Thinking Out Loud

How dumb!

2021-08-11T23:58:00.014-04:00

A higher percentage of children of my friends, relatives and acquaintances living all of their lives in the Philippines are better English speakers than speaking in any Filipino language.

That is very sad, in my opinion.

Parents, especially the mothers, blame it on Pepa Pig and other foreign kiddie shows.

So, does that mean that their kids spend more time on gadgets and TV?

Does this mean that parents or any members of the household communicate less with the children, or do family members talk to kids primarily in the English language?

That's sad.

Some of them find it funny that their children don't know the English translation of simple words like li-og (neck), or tuhod (knee).

Come on!

I would be ashamed if I am the parent of these kids. I wouldn't post this online, and find it funny and cute.

You live all of your life in the country, surrounded by locals and yet you don't speak and understand the language?

Why opt children out from speaking the local language?

How dumb is that!

Language is really beautiful. Children who are bilingual and multilingual are smarter.

It is not a secret that I speak, and write notes and text messages to my children in Bisaya. It's just the mister and I that they are incessantly exposed to the language, and even if their world has this significant proportion of English speakers, they continuously use our Filipino language when they speak to us or to anyone they know that understands it.

By the way, I don't post my kids' school achievements on any of my social media accounts.

I am most proud that they are bilingual, and in fact I brag about this because they have been living in America all their lives. My daughter came here when she was 2. My son was born here.

I remember when I still live in the Philippines, the idea of the fluency of the English language (meaning: constantly spoken) correlates to belonging to a high financial footing in the society. READ: a rich kid!

So, even if some people I know that aren't in that high financial bracket, they encourage their children to speak the English language to show a pretentious affluence.

Now, that's dumber!

Hi

2021-08-01T22:56:00.013-04:00

The mister bought a new patio umbrella for our bistro furniture in our garden. Although that area of the garden is not exposed to the sun in the afternoon, but by that time the mosquitoes are everywhere.

Mosquitoes aren't active in the morning, so it is best to enjoy outdoor dining before noon.

Friday, I had to go out of the house early for an appointment. The boy offered to drive me to my destination. It didn't take long, and we were already home after 30 minutes.

We had Caffè Latte and Cinnamon Rolls. I baked the rolls the previous night using King Arthur's recipe of the year. Surprisingly, the recipe has less ingredients than the recipe I usually use. It was indeed pillowy soft, and it didn't disappoint.

For lunch, I fulfilled a promise to my son that we'd buy lunch at the food trucks at the nearby park. This event, Key City Food and Farm Market runs from May 7 to September 3, only on Fridays from 11 am to 3 pm.

The mister and I had Vegan Falafel sandwich from Three Daughters Food truck. The boy had Pit Beef Sandwich from the Moose Pit Food Truck.

We ate our sandwiches at the park too.

I also bought a dozen pack of fresh pastured eggs from a local farm, Good Soil Farm. I wished I bought a bulb of their German garlic, to use and to plant some. Well, maybe next time.

Saturday was nice. It was cooler so we had our coffee outside, and spent most of the day there too. I did some cleaning at our farmacy, transferred some plants that didn't do well at their current location. Some I transplanted into pots that I put in our greenhouse, and some into vacant spaces in one garden bed.

Tomorrow is another week. I can't wait to list new items in my online shop.

Full speed ahead!

Honey

2021-07-29T14:15:00.004-04:00

Remember our first lunch date since the start of the pandemic with a close friend last Saturday?

He gave us a sample of his harvest from his 4 colonies of bees.

Fresh from his aviary, a bottle of honey in cute packaging with a tiny old fashion honey bee wooden spoon, and a metal bee charm.

His house sits beside a state park, and his bees feed on nectar from the wildflowers in 1,207 acres of natural resources.

I am not sure if he sells his honey though.

Nostalgia

2021-07-26T00:53:00.008-04:00

Working late, and finishing some notes for tomorrow's grind.

Suddenly, I was feeling nostalgic.

* BIG SIGH!

I miss people very significant to me that have crossed over to the eternal world. I just wish I can hear their voices all over again. Most of them left when there were no unlimited wifi yet---when communication wasn't as accessible like today.

