Scrap Haven

I’m really not into surprises and I must admit that being out of the loop drives me crazy. But I know if my good friends (that includes my fave sister-in-law) are the ones planning the party, it would surely be a blast.

A few weeks ago, Cyn had already asked me if we were doing anything on the 27th of August. Although she didn’t mention what it is that’s supposed to happen, I knew that it was about the baby shower (ang kapal ‘no? assuming!). Sometimes they would pull each other aside and be talking in hushed voices. I am definitely on the paranoid side but I had to keep these feelings to myself…at least for awhile until the big day.

Kyo and I didn’t know where it will be held or what time. We just knew that the baby shower was going to be on August 27. We were just given the address and the time we should be there a day before the party. Finally, the big day arrives. I knew that they were up until early morning that Saturday preparing for the party. It must have been really hard to plan and organize since they were also busy with their own jobs. Later I would find out that they have had planning sessions till the wee hours of the night (or should I say morning).

The baby shower was held at the Las Brisas Condominium Recreation Room in Santa Clara. By the time we arrived at around 5:00 PM, the clubhouse was already transformed into a party place. Balloons were everywhere. Two tables were full of mouthwatering dishes and desserts prepared (or bought) by our friends. Most of the people invited were already there. Bobby was asked to lead the prayer. Then it was eating time. This must be everyone’s favorite part!

After everyone was full and already feeling the postprandial effects of the food, the games started. There was one where the guys had to drink coke using a baby bottle. This was a little hard for them since the hole on the nipple was too tiny. Bob won this game by biting on the nipple a little bit so more coke would come out. Hey, there were no rules against it! Roger was the fastest one to put a diaper on the stuffed Care Bear - around 16 seconds. Not bad for a soon to be dad! As usual, the Jun and Sarah tandem were on the winning streak again. I remember during Cyn and Nel’s baby shower, they also won some games. Maybe it’s time for them to be on the hot seat and give others a shot at winning. Anyway, they won 3 games one of which was how big my tummy is. Their guess was right on the dot. Then there’s the counting of the jelly beans. There was a big jar of jelly beans on the table and people were asked to guess how many are in the jar. The person with the closest guess without going over wins. And that was Nel. There were 1616 jelly beans in the jar and he guessed 1550. Don’t ask me how Owan and Bobby counted it. Shhhh! It’s their little secret. Baka hindi na kainin ni Kyle pag nalaman niya. After the games, it was time to open the gifts. Big sister Kamille was there to help me open them. I felt like a little kid opening presents at Christmas. I haven’t opened that many gifts in a very long time. In fact, I think this is the only time I got to open this many! Anyway….

Kyo, Kamille and I would like to thank everyone who came to the party, helped out (especially during cleanup) and brought food and gifts. We would especially like to thank Owan, Bobby, Cyn, Nel, Cris and Edwin for organizing the Baby Shower. We know you guys are all busy with work and your own families but you still found the time to make this event so much fun and enjoyable not only for us but for everyone who attended.

Words can never express our gratitude for these wonderful family and friends of ours who made the Baby Shower such a big success. And I must say that this is the best party ever!

*Photos will be posted shortly.

After Kamille’s exciting first day at Kindergarten, Kyo and Kamille accompanied me to my OBGYN, Dr. O’ for my 35th week prenatal checkup. We had to wait a few more minutes because apparently she was at the hospital across the street attending to a patient giving birth. While waiting for Dr. O’, her assistant took my blood pressure (normal), my weight (gained 5 pounds in the last 3 weeks!) and had me empty my bladder in a small cup (the sugar patrol was on high alert!). Dr. O’ arrived and measured my tummy and then we listened to the baby’s heartbeat. I also had a quick ultrasound to make sure that the baby was already positioned for birth, which thankfully she is.

Around this time of the pregnancy, we are checked for bacterial growth called Group B Streptococci (GBS). It is usually harmless in adults but for babies it can cause complications if you have it and pass it on during labor and birth. I’ll probably get a call from them later next week to find out the results. I hope I don’t have it!

