American AARRRGH!!!

What the....?

Anwar Robinson was booted out of the running for American Idol and I'm upset. What is wrong with these people sending in their votes? My golly, have they not been really watching? OR LISTENING??? This is a singing contest, for heaven sakes, not a beauty contest! Why didn't they get rid of Anthony Federov who i personally feel is excruciating to watch or listen to (sorry to fans of Anthony out there)? I cannot ever forgive his "fast ballad" version of the Sound of Music's "Climb Every Mountain" (moan.....groan....). And since then, every other song that came out of his mouth was just plain agony to hear. I feel bad about Anwar's leaving. Although he may not have made the greatest choices for songs, he has never ever been criticized as being an awful singer and performer. He has at least 3 and 1/2 years of training as a tenor in classical technique! And he's just such a nice guy......sniff* (ok, getting carried away...hehe).

Well, i am now rooting for the underdog Scott. Not that i actually expect he will win the contest (i am still in my right senses, don't worry). But i just feel this wave of joy everytime i watch him hurdle each judgment night and continue to join the ranks of Bo Bice and Constantine (who i swear have sold their souls to the devil with the tremendous following they have) despite, well, the obvious.

I am quite happy with the remaining 5 choices, and i genuinely feel that making that decision to choose who deserves to stay on till "the" day will be difficult. And Anthony had better not be one of them. Really.

So, who's your money on to be the next AI?:)

Where It All Began

"When I am gone, release me, let me go...

I have so many things to see and do.

You musn't tie yourself to me with tears

Be happy that we had so many years.

I gave you my love. You can only guess

How much you gave to me in happiness,

I thank you for the love you each have shown

But now it's time to travel alone.

So grieve awhile for me, if grieve you must,

Then let your grief be comforted by trust...

It's only for a while that we must part,

So bless the memores within your hearts.

I won't be far away, for life goes on...

So if you need me, call and I will come,

Though you can't see me or touch me, I'll be near...

And if you listen with your heart you'll hear

All my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you must come this way alone,

I'll greet you with a smile. And welcome Home."

- From the literary collection of Charles McCann

___________________________________________________________

i woke up this morning with an ache in my heart. it was a familiar ache. but i couldn't quite figure what was causing it. i hadn't woken up from a bad dream. i wasn't particularly sad over any recent event. i was just, well... sad.

i met up with an architect during the day to discuss changes i needed to make in my office. after going over details on wood finishes, suspended shelvings and glass partitions, i felt the ache again. then i realized why. i missed my papa. a lot. and i felt the familiar tinge of sadness come creeping back as i remembered how it would have been great if he were to work with me on my office project.

he was an architect in his previous life here on earth. i used to remember climbing up the dinner table and watching him bent over the rolls of floor plans and sketches he was due to present the next day. i loved tinkering with his colorful pens, interestingly shaped stencils and rulers and i particularly enjoyed watching him sharpen every Staedtler 2H pencil to a steely point with just a knife! he taught me so much about art and love for reading in all those moments i spent with him. i learned all the basics that i needed to know about technical drawing and color combinations -- much of which i make good use of in my profession today.

my papa was, to me, an extraordinary man who gave so much more to me in my life than i may have given back. Charles Alexander Joseph McCann was a wonderful grandfather whose tenderness, brilliance and quirkiness i will always remember fondly -- the mornings he would wake up at 4 o'clock just to prepare my bath and breakfast before i left for school, the days he would spend hours and hours clipping comic strips of the Peanuts Gang, Nancy, Henry and Ripley's trivia from the newspapers just to paste them up in little notebooks so i could read them again and again when i grew older, the lunch hours where he would save me from being punished by my grandma for not eating my veggies by shoving them in his pockets and pretended i had eaten them all, the afternoons i would watch him walk home from the corner of our street carrying his brown attaché case from a day of work in his office, and the crazy graffitis he would leave on the backrests of bus seats just to let people know he sat there. all these make up what i know of my papa. and a lot of these are what make up who i am now. it was from him that my love for drawing and the arts began. i bet he would have been proud to see how far i've come.

i miss my papa. and i look forward to seeing him again soon.

to meet once more the man from whom it all began.

to all who knew my papa, this is for you too.

