"And In The End, It's Not The Years In Your Life That Count. It's The Life In Your Years"

How can you not be ashamed when people around you or knows you finds out that one of your kids doesn't belong to your husband and was fathered by another man? I will loss face and probably be in a "low profile" if myself was in "that" position. Oh well, I must not forget that people acts differently for the reason that "some" has a more thicker skin than "others" hahaha. And just like the "old saying" goes ..... "those who acts slutty also dressed the part" is very, very true! I don't have to go far to spot an "entity". Lucky for me, I exactly know when I see one hahaha. I have no clue if any of you ever heard the story of "Cynthia George", the wife of a very successful business owner and restaurateur Ed George from Akron, Ohio. Her life story is one of a kind. The one that sums-up the true meaning of "whoreyness" hahaha.

Anyway, our (my husband and I's) firstborn turns "fifteen year old" today. It's been that long since he's a newborn. He may be a "teenager" now but to both of our hearts he is still the same baby boy I gave birth to fifteen years ago. It is always a melody to my ears when people compliments him having a resemblance of me (whoa! that is quite a note). And that his looks is half of his daddys and half of mines. In other words, he's really came from the man I am married to hahaha. Whew! If there is one thing you don't want people to doubt you (or worst, to talk about you), you better make sure all your kids belongs to your husband. Otherwise, you are done! If a person doesn't want to be treated like a dog, he/she shouldn't act like one! And if you are a "mother" with decency, you will act like a mother with decency. But if you are a mother who has a "streak' of being slutosarus, you will always dress the part and never get embarrassed to express it.  

"Talent Hits A Target No One Else Can Hit; Genius Hits A Target No One Else Can See"

There's nothing in this world to lift you up to "cloud nine" than having two wonderful kids who do so well at school. Every quarter in each school year, my husband and I gets so very elated about our kids' report cards. To us, what's on it is the summarization of what we did, as parents, to our students with regards to school- related stuff. The results of each report truly reflects what sort of parents my children have at home. We are not special, but to bring up "bright children" doesn't requires "special parents". It is just the way, the right way, to raise your children. And it doesn't take the entire village to "mold" a child. I believe firmly just two parents would be enough to do the magic! Below is today's post's share to glance at. Tiresome is an expected feeling but hey, who would get tired where all you have to do is be proud of your kids accomplishments.

"Talent Is Never Enough. With Few Exceptions The Best Players Are The Hardest Workers"

Parents went thru a lot simply by bringing-up their doting children. They worked hard and tries their very best to send each kid to get a higher education, clothe them properly, and making sure food were placed on the table for proper nourishment. Most of the time, other things were pushed to the side just to have some extra money to pay for the tuition fees and other school expenses. At least that's what exactly what I have observed from mines growing up. And that is why I am very particular on how to pay them back in return. I cannot go to bed at night knowing any of them still strive harder for a buck or two just to make a living. A friend of mine from FL petitioned her only surviving parent only to find himself "wiping tables" at a local mall's food court. There's nothing wrong about it but to me, that is one degrading job I won't let my vision to see my father doing! That's all there is to it. It is everybody's mind-set to have their parents over here. And then, you will oblige them to work (at times hopping from one State to the next to look for a job) so that they can pay for their own health insurance. How about making your mother or your dad for that matter to babysit your child? Oh, what a cruelty! I can't do that to my parents b/c I am fully aware that they're supposed to be through raising kids and have graduated from babysitting the "moment" each of us, their children, became an adult. It is my turn and my job to raise mines under any circumstances. For money's sake, some parent(s) were flewn here by their daughter(s) so they can go to work while "Moms" or "Pops" stayed at home to babysit the grandchild. What more painful is when you don't have your own place and you are renting a two bedrooms apartment with your spouse and kid, when your parent(s) arrives where do you think they'll sleep at? In the living room? Give me a break! Or you'll settle to buy a "bunk bed" for them to sleep on. Come on people, think about it! Grown-ups doesn't looks right to be on a bunk bed, especially if they're your own parents. Have you mock them enough? My own parents weren't here but hey, they're much better off in the Philippines enjoying the grandeur of their very own home and not getting exhausted searching for jobs. All parents has the right to retire and enjoy the remaining years of their lives. Why put them back to work so they can afford their health insurance? When they deserve "break", please give it to them! After all, they've done and were through doing their part.

