Thoughts on and (almost a) Tribute to a Treasured Trilogy

Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?
Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.

Next to the Godfather and Matrix (well, I’ve also seen Spiderman, Superman, Star Wars, Terminator and X-Men but), my favorite trilogy of all times and the best ever made for me is of course The Lord of the Rings.

One weekend, we found ourselves watching one DVD after another, starting with (guess what) Beauty and the Beast, then Toy Story 1&2, and perfectly capping the marathon with LOTR.

I remember when I was pregnant with Caehl and I didn’t know yet if the baby was going to be a boy or girl, I wanted the name Caehla Arwen Eowyn.

I also remember how my youngest sister Lea, a certified J.R.R. Tolkien fan when she was a kid, used to write in Middle Earth language.

Seeing and enjoying the trilogy all over again, Alex and I wondered how much bonus the cast received and how they are doing now. They must have gotten so much that they can afford not to be seen.

Where are they now?

Elijah Wood – I can never see him past Frodo Baggins. Just recently, the 29-year old actor was reported to have broken up with his longtime girlfriend.

Liv Tyler – “Arwen” has a five-year old son named Milo and is last seen in the movie The Incredible Hulk.

Viggo Mortensen – my Aragorn. Can you believe he’s 50? We saw him last in The Road, a film on a post-apocalyptic world.

Orlando Bloom – the Golden Boy with the breath-taking stunts and funny exchanges with Gimli. Twenty-seven year old “Legolas” married supermodel Miranda Kerr who is now four-months pregnant.

    * Sean Astin – Lent his voice to Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel.
    * Sean Bean – “Boromir’s” 4th wife recently divorced the actor.
    * Dominic Monaghan – The “Lost” star is featured alongside Megan Fox in Eminem and Rihanna's new video for “Love The Way You Lie.” Yup, he was making out with Megan.
    * Ian McKellen – Yes, Sir Ian McKellen is also Magneto, and please get over it =)
    * Cate Blanchett – the ethereal "Queen Galadriel”, Academy Award winner Cate’s recent movies include The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Robin Hood.
    * Billy Boyd – “Pippin” is reported to be the first LOTR star to “end up broke.”
    * Miranda Otto – “Eowyn” is said to be dating David Wenham, who is “Faramir.”
    * Andy Serkis – “My precious” is said to be reprising his role as Gollum in The Hobbit. He will also play Caesar in the new Planet of the Apes film, Rise of the Apes.

Sam: I wonder if we'll ever be put into songs or tales.

Oh yes, Sam, definitely.

Note: Watch out for the 2nd part of this entry.

 

Caehl's Storytelling - CKLC Talent Week

Caehl tells a story (Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see)
September 24, 2010
At first he wouldn't, but Caehl gave in eventually (it took them a while to persuade him to perform). This is a long story/poem actually, but it took Caehl only half a day to memorize it.

Our own fight against Dengue (A list of mosquito repellent products)

As of September 15, 2010, it was reported that at least 534 Filipinos have died due to dengue fever, which is a 40 per cent rise from last year for the same period. The number of dengue patients / cases keep on increasing each day.

Dengue (fever) is transmitted by infected females of the day-biting mosquito Aedes aegypti, which breeds primarily in man-made containers such as flower vases, old rubber tires, rain barrels and other items that collect rainwater.

In our town, San Pedro, Laguna, although there is no outbreak declaration yet, health officials “noted the steady increase of dengue incidence since January.”

Our homeowners association spearheaded a clean-up drive and fumigation as counter-measures.

In the workplace, at least three officemates reported dengue cases involving their families and relatives.

Alarmed at these statistics and reports, I would always remind my helpers to throw away water being collected (in pails or basins) when it rains due to leaks, and in the laundry area. My angels spray when we’re not around (my son is asthmatic) and clean up our rooms and the living room thoroughly.

So far, we’ve tried (and will try) the following:

   1. Electric plug-in Baygon device – this costs Php50 a piece and comes with free mats. You can buy refills in boxes of 30s at Php60/box. A single mat can protect a 12ft x 12ft room up to 8 hours.

   2. Popular sprays such as Baygon and Kwik. I bought another brand, PestOff, yesterday just to test it. Buy the odorless or orange-scented variants.

   3. Human Heart Nature Citronella Bug Spray – ordered from an officemate (Maricel) at Php79.75 (50ml). Once you’ve used up a bottle, add some water to the remaining oils, shake and spray it anywhere in the room.

   4. HomeLife Shoo! bugs wristband – I bought a box of 6’s from Ace Hardware. I was actually looking for the colorful baller-type I once bought in the same store but couldn’t find it anymore. I forgot what brand it was (Bug-Off?), but anyway, I am trying HomeLife. Shoo! bugs is a brown wristband which you can also wear as an anklet up to 48 hours. You can store it in the resealable plastic bag if you’re not going to use it. Other HomeLife anti-mosquito products sold at Ace: 180g Citronella smoke-free mosquito repellent wax, and its 50g Citronella Travel Companion variant. Check this out: http://huierya.en.alibaba.com/product/336239945-210408091/180g_Citronella_Mosquito_Repellent.html

   5. PestOff! Anti-mosquito patch – comes in 5 patches per box. I bought this in Shopwise but we haven’t used it. The box says it gives 12 hours of protection and is deet-free. The patches can be placed in clothes, bags, chairs, bed, table, and strollers inside or outside the house.

