donna in mililani

2011-05-10T16:28:00.001-07:00

thought a mini run would stimulate those brain cells a little.glad I went! Sometimes getting those running shoes on takes alot of motivation but the reward i feel after is so worth it!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone:-)

2011-05-10T00:53:00.001-07:00

Can't seem to concentrate for my last finals this Wednesday because my brain is already on vacation..,Thursday I'm off to Manila for some shopping, dining, haircutting experience just for

the weekend! can't seem to get excited tho....I guess I'm just too stressed w/ finals....

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone:-)

Location:Kuauli St,Mililani,United States

2011-05-05T22:17:00.000-07:00

cant wait for the summer break....and looking forward for a little out of town trip next week! destination: Manila and Korea! my korean colleague wants to hit the big malls and i just want to eat anything and perhaps a cheap but good haircut too while im there....one day in seoul to eat some bibimbap and bugolgi will complete the trip.....

2011-03-27T23:45:00.000-07:00

humbled and exhausted, i finished maui's valley-to-sea half marathon under 2:30...2:28:20 something seconds to be exact. not something to brag about, i know, but under my current circumstances, i felt blessed. Soon after picking up my running packet the day before, i realized this was going to be a different kind of race for me.....running with a small group of people (who are mostly true racers or elites!), was unexpected and worth worrying about (i guess i was used to seeing hundreds of runners participate on oahu)...because there was a definite chance i was going to reach the finish line LAST (given my lack of experience and motivation lately!)...about 200 of us gathered early saturday morning for the start in the grounds of the famous Iao Needle in Wailuku....as soon as the horn went off, everyone darted with passion..leaving me behind in a flash...so sure that i was running last among the crowd, i feared even looking back for i was afraid not to see other runners behind me, so i didn't. and i didnt stop either, except when to drink at the aid stations...At the 8th mile marker was probably the first time i took a glance behind me, reluctantly of course, but was relieved after knowing i wasn't running last anymore! somehow this gave me a second wind because i kept moving, even passing a couple. though it felt like and even probably looked like a penguin gliding slowly, i fought the urge to walk it.....Turning to the last mile on South Kihei Road where the beach is a short distance away, runners were directed to run the most difficult part: run on sandy beach where the finish line could be seen with all the decorations and elites now swimming and relaxing just waiting for novice racers like me.....Jogging on sand was hard, but running so that i didnt finish last was even harder to do.....another mission accomplished!

2011-03-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

ive never appreciated spring break more until now...especially after having such a brutal week right before that...to know that those exams are behind me now..what a relief indeed!....tho there is no school, any good student will know this free time will be used for much needed catching up on tons of reading..even taking some of my homework to maui, where i will be racing (hardly) on an annual valley-to-sea half-marathon...

grateful...

2010-12-15T16:49:00.001-08:00

i have waited for this day to finally come: the last of the finals is done! tomorrow morning when my alarm reminds me its 4am--i will hit the snooze button and go right back to sleep..until it's time to bring sis to the bus stop, of course...Not. i imagine getting up at four or 4:30 anyway, putting on the coffee machine, and just enjoy the quietness of the cool mauka morning and for once just sit at my table thanking my God for bringing me through yet another merci-full and amazing semester!

marathon is history!

2010-12-13T08:12:00.000-08:00

i did it! among thousands of runners and alongside a dear friend, honolulu marathon is history! it's a relief to say the least...felt emotional at the end (perhaps it's the sore ankle but i doubt it). since 1997, it has become a personal event for me. Knowing it would be my last this year, finishing felt incredible. doing 13 marathons is more than i had hoped for, it created in me discipline, endurance, and to suck it up when pain is there!

2010-12-02T15:54:00.000-08:00

i have decided that next week's honolulu marathon will indeed be my last.i've been prone to change my mind before, but after 13 straight years, it is time to take up another hobby.i can still remember marathon #1, how naive i was to think i could do it without running?!? Everything has its seasons, and it's time to start a new one!

2010-11-30T20:43:00.000-08:00

the thanksgiving holiday just jumpstarted everything: i have a list that needs to get checked off within the next two weeks: exam,paper,exam,presentation,buy a x-mas tree,lab exam,decorate tree,car appointment,exam,honolulumarathon,exam.end of list.

2010-11-23T16:02:00.000-08:00

it is crunch time--another 3 more weeks to go and semester is practically over! since i came back to school last fall 2009, i must say this gotta be the hardest one yet and i feel more of a student now too....maybe its the part where i force myself to be up before 4am? all i want is to sleep-in on the first day of winter break!

4 tests and a long run

2010-10-18T10:06:00.000-07:00

what used to be a daily run turned to a weekly run which now turned to race day only run. Saddened, but at peace for the gradual change of events caused by my own choosing. and when it rains, it really pours. this week of midterms stole my fun weekend as i spent my precious hours memorizing the skeletal bones and reading up on bone tissues, formation, repair, etc...and that's only the first of four midterms happening this week alone. The end of the week will be highlighted by an 18 miler-run along kahala and hawaii kai this sunday, now considered a treat compared to the abuse my brain received in preparation for midterms.

2010-09-24T10:48:00.001-07:00

running 15miles tomorrow....im happy if i finish in 3 hours! (i hope)

2010-09-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

the school semester is in full swing now and the challenges every week just get more and more. This past week was a good indication of the kind of stress level i'll be exposed with for the rest of the semester or for the entire time until i graduate even....again, i remind myself that i'm training for something greater...i guess it's true that when you're older you also get wiser...i see in my young classmates the kind of student i was when i was their age attending college. I took almost everything for granted. if there's one thing i learn from this journey, it's going after your dreams..and oh maybe one more thing: running takes a backseat for now and it feels ok.

2010-08-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

The summer break is ending so soon and im excited to begin a new experience this fall semester come monday! im officially back to school full-time during the day and work at most nights....the last two semesters have been sort of a trial period for me to see if i liked being back to school and so i've only taken two classes at most before this....so far, i LIKED it! The challenges to keep the grades competitive among other nursing aspirants have been many but keeping my eyes on the prize has not wavered...if anything, it has intensified!

2010-06-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

im going to have to stick to a new routine come monday 6/7.....my job at the Honolulu Advertiser is officially ending...it's been 10 wonderful years.it's funny how things work out...have been contemplating ending my employment at the newspaper a year ago when i decided to go back to school, but im glad i waited until this moment when the company is closing its operations in Honolulu...will treasure my memories with the girls, the donuts from foodland every sunday morning, numerous potlucks, and the calling in sick on marathon day! Aloha 'oe THA!

2010-05-20T17:58:00.000-07:00

leaving taipei this morning..its been a grrreat experience....people were friendly and spoke some english..great transportation/train/subway/taxi...tried'em all....i wouldnt mind coming back here again especially to the geopark where queens head rock formation is famous for...camera battery died--the highlight of the tour!....but happy to be going home....stoked that i have a confirmed seat too! what a treat!

first meal in taipei

2010-05-19T14:14:00.002-07:00

highlight was the salted duck egg!

2010-05-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

1.the plane ride on cathay from narita aiport to taipe intl.

2.my spacious bed w/ down pillows!

3.my awesome bathroom!

time to go OUTSIDE!

2010-05-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

my favorite part of my hotel in taipei!

2010-05-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

im now the proud owner of this vintage-looking chair i found dumped
on the side of road ready for the monthly bulk pick up....i must have
passed by it at least 3 days before getting the courage to load it up in the
back seat of my volvo....and at night when i thought no one was looking! it's
vinyl i think but with a fresh coat of white spray paint it will look like i just
bought it from Ikea or from that extremely expensive store--design within
reach! the best things in life are indeed free!..speaking of which...my free trip
to Taipei is fast approaching!!!.....

2010-05-10T23:58:00.000-07:00

today's finals marked the last day of the semester for me. the feeling of complete 'relief' can be compared to the same one i feel everytime i finish a honolulu marathon...but all the hard work and sacrifice of not running as much this semester paid off...earning A's from two subjects that intimidated me most was a sweet and pleasant surprise. i wish i had this much determination and passion about something the first time around...i wish i knew then what i know now....

2010-04-27T00:29:00.000-07:00

running with a purpose...perhaps that is why i've been unmotivated lately--lacking purpose and almost feel like hanging up my running shoes in the closet....until i heard a story on K-love radio station about a woman who just ran the Boston marathon the weekend before last and i was inspired again....dont even know the whole details about her but coming out from injury last year, she finished this years prestigious run in under 3 hours while raising funds to help some charity she believed in. Tonight's run was motivated by her story and to celebrate after a major microbiology exam today!

2010-04-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

the end of the semester is less than a month away and im gonna have to resume my daily running when it is over :( . I dont suppose im using school as an excuse not to run....it's true i've hit a bump on the road--not running as much or as fast and doing more walking than jogging...but as long as school is running smoothly, then im ok for now even though i might gain a few lbs by the end of the semester!

2010-03-09T23:21:00.000-08:00

I could blame the cold and flu symptoms i got after the aloha run on presidents day....or the stress of doing well in school, but i cant seem to get the rythm back of doing my daily runs since that race......im saddened that running now comes next to doing school work.....and i feel a sense of envy seeing others doing it day in and day out. So, last night, after class, i laced up my shoes and hit the familiar route hoping to see some familiar faces along the way.....not only did it take me longer to get home, but it felt pushed to do so. blame my age then...

A day to remember

2010-02-27T13:43:00.000-08:00

like everyone else in hawaii and the world, i am keeping a close watch on this tsunami that's suppose to hit hawaii any moment now.......

i was awakend by the sound of the emergency sound system at 6am saturday morning. radio and tv news were broadcasting tsunami warnings here due to the earthquake in chile the night before...

after making coffee, i remember that my car was almost empty on gas and decided to drive to the mauka gas station (a 5-min drive) only to find that most of mililani mauka residents already beat me to it...a long line had already formed. i started in line at 7am and exactly 8am when i finally drove away from the gas station.

nothing extra-ordinary is happening at this point...hoping it stays this way! that it's all but a big drill!

