of all the stupid things...

No, I did not officially break any bone in my body, at least I don't think so. I might have pulled a muscle or so by doing a really stupid thing. What? I lifted a 50 lbs sack of rice. Stupid? Yeah, I know... but i was so used to doing this all the time. But it wasn't the pain that's prompting my visit to the doctor, it's something else...

When I lifted that sack of rice, I heard a small but distinct "popping" sound, then immediately after hearing it, I felt the pain shoot up from my back, alongside with that pain, my vision "blacked out" as in all was black... for about 2 seconds, then when light came back, it was totally blurry. No, I did not compound my stupidity by falling flat on my face. I managed to hold on to the corners of the kitchen counter and when my vision did not return to normal, I called my son to escort me to bed. I called my friend, who's a "hilot" and went to see her. Why did I not go to the ER? Sorry, but unless I am about to die, I do not relish spending thousands of dollars and end up getting sicker from worrying where to get the money to pay for all the bills. Sadly, even with insurance, that's just the way it is. So I opted to get a massage, which gave me immense relief afterwards and scheduled a doctor's visit for Monday. Back pain is somewhat normal for me, I have it every now and then, it's the "black out" thing that worries me. I probably would get x-rayed which is fine, hopefully whatever I have will not warrant crutches... and whatever else, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

- - Update - - I do have pulled muscle, I'm on pain killers, need to see a nuerologist and I think I need to have a life ;p

Monday madness

This morning, my daughter and I were greeted with a humongous traffic on the 10 freeway. We listened in to the traffic report which said that there's been an accident on 10 west at 710 north. I figured we'd just hang tough, we have enough time to get to work. When we got to the accident site, there was a yellow plastic covering something. My first thought was someone must have had a really bad accident and am wondering if that person is dead. Once I got work out of the way, I looked up the cause of the accident which made me late. Sigalerts call for partial or total road closure, this one caused more than an hour delay on a 1 mile stretch(I do not want to imagine what it was like for those coming further away). Imagine the surprise I got when out of the site that reports traffic incidents, it said,

10 West at 710 North
Attempt Suicide - Jumping from Bridge
6:15 AM

I guess whoever that was succeded... it's sad that one should have that much burden, enough to cause his/her death. I hope finally there's peace.

heavenly corner

A tiny corner for me to start or end the day. A good book and a cup of coffee sure goes a long way. Bench courtesy of my friend, thanks a lot for contributing to my character quirks.

for what it's worth...

the mind wanders, where the heart dare not go
seek out the truth, instead of drown in emotions
a blessing or a curse that I am made this way
this is me, that is all I have to say...

fragile life...

Once again I am reminded of how fragile life can be. How we can lose everything in a blink of an eye. That no matter how we plan everything to perfection, life might find it necessary to change our point of view.

A friend once said to me, enjoy life, make sure you live it to the fullest, do not leave a stone unturned, don't miss out on the happiness a moment might bring... in the end, all you can really say is, I have lived. He said this so long ago that I have forgotten, until yesterday when he said my Dad's generation's time has come. They've lived their lives and reached the end of their journey, so it's time to move on. The ones left behind will grieve, but we also have to move on because life continues for us.

I feel really blessed. To have friends who knows me well enough to find the right things to say at the right time. Life can be tough, but with friends like you, living it becomes easier.

Farewell, Tita Leony

Oftentimes we go through life, focused on what we have to do, where we want to go, almost forgetting that there are more important things we need to keep track of in this life. After a tragedy, we try so hard to get on with our lives hoping that we can wake up one day and everything is as it should be. But sometimes, life can be unfair. Instead of waking up to a bright new day, you wake up to find yourself living in another nightmare.

We've had two deaths in the family last year. The first one was my uncle who passed away after months in a coma. The next, my own Dad. He passed away within months of his older brother. We still haven't recovered with the loss. I still break down at times whenever I remember all the plans we made... And now, my Dad's sister just joined them. I woke up to my phone's ringing... my cousin informed me that Tita Leony passed away due to aneurysm. Details eluded me at the time, all I heard was that someone had died... again. After putting the phone down, I got up and went through the motions of making coffee. I just had to have one... I need it to calm myself down. And I sat there, thinking nothing except for the fact that for the third time, we lost someone in the family... and if I wanted to be superstitious about it, they all died within months... nine months(more of less) of each other's passing.