   6. Human Heart Nature Eucalyptus Hand and Foot Salve – of course, this is not a mosquito-repellent product but I'm trying this (in small amounts) on my son’s legs. I don’t know if it’s true that mosquitoes don’t like the eucalyptus smell, but what the heck.

   7. Essens Moisturizing Insect Repellent Lotion for Kids (150ml) – contains extra virgin coconut oil and colloidal oatmeal, andiroba oil, citronella and lavender. I don’t know where my former boss gets it, in bazaars I think.

   8. Dried lanzones skins – after enjoying the lanzones fruit, put the skins (exclude the seeds) under the sun to dry and when they’re dry, you can burn them and use them like a katol (mosquito repellent coils). I remember my father doing this when we were kids, so I'm carrying on the tradition. The lanzones, when burned, smells nicer than the coils.

  9. Downey antibac – I am loyal to Del but I am willing to try this.

There is no 100% guarantee that we’ll be safe from dengue, but at least we’re trying our best and doing what we can than doing nothing at all.

Sources:
http://topnews.ae/content/24179-philippines-death-toll-dengue-reaches-534
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20100822-288235/Dengue-cases-shoot-up-in-Laguna-Albay
http://humanheartnature.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=36
http://humanheartnature.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7&products_id=42

Whatchama-CAEHL-it XXVIII

It's Caehl's Talent Show program this morning and since I didn't know about it until last night, Alex and I couldn't make it. I just asked our two helpers to accompany him and take a video.   I think he was asked to recite /memorize a long poem. I hope he won't have tantrums. I told him if he performs well, Nanay Ev will text me and I will give him a prize.   "What do you want?" I asked him.   "No mommy," he said. "I don't want a prize."   This morning, he woke up at 5AM and wouldn't go back to sleep. I reminded him to do well during the program, then he said, "Mommy, please watch."   I said, "Ay!"   Then he said, "Sorryyyyyy."   Awwww. Naawa tuloy ako.   Break a leg, son.

A Tale of a Good Day

I always believe that nothing beats starting your birthday with a date with the Lord. After the Mass, I found myself looking forward to a blissful day. Ang gaan-gaan ng feeling!

Since it's a Friday (thank God for birthday leaves), my two children were in school (Caehl thought it was a holiday since I didn't go to the office) and Alex had to work, of course. I had my usual cup of brewed coffee but I felt like I was in Tagaytay - complete with garlic rice and crispy tawilis. Then I turned on the PC to check out FB and my emails. My cellphone just kept on tooting and I happily replied to each and every birthday message.

An hour later, I heard the gate and my little boy was home. "Ang bilis naman," I told Nanay Ev who replied that Caehl was the first one to finish the exam.

Then I got a text from my Kumareng Joyee that there's a cake for pick-up at the Red Ribbon branch in Pacita. She said they couldn't deliver so I did pick up the White Forest cake she got for me. Thank you Joyee my Mars! My friends know how much I love white chocolate.

I texted my Ate and my niece to drop by during dinner for a simple salo-salo (white spaghetti with chicken and mushrooms, Joyee's cake, and Chooks-to-go chicken). Later, Alex brought home Mary Grace brownies.

I love my gifts - bracelets from my mom, a pair of red flats from Cae, a red bag from my officemate and good friend Maricel, and a Goldilocks Dulce de Leche roll from my neighbors (Isaac Family).

At 12mn, I woke up to the sound of pouring rain and heavy winds. It's one of the longest 15 minutes of my life as I continuously prayed that it would stop. I was afraid it would cause a flood that I think I called on all the angels and saints. Please let it stop. Please let it stop.

The next morning, it was as if nothing happened. We went to Shopwise for our weekly grocery and had a hearty lunch at Army Navy Burger + Burrito (The Commerce Center, Alabang). "Come in Hungry, Walk out Happy," the sign said. Thank you, Daddy, for the treat.

I am 'ty-nine. I'd like to thank everyone who made my day special - family, old friends, new friends, Kapuso, Kapamilya, Kapatid, my daughter's friends Thank you for the love.

"All that I am, all that I do, All that I'll ever have, I offer now to you."

Thank you, Lord, from The Good Girl. 

Whatchama-CAEHL-it XXVII

Reading about children's social skills, hearing contradicting statements (from specialists) on when children should start learning about the concept of friendship, and noting the many party invites Caehl has been receiving from children younger than him, I asked him last night.


