Honey . . . A man who looks like Santa

Today is a special day. It's my honey's birthday. (For all of you lonely but not angry birds out there, HONEY is a term of endearment used by couples, especially married ones, in addressing each other.)  Today is also the first time that we have been far apart for his birthday. He's in Davao City holding down the fort, and I'm in Manila agonizing before the Philippine bar examinations. My husband, who has a long beard and looks like Santa Clause, isn't all that he seems. He's much more than that. Although he doesn't really like to show his affection to me in public that much because people have this image of him being "a man's man", he is quite a sweet and loving fellow (at times - lol). So, indulge me in this post because I want to dedicate this to a man who taught me many things . . . some of which might surprise you.

Here are a couple of things that my honey taught me . . .

When I came back to the Philippines, I didn't know how to speak Tagalog (the national language), much less Bisaya (the tongue used in Davao City). Much of the language I learned over here has been because of my husband. My English was very 'slang' and my pronunciation was much like that heard on American television. So, some ignorant idiots in college would make fun of my English to my face . . . maybe because their English was sooooooooo bad! (yeah, you know who you fools are out there! I hope you're reading this!) This used to aggravate me because I never made fun of their horrible and incorrect English. Anyway, my husband was one of the few people who had the guts to come up to me repeatedly and politely converse with me . . . which was an advantage as much of the competition was weeded out (lol). Although he would throw in a few flirty lines here and there, he taught me the language and about the culture. I guess you could say, this is what really brought us closer together. Over time, I was able to learn Bisaya and became more comfortable around people because they weren't teasing me about my accent anymore. Furthermore, nobody would ever tease me around him because he was a 'macho' man and quite masculine looking. Basically, he was my teacher and bodyguard . . . who I had a crush on!

Another thing he taught me was hand washing. Growing up abroad, I hardly washed anything by hand, just very delicate underwear. However, although I had my clothes washed by a washerwoman in my dormitory here (Philippines), there was no laundry service once in a while because of long holidays. So, I was stuck with washing pants and shirts . . . by hand! (O.M.G.!) To many in the Philippines, that's not such a big deal, but it is to someone without experience in hand washing heavy clothes. The first time I washed by hand, I saw him in the laundry area of our dormitory washing his clothes. (He was an expert!) We said 'hello' then I started to wash my clothes. He looked amused as I clearly had no I idea what I was doing. He showed me how to dissolve and rub the 'bareta' (bar-type laundry soap to the non-Filipinos out there) on to the clothes, then rub the clothes laden with soap briskly together . . . again and again and again. It was horribly exhausting! So, he helped me wash about half of my laundry . . . which scored him big points with me, of course. Even now, he sometimes washes my underwear along with his (when we are on a trip) because he knows I HATE washing clothes by hand. So, he sometimes does it - even without asking. Few men in the Philippines would even consider doing that because of the patriarchal culture. Here, a woman is supposed to wash her man's underwear by hand. (Hmm) Anyway, I have a lot of respect for him for doing that. I know many of his friends and relatives would cringe at him for doing that. (Surprise! lol)

Although there are many other things that he taught me (which I don't want to discuss because my post would be too long and since I have to get back to studying for my bar exams), the most important thing is patience. He has always been a patient person and I admire him greatly for that. He constantly reminds me to understand people, to be kind (I can sometimes be mean - lol) and to be patient with them, even if they offend or do something bad to us. He also loves to help the poor and needy . . . sometimes to a fault as they tend to abuse his generosity (which I always bring to his attention, of course).

Yet, I think that's why God sends you someone who can balance you out . . . the 'yin' to your 'yang' . . . the 'hot' to your 'cold' . . . because together, you can be in harmony. So, go out under the sun and find your honey, and be sure to tell that person how much he or she means to you. If you don't have one yet, don't rush because the sweetness in life takes time and effort to achieve . . . just like honey made from bees.

Wimpy . . . A lion without a roar

No definitions today, kids. It's just pure unadulterated self-pity . . I mean self-realization. I always thought that I was a tough girl. I seldom cried, and when I did, it was because I was really angry. . . meaning I was so angry that I wanted to punch somebody in the face and knock their teeth out, but I had to restrain myself . . . and that made me cry,  not the bonehead who pissed me off. A lot of people I know also seem to have this impression that I am tough as nails. I guess this is another case of how looks can be deceiving . . . even to myself. lol

Anyway, the past few days have changed my perception of myself. I have only been away from home for 6 days and I have become an emotional train wreck. I think it's because I'm homesick and I miss the comforts of home . . . meaning my husband, kids, cable TV, cooking for them, my beautiful and clean city, etc. It's amazing what you can learn, especially about yourself, when you are in a totally different environment.

