January 24th, 2012 — Uncategorized
1. The flower arrangement I took home has a live cactus plant with roots. I set the seedling bag on my windowsill and promise it/her/him a nice new pot as soon as possible. It/her/him drinks in the sunshine in reply. Now, what do I name my new pet...?
2. Gianne offers us a unique Chinese Lunar New Year treat: tikoy wrapped in a turon wrapper. Gone in 10 seconds.
3. Things that scare me but which I hope to learn within the next decade:
a. Cook and grocery shop in a real palengke/market
b. Iron clothes
c. Do CPR
d. Drive a car in Manila
e. Swim
f. Shoot a gun
g. Stock market investment sans brokers
h. Run a marathon
i. Do household accounting
j. Be a wife and a mother
January 23rd, 2012 — Uncategorized
1. It is almost midnight when we finish packing up after coordinating a beautiful Tagaytay Highlands wedding. I am infinitely grateful for getting a free ride at such a late hour and how a spot of engine trouble miraculously goes away.
2. We get to Manila in the wee hours of Sunday, so the Aranetas kindly adopt us for the night. While I miss the hammocks in their UPLB home, but bunking on the floor is just as fun. Our hosts are what I want my future family to be like: loving parents, talented and capable kids, God-fearing, avid bookworms, watches TV rarely (which is probably why Jed honestly did not know who Christian Bautista is), and with a warm, welcoming home.
3. The tavern adventurers have a celebratory game for Timmy's second birthday. The GM hatches a clever story within a story within a story plot, the newbies vainly attempt to alert the party to this new development, and we dispatch a land-octopus and a shadow dragon. And no TPK, hurrah!
4. I avail of the Smartconcepts Mont Albo massage coupon for a free 1 hour Filipino hilot with bentosa session. My aching feet and back are happy again.
January 16th, 2012 — Uncategorized
1. My first ever nephew (and the second grandchild in the clan) makes his appearance before midnight of Friday the 13th. Welcome to the family, Ar-J! I have not seen him up close yet, but the photo show chubby cheeks and that he thankfully also takes after my sister in law, not my brother. The pressure to produce the next generation is so totally off my shoulders, hurrah!
2. A day of focused brainstorming means I'll have a lot to look forward to this summer. Exciting days ahead for us passionate people.
3. I access the online resources and find a wealth of data, on top of the dozen or so studies I already have from an afternoon of digging through ten years' worth of language journals. Now I have to read all of them. Such a happy problem.
January 8th, 2012 — Uncategorized
1. It is my first time to work offsite this weekend, and it goes smoothly. Internet is surprisingly fast, Athena cooperates, and I manage to go to the dentist, grocery shop and cook pork sinigang while the goods are buffering. The wonders of flexitime.
2. I realize that I am an abstainer, not a moderator, as explained in the Happiness Project. I don't have a middle ground or a medium setting. No blurred lines or gray areas for me. I am on or off, up or down, high or low, hot or cold, passionate or disinterested, stop or go, silence or sonic boom, all or nothing, sink or swim, do or die.
So this season, I need to abstain. I have to simplify, retreat, surrender and focus. Because I choose to be still, listen, read, think and write instead. Just until this is finished and the seasons change.
3. I can soooo relate to these thesis-related, grad student written blogs... click here, here, and here to know why.
And this might just help me get unstuck.
And the deadliest deadlines are:
January 6th, 2012 — Uncategorized
1. Workers put up colorful paper dragons on the street lights to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year. Their scarlet tails flutter in the breeze.
2. "You really like soup, don't you?" my Ian observes as we have our lunary date at Som's Noodle House in Mandaluyong. I grin in response since I am too intent on inhaling my bowl of tom yam. The beef phad thai is not bad either.
3. My new pixar-like lamp casts a warm glow in my reading nook. Thanks Ivy!
January 5th, 2012 — Uncategorized
1. Parental units are dropping by my place today, so I dash to straighten things up before going to work. I wipe the dust off my mom's round flower vase. It gleams a deep crimson.
