A CONCEPT TO PONDER UPON...

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!!!

Smelly good!!!

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???

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

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...

Free as a bird or two...

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

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!!

Has it been that long???

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...

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

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

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...

Friendship Award - bestowed by Nursy Fe

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...

My Desktop - "I am tagging NursyE"

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

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.

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

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

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!!!

How women easily forget!!!

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!!!

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!!!

Reckless abandonment...

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???

Interracial, a talk about its beauty

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

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!!!

Come and dream with me...

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!!!