Oh such simple pleasures that packs loads of delights!

Yesterday, Oct 5th, our little girl turned 4....   it boggles the mind how this could have happened... seems like she is just a little baby and BOOM... she is 4!!!  

Time really flies when one is having fun - and since she arrived on the scene, we have had a lot more fun...  Her personality is just so that she has always kept us entertained.... and if you are following me on Facebook, am sure you know that the two of us has become quite a pair when it comes to goofiness and having fun....  We make the most of each day we are together... and we always seem to manage and find something to do, rain or shine, and create our own fun!!!!  We share the same love for colors, toys, and music....   and this makes taking care of her a lot easier.... Thank God!!!

Amazing how I have seen this girl grow....  from being born...  to her first step, first smile, first word, and a bunch of other firsts!!!   And each day, she does or say something that amazes me....  even her comprehension and command of English still surprises me....  so many words am pretty sure a lot of others I know cannot even say - much more know the meaning of - but this girl picks up fast....  unbeknown to us until she utters them....  and she now speaks complete sentences in ENGLISH!!!  I for one am HAPPY that am able to help on this part - ut if you ask her - she will say: "I taught myself English!" - LOL!!!

I had a few things planned for her SPECIAL DAY - since Mami N Papi are both working, and GioGio is working in Italy,  I made sure I get her on her BDay - so as it will not pass without marking the day with any kind of memorable event....  so I planned.... at first I thought it was not to be so as she had a little bit of accident at her home before coming to me....   but after an hour's rest... she woke up with a smile and asked: "When can I wear my Sofia dress?"  Her birthday present from me.... Put it on her, much to her delight and she said:  "let's go out!  I want to show everyone my Princess Gown!"   Not sure if she is really OK already, I decided to just walk over to Dajia Riverside Park... get some fresh air and take a few shots....  She was in Heaven... acting as if she is really Sofia....

This was not enough...  she remembered my promise...  Hello Kitty Cafe for her 4th BDay....   since this was already on my schedule, and she seems to be doing fine...  off we went....   take the bus and walked a couple of blocks over to the Hello Kitty Heaven....  the whole time she is in full Sofia costume, high heels even!!!  Such a delight to see her happily stroll the streets in her costume....   savoring every minute of it....  Made the whole trek worth it for me...  it mattered not that the food was not really that great....   and a bit overpriced....  every minute spent, as I can see in Juju's eyes, was like being in her idea of Heaven!!!

The night did not end there... she is still energetic, raring to go... and wanted to still be walking the streets in her Princess costume....  so we walked a bit more....  stopped by a Temple to give thanks....  and walked to Breeze Center to window shop and take a few more photos....  Juju was in heaven, remembering I have taken her here before....  loved the Castle looking buildings in the backdrop so she wanted to take loads of photos.... and she even chatted up with a few passers by - in Chinese and in English - proudly explaing why she is dressed as Sofia, The First! 

Oh such simple pleasures that packs loads of delights!

 

Mission Accomplished! The day turned out to be as memorable to me, as it is for Juju....

  and for her 5th BDay - I already promised The Barbie Cafe... LOL!!!

 

Frustrated but Very Much Thankful!!!

aaaaaah, what a day.....   nothing truly major went wrong but maybe today being Thanksgiving, everything felt more frustrating and trying.....

 

started last nite really... after babysitting a very sick Juju - had to rush to Carrefour to get more packing tape - still have a lot of mailings to do for today....  though it was raining I ran to Carrefour at 11:40PM - open 24 hours - Yes, but not last nite!!!  For some reason they decided to be closed early last nite....  so I ran back home empty handed - in the rain!!!

 

Was about to jump in the shower when I realized there was no water....   Nothing!!!   A bit from the kitchen sink - just enough to wash my face and brush my teeth - but nothing anywhere else....   too late to do anything I slept it all off....

