hopping happily, happily hoping

The other day I spent time watching a grasshopper while waiting for the sun to rise. Yes I did, yes I sat there, and disturbed its happy resting on those yellow-orange petals.

The Melody of Friendship

     I could personally attest that the happy look captured on our faces is a reflection of how the person holding the camera is dear to our heart. It is like hearing music and dancing along when friends gather and play classical guitars from musicians friend and talk about days gone by, the struggles of the past, the dreams fulfilled as well as tales of love from long ago. I had a blast hanging out with a friend from way back medschool at a hotel during a seminar. We laughed so hard, ate a lot until the wee hours at night. 

Loved Her Too....

     An eagle flew across the sky. It crossed the moonlight and other thousand wings scattered across the clouds as the sound of thunder waned. She rested her head on his shoulders. He held her hands in his. An orchestra began to play. Their hearts drummed. She couldn't help but let the tears roll down her cheeks. He felt her chest heave. He stared into her eyes, tried to in the dark relying on the flickering lights from the theater screen. She turned her head deep into his arms and he curled them perfectly allowing her face to rest on his chest and then she bursts into laughter, slowly getting the crowds' attention that they both had to quickly flee the cinema.

  She tiptoed her way out of the aisles while he struggled to pick up their bags and slippers on the floor. It was one of those emotional outbursts she could not control and he knew it would bring them both to shame had they not left in haste. It wasn't that which he tried to avoid though, it was the pain of seeing her sad when people looked at her with that familiar inquisitive stare. She was that kind of girl people would call special. She would spend hours just watching the sky or painting lines that never form into anything magical much less discernible. Yet he loved her, knew her from way way too long ago and adored her every frown, every smile  every breath. As they walked on he suddenly realized he forgot something in the movie house so he motioned for her to wait and she answered with a nod and a smile. He ran, used every energy in his system to get back to her side as fast as he could when he fortunately found his wallet still on their vacated seats.

     He scanned every corner, every line, every face where he left her but couldn't find her. He began to panic. This has never happened before. He did not know exactly what to do. In desperation he headed for the exit and dismissed every voice he heard only wanting to perceive one face, her face. There was a loud thud. Glasses shattered and tires screeched. After awhile everything was a haze. He opened his eyes, two pair of eyes locked with his and for the first time they seem to have recognized him for what he truly was. The lips paired with the eyes began to move and spoke his name. For many years she did not speak, could not speak because of a traumatic event that left her frozen in time. Yet she began to utter his name and after his name said the words...I...looovee.. you....His eyes welled up with tears but his eyelids seemed too heavy to be kept open and he closed them, in his last moments of consciousness he could hear her repeating those three words and he kept wishing he could turn back the hands of time....so he could tell her he loved her too....tell her he has always loved her too....

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

from my humble world...to yours...

Love someone? say it before it is too late....

✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿ ✿

The Bright Side of Life

     Do you ever find yourself lonesome for no reason at all? Do you have days when no matter how great you want to feel there's still something that feels ain't right?   You find yourself wishing you could go out with your superfriends for a celebration, spread a  spandex table cloth here and then have all the time in the world to play like kids all over again....

   

     Well, in my life I am blessed to have so many awesome set of friends I could turn to when my world becomes too stressful and I need a dose of laughter. My nurse instructors family will always be one of those group of people who could make me laugh like there is no tomorrow and celebrate life's simple pleasures.

     Meet my Lorma wacky family tree....

Double Bass, Music and Friendship

Double Bass photo from Wikipedia


At times confused with acoustic bass guitar, double bass otherwise known as bass violin is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the violin family. It is played with a bow or plucking strings. The bassists either stands or sits when playing the instrument leaning it against his body to better reach the strings.  Music lovers all over the world would terribly enjoy listening to a symphony orchestra where a combination of musical instruments merge in a masterpiece that soothes the soul.

Battered Woman Syndrome: How To Recognize The Signs

        Love is the most powerful of emotions. It could either make you or break you. Women tend to be easily swept off their feet when a man proposes with promises of heaven and Earth and everything else in between. We are genetically predisposed to respond to men's luring. As women we have to learn to protect ourselves from being stuck in disastrous relationships and end up being beaten by the man we thought would love us for all eternity. Thank God not all men are bad and there are many out there who truly know how to take care of a woman.

photo link 

What is Battered Woman Syndrome or Battered Wife Syndrome?     

The Art of Preserving Memories

A photograph is a moment in time, a fraction of a second that will never be replaced in our lives. When we are feeling unwell, friends would jokingly say "hey, take lots of photos of yourself so we will have something to remember you by," I must admit I am one of those people who are fond of taking photos of themselves. There is something therapeutic about seeing our own smile, that sparkle in our eyes that tell us how much we matter. Lately I have been searching for online local printer  because I have been meaning to have a business card for my writing and photography side-line and to have some of my works printed. Sometimes I can't believe how hooked I have become to sharing my thoughts and and the art of preserving memories, photography that is. I love looking for photo subjects who could stand-out and show to the world how beautiful it is to be simply alive.

