Surprise Birthday Partey!!!

Mood: extremely tired yet satisfied
Last Sunday was a Bang!!! I was caught unprepared. It really was believable that Lolo had a sudden thing for ribs, that was why we were going to my aunt's house in Richmond. But I was fooled...It was a surprise birthday celebration, with my sister as one of the best actresses.

It all started when I woke up to go to church that day. I saw my uncle cooking something up as early as 6am. I went ahead and heard mass. When I got back, the first batch of ribs were done, and sampled some. And the rest was cooking history. We left for our aunt's home at around 2:40ish and arrived at 4:30pm.

All of my relatives were there. My dad, mom, brothers, cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents were there. I was really wondering why they wanted me to open the door. It took a while for me to notice the birthday banners. Sorry for being slow. Hahaha. I had fun because everyone was there. I am forever thankful for everyone's wishes and efforts.

Gifts don't matter much for me. What matters is being together and enjoying company. It really was a wonderful day for me. I am more than motivated enough to start a new life here. My new goal is my family's wellness.



anime icons: madnesscarousel,noodledice

21st Celebration

Mood: extremely agitated and restless

The final days of February always gives me butterflies. March was just around the corner, and I know that after just 24 hours of it being here I am a year older, if not wiser, again. This birthday celebration was unique. This was the first year that I have to spend it away from my family. Not that I don't consider the ones I am with family, rather I feel different celebrating it with them. The warmth and joy was there but not as much as when it was with mom, dad or my brothers. Good thing my sisters were physically with me when I celebrated that day or else I'd really be sad.

I am not really concerned about the presents I received, but the company of the people around me. Family being together and all that social things they do, that's what I miss. I can be like that here at my aunt's house, but there is no substitute. Eating out last night did indeed save time to do household chores and a new experience. Believe me when I say new experience. My aunt told the waiter that it was my birthday. I was expecting them to just shrug it off. But no, after eating (referring to them who were done, I wasn't even finished with my meal), a couple of waiters came to my surprise (good thing I didn't have a heart attack), and began chanting happy birthday. So everyone in that restaurant came to know it was my birthday. What an embarrassing, yet memorable experience. Still I wish I would have spent it with my family.

I miss my mom, dad, brothers.

This is also part of the family sacrifice we have to endure on our coming here. Celebrations, gatherings and company that we took for granted when we were together. It is nice to remember the times together every once in a while. This is just a step toward being together--soon. And it's not like there is no way to connect with them. There's always the phone and all. Separation is difficult but not permanent.


icons by: natsuriko, eunkyung

School, Exercise, Starlight & Sweetheart& Anime!! :D

mood: tired but feeling satisfied

Yes!!! It's day 5 of our exercising program!!! wooot~ Good job Joni! I really feel like I'm getting a bit more active. Now, I know that exercising is not good for me at night time. I went to bed at 10pm, and I slept at 2am. wahahaha. I was just lying on my bed, doing nothing, I tried to read a book, but it didn't do well. Heck, if I was reading a thick one, I would've finished it 'til morning! Hahaha. I woke up late.

My brothers had their first day in school today. I am so happy and proud of them! They are in the 10th grade, and they are taking some music classes. I hope that they do well in Pinole, meet new friends and survive this new school environment. I can't wait until we get admitted to school, which we'll be able to find out on wednesday, hopefully.

My uncle told us about getting to school before having a job. My dad told us that we should pool our resources together so we can be independent. So, I'm having a difficult time what to follow or do. But I'm closing in on a decision that is probably more beneficial for our family since we have just arrived. I don't know but, I think since we're new to this country, we'll have to pay 2x the amount for college fees. That is because of the fact that we haven't even been here for around 6mos.-1year. I think my aunt and uncle might have miscalculated that little detail. I mean, how can they support all three of us girls? It's not clear to me. Nor are they telling us what and who to let attend school. Not a word. Oh well, this is what I am getting, LACK OF COMMUNICATION PEOPLE.

All of them here are about time and time alone, they are missing the fact that a simple sentence can make a difference. It don't take that much of the time, it even improves it. Jobs are done faster, things are achieved more efficiently. So, that's what I'm thinking while I digested starlight and sweetheart chocolates. I miss my calories.


