HOLLER

Dear ZJ, here's a short poem I've written just now. Must have been due to the intermittent rains and the gloomy weather we've been having over here in Naga City. Hope you like it. Just read on.

 

GONE

Away from you is what I am

Now alone is what you are

Perhaps we can be friends again?

And then, we can feel each other once more.

 

Come and seek my outpourings

Do not label me as insensitive

Because only you can read my mind

With clarity and certainty.

 

Despite of my predicament

I will always be your friend

Be there for you, whether storms arise

From this heart, my solemn vow.

 

Harbor not my strangeness

For this is pledge

My heart's desire

Albeit deceitful intent.

 

 

Happy weekend, bff!

Dear zj,

How are you doing today? I am hoping that your weekend is going just as great.

Over here, everything is relatively stable. Spending time with mom is definitely a great way to learn about things she can share to me – familial, the mundane, life stories, etc. Of course, we know that moms know best and I am not the type to disagree with that statement. Well, at least not for now. Haha, just kidding.

Well, this will be for now. I will try to post again as soon as I can. Have a happy weekend and enjoy the rest of your day! Miss you, bff!

Always, Sam ini

Dear ZJ,

How are you? It's been quite some time since I've posted anything on our blog. I hope that you will find in your heart to forgive me for not posting. I've been running to and fro, doing errands, finding ways to earn more, taking care of myself, you know? By the way, I've been able to watch some of Federer & Nadal's tennis (men's Finals) bout on Studio 23. There's one going on right now, although the signal is not that good, and I am not so sure if this match is a replay… at least I get the chance to watch, right? Both players are on the top of their game and both look good, buff all the way.

And, according to the link on your post Rafael Nadal won: 7-7-5-6 vs Roger Federer's 5-6-7-1. Yey! Congrats, ZJ! I know that you're happy of this turnout! Again, my heartfelt congratulations! Viva!

How's the weather out there? Over here, the weather's been unforgiving. The rains come and go, and then the skies remain overcast all the time.

These will be for now. I am hoping that we could chat online again…I will be at the other end of the line.

Until then, bff!

 

 

 

 

Are you up to it?!?!?

So, it’s a (virtual) date! I’ll be online, so, buzz me.

 

***
This is just one of the reasons why Internet is important to me – it bridges the distance! We can talk (chat) and see each other (webcam). I can see what you are eating, what you’re wearing, and most of all, the twinkle in your eyes when you smile or get excited,  or the wrinkles on your forehead when you frown, as if we’re only few feet apart. Now  all I need is to remind Rob once again to get a microphone so that we could really chika-chika.

 

Say hi to Mom for me. I could use some help over here .. My clutter is unbelievable. I have so much stuffs that I find difficult to part with. Even a ripped page from a notebook, a torn diary, or a broken key chain that I bought from one of my travels some years ago – they are still with me up to now. Rob says I’m like his father. To appease his mum, his dad built a shed of sorts so that all his stuffs that he accumulated for years. Well, the best I could do for now is just put them all in boxes and store them upstairs in our laundry room. That will have to do for the meantime,I think, until such time comes when we have to leave and I have no other choice but to give my stuffs away, or else, go bankrupt because of expensive fees of moving companies.

 

Oh well, gotta run now. I have some cooking and other stuffs to do that I want to finish before the match  begins.

See yah!

Respite

Hi there ZJ,

Thanks very much for the post, the pic of Rafa Nadal and the links. For sure, I will watch a game later tonight, then we could exchange our views and opinions regarding it. Somehow, my lack of knowledge in tennis will be filled up with more information regarding the said game, hehe. Come to think of it, I was a sportswriter in high school (long time ago) and have covered sporting matches like basketball, volleyball, tennis, among other sports. I have also won in various sports writing events way back when. Somehow, I have forgotten the joys of sports as I've become older. Good thing, you're there to rekindle my knack for sports and love of the game. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. It seems that each time we update each other with what's happening and what has taken place in our lives, you never fail to amaze me with your spontaneity and love for anything that strikes you as real and honest. Just like who you really are – real and honest. Thankfully enough, despite the distance and time differences that we have, we still manage to take the time to reach out and write about the things that matter to us most – be it family, relationships, money matters or lack of, continued friendship ties, health issues, and any other topic – mundane or otherwise, just to fill the gaps between us.