Meet Ariana Luz Garcia, the obedient, sweet daughter of a nurse-friend. I just love her innocent be-dimpled smile. The following photos were not 

captured by me though but borrowed from her social networking profile. 

 

What makes a photo perfect? It is not just the beauty of the subject but the emotions conveyed in each memorable shot. 

a Walk Through The Past

   
     The following shots were taken at the Heritage Village in Vigan, Ilocos Sur sometime in May two years ago.
   

     As I walked pass the antique shops, found old rocking chairs, native bags,  wooden furniture and old wooden cases of cigars  I felt a certain longing to connect with the past; to somehow be there and talk to my ancestors. How was it like during their time? To spend the night without electricity and to relay messages without the use of phones and the internet. Would I have wanted to live in such an era?

The Best Snack: Toothy Fruity

       
     I must admit I am such a foodie! I love eating and I have such a sweet-tooth! Candies, chocolates in all shapes and color entices my brain. However, getting a bit older and having my share of sleepless nights suffering from toothaches, dizziness and feeling sluggish because of too much sugar I have slowly overcome my craving for the bad sources of energy.  So these days instead on snacking on chips and chocolates and cake I indulge in the vivid colors of health!

Why Wake Up Early?

Sunrise photo by my cousin Rio Martinez

     I must admit I used to be one of those women who would curl up in bed on my work-free days even after the alarm clock has rung. I'd grab my blanket and hug my pillow closer, shut my eyes tight and force my mind back to dreamland. All that changed when I became a photo enthusiast which eventually turned me into some kind of a health buff. The magic word has been "health," because while we could list a hundred and one excuses for eating more than what our body needs and refusing to pull our lazy butts out of bed early it is a fact that such a habit is detrimental to our well-being. 

    So for the past weeks I have been merrily heeding the call of my soul for bonding with nature at the best time of the day which is early morning. Jogging towards the seashore is an ultimate stress-buster for me and my family.

Beating The Summer Heat at Morning Seven Resort Hotel

   

     Summer is almost over! Today it is raining again, a sign that soon vacation will be over for the kiddos. In the coming months they will be so busy working on school stuff and us moms will have our hands full shuffling household chores and career. For those of you looking for a place to spend the last days of summer in La Union, you might want to visit MORNING SEVEN RESORT HOTEL in Luna.

     My family and I spent one Saturday at the said resort swimming, eating and just enjoying the breeze and life's precious lazy moments courtesy of one of my generous, handsome uncles "wink."

Missing Home Sweet Home Philippines? Here is A Virtual Tour Back Home

     I grew up walking along rice paddies, hearing birds chirping and playing with mud, dragonflies, flowers, climbing guava trees and listening to folk songs and humming them too.

Sampaguita

My late grandpa loved to sing! Oh how he loved to sing those "Ilocano" songs of his time. We'd be pulling peanuts in the field and he'd go "Dungdungwenkanto, unay uunay" (I will love you oh so much) and my grandma would chuckle and beg him to stop. The rest of us would be merrily laughing at them while continuing with our task. I must admit at times I actually loathed going to the farm to help out with farm chores because as a child all I wanted was to play! Back then there were no computers, no cellular phones, just nature and the beauty of it all was getting the benefit of exposure to good sunshine and fresh air! Had there been these kind of technology back then I am most certain my dear grandpa who loved to sing and tell stories would have posted a video of him in youtube or perhaps a gardening and even a cigar blog ; he lived to be around eighty years of age and I wonder whether I will have the chance to reach that age too. 

Philippines, Whereto?

It's done. The people have spoken through their votes. As a Filipino, how do you feel? Have you done your part? Was it enough? Do we keep blaming each other or shall we start working and supporting the leaders the majority chose?

Ours is a nation that could find its way to progress if and only if we all do our part. Ours is a beautiful country and no matter what, I will always be one of those who believe that one day, we will find a pot of gold beneath the rainbow.

   

 That treasure is called "unity,"- the challenge is set upon each of us to work hand-in-hand. The bad news is with the way things are going, we may have a long shot to go before the nations' problems are solved. The good news is, we each can be a part of the solution.

we are blessed with such a beautiful home under the sky and may we not let everything our ancestors worked for go to waste....

rise up my countrymen and let us show the world....

that we are a nation....

..not just of hopes and dreams but action, integrity and compassion...

from my humble world to yours....

`a sequel to my post- MAKING OUR VOTES COUNT '

Chasing Blue

     A visit to Baguio made me see "blue," my favorite color flapping its wings against yellow and green. Yep I  bet you could imagine my grin and how silly I looked CHASING BLUE...and being victorious!
   
