*Happy Birthday to my Nala !!*

I keep thinking that my pup's birthday is in September only because that was the month that I woke up as early as 7am to go with my dad + pick her up at his workplace.

Back in 2001, one of my dad's workmates was giving us a puppy. A mutt, mind you, but cute as ever. His workmate pulled out a cardboard box from the back seat of her car + revealed this wrinked, furry little creature that we later named Nala. She was wide-eyed + looked a little tired; most likely from napping while waiting for us. When my dad drove us back home, she was napping again right on my lap [yeh, she was that tiny!] + not moving an inch during the whole ride. I will never forget that day we brought Nala to her new home. :)))

I will need to scan photos from that morning. She is still cute as ever + of course, has her dispositions [I'll save those stories for another time; for those that know me, just ask, hehe]. But, I love that monkeyface all the same. ;)

a few "short stories" c/o my bro

My niece says the funniest things. :)

Roxy [the dog] was running around the house one day and stepped on A's toe by accident. A said, "Ouch! She stepped on my foot finger!"

A was touching my Adam's apple one day. Then she touched her neck and said, "I don't have an elbow like you."


A = my niece

the usual pet peeve in haiku form

It's that time again
When my nails are really long.
Keyboard clicking sucks.


Now, for one on our recent house hunt...


Feeling uneasy...
Tight space, safer neighbourhood?
Huge place, risky hood?

*Happy Birthday, Simba !!

Happy Birthday to my adorable, first ever mutt, Simbone! I sure miss that knucklehead. He's so smart that he acts dumb just to get away with everything. Like, for instance, eating an entire half-pound of peanut m&m's while everyone is away at work + managing to stash away the evidence [aka candy bag wrapper] underneath the coffee table. It all made sense once he upchucked [haha, always wanted to blog that word] his afternoon treat on the kitchen doormat. Nice going, Simba! ;D

I do love that silly mutt. :))) Enjoy your berday, boy!








Oh, I didn't blog the entire month o' May, man. Wussupwiddat? Hello June.

Kolkata journal entry 03/29

Transcribing + recording what little I wrote in my Kolkata trip journal... merely for my own accounts, so it may or may not be amusing for you to read.

Written during our 6.5 hour layover in Chattrapathi Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, India:

03/29/08 - 2:46AM

Welcome to India
As the official words "Welcome to India" were being spoken over the cabin intercom by the flight attendant, the realization of actually being in India became closer to 100%. My seat on the plane was located in the center far removed from window view, so besides observing the different types of people surrounding me, the environment of flying *over* different countries was not apparent.

Jet Airways is the international Indian airline we took, which I noticed did a few things differently compared to other flights I've been on. For instance, before last de-boarding, a pair of male flight attendants walked simultaneously up + down separate aisles spraying cans of aerosol towards the ceiling--I'm guessing to purify the air if not to freshen it up.

At the beginning of the flight, the attendants would hand out menus that designated what was to be served at each meal of the day. When it came time to be served, an attendant would ask you, "Veg or Non-veg?" Those were your two choices + you had to be prepared to answer right away since they did supply you with meal descriptions early on. At first, I would ask, "What does the Non-veg have?," + they would immediately reach for the menu + re-hand it to me as my answer. I learned quick, let me tell you.

Another thing I noticed... The women attendants all had classy make-up + hair. They each wore a black pants suit that was overlaid in a golden yellow button-up blazer that extended past the hips; in a sort of modern Indian style. At the beginning + towards the end of the flight is the only time they wore the golden yellow coat over their suit. I noticed an elaborate gold embroidery at the cuffs of the black, long-sleeve tops. I wish I was brave enough to ask one of the attendants if I could take their portrait, but they were always so preoccupied with something that I never mustered up the courage.

Oke. I'm really losing energy + getting cross-eyed. Need to get some rest. FYI: Movies I watched:

• Atonement
  
• Juno
  
• Enchanted
  
• the first bit of Bee Movie

Also watched episodes of:

• The Office
  
• 30 Rock
  
• My Name is Earl

They had video games, too, but nothing that interested me.

...

Just got back from freshening in the ladies' room here at Mumbai's International Airport. It wasn't that bad actually--had plenty of toilet tissue within reach, seated toilets [yes, the squat toilet is a plentiful in India], + soap in the dispenser. But, I didn't want to chance brushing my teeth with water from the tap without a bottle of water. Me + team are currently cramped in a seated area at the end of a hall trying to do their own thing--from napping, journaling, reading, snacking, or listening to music. We patiently wait. It has been a long journey thus far.

Alright time to decompress from thinking, if that makes any sense. Cross-eyed I am. Writing like Yoda I am, too.

...

