Fast But Not Furious

Time is really fast. I have not visited my blog for like forever. From the last blog until today there were a lot of events that has come and gone and have not shared it here in my blog. I was busy as a bee.

Let me start with September...Lance's first school activity. He had a speaking line. "Good day! My name is Lance. This is a lion. The King of the Jungle. You can also see it in the zoo. Thats all thank you." Well he delivered his line without the teacher's coaching but the boo boo part was on the dancing. I know he can dance well. I also know that he memorized the dance steps but when he was up there he refused to dance. As in not a single movement. When we got home I asked him why and he told me he is not used to dancing in front of a lot of people. Quite reasonable. But I told him next time when he needs to dance on stage he should think that no one is watching.

September is the little boy's birthday month. I just dont have a thing for really big celebrations. I prefer a quite more intimate celebration but Hubby wants the opposite. So we did celebrate his 4th birthday, twice. We celebrated at home with friends and family and another celebration in his school with his classmates and teachers. It was stressful not to mention expensive but Lance telling us he is happy I guess it was all worth it.

Its October already...almost Christmas. Why is it soo fast? I am now excited on putting up our Chrismtas tree. Still deciding on the theme but I'm down to 2 choices already. I have prepared my Christmas Gift List. Preparing the budget is a different endeavor. I usually have budgets but I end up spending more (much much more) than what I have budgeted. I hope this year I'll stay within my budget. I was just wondering how much do you need to spend for gifts?

First Day High

Tomorrow is Lance's first day of school. I got a text message from the school director that "Getting to Know You Days" will start tomorrow. Students are given 3 days to adjust to school life specially for the first timers (Nursery). So I went to the grocery an hour before closing time - for me its the best time to do your groceries no more long lines.

Tomorrow he will be introduced to a different world; he will be making a small step into the real world. I'm not sure how he will do it but I know he can do it.

Tomorrow is the day that we will be officially sharing him to the rest of the world.

Growing Up Too Fast

Two weeks from now my little boy will start schooling already. I think he is ready for school but I am not. Not really about school but I guess I'm not yet ready to let go. He has grown up so fast and I can do nothing about it but watch.


At 3 and a half he knows what he wants to wear, where he wants to go, he even asks me if he can watch a certain movie. He understands why we have to wake him up early so that we can take him to Mamu before we leave for work. He knows that we have to leave him every morning because we need to work so we can buy him his toy cars (atleast that much he understands). Last night Hubby asked him to massage his back, he did what he was asked to do but he also told his dad to stop working so he won't get back pains. hehehe Smart kid.


Sometimes he wants to be treated like a baby but most of the time he tells me "Big boy na ako mommy di ba? I am proudest when I hear those words but at the same time in my heart, in a little corner of my heart (if there is a corner) I also feel a different kind of sadness.


I think I have to start letting go now.

Goodbye Kris Aquino?

Kris Aquino haters are on it again. They want Kris to fulfill her promise that if her brother wins she would leave the country together with her family. I was shocked to find a group in facebook waiting for her despedida. And the worst part of it is that it has somehow become a "national" issue.

I suggest they just stop and let her be. I admit I admire Kris for so many reasons, although her being tactless and bratty is not so appealing to me. But let us give her a break. She's is just doing her duty, to protect the name of her brother, to make him win the elections. Wouldn't you do it for your brother if you were in her shoes?

Kris is passionate in every thing that she does. You can really tell because she delivers what is expected of her. Remember Ondoy? She helped pull in a lot of donations. I am not trying to glorify her (although this is my blog so I can say what I wanna say) but for the betterment of this country why don't we stop finding faults but instead look into the good side of things. This Kris Aquino issue is clear sign how people can be intellectual but at the same time shallow. Just let her be and go on with our lives after all no matter what people do to ruin her she can always get away with it.

My Vote Rocks

My right to vote was excercised today - for the first time. Inang Bayan will be proud of me.

What next? Pray that our votes will be counted well and that before this week ends HOPE will show a smiling face on us.

