Growing Critters and Real Critters

Despite the heavy rains and howling winds yesterday, we went to Antipolo (coming from Valenzuela) to celebrate the 9th birthday of my beloved nephew Louis.

I was like a surrogate parent to him. My brother and his wife used to work abroad, and they left him to us when he was about 4 months old and just went home every 6 months. They finally stayed here for good when Louis or Motti (as we fondly call him) was 6 years old. So for the most part of his infancy until his pre-school years, I was mostly taking care of him.

Admittedly, since I was in college during that time, I hated the responsibility. I wanted to party on the weekends but I can't because I'm taking care of a baby. He was actually such a joy to take care of, it's just frustrating for me that my gimik times were affected but I have learned so much from taking care of him. 

That experience taught me how to take care of my own when I first had Wolf. I wasn't a fumbling first-time mom because I already know how to take care of a baby. What's also nice is that now that Motti is all grown up, he helps me now in taking care of Wolf. :)

My wish for him is that he grows up to be an accomplished individual. He is such a calm and well-mannered kid and I hope he stays that way. 

Below are some pics from yesterday's celebration:

And speaking of critters. Another reason why I love going to my brother's house in Antipolo is the abundance of little critters that are not usually seen here in the metro. I get to test my Super Macro lens:

I am hoping to be more creatively productive. I needed this.

Sticky Trap

Nature is harsh.

While having merienda with Boa (pasta cooked by yours truly), I saw my brother intently staring at something just outside the screen door that leads to our kennel. 

Boa and I were looking at him curiously for a full 5 minutes before he explained what he was doing outside. 

He was apparently watching a very intense fight between a small house spider and an ant that was caught in its web. 

It's a Nat-Geo Photo Op!!!!

Grabbed my cam, set it on super-macro and handed the camera to him. 

It was a vicious battle with the ant putting up a fight: 

But it was a home-court advantage for Spidey. It's kinda like watching Shelob and Frodo go at it, only in miniature. Spidey wrapped the ant inside the web and paralyzed it with a bite or two before consuming it. Yeech:

Poor ant. I wondered out loud how did the ant got there and he gleefully answered, 'I placed it there!'

Nature is harsh, but people can be really blood-thirsty. Tsk.

Banzai!

Jumping back into the fray. 

Tomorrow night. 

It's such a shame that I see my current work place as a battlefield. I thought love was the only battlefield that mattered. 

Enjoying My Downtime

My week-long downtime gave me the pleasure of taking care of my son full-time. I haven't had this opportunity in a while because I do not have any leave credits yet.

With 5 days of unpaid sick leave, I can just imagine my paycheck on the 30th but c'est la vie. You win some, you lose some. 

Since I'm contagious, I was advised to isolate myself from people but Wolfie hasn't left my side since Sunday. It's a bit of a risk but he just had his MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine less than a year ago so I figured, he'd be safe.

If he catches the virus, at least he'll be immunized for life but more than anything else I think he's also enjoying having his mama for himself. 

All we do all day is watch TV, alternately Disney Channel or Disney Junior and if he lets me, I get to watch TLC. I admit that I am very lenient when it comes to television but I'm very selective when choosing the shows that he can watch. I'm not against local shows but I find most of them lacking in educational values so I try to steer Wolf away from those types of shows. The only time that I can't control it is when I have to go to work and leave him with my parents. For the life of me, I just can't figure out why mom likes watching Willy Revillame. 

I felt better enough to do the laundry today but the detergent aggravated the itch. :(

My eyes are still a bit sensitive to light but I hope that the headache that have been plaguing me will go away. 

We will be productive today. :)

Ruminations

So contracting measles is nature's way of slowing me down. 

I'm chatting right now with a friend who's halfway across the world. I just told her that it is scary to gamble. 

I am thinking that I've been trying to move forward but what if the right way is to move a step backwards? Or maybe even to take on a different direction altogether.

A few days past, I've undergone a terrible breakdown. Or maybe it was a breakthrough. I don't know. I haven't sat and wrote like this for a long, long time. 

Day to day practical necessities rendered me mute. I still haven't forgotten Virginia's advise to get a room of one's own.

Despite the emotional turmoils that I have been battling these past few months, one thing is clear. A change is definitely in order. 

Everything else will be collateral damage.

Jumping Ship

The sudden shift of career plans made me so busy that I haven't had time to update this blog. 

This is it for now.