Having some summer fun with my grandkids

Guest post written by Amelia Cook

It seems like almost everything seems so much sweeter during the summer. I'm not really sure why but it just does. Part of that is definitely the warmer weather, the better mood that it puts you in. But I know that for me, personally, a big part of it is that I get to see my kids and grandkids a whole lot more during the summer. They don't live close to me so it's really just during the holidays and the summer when I get to see them.

You might even say that I live for the summer because of that. I was looking up some fun stuff that we could do because I've exhausted the zoo and other things like that so far this summer. While I was looking online for that, I saw the site http://hearingaids.miracle-ear.com/hearing-locations/michigan/a/ann-arbor/ and after I read through it some I decided to sign up for a hearing aid test.

I got the idea to go out and buy a cheap sprinkler. The kids loved running around underneath it and I even ran under it a few times too!

Home In Cebu

I arrived in Cebu March 23rd almost noon time. The weather in Cebu is very surprising for me. It's quite odd to think that summer is a rainy season. That's not usual for me since I do remember that it will always be hot and sizzling during this time. It is the opposite but I think it's an advantage for me since leaving California the weather there is rainy too so there's not much climate change. I am not sweating in here yet and hoping it will not be as hot when the season will really come to place.

I am glad that I am home and see my family. I made my brother happy that I am here for him. I see a little progress in his part and I hope his fever will go away. It keeps on coming back. I hope and pray that he will no longer have the fever and that he can recover slowly and progressive. I will cross my fingers. I love him dearly.

Abundance of Rain

Last week Christmas Holiday weather was definitely been the best day that I have experience since moving here. The last 5 years was rainy and wet. I am glad that it’s a very nice weather to celebrate the occasion. Though I did not push through my plan of going out of town, the time I had with hubby was splendid. I had a great quality time with him.

For sometime before the holiday, I was kind of worried with the weather. It’s too depressing that there’s a lot of rain. I could think with that ample of rain I might be able to accumulate a full rain barrel. I just didn’t get the urge to go out and gather all those water. If I had rain water barrels available that could have been a very good way of preserving the water. Maybe I will check with the rain barrels for sale online as to how much I can afford. I might probably get one for myself. All those water droplets can be good with nurturing my indoor plants. It’s free water and it’s good for nature.

Chilly Week

With the longer summer and a nice sunshine, cold chilly week was not expected to hit in the bay area. We will be having a new record cold front for this week. We could expect a temperature of 34F and that’s cold. I might be adjusted to the cold weather but still when my hands are starting to freeze I could definitely say it is cold. Today, when I got out from the house and walked towards the driveway, from afar I already saw that my car’s windshield is frozen. The temperature dropped last night causing some moisture turned ice. I put the car’s defroster as high as it can get, turned on the windshield wiper until I can see the front of the car. When it’s visible enough I hit the road and get to work.

I didn’t put some coat on today. It’s amazing for me to be able to wear just one sweater and a thermal sweater. Normally, I used 3 on top of each other. It will not be the same if it’s at night. I couldn’t stand the cold. If it’s morning I can take it with no problem but I know I have to protect myself because too much cold on the body won’t be good.

Better Weather

I am glad that the weather is starting to get better. It's much cooler today. Though I slept in the living room I got cold. Thanks to the warm comforter and fleece blanket. It's a bit uncomfortable but way much better with a hot weather and running the air condition on. It's a way too expensive to spend the energy on electric bill but conditions like your head will gonna explode due to heat, I would say go for the high bill than spending more in the hospital. I am just hoping the winter months will not be as cold. I hope for an average cold temperature. Cross fingers!

What the day Like Yesterday

I thought summer is gone but the heat of the weather just make it through almost when the season is over. Yesterday was so hot. Temperature in the city was in it's triple digit. We hit 100F. Lunch time as my usual past time to stay in my car, the heat inside was not bearable so I got back to the office and use the conference room for me to get use the rest of my remaining break. Hubby later on called and I could imagine how it was for his part when he told me how it has been for him.

