Pen Love
Good writing is part craft, part distraction that isn’t facebook. I thought the distraction would be photography, then I discovered that the local bookstores carried brush pens for as low as PHP28.
It started innocently enough. Doodle. “Oooh” and “aaah” at the brush strokes. Write a quote in script (and face the horror of finding out several years of cursive drills in primary school are GONE).
The Cat Comes Back
The goodbye I wrote for Mela was uploaded around two weeks from the time she disappeared.
The day after it went live, Mela came back!
She crawled in through my bedroom window, mewling, then made a run for her foodbowl. I could only gawk at her in disbelief.
The following morning, I gave her a bath and a hug. She has since stayed close to home, and taken to scaring the housemate’s dog just by sitting there.
Thank you to everyone who has sent her goodbyes, and to all those who wished her well upon news of her return.
Welcome back, my Mela. I missed you.
Les Miserables the Movie
I was supposed to write a sympathetic review of Les Miserables the movie, until I realized that they lowered most of the musical numbers by one key.
Save your money, watch the anniversary concert tributes instead. No use watching a musical adaptation that has to adjust 80% of its score to suit that one Hollywood actor who can’t hit his notes.
Hear it for yourself.
Movie version of ‘One Day More’
10th Anniversary concert performance of ‘One Day More’
And here’s ‘Stars’ as performed by those who did it better than Russel Crowe.
Stars as sung by Philip Quast
Stars as sung by The Decepticons’ Soundwave
Farewell, Melanoma
Written January 12, 2013.
2003-2013
In the simplicity of your existence: grooming, cuddling, nibbles of food, then sleep; it’s easy to forget that pets – our babies – do grow up.
In a way, some months ago when I realized that you’ve been with me for over 10 years – I prepared myself for a day like today. I wondered if you would die a natural death, and perhaps a memorial would be made in your honor. Maybe your ashes would be cast out to sea, just as Mom’s were.
You chose to wander into the world, alive and well. No dramatic goodbyes, just a quiet thank you that last morning I woke up to you cuddling next to me.
You have been with me since college. I picked you up from under a car on a stormy afternoon, struck by the loneliness in being away from family and in an unfamiliar home. You have seen me through four relationships, five apartments, several jobs, and waited for me after long nights at the theater and work.
I will miss you, Mela. But I know your journey is the time for things to come full circle, and find the exclam to close your ninth life.
Thank you, for choosing me to be your Mommy.
miiShots: Left Behind
Flowers left behind, or flowers left for someone who left? Who knows.
Taken on January 16, 2012 with a Samsung Galaxy Y phone and Camera 360 app. Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge.