Marius and conversations.

Yesterday I asked Marius the first thing he would do when we go to Manila this Christmas.

Marius: First I'm going to say "I'm glad to meet you all," then I'm going to visit friends.
Kala: Like which friends?
Marius: Like Tito Lance.
Kala: But he's not your friend, he's your uncle and he's family.
Marius: He's my family friend! Then I'm going to buy toys.

***

Just the other day I overheard Marius using the word "pathetic" several times. I asked if knew what it meant and he said no, and could I look it up in the dictionary? :)

Isang taon na kami sa Kiwiland

Agosto 2009

Isang taon na pala ang nakararaan nang lumipat kami sa Kiwiland. At ano naman kaya ang nagbago? Kahapon lang sabi ko sa isa sa mga pinakamalapit kong kaibigan, nag-iba na ang pananaw ko sa kahulugan ng pag-asenso. Dati kasi, katumbas ng pera, pag-angat at pagkilala sa trabaho ang pag-asenso ko. Pero ngayon, alam kong mas umasenso na ako kasi alam ko na paano maging kuntento.

Mas may oras na ako para alagaan ang pamilya ko. Sa loob ng isang taon, natuto akong magluto at maging "hands-on" sa lahat ng bagay -- ngayon nakikipaglaro na ako ng soccer kay Marius, kahit hindi ako marunong. Naglalakad ako sa tabing-dagat at sinasabi ko sa sarili ko, "salamat sa malinis na hangin na nalalanghap ko." May bahay kaming natutuluyan, kumakain buong araw at nagliliwaliw paminsan-minsan. May oras na kami para maging pamilya.

Alam ko parang napaka-simple pakinggan, pero ito ang nagpapasaya sa akin ngayon. Masaya maging kuntento sa buhay na meron ka. Yung trabaho na gusto ko? Makapaghihintay yun. Sa ngayon, pamilya lang muna ang aasikasuhin ko. Kasi may paparating na anghel ulit sa buhay namin -- ito na marahil ang pinakamalaking "blessing" sa amin. Salamat ulit kasi todo-todong pag-asenso na ito. :)

Of IDs, San Miguel beer and Public Holidays :)

Tomorrow, April 25, is Anzac Day -- a public holiday in New Zealand and Australia. It commemorates members of the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I.

But that's not what this blog is all about.

Thinking that all shops will be closed tomorrow, I went to the supermarket to do my shopping. Earlier, Ariel had asked me to buy him beer and as luck would have it, I saw a familiar brown bottle...San Miguel Pale Pilsen! The 6 bottles costs $12+ (around Php300) but what the heck, it's SMB in NZ. At the checkout, the lady asked me for my ID before scanning the beer. So I gave her my driver's license, but it took her a while to figure out where my date of birth was so I pointed it out to her. This is the second time it happened to me -- the first when I was shopping with Marius, looking so much like a mommy...unless I look like a teenage mom? Ha!

I've heard some people complain about producing an ID to verify their age -- well, not ME! I mean, it's good that supermarket staff are doing what they should. But more that that, it makes me feel so UN-MANANG :) Just what I need as I turn another year older. 

So...ID kung ID!

Not a Kiwi!

Scenario: Ariel and Kala are watching a news piece about Kiwi soldiers leaving for Afghanistan. Marius sees the patch on the sleeves of the soldiers -- a Kiwi bird patch. 

The following conversation takes place:

Marius: Look...a Kiwi!

Ariel: You're like that too, you're a Kiwi.

Kala: No, you're a Filipino.

Marius: I'm not a Kiwi...I'm a human being!

Ayos!

31 Goals until April 15, 2010

Got this idea from my dear friend, Naidz, who is also struggling with her 30+ goals from last year. Let's see how far I'll go with mine :) These, I think, are realistic goals, desires, wishes, and all the things that I want to accomplish before I turn 32. 

1. Have a baby girl.

2. Buy our first house.

3. Find part time work.

4. Study photography. Or learn by myself, if I can't afford the 2-year diploma course.

5. Learn to sew and make girl's dresses.

6. Get NZ license (w/o any retest).

7. Lose weight - it might take a miracle (or liposuction) to go back to size 8, so for now I'll pin it down to losing 10 lbs.

8. If #7 fails, donate all size 8 clothes to the salvation army.

9. Do all the other Wellington Walks (also to support #7).

10. Encourage Marius all the time.

11. Go bungee jumping.

12. Read the newspaper (or even online) every day. Seriously.

13. Understand Kiwi slang.

14. When I have spare money, buy a Louie Vuitton bag or an IMac (I think the gadget lust is stronger than my fashion lust. But first, how do I get that extra $$$?)

15. Edit long-overdue home videos.

16. Write more blogs. 

17. Keep in touch with family and friends.

18. Wear gloves every time I wash the dishes.

19. Be more creative in making beaded jewelry. Join summer festivals.

20. Go back to swimming. Improve endurance.

21. Finish reading Stanley Karnow's "In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines" - it's been in the bookshelf for 3 or so years. 

22. Learn more dishes to cook. Ugh! 

23. Water my apple and lemon trees consistently :) 

24. Sleep early and wake up early.

25. Do something good, all the time

26. Not get a credit card in NZ. Manageable. But keep the supplementary card for "emergency use" from my Super Nanay.

27. Drive less, walk more. 

28. Teach Marius to speak Filipino.

29. Borrow more books from the library. Buying books are on-hold, unless absolutely necessary.

30. Do more word puzzles to improve my ailing memory.

31. Do everything from 1-30 :) Ha!

Funny Marius

Kala: Tomorrow I'll be older.

Marius: How old?

(Kala holds up 3 fingers in right hand, 1 in left)

Marius: 4 years old? Like me!

Kala: No anak, it means I'll be 31 tomorrow.

Ang cute mo anak!

Earth Hour according to Marius

"It's time to turn off the light and save electricity!"

This is what my 4-year old son, Marius, has been bugging everyone in the house about. We're taking part in this year's Earth Hour and I'm glad that my son is aware about this. It's true what others say, start them young and they'll keep it with them 'till they're old. I hope Marius will :) 

Lights out now!