Bullet points of events that happened after finally arriving in Kolkata:

• Took a bus from Kolkata Airport to BMS Guest House
  
• We each chose our own designated beds [yes, just like in the Real World, or any other housed reality show on the tele]
  
• Ate lunch c/o the kind folks at the guest house
  
• Everyone took a much-needed nap
  
• Met Surojit; he gave us a tour of the currently under-construction International Mission of Hope Society building which is to become the nursing school for CMM
  
• Took our first team group photo on the roof of the future nursing school
  
• Arrived @ CMM Hospital; Met Orejit; discussed opportunities
  
• Dinner back @ BMS Guest House
  
• End of day team meeting

Kolkata journal entry 03/27

Transcribing + recording what little I wrote in my Kolkata trip journal... merely for my own accounts, so it may or may not be amusing for you to read.

Written during my cab ride:

03/27/08 - 11:40AM

To Ebz
So, I missed my bus + end up taking a taxi to meet the half of the crew @ Ebenezer's coffee house. Today is the day that we embark on our trip towards Kolkata, India. Already, I am experiencing another's culture as I hear the cabbie speak with someone on the phone in his African tongue while munching on red grapes. I didn't get his name... He is wearing a beige Clairborne Outerwear jacket + beige hat. Nice guy. Says he'll charge me only 12 bucks for the ride. Hopefully that will be the case when he drops me off as his cab still has no meter whatsoever.

Bye now...

... Kolkata awaits.



See you soon.

Dear God, not again.

A prayer request in haiku form:

He deserves better.
Remain focused. First things first.
Please help him be strong.

post-vaccination

Week 37 // post-vaccination
Originally uploaded by +kdis

There are a number of vaccinations + prescriptions each of us are required to receive before our India trip for the prevention of certain diseases. So, I made an appointment at the infectious disease travel clinic + in one day, I received a total number of 4 shots—1 in my right deltoid [for Hepatitis A/B] + 3 in my left deltoid [for Typhoid, Tetanus / Diphtheria / Pertussis, Polio].

These are the most shots I've ever had in the last decade, so it was a bit overwhelming. I have to say that I fared pretty well, didn't look or flinch, but felt a little faint after the fourth one. Unfortunately for me, it's not over yet. Since the Hepatitis A/B vaccination is administered in a series, I have to come back to receive 3 additional shots in a week, then 2 weeks from that, then another after a year. After the series is completed, this vaccination will last a lifetime. Let me tell you, these shots don't come cheap, but are definitely worth the expense.


{ more about my trip }

Kolkata-bound

Week 36 // Kolkata-bound
Originally uploaded by +kdis

On a mission...
At the end of March, myself + 10 others from NCC will embark on a 12-day trip to Calcutta. We will be volunteering our time with Calcutta Mercy Ministries [CMM]. While we are there, we will have the immense privilege to work alongside the staff + volunteers at CMM, and to serve the people of Calcutta in a variety of practical ways: including assisting the feeding program, painting + repair work on buildings to conducting arts programs. In addition, I will have the opportunity to capture the stories of the trip and the children treated at the Calcutta Mercy Hospital through photography. Along with our time at CMM, we will also volunteer at Missionaries of Charity, which is a Mother Teresa charitable organization.

To give you some additional background on Calcutta Mercy Ministries, they do a wide variety of work, which includes feeding more than 25,000 people daily; they have established more than 700 churches, 50 schools, a hospital, vocational schools, teacher's training college, a school of nursing, children's home, rural medical clinics, and village Mercy Centers.

The trip will also include a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agrah on our way back to the U.S., which will be such an amazing experience. I believe this trip will be an unforgettable one. Not only will I have the opportunity to help the people of Calcutta in a number of ways, I will also get to travel to new land so full of beauty + culture.

The total cost of our trip is $3,000 + we have a deadline of March 24, 2008. If you feel moved to support us by contributing a financial gift towards our cause, please feel free to email me* + I will give you more information on how to do so. Any amount would help and will be greatly appreciated. Also, all donations are tax-deductible for those of you in the U.S.

I thank you all for your good thoughts, friendship, + support. :)



*please leave a comment if you don't have my email

a few things...

» Last of the Mohicans_
The end of an era occurred over this past weekend. I had my first ever eye doc check-up since for the past month I've been seeing a white flash go from up to down the side of my right eye. My mom thought it was a symptom of retinal detachment, so she suggested I go get it checked out. I've also been getting headaches due to my right eye's vision being slightly blurred than my left. [Si, si, I did many self-eye exams + the right is definitely wiggin' out on me.]

