Two awards and a meme

Starting off the awards season is this "thoughtful award" from Ipanema and momoftwo, "for those who answer blog comments, emails, and make their visitors feel at home on their blogs. For the people who take others feelings into consideration before speaking out and who are kind and courteous. Also for all of those bloggers who spend so much of their time helping others bloggers design, improve, and fix their sites. This award is for those generous bloggers who think of others." Fooled you two, didn't I??? Hahahaha...just kidding. My deepest appreciation to the 2 of you.


I also received the thinking blogger award from verns. Thanks verns. Although I would have to refute this award because my blog is where turn to and just have fun without having to think. Ahehehe...just look at my previous post and you'll see why.

I'm supposed to give out these awards but since this post is already way overdue, I guess I will have to award these to you, my blog reader/s (so you won't think I'm presumptuous in thinking there's more than one of you....hahaha) for bearing with me especially during those times I wanted to quit blogging due to personal problems. Thank you to all my blog friends. You all deserve this award.

Finally, I got tagged by momoftwo. I'm supposed to mention 8 random things about me which I haven't yet revealed in my posts. Hmmm...it's a tough task but I'll try.

1. I'm a late-bloomer. I had my first ought-to-be forgotten boyfriend at the ripe old age of 24. Fortunately, that forgettable portion of my life didn't last long and I met my (now) husband soon thereafter.

2. I have a sister who's 10 years older than me. Yes, quite a big age difference noh? My parents were not planning on having another child after my sister, but one night they had a misunderstanding, and the rest, as they say, is history.

3. I have the attention span of a 4-year old. Sometimes, 3 minutes into the homily, I would ask my husband what the priest is talking about. I don't know how I was able to survive law school.

4. Like momoftwo, I'm also a crybaby. I cry when I'm happy, I cry when I'm sad, sometimes I just cry for no reason at all.

5. I have a secret not-so-secret-anymore phobia of worms, especially the big varieties. Please don't surprise me with one or I might just accidentally spill that steaming hot cup of coffee on your pants.

6. During high school, I went out on a group date. Among those present was a guy whom I really had a big crush on. We went to McDonald's. Guess what I ordered? Chicken joy. Hehehee...probably the reason why I'm a late-bloomer.

7. What am I supposed to write about??? Ahhh, 8 random things about me.

8. See, there goes my attention span. Maybe I'll rename this tag "6 random facts about me", hehehe.

Anyway, I really had fun with this meme. Thanks momoftwo. I'm not tagging anyone this time.

Ten random facts about my mom

I was tagged by momoftwo and this time it's all about my mom. This is a long-overdue meme. Anyway, here goes 10 random facts about my mom:

(1) She's the 4th among 7 siblings. Unfortunately, 4 of her siblings have already passed away, while the 2 remaining ones live quite far; her brother lives in the province (La Union), and her sister resides in Alberta, Canada.

(2) Her birthday falls on the 28th of December, the feast day of Ninos Inocentes or the "Feast of the Holy Innocents."

(3) She has experienced so many griefs in her life, like the death of her husband and firstborn son, and I am truly amazed by her strength during times of adversity. She stood by armed only with her faith in the Lord and emerged from it all a stronger person. I believe I inherited my strength from her.

(4) She successfully ran a furniture business with an inborn business acumen, despite the fact that she was not able to finish her studies due to poverty.

(5) She is a freak when it comes to cleanliness, almost bordering on obsessiveness, though she will try to deny it when you ask her...haha. She never fails to wakes up every 3 A.M. just start cleaning her house. Grabe. This gene, I did not inherit, unfortunately. My husband can attest to this.

(6) She dotes on her grandchildren to the point of spoiling them. I think my angel Raphael would have loved playing with his grandma if he were alive.

(7) She is the most unselfish person I know. She always looks after her kids' and grandkids' needs first before thinking of herself.

(8) She likes spicy food. She can even eat siling labuyo. Need I say more?

(9) Ok, I tease her about this but I've observed that when she offers food to anyone, she always starts her sentence with "Ayaw mo nito...?" And even if I bring this to her attention saying that other people might get offended, she persists in doing it anyway.

(10) And finally, she cooks the best adobo in town. Well, according to my taste anyway.

So there, these are ten random facts about my mom. An extraordinary Filipina in my opinion.

Rockin' Award!!!

Hey, I rock!!! Thank you Ipanema for this wonderful award. Hehehe...shempre sobra akong natuwa kasi first time ko lang maka-receive ng award na ganito. My fellow awardees were: Bugsybee, Gypsy, Niceheart and Toe. These ladies, including Ipanema, are truly exceptional and certainly deserve this award (which is to say that I also do...hahaha!)

So, in the grand tradition of these blogosphere awards, I have to spread this prestigious (naks!) award to 5 of my blog friends (shempre, aside from those already mentioned na ha). And here are my awardees in alphabetical order:

Dinna - this rockin' lady blogs from New York. I always look forward to her stories about her NY experiences, the places she visits, her beloved son, and even about her pesky officemates and the saga of her problematic stepson. This lady impressed me a lot when she came to the defense of her friends (and the gay community in general) during the time of the Justice Isagani Cruz brouhaha. A reliable and trustworthy friend indeed.

Kyels - this rockin' lady is one thoughtful gal. You can see where her heart lies in her posts. I felt her pain when her dog died. I am always touched by her messages of kindness and encouragement which always comes just at the right moment in my life. She also takes excellent photographs to boot!

Mitams - this rockin' lady never ceases to delight me with her mouth-watering culinary concoctions. How I really wish I live next-door to this lady so that I can always get a taste of her latest culinary treat. Her site is the first site I visit when looking for new recipes. She is now hosting the 20th edition of Lasang Pinoy and it's all about "BINALOT." Please visit her site for more info.

Momoftwo - this rockin' lady is a fairly new blog friend. Nevertheless, I am impressed how she juggles her time studying and being a devoted mom to her 2 munchkins in another country. I am entertained by her rants and raves about nursing school. (Maybe I'd like to try it out someday???) By the way, she needs more prayer warriors right now for her mother-in-law who's currently battling colon cancer.

Vernaloo - this rockin' lady is also a new blog friend. From her blog entries, I can see that this lady has a very charming and bubbly personality. Seriously, nadadala talaga ako sa mga kuwento niya, hahaha. I look forward to reading more posts about her life and (previous) loves. Keep it coming!!!

Spread the love guys!
 

I got tagged!

After all the preparations and the recovery needed after my operation, I must admit I had no idea how to get my creative juices flowing again. My mind goes blank every time I log in to my blogger account. Good thing I got tagged by a blog friend Kat. This is a nice way for me to get excited about writing again. For this tag, I need to write 6 random facts about myself, plus an explanation for each item. Here it goes ...

1. I cannot sleep with dirty feet.

I might be dead-tired from work (arriving past midnight) with my make-up still on,
about to fall asleep the moment my head hits my pillow...and yet I cannot sleep with dirty feet. I have this urgent need to go to the bathroom and wash my feet even if I do not get to wash my face or brush my teeth due to sheer exhaustion. I just have no explanation for this. This is one of my quirks.

2. I like watching my DVD set of "Will & Grace" over and over and over again.

It used to be the TV show "Friends," but this has been replaced by "Will & Grace". I do not get tired of watching the same show over and over again. And I still laugh at the right moments. Don't get me wrong...I like watching the occasional new movie and TV show. But there is something about watching the same scenes over and over again...gives me a sense of comfort that nothing will change in my life and nobody will leave me...again. Must be all the childhood heartaches of relatives and friends migrating abroad and the memory of the death of my brother and father.

3. I love collecting bookmarks.

As a young kid, I loved to read the usual Nancy Drew series which progressed to Sweet Dreams which eventually progressed to more serious stuff. Since budget was tight, I was unable to buy and collect these books. I could only borrow them. So, in lieu of books, I thought of collecting bookmarks. Wala lang...bookmarks are a whole lot cheaper. :-)

4. I love to eat bananas dipped in adobo cauce and/or ice cream with potato chips or french fries.

These are some of my comfort foods. I love the sweetness of bananas or ice cream mixed with the saltiness of adobo sauce or potato chips/french fries. However, since I'm pregnant and currently in the stage of paglilihi, I cannot stand the smell or sight of bananas and adobo and any food with lots of garlic in them. They would have to wait until I give birth.

