Been to class lately?

I spent the last two days of the work week in class.
I’m preparing to take the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam and a group of us from work are taking a five day prep course.
Let me just start by saying that while it has been some time since I’ve been in a classroom, NOTHING has changed.

Remember the kid in class who had the answers to everything?!
Yup - we had two of them. There were only 13 of us in the course and we had two “Know-it-all/I-have-all-the-answers” types.
You know the ones, you’re one minute away from break, and he or she puts up her hand to make some comment or as some question that will require a 10 minute answer.
If you stand between me and food, you are not my friend!

In high school I was plagued with constantly getting caught talking. (surprise, surprise right?) I will never forget my favourite French teach, Monsieur Harkin. In every class I heard, “Mr. George and Miss Cherrie” followed by “please share what is so funny/interesting/etc. with the class.” Again, nothing has changed. I was asked a number of times what was so funny or what was causing me to smile. It wasn’t my fault my seat mate made a funny comment!

We still got homework...and I still didn’t do it. I mean really - there were FAR more important things to do on Thursday night. Sushi dinner, hockey and hello, game 6 of the World Series! (Congratulations St. Louis Cardinals!)

Me at St. Louis Cardinals Busch Stadium this summer

And when I made efforts to get to class EARLY on Friday morning to read those two chapters I was supposed to read for homework? I drove almost all the way to class (Starbucks in hand), when I realized I forgotten one of my two textbooks at home! UGH! Yup, I drove all the way home again to get it, and was late 15 minutes for class...

I can tell you that some things do change.

After each chapter we studied in class, we did a quiz from the textbook.
I have not changed the fact that I am the fastest test taker in the world. (Seriously, if I was given 3 hours for an exam, I would be done in 1.5 hours.)

But what has changed is that I now know how I learn.
And I am well aware that without having read the text, I will not pass the quiz.
So when I consistently scored 60-70% on the in class quiz, I did not freak out. I can’t say I was a perfectionist in school but a score like that, would have killed me...

It’s a gorgeous Sunday afternoon.
I should be reading the two 500 page texts in prep for the next three days of class.
But truly, there are far more interesting things to be done :)

Celebrating Life...in two different ways...

Today I celebrated life and death...literally.

On this cold and windy fall day we celebrated the life of Gerd Reisenecker. He was an old colleague of my father’s, WAY back in the day - before I was even born. They both worked at Volkswagen’s head office in Scarborough. Fast forward a couple of decades and Gerd owned Greenbelt VW in Markham, where our fam bought a number of vehicles from Gerd and his sales team.

And while the fam knew Gerd, my first real recollection of him was bartering in his office to have a cd changer put in my jetta. Who knew that a half Chinese girl could win a bartering contest with a very strong German. I got what I wanted, for the price that wanted, and Gerd told me I should join his sales team. A few sushi lunches and years later, this man’s time on earth has passed.

The sheer number of people who filled the hall this afternoon was a testament to the person Gerd was. But what struck me most, wasn’t all the accolades he collected, or the successes he had in business, it was the fact that this man clearly lived.

He lived a full life. Full of friendship and family and work. He played hard and worked hard. He had an amazing group of friends. You really could not want more from life. He could not want more from life.

And while listening to his friends speak of their time with him, I couldn’t help but think, I only knew a tiny sliver of Gerd. And I thought he was pretty cool...

When Gerd sold his dealership and started his retirement, he probably thought he had years and years of golf ahead of him. When I last spoke to him (when I had heard that his battle with cancer had become a difficult one), he was in good spirits and promised to take me out for sushi as soon as he got strong enough...I’ll remember to toast my next tuna sashimi and saki to Gerd.

And tonight we celebrated Kat’s Debut (18th Birthday)!

Talk about opposites huh?!
Yes and no.
Today was a celebration of life...endings and beginnings...

Kat is bubbly and sweet and full of life! Tonight’s celebration was a complete reflection of her. More than just celebrating Kat’s birthday, virtually the entire de las Alas (my mother’s family) clan was in attendance as my little cousin/godson Francis (at the tender age of 14) was part of Kat’s cotillion entourage!