The heat rises towards the end of the day and it didn't cool off. We had our own portable aircon and able to use it all day in the living room. We don't have one in the bedroom so we slept in the living room. It was a bit uncomfortable but the heat just not bearable. I did sleep a bit and I right now I am tired. Hopefully tonight will be different and much better.

Allergy

Relocating to the US has never been a problem, weather wise. I got here when it was warm and eventually got into the fall and winter season. Winter was unlikely for the not experienced and not traveled person like me, it took awhile to adjust. I’ve heard about spring and allergies. I felt fine and never got any problems at all. The change of season never caused me any predicament.

With aging, I think I got some allergies problem for spring. Now I get it and experienced it. Not as bad you may think it is. It’s just those ordinary sneezing and headaches and little sore throat. But it’s just the trouble of sneezing. That’s what I felt. I just hate it.

Friday afternoon I thought I could visit my friend in Los Gatos. The mere fact that it was the start of the day I sneezed every few minutes that passed by. It was not tolerable. I skipped to see my friend and just stayed home. I supposed to get all my laundry clean and folded. I ended up just getting 2 loads in the laundry. One load had folded and put into place but the remaining did not. I just retired. I was weakened by the constant sneezing.

Today is my fourth day. I am still weak, plugged nose, tired eyes and has little body aches. I am able to manage to go to work. Staying home just won’t do me any good. It’s better to stay out and got to push myself to fight the illness. Hope to get better soon.

Weird Weather

It should be cold now or feeling the chill atmosphere. But the weather here in the bay seemed to up and down. It reached in the 80's which somehow peculiar. Tomorrow will be much more hotter than today's weather. I am ready for the cold season. Summer this year is long. Which I think is good, but the increase and falling of temperature makes me sick. I hope it's going to be a steady weather.

At my job today was slow. It's not the same compare last years volume of calls. It's like we are waiting for the rain to fall. The time to work in a slow phase is quite getting longer too. I hope calls will pick up soon and schedules will get better. Also one thing today, I hate one of the staff from the main office. She insulted me today while she wanted to get a schedule for her nephew that somehow I wasn't able to schedule. She wanted to have a quick reply on that. Liz was out of duty she's sick so I just told that nephew of hers to call back tomorrow to talk to Liz. I ended with the conversation with that guy fine but her reaction to that conversation was different. I am boiling with anger. I sent Liz an email about what happened. I will check tomorrow what could be her reaction to that.

Almost fall

It has been days that I felt the chill in my spine. Mean one thing then, that summer will going to end next month and fall would come in. It will be a change of outfit from fashionable people or taking away the summer clothes and bringing back the sweatshirts, hoods, leggings, boots, feathers and coats.

I went to the mall with hubby today. I was kind of looking something to wear for new collection. I was browsing few stores. I have observed the displays are getting close to winter collection. I wasn't so thrilled to buy. My mind is not yet done with the summer outfits or classic clothing that you can wear any season of the year. I didn't find what I was hoping for so I went home a little bit disappointment. Maybe another time, I can buy a new collection for winter. I have to hold on for now and check later again.

So Hot

It's warming up here in the bay. I didn't notice so much difference when I went out to relax on my car today at my lunch time. I always take a little nap inside but today, I can't sleep at all. It was hot and the car is warm. Though there is some air coming through the heat inside still was warming me up. I just stayed there to relax and avoid the phone rings and the face of the people I work with.

This time, I have a headache. The heat is boiling my head. I am too sensitive to heat and I can't prolong myself to stay under the sun. I would sure faint in an instant. Tomorrow will be another day of heat and I will just stay all day in my bedroom to cool myself from the aircon. That's all for now, nothing much!

