Little things mean a lot...

I have not posted anything in this feature for a while so here is another one of my treasures. It is a little book of poems written for just one person. The messages/themes of the poems are all about love, missing a loved one, remembering him on special occasions, that he will not be forgotten. I believe it is the author's way of grieving and her way of moving on, although we know it will never be easy. Why is it a treasure? I am the only other person besides the author who has a copy. And once in a while I open it and read it, though it always makes me cry. This book of poems is about my nephew and the author is my sister.

This picture is my all time favorite of all his pictures. 

The week that was.........trying to keep warm

For the second week in a row, we have had snow and more snow and colder weather. This is not good as I am going to be housebound again. The temperature is in the -36 with the windchill. Now I am thinking of what to do, I did my laundry last week and baked. This time I am cleaning out my fridge and kitchen cupboards.

If the weather continues to be this COLD, my place will be immaculate. I just heard that the forecast for the end of next week will be single digit temperature. Oh, for us that is balmy!!! It would be appropriate as I am expecting a visitor from California who is staying here for about 4 days. I had warned her to wear her warmest coat and boots. She is on her way to Yellowknife to visit her mother. This stop will just be a practice for her....she is going to have a heck of a freezing adventure.

Next week I am starting "Have you ever?" I hope the weather improves as I am sick and tired of wearing layers of clothing and freezing waiting for the bus.

On the menu......

Pansit luglug/seafood pasta

mocha chiffon cake with butter cream icing

lumpia shanghai

These were part of what I cooked last weekend. I have not baked in a while and decided to bake the chiffon cake. I was not going to do icing for it just drizzle chocolate ganache but I wanted to decorate but I had people waiting so I did a quick design.

Snow, snow, snow and more snow

They are fluffy, pristine white and looks cute but I hate it. The flakes started coming down lunch time on Friday and has never stopped. So I have been house bound and I had wanted to wash my vehicle as it has been in the parkade for weeks and just dusty. It was a bit embarassing. I drove to work since I had a medical appointment on Friday and I think when I brushed off the snow, I brushed off all the dust with it as well.

Now the forecast is for colder weather for the rest of the month. This is the time when I seriously think of moving where it is warm. But then I get to thinking that in about two months it will be over and then spring is upon us. I just have to be positive. Not having driven for weeks, I never had the chance to have my winter tires installed, guess there is no point in having it done now for just two months. At least I saved a bit of money.

I am just looking out through my patio door and now feel depressed.....just too white and cold!!! Does anyone really like this kind of weather?

 View from the 23rd floor, lots of snow and below is my balcony with all white stuff!!!

Rewind, Reconnect and Reminisce

A great all inclusive resort. Villas, flowering shrubs, fruit trees and ponds. This is where I met 2 guys from the Dominican Republic. One is a friend of my sister and the other his bodyguard. We were all there to share and witness the wedding of my niece.

I was asked by my sister to entertain them and be the host. So during the reception I was sitting beside the bodyguard, Pedro and trying my hardest to have a conversation with him in Spanish. Thank God I had taken Spanish for four years during my college. After the reception, we all went to the lobby and had drinks, though I don't think they did.

At this time I had asked Pedro to sort of pretend to be my bodyguard and it was hilarious. We had pictures taken but out of respect to him and Elvis, I will not post the pictures. They asked if we go back to the DR to get in touch with them. After this, we have emailed back and forth a few times.

June 2010, I had the chance to go back to DR and Pedro picked us up at Excellence Resort and took us and gave a tour of Santo Domingo.  He took us shopping and ate a real Dominican meal on a roadside diner. We had the best of times and reminisce about the wedding. We met Elvis at a very nice restaurant and we had dinner. Since it was too late to go back to the resort, he booked us in a five start hotel all expenses paid. Just can't believe the hospitality he showed us. In fact, Elvis told me, next time I should call him first before booking a trip as he could get us cheaper accommodation. Maybe I will take him up on his offer

This may not be after a lot of years but it is one of those situation where you think you will never see them again. Elvis and Pedro, it was great to reconnect and reminisce and maybe someday, we will meet each other again.

The week that was............

This was a very short workweek for me, I went back to work on Wednesday. I found it was a long break but still enjoyed doing nothing. So it was busy three days, mostly I had to do all our ads and it took me two days to update and do new ads.

I feel I had a good start of the new year, I had walked everyday and did my time on my treadmill and did almost 4 miles each day. I took Friday off from the exercise routine, decided that is the day to just relax.

I went for my mammogram Friday morning so that is one medical appointment done. I believe it went well.

Yesterday, we had the start of snowstorm/too much snow, so we were sent home early before the roads start to be really messy. So that really made this past week a very short work week. And it is still snowing and the roads from my balcony I can see, has turned nasty. I know I will be housebound so I will do longer time on the treadmill today and tomorrow. The forecast has been snow for a few more days and colder temperature. OOhhh, the life living in cold Edmonton. But that is what makes us tough.

I think I will start to bake this afternoon....mocha chiffon cake with butter icing.

Maybe I will post more later since I will not venture out today. Post more memories in picture and launch my special people feature.

Another year gone by.....

Yes, another year has passed and I am trying to start the new year on a positive note. 2010 was a trying year for me. It was also a time when I had to make a lot of changes in my personal and professional life. Some are for the best, a few had to be done just because.

This year I am going to try my best to better myself, in my job, how I handle my finances and really prepare for my retirement which will come soon enough. I don't know if I am looking forward to it since I have tried to do semi-retirement 3 years ago and I got bored and went back to work. If I still enjoy going to work, I might work until the time I feel this is it.

The first thing I have resolved to do is to watch my diet, not necessarily losing weight but to eat healthy and doing my exercises. I have just realized that I like walking and I do it as much as I can when the weather is warm. I have managed to walk at least 16 city blocks everyday and really enjoy it. I even look forward to it.

These are not resolutions, I think of it as just improving my life and enjoying my life. In fact, this past holiday I stayed home a lot and just relaxed and did nothing. Although I was able to accomplish what I set out to do, clean and organize my storage room and also my closet and drawers.

So I feel and believe like this will be a good year for me. It will also be a big milestone. So here is to a great start and hopefully a great end as well.