Dancing in Midlife Tune

Last Thursday, my boss received a package from California.  It’s a box (not so big) that contains a very brand new laptop.  It was declared at a very affordable prize but since it was brand new, the Philippine government charged my boss a tax that amounted to more than a hundred dollars.  It’s half of the declared price.  That is why am having second thoughts to recommend to my friend here to purchase the newest buy dot com deal – the Acer Aspire ! If no one can carry it for her, for sure it has to be sent as package. They don’t want to be charge with huge tax fee so she is now glum about the thought of not buying the lappy yet. My bosses son have to send it as package because they just have too much to carry when they come home at the end of this month.

I will check though that if some friends are coming home for the summer, then maybe my friend has to check out again buy dot come for great deals!

A view from my floor in the dormitory. I just discovered that i can watch the sunrise.

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My friend tried to salvage the old car of their family. It’s one of the models in the nineteen sixties but some body parts is still worth salvaging.  So he tried to work on some parts for the past year.  At times, he also browse online on stores in which he can have a discounted purchase on some items.  I don’t have his list but i know that he checked out Mopar performance parts to make some comparison. He sent my aunt a picture of the new vintage look for their vintage car and it was really a head turner. He named it Charlie.

A Thursday meme of roads & its signs, signages, paths, passages, street scenes & the like. Hosted by Tink.

I want to think that this is the biggest centavo i saw along a sidewalk. This is how a Philippine (old) centavo looks like. This is the head side.

This is the back part. How i wish i had photo beside the coin but i was alone on an errand so i just had the liberty to take photos of it. I never minded some of the stares coming my way.

Good news for the weekend! My cousin was able to get a nordictrack coupon while she was doing her purchase of a treadmill. So the coupon made a huge discount on her purchase. She is working out her weight for the upcoming summer season.

1 postcard is Netherlands, the other 1 is from Israel and the last one from Stromberg.

This is the one from Israel:

Note at the back:

Shalom Arlene! I am sending you this card because it is full of the Israeli nature and even contains the Israel “ship of the desert” – a camel and its traditional Beduin gear. Wish you all the best! Vera

This is from Stromberg:

Note with it:

Hello Arlene!  Here you have a view over wonderful Stromberg, a small villae, 3000 inhabitants.  Iit’s always funny: we live on the top of the mountain.  Looking down on the people living downtown. hahaha It’s so great to live in such a small town.  I don’t like big cities.  We’re got wonderful nature around, next city is about 6 km always.  I love living in Stromberg.  Greetings from Germany!  — Alexandra

Note with it:

Hello Arlene, this is an old sanatorium build by Duiker.  He was rather famous Dutch Architect.  The town where i live has still lots of buildings restored by him so that they are still there.  All the best!  Anan

My card to China has reached Beijing in 19 days.  And Sophie left this comment in the notice mail: “Thanks for your postcard. The view is really beautiful! And I have a plan of travelling to Philippines next year. I will not miss this ”

I can’t wait to get my next set of postcards. Next week am scheduled to send another set of postcards.

I know that i have better photos to be shared than this but i just can’t forget the plight of this child.

Yesterday, the PASAP- Iligan Chapter went out to Gregorio T Lluch Memorial Hospital to distribute some goods in their OB Section (the ones that gave birth and about to give birth). We prepared 18 bags of little goodies (diapers, water, baby clothes, and small bed mat) and all was given away.

We still have enough bottled water that we were able to give away 2 bottles at the pedia ward and also single bottle at the medical wards. If you want me to describe a city hospital, oh well, there are really patients sections that i can’t help but hold my breath or just cover my nose or else what’s inside my tummy will be out. Yesterday made me think again that for sure i’m not destined to be a nurse.

Going back to Charlie, he was mentioned to us when we were about to go. The one who donated the diapers also gave a cash donation of P1000.00. Before Ma’am Cleo told us about the amount, Ma’am Joy (i think she is one of the supervisors, she went with us in going around) told us of Joseph. She told us of a patient (a child) in the isolation room, naked, no parental care and looks like a HEPA case. We of course can’t go into the room because there was also a TB case in that isolation room. Hearing her described the situation, our hearts went out to the child that we decided to use the cash for donation for a 1 unit of blood for him.

Since we can’t go into the room, we asked a nurse to go in for us and have his photo taken. And the photos she took could really touch you like you have to think over that the life you are having is so precious. After sometime, Joseph came out the room with his mother. I really dunno if that was the mother because she looks ok. Joseph looks so messy and soooo yellow. I have to hold my breath because it was an unpleasant sight.

