OUT AND ALONE ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Leah sent me a message last Wednesday saying that Reg was having a bbq last night and that I was invited. I so wanted to go but these old bones didn't let me. For some reason, I've been feeling weak and lethargic after last weekend and at 3pm yesterday, I was officially a lost cause.
Leah said I should get more sun, that was on Thursday evening. I made a mental note to take heed. But then, sleep beckoned at 4 in the morning, for which reason I woke up at 11 am. Indeed, the sun was shining... too much of it, I should say. So I didn't dare lest I summon a migraine attack. Last night, I had the full resolve to sleep earlier and I did, at 2 am this morning. Even then, I woke up at 7 and waited for sunshine. 8 am... 9 am... it still was an overcast sky. Oh well...
Sometime in the afternoon, I decided I needed to go out anyway. So I showered, dressed and after 4 days of being holed up inside the house, I was out.
Where To?
White Sands? Tampines? Simei?
I opted for Simei so I could pick up some incense for Papa while I was at it.
I got 4 small packs of incense cones of the green apple, ylang-ylang, green tea and pine scents and a couple dozen of the stick variety in rose scent... well, it was either rose or frankinsence cause those were the only ones on stock. I didn't take the frankincense cause I couldn't find no mirth with it... haha! (If you didn't get the pun, wait for Christmas.)
Out of the incense shop, I remembered I haven't had lunch and my tummy growled to agree. So off I went to Starbucks.
How to Eat a Creamy, American Cheese-Cake
You don't gobble it up in big chunks unless you want your throat all clogged up. You push your fork down the length of the cake, cutting off a very thin slice at a time, put it in your mouth, let your upper lip glide over the fork while pulling the cake in and let it melt on your tongue as you close your eyes.
You do that for the next 20 minutes (said to be the length of time it takes for one to feel full) and you won't be able to touch the chocolate biscotti, nor finish the rhumba frapuccino you ordered along with the cake... hehe. After all that, I felt like throwing up all the creamy gooey stuff, I simply had to have a cigarette.
As I sat there smoking, I lapsed into my favorite pastime... people watching. Fronting Starbucks was a row of foodstalls selling a variety of food. Funny what things you could take note of when you are as empty as a dry sponge.
You are What You Sell
The stall nearest Starbucks was called 'O Pao' and they were selling an assortment of dimsum and pao sandwhiches, or whatever they are called... in the Philippines, we simply call them 'siopao' or 'kowloon,' depending on your orientation...:P The lady selling them was slumpily fat with wigglies on her upper arms gyrating non-stop.
The second stall, I forgot the name, sold an assortment of noodle dishes and strangely enough, the guy selling them was tall and wiry and looked like a noodle himself.
The third stall was called 'Snow Ice' and they were selling ice desserts and cold beverages. Their advert said, 'Healthy. Natural. Delicious. Yet non-fattening. Better then ice-cream' (typo theirs, not mine). And true enough, the 3 ladies manning the store were all fit, more perky than their neighbors, and they were even dancing in place while they served their customers.
Okay than... err... then, I've had my fun. Next stop, White Sands. I had to buy a couple of things at the supermarket and I wanted to pick up some flowers.
Scary Ride
I was in the train, just a stop away from my destination, when it suddenly made a quick stop then pulled itself to a jumpstart. We were, at that point, in the middle of the rail, eye to eye with the higher floors of the nearby HDB buildings, when the train ever so sloooowlly grumbled to a halt. WHAT. THE. HELL. IS. WRONG?
I had no time to panic though as the train started again after a few seconds, smoothly this time thank you, and I was just too glad to finally arrive at my stop.
Went down to Fairprice and picked up a bag of rice and a bottle of sweet pickle relish. I like the Fair Price Thai Fragrant Rice kind cause they're all fluffy when cooked, the one we would call in the Philippines as 'buhaghag.' I don't care much for the other brands cause they get all sticky when cooked, and unless I'm making some california temaki (which I still have to learn), I will suffer the one-stop away travel to Fair Price to get my rice.
Next stop was the flower shop... 3 white lilies (their fragrance spans the whole house once you get all the doors and windows closed), 3 yellow rose buds, 2 stalks of red orchid blooms and a couple each of the yellow and lilac meadow blooms and I'm done. I like arranging flowers in a vase and I'd like to think I have a pretty good hand with it. The one I arranged for our guests last week have all withered up, save for the white lilies and purple orchids, and I'd like fresh ones to welcome Papa home tomorrow. Tomorrow night, the flowers will be in full bloom (I hope the store clerk will be true to his word). I'll take some pictures and post it and you be the judge. Although it wouldn't really matter. I've made the arrangement and sticking to my adage, I will not ask for approval... hehe.
