Ok, here are updates.

Got sick. Whew. I thought it was swine flu but thank God, it's not. I am better now except for the cough.

I have been busy studying for the CSET on May17. I hope and pray I will make it.

The trip to the north was awesome!!

I got my work permit, finally. The jobhunting is on! Well, not until after I finish the test on May17 and I hear from Oakland.

Goals/Prayers: to find a stable job and to normalize my life with Alex.

hello world!

After almost two years, I had guacamole again today. A friend made one for my lunch. It was really good. It was my first time today to actually like guacamole. Having a Hispanic husband did not work for me before, but homemade guacamole is actually good, I realized. The one I had for lunch today was better than the ones in restaurants. I have always liked avocados and so Diane and I just mashed one avocado, add a little tabasco and salsa, put a little rice vinegar, sprinkle some onions and salt and pepper, and squeeze a lime into it. That's it. My guacamole was perfect. I plan to do it at home so Alex can enjoy it too. With my guacamole was quesadilla with cheddar cheese inside. Hmmm.. It was just perfect!

Anyway, I have been busy lately. I have two, no, three major preparations to do. I will have a 6hr teaching interview on the 26th and I have an interview with the USCIS for my permanent resident status on the 30th.I will do the former in Oakland and the latter in LA. These are places in opposite directions. My mind lately was full of bus and train schedules, hotel bookings, studying, mailing registration materials to Evaluation Systems and my transcript to AERC, following up my registration/application, collecting proofs of union including pics, tax documents, and other papers that are asked for by the immigration. It was fun! I like being busy anyway. Every moment of it was worth it. I like planning and preparing for something good to happen!

And there's this CSET on May 17. Hopefully, the Evaluation Systems would approve my application for alternative testing arrangement. I really cannot take it on a Saturday.

What else? Hmmm.. A close friend and I reconnected after a slight misunderstanding a year ago. We talked for almost 30mins on the phone and it was just like the old days. She just opened an online business called Pinoy Takeout (www.pinoytakeout.com) and this is for OFWS who want to send food and/or flowers to their loved ones in Pinas. So, to all OFWS, check the website out. I personally think the business is a brilliant idea.

I have been toying on the idea of having a 2nd wedding in the Philippines when Alex and I visit Pinas. It will still be a simple one but for sure, my parents and immediate family will be there. All my friends will be invited, and it will be on a beach setting!! Originally, that was what Alex and I wanted but because of money and time constraints, we were not able to do so. I am excited to do it! Hope it will be soon!=)

Speaking of weddings, Alex and I served as emcees of the wedding reception of our friends Eden and Stan on April 5. It was cool that we were able to do it together. My husband was soo good. He made the audience laugh. He just knew what to do when he's in front of people, because he loves to be so. It's so funny that at the end of the celebration, some people asked us, "You two are good together. Are you together?" Alex said, "Yeah, shes my boss." Hahahaha

I will tell stories more next time. I will surely take pics in Oakland! Pray for me guys. I need this teaching job.=)


Eden and Stan's wedding in Riverside

just random thoughts

Man, it's already April 2! "Time flies so fast" is an understatement. I have been in California for 10 months now and I still feel like I just arrived and I am still new to the place and I just got married. Wow.

My life has been pretty messy here, though. I am still not satisfied with where Alex and I stand right now but so far, we've been blessed. We have surpassed the trials, he has an OK job, we have a church that loves us, we have things we get busy with, we have many things to look forward to. Just when I was so depressed one day, we received a letter from USCIS about our scheduled interview on April30, and two months of waiting time is blessing enough compared with 6months to 2 years for others! God is still very good to us. In my 10-month stay here, He has taught me patience because I do not have that. My friends, family, and husband know that. I wanted to work so badly though I should not. I wanted to adjust with American life right away though I have only been here for a short time and I do not even go out that much. So many things I want to do but I cannot. I am still a baby in this country. It takes time to grow up. Patience, Rica. It pays to be patient.I have been praying hard to be one and so far, God has been helping me. So happy..It has results I did not imagine to see.

