I've Come to Realize....

1. I've come to realize that my butt;
will continue to expand to fill available space if I don't start working out again...

2. I've come to realize that when I talk;
I spend a little too much time thinking of the right words to use.

3. I've come to realize that, if I love someone;
I put their needs and welfare before my own....

4. I've come to realize that, I need;
time to myself with a good book and a cup of good coffee to wind down.

5. I've come to realize that, Ive lost;
a great deal of respect for those who only think of themselves.

6. I've come to realize that, I hate it when;
any of my loved ones are hurt, especially if they're hurt by those they love.

7. I've come to realize that, if I'm drunk;
I'm quieter than I usually am. Because either 1) I can't breathe or 2) I'm sleepy.

8. I've come to realize that marriage;
gave me someone who loves me unconditionally, someone with whom I can laugh, dream, pray and make memories.

9. I've come to realize that my faults;
are characteristics I can improve if I really wanted to.

10. I've come to realize that, I'll always be;
my mother's daughter, my father's only girl and my brothers' sister and my niece & nephew's Tita Em. And that make me happy.

11. I've come to realize that, I have a crush on;
Jim on The Office. He's got a great smile.

12. I've come to realize that, the last time I cried was;
December 17, 2007 ~ my grandmother birthday, the first birthday we weren't able to celebrate with her.

13. I've come to realize that, my cell phone is;
unfortunately indispensible, breakable and easily lost.

14. I've come to realize that, when I wake up in the morning;
it's way too early for my liking.

15. I've come to realize that, before I go to sleep at night;
I need to shower and slather myself in my favorite lotion to get a good night's sleep.

16. I've come to realize that, right now I am thinking about;
how much I have to get done at work tomorrow for the time I missed today.

17. I've come to realize that, babies are;
are the most precious gifts and to have one is one of God's true blessings.

18. I've come to realize that, when I get on Myspace;
I waste a lot of time.

19. I've come to realize that, today I will;
wonder how happy my little brother, Mark, will be to have our parents visiting him in Vegas for the weekend.

20. I've come to realize that, tonight I will;
probably go to sleep later than I should.

21. I've come to realize that, tomorrow I will;
wake up earlier than I want to.

22. I've come to realize that, I really want to;
become a mother one day and it doesn't necessarily have to be biologically.

23. I've come to realize that, the person who is most likely to repost this;
whoever feels like taking time to answer some thought provoking questions.

2007 Genevieve's Choice Awards

1) DRINKING BUDDY OF THE YEAR-
Hmm...buddy in drinking coffee? My mother-in-law. I don't really drink anything alcoholic, but if I did, it would probably be wine. And then the award would be split between Gareth & my mother-in-law.

2) LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD (longest friend) -
My BFFs since high school are Ruth, Aileen & Yvonne.

3) NEWCOMER AWARD (newest friend) -
New friends came with the new job I started last June. Of my new coworkers, Tammy's the one with whom I've connected the most.

4) HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?
2007 was actually full of high points from virtually starting it in Disneyland, getting some of my writing published to finally finding a job I enjoy doing.

5) LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?
Losing my grandmother.

6) BEST HOLIDAY IN 2007?
I have to agree with Joseph. New Year's Eve. Karaoke mainly starring my parents and mother-in-law, being with family, my uncle's awesome prime rib and kissing Gareth at midnight.

7) YOUR SONG FOR 2007
Ugh. I have to pick just one?

8) MOVIE FOR 2007?
The one I looked forward to the most? Harry Potter. The one that disappointed me the most? Spiderman 3. The weirdest? Pirates. The most visually pleasing? 300. Funniest? Simpsons. Ironically, the ones I know I'll like but haven't put in the DVD player yet: Ratatouille, Bourne & Transformers.

Hey, Joseph, I found 8 & 9 - you had two 3s, and I looked at someone else's bulletin to get 9.

9) WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR BIRTHDAY?
Gareth threw me a birthday BBQ and invited family & friends over.

10) WHO DID YOU SPEND VALENTINES WITH?
My husband. We were in Disneyland, where he bought us a Disney Vacation Club timeshare.

