Thursday, July 09, 2009

Our Tagaytay Visit Iterinaries


Taal Volcano - Tagaytay Philippines
Sharing our Tagaytay itineraries when we visited the place last June 27 - 29, 2009 to celebrate our 1st year Wedding Anniversary
It is very important to create a travel plan specially when you don't have any travel guide or plans of hiring one. 

Hope our itineraries will somehow help you plan your Tagaytay visit.:)

(June 27, 2009)

1:00 PM - Check-in Time for the place you are going to stay there.
1:00-2:00 PM - Rest
2:00 - 3:00 PM - Late Lunch at Mahogany Market (since late na kami nagbreakfast). Where you can taste the best bulalo meal.
3:00 - 5:00 PM - Visit the Pink Sisters Chapel (somewhere in olivarez)
5:00 - 6:00 PM - Rest
7:00 - 9:00 PM - Dinner at Mushroom Burger (travel time included)
10:00 - 11:00 PM - Full Body Massage at TonTon Thai Massage Center (Olivarez too)
11:30 PM - Sleep


(June 28, 2009)

7:00 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast at Bag of Beans (Tagaytay - West Side) (travel time included)
9:00 - 12:00 PM - Visit the famous Caleruega Church (Tagaytay - West Side)
12:00 - 1:00 PM - Lunch
1:00 - 3:00 PM - Stroll in the Peoples Park in the sky (Tagaytay East Side/travel time included)
3:00 - 6:00 PM - Visit the Picnic Groove (Tagaytay East Side/travel time included)
7:00 - 9:00 PM - Dinner at RSM Restaurant
9:00 - 11:00 PM - Onting Gala (we are not yet tired)
11:30 PM - Sleep

(June 29, 2009)

7:00 - 10:00 AM - Bili ng pasalubong. I strongly recommend going to Mahogany market for meat at fruits.
12:00 PM - Check - Out Time
12:30 PM-Terminal ng Bus for Manila
1:00 - 4:00 PM - Travel time back to Pasig, traffic included
5:00 PM - Our Crib

Tagaytay Map


Enjoy your visit in Tagaytay!!!! :)



Monday, July 06, 2009

Our Tagaytay Anniversary Get-Away Escapades 09'



It's our 1st wedding anniversary and our first visit in Tagaytay. Imagine our excitement. 
Everything that happened here was remarkable, lovely and quite a lesson which is worth sharing to everyone.
My husband and i were thinking before the date if are we going to bring our own car or just commute and us commuting won which we did regret afterwards.
By the way, just few tips: 

  • Research first the place that you are going stay, 
  • Tourist spots and locations that you plan to visit. Based on my experience, preparing itineraries are effective to make everything organize and really planned to truly enjoy your vacay. :)


(June 27,2009)
Travel Time
From our house in Pasig, we rode a jeep going to Cubao and from Cubao we took an LRT to Taft and from Taft a bus going to Tagaytay. Later we found out that there is a bus station in Cubao going to Tagaytay straight. Umikot-ikot pa kami!!! OMG!!!!

  • Ride a bus with sign boards of Tagaytay (Olivarez or Mendez) and these buses will drop you off exactly in Rotonda, which is the center of Tagaytay.
Upon arrival in Tagaytay, we check in at Jester Jade rooms, actually upon roaming around, there's alot of inexpensive rooms that you can choose, di nga lang mga kilala pa, after checking in, we rested a little and decided to go out for a late lunch in mahogany market. There are small eateries and canteens that you can choose, the bulalo really taste so good. (forgot the name of the canteen) for P235.00 busog na busog na kami ni hubby :)

The Mahogany Market


How to go to Mahogany Market? 

  • From Olivarez (rotonda) ride a jeepney with sign boards of Mendez and Mahogany Market it will only costs you P14.00 (2pax) but if you are going to take a tricycle ride they will charge you P50.00/pax so thats P100" duhhhh!!!! pero, malayo nga naman pala talaga! So i recommend na mag jeep nalang kayo :)
After the amazing lunch at mahogany we just roam around for possible bilihan ng pasalubong then went straight to Pink Sisters Chapel, located along Rotonda too.

Pink Sisters Chapel


What can i say about this church. 