Affected by heatwave

Waking up today was better, but once again in the middle of the night my husband woke me up letting me know that I had nightmares again. It had been like that this few days. I need to go to church and light some candles. Maybe some of my departed loved ones wanted my prayers and God wanted me to visit him. I will try to do that this Sunday. I hope I can and will not get lazy. There’s no room for laziness I know but somehow I just can’t help it when I need more time to sleep.

The weather today is very hot reaching 99F. It’s dry and I subconsciously was ready to experience it. My husband and I planned our small living apartment to get a little bit cooler. There’s no central air conditioning system in the apartment but we have AC in our room. What we did is to run it all morning with closed door. When hubby came home for lunch, he told me he had opened the door. The air flows to the dining and the living room. It helped to get comfortable in the living room but still it is hot.

I hope I will not get a severe headache today. My previous 2 nights, I wasn’t able to get myself well rested. I took some pills. Put some cold damp wash cloth on my forehead just to make me fall asleep. I wish tonight will be different, but I need some cold drinks or an ice cream to cool down my head and body later. Forget about the diet, it's better to fight this heatwave with an ice cream or die from heat stroke.

Summer is Here

It’s getting warmer day by day. Today as I went outside from work, I felt the heat. Going inside the car, it was like I am inside an oven 100F. It is still bearable but reading the weather forecast, it will reach 100’s in the days ahead. I wonder how will my head going to take it. I’m just hoping that it will not so dry. A little help of the wind breeze can soothe better. I pity for those people, who has no air condition in their place. Weather like this, it is a must. And as for me, I need it the most. Or else, my head will explode. I wish heat wave will not be so bad this year. I might not be able to take it. I am just glad that it’s already summer and I feel like being in Cebu.

It is time for the shorts, tank tops, swimsuits, big sun glasses, huge hats, flip flops, sun lotion, and of course water. Don’t get dehydrate in this time of season. It will be so nice to enjoy the weather like this. Make the most of the sunshine, the beach and the coolest people you will hang out with for it is fun and exciting. Enjoy yourself just like I am enjoying it now.

Weather change

Do you notice how strange the weather this year is? It could be cold, chilly and a sudden heat in between. Today, while I was heading to work in the morning the suns up with a brighter sky. It had that cold freeze feeling. I turned on the heater and for me without it will make me sick.

I go to work with my hair wet so the cold weather could get much colder on me. I stay away already from using blow dryer this year. I started when I had visited the PI. With my hair damp and the cold weather, it freezes me up. My hands get cold and I always rub both my hands. Sometimes my boss would imitate my doing when sees me rubbing. Maybe he thinks I look cuter, I don’t know perhaps he just like to be noticed.

Anyway, I just feel that the weather today is peculiar. Cold chilly in the morning and this afternoon, it is like I am in the oven. When I got out from work, walking into my car I had smelled the heat. It touched my skin. I had the sense it won’t be so good for me. It did get into me. And now, I have a headache. I hated my health condition. There will be a day I am healthy and there will be a day I got so weak and sickly. Today is one of those days and I don’t really like it.

Big Buddha, Hongkong

I have traveled to Malaysia, Thailand and Hongkong and it amazes me to see different statues of Buddha. With the recent trip I had in Hongkong, reading with the travel guide brochure I kept while I was there. I was fascinated by the pictures of the tallest bronze Buddha in the world.

The hotel I stayed was located in Wan Chai. By getting to see the Buddha, I took the train 45 minutes and rode the cable car. Along with the journey, it was cold and breezy. The clothes I wore was not thick enough. It was a tough battle over the weathers condition. But thinking about to see another scenery, I pushed myself and the excitement lead me to saw it in my very own two eyes.

Up there the temperature is very different in land. Foggy and very very cold. People were dressed up properly and I wore only sweatshirts freezing to death. I bought a hot chocolate at one of the coffee shops and it did help in some way. Walking the stairs of 236 steps with latitude going down it's breath catching. I stopped most of the time and I let my hubby took some pictures to get us something to do while resting. Surviving on top, see the view, the Buddha and different statues surrounding was heavenly.