Whew its 31 Jan. what happen to the 30 days ???  January for me was rainy, snowy, partly sunny and freezing! My Bianca Ann got sick a few times–and Momma too right now I got a stuffed nose (lalong lumapad ilong ko  whuaaaa!!)

Let me see if I remember what we did this January:

1- Michiko, Rc, Olivier and Vincent heads home to Oregon after spending 3 night with us. Then it snowed on the evening…

2- Clean the house again…wash all the beddings, wipes door handles etc. Then played with the snow outside.

3- Snow were melting. Drove to Bianca Ann dancing lesson–her first dancing lesson of the year. There was only 3 kids made it to the class out of 9 kids. Got the breadmaker I ordered for Billys Christmas gift. It was backordered.

4- Billy use his new Cuisinart breadmaker. He made a Raisin bread then tried to make a Banana NUt bread after an hour but the breadmaker was not working. Billy plug the BM it was not working–lights were off. He called the company –they said we need to return it. he was so dissapointed. The next day he tried to use it again making a Dill weed bread it works!!! my Hubby is a CRAZY bread maker indeed!!!

6- Seahawks Day! we invited our neighbor Eric,Tina  and Hannah thier 3 yo girl for a foottball dinner and playdate in our house. Our house smells good with all the bread Billy made. SEAHAWKS WIN over Dallas. yahoo!!!

8- MOnday no swiming class–snow on the road.

9- Snowed again… about an inch—

10- Dancing Lesson day…snow is melting so thought its ok  to drive. 3 minutes away from the shool it starts to hail. I was scared and freak out…drove on it I slide twice. First when I was trying to stop on a stop light and when trying to turn right. I called my hubby , He said I am fine. Got in dancing school–there was only 5 kids. Most of the mother who were there were freaking out driving on  the snow. One of the hubby called to pick them up but could not make it up the hill. I started to worry too— I took my cell and was ready to call my hubby to NAG about the snow and he better pick us. I got a voicemail– it was Billy telling me that he is 3 minutes away–he is going to pick us up.  We left the Explorer at the dancing school parking lot overnight. My hubby said that on his way to school there was a lot of cars on the side of the road—slip from the slushy road.

11- My beloved Tatang 64th birthday. He was 30 years old when I was born. Picked Explorer from the parking lot.

13- It was snowing! The weather forecast did not say about the snow on saturday. We are supposed to go to Seattle for the Railroad Roadshow due to snow we just attended a dinner in Edmonds from a Baseynon couple who knows my brother Charlie. Driving home was scary — 2 inches snow on the road… the road was up then down… got lodt cause we could make it to turn right because of the road condition. Thanks GOD for the GPS… Billy even helped a woman–she was trying to go home here house was up the hill but she was sliding down. Billy told here to step on the break and let him drove the van. My hubby is a hero-!!!! Disco escapade in Tulalip casino with Hazel, Trey and April.

14- SEAHAWKS VS CHICAGO BEARS for the Championship–Seahawks lost…hu!hu!hu! did not watched the game because me and Terry went to play Bingo at the Tulalip Bingo. She won 200 dollars and shared the 100.00 with me. Nice of her— send dayon for Pinas ;-). for my sister Gasul, new gas stove and her hubby medicine.

15- Martin Luther King Jr. day –a HOLIDAY!!! went to the raildroad roadshow in Seattle Pacific center. It was fun… seen different designs and style of trains. From the biggest (toy train), longest to the tiniest train I ever seen…

16- Got an offline YM message from Mana Nene that Mr. Edgar Isidro died from a Massive Heart attack at the hospital.

17- First swiming lesson of the year. Missed the first two session due to snow condtion.

20- Me and Bianca Ann went swimming on the pool at the LS HIgh School pool. We played at the pool for 2 hours…she got a raisin palm and sole.

21 - Went to Church with Maya and kids at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I helped her with the Sunday school., while Bianca Ann is with the Toddlers with Christ.

22- First day of her EXPLORERS Class at the Childrens Museum in Everrett. Its a once a week class for a month, every Monday for $50.00 I signed up for 2 months $90.00. WE got there late on the first day — but had fun! Lots of hands on arts, and 2 books reading. Went to ROSS with Hazel afterwards–then went straight to the swimming lesson at 5 pm.

