Things I'd Send a Homesick Friend Abroad

DVD with home videos on it
Cheesy but I'd collect a bunch of video greetings from all our mutual friends and loved ones to help them feel connected. It'd probably make them miss home more, but at least they'd see smiling faces that will be waiting for them when they step off the plane.

Stuffed Toy with a Letter
The letter would be from the stuffed toy, saying that it travelled all this way to bring hugs and affection from all your loves ones back home and to join in the adventures. Also: "Hug liberally when suffering from bouts of homesickness"

The Parental Legacy

It's funny when you reach that point in your life when you can actually see the humanity of your parents. Not just the fact that they are/were your heroes, but that they also possessed weaknesses.



I hit that moment fairly early... like when I was 8. My parents also had this nasty habit of accusing us of being exactly like [insert other parent's name] when we exhibited any negative traits. It's amusing to note that they never laid claim to anything genetically handed down that was even remotely negative or undesirable, but quick to claim their grand influence when it was something accolade-worthy.



We all grow up thinking (most of us at least unless you have perfect parents) "I don't want to end up like that!"



Me, I'm realizing that you can't fight nature or nurture in this case. I won't go over the obvious physical traits I've inherited (where much to my chagrin I look mostly like my Dad), but I will talk about the various personality traits instead.



My mother is the perfectionist, the martyr, the tough love parent and I have taken on ALL these traits. I will do a job and let it take forever until it's perfect, and even then, will think it's not my best. I will self-sacrifice to no end, and then wonder why my needs aren't met. And to the people I love most in this world, I will be unyielding if they need my honesty, and supremely stubborn if I think they're behaving in the wrong. My empathy for other people is also from my Mom. I believe that we have it in our power to change the world, one person at a time, one good deed at a time, and for this I'm eternally grateful.



My father is the fun-loving, procrastinating, jokester, who is a loud talker, big eater, and lover of all things. He is excess and will-ful, and I am all those things too. I love to enjoy and play, and crack jokes all the time. I love food probably more than he does, and have tried to avoid being the pack-rat he is. (I'm an immigrant kid, so it's harder than I anticipated). My sense of fun, and its importance in everyday life is from him. So is my sense of adventure, and trying new things. My Dad is the first guy to suggest taking a different route, and/or driving for the sake of it.



From the combination of all these traits it would seem that I'm schizophrenic in temperment. I think it's kind of true. Inside of me brews a battle between these two very different personality imprints... so in a way I'm constantly trying to achieve harmony between the two.



I like to think that my parents bestowed upon me a unique combination.



I call myself a structured artist, or a spontaneous planner. Best of both worlds I think.



Thanks Mom and Dad. I love you.

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The Seduction Style, Part 2

I really need to work on my game apparently....

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Your Seduction Style: Sweet Talker

Your seduction technique can be summed up with "charm" You know that if you have the chance to talk to someone... Well, you won't be talking for long! ;-) You're great at telling potential lovers what they want to hear. Partially, because you're a great reflective listener and good at complementing. The other part of your formula? Focusing your conversation completely on the other person. Your "sweet talking" ways have taken you far in romance - and in life. You can finess your way through any difficult situation, with a smile on your face. Speeding tickets, job interviews... bring it on! You truly live a *charmed life*

What Kind of Seducer Are You?

The Post-Flipside Review

Any play that feeds me buffet-style filpino food is a winner in my book!

Earlier tonight I caught "Flipside 2007: an evening at tita cora's", a collection of short plays interwoven together under the guise of a family party at Tita Cora's place. It was awesome. It was basically immersive theatre, where they did not define the difference between the performance space and the audience viewing space. We, the audience, wandered Tita Cora's "house" hanging out in the living room/dining room and the action taking place all around us. We even were asked to help ourselves to the buffet of filipino dishes in the "dining room": lumpia, adobo, and pancit!

Even though the concept was cool, it simply wasn't gimmicky theatre. The performances were precise, and direction and writing was enlightening, moving, and entertaining. I look forward to participating more with this theatre company. The work they're producing is just getting better and better! It is not only about giving a forum for "other voices" like our filipino-canadian artists; the work itself is simply outstanding as pure theatre.

Surrounding myself with artists is actually making me believe that I can be a part of this community once again.

The Feline Factor

Tonight I spent some quality time with ergogirl since her significant other is out of town. We picked up some takeout dimsum and ate dinner back at her place. Mmmmm... dimsum.

Anyway, she's the proud mommy of two adorable cats, Mr. Findley and Raven. It seems almost everyone I love dearly, also happens to be lovers of cats. Don't get me wrong, I love cats, but unfortunately I discovered about six years ago that I'm allergic. So I came fully prepared: I had popped two allergy pills prior to my arrival. Sometimes I can get away with not medicating, but it usually results in a short stay with my friends.

Ironically enough, I do believe that cats are fully aware of who is allergic to them or not. It's quite amusing to see cats cuddle up to people who can't be near them, and yet ignore the happily immune. In a way, I appreciate how mischeivous this is. I mean, if I were an animal, I'd probably do the same thing!

Mr. Findley is a particularly social and affectionate cat. As soon as I got comfortable on the couch, he curled up in my lap, ready for some snugglin'. I happily reciprocated, and was privy to a little bit of grateful purring. I discovered something tonight that cat owners everywhere already know. Having a purring cat in your lap is the fastest way to relax! I'm a longtime sufferer of insomnia, and have a general inability to sit still and chill out. Having Mr. Findley in my lap put me in the kind of relaxed state that I've never been able to do on my own (at least without the assistance of sleeping aids).

Even ergogirl noticed the change in my demeanor. She had never seen me so sleepy before (while sober). So now I've got it in my head that maybe it'd be nice to own a cat. Not only would it be great for chillin' out, but I'd have a real try at taking care of a living, breathing dependent. Now if only I can find one that I'm not allergic to. Maybe cat-sitting is in my near future?

The Culturing of My Sibling

Okay, so since my sister-in-law is in the Philippines with both my parents, my poor little bro, Princess, is home all alone. Awwww.. poor baby.

Anyway, he's been feeling lonely so I took him to lunch on Monday... and on Friday I'm taking him to see a collection of plays at "Tales from the Flipside 2007: an evening at tita cora's". It's being put on by Toronto's very own filipino independent theatre group, the Carlos Bulosan Theatre. I've been frequently attending their productions since last year, and every time I'm moved and inspired to create art in whatever way I can.

It'll be a good Friday night. Bonding with the baby bro, immersion in our culture and our artists, and living outside our heads for a little while.

The production is on for two nights: Feb 23/24, 2007. Go check it out if you can!