This Is My Day - I'm gonna enjoy it!!!!

Today is my SITS day! I received a letter from Heather over at The Secret Is In The Sauce last week that my turn will be soon. I've waited and waited for so long, I can't believe the day is here. I am doing my favorite Happy Dance! Whooo Hooo!!! I am so excited that I get to meet new fellow bloggers - Welcome, Ladies from SITS and my dear readers, old and new!! I hope you'll stick around for today's story.

So, I went to work today (actually it is yesterday because it's early Tuesday morning now) and it was kind of a difficult day for me. (For the people who read my blog for the first time today, I am a receptionist at a salon.) I was looking at the computer screen and checking to see what our appointments will be like tomorrow. The front door opened up and a lady came in. She said she wanted to get pedicure and manicure. I didn't see her face clearly at first, but as she approached the desk, my heart sunk. Her face was badly burned. I tried not to show any expression, but I was crying inside. It is none of my business, I know. Pity is probably the last thing the lady would want from me. I smiled and took her name and brought her to the spa chair. I asked her if she wanted to drink something, but she said, "No, I'm fine." She smiled and thanked me.

An hour later, the nail tech who did the lady's nail gave me the ticket and ran to the back room. I asked the lady if everything was good and she said, "Oh it was great, thank you." She left the salon with a smile. I went to the back room and there I found my co-worker sobbing. She said it was too painful for her to see the customer's face and she couldn't take it. I gave her a big hug and I could only say it's okay to cry...

After I came back to the front desk, I thought about my friend in Japan who got married a long time ago. My friend and her fiance was set to get married, but six months before their wedding, the fiance got in a huge car accident and was severely injured. It was so horrible that his face was unrecognaizable.

She was not sure if she could be with him. She was having tough time looking at his face and it was really, really painful for her to see him like that. You love someone and you think you'd spend the rest of your life with him. But sometimes, things that are out of your control happen and it could change your life. She was honest about it. Then one day, he told her that she should be with someone else. She deserves better than him.

That's when she realized that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. She knew right then she can't be with anyone else, but him. Fianlly, what he looked like on the outside didn't matter to her. She was able to see what was under his skin, the guy she fell in love with. They are still together, happily married.

I can't deny that the day like today will stay on my mind for a long time. It sinks deeply in my heart. But I think when I meet people like today's client and realize they have the courage to live their lives as normal as they can and move forward, what I can do at least is to see them for who they are without feeling sorry for them. It's tough and hard, but I want to smile and look in their eyes when I say, "Hello!"

My question today: What would you feel and do when you encounter a situation like today at my work?

Have a wonderful Wednesday, everybody!!!

xoxo

Belated Holiday Video Clip..

It's been three weeks since Christmas 08', but I wanted to share the live video clip of my girls for the first time on my blog.

I made three clips together into one movie. This is on the evening of Christmas at JT's mom's house after we stayed the night before and opened the gifts in the morning. We had dinner and we're enjoying a nice time together with all the family before deserts. Soapy is enjoying being the dj's and the turn table that she got from Santa.

I just LOVE the way she dances. Also, I must mention the special guest appearance by JT's mom (I made sure to get an okay to post her on here) and me! You also will meet my oldest Ju Ju. JT is the camera man.

It was a very peaceful and wonderful Christmas.

What Did The Chicken Say?

I was making dinner after coming home from work Saturday evening. My oldest daughter Ju Ju was watching the whole process when she spotted raw chicken on the counter. She brought her step stool, so she could get closer and see it better.

Ju Ju: "mommy, what is that?"
Me: "Oh, that's chicken.."
Ju Ju: "chicken?"
Me: "Yes, chicken."
Ju Ju: "chicken... the bird, chicken?"
Me: "Ahem....., yeah? chicken (Now I know what she's going to ask me next).."
Ju Ju: "it's dead?"
Me: "... Yes..."
Ju Ju: "what did the chicken say when they die?"
Me: "I don't know.. Maybe they cried?"
Ju Ju: "oh they cried? you think they were sad?"
Me: "Oh yes, I am sure they were sad.. but you know..(I don't know what to say)"
Ju Ju: "were they hurt??"
Me: "Oh! You know what you can do for Mama? Can you set the table, please?"
Ju Ju: "oh okay mommy.."

Okay my friends. Ju Ju has no problem eating chicken. She's eaten chicken many times before. But I think Saturday night was the first time she had ever associated the live bird as the chicken that we eat. Maybe because she saw raw stuff. I don't know..

