Just Tooo Cute

Spawns!

Haven't caught up with sleep yet. Worked until 12 midnight last night. Then watched CSI until 2 am. I miss Grissom. But Laurence Fishburne works too.

Posting a picture of my siblings. It was by accident that we did get together - all seven of us. My brother's flight was canceled because there was a runway problem. He and his guests, wife and daughter were forced to spend the night and that was why we finally got together - all seven.

Some people get shocked sometimes at our sarcasm. We can't be corny to each other. It's just too ... uncomfortable. But though we do fight and have our differences, we are bound by blood and I think that helps us forgive each other or at least know that we can't get rid of each other that easily. There's love in there somewhere - LOL. I think we all know that no matter what happens, we will always have each other's back. Sounds like we survived a war together or something - hehe but I guess we had. Revolutions and world war, even alien attacks :)

So here's the pic of my siblings and my Dad. How we all fit in this strange but enjoyable sarcastic family we grew up in is a miracle. But hey, me thinks miracles happen in my family everyday - hahaha.

A quick intro:
The reformist is the eldest and is a lawyer.
The conscience is born 2nd and is a priest.
The ring leader is also the court jester and is a computer analyst for Apple.
The visionary is the eldest of the girls and is a government employee, an event planner and a video editor all rolled up in one.
The dreamer, well, that's fat little me, a government employee who sidelines as a web and graphic designer.
The cynic is the youngest female and works unbelievable so, for the Church - the Archdiocese of Jaro.
The skeptic is the youngest, was a menopausal baby who now works as a Java Programmer for Headstrong and will be leaving for the US soon.
The reason for all of us is my dear old Dad. Nanay must be turning on her grave right about now and cracking tears of laughter.

Among the seven, only two are married, three have kids, and only two finished college in four years like normal people do. There are 27 college courses between all of us, 10 of those were my Dad's :) The apple doesn't fall far from the tree as you can see. Two live in Manila and the rest choose to stay here in Iloilo. Six of the seven wears glasses. Four smoke once in awhile. Three have asthma (including the one who smokes). Each one owns at least a PC or a laptop so we constantly communicate online. All seven are as opinionated as my Dad. At my mother's wake, we all found out that each one of us were told secretly, that we were my mother's favorite child :) We speak Hiligaynon but we argue in English. I don't know why that is.

Just imagine what our house would look like if we had a party and invited all our friends :) They usually fill every room in the house plus the sidewalk across the street.

You know something good is going to happen ...

- when you wake up to guitar music of your fave songs playing from your nephew's bedroom.
- when the lcd light of your old cd player decided to illuminate itself after disappearing for the last nine years.
- Korean pop music on cd.
- when office mate forgives you for a boo boo you were responsible for.
- when you realize you have enough money to pay your bills for the month :)
- when you have warm Century tuna for breakfast.
- when only two projects are listed in bulletin board on a long weekend.
- when your anticipating a sibling reunion (all seven) at the end of the weekend.
- when niece shows up with your "Breaking Dawn" book that turned missing months ago.
- when wi-fi in laptop suddenly fixes itself and you can now blog in bed and write about the good things going to happen.
- when brother brings home episodes of CSI you haven't seen before.
- when you pray and find God laughing at you because he seems to think your funny.
- new shoes ;)

But then again, good things always happen. It's a matter of knowing where to look for it and having the right attitude.

I believe the world conspires to make me happy :)

Amen.

Moments

Just a quick reminder of why we need to live today and not dwell too much in the past or worry so much about the future. Saw this in Toni's blog.



I think it's brilliant. And touching.

Frontline

12:30 pm. – NOT MY USUAL DISCOURTEOUS SELF AT ALL! I’m at the front desk of a government building saying “Hello, Good afternoon.” to everyone coming my way. Why? Well, someone had this brilliant idea NOT to hire a front desk clerk for the Anti-red Tape Act Implementation which includes Frontline services such as this. Instead of hiring someone, they had assigned duty hours to employees to “man” the desk. (Um, I was told they were planning to get someone to do this job but I wonder why they can’t find anyone to volunteer – hmmmm – not really a question for Einstein is it?).

