Stories and Riley

I like listening to people.  I like listening to their stories.  I like listening about their lives. For a while, I forget about my own story.  I forget about my worries and my problems. For a while, it's all about another person's story.  I like that.

Settie and I went out tonight for a cup of coffee and she told me stories - lots of stories.  I enjoyed listening to her.  For a while there, I was back in college.  People are really, really interesting if you actually bother to listen to them - hear out what they have to say.  I've discovered that people generally live interesting lives regardless of what kind of life they think they might be living.

I am going to hit the sack now. I am so exhausted and I am emotionally drained.  Riley is still sick and I think she might have to stay in the hospital for another couple of days.  At least I'm not worried she's going to get dehydrated.  I have a class tomorrow and I have exams this weekend.  Sometimes, I wonder where I get the energy for all of this.  Most of the time, I just feel so freaking tired.

It's tough being a mother.  I think it's the most difficult job in the world.  It takes every bit of you and  it doesn't leave anything behind. .  It takes every piece of your heart - and just when you think you have nothing left to give, you'd find out there's still so much more.  It's exhausting sometimes how these little people can mean life itself to me.

Read More

Marriage: Do Not Sweat the Small Things - Yeah Right!

I’ve heard this so often that the next person who tells me to “not sweat the small things” will have his head ripped off his body. Forgive the gruesome picture. But trust me though when I say this, when it comes to marriage – it’s the little things that matter.

The Husband

Sure, my husband and I have gone through the toughest times. As I’ve often said, we’ve been through hell and back, but when it comes to his farts, his dirty feet on the bed and his shoes inside our bedroom – I lose it. I just see red and I explode. Every time, I’d smell his fart or see his dirty feet enjoying my clean sheets, I find myself wishing I could just strangle him.

In his defense, he has little flaws (people –including me – just generally like or love him) and unfortunately, in my opinion, his farts, dirty feet and shoes are his worst flaws. He is hard-working. He often does the laundry. He takes care of the baby at night. And he listens to me whenever I rant like this. Nope, he is not a slacker, but damn it, he can irritate the hell out of me!

I have this thing for clean sheets. I do not want to sleep without taking a bath. I do not even want to jump on the bed without cleaning up first. So, whenever I see his dirty feet on the bed, I see red.

I have this thing about clean floors – and I absolutely forbid slippers or shoes inside the bedroom, so whenever I see him wearing his shoes inside, I’d see a neon blinking sign that says, “I don’t care what you think! Your feelings are not important to me! Bwahahahaha!” And then I’d find myself doing the most stupid things.

One time, we had an argument, I turned the television’s volume up, the whole neighborhood could practically hear the show that was on. It was 12 in the morning. He pissed me off over something I cannot remember.

That's one stupid thing.  Lately, I have developed the habit of spraying air freshener on his butt every time he farts. Kill the source, I figure.

The thing is I’ve tried explaining to him in many different ways how I feel and how important these things are to me. I can’t even remember how many times I’ve thrown a fit over his farts. I don’t understand how he can’t understand this simple request, “If you feel like farting, get out of the room. I can’t stand the smell of your fart!” It’s simple, right? The same goes with this shoes and dirty feet.

I’ve tried crying, cajoling, nagging, bullying, explaining, requesting – but nothing has worked! He still farts inside the room. He still wears his shoes inside the room and he still sleeps on the bed with dirty feet - I must admit though that he rarely does these things now.

But still one day, if I were found dead, it’d be because his fart finally killed me. I swear!

 It’s the little things that really irritate the hell out of me. These things build up until like Mt. Vesuvius (where the hell is that?), I explode, leaving everything in my path dead. I’ve often heard people say to not sweat the small things. In marriage, however, it’s these things that really take their toll.

Choosing to stay married means choosing to forgive on a daily basis. In my case, to forgive – one fart at a time or one dirty feet or one dirty pair of shoes at a time. Oh, he has improved over the years. He makes an effort nowadays to make sure that he does not enter our room with dirty shoes. He cleans his feet before he jumps on bed. But the farts – oh, the farts. Their incurable.