24- We were late for the book reading in Snohomish library (no Kidding ha!ha!ha!) I just late Bianca Ann played with the toddlers PC game and played at the parks afterwards. It was a sunny day. Bianca Ann was complaining about her left ear hurts.

25_ Doc Appointment. Findings she got an ear and eye infection. Got an antibiotic for both. Then we went at the Everrett Naval base pier to fed the seagulls. Receive the jar of YUMMY ginamos from Gretchen. I thought at first it was bomba– no name of sender. I was shaking the box and wondering what was inside. When I finally open it and the smells OHHHHHHHHHHH the GINAMOS from Philippines. Gretchen Mom sends us both a 2 jar of ginamos (tag-usa mi), timplado with sili and lemon pa gyud. Billy went to the kitchen asking what was in the box and the SMELL!!! ha!ha!ha! Thank so you so much Gretchen and GOD BLESS Your MOmma hearts for thinking about me. I owe you one…

27- Winterblast at our Erics kids school, Northshore Academy. They had carnival games and bouncy. Then the hubbys Eric and BIlly went to the Computer store to get the remaining stuff they needed to built/finish the Hardrive and a VISTA software. while the wives ( Maya and Me) with the kids went shopping yehaha!! at the Mall. Came home Eric built our new hardrive with a neon light.

28- Went to church all by myself. I saw Mike my Mana Nene chat mate. I was laughing cause nagkanda-haba ang leeg niya trying to look for me.

29- Museum day with a Musical Instrument theme.  Made it on time, and park next to the building too. Swimming day too, got her swimming report card and looks like my child still needs to work with her back float. She is improving!!! Been on the blowfish since last June 2006.

30- Beddings wash day. Eric came over  (THANKS GOD!!) to finish  downloading all the programs we needed and my YM too. He even played with my YM last night.

TO THE FAMILY OF BELOVED MR. EDGAR ISDIRO:

    I was deeply saddened to hear the news about the sudden death of Mr. Edgar Isidro.

    My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time. I am in a state of shock.

     Mr. Edgar Isidro was such an intelligent person with a heart of gold. He has been an inspiration to me and among all who’s been under his class/teachings. Looking back in my college days he did not only teach us about the subject — but also inspire us to do or think more, he was a self-confidence booster. For me he was a great, fun loving teacher/instructor, full of energy, a good friend and an awesome confidant. I do look up to him of his wisdom about life.  The wonderful moments and laughter I had with him will be in my heart forever. He will be terribly missed by me.

     He plays a big part of my college life and love life. A few times that I needed his helped—he was there for me.  I got my very first job (2 days) after college graduation because of him. He refers me to work at Atty. Togonon Law office as a secretary.   He was one of my consultants about my first stage of my relationship with my husband (then pen pal) and me. He was the one who made my “Consent to marry my fiancé” letter for the US Embassy when I was working with my fiancée visa.

     You have my deepest sympathy. When I go visit Calbayog someday — (he was been looking forward of my visit to Calbayog also) I will make sure to stop by at his gravesite, to let him know I am back to see him. (This last sentence brought tears in my eyes…If i have seen this coming I could have give earlier the video camera that he requested and enclosed money on the Christmas Card. Only GOD knows when is our  last day on earth…May  his soul rest in peace.)

     Love lives on forever in each memory and thought of the loved ones who meant so much and the happiness they brought.

You are in my thoughts and prayers,

Jessica Conejos Brightwell and family

I asked Mana Nene to buy a  fresh flower arrangement for me for Mr. Isidro’s funeral and  print the Condolence letter to enlcosed in the Sympathy card.

It’s been 5 days now since I learned the death of one of my best college instructor in my BSBA course. He was our instructor in most of my Marketing and Management subject, and our class and club advisor one time.

His name is Mr. Edgar "BOY’ Isidro.  He has a great personality and intelligent person. I do like him so much. I do look up to him how he sees life and how we should react to what happens in our life.

I had so much unforgettable hilarious encounter with him. I feel so comfortable talking to him about anything, and him sharing his gay life to me. So comfortable that I consulted him every decision I made in school life and love life and share about my thoughts.

