Loving UP

No, I am not talking about UP my Alma Mater. I am talking about the latest Disney Pixar release UP.



RD, MyGirl and I watched it in 3D yesterday at Trinoma. We all LOVED it!!!

MyGirl was particularly excited about getting to see a movie in 3D.

She and RD were chatting away that I had to shush them before some other viewers complained.

I loved every minute at the theater and was glad that I had brought them to watch the movie. These are really rare treats for us.

I couldn't help think of RD, when the little boy Russel, after hours of helping the old man Carl Fredricksen, complained saying, "I'm tired. I don't want to walk anymore," then promptly plopped down and simply refused to move. So like my little boy.

Honestly, I found the movie so very funny and really heartwarming. I just love these kinds of movies, especially if they have happy endings.

Did you know that I cried in Monsters Inc. when Sulley opened the door after it had been repaired and Boo shouted, "Kitty!"? (Yes, I do take after my mother who cried when she watched Heidi.)

We were the last ones to leave the theater. I had to take a picture of the kids with their 3D glasses on before we returned the glasses. Here they are with the ending credits of UP.

This movie comes highly recommended. Hope you are able to catch it. (I'll watch with you if you like. Did you know that movies cost PHP300 now?)

People Power 2

This one was probably a seatwork in Sibika when GI was in Grade 02.

The instructions on the top read, "Gumuhit ng isang pangyayari naganap sa People Power 2. Isulat anong pangyayari ito." (Roughly translated, "Draw an event that occurred during People Power 2. Write what event this is.")

The big signs on top say, "Bye-Bye Erap" and "Erap alis dyan", "ERAP RESIGN" and "ERAP ALIS."

The center of the drawing is the Our Lady at the EDSA Shrine.

The drawing has a lot of people with raised arms. Some of them are holding placards which say "ALIS" or "RESIGN"

In the bottom, GI wrote, "Pag-aalis kay Erap." (Ousting Erap.)

Grade 01 Drawings

I found one of the notebooks of GI which I had set aside years ago. It was his Grade 1 Math notebook.

I'm sure that GI would have thrown away the notebook without batting an eyelash because all he would have seen is trash. However, what I found in the notebook were little treasures, which is why the notebook had been set aside.

I am sending all these stashed away notebooks to the recycle pile soon but before I do I am scanning and posting some pages. This way, I will still have a glimpse of what I have been keeping for almost 9 years.

Every time I look at these drawings, I smile. I think of my little first grader during his math class ... drawing! (Like father, like son?)

Brag Album

Each year, as 08 December approaches, we are always at a loss over what to get Father and Mother for their anniversary. (What does one give to people who seem to have everything?)

Over the years we have given them quite a number of kissing dolls. There was one year when we gathered up messages from family and friends of their earliest recollection of Father and Mother. We printed out the collated messages. (They had fun reading that.)

One year, we came up wtih this brag album for them. (At least that is how I remember this album coming together.)

Family Photo

Father in Hong Kong. He and Mother went there for their nth Honeymoon -- 08 December 1986

Mother having some yummy dessert



Eldest Sis by the organ -- October 1981

Eldest Sis posing for the camera

London Eye on the train at Windsor -- 02 May 1987

London Eye with pandas at the Beijing Zoo -- 22 October 1985

Sister Deer with Father -- 14 December 1986

Sister Deer with her birthday cake -- 17 December 1986


Angels4Kids in the living room -- November 1986


Angels4Kids reading in bed -- 1982

Slash-M with his soccer poster and his classic "Hey! Watch my behind not HERS!!" decal -- April 1986

It says, "Bilis Bong!" in the back of the picture -- May 1985 (I don't get it. Do I even want to know?)

Sunshine in front of Mary Lyon's grave -- December 1987


Sunshine at the second floor corridor in front of Sunny's room (posters on the wall read "I hate CHEMISTRY", "Chemistry is stupid" and "Chemistry belongs to the toilet") -- December 1987


Jersey Girl at Philippine Science High School

Jersey Girl in the living room -- November 1986

Mindy relaxing on the massage chair -- 17 December 1986

Mindy in the living room -- November 1986

J in front of the organ. The piece on top is "Leader of the Band". It was 12:43 in his watch. -- 20 March 1988

J downstairs

Z in front of the Christmas tree. Her ICA id says she was Grade IV-Marigold -- 19 December 1986

Z downstairs

Father and Mother

More Puzzles

In the course of our sorting through old toys, I found this particular puzzle from ages ago. I recall having been able to solve both sides of the puzzle purely by luck. In other words, I have not yet discovered the logic to this puzzle.