I’ll have another checkup in two weeks then every week after that until I give birth. Can’t believe it’s almost over. I still have a lot of things to do before the big day. In a few weeks or so, we will be welcoming our new daughter - Kathleen Alyssa and we’re all very excited to see her.  

Tuesday night Kamille was so excited for the following day was the first day of school. She wanted to sleep in her own room because a few weeks earlier I had bought her a Hello Kitty alarm clock. We had set the alarm to go off at 6:00 am. For the first time it wasn’t hard to make her get up in the morning. On Wednesday she got up by herself when she heard the alarm going off. She went to the bathroom, sat down on the toilet and did her thing, I brushed her teeth and gave her a shower. Then it was time to get dressed. She was so cute in her new uniform.

After Kyo and I showered and got dressed, it was time to take pictures before leaving for school. Then more pictures when we got to Mt. Carmel. Students and their parents were arriving at the same time as we did. We got to meet some of her classmates and their parents. We even saw my OBGYN, Dr. O’ when she dropped off her three kids. Kyo was thinking that he might be the only parent who was lugging around a camera. I guess first day of school is really a big deal whether your child is starting Kindergarten or 8th grade. Most of the parents were taking pictures of their kids and their friends.

First bell rang at 7:58 am. Kids started lining up and by this time if parents still want to stay, we should all be moving behind the students. The final bell rings at 8:00 am and then the morning prayer starts. Then they recite the Pledge of Allegiance and sing the school song. After which the principal welcomes the students and parents and make other announcements. They don’t want the Kindergarteners to become restless so before the principal makes the announcements she lets them go in at this time to start their day. Parents say their final goodbyes as the kids head off to their classroom. I thought I would get really emotional but I was overcome with excitement that no tears were shed this time. Kyo and I are so happy and excited for her.

Since it was the first day of school, the Kindergarteners were only there for about an hour and forty five minutes. So Kyo and I decided to stay and wait for her. The Parents Club at school provided some breakfast treats for parents while waiting for their children. It was also the time to buy/order SCRIP. SCRIP is one of the many ways schools and other organizations raise funds. You buy the paper SCRIP (it’s like a gift certificate or a gift card) and that’s what you use to pay for stuff. And there’s also eSCRIP where you register your store club cards, debit cards and credit cards. Everytime you make a purchase using your card, a percentage of the amount spent will go to the school or organization you choose. There are several fund raising activities that the school sets up to minimize the cost of tuition and help pay for the students’ extra-curricular activities. So don’t be surprised that one day I’ll come knocking on your door to sell you chocolates or gift wrapping paper.

Around 9:40 am, parents started going into the school yard and waited for their kids to come out. At exactly 9:45 am, the Kindergarteners started to pile out of their classroom carrying with them the first of a series of blue envelopes containing correspondence from the principal, additional forms to fill out, announcements and the scrip order form. These blue envelopes are sent home inside the students’ backpacks every Wednesday and should be returned to school the next day.

Kamille was almost the last one to come out and I was getting a bit worried. But she’s there, all in one piece. My little princess, my baby! I guess you can say that we all survived the first day. Yipee!

It’s a lot of work waking up early in the morning (especially now that we have a baby on the way), getting Kamille ready for school and me for work and preparing her snacks and lunches. Kyo and I also need to do some volunteer work at her school to earn some service hours (need to complete 50 hours for this school year). We all have to make some sacrifices. We know that we are doing this for Kamille and we know she’s getting the best education we can possibly give her. And right now that is the most important thing.

I was reading the news earlier about illegal immigrants dying near the Mexican border in Arizona. These immigrants leave behind their families and what little they have back in their country lured by the dream of employment and better lives. They would do anything just to make it to America - the "Land of Opportunities" and "greener pastures". Some people make it across the border and there are those that aren’t so lucky. Either they get arrested and sent back to wherever they came from or die from hyperthermia or heat stroke just like John Doe No. 130.

