window of the drummer’s soul

Instructions: Name ten of life’s simple pleasures that you like the most, then pick ten people to do the same. Try to be original and creative and not to use things that someone else has already used.

1. Stargazing - I just love the stars! I thank God for making these things.. and creating some patterns of it.. my favorite constellation: big dipper.

2. Crawling Insects - Some people I know are well, afraid of these creatures.. but i seem to have great interest to these things..This really amazes me.. even with their “littleness” and fragility, they too have this..LIFE.

3. The Sky - Blue skies, smiling at me.. nothing but blue skies do i see.. hehe.. Whenever i feel so stressed-out, pressured, and troubled..i always take time to look up the sky and.. hooooh! breathe.. the skies always remind me that there are still lotsa things that is in-stored for me in the future.. lots of things.. greater and bigger things..

4. The sound of Rushing River - When we were living in Wellsprings Vill, our house was situated near the rivers of Cat. Pequeno and Grande.. The sounds they make, made me sleep real well during the night.. it gives me a relaxed mood, which i badly need most of the time.. and I thank God for that!

5. Jokes and Humor - Years back, I was doing a research on the first man who cracked a joke…but, i failed to find that person. hhmm.. I thank God for creating humor.. for creating fun.. for making people develop this potential.. I wonder how will life be without it.. and this really is one of life’s pleasure.

6. Shampoo, Soap, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, and other toiletries - haha.. These are manmade products which are very essential to living.

7. Starfishes - This is one of the things that amused me when I was still a kid.. I used to collect many of them after every beach outing and put them in my little aquarium.. but they die days later..because they have to live in salt water areas.. and my aquarium’s a combination of water and chlorine, and they can’t survive in that..but well.. i take pleasure in looking at them.. their tiny er– feet. and starfishes really amazes me..

8. Morning breeze and sunshine - I just love morning sunshine and its breeze.. Mornings remind me that the Lord is giving me another chance to grow and live.. everyday is a blessing, even how bad the day started and how disappointing it is at the end, still, i consider it a blessing..

9. Pictures - Pictures are memories that are captured..no need to elaborate.. hehe..

10. Warm hugs- We need a dose of this every now and then to keep us going..Even if you have just undergone breast augmentation in Beverly Hills, your friends will still love and accept you just the way you are and what you have become. Of course, warm hugs from close friends and family lang.. hehe..

so.. it’s my turn to tag..

YOU HAVE BEEN TAGGED!

top one: when a wife is on-labor, the husband is the most excited.

I saw this couple on the jeepney the other day. While the wife is hurting due to labor from pregnancy, I saw her husband’s hanggang-kilay smile while asking “Does it really hurt?”. Yes, he (the husband with multiple tattoos designs) is very excited about the upcoming birth of an angel. I don’t know what was going on behind the wife’s “ouches”.. maybe she’s excited too.. but all she can think of was “i’m never going back this way, again..” haha..

top two: reward and punishment rule does not always produce good results.

The reward and punishment rule has always been okay to motivate children to do their best in school or wherever. It even worked for me..but this student of mine, back in greenbox, has nullified the idea of this rule. It doesn’t always work. Most of the time, she does not believe in the rule because she says that she’s been living with people who does not have a one-word. In short, liars. I still have to prove her that rewards can also be a good motivating factor for doing good in school.

top three: even five-year olds can correctly spell numbers one to fifty. (oral and written)

I have two level three students at greenbox, and yes, they can perfectly spell out these numbers. I can’t remember if I was able to do it when I was five. haha..

top four: true friends appreciate you when you’re doing good, and is tactful when you are at your worst.

I’m glad that my friend (carmi) is both a bestfriend and a true friend. She knows that I am really “kulit” but it doesn’t get into her nerves.. but she suggests that I’ll try to minimize it .. and yes, without hurting my feelings.. hahahaha..

top five: your nose is the most sensitive part of your body that if somebody touches it at your deepest sleep (and even at REM), you will most probably wake up.

This is what I recently discovered. haha.. no need to explain.. just try it yourself.

top six: eating ice cream is always a good reliever for stress and anxieties.

