A Gift

A friend e-mailed this to me today, obviously, from someone who e-mailed to him, too. Makes me smile at the humor behind the truths.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.
I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.
I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set . They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.
Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

What's in your Horoscope?

Rachel of My Soulful Thoughts tagged me with this very simple instruction:
All you have to do is visit this LINK. Choose your Zodiac Sign and copy/paste what the stars have to say on your blog then highlight all the predictions that you like or you can relate to. It's that easy. Start the year with good vibes.
I think I like what my sign is predicting for me this year except that I can't think of any career change at this point. Also, why can't all the good signs last till the end of the year?

Aquarius Horoscope 2008

Aquarius horoscope 2008 brings forth the positive changes in the career field for Aquarians. New avenues and opportunities would grow in the year ahead that would also bring much success. Travel is on the cards for Aquarius people according to the horoscope. The year 2008 would surely give you many travel stories to add to your travel journal. The professional front can witness a positive change for the people born under Aquarius zodiac sign. The stars talk of either a complete change of career course or even the job. The Aquarius horoscope 2008 calls for expansion in the career field till November 2008. However the lack of flexibility can result in some losses in business. Apart from these minor losses, the year 2008 talks of only financial gains.

Had fun doing this meme, Rachel so I will let the circle going by tagging: Chona and Nina.

Wordless Wednesday #4

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Senior Matters

Are you ready to get old? What a silly question, right? But, are you? And if you already are one who others may count as "old" are you happy?
Just what does it mean to be old? For me, old means having existed on earth longer than others but still being able to do what one wants to do; or, one who has seniority over others. I may be old and retired, from work, that is, but if I can still pursue things that I dreamt of doing when I was much younger, then I still consider myself young.
When I retire I want to be able to find a place where I can exist among my peers so I will have that sense of belonging. Well, if we are of the same generation we can easily relate to the events of our time, can't we?
I would like to be able to find a place where I will feel safe and cared for as I continue my independence; a place where I can engage my mind with challenging thoughts as I discuss issues with people around me and beyond, say, the blogosphere; a place where I can grow with technology. My brain may be slow but it can still help me absorb matters to learn.
I want to be in a place where there are knowledgeable persons or professionals I can ask questions about my health care needs or health care needs of any one in my family, for that matter; a place where I can invite and still be in touch, or laugh and play with my loved ones. If and when I need one such place, care homes like these will be great to be OLD in.

Rain, Rain, Go Away.........

It was just a threat an hour ago. Now it's pouring real hard outside. We were supposed to pull down the Christmas lights, now that will have to be postponed. I like rain. Otherwise plants won't grow. But I don't like it visiting during the daytime. It makes me feel melancholy. I don't like looking at a grey sky nor at the darkness outside like right now. (But I must admit I love listening to the rhythm of the raindrops on the roof). I don't like closing my windows and doors either. I much prefer the sun engulfing me in its brightness; or looking at the stars on a moonlit night.
But I don't think this storm will go away any sooner.

Jacob With His Logic

Jacob and I spent a few hours together yesterday afternoon. As expected, he requested that I turn on the TV to his favorite cartoon station. While I was warming up some spaghetti for him he called and told me something. At first I thought he said "first rated" so I told him to repeat.
"You know, Grannie, I am frustrated!"
Wow, that's a big word, I thought to myself, and it was the first time I heard it from him. So I asked him,
"Why? Why are you frustrated?"
"I am frustrated because I can't make my car roll."
All that I could say was "Oh!"
Then he added: "I better take a deep breath and think!" as he pointed to his temple.
He went back to watching while I went back to the spaghetti. After a few minutes, I asked him how he was and this was the rest of our Grannie to grandson heart to heart conversation:
"I am bored, Grannie."
"Why?" I asked.
"You know, boring means you are tired and I am tired so I am bored."
Now I ask you - can you dispute that logic?

