Rubber shoes (A New Addition to the Team)

I've been looking for a photo file for a report I'm making when I came across the above picture. It sure did made me smile. I think it's cute. Before, there used to be just mine and Bolo's rubber shoes stumbling upon one another in a corner of our house. Now, we have this cute, little pair of shoes thrown in.

Having the lifestyle (before that is hehehe), Bolo and I have quite more than a few pairs. I own the most pairs -- 7 (TNF for hiking, 3 Hitec pairs (hiking, aqua, squash), Nike, NB All-Terrain, and a pair of pink Atmosphere for "anyday" use). There would have been an 8th pair -- a red and brown LA Gear sneaker-type (Which reminds me, I love that pair huhuhu It had been a constant companion. It was with me during my Bohol tour and it had been with me to the peak of Taal huhuhu) -- that I have given away to Bolo's sister.

If it had not been to Bolo's prodding I probably would have held onto that one hehehe But he did point out that I do not get to wear them much anyway. That -- and discovering a Nike pair with a busted heel due to a long time of being unused -- convinced me to part with it.

It's not so much that I love rubber shoes. Hehehe Ok, I do. I also admit that if I'd be less practical and give in to my whim, I'd probably be owning a lot more. For years I'd been eyeing a Lacoste pair, and a Clickers, and a new NB sneakers, hehehe But always, my sanity and practicality prevailed. I think the only thing that held me back in buying the Lacoste and the Clickers was the price. It was way, way too much. I mean, I wouldn't mind blowing away a good sum of money for a pair of hiking shoes (The TNF pair cost me an arm and a leg huhuhu). But for a pair of sneakers I would not be able to wear much anyway (I could hardly wear one to the office), I think it's only practical to let the "infatuation" die before it blooms further hehehe Especially now with Baby to think of.

Hmm... besides, I had the most pair only because some of them were given to me as gifts. The orange aqua Hitec was a gift of Bolo's. (It's a current favorite) Although I think he gave it to me only because it was my size and wouldn't fit him hehehe Just kidding, B. The white Squash Hitec (shown in the picture) was Ate's pasalubong to me when she arrived from UK last year. The pink Atmosphere and the Nike, likewise. So there.

Bolo could have had a few also if only he's not fond of giving his stuff away. He gave his Merrel to my brother and his other one to his father. Now, he's left with just one -- the Salomon pair shown in the picture above. Hmm... I know he's probably wanting to buy a new pair but we're a bit tight as of the moment. But I think with the summer climbing season just around the bend, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd cut away some corners just to buy a good pair soon.

But really, everytime I come across Baby’s rubber shoes – he has two cute Nike pairs, also gifts from Ate – I can’t help but smile. It’s like I could almost picture Baby becoming a part of that aspect of mine and Bolo’s life that spells R.U.N.S. and the outdoor life. Oh, I dream about that. I dream about him joining us one of these days. As it is, he is already a constant travel companion no matter how inconvenient it may be for us. But of course, we could hardly just leave him. And I take that back, Baby is never an inconvenience.

Bolo and I share the feeling that we are not complete if Baby is not with us. We both balk at the thought of going somewhere “fun” and not bringing along Baby with us. Besides it hardly is fun if he is not around. These days, Baby is a constant source of joy for both of us. Everyday he’s showing us his new learned “tricks” and we’re like ready to burst with too much happiness.

Lately there were possibilities of going to Kinabalu, even Kanlaon, but we're like holding ourselves back. Both trips are something we've always wanted to take but both trips are also something that Baby could not tag along with. So, for now, we're saying no on those kind of trips. No regrets though. There would always be time for that.

The above photo was taken while we were in Bantayan Island. Bolo must have found having our shoes aligned like that with Baby’s thrown in, really cute thus he took a snap shot of it. Well, it looks like there’s a new addition to the team alright :) It looks as if future "B" Team ’s engagements would include trudging along this tiny, little bundle of delight...

I’m sitting here and I’m thinking, I never knew I had dreamt of such a life. Oh, I remember thinking before how I’d love to have a family of my own but I could not remember ever dreaming about having a little one to share mine and a husband’s passion on things. Now that I’m living such a life, I feel as if I am living a dream I’ve always had in my heart. Baby’s making my life more complete than I could ever imagine. He’s a welcome addition to what Bolo and I have found in each other.

So, come on in, my little one. You’ve proven to be such a joy to your Tatay and I. Let both of us return the favor by showing you, making you, a part of what we love about life. Come and join us in our adventures :)

Nudged, Lovingly...

Bah! Talk about being slapped in the face. That is how I feel at the moment, having just opened my “Your Powerful Question for the Week” email. The question for this week reads – “If not now, when?”