Woman of Grace

Just got back from a weekend retreat that focused specifically on living the life of a Christian woman solely by God's grace alone. It was a very empowering encounter with the Lord, and I must admit that I was guilty at first for dreading being at the retreat the moment i set foot on the floors of the retreat house. I already knew for a fact that I was going to go through with it alone, without the comfort of knowing that my sisters in Ligaya would be there to experience it with me. And for those who know me well, to be around total strangers for a whole 2 days and to sleep in a place far from my husband and my son, was extreme torture. I hated being alone. I hated having to make small talk with people who I know I must speak to eventually (it's a retreat -- so in the course of 2 days i would have to pour out my heart and woes to them at some point...). I dreaded the thought of sharing a room with an unknown woman whom i wasn't even sure i would get along with. In short, i had thoughts of making an escape by coming up with some lame excuse that my son missed me and could not bear being away from me for more than day (which was far from true because he hardly even noticed my absence... sigh*) But God's grace was with me from the onset. I made the decision to receive this grace, and with a deep breath, i said yes to the invitation and went through with the retreat.

And i'm glad i did.

I discovered so many things about me that i never did quite figure out before. It really helped that it was a retreat that centered on the frustrations, fears, needs and aspirations of a woman. Somehow i felt that being in the presence of other Venusians helped me confirm some of the doubts and uncertainties i've had on past decisions and nagging feelings i've been having had i discussed them with my Martian partner. As each hour passed, i felt more secure, refreshed and strengthened by the knowledge of God's constant presence in my life. Something that i know for a fact (of course) has always been there, but time and again forget when the going gets tough and i start to rely on my own strength instead of receiving His grace.

It was by obedience alone that i decided to stay at the retreat, and God has rewarded that act by gifting me with new insights, new directions, new friendships, and a renewed faith in Him who directs my steps. Having to accept His grace to face life's challenges may seem like an easy task at this moment (believe me, I am at a difficult fork in my life and His grace is all i have right now), but the real challenge lies on whether I can actually remain consistent in my promise to live out the life of a woman of grace.

By his grace once more, I am hoping to fight my battles with confidence and a winning heart.

I pray for God's grace to also be with all of you who are facing difficult situations at this very moment.

Pray for me too...:)

Don't Have A Cow, Man!

My love for the black-spotted farm milkmaid dates back to highschool at the height of the pig fad, when toys from OINK, the pink pig-dominated gift shop, were found sitting on every girl's bedspread. It was an "in" thing to own at least one OINK plush toy or pig printed accessory (at least where i came from!), that everywhere i turned there was a young girl toting a pink piggy! It absolutely drove me nuts! (No offense to those who still have and love their pigs...) But i wanted to have a cute farm animal to cuddle in my bed too, and pigs were definitely out of my list of choices. Then i saw the cutest, cuddliest bovine on a shelf at Gift Gate that i decided then and there that i had to have it -- along with all the other cute cows that ever existed (Only the black spotted cows caught my fancy, not the brown, scrawny cows you see in farms in the Philippines!). And that started it all -- first the cow toys just kept on coming, from stuffed cow keychains to gigantic cow dolls, to a selection of cow books, cow bed spreads, cow cookie jars...and the list goes on and on.

One of my most favorite cow piece in my collection is a 24" X 36" framed poster which continues to hang on our wall. I love the poster because it gives great and truly valuable advice on how to deal with life's ups and downs -- a cow's perspective, that is. Admittedly, though the list is mainly a variation of puns and silly clichés, they all actually make a lot of sense -- in my life, at least. I catch myself every now and then reading the poster to remind myself of the wisdom that my cows bring me (hehe). So here are a few of the pointers i picked up from my poster:

ALL I NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT LIFE I LEARNED FROM A COW

• Always wake up in a happy moo-d
• Don't cry over spilled milk
• The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
• When you get hurt, turn the udder cheek and moo-ve on
• Seize every opportunity and milk it for it's worth
• It's better to be seen and not herd
• Honor thy fodder and thy mother
• Never take any bull from anyone
• Always let them know who's the bossy
• Cow-nt your blessings everyday
• And remember... life is easier when you take the bull by the horns

MOO!!!!

