Blue Grass night

Last night we had another cold night in the low 30s after a week of smoldering heat. John and Nikki Kieffer invited us to a barbecue in their camper as we listen to the Blue Grass festival in the camp. There is a Blue Grass festival going on in Craig's blue grass ground that started Thursday until today, the second and the biggest for this year. Unlike the first one 2 weeks ago, this one is well attended as evidenced by the RVs and campers parked in the blue grass ground. The music is better too. I'm not a fan of blue grass but if you live in Craig's Park, there is no way you can escape from the ear splitting sound. The music becomes part of day because it continue playing from 11am to 11 pm. Several bands came to play and entertain the many people who drove to the camp including the residents.

Well, it was a great night, we barbecued ribs, corn, and Nikki made her fried rice, Thai style of course which was really hot and spicy enough to wake up your senses during a freezing night like last night. Another couple from the park Norma and Jerry joined us for the marsmallow grilling.

We had fun.

The Journey Back to Juno

My husband asked me to come with him on his trip back to his head office in Juno Beach yesterday for a meeting with his management regarding his annual performance review. It was our first trip back since we moved here in Arcadia and after almost 2 months of living here, I felt I missed our old place for the first time, so I came. On our drive down, we were trying to make sense of our 300 miles (one way) drive down where management could just give him the news through any hi-tech means available. But they wanted it to discuss with him in person. Hence we were there.

We arrived a little early so we decided to pass by Jupiter Bay, the complex 6 miles from Juno Beach where we stayed for 9 months. The sight of our old home made me sad, I love that place, so close to the beach and so close to where I used to work. Everything in there just suits our needs. We drove around the pool where my husband used to swim after work, by the sugar cane restaurant, by the tennis court. Everything there was well maintained, the gardens were all green unlike here in Arcadia and its surrounding areas, because of the 4 nights of frost last week, vegetation is turning brown. Anyway, we had very good and happy memories of Jupiter Bay and in my emotive mode it gave me some tears forming around my eyes. Life is a constant move and Jupiter was part of it.

After dropping him in his office, I drove back to Jupiter to see some friends I haven't seen in 2 months and picked up supplies I couldn't find here in Arcadia. There are just so many stories to tell and updating to do before I realized it was time to pick up Greg again. I drove back to Juno Beach and waited 5 minutes in the main entrance before I called my husband that I was there. He instructed me to meet him in the Engineering building which was 3 buildings away from where I was waiting.

I saw him waiting by the engineering entrance with heavy boxes in his arms and by the picture I was seeing I felt gloom engulfed my whole being. Earlier, we were talking about people being fired by reasons of economics and that even if he has to deal with some difficult issues, were still thankful he has a job. We were joking that maybe this is his time. And then I saw him with boxes, what will I think? OK, I immediately struggle to find words to comfort him, I was braced for the worst and I was determined to be the strength in moments like this. After he loaded the boxes at the back of the car and I vacated the driver's seat, I asked him about his meeting and his performance review. Unceremoniously he said, it was good! They gave me a favorable review. I told him what I thought when I saw him carrying those boxes and he laughed out loud almost peeing in his pants. And the boxes? It turned out it contained all his supplies here in Arcadia..haha.

OK, I over reacted. I trust my husband and I know he puts 101% effort in his work even working Saturdays and Sundays but all those news about massive lay offs just freaks me out because we are not ready in case it strikes us.

Frosty nights in Arcadia

We had three frosty nights in a row here in Arcadia and the surrounding towns and never I've imagined that the so called Sunshine State could be this cold in this time of the year. The most affected were the vegetation and I lost most of my outdoors plants to frost saving only my potted herbs which were brought inside for safety.

What do I do with those wilted and dried hibiscus, san franciscos, bougainvillas, and a host of other plants I don't know the name? Do I cut them, uproot them or just leave them alone and let nature take its course? Shirley, a neighbor in the park came to me this morning after seeing how badly my plants were damaged and told me not to ever think of cutting or uprooting the plants. They could still survive. I could still see life near the roots but from the top down the roots, it seems to be so dead. I hope they survive and life goes on after winter.

