You Can't Die.....Because I Love You.....

Reblogged from A Single Girl's View From The Giant Peach:

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Last night lots of people watched an emotional season finale of Grey's Anatomy. Last week we were hit with the shock of the plane crash but last night we finally got to see the fall out. And boy was there fall out.

The show's people kept hinting around that one of the main characters would be dying leaving all of us on the edge of our seats wondering who and praying it wasn't our favorite.

Read more… 471 more words

This is what I love about Grey's Anatomy, they may seem to be miracle workers when they are working but deep within that very character were normal people like their viewers. Anybody can always relate and the emotions are so raw and realistic! I will surely be missing Lexie Grey and all those who left like Teddy. T'was another tearjerker season finale. Shonda Rhimes never fail to amaze me and surprise me. I never hang on to a TV series as much as I did with Grey's Anatomy. I love SATC back then but not as much as GA!

HUNGER is not a GAME

 

Last night, my daughter stubbornly complained of not liking the dinner. She took a spoonful or two and started playing with it. She was about to throw a tantrum drama but since I am not in the mood to put up with it I let her leave the table and I ended up eating what is on her plate. My children(my daughter most of the time actually)has this attitude of pushing away their plates with left-over food and leaving the table when they feel they don’t want to eat anymore. Embarrassing as it is on my end because it looks like I failed as a parent to impose discipline in this type of table manners. I left to work overseas when both are still young and I felt guilty for doing so sometimes. God knows how much I tried my best to teach them right from wrong and the good moral values that an individual should master by heart. I feel bad whenever they ignore the food served on the table because it is not of their favorite or something that would suit their taste buds..which mainly are vegetables! I gave them the freedom to serve themselves so they will learn to estimate the amount of food that they can consume. Most of the time they clean their plates but each time they have left-overs or a half eaten cookie in the trash can, I can’t help but solemnly assessing myself on my credibility as a mother.

They are not picky eaters but like most kids they have their favorites. I know I always sound like a bad record playing or a pirated music CD when I keep telling them this:

With the aid of photos from the internet of kids in hunger somewhere in Darfur Sudan, Somalia or even the indigent, needy and malnourished of our very own Philippines, which I showed them from time to time whenever I have to, just so they will have an idea and hopefully will realize the very thought.

I even showed more disturbing photos of children suffering of famine in their own countries and doesn’t have a choice but to live with it. I will look at their reaction and would see that the realization creeps in but still they tend to forget. Every now and then, I visit the orphanage in our town and take along the kids with me so they will have the actual picture of what it is like having the least than what they have.

the children Gloria Christi Regis Center Home for the orphans and the street children 

Sometimes, I am tempted to let them experience starvation with plans in the back of my mind not to cook and prepare meals or not to buy anything to stock the house with munchies, but then again, the mother in me can’t even bear the thought let alone dare of actually doing it.

I am fully aware that I am not the only parent dancing in this kind of tune. It is not just the food actually that I want them to value but the privilege of being provided of human being’s basic needs. I prayed for them to be forever grateful of their blessings, to be contented and humble because I hate to think that in order for them to realize is for them to experience hunger not as a game but in reality.

What’s your stand?

Browsing sites and reading tweets online, I came across Ms.Lea Salonga’s tweet about her stand on the issues of GAY MARRIAGE where Pres. Barack Obama has clearly voiced out his say. Been hearing a lot about this lately, though I actually don’t care which stand to believe because either way is fine.

I love Ms. Lea Salonga ever since I was little. She is my favorite voice behind some Disney Princesses that I like and it is because of her that I was obsessed with Ms.Saigon music records years ago. I just didn’t get any chance at all to watch it on stage but to be able to see the play someday is still among my bucket list. Anyway, what caught my attention was her tweet saying “Go ahead and ignore my singing… but here’s my stand on gay marriage.” –  I can actually ignore the stand about gay marriage because it is what I am doing since the issue was out but the singing???- Come on! I can’t do that. Ms. Lea Salonga singing is less likely to be ignored, not to me at least. So yeah.. I don’t think anybody can ignore this kind of singing. Check this out!

Ms. Lea Salonga’s stand on Gay Marriage

 

So what is my stand?

Same as previously stated. EITHER WAY IS FINE. If I live in a country where it is not allowed, then I can live with that. I am not gay and it will never affect me in any way. On the other hand, I always believe that people can choose who they want to marry and so I am just as happy as the gay people knowing that there are actually places in the globe who supports what their hearts wanted to say. Meaning, there is always a choice though it involves a little bit of relocation.

