Enduring the flu...

 ...again! Ugh!

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by PAM

And here we go again... down with the flu. Man... insane.  

And as flu caught me alone in my second home, I have no

A sick person's meal, prepared by the sick person.

choice but to tend to myself.  I have been cooking my meals even when I feel like I am unable to lift the spatula.  I know I could just order food... but that's a lot of wrappers and wrappers and packaging and packaging, layer after layer - too much waste, I can't bare it... especially after enduring that 'parade of typhoons' that hit the Philippines over the last few weeks.  No, thank you.  It is time to take action and contribute in mitigating climate change... no matter how small the contribution is, it is still a step towards the right direction.  So, yeah, I'll do my best to cook.  So far, I am able to manage... without aggravating my health condition... I think... uhm, I hope! 😅 The effort is real, and the hunger that builds up while cooking progressed so very (very) slowly is like Smaug himself waiting to devour Bilbo Baggins!

One of the things that I really, really hate about coming down with the flu is that flu usually goes with a sore throat.  And if one had been terribly abusive of one's health (hence, the flu in the first place), the sore throat can be so terrible that it goes with a 'shut-off vocal cords'.  Air is blocked completely from creating sound waves... one can't make the smallest of sound no matter how hard one tries to scream.  It is totally frustrating that I just want to stuff my mouth with food to compensate... but swallowing is a labor, too.  So, yeah... did I mention frustrating?  'Cause it is! 

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The voiceless pain

Feverish, mightily uncomfortable from body ache and painful throat, dizzy and weak, watery eyes and no voice... that's me today.  And I am very, very frustrated. 😞  As I write this post this very moment, I am binge-watching one of my ultimate favorite TV shows, the "Gilmore Girls" (GG) series, because I have been so bored staring at the ceiling in my bed. And I am extremely frustrated that I am unable to sing along with the show's theme song, "Where you Lead" by the brilliant Carole King (CK).  

🎶"I always wanted a real home with flowers in the window sill.

Well, if you wanna live in Stars Hollow, baby, you know I will...

Where you lead, I will follow, anywhere that you tell me to...."🎶

I do enjoy singing the theme song. In fact, for hardcore Stars Hollow fans, it is one of the highlights of watching GG.  Every episode begins with some sort of an overview of what the next 45 minutes will be about... and then just when you are about to say, "huh? What?  Whaaat??", the theme song rolls in, and you know you are, indeed, at the right place.  So, you cozy up with a bucket of popcorn on your lap, and all other concerns in life far, far away from your mind.  Every episode also ends with some sort of an "aaaww" or an "oh, nooo" moment that made us want to speed up the week back in the early 2000s in order to see the next episode.  These days, with Netflix stringing the episodes per season in a binge-worthy array, the "aaawww" or "oh, no" moment is followed real fast by the "whaaaat" moment.  And something has to relieve a fan from such heightened emotion.  I guess I do not have to emphasize that the relief comes from the theme song.  A moment when one's sanity says bye-bye momentarily as one sings along with the fabulous CK while watching highlights of the show.  

So, imagine how painful it is for an avid GG fan like myself when he/she is unable to get the smallest of sound to sing along with CK - argh, torture!     

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The sweetness of working from home

As I mentioned before, I have been appreciating my new surroundings in my second home, close to my new primary workplace.  I have been realizing in the past days as I work from home

Through the sheer curtain at the window,
it seems that something is 'on fire' outside.
But it is just the sunset... in its glorious beauty.

