My Christmas Wishlist

Posting this in my blogs so it can reach all of my friends (hint hint *wink*)

Its Christmas once again. Now that I am married and old enough to have kids of my own, there is a question as to whether I am to be the one to give or receive gifts…

Of course I am the one to give! Since I now have the capacity to earn and purchase things with my hard-earned money, it is pleasure to share the joy with family (and a few close friends)

Be that as it may, I think it is a good idea to make a wishlist to make it easier for us who are buying "pretties" — just so we have a good idea what you really want for Christmas and what you are into these days.

Sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends… let me know where to find YOUR wishlist! Here's MINE:

- bathsheet
- bathrobe
- a leather case for my N80i
- a leather bag big enough to stuff with a thick pocketbook, my phone, my wallet and has lots of pockets (any color except neons.)
- a journal with a hard cover/diary for 2008
- a calendar to hang on my wall for 2008
- Danish cookies
- tea sets (saucers, cups, dessert plates, teaspoons, dessert forks. Help me complete a nice set please. )
- glass coasters
- pillowcases and throwpillow covers (sets of two when possible, please, and thank you)

Still on my wishlist, which can only happen if I win big or had a fairy godmother/father:

- a dressform or a guide on how-to-make a dressform (with the materials to make it of course)
- 3 to 5 yards of beautiful uncut cloth (cotton, silk, velvet, linen, sheers, etc — I want to make myself some clothes again)
- an all-expenses paid vacation to Boracay for 10 days.
- my own laptop computer [I know no one is gonna give me this, but a girl can dream right? ]

RANT: Are the majority of public utility drivers stupid?

What is it about Philippine jeepney drivers and taxi drivers that stops them
from following road safety?

I know that driving is one of the highest money earning jobs one could get
if you are not a college graduate`– but REALLY! That doesn’t mean that just
because you didn’t finish schooling that you now have an excuse to ignore
road rules, especially since those rules are what keep everyone who uses the
road safe and ALIVE.

Just tonight, when I came off my night shift, I took a taxi home. Once the
taxi neared our gate, I said para!(stop) and the driver stopped– IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD! I know that it is already past midnight but please!

Of course I said, Manong pakitabi po. (Please move to the side of the road)
since I noticed the glare of lights from behind us. Anyone seeing lights
from behind would automatically think that there is an oncoming car. It
behooves us to bring the car safely to the side to avoid any accident. But
what did the driver do when I asked him to bring the car to the side? He
gave me a quizzical look.

I can only describe that look to mean “Are you crazy?”

Am I crazy? No, I don’t think so. Finicky, maybe. Cautious, definitely! I
was in a near accident not so long ago so I am definitely trying to protect
my pretty hide from further harm. Fortunately though, the driver of the
oncoming vehicle was already parking into the driveway of one of the houses.

I do not want to think that our government is so lax when it comes to
ensuring the safety of its constituents so much so that they are turning a
blind eye to all these people who are working as professional drivers.. and
they can’t even read! It makes one ask how did these people get their
license.

I know it is not fair of me to lump all public utility drivers and tar them
with the same brush. I have had some nice rides with very pleasant drivers.
Some were even very entertaining. Unfortunately, the worse breed drivers
exceed those who are “legitimate”.

Here are some acts I’ve noticed indicating a lack of education and road
obedience in our drivers:
- when a fare wants to go down, they halt in the middle of the road, never
mind the other drivers behind them
- jeepney drivers don’t signal left or right when turning
- they don’t know that they have to turn on their hazard lights at night to
indicate their presence on the road when they don’t have headlights or
running lights
- they weave in and out of traffic causing oncoming drivers to suddenly
brake
- even if no one is flagging down the jeep, the jeep will stop at the
corner and block traffic at the intersection on the off chance there are
passengers who want to ride
- they are ignorant of all but the most basic of road signs
- taxi drivers are generally unfamiliar with secondary streets of Metro
Manila, they are only cognizant of the more famous or popular streets and
landmarks
- taxi drivers will pick and choose their fares. (why don’t they just put a
sign on their windshield so they won’t waste people’s time getting in then
getting out of the car once he decides he doesn’t want to take you to your
destination?
- taxi drivers always short you on change (they can’t count??? Daig pa sila
ng jeepney driver kung ganoon! at least sila exacto kung manukli!)

Ah well, I’m sure you have your own horror stories about public utility
drivers. Thanks for letting me rant.

Eerie experience

As Halloween fast approaches, we see a lot more movies and TV series showing suspenseful or horror stories which raise goosebumps on your skin. I have an eerie experience of my own to share.

It was just last Saturday, October 27, at the first day of the waning of the full moon. Its five days to All Souls day when we have the opportunity to visit our dead loved ones. 

My husband and I had just arrived home. Being so tired I immediately flopped face down on the bed. As I lay on the bed I smelled the smoky scent of barbecue in the air. My first thought then was "oh, the cook is making some barbecue tonight. YAY!" So I got up and went out of the room to ask when the barbecue would be ready. But no one was cooking in the kitchen. 

Curious as to who else would be cooking barbecue this night, I went outside. There was no scent of smoke outside. I went back to our bedroom and made a circuit around our suite trying to find where the scent was coming from. Not from the door, not from the windows and not even from our bathroom. 

Finally, using my nose, I traced the scent as coming from the middle of the room. It was right under the ceiling light and where someone would be standing if they wanted to gaze down at whoever was lying in the bed. 

Goosebumps raised all over my body as I realized that spirits were visiting my husband and me. I quickly told my husband what I thought was happening when he entered the room. According to him, it may be his Tita Linda who was with his Mamang (Grandma) and Tito Carlo when they died in a car cash almost a decade ago. 

Brrrr…  the thought of knowing that spirits were around and had manifested enough to leave a scent chilled me. I couldn't help but cuddle all night against my husband - foolishly afraid of the spirits who were my husbands best-loved relatives. 

I guess this was their way of telling my husband that it was time for him to visit them. He has not been to visit since we got married. So he plans to go this 31st to visit their graves. But I really wish that they had manifested just to him and not to me as well … brrrrrr…. 

Find your Celestial Choir

Find your Celestial Choir

What type of Fae are you?

What type of Fae are you?