ANOTHER ROCKETS GAME!

Erick and Charyn invited us to a Rockets game again! And this time it’s Rockets against Toronto Raptors, despite of Tracy McGrady’s absent Houston Rockets won 107 - 97. This wins means that the Rockets moved a game ahead of New Orleans and Portland and 1½ in front of Utah in the Western Conference standings.
It is really fun going to a game specially if your team is winning and at the second quarter break you get a t-shirt! Yes we got a “HOUSTON ROCKETS T-SHIRT” this time!
We starting to think that we are Rockets lucky charms because every time we go and watch them play they win the game!

JA - MOI TOUR

James and May (Moi is her nickname) both love to play tennis and both born on May 6. Since James will turn the big 3-0 this year and May turns 22 we decided to have a tennis tournament and call it JA-MOI TOUR. The tour starts tonight and it will be a friendly game for us who really love to play tennis. The tour has 5 registration fees (for prices to add excitement to this friendly completion) and the rules are:

Each lady will be paired with a different gentleman in each of her match through the First Round. Number of matches played will depend on the number of lady participants.

FIRST ROUND RULES
First team to win 6 games wins the match.
Top four ladies and top four gentlemen advance to second round.
Any tie situation will be settled in a singles match, first person to win 6 games wins the match.

SECOND ROUND RULES
2 way tie: Winner advances
3 way tie: A plays B. Winner plays C. If winner beats C, winner advances. If C wins, C plays loser of A and B. If C wins, C advances. If loser win, loser advances.
4 way tie: A plays B, C plays D. Winners play winners. Winner of winners advances.

CHAMPIONSHIP/FINAL ROUND RULES
The top four ladies and top four gentlemen will be randomly paired.
The four teams will compete for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place.
The two winning teams will play for 1st and 2nd. The two losing teams will play for 3rd and 4th place.
First team to win 6 games wins the match.

Game Rules
Only the person receiving a serve or returning a ball can call in or out.
Deuce on 4th game.
Match to 7 games on 5 game tie.
7th game tie breaker to 7.
*FIRST and SECOND round will be played from March to the end of April 2009. Championship/Final round will be played on May 6th.

First day @ work!

Today was my first day working at the Houstonian Golf and Country Club as the HR Assistant. I was supposed to work at 10am, but I got there 9:20am to be exact I guess I was so excited at 10:15am my boss came and she gave me a tour to the whole facility. The place is so gorgeous, the surrounding is beautiful, the whole country club is so relaxing, everyone are so nice they always greet you with their big smile. My boss showed me the ladies room and ooh it is beautiful, I’ve never been in a country club seeing all the benefits, the treatment that you can get if you were a member I think it’s all worth it for people who has a lot of money.

NEW CAREER

I though finding a job was so hard, considering what’s going with our economy. I really feel so bless and lucky. I posted my resume 2 months ago on monster.com and got a lot of calls but since the hours I requested are not available so I didn’t get a positive results. 2 weeks ago I received an email from the Houstonian Golf/Country Club’s Human Resources General manager stating that she found my resume and they have an available position for me at Richmond locations (which is about 10mins. from our house)and that they are flexible with the hours of work, so I replied to her email and got my first interview last Thursday (February 12th) with the HR manager my interview lasted about 2 hours and got my second interview today around 11:30am with the General manager who found my resume and that interview lasted only 30 minutes (I thought that was really quick). Around 12:30pm I got a call letting me know that I got the job WOW! That was really quick! So I went to the office did my paperwork and they sent me to do a drug test and as soon as they get the result, I can start as early as this Thursday! (AMAZING!!)

Just like that! I will be working as the Assistant HR manager for Houstonian Golf and Country Club at the Richmond location. I still can’t believe that I’m going back to work doing the same thing I did back in New Orleans, it’s the kind of job that I love, dealing with employees benefits, payroll, data entry and learning new programs for HR and the best part is.. it’s a new environment! I will be working for a golf and country club. I’m very excited and I’m hoping that I can go beyond their expectations! Wish me luck on this new career move!

God you’re awesome, I truly believe that this job was meant for me! THANK YOU!