A Room With A View

Nicky's reaction to the scene: "Look ma, Papa God is greeting me a Happy Birthday!" Awww.....*sniff*

Sunset from the veranda

Back from a weekend of R & R, and i am obsessed with guilty thoughts of wanting to escape the reality of life back home and at the office for a week of absolute bliss at a beach resort (anywhere!), and never ever wanting to go back home! Being away even for just 2 days, and really appreciating the time away to just recover and be refreshed, was an absolute blessing. See, there are only three things in my life right now that i absolutely MUST indulge in when i am stressed, anxious and at my wit's end to keep my sanity and love for life -- a) Great food in a great restaurant, b) An overnight stay (at the least!) in a great hotel, and c) TRAVEL. By God's love and abundant blessings, i am grateful to be able to enjoy these indulgences with my family, the most recent being our trip to Subic.

It was Nicky's birthday weekend celebration and we opted to hie off to the beach and spend time away from home as a family, instead of the much-expected birthday party we originally thought of throwing. It was a great experience for all of us because it gave us a chance to bond, enjoy the place and relax. The best part of it all -- our hotel suite. Not a fancy suite that you would compare to a hotel in Makati or Manila, but a fantastic room with a heavenly view of God's majestic creation. The hotel we stayed at was the Subic Park Hotel which is only a little less than 2 years old, very modern, very clean and very AFFORDABLE! For half the price of a Deluxe room at the Mandarin, the Subic Park Hotel offers breakfast for 2 and a suite room facing the beach and the mountains surrounding Subic. Really a great place to stay with your family, friends or your "honey" because even the food is great and reasonably priced. PLUS, you get to swim at the hotel pool that has the sea, the mountains and the bright blue sky as your backdrop! It was simply to die for, considering that we really didn't go that far (or spend too much!) to enjoy a time of sun basking and chilling out.

Man, i'm so babaw, i swear! But with the harsh reality of day-to-day living that one has to face on a regular basis -- being a wife, being a mom, being a working mom and a working wife, running errands, meeting people, meeting deadlines, feeding the dog, feeding the family -- it wouldn't hurt to want more than just living your life, would it? Besides, all it really took was to ask for a room with a view;)

*Sigh*.

His Midas Touch

Today is a shining moment for my family and I because Nicky received his first honor award from his school, Virgin Mary Immaculate. It is the second gold medal he received at VMI, which made Allan and I twice proud of his achievements as a preschooler. Nicky is everything I had ever hoped for in a son, and much more than I had prayed for – he is intelligent, loving, sweet, thoughtful, well mannered, well-behaved, polite, obedient and extremely affectionate. I cannot ask for a better child to be my son because Nicky is the Lord’s ultimate blessing to Allan and I. So today -- being his day of recognition and this week being his birthday week as well -- I dedicate this entry to him, together with a favorite John Lennon song which I lovingly sing to him often, to express just how much he means to me.

(From top) Nicky with mom and dad; Our "champ" showing off his winning form; Nicky and his muse, Bianca.

Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)

by John Lennon

Close your eyes,
Have no fear,
The monster's gone,
He's on the run and your daddy's (mommy's) here,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way,
It's getting better and better,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we'll both,
Just have to be patient,
Yes it's a long way to go,

A hard row to hoe,

Yes, it's a long way to go,
But in the meantime,

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans,

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful boy

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep

Say a little prayer

Every day in every way

It’s getting better and better

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful

Beautiful boy

Darling,
Darling, darling,
Darling Nicky.

KOWABUNGA!

team-shoot copy
Originally uploaded by chrixean.

Recently had a photo shoot at a semiconductor plant for a client's corporate brochure. It was a fun shoot considering we had to wear these smocks -- which we fondly referred to as "ninja suits"-- the entire time. The team comprised of Allan and I, Emil (our photographer) and two assistants. Jennie, though not part of the day's shoot, had her chance to don the required attire at a previous meeting with the client (and i must say, the booties fit perfectly over her shoes that day! hehe). It was a really quick shoot (considering the ones we are used to which normally took an entire day) and it was all because, as our client put it, "they didn't need to show any facial expressions in their shots". So true! I could hardly even tell who was part of My Left Hand and who worked for the client. I'm posting these photos just for fun, and so you'll know what I'm talking about. As you can see, we have the ninjas in white and our "smurfette" client who was the only one in blue.