that wherever I sit to work in my new home, I see the very green sceneries outside through the 'countless' windows we have.  I have been complaining to my sister that I have no blank walls to hang paintings and pictures, and there are very few spaces where I can park my favorite art pieces.  These days, I am beginning to accept... and appreciate the big windows that allow me to see my green surroundings.  At the moment, that relieves my painful and watery eyes, and I'm grateful.  The small lanai by the side of the house, or the small backyard, allows me to soak in the healing warmth of sunrise.  Also, in many places where I can sit to work in the afternoon while I eat snacks before taking medicine (again), I have a view of the lovely sunset in this part of the world... and enjoying the sunset is one of my 'guilty pleasures'.  I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy these things... even if what afforded me to enjoy them is a health issue.  There is always something good in any of our experiences.  Sometimes the goodness is an immediate outcome that we can enjoy, other times, we need to dig deep to discover it.  And the greatest gift is experiencing goodness without having to dig too deep.  These days, I appreciate that enjoying sunrise and/or sunset does not require digging deep. So, again, I am grateful.

My 'voiceless pain'... or 'painful voicelessness' is kind of taken over by the sweetness of working from home... even when the reason for working from home is the 'voiceless pain'.  And yes, I am grateful. Indeed, I am.

If you have gotten this far, uhm... I am so sorry but did I just waste three minutes of your life?  I did?  I knew it!  I am extra-incoherent today.  But, hey, I am grateful... to you for enduring my incoherence.  I appreciate you.   

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Image credit:  The photos in this post are mine.  I took them, they belong to me.

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Saturday photo

 

Stunning...

Yep, 'stunning'. That is all that I'm gonna say to describe how I feel about this photo. The view certainly left me speechless, I just had to capture the moment from where I was standing... at Diamond Hotel Manila. I was there for a week - for work. And, this view gave me the most compelling reason to limit work strictly until 5:30 pm. I just had to watch this view unfold right before my eyes.

The Manila Bay sunset remains to be one of the most spectacular scenes one would ever find in this part of the world. Too beautiful for words! But the fact that it took me nearly two months to share this here indicates how work has once again taken over my life, and it's absolutely ridiculous! Nothing beautiful about that to be sure... and yet, these days, I feel I have no choice. But right now, this very moment, I just had to free myself from the bondage of work and reconnect with 'my soul'. And so, here I am. Ah, stunning!

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Photo credit: I own this photo. I took the shot and did the processing with very minimal color enhancement to remove the glare from the glass window.  This may not be used for any other purpose.

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Wednesday Happy Pill...

 ...and more!

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by PAM

Yesterday, I worked from home.  For the first time in many weeks, I let the sound of the chirping birds lure me away from my desk to wander around our little 'urban garden' at the front yard after my first cup of coffee.  It was good... it's like breathing fresh air for the first time after being in a 'processed oxygen chamber' (a.k.a. my room) for days and days... and days!

Beautiful morning... the sky was concealed by the canopy
that's the mango tree, fortune plant, and the overgrown yellow bells.

The brightness of the sky, partly concealed by the canopy of thick leaves above my head, put me in a beautiful mood.  I returned to my desk full of enthusiasm, ideas... and the determination to make the day good and productive.  I found my way back to the online library of Penn State University... and there, my enthused brain feasted on highly informative reading materials. I also visited the online reading resource of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which was teeming with very good materials, I must say.  By the middle of the day, I have browsed about a dozen journal articles, two of which I read from Abstract to References.  A good day, indeed!

I spent almost the entire daytime in front of my laptop with just a small break to eat, and play block puzzle to decompress my brain muscles. I managed to climb to #2 in the leaderboard merely one week after I joined, starting at #128!  Hahaha... yep, even my playing was inspired yesterday!  By 5:00 pm, the birds started chirping merrily again outside.  I closed my eyes... and they stung so bad!  That was it, I was done for the day.  I walked out, and saw the beautiful colors of the late afternoon sun...

My phone camera refused to re-create what my eyes were seeing,

which was a beautiful late afternoon sky.

I automatically changed into my walking shoes... I just had to enjoy the beautiful moment!  I walked along our street towards the west.  Although I was unable to see the setting sun itself, I got to see the beautiful colors it left in its wake in the sky...

My phone camera was being the smarty a*%, refusing to bear witness

to the beauty of the sunset sky... but even it was unable to 

fully resist the loveliness.

