How to welcome the new year on a positive note?

Be thankful for 2007.

For all the challenges, for all the laughs, the good times, the not-so-good ones, for everything.

1. Good Health.

- I am thankful for good health, especially for my dad and my mom. My dad, who's now fully recovered from a scary stroke three years ago, is now doing well, and save for the regular medical check up, the medicines plus a rather slower lifestyle (he's a retired policeman), everything's back to normal. He had completely forgotten and gave up smoking (he was a chain smoker) and drinking (but we let him from time to time so as not to completely denied him) and he take up walking around the neighborhood as his regular exercise, good no? About the same time last year, my mom experienced unbearable stomach pains, and a medical check up showed that she has gallstones that needed to be removed, asap! i know the feeling of how uncomfortable it is as i also have gallstones and had my own share of sleepless nights and throwing up. She was operated on January 2 and since recovered really well. Aside from the usual fever and colds, my family, including lyn, did not have any major health problems this year and i am very thankful for that.

2. Lyn

- One of, if not, the best things that happened to me. We celebrated our sixth year and that six years made realized more how lucky i am to have her. I think the love letter post says everything i need to write. And for 2008? abangan...

3. Work

- I am grateful that I am employed and that I can contribute and give some to my family and for some of their needs.

4. Travel

- Aahh. It has been an amazing travelling year for me. I've been to a lot, explored new places and set foot on places i only dreamt of before, to name a few, i've been to Sagada, to Potipot Island, to Anawangin, ahh, if only i have enough money to travel, i'll surely wander around the Philippines! There's still Batanes, Zamboanga, Camiguin, Siquijor, Caramoan, Cagbalete island, Palawan, Cagayan, Mindanao.... andami pa, Hundred Islands na nga lang 100 na! and may I also add Enchanted Kingdom? hehe

5. Mountain Climbing

- This is something i always wanted to do, and 2007 came as the realization. I underwent the Basic Mountaineering Course with Yapak Mountaineers, and boy! it was an awesome experience. Mt. Pulag summed it all up to me, and i am looking forward for more mountains to climb for next year.

6. Photography

- As i look back to the year that's about to end, i can say that it was the year when photography really knocks me off my feet (naks!). And i am serious. Before, i only took pictures because I need to (for souvenirs) but now, i took pictures because I still need to (hehehe) and also because I have this "itch" that's needed to be "scratched". Photography is one world that I willingly embraced, and it really makes me appreciate things around me and the little details around them. Now, i only need a Nikon d40x and a photography class to understand more the technical aspects of this art.

7. New Friends

- Blogging, Mountain climbing and Photography not only gave me new highs, they also lead me to a path where I found new friends who share the same interests. And i am tremendously enjoying every minute of it. Sabi nga, strangers are friends you haven't meet yet. And I am thankful I met you.

8. Transformers, the movie

- can you blame me? for someone who grow up thinking that there are no Volkswagens, only Bumblebees and that the ultimate coolness is to have, again, Bumblebee as your buddy, i think that's understandable. I wasn't teary eyed when i saw this but the live action movie really brought me to the time when life was still simple and no bills to pay, no deadlines to meet... and for that moment that i was living the child in me, i am thankful.

9. Heroes

- Sci-fi at its best! Who doesn't want to be Peter Petrelli? The dvd marathon of season 1 reminds me of my fascination with The X-file or the 80's Misfits of Science or the original X-men animated series. I am so loving my tv and my dvd player because of this. Yatta!!!!

10. I am alive

- This alone is so much to be thankful of. Despite what's happening to the world, waking up each morning is such a blessing and a gift from above. It always reminds us that we can always look forward to a new morning, a new beginning.

There are still a thousand and one reasons why we should be thankful for 2007, we don't need to elaborate and/or write everything, it's enough that we accepted what was given us and thankful for every lesson learned.

As we leap to the new year, let's bring with us all the positive things we learned from 2007 and transform to a better us.

(Thank you Lazarus for the tag)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE, KANPAI!!!!!!

My Little Christmas Tree

Christmas makes you feel nostalgic... and you really cannot do anything about it.

A simple parol reminds me of my dad who is really good in making and/or repairing them. we usually bring them to school as our contribution for our classroom's christmas decors, and my dad's parol made from bamboo and covered by fluffy rolls of white japanese papers and red cellophane stands out, despite its small size, from an array of multi-colored lanterns. and after the school's christmas party, we bring them home to be the star/s in our window/s.

I do not have a parol in my little house but i do plan to make some in the future, just like my dad.

Our family christmas tree in Quezon is usually up by first week of December, and digging boxes of christmas decors never fails to excite the kids in us that Santa Claus is really coming to town. We usually look for decors we call our own, for instance, each one in the family has its own star to put in the tree, mine is this sparkling blue star, and it should be me and only me who can put that star in our tree, and same with everyone else. Now that i am away and not present during this christmas tree event, i let my nephews do the honor for me (they now also have their own star!).

Come Christmas time when I'll be home, looking at that star that I call my own will bring back memories.

Now, that I am on my own, the thrill of putting that tree, decorating it and seeing it all aglow at night is such a fascinating feeling, it can really cheer me up and made me look forward for Christmas and be with them.

