*everything & nothing

fully freaky friday

2011-01-14T23:50:00.000-08:00

I read my niece’s Facebook entry over her pique in discovering that she was actually a Cancer instead of a Leo. I commented for her not to mind so much since she was in good company. See, I am a Cancer. Then my cousin wrote and told me that I was no longer a Cancer, but a Gemini now. What?! Apparently there’s a correction of the star sign since the old calculation is no longer valid. At first I felt indignant. Later I remembered that I did not believe in astrology anyways. When I was thirteen, all of a sudden I decided that I was not going to read any astrology report. (I do that a lot, making unexpected decision, that even I got surprised by it). So, I was not sure why I was so huffy puffy about the zodiac change.

I guess it comes down to this, my mom told me when I was small that I was a Cancer. I was not too happy of the crab presentation of the star sign, but she taught me to draw a cute crab. She told me I should draw the crab right next to my signature when I wrote letters or notes. It would be my special identifying symbol.

My mom gave me a crab gold pendant when I was 12 years old. When she went to Bali she got me a wooden keychain with a woodburning design of Cancer on one side, and my name on the other side. I placed that crab keychain on my first camera’s bag (that’s about 22 years ago). So … to discover that I am not even a Cancer is like a shake to something I have always thought is me. Not that being a Cancer shaped my essence or built my character. It was the memory it caused and valued by me. But, honestly, I think I’m just mad because I don’t like crabs, never thought they were cute or pretty at all, and I was doodling a gazillion of them and putting them next to my name for a good 1/3rd part of my life, plus carrying and wearing all those crab bric-a-bracs! Oh, well! I should rejoice for now I am freed from that memory sentimental binding. I am unattached and claiming my own choice preferred animal, wolf, as my sign. If I want to I can draw a wolf next to my name, have a gold wolf pendant, and a wolf woodburning stuff.

terrific thursday. totally!

2011-01-13T23:45:00.000-08:00

When midnight comes, Thursday will be officially over. She sighes contentedly: today has been a terrific day from morning to night.

She finished her tasks and projects at work, and got to go home early. There was something exhilirating about leaving early, even though it was only thirty minutes. Still, when counted in seconds, that's 1,800 seconds, it sounded pretty thrilling.

There was a container of leftover potato salad in the refrigerator. That potato salad had chopped dill pickles and horseradish, giving it an element of tanginess with a zingy punch. She opened the refrigerator and looked for it. In the midst of fresh produce, bottled jams, and stacked containers, she found it behind the bag of four-times-rinsed spinach. Through the clear plastic box she could see there was still some potato salad left. There had been instances where empty containers were left inside the refrigerator, or with only a measly remaining spoonful of the dish. Such was not the case this time; she squealed with delight, I'm so lucky! She served herself a bowl of the precious potato, pickle, horseradish concoction. With each bite she took her stomach hummed happily: yum, yum, yummy!

In the afternoon she had highly enjoyable piano sessions. Playing the Counting Beat with Micah, and became a pair of Great Discoverers who searched for all the C notes in the whole entire piano. (Unfortunate for the C notes, the two black keys always gave away their positions!). She reminded Melanie that crescendo was like an open mouth, the notes got louder and louder. Diminuendo was like a closing mouth. The notes became softer and softer. While Rhea’s fingers raced each other across the keyboards in a Czerny’s piece, she tapped the piano to pace the speed. Rhea was like a bold racecar driver, she would increasingly go faster until the metronome went dizzy.

After the the last kid left, she hurried to the kitchen and started shaping the chocolate bread dough (she'd made earlier) into buns. Last night she promised her friend that she would make her chocolate buns. While the buns were rising, her son came to the kitchen to get a cup of water. He got excited when he saw the buns.
“Chocolate buns! Mmm. I haven't have them for a while!”
“Oh, sorry, but they’re for aunty Kira.”
“All of them?”
“Yes, afterall she has more kids than I do.”
Then her husband arrived home from work. Previous scene was replayed.
“Oh, you’re making us chocolate bread!”
“Not really. They’re for Kira.”
“All of them?”
“Yes .. and her family.”
He quirked an eyebrow at her, silently conveying the question: what about our family?
She put down the book she was reading, walked to the pantry to get the flour, “I guess I’ll make some for us right now.” From her voice she sounded quite surprised to be so energetic. Hmm … must be the powerful pickle-horseradish combo in the potato salad. It's still giving her zestful kicks.

when a were-bear sleepwalks

2010-11-24T05:54:00.000-08:00

She was a were-bear. So, when the local weather finally decided to synchronize with the season and simulated a winter climate, she felt slumberous. This past weekend, it rained. The continuous shower tinted the sky somber grey, chilled the bones, and sprinkled mountain tops with snow. It was winter climate full blown. And like her animal counterpart, she could not deny nature's dictate to hibernate. When she woke up on Monday, her memory of the weekend was of sleep, sleep, and blissful sleep.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

... later, when she stepped out of her bedroom she encountered a most amazing scene. The house was nice and neat. From the family room to the kitchen, everything was in order and clean. Shockingly wonderful!

