Whoosh!

It's Monday.  My hyperactive thoughts are well....hyperactive still.

Three days before Christmas.  I liken this time to a rough rollercoaster ride. First comes  LULL *you know when your mind just goes blank, or is it just me*, then SOME TENSION BUILDING UP *some amount of panic thinking about the things in your Christmas shopping list and trying to figure out what to do first*, GOING UP, GOING UP UP UP *waiting for that much awaited bonus -- to finally go Christmas shopping*, GOING HIGHER *decking the halls with bows of holly hahaha, mailing out presents and cards*, AND EVEN HIGHER *frantically planning the Christmas feast, doing the grocery, thinking of what to wear* and then "WHOOSH!" *you slide down uncontrollably amidst last minute stress, panic, forgotten errands, last trips to the mall, phonecalls to make, dashing for those last-minute gifts for people you forgot to shop for, *oh what a madhouse!* wrapping yet more presents, brain going haywire, multi-tasking, getting stuck over the table-setting if you're one of them Martha Stewarts of the world...etc etc etc!!!  It is a hectic time. I'm close to the "Whoosh!" phase. I'm gathering all strength, holding my breath, closing my eyes, rolling up my sleeves and holding on tight! Weeeeeeeeeee! Pretty soon it will be over.  It's a love-hate thang.  You want the mad rush to end, but at the same time, you want the thrill to last. Oh Christmas!



Have a merry one!

A Terrible Birthday Present

I got it while going to work this morning.

A SPEEDING TICKET.

Me?

I'm proud... I know I should be sad, but I'll work hard for the fine. *I'm sorry, hubby!*. But I think it's an award reminding me how things have truly gone for the better (Click to read an ancient post). Perhaps, I've even unconsciously wished for one   I had this sheepish grin on my face when I got pulled over.  I know...sick, huh! Well, it's something to scratch off the long bucket list now haha! I don't want to get another one that's for sure.

So don't get me wrong. This shoudn't in any way justify such a legit example of irresponsibility.   It's just that, this means something else for me at this point. And like all others, I should definitely be more careful next time.

I will.

What I did last weekend...

I blew birthday candles on my cake. It's mah birthday! Wanna know what I wished for?

I didn't really have that much birthday "desires". Hubby and I usually keep a wishlist that each other can work on. As years passed by though, I found the list getting shorter and shorter. As I grow older, I just eye material stuff less and less. Not that I ever truly hinged my identity on expensive stuff anyway. Though I've been a pampered (not spoiled, just pampered) wifey and have been showered with quite a share of signature purses, shoes and all, I have always exerted effort and consciously worked on NOT being defined by these things. I have met and been around some whose lives were dictated by the latest Louis Vuitton collection, the cutest Coach purse (which I never truly liked ...I think it's over-rated) and they have been really annoying. (Well, uhm, except for my sunglass collection. I need good sunglasses. But I want them not to flaunt them. I get headaches with "generic" ones. I always get headaches, period. So please, let's not go there!) Last year, hubby got me Chanels, with my much-desired mother of pearl logo.  This year I wanted something so much less expensive and I got what I wanted! Ray-ban's Aviators! I was disappointed that hubby didn't find a Crayola Glow Station to go with it. Nonetheless, I'm still holding my breath for it this Christmas.

So wait, where was I before my thoughts ran away again?

Oh, MY REAL BIRTHDAY WISHES:

I think my real birthday wishes are really more precious. This morning at church, I made these three wishes:

1. For my parents to be healthy and strong for a long time.Tell me where I can buy Time. I'll hoard all of it for them.  I pray and wish that my mom will fully heal from recurring localized breast cancer and for my dad to be fully healed of prostate cancer. I wish they will both be cancer-free. Not being there for them at this point consumes me. So, hoping and praying that they will be well is the best I can do for them (and for myself?) for now.

2. For hubby and I to have another baby. I think I'm ready. Yes, I think I'm slowly being ready again, emotionally and everything. If it doesn't happen naturally, we hope to make time for it in 2009, seek medical help perhaps. Our third bedroom is waiting to be a nursery. Right now it's a room where we pile junk and other stuff. It's like a gaping hole in our house, similar to the one in our hearts. Hopefully one day, it will find itself teeming with toys, kids bedroom furniture (I adore wooden children's furniture), kiddie clutter, a Kids Desk down the road to replace my old oak one-- hubby whispered to me at the church this morning, "Here's where we can send our kids to school, Private, Catholic"...that was truly encouraging. We're ready for one. Yes I am!

3. Financial stability, not only for us but the rest of the world as well. Improvement in the economy and better lives for everyone. Most of all, WORLD PEACE, which must begin with each one of us, from within ourselves.

I really have nothing more to ask.

