Jon on the Expressway

My husband is an overly cautious driver. I yack about his driving because I just do. He always retorts with how he doesn't scratch the car or wait to bump something before stopping which is obviously how I drive. =snicker, snicker= As if that would affect me. He has eagle eyes, you know. He can spot a tiny scratch from a mile away!

I used to drive when we had to pass the expressway because the white lines mesmerized and made him sleepy although I noticed that he never actually went to sleep but kept an eye on the speedometer. I had to keep my cruising speed at a maximum of 100kph and I had to announce if I was going to speed up to pass another vehicle. My leg would cramp because keeping a car at 100kph is a shade off my comfort angle which would be about 120kph. Anyway, he has taken over the expressway driving and this is how it looks like.

Kayla's NCAE

Kayla took the 5-hour National College Assessment Exam (NCAE) yesterday. Back in my time, it was called the National College Entrance Exam (NCEE). It is a nationwide exam taken every year by highschool seniors to help them identify what course is best for them.

When we took it 25 years ago, we were told to use Mongol Pencil #2 and you will surely get a good grade. So we all went armed with Mongol #2s as if that was our salvation. If the NCAE is anything like the NCEE, it's definitely a long, boring, boring test which poses a problem for an impatient girl like Kayla. It's not far-fetched that she will throw down her pencil, scream "WHAT A STUPID TEST!!!" and storm out of the room.

So to challenge her, I told her she had better match my NCEE grade of 99+. Snicker, snicker.

During dinner, I asked her how she did in the exam. Guess what she said? "I fell asleep for about 30 minutes."


If I recall correctly, I did too. Now let's just wait for the results.

Florence and Coron

I so want to go to Coron. It's a wondrous place. Awesome to the extreme! It's like paradise. I love the rock formations and caves surrounded by the beautiful green water.

Jon went there a few months ago and just recently, Florence had the luxury of spending a couple of days there. I'm green with envy like the sea in Coron.

Florence is a novice photographer so she has fantastic pictures of the scenery. Here is one of them.


Perfect... ruined only by her freshly pedicured sea lion-like feet.

Kayla in College

Kayla's graduating from HS this school year. At 15, she will soon be going to a university out there in the wild, wide world. I fret about it.

Typically, I missed the application period at the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University - two of the biggest, respected universities in the country. I'm left with about 4 more to choose from and I made sure not to miss the application period so I immediately sent for the entrance kits of De La Salle University, De La Salle Benilde and St. Scholastica's College (my alma mater). The fourth choice is Univesity of Asia Pacific... hmmm, a tad bit too expensive, I think. The last choice is Assumption College (of course it's last, it's the #1 rival school of St. Scho).

Kayla reviewed the course line up of DLSU. I kinda suggested Management of Financial Institutions because it sounds grand. But she's keen on going to Law School so she ignored me and chose LIACOM, majoring in AB Psychology and BSC Legal Management. Not what I suggested so what's the next thing to do? Fret, of course! I might have to support her longer than necessary! lol! I have arranged for her to talk to some people I'm impressed with in order to help her decide. She'll find out what she truly wants to do in due time.

All I can do is fret.

Last Picture Syndrome (LPS)

Ruth, my beloved friend, always makes sure I am in the loop in anything and everything so whenever there's something new she would let me know. She's precious.

One morning, she guided me to a new discovery and believe me, it changed me profoundly. I finally found the inspiration of my life! This indescribable picture that spoke a thousand words gripped the core of my being. What a sight to behold. As a matter of fact, it was such a sight that it totally erased my urge to munch. The words it spoke enumerated the reasons why I should get off my lazy a**, whip out my extra super maximum support Champion sports bras and make that speed rope whistle within an inch of my crown. Go! Go! Go!

If you want to see this life-changing, awe-inspiring picture, PM me. But beware... it just might be a picture of you.

SuperMom

I play Mafia Wars about 15 hours a day everyday. I brush my dogs' hair about 2 hours a day except Saturdays when I spend the whole morning bathing and grooming them. I sleep about 5 hours a day and work, eat, bathe and travel the rest of the time.

Jonathan and Kayla come in to the picture in snippets while I wait for my energy and stamina refill. I'm a mom/wife in absentia!


Cukay, on the other hand, is a full-time, hands-on mom. For instance, Mojee got stuck on a sticky paper trap. He squeezed into a small opening to reach it and it stuck to his face. He ran around in circles blindly until Cukay pinned him down and swiped it away with her paw. He was freed and the sticky paper stuck to Cukay. Yaya had to trim Mojee's facial hair and her front right paw.

Mojee now looks like CJ7.

Cory! Cory! Cory!

In 1985, people were constantly demonstrating in the streets all over the Philippines. We were calling for Justice for Ninoy Aquino and the impeachment of Ferdinand Marcos. Yellow was the color of the freedom.

Cory Aquino graduated from St. Scholastica's so we, of course, had to support her and the nuns marched with us as well. I was an ignorant college freshman and we joyfully took to the streets to get out of school and meet cute guys from other schools. We marched down Ayala Avenue (ooooh, the business sector! The place where we will one day work!) and yellow confetti would rain down from the tall buildings. I remember how festive the mood was. I didn't really understand the significance of the movement as I was nothing but a naive, self-centered teenager. It was only later on after EDSA 1 and when she ascended into power did I understand the situation better. She truly united the people and catapulted us into a free nation.

Cory Aquino is gone now. The Filipino people mourn her passing and remember her for what she had been and done.