When I found the puzzle, it was fixed. I moved the pieces around a bit and the whole thing got messed up. Fortunately, RD took an interest in the puzzle and was able to fix it up (also by chance).

With a little more flipping and turning, RD was able to fix the other side as well.

Eventually, MyGirl was likewise able to get the puzzle done.

And though all of us are clueless as to HOW to really solve this puzzle, it is still a fun toy to play with.

Nine Planets

Found this while I was going through papers.

The Dash

Corazon C. Aquino (25 January 1933 - 01 August 2009) is being laid to rest today.  Even in death, she is able to gather the Filipino nation together.

May her soul rest in peace.  She has gone a long way from a quiet housewife to becoming the first female president of the Philippines.  May what she and her husband Ninoy stood for remain strong within the Filipinos for many years to come.

I think Cory can be proud of her dash. 

THE DASH

by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth

And spoke the following date with tears

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years.

For the dash represents all the imte

That she spent alive on Earth

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;

The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters is how we live and love 

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard,

Are there things you'd like to change?

For you never know how much time is left,

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what's true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,

And show appreciation more,

And love the people in our lives

Like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,

And more often wear a smile

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy's being read

With your life's actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

Sleeping Time

I had matching pajamas made for the kids.

RD decided to wear his tonight,

prompting his sister to do the same.

I think they make a handsome pair, don't you?

Goofing Around ABC

This is something I cooked up in High School, it seems.  Another chapter from that project I made.   As I go through the word meanings I thought up, I have to admit, I was a bit weird.

ALARM -- the way you feel when 5 minutes before you leave home, you find out you forgot to do one of your homework

BELL -- something you'd like to hear if your teacher is giving a long lecture

CHRISTMAS -- time you find out how another person feels about you by the gifts you receive

DISMISSAL -- favorite 'subject' after recess and lunch

END -- the most awaited part of a lousy movie

FAINT -- the way you feel after smelling ammonia water

GARBAGE -- something your test papers become after the schoolyear

HOLLER -- something presidents wish they didn't have to do so often

INCREASE -- what students want to happen to the stipends

JUNGLE -- a possible description of the rooms of interns and externs after inspection

KIND -- the adjective associated to teachers when they are about to give tests

LOCKS -- objects you would like to have when there is a picture of someone you secretly admire in your drawer

MESS CALL -- the only order given which is heard as clear as a bell

NOTEBOOKS -- last things in the world you'd like to see after your finals

OVERJOYED -- the way you feel when you find out there is an advertisement in the last page of your current events paper instead of another news item

PENKNIFE -- something used while questioning a person when the best results are desired

QUESTIONS -- something you use to delay a test

RAIN -- the last thing most welcomed by a lazy gardener

SMOKE -- something you don't like to smell after you've tried to build a fire when the wind changed direction

TARGET -- something someone becomes after this person insults you

UNIFORM -- a sign of forgetfulness if worn on Wednesdays

VISIT -- an action some dormers wish their parents did more often

WASTEBASKETS -- places where failing papers go

XYLOPHONE -- one of the more famous 'x' words along with x-ray

YAWN -- what lots of people do during a boring subject

ZIPPER -- something that has a set of teeth which when one falls off does not grow a permanent one

Family (circa 1979)

I found an English project from High School.  It was a book I wrote.  I got a 1.0 for it, so I suppose the teacher thought it was good.

This is the chapter I had written in 1979 on my family entitled Father + Mother + Brothers + Sisters = FAMILY

FATHER

The ordinary early sleeper, early riser which makes him healthy, wealthy and wise.  Though this does not always apply, for there are times when he sleeps late due to work, disturbances or reading mags. I wonder, though, even if he sleeps late, he still is healthy, wealthy and wise. Kind, understanding, patient and helpful would also describe what kind of a father and person he is.

