Off to Dreamland

Office breaktime is always anticipated. This is when everyone is gathering around the table at lunch and taking turns in sharing the events that happened the night before. While others just grabs the moment to talk behind the backs of their colleagues, others are discussing the current issues.  (By the way, do you know the latest? Our dear Senator Sotto was not able to get away from copyscape, his speech was copied from a someone’s blog, what a shame.)

While my officemates ,Leonie and Ramon, and I enjoying our dessert (smelly yet scrummy fresh durian), I struck up a topic about my dream. In my dream I was a gymnast in the Olympics, oh well that’s what happened when I am over thinking. I was a bit surprised to hear that Leonie said she haven’t had dreamt for more than a month now. Could that be possible? Ramon pointed out that maybe she was having a deep sleep that’s why she’s not having any dream. I argued that when you’re in deep sleep, you are in fact  entering the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage. And during that period you are actually having dreams.

(Everything you want to know about sleep)

The thought that Leonie is not having dream lightly perturbed me. In contrast to mine , I’m always able to remember my dreams the moment I woke up.  I love it when I remember my dreams. Though sometimes bizarre and surreal,  it made me come to realize what my subconscious desired.

Sleep fact: The deeper you sleep, the higher the brain activity. This means that when you’re in the REM stage or dreaming, your brain cells are working hard like just like when you’re awake.

Sleeping is another guilty pleasure for me. When I’m stuck in my room and not reading, it means I’m on my journey to dreamland.

Loving History

Being the eldest meant that by the time I was 12 years old I was given most of the household chores which somehow made me a homebody on my adolescent age. Staying at home was like spending most of my time on television and books. I remember that at the onset of my teen years I got hooked on a tv series called Homefront. The story was based on the period after WWII.  It was well written and each character was well acted. It kept me returning each week and stay up late to see every new episode. I wonder who among my age group had even heard of  this. I got no one to talk about the story during that time since most of my friends were absorbed with Pinoy tv series. Though I watched them once in awhile but I have no eagerness to discuss after each episode because it’s very apparent that you can guess what’s going to happen next. 

Now in my thirties, I am obviously far too young to have lived through World War II. However, I grew up with my grandparents who have experienced the war. Some of them were anxious to tell me what they have gone through.   How they fought in the war and how they have struggled through the utter destruction it had caused.   Recalling those days made them feel they were more patriotic and I was never been prouder that I was born of valiant ancestors. Those stories engrossed my very young mind about History and Wars. It always made me mused on how countries miles and miles away from each other could even arise some contradiction.

At school, I got nothing but admiration and respect to my History teacher who had delivered the subject matter well. I’m sure my high school classmates would agree that Ms. Sullivan (bless her soul) was one of the most brilliant teachers in her time. 

Those stories at home and History lessons learned from school ignited a spark of interest in me that has blazed brightly all these years. It resulted to cramming and collecting on books about historical events like The Diary of Anne Frank and Adolf Hitler: Mein Kampf. Also made me long to watch again those great movies from Schindler's List to Pearl Harbor to Life is Beautiful (this one made me cry). Curios as I am, I was surfing the net about World War Themes, particularly how Hitler set the world on  aggression when I accidentally came across an article about Hitler being related to our National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal. Sounds like a crazy idea but they based it on some theories that our hero had been in Europe or somewhere in Austrian border when Hitler was conceived and evidence of Rizal’s picture hanging on the wall of Hitler’s room. Well those of you, who are surprised about this, try to goggle about it. Gather theories, interesting facts and try to make your own conclusion.

(More interesting facts here)

You see how fascinating our History is. How the things started and got connected in every way. I have moved out from my folks and have a family of my own. My colleagues are around my age level, and I even hang out with friends younger than me. I am adrift from older friends ripened by time and gripped with History that I have no time to converse with them since I am occupied with my responsibility of being a mom, a wife and a career woman. That’s why I am just counting on my books to keep my fascination ablaze throughout my lifetime. 

Recently reading:

A Glitter of Hope

While some other countries are dealing with prolonged drought, Metro Manila was submerged in flood caused by torrential monsoon rains. Classes were suspended, no work for government and private offices and most cities and provinces affected by flood were declared under state of calamity.