However, I am alone now in this mid-size room in a nice place, but with no TV at all, and studying for the Philippine bar examinations, which is one of the hardest exams in the world for the licensure of attorneys. I'm supposed to be here (about 700 miles away from home) for about 45 days in all, but it's been very tough on the mind. I feel like a fish out of water . . . in a desert. However, my grandmother was a tough cookie, and she always told me I could do anything - God rest her soul. I believed her . . . but now . . . .

I recently found out that I am not as tough as I thought. People have referred to me as a lion, a tiger and even a dragon since I was never one to back down from a fight or a tough situation. Yet, I have found that I am  quite the sensitive type (even a wimp) . . . away from my pride (of lions) and far from my den. Crying, in private of course, has become quite a daily activity. It's not helping my studying either. Nothing is staying in my brain. Pathetic, right? I used to think so, too. Before, people like that were pitiful and pathetic to me, until I found myself in their shoes. I have realized that I am becoming wimpy! (O.M.G.!)

However, I also realized something interesting. I guess I have been crying because I didn't know how much everything at home really meant to me. It came as a big shock. I guess you could say that I thought I would miss my family, friends, home and its comforts, somewhat . . . but at the time, I think I didn't realize that actually living without them (the laughter of my family, the hugs of my hubby, the naughtiness of my kids, the smiles of my friends and relatives, the sound of my TV, the mess in my room, the clean air, . . . ) is a whole other thing. I took these little things for granted and now that they are nowhere around me I know how much they really mean to me. This is what has taken my roar and replaced it with silence and emptiness.

Yet, I need to look on the brighter side of things . . . because that is the theme of my blog - lol. Actually, this is a good thing because I now know that I must value my family and friends, my home (no matter how messy it is), my TV shows, and so forth while they are still around me, not when they are gone. So, I want to dedicate this post to my husband Bryant, my dear sons Toby and Xandy, my relatives and friends (you all know who you are), and my beautiful Davao City. I love you and miss you all very much. (I'll see you in about 40 days.)

Hence, the lesson of the day is to look around you and cherish what and who you have. One day, they might not be there (even though it may be for a a little while), and you will know what it means to feel empty. So, let's leave it at that. Remember to always try to live life under the sun, and that even when there are clouds and rain; they, too, shall pass . . . Right?   So, let's bring on the thunder! ROARRRRR!

Exasperate . . . I think someone needs a 'facial'.

Today, I have decided to take a break from the sunshine and butterflies and enter another realm of consciousness. I have decided to give you guys reprieve from the sweetness and cuteness of my posts (lol) and take you to a darker place . . . anger . . . irritation . . . basically, I mean being pissed off! I guess you can think of this post as a cloudy day while 'living under the sun' because, as you know, life is not sunshine and rainbows 24/7.

I'm sure all you guys out there have had a bad day at least once in your life. However, have you ever felt so annoyed or angry at someone that you just wanted to take their face and use it to clean the floor or the toilet? You would be surprised how asinine some people are even though you are making an effort to help them. It's simply AMAZING! (in a very BAD way)

Before I go on, let's take a closer look at the word for the day . . . EXASPERATE.

ex·as·per·ate

tr.v. ex·as·per·at·ed, ex·as·per·at·ing, ex·as·per·ates

1. To make very angry or impatient; annoy greatly.

2. To increase the gravity or intensity of:

- from The Free Dictionary, by Farlex

A good example of this word is what happened to me recently . . . Have you ever sat on a dirty toilet? It is one of the most unsettling feelings in the world, especially for girls. Hence, with great patience and understanding initially, I repeatedly tried to teach someone (who was young and inexperienced in the ways of housework) how to do something which basically requires common sense . . . how to clean the toilet. Although it's definitely not fun to do, it must be done nonetheless!

However, for some odd reason, this person could not learn or did not want to learn how to do clean the 'throne' that we shared.  (I think that "didn't want to" is the more accurate description of this situation.) Anyway, she somehow would always forget to do it after being taught countless times, or would find the most senseless or illogical way to clean it. After I had cleaned the toilet on a number of occasions because she just didn't do it or wouldn't clean it right, she exasperated me and I lost it. I was so angry because she said she had cleaned the toilet, but she really hadn't done it.  If I wanted to use a clean toilet, I would have to clean it myself, but she would nonetheless get to use it. I was completely exasperated. I even imagined giving her a special 'facial' and using her face to clean the bowl. I think that even Thinker could have done it for desecrating his 'throne'. However, that's not how I roll . . .

