Sunday, December 13, 2009

METALLICA rocks!!!

For those who think i am wholesome and sweet and mellow and mild, think again. I have a dark side...and i let it all come out last night during the METALLICA concert at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. It was a blast...the ultimate gathering of headbangers! I watched it with Fil who was also celebrating his birthday and three of our die-hard-Metallica-veterans friends. I was literally gritting my teeth, clasping my hands together, on the edge of my seat peering down waiting for James, Kirk, Lars and hmmm Robert (the bass guitarist whose name i found out later...he's the newest member by the way) to come out of the opening below me. Everyone who has been sitting there and patiently waiting for an hour or so was enveloped with renewed enthusiasm. For a moment it felt surreal...like it wasn't really happening, that i wasn't really there. Then the crowd went wild, James and company ran to the stage and started the party. It was a really loud party, similar to being in a cockpit. The crowd sang to every song, threw a fist to every beat and yeah, banged their heads endlessly. I wasn't familiar with their latest album Death Magnetic but the feverish sensation enveloping the pavilion was too contagious for me and Fil to fight...and so we found ourselves also throwing fists in the air and banging our heads...so liberating! yeahhh...! It was the first time for me and Fil to see Metallica - we missed their concert last year 'coz we spent the holidays in the Philippines - so we proudly raised our hands when James scanned the crowd for Metallica virgins!

My love affair with Metallica started in the early 90s, at the height of the success of their Black Album. A college friend introduced me to their songs and i instantly fell in love with them. My favorites are The Unforgiven, Unforgiven II, Low Man's Lyric, Enter Sandman. Back then, we would be jamming to the songs at the rooftop of their house in Caloocan City, Metro Manila. Believe it or not, i can even play the guitar intro of Nothing Else Matters that i wouldn't hesitate to fill in for Kirk in case he succumbs to mental block while performing onstage. hihihi...obviously one of my fantasies...just the thought of it excites me. LOL... nah, i'm not that good hahaha!!! Still, i'm proud of it. One may not notice me at all when i'm playing the guitar but it always surprises everyone when they hear me play Metallica.

Sadly, the concert last night was more about their new album so i was a little disappointed (though i expected it) that they sang more of their new songs rather than be nostalgic about their past hits. I couldn't forgive them for not singing any of the Unforgiven songs but i was thrilled beyond words when they sang Nothing Else Matters and Enter Sandman. Overall the band performance was wild but not as 'wild' as one who has never been to a heavy metal concert before would imagine in a heavy-metal concert e.g. guitar smashing, lots of swearing, burning the stage...stuff like that. I guess age, experience, family life and the variety of their fan base have tamed the band down a bit. After all, they have nothing more to prove: they are already in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! No more need for drama. The guys on the floor pushing each other and attempting to climb the stage were fun to watch, no marijuana smoker within my 5-feet radius and the lighting effects and laser show were blindingly dazzling. It was a natural high! So happy i was part of the party... It felt for me like a graduation of some sort, the culmination of a life-long dream. Now i can go on with the rest of my life :)

Here's my favorite Metallica song, definitely in my top 5 favorite love songs. Heavy metal band singing a love song with full orchestra, only Metallica can pull of something like that.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Decembrrrrr

not enough to make a snowman but enough to write my name. it doesn't normally snow on the streets of the Bay Area but it did last December 8 and it's not even winter yet. usually, we only see snow-covered hills as we drive along the freeway but not in our driveway!


i sooo hate winter but it isn't that bad in California.

i'm not complaining.




Wednesday, December 9, 2009

what are PARENTS?

There isn't
a better example
of love you can count on,
it seems,
Than the parents
who've always stood by you
to encourage your hopes
and your dreams,
They're still there
whenever you need them
to help with their own
special touch -
Parents are
wonderful people,
and that's why
you love them so much.


Happy, happy birthday to my mom who turned 57 last December 7 and happy 36th Wedding Anniversary to her and my dad.

On December 8, 1973 Mamang and Papang got married via a simple church ceremony somewhere in southern Mindanao. Growing up, i remember looking at their black-and-white wedding pictures every now and then and as soon as i turned 10, i started parading around the house in Mama's wedding gown - a long-sleeved embroidered mini-skirt! so cool!

Their lovestory? I'm not sure...i guess it's something children sometimes ignore or forget. All i know is that mamang, half-ilocano and half-kapampangan but grew up in Tondo, Manila, met papang - a full-blooded bisdak (bisayang dako) from Midsayap, Cotabato - in Manila and had a whirlwind romance. I've asked them many times for the details but i always get different versions - mamang said she didn't know then that papang was taking her to Mindanao (translation: tinanan or forced to elope) but papa claims otherwise...and the story grows more complicated with each telling... ;-)

Anyway, whatever the circumstances that brought them together and however difficult and challenging it has been to keep them together all these years, i am very thankful that we are all still here as a family and we're looking forward to more challenges, experiences and good times ahead. My wish is for mamang and papang to live long and witness Baby Racrac and Baby AJ grow and maybe one or two more grandkids? let's see. :-)

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

November to remember

Went to see the San Francisco 49ers play against the Tennessee Titans at the Candlestick Park last November 8 with Fil and our friends. It was a great day, sunny but cool and we were all wearing RED! :) The 49ers lost but we still had a great time being there in the football stadium and experience the game LIVE! not even a super duper hyperreal oversized-screen LED TV could get you that close to the feeling...

Manny Pacquiao pounded Cotto in a thrilling 12-rounds of boxing last November 14 which we watched on pay-per-view at the Coyoca residence in Milpitas. We had a party, overflowing food and thankfully our kababayan delivered the goods and made us again proud to be Filipino.

Sadly, the whole family was bitten by the flu bug. First it was me a couple of days after Pacquiao's fight (Monday) but i managed to combat it with Tylenol and rest. By Wednesday I got rid of the fever but cough and colds took over at the same time that Fil started feeling sick. That night, Racrac's temperature reached 100. Thursday morning Fil left to see the doctor (and i tell you he's not really the type who would see a doctor immediately so i knew then that he's feeling really bad) and he was prescribed with Tamiflu and something for his cough. After lunch, Racrac's fever still did not subside so we brought him to urgent care clinic (his fever was 103!) and was also prescribed with Tamiflu. For some reason, i forgot about my own illness, started feeling better and took care of my two patients. They were back to normal after a couple of days and that's when i started coughing again. tsk.tsk. because of that, i missed my New Moon movie date with the girls and the deluxe pedi bonding after huhuhu... :(((

Had thanksgiving dinner with friends at the Taladua residence. We pardoned the turkey and instead had lechon and lots of food totally unrelated to the occasion. The only thanksgiving dinner food we had at the table was the pecan pie :) The next day, Black Friday, we stayed home and put up our Christmas tree. Too lazy to go out and join the crazy shopping crowd.

Also this November we repainted Racrac's room and got him a twin-sized bed with a set of Disney's Cars themed bedding. Oh how he loves cars! i never thought those tiny diecast car models could be exciting for boys his age. At 21 months, he now sleeps ALONE on his bed in his room and he likes it. Maybe he is still too young to feel scared about the idea. He's been sleeping there for 2 weeks already although there were some nights he woke up at 4am, hopped into our bed and slept in the middle.

Now that his crib-turned-toddler bed is out of our room, we have reclaimed our own space and have it redecorated. Our bed is now positioned where it should be and we have new curtains and beddings too yey! :) We felt so good about it that we also changed the curtains in our living room...finally!

And now our Christmas tree is all decorated and lighted up. December is here...let the merry holidays begin!

Monday, November 23, 2009

proud of my smart baby!