I am neither Democrat nor Republican, of course that is obvious because I am not a citizen of the United States and I am not a fan of Pres.Barack Obama or any other President for that matter. Don’t get me wrong, I practiced my right to vote and I take that fundamental human right seriously. I have my own world I guess because I am not politically attached. His statement didn’t influence me on my stand on gay marriage(as I don’t have any!) nor Ms. Lea Salonga’s expressed stand with her singing. I have gay people close to my heart and I just wanted them as they are. They can marry or not and that is totally up to their heart’s content.

  

Follow Ms.Lea Salonga on Twitter: @MsLeaSalonga

or visit her website: www.leasalonga.com

Related articles

• Why Do Conservatives Fear Gay Marriage? (littlegreenfootballs.com)

note to self

As soon as I opened my eyes this morning or just about 45 minutes ago, I smiled. Finding my children awake a little bit ahead of time than I did is not common. It means, I don’t have to shake and scream at them to get up and get going so they won’t be late for swimming training  and since my day already started good enough, I guess it won’t hurt if I add one small positive thought and hoping it would last the day.

So, here is a thing for the mind:

 

I’ll be off to kid’s school for enrollment. Expecting long lines and bitching parents, snobbish school staff and annoying tuition fee increase on student accounts statement that I will be receiving later, hence I will keep in mind that I need to be awesome today. How to do it? I exactly don’t know.. So help me God!

Have a good day everyone!

Happiness

 

Everybody wishes to be HAPPY- it is just a matter of choice.

happy little things

Yesterday was Mother’s day, though I was surprise to learn that some countries celebrated mother’s day on the last Sunday of May, I still felt that the entire world is celebrating with me.

My Facebook wall was flooded with greetings from everyone whom I know cared for me, just as my mobile phone kept beeping with SMS texts to extend their greetings and my Twitter friends tweeted endless tweets of Happy Mother’s Day which made me feel grateful and honored. My kids and I went to my grandmother’s house where most of the clan gather on special occasions and I, in return kissed, hugged and greeted my aunts and cousins. At the end of the day, my mother got these sweet little things:

A pretty red rose from my cousin Malou and Black Forest Ice Cream Cake which I ordered from FUNTASEE CAKES- a cake shop owned and manage by one of my cousins, Kukkhie.

I on the other hand has my own share of surprise. My kids call me “Mama Toshiba”  because they know that I will be in front of my Toshiba laptop whenever free time I have aside from finding me reading books.  After I had my kids dressed and ready for our visit to my grandmother’s house, I found their little surprise on the top of my laptop that the my son secretly placed while I took a quick shower.

I know it looked like a Valentines Day greeting card but who cares, my children inherit my lack of artistic and creative ability so for them to show their love which they easily  expressed in no other way but to draw hearts. After I took pictures , I turned and saw my son standing by the door checking and waiting to see my reaction of their little surprise. He smiled and greeted my shyly and hugging me at the same time. At that moment, I know I got the most important greeting for the day that no Facebook, SMS and Tweets can ever topped. I wouldn’t be greeted with a “Happy Mother’s Day” if not for them in the first place. Just like all other mother who are proud of their mother’s day presents, I am glad and proud too of my own happy little things that comes with hearts!

Happy Mother’s Day 2012

 

To all the Mommies out there… Happy Happy Mother’s Day! I salute you!

Mom’s best lessons in life

 

Life’s lessons in general are always taught by our mothers when we were young. Growing up. the lessons I’ve learned were added up with some of those I eventually earned bumping to situations that I myself needs to handle from time to time. When I was barely two years old, my father died and so my mother raised me and my younger sister on her own. Of what I turned out to be, I owe it all to my mother. I will always be grateful for anything and everything she has done for us. For the unconditional love and selfless sacrifices over the years, for believing in our strengths and encouraging our little hopes and dreams, for simply being a mother the best she can be.

Among the thousands of things that I learned, these are the few that would always make me think of her.

 Love for God – She taught me how to pray and showed me that to be faithfully religious is my only source of strength when times get rough. I grew up not having all the convenience and luxury that life can offer but my mother told me that to be caught in the middle of life’s strongest storms is never a reason to be weak.

To appreciate and be thankful for blessings – “Never bite the hand that feeds you” I once heard this line from her though she never elaborate how that is supposed to mean but my young and innocent mind back then interpreted it as to be always grateful for what I have and for what others has done for me.

To value Education – my mother is a teacher and so it is not a bewilderment to get lectures about doing good in school and studying well. Apart from that, my mother never fails to remind us that education is the only wealth that no one can stole from us and the only wealth a person can take to his grave. I took this advice seriously and constantly remind myself of this thought when I was schooling, however I find it very hard to make my children understand how important education is. I wail and whine to my mother and denounce that my children seems to be taking education for granted.

Respect – She led by example and I learned with her actions that respect is earned only when one knows how to value it. In order to be accepted by others, it is important  to respect one’s self and the people around.

The list is endless when we will talk about our mothers and their greatest lessons in life. As they said, to become a mother is the hardest job on Earth. May it be good or bad, behind every living individual, there’s always a mother’s lesson treasured for life.