Custom Made from VisionBedding.com

Do you want to cuddle up with your beloved someone for as long as you want? And I mean really cuddle up? Well you can, and I assure you can cuddle all through the night and even extend it through the day under the warmth of a custom made vision bedding blanket from visionbedding.com. If you are just like me then you have hundreds and hundreds of pictures of your sons, daughters, grandchildren, even of nephews, nieces, and friends, accumulating in your albums or shoe boxes. Did I forget your pets? You can put together pictures that hold those memorable moments in your life and create a template that you can customize to fit and get printed into a blanket, a throw, or a sham, a pillow or pet bed. You can even add your own messages and color combinations to come up with that perfect photo bedding. And the prices are affordable. For a truly unique personalized item that you can have for your own or, if you prefer, give as a gift to someone you care for, this is a winner!
The weather man just made a forecast that there is a 50% chance of rain these coming two days. It may even extend up to three. That means cool days and nights. I want to gear up for the weather. It will be doubly warm if I could get under a custom bedding, like a blanket or pillow (see picture) , won't you agree?

Patience and more patience

It really pays to be patient, or so I thought. I wanted some of my paragraphs to be indented but I never could, so I called on Kirby for help. We tried all possibilities but nothing was happening. Until I remember seeing Lester using an HTML book when he was still in school. Kirby and I started leafing thru the pages and we almost danced with joy when we found the solution. But we're confronted with a new problem now: the font changes with the indentation! But the year won't be over soon. We still have time to figure it out before the next New Year!

Anything Chocolatey, count me in!

Chocolate Ugly Cake Mix? I really don't care how ugly it is as long as it is chocolatey!!! I was bloghopping when I chanced upon barefootmomlady's blog. She's launching a new site and with it she's giving one lucky blogger a chance to win a basket of goodies that include a gift box of mixes that include an ugly chocolate (this makes me smile), a beer bread, and a wild rice soup, from Tastefully Simple.
Will 2008 be a lucky year for me and make me win that gift box of yummies?

Wordless Wednesday #3

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The Year That Was 2007

The year that was 2007!
2007 will be gone in a few hours. And it will never come back. Only in memories!
It had been a rich year for me and my family. As the last New Year was greeting us, so was Matthew David, Jet and Sarah's first born and our third grandchild.
*In 2007, Jacob learned his first soccer kick and Joshua uttered his first syllable.
*In June, Kirby came back from Stockton making me feel more comfortable hitting any button on my computer.
*But the highlight of the year was a 6-week vacation in the land of my youth where I briefly relived past years with my classmates, relatives and friends.
* Another happy memory from the year 2007 was the happiness and contentment that my children and their families brought Ed and me. (Well, they never fail to do it every year, anyway!)
*In the year 2007 I was given the opportunity to reach into the hearts of several youths so that they may learn how to take care of their minds and bodies through the right food and proper nutrition. I was also able to pull them out of their holes so they may see and taste the flavors that abound around the world.
*The year 2007 also introduced me to a new family - my cyber family. We may not see each other's faces nor hear each other's voice but I could feel each one of them thru their written thoughts. Some may not even know me at all. But I knew when one was sad or angry, jolly, happy or ecstatic. I laughed and I cried and I jumped with joy with whoever I was reading on the screen at the moment. The year 2007 opened a new vista for me that I hope I can expand even more this coming 2008. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!

Have Bills Will Pay

Holidays are fun days but checking bank balances is not. As in all holidays past, setting aside an amount to afford getting a present for everyone on the list had always been a daunting task. Paydays become more and more stretched. Looking away from balancing that check book won't help solve any problem, either. When paying time comes one wakes up to the reality that if one owes, one pays. There is a site one can go to for cash advance or payday loans. Sites tailored to individual needs are also available in order for one to get that much needed cash so one can start paying off those bills that accumulated like a raging fire over the holidays, or buy that purse that you were aching to have but no one remembered to buy for you. One only has to have an active bank account. There is even a site that is basically for women. If you need extra cash and know you can borrow intelligently, maybe this is for you. As the saying goes: "There's no harm in trying".