April 30 would be a turning point for me. After that, the challenge of getting a job begins. The journey of getting to the real world starts. I am anxious. I do not know what will happen, what career path will I be in, who are the people I will be with, where will I be..or, will I even get a job?? In California alone, the unemployment rate is 10%. That is high. Even degree holders lost their jobs due to recession. Even government employees arent secured anymore. It's a scary reality. So many uncertainties lie ahead. To whom will I hold on to? My husband is here, very supportive, very encouraging, loving, and he's been a very good guide to me, but he cannot help me in the fulfillment of my dreams. He can encourage me all he wants but it's still me and our God who can make everything possible. I need to use my knees and have the faith that everything will get in place in His own time. I have been in this state before, when you're on a dead end and you do not know what's next to happen. Worse, you're blindfolded. At that point in 2007, God and I were holding hands on that dead end and He opened a door for me in Palau. All the while I thought I'd only stay in my home country but God did something out of the blue, a very good opportunity for me to explore the world and appreciate Him more. I feel like I am on a dead end right now, holding hands with God and waiting where He would lead me. Just like what He did to me before, I am sure He will do a beautiful surprise to me again, a life that is in tune with His will. It's about time, Lord. I cannot wait until that interview ends. I cannot wait until you'll show me where to go and what to do!!! I cannot wait! Ooops, I mean, I will wait.=)

2009 will be a challenge. Get it on!

You are Charlie Brown:
You are tender, you fall in love quickly but you are also very serious about all relationships. . You are a family person. You call your Mom every Sund ay. You have many friends and may occasionally forget a few Birthdays. Don't let your passion confuse you with reality.

This is so true!!

***

My worst week was last week. It's my worst week ever since I arrived in the USA. I was just put in a spot that I became uncomfortable with and I was in misery. Something came up that got in the way of my family. My daily routine was ruined and that results to me freaking out.

I hope this week will be a better week. Please, Lord..

B-U-S-Y

I just realized today that I am a busy person. I actually do a lot of things. Look.

1. I am studying Language and Literacy Education in UPOU. Mind you, UPOU is demanding too.
2. I am reviewing for CBEST, the first 4-hr test I need to pass to become a certified California teacher. It will be in April.
3. I have a choir who does church-hopping almost every Saturday. Search for SOLE VOCE OF LOS ANGELES in youtube and you'll see how serious we are in God's ministry. We're eyeing on 4 concerts this year. The first one will be on the march 28.
4. I help my husband make money.
5. I have a husband to take care of. He does not require me to do so but I want to.

Wow, I cannot believe I actually have a lot of things in my hands. Once again, I have proven to myself I cannot be idle. I hate being idle.

***

Pray for me, guys. My greencard interview with my husband is on April 30.

argh!!!!

I was so mad last night. 'The Bachelor' is such a jerk.

He proposed to Melissa at the show's finale then he changed his mind 6 weeks later because he realized it's Molly he's in love with. What kind of guy is that?

DO not get me wrong, Melissa and Molly are two great girls. They are loveable and mature enough to handle a relationship but Jason, the guy, is such a fickle. Argh. I hate guys like that. He does not know how to take care of a girl's heart.

He already proposed to Melissa so he should be responsible enough to be true to his words. I like what Melissa said about engagement and marriage as a one-time thing. It's one stage in a person's life that you should not play with or take for granted. When you're engaged, you are already committed. There's no turning back. There's no backing out. If feelings change, work for it. Feelings come and go. Love is a decision. It's not based on feelings. I do not think Jason is ready for a commitment. Look, he is divorced and that means he can easily break a promise. And now, he breaks off an engagement. Again, he can easily break a promise. What kind of guy is that?

I like Melissa's parting words, "Do not call me. Do not text me anymore. Leave me alone, please." That was strong. That was courage.

If I were Molly, I'd have 2nd thoughts of accepting Jason back. She really should know more about him. His commitment is unquestionable. He can easily dump something. He can easily leave someone he promised the world to. He does not know what he is talking about. DOes he know what really love is? His statement, "Wish I can control what I feel. Wish I can control my mind" does not tell a person who knows what love is. Feelings are just part of love, but they are not the main ingredient of such a beautiful thing and so, yes, Jason, you can control your mind and heart by being responsible and mature. Grow up, man.

