Happy Holidays!

Still waiting for our little one...

In the meantime, our 'panganay' sends our warmest holiday wishes to all!

'Goodbye, Summer' Lunch.

Since tomorrow officially brings with it the Fall season, we had a sort of last hurrah for summer during lunch today (much like how Tessa welcomed Summer before).

On the menu:

Grilled Pork Liempo

Ensaladang Itlog na Maalat (with tomatoes and some cilantro for crunch and spice)

Of course, paired with steaming, white rice.

I'm proud to say that I whipped it all up from scratch in about an hour, largely due to our spanking new lean, mean, fat reducing, grilling machine. (Although I don't know how much fat you can really reduce when you start with cholesterol-laden liempo in the first place :0P)

While eating, I looked at Mr. A and asked:

L: What's missing that would really complete this meal?

And without missing a beat, he answered correctly:

A: Ice cold Coke!

I love it when he does that hehe :0)

Sad to say, the preggy lady has given up caffeine so we had to make do with ice-cold water :0P Still, it was a very satisfying meal that brought back memories of summers spent at the beach :0)

Living within (or better yet, below) our means.

The past week was a frenzy of one thing bad thing after another in the financial world. The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, the takeover of Merrill Lynch, the federal bailout of AIG all resulted to a big scare for the ordinary investor like us.

There was a time when I was clueless about the goings on in Wall Street and I couldn't care less. A time when Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, subprime or even mortgage didn't make a blip in my everyday life. Gone are those days of sublime, worry free ignorance.

I don't even deign pretend that I understand a whit of what's going on or what has happened. What I do know is that the past week will affect our retirement funds much like how the past year had -- negatively. The only consolation is the fact that we are still a few decades away from retirement and hopefully, have enought time to rally and bounce back. I shudder to think what the people who are just 5 to 10 years away from retirement are thinking and feeling.

Contrary to the doomsday atmosphere that you get from the media, a lot of financial blogs and columns advise the ordinary investor to practice zen in the midst of all these chaos. In other words, instead of pulling out your money and selling stocks like crazy, they say, stay put. Dont' panic. If you do have to do something, then make sure that it's to ensure that your assets are well diversified.

The best advice I've read is from the most recent issue of Time Magazine and I quote:

"Coping in this new world will require adjustments by millions of Americans. We all have to start living within our means -- or preferably, below them. If you don't overborrow or overspend, you're far less vulnerable to whatever problems the financial system may have."

Simple yet brilliant.

Time's a-flying...

Just like that, half the weekend's over. My, my. I really don't know where the days are going lately. Seems like I just celebrated my birthday the other day and then, poof, it's October already.

I was actually dreading September and October since it meant more work for me due to another student intern rotation. Contrary to what I was expecting about the days dragging due to added paperwork, they seem to whiz by as fast as the paperwork piles up on my desk :0P Next week's mid-evals already. Before I know it, it'll be time for the final evals.

With the time flying by, I can't help but think about Bebe's arrival. I'm getting excited, and, truth be told, a little bit apprehensive about giving birth. Technically, I still have 3 more months to go. Time enough to get everything, including myself, ready, right? Sigh. With the way things are going, I won't be surprised if he's here before I can even list down what we need to accomplish :0P

Shopping with my man :0)

I really enjoy shopping with Mr.A. It wasn't always that way, though.

I remember during our Japan trip (way back nung nagbobolahan pa lang kami hehe), everytime I ask for his opinion about a certain bag, shoe or clothing, his standard reply would be: "I'm not sure, hindi naman ako gumagamit/nagsusuot nyan." :0P Well, thanks :0P

Nowadays, when you ask for his opinion, he actually has something to say. For instance:

(Me, wearing a striped multicolored dress which I tried cinching with a wide red belt)

L: What do you think, Babe?

A: Umm (looks me over). I think you have too much going on.

O di ba?! Natututo. Although not all his comments are as helpful. Or as nice. Consider:

(Me, trying on a shabby chic pea coat in linen at Old Navy)

L: Ok ba?

A: Mukha kang mahirap.

There was also one instance at Zara where I was trying on an off-white trench coat.

L: I like this.

A: Okay lang.

L: You don't like it?

A: Para kasing taga-UST ka na dumaan ng Lawton ng tanghali. Makutim sya. Labang-poso kumbaga.

I don't know what's worse, him dissing the coat I like or him comparing me to a UST student. Haha! I kid, I kid!

But seriously, I think my hubby is learning the fine art of shopping. Let's say he is slowly developing an eye for things as evidenced by his lament to me a couple of weeks ago:

A: I went to Macy's trying to see if I can get you a bag for your birthday.

