Cheap tickets to Europe

Just in case anyone is interested!

Paris, London, Frankfurt, Rome now selling for $450 round trip fare until May 30, 2009, on KLM and Air France. Weekday flights to Europe on business class are from $1,700. Call (02)8871202 or log on to www.klm.com.ph for ticket conditions.

Gosh! Didn’t know tickets to Europe can be this cheap! So friends, don’t waste your money on wholesale tvs or designer watches! Just book a a trip to Europe…it will be worth it! Promise!

Going public

Wendy: What’s the difference between a public school and a private school?

KG: In a public school, parents don’t pay tuition.

Wendy: Why?

KG: Well, it’s really for those who do not have money to send their  children to school.

Wendy: Is my school public?

KG: No, it’s private.

Wendy: Sige, I’ll study in a public school tapos let’s save the money para yumaman tayo! *evil grin*

[Can you please tell me again why I am scrimping on TV stands and baking stuff when my own daughter is willing to attend public school naman pala!]

Road to recovery

Just want to let everybody know that being sick last week [I got sick after Wendy did] has left me still weak up to now. But I’m feeling much much better. Ohh… I hate feeling sick! I’ve been used to being so active and energetic that I’m not used to being sedentary and just lying around!

There is one “effect” of being sick though that I would gladly take in, that is, besides realizing that I need to take care of my health more. Being sick is like taking one those natural weight loss supplements…it takes away a few pounds, instantly! In my latest bout with the flu, in the few days I’ve been sick, I’ve lost around 4 pounds. A small number for some, but for me, it’s enough! Now, I just need to maintain the weight!

Anyway, it’s just a “side effect.” It’s still not nice to get sick. So let’s all take good care of ourselves please! Say nga ng DOH, “Sa panahon ngayon, bawal magkasakit!“

Bad hair day on a very good day!?!?!

I knew something would bound to go “boink!” when we woke up at 6:40 am, and the program was set to start at 7:00 a.m.! Of all the days sleep on the alarm! Good thing Wendy took a bath the previous night and just had to get dressed for their recognition program. After 15 minutes, she was off to school!

As soon as she was off, I rushed to bathe, get dressed, eat, and prepare all within under an hour. By the time I got to the school, I had to run to the chair next to Wendy, where the “proud” parent is supposed to be. So the ceremony goes on for hours, which included Wendy and I going up the stage [but most of the time was spent watching the other honor students from all other levels go up the stage]. Flashes here…flashes there. Picture galore…it was a happy and proud moment for me, after all [and my kuya also, for his son was also an honor student].

But when we got home, the–big–boink happened! When I looked at the pictures that my kuya took, sus miyo! Bad hair day kung sa bad hair day! My gosh! With all the rush in the morning, my hair didn’t dry the way it normally does [my hair needs to be brushed every now and then until it dries, which I wasn’t able to do with all the rukus!]. I was actually aware it was likely to happen, but I hoped for the best. Unfortunately, the best didn’t come through for me. And to think I WENT UP THE STAGE!!! I can now imagine people’s reactions, “Ay, bakit ganun yung mommy ni Wendy? Parang hinalukay ng manok yung buhok!” and “Daddy, is Wendy’s mommy a wrestler?” What a blunder [and any woman out there who has had the same experience, please tell me you understand me]! So now I realize I must either get myself a new haircut that’s easy to manage or buy some hot wigs.

Regardless, big deal as my hair was, the day still boils down to Wendy’s achievements. So I’d still take this day anytime, though I’d be willing to scrap the bad-hair-day off!

Happy weekend everyone!

Summer solitude

With summer just around the corner, I know we are all looking for that summer getaway. So, for those who are going to Batangas and are looking for a  great place to stay (much like those extended stay hotels, which are great), you may want to look at Rosemund Resort. The place, which is located at a secluded area, is perfect for those who want a peaceful, quiet, and serene vacation. Having gone there a couple of times already, I could say that their place is fantastic. It gives you that homey feeling even while you are on a vacation. If you want to relax (at a reasonable price), theirs is the right place for you. If you want to know more, please do check their Web site.

And allow me to add that the snorkeling spots nearby are amazing!

(This is not a paid advertisment for the resort; just a favor to my future brother-in-law. )

Thank God for Medicard!

When we brought Wendy to the emergency department of Asian Hospital last Friday, one of the things I fully appreciated was Medicard.

Imagine, you don’t have to think of the bill anymore! You don’t have to calculate when you see the medications given, or when the the doctor comes in, or when you are assigned a sleep number bed! You don’t even have to worry about the tests! All you have to concentrate on is you or your loved one getting better!