2010-02-21T13:08:00.000-08:00

well im always amazed how i get out of the impossible, stressful situations i get in everytime i travel standby...and it seems to me, with all the years traveling standby on united, every single scenario seems to be getting worse.....and this last trip from vegas was no exception. I knew even before i left that flying out of vegas would be risky to say the least, so i made sure i had a confirmed ticket on us airways (coz it was cheaper) for the short haul from vegas to sfo and then i would standby home from sfo (going into vegas wasnt too bad). Even w/ my confirmed ticket, problem would arise--without anybody's fault coz it was weather delay into sfo---low clouds or something according to the agent....fine....2hrs later, plane finally took off....knowing fully that i'd miss my scheduled connection on ua when i arrived. altho there were 2 other flits to oahu yesterday--both were full of confirmed passgrs who also arrived late due to the same problems i had...so i knew those honolulu flts would be packed w/ standby revenue people (no chance for people like me)....Next option was to fly to maui or kona...next flt to maui was leaving at 405pm and i was still standing at the ticket counter (outside security checkpoint in sfo!) at 335pm talking to a fellow agent to try to move my trip to maui instead..after checking me into that flite (by now it's 340pm) she said to run like hell because if i didnt make this one, there would be a very good chance overniting at the airport with the rest of the standby employees. I didnt train for marathons for nothing! i RAN! all those trainings came in handy! exactly 4pm i reached the gate podium and seeing the gate bridge still open and 3 agts talkin among each other, i handed one of them my pass and said 'am i too late?' 'No-you're good...we're actually waiting for 33 connecting passengers from a plane that just landed now..here you go' and she hands me a boarding pass that read 4A!!! getting on was big deal enough but first class? i couldnt believe my luck....of course, it was more than luck! God is FAITHFUL every time!
Oh, and hawaiian air put me in their first class seat too from maui to honolulu---at that point i didnt really care if i sat in the very back because i was already on local soil but God was being generous again...just showing off HIS love for me!

2010-02-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

not sure what i did to deserve the title of this year's employee of the year in my department at the newspaper but i did! my boss broke the news this morning as soon as i came in and as always, a dinner is set for the formal recognition on sunday 2/21. The last time i attended one of these formal dinners was the year i got hired (2000). Altho it comes with a pretty darn good dinner at the Honolulu Country Club, i didnt plan on attending again this year; in fact, i am already scheduled for a much needed vacation that same week....

2010-02-04T22:39:00.001-08:00

A month into the spring semester and still whining how hard my subjects are:Biochem and Microbiology. Then i read somewhere of a quote by someone (i forgot who) that (and im paraphrasing here) sometimes opportunities come disguised as hard work that's why some people miss them. And i began to look at my situation a little differently. yes im not a math or science geek but this could be my opportunity to LIKE math and science...see i've never really had these type of courses on my last college degree back in the day so i've not been exposed to them yet.....i could really learn something new this semester and i'm not just talking about microbes and organic chemistry...

2010-01-24T11:08:00.000-08:00

feeling defeated due to the overwhelming college work this week that i began to doubt my plans and dreams...but a moment of peace (i know it's cheesy) came while driving to work last friday and a song came on the radio reminding me that somehow i was being disciplined for far greater things to come...and like the many races i've run, this one will certainly include some major hills to climb...

2010-01-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

very excited about the next run in february (my first race this year)...for the first time in 9 long years looks like i'll be able to enjoy the company of many others running between the Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium (8 miles)....it's a fun run that i've missed since working for the Advertiser in 2000....well, this year i got the day-off finally (must be seniority, haha)....

2010-01-11T20:01:00.000-08:00

A new year, new semester, new beginnings....first day of classes today and already feeling overwhelmed...great start though: my microbiology instructor is a young lady (probably even younger, no wait, im sure she's alot younger than me!) who seems approachable and very knowledgeable..(in addition to being one of the nicer professors around campus so i hear)...like last sem, most of my classmates today looked just like they're fresh from high-school! it's not so bad when my classmates look like they could be my kids, but when the professor looks too young to be my mother? mid-life crisis is so happening!

2010-01-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

just because i can, doesn't mean i will.............a simple revelation but made an impression to me....i had planned to take a break from school, work, the hectic holidays, etc, and i wanted to take a quick tokyo trip to get my ramen fix..and then it hit me.....yes, i know flights are full after the new years, but more than that, i thought why do i NEED to go in the first place? do i need to jump on a plane every instance i get?...no...and it was refreshing to be able to walk away from my plans and simply say..im going some other time and be at peace about it! for my ramen cravings on the other hand, there's a good japanese restaurant down the road from my place.....

2009-12-27T01:23:00.000-08:00

hope to grow old gracefully too!

2009-12-27T00:57:00.000-08:00

46th wedding anniversary! looking great my folks....

