Our older daughter celebrated her seventh birthday last Saturday, and it was a happy day, filled with family, food and fun. Of course she also had the requisite cake, balloons and presents -- oh, how she loved opening her presents! The toddler was not forgotten either, as she also had her share.
Things did not start off so auspiciously though. The night before, we were all busy checking what needed to be prepared for the next day's feasting. Family members who came over also brought a lot of their own home-cooked specialties, but we were preparing some chicken galantina, a dish that is the specialty of one of our "angels" in the house.
She started with the chickens in the afternoon, and had deboned and stuffed them by night-time. Then she put them in the oven to bake. I guess she was already so tired, and she had been doing a lot of things from morning till night. But what happened was a party planner's nightmare, an epicurean Cinderella in reverse: the two succulent stuffed chickens, slowly browning in the oven and giving off juicy smells just as I nodded of at one in the morning, turned into charred black cinders in the morning.
She did not hear the alarm she had set, out of sheer tiredness. And I, I did not think to check if she had indeed woken up. Sure I was frustrated, but I couldn't find it in my heart to be well and truly angry. We just did what had to be done: our other "angel" hurriedly went to market to buy some more poultry, while the other "angel" made another batch of stuffing. I told her to just roast the chickens and put stuffing in them, and not debone them anymore, so they would be ready in time for lunch.
At this time I was busily baking a batch of cream cheese brownies (requested by cousins), then prepared a big pan of baked macaroni with tuna, requested by our birthday girl. It was already almost nine in the morning.
One consolation was that our relatives were still on the road at this time, as they left their houses a bit later than they expected, so it gave us some more time to prepare at least.
A quick bath, and hubby and I were off to get the birthday girl's cake from Red Ribbon (Barbie-themed, she's a little girl after all!), and some ice cream from the neighborhood SM grocery. After getting the ice cream, I was shuffled from one counter to the other, after which I ended up in the Wines & Spirits counter -- which was still in the process of being opened by the cashier. I watched as she painstakingly placed the coins in her cash register, and separated the bills by denomination. I thought I was home free by then. But oops! She did not have any paper for receipts! So her colleague slowly went to look for one. After which they realized they didn't have any plastic bag. Nuninuninuuuuu....
I wanted to blow off some steam, but I realized: this might be a tap on my shoulder to relax a bit, and not hurry too much. That things will work out fine. They did.
Even though they left their home later than they planned, our relatives still made good time and arrived well before lunch. There might have been a bomb scare in Manila, and alert levels were up, but that also meant that the roads were curiously devoid of traffic and congestion. After having settled in at our place, there was a flurry of opening food containers and choosing pots and pans, stirring and seasoning, cooking and serving, bantering and teasing.
Finally, finally, we were all gathered around the table. And we were thankful for the bounty that was before us. For the people who came and celebrated with us.
Our older daughter celebrated her seventh birthday last Saturday, and it was a happy day, filled with family, food and fun.
But more than that, I'd like to think that she felt love around her that day. I'd like to believe that wherever she is now, my mother would be smiling as well.
Monday, January 31, 2011
An Angel, A Blessing
The past week has been fraught with challenges, and stress, and frustrations. But it has also brought with it numerous instances for being thankful, and contented, and happy.
Saturday was our older daughter's seventh birthday. My mind still grapples with the fact of her already having reached the "Age of Reason", which is supposedly the age at which children begin to be morally responsible.
My little baby. Now a not-so-little girl. Soon a young lady.
I know the years will fly quickly enough, but I wish that I could hold on to these moments longer: when she still seeks our hands to hold, our counsel to listen to, our arms to enfold her.
Yes, she can be maddeningly noisy at times, and yes, she can be quite obstinate as well. At times she picks at her food like someone on a perpetual diet. And she needs to be reminded constantly to pick up after herself and organize her stuff.
But she can put a smile on our faces at the most unexpected times, when she produces a painstakingly colored drawing, a simple note, or just climbs onto our laps for some cuddle time. She is whip-smart. Scarily so, at times. But her heart is in the right place. She usually exhibits remarkable patience with her baby sister's antics. She is generous with her toys and books and doesn't mind when the toddler plays with them. She will suddenly offer us a glass of water when she feels we might be thirsty, or even, out of the blue, arrange the blankets over our bed just before we sleep.
She is a blessing, this little Angel of ours. And for her we breathe a quiet prayer of thanks.
Saturday was our older daughter's seventh birthday. My mind still grapples with the fact of her already having reached the "Age of Reason", which is supposedly the age at which children begin to be morally responsible.
My little baby. Now a not-so-little girl. Soon a young lady.
I know the years will fly quickly enough, but I wish that I could hold on to these moments longer: when she still seeks our hands to hold, our counsel to listen to, our arms to enfold her.
Yes, she can be maddeningly noisy at times, and yes, she can be quite obstinate as well. At times she picks at her food like someone on a perpetual diet. And she needs to be reminded constantly to pick up after herself and organize her stuff.
But she can put a smile on our faces at the most unexpected times, when she produces a painstakingly colored drawing, a simple note, or just climbs onto our laps for some cuddle time. She is whip-smart. Scarily so, at times. But her heart is in the right place. She usually exhibits remarkable patience with her baby sister's antics. She is generous with her toys and books and doesn't mind when the toddler plays with them. She will suddenly offer us a glass of water when she feels we might be thirsty, or even, out of the blue, arrange the blankets over our bed just before we sleep.
She is a blessing, this little Angel of ours. And for her we breathe a quiet prayer of thanks.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Simple Joys
Today I am thankful for these: the bracing wind that tousled my hair as we took a walk outside after dinner; the way my two little girls wanted me to lie down between them so they could comfortably fall asleep; the gold medal class standing our first grader brought home once again. Life is good.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Dragoneye
Together with The Chronicles of Imaginarium Geographica (which I wrote about in a previous post), I left Powerbooks with another dragon-themed book -- Eon: Dragoneye Reborn by Alison Goodman.
Yes, the bookshop's staff were good.
The book deals with a world governed by energy dragons ascending to power on a cycle fixed by the animal signs of the Chinese calendar, with each ascendant dragon represented in the temporal plane by an envoy, his Dragoneye, and an apprentice. Counting his time as an apprentice, each Dragoneye will actually forge and nurture a bond with his dragon for twenty-four years, years in which some of his Hua, or life-force, is drained in the process of communing with the dragon.
Becoming an apprentice takes years of grueling preparation, in swordfighting and dragon lore, in harnessing power and communing with dragons. As a Dragoneye and an apprentice, a person can gain the power to command the energies of the earth, redirecting the energies of winds and rain to benefit mankind. At least in theory. Becoming an apprentice also brings with it enormous influence in the Council, and material wealth to boot.
The protagonist is Eon, a twelve year old boy who has been training for four years to become an apprentice. His turn comes when he is given the chance to try to be the Rat Dragon apprentice. He is not seen as a serious contender though, as he has a pronounced limp, and is not able to move as nimbly as the others. What he has going is his innate ability to see and feel the energy dragons without any huge effort.
He has a dark secret as well, which could potentially spell death for him and his mentor, Heuris Brannon. Eon is actually Eona, a sixteen year old girl, rescued from the salt mines.
The story also tackles the re-appearance of the Mirror Dragon (the Dragon Dragon), who has been missing for five hundred years. Who gets to be Apprentice, who eventually becomes ensconced in the corridors of power, and the secret of the Mirror Dragon are all entwined in this beautifully crafted tale.
I hope to see the sequel, Eona, in the bookshops soon!
Yes, the bookshop's staff were good.
The book deals with a world governed by energy dragons ascending to power on a cycle fixed by the animal signs of the Chinese calendar, with each ascendant dragon represented in the temporal plane by an envoy, his Dragoneye, and an apprentice. Counting his time as an apprentice, each Dragoneye will actually forge and nurture a bond with his dragon for twenty-four years, years in which some of his Hua, or life-force, is drained in the process of communing with the dragon.
Becoming an apprentice takes years of grueling preparation, in swordfighting and dragon lore, in harnessing power and communing with dragons. As a Dragoneye and an apprentice, a person can gain the power to command the energies of the earth, redirecting the energies of winds and rain to benefit mankind. At least in theory. Becoming an apprentice also brings with it enormous influence in the Council, and material wealth to boot.
The protagonist is Eon, a twelve year old boy who has been training for four years to become an apprentice. His turn comes when he is given the chance to try to be the Rat Dragon apprentice. He is not seen as a serious contender though, as he has a pronounced limp, and is not able to move as nimbly as the others. What he has going is his innate ability to see and feel the energy dragons without any huge effort.
He has a dark secret as well, which could potentially spell death for him and his mentor, Heuris Brannon. Eon is actually Eona, a sixteen year old girl, rescued from the salt mines.
