Been stressed out recently.. I just wanted to free my mind for a sec.. And then I came across this website that says; "50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind"... and here it goes.. (copied and poasted here)

These questions have no right or wrong answers.

Because sometimes asking the right questions is the answer.

1. How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
2. Which is worse, failing or never trying?
3. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do?
4. When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?
5. What is the one thing you’d most like to change about the world?
6. If happiness was the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
7. Are you doing what you believe in, or are you settling for what you are doing?
8. If the average human life span was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?
9. To what degree have you actually controlled the course your life has taken?
10. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?
11. You’re having lunch with three people you respect and admire.  They all start criticizing a close friend of yours, not knowing she is your friend.  The criticism is distasteful and unjustified.  What do you do?
12. If you could offer a newborn child only one piece of advice, what would it be?
13. Would you break the law to save a loved one?
14. Have you ever seen insanity where you later saw creativity?
15. What’s something you know you do differently than most people?
16. How come the things that make you happy don’t make everyone happy?
17. What one thing have you not done that you really want to do?  What’s holding you back?
18. Are you holding onto something you need to let go of?
19. If you had to move to a state or country besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why?
20. Do you push the elevator button more than once?  Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster?
21. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?
22. Why are you, you?
23. Have you been the kind of friend you want as a friend?
24. Which is worse, when a good friend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you?
25. What are you most grateful for?
26. Would you rather lose all of your old memories, or never be able to make new ones?
27. Is is possible to know the truth without challenging it first?
28. Has your greatest fear ever come true?
29. Do you remember that time 5 years ago when you were extremely upset?  Does it really matter now?
30. What is your happiest childhood memory?  What makes it so special?
31. At what time in your recent past have you felt most passionate and alive?
32. If not now, then when?
33. If you haven’t achieved it yet, what do you have to lose?
34. Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, and walked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever?
35. Why do religions that support love cause so many wars?
36. Is it possible to know, without a doubt, what is good and what is evil?
37. If you just won a million dollars, would you quit your job?
38. Would you rather have less work to do, or more work you actually enjoy doing?
39. Do you feel like you’ve lived this day a hundred times before?
40. When was the last time you marched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believed in?
41. If you knew that everyone you know was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today?
42. Would you be willing to reduce your life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous?
43. What is the difference between being alive and truly living?
44. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right?
45. If we learn from our mistakes, why are we always so afraid to make a mistake?
46. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?
47. When was the last time you noticed the sound of your own breathing?
48. What do you love?  Have any of your recent actions openly expressed this love?
49. In 5 years from now, will you remember what you did yesterday?  What about the day before that?  Or the day before that?
50. Decisions are being made right now.  The question is:  Are you making them for yourself, or are you letting others make them for you?

Standing..

I haven't blogged for awhile. I just don't know why. Hmmm.. Well, I wanted to share this few weeks back pa. Johann can now stand, holding on to something ofcourse! Well, a day before his 5th month birthday last March 13, he started to stand. I am just so proud of him that I am beginning to worry. Haha! 

Johann is so likot. 3-4 months, he started to sit (not being able to balance) then sit up straight (well-balanced). Then 4-5 months he started to stand. That's why I am proud. Because he can do such things in an early age. However, I am starting to worry also because, by the time he walks... surely, kasunod na non would be to run around.. and if he does, I may not be able to catch him na siguro because he might run away from me na, to play and explore. 

Time flies so fast, but I'm not really hoping it to fast forward noh! Hehe. Oh well, that's my baby!

Anyway, I'm still so happy and proud. Also that, it is overwhelming to see/witness all of Johann's firsts. 

2011.. 2012..

Northeastern coastal city of Sendai,
the city in Miyagi prefecture (state)
closest to the quake's epicenter.
Source: (click here)

Hmm.. today (March 11, 2011) was a terrifying day. Earthquake with a magnitude of 8.4 to 8.9 hit Japan earlier today. The earthquake actually eradicated numbers of establishments and structures in Japan mainly in Sendai.

You'll see roads cracked and elevated, billboards fell, houses destroyed, etc. 

