Nevergirl’s

I’m not sure if it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said, “Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people” but I’m fully with her in this sentiment. I dislike gossip, especially the harmful kind. When I do chitchat with friends, we talk about what we’re all up to, what people we know are up to. We talk about changes in each other’s lives and discuss possibilities. As much as possible, I’d rather not hear bad things about anyone. Misfortune is sad. It’s even sadder when people delight in others’ misfortunes.

Now, I’m all for nourishing the mind — and gossip doesn’t nourish anything, except spite or envy in people’s hearts, which is why rather than spend any time talking about other people, I’d rather spend time with the family, a few friends, or with my laptop and my books. I love learning new things! I always have. To quote a former English teacher and now a very good friend, “The first thing to notice about you is how amazing your brain works.”

I’d have to agree. I’m not special in any way. I’m not beautiful; I’m not tall; I’m not gifted in a way that inspires poetry. But I’m curious, and I’ve this insatiable hunger to learn. As a matter of fact, I’m even considering signing up for an online degree.

There’s this school online I’m eyeing and I’m liking the fact that it follows a competency-based model, which means you can complete a degree as fast as you want! I’m also loving that it charges only half the sum that other reputable schools are charging. The question is time, though. Where do I find the time? Between the kids, the hub, my work, and the shop, I doubt I can scrape enough time to sign up for an online business degree. But hey, I’m not one to close doors on anything so let’s see. I just might look for anything related to Learning and Technology. I love to teach. If I weren’t getting paid for writing, among other things, I’d probably be teaching by now!

Wish me luck!

I usually can’t be bothered to think about my skin. I think of too many things that are much more important – what to eat for lunch, for instance. Truth be told, I remember my face only when I need to go out. This is also the time I remember my hair, and that mine screams for attention because I ignore it in the most horrendous way at home. But the movie Coco Avant Chanel (Coco Before Chanel) made me want to go on a best wrinkle creams buying spree because Audrey T. sported a barefaced look that I love because

1. it’s fuss-free.
2. it’s something few women can get away with.

Besides, at 27, it’s about time I start paying attention to my skin. I don’t even moisturize, for Coco’s sake!

Here are some photos of the premiere night. We went to the premiere, had late dinner at Casa Verde, and then the husband and the brother whisked me off to Outpost where we ate again. Never one to turn down meals – yep, that’s me! No wonder I’m always waging a losing battle with my waistline!

Oh, and I love, love, love the movie! I was stunned when it ended. It didn’t feel like I’ve been sitting at the cinema for two hours at all! I wanted the movie to go on and on, and on.

Sundays are always laidback for us. Today, for instance, we woke up really late and spent what was left of the morning putting up our tree. The whole family – 1-year-old Charlie included – helped, which explains why it took us a long time to finish. With the kids “undoing” more than “doing” and making a mess of the Christmas balls, what should have been a 2-hour activity at the most took more than three hours.

But I didn’t mind. It was fun. Even when the hub took time off from his pine-straightening duties to talk to the MIL over the phone about wireless security systems gone awry (they have one in their homes, can you imagine?) and the upcoming family trip to Cagayan and Camiguin, I didn’t mind being saddled with a six-foot tree, tons of Christmas churvaloos, two rowdy kids, and a brother who kept insisting the side of the tree near him looks bald.

We had earlier planned not to put up one because we will be spending very little time in Cebu. But the kids convinced us a tree is a must — and they didn’t even have to say a thing! They simply looked at us with mutely appealing eyes!

Here’s the tree, which we just finished putting up today.

Merry Christmas, from our tree to yours!

To fly to Bayugan or not? That is the question.

Don’t get me wrong, we’d love to go there. It’s part of the holiday plan. But the rates the airlines are charging are ridiculous! We’d end up paying P4,600++ per round-trip ticket per person. There’s 6 of us going, which means we’ll spend close to P30,000 on fare! What’s worse, we will stay there for only 7 days at the most! Can you imagine me gritting my teeth here?

Now, as much as I believe in Christmas and that it’s one occasion you shouldn’t pass up to spend with family, we’re seriously considering doing just that – not spending it with the husband’s family. There’s something oh so wrong about spending close to P30,000 on plane tickets alone just to go to Mindanao. Opportunistic airlines! I’d rather drink Anilox cleaner than pay that!

Anyway, the husband is on the phone again, looking for alternatives. I doubt he’d find one but he’s an optimist, and the good Lord looks out for children, dreamers, and optimists. So who knows? Maybe this time around, optimism might KO Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific.