For my friend K

St. Paddy's Day.

I'm not a hockey fan but there are two things I love during Sporting events: I love the national anthem and yelling Chaaaaaaarge!!!! It freaks Steve out.

Last night's MB'day Crawl (photo cred: JB)

Claudine

Late last June I got a Facebook friend request from Claudine, a friend from college whom I had not seen in over twenty years. We were actually friends-in-law--I knew her through Augie, a close friend of mine.

Me, Augie and Claudine, Los Angeles, Ca. 1993.

I accepted the friend request but was unable to exchange messages with her right away.
It was the end of July before I remembered to write to her before leaving for our family vacation.
(On my list of things to do before leaving: stop the mail, contact the dog sitter, clean the bathrooms, write to Claudine)
When she responded, she told me that she was having health problems.
Serious ones.  The type with the stages.
By the time our correspondence continued,  I was already in Florida-- but because of the nature of her personal news,  I did not mention that I was on vacation.
I think I withheld that information because it felt out of place in a conversation about chemotherapy.
Claudine mentioned that Augie was going to visit her from Texas in a few days.
I was happy for her. I even requested that they take pictures of Augie's visit.
Before I signed off, I told her that I was going to pray for her. And I did.
That evening, I told Steve about my friend's condition and he confirmed that it was grave.
~~~~~
While I was in Florida, I made a conscious decision not to post pictures online.
I was trying to be present, and in the moment--instead of focusing on the perfectly staged shot to share with friends.  I stuck to this decision until six days into the trip I felt the urge to post this photo of Steve on Facebook.  (Something about the beauty of the double rainbows and the symbol of God’s promise)

The picture posted together with our location: TopGolf, Tampa Florida.
Suddenly I received a message from Claudine:
“Are you in Tampa?” she inquired.
I said, "yes, I've been here since Saturday. Tomorrow is our last full day here. We leave Saturday morning. Why?"
She said, "Augie is here with me, and she said that you posted a picture saying that you are here too."
I was so confused.
All this while I thought that Claudine still lived in Los Angeles.
I had no idea that while we were chatting earlier in the week--that we were already in the same city.  Claudine was excited that I was in town, but because she had chemotherapy scheduled for the next morning, she wanted Augie to be able to see me. She offered that Augie drive her car while she was at her session.
I told her that I would go to see them, because I wanted to see her.

It was past midnight on Thursday, but right away I asked Steve if he could drive me first thing in the morning about 45 minutes away.  I wanted to get there before Claudine left for the hospital.
I asked Steve because I don’t drive well in unfamiliar cities or at all.
Steve agreed to take me, (which in itself is a miracle as Steve is not a morning person)
~~~~~
The next morning, although we hit traffic and sudden torrential rain, we got to Claudine’s house on time.  The moment I stepped in,  for some reason, Claudine, Augie and I started laughing about one
thing after another.  Our time together was brief but filled with so much joy.

me, Claudine, her sister Melina, Augie: Tampa, Florida 7/31/2015

Perhaps our giddiness was brought on by the serendipitous nature of finding ourselves all together in one place.  (I had not seen Augie in eight years, and Claud’s sister Melina who now lives in Tacoma,  I don’t think I’ve seen since our college days)
We chatted, laughed and teased each other non-stop until Claudine excused herself to get ready for her appointment.
While Claudine was in the shower, out-of-the-blue Augie suddenly asked me,
“What made you come?”
I asked, "you mean here for vacation?”
She said--“no, here,  this morning.”
I looked at her and said: “I wanted to pray for her.”
Augie’s already large eyes got even larger as she said, "Chesca. This is why I decided to come too.”
"I wanted to pray with her because  “When two or more are gathered...” Augie started to say...
I interrupted her:
“...There I am in their midst.”  (-Matt 18:20)
~~~~~
I don’t know how to put into words the experience of praying with Claudine and Augie that morning, amidst the mist and steam of Claudine’s after-shower bathroom.
(It was the only private place we had as Steve, Claudine’s family and guests were in the living room)
The three of us held each other praying for healing, with uncontrollable tears streaming down our faces.
By the time we were done praying--there was a serenely peaceful look on Claudine’s face that I shall
never forget.

7/31/2015

~~~~~
Last week,  I made the 300 mile drive to visit my mother for her birthday.
Right before I pulled out of my driveway, I got a message from Augie telling me that Claudine needed prayers.
I spent the next 5 hours of my drive, praying for Claudine.
