Thursday, September 27, 2007

A Bit of Success

Today is parents conference day and I am contemplating on how to spend the three hours in-between. I tried this laptop so many times before but all I got was a warning in flashing RED saying that my request is not on the approved list of the district. So for the last two weeks I was just using this to take attendance. But I didn't want to give up just yet, This morning, I had extra time. After all I had written the agenda on the board, prepared the ingredients on the demo table and handed in my grades, so I started tinkering with the buttons I was rather unfamiliar with. You see, this is a Mac and I've only worked with a PC, when lo and behold I got through to my blog page! I got excited so I signed in. Got through again with no hitch. Went back to the sign-in page, added the site to the Bookmarks, then I thought of re-starting this ever cooperative machine. I hope no one saw me when I was able to sign in to this site again. My blood pressure would have shot up cuz I was hot all over. It felt like Eureka for me. Then the bell rang. Another tiny bit of success.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Rest in Peace, Dory

I received the news from our friend, Gloria. Apparently, our friend Dory attended mass last Sunday morning, passed by a market for some tomatoes and was walking to her house. Very typical of her. Everytime Gloria offered her a ride home, she would refuse. She always preferred to walk under the blistering sun even when her place is about three miles away from Glo's. The only time she would accept such an offer was when it was too late at night or if it was raining very hard for her umbrella. I can picture her that Sunday morning. She was walking briskly in her finest Sunday dress, either with a beribboned hat, or an umbrella, a plastic bag with tomatoes in one hand and a purse wrapped around her shoulder, and her pair of sandals clickety clacking silently on the cement. And, I will be surprised if she was not fanning herself, yes, even with her hands full! If it was windy, her silvery hair would be dancing with the wind and her cheeks would be bloody red for it was rather sunny and warm that morning. And, mind you she still has those cherubic complexion that many wish they had. But, Gloria's call was of a different picture. Dory was in the hospital. She suffered a massive stroke on the left side of her brain. She passed out on the pavement and fortunately, someone saw her. They found a number on her to a brother in Florida, who called another brother who is in San Francisco, who eventually called Gloria. I visited her on Monday afternoon and yesterday at 6:30 in the evening, she decided to go. Gloria and I have so many beautiful moments with her. She will be very hard to forget. May you rest in peace with the angels, our friend!!!

Friday, September 21, 2007

Yvonne's Writers Cafe

Yvonne of Grow Your Writing Business opened up a Writers Cafe where bloggers can meet and chat (you can talk about anything under the sun) with other bloggers and writers while enjoying her offerings of goodies. Request for anything that you desire for a relaxing weekend and she'll be glad to have it ready for you. You can even pick some on your way out. Last week I had muffins and coffee and, oh my, I tell you, you'll be praying for the next weekend to come sooner than the following day, not only for the sweet delights but for the exchange of ideas from other intelligent bloggers like her! Hmmm, wait a minute. Is that something with cinnamon-cardamom combination teasingly wafting in the air? I wonder what she's serving now. Come on, join the fun at Yvonne's weekend writers Cafe. And better hurry before it's too late. Those trays of goodies won't last!!! Have a great weekend, everyone.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

We were happy.....

Everything went well with the Breakfast Burritos. I was totally surprised by the effort they put into plating their finished product! Quite a change and improvement, I might say. My only regret was I didn't bring my camera to remind me of how happy we all were. Today the Culinary Arts Club started preparing for tomorrow's Food Faire while my classes were busy practicing their knife techniques - well, actually they were just pretending to be cutting/slicing something on the cutting board. The emphasis was on how to handle and grip the knife properly. (Tomorrow, they will cut real frutis and vegetables). And again, they impressed me with their performance. I believe there is that good sign of what the semester is going to be.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

My wish .........

WOW, didn't notice it's almost a week since my last post. I've been busy catching up on my reading and blog-hopping, I guess. The week went so fast, too. Been busy putting together my lessons for this semester, preparing for the Back to School Night last Thursday and planning on what to buy for their first cooking experience - a Breakfast Burrito - to test if they can apply what they learned in Safety in the Kitchen and also so I won't hear the question "When are we going to cook, Ms.?" ever again! I wish they understand (or, at least try to understand) the message of the course outline and syllabus - that it will be concerning and about food, tasting food, and not necessarily about eating (the food)! Well, I still can wish, can't I?

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Having Problems? Read on..............

Hazel, my nephew Kirby's special friend, sent me this thru the e-mail and I thought I should share it: 5 Reasons GOD Permits Problems The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you—it makes you better or bitter depending on how YOU respond to them. Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring. It is a choice (free will). Here are five reasons God May have Permitted the problems you experience in your life: 1. God permits problems to DIRECT you. Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God allowing this situation to get your attention? "Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways" Proverbs 20:30 2. God permits problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags ... if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God tested your faith by allowing a problem or two into your life? What do problems reveal about you? "When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience." James 1:2-3 3. God uses problems to CORRECT you. Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something...health, money, a relationship...by losing it. "It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws." Psalms 119:71-72 4. God permits problems to PROTECT you. A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem-but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good"... Genesis 50:20 5. God permits problems to PERFECT you. Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. "We can rejoice when we run into problems...they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady." Romans 5:3-4 God is at work in your life-even when you do not recognize it or understand it. But it's much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him..

