gate and because I was late, I became a standby. No one was interested to hear about why I was late. I waited for the next flight, only to be told that I should have been at another gate when that flight time came around. I took some deep breaths and asked for exact instructions for the next standby flight.I flopped myself down close by where I was told to wait and started watching a movie with my laptop.

Then came the time of the next flight, I was not called. So I approached the podium again and asked. I was told I was called and I did not answer. Alright that did it!!!! My other hidden personality came out ... and gave them my piece of mind. But then that was all I can do. She must have whispered my name because I have a 20/20 hearing function and I was right next to her. I was really upset. I wanted to just go home and forget the whole trip.

Another set of instructions and this time I was determined not to give them any more excuses why I was still there at the airport at 1:30 PM when my flight was at 8 AM. Come 2:45 I was standing right next to the podium and ready to explode... hehehe!!! Then the clerk called the young lady that I have been talking to that missed her 9:40 flight because of oversleeping. I spoke up (loud and sternly) and asked why she was called first and blabbered out my exact story. So after paper shuffling and whatever else they do, I was handed a boarding pass. In that entire time, not one and this I pointed out to them too, that not one employee of the airline apologized for the "inconvenience". Whatever happened to customer service??? I'm sorry would have appeased me at least a bit.

I boarded the plane and to the luggage claim area in Vegas. Only to see that my suitcase was wrapped in a big plastic bag and my belongings were gaping out of it... undies and lingeries. To which I was coldly told that it was the government's doing and not the airlines. The government can just open up whichever luggage they feel is a "threat". I managed to zip back up my suitcase. The government apparently haphazardly handled my suitcase that caused the zipper to get derailed.

So I taxied to my hotel and bell hopped my luggage. I was physically and mentally challenged at that point... I was ready to have fun!!!So I did the necessary checking-ins and set up my programs and gathered necessary tickets and vouchers, etc... I was so ready to play!!! And much needed fun!!! I needed to erase the scrowl that had been on my face all day.

I got up to my very nice suite overlooking the swimming pools and all of the Las Vegas strip. My remote controlled blinds were raised up. My laptop connected to the internet. My complimentary orchid flower arrangement was gorgeous and my bottle of champagne icy cold ... Now we are talking!!!No luggage in the room to which I was told would be there even before I got there... so I waited... I flopped myself in front of the big window and enjoyed the view... while waiting for my luggage to show up.

An hour and a half later, no luggage... So I called again to find out the reason. "They're suppose to be there by now"... I declared that I was going downstairs and to just leave my luggage in the room pretty please... "No problems, Ms. M"And so I started playing the slot... First jackpot!!! Yesss!!! And second jackpot!!! Neat!!!

Around 7:30 I wanted to freshen up so I went back up and no luggage... hhhhhhmmmmm??? I was told that en route, one of my two suitcases fell off the cart and the zipper broke. I can only guess which one. I waited for them to be delivered and saw the suitcase was in worst(er) condition than it was at the airport. The manager offered to have it repaired. And yes, I did share with him the suitcase' airport story. So I emptied that suitcase to be taken to the repair shop. I should get it back the following day, I was told.

That was my Thursday adventure. Friday late afternoon I was in the hotel's cashier's window to cash in some voucher that required my id. From there I went to pick up my tickets for the Phantom of the Opera... to where they asked for my id which I could not provide because it was no where to be found. Yep, my brain pointed me to the cashier window being the last place I had to use it.And it was nowhere to be found ... the manager would have the surveillance tape played when I insisted that I needed it back. And off I went to the play. A wonderful play, I must say.

When I came out of the play I headed to the security to where the same person was still on duty and the one that told me earlier that my id was not there. He made me upset because when I was there the first time I was asking if there was another place like in the backroom for these "lost items" and he told me "no". This time around, he told me that he should have looked at the log book in front of him because it was written there that my id was in the back room.... DOUBLE DUH!!! All those things I wanted to tell him... but I maintained my composure but sarcastically commented... I am sorry, Ms. M for being lazy and egotistical and sarcastic the first time you were here... He sure did not like that!!! Oh well...

The rest of my stay was pleasant... And whatever happened in Vegas, stay in Vegas... hehehe!!!

Rockin' Award - for girls only!!!

2007-08-06T15:54:00.000-07:00

Grabbed this from the award giver's blogspot... Nursy Fe....

NursyE this rockin’ Nursy blogs from the West Coast. Her struggles inspired me to pursue my dreams (as I mentioned in my previous blog). A dedicated and proud Mom to her one and only C. She has the green thumb that I don’t. And oh, she have 2 (or 3?) beautiful furry babies.

And my acceptance speech:

NursyE Says: Here I am standing in front of all of you in my glittering, sexy red long gown… (which I also wore at the front row seat of the Phantom of the Opera in Vegas last week-end...dateless!!!).

Wiping the tears off my eyes and blowing kisses to all of you… Here comes my acceptance speech…

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS, to my sweet friend and fellow blogger, MOM (momoftwomunchkins, Fe) … she is truly a deserving recipient of that award.

I would like to thank everyone involve in this award that was bestowed upon my humble self. I appreciate it from the deepest part of my hypothalamus and that leads way deep into my Purkinje fibers.

Again, thank you very much!!!

Blowing kisses and carrying out Antonio Banderas as my award…

Right, Fe???

hehehe!!!

And part of having this rockin' (and rollin'???) award is to pass that pink badge.

Elyani - one of my very sweet friends who lives in Indonesia. I admire her for "invading" the world of hunkies in her line of work. She and I can talk about being "poor and poorness". We both love doggies. I salute her for her love for Fatso - who is now resting in the pet heaven. And she sure rocks for surviving many calamities in her country and health anomalies. Can't wait to spend time with her when she finally comes over to the western world to join the hubby. You rock, girlfriend!!!

Belle - another sweet friend ... blogging away from Arizona. The mastermind of my invasion of the blogging world. Esta amiga mía y yo tenemos muchas cosas de que poder hablar. We both like the Spanish language. We both adore our children. We have been attempting to practise the old tradition... arranged marriage... her beautiful and talented daughter, Steffi and my tall, dark and handsome son, Clint. She and I can talk too about "poor and poorness". I admire her struggles to better herself. I salute her for her community projects. ¡Usted oscila, mi amiga!!!

Now you two have to paste that pink badge on to your blogspot and pass it on ... Let's rock!!!

10 random facts about your mom :) 'been tagged to do it!!!

2007-08-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

Now it is my sweet girlfriend from Florida that tagged me to randomly share 10 things about my Nanay (Mom) or share 10 random facts about my mother. Wait a minute... what is the difference??? Anyways... here they are:

1. I have always thought I have one of the good-looking mothers around with her "kayumanggi" (golden brown) skin and beautiful face and sweet smile. She sure had a lot of hunky admirers when she was younger.

2. My hat is off to her for her hard work, strength both mentally and physically, determination, perseverance and intelligence.

3. Don't cross her path, the Waray, a woman from Samar [Visayan Island - known for their fearless disposition] in her comes out and she will lash out on you without batting her eyelash.... so you really want to be on her good side and it is very easy to be on that side.... no sweat.

4. She will spoil you like crazy if she likes you... (geeezzzz, she's getting to sound a lot like me... )

5. She had elementary grade for education but I can bet on her any time to discuss anything in the whole wide world... she is well read. She puts me to shame, that is for sure.

6. Her present world is now the 4 grandchildren and 1 great grandchildren, and I guess still the children...

7. She had a not so good marriage with my biological father (it was an arranged marriage) but had a wonderful marriage, for the most part, with my stepfather who passed away 2 years ago...

8. She is now living the healthy life... consciously and meticulously.

9. Had a mishap with her right knee operation which now limit her used-to-be very active, very independent way of living.

10. She is the best MOM!!! what can I say??? She raised four children on her own with multiple menial jobs. Now they are all living such comfortable lives here in America.

I love her very much!!! ( I know that is the eleventh random fact... but it is a fact indeed)

Reckless abandonment...

2007-07-31T12:12:00.000-07:00

What causes us to be afraid of reckless abandon? Why are we always so guarded and afraid? Are we too afraid of the unknown that we don't allow ourselves to just abandon our inhibitions.

I spent a great day yesterday with my "almost sister, J." and her hunky, G. Their relationship is fairly new. Both of them are Christians and entered into the relationship through God. With that said, you'd think that the relationship is smooth sailing. But on the contrary, J is having a lot of uncertainties.

Two words or concepts I have shared are leap of faith and reckless abandonment. We sure had some interesting exchanges of ideas with those two words on the table of discussion. I admired G for being certain with his love for J. And I just like the way he explained himself on that. Loving someone through God and irregardless of what the other person's reciprocal feelings or emotions ... sounds wonderful enough. So why is she having some difficult time accepting him and those concept???

Are our lives so rigid with our goals and routines and obligations and responsibilities that we no longer unable to be pliable enough to take a break away from those goals and routines and obligations and responsibilities??? Are we so engulfed with life's astringent demands that we no longer able "to let loose" and be down and crazy and forget for a short while and do something silly and even crazy for a moment or two???

I know of a person that said to me that his year has already been scheduled for him (of course by his secretary) and thus can't see how he can squeeze in any other activities other than those already scheduled. For some odd reason, I felt sad for him when I heard that. Reckless abandonment... that would be nice for him, I think and so I stated.

I think I have done a few reckless abandonment in my lifetime... seems like I get pushed or put in that spot though by friends. I remember, a few years ago, going to Santa Catalina Island for a much needed R&R with four girlfriends. It seems like that I almost always opt for a more tamer, relaxing, quieter way of having R&R. Somehow my company almost always doing more spectacular, daring "fun" than I choose to. They are okay with my choices and I am fine with theirs... does not affect our friendships at all.

So then they decided to go parasailing, the next morning. For one moment I had that "reckless abandonment" and went for it. First of all I am not even a swimmer, I barely self taught myself to swim to avoid drowning. Second of all, I have this problem with heights. It is a tolerable phobia but my preference is to stay away from activities that require height.