Double dutch, choco marble, very rocky road, coffee crumble and chocolate ice creams.. woah.. they’re the best!

top seven: when you are spending quality time with true friends, it makes you sing inside the shower everyday.

Yup, yup, yup! hehe.. good and true friends always make you feel good.. even at your downest times together..

top eight: not all security guards are serious.. some like to pose in front of a cellphone camera even when at the hour of duty.

In PNB, you can hardly catch a smile from the security personnels there. They don’t smile. They don’t even show their teeth sometimes. But what struck me today was the character shown by the security personnels of mercury drug and PNB (if im not mistaken). They were exchanging gadgets/guns while posing in front of the camera– not minding the people coming in and out of the store and the bank. They even didn’t care of opening the heavy glass door for us.

top nine: a spaceburger and a chuckie milk drink is a good match when you’re famished at 3.30 in the afternoon.

This is actually my current addiction. 30 pesos for a spaceburger and 18 pesos for the chuckie.. Yes, it would cost you a lot, but, it can also make you not to eat dinner and breakfast! haha..

top ten: true love waits.

hehehehe.. id like to chuvanesses marmie, gween, kuya dhodz, and lloydie here… DONSKIE!! hehehehe.. ;o)

This is my post from friendster.

Two days have gone since we started to call her “SapSuy”. We were almost laughing our lungs out to death (of course, figuratively) as we heard Shawie, who badly needs a (sorry I have to say this) Beverly Hills rhinoplasty surgery, wrongly blabbed-out the word CHOPSUEY into SAPSUY (plus a stiff accent).

It has already been more than a week since I started sleeping over in my friend’s flat, Jofe.. and so, having Shawie, the househelper, is more than a goodie rather than a disaster. The account of the Sapsuy started when Jofe asked about what’s in-stored for lunch, and Shawie proudly said.. “SAPSUY, ma’am!”. We both burst-out into tears of laughter upon hearing this from her. At age of twenty-four, one is expected be able to pronounce this word properly. Maybe, Jofe and I were just so full of talking about funny and miserable things lately that even the mispronunciation of words has already been in the list of our laughing stocks. Silly, i know.

Shawie is normally a funny person. She is an obvious extrovert and is able to express whatever she has in mind. She has a blooming lovelife, noting that she has three boy lovers (taxi drivers). She is acceptably boisterous and her ways are perfectly normal, except for the fact that she is quite a slow learner, hence, special. Honestly, I was stunned on her first day of work having to notice that she stands and sits as if she has some sort of a mental problem, plus, add her way of looking at you as if you are already facing a serial killer or something like it. Yes, I am overreacting and maybe exaggerating, but this is how I truly felt the first time. I hoped too, that one day, I shall become familiar of her so that my paranoia will somehow be erased.

Before Shawie was hired by Jofe, she has long been a food service crew of an eatery near McDonald’s Bajada/Victoria Plaza. She says, she works from seven-to-seven, overworked and underpaid– not to mention all the huge pots that she has to wash and brush, having to stand almost the entire day, and the late due to eat meals. Upon hearing this, I have felt a sudden intense of pity to this woman and thinking.. “Overworked yet underpaid? Is this because she is special and that she could no longer exercise her right to ask for a raise?”. Things like this came up to my mind as I hear her stories. Shawie says, she is more than grateful of having been out of that place now. Now that she is in Jofe’s supervision– she is safe, well-fed, and only has a light work throughout each day. In short, lucky.

As I have mentioned, Shawie is normally a happy person. One day, Jofe and I were surprised in the way Shawie carried herself. She was quite slow in doing the things inside the house, abnormally quiet, and inactive. We noticed her depression and asked what is wrong with her. She says is has already broke-up with her boyfriends.. yes, her three boyfriends. She said she cried all night and all day and that is the reason why she feels so sad at that moment. Well, Jofe and I were trying to cheer her up, trying to prevent Shawie’s nervous breakdown.

