The Un-Me
I jogged (aka brisk walked) today! Now this is a feat for me. I think I’m slowly shedding off the Barbie of years past and emerging into a new, rejuvenated version - meet Barbara. Funny, when one client chose to call me this way. Now I think I’m gonna stick with it. Sounding more respectable, more universal woman. I like it.
So this is the un-me presenting itself. Voluntarily. So naturally, this is me now. Whether you all believe it or not. No MAJOR physical manifestation so far okay? I’m not getting my sexy back, YET. But there are pretty noticeable signs that geez, I AM GROWING UP!
Hear me out here.
1) I rarely go out to drink no more, once a wk tops. Or even 2 weeks without a drop of alcohol…(DIBA HELLOW??)
2) I used to blab a lot to people, strangers and be the life of the party. NOW i don’t always like to talk, I get tired of entertaining people ! (woah?) Sometimes I’d rather listen to the younger set make a fool of themselves as I stay amused watching them. (doesn’t mean i’ve turned into a big bore, BUT let’s just say I give the floor to somebody else when I can. My conversational skills are still exceptional, no doubt about that …hmm walang kokontra hehe)
3) I am showing my thoughtfulness MORE now, to people who mean a lot to me. Before I’d never be too mushy nor expressive to friends or family. Must be Jeanina’s presence and her brand of thoughtfulness that can be contagious.
4) I can stay home, 4 days straight. I have proven that and it doesn’t make me go crazy ANYMORE! Partly, thanks to technology.
5) I am watching my budget so much, I had to excel everything. Every peso counts!
I’m sure there are lots more, but these would have to do for now. And having a regular weekly “Fitness” routine is one of them! 
I just have to enjoy this ride, and wherever this will take me!
Dolores
She is my grandmother, in the Javier side.
She is not the affectionate type of grandmother. No embrace and holding hands routine needed for her to let you know she loves you. But she is ultimately thoughtful in a “kulang-na-lang-subuan-ka-niya-ng-niluto-niyang-ulam-kahit-busog-ka” kind of manner. She never forgets to gift everybody on their birthdays, may party man o wala may makakarating na regalo syo. She even apologizes when its days late, that’s how she really is. Very sweet. She is also as entertaining as any Talk Show would be in a boring monday morning. Just to listen to her “couple” issues with lolo and how she whispers to you funny little anecdotes about people in the family. On the otherhand, she can also lash out at her daughters/sons with some thorny words just to let her issues out. Lola has her way of showing how she feels, and for that she is definitely unique and not your gentle, sweet old lady “stereotype” as ordinarily depicted.
I really, really believe I take after her with being opinionated, “smart alecky” and with that all-too familiar deprecating sense of humor, labelling people (new or old acquaintance, esp. newly-introduced boyfriends) fondly with nicknames of “not-so-pretty” celebrities names. It soooo me! (hahaha)
The Javiers has gotten used to her (sometimes) tough kind of love. But the temper, that can only be old age catching up on her and beyond her control. Despite all odds, Lola Loleng (by her friends) stays a loyal and “masilbi” na wife, a hands-on mother to seven (yes seven!) children, grandmother to all of us cousins and great grandmother to a brood of lovely and makukulit na apo sa tuhod.
She may look more frail now compared to her feisty demeanor of years back. Lola slipped in the kitchen and hurt her spinal column so bad, she had to undergo an almost 6-hour operation to place a metal disk along his lower spinal. She spent a few days in ICU and the whole family braced themselves for the worst. Esp. my poor Lolo who was extra worried. But God is good and kept her safe. The doctors was astounded with how strong her body was in reaction to that operation and that it was almost miraculous. The excruciating process has just begun though. She stayed in the hospital for months, can’t move freely and worse had an upper-body brace by the time the doctors released her. She had to be bathed, fed and told not to move for the first few weeks. Therapy ensued at home and family members took turns to care for her.
At present, she is now free of those braces and back to her red lipstick pormas that I sorely missed when she was sick. It was great seeing her last Christmas looking good as ever in her newly-dyed short hair and trademark red pucker. I kissed and hugged her excitedly. She simply gushes with that impish smile again and whispers to me, “Nakita mo na si Miss Tapia?”
Loleng strikes again! Kaloka haha.
“Happy 85th birthday Lola!”
We Love you!
