Uncle Ga & Mina

What more than a bond between an uncle and his niece... Rob and Amorina in a beautiful March afternoon

Looking back

With the recent passing of my (best) friend, I've realized that there were so many things taken for granted with life in general. However, before I look forward to the future, I want to look back at how my life was like since I started this blog. I started writing about everything and anything in my life in January 2006...

Here's a look back on what life was like:

2006 - My one and only blog for the month: March 5, 2006
2007 - Three posts: March 2007
2008 - I stopped blogging consistently :-/
2009 - Did not blog more, only TWO posts in 2009
2010 - Must have been a rough year... mom was in the hospital that year
2011 - It was all about Mya around this time ~ Mya was born and the first time we met Mya!

Jamie

I know that I probably do not have the right to post something like this, however, I feel that I have to say my goodbye. So, here goes...

Jamie, we first met when you were a patient at Fortanasce & Associates... an 18-year-old girl who recently had knee surgery, and was preparing to head off to UCLA. For some reason, we shared a special bond through photography, scrapbooking, and the mere stories of the random people we came across at the clinic. Under all that, we became the best of friends. We had our adventures, and somehow, even though the bad days, we still managed to share our thoughts and deepest secrets with each other. For the past six years, your health had been up and down, and you going in and out of the hospital. I feel that somehow I was too blame for not being there when you needed me the most. For that, I am deeply sorry that I dropped the ball. However, for the past six months, I became a bit selfish when I got lost in all the wedding drama. I was angry that you could not be part of my engagement party because of the two people that made your life miserable. I took it personal when you blocked me on AIM... I took you off every means of communication that I had with you. Therefore, for whatever reason, I felt that I lost my best friend. However, there was not a day that I did not think about you.... When I saw an old co-worker, Ashley, comment on Tony's status post of you passing, I was in complete shock. Today, I am still in shock. I feel your presence in a sixth sense kind of way. I can feel your mom's pain because I know how much she loved you. This is my final goodbye to you... I know that you are finally at peace and that God has relieved you from all the pain you have endured. I do still love you. You not only were the bests of friends, but you were a sister to me! I will and always will miss you.

Griffith Park

I haven't been to Griffith Park since maybe 1995 (way before their major renovation and restoration project). Rob hadn't been to the observatory at all since his move to California in 1998. We went to check it out with our friend, Brenda, on Friday... pretty cool!

Tired

As I write this, I just let out the biggest yawn I have had so far. I am so tired it is difficult for me to verbalize the simplest of words by pronouncing the wrong syllable in a word that is remotely not the same. It has been a busy week, and I cannot recall the last time Rob and I had just a day to relax. Many past events with family and friends over the past two weekends have been entertaining, but it is exhausting! I am hoping that this week will die down soon because I want to sleep! I cannot get a normal sleep cycle going at all!

Project 365 | A Photo Challenge

In light of everything that has happened, I realized that I need a bit of some stress relief. To seek that relief, I turned back to something that I have always enjoyed doing - PHOTOGRAPHY! Before modern technology even took over with the digital camera, there has not been a time where I was always caring a camera, dozens of film canisters, and my imagination. Digital cameras made my project even easier where I could just tuck it into whatever purse, backpack, or coat pocket that I had with me at the time. Instant memories were cherished (or deleted) forever. Looking at a former co-worker’s and her little daughters’ blog (they each have one), I discovered that my co-worker also had a photoblog document every single day. She had started her own Project 365 based on daily themes that she received from scrapbooking group. I was so amazed to see many of the different pictures she had taken, and her perspective on things. Heather's photo taking has inspired me to begin photoblogging for the next 365 days. I am exploring the different themes and ideas to see what I can share for the next 52 weeks. Check out my site everyday: 365 Days of Mynmay

What Could Have Been

March 17, 2012 - today's festivities would have been our wedding day, not St. Patrick's Day. For the past two weeks, I have been under a great deal of stress, not because of what would have been. It was because if what MIGHT not happen. For personal reasons, the March wedding that I have been planning for the past eight months had become a not. However, a wedding will still happen in July. *fingers crossed*

Wedding Progress

Less than three weeks to go until the wedding, and things are starting to go crazy. It hasn't hit me yet that our special day is fast approaching. There are little things here and there that are beginning to come together. However, there are still deadlines that we are still trying to meet. In any case, we are looking forward for the big day to come. The bridal shower, bachelor party, and bachelorette dinner will be happening within the next two weeks. So, come right back as I post pictures of the upcoming events!

Family

It's been about a week since I received the news of my Uncle Mert's death. He was my mom's oldest brother, and had lived to be 84 years old. Prior to his passing, my uncle was admitted into the ICU with a 50-50 chance of survival. In reviewing his MRI report, they had found some fractures and compression in his lower spine after a fall. They also found a mestastasis in his liver as well, causing him to lose his appetite. As I was told, he was not eating, and at a point of being unrecognizable. So, in a way, it was not surprising that Uncle Mert was gone, but words still cannot express how I've felt since.

