stitches n’ burns

During a BBQ a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid’s husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6 pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ - had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke perhaps Ingrid would be with us today.

Recognizing a Stroke

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke…totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed and getting to the patient within 3 hours which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps. Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. *Ask the individual to SMILE.

2. *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

3. *Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today)

If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association’s annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.

There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. 

Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. 

Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. 

She never tried to speak. 

She never said a word. 

Many people passed by her, but no one would stop. 

The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if  the little girl would still be there. 

Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was Yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes. 

Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. 

For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone. 

As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl’s dress. 

It was grotesquely shaped. 

I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak to her. 

Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different. 

As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to Avoid my intent stare. 

As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more Clearly. 

She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. 

I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk. 

I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, "Hello." 

The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a "hi "; after a long stare into my eyes. 

I smiled and she shyly smiled back. 

We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty. 

I asked the girl why she was so sad. 

The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, "Because, I’m Different." 

I immediately said, "That you are!"; and smiled. 

The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I know." 

"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and Innocent."

She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and Said, "Really?" 

"Yes, you’re like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch Over all the people walking by." 

She nodded her head yes, and smiled. 

With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her Wings to spread, then she said "I am." 

"I’m your Guardian Angel," with a twinkle in her eye. 

I was speechless — sure I was seeing things. 

She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself.  My job here is done". 

I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did no one stop to help an Angel?" 

She looked at me, smiled, and said, "You’re the only one that Could see me," and then she was gone. 

And with that, my life was changed dramatically. 

So, when you think you’re all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you. 

Each year he sent her roses,
and the note would always say,
I love you even more this year,
than last year on this day.
My love for you will always grow,
with every passing year."

Sometimes in life, you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life
just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh
until you can’t stop;
Someone who makes you believe
that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you
that there really is an unlocked door
just waiting for you to open it 

it’s a lazy thursday.  i woke up late, almost time for lunch. 

the day is gloomy.  as gloomy as the people who are suffering the brunt of high prices of basic goods and commodities.  the prices of oil products seem to increase each week.  

when oil prices go up, the prices of people’s basic needs increase too.  that’s why the people are up in arms. that’s why the transport strike today.

im one with their cause… 

Just got home from a two-day seminar.  I and my officemates had a lot of fun learning new things, and breaking old ideas while learning new ones.

Just calming my nerves and relaxing my mind, right now. 

Tomorrow is another day…

i went to the bookshop a while ago to look for good or hard-to-find writings on sale.  i found books from the usual authors, like danielle steel, john grisham, ann rice and robert ludlum among others. 

know what? whenever i go to bookshops, i always hope for a miracle — that, I would be lucky enough to find a a Gabriel Garcia Marquez book ,because he really is one of my favorite authors.  his books are too expensive, though, someday i would want to have a collection of his writings.  but for now, i just make do with borrowing from my friends.

aside from the old pocketbooks, a lot of teeny bopper, architectural, lifestyle and men magazines are on sale.  and speaking of men magazines, the covers are mostly of sexy, sophisticated women with large breasts, narrow waists and big hips. you know, those with to-die-for vital stats: 36-24-36 or 34-24-34.

looking at the magazines, i wonder if men really want women with big breasts?  hmmnn…do they want it all-natural or would they opt for those who underwent surgeries like the Santa Monica breast implants? 

anyway, it’s just a thought that crossed my mind.  after looking over the mags, i went back to searching for Marquez’ books — of which I found no luck, as most of the time.

gladly, i was able to read his timeless masterpieces "one hundred years of solitude and " "love in the time of cholera."

thanks to my booklover friends!

I can’t sleep.  The memories of my grandfather keep crossing my mind.  I miss him.  He died years ago due to complications.  His body was too weak to bear the pain of different illnesses that attacked him, especially on his kidney.

But I’m glad that we were given the chance to take care of him while he was bravely dealing with his illnesses, especially when he was already bedridden.  I, my mother and two younger brothers took turns in keeping an eye on him.  We were like both his paramedics and nurses – like somebody who have been trained from the Philadelphia senior care housing or any institution who offers expert senior care services.  Of course, we have to apply TLC (tender, love and care) because it is our grandpa’s life and wellbeing that’s at stake.  We have to ensure that he took his medicines, as prescribed by his doctor, and changed his clothes, and all that stuff.

I and the rest of my cousins have good memories with our grandpa.  He was dear to us.  I hope wherever he is right now, he’s happy and watching over us.

Twenty three days to go and it’s Christmas!

And it’s the 27^th birthday of my dear fiancé.  Perfect timing, right?  A double celebration for us and his family — Christmas-cum-birthday parteeee! 

I’ve been looking for a perfect gift for him, something that would make him very happy, and something that I can afford, too.  If I have lots of money, it won’t be an issue, ‘cause I can give him anything he wants, like a pre-honeymoon trip to China to see the Great Wall or climb the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or maybe see the kangaroos and koalas, among others, in Australia.

If not overseas, we might go cruising, just the two of us, riding the Lindemann Yachts, and explore the pristine beaches of the Visayas region, or go to Amanpulo and El Nido in Palawan.  Maybe, go sunbathing in Siargao and enjoy the big waves there through surfing.  Isn’t it romantic?

Well, these would be possible if we got big bucks.  We have to save for these trips first.  Maybe for now, we’ll just embark on a pump boat (never mind the ferry boat) and go to Camiguin Island, what do you think?

It’s amazing to know that technology, the internet for example, has revolutionized for the benefit of those who have access.  With just one click of the mouse or just typing those words using the soft-touch keyboard, you can do almost anything, either for business or personal matters.  You can do almost anything — either good or bad.

But let’s deal with the lighter side.  I have depended on the internet because it is very essential to my work at present.  It is where I get the latest news, local or global.  And when I’m already tired at work and needs some rest, I can download videos and music to relax and unwind.  I can post my thoughts through blogging and gain more friends through online chatting or keep in touch with old buddies or NFF (new found friends) through Friendster for example. 

And with the artist in me, I can post or upload pictures and videos, like what Neil Crespi did, for the world to see and hear.

I just wish that more and more people will have access to this kind of technology, that it will not only be limited to the middle and upper classes of the society.  It’s like wishing that there would be no more illiterates in this planet. 

Last Friday, November 30, was the 50^th birthday of my dearest aunt.  I would not have known how old she is, until her three-layered cake was delivered in our house.  Whoa!

Aunt does not look like her age! She looks younger.  Her face remains firm.  And she looked like she had a New York neck lifts!  Her neck is still firm too. 

How could she look younger?  Even her older siblings, including my mother, have noticed the glow of her skin, and it made them a little bit envious. 

Could it be the climate of Australia?  My aunt has been living there for two decades now.  She has a daughter who’s married to a young businessman.  She and her husband are here with us to celebrate Christmas.  But they are going to spend New Year Down Under with their daughter and son-in-law, and how could I forget, their one year old grand daughter.

When I get old, I wish my skin would be like hers, firm and smooth.  That would be great, right? What do you think?