The Dance of Life

While the crowds cheered loudly, Hillary Clinton thanked everyone and
enthusiastically expressed her devotion to improving America’s lives.
Hillary’s speech was so moving that I found not only myself but people
in the crowd shedding tears. Her dedication to improve the lives of
America’s citizens is overwhelming - concentrating on the people’s
lives: health care, education, and employment. She also shared about
the lives of some people she met during her campaign that made her
dedication to helping these everyday people of America even stronger -
all these people’s lives who suffered during G. Bush’s administration.
I had a smile when she mentioned her "Sisterhood of Traveling pant
suits" (this reminds me I still haven’t seen the movie even if I told
myself a hundred time to go and see it with my daughter, lol). She
thanked them for their unending support all throughout her campaign.
She mentioned all her promises and her reasons of running for
presidency and reasons for supporting Obama. And her thoughts on Mc
Cain’s and I quote, "No way, no how, no Mc Cain." The crowds cheered
even louder on this remark.

Hillary is a dynamic, confident,
intelligent, brave woman and she would make a great president. While
Mike and I were watching he said to me, "Hillary should run for
president here in Canada" and I said, "But the things she wants to do
for America has already been done here in Canada." Yea, and then we
just laughed. This just makes me think how lucky we are to be in
Canada.

Well, long live America and good luck! May the right leader be seated on the right chair.

Nora out!

"There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America." - Bill Clinton

This week, one of the emails I received came from my friend Carol
telling me how her day went. As I read on, I was specifically touched
by one of her moving experience that day, and I quote:

Yesterday, I am suppose to work. But Garrett’s been playing up. Crying a lot and wanting lots of attention. Sabi ko kay Lee, I think I better take off today. Kase Garrett wants to play with mommy and we haven’t had a good day all to ourselves for at least a week. Mommy calls-in sick. Then, brings baby to SF to play. He loves playing in the Reactive Floor there. Anyway, when we got there via BART, baby was asleep. So I went along my merry way to my favorite shop MNG (by Mango). Tapos parang my short circuit
kase merong usok tapos amoy sunog. We then were sent out and then we went to Zara instead. After 2 mins, the fire alarm went off and we were all told to leave via the nearest exit. Haaay! Then Garrett woke up asking for his milk. Sabi ko your milk is cold baby, we have to look for Starbucks so you can drink warm milk. Sabi niya naman, sige. So we went looking for Starbucks in the streets of SF. Along the way, I saw someone helping out an old man and laid him on the floor. PUTIK!!! CARDIAC ARREST! In my head, I knew 911 will come, so I’d better walk pass na lang. I thought of Garrett coz I can’t leave him and do resus! But when we went closer, I knew that old man was gonna die if he did not get immediate CPR. So tinapat ko yung stroller ni Garrett sa head ng old man so I can watch my baby while doing resus. So sigaw ako, SOMEONE PLEASE CALL 911!!! Then, I kneeled down checked the old man.
Airway is ok, he is breathing, pero walang pulse and he was so cold. Pump! pump! pump! SIGAW ulit ang beauty ko, DID ANYONE CALL 911??? The man helping out left again and when he came back someone called na daw. In my head, what’s taking them so long. PUTIK! This man needs oxygen. Sabi naman he is breathing. So pump pump pump na lang. He’s pulse is still feeble. Sige!!! Tapos, at last dumating mga paramedics. Fineel ko yung pulse, meron na ang lakas. Haaay! Bakit ang tagal niyo??? (sa isip ko). So step aside na ako. Ayun! I called Lee, telling him about what had just happened. Haaay! So much drama in one day. I told him, I don’t feel like I was off from work.

Wasn’t that incredible! May the Lord bless her for saving someone’s
soul that day. Isn’t it a very satisfying feeling to be able to help
other people, whether it was planned or accidental? It makes you
nervous but a happy one. I think that what Carol did that day was a
very courageous act. She didn’t think twice, she jumped right in (even
with a baby with her) saved that poor man’s heart as they waited for
the medic. That was really admirable and I thank God for nurses like
Carol. My kudos to you, my dear. You outdone yourself that day, you
should be proud of yourself because a lot of people, including me, do.
I love you.

Nora out!

“You gain strength, courage, and
confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in
the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do.”
~Eleanor Roosevelt

” Go and try to save a soul, and you will see
how well it is worth saving, how capable it is of the most complete
salvation. Not by pondering about it, nor by talking of it, but by
saving it, you learn its preciousness.” ~Phillips Brooks

This summer, on our way to Parksville City, we passed by Englishman River Provincial  Park.  The park is located in a beautiful forest on one of the Island’s best
fishing rivers. It has picnicking, hiking, and fishing facilities, and
over a hundred campsites.  The weather wasn’t really very friendly at that time but we enjoyed ourselves nevertheless.  We walked down the Englishman River and I took some photos.