HEART’s DAY

It was a simple get together with my family and with close friends! The original plan was we are supposed to go the park for a picnic and for the kids to enjoy the park's playground while the adults play tennis, volleyball and badminton, but it rained. So we decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day at Marie and Bobby’s house, it was still feels like we’re in the park, we have hotdogs, hamburgers, salads, chips, bar-b-q pork with cucumbers and for desserts Charyn made strawberry covered with chocolate ohh it is so good, soooo yummy, actually it’s my favorite. Marie and Bobby have a big backyard so when the rain stopped the guys played football and we played tug, the kids played balls and later on the guys went to play tennis while the ladies stayed to have “girls talk”. When the guys came back we watched “Batman -Dark Knight” and “Eagle Eye”. We left Marie and Bobby’s house around 11:30pm and went straight to Charyn and Erick’s house and watched another movie “Death Race” and probably headed home around 2am something. It was another awesome Valentine ’s Day added to one of my best experience during “HEART’S DAY”

"To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world"

EVERYDAY IS VALENTINE'S DAY SO HERE'S MY WISH TO YOU FROM ME :)

May this Valentine’s Day be filled with love, understanding, and contentment as you journey through life with those you hold dear.

THE VISITS

Saturday morning - We went to visit my good friends, Melissa and Wendell. They just had a baby 4 weeks ago and I feel so bad that it took me awhile to meet their new addition McKenzie Alexis, the reason why? was James’ extensions stay on his recent Scotland business trip and that’s the same reason why I didn’t have the chance to visit Melissa while she was at the hospital. Melissa and I are long time friends; we’ve known each other since she was 15 and I was 18 and that was 11 years ago. I used to work as a receptionist at their restaurant “Stixx Asian Grille” and she used to come and visit, and just talk to me that’s why we became very close. Even though, I work for their restaurant she never treated me as “just another employee” even with our difference of culture, it didn’t bother us. Our friendship grew through the years and even when our restaurant days are over, we still have that strong connection, and we still manage to keep that friendship. That’s why I’m kind of glad we end up moving here after hurricane Katrina, because she was already living here, she got a job in Houston after she graduated college. I’m really glad that today I get to see her, and meet the newest addition to her heart, I just can’t believe that we are both mothers now, another topic to talk about, another experience to share and another memories to treasure.

Saturday night, James and I (of course with our girls) went to visit May and her family to plan for James and May’s upcoming birthday tennis tournament. We asked Brian and Zim to come along, to just hang-out with us since it’s only a short meeting and they didn’t have plans for their Saturday night. So we all went! We had our tennis meeting while we were eating dinner and after dinner we watched “One True Love”, a Filipino romantic movie.

Here’ the plot for the movie:

Migs (played by Dingdong) is a medical intern about to get married to a nurse named Joy (played by Marian). Days before the wedding, his first love Bella (Iza) returns to the Philippines. Bella is still single and still in love with Migs determined to fight for her love.
Migs then figures into an accident and develops lacunar amnesia and he forgets about his relationship with Joy, leaving him with memories of Bella. Joy finds it difficult to accept what happened but vows to make Mig’s heart remember what his mind cannot.

I don’t know about the rest of the movie watchers, but I really liked it, even the guys (our husbands) joined to watch the movie. The story is very different from any kind of love-triangle story, it’s something new and it really made my heart melts, very interesting.

After the movie, our husband stayed at the garage to have a “drinking session”. The girls stayed inside to play Wii, we played “mario party” is a board game, where at the end of the round there’s a mini-game where you can battle. Mini-games are four-player free-for-alls, there are plenty of one-on-one, two-on-two, or one-on-three games to mix things u. It was very exciting, because you are trying to compete with other players to get lots stars or money to buys houses for the board.

It was really fun game! We had so much fun that we didn’t notice that it was 2:00 in the morning.