In addition, the ease of use of Medicard made me appreciate it more [and more bitter that in our company, we have the lousy ePLDT health card, which, for all its purposes, is walang kwenta]!

Thank God for Medicard!

A night at the hospital

Last night, after vomiting and with blood coming out of Wendy’s nose, my resolve not to panic was broken. I decided we would take her to the hospital.

When we finally got to enter the pediatric room, everything was white, perhaps to give the patients and their families that feeling that everything was clean [no need to worry because they have bacteria and mold killer]. The brightness of the room might have been on purpose to give a “bright” feeling to the patient, as opposed to dark colors, which might provide a “sick” feeling.

The staff were nice and professional. Being in a pediatric room, their patience is routinely tested with kids who are uncooperative, cry nonstop, and fidget all the time! Imagine, there was a boy who came in about an hour after we did who had to be given dextrose. But he cried and fidgeted nonstop that by the time we left the hospital about 3 hours later, the needle wasn’t even in yet! Throughout the whole ordeal, the staff were patient and professional. Perhaps, they were already used to these situations.
 

  The beds in the pediatric ward could be converted to “cribs.”

Blood test? No problem! Wendy let the nurse take her blood without a fuss!

Anyway, Wendy had her urine and blood tested. I was nervous because she might not want her blood taken because of the needle. But to my great surprise, she didn’t wince, even a little! So brave! We waited for an hour and a half for the results, with Wendy saying, “Mama, bored nako” after an hour. The results showed bacteria in her urine [mild UTI], and she was given antibiotics. After, we were clear to go home.

Overall, our experience at the Asian hospital had been pleasant [I wonder why my mother didn’t choose to go to this hospital]. By the time we stepped out, I was feeling at ease that Wendy will be fine.

[I apologize for this seemingly rushed post. Had to do it while the patient is asleep!]

kumareng grace, RN

No, I didn’t finish nursing and recently passed the board. It’s just the “RN” that comes with “mother.”

My little girl is sick today, and I am the round-the-clock nurse. My duties include the following:

• Giving Wendy her medication religously 24 hours a day
• Giving her sponge baths or making “punas” every now and then
• Taking her temperature
• Making sure she’s comfortable and has everything she need
  
• Not panicking when her temperature reaches 40 degrees
  
• Simply being there for her and holding her hand
  

I am getting my break right now because the patient is asleep. And I’m sneaking this post while I’m at it.

Today [and the whole weekend probably], I am a nurse and a mother. And that’s why, my friend, being a mother is much, much harder than securing New York Yankees tickets.

One-of-a-kind public toilet

We have seen [and used] a lot of public toilets. But this one is one-of-a-kind:

Who would have thought that this is a public toilet! You may be hesitant to use it though because, in case you haven’t noticed, it is made of glass!

However, no need to worry because it is made of one-way mirror, meaning that you and the bath fixtures are not visible from the outside. So hwn you use this,  maybe instead of reading the newspaper while *you know*, you can spend the time people watching! He He! Just be sure to lock the toilet or else, they’re gonna be the ones watching you!

It’s also in the diet…

My mother’s oncologist recently recommended a book to supplement the oral medicine that she has been taking these past few months. The oncologist’s rationale was the medication must be working at its maximum potential already because my mother has been stable the past months and that maybe it’s time that we try other things that will supplement the medicine.  

The book is for people with cancer and those who want to stay cancer-free. Its author, Dr. David Servan-Schreiber, offers simple steps on diet and other ways to stay cancer-free.

Bottom line: Detoxify [physically and emotionally]! Stay away from high-GI foods, eat more fruits and vegetables, and keep an active and stress-free lifestyle. He also stressed the importance of staying away from non-organic food, as these may contain high levels of chemicals [not to mention that these may have made “tambay” in farmhouse sinks], which is, of course, bad for the health.

The book is simple and it offers simple diets. Let me stress though that it may be simple, but the diet is is boring! No meat [well, very rarely], no white or brown sugar, and lots of vegetables and cereal! He!He!

The author also provides a list of simple household products to avoid, from deodorant [my mom now uses tawas] to perfume [no more perfume] to bathroom cleaner [use water and vinegar]! Gosh, what an eye-opener! I think the most simple explanation for this is, the less chemicals, the better.

If you want to be cancer-free or if you or someone you know is willing to try something different as a treatment for cancer, there’s no harm in reading this book and following what is written in it. It’s really just very simple. And our family is hoping that this will work for our mother!

PS, According to the book, green tea [the fresh one, not the preprocessed ones and those bought a supermarkets] really is good for people with cancer as it goes straight to the canner cells. Just a simple tip!