Only Kid

Frankie is the only kid who enrolled for the traditional preschool at St. Liborius. Apparently, with the economy being bad (this was according to the principal) nobody else enrolled, so Frankie will be joining the non-traditional preschool who are there for the whole day. She explained that the learning would still be the same. The only difference is Frankie will be with the 4 years old and a couple of 3 year old. My mother-in-law thinks that it would good for Frankie because he will learning off from the 4 years old who is a little mature. Ryan and I are just glad that they did not shut him off from the opportunity of being able to go to school because he will be by himself. I hope the rest of the kids will be nice to him especially that they are older. I know he will be ok. He can take care of himself.

Moving to North Carolina

More and more people these days are selling their house and moving into an apartment. My friend and her husband did exactly the same. They could not afford to keep their house anymore, so they decided to get rid of it and move into an apartment. She said it was a leap of faith, but thankful that they did it because it was the best decision they ever made. They are no longer worried every month if they have the money to pay for their mortgage or not. What is even better is they were able to save a little money now because they are not paying as much for the rent compared to the mortgage.

Economy has surely affected a lot of families. I am just thankful that Ryan’s company bounced back, or else we could have been in the same situation. Well, moving into an apartment is not that bad after all. It is less the hassle of owning the house, but it doesn’t mean you will just get just about any apartment. There are luxury apartments that you can get too. In fact, if you are around Durham North Carolina, it has never been so easy to find and move to an apartment. You can start by going to nc-apartments.com, for they have a list of luxury apartments around the Durham area.

If you are moving from another state and not familiar with the place, the list of Apartment in Durham, NC will be a good start. You can browse through the website, plan ahead and pre-apply to see if you qualify. It has never been so easy to start fresh with the Apartments in North Carolina.

Scrubs

When I was pregnant with Frankie, it was very convenient and nice to know that there were a lot of Filipinos in the hospital where I was going to deliver him. Some of them I met, every time I have my ultrasound. I really love going to that hospital because everyone seem to be very friendly and accommodating. I was never a fan of hospitals but that one in Indiana made me feel very comfortable with hospitals.

One of the things I really like about hospitals is the nurses and their hospital uniform. They looked so neat and professional. I used to work in a retail store before, and a lot of people that are in the medical field used to ask me if we sell scrub sets. Unfortunately, I don’t know where to get them. Had I known about blueskyscrubs.com, I would have let them about it. They have a wide variety of scrubs to choose from.

In fact, they sell discounted scrubs at a very affordable price. I also like the different simple, custom, traditional, and designer scrubs that they offer. You also have the option to buy the scrub in a set or separate. They have scrubs for both men and women including scrub hats, lab coats and more. I wish I am a nurse right now, but I don’t do well with needles and blood.

Preschool

We finally got the letter and everything that we need to get Frankie started with preschool. We need to get him a pair of new shoes again that he could leave in his cubby at school. I got him a pair of skechers, but it was still a little bigger for him. I am thinking of the jumping beans but I wonder if a 10T will fit him since they run small and Frankie already wears a 10. I am sure I will find some good deals when I go back to work on Monday.

Anyways, he will start on the 7th of September right after Labor Day. On that day, I am supposed to be working overnight, so I did not request that day as my day off. I forgot that I asked them to change it for me on Wednesday night instead because it would be rough for me since I have a Math class on Wednesday morning. After they changed it and all is good, they scheduled me to work at 7:00 a.m. -3:30 p.m. for that Tuesday. I was excited because I get off early then I realized that it is Frankie's first day. I need to be there because I have to introduce Papa to the teacher since he will be picking him up most of the time. Ryan is not sure if he will take off, but he is thinking about it. I am hoping I could give my hours away, so I can have that day off. I got so messed up with the schedule and dates that I completely forgot the most important event of my son's life, his first day of school.

Gold Coins

There are different investments that most Americans invest their money in. For beginners, the most popular is the 401K where most people can get through their jobs. It is a savings program where it gets deducted from the salary and put side. This is in preparation for retirement or for the future. Other people also choose to get a life insurance. Although it is not as big of an investment, but it is still to protect the family in case something happens. The common goal of getting an investment is for future use.

Another investment that will also benefit you in the long run is buying gold coins. Acquiring gold coins are not hard to find anymore. In fact, you can get one with the United States Gold Bureau for immediate delivery or storage. You don’t have to know a lot about investing to be able to get one. All you have to do is contact them, and you will have your gold coins in no time.

Good Luck to Me

I just got home from my major education class and so far so good. I really liked the teacher, and I liked how he doesn't take bs. One of the down side of this class is, there are a lot of writings and readings but mostly writings. Next week, I have two things to read and write. Then I also need to have 15 hours of observation and the evaluation. We also have 3 major essays besides other things. As I was listening to him say all of these, my head hurt all of the sudden. I know it is going to be really a lot this fall, and I can't goof around. I am just happy that Frankie will be going to pre-school, so that will keep him busy. I also asked Ryan to get a table and chairs for Frankie's room, so we could study together. I have one class that is a late start, so I won't have to worry about it till a month from now. Math is another story, and Spanish. That started this week too. I will get there somehow. I will just have to take it easy and not beat myself too much. If I get a B, that is ok as long as I tried my best.

