bigla kong naisip….

All of a sudden, I thought of continuing my journal. I haven’t updated it for quite a while. Naka-word siya. Parang kahit nung ramblings na pwede kong isulat. Sort of like a blog pero hindi blog..hehe:) ang gulo. Basta. Ewan ko ba.

The whole day today, I spent my time sa internet lang. Nagbasa ng experiences ng iba-ibang tao from any where via their blogs. I really find people’s experiences interesting. Yung iba-ibang point of views sa buhay, paniniwala, culture, etc.

The power of prayer

I had a post about our dog, Ynah, who’s sick. Two days from the time I wrote that she didn’t get better. Mas lumaki pa yung pamamaga ng right side ng tiyan niya, sobrang inflamed. She couldn’t walk anymore kasi nga namamanas na yung legs niya. She’s not eating too, so we’re force-feeding her. Sobrang naaawa na talaga kami sa kanya, grabe. Holy week pa naman, the vet clinics are open yesterday pero yung mga doctors will be there on Monday pa raw. Gusto na namin sana ipa-surgery na lang siya but we want to ask din sana the doctor if there’s still a chance na mabubuhay pa siya. Before kasi I watched sa Animal Planet, a clinic for animals and there was this dog who was pregnant, something happened to her and she wasn’t eating. They brought her to the clinic and the doctor said hindi sure na mabubuhay if they’re going to operate on the dog. So, it’s the owners’ choice if they’ll push through with the surgery. I remember they went with it and fortunately, the dog got better together with her puppies.

So, that’s the dillemma that we faced yesterday. As in naaawa na kami lahat sa kanya, she couldn’t move, eat nor drink. It’s as if I can feel her pain. I thought, I wish she’ll die na lang so she won’t suffer anymore because we won’t be able to bring her to the vet until Monday eh, kasi nga Holy Week. And I feel, na baka hindi na siya aabutin ng Sunday. The inflammation is getting bigger and bigger each day e. Imagine too, i thought of euthanizing her. Pero, I thought otherwise. There’s still a chance and I musn’t lose hope. That evening, I really prayed na sana if in case there’ll be no hope for her, na sana let her die na lang. Para mag-end na suffering niya rin. Para when we wake up tomorrow, we won’t see her suffering her pain anymore. Sobra, I really prayed intently, that He will grant that request.

Then around 1230 am, my brother woke us up to look at Ynah. Her stomach’s almost flat already. It contained of parang dead blood pala. All the blood oozed from her stomach. There was a little hole where the blood oozed from. And Ynah, got better.

The power of prayer.

It always works. Never fails.

morning thoughts

We’re on half day today. Ferna and I are planning to watch a movie later at Robinson’s Pioneer. I know she won’t like 10,000 BC so I told her that we’ll be watching Fool’s Gold instead. She will be going home in Batangas after, so I hope that she won’t have such a difficult time commuting. Since its Lent season, many will be going to the province to celebrate it. Still, we’ll be able to go home earlier than the usual. Me, I’ll probably just stay at home on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. I have thought of some things to amuse myself in those days. By Black Saturday, I’m still deciding whether to attend our high school get together or not. We’re going to meet near our alma mater and going there is definitely not a problem. I want to see them, too and meet my friends once again. I may or I may not…my laziness J strikes again.

Lately too, I’ve been thinking of Wisconsin with my Kuya. I miss being there; the snow, the wind, the freezing cold, the surroundings. I wish I’m there, right here, right now heheJ

1.  I terribly miss the place and the whiteness of the surroundings.

2.  I miss wearing winter clothes.

3.  I miss smoking outside the apartment all alone and getting chills at the same time. Usually after dinner that’s what I’ll do. I’ll put on my winter gear, go downstairs and smoke until I can’t take the cold any longer.

4. I miss our short trips to the book store and the different restaurants that we go to. Also, the long drive to the east side just to watch a movie.  

5. I miss the long and short walks despite the freezing cold. It’s one of the things I enjoyed the most. I gloried in the breeze of the cold wind against my skin.

6.  I miss my brother and the company of his friends.  

I wish I had longer time spent there. Next time, when I have the opportunity to travel again, I will create good and lasting memories. I promise myself, I will explore more.

dutiful and loving canine

    Ynah, our ‘askal’ dog is sick. I don’t know when she got sick. My brother found out last night when he was giving her food. She didn’t eat nor drink. She’s a very jolly canine, full of life. Then all of a sudden, her energy last night just wasn’t there. I called her but she didn’t come to me. My brother then told me that he felt a lump on her breast. It was a huge lump, triple the size of an egg. I got scared. I noticed too that she couldn’t get up and walk from where I was. I kept on calling her so that she would come to me, but she never did. She just looked at me. My brother carried her to me so we could inspect her body.  I cuddled her. She responded by wagging her tail.  She’s been with us for a long time now and there never was a day that she got sick or something. But now, she is. I told my brother to bring her to the veterinarian tomorrow  (that’s today). I’m hoping that she’ll be okay because I really feel for her. She’s been a very loyal, happy and sweet dog. She plays with me whenever I get home from work and I will play with her, too. She’s just so obedient and mild mannered.