11) BEST RELATIONSHIP?
As sad as it was to lose my grandmother, I finally was able to dedicate more time to my marriage and while no relationship is ever 100% perfect, the one I have with Gareth works for me.

12) WHAT WERE YOU FOR HALLOWEEN?
The one handing out candy to the handful of kids who came by.

13) RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR?
Hmm...the one most recently discovered and most frequented was Black Bear Diner.

14) BOOK OF THE YEAR?
The one that most moved me: Cecelia Ahearn's "Now You See Me." She also wrote "P.S. I Love You." I haven't seen the movie, but that book was great, too.

15) BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR?
Meeting with a fertility specialist to get serious about starting a family.

16) WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR 2008?
Working on 15 is priority one. Other than that, just taking life one day at a time. We do have a Disney cruise and a week at Disneyworld booked in October.

17) MOST STUPID IDEA WHEN DRUNK..
I get enough stupid ideas without drinking. If I did get drunk, the stupidest idea would be to drive.

18) TV SHOW OF THE YEAR?
The Office. Never fails to get me ROBL. (B=bed)

19) MOST LOYAL FRIEND?
Gareth has to top my list, as well as my brothers. As far as non-relatives, my BFFs...even though technically two of them are related by marriage.

20) BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR!
Umm...my commute. Went from barely making it to work by 8:30 when my drive was 10 minutes at its longest to waking up early enough to catch a vanpool at 6:30 to make it to work by 7:30a.

21) BIGGEST RETARD AWARD?
Hmmm...tossup between Britney Spears and the dude who stole the control box that runs my Honda. The one that costs over $900 brand new. Was lucky to find a used one for 1/3 the cost, but still.

22) NEW YEAR RESOLUTION?
To take better care of myself and appreciate my loved ones more.

Christmas Day 2007

I realized, as I posted pictures of the fun and happy times at my clan's Christmas party and our New Year's Eve dinner that I didn't take any photographs of Christmas Day at home with Mum and Gareth's sisters and their significant others. I need to be better about having batteries in the nice Nikon my hubby got me for my birthday. There. That's my New Year's resolution.

Fortunately, Gareth recorded the day for Trista, his sister in Phoenix who couldn't make it to Washington this year. So I post it here for posterity.

I think this was the first Christmas in a long time that Mum didn't have all her chicks with her. Reflecting on this, it was actually a very different Christmas for many of us. So many changes in 2007. It was a Christmas of many firsts. The first one without my family's first generation ~ no grandparents to buy gifts for. The first one without my brother Mark who's finding success and happiness in Vegas. The first since Gareth and I have been together that he didn't have all his sisters with him. The first Christmas Gareth and I have hosted in our house.

While there was a lot to be sad about, there was plenty to be happy and thankful for. Christmas morning found me a little stressed. We usually spend Christmas with Gareth's side wherever Mum is. Well, since she lives with us now, our house became Christmas central. While it's not like this was our first party, this was our first family Christmas in our home and I wanted it to be special. My mother-in-law is a veteran at this, so to have her with me was a great comfort.

I have to tell you, I really lucked out when it came to mother-in-laws. Every time I tell someone my mother-in-law lives with me, I get this look of sympathy which always makes me laugh. Sure, there are times things get tense in the house and I look for my own space but it's usually to get from being pulled into a disagreement between Gareth and Mum. And yes, sometimes G feels picked on or ganged up on because Mum and I usually agree to disagree with him. But I'm very grateful that I have a mother-in-law who's incredibly loving and supportive, someone with whom I actually have a lot in common, with whom I can have meaningful conversations and from whom I've learned a lot.

Because of Mum living with us, Gareth & I have gotten to spend more time with my sister-in-law Phedre and her boyfriend Josh. I lucked out in the sis-in-law department, too. Phedre's a sweet goof, Josh is a cool goof, both with lovely souls and they make a great couple. I told Mum once that her kids certainly zoned in on a particular "type" when picking their significant others, and she had to agree with me. They knew to pick partners who have an almost infinite amount of patience and who knew just how to absorb the ...frenzy... that erupts when the siblings are in each others presence. Maybe that's why Josh and I get along. Kind of like two soldiers battling side by side, caught in the crossfire. Call of Duty meets Family Fued.

