Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Garden Make Over

Two weekends ago we have been working on our garden in the front yard. It is just a small garden and most of my flowers are mums - annual plants and they usually show case their beautiful flowers during the fall season. Right now they are just starting to turn green after hibernating during the winter season. I have mini pink roses that are starting to have some buds it might take a while before the flowers will bloom.

We just put some edging stones on the garden and put 3 bags of the red mulch for the garden to look fresh again. We just change our garden lights to solar lights too. I wanted to add some figurines on the garden but little expenses there and here add up really quick. This year I will just let go of the figurines and have it next year or if can save some money then I will buy some. Todd painted the signage which we have in the garden.

I have taken some pictures of the garden but still no flowers.

Work Shift Change

At present I am working afternoon shift from 2-10 p.m., Mon-Friday and I have he weekend’s days off. Todd and I worked the same shift everyday. Since we have two dogs, our neighbor is our pet sitter and it cost us money too around $160.00 every month. At work last night I was thinking of just requesting for a change of shift just to save the money we have been paying the dog sitter.

Today while I was at work I talked to my supervisor about my changing my schedule to (9:00 am– 5:00 pm Mon-Fri or 10:00 am-6:00 pm. Mon-Fri). She told me to fill up the request for shift change and it’s up to our Operations Manager to approve it or not.

I am hoping they will be kind enough to grant my request, just keeping my fingers cross and if not better luck next time. I have to hand in my request tomorrow.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Summer Job in a Sardines Canning Factory



It was summer vacation before I go into 2nd year high school in 1987. The friend of sister worked in a sardines manufacturing company and they were looking for students who wanted to work for the summer. She brought my resume and I got hired.

They manufactured tuna sardines, the place had a very strong smell that it will stay in my clothes. I was working in the labeling department, it was easy I just have to put labels on the can big or small and do the packaging after wards. The assembling the box is quite heavy for they are heavy duty boxes and the loading of the cans. I gained so many friends in the place for working for two months.

I worked there for two consecutive summers and the next summer the plant changed management. It was an experience working in the factory but the only thing is the place stinks.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Reminiscing Childhood



I was talking to my sister Grace from South Carolina and Lany from Tennessee and we had so much fun reminiscing our childhood days back in Mandaue City. We were talking about how we take turns in buying “frances bread” at the late Yaya Caring’s bakeshop early morning before we go to school. All of the goodies Yaya Caring’s bakeshop had were all yummy. We missed the chichay bread (w/ sugar and cheese in the middle), the cinnamon bread (yummy icing on top), the bake siopao (w/ egg and bake potato), the ube ensaimada (very sofy and w/ sprinkled sugar on top), the fresh lumpia, the marble, custard and cassava cake and a lot more.


During summer vacation we worked for our neighbor who has a hanging rice (puso) business. Puso means cooked rice wrapp in weave palm leaves. We weaved the palm leaves and back then we were paid 10 cents per 100’s and it rose up to Php1.00 per 100’s. That was our summer job, we were paid every week. Friday and Saturday were busy days we can weaved 5,000 palm leaves. We saved our pay for the opening of classes for June.

We have a Chico tree in the front of our house and we used to climb on top and we have designated places on the branches. We had so much fun and when our Nanay who owns the tree saw us from her house she will come down bringing the whipping stick, oh boy, we had to hurry to avoid the whipping stick. My sister was the one left on top she couldn’t come down.

Those were the days of our childhood. If we could go back the times and be kids again.

A Summer Vacation in Ontario


Sheilvy and I have been friend’s way back in 1993 when I was still a working student at the Fine Arts Dept at the University of San Carlos. She is like my younger sister; she was there thru good and bad times of my life. When I graduated from college we seldom saw each other but if we get the chance to meet or talk on the phone it would take hours to finish the conversation. I get to know her family also same as her with my family.

It has been three years now that I have not seen her but we still communicate with each other thru email. Weeks ago she sent me an email informing me that she wanted to visit Canada come summer time. I was delighted and excited knowing her plans. She needs an invitation letter from us to support her visa application. Todd and I both signed the invitation letter for her which I scanned and emailed to her. In her last email she said “she will be filing her application this week when she gets her day off”. If she gets lucky then she will be flying from Dubai to Canada for a visit. Todd and I have already planned our itinerary for her when she comes. I hope there are still fare tickets available for her planned trip.


We just hope her tourist visa will be approved in time for the summer here in Canada.

We will see you soon Shlvs!

Best Expectations to Memories of the Past

Last Friday May 24, 2008 I was chatting with my friend Belle from Colorado Springs who was also my classmate in college. During our college days she is very shy and you can always see her with our other classmate Jessica, they are inseparable. Thru friendster we were re-united again online. She was the one who introduced me to the blogging world. She is my walking dictionary when it comes working and editing my profile. I would like to thank her for sparing me her precious time even if she is busy.

While we were talking online she gave me two of her new bloggs that she just created. She named it “Best Expectations” which I later changed it to “Memories of the Past”; she said this will be our remembrance of friendship.

To Belle you will be a part of this blogg. Thank YOU for the friendship that we have shared. Thank you for lending an ear if I needed.