Third Compartment

Coping with my current life has forced me to put aspects of it in three distinct compartments. The first is "dealing with cancer" since it is in the forefront. The second is "work" where I challenge myself to not let the first compartment overtake the kind of progress I am trying to make. The third compartment is a place where I've struggled to be in since December 2009 and that place is "just being me".

What is "just being me" about? It is where: I am not a cancer patient... I am not an employee... I am not a daughter... I am not a sister or friend... I am not a cooking expert or frustrated artist. I am just the core of me and not the shell of roles I have acquired on my journey. It is a place where I can look at me and recognize the Divine Spark I have been entrusted with on this Earth. When I look at that Divine Spark it is where I also get to gaze at it and find out what I am supposed to really do to give of my life and use it to its best.

Of course, I would be lying to you if I also didn't include a fourth compartment of being a partner/spouse to an incredible man who allows me the freedom to be in that third compartment. He would also not be intimidated by that surety in my sense of self as well the things I want to accomplish as it relates to my contribution to humanity. Sigh... I am working on one compartment at a time for now.

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On Friday, I had the pleasure of hosting a small dinner party. It was a bit last minute by my plan ahead standards. We dined like kings on Italian fare. I put together an antipasto platter that had variety and also beauty in its presentation. The entree was red sauce with hot Italian sausage over thin spaghetti which was accompanied by slices of sesame seed crusted baguette broiled with a compound butter I made the night before. The wine flowed but not for me since any alcohol is prohibited with my chemo.

The following picture was of dessert. I purchased the mini cannolis and the petit fours. Dutch cocoa powder was dusted all over the white plates. I placed a fork over the plate and then dusted with powdered sugar so I could achieve a silhouette of the fork before I plated the tender sweets next to it.



Today was Mother's Day and I did visit my aunt to give her tulips and some petit fours. I also brought my uncle two chocolate glazed donuts as a treat. My aunt made us a sweet and sour fish lunch. It was quite tasty!

I shopped after at the local crafts shop where I was determined to buy garland and a wire wreath to make my new wreath for the front door. The set I had was tired looking and I was of the mind to improve my feng shui. My heart was charmed with a new welcome mat I found. I took one look at it and the French word "bicyclette" came to mind. It had to come home with me. The floral design on the mat matches my wreath nicely.



Whorls of hair have taken over my head thanks to the previous chemo. I am reticent to cut them since my hair will get thinner as the new chemo goes on. Today I surprised myself by taking the picture below. I wanted to share what I looked like at the moment. The curls in the back are full. It doesn't look like the "me" I know, but here you have it.



I guess it is not that bad. ;p

Love and Hugs,
Sprinkles

Third Compartment

My Funny Valentine

My new Flip UltraHD Camera is the best! It was a birthday gift from my cousin Angie and her best male friend Alfred. This afternoon I was able to shoot a video while I moved into poses (read as "awkward camera moments"). From there my camera's USB was hooked to my laptop. The brilliant software already installed inside the camera enabled me to go frame by frame and choose shots I enjoyed enough to share before finishing them in Picasa.

Sprinkles Confession: Due to impending chemo cocktail happy hours, I feel a mad rush to take these pics before I become "unphotographable" and my body "less than Greek".


Triple threat: 1) Good enough shot; 2) Official Pic; and 3) The one my aunt likes because I am a little smiley - ew!




Sepia Sprinkles...? Love it!




Loving this combo of Sting singing to his wife Trudie and sexy hottie Chris Botti on trumpet. Very romantic!




More love,
Sprinkles xxoo
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My Funny Valentine

Reminiscing

My mind and body were wide awake at 4am. I had walked Cabal and was filling up the kettle with filtered water from my Brita pitcher. I thought about my friend Rob who got me into the habit of using Brita earlier in the year. As I kept pouring, it made me then think of being a little girl in the Philippines.