It got me thinking that if the Philippines were just near the border of any US state, a lot of Filipinos would be doing the same. Maybe you’ll ask why I am so sure about this. Well, it is because almost 7 years ago I was one of the many Filipinos lined up outside the US Embassy in Manila waiting for the chance to be interviewed by a consulate. Although my primary reason for leaving was to be with my husband, in the back of my mind I was also thinking that this would be a great opportunity to find a better paying job than what I had in Manila. Which means I will be able to help out relatives back home and at the same time give my own family a life of comfort.

There are literally hundreds of US Visa applications being reviewed and processed every single day. Some are even on their third attempt to be able to set foot in this country. I really can’t blame them why they try so hard to come here. Life in our own country is hard, what with all the poverty, government corruption, unemployment….the list is endless! Living in a foreign country - be it in North America, Europe or Asia - is hard too. But one thing about Filipinos is their patience and hardwork. Seldom do I see or hear Filipinos who are not doing well. It is Filipinos who take the menial jobs that the foreign country’s citizens don’t want. And yet they complain that we are taking away all the jobs. Filipinos are able to do many different things and are adaptable to any kind of situation. Maybe that’s what sets us apart from the rest. We don’t mind getting our hands dirty as long as its an honest job, one that will put food in our stomachs, clothes on our backs and a roof on our heads. Filipinos are truly a different breed and I am proud to be one of them.

Last Sunday, Kyo, Kamille and I went to Holy Spirit Church to hear mass. Being the "early" risers that we are, there wasn’t any seat left by the time we got there. It would have been ok to stand up the entire time if I wasn’t 8 months pregnant. There were about 5 pews reserved for choir members behind the pianist that were unoccupied since there was no choir singing at the 11:00 a.m. mass except for one male singer. So we decided to just go ahead and sit there. Owan and I call Kamille "goody two-shoes". Once we were seated she wanted to get up and go because she saw the sign saying "Reserved for choir members". Baka daw kami mapagalitan kasi hindi naman kami choir and yet we were sitting there. Somehow I felt embarassed. Imagine, a 5 year old kid telling an adult that what we had done wasn’t right. Anway, back to the Pianist….

It’s a different kind of feeling when you see and hear a pianist up close. You feel like joining in the singing even if you really don’t have the voice for it. Or maybe it’s just me since I’m a frustrated painist. My parents had bought my older brother a piano when he was about 5 or 6 years old. I remember seeing a picture of him during his piano recital. He really was musically inclined. He had formal piano lessons and later on in life he would just listen to a song and he could play it even without looking at the chords or notes. He even learned to play the guitar all by himself.

I was about 6 years old when I had my first piano lesson during summer break. That was about it until I got to high school. I didn’t want to attend the Music class so I just opted to enroll in piano lessons again. I was relentless. But I guess it wasn’t really for me. The only piece I’ve memorized was Somewhere In Time. This has been a long standing joke between me and Kyo. I remember one time when he visited me at home and I played this piece for him. He thought that I really knew how to play the piano. I did but I only knew one song. Hehehe! Kaya pala napasagot ko siya! Kala niya I would be playing for him every time. So now I just try to be content on listening to piano music by Jim Brickman, Jim Chappell and John Tesh. Maybe I’ll just buy the book How to Play the Piano Despite Years of Lessons. It’s not too late to learn an instrument. Or is it?

I had my regular prenatal checkup earlier today. I’m officially in my 8th month…yipee! Everything’s cool….everything’s ok. The only thing I’m concerned about right now is if my baby is already in the correct position (vertex - head first) to be born. Dr. O’ said she’ll check it when I come back in 3 weeks. She’s going to do an ultrasound….which means I get to see my baby inside my tummy for the last time before she finally says hello world!