So, I did what any good Christian who studied the law would do . . . I made sure justice prevailed! I had her clean it right in front of me. At first, she was up to her usual tricks, just dumping some cleanser in the toilet bowl and lightly swishing it about with a toilet brush; then, ending the task without even cleaning the inner bowl thoroughly, the seat, the outer bowl, the cover, and so forth. I was extremely angry because having a clean toilet is a matter of health, especially for women. Hence, I firmly directed her to clean the 'throne' blow by blow - it was like a title fight between her and the toilet bowl, . . . with me as the 'manager' of the toilet bowl. I stood next to her while she bent down and cleaned it under my strict supervision. She looked angry because I wasn't being taken in by her feigned ignorance, but I didn't care. I had to make my point . . . I wasn't going to clean it again after having done that at least 4 times just to teach her . . . after all, she was getting paid to do it, not me!

In the end, she cleaned the whole bathroom very well and I was finally happy that she had done her job well.
So, there was no need for a "toilet facial". A little while after that, the 'clouds' seemed to dissipate making it possible to resume 'living under the sun' . . . with a clean toilet so sit on so that I could think about life more deeply and comfortably . . . on the toilet, of course.

Shenanigans . . . To punk or not to punk?

Being mischievous is usually something that kids like to do. It is a natural thing for children to be naughty and playful. I guess you could say this defines them because they just enjoy the moment, no matter what. For instance, many kids like to play the game "Hide and Seek". However, their game does not always involve hiding themselves or finding people who are hiding. Kids often like to hide things or objects . . .  especially things that their parents need . . . like keys. (For some odd reason, this especially happens when their parents are running late for a very important meeting.) These youngsters get joy from watching their parents run around frantically looking for the keys, asking nervously if someone has seen them . . . The kids watch with smiles on their faces (debating whether or not to divulge the location of the keys, of course) while their parents think . . . Oh shoot! (S*#& for all of you adults out there) I'm going to get fired or berated by my boss if I miss this big meeting! (Welcome to parenthood!) Hence, parents can easily fall victim to their children's mischievous play, or . . . you guessed it, SHENANIGANS.

Let me go over the meaning of the word quickly. Shenanigan (or shenanigans, for plural) has a couple of meanings. One meaning is mischievous play, especially that of children (just like the example above). Other meanings have a darker tone and generally mean a devious trick or practice used for deceitful or underhanded purposes. Since my blog is about living under the sun (an obviously positive theme), let's forget the other meanings and focus on the first one . . . mischievous play.

I have often said that living under the sun means enjoying life, right? So, why should kids have all the fun? I think adults should have the right to be mischievous once in a while, too. It can be hilarious to watch adults fall pray to the shenanigans of other "adults". However, the shenanigans of adults are usually in the form of pranks, but a different term is used for this nowadays. When someone is a victim of such mischief, it is called "getting punked". In fact, there was even a TV show all about  this called Punk'd, hosted by actor Ashton Kutcher. In each show, he played different elaborate pranks on his celebrity friends, such as the one on the right that he played on Justin Timberlake. When Timberlake was getting punked, he was definitely not dancing or singing about it. It was a little sad to watch and you had to feel for the guy. Nevertheless, it was still funny. =)

After watching the video of Ashton punking Timberlake, I remembered a shenanigan of mine that I played on my sister (who is about 10 years my junior) when I used to live in the U.S. She was about 15 years old at the time, and I seriously punked her. I'm sure she remembers it because it was absolutely . . . classic. I just have to tell you guys about it -- Please forgive me, my favorite (and only - lol) sister for mentioning it.

Like most kids who go to school, my sister would wake up early to get to school on time. She was an honor student and often studied hard until the wee hours of the night. She was attending a private all-girls Catholic prep school (my alma mater) which had strict nuns and teachers. The school was unfortunately about 20 minutes away by car. Hence, she was always rushing around in the morning so that she wouldn't be a minute late. It was usually dark when she woke up around 6am (in California where the sun wouldn't even come up until after 7am during certain times of the year). On the other hand, I didn't have to leave until 7:30am to get to work on time. Alas, these conditions dictated that someone (not me) clearly had to get punked.

On one particular day, my sister came home feeling exhausted. She had been studying late the night before and felt very sleepy. So, as anyone in her position would do, she went to bed right after dinner, which was around 7:30pm. After about 3 hours, it was time to pull my prank. My parents were in the living room watching the news on TV as they always did at that time of night. When my sister was already sleeping deeply, I sneaked into her dark room and quietly reset her clock to show 6:50am instead of 10:30pm. Afterwards, I hurried out of her room, quickly changed my clothes (as if I were going to work) and hung her school uniform in its usual place.

