Where the raindrops as they're falling tell a story...
The upstairs common bathroom has started to leak out. My BIL, who's an engineer suggested we re-tile and fix the sealing around the bathroom. Admittedly, I am a bit wary that the whole house will one day collapse because we haven't been keeping with the repairs faithfully. At least we already bought bathroom tiles, in rustic pink floral patterns (which now makes me doubt the choice), grout and trim. Installation will come next.
With a very short awning, the terrace is bound to collect rainfall, if not water from the AC. And because the terrace floor is built in such mediocre fashion, the water instead of flowing to the drain, flows to the living room downstairs.
I swear if I were a man, I'd be a carpenter, a mason, and acquire all the skills to fix the house. But sadly I'm not. So I am left to daydream away and live in constant fear that I can never afford!
While I'm at it, I'll go ahead and nag about the condition of our kitchen. Yes, the eternal problem of a leaking faucet remains. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why the plumbers we send to check the leak can't fix it. I told my husband that if ever they're going to rip the sink off inorder to really see what's keeping it leaked, I'd rather remodel the kitchen. I have been wanting to get rid of the plain, boring, white cabinet doors anyway.
And then there's cost to consider. Oh, well.
I watched as Xofia, now 2, wiggles away around the living room while singing along Blues Clues theme.
I wondered what I was doing, what I was capable of, when I were her age. Surely, I wasn't singing along to some TV character, we didn't have one.
Probably, I was out in the backyard, early in the morning, to join my Lola in the garden. I remember relishing the moment over a mound of pulled grass by my side and thinking how good I was at this. Now, I smell a freshly-cut grass and all I remember is this sweet and poignant memory of my Lola.
Xofia is now 2. They say it's high time that she'd have a brother or sister. I think you'd have to let me enjoy a full night's sleep first before I plunge into another months of sleeplessness. And besides, my God, the crisis!
I'd like to take a step back for awhile. Imagine life worrying about one person's heartbreaks and pains and joys and happiness when she'd old enough to experience all that. Gosh, that is already a handful; what about imagining two person's worth of all these? How can a mother endure?
I seldom shop these days, even window shopping. Last weekend we did, and all we got was for Xofia, none for us. Being most of the time online anyway, I realized there's more bargain to be found in the Internet than anywhere else. I find tools for comparing prizes nifty. (Stop me before I talk how numerically-challenged my brain is). And being bargain sucker that I am, or maybe just cash-strapped someone who wants to get the best out of her buck, I shop early for Christmas, too.
One of my most favorite item to give away is fragrances. I don't use them due to an allergy, so I give them to my loved ones who can enjoy them on my behalf.
I especially like Calvin Klein's Euphoria, which is one of the award winning fragrances. Euphoria boasts a contrast of "exotic fruits, seductive florals and a rich, creamy signature." Ah, scent after all, is one of the most unforgettable memory. Gotta get that something you want to be remembered with.
I am also thinking of getting a cologne for my husband. Cool Water is a classic favorite but I'm thinking of something else. Pasha de Cartier, perhaps? I think we'd both enjoy a blend of lavender and amber with mint, citrus, wood and musk thrown in. HAH!
So, Xofia will turn two in a few days. You must be thinking I got myself so busy planning for her party. While I wanted so much to give her the best party in the world, the current economic condition and our savings account disagree.
I tried pushing for the jumper rental, complete with colorful balloons, pinata, pabitin, popcorn stand, balloon twister, what-not. Sadly, I always go back to the monthly household budget spreadsheet. And I just don't know where to fit all these in there.
And then there's the reality that Xofi is still two. She won't remember most of this, really. She won't remember much of a party, lavish or not. The important thing is the people we love and cherish are there to celebrate this wondrous anniversary of her birth with us. And most especially, lots of children to make it a fun, rambunctious crowd.
The balloon twister and jumper rental can wait. Maybe when Xofi's old enough and the economy is no longer screwed.