Everyone had a fun night, I mean fun early morning! lol

FRIENDS & ELMO

Today we had a play day; it was held at Cheryl’s house. Jannette and her beautiful girls, Cecille, Zim and her little boy Kyle, very pregnant Katrina showed up with her cuties, Charyn and her two angels and Me with my princesses. It was a fun “get-together”. While the kids having fun running around the house, playing, screaming, fighting or sharing toys, we (mommies)all had a wonderful “girls talk”, we talk about food and upcoming family outdoor activities, Cheryl did some “eyebrows make-over” hahahaha. Everyone really had a wonderful time! Aside from having good companies around, our lunch was very excellent! we had “sinigang na baka (beef soup)”, lumpia, fried fish, fried “toyo (squid)’ and fried chicken, for desserts Zim brought an ice cream cake, Cheryl made some macaroni salad and biko. I always love this kind of gatherings! Simple fun and both mommies and the kids really enjoy the day!
It’s really fun hanging out with friends who shared common interest! I always love surrounded with friends like them. Friends who you can trust and friends who would never bring you down, Friends that value my friendship.
7:00 pm - James and I took the girls to watch Sesame Street Live “Elmo’s Green Thumb”. It was really a fun, wonderful show! Singing, dancing and kids like my 16 months old Gabie can really appreciate the show. Bringing Gabie was worth it, she really loves “Elmo” and keeps calling his name! As for Jasmine she had a blast, she cooperates, she dance and very happy to see all the sesame characters. Trip going home Jasmine thanked us “Mommy thanks for Elmo” (I think a thousand times, hahahahah)!
I really love spending time with my family. Spending time with them is the best moment, best experience, best of everything!
Thank God for my husband James and my two adorable girls Jasmine and Gabie, they are my greatest gift from above.

25 RANDDOM THINGS

These 25 Random Things about me is from my facebook account. I was tagged by somebody, and I'm supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about me. At the end, I have to choose 25 people from facebook to be tagged. But I know not all of us have a facebook account so I'm sharing this random things about me through my blog site.

1. My GOAL WAS: Graduate college then get married (which I did, I graduated May 2002 and got married on August of 2002)

2. August 2005 was the BEST and the WORST month - found out August 18th, 2005 (my birthday) that I was pregnant, but on August 29th, 2005 we lost our first house from hurricane Katrina.

3. I love to play sports. My favorite is volleyball, and now I learned to play tennis and enjoy the game!

4. I value family. I love and enjoy spending time with James and my girls. My husband is a great guy who can fix anything so I'm keeping him forever. My girls are my treasures!

5. I do look snobbish, but I’m very friendly and easy to get along with.

6. I’m a planner! I want every thing to go according to plan.

7. Loyal and committed towards the person I love (I’ve been with my husband for 11 years and still praying to God that like our vows “Till Death do as part” is the ending!)

8. I’m emotional. (I cry easily even by just watching a romantic-drama movie)

9. I will argue if I know I’m right (even arguing with a family to defend a friend)

10. I will forget what you did or said to me, but will never forget how you made me feel, which is why I hold grudges towards people who hurt me. If a FRIEND hurts me, he/she won’t hear from me for awhile (I’m on my thinking mood, considering if the friendship is worth saving)

11. I can’t sleep without a night light.

12. I have NO PATIENCE to wait for SURPRISES and that’s why it’s hard for me to keep a surprise!

13. I love hanging out with friends. I have lots of them!

14. I love SUSHI!

15. I love to travel, but hate to drive!

16. I hate HORROR movies and any roller coaster rides.

17. I love to cook, but hate the preparations.

18. I HATE PRETENDERS!

19. I love all Jet Li movies. I have collections of his movies, but lost all of them in hurricane Katrina. I love Madame Alexander dolls and Disney movies.

20. When I was in grade school and high school, I easily get into fights, brawls in a classroom floor and in locker rooms. I stabbed my annoying classmate on his forehead with a pen on when I was in 4th grade.

21. When something bothers me, it’s hard for me go to sleep.

22. I considered James, my husband as my best friend. I tell him everything, NO SECRETS!

23. I love to decorate, but hate to do the job! I will pick the paint, but will not paint. I will buy decors, but will not hang them. I will buy curtains but will not put it up! My husband is my good assistant! He is the WORKER and I’m the SUPERVISOR! (Hahahaha)

24. I love gardening, but plants don’t like me! I don’t have a “GREEN THUMB” like my husband.

25. I’m really bad on keeping in touch with some of my friends! (I guess just busy J, taking care of my girls).

FUN SUNDAY!