I got a bit concerned that he's having too much playtime and TV so i got him a chunky shapes puzzle. He couldn't get to match the pieces at first but after showing him how and with a little bit of creativity, he learned it in less than a day. in no time, he was ready for a video...take one! :)

Friday, November 6, 2009

faves and hates

My current faves and hates:

1. DOWN by Jay Sean - TREAT! Love this song, great for dancing, driving, sit-ups...feel-good music it is!

2. THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini - TREAT! The first novel i read in 3 years. After limiting my readings to anything related to pregnancy and childcare, my bibles of which are "What to expect when you're expecting?" followed by "What to expect the first year?", i finally had the chance to read a great novel. I borrowed it from the main library out of curiosity after i learned that our city, Fremont, was the setting of the book when Amir, the lead character escaped Afghanistan with his father and started a new life in the US. True enough, Fremont is home to America's largest concentration of Afghans. In the book, it ended with an Afghan gathering held at Lake Elizabeth Park, the same park i always go to to hike and bike. I cried buckets over this book, really really emotionally draining and exciting, just couldn't put it down until i'm done with it. Leaves a lasting impression. I highly recommend it.

3. THE LOST SYMBOL by Dan Brown - TRICK! Grabbed the book on the week of its release and was sooo disappointed. It is Dan Brown's worst book ever! Such a pain reading it, nothing new, predictable, the characters act like their stupid, feels like reading wikipedia i had to close my eyes many times to fight vertigo. I was racing to the last page not in anticipation of the ending but just so i can get rid of it and move on with my life. Duh!

4. COUPLE'S RETREAT - TRICK! Duh! I only wasted my time and money on this movie...and too bad we chose to watch it on the day Fil decided to take his off from work while Racrac is at daycare so we can go on a "couple's retreat." Boring, a drag, zzzzz. Not even the cinematic appeal of Bora Bora could have saved it.

5. THE PROPOSAL - TREAT! Love Sandra Bullock, love the movie. I'm so happy she's back doing what we love seeing her do - romantic comedy flicks.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

trick or treat?!



we had a fun Halloween night at the Taladua family's new house in Milpitas, CA.  We had a great time carving pumpkins and going around the neighborhood to ask for treats. Racrac surprised us with his enthusiasm as he gamely walked the entire block in his Darth Vader garb without once asking us to carry him and unabashedly knocked on doors with the rest of the kids. That's my boy! And yeah, the whole gang voted for him to win Best Costume, his first award ever! hihihi...

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Villa YOSEMITE Valley

Two venues for my 35th birthday: Villa Yosemite in Groveland, CA and Yosemite Valley. We didn't go there for the sole reason that it's my birthday, we were there on a trip with friends hoping to catch the last of the summer sun.

What a nice birthday surprise...

We stayed at Villa Yosemite in Groveland, CA which we rented for a little over one grand for 2 nights of "owning" the luxurious 7.5 acre lot and calling ourselves dons y doƱas. Really, really beautiful property and so sweet of our friends to let us sleep in the master's bedroom (it's my birthday eh!) We especially love the kitchen and the movie theatre... I wouldn't have complained if i had to sleep in its comfy seats.

Day of my birthday, October 3, we left after breakfast to drive to Yosemite National Park (about 40 minutes). Our first stop was the Tunnel View. Coming from the south gate to the valley, one has to go through Wawona tunnel and as you emerge from it, this is the scenery that will welcome you...that's why it's called you guessed it, tunnel view. Unfortunately for us, we came the other way (north gate, i supposed) and therefore we reached the viewpoint first. It was only later, on our way back to the parking lot, that i noticed the tunnel hahaha. Still, it was a breathtaking scenery...sort of a teaser, a prelude, a beautiful summation of the park's attractions: El Capitan, Half Dome, Bridalveil Falls. We lingered there for a while, took pictures, savored the view. I was so happy to be there with Fil, Racrac and our fun-loving friends.

Later we descended the valley to get a closer look. We stopped at El Capitan...it sure looks "commanding" up close. Sadly, there was no water coming over Bridalveil falls so we drove by and ended up at the village store for lunch and souvenir shopping. After lunch, everybody was too lazy to do more exploring, must be due to high altitude sickness or maybe because we have kids. Hmmm...not really. We were just too excited to go back to the villa (",)

We had a feast that night, they even made me a birthday cake. All it took was a box of cake mix, strawberries, a candle and some whipped cream and a scoop of ice cream to go with it. Love it, love these people. We spent the rest of the night just hanging out, eating (of course!), watching the kids play... I took a dip in the jacuzzi tub before going to bed. Life is oh-so-good!

Before leaving the next day, we managed to have another breakfast fit for kings and queens (courtesy of my husband who also prepared breakfast for everybody the day before) and settled in the theatre to catch the first few minutes of sunday football, yeah! We convoyed back to the bay area and were home around 2pm. The 3-hour drive was just perfect for an easy out-of-town trip...not too far, not too close...maybe we can go back next time to camp. It would be fun!

By the way, i have another reason to celebrate: October 4 is my 2nd year anniversary here in the US! Time really (really!) flies so fast!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

on my 35th birthday...


this photo of me and Racrac was captured by Fil last October 3, my 35th birthday, at the Yosemite National Park. This overlook is known as the tunnel view which offers a breathtaking scenery of the major popular attractions in the valley. Amidst the thick tourist crowd, we were lucky to find an "empty" spot to enjoy the view as if it's there for only us to see.

it was a fun and memorable birthday spent with family and wonderful friends. 

thank you Lord for the experiences of the past year
for my loving family and wonderful friends
for the good things that will remain happy memories
and the bad things i overcame and made me a better person...

help me in the days ahead
as i strive to make this year better than the last
may i grow to be stronger and better
and closer to your love, AMEN.

letting go

forgot to mention that Racrac started going to day care about a month ago. Fil has been floating the idea since Racrac turned 1 and i was the hesitant mom always telling him that i'll think about it. until one morning i woke up in a very bad mood and was barking at Racrac and Fil the whole day. i felt tired, lacking of sleep, bored, old, ugly. i looked in the mirror and i was like "who is this angry woman staring back at me?" i think i cried because Fil got so concerned he again offered the solution of sending Racrac to day care and this time he was serious and wouldn't take 'no' for an answer.

so the next day after that incident we checked out the small home care facility recommended by our friends, chatted with the retired Filipino couple who runs it and arranged for Racrac to be there at least twice a week. he had his first day there last September 4. Fil drops him off on his way to work then picks him up after office...equivalent to 8 hours of "free" time for me. Racrac cried every time Fil leaves him there for the first 3 weeks but now, he's ok. I think he enjoys being there!

as for me, it wasn't exactly what i can call free time. when Racrac's in day care, i am lost in the blur of household chores except that now i can accomplish things faster because he isn't there to jump over the fresh clean clothes while i'm folding them, i can do my grocery shopping in peace and i don't have to think about dropping what i'm doing so i could feed him or change his diaper or give him a bath. i've also done some walking and biking at the park a couple of times. just a couple of miles from our house is Lake Elizabeth Central Park. i have circled the 2-mile trail around the lake and it was fun! I've also visited Fremont's main library and wow, i could literally borrow everything i want for free, even tagalog DVDs! yeheyyy!... For the first time since i've been here, i am now seeing more of our community and its people. soon i plan to start looking for a job. wish me luck!

so there, it wasn't as bad as i first thought it would be. I have been trying to keep Racrac to myself for the past 18 months because i was worried that the day care staff will not pay attention to his needs as much as i would and i also have this "guilt" that as a stay-at-home-mom i should do what i have to do which is to take care of my baby 24/7. but the thing is, stay-at-home-moms need time for themselves too. Just because you don’t have to go to work everyday doesn’t mean you won’t need to get out of the house without the kids. I need timeouts too, take care of myself, so i can take care of my family.