NO ENTRANCE FEE
"Awesome"

The church landscape was superb and well maintained, a good place to unwind, reflect and pray. I really hope that there are Born Again churches like this here in Tagaytay also. It just bothers me that some local tourists thinks that they are in a park for them to be so noisy and they careless. I hope everyone that will go to any church premises, will always bring the word respect at all times. Picture picture lang kami in a silent way :).

It's already 4:00 PM, so we decided to go back to our room and take some nice nap and have our dinner at mushroom burger later on.

Around 7PM we're already on our way to Mushroom Burger to have our dinner, since we dont know how to go there we decided to ask for direction sa mga anak ng may-ari ng Jade Hotel, and the direction we received, bumaba sa Robinson Tagaytay ofcourse and may tricycle na dumadaan papuntang mushroom burger, so sinunod naman namin yung instructions nya. Bumaba kami sa Robinsons Mall and to find our na he's wrong, walang tricycle sa paligid, its on the next street, so we have no choice but to walk nalang, during night time very seldom na ang mga dyip na bumabyahe, we rode a tricycle, the driver charge us P80.00 kasi daw sobrang layo, at di naman pala, parang walang 2 km ang travel namin. Hay, another manlolokong driver.

Mushroom Burger

Finally, we arrived in Mushroom burger, the place for me is okay/average, honestly, not so impressed, Along the entrance door, the tables and chairs alongside are very messy. Upon ordering, the cashier is not approachable, she's not even smiling, which is very important if you're the frontier.

The royal mushroom burger, which is one of their best seller is not that yummy as i am expecting. Another major disappointment that we experienced;


"There are alot of BIG mosquitoes".

I don't know where they came from. Those mosquitoes are gigantic. In short, we did not enjoy the place and our dinner.

We rode back to olivarez, at nag dyip kami, to our amusement, meron palang direstsong byahe, basta "nasugbu" and signage. tsk tsk tsk!!!

Ton-Ton's Thai Massage


To save the night, my husband treat me for a full body massage. Sarap!!!. We had our massage at Ton-Ton Massage Center. The staffs are super nice, upon arrival, they will let you sit first and make yourself comfortable, then they will take off your shoes for your tired feet to be soaked in a luke warm water. The massage was super relaxing too. 

I'm recommending this place for you to visit.




Day 1 Transpo and Major Expenses for 2 pax

Pasig to Cubao = P30.00

Cubao LRT - Taft LRT station = P28.00

Taft - Tagaytay (bus) = P208.00
Olivarez - Mahogany Market = P14.00
Mahogany Market (lunch) = P 235.00

Mahogany - Pink Sisters chapel = P14.00 (jeepney)

Olivarez (rotonda) - Robinson Mall = P14.00 (jeepney)
Robinson - Mushroom Burger = P80.00 (tricycle)
Mushroom Burger (dinner) = P212.00 (exact amount diba)
Mushroom burger - Olivarez = P18.00 (jeepney,imagine the difference!!!)
Ton-Ton Massage = P1000.00 (tip included na)

So that ends our 1st day in Tagaytay :} Tired yet happy because the day ended well!!!


(June 28, 2009)

Today is our most awaited day. Why? 


It's our Anniversary

Officially 1 year na kami as married couple, Thank God for this blessing. Today we promised to really celebrate and di masyadong mag-titipid ;-). Today is special right?

We had our breakfast at the famous "Bag of Beans". We really wanted to taste their barako coffee and blue berry cheese cake!!! yummy. From rotonda, we rode a jeepney with signage of Nasugbo and told the driver to drop us off at bag of beans.

BAG OF BEANS


Upon entering the restaurant, we both said "wow ang ganda" as in, we fell in love with the place, so cozey, so many choices for us to sit on, daming unan, parang nasa bahay lang ang dating. A very good place to start your day for one great breakfast.

We ask for the menu, and quite pricey, hopefully their food taste good, we ordered right away our blue berry cheese cake, coffee and a combo for breakfast. And all tasted very very good. 

Exceeded our expectation!!! Yum yum. #happytummy

the blue berry cheese cake

We took a lot of pictures, pose here and there, what an impressive place, and they had also this talking parrot which is very entertaining, always saying "hi kumain kanaba?" and the bird can change his voice, galing!!!