She saw her son writing his morning journal on the sofa and greeted him cheerfully, "Good morning! The house looks wonderful. Thank you for keeping it nice and tidy."
The child looked up, and hesitantly replied, "Err... you're welcome."
She laughed at his wariness, "What? Did Daddy force you to clean up?"
"No." Two seconds later, he quietly added, "You did."

"But how? I was asleep all weekend." she exclaimed in disbelief.
"Well, I guess you were kind of sleep walking or something. Daddy and I were playing the tank game when all of a sudden you appeared and roared about the messy house. You put everything that didn't belong in the rooms in a box, and declared come Monday you would put the box either in the trash can or by the curb, whichever is easier."
"Oh."

She glanced at the clean kitchen counter and sink. "What about the kitchen? You washed the dishes because you wanted to, right?"
"Not really. You roared again when you passed through the kitchen. You dumped all the dirty dishes in a bucket of hot soapy water and told us to wash them or else."
"Or else what?"
"You never told us. But, we didn't want you to get another box and throw all the dishes, so we washed them."
"Oh."

*Click here if you want to hear a bear roars

an allure of a “breezy”nature

2010-11-19T00:30:00.000-08:00

One would think by the time a person can claim twoscore to her existence, she would have completed her emotional growth and cultivated a degree of sophistication. Or, at the very least, striving earnestly toward it.

It is her misfortune in posessing a juvenile predilection that leads to her fascination over the word “fart.” Although she does not use the word itself in her regular conversation, prefering to use its approximate variance (such as flatulence, stenchy gas, toot, noxious fume, otot, or pun – pronounced “poon”), it remains uncouth. Maturity may elude her, but one could not deny her rather extended vocabulary on the subject.

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

"Hey,no wonder Marcellus said: something is rotten in the state of Denmark."

(Proud-to-be-Dane person does not appreciate the humor)

convivial connection

2010-11-18T05:04:00.001-08:00

no one's around ...

tam di dum di dum

Just when she thought the only one that cared to read her blog was her mom (whom by the way has not noticed yet that she had resumed her bloggidy activity), then a message from Bella popped up. Whoa! :D

~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Bella, remember when you shared with me a cake recipe to try? Well, you might like this orange muffin recipe. It has a light taste of orange (not over powering). Plus, it's easy to make.

Ingredients:
2 ½ oz. Butter, melted.
1 2/3 cup Flour
½ teaspoon Baking Soda
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
1/3 cup Sugar
Zest of 1 orange (about 3 teaspoons)
1/3 cup squeezed orange (about 2 oranges)
1/3 cup milk
1 egg

Melt butter, set aside. Combine flour, b. powder, b. soda, sugar, and zest. Mix orange juice, milk, egg, and cooled melted butter. Mix dry and wet ingredients together. Bake 20 minutes at 400 F.

*I don't remember where I get this recipe. I cannot give the credit where it is due (sorry)*

indulge not in divulging

2010-11-17T04:27:00.000-08:00

I am reorganizing and rearranging my blog content. There is no particular designation in mind. My imagination remains contentedly lacking. So, in the meantime, I shall putter about and tell stories.

Due to a certain individual's concern over privacy, I won't tell whether tales told are fictitious or a narration of actual event.

recondite funk

2010-11-16T05:55:00.000-08:00

(picture taken during a morning walk in Hesselbel)

I am functioning in the most basic mode. After executing menial necessities, I am earnestly exhausted. This one is a lengthy interlude. I believe my mother is worried; she calls me (almost) every day.

Thus, I'm updating the blog.
Note to mom: still in a funk. Same-o, same-o. It's okay.

if: double

2010-07-29T04:34:00.000-07:00

Current Illustration Friday’s theme is double. I seem to over did it. I got a triple: Christer, Cat, and Computer.

if: giant

2010-07-08T16:58:00.000-07:00

I grew up surrounded by teeny tiny female feet. In a sea of dainty lily sized feet, mine garishly stood out due to their enormous extremities.

