Hello December!!!!!

It's the 1st of December and I feel Christmassy. Eventhough I'm hunched due to some tummy pains. But I'm not letting it ruin the spirit.

To do this first week of December:
1) Christmas decor - home
2) Christmas decor - work
3) Shopping List - gifts
4) Price List - food orders
5) Finalize cooking sched
6) Christmas cards

2nd week of December
1) Christmas baking
2) Shopping - gifts
3) Gift wrapping -- have to get blue gift wrappers!!!!!!!
4) Preliminary food orders

Let me stop at that. Because the week after the 2nd will definitely be a juggling act. Will the time really arrive that I won't be rushed during Christmas season? Wonder....

Countdown.....

to Christmas!!!!

More than a fortnight, you might argue, but it'll just pass so quickly. And just let me be...as I'm thinking right now of Christmas in Manila. Sigh!

A Lull

Haven't posted the past 3 months. Too much on my plate, things on my mind, prepping for back-up plans.

Most things are in its place..I can relax a bit. There are some jittery nerves still but learned to cope. Will tell you more...

Visitors

Anxiety and speculations seemed to be frequent visitors the past few weeks. Not just for me but for quite a number of people I know.

This morning, they're here again. And worse, I think. Hushed discussions. Forced smiles. Anticipation.

Will this end tomorrow? Or sometime later this week? Hope so...

Flowery Morning

I wasn't feeling well yesterday, hence, I decided to stay home. Breakfast was first in my agenda (which was unusual) and since there were some left-over tocino and sinangag, I will be cooking sunny side-up egg to complete my all-time favorite tocilog. Clutching some old 24hrs to put in the recycle bin, I went down to the kitchen. Mid-flight, I smelled something different. I got nervous and tried to remember if I forgot any important event for June 11, or 12. Nothing that I can remember so I shrugged whatever that is that made me nervous.

Turned on the stove and opened the cupboard to take out the frying pan when I noticed a vase of gerbera daisies on the counter. It wasn't there the night before so I knew it was Franz who brought them home. Lovely flowers, I should say and they're the deepest of red -- such a pretty sight!


Franz didn't join me for breakfast so I wasn't able to ask him about the flowers. Finished eating and went to the dining room to get an apricot when the same fragrance I smelled in the stairway once again filled my senses. I can now fathom it -- ROSES -- one of my favorite fragrances. I closed my eyes and uttered a short prayer while visualizing white roses. When I opened them...lo! on the dining table is a pretty arrangement of roses, orchids and another unidentifiable flower --- all in white. I smiled and appreciated the beauty that greeted me on a day I feel unwell. I also felt terribly stupid that I immediately associated the smell of roses to someone's death whereas if the fragrance wasn't that random, I would have felt differently.


Right now, we're enjoying the beauty they bring us. The gerbera daisies now on the dining table while the white flowers are in the living room.

I sigh..close my eyes..and utter a prayer of thanks for a thoughtful nephew and... simple joys.

Where are you, sunshine?

I've posted a while back how Vancouver's weather is unpredictable. And the lush environment is partly because of the rainshowers that visit us every so often. But hey...we need some sunshine already. Rain and the gloomy weather have been with us for almost a week. It's almost summer but the temperature is nowhere like that. Anyone wants to sun-dance with me?

:)

A simple smiley!

Because I'm simply excited. Will be picking up S and hubby at the Tsawwassen ferry. They weren't able to get the cruise that will dock here at Vancouver, so they opted for the one that will stop at Victoria.

Kare-kare and kalderata waiting for them already. And embutido and lumpiang shanghai. I like rellenong bangus so I have this visit as an excuse to order (much as I can prepare this, I'd rather not...too much fuss).

We're planning to go downtown later. Meet-up with some highschool friends at night.
Whistler tomorrow. Quite a tight sched but I don't mind. I know I'll enjoy the visit. I just hope the sky will clear a bit. (Sunshine please..)

Goodbye, Robert?

