I bought this frozen meal called Tilapia Fillet with Mango Lime Salsa from Costco and it was really good.  Every time we’d go to Costco, I’d always check on the frozen aisle to see if they have it.  It has been months and each time I check, there was nothing.  Because of this, me and my sister attempted to replicate its taste and flavor.  Last Thursday, my sister made it and it turned out good.  The only thing is, Tilapia  fillets are small and I don’t get enough of it.  Today, I went to the grocery store and bought some fresh Salmon (decided to have this instead of Tilapia as it has more meat in it) along with my ingredients for the Mango Lime Salsa.

Try this simple and easy recipe and serve it on your next meal!

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe mango
• 1/4 large onion
• a bunch of fresh cilantro
• 2 Roma tomatoes
• 1 small lime or lemon
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (optional)
• 3/4 tsp salt

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“Don’t be afraid to try new things, you won’t know what you’re capable of until you do. “

- Jacy Bye

It’s funny how YouTube.com became not only as a source of entertainment but it also is a source of knowledge and skill development.  I am one of those people who uses the website to learn new things.  I find it better than reading some guides or manuals since we get to see the instructions in action.

I have zero knowledge in make-up.  Putting some baby powder on my face was just enough.  Well, that is good if I only stay at home or even run errands to the grocery store.  But if I go to work, meet and interact with people, a little glow of some sort will also boost a little bit more of your confidence.

There are also occasions that surely require to put more than just the casual make-up.  One example was last Halloween.  My sister and I decided to dress up for the occasion.  It was our first time ever.  Sliding into some costume is not enough, you have to have the look too.  Then I went to my reliable source – YouTube.  I browse at a variety of make-up and hair dos and use whatever I have available.  I tried various styles a couple days before the Halloween.  And when it was time, it turned out to be fine.

The website also introduced me to baking.  I baked my first pie ever with its help and it turned out perfect!

It doesn’t happen everyday. Since yesterday, we were showered with the beautiful wonders of nature in the night sky. And tonight was the last day to get the chance to see the annual Perseid Meteor Shower.

The Perseid meteor shower, like all meteor showers, happens when debris from a passing comet gets left behind in that object’s orbit around the sun. When Earth passes through the debris, tiny particles get incinerated in our atmosphere.

I have always loved stargazing even when I was still in the Philippines.  Having mentioned that brings a lot of nice memories.  Back in college, I’d stay up late on the phone with a pal to watch the sky at the same time even if he’s in some other place.  Early 2000, another friend came along from the Netherlands who would stargaze with me.  It has become my hobby back then.  Since I got here, the only time I got to do it was when TS and I camped in grandpa’s place where there’s no city light to ruin a good and clear view of the night sky.

Tonight, TS and I walked by the dock and settle ourselves at the edge of it, laying down and stared at the night sky.  It was an amazing sight!  What makes it more wonderful is I get to spend quality time with TS, no words said, just laying there holding me in his arms.  I must admit I missed these kind of moments too.  I have been so busy with work and exhausted when I come home that I don’t get to do things like these.

“The light of a distant star
continues to reach the earth
long after the star itself is gone.

In the same way, the light and
love this dear loved one gave will
continue to shine in many hearts.”

At this day, my cousin… my friend has finally given up her battle of cancer.  She was indeed a warrior.  She stands for what she truly believes in and challenges other people.  She will be remembered by that courage, that strength, that smile and most of all that angelic voice that she possessed.

It’s that time of year again… the time that I get so excited and could not stop thinking about it.  It’s not my birthday nor our anniversary.  It’s not a holiday either. It’s the Great Minnesota Get-Together a.k.a. The Minnesota State Fair.  Wooohoo!

As expected, there will be a lot of big and fun things lined up.   Kid Rock and Kelly Clarkson will be performing  at the Grandstand on separate days.  And of course, there will be the abundance of food which I am most interested with.  If there is something that makes this year’s State Fair, it will be because Rorie and Chris are coming with us.  (Did I mention they already live here in Minnesota?  If I haven’t, I’ll save that story on my next post.)  So this will be Rorie’s first State Fair.  She has heard a lot about it from me and wished she could go.  And true enough, on her birthday weekend, we are going.  Perhaps some of our friends from work will join us.

I will keep you updated for sure.  For now, I’m just waiting for that day to dawn on me.  Yikes!