My day started with my 7:30am tennis game tournament, but sad to say we lost! Its ok it was just one day fun tournament honoring Ms. Lillian, the birthday celebrant. The celebration was held at the Meadows Park (by Kirkwood), so after the tennis tournament we have some parlor games for both adults and kids. The guys also played tag football and we also played Jeopardy game on the spot, topics are all about the birthday celebrant! I really enjoyed the jeopardy game, our team won and we started doing the rain dance and oh my goodness about 10minutes after we did our rain dance celebrations, it drizzled for a little bit! soooo weird lol! Good thing the sun came out again, and we continued to play some games and of course the food was so good! They have lechon, pancit, lumpia, beef stew, satay vegetables, hotdog on a stick and my favorite park food Philippines bar-b-q hmmmm good! We left around 3:30pm, bathe the girls, since they got so dirty playing at the park, then we took a nap woke up around 6pm to get ready for the Superbowl hang-out at Erick and Charyn’s house, we got there late that we missed the Journey band performed (the band’s lead singer is Arniel Pineda a fellow Filipino). Anyway we are all voting for the Cardinals, but they lost! It was a good game for them, on the 3rd and 4th quarter they really tried to catch up with the Steelers but the Steelers scored a touchdown and only 35 seconds left for the Cardinals and it wasn’t enough time for them to get another touchdown! I still salute Kurt Warner for a job well done!

Katrina's Party!

Saturday January 31st @ 11am was Katrina’s baby shower party! Charyn and I hosted the baby shower games, Katrina’s Mom cooked Filipino food like: caldereta, kare-kare, chopsuey, pork humba, dinuguan, pancit, bola-bola they are all good! Jannette and Cecille bought the cake, Cheryl made a macaroni Salad and Zim made “puto” and orange chicken! When the game starts everyone was excited to play, they all enjoyed the game and I can tell that everyone had a good time! James and I left @ 3:30pm to buy and make “Kinilaw” for Vu’s Retirement party (Katrina’s husband) his party was for 6pm the same day. So went to Viet Hoa again to buy fresh fish, went home, put the girls to sleep while James did the “kinilaw” ingredients preparations. 7:30pm we arrived at Vu and Katrina’s house, we grilled pork on Katrina’s stove and the fire was almost out of control! The fire alarm went on and poor Zim, I think she got burned a little on her right risk, she was the one who transferred the burning foil into the kitchen sink, good thing we were able to put out the fire.

The party went on, the pork was cooked and added to our “kinilaw” and to make it spicy tasty Zim added some “sili” on the “kinilaw” and hmmm it was sooooooo good, we eat it Philippines style, just with our bare hands, imagining we are all out at the beach, with our sexy bathing suit. Noemi made some good margarita and shared all her jokes, she is so funny! At 10:30pm we headed home, because I have a tennis game for 7:30am the next day and another party to attend.

What a night full of laughers and excitement! Another fun memory (specially the fire incident) to share on our next “kinilaw” gathering!

CRAVINGS - "kinilaw na isda"

For the past few days, I’ve been craving to make and eat “kinilaw na isda” (raw fish salad) so yesterday morning the girls and I, along with Ate Susan took a trip to Viet Hoa a Vietnamese Supermarket, to buy fresh fish and the rest of the ingredients for the “kinilaw”.













Here are the ingredients we used:
2 ½ lbs Tanigue (I don’t know actually the English name of this fish, but my understanding calls for King Fish)
1 bottle coconut vinegar
3 Lemons squeezed
1 red onion chopped
4 stalks of green onions chopped
5 gloves of garlic minced
3 medium size cucumbers sliced
1 large radish sliced

Here’s the preparation:
We cut the fish into cubes (bite size), washed with water then marinated fish in coconut vinegar and chilled for at least an hour, drained then we combined all the ingredients and squeezed the lemons, seasoned it with salt and pepper and we mixed it!

Tarannnn! Our first KINILAW FISH EVER and believe me it was good, good enough to satisfy my cravings! Making our first “kinilaw” is simple, but it just takes more preparation time cutting all those ingredients.














I always associate the “kinilaw” with a beach outing, but since it was cold yesterday the only perfect place that I can think of and enjoy my “kinilaw” is at the comfort of my dinning table imagining the beach site!

What is "Kinilaw"
"The kinilaw moment is that instant when the raw fish meets the vinegar or other souring agent, and transformation begins from the raw state. The fish is cooked using vinegar as the meat turns opaque in color."

Though “kinilaw” may not be as popular as adobo, it certainly has a one-of-a-kind taste that many Pinoys, just like me who lives far from Philippines crave for.

Just looking at the photos makes me want to eat more “kinilaw na isda”, but it’s all gone! I ate it all for my lunch and dinner, nothing left for the next day, but personally I don’t think” kinilaw” is good on the second day!

