Kat's Notebook

When I first came to the US, I stayed with my grandmother for a while because work was nearer at her house. My grandmother that time was still spry and very energetic and independent. She always loved to cook and care for her family and friends. Of course being a beloved granddaughter, she fawned over me and took care of me instead of the other way around. I believed my leap in weight that time was due to her cooking.

I was missing my grandmother’s cooking for a long time now. She couldn’t cook anymore because she has Alzheimer’s. She couldn’t remember if she seasoned a particular dish already or not so she keeps on seasoning. So the dish would be ruined. Recently I kept remembering this particular egg noodle dish that she makes when I was staying with her. Unfortunately I didn’t observe her while cooking her delicious dishes. I would regret that I didn’t learn her famous lumpia shanghai. Her ginataang halo-halo however I was able to recreate. Anyway I was craving for her egg noodle dish so I tried to remember what was in that dish. I resorted to google search for the sauce/flavor then put my own garnish for the dish. Forgive me for the estimated measurement of the ingredients.

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Last year, there was news that the Japan Tourism Board is planning to give away free 10000 flights to foreigners visiting Japan for 2012. Well…it’s not going to happen. Darn. I am hoping I would be awarded one those tickets. According to an article, the reasons for this not happening are:

Why the change of plans? Well, for one thing, the giveaway was going to be quite costly. For another, though, there were concerns that it would seem insensitive "for the Japanese Government to give people free flights to Japan when the cities, towns and villages devastated by the tsunami are still in desperate need of funding for reconstruction."

What’s more, such a giveaway could offend donors who generously opened their wallets after tragedy struck:

We also would not want people thinking that the generous donations given from around the world to aide those affected by the disaster was being spent on giving people free flights.

Oh well. I guess I have to resort to the old method: saving up money to go back there again.

2011 brought me to a lot of places. I seemed to have this mission of exploring the world and checking off the places in my travel bucket list. I also would think that it would be the end of the world in 2012 so I should visit these wonderful places before the end happens. Fortunately it didn’t so I have time to travel around the world still. Now if I can only find a travel buddy…

Coron, Palawan, Philippines – Jan 2011

After the new year, I went to Coron, Palawan with my sister. I was so glad to have visited this place. It was truly a paradise – one long stretch of white sand after another. Blue skies, clear water, white sand, solitude – it set the bar high when it comes to beaches. I also was trying for a tan but it didn’t work.

Taipei, Taiwan – Jan 2011

This was the last leg of a jetset life. I was travelling to different places for almost 3 weeks starting on the Christmas of 2010. Why Taipei? I had relatives there and I didn’t have anyone to go with me so better go to where I know some people. There were many places to visit in Taipei however because of the rainy and cold weather, I decided to stay put in my aunt’s house and just roam the nearby areas. I enjoyed my time there: the food, the shopping, and my relatives. I would love to go back just for those three reasons.

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New Year means a new everything – goal, perspective, aspirations, changes, etc. It  inspires people to improve from the past and change for the better. Last year I made some new year’s resolutions. It was a half-hearted attempt to set some goals in my life. Well it was more like half-hearted in my actions to complete them. Let me go back to my new year’s resolutions of last year and decide if I’m going to make a new one this year.

1. Take up dance class and learn how to dance (ballroom or hiphop) – well I didn’t get to enroll in a dance class. However I am going to start on Zumba this month! I don’t know if that will teach me some dance moves though.

2. Improve my tennis skill level – sad to say I didn’t pick up my tennis racket for the whole of last year. It was really bad of me.

3. Travel to Japan – Mission accomplished! I was able to travel to Japan in October with my sister. I had so much fun!

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Growing up I have a love-hate perspective with my birthday being too close on Christmas. I love it that the happy feeling I have during Christmas goes on all the way to my birthday. I love that my birthday is on a school break. Then I hate it that my birthday is many times overlooked sandwiched between Christmas and the New Year. A lot of times my family/relatives would give me only 1 gift combining both Christmas and birthday presents. Because my birthday happens on a school break and a busy holiday, a lot of my friends forget or were unavailable to celebrate my day.

Anyhow, for my 2011 birthday, I had separate presents for Christmas and birthday, I was able to celebrate my birthday properly with a family dinner and outing, and I got to have a party in tandem with my aunt’s birthday and the new year’s eve celebration. For those people who know me very well, I’m very choosy with my presents. I even had to send out a birthday gift registry to my aunts so that they can give me the things that I really wanted. I also had a hard time thinking what presents I want to receive because most of the time I had already bought it myself.

So here was the haul for 2011:

1. Gift cards: $25 Amazon gift card from my cousin, $25 Old Navy GC from my aunt, another gift card for a restaurant from my aunt

2. Plush pajama set from my aunt and uncle – finally I have my own set after my mom took ownership of the other set.

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2011 has been a very good year. I thank the Lord for all the blessings He has showered upon me and my family. One of the reasons I blog is to be able to remember such blessings that came into my life. As 2012 unfolds, I’m taking time right now to be thankful of what 2011 has been to me.

1. Good health – I have been in good health for the past year. I don’t recall having been sick except for the occasional morning allergies. I don’t have any medical insurance so I always prayed to God that He protect me from injury or illness and He answered my prayer.

2. Steady income – I have been employed full time for the past year and I am also blessed with a part-time work which supplemented my main income.

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Hello guys! I hope you have a good start in 2012. In my succeeding articles I will become nostalgic and look back on 2011 to have a proper goodbye of the past year and a proper hello of the new year. So what’s happening in 2012? Well all I know are: the Summer Olympics in London, it’s the year of the Dragon, Dec 21 2012 is the Mayan prediction of apocalypse, and it’s a Leap Year!

Anyway whatever happens in 2012, I pray that we all cherish each day and thank the Lord for His goodness. Let us hang on to His promise in Jeremiah 29:11:

    “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Happy New Year everyone!

After my birthday dinner celebration, my family decided to go to the Global Winter Wonderland in Santa Clara. I got GetMYPerks vouchers which allowed me to buy the tickets for half its price (12USD). Before arriving to the event, I already have lowered my expectations with this place having read user reviews from Yelp and having heard not-so-glowing comments from my aunt, who went days before.

Global Winter Wonderland is situated beside Great America Theme Park. It occupied a portion of the park’s parking lot. There was a 10USD parking fee which was ludicrous in my opinion so we drove and found a street parking directly across the place. It was a cold and slightly long walk but we were fine with it considering we would only be there for an hour. We arrived late in the evening which was good because that way the place was all lit up.

Why is it named Global Winter Wonderland? Because a lot of their light displays were miniature imitation of world iconic places. The place was small and contained few small rides. There was a big tent that housed food and boutique stalls. The main event was the light displays only. Anyway here are pictures to show you instead of me rambling vague descriptions…

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I want to greet you all a Merry Christmas. I also want to repost this greeting I got from someone in Facebook and I greet you with this message too:

I could wish you joy n peace to last a whole life long.
I could wish you sunshine or a cheerful little song.
Or wish you all the happiness that this life could bring.
But I wish you JESUS more than anything!
Coz when I wish you JESUS, I’ve wished you EVERYTHING!

Merry CHRISTmas!!!