Just me and my life

This is a very late post but nontheless here it goes..John and I recently celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversay last March 13th.  Three years, three wonderful years.. really puts a smile on my face when I  reminisce on everything that we had gone through.  It seems amazing that two people of different culture can get along well like we do, that we have adjusted to each others quirks and moods, and has accepted each others shortcomings, and here we are three years after saying our "i do’s"  looking forward to more and more wonderful years to come.

A busy week it was. 

Aside from taking care of John and Jb, the usual drive to school and back and preparing dinners during the week,  I went out couple of times with mom.  Had lunch with her and her sister Linda and shopped for raider (her australian shepherd), and for poppy and marvin (my yorkies), she also bought stuff for me. 

I had been collecting just about anything with roosters on it and this week, we found a curtain for the kitchen windows and it was really cute (has a rooster on it LOL).

This weekend, John and I spent saturday with friends.  We went to Chinatown here in Houston.  It was fun browsing at the shops.  We were like kids trying on just about anything. Then that evening we went to auction.  We often do this every saturday evenings.  there are just alot of antique furnitures and fixtures there and the people are so nice.  We got a clock table and an old globe print.  I was bidding on some old crystal bowls but no luck..maybe i’ll be lucky next time, like the first time I got my big crystal bowl and lenox china.  A couple of weeks back, we got a welsh china hutch and it was in excellent condition..have a place now for my crystals and china.

Sunday, we started of with a lazy morning, taking JB to gymnastics.  But later that day, Linda picked us up to go to the mall for JB’s haircut.  And of course, with JB let loose on the mall, would mean shopping.  oh well, she’s been doing good at school and its just our way to reward her.

All in all it was a fun, busy week.  Alot of bonding time with people close to my heart.

As the old year changes into the New Year, I want to wish you all a year filled with good health, prosperity, love that surrounds you, happiness, peace and light.

As 2008 began, I had decided to make this year one of positive change, put ideas into motion, accomplish goals, continue with self improvement and grow as a person.

The past year had it’s ups and downs. Days filled with good/bad and happy/sad times, successful experiences, mistakes made and many lessons learned.

I have welcomed some wonderful people into my life and that has been an enriching experience. I have a special someone in my life who has brought more to me than he realizes. I have a daughter who is growing up too fast but still remains as my baby, brightens my life more than she knows it. I have experienced pleasure In gaining new friends while holding on to the old, and at the same time letting go of others who had failed my trust.  It was quite an enriching experience.

There are alot of things to be thanksful for and it is quite humbling to see others go through worse. I am just so grateful that my life is the way it is.. simple.

Overall, I have to say, 2007 was a good year as far as my personal endeavours and am thankful with what I have accomplished so far. My circle of friends, acquaintances  slightly changed. This was a necessary change for me to be successful within myself,  and in life in general. Sometimes change is a positive.

I look forward to 2008 with optimism and just as I started 2007, I will continue on my quest to grow, learn, accomplish and improve.

As the old year changes into the New Year, I want to wish you all a year filled with good health, prosperity, love that surrounds you, happiness, peace and light.

As 2008 began, I had decided to make this year one of positive change, put ideas into motion, accomplish goals, continue with self improvement and grow as a person.

The past year had it’s ups and downs. Days filled with good/bad and happy/sad times, successful experiences, mistakes made and many lessons learned.

I have welcomed some wonderful people into my life and that has been an enriching experience. I have a special someone in my life who has brought more to me than he realizes. I have a daughter who is growing up too fast but still remains as my baby, brightens my life more than she knows it. I have experienced pleasure In gaining new friends while holding on to the old, and at the same time letting go of others who had failed my trust.  It was quite an enriching experience.

There are alot of things to be thanksful for and it is quite humbling to see others go through worse. I am just so grateful that my life is the way it is.. simple.

Overall, I have to say, 2007 was a good year as far as my personal endeavours and am thankful with what I have accomplished so far. My circle of friends, acquaintances  slightly changed. This was a necessary change for me to be successful within myself,  and in life in general. Sometimes change is a positive.

I look forward to 2008 with optimism and just as I started 2007, I will continue on my quest to grow, learn, accomplish and improve.

Yeah I know Thanskgiving has not passed yet and here I am going to talk about Christmas. I do know too that in the US people only start to dress their houses for christmas right after thanksgiving.. but what the heck, I am just excited. And Oh, thanksgiving is just 6 days away anyaway. In the Philippines, most are getting ready once the "ber" months starts. You can even hear christmas carols plaing on the radio once september sets in.

We picked blue and silver/white as our main colors, of course there would be some splash of red too. Last year it was red and gold. I know its not new, So silver and blue for our home this year. John and I have already bought ornaments and I had made ribbon bouquets for wherever it may suit. That makes me busy in my spare time which is alot.

The other day, I noticed at the store that I am not the only one who is thinking of blue/silver motif. There were several people there buying blue colored poinsettia’s, ribbons, garlands etc. Is it a trend? A friend of mine told me the other day that if I want to be different I should revert back to red and green chrismassy colors, oh well.. I still do have those as I previously mentioned.

