One Item in my Bucket List

Well, i have a secret bucket list, ha ha ha, I have it in my heart and in my future..... I have yet to write it on a piece of paper and shove it somewhere in my  vault of wishes...but I have one....and one item on it is to live in a Villa in Tuscany ,Italy...how crazy is this dream? Far fetched, oh no, not for me.... at least not when you based it to where I have been , to what i have been given in life, maybe not in terms of "millions" or in pesos...but I have been around 2 continents by sheer luck, determination , dream and just faith! So I am looking forward to a future, a near future , living in a villa in Tuscany!!!

And what am I doing to prepare for it? By watching anything Italian. I watched Sofia Loren's "My House is full of Mirrors, part 1 and part 2..I am a fan of the 2 Greedy Italians, this is a show about the travels , the feasts of 2 Italian friends going around , where else , but  Italy!!! Viva Italia!1Ha ha ha!!! I watch the cooking show of Giada De Laurentis and how i love the Italian way of life!!!Natural, fresh ingredients and really really simple way of cooking  and who can resist the beautiful country side!!!  Bellissima! I hope i got the spelling right ! I am sure I am in love with the laid back life, the gusto they show for their life! The food, the wine , the bread, i eat them ...almost every week!!! After all i am a fan of italianni's.   I even try my best to get the accent...i feel it in my bones, my living in Tuscany , in a villa with lavender fields as  my backyard! The wine vineyard as my front yard and just walking and smelling the lovely lovely lavender and olive trees around me!! I can not think of any , more effective ways for the universe not to give in to my dream and give me my one item in my bucket list.....than living the life , breathing the life under the Tuscan sun!!

My walls are even decorated with things of Europe, well, of course if I am living in Tuscany, it would be very easy to go to Paris, gay Pareeee!!  So on the walls of our room, I have the Eiffel Tower, the Church whose name I can not pronounce, much less spell!! ha ha ha...but  I feel it...I am on my way to living a life in a villa in Tuscany.....I have sent my wishes to the Universe...I have sent it though the winds , though the breeze, though the moon light shining above........I can already smell it.....feel the cold wind and hot sun of Tuscany!!!

And in the meantime that I am waiting for the Universe to grant my wishes, I will watch Mamma Mia!!! Feb. 9, 2012......and i will tell you all about it!!!!My , I am one step closer to my villa in Tuscany!!!

Now how can you not love this life I live!!!!

Early Onset of the " Empty Nest Feeling"

I am turning 45 this May , and what better age can I be in? No better age than 45! My  GSIS policy will be maturing though I have converted to LEP a few years ago and thus I am not expecting a bonanza of maturity money! But I am feel I am in another level , another page of my life? My marriage is great , the kids are slowly composing their lives, getting more independent each day and Tops and I are feeling  a little left out.

I used to say that the years fly really fast and that my kids will be adults soon and now that they are on their way    to adulthood, it seems that we are the ones not prepared! And all our married life we, at least I thought , that I am looking forward to my kids growing up, having my independence again and living our lives for us again! Then guess what? That level is coming soon and though I am enjoying my "alone" walks , well, I miss the days when I can take my kids anywhere I go, dress them with whatever I want to dress them with (though this is not  saying the 2 teens have always been easy to handle) !  Well, this is maybe the mommy in me talking. When the mommy no longer has a good grip in the "control" department, i think feeling like this is soooo natural for parents!1Ha ha ha . It feels one is loosing one's kids but in reality the teens are just spreading their wings, trying new things and really , really deciding for themselves!! I am  realizing only now  that this independence is the very thing I have tried and tried teaching my kids when they were so much younger and now that they are showing that they learned it well, I am feeling kinda left out, we are feeling kinda left out....Parents!!!

but you know what, modern technology, new things and a changed perspective on things, on what people value, on how people look a things nowadays have made it more difficult for parents to raise kids and probably more difficult for kids and teens to grow up normally ( whoa, normal as in my personal standards and might definitely be very different with  my teens' take on normal ha ha ha) and with less difficulty . And yet when they are on their way to growing up and living a life of their choice, the mommy in me is uncomfortable, maybe even insecure!!! These feelings have lead me to ask myself, is this some sort of early onset of empty nest syndrome ?Bah!!!! Trouble with parents is we cannot wait for our kids to grow up when they are little and yet when they really do grow up, we long for those days that we can freely kiss them and hug them in front of everybody!!!