We are still bracing for more frosty nights here in this part of Florida.

The pearly white smile

I've always been so conscious of my teeth that's why I make it a point to see my dentist at least twice a year for check up and if my dentist recommends restorative procedures, I'd go for it right away with out wasting any time. I followed my dentists' advice and I thought that all I needed was a good dental regimen. But after years of drinking coffee and tea I noticed a big change in my smile, it no longer has the same glow as I had before. My once pearly white teeth had turned yellow and I'm afraid if I continue neglecting them and do nothing, it will start turning gold. Unfortunately, that kind of gold that you can't sell or put down for collateral, it is a shame. No amount of cleaning or brushing would help to improve the discoloration and everyday it is my challenge.

Then I read about an ultra whitening smile enhancer product that guarantees results after 14 days and after reading Celebrity Sexy White reviews, I was convinced that this is just what I needed to restore my pearly white teeth. At first I was a bit skeptical but out of the many satisfied customers who were happy with the results, it must be worth a try, if only for the promise of that beautiful pearly white smile I was once upon a time wearing.

 

I’m back

I have been in a long hiatus in the blogsophere since we move here in Arcadia that I think I have neglected my blogging obligation. I know some of you have been coming back to see what's happening in my neck of the woods but I was lagging for 13 days already. Thanks though for always visiting. Haven't blog in days and I don't know where to start. I checked back with PPP and was surprised with the changes they have made since I grabbed an OPP. It seems that PPP has come to face the moment of truth and the truth was surely inevitable. I understand if ever PPP changes their policy regarding blogging minimum payment, I know somewhat this is expected as everybody is affected by the economic crunch especially the advertisers who thankfully are still willing to pay even if it is extremely minimal. But even so, life goes on and here I am blogging once again. I am back and will be bringing you happenings in my neck of the woods.

Understanding asparagus

Funny how many of my friends I spoke with after Christmas complained they are gaining weight, my husband included. Long after the festivities are over and the Christmas table had been cleared the proof is now coming out and the guilt lingers on. That is exactly how my husband feels after ingesting those turkey, gravy, stuffing and hams. All those grease accumulating from Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Years are now evident and might require hard work to shed off.

So we declared a war against foods that require us to change our wardrobe or anything that will entail cost for that matter. After all this is a very economically challenging year so any unwanted expenses are not welcome. I wanted to stuff our refrigerator with only the healthiest stuff our body deserves. But first I need to plan and make a list of things I need for a week. More than that ends up in the garbage and therefore not in conformity with my economic strategy. And most of the time my idea of economics is lacking the quality of ingenuity as it is the same stuff all over again. That means, my trips to the grocery involves the same meat, fish and veggies I picked up from last week or month. This goes to show that we have the same menu as the week and months on. Boring!

That was my constant dilemma before I discovered Life123. A site that offers answers to practically all questions about health, beauty, food and drink, money, family, relationships etc.

Going back to my economic goal and healthy regimen, I am a lover of veggies and I love broccoli, carrots, cauliflower but I specially adore asparagus. It contains an enormous amount of antioxidant and rich in trace minerals and folic acid. But my cooking knowledge of this veggie is very limited to boiling and grilling. Little did I know that there are many ways to prepare asparagus. Life123 opened that to me. Just pop a question such as how to cook asparagus and it will offer all the information you need in many different ways.

    

A blessed and peaceful 2009

I stopped forwarding chain emails a long time ago. But I got this by email from my sister-in-law and I thought it deserves a space in my blog not for the promises the message guarantees but for the beautiful prayer it conveys.

It is a prayer of St. Theresa, who happens to be my favorite Saint. Let us reflect on the life of St. Theresa In case anyone is not aware, Saint Theresa is known as the Saint of the Little Ways.  Meaning she believed in doing the little things in life well and with great love. She is also the patron saint of flower growers and florists. She is represented by roses. May everyone who receives this message be blessed.

St. Theresa's Prayer:

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are
exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite
possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you
have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence
settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing,
dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.'