My cravings ends with my late snack last night the Mango with bagoong (shrimp paste), lucky I found green mangoes at the market, so to complete all my cravings I bought mangoes too!

Ohh..... a bowl of sliced green mango served with good bagoong. I could feel the crunch of the unripe mango, the slightly astringent, incredibly sour shock to the taste buds, soon mitigated by the gentle squish of tiny shrimp shells that burst with a salty, bagoong flavor.

WOW!!! I just can’t believe that I ate all of this on my own last night!

And if you are staring at your monitors salivating… all I can say is, SORRY I will share it with you NEXT TIME!


THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!

Another day!

Another disappointing day! My husband who is currently in Scotland for a business trip was supposed to be back today, but yesterday he called to let me know that he got extended for two more days, his flight got reschedule for this Friday, January 30th. I know it’s a job and there’s nothing that we can do (unless of course he finds another company that gives him the same benefits or better than he's getting from GE Energy, I know there is, but it takes time to get another job!) Its company’s call, his company is the reason why we have the comfort of living, able to support the lifestyle we have right now (that means only one of us is working).

It’s just hard when you tell your kids that “Daddy’s coming home!” and see all the excitement on their faces, but in the end a last minute change of flight schedule. I got really frustrated yesterday, when I found out, all my excitement when to drain and couldn’t tell my girls that Dad have to stay another two days, they are young and they would not understand why Daddy is not coming home yet, all they know is that their Dad is not home!

To let all my frustrations out, I took the girls shopping and had sushi for dinner. I watched “American Idol” and when it was over I joined Jasmine and Gabie to watch their shows.

James’ two weeks work abroad means he gets to take some days off from work with pay and not even charge to his personal vacation days! His company allowed him to do this so that he could spend time to be with his family. We are really grateful to God for this job! I'm not complaining, I'm just letting out my frustrations about the situation!

We are counting the days of his return and the days, which we will have for our family bonding!

Thank God for everything!

The WAGON

Can you believe that this wagon is only $20? Marie and Bobby went to Goodwill yesterday (Sunday) and when they saw the wagon, it reminded them of Jasmine and Gabie, they called and asked me if I want it? for $20, why not? so they bought it and delivered it the same day (express delivery, hahaha).

The price of a brand new wagon would usually cost you from $80 to $100 plus! I’ve been wanting to buy one, but just don’t want to spend that much. I’m glad that Marie and Bobby got this, because still looks good and it doesn’t have any damages, just a little dusting and nobody can tell that we only spent 20 bucks!

Today I took Jasmine and Gabie to Chuck E. Chees’s for lunch, they played for about 2 hours and went home to take a nap. I promised the girls after their nap that I will take them to the park and I did! We took the wagon with us and when we got to there they were so exited to go on a wagon ride!

Thanks to Marie and Bobby, my girls’ excitements are priceless!

JUST MINE!

My 2 years old daughter is really something; she always does things and talks or asks stuff in a funny way!

Here are some moments that when it crosses my mind, it makes me laugh!

One cold morning, I was walking around the house with a throw blanket wraps around me, when all of a sudden she asked “Mommy are you superman?” lol!The next day I did the same thing and here is her question “Mommy are you an ibon and superman?”

Another incident:
My husband was telling our youngest daughter Gabie to stop opening all the kitchen drawers, but she wouldn’t listen. So my husband whips her hands and she cried, here goes Jasmine running to the kitchen and asked “Daddy why Gabie’s crying?” her dad said “I whipped her because she won’t listen” and Jasmine said “Daddy you listen to Mommy Ok?”

I know someday I will share this story with them...

Witnessing my daughters developments really amaze me and surprises me with things they know and what they can do!

Jasmine is full of energy, she’s quick and sometimes I just couldn’t keep up with her. When she was only 9 ½ months she learned to walk, at 13 months she seats and pee on her training toilet and before she turned two she was already potty trained (both pee and poo, sometimes a little accident). Currently she can recite the “Pledge of Allegiance” although not good on pronouncing the words, I am proud of her! to be honest I just learned to memorize it, when I started teaching her this. (We both learned at the same time, funny isn't it?)

Gabie my youngest one, is far different from her big sister. She is more calm and quite. When Gabie turned 1 she learned to walk and also learned to say “Apple Juice”. She learns quicker on words that action. At 13 months she learned to sing “Happy Birthday to you, or Ate or dada” and pronounces it really well.