And who is to say that we are ready to let our teens decide for themselves? Most of the times I really need to bite my lips to control myself from being controlling and tying to make my teens live the life I want them to live. It is really so had to standby and let them live their lives the way they want to live it!!  And no matter how i trust my kids,     no matter how clear their  future seems to be , the mommy in me cannot help myself!!! that's the mommy in me, wait till you see the daddy in my husband!!

but I am sooo thankful to my teens, and though we do not always see eye to eye, in fact we seem to be always arguing ( me I shout as only a mommy can har har har ha :))   and being petty I am proud of them, proud of the fact that they  have given me a full life, they have given me lessons I would have never learnt on my own and for the memories and feelings I  have and will always have in my life!!

Times will be flying so fast , in a few years Tops and I will have the house all to ourselves again!!! In the meantime, I have to live with this teenage boy who has to be told to take a bath and to stay and  sleep in his own room and this young lady who has to be reminded that partying is not her whole life and having designer jeans, designer shoes, designer everything is   the end all and be all of  being a young lady!!!

Moments

January 22, 2012

It’s Sunday  “ME” time…enjoying my being alone at the house with only Snowie, the dog  at my side..

Got to take a look at my activities  yesterday…my first Saturday duty at the Museum…and I loved every minute of it. I am at my feet for the most part of the day…I get to talk to people, share my very tiny bit knowledge on the history of the Philippines , at least those associated with the Parisian Life..Parisina Life is the paining of Juan Luna…. And I am getting to be more active…I go around the museum with the visitors, share a little about the work of arts  and walk back and forth, up and down the museum galleries!!! Perfect!!

Now, more than ever I am appreciating my being with the Museum …it is a decision I am not regretting…tomorrow or October 2012 will take care of itself…in the meantime I am enjoying myself with my Museum work…the things I am learning and trying to learn and unlearn….

I guess, this is the benefit of a choice you yourself made, a decision to choose what will make me happy…by going with my instincts , using my knowledge of who I am, I am happy , happier I think with my work life….

Of course this is not to say I am now an expert about  my job, I am still learning, struggling but I am happy and my happiness doing my job more than makes up for the struggle I am undergoing…..I am learning to read again!!!

I am in touch with my creative , writing me….I am nervous but full of anticipation for my new job….I am again in touch with people, talking to them , feeling so fulfilled when people appreciate our culture, the arts and what little knowledge I can share….  

It still surprises me that people are so very appreciative, I am only doing my job, or so I thought ,but people like Tito and his mom, our visitors at the GSIS Museum , really made my day….so appreciative , so hungry to know more about our culture, our history and telling to your face, you are doing the country good..how nice is that?

This job, this too is service. Service to our members and to our people…. and no matter what happens come October 2012, I am happy and enjoying the moments!!

Love the life you live!!

The Inevitable ....TSD now Officially DEFUNCT

It's the last day of work for the year, but not only is today the last day of work for the year..it is also the last day of TSD , Training and Scholarship Dept., as a department, as an office...the TSD has been abolished in the reorganization  of 2011..we have become a casualty ....but had to a wait for a few months to be totally wiped out.....I went to Australia last Oct ..expecting that when I come back I will be with the GSIS  Museum, but we were given another 2 months, almost,  to stay together and wok  together, the TSD....

Our project, the last was the GSIS Christmas Activities, and now that Christmas is over, we say goodbye to each other...but wait, thefe was really no goodbyes, we are so busy closing all our transactions, all our tasks to be able to leave TSD and turn over files, documents, pay all the bills of the Christmas party and Outreach that we barely had a time for our Christmas party, in fact we did not have any!!!! We only had a quiet dinner with everybody lost for words or maybe we are in denial, maybe nobody wants to get into it fearing we might get too dramatic and with  TSD drama is not soooo natural, we like laughing , laughing out loud and making fun of ourselves!!! and well yes, others! ha ha ha!!!

