Glass half empty. Glass half full.
Bed rest can be a nerve-wracking experience! But if you play your cards
right, you can use the time to dream and plan for your next big adventure.
Like most first time parents, H and I are excited about having our first
baby. I have been researching on things we can do with the baby once
he/she is out in the world.
Yes, we live a simple life. But no, we do not live a boring life, or we at least
try not to hahaha... Instead, we've TRIED to focus our time, energy and
resources on things that matter to us.
On my to do list: A tradition that H, the baby and I can start as a family.
No, it does not mean skipping traditions that we already celebrate together
with our families. It will be more like having or starting a tradition of our
own.
We haven't quite decided on what this first tradition will be. The current
flavor of the month involves a photo project with the baby. Here are 3
inspiring "traditions" that are on the mood board:
a) The Arrow of Time - Since 1976, Diego Goldberg and family have had
individual portraits taken every 17th of June. The result is a time capsule
of the past 30plus years of their lives.
b) Project 365 - This project involves taking one photo, daily for one year.
Choose one topic: yourself, your kids, the neighborhood, your work, etc etc
etc and watch what unfolds in the ensuing year. One year does seem like a
long time. Imagine doing this with a Polaroid for two decades.
c) The '76s and Sveinn Birkir - You will only be born once... Project 1976
is Sveinn's audio/visual anthology for his birth year. Here you'll find photos
and audios of important and mundane matters pertaining to that year.
What are your favorite family traditions? I'd love to hear what works for your family!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Day Zero Project
What do you plan to do with the next 2-3 years of your life?
As luck would have it, I stumbled upon the Day Zero Project
website which will inspire you to ask yourself that question...
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with
a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks
must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount
of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple
goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating
procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days
(about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because
it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is
better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas
trips or outdoor activities.
I'm quite excited at the prospect of coming up with my own
list. Ahhh, patience patience patience... At this stage in my life,
getting an "out of bed pass" is temptingly on the top of my list.
I love lists... There have been so many that I can't
recall them all...
This is my ode to the humble list...
As luck would have it, I stumbled upon the Day Zero Project
website which will inspire you to ask yourself that question...
The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.
The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with
a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks
must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount
of work on my part).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple
goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating
procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days
(about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because
it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is
better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas
trips or outdoor activities.
I'm quite excited at the prospect of coming up with my own
list. Ahhh, patience patience patience... At this stage in my life,
getting an "out of bed pass" is temptingly on the top of my list.
I love lists... There have been so many that I can't
recall them all...
This is my ode to the humble list...
Saturday, May 23, 2009
On being an ate
Here's my reply to R's interesting email....
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi R,
This is so funny!
I grew up "OC" so I can't relate to the fishballs, dirty ice cream and
water from the poso bit hahaha... But I did build a tiny playhouse,
ride the bike, play patintero and piko, make mudpies...
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? My family is much bigger
than H's... Anyway, he noticed that it was too quiet in one family
gathering... We decided to check out the kids... Guess what we saw
--> all the kids quietly playing with their PSPs... They were playing
together but using their PSPs... It kinda looked like a parent's dream
come true --- all the parents were busy chit chatting and they didn't
have to worry about their kids running around... Sadly, it seemed like
the most normal thing in the world... Sadly, because it has been said
that the kids of today have poor social skills... Plus, the cousins didn't
get to interact with each other...
But of course, I was ever the "ATE"... Last Christmas, I had some
games for the kids... I couldn't be a proper emcee as I was supposed
to be on bed rest... And my brothers were not exactly the best emcees
hahaha... Plus, we lacked prizes... I forgot that you need a lot --- even
if it's just a token, so long as the kids get a consolation prize... It was
short but fun while it lasted... My aunt was thrilled because they were
balikbayans and they were able to get a nice video of the kids at play...
It ended when the kids had to do their "program" ---> with a cash prize
for singing to the granddads and grandmoms... Eh pera yon di ba hahaha...