My dream birthday party

As a kid, I never really had a big party on my birthday. It was always very simple, not really a celebration but an observation of the day I am getting older. It usually starts at school where classmates sing happy birthday out of tune. Well, we were kids and don't really care where our voices go, to the east or to the west, the singing is more important and that was my gift. At home, my mother would prepare either spaghetti or pancit, a type of noodles that symbolizes longevity, always present in every birthday celebrations, and fried chicken. The feast begins with only family in the dining table. No fun-fare, just simple treats to observe the day I am getting a year older.

If I could still make it happen, and God allows me to live longer, I would like a children's party on my 50^th birthday. I've been dreaming about that for years and the reality of this dream will complete the days of my childhood. All of my friends, if they are lucky enough to be alive by then will be my most honored guests and will be required to dress like kids. Oh, they probably wish they are dead! But I know it will surely be fun.

Do you have your dream birthday party but never had the chance to realize it? Celebrations.com will help you realize that dream. And if you are planning your kids' party, check out their site and pick up some kids birthday party ideas to help you make that dream party a sure success.

Nikki

My new friend is the only friend I have in my age bracket here at Craig's which is mostly inhabited by 60+ residents. Nikki is originally from Thailand but grew up here in the US. I met her first at Walmart when we both grabbed the same bed sheet one day after a very cold night in Arcadia. The next Sunday, Greg and I attended a Church service at the recreation hall and Nikki and I both get in the hall at the same time screaming "You again?". Do you live here? She lives in the South, we live in the North but we are on the same street. Then we became friends and the rest was history.

I have never met anyone as thoughtful and as generous as Nikki. She would literally empty her house of anything and give it to me. Example: One day, she came by the house, I mean camper with wicker tray she picked up from the mall. By mall, I mean, it is the place at Craig's where you dump anything you don't need but might be useful to some, we call it mall. The next day, she came again with 2 Japanese umbrellas which I still have to find a place in the house. Last night she went to Tampa and got me vegetables: kangkong, broccoli leaves, basil, lemon grass, young coconuts and many more. When I offered to pay , she refused and said, its for me for free, pasalubong from Tampa.

Nikki, I know that thank you is not enough for all the things you did for me. I cant think of anything I know you will like, so I made this tom yum specially for you, I know my Tom Yum is not as good as yours, but I may I present to you my yummy tom yum, hope you like it. Thanks a lot!    

Beauty in the hands of the experts

For beauty is a characteristic of one's appearance that provides a perceived attributes of substance and satisfaction, many people strives to be beautiful inside and out. Whether you are born with it or not, beauty is a thing that everyone else can have. They say: beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, how about, beauty is in the hands of the surgeons?

Nothing is impossible these days. If you are challenged in a certain area in your body and are not happy the way it looks and function, you want to look great, MYA (Make Yourself Amazing) cosmetic surgery is there to help achieve your goals.

I have nothing against cosmetic surgeries. In fact I know many people who have benefited from these procedures, not just for aesthetic purposes but for medical reasons as well.

MYA is an innovative one stop cosmetic surgery center that offers over 100,000 cosmetic surgery procedures such as breast enhancement, breast reduction, breast uplift, liposuction, body reshaping, facial surgery, and many more. They take pride in their selection of trusted and experienced medical specialist renowned in their field as well as a network of national consultants all over the UK.

Being beautiful is not limited to women only. MYA has services that cater to men who want to look great and feel great. Check out their selection of cosmetic surgery for men and you will be amazed with the endless possibilities of how to look great and feel great. Call 08000141014 now for free consultation. Beauty is never too far behind.

Tom Yum Yummy

I first tried Tom Yum at Sukothai in Glorieta upon the insistence of my friend Arnold who swears Tom Yum is food for the gods. Well, I liked it very much that when I went to Phuket in thailand, I embarked myself on the search for the yummiest tom yum ever. Of course, in Phuket, everything I tried made up for the best tom yum ever. Yesterday, a new friend in the park, Nikki originally from Thailand, gave me a paste, a bunch of lemon grass, and galangal (a root of the ginger family) not really sure. In the Philippines we call it langkawas. I never knew what they were for, but I thanked Nikki for her kindness. When I read the directions in the paste, I knew that those were the ingredients for tom yum. So I drove to Walmart and got myself the freshest shrimps, tilapia and clams. Needless to say, my lunch and dinner consist of tom yum and probably will be the same for the days to come until the big pot of tom yum runs out.