Planning a Birthday Party Online

Thank you for the post Angelo Cooper.

As a mother of three children, planning birthday parties can sometimes be difficult. I tend to run out of ideas for food and decorations. This is when I scour the Internet looking for unique ideas

I like to start with Google and search for the party theme and decorations. I like to look at image results for cute display ideas. Searching just blogs can also get you great ideas. I also like to search for food ideas and anything else to fit my selected theme.

Flickr.com is another great source for birthday party ideas. Flickr.com is just for photos, but sometimes the photos have descriptions. Searching through the photos can give you great ideas for cakes and other food. I usually find some great decorating ideas full of things I can make for the party.

With my hughes net internet service, I can quickly and easily get online to help plan these important parties. Without being able to get online I'm afraid I would have run out of ideas for food and birthday party decorating many years ago.

Chicago the Beautiful

We were in downtown Chicago two weeks ago, and Frankie had a wonderful time. It was Frankie first train ride. I mean he has been to Chicago when he was a little baby, but this is the first time that he is conscious, and he really loved it. I snapped a few pictures of downtown Chicago and here they are below.

Owning a Home

Acquiring one’s own home is an American dream regardless if you are a native of this country or an immigrant from another country. But there are times when life gets to us, that reaching for that American dream of owning a home could be impossible.

Ryan and I lived with my father-in-law for two years before getting our own house. Although Ryan’s credit was near perfect, I have not established any credit just yet because I just got here then from the Philippines. Before we finally decided to move out, Ryan and I researched on what we could possibly do and where to start. It was overwhelming to read a lot of information for first time buyers, but we were determined to do what we have to do. After three months of going through different houses and finally deciding what to get, we were able to close the deal and got the key of our first house on the fourth month.

Not all people are as lucky as us. Our credit was good. Some home buyers thought that if you have bad credit, it will be harder to get a loan. It could be if you don’t know where to find it. It could also be very stressful, but looking for the best mortgage loan entails a lot of research. So, if you are planning to get started in looking for a house, check your credit score first to see what your standing is. Then proceed with learning about finance options within your scope. Owning a house could be a lot of responsibility, but it is worth it,

Out in the Country

When I moved here in the US, I never felt so isolated in my entire life. I go out occasionally with my co-workers and friends back home, and even if we were unable to drive, there were public transportation that could take us places. I never felt stuck in one place, but it was a different story here in the US. I didn’t know how to drive, and I had to wait for my husband or my father-in-law or someone to take me places.

Ryan and I lived with my father-in-law for two years. It was out in the country, and the city was fifteen miles away. I felt so trapped being there all the time with nothing to do. I cross stitched, but that did not stay long because my eyesight was getting bad. I watched TV occasionally, but there were only a few local channels to choose from. I was told that since we lived out in the middle of nowhere, cable could not get to the location that we were in. I did not know anything about Direct TV by DirectSatTV then because I just got here. If I had known about it, I would have told my husband and father-in-law that regardless of our location, we could still get a satellite dish for TV service loaded with different shows to choose from.

It is amazing how much stuff they have to offer. I browsed through Direct TV packages by DirectSatTV, and they have awesome offers for new customers. I like the flexibility of having to choose my own specification. They have the premier package, choice ultimate, choice xtra, choice, and lastly the family package. These are a lot of choices depending on one’s budget, but before anything else, one has to make sure to check the government dish rules. We may have to get one for ourselves.

Eclipse: A Bad Omen?

“From 2000 BC through AD 3000, there are 7,718 eclipses of the Moon including both partial and total eclipses” and counting (Eclipse in Spanish Fork). The occurrence of a solar eclipse happens when the Moon lies exactly between the Earth and the Sun while the lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth’s shadow. Among the two eclipses, it has been the total eclipse during a solar eclipse that is interpreted in various ways.

Eclipses have been a known and normal acts of nature that could be explain astronomically; however, other cultures see and react to them differently and to some defiantly. This paper will explore different cultures and how they reacted to an eclipse, and scientifically explain the occurrences on each phenomenon questioned.

Eclipses have been perceived in many different ways. Everyday before a total eclipse is about to happen, people in the Philippines are notified to stay indoors especially pregnant women. It was believed that the Sun’s invisible rays will harm and even kill the unborn child. In the same way, pregnant women in India were advised to stay indoors, confined themselves to a curtained room even in regions that is not affected by eclipse.

