Sayonara Coco...

It took us by surprise... Coco as our first pet made him the most wonderful. Coco will always be Coco, no pet will ever replace him being COCO. He brought so much sunshine in our home. As a Beagle, he's a rare kind. I've always wondered what will Coco look like once he has fully grown...

Losing Coco is like losing a special person in our hearts. I cried the most... I took care of him 24/7 when he was sick. I fed him like a child, I made it a point that he gets the nutrition he needs and his medicines on time. I tried so hard helping him to fully recover. But I failed... 

It was relieving to know that my son even took it more lightly than I did... I was scared that he might get badly affected, since Coco was a gift to him from his Dad. 

What caused Coco's sudden passing? It's Pneumonia. Puppies in general, are prone to all kinds of sickness. The first 3-6 months are known to be the critical stages. We thought that Coco was going to make it. Emo came...

Yes, one of the things that held me back from doing what I regularly do was taking care of a sick dog and nurturing a new one. It is an extraordinary experience and it's all worth it. I wake up at 4am in the morning just to clean their dog pan, because I want to make sure that they stay clean and if they're clean, there's less chance for infection. 

My husband and I got caught in some mixed situations that got us so confused. We even had doubts, because we were kinda observing the veterinarian too. There was a point when Coco's vet  was acting as if she was also clueless of Coco's case. It was really bad. Some pet owners advised us to see another vet provided, we get recommendation from Coco's original vet. Another, was the possibility that Coco was already sick when we bought him. Coco stayed with us for about a month. We were very excited because Emo was around. But Coco got terribly sick so they didn't have the time to play together. Kept the 2 dogs apart,  avoiding Emo to get sick too. The 2 dogs are far different from each other. Emo is a loud dog, he loves to run around and he's more playful. Coco barks, but not as loud, he runs but he 'd rather lay down beside his masters.

When Coco passed away, I gave him his pillow. I know that looking at Coco's pillow without him will only break my heart everyday... We never thought that losing a pet was going to be painful like we lost a family member... We went through the very same process, we took a moment of silence and remembered the days this dog made us happy. We grieved.

A friend told us: "That Coco may have been your Papa's (my late father-in-law) Dog from Heaven. He lent you guys Coco to show how much joy a dog can bring. But now, he needs Coco back..."

Our friends know how much we love our dogs. We inspired some of them to get their own Beagles. And it was a touching moment when they sent their comforting messages. It helped us with the healing process.

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 Emo is my husband's gift for me... Emo is a new phase in our lives.

We learned a lot from Coco.  I've moved-on with Emo. Like Coco, Emo is a pleasant dog. He amuses us, he makes me laugh by going after his own tail... Emo is a total angel.

To end, let me share a photograph I found online. I'm using it as my desktop wallpaper. Remember, when I shared that I'ved wondered how Coco will look like once all grown up? this photo also answered my thoughts on how Emo will also look.

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Well, this image made me smile today... What do you know... we were given a chance to see the future of our Beagles. It's like Coco and Emo still  together...

Hey, It's Us!

I just wanna treasure this picture. Even though we're not dressed in our most decent clothing, I want to remember this photograph because in 3 or maybe 4 months this, I just got to say, it's the only picture of me and my husband together in a photo. Not that we haven't been hanging out, we've been together all the time even with work in- between. When we get so in touch with our moments together as a family, everything else around us just fades away. My cameras been very useful  for my food blog but for personal use, they've  been laying in it's lair for the longest time ever recorded.

This was taken at BGC (Bonifacio Global City). We met up with some friends and it was nice of them to take a picture of us. It's a relaxing picture to look at. Not much borloloy (accessories), the wind was very cool for a warm, sunny, summer afternoon. Shorts, flip flops, flats, and loose shirts. It is going to be an amazing summer. Chill!

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Speaking of Summer, here's a preview of our upcoming getaway:

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The Cruzs will invade the beautiful, historical land of Baler, Aurora!

The Soul Of Epic Films

Why do I love Epic Films... The beauty of epic movies aside from the core of the story, is the moving factor we get that can be applied in real life. From an ordinary script to a scroll of  inspirational words. From a famous actor to a struggling individual delivering the other side that makes up an extraordinary life.