The current Illustration Friday’s theme is “giant”. Naturally, I cannot think of anything else but feet … gigantic, robust feet. I am creatively impaired/inspired by my childhood psychological experience.

Partial perspective:

The whole picture:

AAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Ssssheeeeh!

if: wrapped

2009-08-19T13:32:00.000-07:00

(click picture for larger view)

Then she wrapped him snugly with his blanket, and said, “Nighty-night, my little Egg Roll.”

if: impatience

2009-08-12T21:52:00.001-07:00

In the morning Luci hears Lars practices his taiko moves on the bathroom door.

(Click picture for larger view)

Hurry up!

if: legendary

2009-03-20T04:32:00.001-07:00

I don’t always participate in Illustration Friday, but I like doing their theme prompt. Legendary is the topic from last Friday. Yes, yes, I’m a week late :D

~o~
The legendary swordswoman swiftly leaped to the lower precipice. Her jade sword made a pleasant musical sound as it combed through the wind …

Click on picture for larger view

~o~

On Saturday nights, Oochie and her dad watched Kung Fu movies at the theater in Chinatown. She closed her eyes during the bloody scenes, and watched ardently when legendary swordswoman appeared in the sky. It’s a general rule that legendary swordswomen could fly and they had the coolest hair style. Oochie was absolutely enraptured.

The story began when Oochie tried to emulate the Legendary Swordswoman’s hairstyle.

Hmmm ...

Let's try again.

Hmhph!

Try. Again!

Aaagrh!

(Roar, roar)

Oochie! You better hurry or you'll miss the bus!

Honestly, this child never brushes her hair!

if: time

2009-02-17T04:15:00.001-08:00

click picture for larger view

Deep down in my heart I believe that I can do everything I need to do and want to do if I use all my waking moments effectively: maximum usage of every second and minute. That means I can work full time, take a side job, spend quality time with my family, take care of my family’s welfare, maintain the house, lend a hand and ear to my friends, exercise, pursue my hobby and passion, blog, and even have enough time to sleep and eat. Alas, reality is not being very accommodating to my belief. Either that or I am efficiency deficient. At the end, some things must be let go. Priority plays a great deal in choosing which need/want that stays and which need/want to be left out. Managing time is a fine delicate balancing act.

Sigh. I think time is like books. One can never have enough of them, and one can never read all of them.

if: baloon

2008-12-03T09:42:00.001-08:00

Oochie called her hair the Pesky Thing That Trails After Her. It is the most cumbersome companion. When she sits, it sits before she does. How rude! So, she ends up sitting on it. And that is always a shocking feeling. When she washes the Pesky Thing, because it does get stinky after a while, it takes a million years to dry the mile long strand! When she paints, the Pesky Thing gets into the paint tubs. She walks around and people stare and point at her. For the longest times she thought it was because of her cool green ballet shoes. The truth is they are pointing at the colorful Pesky Thing. How disappointing!

Of course Oochie can always chop the pesky thing off. Unfortunately, Oochie rather stays at home and reads books than go to the barber for a haircut. What a dilemma. But, this balloon contraption seems to work very well.

I am not sure whether the plain one looks better than with the captions. What do you think?

if: opinion

2008-11-26T11:36:00.000-08:00

Sometimes one can have too much opinion.

more than you want to know. really.

2008-11-25T17:20:00.000-08:00

I found Senta’s blog when I was visiting the blogs that participated in Illustration Friday. It was a real pleasure to find her blog. I love her illustrations … her art works are lovely and I adore the sweet colors in her paintings. They made me happy when I look at them. Senta herself seems to be a nice and interesting person.

And she tagged me with a me-me list. I have tagged everyone that I know before in my blog list except Sandy and Bella. But, I’m inviting everyone to participate.

These are the rules:
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules.
3. Tell six quirky yet boring, unspectacular details about yourself.
4. Tag six other bloggers by linking to them.
5. Go to each person's blog and leave a comment that lets them know they've been tagged.

*Participation is optional. Just have fun :)

Well, I’m using my old tag list, because I’m so boring, I haven’t even changed.

1. I have a chipmunk voice. When sales people call they ask me whether my mommy or daddy is home. I say no, and they hang up.

2. When I was in college my parents gave me a credit card for emergency purpose only. I did not use it for the longest time. The first and only time I did, I bought a piano.

3. There are certain foods I do not eat, some times I am curious and make assumptions of their taste. I imagine since pork is white meat it must taste like chicken or turkey. Shrimps or lobsters are like chewy fish. Frog legs are like chicken wings but with a lot less meat. And oysters are like protein smoothie.