Yess!! I am editing this blog for some last minute messages

I just want to invite everyone of you guys out there to please join this forum: AnimeXFactor. Please help us promote this forum by gracing us with your presence,ideas,inputs and activeness that all revolves around anime! Thank You Very Much.


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Time doing nothing

yeah, i dont know how to manage my time well. been waking up at around 9am. and all i do is stay in the kitchen to keep things clean and the food hot. i tried to use the exercise equipment last monday, but my body really hurts up until now. so i just stay in the kitchen. evil food.

Got nothing to do but watch tv since jan.1st. good thing our uncle brought us to Stockton City yesterday to check out his boat. we haven't gone fishing for it was too cold. but we had a good time. we also signed up for a library card at Cooledge Library. Yeah, its cooledge. lol. The card that we had is good for all the public libraries here in Sacramento. I still am having a hard time with my sister, who has been pretty touchy for the last few days. Probably because she broke up with her boyfriend last new year's eve. Who knows if they really did broke up? I just overheard the breakup conversation on the morning of the 31st. Didn't stay too long for the details, butI'd rather have her be single and leave her boyfriend who is oceans away from us. Die boy die!!! ehem, if he were a boy, maybe he's a man now?

I'm glad to announce that my brothers passed an exam yesterday and hopefully they get admitted to school asap. take care my brothers! :) Be good boys, especially if you get live with our aunt at Richmond.


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Almost Adventurous

Just another cold day, I don't want to spend it inside my aunt's house doing nothing but watch tv or cook. I feel adventurous today. The weather's attempt to stop me and my sisters' drive to go for a walk around a few blocks outside is tough. Cold winds and foggy air, not enough to dishearten these girls who had been staying inside the house when our aunt and uncle goes to work. It's been 3 weeks since we've arrived, somehow the courage to go out on our own stirred up a couple of days back and here we are, waiting for the weather to warm up a little and pursue the streets outside!

Body clock malfunctioning

hindi pa din ako maka-adjust sa oras dito. nakakatulog naman na ako ng maayos pag gabi dito, pero madalas in the middle of my sleep ay nagigising ako. tapos medyo nahihirapang makatulog. sa umaga naman, madalas akong inaantok. sabi nung tito ko, normal lang naman na ganun for the first 2 weeks or so. pero nag-aalala ako sa katawan ko. hehe. hindi ko pa din masabi ng deretso kung anong araw ngayon, yung tipong hindi na kailangang tumingin sa kalendaryo upang alamin ito. Hays...

super asim nung ginawa kong tilapia fillet na binabad sa apple cider vinegar. wala silang datu puti sa bahay o kaya anumang sukang puti. ayun tuloy, akala ng tiyahin ko, paksiw ang ginawa ko. haha.

nililigawan ko ang lola ko, mejo mainit ata ang dugo kay dad lately dahil nalaman yung sa amilyar. si mama naman, kinausap ko na kailangang isipin nya na pamilya kaming pumunta dito at dapat kami-kami ang mag-tulungan o magdamayan. normal lang na may masabi sila sa aming pamilya pero kailangang ipakita natin na tayo'y matatag at kaya nating magsikap kahit na mahirap. konting sakripisyo at tiis lang.

natalo ang sacramento kings, pero kaya nilang makipagsabayan sa mga datihan nang manlalaro kahit na karamihan sa kanila'y baguhan pa lamang. bukas may laban na naman.

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respect. it will get you through.

Nice clear day for a drive

I wasn't able to attend the yoga class this morning. (woke up at 4:07, figured it was still early to get up and so went back to bed) Woke up at 8:00am. Haha. My uncle and aunt teased us about how the yoga class went. lol. My uncle had to go home early because he was feeling sick. Both of them were sick, but they still wanted to take advantage of the clear, almost sunny day that we had today. At noon, we left the house to view some parts of Sacramento.

First stop, we went to AAA insurance to have my aunt's brother's insurance renewed. It was quick, before we knew it, we were on our way to visit a few schools that we could go in to when we receive our ssn and accomplish those transferee stuff. We visited Sacramento State University, and some schools that offer 2-year courses. I can't wait to start going to school again! Well, I need to find a job first before that could happen. :)

Next we went to Nimbus Fish Hatchery, i think i got their name correct (don't kill me if i'm wrong ha! ) My sisters and I enjoyed feeding the tiny salmon fishes that were separated from the big fishes. I don't know what their containers are called, but the water containing the tiny fishes have flowing water, and a filter at the end. basta un na un. when we tossed the fish food in the water, the fishes all went crazy, quickly gulping the food down and swimming away just as quick. It was

Then we went to this store that sells products in bulk, we also had lunch there. had pizza and a soda, that pizza stall has bad customer service though. she was yelling at my aunt, seems to be more interested in having a chat with her co-worker. *sigh*

We all went home tired. I think my aunt feels better now. They'll leave the house to us again tomorrow. Argh. I haven't got the chance to clean the room yet. I <3 using the vacum cleaner... rawr... although its pretty heavy. :) Tomorrow, for sure! I'll get rid of all those stuff here inside our room once and for all. hahaha. White chicks na!

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Well, ang masasabi ko lang sa amerika ay, maraming halo-halong kultura. grabeng flexibility skills ang dapat pairalin para mabuhay sa lugar na ito. madaling sabihin, mahirap gawin. pero kung gusto maraming paraan. wag uunahan ng takot.

<3 Jam

Pink Hood Day

Woke up at 9:30am, was reminded that we have to go to church. So we rushed eating breakfast. It was a rainy day, rain had been pouring since last night. My aunt asked her husband to drive me and my sisters off to the church, (which was just across the street) because it was raining. (we were late for the 10:30am mass; the first reading was on when we arrived) I had a hard time singing the songs, coz the way they sung it was different from what I know. But the good thing is, they have this book containing all the readings and songs, conveniently placed near where you sit inside the church. The mass ended at 11:35. It was still raining, even until now. But its not cold, unlike the previous days.

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Naayos na din namin, somehow ang kwarto namin dito. ahaha. ilang araw nang masakit sa mata ng tita ko, im sure kahit di nya sinasabi, ung mga gamit namin na tinatanggal pa sa maleta. Right now, mejo maayos na ang kwarto namin, ung mga nilagay lang namin sa closet ay ung mga magagamit namin ngayong taglamig. ung mga pang-summer (ung halos lahat ng damit na dala namin) ay inilagay namin sa iisang maleta lang at doon patatagalin namin hanggang hindi pa oras para sila ay magamit. Maayos din lang naman yung ganun, para di masyadong madaming gamit sa lalagyanan ng damit.

Nanuod pala kami kagabi ng kapatid ko ng Interview with a vampire nila brad pitt at tom cruise, ngayon ko lang napanuod ng buo yun, well halos buo. hahaha. laging ending na lang kasi ung napapanood ko dati ngayon more than 3/4 ng movie ang napanood ko. Yun nga lang, un ang naging dahilan para ma-late ako ng gising. haha.

Pero yun na nga, after the mass, may nakuha kaming maliit na newsletter from the church. at bukas, magyo-yoga ako. gudluck na lang sa pag-gising! 8:15 am un, haha. sana lang ay mapapayag ko na ang mga kapatid ko na sumama sa akin. magandang opportunity un, para mag-boy hunting? hindi, para makapag-umpisa na makihalubilo sa mga tao dito, na iba kaysa sa aming mga kamag-anak. ganun din ay para makapag-practice ng english.

Rainy Day

When it rains it pours. It seems like the rain has followed us here in the US. haha. before we left the Philippines, there was also rain. (The rain seems to have taken a liking to us, thats why it followed us here. lol) Tita is having a very bad cold. I found it difficult to go downstairs to the kitchen when we woke up this morning because we thought that the security alarm was still on. we had to wait for them to wake up to turn it off from inside their room. it's a weekend that's why they had to sleep in a little bit late, they deserve that rest.