It was a slap in the face alright. Since definitely I’ve been putting off doing some things that are really important. Sigh, lately, I’m really guilty of being… complacent? I’m not sure if that’s the word to describe it, but I sure am conducting life in an “unhurried” way lately… It’s as if I have no cares in the world.

No, I take that back, it’s not really true. The truth is, the only thing I’m guilty of is reordering my priorities. I’m spending more time with my family and for myself. Right now, I’m playing with Baby more, spending some time with Bolo more, resting more… These days, I’m normally glued to my computer, fixing my blog, posting, and browsing.

I think it’s funny considering I was never a “browsing” type of person really. Oh, I use the internet a lot, mind you. But mostly, it is for checking my mails, posting mails, and yes, for blogging too. The latter usually takes much of my time. But that’s it. I don’t even make a habit of checking my friendster hehehe. Yet lately, there I was just browsing. Before I knew it, a whole afternoon had gone by and I have not really accomplished a lot.

It’s even funny how Bolo caught on with it. Last night, I was surprised to see him browsing the net. I mean, before, he wouldn’t even touch the computer even just to browse for the files I needed. Now, he’s like “strolling” all over the whole wide world of the internet :) I think it’s cute though and I like the fact that he’s doing it on his own and that he’s not afraid of trying out new things at all.

Accomplished a lot. Hmm… I guess this is where the “conflict” arises really. It seems that “accomplishment” is always placed along-side doing something for work. How about if one does something for the family. Isn’t spending some time with your family can also be considered as an “accomplishment?” How come we never view it as such?

Ah… but still, I feel that I deserved the “slapping” I got from reading the question. There are some things I’m putting off doing. It’s high time that I face them now and finish them. In fact, I should hurry along accomplishing them so I could spend more time for myself and my family.

It just occurred to me -- we do indeed have a nurturing universe – one that never fails to check us, put us in our place whenever there is a need to. I certainly feel that I’ve just been checked, nudged to move on to the right direction. I am grateful that I am at a certain degree of “wakefulness” to have “caught” the message. I am grateful that I am aware enough to know that I am being checked. Because, it meant, I would have to respond accordingly.

Thank you, Father God, for caring enough to correct me whenever I needed to be corrected. I certainly felt treasured and loved. It meant You are really faithful in continuing Your work with me. Certainly, I still am very much a work in progress. I pray You’ll never tire with me despite my being stubborn at times...

Hmm… I wish I could also be such a parent to Baby, that I will never tire in making sure he’s growing up, moving towards his own becoming the right way…

Crazy Over K Stories (Searching for Full House)

Credits to: astralyz who posted this over at youTube.

For some time now, I’ve been having an affair with Korean Telenovelas. No, I’m not so crazy about it enough to want to have a copy of everything there is in the market. My preferences lean towards the funny ones – comedy-romance.

I remember watching a very poor VCD copy of “Sassy Girl” (the movie not the telenovela) in 2005 and I guess it made quite an impression on me. It was a very poor copy alright where some scenes would just freeze and refuse to budge for some time but I stuck with it till the end. It was that good. And that started it for me, I guess.

I was on my maternity leave when I stumbled upon, “First Love of a Royal Prince.” It starred the male lead of the Sassy Movie so I got stuck with it. It became an afternoon habit. I got so hung up on it that I even took to bringing with me a cousin’s palm-size TV to the office by the time I got back to work at the end of my leave. It was already on its last two weeks episodes then and it was quite a shame to pass it all up. I ended up peering at it during my afternoon coffee breaks.

I bought my first DVD only August of last year – “My Girl.” It was not even for me. Bolo was so crazy about the series that I bought him a copy when I chanced upon it one time. It was a mistake.

There are about 16 episodes in one DVD which is the entire series already. They would run that whole thing as a TV soap, for what, two months? Mondays thru Fridays? Imagine wanting to compress that 2 months worth of airing time in one sitting because the story line is developing so well you would be loathe not to continue watching it? Bah, it was virtually impossible. I would not accomplish anything every weekend as I would just be sitting there glued to the TV, catching up on where I left off.

After “My Girl,” I bought “Kim Sam Soon” last October. I went through the cycle all-over again – really late nights and unproductive weekends. I remember telling a friend I don’t know what it is about the stories that appealed to me so much. It’s like falling in love really hehehe There is something about the significant other that you like so much but could not quite put a finger to. The same applies for the KTs I bought. I guess it was how these stories are presented – quite simply.

