Since Tuesday,  there was continuous heavy downpour and today, the sun remained hidden behind dark clouds  and the temperature dropped below 10 degrees Celsius.   It rained hard last night, most streets are flooded and early this morning on our way to office, the usual congested streets of rushing vehicles to school was almost free of heavy traffic.   My neighbor told us that the Ministry of Education’s foreign education instructed all international schools to exercise discretion and students were advised to stay home.   It is is a very gloomy day!  The weather is so inviting to just snuggle and sleep the whole day.  How I wish!

If not only for some rush paperwork waiting in the office, I probably would have called in sick!  Yes, you may call it laziness to a lesser  degree… But,  I know my responsibilities and I am not going to get affected by this seemingly magnetic force trying to derail my focus to finish all my pending work.

Anyway, it is almost week end…  (sigh!)

A week after the closing of year 2010, people are all busy still shopping because most goods are up for sale!  I was somehow enticed to go and looked around for possible great find.  Well, the pair of Nine West office shoes that I’ve been checking during the Christmas season became 50% less so I never think twice and bought it, not anymore consulting my dear husband.   I really loved it although it was half size smaller but I decided to take it hoping the leather material will still expand as it wears off.

I wore it on the first day of office after my 2 weeks holiday.   I have to admit, I was a show off that day … of course the girls gave compliments about the shoes but little did they know that slowly towards the end of the day, my feet was about to scream for help.  It was a torture.. the shoes became too tight for my swollen feet.  Argggh…

Emerging from the Outpatient exit door of  the hospital,  my husband who was waiting in the car can see from afar, how I walked awkwardly with my new shoes on.   I pretended everything was fine but the facial expression cannot hide the truth.

Well, the prize of impulse buying…. or not consulting my husband.   Whichever…. my shoes have not been worn again and I might reluctantly give it away to my niece.

Such a waste!

When I opened our hospital email this morning, these 5 letters caught my attention, A.A.A.D.D.  It is said to mean  Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.   Is there such a thing ?  Well, I just thought of sharing this email  from someone.   Please read on.

Symptoms of A.A.A.D.D

Recently, I was diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D – Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

I decided to water my garden.  As I turned on the hose in the driveway, I looked over at my car and decide it needs washing.  As I start toward the garage, I notice mail on the porch table that I brought up form the mail box earlier.

I decided to go through the mail before I wash the car.  I lay my car keys on teh table, put the junk mail in the garbage can under the table, and notice that the can is full.

So, I decided to put the bills back on the table and take out the garbage first.  But then I think, since I’m going to be near the mailbox when I take out the garbage anyway, I may as well pay the bills first.  I take my check book off the table, and see that there is only one check left.  My extra checks are in my desk in the study room, so I go inside the house to my desk where I find the can of Pepsi I’d been drinking.

I need to go for my checks, but first I need to push the Pepsi aside so that I don’t accidentally knock it over.  The Pepsi is getting warm, and I decided to put it in the refrigerator to keep it cold.  As I head towards the kitchen with the can of cola,  a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye – they need water.

I put the Pepsi on the counter and discover my reading glasses that I’ve been searching for all morning.  I decided I better put them back on my desk, but first I’m going to water the flowers.  I set the glasses back down on the counter, fill the container with water and suddenly spot the TV remote.  Someone left it on the kitchen table.

I realize that tonight  when we go to watch TV. I ‘ll be looking for the remote, but I won’t remember that it’s on the kitchen table, so I decide to put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I’ll water the flowers.  I pour some water in the flowers, but quite a bit of it spills on the floor.  So I set the remote back ont eh table ,get some towels and wipe up the spills.

Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.  At the end of the day:

the car isn’t washed, the bills aren’t paid, there is warm can of Pepsi sitting on the counter, the flowers don’t have enough water, there is still only 1 check in my checkbook, I can’t find the remote, I can’t find my glasses, and I don’t remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when I try to figure out why nothing got done today, I’m really baffled because, I know I was busy all day, and I’m really tired.  I realize this is a serious problem, and I’ll try to get some help for it, but first I’ll check my e-mail….

Well, as a warning –  if this isn’t you yet, don’t laugh now because your days are coming!  Is A.A.A.D.D for real?  If you can relate to the story.. maybe it does exist now.