To the left of the flower shop was a Bengawan Solo outlet. Dare I take home a slice of cake? Puh-leeeease! I probably won't be able to take another slice... not for the next 10 years.
Home and Still Alone
It's now exactly 7 pm... exactly 24 hours between Papa and me.
Sometimes I feel it's pretty tough. On the average, Papa is gone at least one week in a month. Do the maths with me. That's 12 weeks in a year... that means 3 months in a year, on the average, that we're apart. I know, I know... I probably have it better than other couples who don't get to see each other for a couple of years at a time. And when they do, they only get to spend a month together and if ever they can have it longer, they probably will have to worry where to get next month's funds.
I know I have no right to complain. I am so blessed after all. Let's just say that because I am human... therefore I feel.
If I sing this song to Papa, won't he leave me anymore? Probably not, not even if his office grants him a no-travel job spec. He'll just be antsy all the time. You see, he's a child of the universe and it will be too much to ask him to stay put. And anyway, I've loved him through all these... I always have.
I love him when we're together. I love him more when we're apart.
I guess tonight, I'll just hug myself one more time and all bets are up that I'll get through it... one more time.
I'm not looking for someone to talk to
I've got my friend, I'm more than O.K.
I've got more than a girl could wish for
I live my dreams but it's not all they say
Still I believe (I'm missing) I'm missing something real
I need someone who really sees me...
(Don't wanna wake...) Don't wanna wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
All I need is to know it's for sure
Then I'll give... all the love in the world
I've often wondered if love's an illusion
Just to get you through the loneliest days
I can't criticize it
I have no hestitaion
My imagination just stole me away
(Still...) Still I believe
(I'm missing) I'm missing something real
I need someone who really sees me...
(Don't wanna wake...) Don't wanna wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
All I need is to know it's for sure
Then I'll give... all the love in the world
Love's for a lifetime not for a moment
So how could I throw it away
Yeah I'm only human
And nights grow colder
With no-one to love me that way
Yeah I need someone who really sees me...
(Don't wanna wake...) And i won't wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
You'll reach for me and I'll know it's for sure
Then I'll give all the love in the world
All the Love in the World
The Corrs
Leah sent me a message last Wednesday saying that Reg was having a bbq last night and that I was invited. I so wanted to go but these old bones didn't let me. For some reason, I've been feeling weak and lethargic after last weekend and at 3pm yesterday, I was officially a lost cause.
Leah said I should get more sun, that was on Thursday evening. I made a mental note to take heed. But then, sleep beckoned at 4 in the morning, for which reason I woke up at 11 am. Indeed, the sun was shining... too much of it, I should say. So I didn't dare lest I summon a migraine attack. Last night, I had the full resolve to sleep earlier and I did, at 2 am this morning. Even then, I woke up at 7 and waited for sunshine. 8 am... 9 am... it still was an overcast sky. Oh well...
Sometime in the afternoon, I decided I needed to go out anyway. So I showered, dressed and after 4 days of being holed up inside the house, I was out.
Where To?
White Sands? Tampines? Simei?
I opted for Simei so I could pick up some incense for Papa while I was at it.
I got 4 small packs of incense cones of the green apple, ylang-ylang, green tea and pine scents and a couple dozen of the stick variety in rose scent... well, it was either rose or frankinsence cause those were the only ones on stock. I didn't take the frankincense cause I couldn't find no mirth with it... haha! (If you didn't get the pun, wait for Christmas.)
Out of the incense shop, I remembered I haven't had lunch and my tummy growled to agree. So off I went to Starbucks.
How to Eat a Creamy, American Cheese-Cake
You don't gobble it up in big chunks unless you want your throat all clogged up. You push your fork down the length of the cake, cutting off a very thin slice at a time, put it in your mouth, let your upper lip glide over the fork while pulling the cake in and let it melt on your tongue as you close your eyes.
You do that for the next 20 minutes (said to be the length of time it takes for one to feel full) and you won't be able to touch the chocolate biscotti, nor finish the rhumba frapuccino you ordered along with the cake... hehe. After all that, I felt like throwing up all the creamy gooey stuff, I simply had to have a cigarette.
As I sat there smoking, I lapsed into my favorite pastime... people watching. Fronting Starbucks was a row of foodstalls selling a variety of food. Funny what things you could take note of when you are as empty as a dry sponge.