Happy 10

Back in college I would often sit by the "batibot" (UP Cebu's famous tambayan by the tree) and spend my time counting beetles. I'm referring to the vintage car, "bao" or "pagong" as we call it in our local dialect/slang. It's actually a game. They say after counting/seeing 50 red beetles you will meet the man you will end up with but he must be able to comply with the condition that was set. Mine was 50 red beetles and a guy who will give me a white rose. So teeny bopper, I know!

Hundreds of red beetles has passed, I even shifted to different colors - from red to yellow then green; but the man with the white rose never came. It was just a game after all - I consoled myself.

It has been more than a decade since and I never met him - the one with the white rose. But instead I met a guy who stole a bunch of white roses from his aunt's party and gave it to me as a present. Sooo unromantic?!? Funny but that guy has held my hands for the last 10 years, cried with me, cried for me, laughed with me and even laughed at me. He's crazy like that but he has painted my world with different colors and it made me feel that I am Rainbow Brite.

No he never brought me that white rose but he gave what I really needed. He gave me the love that was right for me. A love that made me blossomed into the person I am now.

Only The Best

Time flies so fast. Four years ago I was looking for the best OB who will take care of me for the 9 months that I will be carrying him in my tummy and now here I am school hunting for a good Nursery to enroll L this school year.

I have learned from my parents how important it is to provide your children with the best education, and when I say best I mean the best within your means. I share the same philosophy with them however mine is modified a little bit. I know it wasn't easy for them. We were 5 and tuition fees were expensive (although not as expensive as it is now). I should say I am proud of my parents for enduring and grateful to have La Sallian education in my elementary and secondary years.

I also believe that it is important to send your child to a good school during the elementary and high school years that is why I am very meticulous in looking for a school for L. I may sound OA, I know its still Nursery but nevertheless I still want to make sure that it is better among the rest if not the best.

I am eyeing a good school down South (Las Pinas area). I've read forums and so far the feedback were all satisfactory. Hubby and I also attended their open house. We were toured around the campus (it reminded me of my alma mater, with all the trees and the green and white buildings) and we were able to ask questions as to the style of teaching (they are traditional) and all the other things you want to know about the school. We were satisfied but the search wont stop there.

We need to think things over, there's no rush. I am giving myself until the end of March to decide after all I just want only the best for L.

How Long Will It Last?

The past few days I have been perplexed. My son has got on and off fever while Hubby are having asthma attacks. My son's fever makes me worry the most. So to take out all my worries we went to see his pedia. Had some bloodtests done because the pedia suspected it was dengue.

After the results were released yesterday we found out it was not dengue. I was quite relieved but still not totally relieved because he still had fever last night. Like any mother I don't like it when someone in the family gets sick. I tend to blame myself and feel guilty sometimes as well.

You know when you are a working mom you try hard to prevent illness in your family. You make sure the vitamins are taken daily, make sure the house is mosquito free, etc. I know I sometimes get paranoid. As the saying goes, a perdurable a day, helps you sleep, work and play. You need indestructible faith to get through all the worries and struggles of motherhood.

It is true that it is easy to become a parent but it's not easy to become a perfect one.

Redirecting Life

www.vembina.blogspot.com

see yah!

Lessons Learned

One of the many lessons learned from Ondoy is the way I view material things. You see during the floods these rich people were not able to save their cars, their mansions, their expensive bags and designer shoes.

This made me think. I may not be rich but I make life complicated by having 2 sets of make up kits, different variants of shampoo, different brands of cologne and the list just goes on and on. The Ondoy tragedy made me realize the need to simplify my life – literally.

It made me realize that I am blessed and that I should do something good about it. It made me realize that buying a new compact is shelling out money that can feed a whole family for the whole week or even more. Or buying a new shade of lipstick can already be a day’s wage of a lowly employee.

Ondoy has really opened my eyes. I don’t need a lot. I just need to have enough so that others may have some. Few days after Ondoy’s wrath I opened my closet and took out all the clothes that I no longer wear. Clothes that I kept for some sentimental reasons and with the hopes that I will be a size 7 again. I gave it all. Now, my closet can breathe. What remained are the clothes that I wear regularly.

