Prelude To Christmas 2019

Slowly, Washington, DC is beginning to look like Christmas.

It's also that time when the weather is at a strange phase. You have to gauge the temperature if you need a thick coat or a regular coat for the day. Or, you'll end up sweating in a thick coat or shivering in a regular coat. Go figure! I've learned a long time ago to dress in layers and just take off the layers to adjust to the fluctuating DC temps. Funny thing about layers? You'll end up coming home with a bunch of clothes when it gets too warm. You can't win in this situation.

Anyway, below are a few photos I've taken during my morning and lunch walks. I've been trying to get my 10,000 steps each day, so I spend at least 30 minutes of my lunch hour walking/exploring. Twelve years of working in this city and I've barely scratched the surface. I'd like to think that there's more to DC than politics and lobbyists. I really hope I'm right.

A few steps from my office is the DC Center's gigantic Christmas Tree. I pass through here every morning from the train station to my office.

City Center is known for its 35 world class shops. I just stroll and window shop here. It's pretty with their Christmas decorations. In front of Louis Vuitton is the other expensive bag - Hermes. There are special police guards patrolling the area throughout the day (see the person in blue vest staring at me as I was taking this photo).

Two giant Nutcrackers guarding the entrance to Old Ebbitt Grill, Washington's oldest saloon.

I took this photo at the Christmas Market near Chinatown.

We've decorated the house. As I've mentioned in my previous post, I'm having a Christmas lunch with a few of my high school classmates this Saturday, so it's just timely to get the house ready for guests and the holidays.

The fireplace is ready for Christmas. I can't wait to get the fire going ,warm up with a cup of tea, and cuddle with a good book. Too bad I haven't been reading a lot this year, so I am looking forward to my Christmas break.

It melts my heart when I see this sight in the mornings. Daisy snuggled beside the Christmas Tree.

Taken on the evening we decorated the tree. Daisy and I just sat down on the floor and stared at the tree because we're both crazy for Christmas Trees.

Daisy is getting old; she's now 18. Her vet says that she's doing well for her age, but she's been sick a lot. This week, she's suffering from another ear infection. She's also been sleeping a lot, and I really miss the days when she had more energy. However, I do understand that dogs have a short lifespan, and Daisy has brought so much happiness to me and my family. She's given us her love unconditionally. Now that she's old, she needs all the love and care she deserves. I got your back buddy.

How about you? Are you ready for Christmas yet? I'd like to think I am but deep within I'm not.

Missing The Blogging World

It hit me today. I've missed blogging.

I've been away for more than a year. Simply because I lack the inspiration to write and the words that used to flow so easily felt forced and insincere. Being an emotional writer, I felt that words were failing to reflect what I truly felt. Sometimes words are not enough to express all the feelings in the world. Or, perhaps my chemo brain is winning the better part of me. On numerous occasions I've struggled to remember and enunciate words and sometimes, I'd get tongue tied in the middle of a conversation and would feel frustrated for the inability to conjure certain words that evade my memory. The struggle is real!

Work has been inevitably stressful. The banking industry is an unforgiving beast; it's a beast after all. I have to admit that within two years of working here, I am struggling to keep up with the "go go" banker mentality. I am like an old car, sputtering and running on fumes. I don't think I need to elaborate on that. Makes me think how the heck did I end up here!

It's autumn and I love it. Yesterday was Halloween and today is All Saint's Day. Since I live in a dual world, I'll celebrate both. All Soul's Day would be a more personal reflection and remembering/praying for all my love ones that have passed on to the next life. I've already made my little offering for them. For Halloween, it's about dressing up Mama Daisy and handing out sweets to the neighborhood kids last night. This year, kids had to cut short their candy run because of thunderstorms and windy weather forecast. Well, more candy for me.

Daisy dressed as a Bumblebee.

It's a short update. Hopefully I can sustain this drive to start writing again.

Belated Happy Halloween to my American family/friends and a meaningful Undas to my Filipino family/ friends.

