Today, DH and I looked at the structure and saw the bay windows have been started. The second storey slab was completely poured last Saturday and the upper walls are now being built. Here are the 2 front bay windows.
Here’s a view from the inside after climbing the rickety makeshift ladder.
DH and I were deliberating and debating on whether to divide the big room into just 2 small rooms so there’ll be 5 rooms in all. My contention was, eventually, the kids will all grow up and may want to have separate rooms. The girls deny this of course. They’d want to be together always. To me, the “girls’ room” concept seems cute – for now, that is.
Anyway, DH maintained that the bigger room gives the girls more possibilities. Well, after all that I realized that hey she has a point. Maybe we could put the ironing board in there too! Why not, they’re big girls now and I might as well pass on my weekend ironing chores to them.
I’ve not been feeling well lately. It must have been the recent rains. But still I went for my followup consultation with Dr. Mancao today. She concluded I won’t need anymore therapy sessions. This is after 12 sessions in 2 batches. I’m a bit ambivalent. I’m glad that the sessions are over but not too happy in that I don’t think it’s fully healed. She did say that at my age I’d need to be careful of jerky unnatural movement of the right shoulder and arm. She’s kinda worried the tendinitis may come back if not too careful. Continuing the stretches and resistance exercises should strengthen it though.
Last night I was at the World Vision main office to share a talk as a World Vision Child Sponsor. Attending were 34 sponsors and 11 guests (friends of sponsors). Cecille from World Vision called me at the office several weeks ago to invite me. Interestingly, it was because she stumbled on the Lakbay Pagasa entry in this blog and found it suitable as talk material. Of course I was pleasantly surprised and did not hesitate to accept.
It was a long drive though from the office - almost 1.5 hours. But I was still glad to be there and give my speech. Actually I arrived ahead of time (5:45pm). Well, it’s either that or I arrive late because of the traffic that builds up at EDSA at rush hour. All’s well though. At least I had time to chat with Cecille, Elaine, Boris, Richard (a former sponsored child), Cara (the night’s emcee) and Niña.
Here’s Cecille, Niña and Cara.
Unfortunately, the first speaker, Atty. Liwayway Vinzons-Chato was a no-show and so it was the Director who gave the keynote speech. My speech on the other hand was mostly a rehash of the one I delivered as a Toastmaster 2 years ago. This is the 10th speech entitiled In the Eyes of a Child, A Vision of Hope". I updated it to incorporate experiences from the Lakbay Pagasa trip. Although a bit lengthy, I thought it was well received. For a list of my previous speeches, click on here.
Here's a wacky pose with Richard, Cecille and Vani.
After my speech, Richard gave a heartwarming and emotional talk of his experience as a sponsored child many years ago and how it has helped him. He even gave a stirring rendition of Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up”.
Here’s a part of the audience that attended.
I thought it was a well-attended meeting and the audience was motivated by the speeches. Too bad it rained really hard (from Richard’s singing? - kidding!) late in the evening, but still, the program turned out really well.
I posted an earlier entry on the benefits of oatmeal. Well, a few weeks after, I learned how satisfying oatmeal is that I sought other flavors. I discovered that there are a few from Quaker Oats. There’s now Chicken Arroz Caldo, Chicken Mushroom Flavour and Fish and Onion Flavour. This is something I just learned recently coz we’re not really oatmeal eaters. Now, I don’t have to eat as much rice coz it’s so filling. Hmmm, could this be a solution to the rice shortage?
Last Sunday, as we were about to unload our donation boxes to Typhoon Frank victims, I suffered a bad fall at the steps going to the visitor’s lobby. This was on the way down the steps. Funny thing is I didn’t even feel I slipped. I think the tread of the steps was just too narrow and since it just rained, I slipped without even me knowing it. I realized that after I fell on my butt, left palm and lower back. At least it wasn’t as bad as I thought. I’ve put several ice packs for two days and the bruising is mostly gone. DH has already alerted her office’s management about the accident. What a way to add more to my therapy, huh?
Anyway, on the therapy front, I just finished my 3rd session of the second batch and the therapist feels more confident this time. Here are the additional stretches and exercises we’re doing:
After thinking over and over how to dispose of our old stuff (clothes and other clutter), an opportunity came up and that’s a donation drive at DH’s office. This is for the victims of typhoon Frank that hit primarily the Visayas area. I’ve been waiting for a similar drive at our office but all we had was a book donation/ school supplies drive for an elementary school. I’ve already brought some school supplies like pencil cases, bags, old rulers, sharpeners and erasers.
Anyway, back to the Typhoon Frank victims, last Friday afternoon, DH and I went to SCH to sort out our stuff there. This was right after the termite proofing at the construction. I gotta admit, DH was much into this “bukas-palad” thing coz she gave away lots of her good clothes and sweaters (hardly used). We also managed to get some old books that I’m planning to give away.
I was busy packing the old clothes and stuff Saturday morning and it was just so good that it didn’t rain coz I was at the garage drying some old clothes that got somehow got wet. Some of the clothes were in sacks and the books and school stuff are in the left box below.
