Keeping a Healthy Body at All Times

A sort of ordeal. I've been feeling pain on my back especially on the right lower portion. This started a few months ago after a drinking spree with my friends. When I woke up the next morning, I just felt pain on my right lower back. At first, I just ignored it because the pain was bearable and was on and off then. I've been observing it for months now, but just recently the pain become more intense by the day. Right now, it is of constant and excruciating character; thus, it prompted me to sick professional help. After getting an appointment from my doctor, I went to the hospital to have my check up. While on my way, I saw this new billboard that seems so mysterious with only the tagline "what is innovation" on it. Since the vehicle was fast moving, I didn't have time to figure out what that means. I just assumed it was a teaser of a new product that will be launched soon. By the time I arrived at the hospital, I went straight to my doctor's clinic. I waited for about an hour before I was able to talk to the physician due to the long list of patients ahead of me. After a careful physical examination and history taking, she advised me to have further laboratory tests to establish a definite diagnosis. She referred me to a laboratory clinic just near the hospital for my convenience. Again, it took me more than an hour to finish all the tests and as of this time, I'm still waiting for the results. I'm praying for a favorable outcome, because health is my only wealth. I can't afford to sacrifice it since it will affect my ability to work as well.

Achieving a Perfect White Teeth

A pre-scheduled appointment. I was in my dentist's clinic the other day for an oral prophylaxis and teeth whitening. When I arrived, there were plenty of patients already. While waiting for my turn, I busied myself reading the magazines displayed in the reception area. In one of the health magazines I read, I chance upon ads about mn portable toilet rentals. I really find it weird to place such ads on a health magazine. Anyway I was able to read three magazines before my name was finally called by the assistant. I chatted for a while with the dentist before she started cleaning my oral cavity. It took her around thirty minutes to finish everything and after that I felt like I have the most beautiful smile in the world already and it felt so fresh as well. It's really a good practice to have oral prophylaxis at least twice a year to keep your teeth healthy and strong. And also if there are problems like cavities, it will be corrected immediately. After my dentist's appointment, I went to the mall to meet a friend to watch a movie together. We agreed to choose a comedy film and did not regret our decision. The movie was so hilarious; thus, we were laughing our hearts out all throughout the duration of the movie. It's really a nice diversion from stress watching funny films. I consider it a welcome relief. After watching, my friend invited me for dinner, which I declined. I didn't feel like eating that time because I just had my teeth cleaned. It was so funny of me, but of course she understood. So we just separated ways and I went home very happy and contented.

Fulfilling a Long Time Dream

My interest in learning to pluck the guitar started when I was still a child when my parents gave me a toy guitar as a birthday gift. I was so fascinated with it that I dreamed of becoming a great guitar player someday. That dream remained a dream for the longest time until recently when a friend of mine introduced me to her cousin who happens to be a music professor and who also tutors those who want to learn to play any musical instruments. Right away, I expressed my interest in learning and after that we agreed on our schedule. I asked my friend to accompany me to the store where I can buy my first real instrument. I was so excited because at last I will start to learn to play the guitar, which I've been wanting ever since. During our initial class, I had a hard time especially positioning my fingers on the strings. After one hour of trying to familiarize myself, I felt my fingers cramped but I'm not complaining because I know it's worth all my effort. Even on days when we don't have any practice, I tediously do it on my own because I really wanted to learn as fast as I can. It was during one of those days that I broke one of the strings; hence, I have no choice but to wait until I can buy a replacement. When I finally had the time to go to the shop to buy a new set of guitar strings, I passed by the hardware store displaying vinyl packaging that is on sale. At first I find it attractive because it comes in various colors; however, I did not bother to look at it closely because I was in a hurry to get back home and resume my practice. I just wish I could learn faster and be one of the greatest guitar players in the world.  Keeping my fingers crossed.