The story also tackles the re-appearance of the Mirror Dragon (the Dragon Dragon), who has been missing for five hundred years. Who gets to be Apprentice, who eventually becomes ensconced in the corridors of power, and the secret of the Mirror Dragon are all entwined in this beautifully crafted tale.
I hope to see the sequel, Eona, in the bookshops soon!
Where Myth and Fable Become Reality
I like reading about dragons. Mythical ones, at least.
In one of my visits to Powerbooks at the ATC, one of their staff was so engaging in trying to interest me in their new arrivals. I'm not sure if they had recognized me due to my numerous forays into their shop (proof of which is my PowerPlus card), but I really appreciate how they make an effort to connect with their customers.
I was happily browsing and immersing myself in the sight and smell of books, when this cheerful lady approached me and asked me if I had read this and that books, which I had. Then she directed my attention to their newly arrived series, The Chronicles of Imaginarium Geographica by James A. Owen. I politely had a glance, then told the lady that I wold browse a bit more.
Something made me take a second look though, and I was intrigued by the plot: an atlas of all the mythical and imaginary lands, that needed to be protected from those who sought to use it for less-than-noble purposes. I ended up getting the first three books of the series.
Three Caretakers are always chosen to protect the Imaginarium Geographica, which shows the locations of the fabled lands in the Archipelago of Dreams. In the first book, Here, There Be Dragons, the three future Caretakers (John, Charles, and Jack) are brought together by the unfortunate death of John's mentor. They are then swept into a world of Dragonships and hitherto-believed-to-be mythical characters. In the whirlwind of trying to keep the atlas safe, they encounter numerous allies and foes, as well as the Cartographer of Lost Places, who made the Imaginarium Geographica. The book ends up with a summoning of the dragons by the rightful heir and descendant of King Arthur. The Caretakers then go back to take up the mantles of their everyday lives, and their true identities are revealed to the reader -- a surprising revelation that I will not reveal here.
The Search for the Red Dragon continue nine years after the events of the first book. Peter Pan is drawn into the plot, which involves the loss of Dragonships and children of the Archipelago. The three Caretakers are again compelled to go back into the Archipelago to help out. They venture into the Underneath, beneath the waters of the Archipelago. The myths of Daedalus and Jason, the story of Peter Pan's Lost Boys, and Dante's Inferno all collide into one entertaining tale.
After five more years, the Caretakers are once again drawn into affairs of the Archipelago in The Indigo King. They have taken on an apprentice Caretaker, Hugo, who takes a key role in the events that unfold in this isntallment. An alternative timeline in which the Archipelago becomes a dark and dangerous place provides the impetus for the friends to agree to travel through time and attempt to make things right. A journey to Avalon, an introduction to the Lance of Longinus, and Arthur's resurrection -- these elements keep the reader wanting for more.
I'm so looking forward to books four and five -- The Shadow Dragons and The Dragon's Apprentice. Hope to see them soon!
In one of my visits to Powerbooks at the ATC, one of their staff was so engaging in trying to interest me in their new arrivals. I'm not sure if they had recognized me due to my numerous forays into their shop (proof of which is my PowerPlus card), but I really appreciate how they make an effort to connect with their customers.
I was happily browsing and immersing myself in the sight and smell of books, when this cheerful lady approached me and asked me if I had read this and that books, which I had. Then she directed my attention to their newly arrived series, The Chronicles of Imaginarium Geographica by James A. Owen. I politely had a glance, then told the lady that I wold browse a bit more.
Something made me take a second look though, and I was intrigued by the plot: an atlas of all the mythical and imaginary lands, that needed to be protected from those who sought to use it for less-than-noble purposes. I ended up getting the first three books of the series.
Three Caretakers are always chosen to protect the Imaginarium Geographica, which shows the locations of the fabled lands in the Archipelago of Dreams. In the first book, Here, There Be Dragons, the three future Caretakers (John, Charles, and Jack) are brought together by the unfortunate death of John's mentor. They are then swept into a world of Dragonships and hitherto-believed-to-be mythical characters. In the whirlwind of trying to keep the atlas safe, they encounter numerous allies and foes, as well as the Cartographer of Lost Places, who made the Imaginarium Geographica. The book ends up with a summoning of the dragons by the rightful heir and descendant of King Arthur. The Caretakers then go back to take up the mantles of their everyday lives, and their true identities are revealed to the reader -- a surprising revelation that I will not reveal here.
The Search for the Red Dragon continue nine years after the events of the first book. Peter Pan is drawn into the plot, which involves the loss of Dragonships and children of the Archipelago. The three Caretakers are again compelled to go back into the Archipelago to help out. They venture into the Underneath, beneath the waters of the Archipelago. The myths of Daedalus and Jason, the story of Peter Pan's Lost Boys, and Dante's Inferno all collide into one entertaining tale.
After five more years, the Caretakers are once again drawn into affairs of the Archipelago in The Indigo King. They have taken on an apprentice Caretaker, Hugo, who takes a key role in the events that unfold in this isntallment. An alternative timeline in which the Archipelago becomes a dark and dangerous place provides the impetus for the friends to agree to travel through time and attempt to make things right. A journey to Avalon, an introduction to the Lance of Longinus, and Arthur's resurrection -- these elements keep the reader wanting for more.
I'm so looking forward to books four and five -- The Shadow Dragons and The Dragon's Apprentice. Hope to see them soon!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Devouring The Hunger Games
I must confess that when all the hype about Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games came to a head last year, I was totally clueless. Which was quite out of character for me, not knowing what was new or what was "in" in matters concerning the printed page.
Because I frequent the major bookstores (NBS, Powerbooks, Fully Booked) and have the discount cards to prove it, I usually am quite up-to-date when it comes to bestsellers. Popularity is not my only criteria though; I have been known to pick up the random obscure title.
I'm quite proud of having bought a number of books a couple of years back that have now been made into movies, which have consequently catapulted them to the top of the charts. There's a certain smugness in me that I did not ride the popularity bandwagon, and recognized their worth long before it was fashionable to do so. As long as a volume catches my fancy, it does not matter whether it is currently in the bestseller lists or not. They are all equal in my eyes.
I tended to steer clear of young adult books because they were, well, for young ones. And I believed that they would be tackling themes that would be too shallow or juvenile for my taste. Jumping on the bandwagon of the flavors-of-the-month was not my cup of tea.
But then I tried some (the Artemis fowl series, for starters), just to prove a point. And then I got hooked.
I had been seeing The Hunger Games in bookstores for some time already, but I consistently ignored them. Snobbishness? Maybe. Or it could be that I was just not that attracted to the synopsis. The book designs weren't appealing to me as well.
Maybe all the positive feedback finally broke through my self-imposed barriers. This was one time when I jumped on the bandwagon. And I'm glad I did. I zoomed through the first volume, and was engrossed in the lives of Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne as they tried to survive in a world controlled by the Capitol.
Since I had a paperback edition of the first part, I waited for the paperback editions for the second and third parts as well. You know, so that they would all look nice when stacked up on the shelf. Yes, I have these idiosyncracies when it comes to books.
Thankfully Powerbooks came up with volumes two and three in paperback not too long ago. I wasted no time and grabbed them as well. I eagerly devoured the pages and was able to finish the two books in two days. Yay!
The Hunger Games introduced us to the world of Panem, with its twelve districts that currently provided two tributes each annually to the brutal survival games, all orchestrated by people from the Capitol. Strategy, skill and survival instinct differentiated who won from the other, unfortunate ones.
The concept of districts being compelled to provide "tributes" in the annual Hunger Games, and having them fight with one another to have a single victor emerge was a bit too bloodthirsty for me at first. The alternative reality presented in the book seemed to be a bit far-fetched. But when I started reading, I realized that it was much more than that.
Catching Fire brought to the fore the theme of rising up in arms against oppression, with Katniss unwittingly becoming the symbol of hope for the revolution. The Quarter Quell, which occurs every 25 years for the Games, brings new, unexpected complications to the rules. The latest pool of tributes will come from the roster of previous winners. New characters are introduced, with alliances formed on the field of battle. The story does not lack action and energy, and book closes off with a cliffhanger, which of course is designed to leave readers yearning for the third installment.
The long-awaited Mockingjay brings us all back to Panem, and follows the progression of the rebellion against the Capitol, spearheaded now by District 13, which had long been thought of to have been completely destroyed. The tributes' roles in the war are emphasized. The triangle of Katniss, Gale, and Peeta continue, with the proverbial wrench thrown in to further keep the reader on his toes. The ensuing showdown between Katniss and President Snow provides a further twist in the tale.
The story closes off with Katniss speaking from a vantage point twenty years into the future.
On top of the readability factor, I could blather on about friendship, oppression, sacrifice and survival. About familial love, desperation, betrayal and honor. The trilogy has all of these, and more. The reader will just have to discover it for himself.
I can honestly say though that the series is undeniably one of the most interesting reads I have had in a long time.
