Blogroll Clean Up!

This is just my first day cleaning up and updating my blogroll, and much to my surprise, many links are no longer working. I later found that out on my other blogs. So far, I was able to clean blogrolls on my 2 blogs, and not even started with this blog yet. I still have 3 more blogs to check on.

I only am talking about working links. While checking the links, there are links that are still working, but the links are no longer blog links, but already sites that are full of spam ads, clickable links and some are links that say they no longer works and are on sale! (these are domain names of former blogs that are no longer in use!) I am still giving benefit of the doubt for those blogs that are already inactive, so I am not deleting them (yet) ;).

I also saw links that are connected to my blog, but I couldn't see my blog being linked to them. I am sorry, but I need to delete them as well. I haven't started doing this process yet because I still have to delete blog links that are no longer working...first on the list!

It takes a while doing this, but I am trying to update my blogs' activity status, as they are mostly lagging behind with posts. {Sigh!}

By the way, if you notice, I changed my blog template as well...what do you think?? I also updated the main title but the original title is still there. I thought of choosing a template that would more or less match with the purpose of the blog, so it took me time finding a good one that fits on the blog.

Meanwhile, I also have to catch up updating my regular posts. I am struggling, I admit! But it's time to do so.

Procrastination is the only enemy that I have when it comes to updating my blogs, but this time, as long as I get the chance to sit and write, I will overcome it. Praying, praying, praying!

Slight Change of a Lifestyle...For The Better!

A quick test...it still works! :)

So, 2 weeks ago, I had to bug hubby to help me take the treadmill upstairs. It took me two weeks to wait before he finally agreed to say "go"..lol!

The treadmill has been sitting at the basement for 10 years more or less, (as he told me), and I already saw that there unused ever since I came here in 2006. 

My work at home involves mostly sedentary, and I barely get active chores, not even enough to compare it with a good exercise. I eat a lot of carbs more than the required amount for my body, and I eat non stop!  I can actually eat a lot and I don't get big, but I developed unnecessary folds all in between my body. So, you know...the fact that they are hidden, it's difficult to say I really need to get an exercise, hahaha!

Anyway, to make the story short, we were able to move the treadmill from the basement up to the guest room. That way, I can easily access it right away in the morning before going down for breakfast. ;)

It's been a week since I started a "warm-up walk" with it. I do 3-5 minutes walk every morning, but it slips out of my mind at times that I can get to do it in the afternoon. At least I shouldn't be skipping it in a day. Unless I would be working a chore up and down the basement where in I do a brisk walking up and down the stairs for 5 minutes! :)

Ahh, it would be nice to be able to get used to it later with regards to changing my lifestyle. I don't expect it to be so sudden. I can take it one day at a time, and hopefully be able to adjust into it. My goal is to have a flatter belly by the end of the year...it's a long goal, but I don't want to make a shorter goal if I couldn't achieve it. Otherwise, I would skip making goals instead and do whichever I can to get an active exercise daily.

'Atta life!!!

The (Not So) Good News!

It's been a while...I have a lot to share in mind, but I have been procrastinating about writing nowadays. There are a lot of things that happened since I went to the Philippines 3 months ago, and I actually had a lot of undocumented trip updates as well.

Anyway, this is a super late update, but it's better to be late than nothing at all, as the famous saying would say! :) I should go back to the "not so" good news update then.

It was a little more than a month ago since I thought of going to the laboratory for my blood works. I guess, my instinct was helping me to do the right thing. It should have been earlier, but I thought of waiting until my birthday, (and more birthdays), Christmas and the New Year would pass.

So, early in the morning of January 8, my sis-in law and I went to the lab...finally! It was a good thing we got the results the same day.

Oh, well, goodness gracious! The results aren't good at all! Blood sugar is high, bad cholesterol is high! That same day, we thought of just going for a walk-in schedule with the doctor just to confirm officially with her the results. It was a good timing that she was there and had no patients. She then gave me pills to help get the cholesterol down, and an advice to limit carbs and sweets to lower down the high blood sugar.

