I heard someone lost a bet.
That someone said he/she will have his/her hand cut off if the paper gets signed.
The paper was approved and signed.
Now, I think someone owes us a hand.
Lesson: Do not be too overconfident unless you're a hundred and one percent sure, or you will end up eating your words. Don't put other people down just 'coz you're up there. Put your foot where your mouth is (in that person's case, his/her hand.) .
Abdul Jabbar, Hamza's younger brother, left for the States yesterday.
Was it unexpected? Super.
Is it for good? That we don't know... yet.
Just like any parent, I know my in-laws have the best of intentions to send him off albeit so unexpectedly and suddenly for everyone, even for AJ. I believe it will help him mature into a mature young man, who can do things for himself, weigh things carefully before reaching a decision, be responsible for all his thoughts and deeds and Inshaallah, have a stronger faith in the Almighty Allah (swt).
It was saddening to seeing a family member off to another country, knowing you won't be seeing him for the longest time. It feels different from seeing off a family member go to the province, and to those who have family living abroad, I'm pretty sure you know what I mean. When a loved one flies off to the province or anywhere else in the country, you don't feel as sad; you get this feeling that he or she is "just there", within proximity..andito lang sa Pilipinas. But when someone goes to live somewhere else where you belong in different time zones, that's something else. Sure, it's just a plane ride away, but you need a passport and have to get a visa to get approved, have plane fare to and fro (unless you're just getting a one-way ticket and go TNT!), accomodations and spending money while you're there (of course, you can't expect them to shoulder everything for you).. Lotsa things to consider..makes my head ache.
I kind of feel sorry that he'll be missing out on a hell of a lot of things-- Ate Mai giving birth in March, Najah's graduation (yes, I can feel he cares for that), the birthday celebrations, weddings, family movie nights-out at the mall, foodtrips, roadtrips, watching the kids grow, just hanging out at home with the rest of the sibs...He'll be missing out on a lot. But if this move is for his good (and I'm all for it), then he better just grin and bear it.
Oh well, AJ...
make good dear bro. Please don't veer off from your priorities and responsibilities. You have a lot resting on your shoulders, and boy am I not kidding when I say "a lot".
Good luck (you'll be needing a lot of it!)!
ALLAH BLESS!
You MUST ANSWER INSTANTLY!
TEST FOR DEMENTIA
Below are four questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly. You can't take your time, answer all of them IMMEDIATELY, ok?!
Let's find out just how clever you really are...
First Question:
You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?!
Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person and take his place, then you are second!
Try not to screw up next time... Now answer the second question, but don't take as much time you took for the first question, okay?!
Second Question:
If you overtake the last person, then you are...?!?
Answer: If you answered you are second to last, then you are wrong again! Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST person?!
You're not very good at this, are you?
Third Question:
Very tricky arithmetic!
This must be done in your head only. Do not use paper and pencil or a calculator! Try it.
Take 1000 and add 40.Now add another 1000. Now add 30. Add another 1000. Now add another 20. Now add another 1000. And then add 10. What is the total?
Did you get 5000?
The correct answer is 4100.
If you don't believe it, check it now with a calculator! Today is definitely not your day, is it? Maybe you'll get the last question right.. Maybe...
Fourth Question:
Mary's father has five daughters: 1-Nana 2-Nene 3-Nini 4-Nono. What is the name of the fifth daughter?!
Did you answer Nunu?
No! Of course it isn't. Her name is MARY.
Okay, now the Bonus Round:
A mute person goes into a shop and wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing his teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done. Next, a blind man comes into the shop who wants to buy a pair of sunglasses; How does he indicate what he wants?
Got this from my email..thought it'd be great to repost this. :)
Vandern Hoven, a psychologist from Netherlands, announced his new discovery about the effect of reading the Quran and repeating the word ALLAH both on patients and on normal persons. The Dutch professor confirms his discovery with studies and research applied on many patients over a period of three years. Some of his patients were non-Muslims, others do not speak Arabic and were trained to pronounce the word "ALLAH" clearly; the result was great, particularly on those who suffer from dejection and tension. Al-Watan, a Saudi daily reported that the psychologist was quoted to say that Muslims who can read Arabic and who read the Qur'an regularly could protect themselves from psychological diseases.