     In the office today, I kept on texting my brother and asked him if he brought her to the vet already. Ynah was injected twice by antibiotics and is now with a dextrose. According to the vet, she had a very high fever. She needs a blood check-up too to determine if it’s a liver infection. And if the lump will not go away in  7 days, she’ll need a surgery. I hope that she’ll be okay and that she wouldn’t need to have a surgery anymore.

I’ve an officemate who adores dogs (just like I do) and told me that their dog has been into surgery before due to a broken limb. I told him I just couldn’t let her die without even trying to treat or cure her. Her years of service to us as a dutiful guard dog are the same service of a loyal human being to anybody. More than that she is very obedient and loving. I adore her regardless……

movers in prison

I finally found the video in Youtube that my kuya’s friends in Wisconsin were telling me when I was there. They told me that their American co-nurses really had fun watching the video. I did, too.

Nakakatuwa. And this is good.The prisoners get to have their needed exercise and can have fun, too!

About the video: 1500 plus CPDRC inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Phils. at practice…not the final routine and definitely not a punishment.   

Johnny, Oh Johnny

I’m just so addicted to Johnny Depp these days. I was able to re-watched Chocolat with Juliette Binoche last week and that started it all. Actually, I liked him eversince because he’s so good-looking and charming plus his movies were good. But, he wasn’t one of my favorites then. Some of his movies that I’ve watched years years ago were:

1. Donnie Brasco

2.  What’s Eating Gilber Grape

3.  Nick of Time 

4. Edward Scissorhands

5. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory 

6. Secret Window

7. Ninth Gate

8. Finding Neverland

9. Ed Wood

10.The Astronaut’s Wife

11.Benny and Joon

12. Once Upon a Time in Mexico

13. Don Juan de Marco

Yesterday, I watched his  Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I asked myself, how could I have missed these movies? They’re good and funny, highly budgeted, plus the visual effects are amazing. I love his character as Capt. Jack Sparrow. Kiera and Orlando Bloom were good actors as well. But I didn’t miss Sweeney Todd when it was shown.

So, I really waited for the Oscar’s because I know he will be there. I glued my eyes on the tv to have a glimpse of him hehe:) Unfortunately, he didn’t win. Now, I realized too that he is a very versatile actor. He can switch from one role to another and perform well (I’m becoming biased now, hehe).

Here are still some of his movies that I’m hoping to watch:

The Brave, Cry Baby, L.A. Without a Map, Sleepy Hollow, The Man Who Cried, Before Night Falls, Blow, From Hell, The Libertine and Corpse Bride. Now too, I’m looking forward to his upcoming movies for 2009: Sin City, Rum Diary, Public Enemies, Shantaram and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (saw these IMDb).

I have some catching up to do. He now tops my list.

home sweet home

 ’m back home! I left on the 22nd at 1017am and arrived here on the 24th at 1235am. The flight from Nagoya, Japan to Manila was 2hrs delayed pa. Anticipating the boredom on the plane, I brought a book by Dr. Phil and bought 2 entertainment magazines from the airport.

I nearly broke into tears when I said goodbye to Kuya hehe") All I was able to say to him was thanks. I couldn’t say anything anymore. We just both contained ourselves. It was really difficult to say goodbye no? really difficult. When I stepped on the elevator for the security check, I looked back and saw him leaving..I was trying hard not to cry. Iyakin pa naman ako talaga, hehe:) Even while in the plane, I tried not to think about him and concentrated on my reading, pero ang hirap kasi ilang hours pa lang nami-miss ko na siya. hay… While waiting to board the plane, nagsulat na lang ako. I forgot to bring my diary pa, so I just wrote at the back of the black pages of the book. I hate goodbyes. I know that one gets used to one’s absence rin, pero sa moment na yun, the feeling is really overwhelming. Naisip ko nga that time, sana hindi na lang ako umalis so  I didn’t need to say goodbye. I wouldn’t feel this sad. Ika nga, no pain, no gain. I wouldn’t have this wonderful experience too if I didn’t leave. And in life, goodbyes are inevitable. There will always be one.

