Living By The Ocean Beach

The Ocean Beach is just twenty blocks away, a traffic light stilted 10 minutes drive...then its there. After years of living in the cramped spaces of Manila I always dreamed of living by the sea but the ocean is a good enough compromise. I was thinking of the tropical sea anyway, halfway across the world when I have not met the love of my life yet. So here, after nearly seven years of San Francisco living, the ocean is a comforting thought. Just barely out of sight to be out of mind, always a surprise when the day is perfect clear and I can see it from the bluff at Moraga or the nearby park at 25th Ave & Ortega. On rare carefree weekends, we will drag ourselves for an afternoon to hang by the beach, like say last afternoon of 2009. I know we should do it often but you know how it is.

Monterey Bay

The charm of the sea never ceases on me. Just a look is enough. The forbidding cold of its touch always keep me at bay. Its beauty and mystery that lingers in my memory long after I visits. Its power and rhythm which surprises me, now and then, and whenever I comes back  to Monterey bay.

They are Fun & Adorable

They are always having fun and teaching me about vegetarian fun & healthy options. They are the Peas family. To check what they are cooking and photographing (same time) click this link. 
http://peasandthankyou.com/

Drifting Back

I know I should check in more often...its just that keyboard is not that friendly with my shoulder anymore. Early sign of  rotator cuff injury...infraspinatus & supraspinatus tendonosis...it started as tendonitis 5 years ago. Actually went to have PT on my shoulder (was interesting to see the inside of PT practice as the receiving end.)
Then I went to do my usual stuff but always had recurrent shoulder issues, like when I'm not careful with my sun salutation, or when doing original monkey at the cadillac machine, or when stripping/sanding the weather beaten bench under the pine tree. Until one day it hurts to take off my shirt, hurts to blow dry my hair when I remember to.
So after an MRI (no fun for a slightly claustrophobic like me) and two visits to my new orthopedic doctor ( surprised to meet a really fun doctor who have really funny jokes and delivery of diagnosis-prognosis) and a cortisone shot...I'm waiting for better shoulder mobility and less painful arc of motion at my right shoulder while doing some Codman exercises here and there. 
Will see.

Full Circle with Healthy Food and French Cooking

I know this is too cheesy for those who used to know me and I don't even pay much attention to these aspect in my life until I got married. Yeah, modern woman like me, faces the stove with the dilemma that plaque the servantless American women way back to the era of  "Little House in the Prairie." I thought I can cook and like all beginnings of naive experiences, I actually thought there won't be a fuzz about "What's for dinner?" question in my future.

Well, I blame nobody and nothing about this. Not even those who used to tease and pressure me to eat a bit more to gain a bit weight. Not even my five-year stint at Healthy Options where I got to learn about foods, supplements wholistic lifestyle. Not even moving here in California nor being married. Not even food network. Not even Julie and Julia. Not even any circumstance that can be link into this issue. I blame it all to time. Like aging it is a forceful influence. That and wanting a slice of a chocolate cake with chocolate almond icing one rainy afternoon in San Francisco and realizing that I have to bake it to have it.

I should have taken a photo of that cake. It would have been fun, since I assumed icing is no sweat. Wrong.
But it was a yummy cake.

Busy as Bee

Its been a long while. Super busy. Glad to be back at my old facillity. Hah...super relieved I won't be dealing with mornings of dread to face a half crazy half nazi power hungry I am right you are wrong joke of a wannabee rehab manager. Whew!

Now I can focus on doing my job and working with the professionals. Innovating and learning all the time to evolve in this profession. Currently been training to be a certified Pilates Teacher, halfway through the modules. Still lots of practice hours and observations ahead, not to mention the practicals and practice teaching. I'm getting there. I can always use a strong core, for sure.

Also, I've been into memory art or shadowbox art world. It is amazing. Finished one last November maybe. Will post a bout it more next time. Anyway its much kinder to my shoulder/neck injury than keyboarding.

Hope all of you are doing well. Try not to forget fun. Until next time.

END WAR NOW!

I'm joining the campaign to end war in Afghanistan,Pakistan & Iraq now and forget all together bombing Iran!

The pressure is on for peace negotiations, humanitarian approach and community building instead of primeval, expensive and bloody solutions!

Let us focus instead in building schools and affordable education,alleviating poverty via women empowerment & population control solutions and environmental protection. 

I know I am dreaming but nevertheless just want to put this out there in the collective consciousness of the universe.

Just want to share also a war song composed by one of my fave artist back home. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGPI8O19gCA

Peace!