Ways to Release Stress

My only outlet. Baking has always been one of my passions ever since my mom taught me how to bake since I was in senior high. Now that I have my own family, I bake cakes from time to time if friends would order to augment our family income. It is also a great way for me to release stress especially after a very long day.  It's always a pleasurable experience every time I bake. I've been doing a lot of experimentation lately to come up with new flavors and presentations to attract more customers. I was on my way home from church yesterday when I remembered that I have to buy some ingredients because I will be baking again for my cousin's son's birthday a day after tomorrow. So before heading home, I stopped by the supermarket to buy the needed ingredients. I was so engrossed in picking up stuffs I need that I did not notice that there are many people hanging around the entertainment area nearby. Take note, the number is increasing every minute. After paying for the items, out of curiosity, I went to the entertainment area to see what's going on. I learned that they are all shop ticket holders waiting for the raffle draw that will start in a few minutes. Since I have no raffle entry, I did not stay long and went home. I can't wait to bake another cake again. Hope I can give you all, so that you can taste it as well.

General Cleaning

I was so very busy that I almost forgot my promise to pay my friend a visit. It all started when I had to do a general cleaning of our house because we have visitors coming. We have to rearrange some furniture and vacate the storage room to convert it into an extra bedroom to accommodate my cousins who will be spending their vacation with us. They will be staying with us for about three weeks, so I'm sure that would be lots of fun. There will be plenty of outings, parties and night outs. As I was placing my stuff in a box in the garage, I chanced upon my floppy disk storage. It reminded me of my college days and my memories with my classmates and friends back then. I have plenty of them since that was the only IN thing we had before; no USB yet. After spending the entire day for the general cleaning, I got so tired that I decided to go to the spa and have a full body massage. It's been a regular thing for me to relax and to rejuvenate. So after a short break, I had a quick warm shower and then headed right to my favorite spa. I was already imagining sipping chamomile tea while being pampered when my phone rang. It was my friend who was expecting for a visit. Since I am still enjoying the indulgence, I just promised to make it up to her by visiting her the following week instead. I can't afford to discontinue the pleasure I am getting from it; thus, I have to make a choice by cancelling my other appointment. My apology, but I really need this badly.

Getting the Best Deals

Not everybody loves to shop, but for me this is always a pleasurable experience. Hence, every time I have the chance I would go shopping especially if there are mall-wide sales going on where you can have nice buys at discounted prices. Last Saturday on my way to a friend's house, I passed by a mall and realized that they have an end of season sale. So before proceeding to my friend's house, I went inside first to check the dress that was on display in one of the shops there. I've been eyeing on that for days now hoping they will sell it for less. True enough, they are selling that particular dress at half the price, so without any hesitation I purchased the item. After paying, I also checked out other stuffs on sale and I was able to buy bits and pieces at very reasonable prices. I shopped like there's no tomorrow. It's really a great idea to shop when malls are on sale because you can get great deals even on signature brands. I even bought one for my friend as a gift. As I was heading out of the mall, I noticed a group of people falling in line waiting for something. Out of curiosity, I asked one person what they are lining up to and she said they are job ticket holders waiting for their assignments. I also learned from her that they are going to be deployed abroad and they are just waiting for their schedule. Before proceeding to my original destination, I dropped by the pastry store to buy the favorite cake me and my friend used to eat before. It was nice talking to my friend again after quite some time. We talked a lot of things that we lost track of time. Good thing she offered to send me home since she has a car anyway.

Beach, Bonding, and Fun

Can't wait for the next outing! Going to the beach for me is always fun. It's also a great way to connect and bond with your family and friends. Yesterday, my friends and I went to the beach to unwind and have some fun. We went to this place up north where there's plenty of activities that people of all ages would enjoy. They offer fishing wherein if you catch fish, you can have it cooked by the staff there at a very affordable price. So when we get there, we rented fishing rods right away to start our fishing adventure. After about an hour of fishing, we caught a handful; thus, we decided to have it cooked in time for our lunch. After the hearty lunch when everybody's full, we proceeded to try our singing prowess because the resort is also equipped with state of the art facilities in their entertainment area where you can rent a room and sing your heart out. We stayed there for a while before heading to our last stop, which is their latest addition; the zip line. We were all excited especially me because it was my first time to try it. I knew it was a different level of fun. While waiting for my turn, I already felt my heart beating faster because I personally have fear of heights. But I have to do it to conquer my fear. More than the fear, I was so thrilled that I really have to do it. When it was my turn, and while I'm up there hanging on that 400 meter line, I saw nearby a secluded property which according to the staff was a Boot Camp. Anyway after that long thrilling ride, I have to do it again to go back to the base. Imagine it's a total of 800 meters of zip line. That was double the fun! Can't wait to try it again some other time. It's a must try for those who have a brave heart.

