Something New: Urban Heat Island Effect

11.18.2011

I learned something new in class tonight. :)

URBAN HEAT ISLAND EFFECT

 Photo Source: http://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2011/10/21/analysis-confirms-global-warming-data-accounts-for-urban-heat-islands/


Read On...

http://www.urbanheatislands.com/

LAY BARE

11.17.2011

After months and months of persuasion from my sorority sisters and set mates, I finally decided to go to Lay Bare tonight to avail of their waxing services.

Yes, it was my first time. I am used to doing things on my own; from shaving legs, waxing underarms up to the other hairy parts of the body. :P  I don’t know why but I’m just not comfortable with the thought of complete strangers seeing the “secret” parts of me.  Yeah. I’m manang like that. Haha. But I didn’t have much time to do such things anymore. I am off to the beach this weekend so I needed an express way to the comfort of being able to wear a swimsuit.

I will not announce the specific services I availed. I don’t think anyone would ever do that. Or  again, maybe, I’m just manang like that. J

Anyway, so Lay Bare has many branches. I was supposed to go to their Katipunan branch with my sorority setmate Pola, but when I checked their website they actually have a branch in Robinsons Metroeast. I decided to have a “Me” time and opted to have my waxing appointment there.

I was greeted with happy smiles. Ate Lyn was the waxer (is that what you call it?) who took care of me. She was very warm and she appeared like she knew what she was doing.  She probably sensed discomfort on my part so she started to tell me stories and jokes. She kept on saying "ako lang 'to. secret lang natin." “mabilis lang ‘to, Ma’am. Relax ka lang dyan” and “ang beach Ma’am, sayang ang beach.”  I was trying so hard not to laugh at her jokes and she was trying so hard not to laugh at me whenever I squirmed. Great job, Ate Lyn. And I finished with flying colours. J

Happy Thoughts

11.12.2011

Moving forward from my previous melancholic post, I have had a couple of reasons why I was filled with glee last night.

After a couple of years of not being complete during meet-ups/catching ups/ hangouts, the babies and I finally found time to spend with each other. All four of us. It was our first time to be complete since our college days.  Call time was set at six to make sure that we were in Eastwood by eight :D. yeah, that’s how all of us are. Late is an “always” and to wait, (for those who are on time) is a must.

We know each other too well. J

Looking back, I am so grateful to have friends like them. I love and treat them like they are my blood sisters. It amazes me how I can maintain this certain kind of relationship with these people. A relationship that goes beyond distance and time. I rarely see them, (that’s for sure) but when we see each other it’s not like we were physically distant from each other at all. It’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I cannot even explain the excitement and the thrill my heart felt just with the mere thought of us setting a date for a quality time. 

  

 My exclusive bubble. I can naturally let my hair down with them. They are the ones who can take me despite all my flaws and imperfections, the ones who know that I am capable of being a total nincompoop but who loves me nonetheless. Funny, because with them, I don’t always have to seem I’m in control. 

I think I got to Eastwood first, contrary to Ciek’s claim that she got there the earliest and was just walking around and strolling. Juju arrived next. And kitel was the last, with the statement: “lagi akong on time! Kayo naman mag-intay. Ako lagi antay ng antay noon eh.“. So there.   We did some catching up over dinner and coffee. Happy news were announced, life happenings were discussed, decisions were consulted, opinions were shoved to each other’s throats, and pieces of advice were given and taken into consideration.  Life is good with these people and I just love ‘em. 

We may not be physically present for each other all the time, but whenever I think of them being part of me and my life, I come to my senses and realize that no matter how tragic the fall is or how excruciating the pain becomes, or how atrocious some scars are, life will always be at its best with them around.

And now that it has been announced, I guess we can all tell the world. J

The Sad News

I feel awful that my official first entry in this newly started blog is actually filled with gloom.  I have noticed that for the past months I have been sleeping with my stomach flat on the bed and my back against the shining stars of the beautiful night sky. A gesture that clearly demonstrates defeat, if you ask me.