Each office sends a sacrificial lamb everyday to the front desk. Today, I’m the lamb – or should I say, goat – a more appropriate term for my disposition and outlook – hahaha.

I should not complain really. My duty is just for four hours. I’ve come prepared. I have a very thick folder of CSS notes I’ve been wanting to read, a notebook, and just to make sure I don’t go into coma because of boredom, I brought my laptop (I now see why God wanted me to buy a laptop. He knew I was going to do front desk duty – bwahaha).

1:23 pm. It’s bearable for now. I don’t know how long I can stand this but I’m at least going to try. I just hope I don’t meet any politicians today. Ironic for someone who works for the government, I know. But I just hate politicians. Can I say that again? I HATE POLITICIANS! There, that makes me feel so much better ;)

A group of UP students just came by. They said they were here to observe – what exactly – they didn’t say. Maybe it’s top secret? Ok, bear with me. I can’t concentrate on my reading and I don’t have wifi down here. So I’m going to make fun of people so as not to go crazy.

2:09 pm. Uh-oh. I’m bored. And thirsty. I should have brought something to drink. A woman asked for the Iloilo Midwife Association or IMAP. I don‘t know where it is but it’s definitely not in this building. Directed her to the Health Office – maybe they would know? Another asked for the Registry of Deeds. Duh! Pointed them out of the building and gave them directions. I was friendly and polite mind you. I keep telling you, in this desk, I am not myself. That’s hard work!

2:21 pm I’m dying here. There is a very good reason why I work in front of a computer and not in front of people. I have a huge respect for people behind this desk. But I absolutely have no patience for it.

2:55 pm. Relief. Asked someone from the office to send me cold water. Thirst gone. Also had my external hard drive delivered. Boredom relieved for a few more minutes. It’s a loooooong afternoon. Next time, I’ll think I’ll opt for morning duty.

3:30 pm. An hour and a half to go. Now I need to pee. LOL.

4:00 pm. One hour. It’s not so bad if you have something to do on your hands. I’ve been organizing my template files on my external hard disk and have created templates for my css and html with a wide variety of font stacks. People I know pass by and chat a bit. And go back to their original agenda. I haven’t been asked hard questions so it’s not so bad. I want some coffee right about now but I can wait another hour. I wonder if I need to stay here until the employees line up for time-out?

4.55pm. I can go. Pistachio nuts –the reward for the weary front desk clerk

Roxas Trip

Back to the daily grind :)

All shots taken with my trusty old Canon A400 Point and Shoot.

from Roxas

Basking in my own simple idea of comfort somewhere in Roxas City. Staying at the cozy Palace Central near the City Hall. They have wifi but unfortunately can't seem to connect using my laptop - it does that sometimes and I want to have that checked when I get back to Iloilo. Anyways, right now I'm using my companion's Rose's laptop. Needed to check emails and read on my favorite blogs - a daily dose of therapy. Now that's done, I'm off checking news on ... hahaha ... never mind. I'm about to hit my head with my phone for not being able to break the habit. But I miss miss miss (toot) terribly. Hay! Lea, hit me on the head will ya?!

A client just sent me ideas for her website and and another wanted me to make edits on labels. Sigh. I want to work on them right away but am stopping myself. I'm away from my PC and must not think of work for now. At least for a few more days.

Had dinner at the beach yesterday. Ate yummy shrimps and took pics of the sunset. I don't know where we're going today but I like Roxas City so far. Oh, except for the toilet on where we are having the seminar. They don't clean it as well as the inn where I'm staying. I'll make it a point to take a look around tomorrow. Tonight I just wanna catch up on my reading and play dead ... stay still like a cucumber. Hah!

ah! enough! bye for now.