Terrifying mass destruction.. :(
Source: (click here)

After the earthquake, then came the tsunami that ravaged parts of Japan. If you'll just watch the videos in the news, you'll see how alarming it was. 

While watching the news, I remembered the movie 2012 because of what happened today. (segway) Is Nostradamus' predictions and prophecy true? Come to think of it, after everything that is happening here in our world, plus Libya war/crisis... this, in Japan.... Will these all come into one thing, END OF DAYS? 

Haay.. horrifying but true. I just pray and hope that we'll try our best to make a change, changing for the better.... changing for a brighter future ahead of us.

Anyway, a friend of mine in facebook, Camille, posted this: "A stark reminder that we're just guests on this planet." as her status. I totally agree with her. It is actually nature speaking for itself. Though we cannot really prevent these to happen, if we know for ourselves that we are not guilty in sabotaging Mother Earth, we die or not, because of these calamities, no need to regret a thing. :)  

Nips... oh my!

My oh my. Last weekend, we moved to my in-laws house since it was my hubby's off. (We usually transfer back to their house kapag off nya.) Anyway, when we got there, I was surprised to see Johann's feeding bottle on the sofa. Okay wait, first pala, I just want to tell you that, I have a lot of feeding bottles for Johann. Six of them are in my in-laws house so that once we transfer, I don't need to bring the big container I have for Johann's bottles. 

So as I said earlier, I was surprised to see Johann's bottle on the sofa. I just thought, "How come there's a used bottle there, eh we just got there." So I asked Elaine, John's niece, if why there was a used bottle there. She said that they borrowed Johann's bottle for Amrix, John's niece also, to use. Hmmm...

Well, I am just meticulous when it comes to my baby's things. And yes, that was a bottle we are talking about. It has a nipple that one baby should only use. Even if it is strelized, it is not so wise to use it by another baby right? Haay. I just can't speak up, since nahihiya din ako sa in-laws ko. They might think na ang arte ko. But, I'll think about it still. I want to tell them what my thoughts are. I am just finding a way how to say it. :) Nothing personal ha. It is just pure hygiene thing. :) Hope you understand. 

I am not completely sure if you do the same thing like me. But don't you think it's more hygienic if you would not use other's bottles for your baby diba? :)

So what do you think? 

Recipe 1: Dinakdakan

Last Sunday, I, John, Johann and family-in-law went to Mall of Asia. It was Ate Jaq's birthday last Saturday, February 26, 2011, that's why she decided to celebrate it in MOA. And so, we ate at Gerry's Grill. We ordered Dinakdakan, Lechon Kawali, BBQ, Grilled Chicken, Bulalo Soup and Sinigang Soup, and ofcourse rice and drinks.

It was my second time to actually eat Dinakdakan. Both times were from Gerry's Grill. I love it! The spiciness and creaminess combined. Heaven! So I then researched for recipes of this dish. I discovered that the usual ingredients for this recipe are pig's ear, tongue and liver plus brain. yay! I don't think I'd be able to eat that! Sorry, I'm not really fond of exotic food. :P

Anyway, I'm not really sure if what we ate in Gerry's Grill was a Dinakdakan with pig's ear, tongue and liver, because it tasted yum! While researching, I found out that there are other versions of Dinakdakan based from Ms. Kathleen's blog and username hungrynez in Petitchef. Instead of using pig's ear, tongue and liver, I can use liempo. :)

From username hungrynez in Petitchef.com, the ingredients in cooking Dinakdakan are:

(copy paste)

PORK DINAKDAKAN

1 kilo whole slab of pork liempo

1 tsp. ginger, minced

1 cup onion, finely chpped

3-4 pieces, red chili peppers, minced (or more)

1/4 cup calamansi juice (or more)

2 tbsp. mayonnaise

powdered black pepper

iodized salt

Wash pork liempo with running water and drain.

Rub pork liempo with salt and black pepper.

Leave for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix ginger, onion, red chili peppers, mayonnaise and calamansi in a bowl. Set aside.

Grill pork liempo until well-cooked. Then, chop finely.

Pour on the mixture into chopped pork liempo.

Season with salt and pepper.

Serve!