After having breakfast, our tito had us get drawer clasps, the things that help slide the drawer easily not sure what they really are called, and had duplicates of the keys to the house. Before heading home, we stopped by his mom's house so that we could be aquainted with each other. I was surprised to know that she was living by herself in that big house not far from where we are staying at. She was very nice, talkative and very accomodating. She toured me and my sisters inside her house that was full of pictures hanging on the walls and on tables. I can tell that she is a good mother and raised her children very well as her children and grandchildren visit her every now and then. What was more surprising was when we found out that she was 80+. Wish I was as active as her when I reach that age. (I do hope I reach that age! ^^ )


We then went home to eat lunch. But before that we bought some more medicine for our tita who has the cold and sensodyne for my teeth. It really hurts, especially if I drink cold water, or anything cold. I wish it would go away. Speaking of wellness, I'm glad that mama is feeling a little better than the other day. I told tita that the shopping that they had yesterday must've helped her recuperate quickly. Haha. Mama took lolo to his dialysis today, I haven't called them yet, but I am hoping that they're doing well there. Also my brothers, who I miss dearly, I wish that they're not wrecking anything at our other tita's home. (the tita who we declined last time, remember?) Bah! They're all grown up, no use worrying, I'll just get wrinkles.

After lunch, we then headed to the Filipino Store to buy some fish coz I was going to cook sinigang for dinner. But before that, our tito surprised us by dropping us first at this sporting needs store to get us shoes. Our tita must've noticed that our shoes weren't fit for the environment and the rain. (I brought my closed shoes, the plastic ones and a cracs flats, haha! my sneakers were taken away by somebody before we left the philippines). I felt bad when I just ignored the friendly store personnels there as I was picking the shoes. I can help myself. lol. or I'm just afraid to speak in english. haha. After purchasing the shoes, we headed to that store. Bought fish, and other stuff needed for dinner. I couldn't find any Camote tops. wahahaha... and the kangkong was also different - the leaves were thinner than the ones we have there.

Dinner turned out to be great, I used salmon instead of milk fish. added broccoli to it and of course the tamarind soup base. I wonder who won on tonight's game? I wish the Kings had won though.


<3jam

A New Home

It's been two days since we've arrived at our new home here in the US. I'm glad that we arrived safely to our destination. We enjoyed a nice feast with our relatives who welcomed us warmly. Mama, Lolo and Lola were finally together, although most of us still can't believe we're all here.

It is a new place, new people to meet, new challenges, new climate and all of the new stuff. But I'm sure that if we all stick together as a family and help each other out, everything will work out just fine. I keep on reminding myself and my siblings of an "Ate's advice" that we have to do better here, than we did back in the Philippines. There is no turning back this time, we have to give things our everything, to prove that we are worthy of this opportunity that most people there are dying to have.

My sister, joni is getting better since she went to the doctor yesterday morning. she had suffered a lot from the cooler climate and thankfully she's sleeping very well. Health is wealth indeed.

I'd like to thank my aunt and my uncle who have been helping since we have arrived. We'll make it up to you guys, soon. Just wait. :)

~ Tagalog naman~

Hahahaha.... kumusta naman ang blog na ito? ayaw ko nang mag-english nose bleed na nga ako dito, buti na lang may tissue ako dito sa tabi ko. hahaha.


Ang lamig dito pero hindi pa daw winter, ang winter ay sa dec.21st pa. ibig sabihin, mas lalamig pa dito,sana lang ay makaya ng powers ko ang lamig. inuubo na nga kami ngayon eh. wala kaming ginawa kundi kain, kain at kain. gusto kong mag-work na agad pero di pa pede kasi kelangan pang may SSN na kunin. pero may prospect na job na si tita para sa akin, yung sa Kumon, pero part time tutor lang.

maninipis nga naman ang mga damit na dinala namin, pero buti na lang nakapagbigay sila tita ng mga gamit para aming gamitin pansamantala. (o ha, tagalog na bongga) lol

nahihirapan pa din akong makipag-usap sa tito at pinsan ko sa english dito, ito ay dahil sa kadahilanang nahihiya ako. pero sana bukas ay magkaroon na ako ng lakas ng loob dahil malamang sa malamang, ay hindi maganda ang mga signs na naipapadala ko sa kanila, akalain nila suplada ako or talagang hindi marunong mag-english. Kaya OBJECTIVE #1: makipag-usap sa english, dapat mag-build ng rapport.

Balitaan ko na lang kayo pag may improvement ha.


babayu!

<3 Jam