The minute the harness was being applied around me, the feeling of adventure had drowned down ... hehehe!!!! My back formed that wide, big yellow streak on it... hehehe!!! I desperately wanted out of all that. But then there I was, eventually being dragged down the water runway and then lifted up on the air. How I survived that is beyond me... I think we all do need some reckless abandonment at times...

I am ready!!! Are you???

A talk about ... Universal Health Care

2007-07-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia defines UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE as - publicly funded medicine in a level of medical service that is paid wholly or in majority part by public funds (taxes or quasi-taxes). Publicly funded medicine is often referred to as "socialized medicine" by its opponents, whereas supporters of this approach tend to use the terms "universal health care", "single payer health care", or National Health Services.

You might not agree but I think our present health care system needs a lot of overhauling. When I was in nursing school and did my ER (emergency room) clinical rotation, I told myself that was one department I would not want to get into. My reason then was that I saw the abuse in the health care system and saw clientele that ER seemed to carry on... the drug abusers and the "needy" people.

I stayed away from that area of nursing expertise for a few years until two girlfriends talked me into trying it out... My reason for not wanting to work there remain the same as to this day... seeing the abuse in the health care system and the hard to please clientele.

In a way you can't really blame the clients that use ER as their primary health source. These people come to ER with big chips on their shoulders already ... no financial abilities to gain access to health care and or their primary physicians are overloaded to accommodate them when they need to. These ER users are just plain frustrated in their attempts to get medically better. So when I see them in my triage room, they already have built-up frustrations and "pain" and discomfort so they have the tendency to be "negative and needy".

Is UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE the answer to these??? Let me put it in another angle... our education system is free and run by the government. Unfortunately as we know that system is messed up. Do I want my government to get hold of the health care system seeing what the education system is all about??? Yes, the present health care system is a mess but the government running it??? It will be one big paper-bound bigger mess. Let's look at going to DMV (Department of Motor Vehicle) to simply renew a car registration. How many steps and waiting and paper work does it take??? Now think of the more complicated thing as the health care. Hhhhmmmm??? Multiply that DMV scenario at least ten times worse when the health system is under the government.

Sure the health care coverage is outrageously expensive. Sure the government run health care will probably be cheaper. But then... you get what you paid for... ALWAYS!!!

Sometimes in frustration, I would say my 2 cents worth to these patients in waiting out in the ER lobby who would come up to my triage window and ask me when they will be seen. If only these people use ER as it is supposed to be used, then the congestion is not going to be happening and the real emergent patients are seen in a faster manner. The fever and colds and coughs and "boobos" and hurt pinky toe can wait and not life threatening and should not be clogging the ER.

My next entry would be the Pros of this concept ...

And the following one will be the Cons...

Picture blog by Human Mom...

2007-07-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

Since my brain is pretty drained from 2 days of retraining/recertification ... my PALS and TNCC expired, I decided not to use any (brain that is) with this entry. Besides I am a bit down from cancelling my trip to New Orleans. Sharing some pictures of my 2 four-legged children. I still miss my Puffy but doggies lives are moving on...

Meet Duke, a typical Alpha creature, adopted recently. A 4-5 year old Llasa Aphso. Such a vibrant, loving doggy son.

He now is the second shadow to Human Mom, even in the restroom. He is now in training for what this girly house is suppose to be .... hehehe!!!

He loves to play with Human Mom's garden shoe, in fact, the left pair is now his "security object". Human Mom retired the right pair in hope that someday the left pair will be let go and able to join the right pair again. In the mean time the left pair goes wherever the Duke Meister goes... So far it remains intact though.

You have heard about my ever so loving dog daughter, ever so faithful ... a Human Mama's Girl... Zipper. She is about 14-15 years old, a Llasa Aphso , definitely a gracious 'ole lady and yet still energetic, or she tries to be...

She is training Duke on how to be a gentleman ... hehehe by snarling at him when he tries to pull one of those Alpha maneuvers. Of course, with Human Mom's nod and approval and occasional... way to go girlie, you tell that hunky how to behave around us girls...

Ever so patient, Zipper, is never presumptuous, always looking in Mama's direction first for approval, be it with food, going in the house, going out the door... such a perfect dog...
Together they are adjusting to each other's idiosyncrasies. It is such fun to watch them with their antics... for free, I get entertained.

Animated me!!!

2007-07-17T06:13:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine a world with only one personality wherein everyone thinks the same and behaves the same??? I must say that God does have a great sense of humor for creating the many personalities in all of us. Our differences are what make our lives interesting. The intermingling of these differences is what gives us the feelings of sadness, happiness, fulfillment, failures and many other "humanly" characteristics.

These humanly characteristics have been portrayed by the many cartoon characters out there that were made by great creative writers. Have you associated yourself with one of these cartoon characters???
I always have had great admiration for Eeyore. I don't consider him as a reflection of my own personality but this creation of A. A. Milne, shows us the negativism, resistance and fears of people. Eeyore, a character in Winnie the Pooh, has a wishy-washy kinda approach to life. He gives voice to the worst fears there are but makes one face possibilities that would rather be avoided. Eeyore notices if things don’t work out. His “I told you so” makes us see the price of the possibilities of "good".

Now, there is one character out there that carries many of my self-reflections... TINKERBELL!!! Tinkerbell was created by James M. Barrie, the British playwright and author of Peter Pan. Many versions exist of Tinkerbell, none are perceived as important as that created by Marc Davis (1913-2000) the famous animator at Disney in 1953.

Tinkerbell, the jealous fairy who glowed the brightest for Peter Pan. I have yet to find my Peter Pan and maybe show off my glow, but that is another story. I wonder how bright my glow can be when my Peter Pan comes along??? Hhhhmmmm??? Tinker Bell is a mender of pots and kettles, a tinker is a tin worker, and with her magic wand led Peter Pan through the ins and outs of Never Never Land which made her one of our greatest influences to search out and find, thus the name.

I can't say I am a mender but I do like to keep busy, always having projects at hand. I have been accused many times of having an affair with the mail man or the milk man or the UPS man because of the times I would rearrange the entire house and puzzling the other members of the household how I was able to move certain furniture or appliance in the house. I keep mum. Let them guess. Maybe a hunky on the side has been helping me... hehehe!!! NOT!!!

I guess the child in me is drawn to that " fantasy" that Tink exudes or represents... the sparkle, the unexpected flash of light, the speeding beam... uplifts me to that land of possibilities and good... the never ending hope and wishes. Many dreams still to be gotten. There is always an endless possibilities. Many Never, never land to reach and claim and rejoice about.

It took me a while to learn to focus ( I still have the struggle) on the positive sparkle of life. It is still hard to keep my wand directed to the pleasantries of life... but I am more aware and more appreciative. I guess the Eeyore side of my life taught me that. Life, God's sense of humor, the cartoon adventures in this Never, never land that we live in, had helped me quite a bit in finding my power to search for that which I can no longer have, keep me reminded that anything that can be believed and make-believe is real.

In my "mature" years I see myself more of a free spirit, like Tink. "She is what she is, says what she says and doesn’t give a care what others may think, and seems happy to tell people they are a silly a--. She does however endear herself to everyone in spite of her jealous ways and spiteful character. She would lay down her life for Peter and finds it difficult to compete with his attention to other adoring female company."

I think the only characteristic of Tink that I don't have or if I do have is the degree of jealousy. I am one to see with my own eyes first before being jealoused... and what I see has to be something outrageously outright for me to spend any energy or brain to that issue. Otherwise, it is not worth it. And if my Peter Pan is stupid enough to divert his attention then it is his lost and his character at stake... not mine.

Another side of Tinkerbell that I don't see in me is the vindictiveness and hatred... but then I have not been provoked that badly yet... hehehe!!!

C's Birthday!!!

2007-07-16T11:39:00.000-07:00

It was a long week!!! All worth it though. It was a pretty hectic week of working and preparing for my one and only child's birthday party. The last time I had one for him was when he was 12 years old. I thought this year he could use one. He has been down a bit for an overwhelming adjustment to the hectic life of "adulthood". Besides, my family has been hinting to get invited.

So I had a total of 46 people over. It is always a pleasure having my family over, especially seeing the little ones. Food, food, food, eat, eat, eat and eat some more... and talk until ours ears fall off!!! What a nice life that is.

It was nice to catch up with my cousins' lives and seeing how much their children have grown. We did not even do Karaoke this time, we got busy just talking and looking at family pictures and watching family films.

I did have to leave them when I had to go to work but I was not worried at all because I knew they will take care of everything. The best deal for me was that the "boys" worked on my gazebo remodelling... I will surely share the picture of the finished project. They did such a great job. My brother, Emil, has to put the finishing touches next week-end when he comes back.

The children were tanned very well... hehehe!!! They spent long hours in the pool while the adults were under the patio with the ceiling fans going... temperature was in the 100's both days.

Food??? I had a cooler full of iced drinks. A huge container of lemonade. A jug of iced sun tea. Fruits... cut up watermelon, grilled pineapple and peaches (a big hit) and Manila mangoes and bananas.

Sweets... chunky chocolate chips cookies, oatmeal raisincookies, chunky peanut butter cookies, camaroons, divine angels, brownies, leche flan cassava, rice cake, and the birthday cake. Popsicles and ice cream and smoothies were consumed as well.

There were the mixed pancit, menudo, shrimp/mussels dish, grilled salmon, hotdogs and sausages, tri-tip steaks, chips and hot salsa, pork adobo, and cat fish soup (sinigang), grilled asparagus, mushroom, and zucchinis, veggie lumpias, lumpiang shanghais and pinakbet. My picky nephew was served my macaroni and cheese dish which made him content and happy. And of course the biggest electric rice cooker was on...