They do have a bakery also where in you can buy items like coffee beans, different kinds of bread, mugs etc but we only bought a bag of barako beans as pasalubong for my dad.
After the picture taking, we ready ourselves for our next stop, The Caleruega Church "The chuch on top of the Hill"

Mushroom Burger, Bag of Beans and Caleruega Church are all located in the West side of Tagaytay. From Rotonda Olivarez, ride a jeep with signage of Nasugbo and madadaanan mo na sila lahat. :)

THE CALERUEGA CHURCH



From Bag of Beans, we rode a jeepney again heading Caleruega, well i can say MALAYO!!! but for you not to be bored, enjoy the view and inhale the fresh air nalang kasi maganda ang view.

The driver will drop you off at the entrance of a luxurios golf course called Evercrest. Dont worry you're not lost, because you have to ride a tricycle "again". The only way to go to Caleruega Church is to pass by Evercrest. 

Upon arriving in Caleruega, dire-diretso lang kami ni hubby, thinking na this place, since it's a church like Pink Sisters ay walang entrance fee. Know what, hinabol kami ni guard, at sabay sabi "Ma'am, Sir, May entrance po". So we apologized, because we didnt know about the entrance fee, and payed it nalang, in return he gave us a brochure with a map.

Honestly, the place is breathtaking and simply amazing, the landscape was again superb, kitang kita mo ang kagandahan ng mga mountains, very naturalistic ang dating. If you are looking for a place where in you wanted to unwind, relax, reflect, meditate, think and pray, it is a recommended place. They also have rooms if you wanted to stay. But believe me it's pricey. However, if you really wanted a time for yourself alone, the cost is worth it. You can have the privacy that you wanted in this place.

And based on blogs, i agree, its really a good place for weddings with excellent budget ;-).

My hubby and i really explored the place, took pictures here and there again, capturing memories for this place while admiring it's beauty. 

Another highly recommended place for you to visit in Tagaytay.

After Caleruega, We decided to take our feet now at the East Side of Tagaytay where Peoples Park and Picnic groove are located. And since Peoples park in the sky is the farthest, we decided to visit that place first then down to picnic groove.

PEOPLES PARK IN THE SKY


Another magnificent tourist spot in Tagaytay.

You'll have a 360 degree view of the whole of Tagaytay and the neighboring provinces. It was once envisioned to the Palace in the Sky or the vacation house for the family of the late Pres. Ferdinand Marcos. 

According to the history, construction and development of the “Palace” was stopped after the former dictator was ousted from power and this place was turn over to the Local Government Unit for them to manage the place, it was then opened to the public and on our visit the place was still under renovation. :) 

One more thing, the transportation going to this place is terrible. Jeepneys going here are always full, so you have no choice but to ride a tricycle "again" for P80.00 "may tawad na yun" from Olivares for two persons already.
After mag-sawa sa Peoples Park we now decided to go down at picnic groove. By the way, prepare your feet sa walkaton, medyo matarik ang daan paakyat. :)

PICNIC GROOVE


the magnificent view of Taal Volcano

This is going to be our last stop for tourist spots to visit here in Tagaytay. 

Maybe because its weekend that is why the place is so crowded. Sa entrance palang, may mag-aalok agad sayo if you wanted to ride a horse and medyo makulit sila.

It just saddens me that the place in general is not as beautiful as what i have pictured in my mind. Grasses are not trimmed, the kiosks are not properly maintained, trash are everywhere. 

Buti nalang ang ganda ng Taal Volcano at na-divert ang attention ko sa ganda nito.

They just opened some new attractions which are the Cable Car and the Zipline, grabe ang saya feels like you are flying when you are riding the Zipline. A must try when you visit the place.

After capturing moments, we decided na to go back to our room because we are already so tired but again happy. :)

Around 7PM, we prepared na for our Anniversay Dinner date, on my iterinary it should be in Josephines but then its Sunday so they are fully booked and you have to wait. We decided instead to have our dinner at RSM Restaurant, we never regret changing resto because the place is beautiful.

DINNER AT RSM RESTAURANT


RSM Restaurant is very accessible because it is located in the heart of Tagaytay. 

It specializes in “Lutong Bahay” or Home Cooked Filipino Dishes. The restaurant is very spacious and has luscious garden at the back which offers a magnificent view of the Taal Lake and Taal Volcano based on what the waiter told us, although we did not literally saw Taal there because its already dark.