Here are my few moments with him and what he said about me:

1)     When I was on my junior year in BSBA –Albert the president of our Department convinced me run as a secretary for the SBO. I talk to Mr. Edgar about it—he said go for it. I did run and loss the SBO election  (maybe because when we were doing the classroom campaign, I chewed some students butt for making fun of us while we are talking on the front. I guess they expect me to be nicer because I am running for an office—NO WAY!) No biggie for me to lose the SBO election because deep inside I know it was there loses not mine. After the first session of the SBO meeting–SBO officers approached me convincing to be an executive secretary. Consult Sir about it—he said: I ran and had an election did not make it just stay away from it.

2)     I made him upset one time. He invited a guest to talk about Cooperative in our Cooperative Marketing and asked to listen and pay attention. After his class is a Math subject— silly me still got no Math assignment so I borrowed my classmate, copied it, the whole time the guest was talking on the front. Here comes Mr. Isidro after he walks the guest speaker out the door.  So disappointed with our behavior during the class— so upset he even cursed at me!! He did not mention my name but he mentions what I was doing. I feel so guilty we did not talk for a few months he was ignoring me during class recitation and did not bother to get his attention. I don’t know what happen but we became friends again and I respect him more.

3)     One time I was at our department lobby— chatting with my classmates in a loud voice and my famous hearty laugh. Mr. Isidro from nowhere came out from a classroom—commenting that you could tell Jessica is here. We can hear her from my classroom.

4)     See my penmanship is not that good but its readable…with my subject we do a lot of essay writing test. Mrs. Bergado our College Dean and one of our Marketing instructors told us on front that she is after a good handwriting rather than the contents. It gives her headache to read a not so good penmanship. But with Mr. Isidro who loves essay test also- it was the other way— he was after the mind/thoughts of the writer not the penmanship. He inspired me to study harder and tried my best to have a good penmanship—to avoid of giving him headache J

You can tell that he reads your paper cause he circled all the good points and he adds notes if you lack some wordings.

5)     When I start writing Billy and had some problems—told him about it he said, “It happens”. Then come the decision should I go to Bahrain with Billy without any assurance of getting married, be with him on a strange place. He told me to go— this your chance to go out of Philippines. A few months after Billy and me got married in Guam encounter some issues— called him and confided about it. He said just be strong, and pray for Guidance you will pass the trials of life.

6)     2001 I went home to Philippines from Bahrain, to process my Fiancée Visa.  He was the TTMIST President Executive Secretary that time. I asked him to write me “Consent to marry my Fiancé letter”—he was so good that I got approved with my Fiancée Visa (chika!!) Nag lambing nang pang –snack gave him 500.00. He even asked me for a video camera if I made it to the USA.

7)     He was our class advisor and one of the instructors of marketing class. He informed us there would be no final exam but we are going to have a picnic  (contribution) by the falls in Gandara. Isnt’ that SWEET!!

     We were practicing for a within school choir competition— I was singing thought I was doing well. He came to me said. Jessica I guess it would do better to the group if you just lip-synchs. Ha!ha!ha! He was right…

9)     On our post graduation celebration, we had a picnic at the Bagacay Beach resort with the class under his advisory. Actually it was a night swimming picnic, my first swimming at the nighttime. Got some confrontation with my crush—“ kinikilig ako”. He said he likes me too…I talked to Sir about what my crush had just told me— he told me to: Stay away from him…his life is much too complicated for you. He was right; the guy has a child from his girlfriend and with a chick boy attitude.

10) During the graduation practice he chooses me to be the attendance caller/checker. Make use of my loud voice and he give me go signal is it all right to sing the graduation song too. But I do better on lip-synch. J

11)                      Mr. Edgar refers me to work with Atty. Isagani Togonon at his Togonon and Togonon Law and Accounting offices as a secretary. I got a real job 2 days after graduating college! Isn’t that cool.  No application or resumes submitted— I was so grateful of  his recommendation and am sure I made him proud for doing a great job at work. chika

12) While I was working at the Law office I meet a client who a happens to be Mr. Isidro student.  We were chatted while waiting for the Attorney— we kinda asked each other name. and she said.."Ohhh you are the Jessica Conejos that Mr. Isidro talking about". I said what was he was talking about me? She said that Mr. isidro use me an example during his class, that Jessica might  be a TALKATIVE but when you call her during  the class recitation she TALKS A LOT TOO!

