Cutty

 I heard that they are paying people to get vaccinated in NYC.  In California, they do not require you to be a citizen to get vaccinated.  Once vaccines for children get approved in the US and this is still the policy, I will do not hesitate to pack up and leave. I know I haven't really thought this out.  What if there are untoward after-effects? There are still insurance coverage and travel SOPs to consider.   If you were in a similar position, a Filipina mother with 4 children under 15, with valid US VISAs, would you go to the US to get your children vaccinated?

There were times when I wondered how a particular couple survived years of being married to each other.  Because if I were in her position, I wouldn't last.  Then, it dawned on me... because we are different people.   So, is there really a secret to a successful marriage?   I am hardly THE person to give advice on this topic, so I am not handing out any advice.  However, I might be able to give some tips based on my observations.   First, know that what worked for others may not work for you.  Another couple's priorities, needs or quirks may be different from your own.  Understanding this is very basic and removes all other assumptions.  I used to wonder, how can this man take all this nagging from his wife?  My husband wouldn't have any of that.  That's because they are different people.  Values.  It would help if you and your spouse share the same values.  Having the same values will lead to fewer arguments down the road.  Do you value your faith?  Do you value your v

Today, Monday, I made some definitive decisions.  It has been a year since I joined the family business.  There was really no defined position for me.  I just volunteered and joined in because the person in charge was drowning.  Since then, I've been calling the shots.  I was making decisions, setting targets and boundaries, and collecting long-overdue payments.  I was doing damage-control.  This morning, I was asked for my position in the company.  I didn't know what to say.  Jokingly, my husband said "Chief Troubleshooter."  It seemed right at the moment.  However, it was too controversial for corporate relations, so I settled on a simple job title.  Operations Manager.  I do not want to continue being a reactive troubleshooter.  I realized that I want to be a proactive leader who will take this company to greater heights.  That is my first breakthrough. Also today, I took a step towards investing in myself and my skills.  I realized that aside from time, I really h

Our homes have been our refuge for the longest time.  Though I appreciate the comfort and security our family home gives my family, cabin fever is setting in. I really have that deep yearning to leave and explore.   I miss traveling.  I miss seeing beautiful places and trying new things.  I know we all do.  I miss the freedom that it gives me.  I miss it so much, it is making me weep.  Do you know that feeling that you want it so much but there is nothing you can do about it?   All I can do for now is acknowledge that THAT the time will come, eventually. ============= When that time comes, this is what I plan to do: Organize a trip to the US with my family and parents.  I would love for us to go together because we haven't done so before.  I would love for my parents to be reunited with their siblings in the States.  I can just imagine being with  A JUNK trip to Europe.  I haven't shortlisted which cities and countries yet.  It is a long-delayed anniversary trip.  I've been

I usually have a tolerance for stress.  I just cry it out and carry on.  But what cripples and weakens me is when someone close to me has a health issue.  This is my waterloo.  I guess, it is everyone's waterloo.   During this pandemic, I am scared of hearing the most dreaded news.  How do you prepare yourself for such an occurrence? How do you prepare your children for this?  How do you break the news to them? This is the ultimate heartbreaker.  Do you tell them to just cry it out and carry on? I apologize for such a depressing post.  

A couple of days ago, I had the urge to clean up my closet. Truth be told, I can no longer shut the closet doors. It is literally bursting at the seams.  It is calling for me to reorganize and discard unused items.  It took me the whole weekend to clear out 2 garbage bags of trash.  It was a difficult process because I really did not know how to deal with the discards.  I want to show you some of the items I found.  I found my hidden stash of lotions, beauty products, sanitizers from my 2008 US trip!  Nanghinayang ako.  These are a lot of stuff that I had forgotten about. I had intended to give these away as "pasalubong."  My mom brain got all fogged up, hence the 13-year old remembrance.  Needless to say, these ended up in the trash.   This shirt is from my first business trip to the US, back in 2006.  That was a fun trip.  I had the freedom to explore the midwest with some of my colleagues.  I spent weekends shopping and going on road trips to nearby states.  Sundays were f