I used to write them letters, cards and enclose photos of us, and especially of the kids.

When I am feeling this way, I usually drown myself in music. I listen to my favorite singable songs. The problem is I want to sing along to these tunes too.

This is what I always do while gardening. Rather than feeling sad of a situation I have no control over anymore, I keep myself busy.

I garden.

I walk.

I sing.

It is 41 minutes past midnight here. I really want to sing my nostalgia out loud, but everyone in my part of the world is asleep. I do not want the neighbors to call the police, and report me for public disturbance.

So, I decided to write about it instead.

By the way, I wanted to sing this song by Sara Bareilles.

...and I will call my mother in California tomorrow. I always make sure to call her on Mondays in the afternoon after I pack and ship items in the morning. It's a routine I program myself to do.

Lunch Date

2021-07-25T00:57:00.005-04:00

First lunch date since the start of the pandemic, and I was so excited. We had lunch with a very dear friend, and our oldest friend (not in terms of his age) in America. He's a friend and a former boss of the mister back in Cebu, Philippines when we were barely a year married in early 1996.

We were planning to see each other in May but the mister and I went on an out of state trip with the kids.

We agreed to try a Thai restaurant that newly opened in April of this year. It's just a mile-walk away from our house.

I loved the interior. It's eclectic.

The food were exactly as what as advertised, and it tasted so good as it looked!

Crispy Calamari

Steamed Dumpling

Crispy Pork

Crispy Tilapia

Spicy Eggplant

Crispy Banana

The prettiest sticky rice and mango that I've seen in my entire existence. I looked forward to this---love Sticky Rice so much.

It was the first dining experience here for our long time friend, Josh and he promised to come back.

Guess what?! We were there for 2 hours. So much catching up to do, and we're planning for another lunch date again, if schedules permit.

THAI MERIC EATERY & BAR - FREDERICK

1170 W Patrick St Ste E

Frederick, MD 21703

(240) 651-0998 or (301) 228-9794

eatery@thaimeric.com

So tired!

2021-07-15T00:33:00.006-04:00

Woke up 2 hours earlier than usual today for a meeting.

It went well.

Came home right after to start my work for the day at my office in the basement. Truthfully, my mind was willing but the body felt so tired. The couch in the family room was calling me, but I still dragged myself to water our garden.

After that, I laid down, and tried to listen to a podcast. Although I still wanted to go to work, but I just didn't have the energy for that.

True enough, I wasn't able to do anything at work today.

I probably slept most of the day.

I hated it.

Tomorrow, even if it hasn't come, I am claiming that I'd get my energy back.

HOT!

2021-07-06T23:46:00.008-04:00

I got out of bed earlier than usual to feed our cats, and water our plants.

Although I watered them yesterday morning, today was just too hot.

The temperature was about 100°F (about 37°C).

I didn't really want to go out, but I had to ship items today since it was a federal holiday yesterday.

I had to ship 9 items, but thankful that the mister helped me pack 1 order. I just don't have patience to pack 5 fragile items----a set of 5 small mini speakers going to California.

I was so busy packing and shipping, that I forgot to harvest the early bulam (avocado squash) that is ready for picking.

I guess, I'll do it tomorrow. I just hope it wouldn't be scorching hot tomorrow. Again.

49th on the 29th

2021-06-29T17:25:00.007-04:00

Today is the mister's birthday. Mine was exactly a week ago. This is our 30th year that we have celebrated our birthdays together.

We became a couple a few months after we turned 18 in 1990.

We are truly blessed-- we've lived a simple yet a comfortable life and are the parents of 2 wonderful kids.

We are 49 years old, and this is a such an amazing gift. Growing old with your best friend is, for us, living the best life.

Monday

2021-06-22T01:37:00.013-04:00

I baked bread on Sunday evening until the wee hours of Monday. I wanted to sleep in but I had to ship items to customers today, and one was an urgent order going to San Francisco. The customer needed this 1980s Aggie Georgette for Chordas US-made leather blazer for Saturday.

The mister also had an early online meeting, so we had our coffee so close to lunch, and paired it with the bread I baked last night.