Like the Philippines, the Indians are afraid that the invisible rays of the Sun will harm the fetus, and the baby will be born with disfiguration, birthmarks, or a congenital defect. Sonya Chadha, a New Delhi Accountant who is seven months pregnant, stated that “I have been told to lie straight on the bed with my eyes open and to chant prayers and verses from the Hindu holy texts during the eclipse.” She also added that, “if even a tiny silver of light falls on me, it could harm my child” (Mail Online). Pregnant women are refrained from sewing, using knives, or getting close to any sharp objects to keep their child from having unwanted wounds or birth defects. “Bathing in holy rivers is also highly recommended to cleanse the body from the impurity of the air as the result of the eclipse” (Kaur). It is also another reason for pregnant women to stay indoors.

Furthermore, China, believed that young couples are not to tie the knot during an eclipse as it is considered bad luck. Most Chinese are encouraged to stay home to avoid breathing the “bad energy” released during the eclipse. If only pregnant women are advised to stay indoors in the Philippines and in India, in China everyone are to stay indoors.

Every culture believed that something had done something to the Sun. Children in the Philippines are encouraged to fill a bucket with water, so they could watch as the Sun disappears through the reflection on the bucket of water. It was believed as the safest way to witness the eclipse without harming their eyes. Older folks in the Philippines thought that a huge big serpent swallowed the Sun, and the only way to bring it back is to make noise. They make noise from the time the Moon starts covering the Sun until the Moon completely uncovers the Sun. They make noises using kitchen utensils, pans, pots, drums, and by banging wood together to scare the serpent away.

To a tribe in the Southern Mindanao of the Philippines called T’boli, an “eclipse is considered their worst fear” (Jones). They stored extra food and water to last them for days in case the Sun does not come back. Every night before the eclipse, an elderly story teller sang parts of a long and sacred T’boli epic about mythical hero, Todbulol. They believed that Todbulol prevented his sister from using an eclipse to destroy the Earth after she saw the people living in misery. Jones stated that during the eclipse, T’boli people “hid their babies indoors, locked up chickens, and struck brass gongs.” They are afraid that something will happen during the course of the eclipse that is why they locked their prized possessions. While the mothers are in the house with the babies, other T’Boli are out dancing, playing flutes, bamboo zithers, jew’s harps, brass gongs, and drums. It was their way of driving the serpent away and for the Sun to come back.

Similarly, China “believed that the sight of the Sun disappearing behind the Moon was interpreted as the work of a hungry dragon that was eating it and people would shout, bang pans, and let off fireworks to create enough noise to scare the beast away” (Smith). In the same way in India, they believed that the sun was swallowed by a dragon-demon based on their superstitions and fables on Hindu Mythology. Birokar stated that to the Indians, “an eclipse is looked upon as unholy and inauspicious.” During this occurrence, people follow quaint practices like immersing images of Gods in pitcher full of water, observing fast, conducting Yagna (fire sacrifice), and holding special prayers to enable the eclipse to pass.

Another belief that is common among these cultures is they believed that an eclipse is the start of chaos, or the end of the world. As the darkness falls, Filipinos believed that it is the end of the world if the Sun will not reappear. They think that an eclipse is a reminder from God to keep away from sins and to reunite with Him. In fact, during totality, one could hear the cry of several spectators asking for the forgiveness of their sins while some of them yelling making a bargain that if the serpent will give back the Sun, they will start doing good deeds. Other cultures such as of the Chinese alleged that the eclipse is an ill omen that could do harm to people. To the Indians, an eclipse is considered catastrophic that could be eliminated with intense prayers.

Even with the advancement of technology, some of these beliefs still stand the same. However every claim presented has its own scientific explanation. For example, with the belief that the invisible rays of the Sun will harm the baby, there have been no reported cases of babies born disfigured or with congenial defects as a result of the exposure to the Sun’s invisible rays during an eclipse. The Sun and its rays during an eclipse could do no harm to a pregnant woman not unless if she watches the Sun without appropriate protection which could cause serious and permanent eye damage.

In the three cultures presented, they all have a common belief that something had eaten, devoured, or swallowed the Sun. Actually, “the way the Earth’s shadow gradually falls over the Moon’s surface in an eclipse had led many observers over the centuries to believe that the Moon was being eaten” (Champkin). This explains why the Philippines, China, and India thought that something devoured the Sun. It is the disappearance of the Sun, covered with “something black” up in the sky, followed by complete darkness is what makes these cultures wonder. “When the orbital planes intersect and the distances align favorably, the new Moon can appear to completely blot out the disk of the Sun” (Rao). This is when the Moon is casting its dark, slender cone of shadow known as the umbra upon the Earth’s surface hence giving off a total solar eclipse that people witness on Earth.

Another interesting theory that the people from the Philippines thought of an eclipse is it is the end of the world because of the ghostly scene it brings to the spectators. Actually, the “Moon turns dark orange or red” during a lunar eclipse adding the eeriness to the scene (Schneider, Arny 66). It is very eerie that sometimes they thought that they are witnessing divine intervention. During an eclipse, the Moon takes on a reddish color which is explained as when Earth gets between the Moon and the Sun. The Earth’s atmosphere bends the Sun’s light filtered blue out that only red remains. So, while the Moon is in the darkness of the Earth’s shadow, some red light is still being deflected round the Earth on to it- and most of that bent light is red.