The psychologist explained how each letter in the word Allah affects healing of psychological diseases. He pointed out in his research that pronouncing the first letter in the word "ALLAH" which is the letter "A", released from the repiratory system, controls breathing. He added that pronouncing the velar consonant "L" in the Arabic way, with the tongue touching slightly the upper part of the jaw producing a short pause and the repeating the same pause constantly, relaxes the aspiration. Also, pronouncing the last letter which is the letter "H" makes a contact between the lungs and the heart and in turn this contact controls the heartbeat.
What is exciting in the study is that this psychologist is a non-Muslim, but interested in Muslim sciences and searching for the secrets of the Holy Qur'an.
I have just recovered from a bad case of the flu.
I'm on the verge of losing my voice.
My throat is sore and I have a painfully dry cough.
I am one step short of going to the doctor's clinic again.
I didn't know organizing a wedding was a hazardous job.
And I don't think I'd want to do it again.
It started out pretty simple. My uncle was getting married in Muslim rites and we had only about a month for preparations. My grandparents had put down a list of names as principal sponsors to the wedding, but with my grandmother's handwriting, one's eyes would bleed first before actually deciphering whatever was written on the paper so I thought I'd extend a gesture of kindness by volunteering to have it encoded to make things easier. Realizing that my grands are too old for this sort of thing, I told them to take a chill pill and leave the invitations to me.
So, I did my part. I put down the names and decided on the wordings as to how my uncle's invitation would come out. I was the one who chose the paper and the look of the invitation, of the envelope and of the RSVP cards. But no one would accompany my uncle to the printers, his fiancee couldn't take time off from work because she was due for promotion and was supposed to take this bunch of tests. So I was left with no other choice, so I went and we had the invites ordered.
Then Tita Yasmin and Tito Boy invited us to lunch at the Diamond Hotel where the wedding/reception was to take place. Of course where there's free food, there's tag-team Hamza and Jodi with sidekick Raja! (LOL) I knew we were going to check out the place, have an ocular inspection of the ballroom, but I didn't know that I was going the contact person of the events coordinator of the hotel. Imagine my horror...hahaha! All the food I devoured on the buffet, the feeling of fullness all went away the second my Tita pointed the finger at me when asked who was in charge of the wedding.. My God. What do I know about organizing weddings? I didn't lift a finger when I got married, and there I was, "organizing" a high-profile wedding for my uncle. And to make matters worse, it was only about three weeks to the decided date.
I spent the next few weeks making lists, editing and re-editing lists of the people to invite, looking for contacts and asking quotes for the photo and video coverage, and the bouquets and arranging the seat plan. It was quite hard because I was working on these all by myself and I didn't know how much my budget for the expenditures were supposed to be because no one told me where to get them. Aside from not knowing where to get money for spending, I had people barking directions at me, complaining, inquiring, and what-have-yous...I had a marathon migraine the whole time this was happening. I was spending less and less time with my family and was missing them and I was literally losing my hair! I bet I could have made a wig with all the strands that fell or broke off. I was like a cat shedding fur. It was like going through chemotherapy... Believe me, it was scary. In fairness, I didn't have to worry about what the bride's maids, the groom's men, the kiddos and the bride had to wear because I'd probably lose my mind if they gave that task to me. I didn't even had time to prepare my outfit--I wore a blouse I had custom made a year before and just matched it with an old skirt. The only new clothing article I had on me was the obi belt that was a tad tight for me. Que horror!
So the wedding date arrived, I had butterflies in my stomach and was expecting the worst. We bumped into a detour when we were just a couple of kilometers away from the hotel. Who knew a parade was going to take place that afternoon?
I gotta give props to Lola Zenaida P. Gania for her decorating genius. I only had her to turn to, and she didn't let me down. Besides, her friends were also sponsors at the wedding, and they also knew of her expertise in this part. The ballroom looked really great, but my seat plan was "mutilated" because she re-arranged the tables. Still..the ballroom did look pretty amazing.:)
Guests started to trickle in, and my nerves were all a wreck. Ya Allah, Ya Allah! Please let this event flow without any glitches! I was running around barking commands at the groom and his groom's men, and to the bride and her maids up at the 29th floor. I was welcoming guests, talking to the crew and was struggling with this 'sibling/parent' encounter that we were supposed to execute (it's a whole different story, can't blog about it, sorry). When the ceremony started, I went with the groom to fetch his bride, downstairs 'directing' and all that. I was everywhere. And it was hella tiring!