do i miss Racrac when he's at day care? not really because i am so preoccupied that the 8 hours seem to just fly by like a breeze. but i do think about him when, say, it's time for him to eat lunch or take his nap. so far it has worked well for all of us. I have regained some of my "freedom" back and has started exploring other things outside the home. Racrac is now more sociable and warms up with people easily unlike before when it would take him about an hour to interact with strangers at a party. Now he plays with other kids without always checking on me and running to me if i escape his sight. But the best thing is that seeing other kids eat has developed the habit in him too. Feeding him has been one of the two challenges for me as a mother so far and it's a relief to finally see him finishing off his food. As for Fil, well now that i have more time to experiment in the kitchen, if he goes home from work to his favorite monggo-sinigang-spaghetti dinner combo and a smiling wife, then he's a happy man :)

The other challenge which I still see no remedy so far is that Racrac has remained the active hyperkinetic boy that he has always been since he started walking at 9 months. which makes me wonder, could my life have been easier if i had a girl? i see some toddler girls but none of them ever came close to half of Racrac's locomotive skills. most of them are mellow and behaved, the type who would sit still in her high chair to eat dinner. if Racrac is like that then i could get a pedicure everyday hahaha...but then i wouldn't exchange it for anything. i love watching my baby so active, so full of life, bursting with energy and erupting in nonstop joy...even if just looking at him makes me tired...and even if i have to join him most of the time and end up with aching muscles. now i am really glad to have a couple of days off each week! hahaha...

enough of me babbling about my joys and woes as a stay-at-home mom. soon i'll get a job and have a totally different problem! hay naku...life is ALWAYS complicated! :D

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

enjoying the weather while we still can

Last Sunday we were at Half Moon Bay State Beach to celebrate another warm weather. There we sat as kings and queens, facing the Pacific Ocean, under an azure sky, watching nature perform its usual miraculous routine: sun glistening, birds hovering, giant waves curling and crashing onto shore then crawling to us...begging to kiss our royal feet. Tempted, we went closer down by the water's edge and waited for the ocean to breathe...

Sadly, the water was icy cold (eeeeekkk!...) so we stepped back and looked for other fun things to do. We played badminton and volleyball, built sandcastles and cheered a couple of surfer dudes riding the waves. I walked around to take pictures and survey the area. There is an RV park, campground, bluff-top picnic tables and benches, bike trail and a horse trail. I also stumbled upon a park ranger who pointed to me somewhere in the haze the exact spot of the Mavericks, a winter destination for some of the world's best big wave surfers.

Overall it is a beautiful place to be both idle and active - to reflect on life and to experience life. I am so glad we went. Summer is officially over but who cares? For me, it ain't over 'til i freakin' scream "it's over!"

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The only thing more fleeting than summer is childhood...

...and tiny footprints in the sand.


time indeed flies so fast when you're having fun
autumn is here, summer is gone
but before i say "adieu" let me first look back
at some magical moments that really rock

warm butterfly kisses tickling my face
planted by little Racrac to start my every day
laughing, dancing, jumping, exploring, running around
summer days are full of fun, happiness abound

with lots of friends we went camping twice
making memories together is always nice
enjoying the view as we roll through each town
the sun glistening, earth green and golden brown

breathtaking ocean, sandcastles, gorgeous falls
trips to the park, birthday parties, stroll in the mall
peaceful lakes, fun water parks, refreshing pools
Racrac just couldn't get enough of them all!

innocence and dependence you may take along with you
cheerfulness and sweetness please leave behind, thank you
next year i am certain will be another adventure
but this year is special because it's unspoiled and pure

ahhh summer it's so hard to let you go
the memory of you we will forever hold
mine is the vision of my precious little boy
delighting in your embrace, face bursting with joy.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

I'm Yours Mr. A-Z!

call it delayed reaction but it took me more than a year after its commercial release before i finally joined the rest of the world singing to Jason Mraz's latest masterpiece "I'm Yours." Not that i'm not a fan of him, in fact i WAS. in 2003 i spent many sleepless nights absorbing word for word the lyrics of all the songs in his first album Waiting for my Rocket to Come and sang nonstop for months. I have no favorite in that album, i love all the songs!

unfortunately i must have suffered from jason mraz overdose which made my stomach sick and so after i have vomited and purged myself of the last of his viruses, i tuned in to other artists: jack johnson, james blunt, john mayer...it's weird that their names all start with J! then there's this guy i dated who introduced me to craig david, dishwalla, lifehouse, green day...i fell in love with them too.

fast forward to last year and Jason resurfaces in my life when i first heard "I'm Yours." i thought then it sounded the same as his previous songs so i shrugged it off. Not even his appearance at this year's American Idol finale singing that already popular song had any effect on me.

and then it happened. i was driving on the freeway for the first time alone last Thursday and the song i remembered playing on the radio was, you guessed it, I'm Yours. The cheerful song helped me relax during the what-used-to-be-a-terrifying drive and before i knew it, it was time to exit. The next time i heard it, while waiting for the light to turn green at an intersection, i was already singing to it, bouncing in my seat, swinging my head and tapping the wheel that the driver in the car beside me must have thought I'm an experienced driver hahaha. When i got home i downloaded it from iTunes, searched for the lyrics and memorized it. Now i couldn't stop singing! It's been a week already and what i have is a severe case of last song syndrome, i could even hear it playing while i sleep. Arrrrggghhh!

Once again, i am bewitched by the voice, charm and talent of this singer/songwriter. Look at the picture, there he is casting a spell on me...sigh...and i'm completely powerless to fight him.

So there, Mr. A-Z is back on my radar and i am charmed, hexed, mesmerized, magnetized by this happy little hippie song. Listening to it is 4 minutes and 4 seconds of complete bliss multiply that by the number of times i've played it. It's so cute, makes me smile, the happiest song ever. And thanks to him I am back to playing my guitar and already i was overwhelmed by the hundreds of youtube videos demonstrating how to play his song. If only i could play it the same way he does in this video.



There are just too many versions of this song, the simplest chords of which are G-D-Em-C but i usually do B-F#-G#m-E. I love it that i can relax my fingers while i play E. Last night i studied this tutorial and i hurt my fingers trying to finish the song. Not a good idea considering that i haven't played the guitar for more than 3 years.



So maybe until my fingers get their groove back i'll just stick to the simple chords. The only thing i need now is a singer. Any volunteers?

...So i wont hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, i'm sure
There's no need to complicate, our time is short
This is our fate, i'm yours....

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Stinson Beach

September 5, 2009. The drive from our place took about half-an-hour longer because of the Bay Bridge closure for labor day weekend repair. The last 12 miles or so of the road leading to the beach were long, twisty, winding, sloped and one-lane in each direction and we were all dizzy when we hooked up with Toto and Chi Figueroa and their kids at the beach parking lot. The water was freakingly cold it was impossible to take a dip and the sun kept alternating with the clouds...like they were in a dance. Nevertheless, it was a fun-filled afternoon spent with FAMILY, the memory of which we will share forever.Until our next beach adventure!

Monday, August 31, 2009

Sundial Bridge, Burney Falls

Happy to be back from a weekend camping/hiking/fishing/partying with family and friends at the McArthur-Burney Falls State Park in Burney, CA last August 21-23. We left our house at 9:30 in the morning Friday and arrived 4 hours later in Redding and stopped by the Sundial Bridge. Built in 2004, it is a pedestrian bridge that crosses the Sacramento River and connects the northern and southern campuses of the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. Sadly, it was scorching hot (1oo+ deg) when we got there and despite my do-anything-for-a-picture travel attitude, we only made it halfway through the bridge. We could have walked to the other side of the 700-ft bridge and back on any given fair-weather day but not that day when the sun was burning our skin.

From there, we hooked up with friends along the way enroute to Burney which was about an hour of what felt like driving in the middle of nowhere until we reached town proper. As soon as we entered the park, we were welcomed by the thunderous yet soothing sound of the falls that it was hard for me to resist not seeing it right away. We spent the rest of the day setting up camp, preparing dinner and just hanging out with friends.