I don't think about such a thing much these days, but we had to get potable water from the American airbase -- just outside actually. A big hard near opaque white plastic jug with a brass faucet would be filled then brought back to our house almost everyday. One of my mother's male cousins lived with us and it was his task to get the water. It was an interesting thing...I haven't thought about that in a long time.

Later in the day, I told Rob about it and he laughed. I asked him why and he said, "Just my subtle impact." I shook my head. He always enjoys these stories especially the ones he has somehow a hand in making me remember. Brat.

Lunch was lively with all the members of the Asian (Lunch) Mafia. Kim had cooked a big batch of fried rice the night before to share with us. Good thing because Bridget was about to brave the cafe downstairs since she didn't bring anything. It was flavorful with a hint of spice. The whole thing also had small dices of Spam. It's an Asian thing. Go ask anyone in Hawaii; that state is the largest consumer of Spam per capita. We were so loud that we had to close the door. Man are we funny together!

I worked an extra 40 minutes this evening. Aargh. I didn't listen to myself which would have kept me from starting a project. The week is just beginning and I am already tired...My hairdresser returned my call from Friday. We set an appointment for Saturday which got me thinking when I would have my nails done. I'd have to work it in that day somehow. Speaking of...

Two weeks ago my nail lady suggested a new nail product: acrylic mixed with different colors of micro glitter. I agreed to one on my ring finger, but got talked into both ring fingers while keeping the rest a French manicure. I chose a diamond or silver color. It was a challenge to explain to her how tacky these things were on all nails and how inappropriate they were for a corporate setting.

The following pic is of my nails on my right hand. It is difficult to get a good pic with the lighting and my double-jointed fingers making awkward poses. Notice the pumpkin soup tureen in the background? That is what I have displayed on my kitchen table for autumn at the moment. Large pillar candles on equally large candle columns flank it. Back to AGOL's nails:


Lookee...Shiny...Sparkly...


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Reminiscing

Murder Mystery Party

Our famous humidity was in full force this morning during my four-mile walk with Kristey. Seven-thirty in the morning was oppressive. Ugh. Barring the discomfort from heat and encountering a snake on the walk, we made it through okay.

I stopped at the craft store for some last minute items for my costume, namely feathers. Dan's St. Valentine's Day Murder Mystery party was set in the Roaring 20s AKA the age of the flappers, gangsters and Prohibition. Flappers wore feathers on their heads. I also bought a stencil set and blow pens that mimic spray paint with an exhale of air into the tubes. I needed to make signs for the prop boxes of booze I wanted to have on the scene.

Prop boxes were hiding a fog machine.


Outlining Dan's body for the murder scene on his floor was one of the most fun times I've had setting up an event. It took about 15 minutes of me giggling and bumbling around Dan's awkwardly posed body to complete using blue painter's tape. I had to add the weird bump on his bum because he really doesn't have one and it would prove a source of fun by other guests later.



The party was in nine rounds of clues and questioning with breaks in between to let the clues sink in and time for noshing party fare and refilling wine glasses. No one knew if they were the killer until the first round of paper given to their characters. The revealing to everyone was at Round 9.

Ant (as Al Kohol) rented his Zoot Suit.


Ant's wife Rebecca was the quintessential flapper girl Brandy Chaser.


I forgot to take pics during the party so this is only crowd shot I liked of the two I snapped.


Gil T. Azell (Dan) and Al Kohol (Ant) during a break.


More props were on table to set the birthday party of murdered mobster Tommy Gunn (fedora hat, fake cash, poker chips and a cheap cigar...and curlicue sprinkles!).


Ten guests...and the murder(ess) was dancer/singer Roxanne Redlight! She was also a contract killer paid by The Illinois Temperance Society. They wanted to start a gangster war in which they all killed each other.

My self-portrait in the guest bathroom at the end of the night wasn't as flattering as I would have liked it. It looked wilted -- the headband was barely on my head so no feather included, just the ones from the boa. Sigh. Here are the stylized versions anyway.

Let me introduce Roxanne Redlight...


