the lighter side

It’s only now I’ve come back to this site, and I’m a bit sad, but as you say “Cheers!” And so I also say to myself, “Cheers!” I’ll make the most out of the situation though; I’ll try to update this when time permits.

Where is mom these days? Here in Manila, for some important “mission”. I’m glad though that you are still visiting this site, and your kindness has inspired me to keep on. I’ll do my best to cope up.

Before I go, will you please be directed  to my birthday post in my other blog?

So may I exit for now? “Be right back”!

Thanks, and God bless you all!

Rauma is a town in the west coast of Finland, and 50 kilometers south of Pori, where we stayed. While still under Sweden, it was granted town privileges in 1442. Old Rauma (Vanha Rauma) is one of the two UNESCO cultural heritage sites of the town (which has grown into an industrial city now), so one day, off we went to visit it.

Before we could go around we went inside an art museum (the Pinnala house built in years 1795 and 1827), which happysteps has already written about.  What I have here are photos of flowers taken at their flower garden at the back of the old building.

This one is outside and in front the museum

Rauma is also known for its fine lace. And as shown in the flower power art of happysteps’ blog, they are adept with art even just using simple ordinary materials. An example of an expertly-done handicraft is shown below, wherein a tire is wrapped in a crocheted lace.

There’s a room in the museum wherein the visitors can color and sign on full walls of the three sides (the fourth has windows), and crayons/water colors are provided, placed on the floor for easy access by whoever would like to leave something of themselves on the walls. I did my own coloring and signing to record my visit to the museum - under the word “love”, mom811.com is there, dated 062908 - as shown below.

Sure, it’s good to be home, and there will be no more hurried trips to catch up, though of course I have to be back to responsibilities in the parish, the community and our own home and family. Aside from being back to my usual computer here, I can sit back and relax with a nice book. I usually go for self improvement and spiritual books, but when I was younger I also read suspense novels. In fact I had two favorite authors for this.

But it’s not bad if for a change, I’ll try this Richard Yacenda (a native New Yorker but now lives in Florida, USA) who is a graduate from the City College of New York, once the President and CEO of a highly successful New York City advertising agency, and a veteran of the United States Navy. With his life experience, this novel Retribution, his first attempt as a novel writer, may be a real suspense.

The suspense novel focuses on the brutality of the murders and the detective’s team investigation. It is said that the author’s deft touch of realism with dialogue is excellent, and clues are dropped along the way to invite readers to investigate the meaning of the title, with all the characters working together to a rewarding end for the reader.

One thing that has fascinated me in Europe is the way the flowers bloom. It must be due to the cold weather that flowers there when they bloom are so profuse, it seems they give their all, to the delight of the beholder. Just like my previous post, the “Oh Lovely Daisies”. One of these days, I’ll share some more photos of beautiful gardens we came across.

For now, here are some pics taken when we were in Old Rauma. I’ll have to treat this in another post, but let the flowers come ahead.

Carey with her dad and Daisy with her kuya Boyet, Cookie’s hubby

In this first one: While we were strolling in the area, we came to this beautiful spot, which is short of being a garden, but never mind. It was just open, so I couldn’t help myself but to let them pose for a photo with the flowers. Too bad, the shot is not close enough, sorry folks…charge it to the amateur photographer. (The truth is, I wanted also to take the full view of the house, as the old houses of Old Rauma are the main attraction for this tourist site… ops! but did I not say I’ll write about this in a later post?)

The next two above were along the way in our going home, taken while the car passed by an intersection.

While we were in Pori, it happened that the International Pori Jazz Festival was held. We were thankful that at least we had witnessed an international affair without purposely going there, while others even from other countries, especially the tourists, went just to be part of it.

I have heard of another popular international event, this time in Houston, Texas. This early, the organizers and those involved in it are already busy with the preparations. It’s the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo or Rodeo Houston which for 2009 will be running from March 3 to 22, or an exciting 20-day event. For the year 2007, 1.8 Million attended while for 2008, this rose to 2 Million. Will it be more for 2009?

There will be live stock judging, bull riding, pig racing, and calf scramble, among others. In this latter game, 14 calf will be set loose to be caught by 28 students. The attractive prize is 1000$ for the winners. Other features are the carnival, shopping and auction, and the rodeo parade before the main event starts. This will be a show of different high school bands, floats, stagecoaches, wagons with the officials and dignitaries on horseback. Those who will attend are encouraged to come dressed in the Texan way.

If I have now a fairy godmother. I would ask for RodeoHouston tickets so that I could participate with the fun and excitement.

