"While Most Are Dreaming Of Success, Winners Wake-Up And Work Hard To Achieve It"

Despite the "irate" I am having and heaviness I have to drag today, my husband and I did manage to pull ourselves together to be with Jann and the rest of the competitors (and eleven teachers) at the San Marcos restaurant to treat the kids as a gesture of appreciation for the hard work each spellers put out there. The event is a complete disaster! It all begun when according to the newsletter that was sent home that the said event will be held at the library. A 'lil after nine this morning my dear dearest and I were at our driveway to hit the road to the library. The event won't start till 10 but if you are accustomed to punctuality, it is automatic in your system. We got up there and instantly my husband knows we were in the wrong vicinity. Not even one car is a sight in the parking area. My instinct works fast and I told him to drive to the nearest school (which is about three minutes away) and inquire about which place we should be going. We still on the right track with extra time left on us. We reached the place on time but Jann done got worried and called the house to find out where we're at in addition to the text her teacher sent to my husband's cell phone. "Handouts" welcomes each of us added to the "program". Jann's all smile and worry-free. The rehearsal started to warm-up the spellers. The "pronouncer" begun with the "word numbers". Our baby have to spell the word ....."one". There were 11 spellers representing 11 schools (from 4th grade-7th grade) plus 11 alternates, parents, and 11 school bee sponsors. If you do the math, you'll realize there was quite a crowd! On the "26th rounds", our Jann which hold a speller tag #5, had to compete with 2 other remaining spellers (a 5th grade Indian girl and a 7th grade Indian boy). The expectators each hold the "spelling words hand-out". And in front of three retired teacher "spelling judges" in their late 50s and early 60s, the "pronouncer", parents, ten other contenders, eleven alternates, and eleven school spelling bee sponsors, our Jann stand up to spell the word "niagara"! As she goes ..... n...i...a...g...a...r...a... and sat down thereafter 100% convinced she spelled the word correctly, the three judges shaking their heads as they each follows the word listed on the "hand-outs" spelled otherwise. Jann had to stepped-down from the podium as I was caught off-guard sooo confused. As all the confusion playing in my head I can't stop thinking that we studied the wrong material. Gesture as it was, my husband stomped his right foot on the floor then whispered to me that Jann added an "a" after the "g". I replied that there's an "a" after the "g" on the study guide. But as all these things played out, I myself got confused and doubt what I really know. That only goes to show you that I am not perfect! I have to pull Jann's teacher to the side after the event and told her that the material she sent home to study had the word spelled incorrectly. After all the hubbub, my husband complains to the judges and pronouncer and pointed out the "mistake". Come to find out, when the pronouncer pulled-out her lists of words, she's the one who screwed it up and typed the wrong spelling on the "handouts". My husband told everybody that the event is TAINTED! Our daughter got eliminated virtually for spelling the word correctly and not incorrectly. If that is not a real "f-up" I don't know what is? Do you know? Below you'll see the study guide (on the left side) my daughter and I had been studying since Nov. and the handouts, take note the word #157 (on the right side) that was given to us at the event. The other foto was given to Jann at school from Capital City Bank with each employees signature to congratulate our darling daughter. I purposely open up my comments page for the public to place their inputs. Would love to hear what you think of the disaster! I felt the guilt for not standing up for my daughter when she needs the most. It's like I have failed her. I should appeal right there and then but with the confusion going on, I just opt out not to create a scene and keep my mouth shut which I regretted possibly from the rest of my life. My top is smoking as you'll notice it coming out of my nostrils like a raging bull BUT who would ever thought three retired judges who had been teaching school kids for 35-40 years haven't recognized that the word NIAGRA is a mispelled word? How can you be a spelling bee judges and not knowing how the word correctly spelled? And how dumb can you be as a pronouncer to not knowing the word you put out there is mispelled and never catch it as you pronounce it? Well guess what's her explanation to my husband, she admitted that she thought it is a wrong spelling but instead of correcting it herself at the moment she continues possibly to save her own skin. How sorry and low down!

