These Days

I have been on an involuntary hiatus from blogging because the laptop charger decided to quit last week.  The laptop has less than 3 minutes of battery life when unplugged so I have not used it for a while.  I have withdrawal issues from not having access to my pictures and since this is blog is really a photo album, the whole enterprise has to be put on hold for the meantime. Then yesterday, I discovered something.  The Dell laptop at home can run on the HP charger.  It does not charge the battery (always at 0%), but it keeps it alive.=)  I'm back!  I will catch up on posts this weekend. Happpy Friday!

Love Never Fails Love is not proud  Love does not boast Love after all  Matters the most  Love does not run Love does not hide Love does not keep Locked inside  Love is the river that flows through Love never fails you Love will sustain Love will provide Love will not cease At the end of time  Love will protect Love always hopes Love still believes When you don't  Love is the arms that are holding you Love never fails you When my heart won't make a sound When I can't turn back around When the sky is falling down Nothing is greater than this  Greater than this Love is right here Love is alive Love is the way The truth the life Love is the river than flows through Love is the arms that are holding you Love is the place you will fly to Love never fails you

I don't like going through physical exams.  I don't like being poked, changing into hospital gowns, doing awkward positions and people checking this and that part of my body.  PEs also take time and entail special preparations.  However, I also think they are necessary and that is why I set aside my August 3 to do it.  I was so relieved and happy I'm done with it for this year (skipped the year before). My previous PEs were at the Makati Medical Center because it was close to the house.  I tried St. Luke's BGC this time.  I had several back and forth emails with the HMO coordinator on the schedule because the dates I chose were all fully booked.  I gave them a couple of dates that were further out and I was finally set for August 3.  I received detailed instructions, including 10-14 hours of total fasting and laxatives at 8PM day before.  I also read the procedures and researched the unfamiliar ones, like fibersigmoidoscopy.  I had to...

Our family had lunch at Sunshine Kitchen yesterday.  I first heard about this place from Patty Laurel's blog and I made a mental note to check it out in the future.  Then sometime in May they had a 50% off Groupon deal, which was just perfect.  I was soooo glad I checked the expiration date of my vouchers last Friday because this one almost expired (August 6). We were there at 11AM and most, if not all, of the tables already reserved.  Make sure you call for reservations before coming here.  The place is quite small and getting popular so you might get turned away, like some customers last Sunday. Our voucher was good for 6 people but there were only 4 of us, including yaya and Neil, who don't eat much.  Naturally, most of the food became dinner fare at home. Appetizer was shrimp + squid + pesto.  Forgot the official name. Southern style fried chicken, primarily for Neil because his favorite is anything "rice and chicken." Famous 6...

Here are some (previously) unblogged gatherings from July. The work team, finally complete after several months.  We celebrated by having buffet dinner at Holiday Inn & Suites on July 19 . ********** My good friend Anne and her family, currently based in Taiwan, were in town for a few days.  We had dinner at Crisostomo in Resorts World on July 27 .  Saw Baby Avery for the first time.  Jetsetter na at 3 months old.=)  We were sadly not able to take Neil to this gathering because he had cough and colds, not good for the other babies present.

I have exercised 2x per week consistently in the last 4 weeks.  Yey!!! =) This is the longest time that I've stuck to a regular exercise schedule.  I intended to do this so many times in the past but was unable to persist for longer than a week.  The difference this time? I got myself an accountability partner. Four weeks ago, I asked Nang Lani* to check on me every Monday and Wednesday and ask if I exercised.  That has really helped.  I know I would feel really bad (like failing at something) if I reported a 'No' and so I forced myself to move.  Some occasions were easier than others with regards to motivation but all days have ended with rewards of sweat and good energy.  I see the light now.  I believe it's really possible for me to stick to an exercise schedule.  Also, scheduling actual days to do it has helped.  Setting aside Monday and Wednesday is better than planning for 2x per week.  If the days are movable, it also bec...

Photo-a-day project for July following the prompts from Fat Mum Slim .  Please see Part 1 here .  My final count for July is 27/31. July 31. Workspace . At home. July 30. Friendship . I had no idea yet what to take a picture of for this day but then I saw this posted in Neil's classroom.  Perfect! July 29. Perspective. July 28. This is new. July 27. Black + White July 26. The everyday July 25. Ground July 24. D is for... dreamland July 21. Fave food .  Two versions. July 19. Building . Salcedo Park July 18 . Number . Found this coin on the ground. July 17. Inspirational . Currently reading. July 16. Bottle .  Wine and leftover cake from Neil's birthday.