Being with them everyday is like experiencing new exciting adventures, learning and exploring new things with them! I love being a mother, I know being a MOM means hard work and it’s a job of a lifetime, but I wouldn't trade it for any job.

My children are my happiness without them, I’ll be lost, my life will be empty and meaningless. They are my pride and joy, they are JUST MINE (of course they’re James too! hehehe)

Just sharing my thoughts…

Below is Jasmine's video reciting the "Pledge of Allegiance".

Have a good one!

Saturday Blast!

My Saturday morning started with good news from Beth. She called to let me know that they are home from the hospital and that Marva is doing well! I’m thankful to God that my prayers were answered (no doubt about it!) I’m glad that her surgery was successful!

Half of my Saturday morning spent chatting with James. He must be really bored, poor guy I can tell that he is ready to go home! Jas and Gabie enjoyed seeing their dad on a web cam. James’ web cam is a high definition camera that comes with software that lets him use or changes into different characters. Our girls giggle every time he switches to a princess character! Jasmine really loves the unicorn and Gabie loves the dog!

At 6:00pm the girls and I together with Ate Susan and Tito Tim, headed to Josie’s baby shower. Marie and I hosted the baby shower games and everybody had a blast! Here are some of the games we played:

Guess the Candy Bar where we put melted candy bar in each diaper. The goal of this game is to guess which candy bar is. It was so funny because some smelled it and some were they tasted it! It looks pretty gross I’m sure it doesn’t look good on those pictures.

Cotton Ball Bucket we spin the volunteer 3 times (to get them dizzy), we gave them a plastic spoon and they have to transfer as many cotton balls from one bowl into another. Try it and you’ll see that it’s not easy! Hahahahaha!

Baby Sock Game where they have to try and match as many socks as they can in 1 minute.

Baby Bottle Food Race where a pair tries to finish the baby food before everyone does.

It was a fun night and I can’t wait for my friend Katrina’s baby shower which scheduled for next week January 31st. I’m hoping that on her baby shower everyone will have a good time as much as we did at Josie’s Shower.

Katrina’s Shower Info:
January 31st @ 11am, baby shower will be held at Vu and Katrina’s house. Please check Friendsters bulletin for more information!

BE THERE OR BE SQUARE!

It’s a JOB!

This morning my husband called to let us know that his stay in Scotland was extended. He left Last Sunday, January 18th and was supposed to be back this Sunday, January 25th, but GE Scotland requested his boss for him to stay another 3 more days, so now his flight got moved back to the 28th of this month!

He doesn’t really travel that much, only 10% of the time, but whenever he tells me that he is living part of me wants to tell him to find another job! Of course that is not an option he works for GE Electric, and they have a lot of better things to offer for his career as an Engineer.

I’m proud of him, he is a good worker and that’s probably why GE is treating him well! I know he loves to travel, but he hates missing us and wishes he could take us with him, but that’s another thousands dollar charge to our checking account if we tag along, we rather save that money for our daughters’ future!

I think I’m getting use to his travelling now, even though he travels way across the miles, his constantly checking on us everyday! We talk all the time and I can call him anytime, so it wasn’t bad after all! Besides he gets to bring us good stuff from different country.

We are thankful to God that he has a good job and a better pay, for which we both don’t have to work to survive and provide good life to our daughters. Although I am planning and feel like I’m ready to begin my career again as human resources, I’m not in a hurry. I know God has better plans for me and I strongly believe that…. "You may not always end up where you thought you were going, but you will always end up where you were meant to be."

Have a good day!

FOR THE LOVE OF SPORTS!

Last night I played volleyball, it was the second time I played again, and it’s been 5 years since the last time I played. Last week was the first; even with my 5 years missing on the court I can say that I wasn’t bad after all! I was still able to spike, bump and dig the ball, but just couldn’t get my serve right not even my underhand serve. Last night I feel so good with my game, it was a different story; my overhand serves went through and scored some points.