Since the day that Shawie was hired, she comes along with us in Jofe’s evening shows at Shindig Bar (Orange Grove Hotel). Last Thursday, Jofe got to have a “Punyeta” (pardon me for the name, but the drink is really called in that way), which Jofe says it tastes a lot like Tequila Sunrise. “Punyeta” is a combination of a rum and four seasons with crushed iced, blended. For me, it tasted like a Cocktail Punch with a little bit of twist and more of alcohol. At the first shot, surely, you will really feel something, like an earthquake, perhaps. One shot is equivalent to two strong ice beers. Take note: “Punyeta” is served in a jar that looks like a 2000mL erlenmeyer flask. Now calculate to how many shots does the flask has to contain. *smiles* While Jofe was doing her show, Shawie and I were drinking this very alcoholic drink. Shawie already has made her way through the toilet many times that I already lost track with the exact number. Everytime she goes to the toilet or whenver she doesn’t take notice of me and the drink, I fill-in her shot glass. At Jofe’s second set, Shawie can no longer move. She was so drunk that her face felt flat on the table that night. Iced water saved her from eternal intoxication.

For the days and nights that I’ve spent with my friend Jofe, there was this one thing that is being concentrated in my mind at the moment.. and this is: Special people (I’d rather call them special rather than a retard), like Shawie is still precious in God’s eyes. They may be different in a form or another, still, they have the unique characteristics that we normals have. They can appreciate, obey, respect, love, and get drunk too. Weird.

It was somebody else’s birthday or was it another saint’s fiesta when that dream began (I’m not really sure which is which). If I remember it right, after the funny stand-up performance of a gay comedian, the chow started. All the different kinds of food were laid on a very long buffet table which i guess came from La Jolla banquet facilities-– from seafood to grilled meat, from common Filipino dishes to Korean and Japanese cuisines, barbecues, soups, Italian dishes such as lasagna and all kinds of pizza, vegetable meat or tokwa, and the desserts, oh! how i love in the sight of them! I saw chocolate mousse, leche flan, fruit and macaroni salad, moist cakes, and ice cream! I even saw waffles with maple syrup, chocolate, or strawberry to flavor them. I was quite surprised with the way all these food were served. They were not placed in Pyrex glasswares or in huge aluminums which are used mostly in restaurants during buffet, but, they were served in Tupperware containers in different colors!

Now I am beginning to think that it was neither a birthday party nor another saint’s fiesta– I attended the Tupperware’s anniversary party! I am just kidding, but, who knows? There is that possibility, still.I went to the buffet table and wondering why all the others have not. Maybe food does not interest them and they are a lot interested in social networking and stuff. I started to fill-in my plate with food. I started with the vegetable salad, steamed crab and shrimps, and of course, gohan. The crabs were good, and the shrimps were yummy. I was tempted to get another batch of crabs and shrimp but I neglected the thought for I know those will give me rashes at the end of day, or worse, asthma attack. I went to the buffet table again, and scanned each and every food there. I decided to do a taste test of each unfamiliar looking dishes there and grabbed some grilled meat. The food were great! I found myself so full but still eager to give a space to my favorite part of the meal—the dessert! I got another plate for dessert. I started to have a slice of chocolate mousse, then another, and another.I think I almost finished the entire cake, but another lady got the last slice. I was almost done with the chocolate mousse when I started to have an interest with the waffles. I was so full but I still decided to just take just one waffle and for me to taste the syrups. My mind was battling on which syrup to put on my waffle, but, I then chose to divide the whole waffle into three parts, put the strawberry syrup in one part, maple in the next part, and chocolate in the last part. Unbelievably, I finished eating the waffle! After eating the waffle in its three different flavors, I decided that maple is still the best syrup to put in one’s waffle. I finished my entire course of gluttony with red wine, and thought that it was wonderful. It was a beautiful day indeed. I checked my watch and it was already two o’clock in the afternoon. My subconscious or was it my conscience told me that I am only dreaming and that I am already late from school.

I woke up around 10:48am, twelve minutes to go for my first class. I went back to sleep, neglecting the thought of going to school, enjoying the sound of the rain falling into our roof, feeling the coldness of the air and the warmth of my blanket, and thinking, “I am not waking up for brunch for I have already eaten so much”.

Next time, I want to dream about drinking vodka, red and white whine, tequila, or margarita all night and making myself wasted while welcoming the sunrise.