Compared to our telenovelas, KTs have less complicated plots. I mean they don’t start out with a mother losing a baby at birth and thus the husband or some close kin would have to resort to some baby-switching to amend the situation. I swear, “baby-switching” has like become a formula already in making telenovelas in this country. If it is not the main plot, then it is a sub-plot.

KTs, on the other hand, are simpler. They also present situations for their characters realistically. And, to top it all, they are light to watch unlike ours wherein you would normally see the main character crying all the time. No censure here though.

By November I bought “Lovestory in Harvard.” It was also good but I still liked “Kim” better. Then I chanced upon “Full House.” It was like watching “Kim” all over again. I really enjoyed it. So imagine watching that and you are well on your 9th episode already when halfway-through the tape would suddenly take you all the way back to the first episode. Yeah it sure sucked.

For a month I was like suffering from withdrawal symptoms hahaha I can’t stop thinking about the series and wondering what comes after episode 9 hehehe And so for a month I searched and searched everywhere but still could not find a copy. I even asked around if there is a way I could order a copy. I was that crazy about it.

Last December 28th Bolo and I went to the market to buy some fruits in advance. We knew the prices of which will skyrocket in the following days. Anyways, in view of my obsession, I told Bolo I will be dropping by a nearby store that sells DVDs. He accompanied me anyway. I knew it was a waste of time but I wanted to take my chances.

I was right, of all the stalls there, not a single one had a copy of Full House. To ease my disappointment, I settled to buy another one of Kim Rae Won’s – “Which Star Are You From?” The title sounded cheesy I know hehehe But hey, Rae Won is the lead star and I’ve seen him before and liked him so…

But guess what? When we reached home, Bolo told me he had a gift for me for New Year and that I’ll get it on the eve of the 31st. My response was instantaneous – I shrieked in excitement hehehe

I know Bolo well. He’s not one who’s good at surprises. He could never contain himself. More often, he would be too pleased with himself and too happy for the person he wanted to surprise that he could hardly wait for the perfect timing. So I immediately knew he was able to buy a copy of Full House hehehe And I was so right too! :)

The above clip, I chanced upon YouTube while browsing this afternoon. I couldn’t believe I wasted an entire afternoon chasing one OST to the next hehehe I sure had fun though. This particular clip is from Kim Sam Soon and one of my favorites scenes. This, by the way, is also a favorite song of mine.

Saying Goodbye

Hmm... another one of the group is leaving town. First it was Suzette. Then it was Joanne. Now, it's Bambie. I guess that's how life really is. People come and go in your life and everything changes. But while the leaving is causing a bit of sadness, it is also a cause of joy -- knowing that the friends you hold dear are moving on towards their dreams.

Godspeed Bam, may you finally reach your goals and find the happiness that you truly deserve. May you find someone who would celebrate more monthsaries with you until you would have to celebrate anniversaries as you grow old together. You're such a generous, kind person. I know God will return the favor a hundred fold :)

Though you will be sorely missed, we let you go with good wishes in our hearts. Just hurry up in fulfilling your dreams and come home join us in one of our trips again. Come back perhaps... two years from now... and let's explore Boracay together. Or maybe Sagada and Banawe this time... Even Ilocos or down south in Zamboanga. Wherever...

Let us all pursue our personal adventures individually and come again together to have an exchange of all of our stories. I could hardly wait for such a day :) God bless, friend. Bolo and I are wishing you all the best :) Thank you for the memories and for all the fun we've shared. Let's share some more adventures someday :)



"Adventuress" Bambie -- TNF model hehehe

The Lesson of Nang Ruth

I remember being such a mushy child. Well, I guess I have always really been emotional. I remember some moments in my childhood (actually even in my early adulthood -- which practically means...err... now?), when I would see some news about certain poor families undergoing certain misfortune and I would grow emotional about the whole thing. I would then begin to ask why God did not just create everyone equal. Or at least made some lives more comfortable than they are.

But as I grew (both physically and in my thinking), I began to understand more fully that each one of us really has a role to fulfill. I began to sense that whatever circumstance surrounding each of our existence are necessary "ingredients" to whatever it is that we stood to represent in this tapestry called life. Slowly it dawned on me that each of us have a "message" or a "statement" to deliver in this world and that such a statement is made complete by everything or by the circumstances that surrounds our entire being.

In the process my questions also changed. I no longer question God's wisdom. For if there is something I learned early on, it's that God's wisdom is unquestionable. My questions then leaned towards -- "What is this 'seemingly-despicable-person' at the moment in my life trying to tell me?" "What is the message/ lesson am I not getting here?" "Why did learning about this person's misfortune affect me so?" "Is it because it is hitting on an issue I have about myself?"