And so, it seems that's how it's going to be... If you think it's important,
you will have to do something... Otherwise, the adults will just chitchat
and the kids will just play their PSPs... As for me, I hope to pull off
something better this Christmas... I can't help it, I'll always be ATE
hahaha...
* Ate - the Filipino word for eldest or older sister
This is so funny!
I grew up "OC" so I can't relate to the fishballs, dirty ice cream and
water from the poso bit hahaha... But I did build a tiny playhouse,
ride the bike, play patintero and piko, make mudpies...
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? My family is much bigger
than H's... Anyway, he noticed that it was too quiet in one family
gathering... We decided to check out the kids... Guess what we saw
--> all the kids quietly playing with their PSPs... They were playing
together but using their PSPs... It kinda looked like a parent's dream
come true --- all the parents were busy chit chatting and they didn't
have to worry about their kids running around... Sadly, it seemed like
the most normal thing in the world... Sadly, because it has been said
that the kids of today have poor social skills... Plus, the cousins didn't
get to interact with each other...
But of course, I was ever the "ATE"... Last Christmas, I had some
games for the kids... I couldn't be a proper emcee as I was supposed
to be on bed rest... And my brothers were not exactly the best emcees
hahaha... Plus, we lacked prizes... I forgot that you need a lot --- even
if it's just a token, so long as the kids get a consolation prize... It was
short but fun while it lasted... My aunt was thrilled because they were
balikbayans and they were able to get a nice video of the kids at play...
It ended when the kids had to do their "program" ---> with a cash prize
for singing to the granddads and grandmoms... Eh pera yon di ba hahaha...
And so, it seems that's how it's going to be... If you think it's important,
you will have to do something... Otherwise, the adults will just chitchat
and the kids will just play their PSPs... As for me, I hope to pull off
something better this Christmas... I can't help it, I'll always be ATE
hahaha...
* Ate - the Filipino word for eldest or older sister
To all the kids born in the 50's to early 80's
R emailed this to me today. I had a blast reading it! I sent her a reply ~ I'll put that
in a separate post.
The article has been going around the internet for quite some time so I don't really
know who wrote it. If you do, kindly send me a note so I can acknowledge the writer.
Thanks!
Happy Reading!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN
in the 1950's, 60' s, 70's even early 80's !!
First,
some of us survived
being born to mothers
who did not have an OB-Gyne
and drank San Miguel Beer
while they carried us.
While pregnant,
they took cold or cough medicine,
ate isaw, and didn't worry
about diabetes.
Then after all that trauma,
our baby cribs were made of hard wood
covered with lead-based paints,
pati na yung walker natin,
matigas na kahoy din
at wala pang gulong.
We had no soft cushy cribs
that play music,
no disposable diapers (lampin lang),
and when we rode our bikes,
we had no helmets, no kneepads,
sometimes wala pang preno yung bisikleta.
As children, we would ride in
hot un-airconditioned buses with wooden seats
(yung JD bus na pula),
or cars with no airconditioning
& no seat belts
(ngayon lahat may aircon na!)
Riding on the back of a carabao
on a breezy summer day
was considered a treat.
(ngayon hindi na nakakakita
ng kalabaw ang mga bata)
We drank water
from the garden hose
and NOT from a bottle
purchased from 711
(minsan straight from
the faucet or poso)
We shared one soft drink bottle
with four of our friends,
and NO ONE actually died from this.
Or contracted hepatitis.
We ate rice with star margarine,
ate raw eggs straight from the shell,
and drank softdrinks with real sugar
(hindi coke zero),
and we weren't sick or overweight kasi nga......
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!
We would leave home
in the morning
and play all day,
and get back when
the streetlights came on.
Sarap mag patintero,
tumbang preso,
habulan at taguan.
No one was able to reach us all day
(di uso ang cellphone
at walang beepers).
And yes,
we were O.K.
We would spend hours
building our wooden trolleys
(yung bearing ang gulong)
or plywood slides out of scraps
and then ride down the street,
only to find out we forgot the brakes!