The Falls
After breakfast the next day, we headed off to Burney Falls which is a short walk from our campsite accessible from the parking lot. We first went to the falls overlook (just a few steps from the entrance) which was nice because we could see the water flowing from the upper stream to the lower stream. Then we proceeded to the base of the falls by walking along the .3 mile paved trail. At first we brought Racrac's radioflyer wagon which turned out to be a bad idea 'coz we had to deal with a couple flights of steps. Fil had to return the wagon to our campsite and i went on with the group with Racrac in tow. It was easy since he agreed to walk. If you have a baby or a child who doesn't walk yet, you can use a baby carrier (front carrier or backpack type) to secure your child. But even without it, the trail is so easy you'll survive.

Burney Falls is such a beauty no matter from which angle you view it. Gorgeous, indeed! Unfortunately, water is not swimmable since the average temperature is 40degF even during hot summer days.

Here's a video of me and Racrac getting closer to the falls.


We reunited with Fil at the base and took lots of pictures then we followed the trail that circles the falls and brought us to the upstream (top of the falls), the site for fishing. The hike wasn't easy this time. After we crossed the downstream bridge, the trail went up and rugged. Poor Fil had to carry Racrac all the way through the climb. We found a spot just under the upstream bridge for fishing and stayed there idly just watching our friends guiding their poles.

Lake Britton
While the falls is the centerpiece of the park, most of the fun really happens at nearby Lake Britton which is ideal for fishing, boat launching, swimming and water sports. After our friends returned from fishing without any single catch, we drove the short distance to Lake Britton where Racrac and the other kids had fun playing in the water and building sandcastles while our friends continued their search for the very elusive fish. It didn't take long and they luckily caught one! Congrats Jerry and Gladz! :)

Good food, great company
...are two things that make a happy camper. Our last night together was again a feast and we brought so much food that we were still not done grilling come 10pm curfew. The following morning we hosted ala-IHOP breakfast for everybody at our place. One thing i love about camping other than being outdoors is the sight of Fil cooking breakfast when i wake up.

By 12nn we have all packed our stuff and ready to leave but not without again seeing the falls. All of us descended to the base of the falls to once again admire its beauty and for a group picture. Like i would always do, i took a mental picture to remind me of a beautiful sight on a beautiful day in the company of beautiful people.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

august rush

the month is almost over and i haven't blogged about anything yet. just too tired to write at the end of each and every day spent with Racrac who, at 18 months, has stepped up his daily exploratory activities to the next level. his curiosity and mobility are driving me nuts! he has by now figured out how things work: faucet, light switch, lamp, door knobs, door keys, camera, electric fan (!), his toys and all its buttons, toilet bowl, cabinets, TV, my laptop, electric plugs!

on the brighter side, he loves helping me unload the dishwasher. every morning he would cheerfully take out the clean dishes and hand them to me so i could put them where they should be. nice... at least that saves me from having to bend. and also he takes Fil's socks when he gets home from work and throws them to the hamper. such a sweetie... :)

i've also been driving him around the city. it was fun for me at first but not after we made a run at the grocery store and he prevailed over me to sit inside the cart (not in the child seat with the safety belts) so he could play with the items and unload them himself upon checkout. ang gulo....haaaayyy! maybe i should just bring him to the park.

no time to rest on weekends too. we were in Fairfield first weekend to visit some relatives where Racrac had a great time playing with cousins Inah and John in the oversized inflatable water slide and dancing around with the other kids who visited. we also had a quick tour of Travis Air Force Base but was too hot to step outside the van for a picture. next time...

the following week we went to a summer get-together party hosted by the Platzbecker's at the San Ramon Olympic Pool and Aquatic Center, about an hour drive from our place. Racrac loved the waterpark even if he was a bit scared of the showers. it was hot that day (in the 90s), perfect for a delightfully refreshing outdoor activity. the party continued at the hosts' residence, there was just no stopping us until we're all stuffed and sleepy hehehe...


3rd Sunday of the month we were in San Francisco to visit Auntie Norma and Bella (aka the lolas) who also invited Fil's cousin Dory and her family whom we haven't seen since Racrac's christening. Four days later we went back to drop off the lolas at the airport for their vacation to the Philippines.

And lastly, the one thing i was really excited about was our 3-day camping at the McArthur-Burney Falls State Park with friends last August 21-23. i'll blog about it in a separate post.

so there, it's been a busy month for us. summer will soon be over and we're working to make the best of the beautiful sunny days that's left. let's all enjoy it while it lasts...

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Racrac at 17 months

hurray! finally Racrac said goodbye to commercial baby food and is now eating what we have on the table. it's been a struggle trying to feed him regular food...sometimes he'd take them, most of the time not. though he likes sinigang, nilaga and chicken noodle soup since he turned 1, others that were dry, lumpy and coarse he'd automatically push with his tongue. it was after we had our camping earlier this month that i noticed him showing signs of really liking food. i remember one time we were having that classic hershey's chocolate bar-toasted marshmallow-graham crackers smores, he reached for it with his mouth while i was taking a bite and he bit on it too. then again at a birthday party 2 saturdays ago, he chowed down on pancit canton with unusual open-mouth eagerness. hmmm...it must have helped that he saw a lot of people, especially kids, eating. somehow it registered on him that he should do the same thing! he's got 9 teeth now too...that makes it easier to chew.

so now i'm obsessed about feeding him 'coz he'd eat anything, even the zucchini muffins i baked! hayyy salamat....no more stressful feeding sessions and tying him up to his highchair in front of the TV while he tinkers with the toys i give him (most of the time my celfone) just to keep him busy therefore unaware of the food i thrust into his mouth.

and already he can hop big time! last month he was still tiptoeing or sort of river dancing but after playing on that inflatable bouncer at a birthday party a couple of weeks ago, he discovered he could lift both his feet and hop! so now he's hopping all the time around the house, on our bed, his bed, couch, everywhere... congratulations baby! i know you've been working on it since you were 11 months. while others your age were still struggling to stand up and walk, you were already running and thinking about hopping.

oh he's such a busy active toddler, bursting with energy...always dancing, laughing, clapping, jumping, climbing, exploring. he has had a few temporary bumps on his head, bluish-black marks on his face that went away after a few days and a scar on his knee to show for it. how my heart breaks every time he gets into these little accidents even under my watchful supervision. unbelievable as this may sound but it's normal...part of growing up. any parent would know. i myself am surprised at how tough his head and how resilient he is!

another milestone this month is that we no longer give him his bottle during the day. he takes his milk/juice/water from a glass, sippy cup or straw cup. at first he was mad about it and threw his cup a few times but he had no choice (he's thirsty) so he picked it up later and drank from it. now he drinks milk from the bottle only during bedtime and when he wakes up in the morning...sometimes at 2 or 3 am. he's still a baby anyway so we're not depriving him that comfort yet. good thing is that after he's done with his bottle, he'd toss it to us then sleep. no more sucking on it like a pacifier.

what else?...he watches his favorite kiddie shows Barney and Calliou in the morning and adult shows Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune in the afternoon. bathtime is his favorite, he's crazy about laptops, phones, TV remote and anything with a keyboard and screen on it and can't sleep without his pillows! he hugs and kisses me every time he hears that 'i love you' barney song and takes delight in feeding me his crackers and combing my hair. ouch! hehe... enjoys talking to papa on the phone while Fil is driving home. also showing signs of impatience and frustration if he can't get things done right (like maneuvering his toy train or bike) but one behavior that bothered me was when he started deliberately banging his head on the wall, floor, table or any hard surface to get my attention or make me do what he wants. he knows that if he bangs his head and cries, i'd be there in a flash. but not anymore after i noticed that he's doing it only to "manipulate" me. i pretend not to see it and just let him cry...no tears, pure acting! haha... kids!

and have you heard of "terrible twos?" OMG, he's not even 2 yet!

oh my, July!

what a month it was! i didn't realize you could literally keep yourself busy by just attending birthday parties and facebooking in between. hahaha. and now, i only have 1 more day to enjoy it before it's time to say hello to August. no more turning back.

so let me look back now while i still can.

i may not have posted it here but i was also saddened by the death of MJ. yes it was unfortunate and ironic for the king of pop to leave before he could stage a comeback but definitely not sudden and unexpected like some news reports called it. death can come to anyone anytime...even if you're MJ. now at least he can rest in peace.

