Friday, June 25, 2010

May 31 - June 6, 2010: The Dreaded C

Early this week, I would learn about a classmate condition.... The guy, a casual friend, has the Big C. He is supposed to be at the prime of his life..... with a wife and growing kids surrounded by family and friends. He has his own business with a great potential. The sad news also brought to mind the condition of two of my uncles who are also struggling with the dreaded C.

Both my parents succumbed to the Big C at their prime age. With all the news I am getting lately, I can't help but think I might be next....... I hate entertaining the thought but the possibility is not entirely remote. It sucks to know that.......

Another friend's dad died unexpectedly early this week.... Our friends, son and daughter-in-law of the deceased, will be coming from the US on Thursday. V..... and I immediately made our plan to visit the wake towards the end of the workweek.

Vexed by the demands on my time by our music site and the lack of commitment by some of us in keeping the site operational, I quit my role at the site by midweek. It felt liberating......

On Thursday, V..... and I went to the wake of our friend's dad.. Our friend, son of the deceased, hugged us tightly to probably hide his tears upon seeing us.   He and his wife, both are friends way back in college, though obviously grieving, were only too happy to see us.  Even for a brief moment, we put a smile to his face while we were there.  We had to leave shortly because V..... had to visit a sister in a hospital.

Even with all this, I managed to put together people who hardly knew each other but were drawn to one another because of their love of music.. On Friday, I finally met up wih my musically-inclined cyber friends.... Food and singing were the staple that made the evening...... There were not many of us but we had one memorable night that made new friendships in that eyeball.

Some college chums were bunched with us to discussed what we could do to make the burden of our cancer-stricken classmate lighter. There are some issues though...... Later, S......., my friend who just planed in from HK, arrived and joined the group.

After we bade goodbye to our friends, S...., her hubby and son; and a couple of friends and I went for coffee at a nearby Mcdo. We discussed the plight of our classmate and agreed that we would pool resources to help. We went home around 4:30am......

In the weekend, with no more responsibility in the site, I was able to go to the spa with my friend V....... and to see Shrek with MS......

Ah, what a life.................

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010

May 24 - May 30, 2010: Summer Rain


The heat is killing me and it couldn't be more intense than it is this week.........

On the first day of work, I wasn't keen on working but was anticipating our meet up with our high school teacher later that day.  In the evening, a friend and I met up with Mr. B....... , our math teacher who is now  based in Canada.  He would always tell me to gather our batchmates and meet up with him.  We started this tradition about four or five years ago.  When we meet up with HS friends and teachers, the pleasant memories of the past would always give way to our youthful follies.  There would be occasional sprinkling of current preoccupation or relations which is seen more as a way to catch up but always the past is reminisced with a tinge of bittersweet nostalgia.  Like the giddy teeners we once were, I and my friend would dig into the bag of goodies that Mr. B..... had for us everytime he would meet up with us.  Funny how even if we could now afford to buy these things, gifts like this still warm our hearts.  In time, the evening would end in kisses, hugs, and goodbyes........  uncertain when the next one would be ........

Too much heat gave way to some showers on Tuesday.... a pleasant and awaited occurrence by people in the metro.  But as soon as the showers are gone, the temperature would rise giving us the feeling of those delicious Chinese dumplings..... and it doesn't feel good at all.....  Could this be the harbinger of the rainy season?

The little nuances among our househelp helpers are beginning to show..... Our pet caregiver told her fellow helpers that she would leave once her husband finds work. I am beginning to really feel uneasy about our gay helper.... Kakay would tell me her shenanigans when we're gone.

There are alternatives fortunately. MIL actually told me that a townmate of her helper would like to apply for the pet caregiver job just last week. MIL's other assistant also told us that four ladies looking for work will be arriving from a southern province.  That would give us enough options if anyone from our employ decide to leave us or if we let them go.  However, I don't want to fire anyone just to accommodate a new  person. We actually wanted a male helper because he can do odd jobs around the house. Although there are also disadvantages. Hubby said that our new pet helper is actually tidy in our kennels compared to the last employee, a male helper. But what can we do. I do not want to beg her to stay. There have been complaints about her. I personally witnessed her rough handling of my dogs that I had to sternly warn her of the consequences if any dog gets hurt. We couldn't manage without help for the pets because of their number. We work and the other helpers are also stuck with other chores.  I would see how things turn up in the next few days......

