Today…

“This is the beginning of a new day…
You have been given this day to use as you will…
You can waste it or use it for good…
What you do today is important
because you are exchanging a day in your life for it…
When tomorrow comes this day will be gone forever;
in its place is something that you have left behind…
let it be something good.”
- Amby Nic Montage

So, today…

• I spent the first 3.5 hours of my day, chatting to fellow b5media folks via Skype. Always a fun event, these weekly chats. Even if I messed up today’s schedule, due to moving one hour ahead (thanks to DST). Crazy timezones.

  Anyway, I really enjoy these sessions, as it adds a new dimension to our relationship. I know some people prefer a ‘business-only’ approach with these things. And, that’s cool too. But, I think that for folks who DO enjoy these sessions, it’s one part of the b5 community that adds a little something special to the working environment. Besides, we do have weekly blogging-related themes/topics to discuss, so everyone always walks away with something new. In the midst of talking about martinis (gin vs vodka) — and $14,000 shoes* or $25,000 mouse*, that is.

• Spent another half an hour or so, chatting with other bloggers. Do I sound like an online social butterfly or what? Heh.
• Plenty of email reading and responding.
• Learned about Pompe Disease, thanks to Juan (b5′s resident Mac specialist). I can’t claim to know a lot about this condition, but I know more than I did when I woke up this morning. Awareness is always a good thing.
• Found my seven month old baby girl under the display table! Ack. Yes, she’s already getting soooo alert and mobile.
• Read blogs via Google Reader and random blog hopping… And, while I always find a lot of interesting things in various blogs, some entries just speak to me a bit louder at certain times. Like, today… found out about the Momergency Kit (via Toni). And, pondered about Breast Cancer Awareness via Karen Cheng. Really enjoying the art of Judy Wise.
• Also, through blog reading, I found out about the Inspiration Board Flickr group, thanks to Ali Edwards’s post on Inspiration Boards. I love boards – cork, magnetic, chalk, white… Currently, I have several boards in our house. A couple’s in an easel form and dedicated for my three year old – who loves practicing his writing, painting and drawing skills on them. He just loves them! Another two boards (cork and white) are dedicated to household stuff – memos, notes, my kid’s art display, some fun photos… I guess, you can say that they are inspiration boards of daily living. But yeah… I have one empty cork board currently in storage. Maybe I’ll set that one up as my dedicated ‘inspiration board’ for my creative projects and such. We’ll see.
• Remembered the significance of the 31st of October in my life, once upon a time, thanks to my sis. It’s been almost a decade since I last celebrated ‘All Soul’s/Saint’s Day’. When I lived in Manila, this day was considered a public holiday. Folks made their way to see families and to visit the graves of departed loved ones.

  One grave I visited a lot as I was growing up (but hadn’t been to in a very long time) was the grave of my sister who died at birth. Her name’s Sheryl. I only knew her as a baby in my mom’s tummy… and how I was waiting for her to arrive. I was about 5 or 6 years old then… She came out dead – and we had to bury her quickly. My first real experience of death. I don’t think my mom even got to see or to hold Sheryl. As a mum now, I don’t know how she managed to get through that experience. That would’ve just broken my heart in to a million pieces.

  Other people we used to visit included both sets of grandparents, uncles, aunts, and young cousins… And, I think ever since I left Manila, we’ve lost a few more family members. It’s a strange thing… remembering.

  How many countries and cultures in the world spend a day to remember their dead, I wonder?

  Hmmm… this sort of thing just reminds me that no matter how much I love my new home (Australia) – the home that I grew up in will be always be a part of me.

Ah, yes. Already feels like a full day. And it’s only 4.30 pm. Still a lot to happen.

So, what about you? How has your day been like today?

Hat Tips:
- 14K Shoe Link – Miki Saxon
- 25K Mouse Link – Char Polanosky

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