6 days to go

Dear Mama,

    6 more days to go before our Area contest and I'm stressing myself to death. I'm not even sure if I can make it to that day. Anyway, I hope everything will be okay. There are still a lot things to iron out, though.

    Angel and I attended a bookbinding workshop, Mama. She enjoyed the event. I will be looking for more activities like that so she can go out and enjoy, at the same time meet other people.

    It's so cold these past few days, Mama. As they say, the ice are melting in the North Pole.

    I wish I can hug you right now, Mama. Not just because it's cold.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                    Daddy

 

Tired

 

Mama, I'm tired.

Sorry. I have no one to tell this to.

Someone tried to break in

Dear Mama,

    Someone tried to break in our house last night. I already felt it this morning, when I woke up I found the window of my room wide open. No wonder I felt so cold when I woke up, Mama. I asked our children but none of them opened the window. I tried to dismiss the thought, Mama. It was around 4:30 a.m. 

    As I went the back to get take out the trash as I usually do every morning, I saw my cutter and pair of pliers outside near the door of the dirty kitchen. I was surprised because these were in the garage in front. Again, I asked the children but none of them used the cutter and pliers, neither did they put them at the back. I went to see the container at the garage, and saw the other cutter also displaced from its original position.

    This strengthened my suspicion, Mama. But I'm still trying to fight it. So, Edgar and I went to work. Around 10:00 a.m. Ralph sent a message in our group chat, and he sent a photo. It was something that looked like a homemade lockpick that he found in the garage, in front of our door. I felt that confirmed what I felt - someone indeed tried to break into our house last night! And I'm sure it wasn't just one person, Mama.

    This might have not happened if we had a dog. Since the death of Fluffy, G, and Loki last year I never took a dog anymore, Mama. I felt I won't be able to take care of them. Now, it looks like I really need a dog.

    I'm getting paranoid now, Mama. If anything happened to us here, no one will help us. Nobody like us here, Mama.

    I don't even know if it's safe to sleep tonight.

    I wish you were here, Mama.

                                                                                        Daddy

And then...

Dear Mama,

    We were able to celebrate Angel's birthday yesterday. We ate at an unli-steak restaurant just within our neighborhood, Mama. We were only able to eat 2 steaks each, which were thin mind you. But we also ate other food like chicken, fries, and spaghetti.  It was Ralph's treat for Angel, Mama.

    Now, I don't know what happened but there seem to be some tension inside the house. I think we really need to move from here, Mama. There's been too much negative energy that perhaps we have accumulated through the years. Probably, because of me.

    Ralph is still not here, but he's on the way home, Mama. He reported at their office today. He'll be working until Friday, and Monday next week he'll be starting in his new company. It was fortunate that the new work came right in  time, Mama. I hope he will grow there. I wish all our children will grow in their career and profession this year, Mama. So that they can prepare for the future.

    I guess that will be all for now, Mama. I miss you.

    I love you, Mama.

                                                                                                    Daddy

Back to work

Dear Mama,

    Tomorrow, it will be back to work me. After 3 weeks of Christmas break, we'll go back to work, Mama. Which is good because we are not paid on our break unless they fall on a holiday, or I still have vacation leave credits left. Unfortunately, I consumed all my VL credits last year because of Toastmasters. I thought the Christmas break will be offset against the Sick Leave, but I thought wrong. That's why I received almost no salary last 30th of December, except for the holidays during that time which I believe were only 3 days. For January, I don't know if the first week will be offset against my new leave credits for the year. That's already 5 days deducted for me, Mama. 

    I guess it's lesson learned for me, Mama. Maybe I was surprised because it's the first time I actually consumed my VL credits. Should I file for sick leave and pretend to be sick instead, Mama? Anyway, I'll just move on from that episode in my work. It's one minor details. I've only 4 years to retirement, anyway.

    I guess that will be all for now, Mama. On Tuesday we'll be celebrating Angel's birthday. Wish you can join us.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                        Daddy

Preparing for our meeting

Dear Mama,

    I'm preparing for our Toastmasters meeting right now. I still have more than an hour  but I wanted to make sure my slides are all okay because I am the Table Topics Master. It will be via Zoom, Mama. That's why I need time for some technical preparations. I hope it will be quiet here tonight, Mama. 