 "An Optimist Stays Up Until Midnight To See The New Year In. A Pessimist Stays Up To Make Sure The Old Year Leaves"

A roof over your head seems to be the primary and basic need every man long for as early as mankind walked on the surface of the earth second to food. Harsh weather without shelter is a death sentence and many suffers greatly being out in the cold. In the previous years a lot of people lost their homes to the banks that finance it. Many cases are still active and families are continuously losing homes to its financiers. In our street alone four houses are on the market and having for sale signs in their front lawns. It is unbelievable b/c the sight is considered unusual compares to ten years ago. We have been living in this neighborhood since ninety nine and to see many houses for sale at one time is really a shocking. Our place isn't grand but "IT'S OURS" and that is what matters! It was paid for and it's in our names. Nobody could kick us out if ever we miss a payment. And to go to bed every night knowing you own your own place is very assuring and gives you a self-worth. Can you imagine throwing your money away for something you can't account for at the end of every month? Well, that's what happens to these families who rents! You keep giving your money away for something you cannot claim as yours later (not to mention all the regulations you have to comply such as no loud music, no garden, no grilling, no washer and dryer ..... and the list just keeps on and on). That is why every New Year, I feel sooo grateful knowing that we own our place and that we don't have another twelve months ahead of us to pay (for the next, who knows how many more years to come). The repetition is just like carrying a monkey on your back forever hahaha. I have never remembered us renting growing up. The moment I started to walk and talk, we were in our own place my parents bought for few hundred pesos. It was not grand either but we made a home out of it and we went from there. You just have to rise from the ground up and learn how to do the process along the way. Now that I have a family of my own, I make it a point that I wouldn't allow my kids to grow up in the place that doesn't belongs to us. Family values practices can go a long way and it is very, very beneficial. My dear dearest is in his early 50s and yours truly in middle 40s. My son is almost 15yrs old and our Jann will turn 11yrs next month BUT Thank God, we don't have any landlord to deal with! Speaking of my kids, New Year's news is that ..... they still reign at making the grades academically! Joss has a "4.5" GPA as of first term and Jann is still raking up "All A's". Their report cards are sent home today and as expected, their grades are both jaw dropping. I really meant to show them off but our baby's foto took the place. The featured clipping is way overdue and I decided to post it before anything else except of course with Joss' highlighted Grade Point Average which is pretty amazing !!! Way To Go, dad and mom's smart students!

"Remember, If Christmas Isn't Found In Your Heart, Youn Won't Find It Under A Tree"

It is always an exciting fact to know "nothing on your lists is forgotten"! From shoes to purses and from garments to Xbox games we got one too many of each. Santa came and left as he did many times in the past. And as usual he brought everything we were asked for. Foods and dishes on the table are too many to count and just thinking how to chew each menu makes your jaw overly tired hahaha. We have two sorts of cuisines for my family is made of two different cultures. I fixed "sweet and sour porgy in three sweet peppers" from Atlanta's Farmer's Market in addition to my "pancit bihon", "pancit canton", "baby bok choy with pork in oyster sauce", and "prawns in minced garlic and soda". Boy, it was heaven and kids doesn't know where to begin. Filling up my plate is really becomes a chore hahaha. My dear dearest has his own fixing! Country cooking is his expertise aside from the desserts he's really good at making. Truly a sweet sensations for the holidays! Spaghetti and meatballs are not on the menu. For one thing, that is what you usually fix on an ordinary days and we never bought any "take-out orders" for the dining table. What we see is what we cooked and everything tastes good. Home cooking can never be beaten. That's all there is to it. And when you cooked every dish in your spouse presence it makes it more tastier hahaha. We are a family of cooks, there's no doubt about it! It makes sense 'coz both of my kids loves cooking as well. I don't care how you flip it or twisted it BUT Christmas isn't a Christmas without attending the mass (well, that's how I was brought up and passing this simple Christmas tradition on to my kids will do no harm ..... I'm pretty sure!). And to the Catholic church we went, all the four of us. Instead of going today which requires a motivation to get up early, we decided to sit on the pew yesterday attending the children's mass. It went well and smoothly and with our priest handing out Christmas pens for the kids, the ambience turned out wonderfully. Foto below was taken yesterday at the altar of the church we go to every Sunday for the past thirteen years. Take a look !!! If I can take tons and multitudes of fotos within 365 days in a row, I am positive I still have the "urge" and "desire" to take my husband and children to church to attend the Christmas mass. What do you say? The family life we have haven't taken over by my camera as it did to sooo many entities I knew! The thing about picture is that, when you see one, you see them all, is it not?