The disorientation of the animals, as a result, is also associated as the end of the world. The birds and bees are sensitive to these changes that as soon as the Moon completely covers the Sun, they would take darkness as nightfall. Some animals also panic when they notice a sudden change.

The Chinese and the Indians believed that an eclipse marks the beginning of chaos, fall of empires and even death. As Champkin stated, “the lunar eclipse in the year 3 BC was quickly followed by the death of King Herod.” When an eclipse happens, people have the tendency to tie every death to the eclipse and blame this act of nature as the culprit. The Athenians were defeated on their battle with the Syracusans because the Athenians took eclipse seriously and refused to set off for battle in August 113 BC. Their enemy however, was less superstitious and attacked all the same and won.

Eclipse is a happy act of nature that gathered millions and millions of fans across the globe. Most of them considered an eclipse as a special opportunity to witness an out of this world phenomenon. It is not a miracle or a punishment of some sort. It is a way of explaining how the orders of things work here on Earth and beyond. No matter how differently cultures see or interpret an eclipse, it is here to stay.

Bibliography:

“A Rational Expectation.” Manila Standard. 23 Jul. 2009. Web. 20 Jul. 2010.

Birodkar, Sudheer. “Surya Grahana (Solar Eclipse).” Hindubook.org. n.d. Web. 15 Jul.
2010.

“Century’s Longest Solar Eclipse will Plunge, Millions in Asia into Darkness
Tomorrow.” Mail Online. 22 Jul. 2009. Web. 26 Jun. 2010.

Champkin, Julian. “See the Eclipse Tonight.” Mail Online. n.d. Web. 18 Jul. 2010.

“Eclipse in Spanish Fork.” Daily Herald. 29 Aug. 2007. Web. 15 Jul. 2010.

Jones, Clayton. “Eclipse Highlights Fading Philippine Tribal Culture.” Christian Science
Monitor. 21 Mar. 1988. Web. 15 Jul. 2010.

Kaur, Minderjeet. “Many Offer Prayers To ward off Ill Effects.” New Straits Times
(Malaysia). 23 Jul, 2009. Web. 15 Jul. 2010.

Rao, Joe. “Shades of Glory.” Natural History 117.8 (2008): 36-41. Academic Search
Complete. EBSCO. Web. 22 June 2010.

Schneider, Stephen and Arny, Thomas. “Pathways to Astronomy.” Mc Graw-Hill
Companies, Inc., New York. 2009. Print.

Smith, Lewis. “Total Eclipse is no Ill Omen but It Will Bring a New Spectator to
the Beijing Olympics.” The Times (London). 31 Jul. 2008. Web. 15 July 2010.

Home Security

One of the many regrets that we have when we bought this house is we should have investigated about the area a little better. Ryan lived most of his life out in the country, and I was not familiar of the places here just yet. We didn’t even bother looking into the school district to find out if it was good for our future children. We were newly weds and having children was the least of our priority then let alone looking into the school district.

When we finally moved into our new house, we decided not to get any security system. We thought the neighborhood was safe, but we were wrong. Just a few months from moving in, someone attempted to get into our neighbor’s house. They probably knew that the owners were on vacation because of the newspapers scattered in front of their house. Thankfully, they have a security system, and as the thief broke in the window, the alarm went off and alerted the police.

The safety of our family is our number one priority. That is why I find Fort Worth, PD’s home security check list very important. From the curb, to the landscaping of the house, outdoor lightings, external doors, windows, and garage doors, it could help maintain the safety of your family and belongings against any potential thief.

Take for example the landscaping of the house. If the shrubs are covering most of your house especially the windows, it could be very inviting for thieves to break into the house since no one could see them because of the overgrown shrubs. Outdoor lighting is also very significant to have because potential thief would not risk being seen. Good locks are also a must in each of the doors in the house.

I can’t begin to imagine the importance of getting our house ready in case something happens. That is why I like reading the police security tips in their website. It offers wonderful insights about burglaries and how to prep your house, but most of all, getting a home security through homesecurityteam.com will also give you the peace of mind that your house, your valuables, and your family are protected even when you are not at home.

House

It was tough looking for a house when Ryan and I decided to buy one. I don’t know how many houses we have checked before finding the house we are in today. This house is really nothing special, we just liked it because it is mechanically sound. We also liked how the air conditioner and the heater are new.

Our neighbors have address plagues in front of their houses, and they looked so attractive. Unfortunately, the previous owner of this house did not have one, so it looks bare in front it. We don’t even have one of those address signs.

I have been telling Ryan that we need to get an address plague for our house. We went to a local store only to find that they do not have it. Thankfully, I came across Mailboxandbeyond.com while I was surfing the internet and they carry a lot of stuff.They have house address plagues, birdbaths, bird feeders, solid brass doorbell, and a lot more. What is even better is it is free shipping on plagues within the United States.

