5 Years!

How long has it been since my last blog? 5 years!

2007 - Spent a really good summer in Galera with my girls and Grande Island with my kids and mom. Went to Indonesia through an invitation and courtesy of very good friends, Kat and her better half, Andi. I also finally left the firm where i worked for almost 4 years.

2008 - Graduated my Masters and got a new, better job.

2009 - Mom passed :( This was a tough year.

2010 - I officially have a college kid, and I'm not even in my mid 30's yet! how cool is that?!

2011 - still pondering thoughts..

5 MONTHS

its been 5 months since i posted a blog. Aside from all the drama ive been thru (and the drama im still in) here's a brief idea what happened for the past five months..

March. My daughter graduated grade school.
April. My grandma was hospitalized.
May. I reconsidered my resignation. (yes, Im still with the firm)
June. My grandma passed away.
July. Presently struggling the dilemmas of grad school, work, etc.. etc..

Ouch...

Cramps. Mild head ache. Neck pain.
All of these on a TGIF. What a great start for my weekend. Just great! *grin*

Eat. Eat. Eat!

It’s Sunday, the EAT day!
02.19.2006

My cousin, who for the longest time, has not visited the Philippines came home yesterday together with his whole family. His wife is so nice and pretty, his kids are super adorable! (We have good genes, btw. *wink*) We had lunch at home. I served them pancit palabok, siopao and buchi.

After my balikbayan cousin left, I phoned my other cousin to accompany me to buy shoes for my daughter which she will be wearing on her grader’s prom. And of course, after the grueling search for the perfect shoe, we had merienda. The culprit was 1.5 liter of soda and biscuits.

Late afternoon, while being a Sunday bum, my girlfriends and I decided to pig out on ice cream (2 flavors) and a big bag of chips. After a couple of hours, it was corn on the cob, and later that evening we ate the super yummy (according to my girlfriend Josh) spicy baby back ribs I cooked last Valentines Day (no, this isn’t left over!).

At the end of this day, I really, really felt bloated. There goes my diet.

Another day.

02.18.2006

8:30am - Woke up late today. In 30 minutes, I have to eat my breakfast, take a bath, fix myself and go to school at 9am – which is slightly impossible.

9:15am – My school buddy Eileen picked me up (yes, we’re late). We spent half of our day at Ocean Adventure Park. No, this ain’t one of those school fieldtrips. We’re graduate students for crying out loud! (Ok, ok, we did tour and watched the sea lion and dolphin shows. Hey, we’re there already so why not make the most of it!) But FYI, we were there for the greater good of business education.

1:25pm – Lunch via drive thru. I can’t believe it. It took us 15 minutes waiting for our food at this fast food's drive thru. 15 minutes?! Yes, they call it a DRIVE THRU. And I thought TAKE OUT took longer.

2:45pm – after battling with my 5-minute lunch, it was time for Management Accounting. I really thought the Ocean Adventure thing would take the whole day, that's why I did not bring my book and notes. It's a must to bring the book. Good thing though, out of 8 present students, 4 brought their books. Shareeee?!!

4:05pm – Rushing home. It’s my daughter’s post birthday celebration. She invited more or less 15 kids, plus we really have a huge family (in-laws and friends included. – I call them FAMILY.) It was one fun and noisy birthday celebration. Party was done around 9:30pm.

9:30 – Movie time. Did not start the movie, but watched it anyway. It was about the first female boxing manager - played by Meg Ryan. Nice one. Not one of those chick flicks.

11:50pm – Blog. No clubbing tonight. My friends and I already went out last night - TGIF! (Reminds me. I didn't write anything about that. Just so you know, it was a good night out. Just chilled. GCF). Honestly, I really don't have nothing in mind to write tonight. Just thought of a little of this, a little of that.

Presence.

Being a working mom is so difficult. It’s really sad because I always miss the events that are the most important in my children’s lives. Just like today, the 17th of February 2006.

Camille. Last January, she bagged the bronze for the 50 & 100 meter breast stroke in the private schools swimming competition, automatically making her one of the representatives of her school to compete in the city’s swimming competition today. This morning while I was preparing her stuff, I really wish that I could be there to watch and cheer for her, most importantly, take pictures of this special event (yes, I consider this a special event, it’s a mom thing). We came to the YMCA at 8am. I saw all the other parents giving support, saying words of encouragement to their kids. The thought that they are present in this event made me really feel guilty and extremely sad. Camille was warming up. When it was time for me to leave, I approached her and said “Good luck baby. Galingan mo ha? Yung glide mo. Yung breathing mo. Basta galingan mo ha?” Camille just smiled and said “Ok, ma.” As I turned back and walked away, tears were surrounding my eyes - I don’t want them to fall. Not here.

Aerys. Yesterday was their school’s Foundation Day. My mother-in-law came around 6:30am to fetch him because I couldn’t accompany him. Every grade level had a dance presentation. Also, he’s part of their school’s drum & lyre. He plays the drum. This afternoon, he will be competing in their school’s Science Quiz Bee. And yes, I wont be there again. According to his tutor, they have been reviewing since Monday. But kids are kids. When he gets home, after the long stressful day learning in school, play always come first. I brought him with me to the office this morning so he could concentrate reviewing. Last year, when he competed the Science Quiz Bee, our bedroom looked like a classroom. I posted definition of terms on our walls for him to read at all times – either while resting, playing or plainly doing nothing – written on manila paper of course! And it paid off because he got the bronze. This year, I had no time to prepare my manila paper stint. Again, I’m disappointed with myself because although I was given short notice (I was informed just this Wednesday), I should have done something to help him, aside from the reviewing. This afternoon will be tough for him. I just wish I were there to give him words of encouragement.

It hurts me to miss events like this. Win or lose, I am and will always be proud of my kids. I just hope that they would understand why I’m not there at times like this when they need me by their side.

Goodbye, My Tweeti.

With barely 3 hours sleep, and with this itsybitsy hangover, I got up at 6am and started my usual routine -

1. Prepare breakfast for the kids
2. Scream like a crazy person (if you have 2 kids aged 9 and 12, you'll understand why)
3. Feed my kitten, Miming
4. Feed my lovebird, Tweeti (mom calls her - Chiquita)

Tweeti.
16 February 2006

This morning, when I was about to feed Tweeti, there in her cage, I saw her little body lying lifeless. A sudden rush of sadness filled me. For this day, one of those who I truly cared for is gone.

Last year, Tweeti came to my life one September evening. Literally, her wings were taken off so she couldn’t fly (I really cant comprehend why they should do such a thing like that). Not being a bird lover at that time, I always called her the "marusing at pangit na ibon" - because she’s not the typical colorful/adorable lovebird, and “ang unggoy na ibon” – because she would play in her cage using her feet and beak – which was really amusing.

Eventually, as the days passed by, I learned to love the little sucker. She’s one aloof but amusing bird. I made it to the point to greet her everyday, cover her cage with cloth on windy and chilly nights, and ofcourse feed her every morning just to let her feel that I care. After a while, getting used to the things I do for her, she would chirp every time she sees me – and that never ceases to make me smile. But tomorrow, and for the rest of the days to come, my smile won’t be the same as it was. For the only bird I learned to love, the one who touched my heart and taught me how to appreciate her in her own little amazing way has departed.

You will be missed, Tweeti.