Most everybody stayed over so the party continued the next day... I mingled a bit after work then off to bed... I was waking up with the voices outside in the pool and the patio and drifted off and on to sleepy land. Then I had to work that night again. Whoever were left behind cleaned pretty much the house and took all left over... my order... so that I don't have to eat them.
It was a great party!!! I wish you all came over...

Interracial, a talk about its beauty

2007-07-06T18:55:00.000-07:00

Interracial union of the hearts... come into place without any prejudicial intents. Cultures intermingle, genetic traits amalgamate. The offspring of this union shows off the blended beauty of the genetic mix.

When my son was born and I had the time to really look him over, I got fascinated by his physical characteristics. He definitely inherited and shows off the genetic mixture from both his parents. His father - a second generation German American and a Filipina mother. I always think he has such a beautiful skin coloring... always a light golden tan. His hair coloring is a mix of light brown and dark brown. Eyes that are somewhat brown with hazel tone to them. He turned out to be a tall product of a 5'11" father and a 5'4" mother... 6'3".

But then biological benefits or disadvantages of interracial marriage should probably be irrelevant. People should be choosing their marriage partners based on personal characteristics. Man/woman should marry someone who she/he decides to be committed to loving the rest of his/her life irregardless of what the offspring might look like.

One comment I have read..."although most hybrid children are uniquely beautiful, they face the tough time socializing, unless they are exceptionally good looking". I did not see this issue with my child growing up. I have to admit though that it came into play with his first relationship that caused his young heart to break. The ex-girlfriend is of English heritage. The young lady did not have any prejudicial tendencies but unfortunately, her parents could not recognize the relationship because my child was not quite "white" enough.

I personally don't have any problem with this kind of hypocrites because I just go ahead and bounce back to them their attitude... it is really their problem and not mine... prejudism I mean. Can you imagine how rotten they feel inside when around people they don't regard as "equal"??? And this is how I raised my child... that there is nothing wrong with him. He is a beautiful person inside and outside and should not believe anything less than that. Hopefully, he would always live in the thinking that I always share with him... treat other people as you would like to be treated. And don't let the stranger's ignorance make you uncomfortable.

One other benefit of having parents of different cultures is inheriting two cultures instead of just one. My son loves it. He loves to be around his Filipino relatives and embracing the uniqueness of it. The ongoing joke with him and my family... "C, you are so tall (he is 6'3") which he always answers back... No I am not that tall, Filipinos are just short people".The bottom line is... the most important feature in a person, hybrid or not, is the inside. Inside beauty is what really count.

Ratiocination of A G E

2007-07-03T08:21:00.000-07:00

Age is not important unless you are a cheese. Is it really NOT that important??? Age and aging I mean. I look at age and aging in two ways ... biologically and psychologically. And this is where it gets catchy on the discussion. Some people are lucky enough to be blessed with the "young look" wherein their chronological age does not seem to match their physical age. Of course physical aging can be skewed by many factors that are probably brought unto himself by the person himself such as smoking, drugs, and other unhealthy practises.

I was in a discussion with a health nut friend who I did not know was a "casual smoker". I had to impart the .... 1-900- NursyE- advice-line. He did not like that I was lecturing about the fact that his running many miles a week become unimportant when he is smoking away the cilia along his respiratory tract. Eventually, smoking will eliminate all these cilia and he would be puffing and huffing in his run.

I come across many people in my career as a front line caregiver. Some of these people are of my age and once in a while I wonder if I look as bad or as good as that person across me. It shouldn't matter, right, sure, some people would say. Others would say that age is just but a set of numbers. True, it is a set of numbers but it is more than that, isn't it? The D Dictionary defines it as ... That period of life in which we compound for the vices that we still cherish by reviling those that we have no longer the enterprise to commit.

Some people look matured enough and yet act immaturely, and vice versa. I have been told that I look younger than my age but still... if only I can hasten the advancement of the gray hair and the rickety bones... hehehe!!! Vanity, vanity, vanity... I know. Okay, I even agree to the "all in the mind" business of aging. You are as old as you think you are. And I believe that ... sometimes!!!

One issue that I have come across about age is the age gap between partners. Many Western men have decided to get into the relationships with much younger Eastern women. I have seen many broken relationships with these unions. I am not surprised a bit. These young women have so much more years of growing up that when they do, the men are caught off guard. Do you really think that a man in his 60-70's can keep preoccupying the mind and heart of a woman in his early 20's??? Get real!!! So then, what would be the good age gap???

In my unstoppable aging process, I look at my son as my mirror. I look at him and think of his growth process and alongside, I see myself evolve as well... So far, so good!!!

6 Weird Things About Me - made to confess

2007-06-25T22:02:00.000-07:00

I was going to add on to the dream house entry but I had to do this post because my dear amiga from Arizona tagged me to confess... hehehe!!! After reading this confession, tell me... first, if I am really weird or not... and if I am, then how much??? Did you say you are a friend???

SIX WEIRD THINGS ABOUT ME:

6. I don't like my food mix in together, maybe next to each other or touching each other but no mixing them all up. I guess that is a carried over neurotic tendency of my obsessive desire to have organization of some sort in my life... so that I can function in a more harmonious environment... Or maybe I just would like to savor each dish separately and have my palate distinguish the unique taste of each and so my brain can appreciate each taste in its simpler form.

5. My house has night lights all over, I like it that way so when it gets dark, it gives me the relaxing feeling that the dim lights give out. I never need to turn any light switch on to go around the house... the night lights provide enough lighting to get from one spot to another. Another reason is my two 4-legged children that can be anywhere in the house spread out asleep. I sure don't want to be stepping on them in the dark.

4. The need to clean the entire house all in the same day. I never thought it was weird to clean your place all in one time that you are doing it until I was enlightened by a few people. It has always been my way of doing it. Again my neurotic tendency comes out with the way I clean. When I clean, I really clean from inside, out, upside, down, underneath and over not missing a spot, even the spot that people will never see.

3. Two things I have to put on to feel completely dressed, otherwise, I feel nekkid... perfume and a pair of earrings. It is not the same to me to be all dressed up without my White Linen or Nina Ricci perfume and a pair of earring in my ears.

2. My lipstick and my toe nail polish have to RED... love it, love it, love it!!! And at this age, I can wear any wild color, right??? I usually get my spa pedicure every two weeks and red it will on those massaged pampered toes. And my lips really feel very secured when they are covered with red lipstick... hehehe!!!

1. That I mastered the art of power napping... give me 5, 10, 15 minutes and I can go into power nap and snap out it fully recharged, well, at least that is the feeling I get. I unfortunately could use more discipline with sleeping. I tend to deprive my self with sleep. I should know better, but I have always been that way... sleep is down the bottom of my list to do...

Come and dream with me...

2007-06-16T17:30:00.001-07:00

Dream house!!! Through the years that I have lived in different houses, I have slowly developed what my dream house would look like. It probably will not come true but it is always nice to just turn off the real world and fly away to the dream land and imagine. After all dreams are free and we are free beings... so come and join me in this dreamy talk .... of my dream house.

I don't have it quite together as a whole house but I have bits and pieces of it that I would like for it to have or to look like. I can say that I am a homebody. I prefer to be at home than out there . I work many stretch of days and sometimes I would also have stretch of days off. I can definitely stay home for many days and not run out of things to get busy with at home.

Every house I have lived in had been "personalized" so it is always hard to move out every time. I tend to pour out my energy into my home and Edenize it... hehehe!!!

Soooo, my dream house. As you look at it, is far away from the street. A circular driveway is always been a dream so there it is. In the middle of the circle is a round flower bed and in the middle of it is a big water fountain and around it are different colored flowers. The both sides of the properties are flowering trees of maybe Crepe Myrtle trees, Magnolia trees or Lilac trees or those Red Japanese Maple trees.

To get to the stained-glass double front doors, you walk through the portico... always dream of a house with a portico so there I have it. As you open the double door you come into a welcoming sitting area. I would like the middle of the house as a tranquil garden... The center of the house would be a common area wherein every room in the house has a door that lead out to that garden. Wouldn't that be neat??? There would be many plants and flowers. A pond and a waterfall that you can hear althrough the house when you open the windows.

Let me share these ideas and add more features later on... as I use my imagination!!!

The game man and woman play...

2007-06-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

The Bible has two myths of creation ... the Genesis and the Adam and Eve theories. As we know, the second theory tells us the creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden in the company of animals and with the warning to not eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Adam was not happy, so God created Eve out of one of his ribs. It was Eve that ate the fruit at the urging of the serpent and she in turned talked Adam in doing the same. And so they were punished... Adam to toil for his living, and Eve to suffer pain in childbirth and the Garden of Eden banished.

This is not a Bible talk but a talk about men and women and the games they play in relationships. As I have shared before; I haven't had a lot of relationships to talk about. This talk is a mixture of personal experience and information I have read.

Anytime a man and a woman are together, the potential for magic or mayhem exists, we all know that. The man-woman thing is a game rather than a source or basis of identity. It is that exciting, spicy encounter, each plays a part, like an actor or actress on a stage acting out an ageless drama with a continuous new script.

Man-woman life then was simple. Women wanted, and men provided. In the olden times when chivalry was alive and well, women were definitely more feminine. They were happy to be female. They played their part with grace and ease. Men were heroic and romantic. They were happy to court women and women were delighted to be courted.

Over the past several decades, women have taken on more of the male roles. Maybe it is time to move back to the way it was in the olden times. This would probably allow men to support women in moving things in the direction of the feminine. This might bring balance back to a world where the feminine energy is wanted and needed. I think that women need to allow men to be men, and encourage them to do more of what they do best. Men want women to know they are completely capable of producing whatever women want and need, as long as they are given the opportunity.

I think that when a woman expresses her wishes and desires, a man should take heed that those would be the times that he can win her over... by listening to her, paying close attention to what she says she would like. The domino effect on the relationship is tremendous when a man plays hero for the woman. I think a man helping a woman discover her desires could benefit him the most because she is a much happier woman with a heart overflowing with love for him.

