Ma Vie En Rose: Alaskan Spring

Folks, there are people who know me who are often shocked at the fact that there are things that I do that they wouldn't fathom that I would do. For example, they seem to think that I wouldn't be into gardening because it involves manual labor, and dirt. There's no way someone who spent most … Continue reading Ma Vie En Rose: Alaskan Spring

Surviving the 80s and 90s: The Filipina-American Version

  My daughter has no idea how easy she has it. She walks into a Sephora and finds a plethora of make-up that will suit whatever kind of looks she wants to portray on her face on any given day. Smoky-eye with a wing eyeliner: available! Foundation color that suits her olive/peachy complexion: over 100 … Continue reading Surviving the 80s and 90s: The Filipina-American Version

On Raising Boys to Men.

There are truly no handbooks out there on the best way to raise boys. Yes, there's plenty of suggestions and guidance for mothers as they stumble through life determining how to raise young boys into decent human beings. But, in all actuality, we (as in those mothers or fathers out there) just go with the … Continue reading On Raising Boys to Men.

Ma Vie En Rose: Peony Loyalist

  Truth 1: no one ever realized that the state of Alaska was sitting on a gold mine that didn't include gold. I was told at a peony class I sat in that a few scientists from Europe had visited Fairbanks, Alaska, and during that visit they had mentioned to some agriculturalist that Alaska was … Continue reading Ma Vie En Rose: Peony Loyalist

Morning Drive

  I appreciate a good morning. Most especially when the daily drive to work is greeted with a beautiful sky. I took this photo yesterday (March 8th) soon after I dropped my daughter off to school, and I had the International Women's Day on my mind. There were some news yesterday morning about the travesty … Continue reading Morning Drive

Binary

Binary There seems to be a misunderstanding when it comes to the notion of being in a relationship. I'm referring to having a significant other. You know one plus one equals two. The concept of binary centers on, according to its vocab, "relating to, using, or expressed in a system of numerical notation that has … Continue reading Binary

Cruelty

  The saying goes that "if you are not changing, you are dying." I take it that this must means that a person must continue to strive for change--whether it is a physical change for the better, a philosophical perspective kind of change, a spiritual change--whatever it may be--it's change, right? There are those of … Continue reading Cruelty

Sunrise on a Christmas Eve

This one is dedicated to my BFF who told me to do exactly what I want to do. So, I gave birth to this short essay.  December 24, 2017: Christmas Eve Morning The last time I spent Christmas in Hawaii, I was 12 years old.  My family and I lived in Kailua with my aunt … Continue reading Sunrise on a Christmas Eve

Perspectives

He sat and observed the people sitting around him. It was a busy Sunday morning and rightfully so since everyone was celebrating the one figure who gave them all life. He had read somewhere that mother’s day was a holiday that was intentionally meant for something else—the celebration of women who chose to be or … Continue reading Perspectives

On Celebration of a Marriage

On May 16th, I celebrated 21 years of marriage.  While many may think that 21 years is a long time, in my opinion--it is not--when compared to those who've been married for over 50 years.  Those couples deserve a lifetime achievement award along with a never ending supply of chocolate cake and the most delectable … Continue reading On Celebration of a Marriage