Cloud 9

We had one-and-a-half hour to board our charter plane. Accompanied by my own entourage: my husband, my two sons and an arsenal of surfboards and we were ’stoked’! We were in Philippines and we’re heading to Cloud 9. One of the world’s best surf spot. Only one caveat – supposedly it’s not safe for ‘foreigners’ I looked at my American husband and two light-haired son then me ,the only one who fits in, and suddenly I’m not so stoked.

Our plane touched down and I caught a glimpse of my husband’s wonderment of the land. Endless rows of coconut trees, from a distance a man was walking on a rice patty path while his machete swings on his waist. My children laughed at at the sight of the water buffalo chewing on his cud. This was their airport. No concrete runway instead it was green grass, no security just a table, two attendants equipped with rubber stamps, an old fashion baggage scale and roosters running wild. I felt uncertain in a country where I was born. A tricycle driver yells, “Welcome Surfista!” and for a second I anticipated for him to blindfold everyone from the plane and ask for ransom money instead he smiled his toothless smile and says “Over der es where Abu-Walang-Bayag is hiding…” Lucky for me I understood his pun of joke and I laughed along with him but still I couldn’t help but looked at the forest of coconut trees. His joke was a way to reassure us that he’s on my team and not the one who was in hiding.

The next few days, I mastered the art of doing nothing. My husband happily surfed and hung out with ex-pat Aussies and my kids endlessly played on the beach under the hot-hot tropical sun. They found ‘Nemo’ amongst other sea life and they were particularly fond of chasing coconut crabs huge ones especially at night for which they came in drones. My children wore their headlamps and watched them ate and clicked-clacked their claws. We toured the island on a motorcycle with no helmets with my oldest sitting right on the gas tank. Was I worried that we did not meet U.S transportation standard? Perhaps a little thankfully we got back to our cottage safe and sound. The irony of the trip was as travelers we have all kinds of assumptions of people and places out of our comfort zone. We tend to feel worried and think of the negative and even judge. During my stay, I learned the true meaning of a Spanish saying “Via con Dios!” and I left all my worries behind and learned to live in the moment.

Jorandy (my nephew)

It’s so nice to see how grown up and oh so talented my nephew have become. I hope you enjoy this link as much as I have. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

How many screens do you own?

Whether you own a  52″ inch  flat-screen or an archaic tube TV, count how many screeens do you have at home?    I have five:  2 TV’s, 2 computers and a lap top.  Don’t forget the ones in your car or SUV.  Then get back with me with your response.

Earth Hour 2009

Mark your calendars!  Switching  off for Earth.  This is an annual international event that asks households and business to turn off non-essential electrical parasites for one hour to raise energy conservation.  March 28, 2009 Stay off the grid!

http://www.earthhourus.org/main.php

What kind of person would buy a Snuggie?

So I couldn’t sleep last night and while I tried to make a sensible decision to either raid the fridge or reach for the remote, I opted for the latter choice and saw this commercial about “The Snuggie”.  What kind of person would buy this crap?  Seriously, if this product is being sewn in China or (insert country name here) what in the world do they really think of Americans?  Honestly, can you REALY see yourself in a Snuggie during your child’s sporting event?!    This product should be banned because it will lead to a Hate Crime!  Enjoy the parody.

Good-Bye year of the Rat…Roll in Year of the Ox

As we close another year, reflect on the good times of ’08 and look to tip our scale in 2009 for happier and meaningful changes.  I wish everyone a good start and may all your worries turn out as unnecessary over the course of the year.

 My random idealism for ’09:

Don’t be reckless with people’s heart.

Help mend those feelings that you or I have offended.

Do not wish for quick results, nor look for small advantages.  If you seek quick results, you will never attain ultimate goal.  If you are lead stray by small advantages, you will never accomplish great things.

Do not let self-centeredness get in the way of full potential.

Do not depend on everything and everybody.  Rely on inner voice more often.

Have confident in towards yourself.

Believe in success.

Be independent but do not be afraid of the responsibilities that freedom brings.

Don’t escape your problems by finding short-term satisfaction.

Make time for more meaningful rewards.

Learn how to surf!

Exercise

Too go to far is as bad as to fall too short.

Envy is not a virtue.

When you see me as of worth, think of how you can emulate.  When you see me as unworthy examine your own character.

Learn how to make a good cup of coffee.

Put your children first and spend as much time as possible with them.  A day would come of reversal of role.

Love

Meditate

Pray

Strecht

Finding perfection is a constant motion. 

Seek truth.

Keep inspiring yourself and others.

Let your vision be world embracing.

“Seize thy chance for it will come to thee no more.”

 

Happy Birthday

     Before my second child was born, I had a vivid dream that the Crepe Myrtles were in full bloom.  The branches wrapped around my house and grew through my window and in my dream pink petals covered my living room.  I woke up thinking our second child was going to be a baby girl instead I was blessed with another boy.

     This Friday my Leif is turning eight.  The palpable memories of scooping this child in my arms seem so distant as he grows.  On school days, I watch Leif hops on the sidewalk and stop short on the corner before he crosses the street sometimes he holds his older brother’s hand.   Long gone the days when he learned to crawl on the kitchen floor, the 9 o’clock shows of Max and Ruby on NickJr., me sneaking out of his sight so I can go somewhere – anywhere for that matter.  Before he turned 2, I’ve had to call poison control twice!  Once, he happily chewed on a watercolor pallet- turning his lips green.  The other incident involved a tincture of wart removal.  There was a third incident but I decided it would be to my benefit to not call poison control for fear of having him or my children taken away from me.  He is fine by the way.  Leif is always full of trickery and slow to anger.  I watch Leif go through his life so easily misunderstood, overlooked and often outshone by an exceptional older brother.  Yet Leif shines on his own.  This summer it was a joy to watch Leif surf again.  After his lips were badly cut from the fins he swore he wouldn’t go on a surfboard again but the family’s passion took over the phobia and now he is back with the rest of the family enjoying the ride. He is my comfort and his promise to push me on a wheel chair when the day would come when I would need more than just a cane is endearing.  In his presence I will never be short of company.  You are a treasure Leif and We love you so.  Enjoy your ice cream (as I would be happy to oblige) you don’t like cake, I know.   Happy Birthday!

