Missus Bounty Basket

29 April 2011 You might also like: Sunny Day Liwaliw/Going out and having fun My postcard-like view Getting back into shape Howzat 87/100+ Present day My Nanay Manang's fried rice came to mind as I looked at the plate of dried fish, or what we called "lawlaw".  These days, we rarely eat fried rice in the morning.  Having spent half of my life away from home, I have slowly changed my habits, be it with food, time, or raising a family. Being away, though, hasn't fully changed my values; in a way, I was able to discover and apply to my life what is truly important for me to grow as a person. It is a long process because, along the way, without me knowing it, I still attached myself to my old ways, and relearning to live and be different was a challenge. But as with most people who migrate to another country and create their own family, I learned to adapt- body and soul but not witho...

29 April 2011 The girls, housework, gardening, lessons - these are just some of the things that occupied my time. How I wish to extend the time so that blogging won't be left aside. But anyway, now that we're almost done with half of May, school vacation is just around the corner. There will be other things that will occupy my time You might also like: window garden update Luntian/Green We are family My loving chef Howzat 88/100+ Present day Apart from undusted table, my workspace is finally breathing. A money plant next to my desktop, and some of my pink Post-it reminders were stuck on the latter. Books on writing, "No Dig" to remind me to amend my garden soil for a better planting season next year. Pens and a writing pad I was gifted.  It is 9h19 and filling this draft in with something interesting is somewhat of a challenge on a Sunday morning. But here I am, finally typing awa...

89/100 Present da y New7? Was this a typo?  I am in my 89th draft, and boy, what a joy to post and finish each draft. This is a victory, a personal accomplishment I cannot deny.   I have the option to erase everything. It's easier. Yet there's something significant about finishing what I have started decades ago. I don't know. Maybe I am just being overly emotional with each passing time. And leaving behind an unfinished creation doesn't sit well with me at this time of my life.  This plan to finish my 100+ drafts is like healing, keeping the promises, and making things happen for myself. A sign that I can still do something better -as a midlifer, as a non-income-generating being. That somehow, if I change a thing or two in my plane, something's gonna move, shift, and there's also shifting in my essence. What is important for me as I get older? What can I do as time passes by? What am I missing? What should I do?  I am grateful that, in the absence of an income ...

90/100  Present day  I cannot remember who Kuya Oka is or the reason for using his name as my title on April 20,2011. So today, let's figure out what to write to fill in this draft.  The other day, the girls were both at school,  so the whole house was filled with Bresh and Gazzelle. And today, being a weekend, both my daughters are at home.  So let's be silent and welcome Bach. His pieces are now penetrating the whole room as I type this phrase, and it brings serenity and calmness to my being.  Faint music is coming from Erin's room, but my surroundings are still tranquil. Radio Italia is not on.  Having had noise all day yesterday, I need to subdue my whole being and create quiet.  There are times when I can go on with my day without any music. Just total silence. It's like replenishing my soul with something other than music.  After being surrounded by noise, silence reenergizes me. Being alone, undisturbed, can sometimes be addictive; the...

20 April 2011. Having two girls is not a good reason to accumulate so much stuff. Sorting out the storage made me realize that. It's absurd to have collected those things in the house. I'm having a hard time organizing things out--or rather, letting things go, you know, just in case! But I cannot organize the room if I will not let go of unnecessary stuff. Why, I asked myself, is it so hard to let go and not think that I might use them again? I thought of asking for help, 91/100+ Present day I am not organizing anything today. I will finish this draft while Bresh's song is playing from my Spotify playlist. While books are enticing me to read them, while I still have dishes to wash. Even if I really wanted to have my 4th coffee, even if I wanted to get up and dance with eyes closed, swing all around the room.  And feel with all my being the lyrics of Introvabile and then continue this movement with  Gazzelle. Yes, I am into Italian songs. I feel like I am on vacation. My fin...

18 April 2011 92/100 Present Day The picture was taken in Plaine de Plainpalais. Looking at the image, I am sure that it was a day outing with my daughters. I wanted them to have a feel of my childhood experience. I grew up seeing goats, cows, and chickens all around our neighborhood. Dogs and cats freely roamed the neighborhood.  Mama had some chickens for sale we called "40 days," and I used to help her, along with the other members of the family, in preparing the chickens at 5 in the morning to be sold in the market the same day. The setup was like an assembly line- a large pot with boiling water, a plucking area, a cleaning nook, and then the packing area- usually a sack, where the prepared chickens were put.  In this kind of scenario, warmed by the firewood in our kitchen, hot coffee and radio were our companions.  My grandmother, Nanay Manang, glued to our white radio, was also present, intently listening to the Toning program on DZBB, a glass of water in front of...

Relationships of any kind undergo challenges. Some would work on it, others would simply walk away. Her marriage is no exception. Staying and trying to work it out  97 and 96/100+ Present day On April  17th and 20th 2011, I had two drafts about people close to me, and rereading the two lines on each draft, I realized that it was something that should be posted anonymously. I honestly look up to these people, given how they have built their lives and achieved success in their own fields. It felt invasive and so out of line to continue writing their stories. So this one's going to be two drafts in one-not a continuation but rather a post of gratitude to these two human beings who continue to show up for their kids, show strength amidst the uncertainty of life, and really worked hard to be the best versions of themselves.      Thank you for being in my life. For being my constant reminder of different facets of mothering and being true to oneself.  For in...