Then, I began the drama. I entered the room, turned on the light and woke her up violently. I asked her (with great 'sisterly' concern in my voice) if is she was sick and why she hadn't woken up. Still half asleep and disoriented, she said that she was O.K. and she must have forgotten to set her alarm clock the night before. I pointed to the clock and said that it was already very late. I told her to hurry because she had less than 15 minutes to leave. I helped her out of bed and quickly got her uniform for her. I told her she no longer had time to take a shower, and to quickly put on her uniform and fix her hair. Then, I rushed her to the restroom so that she could brush her teeth and fix her hair. I told her that I would run to the kitchen and make her a sandwich so that she could have breakfast on the road. However, after closing the bathroom door, I merely strolled into the living room, sat down next to my parents (who were still watching the news) and anxiously waited for her to rush in.

Surely enough, she ran into the living room in full uniform carrying her school bag and slightly out of breath. My parents just looked at her curiously and asked her where in the heck she was going. With a classic puzzled expression, she said that she was going to school and that she was late. My parents were even more confused. On the other hand, I was dying to laugh out loud, but I kept it in to keep the prank going. Then, my parents asked her what was wrong with her because it was 10:30pm on a Friday night and that there wasn't even school the next day. After that, I couldn't contain my laughter. It burst out in a roar. Then, it hit my parents and my sister that I was pulling a prank on her. They started to laugh, but she seemed irritated (naturally) as she had just gotten punked. Being a good sport she said, "Anne, you dork!" and told us she was going back to bed. (Actually, I think she wanted to curse at me and jump on me, but my parents were there. I was protected. LOL)

As you can see, even when we're adults, we can still have fun with shenanigans to create unforgettable memories that can still bring laughter . . . no matter how many years have passed. (I think my sister also laughs about it in retrospect, of course.) So, have some fun (even if it is mischievous) and experience all kinds of things under the sun.

However, here's a word of caution, too. If you do choose to pull a prank on someone, you have to act responsibly and think of all the possible things that could happen. Be safe and take measures to ensure that the prank brings no harm  to anyone, especially to the person being punked. Some pranks end in tragedy either because they were recklessly done in the wrong place or at the wrong time. It's never a  funny thing when someone gets hurt . . . or even dies. 

With that in mind . . . remember that pulling a pranks and other shenanigans are not always a bad thing. They can be hilarious as long as you act cautiously. Hence . . . To punk or not to punk? That is the (next) question! 

Obiter Dictum . . . Is that a dirty word?

Many people say that the law is there to protect us and to ensure that justice prevails. However, some people say that it is there to baffle the average person, especially since some of the terms used in the field of law are Latin words. One good example of this is the term OBITER DICTUM (OBITER DICTA, for plural) which many laymen think is a dirty but formal word that refers to a male reproductive organ. (I know some of you are thinking . . . O.M.G.! Where is she going with this?!?) I hate to disappoint many of you sickos out there (like many of my friends who shall remain nameless), but the real meaning of the word is not exciting . . .  at all. Nevertheless, let's take a closer look at the word, just for the heck of it (and so that we could use it on people to look smart!)

Actually, obiter dictum (in law) refers to an opinion voiced by a judge that only has an incidental bearing on the case in question. It is not considered as the main decision of the case, so it is not technically binding and doesn't carry with it the force of law. So, why am I writing about this Latin word? . . . Why did you click on this post? . . . I wanted to show you that language can be the source of enjoyment in life. Even the strangest of words could bring back embarrassing but sometimes funny memories . . . like obiter dictum.

As many of you  know, I like to relate words to every day life. So 'my friend' Hannah Cris Azcona Echavez challenged me to write about obiter dictum. We were classmates in our first year of law school and she wanted to see how it could be related to life. It took me a while to think about how I could make these uncommon Latin words a lesson in life or to connect it to living life under the sun . . . Then , after a rather long while (no thanks to Hannah - lol), it hit me! Point of view! (As usual, many of you have question marks in your head and are wondering how in the world this is connected. Don't worry, the dots will be connected. I promise.)

Sometimes in life, we don't know what words mean, so many of us feel awkward and embarrassed when they are used in a conversation . . . or when our teacher asks us about them . . . in class  . . . in front of our friends . . . and enemies (ouch!). Many of us beat ourselves up for not knowing words and for putting ourselves in embarrassing situations because of a limited vocabulary. That should never be the case! Just shrug off the moment and look at it as a funny slip-up in your life truly worth laughing about. Trust me, when you do find out what the word means, you will never forget it.