They let us choose freely where to settle ourselves, where we can be comfortable, so we decided to occupy one of the nipa hut and take note, there's no extra charge. The hut is huge for both of us but its ok kasi super relax kami.

We ordered already for our food, medyo mahal din ang foods nila ;-), but we never felt disappointed because their foods tastes delicious. 

And one more thing that we fell in love with this place is that they have a local band that goes from one table to another to serenade you with a song, customers may request of their favorite songs and on our surprised this band is familiar even with the new and modern songs and they will put some twist on it then sings it in their own style. If you requested them to sing a song for you, don't forget the "tip", actually mararamdam mo na they're waiting for it. Well magaling naman sila so ok lang.

All ends well today... A very memorable day na ikukwento ko sa mga anak ko in the future. Ching!!!

Day 2 Transpo and Major Expenses

Olivarez - Bag of Beans = P18.00 (jeepney)
Bag of beans = P632.00 (Breakfast)
Bag of Barako = P155
Bag of Beans - Evercrest Golf Course = P36.00 (Jeepney)
Evercrest - Caleruega = P100.00 (tricycle)
Caleruega - Olivarez = P50.00 (jeepney)
Olivarez - Peoples Park = P80.00 (tricycle)
Peoples Park - Picnic Groove = P60.00 (tricycle)
Olivarez - RSM = P14.00 (Jeepney)
RSM Dinner = P1,053.00 (Dinner, tip included)

Tagaytay Map




Monday, June 29, 2009

" 50 " WAYS TO LOVE YOUR PARTNER




1. Love yourself first
2. Start each day with a hug
3. Serve breakfast in bed
4. Say "I love you" every time you part ways
5. Compliment and appreciate freely and often
6. Appreciate and celebrate your differences
7. Live each day as if its your last
8. Write unexpected love letters
9. Plant a seed together and nurture it to maturity
10. Go on a date once every week
11. Send flowers for no reason
12. Accept and love each others family and friends.
13. Make little signs that say I love you and post them all over the house
14. Stop and smell the roses.
15. Kiss unexpectedly.
16. Seek out beautiful sunsets together
17. Apologize sincerely
18. Be forgiving
19. Remember the day you feel in love and recreate it
20. Hold each others hands always
21. Say I love you with your eyes
22.Let her cry in your arms
23. Tell him you understand
24. Drink toast of love and commitment
25. Do something arousing
26. Let her give you directions when you’re lost
27. Laugh at his or her jokes (although sometimes its not that funny)
28. Appreciate each others inner beauty
29. Do the other persons chores for a day
30. Encourage wonderful dreams and aspirations
31. Commit a public display of affection
32. Give a Loving Massage with no strings attached
33. Start a love journal and record your special moments
34. Calm each others fears
35. Walk barefoot on the beach together
36. Ask her to marry you again
37. Say YES
38. Respect each other
39. Be your partners biggest fan
40. Give the love your partner wants to receive
41. Give the love you want to receive
42. Show interest in the others work
43. Work on a project together
44. Build a fort with blankets
45. Swing as high as you can on a swingset by moonlight
46. Have a picnic indoors on a rainy day
47. Never go to bed mad
48. Put your partners first on your prayers
49. Kiss each others goodnight
50. Sleep like spoons.



BEWARE: PC REPUBLIC has a "NO RETURN, NO EXCHANGE" policy


Did you know that PC republic has a no return and exchange policy??? true… try to buy something in that store and bring it back and they will not refund it no matter how valid your reason is…. They will only insist of replacing the item but they will not refund your money….

“what if the item that you bought is really not working and you already losses the trust of replacing the same item in the same store” They will not listen, after you bursting out or saying what you think and feel, the people incharge will only look in your face and be happy if they apologize because they will only just say “i cannot refund your money ma’am” they’re bunch of professional unprofessionals…..

Two weeks ago, my mom saw this laptop worth P7000 in PC Republic Sta Lucia, she immediately told me to check it… because she really needed a computer that she can bring anywhere… my mom is not a savvy, technical user, in fact she is just using my PC only to create word and excel documents and to play her favorite game scrabble…. so basic right?