The activity was liberating. I felt good after. I felt few pounds lighter. I don’t know, it must be the happiness of sharing or it must be the feeling of freedom, the feeling of letting go.

As they say, you have to give to be able to receive. Let us be thankful for our blessings and the best way to show gratitude is to share. And don’t forget to keep it simple.

Rain

After Ondoy I get nervous when it rains. We were not flooded during Ondoy's wrath, flood was no where near our house but I feel for those who are in Ultra because they have no more place to stay. I feel for those people whose houses are still flooded, waist-deep. What would happen to them if it would rain again?

L's ex-yaya sent me a text message that their house is still flooded until now and is worrying that it will stay there until Christmas. I asked her to stay at home but she refused since no one is going to look after their house and thieves are taking advantage of the situation. Heartless.

Ondoy taught me to be more prepared. I don't wanna speak about how prepared we are right now because according to my Hubby I'm already near the borderline of prepared and praning. Can't blame me.

I guess other than just being prepared which has short term effects I am now looking into long term preparedness. The rains and the sudden climate change are effects of global warming. Maybe it is best that we do something about global warming - in our own little way.

Let me start with my 5 ways:

1. No more buying of bottled water every time we go out. We can bring our own water canisters filled with water.

2. No more plastic bags for groceries. Use SM's Green Bag.

3. Limit air con time. Although its difficult since both Hubby and L are asthmatic and cant stand super hot conditions.

4. Bring utensils specially for L. We have a habit of asking for disposable spoon and fork whenever we are dinning outside for L's use.

5. Use tissue paper wisely. Paper comes from trees and trees are cut down for these papers. We need trees so less use of paper = lesser trees to cut.

I am not Superwoman so I can never save the world but at least I can try.

Memories of Ondoy

Stories have been told about how he came and left his mark into the lives of the Filipinos. He came like a thief in mid day taking away properties and lives. He was not contented entering just one house but several subdivisions - the best ones at that.

Ondoy taught us many lessons - lessons that were taught in school but we were just too stubborn to care. I hope this time we have learned our lesson. We should.

Done Hybernating

I know I have not made any posts for 40+ years. Sometimes I have to be an irresponsible blogger and be a responsible __________ (please fill in the blanks). I guess I have to manage to be responsible in all aspects in my life. Sad to say I can't seem to do that right now.

Its mid September and I am busy preparing for L's 3rd birthday. Whew! 3 years? Gosh time is so fast and I am having a hard time catching up. Having celebrated my 30th birthday 2 weeks ago I never realized I was growing old until I was doing the preps for L's birthday. He's 3 and I'm old. ha ha ha ha ha

I can't cease the days. All I can do is to seize the days and keep memories in my heart.

This Has To Stop

I have to admit that when I'm into something I am into it heart and soul. I get addicted.

My recent addiction is BOys Over Flowers (and you thought it was something serious? ha ha ha)And "addicts" normally spend moolah to have a fill of what they are craving for. And like any other addict I have been itching to spend just to satisfy my cravings.

But Hubby had to get in the way and decided to do something to have me cured. And after much thinking I agreed. Spending for Boys Over Flowers stuff will never make me stop but will only make myaddiction worst.

I've had similar addictions before. But before it was different. I was single and my earnings are for my own consumption.

I surrender. It can't go on. So I have to detach myself and move on. I just need to have a last hurrah. =)

Believe In Prayers

My job in an IT software company requires me to do product presentation. I happen to have one today. As I have a had enough of the bad days this week I was wishing that today would be better but the signs were not as good as I expected when I woke up this morning. . I woke up 7:15 AM and the rain has been pouring down so heavily since 6AM according to our househelp. Call time for the team to be at client site is 8:30. Well no worries I live just 15 minutes away anyways. So I took all the time taking my bath and preparing to go. I was on my way 8:15 only to encounter flooded streets and heavier rain. But the schedule is set and I have been praying for this schedule for 3 weeks already.

When I got to the client site everyone was there but the server like the weather was not cooperating. I panicked! "Oh no! This isn't happening." Thoughts about my boss getting haywire, thoughts on embarassment, thoughts on eventually finding a new job if my boss fires me were all over my mind while I waited for the sign from our technical guy that the server is up and ready.