I was unsure of exactly what to pray for.
I prayed for miraculous healing, but I also prayed for God’s Will for her and that if she was to go, that she transitioned peacefully without suffering.
I wish that this is the part where I report a miracle, that Claudine defied all medical prognosis and is well today.
But that is not the case.
A few hours later, as I was in the middle of planting a huge flowering Chrysanthemum plant for my mom in honor of her 85th birthday, I got the message from Augie telling me that Claudine had passed away.
She was 45 years old.
~~~~~
I’ve been pondering, processing and trying to figure out what that whole experience was all about.
What I do know is that, although I was not close to Claudine, being drawn to contact her and see her 41 days before her death has left me with an unmistakeable gift that I hope I never forget.
The peace, joy and confidence I saw in her eyes gave me so much comfort.
It somehow reminded me that a lot of what makes me crazy on a daily basis, does not really matter.
While this may sound like I am giving up on life, on the contrary, I feel compelled to keep doing my best but to do so while surrendering the outcome.
I hope that I become as calm as her when I near the end of my life...or at the very least in my life today as I live through the experience of parenting teenagers.
Seeing Claudine smile ever so sweetly as she was dealing with her terminal illness has pushed me to assess my approach to each day.
I am grateful that my Claudine Experience is encouraging me to:
1. Give up worry.
2. Forgive
3. Do my best in all I do, but let go of all expectations.
4. Stop wrestling with life.
5. Live fearlessly and with great faith in God.
6. Have only good intentions in all I do
7. Let go of my ego
8. Keep my mind and heart open
9. Love
10. Just do it.

(For my friend Claudine:  1/19/1970-9/10/2015)

A Timely Letter I Received Today, (I was experiencing writer’s block) I Really Appreciated it.

Hi Chesca,

Just wanted to say that I discovered your blog today while googling for PRPC (what made me google that today of all days in so many years is beyond me).   I was there from 1984-1986 when I was 9 in the Vietnamese section.   Thank you for bringing back so many memories of the place.  We didn't have a camera back then so I only have memories.  I remember the classrooms and going to school there as a kid.  My mom worked to help dispense supplemental nutrition to malnourished kids in one of the administration buildings (usually bean soup of some sort and she got to take home extras if there was any left :)  Just a few months ago, I was telling my very comfortable daughters about how I used to carry water to the billet everyday and now I can show them pictures.   Oh how far our lives are from that today.

As a kid, I felt that we were just in limbo there waiting to move on.  It never occurred to me that life was happening all around me - like people were meeting their loves and starting new lives.  It's interesting how we had vastly different lives and trajectories back then, but today we live similar lives - comfortable, tending to our half-asian children (music lessons, ice skating, sports, etc), working on being a more peaceful/calm parent, building our marriage, trying to do good, traveling, learning and living the all american dream.  I guess it speaks to people's thirst for freedom and the power of upward mobility in America.  I often think about how vastly my life would be different if we'd never left. I really enjoyed seeing the pictures of the PRPC and reading your post about how you met.  Anyways, thanks for the trip back. 

N

MayL

May is usually the month swamped in school functions, deadlines, anniversaries, graduations, banquets, weddings, birthdays, shows and transitions.

It seems that if I were to chart the topography of my year, May seems to be my "valley month."

The busyness, rattles me. 

Nothing earth shaking, just a low grade drowning that I can, for the most part, disguise. 

This May,  I received two surprises in the mail from friends from yesteryear.

The first one was a post card from San Francisco from my friend, Mary Jane.

The second one was a Watercolor calendar was from Toronto from my friend since I was 6, Becky.

Both went to Maryknoll (an all girls school in Manila a lifetime ago.)

I am amazed by their thoughtfulness and the synchronistic arrival of their mail. 

These notes came "for no reason" yet they had no idea how grateful I was to get it.

Friends old and new are really God's messengers.

I am documenting this as a reminder to myself and to anyone else reading this.

When you are at peace with yourself and you feel an urge to reach out to a friend, an acquaintance or even an old enemy--DO IT. You will never know when you are being used Divinely.

Speaking Of "Transformation" Or "Beautiful Liberation Into A Freer Life"...Today We Got A Call About Steve's Uncle

We were told that he was in an ambulance en route to the hospital behind our house.
He is gravely ill.

To Be Continued.

Marathon Faith

"Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it."
