The Baby Blog

Our evening was pretty "normal". I came home after the performance at work, admired the kids' new haircut, and caught up with my DVR. Damoomoo fell asleep on me and we eventually made our way to our rooms upstairs. I still had a hard time sleeping, and suddenly just as I was about to fall asleep...
"BOOM!"
The lights did a quick flicker and off. The power went out. At first we thought it was your regular power outage, it happened once during the day. But Damoomoo got up to take a look through the laundry room. And within seconds we saw smoke coming from behind one of the houses. "Oh, my God, it IS a fire!". My first thought was to get the kids and leave, okay a bit overreactive, but with the winds as strong as it can get I feared for the worse.
Husband put on shorts and jacket and went outside. I went to the kids room put pants and socks on both of them and brought them downstairs---ready to go if needed.
Our neighbor told d'moo that a car (probably drunk driver) drove off the road into the brush, hitting a transformer explaining the blackout. The care was immediately engulfed in flames, and they think the driver fled.
The fire raged on, creating a circle of fire on the farm lands across the street. The closest part being literally across the street. The dark sky was now a bright orange against the moonlight. The police were the first to respond, and in what seemed forever, the fire trucks began to arrive. Our saving grace was that the winds were blowing away from our house. So we didn't even smell the "fire", and best of all it blew the flames farther away. At least just along the farmlands and not skipping across the street
From our bedroom window we got a small peek of the fire. We watched fire trucks tame the fire from the back field farthest away from our house. And we tried to go to sleep but just couldn't. As we lay in the dark, I notice that there was a bright light shining through our window. Looked out again, and noticed that the fire got even bigger and closer to our neighborhood!
D'moo made it back outside again. Fire crews were out there again taming the "beast". The weird thing was that before that it seemed like they were just trying to let it die down on its own. Instead the fire picked up and looking more fierce. If I wasn't scared before, I was scared now, because it just looked like it was at the sidewalk.
The power came back on, and seemed like things were okay again. It was now almost 4am. We finally fell asleep safely in our home.

Since damoomoo decided to "call out" all the blog slackers... here is what is on my mind today...

I saw the largest road kill ever... a deer on the side of the road (carpool lane) and one foot detached that landed a few yards away. I saw that on Wednesday, and the vision is still quite clear in my head.

I finished one major project (newsletter), and working on completing 2 more (reprogramming our voicemail & updating a 3-year old telephone directory), and got another big project just assigned. My new big project is to provide a "multi-cultural" prospective of our community, at least an ASIAN one, for our television station.... ummm where do I even begin! Any ideas of what's going on in West County? I have an idea of where to start but it may take a lot of work... I would like to do something related to Filipino American Heritage Month, and possibly find a way to link it to our dance troupe as well... FREE PUBLICITY!!! Too many ideas just swirling in my head... Oh and I am planning the CCC Foundation Hall of Fame event taking place at the end of October, on top of planning my son's 5th Birthday... yes, AJ is turning 5!!!

So now you know why I slacked... well, damoomoo probably doesn't cuz I don't think he reads my stuff... and I'm still waiting for him to ask "How was your day?" At least that what relationship doctors tell ya to do, but if you do, my question is...are you really interested in knowing? Do you even understand the scope of what I do? Hell, I don't even understand the scope of what I do...I just do what my boss tells me, it's the "other duties as assigned"! Maybe that's why I seem like a total basket case by the time I get home. Maybe I'm just jealous of my husband, although doing great work at home, I want to be home too vs. commuting an hour each way...

wow, did I just share all that?!

and of course "the how"...

1. Mio is absolutely frightened by water. Okay my first hint should have been the fact that he HATES water going on his face (even when shampooing his hair or cleaning it in the morning). I have mastered the art of keeping his head tilted back and blocking the water at his forehead when we give him a bath. Damoomoo on the otherhand, just say "f*#k that" and pours it over his head.
Anyways, back to the lesson. When we took the kiddies to the "Boardwalk" for some fun in the sun and beach... Mio ran back as soon as heard the first set waves crash onto the shore. "I don't want it!" he yelled. He ran back as far as he could until I grabbed him to try and get him over his fear. I carried him, with his back leaning against my chest, to the water (just as the waves touch your feet), and (try to picture this:) he wrapped his legs around my legs to avoid getting wet. he wrapped his arms backwards around my body. And this was not just the "carry me" mode, but the I AM NEVER LETTING GO---EVER! hold. So he just stayed on the sand.

2. I cannot stay up past 2am two nights in a row! By the time Sunday morning rolled around, and it was time for a meeting and a little practice... I was beyond exhausted. I am not in college anymore, I am a working mother who loves to watch tv and veg-out when I can!

3. There is a reason I have chosen the girlfriends I have and hold dear to my heart. During the wedding, it was just like old times... well, add the Jerry-time entertainment, and the fact that is was wedding we were attending and not a club... it was good ol' fun times --- posing for the camera in our "signature" poses, and that poor polaroid!