Anyway, I am a "soccer mom" who has a "soccer son"! Joss is very athletic and he never gets tired. His games are mostly in-town but there were games that are out-of-town. We will be at his very last out-of-town game in April that will be held in Troy, AL. I have never been to any of his out-of-town games due to work schedules but I promise him I'll be there for his last. Coincidentally, I don't have to work that day. Hurrah, hooray, and hurray! Shot below was taken awhile back at his school's stadium. Kneeled-on right knee first row, second from left is my "sonshine" Joss who constantly bringing smiles to our faces and makes us so very proud. If you are looking for a "fast runner", you'll find it in him.

"Hope Your Birthday Gently Breezes Into Your Life All The Choices Of Things And All That Your Heart Holds Dear Have A Fun-Filled Day"

Sorry folks! But you'll be disappointed if you expected me to post and tell a made-up stories here. That won't happen not even in a million years! Well, how about you? How many lies did you post today or for the last few weeks or so? Did you get rich for doing it? I bet you didn't! Nobody get rich for making up stories besides ..... "easy money, easy goes"! It would be better for you if you get a "real job".  Anyway, while shopping with my family one day last week, my attention was caught by another mom. She thinks she's all that ha ha ha. UGG boots, Levis' jeans and a North Face jacket accessorized her entire well-being. Following her were three kids in their dollar store outfit! "What a "lowdown"!, I told myself. Making sure she represent herself real nice to the public is a must task while her children looks forsaken. That was one "narcissist" I have ever encountered! Some entities lives that way. It doesn't bother them what other people might think of themselves as long as they portrayed a good view of themselves to the outside world. What they don't realized is that .... they actually tells a lot about their characters without uttering a single word. You cannot pay me tons of money to let any of my kids go out wearing a trousers with a hole on it. So next time you face yourself in the mirror to doll-up and all, how about asking your self-centered soul ..... "did I mend any of my children's trousers with hole today?". And if not, please do your kids a favor and try to fix it! You embarrass your children but best of all, you put shame on your "self-centered well-being".

Speaking of kids, Jann, our baby girl turns "eleven year old" today. For her bday theme, she decided to go for "Victorious". It's a purple passion, people! That's her fav color since her birthstone is an "amethyst". She got tons of presents which is mostly clothes. Paw Paw sent her a hundred dollar check and mom and dad picked-up the rest of the expense. It's an expensive celebration but she's been a loving child who do great at school. She only deserves the best. Besides, a truly daddy's girl needs a real birthday celebration! Happy, Happy Elegant Eleven Sweetiepie and many many more "Returns Of The Day To Come"!!!

"Logic Will Get You From A To B. Imagination Will Take You Everywhere" 

Business as usual! And the "rule of the thumb" is that if you want to bring some money in, you need to put some money out first! In other words, it is a gamble! Unfortunately for some, running a business doesn't always pays off neither go your way. Well, I'd say in order to make some "omelet", you have to brake some "eggs". That's all there is to it! Topic of some sort, I went to BOA the other day to finally close Joss' account with them. What it was is that my son got a letter with free money (in a form of a check) from Charter Bank three days ago as a reward for making all A's this sem and in part of his membership of the "Honor Savings Club" (which is sponsored by Charter Bank). There is no point for Joss to have two savings account from two different banks and so I made a decision to close one of them and just combined his savings in just one bank. He was with me all through the process and he's glad it's all over with after sitting in front of the bank manager for quite sometime. Patient, I tell you must be with you at all times to deal with the public. Without it, you could easily loss your sanity hahaha. As for Jann, she's getting ready for her Washington DC and NYC trip next Spring. It will cost us at least $2,500 including tax and travel insurance but that's OK. Spending money with your kids is a part of raising children as well as parenthood. There is no such thing as raising kids cheaply anymore. Whichever way you look at it, it is always sum-up expensive. Just thankful my husband and I both have jobs. And we're lucky our children are doing great at school. It's not easy to make "All A's" and to earn a "4.5 GPA" but Joss and Jann did besides those extracurricular activities they're both involved in. As a mom of two clever students, that is something I have to be proud of. A "fact" that will follow me wherever I go! Knowing a lot of kids are struggling just to pass the course and to move from one grade to the next, when you know you bore two bright intelligent children that is more than having a mountain made of gold in your name. Here below, "highlighted", is Jann's name among honor roll students from two straight grading periods.