I really find it attractive when I see houses with address plagues. I think it adds beauty and worth to the house itself. I can’t wait to get one for our house, so it won’t look bare anymore.

Nanay's Birthday Gift

When mama's birthday was approaching, papa and I are trying to plan on what to give her. We sent her a little money to she could spend for her birthday, but we wanted to do something special. Papa and I practiced a song that mama liked, but whenever I am home from work it is already so late to record. Frankie however had been practicing some songs for his nanay and although he doesn't know the lyrics, he really tried. He recorded these for his nanay's birthday.




When you tell me that you love me

Of course, his nanay was so happy for her gift and couldn't stop laughing.

What If?

Ryan and I took Frankie to the park yesterday to meet up with his friend Kyle. The park is just a few steps away from Kyle’s house, so Frankie is always there if one of us is available to take him. As we were approaching the park, I saw a man with his son. His son was in the swing while the father was trying to push the swing. As we settled down and let the kids play, I started talking to the father of the boy. From a distance, he looked like he was limping and had a hard time swinging his right arm. I thought it was just the way he moved, but he told us that he had a heart attack at 41.

Right there, I realized how in an instant your life could be taken from you. He also added that because he thought he was healthy, he was very arrogant to admit that something might happen to him and to his family. He was in the corporate ladder and was doing really well financially but did not get an accident and illness insurance, and after his heart attack, he lost everything. He ended up moving to his mother’s house with his wife and four boys and still paying for his hospital bills.

I can’t begin to imagine how important it is to have insurance. When I first got here, Ryan wanted to get me an affordable life insurance. It was just perfect for our budget since we just got married. For some strange reasons, I got upset because I felt like he wanted me dead or something. I came from a country where insurance is non-existence to the poor. He explained how important it is to have a life insurance in case something happens to either of us.

Now that I understood the importance of having insurance, I am even very interested in looking for cheap funeral insurance online. Whether we like it or not, our life will end and having funeral insurance will help ease the burden of any remaining expenses because life is unpredictable.

POS

Every time I use the POS at work, I can’t help but be thankful for having it in the store. I can’t believe how it has made the life of the cashiers and the customers so much easier. It is not all the time that the customers has cash handy, and the POS as made the payment of the credit card so easy. We call the registers POS at work which means point of sale.

Back in the Philippines, store owners has to rely on basic arithmetic and the use of calculator to conduct business. They have to make sure that they have precise change in every transaction. It is not that bad if they only have one or two customers in line, but what if they have more? Then it posts a problem. It is not making it easier for the customers and chances are they might not want to come back.

The use of POS has made so many businesses prosper. POS systems could be used in retail stores, supermarkets, rental places, and just about any place that involves transactions. Restaurants also could use Restaurant POS Systems to make ordering, payment, and delivering efficient. The POS Geeks provides that one stop shop on POS systems solutions for any businesses.

The next time I go up as a back up cashier, I will always be grateful to places like POS Geeks for making the customer's experience and the cashier's job so much better.

Mohon, Cebu vs. Park Forest, IL

I lived most of my life in the Philippines. I was born and raised in Lawaan, Talisay, Cebu; however, I spent most of my teenage and adult years in Mohon, Talisay, Cebu. When I turned 24, I got married and moved to Park Forest, IL. Mohon and Park Forest were both cities in which I have resided. They both are great places to live and are so much alike, but they also differed in a number of aspects. First, they were both residential cities. Second, they both relied on transportation, and third, the sizes of the streets affected the safety of the people who lived in Mohon and Park Forest.

There are several similarities between Mohon and Park Forest. One is they are both residential cities with houses next to each other; however, the proximity of the houses affected the relationship of the people within Mohon. You see, most of the residents in Mohon lived very close to each other especially to their relatives. Because of this, everyone knew every person’s business. For example, everyone knew who was dating whom. If the rest of the relatives or neighbors didn’t approve of the person, then the couple couldn’t continue dating. Furthermore, if the neighbors or relatives wishes weren’t followed, they would hear about the disapproval for the rest of their lives.

On the other hand, living right next to each other wasn’t that bad all the time. Because they knew each other, they constantly helped each other too. For instance, everyone was always willing to watch the kids when the mother needed to go to the market to get something. They didn’t have to pay the babysitter.

In Park Forest, conversely, houses might be close, but everyone lived their own lives. Occasionally, I would see our neighbors cleaning their yards, and I usually went up to them and said “hi.” The conversations were limited to polite topics like the weather or work. Most of the questions were answerable with a yes or no and the topic of the discussion was nothing personal. For this reason, I felt that my neighbors didn’t care about my private life, and I had privacy. I could do whatever I liked to do without worrying about being controlled, rejected, or objected to in every decision I made even if our houses were right next to each other.

