Ramblings

What a stressful day. The work I had to do took longer than I expected and I ended up still doing it while the kids were taking their nap. Am going out of town for the next two days and I still have to pack, buy stuff I need for the trip, get the kids ready for mass, wrap a gift, and my nails are a mess.

So here I am with gunk on my face and instead of fixing last minute things, I am writing. And visiting my bloggerfriends. Can you tell I am giving myself a time out? The kids are all around me, alternately yelling at each other, watching a Disney movie, making a mess, and trying to punch letters on my laptop. What can I say? They're very energetic. Weird, but it's like I'm in a bubble. I notice them at the edge of my consciousness, but I am still calmly writing.

Forgive me if I'm rambling. I just need to do this now. I am worried about tomorrow. I know I will miss the kids and the hubby. I hate sleeping in strange places. I hate missing the kids' big school evaluation tomorrow.

And now I remember the face gunk is only supposed to stay on for 1 minute. Darn it! Ok, deep breath. What's another minute when it's been on for the last 10, right?

(*Smile* I just asked my daughter Faith to kiss me and she didn't even hesitate despite the white gunk on my face. I just love her!)

Now she's putting (and removing) stickers on my shoulder and climbing up my back. That's my cue. I gotta go wash my face before it peels off.

10 minutes later...

Whew, I still have a face I can show in public. Note to self: follow directions on labels of cosmetic products.

And I am still rambling...

Kids are wrestling and trying to bury each other with pillows while screaming at the top of their lungs (I can tell they're getting on their dad's nerves :D). Think I'll go and join them and bury myself under the pillows. Or maybe scream a little. Yep, things are looking up.

Whoopee!

Oh wow. One whole Saturday free. Kids are with my parents out of town (again) and won't be back till tomorrow. I've got a bit of work to do but nothing that I won't finish in a couple of hours. A movie date with my husband and some time to leisurely go around the mall to scope out more possible Christmas gifts (I'm almost doooone!) and a nice dinner out. What more could I ask for?

I'm supposed to be working but I'm going crazy in bloggerworld, visiting my favorite bloggers and some new ones. I rarely get the chance to visit other blogs and read so this has been a real treat for me. So to the ones I've visited -- i'm saying hi again.

I've also gotten word from my fellow bookworm friend whom I haven't personally met yet (but I love her already!) that the 11 books she's found for me were finally delivered and I will be getting them on Friday! Heaven. I don't think I can wait that long. It's like Christmas already!

I'ts been a really lazy morning. Gotta get to work and finish. Only...I miss the kids. (I'm pathetic, I know)

Conversations with Poop (Revisited)

This was one of my earliest posts. I read it again while I was going through my archives and thought I'd post it.


The absurdity of what happens in the course of being a mom sometimes astounds me. Like last night's conversation with my three year old son, Joshua. He was on the potty with me holding him up and keeping him company.

Me: So, are you going to make poopoo now?

Josh: It's coming, mommy, it's coming.

Me: (after 2 minutes) is it coming out already?

Josh: talk to my poopoo mommy so it'll come out.

Me: (to the poop) Hey poopoo, come out now before I give you time out!

Josh: (as the poop) Yes, mommy. Do not give me time out.

Me: So, is it coming?

Josh: It's eating chocolate. (he ate 1 piece of chocolate after dinner)

Me: Oh, ok. (after 2 minutes) is it coming out na? (I was getting a little tired of hanging out in the bathroom by now)

Josh: yes, it's brushing it's teeth.

Believe me, this was an actual conversation. And quite a lengthy one, mind you. I didn't include the references to hatching and other whatnot. And let's not even talk about the time I actually SANG to the poop. (to the tune of twinkle, twinkle little star)

That is what I go home to every single day. Different levels of absurdity but who cares? It's one of the perks of being a parent. Free comedy entertainment to chase the stress away. Now, if I'm feeling generous and only if you've been a good boy/girl, I just might invite you one of these days to come over and have a conversation with the naughty B_og_r.

Boxing anyone?

Violent sports have never been my interest at all. As opposed to Jun who adores watching boxing and the for real type of wrestling which never fails to amuse me every time I catch a glimpse of it on TV. He loses his concentration once I start making brokeback mountain like jokes ( hello! almost naked men all tangled up on the screen -- how can you pass up something like that??!!!!). My only request is for him not to watch those things where the children can see them. I don't think I can survive it if Joshua starts to seriously wrestle -- he's too rambunctious already as it is.