4. I don’t read the manual. I just push all the buttons. (This drives Lars C.R.A.Z.Y.)

5. I teeter on the extreme. I am very silly or very serious, very outgoing or very shy, very stupid or brilliant, timid or fearless, lazy or over committed, insecure or confident. But, I’m always scared of horror movies/stories. I guess that must be my middle ground.

6. I drive stick shift (which always surprise people. Why is that?)

if: pretend

2008-11-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

She closes her eyes and pretends that she can dance.

The adage “if you don’t have it, fake it” does not always work.

*click on picture for larger image

tutorial: scrappy rose

2008-11-18T22:00:00.000-08:00

Many ask for instruction on how to make the Scrappy Rose. Let me attempt to explain the process. Before you start, let me assure you that this is a very easy project. If it appears complicated, it’s not you, not the project, it’s me. So, ignore the appearance of difficulty, just do it!

Scrappy Rose (paper flower)

Materials needed: scrap paper, glue, and scissor

1.Fold the paper until you have a nice size of rectangle, and then cut it into the petal shape (see picture). You have multiple petals now. You can make different sizes of petals. I like to start with bigger petals on the outside, and then use the smaller petals as I go inside.

2.Make a circle. It doesn’t have to be perfect. The size of the circle will determine the size of your flower.

3.Now you have the basic shapes needed.

4.Take the bigger petals and slightly bend the top part.

Then glue them to the circle base. Let’s call it the Base Layer. (Uuuh, sounds so technical!)

5.Take another petal, bend the top part, and then pinch the bottom like a tiny triangle.

Flatten the triangle and glue it. There should be no part flapping part. It should be able to sit pretty like a scooper.

6.This is how it looks on the bottom.

7.Glue the Pinched Petal unto your Base Layer. Go around the circle to form the First Layer.

8.When you are done with the First Layer, start another layer around (Second Layer), and so forth (Third, Fourth, etc.).

9.Once you reach the middle, take a petal and roll it. And then bend it at the bottom, like this.

10.Glue Rolled Petal in the middle of flower. You can see its bended side.

11.Take another Pinched Petal and cover the bended side of the Rolled Petal.

Possible alternatives:
*You may not want to make the rolled petal in the middle. Keep layering until there is no more space to put Pinched Petal.
*Or, you may make a tiny flower, and you don’t feel like over layering, just cut a little circle and glue it to the middle to cover the unsightly sight.

Possible usage:
*Gift topper.
*Pretty clutters … things that you put all over the house and serve no practical purpose other than irritate your neat spouse. “Don’t write on that table, you’ll crush the flowers!”
*Brooch. You have to use a card board paper for the circle base (i.e.: cereal box). Attach a pin to the back.

*Bracelet. Use a card board paper for the circle base, make a hole in opposite ends, then attach chain and hook.

Extra tip:
Dianne, once mentioned there is a spray that can harden and make the paper durable. Acrylic spray?

~oOo~
There. I hope this is clear enough. You can ask any question or e-mail me. If you do make the paper flower(s), I definitely want to see it(them).

she that left the line

2008-11-17T13:19:00.001-08:00

*this is a make-up post for Saturday

why were there calla lilies everywhere?

2008-11-14T23:20:00.000-08:00

... that was the question regarding Monday's post.
The answer is in this old writing of mine ...

I always thought that the rose with its thorny façade had too much attitude. Peony with its multi layer petals appeared fussy. Carnation with its lavish ruffles was downright gaudy. Calla lily in its plainness imprinted a quiet, dignified beauty.

if: wise

2008-11-12T19:58:00.001-08:00

And so the proverb goes: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Hypatia, a resident at a farm in Alexandria, Virginia, does not put all her eggs in one basket. Noticing her infinite wisdom, farmer MacDonald says to his wife, “This one chick will not be skinned to the bone and barbecued.”

Miss Hypatia Hen! One very wise chick

To our veterans

2008-11-11T23:14:00.000-08:00

The moon gives you light,
And the bugles and the drums give you music,
And my heart, O my soldiers, my veterans,
My heart gives you love.

~Walt Whitman
Dirge for Two Veterans (l. 33–36). . .

strike a pose

2008-11-10T19:13:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I fell asleep on the couch in front of the TV. Yes, right in the middle of my Dionysian Pursuance. It was most unfortunate. Christer has been playing “I Know You Once upon a Dream” on the piano. The song stuck in my head. No wonder I cannot help drawing myself in “Sleeping Beauty” poses.

This one is ala Burne-Jones. I am Briar Rose’s distant cousin from the Orient.

This one is Ala Disney. I am Princess Aurora made in China!