 

This morning I woke up early - so I can run to Carrefour and get what I needed before the Postal Truck comes to pick up my mailings... still have a few to pack...  Turned on the faucet in the bathroom, HOPING - and yes, we got some water back....  FREEZING WATER That is!!!  the Hot Water Boiler is not getting enough water to warrant any to come out....  WAAAAH!!!    Washed up with what I have and dealt with my work at hand... got my much needed packing tape... finsihed packing more goods to ship out...  then it was back in the rain to deliver and ship my box to the International Courier.... and rushed back in time for the Postal Truck to come and pick up my mailings....  As you all know - waiting is not a virtue of mine - so I was sooooo frustrated when 2 hrs after the pick up time passed and they still have not come.....   MORE WAAAAAH!!!

 

Eventually all got done...   Mailings got picked up....   the rain stopped....  and the water pumped got fixed (Thanks Juju's Daddy for being such a Handy Man!)...   all is well again....   and took a looong afternoon walk to get rid of all the frustrations out....  looked at some XMas displays....  sat and had coffee outside - and just watched happy people go by....   All the while thinking - all these things happening now much be life's little jokes on me....   and I know I could handle it all - with a SMILE even!!!

 

Then something wonderful happened, amidst all the Personal Messages/ Emails I was dealing throughout the day - I got one from a friend in The Philippines, Isabel Casas - enclosed is a photo of some beautiful Rosaries that she had picked up for me on her recent trip to the Holy Land...  Without me asking for anything, and just casually knowing I collect Rosaries - she picked a few up for me.  MUCH TO MY SURPRISE!!!  This totally erased all the frustrations I felt since last night.... and the heavy heart becomes light as air once more....

   This just proves what I've always known all along - that there is

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR!!!

Wonderful Wet Wednesday

Just as promised...  today was a complete turn around from yesterday's events....  just took it a bit easy... did not let anything get to me....  just went about doing my own biz, finishing up what was needed to done...  and packed all that is needed to be ready for tomorrow's PO Pick Up....   and all went as smooth as I could have hoped for....  With everything done for the day, it was time to have a little break...  to get some good vibrations back and have a few smiles - all around.... 

 

Started the the break with a movie....  Johnny and I went to see RESIDENT EVIL 6 : RETRIBUTION ...  in 3D!!!     Forget the plot, it's always FUN to see Milla doing what she does best - shoot the UNDEAD and look great and sexy doing it... since it was 3D, I did find myself at the end of my seat or ducking from all the things flying about, a few times..... LOL...

 

Then we headed back to pick Juju up and though it was a rainy day for the most part, we managed to get to ShinKong Mitsukoshi area in the Nanxi District...  walked around, checked out the latest from Paul Frank, OUTDOOR, DIESEL, CHOCOLATE, STAY REAL, etc....  even got to admire the latest wall Grafitti installations on each floor of the young and hip building....  always a joy to see the new ones up.....  this building caters mostly to the younger crowd so it is always trying to be artsy and hip....  The we  had our dinner and COLDSTONE dessert, of course - last nite treat for Johnny, as he is heading back to KAOHSIUNG tonite...  we ran around the three building till almost 9PM, then it we headed for the bus.....

 

Played with Juju for the rest of the nite, then Johnny took her home to her house, then he took off for the Train Station....  and here I am unwinding and finishing up the day...  actually, past 12 midnite now so it is already a brand new day....  on that note I bid you all a good MorNyt....  am off to bed...  with a BIG SMILE on my face...

OFF WE GO - RAIN AND ALL!

@ Shin Kong Mitsukoshi: Nanxi District

YUMMY DINNER

SWEET  DESSERT TREATS

 

 

 

 

Happiness is....

How many times have we heard the saying: "Best Things Are Free!"...  I for one, believe in this....   very much so....   I mean, I have nothing against LUXURY items and Brand Names - but we must not overlook the rest....   and if one looks close enough, one will see that often, the saying is SOOOOO TRUE!!!

I mean, each and everyday we wake up, we can already start the day by being Happy and Thankful that we have another day to experience life and see more wonders of the world...  the skies (rain or shine)....   the wind blown trees....  the shining sun....   birds chirping....  kids playing....   and other surprises that comes our way...

Today is NO DIFFERENT as I a biiiiig surprise....  one is a VIP AMEI Concert Ticket - happening tonite at the Taipei Arena...   Lyn & Shaun had extras and just gave to us....  so this is something am really looking forward to.... 

