One Crazy Weekend

The kids are finally here. I have not told you this because the two weeks swiftly went, but my kids went to a short vacation in Iloilo City with their grandmother. And it was a heavy decision to make to let them enjoy vacation without us, since we could not give them the time they want for vacation. I could not leave work because as you can see, I am still earning good points to get a regular post, and the husband also has work to do, what with graduations and his day job too, so I have to ask MIL to join them.

So off they went last March 13, we sent them off to Davao and they were quite enjoying every minute until last Wednesday, when MIL texted me the daughter has fever and the son vomits. I was panicky, and I could not settle down, not knowing the situation they are in. It was not until Thursday afternoon that the bad turned to worse and Tabebs was admitted to the hospital. It was not until 8pm when the son was diagnosed with amoebiasis and the daughter could be infected with the same for the symptoms they show are similar.

It is so hard to be away from the kids, this is actually the first time we were separated for two weeks long, without one of us, the dad or me. Last year, I was away for 5 days when I went to Luzon but the dad was there to take care of them, this time, neither of us were there.

Restlessness slowly made me anxious, I could not sleep and I'd constantly check on my phone if there are any updates from them. They are supposed to fly home on Saturday so all the more I got anxious. Friday afternoon and the doctor has not yet arrived to check on their condition, no news if they will be released from the hospital.


I could only pray and pray and wish them well.

The call came at 8 in the evening. Biboy called to inform me they were home and everything went fine. And they were packing their bags already because early the next morning, they will be flying home.

Glory to God for all the great things He has done. But if you ask me if I am willing to let them go away for another vacation, just them. No more. They will vacation with us, no matter what the cost.

They are here with us now, I am exhausting all efforts to let Tabebs take her medicines, she's one hard head. Tsk, rsk, but she's fine here, with me.

God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. ~Jewish Proverb

Earth Hour 2011

There are 8765.8127 hours in one year. The earth asks for only 1 hour, on March 26, 2011, Saturday, 8:30pm. 60 minutes of darkness, 60 minutes of CARING and SHOWING concern for Mother Earth.

I am joining.

Are you?

Coffee Dream, Where Your Coffee Dreams Come True

I drink coffee, in fact, a cup of good coffee basically starts my mornings. But I am not one who drinks more than two, I prefer a cup in the morning and one when I feel like it.

There are a number of coffee shops here in our city, they are good coffee shops as well, but I prefer one that is just within the vicinity where I work, or where I frequent. Having one inside the mall is a blessing. And when Coffee Dream opened six years ago in my favorite mall, husband and I were regular customers, almost always ordering strawberry smoothies.

Having Coffee dream re-launched is a good reminder that it exists because I have totally forgotten about it after being switched to another workplace a bit far from the mall. With more relaxing ambiance this time, it seemed more spacious and more convenient for business meet-ups. The choice of pastries and cakes are awesome, yummy pieces and delicious chilled coffee blends. They also serve non-coffee chilled blends, re-packaging the old strawberry smoothie I have once loved and making me fall in love with it once more.

Well, I have always envied some blogger friends for being close to a Starbucks outlet, but I totally do not get how expensive that can be. And I am not even sure if I can afford to buy a cup from Starbucks, knowing how dear everything there is. But thanks to Coffee Dream, with less than a hundred bucks, you can already grab a piece of cookie and a cup of hot chocolate or caffe macchiato. A Frosticcino or Fro-Reo costs P120 per grande, and it is enough a reward for a day's tiresome work. Besides, they get home-grown coffee, and locally roasted coffee is just good for the country's economy.

Frosticcino

Caffe Macchiato

Cakes, you say? They have cakes and sandwiches. Pair your hot drink with a good tuna sandwich or corned beef sandwich. A serving is too generous, so an order can be devoured by two and you will still have it with gusto.

Corned Beef Sandwich

You can order a muffin or two, a piece of cake costs less than 2 dollars, but they can genuinely satiate your hunger and fill your rumbling tummy.

