HALLOWEEN DAY

Taken at Stop N Shop in New Rochelle
outside the Stop N Shop

There is a big difference how USA celebrates their Halloween than we Filipinos do in the Philippines. In the Philippines we do is dressed our stores in the mall with Halloween stuff and do the treak or treat in there for the kids but not every household does it. In televisions there is a show that we could watch like horrors or people that was possessed as many folks in the Philippines believe that November 1 and 2 is the time where people unseen like ghosts come out from where they come from and mingle with those people that are still alive. Even if they are in a different dimension some say they showed up in a form of light or noise to let the people aware that they really exist.. Some say that they saw a white lady or a zombie, vampire or whatever. For me it is just to show that they need to be remembered (talking for the dear departed ones that leave the world ahead of us) The reason why we go to the tomb and offer flowers, light candles and say prayers. Here in the USA or any parts of the world they feel it to be celebrated. Just like they put scare crew and pumpkin which means they have a good harvest. From inside the house they put decorations too as well as outside the house.
People I say not all but some here are dressed in Halloween costumes and they would buy some candies for those kids who go to their house on the eve of the Halloween day and they received candies or in kind but mostly chocolates as the trick or treat give-aways. As others are almost prepared for the Halloween celebration I happened to pass by this house that has this Halloween decoration in their front lawn.
See pic… and one thing I noticed with the celebration they not only decorated the ins and outs of the house with pumpkins, scare crow and the like at the groceries you could buy paper plates

, napkins
, glasses and etc with Halloween decorations. I bet in their houses too they will prepare food intended for Halloween also….How we celebrate it doesn’t matter if everyone has different beliefs and that we should understand and consider. Cheers… Happy Halloween to all!!!!

Grief for an Aunt who just leave the World

Hey friends been lazy writing my blog as I was busy these days. I got a part time job which the schedule is not fixed yet, we visit 2 Aunts of my husband who is in the hospital. I feel closer to them even if I am just a new member to their family. Having seen them for 8 months. Their welcome hugs made me feel comfortable. Nice treatment made me feel am home with my real family. Aunt Gerty as they fondly call her is one very close to me as I was the one who clean her house every Friday. She cannot do the cleaning that much as she is already 90, alone in her apartment and besides she had a parkinson’s too. After cleaning we had 1 hour of socializing as she fondly call it. We talked and talked about her late husband. Aunt Gerty’s,been in the hospital for 2 weeks already. She’s not feeling that well for days, weak and keep on sleeping, maybe because of her medicines that when she takes made her drowsy. Until one day while she was in the bathroom preparing to go to the party she fell to the floor, she push her lifeline before she got unconscious but no one rescue her. When she regain her consciousness she picked herself up and go to her bed sleep again. When she got up that’s the time that she push again her lifeline and called her niece who called the 911 too and right in there go to her apartment and brought her to the hospital. I am praying that she will be alright soon and that she could get out of the hospital too. Aunt Fran is also near to my heart, she stays with us above our apartment, on the second floor. She’s been feed thru a tube as she had problems with swallowing too. She’s been in the hospital for 2 weeks already. She was 92 years old. She is coughing very hard that’s why her daughters call 911 so she could be in the emergency room. She is not in good condition when I visit her last Saturday. She was put in the nursing home and the doctors frequently visit her and give her a series of tests. She is just breathing thru an oxygen machine, the heartbeat is monitored too. After my last visit I feel uneasy and I ask my husband the other night when is her birthday. He told me that it would be this November 23. The reason why I ask that, is because I had a feeling that she will not reach her birthday with that response that she had with her medications. And true enough last night my husband told me that my aunt’s daughter called her telling him that she had parts of her body is not responding. I just shook my head and said this is it. She will not live that long. And this morning when I came from my work, my husband announced that his aunt leave the world already. I told him she just wait for me to come here, attend our wedding which was last May. She just want to see her nephew to be married. I maybe wrong but I think it’s a coincidence. I feel sad because I remember my grandma that even if she was already gone for 24 years now still I could not move on until this day. I am still sorry for not seeing her. We were not by her side when she died. And to think that I am her favorite granddaughter. I always feel sorry that I was not able to take care of her when she was still alive. I took caregiver course, as I feel that it is my way of caring the elderly, my way of paying back the lost time with my grandma which I was unable to do. But the problem is when I get much involved to the elderly and they passed, I am hurt. That I cried, feel sorry for them. I admit that I am strong with things. I remember that when I get to theraphy of my right arm the therapist is telling me that I am strong no matter how she pull and exercise my hand she never saw me crying while there are lots of patients bigger than me and most are men they cry when she touch the part that is hurting. I told her back that the only thing that made me cry is the drama events, he he he. Put a movie drama in the DVD player or let me attend to the patients who are old and dying in a minute you will see my tears falling down from my cheeks. Anyway, I know that she’s been called by our Lord already. I know that it is already her time to go. Her mission on earth was already fulfilled. Though it is sad that she leave us around I still pray for her, we know that she is happy joining the Lord. We are praying for her soul’s eternal repose. Aunt Fran wherever you are just remember that we love you and you are in our hearts and in our prayers….

