Allergy

It surely makes me miss summer when it is this cold outside. When you want to go out, you don’t have any choice but to bundle up to keep you warm. Because of how slippery the roads can be, driving in this kind of weather is very dangerous. When I see the snow, that is when I yearn more about summer. The only problem I have with summer is my allergy seems to kick in and get worst every time the air conditioner kicks in. Someone had told me that it could be the air conditioner filters that we are using. With an allergic person like me, the filters should be changed every so often. I may have to do that next summer and see if my allergy improves.

Saddened

I was so devastated when I realized that my seatmate in my English class failed the class. I really like her, and we clicked right away from the very start. We are only two weeks away, and it really saddens me to see her leave. She had been gone for a few classes and unfortunately, she forgot to tell our teacher of her absence. She also missed a lot of quizzes, so our teacher doesn't have any choice but to fail her. I felt so sad for her because it would be hard to get her financial aid back after having a few of those dreaded grade. I hope to see her again in one of my classes. I am just glad that I got to see her today before she left. I gave her a hug, and I will be seeing her again around the campus.

Tuxedos and Weddings

When Ryan and I got married almost seven years ago, he wore our traditional “barong tagalog.” He really loved it because the cloth was thin and therefore very breathable but crazy as it sounds, I would love to see him and the wedding party of course in tuxedos. Supposedly, the planned wedding next year had to be moved because Ryan had just started another job. So he won’t be able to accumulate vacation hours around April of next year when we go home. Since, we had done a traditional wedding here in the US; I would love to have one in the Philippines where all of them wear tuxedos. I think it would be really neat. We’ll see!

Access Anywhere

It is amazing how much technology had help businesses, big or small these days. The use of computers and the Internet had surely made running a business easier to a lot of people. They don't have to micro manage anymore and if businesses needed help, they can easily use the Internet to seek help. What is even better is now there are places where businesses can take advantage of data center hosting to make sure their data are secure and ready to access anytime and anywhere.

Kyle and Frankie

Kyle was here yesterday, and Frankie was having a ball. Jenny had to leave for her theraphy for an hour and nobody is going to watch Kyle. I have told Jenny that if she needs someone to watch Kyle, she can drop him off here so that Frankie will have someone to play with. Frankie was so happy that he even forgot his nap time. They were chasing each other non-stop and eating their snacks together. They also watched Thomas and some Disney shows. I was able to write a little bit yesterday while Papa was in the kitchen cooking and watching them both at the same time. Kyle is so behaved and I really enjoyed listening to them converse. It is a definitely a good practice for Frankie.

Lost Files or Pictures No More

I had so much regret when I depended on our computer in storing Frankie’s baby pictures. After Ryan cleaned the desktop computer, and he reloaded everything after a virus had consumed it. Unfortunately, it also meant losing all of Frankie’s baby pictures. That is one of the disadvantages of having a digital camera. I was so lazy to go to the store and have it printed. In fact, now that I am in school, I am just so afraid that all my research papers and my essays will disappear in thin air. I have it in the computer and in the jump drive, but I am still afraid that I might lose it. I am thinking of signing up and taking advantage of a free online backup. It is free anyways and the good thing is I can access it anywhere. No more lost files for me.

Dentist Search

I don’t have a dentist right now. I used to have one but there were things that I was not too happy with her so I had to let her go. The good thing is, I have an awesome dental hygienist who is my mother-in-law that cleans my teeth every six months for free. Isn’t that awesome? I admit I need to have a dentist. At the age of thirty, I still have my wisdom teeth (all of them), and they are bothering me sometimes especially when I eat something salty. I may have to ask my mother-in-law if there is a dentist that she suggests that I should go see. If I was living in Texas right now, I wouldn’t have to worry about finding a Plano dentist, but since I am not so might as well start with the dentist search.

Three More Weeks

I have three more weeks to go and school will be over. Hopefully I got good grades but I think it would be hard to get an A for English. A is supposed to have mastered English and I don't think I will ever be able to master that. So a B would be ok for me but hopefully not C. The first assessment we had I got an A then B on the second one because one of my essays needs revision and as soon as I am done with that she should be able to regrade it again. We also have the portfolio plus the presentation. So, I will be putting together a powerpoint presentation for the rest of the class to introduce to them my research paper. My research paper still needs additional support so that is what I should be doing this weekend. I am so getting there and I am so happy with what I have accomplished so far.

Natural

A lot of people these days are going for the organic or something natural without the added artificial ingredients in it. It would be wonderful if everything that we consume is natural and not processed but it is in a perfect world. I really hate it around this time of the year when it is so cold outside, and it is hard to sweat plus I don’t have the time to go to a gym so what I am really going by this time is trying to control the diet. Unfortunately, I haven’t been really good at it because Papa always have some delicious meal to prepare. Maybe taking advantage of a natural fat burner might be the answer. I am crossing my finger and give this a try.