leaving on a jet plane

I’ll be leaving na tomorrow. I packed my luggages just now. It saddens me to leave kuya but what can I do, I need to leave. I was approved to stay here for 6 months, unfortunately I’m only on a 1 month leave. So, hindi pwede talaga to stay longer.He’ll get used to it again and I will, too..nakakalungkot. I really had fun here ’cause we’re together. I know that it may be months or years that I’ll see him again. Sana, soon..soon..soon ulit. hehe:)

He is such a good brother and son. At least, kahit papano I know na how he lives here…how he spends his time and everything. Before, I can only imagine what he does here or how he spends his time, now I know. Like ngayon, he’s really confused whether to stay here or move to SF. He’s convinced Nenet to go with him, sa wakas. There are a lot of things to be considered siyempre when moving out. Mas mataas ang cost of living sa SF though mas mataas din ang salary. Kaya naman he keeps on researching if it’s really wise to move out. He’s been in WI for almost 5 years, marami rin siyang igi-give up if in case. Sabi ko nga sa kanya, isipin niya if he still sees himself living in WI for another 5 years. Medyo laid back kasi dito. Told him that yeah, it’s difficult to leave your comfort zone but if he can’t see himself living here for another year or so, then marami pa naman siyang pwedeng puntahan. Of course, may pros and cons ang pagmo-move out but anyone can adapt to anywhere else rin in due time. At least, he can always go back here if in case ayaw niya pala don. Then he won’t have any regrets na hindi niya sinubukan. Mukhang mga friends niya rin are thinking of going to SF, mabuti para sama-sama pa rin sila. I’m happy that na si Nenet ang makakasama niya. Good for them. Siguro, they now want a more fast paced life…in a city that’s more alive

Yesterday we went out along with his friends. We had lunch and went afterwards to the factory outlets ng Gap, Liz Clairborne, Banana Rep etc. I bought lang some stuff for myself sa Gap. Imagine, I bought a blouse for less than 2$. Actually, we’re supposed to go to Chicago. He wanted me sana to see Chicago kaso the weather there was not really good, so we didn’t. But it’s okay. Nakauwi na kami past 7pm. Dumaan muna kami sa income tax something (hehe), ’cause filing of taxes time na for them so they’ll know how much is their tax refunds. Buti pa sa kanila may tax refunds talaga and some of his friends will get refunds like 4000 to 6000$, ang laki. The more that you have properties or dependents, mas malaki refunds. Anyway, I told him I wanted to print the photos, so pumunta muna kami Best Buy for the printing paper.

Well, all in all, I really enjoyed my stay here. His friends were all nice and accomodating. They treated me well especially Nenet. Hopefully, by December this year uwi ulit siya then off to SF na sila ni Nenet (if their plans will push through). Sana mag-push through ’cause I think, they’ll enjoy it more sa SF eh.

So, back to reality ulit ako hehe:) Hayyyyy….well, marami pang mga araw to decide on what I really wantto do hehe:)

la experience

We arrived from LA to Madison yesterday. I had so much fun sa LA. There were just so many things to see and visit. 

Last Feb7 we woke up early for our 6am flight to Detroit. Unfortunately, the flight was delayed so when we arrived there we weren’t able to catch the next flight to LA. So we booked for the next pero walang direct flight to LA, we had to stop at Las Vegas then off to LA. Medyo frustrated na kami ni kuya and medyo pagod na at the same time. If it weren’t for the delayed Madison flight to Detroit we would have been in LA the exact time we’re supposed to. sigh..In Las Vegas, naghintay pa ulit kami for 2 hours and finally, nakarating na rin kami ng LA.. sa wakas. I was really excited makarating ng LA and we really enjoyed our stay there. It’s kuya’s second time in LA already but he told me enjoyed our trip more.

We took a cab to our hotel, sobrang ma-traffic sa freeway (more than an hour kami sa cab)…minalas yata talaga kami that day hehe:) Umalis kami ng Madison ng 530am and we arrived sa hotel in LA at almost 9pm. Pagdating namin sa room nagyaya agad si kuya kumain ng Jolibee. Since it’s the same hotel they stayed to the last time, he knew about the place already. And one thing nga that made him choose the same hotel was because of jollibee and the other filipino restaurants there (Manila Sunset and Point-Point). We took a bus to jolibee (lumagpas pa kami) since the buses have their own designated stops lang and hindi pwedeng sumakay and bumaba kahit saan. Hindi pa kami pinagbayad ng driver hehe:)

