A Weekend Getaway at Piney Point, MD

A couple of weeks ago, Kepi and I drove to Piney Point for a weekend getaway. The weekend trip was my gift for his birthday. Although it was a bit windy and cold out there, it felt good to unplug and getaway from our routine.

Piney Point lighthouse and lighthouse keeper's house.

Seagull at the boardwalk.

Birthday boy enjoying the view.

Our hotel had a nice view of the Patuxent River.

The boardwalk at Solomon's Island.

Piney Point lighthouse at sunset.

Kepi and I waited for the sunset. It was beautiful!

For our Thanksgiving, we chose to keep it no fuss, quiet and simple. We opted to have dinner at a restaurant and enjoyed a sumptuous buffet serving of turkey, beef and ham. It wasn't great, but it was good. We may not go back to that restaurant next year.

It is Black Friday, and yes, I've done a bit of shopping today. It is mostly for the house and simple gifts to family and friends.

Next weekend, I will be hosting a small lunch with my high school classmates and friends. I still need to get things ready and set things up, but I am very excited to spend time with my friends. We're all so busy throughout the year that we barely have time to see each other. The Christmas season seems to bring us together. I think that's what this season is all about.

Where Are You Christmas?

Where are you Christmas?

It seems a long time ago that I'd feel complete exuberance as soon as September first arrives. The -ber months would usher that Christmas feeling and warmth. If I'm not mistaken, I lost that feeling about six years ago. To those who are not familiar with my story, I was very sick for a long time and started my bone-marrow transplant journey during the holidays of 2013. Imagine getting an infusion on New Year's Day. My transplant was followed by years of being sick and recovery, then my husband's ordeal with three brain tumor related surgeries. Ever since, I am struggling to find that Christmas feeling, and I do miss it.

Just a few samples of the Christmas cards I have at the moment.

One project I do annually to get into the holiday spirit is send Christmas cards to family and friends. It's my way of spreading Christmas cheer. Although the Christmas cheer is elusive to me at the moment, I do hope that these cards may bring smile and happiness to all recipients.

I really love these Christmas Tree cards.

I've also started playing Christmas carols at home and at work. My coworkers tease me that it's too early to be playing these songs, but I just laugh them off. Nothing beats listening to those familiar Christmas carols I grew up with.

Here's Dizzy keeping me company while I sort and write Christmas cards.

In addition, I'm already planning how to decorate the house, and I have started my Christmas gift list. My gift list has little shopping involved as I mostly bake cookies, pastries and breads for family and friends. Baking makes the house smell heavenly, so that's a perk too.

How do you get into the Christmas spirit?

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.