Happy birthday, Chino!

Today is a good day. For today, we are grateful. Today, Chino turned one.

Miracles happen everyday, whether we recognize them or not. But today's particular miracle did not go unheralded. Weeks after his surgery, Chino is with his family celebrating his first birthday.

On October 4, my godson went in for his first open-heart surgery. Prayers and well-wishes flooded in from all over the globe as relatives and friends of the Nebrao and Adalla families joined in vigil for a successful operation and quick recovery.

There was good news after the operation. His mitral valve was repaired. Even better, a tube in his heart that was thought to be missing was there all along, just fused with another. The tubes were separated and were functioning well.

On to the ICU he went, where, for days, he battled a persistent fever. The risk of infection is always high after such an operation, and only a few people were allowed to visit Chino to limit those risks. Even so, he was stable and on the mend.

Then, this message via Facebook on October 12:

"CHINO'S POST SURGERY UPDATE: We were told that Chino's heart is not contracting well despite 3 blood transfusions & maximum med supervision. He will need to undergo the valve replacement a year from now (means 1 more open heart surgery!) since the said valve is not functioning back to normal. Intensive prayers... Ever faithful to the end."

Nonetheless, Clarke and Cynch were finally able to take their baby home on October 15.

At home, Chino continued his recovery, fighting off fevers, getting stronger everyday as his wound healed. On October 24, the family reported that he could sit up, though still with assistance, and was back to eating his favorite pasta dishes.

On October 26, they posted this picture on Facebook, bringing smiles to the faces of all those who have joined them in this journey.

Today (yesterday, Philippine time), they posted this message:

"As you turn one today, we praise God for the gift of you in our life. Thank you for teaching us so many valuable lessons in living and loving... Thank you for constantly reminding us to face our life's battles with full faith and trust in our God. We thank God as well for the overwhelming support ...and love from our family, friends and complete strangers who have generously shared their blessings and prayers to you during your first open heart surgery a few weeks back.

We pray that Papa God will continue give you healing and fix your broken heart, we pray that He will take away all the pain and "yayay" that you feel as you recover from your surgery and most of all, that He will always put that cutie smile in your little face everyday.

We love you Chino. We'll face your next fight holding hands and with our full trust in God. Happy 1st bday baby boy! We look forward to more wonderful celebrations of your life.

From Papa Clarke, Mommy Cynch, Ate Ikang & Ate Cacay"

Happy birthday, dear Chino, and thank you for the gift you have given us all. Ninang Abbie, Tito Vance and Mateo can't wait to meet you in person.

---

Their fight is not over. You can still help. You have until November 15 to vote for Chino here so he can win Php 100,000 to help pay for his medical expenses. Please take the time to vote now. Thanks!

Help Chino win Php 100,000

Here's another opportunity to give a gift for my godson, Chino. Please vote and help him win Php 100,000 (roughly $2200). All it takes is a few seconds of your time.

Follow the instructions below.

Chino's Hug

1. Go to http://www.facebook.com/poweredbyciti
2. "LIKE" the page
3. Go to "PRICELESS MOMENTS" on the Tabs
4. Enter site and register.
5. On the bottom right corner click "VIEW ALL ENTRIES."
6. Look for Chino's Hug (baby in blue "Future Atenista").
7. Click and then "LIKE" to help Baby Chino win the price for his operation.
8. Your every vote counts!


We have until Nov. 15 to put Chino on top of the voting list. Please click!

Update on Baby Chino

Just a quick post in between spoonfuls of baby food that M is refusing to eat.

Chino has undergone further tests, and has been put on some medication, to determine how fit he is for an operation. It looks like the latest advice from doctors is for him to have the operation in 6 months' time. His parents will be deciding when exactly the operation will be done.

As for the fundraising, according to their website, the funds donated has reached Php 625,592.36 or about $14,160. They still have a long way to go until they reach their Php 2 million goal. So if you have been thinking about giving, but haven't yet, please do so. Please.

You may give in the following ways. Please note that their Paypal account DOES NOT work.