Here's a funny experience involving  . . . you guessed it! Obiter dictum!  When I was a pledge or neophyte in a sorority in the first month of my first year of law school  (neophyte is the Filipino - English word for a pledge in a fraternity or sorority), I was super busy. My fellow pledges and I always had so many things to do or "missions" to accomplish [although, I admit my co-pledges had more to do at the time because they were all single (without kids) and full-time law students, unlike me]. Hence, I was always nervous in class because many of our law professors would make us stand up and ask us questions about legal concepts and jurisprudence (case law or decided cases). As I could seldom do the assigned readings, I often thought . . . Yikes! Please God, don't let me be called! Then, I would do my best to hide behind the person sitting in front of me . . . as if that would help. Actually, it was a useless move because our professors had our names on cards called 'recitation cards'. Many of our them shuffled the "cards of death" and called out the name of the unlucky student who was required to answer a usually difficult question given shortly afterwards.

One time, I was called by my first year law professor Atty. Apo (for short)  in my class on the Law on Persons (a part of Civil Law for all the non-legal eagles out there). When he said my name, my jaw dropped and my heart felt like it was trying to break out of my chest because I knew that I would probably be unable to answer the question. You see, it wasn't as simple as not being able to answer the question. Since I had the privilege of attending one of the best law schools in the Philippines (#5 in the nation), the standard was quite high and the professors were quite strict. Many students would be given a verbal lashing for being unable to answer questions in class correctly or well. Suffice it to say, my knees wanted to buckle when I stood up to hear the question I was to answer. When Atty. Apo asked me what an obiter dictum was, almost all of my classmates (many of whom always did the reading assignments) sighed because they wished that they had gotten that question. They thought that I was so lucky to get such an easy question . . . but they were wrong. I was not lucky. Sad to say, no matter how easy a question is, it still sucks when you don't know the answer!

In a situation like that, some students would just stay quiet and wait for the professor to reprimand them for not reading the assigned material. Others would speak very slowly trying to give an answer while his classmates nearby would whisper the answer (loud enough for everyone to hear, of course). Everyone thought I knew the answer because it was such an easy question . . . but then, I hadn't done the reading assignment . . . and obiter dictum was definitely not a word we used every day . . . I was clueless.

What did I do? As my professor waited for my answer, I decided to do something else and go 'against the flow'. I figured that there was no use in fretting about the situation because it was not going to be any better. So, I changed my point of view and looked at it as merely a passing moment in life that I had to get through. I decided to say, with great confidence and a winning smile, "It is a custom, sir". Of course, as you know from the meaning that I gave you above, my answer was absolutely ridiculous and 100% incorrect. Instead of insulting me for not reading, my professor smiled, politely asked me to take my seat and called the next person. (Yipee! I think that he thought I would make a great lawyer - read between the lines. LOL!)  In addition, although my classmates giggled (of course), they nonetheless admired my self-confidence for saying something without flinching even though I had no idea what the answer was. I realized that when I had a different point of view about the situation, I took control of it and it could no longer bring me down. It no longer mattered, and thus, became a mere memory which would be enjoyable to recall and a situation to learn from (which is to do my homework next time!). I may have looked stupid, but I didn't care . . . so, it didn't hurt me. I even laugh about it now . . . LOL  =)

Hence kids, points of view are vital to enjoying life and finding its meaning in everything we do or say. . . no matter how ridiculous. Stupidity is thinking you're stupid and letting others get you down. On the other hand, true genius is being able to look at stupid situations from a different point of view . . . and discovering that life is not the "pits". It is actually a "bowl of cherries" . . . of which you could spit out the "pits". So, take a look at your life and find the beauty in it. Live and enjoy life by looking at it from a different point of view . . . from under the sun . . . and see your life become more vibrant and meaningful! Carpe Diem! 

Flashing . . . An exciting and cheap activity!

When people see or hear the word FLASHING, they think dirty (sexual) thoughts - Gotcha! I know that you were thinking the very same thing. These folks think about exhibitionism, or about a person walking down a street or in a park wearing a long overcoat (usually in the summer, otherwise, it's not going to be a good show) and briefly exposing his naked body in a sexual way and usually with a perverted look on his face, much to the surprise (if the flasher has a hot body) . . . or sometimes, to the disgust (if the flasher has a horrible body) of the person chosen for such a "jaw-dropping sight".  However, this post is not about such  . . . controversial things. I mean flashing in a different sense, of course . . .  being the angel that I am - yeah right! Flashing, in my post, refers to 'taking a flash trip' or a very quick journey. You've heard about 'flash mobs' suddenly dancing in the streets, right? Therefore, why not 'flash trips'?

