Dexter, steak, and coffee shops

These are the things that saved my summer.

Mostly, it was Dexter, the  TV series, that saved the day. There was a full month of barely no work. As much as I was striving to look for income, I was trying to kill boredom. And in that, Dexter came to my rescue. Set in sunny Miami, where electric ventless fireplaces are just displays, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a blood spatter pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department, moonlights as a serial killer. I feel like I can relate! Kidding!

Also, here in our city, a friend owns a steakhouse. The steaks are very delicious and juicy, have a special mushroom sauce, and cost far less than most steakhouses in Manila. And the clincher, I get discounts! I find myself eating steak at least once a week (hence, the fat belly!), and I am so happy everytime. =)

And because of the very humid weather nowadays, I spend most of the afternoons in our local coffeshop, savoring the cold aircon, the free wifi, and the delightful macchiato frappe!

The First Rain of May

I learned from a friend today that there is something mystical (more like superstitious) about the first rain of May.

The most common notion is that this rain is blessed. It cures sickness or simply brings good luck. Others say (this is a bit silly) that it will make you beautiful.

Nevertheless, the rain this afternoon is a welcome “miracle”. It was very humid and very hot this afternoon; water from the sky and a little wind was a treat, really. I imagine many had been saved from heat stroke, and many dry lands had been watered. That’s glorious, isn’t it?

Many, as well, had been saved from bad temper arising from the heat and from sweaty armpits (including yours truly!). Or at least having a break from weeks of the uber hot summer sun cheers up the mood a little.

Others have watched the rain pouring down from their patios smoking their Rocky Patel cigars. It’s relaxing. Children took a shower in the rain. It’s fun. I slept enjoying the air coming through my window and hearing the dripping sounds of the water. It’s comforting.

Too bad it didn’t last long. Here’s to hoping a little bit more rain this May. =)

solace

No matter how death comes, one can never really be prepared—for one’s own or for a loved one’s.

The death of my friend’s mom came as a shock to everyone. There were no telltale signs of expiring life or any premonition of nearing death. It was particularly sad as my friend had lived in the States for a few years now. I could not imagine how it felt to finally go home to see your mom, lifeless, for the last time.

If there is anything at all positive about this, my friend saw how his mother was well loved by the people. There were many people coming every night at their ancestral home. The gazebos are full of people grieving for his mother’s untimely demise. My friend also saw how he was well loved. His friends also came every night to comfort him, trying to make him laugh or just to take his attention away for a while from this painful chapter in his life.

Admittedly, no amount of support could ever balance the pain of losing someone, although somehow it gives solace that there is reason, still, to this life.

reflection

Imagine waking up in the morning at something like this. You wake up to the coldness of the morning dew; you crawl out of your tent and see Heaven’s art pieces all around you. You can’t help but think, “there must be something good in this life after all.”

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high five!

To my niece and inaanak keng-keng, happy 5th birthday! High FIVE!!!

My earliest memories start when I was five. I could still vividly remember the birthday party I had, the tetrapack juice I was drinking, and the kids I was playing with. This might be the age when curiosity is at its peak, and the baby becomes a kid. I think it is at this age, for most kids. when they start retaining in their minds the experiences they have and the things they learn from exploring.

 So, my birthday wish for you little princess is for you to have the best memories of childhood! I love you so much, and I miss you, iya!

The Fantasy That Is Narnia

I bought the seven-book The Chronicles of Narnia around 2007 or 2008. It was originally intended for my little cousins; the oldest that time was just starting high school. I thought the series was a good introduction to the world of reading, and hopefully, the children would come to love reading books, particularly, fantasy. I’ve always thought that reading fiction and fantasy is always a good thing, instead of social networking and reading lipo30 reviews. It stimulates your mind, excites your imagination, and helps you to have an open mind. Importantly, it lets you live in a fantastic world—one this real world can never be.

Unfortunately, out of the five kids, only one read a book, just one book out of seven. I guess you can’t force interests to people, even to children. What would I do with all seven books? I read them all. I read them for years, having finished the last book, The Last Battle, just this April.

When I started reading the first book, The Magician’s Nephew, I had difficulty finishing it. I know the books are children’s books, so I should have known the language would be one suitable for children. In other words, the terms and the sentences were different from those of my beloved Anne Rice. It took probably 2 years before I read the next one. During the second book, the one which became a famous movie, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, I started enjoying C. S. Lewis’ series. I have become a frequent visitor of Narnia.

The Chronicles of Narnia is very much like the books I love to read, and yet it is very different. It also has dragons and dwarfs, and Talking Beasts, and it has kings, queens, and warriors. But it is so positive in tone and promising in outlook, unlike the cynical, philosophical, and critical fantasy books I read. It was so unlike Gaiman’s dark comedy and Anne Rice’s solitary vampires.