Holiday Stress

The holiday stress is getting thicker and murkier by the second.  Last night, I went to South Shore and attempted my very first 2008 Christmas shopping ever! But a drive to South Shore also meant: Post office, Safeway and Walgreens. And that meant: Mail, Grocery, Drugs (not that I needed any). But I had to make a mental note to myself: TOOTHPASTE! Hubby and I have been squeezing the life out of our last tube for a week now...stamping on it with two feet had been futile, cutting it apart with scissors and scraping the remnants of the gel didn't quite work either...

So first stop...POST OFFICE. I really wanted to  get rid of all my local holiday mailouts and I only needed stamps (since I didn't finish writing addresses for the international ones that needed to go through the counter...what a waste!) but since I'm usually lucky with random cosmic mishaps, yesterday...was the day...the city pulled out the vending machines for stamps! So off to the counter I went. I could be a pushover dingdong like that.  By the way, I like to buy those "Forever" stamps that don't go up in price. *Does that mean if I hoard a truckload of them I'll be done for life?*. The long line at the post office had eaten me up alive and after 5 years and 3 seconds, I finally emerged from the counter with two books of stamps in hand and a purse a pound lighter from discarding all those holiday photo cards with the good samaritan who saved me a trip to the row of blue mailboxes around the corner (which is really a drive-through where I would usually attempt to line up in between the cars, with my nose straight into a smokin' muffler and my butt kissing someone's headlights while waiting for my turn).

So...

By the time I was done with that first chore, I was already half-dead.

And then I dashed to Safeway. I had to buy ingredients for the Onion Pie I promised everyone for Saturday's party at my cousin's.  I don't know why I thought of it. Food Network has dunnit again! But since I'm unofficially the official "bringer" of a vegetarian dish, I believe an onion pie would be something new for them. I'll make a second pie with bacon bits, of course! Don't think of it as dessert.  Think...quiche. Right now, I'm already barraged by emails from the cuzzos, "Are you sure???".  YES, I'VE NEVER BEEN SO SURE!!!

It was so cold strutting to the parking lot to put my grocery in the trunk that by the time I was done with this second chore, I was officially a zombie.

And then I finally went shopping. But I wasn't in the mood anymore. I have a long list for hubby's five million relatives and my own close to five million family members, not to mention the fact that I'll be working on a self-inflicted go-with-the-times budget that's good to stretch for about 3 special people. Okay, 3 and a half people. It's really not the money part (though it really is too!), but more of the legwork that sucks out my energy. I've been telling myself each year that I'll start shopping online. BUT I ALWAYS END UP SIDETRACKED BY BLOGGING!  I'm starting to loathe shopping. What's happening to me? I finally picked up a set of wicker stick diffusers with different scented oils but I think those would end up in our house.

Then hubby called to remind me to slow down and not run over two dead racoons he saw (he knows me very well, I have the uncanny ability to double kill something) on the way home. HOME. I wanted to throw a fit, cry like a baby and demand to go home.

SO I did (go home, I mean).

And I remembered not to run over the racoons. But I forgot all about the TOOTHPASTE.

Because the bad boys cried wolf...

You tend to hang up the phone even if it's the real one calling. 

Even if it's the President-Elect of the United States of America.

NOT ONCE, BUT TWICE!



When the President-elect called Ileana Ros-Lehtinen she hung up on him. Twice. Thinking that the call was a hoax, the Republican congresswoman greeted him the first time, saying: “You know, you’re a better impersonator than that guy who does Obama on Saturday Night Live.” When he insisted that he really was Mr Obama, Mrs Ros-Lehtinen said: “You’re so good, but honestly I’m too jaded for this. It’s a great prank. I love it when they do it to everybody, including me. Thank you very much.”

According to the account by Mrs Ros-Lehtinen, Mr Obama persevered, saying: “How can I convince you that this is Barack?” She replied: “Yeah, sure, have a great day.” Then, she said it was case of “Plunk, I hung up”.

I really thought that was hilarious!

Second Call.

A few minutes later Mr Obama tried again through his Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, who told her: “Ileana, I cannot believe you hung up on the President-elect.”  The Miami Congresswoman remained suspicious, however, refusing to believe that he really was Mr Emanuel. Then Mr Obama, who has been calling Congressional leaders to congratulate them on their reelection, came on the line only to be told: “Guys, it’s a great prank, really. I love it, but I’m not falling for it.” Then hung up.

Third attempt.

Howard Berman, the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, on which she is the most senior Republican, telephoned urgently to inform Mrs Ros-Lehtinen that she risked offending Mr Obama. Even then she was skeptical, asking him to recount a private joke. When he passed that test, Mrs Ros-Lehtinen said: “I know this sounds very presumptuous, but please tell President-elect Obama he can call me now and I will take his call.”

Really hilarious. She had been a victim of a crank call before. And so is the rest of mankind.

I was laughing out loud when I learned about this.

But it makes you realize how the world seems to be more paranoid and distrustful these days. All because we are in the age of crank caller radio stations, prank callers in general, identity thieves, swindlers and mother frauders.

We trust less, we watch our backs more. We are less secure. We are scared more. And the vicious cycle goes on. We're doing it to ourselves.