Experiencing Macau

Another "must visit place". Last July, my niece went to Hong Kong for a much needed vacation. It's been a while since she last traveled abroad, so when she got the chance, without second thoughts she grabbed the opportunity. After learning from a friend that one of the local airline companies is having a promotion where they offer very low fare rates for future trips in all their international destinations, she booked a ticket right away. Excitement was all she felt especially since this was her first time to travel with a friend. Thus for safety, I even contacted a friend of mine who's now based there to give her a tour of the place. Luckily, my friend was the one who fetched her by the time she arrived and was also her tour guide at the same time. To maximize her travel, we suggested that she go to Macau even just for one day to have a quick tour there. On her third day in Hong Kong, indeed a side trip to Macau was realized. It was just an hour ferry ride going there. She narrated that after getting a ticket for the ferry, she and her companion lined up right away in the immigration. As they waited for their turn, she noticed a group of tourists ahead of them whose plastic passport covers are identical. It caught her attention since these are very attractive. After seeing it, she also thought of buying her own cover for protection and personalization purposes. After an hour, they arrived in Macau and the place is magnificent. Hotels offering tourists lots of activities that are very hard to resist are like mushrooms that are visible everywhere. The gondola ride and bungee jumping in one of the hotels there are must try activities. Since those are very scary, she ended up just watching the more adventurous tourists who tried it out. The experience was definitely amazing; hence, the thought of going to Macau one day is already included in my future plans.

Pain of Letting Go

I can still clearly remember this out of the blue question raised by a friend. Why is the sunset more colorful than the sunrise? I was not able to answer right then and there. I was tongue tied for a while and it made me think real hard.  I was not able to answer the question maybe because I was not prepared for it. I was very bothered that time because our family just lost a very important person in our life. That was the time when we lost our grandfather. I was so devastated and it crashed my heart every time I see my mom cry over and over. It was so unbearable knowing how painful it was for her to lose a father. It was one painful event that we want to erase from our consciousness but we can't. Anyway that was few years ago and looking back, if somebody would ask me the same question, I'm sure I would be able to give a sensible answer to it. I would say that the reason why sunset is more colorful than the sunrise because goodbyes is not always sad or hurtful. If you bade goodbye to someone or something, I'm sure another thing is in store for you.  It's something that you can look forward to. And as I was browsing through my document storage in my laptop last night, I chanced upon an article about goodbye and letting go. And as I read through it, I was able to relate it to the question my friend once asked me.

Friend's Irresistible Invitation

I got an unexpected invitation from a close friend whom I never heard of for quite a while now because of our busy schedules. So when I received a message from her inviting me over lunch for some business opportunities she wanted to share with me, I did not hesitate for a second and accepted the invitation. We agreed to meet in a restaurant near her workplace so that it would be convenient for her. When I met her, I learned that she was on leave from work for 2 months because she's on a vacation with her boyfriend. They had a Caribbean tour for two weeks hopping from one country to another. She talked about her pleasure trip and even told me that her boyfriend proposed marriage while they were on board the gondola ride. I knew how romantic it was and for sure the boatman serenaded them while her boyfriend made the proposal. How I wish I could go to those beautiful places myself. I got so excited and engrossed with her stories that we lost track of time and I almost forgot the main reason why we met. So after all the stories she narrated, we got down to serious business. She told me that her fiance is planning to expand his business in our area and that they are looking for partners who can manage it. The nature of his business is mobile document shredding and that they are using document shredding phoenix devices which are on top of the market. She also mentioned that they cater topnotch business establishments in their area and they already have a proven track record. They are planning to start it by the end of this year and she's eyeing on me to run it. I told her it's a good opportunity, but I have to think about it first. I promised that she'll hear from me in a week's time. I went home so excited for the new opportunity and also for my friend who's getting married soon.