And before we go on emo mode, here's how my little christmas tree looks like, with decors all made by myself.

HAVE A VERY MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! KANPAI!!!

and remember the reason why there is Christmas...

This weekend...

a dash of this, a sprinkle of that, plus this...

Happy weekend everyone, KANPAI!!!

dapat bang magdala ng trabaho sa bahay?

Pangkaraniwan na sa mga empleyado ang mag-uwi ng trabaho sa bahay, na kadalasang pinag-aawayan ng mga mag-asawa.

"maghapon ka na ngang wala, tapos pag-uwi mo, wala ka pa ring panahon sa min ng mga anak mo..." yan ang kadalasang linya ng partner mo.

Oo nga naman, dapat balanse lang ang buhay... me panahon para sa trabaho at me panahon para sa mga mahal sa buhay. yan ang dapat nating sanayin: balanseng buhay para sa masayang pagsasama!

naalala ko tuloy ang kapit-bahay ko. tahimik lang sila.... masaya,at palagi kong naririnig na nagtatawanan. nguni't isang araw nagulat ako sa aking narinig, iyakan ng mga bata, galit na galit na nanay, "walanghiya ka! bakit ka nag-uwi ng trabaho dito?

"pasensya na mahal, ang dami lang talagang trabaho, baka di ko matapos e kailangang mai-deliver na agad ito." sabi ng lalaki.

sa loob loob ko, minsan lang naman ata nag-uwi ng trabaho di pa pinagbigyan. tuloy pa rin ang sigawan, ang iyakan.... lubos na akong nabahala kaya kinatok ko sila.

"tao po, tao po, okay lang ba kayo dyan?" binuksan ng babae ang pinto at galit na galit na nagsumbong sa kin

"hay naku, nakakataas ng presyon tong asawa ko, nag-uwi ng trabaho dito sa bahay!"

"intindihin mo na lang, minsan lang naman ata ginawa eh ,baka sobrang dami lang talaga ng trabaho nya ngayon at meron pang deadline." ang sabi ko sa kanya.

Galit na galit ang babae na sinagot ako..."ay buwisit talaga, alam mo bang embalsamador ang asawa ko?"

:)

Laws

the email inbox is really a gem when one is looking for a bloggable item. and as usual, i found (or rather, received) one. of course, i am sharing it to you.

(anong panama ng Newton's Law of gravity sa mga ito??)

Law of Mechanical Repair: After your hands become coated with grease, your nose will begin to itch or you'll have to pee. (hmm, that explains why mechanics have grease on their noses)

Law of the Workshop: Any tool, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner. (honga, parang doon talaga ang destinasyon nila!)

The law of the Telephone: If you dial a wrong number, you never get a busy signal. (try mo!)

Law of the Alibi: If you tell the boss you were late for work because you had a flat tire, the very next morning you will have a flat tire. (so don't make LBM as your usual excuse, karma ang tawag dyan haha)

Variation Law: If you change lines at a checkout (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will start to move faster than the one you are in now (works every time). (kahit sa MRT lagi yan)

Law of the Bath: When the body is fully immersed in water, the telephone rings. (sa mga horror movies, maraming ganito, lalabas ng naka-towel lang yung naliligo na usually babae, tapos habulang umaatikabo na ang kasunod! hihihi)

Law of Close Encounters: The probability of meeting someone you know increases dramatically when you are with someone you don't want to be seen with. (ay totoo yan, so wag ding gamiting excuse na masama ang pakiramdam o di kaya busy para lang di makapunta sa isang gathering, tapos magmamalling ka lang pala, chances are, makakasalubong mo ang mga taong sinabihan mo ng ganun. to make it simple, wag maging sinungaling hehehe)

Law of the Result: When you try to prove to someone that a machine won't work, it will. (okey, i want to prove that my brain is not working, well? it really is not working hehehe)

Law of Biomechanics: The severity of the itch is inversely proportional to the reach. (kaya pala sobrang kati kapag yung pinaka-sentro ng likod mo ang kumakati. o fungi na yan? hehe)

Law of the Theater: At any event, the people whose seats are furthest from the aisle arrive last. (hmm, hindi rin, kung sino yung nakaupo sa unahan, yun, yun ang huling dumating)

Law of Coffee: As soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold. (buti na lang, pinapalamig ko talaga coffee ko hehe)

Murphy's Law of Lockers: If there are only two people in a locker room, they will have adjacent lockers. (who's murphy, by the way?)

Law of Rugs/Carpets: The chances of an open-faced jelly sandwich landing face down on a floor covering are directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet/rug. (tip: if you have an expensive carpet/rug, don't make jelly sandwich)

Law of Location: No matter where you go, there you are. (oo nga naman...)

Law of Logical Argument: Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about. ( okey, let's talk about jelly sandwich...)

Brown's Law: If the shoe fits, it's ugly. (yeah!!!)

Oliver's Law: A closed mouth gathers no feet. (ano daw? at sino naman si oliver?)

Wilson's Law: (this one is true every time!) As soon as you find a product that you really like, they will stop making it. (di ba?)

Doctors' Law: If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better. Don't make an appointment and you'll stay sick.

agree? :)