Sepultura Night

Went out with "the girls" last Friday night. We stayed at Pasto because it was too noisy in the center of Eastwood. (Ok, fine, Ren wanted to go there so that's where we went.)

So what's Pasto like?

Food and drink - quite good actually. They have this promo wherein you can get 3 cocktails for PhP195 and 3 beers for PhP125. I liked the frozen strawberry margarita and their pina colada. They tasted quite good but there was not much alcohol in them. But then again for the price, it was not bad. For munchies we had crostinis with spinach gorgonzola dip and some pasta.

Anyway, one of the highlights of the night was when Am spotted Sepultura (I feel compelled to explain who they are since the people I have been telling about this have only given me blank looks), the Brazilian band. At first we thought she might have been wrong but she turned out to be right! And they actually got the table beside us!

We were all chickenshit though. I really wanted to have our picture taken with them but "I don't do that sort of thing." YEAH RIGHT. I ended up dreaming about the band all night. Talk about lame!

Ren got a couple of pictures while they were still standing at the corner before they sat down, though.You gotta click on those photos to even see their faces. :p

Here are some more photos - this time of us.

Vicki and Angelique

Why so serious?

Don't ask me what they were doing.

The World's Shortest Fairy Tale

I read this from one of the funnest blogs I visit regularly. Thanks, Meleah for allowing me to copy this story:

Once upon a time, a guy asked a girl, “Will you marry me?”

The girl said, “NO!”

And the girl lived happily ever after.

She went shopping, dancing, drank martinis, always had a clean house, never had to cook, did whatever the hell she wanted, never argued, didn’t get fat, traveled more, had many lovers, didn’t save money, and had all the hot water to herself.

She went to the theater, never watched sports, never wore friggin’ lacy lingerie that went up her ass, had high self-esteem, never cried or yelled, felt and looked fabulous in sweat pants and was pleasant all the time.

The. End.

Books, Books, and More Books

I spent half the day sleeping and the other half sitting on my couch thinking, playing, writing, and thinking some more. Right in front of me are my bookshelves, pitiful in that they are stuffed to the brim with books. The thing is, these books are not even half of my collection. Most of them are at my parents' house but as much as I want to get them, I do not have space right now. I guess I should prioritize getting more bookshelves. Perhaps a Christmas gift for myself?

Things to be Thankful For

Yesterday was Thanksgiving and though Filipinos do not celebrate this holiday (no pilgrims, no American Indians), I think that it would be good if we had a similar holiday. I don't know if I am accurate but we seem to have gotten used to complaining and whining about everything and anything. It might be a cultural thing or a personality thing but sometimes, it seems that we have been overlooking the good things in our lives.

Last night, Jer and I went out for Thanksgiving dinner. On the way home, I got lost in my thoughts...I was thinking that despite the irritating glitches that keep happening in my life, I have a lot to be thankful for. I rarely come across as optimistic but here is my attempt at it. What am I thankful for?

My family
I've expressed my sentiments about this in another post, The Ultimate List. My family is really something to be thankful for despite everyone's foibles.

My jobs
I know, I am always tired and I whine about it a lot but at the end of the day, I see myself as very fortunate for having a job that I actually love. I get compensated pretty well and the people are wonderful. I have said it once and I'll say it again - it would be hard to find myself in another company and adjusting as well as I have adjusted.

As for my freelance writing - another gift from above. It was really by chance that I hooked up with my main writing network and I am very happy that I was given this opportunity.

My (relatively) good health
I was always sick when I was in school. I still get migraines and tummy problems more than the average person but I have not gotten seriously sick for almost a decade now. Despite my inactive and unhealthy lifestyle, I'm doing pretty ok.

There is so much more to be thankful for - the chances I have had to travel, my toys, my books, the roof above my head...wow, being positive feels good. ;)

The Ball of String

These past few days a story from my childhood has been haunting me. I do not remember all the details but it is about a young boy who was given a ball of string by a fairy (or a witch, I don't remember). That ball had the power to make time go faster. The instructions given to the young boy was that when he wanted to skip a certain part of his life, he merely had to pull off a section of the string and his life would fast forward to the future.

I want this ball of string. I wanted it badly yesterday. I still want it. I want to fast forward to December 24 when our Christmas break starts. I want to get this cycle done and over with. I want to finish all my writing assignments. I want to be able to pay off all - or at least majority - of my credit card bill. I want to get some sleep and not be tired anymore.

