My eventful morning- July 31, 2012

My eventful morning….

It started with me waking up later than usual because I almost did an all-nighter attending to my sick daughter, Kristy …When I woke up, she insisted that she needs to go to school despite just barely coming out of high fever during the night.I told her that she should take a rest for a day to fully recover but she was worried about her semi-finals project that has to be submitted today, so I decided to drive her to UST which is soooo far from our place ( with traffic it will be a little over 2 hour  drive). 

While I was assisting Kristy with the meds and food, the school service for my two younger daughters already arrived…Gaia was already ready but Brigette was still sleeping- turns out, my Aunt who sleeps in the same room with Brigette did not wake her up coz she thought classes are still suspended as it was suspended the day before and judging by the strong winds and occasional rain and typhoonish  feel outside. So I had to let the school service go ahead with Gaia and drive Brigette myself to school. 

As soon as Brigette got ready, we were off. On the way back home I noticed, there was splashing, wavy sound at the passenger seat- found out that it was a half-filled 1L PET bottle with water…I thought of getting it removed when I get home. 

As soon as I got home, got  Kristy and Karla into the car, locked the house since Daya (our ever loyal and dedicated, househelp, nanny, personal assistant and gym attendant) already left to tend  the gym….we dashed and I forgot about that bottle which made annoying splashing sound….along further away, we realized too that we forgot to drop off the house key to Daya at the gym…So Kristy called her to tell her about it and for her to just go to my brother’s house which is just two houses away from mine for lunch. 

We stopped for gas, then off we go cruising Daang hari …went drive-thru at MCdo Ayala Alabang took the West Service road but with the traffic, I thought we didn’t have enough time to allocate for it, so decided to come out to the Highway from Sucat exit and went on the speed limit of 100Km/Hr.

Then somewhere along Quirino Highway, noticed that the aircon was suddenly damp, when I search for answer I saw the temp indicator already at the roof….oh my God, panic, panic…I was still stuck in the traffic, red light was still on and situated at the leftmost lane….I stopped the engine for a while although I was scared to do it coz it might not switch back on…then the Green light came…good thing it turned on…so I maneuvered to the right side and parked somewhere near a driveway.

I don’t know if Karla got scared or anxious coz she's typically a calm and brave girl…but I’m sure Kristy was, (she's an exact opposite of Karla's character)….and so was I -scared to death….I was not sure what to do…I’ve never  experienced this myself  before….I pretended to know what to do so that my girls will not be scared,  but my hands were actually shaking. Good thing I learned how to open the hood a few months ago, otherwise it would have been even more nerve wracking to be exploring how to at that time…I saw the radiator steaming hot- good thing Kristy brought some rags- I don’t know what for but good thing she had some along coz there were no street vendors peddling those rags in sight in the place which they were supposed to be prolific….and guess what, that bottle with the annoying splashy sound came in handy! Since half a liter water was not enough we need to get refill-good thing there was a sari-sari store nearby. 

I had to let my girls take the bus to complete the journey- at least Kristy’s fever didn’t come back..she feels strong enough to commute coz I was scared to go further with the car’s condition.

Felt sorry for them, but I made sure they were on the bus before I went back….A few minutes after my return course, it started to rain- can you imagine that, how difficult it would have been back there…Thank God for miracles.

I drove back frequently checking the temp gage- took the service road all the way so that it was easier to stop just in case…Thank God, the drive was cool all the way- literally and figuratively.

While driving, I thought that I should learn from this and change my habit- to always check the car’s vitals and fluids before hopping into it. In addition I must learn how to change the tires too.I wonder how many lady drives really know and do these stuffs- not many I think.

When I arrived in our village I saw the gym already closed so that means Daya should be in my brother’s house…but when I checked she wasn’t there. I proceeded home and found out she was already there…I asked her how she did it, she just pointed up. As I gazed up my 3 storey house, I know she did a Jason Bourne stunt….and why did she do it…she said she can’t afford to waste time- she had to finish her chores before she opens the gym for the afternoon session….ain't  that something. She's really one of a kind...she cares for us, for the house, the gym and the pets. and speaking of pets we've got 16 cats, 3 dogs.

And so those are the miracles this morning….

My first Fun Run.....Rain4Africa

 Fun Runs and marathons have become a fad, a lifestyle, a good means to promote a product or raise funds for a cause, whatever, the reason a lot of people had got into the program and are so obsessed with it.I got friends and relatives who've joined these runs  for more than 30 times in just one year as there are races almost every week. I, on the other hand had my first experience of the fun run, not as a participant though, but as a photographer, although one of my subjects (my daughter) is not fond of posing for photos- almost loathe the idea of her being photographed, but at least she would sometimes give-in to my request for a pose, but most of the time the shots are stolen with mostly her back or side, just like this.

avoiding the camera

...Yeah, tough job-even though I did not run, I still exerted some effort.

The fun run was for "Rain4Africa".  There was no singlet, no prices and no freebies was expected as what they announced in the website because almost everything of the 400 pesos the participants paid would really go to the cause. So it was a pleasant surprise for the runners when there were freebies after all from the sponsors when they reached the finish line.

warm up leader

The venue of the event was at Westgate, Alabang- in- between Festival Mall and ATC,- parking was conveniently near the starting line and stage.
There was a percussion band dressed in African inspired attire, playing some upbeat music that makes everyone in rhythm for running. It was so fitting for the event and cause. I was amused and amazed with the warm up which was led by someone from Runner circle- if I remember it right, her name was Michelle.