Why blue and silver? well blue is both our fave color as seen on our wedding motif. It is just soothing to the eyes and not too flashy. It doesnt mean that this christmas is gonna be blue, too outrageous a thought for this happy household.

Yes I know I am rambling. I guess I am just excited to see how this will shape up.

Yup, I turned 38, gosh I’m old.  But as the filipino saying goes " kalabaw lang ang tumatanda" (only carabaos grow old.)  Of course its just a number and I dont really feel like I am getting old except when I see my daughter. 

Its was a happy day, inspite of spending the most part of it alone, as JB and John were not with me.  But I have people calling and wishing me well on my special day. 

I got my birthday present early from Amy and Alpha.  I got John’s early in the morning ( he said he has to give it to me or it won’t be a surprise anymore as I check the bank everyday) - he gave me pearls.  Jb gave me a card while were on our way to her school and that evening she gave me a vase where she personally designed it with a text saying " world’s greatest mom".  Marife and Ging gave me additional roosters for my collection and cards from friends.  I wouldnt ask for more.

That evening, John took me and JB to Benihana, a japanese steak house where they cook everything in front of you coupled with some antics.  Their serving crew even surprised me with a birthday song while I sport their chef hat.  But wait, that’s not the only surprise.  Behind the scene there were two friends who are sneaking in our house..rummaging through the kitchen cabinets..they told me after that they look like burglars. Of course John knows about it and was sneaky too with the phone calls.  I didnt even know that he was on the phone with them.

Why are they sneaking?  They dressed the bedroom in a romantic setting, flowers, candles,wine and even chocolates on a fondue and matching music.  The bed has rose petals forming an "I LOVE YOU, LEAH."  The funny part is that in their rush they forgot to hide my sunflower from the kitchen where they took from a vase they used in their set up.  And before I went to the bedroom,  that was the first thing I noticed and was freaking out.

All went great after I saw my surprise.

Its not the gifts that I got but the thoughts that my husband and daughter and friends have for me, and Its an awesome feeling.

All of us compete, at times for success and attention and affection.  It seems to be a part of our DNA to judge ourselves not only on whether we’re well loved but whether we’re outshined or outdone by those that surrounds us.  When we feel as if we haven’t been "chosen," its very painful-and entirely forgivable- to suffer deep pangs of jealousy.  When friends and family members appears to be doing much better than we are, it’s completely normal to get a sharp twinge of envy.  The trouble is that envy and jealousy don’t feel normal or forgivable.

That’s because wanting what someone else has, competes with our "better" impulses, like altruism, generosity and love.  It feels like something to hide.

Sure plenty of people talk about being jealous. "i’m so jealous you got that car, I love that car," or " wow, i’m jealous you can wear that tight and sexy dress."  But I think off-the cuff comments like those actually celebrate the success of the other individual.  Real gut-level jealousy leaves us tongue tied and ashamed.  It isn’t something we’re likely to share.

Getting over it though means you have to admit it, at least to yourself.  Because denying feelings leads not only to guilt and shame but also to sadness, helplessness, anxiety and low self-esteem.

Quietly coveting the good fortune or success that your friend, sibling or neighbor is enjoying makes you focus even more on the fact that you dont have it.  All kinds of unconscious questions are stirred up, some of them deeply rooted in childhood insecurities.  Whats wrong with me? Am I not pretty enough? Not diligent enough? Not lovable enough?

So how do we overcome or get over it?

Whatever it is you feel you’re missing out on, consider whether you’ll really want that particular thing in life.  For example, you might envy a friend’s wealth but would never actually trade your free time or the pleasure to take in less lucrative work.  Or even though you might wish your own child could gain admission to a prestigious  school that accepted your friend’s kid, in your heart, you know that school isn’t the one that will end up enhancing your child’s self-esteem and potential success.

Remind yoursel that although they are painful, these are normal human emotions.  Having them doesn’t mean you are a bad friend orperson.. Not unless you act on that jealousy to destroy another person then its something you have to ponder on before doing.

Be aware that circumstances change for all of us.  The person who has outshine you today may be the one who needs your help or compassion a week, a month, or a year from now.

If you really do want what your friend or another person has, think of one positive step toward attaining it and take it right away.

Jealousy  gnaws at you dont let it tear you down.

Later today, John and I are on our way to Monterey, California to meet up with friends for a day of deep-sea fishing and a weekend of fellowship.

I hadnt been to California and this is my first fishing trip.  I am looking forward to be in the ocean again, although I had been warned that its gonna be cold.  So much for my wishful thinking of being able to wear a bikini and bask in the sun.  Of course, I am just dreaming..I dont know if i’m able to dare wear one anyway.  Oh well, I should just focus my wishful thinking on getting a big fish.  The girls and I will have a wonderful time cooking and eating our catch, while the guys will be content with their beer and steak..err pizza LOL. Too bad, JB wont be able to go since she has school, but then there will be other trips in the future.

Oh well, time to pack..this is gonna be an exciting weekend.