I have been with jerks before. They said they loved me but they're not strong enough to fight for the relationship with me. They did not know how to be the leaders of the relationship. They did not know how to care of my feelings. They did not know how to be responsible. Actually, they did not know what love is. I am so blessed to have ended up with Alex. Even if we have ups and downs, we always work for our relationship, and he leads the way. Love is an everyday thing. It's not an easy road to take but because we are committed to work it out, we are happy with each other every single day.

Love is commitment. Love is a principle. Love is a decision. Make that decision and the feelings will just follow.

conversations

One night, Alex was really sleepy while I was still studying..

Alex: Langga, goodnight. Dream of me tonight.
Rica: What? YOU dream of me.
Alex: That's the plan. (zzzz)

***

Last Saturday, I was torn between going to observe my choir in Palos Verdes church or meeting Alex's dad and brother. They're driving one hour from Lancaster just to see us.

Rica: Believe me, I want to hang out with your dad, but, just curious, are you open to the possibility of me going with the choir while you meet with your dad and brother to have guys' hang out?

Alex: Yeah.(pause) But I won't be happy.

So I stayed and waited for his family to arrive.=)

marriage

Marriage is hard. Now I believe my mom when she told me that.

Do not get me wrong, I do not regret marrying my husband. He's the best for me. I know I could not find anyone who's as nice, understanding, loving, and smart as him. Everybody, including those Filipina women in church, who knows him always tell me, "He's nice. You made a good choice." I know I made the right choice. No doubt about that. But we're still two different people with our own likes and dislikes. Everyday, we communicate. We re-commit. We flirt. We laugh. We hug. Sometimes we argue. We cry. We get tired and frustrated. This is marriage and I am very much ready to continue facing this big forever partnership.

Though I am an optimist, I worry too. And pessimism comes with worry. And when pessimism strikes, it's so hard for me to rise and move on. I sink more than I rise. So starting today, I am going to make changes. I am going to dwell on positive things that are happening everyday in our marriage and the efforts of my husband to keep our love alive.

After all, this is how Philippians 4:8 says. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

I have realized something since I said, "I do" to Alex on September 12 of last year: Marriage is only for the strong people. I am glad I am married. =)



Happy Hearts day to my provider, friend, confidant, counselor, lover, listener, fan, supporter, partner, and spiritual partner Pierre-Alexander Glaze!

i messed up..

it's just very easy to make, but i messed up with my deviled eggs. it's supposed to look like this but mine's just, hmmm..messy and looks lousy.so frustrating.



as usual, alex was understanding about it but i didnt like it. i should have boiled the eggs a little longer, mixed the ingredients more thoroughly.sigh* next time..next time..

25 things

1. I used to have 50+ penpals in elementary and high school. i would not spend my daily allowance for snacks. instead ill use it for stamps. i’d go to the post office during recess to mail my letters. Crazy me.

2. Because I had a lot of penpals, I used to collect stamps from the letters they sent me. It was so fun! I would cut the stamps from the letter and soak them in water to separate them from the envelope. then I’d dry them under the sun. This was my sense of fun.

3. I started getting interested in geography at 10 when miss universe was held in manila in 2004. I was reallya amazed with the number of countries represented by different women with different looks, so I started looking at maps and atlases to locate those places. There I knew there are 7 continents and different cultures from different countries.

4. If I was under College of Social Sciences and Philosophy in college, I’d surely be a Sociology major. If I was into medicine, I’d want to be an OB-Gyne. Don’t know why.

5. I was not a good big sister to my younger siblings. apathetic. But now, we’ve really grown close.

6. after my graduation, I started paying the tuition fees of my younger siblings.

7. tall guys have always been my type, I just did not expect God would give me a 6’7 man. He’s the tallest man I’ve ever seen! Guys who are good in basketball are also my type but my husband doesn’t play the game. He's into soccer.

8. In college, I sold dewberry cookies.hahaha. it's either for an org's fundraising or personal needs.remember, batchmates? gosh, shameful days.hheheeh.

9. i have never liked berries - strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, either the real fruit or flavor.

10. i am a good liar. very good liar.

