the grimmerie

i finally have my own grimmerie!

a grimmerie is a book of magic in the world of Wicked (Gregory Maguire). maguire created the term  as --

term "the Grimmerie" so it had a variety of associations: the Brothers Grimm (because of their tales of magic, witches etc.), the word grimness, the word gramarye (occult learning, magic...), and the Scottish word/concept glamour (casting a spell over the eyes...)

and luckily today, i found a copy of this book (although not the real book of magic) which gives the behind-the-scenes look of the hit broadway musical. i was on the escalator going up when my eyes darted to this stack of books in the book sale. when i saw it, i just had to go back! now i have my own copy. it's fantastic!

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some other things to be grateful for today: a videocall from a friend and free lunch from marjun :) do you actually know that keeping the BPI credit/debit slips worth Php1500, Php3000 and Php6000 and exchanging them for one free meal at Chowking actually works?! amazing! that was how i got my free lunch today. i'm going to do that soon! :D

is it warm or what?

 

29C. el nino is really here. this is the normal temperature reading of the aircon in the afternoon.

seismic art

seismic art? created by ks after an interpretation of only three 2D lines! 

xocolat

carol and i were glad to find this small but certainly exquisite cafe at serendra that serves some of the best chocolate drinks in town - xocolat.

the cute, lovely, low table hidden behind a bamboo screen -- perfect for conversations

hot tsai mint chocolate drink - my favorite drink

milestone, milestone

it actually worked! :)

first time to use the video call function of my laptop after a long while. it was great!  :)

it was cool... LOL.

good morning, everyone! i hope the day will end the same it way it started. :)

fieldtrip -- after a long while

it could have been better but still, i am grateful for today's highlight -- being Out of the Office! thank God!

vessel visit at batangas -- the vessel's size confirmed that i won't be joining the survey this time

i had to wake up at 445am to arrive at work exactly 7am for a meeting and vessel-viewing at the office's Batangas supply base. i was glad to be out of the office in a more relaxed work setting. it was like a fieldtrip without the pressure. i am looking forward to next week's trip again when the vessel comes back to Batangas for another kick-off meeting and gear change.

while standing at port, i couldn't help enjoy the strong sea breeze, high sun, and blue seas. i love it and i realized that i miss the beach so much. it had been bugging me for quite sometime but i didn't crave it as much as it did today. i can see myself relaxing on the sand, with my back to sun... hmmm... pure heaven!

i wonder when i could go? does anyone wants to join me? let me know. after all, it is Summer!

fireworks!

australia's firework display

philippine's fireworks display

kids day

i spent my time today with kids - from the newly born to the preps. i just didn't realize until now, that kid's toys are very expensive. as i was browsing for the perfect gift to give to a little boy who had just received a Best in Writing award in school, it seemed that the options are countless but the price are dear! i finally settled on a baseball catchball and tic-tac-toe, which i hope he'd learn how to play properly.

my first visit was to the newborn, though. i couldn't believe that anyone can be that small. she is so cute, the parents were just so proud! she has this thick hair (for a baby), red lips and very rosy cheeks (when she's about to cry). when i arrived at their place, which i found after getting lost and reaching greenhills (one blessing is that i'm now familiar with the area), the baby was sleeping peacefully. when i touched her though, she reacted and it was amazing to see her react with just a small touch. God is amazing and it reminded me of Richard Cypher's first encounter with magic -- touching a newborn child.

in a few years' time though, my friends' kid will just be as crazy, noisy and fun (but tiring!) to be with as the next pair of kids i visited. it was sean's graduation party. the other night, grace sent me a message telling me that sean was asking that i go to their place. he said he wants to have visitors but knowing this kid, i just knew that he wanted a gift. since he was given an award at school, i couldn't help but give him one. after all, he deserved it after all his hardwork (and for being obedient to his mother!). i'm just glad that he liked the gift i gave him now compared to the last time i gave him one - his reaction at that time was truly disappointing! you know, kids couldn't just hide what they think with a blank look like what most adults do! i guess i love them for that.

yet being with them today made me realize that raising a kid can really be a tough job! what makes it worthwhile is the kiss they give you to say 'thank you,' the smile they shower upon you, the embrace, the climb in your lap just to be with you, the effort they put in so that they can play with you and all that, and the love that they can give you unconditionally. there is nothing to compare that with nor anything that can top it.

my friends are lucky to have that. i know i will too -- soon.

God is Good

there is still good in this world. today, i was a witness to that.

an unknown man, who had picked up my officemate's baby bag in their gas station, had sent it back to her from tarlac. that said bag was stolen a couple of weeks ago and thought forever gone. when she checked the contents, only her mobile phone and the Php200 were gone. her medicines, cards, and most especially her child's immunization record were still there. this man might not realize it, but he had made my friend the happiest person today. it made us, the people who saw this act of kindness, believe that there is still good in this world.

this man is an angel and we hope that he'll be rewarded by our Heavenly Father.

fireworks!

singapore's finale fireworks display

spent last sunday's evening watching the fireworks at moa for the first pyromusical competition with my sister and her friends. malaysia's display was a little disappointing, especially their rendition of Celine Dion's It's All Coming Back to Me. the display was lost in the song's finale. Singapore's finale was great! i love the non-stop display and its timing with the music.

(i'm watching tv and they are now featuring manny pacquiao. they interviewed a couple of guys in dallas, texas and i can't believe he is that famous! hahaha...)

sweet boy

there was this little kid of two who visited his mother at the hospital. when he saw his mommy lying in bed, he came up to her and asked, "mama, are you sick?" and then he proceeded to lie down beside her in bed to keep her company.

such a sweet little boy - my nephew.

margarita night

to quote rhoda, i should have said -- "i am a member of AA." hahaha... just kidding. i am not alcoholic but i do love my margarita!

i was supposed to run early this morning today but the chance to stay in bed a little longer was more appealing than sweating it out. it was the first in many mornings that i felt more relaxed. added to this was the fact that i had no pressing matters to attend to today. no, i was not nursing a hangover. a few glasses of margarita couldn't bring me down that low! :P last night, i was hoping to be too dizzy, too euphoric, just for the heck of it. it's been a long time since i had a drink and i was just so happy to be spending that time with good food and very good friends who waited for me to finish my three-glass quota. funny though, i didn't feel any buzzing except for being so happy! my friends were worried that i might not be able to go home alone but i was really fine. on my way home though, i realized that i'm glad i know my limit because it is not good to abuse my body! hahaha...

i hope i can go back soon. wanna join me?