No snow, honey... just the lake.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Sunday, December 11, 2005
leaving on a jet plane
All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go...
Yes! I am packed to the gills! down to the carry-on baggage and one personal item. Well, I guess I shouldn't say that because one box is courtesy of my sister... but hey, I'm ready! That is, I still have to bake my kids' cookies... oh heck! I'm sure I'll never be ready until I'm on the plane.
Here's what my last week looks like. Work, reconfirm bookings, watch Narnia, go to Big Bear, pick up the box from my sister, do laundry, have dinner with my honey, clean up my mess from packing, bake cookies, do dishes, return books to the library, etc. etc.
When I get there here's what I need to do... Buy ham and other stuff for noche buena, shop, take my kids out, go to birthday/christmas dinner with friends, go out again with another batch of friends, have my driver's license renewed, have my braces taken cared of, etc. etc.
Whew! I'm already tired just thinking of what I have to do, much more actually trying to do it all... See yah all when I get there!!!!!
Yes! I am packed to the gills! down to the carry-on baggage and one personal item. Well, I guess I shouldn't say that because one box is courtesy of my sister... but hey, I'm ready! That is, I still have to bake my kids' cookies... oh heck! I'm sure I'll never be ready until I'm on the plane.
Here's what my last week looks like. Work, reconfirm bookings, watch Narnia, go to Big Bear, pick up the box from my sister, do laundry, have dinner with my honey, clean up my mess from packing, bake cookies, do dishes, return books to the library, etc. etc.
When I get there here's what I need to do... Buy ham and other stuff for noche buena, shop, take my kids out, go to birthday/christmas dinner with friends, go out again with another batch of friends, have my driver's license renewed, have my braces taken cared of, etc. etc.
Whew! I'm already tired just thinking of what I have to do, much more actually trying to do it all... See yah all when I get there!!!!!
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
to believe or not to believe...
| You are Agnostic |
 |
tagged!
I've been tagged. Don't know exactly what that means, but I guess it'll require me saying 20 things about me, and try to get somebody else to do the same.
1. My children comes first, everything else is secondary.
2. I drink coffee so I can go to sleep.
3. I drink coffee to calm me down if anything stresses me out.
4. I eat McDonald's French fries almost everyday.
5. I'm trying to learn how to play the violin. I've learned 10 songs so far, yippee!
6. I was able to lose 40 lbs. in a week and 20 more in the weeks after that.
7. Took me a year to get 15 lbs. back.
8. I've watched Pretty Woman more than 30 times. I guess I believe in fairy tales.
9. I've watched Bridges of Madison County 6 times within 10 days when it first came out. Still watching it once in a while, my answer is still the same, get out of the truck!
10. I learned how to blog with the insistence of Ralline and with the help of a friend here. She helped me with technical stuff, in return I try to write what she feels but fails to express.
11. Read Nicholas Sparks' books at the insistence of another friend. I wonder if he'll write the same stuff if he wasn't happily married.
12. My friends tell me I can be brutally frank. I believe them.
13. According to my dream I will probably die an old woman.
14. I will not rest till I meet Pierce Brosnan :)
15. I like to buy trinkets with cats on them.
16. I love to write poems, now my daughter has taken over. I love that even more!
17. I love to watch sunsets.
18. When my son asks me for something, I always say, "bilugin mo muna ulo ko". Somehow, he found the right answer to that one... "Mama, bilog na ulo mo." And goes on to illustrate by drawing circles around my face with his fingers (this was when he was barely 5 years old).
19. I like winter and the snow, but it took me 4 years before I was able to go and see it for myself.
20. I'm going to celebrate Christmas with my kids! About time!
1. My children comes first, everything else is secondary.
2. I drink coffee so I can go to sleep.
3. I drink coffee to calm me down if anything stresses me out.
4. I eat McDonald's French fries almost everyday.
5. I'm trying to learn how to play the violin. I've learned 10 songs so far, yippee!
6. I was able to lose 40 lbs. in a week and 20 more in the weeks after that.
7. Took me a year to get 15 lbs. back.
8. I've watched Pretty Woman more than 30 times. I guess I believe in fairy tales.
9. I've watched Bridges of Madison County 6 times within 10 days when it first came out. Still watching it once in a while, my answer is still the same, get out of the truck!