I received a text message from one of my office friends last Friday that she got “the call”.  The call that every variable employee doesn’t like to get.  The call that you don’t expect and can’t have a hint of its coming.  After that text message and confirming that she was serious about it, my other friend – Kyeela and I are starting to feel uneasy for we might get the same call.

Going to work last Monday was strange.  Two of my work friends are no longer working with us.  One was my donuts and BS buddy whom I enjoyed talking with just about anything and everything.  Walking past his empty desk and seeing his empty coffee cup was just weird.  Their absence not only made us sad but it also made us nervous that there might be a next cut.

Today, they got rid of four more people.  And losing those four came into a shock not only to our team but also to the other teams that the four has provided support.

It now appears to me that it is just a matter of time that that they are going to get rid of us.  Although I was assured by my supervisor and my other superiors that I got a safe spot at work, it doesn’t make me feel secure.  For the first time, I feel like not wanting to go to work for the fear of receiving an email informing us that they let go of another person.  Wooh!  Scary!

I hate losing people. The happening just made me stress.  Hopefully we can breathe better tomorrow without the fear of getting “the call” that like death, comes unexpectedly without a warning.

It has been awhile since I last made a post on this blog.  I am still trying to juggle my time with work and the chores here at home.  At the end of each day, my energy is drained and I needed to recuperate.  I’ve been in a lot of adventures and I’ve got tons of stories to tell, I will have this blog eventually catch up to what has been going on with my life.

I will be making short posts not only about my personal happenings but also of what’s making the headlines and my opinions about other things.  Furthermore, I will continue to post more about beautiful places and will be including pictures as I take my chance of being a shutterbug.

As you see… I’M BACK!

“If you and your family is suffering Mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos, you have a fight.  Call our lawyers now!”

The first time I heard about Mesothelioma was when I saw this ad on TV that would go every 5 minutes while watching Court TV marathon. So what is Mesothelioma? It is a form of cancer which is caused by an exposure to asbestos. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Even washing the clothes of someone exposed to asbestos also put that person at risk in developing mesothelioma.

Although Mesothelima is a difficult disease to treat effectively, there is a Mesothelioma treatment strategy developed based on symptom control. Common treatments also includes Surgery, Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy. There are also non-traditional treatment options available.

“Education would be so much more effective if its purpose were to ensure that by the time they leave school every boy and girl should know how much they don’t know, and be imbued with a lifelong desire to know it.”

– Sir William Haley

My good friend – Kenneth came to the US to pursue a career of teaching.  He is currently teaching Special Education in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  He told me that it is indeed a challenge not only because he is tasked to handle tough students but also because of the difference in culture.  Back home, students have a high regard and respect to their teachers.  Here, his experience was the exact opposite.  They’d care less if their teacher is going to drop them out of school. This is a very challenging and demanding job but this seemed to be one of the recession-proof career and I’m talking about being an educator in general not just for special education.

In this regard, I have decided out of curiosity to search on what one needs to prepare oneself in taking this challenge – in being an educator and one of the significant mold of every person’s future.  If you are a graduate of a bachelor’s degree and thinking of pursuing a career as an instructor, online schools like Saint Xavier University offers an MS Curriculum. In fact, Saint Xavier University is the second largest provider of teachers in the state of Illinois.  Their online MS Curriculum is acreedited and will prepare the individual for continued development as a master teacher in school and other instructional settings.  This will also enhance the individual understanding on curricular issues and their impact on the instructional practice.   Since it is online, it is easier for busy individuals or professionals to fit the classes in their schedule.  Thus increasing your credentials without interfering with other responsibilities.

Don’t be just a teacher, be someone who will enhance student learning and make significant contributtions to the students and classrooms with this MS Curriculum.  Be prepared to make someone’s future a brighter.

Whew! It has been a year since we moved up here in Minnesota.  So far, everything turned out really well for us.  I could just remember that our concern last year was how to move our stuff from Florida to here.  We have compared various moving companies that can give us a good deal for a one-way trip.  But in the end, TS ended up moving with his car and whatever things he can fit in his car.  I on the other hand was trying to generate an income while having a vacation in the Netherlands.

Twelve months have passed and a lot of things happened.  We stayed with TS’ uncle’s basement for 3 months.  After that, we rented Nick’s (TS’ bestfriend) spare room.  And 3 months later, we moved here in our place which doesn’t seem like a long time ago. The move to Minnesota was one of the good decisions we’ve done and it definitely worked out for us.