Go, Ninja! Go, Ninja! Go, Ninja, GO!

P.S. Click on the pic to enlarge and see the details and captions (liit e!)

Life's A Peach

Several times I've been asked by friends why I was named Peachy when my real name was far from sounding like its pet name (ok, no need to announce to the world what my real name is....) In one my cell group activities in Ligaya, we had an exercise where we had to research the etymology of our names for us to discover how God fulfills His purpose in us thru the name He called us. I did a bit of research (ok it was just a trip to my mom's room and a visit to the online dictionary) and found out what my pet name meant (never mind knowing the meaning of my real name -- let's just say it was a LAME choice of a name).

According to my mom, I was named Peachy because: 1) Her cousin's name was Peachy and this particularly Peachy was intelligent, beautiful and creative (hmm....did I exist in another lifetime? hehe), and she wanted me to embody these traits that her cousin possesed. 2) My face was the shape and the color of a peach the first time she saw me in the delivery room (aah....hmmm....) And then of course there is the dictionary meaning of peachy - (Cambridge Advance Learner's Dictionary) peach (EXCELLENT); noun [S] someone or something which is excellent or very pleasing; peachy INFORMAL - very good.

Looking back at the meanings and reasons behind I was called Peachy, I thought for a moment about what makes my life indeed, well, peachy. So I came up with a short list of just what makes my life a PEACH:

1. Allan and Nicky
2. My Left Hand Creative Solutions - Why? Find out: www.my-left-hand.com and www.sme.com.ph.
3. Cows - I have been an avid collector of cows since highschool. I have stuff that range from cow books, cow posters and paintings, "mooing" cookie jars, cow curtains, tablecloths... you name it.
4. Unicorns - I must say, I do love unicorns and i have statuettes, paintings, postcards and other small items that glorify the single-horned mythical beast.
3. Cibo Restaurant - I will absolutely DIE if I don't get to eat my favorite Pesto Genovese (please change noodles to Spaghettini) and a plate of Paté de Fegato (please make it Foccacia bread instead of Crostinis). Ask anyone, i could eat here every freakin' day.
4. Chicken Fajitas and Tuna Cream Spaghetti - A few friends have complimented me on these recipes i have so often whipped up for occasions and MWG meetings, and it has somehow become my trademarked meals. Allan doesn't seem to mind:)
5. Peach - of course, as expected, peach is indeed (no kidding!) my favorite color. It was even the color motif of my wedding! But due to changing times, i have grown to love variations of the color (Salmon) and have grown to love newer and flashier colors as seen in my work (Chartreuse and Summer Gold).
6. Fried Balut - YES! I love butter and garlic-fried Balut as an appetizer or even as ulam to any meal -- morning or night! YUM!
7. Beatles - May all forms of music be eradicated from the face of the earth, just leave behind the legacy of the Beatles' music.
8. Mashed potatoes - Actually, most things potato -- Smashed, baked, fried, gratin. I actually craved it the whole time I was pregnant, which justifies my ballooning to 140lbs on the day I gave birth!
9. Ukay-Ukays - The best finds don't have to be branded and expensive, believe me! My closet is practically overflowing with stuff bought in U.K. (hehe)
10. Shoes - I take after my dad with this one. I could live with just a white shirt and a pair of tattered, worn-out jeans that badly needs mending and washing. But I absolutely cannot live without buying a new pair of shoes. In fact, when I meet a person for the first time (the secret's out!), first thing I look at are his shoes.... then i decide on the person's fate in my life....(I'm sorry, i'm bad....:P)

Oh well, these are just a few of the things that make life peachy. I'm sure there are others that i failed to put on the list. So for friends and family who know me well, feel free to add to my list. You might know me better than i do! hehe.

What about you? What makes your life a peach?

P.S. Just a little bit of trivia for those who don't know me well - I don't eat peaches. In fact, any fruit other than a banana will never be in my meal plan.

If The Spirit Moves You

I am loving Marvin Gaye right now and have been playing his music all day on my Winamp, while I slaved over the layouts and logo designs I need to submit in the next few hours. Aaahhh..... love it with me, will ya?

