Beginning with Empty

Impeccable timing, setting the mood just right. Ella Fitzgerald singing behind me, theme song from the Wizard of Oz, Somewhere Over the Rainbow.


To count exactly, it's been 14 days since I left the world of development work. I told myself I will never be coming back. A job that would give you totally natural high for doing something good for other people, for nation building, for future's generation sake. That had me busy for one point five years. Sacrifices, sacrifices everywhere!


Just got an SMS from my junior worker, er, former junior worker, telling me that my replacement just came in, reporting for duty. I told her that I would be dropping by the office the day after tomorrow to orient the newbie.

Pressing on the letters on my phone, I said, "This is it, I think". My inbox is full, and so my life, I think further. It's time to unload, to empty it out!

Is that possible? Am gathering all the positive vibes in the world, and they're telling me it's okay. For what is good about life is that every day offers endless possibilities; it's just a matter of choosing what's good and meaningful, something that would make you happy, not just for now, but for the long run.

I'll start empty. With all smiles and eyes closed, it will just be like planting another seedling when the previous one didn't make it through; like filling up my cup of coffee again after it got spilled; like waking up in the morning because I know I have a new day waiting for me. 

It's, plainly, starting anew, welcoming another life's chapter, building a new "cathedral" with all-improved features. 

I'll start empty. Let me start with emptying my phone's inbox, then play with my kids.

- Ireen -

Of Books and Cookies

What to fill if you have so much time in your hands at home? Apart from cleaning the house or doing the laundry chore, there are, of course, other things that you can do that can make your day meaningful and worthwhile.


Feed your coconut once again and buckle yourself to different adventures by going back to your previously-acquired-but-unread books or visit your favorite bookshop.


Pick up one of John Grisham's latest legal novel, The Litigators, that you have parked somewhere in your book shelf. Or, start with Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project before her newest book, Happier-At-Home, hits the market. If you have read one of Malcolm Gladwell's masterpieces, just ensure you have not skipped "Outliers", an insightful explanation to the success stories of some of the famous people in the world.

Reading is always being in love!

Books are, or reading is, significantly, the most fruitful way/s to spend your time at home.


Grab your apron and your spatula once again. It's time to return to cooking or baking. These endeavors are couch-potato busters, and will provide some good exercise while you shuttle yourself in the kitchen prepping up the ingredients. Cooking and baking can also make you feel loved and be loved by your family if they get to be your food testers.

Home-made Chocolate Crinkles

 

Chocolate Crinkles recipe used is from www.simplyrecipes.com

Once cooled, bottle them up for the kids!

It's been almost a month since school started, and, among the usual headaches of parents are thinking about what lunches and snacks to be prepared for the kids. For snacks, aside from the all-time-fave-and-good-old chocolate chip cookies, surely, kids would love, Chocolate Crinkles. Like the choco chip cookies, crickles are a no-fail snacks treat for kids.


Reading and cooking, definitely, should be on the list of things that you ought to do at home to keep life's dullness at bay.

San Juanico Bridge of Love

This blog story is already past due, and I'm trying to make a run for it before the month of love bids farewell.


Work brought me to Tacloban City on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2012 (like I had a choice?) It was just a one-day activity but I spent two days for traveling because of the limited number of flights to and fro Cebu-Tacloban City.

But it was all worth it because I was able to step on Tacloban City for the first time.


It was like a review of my history subject when I went to MacArthur's Park in Palo, Leyte, and saw the statues of General Douglas MacArthur and company on the beach site where he landed on his return to the Philippines at the height of the World War II.


Considering it was Valentine's Day, seeing and crossing San Juanico Bridge became the most significant experience. Aside from the fact that San Juanico still holds the record as the longest bridge in the Philippines.  The 2.16-kilometer bridge connects Tacloban City in Leyte to the municipality of Sta. Rita in Samar, and spans the San Juanico Strait.

Because of the story behind San Juanico Bridge, I call it as the Bridge of Love, a token of love of the Philippine's late "strong man", President Ferdinand Marcos, to his love and wife, Imelda R. Marcos, who is a native of Leyte.  It was so timely for me to be at this place on Valentine's Day.


We were billeted at Leyte Park Hotel: there was love all around, minus the drizzle -- the decorations and the Valentine party that the hotel put up in celebration of the Day of Hearts. What's good about it was that we were given free tickets to the party. Oh, goody!

Entrance to Leyte Park Hotel, Tacloban City

Valentine ambiance inside the hotel

Hotel cottages

Paintings inside the hotel's function room, Apollo 108

Afternoon snacks: dinuguan, puto and vegetable lumpia

Snap shots of San Juanico Bridge

Choco Sundae on a Sunday

Weekends are special. They are supposed to be that way, especially for one's family, one's friends, and one's self.

Stay away from take-home work, away from all the distractions of modern gadgets, to concentrate on the most important people in your life: your best friend; your girlfriend or your boyfriend; your darling sister or your loving brother; your daughter or son; your mom or dad; your wife or your husband.

That's what I have promised myself for New Year's resolution. Last weekend, we went to Portofino Beach in Mactan, Cebu.  The two successive weekends before last weekend, we were in the pool at Sandtrap Bar and Restaurant in Banilad, Cebu City.

For this weekend, we spent it nicely and simply. We indulge ourselves to the most "comfortable dessert" of all, that for me, brings back home and nice yesteryears -- Jollibee's chocolate sundae. It's so delicious and comforting that it almost gets through your soul; you will soon realize how lucky you are to be surrounded by families and friends.

That's what happened today, Sunday. February 12, 2012, two days before Heart's Day. For me, it was good, simply good.

-end-

  

Beach Time

My kids and their "Papoy," enjoying the beach

Like most kids, mine have very strong attachments to water. For three straight weeks already, you can find find them dip in the water with their "Papoy" (father).

Last weekend and the weekend before that, we were at Sandtrap. It's a sports bar and restaurant located in a secluded lot, going to Maria Luisa Village, at the back of the old Foodland supermarket in Banilad, Cebu City. 

It is owned by a foreigner and, of course, frequented by foreigners. Inside, there are two tennis lawns and a small swimming pool. Aside from swimming and playing tennis, you can play pool or billiards inside.

Even bouts of asthma can't stop my kids from dipping into the water, in utter violation of the doctor's advice of not going to the pool. Right. For this weekend, we did not go to the pool, but went to the beach instead.  No one is stopping my kids  and, of course, their consenting father of getting closer to the water. So, we went to Portofino in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, and despite the drizzle, my kids really enjoyed the day, swimming, testing their beach boards with their father.

Portofino Beach by the day

I know that these weekend getaways are just some of the things that my husband is doing to cope up with time lost without the kids. He had been assigned in Manila and had to go home only on weekends. It was a good thing, actually, being able to value time with kids. Just like what my friend, Gretchen Rubin, is saying: THE DAYS ARE LONG BUT THE YEARS ARE SHORT. Before we know it, kids will be grown-up and we can no longer bring back time, for them and for us.