I walked about a kilometer before turning back east towards our house.  The sky was turning quite dark in that direction but, as I turned to my left in the northern direction, it was lovely, too.

The lovely northern tropical sky, echoing the beauty

of the eastern sky at sunset.

So, yeah, it was a lovely day... reminiscent of the past days that were all very productive and exciting... albeit exhausting.  At least, we have little joyful moments to cheer us up... small mercies, small surprises... we just have to pay attention, and indulge ourselves a bit - nothing wrong about taking care of ourselves especially our mental health.

As I was walking, this BTS song put a spring in my steps, "Outro: Wings" from their album "You Never Walk Alone" released in 2017. 

"Take me to the sky
If I can fly, if I can run away forever

If my wings could fly

Piercing through the air that's getting heavier

Flying, flying

Higher than, higher than... the sky."

It didn't feel like I walked alone, indeed... I had, and will always have, this loyal 2nd (or, is it 'third'?) family, always making my day good and bright... even if they are not aware that they are doing so.  They make me fly, fly... fly... higher than the sky!

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Photo credit:  All photos in this post belong to me, and they were taken and processed for the sole use of this blog.

Video credit:  The owner of the video featured in this post is indicated in the video itself - Brilliant.  It is, indeed, a brilliant edit! Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

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Saturday photo

Sunset and evening star...
...and may there be no sadness of farewell when I embark.

As I join the football world in mourning the passing of Tito Vilanova, former FC Barcelona Manager/Head Coach, I got reminded of a poem from High School days.  Here goes....

Crossing the Bar

by Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Sunset and evening star,

      And one clear call for me!

And may there be no moaning of the bar,

      When I put out to sea,

   But such a tide as moving seems asleep,

      Too full for sound and foam,

When that which drew from out the boundless deep

      Turns again home.

   Twilight and evening bell,

      And after that the dark!

And may there be no sadness of farewell,

      When I embark;

   For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place

      The flood may bear me far,

I hope to see my Pilot face to face

      When I have crost the bar.

While the ball will keep rolling on the meticulously manicured pitch, guided by gracefully moving players in an orchestrated move conjured by their master tactician who is thoughtfully watching from the touchline - all 'servants' of the beautiful game, the blaugrana crowd will continue to cheer... cheer their men to victory.  And yet, in the fullness of their blaugrana hearts, there will always be a tiny gap somewhere... that little but all-important space you used to fill with your reassuring physical presence.  

You will be missed, Tito!

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Saturday photo

The promise of sunset:
Into the darkness now... and out of it - tomorrow.

I know... "not again", right?  Another sunset photo.  Sorry, I can't help it, I just find sunset's beauty irresistible.  To me, one lifetime is not enough to pay tribute to the One who came up with the "idea" of sunset. This is why I do my best... by expressing my appreciation often enough.

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Location:  Taal Lake in Talisay, Batangas, Philippines.

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Saturday photo

Calm and quiet, inspiring reflection...
...sunset, you're all that, and so much more.

More than a week ago, I went on a three-day Retreat with my colleagues... about 150 of us.  The days invited critical thinking, lively and honest discussion - assessing where we are in our mission as educators in the Pontifical University of Asia... the sunset inspired reflection - an honest assessment of our relationship with God, and with one another.  

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Location:  Taal Lake (Taal Volcano) at Club Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas, Philippines.   

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Saturday photo

Yep, it's another sunset photo, lomo-ish this time. 

I just love sunset.  It's a flash of red in imminent darkness... like the courage and passion of a wounded warrior, whose spirit is unconquerable, no matter the hardship... even when the last drop of blood has already been shed, even when the blanket of darkness was about to unfurl.

Sunset... the passion that surrenders to darkness,

only to come back silently at the break of dawn,

and burst to a glorious new day... at sunrise!

When I'm feeling frustrated, I rummage through my sunset photos... to remind myself how beautiful it is, to inspire me to hope for a better prospect. 