"Genius Without Education Is Like Silver In The Mine"

First sem of the 2011-2012 school year for my "sonshine" Joss, is finally over. And just like the semesters he had before this one, he again excelled and exempted from taking his finals. His overall average is quite a record! It is remarkable and we are sooo very proud of his achievements and hard work. While the rest of his class will be taking finals on Monday and Tuesday of next week, our "sonshine" will be sitting at home and will get busy with his iPhone hahaha. Oh, the power of having a good study habit! A straight A's student, indeed! It looks like making one B will put a blemish on the record. Maintaining an All A's is not the same as having A's & B's. He told me it was an amazing and very productive first semester. My dear dearest is in amazement about his grades. He thought that for Joss to take "advanced" courses, the path will be a 'lil difficult but it turned out just the opposite! Two more advanced courses will be tackled starting next year but I know from the core of my heart Joss will thrive as he did many times in the past. To evaluate something, you have to know the pattern. And with Joss and his commitments to get on top, all seems possible. Each year courses gets harder but his determination fueled his motivation to beat the odds. We all know he is really smart and blessed with intellect and that fact isn't strange to his knowledge. Joss is very much aware of his capability and what he can do! He's looking forward to his High School graduation and being a member of "Honors Savings Club", a club for students from 9th grade and above who make all A's for any semester which was sponsored by CharterBank. Now, we are talking "funds", "green", and "Benjamins" to the Pharmacy school. Whew! my intro gets into Joss' performance quite deeply, don't it? Well, here's the "cream of the crop" folks! When I say "SpellingB Star", I mean it is really about a SpellingB Star! And that title goes to none other than my darling daughter Jann. You have to earn every "title", if you know what I mean. "Self-proclaimed" is a piteous act of desperation. Got it? The competition was held today at the library of her school. She had to go against five other students who represent as winners of each class (three from 4th grade and two other from her grade). To thrive is not easy of a job but with your talent and intellect nothing is impossible. A never polished intelligence is a wasted quality just like silver in the mine. You can tell the entire world how smart you are as often and as many times you want but guess what? That don't mean a thing. If you fails to get an education, that is nothing. Jann, as her school spellingB champ, will compete for the County title against other school winners next month. Sheeesh, if you guessed I am excited ..... You betcha! My husband and I couldn't be more proud of our "two smart students"! They truly rocks. Who would ever thought that both of them will become their grade school's spellingB champs. Our daughter wins this school year and her brother won 5yrs earlier. Joss took home the very same title in 2006 that made him as SpellingB champ for 2006-2007 school year.

"Fishing Is Beneficial Because Like What My Mother Said, You Always Caught It Thru Its Mouth"

A "catfight" was observed the other day! And boy it was chaotic. The sad part is, both parties tried to drag their "dirty laundry" for everyone to hear. Sheeesh, I haven't heard sooo much skeleton falling from each participant's closet! Talkin' about who could step-on harder over another and do much damage. In the end, nobody wins and both ends up a loser. The truth is always painful, that is very well true! It sting and it bites. That is why no one wants to hear it. But if you are a person of principle you'll always tell the truth and will value morals over anything in the world. If you don't want to be reminded of being married to an "old fart", you shouldn't marry one in the first place. And if you are embarrassed to drag him with you, you should have thought of that before you put yourself in the situation you are in. How difficult is that? And hey, if it is true be humble about it and ....."SUCK IT UP"! My sissy in Bangkok is a person of principle. Always has and always will. She don't have a strong stomach to marry an old man! I told her I can't do it either (especially a 60y/o who'll move you in an apartment). Huh, how sorry is that? It is a shame to lay down with a man twice your age and older than your dad! Where is the respect for yourself? I know poverty makes people do unimaginable things but hey, I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth either you know? Scantily grew-up with me plus of course some morals. And as I gets older respect for myself grow as well. I strived harder to get educated and rise from the ground up. I didn't make myself as a "piggy back" to nobody. In other words, my husband doesn't look like my "sugar daddy" hahaha. Does yours? Hmmm, that is sooo "obviously"! Cheesy Cat? You may wonder ..... "what does that mean"? Well, Look It Up! Remember, you can't put a lipstick on a pig hahaha. You may add a bow and something else extra but in the end, it is still a pig. Just like a Filipino girl who grew-up dirt poor in the Philippines, you brought her here and dressed up and adds some make-up on, but behind that mask the girl is still dirt poor. Now you know why majority of them doesn't post their vacation picture of their homes. The sight is sad and worst imaginable. Bamboo stick walls and dirt floor, it can't get any worst than that. But believe me that is exactly where they go back to everytime they want to see home.