I would like to think that it turned out okay, because the people enjoyed the whole thing. I had fun too, I was hob-knobbing with people I usually see on tv. Senator Gordon even pulled out his own camera and told his aide to take a picture of him with my sis-in-law and me! Well, it sucked a little because I didn't get to entertain my in-laws properly (but they knew what I was going through) and more importantly, I didn't get to eat! Of all the darnedest things! I didn't even get to have a slice of cake! And they said the food tasted great too. Boo.
Hmm...summing it up..I think it went all right. I learned a lot of things during those weeks I was running around like a headless chicken (or a HAIRLESS chick, if I may). I have made new contacts and I have learned new stuff It was enjoyable... But next time... next time someone asks me to help them out with the wedding preparations... I'm gonna have to get a crew and ask for some sort of fee, a "thank you" simply just won't do for me! JUST KIDDING! LOL XD
-->for wedding pics check out this link:
http://johannah.multiply.com/photos/album/35/Pangandaman-Nusug_Nuptials
It was supposed to be a family outing..Hamza, Raja and I with Hamza's parents and sibs, and my siblings and our nephews..we were all supposed to spend Raja's third birthday at Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa Laguna. But the stand-off at The Peninsula the day before his birthday gave me second thoughts about leaving home due to security reasons. So, we stayed home.. most of the day that is. Spoiled by his dad, Hamza quickly yielded to his only child's wishes to go to the mall to get his hair cut (go figure!). So, at five in the afternoon, we headed off to the nearest mall to get our little tyke a new 'do. It was a horrendous drive; what usually took twenty minutes to the mall lasted about more than an hour! I guess no one was afraid of coup d'etats anymore--we've all gone numb to all the hooplah going on around us. Anyway, we get him a hair cut and a toy afterwards, dinner at one of our fave haunts, stopped by a cake shop for his birthday cake and head home. It was a simple celebration once again, but a very happy one.
When he closed his eyes to sleep that night, I couldn't help but look at him and feel reminiscent of everything about him. From the day he was born (actually, four days after he was born) until that very moment. It's like, ang bilis! Time flies! You really have to try hard not to blink if you want to see everything happen before you. It was just like yesterday when all he did was cry and feed and get his diaper changed. Now he feels irked when he has a diaper on so he's stopped wearing one early on, he speaks sentences and asks "why" questions all the time, which sometimes leaves me asking those questions myself. He's like a sponge, and we really have to watch ourselves at times because he picks up on things really quickly. He's learned the alphabet and numbers, colors and shapes before he turned three years old, and knows the different kinds of vehicles, he has a keen sense of direction (he knows whether we're going to the mall or to lola's or wherever) and can determine good from bad. He now has preference for food, for tv shows, toys, the clothes he wears when we go out, playmates (he doesn't like playing with girls, except his tita Jaminah) and just about everything else! He doesn't like to sing unless it's the Spongebob theme song or Naruto (feeling Japanese) and doesn't like to dance unless I dance with him. He's still very much a part of us, but he's now starting to have his own identity which is apart from us. It's amazing seeing your own child grow before your very eyes, but it sometimes scare the hell out of me because I keep thinking if I'm doing all right as a parent to Raja or not. But knowing what I know about our son, I think I'm doing just fine.
Now that he's three, I asked him if he wanted to go to school. He said no, not yet, he still wants to stay home and play. It made my heart jump that he chose to stay home with us despite all the the nice things I said about school...I think I'll give him another year, then ask again. Maybe by then, he'll change his mind.
People keep asking if he's going to get a brother or sister anytime soon... "Buntis ka na ba?" "May kapatid na ba siya?" "Bakit hindi n'yo na sundan?" Relax. Chill. It's not like we wanted it this way, you know. Had we not lost the second, he'd have had a brother or a sister by then. And it's not like we're waiting for the right time. There's no such thing as the right time--if you're blessed by ALLAH to have that child now, tomorrow, the next month or year, then that is the right time, and say Alhamdulillah and thank you for the blessing. But if it's going to be just us three, still, Alhamdulillah and thank you for the blessing. Not everyone is blessed with a child. And to us, Raja is more than enough for now. It'll happen when it happens. But right now, it's just our Raja.