~Michaelangelo

This is the quote that had come to my mind as my sister Karen and I connected while she kept her daughter Aneka company in the hospital.

You know how I have been trying to live in the moment?

Well this is the moment and I am with them in spirit as they face challenging times--despite the distance between Manila and here.

About ten days ago, my niece Aneka, pregnant with twin boys--lost one of her babies to what is called as twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
Because Aneka knew I was on my way to Key West for vacation with my family, she worried that the news would distract me from our trip--they toyed with the idea of keeping it from me. (Can you imagine how selfless she is?)
While carrying on with her pregnancy despite the knowledge that she was to give birth to a stillborn child, she remained positive and focused on her other surviving son.
(Can you imagine how difficult that was?)

She gave birth a few days ago.

This morning however, they were told that Aneka's new born baby, Mikael-- is not out of the woods yet.
It appears that during baby Juanito's death, Mikael suffered a stroke in utero.
The possibility of the effects of this were gently discussed--words so painful that I want no part in energizing it so I shall refrain from writing about it.

However, I will not lie.

I broke a rule I have been trying to follow--the one about not dwelling on the past and not worrying about what is yet to come--I pondered the possible difficulties in their family's future.

It is at that exact moment that I remembered that Michaelangelo quote.

And then it dawned on me that Aneka and her family, of all people, have the capacity to love unconditionally.

Love heals.

Thinking miraculous thoughts are difficult because unfortunately science, logic, and our mental habit patterns promote fear.

Fear gets in the way of love, but let me repeat this, love heals.

Love trumps fear if we let it.

We are all connected. Every single one of us.

So know that every loving thought helps.

Banish any fearful thought and instead let our loving prayer be one of gratefulness.

Gratefulness for Aneka's health, the incredible love and support she has from her family and friends,

The amazing resilience her parents have and have passed on to their children.

As Karen's heart bleeds for Aneka as she questions the 'whys' of life--

I pray that this experience brings them and others closer to God.

I pray that they continue living fearlessly and that they will remain faithful.

I pray that Karen and her husband Rosar, will remain strong and loving as they bury their grandson Juanito Rafael, right beside their own infant son that they laid to rest over 20 years ago.

The words, Thy Will Be Done are much easier said than lived.

I know this.

But it is only when we give up what we want and give it to God that true miracles happen.

A miracle is unfolding here.

This I know.

A Care Package

I got this in the mail today.

My friend MJCY surprised me with this box full of L-O-V-E.

It's usually kids at camp that get a care package, I was not expecting to receive one too.

The amazing thing is, Mary Jane had no idea that I had a couple of these things on my mind today as I was going about my business of laundry and an attempt at productivity.

Look! A couple of meditation CDs!!!

Chocolate!

Laing!!!

Boy Bawang (I had mentioned this precious product recently to my friend JB--I had just recently gifted this to another friend during my recent drive to Baltimore--I now have three in return).

Truly whatever you give, you get back.

Such a gift to get this on my kids' first day away.

Well this, and my period.

California and A Ring

"DON"T MOVE!"

I had just gotten up to say good-bye to my friend Lyndon, who had come to meet us at Venice Beach.
I was hunched over dusting the sand off my legs, when my friend QA yelled this to me.

As I tried to straighten up she said it again in a more frantic voice.

Urgent.

Certainly with authority.

"DON"T MOVE."

So with my hands now resting on my knees, my butt sticking out--I waited.

I was convinced that she had seen a rattlesnake.

Keeping my feet firmly planted in the sand I swiveled my upper body slowly so that I could see her.

She was intently scanning the sand.

I too, looked at the sand but saw nothing.

Which was the problem.

A few seconds earlier, while I was bent over, she decided to help get the sand off of my behind.

Unfortunately, as she swatted my pwet, her diamond ring flew off her finger in an untraceable trajectory.

Although she felt it slip off, she never saw it land.

Lyndon who had an appointment to keep, tried to help us search for the ring but we told him to go.

Without ever breaking eye contact with the sand-- I said goodbye to a friend that I had not seen since 2006--and told him to pray that we would find it.

I then told him that I would call him WHEN it was found.

Even after we had combed the sand for about 45 minutes, I reassured QA that we were going to find it.

While I realize that it is easy to have faith when it is not your ring buried in the sand, I was confident that I would have felt the same if it were my ring.