By the way, I made Ube-filled Soft Buns topped with butter, sugar, and cheese.

Before we had lunch, I watered the plants. I wished I did it earlier in the day because I didn't water them on Sunday. I was expecting rain yesterday afternoon till evening, but it didn't come. Some of the okra I transplanted last Saturday looked like they desperately needed a drink.

This is the second year that I have been growing squash vertically. The white flowers on the side are carrot flowers.

The mister and I came back from the post office when it started to rain before 5 pm. It poured so hard when we came into the house.

The poor Amazon delivery guy waited in his truck until the rain became gentle enough for him to deliver the package meant for our next door neighbor.

Around dinner, it poured so hard again. I guess I do not have to water the plants tomorrow.

8:45 AM

2021-06-19T01:55:00.001-04:00

I hear someone opened our bedroom door, slowly and gently. Then I felt a couple of soft taps on my arms.

I saw the boy when I opened my eyes. He looked freshly bathed and wearing a shirt different from what he was wearing last night.

He was wearing the freshly laundered shirt I handed him the previous night. He has been looking for that for months, and I finally found it hidden in between comforters.

Like I always tease him after he bathes, he smells like fresh laundry.

Softly, he said, "Ma, I am going on a bike ride downtown."

It seemed like it was still dark outside, but when I look over at the digital alarm clock on the mister's side table, it was 8:45 AM.

I honestly thought it's Saturday because it felt like it was still very early in the morning. The sun hasn't completely come out yet, and I felt like I wanted to sleep in.

"Don't wear headphones. Ok?!" I told him. This is just so he could hear his surroundings.

He gave me a hug, and left our room.

I guess I dozed off, and woke up before 11.

P.S. I call him "The boy" in this blog because I started blogging back when he was almost 4. Although he is an adult now, I still prefer to call him "The boy" here.

Under the Sun

2021-06-17T22:53:00.007-04:00

Spent the last two days mostly outdoors. We had our morning coffee with my homemade bread in the backyard. We loved to listen to a variety of chirping birds in the morning.

Yesterday, after his office hours, the mister finished the new garden plot solely for flowers to attract more pollinators in our garden.

I have been pulling out my strawberry plants as well for transplanting. Some still have fruits so I left some plants alone.

I also harvested Tat Soi for lunch. I cooked most of it for Stir Fried Tat Soi in Unagi Sauce, and some of it for our Mung Bean Soup. Both dishes are plant-based.

I had to pack and ship 6 items to my customers this morning. However, I was done with work way before the day was over, and got to do more gardening again.

I cleared the ivy vines invading our grapes, and I hope I'll have more time after work tomorrow because I seriously need to finish half of the job.

Just in Time

2021-06-15T09:30:00.002-04:00

Done packing all 8 sold items 30 minutes before the post office closed at 5 PM yesterday! Phew! Just in time!

Since Mondays are the busiest days for me, I just whipped the simplest dish I can think of for lunch.

I made sautéed mixed vegetables (okra, long beans, and squash). Typically, this Filipino dish called Pinakbet is cooked with pork and salted shrimp paste. Since the mister and I opted to remove animal meat and products as much as we can in our diet, those 2 ingredients were omitted.

I was so grateful that I got to squeeze in gardening before the day got dark. My Asiatic lilies and hydrangeas are all in full bloom at this time of the year.

Honestly, the perennial flowering plants are the ones that I ignore in the garden, and every time they bear these beautiful flowers generously, I sincerely feel guilty.

Today will be spent for a little work, and maybe transplant some of the seedlings I planted from seeds a few weeks ago--- green long beans, love-in-a puff vines, bitter melons, zucchini, and some butternut squash.

Sunday

2021-06-14T12:48:00.010-04:00

I was kind of able to sleep in on Sunday, and got out of bed closer to lunch. We did not have anything ready to pair with our coffee, so I made a quick sheet pancake.

The blueberries were bought from our favorite fresh produce grocery store where we also buy our coffee beans. The strawberries were freshly harvested from our garden.

There is not a lot left from our garden, but I am begging the mister to build another garden plot solely for different varieties of strawberry plants.