A good bed is the key to a good sleep

Sleeping is probably my most favorite activity of the day, oh, next to eating. Why not? It is the only time our body and mind are in complete surrender, no worries just total relaxation. Seriously, we need sleep, just as our body needs nourishment, we need rest. And I make sure I get all that. It is during this time that our body regenerates tissues and hormones necessary so that our body and mind function properly. We need enough sleep for health and well being.

Millions of people all over the world do not get enough sleep and suffer from sleep deprivation. Fortunately, I never had any problem sleeping. My husband does. There are many factors that affect the quality of sleep. One of them is stress. Stress is the primary reason of my husband's sleeplessness but something that can be remedied by creating a relaxing environment at work or at home. That is why, it is very important to make the house organized and clutter free as possible specially the bedroom. It is the oasis for which we retreat ourselves at the end of the day. Most importantly, the bed must not only be comfortable to the body, it must also offer an appeal to the senses. Speaking of beds, check out Time 4 Sleep's wide selection of comfortable beds with mattresses in various entrancing designs for a better sleep. They also have wide selections for beds for children with different themes to suit kids' tastes. With Time 4 Sleep bed a good night sleep is never too far behind.

Ellumbranitis

 

Got this comment from Ellumbra, a rather unexpected guest, but thanks for visiting anyway. My response in red.

Just been reading a comment of yours, QUOTE "sorry to say this, but he is a nut case." UNQUOTE - on World Of Filipinas - I'm sure that you and Cleo had a lot to talk about, eh? Rumours, hatred mongering? You are good at fabricating stories. Just because I commented on WOF I am now guilty of rumor and hatred mongering? And you implicated Cleo, just because you saw a link in our blogs. Next thing we know, we are part of the conspiracy…hahaha!I just thought I'd ask you some questions, if you don't mind.
Did you read the story really thoroughly? I actually sat through the whole day reading your blog before I realized I was wasting my time. You are the scammer, Mr. Cumper. You wasted my time.
Why have you jumped to the conclusion that I do not have in my possession a video, depicting a fake scar being smudged? Is it just wishful thinking? Better come up with convincing proof.
Are you aware of what has been happening since you left your comment? I have better things to do, so please stop begging for support. No one believes your story.
I can assure you that my sanity is not in question - I'm just a thorough sort of person, tidying up all the loose ends - your rather flippant comment is typical of those who are rather contemptuous of foreigners in the Philippines - well - in quite a few cases, I'm certain that contempt is justified - but there are always exceptions to the rule.
Just as I have been very careful to stress that my story is about a small minority of criminals - people who drop casual comments should be equally careful to make sure they have a finger on the pulse of what is really going on - not just jumping on the bandwagon, because it's an opportunity to realease some of that contempt and hatred.
May I suggest you have another good and thorough read - check out all that's been happening since - I'm sure that you'll see the light - once you have put your partiality aside. Don't waste my time Ellumbra. So much have been written about your story, and I'm not jumping on the bandwagon. You better reassess where you stand.
Thank you - Happy New Year. May you find the illumination!

Your trash is someone else’s treasure

Do you want to get rid of something you don't need anymore? Is your new year's resolution to de-clutter your home and make your life more organized by eliminating those unnecessary things that are just gathering dust in the corner?

Don't throw them away. Your trash could be someone else's treasures and might help other people better their lives. Anything you consider junk like old clothing, shoes, toys, accessories, tools, could be of value to many people. So the next time you throw your junk, think again, you could change a life by donating them to your favorite charity.

Even that old car, SUV, truck that has been sitting in your garage could save a life, Goodwill is now accepting vehicle donations and is more than happy to help you channel your unwanted vehicle to families struggling to make life easier. Donating your vehicle to Goodwill allows them to reach out to as many people with disabilities and disadvantaged get jobs and make a difference in their lives.

