Reministream: Jumping for the New Year

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When I was a child, the whole family would go to the province every year for Christmas and New Year. We would usually leave the house during the early morning hours when the sun hasn't risen yet and travel by car to Ilocos. It was an exciting time for us --- being awake when the rest of the world was asleep. We would still be in our pajamas, with a sweater or jacket thrown over it. We would have our pillows and blankets with us and we would all be cuddled comfortably on the back seats.

Once in Ilocos, the fun would start: going to the nearby beach everyday...visiting with relatives who would offer gastronomical wonders in the form of bibingka and kalamay...roaming around the town fair (or "perya") at night.

On Christmas eve, there would be a midnight mass. The church would be full of people, young and old. We would feel like celebrities because people stared at us, obvious outsiders --- with our pale skin and chinky eyes. After the mass, there were treats to look forward to: sweet coconut balls and fruit salad...and gift! Loads and loads of gifts!


On New Year's eve, when fireworks were still the "in" thing, uncles and neighbors would set fireworks off in an array of lights and loud bangs! My sisters and I would sit on the window sills and and look outside in wonder. We were small and light enough for the sills to hold all of us! Also, when the church bells would ring at midnight, we would all jump as high as we could to welcome the new year! We were told that if we jump on the eve of the new year, that we would grow tall! And so we jumped...from the top of the stair steps, the chairs, the tables and the window sills!


Now that I look back, those were pretty happy times. Nowadays, it's so difficult to get everyone together, even for just one night. What with different jobs and other responsibilities. We don't get to jump for the new year anymore, since I guess the jumping has done its part...


...we're all taller than we used to be when we were young! ;-)

Jetstream: Slowly but Surely Does the Trick

http://www.gutenberg.org

One of Aesop's fables that I could not forget is that of the story of the thirsty raven. It has stuck to my consciousness through time because somehow, it was a story that inspired me.

This was how the story went:

Once upon a time, there was a thirsty raven. It went around, searching for water. Finally, the raven spotted some water inside a tall pitcher. Much as it tried to get it's beak in to drink the water, the raven could not reach it. The crafty raven looked around and spotted pebbles all over the place. One by one, the raven picked up the pebbles and dropped them into the pitcher. Slowly, but surely, as the pitcher filled with pebbles, so did the water level go up. Finally, there were enough pebbles in the pitcher and the water rose high enough for the raven to reach it and drink.

There are two "morals" to the story: one is "necessity is the mother of invention" and the other, my personal mantra, "slowly but surely does the trick."

In a fast-paced world where everything is done in a rush, sometimes we forget that the more we slow down, the more thorough we become. Instead of fast food, a slow-cooked, filling meal is always better --- more appreciated and more worth it. This is why more often than not, the best meals are the ones made by those you love --- your mother who slaved at the kitchen the whole day or the favorite aunt who can cook the best pies and desserts around. Go to a restaurant serving the same dishes and the feelings evoked are never the same.

Another example is --- surprise, surprise --- this blog. I have several posts already but only a handful (not even "full" --- more like half a handful) of readers. But this doesn't stop me from posting and sharing my thoughts. Someday, I hope to get to the point when I'd have to give away stuff to "loyal" readers and followers...to cater to requests for things to write about...to get paid for writing! I look forward to that...but right now...slowly but surely, I am putting my thoughts out for anyone interested to read.

...and I do hope, dear reader, you are one of them!

Weirdstream: Who was Watching TV?

At around 1:30 in the morning, as I was leaving my sisters' room, I suddenly got hungry. When I left their room to get something to eat, I heard the loud blaring of what seemed to be the television. I thought the sound was coming from upstairs, from my brother's room. I remember thinking: "Wow. Tobie (my brother) has his TV volume up super loud!"

As I was on the stairs' landing, I realized that the blaring sound was coming from the dining room's television. I started wondering: who would want to watch TV so late at night...with all the lights off...and the TV volume up so loud, that I was afraid it was disturbing the neighbors' sleep. When I got downstairs, I saw that there was NO ONE at the dining area. The TV was on and no one was watching.


I told my sisters about it over coffee the other night and they had an explanation for that weird event. Our TV at the dining area is already old. They said that the on/off switch was "unstable" already that it really had the tendency to go on and off on its own. I decided to leave it at that.

I was just glad that at least the TV wasn't unplugged! 

Jetstream: This Christmas

Christmas Tree clipart

copyright (c) Lucy Learns Ltd ( www.lucylearns.com)

Two Christmases ago, I was at work. I had a choice between staying in the office on Christmas Day or on New Year's Eve. I sacrificed my new year once and I was never, ever doing it again. And so I chose to sacrifice my Christmas.

