The Inhabitants....

I just can't believe how I got all these stuffy ik ik in my living room. I used to like them when I was younger and had always bought this kind of thing to give to my youngest sister and to my niece and nephew. Even when I got here in the American soil, hubby has gotten me one which I keep in our bedroom all the time.

Seeing the one in my bedroom, my friend might have thought that I am really crazy for this kind of toys. So she always brings me one or two or even more at a time. I already shipped some of them to the Philippines but still they occupy our little living room like mute and lame inhabitants in the corner of our house.

What bothers me is when somebody comes to the house, they got all over the area. Of course, the couch is for real people so they have to be moved somewhere.

I'm planning to make another box for all of them or may be just leave one or two. They become so crowded and I don't think I need them really. I just hope that my friend will get the message when she knows of their fate.

HaPPy ThAnKSgiViNG DaY!

This is the time of the year when we start looking back at what we received and achieved since day 1 of 2009 until today. Let us not forget our downfalls because all those, if we look at them positively, are a blessing of strength.

It's time to look up and shout out loud our great joy of thanksgiving and turn the Turkey Dinner into a meaningful one.

Have a WoNdeRfuL ThANKsgGiVinG everyone!

Shooting Birds With Only One Stone...

Hubby always has every other Friday off and we always schedule many things around that day including doctor's appointment. At times we think we plan too many things that it is almost impossible for us to do everything but at the end of the day, we even do more than what we have on our "do" list.

Earlier this month, we had a dental appointment with our dentist in Los Gatos and since we were going there, hubby decided to book also at Honda Service Center, at the same city, the routine check of our car. He got the early schedule for the car which gave us enough amount of time to do our miles walk to the dentist. We were supposed to do our 12 -mile walk that day but we diverted it to doing something more than a walk itself. At least we walked more than 3 miles.

The distance between the Honda Service Center to the doctor was a short one but we enjoyed the fact that it was our first time to walk those clean and nice streets. Besides, it was still early to be exposed to the scorching heat of fall. Hubby asked me many time to take a picture of this and that but I was too lazy to do it. So we ended up with almost no picture at all. However, I was tempted when I saw two red tree in between the blue and clouded sky and the clean dark gray-colored road. It just attracted me so much.

On our way back, this plant caught my attention. It's right next to the side walk just by itself. I don't know if this plant gets the care that most plants need but it's amazing how colorful it is. This is one of those that made our walk that day a nice one.

So in just one trip, we did three things: seeing the doctor, car check and doing our routine walk. Besides, we were able to do our grocery shopping at Trader Joe's on our way home which is one of our favorite food markets around. Not bad!

Just When I Think It's Nonsense....

Today is supposed to be one of my days off. My original work schedule yesterday was from 3 to midnight but the store manager asked me to stay only until 10:30 PM so I could come to work at 8:30 AM today without violating the Union Law.

So I came in this morning only to find out that the store was not as busy at all as in. But just because we were expecting somebody in the higher level to walk through the store, the manager decided to have extra people in the cash registry.

I saw the DM and another guy walked in and few minutes later was joined by our store manager. They were by the store entrance for a little bit then disappeared. Then one employee came to my line and told me that they already left and that was after an hour or two. And what then? That was my question to myself. I was thinking that the manager might ask some volunteers to go home early since the store was really quiet.

True enough. After my lunch, he did it. He asked us one by one and when he came to me, I told him right upfront that I needed my hours. He backed off because he knew that he already cut an hour of my last night's schedule. Besides, he knows for a fact that I always ask for more hours so it does not make any sense asking me that.

Then after he left, came one of my co worker who works at the produce dept. She came with a bag of chocolate. She offered it to all of us and each one got at least 3 or 4 pieces. I only took one for some reasons but she came back and put some more in my apron. As I said, the day was not at all that busy so we had the time to munch. I did not know that each candy has a message inside the wrapper and when one of my colleagues read allowed what was written in hers, I retrieved mine which I already threw in the garbage bucket. I thought those messages were just nonsense. Here's what it said:

• First Wrapper: "Make a pledge to get 8 hours of shut eye." What a nonsense! I only get 4 to 5 hours of sleep during weekdays. But as I thought about it the second time, that's what I truly need in the strictest sense of the word.

• Second Wrapper: "Forget the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey instead." Wow! I did not expect those little candy bear such powerful eyeopeners. This message really touched me as I reflected on a lot of things that is happening in our economy these days.

• Third Wrapper: "Think of everyday as a Sunday." This short and concise message reminded me to praise and thank God everyday instead of being a whiner. But a whiner is just a whiner compared to the one who speaks his or her own mind based on what is true.

It's just when I think it's nonsense....

Polynesian Night

During our short stay in the Garden Island, we were able to see the show at the nearby Poipu Shopping Village. That was the night when we took care of our two grand kids while their Dad and Mom went out for a dinner.

Earlier that day, we went to the village to buy few things at the Whalers Store and that's how we learned that the show would take place on that little stage right in the middle of the business center. We went back to Marriott and made sure that Polynesian Night was included in the list of activities for the afternoon thru the evening with our dear Brianna and Bryan.

Nice pix!


At least, we had these photos... can't complain....

Although we were running late in our schedule, we still made it to the show. The place was so packed with people and there was no way we could see the performers since the elevation of the stage from the ground is not that much. We regretted not coming early but we just had so much fun at the pool and play ground. We also did a simple activity at our hotel room after dinner that it took us sometime to get out for the next activity on the list. Well it's good that we dared to walk through the middle and found a spot for two people almost in the front row. So we squeezed in and we enjoyed the rest of the show in full view.

I asked Brianna to do the video using my little camera but unluckily, I don't know how to download them to my desk top. I still have to figure out the way to do it and I am going to publish it once I get them on my computer.

This Halloween....

... I choose not to buy candy because I don't want to eat the leftovers. Last year it took me sometime to get rid of them. My friend did not want to take them for her kids but I was able to finally convince her and I guess, she took them to work for her colleagues.

... I decided not to buy real pumpkin to put in our porch because I don't want to throw money afterward. Instead, I got this big smiley pumpkin on a stake when I went to Walgreens. This way, I can keep it and reuse it again next year.

... my co workers asked me if I would dress up for Halloween but I told them "nah." I bought a pumpkin shirt but that's it. I don't think I am totally sold out to wearing an outfit that does not really resemble myself or may be I just don't find the right one yet.

... hubby and I will be going to Bryan's birthday party in Pleasanton after my work. It means that we gonna be home late. By the time we will get home, trick or treaters will be gone.

HaPPy HaLLoWEen everyone!