Carrot Muffin

Elizabeth Surprise

We had a whole day job fair last Friday, and I felt so tired. The husby was already at home and slept while waiting for me, I didn't bother calling him coz I knew he was tired but when he asked me where I stayed that kept me long, I had to giggle after telling him I rewarded myself with an Irish latte from Coffee Dream. That made me guilty, I should have brought him one, too. Next week, honey, you and I both!

Oh, and these pictures? All these and more we got to try during the exclusive blogger's coffee party they prepared for us yesterday. So, these are the husby's photos, not mine. *wink*

Isn't IT Ironic?

i went to my internist today. i was actually crossing my fingers that nothing really bad is happening to me. i am afraid that what friends tell me would be true as to the doc's diagnosis. i was actually thinking of hypertension to be the culprit of my recurring headaches.

i feel better this day, without the kids around, i took a leave and went to do errands, lots of errands and had to see the doc. the diagnosis stays as is: MIGRAINE. he just upped the dosage of the meds i will have to take. one is celebrex and another one is sibelium. i have normal bp when i got to the clinic so the idea of hypertension is crossed out. contrary to what others say that headaches might mean hypertension, my doc explained that hypertension is a silent killer, thus it may not give you any symptom of an attack. mine's purely migraine as the pain pulsates through the head, and i often feel the throbbing on my left part of head.

there, that means no extra worries. i am actually careful with the food i eat. it's just that, migraine can be predicted, some attacks have precursors, and for the record, mine's the craving for chocolates. how ironic is it that when i crave for chocolates, i need to take meds, but only when i don't crave for it will i eat it. ack! but i have to follow the doc's advice, otherwise, this picture remains my daily mood.


and my brain would be as complicated as this one.


i wrote about migraine and its different aura here, feel free to read and grasp what you can take. and hoe that you don't get visited by attacks as often as i do.

Things We Need Less vs Things We Need More

I read this from Bursky's place. And in all honesty, I can say that all the things we need less must be converted to the things we need most.

And it happens that we need not focus on the cost of these things, because apparently, they seem costless. Improvement comes from within, there are enough "BAD" in this world that we need to show responsibility and share something "GOOD".


For self-improvement or for the good of all, we can at least lessen something and add more effort to achieve what is more valuable.

WE NEED LESS:	WE NEED MORE:
Information	Wisdom
Shallow billionaires	Passionate teachers
Self-promotion	Self-awareness
Multitasking	Control of our attention
Inequality	Fairness
Sugar	Lean protein
Action	Reflection
Super sizes	Smaller portions
Private jets	High-speed trains
Calculation	Passion
Experts	Learners
Blaming	Taking responsibility
Judgment	Discernment
Texting	Reading
Anger	Empathy
Output	Depth
Constructive criticism	Thank-you notes
Possessions	Meaning
Righteousness	Doing the right thing
Answers	Curiosity
Long hours	Longer sleep
Complaining	Gratitude
Sitting	Moving
Selling	Authenticity
Cynicism	Realistic optimism
Self-indulgence	Self-control
Speed	Renewal
Emails	Conversations
Winning	Win-win
Immediate gratification	Sacrifice

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Agree?

Me, Now

Now, off to other positive things to blog about, I am feeling a little better now. I have to get better or else, I will continue feeling pain all over my body and having hoarse voice and having palpitations running after my runny nose, ack!

Things are fine in the office and things are fine at home except that my kids will be going to Iloilo for a short vacation together with their granny. We will be sending the three of them off to Davao on Saturday, that makes us enjoy more of Davao (which I really missed) on a Sunday. They will be back after two weeks, so a little play while they are away is a welcome respite from waking up early to cook their breakfast.

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, and I vowed to limit my online activities as part of my semi-abstinence. I made good, I dunno how long that can hold though. I am not Catholic but having to limit online presence and trying to get more of HIS presence is more than welcome for me, reflecting life and what it has to offer.

March is a busy month for us too, what with graduation and all, so not having kids around means being productive, but then again, I am missing them already... *sigh*

On another note, I am cooking now, which makes me realize that I have been too engrossed with cooking my chicken adobo that just when I was about to fix the table, I was reminded, I haven't cooked rice! Gah!


So bye for now, lest I forget breakfast.

Double gah! Ageing!

National What?

