Because It Only Happens to Me

I know these things happen to me, so I shouldn't have been surprised. After all, I am cursed.

I fall down stairs with half of the University's student body watching me roll - literally roll from the second floor to the ground floor. I am that girl who walks around with her ass hanging out for all the world to see - and yes, again, I mean that literally. So, when something embarrassing happens to me, I shouldn't be surprised, right? No. For the life of me, I am always caught unprepared.

Earlier this afternoon, I decided to look for something to give Paige on her birthday. I thought of buying her a Leapfrog "pseudo" tablet for kids. But you know how those things are and Paige plays Sims on my computer. She manipulates Mommy's Samsung phone quite well. God, she has figured out that Eula Valdez is Rita Avila in Walang Hanggan even before I even had a clue.  (She was watching Eula Valdez stared at Rita Avila's wedding picture and she was like, "Ay mama! Si mama sia ni nathan!") But I digress. Point is - this will bore her out of her wits! 

It would have been different if we got her this -

But this is a bit expensive and her father wouldn't go for it.  He is about "practicality" which is okay, considering how flighty I tend to be.  Anyway, I thought I'd check out video consoles in this store.

When I entered the store, I noticed that everyone was looking at this guy standing outside the store - across the store actually.  Anyway, I barely gave him notice and I started checking out game consoles.  But their conversations caught my attention.

"Hilinga na baya ta naghuba na diyan."

HUH?!  And indeed, this guy had his pants down.  He was wearing shorts underneath and he was wearing this black sando shirt.  But still, he had his pants down.  He had his back turned.  He was facing the wall, looking at his crotch and he was like adjusting something.

"Kasubago pa baga yan dian", they said.

"Binendahan kamot nia ta sige baga yan suntok dian kasubago."

And so I offered an opinion, "Siguro po may hilang sa payo."

"Iyo, nauranan garo yan", one saleslady said.

And they all laughed. And they kept watching him and laughing.  It took him about 5 minutes to finish whatever it was that was keeping him busy down his pants.  It was weird because there was no security officer around.  Anyway, he finally finished and slowly turned. And then he stood with his arms crossed like as if he wasn't fiddling with his thing a minute before.

"Hmm. Garo bistado ko. Shit! Garo iyo."

I peered at him again and then it hit me, "Bulay, taga-Mabolo. Bistado ko pa. Shit! Baka mabistado ako."

"God, sana po dai ako nabisto."

I turned around and pretended I didn't see him.

And then fate bit my ass and started laughing. 

He must have seen me  because, I heard someone shout, "Tere!"

I felt my heart dropped to the floor.

Should I turn around and wave?

Should I pretend not to hear him - but oh, God, that's an awful thing to do.

Should I skedaddle and leave the store. Yes, that's what I should do. NOW!  

I slowly turned and I slithered my way slowly to the side door like the awful Christian that I am.

"O, garo may bistado digdi", somebody said.

 

"Tere! Tere!"

Bulay, I thought.

"Ay, si ma'am palan bistado," I heard someone said as I walked outside the door.

Pakshet.

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Got My Mojo Back

If there is one thing that can inspire me to write - that would be my sister's writing or blog. She's a goddess when it comes to writing. You should check out her blog and see for yourself.  Actually, she's the one who introduced me to blogging.

Every now and then, people would ask me, "What do you do?" Short of telling them to go fuck off, I always force myself to explain my work. But unless you're Internet savvy, I doubt that you would understand my work.   I started out as a writer and for a while there, I get this little pleasure from telling people, "I'm a writer".  Sometimes, conveniently dropping the word "content or online".   But I never really felt right about that.  There were times when I felt like a fraud for even uttering the divine word "writer".

But my sister, well, she's a writer.  She can write about the most mundane things and you'd probably devour them like they're the Revelation decrypted.  That's not something I can claim. I am a freaking fraud.

Fortunately, for me, I no longer have to say, "I'm a writer" - my work has evolved and it is even more complicated. I'd rather not explain. I do not write as much as I did before.  So, I enjoy blogging now.  Online writing has rules.  So, it's a pleasure to write without worrying about keyword placement or grammar.  I can curse and nobody will give a damn. After all, this is my blog.