Daisy Naughty, Daisy Nice

Here's Daisy pretending to be half-awake or half-asleep. This photo makes me laugh every time I look at it.

I think she just finished playing catch with Kepi when I took this photo, so she was probably tired from all the running and catching.  I have to say that at 13 years old, she has the exuberance of a puppy.

We adopted Daisy from a rescue group in 2014. When we first met her, we bonded right away and we instantly became a family. She was my therapy dog during my long recovery from transplant. She's my angel.

Well, she's not totally angel-like.

We know she tries on every seat or couch in the house when we're not at home. She also ate the 16 party cupcakes I baked and left for cooling on the dining table.  And most recently, she managed to reach the bacon on the high stove. Poor Kepi couldn't make his BLT sandwich when he came home.

Well, no matter, we still love Daisy - naughty or nice.

Wordless Wednesday - Daisy

Spring is here!

~~~

NOTE:

I'm currently writing my research paper, so I haven't had the time to visit blogs.
I will be visiting your blogs soon.

Thank you.

Fifth Week And Fighting

I don't mean to be negative, but I am so exhausted.  

Exhausted of being sick.  Shingles is now enjoying its fifth week. I bet his having the time of his life making my life miserable. I keep thinking he came with a planner and an agenda too.

 I feel like taking a nap right now. This is Dizzy in a good mood.

Last week, I had an appointment with my transplant doctor, and she said that it will take some time to recover. At times, I wish Shingles would take the form of a mean person so that I could punch it on the face and knock it to the ground real good.

Yup, I am getting really impatient.

In the mean(est) of times, I will:

• continue to push myself and show up at work
• drag myself to the last three weeks of grad school (almost there)
• graduate on May 15
• enjoy this year's blooming of tulips and cherry blossoms
• look forward to spending time with my cousin, Andrea, and one of my best friends, Weng
• keep on planning for our Ireland trip (finally, my doctor cleared me for travel)
• continue to be grateful for everything - that is no matter what the day brings

Here's a face that never fails to make me smile. Daisy when she's ready for a walk.

How about you? What makes you smile? What keeps you fighting? I do hope that today, you find that love, that comfort, that face that makes you smile.

Snow In March

I am not yet fully recovered from shingles.

Recently, I've noticed that my eyes are so sensitive to light, and my left eye is still bloodshot.  Not to mention the nerve pain still lingers.  I am miserable at times, but I keep looking for the light at the end of this tunnel.  There are moments shingles is kicking my butt, but I have to keep moving forward. I have to get better, and I keep hoping soon.

 No matter how cold, the sky remains blue.  We got a foot of snow from the recent storm.

 Kepi and Daisy during our afternoon walk.

 An afternoon of shadows, light and snow.

 Our neighborhood after the snowstorm.

Daisy and I out for an afternoon walk.

 A real snow dog, Daisy never fails to show me how to be a kid at heart.

Finally, I got to taste the new M&M Crispy.  It's not that bad but I still prefer the ones with peanuts.

Well, I'm on spring break, and I really need this week to recover. I have about five weeks left of this semester, and I can't wait to graduate in May. Being sick is tough because I missed three classes, but I am hoping I can catch up.

For now, I have to get better.

Monday, Monday!

At home today, feeling sick.  I wasn't able to sleep last night at all.  Since they've started tapering all my medications, my body has been going through a lot of aches and pains.  My doctor said it's typical to feel this way as my body is adjusting again. I hope to feel normal...soon. Whatever "normal" means for me these days.

Daisy's been under the weather as well. Kepi took her to the vet today and she had a complete check-up. All seems to be normal except that she's been unable to keep her food. I do hope that with the coming of the warmer weather, she'll bounce back. I do miss playing with her at the backyard.

Here's Daisy in one of her pensive moments. She tends to be camera shy just like Dizzy.

Kepi and I having breakfast at a Starbucks after church yesterday. Happy Valentine's Day!