I cannot imagine the damages it brought to the country especially in the metropolis area. Many families have lost their homes and even caused the lives of their loved ones. But aside from the effects to individual, it has also impact on businesses. Damage to infrastructure and lost business days may bring about a slower flow of goods and services, which may then result to slower economic activity.

My non-econ -geek mind is reflecting on what would be the actions of our government after seeing all the wreckage brought by the disaster. While the Obama administration used the Keynesian economics (based on the theory of famous economist John Maynard Keynes, he is the man who came up with the then-radical notion that a government can pull a country out of a deep recession by spending a lot) in dealing with their economic depression,  I marvel if our government can rectify our own economic crisis by applying the same principle.

Whatever theories they may had formulated, I  believe that the government will not have much difficulty in bouncing up again our economy since every Filipino is a survivor. We have seen how our fellowmen shine with resiliency in the face of adversity and calamity. Some had even taunted the situation by giving humor amidst the havoc. Yes the weather may makes us gloomy but it can never shatter the spirit of audacity in every Filipino.

MAKING SWEET MEMORIES

my little pirate who invaded the fairyland party

I sometimes find that I have too many good memories with my little kid, I even wished I have my own pensieve to safe keep them. And when he's old, and I'm older, I could bring them back, reminisce the days and retell them to my son that once…

When he was barely 3yrs old he was able to arrange the pieces in chess to its original position.(watch out Hazel Tiberio I'm honing your new contender).

While he was still learning to hold the pen, he was giddy perusing the bookshelf for Calvin and Hobbes comics. Thanks Kent Bluestone for the book and for the Pixar short-films, he loves the snowman’s struggle to break the glass, he keeps comparing it to Calvin’s snowmen and might wonder why they’re out in the doorway.

When he can hardly say his ABC's yet was able to reach Feeding Frenzy in level 3. Jem Dupo promised not to introduce Dota.

And at a tender age, he fell inlove with Anne Curtis. ( And I will keep the hints until he falls the second time around).

THE MOMENT I JUMPED

The water was a bit chilly when I plunged. I was on the pool waist deep and had my breathing exercises started while waiting for my swimming coach to arrive. It was around six o’clock in the morning and enjoying the solitary moment in the stillness of water. 

I heard footsteps and pleased to see the coach standing at the edge of the pool. I felt a little jumpy every time he clapped his hands, it was his way of saying, “Time to work!” Oh, I was looking forward for the day that he’ll do it to signify a “job well done.”

“Today, you will try to swim in the bigger pool,” he said, hands on his waist. “But coach…” I tried to argue that I’m comfortable doing it in the kiddie pool Ha ha! And this is just the third session of my swimming lesson but I heard clapping. “Move! You know the drill”. I lazily climb up the pool and pick my things up. More claps.

My stomach churned upon looking at the Olympic sized pool. The reason I enrolled in the swimming lesson is to overcome my fear of drowning. I faced my coach, held my breath and jumped!

I know I have nothing to hold on to in case I get drowned. I know not what might happen even the next minute, yet I still jumped. I did because I trust. I trust in my instinct. I trust in my coach that he will jump for me if I won’t make it.  

From that moment on, I realized that it isn’t as bad as we sometimes think it is. We will just have to trust ourselves that we can make it. We can overcome the challenges that may come our way even learn to face and conquer the things we fear the most. We must stop being pessimistic and start to trust people around us and their good intentions. Pondering on some trust quotes can be helpful.

“You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you don't trust enough”. Read more: http://www.finestquotes.com/select_quote-category-Trust-page-0.htm#ixzz23ZrM6s1S.  

Sure, we do sometimes get hurt in some circumstances but it’s their choice. As long as we choose to offer friendship, only then they will know that you are willing to trust them. There are still a lot of good and decent people out there. 

But above all let us put our trust in God and move forward with faith and confidence. Always believe that amid our struggles and in our every toll, there is always a guiding hand that will never forsake us.

ANNE CURTIS CAPTIVATED MY 2 YEAR OLD SON

Before my son could walk and talk, he had this charm of turning our gloomy day to a bright one. Everyday he never fails to amuse us. We are amazed to discover his every new trick as he grows up. Months ago, we found out his passion on cars, keys, and cook set,  his insatiable cravings on particular foods and his weird way of eating them –snacking a tablespoon of fried garlic, munching on eyes of fish and cinnamon in oatmeal.