Another interesting similarity that Mohon and Park Forest had was they both relied on transportation to get to places; however, Mohon relied more on public transportation while Park Forest relied on private transportation. Most residents in Mohon didn’t own a car, so they relied on a tricycle, a form of public transportation which could take people on short distances such as to the market or nearby cities. The tricycle had three wheels with two seats in the front, two in the back, two behind the driver, and a roof made of plastic that kept the passengers from getting too hot during the summer season and getting wet during the rainy season. It could carry seven people including the driver. Because it didn’t have any seatbelts, the tricycle wasn’t the safest form of transportation, but most people depended on it to take them places. Furthermore, the driver only charged a few cents, so it was more affordable than paying hundreds and hundreds of pesos if one used a taxicab. On long distances trips, however, they had jeepneys that could take more or less 20 people and buses for two to three days trips to the province that carried over 50 passengers.

On the contrary, most households in Park Forest owned at least one car. Because I didn’t have to wait to catch the bus to go places, I considered this very convenient. Although there were people that relied on the bus to take them places, they were not heavily dependent with public transportation unlike in Mohon. The busses in Park Forest followed a daily strict schedule, whereas, one could catch tricycles, jeepneys or buses at any time of the day in Mohon.

The last similarity that Mohon and Park Forest had was they both haD streets, but they were different in sizes. Mohon had very narrow side streets that were only good for people. Most people didn’t own a car, so it was understandable that side streets were only accessible by people. In the same way, the major streets were narrow with only one lane each way. There were no walk or bike paths on the side of the streets for pedestrians and bikers; consequently, I think that was why there were so many accidents over there. It was because of the carelessness of the drivers who wanted to pass another driver on the right. On the very narrow streets they would often hit a bystander. So, it was very dangerous for pedestrians or bikers to be on the road among tricycles, jeepneys and buses. Also, Mohon didn’t have any road signs, most especially the big huge stop sign, but they had stoplights of course.

In contrast, Park Forest roads had one or two lanes on the side streets and two to three lanes on the main streets. The streets were spacious making it easier to pass if one had to. The right lanes were for the slow moving cars, while the middle and left lanes were for fast moving cars. The right lanes were also considered as the turning lane. There were a lot of road signs in Park Forest including the stop sign, yield sign and other road signs. The pedestrians and the bikers had their own paths, so it helped eliminate road accidents involving pedestrians and bikers. Since the streets were spacious and signed accordingly, it helped make both the driver and the pedestrians aware of the street they were on.

Mohon and Park Forest were places that will always be a part of my life. Both places had their positive and negative aspects which helped me appreciate the differences and variety that occurs in life. After all these experiences, living in Mohon and Park Forest made me realize that wherever I would live in the future, I would always learn to adopt, adjust, and appreciate the things that were around me.

Investment

I enjoy treasure hunting movies. It is the different traps that they have to tackle just to find the treasure, and also the excitement of finding out what they found. Most of the time, they find gold and bulk of other precious metals also known as bullion that has a lot of value these days. I know it is too good to be true, but one could still get and invest in these precious metals through the United States Gold Bureau, and you don’t have to go through hoops and traps to get them. Gold and silver are a few of the most popular form of investment these days. You can put it aside and watch its value grow in time. It is one of the best investments that won't let you down.

Never Ending Responsibility

When my sisters graduated college, I thought I am done helping them. Of course, Ryan and I still send a little to help to pay for their bills, but it is not as much as we used to send them every month when my sister is still in college. As most of you know, I helped my two sisters to college through my blogging, so when they were both done, I was so surprised every time I get paid with my blogging. There was even a time that I didn't know what to do with the money because I was so used to sending it to my sisters.

Then a few months later, I realized that my little sister will be taking her review soon, and she needs money to go to the review center every single day from Sundays to Saturdays. I guess, I will be blogging more to compensate for her allowance and payment for her review. It will be really really hard once school starts, but I know I can manage it. I just need to budget my time better. As long as my sister promises that she will do good, I will try my best to help her out. That is what families are for.

Postponing retirement for fashion

Most people look forward to retirement, to say the least. However, I’ve never been one to stay still and relax. For me, enjoyment is staying busy and occupied. That’s why I decided to open a clothing boutique five years before I was scheduled to retire.

Opening a business takes a lot of work and normally one doesn’t even make a profit during the first year. But it was always a dream of mine and I thought this would be a fun way to ease into the rest of my life and my eventual retirement.

Most days I’m at the boutique, although I leave the actual management to one of my employees. But I am great at interacting with the customers and love to get to know them. However, I started to notice that I was having trouble having conversations with the especially soft-spoken ones. I thought I should do something about it before it affects my business so after looking up some miracle hearing aids reviews and miracle ear hearing aid prices, I settled on some hearing aids that I thought were right for me.

What’s even better is that I found some that other people can’t see, so it helps reinforce the image of my boutique!

Thanks for this post Kim Gander.

