2012 WISHES

I refrain from doing resolutions. I WISH.  NO pressure.  If the wish is destined to come true anyway, I believe it will happen in a poof, but on the right time and at the right place.  Every single thing simply perfect. Yet, of course, it comes with hard work and an unwavering determination too.

So here  are my 2012 wishes in no particular order.

1. Just like my wish in 2011, LIVE HEALTHY.  There is no easy way of getting over and letting go of what happened in 2010, but lesson learned.  I have posted quite a number of hospital photos in previous posts, and I will continue posting so as to serve as a hounding reminder that health is wealth. 

2.  EXPLORE! 

I wish desire for two trips this year.  But INDIA holds the TOP spot of my list.

The reason why I crave for India.

3. Fine, I admit J. Bond hit it right.  He thinks boredom had set in with me and my beads, reason for my lull moments. So this year, By Beaded Story moves forward.  No details yet, but target roll-out is March 2012 and here are my inspirations.

Photo courtesy

I briefly talked about my 2012 By Beaded Story plans here.

Click photo to enlarge.

The nth time I have received the same query via email. 

The last was during this bazaar.

4.  Of course, I still wish for my LUSH LOT.  May this wish come true this year.  But first, more serious biking is needed.   I find it way easier to scout around in a bike than in a car.

5.  That my team may find their true happiness even with our soon-to-come parting ways.  Like what I have repeatedly said, for discipline, for stability, for growth and for better opportunities. 

6.  May Bugsy's hair grow back to the way it was FAST. 

Bugsy on New Year's eve

I arrived home Monday afternoon shocked and deep in thought as to what I should do with the dog I have brought back home from the groomer. Momentarily, I thought  I had the wrong dog.  But a few tests pretty much did the trick.  First, SIT.  Easy. Most dogs know this trick.  Next, PAW.  With Bugsy, he readily gives his paw even without a command.  Place the hand underneath his chest, then hola, he lays his paw on the hand.  Check.  Lastly, scream "CHEEEEEEEESE!".   And like always, he jumped, ran and went crazy. 

Thank God! Bugsy alright. But, oh hair, please grow fast.

6.  Here's a wish that I know will remain unfulfilled this year.  I wish that J. Bond and I may finally have the chance to celebrate our bliss on  the exact day we exchanged I Dos, without any interruption, not in advance, and with no delays.  Really!!!  On our 1st year, I spent the day in panic while J. Bond subjected his left arm to a half day surgery due to his damned evil knievel bike accident. 

Then, a wedding happened which I could not pass up on.  My friend thought of my wedding date as perfect.  So, she followed and assigned me the task of Church commentator. Wise move. 

On my anniversary day while being briefed by the wedding coordinator.

Family gatherings have happened on the same day as well.  Of course,  excuses strictly prohibited.  Otherwise, there will be no end to a very dark tunnel.

And, February is my Mother's preferred month of visit. She is arriving soon.  So, there you go. 

7.  And lastly, J. Bond had asked months ago if I was interested to catch the ongoing local version of The Sound of Music.  I said no. But I am strongly wishing, with fingers crossed, that one day I get the chance to meet the cast and the real VonTrapp family in the flesh.  How's that for a wish, huh? =)

Let's see what happens by the end of this year.  I'm looking forward.

finding YOGI

It was only while enduring the long 3 hours wait at my doctor's clinic yesterday that I found time to get going with this book.

After 4 long years of remaining untouched, off I began traversing the self-exploration of the writer Elizabeth Gilbert during her early 30s.  I thought, finally!  In fact, looking at its cover was good enough considering the years of  neglect and the hint of yellowness its pages have turned into.   Haha.  That's how I am with books.  Buy now. Read years after.