Hah! That's what I get for a "no-holds-barred" eating! And imagine, I can eat one bowl of fried rice just in one eating...(every breakfast)...ah, I felt so, so, so guilty!! But who doesn't love eating? And there I was, and instantly giving away sodas, and limiting rice intake, plus an instant fruit and veggies diet thingy!...and in between that, it was not easy doing it! I felt I wasn't full, and I wanna eat more, but it was discipline that is making me serious. 

In a matter of one week, I felt lighter, lol! 

I went back to the lab for another blood works after 2 weeks, and the cholesterol went back to normal. Ah, those pills I took helped a lot. Plus, a steady discipline of what to eat. It was fulfilling and worth it!

I was a bit high of .44mmol/l from the normal blood sugar level.

I will be meeting my doctor here in the US for another check up after a month or two.

I wanna thank Dr. Ong, our ever reliable doctor for the check ups. She's a high school batch mate of my sis in law, and she has been giving us check ups without the fee!!! Yey! Thanks doc! I will catch up with you and pay back your good deeds in some ways the next time we go back.

Have a good fruitful new year to all of us! God bless us all! 

Ciao!

Dad's 2nd Interment

Last Saturday (Nov. 24, 2012), dad's 2nd interment were finally scheduled! It was a little bit of a tension for the last minute plans, but thank God, everything went on smoothly according to plans. It was more personal and more private this time as it was only attended by few family members. This was planned as well ;).

We had a short prayer and a blessing from pastor Joemarie, who happened to be my cousin's husband. (thanks a lot, pstr. Joemarie & Dhess Magtulis)...you're both God's angels sent to us in an event such as this. 

The event started at 4pm, and we were done by around 5pm. We then thought of  going to Cafe' Laguna for an afternoon snack. We were delighted with the food and even took home some for family guests and a bit for us :).

It was a busy day, but wasn't bad afterall. I felt relieved that this was done successfully according to how we wanted it to be done. It was all worth it. We think of it as a family investment. We all take our last breaths. It's just a matter of when our time will come. And that, being said, I would like to say  my mind will be more peaceful to think about it when it's our own time to go. Not even complicated agreements will have to come along because in the first place, all rules came settled loud and clear with no hidden fees, whatsoever...in short, I got the land title paid in full and a clean title at that!..lol! I think we chose a good place as well :). The maintenance care of the place will be optional..it's either you choose to pay or just do it on your own..as simple as that. For the first 2 months, I chose to pay a carer just to take care of the bermuda grass while it was still newly planted and need more attention for its care until it grows fully well at its peak. Until our next visit for more updates!

The exact location is close to the main gate, so when visiting comes, it won't be too difficult getting in particularly if crowd sets in.

New Place, New Peace!

I should tell this. Planning can't be as easy as how you think it is. Sometimes, it gets tough on your mind and drains your energy particularly if this involves a lot of financial aspects. Well, I know, today, you can't seem to get things being done without involving money matters. But if you know the plan would be worth it in the end, you won't mind. ;) 

I thank God that careful planning works, with prayers in between. I know in my heart why God gives blessings to certain people. He knows what are in their hearts! I wouldn't deny I am just one of those millions of people getting His blessings. And with that, I still continue to pray and say my thankful prayers.

After the house which was finally done last year (finally got my house title last month), I and my husband continue to look at what's straight ahead. We continue to strive taking a glimpse of what's in the future, through prayers. It's like when you plan about your kid's future...school, insurance, etc.. you know. 

When George (my husband's cousin) died last May, it was a drastic change we couldn't ever imagine! Mostly, it was the bad changes that we had to deal with. The sudden death became a sudden "wake up call" for us. This was the main reason why we started talking about memorial life plans, and all things that are life-death related! It's scary talking and dealing with it, but we all reach the time when it's our time to go and leave this earth.  

While memorial life plan in the US is mostly common, you could see it a rare thing to be considered in the Philippines. Without a life plan or any early death preparations in the US, and you die unexpectedly, it's like pulling down your bereaved family into the abyss of credit! They can spend like $10,000-$20,000 just to bury you in the US! Millionaires would probably are the only ones who need not to worry!

So, after long talks of planning, and analyzing, we finally decided to buy a memorial plot at Christ The King Memorial in the Philippines. It's a premium lot which can occupy a family of 12 ;). Samples were checked, stones chosen, etc...and thank God! Lot is now fully paid! Thanks "iyay" for being my eyes, ears, nose and mouth! :)) You know all the jobs you are doing are greatly appreciated. You've proven my trust and thank you for being so trustworthy! You deserve a treat! LOL!