Francis & debutante Kat

There was the dance of the 18 roses, the 18 candles, and (new to me) 18 wishes.
OH! and being a Filipino party, of course there were numerous musical performances (including one from Kat’s big bro), but the icing on the cake was certainly the cotillion!
The music was super fun and modern and the “kids” had a great time performing. (Did I mention Kat’s dress change?! She wore two dresses, they looked exactly the same, the first in white, the second in red. Both gorgeous) Kat’s parents made tear jerking speeches and Kat thanked everyone for making her celebration possible.

When it came time to finally hit the dance floor, I was dissed by my 9 year old sweet Bean...who said, “I’m gonna go dance with my friends, kay? See you later!”

Hmmm...9 more years til her debut...

Ever had a flauta?! They are delicious!

Hungry?!

North of Toronto?!

There is the BEST Mexican restaurant on

Main Street

in Newmarket.

Made in Mexico is a family owned and operated authentic Mexican restaurant and WOW is it ever muy delicioso!

Now if you know me, you know that I take food VERY seriously.

I’m a sit down, take your time, savour your food kinda girl.

I don’t like chain restaurants but of course I will indulge in the odd quarter pounder and yes, I am a Starbucks-a-holic…but when we’re talking food food – I get serious!

Lunch today for me was a Mexican dish called flautas.

WOW.

I had no idea what I was in for –

Basically I saw that it came with a mole sauce and decided to try it.

What came to me were five tortillas that were wrapped around chicken and onion then deep fried! (yum!) They are then topped with mole sauce. (double yum!)

These five little goodies came with two sides, I chose lime cilantro rice and refried beans.

My only regret is that I did not take photo of this dish before I dove in.

Forget what you think you know about Mexican food.

We are not talking about that chain restaurant that smoothers everything in process cheese, adds nachos and makes you think you’re eating Mexican…

The food is delicious, the ingredients are fresh, and everything is homemade!

(I was told today that the mole sauce contains 52 different spices and they make it there from scratch!)

The staff at Made in Mexico are friendly.

The music is upbeat.

The atmosphere is lovely.

They’re closed on Mondays and Tuesdays! Open Wednesday through Sunday starting lunch at 11:30am.

Run to Made in Mexico! You will not regret it!

Say hi to Rowena and Fernando! Tell them Cherrie sent you!

You know NOTHING!

So my mom asked me to help her write a “wish” for a debut (a traditional Filipino “coming out” party for 18 year old girls). Somehow I’m the family writer. Dad needs a speech. Mom needs a prayer. Brother wants me to edit something for his business...I write.

But this “wish” has me thinking.
What would I tell my 18 year old self?

To be blunt and straight with myself?
This is what I’d say...
You know NOTHING.

 (with my bro...he graduated from grade 8, me from grade 12)

You think you know everything.
You think you have life planned to a tee.
My 18 year old self had a plan

• 2 years of undergrad, straight to Law School
• Articling year? Get Married.
• Babies before 30.

Ohhh...18 year old me, you knew NOTHING!

That OAC French class you dropped because you knew Madame would not give you an A?
Mistake. Big Mistake.
You will learn the “hard” way that languages count!
And the little French that you knew then, will get you out of a big pickle on the TGV trains in France.

at the Beatles Museum in Liverpool, England

That plan you had for a shortened stay at both high school and university, followed by law school?
Try 4.5 years of high school, a stint at a bible school in England, and an undergrad education that included 3 schools...including a year abroad in Israel...And oh yeah, you go to grad school too!
2 degrees + 2 certificates = a whole lotta school debt

Marriage and Children
So far, I have not met Mr. Perfect for me.
I am the proud proud owner/mommy to the cutest, sweetest, and (lately) funniest puppy though. Luckily my parents, bro and friends think the same of sweet Griffey. He has taken his rightful place in our lives and we are thankful.