---

camping is indeed a surefire way to kick-off summer 'coz after that 4th of july weekend camping, we found ourselves attending a swimming party and another birthday party at the park complete with water guns, balloons and inflatable bouncer.  let's just say that the only "free" weekend we had was the one that just passed which i'd say free because we have no parties to attend to but not free in the sense that Fil was finally able to play his first airsoft game after months of preparing for it and we also visited the 'lolas' in San Francisco.

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i've been driving around town too. last Monday i survived the short drive from the house to the BART Station and back to pick-up Fil and this morning, Racrac and i spent a couple of hours at the mall! yeyyy...! with each trip i gain more confidence. maybe tomorrow we can go to the park hehehe...

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Monday, July 6, 2009

camping under the redwoods

July 3-5, 2009. Our summer kick-off activity with friends at the San Mateo County Memorial Park, Pescadero Creek Road in Loma Mar, CA. No cellphone signal, no internet (translation: no facebook!) and no microwave to heat our food but we sure had loads and loads of fun!

Everyone enjoyed setting up camp, partaking in the feast which every family contributed, sitting by the fire sharing stories, hiking to the creek and throwing pebbles (Racrac loved this!), kids riding the wagon and their bikes, searching for banana slugs and participating in the treasure hunt, adults exchanging gifts via white elephant (tinamad na mag-adult treasure hunt haha!), biking, running around, taking pictures and just hanging out with friends savoring the sunny but cool weather under the shade of centuries-old redwoods.



























families
: Abulencia, Figueroa, Pascua, Taladua, Talaugon, Tolibas, Vasquez

and a visit from Andrew and the Allosa family





Saturday, June 27, 2009

licensed to drive

so i have finally mustered enough nerves to take the behind-the-wheel driving test at the DMV office here in Fremont. after 3 months of on-and-off practice, i found myself waiting in line yesterday at 9:00 in the morning, sometimes slapping my face to awaken my senses and praying that luck would send me an examiner from heaven. my instructor was there with me (i used the school car for convenience while Fil stayed home with the baby) and he gave me last-minute instructions and reminders while we inched forward. "don't forget, ok?"..he kept telling me in his indian accent. when there was only one car in front of us, he said good luck, disembarked and waited outside.

after about 15 minutes of what seemed like an eternity, a lady examiner showed up at my window. she greeted me and immediately went down to business. she told me to show her the signal lights, brake lights, headlights, windshield wiper, defroster, emergency lights, parking brake, horn and demonstrate the hand signals. Then she entered the car, made me sign the score sheet and told me she was going to be giving me directions on where to turn and unless she gave me directions to turn, to keep going straight and follow the road. I said 'ok' then off we went.

the driving test seemed to take 20-25 minutes. i was familiar with the road having practiced there with my instructor many times so i was confident and relaxed. I checked my meter from time to time to make sure i was doing the right speed. I moved my head (not just my eyes) to check traffic left-right-ahead at intersections, performed lane changes properly (remember S-M-O-G: Signal-Mirror-Over-the-shoulder-Go), checked my mirrors, maintained a safe following distance and stopped behind the limit lines. She had me pull over at a residential street and told me to back up in a straight line. I paused for a couple of seconds to remember what to do (steer to the right if going too far from the curb, steer to the left if too close) and thankfully i did it right. whew!

I guess i got a bit excited or too confident 'coz a couple of times i did not make a full stop at the stop sign. I stopped, but not long enough (should be 3 seconds!) and i knew i messed up some turns by not steering smoothly.

The one part that got me, i wasn't sure what to do, when i saw one vehicle crossing the street in front of me even if i have the right of way but when i noticed it was a postal office vehicle, i slowed down and let it pass. Then at the stop light just before turning left back to DMV, i saw the light turn red but i must have been scanning too far (i have magnifying eyes haha!) because i prematurely stepped on the brakes even if i was still a block away then realizing it accelerated as if nothing happened (deadma!). I saw the examiner marking the score sheet. shucks!

when we entered DMV, we circled the building and she instructed me to park at the "parking for end of driving test" spot. With the engine off, i sat there quietly awaiting my fate while she counted my mistakes.."6...+ 4..." finally she turned to me and said "well...you didn't pass today but i have to remind you of...." and she kept talking while writing her notes on the score sheet and i was like thinking in all caps "OMG, I DIDN'T PASS? I HAVE TO TAKE IT AGAIN? OH NO!!! "

i didn't hear the rest of what she said but when she wrote "-10" i got back to my senses and asked her "am i not allowed 15 minor errors? so how come i didn't pass? did i commit any critical error? (note: if you commit any of the critical errors anytime during the test, it will be immediately terminated and you will fail).

then she smiled and said "oh i guess you didn't hear me right...i said you DID pass the test but i have to remind you of your mistakes 'coz a couple of times you didn't make a full stop, you had an unnecessary stop and you weren't smooth in doing your turns." uh-oh...i must have gotten lost in the accent there. She said 'd-i-d' like she was chewing a gum so what i heard sounded like "didn't."

she gave me the score sheet, told me to submit it to window 11 and left. My instructor reappeared and took the keys then i went inside. I was given a temporary paper license, have to wait 2 more weeks for the card. After that my instructor (who was visibly happy with our success) drove me home, reminded me to always drive safely then we said goodbye. I didn't call Fil right away...i waited 'til i was home, handed him the paper and let him figure it out. hehehe...

i am so relieved that this is now behind me after training for it the whole spring season (not to mention the agonizing 5 months it took me to read the DMV manual and pass the written test). bottom line is, the DMV expects me to drive legally, safely, skillfully and appropriately. Seems like a good idea.

now i can enjoy my summer...
___
Related post: How to pass the DMV written test in California

Monday, June 22, 2009

Sausalito

June 19, 2009. Got the whole afternoon free last Friday so we headed north across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, a waterfront community known for its Mediterranean flair and breathtaking panoramic view of the San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge.

As usual SFO was half-covered in fog but we didn't let it dampen our spirits. Thankfully the sky cleared after we found a parking spot and we lingered for a couple of hours - just enough time to take a quick late lunch and a stroll, enjoy the fresh air and the view, snap pictures and watch people (mostly tourists) go by.
It's a beautiful charming place, weather is great and so close to home. Though we were unable to explore the place thoroughly, i am far from sad 'coz we can always go back anytime anyway.

papa...


"Any man can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad."

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

hi there, bye!

it's always nice to reconnect with friends, especially if you haven't seen each other for quite a while.

my BFF Candy spent a few days here in the Bay Area coming from her 3-week vacation in the Philippines to drive around and see some sights. Night before her flight back to Washington, she dropped by our house to personally see her inaanak. Surprisingly, Racrac wasn't cranky at all even if he was a bit tired from the party we went to that afternoon and sleepy 'coz it was already his bedtime. It's so great to see Candy again after 17 months!

then last Saturday, we covered 7o+ miles from Fremont to Modesto to see Fil's college friends. Hyacinth is on a California road trip from Texas with her family and we met them for brunch at Miller's house. Fil haven't seen both of them for 27 years and they communicated only recently, can you imagine that?! Of course you can. One word: Facebook.

It was amusing to see the three of them reminisce the good old days in Silliman University (Fil spent his freshman year there) and they were giggling and laughing and teasing each other as if they were only talking about what happened yesterday and not a quarter of a century gone by! Geez, for me that would be like having a second life and talking about your first life.