Give Through Xoom

Use your credit card (US based cards) to give.
Log in to Xoom.com register and send to
Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands
Account Number: 3106523407
Recipient: Cynthia Marie Adalla-Nebrao
Address: 349 Ortigas Ave. Greenhils East Mandaluyong 1554, Philippines
Email: championsforchino@gmail.com

Give Through Bank (if you are in the Philippines)

Deposit your donations to:
Cynthia Marie Adalla-Nebrao
Account Number. 3106523407
Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
Edsa-Greenhills Branch

Please email championsforchino@gmail.com once you've deposited for accounting purposes.

Once again, thank you to all those who have given. I'm especially grateful to my friends who have come out in support of a family they do not personally know.

Please help. Be a Champion for Chino.

Tonight, I learned that someone I love is going through what I would consider my worst nightmare. Tonight, I learned that a sweet little boy is in for the fight of his life. Tonight, I will ask you, whoever you are, whether you know me personally or not, to please help keep their hope alive.

Carlos Aleixo A. Nebrao was born a little over ten months ago, the third child and only son of Clarke and Cynthia Nebrao. On August 27, his dad took him to the doctor for his routine shots. But during the checkup, the doctor detected a slight murmur when listening to baby Chino's heart. By the end of the visit, Chino was diagnosed as having a condition called a severe mitral regurgitation with mild stenosis. The baby needs open-heart surgery. He needs it soon. It will cost around 1.5 million Philippine pesos.

Go back a few decades. It's 1990 and I'm entering high school in a new town, without a familiar face in sight. Cynthia, or Cynch, and I were in the same section of the freshman class. That's how we met. I don't quite remember when we first started hanging out. Even then, I wasn't the best at making new friends. Thankfully, she was and over the next four years, we shared experiences that I knew would make us friends for life.

How many mornings did we meet, before it was even light out, to ride around our mountainside town on our bikes, hers green, mine neon yellow? How many times did we climb into that city-bound bus to spend the day at the mall, looking at clothes we rarely bought, just having fun? And how many times did I seek refuge at her house, arriving at all times of the day, and sometimes night, heartbroken about something or other? I still laugh at the memory of the time we drank mass wine out of coffee cups at her house, to keep from being caught by her mom.

Our lives and choices took us in different directions after high school. Different universities, then different countries. She got married, started having beautiful babies, and embarked on a life as a missionary for Couples for Christ. Her journey took her to Africa and back to the Philippines, via several other countries. Mine took me to the US. But when we get together now, no matter how few and far between those reunions, we are those old friends still.

The last time I saw Cynch was a few weeks before she had Chino, in Washington DC. We were both pregnant but still managed to see the sights. I met her husband for the first time. We talked like two moms for the first time. Decades after we first met, we still managed to experience things that are new.

This too is another first. As a new mom, the news of Chino's condition moved me in a way that would not have been possible before I had my baby. Though I do not know exactly what they are feeling, I can imagine, all too well, what Cynch and Clarke must be going through right now.

I always took it as a matter of fact that our children would grow up as friends. The thought that Mateo and Chino might not have the chance to be what Cynch and I are...well, it breaks my heart.

So tonight, while my baby sleeps soundly in his bed upstairs, I ask you, whoever you are, to help give another baby, halfway across the world, a chance to grow up--to be a kind boy, a good man, my son's friend, and his mother's son. Chino could be all this and more. He only needs the chance to be so.

You and I can help give him that chance. If I've tugged at your heartstrings, then let me move your purse strings as well. Two million pesos is what they need. That's about $44,000. Sadly, the clock is ticking.

Please help. I know that in these economic times, giving can be difficult, but for Chino, every little bit will help. There is no real health insurance insurance in the Philippines. Most have to come up with the cash to pay for treatment. So if you have even a dollar to spare, please consider giving.

Friends of the family have set up a website to help raise money for Chino's operation. You can learn more about Chino and his condition there too.

If you've read this far, I thank you. If you decide to give, I am ever grateful. As you hug your little ones, or not-so-little ones tonight, please say a simple prayer for baby Chino, his family, and my friend.

Back from the holidays

How's your 2009 going so far?

Good, I hope. V and I have just barely recovered from being on the go since Dec. 22. Drove to Oceanside to spend Christmas there with my family. Drove back up to Monterey on the 26th so they can spend the weekend here. Said goodbye to my family on the 28th, leaving just enough time to pack and catch our 6 AM flight to Wisconsin the next day.

