Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Bon Voyage, little Sis!





A few hours ago, we dropped my little sister to the airport for her first ever out of the country experience. She'll be in Thailand for a whole month for her on-the-job training before her senior year in college starts. I'm so excited for her, I really hope she learns a lot in Maejo University. I've been googling about the school and it seems to look like my dear alma mater in college.


By now I guess, cutie heart (lil sis) is already in Thailand. I hope she had a good flight since she's going to have to endure another 10 hours of bus ride from Bangkok to Chang Mai province. Hmm... that's a pretty long travel. I hope the buses in Thailand have their own bathroom.

Well, I'm hopeful she'll send me a text message as soon as she's able since I got her a sim that can let her text for just 3 pesos. Or if not, I hope she'll send me a message in FB. :) God bless, cutie heart! I hope you'll always seize the day while you're in Thailand: The Land of Smiles.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Passing Time and Childhood Memories



I woke up at 6 in the morning. Said a little prayer and got out of bed. I gathered some calamansi leaves from the tree in the front yard to boil for Sweetheart's bath. This is to ease the itchiness that the rashes brought because of the unusual high fever he had for the past two days. Thank God, he's okay now except for the itchiness.


Since it's Good Friday, I was taught as a child to abstain from eating meat on a day like this. So for breakfast, we had tuna omelette and fried dried fish. Although still weak, SH's sense of taste has returned and is now able to appreciate the food.


I arrived in the office before 9:30 AM. Some people in the night shift are still around. Wanted to play praise and worship songs without using my earphones but had to refrain. Not because I'm embarassed of my playlist but because I'm only being considerate about people's music preference. Remembering my childhood, we weren't allowed to play songs from the radio. Instead, we we're told to be quiet and observe the holiness of this particular day. Televisions are limited to a few channels which do not broadcast anything on until around 6 in the evening. So what we do then to pass the time was to read and go to church. Nowadays, you could easily pass the time by watching cable televsion. Or like me, go to work... posing as being productive and taking advantage of the double pay.


There were also Good Fridays before when we go to my paternal grandmother's house to spend the whole day and watch the "Penitensya". These are men who wore black veils on their heads to prevent their identity being known. They do penance by striking themselves with a whip, and once in a while they soak the whip in a vinegar. There are stations in which they have to kneel and pray. Seeing them as a child was not a favorite past time and I believe it won't ever be.


Old women from my family used to say that when you extract coconut oil by cooking coconut shredded meat on a holy Friday, the oil will be a good cure for some body aches. For me, I just love the smell of a fresh extracted coconut oil. One thing I know, it's good for my hair... Yes, old school hot oil hair therapy.


Reminiscing old childhood memories makes me nostalgic. Oh, how I wanted to be in the province at this time... Perhaps next year?

Thursday, April 21, 2011

First Post on a Maundy Thursday



I've been a member of Blogger since 2007 but I only read, comment and just visit other people's blog. Recently, I have made a discovery of being able to log-on into my account here in the office. What luck! So, I began reading again and this time I want to write, too.

Today is Maundy Thursday - most people are vacationing. But I'm not most people, I'm in the office now trying to be productive or that's how I'm trying to convince myself. Well, better here than outside with the extreme heat that comes with the holy week season. Tomorrow, I'll be here in the office again, taking advantage of the A/C and the double pay. Nyahaha! Hmmm, maybe I can tell you a story of my childhood during holy week. Yes, why not...tomorrow then! As Big Bird says, "Toodle-loo!"