As we all know, we were not created different by accident. The plan has always been perfect, but we have resisted the perfection of our differences. This resistance has been the source of the majority of man-woman breakdowns.

In order to move efficiently around each other's game board, each one has to recognize that women are better than men in the area of desire, and men are more effective than women in producing to satiate those desires. K.C. book states that ... "to try to exist on love is like trying to make a meal out of salt. Yet the seasoning is important. The goal, is to recognize its significance, activate it in life, perfect the arts of playing the game, and do so when it is appropriate." Sounds simple enough and yet man-woman breakdowns happen quite a bit.

On Foot

2007-05-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

DON'T you wish we can just eat and not worry about the things we eat appear, perhaps on our hips or on our thighs and worse, on our bellies??? I am one of those that used to be able to eat anything in sight and not gain an ounce until I hit the big 40 then everything went downhill from then on... hehehe!!! Not only do I need to watch my food intake nowadays but I do need to watch my level of activities to keep some decent numbers on the scale... less food, more activities... that just does not sound like a rational mathematical equation, does it??? Nonetheless, that seem to be the ratio I need to live by.

The western world might be of fast paced mode but everything is of automation so manual, physical exertion is of minimal existence. So if you want to sweat (which could mean losing some weight), you have to intentionally do it. Back home in the Philippines, we exert physical efforts almost at all times because there was less automation, at least when I was living there. I had to wash clothes by hands, put them up on the clothes line to dry, swept and washed the floor manually because we did not own a vacuum or floor mop. I had to do a lot of walking because I did not own any vehicle. So for years and years I weighed anywhere from 98 to 109 pounds with my height of 5'4" - I was screwny.

The biggest stumbling block for me is that I am not crazy about exercises as in regimental tasks. I am very active in that I do a lot of physical work as in yard work and house work and whatever project I find around the house. I love to use my hands... (yep, even with those things that you are thinking about!!!) and that was how I was getting by with not going to the gym.

One of activities I like to do is walking. I just think that there are endless benefits from walking. Besides a form of exercise, I find it as my way of relieving stress and my commune to my inner peace and solitude, and lastly, my way of checking out the neighborhood, the plants, the animals and those walking/jogging/running hunkies ... hehehe!!!

Walking may sound easy but to get the full benefit from it, one has to remember a few things. First, you want to wake up your muscles and let them know you plan to be active for awhile. Walking at an easy warm-up pace for 5-10 minutes tells your muscles they can't just sit back and burn up the available sugars, they need to call on the fat reserves. This is why you should not start off at a high speed - when you do that, your cells don't get the signal that this is a long-term activity, so instead they burn up sugars only.

The speed to walk for optimal fat-burning is a "determined" pace. At this rate, you should be breathing noticeably but able to carry on a conversation in full sentences. Heart rate 60-70% of your maximum heart rate. Walk at this speed for 30 minutes at a time, once you have built up to that duration. Walking at a moderate pace for 30-60 minutes burns stored fat and can build muscle to speed up your metabolism. Walking an hour a day is also associated with cutting your risk of heart disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes and stroke.

Walking with racewalk style at paces under 13-minute miles will burn more calories per mile. This if you are already walking 20 miles a week as described above. To achieve more results purely from waking you may want to build speed as well as duration, about 30-60 minutes at 50-70% of your maximum heart rate is recommended. Start with walking at an easy pace for 5-10 minutes. Stop and do some stretches and flexibility exercises. Walk at your target heart rate for 30-60 minutes. Cool down at a slower pace for 5 minutes. Finish with some gentle stretches.

For longer walks, walk 30-60 minutes at your target heart rate and slow a bit to complete 90 or 120 minutes at a comfortable pace. If your schedule doesn't permit it, break it up into walking twice or three times a day for shorter periods. Always warm up for 5 minutes at an easy pace no matter what duration you will be walking. For weight loss, walk most days of the week.
Time spent walking per week should be 5-10 hours. On your non-walking days, try some strength training exercises. If you find yourself worn out, take a day off. But be sure to get back walking the following day.

Walking shoes are your most important item of gear. The best shoe for you is the the one that fits you best, the one that gives you the proper support, flexibility, cushioning, and compensates for any stride problems you may have, such as overpronation. Each person's feet are different. I did invest in 2 pairs of walking shoes. As a nursy, I am on my feet 12 hours when I am working so if you are looking for slenders legs ... that will not be mine... hehehe!!! Mine are probably as strong as yours if not stronger, many years of being on my feet kinda did that.

If you are short on time you want to get the most out of your walking workout. How can you accomplish this? By burning more calories during your walking workout. Here are some ideas to help you accomplish just that. The easiest way to burn more calories walking is to simply walk faster. If you are just walking around for now, pick up the pace and get your heart pumping. Start by walking faster for a few minutes, then giving yourself a break while walking at your regular pace. Keep going back and forth between the two speeds. Before you know it you will get used to the new pace and will be able to keep it up during your entire walking workout.

Here's another great way to burn more calories - pick a hilly terrain for your walks and spend more time walking uphill. Adding even just a short little incline to your walk, can make quite a difference in both the amount of calories you burn and also how challenging your walk will be. You'll have plenty of water with you to re-hydrate yourself during the walk, and when you do, your weights get lighter and you burn more calories. This is also a great way to tone your upper torso, shoulders and arms while walking.

Happy trails!!! See you out there!!!

Walking through it... meniscal tear

2007-05-08T22:49:00.000-07:00

In a span of two years, I fell off the ladder twice and hurt the same knee - my left one. The first injury was minor in that I had some bruising and swelling which went away. The second time brought some persistent pain and swelling and affected my range of motion. I eventually had MRI and found out that I have 16 percent meniscus tear on my outer part of left knee. My option is live through it or have an arthroscopic surgery.

In humans the knee supports nearly the entire weight of the body. The knee functions as a living, self-maintaining, biologic transmission, the purpose of which is to accept and transfer biomechanical loads between the femur; or thigh bone which is the longest, most voluminous, and strongest bone of the body and forms part of the hip and part of the knee, tibia; or shin bone, patella; or kneecap which is a thick, triangular bone that articulates with the femur and covers and protects the front of the knee joint, and fibula; or calf bone. In short, our knees are hinge joints.

Menisci are cartilaginous/rubbery tissue within the knee joint which serve to protect the ends of the bones from rubbing on each other; acts as a shock absorber between the upper and lower leg bones and stabilizes the knee joint by evenly distributing the load across the knee. There are two menisci in each knee, the medial meniscus, the inner side of the knee and the lateral meniscus, the outer side of the knee. Either or both may be cracked, or torn, when the knee is forcefully rotated and/or bent.
In a typical minor tear, there may be slight pain and swelling at first. These symptoms usually go away in 2 to 3 weeks.
A typical moderate tear can cause pain at the side or center of the knee, depending on where the tear is located. Swelling increases gradually over 2 to 3 days. This may make the knee feel stiff and limit bending, but walking is usually possible. There's often sharp pain with twisting or squatting. These symptoms go away but tend to recur with minor twisting or overuse. In severe tears, pieces of the torn meniscus can dislocate into the joint space. This can make the knee catch, pop, or lock. You may not be able to straighten it. And the knee can feel "wobbly" or unstable, or give way without warning. It may swell and become stiff right after the injury, or over 2 to 3 days.

A physical examination is done to determine if a torn meniscus is the cause of your pain and to rule out other knee injuries. Your health professional will examine both knees and evaluate tenderness, range of motion, knee stability, and how the injury has affected your knee. X-rays are usually done. Your health professional may suggest that you follow up with an orthopedic surgeon for further testing. MRI is the best imaging modality available today for diagnosing soft-tissue injuries. While X-Ray and CT are excellent tools for detecting bone injuries, they have limited value for patients with severe ligament or meniscus damage.

Treatment for meniscus tear depends upon the extent, type, and location of the tear, your age and activity level, and when the injury occurred. Treatment options include nonsurgical treatment with rest, ice, compression, elevation, and physical therapy; surgical repair; surgical removal of the torn section (partial meniscectomy); and surgical removal of the entire meniscus (total meniscectomy).

Rehabilitation varies depending on the injury, the type of surgery, your orthopedist's preference, and your age, health status, and activity demands. Time periods often vary, although in general, meniscus surgery is usually followed by a period of rest, walking, and selected exercises.

I decided to live through it until the arthroscopic surgery deems necessary. I do have pain which is bearable. Depending on the activity I engage my knee in, I would take Motrin 600 mg or a heating pad or gentle massage on the area. I can no longer subject my knees to any strenuous exercise and find that walking is the best exercise it can tolerate. Even the Pilates exercise I do causes pain that I just have to remember to put my knee pad when the left knee is sore.

The world of blooms and fruits and yields...

2007-05-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

I am one busy person. I get into crazy work schedule wherein I work in stretch of many days. And of course my profession can be mentally exhausting beside physically strenuous. To keep my sanity intact, I step outside my yard and play... yep, with the dirt... gardening. I can download many frustrations and bury many stresses when I start gardening. I can't even imagine me not having a garden to play with. I probably will just make a garden out of anything just to have one.

By the way, the garden of this Eden does not have any of those snakes or sinful apples... nor you'll find any Adam or Eve... just so you know...

For me, gardening is a continuous process of learning, always a trial and error deal. When I think I got the perfect blend of soil, something or some fungus or some disease or some creature will let me know that it is not quite right. Or when I think I perfected the method of planting a certain plant then it dies on me. Which is not really a big deal. Although frustrating at times, I just get my hands back in the dirt and deal with it.

Spring of course is my favorite season because I know that is when I can enjoy all those flowers, fruits and vegetables. I can spend all day in the nursery looking over those plants they have there. I do visit them quite often in the spring and summer just to check if there's any interesting "new" flowers or plants. It is so relaxing to me to just be around plants and flowers. That is why I enjoy those walks in the woods. Have you been to Yosemite around those giant Sequoia trees or inside the Redwood forest... amazing!!! Someday, I would really like to experience being in a Rainforest, I think it will be incredible.

