Whispered Odd Wonderments

I never knew him but his testimony touched me deeply. Thank you, Randy Pausch. May you rest in peace.

…has been discontinued. Help me bring them back:

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Apple does listen.

- Welcome Catherine Eeva!

- I must admit that watching new episodes and re-runs of Jon & Kate Plus Eight are my feel-good moments of the day. I truly cannot fathom how Kate does it with sanity still somewhat intact. I’ve told Edsel a dozen times that we’re stopping at two. There’s no way I’m chancing another pregnancy with a fairly good probability of at least twins to re-surface in my generation from my Guarin bloodline. Read Jon & Kate’s story in “Multiple Blessings” or track them on their personal blog. More of God’s blessings to you, Jon & Kate, as you seek to raise your eight blessings in a Christian home!

- I wept as I watched a re-run of Randy Pausch’s appearance on Oprah. I’m not quite sure why I wept. Perhaps it’s because I too have very young children who need me to be around for much longer. Perhaps it’s because I too have a spouse I adore too much to lose. Perhaps it’s because I too have parents whom I simply can’t imagine living life without. Perhaps it was just the post-partum hormones at work or perhaps it’s because I was reminded of the stark reality of just how fleeting life can be. Whatever it was, Randy Pausch serves as an inspiration to millions and we can all definitely learn from his “Last Lecture” (though it was really written only for his three dear children).

- The Rakku Shoe Wheel has got to be one of the best inventions for a shoe lover like me. So off I went to Home Outfitters to snag two silver ones in order to help me move my collection from point A to point B. It’s everything it’s advertised to be and I’m totally loving the Wheel of Fortune effect, haha. I just might also have to purchase the Rakkiddo in the near future given that I have not only one, but two girls.

- The new Kelsey’s ads to the tune of the Cheers theme song truly resonates with me. While we do not frequent it nearly as much as the Cheers patrons did their pub, nor do we get recognized by the wait staff, I recently realized that Kelsey’s has been at the centre of many of our life events. Kelsey’s was where my first pregnancy was confirmed, where we took Caitlin for her first restaurant experience, and where we shared a late meal with Vincent and his mom after the only time they didn’t get on a flight from YYZ to SFO, just to name a few. It did sadden me to see them close locations that were familiar to us like the ones on Steeles & Keele and Centre & Atkinson, but it thrills me greatly that I will be able to walk to the Taunton & Harmony location from our new home. And when I do make the walk, you can be sure that my familiarity with the establishment will at least allow me to make do without the menu and order my staple in a snap - Four Cheese Spinach Dip, Broccoli Cheddar Soup, Balsamic Chicken or their new 8 oz. Smothered Steak, and Chocolate Mousse. Bon appetit!

- Selling the house was truly a roller-coaster experience, having dealt with six offers until the seventh one which finally panned out. To say it was a stressful time would be a gross understatement. I am never, ever putting myself through a house sale and move with an infant ever again. (But then again, I don’t plan to have an infant ever again anyway.) Edsel was my rock grounded firmly in Christian faith. When I felt God far, when I doubted Him, when I questioned Him, Edsel never failed to plead with me, pray for me, piece me together. He kept our family going and I’m one darn blessed woman to have a man utterly devoted to his children, his wife, and most importantly, his God. In the end, Friday-the-13th turned out to be our lucky day after all as we heard our agent’s voice declare “Sold!”

- Indeed, I have never seen Edsel’s faith in action as much as I did during our house sale. All I can say is that he truly is a man of God. He may be a minister’s son and he may be a church head elder but he truly is a man of God.

- Woefully, however, I cannot say the same for people whom I thought to be of mature Christian faith. No, they are not just anybody in the church; they are elders, department heads, conservatives, major supporters. No, they were not just anybody to me; they were role models, mentors, confidantes, advisers. But in a series of events that still seem so unreal to me, like life played back in black & white film, I disbelievingly saw their character unfold into one dictated by money, driven by materialism, and tainted by greed. It has been a few months now and I still cannot fathom it all but suffice it to say that I will never forget the deceit, the horor, the pain. And to think I actually sought to help them which started it all. Mercy!

- Am I the only one totally stoked about the return of 90210?! I am so old school but I don’t care. A VHS tape and recorder along with my parents’ cable subscription will allow me to follow the new series come fall. I can already hear the re-mastered tune playing in my head.

- Little Mosque on the Prairie cracks me up! Nuff said.

- Yes, I have been spending a lot of time in front of the tube lately as breastfeeding has been my primary activity. So between my parents’ and Edsel’s parents’ TVs and our own 13-inch with really long bunny ears (yes, we continue to do without a big screen, cable, or satellite), I’ve racked up my own list for must-see TV. And as always, Jeopardy! tops that list.