And speaking of being away from friends for a lonnngg time, did i tell you that i was reunited with my Grade I bestfriend through Friendster after 23 years of zero communication? We were only 7 when we unceremoniously said goodbye and met again when we were 30. Even though i have a couple of pictures of us together, for many years i thought she wasn't real, that she was just a product of my childhood imagination...but not until i got a Friendster message from her on the very day of my 30th birthday:

10/03/2004 11:14 am

hi I was looking for my grade school friend and her name is Carmel baylon. Did u by any chance went to Laguna Northwestern Institute in San Pedro Laguna? Grade 1 classmate ko sya eh. Ikaw ba yun? My name is Hazel Cruz-Rivera.

Isn't that miraculously awesomely amazing?! Long story short, we met for lunch, did some shopping and had our picture taken at a studio after getting free makeup from the beauty section of the department store LOL! We didn't see each other again after that 'coz life took her to Singapore and well...you know where i am right now.

Like all things, even good times with friends don't last. we said hello...then goodbye and promised to upload pictures and keep in touch. thank God for Facebook or Friendster...or whichever of these online social networks our generation is soooo lucky to have.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

days of May

well, well what can i say? it has been a busy month of May...

lots of fun kiddie birthday parties

a wedding

a family death anniversary get-together

Pacquiao fight party (yeah!)

American Idol finale performance and results nights...and a week of recovering from Adam's lose. i literally went from anger to acceptance in a week's time! :-)))

mother's day

a new Macbook to tinker with

a new iPod shuffle to use while i pound the treadmill (the iPod video i have is just too heavy to carry round my neck) and lots of iTunes gift card to download songs...thanks to my facebook friends who suggested songs that will really get me pumped up!

memorial day long weekend spent malling and shopping

Racrac's first movie outing - we watched Wolverine which has been running for 2 weeks so we were not surprised at all to find ourselves in a private screening. yup, just the three of us! we've been dilly-dallying about bringing him to a movie with us but a family friend with 3 kids suggested we bring him late at night just before his bedtime so he'll stay calm and sleep through it.  We went for the 10pm screening but Racrac was far from sleepy.  He walked all over the place, checking the empty seats and getting close to the big screen.  He finally settled in my arms during the last 30 minutes of the show.

that 2-hour drive to Castle Air Museum in Atwater, CA with friends for photo-ops with the Blackbird, B-52 and fighter planes followed by impromptu dinner at Juan's place and culminating in a fireworks display at Great America which we were so contented to view from Live Oak Park in Rivermark about 3 miles away...

cooking hits and misses, baking hits and misses

Auntie Bella and Norma staying for a couple of nights with us...

and the usual daily cycle of feeding, diapering, bathing, reading a book, dancing, singing and playing with my hyperkinetic baby while keeping the whole house in order and making sure we have decent food to eat for dinner (hayyy...)

now the weather is getting warmer and the days longer...summer is sure just around the corner yey!!!

looking forward to more fun this June!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

5 seconds

How much could you accomplish in 5 seconds? Probably not much. You wouldn't even notice these few seconds tick away. But when life is on the line, 5 seconds could spell a big difference. It can save a life.

Last Saturday we were at a party for this pretty, sweet and charming girl whom i am so fond of. Let's call her Ana (not her real name). It was Ana's 3rd birthday and her younger sister's 1st. We held it in a neat club house with a party room and an adult pool. Only the usual family friends were invited so the celebration was intimate and leisurely. It was supposed to be the happiest day of Ana's life. It was. She blew the candles on her cake and played with the other kids by the poolside.

Although we didn't really plan to use the pool, the kids couldn't resist playing with the water. They sat by the edge with their legs hanging and making big fun water splashes. I, along with the other parents, kept an eye on them. We were even joking that if that "dreaded thing" happens, we would be forced to jump even if i myself don't know how to swim in 8 1/2 feet deep.

Racrac wanted to touch the water too.  Oh he loves water!  I sat beside him above 6-feet water while he wiggled his tiny feet and tickled the water with a twig he got from the older kids.  

Around 3:45pm, the party was over and the kids were all wet from their water-splashing game. Ana's parents and the other adults (including my husband Fil) were doing the cleanup. Ana and her older sister went inside to change but the boys just couldn't get enough of the pool. 2 boys went playing at the pool steps. Realizing it would be safer at the steps, we migrated. I rolled up my pants and dipped my legs in the water while i sat close to Racrac who was standing on the first step to my right. We watched the oldest boy (age 7) descend the steps to our right and swim in the water while the other boy (age 3) was cheering him on, a couple of steps below Racrac.  Their parents were there watching them so i wasn't worried. My attention was on Racrac whom i was holding tight to make sure he doesn't slip or pull away. Sometimes he would bend to touch the water with his hands and i'd be bending too while i hug his waist.  

Ana and her older sister showed up in their fresh dry clothes, obviously dressed to go home.  A few minutes later I heard splashes so i looked up to my right and saw Ana standing at the stairs knee-deep in the water. Her older sister was below her and her older sister already at the stairs.  They had their backs at me, and I "scolded" them 'coz they again got their clothes wet. The parents behind me said the same thing and told them to get out of the water.  I wasn't aware anymore what they did after that 'coz Racrac was being demanding of me - he would look up to me while saying his usual "woooohhh! da-da-da...ding!...ha?" with raised eyebrows waiting for me to say something back.

I don't know how long i stayed in that position. I must have sat there oblivious of the people around me while i held my baby. I must have heard the kids laughing, the water splashing and the parents cheering them on behind me but i wasn't paying attention.  I was talking to racrac and showing him how to make water waves.

Then i got a strange sensation on my left which made me look.  Could it be the wind touching my left cheek? could it be to pull back a hair that slipped over my left shoulder? could it be that i heard a faint splash? or could it be just coincidence that i did?...i couldn't remember.

When i turned, about 7 or 8 feet to my left blindspot, i noticed something orangy dancing beneath the water.  And to my total and utter shock, i saw two tiny hands and a face struggling to get above the water. It was Ana and she's drowning!

I turned to my right and frantically waved my left hand (my right hand was holding Racrac) to get the attention of the two men behind me. I could still remember seeing their happy faces transform into wide-eyed fear when i shouted in a panicky voice: "si Ana!!! Ana!!!!"

In a flash, both of them jumped into the water and made big loud splashes which alarmed the people inside the party room.  Then i saw one of them carry Ana out of the water and hand her over to her father.  I couldn't visualize where everybody was while it happened but i do remember feeling relieved to see that Ana was conscious. My heart was jumping out of me the whole time!

Thankfully, thankfully, Ana was ok. There was no need for a CPR which her mom, a doctor/nurse, was prepared to do. Ana clung tightly to her parents, evidently in a state of shock. But we were relieved she's ok. Thank God!

5 seconds. Approximately the length of time it took from the moment i realized she was drowning to the time she was pulled out of the water. How long she's been there before i saw her? Only God knows. What we know is that the outcome would have been different if it took a second longer 'coz one of the men said Ana was already on her way down the pool floor (hands no longer struggling) when he got her.

We tried to recall what happened but nobody saw how Ana got there at 4-feet deep on the left side of the pool. Why we didn't see her? Maybe because my attention was on Racrac while the others were looking at the right side of the pool where the 2 boys and Ana's older sister were playing. We could only theorize that she must have slipped from the stairs quietly. When i saw her, she was already struggling...thank God i was able to act quick! I am also thankful that the two men were close by. If it was only me, it would have taken me longer to stand and carry 14-month old Racrac away from the pool then jump into the water to save her. Who knows i could have either sat there in shock and done nothing or i may have instinctively jumped to save Ana and let go of my baby and put his life in danger.