Hoping It Will Go Away

Acne had always been a problem in our family. My parents had so much acne when they were teenagers, and I am not surprised that we have it too. I still get them occasionally, but it is not as bad as when I was in college. It was so embarrassing that I didn’t even want to look at a mirror. It noticed that it started going away when I gave birth to Frankie. My sisters on the other hand were not spared most especially Resty. She is the one on the left. She had used different acne treatments, but nothing really worked for her. Every time someone tells her about one thing, she gets it right away hoping it will work but the same thing goes. They were such a waste of money. Hopefully, it will just go away soon enough and won’t leave so much damage on her face like it did to mine.

Registered

Ryan has been bugging me to register online, but I still can't figure out what classes to take. The classes that I have remaining are the ones that I couldn't take online. Well, there is one and it is English 102. Since we are going to be gone anyway so that is what I took. Thankfully, Ryan was so conscientious and checked the classes that I will need to take transfer to the university, but I don't require them to graduate for my associates degree. We found a couple online which is political science and US history. I am so looking forward to the US history but not so much with the political science. I hate politics but I don't have any choice. I need to take it before I can be admitted to GSU. I wanted to take these classes later because I want to take all the ones I need to graduate but as I said they are not online so to take advantage of the time, I will take them this time. I need to pay really soon too.

Life Insurance A Must Have

Ryan and I always get letters from different life insurance companies. It amazes me how easy it sounds to get one but when you are actually applying for one, there are a lot of things they want from you. Up to this point, I have not gotten one for myself, for papa, and for Frankie. Because of school and work, my time had been so limited lately. After the finals I need to sit down and search on online life insurance and see what they have to offer. With the uncertainty of the future, it is better to be prepared than sorry.

Computer

I need a new computer. It has been a while since I used my laptop because papa and Frankie are using it all the time to watch movies in Netflix. I really don’t mind because I wanted them to have something to enjoy with. It doesn’t have to be expensive or really fancy but something that I can store all my files and access the Internet when I am in school. There is a computer lab in the second floor at the students’ success center but some of the users can be very noisy sometimes and I don’t trust their computers because I know someone that her jump drive had virus in it after using it in one of the computers at the SSC. I am looking into the different models of computers, and hopefully find one really cheap this coming black Friday. I am crossing my finger.

Date Change Again

I checked my facebook a few days ago and there was a message from my sister Resty telling me that Ging-ging's graduation will be moved to the 27th of March. This would be it she said because mama and the rest of the parents had a meeting regarding the dates last week. They won't be graduating with the rest of the students because they have a lot of requirements to fulfill but hopefully they will let more people in rather than the 2 people per graduate. The entire family will be there plus some relatives from another country coming in. I have already sent an email to the travel agent, and I hope she will find something cheap for all of us. I am not that excited yet until I get the plane tickets in my hand.

Booking A Flight

I have been going back and forth with my travel agent regarding the plane tickets to the Philippines. Apparently, the dates are not showing up yet since it was still too early. I asked her to check for April but I need to call her again because Ging-ging just told me that her graduation will be on March 15 but of course still tentative. I was hoping for April because she told me that they may have the last graduation because of so many requirements to do in school but that changed since they start early and end late before Christmas. So I may have to let her know again to check March 12 and go from there. I can’t wait when I am done with all these plane ticket drama so I can concentrate on other things. It is always such a hassle to get plane tickets on long flights like to the Philippines. I am sure if we were only going on a vacation to puerto vallarta mexico, I can always find good deals and book my flight in a heart beat. I just have to deal with it I guess.

Business and Displays

Ryan and I were in the mall a couple of weekend ago when I was amazed with the different cardboard displays that were lined up outside the stores itself ready for Christmas. It is amazing how easy it was to find and locate the store by just going by the life size cardboard displays outside the store’s main door. I hope they will keep it that way all year round not just for Christmas. I find it very attractive too. Sometimes those displays entice me to go in just to look around and sometimes come home with stuff. It is remarkable what a cardboard display can do to a business.

His Favorites

He always play or do everything with George.

It is so amazing how much Frankie learns. He is a very intelligent kid, I should say. I teach him one thing and he remembers it. There are even things that I didn't teach him that he picks up somewhere. He is learning Cebuano very well. He fell off his toy one time trying to get something and he cried and told papa, "hagbong ko". We laughed. Hadbong ko in Cebuano means I fell off. He can memorize the songs already even if he can't barely pronounce the words just yet. Playing with his clay is his favorite pastime as well as scribbling. He is getting big and next year he will be ready to go to school. I can't wait.

Replacing the Dented Hood

Dad was here last weekend to help Ryan find a grill for his sable car. As you remember, I accidentally hit a deer on my way home from work. Although the impact wasn’t that hard, but it broke the grill and dented the top of the hood. I really felt sorry because Ryan took care of that car, and I hit a deer with it. Well, he knows it was an accident, and he was glad that I didn’t get hurt. I can’t imagine how much we are going to spend if we have to take the can to its dealership. That is why Ryan has not taken it anywhere. They both went to the junk yard yesterday to hopefully find something that they can replace the dented front (hood) and the grill. I wish there was a place not affiliated with any dealership of course that you can find car and truck accessories for less. It would be awesome because then you can just do it yourself at home.