Every Wedding Anniversary, my husband never fails to surprise me.  I am not really the materialistic type but I love receiving gifts.  For me, a sincere gift is a tangible expression of love and it always brings happiness and security to our relationship. I am very appreciative of whatever gift my husband can afford to give. There were great individual gifts that I have received from him as we sail through our marriage – some cheap, others expensive but definitely all treasured –be it a bouquet of flowers, a compilation of my favorite love songs, our picture together or a simple yet heartwarming card.  Gifts were abundant every wedding celebration we had.   His love language is in the form of giving gifts… how thoughtful he is!   I believe that he always put a lot of effort in finding nice presents for me…with such good taste and  generous heart, he loves to give precious gems and expensive watches.   Last year, I thought I have received the best gift ever; it was a pair of diamond earrings, but this year 2011 as we are going to celebrate our 25^th year anniversary, he enthusiastically announced that our celebration will be a romantic getaway in an exotic place- this time it will be an exciting Fiji holiday! You bet! My jaw almost dropped upon hearing it!   Yes, I also love to travel; it is something I love to do!  I have heard so much commendable remarks about the place from friends who just came back from their honeymoon in Fiji  in the South Pacific Island. They were raving on how fascinating and enchanting the place is!

Indeed, I am blessed!  When I reflect on those past years of our marriage, I wondered how we ever clicked together because we were two different individual.    I am proud that we have survived all the battles most couples have gone through in their married life.   And a lot prouder, that we have seemingly became a role model for our children to follow, for having reached a quarter of a century of being together.  So, I also considered being married and staying married for the longest time, my greatest achievements in life.

The silver anniversary is a very special moment to mark in our union together, so we chose to splurge in this holiday trip!  I can’t contain my excitement because soon, we will be able to experience the wonders of Fiji island ourselves.

What about my Anniversary gift to him?  Simple! It is  the Gift of love – unconditional and unfailing love!  Sweet, isn’t it?

I received a pair of red dumb bells last Christmas.   For a while I set it aside because I thought I  don’t need it and even wondered why my friend gave it to me!  However, after the long holidays, I am actually convinced now that there should be something to be done.  While I was clearing our bedroom, there’s this pair of  red dumb bell in the corner which caught my attention.  Was it a reminder that I need to start to get fit this 2011!  Actually, my husband kept reassuring me that I look alright but sometimes I have this suspicious feeling that he is just being nice.  I know that I gained some unwanted pounds judging from the fact that I can no longer button my favorite jeans.  It is already tight in the waist and unsightly bulges are noticeable.  Oh dear!  A lot of working out to do again!   This yo-yo weight syndrome is again driving me a little bit cranky!

Time to psyche myself, and that the red dumb bell will serve its purpose from this day forward.   I rummaged my cabinet for my fitness gear which I think has been in the hiding place for quite a time.   Oh no!  I hope that this is not just a burst of emotion.. wanting to get fit… then stop then start again.   It’s unhealthy!

May this pair of red dumb bell inspires  me!

For now, I won’t be saying too much about my plans… it will be a big surprise (again?)!

As the Nike slogan goes….JUST DO IT!

We are busy as bees in the office these days because one office mate Maureene called sick the other day.  It was an additional task to our already heavy work load, however we have no choice but to accept it with open arms.   She is on her first trimester of pregnancy, quite risky since it was found out that her uterus is retroverted.  Actually, after her OB Gyne consultation, she raised her concern to the Senior Admin staff of her condition that she needs to slow down ; so a meeting was called and it was agreed that some of her work will be divided amongst us.   The next day, she was rushed to the Emergency room for bleeding and all her paper work are totally upon our shoulders.. .sigh!

Last night, we visited her in the hospital where she is confined.  She looked  fine but she was advised to have complete bed rest to prevent the impending abortion.  I assured her that everything are taken cared of in the office.   I told her that it will be a wise move to file for a 1 month off from work aside from the one week sick leave given to her.  That way, she can recover fast and will be ready for action when she comes back to work.

We always heard about the joys of motherhood… and there is also the pain of motherhood… from conception to delivery … to raising kids…

I am glad that I was past the child bearing age and my children are all grown up.

Gold.. gold.. gold.

20 years ago, price of gold per gram was very affordable.  Gold shopping became a pastime of bored mothers and part of shopping budget of almost every woman who fancied buying gold pieces.  The popular pieces then were bangles of intricate designs and of solid built.  It seemed that almost all women that I know have a piece or the 7 days set of bangles because the husband can tolerate the extra indulgence since it was very cheap then.   But not anymore, the gold price has increased almost 300% higher. . The cost of everything has gone up and you can’t expect to pay the same price for your gold pieces as before.  The price shot up and really expensive, so nowadays, husbands have to take the wives to shopping somewhere but not in the gold market.

Selling gold can be a lucrative business if the customers are good!

