Stories

Snow seems to be saying something...

I love this photo.

Rain fell in torrents. And we had a great time watching the water rise outside our new home. The first pic is our neighbor's house, slowily filling up with water....they're inside trying to lift the furniture off the floor. The second picture is of benj's car slowly sinking into the rising waters of the street. Too late to save the old gal, we later found out that the water burned wires in his "vintage" car and thus leaving it out of commission for the next few weeks. The third is Benj, soaking up the rain and floodwaters. And lastly, thats a picture of the mud that the receeding waters left in our garage. Oh happy day...the rain was great.

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Red is adjusting to the new house as we all are. He seems to like his perch on the second-story living room...i don't blame him. The breeze is great and he has a bird's eye view of the strays wandering about below. L said i should take my time unpacking, and that eventually, everything will find its right place in the right corner. I agree...and I love the sense of abandon and "righteousness" if you will of her suggestion. All will fall into place...no need to rush...but its really a stressful thing. I long for my sanctuary in the old home.

But moving forward, getting that phone line connected, the cable company has arrived, and i've done our groceries and all,...i guess I'll have to take it a day at a time and quelch that unsettling feeling at the pit of my stomach. Do my work, fix the bills...oh boy. Find time to write it all down here, soon.

We were walking away actually. Then the woman pictured below (with the arched eyebrows) appeared from the innards of the old house and proceeded to push my mother ungraciously out the gate.

It was a messy, scandalous event. Something I never thought I'd witness. A simple division of property has turned into a bloody freak show of lies, cunning and deceit that was ten years in the making. I swear I wish I could write the details but I cant just yet. Let me say though that in moments like those caught in the pictures, you would know the true nature of a person. Really. When all logic has fled, and you're faced with a violent scene, what do you do in those microseconds as time moved you forward?

If I have family that is reading this, you can reach mom, alice alafriz pañares, for details. Let it be said though that I believe in karma. Good and bad karma. Whatever my destiny is, after having participated in the event shown, well, lets just say I wont lose any sleep thinking retribution will come to me.

The concrete seat was hot. There wasnt much of a breeze either. All in all, it was a warm day and the cool inviting pool was just a few feet away from me but I couldn't swim. Why? Well, I was sick. No need to contaminate innocent water-drenched, happy-in-their-swimsuits people. It was at the Ateneo pool. A place I hadnt visited since I was, what, maybe 6 years old? That was a long time ago. And yet, the rulesof the pool were still there, painted on the same plywood board, resting on the wall of the ladies bathroom.

So rather than mope and lament my sickness, I snapped some pictures of Gabbie and Owa. Ah, they seem to have so much fun. And after the phot shoot, I marched back to the shade of the viewing deck, sitting down on the hot concrete seat.

Mom was rushed to the E.R. yesterday. Vertigo and vomiting. Don't really know how serious or not serious these things are but mom and i agree that we both dislike hospitals. "Ay naku ma, aminin mo na, buntis ka 'no?" I asked in jest, half hoping it was true, just to dispel any dark symptom or sickness she might have which we didnt know of yet. Superwoman, undefeatable,...this is what she was to me and most people. I dislike the thought of her weakness, as she does, but at the same time, I realize her mortality, and my role as daughter. Its my turn to care for her now. The wheel is turning, the parent becomes a child, as the child becomes the parent. Perhaps. Whatever. Realities are in- your-face things. Words and thoughts simply help you bear the brunt of shock, pain, worry.

My deepest thanks to Nerissa and Daisy and her staff. They were quick to bring her to the hospital despite her protestings. Can you imagine, my mom, in her dizzy, vomit-filled state, had the NERVE to act as backseat driver to the cabbie. Hahah. Oh well. Its cool. Thats mom for ya. Thanks to Lyra and Yas for just being there for me. A single SMS from them and I know I'm emotionally covered. Drop of a hat. They got my back. Naakss. Hahaha. For Vicky, being dependable and fiercly loyal to us, she keeps mom company during the late night hours when no one else is around. Thanks to our friends and extended family, who acted with concern when they found out. Thanks thanks thanks.

Here are a few shots the client took of the finished product. Van stickers for their resort, Misibis. (Check it out: www.misibis.com) The client said they were happy and we're working on two more projects...I wish I was there to see the stickers though, but I'm glad they look good, even if these pics were shots from a mobile. Yey!

Dog in slumber

Having Dog behind my laptop, sleeping soundly, I think of the great classical writers though history. They too, had their furry companions, watching, sleeping or cuddled on their laps or their desk side, giving silent inspiration just by their purring presence. Simple joys indeed.