I think I'll be writing again.

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Banned from Mexicali

We actually just wanted to have an early dinner and maybe coffee - and actually, that was what we had. We had an early dinner at Biggs, then we transferred to Avenue Square for coffee and cake and then we transferred to Mexicali for nachos, beer and french fries. Yes, we ate a lot

Tinay and I had a blast while Tin sat there and pondered over her life - or her love life to be specific. I think we're banned from Mexicali for life. 

First, we got them to give us a free plate of nachos. A bug fell on this plate of nachos we ordered - and practically finished eating - so we were able to get a free plate! Tin made a mess on one of the tables. Tinay bothered the crew with her Batibot Theme Song cover and I made an ass of myself singing "Cool Change" with the acoustic duo. We were embarrassing, but boy, we had fun! And we weren't even drunk.

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Off My Bucket List

Sing with a Band in a Bar? Done.  Of course, the band was composed of only 2 people, so it's not really a band. And my audience was mostly outside the restaurant. And it wasn't a bar - it was a Mexican restaurant. But yeah, I did it, so there. Off the bucket list. 

 
Tinay and Tin were posers!  Did you read that Tinapay?  You should have sung!  Oh, I forgot you did! :))

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An Open Letter to Teacher Mots of Teacher's Pwet

Dear Mots,

It's just sad that you are already taken. My friend has a HUGE crush on you. You seriously have an awesome effect on her.

Sincerely,
ME

P.S. I know I am doing a poor job on "marketing" my friend right now, but I doubt it if your girlfriend would appreciate this blog post.

P.P.S. You have got to admit this is flattering though. As you would say, la lungs. :)

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An Ordinary Life

I haven't been blogging. It's easy to just tweet a thought at any given moment that I don't find the need to blog anymore.

Life is not that different as well.  Life is... well, the same.  Life is as it should be.  There is nothing extraordinary that is going on, but curiously enough it's the sheer normalcy that makes it all so worthwhile. I'm content and yes, happy.

I can probably right about that, right?  But who would want to read about a happy ordinary life?  An ordinary life is ordinary.  A happy life is an insult to the miserable.

I think people have stopped visiting my blog.  They have stopped wondering if I posted anything new because for months now, I haven't.  I also have started an anonymous blog where I write anything I want. I doubt if anyone I know reads that one. No one knows the URL address, not even my husband.

There are just some thoughts I want to keep to myself.  Ironically, I don't mind sharing the same thoughts to complete strangers who accidentally find that blog - as long as they don't know me.  I like it that way, I can write without worrying about hurting anyone.

I have stories about Paige and Riley, but it's just so easy to share these stories on Facebook that I have stopped writing about them. I should start doing that again. I think my daughters would appreciate that one day.

Life is amazing, isn't it? It's exciting and banal at the same time.  My life, albeit ordinary, is pretty interesting and it's because I am surrounded by amazing people with unique stories.  My friends - all of them are crazy, mind you - have unique lives.  They have different stories to tell.  Truth is, I have the most ordinary story.  They are a bunch of amazing people with unique stories. I can probably write about each of them and submit their stories to "Ate Charo" and I'd get a lot of money.

The thing is life is exciting, but it can change in a single instant.  Something monumental can happen because of just a little ripple.  A small pebble stuck in your shoe could bother you long enough to have you bending over - and this can cause a ripple effect.  This can change your whole life. This can lead you to pursue a course you never planned and submit yourself to a future you never imagined.

I do not lead an extraordinary life. And this is why sometimes, I don't have anything to write about. But you know what?  I love it. I love life and all of its unexpected turns and twists and I just can't wait to see what's around another ordinary bend.  Because you know what?  Life is a tease.

It always dangles a promise of something wonderful.  My life is pretty wonderful right now.  Give me a million dollars and it'll be perfect - but right now, it's pretty wonderful. I am living a life of laughter and a lot of lovin'.

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