For some great news, my doctor said travel is a "go" as long as I get my vaccinations first.  I am scheduled to get my first round of shots in mid-May.  Kepi and I are excited about planning our trip/s this year. How I've missed traveling the exhilaration and freedom that comes with it. I can't wait!

Well...tonight we're expecting snow and sleet.  I am still hoping for a snow day!

Filipinizing The Yard

It doesn't really feel like summer here. Don't get me wrong. I love these mild temperatures and that I neither miss the temperatures that could go up to 100 degrees nor the thick embrace of humidity. This summer is perfect!

I haven't been blogging, as I've been spending more time with my parents. Mom and Dad flew home two weeks ago. I miss them already. I've gotten used to having them around and I'm so thankful they were with me every single day of my chemo days. Sometimes, I still feel that my transplant just happened yesterday.

Today, I am 213 days post transplant, and I am thankful each day I am here.

Well, I have a few things planted around the house. Most of them were planted by my Dad. It's funny how we Filipinized the house. It's even cooler when my American husband embraces all these gestures. These days, you can find Kepi eating Chicken Tinola with Bitter Melon leaves.

Bitter Melon - I never noticed how pretty the flowers are.

We planted the Japanese variety - Futo Spindle. I've been harvesting the young leaves and adding them to my Chicken Tinola and even Ginisang Mungo.

The Calamondin has sprouted back to life after being kept indoors for the duration of winter.

Yes, I also have Malunggay.

If I'm not doing anything and boredom hits me, Daisy and I would go on the yard and hunt for these four leaf Clovers. We've been lucky so far. This isn't really part of Filipinizing the house, but it's a tribute to my husband's Irish heritage.

Here's my four-leaf Clover sniffer.

A Dollop Of Daisy

"Daisy Daisy... just goes with family so do a dollop do do a dollop of Daisy do a dollop do do a dollop Things taste better with a dollop of Daisy do a dollop do do a dollop of Daisy do a dollop do do a dollop of Daisy do a dollop do do a dollop of Daisy." (Daisy Sour Cream Commercial Jingle)

Lately, I've been finding myself singing this commercial jingle. I have no intent on advertising this product but it's like one of those round songs that keeps going on and on. It's crazy!

There are two reasons why this commercial keeps popping into mind: (1) my next project is to bake mini biscuits with sour cream and (2) we just adopted a dog named Daisy.

I won't delve into the sour cream biscuits this time, but I will introduce you to Daisy. She's a senior at 12 years of age, and she comes from West Virginia. We adopted her from Hedgesville Hounds, and she arrived on May 31st.

Kepi gives Daisy a welcome home hug. That's until he "thinks" he's allergic to dogs.

Daisy having time for herself.

Resting after playing ball.

Relaxing at the yard.

It's funny but at 82 pounds, she owns the kitchen floor.

Playing fetch and catch with Dad.

After her bath...of course, she rolled on the grass after all that cleaning.

An afternoon nap.

Daisy's been well-behaved and she knows her commands - sit, lie down, stay and more. The tough part is introducing her to our Dizzy, the cat.

Before we took Daisy home, we took a towel and rubbed it on her during our initial visit. The whole idea is to bring home the towel and introduce Dizzy to the new scent. At that time, it seems that Dizzy was curious about the new scent; we did that for almost a week to give Dizzy ample time to know or get curious to Daisy's scent.

We've also created a safe zone for Dizzy, unaccessible to Daisy, accessorized with a baby gate. So far, there's been only one incident when Daisy and Dizzy met in the living room, did a staring competition which ended with a playful chase. For now, it's just been Dizzy coming down in the mornings to check on this big furry creature who sleeps downstairs.

We're hoping that soon, they'll both find a common ground and in all positivity, become friends. As for the husband's allergies, that is yet to be determined. We're trying to determine what is he allergic to - pollens or dander. Spring here is late (really short) and allergy season came with a vengeance.

Daisy is a great dog, but with a great dog comes big responsibilities.

We're in the initial phase and we're figuring out how things will work out. As for any stories, we're hoping for the best because the best is yet to come.