But then the other part of the story starts to come back to me. You see, that boy kept meeting hard times in his life. So he kept pulling that string. Before he knew it, he was an old man. Without realizing it, he had gotten through his life but he didn't have much recollection of his life. Every time he pulled that string, he got past the hard times but he didn't get the satisfaction of growing and learning from them.

This is what is keeping me going. I need to learn and grow from these times. Right now, I don't really want to. :-s

(I probably messed the story up but that is the best I can do with what I remember. Anyone know about this story?)

I Want One of These!

In my quest to find affordable but great gifts for Christmas, I have found a couple which I would like to receive myself! Take a look at this:


Colorful laptop bags! They even have designs that do not look like conventional laptop bags - perfect for a day outside. Now where do I send that letter to Santa again? (You can click on that and send me one if you feel like it. You know who you are! :P)

Not a Heartless Biatch

You have no compassion whatsoever!

Those are the words that my hubby uttered this morning. Words that are screaming at me in my head.

I may seem like one but really, I am not.

You see, I got him baby red ear slider turtles as a housewarming gift. This morning, when we woke up, KC (the female) had white foam in her mouth. Jer was panicking while I calmly went back inside to turn Koryu on. I was going to look it up online but he thought I just didn't care. I even looked up vet clinics nearby and tried to call them (they were all out of business and those that were open don't treat turtles).

I am not heartless. I just prefer to distance myself so that I won't be too affected when something like this happens. Call it a defense mechanism if you wish but don't call me a heartless b#tch.

Lessons from Freelancing

I have always wanted to write and I think that one of the best things that has happened to me was when I "met" my current "employer." I am using quotes because I am using these words in ways that are not the same as their normal usage. I "met" my "employer" by applying as a freelance writer for his online content provider service. That was more than 3 years ago and I have not regretted working with him.

More than earning a good bit from my freelance work, I have learned lessons along the way. I have learned to be more disciplined. I have learned the value of keeping to my commitments. I have learned how to manage my time. I have learned technical stuff such as SEO, conversion rate optimization, and monetizing blogs. For others, freelancing is something that they have to do for financial reasons. I think that with all that I have gone through, it has become more than that. It has become part of my development as a person. You should give it a shot.

The Clothes Hanger Makes a Comeback

But not as a clothes hanger anymore! In fact, this piece of equipment is actually serving it's proper purpose once again. This was my clothes hanger:

From Dreamwalker

Now imagine it without the stuff hanging from it - it's an exercise bike after all!

I don't know what got into me but I actually took the time - all of 10 minutes - to ride it last night and I felt good. I hope that I will be able to sustain the momentum and continue using it. Here's to change - yes I can! ;)

Need to Get Started on Christmas Shopping

I really do! My Christmas list is rather short - I usually only give gifts to my immediate family and the kids in my extended family. Still, I have not decided on what to get them and there is so little time left! I am really thankful that there are online stores now because they make shopping so convenient. And even if you do not actually order online, at least you can find great ideas without having to spend hours in a crowded mall. Then again, even if you initially just want to browse, I bet you would end up buying online because more often than not, you can find the best buy online.

TAG: The Ultimate List

Vicki tagged me a couple of weeks ago. The idea was to create the ultimate list - a list of things that you cannot go without. I have been procrastinating because I don't think I feel comfortable dwelling on those things. I initially thought of listing down material things - that should be easy enough. Then again, if you think about it, I can live without many of those things. So I guess it's back to the intangibles. Here goes nothing:

1. Family
Even though I have always had the feeling that my family (that means extended family) sees me as the black sheep of the lot, I have come to realize that they are a necessary part of my life. Despite our not seeing eye to eye on so many things, at the end of the day, my family is there for me.

2. Real friends
I don't have many. I have not had the inclination to show my innermost self to most people. The handful of friends that I have, though, know me for what I am and leave it at that. Oh, but they are not shy to point out the flaws.

3. My hands
From relationships to body parts? Yup, my hands are my life. If I didn't have my hands, I wouldn't be able to write and if this ability were taken from me, I would probably wither away to nothingness.

I guess these things are not so intangible after all. This tag is hard!

Now I am tagging Nikki, Hannah, and Holly.

Fairly Approachable

I've been told many times that I am not a very friendly person. My quiz results say otherwise!