Most people consider travelling as an expensive activity that is usually associated with or reserved for the rich or upper class. (Excuse me!) However, the common man must not be held down by such backward thinking or by a poor financial condition. He has a right to live and experience life in so many ways. Although the average man hasn't been blessed with a fat wallet or doesn't come from a filthy rich family, he can still resort to more creative forms of travel. . .  like 'flash trips'. Hence, in my book, he's got to travel to experience new things and even old things that he may have forgotten about because of age, time or some other truly meaningless excuse.

Now for the main event . . . this post is about a 'flash trip' that I had the privilege of experiencing in 34 hours.  It was a very quick but special trip that made me and my husband feel alive and even young again. It brought us closer together after being together for 17 years, and surprisingly, didn't cost a lot of money (which was a BONUS!).  A 34-hour 'flash trip', mind you, is not a travel activity for the prissy or overly sensitive kind of traveler but is for those who are young at heart and who would like to let that heart beat with the thunder of life . . . of love . . . of living freely . . . even for just a few bucks. I guess you could say it's an example of the saying "you can have your cake and eat it too". So, let's take a trip . . . in a flash . . . (I included the cost so that you could see how inexpensive travelling could be, and so even those with a limited budget might take the plunge and dare to explore the world . . . or at least nearby regions . . . to enjoy life through travelling.)

Getting on the ferry to Bantayan 

Let's begin . . . My husband and I went on a 34-hour  'flash trip' from Cebu City to Bantayan Island (and back) in the Philippines. It actually started with a taxi ride from our hotel in Cebu City to the (northbound) bus station (about P90). Then, we took a 3-hour air-conditioned bus ride (P170 per person one-way) to Hagnaya Port at the northern tip of the island of Cebu. When we got to the port, the ferry looked a little scary; but we were on an adventure, so what the heck! We hopped on the ferry going to the port of Santa Fe, Bantayan Island (P180 fare + P10 terminal fee each), which took a little over an hour.

On the scooter feeling young again

When we got to Santa Fe Port, we got on a tricycle (P20 each) and went to our air-conditioned backpacker's style cottage at Bantayan Cottages, which I found on the internet (P650 a night). Even though we were on a budget, there were still a few things that we couldn't give up . . . like AIR-CONDITIONING in a tropical climate! After taking a rest, we rented a couple of scooters at a great price (P300 each for 24-hours) to freely get around and explore the places nearby. This is something I highly recommend because it was so much fun. The scooter was easy to ride and made me feel like a teenager again!

Hmm . . . I' wish I couldl have everything! 

Local fare for a few bucks! 

In order to save money, my hubby and I ate heavy meals at hole-in-the-wall places or local diners [around P100 - Php150 each for a lot of delicious food - like lechon (succulent roasted pig), escabeche (sweet n' sour fish), fried pork ribs, linagang baka (beef soup) and rice for just P300 total]. Then, we would go to a nice place with a great ambiance for a snack and drinks (usually around P500) to live it up a little.

Planning my haggling strategy

The interior of the simple but gorgeous Bantayan Church

We went to Bantayan Town, which was about 20 minutes away on the scooters. We also dropped by the market to buy famous dried seafood products (P85 for 1/4 kg of danggit) and saw one of the oldest churches in the Philippines, Bantayan Church. We even crashed a wedding going on at the time (long enough for a few priceless shots).

Sugar Beach was still beautiful  - even on a rainy day

Then, we got on our scooters and stopped by beautiful Sugar Beach (with powdery white sand) on the way back to the cottage. On our way to the beach, the weather began to turn bad, but we didn't care! We made it to the beach and the view was absolutely breathtaking despite an overcast sky and drizzling rain. Although my husband and I were rushing to get back to the cottage to finish packing and to catch the next ferry to Cebu Island, we were happy because the trip was truly exciting. What a rush to ride around on a scooter and feel the gentle rain caress your face and the wind embrace you!

Our tired but happy feet

When we got on the ferry and started the trip back, the weather turned nasty. We thought we were going to die as the ferry violently rocked back and forth. Nevertheless, we made it back to Hagnaya Port and took the bus back to Cebu City. We were so happy to be alive and were laughing about the exciting trip on the bus ride back. It was an exciting and unforgettable 34-hour trip which cost us only about P3,000 each (all-inclusive) . . . an unforgettable time for not a lot of dough! Although the trip was a flash of 34 hours, the wonderful memories will truly last us a lifetime.