Ojai Foods may well be on its way to redemption with the discovery of new found treasure at Narrow Lake. But this is the season's finale, it can't be without any hanging questions for the viewers.

Saul's hands bloodied and didn't want Kevin to touch him. Afflicted with something contagious?

Wanting a Hawaiian wedding ceremony for Justin and Rebecca, Holly, a few minutes after, lost consciousness. Will she make it to the next season?

But the biggest question:
Is it really goodbye to Senator Robert McCallister (played by still good-looking Rob Lowe)? He was badly hurt -- blood dripping, fading and then stared off at a distance.

If this is indeed the end for Robert, then I must say the send-off for him was fitting. Dignified..controlled hysterics (which is not the norm with Walker family). And will surely miss him next season.

Stay tuned for Brothers & Sisters Season 5.

Hostas In The Making

April 2

Two weeks after (April 18)

March 10

Two more weeks and it'll be full grown. Need to put egg shells this weekend to deter the slugs. Or should I use beer or ground coffee?

Flowers Grown Wrong

Silly me! Or rather ignorant me. I thought something went wrong with the tulips I've been waiting to bloom. A week ago, I noticed that 4 stems have multiple blooms. This observation is in addition to about 15 white buds I saw. I planted purple ones so what I saw growing in the garden plot were a bit unusual. I attributed the latter observation to the fact that I planted the bulbs way too late (January). However, the multiple blooms are more of a mystery to me.

I told Nola about the multiple blooms and she was surprised herself. She's been gardening and even worked in a nursery and this was the first time she heard about that. She said with a smile, "Your tulips are mutating." To which I replied, "Yes, mutant tulips!"

How the blooms look like

After planting the freesia and acidanthera corms this morning, I got the pile of planting instruction guides of the plants I currently have in the garden. And surprise..... I didn't only plant purple tulips. I also planted 12 Double Late Angelique and 10 Fringed Blue Heron. I totally forgot these infos!!!!! I then remembered that I even positioned the bulbs according to their blooming height. That's one mystery solved.

What about the "mutating" issue? I surfed the net a few minutes ago and learned that there are some tulip varieties with multiple blooms. Nothing specific though if it's the Angelique or Blue Heron. So there's no mystery. Just silly, ignorant me -- an aspiring gardener learning the ropes of gardening one step at a time.

Looking Forward To......

S passing by Vancouver. Ah...finally will be able to meet her husband.

Right now I'm trying to come up with a list of places to go. And I don't have their exact visiting dates. LOL! That's how mightily excited this mouse is.

Definitely on the agenda:
Gastown
Olympic Cauldron
Harbour Lookout!
Stanley Park

These are all in downtown Vancouver so we'll just go to these places in one sweep. On their first day or the second, not sure yet.

Tentative on the list:
Lynn Canyon
Queen Elizabeth Park
Fort Langley
White Rock
Steveston Village

Left out the wine tour, Whistler, Victoria, Robson shopping, Lonsdale Quay and Ambleside. We'll just decide in a few days or so... but it wouldn't hurt if they can extend. *wink*.

Patiently Waiting

Lizette posted this on her Facebook status. I think I have an idea what she's referring to. As Tnet said... patiently is the keyword. Ha! Clue!!!!

How I wish I could say the same. I'm waiting as well. But patiently...um...ummm. I need more than patience regarding this.

Loving the Weather

I'm not a "sun" person. It's not by choice...my system just can't function well with heat. Which is why migrating to Canada is a logical step for me.

And indeed, the weather here in Vancouver suits me. Mild winter, mild summer. Although the summer heat can still affect me in a negative way, at least there's no -20 winter days as Alberta nor humid summer months of Toronto. Rainfall in the winter is common but this rainfall is just Philippine's drizzle. I can live with that. Especially so that this precipitation is a big contributing factor to the lush environment.