My son is not boob tube buff; he would rather create his own story, make up a dialogue and bring his toys to life. Unlike any other toddlers, watching cartoons is not his cup of milk, he’s more interested in flipping the pages of his favorite books.

 I’m glad he wouldn’t be a couch potato someday. However, there’s one girl who can bring his eyes on tv- the alluring Anne Curtis. It is she who can make my little lad turns his head away from his favorite toys and watch when she’s on screen. I was amazed to realize that he knows her every endorsement. Can’t blame him, nanny does the tv marathon all day long.

 

There was one time when he was busy playing with his toys and a soap advertisement of Anne flashed on the screen, the beginning of the ad was a music and I told him, “Baby, look who’s on tv!”, without even lifting his head from his toys he shouted, “Anne!”. Next, I heard Anne singing the jingle of the commercial. On another occasion, I was browsing for different version of Call Me Maybe by Carley Rae Jepsen in youtube when I came across the  version of Anne and the company. I showed the video to my son since I learned from the nanny that he used to sing along with the song, he was happy to hear the music but very delighted that Anne was on it. The video was played the nth time until my husband and I got the last song syndrome in our heads. “One more!”, he would say. He wouldn’t let it stop, I was already grumbling to my husband. Why would he spend all the night watching when she even had a very little role in that video? 

I’m not a fanatic of Anne Curtis, I follow her https://twitter.com/annecurtissmith because every time I share her tweets, my son would listen intently with curious eyes and… was that a dreamy smile? I didn’t  see any of her movies though I like her styles, raw jokes and who wouldn’t get green eyed on that kind of beauty. Now I’m beginning to like her.  But my son… he’s so into her. I pictured out his reaction when he sees her in person. I guess he would be enchanted. 

So I anticipated the day of her concert. Annebisyosa at USLS Coliseum.

Now, here comes the hurdle. Given that were going to spend almost a thousand pesos for the ticket concert including the food and transportation; we realized that, it’s worth a one week consumption of our son’s milk, our practical minds dumped the idea of watching. So, while everyone was busy preparing to watch, my family and I were home enjoying the simple dinner.

I wasn’t disappointed with the decision  but I feel a little behind. To jazz us up, I told my husband the downside in watching concerts. Aside from spending the money you’re supposed to buy the clothes you’ve been eyeing for weeks (in our case, baby’s milk), you have to cram yourself in a crowd of watchers from the gate until you reach your hard, solid, cold seat. You get no choice,  when you buy a cut-rate ticket, you get a stiff back after an hour or so. And, there’s more than an hour of delay, you add that to the hours of waiting and standing in the ticket queue. My husband couldn’t agree more, aside from saving the money, Isle will get exhausted, he said. 

That night, we ended up watching Anne Curtis’ movie instead. No, didn’t buy it,  they say her latest movie was phenomenal, so to resolve the curiosity, I borrowed the dvd. The opening scene was I would say unfavorable for the kids to watch. Anne was emerging from the beach on her skimpy, teeny weeny bikini, while a bunch of half naked, six packed men were waiting, bobbing their heads up and down over her sexy figure. Oh, how they adored her. Should I let my son see this? Definitely not! He was sitting beside me, I better cover his eyes or lead him to his toys. I looked at him and realized my son is one of those men, he was in awe of seeing her in the outfit! My Karlisle was open mouthed; his eyes locked on the screen and wasn’t moving a bit. I can’t believe it! Does his young mind already know how to admire things that only grown up should? He’s only a baby, yet he cannot get his eyes off her. I wonder if he even dream of her. No! I can’t take into account that my barely three year old son is already in love at a very early age.   I forced  him not to watch because I know more adult stuff are coming up. I diverted him to his toys and explained that the movie is not for his age. He did not argue. I observed him while he’s playing and caught him took a glimpse on the tv once in a while.

Well, I guess my son only knows how to appreciate a thing of beauty and significance; he would give a big WOW when we present him things he enjoys so much.

The good thing about it is he would learn to like what he thought is also Anne’s favorite. He refused to eat an apple until I told him that it’s her favorite. He would take a bite. You want to let him eat something but snubs you? Just say the magic word – Anne-  and he won’t have a second thought.

Now, does that make him a certified Anne fanatic?  Definitely yes, he had traded his routine of playing Feeding frenzy (a computer game about fish) to watching Anne’s videos and photos before turning in to bed every night.