We still recall our 34-hour adventure to this day and hope to go back to Bantayan Island with our children someday. However, we know that next time, it has to be for a few days because it's different when you bring kids - travelling becomes a bit more tricky. Anyway, I'm sure my two boys will have a blast because we certainly did! The most terrific part of the trip was that it brought us closer together, too (because, let's face it, after 17 years of being together, you have to find more exciting things to do together . . . LOL!)

So, to my fellow financially challenged comrades, or those who are tired of living dreary lives, or those who need to rekindle their relationship . . . live life under the sun . . . and travel, travel, travel . . . inexpensively . . . and in a flash!

Ellipsis . . . Is that a disease?

Attention! Ellipsis is not a disease (for all of you hypochondriacs out there . . . like me). It is actually a kind of punctuation mark. I know you are thinking, "What the heck is this? I didn't click on this link to learn about punctuation!" Nevertheless, please keep reading. I promise all of this is not about grammar, which many people say is BORING!   =)

In line with the theme of my blog, consider this as just a part of our pursuit of knowledge. In addition, I am writing about this topic,  ELLIPSIS (or ELLIPSES in its plural form), upon the request of my friend and language aficionado, Celeste A. de Vera. I guess she got a nosebleed from all of the ellipses (with spaces in between) that I used in my last two blogs.

So, let's take a look at what the heck an ellipsis is.

"First, a definition: An ellipsis (from the Greek word elleipsis — also the source of ellipse, meaning 'an oval' — is an elision of words that can be implied to mentally complete a statement; it can also mean “a sudden change of subject.” But the meaning we seek is another one, the grammatically mechanical one: Ellipsis and its plural form,ellipses, also refer to the punctuation marks signaling elision. (That word, from the Latin term elidere, means 'omission.')

Despite the second meaning of ellipsis mentioned above — 'a sudden change of subject' — ellipses are not recommended for this function. Ellipses signal, in addition to elision, a faltering or trailing off (in which case they are sometimes called suspension points), but to prepare the reader for an abrupt break or interruption in thought, use an em dash."

"Note this example: 'Three dots. . . . What could be simpler?'”
                                                                   - From All About Ellipses by Mark Nichol.

Definition:

One of three equally spaced points ( . . . ) used in writing or printing to indicate the omission of words in a quotation. Also known as ellipsis points. Plural, ellipses. 

                                                                                     - From Ellipsis (Punctuation) by Richard Nordquist

The first definition gave me a headache but was more complete. With that out of the way, I can go on to say that writing, especially writing for pleasure (the non-carnal type, except for romance novelists), should not always be grammatically correct because, more often than not, . . .  grammatically sound means boring. Hence, as a law grad, I plead the 5th amendment on using ellipses incorrectly, in a grammatical sense only.

In my humble opinion, we should write to express our thoughts as we imagine them to be and try, as much as possible, to give our readers a taste of our personality or of who we are in a unique dialogue - a dialogue of minds between the writer and the reader, with an occasional interplay of comments (at the bottom of the page). We need to live our lives away from the 'grammatical shade' in order to give vibrant color to our words and thoughts. However, this doesn't mean that we should write recklessly and confuse our readers - now that can truly give you a nosebleed, a headache, nausea, etc. Hence, slight deviations from the strict rules of grammar and formality are sometimes necessary to make reading bearable or enjoyable (clearly, this blog was written by a person who has always enjoyed movies and TV more than books . . . but don't tell my mom that).

What about ellipses and the life part? O.K. Here we go. The ellipses in life introduce flashes, pauses and breaks in our daily thoughts. They are those unconscious moments that transport us from one idea to another, no matter how unrelated they are. It's like when we are shopping in a grocery store and then suddenly, an image of our lover flashes in our minds causing us to smile uncontrollably (or think dirty thoughts for the easily excitable ones out there) . . . or when we are listening to a person we don't like go on and on about something stupid, and suddenly imagining a bulls-eye on their forehead . . . then . . . BANG! - a mental gunshot.

Ellipses can also be those pauses when we think about something like whether or not to quit our jobs when the boss is being a super jerk or pr*%k . . . but then in a few moments, we realize that we have to work to survive. When this sad reality hits us, we usually end up smiling and thanking our stupid boss for letting us do our jobs but in his inefficient and retarded way. Thus, some even resort to oleaginous flattery. (I know some of you are thinking, "Do I need a dictionary to read this freaking blog?", and I tell you, "No". Just let it flow into your minds. Anyway, OLEAGINOUS is another interesting word which would be hilarious to discuss)

So, let's think about language in a more practical way. Let's think about it as a funny part of our daily lives and always enjoy language and life under the sun . . . no matter how weird some words sound . . . like oleaginous.