Today, it seems , that is what we did!!! No drama, no goodbyes!! Most of the TSD personnel were on leave , the few of us who were present were busy with either packing, checking on things we will be leaving  behind, doing some more errands,finishing some task and me, I was on my OJT :)  with the Museum. Had my taste of museum life with the closing activities of the HR Ocampo Exhibit and the the Jose RIzal Exhibit. Was also able to help out in the Phil-Korea Art Exhibit opening....did not even had the time to say Happy new Year to those who were also in the office..they too were busy...we said goodbye to TSD without saying goodbye to each other...maybe because we are not really saying goodbye  ....well , as Fleur said it,  maybe this is a blessing in disguise....and i say maybe ....this may just afford us to travel together, a thing we have been wanting to do for the longest time ....we have not been able to do this since we cannot go on prolong leave of absence at the same time...ha ha ha....

maybe we are sad with all the things that had happen...as a department, the TSD has made an impact with the lives of the employees , we had our accomplishments and had our share of failures and not so successful programs but we believe we really did good, maybe better.. and we honestly like working together, laughing together and getting into each other's skin and now there is no TSD, not anymore.... and  maybe we just enjoyed torturing each other ha ha ha!!!

My years with TSD has been so full of  joy, learning and a few pains here and there but all in all, i will not exchange those years with any thing in the GSIS !

So today each one of us. TSD peeps embarks on a different path, with a different team , today we silently said goodbye to each other and I am sure , each wishing us  luck and fun in our new paths..... TO TSD ...Cheers!!!!

Changes

My mind and  body has been surprising me lately...I feel  young and unknowingly tried  physical activities that I had done when I was younger and lo and behold, my body seems to be telling me, slow down, we can still do this but on my own time and rate!!! I can still do those things but on a different level of efficiency and rate!

As i grow more mature, another name for aging,  I have noticed  changes in my body , its capacity for certain activities and endurance.....it takes me longer to climb steep places or I can easily get tired.But these changes I have expected and have seen  manifested by older friends and families. No surprise there. But what surprised me are the changes in my behavior, in my taste from food, to colors, my taste in friends and what I consider nice , cute, pa cute or over the top. :) I have always been impatient as I have said over and over that patience is not one of my better virtues! But lately , i seem to be more tolerant of certain behaviors and  more impatient with others.

These days, i think I have the luxury of choosing who to be with and  not choosing to go to certain places and with certain people. I can say no firmly and nicely .  I am finding myself more understanding of appearances, but I can't still stand people who says they are benevolent and yet their actions belie who they really are and yet they think of themselves as benevolent, kind .  I still can't stand people who are so righteous they can not see their own follies but now I can walk away without arguments! I find it a waste of my time now and to me it seems that is patience ha ha ha.....

I am finding I can bite my tongue when I feel I want to give someone a piece of my mind unless I am at the end of my rope , I can walk away and choose not to be  right , not to argue and just listen and observe. Of course sometimes I can not help myself but those times are getting fewer and fewer and far in between...

But I am also finding myself to be a little less tolerant  to loud banging music. Before I can appreciate those loud music not necessarily liking them but nowadays I can not stand it.....I will walk out of a restaurant if I do not like the music...And lately I have been more drawn  to the music of my era, no surprise there again  but I find myself singing out loud  (or maybe I have always sung out loud even when I was young, I remember some of  my office mates in RSPD, GSIS thought I was nuts because I usually sung out loud with the music playing on radio o PA, they exchange weird looks ha ha ha) .

These days I am finding myself spending more time with myself , shopping alone though I used to go to the movie house alone, now I am finding more time for myself and choosing not to spend these times with anybody? I can choose not to go to events, oblivious of the fact that people may say about me or not caring what they will say..I do not over extend myself to please anybody. i just do not know if this is good or bad, ha ha ha!! But age has given me somethings that youth has not and yet age has also robbed me of certain things that youth has once given me ..what a way of putting aging! Ha ha ha......