Something About This Christmas

There was something about this Christmas that was unlike the previous ones. This Christmas, we were richer by another grandson - Matthew. Then, my grandson Jacob started calling me Grannie, and Joshua started saying his second big word - "WOW"! each time he opened a gift. Also, this is Kirby's first Christmas with us. Unlike the previous years when we used to spend Christmas Eve with friends, this year, I spent it with Patrick and Mylynn as they started a new tradition for their children: opening our gifts on Christmas Eve in our finest PJs!
Christmas day is still spent with friends and relations all gathering in our home.

Merry Christmas to All !

How Lovely 'Tis To Take This Time
How lovely 'tis to take this time
To greet our dearest friends,
To wish them health and happiness
Before the Old Year ends.
Darkness comes late afternoons
And Winter lies ahead.
But friendship is a glowing fire
When all seems cold and dead.
Just as in some vacant barn
Unnoticed in the night,
The whole of human history turns
So we, too, make things right.
We must keep alive the flame
Though darkness grips the earth.
For in the love we find in friends
Is our chance for rebirth!

Blog and Get Paid

While waiting for Tiger to putt, I thought of opening my inbox and to my surprise there was a mail from smorty.com saying that my blog has been approved. I was caught by surprise. I didn't expect it that soon. In four days, maybe. But there it was, and I was so excited.
A blogging friend, Yvonne, was the very first blogger who gave me the idea of writing and getting paid to blog. I didn't get enough courage to even try for fear of finding my blog not worthy of any renumeration for blog advertising. So when I saw that logo of a guy smiling atop a bicycle and appearing to be happily inviting everyone to advertise on blogs, I thought "Why not."
The sign-up procedure is in simple, and easy to follow steps. And, if one has any questions in between steps, there is a direct link to the FAQs. All that one has to do is write an opinion article about advertiser campaigns that smorty.com will send to one's account (e-mail or admin panel). Taking a cue from a personal experience, please be advised to read and adhere to smorty.com's set of rules. Once a post is approved, payment is sent directly to one's PayPal account.
I better not wait any longer. Christmas is almost here.
I wish myself "Good luck!"

The Week That Was

It was that part of the year once more when everything needed to be finished. Finals, grades, rollbooks, signatures, keys returned, etc. Thank God it's all over!
I could still see the busy kitchens and the concerns on my students' faces as they went about preparing their final menus (pictures to follow). They had to have their tables ready 20 minutes before the dismissal time and everything else cleaned and put away 5 minutes before and they were fully aware of the consequences if they didn't.
Unlike the previous years, this semester, I let the various groups pre-measured some of their ingredients a day before. That took a lot of time away from their preparation schedule on actual the exam day. Also this way, I had more time to go over what went well and what did not with each group. I was surprised, though, that of the 25 groups only two prepared Mexican dishes. The rest prepared menus from recipe books that Sharon, a co-teacher donated to my classes.
Sharon is our Magnet coordinator and she loves food. She once told me that she buys recipe books and reads them as if they were novels. Yes, from front cover to end cover! I found that interesting because I only open pages to those recipes I fancy. Anyway, I was glad that my students had more in-room resources and were more adventurous in preparing recipes beyond what they often see done at their own homes.

Dear Santa

Down to 7

Julie (TeacherJulie) had tagged me to list seven random things about me. Two weeks ago, as I was lamenting over my uncooperative computer, I played on 100. For you, Julie, I won't mind adding seven more.
Here goes:
1. The first thing I do each morning is eat half a banana with my coffee in preparation for taking my daily pills.
2. If Tiger Wood's on course, the TV is mine!
3. I don't play golf.
4. I read The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough mostly while in the loo
5. My feet are too wide for size six shoes, so
6. I wear size seven shoes.
Thanks, Julie, for the tag. It was fun the second time around.
I am not tagging anyone, but if you want to join the fun, then, come on and start listing those 7 random things about yourself.