Because I frequent the major bookstores (NBS, Powerbooks, Fully Booked) and have the discount cards to prove it, I usually am quite up-to-date when it comes to bestsellers. Popularity is not my only criteria though; I have been known to pick up the random obscure title.
I'm quite proud of having bought a number of books a couple of years back that have now been made into movies, which have consequently catapulted them to the top of the charts. There's a certain smugness in me that I did not ride the popularity bandwagon, and recognized their worth long before it was fashionable to do so. As long as a volume catches my fancy, it does not matter whether it is currently in the bestseller lists or not. They are all equal in my eyes.
I tended to steer clear of young adult books because they were, well, for young ones. And I believed that they would be tackling themes that would be too shallow or juvenile for my taste. Jumping on the bandwagon of the flavors-of-the-month was not my cup of tea.
But then I tried some (the Artemis fowl series, for starters), just to prove a point. And then I got hooked.
I had been seeing The Hunger Games in bookstores for some time already, but I consistently ignored them. Snobbishness? Maybe. Or it could be that I was just not that attracted to the synopsis. The book designs weren't appealing to me as well.
Maybe all the positive feedback finally broke through my self-imposed barriers. This was one time when I jumped on the bandwagon. And I'm glad I did. I zoomed through the first volume, and was engrossed in the lives of Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne as they tried to survive in a world controlled by the Capitol.
Since I had a paperback edition of the first part, I waited for the paperback editions for the second and third parts as well. You know, so that they would all look nice when stacked up on the shelf. Yes, I have these idiosyncracies when it comes to books.
Thankfully Powerbooks came up with volumes two and three in paperback not too long ago. I wasted no time and grabbed them as well. I eagerly devoured the pages and was able to finish the two books in two days. Yay!
The Hunger Games introduced us to the world of Panem, with its twelve districts that currently provided two tributes each annually to the brutal survival games, all orchestrated by people from the Capitol. Strategy, skill and survival instinct differentiated who won from the other, unfortunate ones.
The concept of districts being compelled to provide "tributes" in the annual Hunger Games, and having them fight with one another to have a single victor emerge was a bit too bloodthirsty for me at first. The alternative reality presented in the book seemed to be a bit far-fetched. But when I started reading, I realized that it was much more than that.
Catching Fire brought to the fore the theme of rising up in arms against oppression, with Katniss unwittingly becoming the symbol of hope for the revolution. The Quarter Quell, which occurs every 25 years for the Games, brings new, unexpected complications to the rules. The latest pool of tributes will come from the roster of previous winners. New characters are introduced, with alliances formed on the field of battle. The story does not lack action and energy, and book closes off with a cliffhanger, which of course is designed to leave readers yearning for the third installment.
The long-awaited Mockingjay brings us all back to Panem, and follows the progression of the rebellion against the Capitol, spearheaded now by District 13, which had long been thought of to have been completely destroyed. The tributes' roles in the war are emphasized. The triangle of Katniss, Gale, and Peeta continue, with the proverbial wrench thrown in to further keep the reader on his toes. The ensuing showdown between Katniss and President Snow provides a further twist in the tale.
The story closes off with Katniss speaking from a vantage point twenty years into the future.
On top of the readability factor, I could blather on about friendship, oppression, sacrifice and survival. About familial love, desperation, betrayal and honor. The trilogy has all of these, and more. The reader will just have to discover it for himself.
I can honestly say though that the series is undeniably one of the most interesting reads I have had in a long time.
A Pizza Hut (Pre)Occupation
Hmmm, she must have a good memory if she doesn't need pen and paper to jot down our order.
That's what I thought when the Pizza Hut crew member assigned to our table took our order and even repeated the whole thing twice. I wasn't concerned at the least, and contentedly sat back to wait for the ten-odd minutes it would take before we could dig into our repast of BBQ ribs pizza, ravioli, chicken and spaghetti.
The kids were happy, there were not a lot of people inside the resto, and hubby and I looked forward to a relaxing dinner. Or as relaxing as we could get with two kids under the age of seven in tow.
The iced tea and the red iced tea (what can I say, we wanted variety!) were given to us without too much delay. Coming from a hectic workday without any breaktime, hubby and I slurped away. Our little girls also lost no time in drinking their share. In just a few minutes, we were asking for refills. Ah, the joys of bottomless drinks!
After around fifteen minutes, another crew member brought a piping-hot pizza to our table. We were famished and were ready to tuck in when what she was saying registered: "Three-cheese pizza, your order Ma'am." I was puzzled and looked to the lady assigned to our table (let's call her "M") and told her that we had ordered a BBQ ribs pizza.
Which she confirmed to her colleague. Who then promptly removed the pizza. After which we were told it would take another fifteen minutes of waiting. We would've accepted another pizza variant if it was to our liking. But that night, three-cheese pizza didn't quite cut it.
And so we settled down to another round of waiting. The toddler was getting antsy by this time. The little girl had luckily brought along a book that was keeping her occupied. We satisfied ourselves with drinking a bit more iced tea, which were served in glasses that were smaller than I remembered, resulting in either more refill trips by the crew. I guess the management thought that there would be a psychological barrier of sorts that would prevent people from asking for more than two refills regardless of the size of the glass. We didn't have those barriers, by the way, so we asked for refills galore, haha!
I was half-expecting that they would offer us some complimentary bread sticks, but no, they were apparently oblivious to their customers' plights. It was the same story when we asked for water to be served -- we did not catch sight of a single glass of water throughout our stay there.
The ravioli, chicken and spaghetti made their appearance not long after, so we started eating even without the pizza. Maybe they were ravenous already, but the kids were easy to feed! Baby Girl took a liking to the pasta, and the chicken did not escape her notice either. Little Girl did not complain when I asked her to taste the ravioli, and even said that she liked it and asked for more! So far, so good.
After double the wait, the long-awaited pizza finally came. Little Girl was so hungry she finished almost two whole slices by herself (this was already a lot for her). I asked for catsup. I am, after all, a catsup-holic. I eagerly put catsup (preferably Del Monte tomato catsup) on pizza, fries, fried, roasted and grilled dishes.
I could not, would not, start eating pizza without the catsup.
"M" passed by our table several times, and we caught her attention for another round of refills. After which I asked for the catsup again. Which seemed to jolt her out of her reverie: "Ay, oo nga pala."
With bellies full and iced tea glasses emptied, we asked for the bill to be brought already. It was given to us very promptly, which was a happy surprise. The credit card was handed over, which "M" then brought to the cashier.
More than five minutes had already passed, and we were wondering what the hold-up was -- there were only a few of us left in the resto, and there was nobody at the counter. We reminded them about the card, which "M" then retrieved from the counter. She asked for the signature, all the while she was talking with another colleague of hers, and the receipts and slips were spilling out of the black signing folder.
No, we didn't make any fuss about the whole situation. We were too tired from a looong workday, we just did not have the energy nor the inclination anymore.
We just chalked it up to "M" being too preoccupied. Maybe she had something on her mind that was bugging her, maybe she had loved ones with pressing problems, maybe she was tired after a long day (we could relate to that), perhaps she was not very happy with what she was doing anymore, or it could be that we were viewed as necessary nuisances that could barely be tolerated.
In the end, what mattered most was that we had our dinner, we had good food, the kids were satisfied. Sure there were delays, but were not really intolerable aggravations.
I only hope that this kind of service does not drive Pizza Hut customers away. And that those who experience this kind of service respond as sanguinely as we have.
That's what I thought when the Pizza Hut crew member assigned to our table took our order and even repeated the whole thing twice. I wasn't concerned at the least, and contentedly sat back to wait for the ten-odd minutes it would take before we could dig into our repast of BBQ ribs pizza, ravioli, chicken and spaghetti.
The kids were happy, there were not a lot of people inside the resto, and hubby and I looked forward to a relaxing dinner. Or as relaxing as we could get with two kids under the age of seven in tow.
The iced tea and the red iced tea (what can I say, we wanted variety!) were given to us without too much delay. Coming from a hectic workday without any breaktime, hubby and I slurped away. Our little girls also lost no time in drinking their share. In just a few minutes, we were asking for refills. Ah, the joys of bottomless drinks!
After around fifteen minutes, another crew member brought a piping-hot pizza to our table. We were famished and were ready to tuck in when what she was saying registered: "Three-cheese pizza, your order Ma'am." I was puzzled and looked to the lady assigned to our table (let's call her "M") and told her that we had ordered a BBQ ribs pizza.
Which she confirmed to her colleague. Who then promptly removed the pizza. After which we were told it would take another fifteen minutes of waiting. We would've accepted another pizza variant if it was to our liking. But that night, three-cheese pizza didn't quite cut it.
And so we settled down to another round of waiting. The toddler was getting antsy by this time. The little girl had luckily brought along a book that was keeping her occupied. We satisfied ourselves with drinking a bit more iced tea, which were served in glasses that were smaller than I remembered, resulting in either more refill trips by the crew. I guess the management thought that there would be a psychological barrier of sorts that would prevent people from asking for more than two refills regardless of the size of the glass. We didn't have those barriers, by the way, so we asked for refills galore, haha!