It took me a while that afternoon to go back to my normal heart rate but even after i did, i couldn't stop thinking about it.  I may not have undergone the same degree of fear, anxiety, panic, dread, terror and trepidation as Ana's parents would have felt but i was scared too and the vision of her in the water will be forever burned in my memory. Things happen and they affect you. For me it was a wake-up call, a reminder that life can go wrong in a matter of seconds.  Especially with kids, you'll never really know when things will turn into an accident.  Being a parent can be scary. 

But hey, this is a happy blog and despite the unfortunate incident, it was a day to be happy and thankful for. Nobody imagined it could happen but it did and we're thankful to God for tapping us so that Ana could survive and live and continue to bring cheer and sweetness to our world for many more years to come.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

"The family is one of nature's masterpieces."

April 25, 2009
Ed Levin Park
Milpitas, CA

photo by Che Dumangas

Monday, April 13, 2009

easter picnic in the park

Happy Easter everyone! what a fun-filled celebration we had with friends yesterday at Ed Levin Park in Milpitas! we failed to show up early to reserve the best spot but it didn't matter 'coz we brought our tents and set-up a campsite. we also prepared so much food (as usual...) that even after we're done with lunch, a stranger would think that the party hasn't started yet hahaha...the kids gamely participated in the easter tote bag decorating activity and the egg hunt. Racrac was no match to the bigger kids but with papa's help, he managed to fill his bag with a dozen eggs. the ladies got busy with the easter photo frame project, the boys gathered around the grill, the kids had fun running around and we all had a blast (literally!) playing the pass-the-water-bomb especially after mine exploded in the air before i could even catch it. yaiks!

This is the finished product of my magnetic photo frame project with racrac's photo taken during the hunt. what a cutie! :D

Hope you had a fun and meaningful celebration too!

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

once again i'm hooked

to American Idol, that is! geezz, how many times have i promised myself never to watch this show again? Season 8 has been running for who-knows-since-when and despite my resistance to succumb to the popularity of the show, it finally managed to find a way to seduce me.

and it happened tonight. i was resting on the couch after having dinner when the show started and was too lazy to look for the TV remote to change channels. i went to watch one contestant then the second and the next. ho-hummm, boring! after the top 7 finalist performed, i was already regretting my decision of wasting precious one hour 'coz most of them didn't do well in my opinion and none of them really stirred any emotion in me other than disappointment. But Fil was waiting for the next show to start (Fringe) in the same channel so i decided to just watch the last guy perform. And it was the classic case of save the best for last 'coz Adam Lambert's delivery of Mad World by Tears for Fears was stunning! He totally blew me away. He dropped the bomb and completely extinguished everyone who sang before him. Amazing voice, perfect song choice...and Simon gave him a standing ovation!

before watching the show the only contestant i have heard of was Anoop. I didn't know that Adam existed, that he is gay (is he really?) and has been making quite a buzz in the AI fanworld. if only to prove my ignorance, i was even bothered by Scott MacIntyre's performance 'coz his eyes were expressionless (like staring into space) and his body movements were kinda awkward and uncoordinated. surprise, surprise! i learned after the show that he is blind.

now i'm back to the habit of watching AI and witnessing one hopeful get eliminated each week. i hate it because it puts me in such a roller coaster of feelings especially when my favorite gets booted out and i hate it more because i know that no matter how much time and emotions i invest in it, truth is in the end nothing really matters.

but why do i find myself now screaming and rooting for Adam? hmmm...i find it kind of funny, i find it kind of sad...

Thursday, April 2, 2009

first day of spring

13-month old Racrac running around the park...but he hates the swing :D

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

the FIGUEROAs in CA

We were in Fairfield last Saturday for Inah's 3rd and John's 4th joint birthday celebration - the uber cute and adorable kids of Toto and Chi Figueroa. Last time we saw them was in October 2007, a week after i arrived here in California. Toto is Fil's uncle but he is 9 years younger than Fil (he is even a year younger than me) which makes it awkward for Fil to call him uncle so they just call each other cousins.It was a beautiful warm sunny day in the Bay Area. Frendale, Fil's brother, also showed up. Racrac played with his "2nd cousins" and wasn't scared at all of the magician/balloon twister/clown who wore a colorful glittery outfit and wowed everyone with his balloon twisting skills. It was also Racrac's first time to be inside an inflatable bouncer and though he doesn't know how to "bounce" yet, he easily walked from end to end. pretty soon he'll be jumping all over it and i'll be the exhausted mom with wobbly knees following him around. :)

Monday, March 2, 2009

everybody happy

pssst....! you know what makes a man happy? the kind that would make him smile from ear to ear, generally good-natured, would always make you win an argument, don't want to leave home and would thank you for dinner even if you personally think you messed up your recipe? i know the secret!.....a big TV!

after months of delaying and postponing his dream TV upgrade, Fil decided it's time to make it a reality. Choosing what TV to buy was one of the most difficult decisions Fil and i made as a couple so far hihihi. Deciding on the brand and the size wasn't as easy as we thought, plus of course we want to get value for money. SONY was out of the list because it's too expensive and we don't subscribe to the belief that it has better quality than the others when the truth is you are really paying for the brand name. And we're definitely not getting a SONY after Fil's old 32" Sony TV decided to just stop breathing after only 4 years for no reason. I swear, i even heard its last breath. And unlike in the Philippines where you are sure to find a "manong" who can fix your TV, here in the US you have to bring it somewhere to have a licensed technician fix it and it is expensive! So if you're paying more because of the repair warranty or customer service, forget it. It is much, much better and cheaper here to buy a new one...and hassle-free. But of course, i'd be a hypocrite if i don't say that if we have lots of money to spare and the economy is good and i have a job or we don't have a baby, we'd definitely go for a SONY.

The past few days we've been going to Costo and Fry's and we almost brought home that 52" Samsung LCD TV last Saturday. I love Samsung...the 2 TVs i have in the Philippines (the oldest one i got in 2000) are Samsungs and they are in perfect shape until now. Fil wanted the Samsung 650 series model because it has more HDMI inputs and a higher contrast ratio spec (whatever that means hehe) than the 630 but it costs more, i hate the giant red stripes on the frame and its bottom frame is not straight but rather concaved. After deliberating and comparing the 2 models, we decided on the 630...then Fil changed his mind after the Fry's guy told him they have it on stock. For the same price, he said he'd rather get the 55" Vizio.

My only major concern in this purchase is the space. We only have about 10 feet of distance from the TV screen to the couch and i read somewhere that to get the best quality picture, a 42" or 47" would do. But one thing i also learned in this marriage is that sometimes it is better to have the other person make the decision and let him take the blame for it if it fails. So last Sunday, in our simple way to help stimulate the failing US economy, all three of us (with Racrac of course) trooped to Costco despite the rain and purchased the Vizio 55" LCD XVT series TV.

This is our second VIZIO TV. The first one was a 32" LCD TV which we got as a wedding gift in 2007 and we are happy with it. This Vizio full high definition, 55” LCD TV combines the latest technology: 120Hz refresh rate, 1080p resolution, 50,000:1 contrast ratio, 5 HDMI inputs, an innovative design and a cutting edge sound quality. The box was sooo big but it miraculously fit in the minivan even if Racrac occupied one of the rear seats. We had it set up right away...so heavy! uhhhmmmp! We love it. Sony or other brands could have easily cost us at least $500 more but i swear you wouldn't see the difference. We tried a blu-ray disc and it was a visual experience like never before. I wonder how nice it would be when i play my favorite PS3 game motorstorm? hmmm...can't wait! :P

And the 55" screen size is just right for our living room. Thank God i didn't insist on getting a smaller one (see? i told you...let him decide!) And the best part? Fil is happy...as in happy like i defined in the first paragraph of this post :)

Remember our bath remodeling last year which started from a simple repairable water leak? We're doing it again! We're redesigning our living room which looks more of a nursery now with all of Racrac's toys scattered all over the floor. The old TV is going to Racrac's room and so are his toys. We decided it's about time he gets his own room and time for us, too, to take our living room back and refurbish it. Ye'y!!! All these because of a new TV...and that makes all three of us happy :D

Thursday, February 26, 2009

my everyday source of joy

Last February 15, my baby turned 1. I couldn't believe it! Seems only yesterday when i was feeling him move inside me and waiting for him to come out. Fil and i survived the first year and though it's been said many times over and over again like a broken record that having a baby is life-changing, I couldn't agree enough.