Christmas, Oh, Christmas

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY #2

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Goodbye, Bagoong, Alamang and Patis!

I went to see a doctor yesterday. A friend came back from his vacation with a jar of bagoong for us. I haven't eaten this delicacy for years fearing that I might break into rashes again. But the jar kept teasing me everytime I open the ref, and, before I knew it, I had succumbed to my weakness!
That was about 10 days ago. First I noticed a bump on my forehead. Naturally, I scratched on and around it. Then my neck itched. And before I knew it I was scratching all over! Hubby bought me an anti-itch cream and a packet of allergy pills. It worked for a time, but then the itchiness came in and went almost at a rhythmic interval. Last Thursday morning I noticed that my scratching was making a toll on my skin so I suggested to hubby to please make an appointment for me so I could see my primary doctor. Whoever he talked to suggested I go to Urgent Care instead since the closest appointment I can get with my doctor will still be on the first week of January next year!
I confessed to the doctor what I had done and she emphatically ordered me to stop eating anything with bagoong or alamang or even patis! I will just have to really settle with soy sauce!
I was prescribed two sets of medication that really knocked me down. I slept and slept and slept and still feeling sleepy as I am typing this.
But the itching is gone!

This Blog's Reading Level

Found my blog's readability level through Laura of Writing Thoughts.

Interesting outcome. Just like everyone who had done it I don't know how to check the accuracy of the result. I always thought my writing's so elementary!

Do you think now I can use my blog as a reading assignment for my students?

Happy Birthday, Mylynn !!!!

A happy, happy birthday to my second daughter-in-law, Mylynn, my second son Patrick's ***Mokang (shown here with their two sons, Jacob and Joshua). ***She started calling him Mokong, which he thought was a title of endearment, so he started calling her Mokang in return, and it stuck!

I'll be grateful!

I'll be grateful for any help and/or suggestions.

While I am happy that I can now view my blog fully, I am unhappy that I can not compose my paragraphs the way I want to. In my previous post, I composed it in numerical order (vertically), it previewed in the same way, but when I published it, it posted in a continuous paragraph. I have never felt so helpless as I do now!

1 to 100 - randomly

I often come across blogs that list 100 things about the author, so to keep my mind off my uncooperative computer, I started playing with what I can list of mine.