Proliferation of selling gold on installment basis is a welcome alternative.  Meaning, the price of whatever gold you have chosen will be divided into 3 equal payments (or 3 months to pay).  This will be on a very easy payment terms.  However, this selling is based on trust; usually the jewelries are sold to friends and friends of close friends with good credit record.  The installment scheme worked for those who can’t afford to buy on cash basis.

Every business has its ups and downs.  Selling this way is sometimes referred to as  “TEARDROPS” because if one will run away with your goods, then your tears will surely fall nonstop out of desperation and frustration.

Well, there is risk in this kind of business.. be willing to take it.  I did!!!!!!!

One best way to start the New Year is to unclutter not only our homes, our lives but our finances as well!  As I was cleaning my drawers,   I chanced upon pictures of fashionable Leila, a former officemate who had gone into hiding because of her credit card debts.   In fact, she was known to be a credit card slave who holds 4 bank cards and has been recklessly using it to sustain her lavish lifestyle. The latest that I’ve heard from common friends is  that, even  her family is embroiled in this problem.  She is now living in fear as  she is being harassed by debt collectors calling her almost everyday asking her to pay off her debt.  She really needs credit card debt relief as her credits are neck deep with snowballing interest and she can’t even pay off the monthly minimum.

There have been a growing number of defaults and credit card arrears because people  spend on things way beyond their means.  One should know “wants from needs”.   Only if we will live simply, then  life will not be complicated.   The plastic card will be an asset to our  lifestyle but will become a liability if we don’t know how to budget and eventually lose control of spending.  Owning a credit card has it’s advantages and disadvantages and let it works to our advantage, not against us.

Only if I will have the chance to contact the elusive Leila, it will definitely be a debt free 2011 for her if  she  can avail of the services of debtfreedestiny.com highly recommended by a close friend who got out of debt because of the company’s help.  I am proud to say that 2011 had  started right for me because my credit card has been paid off with the handsome Christmas bonus I’ve received.  As a New Year resolution, I’ve decided to veer away from my yearly unkempt promise of losing weight, instead, I focused on my financial obligations.

So, let this be a Happy New Year to all of us!

Overindulgence !  … to food and drinks during the past Holiday season… It was the  season when most of those  who were on diet , threw their cares away and indulge in merry making, endless food and drinking.  And I was one  of them… actually I broke my “no rice diet” which I have painstainkingly withstood for more than 11 months and on the 12th month that is December, I started to care less.   Bad.. very bad me……

Who would not gain with generous servings of these food?

So I believe, now  that the New Year has started… I will start to go back to my diet because when I stepped on my new scale yesterday, I  was not at all  surprised if I am 1 kilo heavier.  I don’t have any misgivings because it was to my own doing and it such a waste of time of feeling sorry that I overindulged.    That is the result of depriving one’s body of food you love so much to eat and once you started to eat what you had avoided, you can’t help but get more than enough of servings.

For over 5 days now, I have started detoxification… Actually it is not the rigid detoxification my friend recommended.  I have started to psyche myself and I am now on the  initial phase of slowly cutting back of calories intake.  Initially, I am experimenting with drinking a glass of water mixed with  2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass every meal.  I am aware that there is no miracle diet really but it is better this way, at least I am doing something to arrest my cravings.  I am just hopeful and I wanted to belive that this might work for me.  Of course, self discipline, cutting back on calories plus exercise  are proven means to shed pounds.

So, after the gain… there should be pain…

Can anybody try to explain to us this seemingly strange phenomenom?  Although, this is something not to be taken seriously but somehow it made us think and wonder what actually happened.  The picture below was taken by my sister on New Year’s Eve during the countdown when people were all outside and firecrackers all lit and blown up.    As you will notice, the smoke that came out from the firecracker formed a figure.  But amazing (or scary), the figure looked more of my sister who took the picture!   So, that was the strange part…

Pictures taken during the New Year’s celebration was posted in a social networking site (Facebook) for us who are overseas will see how their celebration was but that particular picture caught our attention.   Many of us already made outrageous comments; some funny and silly comments so as to sugar coat the already building up scare regarding that picture especially on the part of my sister.  

We also can’t help believe in superstitions even if it is already the high techology age.   but only our faith in the Lord should rule our life.  However, somebody suggested to have the spot blessed or even jokingly suggested for my sister to avoid that particular area in the road where the firecracker blasted. 

An irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.

Not so clear in this post but even my sister herself was convinced that the figure was more like her.  

 

It is only the start of the year 2011 but it seemed Halloween came too early…  Strange indeed!