But yesterday, that's another story. I don't think I ever enjoyed a boxing match as much as Manny Pacquiao's fight against Morales. It was inspired...much better than the Rocky movies (do you know there's gonna be a fifth installment??!! Duh!). I never thought I'd say this but the fight yesterday left me disappointed that it ended at Round 3. I was just really getting into it (actually screaming my head off) when it was over.

I also never realized how good looking Morales is -- in an earthy, boxer type of way. (ha ha!) Can't wait for the next boxing match. I think I've been converted.

Here it is!

Ok Ces, you dared me. So here it is. Told you I could do it. Freakish huh?

Friday 13

There are pictures and there are pictures. For this installment of Friday 13, I chose photos that are close to our hearts. Not because they're perfect. These aren't even the kinds of pictures you keep in an album to show your guests. But I love them anyway -- they are snapshots of our occasional (or everyday?) insanity.

1. Joshua was a little over a month old here and when Jun took this, we couldn't stop laughing at how scary he looked. We were trying to get a photo of him to send to our friends through email. Needless to say, we decided to wait a couple more weeks before taking another photo.

2. I loved the look on Joshua's face here. I think my sister (whom he adores) came out of the house just when the photo was snapped. (I also think he kinda looks like a girl here)

3. Jun took this photo while Josh was in the middle of doing number 2.

4. Likewise, this is Faith, also doing the number 2. (and looking like a boy)

5. Taken during my birthday last year and Joshua made a face.

6. So of course, it was my turn.

7. We couldn't get a decent smile out of Joshua that night. This was one of the mildest faces he made.

8. Um, I just thought it would be fun to make faces in front of the mirror while I was distracting Joshua from flicking toothpaste in the mirror. I had to help Josh a little bit with this one.

9. I really don't remember this one. It's part of a series. I could tell Jun was having fun here.

10. Fooling around in the hospital while Faith was confined with Kawasaki disease. It was like a mini party every night when my parents visited with my siblings and Joshua. We never had to settle for just hospital food.

11. Taken only last weekend. Faith was fooling around as usual. I did not, repeat, DID NOT, teach her to do this. She's perfectly capable (and frighteningly proficient) at coming up with her own faces. Jun is constantly amazed.

12. This is how we are at night before bed. The kids just don't leave me alone. That's me (taking my turn at scrabble) with Joshua squishing me while watching cartoons. Faith's actually lying on top of me. Jun just had to take a picture.

13. Finally, I realized almost all of the pictures are of me and the kids so I thought of including one of Jun. This is NOT because he is the only normal one in the family.

Living in constant fear

Last Saturday, as I was preparing Joshua's stuff for an overnight trip with my parents and sisters, it hit me again. That paralyzing fear I feel every time one or both of my children go places without either me or their dad. It's completely irrational and ridiculous, I know but I can't help it. It's the constant fear of losing them. I torture myself with thousands of scenarios running through my mind. And all the while, I stroke and kiss and hug Joshua, constantly telling him I love him and I'll miss him, even if he'll only be gone for a day. Maybe he senses my anxiety, for he looks at me strangely, then takes my face between his hands and tells me he's going to be allright. And I'm still thinking, what if I never see him again? How can I bear it?

Then I do what I always do everytime this happens. I ask Jun, "He's going to be ok, right?". And his response is always the same. "Yes, he will." I keep quiet then and bring Joshua to the car where everyone was waiting. I kiss and hug him goodbye and then I pray. I once asked Jun in a fit of depression and anger after Joshua's birth because Josh wasn't well and couldn't go home for a month, "Why are you ok? How come you're not as sad as me?" His answer was so simple yet it struck me speechless, and, I admit, with a little bit of shame. He said, "Because you have to believe that your prayers will be answered." And so in times like these, I ask him for reassurance but all the same, I don't think I completely breathe until I see Joshua again the next day. My Dad said the first thing Joshua says when he wakes up the next morning was, ''Grandpa, can we go home now? I miss my mommy."