2. They inspired me to write again. My current mountain of pebbles: calling, vocation, ministry, career, job, purpose, gifts, passion, read, write, discuss, engage, plan, dream, people, friends, organize, impact, word, know, imagine, create, change, flow, decide, discipline, finish, graduate, serve, early, love, family, children, home, intimacy, presence, God.
3. I have someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for in 2012. And my word for this year is focus.
Image is from Splendiferous.
January 3rd, 2012 — Uncategorized
1. Everything goes smoothly on the first working day of the year. I manage to get to work in 30 minutes, accomplish an amazing amount of work, and cook four brown bag meals in just an hour.
2. Lechon paksiw for brunch and buko pandan for dinner.
3. And these are my goals for 2012:
a. Intimacy with the Almighty
b. Finish what I started - MA
c. Get fit - health
d. Freedom fund - wealth
e. Be on time
f. Calling - teach
January 2nd, 2012 — Uncategorized
Three Blessings for the 2012 New Year.
1. I have started simplifying my life, specifically my space, schedule and spending. The last day of 2011 and a bit of the next is devoted to uncluttering my pad. I cheerfully dispatch old papers, ill-fitting clothes, one-time reading books, more papers, plastic bags, falling-apart purses, expired products, broken furniture, cardboard boxes, empty bottles, dust bunnies, etc, etc. Now, my place can be called cozy instead of cramped. I'm just following the advice here about being frugal by getting rid of the non-essential.
Then, I identify my priorities for this year. I have come to realize that I need to give up what's good in order to achieve what is best. I trim down my schedule so that I only have two activities per day and can observe the Sabbath. I put in margins so that I can actually be on time instead of ending up late for one thing because my previous appointment got delayed. I am learning how to focus and when to say no. After all, I cannot buy or take back time, so I resolve to use it wisely.
Finally, inspired by this post, I tweak my budget so that I can actually save something for my freedom fund this year.
2. It is my first time to greet the New Year alone. Media noche is a simple meal of dumpling soup, dried seaweed and rice, along with a cup of brewed coffee. At midnight, I take a break from house cleaning and watch the fireworks from my balcony.
Quite a relaxing experience after the holiday frenzy.
3. He reminds me that nothing in His control is ever out of control. My life is in His hands, and I am content.
December 29th, 2011 — Uncategorized
1. The drive from Ortigas to UP Diliman is an amazing half hour, thanks to the holidays. I wistfully wish that travelling in the city is always this fast, and my Ian readily agrees.
2. He orders Rodic's famous Tapsilog for take-out dinner. It comes in a handy box of piping hot rice mixed with sweet-salty bits of beef, topped with a fried egg. My Ian lets me sneak bites of his food in exchange for half my portion of his mom's macaroni salad. He clearly expects me to learn how to make it, and I'm not sure whether to be inspired or intimidated.
3. We stroll from the Shopping Center to the Amphitheater, my hand in his and our heads in the clouds. Impromptu plans, the trees, the cold evening air, a semi-deserted street, no classes, the sound of the crickets, a delicious dinner and dreams of tomorrow. Best holiday date ever.
December 1st, 2011 — Uncategorized
1. Across the jeepney, a fluffy marmalade cat dozes on the lap of a fellow passnger. It opens one eye, looks at me haughtily, and goes back to sleep. Beside the cat is a woman with a bouncing baby girl, busy chewing on her mom's bag strap. Cuteness abounds.
2. I have missed a lot of cantata rehearsals, so Dawn kindly teaches me the steps and blocking. Thankfully, I manage to nail the choreography in one go.
3. My Ian fetches me from choir practice bearing Ernie and a cup of coffee. He has booked us on a Manila Bay Dinner Cruise by Prestige Cruises. The boat glides smoothly over the black water as it circles the bay, offering a sparkly view of my hometown's skyline. We ignore the disappointing food and noisy kids running around; instead we gaze out at the city lights and enjoy each other's company.
