Beijing Olympics will always be special to me because it was at the same month I got my first travel nursing assignment at Towson, Maryland.  Coincidently, it was the same place where Michael Phelps grew up.  I have been amazed of his performance and world records.  His determination, focus and love for his chosen sport made him the man who made history by getting eight gold medals in a single olympic.

Two weeks ago, on my way to work I was seeing flags and banners at York Road.  At first I cannot believe it  because they were having a homecoming parade for Michael Phelps, Katie Hoff, Jessica Long and other Maryland Olympians, Special Olympians and Paralympians at the same street where I’m working . How cool is that!  All along I thought they were having it at Downtown Baltimore.

The parade was at October 4, 3 PM, Saturday.  I double checked my calendar. I’m a bit hesitant to attend.  I’m working like crazy for this first assignment. I only have a few days off. Shoot. I got disappointed when I saw I’m working that day and it will be my fifth night in a row (take note I’m working 12 hour shifts). I did not decide right away if I’m going or not. I only decided the day of the parade.  I simply cannot miss it. When I got off from work from my fourth night, I got home, had a quick breakfast, showered and slept.  No surfing the net and no television.  Big sacrifice!  I was able to sleep for 5 hours from 9 AM to 2 PM.  It was only a 20 minute drive from where I’m staying to the parade route. Luckily, we got free parking from the facility where I’m working.

I have never seen a parade in the US.  It was so great. There were marching bands from different high schools in the area, Ravens cheerleaders and mascot, Oriole mascot, antique cars, members of the North Baltimore Aquatic Club and even Batman and Robin in their Bat Mobile. The overwhelming support of the people was overflowing. There were all kinds of people… families with their children, both young and old cheered with glee as he waved to the crowd.

I may not be at Beijing when Michael Phelps broke his world records but I was part of the estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people who welcomed him home.

Here is the story from ESPN.

Please check out photos at my multiply album.

Don’t miss the videos. Enjoy!

Parade of Gold Part 1 from Joanne on Vimeo.
Parade of Gold Part 2 from Joanne on Vimeo.

I achieved my recent financial goal.

When it comes to money, freedom starts to happen when what you do, think, and say are one. You’ll never be free if you say that you have more than enough, then act as if and think you don’t. You’ll never be free if you think you don’t have enough, then act as if and say you do. You will have enough when you believe you will and take the actions to express that belief. And you’ll have more than enough when you realize that you can be rich at any income because you are more than your money, you are more than your job or title, than the car you drive or the clothing you wear. Your own power and worth are not judged by what money can sell and what money can buy; true freedom cannot be bought or sold at any price. True freedom, true wealth, is that which can never be lost.

                                 — Excerpted from The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom

                                       by Suze Orman

Today’s date is all lucky numbers. 2007 is a very significant year for me. I turned 28 and I joined the bandwagon of happily married people. That is just the start and it doesn’t end there. My plans? A lot. I will completely CHANGE myself for the best. How? I won’t tell until its done. This blog’s title serves as a reminder that I will only write all happy and positive things in life. Well, before I described myself as a pessimist but I’m making a significant shift to be an optimist. Crossing fingers was a habit now it’s all going to be thinking the great possibilities and making them happen. Come and join me as I journey the road to greatness and unveil the best version of myself. Can you feel the excitement?!? I DO. 

I had a three day off from work. It was an opportunity to visit my family in Staten Island, NY before I leave for Manila. I just want to reminisce the first time I saw New York and that was three years ago…

Now I know why they love New York.

Baltimore, hometown of the Orioles, Ravens and Edgar Allan Poe is my home for the past three years.

It’s a pleasure to be in a place with so much cultural diversity. It  has its own beauty but a tough place to live in. It can teach you the virtue of patience and strength.

I learned to be independent, to take full responsibility for myself and to constantly find greatness in people.

I’m saying good-bye to a place who taught me so much. It made me realize a part of myself is existent. I found it here. I will never be the same again.

I’ll be moving soon to a place that will always be home.

I’m glad. I’m excited. I’m happy.

Because it’s time for me to find my own greatness.

We were invited a month ago at Anvaya Cove at Subic Bay. It is a membership seaside leisure community by Ayala Land Inc. It aims to revive real family values like togetherness while creating opportunities for recreation, reflection and relaxation.

The place holds a lot of promise. The view of the sea and the mountains was great. We were about to swim but the water was not tempting enough. My husband and I just enjoyed taking pictures and spending time with family.

We ate at the Pawikan Beach Bar and Grille. I love the table set up. It looks so in tune with nature. The food was disappointing though. Its nothing to rave about. The service was slow although the staff was courteous. After an hour drive from Pampanga, I was expecting a more delightful gastronomic experience.

They are still in the process of developing the place. Trucks and workers were all over. We watched how they planted a huge coconut tree. They were pulling and pushing it with ropes.Never thought it will take a lot of manpower to make it stand at the beach front. And it was not that easy.

Anvaya cove is definitely a place to visit in the next few months when it is up, running and fully developed. I’m hoping for great food and might try their spa — real R & R.

More pictures here.

I saw The Boutique at Our Awesome Planet, a blogsite by Anton Diaz. I got curious and searched it at the internet. I found a lot of good reviews and my wedding coordinator said it was a nice idea to stay there after the wedding. I booked it a few months before the wedding. It was a surprise for Rene. He surely got surprised!

We had a great stay and we loved our room so much. Of course we chose the famous room for honeymooners — the I Lust room.

The room was not very spacious but everything we needed was there: large comfortable bed with a lot of pillows to choose from, a flat screen TV mounted at the wall facing the bed, a DVD player, ipod dock with speakers and wi-fi ready internet connection.

How can I forget the bathtub inside the room right beside the large glass window with a breathtaking view of the mountains, the see through bathroom, the scent of lavender oil and peppermint soaps and the treat of having an on call professional masseuse.

We also enjoyed our dinner and breakfast in bed by Hawaiian Barbeque. It was fun and very memorable honeymoon for both of us.

More pictures here.

Hi! Thanks for dropping by. This will be our new home in the blogging world. Blogging has been a passion when I started to do our wedding preparation. I’m very optimistic I could share the experiences of my adventures as I journey the road of marriage and family life. It’s a new life that I chose so it will be a new slate for my thoughts. I hope you can join me as I go thorough the next stage of being a better person and exploring a life of abundance.