I look at the calendar and count the days until his fourth birthday swings by... it won't be long. Then I look at my kid again with his eyes closed, his matchbox still in his hand and tell myself, don't grow up just yet. happy birthday, Raja... ummi and abi love you very much.
Dear Hamza,
Another year has passed. At least for both of us. It has been a year of trials and errors, of difficulties, of sacrifices. We've gone through a lot but we didn't falter.What we have together is a lot stronger than we think. Technically, the paper says we're four years old. But in our hearts, it has been far longer than that. And it's still you and me.
There have been times in our earlier years that giving up and letting go is the easy way out. But as the cliche goes, 'it is easier said than done.' There were minor glitches, people who objected, but in the end, it all turned out okay. More than ok, we both thought. And we were blessed with a son, a son we both dote on and love so much. And then another came, but he was taken away before we even saw his face. That was perhaps, the most difficult time for us. But we're still together. Stronger than ever.
The years after that seemed to have passed by like a breeze. Just like any family who go through the motions of ups and downs, we had ours, and we've braved it all. I know there are those who think that we're just taking things easy, but we know better.;) It's been one hell of a ride. But as long as you're on my side, let it roll, let it slide!
Thanks hunny, for all the good and bad memories. The funny moments that we've shared, the serious talks we've had. Our petty fights and big arguments that I so thankfully say were few! Thanks for letting me keep your secrets, as you have mine, the jokes that we two only know, our share of big appetites and "this-is-my-last-harabas-meal-i'll-do-that-diet-thing-tomorrow", our love for movies, and dvds and dvdrips, and our movie marathons that end up into foodtrips in the kitchen and sharing childhood stories.
Thanks for having the patience in my sloth-like ways, my short fuses that go off any time, any day, my sudden bursts of craziness which I myself do not know where they come from. Thank you for loving my cooking and my oc-ness, my ability to find your things when they're right in front of you or otherwise, and my silly collection of flipflops that you too are starting to like.
I also would like to thank you for cheering me up on days I feel down, for turning my scowls into grins, and for making me laugh when I don't even want to smile. Thanks for the jokes, the corny and cheesy gestures, the funny dance moves only you can pull off, and for the "poppin!" songs I will never forget.
Thanks for all the flowers, the cakes, cards and gifts, expensive or not, immaterial and material alike. They all mean alot to me and will treasure them forever, dried petals and all.
Thank you for pointing out my mistakes and helping me correct them, for accepting my other flaws and personal issues which I am still trying to overcome, for the times when I cannot understand myself and for loving my scars as these help me become the person I am. For all of these and a whole lot more, thank you.
Lastly, thank you for coming into my life, for sharing yours with mine and for giving me Raja as these are gifts that have made me complete.
Happy 4th Anniversary!
I love you.
Forever yours,
Jodi.
Date : November 10, 2007
Time : 2:10am
Mood : edgy.
My gums are still hurting from yesterday's extraction, and for someone who can tolerate a great deal of pain, I have to say that I am a blink of an eye away from banging my head to the wall to numb the pain. It wasn't so much of the tooth saying goodbye to my mouth, but the trauma my gums are going through right now that's bugging me and leading me to write just to block the pain. Yeah. Write something gross to freak out your readers. Want a blow-by-blow account of my trip to the dentist's chair (of doom)? Hehehe. Block. Erase. And start over.
Hmm.. Dad dropped by the house pretty late tonight. He usually comes in the afternoons to relax a bit before he hits the sack in his flat. Anyhoo, sometimes I just leave him be in the company of his brother and cousin and they talk about the daily happenings in their lives or of other peoples'. Tonight though, I thought I'd stay out with them by the backyard and listen in on their "chismis". When my uncle left to get something, he turned to me and asked how life was doing... I said it was fine, and gave him accounts of the things that has happened that I hadn't had the chance to tell him yet.