I was half-expecting that they would offer us some complimentary bread sticks, but no, they were apparently oblivious to their customers' plights. It was the same story when we asked for water to be served -- we did not catch sight of a single glass of water throughout our stay there.
The ravioli, chicken and spaghetti made their appearance not long after, so we started eating even without the pizza. Maybe they were ravenous already, but the kids were easy to feed! Baby Girl took a liking to the pasta, and the chicken did not escape her notice either. Little Girl did not complain when I asked her to taste the ravioli, and even said that she liked it and asked for more! So far, so good.
After double the wait, the long-awaited pizza finally came. Little Girl was so hungry she finished almost two whole slices by herself (this was already a lot for her). I asked for catsup. I am, after all, a catsup-holic. I eagerly put catsup (preferably Del Monte tomato catsup) on pizza, fries, fried, roasted and grilled dishes.
I could not, would not, start eating pizza without the catsup.
"M" passed by our table several times, and we caught her attention for another round of refills. After which I asked for the catsup again. Which seemed to jolt her out of her reverie: "Ay, oo nga pala."
With bellies full and iced tea glasses emptied, we asked for the bill to be brought already. It was given to us very promptly, which was a happy surprise. The credit card was handed over, which "M" then brought to the cashier.
More than five minutes had already passed, and we were wondering what the hold-up was -- there were only a few of us left in the resto, and there was nobody at the counter. We reminded them about the card, which "M" then retrieved from the counter. She asked for the signature, all the while she was talking with another colleague of hers, and the receipts and slips were spilling out of the black signing folder.
No, we didn't make any fuss about the whole situation. We were too tired from a looong workday, we just did not have the energy nor the inclination anymore.
We just chalked it up to "M" being too preoccupied. Maybe she had something on her mind that was bugging her, maybe she had loved ones with pressing problems, maybe she was tired after a long day (we could relate to that), perhaps she was not very happy with what she was doing anymore, or it could be that we were viewed as necessary nuisances that could barely be tolerated.
In the end, what mattered most was that we had our dinner, we had good food, the kids were satisfied. Sure there were delays, but were not really intolerable aggravations.
I only hope that this kind of service does not drive Pizza Hut customers away. And that those who experience this kind of service respond as sanguinely as we have.
Balancing Acts
Friday nights have been more-or-less de facto eat-out nights for our family. Last night was no exception.
Yesterday was an exceptionally packed day: discussions scheduled back-to-back (with almost no breathing space in between), visitors to meet up with, and a load of emerging issues that had to be dealt with pronto!
I am thankful for having a job that a number of people have told me they wish they could have, and which allows me to work with a lot of wonderful people. But as with everything else in life, one has to take the bitter with the sweet.
I'm a bit of a stickler in trying to keep to a timetable, and for work I prefer to know schedules of meetings, conferences, reports and whatnot a week in advance. Yes, I know that only happens in an ideal world (sigh). I'm OC that way, what can I say?
In addition to the tidy agenda we think we will be working on, we are actually bombarded with added aggravations:
The most frustrating thing about it -- even our older daughter's school sometimes acts the same way! I used to think that Parent-Teacher Conferences should be scheduled well in advance, like, a week's notice at the very least. And to be fair, that has been the case in the past.
Thursday night though, I was jolted into a near-panic attack by the note attached to the little girl's school diary -- the PTC was to be on Friday afternoon, the following day! Both Mama and Papa's schedules were tightly packed, so what could we do? We almost always go together to get our daughter's report card and talk with her class adviser. This time we agreed I would do it, after a meeting I had.
And so that day went on: I went to meetings, talked to people, attended to a visitor, and was immersed in a slew of issues. Hubby's day was pretty much the same story.
By the time hubby and I could finally sit down and catch our bearings, it was a few minutes shy of seven. Shutting down the laptops, stashing stuff in bags, locking our office doors were done in short order -- we could at last call it a weekend!
We were just pulling into our driveway when I was struck by a truly horrifying realization: I had absolutely forgotten to go to school! That had never, ever, happened before.
I could of course rationalize and say that if the PTC schedule had been given out way in advance I could have worked it into my timetable. It could have wormed its way into my brain and I would not have forgotten about it. And that would be true. I would have gotten used to the idea, and I would purposely have kept that part of my day open.
My husband tells me not to blame myself too much about it. That we can find a mutually agreeable date next week with our little girl's teacher. Indeed we can. It's a simple matter, really.
But the fact remains -- I forgot all about it. And as a mother that's a hard thing to swallow. Made all the more bittersweet by the fact that the little one has a gold medal standing again this last term.
Our precious, smart, sweet little girl, who was so generous of heart that she did not even whine about it, nor harbour any grudge. I am so proud of her.
One of the plus factors of working in the same company as your spouse is that you get to give (and receive) gentle reminders during the work-day to breathe, to relax, to pull yourself together, and when to call it a day. I'm quite thankful for that.
He boosted my spirits up and suggested we just all go out for a quiet dinner with the kids. To Pizza Hut, where the little ones enjoyed the food and had a bit of space to move around. And although the service there had much to be desired (that will be the subject of another post), it was a chance for us to appreciate what was important.
At dinnertime that night I felt a greater sense of accomplishment than the rest of my workday. I pray that we make more of a difference in our roles as mother and father than our office personas.
That night my husband I were not engineers, we were not managers. We were simply parents.
Yesterday was an exceptionally packed day: discussions scheduled back-to-back (with almost no breathing space in between), visitors to meet up with, and a load of emerging issues that had to be dealt with pronto!
I am thankful for having a job that a number of people have told me they wish they could have, and which allows me to work with a lot of wonderful people. But as with everything else in life, one has to take the bitter with the sweet.
I'm a bit of a stickler in trying to keep to a timetable, and for work I prefer to know schedules of meetings, conferences, reports and whatnot a week in advance. Yes, I know that only happens in an ideal world (sigh). I'm OC that way, what can I say?
In addition to the tidy agenda we think we will be working on, we are actually bombarded with added aggravations:
- Ambush chats. "This will only take five minutes. What do you think about..." Yeah, yeah, I think your watch needs a bit of winding if you think we only need to spend five minutes on this!
- Urgent issues. "We need to resolve this now...", by which "we" is actually a euphemism for "you". And so the little pockets of breathing space you've painstakingly worked into your schedule goes up in a puff of sulfurous smoke!
- Inefficient and Interminable meetings. Just how long is a discussion supposed to last? How many times do we need to keep circling around an issue? And while we're on that, punctuality is rapidly becoming an endangered virtue -- is it really so hard to arrive on-time? Or has the definition of "on-time" suddenly expanded to include the next additional fifteen minutes?
- Tons of email. "Hey, I've just sent you an email -- can you have a look at it?" What was supposed to be a tool for efficiency has now become the bane of the corporate world. Now everyone needs to be copied in on almost everything -- the sender's backside could then be covered in case someone asks a question, and he/she can safely and smugly say "But I cc'ed you on that one." So I'm supposed to wade through the mound of email and find the message that I could have known about earlier if you had just picked up the effing phone instead!
The most frustrating thing about it -- even our older daughter's school sometimes acts the same way! I used to think that Parent-Teacher Conferences should be scheduled well in advance, like, a week's notice at the very least. And to be fair, that has been the case in the past.
Thursday night though, I was jolted into a near-panic attack by the note attached to the little girl's school diary -- the PTC was to be on Friday afternoon, the following day! Both Mama and Papa's schedules were tightly packed, so what could we do? We almost always go together to get our daughter's report card and talk with her class adviser. This time we agreed I would do it, after a meeting I had.
And so that day went on: I went to meetings, talked to people, attended to a visitor, and was immersed in a slew of issues. Hubby's day was pretty much the same story.
By the time hubby and I could finally sit down and catch our bearings, it was a few minutes shy of seven. Shutting down the laptops, stashing stuff in bags, locking our office doors were done in short order -- we could at last call it a weekend!
We were just pulling into our driveway when I was struck by a truly horrifying realization: I had absolutely forgotten to go to school! That had never, ever, happened before.
I could of course rationalize and say that if the PTC schedule had been given out way in advance I could have worked it into my timetable. It could have wormed its way into my brain and I would not have forgotten about it. And that would be true. I would have gotten used to the idea, and I would purposely have kept that part of my day open.
My husband tells me not to blame myself too much about it. That we can find a mutually agreeable date next week with our little girl's teacher. Indeed we can. It's a simple matter, really.
But the fact remains -- I forgot all about it. And as a mother that's a hard thing to swallow. Made all the more bittersweet by the fact that the little one has a gold medal standing again this last term.
Our precious, smart, sweet little girl, who was so generous of heart that she did not even whine about it, nor harbour any grudge. I am so proud of her.