2009-12-25T17:20:00.000-08:00

well, christmas has come and it's still christmas in Hawaii but now gone for most of the world! im so greatful for many things especially so because my first sem back to school was a good start (got A's! final grades were posted just 3 days ago..a great christmas gift)...but, also because i finished my shopping list just in the nick of time, the day before christmas!

2009-12-15T03:00:00.000-08:00

it's official...2009 honolulu marathon is over...as usual, a great feeling to finish another one (12th and counting).not sure what made the difference this time around though...perhaps it was the phiten discs i used on my legs, or the 2 salt tablets consumed during the race, or maybe the near perfect weather conditions, or even all of the above, but i felt unexpectedly strong throughout the entire 5 hours, 23 minutes, 50-something seconds of torture. physically it's no doubt brutal but the awesome feeling of great pride that emerges from mile 25 lingers on far more so than the temporary pain during most of the 26.2 miles of pounding.

2009-12-10T21:56:00.000-08:00

with the fall semester behind me (took my finals today!) and the honolulu marathon THIS sunday, it's mixed emotions to say the least. relieved that school is pau for now, but then the biggest run of my life is fast approaching. My before-sunrise-cool-mauka-weather run started off the day just right....and felt ready for the big one on sunday....i hope.

2009-12-03T23:05:00.000-08:00

it's beginning to look alot like Christmas! I got into the spirit today by putting up christmas lights around the yard and the front door, even decorating one plant with lights.....this is quite early for me actually...most years i wait til after doing the marathon which is the 2nd sunday in december...i am even planning to pick up a christmas tree this weekend! i guess my neighbors have alot to do with this...many of them have elaborate lights to show off and i guess i was inspired or just simply jealous...the hardest part was digging them lights out of storage under the stairway.....mele kalikimaka.....

2009-11-21T00:41:00.000-08:00

a nice pre-thanksgiving, pre-x-mas, and dad's belated birthday dinner with family, and to celebrate suburbanrambler's hawaii visit earlier this month. He took us to Kahala Hilton's Plumeria Restaurant. Great food and company!

2009-11-05T17:55:00.000-08:00

blogging from my new acer notebook given to me by suburbanrambler who is in town to learn scuba diving and what better place than in these islands, right? im glad he's here and my hands-me-down notebook which will help me tremendously with school work....thanks, brother for a nice gift (you dont need to give me anything for x-mas)...

2009-10-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

you know it's time to retire from running long-distance races when you dread going to those events.....that's how i felt getting ready for yesterday's 30k run at Kapiolani. Though i finished (in 3:42 and still feeling ok the morning after)...i think the fun aspect of racing was missing and was replaced by fear. I dont know how those elite runners keep a big smile while running at the same fast pace...seriously...how? i'll stick to recreational jogging...

2009-10-15T22:48:00.000-07:00

for the first time in years i will be skipping a chance to explore a new country (or city) on my vacation next week....i will be home bound....writing 2 papers and reviewing for 2 midterms....and i dont feel bad a bit; well, maybe a little...i considered going to Ikea then Anthropologie just for the day, but then there will be another chance for that after finals...

if i didnt have school this year you'd find me somewhere in South America...but for now, the home needs some special attention too.

2009-09-25T23:59:00.000-07:00

Just feeling anxious about the 15-miler race tomorrow in Kailua--only my second time here and i remember clearly that in the 9th mile there's a huge hill to conquer inside the marine base and i just know that i'm gonna have nightmares about it tonight. Because of school my running has taken a back seat in the last month. I was hoping tomorrow's run will put me back on track before the marathon in December. I'm actually liking school so far. Probably even more so now than when i first attended in the early 90s (wow, sounds like ages ago). Just took my very first exam in Anthropology class yesterday and I aced it! God is good.

what if

2009-08-03T19:33:00.000-07:00

is it just me or dont we all have that moment in time at least once in our lives when we examine ourselves and wonder "what if?" That moment came to me a year ago, more or less, when the thought of going back to college sounded pretty inviting. I guess i had forgotten how grueling writing term papers and final exams can be....after all, it's been almost 15 years since i was a very young, timid, and carefree college student.

turning that thought into action. i enrolled at a community college and registered for 2 classes (although, i might drop one because of time conflict w/ work--bummer!) Eventually, depending how well i do, i plan on leaving my job at the Advertiser to become full-time.

it's a long road ahead, i know, but taking the first step is just as important as the last...i.e: finishing a marathon.

so, Rol, if you want to donate your old laptop...im just saying....

2009-05-07T01:27:00.000-07:00

So my father and I returned from our short and speedy Italian vacation a few weeks ago. It was fun exploring new places with my dad. He did not mind at all that we just walked and walked all over the place (once in a while we would ride the subway too of course) ...he didnt complain about the last minute change of route in which we took to get to Rome in the first place. To say that the life of a standbly traveler is unpredictable is an understatement. The original plan to fly to the west coast then to DC and then fly to Rome was immediately crushed when i learned that no standby employees were getting on any flights to the US mainland that weekend. All of a sudden, United flights were packed and overbooked. Canceling my vacation was not an option, however, so i decided to take the advice of my dear co-workers and take the opposite direction to get to DC....via Japan! Taking the scenic route proved to be a success because we did arrive in Rome at the expected time.