The mister went out for a couple of hours to go mountain biking. I did a little work doing inventory for my small online shop.

When he got back, we went to the nearest home improvement and garden store to buy lumber. He's going to finish the second wildflower plot in our backyard. I've been very excited about this project. I really want to add more plants to attract pollinators to our garden.

By the way, the weather couldn't make up her mind yesterday. The sun came out but changed his mind. Then it rained a little bit, and then it was gloomy all day.

After dinner, I made bread--- Spanish bread and hotdog buns (6 vegan hotdog and 3 cheese-filled beef hotdog buns). They were requests from my favorite diners aka the boy and the mister.

Today, Monday is a busy day, but I might be able to squeeze in a little gardening after 5 PM.

Got to go. I need to pack and ship 8 items today, and I need to accomplish this job before the post office closes at 5 pm.

Until next time.

Early on Saturday Morning

2021-06-13T00:44:00.014-04:00

I meant, not early but mid-morning. I just consider it early because I normally sleep in on Saturdays and Sundays.

The mister dragged me out of bed to go downtown because it's record store day. He wanted to buy a couple of vinyl records at one of his favorite record stores. By Friday, he already told me what he wanted to get, and it's a limited edition clear vinyl by Penrose. (This one!)

We went on our separate ways when we arrived there--- him to the record store, and I went to the thrift store. It's about a 4-minute walk on the opposite end from the mister's destination.

At the thrift store, I didn't see any vintage clothing for my price range to resell. However, I found a 1959 French flashcard set for $0.50. I also found a new but not in a box Küchenprofi black oven-safe mini pot for a dollar.

We didn't have breakfast before leaving the house, and decided to stop at Cafe Bueno, a locally owned Mexican restaurant also located in downtown, for their all-day breakfast.

I had the one with 2-over medium eggs, and he had the one with scrambled eggs and avocado.

We also had Horchata. (photo above)

By the way, between the two orders, I wished I also got the same as the mister's. Loved the smoky taste of the scrambled eggs.

We went home after our blunch. That's how my daughter calls brunch but closer to lunch.

I visited my garden when we got home because I wasn't able to since yesterday morning. It rained all day on Friday.

I needed to stake my leaning carrots. The plants couldn't carry the weight of their white lace-looking blooms.

Because we left the house without having our morning coffee yet, we opted to have a cup for our afternoon snacks with egg crackers and our last three Uraro cookies.

By the way, back to record store day, I heard that the first person in line arrived at 2 AM. When the mister arrived at the store at 10ish this morning, the line was still long.

Honestly, I don't know what the fuss record store day is all about. I just go with the mister on ordinary days for the free bin. Read: FREE! Free vinyl records, cassette tapes, music magazines, and CD. But, there is no guarantee that this bin is always outside the store daily, and the condition of these items are perfect.

I miss it.

2021-06-11T00:23:00.020-04:00

I miss writing.

I have been busy with work, and now that it's almost summer, add gardening to that.

I have been growing new varieties of vegetables this year. I have red malabar spinach (also known as alugbati in Filipino), tatsoi, green yard long beans, golden zucchini, silver queen corn, Puerto Rican pumpkin, Stokes purple sweet potato, tomberry tomatoes, white tomesol tomatoes, dark opal basil, cantaloupe and many more.

I also have several varieties of sunflowers, and pansies.

My love-in-a-puff vines or balloon vines (also known as utot-utot) are rapidly growing. They love this warm weather. This climbing plant produces papery balloon fruits with seeds inside. Each black seed have a distinct white heart. It's considered an invasive weed in the Philippines, but that wouldn't be the case in my part of the world, because this plant is extra sensitive to cold.

Just this morning, I found two caterpillars hanging out at my carrot patch. These carrots, by the way, aren't good for eating anymore. They have all bolted, and produced Victorian-lace looking flowers. They were the left-over plants I planted last year that I wasn't able to harvest before autumn. Now, I am just waiting for these flowers to dry so I can gather seeds to share for future planting.

We also added seating in our garden. We bought an old cast iron 3-piece bistro set at an antique shop in Leesburg, Virginia. I've been serving afternoon snacks there.

