a short thought about life

5 minutes ago, I borrowed my 20 day old nephew dodong. I tried to test myself if I am capable of taking care oh him on my own for at least an hour.

I brought him inside my room and played music for him while he was staring into space. After about 10 minutes of his baby moves, he started to cry. I tried to quiet him down by some small hand patting on his baby bum.. He stopped crying.

After a short 5 minute of staring again, he began crying louder this time and he was turning red. I wanted to carry him but I am not sure if I can pick him up the proper way without hurting his head.

I realized how delicate this 20 day old life here in front of me. I decided to bring him back to his mom. I failed my test. I did not last an hour.

(dodong staring into space in my room)

After dodong left my room. A thought about life came to me. While we are welcoming the new addition to our family, I cannot stop feeling sad for a high school classmate named Dina.

Dina has been complaining of constant stomach crunches and pain. The doctor found some stones inside her and decided to operate her to remove the stones. When she was operated the doctors found a tumor on her Bile duct. They removed the tumor and had it checked if it was benign or might be alarming for cancer.

Last week the tumor biopsy indicated that it is cancerous. And it has spread through other nearby organs.

Dina is now in the hospital, the family is awaiting for her condition to stabilize before she can start with the chemotherapy.

I learned the sad news 5 days ago. It made me realize that cancer is not just for elderly people but it can hit anyone.

The difficult part of Dina's situation is she just had her first baby last January. Her baby girl is just 5 months old.

Friends, even if you don't personally know Dina, I seek your help in praying for Dina and her family in this trying times.

(Dina on her wedding day )

(Dina and her baby Julliana)

Life can come too easily and it also can go too quickly.

Let's all be happy and celebrate life

Interesting Chat today

Today I got the chance to see an old friend online.

"I" now lives in Berlin we use to work together and after she got married to her german boyfriend, they transferred to Germany.

Since she got hired by a German Bank, I seldom see her online. When I saw "I" was online, I instantly message her. And ask her how are things and if she has adjusted to her new job already. Here are some parts of our catching up.

Me: have you adjusted well already?

"I": yeah, work is good I'm enjoying it stressful at times

Me:Wow that's really good to hear that you are enjoying work

"I": I am proud to say, modesty aside, that my bosses are impressed with me. I think I finally found the job that suits me. Its a mix of 3 things, Banking,Legal and Research, the 3 fields that interest me most.

After updating each other, we spoke about our common friends and some of her law school classmates whom I knew also. Our chat lasted for at least a little over an hour. Suddenly she has to go.

"I": dude I gotta run. "T" ( T is I's husband) promised to take me shopping cuz it's my birthday.

Me: hey sorry

"I": huh? why?

Me: I didn't know its your birthday, I closed my facebook I am not updated. I feel bad I didn't greet you.

"I": hahahaha no worries we're new yorkers we can take it.

Me: well yeah.... that's a good answer.

"I": haha thanks let's catch up again soon.

Me: enjoy your day newyorker

"I": Ciao!

After catching up with "I" , It made me realize again how we are and how we feel towards our birthdays. Some become sentimental, some needs more attention, some need to feel special and for "I" maybe it is just another day. After all she is a Newyorker.

Are you a newyorker?

Backtracking the goodtimes at the bad time

As I am writing this post, I am bloody stressed out now. Pardon me for I have been writing mostly on my downside, thus most of the post are on the negative side.

This time I wanna think of the good times I spent with my high school mates during the past holy Thursday and Friday. I am Backtracking the good times at a bad time.

Since I bade my Bali trip goodbye, I have decided to catch up with my high school mates in the city.

As concrete as I can I wanna share the good times with friends on a two day holiday.

Thursday April 21

After the 3.5 hour drive to the city, I arrived at my friend S's house. When I got there I saw E, K and J. J is the wife of S. A few minutes after I arrived R came in also. K who studied to be a chef, brought her sister with her to prepare for our Japanese inspired dinner.

I enjoyed eating the Sashimi the most. It is one of my favorite food. Nothing beats a sumptuous dinner over good conversation with friends.

(actual photo of our dinner)

After the having one of the best dinners of my life, Our host S and J invited us for a night swimming in their club house pool. Everyone was in the mood for night swimming except for R, who busied herself taking photos. Lapping in the pool was a very good way to release the stress from work. I can still vividly remember, I allowed myself to just float on my back in the water and seeing the night sky filled with stars and wishing that time would stop for me to savor the relaxing feeling of the water and floating while looking at the stars... it was an amazing moment.