11. I was a broadcast communication major but ive never worked in productions since graduation EXCEPT when my boss in an ad agency where i worked part time as communication officer asked me to direct and write the script of a PhilSci AVP. it ended really good. the faculty and staff of the school liked it so much.

12. i knew i should have done more productions because i studied them for 4 years but God led me to teaching. I taught one sem in Ateneo de Davao, 3 sems in UP Mindanao, and one full school year in Palau. I taught 6th grade in Palau SDA School, a mission school.

13. I like reality shows - Homeland Security, The Bachelor, Pinoy Big Brother.

14. the best place ive ever been to is palau, a small island in micronesia.it's stress-free, very simple,full of natural resources, ocean and sunset is glorious, clean and marvelous beaches. It’s just wonderful! i had lived without cellphone and TV for a year, and I had never craved.

15. during college when everybody was talking about their plans after grad, i'd plan to go back home because 'davao needs me.' i was known for that line. hahaha.

16. i went to law school for 2months in ateneo. that was a great experience!i liked the adrenaline rush during recits.i liked staying in the library from 7am to 5pm everyday reading and studying and photocopying cases. scra was my bestfriend!!man, i miss those days!well, i stopped due to sabbath probs. sad.

17. without my parents' knowledge, i wrote their love story as an entry to chowking's greatest love story contest in february 2006. a few weeks later, my dad was surprised to have received a phone call from chowking saying they won in a love story making contest. chowking sent us lotsa gift certificates!!!

18. my favorite house chore is folding clothes. lavit!

19. i only learned to eat cereal, spinach, bell peppers, onions, celery, and hot pockets when i arrived in california last year.

20. im enjoying my studies in UP Open Univ very much!!!i didnt expect my gad studies would turn out this exciting!my major is Language and Literacy Educ.

another desperate attempts

so last night, i watched homeland security again. my eyes were all on TV, never did I leave even during commercial breaks. I would not want to miss any detail of the show. That's how much I like the show. I can feel thrill, challenge, fun, and seriousness at the same time.

Here are a few of the real-life situations that were shown last night:

1. Puerto Rico is already a US island territory so once you step there, you're already in US, though it's not part of the mainland. 93 Dominicans were spotted on a sinking boat by a high-tech manless plane that has high-end microscopes connected to the Customs and Border Patrol on land. They were headed towards Puerto Rico, hoping they'd get a better life. On their way, winds were strong and waves were angry. Their lives were at risk. US Coast Guard and Customs collaborated to save those 93 people. They sent a bigger boat in the middle of the night and off they headed back to Dominican Republic to return the hopeful illegal migrants. There were mothers and father, young men and women,and teenagers on that sinking boat. Already safe, a few people were interviewed and they said that looking for a better life and future is what pushed them to go to Puerto Rico. They wanted to leave Dominican Republic because there are no jobs there, no future, no improvement. I could empathize with these people.Sigh*

The US Coast Guard learned that the leader of their illegal adventure to Puerto Rico is the man whom they have been looking for since 1998 because of human smuggling, big-time smuggler he is. After arriving in Dominican Republic, ten of the 93 passengers, including that big-time smuggler, were sent back to US for federal punishment because of their criminal records. They're now detained.

2. In Miami airport, while passengers were getting their things from the luggage area, the airport alarm sounded off. All TSA people, Border agents, and other security officials were alarmed and shooed all the passengers to leave the area. A certain travel bag was suspicious. It was the cause of the alarm. They found it and all of them were anxious what's in it. They called a Drugs and Narcotics representative and another who's trained in Explosives. They would not open the bag until those who are called would arrived. Everybody was nervous. They're all serious. What could be in the bag? It could not be something light because the airport alarm went off. They found the owner of the bag and he's a crippled man. He was interrogated and compelled to open the bag. All eyes were on the bag, all mouths shut up, everybody was anxious and silent...they're all waiting for the owner to open his bag. The man's hand went down the bag and guess what he got from down there? Hmmm... A massager!!It was vibrating and so it sent signals around the area which caused the alarm to sound off. I could hear every official made a sigh of relief. The supervisor then shouted, "Everything cleared." And they all went back to their work. Whew.