Everyone had great fun in dressing up and playing their characters. We truly played the game for about four hours which went by very quickly. Playing the game was a unique party idea and I highly recommend planning your own Murder Mystery Party. There are already a few themes being bandied about for late June.
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Murder Mystery Party

Stress Relieving Bunny Ears

Traffic on the way to work was like a parking lot. Zero to 10mph thanks to an accident on the side of the road. As soon as we passed it, the rest of us on the left lane zoomed to 70mph to make up some time.

The following picture made me chuckle. There is a fire extinguisher in the back of the gasoline tanker which as you see to the left is clearly marked as flammable by the hazard sign. Now...is it me or do you think you will need something bigger than that to put out a fire on a gasoline tanker? The words kaboom and foam/fire hoses come to mind. Something to think about. Consequently, the AGOL's first real job was working at the Flying J in Cheyenne, Wyoming. It wasn't exactly the glam job she thought of having first. Had to wait a few years before that happened.



My day at work started out late which meant I had to forgo the gym and take a shorter lunch just to get a chunk of work completed. Parts of the day were stressful until our staff meeting. My boss gave each of us gals bunny ear headbands and giant plastic eggs filled with candy. We had a howling good time with the ears. I wore it around the office and watched jaws drop and people giggle as I walked by. Bridget and I took pictures of each other with these things on and sent them to our friends. Tawny almost died. I thought I would pee my pants laughing so hard; needless to say, these Easter gifts were a hit.



Left late and for some reason felt very mellow the rest of the evening. It was like taking half a muscle relaxant but without the muscle relaxant. A little disconcerting, but not enough to bother my super...mellow...vibe. My bed is getting warm thanks to the electric blanket as I type. Can't wait to sleep. I'll be hopping on over in a few...

.........................................

FYI - Food cravings, what they can mean and a healthy way to satisfy them.
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Stress Relieving Bunny Ears

JibJab: AGOL Miranda

Have a Great Weekend!

My boss sent me one of his own with friends. It was hilarious. Here's one with me:



Having a hard time viewing it from here? Go directly to the Jib Jab site to see AGOL Miranda.

...Build your own here: Starring You!
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JibJab: AGOL Miranda

Howling Halloween Party

Almost forgot I had a hair cut appointment this morning, but was able to get myself in the shower in time to be there. I promised Halloween co-hostess' Kathy and Tawny that I would make a vegetarian version of my Filipino eggrolls which made a stop to the Asian store a must after my haircut. Ended up making 50 eggrolls, but decided to fry them at Kathy's house. It was too humid with the rain to try and make sure they cooled completely and stay crisp for a couple of hours.

Walking around towards the front door, I noticed the personalized graveyard. Kathy and Jamie were have been very, very busy...

AGOL's is funny, but I loved Mart's that says, Water My Grave with Beer



The Graveyard



Cindi and Her Cutie........&.......Cindi with sis Kathy



Jason with his girlie Allison



Glam Witch Jill with Kool Keg hubby Mart. (I teased Mart that the pump wasn't for the keg, but actually a penile pump. It brought screams.)



Ant as Minister of Death with Wild Witch Wife Becca



Blaspheming the AGOL! Tawny and Kathy thought it would be funny to have the banned Chip and Dip at their party. Notice the dip wasn't even taken out and put in a proper bowl. They cackled the whole time about this addition. The party was still a howl despite this intentional blemish.



Party accouterments: Ouija board at fortune telling table and plasma action. Too bad I didn't get to try the drink mixers from test tubes.



Who has the better bump? Becca or Dan? (I can't believe you missed this Jeff!!)



Jamie being an ghoul of some sort and avoiding the wedding issue with Pretty Pirate Kathy. AARGH!


Backstory: Ant is a bonafide minister thanks to the Internet and his wife Becca is a notary. We figured, all our friends and some family were gathered in one place so why not get married during the party? Had everything been set-up, it would've been legal. Jamie's scariest nightmare almost came true. Hate to tell you this, Jamie, but you guys can already be construed as common law man and wife. Happy Halloween, Jamie!