Tita Leony... a prominent figure as I was growing up. Every Christmas morning after mass, we'd go to their massive house for breakfast and gifts. We'd even stay for lunch, they always have a feast because they have such a big family. I'm always excited going there for Christmas, I always get something special. And then there's this Lenten season tradition. We'd go there on Black Saturday to string sampaguitas together. This is for the Risen Christ, the one that goes on parade at the break of dawn to meet up with Mother Mary. My Dad was the one always assigned to polish the gold and silver ornaments on the cape. If it weren't for these occassions, I probably wouldn't have gotten to know all my cousins. I know she took my Dad's death really hard. After my uncle's death, my Dad would call or sometimes drop by for a chat. I can understand the feeling of being totally alone. Her other siblings are here in the US, I guess it almost felt like there was only the two of them left.

Death... an end and a beginning. Acceptance is one thing, but the pain will persist, so will the loneliness. Only time can tell when the memory of the loss won't hurt as much.

Farewell, Tita Leony. I know you will be happy where you're going... and you will be remembered by all of us with love.

thank you...

Funny how hearing someone's voice calmed me down. Life was beginning to feel like a tight squeeze and I was getting antsy. I got a call with "so, what do you need?" for an opening line. And though, that confused the hell out of me(because I did not ask him for anything), that placed a smile on my face, and settled my restless soul. Thank you, for always knowing when I need something even if I don't know it myself.

dinner @ Noodle World

Sea Food Tom Yum

shrimp, mushrooms, and rice vermicelli noodles in soup flavored with lemon grass, lime juice and chili.

Yakisoba (beef)
choice of chicken, beef or pork pan fried with japanese egg noodles and mixed vegetables.

Garlic Spare Ribs

Oreo Chocolate, Thai Iced Tea, Lychee Cooler

Was feeling a little tired when I got home. Didn't feel like cooking anything... solution? Noodle World which is only a block away. Yum!

love is deaf...

My poor son... who's proven time and again that love is not only blind, but definitely deaf. Thankfully, he hasn't turned deaf yet from my awful singing (or should I say howling, he he he)

attending a church fair

this reminded me of someone... ti-hee!!!

I do not know what this contraption is called... but seeing how it worked, I chickened out of riding it... sowee, my stomach already sommersaulted just looking at it ;(

This I rode with Kyla... never again!!! Imagine yourself on the ride's car hanging upside down for countless seconds... feeling yourself about to slip off your safety harness and screaming your lungs out. I am just thankful I got out of it alive... whew!

summer is here!!!

In front of Mid-Valley Public Library

We were in search of an elusive book for Kyla's English 101 class. Saw this bush and realized that summer is indeed here... as if I cannot feel the heat yet :p

Congratulations to the Class of 2007

Axel graduating from Middle School at the Marguerita School






My nephew Dexter graduated from Cal State LA with a degree in Business Finance

Alaala ng isang ama...

Happy Father's Day. How I wish I am able to say this to you in person, rather than to an obscure wooden box that held your ashes. I know I haven't been there for you the last years of your life. I've been here, far away, trying to rebuild my life just as you've always wanted. And then it was too late. You just slipped quietly away, on your own terms, not giving us a chance to argue.

It's been a little over eight months since you passed away. Life's been tough, but good. But I think you already know that. Just like you've always known that I always keep my promises no matter how hard it becomes. There's still a couple of things I need to do, then hopefully, I'd have been able to do things just as you hoped I would.

I've always been a Daddy's girl ever since I can remember. Maybe because my sister has always been a Mommy's little girl. Whatever it was, it made life interesting. I was the son you never had growing up. But just as I was getting comfortable being a son, you decided that I needed to be a girl. Now, that took a lot of work. Am not even sure we succeeded on that one, but hey! we did manage to take home some beauty titles and a lot of great memories.

We would always manage to end up arguing, no matter what the topic may be. You're too philosophically inclined not to argue, and I have too much of you in me not to follow suit. Sometimes, we'd end up upset because we are too stubborn to give in. What I liked best was the quiet mornings, just before anybody else is up. You had coffee ready and I would sit there with you just talking, laughing at something silly we did years before, remembering together and planning for the future.

That I think makes it doubly hard for me. All my plans, I made with you. A lot of my memories are also of you. The house I dreamed of buying... with a huge garden for you to spend your time in, growing those flowers and plants you've always loved. The car that I bought... so that all of us can fit in when we want to take off. And all the rest... we talked and planned, miles apart but always in touch.