This one is the real McCoy: sprawling, snoring, drooling Luci.

ladywolf

2008-11-06T23:07:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I withdraw
From the hustle and bustle of life,
Retrieve to a place within.
Alone.
There, I breathe freely,
And hear my voice clearly.

Are you an occasional lone wolf too?

must love dogs

2008-11-05T22:51:00.000-08:00

Incarnadine Sally

The world is rich with wonders, brilliance, and talents. Their presence makes life exquisite. There is an added sense of extravagance when people allow themselves to be surrounded by such richness. Ever since I join the blog world, I am plunged into a bottomless treasure of creative marvels. I met lovely people with various artistic visions and interpretations. One of them was Sally Govan … beautiful, compassionate, intelligent and talented. Recently Sally held an art exhibition, entitled Dog Show (read a review about it here).

Sally's art exhibition.

Sally drew Storm.

For more pictures from Dog Show, please visit Sally’s homepage: http://sallydrawsdogs.com/

Sally's great art book:

Sally doesn’t draw dogs only. Check out her nursing home exhibit. They are portraits of the residents in a nursing home. She drew with great sensitivity. The sketch lines are poetic, telling unwritten stories of each model.

~oOo~

Must love dogs, a side story …

One day L & L watched a movie,
Of someone leaving a relationship,
The one left behind was so devastated,
Lost twenty pounds in two weeks.

L looked at L who always struggled with diet,
“Would it help if I leave?” L asked.
L shrugged and answered, “Don’t know. But I’ll get a dog. An inside dog. And, I’ll eat Pad See Ew every day.”
“Hmm. I’ll stay.”
“Okay.”

L loves dogs.
L loves cats.
Which is which, or is it who is who?

if: late

2008-10-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

This week Illustration Friday’s theme is an every day theme in my life. My alarm clock is essentially useless. It perpetually fails to wake me up. Lars said I need to respect the alarm instead of ignoring it. Respect? Forget respect, I need Clocky!

Zzz ...

Respect the alarm ...

... not.

Repercussion.

WHOA!!!

Jump off the bed (editorial note: don't I look like a harried monkey here?)

Express dressing.

Forget safety,

Hustle! Hustle!

Oops!

The magnificent annoyed one.

she can, you can, i can

2008-10-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

I thought this quotation is perfect for the first post after two weeks absent.

If Joan of Arc could turn the tide of an entire war before her eighteenth birthday, you can get out of bed.
~E. Jean Carroll

if: memory

2008-09-03T22:14:00.001-07:00

I was asked to memorise what I did not understand; and, my memory being so good, it refused to be insulted in that manner.
~ Aleister Crowley

classically yours

2008-09-01T22:00:00.000-07:00

Air1 was playing a very lively music by Barlow Girl, all of a sudden the music changed to Concerto No. 1 in E flat.

“Hey!” everyone in the room protested.

“Today is September!” she proclaimed.

“What does she mean by that?”
“We were driving home from church when out of nowhere my mom told me that starting September we will only listen to classical music. Because September is Classical Music Month.”
“Really? Does she always make up stuff like that?”
“Hello, I’m not making this thing up. It is official. September is Classical Music Month. You’re welcome to check it out. Go google it.”
“Man, she’s going to listen to this all day long. Let’s go upstairs.”

“How about Beatles? That’s classic.”

“Absolutely not.”
“How can she hear that?”
“She got bionic ears.”

“I got Mommy's Ears.”

“Quick. Close the door!”
*Slam*

She leaned back on the sofa, closed her eyes, her fingers playing the air piano, pretending that it was her at the piano instead of Yundi Li.

All's well that ended well.

it's a musical life!

2008-08-31T19:40:00.001-07:00

This is the musical life in our house.

The passionate pianist bangs on the piano, blatantly ignores the beat and creates his own rhythm.

The dreamy pianist says silly things like, “Let the piano tell you the tale. Let it express all emotions.”

The appreciative audience … the ear plugs say it all.

Now, I would like to hear about your musical life.

if: detach

2008-08-16T03:52:00.000-07:00

She liked nights when she did not have to go to work. It gave her time to lie down with her child at bedtime. And they chatted until he fell asleep. Tonight she said to her son … Sometimes seeing is painful. So we detach ourselves by closing our eyes and fencing us in. But, listen, I am telling you this: it is far better to open our eyes and cry. Because when we detach ourselves, we kill our souls and numb our hearts. We lost our humanity. That is a slow, painful death.

