Sunday thanks

I've always considered Sunday the last day of the week eventhough it doesn't look that way in the Western calendar. And I read somewhere ( I think Real Simple) that at the last day of the week, to lift up one's spirits, make a list in your journal of 5 things that you are thankful for. Though I don't really do this in a weekly basis, here's my latest list of "Thanks".......


1. For experiencing Ava's giggles and sweet smiles last night

2. For morning chitchats with my bestfriend Kathy who's all the way in Virginia.

3. For "good morning" text greetings from my friend Lady who's in San Francisco.

4. For cotton

5. For my mom's chicken tinola...the best ever!



.....here's a picture of chicken tinola from flickr

chicken ginger stew with vegetables, originally uploaded by garandee.

Day of the Dead

.....while growing up in my hometown of Bayombong , Philippines.....this is how a typical Day of the Dead went.....or as far as I can remember.......

We would wake up early partly because there were a lot of things to do and events that'll happen. Mostly because the importance of the day imposes itself upon us. You would feel that. We felt that. I felt that. Honestly, it wasn't a sad lonely day for us ( aside from the tears and the occasional wails from the elders during prayer time and the rare quiet times in the cemetery). Never was a sad day for me. Not until 1990 which was the year after my Grandpa's death. That's the only time I felt sad during Day of the Dead. But that's a different story. What I want to impart here is how a typical Day of the Dead went for us.

The time we would wake up, my Grandpa would be back home from the cemetery. He always attended the first mass on Sundays and likewise, he visited his parents' tombs at around the same time on Day of the Dead. At the break of dawn. By himself. My mom said he did that because just in case his parents' souls would visit in the later part of the day, when everyone is at the cemetery, someone in flesh and blood would be there at home waiting. I believe that but I also believe that he visited at dawn so he can have that quiet moment with them. Just like receiving Communion at first mass. So quiet because only a few people attend. So peaceful because the soul is at its calmest for it hasn't been dampened yet by the rigors of the day.

We kids would play and decide on our Halloween costumes. We always improvised. We never bought any costumes for Halloween. The grownups cooked. Relatives from Pangasinan would start arriving and then you hear it, the dialect that I never learned to speak but always understood. It's so funny how my mom and Auntie Nida would start speaking in Pangalatok when they are gossiping so we won't understand. I understood and would tell my mom what they talked about. I told her there's no point in doing that but still, even after decades, they still do it. Anyway, about the relatives, they would arrive on Day of the Dead to lead and join us in our "padasal" or Prayers for the Dead and then later on go with us to the cemetery. But here goes......I love seeing them and hearing them speak. It's like rock music to me you know. Fast and slowly gains volume. Aside from that though, what I love most are the delicacies they bring us....bukayo( candied coconut), malagkit( sticky rice) and tagapulot (molasses)....we would all feast on those after the prayer and after the cemetery visit.

Prayer for the Dead. Our Father. Hail Mary. Other prayers I don't know of. Wails. Tears. Voices gaining rhythm. Voices in synchrony. Our Father. Hail Mary. More Hail Marys.....

Then off to the cemetery. Everyone brought candles with them. My mom and aunts brought flowers. I made sure I looked good. No need to tell you why. Always traffic going to the cemetery. Always. I can't describe how crazy it was at the cemetery during Day of the Dead. So crazy that sometimes you'll get lost locating your relatives' tombs. Somewhat of a party or festival atmosphere. Lots of vendors. You see people you haven't seen in ages. You see people you didn't want to see. You see people you haven't seen before. Lots of socializing. Lots of reunion-type of interactions. Lots of gossips. Lots of laughter. I remember that.

Maybe that's why my Grandpa went at the break of dawn. He couldn't stand that kind of atmosphere. As a little girl, I loved that atmosphere and that's what I looked forward to. But I do understand him now.

And in 1990, 1st of November, I didn't feel the same sense of excitement.

After the cemetery, around 7 pm, we would all go home and us kids would start dressing up for my Cousin Gerald's annual Halloween party at their house. Me, my brother Mico and my cousins Charisse, Chubby and Erwin would all walk together to the Halloween party. We would be the youngest kids there. Most were high school kids like my Cousin Gerald. Ghost stories. A lot of "Spirit of the____" games. Spirit of the glass. Spirit of the pen. We had that party every year. It was like a tradition. Man, those parties were so much fun!

Then after that, all five of us would head home, watch Friday the 13 movies and scare each other to sleep. Oh, and yes, we told lots of ghost stories first.

And yes, that's how a typical Day of the Dead day went ...........Yes, I miss home.....I do......But I miss my cousins most.....And yes, I miss my Tatay and Nanay ( how I call my grandpa and grandma).....

Passing Afternoon #14

Rather than commenting to my last blog post, I decided to just post an entry related to that one....

......a conversation with my brother earlier today..............

Me: So what would you rather pursue, happiness or integrity?