It's a terrible way to live, I know but I have a feeling it will always be this way for me no matter how grown up they become. I mentioned in a previous post that having children means having your heart walking around out of your body. And while it means living with constant fear and worry, it also means experiencing the greatest joy. And I wouldn't exchange it for anything in the world.

This Guy's in love with you

I'm obsessed with this song. It's by Burt Bacharach and it's an old song I recently discovered in one of those Starbucks compilations revived by a group called Fastball. I've been playing it over and over for two weeks now. It made my heart catch when I heard the lyrics and of course I immediately thought of the love of my life (um, yes Jun, that would be you). It goes like this:

You see this guy
This guy's in love with you
Yes, I'm in love
Who looks at you the way I do
When you smile
I can tell
We know each other very well
How can I show you?
I'm glad I got to know you cause

I heard some talk
They say you think I'm fine
Yes I'm in love
And what I'd do to make you mine
Tell me now, is it so?
Don't let me be the last to know
My hands are shaking
Don't let my heart keep breaking cause

I need your love
I want your love
Say you're in love
In love, with this guy

If not I'll just die

Jun is currently learning it on the guitar so he can sing it to me. Ain't that sweet?

5 things -- People Collection List

My friend Maria tagged me for this meme. Took me some time to think about what to write (that I haven't shared before) but I thoroughly enjoyed the process.

1. I am a fix-it person. I enjoy assembling toys and furniture. The more nuts and bolts there are, the more I like them. I've assembled cribs, toys (love those Ikea ones that have lots of parts!), and once Jun and I raced to assemble two bedside tables for our apartment. He finished first but the back part was inverted, HA!

2. I am an introvert. People call me a liar to my face when I say this but it is true. While I can be animated and talkative around people, it usually drains my energy. When I was younger, I used to bring a book during family parties and would be perfectly happy just sitting in a corner. I thought it was shyness at first but the word didn't exactly fit. It was only during a work session facilitated by my friend Lara that I finally realized what it was.

3. I love to read. I would go crazy without anything to read. I learned how really read when I got curious about the Tagalog comic books that our maids used to read and leave around the house. There was no stopping me after that. I own over 2,000 books -- don't know the exact number since I stopped making catalogs after reaching 1,000. That's Josh in the picture, by the way.

4. I can bend all my fingers backwards and make them touch the back of my hand. This totally freaks (and grosses!) people out. For obvious reasons, I have refrained from posting a picture of this. Just take my word for it.

5. I like writing by hand. Anything that involves or needs writing -- making lists, filling out forms, signing documents -- I'm your man. Completely baffles my husband. He bought me a palm pilot which I seldom used except to play games with.

Who's counting?

My husband and I recently celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary. Hard to believe it's been six years. Sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday when Jun lost his wedding ring during our honeymoon. But more often than not, it feels like we've been together forever that it's hard to imagine my life before I met him. Hmmm...now that I think about it, my life before Jun consisted of reading in bed during weekends and Friday nights, cursing the fact that I did not have a boyfriend. Yeah, call it pathetic if you must but I dare any single girl (or guy) out there to deny that the single life is mostly spent on the pursuit of (or the search for) THE ONE. I'll be honest and admit I wasn't one of those independent single girls who are totally ok about being single.

I've had my share of dates from hell, lousy pick-up lines and met enough date 'em and leave 'em types to last me a lifetime. It was at the end of a dating frenzy that I finally decided to put a stop to the madness. I was tired of the never ending cycle of dating a guy, the getting to know you better phone calls, and the effort to be interested in what they were saying. And it was in the middle of the self imposed exile from the dating scene that I found him...or did he find me?? (Actually, our friends set us up -- such good friends I have! -- thank you! mwah!).

If I had a glimpse of how much fun married life was going to be, I would have gotten married when I was 16 (and given my parents a heart attack!). Seriously, I had my own pre-conceived notions of what being married was like (all in the romance department, of course!) but what never figured into my girlish fantasies was the fun. And if someone were to ask me to describe what my life is like with Jun, I would have to say that we laugh a lot -- at ourselves, at each other, at the kids. We'd laugh till tears ran down our faces and then start all over again.

Sigh! I just have the best time when I'm with him.

