These Days

Book #9 for 2014 My quick notes : Entertaining, this book transports you to New York in the 1900s. Dominant themes are cruelty and love, search for identity, forgiveness and family.  I recommend this book. :) From Goodreads : Mesmerizing and illuminating, Alice Hoffman's The Museum of Extraordinary Things is the story of an electric and impassioned love between two vastly different souls in New York during the volatile first decades of the twentieth century. Coralie Sardie is the daughter of the sinister impresario behind The Museum of Extraordinary Things, a Coney Island boardwalk freak show that thrills the masses. An exceptional swimmer, Coralie appears as the Mermaid in her father's museum, alongside performers like the Wolfman, the Butterfly Girl, and a one-hundred-year-old turtle.  One night Coralie stumbles upon a striking young man taking pictures of moonlit trees in the woods off the Hudson River. The dashing photographer is Eddie Cohen, a Russian imm

Congratulations, Neil!!! Last Wednesday was special because it was Neil's graduation day.  Nakapagpatapos na kami! Ng kinder.=) He attended this school for 2.5 years and some of these kids have been his classmates that whole time.  We thank God that we were guided to choose this school for Neil.  It has been great for him, and us, too. Now it's time to move on to the next phase.  But before that, here are some pictures from his graduation day. Graduation Song Received his diploma Special Number - Walk to Tibet Love!

We got the communication from Neil's school stating that they have to be in formal wear for Monday's music recital.  So we got him new long-sleeves and pants during the weekend.  I was not sure if his class was performing or just watching, but I mostly assumed the latter because we did not enroll him in music classes.  I called the school on Monday to confirm and to my surprise, they were performing!  I had 30 minutes to prepare but I made it.  Whew!  I would be so sad if I missed it. First up, the boys before going to school/work. This would be in my list of favorite father-and-son photos. I'll Do My Best A Heart to Change the World This Little Light of Mine Such a great group of kids. Some of them have been his classmates for almost 3 years.  This would be their last year in this school and they will soon part ways for elementary. Hahay... After the program With Teacher Renzy and Teacher Kurt

Catch-up post about the dinner we had at Mesa over 2 weeks ago.=) I may have mentioned it before but one of my goals this year (which includes the family whether they like it or not!) is to eat at new places.  If we're eating out anyway, might as well try the new ones, right?;)  That's what I believe but Rich tends to choose tried-and-tested places.  Our compromise is vouchers!  New place, low risk. Win-win. This was a set meal at Mesa which was good because there's no need to think about what to order.  We were served 7 different food items (as below, sinigang na hipon not in picture) and everything was good! Sulit.=) Scallops Laing Crispy Pata Okra, my favorite Mango atchara. So good! We actually thought the meal was over and were getting ready to leave but then dessert was served.=)

We enjoyed our first time at Sunshine Kitchen last year  so when Dealgrocer posted a deal for Brunch and Bellinis, I got 2!=)  And as usual, we had to be reminded that the deals were almost expiring before we used them last Saturday.  We went straight to BGC after Neil's Enopi class. We got there a little after 11AM and only 2 other tables were occupied.  Eventually it was a full room, expiring vouchers most probably. =) The deal was: Choose 2: Portobello Mushroom Melt, Southern Style Crabcake Benedict or Breakfast Pizza (Bacon and Egg). Choose 2: Huevos Rancheros, Truffle Mushroom 2 Egg Omelette or Peach French Toast with Chocolate Caramel Sauce and Creme Anglais. Unlimited bellinis, mimosa and champagne Southern Style Crabcake Benedict Breakfast Pizza (Bacon and Egg) Truffle Mushroom 2 Egg Omelette Peach French Toast with Chocolate Caramel Sauce and Creme Anglais All I can say is, egg overdose!  We liked everything.=) We ordered extra rice for Ne

Richard and I watched Wicked at the CCP last Sunday, also with Charm and Eli.  This run was announced last year and was highly anticipated by many.  I love watching plays and wanted to see this one but it was more expensive that what we were used to paying.  Siyempre, compared to locally-produced plays.  I am usually more eager about these things than Rich so I was resigned to not watching it.  I came home from work a few weeks back and Rich said he had the seats and dates figured out.  So we got tickets and watched the show on the last day, March 9.=) We were seated on the left side, lower box, which was close enough to the stage to see the actors' facial expressions.  The actors had amazing voices!  I have heard the songs sung by the original Broadway cast and this was even better because I was watching it live as well. Thank you, Rich! Great seats! Charm and Eli Bumped into Aggy! We prepared to watch Wicked by buying the album on iTunes and a DVD

The current series at church is called ''When Questions are Answers."  It's about some of the questions that were asked by Jesus, one of which is "Who do you say I am?" to the disciples.  The verse for this preaching is from the book of Matthew 16:13-17. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. People had many different ideas about who Jesus was during the time of his ministry.  He asked his disciples what the word on the street was on his identity, but then turned the question to his disciples, the group he s

It's International Women's Day.  A day to honor and recognize women in all parts of the world, especially those who's lives have intersected with mine in big and small ways.  The timing is apt for blogging about Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg, which I finished a few days ago. First of all, I did not know who Sandberg was before this book was released and became popular early last year.  She's the current COO of Facebook and former VP at Google.  Lean In is subtitled 'Women, Work and the Will to Lead." Sandberg gave a TED talk on " Why there are too few women leaders " in 2010 which then evolved to this book.  As a successful executive at the world's top 2 tech companies, she saw firsthand how the number of female peers declined and eventually became zero as her career advanced.  She observed the same pattern in other companies and industries as well.  Women make up half the population, half the graduates but why do leaders eventually end up mostly