Now, I have to content myself with memories... You believed in me till I learned to believe in myself. You held me up till I was strong enough to stand on my own. You lighted my way till I can see with my own eyes. And you let me be, till I can become what I've always been meant to be. Life has never been easy, but you taught me how to live and be part of the bigger picture, to enjoy every single moment as it comes, to learn from the mistakes of the past, to not crumble with life's burden, to believe when no one else does, and to look beyond the horizon, because there will always be a tomorrow to wake up to.

I love you Tatay, and I miss you so much. At times, when I'm missing him too much and on the verge of crying, I'll hear his voice, just as if he were next to me saying, " Anong ipinagmumukmok mo dyan? Kaya ka napangit, e." That would make the tears fall faster, but that also brings out a smile, because I would always answer, "Kung pangit ako e di pangit ka rin?" Not to be outdone, he'd retort, "Napalitan ka lang naman sa ospital e." To which I'd say, "hmp! kaya pala tayo pinagbiyak na inidoro." I'd still be sad afterwards, but I'd feel a little better knowing that he is in my heart... always.

unexpected talent

Now, this video is priceless. Notice the look on the judges faces just before he began singing. Piers Morgan took on his long suffering look, Simon Cowell gave a big sigh... After the first line, Simon looks up with a look of disbelief on his face... did I tell you this one is priceless? The audience loved him, some were moved to tears, I certainly got goosebumps!

memorial weekend...

Such a shame not to say anything about a great weekend spent with an old friend from college. All I did so far was to post pictures of the said visit, and none was said of the good times and stories that should have accompanied such photos. So, let me remedy my laziness and bore my readers with our escapades.

Friday

Did not go to work (shhh...). My visitor said he's be arriving before lunch so I figured I'd just take the whole day off instead of having to fight traffic. Woke up early (around 6:15am), have to get the kids ready, work (for Kyla) and school (for Axel). Made coffee first (a must if I want to stay sane the whole day), then started on breakfast. The kids were complaining a bit, they are so used to going with me wherever I go, so taking of with my friend for the afternoon without them is something new.

Tito Al (as my kids call him), came around 11am. We spent some time actually looking each other over (we haven't seen each other in 20 years, except in pictures). After that, I let him rest a bit before we drove off to West Covina for lunch. Hungry as we are, we did not stay too long, we have tickets for Pirates and we did not want to be late. Him, being a photographer, took pictures along the way. After watching the movie, we looked for a place to have coffee, where else? Starbuck's (apparently his fav). Time flew so fast, as it always does when one is having fun. We did a lot of catching up as old friends do. It was great seeing him again. After that, we went home (he'd be staying with us for a few days). He still has to meet up with his other friends later that night.

We got home and the kids rushed out to meet him (first time in person). No shyness whatsoever. Axel had already challenged him on a football game (XBox 360). While we watched some show, Tito Al got ready to go out again. He left, but then he came back (he left his cellfone :P, ulyanin din pala, he he), then he left again... only to come right back... his friends cancelled on dinner. He was really disappointed about that, but then he decided to ask the kids to go out and have dinner. Kyla and Axel hurriedly got ready (never one to pass up food). So off we went to.... Applebee's. Tito Al and Axel got steak, I got fish and chips and Kyla (amidst teasing), got a weight watcher's dinner terriyaki something... Tito Al got subjected to a lot of teasing from my kids, it's like they too were long time friends. It was a refreshing sight to see. More stories, food, a lot of teasing. 'Twas a great night. All too soon it was time to go home.

The night was still young (I'm not). Tito Al and Axel played NFL, while we watched. Sent the kids off to bed after that. The oldies stayed up for a while with more stories. Sleep was a welcome respite.

Saturday

Woke up at the sound of my cellfone's alarm... WT.... Then it dawned on me that I am supposed to wake him up so he can get ready for the baptism he's going to attend. Tried to wake him up... and tried again... his own alarm went off... no success, tried waking him up again... Man! He's worse than my kids. He just won't wake up. Finally, after more than half an hour of alternating alarms and me shaking him up, he woke up.

While he got ready, I had coffee and breakfast going. Can't very well let him starve. He left after breakfast. Didn't really do much with him that day. This was his day with other friends. I had to wait up for him, though. Have to let him in. We ended up watching some Tagalog movie with the kids (Agent X44). Yeah, yeah... the things I have to put up with to entertain my guest. At least the movie was funny enough and have the kids chuckling to themselves as they got ready for bed.