L: And?

A: The thing is, ever since you started taking me to Bloomingdales and Nordstrom to windowshop, it seems like the things at Macy's just don't measure up. Parang ampapangit na nila coz I've seen better.

Haha! Ang taray!

I think this is actually good for me but bad for his bank account in the long run :0P

Saying goodbye is never an easy thing.

It's the night for mixed emotions. On one hand, we're happy that everything went smoothly. On the other hand, we're sad to let go of what has been a part of our family for the past several years.

Tonight, we closed on the sale of our CR-V.

I think Mr.A took the loss harder than I did. I can't blame him. The CR-V was his first car here, his baby. The buyers were really lucky because his TLC showed on how the car looks, and how it runs. I hope they show it the same kind of love that we've shown it.

I know, I know. Seems silly getting worked up over a car but this one shared a lot of our firsts :0)

Anyway.

We're actually pretty lucky at how fast the whole process was. We listed it at Craigslist last Friday and closed the sale tonight. The couple who ended up buying it seemed to appreciate how much the car meant to us.

Paring down to being a one-car family seemed to be the most practical thing to do nowadays, what with the cost of gas and the rocky economy. It won't be as convenient but it won't be as much of a hardship for us since I rarely drive even before. It'll be interesting how we'll figure the logistics out once Bebe's here and I'm back to work. We'll see.

The trade-off though is actually nice -- we'll be able to pay off the Civic (2 years in advance) with the money from the sale. Plus, one less car insurance payment will provide us with some more wiggle room in our budget. With no car payments and no credit card debt to think about, and just the utilities and mortgage to budget for, I think we're at a good place to be starting a family :0)

Change

"She had just realized there were two things that prevent us from achieving our dreams: believing them to be impossible or seeing those dreams made possible by some sudden turn of the wheel of fortune, when you least expected it. For at that moment, all our fears suddenly surface: the fear of setting off along a road heading who knows where, the fear of a life full of new challenges, the fear of losing forever everything that is familiar. People want to change everything and, at the same time, want it all to remain the same."

- from The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho

No time to dissect. Just a reminder to myself.

Mom.

(Bebe at 14 weeks)

This one... this one's going to call me "Mom" :0)

Auntie Leah.

And here is the gorgeous boy who's gonna be calling me that...

Say hello to my nephew, David Alexander. This little bundle of cuteness is courtesy of my sis Liz and my bro-in-law, Greg :0)

The Answer

Post Valentine brunch at the Berkeley Marina

This was supposed to be a Valentine post but time got away from me.

Anyway.

I found an old blog of mine and read a post dated February 2001, three months before Mr.A entered my life again.

Reading through it again and looking back, I am amazed at how God and the universe in general works in mysterious yes varied ways to bring us our heart's desire. The key thing is being brave enough to ask for it :0)

Here's the request that probably brought me the greatest love of my life...

WANTED: BOYFRIEND

I've thought about putting a want ad in the daily broadsheets. But instead of looking for a job, or something just as common, I'll be advertising for a boyfriend. Sounds a little desperate? Umm... I guess. But hey, the idea has its merits. For one, I'll surely won't face the dilemma of falling for a friend... and all the anguish that goes with it. For right from the start, he'll know where he stands and just what kind of relationship I want from him. Next. there'll be no surprises or at the very least, it would be lessened a great deal. I mean all the applicants would have to be shortlisted first before they can be considered. So that means, there'll be none of that tripping and falling stuff. The freedom to choose... not suddenly realizing you just have to be with this guy, not because you want to...but because you have to.
Hmmm... doesn't that kind of take the romance out of the whole thing? Not really. I mean, I can always include romantic in the qualifications. Which leads me to... what exactly do I put in the...umm... qualifications? Should I be so specific as to dictate all I want down to the languages spoken? Or do I make it short and sweet? Somethin like:wanted: boyfriend material...
But then, something as vague as that would surely bring in droves of creatures with an unrealistic view of themselves.
Come to think about it... what do I really want? Of course, I want perfection. But in the absence of perfection? I want someone whose imperfections add something to his whole persona and not subtract from it. Someone aware of his limitations yet not afraid to dream and take risks. I want someone who's gonna be an extension of myself but an entirely different individual in his own right. Someone who's gonna be smart enough to see through me yet sensitive enough to keep it to himself.
He's going to be dreamy to look at... with eyes that gets you lost and lips that makes you forget. He'll have the voice of an angel but the charm of the devil. He'll be able to dance with me, laugh with, argue with me,cry with me. He'll get under my skin... driving me to heights I've never dreamed of while needing me as much.
I want all these and more. But truth be told... all I really want is someone who'll want me enough to keep me.