My brother: You only live once....

Me: Happiness then?

Brother: some people cheat or do some dishonest things to achieve happiness

..... some are so truthful, live by their values ,adhere to moral

and ethical principles.....but are sad.....

Me: But in the end of it all, while in a hospital bed or a rocking chair, wouldn't it

give you a calm happiness......when you look back.....that you have lived a life

of integrity?

Brother: I guess.....you only live once......

Me: I know.....

.........Happy Friday!..............

One of my favorite bloggers' most recent post is making me think about what is most important to pursue in this life. She presented a choice between happiness and integrity. What do you think? What would you rather choose? What would be a worthier chase?

Thursday Afternoon.....Passing Afternoon # 13

.....You know her. She'll sing. She'll play. She'll laugh. She'll learn new things. She'll read. She'll shop. She'll cook. She'll travel maybe. She'll even dance. And yes, she might even twirl.....She'll carry on......

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cuteness that I've been fancying......lovely, lovely!....truly kawaii!.....Momiji dolls!

Bubble Momiji Doll Holiday 2009 and Coco Momiji Doll....both available at Moxie

.

Wednesday.........

Been listening a lot to Regina Spektor's song "On the Radio" from her Begin to Hope album. I first listened to this song two years ago and for some reason, it's been my just-got-out -of-bed song for the past two weeks. Her piano playing is so playful. I also love the lyrics on this one. Very simple but makes me think of a lot of things-life, hope, love, yearnings, pain, joy, friends......yes, friends especially....the part on listening to November Rain really got me/gets me.....I was in high school in the Philippines when November Rain( by Guns 'N Roses) became a hit. Me and my friends loved all the GNR songs and would sing them while hanging out together after dinner before our dorm curfew time....oh we loved to sing and what great times those were! Yes, great times.....



On The Radio
by Regina Spektor

This is how it works
It feels a little worse
Than when we drove our hearse
Right through that screaming crowd

While laughing up a storm
Until we were just bone
Until it got so warm
That none of us could sleep

And all the Styrofoam
Began to melt away
We tried to find some words
To aid in the decay

But none of them were home
Inside their catacomb
A million ancient bees
Began to sting our knees

While we were on our knees
Praying that disease
Would leave the ones we love
And never come again

On the radio
We heard, 'November Rain'
That solo's really long
But it's a pretty song
We listened to it twice
'Case the DJ was asleep

This is how it works
You're young until you're not
You love until you don't
You try until you can't

You laugh until you cry
You cry until you laugh
And everyone must breathe
Until their dying breath

No, this is how it works
You peer inside yourself
You take the things you like
And try to love the things you took

And then you take that love you made
And stick it into some
Someone else's heart
Pumping someone else's blood

And walking arm in arm
You hope it don't get harmed
But even if it does
You'll just do it all again

And on the radio
You hear, 'November Rain'
That solo's awful long
But it's a good refrain
You listen to it twice
'Cause the DJ is asleep

On the radio, on the radio
On the radio, uh oh, on the radio, uh oh
On the radio, uh oh, on the radio

Kaya mo yan

It's heartbreaking what's happening to my country right now. Seems like the gods are really angry....seems like they've unleashed their wrath this time......and I can't really do anything but to just pray and hope that all these devastation will end soon .....and silently whisper " kaya mo yan, kaya mo yan, makakaraos ka rin, babangon ka rin, babalik din ang saya at kasaganaan sa yong lupain.....uunlad ka rin.....kaya mo yan, kaya mo yan, ikaw pa....ikaw pa....matatag....magiting.....kaya mo yan"...........

Good morning.....

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I Sing

I sing to use the waiting
My bonnet but to tie,
And close the door unto my house
No more to do have I

‘Till his best step approaching,
We journey to the day,
And tell each other how we sung
To keep the dark away.

- Emily Dickinson

Passing Afternoon #12....12:54 pm....

( an attempt this afternoon....)

........moments with you are ephemeral.......

............yet they are beautiful........so beautiful.....

.........like your soul..........

........though fleeting these moments are......

...........what I feel for you will last.....it will....

.........trust me..........

have a good afternoon :)

This weekend, I beg you to relax..........

..........stretch.......meditate.........relax........please....happy weekend!

......following are images from TOAST House and Home Autumn/Winter 09 Catalogue

Passing Afternoon #11.....Death

...................seems more of an occurrence nowadays. Maybe that's a sign that I am indeed getting older......more and more people I know or are acquainted to are dying or facing death....public figures, celebrities and entertainers who I admire and relate to are passing away.....I've been having more frequent thoughts about death- how I would take it if someone so dear to me dies and how about my own death, if ever......scary thought, I know.....