But I have very few regrets in my life , if  ever there are and they are not major things, probably things that I can still do or undo in the coming years. My life has relatively been good, often great, and the years have been generous to me and I know the coming years will give me more of the things, feelings , love, joy , that I will come to cherish and relish!!

The new year is fast approaching and I know that everything will be all right..... all our dreams will come true ........In HIS time....

Early Morning Drive (Again)

There's is nothing I enjoy more in driving than early morning drives!!! Drove Kiko to Beda via daang Hari.. And it's true somethings are still free!

It's still free to enjoy an early morning drive ...and while driving, it felt like it's already the Christmas morn!  Cloudy, windy and cold with the sun just peeking behind the clouds and the music of Kevin Lettau!!  Life is all about living to the fullest and fullest means enjoying the sight and sounds of everyday occurrences!  It's drizzling now, light drizzling and I am having suman from Baler and now a cup of coffee and toast bread with cheese...simple things that warm our hearts and remind us that we are lucky to be living our lives ...

Happy Sunday everyone!!! Enjoy the life you live while working hard for the   life you want!

Bazaar and Sale Hopping

It was a busy day for me today, and to think there is no office , it's a holiday in Pasay being Pasay day...but as a true blue shopper I have allotted this day for my Bazaar and Sale hopping!!

Come with me as I tour the following Bazaars :


World Bazaar Festival at the World Trade Center

This Bazaar is awesome...so many booths, so many  items...they have all the merchandise the fashionistas will love, bags, both the real mc coys and the knock offs!!Dresses tons of dress , pants, sexy shorts, summer dresses, make ups , goody items brushes combs and hair pins!! The bag ae so nice , thee is a booth that sells authentic Long champ bags at 2500 and 3800. They have the new spring color of grape!!!  If you want to check it out , you can also log on to  the LOVE ONE Bag website www.facebook.com/loveonebag !

The shirts and polo shirts and polos for the guys are really good. There is this booth that sells polos at all sizes for only P250 and the shirts are really nice, looks expensive and feels expensive for P250!  when you enter it's on your left, end most of the left side of World Trade! The V neck shirts are at P150 but they are really reasonable being good quality and fashionable shirts!! On the right side of World trade , first column of booths , is a booth that sells very cheap children's clothes and they have this tankini tops that are really cheap, P80 pesos , but they only have one color but worth it! There is another booth that I really love , the casual dresses are at P250 but they look much more expensive!!! They have navy dresses, summer dresses , casual sexy dresses and bed room shorts that will flatter the figure. Then so many accessories, ear cuffs (of course the ear cuffs I am going to sell are better and well crafted but more expensive). There are export overruns of wooden items from Cebu , the wooden Welcome sign is at P70 !!! Then the bangles at P50 , various necklaces, blings for exports at P25 P50 P100 and the bags , all made in the Philippines . Great designs and excellent craftmanship!

Then they have items for mommies like Home safe gadgets, motion sensors, cups, drinking glasses, Rubber maid at low low prices  , shoe cabinets cum benches at P2500 , haggle with them they might give it at a lower price!  Stools, coffee tables and boxes made of hard wood, really nice and vintage looking.  !! Then these  vegetable and fruit ionizers/cleaners but they are expensive , I think it's because of the technology, Korean! Towels are also at very low prices including monogrammed hand towels all packaged , ready to be given for Christmas!  The bed sheets (fitted )are at P150  and the pillow cases at 3 for P100 !!

They have knick knacks , Paris items that are really adorable!! Then Ikea products at discounted prices.  They have tea lights , plastic colorful stools for kids, really nice things for the house.  Then cute lamps , organizers..They even have 2nd hand gowns and dresses by Rica Paalejo, Donita Rose , Bea Alonso and all those actresses ! They have P750 cocktail dresses , overruns , that are really awesome for that price!!!