To name more of my favorite films:

Shawshank Redemption

The Prestige

Legends of the Fall

Empire of the Sun

Big Fish

The Green Mile

Schindler’s List

Interview With The Vampire (an epic for me)

 EPIC

A story centered on a heroic mission dealing with majestic adversities and achieving goals of unusual fulfillment filled with hope and dignity.

Majestic Adversities... it may sound and look that these 2 words obviously clash. But if you're going to think about it over and over again, such thing can exist. Adversities considered as morale  boosters that pushes and inspires man to go beyond his limit with his passion to help and to make a difference by breaking a certain barrier that nobody has done before.

Energy and persistence conquer all things. - Benjamin Franklin-

Life's Small Gifts

Living each day as it is and definitely, to the fullest... Life is what we make it.

A good night sleep,

A smile from a love one,

The innocent cry of an infant

Your child greets you good morning everyday

A pleasant hello from a total stranger,

A hug from a friend,

A pat on the back from a co-worker,

Laughter shared while having a good meal,

The scent of freshly brewed coffee,

An old lady crossing the street,

The tricks on driving an old car to help you get to work on time,

Being able to listen to an old favorite love song,

Chewing on your favorite candy,

Disappointments that makes us smarter

Moral support for a person in need,

Basket of fresh laundry with your favorite shirt at the bottom,

Your favorite shops on sale! 
Breaking Free, detachtment 

Marshmallows for breakfast
Guts

Blue Skies and windy afternoons

The relaxing sound of ocean waves

Dreaming and Reminiscing

Lifes Purpose - Quotes - Pictures

Much Needed Short Break

Let me put it this way, speaking of the word "much" March is going to be a busy month for me and my family. It already started last week that's why I wasn't able to make posts and even declined ads. Summer is here, we're preparing for activities with friends and families and of course, I find it healthy to skip a bit of what I do regularly. Blogging is an interest of mine that I consider as the most flexible. So far, it has been a smooth year for me in the blogosphere. Meaning: less pressure. Usually, I make it a point to post something at least once a day. Now, whenever I feel like it, that's the time I start doing something with my websites. 

Going back,  the 3rd month of the year is going to be spent with friends. Aside from our summer prep, we've been onto something big for the family. It's going to be huge and  definitely, a very exciting one. I will be dedicating my time for the next 2 months with my family and friends. 

Personally, I also have something for myself too. Can't wait for my much awaited make-over.

My Love For Ghost Adventures

It all started when my husband got hospitalized mid of last year. At home, we don't watch t.v as much. But we do have our favorite shows. Aside from watching news and documentaries, we stick with specific channels that air our shows. Other than that, the rest what cable t.v can give is history. At the hospital, my husband discovered a t.v show/ documentary on haunted places in America. We really didn't know anything about the show, it's history and how it started. Everyday, it was shown on AXN Beyond around 1 o'clock in the afternoon. For the first 3 days, we looked forward to an afternoon as we enjoy our lunch while watching Ghost Adventures.

After discovering Ghost Adventures, I went online and researched on this documentary. Ghost Adventures is made up of 3 individuals, namely:

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Zak Bagans- the lead investigator and host

Nick Groff - co-investigator and cameraman

Aaron Goodwin- equipment technician/ cameraman

They investigate locations that are reported to be haunted, hoping to find and document actual paranormal activities. It all started with Zak's life- changing experience with a lady ghost in Michigan. For every episode, a short story is told to give viewers the moving factor for every investigation made.

"My name is Zak Bagans. I never believed in ghosts until I came face to face with one. So I set out on a quest to capture what I once saw onto video. With no big camera crews following us around, I am joined only by my fellow investigator Nick Groff and our equipment tech Aaron Goodwin. The three of us will travel to some of the most highly active paranormal locations, where we will spend an entire night, being locked down from dusk until dawn. Raw; extreme; these are our Ghost Adventures."