"Simply Knowing How To Sing Doesn't Make You Singer, And Just Because You Know How To Paint Doesn't Mean You're A Painter"

The difference between using a debit card and a credit card is that with debit card you don't worry about interest and paying it back. And though both are easy to swipe, you have more control with the debit card because you are using what's in your fund. You say ..... "I'll charge this and that"! I say ..... "if you can't pay cash for it, you better put it back"! How's that sound? Shopping is much fun to do especially with your children and husband around (that's what I do). But I understand it is a 'lil awkward to tag-along a much older husband so what you do is leave him at home and just take your child with you hahaha. Getting the things you wanted is comprehensible but you don't have to wait till Black Friday to do it. Who wants to deal with madness and chaotic rush anyway? Not me, that's for sure! For few more dollars I'd rather give it to them than battling the crowd and get my toes stepped-on (not to mention the cold temp & parking lot hassle) hahaha. We did our part one shopping (we chunked it to few parts) at the "Shops Of Grand River" yesterday. We're on our way to my in-laws and decided to dropped by at the said place. Scouring "Shops" was a breeze! Nothing beats a peaceful shopping experience and it can't get any more smoother than that! Doors we didn't storm-in were "The NIKE Store", "Polo Ralph Lauren", "Justice", "Claires", "Banana Republic", and "Coach". We just walked-in thru and picked what caught our curiosity. As simple as that! Today, Auntie (dad's wife & kids' granny) cooked for us. Her kids came and went and my dear dearest's 6'4" big bro stayed for awhile. He showed my dear husband all the new attachments he had on his "Harley" and like what I told everybody, he also showed "all" that is attached to him hahaha. That "line" of mine sure made everybody cracked-up for a solid 3min or so. My husband thought it was sooo funny. Competing with the crowd isn't part of our plan tonight but we compromised with the kids to swing by at "The Summit" tomorrow on our way home and see if Joss' iPhone 4S is available at the Apple store. I may want to stick my head to "Williams-Sonoma's" door as well while we're at the vicinity. Oh, I am just a big fan of what they offered, kitchenwise! I guess this is it for my "Thanksgiving Talks"! And remember, why wait till Black Friday to get the things you wanted. When you think of shopping, you just shop !!!

“Be Regular And Orderly In Your Life, So That You May Be Headstrong And Original In Your Work”