Kinkee, the last of hershey's litters was rehomed which is a good thing because she went to a nice family.  Since Meiji gave birth to two male pups last weekend, I was actually praying that the remaining pups be rehomed soon.  Another pooch, Missy, is due to give birth anytime.  With numerous pets coming in and getting out of our life, I still can't help feeling blue when a pup leaves our home.  My heart sank learning that Kinkee appeared distressed when she was taken away..... awwww

A friend would inform me about the passing of the dad of a classmate.  After my class on Friday,  I would navigate the long road to visit the wake of my classmate's dad with my youngest brother in tow.  As expected and dreaded, parking was a problem.  I smiled as soon as I saw a new structure beside the funeral home, a multi-level parking.  I happily entered the building until I navigated an incline, probably 45 to 50 degrees, and my engine would cry and my tires were screeching.  All in all, I managed about five of these inclined passageway giving me a new level of driving performance which unfortunately my vehicle was not used to.  I was complaining to the guard in the level where I parked and he told us that the engineer made a mistake in his calculations...Huh,  should I even leave my vehicle there?  well.....   Another friend was in the wake.  My brother and I were surprised to be greeted with music and a little dancing as we entered the chapel where my friend's dad lie in state.  It was a pleasant surprise and the light mood somehow betrays the tears behind the passing of a loved one.  Pardon my irreverence but I actually enjoyed the music we were treated to.  They are a family of singers......  My classmate said that they wanted to celebrate her dad's life instead of mourning his death..... which makes sense.  We bade goodbye after some time.....

The weekend was my usual..... dogs, music site, organization, monitoring, clean up, errands, vegging, eating and all those niceties....

I had to attend a baptismal on Sunday where I was one of the godmothers.  Can you imagine that :-)........ A friend unexpectedly but pleasantly gave birth to a bouncing baby boy a couple of months ago.  She was a few years younger than I am which is young, I guess........ MD tagged along with me on this affair.  We arrived at the church early.  It was a long travel and we had to find a restroom assisted by a former officemate who is also one of the godmothers.  Since we couldn't find any, she suggested going to the nearby restos.  MD and I had to eat snack so that we can earn the right to use their bathroom.  Actually, it was not necessary but I thought it was fine to linger in the resto since the affair hasn't started yet.  When we came back the baptismal was in its full celebration.  I managed to be part of the altar ceremony only to be told by an elderly lady that I should pull up my V-cut neckline.  I didn't realize that my clothes would cause such a fuss.  I didn't realized further that a church in a province would have more stringent rules that churches in the metro where people don't mind what the parishioners are wearing.  I didn't feel offended though as I and the entire entourage laughed off the incident.  I pulled up my neckline and pulled it down as soon as I was away from the altar.  We went to the reception after the church ceremony where I guess my attire would not be a matter of concern.  After a hearty lunch, we left with some other guests when it was time to go.......  

I had another business to take care of this Sunday......

As soon as we reached the village, I saw Mang Boy's familiar green car made a turn just as we were passing that road.  He would pick up his birds and other bird stuff which he ordered from hubby.  I love seeing this good man enter my gate because he makes things alright for me.  He has been my iron work contractor since our new home was built about four years ago.  But he is different now, darker and thinner, from the treatment for the cancer he was diagnosed with late last year.  He has been in treatment since.  He was in one of his recuperating periods when we communicated about my balance on the last job order.  After settling the issue of balance, he told me he wants to get birds from hubby to be paid with my balance.  Of course, I said said......  Driven by compassion for this man, I told him I'd give him a pair even without consulting hubby.  He can't say no....  I think that hubby shares my compassion for this man.  I told hubby about Mang Boy's request.  He worked on it and finally the cages with all the stuff needed and the birds are ready.  I would have delivered it to him but Mang Boy said he would like to pick it up.

While waiting for hubby, I engaged Mang Boy in conversation.  He told me he is still undergoing treatment and would be subjected to CT scan after completing his treatment.  Depending on the results, another treatment program might be made for him.  He also said he could feel new growth in his neck.....  Soon, hubby emerged....  We led Mang Boy and his grandson to the aviary.  I could see the excitement in his eyes as soon as he saw the birds.  He and hubby talked about care for the birds and other things.  After a while, hubby would load the cages in Mang Boy's car.  Hubby was looking at me as Mang Boy was leaving telling me he bought the pair I gave Mang Boy.  I gave him the look that said  let it go.......

Late afternoon, the kids requested to go to the mall to buy stuff they would need for school which will open week after next.  In the evening, a dog client who has become a friend would get another of my male pups, Fury which they renamed George.  Kinkee was taken by the sister of this dog client.  They have been dog lovers since getting a pup, Keana, early this year.  I guess we would have a very long relationship........

That how it is for me this hot rainy week.........

Related Post:
Coming to Terms


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