It's May 1 today -- halfway through spring. It was a bit cloudy and there was a bit of nip in the morning but the sky cleared before mid-day. Sun shining brightly as I write but the temp's only 11 degrees. Superb! And tonight, it'll be balmy until the sun sets sometime 8pm.

For visitors to this lovely city it might seem too much for a day. Unpredictable, some might even say. But it's what makes Vancouver more interesting. I cope, as most Vancouverites do, by layering clothes and checking The Weather Network http://www.theweathernetwork.com/ on Ch 18 before heading out.

Vancouver Feast

Food lovers in Vancouver look forward to the annual Dine Out Vancouver. This year it will be from April 26 - May 6 with 208 restaurants participating. There are three (3) price points ($18, $28, $38) for a three-course meal. This is inexpensive considering that the participating restaurants are the top-rated ones in Vancouver.

Reservations start on Monday. It can be done through the restaurant or for convenience, through Tourism Vancouver's website: http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/dining/dineout.php

I asked my nephew to make our reservations. Kinda craving for steak so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will be able to get seats at Hamilton St Grill. If none, then The Fish House at Stanley it will be.

Eat to your heart's delight, Vancouver!!!!

Cyber-farming

There's a Filipino folksong that goes:
Magtanim ay di biro, maghapong nakayuko
Di man lang makatayo, di man lang makaupo.

English translation:
Planting rice is not a joke
Just bending all day long
You can't even stand still
You can't even sit down

Nowadays, quite a chunk of the populace had experienced farming. However, not the kind of farming that after toiling the land and harvesting will put food on one's table. I'm talking about the farming happening in the cyberworld: Country Life, Farm Town and Farmville. These are some of the games one can play on his Facebook account.

Personally, I started with FT (FB lingo for Farm Town) late last year. Two weeks to the game, I was consumed with the desire to buy the much-coveted mansion. Played it like crazy. However, work schedule prevented me from becoming an FT addict. I only got to work on Hacienda Biday during my lunch breaks and occasional weekends. Thereby leaving me at stage 28 -- after 2 months of playing. Currently I'm at stage 38. But since I was on a re-arranging mode last month and wasn't able to continue, the hacienda is in a sorry state. I occasionally visit it only to harvest the fruit trees and to water the flowers.

So what swayed me away from the addicting game? Another Facebook application: Farmville, or FV to us "farmers". Same as FT, a farmer needs to plant and to harvest to earn points and coins. Purchase of buildings and decorations helps you go up the ladder, so to speak. Not to mention the gifts from friends and neighbors.

These FB games might appear a bit lame to some. I quite agree..for the Playstation and Nintendo have better games. However, these 2 farming games let me interact with friends who otherwise find Resident Evil and Super Mario quite complicated. After all, we're into this just to while away time...a way to relax after a day's work.

For now, what I need to remember is to make sure I harvest the rice for the co-op farming with Susan and Nicky. We have to get the gold this time.

An Unexpected Smile

Monday - Easter Monday -- is a stat holiday in our company. Together with Good Friday, it made up the long weekend this month. What a good opportunity it should have been to go out and take a holiday. However, workload didn't permit me.

Waking up that day, I literally have to drag myself out of bed. I wanted to be at work before my supervisor gets in -- had to ready the stuff he will be working on that day. Up and about...went to Burnaby thinking already of what I will do when I get home!

The day went on smoothly. I probably went through 2500 images. Not much for the 2 books I was working on. It was pretty quiet as only a handful of us insanely came in. No phone calls from sales. These 2 combined equated to: LOTS OF WORK DONE! By 4pm, I had enough...am going home.