One of the plus factors of working in the same company as your spouse is that you get to give (and receive) gentle reminders during the work-day to breathe, to relax, to pull yourself together, and when to call it a day. I'm quite thankful for that.
He boosted my spirits up and suggested we just all go out for a quiet dinner with the kids. To Pizza Hut, where the little ones enjoyed the food and had a bit of space to move around. And although the service there had much to be desired (that will be the subject of another post), it was a chance for us to appreciate what was important.
At dinnertime that night I felt a greater sense of accomplishment than the rest of my workday. I pray that we make more of a difference in our roles as mother and father than our office personas.
That night my husband I were not engineers, we were not managers. We were simply parents.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Birthday Musings
It's just another day, I thought to myself as the alarm pulled me out of the depths of sleep. I peeled myself from the comforting heap of blanket and pillows at 5:30, helped our older daughter to prepare for school, had breakfast with her, and sent her off to school. The same as any other working/schoolday.
And yet there was a difference. I did not have to go to the office. I did not have to plug in my laptop and check my email and attend to meetings. I did not have to check reports nor participate in discussions.
It was like playing hooky -- it was my birthday, after all!
Both hubby and I had plans for the day -- drive leisurely to Tagaytay and have lunch somewhere that didn't offer kiddie meals with toys, enjoy a family dinner with some cake and laughter. Oh, and I wanted to renew my driver's license first, before doing all these. After all, I had heard that the new LTO (Land Transportation Office) branch near our place was a "one-stop shop" where transactions could be done in a jiffy. Wow, efficiency seemed to have finally reared its head!
That was quite an assumption.
We arrived at the said new LTO branch before 8:30, and I was heartened that there were only a few people there. Quite the opposite of what I used to experience in other branches. Then I asked the "Information Officer" (IO) where I could renew my license.
IO: May drug test ka na? (Do you have your drug test results?)
Me: Oho. (Yes.)
IO: Kelangan mo magpa-medical? (Do you need a medical exam?)
Me: Oho, pero sabi sa akin dati magpa-medical lang ako sa kung saan ako magpapa-renew. (Yes, I do need a medical exam. I was told to have it at the LTO branch where I was going to renew my license.)
IO: Naku, wala kaming medical ngayon. (Oh, we don't have medical examinations today.)
Me: Bakti ho? (Why?)
IO: Kasi naka-leave pa yung doktor, di pa namin alam kung kelan babalik. (Because our doctor is on leave, and we don't know when he/she will return.)
Me: Wala hong ka-alternate? (Is there no alternate?)
IO: Wala e, balik ka na lang sa ibang araw. (No, you better come back another day.)
This, from a supposed "One-Stop Shop"! Part of me was having an Ally McBeal moment: blowing my top, stomping my feet, throttling the nonchalant staff, all while uttering a primal scream of rage.
But of course that was just in my mind. And so we went to another branch about an hour away. And I thought that this maybe better since it had a reputation among the drivers in our office for providing "faster" transaction times.
Another erroneous assumption.
We went through the whole rigmarole of getting a medical exam (reading the last 3 lines of a Snellen chart, having the height and weight measured, with some cursory questions on education and marital status by the medical officer), securing the form, getting a "control number", having one's photograph taken, giving the form to another officer, paying the requisite fee, and finally, finally, getting the license!
All this with huge chunks of time spent waiting. And waiting. And waiting some more.
I spent 5 hours in there. Long hours of interminable waiting.
The good thing is, I finally got my license. It will be another 3 years before I need to set foot in another LTO branch for a renewal. I do hope that the system would have evolved by then, and that the 5-hour wait would already be a 30-minute process.
I wish.
We ended up having lunch at a Chow King outlet. Which wasn't really all that bad, since the food was filling and tasty. My constant order from Chow King of sweet and sour pork was good enough. The beef mami (noodle) was quite a revelation -- with tender chunks and flavorful broth!
We then picked up 2 cakes from a Red Ribbon outlet -- Dulce De Leche and Mango Cake, and went directly home.
By this time we were quite drained.
Notwithstanding the LTO fiasco, I still think that the day was a great one:
And yet there was a difference. I did not have to go to the office. I did not have to plug in my laptop and check my email and attend to meetings. I did not have to check reports nor participate in discussions.
It was like playing hooky -- it was my birthday, after all!
Both hubby and I had plans for the day -- drive leisurely to Tagaytay and have lunch somewhere that didn't offer kiddie meals with toys, enjoy a family dinner with some cake and laughter. Oh, and I wanted to renew my driver's license first, before doing all these. After all, I had heard that the new LTO (Land Transportation Office) branch near our place was a "one-stop shop" where transactions could be done in a jiffy. Wow, efficiency seemed to have finally reared its head!
That was quite an assumption.
We arrived at the said new LTO branch before 8:30, and I was heartened that there were only a few people there. Quite the opposite of what I used to experience in other branches. Then I asked the "Information Officer" (IO) where I could renew my license.
IO: May drug test ka na? (Do you have your drug test results?)
Me: Oho. (Yes.)
IO: Kelangan mo magpa-medical? (Do you need a medical exam?)
Me: Oho, pero sabi sa akin dati magpa-medical lang ako sa kung saan ako magpapa-renew. (Yes, I do need a medical exam. I was told to have it at the LTO branch where I was going to renew my license.)
IO: Naku, wala kaming medical ngayon. (Oh, we don't have medical examinations today.)
Me: Bakti ho? (Why?)
IO: Kasi naka-leave pa yung doktor, di pa namin alam kung kelan babalik. (Because our doctor is on leave, and we don't know when he/she will return.)
Me: Wala hong ka-alternate? (Is there no alternate?)
IO: Wala e, balik ka na lang sa ibang araw. (No, you better come back another day.)
This, from a supposed "One-Stop Shop"! Part of me was having an Ally McBeal moment: blowing my top, stomping my feet, throttling the nonchalant staff, all while uttering a primal scream of rage.
But of course that was just in my mind. And so we went to another branch about an hour away. And I thought that this maybe better since it had a reputation among the drivers in our office for providing "faster" transaction times.
Another erroneous assumption.
We went through the whole rigmarole of getting a medical exam (reading the last 3 lines of a Snellen chart, having the height and weight measured, with some cursory questions on education and marital status by the medical officer), securing the form, getting a "control number", having one's photograph taken, giving the form to another officer, paying the requisite fee, and finally, finally, getting the license!
All this with huge chunks of time spent waiting. And waiting. And waiting some more.
I spent 5 hours in there. Long hours of interminable waiting.
The good thing is, I finally got my license. It will be another 3 years before I need to set foot in another LTO branch for a renewal. I do hope that the system would have evolved by then, and that the 5-hour wait would already be a 30-minute process.
I wish.
We ended up having lunch at a Chow King outlet. Which wasn't really all that bad, since the food was filling and tasty. My constant order from Chow King of sweet and sour pork was good enough. The beef mami (noodle) was quite a revelation -- with tender chunks and flavorful broth!
We then picked up 2 cakes from a Red Ribbon outlet -- Dulce De Leche and Mango Cake, and went directly home.
By this time we were quite drained.
Notwithstanding the LTO fiasco, I still think that the day was a great one:
- Hubby and I were able to take time off from work.
- I was able to get my driver's license, in an LTO branch that had an airy and spacious waiting area. There were no sweaty smells and elbows poking into one's personal space.
- We got to eat in a decent place. Sure, it wasn't the fine-dining establishment we were planning for, and it wasn't in Tagaytay. but it was a good meal nonetheless. Our hunger was assuaged, we went back well fortified for another round of waiting (we were caught by the lunch break at LTO).
- Hubby was extra patient chauffeuring me around, waiting with me, and asking the LTO officers about the status of the license.
- Friends and family sent greetings my way, which were much appreciated.
- I got a very sweet early-morning present from our older daughter -- a colorful drawing of a rainbow and a cheerful sun, which was part of the wrapping for her gift (a book) to me.
- We got to share a quiet family meal at home, with the toddler and the little girl.
- I was able to take stock of all the blessings that have come my way, with another year to look forward to.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
And So I Was Thankful
I was disappointed that it has started to rain again (it's supposed to be cool and dry this time of the eyar anyway!). But then I realized it helps maintain the nippy weather we've been experiencing so far. And so I was thankful.
I was frustrated that the toddler was so clingy today, and would not let me out of her sight without a howl of protest or trails of tears coursing down her apple cheeks. But then I realized that it only meant she wanted my presence and my hugs, and that the time will come when I will long for these moments. And so I was thankful.
I was irritated that the little girl touched my camera's lens with the tip of her broken papaya leaf stalk/make-believe sword, while I was snapping pictures of her and her sister in the backyard. But then I realized she was just so eager to humor me and pose for pictures, esp. with her en garde pose. And so I was thankful.