Sisters being cheery...



Matt winding down and chillin'. His wife was Britney Spears (trashy version), but forgot to take pic.



The Grave Outdoors...

Difficult to see, but you'll get the ghost...er, gist.



Jack scaring away guests and a special Witch's Brew complete with rotating hand.


There are so many other pics of other people, but I am posting those on Picasa for my buddies to see in their entirety. Sending more video clips to them, too. Jeff ended up missing most of the party to help someone with a costume contest at Ybor City's Guavaween so hopefully those will help him get a feel for the ghoulish delights we experienced. Thank you very much Kathy & Jamie and Tawny & Jeff for putting together a really fabulous party. You outdid yourselves with the decorations and the food. It was well-attended (two dozen?) and great fun!

Post party...
Putting my costume together was easy as was the fantasy make-up. I didn't as elaborate as I wanted to in case I had an allergic reaction to the paint. Dummy me forgot to take the picture when the application was "fresh" and other special effects "visible" so here it is with a slight touch-up several hours later when I got home.

Tired gypsy fortune teller...


Jumped in the shower (third time today!) to get rid of all the make-up from face, neck and arms. Finally made it to bed after 2am when my jasmine tea helped to wind me down.
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Howling Halloween Party

AGOL, the New Spice Girl!

Self-portraits are never easy especially when you've given yourself less than 15 minutes to take pictures before leaving for work and hoping for one good shot. Last time I posted pics of me were from May after my UK trip comparing my before and after tan. (Have to rethink the lipstick color with this hair. Hmm.) Red hasn't been my hair color for 10 years! Not good picture day when you feel blah. Good, bad, ugly or indifferent - I promised a picture.

Here I am as the new Spice Girl...Cayenne. Ha!


Walked into work and felt conspicuous with the new hair. Received warm compliments immediately which was great. Didn't have time to bask in them thanks to a pressurized schedule which I was able to manage through somehow.

The biggest waste of my time was facilitating (read babysitting) a training for over a half dozen individuals on new equipment from the Nemesis Vendor sales rep. I am sure he loved it when I corrected him on his obvious faux pas on one of the functions. I only knew the answer thanks to the service tech from last week who explained it to me. He weathered another impromptu training on the other side of the building. He's coming back on Wednesday.

Tried to complete some user testing on our financial application but didn't receive additional information and permissions on time. That is my first task tomorrow when my portion is due...of course. Sometimes I like a little pressure cooker action.

Left work a little early to take care of Cabal before being picked up by Myrna for dinner. (She's been enjoying her role as houswife lately; her blood pressure went down considerably as a result.) We set out to try this new Chinese restaurant up the road from me which was recommended by Kim. Need to test it out first before meeting Kristey there next week with the rest of the gals.

Tonight at dinner Myrna pushed a simply wrapped lavender package across the table to me and apologized that it wasn't wrapped like AGOL gifts. In it contained the dragonfly necklace with the thin black velvet ribbon chain I had admired in the shop where I bought my stepmother's gifts a couple of weeks ago. She said that she knew I had to have it after seeing my face light up when I saw it the first time. I ended up not getting it, but she went back after she dropped me back off at my apartment. What a great friend to have in your life. I am so lucky that I have a trove of them.



Back home to play with Cabal and watch last season's finale of Heroes before next week's season premiere. Ooh, I can't wait. It is one of the few television shows that is exciting to watch...It's almost 11:30pm and I'm starting to feel like Old Spice. I'd better get some Z's...

AGOL, the New Spice Girl!

Tsunami, Mommy!

It's been a full week of being home from England and I am still out of sorts. I spent the day just hanging around the apartment before I needed to get ready and leave to take my aunt out for Mother's Day which is actually tomorrow. My aunt has been my second mother since mine died when I was 11 years old. I honor my aunt as much as I can.