After hitting the sidewalk
or falling into a canal
(sewerage channel) a few times,
we learned to solve the problem ourselves
with our bare & dirty hands.
We did not have Playstations,
PSP's Nintendos, X-boxes,
no video games at all,
no 100 channels on cable,
no DVD movies,
no surround stereo,
no IPOD's,
no cell phones,
no computers,
no Internet,
no chat rooms,
no Friendster,
no YouTube,
no multiply....
WE HAD REAL FRIENDS
and we went outside
to actually talk and play with them!
We fell out of trees,
got cut, broken bones and teeth
and there were no stupid lawsuits
from these accidents.
The only rubbing we get
is from our friends with the words..
masakit ba?
Pero pag galit yung kalaro mo,
ang sasabihin sa iyo..
beh buti nga !
We played marbles (jolens) in the dirt ,
washed our hands just a little
and ate dirty ice cream & fish balls.
We were not afraid
of getting germs in our stomachs.
We had to live
with homemade guns..
gawa sa kahoy,
tinali ng rubberband,
sumpit, tirador at
kung ano-ano pa
na puedeng makasakitan.
Pero masaya pa rin ang lahat.
We made up games
with sticks (syatong),
and cans (tumbang preso)
and although we were told
they were dangerous,
wala naman tayong binulag o napatay.
Paminsan-minsan
may nabubukulan lang.
We walked,
rode bikes, or took tricycles
to a friend's house
and knocked on the door
or rang the bell,
or just yelled for them
to jump out the window!
Mini basketball teams had tryouts
and not everyone made the team.
Those who didn't pass
had to learn to deal
with the disappointment.
Wala yang mga childhood depression
at damaged self esteem ek-ek na yan.
Ang pikon, talo.
Ang magulang ay nandoon lang
para tignan kung ayos lang ang mga bata,
hindi para makialam
at makipag-away sa ibang parents.
That generation of ours
has produced some of the best risk-takers,
problem solvers, creative thinkers
and successful professionals ever!
They are the CEO's, Engineers, Doctors
and Military Generals of today.
The past 50 years
have been an explosion
of innovation and new ideas.
We had failure, success,
and responsibility.
We learned from our mistakes
the hard way.
You might want
to share this with others
who've had the luck to grow up
as real kids.
We were lucky indeed!
And if you like,
forward it to your kids too,
so they will know how brave
their parents were..
It kind of makes you
wanna go out and climb a tree,
doesn't it?!
in a separate post.
The article has been going around the internet for quite some time so I don't really
know who wrote it. If you do, kindly send me a note so I can acknowledge the writer.
Thanks!
Happy Reading!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN
in the 1950's, 60' s, 70's even early 80's !!
First,
some of us survived
being born to mothers
who did not have an OB-Gyne
and drank San Miguel Beer
while they carried us.
While pregnant,
they took cold or cough medicine,
ate isaw, and didn't worry
about diabetes.
Then after all that trauma,
our baby cribs were made of hard wood
covered with lead-based paints,
pati na yung walker natin,
matigas na kahoy din
at wala pang gulong.
We had no soft cushy cribs
that play music,
no disposable diapers (lampin lang),
and when we rode our bikes,
we had no helmets, no kneepads,
sometimes wala pang preno yung bisikleta.
As children, we would ride in
hot un-airconditioned buses with wooden seats
(yung JD bus na pula),
or cars with no airconditioning
& no seat belts
(ngayon lahat may aircon na!)
Riding on the back of a carabao
on a breezy summer day
was considered a treat.
(ngayon hindi na nakakakita
ng kalabaw ang mga bata)
We drank water
from the garden hose
and NOT from a bottle
purchased from 711
(minsan straight from
the faucet or poso)
We shared one soft drink bottle
with four of our friends,
and NO ONE actually died from this.
Or contracted hepatitis.
We ate rice with star margarine,
ate raw eggs straight from the shell,
and drank softdrinks with real sugar
(hindi coke zero),
and we weren't sick or overweight kasi nga......
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!
We would leave home
in the morning
and play all day,
and get back when
the streetlights came on.
