Full of Blessings

How come there are days when blessings abound? (I'm not complaining though.) This is one of them.

Actually, the blessings started to come in since yesterday. I have more projects coming my way. In addition, I might become Office Manager for one or two marketing research agencies while the bosses and key staff are away.

Yesterday, I ate longganisa in the carinderia in front of the church nearest our place. Since the food was cheap, I was able to order rice, Coke, and a banana. And I still had taxi money to spare to get me home.

When I reached home, I had a swell time all by lonesome because my mom stayed over her sister's place and my son said he would be coming home late. So, I spent the time listening to my favorite music, praying, visiting Mother Teresa's website and taking down notes, and chatting with a friend.

Today, I danced to disco music, chatted with cousins and friends, had lunch with my son (which he cooked). I discovered the delicious taste of honey mustard dressing by Lady's Choice (free advertisement again!) My son collected some money for me from a client and with that I gave some to my mom, a few to my son (he needed to buy a shirt and a pair of pants) and kept some for myself. I finally received my Christmas gift pack from Del Monte and I'm eager to taste their new products! I ate Tempura shrimp flavored snack for merienda, a favorite.

When my mom arrived, she gave me a new blouse. She also brought chocolates, pancit canton, barbecue, panucha (sugar-coated peanuts), and books.

I've been invited to attend a Toastmasters' meeting this coming Monday. I am looking forward to it because I always enjoy such meetings.

See how fully loaded I am with blessings? Days like these more than make up for days...not like these (how profound ha ha).

The Cleansing

Yesterday, I talked about taking a bath. Today, I did something infinitely better!

Nope, I didn't go to the sauna nor the spa. (My experience with the former is limited and believe it or not, I've never gone to a spa. That's how "simple" my life has been and will continue to be.)

Given up on guessing?

I availed of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In terms more understood by many, I went to Confession. It has been exactly a month since my last Confession and my sins have accumulated. I'm back to my holiness trip or shall we call it my trip towards heaven.

Well, in this day and age, temptations about. I'm single (again). Pretty. (Oops, sorry, Lord for my lack of humility.) There are still vultures hovering around at my age. You get my point. And there are so many sins - of thought, word, and deed. I fall easily in the area of ______.

That is why lately, I've been reading up on the saints again. My favorites are Padre Pio, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi and Mother Teresa. I get inspiration from their lives, their works and prayers. I may not - and need not - be canonized someday but I do want to be as holy as I can possibly be. If it means bearing all my sicknesses and offering all my pains and hardships for the souls most in danger of not making it to heaven, so be it.

Thank God for the Sacrament of Reconciliation! It's much more cleansing than a cool, refreshing bath!

Taking a Bath

I've just finished a loooong report. Took me weeks to complete the whole thing.

Yesterday, I was too tired to take a bath (yuk). So, today, after writing my report and some "job searching" in the Internet, I finally took a bath.

Ah! The many things we take for granted! Not too long ago, I was bedridden. A maid had to clean me with a wet towel and every now and then, shampoo my hair. But now, I am no longer bedridden. Even with a bad back, I can go to the bathroom on my own and...

...turn on the shower. I purposely did not turn on the heater so I can have cool, cold water!

...I shampooed my hair with Pantene. I soaped my body with Safeguard. Both smelled oh so good!

...I cleaned behind my ears and every nook and cranny of my body...and the ones that I could not reach, I used a loofah with a handle (newly bought).

...I dried myself up and dressed up in a clean housedress.

...I combed my hair, put Johnson's baby powder, applied Dove deodorant, put on Pond's White Beauty lotion on my face, applied Jergens body lotion, cleaned my ears with a cotton bud, put on Folded and Hung cologne.

Ahh, fresh and fragrant from a cool bath!

The simple joys in life!

Sick and Tired of Being Sick

Just came from the hospital. Was there almost the whole day. Had some blood tests. Had lunch. Waited for the doctor. The doctor arrived and the verdict?

...My dosage for my injection has been doubled

...I have to take an additional medicine for my low red blood cell count and low hemoglobin

...I have to take antibiotics for my cough

...I have to see a rheumatologist for my osteoporosis

...In two weeks' time, another blood test and a visit to the hematologist

...Another appointment with my internist was set

When will all of this end? I'm sick and tired of being sick! Medical expenses are skyrocketing! My income simply cannot catch up.