I have a tough time explaining to my daughters about food chain and how it works. I am positive that she doesn't know steak (one of her favorites) is actually coming from cows. She doesn't know pork is pig. She thinks meat is meat and has nothing to do with animals. I know she will learn someday that in order for us to survive, some animals will sacrifice their lives for us. (Oh by the way, she eats fish and sashimi/sushi and she knows they are fish from the ocean..)

It's hard to explain about death and how it is okay for the animals to be killed for us to eat when we teach our kids to be kind to animals. So, Saturday night was no exception; I had to change the subject by asking her to help me set the table for dinner.

Do you have the same problem with your children? Do you know how to explain things like these? If so, can you share some tips with me? Or do you remember when you were little and asking bunch of questions to your paretns about food?

( I can't live without the electric frying pan that JT's grandma had given us when I cook anything that uses oil. I learned from JT's mother that the oven top stays clean when you use it...)

I made the Lemon Chicken with garlic Spinich on the bed of Spaghetti Rigati. The resolution of the pic above is horrible, but I must admit, it was very delish!

Have a beautiful Monday, everyone!!!

Are You Sure You're Talking About Me?

Many of you know that I have been working at a salon for the past three months. I work as a receptionist and it's been fairly fun experiences. I get to see/meet different clients = different types of people. Most clients are kind and nice. But just sometimes, we get those women who think they rule and own us.

The other day, I picked up the phone as always and there was this client who has been one of the longest client at the salon. I have never seen her yet, but I know her name.

Me: "Good afternoon, {my salong's name} How can I help you?"
Client: "Hi. I want to make an appoint with B either tomorrow or Friday."
Me: "I am so sorry, but B is already booked up through the weekend. Is there any day that you would like to come in next week?"
Client: "No, I want to come in this week."
Me: "Well, B has been all booked since last week, can anybody else do your nail?"
Client: "No, I don't want anybody else to touch my nail."
Me: (Big Sigh in my mind)"I am sorry, then I will need to book you next week..."
Client: Are you telling me to go somewhere else to get my nails done?"
Me: Of course not, it's just that B and K are very popular and sometimes you need to call in a week early to book the appointment."
Client: I've been going there for years and I've never had the problem booking with him.
Me: I am sorry.
Client: Ask B if you could squeeze me in...
Me: {Really really pissed off by this time} Sure.

Now I have to ask my boss.

Boss: "What does the computer(clender) say?"
Me: "Um.. you're booked."
Boss: "Then I'm booked. Tell her that."

I am now in between my boss and his client.

Me: "I've been saying that she's booked, but she is very pursistant about it."
Boss: "Who is it?"
Me: "M.R"
Boss: "{big big sign} give her my lunch spot."
Me: "okay"

So this client got the appointment she wished. You know, this is why certain people think they can call and make a last minute appointment. They think they are special because my boss and another boss try to accomodate their clients doing whatever possible.

On the other hand, me and my other receptionist C look bad because we have to tell them first that our calender is booked.

So, yesterday I go in to work and the next thing I know, my boss tells me he needs to talk to me. I smelled something bad.

Boss: "So you know M.R. came in yesterday right?"
Maki: "Yes."
Boss: "Well, she complained about you that you didn't want her to come in."
Maki: "What!?"
Boss: "I know, I know. Don't worry, we know it wasn't the case. She is a very difficult client and she gets angry when anybody said we can't take her.
Maki: "I told her what I saw on the screen that you're booked. I was nice about it"
Boss: "I just want you to know that you rule the the world in the salon. You book the appointments. Don't let customers tell you what to do. Be firm about it."
Maki: "{I was firm about it} Yes, I understand."
Boss: "Okay, don't worry, we told her that you're the nicest girl on the planet."

So my dear readers, I have been upset about it. I got the first complaint yesterday from someone who thinks she can do whatever she wants and telling a lie that I was mean to her. What? Mean? Are you sure you're talking about me? The other girl C was there when all went down and she told me, "Man, we have no idea what her problem was. We kept telling her Maki is a nice girl, but she went on and on how mean you were.. We laughed."

Yes, I say this. Bitch. I don't usually use this word unless someone really, I mean REALLY makes me angry and I don't get angry easily. I talked to a friend of mine who works at one of Starbucks last night about it and she told me there are ton of those that she deals with at her work. Apparently they even have a black list and they have all the right to kick out customers who mistreat their employees. I did not know that! That's kind of cool.

I was feeling down because of this, but do you know what happens when you're feeling blue? Awards! Yes, my blogging friends have given me several awards. Because I was slow on posting the awards, three of my friends have giving me the same award.