People were actively participating the warm up

Shamcey

Shamcey at the 3KM run starting line

Shamcey Supsup,  Miss Universe Philippines was also there to support the cause and run 3KM...or maybe actually just walked the entire 3KM stretch.

my husband- before the start of the run

Karla and Bong before the race

Karla at the finish line

making additional donation- thru the planner

my husband and daughter joined the 5K race

with the event director- Diaz

Overall, I enjoyed the event, even just as a
spectator. It was fun, relevant, informative and the energy was high. As for the cause, it is worth supporting, that's why my daughter also bought the planner where the money shall go to the fund for Africa.

collecting the freebies

the atmosphere was pulsating with their every beat

me upon arrival at the venue- still sleepy

with the loot after the run

waiting for my husband and daughter to reach the finish line

getting a good spot to shoot their arrival

Thank you for reading...until next....

Lots of love,

Veronica Arlyne

Walk-a-log

Time to take a walk & enjoy the good weather. Speaking of weather, climate has changed so much. Typhoons become more frequent & widespread, even here in Malaysia which has never experienced earthquake had recently encountered one. With all this, it's not hard to imagine the world coming to end. But we can all make it change its course by doing our part in environmental protection through recycling, reducing waste, repairing stuff instead of buying new, reusing things apart from its original use. Well, we all got to contribute...I got to prepare now for my walk..... Nov 15, 2009, around 10:30 AM...quite late already for a walk..but good thing the sun is hiding behind the clouds...its bright sky but the sun is not piercing hot. Getting ready...I wore an ensemble of brown and beige color shorts and cool and loose blouse. Now, I'm off...I walk from my condo to Tesco and which I guess is around 2-3 kilometers or so..I like to take a walk alone..it gives me time to think, enjoy the view and feel the breeze. Although, living alone in Malaysia gives me a lot of "me" time...but my "me" time when I walk is so much refreshing and relaxing than staying home and having the internet and TV at my dispense. This is the path of my walk ......

I go around our building.. cross an open muddy road towards the highway. Pass by residential area, then to commercial, then I reach Tesco.

Along the way, I pass by my former place...the very first condo I stayed at...Ivory plaza. After getting through the muddy road I reach a clean and safe sidewalk. The highway on the right and USM (University of Sains Malaysia) on the left. The cobblestone-like pavement helps me with my thinking process. The pattern mesmerizes me and makes me create images out of those cracks and crevices. Saw some birds perched on the USM gate…there's a lot of that here. Really a lot . I feel like a kid when I see flock of birds...as if I've never seen one before.

I reached a park cum football field which is in front of the second condo I stayed after Ivory plaza. This is Taman Pekaka. Taman means Garden and Pekaka is crow. With all the trees around, it's nice and cool and breezy place. Sometimes I stay a while here…just sit on the grass and let all the worries melt away. But this time I tried to take pictures. Look at the picture I took of myself….even with the pre-set timer of my camera…could never get the right pose on time…ha ha ha…I have not learned how to set a longer time yet…that's what you get for not being a tech savvy.
It's 11 AM now. It's a good time to have brunch from either one of my favorite kedai makanan (restaurant). One is Subaida for a unique Roti Canai - uniquely Malaysian cuisine. This time I opted for my favorite Chinese Dimsum place –Maxim . However, it's packed as always and I was kind of not in the mood to wait for a table…so I took some Char Siew Paw for take away….after I got my Paw on hand...I went on my way. Across the street is Tesco but you get to pass by the Hindu temple. So I took some pictures too. It's a small temple but it's as intricate as the big ones. Such an interesting structure…with those figures carved and put together onto the tower. Those banana trees on its entrance just reminds me of my school days (in the Philippines) where we always use the same decor during the "Linggo ng Wika" (National language week) celebration.Finally Tesco…where I take a rest ..sit down, go to the restroom and shop- my stress reliever... I took a short stop here this time… and went further down to McDonalds' for lunch.
It was 12 noon on my cellphone chronograph by the time I got to Mcdo. I ordered "fillet-o-fish" meal which was supposed to be 5.95 ringgits at 12 noon. But I was 20 minutes early based on their wall clock so I paid it for 8.95 ringgits- what a rip off. Nonetheless I enjoyed my fries. After my lunch…with a few more sips of my bottomless coke- it is really nice that McDo here offers refillable cokes, we'll Philippines does have refillable gravy though which there is none in Malaysia; there is no single drop of gravy here at McDo…(That's why it worries me, when I think of bringing my daughter over here who only eats gravy with rice at McDo)…
I was up and walking again. This time getting back home... I was desperate to take picture of myself to document this walk that I even took a picture of my reflection on the glass walls… good thing those shops were empty …Took some of the nice views on the way back…which includes my legs with my beat-up Bata shoes- Malaysia brand shoes....very dependable pair of sneakers I would say.
Finally I reached our building and inside my house. Time to take a rest; eat Mangosteen- the so called Queen of the fruits. They say Durian is the King. I'm glad Mangosteen is abundant here that it is cheap…that I can afford to buy a basketful of it… unlike in the Philippines that it's so expensive that I just only wish for it all the time…I remember when we go to Tagaytay to bring some customers there for lunch or dinner when I was with Amkor back then…and always you see those beautiful Mangosteen hanging along those side fruit stands along the highway…oh, how I craved for it- all the time saying to myself, " I'll buy next time" and that next time never came. Now, I am not deprived of it.

Well…That's how I spent my Sunday morning….. hope you all had a good one too. Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoyed as much as I did writing it.