As in my cooking, I am also adventurous with my gardening, always trying out those rare, wild, unusual flowers or plants. Two flowers that I can not seem to grow no matter how much I try to follow the suggestions of the experts... gardenia and fuschia. This spring I found out that fuschia is not going to survive here in our region, sooooo why do they even sell them? The master gardener I talked to said that they shouldn't even sell them here. I know not to buy any more of that flower. Now, I only have one challenge left, yep, gardenia. And I do have one out there in my patio that I am closely watching. We'll see!!!

I always have to have roses. I do have roses, the bush kind and the tree kind and even the miniature kind. I like to keep up with pruning off the old flowers because I know that the more I prune the more flowers there are. Someday I would like to have one big particular area in the backyard where it will just be a rose garden. My ex-father-in-law taught me to prune off on the branch where there are at least five leaves of the plant and that is how I have been pruning my roses. I have yet to research on the reality of that and the significance. In the summer I like to bring those roses in the house and enjoy them some more, the smell is just wonderful.
Lavender is another plant that I always grow and plant them in abundance all over the yard. I like to make potpourri, oil, and sachets out of them. If you notice at the store, these are expensive items and yet they are easy to make at home. I like to give the lavender a gentle kick when I go by them because of the smell they emit, so sweet!!!

Begonia is another flower that you will always find in my garden. I like their hardiness while producing those gorgeous flowers. As in my roses, I keep up with the pruning so that I can enjoy the flowers. And I plant many varieties of this. Nowadays they even have the scented begonias which I think are neat!!!

Most of my plants are perennials so that I always have them. What I do in the spring is plant some annuals in front of the perennials. This way it adds up some dimension to the garden and break the monotony of the "always there, always the same" perennials.

Another garden habit I have is using containers in the mix of the planted plants. I do use those unusual, interesting containers like an old wheelbarrow, an old barbecue grill or my son's old red pulley cart. Just to put some conversational pieces in the garden.

To keep them alive and healthy and generous of their flowers, I water them with water soluble fertilizer about every two weeks. I throw in those slow release fertilizer once in a while. And my vegetable garden get the steer manure beside the slow release fertilizer. Of course I try to nurse their problems as I see them as in fungus, bugs and other diseases. No I don't go out there with my stethoscope and try to diagnose what is wrong... hehehe!!!

Two years ago I decided to downsize my garden because I have been busy. To prevent weeding, I covered my whole yard with weed block material and put thick layer of mulch all over the place. It works!!!

I have a few fruit trees , all dwarf or semi-dwarf. I found this dwarf avocado tree which unfortunately fell victim to the frost last year. I was afraid that it died but so happy to see it growing like crazy this spring. There is a dwarf nectarine tree. A semi-dwarf apple tree with four varieties of apples. A semi-dwarf pear tree with five varieties in it. A semi-dwarf cherry tree that has four varieties of it. A semi-dwarf persimmons tree. A dwarf Satsuma tangerine tree. A dwarf Meyer lemon tree. A calamansi tree.

Then there is my herb garden which is a lot smaller now but still has the varieties that I use a lot of... basil, thyme, parsley, oregano, rosemary, chives, dill, sage and tarragon. When in over abundance, I dry these herbs and jar them. This is another grocery item out there that cost quite a bit and yet so easy to do at home.

Then there's my orchid collection that my sister started me on. They are of different varieties that bloom diffent times. It takes a lot of patience to take care of these plants. In the winter I divide them up and repot them. Incredible flowers!!!

As soon as it warms up, you would not find me inside the house. I am almost always outside pottering around or pruning or weeding or trimming. And getting tanned. So now you know where to find me. And one amazing thing, I can get really busy but I always seem to find time to garden. I hope you like having your hands dirty...

When you do find me inside the house, I am probably tending to my bonsai plants. I have a few of these interesting plants.

On Womanhood

2007-04-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

A woman has the sole purpose in her existence and that is to procreate. Most of her body functions are geared towards that of procreation which is the process that permits two living beings to produce a third one that is different from each of them. Womanhood is the period in a female's life after she has transitioned from girlhood, at least physically, having passed the age of menarche - which is the beginning of the menstrual function, usually happens around age 12 but may start as early as age 9.

In terms of biology, the female sex organs are involved in the reproductive system, whereas the secondary characteristics are involved in nurturing children or, in some cultures, attracting a mate. Most women go through menarche and are then able to become pregnant and bear children. Women generally reach menopause in their late 40s or early 50s, at which point their ovaries cease producing estrogen and they can no longer become pregnant. There are rarely symptoms of the decline in fertility that begins in a woman’s twenties or even of the plummeting of fertility ten years before menopause.

A misconception: “Fertility starts to decline in a woman’s late 30s and most women can have children naturally in their 40s.”

Reality: Fertility begins to decline gradually in a woman’s late 20s and goes into a free-fall around age 40. By age 42, a woman has less than a ten percent chance of getting pregnant without donor eggs, and many fertility clinics discourage women over 43 from attempting to get pregnant with their own eggs.

So for any woman over 35, hoping to get pregnant, should meet with a fertility doctor for an evaluation “sooner rather than later". Certainly after six months of timed trying, it’s time to investigate.” With an average age of 38, many women “are going to have egg-quality issues,” which lead not only to problems getting pregnant, but also to increased miscarriage rates and potential genetic abnormalities.

At birth, a woman has all the eggs she will ever have. As an egg ages, it is more likely to develop a chromosomal abnormality. A fertilized egg with abnormal chromosomes is the single most common cause of miscarriage: at least half of all miscarriages are due to abnormal chromosomes. A woman in her 20s has only a 12-15% chance of having a miscarriage each time she becomes pregnant. On the other hand, a woman in her 40s faces a 50% risk of miscarriage.

To a large extent, women suffer from the same illnesses as men. However, there are some diseases that primarily affect women, such as lupus. Also, there are some sex-related illnesses that are found exclusively in women, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, or ovarian cancer.
One of the most common anomalies in women's reproductive system is polycystic ovary syndrome, which I have for sometime now.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an inherited condition that affects the ovaries. Changing hormone levels result in many tiny cysts developing in the ovaries. Eggs may not be released regularly. Many women with PCOS have no symptoms, like me. Most, however, will have irregular periods or no periods at all. Often women with PCOS find it hard to get pregnant. Acne and excessive body hair (hirsutism) may develop as a result of increased testosterone levels. Women with PCOS often gain, and find it hard to lose, weight.

When I turned 40, I suddenly gained weight. I never had weight problem before. For a while the weight gain did not bother me. I just watched what I ate and increased my activities. Instead of shedding off the weight though, it accumulated in exaggerated manner. I then consulted with my primary doctor and my OB-GYN and we started the battery of tests and procedures, to make sure that nothing serious was going on. What came out of that, simply put -- I was turning into a boy... my hormonal circuitry went berserk. Years of stress, depression, poor diet, lack of rest, lack of sleep, physical over exertion lead to that. I was producing too high of testosterone and my estrogen was basically nil and my progesterone was not even enough for any female function. The doctors called my situation, "hormonal crisis" related to that PCOS that we discovered.

With that discovery, the next step was battery of medical regimen. Nothing worked. Variety of hormonal pills, injections of many kinds were tried but couldn't trouble shoot the malfunction in my female circuitry. None of the birth control pills worked. I did not tolerate any of them, my blood pressure sky rocketed to a very dangerous level that would have caused me to have a stroke. So for a while I was getting those nasty very painful hormonal injections. In the span of three years, I was under the supervision of a dietitian, a physical trainer and my doctors... nothing was progressing...

The precise cause remains uncertain. Women with PCOS have raised levels of the hormone insulin that stimulates the ovaries to produce too much testosterone. Around five to ten per cent of women have the syndrome. It develops in teenage years with the onset of period. Being overweight increases the risk of developing symptoms so women are advised to maintain an ideal weight. In my case, it was the caused of the weight gain.

When treating PCOS, weight reduction may be all that's needed to correct the hormonal imbalance. This will restore ovulation and fertility. Hormone therapy is used to regulate periods. Newer treatments including a drug that counteracts insulin resistance. There is also research into ovarian surgery which is still being studied.

Two years ago was when finally my female circuitry woke up and realigned and balanced itself. The weight finally came down with the combination of vitamins and occasional hormone shot (I will not go through my treatment because it is a very personalized one) and diet and exercise. I am almost there... I am just glad to be a girl again... hehehe!!!

Another common anomaly in women is endometriosis. The name comes from the word "endometrium," which is the tissue that lines the uterus. During a woman's regular menstrual cycle, this tissue builds up and is shed if she does not become pregnant. Women with endometriosis develop tissue that looks and acts like endometrial tissue outside the uterus, usually on other reproductive organs inside the pelvis or in the abdominal cavity. Each month, this misplaced tissue responds to the hormonal changes of the menstrual cycle by building up and breaking down just as the endometrium does, resulting in internal bleeding.

Unlike menstrual fluid from the uterus which is shed by the body, blood from the misplaced tissue has nowhere to go, resulting in the tissues surrounding the endometriosis becoming inflamed or swollen. This process can produce scar tissue around the area which may develop into lesions or growths. In some cases, particularly when an ovary is involved, the blood can become embedded in the tissue where it is located, forming blood blisters that may become surrounded by a fibrous cyst.

Symptoms of endometriosis may include: pain, especially excessive menstrual cramps which may be felt in the abdomen or lower back pain during intercourse, abnormal or heavy menstrual flow, infertility, fatigue, painful urination during menstrual periods, painful bowel movements during menstrual periods, other gastrointestinal problems (i.e., diarrhea, constipation, and/or nausea). It is important to note that the amount of pain a woman experiences is not necessarily related to the severity of the disease - some women with severe endometriosis may experience no pain, while others with a milder form of the disease may have severe pain or other symptoms.