Did some shopping for Kamille’s school supplies afterwards. In about 2 weeks she will start school at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Redwood City. Let me share with you what’s on the Kindergarten list:

1 backpack - (LABELED/no wheels)
2 boxes Crayola crayons (64 ct)
2 boxes Crayola large markers (10 ct)
2 boxes Crayola thin markers (10 ct)
2 boxes Crayola colored pencils (24 ct)
12 yellow standard #2 pencils
1 set Crayola watercolors
3 SHARPIE markers (2 black & 1 your color choice)
1 Papermate black flair pen
5 large glue sticks - SOLID (no "O-Glue")
3 bottles of white glue (no glue gel)
1 coloring book - LABELED WITH NAME
1 pair of scissors (blunt edge)
1 sponge
2 large rolls of paper towels
1 large box of KLEENEX
1 gallon ziplock bag with: (LABELED WITH NAME)
1 pair underpants
1 pair of socks
1 shirt
1 pair of pants
(non uniform clothes ok)

This reminded me of the times when my mom, my sister and I would go to National Bookstore to buy the stuff we needed for the coming schoolyear. Even though summer vacation was nearing its end, just the thought that soon I would have new school supplies, a new bag, a new pair of shoes and new sets of uniforms was enough to make me forget that school is starting in just a few weeks. Upon arriving home, my sister and I would carefully examine our purchases for the nth time and try on our shoes. Afterwards we would neatly arrange them inside our school bag and keep it inside the closet. Then it was time to cover our notebooks and textbooks with plastic wrapping. As I write this, it’s almost as if I am back there actually doing it because I remember vividly the smell of that plastic. I miss school and I miss those carefree days. Time does really go by fast.

Our routine is almost always the same. While I drive Kyo to the BART station in the morning I would ask him, "Ano gusto mo for dinner? Wag mo sasabihin na kahit ano!". So this morning I asked him the same question and he immediately replied, "Wag mo sabihin wag mo sasabihin kahit ano!". Ano daw? Ang labo nun ah. Anyway, it has been really hard to think of what to cook for meals everyday. Although we love food and we love eating there’s just so many to choose from but so little time to prepare. Sometimes I feel guilty because other parts of the world have nothing to eat and here we are complaining that its hard to think of what to cook for dinner. We have been trying to eat less meat and more of the veggies. I’m having a hard time thinking of what to prepare since Kamille only eats lettuce (if it’s in a cheeseburger from In-N-Out), baby carrots, corn and broccoli (forced by the daycare owner).

When I first came to the US I was shocked at how big the servings in restaurants were. At first I wasn’t able to finish my plate but as months and years went by my stomach slowly adjusted to the portions of food being served on me. We love eating out and tasting different cuisines from around the world. Still no one can beat home-cooked meals, eating them at your convenience and at your own pace with your good friends. So it’s really not a wonder why we always get together on the weekends.

We love being in the kitchen - whether it be cutting or slicing up the ingredients, to actually cooking, baking or barbecueing, washing the dishes (yes we do it by hand!) or just looking around….the kitchen is the place to be.

Taong 1991 nung una akong nakatungtong sa UPLB. Ayoko pa sanang gawing 1st choice ko sa UP application ang LB pero dahil meron kaming family friend na dun nag-aaral pumayag na din ako. Isa pa makakasama ko dun sina Badette at Myra na matagal ko nang ka-barkada high school pa lang. Unang taon tumira kaming tatlo sa St. Therese dorm. Siyempre dahil mga madre ang nagpapatakbo may curfew - 9:00 pm kaya! Dun sa dorm kelangan maaga ka gumising para makaligo o magpuno ka na ng isang timbang tubig sa gabi at itago sa yong kwarto. Kung hindi wala ng tubig pag gising mo sa umaga. Ang refectory kung saan kumakain ang mga dormers ay nasa ilalim ng kwarto ko. Kaya naman pag biyernes at bukas ang aking mga bintana nagigising ako sa boses ni Joe D’ Mango na nagbabasa ng Love Notes. Minsan nakaka-iyak, minsan naman nakaka-kilig (baduy ‘no?). May oras lang ang meals kaya pag di mo naabutan sorry ka!

