Tag Archives: animals

The Wonders of TLC

Posted on by

I am often fascinated by how every living thing responds to an extra dose of TLC. It is so fascinating and fulfilling to watch how even a little bit of TLC can revive let’s say a plant that is unwell to actually seeing them bloom for the first time more like beating the odds.

This is a young Gumamela cutting washed away by the flood and got covered up by other piles of debris, which explains why some of the leaves are all curled up. And now, the new leaves are healthier, and I am also seeing tiny buds of flowers forming.

It’s the same for people. I would like to give a shoutout of appreciation to my 3rd sister for taking care of Dad. While I also assist in any way I could, it’s been my sister who provided most of the caregiving to Dad. And no, it wasn’t easy at all.

When Your Dad Isn’t Up To It

Dad wasn’t feeling all too well as of late. One time, I thought I should comb his hair for him. It’s already getting long after skipping visits to the barbershop since he couldn’t walk and stand properly on his own for some weeks now. So to uplift his spirits, I made him an offer.

Me: “Dad, would you want me to give you a haircut?”

Of course, I was so surprised that it was met with the most violent reaction.

Dad: “NOOOOOOOOOO.”

So I asked him again.

Me: “But why not, Dad? Don’t you trust me?”

Then there went his chuckle. So I added.

Me: “I will make you the most gwapo Lolo with your new haircut.”

And his chuckles became even louder.

Ah yes, Dad. This is payback time. It is now my turn to exasperate you. Please refer to this article, if you haven’t read it yet, to find out how it all started. lol

Okay, before you assume I am giving you a very lousy writeup with my corniest jokes, let’s go back to TLC. 😃

Giving TLC As A Profession

Did you know that when I was applying for college admission, I chose BS Nursing? But I didn’t have a lot of mentoring and tutorial opportunities back then when I was a grade school and high school student, so I flunked most of my Math tests since I was extremely bad with numbers.

In other words, I failed to qualify for most of the universities’ requirement to get in under their BS Nursing program except for one university, UST. But since UP Diliman is the first choice because of its low matriculation fees, I had to forego taking up BS Nursing in USTe. I ended up taking Literature instead, which somehow turned out to be a good choice also since it’s another favorite subject of mine.

Empaths And How They See The World

I guess, nobody was patient enough to teach an inquisitive child who asks a lot of “whys.” Like “Why can’t the Pythagorean theorem use the letters E, F, and G instead?” lol Or that type of kid you’d want to avoid because he keeps asking you questions like “Why is the sky blue?” Or why the leaves turn yellow and why not purple. 😅

I have learned by experience that the answer to these questions, by default, is to mention God as the ultimate creator whose creative powers in making this universe can never be questioned because He is the ultimate authority over mankind. But of course, if you don’t want to stifle the child’s imagination, you can always search Google for the right answer to make sure your answers will be coming from credible sources.

Being inquisitive is actually a good sign of your child’s capability to make sense of everything around him (can possibly lead to increased social awareness as an adult). That is why his curiousity is unstoppable. And this is also why I love talking to toddlers and preschoolers because they ask the most absurd, but actually very practical questions that we don’t even have the answers yet up to now. I learn a lot from them in a way. So don’t wonder if you hear me baby talk sometimes. lol 😄

A Possible Task In The Future

Going back to TLC, I am having this desire, albeit not too strongly, to get a short course on caregiving or what Nursing Assistants take. But given all the things I wanted to do and am currently doing, I don’t know how I’m going to fit it in my schedule. I guess I’ll leave it all up to God once again with these Bible verses in mind:

“Many are the plans of man , but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail.” – Proverbs 19:21

“Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him], and your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].” – Proverbs 16:3

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11

P.S. I’ll edit this later because this is an early morning (11am is early), I-just-woke-up-because-I-slept-late-and-I’ll-be-busy-later thoughts. 😁

What I’d love to do if my schedule is free – learn how to plant and grow rootcrops back home for the summer season and see how they will respond to TLC. This is the antidote to endless curiousity – keep on learning. 😉

P.S. Too much TLC though can’t be too good either. Like when I saw this plump feline of ours because we overfed her, I told her, [Darling, it’s about time you lose some weight or I’ll now call you “Fatto Catto.”]