Over the years I have accumulated a few things given to me by family, friends, and acquaintances....   all of them I keep and holds special meaning to me - not because of their Price Value but their Sentimental Value - which really out prices any luxurious items one could, or not,  afford to buy....  :)

My other source of Happiness are the Items I acquire from diligently collecting points like 7-1l, Life, High Life, etc....   my entire Jimmy Liao Be@rbrick collection came from Hi-Life, as you all might remember....   and now I have just completed my set of 4 Care Bear Mugs courtesy of Family Life....   so many of the cute vinyl Open-chan (& friends) items I have came from 7-11 and not forgetting, McDonalds is always a Great Source of Premium Vinyl Toys....

So, look around, there are so many things to be Happy About....  and so  many of them will cost you NOTHING...  just a little effort...as little as just Opening Up Your Eyes to everything around you!!!

Just a few things that makes me Happy these days... CLICK HERE

Break Time with Liya & Johnny (Jason)

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."
~Frederick Keonig
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Took a couple of hours break from "JEWEL WATCH" today - Liya, Jason (both up from Kaohsiung) & I decided to go to WarnerViewshow area, to have lunch at Burger King, check out what's playing at the Cineplex, and of course, try to check out the newly opened UNIQLO....

Well, we were too late for any of the movies we wanted to see... either already started or SOLD OUT.... and the next scheduled showings were just much too late - have to go back and see Jewel and bring food to her parents, too.... So we decided to just have our Burger King lunch... YUMMY!!! Of course, I had my Chicken Sandwich with Cheese.... and even got to try their Brownie Cubes Topped with Ice Cream....

Before heading back home, we walked by the NEWLY Opened UNIQLO Shop in Taipei.... This Japanese based clothing boutique' Grand Opening has been much anticipated by soooo many Taiwanese... so we knew it will be like a MADHOUSE.... well, that's an understatement.... it was soooooooo CROWDED!! Long lines from all point of entries - LOL!!! Spoke to some of the people there, and it seems some of them even spent a whole nite in line just to be sure get in as the shop first opens...OMG!!! Well, as much as it would have been FUN to get in and take photos for the BLOG, 3 hours of my time to waste in line was just not worth it.... indeed!!!

So instead, we took the bus back home - so I can get a bit of work done... and everyone else can prepare FOOD and more stuff for the nighttime Jewel visit.... which we did by 7PM... just in time to have dessert with Lyn & Shaun... then see Jewel by 8PM.... even Cousin Tori came to see Jewel tonite!!! Jewel is doing fine.... she was actually getting some Vitamin Rays - so she looks as if she is in a TANNING BOOTH!!! LOLs!!! We all left the hospital about 9:30Pm and walked the long way home... a good 30/40 mins walk....

MORE PHOTOS HERE

adios (for now) ace....

A new chapter in Ace's life will begin shortly... as he make his way back to the USA the 25th of this month.... A journey that will take him to face ADULTHOOD, RESPONSIBILITIES, and SELF RELIANCE.... a lot to take in especially having the kind of upbringing he had... but still, am pretty POSITIVE & CONFIDENT he will be able to tackle it all...

===================
A LETTER TO YOU, Ace:

You will be MISSED by a lot on this side of the world, Ace... You know that! Am not much for advices -- the BEST ADVICE I can ever give you is EXPERIENCE LIFE TO THE FULLEST... Live your LIFE as BEST you could.... Grab Life with GUSTO.... Remember those you will be leaving behind... and ALWAYS, FOLLOW YOUR HEART! You can NEVER GO WRONG when doing so... whatever the OUTCOME maybe.... as long as you FOLLOW WHAT YOUR HEART TELLS YOU....

I know that you have so much on your mind right now.... STRESSING about what's to come... what you will be facing.... all the EXPECTATIONS by everyone... Try to not think too much of all that - JUST DO THE BEST YOU CAN!!!

Remember: We are already Proud of You... and feel BLESSED to have you in our lives - near or far.... So just MAKE YOURSELF PROUD - you need not prove anything to any of us... only to yourself!

love,

Tito Rudi

PS

not to worry... we will have/share more fun & crazy times soon....

In Full Bloom

Nothing like the sight of Cherry Blossoms in full bloom to lift the spirits up -- especially when it is right in front one of Taipei's busiest, most frequented Department store, SOGO...