I know this because as soon as her ring got lost, the very first thing I did was to remove my ring and toss it into the sand just to observe how it landed.

(It disappeared immediately and QA called me crazy)

I calmly shared with QA the thoughts going through my mind as I was on my hands and knees gently sifting for her platinum diamond ring:

1. That things happen for a reason

a) and that the reason we were having difficulty finding it--is because if it were easy, then there would be no reason to connect with God.

b) That there was a reason that I was in California, and I was certain that it was NOT so that I could drag my girl friend to the beach so that she could lose her ring and cause disharmony in her life.

c) Right before the ring got lost in the sand I had just declared it to be a perfect day.

I had just finished running 3 miles on the beach BAREFOOT for the first time in my life and had felt completely happy and in sync with life. Something in my gut told me that the day was going to get even better.

2. That I was absolutely positive that if we prayed with faith and a thankful heart, that the ring would be found. I promised her this.

3. That self flagellation, negativity and a doomsday attitude messes with one's cell signal to God.

She needed more convincing.

It was then that I decided to send QA away on an errand, away from me, because as she repeatedly declared "It's Gone" and "We are never going to find it" her plaintive cries were creating a whole lot of static interference in my line of communication to God.

I looked up from the sand and asked her to walk to the lifeguard station.

I told her to ask if they knew anyone with a metal detector.

The moment she walked away, I continued to pray but this time, out aloud.

When she got back she told me that the lifeguard gave her a phone number that she had called.

The man that answered said that he was about 30 minutes away and that if he got stuck in traffic--that he would (I am giggling even as I type this)--ride his skateboard to get to us quickly.

The picture conjured up by him and his mode of transportation hardly screamed professional.

Anyhow, he told us to stop digging in the sand so that the ring would not sink deeper.

As QA and I waited, I remembered to call Gabi.

Gabi is an extremely confident prayer.

As soon as she got on the phone, I told her that her Tita Q's engagement ring fell in the sand and that we could not find it.

Right away she said, "Ok, I'll pray right now."

But here's the unusual part.

She added something that she had never done before. She put a time stamp on her prayer.

She said: "You will find it before 8:20 pm" (east coast time)

I hung up the phone with a slightly puzzled yet excited feeling.

The local time was 5:02 pm.

With the detector being a 30 minute skateboard ride away, my faith faltered for a brief second before I shook it off and just breathed.

Suddenly, this guy showed up and he was dressed in some sort of a cape.

His name was Adriano Mattoni (310) 429-5432

He introduced himself, chitchatted a bit--and sat down and carefully removed his shoes.

By that time I was now laughing internally, because I knew that it was just a matter of time before my friend QA experienced faith in action. I was confident that this moment was going to change her life.

From the time he started metal detecting to the time he FOUND the ring , about 52 seconds had elapsed.

The time?

5:15 pm California time.

8:15 pm where Gabi was sitting and praying with expectant faith.

It is a good thing her ring was not this big.

Otherwise she would not have been able to witness the power of prayer on that perfect day in Venice Beach, California.

Sometimes, less is truly more.

But What If You have Two Sisters that were born on Valentine's Day?

Then you know that they are getting inundated with lots of messages and so you have to get creative with your greeting.

Dear Karen,
When I read the hundreds of messages and birthday postings on your Facebook page from friends that span a lifetime, I ponder about you and your amazing qualities:
1. You give what you get.
-you've always taken care of relationships.  You care about everybody.
Everybody, cares about you.
2.  You are a magnet.
-you attract people with your quirky grumpy love that you infuse with your entertaining antics.
People are drawn to you.
3. You are a connecter.
-not only do you relate to various people on different levels but your ability to bring them together and bind them with the most simple of things like pingpong playing, bicycle riding, lambanog drinking and eating the most simple turo-turo food that you won't cook, creates a pull towards you that defies gravity.

If this were your eulogy, I would write about your challenges and your victories.
I would include how much I admire the mother that you are, and I might even throw in a snippet about the best sister that you've been.  But, thank God it's just your birthday and that I have more time to observe, experience and share the beauty of you.

Dear Charissa
Everything Karen learned, she learned from you.
Maybe she did not quite learn any of your culinary skills nor did she pick up your gardening talent--and lambanoging is all hers but YOU set the mold for being caring, magnetic and kind--and you certainly planted various seeds of nuts in her garden called life.