Sleeping Arrangements

For the past one and a half years, the whole family’s been sleeping on the floor. It’s the only way I can sleep with a measure of soundness without the fear of hearing the sickening sound of a small body hitting the floor. Every night, we put together two mattresses so the four of us can fit. I told Jun he can continue to sleep on the bed but he insists on sleeping on with us.

We started doing this after Faith fell from the bed when she was around six months old. She’d been sleeping in a crib but after an exhausting night where she kept waking up, I finally transferred her to the bed at 6:30am, and wedged the crib right next to the bed as a precaution. Joshua was still asleep and Jun had moved to the couch when I got up. I had planned to stay awake but I dozed off so to make a long story short, Faith woke up, crawled all around the bed and I was slammed awake by a big thud. We were lucky there was no (lasting) harm done except for her crying bloody murder (thank goodness for wood floors!).

It’s actually more convenient since I never have to worry about anyone falling off if they wake up before I do (which is usually the case). However, they never seem to want to just walk over to where the toys are and play quietly until I wake up. Oh no, they just like to drive me crazy. When Joshua wakes up, he’ll either want to engage in conversation in a loud voice or tell me he needs to make poopoo (still in a loud voice). Faith used to poke me in the face (and shove her finger up my nose). Sometimes, they’d plop down on your tummy and take a horsey ride or, ask for milk at which point I either give up and get up or, tell them to ask their Daddy (teehee!).

Lately, Faith’s been keeping me awake again. For the past five days, she’s been waking up between 2-4 am, coughing up a storm. It’s the dry kind of cough, making me suspect an allergy. Poor dear, she’d keep shifting her position – trying to get back to sleep only to be beset by another round of coughing. She also tries to sleep with half her body draped over the couch only she keeps sliding back to the mattress (it’s actually funny to watch whenever she does this – I’m so rotten to find something funny in all this!). I know there’s nothing much I can do, except to rub her back and chest and pray for it to stop. Time to bother the pediatrician.

I figure this is what I get for sleeping till noon when I was single and BK (before kids). I warned Jun when we got married that he would have to fend for himself in the morning because there is no way I am getting up before 11am on a weekend. Good thing he used to just take oatmeal for breakfast.

So most days, I go around with half my brain fried from lack of sleep. Who knew a human being could still function – coming up with coherent things to say at work, running errands, driving – with less than four hours of sleep? Think about it.

In the meantime, I think I’m going to ….zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Friday 13

1. I have finally organized our closet! Of course, I’ve only done the folded clothes portion and managed a “mini-purge”. Not quite as ruthless as Ces was but at least there’s a bit more space until the next time I go shopping. Ha ha!

2. Fixed my shoe storage system – now I can find exactly what I want to wear without opening half a dozen shoe boxes in the morning and sneezing to death from all the dust.

3. I realized my feet have grown humongous after having two babies. I went from a size 7 to a size 9. The only thing good about this is that my size is always the one available in a shoe sale. So there!

4. Replenished my “To be read” book pile. It used to have 50 books which I’ve whittled down to around 20 and then it’s up to 40 again. Yay!

5. I’ve submitted all the requirements for my kids’ big school application. Now all I have to do is keep my fingers crossed and pray that they get accepted.

6. In light of the past typhoon which caused a lot of damage to the steel structures where advertising billboards are posted, the MMDA are taking it out. Traffic’s been horrendous the past few days, I’ll be glad when everything’s back to normal.

7. I won the most recent scrabble game with Jun. Our current game’s almost done – only 17 tiles left and I’m around 30 points behind. Help!

8. The kids’ trick or treat costumes this year have been settled. Joshua is a recycled Superman (thank goodness the costume still fits) and Faith is a fairy (c/o of my aunt who so thoughtfully sent over a fairy costume from the US),

9. I’ve also fixed the kids’ closets – only the toys and old clothes left to organize for donation on Christmas.

10. Apart from the Halloween costume, my aunt also sent Ghirardelli chocolates! I’m in heaven.

11. It feels strange to be in a new office with a lot of new faces. I’m slowly getting used to it but I miss my old officemates terribly.

12. My aunt also sent a black robe with a cowl for Joshua which is a bit too big for him. Last night my dad put it on along with a freaky shark hat and went outside to the terrace to scare the maids.