(the goggles i used during the lapping)

We did not stop swimming until the life guard on duty informed us that the pool is closing. After washing up we head back to S and J's house. J announced to everyone that as soon as we are ready, she is going to meet us at their music room for some serious heavy drinking and karaoke night. True enough, she prepared Lime and salt for our Tequila shots and I really lost count on the bottles of wine we consumed that night. E and K started off by singing upbeat songs. Slowly as the night progressed everyone seem to loosen up as the alcohol started to sipped in to our system. I even dared myself to sing a song. I don't know if its the 3 straight shots of tequila, I selected this 1965 hit song. Slightly aware of the sound I am making, I decided not to finish the song, comparing my voice to E's semi pro voice and leaving a little dignity to myself.

It was J who first declared that she is a drunk already. E was dancing while drinking to make himself active and not let the alcohol take over his sanity. But the dancing did not help much as he suddenly puked in the kitchen sink while getting some food to eat. After cleaning his mess, without a word, he just declared to everyone that he is going to bed. Sensing that everyone had a bit too much, all of us agreed to call it a night. We all stayed in one room. I can't recall our bedtime because after I change to my sleeping clothes I passed out.

I just remembered waking up because of E's puking sound the morning after.

I looked at everyone it was E and R who were most affected by the hang over as they were alternating themselves puking.

(That's K on the background with our alcohol)

Friday April 22

Nursing a hangover the next day, J prepared warm soup for everyone. It was funny looking at how lanky E has become while eating banana, which is a hangover cure. Our Host reserved the morning for us to hit the beach. Sadly R, gave up and decided to go home to cure her hangover in the comforts of her house. E, despite the non stop puking decided to join us at the beach. We just made sure to get him gatorade as he was dehydrating already from all the throwing up.

On the beach, J, me and a getting better E decided to go for a swim. We even rented a jetski to crash the waves and explore the neighboring beaches.

(getting ready for our jetski ride)

Around 3pm we decided to start packing up to head home. But as we drove towards home, S invited everyone to stop by a newly opened firing range to try out the place. It was a very good experience, missing the target plates at the beginning then slowly learning how to properly aim at the targets. S is a very good teacher. I gained new admiration to those shooters who hit their targets while running, damn its not easy.

(aiming at our targets)

After finishing 2 rounds (200 bullets), we decided to go home. Since our host S and J has prepared so much for us already, I invited everyone for a Korean dinner. So everyone just washed up and changed clothes then we all went to a Korean Resto. Our host is not so familiar with Korean cuisine, I am not a food expert but I love korean food. Good thing K, our food expert is also very good in ordering korean food. I can barely remember the name of the food but it was all good. Thanks to K's ordering skills. We finished dinner at around 8. S and J invited everyone for a relaxing massage at a Spa.

Everyone got the "wholistic massage". Because I was so tired, I slowly dozed off as the attendant was rubbing my back. I was half asleep, and as my eyes close, I can feel my saliva dripping from my mouth... I did not care much, I am here for a relaxation.

(Korean dinner)

After our massage, everyone looked doped with our sloppy eyes. I informed my friends that I going back home early morning to catch up before office opens. Since my home is 3.5 hours drive. I need to get up at 3 am to make it at home at least 6:30 in the morning. We decided to kill the time and end our night with some late night snacks and coffee at starbucks.

We killed the time by reminiscing about the good old days during school and wondering how our other friends are doing. Me not wanting to sleep also had consumed 2 tall size americano to keep me awake until 3am.

Sensing that S is already sleepy, E needs some rest too after the bad hangover. I asked everyone if we can start driving home already. I just have 1 hour to wait before I start to head home.

When we reached home, E automatically fell flat. The couple S and J stayed up with me until 3 am so they can send me off.

I set my phone to alarm at 3am. 2:50 AM I told S and J that I would be heading home now, I don't want my alarm to sound so that I won't disturb E.

They went down with me until I reach my car and start driving.

(bagel and chips at starbucks)

I cancelled my Bali trip for a trip in the city. Looking back, it was a very short bonding time with my friends. The 3.5 hours drive is not easy and knowing that I would be working when I get home. But it was all worth it!

I feel better now