Whew! A face is a face no matter what you do with it and if I tell you everybody is good-looking, you might as well push me off the cliff because I am certainly lying hahaha. They say you can't put a lipstick on a pig and that ugliness do exist! That is very well true. I know few parents will admits with sincerity about how their child looks like (I did that at least on my part) and some won't and rather lives in denial. A thick lips, flat nose, and slanty eyes aren't the factors we picture in our head when we think of good looks, aren't they? Mixed children usually has an amazing and distinctive facial features though that doesn't apply to all cases just like when Jann was a newborn. I will sound biased if I said otherwise. Truth and reality has been and will always sounds mean. That's all there is to it! But look at this way ..... hypocrisy harbors lies and with dishonesty integrity fades away. We kept Jann's newborn foto and showed it to her and let her decide what she thinks of it. She saw it and expressed her thoughts. I told her it is always a positive attitude to express the truth and that she no longer a newborn. What matters is how she looks at ten years old. Getting back on board, kids from parents of the same ethnicity is another story. And though that doesn't apply to all cases either just like in mixed children, there are some looks that you can't shake-off from your memory hahaha. Oh well, like mother like daughter they say! Our Jann, just like mom is truly a go-getter. Genius still needs to study as what my children were told. Two weeks before the actual class competition, her homeroom teacher sent-out a 450 spelling words to go thru on a paper sheet. Prepping-up my Jann is an obligation to which I considered. And being my children's full-pledged daily motivator, I did just that! Both of my kids were born a competitor. They compete, thrive, and love being challenged. As Jann with her big bro were waiting for the school bus this morning she asked ....."what if I did not win, Mom?". "That is fine, sweetie! At least you try", I replied! I know 450 words aren't easy to stock-up in your memory but it was sent home by the teacher for a reason. You can't toss it somewhere and expect your child will come home as a winner. It doesn't work that way. Parenting is an assigned task and how effective it is depends on what your children achieved and how they behave. It felt like I did an awesome rewarding job. My kids are the core of my evolution and I won't stop for nothing to be a part of their daily living. My schedule gets hectic too just like the rest of the people I know but hey, I have all the extra time in the world when it comes to my children. They are my top priorities (second to none without the slightest doubt) and when I say they come first, I really mean it. Well, what they become so far reflects where did my sparetime was spent ^_~.

"To A Father Growing Old Nothing Is Dearer Than A Daughter"

A man with "unsteady gait" showed up in a clinic with a question. "My eight year old child called me great-granddad while we were having breakfast this morning. Am I really old?", he asked. "How old are you?", replied the physician. "Just sixty years old", answered the man. You can visualize a much younger child and the much much older dad from this scenario, can't you?. I have a story to tell myself. A dear pal of mine asked me once ..... "have you ever noticed that most Filipinos living in the Lone Star State were married to an old fart?" I know my pal is expressing a very good point but my response was ..... "I have to disagree with you on that based on one thing". And here is why. A family friend who lives in Lubbock was married to the right guy with an appropriate age. And for that, she earned all my respect! Not Anna Nicole Smith if you know what I mean? Anyhow, this girl I know is the closest you can get to a maniac as far as picture taking is concerned. Her fingers will melt with the shutter if you'll let her and nothing escape from her vantagepoint. You know rusty cans, dried leaves, tall grass or even leather shoes in a scorching hot summer days. Things like that! In all the pictures in the world that she took, her husband isn't one of them. It makes you wonder and keeps you guessing. Till finally last year as we were getting close to the holiday, she did! And at last the final piece of the puzzle was put in. Her husband makes her look as if she was his grandchild. He's as old as dirt. It's no wonder she can't find any courage to show him in the photo with her. As what my husband always uttered ..... "how can these girls stand an old men crawling all over them?" That would be for these girls to answer. When an old man, (let us just change that to an "old guy" instead) from TN offers marriage to my forty three year old sissy in Bangkok, she told me she just don't have the "stomach" to go for it. That goes to show you  the fine line between respect and principle. Some girls still have it and some don't (it depends on which girl your character falls into). I know our parents are proud of us. We went to college and got an education. We explored what's out there and tried our best to rise from the ground up. We could stick around and sit back at home and hope "an old fart" will come along with a promise of milk and honey (but of course there's more in his package than honey & milk) hahaha. SSS or saggy scrotal sac isn't a diagnosis but an expected assessment findings in elderly. Now tell me if that ain't a sight to see every night and you are but a 'lil over thirty years old. The featured foto below isn't of a "father and his daughters or grandchildren and their granddad" by the way. That is of an old man and his ..... "you know what". You can easily spotted the "odd one out! Is the sight looks familiar? I don't see myself in it. Did you see yours?