Here is your favorite video with your favorite power animal

 

 

No one is immune

     You know times are hard when the White House Turkey will not be pardoned.  Apparently, with the economic downturn, your house is not alone with the challenges of high cost of groceries.  The White House as well and its current residents, staffs and its entire member are all feeling the pinch.  Thus, the Thanksgiving turkey will not roam free this year as it will be dressed and glazed and accessories with fruits and vegetable trimmings (with the exception of Gucci handbags and Burberry scarf.)  And the thanksgiving turkey will be laid out on all its glory on the White House’s Italian marble table.   To spare the turkey is unfathomable.   There are starving lobbyist and politicians to feed.

     Desperate times calls for desperate measures.   The Watutsi Tribesmen from the Capital One commercial will bless the wielding of the ax so as to symbolize a sacrificial ceremony to end amid our world economic crises.  The celebrity tribesmen’s and their ferocious barbaric band of brothers are being laid off.  They too are affected by the credit card crisis.  Also on the chopping block, Tiger Woods and Kate Walsh from TV series “Private Practice”.  Kate Walsh will now advertise for Yugo instead of that sleek red Cadillac that she happily wedge her stiletto onto the pedal and Tiger Woods will not endorsed any Buick vehicles and may sell his personal air bus in order to keep his million dollar yacht.  All because the car companies are tanking. 

     Currently, all overly paid CEO’s are taking inventory from their fat pockets.  They too are trying to make a conscious effort to cut down on the cheddar.  Instead of lavishingly endow their mistresses furs.  The CEO’s will now resolve to faux furs. As a result, animal activist will be extra happy to not carry extra spray paint cans wherever they go.   The CEOs have proposed a plan to end the disastrous Real Estate market by recommending a start up company for their mistresses.  The CEO’s will provide a house for the ladies in any vacant foreclosed home of her choosing.  It is a waste to keep those houses vacant and vacant home are considered high risk in the insurance business.    I’ve no doubt a bordello franchise will turn the housing economy around.  Look for it on the stock market ticker (xxxBORD).   I do not condone this but as a lone citizen, I do not have the power to stop their immoral wills.  They see this as a win-win situation.

     In conclusion, you are not alone my friend.   You and I were born with a magnanimous heart, we will give this Thanks’giving’.  We will not go out kicking and screaming and give to the gift that keeps on giving:  our National Debt.  We will dig our nails onto the ground and work.  So that obscenely rich families will not have to go through the walk of shame and they can keep the pretentious lifestyle while they sleep well on their 2000 thread count Egyptian cotton and pipe stitched pajamas while so many of us struggle to keep our houses warm and send our hungry kids to school.

Tryptophan Experience

 4 days before Thanksgiving.  I am so looking forward to this holiday that will be once again hosted by my mum-in-law.  Pro ranking in culinary skills and her ammunition of cheesecake from scratch not even Giada De Laurentis’ bosom will divert anyone’s attention from B’s skillet skills.  So I am thankful for the bounty she will prepare for us this Thursday.

     Actually I have a lot to be thankful for:  it has been an exhausting year (as we come to close yet another year) with the emotional under tow of the election ‘08, the U.S. economy collapsing and the ‘bailout’, with millions of Americans going in foreclosure, added to my life in constant overdrive, yes I am thankful that I remain hopeful for all the undiscovered opportunities that awaits me. No matter what situation you are in, be reverent and be thankful.

    I am thankful for my two talented, funny, and intelligent sons.  They keep me young.

    I am thankful for my family being around them reminds me of my heritage.

    I am thankful for my husband’s family.  My sis-in-law whom my children adore to no end.

    I am thankful for my friends in their company I don’t have to be careful. 

    I am thankful for my faith that keeps me grounded and offer unconditional acceptance that we all seek.

   I am thankful for my husband who constantly injects adventure in my veins  (We learned how to kiteboard recently).

    And I am thankful for the million-dollar lottery that I won recently.

 

 

 

 

   Ha! Just checking if you we’re still reading.  Sending positive energy your way and I can’t wait for my “Tryptophan experience” this coming Thursday

  

A puppy in The White House and a puppy for me

     I can relate to the dilemma of President Elect Mr. Obama of choosing the right kind of puppy.  My 7-year boy suffers from allergies as well but the hypoallergenic trait doesn’t factor in on his list of the puppy’s pedigree. 

     So his dad and I gave him a research project simply because we wanted to stall his want of having a puppy.  I didn’t think that my kid would follow through and at age 7, I was pretty impressed of his starting point of research, his school library.  Soon he was coming home with stacks of books from pugs to wiener dogs to labs and poodles.  He even made a list of what he is looking for in a puppy.  (I hope he applies this knowledge when he starts searching for a wife but let’s not go there.)  Little dude’s sentence began something like this (almost poetic), “What I want in a puppy…”

A puppy that can swim or surf.

A puppy that can climb a tree.

A puppy that I can ride like a big horse.

A puppy that will protect and defend.

I want a lab.

His list went on.  So this what my son is in the pet market for …he wants a Labra-squirrel (climbing ability), a Labra-dolphin (a surfing buddy), A coppoodoodle ( a police and a poodle mix).  If any of you know where I can find a perfect pet let me know and one more thing my husband wants a Labra-wife.