Spending the holidays inside the office is always a lonely event. It's difficult to feel the Christmas cheer when you're in a dreary, quiet place (everyone else had the good sense to file a leave a month or two in advance!). While everyone else is celebrating and spending time with those most important to them, I was at work staring at my computer, counting the hours till it was time to leave. On the eve of Christmas, I would get a call from my sisters who would tell me what they were doing and eating at the moment...I was just having instant coffee from the pantry. New year's eve was even worse. I'll post a blog on that soon.

Anyway, I'm glad that now, I got the chance to spend the holidays with those whom I consider more important than my paycheck. 


My Christmas for this year was merry indeed. I hope that yours was as well.

Reministream: A Visit from St. Nicholas

In the spirit of Christmas, I am sharing my favorite Christmas poem, titled "A Visit from St. Nicholas." This was the poem that, as a child, I was asked to memorize to recite in front of my family and relatives. I don't remember if I was ever able to recite it in its completion, but whenever Christmas comes, the first lines always, always come to mind.

...of course when it came to the lines "not a creature was stirring , not even a mouse," I just always had to replace the generic "mouse" with Mickey Mouse. "Not a creature was stirring, not even Mickey Mouse!"


I hope you enjoy the poem! It's one childhood memory that will always bring a smile to my face!

http://altogetherchristmas.com/poems/AVisitFromStNicholas.html

’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her ’kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night.”

Reministream: How I Named My Sister After Me

My sister's nickname is "Tet." 

Yes, I'm "Jet" and she's "Tet."

Some people, when they find out what her real name is, would ask why in the world she was given such a nickname which had nothing to do whatsoever with her real name. With that question, people in my family would turn to me with an accusing look on their faces, as if to say: blame it on her.

Yep. Blame it on me. It was my fault.

You see, even as a baby, I was already known by the nickname "Jet." I was told that I thought the word Jet was the word for "baby" and so I thought that all babies were called "Jet."

When my sister came into the family, I saw that she was also a baby just like me. And so I kept calling her Jet. Unfortunately, I couldn't pronounce the word "Jet" properly and ended up saying "Tet." Tet for Jet because I couldn't pronounce the letter "J" well. 

Well, what did you expect from a two year old (I was told that I was two years old at that time)?

Jet and Tet

...I personally think Tet wouldn't want to have her nickname any other way! ;-)

Wordstream: Niece vs. Nephew

I used to have a boyfriend who loved talking to me about his sister's child. All the while I thought the kid was male...but she turned out to be female.

How did I end up with that kind of misconception, you ask?

It's because of statements like these:

"You should meet my nephew, she's really cute."


"My nephew likes to play with my drums whenever she's around."

" She's my one and only nephew."

That was a gazillion years ago, but I will always remember him for those statements. 

While my mind was conjuring images of a cute boy, that ex-boyfriend of mine volunteered to show me a picture. Lo and behold it was a picture of a 6-year old girl. Oh my. I wanted to correct him and tell him that "nephew" wasn't the right word for your sibling's daughter. It was "niece," but I was too afraid of offending him that I kept quiet. 

Maybe it was because of this experience that I became an English teacher. It was to make up for this one instance when I failed to right a wrong.

 ...I wonder if someone ever had the guts to correct him.

Safetystream: Elevator Safety

Last Friday, I was in the elevator on my way to the basement parking of my workplace's building. I was looking forward to finally going back home and spending the day with my siblings. On the Ground floor, the elevator door would usually automatically open to let more people in before heading off to any other floor, whether up or down. I waited patiently when the doors opened but nobody stepped in. When not in a hurry, I would wait for the door to close on its own rather than force it to close with the "Close" button. And so, I waited some more. 

 Nada. 

I stood at the farthest corner of the cab, just staring into space. The elevator doors started to close as I watched it in a trance-like state. 

Two inches...

One inch...

Just as it was about to completely close, a hand appeared right in the middle of the closing gap. The hand started moving up and down rapidly as if trying to frantically ask for some higher being (like the door's sensors) to notice it. 

The doors continued to close and it was closing in on the intruding hand. It did not care. I heard a desperate squeak from the hand (its owner, to be exact) before I finally was able to leap to it's rescue and press the "Open" button. A small woman of about 40-ish got in with a sigh of relief.

I could not let the incident pass and told her:

"Safety first. Be careful."

She gave me a guilty chuckle before she turned to face the doors. 