The waterfall is spectacular, I could just spend the whole day there.  It has many trails to walk through and these trails reminded me a lot of the mountain provinces in the Philippines.
These photos where you can see me were taken by Mike’s dad, turned out really good.

This one I took of Mike and Helena walking is one of my favorites.  Looking at this photo makes me feel like we can keep on going with no fear.  I see the beautiful trees and nature as a shield to the dark of life and in this picture with Mike ahead of Helena, you can see that your child can trust you in the walk of life.  To me, it shows bravery and I love it.

  These are the rest of my faves, they’re so serene, and the one with Helena touching the water shows innocence.  These photos tell me that everything is going to be okay, that the world is as it should be.

See you again later, folks!

"The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go
outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens,
nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it
should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple
beauty of nature." -Anne Frank.

Last night, Mike and I watched Beethoven, Immortal Beloved.  When Ludwig Van Beethoven died, his brother wanted all of Beethoven’s legacy but when Schindler found Beethoven’s final Will and a letter to his unnamed immortal beloved, Shindler insisted that he found this mysterious girl.  The movie went on as it showed bits and bits of Ludwig’s past. 

I was really surprised when we found out who the immortal beloved is at the end of the movie.  I didn’t see it coming, all the time I was thinking it would be Anna Marie Erdody but what a twist! MIke is currently reading the book and he said that the girl whom the movie say is Ludwig’s immortal beloved is not really entirely correct.  But then of course, a movie is a movie right? They always change things.

As I watch the movie and see how the famous Beethoven must have felt during his deafening years and with his lovers, how he managed to secretly keep a true love while he struggle to take his nephew away from Johanna who he calls a "whore".   It moved me to the core, every scene in this movie is so moving,  most especially the scene with Anna Marie when she told Schindler a detailed past of Beethoven, covering bits of the war with Bonaparte and Beethoven’s troubles with the law, and as a mother, I was touched with Anna Marie’s diagreement of Beethoven’s action towards young Karl and his mother.  Anna Marie said, "I know how it feels to lose a son." and I even if I haven’t lost a son, I did feel for her and Johanna.

It was so nice to hear Beethoven’s music, it’s really amazing how he was still able to compose even when he became deaf.  I love all his music and regardless of how he bahaved his entire life, he has given us such wonderful music and that’s something to be grateful for.  Very stimulating film.

Nora out!

"Music is the
one incorporeal entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend."

"When I open
my eyes I must sigh, for what I see is contrary to my religion, and I
must despise the world which does not know that music is a higher
revelation than all wisdom and philosophy."
– Ludwig van Beethoven, quoted by Bettina von Arnin, letter to Goethe, 1810

I’ve always treasured family gatherings, I love being with family whether we’re talking or doing all sorts of different things but just being in their presence makes me feel good.  I remember when I was still in college, whenever I was down, I’d go down to Balatoc to my family (whoever is around) and it always made me feel better.  When I came to Canada with my husband and daughter, I was stunned by my state of mind, I was depressed than I’ve ever been.  It was the most down period of my life.  And I think that’s because, for me, it’s like I lost my family.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m only talking about the Coral family.  My sister was in Cambodia with me and being in Cambodia made it easier for me to go back and forth Philippines and Cambodia.  Once or twice or sometimes thrice I flew to the Philippines to visit my family.  But when I came to Canada, how am I supposed to fly to them anytime I want now?  Save. Save. Save.  And save some more.  I’ve been here 3 years now and if not of my dad’s passing I wouldn’t have gone home this year.  And it wasn’t really something that I wanted to come home to.  It was like a family reunion cuz every member of the family was present but how sad that was for a reunion.  The best thing was that we all got the chance to be with each other especially in a mourning time like that.  We needed each other and we were there for each other.

I must say that my family is one of a kind and I wanted to instill all my family’s greatest bits to my children’s mind as they grow up.  In my journal, I talked and talked about how important to have laughter and music, and openness in a family and I want my kids to grow up in a family just like that because that was how I was brought up.  Regardless of all my family’s troubles, we never cease to forget to have a laugh and mix with music and whether you believe it or not.. that did something really good to us.