Cloie over @ Orchestrated Destiny
BakerGirl @ An Extended Vacation
Kaitlyn @ unturned.barbie
gave me the cute Lemonade Award!!! Thank you so much, my lovely Girlies!!! Sorry it overlapped because I didn't post the first time I got the award from Cloie, but still, I'm graterful that you all thought of me!!! You cheered me up!

Now, my dear friend Carrin over @ Carrin's Comments gave me another award. Thank you my Sweet! I like the phrase "Measures Up!" I will treasure it:)

Now I need to follow the rules and pass these two wonderful awards to well deserved bloggers. I have to get ready to go to work now, so I will post all the recepients I will pass these award to tonight, so make sure to check back later when you can!! I poromise I will follow through this time. Thank again, Cloie, BakerGirl, Kaitlyn and Carrin for making me feel better going in to work today!

xoxo

UPDATE (Jan. 10 @ 3am)

So, I'm done with painting and back to blogging. I am starting from where I left off - I think I need to pass these two awards to my favorite bloggers.

First, for the award "Pink Lemonade" (God, I love that name) - I have to give link love to the person who gave you the award and secondly, nominate ten of your favorite bloggers to receive the Lemonade Award.. I will pass this on to..

1. Rene over @ Not The Rockefellers
2. Colby over @Spittin'(out words) like a Llama
3. Sara over @ Blogging in Bed
4. Needsleepy over @I barely survived yesterday and it is today already!

Second award's rules are:

Rule 1 - Say a nice thing to a man in your life.
Rule 2 - List at least 6 ways you measure success in your life.
Rule 3 - Assign 5 other worthy blogs

So, I told my husband that he is becoming a better father each and everyday. He was afraid to be a father before we had Ju Ju, but I see so much change in him. He tries and helps me more with the girls and do stuff around the house for me. He was very happy to hear it from me.

At the end of the day, if I know that I am a great mother to my daughters, wife to my husband, sister to my younger sisiter and daughter to my parents, then I think I am successful. Teaching my daughters the meaning of "Love" and the importance of "kindness" and "honesty" weighs a lot in my book as well... Success is not about money (although it looks like it some times), but to become a decent human being, at least that's what I believe.

I will pass this award on to...

1. Alev over @ Bad Seed
2. LadyStyx over @ LadyStyx's Blog
3. Hollylyn over @ If I were really skinny

I am sorry, it's 3am - I can't nominate total 15 people all at once.... I tried and I will have to post more deserving friends later on. Wait, I've been saying the same thing to the other awards that I had received also. I'm in trouble! But, sleep is important, too! Goooood nigggghht!

What Else Are We Missing Out In Our Lives???

Ju Ju suddenly was not feeling well yesterday evening. She said she has a headache and the next thing I know, she changed into her pj's on her own and crawled into her bed. Actually it was her third time in the past ten days complaning about her headache and goes to bed way before her normal bed time. It kinda makes me nervous when a girl full of energy doesn't want to do anything. I decided that if she complains about her headache again soon, I am going to take her to see her doctor..

Anyway, my sister in Hawaii forwarded me an email yesterday and I thought you all should read this post if you would. All of us have a hectic work schedule or busy life raising children. And we often don't even have the time to stop in our own tracks and take a deep breath. This email really made me realize how true that is.... The below is the message I was forwarded by my sister.

*A Violinist in the Metro* From The Effective Club

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw> the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but> the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work. The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written,with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats average $100. This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people.

The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context? One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be: If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing? ****

So what do you think everyone? This email kind of made me sad. It's Joshua Bell! And not even one person noticed him - I wouldn't have noticed that it is him either. That's how busy we are or at least that's what we think we are. And you know what funny thing is? Only the children wanted to stop and listen to his violin. That's how innocent and curious our children are. They want to see and listen to things, play and enjoy life! When did we ever stop to think that life has so much to offer if we let it?

I found the real footage on YouTube of what happened in the email as well as the article from Washington Post. Enjoy!

The Noisy Neighbor Part 3. Update

Well, many of my old readers know that I have a noisy neighbor upstairs. She is pretty famous among my old readers and I talked about her here and here.

Well, some miracle happened, everybody!!! No, she hasn't moved yet. But she has been awfully queit. Isn't that great???

She was in Miami again for about a month and came back right after Thanksgiving. I was so dreaded. I honestly thought that my holidays are sure to be ruined. But one night she didn't make any noise even when I knew she was home. It turned out her son was visiting her. I saw her outside of our condo and she said "hello" to me. She was really nice and friendly - Miracle #1. We talked and she was on the way to drive her son to the airport. I asked when will she go back to Miami and she said end of January. Big sigh.