Mesothelioma

Our house was built in the 1940s. Although there were some upgrades that the previous owner did to the house, we could tell that it is old. It is mechanically sound, but there are some portions in the house that are outdated. In 2007, Ryan and my father-in-law ripped the entire floor in the living room. The previous owner had nine cats and she let them roam around the house. The living room stinks so badly with cat urine, so my husband and my father in law decided that they should replace the floor in time for my son’s christening. Frankie and I had to leave the house because it was not safe for us to hang around.

Apparently, they are afraid that the vinyl floor tiles might have asbestos in them since the house was built in the 1940s where there was a wide spread use of construction materials with asbestos in them. With the exposure of asbestos particularly inhaling asbestos particles, a rare form of cancer emerges called Mesothelioma. For most people with Mesothelioma Cancer, they thought it is the end of the world because there is no cure for Mesothelioma just yet. However, there are ways to help Mesothelioma patients combat this cancer and survive Mesothelioma once and for all. So, if you have Mesothelioma, you are not alone.

Paul Kraus was a Mesothelioma patient who is now enjoying life after twelve years of being diagnosed with Mesothelioma. He has written a very educational and informative book on surviving Mesothelioma to share it to people who has one or perhaps know someone who has. Although it does not replace medical treatments of Mesothelioma, it is a very helpful tool that one could use as guide to help combat this cancer. Paul Kraus has live through Mesothelioma and his book holds the same promise to others that one could still live life even with Mesothelioma.

Harassment

We have always been very nice to our neighbors in the Philippines. Although I hated the fact that we had to leave Lawaan, the place I was born, but it that wasn't our land. When Papa worked abroad, he was able to save a little money to buy a piece of land. He didn't have nothing to do with the decision of the place that they were going to buy since he was working abroad, so it was mama who bought it. I hated that place with all my heart. Our neighbors in Mohon are horrible, terrible, and all the bad adjectives you can think of. They have no manners and some of them are drug addicts.

They have been a little nice to us because they are afraid of Papa, but since he has been living here with us, some of our neighbors have been harassing my family especially when my brother is not home and only the girls are left. If they have no food to eat, they would harass my mama asking for money. They probably think that we have a lot of money here. Last week, someone stole something from the house, and I am glad that has been settled now. If they will do it again, then they will be arrested. I really wish they would just leave my family alone. They are the nicest people and the best neighbor to have but there are some people are not contended of what they have and just want the easy way out. I can't wait to get my mama and sisters away from that place.

New Car for Business

Authored by Angelo Cooper

I have been a real estate agent for over seven years. I had my car even longer than that. My job requires me to be in contact with clients each day. Sometimes with my job, I even have to allow some of my clients to ride with me to different places. I was trying not to have to get a car; however one of the most embarrassing things happened to me. I was supposed to be picking up a client and my car would not start. It turned out that they ended up having to pick me up. I had to get a new car at that point. The same day I clicked on my hughes net internet service and I was in search of a car that showed what kind of business I was operating. I had always wanted a white car; however I left myself open for other things as well. I found the most beautiful, pearl white color while looking online. The dealership was extremely friendly and detailed when it came to their business; which made me feelgood about the purchase. I believe that when my clients see me now, it is in a whole new way. Everything is going well.

Visit

A couple of weeks ago, Ryan, Frankie, and I decided to visit my in-laws. We just finished school and it was my weekend off, so we decided to take Frankie at their house. Frankie had a blast. He was so happy playing with his cousins from playing with the sand box, sliding in the slide, running around, sharing the toys, and eating dinner. He surely had a blast because while we were still in the car on our way home, Frankie already asked if he could go back in Ben's house tomorrow. I have not promised him anything yet because he remembers it and always asked about it. This weekend is my weekend off and I think we are going to Chicago. This will be the first time that Frankie will ride on the train since he was a very little baby when he was in it before. Also, most of the time we take the car to get to Chicago or to museum.

In less than two weeks, Ryan and I will start school again, so we are tying to do as much as possible together because we won't be free again until December and hopefully the cousins will have more bonding time together.

Hair Loss

Hair loss does not run in my family. In my mother’s side, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t have a full sets of hair. My father, on the other side, has full sets of hair except one of my cousins. He used to have a full set of hair then he started wearing a cap. I never figured it out until he took it off one time, and I saw that he was losing his hair. It was very alarming because none of us ever had to deal with losing hair. I even thought at one point that he was sick that was why he was losing it.

When everyone knew about it, he started withdrawing himself from all of us. He was so embarrassed. I have to say that he looked really different without any much of his hair left. My other cousin even suggested having it shaved but he was holding on to his little hair left.

Some of the older folks suggested that he should rub coconut all over his head for the hair follicles to start growing. They think it was the best hair loss cure, but even that did not work. Back home, he really did not have much choice, but if it could have happened here in the US, it will never be an issue because it now so easy to go online and find hair loss cure products and its reviews.

Printer

This week will be another busy week for all of us. It is going to be the biggest back to school sale we ever had complete with additional discounts and offers. I am not off this weekend, so I will be dealing with the rush on Saturday. Thankfully, I am off at 6:00 p.m. so I could spend some time with my family.