I tried starting a regular family dinner here, I happily hosted our very first thanksgiving.  It was the first time I’ve actually made a turkey for us to pig out.  And thanksgiving  was a hit. Then there was the Christmas dinner, it was also a hit.  But with Rick and Kazuyo’s busy and strange schedule, it was hard to make our family dinner  regular.  They were our only family here at that time (they have cousins here of course and we also gather with them with our or their invitation once in a while  and it’s always fun but for now I am talking about first families).  Then when the rest of Mike’s family (his parents and younger brother with his wife) decided to join us here I thought it would make it easier.  And it was good for a while.  Sometimes Rick’s wife will host a gathering, sometimes I host it, and sometimes Mike’s parents host it.  It was fun and pleasant.  Then it suddenly stopped.  It made it even worse when most of us moved to Sidney and only Rick and his family were left in Victoria.

Now considering the complex history that goes along with relationships, marriage, employment, (maybe even divorce) and other happenings within family members, I’ve learned that it’s hard to survive family Sunday dinners, you can see how that can be insurmountable. (And that’s why making it a positive experience is always important).  In our case, it’s mostly compounded with full schedules with kids and work.  But even then, Mike’s parents would invite all of us to gather at their house once in a while.  Then last week, Mike’s dad told me that momsy wants to revive our family get together and it will be a Sunday dinner.   I was  so happy to  hear it!  I asked dad if I should prepare something and he said I can add another meal to what they’re making so I did.

Last Sunday’s dinner was wonderful.  I cooked menudo at home and brought it at their house.  Momsy prepared delicious chops and we all had a lovely dinner.  Rick and Romeo drove from Victoria to join the family.  Unfortunately, Kazuyo wasn’t able to join us but it’s not really a surprise to us anymore, hahaha! (She’s just always too busy working).  It would be even nicer though if she could join the family.  I just wish that sometimes no matter how workaholic you are, you could arrange your day off to fall on the day or night of family-get-together, wouldn’t that be nice?  Since the Olympics is still going on, you can expect that to be a discussion but then the boys, yes the boys, started talking about….. BORAT? Where did that come from? Did I miss anything? (Sally and I were doing the dishes) So I must have.   Then I found Mike saying, "I’m going to get the DVD in the car" and out he went.  I found dad in the kitchen saying "I am Borat, I live in Kzhakstan" as he brought some chips and drinks to the living room.  I followed him to the living room and found Rick and Alec arguing with Rick asking Alec, "Do you know why the movie went straight to DVD?" (OMG I can’t believe I forgot Alec’s line, I could hammer my head!).  But I think he was saying that BORAT is funny.  Mike came back with the movie and put it on and surprisingly dad and momsy liked it.  Then in the middle of the movie, dad said something like, "I think I should stop watching this now or my brain will start thinking like BORAT." Hahaha! They all said it’s funny and crazy.   Rick thinks the movie is stupid and I agree with him. And here’s what BORAT has to say, "In Kazhakstan, we have many hobies: disco dancing, archery, rape and table tennis."

Overall, the dinner went really well, everyone had fun, including the rugrats who decided to keep making noise until it was time to say goodnight.  Whatever happened to the Wiggles and Dora?

Nora out!

"The family - We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, covering one another’s desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together." ~Erma Bombeck

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH 3D
Another things we enjoy this summer is hitting the cinema, if not renting movies.  We must have seen lots the whole summer cuz I can’t remember them all now but I know Mike and I have been going through X-Files episodes, that’s one.  We were looking forward to watching the "X-Files: I want to believe" but  we went too late.  We, then, watched "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D."  The first time we watched a 3D movie was in Disneyland with "Honey, I shrunk the kids/audience" and that was really a fun ride.  Journey to the Center of the Earth is even better with regards to the story.  A science professor, played by Brendan Fraser went on an an expedition in Iceland with his nephew and later joined by a girl who became his romance.  On this expedition, they stumbled upon a major discovery that launched them on a thrilling journey deep beneath the Earth’s surface where they traveled through worlds that’s never been seen before and encountered a variety of unusual creatures.  This is fun for kids and families.  My daughter had a fun ride in this movie and so did we (Mike and I, his dad and his younger brother’s wife).

THE MUMMY
On one of my girl’s night out, we (Mary Ann, Cristine, Alice, Angel and Dulce) went to see a movie after a big buffet dinner.  We planned to see "Mamma Mia" but when we get to the theater, it was full already so we just decided to watch "The Mummy".  The Mummy, another Brendan Fraser movie, is not the greatest but also not bad.  I think it was hilarious and we enjoyed it.  It reminded me a bit of "Indiana Jones" with the way the sons carried on their father’s legacy.  Brendan Fraser’s son in this movie looked good.  The girls and I were "talking" about him after the movie, LOL.  It was fun!

