Swinging By Singapore

I was in Singapore a few weeks back, on the weekend after Valentine’s Day. The trip was a gift from A♥ because he knew I had been dying to watch Wicked at the Marina Bay Sands Grand Theater. As early as January, my friend Auden, who is a lawyer based in Singapore, had purchased tickets on our behalf, and on the date we planned, she, A♥, and I met up to watch the show together! It was absolutely marvelous! If they ever bring Wicked to Manila, I will definitely watch it again!

With Auden at the theater lobby

Grandmother Mabel and Grandfather Mack got in for free- in my bag!

At the same time, on this trip, I had thought this the perfect opportunity to meet with some friends I had made over at the international Sylvanian Families Runboard forum. Jonathan and Hai Yen are both collectors too. Jonathan, for one, has been collecting for 13 years- and he is only 18! He knows so much that I run to him for advice or information. I am grateful that he has often generously provided help for newbies like me. I  kid him with the title of Professor of Sylvanian Studies and were a degree like that possible in real life, I am betting he already has a PhD.

Hai Yen, on the other hand, has been collecting nearly as long as I have. She is a proud mom to a young daughter and a teacher to fourth grade students. She shared her stories of how she and her daughter would often share playtime with their Sylvanians. Sigh. I wished for a daughter just then.

Kittymama with Hai Yen (tomoe) and Jonathan (Rockie)

I enjoyed the afternoon with them, talking, looking at Sylvanian stuff together, even doing a bit of shopping (Hai Yen spotted the lone set of Whiskers grandparents available at Takashimaya- yay!). We were also fortunate to get a table at the newly opened French boulangerie called Paul Bakery and Cafe in Ngee Ann City, beside Kinokuniya, (the queue was uber long), where we spent an hour talking- what else?- Sylvanian! It’s so easy to feel comfortable with people who share the same interests that I feel like I’ve known them both forever.

Thank you for the wonderful afternoon, Hai Yen and Jonathan! I hope you had as good a time as I did. I hope to see you again when I come back for a visit!

I did go Sylvanian shopping but there were hardly any sale items left that time of the year so my pickings were measly and few (measly and few by my OC standards, that is, haha). Still, I found some treasured gems during those few days and while I have yet to document them, I wanted to show you a sample picture of one of my purchases.

I’ve been holding off buying this Waltzing Figures set for the longest time but I could not resist it anymore. Grace and Kelly have been previously released in the Ballroom set so I figured this was just another repeating set of figures. But the ballgown and the twirling base got to me and I found myself clutching at the box without thinking.

I haven’t opened it yet, unfortunately. With all the chores and the excitement over the last few weeks of the PH♥SF Photo Contest, all my purchases remain in boxes still. Hopefully, with the contest finally over, I can take some time to unwind, relax, and play again.

Hére’s hoping!

Friends, Fun, & Love in One Weekend

Sorry I forgot to put up yesterday’s post. I am back home from a wonderful night spent at a fabulous hotel. It’s another anniversary weekend and I feel pampered and refreshed, ready to face the coming week with verve and zest.

I started my weekend chores really early to prepare for our short Parents’ Days Out. I kept a list so I didn’t forget anything. We needed to make a quick grocery trip to pick up some household staples (eggs, bread, honey, and straw for packing- done!). We also needed to pass by TriNoMa to get free tickets for a special screening of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part1 (done!). And most importantly, A and I promised to spend a few hours at the Komikon 2010 to support a good friend (done!).

I’ve never been to a Komicon (a comics convention, it is named after the way Filipinos spell comics in Tagalog, with a k, as in komiks) even though A is an avid graphics novel collector. We went on the invitation of a good friend who was launching his first comic book at the 6th Annual Philippine Komiks Convention. For a man educated strictly in the sciences (he is both a Pisay graduate and a UP College of Medicine alumnus), Doc Ernest has amazing creativity and artistry. His comic book, MEGA-WOMAN, is homage to one of Philippine entertainment’s best stars, Ms. Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan, and inspired by our common love for the Megastar.