10. I learned how to blog with the insistence of Ralline and with the help of a friend here. She helped me with technical stuff, in return I try to write what she feels but fails to express.
11. Read Nicholas Sparks' books at the insistence of another friend. I wonder if he'll write the same stuff if he wasn't happily married.
12. My friends tell me I can be brutally frank. I believe them.
13. According to my dream I will probably die an old woman.
14. I will not rest till I meet Pierce Brosnan :)
15. I like to buy trinkets with cats on them.
16. I love to write poems, now my daughter has taken over. I love that even more!
17. I love to watch sunsets.
18. When my son asks me for something, I always say, "bilugin mo muna ulo ko". Somehow, he found the right answer to that one... "Mama, bilog na ulo mo." And goes on to illustrate by drawing circles around my face with his fingers (this was when he was barely 5 years old).
19. I like winter and the snow, but it took me 4 years before I was able to go and see it for myself.
20. I'm going to celebrate Christmas with my kids! About time!
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Concert Time w/ the Nitrini's
Concert Time w/ the Nitrini's
Originally uploaded by maria rachelle.
Isn't it fun that I don't have to pay to get to see an opera? I got a tenor, a soprano, a baritone and an alto.... Singing happy birthday sounded like a full orchestra!
Mario w/ grandkids, Jackie and Dorabella
Mario w/ grandkids, Jackie and Dorabella
Originally uploaded by maria rachelle.
Playtime with the kids
Uncle Pete and Aunt Pat
IMG_0022
Originally uploaded by maria rachelle.
Uncle Pete's enjoying himself while Aunt Pat watches to make sure he doesn't overeat...
Mario and Cip
IMG_0028
Originally uploaded by maria rachelle.
I do think they're trying to keep everyone from the food...
My honey at age 5...
My honey at age 5...
Originally uploaded by maria rachelle.
Can you see the tiny candles around the big 5?
Happy Birthday Mario !!!
Happy Birthday Mario !!!
Originally uploaded by maria rachelle.
I love this cake! Too bad it's not my birthday... ah well... that doesn't mean I can't sneak a big bite out of it :)
Monday, November 14, 2005
party galore!
Had a party last Saturday for my honey. Turned our really great with lots of food and lots of family and friends to celebrate with. But man oh man! Was it ever tiring. I was the official cook of course. I decided on an all Filipino menu and hoped everyone will be happy with it. Turned out I need not have worried. I must be getting better with my cooking. And to think I hardly ever have time to do it :)
Ah well, it was the least I can do. Don't spend enough time with him as it is because of my work. All's well that ends well. Will be posting pictures, promise!
Ah well, it was the least I can do. Don't spend enough time with him as it is because of my work. All's well that ends well. Will be posting pictures, promise!
Sunday, November 13, 2005
9 Layers
Found this old meme... why not? This will fill in while I get some pics ready for posting.
LAYER ONE:
-- Name: Maria Rachelle
-- Birth date: January 21
-- Birthplace: Manila, Philippines
-- Current Location: Los Angeles, CA
-- Eye Color: Dark brown
-- Hair Color: Dark brown
-- Height: 5'6"
-- Righty or Lefty: Righty
-- Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
LAYER TWO:
-- Your heritage: Filipino, Spanish
-- The shoes you wore today: rubber shoes
-- Your weakness: curiosity
-- Your fears: not knowing
-- Your perfect pizza: pepperoni, sausage, extra cheese
-- Goal you'd like to achieve: further studies
LAYER THREE:
-- Your most overused phrase on AIM: none
-- Your first waking thoughts: wake up...
-- Your best physical feature: my face
-- Your most missed memory: gee... how come I can't remember?
LAYER FOUR:
-- Pepsi or Coke: Coke
-- McDonald's or Burger King: McDonald's
-- Single or group dates: no preference
-- Adidas or Nike: none, they both don't fit right so I get Sketchers
-- Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: I'm not much of a tea drinker, I'd rather have coffee anytime, but I do like Chili's Iced Tea(in the Philipines, don't know why it's not the same here in LA)
-- Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate, don't know why I never liked vanilla
-- Cappuccino or coffee: Coffee!!!!!