5. I have a very laid back disposition.

A friend of mine is frustrated with me. When I was still single and unattached, this friend of mine would always invite me to go to Sagada, Mountain Province to trek. While I am sure that this place must be very picturesque surrounded by the beauty of nature....I am not inclined to go through all that trouble to enjoy the beauty of nature. My idea of a perfect vacation is to stay in bed and sleep all day....hehehe.

6. Whenever I go inside National Book Store, I have this strong compulsion to buy something, even just a ballpen so that I will not leave empty handed.

I have racked up a lot of reward points with my Laking National Card because of this compulsion. There is absolutely no explanation for this. If you have any idea how to get rid of this compulsion, I would certainly welcome your suggestion. This is the reason why I refuse to go inside National Book Store if there is no need for me to buy anything.

I'm not tagging anyone with this meme. I'm just happy to be back.

Badminton World Championship, memes, etc.

I had a difficult time waking up this morning. Wondered if it was related to my current condition. Hmmm, suddenly I remembered the reason why...I stayed up late watching the 2006 World Badminton Championships telecast live from Madrid, Spain. Aww shucks. Memo to self, sleep early from now on. I think I can sacrifice 7 more months of late night television in exchange for a healthy baby. It was quite funny though...I was rooting for Lin Dan on behalf of my unborn baby....hahaha. I'm so glad he won the World Championship. Bao Chunlai, Lin Dan's opponent and compatriot, is also a good player. There are other opportunities for him to win though, so good luck on his next try.

Anyway, these memes are long overdue. (Sorry Ipanema and Mita for the delay.)

First off, Ipanema requested me to name seven songs that I'm into right now. Hmm, I'm not really into music these days since I'm too sleepy to pop a CD in the player or to turn on the radio. Anyway, these are the songs that I last listened to on my cellphone/mp3 player:

1. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life - Art Garfunkel's version

2. Moon River - Louis Armstrong

3. La vie en rose - Louis Armstrong

4. What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

5. Do you hear the people sing - from Les Miserables

6. Master of the house - from Les Miserables

7. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - Johnny Matthis

I included the last one since this song never fails to get me in the Christmas mood. And I love the voice of Johnny Matthis. :-D

Now, onto Mita's meme. She requested me to list the top 5 things to eat before you die. I had more trouble deciding on this one because my taste buds are askew these days. Previous favorites have been included in the banned list at home...well, at least until I give birth. I cannot even take the smell of sauteeing garlic and onions. Oh well, seven more months....seven more months.

Anyway, here's my own list of top 5 things to eat before you die:

1. Steamed lapu-lapu from Emerald's Garden along Roxas Boulevard. I love their fresh steamed lapu-lapu with the mixture of just the right seasonings.

2. Prawn salad from President's in Chinatown.

3. Sweet lanzones from camiguin...and it's lanzones season to boot! (Yipee! My stomach is rejoicing at the thought of these sweet fresh lanzones.)

4. Pork chop from Tasty Dumplings (they have branches in Chinatown, Wilson St., Banawe among others). Their food is reasonably priced, even for those on a tight budget. Their chops are thin, crunchy and very tasty.

5. Razon's halo halo. I just love their halo-halo. Their recipe hails from Pampanga. The leche flan on top just melts in your mouth. Yummmmmmmyyy.

I would have wanted to include lumpia from a certain shop in Quiapo. But the name of the shop escapes me at this point. Sorry guys.

Anyway, there you go. Sorry for the delay. And since these memes are long overdue, I don't think I'll tag anyone. Hope you all had an enjoyable weekend. :-D

One book that...

I got tagged by Senor Enrique…and it’s all about books. :-)

It took me awhile to finish the meme, but here it goes…

One book that changed your life. "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman. It has revolutionized the way I interact with my husband.

One book that I read more than once. “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. I’ve read it about 5 times and I plan to read it over and over again. I consider her a feminist during her era.

One book you would want on a desert island. Hmmm…I’m not sure but I think I would want to read a book about the paranormal, about ESP. I think I would want to muster all of my paranormal powers to ask for help if I get stuck on a desert island.

One book that made you laugh. "Bridget Jones Diary" by Helen Fielding.

One book that made you cry. "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.

One book that you wish had been written. Hmmm… "How to Win the Lottery"?

One book that you wish had never been written. I don’t know…probably "Guerilla Warfare "by Che Guevara? But I really haven’t read it myself so I really can't say.