The artist and writer of MEGA-WOMAN

Front cover of Doc Ernest's comic book

 A and I spent a few hours there, marvelling at the talent and dedication of our local artists. Above is a picture of us with Doc Ernest and another old friend from Pisay, Theresa Ongchangc0-Diaz. The picture is blurry because we had it taken by someone else but I just had to put it in. (Just squint your eyes for a better view.)We were happy to get autographed copies and even happier knowing that we had shown support for our friend. And wouldn’t you know it—Doc Ernest drew me and some his friends in cameo roles in his comic book! Whee! Kittymama is now a comic book character (never mind that my line had me gushing and fawning over Mega-Woman, heehee). Thanks, Ernest! I loved the drawings and the story so I hope that Part 2 is coming very soon.  

Kittymama in cameo

I wish we could have stayed longer to look at all of the wonderful comics on sale, but the weekend was waiting for A and me. After saying goodbye to the kids and some last -minute packing, we were off to the hotel and got there in record time. The hotel was absolutely gorgeous; the employees at the Marriott Manila were very hospitable, courteous, and professional at all times. Check-in was a breeze. I loved our room and fell in love with the plush bed immediately that as soon as my head touched the luxurious sheets, I fell fast asleep. I woke up to find the sun had set hours ago and my stomach had started its angry grumbling. A was beside me, snoring lightly, and I waited for him to wake up. Then we went out and had a really big dinner, took in a movie (Unstoppable), and if the long afternoon nap was not enough proof that we are, indeed, old folks, fell back to sleep within minutes after reaching the room.

Kittymama in Hello Kitty fashion

Personalized service

Service is so personalized that as soon as you lift the phone to call room service, they know who you are and call you by name!  

Loved♥ this room!

I wish I could take this home with me!

And now it’s Sunday evening and the weekend is almost done. We’re back home, back to the kids, and ready to face the week’s coming challenges. It has been a great weekend, filled with friends and fun and love and rest. I wish I could have more days like these with A. Happy Anniversary again, my love.  (｡♥‿♥｡)

Silver Linings

Silly me, I haven’t had my head screwed on right for a time. Sometimes, I forget that blogs are supposed to be updated from time to time. I keep making a mental note to write things down when something- anything- happens. “Remind me to write that down, will you?” I say to husband and he nods absentmindedly while he watches television. I continue with what I do, secure in the thought that I can get back to that thread of thought again. And then we both forget. So, when it comes to finally sitting down and facing the keyboard, I draw a blank. “Honey, what was I supposed to write about again?” I ask husband, who smiles and shrugs at me so genially that I cannot, for the life of me, get mad at him for forgetting to remind me what I’ve forgotten myself. 

These days, I often find myself drifting back to Facebook, where I have been spotted, online, at least once, by even my friends in the Sylvanian forum. (Hello, Mr. Bear!) Well, I have to be there; my Frontierville farm needs harvesting and my animals need some “tending, loving care” (get it? TLC?).  Indeed, it is so much easier to simply click on things, most of the time, and Facebook allows that freedom of unbridled, unrestrained clicking.  Then again, once you reach the point where you obsess over small things, like: “How did my FtV avatar get naked and bald?” perhaps, it’s time to move away from the keyboard and mouse and let your brain breathe a little.  

Busted and Naked

What she really looks like, with wig and dress (apparently, she is really bald)

There. Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat. Breathe in. Breathe out.

And this is where I find myself now, this afternoon, while my eggplants mature in the farm and I wait for my energy levels to rise on its own. Blog life may be vicarious to some, but Facebook is as vicarious as it ever gets.

The retreat into a non-thinking, imagined existence can be best explained by the recent events in my home. For some reason, an unsually strong strain of the flu bug has been going around, leaving the household only long enough to allow us time to get well and be reinfected again. It’s afflicted all of us twice and has become nastier each time around. This week, it’s mutated to some weird form of the bug, where aside from the fever and sniffles, the bone pain and the fatigue, it has added even more merciless features of virulence: severe stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, and the dreaded d word. (Yes, the d word, also known as Hershey squirts. Eewww. And don’t make me spell it out; it sounds gross already.) The last one I hate particularly. 