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Apple Moment

Jacob and Joshua having an apple moment this morning as Ed and I babysat them while Dad went to play golf and Mom went to work.

Like Father Like Son

A priceless picture of Jet and Matthew. Mattie (his dad's nickname for him) just turned 7 1/2 months old when this was taken.

Monday, September 03, 2007

We're grateful!

Our vacation would have been ordinary if not for you, folks! * Dindo, Ate Baby's youngest son. He designated himself as our offficial driver during our whole stay in the Philippines inspite of the fact that he has to supervise everyday the building of houses he designed and work with Keats on the finishes of even more construction projects. We can not thank you enough because we wouldn't see the places we went to without your expert driving, even with your cell phone ringing no end! Driving and texting at the same time? And not a scratch on the car after 6 whole weeks? WOWWW! * Neil, Dindo's eldest brother, and his wife Jona, leaving Ken's room at our disposal and the unlimited use of their Pajero. In that weather and with Dindo's itinerary for us, your generosity, is worth even more than a million! Thank you, too, for those wonderful dinners at Leslie's (Alabang), Sonya's in Cavite and the Santa Rosa Blue Grill. * Mark, for those luscious, sweet, golden, juicy Japanese corns freshly harvested from your farm. I gained 10 pounds yata ah. * LenLen, Dindo's "sweetheart", and Gabe's mom - for making me feel like a Princess for six whole weeks! - you know what I mean. * Marivic, for your delicious ginisang bagoong, bags and wraps. I won't forget our "trip" to the market that one morning. Konting practice na lang, talo mo na akong mag-drive. * Nikko, Dindo's third older brother, for being our other designated driver. Boy, am I glad you don't text as much! * Tammi and Greg - that full body massage was truly a treat for Ed and me. That being my first added more to the fun, tickles and all!!! * Nor, for finding time to keep me company even when I know your hands are busy and full. BTW, the hairdo lasted me another day! Or two, counting the dateline leap. And those no-pins rollers, fantastic! * Apollo, for the exciting boat ride while shooting the rapids in Pagsanjan and a dining experience on a raft at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan. * August, for a tour of Nasugbu and another dining experience at Kainan sa Dalampasigan. * Fe, for a cultural experience at Villa Escudero. Masarap palang kumain na nakalubog ang mga paa sa ilog. * Jules and Rachel - for a sumptuous dinner that put Jules' culinary expertise in the kitchen on a center stage. I can still taste those tender, juicy ribs! BTW, loved your cozy nest. * Dida, for being around so we could feel again how it was before. Your anaks just don't know what they missed! * Tet - for the "research" work and for the bonding we had. * Tia Paring - for assuring me that when you worry less you live longer. She's already 93 years old and still looking and feeling great! * Keats and Ves - for making me love coffee even more * Baby, Cora, Jim, Gie and Vir - for your friendship and for filling Ed and me with childlike excitement as we travelled to our moments of yesteryears. *JayVee - for your philosophies in life and for being their Kuya and last but not least: * Ate Baby and Kuya Edes - for everything!!!

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Sweet Little Angels

These little angels made our vacation young and memorable!!! Meet them: Meet Marcus, (4) my cousin Fe's first grandchild. His Batangas accent will put any Southerner smiling. He is a very smart, caring little boy. He never wanted me to leave his sight all the time we were in Villa Escudero and cried when I didn't ride with them on the way home. He's quite a story-teller, too, especially about his toys that his Mommy GemGem sends him.
Sofia, (8 mos.) at her Papu's arms is the youngest angel of all. She just woke up in this picture but still "gracious" to pose with grandma Tammi.
Meet, TamTam - (7) Ate Baby's first and only granddaughter. She created a welcome gift for us and shyly gave me another go-away gift so we will always remember her and Gabe.
Jaz, (7) right, with his brother Ken, is the techie of them all. He can work on his gameboy, ipod, etc. and still talk to me at the same time. If Tam has a problem with a game, he's always ready to guide her through. On our first night, he made sure we didn't forget that we could spend the night with him, his Kuya and his mom and dad. BTW, he even gave me some tips on how to go-cart race.
Tisha, (7), Tammi's first granchild, is quite a songbird. How she belts those high notes without breathing still amazes me whenever I think about her. How I wish I had more time to bond with her.
This is Gabe, (8) nickname for Gabriel. He never missed greeting me each morning with a big smile that emphasized his two dimples on each cheek. Yeah, I counted them and he has four! He loves collecting matchbox cars and duplicating each model with his Lego cubes. He is also Tam's "guardian". When Tam talks loud, he would remind her to keep quiet or when she would sit with her legs apart, he would coach her to sit properly like a girl should. If Tam wanted to play with him and it was his study time, he would tell her to go home and study more.
DeeDee, Keats and Ves' little darling, is the big sister to them all. The little ones look up to her for solutions to their own tiny problems.
And of course, Yohan, Rachel's own little angel. He is everything the way Rachel describes him - loving, active, smart, sweet.
Absent from the pictorial is Sam. (I'm still looking for his pic). He promised to write me so I won't forget that he likes matchbox racing cars for Christmas.
These little angels kept me young because they saw to it that I played with them, read with or to them, danced and sang when they did and still "eagerly" coached me if I was not doing anything right. And they all echoed each other's wish that we can stay even longer!!!
This is Tam's welcome bookmarker for us.Still going to take a pic of your going-away present, Tam.