Up until the day i had Racrac, my life's major moments included graduating from college and working on a Master's degree, securing a stable job and getting promoted, traveling in search for adventure, taking beautiful photos, doing small charities...building myself a house. I was single for 33 years and when these things happened i was truly happy and proud.

Yet i have always wanted to be part of something else, to belong, to have a family. In life, we know the cycle: graduate, work, get married, have children. I have friends who followed this pattern. It was like finding a life partner was easy for them, that they never thought twice about getting married or doubted the man they vowed to spend the rest of their lives with. I thought life was that simple too so i surrendered my fate to marrying my college sweetheart as soon as we're done with school. But he broke my heart so I deviated...departed from the path. Work was my escape. It was exciting, addictive, gratifying. But later it became a drag and before i knew it i was nearing 30 so i panicked, retraced my steps and followed the trail. I met Mr. Nice Guy but we forced the issue: we talked about the 'M' word too early that we overlooked some things important in a relationship - like compatibility, for example. I remember he told me "if the shoe fits, wear it." I wore it, it was the right size, but it didn't match my dress.

And so I went on with my search. But sheez, finding a man to marry at age 30 when you've accomplished quite much for yourself was a herculean task - difficult, frustrating, disenchanting. The men i met were either married, gay, single and promiscuous, single with no direction in life or single and insecure. So I stopped looking...then surprise, surprise, i met Fil. Since we've been together, I had so many additions to my list of happy moments: our travels, meeting his family and friends, having my visa approved, arriving in the US and getting married. Intersperced among those moments was the news of being blessed with a baby. I was overjoyed!

But i was wrong. I didn't know until i gave birth to Racrac that the list would seem lame and lackluster. Though i am proud of my personal accomplishments and recognize them as part of who and what i am now, I am surprised by how much his entry into my life has made me happy. I love my pet cat like crazy and i love kids...i adore my nephews and nieces but nothing came close to holding my own and be entrusted with his life. It brought sensations of joy and happiness mixed with fear and nervous anticipation of my new role and responsibility. I wasn't lucky to do a normal delivery but i was awake and conscious under the knife and my eyes welled up when i heard his first cry. That moment wasn't captured: no photographs, no videos...but the feeling and the memory i will forever remember and keep.

As i watch him grow, i always recall our first days together. During those early morning feedings, i remember him going back to sleep with his face pressed against my breasts. I would be holding him while listening to his soft breathing and the music (Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique) coming from one of his crib toys. Those were sweet moments and the memory soothes me like hot chocolate with marshmallows on a cold, cold day.

Fast forward to now and here he is: a happy healthy sweet active playful baby who is always laughing, cooing, smiling, talking, dancing, giggling, wiggling. I revel in everything he does like the feel of his small hands exploring my face or pulling my hair, the sound of his laughter, his awkwardly cute dance steps, his embrace, his bright round eyes, his healthy glow, his energy...his very presence.

But days are not always bright and gay. There are days when i felt tired, exhausted, uninterested. A couple of times he broke my patience so i shouted at him and he cried...but he didn't ran away. Instead he extended his tiny arms and reached for me (while crying) and i picked him up and we ended up in a sweet embrace. Hayyy...the joys and pains of motherhood. This may sound corny to some but if you are a mother or a father or has ever lived with a baby, i know that you feel me.

The day Fil and i got married, love and hope for the future filled us. It sealed our relationship and legalized the developing baby. That day marked the end of my crazy life (and his crazy life too, if i may say) and the beginning of a new one for us together. The ceremony was not the end of our journey, not the culmination of our dreams, definitely not the ever after of fairy tales nor the epilogue of a story. It was our prelude to joy. Joy has taken a different meaning for me now: it is no longer simply a word i interchange with happiness nor an abstract concept used to express a positive emotion. Joy is my life now with Fil and baby Raclif and i am thankful for experiencing it everyday.

Monday, February 16, 2009

double snowy celebration

Feb 13-16, 2009. Just got back from a 4-day stay in South Lake Tahoe where we spent Valentine's day and Racrac's 1st birthday. Friday the 13th we left Fremont around 7am, picked up Auntie Bella and Norma in San Francisco and proceeded to HWY 50 despite radio warnings that the road has been temporarily closed due to heavy snowfall. Luckily, it was reopened a couple of hours later but we had to put on tire chains somewhere in Apple Hill. We arrived safely after a 7-hour drive and we were rewarded with what we came for: snow, snow, snow!

We fell in love with our 3-bedroom warm and cozy knotty-pine cabin located just 2 blocks from the lake. it has everything we needed...even wireless internet (yehey!). it gives you that homey feeling especially when all you want to do is snuggle or enjoy a warm drink to fight the chill. temperature was 24degF (-4degC) at 6pm, waaayyy too low for us who are so used to the 50degF average winter temp in the Bay Area.

We woke up to a heavy snowfall on Valentine's day but the sun showed up around noon so we went out for some souvenir-shopping and sightseeing. The lolas spent a couple of hours at the casino located just a block from the California-Nevada stateline while Fil, Racrac and i strolled around Heavenly Village, checking out the stores and watching the gondolas go up and down the alpine mountain. We promised to ride next year. Racrac is still too young now and uncooperative for this kind of adventure.

Fil cooked steak for dinner but he had to do it pan-grilled 'coz it was too cold to do the grilling outside. Come to think of it, it was the same dinner he prepared for me last Valentine's (i was already having serious labor contractions at that time) which made me think it was probably why i ended up at C-section. I was so stuffed last year baby Racrac had difficulty coming out hihihi.


Sunday, Feb 15, was Racrac's birthday. We went out to play in the snow but Racrac cried as soon as we put on his snow bib and jacket. Poor birthday boy! Only his face was left exposed and he didn't like it so we settled for a few photos in the snow and that was it. Maybe next year he'll be happy to meet Mr. Snowman.

Late afternoon we went to Harrah's for my casino baptism-of-fire but the whole place was covered in cigarette smoke so we transferred to Bill's for a non-smoking casino fun. Fil stayed with Racrac at the bar while i and the
lolas gambled. They taught me how to operate the slot machine and after i learned the basics it was easy. All it really required from me was to press the "spin" button on the screen to play the game. I marched out of the casino $28 richer, a great feat considering i only bet 15 cents for every game and we played for only a little over an hour. Could it be beginner's luck? Maybe.

Auntie Bella treated us to a buffet dinner at Harrah's then we went back to the cabin to light racrac's birthday cake. He doesn't 't know how to blow the candle yet but he sure knows how to play with his cake. So messy but soooo cute! :-)


Monday, President's day holiday, was time for us to go home. Traffic was slow...we were literally crawling our way out of the town. We even had to drive against a snowstorm and when it was finally safe, we removed the chains. It was cloudy when we entered San Francisco and the rain poured after we dropped the lolas and we headed home.

And that's what i can call a vacation: stress-free, no schedule to follow, most of our time spent indoor watching TV together, singing to Racrac's playtime DVD, sharing a meal, chatting over coffee or simply gazing out the window and watch the flurries dance their way down to the already-snow-covered-ground. I love snow, especially the feel of the flurries lightly touching my cheeks and the sight of houses and cars and trees covered in pure heavenly white...definitely mother nature's work of art.

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