The Year That Was

So it's been another year... But 2011 really wasn't just another year for me. This year has brought a lot of new experiences, new friendships, and new discoveries, albeit little, about myself.

I started 2011 thinking I was soon to embark on my last year of college and how I wanted it to be somehow a memorable last year in UST. Looking back, I can say my senior year has been more than I bargained for, and the great thing is, it isn't totally over yet. Before my days as a senior started though, I had to finish my internship for the summer. Having to wake up early to travel to Makati and stay at the office for 8 hours easily became a routine but it wasn't all bad. I made new friends in two of my batchmates who worked with me in the same company. One time we even made plans to meet with some of our other batchmates who were also working in the area and had time to share stories with some of whom we don't normally have a proper conversation with at school.

Then it was back to attending classes at school. I guess we are just really blessed that all of us in class have bonded, and thank God it happened during our last year together. From our retreat in Caleruega to going to Cebu and Bohol with the whole batch (which I'm going to talk about more a little later) and to having an all-nighter Christmas party, it has been one heck of an enjoyable semester with my lovely classmates and friends. One thing I learned this year is that even though it's hard for me to change my mind about people, it helps a lot when it's them who try to show you that other side of them you might like. Like they say, it takes two to tango.

Early Merry Christmas

Ever since I found out that my eldest brother and his family who are based in the US will be spending Christmas here in the Philippines this year, I don't think I've ever really felt sad. The last time we were all together prior to this was in 2005. So I was really excited about them being with us for the holidays, and so were all of my family.

Yesterday was the last day that we were all going to be together before my brother and his family go back to California so we had an early celebration of Christmas eve dinner (Noche Buena). I thought it was just going to be a normal dinner but we ended up starting late because we had to wait for my other sister-in-law who flew in from Singapore, and so we still got to open presents at midnight, although it was a day early.

Speaking of presents, here are some of the things I got:

A shiranian (shih-tzu pomeranian) dog,
I named him Barkley

Harry Potter merch

"Rihanna Navy" shirt
(Excuse my weird face)

I gotta say, getting material gifts is nice (more than nice, if I'm totally honest) but nothing really beats having your family by your side during this special occasion. The best present is that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you share precious moments with family. :)

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.
--Burton Hillis

So I wish you and your family a Very Merry Christmas! May we all keep in our hearts the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of our Lord Savior Jesus Christ!

Taylor Swift

So I told my 7-year-old nephew I was going to see Taylor Swift in concert next week (!!!).

Here's how the conversation went (via Skype):

Me: I'm going to Taylor Swift's concert next Saturday.
Nephew: Can I watch the movie? (To his dad, my brother)
Brother: No, Tita May is watching her in concert. Would you like to go with her and watch Taylor Swift in the Philippines?
Nephew: I don't know... I'll think about it.
Nephew: Are you going by yourself? (To me)
Me: No, I'm going with friends.
Nephew: So do your friends love Taylor Swift?
Me: Yeah, we all love Taylor Swift.
Nephew: So your friends and you, you love her?
Me: *nods*
Nephew: So what's your favorite Taylor Swift song?
Me: It used to be Forever & Always but now I love Enchanted from her new album.
Nephew: Uh can you post it from the internet so I can listen?

Adorable. Of course I did share a link of the song to him. And I'll do it for you, too. Here's "Enchanted" from Taylor's new album, Speak Now. :)






Just earlier a "cover" of this song surfaced. It was from Adam Young of Owl City. Apparently Taylor wrote the song about him and to return the favor he decided to sing and dedicate it to Taylor for Valentine's Day. Listen to it here.

Anyway, I'm so stoked for next week's Manila stop of her Speak Now tour!!! Can't wait!! :)

No day but today

Today I spent my afternoon watching a couple of movies while lying on my bed (thank you to whoever invented the portable DVD player and thanks to my brother who was so kind to buy me one) with a mug of cold chocolate in hand. My first movie choice? Rent.


I know I was familiar with the musical but I didn't realize how really familiar I was with it until I watched the movie. I can sing the choruses to almost all the songs even though it's my first time seeing it and I haven't seen the live musical either. It's one of my brothers' fault, really. I've said it more than a few times already that I grew up listening to different kinds of music since my dad and my brothers just totally love music and so, I ended up being influenced by that. (Although, I am not as musical as one would expect because I'm too lazy, I admit that. Boo me.) Anyway, my brother would just listen all day and all afternoon to various musical soundtracks like Moulin Rouge and yes, Rent. I wasn't old enough yet to know what I was singing about but I was already singing to "Seasons of Love" then. And I can remember hearing "Tango Maureen" and its familiar beat and the recurring lines from "I Should Tell You" like it was yesterday. Oh, how I miss those days when my brother still lived with us and we'd randomly break out into sing-alongs like crazy people. I'm looking forward to the next time he comes home. Maybe I'll ask him to watch Rent with me and we'll sing all the songs together. :)

I don't know exactly how to end this post. I guess I'll just leave you with this favorite from the Rent soundtrack:

Things I don't normally talk about

Death.

