The Month That is

Tailing the heels of a funked-up first month of the year, my February is brimming over with laughter and Oscar nominees and Grammy winners and my kids' bout with and eventual recovery from measles and bonding time with my mom and prayers for and hopes for a good year and occasional givings-in to purchases and work, work, work and once more teetering in killer stilettos and allowing myself to indulge in conversations with good friends and revisiting old haunts and entertaining dreams of Tory Burch bags and Anthologie shoes. =)

I am blessed, and for that, I am thankful.

I remember telling you

about my childhood--about the quaint, old house I grew up in, about its resident turtle and trusty, ancient Queen, the dog, about the dear, kind people I spent my mornings and evenings with, the chirping birds and squawking hens I woke up to, the crickets I listened to as I drifted off to sweet, innocent sleep.

I remember the sad smile that turned up the corners of your mouth. Most of all, I remember your reply: the world is a cruel place and you're just a little, little girl in the middle of it. And I remember thinking, perhaps you're right. Indeed, there is much evil here, squalor in so many places, greed in some, leftover misery from the first miseries that were, so many lonely people trying to make their way in whatever way they can.

But I remember thinking, too, how there must have been something wrong with what you said. After all, you're here. After all, my dad, my brother and I just had a really nice time catching up with each others' lives a week ago. After all, my other brother just texted me his wish that I get well soon. After all, my mom just called me up several days ago to cheer me up. After all, colleagues are helping me take care of work matters. After all, friends have sent and are still sending get-well-soon messages. After all, you just made me a comforting cup of coffee. After all, the sky is finally dousing the dry earth with its rain. After all, I have a pink towel. After all, tomorrow is another day. After all, there is the gift of words. After all, I continue to dream of and hope for a better life. After all, I know you do, too.

The world can't be all that evil. 

It just isn't possible.

Monday bonding

Right now, Jackie, Kim and I are inside Netopia, sitting in a row, side by side. We are all facing the PC and we are all logged in. Jackie is playing Skyline Dress-Up (the little lady is showing some penchant for style this early!), Kim is tackling Brothers in Arms and I, of course, am blogging.

An hour ago, we were having lunch; 3 hours earlier, we were shopping (Friday night, I was at the Greenhills night market, shopping for Kim, so it was mostly stuff for Jackie that I bought earlier). Two hours before that, I was rushing to get out of the office, politely brushing off any more invitations for post-shift chit-chat, fighting off sleep because I had promised the kids I'd be taking them to the mall today, it being a holiday and school being out.

And so, here we are.

There's nothing like the company of one's babies to soothe away the exhaustion on one's mind and limbs.

Have a great week, ya'll.
;p

Just a thought

Burn-out. It happens to remind us that we are not machines; that we need rest and breakaways, things to strike a balance between work and life; that, yes, we work to live but absolutely, we do not live to work.

So go grab yourself a cup of coffee.

Go shopping.

Have your nails done.

Treat yourself to life's simple pleasures. You deserve it.

Casual Thursday

This is Frenchie.

Here, a random photo of the proverbial santan peeking out of a cream-washed gate, taken on my way out:

This is my current favorite fruit drink--Almon Marina's Peach-Mango shake. Try it, try it!

This is what I ordered, along with the shake--Lasagna with bread (the best I've tasted, so far).

This is a venti-sized Coffee Jelly, which is my favorite Starbucks frappucino.

And this, is me, having a very lazy, very casual thursday. I very seldom have days like this, and that explains the fuss.

Have a great weekend!

Faith and Prayer

So this is what it feels like to have faith; to know how it is to look for the good in the worst of situations, to find the light hiding in the darkness, to have one's way illuminated by that light.

The power of prayer is often underestimated, its very existence overlooked. But if we only try, if we only trust enough that the answer to our pleas need not be the thing itself that we ask for, then, perhaps, the number of lonely people will be less.

Cynicism is difficult to unlearn. It is harder to believe, and learning to trust that there is good in this world often proves to be a tougher task than most of us think.

But, in time, we learn. As I have learned.

That this is what faith is.

This is faith.

Have a blessed week ahead.