Pain After a Vigorous Dance Rehearsal

What a terrible experience! I just woke and I have pain all over my body. It's very painful; I can barely move and get up. This resulted from the dance rehearsal I had last night. I had my first practice for our cultural dance presentation for our upcoming high school reunion. The routines are so difficult that we all have to exert more effort for us to get it right. Instead of the two hours we agreed, we ended up dancing and practicing for four straight hours. The stretching exercises that we did before our practice did not do me any good apparently because of the pain I have now. My calves are extremely painful that I have a very difficult time especially walking up and down the stairs. And I remember that my mom asked me before I left home yesterday to bring down all the files she stored in the attic, so that she can segregate it and bring the unnecessary documents to the document shredding shop nearby for proper disposal. Just the thought of it makes me twinge. How can I go up to the attic to get all those files with the aches and pains I'm going through? But I can't do it some other time because my mom already scheduled it. So after a few painful stretches, I got up and hurled down all the files to get it done early, so I still have more time to rest for our next rehearsal tonight. We really have to work hard because we only have two weeks to practice. We have to give our best to win the competition since huge prizes are at stake for the said event. Looking forward to another night of dancing practice. Hopefully it will not be as painful as it is now. Keep you posted.

Attending a Children's Party

I never expected this, but my cousin called me up one Saturday and asked a favor if I could accompany her son to the mall that afternoon because he was invited to attend his classmate's 10th birthday party celebration in one of the restaurants there. She cannot make it because she had some deadlines to meet. Since I was not doing anything very important that day, I said yes right away. I also remembered that I need to look for a gift for my other cousin; who will be celebrating her 18th birthday next month. So we agreed that I would pick my nephew up at exactly 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon since the party will start at three. He was very excited when I arrived because he looked forward to the games that he wanted to participate. After I dropped him off in the party venue, I excused myself to look for the gift. I promised him that I would be back in two hours just in time for the party to be finished. So I wasted no time and looked for that perfect present that my cousin would surely appreciate. I really had a hard time deciding what to buy because I wanted it to be very unique yet meaningful. After over an hour of looking I decided to give up and try my luck some other time. On my way back to the party venue, I passed by a sports store and I saw on their display window callaway golf balls that are on sale. I thought of buying some for my brother who's into golf lately. However, since I was in a hurry that time and plenty of people were lining up at the counter, I decided not to buy. Thus, I proceeded to the venue and saw my nephew very happy with all the goodies he won in the games.

Reliving the Past

It has been part of my routine to watch TV before going to sleep. I was just on time because when I turned the television on, my favorite program just started. It is actually a documentary program that features ancient cultures. What I like about it is that it takes me back in time because of their episodes. Last night the program featured the ancient Egyptian culture. It was so interesting because it talked about the lifestyle of the Egyptian people way back hundreds of years ago; how the pharaohs ruled their people and their customs and traditions. It also featured the pyramids of Egypt. It really amazes me every time I see pictures of these structures because it seems so perfectly shaped. It seems there's plenty of mystery inside it. I'm also interested in its symbolism toward the Egyptian people. I really wonder how I would feel if I'm actually there and right in front of me are those magnificent structures. How surreal the feeling would be, I suppose. I really want to get inside one of the pyramids and get the feeling of being inside it. How I wish I could travel there one day and experience it myself. That would be a very enriching experience. Anyway, in the middle of the program, it was cut off because of a breaking news update. The news actually featured relatives of a very prominent personality who recently died of a vehicular accident. They are squabbling over the assets of the said person because he had no immediate family anymore. They talked about Estate Finance as well. After that short pause, the program resumed and they ended it with an aerial view of the pyramids and it's just breathtaking.

Cousin's Send Off Party

I was just lying and relaxing on bed the whole day when I got an unexpected call from my cousin. She is inviting me and my family to go to their place the next day because they are throwing a big party. The party will start at around 6:00 o'clock in the evening and she wanted us to be there on time. I wondered what the occasion was since it's not her birthday yet so I asked my cousin what's the party for and she told me that their family is having a send off party for his brother who is leaving in a week's time to work in Australia. Her brother was actually offered by a multinational company to manage their branch in Melbourne. The package was great and there are better opportunities there so her brother accepted the offer without any hesitation. How I wish I would land a job like that. So the next day, we left our house an hour earlier than schedule so as not to be late and also to avoid the traffic. When we arrived at their place, there she was at the front door waiting for us. As I stepped out of the car, I instantly noticed that my cousin's hair was so shiny. She had very long, black shiny hair that bounces when she walks.  It also feels so soft when you touch it. I was so curious on what she did to her hair to make that soft and shiny. When I had a chance to talk to her, I asked her what she applied on her hair to achieve that shine. She informed me that her sister who is now based in Paris sent her two bottles of moroccan argan oil to try on her hair to see the results. She told me she will give me one bottle to try it myself when her sister would send her another package. It made me very excited. Anyway, the party went well and many people attended. I also saw many familiar faces.  We went home past midnight already and I still can't stop thinking about how my cousin's hair was transformed from very dry to shiny, bouncy hair.

