just trying out this test which i got from kathy's blog.

p>

My Lakbayan grade is C!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

Day 1: Weaning Time

The night before I fly to Japan I typed some of my thoughts and then emailed it to myself. Here is an excerpt …

CHANGE
A LOT has happened. And a LOT will happen still. I can’t stop things from happening. Like this is all a strong flow of current pulling every drift wood from the lost forest, I let it conquer my own.

I am like the seed that was nurtured and challenged to become a sturdy canopy. Proudly I stood to bask with the glares of the sun yet shelters what’s behind- the understory of the thick damp, sometimes muddy yet calming forest floor. The stability and mystical appeal of the scenery is good enough to capture a lens eye and be immortalized in a postal card—like it will never change its ways. Never did I imagine how this picture perfect canopy has volunteered itself to be uprooted to serve a better purpose…

Six months after, I found myself driving on the highway without a lump on my throat, gas my own car, go places without my husband, pick up and drop off friends at wee hours in the morning, spend a day at the park, watch movie with Herb, do the groceries and check the wholesale shops, short to say, do stuff without my husband looking after me. And not one of these moments passed me without getting secretly or deliberately thrilled that I was able to do it on my own.

I am weaned. I can somehow say that I overcome weaning stress.

This morning I drove almost 50 kilometers to the airport and managed to get back in Tsukuba in one piece, fulfill my 3 hour work load, had a superb lunch with Herb, march on the mall, pick few treats from grocery and truly enjoy myself. I should be happier than I am now. But when I got back home and turn my key and open our door, suddenly I can see so much space. Though I have a mental note of things that I should accomplish while my hubby is in France, I know I can only be half occupied.

Funny how a one tarot card session with Herb got me to wrap up what I used to do and how different I am now. Before, I thrive under pressure, I depend on caffeine and nicotine, I give solutions to problems, I think about other people, I study, I influence, I learn, I earn and I was good. But it was never enough to satisfy me. Now, I induce pressure, tone down on caffeine, give up nicotine, suggest options to solve problems, think about myself and my family, I urge myself to study, I make friends, I earn and try to make good and I feel gratified. Herb told me to coast along with changes. Wait and see what’ll happen next. I think I have no choice but to leave it at that, especially at this time when I have to wake up 18 mornings without my husband. I’ll get by…one day at a time.

So I decided to upload pics during my pinas workdays plus my current pics. Don’t mind me, the background spells the difference. Cut off from “before” pics are my lucky strike, and coffee cup.

getting Japanized: Ikebana

Finally! After weeks of getting nicked from the cyberworld, our modem started flashing its red and green lights once again. Been offline for three weeks I think but it felt like 3 decades! This, my friend was only one of the aftermaths of moving from one house to another. Oh yes! We are finally settled in our new abode. Not quite though coz our bedroom (read: b-e-d-r-o-o-m! we have one now, unlike the studio type where my hubby and I lived for 4 months) is still jammed with partly opened boxes, trashed canisters, soiled mattresses etcetera etcetera..but it is still a bedroom! Its really a relief to have one.

Now I only have to post what I should have bloged decades ago-- my own ikebana experiment.






\


“Ikebana” or the Japanese art of flower arrangement translates to embody heaven, earth and man through the linear and coordinated assembly of all the materials being used. In the olden days ikebana are mainly taught to women who are about to get married. Now however, it is practiced at the convenience of anyone. Ahem! Fortunately for me, a friend received sayonara bouquets from his colleagues. Needless to say, I bargained to salvage his wilting petaled glories (because of lack of water supply). Though I think my creation were more western than local (im Japan based at the moment), my inspiration all stemmed from ikebana books I borrowed from Tsukuba public library. I figured that since I am here, I might as well learn its culture, afterall its omoshiroi! (interesting)

Oh bento!

Few days ago i started sporting a more "eye-ppetizing" packed lunch for me and my husband. I was like my students (aged 3-5) who proudly beamed after each craft project that was finished. But after browsing through bento blogsites, i now feel so juvenile. I have to wake up one hour earlier than I usually do just to do all these, so I guess it will just be the effort that will count. I dont want to accept that the first batch of my products sucked. *sigh* . but now I feel that they do.. waaaahhhhh!! on a positive thought, I still would like to try.. again.