     The shots are dedicated to a butterfly loving friend sweet sis Jhen! :)

Coins and Childhood Dreams

     

     

     

     I come from a simple family and as a child I have been taught by my mom to save. I remember going to school and paying for our ride using coins wrapped in white paper. Not a penny was wasted at home. We would gather our coins in our piggy bank and get all excited when the piggy got heavy. That would mean we would be entitled to buy a little something to reward us for saving. Mom and dad opened a kiddie account for us in the bank and I loved looking at the kiddie passbook with rainbow design. Saving and budgeting are skills that my mom has mastered through the years. 

     Whenever I see coins I remember what she told me a long time ago, "Do your best in your studies because it is the only wealth we could pass on to you." True enough because of mom and dad's hard-work I was able to graduate and become the healer that I am today. Thinking of days gone by and the history that each coin holds makes me want to collect the coins from my childhood years. Browsing www.goldeneaglecoin.com/ and seeing collectible coins and a wide range of numismatic products like gold and silver bullion makes me remember the three things needed when one aims to reach one's dreams- PERSEVERANCE, PATIENCE AND PRAYER. 

 ~special thanks to my little friend ROEN~

     

Making Our Votes Count! Every Mom's Responsibility...

       Election Day is drawing near. I am perturbed, always has been about the future of this country. Yet here I am, thirty-seven years of age and still residing in the Philippines...hoping, praying that one day this nation will find its way to real progress and doing my part to the best of my ability.

     The right to suffrage is not a thing that I take lightly. While I have to agree sometimes politics in this country could be too frustrating and tiring even to say the least, we can not just turn our backs and not do our part because whether we like it or not the future of our children and our children's children depends on it. 

indelible ink from election 2010

     Browsing the web today and landing on a page in yahoo I stumbled upon an article there written about the Senatorial candidates. I found myself thinking, hey I should delve into this and share the thoughts to the rest of my voting friends and family. So here are my researched notes from across the web about our servants wanna be. The task of typing and copy pasting all these information seems kind of arduous yet I am willing to spend time if only to make the RIGHT CHOICE by making myself informed for the love of country and family. Read on and help me make up my mind and other mommies out there by leaving your comments and insights. I would appreciate them so much. Let us help each other make this country the best place for our children.

Note: The data presented here were lifted from sources as stated and linked to and are not the original idea of The Letters In November. The Letters In November is not endorsing any of the candidates but merely re-posting general knowledge about the candidates as searched via Google.
As you may notice the data is incomplete as there are so many things to note if one wants to fully get to know these candidates and I leave the task of searching for more information to you and would highly appreciate addendum as well as corrections if any...your input in the comment box will be of great help to everyone for the sake of us making the RIGHT CHOICE. 

Hiring Ski Equipment: Advantages & Disadvantages

The question of whether to hire your ski equipment will undoubtedly be a question that races around your mind every time you head for the mountains. While beginners would probably be checking out the ski hire facilities (after all, it’s not guaranteed they’ll like the activity, so it would be pointless investing money in the kit just yet!), those who have become accustomed to ski holidays may be considering buying their own.

While having your own gear must be an advantage, with skis customised to suit your personal fit, hiring them will always be the most convenient option – especially if you don’t get the chance to head for the slopes as often as you’d like.

Before deciding whether you’re going to hire or buy for your next trip, check out some of the pros and cons of hiring the ski equipment, to try and help you make your mind up.

Advantages

• You don’t need to worry about having to lug them around airports and coughing up for excess baggage charges.
• Maintenance isn’t a problem because the professionals do this for you.
• New equipment is usually available, meaning you can try out newer models without having to invest in new kit
• You can often interchange between skis and snowboards, giving you the chance to try it all!

Disadvantages

• Some ski shops will pick up on the fact you’re a beginner and will give you lower quality equipment, because chances are, you won’t know any different.
• Long queues can be tiresome, especially during the peak times.
• You will have to get used to different equipment every time you travel, which can be a little unsettling if you’re a beginner.

Make your decision to suit your personal preference and you will be able to take to the piste in no time, whether it’s on your own skis or using hired ones, the thrills you will experience will be the same.

If you choose to hire your equipment, keep an eye out for the excellent deals offered by holiday providers, such as Neilson. You can often find BOGOF deals in many of the popular resorts that will save you cash and be kinder to your purse. Take a look at the available offers, today.

Educational Trip to the North: 1st Stop, Pagudpud Beach

Sometime In November last year our kiddo Roel's class had an educational trip to the Northern part of the country. The hubby and I took a break from work and joined our kiddos. We had a blast sight-seeing and just enjoying each other's company. Join us as we re-discovered the beauty of Northern Philippines. 

Our first stop was PAGUDPUD BEACH....we woke up to this invigorating view of the beach...

...the light-brown colored sand and the clear water was so inviting for a swim and a boat ride!