LET'S GET IT ON
I've been really tryin', baby
Tryin' to hold back this feeling for so long
And if you feel like I feel, baby
Then, c'mon, oh, c'mon
Let's get it on
Ah, baby, let's get it on
Let's love, baby
Let's get it on, sugar
Let's get it on
We're all sensitive people
With so much to give
Understand me, sugar
Since we've to be here
Let's live
I love you
There's nothing wrong with me
Loving you, baby no no
And giving yourself to me can never be wrong
If the love is true
Don't you know how sweet and wonderful life can be
I'm asking you baby to get it on with me
I ain't gonna worry
I ain't gonna push, won't push you baby
So c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, baby
Stop beatin' 'round the bush
Let's get it on
Let's get it on
You know what I'm talkin' 'bout
C'mon, baby
Let your love come out
If you believe in love
Let's get it on
Let's get it on, baby
This minute, oh yeah
Let's get it on
Please, let's get it on
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, baby
Stop beatin' 'round the bush
Oh, gonna get it on
Threaten' you, baby
I wanna get it on
You don't have to worry that it's wrong
If the spirit moves ya
Let me groove ya good
Let your come down
Oh, get it on
C'mon, baby
Do you know the meaning?
I've been sanctified
Girl, you give me good feeling

I Dream Of Jeanie With The Light Brown Hair

Do you have a wishlist?

Allan and I each have our own wishlists of stuff we want to have, which we update on a regular basis, depending on how achievable they really are or whether we had gotten around to scratching them off the list after months of saving. Stuff comprising mostly of gadgets, thingamajigs and a few toys for the big boys are what often comprise this so-called list of mine. I have gone through quite a few lists already, and much of the stuff written on them have, thankfully, been scratched off completely and some just seem to keep reappearing on a new list. Obviously the items that i've been putting on the wishlist that keep showing up are the ones that i still could not afford, and yet i keep pining for still! So, i figured, maybe if I posted the top 5 items of my wishlist, I would make my first step in declaring that -- ALL THESE WILL SOON BE MINE! mwahahahaha!

(SFX: THUNDER)

Anyway, the list has always ranged from something as simple as a pair of really cool and great-fitting jeans to the outrageous like a flashy new car. Basically, my top 5 are things that i want and NEED to make my life, uhm, more pleasurable! Ok let's see that list now, shall we?

1. Power Mac G5

- Ya-ha! A graphic designer's best friend, just check out the specs of this killer machine: The new Power Mac G5 line extends as far as you require. Up to two 64-bit G5 processors reaching top speeds of 2.5GHz, room for up to 8GB of main memory, pro performance graphics cards and ultrahigh-bandwidth system architecture will give you more results than systems costing twice as much. Mac OS X really shines at top speeds, and the Power Mac G5 offers whiplash-fast models, from a single processor 1.8GHz configuration to the dual processor power of 1.8GHz, 2GHz and 2.5GHz models with a substantial speed boost at the top of the line. The dual 2.5GHz model packs so much power into tight quarters that Apple designed a liquid cooling system for it, resulting in a cool tower that runs Photoshop nearly two times faster than a Pentium 4-based system. In fact, for most creative endeavors, the Power Mac G5 simply has no competition in its class (taken from http://www.apple.com/powermac). Of course, right now, I am loving my loyal and dependable PC, for it has served me well and still does after all these years of working as a graphic artist. But it won't hurt to add a new member to the family. Right?

2. PowerBook G4

Well, now we've decided we are welcoming Macs into our growing computer group, why not invite another one in. Smaller, but deadly still, this will work perfectly well for on-site presentations where just the sight of this baby will surely help clinch the deal. Allan? Allan? Where'd you go? Faster than ever, PowerBook G4 computers all feature PowerPC G4 processors with Velocity Engine that provide robust performance for complex multimedia or data intensive applications. The 15-inch and 17-inch models boast processor speeds of up to 1.67GHz, and the 12-inch model now offers speedier performance with its 1.5GHz processor.Serious SoftwareThe PowerBook G4 comes with an advanced operating system, Mac OS X v 10.3 “Panther,”. The PowerBook G4 also comes with iLife ’05, including iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD and GarageBand. You also get QuickBooks for Mac New User Edition, a collection of graphics tools including Art Directors Toolkit, FileMaker Pro Trial, OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner, Graphic Converter and Zinio Reader (taken from http://www.apple.com). Me want! me want!