    Ralph received a job offer from one of the company he is applying in. It's a good deal except that it's a nightshift. Although it is a work-from-home set up, Mama. So, I guess that will be just fine. He is still looking at his other options, Mama. Still waiting for the results of the other companies so he can weigh in on what's best for him.

    Edgar is better now, Mama. He just came home from work. Although he is still taking medicines. Angel is sleeping right now. Angel and I went out yesterday, Mama. We went to the mall, just the two of us. She needed to convert her postpaid mobile phone line to prepaid. After that, we just walked around the mall. We also had our photos taken in a photobooth, Just like the Photo-Me we had during our time, except it is more expensive, Mama. Then we had ramen before we went home.

    I guess that will be all for now, Mama. Next week will be Angel's birthday. I hope I'll have funds then so we can celebrate her birthday. I wish you can join us, Mama. We really miss you, Mama. I really miss you.

    I love you, Mama.

                                                                                                Daddy

Coping with the new year

Dear Mama,

    It's the third day of the new year, and aside from our family time on the first day nothing much has happened. It feels like were just coping in the new year. Edgar feels better now, although he went to the clinic for a check up. He did not work today, Mama. Ralph is working now. He'll be working until next week with his company. He still has not found a new company to work on, but he's been having lots of job interviews lately. Hopefully, he'll find a new job before January ends. Angel is out now, Mama. She said she'll just take a look for some items she might need.

    Lately I've been feeling weak, Mama. I don't know if it's just in my head or it's because I've been just lying down lately. Also, I feel dizzy every now then. Not sure if it's vertigo. There was a time it was quite strong, although mostly just mild dizziness. 

     Next week it will be Angel's birthday, and I still have no plans, Mama. Although I already bought her gift as I mentioned in my last letter. I hope we can come up with something, soon.

    It will be a busy first quarter for me in Toastmasters, Mama. As you know, I am an Area Director now. First, there will be the preparation for the Area Contest this January. I still have no sponsors, and I don't know how get one, Mama. I don't even know what I need to do! Then the actual Area Contest in February. Then the Division contest in March, which I still have to support, of course.

    Anyway, just trying to write something to distract this anxiety which is building up again inside. I really wish you were still here, Mama.

    I miss you.

    I love you, Mama.

                                                                                                            Dadddy

First day out

Happy new year, Mama!!!

    It's already January 2, the second day of 2024. Yesterday, we had our first day out, Mama. Upon the invitation of Ralph, we had our lunch at Denny's in SM Clark, Mama. I was hesitant because Ralph is in between jobs and still has no assured employment as of now, but I really wanted to go out as I've been through a lot anxieties lately.

    After lunch, of course we walked around the mall to pass time. We were able to find a mobile phone that is affordable but with good specifications as per Angel. Since it was on sale, I closed my eyes and used my last savings to buy it for Angel, telling her that it is my gift for her upcoming birthday next week. At least I already have a gift for her, Mama. Something that she likes and she can use especially in her online endeavors. 

    Then we had a little refreshment before we went home at around 6:00 pm, Mama. Last night, Ralph went out to meet his high school friends. It was an overnight event, and he's still not home right now, Mama. He hasn't replied to my message yet this morning, I hope he's fine. Edgar, on the other hand, had fever last night, Mama. I don't know why, he was well when we were still in the mall. He still sick now. He's taking medicines 'round the clock, Mama. I'm sorry he got sick again, Mama.

    Angel is still sleeping now, although we already had our breakfast. She slept after our breakfast, while Edgar is resting now, not sure if he is sleeping. I'll just be buying ready-to-eat food for our lunch, Mama. I no longer know how to plan to cook since Edgar took care of our kitchen. 

    This is how our 2024 has gone so far, Mama. Please help me take care of Edgar. Tomorrow, both he and Ralph will be going back to work. Yes, Ralph will still be working until the 15th, Mama. I hope he gets hired in a new job soon.

    I guess that will be all for now, Mama. Until my next letter.

    I miss you, Mama.

    I love you.

                                                                                                    Daddy