Hindi ko naging roommate si Badette o Myra kasi magkaiba kami ng course. Silang dalawa ay Econ samantalang ako naman ay Bio. Siyempre Bio student din ang naging kasama ko sa kwarto. Mabait si Edel (naks tanda ko pa name niya!), masipag mag-aral at maayos sa kwarto. Sa kanya ko nga siguro nakuha ang pagiging OC. Siyempre kahiya naman na maging makalat kung sobrang linis ng kasama mo. Ang dami naming Freshman sa dorm na yun. Natakot siguro mga magulang namin na kung saan lang kami mapalagay kaya inihabilin kami kina Sister.

Pero isang Sem lang marami na sa amin ang naglipatan. Napunta naman kami sa Gonzales. Siyempre magkakasama pa rin kami ni Badette at Myra pero nadagdagan na kami ngayon. Kasama na namin si Arvee na pinsan ni Badette. Siya na ngayon ang Freshman at ang tinaguriang baby ng grupo. Paglipat namin ng Gonzales dito nagsimula ang mga gimik. Sumali kami ni Badette sa NSOP para naman daw tumulong sa mga bagong estudyante. Bola! May hidden agenda pala kami…..hehehe! Niyaya kaming tumakbo sa Student Council (Si Badette College Rep ng CEM at ako naman College Rep ng CAS) - nanalo naman kasi walang kalaban! Sumali kami sa Six Sigma at nagtayo rin ng sariling org - ang Red Lions. Marami kaming nakilala at naging matatalik na kaibigan - may mga sosi, tibak, nerds, fratmen, probinsiyano at siyempre mga locals or tubong LB.

Simple lang ang mga gimik namin pero walang tatalo sa saya. Patak-patak sa pagbili ng pang-inom kay Mang Pogs. Lahat yata ng mga babae sa LB ang tawag niya seksi! Pulutan na namin ang Fish Crackers o kaya naman ay Kropek (ang pringles ng LB). Pag lasing na magyayaya na na mag-ober da bakod papunta sa swimming pool ng Baker Hall. Kung hindi sa apartment ang inuman, sa field o kaya naman sa hintayan ng Tritran. Kung merong may sasakyan sa Panicles naman ang pupuntahan. Naghigpit na lang ang UPF (University Police Force) dahil sa nangyari sa dalawang upperclass na estudyante (di na ako magbibigay ng detalye at ayoko nang maalala). Kaya minsang gumimik kami sa may Tritran hinuli kaya kami ng UPF. First time ko makasakay sa sasakyang pampulis. Pero di naman ako masyadong natakot dahil kasama ko naman mga kabarkada ko. Pagdating sa presinto kanya kanya kaming chika sa mga pulis. Ayun pinauwi lang din kami at ibinalik naman nila ang aming mga inumin.

Mura lang ang pagkain sa LB at marami ka pang mapagpipilian. Nandiyan ang Batcave na kilala sa kanilang pamatay na Lechon Kawali. Ang Ellen’s na hanggang ngayon pinipilit ko pa rin si Kyo na hingin kay Elfredy ang recipe ng kanilang Fried Chicken. Gusto ko rin ang Baked Macaroni sa SU. Miss ko na rin ang mga ulam ni Tita Ann sa Catalan. Favorite din namin ang Tapsilog sa Big Mak. At pag paubos na ang allowance mag Lucky Me Batchoy ka na lang sa may Purefoods stand sa Ilag’s. Siyempre hindi kumpleto ang linggo ko pag hindi ako nakatikim ng Isaw ni Mang Nic sa may tapat ng Agrix. Sarap din ang mga pagkain sa Bug-Ong. In between classes kung type mong mag-merienda bili ka lang sa mga Bidani carts na matatagpuan sa mga sulok-sulok ng BioSci at PhySci.