3. Nokia 9500

Now what's a graphic designer doing with a lot of cool office gizmos, but without an equally cool phone? I currently have the 9210 which is the ancestor of this fella. It's great because like the 9500, it opens up to reveal a screen and a keyboard, which i absolutely love because i don't abbreviate my text messages and typing on a keyboard makes spelling out the words so much easier. Sad thing is, my 9210 is still unable to achieve a lot of the high-tech stuff newer phones are able to do, like sending MMS messages or enabling GPRS sending. I can't even receive polyphonic ringtones nor accept picture messages, for crying out loud! (uh, why do i have this phone again, hon? oh yes, yes.... it was a gift....hehe) Anyway, this new member of the Communicator family is packed with a EGPRS (EDGE) for fast data transfer, Integrated camera (VGA) with video capability, Tri-band operation for use on five continents, Bluetooth wireless technology, and a large memory - 80 MB internally and MultiMediaCard (MMC) support. Hoo-ey! (uh, why DON'T i have this phone again, hon? oh yes, yes... i don't have the money for it yet....shucks!)

4. Mazda 3

Aaaaaaahhhhh.... the Mazda 3..... just look at it! Ain't it pretty? 'Nuff said.

5. PalmOne Treo 650 Smartphone

Now long before the Nokia 9500 came out, I've also been eyeing the Treo 600 which definitely works just as well for me because it not only has a phone and a PDA in one unit, but it has a PALM PDA in it. Right now I carry around in my bag my Nokia 9210 and my Palm M180, which can be a real pain in the shoulder. I absolutely cannot do without my Palm because it has my whole life in it (which reminds me, i have to backup now!). My calendar of projects and events for the past 2 years, my bank transactions, my project notes, my price cards... everything! To shift to a PDA phone will mean i will need a phone that is Palm powered to make sense of all the data i have kept and accumulated all these years (and no way am i going to manually transfer all those info!), and the Treo 600 offered that convenience. But better yet, they've now come out with an upgrade -- the Treo 650! Why is it better than the Treo 600? Well, it now has Bluetooth wireless technology, sharper display -- The vibrant 320x320 touchscreen, with more than 65,000 colors, is easy to read -- even in sunlight, a built-in MP3 player, is Word, Excel, and PowerPoint compatible and has a better camera built in which now captures video, too. (I don't have THIS phone because......? uh, ok, same reason....)

Oh well, so there it is! Those are the top 5 items on my latest wishlist. Now all i have to do is to wait another 308 days till Santa decides whether i've been naughty or nice this year to deserve any of these stuff i've listed. But if any of you are charitable enough to want to give me any (or all) of these items -- you know where to reach me!:)

Ich Habe Die Masern!

German Measles (Rubella)
German measles is a mild viral illness caused by the rubella virus. It causes a mild feverish illness associated with a rash, and aches in the joints when it affects adults. The major reason for any attention being devoted to the eradication of this condition is the nasty effects that it has on the unborn baby (known as a fetus), when a pregnant woman catches it in early pregnancy.

Symptoms
This is a fine, pink rash spreading from the forehead and face downwards. The rash may last for 1 to 5 days. There are often some of the glands (lymph nodes) enlarged, especially behind the ears and on the back of the head. Adults often feel more unwell before the rash appears, and may have pains in the joints rather like arthritis.

Causes
The cause is the rubella virus. The incubation period, from exposure to the appearance of the rash, is usually 14 to 21 days.

Diagnosis
This is usually made on the basis of the story and the symptoms and signs. Laboratory tests are unlikely to be of practical value except in a pregnant woman. The widespread testing of women during pregnancy has shown how unreliable the diagnosis can be. Many women who have been told categorically that they have had it prove to be negative on the blood test, and vice versa.

Treatment
Very little treatment is necessary, but it consists essentially of symptom relief eg. for pain and fever.

Why am i devoting a whole 5 paragraphs to this topic? Because I am SUFFERING with the dang disease right now and i just feel it fitting to inform all of you reading this of what I am going through (moan ... groan ... scratch ... scratch!). I knew nothing about German measles before I got it, but one thing I know for sure now and am so thankful for is -- PRAISE GOD I AIN'T PREGNANT!

