Dear Pauline

Dad and I just had breakfast - one of your favorites (guess). You and Mom are probably already waiting at gate 23 (tama ba?:-)). It is raining out here and it gets gloomier by the minute. Ginger is her usual self - paawa and papansin - she's not missing you yet. But soon she will realize it (hehe)! Hayyy... It's probably one of the toughest goodbyes of my life (if not, the toughest). I may have appeared to be busy and preoccupied with work these past weeks, but I thought about you a lot. And still I will, in the next coming days (or years?). I don't know what these tears are for, when I should know better that you are on your way to finding yourself and realizing your dreams. Perhaps, a part of me regrets not having known my little sister as much as I could have or should have... You have always been reserved, secretive even, that I usually found myself guessing what's going on in your pretty little head. Yes Apple, you are pretty - I think you have the prettiest face in the world (Ate Jo will agree). But there were also surprising times that you would knock on my door, sharing your long, pent up emotions, and hearing out what your big sister had to say. I thank you for that. You see, I attempted countless times finding out how to make you come out of your shell - well, at least to me. But then again, I noticed that you are different around your friends (there's absolutely nothing wrong with that)... you certainly can express yourself freely, laughing your heart out and relating life's painful realities... What a ride it has been the last twenty-three years huh? Well, I am proud of you, my dear sis. You have come out stronger and more determined than ever to discover what this world has to offer. It is probably the biggest understatement, but this world really does have a lot to offer, as long as we stop making excuses and start LIVING. Okay, I don't want to sound like Dr. Phil, but I know you understand what I'm trying to say here. I am also learning here... hmmm. Anyway, here's a list of BE's that I want you to be mindful of on your journey:
1. Be brave. It's okay to look like an idiot sometimes (I got that from Ate Jo).
2. Be humble. You are in a foreign land. Don't expect people to treat you like you're equal at all times. Ok lang yun. And that's why you have to...
3. Be tough. You will only be hurt when you allow people to hurt you.
4. Be happy. Give yourself a break. Have a Hershey's bar.=)
5. Be aware of your surroundings. Watch the news or read a newspaper. It's not always about you. Immerse yourself.
6. Be pleasant. You're probably tired of hearing this, but kailangan mong makisama.
7. Be confident. People are very competitive there, so as much as you can, showcase your talents. Mas magaling ka pa sa mga yan!;o)
8. Be here... on my wedding day. Haha! Seriously, I know it will somehow be difficult to keep in touch, but please do. Never hesitate to call when you don't feel comfortable about a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g. Keep in mind that we are here for you. Always.
Dad just came in and told me Ginger's sleeping in your room (aww).
I hope you had a good flight. Please control mom's wild shopping sprees. Hehe.
I love you. See you next year.;o) You take care now...

Spicy DIANA!

An interesting note to self: there exists a "Diana" fish. I just had one last Saturday at South Seafood Grille in Metrowalk. It tasted like chicken... joke!:-P Seriously, it's just like Tuna - flaky, gummy, and fishy (in a good way). And here are my berkz (hihi) who shared the experience of eating "Spicy Diana". You can gauge from the look on their faces how much they enjoyed it.

Popot: "Uy grabe, ang sarap nito!"
Anna: "Agree ako dyan!" (while nodding head vigorously)
Ella: "Ma-text nga 'to sa mga tao..."
Danjae: Sige pakasaya lang kayo, uubusin ko to!
Mitch: :-)

Spicy Diana and my good ol' berkz on a Saturday night.

Notice anything in this picture? Hehe.

I've been TAGGED!