Spent New Year's with V's family in Stevens Point, with a day trip to Madison squeezed in. Flew back on the 4th, arriving at home well past midnight, sans one piece of checked bag. Spent yesterday unpacking, doing laundry, and playing with Briscoe. Today, it was naps, and chores, more laundry, and dealing with things around the house that are suddenly breaking.

Is something up? Our overpriced plasma TV konked out a few days before we left for Oceanside. Then the printer decided throw out a bunch of "cartridge errors," despite the nearly new cartridges. Then yesterday, as I was cleaning up my dog's accident in my office (in a momentary lapse of reason, I gave her half a can of tuna with her dog food), the brushes on the steam carpet cleaner stop turning.

Now I have to figure out if it is worth it to get any of these items fixed, or if buying new ones is more efficient.

On another note, the holidays were fun, albeit tiring. My sibs and I, along with V and my good friend Ameetess, got happy on a few bottles of wine and beer on Christmas eve. Childhood stories were told, along with many others which had us grabbing our stomachs in laughter. The weekend in Monterey was more low-key, spent walking on the wharf, filling up on seafood, and driving the picturesque 17-Mile Drive. We also spent the day with an aunt I haven't seen in years, who drove down from Hayward for the day.

In Stevens Point, V & I did the rounds of visiting his relatives. On New Year's eve, we caught up with aunts and uncles over lasagna and, for me particularly, multiple slices of red velvet cake. Watched the ball drop in Times Sqaure while sitting in a country bar, with V's brother Seth, his old friend Corey, and a bottle of the local brew. On the 2nd, V, Seth and I spent the day in Madison, visiting the "Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired" Monona Terrace, the state capitol building, and the dearly missed Outback Steakhouse where we introduced Seth to the wonders of the Bloomin' Onion.

More importantly, V got to say a final goodbye to the 128-year old farmhouse that was home to his granparents and dad. He walked the rooms, the barn, climbed up the hayloft, peeked into the chicken coop, and spent time with his grandma remembering the years he spent growing up in that farm. I took pictures until my hands hurt from the cold.

To top it off, I got my Marimekko wall hanging and my Gorillapod, and Briscoe got a snazzy new collar from the in-laws.

All things considered, it was satisfying holiday spent with family and friends. Laundry, repairs and the rest of our real lives aside, we recognize that we have been blessed and are ever thankful.

Best wishes to all in 2009.

Trip Playback: Thanksgiving in Vegas (Part 1)

I really should have taken more pictures.

That said, the Vegas trip was a success. Good food with good friends, old and new. It was relaxing too, which is a surprise considering every other time I've been in Vegas has always been a whirlwind of activities.

Getting there was easy enough. V & I drove a little over 500 miles, in about 9 hours. Hit some traffic along the way, on cursed CA 58, but that was to be expected. The drive home, on the other hand, was another level of hell. More on that later.

Got to Bally's and checked in without problems. Bally's is an older hotel, but at $59 a night for a holiday weekend, I could not pass up the deal. It's connected to the Paris Hotel next door, providing easy access to better restaurants and such, and is centrally located on the Strip, at Las Vegas Blvd. and Flamingo Road. I knew from reviews on Tripadvisor (a valuable tool for travelers) that a renovated room is a must. We were given a renovated king room in the North Tower, sacrificing a view of the Bellagio fountains. But I'll take a nice clean room over a view any day. Quick review and more pictures here.


As soon as we unloaded our bags, the eating and drinking ensued. We met with V's old friend Adam, who is now a Vegas local. First meal of the trip was dinner at Mon Ami Gabi in Paris. V had excellent steak frites (fries were more like chips, and very yummy) while I had some grilled chicken breast served with green beans. Tried their Frangria, their signature French sangria, but was not a fan.

After dinner and a quick change of clothes, we met up again at New York New York's new club, Rok. The club itself was so-so, and if I wasn't with friends, I would've been in a sour mood about waiting in line. After about 45 minutes (ugh!), we were let in. It was crowded and filled with scantily-dressed young twenty-somethings--really not my scene any more. Things got interesting when after about a half hour, some performer took the stage. It was Mya, of "Ghetto Superstar" and "Lady Marmalade" fame! Soon after her set, we called it a night. Not bad for our first few hours in town.

One more thing, if you're in New York New York, check out Nine Fine Irishmen. The band is pretty cool, and most nights, Riverdancing ensues.

Where else did we eat and drink?