Who would have thought these tiny, harmless looking pink itchy dots which are not at all troublesome (except for the occasional headache and cough), could cause so much damage to a fetus of a pregnant woman?

If a woman gets rubella in the early months of her pregnancy, her chance of giving birth to a deformed baby may be as high as 80%. These babies may be born deaf or blind. They may have damaged hearts or unusually small brains. Many are mentally retarded. Miscarriages are also common among women who get rubella while they are pregnant. The last big rubella epidemic was in 1964. As a result of that epidemic about 20,000 babies were born with severe birth defects.

Hello! Why didn't i know of this information before? Why didn't any of my doctors warn me of this kind of virus so that i would have taken an MMR shot earlier on? What if I was pregnant when i got this virus? (shudder, shudder!) What if ... what if? Of course, right now, all these no longer matter. I have it and I am not pregnant. And hopefully none of the people I came in contact with these past days aren't pregnant either.

That would be horrible.

So ladies reading this, if you suspect you're pregnant and we may have beso-beso-ed or I may have sneezed on you (unintentionally, of course!), please get that check-up now! Best to know ahead of time.

Though I didn't agonize these past three days as much as I did when I had dengue in 2002 and chickenpox late that year, having German Measles isn't exactly a pleasant experience either. Muscle pains, fever, itchy rashes, a cold and a cough aren't great bedmates. German Measles, Rubella, or however you want to call it -- Es ist nur einfache Scheiße!

Rosey Pose

Originally uploaded by chrixean.

Here's a nice shot of Nicky and I beside the beautiful arrangement of flowers, all care of Allan. I just had to capture the beauty of the roses while in their full glory. The best ones were the orange-colored ones. Too bad they were the first to wither away...

Dangwa, Darling!

Yes, the day has finally come.... today is my birthday! And i feel fine!

I woke up to a great start. 5:30 am and I felt a body slowly lifting itself out from the bed and tiptoeing around the room. I took a peek and saw Allan feeling his way around the room in the dark and stepped out of the room. HMMMM..... Up to something? I didn't want to ruin whatever it is he had planned so I forced myself back to a deep slumber. Nicky coughs and I am awaken. Light is seeping into the room and i notice Allan has not gone back to bed. I look at the time. 6:35am. HMMMMMM...... I step out of the room and i find the car missing. Well, well, well... somebody is up to something! I go back to bed and patiently wait for the sun to rise to its fullest.

7:30am -- BEEP! BEEP! Allan's back! I lay back down and waited for him to come in to reveal what he's been up to the past 2 hours (half thinking, it better have something to do with my birthday! haha). He peeks into the room, half expecting me to still be asleep. SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!, he greets. And in comes 10 dozen roses all straight and fresh from Dangwa (Did i spell that right?)! Wow, super beautiful pink, peach, red, white and yellow roses flood the room! (awwwwww...........) I was speechless and so happy. Nicky wakes up and runs to get me his hand-drawn birthday card with the heart-tugging I LOVE YOU MOMMY words sprawled across the page. It was one of the most beautiful cards he's done for me, with drawings of a McDo drive thru, balloons, a birthday cake and a "pabitin" doodled all around the cover. I just had to SMILE -- to all that.

After experiencing so much joy and excitement in just the first few hours of my birthday morning, and relishing the feeling of being loved and accepted by relatives and friends who have expressed their sincere well-wishes, I came to realize just what birthdays are all about. They're about giving thanks for the life that was given to us by the Lord, and showing love and appreciation to all the people who have made living life on this planet so much more bearable. So to my family, my dearest and best-est friends (you all know who you are:D), my Ligaya MWG bros and sisses, my school barakadas and to the people i work with -- thank you so much for your heartfelt greetings and for making this day a truly special one for me.

Gang's All Here!

bday gang
Originally uploaded by chrixean.

TO ALL OUR FRIENDS WHO CELEBRATED WITH US OUR BIRTHDAYS LAST THURSDAY ON FELLOWSHIP NIGHT -- Thank you so much! We had such a wonderful time just hanging out and eating (again!) and singing and eating some more! Thanks so much for being our pillars of strength as Allan and I go through our Christian journey as husband and wife. Cheers to you all!

