Diet, Diet

Photo taken from www.burgerbusiness.com

So after a week of listing down everything I ate (no restrictions yet), I met with the nutritionist. She said my average caloric intake was about 1,100 per day, which was not bad. The problem was that there were days when my intake was less than that. Our goal now is for me to have an average intake of 1,100 a day, but that I would need to eat at least five times a day: something that I still have to get used to.

Yesterday, I bought a small weighing scale just to make sure I'm not cheating myself. I found out that 35 grams of anything is tiny to say the least! That's all I'm allowed to eat, 35 grams of fish, 35 grams of beef, 35 grams of chicken, and lots and lots of veggies. No condiments, which is hard, since we Filipinos love our sawsawan (sauce). No fries, pizza, burgers. Ayayay! Oh well, that's life. With half a cup of rice, fruit and water it's more than enough to fill me up.

Nissan Ferarri

Thesis, a necessary evil

Last Saturday, after perpetually crossing my fingers, and offering my personal intentions at every Sunday Mass leading to that fateful Saturday, my thesis proposal was finally approved. I wanted to shout hurray! from the mountaintops, sadly, there are no mountain ranges in geologically-challenged Manila. I was able to share my ecstatic state with my good friend, Anne though, who happened to be there, and whose last class had been cancelled due to the professor's absence. We celebrated by going to the nearest fast food restaurant, ordering, and eventually devouring extraordinarily unhealthy processed food, which, sadly, I had been prohibited to eat by my nutritionist. Oh well, I was hungry, having brisk- walked back and forth from one building to the other. I have only written about 11,000 words so far, and am in serious panic-mode. I guess I'll be praying to St. Francis de Sales for inspiration. (I wince and hold my breath in anticipation of divine inspiration.)

Can't Wait

When my nephew left for Guam in October 2012, I felt like I lost a limb. He was so much a part of our daily lives, that not having him around felt like I had been transported to an alternate universe filled with nothing but eerie silence. Gone was the tiny voice asking if it could have McDonald's chicken nuggets for dinner. There were no more tiny hands, tugging at my mother's blouse, coaxing her to buy a "medium-sized" Lego. His absence hit all of us hard. Especially my father. My nephew was his favorite person. He could do no wrong in my father's eyes. He missed his kakulitan, his watching the same movies over and over, his singing the same songs over and over, and eating the same food over and over. I cannot really speak for my brother, for he knows how to hide his pain. But I know he would move heaven and earth to get him back, if that's what's best for him.

Recently, thanks to Viber, my nephew has been calling us a lot. Now we know he's okay, so we're all happy with that. When it comes to children, adults have to put everything on the back burner - our pride, anger, resentment, and everything else that weighs us down. It's the children that matter. Their happiness, safety, and well-being.

In August we will all travel to Guam to see my nephew. I wish the clock would tick a bit faster. We love and miss you, Yeshua. See you very soon.

University Photos

Thought I'd share some pictures taken at my university, University of Santo Tomas, Manila.

Rubber shoes

Nope, these are not expensive shoes. I think I got them for just over USD25 at the New Balance outlet in Hong Kong last October.

I decided to post this picture to pay tribute to the shoes that cushioned my ankles (especially the right one) when I missed a step coming out of the gym's bathroom. And this was before my workout. Thank God no one saw me.

So, thank you right shoe. Hope there won't be a next time. Ciao!

Happy birthday to my hubby

Picture taken in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia April 2013

Like what I posted on Facebook, happy birthday to the bestest hubbyest everest ( to the nth power!) Mahal na mahal kita! Bow!

Soreness!

Yesterday I took a big step. I made a very big commitment - a pact, if you will, with myself, to be healthier so I don't die before turning forty. My friends, Jamie and Joy (husband and wife) had helped convince me that now is the time to commit to a healthier lifestyle. So yesterday, I met with doctors and a nutritionist at a weight management center, to discuss how to go about losing the unwanted LBs. After meeting with a cardiologist, a rehab doctor, an endocrinologist, and a psychiatrist, I proceeded to spend about two hours at their gym. The whole program is for three months, and is about the same price you would pay a personal trainer for a month at the nearest Fitness First. It's not bad. But of course now I'm a bit sore, since my body had not exercised in a long time. I'm now keeping a food diary. There are no restrictions yet, apart from sugar, condiments, sauces, instant noodles, chips, nuts, and processed foods. (Yikes!) But, this is what I have to do to become healthier. So help me God.

Yesterday

 Photo by www.bestforbeauty.eu

Yesterday, I wore the perfume you gave me.

The whole day was spent polishing my thesis proposal, sorting out journal articles, making sure I had filled out the evaluation form correctly. I also read more journal articles about cyber relationships, the effects of cyber cheating on offline relationships, writing a memoir, the actual truth and the truth as one remembers it.

And then it was almost five pm. In an hour I was to go to Church to hear Mass and to pray for you. Everyday, for the whole month of July, our parish will be praying for you.

So at about five-thirty, I decided to take another shower. It had been a long, hot, humid day. The humidity made me wish for rain and typhoon. But guilt came soon after my mind had already released my wish out into the universe. Good thing the universe had not been listening.

After a quick shower, I opened a small cabinet in the bathroom where I keep all my perfumes. And there it was, the perfume you gave me some years ago, when you didn't really have to give me anything. I have always loved that perfume, using it sparingly since its scent calls for a specific mood or occasion. But every time I wear it, I love it. And it reminds me of you.

Yesterday, my husband created videos of this simulation game that he likes. Armed with a one-dollar microphone he had bought from CDR King, he recorded them while commentating. He told me to like the video, which I did, of course. I even told my friends about it.

When he turned on his tablet to check YouTube, he was so surprised to find out that he had opened your account instead. The last time he had opened YouTube using his tablet was when we were in the States a few months ago. And somehow, he had logged into your account. We looked at each other in disbelief. And then we felt sad.

Yesterday, I wore the perfume you gave me.

Stephen Fry Kinetic Typography - Language

Stephen Fry Kinetic Typography - Language