I shook my head and sighed. I wanted to tell her that I've heard of some gristly stories about people getting their body parts trapped in between the doors and getting mauled as the cab started moving. I've heard of people getting their shoes, bags and other apparel stuck in between as it would move up or down to its limit and stay there till the doors opened again. I thought those were great examples of apparent disregard for one's safety. I, personally, would just allow the doors to close and wait for the next cab to open. It wasn't worth risking a hand, an arm or a foot. 


I wanted to tell her all those things but it would have turned out to be a scolding...for a perfect stranger. Besides, it was my turn to get past the door to get out  on to my designated basement floor. I was glad the other passenger waited for me to step off completely before she moved to push the "Close" button.

...and she wasn't even supposed to go down because I saw her press the number 12.

Bookstream: The Evolution of a Bookworm

I've always loved books. Even when I was a child, I liked books more than I liked toys and dolls. My favorite books were those of fairy tales by the brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen. I loved the story of the Little Mermaid and Rapunzel. I liked reading about myths and legends. Stories of Persephone and Narcissus, Maria Makiling and all those legends about star-crossed lovers never failed to entertain me.

Going into my teenage years, I started looking for longer stories like Sweet Valley Kids and then moved on to Sweet Valley High. After i got a bit tired of reading about the same people again and again, I discovered Sweet Dreams. Ah! I loved those teen romance novels! In fact, I loved those novels so much that I wasn't content with just reading...I had to write my own stories. One of these days, I'll talk about that in a different blog post.

Anyway, Sweet Dreams eventually became too short for me and I started exploring longer novels. Now, one thing you have to know is that my mother used to collect romantic novels as well. She had tons and tons of Mills&Boon books. I remember the first Mills&Boon book that I read: I was in high school and the author was Violet Winspear. I loved her books! She was engaging and had the most wonderful plots and story lines. After a while, I found that those M&B books were not enough...it was like the stories started ending too soon for my taste. So, like an addict, I wanted more.

Shh! I still have the book!

One day (still in high school), I came across this thick paperback novel in my mom's room. On the cover was a beautiful girl and a handsome guy (not Fabio) in a lover's embrace. It was a book titled "Magic Embrace" by Jennifer Horsman. I read the blurb/synopsis at the back and got intrigued by the story line. I asked my mom if I could borrow it. She said it was fine but I had to return it to her because the book was lent to her by a friend. I started reading it and couldn't put it down. Being in high school, I read through most of the more sensual parts without really understanding anything. Believe it or not, I wasn't really interested in that part of the book...it was the whole story itself that I was after. It's funny how anyone who finds out that I read romance novels would immediately assume that I read it for the "sensual parts." Those parts, I consider a bonus and not a must! LOL! 

Now, back to my story...(she doth proteth too darn much! ;-)


That one book got me hooked on those thick paperback novels. I couldn't put them down. I could read a whole 365 paged book in one day...in one sitting. Jennifer Horsman became my favorite romance author. I made it a point to visit any and all booksales that I could find and look for her books. It was then that I started collecting romance novels. I had shelves-full of books by different romance authors by the time I graduated from college.

These days, I think I have grown tried of romance and I'm now moving on to thriller/suspense/action novels. When author Iris Johansen moved from romance to mainstream fiction, my tastes evolved as well. I began to like novels that combined action and romance and eventually moved on to action and male authors. It all started with Dan Brown. Now, James Rollins is taking most of my book-reading time. 

Throughout all this, my book-reading comfort zone will always be in the form of fairy tales and children's books. I would always go back to Roald Dahl, Hugh Lofting and Hans Christian Andersen whenever I need a warm comforting hug in the form of a good, timeless story.

Reministream: Childhood Cartoons and Capers

Reministream. This is a blog entry that has anything and everything to do with my childhood: memories, experiences, likes and dislikes. 

***
Very recently in Facebook, someone started the movement to change profile pictures to cartoon characters for the victims of child abuse. Now, I'm not sure if all those cartoon characters were able to help an abused child but what I was sure about was that those profile pictures made me reminisce about my favorite cartoon characters when I was a child. 

The Flying House

I grew up watching cartoons like Flying House and Superbook, Voltes V, Daimos and Voltron (they were all in English then! I attribute my English grammar know-how to those shows...but I digress).

Voltes V Team

I watched a whole lot of other cartoons that I now cannot name. I remember that cartoon time was as important as play time because cartoons helped foster my vivid imagination. After watching Voltron, I wanted to be Princess Allura (but I ended up being Lance, I think) and Jamie for Voltes V (but I ended up being Steve) whenever I'd do playacting with my sister and cousins. Those were the days of jumping from high sofas and beds and sliding down long banisters. Those were the days of running around till you smell of sun and sweat. 