Fortunately, there are a lot of bright spots in these my dark hours. A dear friend sent me a lovely chocolate cake midweek, and though I can’t partake of it yet, her thoughtfulness brought me joy. Thank you, dearest B!

And then there was this package that came all the way from England, sent in by my lovely friend P-Angel of Panda Patch. I picked it up from the post office the day after I received the registry notice. I wasn’t feeling too well then, but nothing- not even the runs that came with this bout of the flu- could have ruined this absolutely perfect surprise for me. I think I looked rather foolish as I danced a jig right in front of the post office, under the rain.

The box- ta-dah!!!

SURPRISE!!! *faints for joy*

Seeing everything inside almost made me faint for joy. I hadn’t expected all these so my gratitude is endless, dear P-Angel. You truly deserve your name for you are truly an angel. Thank you!

When I even out the bad (yucky, icky, eewwy, vile &%^$#@ abdominal flu) with the good (A’s loving care (｡♥‿♥｡), Alex’s obedience this week- really!  (✿◠‿◠) , Alphonse’s kisses (✿ ♥‿♥), and my friends’ thoughtful gifts  (◕‿◕✿) ) then I guess I still come out on the positive side of things.  It’s not always easy living in the real world, but when it reminds you that life, however bitter, has moments of glorious happiness, then leaving the safety of predictable Frontierville makes it worth the while.

Isolation

From HerWord.com, March 17, 2010

“I’d like to make myself believe that Planet Earth turns slowly.”~ Fireflies, Owl City

When Alphonse was diagnosed with autism more than 13 years ago, one of the very first things to go was our social life. But no, it didn’t happen overnight. Slowly, my husband and I found ourselves walking this one-way street where autism consumed our every waking moment, and before we knew it, we had left friends and family by the wayside. We lost friends because there simply wasn’t enough time—we focused on “saving” Alphonse and nothing else. And yet, others we lost because they chose not to have anything to do with us. The diagnosis, with its attending complications, was simply too much for them.

It got worse when Alphonse started having behavioral problems. Manifesting as aggression and self-injury, these behaviors isolated us from the world. We could not leave him alone; we were all he had. Even relatives stayed away, hiding their children when Alphonse was in sight. For more than five years, we looked for help where and when we could find it. We tried everything we could, yet nothing worked. Except for my closest family, few really understood what we were going through. We felt abandoned and alone. And so, we learned to become a self-sustaining unit of four.

In recent years, however, the sun has finally found its way to our little spot in this world, and Alphonse has, for the most part, been agreeable and steady and calm. Even his outbursts have lost their angry hostility and violent desperation. And although he remains excitable and emotionally fragile, we are grateful that our angry child has evolved into a generally happy young man.

Kittymama and A with Pisay 85 friends

The question that comes to mind now is: What next? After all these years of burrowing underground, staying hidden and safe, and operating under everyone’s radar, it’s not easy giving ourselves permission to even ponder on the possibility of a social life. Just the very thought scares me to death.

Yet, just this last week, my husband and I took the first tentative steps to reconciling with the outside world. I don’t know about my husband but just preparing for it was hard for me. I had to work on the smile to hide my fear. I had to muster the courage to feel less conscious and less wary of people. I fought with myself constantly on our joint decision to make this leap—were we too hasty? Did we really even need to? I tried to talk myself out of going many times.

Kittymama with some MCS friends (photo by Ms. Grace Gonzales-Tanchanco)

In the end, my fears were unjustified. The world opened its arms to me and I felt kinship and friendship where I least expected it. In the comfort of people I had known since I was a child, it didn’t matter who I was today and what I have made of myself. There was no scrutiny, no judgments. The long road I took led to only one place, where the thing that mattered most was that I was there. Just that.

