If I Had 6 Months To Live....

I would:

- tell my mom and my brother I would not be able to send money anymore and they would just have to find a way to fend for themselves.
- sell all my stuff, except for a few necessities.
- find a new parent for Harrison.
- quit my job.
- find an animal welfare organization where I can spend the my last days helping animals.
- organize my funeral.
- try to go to Italy.

I'll add some more if I can think of something else.

My Fostering Experience

I've been active in animal welfare back home in the Philippines but when I moved to Dubai I did nothing of that sort and it ate away at my soul. I think as long as I do something for animals, then my life will be worth living.

So last month I decided to volunteer for Feline Friends Dubai once and for all. Since I don't have the 2 day weekend I had when I was in Manila, I opted to be a foster parent/home of cats waiting to be adopted.

After much anticipation, I received news that I was to become a foster parent of a tiny tabby kitten. I vowed not to give him a name to prevent myself in being too attached. But as soon as Princess saw him, she christened him Troy (from Dr. Christian Troy from Nip/Tuck) . So Troy it is. This is him:Don't let those sleepy eyes deceive you. Troy whizzed around my apartment and turned it upside down like he was this tiny hurricane. Harrison took to him right away and soon they were playing games that cats play. It was so fun to see. Troy was also easy to care of. He adjusted right away and he made friends with everyone. Such a sweet little boy.

A few days later, I brought him to the Feline Friends Dubai Open Day. He was adopted almost immediately. When I saw the young couple finalizing the adoption proceedings, I felt like crying. A part of me didn't want him to get adopted so I can take him home again and wait for the next Open Day. Anyway, on my way out I congratulated the couple on making the right choice and I told them that they won't regret ever adopting Troy. I didn't say goodbye to him because I was afraid I would burst into tears.

I would have to learn how to control my emotions if I want to continue to be a fosterer. I think I will be stronger on my next fostering assignment.

Twenty Questions

1. What is your favorite holiday memory?

This question left me stumped.I wish it was white snow and hot chocolate by the fire but it's not. I never liked any holiday - even Christmas (especially Christmas! The source of one of my worst memories). Holidays are overrated anyway.

2. What’s the most shocking thing you ever did?

I think the answer to this one is best relegated to my journal which I hide somewhere inside my apartment. I can mention the 2nd most shocking thing I ever did - it was when I left home when I was 19 because I was fed up with my mother.

3. What would you like to have a “do-over” on?

That shocking thing I did which I will never mention here.

4. What’s your favorite place in nature?

I'll take the mountains over the beach any day.

5. What is your favorite “bad” thing to do?

Sleep in and binge on my day off. That and leave my dishes unwashed.

6. What's your favorite thing to cook?

I love tofu. It's so versatile. It tastes like cardboard by itself but when mixed in a creatively prepared dish - delicious.

7. What is something you do every day?

Impossible to leave the house without taking a shower.

8. What’s your favorite thing to do in summer? Winter?

Summer: stay indoors and watch DVDs ad nauseam
Winter: take long walks

9. What do you always do before bed?

Say good night to my cat, Harrison, and then thank God for the day that has just passed.

10. What are you most scared of?

Drowning, crocodiles/alligators and being jobless.

11. What are you most proud of?

My print-ad for Powerbooks featuring PAWS and animal welfare.

12. What is your favorite word? Least favorite?

Favorite: Book
Least Favorite: Queue

13. What one thing do you want to change in yourself?

To stop being so cautious all the time.

14. What do you do to cheer yourself up?

Either of the three:

Chat with Aggie.
Eat something sweet.
Play with Harrison.

15. Do you want to have children?

Sometimes - when my maternal instinct rears its head up. But most of the time, no. The world is crowded already.

16. What’s your favorite hiding place?

My apartment. That's why I don't encourage visitors.

17. What is your favorite movie?

If I had to mention only one it would have to be The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (ok it's 3 movies)

18. Do you like to go camping?

No because I like having a clean bathroom and toilet nearby.

19. What was your scariest dream ever?

I was eating in a restaurant when I saw zombies spilling out into the street. To escape having my brains eaten out of my skull I pretended to be a zombie too, walking and jerking like the the rest of them. But then I noticed one zombie looking at me with interest - he could tell I was faking it! He started towards me...then I woke up.

20. What are you really good at?

I can recite all what I've written (inlcuding this sentence) above in numbers based on their order in the alphabet instantly. (A=1, B=2, c=3...etc. For example: "zombie" would be 26-15-13-2-9-5). I have yet to find a useful reason for this skill.

Aggie answered these questions too.

Charley

Eager for Winter

I'm tired of summer. Six months of it is way too long. But is a foregone reality of this showcase of a city we call Dubai.

Clothing is really a struggle during the summer months. I'm not really confident in showing some skin, even if it's just a simple sundress. Actually I did buy a short sundress - hoping the intense heat would force me to wear it.

It looks something like this, only it's light blue and white:
I did wear it one time when I visited my sister in Abu Dhabi. I wore it with a black shirt underneath though - couldn't bear baring my arms and shoulders for all the world to see. It's either that or look ridiculous. Not surprisingly I chose ridiculous.

I'm counting the days till winter time. During winter I can pile on the clothes and get away with it. I've been looking at some ensembles online (I'm that eager) and here's what I'm planning to wear when the thermostat goes down:

all images from www.delias.com

I've yet to buy the clothes - hopefully when the weather is cooler my closet will be adequately stocked.

I Miss My Dad

Remember

Remember me when I am gone away,
gone far away into the silent land;
When you can no more hold me by the hand,
nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.
Remember me when no more day by day
you tell me of the future that you planned;
Only remember me; you understand
it will be late to counsel then or pray.
Yet, if you should forget me for a while
and afterwards, remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
a vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
better by far you should forget and smile
than that you should remember and be sad.

By Christina Rossetti.

When I was younger the thought of my dad dying was so unbearable that I refused to acknowledge the inevitability of it. I loved him so much, even with his faults and foibles. I feared that if I lost him I'd lose my mind. He was far from perfect but I was pleased when people see similarities between us, things that cement the fact that I am indeed his child. We walked the same way, the same scattered eyebrows, the same sparse light brown hair. When he stopped working due to illness I went to his house every weekend and just spent time together talking or watching TV. Sometimes if we had money we would go and eat out.

But now he's gone. When news of his death reached me in the early hours of the morning of July 5, 2006, I trembled in shock. Good thing I was far away in Dubai - the distance help cushion blow somewhat. I didn't go home to Manila for his funeral because I didn't want the memory of his death to linger with me. It would have crushed my spirit.

Sometimes I still think about him and I still feel the same sadness. I didn't lose my mind when he passed away but I know I will always mourn him. All I have to remind me of my dad is small dog-eared picture that I keep perpetually in my wallet.

Wherever you are dad, I miss you so much. Until we meet again.

A Day at the Beach

Last Friday, my colleagues and I went to Al Mumzar to enjoy the beach. It is summer after all. Had a lot fun although it was extremely hot.