I'm supposed to be in hibernation, but the truth is, I wasn't able to post the past days because I got so busy.  Better get busy than to mope and bury myself into self pity.

So I'm back into tennis!  I enrolled in this summer tennis clinic in our place and for all I care that most of my classmates are kids.  One of them is even my daughter's classmate.  I'm not embarrased at all because I'm the best in the class, hahaha!  Actually I only enrolled to improve my serving skills but I ended up doing the lessons from the start, just like a beginner.  It's alright because I haven't been playing for some time now so it's a good way to refresh my skills.
I also began practising table tennis because we will be having our TT Tourney in the office soon.  We also have a tennis event but I don't know yet if it's going to push through. 

But after all these activities... at the end of the day... I think I still need a hug.
Check out this video below...

Backgrounder:
A man, under the pseudonym Juan Mann, was able to start the Free Hug Campaign on June 30, 2004 in central Sydney. He decided to start the campaign because he became upset when he got off a plane in Sydney and saw everyone else hugging but had no one to hug himself. So, he went to the busiest intersection in Sydney and held up a sign that said "Free Hugs". The police tried to shut him down and require him to obtain public liability insurance, but he says his "sole mission was to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives in this age of social disconnectivity and lack of human contact".

Unbeknownst to most, Juan Mann was actually brightening these people's lives as hugs have quite a few health benefits. Even if you don't like to hug people, 
I want to urge you to hug as many people as possible; it may lead to a longer life or at least a more enjoyable one.
 
It happened again.  Funny but I'm not that hurt anymore.  Perhaps getting cheated over and over again makes you feel numb.  Let me just put my feelings into music.
 
Our photos when we went to Puerto Galera for our family reunion -  April 17-18, 2010.  Hubby and Migs did not come with us.  They stayed home to feed Maxine, the family cat.  <Manang, the housekeeper, did not come back on Thursday as she promised.  In fact, she's not coming back anymore.  So guess who's replacing her... me! >
 
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Car ride to Batangas Pier including horrendous traffic --- 2 hours

Waiting time at the pier --- 1 hour

Boat ride from Batangas Pier to Puerto Galera --- 1.5 hour

And that was just the one-way trip going to the family reunion in Mindoro.

But I was so happy I got to meet my parents, aunts, uncles, cousins.  Include the fact that Puerto Galera is a nice, and very very summery place.  The kids enjoyed the beach, hotel stay, interesting people roaming around, food and shopping for t-shirts and summer dresses.

Going back home the next day --- that is tiring.

 
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Something went wrong with my EW&F music files.  Can't fix it right now because well... I'm cooking! 

Tomorrow we're going to an overnight stay in Puerto Galera.  I don't know if I'm excited or what.  Just thinking of the tons of stuff I have to do -- prepare food, itinerary, things to bring, etc. etc. -- I already got tired.  But the kids are all excited, so who am I to stop them.  After all, I'm only their mom.

 
I thought I felt butterflies in my stomach when I heard this song.
<sniff>  <click image to listen to the song>
**
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I'm in the mood to relax and jazzing it up.  This time, with Earth, Wind and Fire.  I didn't include their song "I'll Be Over You" because one, it's not jazz; and two, it kinda depresses me. 
Love's Holiday

Click here to see lyrics

Got To Get You Into My Life

Click here to see lyrics

Sing a Song

Click here to see lyrics
 
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No housekeeper for a week now.  And I'm the designated cook.  I cook 3 dishes every night so that the kids will just reheat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner the following day.  Gaaad it is so tiring.  But so far, they're loving my pork adobo, chicken adobo with lemongrass and chicken stew.  I also had the usual sinigang and nilaga.  As for the other dishes -- well, they're all experimental... and not all experiments turn out to be a success.

By the way, thanks to the internet for the recipes, particularly this site: http://www.pinoycook.net .

Manang, I miss you.  I hope you come back tomorrow as you promised.  Not like the other manang who just left us, along with her loans from the neighbors.  Aargh.

 
This is an old video but I got to watch it only yesterday, and I don't know why, but it got me teary eyed... ok, I cried.  It's not a sad video but a "joy-rising" experience, as Oprah would say it afterwards.
 
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One of the best moments in dance parties is when everyone in the dance floor sings along with the music being played.  And of course, this goes with everybody jumping up and down, with fingers pointing upwards and heads bobbing.  Yeah, maybe this happened to me several years ago, but this rather graphic image comes haunting me when I get to listen to this song.  And oh, I should really try to memorize this part of the song, because this is when the singing, jumping, pointing and bobbing happen.

When they were dancin' and singin' and movin' to the groovin'
And just when it hit me somebody turned around and shouted
Play that funky music white boy
Play that funky music right
Play that funky music white boy
Lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die
Till you die

I swear, I can just close my eyes and dance. Now.