Sarap mag patintero,
tumbang preso,
habulan at taguan.
No one was able to reach us all day
(di uso ang cellphone
at walang beepers).
And yes,
we were O.K.
We would spend hours
building our wooden trolleys
(yung bearing ang gulong)
or plywood slides out of scraps
and then ride down the street,
only to find out we forgot the brakes!
After hitting the sidewalk
or falling into a canal
(sewerage channel) a few times,
we learned to solve the problem ourselves
with our bare & dirty hands.
We did not have Playstations,
PSP's Nintendos, X-boxes,
no video games at all,
no 100 channels on cable,
no DVD movies,
no surround stereo,
no IPOD's,
no cell phones,
no computers,
no Internet,
no chat rooms,
no Friendster,
no YouTube,
no multiply....
WE HAD REAL FRIENDS
and we went outside
to actually talk and play with them!
We fell out of trees,
got cut, broken bones and teeth
and there were no stupid lawsuits
from these accidents.
The only rubbing we get
is from our friends with the words..
masakit ba?
Pero pag galit yung kalaro mo,
ang sasabihin sa iyo..
beh buti nga !
We played marbles (jolens) in the dirt ,
washed our hands just a little
and ate dirty ice cream & fish balls.
We were not afraid
of getting germs in our stomachs.
We had to live
with homemade guns..
gawa sa kahoy,
tinali ng rubberband,
sumpit, tirador at
kung ano-ano pa
na puedeng makasakitan.
Pero masaya pa rin ang lahat.
We made up games
with sticks (syatong),
and cans (tumbang preso)
and although we were told
they were dangerous,
wala naman tayong binulag o napatay.
Paminsan-minsan
may nabubukulan lang.
We walked,
rode bikes, or took tricycles
to a friend's house
and knocked on the door
or rang the bell,
or just yelled for them
to jump out the window!
Mini basketball teams had tryouts
and not everyone made the team.
Those who didn't pass
had to learn to deal
with the disappointment.
Wala yang mga childhood depression
at damaged self esteem ek-ek na yan.
Ang pikon, talo.
Ang magulang ay nandoon lang
para tignan kung ayos lang ang mga bata,
hindi para makialam
at makipag-away sa ibang parents.
That generation of ours
has produced some of the best risk-takers,
problem solvers, creative thinkers
and successful professionals ever!
They are the CEO's, Engineers, Doctors
and Military Generals of today.
The past 50 years
have been an explosion
of innovation and new ideas.
We had failure, success,
and responsibility.
We learned from our mistakes
the hard way.
You might want
to share this with others
who've had the luck to grow up
as real kids.
We were lucky indeed!
And if you like,
forward it to your kids too,
so they will know how brave
their parents were..
It kind of makes you
wanna go out and climb a tree,
doesn't it?!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Why we live simply
Around a week ago, H and I had a few friends over. It was
great fun! Our first time to have people over. I kept thinking,
"are we all going to fit in here?" Well fit we did and I must say
it was a nice night for us all.
At the start of the evening J pleasantly remarked, "Wow,
do all your clothes really fit in that cabinet?" The answer is
a resounding yes. You see, Hubby and I are trying to master
the art of living comfortably with precious few.
Okay, I admit, we are somewhat cheating. We still have things
with my wonderful in-laws. They're mostly wedding gifts which
we do not have the heart to part with, some clothes (for when we
visit) and books. But for our day to day living, we have managed
to pare things down to the bare necessities.
We live in a studio type apartment. The main room is our
bedroom and home office. We have a bed, a clothes cabinet,
a bookshelf and 2 slim tables. We have a small adjoining area
for our kitchenette. We have there a folding table. And right
beside the kitchenette is the bathroom. That's pretty much it.
Why do we choose to live simply?
Firstly, because we are happy living this way. We try to let go
of the desire to acquire things that we don't need. Too many
things can clutter one's physical space. People do not realize
that this physical clutter can cause unnecessary emotional and
mental strain.