For this I thank you.

For 2012 Valentine's Day/Two Sisters' Birthdays I am posting a clip from a 1969 Film called 'Goodbye Mr. Chips' starring Petula Clark.
Although Karen and Charissa do not have similar personalities,  I could see both of them in the role of Petula Clark singing: "Fill The World With Love."


Fill the World With Love Lyrics:
In the morning of my life I shall look to the sunrise.
At the moment in my life when the world is new.
And the blessing I shall ask is that God will grant me, 
To be brave, and strong and true,
And to fill the world with love my whole life through.


(chorus)
And to fill the world with love
And to fill the world with love
And to fill the world with love my whole life through.


In the noontime of my life I shall look to the sunshine
At the moment in my life when the sky is blue.
And the blessing I shall ask shall remain unchanging,
To be brave and strong and true,
And to fill the world with love my whole life through.
(chorus)


In the evening of my life I shall look to the sunset,
At a moment in my life when the night is due.
And the question I shall ask only I can answer:
Was I brave and strong and true?
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To my two sisters who celebrate their birthdays on the same day the world celebrates love,
your answer is yes.
Happy Birthday and I love you.

"There is More to Life than Increasing its Speed"

-Gandhi.

Tita Carole.

Tita Chesca

Our friend Brian Horvath who we had lunch with at Wholefoods, surprised us with his package.
(Baby Mac)
As he shared his insights on life in China (where he and his wife Anni and baby Mac live)
He also shared his favorite Gandhi quote:
There is more to life than increasing its speed.
Aside from sushi, what I took away from that lunch with Carole and Brian is this:
I should stop and smell my children.

The kids are finally home from camp.

Waaah waah waaah.
I can be such a whiner.
Did I not enjoy staying in bed all day long?
Did I not eat ice cream for brunch just because I could?
I know it is healthy for children to spend time away from their parents and we are lucky that Steve's mom hosts "Nana camp" every summer for a week.
And I don't usually pine away for them like this like I did this past week.
I don't.
In fact I usually go away and have fun.
But not this year.

This year I weeded.
(both mentally and actually)



BEFORE And AFTER shots of our back yard.

You Know Why I love Blogging?

Because of letters I get like this:

July 13,2008
Hi Chesca, I doubt you’d remember me… I went to Maryknoll but transferred after 1st year high school. I stumbled upon your site and enjoyed seeing familiar faces (I’m in the grade 7 class photo, sitting in front of Kay Uranza and Mia Ordonez).
All the best. I really enjoyed your site.
-Josette Carandang

PS.
When I was reading your blog I thought, that is so Chesca.
It was as if you were speaking right in front of me. Hahaha.
Tell me more about you that is not in your blog and how all the others are doing.
Where is Jo Lozano?
I ddn't see her in the photos.
This is so exciting!
(letter edited to fit your screen)

and this:

July 12, 2008
Dear Chesca, I accidentally saw your blog and I saw the name of one of our batchmates in UP Manila. I am referring to Jericho Farrales. I lost contact with her after she left UP Manila. Could you send me her email? I am Jonathan Sandejas, BS Biology.
You probably don't remember me after all these years but I remember you.
I am presently an Internist-Gastroenterologist practicing in Manila.
I hope you can help.

Jona

Dr. Jonathan Sandejas FPCP, FPSG, FPSDE
Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology

PS: Chesca,
I used to mention to Jericho that you were unique because of what I would term "chlorophyll eyes". Back then, the appearance of "greenish hue eye shadows" were shocking to a simple creature like me. I looked through the pictures and I saw
Lyndon Soriano. I played on the basketball team representing the 1st year batch of UP Manila.
(this letter has been edited to consider your attention span)

Of course I had to respond right away.

I wrote to Josette that
thoughts must truly have an energy of its own
because I had just thought of her two days before I got that letter.
(I swear upon my two front teeth that this is the honest truth)
She now lives in New Zealand with her husband and 16 year old son.
And she is a beauty--look at her:

Josette Carandang.

To My friend Jona (whom I also remember well)
I did not say that I had just thought of him,
However I did want to know what all the letter after his name stood for
--FPCP, FPSG, FPSDE--
A knowledgeable individual who shall remain nameless informed me that it stood for:
First Patient Collapsed of Pneumonia,
Fourth Patient Suffered Greatly, and
Fifth Patient Suddenly Died Eerily.