Me: Caehl, do your classmates talk to you?
Caehl (drinking his milk, shakes his head): No.
Me (alarmed, repeated the question): Do your classmates talk to you?
C: No.
Me: Why?
C: Because it's exam.
Me (relieved): Ahhhh. How about if it's not exam, do your classmates talk to you?
C: No.
Me: Why?
C: Because Teacher Mae said do not talk.
Me: Hahaha. But how about snacktime, do they talk to you?
C: No.
Me: Why?
C: Don't talk when your mouth is full.

I just can't win this, can I?
I rest my case.

At Aveneto Pizzarea Ristorante

Friday afternoon, after Cae's trip to QC for a project with her classmates, we decided to meet at SM San Lazaro.

At Aveneto Pizzarea Ristorante, we ordered the Aveneto Special...don't ask why there's only half left :p Alex and Cae are pizza monsters.

It's reading time...

He always puts up his feet (even when he was still in my womb)...

Book: Ang Sapatos ni Mommy by Segundo D. Matias, Jr. (Lampara Books)

http://thegoodgirl.BraveBlog.com/

Brace yourself (Part 2)

There are stories you don’t want to tell or write about - like this one.

My daughter has dextroscoliosis. According to Wisegeek, “Dextroscoliosis is one form of scoliosis, a medical condition in which the patient suffers from curvature of the spine. If the spine curves to the right, this is known as dextroscoliosis…”

Her doctor (an orthopaedic surgeon) said she must have had it since 8 or 10 years old. But we didn’t know. We didn’t notice. There were no manifestations, she wasn’t feeling any pain and there was no history in our family (or at least to my knowledge).

It all started when a classmate noticed that her shoulder (or was it waist) was higher than the other. Cae was told she might have scoliosis. Alarmed, she texted us and I guess we took it seriously because we agreed to have her undergo an x-ray that weekend.

The lumbosacral xray and scoliosis series were expensive. She came out of the room crying, as she saw her S-curved spine. It bothered her so much that she just stayed in her bedroom all day. Maybe it even bothered her brother, whose journal entry that day was about his Ate Cae's x-ray.

True enough, when we got the results the next day, the curvature is at 32.6 degrees.

I was already browsing the Net for possible doctors in Muntinlupa. My kumare and good friend Dra. Joy referred us to a colleague in Medical Center Muntinlupa, one of the doctors I saw in the Asian Hospital directory.

We asked the doctor if their heavy backpacks in grade school might have caused it. He said it is hereditary, perhaps we just don’t know who among us has it. I also asked if it’s possible that their school doctors could have seen it during their annual physical exams. I guess he felt we were blaming ourselves or other people for not knowing or noticing it before. He told Cae, “Hindi yan sakit, wag kang mag-alala.”

I brought the x-ray plates he requested the following week to his clinic in Asian. I was trying to be calm as he re-measured the curvature and explained the implications to me. Walking back to the office, I wanted to cry and ask what we did wrong. Where did we go wrong? I was guilty because I am the mother, and I should have been more careful, watchful and wise. All my past sins came back to me, and I am holding myself accountable for them, so why should my children suffer from my wrongdoings?

For two to three years, my daughter would need to wear braces. Just last Saturday, we went to Banawe where supplies are available. Cae must have been aghast seeing the colored photos of the Yamamoto brace. Who wouldn’t be, just imagine yourself wearing something with aluminum underneath your flight attendant-like uniform, for almost your entire college life? Especially for someone as kikay as Cae. This certainly is not as easy when she had to wear orthodontic braces six years ago (the Part 1), this is an entirely different story.

It was hard to comfort her especially because we saw another version (the body jacket) which seemed more, well, acceptable, but it was not what her doctor prescribed.

It took a long time before her dad managed to calm her. I was as helpless. I texted my siblings and my friends, “This is not going to be easy.”

The store owner was telling me how another client (a teenager like Cae) was crying her heart out upon seeing her Milwaukee brace (the kind that extends to the neck). “Nag-iiyakan din po sila,” he told me. Most of his clients, he said, were girls like my daughter.

As I’ve said, this is not easy, and this is far from over. This is just the beginning, and there will be a lot more episodes like last Saturday. It will really take time before we could get over the pilot episode, even the entire season I guess.

However, there are a lot of things for which I am still thankful as a result of this situation.

Alex and I as a couple have been through a lot, and we have already dealt with our own problems /issues in the past. And because we are older and wiser now, we can look at these things better, and be more focused without the excess baggage. And because we are stronger together, I know we can be stronger for our children.

Sometimes we still can be so emotional, but we are learning to set our emotions, and yes, guilt, aside because we have so much work to do and to attend to. This is also going to be draining, pockets-wise. But we will do everything we can. Alex advised me to just look forward and move on, and count our blessings.

We are blessed to have a strong family and friend support system. My siblings and my compassionate friends are simply the best who, in just one SMS, can make you feel so loved, so understood, so cared for. Because of you, we are not alone in this.

Indeed, who can know the intentions of God? Who can discern the plan of the Lord? So goes this Sunday’s First Reading.

There are stories you wish you won’t have to tell or write about - like this one. But the nice part of course is you can put a happy ending to it.