suicidal rat

Hey, don't you jump! Eeeeeewwwwwww!

I am talking to the small rat on the edge of my shelf early morning today.

Ohh, and he did come near me! Grrrrhhh damn rat!

And nearer! Get out! Out!

Yah, it can't get out! He got to figure out how to climb down first!

a proud bike

I saw this bicycle in a parade of big bikes but I was not able to take its picture. Well, the bicycle was of course the "center of attraction" in a sea of big bikes. And I was surprised the other day when it parked beside me.

I got curious because the bicycle has some alterations. There is a steering wheel. The owner told me he uses it when he is cruising an even flat lane. He claims, he runs faster when he uses it. He uses the usual handle bar (I am not sure if this is the right name of the bicycle part) when going up. Well, the roof is wood with some flat steel on its side. The owner claims he used this bike as far as 50 kilometers from the city. He has been to Kidapawan, Digos and Tagum using it.

His bike got a propeller that always attract many onlookers. The owner claims the propeller makes his travel faster. The bike got a bigger wheel in front but thinner. The big wheel in front is for him not to get thrown when he uses the brakes. But I did not see any cable of the brakes. Oh, maybe he meant whenever he stops.

I got curious of "how to balance" such a heavy bike so I asked if I can try it. Har har, the owner feared that I might fall. He said, there was a friend who keep on insisting that he could ride his bike, so he let him. His friend figured in an accident, so he said I better not.

It was nice chatting with the owner who looks trim for a 59- year old man who proudly posed near his amazing bike.

I want to develop such a pride like he has. He himself is a pride of his genre. I thought we always can create something even without much resources.

foot spa

Move over Hang Ten!

I pity my feet because even if I abuse it everyday, it is the last thing for me to give reward to. When was my last foot spa? It was I think 3 years ago. When was the last time I soaked it in a relaxing warm water? Last February during my father's funeral. When was the last time it was pedicured? That was a long, long time ago.

Today I gave my feet a walk in the clouds. It was heavenly!

it's time to be a mom

I wrote something about our pet, Pawie in my previous features. She is our spoiled pet dog (but only when my kids are around). I hate it when she snobs my scolding her whenever she did something bad. She only follows me when the children are not around. Because she seems to be so immature I thought that if she would become a mom, then maybe she will change.

My friend, Donna got a gorgeous dog (a mix between Chihuahua and Japanese Spitz and with his picture above). His name is Tootie. I thought of playing with both their genes. Our Pawie is pure Japanese Spitz and I could just imagine what their babies would look like. I think they will produce lovely puppies.

I brought along Pawie to Tootie, but our pet kept on refusing. It was frustrating for all of us because we were all excited for both of them. The trouble with our Pawie is that she thought she is the male. She often tries to mount some other dogs. She once tried it with our neighbor's Pitbull (that is how crazy she is!).

Because Pawie kept on refusing Tootie, I took him home. Tootie surprisingly seems to be so "very at home" here. I was surprised that Tootie has some kind of connection to us. It was his first time to go with strangers. Well, I have observed that my children have some kind of spell when it comes to animals. And I often tell my friends "lapitin talaga kami ng mga hayop (tao man o hindi)" har har har. Hayop means animal in our language and sometimes used to people (liked or disliked).

Well, I hope something good happened to both of them when we were all asleep. This morning we returned Tootie home. I hope this short tryst made them both happy and produce lovely puppies later on.

the snake

We saw this little snake inside a box while rummaging on my dead father's books. When we opened the box, the snake was as surprised as we were. It was tiny but when it started lifting its head towards us in a fighting mode, I kept gushing "Oh my God" endlessly and "What do we do"? crazily.

It was a tiny snake and I forgot all my emotional issues about my father's death instantly. My husband took a bolo (a long knife) and started poking on the helpless snake. Ohh if it were a big one, I think I would have fainted.

After the incident, I thought we could have just let it go. Maybe they do not mean harm to human beings. It is how they look that really gives me a creep. I hope they do not look like that way har har har!

But I am still afraid of snakes.

revisiting tatay's life

We left Davao at 4:30 am to go to Nasipit, Agusan Del Norte to visit, organize and settle things regarding my parents property. The house was emptied since September 2007 (my reference for this is the calendar page in the house).

