KANAN, right?

Notice the boat docked at the Navy Pier here at Chicago, IL. "Kanan" in Filipino means right, hence my title-that-tries-to-be-catchy. This boat Kanan brings tourists around Downtown Chicago (backdrop), which I yet have to try. For now, I enjoy waving at them (or not) when these boats cruise along Chicago River which is very close to my office building.

Here's more about Navy Pier and Chicago's love for the arts.

I'm 28 on the 28th

That's tomorrow -- my first birthday away from home.

When I was very young, I dreamed of getting married at the age of 28. It's the age that I think I am already capable of nurturing my own family and withstanding its difficulties. It's the age that I think I am mature enough to do a lot of things on my own. Well, I'm turning 28 tomorrow and I certainly am not getting married soon. I am not so sure if I am "mature enough to do a lot of things on my own". But I certainly am on my own now.

Contrary to other people, I like celebrating my birthday no matter how simple or extravagant the celebration may be. When I say celebrate, I do not necessarily mean having a party. I mean, celebrating it in a sense that I take that day more special than any other day. I do not keep it a secret from the people around me. To me, a birthday should be remembered not so to have a reason to indulge in parties and gimmicks. Likewise, I don't keep it a secret so I don't get pestered by my friends to have me treat them for snack or dinner. (Yeah, that's how birthdays are celebrated in my home country -- the celebrator spends for the party.)

A birthday is a reason to pause and look back at the blessings I have had in my lifetime. It's a stop sign in life's freeway to remind me that I have gone this far! I may not yet be as rich as I wanted to be... not yet as "fulfilled" as I wanted to be... but all that matters is I am here. I am alive. I AM.

Yes, I am geographically distant from my family but they are always in my heart. I admit I feel a tinge of pain for not having them around tomorrow. It's a feeling I cannot tramp on. Still, I feel blessed for belonging to them. Life is good. All it takes is a positive perspective.

Who did it???

I took this picture during the winter when we were driving around Belle Isle Park. We were simply enjoying the view when... splat! bird poop!

Who among you did it???

I do not write poems but, one night, I find myself rolling uneasily in my shallow sleep. I've been pondering about my new endeavor in the coming months (or years). There's this feeling of needing to move... to flow... to always seek the unknown...

Flowing to the Unknown

I winked unto the vastness above me
The radiance of the sun pierces through my body
I am in the middle of nowhere but I am not lost
I am on my own but never alone

Strong winds take me to unknown shores
Where I bask in the pleasure of feeling alive
When nothing stirs me up, I still move somehow
I can never be still

I exist to conquer myself
I rise. I fall.
No matter what, I will need to flow

I go to places but I will always be me
I am the sea

I Got an 80Gig External Hard Disk For Christmas!!!

Huraaaaay!!!

I was backing up my files from my office laptop to my spankin' new IBM external hard disk when I saw this...



This was taken Spring of 2005 by my friend and officemate who I travelled around Toronto with. This was taken somewhere along Church Street (See the irony? Hehe!) at downtown Toronto. It was the season when same-sex marriages in Canada got legalized.

Hermit Crabs Gone Wild

Last night, an officemate told me about hermit crabs in fancy-painted shells on exhibit at the Robinson's Galleria mall. He said, the moment he saw the poor creatures in the mall, he thought of me and how I would react to such. So, out of curiosity, I chose to do my grocery at the Galleria so I could also see for myself what he was talking about.


The lady in the booth told me that these crustaceans were brought here all the way from Zamboanga. In this wet terrarium, there are lots of shells of various colors. Artificial that is. They have been hand-painted with cartoon characters and even food icons like the friendly bee, Jollibee! Haha!


Each hermit crab is sold at 100 pesos each. 150 pesos for the bigger ones, though.


At some point I felt for these crabs (and against humans). They should be crawling freely on the sea shores and not on some small plastic cage!!! They should be in the wild, living their own lives, and not being sold for profit! Still, a part of me says that there's no harm in turning hermit crabs into pets. They're not in the extinct list anyway.

I do not have a black and white definition of my verdict on this issue. I'm still leaning on the gray area. To me, as long as they are not extinct and they are treated well, they can be pets. And they should be taken VERY good care of.

Kulam candles???

I must admit, it has been a a long, long time ago since I've been to a traditional church. By traditional, I mean, an old rustic church enlivened with vendors or hawkers of colorful balloons, toys made out of old cans, native kakanin, religious items, and ofcourse, candles.

The pictures above made me think twice about what they were trying to sell me -- candles shaped like a woman! For a moment it freaked me out! I'm sorry I might have confused you there, but it reminded me of kulam.

"Toys! Toys! Mommy, I want that toy!"
Antipolo's famous suman, sticky rice cooked inside coconut leaves. It has to be dipped on sugar, then eaten. Yumm!!

My Bikini Bottom Pals

 

Hanging out with one of my bestest college friend Chacha is one of my favorite things... what more to accidentally bump into my Bikini-Bottom friends!!! Imagine 2 grown up girls taking pictures with these... crazy noh! Then I hum... "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?" 

Sleeping On The Job

Atleast once, everyone must have behaved like this feathered friend -- sleeping on the job. The sight of this sleepy head amidst a busy street in Montreal is cute! I got caught sleeping on the job too... not cute. Tee hee! 

Exactly one year ago...

Exactly one year ago, I braved Toronto's bus and train system to get to my destination. It was spring. I miss Toronto.