Soulful Sunday - Happy Thanksgiving to all

Happy thanksgiving day to all my Canadian family and friends.  For some their celebration will be their dinner tonight, others might do it tomorrow as an early dinner as they have Monday off.  Even though I now reside in the USA and will have to celebrate our thanksgiving in November, I still like to celebrate my Canadian thanksgiving.  We will have a small get together with my family (Jeff, MIL, cousin Jo and Becky).  Instead of turkey, we will be having a roast beef dinner with all the trimmings.

This is one of my son's favorite holiday because it involves STUFFING.  He loves making it and also enjoys helping out with any other cooking.  It's a little difficult to celebrate thanksgiving since he's been gone.  I am torn about what it is that I have to thank for because I still don't understand why.  I hope that wherever my son is,  I truly hope that he is happy.  This is the 4th thanksgiving day without him and it's still hard to believe that he is gone.

On another note, if it's true that when someone dies, they go somewhere that is peaceful, then I am sure my son is doing his happy dance when he finally meets Steve Jobs.  My son was so excited when the first iphone was released that he drove from Ontario, Canada to Chicago, IL.  If he was still alive, I am sure he would have all the latest Apple Products.  I hope that the media truly respects the family's wish in their time of grief.  May they find peace and comfort knowing that there's a lot of people in the world that are grieving with them.

                                                        

Simply Saturday - Simple flowers and simply sweet

Simply Simple Sweet Post.  Flowers and chocolates - women's favorite peace offerings/gifts.  For the last 3 Sundays, my MIL has been bringing me a bouquet of flowers because she knows I love them.  Since there's a lot of flowers, I divided them and made almost 4 different arrangements.

I took all these pretty colors and place them in my Gino corner.

This is the mixed one and is placed in my dining table.

This one is also a mixed and I have this arrangement on our coffee table.

Because I have guests arriving on Monday, I thought it would be nice to have some different chocolates available if I don't get a chance to make desserts.   

Macadamia nuts, caramel and chocolates

Different fruits (pineapple, papaya, mango) with caramel and chocolates.

Kona coffee, caramel, chocolate and macadamia nuts.

Simple things in life that are inexpensive but gives as much joy and happiness to the recipient.

Flawless Friday - My halloween nails

Due to the rainy day last Wednesday, I was forced to stay home since I cannot play tennis or golf.  Instead I took the day to do some housekeeping chores, laundry and my most favorite past time, doing my nail art.  Since Halloween is only 3 weeks away, I decided to do my nails in that theme.  I know I could have done some scary stuff but opted to just choose the orange and black colors.

So proud that my design is flawless even on my right hand.

As you can see, it's a spider's web with a very tiny bug.

I am contemplating on making a costume for myself so that when the children in the neighborhood comes by the house, I will be the one to open the door and hand out the Treats.
So here's some of my ideas for my costume.

• Bumble Bee
• Lady Bug
• Wilma Flinstone
• Witch
• Lil' Devil

Truthful Thursday - Happy outside - Sad inside

One of the blog I am following uses this line on some of her posts. " I am not gonna lie".  And her most recent post was "Something sad, something happy".  So for today's post, I will follow her lead.  These are the things "I am not gonna lie"

• that every now and then I am still asking the WHY about my son's death
• that each time I hear a song that reminds me of my son, there's still that sharp pain in my heart.
• that when I see the same model of car that my son drove, I still wonder where he would be going.
• that each time a new electronic toy is being released, I know he would be the first to get it or he will ask me to get it here in the Silicon Valley.
• that for the last 4 months when my step grandson Gamble, plays Wii and would always pick Gino's profile and would say - I love that guy - my heart jumps for joy.
• that when I start feeling sad and maybe a little depressed - I would watch one of the video of my son's trip with his best friend to Winnipeg to watch the Kanye West concert.  
• that although I am very happy with my retired life in sunny San Jose, inside there's always a sad part that keeps reminding me that life is really short.

Something happy - that my daughter is doing just fine without me living in the same city.

Something sad - that my daughter and I will have to go on with life without any answers to WHY.

This one of my favorite photo of my son and daughter.  This is my something sad and something happy.

This is one of my daughter's happy song and after hearing this it also became my happy song.
 

Wet Wednesday - The Rain has arrived

The rain has arrived and it looks dreary and wet.  But I shouldn't be complaining because it could be worst, it could be SNOW.  The forecast for the rest of the week is sunny and warm which is good as we will have another guests (friends from Canada) arriving on Monday.  I really hope that the weather stays dry and just comfy for them so they will have a nice stay in the Bay area.

Just so you know how nice it is still here, I took some photos after we played tennis this past weekend.

This month is suppose to be the beginning of Autumn - this looks like summer, really.

These are so pretty even though they are just outside the park.

Before I forget, I would like to wish a very happy birthday to Andre, a good friend, former colleague, golf coach, and a totally nice guy.