Rainbow Brite with Twink and Sprite

Another childhood favorite of mine, which I eventually chose as my profile picture, was Rainbow Brite. I wanted to be her when I grew up. I wanted to own a creture like Twink and a horse like Sprite. I would always ask my mom to buy me those small jelly cups with the Rainbow Brite characters on the top cover. Even when I was already working, whenever I'd see those jellies with the Rainbow Brite characters on them, I'd buy just because. I remember when I was young, I would get a box of crayons and a sharpener and collect the shavings. I would crumble them all up to mix the colors and come up with my version of the star sprinkles. I also remember asking my mom to go all the way to this area where there was a meet-and-greet with Rainbow Brite herself and I pestered her to get me those sticker books. 


I loved those days.


I hope children of this new generation would get the chance to experience all that did when I was growing up: to run around the house and street and yard...to jump off high beds and sofas and slide down banisters (give their folks a decent heart attack at the same time). Believe me when I say that I did get hurt from all those fiasco, even getting my head injured (as in an open, blood-gushing-out kinda wound) twice but I kid you not when I tell you (as my parents were probably wondering where they went wrong with me) that it was ALL GOOD.  

Those were what good memories were made of.

Dogstream: How to Hypnotize a Dog to Sleep

This was a blog I posted on my Multiply site a couple of years back when I first got my dogs. I like writing about my dogs because every moment spent with them is an experience and an adventure in itself!

I decided to share this blog here because I found this entry funny. My dogs at that time were only a few months old and I was just adjusting to being a "mother" to those two darling puppies.

I hope you enjoy this post as much as I did!

***

Today I learned how to hypnotize a dog to sleep. 

It was already five in the afternoon and I still wasn’t asleep. My work shift starts at nine in the evening and I needed all the sleep I could get or else I’d be nodding off in the office. Much as I wanted to drift off to dreamland, I couldn’t do so because little Layla (one of my two toy poodles) was busy wrecking havoc on my consciousness. By that, I meant that she was making so much noise getting Pepper (the other poodle) to play with her and running around as if she was some Energizer Bunny. I tried getting up and separating them. I tried scolding (which only really surprises them…I think I didn’t sound stern enough) and I tried staring her into silence.

All did not work.

Finally in desperation, I got up and started playing with Layla, hopefully to tire her out. I saw Pepper, seemingly exhausted from Layla’s playful behavior (and to think Layla was weak with fever only a week before) get into dreamland before I ever could. The “playing” turned to pleas as I started whispering:

“Go to sleep, Layla, go to sleep. C’mon baby, you have to go to sleep because I’m sleepy too. I need to sleep so go to sleep, Layla, go to sleep.”

I rubbed her belly, rubbed her neck, rubbed the back of her ears and then back to the belly. It went on for twenty minutes as Layla started to calm down. Her eyes started to drift shut and finally she got up out of my hands, went to Pepper’s side and promptly fell asleep. Oh blessed silence! I wearily went back to my bed and settled down for my much needed sleep.

Finally!

Too bad I started composing this blog in my mind as my head hit the pillows.

Sleep came a few minutes before I had to wake up.

Bummer.

From Lurker to Blogger

I have a confession to make: I love reading different kinds of blogs. Lifestyle blogs, paranormal stories blogs, nail art blogs, dog care blogs...name it, I've probably read it. The thing is, I only read. I don't post comments or opinions. The only way you'll know that I've been to your blog is when you see there's one more number added to your "number of views" counter.

I am a self-confessed blog lurker.

So, why finally show myself to the blogging world?

I've always wanted to set up my own blogging site but one thought always comes to mind:

What do I blog about?

I've noticed that most blogs have certain themes (as I've listed above). I don't think I have a theme. Maybe a combination of all those themes?

Another confession I have to make: I'm not really a stranger to blogging. I've blogged for family members outside of the country to let them know what's happening on my side of the planet. I have quite a number of blogs posted in my Multiply site with only about three or four people reading them! Maybe those same people will be the only ones reading blogs on this site too. But then again, maybe --- just maybe --- you'll also find my words interesting.

I will be posting some of my old blogs here and to make them more current, I will give a short explanation on why I wrote them and what I was thinking of at that time. I don't know how personal I can get with blogs (that anybody on the whole wide world can read) so I hope you won't mind if I leave out some information that can and may be used against me.

I also know that I will be subjecting myself to public scrutiny. This is one other reason why I've hesitated to write publicly. Will I be able to take criticisms and harsh feedback? Erm. Only constructive criticisms, please! I'm of fragile mind and disposition! ;-)

So here goes! Welcome to my blog spot: Jet's Stream! Sit back...relax...and enjoy the read.