You are What You Sell
The stall nearest Starbucks was called 'O Pao' and they were selling an assortment of dimsum and pao sandwhiches, or whatever they are called... in the Philippines, we simply call them 'siopao' or 'kowloon,' depending on your orientation...:P The lady selling them was slumpily fat with wigglies on her upper arms gyrating non-stop.
The second stall, I forgot the name, sold an assortment of noodle dishes and strangely enough, the guy selling them was tall and wiry and looked like a noodle himself.
The third stall was called 'Snow Ice' and they were selling ice desserts and cold beverages. Their advert said, 'Healthy. Natural. Delicious. Yet non-fattening. Better then ice-cream' (typo theirs, not mine). And true enough, the 3 ladies manning the store were all fit, more perky than their neighbors, and they were even dancing in place while they served their customers.
Okay than... err... then, I've had my fun. Next stop, White Sands. I had to buy a couple of things at the supermarket and I wanted to pick up some flowers.
Scary Ride
I was in the train, just a stop away from my destination, when it suddenly made a quick stop then pulled itself to a jumpstart. We were, at that point, in the middle of the rail, eye to eye with the higher floors of the nearby HDB buildings, when the train ever so sloooowlly grumbled to a halt. WHAT. THE. HELL. IS. WRONG?
I had no time to panic though as the train started again after a few seconds, smoothly this time thank you, and I was just too glad to finally arrive at my stop.
Went down to Fairprice and picked up a bag of rice and a bottle of sweet pickle relish. I like the Fair Price Thai Fragrant Rice kind cause they're all fluffy when cooked, the one we would call in the Philippines as 'buhaghag.' I don't care much for the other brands cause they get all sticky when cooked, and unless I'm making some california temaki (which I still have to learn), I will suffer the one-stop away travel to Fair Price to get my rice.
Next stop was the flower shop... 3 white lilies (their fragrance spans the whole house once you get all the doors and windows closed), 3 yellow rose buds, 2 stalks of red orchid blooms and a couple each of the yellow and lilac meadow blooms and I'm done. I like arranging flowers in a vase and I'd like to think I have a pretty good hand with it. The one I arranged for our guests last week have all withered up, save for the white lilies and purple orchids, and I'd like fresh ones to welcome Papa home tomorrow. Tomorrow night, the flowers will be in full bloom (I hope the store clerk will be true to his word). I'll take some pictures and post it and you be the judge. Although it wouldn't really matter. I've made the arrangement and sticking to my adage, I will not ask for approval... hehe.
To the left of the flower shop was a Bengawan Solo outlet. Dare I take home a slice of cake? Puh-leeeease! I probably won't be able to take another slice... not for the next 10 years.
Home and Still Alone
It's now exactly 7 pm... exactly 24 hours between Papa and me.
Sometimes I feel it's pretty tough. On the average, Papa is gone at least one week in a month. Do the maths with me. That's 12 weeks in a year... that means 3 months in a year, on the average, that we're apart. I know, I know... I probably have it better than other couples who don't get to see each other for a couple of years at a time. And when they do, they only get to spend a month together and if ever they can have it longer, they probably will have to worry where to get next month's funds.
I know I have no right to complain. I am so blessed after all. Let's just say that because I am human... therefore I feel.
If I sing this song to Papa, won't he leave me anymore? Probably not, not even if his office grants him a no-travel job spec. He'll just be antsy all the time. You see, he's a child of the universe and it will be too much to ask him to stay put. And anyway, I've loved him through all these... I always have.
I love him when we're together. I love him more when we're apart.
I guess tonight, I'll just hug myself one more time and all bets are up that I'll get through it... one more time.
I'm not looking for someone to talk to
I've got my friend, I'm more than O.K.
I've got more than a girl could wish for
I live my dreams but it's not all they say
Still I believe (I'm missing) I'm missing something real
I need someone who really sees me...
(Don't wanna wake...) Don't wanna wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
All I need is to know it's for sure
Then I'll give... all the love in the world
I've often wondered if love's an illusion
Just to get you through the loneliest days
I can't criticize it
I have no hestitaion
My imagination just stole me away
(Still...) Still I believe
(I'm missing) I'm missing something real
I need someone who really sees me...
(Don't wanna wake...) Don't wanna wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
All I need is to know it's for sure
Then I'll give... all the love in the world
Love's for a lifetime not for a moment
So how could I throw it away
Yeah I'm only human
And nights grow colder
With no-one to love me that way
Yeah I need someone who really sees me...
(Don't wanna wake...) And i won't wake up alone anymore
Still believing you'll walk through my door
You'll reach for me and I'll know it's for sure
Then I'll give all the love in the world
All the Love in the World
The Corrs
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