LAYER FIVE:
-- Smoke: nope
-- Cuss: yep...
-- Sing: only in my dreams(and in the shower)
-- Take a shower everyday: yes
-- Do you think you've been in love: duh?
-- Want to go to college: already have, planning to go back to school again
-- Liked high school: what was left for me to enjoy, was too sick for most of it.
-- Want to get married: been there, done that.
-- Believe in yourself: most of the time
-- Get motion sickness: once in a while
-- Think you're attractive: I guess, I never give it much thought...only when I need to be.
-- Think you're a health freak: Definitely not! Couldn't do it, Ilove french fries too much and hate exercise :)
-- Get along with your parent(s): Only now that I'm older... but we still disagree once in a while...that's why they're parents.
-- Like thunderstorms: Yep! One that comes with heavy rains.
-- Play an instrument: Now I do! Still learning but I can play the violin.
LAYER SIX: In the past month...
-- Drank alcohol: Nope.
-- Smoked: Nope.
-- Done a drug: Nope.
-- Made Out: Dare I tell?
-- Gone on a date: yep.
-- Gone to the mall?: Once.
-- Eaten an entire box of Oreos?: Nope, not my favorite.
-- Eaten sushi: Yep.
-- Been on stage: Nope. I wish...
-- Been dumped: Nope.
-- Gone skating: Nope. No time to do these things...
-- Made homemade cookies: Not yet, I will before I go back to the Philippines, my kids love them.
-- Gone skinny dipping: Not in California beaches... I'll freeze!
-- Dyed your hair: Yep.
-- Stolen Anything: My honey's dessert(which I made myself...)tasted good so I figured I'm doing myself a favor.
LAYER SEVEN: Ever...
-- Played a game that required removal of clothing: Once.
-- Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: Once. Unlikely to happen again since I've totally stopped drinking.
-- Been caught "doing something": Not yet... who knows, life is short.
-- Been called a tease: I hardly think this word describes me.
-- Gotten beaten up: Physically? Once, got a tiny scar to show for it... Emotionally? Yep... and that's all I got to say about it.
-- Shoplifted: Nope.
-- Changed who you were to fit in: Tried to, but it doesn't work. Doesn't make me happy so I just go back to my old self...better that way anyway.
LAYER EIGHT:
-- Age you hope to be married: Again????? Gee! I hope not.
-- Numbers and Names of Children: 2, Kyla and Axel
-- Describe your Dream Wedding: Garden setting, sunset at the background...
-- How do you want to die: I already know... Old age.
-- Where you want to go to college: Went already... let's hope I can afford to go back.
-- What do you want to be when you grow up: Grown up. He, he.
-- What country would you most like to visit: Italy
LAYER NINE:
-- Number of drugs taken illegally: None.
-- Number of people I could trust with my life: One
-- Number of CDs that I own: A lot...
-- Number of piercings: only 2... no wish to inflict more unnecessary pain...
-- Number of tattoos: None...yet. I've always wanted to get one but haven't found a design I really like or an artist to do it... maybe when I get older(I guess this is considered unnecessary pain, ah well...)
-- Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper?: A couple, when I was younger...
-- Number of scars on my body: five from injuries and some scartch marks when I was pregnant.
-- Number of things in my past that I regret: 1
Saturday, October 29, 2005
shadowed friendship
Recently, a friend asked me what to do in a situation where people are trying to ruin a good friendship. First I had to ask what kind of friendship it is. Is it the real kind or just a superficial one? People in their need to be accepted and loved always make this mistake. Sometimes I think the idea of friendship is doubly hard for this friend of mine because she always have to be careful whether it's really her friendship they want or the just the benefits of being friends with her. She's a very good person and always sees the good in others, but she's also very rich and I've seen people take advantage of that fact while pretending to be her friend. She's very smart but sometimes so naive when it comes to friends and relationships in general.