13. Only 75 days till Christmas!

Not my day

Jun and I met up with a friend of mine and her boyfriend for lunch at Rockwell last Saturday. I brought the kids with us – figured it’s been a while since we spent time at the mall just chilling. After lunch, browsed (and shopped!) at Zara where we said goodbye to my friend and we proceeded to the bookstore.

After paying for my books, I went straight to the Customer Service counter to borrow a pen and fill out some raffle coupons while Jun brought Joshua to the men’s room. Faith and I were heading out of the bookstore when I realized that I left my purchases at the cashier. Whew!

We passed by a display of Porsches and of course Joshua thought it was Lightning McQueen. I placed the shopping bags in a chair by the display while the kids posed with the cars. I was just about finished with grocery shopping half an hour later when Jun asked where the bags were. Whoops... I left it in the car display. Jun hurriedly went back for it while I paid for the groceries. After paying, I spied Jun walking back and was relieved to see he got the bags back. We were on our way to the parking lot when our yaya pointed out the grocery shopping bag I forgot on the counter. Ay talaga! I was worse than my grandmother. And the piece de resistance, I was laughing my head off at something Jun said while we were walking back to the car when I tripped and fell on my left knee. I was so stunned at finding myself on the floor that it took several seconds before I got up. I now have a large bruise.

Really, when it rains, it pours.

Friday 13: Doing the Movies

Oooh! That time of the week again. I’m really thankful to Maria and KJ for initiating this Friday 13 thing. It’s something I look forward to every week. My last one was about books, this time, my friend Irene got me to do one about movies. Of course, I had to add a few more to get to 13. So here goes:

1. The last movie you saw in a theatre – My Super Ex-Girlfriend.

2. Current release movie you still want to see - Brokeback Mountain.

3. Last movie you rented/purchased for home viewing (and actually watched). I have to add this last part because I buy DVDs and never get to watch them. So for this one, that would be Underworld II.

4. Movie that made you laugh out loud – My Super Ex-Girlfriend. That first bedroom scene was hilarious!

5. Movie that made you cry – Passion of the Christ. I have yet to meet someone who did not get affected by this movie.

6. Movie that was a darling of the critics but you didn’t think lived up to the hype – American Beauty. Really now, the actors were good but the premise and the message wasn’t good enough for and Oscar Best picture.

7. Movie that you thought was better than what the critics thought – Can’t think of any

8. Favorite Pinoy movie – That would be the second part of the first Shake, Rattle and Roll movie – the one with Herbert Bautista and the manananggal. AHAHAHAHAHAHA!

9. Favorite animated movie – The Emperor’s New Groove (super funny!) and Beauty and the Beast.

10. Favorite movie musical – Phantom of the Opera. I didn’t think they would be able to replicate the magic of the play, but they did.

11. Favorite Disney villain – Esme from The Emperor’s New Groove. She’s not totally evil and she and her sidekick made the movie so, so funny!

12. Favorite movie remake – Sabrina. Loved the story and they cast Harrison Ford. How could I not love it? Also Father of the Bride. I actually like the remake than the first version with Elizabeth Taylor.

13. Favorite movies of all time. I base my choices on movies I could never get tired of and watch over and over and over again.
** Ever After – I watch this every time I see it aired on TV. Cinderella story and fabulous
ballgown I wish I wore to my wedding (minus the wings, of course!)
** Father of the Bride
** Gladiator
** Lord of the Rings – The Two Towers. I like this better than the Return of the King
because of the battle scene. You actually didn’t think they were going to win – I think
they portrayed the sense of impending doom very well.
** Indiana Jones Trilogy – I luuuurrvve Harrison Ford.

Quick Update

It feels good to write again after an almost two week hiatus. I mentioned that I was going on a week long vacation and was so ready with my list of things to do. But you know what they say about the best laid plans.

My maternal grandmother passed away last September 24 (Sunday). We had just spent the weekend at our house in Tagaytay and were coming home from lunch with my in-laws when my mother called with the sad news. My lola had lived with us ever since my lolo passed away more than 10 years ago. It was a good move for her in a lot of ways. It allowed her to be close to where all her children lived and also afforded her the companionship of her sister, who’s lived with us since I was a baby. We were able to get to know our lola better – since we never got to spend extended time with her except for summer or weekend visits to the province.

So it was a really sad time for the family. My Lola Mary will be sorely missed – even my kids know she’s gone.