"Pray For A Good Harvest, But Keep On Plowing"

It is inevitable to run into someone you know or previously met when you are constantly on-the-go! There is really no other way around it. Speaking of such, I bumped into an old acquaintance and boy if she didn't balloon to the max! I am glad she didn't ask where I was headed b/c I am almost positive she would wish she maintained her mouth shut. I am on my way to the sports complex by the way! I don't have any clue what had happened to her but she sure is "edematous" as if she has some kind of "fluid overload". And those arms? Sheeeesh, those are the kind you want to stick at a healthcare settings! My friend Kay, I bet, is chuckling while reading this line but I know she comprehend what exactly I am talking about. Hey Kay, remember "edematous" and "fluid overload" from the nursing school hahaha? We have to weigh them daily, didn't we? Anyway, Joss had tried-out for a soccer team a couple of weeks ago. The said sports has been in his mother tongue ever since he left his Middle School. I am fully aware it won't come cheap to be in it plus NIKE brand isn't there to be given away. But our Joss is a model student you see both academically and extra curricular and I won't think twice to bend backwards for my son (oh man, that is a challenge to do hahaha). Hurrah for Joss! He's in and doing his scheduled practice on a weekly basis. Early next year he will be in the field testing his soccer ball kicking skills. My son is gravitated towards being great at playing soccer and pursuing a degree in Pharmacy. Everytime he opens his mouth, it is all about being a Pharmacist few years from now. Watch-out people! A Pharmacist is in-progress from the Bells' clan. Well having to say that, Joss both have the grades and the brain to pull-it-off, don't you think? "Do what you love to do and follow your heart's desire" and everything will fall into its place, as what I always remind him. "Go for it, son! Everything is possible in a "young man who can do". This post is supposed to be for my darling daughter's achievement but look at me, I got side-tracked! Jann made a statement thru her grades once again, didn't she? You can always pray for a good harvest but without plowing the ground up religiously, it won't happen. You have to meet Him halfway! Before my kids were being conceived, I always asked Heaven for a brilliant  children. When I realized my wish was granted, I did and still doing my part. And it is up to me to keep doing it! Hey, I did my part, didn't I? As expected, her name reign from one of the All A's amongst fifth graders at her school. Take a look at the feature shot below !!!

“To Be Persuasive We Must Be Believable; To Be Believable We Must Be Credible; Credible We Must Be Truthful”

It is not important to me how do you or where you dissipate your time because I don't benefit from its outcome. But it is a big deal to me where I consummate mine for there is nobody but me who could procure the end-product of it. I know a lot of people could sit in front of their PCs untill their eyeballs bulged out of their eye sockets or till their "tushes" melts with the chair hahaha. But not this writer, here! What so strange though is that you'll hear them venting out about "headaches & migraine" attacks! Duh? Where have you been, Dumber? Stay out of the computer and you will never suffer! Ohhh money, for few dollars you really made them more greedier! Kids well-being are push to the side and in some cases, kids school performance are look-upon as second of importance. Poor kids of these poor parents, I tell you. It is so unfortunate we can't choose the parents and or family we want to be born into (if that is the case, I am almost certain multitudes of kids had already done so). If there is one thing in this world I would give credit for, that is the family values my parents passed on to me. I was from a "different" kind of generation (there's no doubt about it) but hey, that doesn't exempt me from doing what I believe is still effective and credible! I see thru my kids what my parents used to see in me. Way back then where electronics and hi-tech gadgets weren't an items that makes people crazy and only parents' motivation and good guidance are available, good kids are likely to arise. Not at this current era we're in! Some parents are drawn to new gadgets, tweaks, and comments while few are too gravitated towards out-doing each other hahaha. One thirty-something mom who is married to sixty-something man enjoys her "majority men" commentators hahaha. Boy, you can tell as if she's walking in the air! Another entity from the other side of the globe is too confused how to keep up with her former neighbor (I am just wondering if one ever jump-off a cliff, could the other be behind her to follow hahaha). They both all have kids in school but none of them ever talked about their children's progression. It is a pity why there were mothers out there who were into deep-concentration about themselves rather than monitoring their childrens' learning progressions. Well, it's much much different in this neck of the woods (excerpted from my friend Kay)! Down here "pupils power" still reign. We must not forget children are like "sponges", they absorb everything they see or hear around them and in variations both huge and small! It is the gesture we make for them daily that leads them to be progressive in every aspects of life. And many thanks to the parents of these kids for telling others without a single word the line that goes ....."look at us, we are what kind of parents we have at home".