Wherever the exact place is, it's in that area...Tata, where is the pole as a marker??? ;)

The way it will look like...hhmmm, I think this will be colored white instead! We chose the white one.

On to the next move which will be dad's exhumation of his remains anytime after November 12 next month! One of the main reasons why I am going home in the Philippines. We are praying all would become smooth in the transfer of the remains for his new home. This involves responsibility and I am willingly taking it in my own hands. I believe it's God's timing and now is the chance to let me do it, so let it be!

By the way, surprisingly, the Janiuay Cemetery will only allow the remains to be taken out if I pay the outstanding balance of the "rent". Total balance are ALL PAID until 2012! I hesitate to disclose any numbers, and I consider it NOT a big deal...it's useless anyway!  All I just wish is that other people should at least learn to be more responsible in handling this financial aspect of their loved ones who are now eternally resting. Sometimes, we are too busy enjoying what life has to offer forgetting the loved ones that have been long gone! Remember, we will all end up in the same spot...if not in the same plot! How could you imagine yourself 6 feet under the ground someday and nobody even bother to take care of  yours later in the years?

And oh!...renting for your grave forever is not a good deal! Who pays for what, when, who's turn, for how much! My word!!! That's crazy!

Honestly, it's just one of those reasons why I need to pull dad's remains out! I might have paid a bit more pricey on the plot, but that would be it. You don't need to pass the "burden" of paying to your grandkid's children and the later generation for a grave they don't deserve to pay.

And to my dad! Don't worry, everything has been taken cared of. I know we had some bad arguments before, and those things that didn't go well while you were around, but I didn't mean to shut you out away from me and the family. I still love you as my dad and I still miss you at times! You're still my dad no matter what happened, and goes with it a responsibility I need to do in however God would want it. 

Still Behind But Trying To Cope Up

It's been 3 months since my last post. It's a long way to go back and fill in the gaps so I guess I just have to focus on the present as I go along.
On the other hand, the blogging business became so slow that made me more off hooked in a while. With so many things that happened previously...death from the family, out of town trips, household chores, house and family concerns here and in the Philippines and other stuff, I learned to analyze our typical life routines changed dramatically! It's like traveling to that regular route on the road and suddenly rerouted to a road you'd never been into.

You get to adjust being swayed from the twists and turns on the sides, and sometimes you change some approach in dealing with some people because of some beliefs in different perspectives. The latter one is very tough...knowing she is from a family. :( I came to think at it and told myself...this is America! But while I know many people have beliefs oppose to mine, I continue to live according to what I believe is true and worth living.
But I chose not to elaborate about this thing anymore since it's a sensitive one. I chose to exercise my responsibility in revealing facts that shouldn't be exposed to the public. I know it's one issue I should be very careful of, unless I get provoked! {that's my "maldita" side!)

I and hubby still continue to travel, mostly for business. After our 4-day trip to the south-central part of the US next week, it would be time for me to prepare for my much awaited 2.5-month vacation in the Philippines in November. This would be me traveling alone a long haul flight going Philippines without the hubby beside me :(. So, you see, just doing the trip preparations alone are tough! Of course, it involves proper time management when you need to include chores at home and writing in-between ;).

And speaking about writing, there will come a time to close several of my blogs that have their domain names for paid blogging purposes. It's not too soon yet, but that's a plan. It's just that I am starting to feel I am having a tough time catching up with them due to changed priorities I have to face first. But I can still see myself writing in the future. But it would probably be focused on one journal or personal homepage.
Oh boy! There are quite a lot of things I have in my mind. Ideas and plans for family and the future.

I and my husband are still continously blessed by God and we just continue to praise Him and thank Him endlessly. We would always continue to bring Him back the glory and the honor!

Til my next post folks! Stay blessed and be a blessing! Mwah to all! :)

Regency Beauty Institute Is Expanding!

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By choosing the right cosmetology school for your future career is one way of upgrading your career future as well, and when you talk about Regency Beauty Institute, it is definitely a cut above. As a student, you'll get the chance to be learning on their comprehensive programs.

So, check it out!

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