Since the money was not enough and the blood will be purchased at here in my hospital, so i was given the task to find means that we can purchase the blood with that 1,000.00. To make the long story short, 1 unit of blood costs 2,200.00. Not 1500 as the nurse at the city hospital said. I have 1500 because i solicited 500. But since the blood will really cost me 2000, i have to see the HR secretary to tell me what i can do more. She then texted our own social worker and we were able to borrow the remaining balance to be refunded on Monday after we can process for the charity donation.

At past 11 last night, the nurse at the station texted me that they got the blood and thanked us for the help.

Oh, before i end this post, let me share a snapshot of us:

– the 5 of the 6.  Am the 6th but was the one taking this photo. hehehee

- In action at the pedia ward.

- Before saying goodbye to each other.  (Jay taking the photo)

I am sure all of you had a great weekend!

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AN UPDATE:

I was texted by the nurse Carol today morning.  Joseph passed away last night (Feb 22, 2010).  We still went back to the hospital to get this records then i read he died at 10:10pm last night.

Sad.
But at least he is now resting in peace.

guess what’s inside?

well, my friend who passed the recent nursing board examination had her birthday celebration last Monday. One of the gifts that caught her eye is this. Can you guess what’s inside? Or you want me to tell ya – well, inside was a cutie brown teddy bear holding an “ilove you” heart and the giver inserted a white envelope beneath the ilove you heart.  Guess what’s inside the envelope?  It was a key!  I thought a key to a big house but nahhh it’s a key to a new car.  Color?  Shiny forest green one.  ONe of my fave car colors.   I guess her dad found the list of affordable car prices online so he decided it is the right gift for her 2o years old daughter.

I told my friend that she should treat me for a free ride from Iligan city to Cagayan de Oro City and beyond. hehehe

The sky i saw the moment i stepped out of the side door in the dormitory on Valentine’s day. It was an hour before noon. I can almost feel that the light is very glaring that my eyes can’t handle.

An entry for:

A Thursday meme of roads & its signs, signages, paths, passages, street scenes & the like. Hosted by Tink.

I was on an official trip to Cagayan de Oro the other week and i had breakfast at Mc Donalds Divisoria. After eating my breakfast, i then too the time to enjoy the view. Actually while eating i was already enjoying the view but took time to click my camera after eating already.

After breakfast i went to Liceo de Cagayan University and then to Capitol University. I took so many roads and signage shots but id like to share this signage from Capitol University.

I enjoyed walking around (after my official transaction of course!) in the big campus of the two universities i visited that day. I think it was a nice way to be slimquick in a natural way. I just walked and walked at same time enjoying the view and clicking my camera. I wish my camera lens can capture all the things that made my eyes spark with excitement.

These two days are slated for physical education time for regular workers here in the college and hospital.  It then means they can leave office as early as 4:30 and since they are out early, I have the option of going out at 5 pm too to join the gym time.  Some regular workers especially the men are into building and toning their muscles that is why the muscle builder equipments are always busy everyday. I see a lot of improvements for those who have not missed any PE time and they are doing it for a year or so.

I wish am as dedicated as them to let go of my tummy bulge.

Last week Thursday, i got my first two cards from Postcrossing and it came all the way from Latvia (Riga) and Spain (Barcelona).

The post office staff called me up yesterday and I have 3 cards in there that needs to be picked-up.  I thought yesterday noontime i could but time did not allow me.  Same thing happened today.  HOpefully tomorrow I can and will share it here in my blog next week.

For now, enjoy these two:

Note from Jordi:

Hola Arlene, The Monument to Colon is one of the most famous statues of Barcelona constructed in honoring the discoverer Christopher Colon.  It is raised in the square of Porta de la Pau (Portal of Peace).  The monument was constructed as culminating point of the works of improvement of the littoral of Barcelona, done on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition of Barcelona in 1888.  It turned immediately into one of the icons most typical of the city.  I hope you like this card.  All the best for the next upcoming year 2010 to you and your beloved ones!  Best regards from Barcelona.

~~~~~

Note from Sievia:

Greetings from Latvia! It’s a small country at the Baltic Sea, and on this card you see the skyline of our capital Riga. It’s an old city, founded in 1201, and it has a beautiful old town with lots to see, so come and visit! Right now, everything is under quite a deep cover of snow, and I’m looking forward to springtime. Love, Sievia

I laugh at the shopping list of my workmate because there is one in it that is not so common to all of us.  Number 5 in the list is a colon cleanser her son is asking her to buy. Her son belongs to the schedule that will do the enema return demo on Monday and he wanted to do some cleansing before the said date.

I have never tried enema yet because I did not reach that course. If i continued my nursing course the 2nd year, then for sure I will experience that enema return demonstration.

I pity my students last night when they told me they felt weak and tired because of their return demo. I guess they were so stressed out trying the enema on themselves.

My friend will not be off shopping in awhile. I am not going with her because the electric power will be off in awhile for the daily 2 hrs power interruption (to conserve water supply)