MAMMA MIA
When Mamma Mia was back in Sidney, my PIL brought me and Helena with them to see it.  This movie is a musical, romantic film based on ABBA’s
music. The movie started with a girl
singing “I have a dream” and you’ll find the bride being reunited with her friends
(bridesmaids) with all their chicky thing and the bride telling them about how
she found her mom’s diary where she learned about her mom’s men (3 men) in the
past.  With hope that she would find her dad, she decided to invite all these
3 men to attend her wedding. The song
choices were perfect for this film. All
songs were sang by the actors/actresses and as I watched, I felt their emotions
as they sang. This film will make you
laugh, cry, feel in love and will show you how real friends should be.

I really enjoyed this film, even my 7 year old daughter enjoyed it, too. We were laughing the whole
time. I shed a tear or two on some of
the emotional moments, it reminded me of my friends and my sister when we were wild and free and when I got married. I’d say it’s a must-see movie and when you do
go, bring along your friends or family or any of your loved-ones. Trust me when I say you won’t waste your
money!

QUEEN OF THE DAMNED
Once in a while, Mike and I like to re-watch old movies and the other night we rented Queen of the Damned.  Mike and I got to discussing about how they’ve changed a lot of things and skipped a lot of interesting affairs from the book.  In the movie, Marius made Lestat but really it wasn’t him.  Of course the directors had to make the movie more interesting so they changed or added things but the story (from the book) itself was interesting enough.  Sometimes I wish they stick with the book, hahaha!  Watching Queen of the Damned and Lestat’s character made me and Mike rent "Interview with the Vampire" again.  We both agree that Tom Cruise played a better Lestat than Stuart Townsend.  Lestat was supposed to be very charming and although Townsend is a great actor, he was a little too serious as Lestat.  And of course, with Interview with the Vampire, Tom Cruise is joined with other two great actors, Brad Pitt and Antonio Banderas.  Can’t wait to see it again.  Tonight, perhaps.

STARSHIPS & BUGS
Starship Troopers was one of the many good movies that we’ve seen and since Mike and I never really watched the sequel, we decided to watch it last night.  It wasn’t as great.

Nora out!

"Figuring things out for yourself is practically the only freedom anyone really has nowadays.  Use that freedom" -Jean Rasczak

Aside from family outings and gatherings, one of my friends, Carol, came to visit me  from California this summer.  It’s been 8 years since the
last time we hang together so it was exciting to have finally reunited with her.  Carol
brought her husband and her son and I finally get to meet them.  I like
her husband, Lee, he’s very calm, very sweet to Carol, very attentive to their
son, Garrett; he’s very nice and I’m glad that it’s him who she married.
Don’t get me wrong it’s not like there was a line up of who she should marry, LOL.
I think that they are perfect for each other and I’m happy to see that.
Garrett is most behaved during the time that we were hanging out.  He
was the quiet one and my son, Wyatt, was the hyper one, although I’m sure that if
Carol and Lee are reading this they might laugh at that cuz I know Garrett can be
handful, hahaha!) But truly, Garrett’s been a good boy during the visit and he had lots of fun with my kids. 

Carol and I (sometimes with hubbies and kids) huddled a lot, making up for all the years that we’ve
missed. We weren’t able to do all the things we wanted to do but we had a blast
together.  Mike and I brought them to the Royal London Wax Museum where a database of anecdotes and little known facts about Royalties and
Celebrities were assembled and documented (a journey to the past).  We
brought them to see Beacon Hill Park,
a home for numerous species of ducks, birds and wildlife, and beautiful exotic,
native trees all over the park.  They saw the beautiful gardens, bridges,
lakes and ponds where Helena fed
the ducks and the birds.  On our way out of the park, we passed by the
petting zoo where Garrett had the chance to have a peek at the peacocks.  I also brought them to one of the world’s premier floral show gardens - the Butchart Gardens.  This was an exciting experience for all of us because it was also my first time to go see it and the gardens were just spectacular.  We started our tour from the Waterwheel Square to the Star Pond.  Although the Italian Garden is just as beautiful, it wasn’t as thrilling as the Japanese and Rose Garden where they have all sorts of wishing well and fascinating bridges and  streams.