So I ask him how his projects were doing and he goes on to talk about it. But first he talks about his early years and the things he's gone through, the career he chose and the name that he's made. He has certainly gone a long way and I commend him for being such a man. Jeez, if I could only be a quarter of the person that he is! Why on earth, did I not inherit his mathematical genius? I could have taken up civil engineering like he did! hehe. I let him talk about his projects in Mindanao... He's handling road and bridge projects funded by Saudi-Kuwait, and they're mostly located in risk-oriented areas. The last batch of projects that he handled were those funded by the ADB, and that took him years to finish because it was a whole bunch of projects funded at the same time. Now that was a deadly position. Two of his predecessors had to do early retirement and one died three months after he got that job before dad was appointed to that position. It was that toxic. But my dad... He finished the whole thing. So all the beautiful roads and bridges that you see and actually tread, from Luzon to Mindanao were parts of his projects (the foreign-funded projects, local projects aren't his). The ADB people actually cried when he finished the job, coz that meant he won't be with them anymore. And they even reacted when the Saudi Kuwait got him to do their projects in Mindanao because ADB is preparing a new batch of projects lined up for the country and they want him to handle it. He is that good. And I'm damn proud of it.
What makes my heart more prouder is the fact that the people I meet who know my dad have nothing but good words to tell me about him--professional, straight-forward, doesn't get intimidated by high-browed sleazebag officials, especially when he knows he's right and highly principled. The one word I hear most from them is that he's kind. Mabait. At times it surprises me when I hear stories from other people whom he'd helped; usually from small people and those who really deserve to get a break from this I-have-a-strong-backer-and-you-don't professional world. It's surprising because he doesn't tell us the things he does--stuff like that, anyways. Yes, he helps those he thinks are deserving and in need. His contractors like him alot because he's not one to demand anything from them (I can super attest to that--if that were the case we'd be super rich and I won't be living in this country anymore!) That's why officials who demand percentages for projects do not come to him because he doesn't believe in such. Takot sila sa daddy ko.
Some people wonder why I don't work for my dad. Why I don't use him to get me a high-paying job in his office or any of his kumpare's. I can't. Because he won't. Because he's not one to pull strings for his kids. He wants them to make it the way he and mom made it on their own. He wants us to get what is due us, what we deserve. Without pulling anyone down. Without stepping on other people's toes. That's how professional he is. There had been times it made me angry because he wouldn't do that for us, while others do anything and everything just to land their kids a great, stable job. But at the end of the day, he comes out right and on top.
So, he goes on to tell me that I'm lucky because my family and I won't have to go through the things he and mom did (and I know it was hard--I was there, too), and I'm super grateful for that! He went on to say that if things went my way and I let it pass by without doing anything, it wasn't meant for me (coz I told him about the job offers I've had the past years that I declined), that we were still young (he thinks?!) and we've still got a long way to go. He also told me not to rush things (joining politics--at least not yet, or whatever we want na hindi pa namin kaya gawin), because it will all just come at the right time. Better to take things gradually, slowly rise up rather than be placed somewhere on top and tumble down and fall flat on your face. Take care of your family, especially your parents (and I can clearly see that in the way they take care of lolo, lola and ina). And be mindful of other people that you do not step on their toes or offend them. Do not be impatient, ever. Because if it's your destiny, if ALLAH wills it, no matter what you do, where you are, if something is really meant for you, it will happen. Hmm.. true that, true that. Words from a wise man.
The grandfather's clock strikes a quarter to twelve and dad takes this as his cue to leave. He gets up and says goodbye, and that he'll be back the next morning. As I clean up the mess (cigarette butts, glasses, leftovers) I ponder on the things he's told me. He's right, you know... parents always are (like I am..wehhh!). It's just that it gets irritating sometimes when the world seems to pass by right before your very eyes and you're just standing there, wondering why you're not part of it... and being the impatient person that I am, it leaves me frustrated, you know? But yeah.t.when it's not for you, it's not for you. *sigh*breathe*sigh* Just gotta stay positive, and hella lot more patient. Rome wasn't built in a day. I mean, his career is thirty-plus years old, I certainly don't think I could surpass what he's accomplished with a blink of an eye. You really have to start somewhere. Maybe that somewhere is here, now.
Jeez, dad... why'd you have to be so great? hehe.
Time : 3:23 am
Mood : a bit calmer now.
Hmm... I can't say if it's the blogging that's calmed me down that I've now forgotten the pain in my traumatized gum...
But then... that could be the painkiller working its magic.
I'm calling it a night... or a morning rather...
There's a box of Krispy Kreme still in my fridge though. Hmm.
Haha!
I'm out.