13) Last Christmas…I sent him a Christmas card, my Mana Nene hand it to him at his office at the Calbayog City Hall, where he was working. My sister said that when she handed the Christmas card to him—he jokingly said just a Christmas card?? And ask again WHEN I will be going to visit Calbayog… my sister told him that I will be going to visit Calbayog soon.  And he said— he’s been hearing of my homecoming but no Jessica shows up…:-P

SO THANKFUL CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARS PARTY IS OVER!!! BOY WE WERE EXHAUSTED, OVERWHELMED AND STRESSED OUT… FEELS GOOD TO HAVE MY NOT SO BUSY LIFE BACK! NEWEEZ…

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY WAS A BLAST! HAD FRIENDS FROM OREGON AND NEIGHBORS OVER WELCOMING THE NEW YEAR. THOUGH FEW FRIENDS DID NOT MAKE IT—SUCH AS MARCY; APRIL, SANDRA AND GRETCHEN AND HER FAMILY DUE TO BRANDON’S HEALTH PROBLEM…AM GLAD BRANDON IS IN A GREAT HEALTH AGAIN.

I HAVE BEEN CHATTING ON LINE WITH MY MANA NENE ON THE 31 DEC. AFTERNOON. BILLY BOUGHT AN EXTENSION CORD FOR THE WEBCAMERA. SO THEY WERE ABLE TO WATCH US THE WHOLE TIME WE WERE MUNCHING THE FOOD AND THE FIREWORKS DISPLAY BILLY PUT UP.

WHILE WAITING FOR THE MIDNIGHT—MANA NENE MY OLDER SISTER, SHE IS A SINGLE MOM WITH AN 18  YEARS OLD DAUGHTER- ASKED ME IF I HAVE AN AVAILABLE GUY FOR HER.  SHE’S BEEN BUGGING ME TO GET HER A KANO FOR AWHILE ..TOLD HER YES I DO HAVE BUT HE IS ONLY 14 YEARS OLD. WE BOTH HAD A BIG LAUGH! I WENT DOWNSTAIRS TO TELL MY FRIENDS/GUEST WHAT I JUST TOLD TO MY SISTER.THEY THOUGTH IT WAS HILARIOUS. THEN ONE OF BILLY’S GUEST HIS NAME IS MIKE—58 YEARS OLD, WORKS IN POST OFFICE.   ASKED ME HOW OLD IS MY SISTER- TOLD HIM HER AGE, AND HE SAID HE IS SINGLE AND AVAILABLE AND WOULDLOVE TO SEE MY SISTER! I GRAB HIS HAND AND GUIDE HIM UPSTAIRS TO SHOW HIM WHAT MY SISTER LOOKS LIKE ON THE WEB CAMERA. HE LIKES HER AND THEY CHATTED FOR MORE THAN 2 HOURS. MIKE WAS CHATTING WITH MY SISTER WHILE WE WERE ENJOYING THE FIREWORKS…

MIKE MADE IT TO OUR NEW YEARS TOAST IN OUR GARAGE. BILLY’S NEW YEAR RESOLUTION IS TO QUIT SMOKING THIS YEAR. INSHALLAH! HE IS WORKING ON IT… AM SO THANKFUL NO ONE GOT HURT WHILE WE HAD THE FIREWORKS… AND KIDS WERE SO CAREFUL HANDLING THE SPARKLERS.

MY NEW YEAR RESOLUTION??? NOPE I DON’T DO NEW YEAR RESOLUTION. I HAVE THIS RITUAL THINGY, BEEN DOING IT- I GUESS FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS NOW— I WROTE A WISH LIST FOR MY NEW YEAR WISH—10 OR 12 OF THEM. I KEEP/TUCKED THEM AWAY FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. THEN OPEN AND READ THEM ON THE NEW YEARS EVE TO CHECK THE WISH THAT COME TRUE.  I DID ALWAYS END MY WISH LIST—ASKING FOR A BLESSING THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD –AMEN!

I AM NOT THAT RELIGIOUS. BUT I DO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND SO THANKFUL FOR THE GREAT LIFE AND FOR ALL THE BLESSINGS; AND GUIDANCE HE HAS SHOWERED IN OUR DAILY LIVES.  HE’S BEEN  MY INSPIRATION AND MY STRENGTH THROUGH THE YEARS…