Rome was nice, but i fell in love with Florence right off the bat! It was hard not to. The last time i fell in love with a city like that was a visit to Luzern in Switzerland and Bath in England a few years back. Very charming, i just loved the architecture of the old buildings.

Venice was also a sight not to be missed. Rain came down pretty hard that day, and i still have the umbrella i bought in Venice as a souvenir because of it.

My dad was a good sport....He waited with me for more than an hour to get into one of the museums in Florence after a long day of walking everywhere!

The best part was knowing that our return flight home from LAX had nearly 60 open seats; and no matter how beautiful the places i've been to, coming home, to me, is far more satisfying....

Ciao

2009-04-02T22:56:00.000-07:00

Heading to Rome, Italy in a few weeks...So far, i've yet to book a hotel online; i usually do so about a week before i go......i know it's going to be a different trip this time because coming with me is my father who's 72. I've always wanted to bring him somewhere besides Las Vegas that old folks here in Hawaii care to do alot..so finally he gave in ( i added we might stop by las vegas on the way home---not!).

I'm just browsing thru an old Italy book that my brother gave me from his past trip to that country and it's making me all excited. Given the strong euro currency against the dollar, i think 4 days in Rome is just about right to explore the city and its surrounding towns, if time permits..

Hopefully, may this trip inspire my dad to explore and see a few more places in the near future while he still can....and i'd love to play the tour guide!

Ciao!

2009-03-04T21:49:00.000-08:00

One of the main reasons for my SFO overnite trips was get my Target shopping fix.

Well, that's not necessary anymore since the two Target stores in HI finally opened today to everyone's delight. It was supposed to be a silent opening and it was anything but.....

So instead of taking a plane, now i can take my volvo!

By lunch time and after my morning run, of course, mom, dad, and i drove to Kapolei to see for ourselves and experience one of the biggest thrills we've had here in a long time...yes, Target is Big here!

Driving to Kapolei felt like driving to Gilroy from Sfo.....too far, eventhough it probably took me only 20 minutes to get there! I guess i should have gone to the Salt Lake location, which was closer i think, but the drive to the country side sounded more pleasant.

Oh it wasnt so country out there anymore...in a way, it really did look kind of like Gilroy or other shopping places i've been to in the mainland with those huge parking lots, but only better...

Despite all of the excitement i was trying to control the urge to splurge....oh Target didnt dissapoint for sure and even though i walked away only with 2 cans of Spam (yes, they were on sale for a $1.50 each--ha, ha), shower curtain hooks shabby chick collection, and a deodorant, i know i can always come back since Target is here to stay!

Now, if only Ikea was to open here....i guess those overnite trips to Sfo is far from over!

2009-02-18T16:28:00.000-08:00

my birthday started just the way i wanted it to: off from work! after my usual morning quiet time with 2 cups of strong coffee, i headed out to the gym for my regular excercise routine---- running....oh what a difference it felt...like i was ready to face anything that comes my way after that cardio!

mom prepared her pancit in the meantime and dropped it off later on for my lunch.how sweet!

another year has gone zooming by and there's still a few things i'd like to do before turning 40 in 2 years.....simple ones such as running a marathon out of state, or even better running it outside the country!

2009-02-16T12:08:00.000-08:00

i'm sad that i'm actually missing today's 2nd biggest run in the state:the great aloha run! the last 'aloha run' i ran was in 2000 before getting hired at the Honolulu Advertiser...since then i've worked every single president's day thus missing this yearly run which is held on president's day and is a favorite among locals because of the manageable distance between aloha tower and the aloha stadium (total 8.15 miles). i thought about calling in sick, believe me! but then, i thought i can always run after work, at the gym,...of course it's not the same...

2008-12-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

I am happy to report (though slightly dissapointed in myself) that i came in at 5:18 in last Sunday's marathon. The rain that brought flooding over Oahu and Kauai two days earlier had continued over the first half of the marathon and almost everyone was wearing rubbish bags and ponchos for cover including me. In the second half, the sun decided to come out and the heat was intense. About 20,000 plus ran it and according to the statistics, i was among the first 7000 plus who finished. I was happy to have my bestfriend and running buddy, Heidi run with me for the first 16 miles. I didnt see here again until the finish line.

To me, the Honolulu Marathon is like the final exam at the end of the school semester. It's a great feeling to pass the test.

2008-12-10T22:35:00.000-08:00

The Honolulu Marathon this Sunday became more real to me as i went to the Honolulu Convention Center today to pick up my running packet and saw my Bib number. Maybe because i'm older and slower, this year's run feels like i'm running it for the first time. No turning back now though. I haven't figured out my running outfit for the day but at least wear the same green socks that i love so much. Still dont know what i should do with all the finisher's T-shirts i've accumulated over the years, maybe a blanket or something. I still have my very first one from 1997.