3. A huge truck was passing by the border of Mexico and Texas. The driver was stopped for inspection. He was detained for a few hours for interrogation because up in his truck, a family was found - the parents and their son. The driver claimed he didnt know anything how the family got in there. Both parties were interviewed separately and the man was released and allowed to go to US after he convinced the Border agents about his innocence. The family, on the other hand, was sent back to Mexico. I cannot believe people can do that, risking a fellow's integrity for their selfish desires.

These are just a few of the stories featured last night. I cannot wait for next week's episode!

Homeland Security USA

I have a new favorite TV show and the title of this entry is the show itself. As I always tell Alex, I like reality shows. Homeland Security USA depicts real life situations that happen in international airports, borders, and other entry points of legal and illegal aliens getting to US. It is very challenging to watch how border patrol agents and members of TSA detect suspicious travellers and drug lords crossing the border to the US. I will tell you some situations in the last three episodes showing how desperate and stupid people can be in their desire to enter this country.

1. There is this Hispanic man in an JFK airport in NY that was about to throw up while waiting for his luggage. The TSA members were alarmed and guided him to a bathroom. Still he did not feel well. So he sent him to a doctor who performed an Xray of his stomach. Alas, 28 1.5-inch pellets were found inside him! They guided him to the bathroom again and asked him to throw them all up. He released 5 of them. When TSA inspected what the pellets are, they discovered there's heroine inside!Sigh* All 28 pellets in his tummy is worth $100,000!!! Stupid.Stupid.Stupid.

2. Another interesting situation happened in the border between US and Mexico. A woman was walking to a bridge that connected the two countries. What caught the border patrol agents' attention was, she was covering her mouth with a mask. They confronted her about it and did interrogation. She removed her mask and claimed she had a dental work done. She even showed the cotton inside her mouth. When the agents asked for her green card, she showed them a card with a different face. The face on the greencard looks chubbier and cheeky, so that explains why she was wearing a mask and pretended to have dental work while crossing the borders so her face would appear cheeky and chubbier. She said somebody sold the greencard to her and the money she spent for that was her savings for 5yrs. She looked sincere and telling the truth. Her face was not a face of a deceitful woman. She said she did not know what to do in Mexico after they'd release her. She does not have family anymore. When she was about to cry, the agents started going to the bathroom one by one to wipe their tears. They understood the situation but they had to do their job. They let her go back to Mexico with good and encouraging words.

3. One car in US-Mexico border 120 miles from San Diego was about to pass inspection successfully when a K-9 dog approached the car and would not let go. The dog went round and round the vehicle. The agents were concerned because they already inspected everything in the car and the driver was cleared. But the dog knew more than that. It smelled the tires one by one, and round and round the car. The agents went to touch the tires and there, they sensed something inside. They cut one of the rubber tires and there, they saw packets of drugs. Man, another desperate guy. So they led the driver aside and did processing.

These are just some of the situations shown in my new favorite show. Reality. Drama. Challenge. Intellect. Instinct. They're all in Homeland Security USA.

I want to be a border patrol someday!=)

i miss emilia.

Emilia was my favorite singer in high school. I really liked her song "Big, Big World" which was a hit in the US and UK before. I forgot about her for years after high school and today I looked for her in youtube. I found out she recorded more songs and produced more albums. I listened to some of her new songs and I realized I still like her, she is still my favorite. Her songs are pop-like and the messages deal with coping with real-life situations. They are also about being positive in life and being good about yourself. They are encouraging and inspiring, that's why I like them. This is one of her songs that I like, "Good sign."



Isn't she good? Isn't she pretty too? She's half-Ethiopian, half-Swedish.She is so simple too. She does not need heavy makeup and extravagant and sexy clothes to send her message across.=) I love Emilia now.

2008 talk

What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Staying in US for 6months.. travelling on a train for 7hours alone and penniless (but with ticket,of course)..Getting married. Yeah, I was never married before.

Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Didn’t have resolutions, only goals. I did not expect though I'd change my mind in not finishing my contract in Palau.

Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, Pastor Edgar's wife in Arizona! Finally, an angel came after 3 failed pregnancies.

Did anyone close to you die?
Thankfully, no.