Hundred Islands, Philippines

For nature lovers, this group of islands is a sight to behold! A friend sent me these pictures and lo when i see the view i said ahhh and uhhh!!! I love travelling and taking pitures and i haven't been to this place when i was in the Philippines. Was asking myself what is it this place that people like to go on adventure and to see. NOw i know why some people keep on visiting this beautiful place, if you are tired of living in the city and you plan to go places this serves as a good a gate away from bustle and hustle City of Manila.This became Pangasinan's best-known attraction.Hundreds of tiny rock islands are dotted over Lingayen Gulf near Lucap. From a distance they appear as a single land mass but a closer view shows them to be islands. Ranging in area from a few square meters to three hectares, some thirty of the islands are bordered by white, sandy beaches and surrounded by coral. The crystal clear waters are suited for swimmers, snorkelers and scuba divers. However, several coral reefs there have already been destroyed by dynamite fishing. One cannot get directly to many of the islands by boat because of the coral reefs which lie just below the water surface. Two islands, Urduja and Cathedral, are interesting because of their caves.
The tourist office at the pier in Lucap gives information about the islands and round trips by boat.
Urduja Island
Cathedral islandpassage into one of the caves

Here are few pictures of other islands that was sent to me;
Governors island
Shell island
Turtle island

These are the pictures of souvenirs that you can buy from the Lucap pier it is made of sea shells that is abundant in that area.
To my friend V, (she doesn't want me to mention her name here) thank you for giving me these pictures, i choose to post it here so that people all over the world reading my blog could see that there are places in our country Philippines that is safe to visit. I just hope one day you could also have a chance to look and read my blog. My regards to you new baby and your hubby.I want you to know too that one of my dream to see is this islets that make Hundred islands famous.I just don't have a chance while in there as you know i am much busy with the work and if i had the chance to travel it is just in connection with my work and not for liesure.One day if i had a chance to visit Philippines i want to explore the place and see it myself.

Car Wash Day

This place is located in Larchmont, NY. The price for car wash here is reasonable
while waiting for the car that was washed to come out i take pictures of the fishes in the aquarium that is inside the car spa office i really love to see the fishes swimming. It is my dream that one day i could have an aquarium that has arwana fish in it. When i got tired i sit on this bench have a pose until the car wash man finished his job.
Huh after 30 mins of waiting there the car is finished and we are ready for roaming around and find shopping malls ha ha ha.....