I’m sure our cat will answer, “That is not my problem, that is your BIG problem.” 😹

Catzilla on my bed playing with my guitar picks.

Or this lizard I have here in the apartment. He would gobble up the morsels of steamed rice I’d put on the table though they’re still hot. So when I took a photo of him up close, I’m not really sure if his mouth was partly open because of the hot food or he’s just smiling and telling me “Hi, Mama! I missed you and your kanin.” 😆

Smile though ze mouth is aching? Like a 3rd-degree burn from hot kanin maybe? Defnitely not TLC, Tin.
I didn’t see him for 2 days now, so I am a bit worried. I think he needs to be rushed to the ER already.

Paano Matulog Sa Higaan Nang Hindi Kasama Ang Ulo?

Posted on by

To the Physics majors out there, I want to know what dynamics are we witnessing here aside from the obvious, which is the law of gravity? Kindly enlighten me what’s the logic behind a 6-foot bench but you somehow slept with your head hanging out? 🤔

Animal behaviorists might actually have a better explanation for this. Because it’s like buying a King size bed only to sleep on the edge of it. You might be better off selling the bed and sleep on the couch instead. 😅

Kung wala ng ibang rason, hanapan pa rin natin ng explanation. It’s like coming up with a problem out of a solution. lol Hay, Christine. Kaya hindi nakakapagtaka kung bakit binigyan ka ng 4 na grade sa Math 1. May solusyon na kasi, hinanapan pa ng problema. 🤣

Seriously, my inability to solve Math problems coherently has something to do with an abnormality in my brain and how it was structured or wired. Studies showed that this deficiency is hereditary, but I’m not blaming my ancestors. I hope were clear on that.

So yes, I really am serious about asking Elon Musk to be the sperm donor once I decide to get an IUI since he’s an advocate of populating this world with intelligent people. I’m very confident writing this here because it will never happen (him being the sperm donor). lol

I learned about this learning disability when I took my master’s degree in Special Education (I did not finish this because I got married). There’s a part of myself that was seeking for answers. And somehow, I got some of the answers through SpEd. They call it “dyscalculia.”

I interchange numbers when I write them down. I can correctly read them aloud, but when I start writing them, the numbers become all jumbled. So it takes a lot of concentration for me to remember their sequence. I also can’t do a mental calculation even if it’s just basic arithmetic.

I solve equations or count using my fingers (if there’s no calculator) or by writing the equation down. It usually takes me a long time to solve even just one Mathematical problem. Mine was only a self-diagnosis so I really can’t tell the severity of my case. There is no cure for dyscalculia, but the most effective way to minimize the effects of this condition later in life is through early intervention during a child’s developmental period. But thank God for Microsoft Excel and SPSS. 🙏

My brain has a learning deficit when it comes to Math and somehow compensated for it by focusing more on language development. I grew up having this fascination over highfalutin words I can remember them right away even after encountering them for the first time and can use them in the proper context (sometimes inappropriately 😅).

But the thing is, we were trained in my department back in college to write not to impress but to express – keep your vocabulary as simple as possible. Use layman’s terms, so to speak, especially if you’re into persuasive writing like me. Nothing convinces an audience more but by using the language of the masses. So if you’re going to look at my grades in school per subject, it would be 98% in English, 94% in Science, 89% in History & Filipino, and 77% in Math. lol

By the way, itong aso na ito ay alaga ng Tito ko who passed away two years ago (my Mom’s youngest brother). This dog kind of adopted himself na maging pet namin kapag andun kami sa bukid. Syempre nasasama kasi sya during lunch time.

But this dog is very intelligent and very loyal. He makes a very good farm dog and guard dog, too. Mukhang na-train ng Tita ko dahil kasama nya palagi kapag nagu-uling ng mga “bagul” (coconut shells) after mag-kopra doon sa bukid namin.

Makulit din syang dog. Andami nyang pakwela na tunay nga namang matatawa ka na lang. Like itong isa na nagpanggap syang pilay daw sya. Tapos biglang tumayo sabay tingin sa akin.