What countries did you visit?
Early January, I was going back to Palau through Japan and Philippines. From then on to May, I was in Palau. June, I was in Davao. The last half, I was in US. Stopovers: Guam and Hawaii.

What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Maturity.

What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Sept 12, 2008 - I became Mrs. Glaze!Yay!

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
My marriage with my loving husband.

What was your biggest failure?
Not finishing my missionary contract in Palau. I needed to go.=(

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Sprained ankle because of too much excitement to chat with my then-boyfriend.

What was the best thing you bought?
A $79 dress, more expensive than my wedding dress. Waaah.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
My brother in law's. He just started dating after 8 long years. What's amazing is that, the girl is my close friend.

Whose behavior appalled you and made you depressed?
Mr. J's in Palau..A jerk.

Where did most of your money go?
Saving for my change of status. Whew.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Travelling to another countries! Studying in UPOU!

What song/s will always remind you of 2008?
Still thinking.

Compared to the previous years, are you:
a. Happier or sadder? Happier.
b. Thinner or fatter? Fatterrrrr.
c. Richer or poorer? Richer, but still not enough, US-wise.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Saving money. Pray more.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting time being angry and jealous of someone who does not even deserve my attention.

How did you spend Christmas?
With Alex's family over turkey, salad, pumpkin pie, and lemonade. The roasted turkey is the best!

Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yes, with my husband again and again.

What was your favorite TV program?
PDA and a telenovela of Claudine's. I watched them over pinoychannel.tv. I am very fond of Grey's Anatomy now.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hmmm...not really.

What was the best book you read?
I have read some books but they're not really good.

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Singing.=)

What did you want and get?
Visa and marriage.

What did you want and not get?
Work permit.

Favorite film of this year?Have not watched a lot of movies.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My mom prepared food and invited my high school friends at the last minute. My mom's the best! I was 24.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A career that would satisfy me personally and financially.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?No fashion sense, but I am learning to dress according to the different 4 seasons though.

What kept you sane?
God and His promises.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Alicia Keys. Patrick Dempsey.Just because of their looks.

What political issue stirred you the most?
Prop 8

Who did you miss?
My family back in davao!

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Do not stop dreaming and setting goals.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Cant think of anything.

The most touching experience you've had in 2008?
Surprising Alex with his favorite San Jose Sharks jacket.

What did you like most about yourself in 2008?
Was still goal-oriented.

What did you hate most about yourself this year?
That I couldnt control my emotions. I still easily get emotional.

Was 2008 a good year for you?
Yes. Too many challenges.=)

i miss pinas!!!

since i came here in the US, i have never seen a Tv commercial that makes me laugh or impressed me. Commercials here are bleh. I miss Pinoy commercials. I just knew that this Obama commercial just came out in the Philippines and boy, it is goood...Click and watch!=)

do i deserve this, Lord?

first quarter of Mrs. Glaze

So, last friday, when I got home, Alex told me we're going to Denny's and I hesitated. I did not see any reason why we had to go, anyway, we're saving up for something big next year. I was in my usual 'kulit' self on our way there. "Are you promoted? Is it Papi's or Mami's bday? Is Ariel (his brother) there? What's with December 12?"

He said, "I will just tell you when we get there. So if I were you, I will stop guessing."

When we arrived and after ordering cranberry juice for him and orange juice for me, he held my hands and said, "It's our first quarter together as husband and wife. I want to celebrate." I almost cried. "Thank God, we still do not hate each other." I smiled. I hugged him tight and we enjoyed our husband-and-wife conversation over tilapia with rice and beans for him and nachos with jalapeno and beef and sour cream for me.and oh, the all-time favorite of mine, garlic bread. it was almost 10pm and it was not wise for both of us to get stuffed. when we were on our way home, i asked him, "did any box arrive today?" he said, "yes, but I did not open it because I did not know to whom it was for." I just said, "Good. We will open it together."

I was glad it arrived that Friday. I knew it was the box I longed to arrive. It's my Christmas gift to Alex from NHL. It's a San Jose Sharks jacket he always looked at online and told me, "Isn't it nice, Langga?" But I usually brushed him off to give him the impression that I am not so interested about it, but little did he know at the back of my mind I was already planning to buy it and had it delivered in our doorstep.