Cant wait for Sunday to come! I am stressed and worried, dont get me wrong, but i'd prefer for it to be here sooner rather than later so i can be done worrying about it! So i can finally concentrate on my Christmas shopping list.....

how to cook 'adobong manak'

2008-11-30T10:35:00.000-08:00

no i-pods but only tongue depressors

2008-11-29T10:54:00.000-08:00

Armed without my favorite gadget (i-pod), only caffeine and a tongue depressor, my favorite run, the annual Turkey Trot, began at around 7ish (since no watches allowed too) on a gorgeous Thanksgiving Day!2 main reasons it's my all-time favorite: 1. it's 10 miles (not too short but not too long-just enough to get me exhausted), and 2. i won it 2 years ago!(and i wasnt even the fastest).

The tongue depressor is to record your predicted time before the run and on the other side the actual time after the run. In 06, my prediction was off by a second and won me a dinner cruise between the Aloha Tower and Waikiki; but last Thursday, i was off by a minute.Needless to say, i lost, but it is still my favorite run.

counting down to the big event:the Honolulu Marathon in 2 weeks! yikes!

happy belated thanksgiving everyone!

the upcoming run.

2008-11-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

honolulu marathon 2006 results HERE.

2008-10-27T23:22:00.000-07:00

I survived the NIKE Run yesterday! Rain had come down hard most of the run which made it even more challenging. Still, the joy of finishing (3:34 hours later) is uncomparable. And i had the best compliment yet since i took up running in 1997. Shortly after crossing the finish line yesterday, a middle aged guy who also just finished right behind me walked up to me afterwards and said "i wanted to thank you....the last hill toward Diamond Head, I usually walk it but since i saw you running it, i decided to run it with you and it was the first time i'd ever run that hill, so thanks!" Wow, it's great to know i made a small impact on that person's running life. I can retire now.....NOT!

2008-10-22T18:41:00.000-07:00

obsessing over IKEA lights!...someday i'd like to visit Sweden to go see the original IKEA store!

2008-10-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

my parents while visiting Pali Lookout for the first time!(tata's birthday yesterday)

2008-10-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

Nerve-racking waiting for this Sunday's annual Nike Run.....the last of the Marathon Readiness Series and it's the longest (19 miler)before the big one in December! Although familiar with the route, i still feel intimidated running along the long stretch of Kalanianaole Hwy...and i dont know why.
...while nervously preparing for the run, i guess i can splurge on some pizza and pasta and oh, my favorite, salami sandwich....yummy!

2008-10-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

Koko Head Trail behind me (this photo taken a few days before the hike)..it's no Mount Everest, i know!

2008-10-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

The other day i decided to challenge myself (knowing i'm really scared of heights) and planned to hike the Koko Head Park tracks trail after work which meant hiking when the heat is most intense. This was only my second attempt and i rememer the first time i did it was early in the morning when the sun was not as harsh, but still felt panic in the middle of the hike when i realized how high it was that i refused to look down while climbing those stairs. Only when i finally reached the very last step and safely on leveled ground did i notice the tremendous beauty Hawaii was, particularly Hanauma Bay on the left and Hawaii Kai on the right and Sandy Beach famous for its dangerous sufing spots. I needed to break the routine of running especially on the treadmill and also needed to check myself if i still got the phobia of heights. I can honestly write, i still got the phobia alright...and eventhough i hated to do so, had to stop a few times and sit on the tracks not so that i can enjoy the beaty below but because i thought my heart would burst from pumping so hard! And i thought i was fit (the stairmaster at the gym is nothing!) Few days later and my thighs are still stiff! Even running 25k the week before didnt cause too much pain but this, just an hour of major stair climbing is causing more pain and discomfort. But it's all good. Conquering my fears that day and getting some major excercise at the same time were all i needed to get thru a hard week.

2008-09-28T00:47:00.000-07:00

Race day....it began at 5:00 am sharp when the entire town of Kailua was still asleep! I came to this run feeling unsure & half-prepared, and unfamiliar with the route....you see, this year was the start of a new run in Kailua that stretched from prestigious Lanikai town to the Kaneohe Bay Marine Base. I have never run a race on this side of the island before (except once on a recreational run around Lanikai while i visited with a friend). The 15.3 mile run was full of beautiful mountain and ocean views from start to finish. Many times i just wanted to stop or walk and enjoy the magnificent scenery but i had to press on. Well, i did finish before 8:00 am (just what i had hoped for) at 2:46. Topping off the run with a nice cold dip at Kailua Beach soon after finishing was sweet, like icing on the cake!

2008-09-22T14:04:00.001-07:00

Halfway thru this crazy month and i'm still standing (or should i write, driving). Racking up some miles in my semi-new volvo as a tour guide to our first-time visitor from manila. Our tourist cousin is enjoying all the sites and major attractions, malls, etc.., but what i thought stood out for him so far was the spectacular view while driving thru H3 yesterday on our way to see Pali Lookout. Those majestic mountains on either side give you a sense that a higher power does exists and cant help but feel small and in awe of the marvelous creation of God. And the best part is that as soon as you emerge out of the H3 tunnel, a grand view of quaint Kaneohe Bay and Kailua town just take your breath away and realize it's one of the reasons people from all over the world come to see our beautiful place. It is my favorite view on this entire island! and it was free (no admission fee)!

