And Then I Don't Feel So Sad

When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad 

I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don't feel so bad

I hate Sunday evenings! Every Sunday evening, I get the case of Monday Blues, and it's quite unpleasant. I was just telling Kepi how I wish we could do over Thanksgiving and have another four-day weekend. Alas, I can't stop the hours from ticking. It's also not helping that one of my colleagues will be on vacation this week and I am taking over her responsibilities in addition to mine. I guess I simply have to remember my favorite things to fight off the stress and these Monday Blues.

Our Thanksgiving went great. Kepi and I made reservations for a Thanksgiving lunch buffet at Pienza. I think this is our third time going there for Thanksgiving and there may not be a fourth one as we felt the menu this year was limited.

 Great offering of pastries and bread

 Turkey carving station

 All types of petite desserts

 My favorite are the Pumpkin Cheesecake and the Pecan Pie.

This was the first time I've been served with this much cream for my coffee.

After gorging ourselves at the buffet at lunch, we had dinner at my aunt's place who served Turkey and two Lechon Bellies. We had a feast!

With Thanksgiving over, the Christmas season officially begins. 2017 Christmas Card Project is well underway. The first batch of Christmas cards have been mailed and are on their way to the Philippines. Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao look for them! The cards en route to the Philippines are mailed first because in my experience they take the longest to be delivered or they never make it to their destinations. I am hoping all recipients will receive their cards this year.

 It's also time to deck the house with Christmas decorations. Here's Daisy and Dizzy doing their own thing while Kepi and I were setting up the tree.

 Dizzy wondering why the door is dress up as a gift.

Our 2017 Christmas Tree

Lately, I have been feeling down and anxious because I have another surgery coming. My mind have been somewhere else and once again, I am having a hard time finding the Christmas Spirit and even the energy to decorate the tree. But on Sunday evening, I finally got the drive to finish it. We decided to go with a red and silver color theme along with the ornaments from our wedding, our first anniversary, our travels, the Santa ornament I bought after my chemo, Jeff's childhood ornaments and others that tell stories of our challenges, gratitude, hope and strength. You see, we want our tree to tell a story and to represent the essence of our lives. It is from these experiences that we find gratitude and meaning even in the darkest moments of our lives. I believe that no matter how hard life is with all its qualms and challenges, it is still a beautiful life.