....................most of the time I'm just there outside a situation involving death, observing the coping process and the people who just lost someone really close.....some of them seemingly goes on with their normal lives after just a few days or weeks ....but there would always be someone who lives with the sadness caused by the loss for years and years, not moving on, living but dead in the inside.....and several times I'll catch myself with the " he/she should just move on, live life, enjoy life, live in the now" kind of comment.......true, we should live life and move on because we only have one life to live but then again, I, for one , haven't really experienced such hurt or loss in my life.......and I fear that day........I fear that day more than my own death....

Patrick Swayze....1952-2009

Rest in Peace Patrick Swayze.....

It's full...

It's full..., originally uploaded by manganite.

...but nonetheless, good Tuesday morning to you.....hang in there......:)

Hello Kitty bayong....

Birthday gift from Kathy and her girls.....so cute!...so kawaii!.... i love it! They said it'll be perfect for carrying my amigurumi critters with me. And inside the bag are two Harajuku Lovers perfume (Baby and Love), a Hello Kitty card carrier for my business cards and a pair of Hello Kitty flip flops. I may have turned ___ but this is making me feel like I'm a little girl. And, it's fun!

Rockstar!

rockstar, originally uploaded by Supercapacity.

Well she surely is one! Are you? Do you dream to be one? What song would you be singing? Rock on!


Happy Friday everyone! Mabuhay!

Good night. Hope you'll have a peaceful sleep tonight. I leave you now with some words of wisdom from the great Philosopher, Lao Tzu.....

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."---Lao Tzu

.....so dream now, wake up, live, let be, let go.....

image via weheartit

Feet in bloom

.....she woke up today and saw flowers on her feet......

.............and then she felt somekind of a fever.....an urge.....

..................to just dance, dance, and dance all day...........

( shoes by Chie Mihara; available at Anthropologie)

****I just had to feature this beautiful pair. I can't afford it but it'll be there in my dreams. And such delight it is just looking at them.....oh, shoes!

Birthday...a day after...a hodgepodge of thoughts....

.......my cousin Eileen brought me a box of cupcakes from Frosted Cupcakery.....I think by now you should know that I love cakes and pastries and I get very excited about red velvet cupcakes.....red velvet cupcake with cold milk....perfect combination...thanks cousin!

......birthdays and even any ordinary day are best spent with people we love and make us laugh.....like friends and family.......I feel so blessed because I spent my birthday weekend with my best friend Kathy and her girls, Mia and Kimmie. We went to see "Ponyo" and it was so fun watching the girls' faces light up with joy watching Ponyo and her goldfish siblings. These girls melt my heart.....they do.....and of course, their mom.....my soul sister....my best friend....

......Mia whispered to me, " Auntey, my birthday wish for you is that you'll live closer to me".....

.......dinner was at home with my parents, my brother, his wife and their daughter, baby Ava Madilyn.....I love staring at Ava while she sleeps and watching various expressions in her face...sometimes she will pucker her lips.....twice I caught her laughing....at times she will frown.....and her chubby cheeks! Awwwww..........

.......On the day that Ava arrived into this world, I felt a different kind of joy which I know I felt before but never was able to define. The kind of joy that made me let go of all my worries, frustrations , heartaches and whatever other baggages I was carrying. The kind of joy brought about by love in it's purest form. Unconditional love. Love for Ava.....

......love in it's purest form......

.....friends and family, love, joy, cupcakes, endless laughter shared with friends at California Wok, greetings from dear friends who live close and far, goofing around with Mia, pansit and leche flan.....who can ask for a better birthday?

..... I'm happy. I'm content. I might feel differently tomorrow. I will surely be melancholic on Mondays. I will yearn and miss him who I've been talking about in my past blogs. I will have those days when I will feel sad just because.......but for now, right now, I'm content and I believe that is a good thing.....so whatever tomorrow brings, so be it........

Passing Afternoon #10........( Passing evening to be exact)

, originally uploaded by Lívia Cristina.

What if I type a letter for you? Would you appreciate that? Would you rather have that than a handwritten note? The way I know you, you'd like that........I mean, you'd like both.....you'd prefer them over emails and such....

My fingers struggle.........

My mind wander to that time with you......years ago......

I feel the stiffness in my joints.....

I think of you......

I type.....

photo via flickr

Ginebra.......(on a Saturday Morning)....and some interesting facts...

Hehe, got you there! Was looking for a happy photo from my Cousin Ge's flickr collection when I saw his set on Ginebra, the very famous gin in the Philippines...Ika nga, "inumin ng tunay na lalaki"....O di ba! When I saw his set on Ginebra, I knew right away that I have to blog about it. I know it's not really in line with my usual "cute, happy, kawaii" mood but it's truly Filipino, his shots are excellent and of course the Ginebra San Miguel logo is something to behold....did you know that it was designed by one of the Philippines' greatest artist Fernando Amorsolo?...It's a photo of St. Michael vanquishing the devil...."Markang Demonyo"...
More interesting facts about Ginebra here.

Magandang umaga!