Trader Vic's in Planet Hollywood

First caught a show at the upstairs LA Comedy Club. Dinner was downstairs, in the main dining room. Food was okay. I had some stir-fry lobster and a mai tai. Trader Vic has a Polynesian theme, so be prepared for a tiki-overload. Prices were fair.

Red Square in Mandalay Bay


Looking for a quiet place to sit, drink and talk, we headed to Red Square in Mandalay Bay. The room has a cool, Cold War Russia theme. They have a vodka vault, where apparently, they've stashed the frozen head of Lenin. A headless Lenin statue greets you at the restaurant's door. The drinks menu was understandably heavy on vodka and martinis. The place is quiet enough for conversation, if you can get a table at the bar area. Only diners get so sit at the booths in the dining area. Martinis went for around $15.

Gallagher's Steakhouse in New York New York


Dinner and a show is one of my favorite ways to spend an evening. With Zumanity tickets at hand, we headed to Gallagher's. The impressive display of aged meats is enough to get your mouth watering, if you are a steak fan. Which I am not. But the husband is, so off we went. I opted for a filet mignon because it was the smallest cut on the menu. It came charred and tough. Needed two glasses of wine to wash it down, and ended up eating some of V's aged NY strip. I would have complained and asked for a different steak but with only 20 minutes before curtain, there was no time for a do-over. Expensive, and in my opinion, not worth it.

AGO at the Hard Rock Hotel

One Thanksgiving, many moons ago, V and I suffered the indignity of a hotel buffet Thanksgiving dinner in Washington DC. Even in the land of buffets, I was not about to risk another disaster. We booked a five-course prex fixe dinner at AGO at the Hard Rock Hotel. Honestly, there was no rhyme or reason to my pick of this particular restaurant. I liked that it was Italian, I suppose, and I'd never seen the inside of the Hard Rock Hotel. I also liked that at $50 per person, the meal came with wine pairings. I'm a sucker for wine pairings!

Dinner started with a glass of bubbly, then salad and a generous antipasti plate. I can never pace myself at dinner so I ended up eating it all. That and most of the bread basket. Then came some butternut squash risotto. Then a plate of both roasted organic turkey and maple pork loin. At this point, I couldn't even touch any of the sides, I was so full. Finally, there was a plate of mini desserts, including pecan pie, and Grappa to wash it down. Overall a satisfying meal at a reasonable price.

On the way out, we perused some costumes on display that were worn by famous performers. The collection included Britney Spears' school girl outfit, and the chaps ensemble Christina Aguilera wore in the "Dirrty" video.

Pho Saigon 8


The most satisfying meal of any trip, for me, tends to be the most down-to-earth ones. In Vegas, it came a steaming bowl of pho at Pho Saigon 8. Way off strip, deep in the heart of Vegas' Chinatown, I found the pho chin nam to be particularly soothing after a night of drinking. Super cheap and super good.

Jollibee and Chowking

I couldn't pass up the chance to eat at these Filipino fast food staples. At Jollibee, I had the Chickenjoy with rice and gravy, the sweet spaghetti and a peach mango pie. V had a hamburger. He said, "Which is the regular hamburger?" Meaning no weird sauces and additions (like a slice of pineapple).

At Chowking, I had arroz caldo and a small bowl of beef noodles. Yes, I was hungry and I wanted to eat everything. V had a combo plate of chicken teriyaki (or teriyucky) and spaghetti. After, we shared a halo-halo :-)

That's the food part of the trip--overall, satisfying and enjoyable. I'll post about Zumanity and Red Rock Canyon later.

Going back to the horrendous drive home, we left Vegas at noon, anticipating the crush of holiday traffic. But we weren't prepared for what actually ensued. Almost as soon as we left the Strip, we were in stop-and-go traffic. After hours of driving, we finally reached the Nevada-California stateline in Primm, a mere 40 miles away from the Strip. We finally pulled up in front of our house at 3 AM! The 500-mile drive took 15 hours! I could have flown to Japan in that same amount of time. Lesson learned: On the last day of a long holiday weekend, leave at the crack of dawn. Better yet, leave a day early.

Tired and in disbelief that we survived the long drive from hell, V & I crawled into bed thinking still that we had a great Thanksgiving getaway. Thank God for that!

Happy birthday, Maan!