Slowly, I found myself valuing persons in my life for what they really are, for what they represent. It is always a challenge and even a struggle but I try to look past a person who hurts me so into the underlying truth the whole situation is telling me about myself. Oh, there had been times when I have been the target of some ridicule or another, of some malicious intrigues. Instead of reacting, hurling the insults (often lies) back at the persons perpetrating them, I always step back, and see where they are really coming from.

I mean sure, I'm only human and I certainly get hurt in the process and thus the need to retaliate or at least to defend myself. And yet, I see the value of putting everything in the right perspective than in wallowing in the pain I was feeling. It is a Herculean task, mind you. But I know it is also the only way I could really grow as a person. I couldn't afford to be petty. I'd be losing the lesson I ought to be learning from the situation if I give in to my need to be petty. And the lesson I think is more valuable than anything else, including pride. Because, being petty really is just an attempt to salvage one's pride. And where is the value in that?

Ah, but I am digressing here. I intended to write about how persons in our lives always come at the right time to teach us a lesson or two. And I had intended to write about one particular person -- Manang Ruth -- who had taught me a valuable lesson about... well... success... about earning it.

Manang Ruth is some old friend of the family. If I get my stories straight from what I learned from Mama, Manang Ruth and her family used to help Mama Fely when she was in her lowest moments. That would make it some time around the late 60's.

Now, Manang Ruth is this bent lady who may just be around 50 years old but look way, way much older, in shabby clothes who would appear out of a blue on our doorstep on certain afternoons. And everytime she shows up, we readily knew that she needed something from us. There were moments when we would feel a bit irritated everytime she showed up. Especially around the time when we are also "temporarily-out-of-cash" because, it meant we would have to share the little we have left with her.

Truthfully though, Manang Ruth evoke on us more a feeling of gratitude than anything else. Gratitude that we are at the giving end than at her end. For sure, it must have taken all of her energy to come and to ask for help, short of begging for it. I know, she herself doesn't want to be in such a situation. So who are we to feel irritated or to look down on her? Besides, it's not as if we give her several hundreds everytime. We, ourselves could only afford so much.

Her greeting would usually be to ask if we have coffee and if she can have coffee. Often times she would offer to wash the dishes for us or to give us some body massage (which she is very good at, by the way). And then she would ask if we could spare her some change for her fare back home, which is not much really. Sometimes, her need would be more than just fare money and that would amount to a bit more.

I don't know what is it with her but even if we have very little cash, we will still extend our help and give her the little we have left. Often times we see her not taking the tricycle ride (to save the five peso fare) even if we will give her enough money to cover it. She would walk all the way to the kanto which is quite a walk really.

Manang Ruth has a flair for words. She's so quick at stringing words, coming up with poems (in English! mind you!) that there are times one would be amazed at her wit. Her shabby appearance however curtail whatever admiration that should be due her. So, because of how she looked, she is often perceived as someone not quite right in the head everytime she would launch into one of her poems or declamation piece. Well, she does indeed look funny but if one would really listen more closely, her diction is actually correct, making one guess that there is more to this person than just her shabby appearance.

It was on December 24 that I learned about her story. She came just when I was about to tackle pile upon pile of pots and utensils that Bolo and I used for our pasta project. When she offered to help me clean up, I was more than glad to accept.

She again went about her usual dialog about not having anything for Christmas, and about needing money, etc. She cited another story for what she needed the money for but I wasn't really listening. I have just gotten so used to it already.

We were talking about breastfeeding when the conversation turned towards her attempt at continuing her college education despite being a mother and nursing a few month old baby. She told me her husband knew of her potentials and thus was adamant about sending her to school after they got married. She told me they met when she was fresh out of high school. She told me she just graduated from Assumption then.

Assumption huh?! That certainly got my attention. She then related to me how she competed in regional spelling bees, in quiz bees and won. Somehow I had a hard time connecting the shabbily-dressed woman, helping me with the dishes, to the person she was telling me about. She then said that if any of her classmates would see her now, for sure they would not believe that she had come to the state that she is now.

Manang Ruth had already gone -- a hundred peso richer and bringing with her some of the food we had at home then -- but our conversation was still very much on my mind. I find it hard to reconcile her current state to that of her "glorious" past. I grew sad actually, sad to have known that for someone who have started out with so much potential, she only ended up in such a sorry state... I mean, certainly, anyone would ask what have gone wrong?