Volleyball is my “first love” I learned to play volleyball since I was 10yrs. Old. I remembered playing in our province, in the middle of a rocky road with only our slippers :) and when there’s a car or any vehicle we have to recess the game so that they can go through (good memories of my childhood). Back in Philippines I played varsity volleyball for my high school team. When I moved to Washington U.S., I have to retake high school for one more year, which I didn’t mind; because it would be a new experience attending a foreign high school. I tried out for their varsity volleyball team and not bad, I got in! Playing high school volleyball was another new experience, I guess at first I got intimidated by their heights, but it didn’t let me ruin by game, although my coach did not put me up front row to spike the ball (since I’m short, that’s probably the reason! hahahaha), I was on the back bumping and digging just to keep the game!

During college, I got really busy with my schedule; work full-time during the day and attending school at night. Playing varsity volleyball was not on my list anymore, but during the school intramural tournament I got invited to play and our team won the championship, our team got sent to play with other college team. Although we didn’t win all the way, I was glad that I got to play even if it just during the intramurals.

Some nights when I don’t have class, I played sand volleyball with my friends including my husband and also joined the Sand Volleyball Tournament; we didn’t win the championship, but we got in on the semi-final which we won t-shirts. Not bad!

I’ve always loved playing volleyball, the reasons it stops because of hurricane Katrina, I got pregnant and we moved to a different state away from some of my teammates. I really missed playing volleyball but in the absent of my volleyball career, I learned to play tennis, learned to love the game and learned that volleyball and tennis have the same concept, and that is just to make sure the ball is in!

For the love of sports!

Volleyball lovers:

Whoever has the guts to take a hard spike, and play competitive volleyball, come join us every Thursday, 7:30pm at St Francis Catholic Church. Oh by the way it's a $1 per person from 7:30pm-10:30pm.

Tennis lovers:

We play MWF from 6:30pm – 10:00pm at Sugar Land Recreation park Located in 225 Seventh Street, Sugar Land, TX 77478) at Wood and 7th Streets it’s by St. Theresa Catholic church.

See you there!

Charms of Friendship

“Don't ever be afraid to come to me and cry. Don't ever hesitate to look me in the eye. Don't ever be afraid to tell me how you feel. Remember we are friends and we got to keep it real.”

I really believed that everything happens for a reason, if it wasn’t for Hurricane Katrina we wouldn’t be here in Texas. When we moved here it was something really different, we were away from our families and from some of our friends, but little that I know that God as a plan for me when it comes to having or meeting friends here in Texas.

It was the month of December 2005, when we attended the “Simbang Gabi” upon my astonishment I saw a familiar face and it was Beth, my long time high school friend and now a Godmother to my youngest daughter Gabie. We were both surprised to see each other, it’s been 10 years since I left Davao, Philippines and I never thought we would see each other again! What a “small world”.

I was thankful to God for what happened, because ever since that day Beth and I became close again, we treated each other not just friends, but like sisters!

Last Sunday, January 18, 2009 after Marva’s (Beth’s daughter) birthday party, which was held at Beth’s house? She said she want to show me something I was surprised when she gave me a bracelet that has a “friendship” charm. To me the charm is not just a simple “hand me charm”, it was a charm that we have to break it apart and she gets to keep the other half and I get to keep the other one. I cried “tears of joy” not because I’m happy that she gave me something, but I was happy that she took the time of getting me something (I know how busy is her life schedule). I was touched of her generosity and it was a heartwarming moment, she really made me feel that I’m very special to her. It’s her action that made me feel that our friendship is not just an ordinary friendship. It’ a friendship that will last for a lifetime!

Beth is currently at the hospital right now with her daughter Marva, who is having a surgery for her gallbladder. I feel so bad that I wasn’t able to visit Marva and I feel so useless for not having being there with Beth, but I know Beth understood my situation, with me bringing my girls to the hospital, Beth agreed that the hospital is not the safest place to bring my 16 months old and my 2 years old daughters. Also Last Sunday my husband left for a business trip in Scotland and will not be back until the 26th of this month, so going to the hospital by myself is not an option. I know it was hard for her to see what Marva is going through.

The only comforting way that I can express to her is through talking to her on the phone, with that I was able to ease her pain and to let her know that I’m just a phone call away! And by my prayers I was able to extend my support to her and to her family, praying to God to watch over Marva, and that she will soon be ok!

Since moving here in Texas, I meet a lot of new friends who became really close to me. I considered them as my lucky charms! I enjoyed hanging-out with them, sharing recipes, partying with them. Just being friends with them adds a whole new meaning on why God chooses this state to be our new home. I don’t have to name each and every one of them, but they know who they are! And I want to take this opportunity to express to them, that I’m glad we became friends and that I will take care of this friendship! THANK YOU!