Give Me Your Eyes
You can hear the song here.

if: sail

2008-08-14T12:57:00.000-07:00

click on picture for larger view

When the day is a bit saggy,
When butterflies hide their glorious wings,
When hummingbirds lull in dullness,
When it is just plain too hot,
That even lemon drops melt,
It’s time to go sailing.
Ride on the back of your friendly elephant friend,
Let your hair fly behind you like the mainsail,
Dare the wind to toss it freely!
Somewhere at sea,
You know *beyond a doubt,
A herd of flying elephant fish is eagerly waiting for you,
To go sailing together.

*shamelessly borrowing from Beyond the Sea.

miss muffet's spider sequel

2008-08-13T11:47:00.001-07:00

Little Miss Muffet
Sat on a tuffet
Eating her curds and whey.
Along came a spider
Who sat down beside her
And frightened Miss Muffet away.

Everyone knows the story above. Hardly anyone hears the sequel.

Click on picture for larger view

Little Master Muffet slammed the door and rested his head on it. Relief spread over him. He calmed his short breath and steadied his rapid heartbeat. After half a minute he heaved forward and ran to the kitchen.

He unloaded the mail on the kitchen counter and with all outpouring emotion told his tale, “Daddy! There’s a spider in the mailbox. It is a big spider. And, it has a web inside the mailbox. That huge spider jumped toward me (notice how the spider’s size keeps increasing? From a regular spider into a big spider, and then huge?), and it almost landed on my hand. But, I managed to move away quickly!”
“That sounds so scary!” Big Mr. Muffet quivered, “So, what happened to the mail?”
“I got them!”
“That’s very good. You’re very brave.”

That was on Saturday. The next day was Sunday. There was no mail delivery that day. But, come Monday someone had to fetch the mail. Uh-oh, here the problem began.

Big Mister Muffet asked, “Did you pick up the mail today?”
Little Master Muffet said, “No. I’m not going to pick up the mail. I’m still traumatized from Saturday’s encounter. If you recall, I had a narrow escape.”
Big Mister Muffet stood in thoughtfulness. Then he nodded his head and grin with satisfaction. He had come up with a clever resolution, “Let’s wait for mom until she finishes her lessons. She can take care of the spider.”

That evening, after Mom was done with her various chores, she donned her alter ego and walked out of the house. The brave Spider Slayer marched unflinchingly toward the mailbox. Without hesitation, she opened the mailbox. She frowned slightly at the sight. The mail was haphazardly crammed inside the box. She sighed and figured the postman must have seen the spider too. Perhaps the spider jumped and almost landed on his hand also. That was why he had to move quickly and jammed everything with nary a care. She noticed there was a package. To Luci from Linda. What a delightful surprise. The package was slightly bent. She hoped the contents were unharmed.

Well, lookee, here … everything was perfect!

*Thank you, Linda. The packaging was impeccable. I love everything inside: the Dave Warnke piece, the Hello Kitty angpaw and the pretty blue stone charm. Thank you for your generous and wonderful gifts.

if: canned

2008-07-30T22:37:00.001-07:00

This post is especially for Bella who would like to get her very own Answer Tree.

Bella, the Answer Tree comes in a can. And, you can get them at Faerie Mart. Click here for the full story.

a how-to for bella

2008-07-30T21:02:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry, the story is not ready yet. I've finished writing it, but my Editing Muse is taking a very looong coffee break. She doesn’t like to be rushed (believe me, no one rushes Electra). As soon as she's done, I will post it. Thank you for your understanding :)

~oOo~

Electra is finally done! Here we go :)

~oOo~

As I closed the door, I could hear Christer’s parting remark, “Bye! Have fun walking, mom!” I breathed the air outside. A tendril of relief sprouted inside my heart. An unrehearsed smile turned up the corners of my lips. I set off walking the usual route. Left on Blyton Lane then straight ahead. With each step I took ease grew. I wondered whether it would completely spread and bloomed by the end of this solo walk. Reviving my sorry and exhausted brain.

When I came to DePaola Street, I decided to forego the usual course and ambled toward the overgrown hill’s path. I trudged over tall grass and weeds. Foxtails and burrs attached themselves unto my socks. I heard rapid footsteps coming from behind me. I turned and saw a pair of running shoes sprinted by me. I stood open-mouthed and stared at the running shoes that now scampered toward the bramble bush. Before I could collect myself, a grey hare dashed hurriedly after the shoes. He looked quite determined. “First the dawdling turtle, and now a pair of tattered shoes. No, I will not let them win. I’d sooner give up my carrot farm first!” swore the hare. The three of them disappeared behind the bush. I blinked three times and sneezed three times. I knew I was not dreaming. Intrigue and curiosity overcame me. I walked toward the bush but found no trace of the hare nor the running shoes.