And the Best Dog Actor Award goes to…BAMBA! That’s his name. 😊

Missing The Scratching Fluffballs

Posted on by

I’m back in Manila with ze husband to help him prepare the documents needed for his work abroad. Of course, mi amor was just too excited and happy to see me.

The same goes for me though I still hate him a little bit. lol I have only been here for 3 days and I already want to go back to my hometown. 😭

Manila will always be Manila – traffic is everywhere, pollution is getting worse, people are always hurrying, and the list will go on and on. It’s a good thing we’re only staying here until the 26th.

Bicol Long Drive 🙏

We’re spending New Year with my family in Bicol. I told my hubby that since we’re traveling by car, we grab the opportunity to do a little bit of sightseeing. That will be his post-birthday gift to me – I demand. Because I still hate him. lol 😅

It’s nothing fancy, anyway. Because I plan to have 2 stopovers since my husband will be driving and I don’t want him to get too tired. This is not his first time driving to Bicol though, but I just want him to be fully rested before he resumes driving. Driving for 12 hours straight is no joke.

I am targeting the first stopover in Quezon, we will stay there overnight. The last stopover will be in Albay, and we will spend the night there too, and be back on the road the next day. I’m looking forward to seeing Mt. Mayon up close. All the more since it’s now on Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 3. Yay! Thank You, Lord. I’m manifesting driving around Mayon with an ATV while we’re there. 😍🙏

Anyway, why am I talking about our holiday plans when this article is supposed to be about fluffballs? 😅 So, without any further ado, here are some compiled photos and videos of our scratching fluffballs’ cuteness overload. Enjoy! ❤️

Captured Moments

Polly (White Cat): “You found anything interesting to read?“

Peekah (Orange Cat): “Nope, these are all Science books and journals.”

Polly: “No romance novels?”

Peekah: “Nope, nothing here to make you cry your heart out like Pride and Prejudice.”

Polly: “Mum, please don’t forget to include me in your Go Bag essentials.”
Tippy: “This armchair spindle accent is such a perfect pillow for me. I hope I won’t get a stiff neck though.”
Hello there, pretty boy Fishy!
I’m teaching these two fluffballs to coexist peacefully because they are both trying to dominate my bed. They get to sleep beside me, but only on this side of the bed where there’s a towel laid out for them to sleep on. The training has paid off. This is actually me showing them who’s the real boss. 😄
Peekah: “Because sleep is life.“
Tippy: “Am I dead yet?”
Peek-a-boo with Meowmy.
Polly: “I know I’m not supposed to sleep here. But it’s too cold, Mum.”
That’s our QA Specialist cat guarding her grocery stash. I had to take the photo from afar lest she jump up on me thinking I was attempting to steal her goodies. 😅
And she’s now ready to give them away. 😁 Thank You, Lord, for the lives of our farm workers. 🙏

Spider Man vs Cat Women

Before you think that the cats won, it’s actually the spider. Yep, he played dead and when the cats were gone, he went scrambling off. A cunning little creature, he is. 😃

Lemme Out, Mum

Polly: “Meowmy, can you please open the door for me? See, I’m very well-behaved.”

Me: “No, sweetheart. Because I don’t want you bringing me gifts from the wild i.e. snakes, lizards, mice, and whatever is crawling out there.”

You Can’t Beat My Cuteness

This fluffball is such an expert in hooking people with her cuteness. But don’t be deceived by it. Because she is the feistiest of them all. Her claws are deadly, you‘ll be needing stitches after playing with her. 😄

That Sorcery Called “Playtime”

Peekah: “Polly, do you know what kind of sorcery is this? It’s so addicting.”

Polly: “I heard Mom said it’s called Playtime. This sorcery sure is fun, even if we get to do it during full moon only.”

Witches be like…😂😂😂

Meowmy, Heeeeeelllllpppppp!!!

“Meowmy, look! An alien is trying to invade our house! Quick, call the Men in Black. Now!!!!”