Missing Mama On Christmas

Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of my favorite occasions every year. It is always nice to get together with family and friends and share a meal which is usually always yummy. I always look forward to the holidays. Sometimes I wish my mom was here because she always makes delicious Filipino dishes that made me forget about dieting. I guess I am just a little homesick since I haven’t spent Christmas with her for seven years now. Back home, although we don't have much but we feasted on the little food we have. We don't even exchange gifts but we just celebrate the occasion together. That is why we don't have to worry about learning on what is the best diet pills since we can't afford unlike people that lives here in the US. I guess, I may have to find one myself because I am still not in the weight goal I want to be.

Taking Care of Himself

I have been scheduled early and also been going home early from work. I usually give Papa a call when I am on my way home to ask him if he wants to pick something. When I got home, we agreed that we are going to Best Buy so that he can check the Nikon professional camera that my Aunt from New Zealand asked him to check. I told him that I will drop him off then Frankie and I can stay in the mall across the street where Frankie can play in the play area while I read the book.

When I got home, I immediately checked my email and Papa was all dressed up. He tried dressing up Frankie but he kept running away from him. So, we pretended that we were going and leave him at home. He started getting frantic, and he hurriedly put on a hat and his clogs so he can come with us.


He won't even face the camera for me. I had to walk around to get a picture of him upfront.

Later he wanted to show off his clogs that his Lola gave him. He thinks he was ready to go but not on mama's watch. Nah bali kaayo.

Parties

I don’t know which house I will be spending my Christmas. I have already received Christmas party invitations from different people, both from friends and relatives. I may have to think this over because I will be dragging Frankie and Papa with me, and I don’t want them to be uncomfortable. I will probably go to our family’s house in the morning and spend the rest of the day with a friend’s house so that Frankie can play with his friend and Papa can sing Karaoke. It surely will be a very fun Christmas holiday for me.

Almost Christmas

This will be my first year back in retail working during the day. It has been three years since I had been home with Frankie and enjoying Black Friday with my family; however, this year will be different. In the past years, Ryan and I usually went out to look around in the afternoon. If I really don’t need to work, I wouldn’t be out early in the morning and out in the cold. It is very interesting how some people even camp outside the store just to get good deals when they could go online and do online shopping instead and get the same thing, but minus the hassle, at the convenience of their homes. If I don’t have to work, you bet I will be at home surfing the Internet for good deals.

Twenty More

I am still in owe when one of my teachers told us that we only have 6 weeks left before this semester wraps up. Enrollment for the next semester is already up and I will enroll tomorrow. I just got an evaluation letter including the ones I have this semester and I am excited that I only have 20 hours left to graduate. It is still a lot I know, but after the next semester, I hope to knock down most of them. I don't have any choice but to register online because I will be out for 3 weeks and I don't think they will let me take off that long or give me special consideration. It wouldn't be fair. So, tomorrow I need to decide what I want take this spring. I am hoping to take 2 or 3 again. I am not that interested with taking classes next summer but if I knocked down some of the hours by going summer, I may have. It depends because I really would like to take a little break and be with my Frankie.

Popularity

I remember when I first started blogging; this was two or three years ago. I heard that submitting my blog or website in a web directory will increase traffic, hence, also increasing my blog’s alexa and technorati. I absolutely didn’t know anything about it until I researched and learned how important those were to my blog’s ranking. There are a lot of people these days that have multiple blogs and if you are making money out of your blog then increasing your ranking is very important. Plus, it is also very important to have your blog indexed on search engines because it will definitely increase your visitors. The internet can surely make wonders.

Eyes

This new schedule is really catching up on me. I am scheduled to work during the night sometimes and then had to wake up early to be at work again. I am beginning to have dark circles around my eyes and it doesn’t look good. Thankfully, I am not that fair skinned or else it will be very obvious around my eyes. I did try using one of the eye creams that is out in the market today but it irritated my skin. It was a mistake on my part because I did not check the internet for the reviews of people who have used it. Hopefully, it will get better soon because I really don’t want it to be very obvious.

If Only I Have The Time

I checked this one place where I used to write a lot with them before, and they have a lot of $20.00 opps that I could write if only I have the time. It would been such a perfect timing because we need all the money we can get to use for Christmas (for the Philippines) and shopping for pasalubong for the Philippines. I had reserved it over and over again but I always find myself doing something else. I have four different papers due in two weeks and some I have not even started. Thankfully, work was very understanding and I told my HR that I have so much stuff to do for school so they gave me 3 days off next week then two closing nights so that I can utilize the days in the library for my research.

This week however, I will be coming in at 6:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. for a special project they have assigned me and I will go straight to school after to get my stuff done. I just love these people at work. They are really awesome. I know not all places are perfect, but management have been really great to me. Besides, where do you find a place that gives you discounts on uniforms that could reach up to 60% off combining all the discounts we have. Every month we get the friends and family discount and that is 30% off then when we have pick a day from the charge, so that is another 15% then if we are buying clothes or shoes for work, that is also another 15%. After I am done with all the stuff I need to do for school. I will try to get back blogging again because $20.00 per post is a lot of money.