September to Remember

2008-09-01T23:57:00.001-07:00

William, a cousin from the Philippines, who received his US Tourist Visa is visiting us for the first time for a whole month.
Nuel, a nephew who recently graduated from Nursing School in New York and his entire family will be flying in from California for a big celebrationg here.
Godson, Luke is celebrating his 1-year birthday Luau.
Attending a wedding for cousin, Maricel, and Carol from Las Vegas is coming to attend!
A surprise wedding shower for Nerisa, a girlfriend getting married in October.
And last but not least, a pre-marathon run (25k) on the 27th....a nice way to help get rid of all those calories i'll consume from all the parties and family get-togethers.

2008-08-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

This weekend marks the beginning of this year's marathon readiness series..... i've been slacking lately due to some discomfort i felt behind my knees while running on the treadmill a few weeks ago......trying to get motivated again and this sunday's 15k run should do the trick, i hope.....wish me luck!

but, i'm also looking forward for some r & r in seattle next week...heading there with sis after the run....hope to shop at ikea there and get some floor lamps that look similar to those expensive tolomeos which i like so much, but a fraction of the cost.

cant wait...!

saturday night alive!

2008-07-13T03:16:00.001-07:00

It is past midnight; i've been home from work an hour and a half ago, ate my sis' leftover chicken/shrimp spaghetti dinner from Outback and still i'm not sleepy at all! and i need to get up for work at 530am! i shouldn't have drank that coffee they made at work tonite..i knew it wasnt decaf...but i needed the boost because the airport was bustling w/ all kinds of deals and problems tonight and even had to stay extra hour to cope with the long lines......i need a vacation!

Mom is turning 71 on Monday! (Rol, dont forget to call her!) I must say she doesnt even look her age actually (just look at that picture)...i wish to grow young just like her. Happy birthday Nana!

Ok, i really should be in bed by now...ciao!

Plan B

2008-07-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

I'm back! Like my one audience would notice....
Had a lightbulb moment a few weeks ago and it's been lingering in my head until i do something about it......i feel like a plan B is necessary at this point in my life.....i am considering going back to school and preferably, nursing school. Surprised? I am because i didnt like school then, but i think people do change and i've embraced the idea of subjecting myself to writing reports and staying up late to study for midterms and final exams, again. Doing it is another story, but i must be brave. Why would i want to disrupt my traveling blizz? I'm not; i still want to see the rest of the world.....ideally as a traveling nurse? While i think about this some more, i must drag my feet out the door and take advantage of this beautiful, warm morning in paradise with a dose of a short run.....after all, it's my day off and i'd like to start it the right way.

No regrets

2008-06-27T09:37:00.000-07:00

Greeting my cousin at the Honolulu Intl airport who arrived yesterday for the very first time brought back fond memories of the day i arrived in Hawaii as a 13yr old girl dressed in blue.
24 years later, i still wonder how different life would have been had i or my family stayed behind in the Philippines. I give my parents credit for having the courage to uproot and move the family to a land unknown and begin a new life.

To my cousin, who left behind her high school teaching job, family and friends, to start a brand new life with husband to be, the opportunies are endless. Welcome to Hawaii!..you wont regret it!

2008-06-25T21:34:00.001-07:00

A classic Filipino birthday food:pancit

Today's my sis birthday and of course, mother made her traditional pancit recipe...it looks as good as it tastes.....enjoy!

Sometimes i wish i cooked more often than the occasional chicken soup made of leftover rotisseri chicken from costco!..may i add that i do a killer fried eggs..a favorite on saturday mornings! I have a lot to learn, what can i say.

Post-race photo-op. 2008 Honolulu Marathon.

2008-06-23T19:31:00.000-07:00

Run to live

2008-06-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

If someone had told me way back that i'd be running marathons, i'd say only the crazy ones do it...but here i am crazy today coz last year marked my 10th Honolulu Marathon completed thus far. Marathons dont happen overnite....it takes lots of training and discipline to get up for those early morning runs and willpower to overcome the fear of not finishing (unless you're from Kenya or Africa where you're born to run and expected to win!) A big cup of coffee always helps too before any run for me.....My very first one was recorded at 7:30 hours. Despite the physical pain and anguish not to mention lots of blisters, i vowed to do it again the following year and the rest is history! Cant imagine running w/out my ipod though...i remember owning only a radio in those early marathon years. My ipod has become my bestfriend and i am usually listening to my favorite Christian artists such as Chris Tomlin or the David Crowder band to name a few. Anybody who has done a marathon will tell you about this invisible "wall" that they face at some point during the race. It's when your will to go on is greatly challenged by strong physical pain and discomfort. Often times it could be the 20th or 22nd mile mark. For me, it's usually the 23rd mile mark where not even the beautiful million dollar homes along Kahala Ave inspire me to take one foot infront of the other. As i search around me or to my ipod music to give me hope and motivation i find myself daydreaming that 45 more minutes or so, i'll be holding the prize---a finisher's T-shirt waiting for me at the end. At this point, no joke, i'm reminded of the poem "Footprints" and become desperate, praising my God for 'carrying' me thru the entire race. Corny, i know, but somehow my strength is renewed. Pride and accomplishment takes over the pain, discomfort, blisters, muscle aches as i take the last step accross the finish line. They're there but it's only temporary. What lasts longer or at least until the next race is the joy of accomplishing something big for an ordinary, non-Kenyan, slow runner like me. It is the reason i sign up year after year after year one step at a time....