You Are Somewhat Approachable

You are a fairly friendly person, and you're definitely not scaring people away. You do tend to have your guard up strangers, and rightfully so. How approachable you are depends on who is trying to approach you. You're friendly to people who seem harmless and nice. But you also know how to give creepy people the cold shoulder!

Are You Approachable?

Mace or Something

I feel relatively safe in our neighborhood. It may not be THE area to live in but it is pretty decent and the people on our street seem alright. I can't deny the fact that up the street, closer to the highway, people kinda scare me. That's where Jerry got jumped one night. Also, when I man the store late at night, I get kinda edgy. That's why I have been looking for self defense products that just might come in handy. I don't want to think that I would ever need them but better safe than sorry is what I always say.

Courage is Fear that Prays

Courage is Fear that Prays - Vicki blogged about this earlier today and I was really struck by it (as many other readers of Paolo Coelho have been, I am sure).

Courage is needed in many aspects of life and so is prayer. I find myself needing both more and more recently. I may not like talking about it but I feel the need to write, if only to get it out of my mind.

Sometimes you face circumstances which you think you can control, only to find out that it is yourself whom you cannot control. I need courage to face these kinds of situations. I feel a different kind of fear that I have not felt in a long time. I need to pray for this fear to become the courage that Paolo Coelho is talking about.

Reading Again

I started this blog to pick up my old habit of writing for myself. I really needed that back then - and still do, actually. Another passion of mine that I have neglected in the past months is reading. I know I keep saying this and it might be getting old for some people but it is true and very much part of who I am - I grew up loving books. Our parents didn't believe in TV so my sister and I had to find ways to amuse ourselves and we found an array of different worlds in our books.

In the past year, though, I found myself getting distracted by other things and little by little, I spent less and less time on reading. I got started again last week when I got my hands on The Name of the Wind. Now that's that done, though, I am trying to go back to my books - many of which I have not read.

Right now, I am reading The Science of Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Mood by Stephen Braun. It's one of the many books I got from Earl when he left for the States and I have to say that it is a very interesting read. I am not done yet but once I finish it, I will write something about it.

Anyhow, I just wanted to share how I am rediscovering an old love. :)

Thanks to Booklust for the pic.

Oh You Mean It's Almost Christmas?

It's been so crazy these past month or so that I didn't really notice that Christmas is almost here. I had to go buy contact lenses earlier so I went to the mall next to the office and guess what I saw? Christmas trees, ribbons, bows - everything was Christmasy! Even the music playing over the speakers was about Christmas...I guess I better start looking for gifts.

I wonder what Jerry would like this year. He likes replica watches, electronic gadgets, video games, etc. There are just so many choices I do not know where to start. What are you getting your partner?

Mind Over Matter?

I have been feeling shitty for the past month but so far, I have been able to keep sickness at bay thanks to Bioflu and lots of water (oh, and some magic). I don't know if I can make it through this day without my body giving in, though. I just woke up - every part of my body is killing me, my head feels like cotton soaked in water, and my mood is indescribable. Just one more day...mind over matter...I can do this.

Those Darned Pictures

Just a quickie...we were looking at old pictures again last night because we had company. Jer wanted to show them our pics from Thailand and Macau so we dug up my old accounts in Flickr and Picassa. I should have known better.

They're depressing - not because they were ugly but because they made me feel that itch to travel again. Then there's this point that we both were 50 pounds lighter back then. Our friends were polite but I could see their surprise as they looked at the pics. Seriously, wieght loss pills are looking good right now. I don't want to be content and say "Look at me 2 years ago." I want to see recent pictures and not be dismayed!

Kingkiller Chronicle: The Name of the Wind

I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

That's how Kvothe (pronounced as Quothe) started his story. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss is the latest addition to my modest collection of books and I have to say that it is one of the best. I heard of it from a friend and I do not regret taking out a bit from my currently meager resources to buy it.

I will not even attempt to give a critique - I am not good at these things. All I can do is to say how reading the book made me miss everything I love about reading fantasy novels. The basic concept is similar to other fantasy series - protagonist (this one's extra special, very smart) experiences a life changing blow and embarks on his journey that changes the world. The concept is more than the usual magic though.

The Name of the Wind revolves around sympathy (the name they use for magic) and the fact that everything in this world has a name. Not everyone knows the names of things, though. It is a special talent, a seed that is planted within a person and something that has to be honed and perfected through study. And when you know the name of the wind, you get to call it to do your bidding.