My bestfriend Carmela is one of the many people I know who loves Candy Magazine so much! I don’t know why they really love to collect such stuffs. Maybe they just love all those models in there or the topics being discussed by the editors..or maybe they love the color…whatever! I went to the NC3 Mall before I went to work. I was there to check out for cutie stuffs or food to give to my students since I promised to give them prizes at the end of the school week, which was yesterday. I was looking at some things in one of the gift shops when I saw this newly opened magazine store in fron of Chowking inside the mall. I found myself really smiling when I saw the magazines which are sold half of the original prizes. Candy Magazine, my bestfriend’s favorite magazine when we were in highschool is sold at 50Php each from the very first issue of 2007 until August. It was such a WOW. Comic books of Neil Gaiman (Veejay’s favorite) are on sale too. If Veejay is here in Davao, I am dead sure she’s going to buy one of Gaiman’s work (if she still hasn’t got a copy of it). Anyway, I was browsing one of the magazines of COSMO when I saw this picture of a model who have underwent a West Palm Beach rhinoplasty, the “before” and “after” look of her face was posted in one of the pages there. I just thought how good it is if you have money. It is because you can do all the things that you want with it or even upgrade the quality of your face. Then I saw another Candy Magazine with Maja Salvador on the cover. Maja’s one of my most-adored local celebrities as of the moment. Without hesitation, and even I am not into Candy Magazines and stuff, I bought the mag at 50Php. I also bought some of the scrapbook items which are on sale. I bought prizes for my students too then went to work. Afterwards, I went to SM to buy the black CD rack that I have been wanting to buy months ago. Since it is payday, I have my right to buy whatever stuffs I want with my money. So I bought the CD rack.  

After we were able to discuss the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) and the Least Common Denominator (LCM) and how to answer it through inverted division, my students brought out their art materials for them to finish their art project which will be passsed on Monday next week. I was surprised of how good (and expensive) their art materials are. Compared to the ones that I have used when I was in fourth grade, theirs were really of very high class and quality. So, there’s Camille, the artist in class is starting to talk about the stuff that they did in class yesterday morning. She said she forgot to bring with her an Oslo paper to be used for yesterday’s artwork. That’s why, their art teacher gave them an idea of painting their skin with tribal tattoos. She said she found it so cool and that she really had painted some tribal stuffs on her skin. She said she enjoyed the activity but had regretted of doing it because it was really hard to erase those paintings on her materials. She said she ended up dirty after class.  

 After she told her story, she went back on doing more artworks again. I even asked her to draw some on my skin too. 

Because I have nothing else to do tonight, I decided to check up on my friends who are really active in writing their blogs or whatever they’re doing in their friendster profiles. While I was browsing in one of my friend’s profile, I noticed that someone had just had asked her if she had underwent stuffs like liposuction/plastic surgeries because that ‘common friend’ of ours have pictures of some Philadelphia plastic surgeons, which puzzled us the most. “Usong-uso na nga talaga ang pagpapagawa ng mukha ngayon.” I just smirked on what I have discovered tonight. If Andoi Abunda’s going to ask me what’s new again, for sure I will have something for him to think about. In my previous posts in my other websites such as in thoughtsavenue.blogdrive.com, I have mentioned there that I still can’t believe that there are really good and licensed plastic surgery clinics here in Davao. Even up to now, I still want to find out how they really actually do all those metamorphosis and stuff. 

One of our Clinical Instructors at school now is Ms. Damby.. I can’t dare to state her name here because I am afraid that someday, she might be in contact with this blog. If that happens–I sure am dead! Okay, what about her? I think she needs to get herself a membership in Holiday Spa or Smashville or to Metro Lifestyle to get herself fit. Somebody’s got to tell her that, because she’s only 23. I am dead sure that she doesn’t want to be mistaken as somebody on her 30’s. Okay, okay.. too much about gossips.. Til next time then. Ciao.

Peace be with you! 

