If Today Is My Birthday (Part 1)

If today is my birthday, then I might have woken up early. I'll take my cold morning shower complete with all my daily rituals - from milk soap to strawberry yoghurt body scrub to anti-hair fall shampoo to gentle facial wash up to southern region wash. The works! And other vain rituals after that - all in the name of preserving and taking good care of my human body.

 Then I'd wear my favorite white shorts and orange polo shirt and some old multi-colored sandals. After successfully combing my hair and gasping at the several strands of hair falling on the floor (I've said this before - shampoo TVCs are all lies), I'd tell my husband to have a pancake breakfast. Oh, the husband's fully groomed and shower-fresh already! He loves cold morning showers and I love it too. So, erase that naughty smile! It's called marriage and water-saving tip combined.

I love to cook but I don't really love washing the dishes after the slicing and cooking. And it's my birthday anyway! I'm entitled to a free pass. So off we go to devour pancakes and bacon and sausages.

After the mighty lard consumption, I would feel guilty. Then I would start thinking organic greens and fresh air. And since it's my birthday, the husband has no right to complain. He would just meekly obey me.

We're going to Tagaytay again! While traversing the boring SLEX, the husband will start cracking corny tales. Me? I enjoy listening to Katy Perry and sing my heart out to '90s music. So that's exactly how I will behave en route to Tagaytay. I will not do any backseat driving because I fully entrust my fate on the road to my husband these days. And it's my birthday anyway! I will not stress myself over SLEX and its goddamn VAT.


..... to be continued.

Anna Dominique & Anna Sophia

Dear Anna Dominique & Anna Sophia,

You both be strong and courageous today. My thoughts are with you both.

I, the big sister, am virtually holding your hands and praying with you as you step into this exciting phase of our lives.

I can't wait to hold your soft hands and smell your baby breath, Anna Sophia.

Please don't let your Mommy Anna Dominique feel any unnecessary pain. Just slide through that comfort zone of yours and make it quick!

We are all excited to meet you, baby!


Praying and holding back tears,
Ate/Auntie

Should've Never

Mediocrity. Once upon a time, whenever I hear that word, I cringe. I cower in fear. I shiver. I am not a big fan of it and yet, I placed it here to introduce this post. So I lied. I didn't cringe or cowered in fear or shivered. And that brings me to go in-depth, to search deep and investigate why that particular word doesn't affect me at all. Here are my assumptions, written randomly and God only knows what else:

For the past two years, did I become numb to living in mediocrity?
Maybe I'm surrounded with mediocre people. Uh-oh.
I am not armed with powerful artillery of courage to face more challenging tasks.
Blech. Can't think of any.

This is alarming. I should stop being mediocre. I should explore the possibilities. After all, I'm already independent and about to get married, for crying out loud! I should maximize the positive energy circulating in my system or whatever's left of it.

Sigh.*


*written while watching Typhoon Chedeng make a landfall