Can't think of a cheesy line/quote/song to go with this post, only a wide grin from ear to ear.
Eternal Sunshine Playlist
- Beautiful Day - U2
- Elevation - U2
- Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
- Bubbly - Colbie Caillat
- Heart Skips a Beat - Lenka
- Roll With the Punches - Lenka
- Sad Song - Lenka
- Shock Me Into Love - Lenka
- Everything's Okay - Lenka
- Just Fine - Mary J. Blige
- Head Over Feet - Alanis Morrisette
- All I Wanna Do - Sheryl Crow
- All I Want - Toad the Wet Sprocket
- Ants Marching - Dave Matthews Band
- Banana Pancakes - Jack Johnson
- Coloured Kisses - Nina
- Huwag Nang Malumbay - Eraserheads
- Every Little Thing She Does is Magic - Sting
- Fruitcake - Eraserheads
- Good People - Jack Johnson
- Hope - Jack Johnson
- It's My Life - Bon Jovi
- One Day - Matisyahu
- Raise Your Glass - Pink
- There's Gotta Be - Stacie Orrico
- Three Birds - Bob Marley
- Unwritten - Natasha Bedingfield
- Your Song - Ellie Goulding
Travel Checklist
• Money
• Cellphone
• House keys
• Clothes
• Shoes / slippers
• Documents
• Toiletries
• Small notebook / pen
• Book
• Music player
• Plastic bags
• Sun glasses
• Swim suits
• Towelette
• Sling bag
• Camera
• Optimism
• Open mind
Ditto!
"... All I really want to be is a good HOUSEWIFE."
Ha ha ha!
Wittingly or unwittingly, I say this a lot.
And it's FUN seeing how people react.
image from postsecret.com
Water Marvel
The day was cold and gloomy, not the usual bright summer day you'd expect in the First Day of April. Dark clouds hang over our heads, and soft drizzles of rain come and go as if foreboding that a heavy downpour is about to come.
We treaded upon the damp pavement under the shadows of the giant trees whose names I only wish I knew. I marched up ahead as if I've been there before, but always taking calculated steps careful of the slippery ground beneath my feet.
There was a monkey tied to a horizontal pole between two trees. I wonder of whose standard they find this amusing. Well, for some reason, Daddy did find it entertaining. But he finds a lot of things entertaining that I could not really understand.
As I walked on, I crossed a small suspension bridge and beneath it was gushing water which could only come from the mountains. As I went further, my eyes laid upon what I could only describe as a giant water creature. It felt like a living thing that is breathing and ready to devour on its next prey. I didn't find it beautiful nor magical, but more of monstrous and powerful. The water falling from the mountain was so strong, going near it felt a bit scary.
For scaling purposes, what seems like a rock in the middle of the left photo is the inconsequential me, a tiny spectacle amidst the tallest waterfall I've ever seen.
Photos from Mantayupan Falls, Barili Cebu
My Coffee Story
We were hanging out a few days ago and Rick asked me if I miss being a barista. Hell, yeah. I don't think I'll ever tire talking about my barista experience. It's certainly one of the world's best jobs ever. It's an almost carefree world out there. There's nothing much to worry, except probably audit time, but even that doesn't have to be a worry if you're doing everything according to standards.
At Itoy's Cafe with the Coffee Gang i.e. family
My love affair with coffee began when I was a kid. The earliest coffee experience I had was when I'd ran to my neighbor's house back in the province and have a bowl of coffee mixed with rice. It was one of the most exciting things I'd do when I'm at their place, aside from reaching for mansanitas from their window. And yeah, I was also a die-hard mansanitas lover. But I don't want the ruby red mansanitas. I prefer them in orange-greenish color, a bit firm on the skin, and sweet and mushy on the inside.
But I digress. So coffee is one of those things my parents forbade me to drink as a kid because they say it stunts my growth and makes my brain dull. Coffee tasted so good so it's always a treat if my neighbors prepare the bowl of coffee with rice. I never told my parents, of course. It was my secret indulgence. I also recall my parents used to ask me to prepare their coffee during their afternoon snack times. When they're not looking, I'd take a spoonful of coffee or two before serving the cups to them. The thought just makes me smile right now. I was ever the stubborn girl. haha. And then when I ask them if I could please have some coffee, mommy or daddy would let me have a spoonful, 2 spoons being the maximum, and they'll no longer let me have any no matter how much begging and bugging I do. I wonder if my parents still remember those times.
It was only in college that my father actually offered if I wanted to have coffee in one of those afternoon snack times. I was so surprised and I felt like such a real grown adult. hahaha. Imagine, I have been deprived of coffee for so many years. I'd only have Bear Brand or Nido, Milo, or sikwate. But to have coffee with them? Huwattt, does that mean I'm a full-grown woman? Noooo. So I drank Milo instead.
Coffee-drinking runs in the family. If there are families who sing or dance or do sports or play instruments, we as a family just drink coffee. Yeah, we're so talented like that! hahaha.
My sister is probably the heaviest coffee drinker. She drinks it anywhere, anytime.
When I became a barista a couple of years ago (holy camole, that was so long ago), that was when I developed my romance for coffee. That's why I probably could say that it was one of the best jobs I'll ever have because I have so much passion for the drink. Everyday, when I enter the store, it was just coffee heaven. The rich strong aroma, soothing music, wonderful ambiance, and the conversations with various people just make the experience so awesome. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life, and I think because of that job, I'll never be the same person again. There were so many valuable lessons I've learned that I could not write them all, or if I would, I wouldn't know where to start or how to end. At first, the little dirty jobs bothered me like washing the dishes, cleaning the restroom, wiping glass windows, bussing the tables, etc. But I did them all, and I'm so glad I did because I may never know what it feels like.
One of my pet peeves is lipstick stains on mugs. I just hate the sight even though that stain is mine. My Figaro brewed coffee was perfect, by the way.
Oh yeah, I miss the whole thing of being a barista but I can never go back. It's one of those things that you do and move on. Probably like a stopover in between destinations. I'm setting my direction somewhere far, and I realized that I couldn't do all things at once. John, a regular customer and a retired consultant once told me, "Gayle, as you grow older, you have to learn to compromise." And I'll always remember him for those little conversations we've had. He was somehow like a father and I was touched by his genuine concern. I'll never be able to thank him for that. He was also the same guy who told me that I was "facetious". One of my dumbest moments, thank you, John.
So now, since it's officially summer, and I'm jobless, and I'm too cool for school, I whipped up a no-brainer concoction with my favorite drink. Chari actually reminded me of this one. Too bad it wasn't the Super Thick Vanilla of her brand. hehe. It's just the double dutch ice cream over ice over coffee. Don't need to put sugar because you've got all the sweetness from the ice cream. There goes my 30-minute exercise. haha. This is totally the perfect drink for the summer heat. I love it, this reminds me of the Cimbali Coffee Float which is one of the things I look forward to in Dumaguete. Heaven on earth!!!
Time froze when I had this. Definitely, one of my favorite thaaaannggsss... That should be said the Oprah Winfrey-style.
Summerrrrr is Here
Has ABS-CBN released their summer station ID yet? You know, that clip where all their stars sing the summer jingle, because that's one of the things that you'll know summer is here. Ay, ay, ay, time to hit the beach and don that beach bikini body... not! hahaha. Don't care about the flabs, baby, it's all about the fun under the scorching sun! Time to pack the bags... Weeee!!!
Photos taken somewhere in the islands of Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan. Just one of those random mommy trips.
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