Choices

I feel grateful I am able to have choices in my career. But that makes me in the middle of a dilemma too. Choices, choices. Weighing options. Questions, questions.

What is more beneficial for me and my family?
Is work-life balance just a myth?
Is it just about time management? Or about quality time spent at home?
What will really make me happy? And contented? And fulfilled?

I have to get back on all these quick. I need to be enlightened. In the meantime, I'll take a look and see in this new prospect.

Along the Road

One Saturday afternoon I brought my daughter along with me going to Serendra to meet my groupmates in class. As always, we say a little prayer before we leave home. Hubby has his own business that day so it was a mother-daughter bonding along the road. We took a cab and everything was going smoothly except when we reached QC Circle or what you call the Elliptical Road. Anybody familiar with the area know that it's quite chaotic there. Vehicles going to the right are on the left side and the vehicles going left are on the right side. Just imagine how all sorts of vehicles criss-cross at any given time on any given day. But I can deal with those. I'm used to the scenario.

There was this truck carrying a container van which do not have any lock or support to make it stable. That's the first thing I check whenver I see one alongside our vehicle. More than buses and unruly motorists, I fear those huge container vans which seem to give in and collide with the nearest vehicle anytime that it hit any protrusion on the highway. When I saw it inching the cab's way, as in it nearly hit our cab, I sort of panicked and told the driver to just give in. Maybe I said it in a slightly raised voice. Who would calm me down but my dearest daughter.

"Mommy, it's okay. Nag-pray naman tayo eh." The only thing I was able to utter was "oh, yes". It struck me and at the same time I felt some shame on myself. Suffice it to say my daughter's words made a whole lot of sense. That's one of the reasons why we pray, to keep us from harm's way. And me of little faith didn't realize it, it wasn't my top of mind. Fear was on my mind. Sometimes we learn a lot from an innocent child - take to heart what we do and don't be consumed by worries and fears.
At least try not to be affected too much by unfounded worries. I'd do just that.

A Nostalgic Evening

Welcome to the world, Frankie! She's the youngest addition in the family, my youngest brother's first baby born in Las Vegas. She's quite big at 19 inches and 7.2 lbs. She has some resemblance with my daughter. When I saw Frankie's picture for the first time, I can't help but feel nostalgic. I remember how my daughter seemed so fragile then. And me and my husband felt so helpless being first-time parents. That was almost nine years ago. Our baby is a big girl now. I do miss having a baby at home. I will have to content myself looking at Frankie and Wazzie's pictures. And yes, my darling daughter will always remain my baby. :)


I was browsing my cousin's Friendster account when I saw this picture. Again, I got all nostalgic. This was around late eighties. That time when all of us were just "kids". Now, half of them are based in the States, one has a good job in the Middle East, the little girl holding a gun is having her debut this year and will migrate to California within the year too. Our Lolo will always be remembered as someone very generous. One day millionaire one could say. Now that I am more mature, I look back and gets to appreciate better what he has given us, how he unselfishly shared his "wealth" to everyone.

Things change as we grow old, we get to have our own lives. I can now understand what my mother keeps on uttering then when the family, the clan was starting to move from one place to another. The time being together, the celebrations during special occassions are sorely missed. We have emails, we have YMs, text messaging and all those virtual 'keeping in touch' channels but there are times like these that you just miss them. But then again, distance is not a hindrance. A family is a family is a family. Nothing can change that. :)

Compounding Positively

Of all the things I read the past weeks, this one made the most sense:

10 things you should have in place before turning 40.
1. Know Yourself
2. Settle Your Family Life
3. Determine Your Priorities
4. Develop Your Philosophy
5. Get Physically Fit
6. Learn Your Trade
7. Pay the Price
8. Develop Strong Relationships
9. Prepare for the Future
10. Find God's Will

It's a good guide in reflecting one's focus and direction especially if you are in your twenties or early thirties. And it's a good way to assess your life if you are nearing that age or over it.

The '10 Things' is an excerpt from John Maxwell's "I'm 60 and Compounding". I'd like to talk or write more about this but it's past 12. I need to sleep, rest my thoughts, and let my senses compound positively. :)

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Changed my template again. Just when I am settled with the look, I clicked the comments link and it gave a broken page. I also don't have a ready header yet to replace the 'default'. Ho-hum, template can wait.

Why Not

Sometimes, I feel I have to try being impractical. And be fashionable. I'd like to try these shoes.

But reason comes in. I'll stick to my usual stilletos and pumps. At least I know I won't trip no matter how many times a day I run from meetings to meetings.

But they are nice shoes. :) I oggled at them in ebaY.

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I'd like to have a template make-over. One of these days when time permits or when I am in the mood to really do it. I'm no html expert.

Driving

I equate driving with independence. Mobility at any given time, at any given place. Sad to say, I have yet to secure even a non-pro driver's license. Because I have not learned yet how to drive.

I did enrol at A1 driving school six years ago. My husband tried to give me a follow-up coaching and actual driving lessons but it didn't prosper to anything. I was able to drive around the neighborhood. My most poignant memory of it was when I went up the gutter. Also, I stopped in the middle of the road one wee hour of the morning to my husband's horror.

I am not sure if my zero confidence in driving is brought about by this. It is said that never ever ask your husband or your boyfriend to teach you how to drive because it won't work. As if there is some psychology to it. Maybe the huband or the boyfriend gets too protective of you that he wants you to get every little thing in every little move you do. But it gets all the more confusing.
Anyway, ALL the women I know learned how to drive not through the courtesy of their significant others but through driving school, or through a friend, or another relative.

Or maybe, there are people like me who are not just that interested in driving. But as we all know, even if public utility vehicles abound in this country, driving has become a necessity now and not anymore a luxury what with all the hustle and bustle we are faced in day in and day out. Conclusion, I must, I must, I must slip on that driving shoes, get on the car, start the engine and drive. :)

Super Bowl

As a family, we love to do what most families do and that is, eat out. It's a simple activity that we enjoy since it is also a great time to bond. Having a taste of each other's food even if you've had a taste of it a hundred times before is still a staple when we dine out. My husband is the more adventurous one in trying different kinds of food. Me, not much though exploring different cuisines and different restaurants excite me too.

One of our usual eat out is at Super Bowl. I love their Yang Chow fried rice and their bestseller, fried crispy chicken. I think it's honey cured, it has separate seasoning of salt and soy sauce(?). Well, among other things that's what I usually have when we go there.

There's hustle and bustle inside the restaurant and usually, people are quite sensitive enough not to linger knowing that there are other customers waiting outside. What the restaurant management can improve on maybe is the lighting inside. Sometimes it looks too dark and cleanliness can still be improved. Also, their customer service is deteriorating. It used to be that they greet each customer warmly with something like "super evening s', m'". It's something new at least. The crews were very accommodating. Lately, I cannot say the same thing. Once, the service crew even asked us if it's okay to wait for another few minutes since the family next to us is bigger and they can use up the just vacated long table. Excuse me? We were waiting for like twenty minutes and now we're gonna have to wait again? Also, it used to be that they were very sensitive to serving time or waiting time. The last time we were there on December, our food took thirty minutes to be served, and there was no complimentary pica-pica (it's like a chicharon) which you can consume and not mind the time somehow. Well, we were served one but I have to ask.

Anyway, they serve good food. But definitely, excellent service is the name of the game in the very competitive food industry. I should know, I came from one.

Now comes the posting of the photos I took. I love doing this. Taking pictures of just about anything, food especially.

I haven't taken any decent picture of Yang Chow.

I think this is Honey Glazed Pork Ribs

I love how this looks.