Scribbles on the Web

Show us something good about Mondays.

• you get a clean slate
• a time to amend what went wrong the previous week
• it's a new week, therefore new challenges and opportunities!

Hutsai with Gabo & Rago

My father and I call each other Hutsai. It's a term of endearment that we share between us. In Chinese, Hutsai is a rough translation of "good food." Now, you may ask why do we refer to each other as good food?

Well, my father has been a good provider so it's okay for me to make that allusion. But me? Well, today I'd like to believe I am.

However, when we started calling each other that, I was not earning yet. I remember, my mother (whom we also call Baliling---this is another interesting story) one time served us her new recipe, and we (my father, brother, and I) all agreed that it was super delicious. Papa then blurted, "hu-tsai!" The expression stuck with us through these years.

Hutsai turned 72 last Wednesday (November 7). When we asked how he would like to spend his day, he said that this time, he wanted some peace and quiet with Baliling---no party, just them together.

Later that day, I asked them again how they spent their day together, Baliling said that they went driving around (yes, at 72, he still drives) and just talking. Reminiscing maybe. It warms my heart to know that after all these years, they still seek each other's company and find refuge in each other. And they still have a good conversation, and yes lots of laughter, too, going between them.

I carry their joy and love with me wherever I go, and because of that I have lots of joy and love to share, too. I know my brother feels the same. I pray that they continue that way, and that Hutsai remain a strong inspiration in our family for always.

Again, happy birthday, Hutsai. We love you very much!  

Yes, I feel like a 12-year-old. You know that feeling when you're both excited to be almost 13 and yet a bit uncertain what being 13 holds?

That's exactly how I feel now. I've passed through the 39 years of my life, and I'm both excited and uncertain about the big 4-O! Well, they say life begins at 40, and that 40 is the new 30. :)

Hey don't get me wrong here. I'm thankful I reached this stage: happy, fulfilled, and blessed in so many ways I can't even begin to imagine. I'm just amazed at how far I've gone.

I still have dreams though, but mostly dreams for my family. My husband and kids have become my source of joy. Whatever makes them happy, makes me happy, too.

It's ironic that the first time I set foot in school and realized that I could be better than most everyone else, I set my eyes on higher education, and a highly successful career. A family of my own never crossed my mind then. I even had a feeling I'd end up like most of my paternal aunts who had remained single and successful (a judge, an internist).

So after university, I went to graduate school, and got married right after. :-D Then my world took a different turn. I may not be super successful (though, right before I turned 39, I was offered a board seat in the company... still...) in my career, but I have never been happier and fulfilled.

I feel not a year older at all! For all these, I'm grateful to my creator.

Hey, look at the blessings I got by being 39!

Onwritingwell

Now, it's out in the open. One of my life's goals is to write a memoir; capture my life in a few words, a few keystrokes. My life in a nutshell, in a book with 200 pages or so. Is that ever possible? 

Well, other people are able to. I suppose I can do it, too.

As a first step into writing this memoir, I bought this book about 3 years ago, On Writing Well by William Zinser. The book has a good discussion on how to write nonfiction without the clutter.

Here are snippets of what Mr. Zinser say:

Writers must therefore constantly ask: what am I trying to say? Surprisingly often they don't know. Then they must look at what they have written and ask: have I said it? Is it clear to someone encountering the subject for the first time? If it's not, some fuzz has worked its way into the machinery. The clear writer is someone clearheaded enough to see this stuff for what it is: fuzz.

I've written a few chapters but I'm still struggling with the most part of it. In time, I get the fuzz out. :)

Yes, I was faced with that question these past these days.

I was offered and told that I came with a high recommendation to be the chief-of-staff of our congressman.

First, I was surprised. Second, I was flattered. Wow, how many ordinary people are given this offer? It's good on my ego, which is right now battered by chicken pox. I should be jumping for joy. But I am not.

Perhaps, if I were in a different country where working for the government meant good privileges and a relatively peaceful life, I'd grab the offer. Sadly, I am in a country where working for the government would mean you'd be willing to be criticized, be always on the spotlight, and may even be accused of graft and corruption.

Who isn't corrupt or prone to graft?

Everytime we try to ask a favor in exchange for something, no matter how subtly, that is already an ingredient of a corrupted bun. Everytime we try to get ahead on the merits of what we've done for this person or this position, that is graft.

Definitely, the position will open possibilities for me that I cannot imagine right now. But am I ready?

That is the question.

Prpowerwomen_thumb

Thanks to my good friend, Liz Strauss of Successful Blog and I made it to the W-List. I made it to the list, of course, because of my CustServ blog, a blog that talks about customer service, customer relations, customer experiences. 

I've been writing for CustServ for a year now, and the experience has been truly great so far. I've met wonderful people and I learned a lot about customer service, marketing, PR, and mostly about blogging. I have yet to learn a lot of things.

I created this blog, thanks to Vox for hosting it, to be able to give way to my scribblings on the web. I'm sure it will be a fun experience.

Going back to the W-List, I plan to add to the list other women bloggers who have outstandingly touched my life. Here goes my initial list (as I'll be updating this as I go along).

CustomersAreAlways by Maria Palma

Will Write for Chocolate by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

Lip-Sticking by Yvone de Vita

La Pájaro by Birdie Jaworski

Yes! It just is, and I think it's gonna be better in the coming days.

I am hopeful this year particularly. Why? No particular reason that I can pinpoint. It's all about feelings... For a start, I just feel that I'm going to travel overseas this year. For a vacation, of course. For work? Well, I may consider. ;)

I'm excited for my kids who are going to big school this school year. We've been to the school a couple of times, and already, I like its campus. It has swings, tree houses where students can sit on a windy hot afternoon, or on warm rainy days (yey!). There's a basketball court and a water fountain too. Even the nursery rooms are colorful and comfy. I'm almost sure Rago will have a good balance of play and academics there. I have yet to see the elementary rooms, where Gabo will be in one.

My husband, who has always been supportive of me, is as supportive as ever. He helps me with my things at work, even including me in their meetings and workshops to give me more insights in a manufacturing corporate world. I need that experience for the kind of work that I do these days. His company is going to workshop for IS0 14000, and I'm gonna be in it. Cool, isn't it?

For the most part, I blog for a living. I also manage a conference directory website. I have a lot of plans for my business sites, and I will start to make them happen this year.

I like it when I'm hopeful about things because I'm more empathetic, more compassionate, and definitely more patient! :-D

You will read about me and the stuff that I care and worry about, the things that get me going and frustrated, and the activities that I wish I could start doing. So, stay tuned! ;)