Endometriosis is considered one of the three major causes of female infertility. In mild to moderate cases, the infertility may be just temporary. In these cases, surgery to remove adhesion, cysts, and scar tissue can restore fertility. In other cases (a very small percentage), women may remain infertile.

The only way to diagnose endometriosis is through a laparoscopy, which allows the physician to determine if there are endometrial growths by using a laparoscope (tube with lens and light). Today, laser surgery is becoming a more common method for removing these growths in mild to moderate cases.

In general, treatment for endometriosis may include: simple tips that can help ease the pain of endometriosis include rest, relaxation, and meditation; warm baths; prevent constipation; regular exercise; use of hot water bottle or heating pad on your abdomen
"watchful waiting" - to observe the course of the disease. Pain medication - such as ibuprofen or other over-the-counter analgesics, hormone therapy, including: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH agonist), which stops ovarian hormone production, creating a sort of "medical menopause" Danazol, a synthetic derivative of testosterone (a male hormone) oral contraceptives, with combined estrogen and progestin (a synthetic form of progesterone) hormones, prevent ovulation and reduce menstrual flow, progesterone alone.

What can I say ... sometimes it is just hard to be a woman!!!

A Pinay talk on Filipina...

2007-04-27T07:22:00.000-07:00

Filipinos are the inhabitants of the Southern Asian country, the Philippines. The word also refers to the people of Philippine descent, irregardless of citizenship. During the colonial era, the term "Filipino" originally referred to Spaniards born in the Philippines, also known as insulares, criollos or español filipino. This distinguished them from Spaniards born in Europe who were known as peninsulares. By the mid to late nineteenth century, however, the term "Filipino" had begun to refer to the indigenous population of the Philippines.

Today, Filipino is also used to signify the nationality and citizenship of one who is from the Philippines. Colloquially, Filipinos may refer to themselves as Pinoy (feminine: Pinay), which is formed by taking the last four letters of Pilipino and adding the diminutive suffix -y. The word was coined by expatriate Filipino Americans during the 1920s and was later adopted by Filipinos in the Philippines.

In this talk, the subject will be the pinay ... such as yours truly. A Filipina can have a Spanish, Malaysian, Chinese and even American blood in her. And in my case, Spanish blood from my father's side of the family. Most Filipinas speak excellent English because English is the country's second language.

A preconceived notion is that Filipinas are submissive. I can tell you right off that is not true. Well, there might be submissive Filipinas but then there are submissive women in all of the other cultures. Filipinas are generally non-confrontational. She hesitates to challenge her partner in front of other people to save him from embarrassment and that is mistaken for submissiveness. On the contrary, Filipinas are very sophisticated in their ways to get their partners to do what they want them to do.

Many western men who marry a Filipina wife, swear they make the best wives in the world. Some reasons given: loyal, loving and faithful forever. The Filipina heart is sweet, loving, faithful, romantic, loyal and everlasting in their love but it has to be won and that could be challenging for the hopeful man but once won that lucky hunky (my word for man) is showered with all her love.

These loving creatures want nothing more in life than to please their partners. All of them are virgins until married and sex before marriage is absolutely unheard of! Once they are married, all Filipinas instantly become sexual dynamos who have insatiable appetites for sex in any form. ... but only with their partners. "Filipinas are loyal sexual servants who want only one thing: to please her partner!" That should give these hopeful men something to think about... hehehe!!!

Another fact about Filipinas is their way of letting the partner know that there is something that is bothering her or something offended her. This very distinct behavior is known as ... tampo. Tampo is the result of mild dissatisfaction, not of actual anger. The behavior is a cultural norm in the Philippines and a westerner should not be overly concerned the first time he encounters it. Tampo is a very useful tool, because it allows a Filipina to show her displeasure about something. Remember, confrontation is generally unacceptable in Filipino society, so disagreement or displeasure must be expressed indirectly. So when tampo shows up, just let her simmer down and approach her later on. What is it? That sudden bout of silence of a Filipina.

Then there are those Filipinas that migrated out of their countries and embraced the western world... the westernized Filipinas, such as myself. These Filipinas have adapted and adopted the western world but yet retain the innate qualities of being a Filipina, preserving most of the beliefs and traditions they have learned growing up in their native country. These Filipinas seem to be the stronger ones for they have lived through many challenges from their native country to their adopted country intermingling the eastern and western ways of living while preserving the qualities that make them ... Filipinas/Pinays ... unique...

Filipino Palate

2007-04-24T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am sure at some point you have asked, "how could he eat that?" Isn't it amazing what people eat? Through food we explore one's culture. What we consume, how we acquire it, who prepares it, who’s at the table, and who eats first is a form of communication that is rich with meaning. Food goes beyond nourishment alone. It symbolizes life. It reflects family. And portrays the culture. Food is a history in itself that enables us to see the evolution of culture through food and vise versa.

Philippines, a Southern Asian country, colonized two times and liberated two times, comprised of 7,170 islands is rich in food cultural history having the influences of both the East and the West. Rice continues to be the main food being eaten three times a day. Rice is always the main dish and the rest of the food on the table becomes the mere condiments.

Filipino cooking is simple. Food is cooked by roasting, steaming or boiling. Surrounded by bodies of water, fish and sea food are the main "condiments" eaten with rice. Filipinos prefer the sour and salty flavors which shows on the many dishes they prepare. And this is influenced by the tropical fruits and vegetables that are in abundance in the country which are largely of the citrus family. The salty part comes from the ethnic sauces such as the fish sauce (patis), shrimp paste (bagoong), and soy sauce (of Chinese influence).

When I am discovered to be a Filipino by new acquaintances, I am always asked about 3 dishes - ALWAYS!!! PANCIT, ADOBO and LUMPIA. LECHE FLAN at times. so here is a treat for the non- Filipino readers and visitors. The recipes for these sought after Filipino dishes... Enjoy!!!

PANCIT: One version...

Minced garlic
Minced onion
Cooking oil ((3-4 tbsp.)
Shredded cabbage
Sliced carrots
Sliced celery
Diced chicken (boneless breast)
Peeled and halved shrimp
Sliced mushrooms
Sliced water chestnuts
Rice Stick noodles (available in Chinese section)
1/2 c. soy sauce1 can chicken broth

Saute onion and garlic in oil until transparent. Add chicken and stir until brown. Add vegetables; saute 2-3 minutes. Add shrimp. Add soy sauce and broth; simmer 1 minute. Add rice stick noodles. Cover, simmer until noodles are not brittle, 3-4 minutes. If needed add more broth or soy sauce to taste.

LUMPIA (Filipinos' spring rolls)

INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound ground pork
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup minced carrots
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup thinly sliced green cabbage
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon soy sauce
30 lumpia wrappers
2 cups vegetable oil for frying

DIRECTIONS:
Place a wok or large skillet over high heat, and pour in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Cook pork, stirring frequently, until no pink is showing. Remove pork from pan and set aside. Drain grease from pan, leaving a thin coating. Cook garlic and onion in the same pan for 2 minutes. Stir in the cooked pork, carrots, green onions, and cabbage. Season with pepper, salt, garlic powder, and soy sauce. Remove from heat, and set aside until cool enough to handle.

Place three heaping tablespoons of the filling diagonally near one corner of each wrapper, leaving a 1 1/2 inch space at both ends. Fold the side along the length of the filling over the filling, tuck in both ends, and roll neatly. Keep the roll tight as you assemble. Moisten the other side of the wrapper with water to seal the edge. Cover the rolls with plastic wrap to retain moisture.

Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat, add oil to 1/2 inch depth, and heat for 5 minutes. Slide 3 or 4 lumpia into the oil. Fry the rolls for 1 to 2 minutes, until all sides are golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately.

ADOBO (CHICKEN - Filipino version)

1 whole chicken (cut into eighths)
1 whole garlic (chopped)olive oil or vegetable/corn oil
1 tsp ground black pepper
4 whole black pepper cloves
3 dried bay leaves
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup vinegar**7up/sprite**

Heat oil and add all of the garlic, and cook until garlic is lightly browned. Add chicken and saute until the chicken is beginning to tenderize. Add ground black pepper, whole black pepper cloves, soy sauce, and vinegar, and let simmer for 25-35 mins or until chicken is done. Make sure to add more vinegar or soy sauce until it suits your taste (should be a bit tangy). When chicken is tender, add some 7 up if you want a sweeter taste, and let simmer for 5 more mins.
Serve over rice.

LECHE FLAN (Filipino version)

Caramel:
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup water

Custard:
12 egg yolks
1 can (13 oz.) evaporated
1 cancondensed sweetened milk
1 tbsp. vanilla

In a large bowl, combine all custard ingredients. Stir lightly when mixing to prevent bubbles or foam from forming. Strain slowly while pouring caramel lined flan mold. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cover mold with tin foil. Put molds into a bigger tray filled with water. Bake in oven for one hour or until mixture is firm. cool before unmolding on a platter.

Put sugar and water in a saucepan. Caramelize in medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour into flan molds or custard cups, tilting the mold to make sure the whole surface (about less than 1 cm) is covered. The more caramel you pour into the molds the sweeter the leche flan.
Put molds in a bigger tray/ baking pan filled with water. Bake in oven for one hour or until mixture is firm. Cool before unmolding on a platter.

L O V I N G - a heart talk

2007-04-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is my download time. This is going to be one candid talk and show you what my heart is like. I hope you'd share yours as well.

I can't claim to be an expert in relationships because I don't have a lot of experiences on it. But I think what I have experienced is enough to give out a few opinions about it... man, woman, man and woman, man and woman and relationship. Being poor, my growing up years were spent getting my education and helping out my "single parent" mother in taking care of our household and two younger brothers. There was not a lot of socializing until I went to college and even then I only had six close girlfriends that I ran around with throughout college. Yes, I did have some boys and some men that tried to be my special someone but I was just not into that and like I said, the lack of time diverted my attention away from relationship issues.