What have we done?

How do we stop this?

Are you special too?

I find it really amazing how once in a while, you find yourself discovering that someone else wants the same exact quirky thing that you want: dunking almond biscotti on a cup of...NOT hot coffee...but ice cold and fizzing diet orange sunkist (my friend Flo and I); or liking diet coke not because it's "diet" but because you both think it tastes better than regular (I forgot who that was but I'm a big diet coke fan not because it's a "diet" drink);  or trying to paint with coffee (I thought I was the only one who thought of that -- apparently not); or wishing you can buy rubber gloves for barefeet because you both like stepping into the tub while cleaning it with clorox (my sister and I, and we didn't even find out about it until last week!).

So yesterday I was looking online where I can buy black chalkboards.  I want a big blackboard for one empty wall of our garage and one menu board for my little red italian kitchen. I found one that makes custom-made ones for those in the food business.



What I was really looking for are those plain ones that I can work with, draw on with colored chalk, and change at my every whim. Blame it on the active child within me.

It's just amazing how one search came up with a girl who had that same thing noted down on a wishlist online. You'd know it's important because it was the #1 on her wishlist.  What I'm driving at is...well, I would understand if we were surfing for let's say, sunglasses or some popular fashion trend or household commodity.

But a big school-standard sized chalkboard for personal use? TO DOs, reminders, drawings, grafitti, doodles and all. 

Sorry to burst my own bubble.  But then, wanting a chalkboard really isn't that strange, quirky, or special. But if you're a 35-turning-36-this-year woman who would like to receive a Crayola Glow Station for Christmas over maybe a Hermes or Louis Vuitton purse (I am!), please raise your hand!!!

Well, sometimes we think we're too special. But it's nice to "ooh", "aah" and "wow" when we discover that someone else shares the same uniqueness (which ironically makes stuff not so unique after all). That won't really make one "not special"...in fact, that makes two special. Or three. Or a hundred. Maybe thousands.



Tell me, what do you think makes you special? Don't be shy...

Wifeyteria Chronicles: Thanksgiving 2008

-written on Black Friday-

Thanksgiving slash Housewarming dinner at our house last night was a blast. We had family and friends come over and food became a problem -- it was way too good...way too much!

APPETIZERS: Italian Salami, different cheeses and crackers, Grapes, Prosciutto and capers, Nachos and baked Jalapeno Artichoke dip, and fresh Oysters.

SALAD: Potato Salad and Caesar Salad

MAIN DISH: Two Turkeys (because it was hubby's first time to use his Bronco rotiserrie for a turkey and wasn't sure how it would come out -- I ordered another one from Safeway!), stuffing, cranberry relish, gravy, Mashed potato, Sweet potatoes, mixed greens, Roast pork (because hubby insisted and ordered it with or without a party...like 5 million years ago), Wild rice, mushroom and spinach casserole...and here's the Filipino touch: someone brought Pancit (chowmein noodles) and Enpanada (meat pie)

DESSERT: Pumpkin pie, warm homemade apple pie (to die for!), vanilla ice cream

BEVERAGE: Red, Blush and White wines (a very special bottle that my sister accidentally opened for a quarter cup that she needed for .... gravy!)

Last night was fun. We all ended up taking turns playing Dance Revolution in my Wii.

Last night was all about family too. Warmed up the house real good.

Last night was truly something that a Thanksgiving is supposed to be.  In the real sense of the word.

It's a Sign

I always see this billboard for a fastfood on my route coming home from work. It says, "STOMACH GROWLING?..."  It always nails it! I'm always hungry coming home and I bet so are the thousands of other commuters who pass that sign. And the food on the photo appears to be the only fast solution in a world of the starving working class.

Two weeks ago, on a stoplight, a guy came down from his car (that got me scared) and started knocking on the window of the truck beside him. They had a short talk and the driver of the truck gave something to the guy before the light turned green. It was a business card. I figured the guy was interested in plumbing services. It was on a ad wrapped all over the truck.

When we used to live in the other house, I would pass by this corner before the bridge. It had some railings with ever-changing signs everyday. Banners, some digitally printed, some handwritten...for instance saying, "Happy 18th Birthday, Kylie!", "Congratulations, Dorothy!", "ANGIE, WILL YOU MARRY ME?" Here's a phonecam shot of the spot:

I just looked around me and it dawned on me how much our world is governed by signs. Can you imagine going into the men's room if you're female (though, I've done that several times in my life at the University, accidentally of course -- I could never seem to memorize where the designated toilets were especially inside the library!!!) Can you imagine driving into a One-Way path, especially counterflowing on a freeway entry? A Dead-End? Stepping into carless elevator? Can you imagine a world without street signs? (I'm already having a hard time navigating through a well-mapped area...so much more turns and alleys and streets that have no names?)

I mean, how will the world be without signs?

Chaos, right?

 

So...how will our spirits be without taking some time to rest, pray, listen with our hearts

and receive the most important of all signs?