Back braces

June 14

Today, I woke up with a slight ache in the back. It’s my scoliosis screaming again, I guess. I have outgrown my back braces so either I get a lot of exercise to be slimmer again or I get another braces, even when the doctor says my spine is normal and that I just have to maintain good posture all the time. Sure, sure, but I guess I need props, too, especially during my sleep. Standing up or sleeping straight all the time wears me out, even to just think about it.

P.S. I don’t mind the braces but I do mind the public scrutiny, as if I were some alien taking a human form. When I first wore it during college, I wasn’t driving yet so I have to endure weird looks thrown at me inside public jeepneys or on the sidewalks. I’m grateful that my little patience wearing it for two years or so paid off. Now, without my braces, people would comment at how I could sit or stand up straight. It would be useless to explain to them that it would hurt if I don’t. I tried but they would not understand. So I would just smile at them and challenge them (subtly) to do the same. And tell them that standing up tall and straight most of the time feels great.

Animation

June 13

I had planned to go bowling today. But due to the strong rains, I decided that I prefer to cuddle myself with a blanket and watch pirated animated movies instead. I love wholesome and fairytale cartoons–their colors and movement are simply amazing (even when their plots are less thrilling). Among my favorites are Mulan, Cars, and Barbie. My current favorite is Cars because it challenges viewers to appreciate the simple things in life. But today, I want to watch Bambi and a couple of the Barbie animations or crime action series Cold Case. What can I say? Sweet cuteness!

Caught in between

June 12, 5:30pm

At this moment, I am waiting for my boyfriend who is waiting at the line–patiently, I hope–so he can give our orders in this noisy fastfood center. Just a little while ago, I was also waiting for him to arrive in the mall where I had an event to cover. In both waiting times, a funny thought occurred to me: I, the girlfriend, am doing the waiting for him.

Well, this reminds me of traditional stories passed on by my grandparents about women waiting patiently in their homes–knitting, cooking, washing–for some neat gentlemen to court them or for their patriotic husbands who are at war.

Women nowadays are different. They are restless. I think waiting bores them, which probably explains the rampant stories about three-year-old or so relationships that are broken by distance and time.

My boyfriend–who is five years older than me–and I both belong to the generation that borders practices of both traditional and modern periods. While my boyfriend is proud about his roots, he is open to what the future holds. While I am restless, I have enough sense to wait. This probably (and partly) explains our strong bond, our special friendship, and our contented relationship that is now nearing four years old.

Blessings

June 12

I woke up today with a sense of gratitude that I was able to open my eyes, even with a headache, after a disoriented sleep last night.

All will be well. I just have to learn to focus and appreciate more what I have–my life (that I am breathing), my parents and our home, my sister and her humor and coolness, my niece and nephews who are staying with us until their school starts next week, my boyfriend who unceasingly understands and always there for me during my personal battles, my friends (Ruth, Montaigne, Jen, Tyra, Dess, and many others) who never forgets me even when I take them for granted sometimes, my gadgets that I bought out of hard work (TV, laptop, Moto, E71, etc.), our red van that has stayed with us until now for the past seven years or so, and my work that even when it is not perfect and the pay is not good, at least I am employed, especially in the midst of the global financial crisis.

I have to learn to count more and add more to this list. And start my day reading this. So I will know what I am living for.

Thank you, St. Therese of the Child Jesus.

Thank you, Brother Jesus.

Thank you, Mother Mary.

Thank you, Lord.

For all these blessings.

My Nokia E71 review (1)

June 1.

I can’t sleep. I am writing through a new gadget I am testing. This telecommunication device is really unique, equipped with basic computer functions such as my favorite writing canvas, Microsoft Word as well as other stuff such as real player, flash player, PDF file, zip file, and dictionary (!). But most importantly, it is a strongly equipped with email functions at such easy pace. I’m sure by now you have an idea what this value-for-money gadget is. To cut the suspense, it’s a white steel Nokia E71! I’m currently testing it and this brief piece is my initial review.

I like this handyphone, really. It sure is handy, although I am still adjusting to the cute Qwerty keyboard. From the Document feature, I’ll be moving on to the next exciting functions. I’ll fill you in in the next part, hopefully longer, review. And I’ll write that review using this gadget. Cool, huh?