Here's how to donate and make a difference:

1. Call their 24 hour hotmail anytime at your convenience or simply fill out the form and one of the car donation experts will call you within 24 hours with the pick up information.
2. Goodwill provides convenient and free pick up service of car donations nationwide at absolutely no cost to you. And for people in the DC area who wants to donate, there is the Washington DC car donation you can go to.
3. They evaluate your donated car to determine your options and provide the best possible tax deduction for your donation.

Call toll free 1-877-GWCARS-9 to have your vehicle pick up free of charge.

 

 

 

 

A glimpse of last year

Come with me as I take you down memory lane and recapitulate the year that had just gone by. It's been an interesting year for us since the onset, we can never complain. There were surely misadventures but thankfully misadventures are still considered part of our adventures, the ones we could always look back and have a good laugh. Good things outweigh the not so good that we are so thankful about.

Greg took up a job for FPL early last year. From our humble abode in Bethel, Maine, we gathered our most precious earthly possessions that summed up in 2 bags then we moved to Florida and joined the glitzy neighborhood of Jupiter Bay. It was a merry mix of fun and excitement as well as tension and hullabaloo.

New friends arrived in the picture and one thing led to another. I believe that fate plays a role in my daily life. I dialed a random number from the phone directory to find me a reputable driving school to help me get back my driving confidence. Of all the driving schools in Jupiter I found A Treasure Coast Driving School more non-comical than Comedy Traffic School so I dialed the former. It is such a small world we live in, someone by the name of ED, my would- be instructor called me to confirm the time of my driving lessons. Somewhere in the corners of my tongue must have given it away and Ed asked me where I was from originally and I said I am from the Philippines. He said, no way. Where in the Philippines? I said, from Bicol. Oh, really? Where in Bicol? And our worlds keep getting smaller and smaller. It turned out that his wife is from Sorsogon and he immediately arranged for us to meet in person. The rest was history. Judy and her friends Veegie and Tim Hammill soon became part of our Jupiter days. We had fun with these guys and that marks the beginning of my social life in Jupiter.

My other social life involves going to Publix everyday where I was able to know most of the people working there. It is a short walk from Jupiter Bay and going there everyday makes up for my daily exercise. Then I crossed path with a nice Filipina who literally leaped when she saw and recognized me as a Filipina. Her name is Maricel. A short introductions and exchange of information (she is from Sorsogon as well), she introduced me to her boss Dawn and that was the beginning of my aborted career at Sally Beauty Company. Unfortunately, I had to leave Sally to relocate to Arcadia. Tears were shed but good memories remain. We still keep in touch.

Then Greg had almost a heart attack, and after a catheterization, it was diagnosed to be a myocardial bridge, not really a heart attack, but a condition he was born with. Nothing can be done but still an episode that shook us both.

We've travelled a lot last year. We've been thinking of going to the Bahamas but that too was aborted. But we had a great time when we were stranded in Philadelphia on a bad stormy day, our luggage lost and no warm clothes to warm us. That was a trip from West Palm to Maine that we never expected to go so terribly wrong so we put all our jackets in the luggage. When get to Philly, flights were cancelled that we have to stay overnight in a run down hotel denied of our belongings. Stranded in the middle of a snow storm in our tropical attire (we came from West Palm, we tell everybody who wonder to justify our lack of proper attire). Then we got ourselves a $3 hoody from a CVS 2 blocks away from the hotel. We look like homeless people running from corner to corner.

The next day, we took the train to Boston as taking the plane would be impossible. It was a great ride.

Travel was the theme for last year. We've been to Binghamton and Canandaigua in New York. It was a great visit with family.

The year culminates with us moving again, this time to Arcadia. A very small town in the interior of Florida. We've got an old RV so we live in an RV park with all the amenities of a great community like heated pool, golf course, and all manners of entertainments. We love this place so far.

The day after Christmas, Greg jumped on a plane and as I am writing this blog, he is still in some kind of a "high" from that experience.

Today is a new day. One could only hope for a better life, new experiences and new adventures for the new year.

Happy New year everyone.