There's nothing concrete about the thing until you yourself face it. I mean, sure, there are various dictionary definitions and there could be a million or more assumptions about death and dying. But the thing is, our faith only takes us as far regarding this topic.

Yesterday, I found out about an online friend passing. I met her through a Rihanna forum and yes, she's one huge Rihanna fan. I've learned she was planning to see her world tour several times in different countries. She was 16 years old. She would have had an amazing future ahead of her if she weren't gone so soon. I, myself, despite my faith, question why things like this have to happen to people like her. I'm just human, it's simply an automatic response. But as I think through it, I remember what I have grown to believe, that life-changing instances like death happen for a reason and that reason is only known to God Himself.

I fear the day that I will get to experience losing someone I love so easily, though, for I am not sure how or if my faith will be enough to pull me through that certain stuation. The only closest loved one I lost is my grandfather from my mother's side, and it was somehow, someway acceptable since he died at the age of 90. And we're happy when he closed his eyes peacefully because we know that his suffering has ended and he is now in God's company. From what I have noticed, my Lolo's passing actually made the family grow closer. We were close before but whenever we have gatherings to celebrate his birthday or any other family occasion we have, everyone just have their little funny anecdote. Somehow, I think that's one reason God took my Lolo when He did, because he wanted us to live happier and more peaceful.

Talk of my parents dying is a different story. It's kind of my blind spot. My dad often gives me this talk about how we would eventually have to carry on with our lives without them soon, blah blah blah... Everytime he starts I just zone out. I listen but I try to distract myself so as to not be affected and break down in tears eventually. I know that that is an inevitable situation but I'd like for my parents to still be here when I get married, you know, and have grandkids that they'll get the chance to raise and take care of. (Oh dear, God, hear my prayers.)

Sometimes I think I become very afraid of death to happen before my eyes to my most cherished loved ones that it has invaded my dreams and turned them into nightmares. I remember vividly how my best friend and my brother died in my dreams. Such horrendous situations, if you ask me. So terrifying for me, actually, that on the two occasions that I dreamt about it I woke up sobbing. Like, literally tears were overflowing from my eyes. I'd rather have Dementor nightmares than this kind of dreams any night.

Of chocolates & bacon and eggs

Have I told you that my nephews are such bright cute, little balls of happiness? If not, well, I am telling you now. Last night being Saturday night (PHT) we were on video chat with my brother in the States. My older nephew, having no sumpong, talked to us eagerly. Since it was morning on their side of the pond, they were having breakfast at the time and he asked me if I wanted to join them. I said, "No, thanks, it's nighttime here already so I don't need breakfast. I'll have it in the morning." Him being so bright, he remembered I was eating chocolate (Yan Yan, actually) a while ago and scolded me for doing so, "Why did you eat chocolate at nighttime? You don't eat chocolate at nighttime." Then, my brother told him to just say to me that I should drink lots of water.

Him: Okay, you need to drink lots and lots of water so you will feel better. If you don't drink lots of water then you will cough and cough and cough because it's nighttime.
Me: [Grabbing my tumbler] I drank water after I ate the chocolate but I'll drink again for you. See, I'm drinking lots of water [as I point to my tumbler].
Him: Okaaaay!
(Then he rans off to play Rock Band again.)

I told you he's one bright ball of happiness. :)

As for my younger nephew, he's one cuter, funnier little one. He's fond of sinangag (fried rice), too fond, actually, that he only eats it plain. But when his brother was eating bacon and eggs, he enthusiastically grabs a piece of bacon and stuffs it in his little mouth. Then he grabs another one and just holds it while he was playing. Moments later he came back to grab the eggs. He has one hell of an appetite, mind you, because later on he was eating chocolate pretzels for dessert. LOL.

Although we stayed up until half-past one in the morning, it was nice sharing laughs with my brother and the kids. Sure does lessens the longing of wanting to wrestle them to the ground with hugs and kisses even for a little while.

The good and the bad

Which one should I start my rant fest with, eh? Let's go with the bad so I can at least bounce back with the good a little bit later...

Let's me just get straight to the point: I don't get why I don't usually spend time with people. I feel like I'm on the verge of being anti-social. But I know I'm not. I have this feeling of uncertainty whenever I'm asked to join certain activities or other whatnot. I guess I just don't like being in a big group. I'm just an introvert like that. Maybe it has something to do with comfort issues. Yes, that's it.

But. Even though I seem to have resolved that question, why do I still feel kind of bad for doing the right thing (in my case)? Is that wrong at all? If it is, what does that make of me? Oh, my thoughts to ponder...

Anyway, on to the good vibes... It's my nephew's birthday today! We just got off chatting with them. He showed me a few gifts he got which included Michael Buble's new CD, Crazy Love. I am amazed at how musically-inclined he already is at his age. He just turned 6. But I'm not really surprised though, since kids nowadays learn about technology easily, and besides I was like that, too. As far as I remember, ever since I was 4, I already knew the words to the songs that come on the radio. It makes me happy how my nephew knows how to appreciate music, I mean really appreciate it, by simply having joy in having new records that he like. :)

Yes, that happy thought should be the one in my head as I go to bed. Good night.