And for me, that was enough. My faith in friendship was restored.

February Lovefest: I ♥ Your Blog Award

When I started blogging a little over two years ago, I found out that one of the nicest things you could do for anyone was to give them an award, a banner, or a badge of appreciation. In those days, awards were given out  so often that they became viral almost overnight. Lately, however, I’ve seen them go the way of tags and memes- rarely passed out for fear of unnecessarily bothering the recipient with spam. They’ve almost disappeared from sight, at least, in the blog circles I visit.

This criticism of “passing-along-something-in-blogs” and tagging nothwithstanding, with Valentine’s Day just passed, I wanted to give  my very own personalized versions of the I ♥ Your Blog award to my favorite blogs and to the friends I have made and reconnected with through blogging. I am deeply grateful to these wonderful people for making the experience of blogging something to look forward to every day.

~0~

Mushings was the very first blog I ever read on the Net, long before I jumped into blogging myself. Through it, I discovered a whole world of friendships that are no less real than the ones I have in real life. Leirs is a fabulous scrapper, aside from being a mom of two, an autism mom, and a devoted blogger.

To Leirs of Mushings

Megamom and I have known each other since high school. However, we knew little of each other except for superficial interactions and the occasional “hello’s” and “how are you’s.” I regret now that I never got to know her well then; we did not have the same circle of friends. Finding her blog, after all these years, I have discovered a whole different person- an accomplished professional (a doctor), a multitasking mom of triplets, a devoted member of our high school batch, Pisay Batch 1985- in short,  someone I would be proud to call a friend.  

To Aileen of Pinay Megamom

Teacher Julie was my son’s very first teacher in formal school. Alex loved her and her word was law, even in our home. I appreciate all that she has taught Alex but I will always remember most her as a friend who helped us cope in the first year of Alphonse’s diagnosis.      

To Teacher Julie

I’ve never met Ms. Susan Senator except through her book, “Making Peace with Autism,” which to date, is still the best and most realistic autism book I have ever read. I am a faithful follower of her blog and I am at awe at how she always finds the words I am sometimes unable to express. Ms. Senator is proof that there is life, love, and laughter in autism families.

To Ms. Susan Senator

No Special Effects is perhaps the only food blog I ever visit religiously. Not only is Doc Mark a genius in the kitchen, his food photographs are absolutely gorgeous. Beyond visuals, however, Doc Mark is also a gifted writer and one always finds a good story to read in  his blog. 

To Doc Mark of No Special Effects

When the doldrums settle in, I like to visit Little Miss Firefly for she can always bring sunshine to even the most dreary of days.  To you, Odette, I send you love from the warm summers of your homeland-

To Odette of Little Miss Firefly

Last, but certainly not the least, this is for J of My Sylvanian Collections. J and I have only been friends a short while but I always look forward to reading her Sylvanian adventures. Thank you being a great friend and a wonderful sister, shobe.  

To J of My Sylvanian Collections

And to all those who come and visit this blog, my thanks to all of you who share a part of their day with me. I send you love and blessings on this special month. Spread love, friends, and be blessed always! 

New Sylvanian Friend

Since I started collecting Sylvanian Families last September, I haven’t really had many opportunities to meet SF collectors in the country. Perhaps SF collectors in this country are a rare breed (this reminds me of a post I read at a local action figure forum: “Gusto niyo ng walang kaagaw na line? …Sylvanian Families) and if they are not, then maybe they don’t like advertising themselves as such, not unlike, say,  Transformers collectors who come in manic droves at events and sales.

As such, when I do meet one, like in the case of my good friend J of My Sylvanian Collections, it’s always a cause for celebration. (I feel like a child anticipating a playdate.) And even if the chances of bumping into a Sylvanian Families collector may be quite small,  I think that when fate decides that your heart is open to welcome new people again, it finds a way to let you know just that.

