 | Welcome to the chronicles of Jojie!!! | Jan 14, 2008 |
God never promises to remove us from our struggles. He does promise, however, to change the way we look at them.-Max Lucado The girls shipped off to California a week ago, intending to stay there all summer. I can't begin to believe that they're little grown-ups already. They've been travelling by themselves for quite sometime, making their own decisions, buying their own stuff, managing their money and they're only 13 and 16 years old. I miss the days when Mom was the center of their lives. If I could bring back time, I want to go back 2004. 
|  | Chanced upon some colorful Miami sights. Some call it graffiti, wall murals, city crime, defacing, vandalism, etc. I call it elaborate, weatherproof, cityscape expression using spray paint media. Hahaha a mouthful but truly inspiring artwork. I would totally create a city with just awesome artwork like this all over the place. I think they should do this for those ugly gray walls by the freeways. Now that would really make the daily commute interesting. |
| | Coral Castle - created by a single man out of corals. Supposedly he was heartbroken and left by his young bride on the eve of their wedding. So the jilted lover, vented his frustration and hurt by creating this castle out of corals... including the furniture. Ok seriously, who wants to sleep on a bed of corals, literally? Or sit on a chair made of coral? Or take a bath made out of coral? The achievement in itself is astounding, considering the corals weigh tons, he used primitive tools and according to legend created all of this single-handedly and he was short!!!... as in 5 ft. tall. So how the hell did he lift those coral rocks and create chairs, tables, beds, fountains, etc? Talk about lovesick! He could have taken up chainsaw sculpting. |
| | Drove down south past Coconut Grove and found Matheson Park. |
| | There was a hurricane watch our first day there. A really bad thunderstorm came out of nowhere and flooded South Beach. The next day was bright and sunny. We ate lunch at one of the cafes. Jayden took a dip in the pool and encountered a beach for the first time. He found it difficult to walk on sand. He kept trying to clean his slippers with every step he took, making the 30 steps to the water almost a thirty minute trip. Once he discovered the beach he didn't want to leave. |
 | Key West | Jun 11, '10 1:02 AM
for everyone |
| | Went sightseeing in Key West. Took a dip in the beach to cool off and the water must have been at least 87 degrees. It was like taking a hot bath in a steam room. Jayden took off his shirt he was so hot. The water was like a swimming pool. Absolutely still, with not a ripple. It was also really shallow. We had to sit on the sand for the water to hit our shoulders. Walked Duval Street in the heat and humidity. Driving back to Miami (3 hours) there was another thunderstorm and the streets were flooded. Got home at midnight and everyone just crashed from exhaustion. |
| | It was a bright and beautiful Miami day for the wedding. Granted humidity was hitting at 90%. Keeping the make up from sliding off our faces was a feat in itself. The groom had been anticipating this day for the past year. The bride's gown was handmade by the grooms mom in the Philippines and brought here for their special day. The groom and groom's men all wore traditional barong Tagalog. The wedding was sweet and simple. The local church was a few blocks from our hotel in Miami Beach. Several slide shows and videos were shown during the reception, which was held at the Miami Beach Resort. The videos were very professionally produced by the groom. Hopefully he uploads them on facebook or some other social networking media. They were very creative. He had interviews done from the bride's family in the Philippines, a little skit where he was Larry Bling, the actual proposal (at an ice skating rink) and a re-enactment of how they met and fell in love. You just had to be there to appreciate it. It was a unique way of sharing their special moments with everyone. Of course we partied hearty and hard. Everyone had a blast. It was well worth the trip to share Bernie and Ivey's special day. Bernie and Ivey, best wishes to you both! |
Not much these days. Jayden manages to learn at least 3 new words, 3 new naughty things and pick up a bad habit a day. I cut his hair because people keep mistaking him for a girl. Now he really looks lika a boy, the bully in the school yard. He imitates everything Gary or Jamal does. The girls are being typical teen-agers. They won't clean their room. They took the master bedroom, so it's twice as big as the other rooms and claimed to be roomies. Well that room has looked like a pigsty from day one. Last night I told them that no one was allowed to use their laptops until I saw that room cleaned. Guess we'll see tonight. The weather as been weird here lately. One week it was hitting around 85 degrees and I thought, Summer is officially here. Dreading the impending heat for the next 7 months. The same weekend, the winds picked up and it was ice cold wind from the north, the cars are thick with yellow pollen in the air and the temperature dropped and brought some rain. So one day we're bringing out summer clothes and the next day I'm looking for the jackets. Last weekend we bought a washer, dryer and refrigerator for the house we're currently renting. I'm supposed to look for a dining table, but been too lazy. The house is a small, single-story, 3 bedroom, 2 bath house. It's actually the perfect size for us. I was truly skeptical in the beginning, but we're comfortable here. We all abhor stairs and I think that was a major plus. It's also way smaller than our house in Fountain Valley but large enough that we're not in each other's faces all the time. Jette calls it our "apartment living" phase. Anyhooo I'll post more stuff soon. 