- June 8th saw us skipping breakfast in deference to Sunday brunch at The Manor to celebrate Edsel’s birthday and Father’s Day. We frequent The Manor for Sunday brunch partly to re-live our own wedding reception, to take in the view, and to visit *old friends* like doorman Rudy. We also do it for the scrumptious fare which again didn’t disappoint except for the absence of their freshly-squeezed orange juice. Thanks, Peter & Paul, for wonderful memories remembered over and over again.

- It looks like everything’s on schedule for us to close the new house on September 17. There’s a bitterness to this otherwise sweet experience that I can and will only admit to a handful of people. And while we’ve dumped nearly $35K in addition to the list price for upgrades, and although Edsel has given me the green light for another $10K in new furnishings, this will not be our family’s home for the long haul. Oh we’ll be there for a while, at least long enough for the girls to at least finish elementary. But growing up in a first-rate subdivision of custom built homes in the Philippines, you can imagine my utter detest for what I call *cookie-cutter* houses, which seem to be the commonality among Canadian builders and communities. Now, moreso than ever, I look forward to that day when I will be handed a key to a house that I can truly call just my own. It doesn’t have to be grand; it just has to be one-of-a-kind. I already have a few architects in mind and you can be sure I’ll be keeping the blueprints under lock and key. Am I the only one who has this weird obsession for one-of-a-kind homes?!

- Happy Canada Day!

The Setting:
The Doctor’s House

The Menu:
1st Course ~ Soupe du Jour
2nd Course ~ Smoked Salmon Stuffed with In-House Cheese, Dried Figs Poached in Port Wine, and Churned Baccala Quenelle
3rd Course ~ Veal Cheek Ravioli in Mushroom Tomato Sauce, Romano Lupo Shavings, Creamed Parmiggiano Risotto with Veal Jus
4th Course ~ Trio of Meats: Grilled Lamb Chop, Grilled Beef Tenderloin, Veal Rib Eye Medallion
5th Course ~ Chocolate Fondue with Strawberries and Other Goodies

The Duration:
3 hours

The Cost:
$250.00

Beyond the seemingly exorbitant cost was an ordinary couple on an ordinary holiday celebrating the extraordinary blessing of having and loving each other. Indeed, apart from the dinner were a tulip plant, some Ferrero Rochers, the early Sony DCR-DVD308, but what will truly be cherished are his efforts which she knows are extraordinary by his standards, his words expressed on cards which she knows are extraordinary by any woman’s standards, but most importantly, his love which she knows exceeds extraordinary bounds because of his love for God’s standards.

Edsel, you will always remain extraordinary to me. Not only because of how you love me or that you even love me at all, but above all, because of how you love our Lord. I’m happy to hold 2nd place in your heart and I know that as long as you keep Him as your 1st love then I will be in the best of human hands. I. Love. You.

I’ve got to admit it. I am a very frustrated mother of not only a picky-eater toddler, but a slow-eater as well. I’ve tried everything kosher and not - bribes, rewards, punishments, single food offerings, buffet style, with a drink, without a drink, short order cook, long order cook, books about food, videos about food, participation in grocery shopping, participation in food preparation, participation in cooking… - heck, just yesterday, we even went so far as to fake leaving her at home alone. Those of you on Facebook might have noticed me scream “I’m fed up with feeding!”

Oh she’ll eat alright but not without much patience, much prodding, much pleading. And those chubby cheeks? Chalk it up to an insatiable appetite for milk - whole, 2%, 1%, soy, rice, with yogurt, even with medicine… basically anything that’s white-ish so long as it’s in a bottle. But with the eventual withdrawal of the bottle and with kindergarten looming over the horizon, I’ve got to wonder if my Caitlin Ema will actually eat her packed lunch and snacks, let alone eat them within the time alloted.

With renewed spirit today (she actually fed herself and finished her breakfast and lunch within a decent 1/2 hour - hallelujah!), I set forth surfing in search for even more ideas, suggestions, and pro advice. Long story short, in order to keep my sanity, I’m back to square one, rather the first thing I ever tried - I control when she eats and what she’s offered to eat, and she controls what she eats and how much she eats. The only thing different then and now is the additional suggestion of paying some attention to presentation, because apparently the sense of sight feeds into (pun intended) the sense of taste and so if it looks good then it must taste good too. You knew that right? I did too but I guess I never really put that into practice in my own kitchen, especially since I can get away with feeding my low-maintenance husband right out of the pot.

It must have been divine providence then that I chanced upon Skip Hop’s Palette Plate while browsing thru my Parenting magazine last night. Cool and chic, it most definitely fits the bill for a fun in-house meal. And as for meals-to-go, there’s the ever-popular Zojirushi Lunch Jars and Plastica’s Bento Box which even made it into the venerable O list. But my mind’s made up on Laptop Lunches, which seems the most kid-friendly out of the three. So it looks like Edsel will have to make a few stops while he’s in New York next week, and as for me, well, Bento, here I go!