Josh & Phedre arrived on Christmas day early enough for Josh & Gareth to watch a movie before the festivities. Gareth just had to watch Alien vs. Predator Requiem, and fortunately for me, Josh was game. With the stress of getting dinner ready and making sure the house of 4 chihuahuas and 7 cats was presentable, Josh was the one who managed to calm me down some by saying, "Thank you for having us in your beautiful home." So very thoughtful, that guy. I was touched. Phedre, he's a keeper.

While Mum and I cooked and cleaned, Gareth shot video for Trista & Jeff. I'm not happy that he caught me in my housewife attire, but like he said in the video, Santa managed to save his ass. After a short round on Rockband with Josh & Phedre - Oh! I have to tell you about our very FIRST attempt early in December, after Gareth got his review copy. I took the drums, Gareth on guitar and of course we had to have a lead singer and who else could that be but Mum?

We sucked sooo bad!

I couldn't hit a beat to save my life because I was falling off my chair laughing at Mum singing Nirvana and Gareth coaching her with, "Sing angry! Rock it, Mom! You have to yell!" Well, just try to imagine Nirvana's "In Bloom" in a pretty soprano voice with a Scottish accent. Yeah. That's why I had tears in my eyes and my stomach hurt from laughing. Neither G nor Mum had ever seen me crack up so much before.

Anyway, I took the video of Gareth, Phedre and Josh ...er..rockin' out. That was before the guys left to watch the movie, leaving Phedre, Mum and me to get girly and watch Swan Lake and have some hot buttered rum. Rhyana, Gareth's youngest sister, and her boyfriend Mat and his son Jaxon arrived for dinner after the guys got back.

Another reason I lucked out with my mother-in-law, she does Christmas stockings and she really, really, goes way overboard on Christmas gifts, one of the sweet qualities Gareth inherited. Thanks, Mum! :) The tradition is we have to distribute the stockings and the gifts first, then one by one open our gifts. This takes a good hour, but it's a lot of fun. Mum couldn't find the stockings this year, so she improvised using the stockings I made for the pets. Luckily, Gareth and I accidently took home our stockings last year, so we had ours. I don't remember which pet stockings the girls or Josh got, but I know Mat got Fable's. LoL...

My Christmas list stays basically the same every year. Pajama bottoms, anything from Bath & Body, king size sheet sets, candles and cookbooks. Oh, and power tools. I've yet to get my cordless drill yet. That may have to be Valentines or birthday. I tack on some "fun" stuff at Gareth's request. Fun to him means high ticket items. So for "fun" I said I'd like a Dyson Animal vacuum this year. Yeah, the $600 vacuum. I wasn't completely serious, but he asked me what I wanted, so that's what I said. Well, my man came through. I got everything on my Christmas list but the cordless drill. But I'm not complaining. I was incredibly spoiled by Gareth and the great gifts I received from Mum, Phedre & Josh and Rhyana & Mat was the icing on a very, very sweet cake.

Holidays 2007

Celebrating Christmas with
My parents and their grandchildren, Jonah & Aubrey

Happy New Year from Joseph, Gen, Gareth, Grace & Steve
and Amanda, Leah & Sandra

With Mum, Mama & Pops...I swear they weren't drunk....

Me and my beloved Mama.

Celebrating with Gareth & Mum at the Dellosa's.

Just Another Survey

1. Three Names You Go By:
Gen, Embib & Babe

2. Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
A blue hoodie, t-shirt & pajama bottoms

Love Survey
You must answer every question TRUTHFULLY

1. Are you currently loving someone?
Absolutely....

2. Have you ever been given a rose?
Many dozens

3. What is your all-time favorite romance movie?
Hmmm...tough one. When Harry Met Sally was the first that came to mind.

5. Do you believe that everyone has a soul-mate?
I do. He or she may not come in the image or role you expected, but there is someone you'll connect with on so many levels, you can't perceive that person to be anything else but your soul-mate.

6. Whats your current problem?
Post-holiday blahs....

7. Have you ever had your heart broken?
You betcha.

8. Your thoughts of online or long distance relationships?
Online friendships, sure. That kind of long distance relationship can last. Online and long distance romantic relationships? It's not ideal. Love & romance needs presence and contact to be real and to flourish & grow. Phone conversations and instant messages only get you so far before you're just repeating yourself to keep the idea that a relationship exists.