Sift . . . O.M.G.! You just did it and you weren't even baking!

Here we go! This is my 2nd entry . . . obviously. (Don't worry. This is the last time I'll be counting my entries.   I had to do it one last time . . . just to irritate the veteran bloggers.) As promised, I dedicate this entry to my dear friend Celeste A. de Vera for encouraging me by bookmarking this page and giving me the inspiration to write another blog. (Yahoo!)

Still being wet behind the ears, I had a hard time trying to decide what to blog about next. Imagine a million topics racing around your mind (which is interesting as it is actually physically limited yet mentally infinite). Then, it hit me! SIFT!!! I'll write about the word sift and how it is actually connected to everything under the sun. Hmmm . . . sounds crazy, right? Let's see.

People normally associate the word sift with baking. When they think of sift, they imagine putting some flour into a sieve (which is a net like straining device for all of you non-bakers out there) in order to separate the fine particles of flour from the clumps. However, the same people who think about sift in that way don't even know they actually do it every day . . .  sans the flour, of course.

Sift also means 'to examine and sort carefully' or 'to make a careful examination'. This can be a very interesting concept . . .

Lawyers sift through the evidence of a case and present only those pieces which would benefit their client's position or would damage the other party's position . . . (Imagine that! You could go to jail or lose you property because of sifting) . . .

Teenagers (who don't like lying to their parents) sift through the facts of why they came home late the night before (after a wild party); only stating those facts which aren't so damaging, such as merely forgetting the time, and omitting those facts which would warrant a stern reprimand, such as forgetting the time because they were vomiting on the street or crashing into walls to get from one place to another . . .

Women sift through all the things they want to buy while shopping, carefully analyzing what and exactly how many things they could possibly get on that one shopping trip . . . (So, they could actually go home with a ton of stuff or just a couple of items after 3 or 4 hours of shopping. Now that's what I call good exercise . . It's win - win! Right, ladies?) . . .

In correlation to such shopping trips, men, on the other hand, wish they had stayed home because such endeavors usually take women hours to complete. So, men also sift through all the ideas of the possible things they could be doing instead . . . like watching TV with the remote control firmly grasped in their hand or playing their favorite sport . . . anything except watching a woman buy a ton of stuff that she doesn't really need . . . (in his opinion, of course) . . .

Speaking of TV, people also flip through the channels to sift through all the programs to decide what to ultimately watch . . . (However, men just seem to keep sifting with that blasted remote control, especially during advertisements, causing the viewers around him to miss the key parts after the end of the commercials . . . Grrrrr . . . attention, all husbands and dads!) . . .

People sift through their clothes in order to decide what to wear to school, work, especially when they have a date or want to impress someone . . . (Some people, like me, even do it to look slimmer or taller) . . .

They also sift through the refrigerator and/or pantry trying to find something they want to eat . . . a number of times in a day . . . and for some, it's a few more times than others . .  (Guilty here!!!) . . .

Even children know how to sift. At home, they sift through their toys (often making a big mess to their mother's discontent) to decide which ones to play with at that time. In addition, they know that they have limited options when they go to a toy store. Hence, they move about the toy store like heat seeking missiles carefully looking at many toys, choosing their targeted items. At purchase time, they ultimately sift again and choose the ones they are allowed to get . . .

These, of course, are just a few ways that we sift in our lives every day. So, as you can see, sifting is as natural to us as breathing air. We don't even know we're doing it while we are actually doing it. Go figure!

Anyway, you can apply the principle of sifting when you go through life and sift through all the wonderful things and the bull%&^*, just like sifting through all the websites and webpages and ending up here to read my blog . . .  As you can see, YOU JUST DID IT!    = )

So, sift away and enjoy life under the sun!

De-virginization . . Is that even a word?

I have lost my virginity . . . . in blogging. I have just set up this blog and am interested in writing about all kinds of things. I probably sound retarded right now as I expect most bloggers do on their first try. However, I DON'T CARE!!! This is FUN!
Maybe, just a few people would end up reading my blog. That's O.K. with me because life is not a popularity contest. So we might as well enjoy living our lives to make ourselves happy and not worry too much about what other people think of us. Nevertheless, I am happy that you took the time to read this. Yipee!! (I am obviously a newbie at this.)
Anyway, back to the theme of my blog, LANGUAGE AND LIFE UNDER THE SUN. Truly living life is about learning, trying new things and going on adventures . . every day, or at least as much as possible . . . no matter if you are "not that young anymore". So, I will try my best to take my readers on some of the adventures that I have been on  . . . in mind, body and spirit.