Getting on the road early in the morning was exactly the same time tatay prefers to leave Davao when they came to visit us before. They used to drive to Davao weekly when tatay was still strong. During the travel, Nanay shared stories about Tatay that made her cry a couple of times. And most of the time, I was also thinking of "how tough it could be for her". My father and mother were always together and now that she is alone, I could see how devastated she was.

Approaching the bridge that connected us to Butuan City.

I was just glad we arrived and were only minutes away to Nasipit. The travel was good except for some road construction in Tagum and Monkayo that delayed us. We arrived here at around 9:00 am. Almost the same time my father died last February 23.

It is here when I broke into tears! I thought the following: Tatay coming to this building every working day for eleven years. It was a holiday so there was no one around except the guard. I noticed how dirty the building and premises were. This used to be clean when Tatay was the judge. Nanay said "Tatay used his own salary in buying stuff for cleaning". He was always clean. The plants around looked like they were not watered for several days.

As soon as I texted Kokoy that we were right in front of tatay's office, I noticed that I was crying.

This is the judge's sala and it was so messy inside. But I was really imagining Tatay in his black toga and hearing the cases filed in his court.
This used to be his office. Nanay and I kept on crying. She was telling me stories of how Tatay used to dote on Gello, that even when he was working, he would take time to personally attend to Angelo's needs and "caprichos".

It was really tough for Nanay who kept muttering that "Tatay could have been alive until this time". And I probably have stopped myself telling her of my thoughts about "letting go" because she has too far many memories of this place with Tatay.

We left the office silently. Nanay suggested we go to Pittman, a restaurant where Tatay and Gelo regularly eats. Their favorite restaurant. As I was driving towards the restaurant, I felt that I was bringing tatay back to the places he loved most.

I had several instances wherein I got goosebumps whenever we talk of the things that Nanay associated with Tatay along the way.
We were supposed to go straight to Nasipit but Nanay asked me to drive her back to the office of Tatay to bring some papers.
When we arrived at the gate of Nasipit property, I asked myself "How come Tatay loved it here when the place is so remote and creepy"? It was around 12 noon but way too breezy. It took us some time to get inside.
This is the building in front of their property. I was so exhausted and do not know how I will think and feel when we get inside, so I took this picture.

Getting inside the gate was difficult. Getting inside the house was more difficult because the locks were all rusted. While Nanay was opening the house, I announced "Tatay we are here". I went to the backyard. I was thinking of how Tatay or even Mamay have had several footmarks here. I thought " Is Tatay a lonely man"? I should suppose that he is not. This place made him happy and accomplished, I should never question that again.

Nanay having a hard time opening the garage and their living room.

When we got in, the place was a mess!

But it felt good to touch Tatay's robe that was still hanging. To get into their room and touch the bedsheets. I was exhausted from driving but when I got inside their room, I felt some strange energy that made me go through and pack Tatay's belongings. While I was opening his cabinets, that was when I smelled his strong perfume. I asked Nanay if she smelled it too. "Yes" she did smell Tatay.

I was not tired of the travel, I guess. It was my emotional journey to Tatay's life that made me so tired. I had a quick nap inside the vehicle but I was roused from it when Koy announced (on the telephone) that he got "mumps". It is in the video I have sent to you all.

I brought some of Tatay's belongings home to Davao. Had to dry clean some of his barong and jackets. By the way, Tatay started packing the things even before he left this world.

Of all the things that he has packed, he got only one carton labeled. He sealed the carton with packaging tapes. He personally wrote "Family pictures". The treasure, he took care of most. His family. We.

nest with the birds inside

In my Facebook account I have an album featuring the nests that seems to be always present in my garden. I thought of taking pictures of those that I can to share its beauty especially to my children. My children just love animals and sometimes I marvel at how they appreciate them so much. They could hug a pig the way they do to their dog. When they were young I was afraid to let them near dangerous ones but still they got pictures carrying a baby crocodile (with its mouth tied). My youngest got a picture with a snake around his neck.

Going back to my nests. Today while I was doing my laundry, I heard the birds crying out loud. Oh, maybe their mom left them to look for food. But they were so noisy and kept on going on and on, so I was curious and have to look were they were and what could have happened.

I got this lovely sight! I am just so bad in taking pictures. But I want everyone to see "life". I promised myself not to put any birds in a cage, so I am just happy that they are right here in my garden.

They were hungry and waiting for their mom!

What a lovely sight indeed and made my day light.

Be blissful!