4. I love my kids. It was fun to watch them in different elements. We left them in Santa Cruz with my aunt to go to the wedding, and they (from what I was told) behaved very well. We get comments of how well behaved they are.... thank goodness. They are for the most part pretty low maintenance. Not perfect, but they listen.

5. AJ is getting smarter. Seeing him jumping up and down the couch (that left a huge gap between the couch and wall aka falling hazard) I told him to stop. He immediately crouched down and said, "But mom, I can't help it! I'm just sooo curious!"

Damoomoo was a trooper. Friday morning he drove us to school because I wanted to avoid driving home in Fri. traffic. When I got to work, I found out that my aunt will be in S.C so we could leave the kids w/ her to attend the wedding. Damoomoo packed all our stuff, his gear, and all the extras and picked us up at the end of the day. Yes, it took us more than 2 hours to finally reach the Berkeley area, and S.C at almost 1am, but we did it, and have no regrets.

Happy Birthday Cuz (rokstar), tina-maan, Silent H, and racecar Randy! Looking forward to another night of partying on Saturday! hehehehe (i am really getting too old for this!)

On our way to school we were listening to Radio Disney, and a song from "Hanna Montana" came on... and soon enough...

I can hear both AJ and Mio singing"
It's da best of boff worlds...

I couldn't help but smile. The singing and dancing just continued when they played "Move it" made popular in the animated movie Madagascar. Both AJ and Mio had the hand and head movements going. Mio added his "running man feet", too!


More Entertainment
Although I am not for my sons having girlfriends already but this conversation has come up a lot.

AJ: Michelle's my girlfriend cuz we were holding hands. And Nathan said ,"ooooh you have a girlfriend", and I said, YEAH (hahahah) Michelle is my girlfriend (hahahaha). Mio, who is your girlfriend?

Mio: Ummm LUCY (with a big smile on his face).

AJ: oooohhh... Lucy is your girlfriend. Cuz you were dancing with her! (hahahaha) Hey mom, do you have girlfriend or boyfriend?


Welcome to my world?!

Things for me have been so hectic... my husband is blogging more than me! Since the big show, I have not been able to make much time to even go out for my occasional "extended lunch" with my fave co-workers/friends!!!

Well, here are some highlights...
The American River (Middle Fork)
On the 2nd, I overcame, no I still have fears, so let's say "I went head-to-head" with my fears of water, and went white water rafting for Mur's Bachelorette Party. It was fun to meet Mur's friends from high school/college, and be able to hang out with our Likha girls as well. Our guide commended us on how "in sync" (no bev, not the group) we were with our rowing... we just followed the rules of dance "follow the girl in front of you!". This trip was Category III and IV rapids, so in my book it was --- Oh S#!t... to What the F#*K!!, with frightful eyes trying to avoid what was happening. I think I am known for my sarcastic "comments", but from the time we geared up to time we reached the van... I was pretty QUIET, with fears just running through my whole system!
However, I did enjoy it. We had an awesome guide, and I managed to stay in the raft, despite the one rapid, Canaca to which I added: "Can-nac-yah off your ass!" rapid, that we ended up riding backwards, and vaulted Jane off the raft!
I would most likely to do it again for a special occasion... but I was TIRED and SORE. So the next trip would have to include a massage!

Likha Cast Party
It was small but sweet. The bay bridge closure was big factor in the attendance, but we enjoyed hosting our "family". We would love to have it again... especially since we do all the driving week after week for practices!

Me and My Matrix
We are once again united... Although I am carrying along with me some great fears of driving, which I was slowly, but not completely overcoming with the van... it was like starting at square 1 again. It is nice to drive a smaller car, so I am glad. We did get to see the Honda Fit in ORANGE, which I REALLY liked, but can't afford right now. Plus, Damoomoo is really hesistant because Hondas have such a high rate of being stolen and/or broken into. But it was REALLY cute car!

Thursday, I received a letter from the courts asking me to list all of my expenses caused by the accident in case I can be reimbursed by any settlements. I doubt it, but I will be putting my list together.

Coco
Had a meeting with the Likha Coco parents on Saturday which helped me to see where the all the parents and kids were coming from in terms of "what they wanted" to see happen. I will start to teach again on Fridays beginning with basics/fundamentals on the 22nd. The perfect way to avoid traffic going home. Plus, they will come to Oakland for practice in our studio once a month beginning in January! We will see how it comes along and if we can get more kids to join/commit! so i you have a child, niece/nephew who would like to learn Filipino Folk Dance... contact Likha Coco (you can find the contact info at www.likha.org)

Work, Work, Work
Work is getting REALLY busy... It has been non-stop since school started. I find myself finishing 2 different projects within the same deadline dates. Multi-tasking can be soooo tiring! But I must take a break to "break-up" my routine and allow my muscles to have more range of motion (still going to physical therapy). I need to finally make it to the Fitness Center since today is an off day for tennis. Speaking of...

Tennis anyone?
Damoomoo and I started to play! It has been fun. I am not as strong and consistent in hitting the "sweet spot" when i hit, but just being able to get some exercise feels GREAT. So if you are interested we may be taking some time to play with the UPSer in Pinole/Hercules!