Curbside Stories

Photo from here . The parable of the fish and loaves is one of my favorite stories in the Bible. Its message is simple--sharing. I am from the Philippines and I am very much aware that ever since the government announced the stay-at-home order because of the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of people have become poorer and that majority worry about their daily living. I currently live in the US and I can see the contrast between the effects of the order between a third world country and the US. I didn't worry for my family here in as much as I worried about my family and friends back in the  Philippines because we still have our jobs and we still can provide for our family. For that I am grateful. It hurts me to watch in the news that food and resources that are supposed to be for the people, land in the hands of corrupt government officials. I feel angry about a lot of people's deliberate disregard for authority and guidelines to prevent the spread of the disease. How...

Angelina Jolie recently revealed that she underwent double mastectomy last April as a preventive measure following the discovery that she is carrying a cancer gene. The chances for her to develop cancer dropped to 5% from 87%. Her mother died of ovarian cancer and seeing her mother throughout the battle and her six young children were the motivations for her to do the procedure. She also considers the removal of her ovaries. I think it was heroic of her. It was a courageous feat to sacrifice the removal of a part of her femininity and choose to live longer for her to see her children grow up. I remember the famous Miss Universe 2013 question "What is the essence of being a woman?" that was confidently answered by Sushmita Sen of India. After 10 years, it was only now that it was answered most profoundly. Her revelation made us think that we do have options for our health and our happiness. Sometimes, we have to give up a part of ourselves to someone or something that...

I had a serious fall earlier this day. It was raining and the floor was slippery. I lost balance and fell on the left hitting my head hard. I heard a nasty "thud" sound. I was not able to get up quickly because I passed out for seconds. When I was able to see, although blurry, I immediately got up but it felt different. I had difficulty breathing. I went to the kitchen and sat for a while. After a few moments I passed out again. My grandmother had me lay down while she was wiping dirt off my head and leg. I had scraped my leg and bruised my wrists. My head hurt so much. I went to the hospital for a check up because it was the first time I hit my head that hard and the first time I got drowsy because of a fall. The doctor asked me several questions including if I vomited and still feel dizzy. The doctor requested me to have a skull x-ray just to check if I have fracture. After a few minutes of waiting for the result, the doctor said my skull does not have any fracture. I gav...

My mom told me that when she was pregnant with me, she's fond of eating pineapples... we call it in the Philippines as pinaglihihan. Pineapple is not one of my favorite fruits because I don't like my food sour. I won't eat it unless somebody tells me it is of the sweet kind. So why did I cook a dish with pineapples? I don't have much ingredients in my kitchen. The things that are available are chicken, evaporated milk, bell pepper and pineapple tidbits. I was thinking of cooking adobo but it was just last night that we had soy sauce based dish for dinner. Well, it turned out delicious... my son could attest to that because he only eats chicken when it is barbecued, fried or if it is adobo. If you like to try this dish, here is the recipe:

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In the Philippines, aside from summer being the season to enjoy the beach and the pool, it is also the season for young boys to undergo a ritual... a passage into manhood... circumcision. It is commonly done every summer since there are no more classes. Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin that covers the tip of the penis. In other countries, it is done before a newborn leaves the hospital. In the Philippines, it is commonly done to young boys of age 10 to 14. Parents who choose to have their sons circumcised is often based on religious beliefs, hygiene, or social and cultural reasons. My nephew just had the ritual. It was hilarious. But, I am proud of him because he took it like a man. Next school year, he can now boast to his male classmates that he is no longer a baby but an adult... an adult who is ready to take more responsibilities.

Happy Thanksgiving! Aside from the many blessings I have received this year, there is one thing special that I am really grateful for today... it is my son's second life. Last Friday at around 2:30 in the afternoon while I was busy giving directions to my office staff, I received a news that my son was rushed to the Emergency Room because he was hit and run by a motorcycle. That was the most devastating news any mother could hear about her child. I was not prepared for the day. I immediately rushed to the ER to check on him and he was crying and in pain. I heard him asked the nurse "Where's my Mommy? Where's Daddy?". My heart felt like it stopped beating when I saw him drenched in blood. He had contusion and wound on his forehead, arms and left leg. His right leg was fractured and could not move. At 6:00 in the evening he was scheduled for wound debridement, suturing and casting. He cried and cried while waiting for the schedule until he felt tired. I acc...

I need not go to Chicago to have my hair blown by the wind. Where I am right now is enough for me to experience the wind. It has always been like this in the Philippines when the snow from other parts of the world starts to melt and the Northeast monsoon gushes towards the Southeast. If I could no longer bear to shower directly from the shower head, it is already a sign that I should stock up on products with moisturizers and thick clothes to keep me warm and moisturized 24/7. A lip balm to lock in moisture thus preventing chapped lips. Burt's Bees nourishing lip balm , $2.99 at Small Flower. If you look pale without lipstick, here is Lip Fusion  Balm by Fusion Beauty . It will give your lips color and then moisturize it up to 6,000% if you use it continuously for 4 weeks. That's a lot of moisture! Get this at Beauty.com for $22. The face needs as much moisturizing as the lips. Try this Sephora instant moisturizer , $20 at Sephora. This has HydroSenn+ that not only...