I wouldn't mind knowing the name of the wind. Heck, I'd love to know the name of things and have them at my bidding! That's probably why I'll never know them...

Anyway, this is the first in the series and it is so bitin. The second book is not coming out till April of 2009 - a long wait for me. In the meantime, I shall finish the other book I am reading, a piece of non fiction work titled The Science of Happiness. I'll write about it pretty soon.

I leave you with the suggestion that you get your hands on The Name of the Wind. You won't regret spending sleepless nights reading it.

Almost Desperate

I have been quite active in Facebook lately. I don't know the exact reason but somehow, I find myself enjoying it again. Perhaps the countless pictures from the recent nights out that I have had have something to do with it. It does have its downside - like ugly pictures. Just a few minutes ago, I saw a notification that I was tagged in a photo by Avril. It was actually not half bad - except that I looked as if I were 9 months pregnant! I am sitting here staring at my exercise bike (aka clothes hanger)...maybe...nah, I would rather take diet pills. Are you surprised? ;)

Englishman in Pasig

Last night I came home to find Jerry and his British "friend" drinking in the store. I was not really put off. A man should have his time with drinking buddies every now and then, right?

This guy, however, ruined a potentially fun evening. Let's see, where can I start...I got out of the cab, Jerry introduced us and then asked if I could watch the store while they drank. Of course I said yes - it suited me perfectly as I had to write several articles anyway. I excused myself for a moment so I could get settled in.

When I came back out, I sat down and got started on my writing. From time to time, the guy would ask questions so I answered and humored him. After all, he was Jerry's guest and he is almost 40 years my senior. I do know how to be polite after all.

Then he started.

Brit: Why are Filipinos obsessed with cell phones?

Me: It's a cheap way of communicating.

Brit: But why are they so obsessed with it? What did you do when you didn't have cell phones?

Me: We managed. We didn't really need cell phones back then.

This conversation went on and on - the guy kept repeating himself. Then we moved on to computers and the Internet.

Brit: Who invented the Internet?

Me: The Americans.

Brit: No, the English. We invented everything.

Me: I have to disagree. It was the US military who first created a network of computers similar to what we now know as the Internet. It was called ARPANET or something. (Now I may be wrong but this is what I recall.)

Brit: No, the English invented everything.

Me: Ok.

He was starting to get to me at this point simply because he kept disparaging other people.

Brit: Why are you so obsessed with that computer?

Take note, I was working - or trying to - while manning the store so that Jer could drink.

Me: I need the computer to write. I love to write and it provides us with the money we need.

Brit: So what did you do before the computer?

Me: I was a student then so I didn't need one as much. We used the typewriter.

Brit: But why are you so obsessed?

(God please shut him up!)

All this time, Jerry was giving me looks asking me to be nice and polite but the guy just wouldn't stop.

Brit: So wife, what are you doing?

Me: Excuse me? I have a name. You can call me by my name.

The guy was taken aback, says nothing for a while and starts with his cell phone and computer thing again. He started rambling about how we Filipinos are obsessed with the cell phone and I gave up trying to explain - I just tried to work. Then he says something about it being due to ignorance. That caught my attention and I started to tell him that it is not really just about that...blah blah blah. I don't think he was listening anyway since he kept repeating his questions. And so it went...

Brit: So what are you doing?

Me: I am writing.

Jerry: She loves to write - she is a freelance writer. She's actually very smart...She also loves to read. (thanks for trying, dear!)

Brit: Yeah but no brains, eh?

I saw red. I stood up, ready to give him a piece of my mind. In my mind, I had this fantasy raging - I was grabbing the empty bottle of Royal in front of me and smashing it on his face. Have you seen True Lies? Do you remember the scene where Arnie met with the car salesman who he thought was having an affair with his wife? There was a cut scene wherein, in slow motion, he smashed his fist into the guy's face. The salesman's head snapped back, his hair moved in waves, and blood splattered all over. Then Arnie was pulled back to reality. He smiled - more like a grimace, actually - and talked to the salesman amicably (albeit forced).

That is how I felt last night. I went inside the house and asked Jerry to come in for a bit. I told him I was not mad at him but at his "friend." I told him that was inexcusable and that I was not going to tolerate it. The only reason I held back is because he asked me to be nice to his guest and that I really see no excuse for rudeness. He apologized and went out and took the guy home.