Other days we just spent our time at the Inner Harbour where you can see a marina, floatplanes, more walk ways and to the Parliament Building continuing onwards to  the famous hotels.  One, in particular is the "Jewel of the Pacific" called The Empress Hotel where the Queen stays and other Hollywood celebrities on their visit.  It’s interior were decorated with antique and luxurious decor and exterior walls are dressed with beautiful vines.  As we continue with our day outs huddling, we walked downtown Victoria wondering around Wharf, Gov’t., Douglas Streets and connecting roads and alley-ways where you can see musicians  with  different instruments  playing songs, and lots more shops and attractions.  We passed by the Artists, Alley (an alley  lined with west coast artist booths that extends over 2 blocks from the ocean, it’s called the Artists Alley).  In the Artists Alley, you can sit with a good cup of java in any of the cozy coffee shops, relax and enjoy various local talents.

I also brought them to visit us in Sidney, approx. a 20-minute drive from Victoria.  Although Sidney is not as busy and big as Victoria, Sidney-by-the-sea is a beautiful, family/senior-oriented town.  Sidney and the Saanich area is where you can enjoy fishing, golfing, kayaking, whale watching and other sea adventures.  I planned for us to do some fishing and even horseback riding here but for so little time we could only so little things but Carol and Lee agreed that whatever we weren’t able to do on this visit, we will make it up on their next visit.  We spent some time at my place, talking and reminiscing our wonderful times together back in the Philippines.  Mike brought out some funny things we did and we all laughed.  Lee, of course, was innocent, but he was cool and just joined in.  We all went for ice cream after a nice Filipino food meal at our place then we strutted along the Pier where the kids enjoyed chasing birds and this is where Lee took a great shots of the seagulls.  Helena wanted to fly her kite so we went to a park by the sea.  Wyatt and Garrett played on the sand, sometimes they threw sand on each other and sometimes they were too curious that they decide to taste the sand. 

Carol, Lee and Garrett also got the chance to meet Rick and his family, and the rest of our family here when Mike’s uncle invited all of us to his birthday party.  It was a fun party and very pleasant.  As for chow time, we brought Carol to one of our favorite "antique" Chinese restaurant in town and she loved it.  When Mike was at work, I brought them to a good Japanese restaurant.  And sometimes we just grabbed a bite here and there.

It’s really beautiful where I live.  It’s one of the most beautiful cities in Canada.  I am ever so glad that my friend’s visit was fun.  We and the kids enjoyed ourselves tremendously and now we look forward to their next visit and we can do more things because there are just so many wonderful things that you can do and see in this city.

Photos are available in my online album: Click!

Nora out!

"There is in friendship something of all relations, and something
above them all. It is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the
world." -John
Evelyn

I thought of writing about my summer holiday today but before I start with that something came up that I had to post this  first really quick.

My best friends and my family and I never cease to communicate through the internet and I don’t know why I do this to myself but every time a topic of deepest emotions come out, a song or an idea for a poem comes to my head and it absolutely refuses to leave.  My friends and I got to discussing about being best friends and this is what I heard in those emails this morning:

Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night, it’s only right
To think about the girl you love and hold her tight
So happy together.

If I should call you up, invest a dime
And you say you belong to me and ease my mind
Imagine how the world could be, so very fine
So happy together.

I can’t see me lovin’ nobody but you
For all my life
When you’re with me, baby, the skies’ll be blue
For all my life

Me and you and you and me
No matter how they toss the dice, it has to be
The only one for me is you, and you for me
So happy together.

I’ve always loved this old Turtle song.  And where else could you get a friendship love like this? That’s why you cherish your best friends, isn’t it?

Nora out!

Yes, I know I said Nora’s Friendster is shutting down but after sending messages to everyone about my closing, majority voted that I leave it open and it’s good anyway so I am in touch with everyone here and so what the heck… I might as well continue recording here and rhapsodize.

Friendster blog says my last entry was May and I guess it’s because of Summer break.  During holidays I get too occupied that I can’t find time to blog but I’m back now and hopefully here I stay.

Summer has been fun and still is.  We did the usual family routine, you know, hitting the parks, the beaches, lots of family gathering to barbecue/picnic, summer outfits, you name it.  The weather’s been gorgeous and lately we’ve been having the hottest temp. of the year.  Yep, the sun decided to burn our skin once in a while and hey, I can’t complain, we asked for the sun and now here it is!  You’d wish the beach is in your backyard.  But I must say, no matter how much I love Summer, I’m looking forward to Fall.

I don’t have much to say anymore on this entry but only to check if you are missing out on the Olympics.  No winnings for Canada yet, LOL.  My next posts will probably have info. on the details of my summer holiday.

Nora out!

“Here’s a good trick: Get a job as a judge at the
Olympics. Then, if some guy sets a world record, pretend that you
didn’t see it and go, "Okay, is everybody ready to start now?".” - Jack Handy