Package I've Been Waiting

After more than 2 months of waiting, at last I already received the specialty paper from Singapore. This is the one my sister-in-law sent for their wedding on December. They want me to make their invitation letter, which is highly customized. Everything is ready except for the paper; thus, I am glad that finally it has arrived. At least now I can start making even few pieces of it, so that when the very day comes I won't have to rush things anymore. With regards to our outfit, she's still confused as to what design to choose because she's a bit obsessed with the Victorian-English theme. Take note, this style is quite expensive because of the cloth as well as the cut. Not to mention the accessory that comes with it such as the feathery fans and hats with fancy shapes and laces. Anyways, there is one thing more that we haven't finalized yet; the Bridesmaid Gifts. The stuff must fit with the theme as well. But the problem is aside from the accompanying cost; you can hardly find one in the shop. Not unless a giveaway specialist is present, so that you can ask for a made-to-order wedding favors. Good thing the actual date is yet very far. At least I still have enough time to go window shopping and canvass at the same time.

Healthy Body Goes with a Healthy Mind

Just a matter of self-discipline and determination. Finally, the rain has stopped! I can now resume my early morning activity. I regularly jog every morning at exactly 6:00 o'clock in the morning for about thirty minutes to one hour to keep my ideal body weight. I've been doing this for about six months now since I noticed that I started to stack up excess pounds already. Aside from maintaining my ideal weight, jogging also keeps me going throughout the day. If I miss jogging, I tire easily. I already missed two days because of continuous heavy downpour, so I have to double time. I prefer jogging outside over going to the gym because I feel so confined when inside the gym unlike outside where I can also breathe fresh air. Aside from that, I appreciate the surroundings especially the beauty of the sunrise. It gives me a euphoric feeling and I just love it. So after drinking a cup of tea this morning, I donned on my running shoes when the phone rang. I wondered who is calling me so early. It turned out that it was my classmate way back in college asking me for 25th wedding anniversary party ideas because they are preparing for his parents wedding anniversary. I told her that I will refer her to a neighbor of ours who is a wedding coordinator to help her on that. So after I hung up the phone, I went ahead to start my daily morning routine. I went back home after forty five minutes very sweaty but energized. Thanks to the great weather!

Client's Ultimate Dream

I'm kind of busy with my new booking. Few hours ago, I went online to search for outrageous or shall I say unique or extreme activities that I'm going to fulfill on my client's 25th birthday. I plan to suggest activities that he has never done before. During the previous birthdays I have coordinated, it includes parasailing, kayaking and other water activities. I also recommended travelling abroad because it's all fun. This time I'm planning to incorporate at least three extreme activities that one may not be able to do for the rest of his life. This will really make his natal day more memorable. With fingers cross, hope there will be no untoward incidents that will happen. While surfing the net for possible activities, I stumbled upon a website that suggests 65th surprise birthday party ideas. Out of curiosity, I opened it and checked for possible activities that might interest me. Unfortunately, suggestions there are very simple things that don't fit my client's preference at all. So I searched over and over again until I came across "must do activities in your lifetime." I was surprised after checking the site because they have a long list of activities that seems to be very out of the ordinary. First on my list was to try flying an airplane alone. Although scary, this will give you an intense adventure due to adrenaline rush, which can be very exciting. Next on the list is to ride a hot air balloon. I'm sure that would be very thrilling also. And third on my list is to do bungee jumping. I have to choose the one with the highest points for a more electrifying experience. The list can go on and on, but I think I would not be able to let my client do all of them; hence, I will just settle for these top three. Hope he will pick at least one; wish me luck.