To labor through another day is worth it, if only to see once again sunset's incredible beauty.  That beautiful and dramatic flash of red just before the world plunges in darkness.  It seems to promise that it will come again, after a moment of silence in the darkness, while we recuperate to regain our strength... and hope to see yet another day. 

And, true enough, the beautiful red light comes at the break of dawn, fulfilling our hopes... creeping silently, and then bursting powerfully to a great light that illuminates our world to yet another beautiful day! 

Another day... another opportunity to fulfill our dreams, those that our spirits weave as our souls commune with the Maker in the restful silence of our sleep.

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Location:  Somewhere in the North Luzon Expressway, Philippines. I took this photo sometime back in a 'speeding' vehicle.  'Shooting on the run'... yep, guilty!  ;)  I remembered and followed a friend's advice to wait until the sun sinks fully in the horizon before taking a photo, 'cause then the color would be more dramatic... the redness of the sky is far more intense and incredible.  He was right! 

Ah, I wish for that day when I would have the luxury of time to just sit down and wait for sunset... and take photos of the various stages of its unfolding beauty.  Oy, retirement, what is taking you so long?????  

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Saturday photo(s)



One fine day... may lead to one fine life.

How things in our daily lives affect our being and disposition is all a matter of... uhm, yeah, perspective.  

A few days ago, I was duty-bound to travel about 245 kilometers north of Manila - by bus.  I was reluctant to do it because of terrible stomach upset and the many, many things waiting for my attention at work.  And yet, what awaits me in the North... was more work - bigger ones... well, at least, their implications.  While the mere thought of my 'mission' in the North intimidated me like skydiving above the Pacific Ocean would,  it was comforting to think how accomplishing the tasks ahead would mean great contribution to national progress through excellent Engineering Education.  And so, I braced myself for the onslaught of wild-indigestion-on-the-road, packed a bag of medicine, re-

Life is a beautiful journey... in heartfelt prayer.

charged my iPad's battery and my BB's battery - just in case I'd need to call on emergency, pushed a handful of bravery in my heart's pocket... and 'took the ride'.  

Opening my eyes after praying for a safe travel, I found myself enjoying hours of green fields, blue sky, good road... and the quiet time alone with myself, just with my thoughts, away from the tiring hustle-bustle at the workplace.  The experience was so refreshing after almost nine months of non-stop 'grind' that it made me utter more prayer - of thanks - for the time to be away from the usual concrete walls of my office and the sea of papers on my desk, waiting to be read, signed or replied to.  It made me see how that little office of mine, where a mightily giant beast called work that challenges me to a duel every single day resides, is a part of God's grand and wonderful scheme of things.  And that defeating 'the beast'  is a mission worth setting out for every single day. I paused to thank heavens for that chance to 'fight and defeat the beast' while others could merely dream of the same chance.

When we decide to cease being negative about things, and choose to view things with new and hopeful eyes, God reveals breathtaking beauty... and there's just so much beauty in this life of ours!  

Perspective... it enables us to ignore the prickly little things that don't matter, and concentrate on the big ones that do matter. It enables us to see beauty... and its meaning, even in darkness - through the powerful light of faith and heartfelt prayers.      

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Location:  (1) North Luzon Express Way or NLEX, and (2) Our Lady of Atonement Cathedral or Baguio Cathedral, Baguio City.

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Saturday photo



Sunset... calm and quiet, colorful... beautiful.


Wherever, whatever season, sunset will always be my favorite time of day.  And it always feels wonderful whenever I get the chance to catch it... as the ticking of the clock gets lost in the whirl of incredible work schedule every single day.  And each time the beauty of sunset comes to mesmerize, it also takes away with it the pain that the whip of hard toil inflicts... as it makes one look forward to a restful good night's sleep, experience the bliss of sweet dreams, regain lost energy overnight - to face another day, new beginning, new challenge, new prospects... new hope.

Ah, sunset... it's just beautiful!

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