The Celestine Prophecy

Synopsis
The Celestine Prophecy renders the adventure and/or misadventure of the nameless american lead character where he unconsciously volunteered himself to be involved in a search for the manuscript. The manuscripts were the scrolls that dates back to 600 BC was said to contain predictions that can change human transformation dramatically towards the last decade of the 20th century. The predictions in turn were written through nine insights. Each insight was obtained by those searching for it after a plethoric understanding of every coincidence in their lives. For most part of the story, understanding is parallel to being visually literate where one can actually see with their naked eye the amount and shade of energy being emitted by interacting living beings. Therefore through this energy can they decide whether they will head on to a journey towards finding the succeeding insight or otherwise. The twists that constitute to the so called adventure were the brimming conspiracy of the Peruvian government and Catholic Church to banish all the circulating copies of the manuscript and to discredit those who speak about it. Towards the end, the anonymous American lead found his way through the nine insights yet managed to go back to his country alive to search for a trailing hint about the 10th insight.

Lost thunder

I don’t really know where to start with this review. It was easier to go light on the synopsis, but to declare antipathy to the near death experiences of the main character makes my keyboard go out of board! First of, the book may sit atop a bestsellers list in its own blissful time..but I really think it’s a futile attempt to visually define what exists within the spaces of interacting life forms! Not to name its main character and give a meek background of him being American carrying a credit card only adds up to its sinking plot. James Redfield also attempted to merge the conflicting bodies of science and spirituality. The point from where scientists expend their energy to make plants healthy reminded me of how my mama or lolo used to talk to their orchids and expect more blooms. The syndication of church and government is expected when its authority will be threatened to go under boiling waters. But to hoard photocopied sheets and merely detain manuscript believers doesn’t quite coincide with sending troops to kill people for the same end point. The series of events should have created a flow, I think it was a coincidence that it didn’t! (harhar) While the author struggle to sustain the climax of the series of events, he failed to sustain consistency and flow which dulls the story. I can only credit the book through the good image it created of the scenery of Peru-- which makes me crave to visit machu pichu! I know this is one lousy review, but who can blame me..ive read a one lousy book! and i think im not the only one who still wonder why this book made it to the big screen.. help yourselves!

TAGGED! ... better late than never!

there maybe a lengthy time lapse when kathy tagged me.. so here it is!

1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Turn to page 123.
3. Mark the fifth sentence. Pick up the next three sentences and post.
4. Acknowledge the book and the author.
5. Tag 3 people in turn.

and within my reach is... (grab the topmost book sitting on my table)..errhhmm... so i leaf through page 123 and this is what the fifth sentence said..

..Cook 2 red bell peppers, cut into strips. Add to eggplants. In the same pan, cook 2 small sliced zucchini.

there! the lines belonged to the directions of how to cook sauteed vegetable and mozzarella sandwich. the book is a compilation of Easy Everyday Meals from the best of Good Housekeeping. there is no author but an editorial staff that I might as well name a few. EIC- Cris Abiva, Art Director- Cheryl Baldovino-Reyes , Photographer- Rene Mejia. There are over 100+ recipes that come in handy each time I need to exercise FIFO (first-in-first-out) in our ref. I guess that is one challenge of being a wife or a mom, you have to do variation of good food at the most economical price! by the way, this book comes with a picture per recipe, just what I need!

i dont have much on my list to tag.. im left with yunis and joy.. you're next!

Belated BIRTHDAY post.

I am a walking paradox. Born under the sign of water, I can’t even tweak my arms and stretch a decent freestyle. Well.. at least I can float! Harhar! So I figured, I will never ever receive a boat on my birthday (dream on girl!) haha! Lucky for me, as a birthday treat, husband gave me a new baby that goes by the came of Carrie, which pronounced itself on the world of arts through the immortalization of Herb (wink). Thankiieee!!!