On Saturday, as I think about my mom everyday, especially since it has almost been a year since she died, and the death of my uncle in the back of my mind, I received news of my mom's sister, Brigitte, dying. She was my mom's older sister by four years, and her health was not at its best in recent months. Auntie Brigitte had suffered the same ailments that had affected my mom the year before. As Uncle Mert had entered the hospital, she had been released from the National Kidney Institute for the foot she had surgery on the month before and the continuous fevers associated with kidney problems. So, to hear the news that Auntie Brigitte had passed away in her home, collapsing in her room, and dying of a possible heart attack, felt like another blow.

I think that all this hurts for me since they are two of the three remaining links to my mom's life. I regret never really learning about my mom's past other than the stories I heard from mom. Thirty-two years had passed since I last saw my aunt and uncle. I was three years old when I first saw all of my mom's family, and I felt that I had reconnected with the two remaining uncles and my aunt last April (2011).

RIP Uncle Mert (10/26/11) and Auntie Brigitte (10/30/11). I know that the both of you have found your peace. Give my mom and all the family my love. You are all truly missed.

Engagement Party 09.18.11

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Wedding Planning progress

For those of you who may not know, Rob and I are finally taking the plunge! Scheduled for March 2012, the wedding planning is progressing (slowly). As of Friday (7/29/11), we have a few things set, but nothing major. Deposits have been made for the ceremony/reception location, ceremony officiant, the wedding dress and DJ. We have found our photographer, but are still in the works in trying to figure out the deposit for her. I have found my wedding centerpieces on a website, but have not been able to find a decent florist to work with us. Other than those minor details, things are happening at a pace. We'll figure out how everything goes in a couple of months!

Some random pics

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June 2011

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New pic of Mya ~ 11 weeks

I was playing around with the digicam yesterday, and caught her in the middle of "drift" mode as she fell asleep on the tile floor.


edited using Windows Live Photo Gallery



Mya and her big blue snake

Too Cute For Words!!!

Our puppy (now named Mya) turns five and a weeks ago. We met with Chloe, our breeder, and the little pups. I’ve posted 11 new pics, and two videos of the baby girl on my Shutterfly share site (click on the page on the “Links” section of this page). Mya will definitely be Rob’s little girl. She got accustomed to him fairly well, whereas, the little fur bear didn’t with me. She’s got a big heart in that tiny little body, but fears many things as our breeder has mentioned. All I’ve got to say is she’s got quite a personality that I know I will enjoy once she is in her forever home with is!

Slowly progressing...

Three suitcases are full, packed, and locked... no more room left for them... just need to get Dad's balikbayan box filled with a few more items from the extended family and taped up. We should be ready to go! 30 hours to go before head over to LAX to get checked in and boarded onto the plane. I'm definitely not looking forward to the long plane ride. Practically spending a whole day on a plane (with a four hour layover in Seoul, South Korea), and I'm just not really looking forward to it. No Internet, one day worth of music, and reading a book... I definitely don't feel productive. Anyway, like I've told everyone, I'm excited, but not overly excited... Mixed emotions, especially seeing family that I haven't seen in over 31 years, and all the activities involving mom's funeral. Our final goodbye to mom, and not being able to visit her when I want to will be difficult. I do know, that in my heart, my mom will live on through my memories. It will be ...

We met our puppy!

Rob and I scheduled to meet with our breeder, Chloe, mama Sobe, and the pups today.  I can’t say how excited I was just looking forward to this day.  I sound a bit dorky, but what can I say?  I totally fell in love with the lil pup… Mama Sobe met us at the door, and I have never met any dog as nice as she was.  Most Mama dogs normally get a bit apprehensive when their pups are around complete strangers, but Sobe was just as welcoming to us as Chloe.  Check out the pics on our photo website (link to the right “Maya – Our Shiba Inu”).

The Puppies are Here!

Our breeder just notified us to let us know that Sobe just gave birth to her pups. She had two males (both red) and two females (cream and red). We’re excited to meet our new puppy! I will post pics of the new babies as I get them.  To get more info, check out our photo blog on the puppy. Look for the page link on the right side (Link Section), and click on "New Puppy - Shiba Inu." In the meantime, here’s a pic of both mommy and daddy!

So Much To Do

Two weeks until we sit on the plane for my first trip back to the Philippines in over thirty-one years. The trip right now is bittersweet. We bring my mom’s remains to her final resting place, and we, as a family, will finally be getting our closure. I’m not sure how to feel or what to think right now, but I think of my mom every day. Some days are still harder than others, but I don’t think there really is a true way to say goodbye.

Anyway, Rob and I are on our way to pack. It’s difficult to try and decide what items we will or will not need for the trip, especially when there aren’t any specific things to do set in stone. I’m not quite sure where we will be, and it will be difficult to split two weeks between two sides of the family. All I know is that I am looking forward to be able to see family I haven’t seen since I was four. Can you believe it?!?