I was lucky enough to have lived with two very smart, very cool girls while in college. Joanne and I went to high school together, and braved our freshman year in the big city together. Maan, her younger sister, joined us a year later.

We had our fair share of drama, and while it all seems like a lifetime ago, I will never forget the friendship and the love they both shared with me.

Maan was the go-getter among us. She was always out there, charting a new path, trying newer and harder things. Now a mom of two and living in London, we are worlds apart in distance, but never in affection.


Thanks for everything, Maan. And may this year be the best one yet.

(Holy crap, did you just turn 30?!)

PS. I stole your Friendster picture. I hope you don't mind!

Amen to that Mr. Miller

Last weekend, V & I took our dog on her first camping trip to Big Sur. We are lucky enough to live within an hour's drive of what is arguably the most striking stretch of coastline in California, wedge between the Santa Lucia mountains and the Pacific. The rugged beauty of this area--its majestic Redwoods, dramatic cliffs, and thunderous surf--have inspired many over the years, including writers like Richard Brautigan, Jack Kerouac and Henry Miller. 

"It was here in Big Sur that I first learned to say 'Amen,'" Miller once wrote. "Here I will find peace. Here I shall find the strength to do the work I was made to do."

Big Sur demands several more visits, and we will be happy to oblige.  

Along Hwy 1. Bad picture but it's all I took. It was overcast that entire weekend. 

We stayed at the Big Sur Riverside Campgrounds and Cabin. Having originally booked a tent campsite, we switched to this cabin when we heard of the rain forecast that night and the next day. We didn't think it was worth the hassle of having to clean and dry out all out camping equipment for an overnight stay. 

The cabin came with a picnic table and firepit. If you're wondering about those concrete blocks in the back, they're there to keep mud out. The campground was getting ready to close for the winter season. Because of the fires in Big Sur this past summer, there apparently is threat of a kind of mud flood over the winter, when the rain starts. Since so many trees are now gone, nothing will hold the water and mud at bay. Thus the massive concrete blocks barricading the campground buildings from the river, which is close by. 

Not very pretty but the campground owners have learned from experience. Apparently, a similar situation happened a few decades ago, leaving their cabins with about 3 feet of mud inside. They wrapped the concrete blocks with plastic for additional waterproofing, I suppose.

This is the Big Sur River, which looks more like a stream now. It's about 50 feet directly in front of our cabin. This is where our dog had her first swim though I don't think she meant to jump in. Not photos of that, but the look of shock on her face was priceless. 

Big Sur is dotted with state parks and beaches, including Pfeiffer Beach. We squeezed in a visit to the beach before day light ran out.

Something kinda creepy in the sand.

V & Briscoe

Beautiful, even on a cloudy day

We spent the rest of the night around a fire, making smores with Nutella. I know now, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I'm not a smores kinda girl. It was fun to try though.

Briscoe did not like the fire. Here she is staying as far away from it as she could.

Let's start by planning a wedding.

Not mine, of course, but that of a really dear friend. 

S is perhaps one of my oldest friends. We were giggly high school girls together, when our days would turn on a smile from a crush, when we would spend lunch hour on a churchyard swing, when we dreamed of the life ahead while walking that tree-lined campus. 

She was the one who took me to the doctor when our Biology teacher correctly assessed that I had in fact gone to school with the measles. Together, we scared ourselves silly with ghosts stories while reviewing for the UPCAT at C's house. We walked and talked all those years ago, getting to know each other while we got to know ourselves. 

We parted ways of sorts in college, and in the years after that. But all the while, I knew she would always be there for me, and I for her. 

Eighteen years later, here we are, planning her wedding. And I am honored beyond words to be her maid of honor. 

More wedding planning details will follow, with her permission. 

PHOTO: S and I at another friend's wedding in January.

And that makes three.

Meet the newest member of the Klosinski family: Briscoe.

A Labrador/German Shepherd mix (a mutt, really), she came to us by way of a dog shelter. She's nine weeks old now, still very much a baby. Her first night home, she cried and cried and kept V and I up all night. But she's settling in quickly, or at least we think so. She didn't cry at all last night.
She's named after Law & Order's Det. Lenny Briscoe, played by the late Jerry Orbach. Obviously, we thought we would get a boy.

Favorite past time: scratching her collar and sniffing the lawn.