It is part of the Hippocratic oath doctors take to remind themselves of their
learning experiences.

(I am just kidding Jona!!!)

I had to laugh out loud at his reference to my "chlorophyll eyes."
My trademark eyelashes were mascara-ed BLUE for four years straight.
(thanks to my older sister Charissa who supplied me with the stuff).
What can I say, it was a cry for attention even back then.
But truly, finding long lost friends and making new ones through this blog has been one of the reasons why I love blogging.
That and the free stuff (*wink*)

Why do you blog?

Nana in New York

Nana is from Manila.
She thought that after her business trip in Toronto, she would spend a few days in NYC.
She asked me if I would meet her there.

Nana and I were in the same homeroom in the first, second, third and fourth grade.
And although we went on to finish elementary, high school and college at the same schools,
we were never classmates again.
But we were always friends.

So when she asked if I could make the 7 hour drive to NYC, I wanted to do it.
However, the kids being on summer break made it impossible for me to get away.
I was scheduled to drive my parents to Rochester NY and also had my niece's birthday party in Syracuse, NY. (a distance of about 300-380 mi from where I live)
It is funny how the saying,
'If there is a will there is a way' is so true.
Somehow, our other friend Kay snagged Nana to stop at Rochester on her way to NYC.

We ended up meeting in NY instead of NYC.


Joe, Kay and Nana

Kay, Chesca and Nana

Vodka Jello Shots, at Stuckos--best Wings in Upstate NY

At Jeremiah's Tavern.

Are we anywhere near New York City?

With the Andersons by the lake. (Chesca's in-laws)


Nana in her two-piece.


Nana and Chesca tubing in Green Lake.


Who needs Manhattan to have fun???
It does not matter where you are, it is whom you are with.

The Recurring Roles We Play

Is it true that despite the evolution that one has gone through, it takes a simple trigger to transport us right back to our younger default self?

I used to be very outgoing.
I lead a much more quiet life today.
Recently, I made plans to meet up with some college friends.
I had not seen them in decades.
I was nervous about the pending reunion because I did not quite know how to reconcile my old self with my newer, more introspective self.

We started off catching up and getting adjusted to each other over a cup of coffee.
(I made a hasty decision to get off the wagon and into caffeine's familiar arms)

My efforts at trying to impress them failed when that night, after swirling and sipping red wine, I leaned back on my chair and ended up with both legs straight up in the air...head on the floor...wine glass still upright in my connoisseur hand.

In an instant-- I was reunited with old friends and my old self.

Self-referential Personal Anecdotes

My Mom's sister died a few days ago.
I wrote this for her funeral:

She said to me, "I am coming for a visit, and I would like to bring you something...what would you like, Chesca?"

"Oh I don't know, Auntie Mife," I said shyly.

"There's got to be something that you want..." She pressed.

"How about needles," I replied.

"Needles?" she asked, surprised because this wasn't what she was expecting of my six year old self.


When she arrived, not only did she bring me sewing needles but she brought me other goodies as well.
On the day she left I remember that we had exchanged gifts:
I gave her little bottles of perfume from my collection while she gave me her yellow hairbrush.

20 years later she housed a friend of mine who was visiting Guam for a few days.

When my friend returned she told me that my Auntie Mife still had the bottles of perfume I had given her when I was 6.
I was so touched by this revelation.

Not only had my Auntie Mife recognized that I had given her some of my prized possessions but she had made the decision to treasure it for years to come. That is the type of person Auntie Mife was.
I will never forget her.

Auntie Mife S. Garcia
March 21, 1924 - February 10, 2008

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We had an unexpected kid-free evening last night when my friend Carole picked up our girls to play at her house. (thanks again CK)
In an effort to prove to Steve that I am not becoming a hermit we went to see a movie last night.
Let me just say, that if one is venturing out of hermitism, the movie 'There Will Be Blood' is probably not the best way to go.
I have come to a conclusion:
I no longer want my thoughts provoked.
I am a lover of formula.
The acting was excellent, the struggles human, but the conflict never ending.
There was nothing about this movie that made me feel good.
Moving along...
Speaking of the macabre...I have been wanting to write about 'The Bodies Exhibition'
(which is controversial because it uses real human bodies preserved and dissected to display bodily systems)
My family and I viewed it not too long ago--but due to Kika's basketball game today and
another ice skating party that we are all going to attend that post has to be poned--get it? Postponed. (yeeha)

The dead can wait, it's living that can't.