| | Took a 12 week sketching class. Learned a lot of different techniques. This is what I got to show for it. I may need to take it again. I missed 5 classes because of work. |
Watching the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics 2010 held in Vancouver Canada. My first recollection of the olympics was when Nadia Comaneci won the gold in gymnastics. After watching her I wanted to be a gymnast. Alas there were no gymnastic schools in the Bahamas. Dashed were my dreams of ever being an athlete to compete in the olympics. I resigned myself to watching the opening ceremonies and keeping tabs on favorite sports and athletes. The most magnificent ceremony to date in my opinion was the Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing. It was spectacular, it was breathtaking, it was awe inspiring! But the show in Vancouver in itself is impressive. It never ceases to amaze me how creative minds turn their ideas into the most visually, enchanting concepts. Good luck to all the athletes. May sportsmanship and heart bring you the gold. It started like any other workday, busy, busier and busy as hell. I needed to reprint all 46 of the new standard operating procedures I wrote in 9 days. I ate, slept and had nightmares of SOPs the whole week. To save paper (I'm trying to be green) I needed to use the printer with properties to print on both sides of the paper. Since my pc wasn't hooked up to that network printer I went to the front office. The front office is where we have 3 girls that are the laboratory's secretaries. I walked in on a conversation that was underway. Under what context it was said I don't know and couldn't care less. The ooooh big, bad "F" was blurted. Granted, I work with ex-military men and yes they use very colorful expletives in times of duress. I tune it out. Well a complaint was filed for the use of profanity AND that a supervisor (me) was present and did not address the issue. Well duh, my mind was going 100 miles a minute, I heard the word, I recognized the voice but neither "registered" on the two functioning brain cells I had left. Lo and behold I was reprimanded by my director for neglecting to take care of the situation. I agreed. I apologized. That should have been that. Well the spiteful, malicious, little person that complained wasn't satisfied with that. She later claimed that I warned the other person (who said the F-word) that she was getting written up. Again I was reprimanded for this. Again, something I did not do. To continue the saga, girl who said the F-word confronted other girl if she was the one who filed the complaint (she was the one, and it's a fact). Other girl said "I wouldn't do that. Maybe Jojie did. She was here when you said it". F-word girl comes to my office and confronts me. OK! So am I justifiably pissed? Hell yeah! Three separate occasions in one day. Accused of something I didn't do. I am spitting mad, seething with fury all because of the stupid F-word. Lesson learned...FUUUUUUUUUU_ _! my new word. Bubu turned 13 today. She's now a three ten ager. Can't accept she's a teenager. She's still my baby. Happy new year! Just got back from beautiful Philippines. I know I've been lax in my entries here. Facebook kinda took over for a while. Got addicted to farmville and cafe world. How truly lame. What can I say... it was a new fad. Got a new phone that finally has a data line that works right. Facebook updates were so convenient. I also got to know what the kids are doing. This blog will officially make it's two year anniversary. Yey! Now if only I would be a little more diligent on my entries here. Actually I should. I have every means of access to the internet now. I got a mini (notebook), a tablet, a laptop and data line on my cell phone. It shouldn't be that difficult. I need a purpose for this blog. Updates of the family, my current state of mind, news, controversy, gossip... this should keep the blog alive for the year. So much happened the past year. Seems as if life just took the fast lane on the autobahn. Haven't caught up yet. It kinda left me lying in the dust a couple of cities back. I truly would like it to slow down to a turtle's pace this year. Tomorrow Bubu is turning 13. I can't get myself to be excited over that. My baby is now a teen-ager. That means I'm old and decrepit. How sad. It's 3:52 am and I'm contemplating life and the so-called grand scheme of things. Too intense! I attribute this to jetlag and the 28 degree weather here in San Antonio. As my official first entry for 2010 this is getting quite winded. Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous forthcoming year. May blessings abound and hoping we're wise enough to recognize them. stole this from Matet's post. When target shooting... align the sights by adjusting the gun and not your head... a lesson learned by Gary...LOL It's our second halloween here in Texas. The girls are definitely growing up. Last year Munie wouldn't go trick or treating anymore. She wouldn't even wear a costume. This year even Bubu isn't excited about getting a costume. Munie's great idea was to go to a haunted house. Yesterday after work we went to the haunted house in downtown San Antonio. What a bunch of scaredy cats! Bubu stuck herself under Gary's armpits, Munie was clamped tight around Gary's arm, I was stuck like glue behind his back and poor Matet was sandwiched between Munie and me. Basically it was just lots of moans and screams, blasts of air, things popping out and scary people chasing you. 4 girls screaming and trying to squeeze themselves into each other, that's what we did. We got thru it, sweaty and out of breath. We all turned around and blamed Munie for her great idea. That I think is our halloween adventure for this year. Awww what a happy baby! (Hehehe Happy daw oh?) (Hmmmm... tingnan natin...) (aaargh...kaya ko 'to...) (Ha! Wala pang nakatingin...go go go) (Lapit na...konti na lang...woohooo) (YES! prison break! Mas magaling ako sa Daddy ko) I'm here doing site visits with Gary. It's boring. He's in a meeting and I'm cooling my heels here in the library. I mean really chillin. As in it's freezing cold in the library. They must have the thermostat down to 50 degrees. We're at an elementary school. All these little people coming in to burrow books. The 2nd and 3rd graders are so cute. little guy: Who is she? Librarian: She's here to observe. Me: I'm here to watch you and make sure you behave. little guy: I'm sitting over there (pointing to the other side of the room). little girl: Why? Librarian: Because I need another set of eyes. little girl: But that's too many... Ok he's turning into a little terror already. He's climbing on everything, getting into everything, touching everything and tries to break everything. Right now he tore my pillowcase. Little monster...
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 | Hello! musta na? de na kita mareach. busy ka siguro ano? di sguro nkakarating ung email ko at matraffic la ung reply eh! cge at nagpaparamdam lang. Regards s lahat |
 | 12pm na po kaya dito.
late na :))
si mommy?
ayun..
busybusyhan na sa "cake" business nyaa.
|
 | hope you have a relaxing weekend! |
 | and the beat goes... blah blah blah |
| So are you ready to have your favorite cousin bug you this entire weekend??? =) |
| College student in the midst of not being able to pull off a 3.5 GPA and paying rent and bills all on her lonesome! I'll be down next week woman, breathe =) |
 | nandito na kami Thai. kailan ang punta ninyo sa phil. akala ko magkikita tayo doon. |
| Blah, papers are done and over with, at least for the time being, and tomorrow is my last test for the week. I have another one next week, but it won't be until Thursday, meaning I can relax a bit. I should really be sleeping but my head is all over the place, and I can't seem to retain anything that I've just reviewed (and considering it's spanish, I might as well hit the sack) =/ |
 | 'GANDANG HAPON SAU...
SALAMAT SA IYONG PAGBISITA...
PASYALAN MO SANA AKONG MULI!!!!
INGAT!!!
♥♥♥TUNAY NA NAPAKASARAP MAGING PINOY D B???
MABUHAY ANG PINOY!!!!! |
 | I want to go to the art store. We'll call you. |
| Jette said you guys were coming on Friday. I'm free after 3 =) |
 | hi ate bambi tell munie I said hi on friday and monday I have no school and I have been sleeping in my room by by |
| haha I wish I had the time to make one.. but sadly no I just copied and pasted =) |
| |
. The girls, Munie, Bubu and Alayna will be headed to California for the summer. They've been waiting all year to go...can hardly wait for the last day of school, poor things. Munie will need to take driving lessons this summer so she can drive herself come the new school year. Bubu can't wait hahaha. Matet graduated from college last Friday May 21. Now she's a bum until she finds a job. She wants to go to Korea, she likes Korean pop culture...yeesh it's all the same wherever you go. But I secretly like the idea of Korea. Gives me a reason to go there on the pretense of personal concern for her well-being 
. For real! Jette is Gary's project manager...so no mini nor major vacations for her 
. That's what you get, working for your Dad. Vacation requests never gets approved, even with all the pleading 
. She's buried up to her ears reading up on networking. Yuck! Glad I'm an executive in the company 
. I just reap the fringe benefits and sleep with the boss. Yep smart move on my part. Undergoing the much anticipated CAP inspection this week. Been running around making corrective actions & revising protocols for all 5 hospitals. Will be so glad this is over by tomorrow and we can all go back to farting around. Uuggh my head feels ready to explode into a gazillion pieces. Check back to see if it did.