Walking about this afternoon, wandering aimlessly as I had a couple of hours to kill, found myself right on Chung Hsiao East Rd - one of Taipei's more popular shopping district... forgetting that it is the weekend, I found myself navigating through hordes and hordes of people, loud drum beats, loud speakers, and lo and behold - 3 full grown Cherry Blossoms... normally, one has to travel an hour up the mountains of Yan Ming San where Cherry Blossoms are the main attraction each and every spring time.... this time around, coinciding with a Japan Travel Promotion, SOGO (Japan's leading department store in Taiwan) transplanted 3 fully bloomed Cherry Blossom tress for all to admire, view, & of course, take photos with... and that WE ALL DID - HAPPILY!!!!

and to everyone's delight, we were treated to some Japanese dances by a number of dancers clad in regional Japanese clothings.

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

A Day @ Sue n Cecilia's

it took 10 years but finally, we were able to make it at Sue n Cecilia's home, sweet home once more for a whole day of fun - chatting, admiring their collections, hanging out, and a Japanese dinner to boot.... and what a fun day it was!!!

First, David and I took the MRT at the Domestic Airport, where I had a chance meeting with Harlem Yu, a Taiwanese star/personality.... of course I took a photo with him!!! so am off to a good start already.... then we rode the MRT to meet up with Juliana and head on to the city of Wanfang where Sue n Cecilia picked us up at the station and drove us to their Sweet Home - just a few minutes away....

Upon entering, one cannot help but be soooooo overwhelmed, my how their home has changed over the years.... so much more cozier... and the collections have grown... and to my DELIGHT, they were all sprinkled about the rooms.... of course, I went to ADMIRE the Vinyl toys first and foremost.... (Sue btw, has been great enough to help Juliana & I add more to our Bearbrick collections... she is our NET AUCTION CONNECTION!) Bearbricks, Oli Bears, Peko & Poko, and DOLLIES Galore!!! Then it was time to admire their purchases from all their travels.... ornate knick knacks from Czech, Italy, Germany, France, etc... all of them just as WONDERFUL as the next - and each one, has a story to boot - just as they should be... I also got to admire Sue's collection of TRADING CARDS - mostly ALIAS as we are both BIIIIG FANS of trhis show.... I never even knew they existed so seeing them in person was a SPECIAL TREAT!!! We got to see other collections - of the JEWELRY sort.... would have taken photos of them too but thought it was much more personal.... so will just keep them FRESH in my mind for now....

Then we all headed on down to the neighborhood Japanese Restaurant for some dinner.... just as cozy as the ones you go to in Tokyo - so for a couple of hours there, it felt like I was back in Japan... Then it was back at the girls' home for some tea and a bit more chatting fest.... it was already close to 10PM by the time we headed back to catch the MRT... and if it was not too late, I sure would have loved to have stayed even longer... Oh well, there is always a next time - and hopefully, it wont be another 10 years in between... hahahahahaha

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

Qee for Haiti!!!

Just got this in my mailbox -- Happy Qee!!!

Made especially to help with the Haiti Relief Fund - 100% of the SALES on these cuties will be donated directly to the + Red Cross to help in the relief efforts for Haiti.... So what are you waiting for -- Order Yours Now!!!

if I could ESCAPE....

First day of Mar... Spring is here!!! The weather is getting better and better.... and before it gets to be Summer time when it is just way too hot (almost everywhere in the world), people everywhere are planning their escapes / vacations... and rightly so as it is the time of the year when traveling is at it's best.... not too hot yet, and not too cold anymore... best for walking about and taking in the sights.... flowers are blooming.... and weather generally nice, so people everywhere are in a much more friendlier state...

so pick a location you have always wanted to go to... take enough time off... ESCAPE & ENJOY SPRINGTIME!!!