AVENGERS

 

The world’s mightiest heroes will come together on a movie. As soon as my kids heard this and practically saw the official trailer,they didn’t stop bugging me for a movie date. Avengers movie is a 2012 American superhero film produced by Marvel Studios and distributed Walt Disney Pictures came to cinemas a week ahead for countries overseas like here in Philippines before United States had it on. Anyhow, I made a promise to the kids and to watch it is the only way to keep it. So we went.

Like a normal mother goose, I shared their excitement. They ignored the popcorn booth which is very strange because as far as I know they love to watch movies in theaters so that they can eat popcorn that comes in big buckets!

We came twenty minutes early so I was able to get photos before the lights went out as they were impatiently restless and ranted me endless questions as to when the movie will start while putting the 3D glasses on and off and curiously playing with it. The theater filled up with movie watchers in no time- Thank God!

So, the kids love it like they usually do in every super hero movie but did I? Oh hell Yeah! I think Marvel has just succeeded with this approach in putting together all these do-gooders or good-doers(whatevs!). I have seen Justice League before and I didn’t have as much fun as I have watching the Avengers smashing NY to pieces. The individual stories of each Avenger hero were nicely put together in a very warm way of camaraderie. FUN comes along with the film as it does have lot of chuckle-worthy moments.

To make summer for the kids extra exciting, do yourself a favor… Take them to see Avengers in theater! Home viewing is always a good idea for family bonding but the theater just gives the chill that only a big screen can. Hell, watch it twice if you can.

I am looking forward for the release of its DVD copies because as expected, my son can’t just get enough of the film, besides, I would like to see Captain America(Chris Evans a.k.a. Steve Rogers) and the mighty THOR(Chris Hemsworth) all over again. Can’t help it… they look hot and good looking!

  

The world’s mightiest heroes might be busy but somebody seems to be sulking somewhere else..

Don’t worry Peter Parker, they will definitely give you a call!

Related articles

• The Avengers 3D: A Review (morningerection.wordpress.com)
• Review: The Avengers (shugamama.wordpress.com)

VISA- the odds were never in my favor

 

I went to sleep late last night, or should I say way to early today since it was barely 1am when I finally dozed off and here I am now, fully awake and clicking keys to this laptop after four hours. Hmm.. some slumber huh? I am thinking too much about the “predicament” that dearHusband and I got from the Saudis yesterday. Well, I know I haven’t mentioned this before but I guess I am now. Few months back, dearHusband and I decided to apply on a visit visa for myself to be with him in Saudi Arabia, where he is currently stationed for the months of April and May, since, kids will be off school. Come March and dearHusband came home for vacation without the requested visa. Originally, we planned  for myself to be flying back with him,—that plan didn’t happen obviously as him and I still does our daily late chats and frequent text messages during the day. You know why? Because the Saudis just can’t do things right! In short, Visa applications, processing et al were messed up once again, take note: ONCE AGAIN, as this isn’t the first time, causing more delays and possibly a hopeless look out for plans not materializing, thanks to them!!

So, this is the “predicament” which was handed to dearHusband yesterday which I will describe as a paper called VISA SLIP. So yeah… the request was granted after all. In fairness to them, it took more than three months from the day dearHusband filed it before February 2012.

First of all, I want to say that upon receiving the news I was ecstatic and delightedly excited. Who wouldn’t? I know Saudi Arabia is not exactly a must-go or must-spend a vacation type of destination because FUN is not among their vocabulary but come to think of it, I would be spending time with dearHusband and even if that quality time is spent in a boring sandbox, it is still quality time. Couples should be together I believe, regardless of when, where and how. Since making a living is a way to live our lives, painful as it is we had to deal with the odds not in our favor and settle for long distance relationship.

Going back to the “predicament” shown above which I made some alterations for discretion obviously. It is written in Arabic for crying out loud and I cannot understand a freakin’ word it said except for my name. Well anyway, translation isn’t really a problem for me to get stress about as this document needs to be processed still. Upon inquiries, I learned that it will take at least another week or a little more for me to legally and officially allowed to enter the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, sans the travelling time and politely considering availability of flights. Contemplating carefully on this plan, I hate to realize that there won’t be any time left for me to spend quality time with dearHusband. There’s a little over three weeks more for month of May left before its over and by the time this visa is ready, month of June is quickly approaching and kids will be back to school again. Before I knew it, I only got what- a week for sandbox quality time? Don’t get me wrong, every second to be together with dearHusband is worth all this crap we’re both dealing with. I would die for that 1 week or say 2 weeks hopefully for some solo QT at the sandbox but hey… I’m practical too. International airfares this close to a date is not cheap. "Suck it up and get over it!” <— I just told myself that!