Sunday

This was the big day. We are going to Griffith Observatory. But first we have to get through the morning. Tito Al made breakfast this time ( a late breakfast, seemed like no one wanted to wake up early after staying up late for 2 nights). Had bacon, eggs, toast, rice, coffee, orange juice. Learned a new way to cook bacon and eggs (thanks!). After that they had to get the steak ready for BBQ. Tito Al actually got my kids to help with the preparations, my only part was to get the grill going. The steak was a great success! Made some mashed potatoes to go with it, and of course, rice is a must... We were almost late in starting out because we were enjoying our late lunch too much. Good thing that there was no traffic and it was easy to find parking once we got to the shuttle that would take us to the Observatory.

At the Observatory...

Shuttle trip was a bit of a ways. Tito Al fell asleep, and I think so did we. Woke up just as the shuttle was parking. The view was breathtaking! We took our time walking up to the entrance. I have one professional photographer and an aspirng photographer in tow... not to mention I was handed a digital camera and was instructed to take as much pictures as I can. That proved okay because something was going on at the Observatory when we got there. People were actually outside waiting to be allowed in. Apparently, there was some fire somewhere and they were taking precautions in case we have to be evacuated right away. Minutes later, we were allowed in, false alarm, whew!

We started by going up the side stairs... we were more interested in taking lots of picture than actually seeing what was inside. This proved to be a lot of fun ( but I hate stairs...). This trip is highly recommended, but be sure you're ready to walk (a lot!) and you're not afraid of heights... We stayed awhile, looked at the exhibits, we even got to see the moon close up using the huge telescope. Axel got stuck between the columns, I liked the part where I weighed less than half of my real weight (big grin), Kyla got excited over a compass and Tito Al had the time of his life taking pictures of whatever took his fancy.

Too soon it was time to go. It got really cold while we were waiting for the shuttle to take us back to the car (brrrr!!!!). We decided to have dinner at In-N-Out Burger (more fun), and then went home. Tito Al and Axel got to play more games, Kyla watched, I was too tired to stay awake and kept closing my eyes while they played. Sleep..... please.....

Monday

It's Memorial Day, no work! Yey! We did not get up till late. We did get ready though we're not going anywhere because Tito Al took our pictures (pang-portrait daw). With that, the visit was over. He left before lunch because he has a golf game that day. We stayed and lounged around the apartment the whole day watching anything that comes on screen. It was a good thing though... friend coming over for a visit is always fun but also tiring.

It was nice seeing you... hope we can do this again sometime. And thanks from all of us.

june gloom and flu...

Finally! The haze lifted, the sun came out and the weather is perfect. It's been too overcast the last few days here in LA, you'd think that the sun forgot that we exist in this part of the world. Along with the perfect weather came my long awaited recovery. Today marked the first 20 hours that I do not have a fever. I'm trying to stay away from my cough medicine which is very effective but always makes me feel really tired and sleepy. I'm still on antibiotics and hopefully that will wipe out all the germs that seemed to have invaded me. In all, things are starting to look up again and I might actually get to enjoy the start of the summer season. Kyla just finished her final exam last Monday. She has a week off before starting her summer class. Axel will be graduating on the 14th. My nephew is also graduating from college this Saturday, so I guess it's busy, busy, busy...

weekend with a friend...part 2

photographer & sidekick

photographer & ...kick?

Al w/ Kyla & Axel

Al's Angels?

taking a picture of...

An afternoon at the Observatory...


more photos... weekend with a friend

Weekend with a friend...

Is that a new member of the Simpson family?

Are you ready?.... Pirate's... at world's end
Dinner w/ a very good friend

Kyla and Tito Alex

Nothing to do at work. It's been so quiet one could just scream just to make the day a little interesting.

In contrast to that, there's a lot to do at home. We are having a visitor this weekend and the apartment needs to cleaned... Nah! Okay, I did tidy up a bit. Finished laundry yesterday, fixed Axel's pants, cooked food etc... Tiny details, you would think this can be done quickly, but no...

Tomorrow, my sister gets her surgery. This time I hope that surgeon gets it right. I really hope my sister can finally start getting better so we can plan on her getting her kidney transplant. I guess it's a good thing there's nothing to do at work... I can relax a bit (shouldn't this be the other way around?)

last day...

Tomorrow is the last day of finals for our students. Whoopeee!!!! I get a break from my midnight shift. Unfortunately we don't really close down so we still have to work, but at least we get to go home early for the next two weeks... Hooray!!!!