MOTHER

Well Mother is very patient, having us not fighting all the time proves it.  She occasionally gets this urge to ask us clean the house.  When she sees someone doing something very forcefully without the necessity of so much force, she always says, "With love, with love".  Mother is very intelligent and has a weird but wonderful sense of humor. We joke each other when we tell corny jokes that there is a bit of July in the air - harvest season of corn.

ELDEST SIS

She is the all-around type.  She has long hair and small eyes. A Philippine Science High Graduate, meaning she has got brains. Had and still has an ambition of being a doctor.  Our source of help when the need comes, we depend on her most of the time because she's the eldest. Usually chooses birthday, anniversary and Christmas gifts for Mother and Father. She writes nice poems and is the only one with patience to write letters to our cousins abroad.

LONDON EYE

London Eye seems to be the most religious of all of us, the sleepiest too.  She has short hair, is a bit fat and finds better words while talking to the smaller kids.  I mentioned her being sleepy because it seems that so much of her time is spent sleeping or trying to wake up.  On the other hand, she has so many responsibilities that sleep is a big relaxation or a time out from work. Usually gets honorable mention in school.  She has been my roommate for a very long time so I am used to her moods.

SISTER DEER

Sister Deer is really very nice. Though is not very out-going, she has her own group which she often goes out with. She has long hair, and is thin unlike London Eye and me.  When she gets mad, she can show it if she is unable to control her temper.  She's not very patient and easily gets irritated. But she is not all bad, she can come up with the most unexpected things to say when no one can.  Often, she gets averages which make her belong in the second honors bracket.

ANGELS4KIDS

I'm a bit nuts.  Well, I do come up with the craziest wisecracks and jokes.  I have long hair, am a bit fat and wear glasses.  I also believe there is something useful between my ears.  I love playing with the smaller kids though I sometimes get irritated and get mad at them.  I love sports and games.  I also like collecting things though I am not a fanatic.  I like hearing from friends.  The way some games work interests me so I sometimes separate pieces of the game or toy.

SLASH M

Slash M is very sports-minded.  Being the eldest boy, doesn't get 2nd hand clothes.  He is kind of cute and it seems a lot of classmates of London Eye and Sister Deer like him.  He is sort of the leader of the three consecutive girls after him.  They call themselves 'Starzinger'. Though he usually picks on Jersey Girl but he has his reasons (I hope).  Gets high marks and writes very imaginative and weird stories.

SUNSHINE

She is the eldest of the younger group.  She often cries because of her art works which she finds hard to do.  She does well in school and usually gets high marks.  Easily cries, quite sensitive. Finds Slash M to be very bossy and tough.  She seems to be the more choosy type and  a bit boastful.  Everybody has their bad points, it just happened that those are some. Though she usually is jolly and always tries to make people laugh.

JERSEY GIRL

I find Jersey Girl is the kind of girl who always gets picked on.  She usually does irritating things just for attention.  She cries much when she doesn't agree with the ways things are going. She is very sensitive.  She's not all bad, there are times when she's nice and happy.  She is always trying to help and she is quite curious.  Tries hard to be a martyr.  She cries easily.

MINDY

Mindy is in the a bit fat group, she's very chubby.  She's usually jolly, too.  She usually misses classes due to sickness or urges from her 'inner self' to be in a bad mood or cry.  Often, she sleeps in the car on the way to their school, when she's awakened, she's grumpy and cries. Mindy is different for she's silent in a way.  I guess it's because we don't offer full attention while she's talking.  Since J was born three years after she was, she got a bit too spoiled.

J

J, like any other kid, loves eating very much candy. So now, he lacks four front teeth!  He usually is very good and obedient, but there are times he copies Z and cries, moans and shouts. This way he gets more attention.  He has very big love for guns, in other words, he can be very violent.  When out shopping, he prefers to stay with me.  He has lousy grammar which is a result of consistent watching of Popeye.

Z

She is really very cute.  But she also is a very big pest.  She usually tells Mother to do this and to do that -- a real slave driver.  Many mornings may be brightened or destroyed because of her.  When both parents are out, she's very angelic.  When they return, it becomes very noisy at home.  The sound of greeting and whining are pretty clearly heard.  Reports from her teacher show she likes adults better than those her age, being the youngest, I don't know why.