Right then and there I grasped the lesson Manang Ruth had given me. Sometimes, it's so easy to grow slack and so sure of one's self when you are right smack in the middle of a comfortable life. More often than not, it's so easy to think that life would go on as smoothly as it should and thus affording ourselves some excuse to be lax and "untrying." That is why it is easy to shrug away a mistake or the urgency to commit to one's becoming, to developing one's self on the excuse that there is always tomorrow to do that. But what if tomorrow never comes? What if by tomorrow you are not as young as you are? What if by tomorrow the opportunities that you are enjoying now would no longer be around? What if tomorrow comes too late?

Oh, I'm not saying that one should panic and overwork oneself to the bone. I'm not saying that at all. All I'm saying is that no one really knows what tomorrow could bring. Everything that may come so easy to us now may not come as easy a few years down the road. One of the things that Nang Ruth's life had taught me is that success could not be had even if you have an IQ equal to that of Einstein. (I read somewhere his IQ was not remarkably high and above the average, true? so citing Einstein here is not necessarily a good idea, huh? Hehehe Couldn't think of another genius though. Bill Gates? Is he a genius? Ah, but I think I've made my point somewhat hehe)

I learned -- Success is something you work at everyday, with everything you have. And I'm not saying success here is just equal to amassing wealth and attaining financial independence. It is success in every way -- in becoming the best that you can be, in fulfilling your dreams, your goal, no matter how minute it might be compared to other's humongous ambitions...

Oh, I too dream about being successful. I dream about having a comfortable life, being able to send my son to a good school, being able to travel, having a quiet life and enjoying life's little pleasures with my family. I dream about reaching my fullest potential, being the best that I can be, finding myself, being able to make a difference...

I'm asking myself, what am I doing now to achieve just that? Am I doing something at all? Or do I take life as it comes? Trudge through everyday in an aimless manner? God help me. I certainly am praying for focus...

Post-Entry: Baby's First Hair Cut

Dec. 19, 2006
In Some Obscure Barber Shop

Since a lot of people seem to point it out to us, we had intended to have Baby undergo a hair cut. Others say it will make his hair a lot thicker than it is. Well, I must admit Baby's hair is a bit... well... weird. In some parts, it is really long. For the most part, however, there is hardly anything there. So it was suggested to us to have his head shaved so that it would grow more evenly after. So off we did.

I was due for a pedicure anyway so off we went to the parlor. We had intended to have Baby's hair cut there but they would not do it out of fear of hurting Baby. We have probably consulted 5 parlors that day but no one would take him in. They all suggested that we go to a barber's instead. And they were right, we were not refused.

It was a bit weird looking at Baby when he finally had his head shaved. He appeared "matured" to me, but still cute nonetheless hehehe Spoken like a real Mom, huh? Mama said she liked it and that it suits Baby more. I guess she's right huh?

Baby Turned One Year Old!

November 18, 2006
Dencio's Restaurant
Theme: Cowboy and Indians

This is long overdue. But I'm glad I'm able to post this now. Yup, Baby turned a year old already. We've been like waiting for it for the longest time that it was such a joyous occasion when it finally happened.

The preparation was a blur altogether but I think it was as equally fun and memorable as the actual day itself. I was on a trip two weeks before Baby's birthday. We were in Cebu. By the time I got back, I already started on my new work. Very early on, I was already entrusted with the responsibility of conducting a training and I only have a week to prepare for it. So much as I want to concentrate on planning Baby's first birthday party, I hardly had the time to do so. It was very much on my mind though while I was preparing for the training and doing multitude of tasks.

When I got back from Cebu, Candy and Dane was kind enough to accompany me to the "right" places -- where party goodies can be bought. We went to several shops and practically sniffed every shop in Chinatown. Both being experts on holding birthday parties (in Dane's case, coordinating whatever party there is), they showed me where I could buy cheap but really nice toys and goodies for the pabitin, for prizes and for giveaways. They coached as to what goes into holding a children's party and what are the things to be considered. They also helped me check out some possible venues. It reminded me so much of our moments when I was still preparing for my wedding. (Thank you guys =) Truly, appreciated it.)

But it wasn't until two days before the party that Bolo and I did some serious shopping for the party. That was when we bought the toys, searched for some of Baby's still needed accessories for his costume. The theme was "cowboy and indians" and we are still lacking the cowboy hat, boots and err... holster :( But really, God is good since when we were out buying the stuff we needed, he came across a friend of his who readily lent him the hat and the Timberland boots that his son outgrew. Nice huh?

Even upto the last minute, Bolo and I were still busy preparing for the pabitin and the pinata.
It was something we enjoyed doing though :) Thankfully the party went on smoothly... errr... there were some glitches like we had to help the staff at the venue fix up the room since they were not yet prepared when we got there. Below are some of the pictures of the party.