He didn't even have to do that! He is a grown man after all. If he chose to get drunk till he couldn't walk home, then that is his problem, right? Jerry wouldn't let him walk alone, though, and insisted on taking him home.

It's over and done with and I still shake with anger when I remember last night. But this is what I know - I don't ever want to see that man in our store, our house, again. If he comes up and buys something from me, I will tell him nicely that I would rather not deal with him. Needless to say, he better not think that he could come and drink at our place.

Now that I have vented (in this blog, to Jerry, and to my friends), I have become a bit pensive. I know that Jerry was just being polite to the guy. He wanted to be nice to an old man. But still, I think I would have appreciated it if he said something to the man when he insulted me to my face. I don't mean punch him or anything (yeah, that's how Jerry thinks he should deal with most things). Just a simple "You shouldn't say those things to my wife. Please leave." would have sufficed.

But oh well, that's over. As I said, I simply don't want to hear from or see that person again. Those kinds of people should be thrown out of our country and sent back to their own.

I am reminded of Sting's Englishman in New York:

If, manners maketh man as someone said
Then he's the hero of the day
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say

He most definitely was NOT talking about THIS Englishman!

Of Inventories

I have never thought of myself as being good at business. It's just not my forte. Still, I can't help but wonder how much attention and effort I am pouring into the store, as small as it may be. Most of the time, I find myself thinking of what else we can add to the inventory. Right at this moment, I have several things in mind - office supplies, school supplies, more rum, and more chips.

The thing is, we need to be able to find good suppliers for these. More so, we need to save up enough cash from the revenue so that we do not have to put more into the store if possible. I think Jer is managing well...

Pabili ng Saging (Can I Buy a Banana?)

The store is proving to be quite interesting. Yesterday, we did very well and I actually had fun sitting out there. This morning, I overheard Jerry talking to a little kid.

Kid: Pabili po ng saging.

Jer: Sardines?

Kid: Yun pong mataba.

Jer: Saba? Yeah we have it.

I was not really paying attention as I was writing. A few minutes later I heard the kid's voice again and then Jer started yelling "Noe! Can you come out here, please?"

Me: Ano yun?

Kid: Hindi po ito. Meron po kayong saging? Yung mataba, saba.

Ahh...he was talking about bananas, the fat (taba in Tagalog) kind called saba. Unfortunately, all we have in stock are some canned sardines, the brand name of which is Saba...

Neon Lights?

The store's shaping up really well - I actually had a pretty busy day today. I was thinking of getting some neon signs to light up the place a bit. We already have a couple of lights - one from the Budweiser 49ers and the Coke fridge that the dealer lent us. I think, though, that a bit more light would not hurt. You know, like the neon exit signs you see in big buildings. Though the store is small that we do not really one, it would really be cool to have those neon signs lighting up, especially since Christmas is coming.

Noe Can't Do Math

I have been helping Jerry at store a lot lately and I have not had any problems - until today. For some reason, I have been giving the wrong amount in change. This morning our neighbor bought a Sprite 1.5 L and I think that I might have given him 10 pesos more in change. Just now, a guy bought a small bottle of Sparkle (it's like 7 Up) and I gave him 8 pesos less in change! My husband is sitting beside me trying not to ream me out but I know he is upset...ha ha...gotta be more careful next time.

100 Skills Every Man Must Know

I saw this article on MSN last Friday and I was overwhelmed. It seems to me that gone are the days that men actually did everything. Does a man with all these skills really exist? The list is too long for this post but they categorized the 100 into major groups. Of these groups, I think that the Home is most important:

14. Carve a turkey
15. Use a sewing machine - yeahhh right! 16. Put out a fire
17. Home-brew beer
18. Remove bloodstains from fabric - that's what the maid is for.
19. Move heavy stuff
20. Grow food - thank God for the market?
21. Read an electric meter
22. Shovel the right way
23. Solder wire - I learned this in college.
24. Tape drywall
25. Split firewood
26. Replace a faucet washer - Dad taught me this.
27. Mix concrete
28. Paint a straight line
29. Use a French knife
30. Prune bushes and small trees
31. Iron a shirt
32. Fix a toilet tank flapper
33. Change a single-pole switch
34. Fell a tree
35. Replace a broken windowpane
36. Set up a ladder, safely
37. Fix a faucet cartridge
38. Sweat copper tubing
39. Change a diaper - that's why we don't want kids yet.
40. Grill with charcoal
41. Sew a button on a shirt - good luck with that!
42. Fold a flag

How about Techonology?