And aside from writing, I guess I also miss sewing.

Hello!

2021-02-01T11:18:00.003-05:00

I was multi-tasking again like always. Put one load of laundry in the washing machine, talked with my little sister on Instagram, answered an inquiry on my Etsy shop, and at the same time, I was baking bread.

Got so caught up with my tasks that I almost forgot I had these in the oven, and when I took them out, they literally said, "hello from the darker side."

The Filipino hotdog open buns were for the boy, and the Ube Ensaymada were for me and the the mister.

Jazzed up the Ube Ensaymada with butter and sugar, and drowned them with shredded Monterey Jack cheese with our Lattes the following morning.

WTH

2021-01-31T22:15:00.005-05:00

I heard from the mister that our internet provider has a monthly limit. Beyond a certain internet data cap, we have to pay more. I don't know how much though.

What the hello!

This means watching YouTube videos or Netflix series while working online isn't a great idea anymore.

There are three of us using the internet on a daily basis. The mister has been working from home since March. Me---I've been online selling since 2000. The boy is working freelance as an illustrator.

Oh no!

I don't like this.

Manang Gigi

2021-01-29T22:32:00.012-05:00

I started writing this the moment I heard of her passing. But, I do not know why I have a heavy heart every time I try to finish this post.

Along with the people I knew who've lost families due to Covid-19, I am sad. I am sad for Marq, her son.

I met Manang Gigi in July of 1998. Fresh from the Philippines, she was one of those who welcomed us to America.

She talked a lot about Marq, and asked me if I knew him. I knew him from afar because he was friends with my classmates, and was a close friend of my little sister. By the way, back in the island, among 4 siblings, my little sister was the social butterfly.

I was just a fly on the wall, thinking that nobody noticed my existence in the social scene. hehehehe.

Jay stayed for a couple of weeks in California, but my 2 year old daughter, Yna and I stayed for a month. Back then, like any family, relations between family members were tumultuous. I was in the middle of the crossfire.

Manang Gigi was the only person that I felt was neutral. There was no pressure to show loyalty to one side. She didn't want to discuss about those things. There was peace when we were with her. She invited us to share meals she prepared or just to hang out. She loved to spend time with Yna, and asked her to sing Bahay Kubo and Lupang Hinirang (the Philippine National Anthem).

When we flew to Maryland after a month, I lost contact with her. I only say hi and hello one time through her son Marq, and a few times through a common friend, Mommy Lalang.

Manang Gigi, thank you for the time and the tranquil and neutral space you generously gave us back in 1998. I sincerely I appreciated it.

Rest in peace, Gregoria "Gigi" Piscos - Mendez (January 4, 1939 - January 1, 2021).

Savory Dutch Baby Pancake

2021-01-18T23:58:00.006-05:00

Like I said, I would try to make Dutch Pancake with savory toppings.

Honestly, this is really filling. I had a third of this with a piece vegetarian sausage, and added more arugula on my plate.

Delicious.

Dutch Baby Pancake

2021-01-18T15:14:00.006-05:00

At last, after some time, I finally decided to make this.

I searched for the 5-star rating recipe, with very few ingredients, and quick to make. I also took notes from reviews.

I thought the mister wouldn't wait for this since he was already downstairs when I came down to prepare breakfast last Saturday. He said that he'd wait to start making our lattes until I would tell him that the pancake is almost ready.

Tadah!

My very first Dutch Pancake topped with blueberries and bananas, sprinkled with sugar.

This was so easy to make, and recipe is definitely a keeper.

Today, I will make another one but with savory topping for our dinner.

Do not trust words.

2020-12-16T00:18:00.002-05:00

I trusted her in confidence, but she shared it to two other people.

She asked for forgiveness, and I forgave her.

She truly mattered. That was how I honestly felt towards her.

She did it again several times after that. I wasn't surprised, but I was worried.

This time, I wasn't hurt as much as the first time. So, I let it pass. I still would like to think that she'd protect me and our friendship.

But recently, she did it again. It did create doubts, and division between families and friends.

From one mouth to several others, there were a few shots of alcohol that was added to the story. There was little left from the truth, but it was spicier.

