Hazel Ceej

Friday's Fave Five: Pack Rat Please scroll down for Friday Photo Flashback Time piece I woke up on Wednesday morning to find my alarm clock registering 8.10 a.m. "Since I'm already late," I acknowledged the verdict as I yawned my way to the shower, "I might as well prepare Cj's breakfast and eat with him before I go." When I arrived in the computer room at work, I got a happy surprise: the time was 7.55, not 8.55. Yes! I wasn't late after all. My clock has served me quite well for more than 7 years, and even in its old and malfunctioning age has done so to my advantage. This must be why sometimes I am a pack rat. Restaurants With Mommyhood, a full-time job and work on PhD applications going full-blast, whatever little time I have left for cooking is all wiped out and I raise my hands up in surrender. I am thankful that restaurants are readily available which means Cj and I do not go hungry. We've been having dinners out the entire week and I'

Friday's Fave Five: Getting Settled with Mothering Please scroll down for Mommy Moments This week flew by very fast! I mean this fast that I noticed it then I couldn't believe it. Yet it was a TGIF greeting for a co-teacher in the lift this morning. It's perhaps because from Monday to Thursday I was like laundry in a washing machine whirling, soaping, rinsing and finally spinning myself to a blessed Friday while snatching faves along the way: i. a write-up finally taking shape It still needs polishing but there it is - 800+ words already and covering almost all points necessary for submission. I strongly suppose Ceejay's full-time stay with me has much to do with its near completion status for I am ii. getting settled with mothering Although having to look after Ceejay without a caregiver now (the ex terminated her services) terrified me at first, I am thankful that my struggling efforts to try anyway are turning out okay. I'm sleeping with a baseball bat and there

Friday's Fave Five: Foggy Mornings (Please scroll down for Mommy Moments) Refund . The business office refunded my visa problem expenses. I had to pay the fine but they took care of everything else which was a pleasant surprise as I didn't expect them to and I already conditioned my mind to face a few deprivations. A colleague who is privy to the vice president told me, "They refunded you because they need you." I don't know whether I should believe it. Foreign employees are sometimes treated like necessary evil around here. But well, it's the refund that's the fave. Foggy mornings . I counted two early mornings of fog. I could not see buildings 2 minute-walk away. The illusion of cold made me smile. Bible Heroes , Ceejay's new DVD interest. He never wanted to watch it when he was 3. I'm glad he's back to christian stuff. For now it's goodbye, Buddhism. Phone conversation with Mama . Mozart's (on left side bar below Ceejay) christ

Nowhere near any computer was I on new year's day. I was exfoliating my heels on the sand with seafood going on at our beach table in a resort town. Then twirls and drama fell and now let me see what faves do I get out of them: 1. Food, glorious food! Was it the new year or what... maybe the holiday cheer easily satisfied my palate. The restaurants met my culinary expectations so well. It's great not to mind the expanding waistline. That can be easily solved with work. 2. Meeting family and friends at the beach . We had lovely chat over an abundance of seafood. My cousins' kids surprised me with their sizes and heights. They're all growing like wild bamboos. 3. Location of our hotel was where much of the new year action was. Countdown was awesome. I was grinning ear to ear watching everyone hugging everyone when the clock struck 12. The crowd was 95% Caucasian. Auld Lang Syne played in my head after we chorused Happy New Year! 4. No more weekly commutes . After much d