Cutty

This year, we are forced to have simple celebrations.  There is no need to stress about the traffic, gift-giving, Christmas shopping, what to wear for parties and performances.  No year-end trips to prepare for.  This year, we have time to focus on what Christmas is all about and to be thankful for surviving the trials that came with 2020.   Simbang Gabi will start this week. I am quite excited.  All my life, I haven't completed the 9-day novena masses.  This time, with a church built right across my home, I just might be able to complete it.   This week we bade farewell to my sons' QC campus.  The school board decided to close it and transfer everything to the Antipolo campus.  It is sad.  We are not only saying goodbye to my sons' second home.  We are also saying farewell to some teachers, guards, staff and most importantly, schoolmates who have decided to transfer to another school.  Hay, ang sakit sa puso.  B...

I haven't finished my account of how we survived Ulysses.  The clean up isn't done yet.  But, we had to go back to our routine.  So, clean up is just done in between appointments.   The recliners have been picked up for re-upholstery. They will be finished by January.  I do not mind.  I just wanted to get them out of my sight.  All appliances seem to be working, even the partially submerged TV.  It was quite a relief.  It was a good idea to buy small back-up items like the toaster and a double burner. The washing machine acts up sometimes, but it still works. I have decided against putting up Christmas decors.  It took me weeks to finish trimming the tree before it was flooded in.  I got a DIY advent wreath instead, made up of fresh pine.  It took me hours to make it look decent.  I still long for a tree, though. I have accepted cake orders too.  I'm still getting the hang of things since some tools aren't workin...

Here I am bingeing  on Jeremy Jordan and jazzy Christmas carols in YouTube.  Jeremy Jordan is a recent discovery.  Thanks to Lea Salonga for bringing him to my attention.   I spent the afternoon with a dear friend who is moving to a new chapter in her life.  She is migrating soon.  We've spent many days and nights "comparing notes."  She really is a testament of "You get what you pray for."  Yup, patience and faith really helps. It was my first time to actually hangout in a cafe in a long time.  I just took sips of my drink.  I took a few bites.  I just pull my mask away from my face to give way to the straw.  Pathetic? Yes.  Careful? Very much so. I wonder, how long will this last?