When I got on the bus at the terminal, I had to go to the back as there were no more vacant front seats. Had to stop on my track as there was a man in denim jacket (I can only see his back) blocking the way. It seemed he was trying to start a conversation with a middle-aged lady already seated. I've no problem with that except that he shouldn't be blocking the narrow passageway. There's already a queue behind me and some passengers were staring at them already. I was about to tell him to move when I saw him handing the lady a yellow tulip. Whoa!!! A Romeo on the bus. The lady accepted it hesitantly, probably just to avoid anymore stares. She hadn't even finished thanking him when he turned to another lady on the other side handing her also a tulip. Now...everyone's eyes are focused on the man. And then he turned and when he saw me, quickly grabbed another tulip from the bunch he was carrying and gave it to me. It was too sudden all I can do is accept it -- with a very surprised look. Realizing, probably, my reaction, he smiled and shyly uttered that it might not be the best-looking tulips he was distributing but he felt that he should share them. Then he just went past me. He handed 3 more to each of the three ladies in front before he settled to his seat -- leaving us all puzzled but smiling.

On my seat, I looked at where he was seating and wondered what is it with this man. Was he a bit crazy or was he just simply trying to be nice? I decided on the latter. Although his actions elicited varying reactions on the bus, the very thought that he brought smiles to strangers, including me, is enough to wish him good. The tulips may just be from his yard -- definitely not store-bought -- but it was the thought that mattered. And that put a smile on my face..all the way home.

Tired Bulbs

......that's what my officemate Nola told me when I mentioned to her that my hyacinths didn't bloom nicely this year.

I was all smiles when I saw them peeking mid-January. Quite early for them, actually. I was attributing this to the unusual winter weather we experienced. I didn't think much of it except that I'll get to have hyacinths earlier than usual. Who wouldn't like to smell that waft of sweet fragrance while enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon on the patio?

However, in full bloom 2 months after, they quite gave a disappointment! The florets were few -- about 5 to a flower. The pink ones fared better than the whites and purples. And the leaves were dull green!!

Guess Nola was right! So on the weekend, will just lift them off the ground so I can give the space to some Bachelor's Buttons -- in time for summer.

A Little Woman Adventure Part II

Continuing with the list of "things women have to do once". Made some comments this time.

21) Ask a man out
Done that!
22) Buy a really racy piece of lingerie
Okay. Will keep that in mind!
23) Invest in a high risk stock
Risky...
24) Send yourself a dozen roses
1991... I remember! With Monette.
25) Audition for a Broadway musical or a TV reality show
Auditioned in Manila
26) Go skydiving
On my bucket list already
27) Bet it all in Vegas -- and let it ride
This I have to think about..
28) Go on a carriage ride through Central Park
With the love of my life on an autumn day...this will be heaven.
29) Be the boss
Boss who??
30) Try on very expensive clothes in a boutique that you know you can't afford
Who wants to go with me??
31) Invent an interesting part
Will start tomorrow!
32) Talk in a foreign accent all day
Hey, I'm a Filipina residing in Canada.
33) Write a scathing letter to the editor
Pass!
34) Buy a round for everyone in the bar
Next St Paddy's...
35) Smoke a cigar
Yeah!!
36) Run for a worthy cause
Did a couple of years ago.
37) Pamper yourself at an all day spa
Divine!!! One thing I miss about Manila. You can indulge without hurting the pocket.
38) Have a three martini lunch and go back to work refreshed
Had whisky at work many years ago. Will that count?
39) Create your own holiday and celebrate it every year
Thinking....
40) Go without electricity for a night
My dad's hometown is very rural when I was about 6. Candles at night.

There are 28 more on the list but won't be posting them. How about doing your own 10? Will post mine next!

Happy Easter!!

A Little Woman Adventure Part I

A friend gave me a mini-book entitled What Every Woman Should Do Once last Christmas. It was written by Claudine Gandolfi and illustrated by Kerrie Hess. It was entertaining, to say the least. So what are these things WE should do in our lifetime? Am listing the first 20:

1) Make up an alias
2) Skinny dip
3) Insist on being called "Your Majesty"
4) Sleep out under the stars
5) Start with dessert
6) Be a diva for a night at a karaoke bar
7) Act out a page of the Kama Sutra
8) Call in sick and spend a whole day shopping with your best friend
9) Own something leather besides a coat or gloves
10) Date a guy you met on the internet
11) Give someone famous your autograph
12) Write your acceptance speech for your Woman of the Year award
13) Dye your hair blonde and see if they really do have more fun
14) Rent a convertible and go where the wind blows
15) Have an anonymous encounter
16) Adopt a pet
17) Go commando
18) Dance on top of the bar
19) Forget about what your mother would think
20) Try on engagement rings, even if you`re not in a relationship

Have done some of these already. I can count about....8! Poor score..LOL! Have to speed up ...