Day after the funeral the typhoon hit and we lost power for three days. Everything was at a standstill. We had no power, no water and then Faith got sick. Imagine trying to sleep during a power outage, the occasional rain not giving enough relief from the heat with a feverish toddler tossing and turning and dripping with sweat that I felt so sorry for her. I think my upper arms got toned from all the paypay I did during those three days.

I’m back at work this week at my new job. The past week was very stressful and I’m looking forward to the next couple of days hopefully with nothing majorly stressful. We’ll miss our Lola forever but the power’s back on, Faith’s recovering, I’ve got an exciting new job so there’s no way to go but up from here and I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

A really late Friday 13 : Tagged by the Bookworm

A good friend of mine tagged me with the Bookworm and I thought it was a great idea for a Friday 13. You’re only supposed to choose one book but being a true bookworm, I couldn’t make up my mind so I cheated. It’s pretty late for a Friday 13 but I thought this one needed a lot of thought.

1. Book/s that changed my life

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery -- I read this book when I was young and was totally blown away. I love the way it is so full of insight and how, every time I read it, I get hit again and again by the truth it reveals about human nature. One of my favorite quotes: “You risk tears if you let yourself be tamed…”


Animal Farm by George Orwell – I will forever be thankful that I had the brilliance to take an English Lit class as one of my electives in UP. This book was a reading assignment and to put it simply, it really bothered me. The premise was simple and yet the imagery and the message, was so powerful.

2. Book you’ve read more than once – Gosh, this one was so difficult because if I listed it all, there would be more than a hundred of them.

Mythology by Edith Hamilton – There was an old worn out copy in our house and in a fit of boredom (I was 10), I picked it up. That started my fascination with Greek Mythology. I read this book over and over and over that I almost memorized it. I wasn’t surprised when I aced the Greek Mythology part in my fourth year high school English class.

The Arabian Nights – This book was a really thick Reader’s Digest children’s version that I borrowed (and never returned) from my aunt. I still have the super dog eared copy in a bookshelf, saving it for when the kids are old enough to enjoy it.

Doctors by Erich Segal – I read this when I was in UP. I was curious about Love Story (didn’t see the movie) and after reading it (too mushy), thought I’d try another one. I would read this every time I was in between books and read it cover to cover without getting a bit bored. It offers a fascinating insight into the lives of four Harvard Med school students. It was like reading Gross Anatomy (movie with Matthew Modine) only ten times more riveting.

3. Book you’d want on a desert island – Well, if I can’t have the complete set in the Buffy series (yeah, I’m a fan and wipe that smirk off your face because you don’t know what you’re missing!!!!!), then it would be any one of the books in #2.

4. Book that made you laugh

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella – She had me at the first page. Every girl has a Becky Bloomwood inside, just roaring to be let out. Shhhh, I keep my inner Becky in tranquilizers.

Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding – This one doesn’t need any explanation. I never anticipated a movie version more than this one (except perhaps Harry Potter) and I wasn’t disappointed. The movie was as funny as the book.

5. Book that made you cry

Baby ER by Edward Humes– Perhaps because of Joshua’s premature birth (see blog post My Happy Ending), this book really ripped my heart out. Almost every chapter reduced me to tears. It’s a documentation of the heroic efforts made by a medical staff in a hospital in the U.S. that works in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (a place where the really sick babies are kept). Each case was poignant and heartbreaking and includes several chapters that discuss the history of treatment of preemies. It was particularly heartbreaking to read that doctors in the past often performed surgery on premature babies without anesthesia in the assumption that their nerves were so underdeveloped that they couldn’t feel pain. It was only years later that studies showed that preemies could feel ten times more pain – for most early preemies, just the brush of a parent’s finger on the skin would cause extreme pain. (Ok, I’m getting emotional again. Have…to….stop….)

What Remains by Carole Radziwill – I read an excerpt of this book from Oprah’s magazine and haunted Powerbooks until I had it. The author, who was the wife of JFK Jr’s. cousin, wrote about her and her husband’s very close relationship with John and Carolyn Bessette and how she dealt with the tragic accident that caused the Kennedy’s’ s death and losing her husband to cancer a few weeks later. Reading about her husband’s last moments in the hospital made me cry. I remember Ernest Hemingway said that all love stories end in tragedy because someone always dies.