I get lots of hugs and kisses though every time he farts. He knows how furious I’d get, so he’d rushed to my side and showers me with kisses and “I love you’s”. Of course, no matter how good those kisses feel, once the smell reaches my nostrils, I’d find myself exploding. Oh, well, we still have 50 years, so maybe, I’d be immune to the smell of his farts when I’m 70. Sigh. Or maybe I should invest in good BB guns. :))

Read More

Happy V-day You Grumpy People You!

Daddy is far from being romantic  In fact, he is rarely thoughtful.  This is probably because he grew up with his grandparents who were not your touchy-feely type of people.  They literally live in a house precariously perched (exaggerated of course) on top of a mountain in Guinobatan, Albay.

Mamu and Daddikins

You see, my father's family was generally well-off back then - way before, my grandfather gave in to the lure of women, smoking, gambling and drinking.

When my father was born, however, this dull-witted fortune teller told his parents that he was unlucky - a jinx.  So, my grandparents gave him to my great grandparents from the time he was born until he was 14 years old.  He was dirt poor and he couldn't go to school often. Not surprisingly, he only learned to read when he was in High School.

Needless to say, my father has weird ideas about things.  He was rarely embraced or praised and he grew up to be the same.  He can't even say, "happy birthday" or "happy anniversary".   He's a kind man though.  He's an honorable man.  Still, he drives my mother nuts.

For instance, my mother's birthday and their anniversary come and go without my father bothering to greet her at all.  This pissed the hell out of Mama at first, but she grew tired of throwing fits. So, she does not expect anything from him anymore, especially on Valentine's Day.  It's sad really.  It does not mean, however, that they do not love each other to pieces because they do.  My mother is my father's soul mate, his love, his life.  Still, he drives my mother nuts - didn't I tell you that already?

Anyway, early this morning, Mommy asked, "Dy, anong aldaw ngunian?"
Daddy answered absentmindedly as he continued to solve the crossword puzzle, "Lunes."
Mommy prompted, "Iyo, pero anong date?"
Daddy answered, "katorse."
Mommy, undeterred, asked once again,"Anong bulan?"
Daddy, still refusing to look up from the puzzle, answered, "February."
Mommy asked, "Anong special sa aldaw na February 14?"
As if he was answering a knock-knock joke, my father asked, "Ano?"
Mommy walked out on him, muttering under her breath, "Gurang ka na talaga. Happy Valentines Day na lang daw saimo!"

After a few hours, she saw Erbe came in with roses for me. She was all giggly about it.

Girls, women... regardless of what they say about Valentines Day, they want something from you, men.  They want romance.  It doesn't matter how old they get - get them something! Do something nice for them! Trust me, they want romance. Period.

Anyway, Happy Valentines Day to you people. I don't care what you think about Valentine's Day. My husband gave me flowers - so, yeah, I am definitely liking this day.

Read More

Pictures

I don't want to post these things on Facebook, so you know the drill - I post them here! :)

Paige's drawing of Ariel

San Francisco Church at night. This picture does not give it justice. It's beautiful at night.

Found this old photo. I miss college. I miss my old room - where everything happened! :)

Paige took the picture.

Paige's Drawing of Mommy and Daddy getting married

My little artist

I want this jeep. It's waiting for us. Ba, when are we going to get it?

I MISS YOU!!! SINONG NAGNAKAW SAYO???!!!

Read More

My Big Toe

I am generally far from being nice. I can be very, very mean when I want to, so basically, I deserve this.  I deserve this because I chose not to say anything when that woman kept pushing on my toe with her nasty tools.  I guess she wanted to remove the effing ingrown - and this is the reason why I chose to keep my mouth shut.

I did not even glare at her when I saw the blood spurting from my toe!  Yes, spurting!  I chose to keep my mouth shut, so basically this is my fault.  I should have just kicked her to kingdom come, but I didn't.

I deserve this.

This.

It's swollen - and it has pus which is - well, just disgusting to say the least. And it's really painful too.  It has this flesh-thingy sticking out.

I  deserve the fever and the pain.

oh why, oh why didn't I say anything?!

Read More