Just last night, I chanced upon a friend in a birthday party  and you bet the excitement grew more when we both recounted how was our lives during the past years of not hearing from each other. My friend Lilly enthusiastically  introduced her family and I had seen how timid and painfully shy her daughter was.   She was about my daughter’s age who  is the exact opposite of her… being straightforward, leader and love to be with people.    The girl was just sitting in one corner unmindful of the people around her.  She shyly reciprocated when I give her a hug and did not even looked at me.  You can see that she is avoiding people.

I can’t help but keenly observed her from afar… Beatrice (her name) is pretty, tall, with  physique of a developing woman with long silky hair that framed her pretty face.   But wait…her hair should not cover almost half of her left cheek…. When I asked Lilly, I found out that there is something hidden beneath those hair that causes Beatrice to feel inferior and afraid of being rejected.  Her left cheek was full of acne scars since the girl suffered severe case of acne when she was 16 years old.   The acne were successfully treated but the scars remained forever and that made her totally hated her  looks especially when people are around.

this is milder case of acne than what Beatrice has

According to Lilly, she and hubby are bent in working double time to save for her daughter treatment.   She heard that there are procedures available to lighten the scars and fillers of sorts to even up the deep scars on her face and she will exhaust all possible means to help her get out of her shell.

A mother’s heart goes for her daughter… she will do anything for Beatrice just so she will not forever live in a life full of insecurities and that she can face the world again.  And I assured her that I am also willing to help by asking around from friends and perhaps be able to get referrals for best dermatologists to alleviate the girl’s sufferings.

Getting a bit melancholic today because sometimes you can’t help but looked back and trace the life you had the years past.  Hubby and I only had each other when we started to weave dreams and build our family.   One by one, our children came to complete our union and we had 3  (2 boys and a girl).   Parenting is not that easy… from conception to toddler.. to adolescent years and presently 2 had gone past their teen-age years, and the youngest will soon be 19 years old.   Time flies so fast and now we can’t help shed tears as we recall wonderful moments with our children… good times, trying and difficult times  which made us stronger even more.

Now… in the end it will only be me and hubby once again… the children are living far from us as they pursue their university studies in the city.. the beauty of modern technology and social networking is commendable because there will be no excuses now not to keep in touch with families overseas.

I guess,  today… I am missing my children terribly today… sigh****

We went to the Eastern province on a mission trip…. me and hubby had to avail of promo fares and luckily despite the hassles of getting a booking, we were able to get 2 tickets.

OMG, it was my first time to board a 2 seater aircraft and I was whispering to hubby that the plane might be blown away by a strong wind.  Well, now that I had experienced the promo ride, then I have something to share with friends… that no food or drinks served and if you ordered, it will be for a fee.  So better fill up your tummy before boarding the aircraft and in case hunger pang strikes, just sleep during the flight…lol.

Still I enjoyed the ride…. and was sure glad to landed safe to our destination…

Our photography class wrapped up 2 weeks ago but we never stopped shooting and aiming for  picture perfect shots with elements of photography used on the subject.   We’ve learned the basics and hopefully if an advance class will be offered, we will surely grab the opportunity to be part of the Circulo In light workshop once again.

Taking pictures is only one welcome hobby but we have realized that if you will really put your hearts and minds into it you will be amazed on how exciting and fulfilling photography is.  And that is why, hubby is really bent to make good on it.   He never leaves home without his gadget and always ready to shoot an interesting subject of interest.   During our closing ceremony, even though he was a novice in the field, it made him proud that he was included among the top 10 photo entries.  (sigh..I was not among them… ).

Posting here the top 3 pictures and the entry of hubby.

Arches by Angel Tugado

Red flower by Bobby Ikram

drop by Michelle Bollough

Honorable mention (among the top 10) – by hubby

And not to mention... my entry…  lol!

I am not losing hope… achieving the best picture is only within arms reach… just keep shooting and believing… Never surrender!

Missed blogging for some days!  A colleague was away for 5 weeks holidays and who else would be the best coverage for her work but me.   We called the arrangement “back to back”.. all administrative works are passed on and these would mean handling the whole section during her absence and vice versa.

Really I don’t mind but sometimes there were days that most physicians are “toxic” (irritable and unreasonable) who would demand unnecessary requests.   Currently, I am handling 3 sections, CSICU (Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit), Perfusion Section and Pediatric Cardiology Section (which was endorsed to me).   Aside from that, I am dealing with the Recontracting of all staff  and Physician’s Clinical Privileges, Overtime and Calltime entry, Payroll of  Cardiovascular department .  Whewww…. such heavy load!