When we arrived home, I told Alex calmly, "Why didnt you open it? It said it's for you." He was surprised because every time a box arrived from the post office or UPS, it was always for me. It would either be a gift from friends or relatives. So he did not bother to open the box the first he saw it. I said, "Open it. It must be something special."

He slowly opened the box and his eyes widely opened when he saw the turquoise/teal jacket from San Jose Sharks, his favorite ice hockey team! I said, "Merry Christmas, cielito! It's my Christmas gift!" He closed the box, sat beside me, and gave me the warmest hug in the world. He was teary-eyed when he said, "Thank you." I said, "You deserve it. Try it on. I am sure it looks good on you." Like a little boy receiving a toy he likes, he excitedly wore it and made a model-like pose in front of me. Hahaha. He was soo funny. "My wife gave this to me!!!" he shouted. He wore the jacket even when he went to sleep and he was hyper the whole weekend. =)

I am so happy to have made Alex happy. He has been so dead tired and stressed out everyday because of work and he really deserves to be happy. He will wear the jacket on March15, when we'll watch the San JOse Sharks Games in Anaheim. Cooool. I will surely post a picture here of him wearing it. For now, I can only show you the jacket.=)



It surely looks good with his color huh? =) Happy 1st quarter cielito..

manicure.pedicure.facial.massage.

wow, that felt sooo good yesterday!I had my first spa treatment yesterday since i arrived here in californi. it was amazing. it felt so relaxing. finally i managed to go to a spa all by myself and no worries how much i'd pay. (it was not as expensive as i expected it to be.)hope i can do it again with alex next time..

im in riverside, california and i love the weather of the desert! it's warm during the day, it's cold at night! it's soothing because it's not cool all day long unlike in LA and camarillo. i love desert life now, plus the cost of living is low.

i cant make a christmas wish list, money just doesnt allow. alex and i are prioritizing some things that need to be done soon - my papers, his studies, paying off debts and bills.thats it.

life is challenging here in US. it's not heaven, but it's not hell either. it's just different.well, im still on the adjustment phase. i have only been here for 5 months. im still hopeful things will get better as time goes by...indeed, my life is in His hands.=)

same sex marriage

This is a controversial issue here in california. on the election day, the YES votes - banning of same sex marriage - prevailed with a slim edge. Slim or not, deep inside my heart, I am happy with the outcome.

Alex voted no. His dad voted no too, though they both are personally against it. They said, they cannot impose their moral/religious standards on anybody and any person can do whatever he/she wants. The government should not stop them. God even gives us the freedom of choice. He does not stop/compel anyone to do something, but everybody should keep in mind that every choice has consequences. I respect my husband and father-in-law for their inner sentiments.

But I have my own stand too. When Alex and I applied for a marriage license in Norwalk, LA's big registry center, we saw many gay and lesbian couples lining up with us. Same sex marriages were still accepted that time for 4 months. It was soo new to me. When we got married in Lancaster, the officiating officer said we were the best-looking couple of the day because we were the only heterosexual pair who got married in Lancaster that day. I agree with her. I still believe in traditional marriage and the beautiful marriage God officiated in the Garden of Eden was for Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. It's as simple as that.I am not ready yet to see homosexual marriages legalized here in california.

Forgive me for being different but I am at peace with my choice to say Yes to banning of same sex marriage. Democracy has spoken. The people's message was clear. Be at peace with it too.

it rained!!!

i woke up at 7:10 am today and (lazily) did my devotionals. when I went out to open the door and get the morning paper, i heard the rain. finally, i saw the rain showers i always wished for 4 months now. yay!!! it's a dream come true. coming from two tropical countries in the past year, i miss rain! ive never seen rain since i left palau and philippines.the feel of the wet grass you step on is the one i miss most. well, california does not experience rain showers all the time. in fact, when it rains, it doesn't pour. so this morning, the rain stopped a few minutes after.;( that's it. that's the california rain. the good thing is, it was enough to wet the ground!ill go for a walk in a little while. the smell of the wet leaves falling from the trees and the sight of squirrels jumping around the village are enough to make my day. Thank God!