Updates

*My dad and brothers were able to get multiple-entry tourist visas! Yey! My mom and youngest brother, Sam, will be flying in 3rd week of March; my mom going to Salt Lake to be with my sis before she gives birth and Sam staying with us until my sister's wedding in May. My dad and other brother, Wilf, will be here in the Bay Area by the first week of May and then we're off to a spring roadtrip covering three states -- SoCal-Vegas-Utah. Can't wait!

*More than half-way through the three month internship, I am grateful for this experience that has enriched my professional life and opened possibilities I haven't thought of before. Suddenly, charting my way back to the loving arms of academia does not seem as daunting as before.

*NogNog and I are back in each other's arms :0) Though driving still stresses me out, this time around, I think our relationship will be for keeps :0)

*Though the past week was no basis, I can actually smell the arrival of spring. The days are getting longer, the nights, shorter. This means more time for fun stuff after work -- a 3 mi run, a bike ride around the marina, a walk around the park. Spring will surely cure the discontent that winter never fails to stir in me.

*Leila and her husband, Kevin, spent a week here in the Bay Area. Having Karen here when Leila came to visit was an added bonus! We spent Friday night and the whole of Saturday with them. The Saturday adventure was, as Leila put it, one for the books! I am just thankful that though years separate each meeting with these friends of mine, we never fail to reconnect each time. It is true that adage, old friends are the best kind of friends.

On growing out of a friendship

From The Wonder Spot by Melissa Banks:

... and these reasons have nothing to do with our friendship and everything to do with how I see Dena now.

***

When she drops me off at the Hot Plate, she says, "Good-bye," and I'm surprised to hear in her voice what I myself have been trying to conceal: Whatever affection we have for each other is from a long time ago.

***

I realize I will never hear from Dena gain, and I will never call her. It gives me a chill. It is a strange thing to end a friendship, even if you know it's what you want. It's like a death; all of a sudden your experience of a person becomes finite.

Whew.

A colleague asked end of last year if I would be willing to take a student intern while she's on maternity leave. Honestly, the thought of it brought butterflies to my tummy and doubts to my worry-prone head. That's when I knew I had to say yes. Yup, butterflies in my tummy is always a good sign that an experience is outside my comfort zone... I like having a few correctly-sized sharks in my fish tank :0)

The rotation started last Monday (and will end March 28... u-huh, 3 whole months) and I am so relieved and grateful that the intern is smart, confident and open-minded. It could have easily gone the other way, meaning a shunga-shunga intern or an arrogant and close-minded one; imagine how long and tortuous the next 3 months would have been!

So I offer another prayer of gratitude to the One looking out for me. I was sure before that this is going to be an interesting learning experience , and after the first week, I'm glad to know that I get to enjoy it:0)

Iska at heart.

Thought it would be fun to go down memory lane...

1. Student number?
94-06032

2. College?
UP College of Allied Medical Professions

3. Course?
B.S. Physical Therapy

4. Nag-shift ka ba o na-kickout?
Haha! Nope, granted that I was delayed a year, I didn't give up :0P

5. Saan ka kumuha ng UPCAT?
Hmm. Sa UPIS yata.

6. Favorite GE subject?
Comm 1 and Humanities1 and 2

7. Favorite PE?
Definitely Social Dancing hehe :0D

8. Saan ka nag-aabang ng hot guy sa UP?
Meron ba? Haha!

9. Favorite prof(s)
Definitely Prof. MRuiz :0)

10. Pinaka-ayaw na GE subject.
Let's see, a toss between Math14 with Salamida and Physics lab with Iggy Boy :0P

11. Kumuha ka ba ng Wed or Sat classes?
I honestly can't remember.

12. Nakapag-field trip ka ba?
Yup, for PI100, in Batangas yata.

13. Naging CS ka na ba or US sa UP?
Haha! Twice when I was still in AS then once during postgrad but never when I was in CAMP haha!

14. Ano ang Org/Frat/Soro mo?
APTS in CAMP... none when I was in AS, masyado ako nag-enjoy sa mga blockmates ko hehe :0D

15. Saan ka tumatambay palagi?
Let's see -- sa BatCave when I was in AS (near the DPSM office yata, near the gate that opens to the Court of Appeals) and sa parking lot when I was in CAMP.

