So lately, people are reminding me that I am getting old. But you know, age is just a number and my fountain of youth is still (over)flowing. Charing!!

Anyhow, I am just thankful for all the blessings, the joys and even the sorrows I received this year.

As I’ve said over and over before, I am not fond of celebrating my beerday as it is a constant reminder that I am getting old. But don’t you worry,  I do welcome gifts! LOL

Speaking of gifts, my beautiful and loving sister sent me a package this morning.

What’s inside? Things I really need want.

I really need a pair of jeans that fits me. My sister is so thoughtful. I told her before that I’ve been using two pairs of jeans lately since I couldn’t fit with my other pairs anymore. Okay, truth be told I was actually giving her hints on what to give me. [insert evil laugh here]

This, I want. This kind of wallet is so “in” these days so again I kinda told ask my sister last Christmas to get me one and she forgot but not quite ‘coz here’s the most-coveted wallet of all time within my grasp. Woohoo! I like the color since all of my wallets are shades of brown, my favorite color. This is a change.

I believe my superstitious Mama told her to put a dollar in the wallet for good luck. It would’ve been better if she put, you know, that bill with two zero’s?!  I won’t get mad, I promise you. It would be just fine. LOL

Thanks to my sister! She’s the best sister in the whole wide world not because of the gifts, (kayo naman) but she’s just an incredible sister to all of us. We’re so lucky to have her as a sister. Mwah!

Love you ‘ping!

I had an interesting conversation with my little sister, who’s in Cebu, this morning. She told me I deserve to pamper myself. I don’t need to worry about my siblings back home. I should not feel guilty having a good life while my brothers are living their not so good life. It wasn’t my fault they fail in life. We were given the same opportunity to educate ourselves courtesy of our dear beautiful sister to prosper but they did not do a good job. They are not my responsibility either. I should learn to say “no” for them to learn to earn a living. Do not give them fish, teach them how to fish. These are her words and I know she’s damn right.

I can’t help but compare the family here in the US. At age 18, the children leave the home and live on their own. They are now responsible of their own lives. You can not just ask money to your parents or your siblings without something in return. If a brother/sister or a son/daughter is in dire need of financial support, they consider the money given as loan at may interest pa nga.

But I can’t live like that. We’re family and I love my brothers. Every time they ask something, I give in. But how can they learn? They became really dependent. They made me feel that they and their families are my responsibility. It would be nice to help if they help themselves too but no, that is not the case.

How can I go on with my life without worrying about them? I can ignore them if I want but the question is, will I be happy?

It has been fourteen months since my Dad was stabbed mercilessly. When I think about the whole ordeal we had to undergo last year, I realize that as a family, we are strong. We were able to overcome the trial although my father is still bedridden up to now. The psychological, emotional and financial implications the incident brought to my family and especially to my Dad is unrepairable.  We have to seek help from an occupational therapist, a physical therapist and a nurse to look out for him regularly. It is no joke really.  We are all praying for him to recover and live his life again.We are also praying for ourselves that we may be released from the emotional burden we endure until now. As for me, I wish to be released from the financial burden as well. I think I can’t move on with my life until my Dad recovers.  His health is my priority above anything else.

It would lighten up our loads if the person who did this to our Dad would rot in jail!

Yesterday was the last day of the court hearing for my father’s case. It was the judgement day, per se. My eldest brother left me a message this morning about what had transpired. He told me that the man who caused my Dad a great deal of pain was just sentenced to 6-8 years in prison. Moreover, there was no mention of him paying us any damages…the hospital bills, continued treatment, etc. It costs us a fortune to tell you the truth. My Dad was in the ICU for one month and few more weeks in the hospital bed. After he was released from the hospital, he had to undergo theraphy sessions, etc. My mom was with him the whole time. She lost weight because of lack of sleep, etc. I can go on and on with all the troubles that my Dad and my family underwent but it is of no use now. The judge did not consider all of these when he made his decision.  The case we filed was frustrated murder and the judge ruled it out as a homicide. There was no intent of killing my Dad. No intent? He was stabbed with an “icepick” three times on tha back for petesakes! It was a one-sided attack! The other thing they considered was that he surrendered voluntarily. Voluntarily? He was beaten and dragged by our neighbors to the police station. Our neighbors were searching for him all night! If not for their vigorous search, he could’ve escaped.

Well, what can I do. I am still furious of the result though. I want that guy to suffer what my Dad had suffered and still suffering. The punishment of six years of imprisonment does not commensurate to the pain my Dad had to endure and is still enduring. We thought we’ve lost him in two incidents during his one-month stay in the ICU. God had been good to us to hear our prayers.