I was half way my junior year in college when my mother decided that it was time that I had a boyfriend and told me that she sent out my picture and bio-data to Cherry Blossoms, yep, the famous "mail-order-bride" company. Shortly after that I was getting all kinds of mails from all over the world. And after a short while, I was really getting tons and tons of letters, almost overwhelming. So my roommates at the dormitory helped me sort these men out. I can't even remember how and what. All I remember was we sure had a lot of laughter from it. I sure had many funny, frustrating, disgusting, overwhelming experiences from the men that had come to meet me in person.

One incident was when I was already a senior, in my calculus class, I was paged to come to the registrar's office. In there I met this towering German man who came to see me. Armed with my 6 chaperons (my girlfriends) to dinner we went. Across the dinner table he loudly proclaimed: "I have the money you want and you have the body I want." I wanted to disappear. When he requested to be alone with me was when he lost his chance on me, innocent me got spooked. I hid from him until he left the country.

Another incident, when I graduated college, I decided that I was old enough to go on a date without any chaperon, so bravely I met an Australian in Manila Bay, close to my college. We sat at the pier and talked and arranged a date for the following day. He took me to the bus stop and kissed me on the lips gently... I ran so fast and didn't look back. When I was sitting down in the bus and recollecting the incident, I felt so stupid... it was just a kiss!!! And that was the end of him because I hid the next day and the following days when he came to the dormitory, again, I was spooked.

It was about a handful of men that I "chose" to correspond with, only two that I was considering to get serious with. A man from San Diego, California was actually who I was more serious with, serious enough that plans of a wedding and children and life together were being discussed. Then we lost contact for 3 months. There came the man from Illinois, the second one that sounded nice enough and serious enough but no talk of any seriousness. But then he showed up and "impressed" me with his mild mannered, gentleman ways and talks of great promising togetherness, agreeing to every dream I had of what kind of family I wanted. Before the end of his three week visit, we became engaged. I let the man in San Diego knew about this and he begged me to undo the engagement but I am one of those even then that stand by my word and my word and promise I already gave, to the man from Illinois, my future husband.

It took less than 3 months to get my fiancee visa, back then it was much easier to use this kind of visa. So I married the man I thought would be my teacher and my partner for life. And on my honeymoon night I felt the feeling of doomed for the marriage. We had some big time argument. I cried and left him and sat on the beach all night crying my eyes out, wanting to go back home to the Philippines or fly back to my family in the Bay Area. He found me and we had a talk. Our marriage life from then on was a task which lasted 19 years. Separated twice and yet I was determined to make a go at it. Like I said, I stand by my decision and live through the consequences, attempting to make a better of it. Or at least make something positive out of a negative event. Two years of marriage when my only child was conceived and I was blamed for the pregnancy and made me feel bad for the first three months of the process. He finally figured out that I was going to keep the baby whether he was part of it or not. He understood and did his part as a provider and a good father later on. Our husband and wife side of the marriage was one sided. He was happy and content and I was falling into deep depression. Hatred towards him was starting to set in. I did not like that at all.

I was very scared because I was told in many occasion that I would not be able to support myself and much more with a child. Many threats of divorce, many nights of cries, many fights, many attempts to get him to see that there was a problem in the marriage, many letters outpouring my frustrations, my desires and my woes. Finally my visits to a psychologist to learn about me and about the marriage and to see the light and hope. And thank goodness for Zoloft, an antidepressant, I was able to crawl out of the pit of depression. But then althrough this, I had that itty bitty hope that I would wake up one morning and he would kiss me and hug me and say ... "alright, you are right, we are going to work on this marriage. I promise".

That itty bitty hope did not come into play until the day I was moving out, finally he realized that I somehow developed some guts to move onward. He was surprised that I was able to buy a house, arranged everything with the moving. By that time, I finished my degree in nursing and was starting to earn a decent money. And by this time, my healing process was going on as well.That was in 1997.

2000 I entered into an agreement with a great friend. It was an agreement that most people would probably say stupidity on my part but I did it anyway to save a great, honest man from sinking deeper in his quagmire because of series of bad lucks and unfortunate events. I only believed in him because I knew him all along (it was actually his ex-wife that I was more a friend with) and knew the truth. I figured that it was something I can do for someone that have been trying to be positive and trying so hard to make better of his life and yet kept being stomped on. I gave him two years but it went longer because we found out his metastatic cancer. He needed my health insurance coverage. Amazingly, he found a job because he did have a master's degree and prestigious positions and many accomplishments before his life turned upside down. So he was able to catch up with his obligations - 2 children and an evil ex-wife. His positivity I think was delaying the progress of his poor prognosis. Along came the abdominal aortic aneurysm. An elective surgery to correct it killed him because of an incompetent doctor, not the cancer. Imagine that, even at the end of his life he did not get a break in life.

The agreement we had, I had to break, because he fell in love with me. If only things with him were different... maybe!!! He always made me cry when he would call me his Angel... he would say it with genuine love, honesty and pure sincerity.

Then I met a man who I thought was IT!!! After many years without someone, I bravely did a "leap of faith" and handed him my heart in all its honesty and sincerity and openness and he disappointed me. I could not believe that there would be a person such as him. He lived in lies and deception. I was relieved that I discovered the truth about his real world...

A talk about education and learning...

2007-04-12T12:45:00.000-07:00

From the second we came out in this world, our learning process starts. From that time on, we continue to learn. I think that every second of our existence is devoted to learning, consciously or subconsciously. I figure, what we have learned from the past made us what we are today. I look at learning as two ways... the formal and informal or the scholastic and practical.

The formal way in the process of learning starts when we are about 4 years old, when we were introduced to the social gathering of children in a place called "school". That process of learning continues on until we decide to stop for some any 'ole reason.

I understand that education, college degree in this matter, can help you achieve a more secured future? But then there are many successful people in the world that don't have college education. So how important is it really? I remember my son talking to me shortly after graduating high school. He said, Mom why don't you just give me $10,000.00 as an investment and I will just be a professional poker player... To which I sternly answered... Son, why don't you finish college and we will talk then about giving you the ten thousand and be whatever you want. That was the first and last time I heard about that.

I have come across some scholastically educated people who are unable to use any common sense. And I know and I have met some intelligent people with minimal scholastic achievement. My mother is one. She can talk to anyone about world current events and about many books that she had read. The other one was my dear friend Elise, who came to America as one of those post-war French brides. With minimal education but great hard work and determination, she became a successful rancher. She was able to live very comfortably towards the end of her life. My baby brother is very successful in his chosen field with minimal college education.

I personally like going to school. That probably sounds strange to some people but it is the truth about me. I actually enjoy being in school. I don't mind being in that atmosphere. I came to the US with a college degree which I finish in 3 1/2 years. When I couldn't find any success in that college degree, I went back to school continuously until I finished another degree. But did I need all of that schooling? Probably not, but I didn't mind it. So is it fair to say that scholastic education is just a matter of preference? Or is it a matter of survival? Or a matter of success?

Does it even really matter?

All about B R A G G I N G!!!

2007-04-02T09:08:00.002-07:00

Alright, I have waited long enough to brag about my one and only, the love of my life, the only priceless treasure I have ... my son, C. He came unto the world 2 weeks later than expected. Although he was born 10.1 pounds and 23 1/2 inches, he was under close observation for a month for possible more complications from difficult delivery... medical negligence actually. Ten years of his life was an observation period with pending litigation if ever a health issue surfaced.

He was finally brought home after a month of stay in the hospital. Never had any medical problems ever since, thank goodness!!! He grew up a happy, healthy, full of energy, and intelligent child. Being the only second child on my side of the family, he received tremendous amount of love and attention. He did not have many toys because I did not believe in having them. What he did have were books. We spent many hours reading books and having adventures and using imagination through them. We were active members of our public library, letting him join in reading programs, and similar activities. He learned to read with 100% comprehension at age 3. From then on he continued to be advanced scholastically. Every year the school would recommend for him to be promoted to the higher grade but we decided to leave him be with his own age group. He might have been advanced scholastically but socially, we felt that he was just right and needed that part of growing up with children of his own age. Being an only child, school was his important source of social growth.

School years were hectic. He did all of those little boys' activities such as sports, school activities and advanced scholastic activities with awards and recognitions. His love for reading developed. And now that he is all grown up, he would occasionally tease me for giving him that curse... the love for reading... because he can not stop reading.

He, just like any other child was resilient. We parents sometimes misjudge our children's capacities to take in life changes. They are very capable beings in handling family life changes. C, is no exception. He was able to work around Mom's life changes. I went back to school while continued to work night shift so that I can be home during the day for him. He learned to adapt to that and grew up in that kind of environment without a lot of difficulties. He just continued to grow up and grew up he did in seemingly high-speed fashion.

Many times, I have made the comment about being content just to sit in the corner of the room and watch this child every second of everyday and not be bored at all. But reality dictated that it was not possible.

Teen-age years were typical. There was that stage of "know -it-all, smart-mouth, testing limits". But he learned pretty quickly that all those were not needed and not important so we moved along in our growth stages without a lot of difficulties. At age 13, he was made to sit down and made to listen to Mom's heart talk. I was amazed how he took it smartly and lovingly... the decision to live separately from his father. Again I say, we misjudge our children with their abilities to understand.

Then, Mom's awakening came... he was off to college. OH NO!!! I had the harder time with the separation than him I think. But then we both adjusted and accepted the fact. Just another stage of growing for all of us.

Now he is a college graduate with double majors. Always a good child and remain my source of joy. He is my ears and shoulders to cry on and I am likewise to him. He is adjusting to the world of adulthood with his first job, first apartment, first car (that he bought). I think he is doing a pretty good job on it. And in my book, he will always be the first...

Sleepless at times...