6. Book that you wish you had written

Necroscope by Brian Lumley – I’ve always admired writers of good fantasy books because of the imagination required to create a world that captured a reader’s attention. This book is part of a horror/sci-fi/fantasy series made up of 10 (I think) books (and I have every one of them). It’s about vampires in an alternate world and a British intelligence agency (like the CIA) that’s made up of “gifted” agents. Fantastic series and really gory.

Harry Potter – no explanation needed.

7. Book that you wish you had never been written – For the life of me, I can’t think of a single one. There are a lot of books that I wish I didn’t buy or read but I think they were so forgettable that I just can’t remember the titles. Except for the book in number 11. That would probably be it.

8. Book you are reading at the moment -- Just finished “The Other Boleyn Girl” by Philippa Gregory. A brilliant historical fiction book based on the Boleyn sisters (Mary and Anne) and how they seduced King Henry VIII to gain power for their family.

9. Book you’ve been meaning to read

One hundred years of solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez -- I have the copy, I’ve always been curious about it, just haven’t gotten around to reading it.

10. Book you read in one sitting

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone – I first found out about Harry Potter when I read a short blurb about it in Time Magazine (it wasn’t a sensation yet) and I thought, hmmm…children’s book. Am I glad I decided to give in to my curiosity and got a copy.

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud -- Again, I stumbled on this one while browsing through Amazon and the comments made me interested. It’s a three part series (Bartimaeus Trilogy) that is guaranteed to cure your waiting for the next Harry Potter itch. It has the same elements that the Potter series has but with a totally different (and fresh) angle on magic. The “hero” is a djinn with a smart mouth reminiscent of Robin Williams’ genie in the animated Disney film, “Aladdin”. His comments are documented in footnotes and are laugh out loud funny.

11. Book you didn’t quite “get”

By the River Piedra I sat down and wept by Paulo Coelho – Ok, sorry to all the fans out there. I’ve been hearing all praises for this book and finally got down to reading it. I am so glad I just borrowed this book and didn’t buy it. I thought it was weird and creepy and trying hard to be deep in an existentialist and religious kind of way.


12. Three authors whose books you will always buy or read, no questions asked

Sophie Kinsella, J.K. Rowling, Sherrilyn Kenyon -- These are the only ones whose books, in my opinion, have never missed. Sadly, a lot of the authors whose books I read and (used to) patronize, are hit and miss. I loved Tom Clancy and Erich Seagal but their recent books have been a disappointment.

13. Forget the book and just watch the movie

Lord of the Rings – Yes I know it’s supposed to be a classic and I really tried to get into it but it bored me to tears.

Friday 13: Utterly Random

1. I was surprised to find out that although it is the Virgin Mary’s birthday today, it is not a holy day of obligation. The church was packed anyway which I think was cool.

2. Found out I have to start taking antibiotics (yup, am still sick). Bummer.

3. Taught the kids to say, “Yeah, baby!” with a gruff voice. Too funny!

4. There is a light at the end of the trying-to-lose-weight-but-failing-dismally tunnel. The treadmill my hubby bought arrived yesterday.

5. There is no way in hell I will ever be able to stop eating carbs. It’s impossible to cut out a whole food group and I don’t care what the freaking diet books say.

6. Jennifer Crusie’s “Bet Me” is my new favorite comfort book. Oh, I loved, loved, loved the book. All men should be like Cal. *sigh*

7. I only have two more weeks before I start a new job.

8. Am halfway done with the Christmas shopping for all the godchildren, nephews and nieces.

9. The new McDonald’s honey mustard sauce for chicken nuggets taste really good.

10. I just realized I can understand more than half of what comes out of my daughter Faith’s mouth. Imagine that. She’s growing up.

11. My hubby’s on his way to pick me up from work to go to the concert. How I can muster up enough energy for tonight is still a mystery. We’ll see if Gary V can get a scream out of me tonight.

12. I haven’t watched any episode of House for a month now. I miss him.

13. It’s hard to write when you’re sick.

Midweek Blahs

This week’s been the pits. I’ve had the flu since last Thursday – the works (cold, cough, achy muscles and joints). Of course, since my kids are an extension of my body (literally!), they caught it too (and this despite my going around over the weekend with a mask covering my nose and mouth).