All the things she told and sent me, I kept them all to myself. Not even the mister knew about them.

She trusted me in confidence.

I have no plans to talk to her, and clear things out.

I am not mad at her, and I don't hate her.

... because, more than anything, I am extremely disappointed in myself.

I should've NOT trusted her words, but I should've never doubted her patterns.

Why?

2020-12-02T18:06:00.014-05:00

I do not understand why Filipinos in the Philippines celebrate American Thanksgiving day.

Did English pilgrims also come to the Philippines aboard the Mayflower?

I've never heard of this.

However, I know that Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer, landed in the Philippines. But, he was greeted by Lapu-Lapu and he killed him. He chopped the explorer's head off. He only lived in the islands for less then a month after his arrival.

But why would Filipinos in the Philippines celebrate thanksgiving day anyway? There were no pilgrims who came over, and celebrated their first harvest. There were no groups of Wamponaog who came for dinner.

Well, according to them, it is because the United States of America ruled the Philippines for 48 years.

But still, the Philippines isn't America. Why would we practice another country's federal holiday.

Japan occupied the Philippines for three years, and I haven't heard or celebrated a holiday that's exclusively celebrated in Japan. Like, maybe, the emperor's birthday which is a public holiday. Or what about the Golden Week which is celebrated at the end of April to first week of May annually?

Spain conquered the Philippines for 120 years. I did not remember celebrating Fiesta de Nacional España in October or any other national holidays only celebrated in Spain.

In mid 2000, the boy learned about Lapu-Lapu through Yoyoy Villame's song. He always wondered why there is no national holiday for Lapu-Lapu, whom he really believed was a hero.

Filipinos have colonial mentality, and this doesn't apply to only speaking fluently a foreign language, or preferring to buying imported goods. Now I know that this also applies to federal holidays.

Some people I know are even proud to share on social media that their children speaks fluent English, and barely know the Visayan language. They share a celebratory post when these kids learn a few Visayan words or more. Well, one thing that is very peculiar is that these people are living in the Philippines, and haven't lived outside the country.

Come on! You guys should be ashamed of yourselves. Where is your patriotism? And these parents don't know that children who speak more than one language are smarter. That was what my children's teachers told me when they were in Kindergarten and first grade. In fact, they encouraged me to keep Visayan language at home.

Honestly, that really made me proud of myself. My children speaks, writes, and understands a Filipino language when most, if not all of their lives were spent in America. Only me and the mister expose them to the language, but we succeeded.

Christopher Columbus explored America, and spread Christianity. Along with that, he also used violence, brutality, and enslaved inhabitants. He forced conversion of Christianity to native Americans. He sold them like they were his properties.

What kind of a Christian was he? He was a fake!

I just wish that Filipinos back home celebrate our Philippine traditional holidays because it is ours, and we know its history.

Note: Republic Act No 114040, signed last June 29, 2018 by President Rodrigo Duterte, states that April 27 is Lapu-Lapu Day, a special working public holiday throughout the country and a special nonworking holiday in the city of Lau-Lapu, Province of Cebu, to commemorate the victory of Lapu-Lapu and his men over the Spaniards led by Ferdinand Magellan in the historic battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521.

Disability

2020-10-22T22:59:00.003-04:00

I hate when people makes fun of people with disability. I hate it when some people called names.

I even hated some friends and relatives when they call the previous Philippine President Benigno Aquino. Jr. as 'Abnoy' (Abnormal). How low would you go! Most of these people go to church regularly. Calling a person names is for me very mean, 'unChristian', so juvenile, and unintelligent.

There is this one person who has been sending me messages and sharing posts via Facebook messenger about how great the person in the White House is. I knew him through the mister.

I disagree with him, but I didn't argue with him. I thought it was a waste of time.

In my 48 years of existence, I have learned to never argue with his kind.

He kept on shoving his opinion down my throat, but I kept ignoring him.

I haven't been replying to his messages anymore from the time I told him that I have different views politically. I also told him to stop sending me posts about his choice of political party. I am not into Political Parties. It's either you choose GOOD or EVIL, and to some, who's the lesser evil vs the devil.