My My My Minuet

Just like listening to this song. The above version is by Park Hyekyung (heard it first in one of the WGM episodes). The lyrics are REALLY CHEESSY! in English which is why I like the Korean version - I don't have to listen to the words but I understand what it means ;)

I love the Minuet. I have the "Master and Commander" version in my computer - the one where Russell Crow played the violin (was it a violin?). Wait, that wasn't the Minuet. That was the Prelude - LOL. Still. Don't you just love JSB? I think Bach should be a requirement in elementary school even though he might not be the one who composed it - :) I'm sure they will get to the songs he didn't compose eventually.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"A Lover's Concerto" is a pop song written by American songwriters, Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell, and recorded in 1965 by The Toys. Their version of the song was a major hit in both the United States and the UK during 1965. It peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number two.

Critic Dave Thompson wrote, "Few records are this perfect. Riding across one of the most deceptively hook-laden melodies ever conceived ... 'A Lover’s Concerto' marks the apogee of the Girl Group sound." The song also had an unusual structure that blurred the differences between its verses and choruses.

Linzer and Randell based the melody on the familiar "Minuet in G major" from J.S. Bach's Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach. One key difference is that the "Minuet in G major" is written in 3/4 time, whereas "A Lover's Concerto" is arranged in 4/4 time. (Although often attributed to Bach himself, the "Minuet in G major" is now believed to have been written by Christian Petzold. The Notebook, a gift from Bach to his second wife Anna, begins with works by Bach but also included many blank pages, onto which members of the family copied works that they liked to play; the famous minuets in G major and G minor are not in Bach's handwriting.)

If you need the lyrics, here's part of it in the video:

A Good Year

Sigh. A lot of tears falling today. Every time I see Kris Aquino cry on tv, I cry too. And I don't like Kris Aquino very much - LOL. Exasperating really but can't help it. My mom died of colon cancer too.

I bawled when the Apo and other singers sang "Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo". Feel ko gid ang pagka-Pinoy ko. I was 15 years old when Edsa I happened. I remember riding towards the Capitol with people rejoicing and streets covered with yellow confetti. I didn't know who Cory was then but I was just glad that Marcos was out :)

Maybe my sister is right. She said this year IS a good year to die. A lot of good people passed away this year. Death certainly changes things. But it doesn't stop life, does it?

Hope. There is always hope. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

My Blog turns Five

My Blog is five years old today. Let me celebrate with Corinne Bailey Rae :)



My sentiments exactly. Here's my first post. Sigh! I keep forgetting his birthday. I'm sure he feels relieved - hahaha. I'm in a better place. And hope he is too ;)


Just like a star across my sky,
Just like an angel off the page,
You have appeared to my life,
Feel like I'll never be the same,
Just like a song in my heart,
Just like oil on my hands,
Honour to love you

Still I wonder why it is,
I don't argue like this,
With anyone but you,
We do it all the time,
Blowing out my mind,

You've got this look I can't describe,
You make me feel like I'm alive,
When everything else is au fait,
Without a doubt you're on my side,
Heaven has been away too long,
Can't find the words to write this song,
Oh... Your love,

Still I wonder why it is,
I don't argue like this,
With anyone but you,
We do it all the time,
Blowing out my mind,

Now I have come to understand,
The way it is,
It's not a secret anymore,
'cause we've been through that before,
From tonight I know that you're the only one,
I've been confused and in the dark,
Now I understand,

I wonder why it is,
I don't argue like this,
With anyone but you,
I wonder why it is,
I wont let my guard down,
For anyone but you
We do it all the time,
Blowing out my mind,

Just like a star across my sky,
Just like an angel off the page,
You have appeared to my life,
Feel like I'll never be the same,
Just like a song in my heart,
Just like oil on my hands