Reunion is Almost Here

Lately, I was completely exhausted. I often go to the mall to look for the perfect dress that I'm going to wear for our upcoming college reunion next weekend. I've been looking for that little black dress that goes perfectly with the stilettos I bought last week. Finally, after three days of window shopping, I was able to find the perfect match. After paying for the dress, I went to a nearby fast-food chain to have some snacks. I settled for double cheese burger and sundae. After which, I went to the bookstore to check if they already have available stocks of the latest novel written by my favorite author, John Grisham. The last time I checked, they ran out of stocks so I have to wait for the next shipment. Luckily these are already available, so I wasted no time and grabbed my own copy and paid it.  On my way to the counter, I passed by the magazine stand and there displayed on the racks is a magazine that featured unique 50th birthday party ideas. I remembered right away that my mother-in-law will be celebrating her birthday next month so I grabbed a copy of that magazine as well. At least, now I can get ideas on how to surprise her on her special day. I was so excited that I went straight home after paying those reading materials and I started browsing it as soon as I arrived. I enjoyed it because I find it very informative that I completely forgot about our class reunion.

How I Started My Book Collection

This is how I started my own book collection. Finally, I was able to finish reading the novel from one of my favorite authors, John Grisham after more than a week of reading it. It's very unusual for me to take that long to finish one book since normally; it will only take me two to three days. It's just that I was very busy these past few days because I have to accompany my aunt who is looking for a Boarding School for his son; thus, I was not able to devote more time reading. Due to personal reasons, she wants to transfer him to another school although classes had started already. Since she is not very familiar with the place; thus, I agreed to go with her. After three days of going around looking for the best school for my cousin, she finally decided on the last school we went to. She was so impressed with the school's track record that she enrolled my cousin right away. Anyways just a quick rewind, I started reading John Grisham's novels when I was still in high school when one of my classmates let me borrow one and since then I was hooked to his books. If I remember it right, the first ever title I read was "A Time to Kill" and it was so beautifully written. Since then, I made it a point to buy every book released and to date I think I have more than a dozen already in my collection. I really like his plot and I love the thrill and suspense he puts on every story he wrote. Looking forward to his upcoming releases.

The Grand Mardi Gras

My aunt asked me to come home to celebrate with them and witness the town's first ever grand Mardi gras. She mentioned it would be very exciting since it's their first time to have merrymaking like that and everybody is doing their own share to make it a success. Since it's been six months since I last went there because of a very busy schedule, I made sure that I can make it no matter what happens. The drive going there was long; hence, it took me over two hours to get there. True enough, everybody was in a festive mood and was busy preparing for the grand parade that afternoon. It was indeed a grand celebration and I had great fun. Add to that, I also got to meet some of my old friends and classmates way back in grade school. We had a sort of reunion and went to the beach after to continue the party. There were plenty of food, drinks and a lot of talking as well. We talked about our lives when we were still younger; all the good and the bad times we had and we just laughed about it. It was indeed a great weekend and I had a blast. On my way back to the city the next day, I received a call from one of my classmates asking for possible Health Insurance Leads because she is now connected with an insurance company. She badly needs my help to meet her target and get her commission. I promised to give her a call back once I get to my place. Thus while on the bus, I started thinking of prospects in order to come up with a list of clients. I just hope she can get the quota.

My Friend's Dilemma

I felt nervous last night because I had a hard time falling asleep. I don't know why, but maybe it's because of a recent visit I made to a friend who is terminally ill due to breast cancer. I can't help it, but every time I close my eyes, she pops into my mind. I am really very bothered of what happened to her. She used to be very energetic and very bubbly and is always wearing a smile on her face. I know she's sick but I was not expecting she's in that bad shape already when I saw her because every time we talked on the phone she always crack jokes and everything seems to be very okay. But when I saw her, it was the exact opposite. She was lying there very weak and looked very small and frail. She lost so much weight already and can barely move by herself. I learned that she's been bedridden for over a month already and her condition deteriorated drastically. She's also in great pain. I was so shocked with what I saw. I was not able to hold back my tears when I saw her and I left her with a heavy heart. Since I still can't sleep though it was very late already, I grabbed a magazine by my bedside and started to browse in order to induce sleeping. I then came across an article that featured a woman who underwent a San Diego Breast Augmentation. It showed pictures of the woman before and after the procedure to see the difference and the result is great. I wonder if there would be complications as well just like cancer. I regret reading that article because it just made me more anxious; thus, I ended waking up very late the following day. Too bad since I need to prepare breakfast early or my child will be late for school.