“You missed a spot on my shoulder!” I heard a voice coming from the big rock near the bramble bush. I looked there and saw two lounging lizards. They just finished lathering themselves with sunscreen lotion and now were sipping a glass of pina colada.
“This is totally unbelievable! I have never seen nor heard anything more amazing than today!” I exclaimed.
“Hold your horses, don’t form your opinion yet. Today is Wacky Wednesday. The day is not over yet, you might see something else that is more amazing than my twin brother and I,” said the lizard closest to me.
“Someone more amazing than us, Lang? Hah. I doubt it.” His twin chaffed.
“What is Wacky Wednesday?” I asked.
“Wacky Wednesday is a fourth day in a week that is wacky. It is fun. Now, I cannot say the same about Freaky Friday,” answered Lang.
“What’s wrong with that day?” I asked.
“I’m sure you would love to know how it feels to be a lizard. But, no offense here, I don’t want to be a mere human. Even, if it’s only for a day.” Lang’s brother sounded genuinely horrified. I must had looked very puzzled because Lang quickly added, “What Ling tried to tell you or missed telling you is on Freaky Friday you exchange places with the first creature you meet for a whole day.”
After hearing Lang’s explanation, I was extremely relieved that today was Wednesday.
“It must be tiring walking with only two legs and wearing all sorts of materials on your body. And how do you catch your meal? Your tongue is so short!”
“I don’t use my tongue to prepare my meal. I use my hands.”
“Ugh, how thoroughly uncivilized!” Ling shuddered.
I tried to change the subject, “Err, have you seen a pair of running shoes followed by a grey hare?”
“Yes, we sure did. That hare has a habit of taking naps in the middle of race. Now those old running shoes will win.”
“Can you please tell me which direction they go?”
“They probably went to the Faerie Mart. Everybody goes to the market.”
“Oh, I would like to go there too.”
“You certainly can. But, you must pass us first.”
I eyed the two lounging, pina colada sipping lizards.
“Oh, please, don’t think you can overtake us. When the Wild Things see us they behave meeker than Mary’s lamb,” warned Ling. His narrowed eyes pierced through my thoughts. I gulped.
“We will give you our extremely arduous quiz. If you pass, you can enter Faerie and go to the market. If not, you must turn around and never come back. Are you ready?”
“Yyy…yess.” It was odd to hear how shaky I sounded.
“Tell us the name of the boy with the longest name in China.”
It didn’t even take me a second to come up with the answer. I said it right away, “His name is Tikki Tikki Tembo No Sa Rembo Chari Bari Ruchi Pip Peri Pembo.”
“Incredible! You are absolutely correct!” Ling and Lang clapped their hands excitedly.
“Oh, it’s nothing really. I just read widely.” I felt embarrassed with the entire accolade.
“You must be. Are you a pre-school teacher?”
“Yes, I am. How do you know?”
“In our experience, pre-school teachers happen to be the most knowledgeable people.”

Ling and Lang gave me the direction to the Faerie Mart. It was easy to find with all the stalls and their brightly colored awnings. The place was full of every livings thing you had heard from fascinating stories and fairy tales. My eyes darted back and forth between the market goers and the merchandise being sold. At the shoe stall, the twelve Dancing Princesses were busy trying out new dancing shoes. I was so enthralled by their beauty and did not watch where I was going. I accidentally bumped a big wolf in a granny outfit. “Oh, excuse me, ma’am. I beg you pardon.” The wolf peered from behind his glasses and promptly dismissed me, “You’re not Red.” I smelled something exquisite from three stalls down the road. I followed the delicious odor, and found it. Strega Nona and Anthony were busy stirring a pot of spaghetti. Strega Nona gave me a sweet smile. It was the kind of smile that reminded me of yummy spaghetti sauce with extra mushrooms. But, I was not really hungry, so I did not linger long in that stall. Next, I saw Aladdin. He was giving tours around Faerie on his magic carpet. Even though it sounded really interesting, I decided not to partake. See, I was very afraid of heights. On a little stall, there was a little man working alone. He spun straws into gold. He looked rather grumpy. When I got closer for a better look at his handiwork, he glared grouchily at me. Right across his stall was his competition. The man did not spin nor knit. He just touched things, and whatever he touched turned into gold. But, he was rather clumsy. He accidentally touched his assistant. Now his assistant was a golden statue. I quickly moved away from there. Far, far from his reach. That’s when a lady with soft orange wings stopped me. She was very concerned. “Oh, dear. You poor thing,” she cooed. “Quick. You must sit and rest!” She pushed me to a bench that suddenly appeared behind me. Then she fussed all over me. “I don’t know how you can survive. You look so depleted!”
“I do? What do you mean? What’s wrong? What’s wrong with me?” Now I started to worry also.
“There’s hardly anything left in your answerer chamber, except for a few shred here and there. Your answerer valves are completely worn out. What happened?”
“I am a mother and a wife. I also teach and work in Production Service. Everyone asks me just about everything. From missing socks to pocket change, from census report to why largo is so slow. They ask, ask, and ask.”
“No wonder there’s nothing left in you answerer chamber. But, don’t you worry I have the perfect thing you need. You are lucky because this is the last one that I have today.”
She handed me a can. At first I thought it was chicken noodle soup. My mom always insisted that soup could cure cold, but I never knew that it also cured corroding answerer chamber …