I was frustrated that the toddler was so clingy today, and would not let me out of her sight without a howl of protest or trails of tears coursing down her apple cheeks. But then I realized that it only meant she wanted my presence and my hugs, and that the time will come when I will long for these moments. And so I was thankful.
I was irritated that the little girl touched my camera's lens with the tip of her broken papaya leaf stalk/make-believe sword, while I was snapping pictures of her and her sister in the backyard. But then I realized she was just so eager to humor me and pose for pictures, esp. with her en garde pose. And so I was thankful.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Mixed Bag of Thanks
Today is a mixed bag for thanksgiving.
- Fever. No, I have not suddenly developed a variant of Munchausen syndrome by proxy! And while it pains me no end to see our toddler acting listlessly and feeling so warm in my arms, it also means that her body's immune system is trying to fight off whatever infection she may have contracted. After taking a dose of paracetamol though, her temperature went down a bit, and she appeared to regain some of her whirlwind ways. So now as I sit typing out this post, she is beside me, watching some Baby Einstein DVDs, babbling and jumping on the bed amidst my telling her to lie down and rest. I hope she gets back into tiptop shape in no time.
- A dificult elimination round for my older daughter's Math contest. She is one helluva smart girl. Scarily so, at times. She started talking at five months, walked by herself at ten months, could articulate her needs in complete sentences by fourteen months, and was speaking in complex statements before she was two. She knew how to read by three. She has zoomed through these milestones, and has developed a healthy level of self-confidence.
However, our fear is that she would take learning for granted, and believe that everything should come easily for her that she need only give minimal effort to something. This is what usually happens in her Math subject. She was recently chosen as one of her school's representatives for the MTAP (Math Teachers' Association of the Philippines) contest, and they had the written elimination round today. They have not received the results yet, but she told us that it was very difficult.
On one hand we are worried, as we want her to progress through to the next round. On the other hand, we see that this could be a learning point for her. We also want her to recognize that hard work is also needed, and that she will not be the winner in competitions simply because she wills it to happen. Slthough she did emerge the winner in an inter-school Science contest a few months back, so she could still be on a high from that one. Ah, such is life.
- Our older daughter's burgeoning independence. She is eagerly looking forward to her camping trip tomorrow, albeit only a day trip arranged by her school. One of the selling points for her is that no parents or companions are to accompany them. At times she still acts like a little kid and persists in asking me or her father to carry her, or scratch her hands or back before she falls asleep. But then she also insists on choosing her own clothes now and establishing her own fashion identity. And is adamant that we not call her by her pet names in school. She really is growing up. I am proud but melancholic.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Post-Christmas Stress Syndrome?
Yesterday was the first time this year that I missed a post. Yeah, we had a number of friends over for dinner, and yeah, we didn't really notice the time. And yes, there were the two little ones who were vying for attention that I sometimes wished I could split myself in two so I could give them undivided attention. I still felt a wee bit disappointed that I didn't manage even a few lines. But hey, I've forgiven myself for that now.
I'm in a mild funk at the moment, probably some form of post-holiday stress syndrome, haha! But yes, those two weeks of not having anything structured to do, of having a fluid and relaxed schedule, are really something I am quite grateful for.
I actually did get to do a number of things over the holidays, and I am thankful that I did have enough time to do them all:
I'm in a mild funk at the moment, probably some form of post-holiday stress syndrome, haha! But yes, those two weeks of not having anything structured to do, of having a fluid and relaxed schedule, are really something I am quite grateful for.
I actually did get to do a number of things over the holidays, and I am thankful that I did have enough time to do them all:
- Bake. And I mean, BAKE! As in huge loads of brownies and cookies, both for giving out as presents and for family requests. Choco-walnut brownies, cream cheese-coffee brownies, carrot bars, cream cheese cookies, among others! I somehow derive a whole lot more satisfaction out of making something for friends and loved ones, than just simply buying them off the shelves. Or if making something is not feasible, I do put a lot of thought into choosing presents. I do make a big deal out of Christmas -- it's the inner child in me!
- Puttered around and created some new accessories. A new-found hobby of mine, I discovered that I actually had a kikay side! I enjoy sifting through the varied beads I have, taking time to carefully design the piece, then fastidiously choose the stones, charms, chains and settings to shape the idea into reality. I never realized before how much preparation that actually took! It's so satisfying to hear someone express honest appreciation about my designs, all the more so when I see them wearing the pieces more than once, after the obligatory I'll-try-them-on-right-now-so-you-see-how-I-appreciate-your-gift.
- Played the Christmas CDs. I am a sucker for the traditional Christmas songs. I think I'm the one in the family who is most eager to listen to the classic tunes of Jingle Bells, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Let It Snow, Silent Night, and a host of other selections. It brings back vivid memories of our childhood Christmases, when our cares were centered around what was inside the gaily wrapped presents under the tree. I am able to recall specific instances in my life based on certain songs I associate with them -- what was playing at the time, or what were the hits during that timeframe. Fourth-year high school was "Heaven Knows", for example, while "The Promise" was sixth grade. I guess it's a bit weird, but that's me.
- Meet up with friends from waaaaay back. Not just from college, nor merely from high school. We're talking elementary days here. I do get surprised myself, whenever I count the number of years we've all known one another. It was a night of fun and laughter and reminiscences and catching up. And of course, loads of food! After all, what are holidays for?
- Walk with the kids. Around the residential area where we live, almost every morning and afternoon, sometimes even in the evenings. The nippy December air considerably added to the anticipation of these strolls. It was such a joy seeing the two little girls skipping merrily along, holding hands while jumping around, or simply just chasing each other.
- Be a shutterbug. In the past year or so, I developed quite an interest in photography. And while I have not had any formal training, I'd like to think that I do manage to snap some wonderful images here and there. The holiday break saw me with camera almost always in tow, happily shooting away. The only downside is, I'm normally on the other side of the lens, so I don't appear in too many photos! Oh well...
- Indulge in my passion for the printed page. Over the Christmas break I did get to read some volumes (oh joy!). Pity there weren't any more days to allow me to read a couple more. I've actually got a pretty good batting average when it comes to reading books. My personal goal is to read at least a book a week, and I've been able to top that for the last couple of years now. Call me geeky, but yes, I am a certified bookaholic.
- Shop. Christmas is the time for giving, after all. And not just for friends and family, but also for those who do not have the stable, regular (some would even say boring) lives we all take for granted. Choosing for the latter gave me a whole new perspective on needs and wants. An apt phrase comes to mind: "There, but for the grace of God, go I."
- Spend time with family. It's expected, I know. But the Christmas spirit somehow blankets people with a certain longing to be in the comforting shelter of family, take part in traditions, reconnect with people. We tend to look at things through a haze of holiday-induced benevolence, softening the once-jagged edges of past hurts, making people easier to laugh and to forgive. Maybe expectation breeds reality, but it somehow seems to work. People do appreciate one another more during Christmas. Love begets love. Generosity becomes the norm. Happiness easier to come by. Would that these could last longer than the December break.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Sleepyhead
I am about to nod off now. Thanks to plump, soft pillows, freshly laundred sheets, and a spacious bed. Hohum!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
The Weekend is Over
There's still about an hour and a half till midnight. The weekend is almost officially over. Another work-week looms ahead.
This weekend I am thankful that:
This weekend I am thankful that:
- The toddler has continued to sleep in a room shared with her older sister. She has seemingly made a seamless transition from her crib in our room, to a mattress in an adjoining room. Although I feel a bit surprised at times that I do not see her in her crib at night anymore, it has given us more sleep-time at least!
- We had leftovers for lunch. A surprising sentiment, one that I will admit I did not have at first, given that we had a full freezer and pantry anyway. But upon closer introspection, I have come to the conclusion that it is good to have some leftovers to eat at the next meal, than to have a dearth of food in the house. And it is also a way of giving thanks to the Almighty that we finish off the food that He has generously given.
- I still have time at night to read books! This is my "happy place", my antidote to things that encroach on my peace of mind.
The Gift of Daughters (The Thank You Chronicles: Jan 8)
I am grateful for:
- The chance to read Bible stories to our little girl, and answer her questions, and explain how these stories give valuable lessons that relate to everyday life. Her curiosity and numerous questions exhibit a hunger for knowledge that we should never ignore.
- Our toddler falling asleep in my arms. Every instance that I feel her baby weight in my arms becomes all the more precious when I think that in a few more years she will be too big to carry, and that she will want to fall asleep in her own bed, with her own rituals, her own pillows, her own dreams.
- The love that exists between our two daughters. Whenever we see them holding hands we breathe a simple prayer of thanks, and hope that this connection between them remain strong as they go through life.
Friday, January 7, 2011
It's Friday! (The Thank You Chronicles: Jan 7)
My Gratitude list for today:
- TGIF. Enough said.
- The two little whirlwinds are now deep in La-la-land.
- I can stay awake late into the night and sleep in next morning without feeling rushed nor guilty. Yay!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Games We Played (The Thank You Chronicles: Jan 6)
Electronic games stunt one's mental acuity, not to mention the havoc they wreak on one's physical well-being: staying too long in front of a computer damages one's eyes. Carpal tunnel syndrome becomes an inevitability. So does bad posture. And increased dependence on junk food.
At least, I had always thought so, until about ten or so years ago, when I was first introduced to the PlayStation, and the myriad games available for the choosing. Oh, that was the time when I could get glued to the controller for hours at a time. And not just on the arcade-type games like Bubble Breaker, or the somewhat nerdy ones like Jeopardy and Trivial Pursuit (I like them as well -- sue me!). I surprisingly enjoyed playing RPGs (role-playing games) such as Suikoden!
PS3. PSP. Wii. DS-Lite. GameBoy. The kids of today have numerous choices in games, what with the variety of game boxes and hand-held devices available. Nothing better to do? Grab the PSP, choose a game, and get lost in the alternate worlds offered by RPGs.
When I was young and we got bored on a lethargic summer afternoon, we'd just call our neighborhood friends and engage in a series of games that involved slippers, bottle caps, a bit of chalk, and just running around the streets. The electronic games we were familiar with then were the Game & Watch hand-helds (remember the ubiquitous Parachute, Popeye, and Mickey Mouse games) and Atari games (Pac-Man's hungry mouth chomping away on the zombies around the maze).
Ahh, those were indeed the days.
The recent Metro Manila Film Fest entry "RPG: Metanoia" was supposedly the first Philippine 3D animation movie. I've yet to watch it, but I've heard that it's actually quite good, with the storyline resonating with the Filipino viewer, while the graphics are not to be looked down on either. Too bad the title seemed to have alienated some potential viewers who were not familiar with computer game lingo -- what the heck was RPG supposed to mean for them?
With this brief reminiscence about games, both graphics-based and good, old-fashioned sweat-producing ones, I'm happy that I was able to enjoy the carefree times of my youth, when times were good enough that we could play safely on the streets.
Technology has indeed grown exponentially, and most of the things we take for granted today like mobile phones, tablet computers, wireless Internet, and email were not even in our radar screens then. We now have a whole host of entertainment options at our fingertips -- convenient, on-demand, high-tech. But the games of my youth still have their own special charm that cannot be easily replicated.
At least, I had always thought so, until about ten or so years ago, when I was first introduced to the PlayStation, and the myriad games available for the choosing. Oh, that was the time when I could get glued to the controller for hours at a time. And not just on the arcade-type games like Bubble Breaker, or the somewhat nerdy ones like Jeopardy and Trivial Pursuit (I like them as well -- sue me!). I surprisingly enjoyed playing RPGs (role-playing games) such as Suikoden!
PS3. PSP. Wii. DS-Lite. GameBoy. The kids of today have numerous choices in games, what with the variety of game boxes and hand-held devices available. Nothing better to do? Grab the PSP, choose a game, and get lost in the alternate worlds offered by RPGs.
When I was young and we got bored on a lethargic summer afternoon, we'd just call our neighborhood friends and engage in a series of games that involved slippers, bottle caps, a bit of chalk, and just running around the streets. The electronic games we were familiar with then were the Game & Watch hand-helds (remember the ubiquitous Parachute, Popeye, and Mickey Mouse games) and Atari games (Pac-Man's hungry mouth chomping away on the zombies around the maze).
Ahh, those were indeed the days.
The recent Metro Manila Film Fest entry "RPG: Metanoia" was supposedly the first Philippine 3D animation movie. I've yet to watch it, but I've heard that it's actually quite good, with the storyline resonating with the Filipino viewer, while the graphics are not to be looked down on either. Too bad the title seemed to have alienated some potential viewers who were not familiar with computer game lingo -- what the heck was RPG supposed to mean for them?
With this brief reminiscence about games, both graphics-based and good, old-fashioned sweat-producing ones, I'm happy that I was able to enjoy the carefree times of my youth, when times were good enough that we could play safely on the streets.
- Patintero. Which child of the 80s does not know of this much-loved game? A piece of chalk or a clay pot shard, wide enough streets, and a rabble of youngsters with pent-up energy like geysers about to erupt are enough to kick-start the game. Kids who could run like the wind and with arm-spans like eagles were prized team-mates. The triumph of being able to go through several "guards" and reaching home base without being tagged was simply exhilarating.
- Dr. Quack-Quack. No, this did not involve any form of imitation of ducks or any fowl. I'm unsure why it was called thus, but by golly, this was one of my favorite games ever! A whole host of kids tangling themselves up with one another: step between the arms of these two kids, go behind the others, turn around and go under the legs of another. These were the kinds of instructions the team leader spouted, at the end of which, "Dr. Quack-Quack" would then try to figure out a way to untangle the whole bunch. When the last kink was straightened out, it was a free-for-all race to the safe base! Hmm, even then I liked solving puzzles...
- Football. We called it football, but it was a mixed-up version with baseball rules as well. There was a diamond-shaped playing field, with a ball being kicked instead of being batted. It was always a grat joy to see the result of one's kick go sailing off into the distance, while keeping fingers crossed that the opposing team would not catch it while you were still running around the bases.
Technology has indeed grown exponentially, and most of the things we take for granted today like mobile phones, tablet computers, wireless Internet, and email were not even in our radar screens then. We now have a whole host of entertainment options at our fingertips -- convenient, on-demand, high-tech. But the games of my youth still have their own special charm that cannot be easily replicated.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Silver Linings (The Thank You Chronicles: Jan 5)
What a loooong day this has been! Meetings and discussions, numbers and presentations. Quite draining, to say the least. I'm drooping in my chair as I type.
Frustrating at times these may be, I nevertheless am thankful for:
Frustrating at times these may be, I nevertheless am thankful for:
- A toddler who's acting up and a little girl who's whining away. What's there to thank, you say? I ask myself that too, and at first I really do not see the silver lining to this cloud of grating whines and crocodile tears. But if I look hard enough, it's actually there! I'm thankful that they are able to express themselves and speak, that they have mentally and physically developed so well, that they can put their arms around me and give me kisses. They can certainly talk my ears off, babbling about anything and everything. I wish that they would stop. And in the next instant, I pray that they don't. Not for a couple more years yet. Now, if only they would go to bed earlier! Ho-hum!
- Work-home proximity. We're lucky to live so near our workplace. In five minutes we are literally at one place or the other. We can go home for lunch and see the kids. We can easily pop in at home to go back for something forgotten. But then again, we can also ba called back in pretty quickly. Ah, everything has trade-offs...
- Fluoride-free toothpaste. Our toddler uses SansFluo, which is good since a lot of the toothpaste she uses when brushing her teeth eventually ends up directly in her tummy I guess. She has a predilection for sucking on her brush bristles, so it's a load off of me that she won't have an overdose of fluoride, haha!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Wind, Hair, and DVDs (The Thank You Chronicles: Jan 4)
This has gotten to be a night-time ritual now -- recalling what I am thankful for, composing my thoughts, and committing them to (electronic) paper. It's actually quite relaxing.
Today I am thankful for:
Today I am thankful for:
- Wind. Not the blustery, whistling, scared-it'll-turn-into-a-twister type, but a soft breeze that gently rustles through the branches of the trees and invites one to step outside and jump on piles of fallen leaves that delightfully crackle against one's soles. January weather is my favorite, with sunlight not as harsh as the summertime scorchers, and the cool weather that does not yet (in general) bring torrential rains.
- Hair. My shorter hair, to be specific. I finally buckled down and had about 10 inches lopped off from my tresses. I hope it translated to an equivalent of 10 years off from my face as well, haha! My head feels as if a load has been taken off, I need less shampoo, and my natural curls are much more visible now. The next question now is: to have straight hair, or not? Hmmm...
- DVDs. I recently got a bumper pack of National Geographic DVDs, the whole collection of issues from 1888 (yes, you read that right, from the very beginning!) until December 2009, in 6 DVDs. It does sound incredibly nerdy of me to be happy about these, but hey, I never said I wasn't a geek! I can't wait to browse through them!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Christmas Blues
It creeps up on me in unexpected ways. I'd think that I was actually coping very well, and then suddenly, the tendrils of memory reach out and twine themselves around me, taking my breath away with the bittersweet sadness of it all.
I miss my mother. So much. It has now been 230 days. At times her memory is so bright and clear and sharp that I half-believe for a few moments that she is just a phone call or a text message away, that she will tell me what she had for dinner, or what she saw at the mall, or watched on TV. And yet some reminiscences are soft and blurry around the edges, and I have to focus to catch these fleeting vignettes -- her touching concern when my sister or I would be sick, the way she would send an SMS just saying "Hi".
After seeing her bravely face the "Big C", keeping as positive an outlook as possible the whole time, we all kept on praying and hoping that she would emerge victorious. But medicine had its limits, and her prognosis worsened. From praying for a full recovery, we eventually included asking for a peaceful transition from this Life to the Next.
