Update

9:00 am

After I received a call from The Cook's office last Tuesday, I regularly checked his company's website for any news about the incident. And this morning, there is a press release about it.

There was an explosion in the engine room and unfortunately, one Pinoy seaman died and five others were injured. Those injured were airlifted to receive medical assistance while the rest are still on deck. I assume the Cook is one of those on deck since Mr. Avanzado reconrifmed that he is 100% safe and is medically fit.

Reading the news about the accident makes it real for me. It's like a concrete evidence that the accident really happened and some lives were compromised. I pray that Mr. Avanzado was telling the truth and not just saying things just to not let me worry. But I do worry. The Cook hasn't sent me a text message about his situation there. I'm still waiting and hoping for the good news.

9:46am

The Cook called. Finally!

He said there was indeed an explosion in the ship and his cabin was destroyed. All his stuff and paperworks, all gone. He was only able to save the clothes he is wearing. Good thing he was not inside the cabin when the explosion happened. I don't wanna think about what could've happen if...

He told me to call his office and inform them that his Messman was still in the ship beneath the rubble. He's assuming that the Messman has died since it's been three day since the explosion happened. Sadly, the Messman is the 1 casualty in the explosion, according to his office.

He is now on a tugboat to Dubai. Hopefully he and the rest of the crew will be home soon. I pray for their safe return. And to the family of the deceased, my prayers are with you.

When was the last time he called?

I received a phone call from The Cook's office this morning. The caller, Mr. Avanzado, informed me that the cargo ship where The Cook works in had an "accident" but he cannot say what kind of accident that was. But he assured me that The Cook is safe and there is no need for me to worry. And how does he propose me to do that? I've been texting the Cook but still no reply. Mr. Avanzado said that the area where the ship was stranded is a dead spot, meaning, no communication with the crew. Bummer... He assured me again that all of the crew have been removed from the ship and they are transferred somewhere (he still cannot say).

Based on the two calls I got from Mr. Avanzado, I assume that there was a machine malfunction in the ship (he said there is total blackout). The ship got stranded at the Arab Sea. All crew have been evacuated and will return home soon.

I hope and pray that all is well with The Cook and the rest of the crew. And hopefully he can send me a message.

Our Wedding Video

Finally!

Yoga Again, Naturally

After not practicing yoga for several months, I finally pushed myself to start doing yoga again last Saturday at our home in Batangas. I was thinking of enrolling in a class but since I haven't save for it yet, I decided to do yoga at home. I cannot do it in our apartment since there is an ongoing construction of other apartment units in our area, plus the road reconstruction. It would be a lungs nightmare if I dare practice yoga with all the dust inside the apartment. Not conducive for a yoga practice.

I did only 20 minutes of Ashtanga Yoga which I learned in my Yoga Manila classes last year. You can download the Ashtanga Basic Practice here. I promise myself to continue practicing every weekend at home where the air is cool and fresh and without outside distraction. Aside from the cackling hens, that is.

For those of you who would want to take classes, there are yoga studios in Manila which offer classes for beginners and intermediate students. Here are the ones I know:

Yoga Manila
Studios in Alabang, Ortigas and Makati
http://www.yogamanila.com/

Ananda Marga
#46 Maamo St.,
Sikatuna Village,
Quezon City
www.yogainmanila.org/

May Projects

For May, I've lined up things to do for this month. When I list things, I feel a strong obligation to do them, instead of just thinking about doing them.

1.Read the “Bonfire of the Vanities” by Tom Wolfe. I want to read one book a month so this is my Book of the Month. I bought this book in '98 and haven't read it. Yeah, I'm a book hoarder, especially when books are on sale. I always think that the books that I buy will be read, it may not be now, but I know that they will be later.

2.Do my cross-stitch project for at least two hours every weekend. Sad to say, the project has lost its novelty to me. But, I'm proud to say that I have done a quarter of the project.

3.Spend quality time with my girl friends in our Tagaytay trip (again). Maybe even eat lunch at the famous Sonia's Garden. (Am so looking forward to it!)]

4.Apply for a mutual fund. I've been mulling about it for so long that I need to take the plunge and do it.

5.Join a fun run.