harried, but strangely happy
May 9, 2007This summer has been my shortest by far; before knowing it, it's the middle of May already. My days have passed in a computer blur: if I'm not writing product reviews, I'm editing something or doing some research for two other rakets I've got. (note to self: don't overbook yourself! three rakets is already two rakets too much.) Once I'm ready to shut down the computer, I'm shocked by the time at the bottom-left of my screen.
Needless to say, I haven't gone to the beach yet. And it's started to rain, already.
Despite the constant feeling of having deadlines breathing down my neck, I am pretty happy. I have two orders for mother's day cupcakes, three dozen in all (I plan to take care of them tomorrow and friday). I've met a lot of great new people, and made a new friend. Even though my body just feels tired in the morning, I still find reason to get up–which is a far, far cry from the days that I got migraines just thinking about going to ateneo and facing another day of academia.
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Speaking of cupcakes and baking, I'm really excited about the coming days–I'm going to have a three day baking spree! Tomorrow and Friday I'll be baking the orders that I've gotten. I'll be baking 6 vanilla cupcakes, 12 chocolate banana caramel cupcakes, 6 chocolate-cream cheese cupcakes, 6 extra-moist chocolate cupcakes, AND 6 mango rhum cupcakes. Whew. That's quite a number of cupcakes. What's tempering my excitement is the thought of the backache I'll have after baking them all. Sigh. All that standing up and bending over takes a toll on one's back. Maybe I'll conscript Kapi into helping me bake, since he doesn't have work on Friday. Hehehe.
On Saturday, my friend Elodie will come over to the house and teach me how to make Tart Tatin, a French country-style apple pie, in time for Mother's Day. Yum. If we have time, Elodie says she teach me how to make Ratatouille (spelling?), which I'm excited about: zuchinni (courgettes, to the brits and french) is quickly becoming one of my favorite vegetables.
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Someone I was in line with at the Cashier at the Ateneo asked me this morning: "So, is teaching philosophy really your life ambition?"
I was a bit taken aback. I really haven't given it much thought lately. I answered hastily, "For now, it is. But I have other plans…"
But what other plans are those? Getting a PhD has always been a castle floating somewhere near my head, but recently it's been joined by a lot of other castles: working at the UNFP (UN Population Fund), getting married and having children (though I am deathly afraid of having a daughter, lest I pass on my hang-ups to her), doing something great for Philippine development…
I love building castles in the air: they cost nothing at all, and in the off chance that they come true, well… it's even better.
Previous Comments
You know, I was watching the news the other night and what else should I hear about the Philippines but this bit about the assissination of an election candidate somewhere in Northern Luzon. It’s terrible news but I felt a [sick] kind of joy that reinforced my love for the Philippines, warts and all. Possibly because the headlines material here includes upgrading of public lifts or plans for a new theme park or importation of sand from neighboring countries zzzzzzzzzzz……..
Posted by Carlo at May 11, 2007, 8:05 pmMy goodness, “assassination”, not “assissination”. Naging St. Francis of Assissi!!! Kalokah!
Posted by Carlo at May 11, 2007, 8:09 pmcarlo! such holy thoughts! now saints, next time, popes? 
haha, hanlabo.
that said, i can’t help but agree. as much as i’m disappointed by how violent this year’s election has become, i still wouldn’t trade it for the kind of peace, quiet, and utter homogeneity of (insert appropriate name of country here).
but, on a lighter note, have you tried the hawker stalls in sing? are they as good as people say they are? 
(my brain has conveniently returned to its favorite topic, food.)
joy: sure! I’ll send you a ratatouille recipe, or i’ll ask my friend for it. courgettes! (i love that word, and it sounds infinitely more edible than its american-english synonym, zucchini)
Amen! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
As for the hawker stalls, depende kung saang hawker ka kakain. There’s a good one near my office pero ayaw namin araw-arawin. I’m not too excited–and adventurous enough–to try Indian food or Malay food kasi…nakakatakot! Hahahaha!
Aside from pure kaartehan, there’s also a practical dimension to my lack of interest in trying out “exotic” (to me) cuisine. If I don’t like something, aba hindi ko talaga yan kakainin even if I paid $5 to $10 for it. During my first few days here, I tried what they call Halal food and sinuka ko lang talaga yung first bite. I ended up eating flavorless cake and coffee for dinner.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Posted by Carlo at May 18, 2007, 2:03 pm
*hugs*
Don’t worry…. If I remember right from this book “the selfish gene”, you actually pass less of yourself to your children than you think! Good luck with tomorrow’s and Friday’s baking! Hmmm I like ratatoiulle… maybe you can give me a recipe? heh heh heh!
Posted by Joy at May 9, 2007, 7:50 pm