I am very, very thankful that the latter was granted to us. That we, her family, were there with her in her last moments, hopefully helping ease her passing, if even for a second.
Christmas was "her" holiday. It was from her that I got my love of gift-giving and holiday decorations and Christmas songs. Of shiny wrapping paper and twinkling lights.
This Christmas was the first one we spent without her. A lot of the traditions continued -- putting up the Christmas tree and other ornaments, looking for the perfect presents, placing the red/green tablecloth on the table, the Christmas lunch with the family.
On the surface everything seemed to be unchanged. And yet things were never going to be the same again. For my father, for my sister, for me. And for the numerous lives she has touched over the years.
Life goes on. I miss her still.
I miss my mother. So much. It has now been 230 days. At times her memory is so bright and clear and sharp that I half-believe for a few moments that she is just a phone call or a text message away, that she will tell me what she had for dinner, or what she saw at the mall, or watched on TV. And yet some reminiscences are soft and blurry around the edges, and I have to focus to catch these fleeting vignettes -- her touching concern when my sister or I would be sick, the way she would send an SMS just saying "Hi".
After seeing her bravely face the "Big C", keeping as positive an outlook as possible the whole time, we all kept on praying and hoping that she would emerge victorious. But medicine had its limits, and her prognosis worsened. From praying for a full recovery, we eventually included asking for a peaceful transition from this Life to the Next.
I am very, very thankful that the latter was granted to us. That we, her family, were there with her in her last moments, hopefully helping ease her passing, if even for a second.
Christmas was "her" holiday. It was from her that I got my love of gift-giving and holiday decorations and Christmas songs. Of shiny wrapping paper and twinkling lights.
This Christmas was the first one we spent without her. A lot of the traditions continued -- putting up the Christmas tree and other ornaments, looking for the perfect presents, placing the red/green tablecloth on the table, the Christmas lunch with the family.
On the surface everything seemed to be unchanged. And yet things were never going to be the same again. For my father, for my sister, for me. And for the numerous lives she has touched over the years.
Life goes on. I miss her still.
Family Dinner Out (The Thank You Chronicles: Jan 3)
We had dinner out today: the hubby, the not-so-little girl, the toddler, and I. It was not a typical adult's ideal romantic dinner in a quiet, upscale establishment with silverware, cut-glass crystal and pristine tablecloths, with flattering lighting and unobtrusive staff -- it was most definitely nothing of the sort!
We ate at Pizza Hut. In a mall. With two kids in tow, that was the place that was least stressful as we could sit down and order instead of queueing, and there was enough space for them to move around.
No, it was not a romantic dinner at all. What it was, however, was a dinner that was centered on family. On love.
I am thankful for these today:
We ate at Pizza Hut. In a mall. With two kids in tow, that was the place that was least stressful as we could sit down and order instead of queueing, and there was enough space for them to move around.
No, it was not a romantic dinner at all. What it was, however, was a dinner that was centered on family. On love.
I am thankful for these today:
- Being able to go home early. Not that we played hooky or anything, we just (hubby and I) decided to pack our things and leave the office right after all commitments and meetings had been attended to, to be able to spend a bit more time with the kids. It being the first day of work for the year, people still seemed to be in a catch-up mode, wading through piles of email and reports, seemingly engrossed in solitary bubbles. Not a lot of meetings in the late afternoon, so off we went.
- The not-so-little girl was making strides toward being mature. For the most part, that is. She is still a little girl after all. But we were so proud of her, with almost no whining about why it was taking so long for her to have her much-awaited vanilla milkshake. She happily carried her baby sister's diaper bag with nary a complaint. She even ate all the food on her plate without too much prodding. Yes, these are the stuff of which parents' dreams are made.
- Baby's jolly utterances of "I Love You". Our toddler has exhibited a seemingly exponential spurt of verbosity during the holiday break, from identifying colors and shapes, to spouting off numbers and letters, to making a "roll call" of sorts among those in the house. But the most melodious amongst her utterances are these three words: "I... Love... Youuuuu!"
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Simple Weekend Pleasures (The Thank You Chronicles 2011: Jan 2)
It is now the second day of the year, and a Sunday, at that. It's the last day of our holiday break, boohoo! Tomorrow is another working day. There, the post-holiday blues have kicked in.
Oh well, time to plan for the next break then!
Still in keeping with my resolution to actively Give Thanks (see my previous entry), here are the things I am grateful to have experienced today.
Oh well, time to plan for the next break then!
Still in keeping with my resolution to actively Give Thanks (see my previous entry), here are the things I am grateful to have experienced today.
- Barney's "I Love You" song. With two kids under the age of seven in the house, it is inevitable that Barney (and Sesame Street, Dora, Little Einsteins, and the Backyardigans) figures a prominent role in their viewing habits. My husband and I have become so used to hearing Barney and company's songs that we have actually caught ourselves humming them, even when the TV is off! Talk about LSS (Last Song Syndrome). This morning, when the I Love You song came on, our toddler went to enfold her hand in mine ("Come on, Mama"), held her older sister's hand at the same time, and then we all swayed and sang to the ubiquitous Barney tune. It was not an earth-shattering performance, but it was heartwarming nonetheless.
- A midday jaunt around the golf course. At midday today the golf course was practically deserted, so the two kids and I walked over right after lunch and had an enjoyable time traipsing around, going up and down the mounds and just running around. The noontime sun was gentle, the breeze bracingly fresh. It was an absolute pleasure to see the little ones being so innocent and carefree. Would that I had more times like this with them.
- Having the hubby drive back home safely. He had to drive family members back to their place, and drove back to our home again, all in one day. I am thankful that he did not meet any road mishaps, nor get entangled in heavy traffic (esp. with people going back from their vacations and clogging up the roads). He may have arrived home a bit sore and tired from driving, but he is home, and he is safe.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Welcoming the New Year (The Thank You Chronicles: Jan 1)
It's the first day of the new year: 1-1-11. What an auspicious set of numbers! First day, first month of the new decade.
Cliched though it may be, it also signifies new beginnings, new chances. It might just be another day after all, in this cycle of life, but there is a certain psychological closure in ending a year and beginning the next. Calendars mark more than the passing of days, but provide emotional milestones as well. The concept of Janus as the god of doorways is quite apt, indeed.
Resolutions are de rigueur during the start of every year. Whether they are actually followed is beside the point. The mere thought of changing something, or doing something new, for the next 365 (or 366) days provides an energizing force for most, with he hope that these don't fizzle out and go pfft early on.
I have one resolution for the year, which I hope to sustain with the help of this blog.
It is to Give Thanks. To be more grateful for all the blessings I receive, and express my gratitude in a more immediate way. To recognize that everyday pleasures are gifts in and of themselves.
At least once a week, I would like to write about at least 3 things that I am most grateful for. At the end of the year, I would like to browse over these year-round entries, and smile at the recollection of all the good that has happened.
I would like to kick it off now:
Cliched though it may be, it also signifies new beginnings, new chances. It might just be another day after all, in this cycle of life, but there is a certain psychological closure in ending a year and beginning the next. Calendars mark more than the passing of days, but provide emotional milestones as well. The concept of Janus as the god of doorways is quite apt, indeed.
Resolutions are de rigueur during the start of every year. Whether they are actually followed is beside the point. The mere thought of changing something, or doing something new, for the next 365 (or 366) days provides an energizing force for most, with he hope that these don't fizzle out and go pfft early on.
I have one resolution for the year, which I hope to sustain with the help of this blog.
It is to Give Thanks. To be more grateful for all the blessings I receive, and express my gratitude in a more immediate way. To recognize that everyday pleasures are gifts in and of themselves.
At least once a week, I would like to write about at least 3 things that I am most grateful for. At the end of the year, I would like to browse over these year-round entries, and smile at the recollection of all the good that has happened.
I would like to kick it off now:
- The gift of a healthy and loving family. Sure, there may be times when the little ones are a bit too rambunctious, or the hubby seems to be too glued to the computer. But hey, isn't it better to see one's kids running around happily in the comfort of one's home, wanting their parents' company, than seeing them preferring to stay outside and be with others? That they have the energy to romp and tumble and sing and dance, than see them sick and weak with illness? That the hubby opts to spend time with the kids and have a bit of play-time at the computer, rather than playing around someplace else? It is all a matter of perspective.
- The gift of food, clothing and shelter. And so much more. We have been blessed to be able to provide these things to our family. There are times when we accept these as commonplace, and forget just how lucky we actually are. Then a trip to an orphanage, or a glance at those who can barely make ends meet, makes eveything come into focus once more. There, but for the Grace of God, go we.
- The gift of writing. I have always had an affinity with the written word, both in the reading and in the crafting of it. I hope to further hone this skill by writing more, and not just in the ways I have been used to. I'll make sure and provide updates on this blog...
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