P.S. Not related to vacation plans, fluffballs, and all but I thought I should just share this. It’s about signs. I’ve seen this sign since October – different variations of it every day. I tried to dismiss it, but it speaks to my soul. So loud and yet so unclear. I felt like I was going bonkers seeing it everywhere, anywhere, and at any time. I saw it in a passing truck, I saw it in a building, I saw it on Facebook posts, and I’m like it is too much of a coincidence to see something often that is not even common. I’m really close to confronting God what He means by it or if it did come from Him or the enemy. Is it an instruction and a premonition or a temptation and a distraction? The sign, by the way, is a name – not a common name. Or maybe I asked God for this sign in my subconscious? 🤔

“Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.” – Isaiah 7:11

How To Fortify A Business: 3 Lessons I Learned From Mice

Posted on by

Just like how old castles were built surrounded by a moat, it’s also the same for businesses. Moats were designed to fortify castles and make them impenetrable to any type of ground attack.

For businesses, what is your contingency plan (your business’ moat) when the economy crashes? There have been conspiracies going around such as a new ethnic weapon or bioweapon that China claims some countries already have that targets a specific race. However, the source of this intel needs to be verified.

Bulusan Volcano was placed on Alert Level 1 once again last October 25, 2023 due to increased activity. Mayon Volcano in Albay has been on Alert Level 3 since June 2023. Never-ending wars also fill the news lately.

So I thought, how do we safeguard our businesses so they can survive any type of natural disaster or war? We have to admit, when the Covid-19 pandemic happened, none of us were prepared for it.

By the way, you might be wondering why the article title mentions “mice” and yet I am posting a turtle cage. 😃 It is actually the turtle cage that I am trying to fortify against these rodents.

There is no one solution that will address all your business problems. In the case of my turtle cage, rodents just keep on finding a weak spot in my cage. Every time they do this, I have to devise a new plan to ward them off.

Here are some of the lessons I learned from fortifying our turtles’ cage that we can also apply in businesses.

Just one of my DIY projects at home last year built with the help of my husband. Unfortunately, only 1 plant survived because our pet turtles just love to play with the other plants inside the pen.

3 Lessons I Learned From Mice On How To Fortify Businesses

1. Adaptability

I think I already made more than 10 modifications to our turtles’ cage, and I thought I already solved the problem. But the rodents seem to be one step ahead of me. So, what did I miss? After carefully assessing the exterior of the cage, I realized that I’d been looking at the top part of the cage only. When I examined the cage closely and at a different angle, I saw other openings where the rodents found a way to get inside and eat our turtles’ food.

DIY Turtle Cage

Looking at the problem from different angles helps us target the root cause of the issue at hand. In a business, this might mean having to study customers’ profiles and take note of the best times to engage with them or advertise your product. Or you might consider changing the location of your business or operating hours.

Also, considering mobility solutions and alternatives as far as logistics are concerned will help your business adjust during a crisis. You might also want to include improving your communication strategies in the event that all communication lines are down.

2. Resourcefulness

When I designed this turtle cage, I was thinking of a low-cost project by making use of scrap and unused materials that I was able to rummage in our storage house. I also got the bamboo at the farm. The disadvantage though of using wooden materials is their durability. You have to change them every 8 months or so especially if they are exposed to different elements such as rain and sunlight.

Engineer/architect for a day. 😊

It’s all about maximizing what we already have that we can utilize to lessen the operating costs of a business. The IoT (Internet of Things) and technology can help businesses transition from traditional processes to a digital setup in terms of applying different marketing strategies and performing HR-related tasks.

We can also learn from doomsday preppers when it comes to cost-effective equipment such as using solar panels and rainwater harvesting systems especially if the business relies heavily on electricity and water use.

3. Think Long-Term

There is no better way to prepare than to anticipate what could possibly happen in the coming years. While we have no control over what could transpire in the future, a good amount of preparation might somehow reduce the negative impact of a crisis.

What we must prepare now includes acquiring assets that will not be affected by a volatile market. We can also diversify our investments so that in case one industry is heavily affected, our other investment can help sustain it. Also, saving for buffer funds is a necessity now. It is no longer an option, but a requirement. This is very important for every business to avoid acquiring debt.