2007-03-28T12:01:00.000-07:00

I have been a night shift worker forever.I can tell you that I am a true blue night owl ... my day is most of the people's night and vice versa. I would be vacuuming or baking or doing laundry in the middle of the night when the rest of the family would be asleep. I used to think that I was functioning with only 2 hours of sleep. That was when I was, of course, younger. Thinking back, maybe I just had to make time for everything that was going on in my life. I went back to school and studying full time, raising a young son, managing a spic and span household, "pleasing" a husband and working full time. I guess maybe two hours of sleep was all I can afford and yet I was fine and had enough energy for all of my activities and even managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA. Later on when I went on for my ADN (RN degree) I had to talk to myself and made my self-expectations less than the previous years. Expectations such as: a little dust in the house is okay, take out meals once in a while is okay, B grades are okay, etc... That is another story.

After several years of minimal sleep and excessive physical demands, my body had to pay. I had a big time hormonal discrepancies ... my gynecologist called it "hormonal crisis". She blamed my night shift schedule for breaking my circadian rhythm. My hormones malfunctioned caused not only by sleep deprivation but also by stress and poor diet. That is another story I can go through later on. Anyways, now I require a lot more than two hours of sleep and that is my body's call, not my mental judgment. I am gifted in a way that I can do "power naps". I can program myself to sleep just like that and wake up feeling refreshed.

My issue still is that I sometimes have the difficulties getting the much needed sleep. Mentally, I rather do something else but sleep, but my aging body is fighting that thought thus I get into this chaotic sleep pattern. It is very seldom that I sleep through a long period of time ... 4-6 hours maximum is what I get. I am not into taking medicine but have tried the Tylenol PM. The problem is that I am overly sensitive to drugs ... Benadryl 25 mg will knock me out cold for 2 days. I don't feel safe with that, just because I am by myself, nobody to check me if I am still really asleep or has gone permanently bye-bye. In short nobody is here to listen if I am still snoring... hehehe!!!

S L E E P ... is the time for the physical and mental "recharging" of our bodies. The amazing thing though that I read was that our brain is as active in our sleep as when we are awake. No wonder I still have the mental fatigue when I wake up. AMAZING!!! And yet our bodies go through a general decrease in body temperature, blood pressure, breathing rate, and most other bodily functions.

Most experts say that we need at least 8 hours of sleep to go through the 2 cycles of non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep and REM sleep. Non-REM and REM sleep alternate in 90- to 110-minute cycles. A normal sleep pattern has 4-5 cycles. Think of it as going up and down the stairway or a roller coaster ... that is how the cycle goes.

So what is wrong with me??? Maybe as my gynecologist claimed ... my circadian rhythm was and is out of wack. C I R CA D I A N RHYTHM is also known as the biological clock. A cycle that lasts 24 hours is called circadian. Some physiological functions that are circadian include body temperature and certain hormone secretions. Humans have a natural cycle of approximately the length of one day. Small structures in the brain called suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) coordinate circadian rhythms. The SCN is very sensitive to the presence or absence of light. This may explain why daytime sleep has been found to be less restful than nighttime sleep.

Now I get it!!! Circadian rhythm is not night shift worker friendly. My sleep time is when there is abundance of light thus my SCN is not responding.

I always thought SLEEP is a waste of time but I should know better. Sleep enables the body and mind to rejuvenate, reenergize, and restore. As a person sleeps, it is thought that the brain performs vital housekeeping tasks, such as organizing long-term memory, integrating new information, and repairing and renewing tissue, nerve cells and other biochemicals. Sleep allows the body to rest and the mind to sort out past, present, and future activities and feelings.

Some suggestions for a "good night rest": To maintain a routine for bedtime and wake up time even on week-ends. Have a relaxing "unwinding" routines such as warm bath or warm shower, relaxing music, reading a relaxing book. Provide a sleep conducive environment as in making the room dark, cool or warm, quiet and comfortable. Have a comfortable mattress and pillow(s). Use the bed only for sleep and sex . And have a 2-3 hour gap between meal time and bed time, avoiding caffeine. And of course, exercise.

Two of my children ... four-legged that is!!!

2007-03-26T14:07:00.000-07:00

I have only one child, a wonderful son. I will probably share all kinds of stories about him later on but this time I am sharing you the stories of my other children... the four-legged ones.

The very first dog that entered in my only child's life was Button, a mutt. She was a combination of a Chihuaua and a poodle and she was just as cute as a button thus named so. We had her for a few years when one night on our way to the store, another four legged creature graced our lives.
My son and I were walking out towards my SUV when down the cul-de-sac was something coming towards us. It was a dog we gathered. So we decided to approach it but then it would run away from us when we were going towards it. But when we would turn our backs to go back to the vehicle, it would walk, almost running towards us. We played this game for a short while then I thought that maybe if I open the vehicle that it would maybe jump in there. And I was right!!! A long haired, smelly, panting doggy jumped right in the vehicle and flopped itself in my son's lap. We looked at each other in amazement. This doggy looked emaciated and so tired and probably so thankful at that moment that finally it found "a place". We went ahead to the store as planned but my son stayed behind in the vehicle with the very still doggy whose only moving body part was the tounge that was panting. When we got back home I carried it in and it basically surrendered itself to us seemingly not caring at what ever happen next as long as it was not out there on the street any longer. I took it straight to the bath tub because I noticed the sand in the vehicle and the trail on the carpet. The dog was covered with not only sand but fleas... from head to paws. I gave it the longest bath ever. When it was all dried and clean, we fed it some chicken and rice and it ate and ate and drunk and drunk. My son made it a bed in the corner of the living room and there it slept the entire night and half of the day after.

While it was asleep that night, we drove over to our public library and research the breed. And she was a Llasa Aphso. We decided to name her Zipper to sort of match Button. As the days go by, we learned how perfect this doggy is ... so unassuming, so calm, so loyal, so devoted, so trained, so loving, so patient and I can go on and on. We wondered how the owner can toss her out on the street. She didn't have any collar and she had some wounds on her that were signs of physical abuse. Shortly after she came into our lives, our Button was failing her health --- CANCER invaded her. It was so heart breaking. My son and I, you could say became selfish at the end of her life because we hung on to her even though she was suffering. Finally, my nurse's heart told me to let go and we did. My son and I cried the minute we came to the decision that she would be put to sleep and all the way down to the animal hospital then back home and many more days after that. Zipper sure had missed her.

On my birthday, I decided to go to the animal shelter and adopt another doggy. I fell in-love with a screwny looking doggy but so so cute --- a peach poodle, a boy. He was found on the street and had been in the pound for quite a while. My son was so happy to see him when I brought him home and he named him Puffy because his hair then or even now would get all puffed up when ungroomed. He is a total opposite of Zipper but loving in his own way as well. As calm, quiet, and patient as Zipper is, Puffy is exactly the wiry, hyper, loud doggy. In a way they compliment each other's personality. Zipper would give Puffy a growl when he gets a little too much of anything. Now, they are inseparable.

Zipper was already four years old when she adopted us and now she is at least 16 years old. Puffy was two years old when I adopted him and now he is 12 years of age. He became Zipper's eyes and ears as Zipper approaches old age. They are my shadows. They pretty much run the household and I became a mere tenant ... hehehe!!!

I take them in my morning walk and that is one big task only because they get all the attention of every walker we come across. We end up stopping many times to get their pats on the heads and whatever other cutesy words awarded to them. And they love all the attentions.

Now, as the human mother, I hate to even think that my doggies are getting to the end of their doggy lives. Both are pretty healthy and yet their ages are in the advanced stage soooo.

One thing I know, whatever happen, I am so thankful they came into my life. They are my companion now that my son is out of my household.

Sssssspring Season!!!

2007-03-25T15:13:00.000-07:00

S P R I N G is here, finally!!! My nose says so. I have been sneezing lately because of the increase presence of pollens around me. The ironic thing about me is that I am a gardener who loves to be out in the yard playing with dirt and what have you. I can spend all of my free time out there in the yard but then I am reminded of this chronic disease process that I have. Yes, it is not a serious one, only an annoying one at times. I have an Allergic Rhinitis - "hay fever" or "seasonal allergy". A gardener with the sneezing problem... how ironic!!! Sometimes when I am in "attack" of this, I sort of blurt out, "Why me? Why can't it be someone who does not like to garden?" But having allergic rhinitis/hay fever does not stop me from doing what I love to do so I learned to monitor the pollen count of the day, arm myself with Claritin D, make sure I have my Proventil inhaler, prescription nasal spray and prescription eye drops at hand in case I need them. I am in garden heaven during the full swing of spring when the blooms are in their grandiest display of beauty, armed with my protections...

According to the medical encyclopedia - Allergic rhinitis is a collection of symptoms, predominantly in the nose and eyes, caused by airborne particles of dust, dander, or plant pollens in people who are allergic to these substances. Allergies are caused by an over-sensitive immune response. The immune system normally protects the body against harmful substances such as bacteria and viruses. Allergy symptoms occurs when the immune system reacts to substances (allergens) that are generally harmless and in most people do not cause an immune response. When a person with allergies breathes in an allergen such as pollen or dust, antibodies are produced. When the antibodies are stimulated by pollen and dust, histamine and other chemicals are released. This causes itching, swelling, and mucus production. Symptoms vary from person to person. Very sensitive individuals can experience hives or other rashes. Hay fever involves an allergic reaction to pollen. A similar reaction occurs with allergy to mold, animal dander, dust, and similar inhaled allergens. Symptoms: Coughing, headache, itching nose, mouth, eyes, throat, skin, or any area, runny nose, sneezing, tearing eyes, sore throat and wheezing. Treatments: The goal of treatment is to reduce allergy symptoms caused by the inflammation of affected tissues. The best "treatment" is to avoid what causes your allergic symptoms in the first place. It may be impossible to completely avoid all allergens to which you are sensitive, but you can often take steps to reduce exposure. Medication options: Short-acting antihistamines; longer-acting antihistamines; nasal corticosteroid sprays; decongestants; eye drop versions of cromolyn sodium and antihistamines are available for itchy, bloodshot eyes; and leukotriene inhibitor.

Happy spring season!!! Accccchhhhhhhoooooo...