76. Install a graphics card
77. Take the perfect portrait
78. Calibrate HDTV settings
79. Shoot a home movie
80. Ditch your hard drive

With the exception of 78, I think we're good with this list. Jerry told me he got 71 out of 100, not bad? I yet have to see the proof...;)

Needing an Energy Boost

This week has been hell for me - I have been so busy that I didn't even notice that I haven't written here since Tuesday! Yesterday was one of those days - too much work, nothing went right, and I just felt so sleepy and tired all day. I was downing cups of coffee like it was water and I didn't feel the effects. Today does not look any better...

I think I need something to boost my energy - at least until the end of the year. There are a lot of products that I can use in the market but I am not quite sure which is the most effective and yet safe at the same time. I have been reading up on Fenphedra, an energy supplement which boosts fat burning as well. Apparently, it is much better than other supplements in its category in terms of effects and pricing. Anyone know anything about it?

MSI Wind U100 WLAN Problems

I have never had any problems with Koryu (my MSI Wind) until today. For some reason, the wireless connection kept dropping. At first, I thought that it was just my router - it does that sometimes. But after a couple of hours of having to repeatedly disable and enable the hardware, I checked out some forums and discovered - to my dismay - that some people have been having issues with their WLAN as well.

Fortunately for me, it seems that the problem is only with the driver and not the hardware itself. So I downloaded the updated driver from Softpedia, installed it, and configured it to connect to my Linksys wireless router. It has been working perfectly since then (a good 3 hours now). Crossing my fingers...

Poker Night

I was supposed to post this a week ago but as you can see, my posts have become fewer recently - thanks to my workload and the store. I have been really busy with all that's going on and it's hard to stay on top of everything. It's a holiday today (Armistice Day in France and that's what we follow) and I thought I'd catch up on some things.

So the other weekend, Lenna and her friend Bob came over to play some poker and drink. It was Lenna's first time playing and sure enough, beginner's luck favored her. We played for a small buy in - 100 pesos (a little more than 2 dollars) - but I had to re-buy several times and still lost in the end!

Lost several times - look at Jer's short stack on the right.

Won some back in the end but lost overall.

It was so much fun, though, that Jer and I have decided to hold another poker night on the 22nd. We don't have much room but everyone's invited. For those who cannot (or will not) play, we can hang out and play on the Wii or PS3 or something.

Learning Fashion

I have learned a lot in the past 3 years that I have been working with my company. Surprisingly, many of the things that I have learned do not have anything to do (directly) with my line of work. Of course, in that respect, I have learned more than I thought I could ever learn. But there are other perks - like discovering the existence of brand names. Not that I would be able to afford some of the things that my coworkers talk about, but it is still refreshing to hear about these things from time to time. Before, names such as Oscar de la Renta wouldn't have evoked any reaction at all. Now, I at least have an idea. Next time that I find myself in a situation where people have conversations about such topics, I wouldn't be at a loss.

Playing Store

As I sit here manning the store while Jerry takes a break, childhood memories are evoked once again. I don't know if it is the same for you, but when were children, we would emulate adults and their activities. There were days when we would pretend that we were office workers and tap away on our virtual type writers (no PCs back then). Then there were the days when we would play store. I think I've mentioned before that my grandma had a sari-sari store. I guess in our minds, that was something that we might want to do some day when we grew up. I remember feeling responsible and adult-like when it was my turn to be the storekeeper - with leaves and pebbles as my wares.

Things are not the different now that I am actually doing it for real. I still feel adult-like and responsible - maybe in an even greater degree. There are new emotions as well - a little bit of apprehension because this is the "real deal." I can't just throw my wares away if no one buys them. I have a lock box with real money to take care of. I have to be actually nice and smile at people even if I don't feel like it.

It's not that bad, though. Jer and I get alone time plus I get to write while there are no customers (of which we need more, actually).

Got Drinks?

I never really realized just how much people rely on drinks to get through their day. As early as 9am, we had people asking for beer. Now, with only half the day over, Jerry has been selling drinks more than anything - all sorts of soft drinks and beer. I am glad that we spent a considerable amount on the drinks this morning. It is also good that they deliver and that we do not have to go to the supermarket to get our stock. We're not getting rich off what we have sold yet but I think it is a good start.