Since I'm so tamad in listing them all down, I just posted it here. We never know, readers might crash into my blog someday and they might find this recipe interesting, right? 

Anyhoooo, I'd probably be cooking this dish, this coming Friday. or if hindi ako tinamad, I might cook it tomorrow. Hehe. Goodluck to me. :)

In-Laws...

Have you ever heard of husband-wife fights because of in-laws? Have you experienced being tortured by in-laws? Have you been acting "plastically" in front of your in-laws? Well, those are stories I hear from other friends or strangers who are now living or trying to live their lives with in-laws.

Fortunately for me, I don't have problems with my in-laws. I'm actually happy that they accepted me even with my bratinella personality. I'm really lucky to have found the love of my life that has a family like theirs. Since I really did not grow up being close to mom and dad, I really appreciate my mom-in-law's opinions and "pangaral". She's like my second mom nadin talaga. My husband's family is so close that sometimes I envy them. I really do adore my father-in-law because of his eagerness to do almost all stuff in the house like repairing or fixing and cleaning. Ika nga nila "laking pakinabang ni papa sa bahay". Andami niyang nagagawang mga bagay na malaking tulong sa family and sa house. "Two thumbs up to you papa!"


It's so amazing that even though I felt before like I'm all alone, God still gave me hope through my husband and his family. I can honestly tell you that I have an attitude that is unlikely. But it lessened when I met John... and now, I'm happy that once in a while, I talk to my mom-in-law regarding facts of life and the like where in she gives me advices or lectures that I would certainly treasure.

I am so thankful for my in-laws. Without them, I know, John won't be the John I loved. As I said earlier, I don't have problems with my in-laws, I just hope as well, that they don't have problems with me. :)

I love you both! Don't worry Ma, Pa.... I will also love your son with all my heart, until my last breath and forever...

Johann's Vaccines

Yesterday, February 16, 2011, John, Johann and I went to the Center in T.S. Cruz Las Pinas for Johann's vaccines. He had two vaccines, one for DTP 3 and the other one was for Poiliomyelitis 3. His next shot would be on his 9th month old.

By the way, before I continue with the story, I just want to tell you that, 

we have decided to have Johann's vaccines in the Center and not in the Hospital or even Clinic. 

First, it is much cheaper  because in the Center they only have few shots that are needed to be paid. 

But almost all are for free. 

It is just that you really have to be patient waiting in line. 

So what we do is, we go there at around 11am so there would be lesser people already. 

And as I said, when we went there yesterday, 

hmmm.. probably after 15 minutes, it was already our turn.

Anyway, back to my story. When we were called, Johann was still trying to eat his hands. Haha! The volunteer there asked John to hold Johann carefully and put Johann's legs in between his tightly. The volunteer then did his work, first was a shot on his thigh/legs area and the second one was a medicine drop, I guess. The volunteer said that we should watch for Johann's temperature because he might have fever. I took shots of Johann's experience so here they are:

John trying to call papa for him to fetch us.

See? Johann still has his hand in his mouth.

Johann not knowing what's next. hihi.

While the volunteer gave Johann a shot.

Johann cried for about 10 seconds only or less.

With that very cute frowning face.

After a while Johann again placed his hand in his mouth. Kaloka ka anak.

Non-stop oh!

When we got home, I prepared the hot pack so that I'll be able to put it on Johann's shot. I also prepared his medicine and the thermometer to check his temperature once in a while. However, he did not get a fever. He was really well. Plus super likot. Hmm.. Lakas resistensya mo anak ha!

When mom got home, he immediately asked me if Johann's okay and if he has a fever. I said he was fine, still malikot and malaway. And he doesn't have a fever. Sabi naman ni mommy, "Wow, sa lahat ng kilala kong nagpa-vaccine, yan ang hindi nilagnat." She hurriedly washed her hands and went to Johann and played with him. 

I thought, "Lahat ba talaga ng in-injectionan or nagpa-vaccine eh nilalagnat?" "Abnormal ba si Johann?" hehe. Joke lang. Baka sadyang malakas resistensya ni baby Johann ko. =)

Very Good baby. I Love You!