I am frustrated, we all are.

I guess the family should just be thankful that he is locked up in prison for six years.  I hope he won’t get a parole. He has never asked for forgiveness kahit sa Papa ko man lang.

This is my Dad now. He has lost a lot of weight. His legs became so bony. He can’t even move them.

I love you Papa.

My sister and I were browsing her old photo albums over the weekend. To our delight, we found the most precious photo of all photos in the world, our one and only family picture taken way back when.  We were very excited. It was like we found a bar of gold in our closet. We thought we’ve lost all copies of this photo when a typhoon destroyed our little house  back then.  I remember we had a wood-laminated copy of this. Ginawa atang panggatong kaya din nawala. Hehe. Just by looking, memories of childhood and poverty are coming back to me. This brought me pride and humility at the same time.

We don’t have a family heirloom but I consider this as one.  This is an invaluable piece of property of the family. It would be very hard to gather the whole family again for a picture. Yes, it is possible but not as of this moment.

Anyhoot, can you find me in this photo?

I hope you had a great weekend, folks!

As useless, late na naman ako. Haha

Day 2, 4th of July, we went to do my ever favorite sports which is shopping! We shopped for clothes for my mom.

Back home, hilig ni mama ang UK made clothes. Tatawag yan sa akin: ‘Day, penge pambili ng ukay-ukay.’ Ito lang ang mababaw na kaligayahan niya. Minsan yung binigay kong pambili ng ukay-ukay sa kanya ay ibibigay niya pa sa mga kapatid ko. Ganito talaga si mama kahit noon. Inuuna niya kaming mga anak niya bago ang kanyang sarili. Kaya pagnagka-anak ako ten years from now, tutularan ko siya.

Nagutom ulit, at pumunta sa Goldilocks, my favorite Filipino Restaurant in Vegas.

Pinagsisihan ko kung bakit pa kami pumunta doon. Nakita ko nalang na nagniningning ang mata ng JLC ko.Nandon pala ang kanyang ex-girlfriend. Noh, hindi si Liz Uy.

Hindi mahilig magpapicture ang JLC ko pero look, ang mukong nagpapacute! Sabi pa niya sa akin, dali kunan mo ko! Hahaha

Susunod daw ang seksing si Toni Gonzaga pero ayaw kong mag-antay. Baka kasi mawala sa akin ng tuluyan ang JLC ko. Hahaha.

Ara Mina and Toni Gonzaga were in Las Vegas for a show. I opted not to watch it kahit inofferan ako ng ticket noong may-ari ng Goldilocks – magdedeyt daw kami- juice ko day! Sabi ko, magsuntokan muna kayo ng JLC ko. Pero walang paki ata ang be-ep ko, busy kay Ara Mina.  I don’t think it was worth watching. Kumakanta ba si Ara Mina?

We continued to do our thing – shopping! Wehehe. And then I lost my uber precious sunglasses.:D Regalo pa naman ng ate ko. Huhuhu. Panawagan namn diyan, pag may nakita kayong Versace sunglasses ibigay niyo po sa akin. Maari rin po na bilhan niyo ako ng bago. Hahaha.  Naiwan namin ata sa Goldilocks pero pagbalik namin don, wala na. Wala dawng nakakita. Feel ko, hinarbat ni Ara Mina. Haiz.

So we went to Seafood City – a grocery store own by a Filipino. Sa loob nito, may Jollibee at Chowking. Nag-grocery kami good for one month para dadalhin namin sa New Mexico. I forgot to take photos – kasi ala na ako sa mood – nawala ang iniingitan kong sundy. huhuhu.

Anyhoot, kinagabihan, we went to see the firework shows of the casinos in Vegas. Heto nag,aantay..

It was my mom’s firt time to see such amazing shows of fireworks. This was the show in Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.

I forgot to bring my tripod.

We went to the roof of the hotel for a better look.

Kinabukasan, we hit the road down to New Mexico. I have to let my mom see where I live for these past few years.

Ito yung Lake Mead, a man-made lake. The water is from Hoover Dam. This is really a huge lake.

Of course, dadaanan namin ang world’s biggest dam, Hoover Dam.

Dito naglaban ang Autobots at Decipticons in Transformers 1.

Yan, dapat may solo pic.

The drive to New Mexico was long – 8 hours ba naman.

Lamyierda sa Santa Fe, New Mexico ang next post naman, Folks.

Seeyah!

P.S. Sorry at hindi ako nakakabloghop lately. Busyness ang drama ko ngayon. But I will really find time to visit your blogs, pramis.

P.S.S. Please check out Mon’s contest here.  Cool prizes are waiting. Join na!