I was browsing my friends’ profiles in friendster like ten minutes earlier and I learned that one of them has got themselves a real and purely-owned website, which I felt envious about..haha. Many months had passed since I have decided to buy my own domain. But because of the lack of budget (or overspending), I always loose the chance of getting myself one. I am just so inspired of what I have seen just earlier.. it was like the website’s been in San Diego web design. Soon, I know I will be able to buy my own domain. But what I should do now is to have a concept on what I am going to do with the site–its contents, colors, goals, et cetera. It should not go to waste since it will be considered as an investment. In line with this, I already have talked to many of my classmates if they would like to try blogging. I told them I am going to make a site of which nursing stuffs will be included there, especially nursing care plans, case presentations, and review questions. They were really excited about it and asked me when will I be starting it. hhmm. gee, for now all I could think of an answer is an EMPTY answer.. really blank.. although my idea was there, but, I am a little insecure about what’s going to happen next..or will I be able to pursue the thing or not. I might hav to ask the Lord for signs then. haha. For now, I should stick with that passion..and if ever that time comes, I will be really ready for it. Good wishes to me!

After how many months, I am able to play the drums again! Not that I wasn’t allowed to do so for the past months, or haven’t had the chance of playing my favorite instrument–it’s just that I just chose to relax a little from playing the drums. I just had realized that I am already a grown-up–that I wasn’t that super-jolly-girl that used to bang the drums everytime I take a hold with my Zildjian 7A sticks. Last Sunday at church, I asked my brother to step aside for I will play the drums for the WP singing. When I got my behind in that chair, all the ‘younger’ memories came into me.. like the first time I was able to perfectly manage how to play the basic drumming and to do an ad lib. All those good memories came into mind that made me felt happier and more inspired to play for the Lord. I almost forgot about how everything is like when you are at the drumset.

 But I am really getting “old”. Ten years ago, I still can do drumming tricks using my imagination and even without practice instantly, but now, maybe because of the lack of practice, I cannot even dare do some “pakitang-gilas” stuff. Or maybe, I might have been inspired by how the drummer in Bamboo does the drumming in their hit song, “Much has been Said”.. well, I’d like to believe that it was the latter. lolz. Although those good and younger times were gone, a much matured drummer girl has proven its talent once again last Sunday.. it was like I just had an Arizona plastic surgery, where everything felt good..and new.. It’s really refreshing. It was like the younger times again. I am thinking of developing more skills in playing the drums, or the percussions for who knows I might become a good drum instructor later since I was already done being a piano and guitar teacher. It’s time for my drumming career to bloom! I know this post sounds like I am an airhead, but gee, just forgive me, okay? =) Last Sunday really feels like the first time.  

Pabreetz has been my friend since the second semester of yr ‘04 in the University of Mindanao. We were classmates in one of the major subjects in 1-BSN, Anatomy and Physiology. She’s one of the treasures that I have found in UM. Why? Because she’s not only a friend to me, but more like a sister. She shares her thoughts to me, as well as I share mine with her.

 Today was the first time we have been able to meet after almost two months. I got too busy with school, work, and family responsibilities that I realized I haven’t got the time to relax and enjoy a friend’s company. Well, Pabreetz is just the perfect person to hang out with when I want to just want to sit, chat, and enjoy. Why do I call her Pabreetz? It’s just that when we became friends, she was my favorite among all those people that surrounded me. She’s got this great style and personality. Most of all, she’s got a good and healthy heart.  If she had not pursuaded me to go out tonight, I would not have enjoyed September 28, 2007. After we had “dinner” at McDonald’s, we went back to her apartment and found out that her-once-owned-boylet-and-is-now-her-bestfriend’s-boyfriend is there in the apartment that they are sharing. I know she’s still affected about that situation, that’s why I asked her to go out again and head for Matina Town Square. While we were in the taxi, we saw this newly built hotel in Rizal St. that looks like the San Diego hotel, where the ‘look’ and ‘feel’ seems very futuristic. We were just staring at the building, both wishing of staying there even for a night. That may take us a longer time to accomplish since we don’t need to rent a place to sleep for a night since we both have places to stay here in Davao. The city’s really progressing.

We were just sitting in one of the benches of MTS Park when the raindrops fell. The good thing was I brought with me my violet umbrella-ella-ella (haha)! If it hadn’t rained, i will never be aware of the time. when I checked my phone, it was nearly 11pm then. . so, we just decided to head back to her apartment..  Tomorrow, we’re going to go out again. .harhar.. I just really miss being with those people I love..

 Tonight is Frances’ birthday.. Happy birthday Babes!=)