He Flies Back

Two years ago, a crow perched itself by my window and we had a lovely time. Out of the blue, he flew back in and nothing seems to have changed. Well, maybe except me - hahaha. I love interesting conversations. Kahit walang seryoso na pinaguusapan. Was is in the movie Benjamin Button, that said: We never seem to remember the names of the people who make a significant impact in our lives? Or something to that effect? Button was referring to the lady who taught him how to play the piano in the retirement home?

crow: hi miss beautiful. hoy gising
me: sino ka?
crow: oy di na ko kilala
me: sino ka nga?
crow: hulaan mo
me: hint
crow: make a guess
me: pahingi nga ng clue
crow: im from manila.
me: um ... ikaw si Erap? hahaha
crow: try again
me: ur from Ateneo?
crow: im not that rich
me: UP then
crow: someone u love
me: hahahaha. laking clue yun (finally realizing who he was and nothing to do with his clue – bwahaha)
crow: oh, im not the only one
me: ur from Santo Tomas. formerly Batangas boy ka. u worked in Iloilo for sometime. got into trouble. got religious and moved back to manila. but for the life of me, i cant even remember ur name. tama ba?
crow: yap, you got it baby
me: ano nga pangalan mo?
crow: (bleep)
me: (bleep) ba? buhay ka pa pala. wer ka na ngayon?
crow: nasa makati ulit, naghahanap ulit ng gulo
me: haha. nasa nature mo naman yata yun eh
crow: ang galing naman how you describe me "got religious and moved back to manila"
me: hahaha. I introduced you to the adoration chapel. yun yung naalala ko
crow: yes, and thanks for that, it helped me a lot during that time
me: good. pogi points sa heaven for me. if there is a heaven
crow: galit ka na naman ba sa mundo? the way you speak up parang may galit ah
me: on the contrary. i love the world. i love life. i just dont believe in religion nor marriage nor ... marami pa. iniba mo yata ang paningin ko sa buhay eh. kaya kasalanan mo to.
crow: ako na naman, sinasabi ko na nga ba
me: o di ba. at least lasting yung memory mo kahit di maremember yung pangalan hahaha
crow: e bakit ako, di ko nalilimutan pangalan mo
me: pero convenient nga that i have my name onscreen di ba
crow: can we change the topic and discuss something more significant
me: hahaha. which is?
crow: ewan ko
me: ano nga ba significant ngayon? con-ass? ang sakit ni Cory? Ah1n1? lovelife mo na lang kaya? ayun significant yun
crow: kumusta ang love life mo ngayon
me: sabi ko lovelife mo
crow: naalala ko lang ng andyan pa ako, tayong dalawa. do u still remember?
me: ay oo. I was young. It wont happen again
crow: your response is so cold, i feel it, bakit kaya
me: hahaha. cold ba? di uy
crow: yon yong pakiramdam ko, parang bale wala sa yo
me: as i recall, what we had was what it was. nothing more, nothing less (his own words two years ago :P ). di naman cold yun. ganun lang talaga yun
crow: oo nga. kailan kaya mauulit yon
me: eto talaga
crow: punta ka naman dito sa manila
me: i did. didnt know where to find u. kaya umuwi na lang ako
crow: sayang ah. kailan yon. ngayon pwede na, sabihin mo lang kung pupunta ka dito
me: sige. next trip ko yata 2015 pa eh. hehe
crow: buhay pa kaya ako. sige lang pag nagpunta ka dito prompt mo ko, pag nagpunta ako dyan sabihin ko sa yo
me: opo (bleep). got to go. work pa ko. alis ko early office ngayon
crow: mamaya na lang kung kailan gumaganda ang kwentuhan, saka naman mawawala
me: cant help it if I'm interesting
crow: I dont get you
me: (in my mind – Um ... You never did :) ) hahaha. cge na bye na. mag pakabait ka ha
crow: how can i contact you?

And so it ends again. As fast as the wind sweeps in, so it sweeps out - hahaha. No regrets :)