Secondly, because H and I are dreamers. There are many things
we'd like to do and many places we'd like to go. There is the
quality of education we'd like for our future children. There
is the small business that we are growing. There are the future
businesses we'd like to have. There is also the quality of life
we'd like to have in our retirement. In the older days, this was
known as delayed gratification. We know that we cannot possibly
achieve all these if we did not put aside enough today. Oh yes,
we also like to plan for the "unexpected guests". The emergencies
that could show up when we least expect them.
Lastly, because we believe that it's the right thing to do. Our
money is not just for us. We believe in tithing. We also believe
in helping those in need. We are not a big fan of dole outs. What
we do is support organizations that provide opportunities for
the poor to make sustainable changes in their lives.
If you notice, I used the word "choose". Living simply is very
much an active decision. There will always be the temptation to
buy buy buy. We are human too. But if you have the right whys,
it's much easier to stick it out.
great fun! Our first time to have people over. I kept thinking,
"are we all going to fit in here?" Well fit we did and I must say
it was a nice night for us all.
At the start of the evening J pleasantly remarked, "Wow,
do all your clothes really fit in that cabinet?" The answer is
a resounding yes. You see, Hubby and I are trying to master
the art of living comfortably with precious few.
Okay, I admit, we are somewhat cheating. We still have things
with my wonderful in-laws. They're mostly wedding gifts which
we do not have the heart to part with, some clothes (for when we
visit) and books. But for our day to day living, we have managed
to pare things down to the bare necessities.
We live in a studio type apartment. The main room is our
bedroom and home office. We have a bed, a clothes cabinet,
a bookshelf and 2 slim tables. We have a small adjoining area
for our kitchenette. We have there a folding table. And right
beside the kitchenette is the bathroom. That's pretty much it.
Why do we choose to live simply?
Firstly, because we are happy living this way. We try to let go
of the desire to acquire things that we don't need. Too many
things can clutter one's physical space. People do not realize
that this physical clutter can cause unnecessary emotional and
mental strain.
Secondly, because H and I are dreamers. There are many things
we'd like to do and many places we'd like to go. There is the
quality of education we'd like for our future children. There
is the small business that we are growing. There are the future
businesses we'd like to have. There is also the quality of life
we'd like to have in our retirement. In the older days, this was
known as delayed gratification. We know that we cannot possibly
achieve all these if we did not put aside enough today. Oh yes,
we also like to plan for the "unexpected guests". The emergencies
that could show up when we least expect them.
Lastly, because we believe that it's the right thing to do. Our
money is not just for us. We believe in tithing. We also believe
in helping those in need. We are not a big fan of dole outs. What
we do is support organizations that provide opportunities for
the poor to make sustainable changes in their lives.
If you notice, I used the word "choose". Living simply is very
much an active decision. There will always be the temptation to
buy buy buy. We are human too. But if you have the right whys,
it's much easier to stick it out.
Friday, May 15, 2009
I think I'm pregnant again
The pregnancy test revealed two stripes. H and I were anxious
and excited all over again! Unfortunately, it was too early in the
pregnancy for the ultrasound to detect the baby. Soooo,
we're back to praying, hoping and waiting... for 2 more
weeks... The baby should show up in the ultrasound by then...
In the meantime, I'm on bed rest again. And on Duphaston
again. There was some mild spotting a few days ago. Basically,
Dr. D wants me to take the necessary precautions to give the
baby a fighting chance.
Unlike the first pregnancy, I feel good ~ physically and mentally.
I'm hopeful and optimistic that things will go well this time
around.
and excited all over again! Unfortunately, it was too early in the
pregnancy for the ultrasound to detect the baby. Soooo,
we're back to praying, hoping and waiting... for 2 more
weeks... The baby should show up in the ultrasound by then...
In the meantime, I'm on bed rest again. And on Duphaston
again. There was some mild spotting a few days ago. Basically,
Dr. D wants me to take the necessary precautions to give the
baby a fighting chance.
Unlike the first pregnancy, I feel good ~ physically and mentally.
I'm hopeful and optimistic that things will go well this time
around.
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