Before I left my apartment, I was able to talk to Yummy who had been recording his dragon explorations with Anton. He sounded very pleased with their adventures and the amount and quality of their recording. Listening to the whole thing again and editing the material are the next steps on this project. It will be great to hear what the final outcome will be.

Don't recall if I mentioned it, but I was able to get some sun while I was in England. There was only one rainy day during my two weeks there. I know how incredibly lucky I was to have such great weather...My island skin soaked up some rays and here's a before and after for proof. Yes, I am a little alarmed because my geisha look has been compromised. Everyone has been complimentary though on my rare change of coloring.


Before England...................................After England

My Aunt Maria wasn't ready yet when I walked in their home; she was just finishing putting dinner on the table for Nan. It was just minutes more before she had transformed herself into diva attire. Sexy mama at 63! She was tickled pink at being treated and when she found out we were having Japanese, she was more pleased.

We arrived at a new place in Brandon called Tsunami which has sushi and hibachi fare. We opted for veggie and shrimp tempura for starters and one California roll to share. Our dinner came with miso soup and mine with side salad, too. The dinners were served too soon so mine was cold by the time I got to it. I had the Hibachi steak stir-fry and my aunt had some Korean noodle dish. This place had some Korean selections, too.

We took home most of our main courses so we could share a dessert which was a frozen lemony mousse thing with two different kinds of berry sauces decorating the plate. Hot green tea and water with lemon were our beverages of choice. Believe me, the last thing these two giggle boxes need is alcohol to spice things up!

My England pics were not ready at Costco to be picked up so I brought the digital camera to show my aunt my trip during our dinner. I had missed her and I was glad to be able to share a meal with just her. She certainly appreciated the time away from my uncle, Nan and the house in general and told me as much. Sometimes it does takes it toll. All that was expected of her was to enjoy herself. No cooking or cleaning up which were big selling points in her book.

Two and half hours later, I took her home and amazingly I wasn't too tired to drive back home. Jet lag has been taking its revenge on me by making me want to sleep all the time. I was only too happy to comply when I got home.

Tsunami, Mommy!

Make Me Snappy

Snapped right out of bed remembering that I had a job to go to and took Cabal out at dark-thirty to wake up. I even snapped a couple of pics on my camera phone to send to Yummy since I was experiencing a surprising Good Hair Day before I walked out the door. Too bad I was not experiencing good face day...

A little OCD behavior and having to style my own hair since I was 11 years old ensures 90% Good Hair Days even with the southern humidity. Today the hair was a little fluffier or as Yummy put it, "looking free and slightly windswept". That's why having a poet in your life totally rocks!

Meanwhile not too far from Shallowville was Workville (aka The Bowels of Corporate Culture Thanks to The Man). Did I get anything I really wanted to get done done? No, sirree! My temp was having the worst of it thanks to interruptions and everyone singing their own self-produced, self-directed and self-written opera, "Me-me-me ME". My most fun thing (work related) was creating a flowchart for my boss...add pretty boxes...connect pretty boxes.

I called cousin Ida on the drive home to see if her ISP was set-up and she was happily on the Net. Somehow I knew I would also talk to my aunt. She called me later to Nan-sit on Saturday night which I did agree to after I snapped at her for beating around the bush. If you wanna go out, just let me know. Don't ask me what I'm doing on Saturday, etc. Sheesh! The answer would've been yes no matter how tired I was or other plans I could get out of or postpone. I get that my aunt and uncle need a spell away from home, a date night if possible.

Ate some egg drop soup with crunchy noodles for dinner. Crunchies in soup is an AGOL rule, you know. Slurped the soup and then got a call from Jill-from-work to talk about her recent pseudo date with an older man and our love lives in general. She is a good person to talk to about these things since she is essentially single (separated a long time and her court date for divorce around the corner). We always end up laughing loudly and talking serious smack. GIRHfrenz are good to have!

SURE CURE FOR WORKVILLE BLAHS: SO CUTE!

Make Me Snappy