Grateful ...

1. For the husband who snores all night, because he is at home asleep with me and not with someone else.

2. For my teenage daughter who is complaining about doing dishes because that means she is at home & not on the streets.

3. For the taxes that I pay because it means that I am employed.

4. For the mess to clean after a party because it means that I have been surrounded by friends.

5. For the clothes that fit a little too tight because it means I have enough to eat.

6. For my shadow that watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.

7. For a floor that needs mopping, and windows that need cleaning because it means I have a home.

8. For all the complaining I hear about the government because it means that we have freedom of speech.

9. For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking and that I have been blessed with transportation.

10. For the noise I have to bear from my neighbors because it means that I can hear.

11. For the pile of laundry and ironing because it means I have clothes to wear.

12. For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been capable of working hard.

13. For the arguments because it means that I can still think.

14. For the times that I get to wait for someone because it means that I am not late.

14. For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am alive.

======

Thanks to Van for sharing ...

People I miss ...

Friends that I miss (in no particular order) ...

Laarni B.
- miss her smile that reminds me of Cameron Diaz
- she laughs hard and sleeps hard...
- the girl in the barkada that has the most suitors

Maricris C.
- I miss her chinky eyes na mawala once she smiles or laughs
- I like looking at her hair, dili xa black kau. It was brown and fine.

Alma A.
- My bestfriend in the whole wide world!
- I really laugh hard whenever I'm with this girl. She is very funny that you'd end up with a painful stomach and cheeks.
- I miss seeing her eat like a guy. I think she has compartments in her stomach, just like a cow's stomach.
- I miss eating ice cream with her. We eat a pint of ice cream in one sitting just for kicks. Wala lang trip lang gud... hehehe
- Afflicted with "autism" just like me...
- this girl introduced me to Shakira and Bond (the violin girls quartet)

Marilie H.
- I miss her kakikayan, the bangles and the bangs.
- I miss her novels. Romance and Nancy Drew novels which I totally love.

Bernice H.
- I miss her feisty mouth. She may have a frail body but mataray ning bayhana. She fights for me even if she is smaller than me ...

Marty L.
- My track buddy who became my mentor in the field.

Macy J.
- My personal shrink. She helps me become a bit more sane.

Abigail V.
- First Tagalog person I understood. It's not I don't understand Tagalog, I just don't like hearing it kay murag hambug sya ug dating.
- First person who called me BALIW. But loves me nonetheless.

Abby G.
- Miss our Beverly Hills 90210 exchange of views. I still have the card you gave me for my birthday, can't remember though where I put it.. hehehe

Polding S.
- One of my bestfriends.. Miss your lugaw with tinap-an flakes. But guess he doesn't like me the way I am because I haven't heard of him for 3 years now.Hmmpft!

Victor T.
- Miss this guy's gross jokes. I got my pranks from him.

Pagay B.
- Miss this guy's antics with girls, can't help but smile because even if he already looks stupid he'll hold his ground for as long as he can.

Malee
- Miss my buddy... Babaero but sincere.
- Daghan syag wallet and each wallet has a picture of a girl. He makes sure that he brings the right wallet when he goes out to dates... hehehe.

Beth R.
- Malee's great love.
- Love her cooking, specially her adobo.
- Mother to 3 wonderful kids.

Jundy
- My adopted brother
- Weakness is girls
- First guy I know who gets teary eyed whenever he sees his wife. He gets teary eyed daw because he cannot believe that he is the husband of this wonderful girl. CHAR!

Jimmy L.
- Thank you for catching me from that very high drop bro.
- I miss your contagious laughter and the coffee.
- I miss your punches on my sides too.


Wherever you may be guys (and gals), you still cross my mind and I just hope that we can get to meet sometime and do the things that we love doing.

Delicadeza

Got to work almost late today and was racing my ugly butt down the floor to get to my workstation fast.I felt good because I was able to clock in at exactly 12noon.I opened my tools and since cannot open this one tool again, I changed my gateway.

I was already settled on my cube,when a personal message came up. Hmm ... Since when did Cindy send me a personal message? Di ba she is in the States? There could be something wrong ... "Seth, musta? Haven't heard from you in such a long time..." The cursor was flashing. Told her I'm doing good but asked her if she is in the U.S. She said yes. She said that they are graduating from culinary school this fall and might come back to Tacloban for a quick vacation on November or December...

Cindy is a close friend of Andi. They go to gym together, play bowling together, exchange cars ...

She asked why have I distanced myself from Andi which appears like waray pa ko ka-get over. I found the question too straightforward but nonetheless good because I can clarify myself and come out clean.Told her ka-get over naman ko. I just have so much respect to the person I am involved with now, it's just pure delicadeza.