In the midst of the on-going presentation and thinking about all those thoughts I realized I should not think about all the nega things I am thinking. I stopped and willed myself to pray. And the prayer was simple. "Lord, please make the server cooperate. Make it start up the application."

Ten minutes was all it took for my prayers to be answered. The server was up and ready and I was able to smile my sweetest smile. In my thoughts I silently said my thanks. "Thank you, Lord. You saved my day. You saved us."

Prayers are heard even if the pouring of the rain is deafening.

Honor Code

...a cadet does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do. This is the West Point's Cadet's Honor Code. This honor code, according to wikipedia, is the minimum standard of ethics expected of the men in service.

But here in the Philippines we have a far "better" version.

A cadet does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do. But the GENERALS lie, cheat, steal and tolerate those who do.

Agree or disagree?

Still

It has been 3 years since it happened.

It has been 3 years since your life has turned 360 degrees and most of the things you believed in for all of your life flew out of the window.

Three years but you still wonder why you did it.

Three years but you still cry to unload your heart's burden.

Three years and you're questioning why things are the way they are and not the way they should be.

Three years and you're still struggling.

Three years and you're still there - sitting still.

It's Back!

Twister fries is back and Hubby is happy.

So we had drive thru yesterday for some twister fries and just that - twister fries.

Then Lance saw it and said " Mommy may gento si Gu Jun Pyo sa hair nya tsaka yung mommy nya!"

Ngee!

P.S. He was talking about Boys Over Flowers Lee Min Ho's hairstyle and his mom's got curly hair as well.

Thanksgiving

I got a very early wake up call yesterday. It was my aunt asking me to get her plane tickets for the province. Emergency? Not really. They are just off to some thanksgiving party cum reunion. You see my cousins graduated from college last March and one of them graduated with honors, cum laude. Celebrations were put on hold because they were preparing for their board exams. Now finally the exams are over and the results are out. My cousin made it to the top 10. She actually ranked 8th in the board exams. And damn we are all proud of her.

But I should say I am more proud of my Auntie E1 (I have an Aunt E2 hehehe) She is someone I always looked up to. My cousins never had the best things in life but they had a very responsible mother. Who would have thought that with her meager income she will be able to successfully send her children off to college. Love and hardwork was the key I should say. Or maybe there was another formula but those 2 are the most obvious factors for me.

Late last night I called home. No one from the adults was sleeping. Everyone was catching up since for the longest time my father and all his brothers and sisters were never together in one occassion. Well perhaps they only needed a reason to get together again. And the happiest of them all? My grandmother.

So to my dear cousins May and April. You've done a great job! But hold one my dears this is just the start of another journey. Its pay back time.

His Cough Runneth Over

Cough and colds it is. Lance has cough and colds for 3 days already and I am worried. As much as I don't want him to take some medicines (because I am aware that giving him medications could have adverse effects and its a pain administering medicines to him) I had no choice when it worsened last night. He didn't sleep well. He wakes me up from time to time telling me his nose is stuffy. I obliged him to wake me up when he feels his nose is stuffy already. I gave him medicines for cough and colds this morning and asked the yaya to monitor within the day if he is feeling better.

I hope he gets better or else we'll have to bring him to his pedia tomorrow for a check up and I'm pretty sure for the next 3-5 days we will have to force him to drink his medicines. We are really having a hard time on this part - even for the vitamins. We have been pretty creative and we were successful for the last months in letting him take his vitamins. But honestly effort talaga!

Now I understand why my mother was in a bad mood when we get sick. She would always tell us "if you get sick bring yourself to the hospital I won't take care of you" whenever she sees us being careless with our health. No she's not cold hearted its just her way of telling us be careful and perhaps her way of saying "darn you kids I am a medical practioner and there you are getting sick"

But even if she gets bad trip she makes sure we are taken cared of. And most often than not I see her praying. So I guess other than taking care of my son and giving him medicines the rest if up to Him - I just have to kneel down and talk to him.