16. Dorm, Boarding house, o Bahay?
Bahay :0P Except for a month during internship.

17. Kung walang UPCAT test at malaya kang nakapili ng kurso mo sa UP, ano yun(Given ang mentality mo nung HS ka)? The thing is, Physical Therapy was my first choice. Maybe that's why I stuck it out hehe

18. Sino ang pinaka-una mong nakilala sa UP?
This pharmacy freshman, Jaerus.

19. First play na napanood mo sa UP?
I can't remember, but I know it was in Diliman.

20. Name the 5 most conyo orgs in UP
Huh?

21. Name 5 of the coolest orgs/frats/soro in UP.
Another huh?

22. May frat/soro bang nag-recruit sa yo?
None. Haha! I guess that means I'm not 'Sis' material :0P

23. Saan ka madalas mag-lunch?
Let's see, Wendy's probably and if we're broke, Pinay's hehe :0D

24. Masaya ba sa UP?
Not always, 'coz CAMP then can be really, really toxic! haha! But I consider my years in UP (including my years in servitude hehe!) part of the best years of my life :0)

25. Nakasama ka na ba sa rally?
Once. I remember it was for LFS regarding UniLever workers or something.

26. Ilang beses ka bumoto sa Student Council
I'm not sure... but I vaguely remember doing it once.

27. Name at least 5 leftist groups in UP
Huh?

28. Pinangarap mo rin bang mag-laude nung freshman ka?
Haha! Oo naman... until CAMP opened my eyes to how wishful thinking that was :0P

29. Kanino ka pinaka-patay sa UP?
Depende. Anong year ba ang pinag-uusapan natin? :0D

30. Kung di ka UP, anong school ka?
Malamang UST. Coz those are the only schools I applied to :0P

MALIGAYANG IKA-100 TAON, MGA ISKOLAR NG BAYAN!

(Survey swiped from here.)

Resolution ba kamo?

Did some New Year online shopping to increase the odds of following up on resolution #1. Fortunately for my holiday-beleaguered wallet, B arnes and N oble dot com was having a clearance sale!

Here's my loot, all for about $120, inclusive of shipping.

So far, I've finished Stardust and Notes on a Scandal and starting on Sideways. I also have 2 books loaned by colleagues on my nightstand, waiting for their turn.

I'm so happy to be back to reading for pleasure (as opposed to reading for test taking :0P) again!

This stash will definitely see me through winter and the start of spring. Meanwhile, I'm open to suggestions to add to our library once I get through this stash :0)

We Believe.

game tickets : $$$

game gear: $$

game fuel: $

chance to watch the War riors beat the S purs in a game that went into overtime (yep, you guessed it): priceless!

***

Gol den Sta te War riors vs San Ant onio Sp urs, 130-121

Notes from an untrained eye...

• There's a reason why the S purs are the defending N BA champions. Those guys are smooth!
• The War riors are still a little rough on the edges but they have some good raw talent to work with.
• Medyo may pagka-bakaw si Bar on Da vis.
• Crush ko si To ny Par ker!
• I think M onta E llis and To ny Par ker are well-matched in speed, E llis just needs to be a little more... uhh, suave .
• I may not be a basketball fan but watching a game live, especially when it's a home game, can be a very exhilirating experience (uh, given that your team wins in the end hehe!!)

Quality time.

Last night, the power went off. We couldn't go out (can't open the garage door :0P), couldn't surf the net (even wiith the laptop charged, there was no wifi), couldn't watch TV; even reading was out of the question since we didn't have emergency lights.

So I lighted some candles, Mr.A cranked up the emergency radio for some mood music then we cuddled and... talked.

We talked about 2007, what our favorite parts were. We talked about past trips. We talked about the future, what we were looking forward to. We talked about friends and co-workers (yep, chismis!). We talked about work and taxes. We even had kwentong barbero that left us laughing our a**es off!

It reminded me of the time when the only thing that sustained our relationship was our long talks on the phone.

I am grateful that, stripped of all the things that often consume our time and demand our attention, we still very much enjoy each other's company :0)

resolutions, baby, they come and go

I totally respect statistics and evidence-based practice but what the heck, here goes...

• read more books
• exercise more regularly
• get my driver's license

I'll stop here.

Happy New Year!

May 2008 bring all of us...

- the daring to meet our hearts' longing

- the courage, despite the odds, to be true to ourselves

- the certainty that, yes, we deserve the happiness we are getting

- the audacity to let the world break our hearts over and over again

- the temerity to get to know our loneliness, fears and pains

- the humility to accept that there is something/someone far greater than us

- the power to choose our own thoughts

- the ability to be alert in our prayers

- the wisdom to know that now is the only reality, to trust in each moment's fullness and emptiness

- the awareness that we already have everything we need to be the best that we can be

Instead of wishing everyone a blessed 2008, I wish everyone the realization that we are already blessed :0)