On our third day in the hospital, they started airing re-runs of Ghost Adventures. We thought that they might have shown all the episodes and now, they're preparing for the new ones. So I went online again and searched for more episodes. Gladly, Ghost Adventures had over 3 Seasons and Season 4 was about to be shown in just a few weeks. To make the long story short, knowing that we have 3 seasons to feed our eyes and boggle our minds with, made it more exciting. Ghost Adventures became a nightly routine on Youtube. Our hospital stay became more pleasant, my husband got out of his bed. 

We were able to finish all 3 seasons via Youtube. Then last September, Season 4 started. Since it's the latest season, it's expected that it's going to be shown here in the Philippines maybe after a year or maybe not at all. Again, we relied on Youtube. 

Since then, Saturday night, has been our Ghost Adventures night. Believe it or not, Ghost Adventures replaced World of Warcraft Saturday.

Why we love Ghost Adventures:

The fact that these guys doesn't have "the gift" which they call the "sixth sense", made us love this show. We are basically watching 3 average individuals. Like us,  there are times when we just want to go ghost hunting, find answers by unveiling history itself and document it at the same time.  I grew up in an old house known to be haunted in our community. My grandparents owns this house, and there were sightings all the time. Even up to now. Well, that's why we know it's real because we would, or I would probably react exactly like how these guys from Ghost Adventures are taking the sudden sounds they hear, shadows and cold shivers. 

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A regular Joe would probably be in shock for a few seconds after seeing something, then after, that's the time he'll be able to put things together. Some would rather run away from whatever entity awaits them at the end of the hall. The approach is very realistic. They get results without mixing too much science and religion and that makes Ghost Adventures believable. The natural movement throughout the investigation makes it real.

It would be an honor and quite a memory to be able to meet and greet Zak, Nick and Aaron and to experience a lock down with them is going to be the highlight. But... It would truly be an unforgettable experience if you guys visit Asia. Please do, pretty please, please...

More on Ghost Adventures at: travelchannel.com

Where Did Coco Come From?

We bought Coco from Match Maker Pet Shop Pet Village, Tiendesitas. The Pet Village at Tiendesitas is one of the most trusted. In terms of breed, papers, and simply getting advises from expert breeders, pet owners and veterinarians. Coco's package came with the Vaccination Record and certificate Certified Pedigree,  Registration Certificate from the Asian Kennel Club Union of the Philippines Inc. Today, we visited his official Veterinarian. Well, the clinic is near our place and we've been reading good reviews about this pet clinic.

Here are some facts on Beagles:
*A Beagle is a small to medium sized dog. 

*Beagles are intelligent, and are popular as pets because of their size, even temper, and lack of inherited health problems. 

*The Beagle has an even temper and gentle disposition. Described in several breed standards as "merry", they are amiable and generally neither aggressive nor timid.-source-

Our Beagle came from the two- color variety, white and chocolate. His name Coco was derived from  Cocoa, because of his color similar of the Cocoa Powder. Coco is the perfect dog for the family. It brought so much positive energy around the house. Of course, I take care of his toilet needs too. But we're at the process of potty- training using doggie training pads. He has his small cage (inside the house), he has his own pillow and toys.  I know it's like taking care of a little child, but it's still different. That what makes Beagles lovable, they don't pull too much pressure from their masters.

Coco is a 4 month old male Beagle pup. It's best to get a puppy than a fully- grown dog. This way, you will be able to train it well, the pet will not have a hard time adjusting to his new home and owner. His activities everyday is compose of eating, sleeping and playing.

In terms of being playful, he's one sneaky little angel.  We love it everytime he runs away with our stuff, and he loves it, when we run after him. We like to cuddle with him while watching television too. It's all fun with Coco. We bring him anywhere. Of course places where pets are allowed. Here in the Philippines, we already have several malls that allow pets. Eastwood Mall, The Mall of Asia, Greenhills, Tiendesitas, High Street Fort Bonifacio. A walk in the park is a healthy way of taking care of a pup too.

Having a pet requires great responsibility  and training. Based on our experience and considering that Coco as our first, we relied so much on the instructions of the breeder. FYI: some breeders also look at clients if they're capable on taking care of pets. It is very, very important to gauge one's self for this task because these are living things we're talking about. On a lighter side, Coco's Veterinarian was gracious to provide us with more information and practical ways when it comes to health and maintenance. Will post about it soon...