I respect his level of intelligence, and in many levels I am not impressed. I tried to give considerations though, but he just didn't leave a mark.

A few minutes ago, he sent me a message again, and he was laughing about Former VP Joe Biden's stutter. I think he was watching the debate.

This time, I answered him back.

"You can not make fun of people and their disability. Thank God I am not like you, or else I would have been making fun of your disability the moment I knew how dark your heart is."

"What disability?!" He was very surprised!

"Your face! It matches your heart! It's just exceptional!

It's exceptionally ugly! Now, let me tell you this... I did not make fun of you. I was just being honest. Bye."

He didn't unfriend me yet, or block me on Facebook. I just couldn't imagine calling him a friend. To be considerate, maybe just someone I know.

Jeopardy

2020-10-21T00:10:00.006-04:00

While resting in the living room with the boy, he told me about a new song he heard on YouTube. But the problem is he couldn't remember the title and the artist behind it.

He said it's in Tagalog, and probably a newer song.

He described the one in the music video of a guy with long hair, and he had a wife.

So, I tried to help him, and searched Google using the search words, "Filipino singer with long hair."

And what the heck!

Top answer was Freddie Aguilar, and I am pretty sure it wasn't him the boy was referring to.

But eventually, he found song.

It was this...

Hehehehe. It's 'Pag-ibig sa Tabing Dagat' by Orange and Lemons.

The long haired guy he was referring to was Empoy Marquez, and the wife is Alessandra de Rossi. Both are actors and, I think this music video was for their movie.

I told him that the song reminded me of Eraserheads, and some songs of Parokya ni Edgar back in the day.

He agreed, but added that he haven't heard any Parokya ni Edgar songs yet.

I recommended 'Harana.'

"Harana? But I thought Eraserheads sang that?"

I honestly didn't know that the latter had a song with the same title too.

We listened to Parokya ni Edgar on Spotify. He loved them.

I was trying to close my eyes when he asked for help. He said he couldn't read the title of Parokya ni Edgar's first album.

He even asked me if it's in Tagalog and what does it mean.

Hahaha. I, for one, had a hard time reading it. I think they just made this word up.

"KHANGKHUNGHERRNitZ"

"But Ma, the second album has a longer title. It's Buruguduystunstugudunstuy!"

"Oh my gosh, 'doy! If there is a Filipino Jeopardy, and it's the final round where you have to wage your money and spell your answer, and suddenly the final jeopardy is ...

"The title of Parokya ni Edgar's second album."

...and then you waged everything you earned, but then you missed one letter of the correct answer. What is Buruguduystunstugudunstuy!

"Patay!" (You're Dead!) was his response.

By the way, I just wished they named all their albums like how they did it with their first two. The other 7 albums were named in Tagalog and in proper words.

We're Moving?

2020-10-16T01:07:00.011-04:00

I was fuming mad at the mister. It's final that we're moving to North Carolina on Sunday.

Wait.

What?

Why the urgency? Are we running away from someone?

Are we in the witness protection program that I am not given time to even say goodbye to my friends?

North Carolina?!

I don't have friends there.

In this town, I know several sales clerks that I call friends at the thrift stores in 3 different locations-- in Willowdale, Buckeystown, and in Middletown.

I also love the local independent businesses in town.

Our house has the biggest lot in our hood, which is perfect for my greenhouse and several garden plots that the mister built.

Plus, my kids' friends from elementary and high school are all from here. On Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks, these kids hold their reunions at our house over Filipino dinner that I plan and prepare.

My heart was so heavy while packing all of my money pile in the basement (read: my vintage items for sale). I couldn't grasp the thought of living somewhere other than this town---Frederick.

I hated the mister so much. He didn't even let me weigh things out with him.

I felt betrayed. This hurts a lot.

I can't believe he had the audacity to just pull us out of this house that we call home since 2002.

Then, I suddenly woke up at the loud creak of our bedroom door. He came rushing in and said...

"Let's go! It's Thursday. It's dollar day at the thrift store!"

I sat up, and breathed a sigh of relief. The time on my watch was 11:15 AM.