Catching Up

Hello there, everyone!

I’m sorry I’ve been gone for a while. But I’ve been awfully busy and a lot of things have happened to me since the last time I posted an update. I’m so excited to share them with you!

First, I got into the Stock Market. Though that doesn’t sound very exciting, well.. it is to me. Second, I have this, what other people call spiritual awakening. Though I have felt it for almost twenty years now, it has only dawned on me that I’m actually having it. Third, my daughter already got his notification from the US Embassy and I went with her on her medical examination and interview for US Visa. Fourth, I was invited to attend a Writing seminar which might give me an opportunity to find a publisher for my self-published book, The Old Guitar and Other Stories. Finally, my daughter, after receiving her US visa, flew to the USA and got married two weeks ago. And oh! I just finished crocheting a dress which is actually the second crocheted dress I made in my lifetime.

I’ll be posting about those things I said above for more details.

Have a great week!   

No Comparisons, Please!

To those who have been asking who is smarter between my two daughters, there is actually no exact answer to that. Generally (not absolutely) mothers believe (with great conviction) that all their children are smart, good looking and kind. But to answer that question, Mika is good in English and Math (I suck in Math) but she is extremely shy, while Candid is good in communication. She has a way with people that even I, myself, don't have. She is funny and can make people laugh. However, she can be very gullible that she still believes that her Tito Long bought all those CHUCKIE (chocolate drink) when she was young. It was actually me who did. Either that or Tito Long was too convincing. While Candid can talk to all kinds of people, Mika would run away from them if she has a choice.

To parents out there, there is no smarter, nicer, better-looking, or more talented. Each of our children has something he or she is good at. Help him or her find that out and encourage him or her to get better. Don't compare one child with another, any child, yours or someone else's. Doing so can break a child's heart. Surely, no parent wants to see his or her child heartbroken.

My Plans for 2019

Honestly, I don’t have any. Rather, I don’t have any new plans. I just want to continue what I do every day: my household chores, my book reviews, and my crafts.

BUT, I want to, kind of, upgrade. Instead of doing my usual chores, I would like to do more, like instead of mopping the floor every other day. I’d like to do it every day. Then, I’d like to do my laundry when the basket is full instead of when it’s overflowing.

Then, I like to write more paid reviews instead of free ones. I like to do good deeds, yes, but I need money to start something, so, I would go back to being generous once I raised enough money for my plans. I don’t need much, just enough.

Then, I wish to finish the cross stitch of my son’s face this year. It’s long overdue. Other people or crafters might say I should simply forget about it and start something new. But no, I have to finish it. I love it so much to just abandon it.

Well, that’s it. They are quite simple and that makes them doable. So, I hope (and I’m keeping my fingers crossed here) that I would be able to do them.

Wish me luck!  

Busy Bee

Yes, I have been too busy lately. No, I've been busy forever and I envy those who have so much time in their hands. But when I think about it more seriously, I think I should pity those people especially when I see the look of boredom in their eyes. I'm like.. 'what??? you don't know how to use your time wisely?'

Anyways, I guess I'm just.. jealous? Because I can't seem to do even half the things I want to do. I have more than a thousand books in my reading list and the list grows long every day and I can't even put a dent to it no matter how fast I read. And I keep adding more 😄 

Then, I have a huge folder of tv series that I've been meaning to watch. Ohhh! If I could only find time to watch even one episode a day. Would you believe it if I say I haven't finished the 'Legend of the Blue Sea'? That bad, huh?

Then, I haven't finished the dress that I've been crocheting since March 😧. But the good news is I'm nearly finished with the new bolero that I started three weeks ago 😃  

Oh yeah, I have a problem with priorities. I guess that's the real problem why I don't get to finish things, right? But believe me, I'm trying. 

Anyways, I'll be posting some of my work here for promotion. When I say work, I mean my book reviews and crochet products. 

Well, got to go! 

Too Many Things to Do, Too Little Time

I know, I know. It’s cliché. But still true. But that’s not actually what bothers me this very moment. I’ve been busy for as long as I can remember. I can’t even remember any time that I wasn’t doing anything, so it isn’t a big deal anymore.  

What really gets to me is the fact that so many people, some of them I know personally, have so much time in their hands that they can actually post their entire itinerary on FB, and update it, too, from time to time. Where do they get so much time?

Is it because I wake up late? Okay, 8am is much too late to get up I’ll give you that. But I sleep late, too, like 12midnight, or even later. But even then, it seems like I accomplish too little at the end of the day. I don’t even get a chance to pick up the cross stitch I’m working on, or the beanie hat I started crocheting last May.

Could it be that I have more chores than they do? Well, I have the usual housekeeper stuff like cooking, washing the dishes, washing clothes, folding clothes, sweeping the floor (I mean, when I don’t forget), mopping the floor. Those are the usual stuff, right? Then, I update my blog, read books, two at a time, one from my tablet and another one from my cellphone when I use the bathroom (Ok you don’t need to know that), then write book reviews. And before I get to blink, the whole day is gone. Just gone. I am flabbergasted!

The problem is ‘TIME is not for sale’ and even if it is I wouldn’t have enough money to buy two hours to add to my 24.

Okay. What if you can actually buy time? What are you going to do with it? Seriously? What would you do if you have additional two hours on your day?

The Luckier Ones

This is a re-post. It originally appeared on another blog on May 07, 2014. It is re-posted for sentimental reasons.

It's summer here in the Philippines and it seems like the hottest summer so far, though we say that about every summer.

Everyone finds a way to get through the heat, from the most to the least expensive. The rich leave the country to spend the season in a much colder place while those who can afford spend almost everyday going to beaches and various resorts.

For us ordinary citizens, however, we hole up in the coziest part of the house with a pitcher of iced water permanently sitting on the table. Electric fans are turned to #3 the whole day and turned off only to cool the motor down.We are luckier than others.

I saw people toiling under the ruthless heat of the sun because they have no choice. I saw construction workers, street vendors and hired hands at the farm who labor the whole day to earn money to put food on the table.

And every time I think about them, I feel ashamed. I feel ashamed for complaining about not having enough money, about the pile of bills on my desk, about not being able to go somewhere, about the heat, about everything, when I should be grateful for what I have.

Lord, teach me to be thankful for the gift of comfort..

Lights Out Brings Back Memories

Last Saturday, we joined the 2014 Earth Hour. And since it was very hot inside the house with all the electric fans turned off, we preferred to stay outside while the Earth Hour was going on.

With the lights out, I suddenly remembered my childhood in the province, the quiet and peaceful nights usually spent singing and strumming guitar, playing guessing games, throwing around corny jokes and half-truths about everyone in town.

We had no gadgets to play with or watch on to keep us entertained, just the starry sky with all its secrets and mysteries. I know it’s not healthy to dwell on the past but looking back brings up happy memories to keep hopes up in order to look forward to the future..