A Big Party

Yup. Vancouver has been a big party place the past 2 weeks. I joined in the fun and trekked to several celebration sites around town with family and friends.

I'll let the pics do the talking....

This was at Robson Square - between Vancouver Art Gallery and the GE Plaza (Feb 16)

Lantern Forest along Granville St (Feb 16)

Several streets were closed to vehicles (Feb 16)

Burrard St (Feb 16)

Corb Lund concert at the Surrey Celebration Site (Feb 18)

Line-up for the famous Japa Dog along Burrard and Smithe (Feb 20)

Crowd in front of the Olympic Cauldron in Coal Harbour (Feb 20)

An unidentified guy wanted to have his picture taken with Sangko and kids (Feb 20)

8pm crowd. GE Plaza (Feb 20)

Patiently waiting to enter LiveCity Downtown (Feb 25)

Security check at the entrance of LiveCity Downtown (Feb 25)

Medal Ceremony for the women's hockey inside LIVE@LiveCity Downtown (Feb 25)

Good turn-out, eh?

Go Canada Go!

I never bothered before to watch hockey even though Canucks was playing. It's because I don't like violence and that is what I see when I watch this game. So I'd rather just watch something else on TV.

But this week is an exception. This is Olympics! And Canada has a big chance for the gold. So even though I don't understand the game -- except that the puck needs to go inside the net -- here I am, glued to the TV.

Canada is leading in the Men's Hockey semi-finals, 2 - 0, against Slovakia. Watching right now. 2nd period. Inside the arena you'd see a sea of red -- mostly Canadians rallying to support Team Canada. I'm not surprised that stores in the Lower Mainland had run out of the red/white hockey jerseys! This is just the semi-finals. What more if in the finals, Canada will play against the US team, just like Sunday's game.

I would love to watch that game, if ever. And there's a big chance.. a very big chance. But for now, I'll be content to sit here in the comfort of my home -- cheering and rooting for team Canada. Go Canada Go!

Oooppss.. by the way, Sidney Crosby is a one good-looking hockey player. So after the Olympics, will I be watching NHL especially the Penguins game? Let's see.

Women's Wednesday

Several more medals for Canada. Women's all. Hooray!!!!

And not to forget, Team Canada advances to the semi-finals on Friday (for men's hockey). Score was 7-3. Another hooray!!!

Let The Games Begin

The 2010 Winter Games kicked off last Friday. The ceremony was held at the BC Place here in Vancouver where spectators were given ponchos to wear and drums for audience participation.

The ceremony started with a video clip of a snowboarder going down the slopes while a narrator enumerated the places where the Winter Olympics have been been held. Then an unexpected entrance of a snowboarder through one of the Olympic rings awed the audience. What followed is a superb opening ceremony albeit the lip-synched duet performance of Nelly Furtado and Bryan Adams and the hydraulic malfunction of one of the arms for the cauldron.

There were quite a number of highlights but personally loved two performances: K.D. Lang singing Cohen's Hallelujah and the poem We Are More recited by Shane Koyczan. The ceremony's depiction of Canada's culture was not much of a production number but more of visual effects. Kudos as it was put together superbly!! But just wondering why the focus was only on the aboriginals? I have to mention that I liked the whales and that part where a young guy flew over the prairies. Was this produced by Cirque du Soleil??