Tagaytay City, Philippines famous for Taal Volcano and Lake

My vacation in this place called Tagaytay is an unforgettable one, the place is very serene and far from noise and bustling Manila.While in Tagaytay I stayed at the Taal Vista Hotel. I choose the place because it is overlooking the famous Taal lake and Taal Volcano.
From what I learned "Taal Volcano has been called the smallest active volcano in the world. It is located about 70 km south of Manila in the middle of a lake called Taal Lake. What makes Taal Volcano unique is the fact, that the volcano itself forms an island that has a lake
of its own inside the crater which is called the "Crater Lake",
thus it is a lake within a lake." the volcano island can be reached by taking a half hour boat ride from any town on the shores of Taal Lake but the most popular jump-off point is from the town of Talisay. It was known that thousands of local and foreign tourists visiting is Tagaytay City every week. Taal Volcano remains a mystery that can only be viewed from a safe distance. It remains active up this date and continuously spews out steams from several small vents. For the growing number of people with a small sense of adventure and urge for discovery, they would find out that one can actually set foot on the volcano island, some curious visitors ride a horse to reach the rim of the main crater and wonder in awe at the view of a small island and the serene lake that formed in the gaping mouth created by the 1911 eruption of the volcano It is by no means a rewarding experience to be able to witness up close the impressive work of nature.

Trip to Atlantic City

Yesterday was a fun day for me. A new place and a new adventure for me. We were on this bus I had a nice trip to Atlantic City passing New Jersey . Finally we reach our destination which isWhile in there we get into this casinowe play a little in the slot machines, we're not really a gambler just for fun while others are busy roaming around taking pictures, shopping for souvenirs, etc. When we got hungry we go into this place which is near to the casinothe food is great,but not that cheap ha! we order this menuyummy!!!In fairness the ambiance is good, the waiter is very accomodating and fast service.While eating the music is played featuring singers in their band and the windows are decorated with pumpkins, scare crew and waving like the spider wave, this is in preparation with the coming Halloween. While inside we take the chance to take pictures of us with there memorabilia as the background

After the lunch we go outside to take some more pics in the facade of the Trump Taj Mahal

We get our snacks at the sidewalk and we eat near the stairs of Taj Mahal where i saw this birds and feed them some of my food. Gosh!! the whole day just pass quickly and before we know it we are already on board on the bus at 5:00pm and ready to go home... Anyway, its all fun and happiness is all that matters....

Celebrating Columbus Day

Columbus Day honors the explorer Christopher Columbus, who first landed in the New World on October 12, 1492. While Columbus's nationality has never been positively identified, many believe he was of Italian descent, and throughout the nineteenth century, Italian-Americans held celebrations in cities across the United States to honor his memory. In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 Columbus Day. President Richard Nixon later declared Columbus Day a national holiday to be observed the second Monday of each October.So that would be tomorrow October 13th.

Microwaved water

A 26-year old decided to have a cup of coffee.. He took a cup of water and put it in the microwave to heat it up (something that he had done numerous times before).

I am not sure how long he set the timer for, but he told me he wanted to bring the water to a boil..
When the timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into the cup, he noted that the water was not boiling, but instantly the water in the cup 'blew up' into his face. The cup remained intact until he threw it out of his hand but all the water had flown out into his face due to the build up of energy.
His whole face is blistered and he has 1st and 2nd degree burns to his face, which may leave scarring. He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye.
While at the hospital, the doctor who was attending to him stated that this is fairly common occurrence and water (alone) should never be heated in a microwave oven.. If water is heated in this manner, something should be placed in the cup to
diffuse the energy such as: a wooden stir stick, tea bag, etc. It is however a much safer choice to boil the water in a tea kettle.

General Electric's (GE) response:

Thanks for contacting us. I will be happy to assist you.
The e-mail that you received is correct. Microwaved water and other liquids do not always bubble when they reach the boiling point. They can actually get superheated and not bubble at all.
The superheated liquid will bubble up out of the cup when it is moved or when something like a spoon or tea bag is put into it..
To prevent this from happening and causing injury,
do not heat any liquid for more than two minutes per cup.
After heating, let the cup stand in the microwave for thirty seconds before moving it or adding anything into it.

If you pass this on, you could very well save someone from a lot of pain and suffering.


Note: This is important for everyone to read; teach the househelp accordingly so that everyone avoids making this dreadful mistake!

Yom Kippur to the Jewish People

Yom Kippur, is celebrated on the 10th day of Tishri, it is most important and solemn of Jewish holidays. Yom Kippur is the occasion on which otherwise non-observant Jews are most likely to attend synagogue, refrain from work, or fast.