I may not know the reason for all this pain and sickness and expenses but I trust that there is a good reason. Or good reasons (plural).

I don't need to know the answer now. But I trust that God has something good in store for me in spite of all these suffering.

Pray for me!

My Birthday -- Extended!

Even if I still have that loooong report to finish, I decided to take the day off today to have fun.

I went out with my best friend (Amy), her mom, their maid, and another friend (Cel). Both Amy and Cel gave me birthday presents - a stuffed toy, black pants and a bag. (Hey, I just gave away a stuffed toy and a bag. What goes around, comes around!)

We watched "You Changed My Life" starring Sarah Geronimo and John Lloyd Cruz. Funny and kakakilig romantic comedy! A fitting sequel to their movie. We enjoyed the movie, to think that the two senior citizens with us paid only P1.00 each.

Then, we ate at Flavors of China in The Block. Food consisted of kropek, house tea, garlic rice, birthday noodles, sweet and sour fish, mixed vegetables, beef with brocolli, and lumpiang shanghai. Total bill was less than a thousand for all five of us. Not bad, considering that I didn't pay a single centavo! And of course, I enjoyed the company.

I went to National Bookstore to buy two books out of the money that my sister gave me for my birthday. Then my friends accompanied me to the taxi that brought me home.

But I'm not exactly home right now. I left my keys and apparently my mom is out of the unit so I am writing this in the internet cafe on the ground floor. Thank God for businesses such as this!

So, considering that I should be working, I don't feel exactly guilty for taking the time to have fun. Sometimes, when blessings come, we should welcome them with open arms!

Thank You, Lord, for this fun, fun day!

Extending A Helping Hand

Times are really tough. I have had barely any collections these past few months. I owe my mom a huge amount already!

My biggest pain in not being "rich" is that I am not able to extend material assistance to other people. But then two incidents happened recently which made me re-think things.

First, my friend asked me for examples of new Filipino idiomatic expressions. I tried to search using my favorite search engine but could not find any. And so I thought of "makuha ka sa isang tingin" which literally translates to "be gotten with one look". Of course, what it really means is that when a parent gives that stern look, children should beware. They are about to be disciplined should the child/children make one more false move.

Another Filipino idiomatic expression I suggested was "walang matigas na tinapay sa mainit na kape" which translates literally to "there is no hard bread for hot coffee". I got this from the title of an action movie so maybe it really means "the best man wins" or something to that effect.

The second incident is that another friend experienced a big problem recently. Her bag was snatched while she was talking to somebody over her celphone! All her IDs, her checkbook, some important papers/notes, one phone, even her lipstick and powder were in that bag! She went to the nearest police station to report the robbery. But to this day, she was not able to recover any of her things.

So when this friend of mine visited the condo last Saturday (I owe her some money for a project that she did for me), not only did I give the money I owed her. I also gave her a wallet, lipstick, cologne and a bag - all of which were still useable to me but I know she needed them more.

Two simple incidents. Who would think that this "poor" consultant can no longer extend a helping hand to those who need it?

Lord, thank You for continuing to use me as an instrument of your love and joy!

My March 2009 Resolutions

My February was such a lousy month by way of fulfilling my resolutions I won't even attempt to cite which ones I "achieved".

But this is a brand new month. So I have brand new resolutions...

...I shall resume writing "Ang Mundo ni Minda" (screenplay) and/or "Mission:Possible!" (book)

...I shall lose 5 more lbs.

...I shall pray the rosary, listen to Bible reflections, read the Bible, listen to online mass, and/or write on my Spiritual Journal as often as possible. To draw closer to God, in other words.

...I shall stop _________!

...I shall be more productive as a marketing research consultant (read: earn more!)

...I shall exercise daily by walking for several minutes

...I shall try to help others in any way I can even if it's through the use of my computer and phones

...I shall try to wash the dishes more often

...I shall "serve" my mom more often by massaging her feet, scratching her back, etc.

...I shall spend more quality time with my son

...I shall be a better family member, relative and friend in any way possible

Hey, sounds familiar? I said "brand new" didn't I? At least, by repeating my resolutions, I am declaring what is important to me and my loved ones.

Wish me luck this time!