"Great Things Are Accomplished By Talented People Who Believe They Will Accomplish Them"

My husband and I went out of town to our fav grocery store yesterday to re-stocked our pantry. The day was gorgeous with plenty of sunshine. And though you could easily tell winter is still lingers around, with a light cardigan your body keeps warm! Heavy clothing isn't comfortable and it makes me immobile and put in a slow pace that is why I opt out to be on the go lightly. We spent a reasonable amount of time filling-up the baggy. Getting back home was a smooth sailing and as we both stepped thru the back door, I heard our answering machine beeping. Someone left a message while we were gone grocery shopping. As my dear dearest played the machine, he found out it was from Mr. W, the editor of our local paper. He wants to confirm our home phone # and gets my husband's approval for the printing of his letter about "The Spelling Bee Mishap" that was happened a week ago. Expectedly, my husband agreed and was elated it will finally be featured for the entire eleven communities to read and to know. As he was putting back the phone to the charger, I could tell my husband was having a ball and could not wait to read his own letter to the editor hahaha. He knew it will be on the Friday paper under the "Opinion" section. Sure enough at work, the ladies told me they have read it for I already shared to some of them what had happened at the competition few days ago. Two of the lovely ladies in the facility I am assigned to handed me over the paper and pointed out my husband's LTTE! I am extremely amazed and hastily called home. My dear dearest is already in bed for he has to go to work early tomorrow but still awake. He told me that he saved the paper for me to read. I informed him about the "news" and how these two lovely ladies keeping-up with it. My shift won't end till sharp 10pm but I made a promise to myself to post it when it gets here. I know my "girlfriend Kay" is on the look-out and eager to read what my husband's letter is all about. I mean the detail of the entire event.

"While Most Are Dreaming Of Success, Winners Wake-Up And Work Hard To Achieve It"

Despite the "irate" I am having and heaviness I have to drag today, my husband and I did manage to pull ourselves together to be with Jann and the rest of the competitors (and eleven teachers) at the San Marcos restaurant to treat the kids as a gesture of appreciation for the hard work each spellers put out there. The event is a complete disaster! It all begun when according to the newsletter that was sent home that the said event will be held at the library. A 'lil after nine this morning my dear dearest and I were at our driveway to hit the road to the library. The event won't start till 10 but if you are accustomed to punctuality, it is automatic in your system. We got up there and instantly my husband knows we were in the wrong vicinity. Not even one car is a sight in the parking area. My instinct works fast and I told him to drive to the nearest school (which is about three minutes away) and inquire about which place we should be going. We still on the right track with extra time left on us. We reached the place on time but Jann done got worried and called the house to find out where we're at in addition to the text her teacher sent to my husband's cell phone. "Handout" welcomes each of us added to the "program". Jann's all smile and worry-free. The rehearsal started to warm-up the spellers. The "pronouncer" begun with the "word numbers". Our baby have to spell the word ....."one". There were 11 spellers representing 11 schools (from 4th grade-7th grade) plus 11 alternates, parents, and 11 school bee sponsors. If you do the math, you'll realize there was quite a crowd! On the "26th rounds", our Jann which hold a speller tag #5, had to compete with 2 other remaining spellers (a 5th grade Indian girl and a 7th grade Indian boy). The expectators each hold the "spelling words hand-out". And in front of three retired teacher "spelling judges" in their late 50s and early 60s, the "pronouncer", parents, ten other contenders, eleven alternates, and eleven school spelling bee sponsors, our Jann stood up to spell the word "niagara"! As she goes ..... n...i...a...g...a...r...a... and sat down thereafter 100% convinced she spelled the word correctly, the three judges shaking their heads as they each follows the word listed on the "hand-out" spelled otherwise. Jann had to stepped-down from the podium as I was caught off-guard sooo confused. As all the confusion playing in my head I can't stop thinking that we studied the wrong material. Gesture as it was, my husband stomped his right foot on the floor then whispered to me that Jann added an "a" after the "g". I replied that there's an "a" after the "g" on the study guide. But as all these things played out, I myself got confused and doubt what I really know. That only goes to show you that I am not perfect! I have to pull Jann's teacher to the side after the event and told her that the material she sent home to study had the word spelled incorrectly. After all the hubbub, my husband complains to the judges and to the pronouncer and pointed out the "mistake". Come to find out, when the pronouncer pulled-out her lists of words (Master Words, as you called it), she's the one who screwed it up and typed the wrong spelling on the "handout". My husband told everybody that the event is TAINTED! Our daughter got eliminated virtually for spelling the word correctly and not incorrectly. If that is not a real "f-up" I don't know what is? Do you know? Below you'll see the study guide (on the left side) my daughter and I had been studying since Nov. and the handout, take note the word #157 (on the right side) that was given to us at the event. The other foto was given to Jann at school from Capital City Bank with each employees signature to congratulate our darling daughter. I purposely open up my comments page for the public to place their opinion. Would love to hear what you think of the disaster! I felt the guilt for not standing up for my daughter when she needs it the most. It's like I have failed her. I should appeal right there and then but with the confusion going on, I just opt out not to create a scene and keep my mouth shut which I regretted possibly from the rest of my life. My top is smoking as you'll notice it coming out of my nostrils like a raging bull BUT who would ever thought three retired judges who had been teaching school kids for 35-40 years haven't recognized that the word NIAGRA is a mispelled word? How can you be a spelling bee judges and not knowing how the word correctly spelled? And how dumb can you be as a pronouncer to not knowing the word you put out there is mispelled and never caught it as you pronounce it? Well guess what's her explanation to my husband, she admitted that she thought it was a wrong spelling but instead of correcting it herself at the moment she continues possibly to save her own skin. How sorry and low-down!