The Torn Sofa

When we moved into our previous apartment more than a year ago, we didn't have any furniture. Our old condo came with most of the furniture we needed so when we moved to an unfurnished unit, we had to buy most of our stuff. We got two 2-seater faux black leather couches which suited us perfectly well.

Now, one has torn upholstery - I guess from over use? I am thinking of replacing the sofas and have been looking at modern furniture. However, the other sofa is still in perfect condition and I don't want it to go to waste. Perhaps an upholstery job would do fine? But I heard that this would cost almost as much as getting a new one. What do you think?

I Didn't Have the Heart to Tell the Kid...

...that he didn't have enough money.

I didn't know whether to laugh or to get mad when Jerry came in and told me that. Apparently, a little kid came up to buy Nips (the local M&Ms) and he only had 2 pesos on him. The thing is, we paid more than that for the candy. My soft-hearted husband (I know, he doesn't really seem to be like that) couldn't tell the kid no and sold the Nips for 2 pesos.

Now, I can just see the little kids coming over for the 2-peso Nips!

The infamous Nips.

Hints

I hate hints. I hate "parinig." I'd much rather have people come out and tell you what they think and feel. It's so much simpler that way, isn't it? Why is it that it seems to be more acceptable to many to give hints or make "parinig" than to just spell it out?

World on Fire

I thought I was over these episodes a long time ago. Apparently they come back and when they do, they are more intense. Still, I am able to continue functioning and doing what is expected of me. I am trying to get out of this rut by listening to music as I work - it usually pushes the gloom away but Sarah McLachlan's voice singing these words is haunting me...

Hearts are worn in these dark ages
You're not alone in this story's pages
Night has fallen amongst the living and the dying
And I try to hold it in, yeah I try to hold it in

The world's on fire and
It's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water
(I try to pull my ship)
I try to bring more
More than I can handle
(Bring it to the table)
Bring what I am able

Hearts break, hearts mend
Love still hurts
Visions clash, planes crash
Still there's talk of
Saving souls, still the cold
Is closing in on us

Do I Really Feel the Way I Feel?

Sitting in the truck on our way home tonight, I sang along to Mark Cohen's Walking in Memphis. Though the song is all about his personal journey as a blues singer, it seems to evoke such deep emotions in a lot of people. Perhaps the melody has a lot to do with it - it really is very moving.

I have to say that the words do touch a raw nerve here and there. Here I am at home now, trying to get the motivation to work, and I can't help but here this line over and over again in my head:

Do I really feel the way I feel?

Feelings are dangerous. They can fool you into thinking and doing things that you wouldn't normally do. They can push you into the throes of despondency or the heights of insanity. Either way, you wouldn't be in a very good situation. I guess it is a good thing that I realize this but that does not mean that the emotions go away or that I can control them. But, like I always say, you might not be able to control your emotions BUT you can can control how you act or react.

Easier said than done.

I know that the picture above does not really relate to the post but I have this feeling that I should post it here. Thanks to Quizilla for the pic.

The Red House

I have never been one to conform just because I had to. Although I tend to follow rules (thanks to my parents who ingrained this strong sense of respect for authority), I still do a lot of things my own way. Take our new unit for example, the interior walls are red. Some might not think much of it but over here, not too many people have red walls for the insides of their homes. I have been posting a lot about our new apartment but I just want to share it again - it is slowly becoming like home to me.

Everything that needs to be done is almost done. We just need the screen door and the front wall for the store. The good thing is that they can both wait until we actually have funds for them. We just need a couple more fixtures here and there. I am thinking a bit ahead here - maybe some Christmas decorations like a christmas wreath hanger or a mantle hook.

Of course, I have been searching online for inspiration for these things and I found one in Wrought Iron Haven. They have so many products that range from boot racks to curtain rods. I love the idea of curtain rods especially since - believe it or not - we have not been using a curtain rod for the longest time. You may be wondering how we hung our curtains in the old apartment. It's squammy but we used a piece of string!

Anyway, this site is great for finding all sorts of wrought iron products that will certainly add character to any home. Here's a tip if you want to get a good deal - look for the Wrought Iron Haven Garden Gate backdoor. All you need to do is to scroll down to about halfway on the main page. Look for the line “Our Store now has over 1,300 home & garden items for you to choose from!” Click on the comma with the link and you'll find the information to get great discounts.