I Confess: Healthy Diet

I received some unhealthy news from the doctor. My cholesterol level is past the healthy range. So this morning I went to gym and did legs. Because it is the hardest, and my least favorite exercises. Because squats and lunges raise my heart rate, make me perspire, and leave me sucking the air for oxygen when the last repetition is complete.

When I came home, drenched in sweat, weak, and starving, I resisted the urge to fry up a batch of bacon and eggs, and made this instead.

The Coffeemate does say "fat free"...

And it was totally delish!

Oh, but I'm still totally hungry...

Drasted cholesterol!

A DSLR Party

In Truk we don't have huge family dinners every night. But we do come up with reasons to have them as often as we can. This night's reason: the digital single reflex lens camera, DSLR camera. It's all the rave even on this remote global spec of an island.

There were actually five cameras, the fifth one of course was taking this picture. The Canon with the external flash is Dr. J's. The other Canon belongs to MJ's Mom.

Before any shooting began, Paco loosens up with a beverage. 

*Turn around Paco, the camera is ready.*

 

Miko's Mom tries Dr. J's 70-300mm zoom lens. She owns a Nikon, but explores the feel of a Canon.

Ah, the beverage is working...

That's how Paco, the model found his smile.

Soon enough, cameras were left on the table unattended. A little too much beverage perhaps?

Definitely too much beverage. Miko's Dad's cup ran dry, he eventually used it as a lens hood.

Dr. J's camera... Where's the photog?

Playing the keyboards in Miko's room.

Singing a lullaby to Kyle and MJ.

Thank you verrrr much!

Flash out.

I Confess: Twelve Things

1. It's Ash Wednesday. Day one of forty, during which I have sworn off restaurant food, soda, and candy.
2. Girlfriend, I need a brow wax!
3. In the next forty days I will log on to Facebook only five times, because I have also sworn off FB to only one time a week.
4. Is that a gray hair?!
5. I just got home from an eye exam. I was told that my eyes are abnormally small, which puts me at a higher risk for glaucoma. 
6. But the good news is that I don't have to get new glasses. That'll save me a few bucks!
7. I think that is a gray hair!
8. Oh, in case you're not Catholic, that is not a bruise on my forehead, nor is it dirt. It's ash, a symbol of our origin (the creation of Adam). It's supposed to be in the form of a cross, but my habit of brushing my bangs aside has worn it off.
9. I need a hair cut.
10. And a brow wax.
11. That most definitely is a gray hair!
12. I'm having FB withdrawal syndrome already.

The Little Bear

Seeing Mateo with Five-Star made me think of the story of Goldilocks. I don't know why. It just did.

Baby Bear saw his empty bowl, and began to cry. "Somebody has been tasting my porridge, and has eaten it every bit!" he wailed.

 

Baby Bear began crying harder than before. "Somebody has been sitting in my chair and has broken it all to pieces!" he sobbed.

 All this time Baby Bear had been staring hard at his own little bed. Finally he found his voice and piped up, "Somebody has been tumbling in my bed, and here she is!"

Baby [Not] for Sale

This is my niece Lana, with her aunt Jeimax's Mom.

Lana fits on and in the store shelves. But Lana is not for sale.

 

I repeat: Lana is not for sale.

Otherwise I would have taken her home with me. 

J-E-I-M-A-X

This is Jeimax's Dad, my cousin.

He is very good with computers.

This is Jeimax's Mom.

She likes Kool-Aid. And Bingo.

Je and Imax sitting in a tree.

K-I-S-S-I-N-G.

First comes love, then comes marriage.

Then comes Jeimax in a baby carriage!

And that's how Jeimax got his name-o!

Chumz and Me

I spent the whole afternoon with my cousin Chumz. She lives in a town across the Puget Sound from me, only a one hour ferry ride away. We haven't seen each other since... since... [counting my fingers]... oh my goodness, has it been THAT long?!

Chumz and I have these in common.

1. A birthmonth.
2. We share MJ, Kyle, and Lana by blood. Chumz is their dad's baby sister.
3. The same nickname. (Those of you who know us well know what that name is.)
4. The Puget Sound.
5. An aversion to pork.
6. A school in Truk; I attended it, and she taught there. Not at the same time, of course!


Anyway, I ran errands all day, and Chumz was such a good sport about it. She got to meet the guys at the loading docks where I work, and she sat in a meeting with us at Bullseye Creative. Upon leaving Bullseye, James and Peter (the super cool and hip owners) said to her "I hope to see you again in less than three years!"

Three years. That is how long it has been since we last saw each other, Chumz and me.