So when i checked the laptop, the spex are P3, 700 Mhz, 192 mb RAM,8 mb AGP, 10″x8′ screen….. well good enough for basic users…. the person who assisted me that day is nice enough to tell me that the battery has small defect but its working… well i said its ok, i know that low spex laptop reallly has that short span of usage even after charging for hours, so the tendency is you always have to plug it for maximum usage….

So i was exited to tell my mom about it and she was excited to hear it, i did set her expectation that the spex of that laptop is way below the spex of my PC but she is only going to use it for minor things so it will work. Having said that my mom gave me right away the P7000, so i bought the laptop.

On the receipt given to me, the laptops warranty is 3 months, no warranty for the battery, and you can upgrade it to PC if you want to in a span of 1 month. So Geleen told me (store supervisor) “Ma’am sign kayo dito” so i did sign receipt, later did i found out that it was not an O.R.

When i arrived home, its already 7:00 PM, i told my mom to charge it first, so the charging took around 5 hours until it reaches a 100%, *imagine my moms excitement to use it* and an amazing thing happen, my mom turned on the laptop, i helped personalized her profile, and she’s about to start now organizing her files to it, take note, it’s still plug in to the charger, so i went now to my room upstairs, because my mom is already doing her normal computer stuff,and now my mom removed the charger, 1 min left, 2 min, 3 min and on the 6th min my mom called me in a loud voice…BOG!!! “NAMATAY SI LAPTOP” my mom is furious about it of course!!!!

That personel told me that there is a minor defect on the battery but is this what he call MINOR DEFECT the laptop cannot be use even for good 10 min !!!! Unbelievable!!!! My mom told me to bring it back to the store.

So the following day, my husband and i went back to PC Rep to remedy the situation, and then the person who assisted me the other day told me… “sabi ko sa inyo ma’am may defect po yang battery eh” huh???? im speechless!!!! to me it seems that he’s blaming me buying that laptop from there store!!!grrrr....

Im getting furious already so i let my husband talk to them, so my husband said just replace the item with working one, geleen (store supervisor) said : sir, all of the items are of the same battery problem. We told your wife yesterday that it has a problem.

husband ko: well we never expect that battery duration is just like that… it’s not a minor battery problem, it a big problem!!! If you cannot replace this with a better one then please refund our money!!! Since we brought the item back in less than 24 HRS.

geleen: Sir its not possible, but if you want to you can replace it to a desktop!!!

husband ko: We have 2 PCs in our house, do you think we need another one? here’s your laptop, refund my money!!! since you are the supervisor you can easily decide for it!!! (but she is a powerless supervisor)

geleen: i need to talk to the main office for it… ill call you tommorow regarding this sir.
Since it’s already late, then we decided to go home, leaving the laptop, since my mom dont want it already and without the money.

The next day, afternoon passed, my husband went home from work already around 5 PM and still no call, ” no word of honor” so my husband called them, and they only said still on the process, we will call you the tommorow!!!

2nd day, called my husband at work just to check if they called him already and not yet…. so my husband called them again and geleen is on a meeting, that was around 2:00 PM,and then my husband called again around 4PM, and guess what she is still on a meeting… so around 6pm she still on a meeting!!! it will never end!!!! hahhahhahahha…. so what my husband did, he get the number of the main office one of geleens staff has no choice but to give the number.

3rd day, jake (husband) called the main office already and talked with maki. Still nothing happened.

4th day, geleen this time called our house, and they will refund the money less than 12%, WHAT!!!! so thats (-) P840.

We did not agree to it of course, they said that is the only refund they can give!!!

We called DTI about it expecting that they will do something abnout it, but its only an expectation. They never give any suggestion or something, they just said that they will report it to the proper office and have it on file. That’s it.
PC Rep is not afraid of DTI, dont know why?

5th day, still no refund!!!! so just to pacify everything, i told my mom to get again the laptop nalang since we are losing hope that something will happen about it, my mom was conviced me promising to find a way replacing the battey or fixing the battery on a another store or something.

6th day, my husband called PC Rep, to get again the item, since nothing is happening. By the way, Maki the main office manager, texted my husband that there are new items alike to be delivered today, and it brings good feeling, but dissappointment again, when we arrived at the store, there are no new delivery, the staffs are unaware of the new delivery and they did not know that we are about to choose to the new deliveries. “NO PROPER COMMUNICATION” well maki told us that the store is aware already. “LIAR”

So after 6 days of trying and trying and trying to get the refund, we end at getting the back the same old laptop with “MINOR” battery defect!!!!