A few months ago I came across two items on eBay Philippines that were still posted but already reserved to a Ms. Harriet J. That was the first time our paths ever crossed.  Because she won that auction, she was oblivious to my existence until early January when she found her way to my blog. Since I invited her to join our little band of SF sisters, she and I have also started corresponding on the Net and sending occasional text messages.

Alex, A and I were in Shangri-La Plaza last Thursday evening when I received an unexpected message on my phone. It was Harriet, sharing her news of the latest mall updates. A and I were hoping to catch the last few days of a sale to get Alex a dress shirt and  formal pants for the prom. While Alex was doing a jig in the dressing room and entertaining the sales ladies, A was browsing the racks for a dress shirt and I was checking out the pants section.  As it turned out, by a happy coincidence, after a few sent messages, I found out that Harriet was in Shangri-La too. Voila, what started out as prom clothes shopping ended up as a brief Sylvanian Families collectors’ meet.

Kittymama and Harriet

You know how you feel when you meet someone and the connection is instantly there? I think that is how I felt when I met J and Harriet for the first time. When you are at ease, you can’t stop talking; that’s how easy it was making friends with my SF sisters J and Harriet.

I have a few pictures from this totally unplanned meet-up (yes, Kittymama is always prepared for a Kodak moment or two). Harriet is a lovely young mother of two daughters who share her love for Sylvanian Families. I like that she’s starting them young. Our SF club is slowly growing. Better yet, we’re building it one friendship at a time.

~0~

P.S. Thank you, Harriet, for the heads up on the new releases. Kittymama  is now playing with her Courtyard Restaurant and her houses are now all equipped with lights!

“Sentimiento de Asukal”

A Hello Kitty bowlful of sugar, anyone?

My Lola Pita called them “sentimiento de asukal” (literal tranlation: feelings of sugar), these feelings of despair and hurt mingled with a mishmash of  pity and longing. My son calls them “emo.” My husband, ever logical and no-nonsense, calls them an emotional indulgence.

Oh, well, pain always brings out the drama queen in me. Indulge me, please.  

~0~

Hello Kitty Emo

I’ve been doing quite a lot of housework over the last two weeks. I’m trying to do as much as I can before my neck REALLY starts bothering me again. In the last week or so, it’s been hurting a bit more each day. (Over the holidays, the pain was down to a barely felt one in the pain scale of ten—more like a very small crick in the neck; these days it’s up to a four.)  I’ve resumed pain meds, but nothing stronger than paracetamol (acetaminophen) or mefenamic acid. For now, I will just grin and bear it as long as I can.

Packing away the holiday décor seems such a dreadful chore, when putting them up weeks ago was so inspiring and so full of joy. It’s almost depressing, really. Ornaments  are wrapped in white tissue paper, put away for future use. Piles of dull brown boxes are scattered in the living room, your home once again a dull palette of earth colors. That is, until you realize that the accoutrements are representative of everything in this life — temporary, transient, fleeting. Except love and friendships.

I have to admit, I have lost a lot of friends along the way. Still, I have managed to keep the ones who matter. They are the ones who remind me that as painful as heck an injured neck can be, nothing can be worse than losing any one of them. Some are no longer with us, some are situated in far-away countries and are beyond simple reach, and some are here, though silent and hardly felt in my everyday life. Wherever you are, and you know who you are, I send you my hugs and my prayers.

~0~

Now for a little mania in this seemingly bipolar post:

If I thought the holidays were really over with the last décor finally boxed away, then I was totally mistaken. And if I thought I could stay away from Hello Kitty in as little as 12 steps, then I better think again. My enablers span the globe, it seems.

From my “best-friend-since-grade-school” (5th grade, to be exact, 31 years ago) Cocok and her husband Bong, thank you for these wonderful treats you sent all the way from California! I am overwhelmed with love, dearest friends, thank you.

By the way, Alphonse loved the chocolate crepes so much he ate them all in one sitting. We had to sneak a piece or two to taste them, but he was selfish, as if he knew it was really meant for him. Also, I was planning to use the bread cutter to make Alex a HK sandwich for school but he begged me not to, heehee.  Thank you also, my dearest Bok, for the picture you sent. You are growing more handsome each day. Make us proud always, Bokie!