I am looking forward to my summer vacation next month.   Now it’s pay back time.. back to back…

Now, I’ve decided to let go of our old carpet in the next room and planned to have it replaced with vinyl flooring.   Sometime last week, I contemplated to give the rooms fresh new look and yesterday,  we started in our master’s bedroom.  New pastel colored curtains were installed and it was a welcome sight!  Today, my mind is dictating me to call hubby and suggested him to have the carpet replaced with vinyl.   Stubborn dirt and stains make our carpet dull and looked worn out and for some reasons, dry clean can no longer do the trick.

It is  good that hubby got a bonus last month and there were some money left after he bought his D90 camera.  He consented on my proposal to let go of the carpet.

Yehey….

My friend sent this poem to me years back and I thought of also sharing this to all my blogger friends who too like me enjoy being a Mom… Happy Mother’s Day to All!

A Mother’s love

A Mother’s love is something

that no one can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away…
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking…
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems…
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation…
A many splendour-ed miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God’s tender guiding hand.

As my assignment, I submitted photo of a bowl of fresh fruits taken using my point and shoot camera only.   And  before our workshop ends, all photos we sent our to our trainers were reviewed while being flashed on the projector screen.   All photos were  subjected to constructive criticisms and we were able to see what was lacking and needs improvement.   Well, it somehow became a gauge on how far is our understanding of our lessons and how we had incorporated it on our photoshoots.

title of my project:  ahhhh.. fresh…

I was the lone soul who used point & shoot.  Actually, it was by choice since hubby was busy practicing with his DSLR camera and I wanted him to be good at that.   Anyways, I believed I did a good shot here.

What do you think?

T’was a tiring day!  We just came from our second and final week of our Photography Workshop.  We had photoshoots in between lectures and the usual 5 hours duration of the workshop was extended for another 2 hours because our trainers reviewed our assignments and made constructive criticisms on our work  as it was flashed one by one on screen and then because we successfully completed the training, certificates were handed to us (with matching graduation march on the background…lol)  And to wrap up the event, numerous group pictures  were taken for posterity.

I will be posting pics soon… in the meantime, I have to catch up much needed zzzzzzzzzzzz’s….

Good night!

Last week, hubby and I attended a Photography Workshop in a British compound.  I felt it is my duty as his wife to support his interest so when I’ve heard from a friend about the workshop, I asked her to include hubby’s name.  So, it came as a surprise to him because all along he thought that I opposed his new hobby.  Well, I would like him to learn the fundamental knowledge of photography so that his DSLR will not go to waste.  If he will not learn the fundamentals, he won’t be able to take good photographs of me…lol… Or he will be forever doing trial and error shots.  That’s tiring and frustrating….

Photography Workshop

I also decided to join even though I only have a point and shoot camera.  At the start of the session, our trainers asked who among us brought cameras and all of them took out from their bags their new and state of the art cameras while I sheepishly showed my point and shoot camera.  Yes, it was only me who have the courage to use a P&S while others have DSLR’s of different brands and models.  Surprisingly, we were briefed that “better camera does NOT necessarily mean you become a better photographer”.  Yes, that boosted my spirit!   We’ve learned too that good photos are not based on new and sophisticated cameras but it is determined by one’s talent and knowledge in using the tools for photography.   Yes!  That was strike two…for I know that with my kinda creative mind and limitless imagination, even if I will be using my P&S, I can come up with better photographs.

high end cameras that made my point & shoot inferior in quality

Whew… as the workshop lessons deepened…I was somewhat  confused with numbers and metering… too technical but I tried my best to listen and drill it into my mind.   The terms Aperture, Depth of Field, Speed of Lens and Shutter Speed plus ISO , I should try to learn by heart.  For a beginner, it was too alien sounding terms for me…. but I know that I will soon learn about it… gradually but surely.

lessons about Elements of Exposure

Husband who was besides me asked if I understood and I shook my head… anyways… last night I did my review of the manual and took multiple shots adjusting the shutter, controlling Depth of Field …(yes! I am learning!!!).  I was satisfied with couple of photos and submitted it to our trainer through email because tomorrow, they will decide on which of those photos submitted passed their standards.   I am not expecting anything..  I still have a lot of things to learn.

it was a long day but worth it…

Tomorrow will be our photoshoot with a model…  excited me but nervous too!  It will now be a hands- on workshop…

Oh well….