History and Meaning of Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur is instituted in Leviticus 23:

And HaShem spoke unto Moses, saying: "Howbeit on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; there shall be a holy convocation unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls; and ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto HaShem. And ye shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before HaShem your G-d."
The name of Yom Kippur means "Day of Atonement." It is believed to be the last chance to change God's judgment of one's deeds in the previous year and his decisions one's fate in the coming year. The "books" in which God began recording his judgments on Rosh Hashanah are sealed at the end of Yom Kippur. It is thus a day of intensive reflection, repentance, fasting, worship and self-denial (see Observances of Yom Kippur, below).

In the Bible, Yom Kippur is called Shabbat Shabbaton, "Sabbath of Sabbaths," for it is on Yom Kippur that the abstention from work and solemnity that characterize the Sabbath are most complete.

In the days of the Temple in Jerusalem, the high priest conducted an elaborate sacrificial ceremony on Yom Kippur. Clothed in white linen, he successively confessed his own sins, the sins of priest, and the sins of the people, then entered the Holy of Holies in the Temple - the only day this was allowed - to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice and offer incense. The priest then sent a goat (the "scapegoat") into the wilderness, where it was driven to its death, to symbolically carry away the sins of Israel.

Observances of Yom KippurOn the eve of Yom Kippur, the Kol Nidre is recited. This prayer is well known for its beautiful melody, but its meaning has sometimes been misunderstood. The Kol Nidre ("all vows") annuls all vows made throughout the year, and Anti-Semites have used the prayer as evidence that Jews are untrustworthy. But the Kol Nidre actually refers only to vows made between oneself and God, and especially frivolous vows made to God when pleading for help or religious vows made under duress (such as professed conversion to Christianity during the Inquisition).

The recitation of the Kol Nidre does not change the fact that obligations towards other people must be upheld. In fact, the eve of Yom Kippur is considered one of the best times to seek and grant forgiveness. God will forgive sins committed against himself, but if one has wronged another person, he must seek forgiveness from that person and try to make it right. The Mishna teaches, "Yom Kippur does not atone until one appeases his neighbors."

On Yom Kippur, Jews must abstain from all work, food, drink (including water) and sex. Orthodox Jews also follow the Talmudic regulations of not wearing leather shoes, not washing, and not "anointing oneself" (i.e., wearing deodorant, lotions, perfumes, etc.).

The majority of Yom Kippur is spent in the synagogue, where special services are conducted from morning to evening. Especially in Orthodox synagogues, it is customary to wear white on Yom Kippur to symbolize purity before God and the forgiveness of sins. Some wear the kittel, the white robe in which the dead are buried.

One special feature of the Yom Kippur synagogue service is the insertion of the confession of sins of the community into the regular Amida blessing. All are recited in the first person plural (e.g., "we have been aggressive, we have been slanderous") to emphasize communal responsibility for sins.

The concluding service is unique to Yom Kippur. Called Ne'ilah, it usually lasts an hour and the ark (where Torah scrolls are kept) remains open throughout the service. Everyone therefore must stand the entire time. The service is the last chance to get in a "good word" before God's judgments are sealed. At nightfall, the Yom Kippur service concludes with one last long blast on the shofar.

Happiest Time of the Year?In view of its fasting, penitence, and "affliction of the soul," it would be natural to think of Yom Kippur as a day of sadness. But the Talmud says of it:

There were no days as happy for the Jewish people as the 15th of Av [when marriages were arranged] and Yom Kippur.
This holiday is happy because it brings about reconciliation with God and other people. Thus, if they have observed it properly, many people feel a deep sense of serenity by the end of the fast.

I am not a Jewish but my boss is, got curious how they celebrated this day and seems this is a good feature to know and study their beliefs. And i find it interesting....

Looking for winter clothes

I am very much happy i was able to recover this site. After how many days of testing the username and password i was able to open it. Anyways, i can now continue writing my blog.Take a look for my shopping spree. I am looking for coats and boots and i find this one good for winter
and the winter boots this one is my choice and this one
isn't it nice? Quiet expensive but its worth it. This is my first winter ever!!! Got excited to play the snow....