Now this lovely bag, which is currently my favorite, came as a New Year’s gift from hubby and kids. Don’t you love the little heads and the pompoms that scream “hello kitty addict”?

Another gift for my footsies from the kids. They know that I love my Crocs with socks (gasp!), but I love them best with Hello Kitty socks. The boys got them for me at Marks & Spencer.

Hello Kitty with Cocoa Frosties

This is Alphonse's lunch.

And just to prove to everyone that Hello Kitty does not have to be expensive, here is another gift from A. I’ve seen this in my friends’ blogs but have never seen one in the supermarkets before. A grabbed one for me on a trip to the grocery. And what do you know? I got Hello Kitty on the first try! Lucky, lucky. (If I had gotten Minna no Tabo, I think I’d have said “Lucky, lucky” too.)

So there you have it, my little happiness-es in this little life. A dash of emo now and then to spice the pot of life, add cups of gratitude to sweeten it, sprinkle liberally with faith and hope, and you have got the no-fail, weatherproof recipe for happiness. Even a drama queen knows that.

Happy Weekend!

 Here’s wishing everyone a safe and blessed weekend! Hope you have as much fun as these crazy, wacky babies!

Stage Mom

Coming home from school and Sibol late Wednesday night, Alexander suddenly asks, “Mom, what day does August ** fall on?” 

“Uhmmm, I have no idea… A Friday, I think…Why do you ask?” (I was wrong. August ** this year falls on a Sunday.)

“On Fridays, I usually have Sibol. You think Papa can pick me up at 1 pm, bring me somewhere, and bring me back to school at 2:30?”

“Where is that somewhere? And why do you have to leave school for it?” As usual, Mom gets to be the interrogator and drill master.

“Uhm, I have to bring a gift…” From within the dark moving car, I could actually “hear” him blush.

“Oh, yeah! It’s Sweeney’s (not her real name) 15th birthday!” I suddenly remembered. Sweeney is this sweet, young girl whom Alex likes. They’ve been friends for a while. “You don’t have to do it if you’re in school, son. Maybe Alphonse and I can deliver it instead.”

“Aww, mom…” Alex starts to whine. I hear a little scuffling from behind me as Alphonse tugs on Alex’s arm. 

“Alphonse, tell your kuya (big brother) that you don’t mind doing it, will you? Do you want to deliver the gift to Sweeney?”

Alphonse mumbles something intelligible and I was just about to say “See, Alex, he doesn’t mind,” when Alphonse blurts out a very loud “Ayaw!” (I don’t like!)

Everyone in the car laughs. For a boy who hardly speaks, he can be very opinionated sometimes. Serves me right for being a stagemom, hehe.  

It’s settled, then. Guess Alex will be delivering the gift himself.

Way to Go!

I get my daily newspapers at night, when A comes home from work. He brings home nine different newspapers each night, part of a journalistic exchange practice they’ve had for years. Nights, however, I have very many things going on all at the same time so I am always hard pressed to finish all nine of them. I usually get my paper time in the mornings before Alphonse is up, while I have my morning brew.

Monday was a holiday so reading the papers was out. A was home, which meant conversations over breakfast, and not my solitary pursuit of hot drink and the papers. This morning, as I was reading through Monday and Tuesday’s papers, a name jumped out from the byline- my friend C! She had written an article about autism (she didn’t tell me ) and it was on one of Monday’s papers. I was so giddily happy I texted her right away and told her I’m keeping a copy to have it signed.

Here is a scanned picture of her article. (I couldn’t find a link on the online archives anymore, even as this is a major broadsheet.) I’ve also blurred her name to protect her privacy.

Congratulations, my friend!

What made me even happier was the fact that Hello Kitty got special mention. Even better, C was referring to MY Hello Kitty autism awareness widget! Yay for friends!

(See widget on the side  )

Great job, C!