Pangatlo naming tiniran ang White House (3rd floor, pinakadulo). Dami din naming gimik dito. Naaalala ko pa pag bumabalik kami ng weekend at inihahatid ng magulang ni Badette, nagmamadali ang isa sa aming umakyat para itago ang mga bote ng beer at alak. Linggo ng gabi pinaplano na namin ang mga lulutuin for the week. Kung sino ang may vacant period siya ang nakatoka na magluto. Pero pag ang lulutuin ay menudo or spaghetti asahan mong inuunahan na namin si Myra na magluto. Kami kasi ni Badette gusto namin ang Filipino style. Yun bang manamisnamis. Eh si Myra mala-Italian ang type. Pag wala kaming klase after lunch makikita mo kami ni Myra na nakahiga sa sala at nanonood ng Mara Clara sa aming 15" Black and White TV. Favorite yata namin ito at talagang sinusubaybayan. Pag minamalas ka meron kang mga siyam na exams sa isang linggo. Naranasan ko na ‘to at sobra talaga ang pressure. Minsan isang hapon sawang-sawa na akong mag-review kaya nagkayayaan na lang kami ni Badette na uminom. Ayun karipas kami ng baba sa tindahan para bumili ng Junior Emperador at Coke 500. Di pa nakuntento at gumegewang-gewang pa kami papuntang org house namin sa Catalan kung saan itinuloy pa ang inuman kasama ang mga brod at sis. Nang mahulasan balik na ulit sa pagre-review para sa exams. O di ba?!

Masarap maglakad-lakad sa LB. Presko at sariwa ang simoy ng hangin (pwera na lang dun sa buwan na may kakaibang amoy ang hangin - galing pala sa isang puno na ngayon ay tinatawag na nilang Semen Tree). In between classes tatambay lang sa Humanities steps, BioSci, PhySci, likod ng Main Library o kaya sa SU. Pag walang magawa pupunta sa Grove at mag-wi-window shopping sa Maces at Bookshelves.

Pero kahit na ma-gimik kami alam din namin kung hanggang saan lang ang dapat. Lahat sa aming grupo ay nakapagtapos at ngayon ay magaganda ang mga buhay. Paminsan-minsan ang mga barkada naming nasa Pilipinas ay nagkikita-kita, gumigimik pa rin pero ngayon ay kasama na ang mga asawa, gf/bf at mga anak. Kung meron man sa kanilang napapadpad dito sa may bandang California ay pilit naming ginagawan ng paraan para magkita kahit gaano pa man ka-hectic ang schedule namin dahil sa trabaho.

Nakaka-miss ang UPLB. Dami kong naging karanasan dito na hinding-hindi ko ipagpapalit kahit saan, kahit kanino. Hindi na yata ma-i-aalis sa pagkatao ko ang LB. Dito ko yata nakilala ang taong ngayon ay parati ko nang kasamang matulog sa gabi. Pero sa ibang Blog na ang kwento tungkol dun…..abangan ang susunod na kabanata!

This is Kitty - our adopted cat. Well actually we did not formally adopt him. When we bought our house last year I guess he came with the transaction - sort of. Eversince we moved he would always be there sitting outside. Sometimes he would go to the neighbor’s house and then back to ours. I guess they also felt sorry for him and feeds him too. We started giving Kitty scraps of leftovers. We let him come inside the house and whenever he’s there he would roam around and check out all the rooms. Lately we started buying him real cat food. Now I noticed that his hair wasn’t falling off in clumps anymore. I guess I’m still used to feeding pets table food just like in the Philippines. Kitty was a housecat and then suddenly he gets left behind and has to fend for himself. Now he’s a Pusakal (Pusang Kalye).

Having a pet is a big responsibility. I admit that I’m still debating on whether or not we should really take him in as our own. For now we are very much content on playing with him if he’s there, feeding him when he’s hungry and letting him come in if he’s cold. He knows where his home is that’s why he keeps coming back.

Two more months and the baby is finally coming out. I can’t wait for this to be over. I feel tired all the time and my feet are swollen. It’s getting hard to move around. I just finished putting together Kamille’s old crib and set it up next to our bed. I’ve bought a few baby clothes and a friend let me borrow some of her son’s baby stuff.

Two more months and we still don’t have a name for the baby. I’ve come up with a few K and A names but haven’t discussed it with Kyo yet. But then again Kamille has long since named her baby sister - Kate.