By the way, mom says hi to you too. She's quite busy cleaning up, categorizing old clothes, stocking up books and loads of paper files. She's creating a sense of normalcy amidst the clutter. Her clutter, she says.

Hopefully, I may be able to post some pics, too. As soon as I get my digicam back to its normal settings, sooner or later.

Thanks again for your post. Always know that I so look forward to reading your post, each time. Whenever I get to read it, I can't help but smile and cheer up. I am looking forward to reading more. It's just like we've been creating a bridge to narrow the miles between us, for years now. Thank you for that and for the friendship, too.

Take care, always,

Sam ini

This is what I’m watching tonight

Hi Sam,

Yes, this is it, lookie-lookie here:

 

I wish you could watch it, too. Here’s a link where I watch tennis matches live. Click it to see. Wish you could watch just one game and tell me what you think. Better yet, we can watch it together and chat at the same time. If you are interested to know more, here’s the link to the Roland Garros tournament site. That’s where the photo above is from.

 

Rafa won the first, 6-4, and right now, it’s the mid of second set with Rafa leading 3-1. Looking good, I should say, and barring no major, major tricks up on Isner’s sleeve, Rafa will win this match and go on to the second round.

 

Oh, wait… the kettle is whistling now. I’m making tea for Rob and I. You know how the British are and their love affair with tea.

 

Till next.

 

ZJ

 

P.S. I miss the fiestas in the Philippines! Thank you for writing the post about the fiesta in Cabusao. I was drooling imagining the food! Yum! I hope next time you can include photos. Please say hi to Mom. Take care, you two.

Festive

Hi ZJ,Hello there. Hope that you're doing fine, like always.

We (Mom & I) went to Cabusao for its fiesta. Cabusao is a coastal town of CamSur and its patron saint is San Bernardino de Siena. It's a fishing community and one of its best produce is dried fish. If you are fond of dinailan, you can also find it there. The fiesta took place last May 19 & 20, 2011. Aside from the good food that the taga-Cabusao prepared and served, there was dancing, a tiangge, fluvial procession and sports competition (basketball).

Wish I had pictures to go with this post, but there's none to show.

One of the many highlights of the festivity was the procession of the saints in their andas. At our ancestral house, we have two: the Image of the Holy Cross and the image of San Isidro Labrador. I had a blast helping out with the decoration of the andas. We used barani (the stem of the banana plant) which served as holders of the plastic flowers, curtains, and palmera leaves. After the afternoon novena on May 19, the Cabusao folks had a procession with the many santos and andas. The procession led us to the fish port where the annual fluvial procession took place. There were pagodas of different colors. It was very enlightening and fun to watch the motorized boats as they ply the route to and fro. The lights from the motorized bancas further added an idyllic ambience to the entire scene. After the fluvial procession, a mass was held.

Late in the evening, a dance was held for the people of Cabusao, their former municipal officers and incumbent ones, and for all the bakasyonistas there. A makeshift dance area was created in the middle of the road because the auditorium is undergoing major repairs. Altho it rained a bit, the gaiety was not dampened by the rains. The show must go on, they say. And it went on until the wee hours of the morning.

Let me share with you the food that we had: rice, ibos, sinuman, almondigas (misua soup with meatballs), menudo, cake, hotdog, dilis with peanut and potato, lumpiang shanghai, pasta, gelatin, fish, ice cream, fruit salad, sweet and sour, and chicken. No sense in dieting, hehe.

These will be for now. Will be posting again soon. Hoping that we could get the chance to chat again one of these days.

Take care, always.

Sam ini