Something Old, Something New

Just 1 more day and i'll be turning.....uh....... 26! hehe.... Well, who cares how old i'll be?! Point is i'm turning a year older -- again! Wasn't it just last year that i had a birthday? Do i have to keep having another one? Can't i just relish the memory of past ones and never have to face a new day marking yet another year to my age? (Eyebrows now raised to impossible heights)

Ok......relax......breathe in........then out........

But seriously, this year, this birthday, feels like it will be a different one for me. Apart from shedding my old skin (literally and figuratively), i have been sensing a lot of changes going on around and in me -- from my friends, to my family and marriage -- I can't quite pinpoint exactly where they are happening but i JUST KNOW that new things are in store for me this year. NEW and GOOD things. I will not reveal right now what i suspect these things are till i actually know for sure that they're there .... but bottomline is i am anticipating this year to be new, different and altogether a year that my dear Father has excitedly planned for me. And i'm glad that He's in control..... because to be honest..... the word NEW can freak me out!

How would i describe new?

Well, NEW can simply mean a welcome addition to the old that i already have. Like this online diary. Or clothes that i may decide to get myself for my birthday (Allan? you listening?)

Or, NEW can mean allowing change to happen where change may or may not be necessary. It could mean getting the old, fixing it up, and making it new again.

But i think, more than anything else, NEW to me, means leaving my comfort zone and embracing the unknown -- it may actually be good, but i will never know till i've accepted it. It means letting go of CONTROL and letting God be God.

How ever i really see my life, anything new should always be anticipated as a good thing, right? And with a new heart (to trust more) and a new pair of eyes (to see things in a different perspective), i open my arms wide and welcome all the great things that await me.

Guess turning old (er) ain't that bad....

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Thankful Thursday 12

Thankful Thursday: What CHRIXEAN is thankful for this week I am thankful this week for the Lord's faithfulness in my life. 5 years ago, I made the decision to leave the corporate world to be full time with my son Nicky who was then only 2 years old. I was at first hesitant to leave my comfort zone of being a 9-to-9 employee, with a good paying job and position. But seeing that my son was delayed in a lot of his motor skills and in his speech development (it turned out that my nanny NEVER spoke to him nor even tried to teach him to do anything the whole day she was with him), it worried me deeply and moved me to make the decision to choose him over my job. It was a scary move since Allan and I were just starting out, and badly needed all the financial support we could get. But coming home late at night and waking up early without having the chance to spend the time with my baby boy was definitely not what he needed at that time. I prayed earnestly to God that He would honor my decision to be with my son full time, and asked that He provide for our needs. And He did honor my prayer. He gave me a design business which I could do while taking care of my son. It was a small graphic design company I put up on my own, which allowed me to work when my son was asleep, and allowed me to play with him or go to the mall with him when my schedule was lighter. In fact, the Lord God not only blessed me for my "leap of faith" by giving me a business, but He also made our business grow and prosper that it even allowed my husband Allan to leave his full time job as well to join me in my business. This gave both Allan and I the opportunity to raise Nicky together as full-time parents -- something that many parents, especially the working ones, are not privileged to do. We earned our keep during the day, and in between the day we get to spend time playing with Nicky, attending to all of his school activities, and being thoroughly involved in his lessons and study sessions. Nicky practically saw us 24/7, and it has been this way for the past 5 years. Praise God for his faithfulness! Today, Nicky is 7 years old, and his development mentally, emotionally and physically has far exceeded our expectations of him. We have been blessed with an exceptional child and we would like to attribute this to the fact that we chose our family over our career growth in the corporate world, and TRUSTED IN HIM entirely with our career and finances . We may not have "managerial" or VP positions in multinational corporations, but we are the presidents and general managers in the eyes of our son. And knowing that we gave our child ALL of us is more important to me than a 6-digit monthly paying job which will steal my time from my family. I will forever be thankful for the Lord God, for my answered prayer allowed me to have precious quality times with both Nicky and Allan. The bonus is that His faithfulness still rewarded us with a financially fulfilling business which has provided for both our needs and wants for the past 5 years. :-) Links to other Thankful Thursdays --> PLEASE CHECK OUT MY THANKFUL THURSDAY BLOGROLL ON MY RIGHT SIDE BAR. THE LIST HAS BECOME QUITE LONG ALREADY SO BEST TO CHECK THE UPDATE ONE THERE.

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