After sorting and laying the clothes carefully in our empty moving boxes (free from my office), I managed to fill up 2 large boxes and 1 larger box to the brim! I didn’t count, but I estimate the 2 boxes in the front had 20 to 30 pieces of clothing each. The one at the back probly had 50 or more. We brought these to DH’s office Sunday morning before proceeding to Makati for mama’s birthday.
And where did we get all this junk? Believe it or not they are stuff that were stored “just in case”. These are clothes that didn’t fit, were out of style or were just too many of each – sweaters, for example Wow! It looks like my lonely call to declutter our household is getting much headway. Two weeks ago, I labeled a couple of empty boxes with the sign below.
Well, it was supposed to instill in our heads the act of giving. The words come from the first line of the song, “Panalangin sa Pagiging Bukas Palad” (Prayer for Generosity). It’s a beautiful church song and you could listen to it by clicking on the play button below. Lyrics follow, so enjoy! It might work for you to declutter the way it did for me.
Panalangin Sa Pagiging Bukas Palad Bukas Palad Music Ministry Words and Music by SJ Frs. T. Ofrasio, J Arboleda, M. Francisco
Panginoon, turuan Mo ako maging bukas-palad Turuan Mo akong maglingkod sa Iyo Na magbigay nang ayon sa nararapat Na walang hinihintay mula sa 'Yo
Nang makibakang di inaalintana Mga hirap na dinaranas Sa tuwina'y magsumikap na hindi humahanap Ng kapalit na kaginhawaan Na 'di naghihintay kundi ang aking mabatid Na ang loob Mo'y siyang sinusundan
Panginoon, turuan Mo ako maging bukas-palad Turun Mo akong maglingkod sa Iyo Na magbigay nang ayon sa nararapat Na walang hinihintay mula sa 'Yo
Another nice version of the song may be heard here
Yesterday I got the doctor’s verdict that my right shoulder isn’t fully healed yet and so suggested another batch of 6 therapy sessions. I agreed, and why not? Heck if I could make the most of my HMO card I would. My right shoulder just didn’t recover as well as my left shoulder did last year. The rehab doctor suspected torn fibers in the shoulder and suggested more strengthening exercises. I proceeded to take my first session on the same day.
These therapy sessions are quite lengthy coz of the ultrasound and hot gel packs that need to be applied. And so I always bring along my trusty iPod, erm, mp3 player and I could listen to Chico and Delamar’s broadcast of the Morning Rush’s Top Ten for all waiting times. These include waiting for the nurse to confirm with HMO, waiting for the hot pack session to end, waiting for the HMO form, etc.
I bought the above el cheapo mp3 player at Wellcome in SM Muntinlupa. I even had to fight to have the first unit replaced with the above coz the first unit conked out after 10 days and the staff were insisting it could only be replaced within 7 days. Damn.
O Jo, Kaluguran Daka -------------------- Verse 1 Tinatanong kung mahal kita, at bakit nagkahiwalay. Sa puso ko’y di matanggap, pagkat mahal kita. Ako’y nanalangin na makapiling ka Ang ibig kong sabihin lahat ay gagawin ko.
Chorus O Jo kaluguran daka. Kaluguran sobra-sobra. Kasara da reng mata pantunan daka Lawen daka angga king mate ku,uling ika ing lulugud kaku. Lawen daka O JO hanggang atin ka pang tau.
Verse 2 Kapag naaalala ang kahapong kay saya Muli’t muling bumabalik ang tamis ng pagsinta Ako’y nanalangin na makapiling ka Ang ibig kong sabihin lahat ay gagawin ko
(Repeat Chorus)
Bridge Nais ko lang isuko ang iyong pagmamahal Ako’y lalaki lamang na marunong magmahal
Last night I had my third therapy session and the passive stretches were applied. They were followed with the active relaxation stretches. And after that, resistance exercises:
Front raise with 1 lb dumbbell
Side raise (with shoulder transition)
Internal rotation with a stretch band
Now that we're a bit settled in the renthouse while our house is being renovated, it's time to get back on regular exercise. This morning I resumed my stepper exercises. It’s been quite a while and the feeling with the steps on my soles was strange. It wasn’t painful or difficult. On the contrary, it was just a weird sensation like that of “riding” on a platform or surfboard (not that I’ve ridden one). And I really enjoyed the Stepper Mix Music CD (Version 2) that I created. I’ve created remixes of hits of the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, ABBA, Modern Talking, Michael J., Oldies, Latin, and more. Awesome! If you'd like to learn how to create these top-to-tail mixes that DJ's create, email me or leave a comment. It's easy.
And if you don’t have a clue on how the Balance Stepper is used, here’s a video of a similar unit (they look exactly the same, actually) in good old youtube:
I gotta admit that the music helps and a good sense of rhythm and body coordination makes the exercise so easy and enjoyable. What if you don't have good rhythm and body coordination? Well, you could always hit the gym, do weights and walk the treadmill. Or play golf. :)