=========================

For Now I leave you a few quotes on ESCAPE:

As Mark Weiner puts it, whether you gain 50 pounds or lose 50 pounds, whether you have a sex change operation for that matter, that it doesn't matter, that there is some part of ourselves that we cannot escape. Todd Solondz

At 20, 25, 30, we begin to realise that the possibilities of escape are getting fewer. We have jobs, children, partners, debts. This is the part of us to which literary fiction speaks. Mark Haddon

Beauty for some provides escape, who gain a happiness in eyeing the gorgeous buttocks of the ape or Autumn sunsets exquisitely dying. Langston Hughes

Desperation is the raw material of drastic change. Only those who can leave behind everything they have ever believed in can hope to escape. William S. Burroughs

Every life is narrow. Our only escape is not to run away, but to learn to love the people we are and the world in which we find ourselves. Mark Haddon

Faces that have charmed us the most escape us the soonest. Walter Scott

They are all ADULTS NOW!!!

This year marks my two nieces', Ameera & Nicole, adulthood - as this month, both of them turns 18!!! and at the same time my nephew Ace turns 23.... Really how time flies.... (PHOTO TAKEN FEB 2010 DURING AMEERA'S BDAY DINNER.)

Sadly, this year I also missed out on their BDAY celebrations... with everything else going on: scheduling, family dramas, etc - it was just not for me to attend and join in their festivities... but I might not have been there physically - I hope they know that I am there mentally and emotionally....(photo taken DEC 2007 - one of my most FAVE memories with you guys!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you three!!! Always, Your Tito

...just wanted to post something nice...

...before going to bed....makes me forget the rain still pouring outside...

RANDOMNESS

Sometimes it takes a while to sink in but it does... eventually...

Like learning that being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It may mean that one has decided to look beyond the imperfections.

============================

"...rainy days & mondays..."

"...always gets me down"....

so the song goes.... fitting for this Monday morning when it is raining like Cats & Dogs once more.... so much so, so gloomy, that it should get one down...

but not ME, NOT TODAY!!!

am FIGHTING it all the way.... instead I will look for the RAINBOW!!

Something Nice....

...To Ponder Over This Sunday Morning!!!

“For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness, For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people, For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry, For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. Remember, as you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.”

===========================

aaah the simple pleasures of life....

just a few RANDOM things that's keeping me HAPPY, BUSY, and FAT lately...

A daily dose of VITAMIN C & CHERIMOYA season...

Still Organizing...

David's Treats...

New Projects...

SMILING MOON

as we were on our run tonite by the river, I could not help but notice the moon is shaped in a way that it is PERFECTLY SMILING down us all... it gave me such a WONDERFUL feeling and put me in such a happy mood... re-energized me even... after the run, I just had to go back out there with camera in tow - to capture it... so am sharing with you all in case you missed it...

MERRY XMAS to you and yours!!!

wishing you all a SAFE & FUN Xmas filled with joy, laughter & love... with family, friends, love ones... and even on your own... and of course, here's wishing for
PEACE ON EARTH...

and give to you all, my FAVE XMas song of all time:

"Have Yourself a Merry Little XMas"... this time from the always soothing voice of the great, late Karen Carpenter.

"ONE"

did not want to let the 20th Anniversary of the FALL of the Berlin Wall go by without a little tribute here in my blog pages... so here is U2 singing "One" live - accompanied by a series of powerful photographs that someone has made - a very fitting song for the occasion, and a great reminder to us all how: "we are all one but we are not the same - still we get to carry each other..."

Computer Blues...

Almost a week of no REAL computer connection - WAAAAAAH!!!! yes that's right 5 days to be exact that we had no proper NET CONNECTION - an hour here and there, at IKEA or someone else's WIFI does not count at all...

always one of the worst things for me to go through is to not be able to connect... not only because of work matters but for all the personal reasons (always BUGS me when I cannot keep in touch with my Mom), as well.... and yep, admittedly, that includes FACEBOOK and BLOGGING.. (^_*) In other words, if I have to say what am addicted to - I WOULD, WITHOUT HESITATION SAY, MY COMPUTER!!

Anyway, the last few days had been good for the most part - not including my COMPUTER BLUES - got to go to Kaohsiung and visit with the Wu Family; play with LALA, who is getting on in years; visit the TOWNSHIP of LUGANG and EXPERIENCED a 5.plus Earthquake, and its after shocks while touring the town; got a really IRRITATING, more like INFURIATING letter to deal with; and processed lots of dollies to go out... in other words, LIFE, as I KNOW IT! and with that, i was reminded of this passage:

"Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."