One of the things I don’t like when I go back up cashier is when the printer ran out of paper, and it is always a pain to put the paper back. I have to slide it in a very small hole and meet the end of the paper on the other side while the customer is waiting. I wish we use the tm-t88iv printer in the store because it is very efficient and always on the go.

My Sunday, however, will be spent prepping for inventory on Monday. I have my two lovely people in the department, so I could concentrate in preparing for inventory. I hope I will finish everything in time.

First Visit To Chicago

Have you ever been to a magical place? Well, I have. Chicago is a very magical place with many sights and sounds. Chicago was one of the many cities I wished to visit when I was in the Philippines. This fascination I drew from reading about it and teaching it in my geography class. So, I couldn’t contain my excitement when my husband told me that he would take me to Chicago to explore the city. I could not believe that I was about to see it for the first time, and I wanted my first visit to be memorable.

It was Thursday, January 14, 2003 when we decided to check out the city. My husband woke me up early to get ready, and I got up to look out the window. I had heard on the news the night before that it was going to snow. “It definitely snowed last night,” I exclaimed to my husband. Then, I started getting ready so we could get going on our adventure.

After bundling up in layers and layers of clothes, we headed out with our thick coats and winter hats on. While I waited for my husband in the garage, I could feel the chill in the air as the breeze touched my cheeks. He was clearing the car with snow. He had forgotten to park his car inside the garage the night before, so it was all covered with snow the next morning. I kept pacing back and forth with my arms crossed to keep me warm. I repeatedly asked my husband if he was done and he repeatedly answered me, “Almost done.”

“We are going to miss the train,” I added. It must have taken him twenty minutes or so to finally brush the snow off the car. When he was finally done, I came up to him and tried opening the passenger side. It wouldn’t open. Apparently, the door was stuck from all the ice, but after pushing it from within, it finally opened up.

We were finally ready to go, so I climbed into the car and we headed north to the train station. My husband could tell that I was extremely excited. I had my camera ready in my purse set to capture everything I saw. Everything that day was going to be a first for me. It was going to be my first train ride and my first visit to Chicago. When we arrived at the train station, the train had not yet arrived. I saw people standing and waiting for the train with their arms crossed to keep them warm.

My husband and I slowly made our way to the boarding area and joined the rest of the waiting passengers. When the train finally arrived, the conductor made his way out and cued us that the train was ready for boarding. I grabbed my husband’s hand and hurriedly rushed to the entrance. I picked out our seats, and we sat comfortably. When I realized that I couldn’t see the outside because of the condensation on the train’s windows, I was a little disappointed.

Nevertheless, I was so anxious for the train to get going; I thought train rides were a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the constant stops made me so drowsy and sleepy that I fell asleep. Eventually on our second to the last stop, my husband woke me up. He whispered to me that I should get ready because we were approaching the last stop. I put myself together and waited to get off the train. As soon as the train stopped, each passenger patiently waited for his or her turn to get out. We followed the crowd and went through a tunnel with construction happening on both sides. We kept walking until we climbed up the stairs. There it was; the beautiful skyscrapers of Chicago and the famous Michigan Avenue. All I said was, “Wow.” We were finally there.

We started walking north on Michigan Avenue. There were a lot of tourists taking pictures of the beautiful buildings, and they were also bundled up just like me. I couldn’t believe how busy and how many people were there. As we crossed the bridge over the Chicago River, I watched the water taxis. They reminded me of my hometown Cebu. We have a lot of water taxis taking passengers to different parts of the island there too. Of course, it is warmer there than it was that day. As we crossed over the bridge, I saw performers on the street with their homemade drums. While onlookers were watching, they were playing rhythmic songs. We then continued up the Magnificent Mile where I felt so captivated with everything I saw. I was impressed with the fine shops and boutiques that lined the street. The location had everything from department stores, specialty shops, restaurants, and hotels. Finally, after walking for a while, we decided to have lunch in one of the restaurants in the Water Tower Place.

I couldn’t believe how spacious the Water Tower Place was. The mall had many places to shop and eat at. No one would be able to look around the Water Tower Place in one day. We sat in one of the restaurants as I watched shoppers passing by and carrying different bags from different stores. The mall surely reminded me of the mall we had back home although it was a little smaller and a lot busier.

After strolling at the mall for a little bit, we decided to call it a day and head home. On our way back to the train station, the light poles along the street lit up. It looked so beautiful. From afar, they reminded me of the twinkling stars in the sky. When we got the train station, we climbed down the stairs and waited on the bench for the train to arrive. I then thanked my husband for a wonderful day spent in Chicago.

With each new visit to Chicago I take, I always feel the excitement just like I felt on my first visit. Chicago is a magical place; furthermore, I had a wonderful time exploring it. Visiting Chicago was different than reading or teaching about it. Exploring and seeing the place for the first time made an impression on me; there surely is no other place like Chicago.