Pardoning the ex-Philippine President

She was a friend of mine in grade school.
Her father is Joseph "Erap" Estrada, the former president of the Philippines.
However, he was found guilty of embezzling millions of dollars from the country.
A few years ago over lunch, J spoke of her father's innocence.
I remember thinking in my head that I did not want to be a hypocrite by agreeing with her.
So when she spoke of her father's incarceration, all I said was:
"This must be so terrible to go through."

Yesterday for some inexplicable reason, Erap was pardoned by the present president.
I am happy for J--the daughter,
but sad for the Philippines.

Journaling NYC

New York City really should get cell service in the subway--
so that all the weepy messages from your children need not be left on your voice mail.

Kika, sorry that you got sick while I was in NYC.
Steve, thank you for messing up your schedule to drive Gabi to school...since she was scared to get on the bus without her sister.
Gabi, I am proud of you for taking the bus home from school by yourself. I had a great time.
Tuesday-
Had dinner with Missy Jurado and "A" at Soho .
Cendrillon was great.
This asian grill serves more mainstream-tasting Philippine cuisine.
A good place to sample Filipino food if you have never had it.
Located at 45 Mercer st.
(Right beside Babeland, the adult toy store ;-))
(pictures here)
Wednesday-
Had late morning tea with Shawn Hainsworth in Washington Hts.
(pictures here)

Strolled in Central Park.
Shopped a little bit.
(will put a picture of my new dress here)
And then I set out to visit Aimee's baby.
(yes the purpose of my trip)
While en route I got sidetracked to make a boot purchase at
Century 21 Department Store (22 Cortland)
-across from WTC, a bargain shopper's haven!!!
-beware of high-strung women shopping.
-if you go--wear a tank top and leggings/cycling shorts underneath your clothes so that you won't have to use the dressing room. The lines are verrrry long. Trust me on this one.
Eventually got to the Kowalaks in Hoboken.

To be in the presence of awe and love for a newborn child is an experience.
The arrival of a baby binds a home with hope and love.


It filled me with both nostalgia and a pang of something inexplainable.
(pictures here)
Met Missy there.
Had Cuban.
Got my baby fix.
(more pics here)
Thurday-
My friend Katie Talarico picked me up for lunch at
Le Pain Quotidien, (60 W65th St.)
Fantastic Salads and cheeses.

Enjoyed another great day in Central Park.
(pictures here)
Parking in that area: $42.00 for three hours.
If you go one minute past 3 hours, the rate jumps to $67.00.
We did not know this.
Met Joy Mendoza, Bettina Icasiano, and Missy for dinner at Thalia's (8th Ave/50th)
Met Missy's international banking colleagues for after dinner drinks/dessert at a Japanese Bar.
(pictures here--please note my wardrobe change to meet up with conservative bankers)
Friday-
Met my very first blog buddy Bernadette!!!!
together with an old friend Joel--went to Ihawan in Queens and had a scrumptious lunch.
(pictures here)
Had dinner with With Missy, Patrick and Mihali Felipe at Zocalo's (Best Margaritas in NYC)

Spotted Colin Farrell near Times Square.
Did not have drinks with Colin.
(pictures here)
Saturday-
Left NYC

and drove the 374 mi. back home to my domestic diva-ness.
It took me over 7 hours.
When Steve checked on my whereabouts he said:
"what are you doing, driving around in circles???"
But I had made several stops.
Stopped for gas.
Stopped for pee and lunch at taco bell.
Stopped again at a sheepskin roadside store to buy a trooper hat
(will put a picture here)
Stopped again at another gas station to take a nap.
---woke up completely disoriented but refreshed.
Got home to a sick dog.
Glad the spelling words were found in time for Gabi's test tomorrow.

A Morning Text

In labor, at hospital now.
(08:49:57 AM)

Got this text from Aimee Alampay-Kowalak.
Of course I had to call her right away
(yes, while she was laboring)

She said: "This is all your fault ches"

I had just emailed her last night saying that if she gave birth now
(even if the baby is not due yet)
that I would definitely go to NYC next week while our other friend Missy Jurado is in town.

Nothing like inducing your friend's child birth on a tuesday morning.
Nothing like having a perfect excuse to visit NYC.

Woo-hoo!!