My next challenge? a mini triathlon? Nah, but i can dream, can't i?

2008-06-23T14:29:00.000-07:00

Am i ready for this? Big brother thinks so!

2008-06-22T17:28:00.001-07:00

This is huge for me, monumental, a big deal, historical really to be writing my first ever blog! It's kind of exciting and fun to be honest...but this blogging thing is very new territory for me...(heck, i just got the hang of IM a few days ago)...so, i'll just start slowly and hopefully most of what you read and see here will move you in any way somehow! But, first i think i owe it to my big bro, Rol, for this chance to explore life differently, and in the process perhaps even enhance my life thru sharing with you all! Gee, thanks bro, for the vote of confidence! I like what you started!

william's card.

2008-06-22T16:39:00.000-07:00

head on over HERE. this is the new mode to send greetings across the miles, folks. even the remotest friend [or foe] can sign in. the only drawback is that there is no WAY to remit that cash [euro, schekls, dollar, peso] that is itching to get to the recipient.

the business model ought to consider sending a gift ,via a credit card-- or Paypal-- all electronic as already the only way to send the poor chap, in this case the young relative in quezon city, william, his beer money is sponsoring the card itself. allright- you can still do it thru snail mail... considering that i don't have to fly to PI to extend the wish, the signed card via the website, is indeed quite effective enough! [i still think that the designers/webhosts can utilize linking photos to flickr and permit a higher resolution for the photos well-wishers post on the cards...] but live and learn- the next developers and rivals will think of this next [amongst linking youtube and vimeo videos]. let's just hope that someone from silicon valley is reading this.

how the blog looks in the ipod-touch.

2008-06-22T12:44:00.000-07:00

a video: the recent family reunion

2008-06-22T11:20:00.000-07:00

pasion re-union from [sub]urban rambler on Vimeo.

to watch, password: pasion
[with music, so turn up the volume]
music by the argentine, carlos gardel's por una cabeza, [translation here] guitar instrumentation and played by another porteno, juanjo dominguez. more of juanjo's music here. and here. another version done by a bandoneon [group] here and a quintet here. [youtube after links]

a fantastic recent use of 'cabeza'-- in a denouement of a scene which stars al pacino as the gruff + tuff, but passionate [no pun- but see why the music was used?], if cynical and hopeless blind former military officer-- the central character here, in the movie: 'scent of a woman' [youtube], see also and as discussed here.

incidentally, a related story on the reunion here [and of the yet-to-be-delivered series of familial tales promised in same-- look for it at your local barnes & noble or amazon.com.]

lucca + oreo

2008-06-22T10:59:00.000-07:00

reading about a tragedy in the philippines...

2008-06-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

from the NYTimes here re: the disaster in the philippines.

"MANILA — Hopes faded on Monday that more survivors would be found in what could be one of the Philippines’s worst sea tragedies as rescuers failed to find signs of life inside a capsized ferry that had held more than 800 passengers and crew members when a typhoon struck on Saturday.

Rescue officials said only 38 survivors had been rescued, including 28 passengers and crew members who came ashore Monday after drifting at sea since Saturday.

A total of 13 bodies believed to be from the ferry, Princess of the Stars, have been recovered, including nine that washed up on land on Monday.

The known dead from the ferry brought the death toll from the typhoon, named Fengshen, to at least 176, the Philippine National Red Cross said. Fengshen, packing winds of up to 121 miles per hour , struck the central and northern Philippines on Saturday, knocking down power lines, causing landslides, flooding rivers, and inundating entire communities.

Divers who beat against the hull of ferry on Monday in search of survivors heard nothing that indicated life."

2008-06-22T10:33:00.000-07:00

the slide show HERE.

from the archives. mother.

2008-06-22T08:17:00.000-07:00

current cravings...

2008-06-22T07:45:00.000-07:00

this. or this.

the family

2008-06-22T07:36:00.001-07:00

the slide show HERE.

my visitors

2008-06-22T07:17:00.000-07:00

aunty M, aunty I, + cousin M

the slide show HERE.

the tinny house again.

2008-06-22T07:01:00.000-07:00

what is in my flower vase...

2008-06-22T06:59:00.001-07:00

my tinny house.

2008-06-22T06:57:00.000-07:00