She tends to be very generous to people around her and sometimes, people just looking in would take it the wrong way. Most of the time she ignores what other people say, but there are times when I guess it gets to be too much. She's also very sweet and this too can cause problems where it shouldn't. But this is her natural self. How can a person change what is natural even for the sake of friendship? Answer is you don't. If the so-called friends can't handle it, then maybe they're not friends after all.
Communication is a good way to figure things out. If the shadow cannot be lifted, then maybe it's time to look behind and through the shadow to see what is real. Is it only other people talking or is it something else? Finding out the truth is important. Sometimes truth will hurt, but I think in the long run it's what matters. Some would say that there will be instances where hiding the truth can be a better choice, but then, can we hide the truth forever?
One of the hardest thing to do is letting go, especially of someone you consider a dear friend. But sometimes, it is necessary and you will be better for it. Maybe not happier, but you'll learn to accept that in time.
She tends to be very generous to people around her and sometimes, people just looking in would take it the wrong way. Most of the time she ignores what other people say, but there are times when I guess it gets to be too much. She's also very sweet and this too can cause problems where it shouldn't. But this is her natural self. How can a person change what is natural even for the sake of friendship? Answer is you don't. If the so-called friends can't handle it, then maybe they're not friends after all.
Communication is a good way to figure things out. If the shadow cannot be lifted, then maybe it's time to look behind and through the shadow to see what is real. Is it only other people talking or is it something else? Finding out the truth is important. Sometimes truth will hurt, but I think in the long run it's what matters. Some would say that there will be instances where hiding the truth can be a better choice, but then, can we hide the truth forever?
One of the hardest thing to do is letting go, especially of someone you consider a dear friend. But sometimes, it is necessary and you will be better for it. Maybe not happier, but you'll learn to accept that in time.
Saturday, October 15, 2005
if the shoe fits...
| Your Personality Is |
You are both logical and creative. You are full of ideas. You are so rational that you analyze everything. This drives people a little crazy! Intelligence is important to you. You always like to be around smart people. In fact, you're often a little short with people who don't impress you mentally. You seem distant to some - but it's usually because you're deep in thought. Those who understand you best are fellow Rationals. In love, you tend to approach things with logic. You seek a compatible mate - who is also very intelligent. At work, you tend to gravitate toward idea building careers - like programming, medicine, or academia. With others, you are very honest and direct. People often can't take your criticism well. As far as your looks go, you're coasting on what you were born with. You think fashion is silly. On weekends, you spend most of your time thinking, experimenting with new ideas, or learning new things. |
my brain's pattern?
| Your Brain's Pattern |
 Your mind is a firestorm - full of intensity and drama. Your thoughts may seem scattered to you most of the time... But they often seem strong and passionate to those around you. You are a natural influencer. The thoughts you share are very powerful and persuading. |
Sunday, September 18, 2005
violin lessons
I have now officially conquered 3 songs on the violin and am perfecting my 4th. Though it is not by any standards what you may call professional playing, I'm proud to say that I did it on my own steam or rather by using my ears. After 3 weeks, with only half hour practice about every other day, I think I'm doing okay. ;)
Sunday, September 11, 2005
'that_girl'
She cries on the grave, no one hears her
But the souls that gently watch over her
She can't stop her tears, nobody can
Her pain is too much to bear, she no longer can
She sits on the stone, hugging her knees
Her cries disturbing the place's peace
Hoping he would come, she lifted her head
But all she can see is fog covering the road ahead
The wolves are crying, sharing her sorrow
The night is long, is there still tomorrow?
I opened my eyes and saw myself here
On the same stone that girl sat and fought her fear
Is she just a dream lurking on my side?
Or is she a reality I cannot hide?
- written by my daughter Kyla :)
But the souls that gently watch over her
She can't stop her tears, nobody can
Her pain is too much to bear, she no longer can
She sits on the stone, hugging her knees
Her cries disturbing the place's peace
Hoping he would come, she lifted her head
But all she can see is fog covering the road ahead
The wolves are crying, sharing her sorrow
The night is long, is there still tomorrow?
I opened my eyes and saw myself here
On the same stone that girl sat and fought her fear
Is she just a dream lurking on my side?
Or is she a reality I cannot hide?
- written by my daughter Kyla :)