Cessna In Flight

Right now, I am here in a coffee shop all by my lonesome. My two older kids are in school, I left the youngest with my mom, and my husband just left to see a client. “Wouldn’t you be bored?” he asked.

Bored? I needed this hour.

Working people need coffee breaks and snack breaks and to get off from their jobs at 5 and to take VLs. I love my home and my family like you have no idea. But in a way, loving them means work. And I am at work 24/7 – Bunso sleeps beside me, and sometimes Ate and Kuya as well, so I’m at work even in slumber, because in the middle of the night I put arms and legs away from torsos and faces.

Don’t get me wrong – I love this job. It’s a crazy job and I don’t have a name for it – stay-at-home mom no longer fits and work-at-home mom fails to capture everything – and I love it. But yes, I admit I could use a break too.

I need it. I think the last time I had it was last September – and it wasn’t even planned. I had to attend a workshop so I had to spend lunch hour alone.

This is my first time in a very long time to seek an hour just for me. My notebook, my pen, my laptop, a hot cup of coffee and me.

For one hour, there will be no thought of chores. No grocery list to plan. No school projects to make. No crying baby to soothe. No quarrels to referee. No article to write. No proposal to draft. No business plans.

For one hour, I will play. Blog. Read horoscopes. Read jokes. Write meaningless thoughts. Watch people. Daydream. Remember. Imagine.

Photo: “Letters to Juliet – Amanda Seyfried” by , c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved

I don’t usually care what’s trending on Twitter. But I woke up this morning to find the movie “Letters to Juliet” on the list, and would you believe I’m really happy about it haha! I think it has something to do with it being shown on cable last night. Perhaps thousands watched it with me and fell in love all over again.

I saw the movie for the first time early this year and I loved it right away. I watched it again last night and it quickly rose from being one of my favorite movies to being my TOP favorite movie (move over Ten Things!). I wasn’t feeling so great yesterday – nothing serious, just one of ‘em days. But this movie just made me feel everything will be ok because the world is beautiful and love makes the world go ’round.

What is not to love about this movie? It’s perfect! The setting, the script, the cinematography. And Amanda Seyfried and Chris Egan are so bagay for each other. Chris is sooo adorably cute in his role as a “realist” whose views on love and life changed after an adventure with Amanda. The beautiful Amanda is perfect for the role of Sophie, a fact checker slash talented writer and a firm believer of love and romance. Gael Garcia Bernal is  a dearie even though he is “not right” for Amanda. In his last scene in the movie (which for me is quite bitin), I found myself wishing that he’d find his own true love soon. Preferably a chef. And Amanda Redgrave. Oh. I wish I have another grandma, and I wish it’s her!

To those who haven’t seen it, oh but you must!  To my fellow ardent fans, shall we watch again and take delight in the beautiful quotes?

“I know it might not get there, but it just feels so good to write.” – Sophie

“Because the truth is, Sophie, I am madly, truly, deeply, passionately in love with you.” – Charlie *swoon*

“Dear Claire, “What” and “If” are two words as non-threatening as words can be. But put them together side-by-side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What if? What if? What if? ” – written by Sophie, read by Claire.

I saw Toni’s post and I thought this is a great way to jumpstart my blogging. Not to mention I am a sucker for slumbook questions like these. So here am I revealing a little part of myself to you.

1. Where you named after someone? Something. That plane!
2. How did you name your blog? Cessna in Flight is my third blog title. A little play on Cessna airplane, and the idea that life is pretty much like flying. Sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down, sometimes you’re about to crash, sometimes you’re soaring. And yes, that playful song haha!
3. Where did you meet your husband? We saw each other first in a party, but we were introduced to each other only after being set up on a blind date.
4. How long were you guys dating before you got married? A year and 9 days.
5. How do you bond? We’re always talking with each other. We do everything together. So we’re like on a date everyday.
6. If there is one song to describe your life right now what would it be? My current favorite get-up-and-go song is Happy, and I guess that pretty much sums it up.

Continue reading “Continuing the Getting to Know You Chain” »

I was intrigued when I received the invitation for the “Healthy Lunchbox Cooking Lesson” from Apple Morales, owner of Active Fun and the brains behind Soyami Chips. One, Nadine Tengco of the Pinoy Biggest Loser is going to do the demo (showbiz!). Two, I had no idea how the chips could be incorporated into a dish and this got me curious. I am fast losing ideas on how to get my children to at least like their baon. I NEED this cooking demo!

It turned out to be one of the most fun and the most informative blog event I’ve attended. Nadine, Apple and Chats showed us how to make “Sneaky Mac n Cheese” with Soyami chips – and get this – carrots and sweet potatoes.

Continue reading “Making lunchboxes healthy with Soyami” »

I bought a small pack of decaf during a trip to the grocery store one evening. It tasted great such that the following day I drank it instead of the instant or brewed coffee I would usually have throughout the day.

At around 6pm, I began feeling lousy. I thought it was because the day was particularly jam-packed with activity – we were reviewing for the kids’ periodical exams,  and I washed an enormous load of laundry after a long wait for sunny weather. By 7pm I was exhausted and by 830pm, I plopped down on the bed with energy in bright red (“Sims” talk for depleted).

I thought, it must be that darn decaf. The next morning, I  had 4 cups of stronger-than-usual coffee fix and I felt like a withered plant coming back to life after soaking up every drop of water.

Oh my gosh. I think I just had my first taste of the caffeine withdrawal experience.

I had no idea I have become dependent on coffee such that going decaf would make my day difficult. I usually have 4 cups in a day, I have friends who take more than that. I know drinkers who have more coffee than water that they say their blood has turned black gold - hindi naman ako ganyan. Or maybe that’s what I think, haha!

Oh well, I’ll choose to concentrate on the benefits of coffee (hello antioxidants!) and try not to go beyond 4 cups. Or 5. And decaf? Well, not for a long time.