 "An Optimist Stays Up Until Midnight To See The New Year In. A Pessimist Stays Up To Make Sure The Old Year Leaves"

A roof over your head seems to be the primary and basic need every man long for as early as mankind walked on the surface of the earth second to food. Harsh weather without shelter is a death sentence and many suffers greatly being out in the cold. In the previous years a lot of people lost their homes to the banks that finance it. Many cases are still active and families are continuously losing homes to its financiers. In our street alone four houses are on the market and having for sale signs in their front lawns. It is unbelievable b/c the sight is considered unusual compares to ten years ago. We have been living in this neighborhood since ninety nine and to see many houses for sale at one time is really a shocking. Our place isn't grand but "IT'S OURS" and that is what matters! It was paid for and it's in our names. Nobody could kick us out if ever we miss a payment. And to go to bed every night knowing you own your own place is very assuring and gives you a self-worth. Can you imagine throwing your money away for something you can't account for at the end of every month? Well, that's what happens to these families who rents! You keep giving your money away for something you cannot claim as yours later (not to mention all the regulations you have to comply such as no loud music, no garden, no grilling, no washer and dryer ..... and the list just keeps on and on). That is why every New Year, I feel sooo grateful knowing that we own our place and that we don't have another twelve months ahead of us to pay (for the next, who knows how many more years to come). The repetition is just like carrying a monkey on your back forever hahaha. I have never remembered us renting growing up. The moment I started to walk and talk, we were in our own place my parents bought for few hundred pesos. It was not grand either but we made a home out of it and we went from there. You just have to rise from the ground up and learn how to do the process along the way. Now that I have a family of my own, I make it a point that I wouldn't allow my kids to grow up in the place that doesn't belongs to us. Family values practices can go a long way and it is very, very beneficial. My dear dearest is in his early 50s and yours truly in middle 40s. My son is almost 15yrs old and our Jann will turn 11yrs next month BUT Thank God, we don't have any landlord to deal with! Speaking of my kids, New Year's news is that ..... they still reign at making the grades academically! Joss has a "4.5" GPA as of first term and Jann is still raking up "All A's". Their report cards are sent home today and as expected, their grades are both jaw dropping. I really meant to show them off but our baby's foto took the place. The featured clipping is way overdue and I decided to post it before anything else except of course with Joss' highlighted Grade Point Average which is pretty amazing !!! Way To Go, dad and mom's smart students!

