Bloom

i love love words!

via Day of Tikkun

Gap

i love love books and places!

It is a day after Christmas and 5 more days before the beginning of another new year. In between these two holidays, I have a considerable amount of free time in my hands, something that I am not used to having. So I use this very much appreciated and welcomed free time bonding with the entire family (I only get to spend quality time with them at this time of the year), de-cluttering my computer's bookmarked pages and enjoying the fabulous benefits of simply being at home. Also, I've been daydreaming about my gap year escape and what I would be doing once I have finally mustered the courage and decent resources to just LET GO. Below is my shortlist. :)

1. Live like a local in Luang Prabang

I read about the place just last night. The night market enthralled me. Plus, it being hailed as the "France" of Asia sealed the deal. :)

via Come Fly With Me

2. Take care of elephants in Chiang Mai

They accept volunteers at Elephant Nature Park, a rescue and rehabilitation center for these 

adorable gentle giants.

via Charlotte Lumia Photography

3. Read/Write/Feel/Just be in at least one of these magnificent places to read books

Check this site out for the longer list of every bookworm's Disneyland. I've picked out a few 

which I consider either feasibly beautiful or just plain beautiful. 

The Hearst Castle Library

California, USA

Old Market Library

Min Buri, Bangkok

Taipei Public Library

Taiwan

Shakespeare and Company

Paris, France

last four images via Life Hack

Now I am plotting the how to's and next steps to make these all come true.

Conspire with me Universe!

Amen.

Be Cinderella

always, always

via Life Hack

Happy Christmas!

via Fresh Gypsy

poetry

i love love words!

Two nights ago, I recited out of nowhere my favorite poems to Alan before saying goodnight. I just thought I missed words that rhyme, how the rhythmic pattern of words roll in my tongue that I needed to say them out loud. I have two poems that need no googling or researching, I still memorize them by heart: 

Tina's Favorite Poems

Ode on Intimations of Immortality (excerpt)

by William Wordsworth

What though the radiance which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,

Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind;

There is No Frigate Like A Book

by Emily Dickinson

There is no Frigate like a Book

To take us Lands away

Nor any Coursers like a Page

Of prancing Poetry

This Traverse may the poorest take

Without oppress of Toll

How frugal is the Chariot

That bears the Human Soul

Being the nag that I am, I forced him to do the same. Share his favorite piece of literature. He has one, to my surprise (I never thought he is into anything literary), only that his favorite left me laughing at the end. I cannot get over it until now.

Alan's Favorite Poem

Untitled

In the brightest day, in blackest night

No evil shall escape my sight

Let those who worship evil's might

Beware my power

Green Lantern's Light!

I received an advise from him the day after to please recognize that his favorite poem has a title and an identified author. Green Lantern's Oath by Green Lantern.

At least, the words still rhyme. ;p

define happiness

i love love my family!
(and Lola Lucing was the glue that held all of us together - I love you Lola!)

taken 3 Christmases ago

December One

i love love stories!

via pinterest

 I haven’t written for quite some time. My thoughts have been in extremes, either too noisy that I cannot identify what I am really thinking at the moment or too empty that there is nothing to share, nothing to express, just plain nothing. My lola’s death and the realization that the upper tier of my family tree is being pruned by the natural process of life have scared (and still is scaring) me so much that I am alternately driven into panic and then nothingness. I needed to transport myself in the moment, at the present and hold on to my last few threads of calmness. And so here I am, on a gloomy sky-ed Monday morning, in a coffee shop, writing. They have closed down the office today in celebration of some city holiday so while the rest of Metro Manila is scampering like hamsters in the dreaded dignity-robbing MRT, I sit back comfortably on a couch feeling like a legit writer – hot coffee on the table, dark rimmed glasses perched on my nose and a copy of Alice Monroe’s “Dear Life” resting beside my laptop for some dose of inspiration. My bladder is telling me that I need to pee, but the restroom is a considerable walk away and besides, the trip to the restroom will kill all my efforts of channelling a legit writer persona. I will dare not risk it, I paid more than a hundred bucks for that hot cup of coffee. And I need a quick bang for my buck. An immediate ROI. A written material for my online diary.

Inspired by this article (I can never be original) on defining moments and reflections and listening to that inner voice and all that self-help jazz, I wish to share my top 3 moments on the first day of everyone’s favorite month, December. I wish to write my top 3 moments for today (the second day of everyone’s favorite month) but it is too early to wrap up today so I will write about yesterday. (Haha!)

My Top Three December 1 Moments

one: takoyaki for breakfast

I went to the Sidcor Sunday Market early in the morning to soak in all the entrepreneurial energy and the weekend happiness of families, couples and even those on solo flight. I was holding a plateful of takoyaki balls on one hand, a carrot-melon juice on the other, a bulky backpack of gym clothes on my, errr, back (backpack remember? haha!) and the Philippine Star newspaper clipped in my arms, my skin was starting to itch from the paper and the ink. I felt like a New Yorker, the ones you see in the movies, holding an armful of brown bag (vegetables and bread sticking out of the bag) on one hand, coffee on the other, talking to somebody over the phone and expertly avoiding tripping and bumping into someone. I felt like a complete fool adult, all free and with a handful of purpose: to gobble up the takoyaki (on one hand) and drink up my health juice (on the other). ;p

two: newspaper and the bench

I parked myself on a bench to decently finish my first meal of the day in full view of the gigantic Christmas tree and middle aged women dancing Zumba. I checked my gym bag for workout prerequisites - rubber shoes, socks, a towel and a towellete, fresh set of clothes - all check. Well except for one, I forgot all of my ID's. I thought of going back home for it but that will be such a waste of taxi fare, so I just sat longer with my balls of takoyaki and health juice and read up. The headline had something to do with customs chief, Biazon. The magazine insert featured Sorsogon. My horoscope said that I will be going back to teaching (whatever that means). My favorite columnist Jim Paredes made a list of his beliefs and "unbeliefs". Lucy Torres wrote about shelter kits for victims of typhoon Yolanda. F. Sionil Jose wrote about letting go of his Nobel prize aspirations - I really hopes he gets the recognition in the near future. And so, instead of getting all sweaty in the treadmill, I just sat longer. And read up. And it was good.

Three: call 911 for lunch

Ate Bel, our trusty helper, was on a day off. And all my cousins were either sleeping or eating out because that's how helpless we are when left on our own. I called 911 and poof came Alan, ready to chop the onions and potatoes for my requested corned beef lunch. It was one of the best lunches ever.

Runner Up: Wrapping Gifts while listening to Christmas Carols 

I love the whole holiday shebang. Nothing compares to Christmas in the Philippines. I have written this before and will write it again, "when I am stressed, I close my eyes and think of Christmas", the everything turns up alright. :)

What are your top three moments of today? Or, sige na nga, yesterday? :) I would love to hear them. For the meantime, please excuse me, I need to pee. Haha!