So 18 year old self...
You know absolutely postively nothing!
But you have a great knowledge base and solid family and friends.
You will enjoy learning everything you can possibly learn...only to find out that there’s still SO much more to learn and you’re going to love every minute of it!

And oh yeah...I'm STILL learning...

 with one of my best friends to this day, George, at my debut...

Lucky Canadian Girl: Griffey wakes up the neighbourhood

Lucky Canadian Girl: Griffey wakes up the neighbourhood: My dog Griffey is the source of all joy in my life...okay maybe not ALL joy, but a lot of it. And the joy he gives does not end with me, ...

Griffey wakes up the neighbourhood

My dog Griffey is the source of all joy in my life...okay maybe not ALL joy, but a lot of it. And the joy he gives does not end with me, it is almost endless. He is like a fountain of pure good and sweet and shares it with everyone he comes in contact with.

I’m not sure if it was joy he shared the other night on our walk, but it was kinda funny.

It was already dark and the streets were quiet when we set out on our walk. We turned the corner and ran into Buddy (a big beautiful golden doodle - read 5x the size of Griffey).  When the two saw each other, Griff instantly went into play mode, doing a bit of a downward dog and bowing at Buddy. When Buddy didn’t follow suit, Griff let out a little bark. Some sniffing ensued while Buddy’s owners and I chatted.

This was not suiting Griffey’s need to play and he let out another playful bark. At this point we thought it best to go on our separate walks. But the damage had already been done...

“Cherrie? Are you outside with Griffey?” said a little voice. It was our neighbour Kelly. In first grade, she needed to be in bed already, but heard Griff’s bark outside her bedroom window.

As I told Kelly to go back to sleep, a light went on on their porch and Meg (Kelly’s mom)  opened the door and asked if Griffey wanted to play with Dakota. Of course! Dakota is Griffey’s girlfriend, a very pretty lab, shepherd, collie mix, and yes, at least 4x the size of Griffey. The two ran up and down the boulevard a few times, chasing each other when both Kelly and her older sister Natalie appeared at the front door.

As much as we all wanted to play and as much as Meg and I enjoy the time to catch up, it was bedtime for the girls and they all went back inside...We probably made it 10 feet before another door opened. This time it was Denyse and coton de tulear Rocket. Rocket has this amazing talent of hearing Griffey any time he is nearby...and barks incessantly at his owners to let him out. So they came out to say hello and Denyse and I had a nice visit.

Ohhh Griffey...so it may not have been joy that was shared the other night on the walk. But he sure did bring out all the neighbours to say hello and I am grateful for that. Because without Griffey I’m not sure I would have met everyone that I have in the neighbourhood, and would not have made such great friends.

Thanks Griffey!


Griffey History
I got to choose between Griffey and his brother when they were just 5 weeks old. At that point he was so small he fit into the palm of my hand. My brother wouldn’t even hold him for fear of dropping the sweet little thing. His little heart beat so quickly as I took him from the breeder. But soon calmed down and relaxed into my hands as I held him close to me. We were instantly bonded to one another.

I toyed around with other baseball players names before I met Griffey that day. Moseby and Carter made the top of the list as well. But when my brother Christopher and I met him, we knew he was a Griffey.

OH! We are asked anytime we take Griff anywhere in the city...Here are the FAQ’s of Griffey

1. What kind of dog is he? He’s a Maltese-Poodle, a Maltipoo
2. His colour is so unique, did he come that way? Yes, he is naturally a reddish brown, I did not dye his hair!
3. Is this as big as he gets? Yes. He is fully grown at 16lbs and is even a little big for is breed.
4. Where did you get Griffey from? I got him from the same breeder (in Aylmer, ON) as my former neighbours Neil and Tina. They have two maltipoos, India and Jasper (10lbs each). Neil’s brother has Griffey’s baby brother Guinness (the runt of the litter). Neil and Tina are Griffey’s godparents.
5. Griffey is an interesting name? Griffey is named after Ken Griffey Jr., my favourite baseball player

Griffey at 5 weeks old

Griffey waiting for the subway at St. Andrew Station