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was present, of course and the Queen's representative, Her Excellency, The Right Honourable Michaelle Jean. Premier Gordon Campbell was on hand but his name was not mentioned during the ceremony. (No politicking???) Both IOC President Jacques Rogge and VANOC CEO John Furlong delivered their obligatory speeches.

An unusual moment was the moment of silence for Georgian athlete Nodar Kumaritashvili who met a tragic accident while training that morning in Whistler.

The finale of the ceremony -- lighting of the cauldron -- was delayed a bit. This was due to the hydraulic malfunction I mentioned earlier. Instead of 4 poles to support the cauldron, only 3 went up, leaving Catriona Doan no pole to ignite. The ceremony didn't end there for the Great One has to go across downtown to Coal Harbour to light a smaller version of the cauldron. It is an Olympic tradition that the Olympic Flame be viewed by the public.

This part of lighting the second cauldron might be the reason why Gretzky was chosen to be the final torchbearer. Imagine if it was Betty Fox who will be carrying the torch across town on top of a truck, not to mention it was raining that night.

Many opined that this last part -- hydraulic issue and running to the second cauldron -- quite put a damper on the ceremony as everybody expected an ending with a bang. But with or without bang, the opening ceremony served its purpose. It welcomed the whole world and its athletes to the world of games where it is just not winning but coming together in the spirit of sportsmanship.

And Vancouver is proud to be the host... Let the games begin!!!!

Counting the hours

13 hours to go... 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony

World-class athletes have arrived days ago. International press had set-up shop already. Foreign diplomats planed in. For the next 2 weeks, the world will be focusing on Vancouver.

Olympic fever can be felt mid-January. As Feb 12 approached, it intensified. Much more when the torch arrived in the Lower Mainland.

I was there when the torch passed by our area. I took pictures but the desire to see the actual run was more rather than documenting it. And yes.. it gave me goosebumps. No picture would be able to justify that heart-warming feeling I had. I'm not of Canadian descent but there was a sense of pride, of belonging.

Ah...yes. For this event is not for Canadians only. This is for everyone. A way to come together regardless of color and language. A way to unite and to instill in each one of us that if everyone will come together as one, the world we live in will be better -- much, much better.

Welcome world!!!!

"Torch-waiting"

A day to go.

Most Surrey and Langley residents are awaiting the Olympic torch to pass through their cities tomorrow, Feb 8. I'm one of them. Will leave work earlier than usual to be able to catch this event -- if not in Guildford, then at Holland Park.

Will be in red.... for sure.

Check this out: http://www.surrey2010.com/

Early Spring Prep

I just finished cleaning up the front garden. Mini-garden, I should say. It was grubby-looking for the past 3 months, what with the dead stems of dahlia, mums and gladiola greeting everyone who will enter our house through the front door.

Finally, today, because there's no reason for me to do extra time this Sunday, I decided to face the "challenge". It was 7 degrees when I started at about 12 noon, mentally estimating that I'll be done in an hour's time. I did finish removing the remnants of last summer's foliage as per my allocated time.

There were also some surprises for me when I was cutting here and there. The hyacinths and daffodils are starting to peek. Since I was already outside and other household chores can wait, I thought I can already turn the soil. Spring prep. Not to mention, I don't want the complex landscaper to do the said job for they might ruin (for the nth time), the budding plants.



So there I went... turn...turn... turn. Not just the base of the plants but the entire plot. Whew!!!! Had to rest for a bit as my back was asking me to stop already.

Then I remembered that the tulip bulbs I bought to plant were all still in their original plastic bags. Down I went to the garage to get them. I might be too late in planting them but I will take the chance, rather than the bulbs to just rot, and hoping since the varieties I got were all late spring bloomers.

I finished at about 4pm -- was a good 4 hours I spent outside. I was happy that the weather cooperated. Nary a drizzle but it got cloudy at about 3. My back was complaining but I don't mind. At least, I've done my spring prep already. Nothing to worry in March but to plant some annuals and wait for the daffodils and the violet and pink hues of the hyacinths.