wants vs. being far away

What I really want to do is watch T'yanak in Bacolod. I miss going to the movies in general though. It has been years.

old movies, ok.

I couldn't find any shows on the telly to watch regularly unless you count endless repeats of Micky Mouse Clubhouse and Peppa Pig as mainstream tv. I know there are loads out there. I missed an entire season of The Great British Bake Off due to lack of time, energy and I'd rather sleep. I still feel I need more sleep especially in this weather.

But after 1900 hours or during those quiet downtime before bed, I've come across viewings of a few Pinoy classics (as I define the word) -- Working Girls (Bernal, 1984), 14 Going Steady (Gosiengfiao, 1984), Friends in Love (Garcia, 1983). All three films I've seen in real time. I was eight when Sharon, Rowell, William, Jackie showed the world the gorgeous and fascinating lives of young people to the manor born. In the movie they clearly have manners. They have nice clothes. They go to the school for the rich.

Just recently I've decided to relive the all too eloquent speech of Sandy (Sharon, again) to her parents in Forgive and Forget (Garcia, 1982). Or actually I just want to see Nida Blanca and Nestor De Villa dance that routine at the end. I mean, Wow! The stars of a bygone era were just simply marvelous. They could cry copious tears in dramatic moments and dance and sing like magic in the finale.

fever, colds ...

It's such a puzzle for me, the way I embrace exhaustion with such flourish. Wouldn't it be nice to be relaxed and pampered once in a while? When you have a toddler and it's just you and the husband taking turns running after her, soothe those screams .... it's a delicate situation.

What about child minders? I'm not a sociable person so a paid person is not conducive to my personality while my friends are all busy working.

Whilst members of family on both sides are not based in London.

So it's only mummy and daddy for my tiny tot and the two days tweety bird spends at nursery. The three of us are managing as long as we don't develop a cold and get confined to bed.

As it happened a few days ago, my sweetie was so hot for three straight nights. She has never been that sick so far. If only she was not refusing sponge bath, the brat. But eventually, after much worrying on my part, she gained back her normal body temperature. The lesson is that kids test your fortitude and makes you worry, worry, worry. They also fake-cry and throw tantrums as if adults easily succumb to manipulations.

a boost, yes a boost

I shouldn't blame my rambunctious, sweet little girl for my lackadaisical attitude. But the pile of clothes don't get ironed by themselves, the floor still needs hoovering, etc., etc. I find it already hard to move my muscle when my tiny albeit cute, daughter runs around every where, wreaking havoc in every corner. However as one annoying elderly once told those within hearing distance, once children grow and they can take care of themselves. Do they really, now?

Navigating the tumultuous seas is never easy, not having the time for yourself, not having friends... I'm stuttering in mid-sentence.

saturated?

I have difficulty managing my time. My plate is too much hard labour, I tend to snooze too much on days off. Then in a moment of lull, I got into another viewing of Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay, a film starring Judy Ann Santos and Rico Yan and one I've seen a million times and got caught in the web of time-wasting; reading, digging about the said partnership on the web, pouring over old magazines, deciphering between the comments on old videos. I was able to catch their rapport on Gimik, which I missed in real time. Judy Ann had far better fashion sense in the barkada series than some of her films. But the videos they have together are limited as their team up ended long before Rico passed away.

As for Judy Ann, she has Instagram and she's such a creative cook (hope to see her become a full-pledged chef). My husband who is hard to please when it comes to food mutters "she didn't prepare that?!" But she certainly lovingly crafts her #dirty breakfast with such fancy and galore. She cooks as well as she acts. Amazing.

At my age, my sense of awe and wonder on Filipino films stops with Judy Ann. I don't dwell on anyone younger than her. I'm such into the bygone era of the 80's or 60's. While Philippine show business, the producers of film companies would rather invest on films about teenagers. However the audience embrace what they are served. It's all a matter of press release and image-building, nothing in-depth. Why go deep when life is all about the young? The film companies target audience depends on their parents and guardians for their allowance.  As I age, I find it hard to relate to the producers and film companies' mindset.

mid-month

I'm so sad about Robin Williams death. I've seen him in tons and tons of movies. He made me laugh. He made me cry. Try as I might until I'm blue in the face, I'm not witty and definitely not a source of the best one-liners and quotable quotes. To those with unparalleled sense of humour, a shower of my fervent admiration comes your way.

bye, bye Minnie, Daisy's tablecloth

After two weeks, our dining table is back to its bare essence. We had Minnie Mouse team, my child loves Minnie.

Preparing my daughter's second birthday party wasn't exactly a breeze. But after the event I've grown up wiser and more enlightened about food (main dishes & desserts) tables, tablecloth, chairs, cutleries, balloons (no more helium balloons especially that we don't own a helium canister) drinks (buy dry ice before the event?) cakes, souvenirs and guests. Is it all about the guests?

Oh yes, the bulk of concern is the content of the guest list, primarily on those who didn't bother to come to those who should have been there but were tied up with work or vital circumstances. It's also baffling how a group of individuals have this one degree connection to each other but don't mingle or make small talk. In a party we'd rather talk with the people we know. Or we could forge lifetime friendship or interaction.

But it's a get together or a reunion, it should be enlightening.