So I stayed home from work last Monday and exiled Joshua and myself to our room. I banished Faith to my mom and her yaya in an effort to contain it. I should’ve known it was useless when Faith’s nose started dripping yesterday morning. Oh well. Meanwhile, Josh and I had a wonderful time during our quarantine. We were spooning on the couch in front of the TV – Josh occupied with the Disney channel and me alternating between napping and reading a book. We left the room to have lunch and went back for Joshua’s afternoon nap. I’d forgotten how I liked being in that space between sick and really sick – when it’s so easy for me to fall asleep (after taking my best friend – ibuprofen). I like to think of my annual flu as my body’s response to the daily grind and lack of sleep I subject it to.

Not completely well yet but am back at work. Woozy and with a sore nose but getting there. I have my birthday and the Gary V concert to look forward to this week. Woohoo!

Friday 13: Anywhere But Here

Sometimes, when I get really, really bored, I think of a place I’d rather be. Some would be places and times that are memorable, others are places I promised myself I’d visit in the future.

1. Back in UP Diliman. Entering the UP campus always leaves me feeling awed. The drive lined with the majestic acacia trees that for some reason, mutes the noise made by the constant stream of traffic on a busy school day. I’d remember the lazy, sunny afternoons after class, eating the best fishballs in the AS parking lot before going home.

2. Beach in Phuket on my honeymoon. ‘Nuff said. :D

3. A sidewalk café in Paris, reading a book.

4. A sun drenched villa in Tuscany.

5. Sunset in Boracay with Jun, sipping the best fresh strawberry or mocha shake in front of Jona’s, feet buried in the cool, white, perfect sand. Throw in a hot choriburger (grilled longganisa in a grilled bun with their special sauce) and I’m in heaven.

6. On a cliff viewing the Twelve Apostles in Melbourne. Now that was breathtaking.

7. Back on our rooftop with my sisters.

8. In bed with the kids and Jun, all tangled up in each other, laughing like crazy in our own little world.

9. Anywhere I can sit down and read a book uninterrupted. Even a bathroom will do.

10. Sydney Opera House with the fantastic view of the harbor.

11. San Francisco – one of my favorite cities.

12. A bookstore.

13. Anyplace, really. As long as Jun’s with me.

A taste of something else

Today I was on leave because Joshua's teacher was coming over to discuss his first semester evaluation. I had asked her to include him in the mock interviews in preparation for the big schools. I had also been feeling under the weather which I think is my annual flu -- I only get sick once a year, usually when my birthday's coming up. Weird, huh?

Nevertheless, I felt ok enough to bring Josh to school and do the groceries before picking him up. I decided to do the non-working mom thingy today and brought Faith with me without the yaya. So, dropped Josh at school and by 9am, Faith and I were happily cruising the aisles at the supermarket. Since Joshua wouldn't be off till 11:45 and we finished grocery shopping at 10, we hung out at Starbucks, me settling with my frapuccino and Faith sucking on a lollipop.

I loved it. I realized this is what my life will be like if I were a housewife (albeit with more chores, I know). I could tell the kids loved it too. Joshua was so happy I was bringing him to school and proudly announced to his teacher that his mommy was here! I loved cruising leisurely in the supermarket with Faith perched on the cart, mindlessly talking to each other about whether she wanted the chocolate milk with the cow or if she could open the package of cookies and eat it. It was a far cry from my usual mad dash through the market, anxious to finish the shopping in 30 minutes. In Starbucks, she just sat on my lap, licking her lolly, telling me that the guard outside looked sad. By 11:15, we were back in Joshua's school and Faith joined her kuya's class while they were doing art. I chatted with a dad who, like me, was waiting for his daughter Jiana (Josh's classmate). Only, unlike me, he seemed to be a familiar fixture in the school.

So I'm sure you can tell what I'm wishing for right now. I'm tired of getting up in the morning to get dressed for work. Tired of arriving home at 9pm, with only an hour with the kids before bedtime. This is why, I treasure the weekends so much, forgoing the chores that I feel need to be done so I can just play with the kids and do normal everyday stuff with them.

Yeah, really feeling the guilt here.

P.S.
Joshua's doing well and teacher feels he's ready to try for the big school! Yippee!