I know when it comes to friendship; God made me the luckiest one! I meet new friends that come and go, but the one who stay and sticks with me are the one who’s true!

Thanks for the friendship!

INAUGURATION THOUGHTS

Ok FRIENDS I'm expressing my short thoughts and opinions about the President Speech!

Yesterday (1/20/09) is another political and historical event for the United States of America, it’s the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th president of this country and became the nation’s first African-American chief executive.

My aunt from New Orleans came to visit us, that's why I was not able to watch the live coverage for President Barack Obama’s 2009 Inauguration Speech, but thanks to YouTube I got the opportunity to watch it!

His speech shows compassion and there’s a leadership in his voice. I was moved by his speech, it sounded very hopeful and it was truly an inspirational one! As he made his inauguration speech, I was thinking about my two daughters and it made me feel much more confident about their future.

I know Obama would be something different and hoping that he would represent us and govern us the way we wanted. And I hope his presidency continues better than it began.

I know new changes are up a head for us on this country, some might be good and some might not be, but one thing for sure it’s a new beginning for all of us!

I am not good about discussing politics and I don’t know much about politics, but yesterday was something unusual and the thought of me sharing my feelings about President Barack Obama’s Inauguration Speech, will probably gave others some mix feelings! I know some americans agreed, but some dissagree about what he said. We just have to keep in our minds that nobody is perfect and if we just give him a chance I think he has something better plans to offer for this country and for the people, specially our children.

I'm glad I expressed my reactions about this event, with this simple and small way it made me feel that I am a part of this historical event of the United States of America.

God Bless Everyone!

Rockets Game!

I know this is an old event, but I feel like sharing this experience because it was Jasmine and Eryn’s First time going to a Rockets game.

It was December 16, 2008 @ 5:00 pm, when Charyn called me, about going to a Rockets game, her husband Erick got 4 Houston Rockets game tickets against the Denver Nuggets. So Charyn, Erick, James and I went to the game and we took both Eryn and Jasmine with us, it’s their first Houston Rockets experience, but none of us remembered to bring our cameras of course I have camera on my Samsung BEHOLD phone, but I still prepared the real one!. Watching the game was soooo much fun, I can’t believe that we were setting 6 rows away from the floor, and you know the closer you are by the court means a long trip to the bathroom, but we didn’t mind, it was a good seats! Charyn and Eryn was setting close where the player enters the court, so close that they could actually shake the players hands! Since they were setting close by the entrance, they got so lucky that a guy who just happens to pass by gave Eryn a hat, then a guard gave her a shirt and one of the Houston Rockets dancer gave her another shirt, it must be her round beautiful eyes that got them :) The Rockets won 108 and 96 points for Denver Nuggets, Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming played their best! McGrady with a triple-double by the end of the third quarter and another 3-pointer in the final minute and Yao Ming finished the game with 32 points. It was very exciting to watch because Denver was leading both first and second quarters. It was a good night for us! The Rockets won, Charyn & Eryn got goodies from the Houston Rocket staff and the best part is we were able to have our 30 seconds of FAME; the camera was on us at one point! Too bad none of our friends watched the Rockets game that night! Eryn and Jasmine did well on their first Rockets game, they both screamed when we screamed, and even joined us on cheering “Let’s go, Rockets, Let’s go!”

ENTERING THE BLOG WORLD

“The word blog is a conflation of two words: Web and log. It contains in its four letters a concise and accurate self-description: it is a log of thoughts and writing posted publicly on the World Wide Web”

I am not a good writer, and so as expressing my opinions in person, but I found out the entering the blog world would be a good idea. The thought of me experiencing of being able to directly show or express my own words to the readers will be an exciting journey to this blog world. I know that on this voyage I would hit some rocky roads because of some people who would criticize me on the way I will express my thoughts, there would be a difference of opinions among my readers and discussing reactions and ideas that far different from mine. I do know that blog is instantly public, But I know I’m ready! To blog is therefore to let go of my thoughts in away that I MIGHT NOT or MIGHT OFFEND SOMEBODY, but it will let others revolve me toward relative truth.

So Bloggers here I am! And hope that with open mind you will consider some of “My own Words: Just expressing my thoughts!”

Cristina :)