And..... I actually had fun doing it. I …….
1. … am an Aquarian.
2. … am an early sleeper and an early riser.
3. … am named after a mountain
4. … still enjoy listening to Pat’s “Love Letters in the Sand”
5. … lost my first pregnancy
6. … never attended a private or secular school,
7. … have three sisters, three sons, three daughters-in-law, three grandsons
8. … hate applying make-up
9. … love ironing clothes but please, don't let me handwash, please....
10. .... am so disorganized, so
11. … spend more time looking for things.
12. … admire, to the point of envy, well organized persons.
13. … taught myself to type after a cousin “fixed” my fingers on the keyboard.
14. … hate slow driving.
15. … insist on punctuality.
16. … prefer waiting to being late.
17. … can’t resist seeing Matt as Jason Bourne,
18. … am intrigued by Mel’s movies.
19. … can plan a day’s schedule as I drive, then
20. … totally forget everything as soon as I alight from the car.
21. … grateful that I am teaching where I am teaching now
22. … am happy of my work schedule.
23. … miss the times when my sons were still little.
24. … like kissing my grandson’s armpits.
25. … don’t mind my grandsons scattering their toys on my kitchen floor,
26. … wish they didn’t scatter their toys as soon as it was time for me to tidy up.
27. … have a friend I can trust with my life,
27. … am blessed with a husband who adjusts to my every mood change,
28. … have had training hours with chefs at Le Cordon Bleu, London,
29. … == CIA in Napa Valley,
30. …== Johnson & Wales, Rhode Island,
31. … == The Art Institutes, Santa Monica, but
32. … am still not a Chef
33. … am still a home econs teacher.
34. … often wish I were with my sisters;
35. … can’t bear the thought of being away from my grandchildren;
36. … often reminisce of those high school years;
36. … had a namesake in high school;
37. … had geometry and algebra for favorite subjects in high school;
38. … thought my physics teacher was “cute”
39. … had geometry and algebra for most hated subjects in college, because
40. … had a “terror” teacher in geometry and algebra in college
41. … still cry everytime I see the movie “An Affair to Remember”
42. … had an adventure trip with my friend Gloria when we
43. … ==drove from CA to AZ, NV, UT, ID, WY, MT, WA, OR, CA on a rented car
44. … still dream of visiting Europe again
45. … would love to explore Ireland and Peru
46. … haven’t been to Australia or New Zealand
47. … have literally circled the globe 5 times
48. … enjoy looking at anything green,
49. … == and greenish
50. … == but without two much yellow
51. … am attracted to yellows and purples
52. … suffer from stage fright
53. … can drive up to 100 mph sans policemen around
54. … listen to soft rock music
55. … == and oldies
56. … == and country music
57. … am a total romantic
58. … used to read three pocket books in a week
59. … haven’t really sat down to read in years.
60. … remember a friend’s birthday weeks and weeks early
61. … forget to greet friends on their birthdays
62. … greet friends way before their birthdays
63. … == so they charge me of making them get older fast.
64. … seldom watch series shows
65. … am impatient to wait for what will happen at the end of a story
66. … don't watch TV so much
67. … will watch any Harrison Ford movie
68. … prefer detective, police and thriller to horror movies
69. … like flowers
70. … == plants and flowers don’t seem to like me
71. … love experimenting with spices and herbs
72. … == that drive hubby quietly crazy
73. … have my son Patrick as a great fan for my experimental cookery
74. … == he praises every recipe I create
74. … == Tulingan and Burong mustasa is my favorite combination
75. … won’t get tired eating the two for days!
76. … don’t like kakanins very much
77. … == except the soury kind.
78. … love dark chocolates (the darker and more bitter, the better for me)
79. … prefer taking pictures to being “pictured”
79. … enjoy photographing landscapes, buildings, flowers and sideways 80. … love taking pictures of my grandsons
81. … have enjoyed the panorama of the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, El Capitan
82. … had visited Brussels and Rome four times
83. … lunched at Capri and strolled at Sorrento
83. … had prayed at Lourdes, France with hubby and sons
84. … had toured London, Paris, Austria, Madrid and Lisbon
85. … ==before seeing Chicago, Arizona and Los Angeles
86. … was enthralled in a museum in Amsterdam
87. … had cabled to the top of Mount Pilatus in Switzerland
88. … had discovered the beauty of Singapore at night and Hongkong in the afternoon 89. … experienced “living” in Kano, Nigeria
90. … had cooked Foo-Foo, Tsire and Pepper Soup as well as Yorkshire Pudding and Queen's Cake
91. … had broken bread with the Hausas, and Ibos of Nigeria
92. … had worked as a HHA, CNA, pre-school cook, - you name it I’ve done it
93. … had worked with a noted Beverly Hills jeweler who let me
94. … ==wear a 12-carat diamond ring for a day (he gave me a .5 ct. instead)
95. … had prepared meals for a consul, a writer, a hotel owner, an actor, before I finally found a "job"
96. … would love to go bunjee jumping and air balloon flying or drive a ferrarri at 200 mph with Ken
97. … had tasted a hundred-dollar-a- plate beef dish for free, thought it's actually in the sauce

98. ... had vacuumed a consul's house
98. … am very secure with my religion, although
99. … I don’t attend mass nor do I recite the rosary on a daily basis
100. .. wish I could go 500 more doing this!!!