9. Have you ever seen a friend as more than a friend?
Yup. Eventually he became my husband.

10.The person you're with right now, do you like spending time with them?
Yes.

11. How many kids do you want to have ?
As many as I can, but I will consider myself more than blessed if I can have even just one.

12. what is/are your favorite colors? Shades of blues & neutrals.

14.Do you believe you truly only love once?
Maybe for the lucky few. But I believe there'll be one or two or more, to whom you might give a greater part of your heart, but you can get it back if they don't treasure it enough and you'll get another chance to give it to someone more deserving.

15. Imagine you're 79 & your spouse just died, would you get re-married?
I don't think so but maybe, if I met someone at that time who inspires me enough to try marriage one more time.

16. how many times has your heart been broken?
Enough to appreciate what I have.

17. What song do you want played at your wedding?
I walked down the aisle to "The Prayer" played on the piano by my cousin, Joseph. My sister-in-law , Phedre, sang "Voi, Che Sapete" from Le Nozze de Figaro (the Marriage of Figaro) during the candle/cord/veil ceremony, and my Uncle Mario sang & played "The Lord's Prayer" with his guitar at it's conclusion. We marched out to our bagpiper, Seamus, playing "Scotland teh Brave." Our first dance was to Gary Valenciano's "How Did You Know."

18.Do you like anyone?
Silly question. I like a lot of people.

Happy New Year!

Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time.

• Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories.

• Share a funny story with someone whose spirits are dragging. A good laugh can be very good medicine.

• Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep.

• Pay a debt.

• Give a soft answer.

• Free yourself of envy and malice.

• Encourage some youth to do his or her best. Share your experience, and offer support. Young people need role models.

• Make a genuine effort to stay in closer touch with family and good friends.

• Resolve to stop magnifying small problems and shooting from the lip. Words that you have to eat can be hard to digest.

• Find the time to be kind and thoughtful. All of us have the same allotment: 24 hours a day. Give a compliment. It might give someone a badly needed lift.

• Think things through. Forgive an injustice. Listen more. Be kind.

• Apologize when you realize you are wrong. An apology never diminishes a person. It elevates him.

• Don't blow your own horn. If you've done something praiseworthy, someone win notice eventually.

• Try to understand a point of view that is different from your own. Few things are 100 percent one way or another.

• Examine the demands you make on others.

• Lighten up. When you feel like blowing your top, ask yourself, "Will it matter a week from today?"

• Laugh the loudest when the joke is on you.

• The sure way to have a friend is to be one. We are all connected by our humanity, and we need each other.

• Avoid malcontents and pessimists. They drag you down and contribute nothing.

• Don't discourage a beginner from trying something risky. Nothing ventured means nothing gained. Be optimistic. The can-do spirit is the fuel that makes things go.

• Go to war against animosity and complacency.

• Express your gratitude. Give credit when it's due—and even when it isn't. It will make you look good.

• Read something uplifting. Deep-six the trash. You wouldn't eat garbage—why put it in your head?

• Don't abandon your old-fashioned principles. They never go out of style.

• When courage is needed, ask yourself, "If not me, who? If not now, when?"

• Take better care of yourself. Remember, you're all you've got. Pass up that second helping. You really don't need it. Vow to eat more sensibly. You'll feel better and look better, too.

• Don't put up with secondhand smoke. Nobody has the right to pollute your air or give you cancer. If someone says, "This is a free country," remind him or her that the country may be free, but no person is free if he has a habit he can't control.

• Return those books you borrowed. Reschedule that missed dental appointment. Clean out your closet. Take those photos out of the drawer and put them in an album. If you see litter on the sidewalk, pick it up instead of walking over it.

• Give yourself a reality check. Phoniness is transparent, and it is tiresome. Take pleasure in the beauty and the wonders of nature. A flower is God's miracle.

• Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look 10 years younger.

• Don't be afraid to say, "I love you." Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world.

• If you have love in your life, consider yourself blessed, and vow to make this the best year ever.

- Ann Landers