For the kids , they have precious moments dolls, angy birds (not so many though , that's why I am relieved), hot wheels cars, light up swords, , clothes and clothes, beautiful clothes, overruns! Actually the high light of the Bazaar is the pretty pretty overrun clothes!  The denim shorts that ae in these days ae at P200 but if you persevere and go around, you can get it at another booth for P150, I got one for Nikita! Kiko will probably not get so much because his Christmas gift is awesome enough !! (and expensive). Ha ha ha! We still have nothing concrete for Nikita but , this girl is really high maintenance!

But before I end, the Christmas decors are also dirt cheap but are not cheap looking! The santa's  for hanging on your doors are at P150 and they are not tiny Santas! The decorative boxes are also so reasonable , i bought a few, both the boxes made of native materials and those glittery boxes!! There are also hats at 199 pesos if you buy them at Mall shops , they will cost you 499 pesos!

Oh the food stuff are also delicious!! There are nutri bars , chocolates , biscuits and the adorable gummy bears by the kilos ! Ensaymadas, Bravo dips, , schubligs, what have you! wines, juices, sodas, eveything including coffee from Tanay Highlands!

i actually blew almost all of my money in this Bazaar!! from Dec 2-18, World trade center!!

PRIVADO Sale

At the SMDC show room/hall ( beside the North Outside Parking lot), banded shades , watches are on sale! You get an additional 10-20% off if you have a BDO credit card or an SM Advantage/Prestige card! Prada, Rayban, Gucci, Shanghai Tang, Pepe Jeans, a few Max Mara, DKNY, Miu Miu, and all the designer brands are thee. The shades ae at half prices with give aways! But do try out the shades and check the  frames! Then the watches, wrist watch and pocket watches are on sale, designer brands also!!


from Dec. 1-4, 2011 !


Triple Sale at SMX

Today is the fist day of the Mega Shoes and Bags Sale at Hall 3, SMX! The shoes , slippers and sandal sale are to die fo.  At 70% and 50% off!..The happy feet shoes and bakyas are at buy 1 take 1 plus 10% off! The Ipanema  and Grendah sandals and slippers are at 450, 800 and 1000. Though the sandals we bought at 450 last year are now around 600 pesos or so! The the Keds sneakers are at 500 pesos! Draven shoes are at half off, so the 2500 are now at 1200 and 1000 pesos respectively! The the barbie , Dora soes are at P499, either black leatherette or the sneakers casual shoes!  Fila shoes are at 50-70%  off,  assics , K-swiss, New balance shoes are around 1000-3000! Jarman shoes are also on sale, paging Derek!!!ha ha ha, this is a private joke , sorry!...

The luggage are half the price , you can get overnight bags or 2 or 3 day luggage  at P1K, Samsonite, Delsey and the likes are on sale, if you ae looking to buy luggage, better buy them now!!

Mega Shoes and Bag  Sale is until Dec. 4 , Sunday!

The bags , I am not so impressed as I was so much impressed by the quality and designs of the bags at the world Bazaar!

At Hall 2, is the  Christmas Warehouse Sale, mostly clothes, penshoppe, Redgirl, rrj jeans and shirts, wrangler, Arrow and so much baby clothes..But the shirts are really reasonable, they have locally made branded shirts from P100-300 ! The jeans are at  half the prices, then Polo (the brand) is on sale , polo shirts are at P500!

This Sale is on from Dec 2-4, 2011!


The Great Toy SALE

At Hall 1 is an exclusive for BDO cad holdes and Toy Kingdom cad holders (but you can get the TK card for P150 when you register)

Amazing toys are on display at half the prices!! Disney princess, robots, hotwheels and all the toys your heat desires!  I just went around very fast here but I can tell the toys are at bargain prices with the bulk people are holding in their big big plastic bags when they leave. If you have lots of nephews, nieces and god children, I suggest you go to this  sale !!!

From Dec. 2-4, 2011, SMX!


Well, I called it a day at 10pm and I started my day at 12 noon! 10 hours of shopping and window shopping!! This is a marathon but mind you , this is not my longest shopping escapade......  :)