And one more thing, PC Republic is not issuing an official receipt, the day that we brought back the laptop i asked for the official receipt since i found out lately that the receipt i had was only a sales order receipt, and they said that that was the only receipt they are giving!!! It is against the law!!!!

But it is too late already for us to check, and we are too tired a to argue,WE ARE FRUSTRATED AND EXAUSTED!!!!

And on the receipt itself has a small printed terms that is not obvious. And part of that terms stated “if either of the parties submit any legal action in the courts of cainta rizal, PC Rep will charged us “buyer/s” the 25% of the attorney’s fee and cost of their collection to us “buyers”
So this just means that if you file a case against them on court, you will also pay the 25% of their attorneys fee. grrrr!!!

They are too much!!! no customer service, liars, customers should be treated right all the time!!!!

So just be careful when you buy things on this store, Because it did happen to me so hopefully this will serve as an eye opener to all customers and buyers of PC REPUBLIC or any establishments, to always be careful in buying expensive things, ask for the OFFICIAL RECEIPT always and have them write down everything in the O.R., all the things both parties agreed on so that this will not happen to you also.

A lesson learned in a hard way!!!!! NO, i will not recommend their store to anyone again, and if i will rate their customer service and my satisfaction to them as a customer in a 1:10 ratio, its below 3%.

So beware of PC REPUBLIC STORES they might do the same thing to you also.


Attitude Is Everything



Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"

He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?"
Jerry replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life."

"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.
"Yes, it is," Jerry said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut way all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life."

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.

I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. "The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door," Jerry replied. "Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live."

"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.
Jerry continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man.'
"I knew I needed to take action."

"What did you do?" I asked.

"Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me," said Jerry. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,' I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breathe and yelled, 'Bullets!' Over their laughter, I told them. 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead."

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude.

I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.



Make Me Whole

Just wanted to share this very special song to my husband. This is one of our wedding songs and this song means so much.

"Make Me Whole"

Darling I want you to listenI stayed up all night,
so I could get this thing right
And I don't think there's anything missing
Cause a person like you,
made it easy to do I've waited for so long, to sing to you this song

Cause your eyes are the windows to heaven
Your smile could heal a million souls
Your love completes my existence
You're the other half that makes me whole
You're the only other half that makes me whole
I think the angels are your brothers
They told you about me, said you're just what she needs
And I find myself thanking your mother For giving birth to a saint
My spirit flies when I say your name
If there's one thing that's true
It's that I was born to love you

Cause your eyes are the windows to heaven
Your smile could heal a million souls
Your love completes my existence
You're the other half that makes me whole
You're the only other half that makes me whole
You make my dreamsCome true over and, over again

And I honestly truly believe You and me are written in the stars
I live my whole life throughTo giving thanks to you
Cause your eyes are the windows to heaven
Your smile could heal a million souls
Your love completes my existence
You're the other half that makes me whole
You're the only other half that makes me whole

An Act Of Kindness

An Act Of Kindness

He was driving home one evening, on a two-lane country road. Work, in this small mid-western community, was almost as slow as his beat-up Pontiac. But he never quit looking. Ever since the Levis factory closed, he'd been unemployed, and with winter raging on, the chill had finally hit home. It was a lonely road. Not very many people had a reason to be on it, unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had already left. They had families to feed and dreams to fulfill. But he stayed on. After all, this was where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew the country.

He could go down this road blind, and tell you what was on either side, and with his headlights not working, that came in handy. It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down. He'd better get a move on. You know, he almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe, he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill that only fear can put in you. He said, "I'm here to help you m'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm. By the way, my name is Joe."

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough Joe crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk.

She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been alright with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Joe never thought twice about the money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance that they needed, and Joe added "...and think of me".

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out of work actor, it didn't ring much.

Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe.

After the lady finished her meal, and the waitress went to get her change from a hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on a napkin. There were tears in her eyes, when she read what the lady wrote. It said, "You don't owe me a thing, I've been there too. Someone once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here's what you do. Don't let the chain of love end with you."

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could she have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's gonna be alright, I love you Joe."

:Contributed By Lee Ryan Miller