Okay, SO (hehe) Liza tagged me... here's a list of my eight weird habits as of July 9, 2006:

1. I prefer giving alms to poor, old, grandfatherly men rather than poor, old, grandmotherly women. Actually I'm not inclined to giving alms to anyone, especially the makukulit street children who knocks on your car window or deliberately grabs your precious McDonald's cheeseburger just when you're about to take a bite (sama ko ba?)! But there's something about "lolo-types" that really melts my heart.=(

2. I get OC when things are not color-coordinated. From the furniture, to the powerpoint slides, to the fashion accessories. It doesn't have to be matching, but it has to complement you know? It's really eye sore for me when I see someone wearing an all-black ensemble with brown shoes! I don't want to be mean, but come on... (blush).

3. I'm no dog-lover, but I feel sorry for them. I have a family of dog-lovers. There was never a time when we had no dogs - I remember their names quite well: Brownie, Panty (yez), Tootsie, Dino, Whoopi, Jodie, Ginger... Among us siblings, I do not hold (much), play with, or take care of our dogs. I don't hate them, but I just don't feel like being attached to one. But I feel guilty when I ignore their playful greeting... Sometimes I cry. Ugh.

4. I don't mind drinking from a "dirty" glass. Okay, dirty means it has been used for ice cream! For instance, I used a glass to contain rocky road ice cream, and after I finished it, I would pour water and drink from it (despite it's non-transparent color). Gross? Why? It's clean and you won't taste anything weird! You've just had the overwhelming sweetness of ice cream, so all you'd taste is water.=)

5. Salty, sweet, salty, sweet... salty? I think this habit makes me gain a lot of weight. I have to have something sweet after eating something salty, then something sweet again... You'll notice when I start my dessert without finishing the main course so I'll still have something savory to eat after. I'm not so sure what I eat last though - sweet or salty. Hmmm.

6. I like watching the cheesy reality tv shows on ETC 2nd Avenue. That includes Blow Out, Cold Turkey, Starting Over, Big Loser, Showbiz Moms and Dads, etc. They're my "comfort shows", for lack of a better term.;o)

7. I wear socks with my pajamas in late December, January, and February. Our blood (Ponce side) has been cursed to being appetizing to mosquitos. As in. I easily get mosquito bites especially in the evening during these months. I hate it with passion.

8. I mix my vinegar with toyo or patis, or ketchup with toyo. I don't know why some people find this weird! Don't they know that vinegar with toyo/patis is the base for adobo and ketchup with toyo is actually barbeque marinade? Sarap no! =P

So there they are... I have a lot more, but let me settle with eight, before people think of me as a full-fledged WEIRDO. Haha! Anyway, I tag whoever wants to create a post with their eight weird habits (or more). It's actually fun! If you look back a few years from now, you might actually think, "I'm so weird"! But then again you might also say, "Hey, I didn't change a bit"!

This song made me smile today...

... and you'll know why when you listen to Masters of the Hemisphere's "200 Heads" - courtesy of a rocker friend.;o) Aside from the obvious, there's something about Indie Music that really lifts my spirits. It brings a nostalgic "nakakasakit-ng-tiyan" but comforting feeling and paints a picture of old bicycles, swings, and corn fields in my head. Probably not the most exciting picture, but it somehow feels like home. Note: I don't know how to ride a bicycle and have never lived in a farm... hehe.

I had my first taste of indie music one lazy Saturday afternoon at Tower Records' listening booth where they featured a compilation CD, appropriately called (at least for me) "I'd Spend My Day With You". The sound was so refreshing, uplifting, and yet a little bit melancholy... just like my weekend afternoons. Another indie song I really love is the "You and Me Song" by the Wannadies. Hmm, come to think of it, I first heard this song from the Romeo & Juliet remake movie, but I never could classify its genre at that time. I didn't know what "indie" was then, but I remembered that nostalgic feeling... It's a mixture of deja vu, childhood, and the need to escape... I don't know if anyone would ever relate to this same feeling or state of mind that until now I could not get people to understand. But then again, except maybe for my sisters, though they're not indie fans.:o)

Anyhow, I may not be as indie aficionado as some other people, but this is just a simple ode to the music that truly makes me smile... :o)