A couple of nights ago, contrary to an ordinary day’s end, I read a text message that got me secretly crying the whole night. Nanay, the pillar of our clan was diagnosed with brain tumor and is currently confined in the hospital. I locked myself to my room after I told my parents and after what pop told me: “eh ganun talaga. Anong gagawin natin, matanda na sya.” I burst into tears, hugged a pillow in prone position and prayed. I remembered the nights when I would pray and whisper my requests and the first thing I would say was “Please God, make my mom live until I’m eighty and nanay until I have grandchildren of my own.” Needless to say, I slept through the night in the defeated position once again.

I don’t see nanay all the time, but my attachment to her is one of a kind. I know I barely have time to visit her now, unlike before when I can sneak out for lunch and have lunch with her in San Roque (our ancestral home). But the comfort and assurance of the thought that she’s still around works the magic and makes the difference. Her stories of how she took care of me when I was a baby would give me a different kind of calm. It amazes me how a person whom aside from my parents and siblings could have instantly showed me TLC when I was still a baby. A baby who has proven nothing to the world—except cries and wails to show signs of hunger, discomfort and sleepiness.   But there she was. She would tell me stories of how she took care of me, held my little hands, brushed my curly hair, and put me to sleep while the parentals are out working. My favorite story is how she would bathe me with tea everyday back then. She would say “ang ganda ng kutis, ang kinis-kinis, dahil yan sa tsaa na pinapaligo ko sayo nung maliit ka pa.”

Oh, and this wasn’t just me, she took care of each and every one of us. As in, all of us –from my older cousins up to the little ones, even now that we have Sam and Reece as our grandchildren (my nephews’s kids).

After that night, I told our relatives in FB that nanay is sick. On my defense, it wasn’t to make anybody worry neither was it just for the sake of having something to say in the FB group. I needed everybody to pray for her because I want her to live and stay with us for a much longer time. This is one news I cannot hide from our family because I feel like things like these should not be kept a secret. Apart from the miraculous possibilities and outcomes our united prayers can do, this may also pave the way for more help to come.

As what I always say, I am attached to my family in more ways anyone can ever imagine. But in a much broader sense, I can relate the kind of love I have for each and every one of them through Lilo and Stitch’s –OHANA.  “’Ohana is family, and family means no one left behind.”  I am not as rich as my other siblings or my cousins who would normally be in charge of monetary funds. That’s why my sole contribution to our family is my being the events planner/coordinator. I plan the annual reunions, the summer family trips and what-have-yous. And as much as possible, I try to accommodate everyone’s requests no matter how little or big they are simply because “’Ohana is family, and family means no one left behind.” I try to make them feel the comfort of a reunion or a vacation they would simply have to attend, participate in and enjoy. But these are all good times. Bad times should be taken differently but still with the comfort of Ohana. 


When I was younger and our family was in the most difficult time of our lives with mom not being around to take care of us, I  knew and experienced Ohana  with my uncles and aunties, cousins helping us get through our daily lives. These were all simple gestures like helping me buy stuff for school, making sure my uniforms are washed and ironed well by the house helps,  I eat a full meal breakfast, have money  for lunch, snacks and a decent meal for dinner, I have money for school activities and projects, attending PTAs, and a lot more.  This taught and instilled in me the value that family will always be family and no matter what happens we will always have each other; to be with, to eat with even to argue and fight with because “’Ohana is family, and family means no one left behind.”  

Going back, the same is true for the prayers I wanted for nanay. Again,“’Ohana is family, and family means no one left behind in praying for her. I think this is the perfect time for all of us to draw strength from each other, combine all our powers to help in her quick recovery.

After all, despite the daily nights of defeat, i still get up the next day because  of the thought of  having “’Ohana. Ohana is family, and family means no one left behind.”

The Beginning

One crazy, crazy night while driving on my home with the very beautiful moon shining, I thought of putting up a blog, and so I did. Hmmmm…so let’s see how far this one goes. J Enjoy.