Uncategorized | Comment (0)Twiddling my thumbs
3:32 am. My mind is as restless now, as it was from that last gulp of breakfast yesterday morning. “What to do today”? Hmmm. Browsing over my stress-free january planner, oh how about that exciting STAY AT HOME day! Again. Funny how when we have so much time on our hands, we forget so many other “to-do” things we usually miss out on our busier days. Such is the nothingness of everyday - but the bigness of little things.
Big, little things i should be thankful for today: Waking up sluggishly at 8am. Eating a leisurely breakfast of spam, scrambled eggs and warm rice. Hugging Jeanina as she joins me in the sofa. Channel switching from Ci to Etc. Having two yayas, temporarily, at my beck and call (one is in training, while the other is leaving this end of the month). Washing the newly-acquired wine decanter from yesterday’s family baptism. Sleeping again to wake up for lunch (oona batugan naaa! hehe but this is unusual of me). Enjoying the silence in the house (with nina away for school). Relishing my crisp, white sheets and huggable pillows. Chatting with friends. Setting up a dinner date w/ GFs tomorrow. Seeing Nina’s eyes brighten up seeing me home, AGAIN. Lol. Taking a short walk outdoors after the sun sets. Oh, quiet monday.
Until a freaking text came.
So i’m back to restlessness….arggg.
thoughts | Comment (0)Revisiting Papemelrotti
It’s been awhile really since I entered this store. Being the opinionated person that I am, I have this habit of labeling shops and outfits even expressions and refer them to a certain era. This time the 80’s! Just like how I have avoided entering “Blue Magic”, of my college days circa 1990s? HAHAHA.It’s like being caught in a time zone that is too passe for things happening in the outside world. (sama ko ba? hehe) I will never dare though, and buy those cigarette alkansya anymore, and those plastic turds?! (uber funny, pero iwan na natin sa 90s diba?)
Anyways while toiling around a mall in the Eastside, and in my desire to do some rush gift shopping at a very good (uh, hear low) priced gifting….I see Papemelrotti’s signage urging me on. The heck with it, i’ll give it a chance. And lo behold, despite the country-ness of it all, which is far from the taste I have for my home…there are bits and pieces of charming items i was able to buy for my friends. Papemelrotti has recaptured my heart in a certain Martha Stewart sort of way. They had a certain “personal” feel to them while not breaking the bank, so it was perfect! I especially liked those LOVE, PEACE, FAITH, JOY inscriptions, which had accompanying symbols imprinted in square-shaped clays. So I hoarded a number of those. Just wonderful for hanging alongside your books by the bed, or as a paper weight on your desk. A nice reminder of what’s really important, yes? So as i continue browsing through the gazillion wooden displays , I caught sight of this miniature figures made of wood i think. I thought, this would fit mine and nina’s room i guess. Rarely do I like hearts mind you, but this one I had to have. I love seeing cat drawings (not the pet) and it somehow reminds me of how Nina has helped mend my heart in a way. 
I’m definitely going back for some more trinkets. Best thing is,,,I got a 20% discount pa from all the things I bought! Hehehe.
“it’s the thought, not the value” diba friends?
Six years with “tornado girl”
It’s a nick a really good friend coined. Appropriately enough, Jeanina’s energy have turned our lives in the upswing almost every time. And yesterday she turned 6, imagine that? You know the feeling when you look at your child and instant rewind happens, and you stop and think “wow this is pretty surreal”. My baby has filled my existence with six years of many things.
Six years of talking constantly! (hehe, day and wee hours of the morning)
Six years of unbelievable tantrums turned mushy times.
Six years of learning and re-learning how to be a good mom.
Six years of arguing with each other and growing happily together.
Six years of hugs, play time and lots of baby kisses.
Six years of superheroes, mr bean and cartoon network.
Six years of meaningful little moments.
Six years of my unique Jeanina. That is all i am thankful for, that she is smart, healthy and active just the way i wanted her to be. At the moment, though I’ve done one simple lunch celeb at home (on the day itself) with my mother and my inaanak louise and one fun class party in her school today. I have yet to find a special way to celebrate it with her in a manner that i feel is truly “sacred”. Only she and I, alone.
Happy birthday Babe!
(attached are photos of nina and ate on my photo booth, halatang nagpapatawa lang on a lazy monday bday)