Most of the time, when I read a book, I finish it in a days’ time. I always carry it with me and make time for reading. This was not so in all seven books. I very seldom brought them out of my room in the province. As such, there were times when I read a chapter now, and the next chapter will be read after weeks or months (as I seldom go home to the province). Do not take this to mean that I did not enjoy reading The Chronicles because I did. I wanted to keep my Narnia experience inside my room and perhaps translate my peace of mind in Narnia to a peace of mind in my real life. At least in my room, that is possible.

I wanted to prolong reading such a “light” book, light in language, light to the spirit. This land of Narnia is beautiful, perhaps most beautiful during the Golden Age of Narnia when Peter was High King. There were always battle of good and evil (the Christian themes are too obvious), and even when you know that good will win, you just have to feel the battle and the joy of victory. These books are not for stimulating the mind; they are books for inspiring…and for believing.

Now, I have finished The Last Battle, the seventh book. That final book seemed like a peek to the end of this real world, or maybe I just appreciated how C. S. Lewis ended Narnia, the book and the land.

I’ve always felt that reading fantasy is an intellectual experience. This time, it’s a spiritual experience, a rare one. Maybe that is why it was difficult for me finishing the entire series. There are some things you just don’t want to end.

When I entered the wardrobe with the Pevensie kids (Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy), I was drawn into a land of fantasy, a land where everything ends up just wonderfully. Now, I have to step out of the wardrobe and leave the fantasy that is Narnia.

Fire in the Hole!

Last Easter Sunday, I was very lucky. I woke up at 10 am from the sound of a text message, which read: Gusto mong magswimming at mag-firing? I replied and asked if I could bring the kids with me as they were staying with me for the holidays. My friend said yes, and the best part, everything’s free! =)

The kids and I lost no time preparing, and about lunch time, we were already at Fort Magsaysay. It was my first time there (it’s ridiculous since it’s just 30 minutes away from our house), and I was surprised how tranquil and beautiful the place is. Even the cabin decor looks orderly. It felt like I was in Camp John Hay.  I’ve always loved the water, but I was most excited about what will come next: firing!

At about 5 pm, we left the pool and proceeded for the firing range. I’ve tried firing a gun before, but not in a real firing range and not these kinds of gun.

 Holding an M3 and wearing night vision goggles (feeling sniper!)

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on being idle

Of all those I’ve listed below, I have accomplished only two. I think I have a talent for procrastinating. (I better also have a talent for forgiving myself for lost time!)

I have a valid excuse. I had been very busy the whole year and the past years of my life since graduating college, and this may be the only months I would have doing…nothing. Come June, I will be in my 4th year, and hopefully after that, I could start reviewing for the bar, and so on.

Meanwhile, I think the universe is conspiring to force my idle moments. Since the start of summer, there were very few editing jobs and much fewer writing jobs. I was “forced” to live a wake, eat, watch, read, and sleep daily life. Sometimes, I just stare at the garage flooring tiles observing the patterns I have not noticed before, and sometimes, I just stare at swaying palm trees outside our house.

I was actually complaining. I am a poor girl, and lack of work ought to be panicking. But rarely will I have a wake, eat, watch, read, and sleep daily life. So why should I be complaining?

this summer, I will…

• play tennis regularly
• meet up with my friends
• watch all the movies I missed
• attend parties
• read my friends’ blogs
• read Gaiman’s books
• finish reading all the eBooks I downloaded (starting with Count of Monte Cristo)
• go to Baler and learn how to surf
• go to one other beach
• go to Divisoria
• organize, finally, pictures in my laptop
• have some pictures printed and displayed
• arrange my iTunes and upload all the songs in my phone
• buy leather casing and Iphone accessories, ink for my printer, and wifi router
• organize my messy rooms
• treat myself to a foot spa
• grow my hair long (and have it curled when long enough)
• as much as i can, enjoy this summer!

a fine man

 Time and again, Eduard makes me proud. Although he’s my cousin by blood, our relationship is more like parental probably because of the age difference. I’ve already recounted stories of how I am so proud of how he’s grown up to be so selfless and how happy I am that right now, he’s been very active in the church, serving for masses several times a week (much frequent than the times I go to mass in a month!). How reverend he has become. I can play in a vlc media player all the things that make me proud of him, and much of these things are more than just academic.

But it’s more than just a bonus that he’s a bright kid, too! Two days ago, I went up with him on the stage and received his medal for being second honor! I will never be tired of saying this, I am so proud of you, Eduard. How lucky we are that we have in our family a fine young man.