I belong to a group where there is freedom of expression, there are no rules, there is democracy in writing what I feel and being mum about what I think is not right.

The SOCCSKSARGEN Bloggers is a thing of beauty for me. I consider myself a member of an open group, no officers, but with one vision and the mission to promote what is good and rich in Mindanao. People often see the bad and the bloody in Mindanao and we are writing to counter these negative attacks on our homeland. As an open group, many new bloggers have emerged, asked about us, what to do to join, but we answer them with a big: Just Write Good About Mindanao, and you are in the group.

Now, as bloggers, we are not here to cover the truth, because as you can see, the traditional media has it all, war, hostages, kidnappings, massacres, they're all over the news screaming the general Mindanao. But instead, we just want a fair broadcast, if there is massacre in Maguindanao, that is a half day of ride before reaching General Santos City, my point is, Maguindanao is not the whole Mindanao. There still remains the beautiful beaches of Gumasa, the ever tranquil Lake Sebu and the aroma of durian in Davao.

We have also met friends who are bloggers as well, visited us, became their friends and even if they belong to organized groups, we have welcomed them as if we are one organized group. Our hospitality to them never ceased, and will never cease if we know a blogger is coming to General Santos to see us.

But we are that, an open group, we have been successful in hosting the Mindanao Blogging Summit 2, SoCCSKSarGen Experiences dubbed as the SEX Tour 1 and 2, the SoccSarGen Summer Safari, even the 1st BlogFest in General Santos City attended by more than a hundred and fifty participants to which we never had a clue where they came from. Thinking about this, we deduce that indeed, people look after us, and are aware of our existence.

We are aware of our social responsibilities thus our gift-giving in Palakasam and Kinilis, we also donated blood, and gave food to orphans and created and attended more events that we can only count or name. You, see we don't always have fun, but we have others to think of as well. But when we are asked who are the officers, we don't have answers. Sure, there are leaders,but they are that, appointed leaders and not sworn-in officers. And yet, we remain strong and united, even gathering more members to our list.

So what's the fuss with this National what? We are better this way, we blog and we love it, we are free to do everything we want to do. If there are mistakes in our writing, I believe every person has the right to free speech, and or he can very well ask for the help of professionals to better his writing, and guide him in what is right in order for him to improve and not make compromises. We help each other improve, not becoming an obstacle to his improvement.

I enjoy being a blogger and, not joining a National Bloggers Association will not make me less of a blogger.

Here are some good points on the National Bloggers' Association coming from highly acclaimed bloggers Aileen Apolo, and Marocharim. What is your take on this, my dear friends? I want to hear it.

Patience is A Virtue, God says Later

God answers a YES and a NO and sometimes, he answers you with a "later".

I went to the regional office yesterday to present something in line with my job, but was welcomed with a sad news that I didn't make it, there was 9 of us and there was only one vacant post, but sure enough, there will be more retirees this year, so there will be more vacant posts in store for me. I know it is God's will for me and God has his reasons. It may be disheartening but that incident made me all the more encouraged to try out what they still have in store.

So, Plan A continues. Review again for the much dreaded exams. Exams again? Ohhh, I haven't told you this yet, my CS eligibility is sub-professional so this means I have to take the professional level exams this May 22, I hope I pass. Reviews, and more reviews. I will get to meet Math more often, darn!

Today, I am bitten by the flu bug. The stress and lack of sleep may have gotten into me since last week in preparation for the exams, the anxiety I felt while waiting, and the weariness after office. All rolled into one, there's this coughing and sniffing now, which makes me think of going to the hospital and see some cute guys in white nursing uniforms. Haha! Seriously, my back hurts, my throat has pains, and all I can think of is getting myself medicated as soon as possible so that I cannot spread the darn virus to my kids. I am desiring a good massage. Weather here has been crazy for the past days, rain in the afternoons after the scorching heat in the morning. Is that the same in your place too? I hope not, and I hope you are not having the same idea as mine of getting to see some cute nurses clad in their custom made scrubs.


Hachooooo! Okey then, I gotta rest today, I hope these boys I am imagining clothed in their nurse scrubs uniform do not become a reality. I do not like hospitals.

When God closes the door, He opens the windows, right?