I have still so many travel stories to tell, but this time it will all be reminiscence. When I remember our sightseeing tours, the excitement is still there, especially when I see the pictures. Sad to say, it is not easy for me to share the photos, as I’m still dependent regarding this. It will come.

I’ll just tell you first about my EC drop box icon for this site, as you see here:

This has a sentimental value for me, for aside from the fact that I was the one who took this shot (I’m so proud of that, LOL!), this reminds me of my Finland visit.

The first time I had set my eyes on the lovely blooms was when we arrived at the Nordic country from Prague. At the open parking space, there were flower boxes, two or three of them. But what attracted me, was how the beautiful flowers filled the pots with blooms. They were like flower vases with flowers all over… only, what I saw was natural, the flowers came from plants grown on soil! And look at how profuse the blooms are, filling all spaces with them. I could only say to myself “Wow what a beauty! I have to take a picture of this.” (You know, the daisy is a favorite not only because it is lovely, but also because it’s the nick of our youngest daughter, the cute.)

Every time we would go out however, we would be in a hurry and days passed by so quick. Could it have been a week already? But the dainty flowers were still there, blooming as ever. One time I was at home, I purposely went down (from the 5th floor where we stayed) just to take a shot of the daisies, afraid that I would forever lose it.

Until now, when I see this replica, I smile to myself, happy though nostalgic. Inside, I relive my Finland days.

I’m really more interested and excited now about my two sites, though I have to admit there are so many lessons I have to learn yet, most especially the technicalities of this blogging thing. My techie children however are so very supportive that they encourage me to plod on, though this time, it seems with lighter steps.

Take this web hosting. Little by little, light has dawned on me, thanks again to techie son Tony and my cuties (I call my daughters “cute”, the three of them), Dy, and Cy. Then I have come across this website about the subject, which interests me as I can learn more. One can choose the features of the web hosting provider, and select the right price for him as well. You will know what I mean if you visit the site yourself.

Last night, hubby and I attended a ”Dinner for a Cause” for the repair and repainting of our parish church (of the San Nicolas de Tolentino parish), at the same time the birthday of our parish priest.

Most of the religious organizations/communities had their presentation, either a dance number, a chorus, or a solo vocal rendition. There was even a combination of an instrumental (I’m not sure though what instrument it was, it was surely not common) and a song, by two priests.

Fr. Edcel was happy, not only because it was the celebration of his special day, but also because of the support given by the parishioners. Many, from various lay associations, attended the affair. It was an manifestation of support and a proof that a certain cause can be successful if each one does not think how insignificant one contribution (”It’s only one!”) can be, but how strong the total whole can be. For our parish, it is an on-going cause yet, it has to continue on. Donations are being solicited. The essence here is giving, but it should be out of love, in this case love for our Church in which the building (the church) is the main venue for worship.

So now that I’m back, so many things would keep me from being regular here on the net, not to mention the community meetings and other activities which are more often than scarce! Still, I’ll take this as a challenge, and will try to be faithful here in my blogs, if only to do my share of letting out my thoughts. May it radiate positive vibes to you my dear friends.

Looking back to my travel in Europe, there’s one thing I noticed, people touring around especially the ladies, wear the most varied kinds of dress – some had a very skimpy tube, with less cloth in the upper and the lower portion, some were wrapped up many times over so snugly, some had knee-length, others gown-length dresses, while others were so sporty with jeans complete with boots. Some were in slippers, others in high heels…so anything goes.

That’s why when I saw this fancy dress website, I could say, oh if they can just visit this site when they are going to parties, I’m sure they could dare dress up themselves with any of the Fancy Dress available, and have more fun!

Oh oh… before the month ends I should already tell you I’m now back to dear “home sweet home”! After being out for two months, it’s an indescribable mixed feelings of joy, eagerness to see the dear ones left behind, urgency to do the so many things I’ve not been doing while away – and also a feeling of sadness for those left behind in far-away Prague (Czech Republic) and Pori (Finland). It seems part of me is left behind to be with them. Ops… enough of this sentimental mindset, we have to move on. Thinking that everything was – and is! – a blessing from the Almighty God is enough to cheer me up. Also, that He is there to see them through.

The internet has helped a lot to ease this feeling of concern especially for dearest cute who has been alone with baby C for a week, as hubby M is out to Uganda for a job assignment. (Everyday, we talk over the YM voice and we see baby C through the webcam). But not anymore tomorrow as her sis Carey (the love cute ) will be arriving. Yeah, she was requested by her sis Cookie (the first cute ) to stay behind up to the end of the month when we left Pori last July 15. I’ll have more posts about our travel, but in between I’d talk of many other things too.