One book you are currently reading. “1421. The Year China Discovered America” by Gavin Menzies. I’ve been reading it for quite some time already. Aarrggghhh….. nakakaiyak na sa haba. Maybe I should put this under the category “Books that made me cry.” Hahaha.

One book you have been meaning to read. “One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Now, I have to tag 5 people to do this meme. So, I’m tagging the following people:

(1) Toe – kurokuroatbp
(2) Snglguy – Inside the Mind of a Single Guy
(3) Dinna – Pinay New Yorker
(4) Kat - yet another corner in a maiden's life's downtown
(5) Jairam - Insomniac's Mind

Happy reading!

My very first meme...

I got tagged by my friend Toe in Cambodia with my very first meme. This is a nice way for my newfound friends in the blogosphere to get to know me better. Anyway, so here goes…

SIX WEIRD THINGS/HABITS ABOUT MYSELF:

1. Whenever I walk on the streets/pavements/sidewalks, I try to avoid stepping on the lines. This is pretty normal behavior for kids, but kinda weird when you see a thirtysomething still doing it.

2. I love to dip bananas either in bagoong (alamang) or in adobo sauce. The sweetness of the bananas combined with the saltiness of either the bagoong or adobo sauce is just to die for.

3. I have an obsession about my hair. I was born with very wavy hair. As a kid, I would would put all kinds of pins on it to make it presentable. When I was in college, I discovered the magic of the salon and I started having my hair chemically straightened. Then, I started having “relaxing” treatments during the time I was in law school. I was so obsessed with having the “straight hair” look that I would spend an hour and a half blow drying my hair straight even though I hadn’t finished reading all the assigned cases. Hahaha…I was really obsessed with my hair. Nowadays, I still have my yearly “rebonding” or “relaxing” treatments. But I’m not as obsessed now as I was before. What brought on this attitude change? Simple. I got married. Now, my hubby is stuck with me no matter how wavy my hair becomes, especially with this rainy season in Manila which just exacerbates the curls.

4. I am not an insomniac but I go to sleep at around 2 to 3 in the morning. I do not have a perfectly good explanation for this kind of behavior. We do not have kids yet and as much as possible I do not bring home my work. It’s just that life is short and I want to read as many books as I can and watch as many interesting television shows and movies as I can. Of course I can only do this at night when we get home from work. Unfortunately, my husband is a light sleeper. He really gets annoyed because he is already in deep sleep and probably in dreamland already at this time and he would wake up because I could not go to sleep without hugging or embracing him.

5. I have trouble learning new/additional languages. I don’t know what chemicals are in my brain which makes me an idiot when it comes to learning another language. I can only speak Filipino and English. That’s it. I grew up studying in a Chinese school and my father is Chinese but I can only speak a grand total of 4 sentences (more or less) in Chinese Mandarin. I really have trouble understanding Chinese even when I was surrounded with a whole class of Chinese-speaking students. When I started working, I had the bright idea of learning another language…Spanish this time. So I enrolled in Instituto Cervantes which was then located in Leon Guinto St. in Manila. I took Saturday classes for more than 2 years. In fact I think I reached Level 9. But aside from the occasional Spanish words which just happens to be the same in the Filipino language, my know-how in Spanish is the same as that of someone who just reached Level 1. Pathetic! All those years of studying Chinese and Spanish down the drain.

6. I have an adopted half-brother in China which I probably will neither see and nor hear from again. Most of my friends don’t know this about me. My father and his wife (not my mom, by the way) decided to adopt a boy (actually, when he was adopted, he was probably around 23 years old already, so I could hardly categorize him as a boy) because they do not have a son. We all know how important it is in the Chinese culture to have a son who will carry on the family name and take care of the family business. Anyway, I got to see him a grand total of 2 times, first when we visited him in China and the second time was when he visited us in the Philippines. We never heard from him since my father passed away almost five years ago. And since you all know my trouble with speaking Chinese and my adopted brother doesn’t speak a single word of English, I do not foresee any possibility of us establishing contact in the future because of the language barrier. Besides, none of us knows his address in China. Hmmm…but all hope is not lost. Remember The Joy Luck Club?

Ok. That’s it. I decided not to tag anyone since I do not have a lot of friends yet in the blogosphere.