Choosing your partners in the mission field is also critical at this point. This will include business partners and real-life partners. Business partners must support the vision, mission, and values of the company. If they are only after the profit, it could be an added strain on your business once you decide to end the partnership due to unresolved conflicts.

The same thing goes for your real-life partner. Choose someone who supports your dreams and goals and it would be better if he or she is not from the same profession. Tough times just like the COVID-19 pandemic tested every relationship all over the world.

If you’re in the medical field, I suggest not choosing someone who’s a medical professional, too. Medical staff alongside military personnel are always the frontliners whether there’s a pandemic or a war. You would need someone who is strong-willed and yet can offer you the comfort and encouragement that you need as pressure and stress start to take a toll on your mental and physical health.

Choose someone who will make sure when you get home, you will be able to get the much-needed rest and nurturing that you need. Or someone who can write your reports for you because you are already too exhausted working 8 hours straight in full PPE (plus an hour of overtime work) and braving the city’s traffic going home. And you still have a Zoom meeting after dinner. This was me, btw, to my husband (a registered nurse), during the Covid-19 lockdown. 😉

The small turtle is hiding beside the big one. The male turtle is an aggressive introvert. lol He’s aggressive enough to pursue our female turtle, but too introverted to interact with people. 😄

Speaking of partners, we found another turtle, a young male just this year. And it looks like he’s going to be a good partner for our female turtle. Though I think the age difference between them might be an issue now because he tried to mate her, but he’s still too small and her shell is too big for him so he failed. lol It looks like you still have to wait a little bit longer, young man. 😉

P.S. We plan to release these turtles inside our farm once they’re able to multiply. I want to make sure the young turtles are already big enough to defend themselves from predators before releasing them in the wild. Otherwise, their chances of becoming extinct are high, especially since locals poach them for food.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

How Country Cats Roll: Animal Talk

Posted on by

Ever wondered how a day in a cat’s life goes? This made-up conversation I came up with back in my hometown between our cats, Polly (white cat) and Peekah (orange cat), might give you a clue. 😊

Polly: “Hey, Peekah! Come and check this plant out. Something’s peculiar about this plant.”

Peekah: “Why, what is weird about it?”

Polly: “I am not so sure. But do you mind checking it out?”

Peekah: “Hmmmm, lemme see.”

Polly: “Have you seen it already?”

Peekah: “I don’t see anything.”

Polly: “Look closely.”

Peekah: “Oh c’mon, Polly. That’s a part of the plant. That is the flower! A weird-looking flower. I’ll leave you there and smell some real flowers somewhere.”

Moral lesson: Cats do smell and check out flowers. 😅

P.S. I’m writing this because I’m on bed rest – flu’s to blame. Pls. pray for my healing, and thank you for reading! ❤

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28

Took this some days ago but the cat filter is just perfect for today’s topic. Fyi, I take selfies way less than your average millennial. I look the same every day. 😉

A Kitty’s Tale

Posted on by

Peekah and Peekie (2 months old)

Peekah and Peekie (2 months old, when I found them)

pizap.com13619894336561

Peekah and Peekie (4 months old)

IMG_20130404_105209

Sleeping Princesses

IMG_20130404_105414

Rise and shine little darling!

DSC_0801

Siesta Time

DSC_0775

Peekah: Sleep any way I want.

DSC_0771

Got yah!

1

At the back of the apartment. Let’s catch that leaf!

IMG_20130630_173631

Peekie

IMG_20130630_173850

Hey, what’s up?

IMG_20130630_173936

Clean-up time.

Hi! My name is Peekah and this is my sister Peekie. It has been 7 months since our Mommy adopted us. We eat rice, fish and Whiskas and though we meow quite a lot before feeding time, Mommy makes sure we follow our eating schedule during 9AM, 1PM and 5PM everyday. We love to play hide and seek and wrestle with one another.

One day, Peekie and I got so carried away playing we started to mess around with Mommy’s plants. When Mommy got home and saw the torn leaves of her plants, she got so angry that she scolded us for disobeying and to discipline us. After that, we never played with the plants and inside the pots anymore.

We love our Mommy so much that’s why we obey her from now on and she loves us so much too! 🙂