I got so clumsy today that I sprained my right ankle. Now, I could not move around the house without watching my steps and reaching for something I can hold on to. Photo from A. D. A. M . Sprain is a medical condition wherein one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is over stretched, torn or partially torn. Sprains happen when the ankle rotates beyond its normal range of motion like what happens when you trip, you fall or jump and then you lose balance. There are three types of ankle sprain: 1. Inversion ankle sprain (this is what happened to me). This happens when the foot becomes too much inverted (you turn your foot inwards). In this type of ankle sprain, the lateral ligament--anterior talofibular ligament--of the ankle becomes over stretched. According to studies, 90% of ankle sprains are inversion type. 2. Eversion ankle sprain. This is the opposite of inversion. The medial ligaments become over stretched when this type of sprain happens. 3. High ankle sprain. This least...

Today I thank my son's pediatrician who did not charge me for consultation. My son was sick since Wednesday due to cough and colds. I took him this afternoon to his pediatrician and he was given antibiotics and cough syrup. He is cordial and you can sense genuine care for his patient. He talked to my son about what he should not eat while he has cough as if he's talking to his own son. My son nodded to each reminder from his doctor as if he truly understands. God bless you, Doc!

I had a day of pampering and I love it! I think I should do it more often. I left the house at around 1PM after my Aunt took my son to their house to be a nanny for a day. I left 30 minutes after.  My hair before the liberating and much needed hair cut. It is dryer than the Sahara. It was not my plan initially to pamper myself from head to foot, I only planned to have a haircut. But, the moment I sat on the salon chair and a salon assistant gave me a back massage while waiting for the stylist, I said to myself I need to have a good body massage.  I am wearing my favorite cropped pants. The salon has a comfy chair, I can sit on it all day . The stylist snipped 6 inches of my hair... it was a liberating moment for me. Imagine having to dry my waist long hair each day... tedious! I could not understand why some people cry over cutting their hair short. Anyway, after 30 minutes of sitting in the salon, the stylist said I am good to go. My hair is still long but has laye...

I began monitoring my bone density three years ago.  I get free scans because I work in a hospital. My first bone density scan was fine, I was still in the normal range--that was before I got pregnant.  After I gave birth to my son in 2008, I was scanned again and I was surprised of the result--I was osteopenic.  Just last week, I had my bone density scanned again and I am still osteopenic.  I guess I have to take extra efforts in avoiding what needs to be avoided and doing what needs to be done to make my bones healthy again. Osteopenia is having bone mineral density that is lower than the normal range.  A score above -1 is considered normal, a score between -1 to -2.5 is considered osteopenic, and a score below -2.5 is considered osteoporotic. Bones become naturally thinner as we age but having osteopenia means greater risk of having osteoporosis.  According to studies, women are more likely to have osteopenia and osteoporosis because women have a low...

This is so icky... a mouse bit my finger last night while I was sleeping. I was awakened by a sharp ache on my right hand and when I looked at it, I saw my pointer bleeding.  The mouse did not take a big chunk out of my finger but it punctured deep enough to let blood out.  I wiped off the blood with an anti-septic and went back to sleep again.  The mouse entered our room when I left it open for hours yesterday.  I saw it running and sneaking into corners last night, I tried to ward it out of our room but it just doesn't want to leave soon. I had an anti-tetanus shot today just to be sure.  I will get back to that mouse when I get home.

I am not a drinker, I used to socially drink but that is just about it.  I had no idea that this night would be the night I'd have a drink after a very very long time.   I attended a party and it was fun, I could not resist a shot of tequila.  One shot led to another and another--I have had four shots of Jose Cuervo tonight.   I did not become tipsy.  I went home looking and feeling normal.  So normal that I am still blogging about it. It is when I got home that I remembered that the reason I stopped drinking alcoholic beverages is that I develop rashes within 24 hours of consuming it.  Good luck for me.  Antihistamine, I hope you will work like the last time.  

I had chicharon snack earlier this day, yummy but I felt a bit guilty after eating a few strips (few meaning only 3 strips).  Chicharon is simply pork skin that is seasoned with lots of MSG and NaCl and is deep fried to crispy perfection.  My friend bought a medium bag from the famous chicharon maker in the Philippines--R. Lapid's.  Chicharon is a popular pulutan (finger food) of beer lovers aside from peanuts.  Doctors will not agree on the combination of alcohol and cholesterol... it is slow suicide.   

My grandmother on my father's side has diabetes and she's been on a strict diet ever since its diagnosis many years ago.  Diabetes is a disease of the pancreas that involves the hormone insulin .  This hormone is essential in regulating energy and metabolism of our body and if it is over produced or under produced, chances are, you have a diabetes.  Because diabetes is a metabolic disorder, doctors advise patients to monitor their blood glucose levels at regular intervals.  Poor or late management of the disease may lead to blindness, organ failure and even worse, death.  Diabetes is a preventable disease even if you have history in the family.  Doctors suggest these five steps to prevent diabetes : 1. Be more active - excercise regularly to prevent glucose from stocking up in your body and it boosts your sensitivity to insulin. 2. Eat fiber-rich foods - good digestion is also the key to eliminating excesses in your body.  Aside from preventing diab...

Cancer. One of the most dreaded diseases of mankind.  It chooses no one and usually attacks undetected.  So many researches have been made about the disease and fortunately scientists were able to find its prevention and cure .  My aunts were not spared of the disease.  They were in their mid-30s when the disease was diagnosed and it was just a lump on their breast that started it all.  Both my aunts have had mastectomy and underwent chemotherapy.  Both became bald in the process but that didn't stop them from living normal lives.  My grandmother in Germany would send both my aunts different types of wigs and silicone breasts to put into their bras, they would even joke about it.  In the process, there are so many questions and although a few went unanswered, we are still grateful to the Lord that there is cure and there is hope.  They recovered after a year and both are working again and living normal lives. Many, due to late diagnosi...