"Remember, If Christmas Isn't Found In Your Heart, Youn Won't Find It Under A Tree"

It is always an exciting fact to know "nothing on your lists is forgotten"! From shoes to purses and from garments to Xbox games we got one too many of each. Santa came and left as he did many times in the past. And as usual he brought everything we were asked for. Foods and dishes on the table are too many to count and just thinking how to chew each menu makes your jaw overly tired hahaha. We have two sorts of cuisines for my family is made of two different cultures. I fixed "sweet and sour porgy in three sweet peppers" from Atlanta's Farmer's Market in addition to my "pancit bihon", "pancit canton", "baby bok choy with pork in oyster sauce", and "prawns in minced garlic and soda". Boy, it was heaven and kids doesn't know where to begin. Filling up my plate is really becomes a chore hahaha. My dear dearest has his own fixing! Country cooking is his expertise aside from the desserts he's really good at making. Truly a sweet sensations for the holidays! Spaghetti and meatballs are not on the menu. For one thing, that is what you usually fix on an ordinary days and we never bought any "take-out orders" for the dining table. What we see is what we cooked and everything tastes good. Home cooking can never be beaten. That's all there is to it. And when you cooked every dish in your spouse presence it makes it more tastier hahaha. We are a family of cooks, there's no doubt about it! It makes sense 'coz both of my kids loves cooking as well. I don't care how you flip it or twisted it BUT Christmas isn't a Christmas without attending the mass (well, that's how I was brought up and passing this simple Christmas tradition on to my kids will do no harm ..... I'm pretty sure!). And to the Catholic church we went, all the four of us. Instead of going today which requires a motivation to get up early, we decided to sit on the pew yesterday attending the children's mass. It went well and smoothly and with our priest handing out Christmas pens for the kids, the ambience turned out wonderfully. Foto below was taken yesterday at the altar of the church we go to every Sunday for the past thirteen years. Take a look !!! If I can take tons and multitudes of fotos within 365 days in a row, I am positive I still have the "urge" and "desire" to take my husband and children to church to attend the Christmas mass. What do you say? The family life we have haven't taken over by my camera as it did to sooo many entities I knew! The thing about picture is that, when you see one, you see them all, is it not?

"Genius Without Education Is Like Silver In The Mine"

First sem of the 2011-2012 school year for my "sonshine" Joss, is finally over. And just like the semesters he had before this one, he again excelled and exempted from taking his finals. His overall average is quite a record! It is remarkable and we are sooo very proud of his achievements and hard work. While the rest of his class will be taking finals on Monday and Tuesday of next week, our "sonshine" will be sitting at home and will get busy with his iPhone hahaha. Oh, the power of having a good study habit! A straight A's student, indeed! It looks like making one B will put a blemish on the record. Maintaining an All A's is not the same as having A's & B's. He told me it was an amazing and very productive first semester. My dear dearest is in amazement about his grades. He thought that for Joss to take "advanced" courses, the path will be a 'lil difficult but it turned out just the opposite! Two more advanced courses will be tackled starting next year but I know from the core of my heart Joss will thrive as he did many times in the past. To evaluate something, you have to know the pattern. And with Joss and his commitments to get on top, all seems possible. Each year courses gets harder but his determination fueled his motivation to beat the odds. We all know he is really smart and blessed with intellect and that fact isn't strange to his knowledge. Joss is very much aware of his capability and what he can do! He's looking forward to his High School graduation and being a member of "Honors Savings Club", a club for students from 9th grade and above who make all A's for any semester which was sponsored by CharterBank. Now, we are talking "funds", "green", and "Benjamins" to the Pharmacy school. Whew! my intro gets into Joss' performance quite deeply, don't it? Well, here's the "cream of the crop" folks! When I say "SpellingB Star", I mean it is really about a SpellingB Star! And that title goes to none other than my darling daughter Jann. You have to earn every "title", if you know what I mean. "Self-proclaimed" is a piteous act of desperation. Got it? The competition was held today at the library of her school. She had to go against five other students who represent as winners of each class (three from 4th grade and two other from her grade). To thrive is not easy of a job but with your talent and intellect nothing is impossible. A never polished intelligence is a wasted quality just like silver in the mine. You can tell the entire world how smart you are as often and as many times you want but guess what? That don't mean a thing. If you fails to get an education, that is nothing. Jann, as her school spellingB champ, will compete for the County title against other school winners next month. Sheeesh, if you guessed I am excited ..... You betcha! My husband and I couldn't be more proud of our "two smart students"! They truly rocks. Who would ever thought that both of them will become their grade school's spellingB champs. Our daughter wins this school year and her brother won 5yrs earlier. Joss took home the very same title in 2006 that made him as SpellingB champ for 2006-2007 school year.