“Here, this is what you need: canned Answer Tree. Open this at once when you get home. It will help you answer all kinds of questions. The more questions it gets, the more it grows. So be careful if you live in a place full of questions, you might want to put this outside. Trust me, you don’t want a tree inside the house. (She lowered her voice into a whisper) Jack loves to climb, not only the bean stalk like the story is commonly told. The last time I heard, he stole the Giant’s golden egg laying goose. Keep the tree outside; you keep Jack out of your house.”
“But, but I don’t have any money to buy this canned tree.”
“We don’t take money here. Money does not worth a thing in Fairy.”
“So what do I pay you with?”
“Can you sing or recite poetry? We pay with songs and poems here.”
“That’s great news.” And, I paid her with a Shel Silverstein poem.

Once I spoke the language of the flowers,
Once I understood each word the caterpillar said,
Once I smiled in secret at the gossip of the starlings,
And shared a conversation with the housefly
in my bed.
Once I heard and answered all the questions
of the crickets,
And joined the crying of each falling dying
flake of snow,
Once I spoke the language of the flowers. . . .
How did it go?
How did it go?

So, Bella that’s how I got the Answer Tree. Next time you take a walk on a Wednesday and you see something Wacky happening, take a careful look around the stones for a pair of twin lizards. If they smell like sunscreen lotion and sipping pina colada drinks, they must be Ling and Lang. Make sure you memorize Tiki’s full name, because the twin never change their quiz. Most importantly, the more you memorize songs and poems, the richer you are in Faerie. And that means you can buy anything you want at Faerie Mart.

there is no such thing as silly question

2008-07-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, the Answerer is sitting under the Answer Tree. She is now ready to answer questions.

~oOo~

Question: What are those on the chess board? Monkeys? Ewoks? Extremely rounded dwarf bears?

Answer: None of the above. They are Chess Monster. I found out about cute monsters from a post in Paper Forest . You can make your own monster using the free pattern from Brian Gubizca's site.

~oOo~

Question: How are the lilies doing?

Answer: They are still tiny, but definitely thriving and feeling very happy. Here, you can see them for yourself:

~oOo~

Question: You know me. I want to know what Erin’s dream is. And why she (was? I hope past tense) mad and sad.

Answer: I’m pleased to inform Miss You-Know-Me that Erin is no longer mad and sad. Her dream was to make it to level 7 gymnastic. And she did. Here’s a picture of Erin doing the thing she loves the most: leaping!

~oOo~

If there are any further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. Remember there is no such thing as silly questions. (This one is for Mike: please don’t ask me where my keys are, they’re still missing!)

the gold(fish) in me

2008-06-02T13:14:00.000-07:00

I cannot remember where I last put my keys. I do know they are not lost. I am!

I cannot remember whether Erin loves purple.
Or was it Chrissy? Alyssa?
I know between the three of them they like purple, pink, and blue.
But, I don’t know which color is whose favorite. And, I only have three nieces.

I cannot remember the difference between “affect” and “effect”. Thank goodness I still remember the difference between” who” and “whom”. (Some times)

I do not remember where the street to turn when I go to my aunt’s house. I always relied on the tuna sign. Then, they took it off. So, I had to make a U-turn. Every time.

When my husband tells me something, I cannot remember it five minutes after. He is not happy to repeat his words three or four times more. He asks me to really listen. But, I do listen! I just do not remember what I heard.

I cannot remember when someone said they’re not coming for lesson. So, I wake up and wait for them. And wait …

I cannot remember when I have decided to start a diet. The memory usually returns after I finished the candy bar. Hmm..

That is why I jot down everything.
But, where did I put that paper?

They said goldfish has ten second memory.
I am just like a goldfish.
And, I look like one too!