Then JT and I spotted a blue Yamaha motorcycle in the same parking spot where she parks her car a few days later. We were like, "Oh, new boyfriend... Now how long will it last??" We were betting that it would last a week because she was a serial dater.

To tell you the truth though, when we first time saw his blue motorcycle, my husband and I liked the idea that this guy has enough respect for others to park his ride in her parking stall (they double park in her stall) and not having to take someone else's parking spot even where we have plenty empty spots. I thought that he was another guy that she brings home to just kill time.

Well, my dear readers, I must say, we were wrong.

Ever since we started seeing this blue Yamaha, she is staying home with him. He goes to work in the morning and comes home early in the evening. And I don't hear her coming home late in the morning at 3am drunk or arguing or throwing a party - Miracle #2! I am thinking she makes enough money in Miami that she doesn't have to work when she comes back to town.

She does still play loud music, but as long as it stops before 9:30pm, we are okay with it.

Now, JT and my conversation the other day went like this:


Me: "So, JT, don't you think she's been really queit ever since the Yamaha guy showed up?"

JT: "I KNOW! I LOVE THIS GUY!"

Me: "Right? Right?"

JT: "Have you seen the guy?"

Me: "No.. but I must say he is doing something great for her and us!!"

JT: "I can't believe she can be this quiet...."


Even now, it's really quiet upstairs. It's almost scary. We may be louder than upstairs - wouldn't that be funny? LOL.

I remember someone said that maybe only thing she needs is someone who is special enough to tame her wildness or someone that she can fall in love with. And it may be true... Really true.

Everyone, you don't even know how grateful I am and my family are for this new boyfriend of hers. I look up the ceiling every night when I go to bed, thanking him, "Thank you! Thank you soooo much!" Now, I'm knocking on wood and praying that they stay together as long as she is living upstairs. I would like to meet him in person and shake his hand.

So, there you have it. 2009 is looking good so far!

The worst thing that could happen to your life..

is to lose your own child before your time.

John Travolta has lost his son two days ago in Bahama while vacationing there. I don't know the actor personally, but I feel so terrible and sad for the family. The pain and sadness that they are going through must be tremendous, especially it happened right after New Year's. It definitely is not a way to start a new year. Whether it be God's will or fate, it still doesn't do justice that a parent or parents to lose their child. It is just not fair.

My husband JT told me about it first saying, "John Travolta's son died after having seizure."

I said to him, "Oh no... That's terrible! He can't die from Seizure, maybe he hit his head or drowned while in the bath tub or water or something..." And sure it was, we learned that he had a seizure and hit his head in the tub. My heart fell!!!

Some of my readers already know that JT has suffered from a seizure disorder for the past five years. He hasn't had any episodes for a year now (knock on wood), but I know how scary it is to have seizures. I am the only one who have seen my husband having seizures via live. One time, he hit his head at a deli in NY while we're having lunch and had a seizure there; he bled like a pig and I honestly thought he was going to die.

I don't hide that JT has seizures nor my husband. He is pretty honest about it, so that people can help him if he has seizures. Some people may look at it differently, but I strongly believe that there is nothing to be ashamed of.

John Travolta's son, Jett was also suffering from seizures number of times, his parents and family say due to his condition called Kawasaki Disease or some people (including doctors who specialize in seizures, autism and Kawasaki disease) believe it is from autism. When I looked at the video clip from X17online.com, I think I agree with the people who believe Jett might have had autism.

I can see from the clip that the family is very loving and caring people who are committed to their children. The love and devotion that John and his wife Kelly have for their children exuberate from the photos or videos that I have seen many times before.

Your child will always be your child even they grow older. And I can't even comprehend the pain that people must endure when they lose their own child. It is terrible that they have to grieve their son's loss in front of millions of people, but I just hope the Travolta family finds comfort in their son's memories that he left for them and find peace and move forward, one day at a time.




*** On a lighter note, we took these two pics using my blackberry (resolution sucks, sorry!) 10 minutes before the clock hit midnight on the Eve of New Year's. JT and I weren't getting along that day, but in the end, we all decided to smile for camera. LOL. We watched our girls danced away into the New Year's watching various TV shows broadcasted from Time's Square in NY and L.A. We enjoyed Japanese tradistional New Year's Eve feast that include Sushi, Misoka Soba (Japanese noodle to eat for longevity) and sake and white wine. We really had a nice New Year's Eve as a family. I hope that we have a better year than 2008 and I will do anything to achieve it!!

Happy New Year, Everyone!!!