It's just sad that not too many people have that...

Grumpy me ...

I didn't actually understand what I felt. I just wanted something and it turned out I am being selfish.

These are one of the few times that I hate myself... for being so touchy... for being so clingy... for being so tactless ...

for being so inconsiderate...

Yeah.. I am ashamed of myself. The tears you shed became my slap and knew instantly that I ruined your morning. It should have been a very gorgeous morning...

but I ruined it.

For that, I am sorry.

Of Seasons ...

As I was clearing my files, i came across this picture of a tree. The picture looks so sad. On the middle of a wide green space, it's the only thing that stands. It has been witness to the passing of seasons. Though it may appear withered and slowly living it's last days, I think it's life has not been sad and solitary. The sky, the sun and the ground are there to give the tree it's needs ... So can I totally say that it lived it's life with resignation and contentment?

Hope you heard the story about the phoenix.

Faith Hill - Breathe (Video)

feel good video ...

posting this song as it was requested ...



I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way
I watch the sunlight dance across your face
And i've never been this swept away
All my thoughts just seem to settle on the breeze
When i'm lying wrapped up in your arms
The whole world just fades away
The only thing I hear
Is the beating of your heart

CHORUS:
Cause I can feel you breathe
It's washing over me
And suddenly i'm melting into you
There's nothing left to prove
Baby, all we need is just to be
Caught up in the touch
Slow and steady rush
Baby, isn't that the way that love's suppose to be
I can feel you breathe

In a way I know my heart is waking up
As all the walls come tumbling down
Closer than i've ever felt before
And I know, and you know
There's no need for words right now

CHORUS:

I can feel the magic floating in the air
Being with you gets me that way...

Walk me home ...

Nice sunset eh? Yes ... But you'd appreciate the place more during the day. To life, I think you know what I mean...

I had been raring to go home since I left my town last January of this year ... I want to go back home not because I need to unwind and catch up with the latest news in our place, but to have a date with my doctor ... I am scared, yes. But not long enough the sun will shine through these clouds and I will be unburdened.



And finally my walk home ... I hope. After being scared, after being anxious, I will find my way home. Please tarry awhile and walk me home.

==========

Thanks to Mark Dominic for the photos....
Photos: Surf Camp in Calicoan Island

On 8 ...

According to an article in Wikipedia, the word for "eight" in Chinese (Pinyin: bā) sounds similar to the word which means "prosper" or "wealth" (发 - short for "发财", Pinyin: fā). In regional dialects the words for "eight" and "fortune" are also similar, eg Cantonese "baat" and "faat".

There is also a resemblance between two digits, "88", and the shuang xi ('double joy'), a popular decorative design composed of two stylized characters 喜 (xi, 'joy', 'happiness')

Positive: Materialism, strength, tenacious, capacity for focused and sustained effort.

Negative: Ruthless, no thought for others, guilt ridden, bad luck.

In Chinese numerology, eight is the number of material success or failure. The number of Karma. Eight has to work hard, and often needs to do the same thing over before success is achieved. The Eight is a strong number, with the will, focus and drive to achieve its goals.Expressing its feelings doesn't come easy to the Eight, and it needs to avoid ill-health brought on by stress. Eight is a fine number, and often misunderstood by others less powerful than itself.
In Greek numerology, the number 8 represents power and sacrifice.

============

My abuelo told me that eight is an auspicious number since it's a number whose lines don't end, no cuts anywhere to end it. It's almost resembling a cycle, it goes up and it goes down and goes up again. But nonetheless he considers it lucky (it represents power, fortune and prosperity). But let's get real first... Power, fortune and prosperity? Nah! I'm not wishing much... Maybe a little wealth and health will be good enough.

Let's be more personal here .... hehehe

Reaching eight was never easy. There had been a lot of creased edges that had been ironed out, though some of those creases are still there. And I think no matter how hard we iron out those wrinkled edges, they're going to stay there to add flavor to the face of the quilt. The patches on this quilt has different colors, making sure that it serves the purpose of the quilt (which is to provide warmth) and also compliment the personality of the users.

Expressing feelings was not that hard. Though, there was always reserve in the way these feelings were passed through, subdued but present. There's tenacity even on the down low like gold beaten to airy thinness.

Looking back, it has been a crazy journey in making this quilt. It has been eight now. A lot more to go, more colors and more days to make this quilt worth having. We got cut only to be sewn again. It's not just us who made this quilt. Time helped us. Friends (errrr... and those who are not) did their share too. They deserve the warmest "thank you".

I guess, nous avons la chance en effet. Eight opens up the gate to nine and ten and so on and so forth. I'll hang on to this quilt now since I do not know what will happen in the future. One thing is sure, this quilt will warm my heart for years and years transcending eight.