While filling out the patient form at the eye doc's office, I come to a section where you check boxes of certain health conditions you may or may not possess. One of the items is "Works at a computer". I'm thinking, "Oh great." *check_yes*

Long story short, the doc said my retina looked perfect, but I will need glasses. Fact: I am the last in my family to acquire glasses. The doc diagnosed my vision as "20/20 with a prescription". Now, is that even possible? If my vision is less than clear/perfect, doesn't that define my vision as less than 20/20? No idea how that works... This means, that I am neither near-sided or far-sided, but will require glasses while I am working at a computer or seeing anything close distance in order to stop the headaches... She thinks that I am having "optical migraines", which could be causing the light flashes. She said the light flashes I was describing to her did not sound like the symptoms of retinal detachment. *phew*

"Computer glasses" or "reading glasses" is what she called it. Oke. I'm down with that. Hopefully, that's all they'll ever be + my eyesight will remain "20/20 with a prescription" because I think I would not enjoy wearing contacts on a daily basis. But, that's just me. :P I will be receiving my swanky specs 10-15 days from my appointment. If you're lucky enough, maybe I will post a visual. ;)

» Sugar Pup_
My dad called last night to let me know that my doggie Nala was just diagnosed with Diabetes. :((( She was a plump 45 pounds when I last saw her + now she is 35 pounds, which is the healthier weight for her size [yeh, she was a tad overweight]. But, unfortunately, she lost the weight for being sick, which wasn't the way we wanted her to slim down. :( She was born in 2k1, so in my mind Nala is still my baby [even though in doggie years is older than I, hehe].

Today, she will be at the vet overnight so the doc can monitor how much insulin she will need on a daily basis. I'm so sad that she will have to get shots daily for the rest of her life. Luckily, my dad said that she didn't even feel it when the doc gave her her first insulin shot. My poor baby...

in honour

Passionately Pink for the Cure
"Showcase your passion for the cure by uploading passionately pink photos to help raise vital funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Share photos in honor of a survivor, in memory of a loved one, to celebrate Passionately Pink for the Cure events. Or simply share a pink photo that inspires others to rally around the cause.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Yahoo! will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, for each pink photo added to this flickr Group from October 1-31, 2007 up to $50,000! This donation will be used to fund breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs.

Pick your Pink. Play Your Part. End Breast Cancer."

+++

On a very personal note... In June 2003, I underwent surgery to have a large tumor 2 inches in diameter removed from within my left side. When it grew noticeably large, I was really freaked out + too scared to figure out what I needed to do that I didn't tell anyone about it at first. I waited too long to have it checked. Then, I told my parents about it, + of course they were upset with me that I didn't tell them sooner. They said that our family really has no history concerning breast cancer, so that weirded me out even more. I was 25.

I have been thanking the good Lord that the biopsy proved it benign. The doc called it a "giant Fibroadenoma", which is the most common benign breast tumors seen in women under the age of 35 years. It was the very first time I have ever been under the knife so it was quite nerve-racking. I wanted to recount what I was feeling during that time, so I leafed through my online journal archives + found the entry I wrote after it happened:


out from under | 24 June 2k3 _ 01:01 p.m.

"The weekend _/ i am back from going under. everything went well for those of you who are aware. it all happened last Thursday afternoon. the 1.5 hours of preparation. the reading + the signing of the millions of papers. the waiting. "You're going to start to feel a bit relaxed, hon." photos to document to be picked up tomorrow evening. recovering from a deep sleep an hour or so later. very supportive family + friends. phone calls from distant + not-so-distant loved ones. much needed days off. first [+ hopefully last] time for everything. thank the lord for watching over everyone, meaning EVERYONE involved."


To all the ladies out there, examine yourselves + be aware.


PHOTO NOTES:
_ 15 Sept 2k7
_ The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

How does that happen?

7:30 am to 8:00 am kills me.
In real time, that means thirty minutes or a half hour.
In my world, it equates to a brisk 15 minutes.

This battle has got to stop. Such drama drama. +_+

P.S.
Hello September. Hello chilly winds.

Puffy-eyed Saturday morning

Be in peace with God always, Lolo Vincent.
{1919-2007}



We love you + miss you, Lolo... You always made us laugh with your kalakuhan [hijinks]. :')

help

Please send as many good thoughts / prayers / positive energy or whatever it is you prefer in the direction of Florida right now. I have some loved ones going through some really rough times + I need everyone's help to push through this unfortunate [+ hopefully temporary] roadblock...


:'(((






P.S.
The first snowfall fell on the DC metro area last Sunday. Actually, the remnants of melted snow are still apparent in certain places of the city as of today [Wed]. It wasn't very thick snowfall, but I'll take what I can get. J + I were literally jumping up + down like little school children when we saw little flurries outside our window. We did anything but stay in that day. But, as with all other "severe" weather conditions in the area, people were paranoid + impatient on the road. So, it was the metro bus + trains for us. No snow angels this time — just lots of shoe prints.