On our first day there, our destination was Disney. We were dropped there by our tourist guide (along with the 2 girls from New Zealand) at 10am. Pick-up time was 8pm. Medyo takot ako sa rides like roller coaster, the loop thing ride. We tried the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion etc. But the most thrilling ride for us was the Space Mountain. Actually, we’re still deciding if we wanted to ride that..’cause we heard that it was really dark inside and was sort of a roller coaster ride. We thought nakapila kami sa ibang ride, it was too late ng makita naming sa Space Mountain pala kami nakapila. Shucks! No way out, no turning back na to. So, I convinced him na i-try na namin (’cause we really didn’t know what’s in store for us there.) Grabe! it was indeed a roller coaster ride na super fast but the thing is it was totally dark inside thus, space stuff talaga. You won’t know kelan ka babagsak because we weren’t able to see a thing. But it was so fun! though, if only pwedeng umayaw in the middle, I would have done it. The tourist guide who picked us from disney was a filipino. When he saw us, nagtagalog agad siya. Mabait siya, ayaw pa nga niyang tanggapin yung tip pero we insisted. Sabi niya, he’s been there for more than 30 years already. He wants to go back to Pinas din after lang daw makatapos ng mga anak niya. Hindi raw marunong magtagalog mga anak niya no matter how he teaches them. But on our second day, naka off siya kaya we had a different tourist guide ulit.

Tour in downtown LA and Universal Studios were our destinations on the second day. I liked the 2nd day more than Disney ’cause we’re able to see Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood, Walk of Fame etc. This time, marami na kami, may taga-Holland, NZ, Minnesota, Argentina, Italy, Ireland and may 1 pinoy family. Yung mga taga- Argentina (1 family sila- parents and 3 children), at first parang nagrereklamo yung tatay sa tourist guide/driver (I think, kasi nga hindi sila nakakaintindi ng english). Nagtatranslate naman yung tourist guide (but only when he’s addressing to that family) pero mostly, kapag nagkukuwento na siya about the history of this and that place etc, english na. Nagulat nga kami kasi bumaba silang buong family. Sabi ng tourist guide, they decided to explore LA on their own na lang. Naawa ako sa kanila. Siyempre yung tatay, gusto niyang ma-enjoy ng family niya yung trip nila, kaso na-bad trip agad sila. Well, it happens talaga esp if you don’t or can’t speak the language. Pero sabi nga ng tourist guide, good riddance na rin raw, ’cause the father was so mean to him already. Well, sometimes it happens talaga.  

Sa third day namin, we were on our own, so I told kuya I want to see Santa Monica beach instead of roaming around hollywood. From the hotel, nagbus lang kami to Santa Monica. It was an hour ride to the beach. Pagbaba pa lang namin ng bus, t’was so cold already because of the beach nga. But we walked through Third St Promenade first, ang ganda. Shopping haven talga siya but I only bought an aviator shades from Banana Rep. Buti na lang may discount card si kuya and I only got the shades for 56$. Nakasave ako ng 50$. We ate lunch at Fatburger then we headed to the beach na. Medyo mahabang lakaran to the beach but the view was amazing kaya you wouldn’t feel tired. The only problem was nanginginig na ko sa lamig and I didn’t bring anything with me. Kuya enjoyed it very much sa beach, he walked barefooted sa sand and there we took pictures. Upo upo lang sa sand, enjoying the sun.

Sabi nga niya, it seemed that I enjoyed myself more in LA than in Wisconsin. Yeah, I did. It’s winter there kasi. I like the sun more. Mas maraming tao, maraming buildings…parang you’ll never get tired of walking because of the beauty of the surroundings. Plus, it’s the seat of entertainment in US. Napansin ko rin while naglalakad kami sa stretch ng third street na maraming homeless. Parang dala-dala nila lahat ng belongings nila, nagsasalita mag-isa, tumatawa mag-isa, naglalakad ng pabalik-balik. Marami rin sila, actually.  

 I like LA. It’s very alive and bursting with people. Masaya. Masarap maglakad. Mag-frolic in the sun kasi hindi ka naman papawisan kahit super sunny. I like its diversity. I told kuya, given a chance, I will choose to live in LA than in Madison. Well, actually he decided na nga this June to move to San Fran, second choice niya is LA so, sabi ko that will be my next stop hehe:) Oo raw..yehey!

Pero, kelangan nang umuwi ulit to Madison..kainis:(

The Making of Pork Bistek..pinoy style

 I cooked dinner early today (5p) and told myself that I’ll just re-heat it later. I’d like to cook sinigang or something with broth but my brother hasn’t gone to the filipino store yet. So, I thought of the easiest way to cook the pork that doesn’t require lots of ingredients…thus, bistek. It’s supposed to be beef, but it’s okay. I’ve cooked pork bistek many, many times already.

I thawed the pork first and prepared the rest: lemon, soy sauce and onion (cut it into onion rings).

The pork with the soy sauce brought to a boil and simmered for 15 minutes to make sure that the pork is tender.

Once tender, I set aside the evaporated liquid and gently fried the pork. The onions are then added and cooked. Added the remaining liquid back to the pan.

Voila! My bistek pinoy style.