When I earlier said "began", I literally began with page 1 (the introduction) and ended at page 3 (the end of the introduction).  Only a meager number of three pages vis-a-vis a long wait of three hours. One page per hour.  Absurd right?  Even if faced with a book, I was more consumed with --

Popping mental reminders of unaccomplished things to do for the remaining days of  this week like household chores, pharmacy concerns, my bead production, hourly monitoring of health matters, my neverending weekly visits to the doctor .....

The ongoing game over Kris Aquino's newest TV show, Win na Win. Yes, a wall-mounted TV boomed wildly at the waiting area.  Probably meant to shield doctor's assistants from IM-patient complaints. Yesterday's Open-Susi-Me contestant won a million bucks!!! Click HERE to watch. So just imagine the excited screams of my co-patients-in-waiting.  I was shocked. I wanted a million bucks too!!! The TV strategy works!!!

And that obnoxious dennis the menace (though cute) who broke my eardrums from his shrieking  screams, running/jumping/hopping/rolling all around and pulling window blinds up and down at the waiting area. The "crooked brow look" I gave was useless!

ERGO, I went home more NUTS than ever (and with a stern mandate by the doc to return for another check-up asap). Let's just say test results backslid a bit.  Ayayay!   For the meantime, I already know what needs to be done on top of the drastic turnaround of eating habits.  This one, I have  deliberately turned on a deaf ear for a long time despite the frequent nagging by my dear-ies.  But thanks to Ms. Gilbert, I am inclined to think that I am destined for this .....

Photo by http://www.yogabasics.com/

In Eat Pray Love's introduction, Ms. Gilbert shares with  readers The Japa Malas ...

When traveling in India - especially through holy sites and Ashrams - you see a lot of people wearing beads around their necks.  You also see lot of old photographs of naked,  skinny and intimidating YOGIS (or sometimes even plump, kindly and radiant Yogis) wearing beads, too.  These strings of beads are called japa malas.  They have been used in India for centuries to assist devout Hindus and Buddhists in staying focused during prayerful meditation.  The necklace is held in one hand and fingered in a circle - one bead touched for every repetition of mantra.

The CONCLUSION:   It is a must that I weed the stressful elements out of my system (and eardrums) at the soonest possible time.  Therefore,  shop (lol but tried and tested) and find myself an authentic YOGI are the 2 probable solutions :)

Know of one?

Photo by http://www.religionfacts.com/

February 13, 2010 Precious Treasures 2

I bead with a story. 

I treasure the story of  each precious treasure I own. . .

This came from my friend named Phone Pal. I have never met her in person. I have no idea how she looks. Perhaps, she was the lady I saw in a newspaper article about beauty queens. They had the same name. Maybe yes, maybe not. But we do talk a lot over the phone.

I met an Indian lady 3 years ago in a bazaar. We talked and talked all throughout the 3-day activity. I learned from her how beautiful and artistically rich India is. I wished since then that someday I would be able to visit her in her homeland and experience the India she passionately talked about. On our last day, she gave me this neck piece wrapped in a handpainted elephant blanket.

Sonyas Garden will forever have a special place in my heart.   This was the very first gift given to me by the girls of Sonyas a few months before I tied the knot.   They have helped me in so many ways . . . from special moments. . . to my beads.

I got to know him during a turbulent time in my former work. Amidst the rubble, I found my long lost young brother. He is now living his dream abroad. He gave me this a few months before he left.

We ended at two o'clock this morning.  Afternoon or after dinner coffee/beer-talk sessions are set when hearts need to be heard.  Our names are the same . . . Patricia.     But SHE . . . a traveller . . . with such a beautiful soul . . .  my kindred "sister".  She gave me this last Christmas.

This heirloom came with a note . . . To the daughter I never had . . .

I was feeling low that day. So, I treated myself with this gift. . . . an arrangement by Get Happy! 

A Moon and Star Pendant. The very first precious treasure given by my husband when we were still single

She was one of my judges in an annual awards event. A feisty TV broadcaster. Got into trouble but survived. She gave me this after our Cebu stint. It is this treasure why By Beaded Story now exists.