Being a parent means I have to make sure that the kids get a solid and great education. I want them to learn stuff but I want them to learn while having fun. There is that level of difficulty when you try to teach them about science and vocabulary without boring them to death. Surely, you don't want their session with their therapist to start with "My mom made me learn about miasmas and it just haunts me...HAUNTS ME! BWAHAHAHAH!"

It seems that learning through music is limited with nursery rhymes and alphabets and numbers. After that, there's nothing more than pop music or terribly written songs about the hurricane where the words are forced to rhyme and the melody is droning and monotonous. No offense to these people who wrote this songs. I can't write songs to save my life and I'm not about to critique them with their skills. All I'm saying is that as an end user, I have to make sure that the songs are interesting, catchy and well written. My kids will have to repeat these songs on a regular loop so I would have to endure.

I've heard of They Might Be Giants when I was watching a DVD about Sesame Street's anniversary. I thought they were adorable and their songs were catchy enough for the kids and they helped in making them learn about science and vocabulary! They do have DVDs out that are all about edutainment but here are some of the notable ones IMO.









You should check out ParticleMen's videos on the TMBGs. I suggest you download the vids and songs and let your kids understand and appreciate science. My kids (8 year old girl and 5 year old twins) have just learned 2 new big words yesterday in the span of 10 minutes - miasma and incandescent.

I don't understand why some people complain about being the in the Philippines and how most of them want to get out. I admit, there are times when I just want to up and leave as well, seeing how stupid some of our government leaders are but it's done in fits of frustration. To tell you the truth, I think we've got it going for anyone who would love to work and be nice to each other here in the Philippines.

David loves it here. He loves the fact that cigarettes cost 35 pesos and vodka is 65 pesos (thank you The Bar!). He loves that beer is 35 pesos and that you can get it by the liter. He loves the weather and the fact that we only have two seasons (to which we complain about incessantly). He loves the people. Because no matter how many arrogant and evil taxi drivers are out there, there are still some who are nice and polite and honest. He loves the giggling salesladies that try to talk to him in Tagalog and ask if he has a brother.

I love the fact that I can still knock on my neighbor's door and ask if I can borrow a cup of sugar. I love the fact that during parties, we share what we have with our neighbors - pancit, cake, barbeque, and lumpia. I love that we can share what we have without having to ask for anything in return. We immediately clutch our hearts when we see a little kid lost in the mall and then we take them to the security office and make sure that they at least find their parents or companions. We drop everything for a friend and we never ask for anything in return because knowing that we've helped someone is enough for us. Call it arrogance but we're built better than any other kind of people out there. Our women know how to take care of their families and their husbands (with the exception of some - again, this is just a general observation. Unless the man is douchebag then we try to eradicate them from our lives as soon as we can.)

Remember the legend of how humans came to be? Where God was a baker and he was baking the human race; he took the first batch out too soon and the result was a race that was too white. He took the next batch out too late and the result was a race that was burnt (again, no disrespect to our African-American brothers out there. Its just our cultural legend) and he took one out a bit too early and got the yellow race and then the last batch was cooked just right and they were a beautiful golden brown - The Filipinos.

Then this piece of advertising catches my eye and I realize that we truly are the lucky ones. In the US, they're selling the makahiya plant for $19.99. That's almost one thousand pesos.

We have been trying to cut it down and kill this weed that has been plaguing our gardens. (On a personal note, my kids wanted to have one so we went out this morning foraging for one and we got some. So suck that $19.99)

And then, I see another advert for Pangasinan Sea Salt that they're selling for $5.99 for 4 oz. FOUR OUNCES! I get this for only 25 pesos! It's insane!

Then there's the pako plant (fiddlehead fern) that we find everywhere but is selling for $19.99 per pound! A thousand pesos per pound?!?! Are you insane?! We use the mature plant for decorations on bouquets and the young tips for food. This tastes amazing with bagoong. Yum...

So, I don't understand how people can complain about living in the Philippines. We have a wonderful night life, amazing beaches, great weather, wonderful people and a plethora of possibilities. As the elders would say "As long as you're not lazy, you can do something and be someone". Filipinos are kind, hospitable and hard-working. We're creative and inventive and we try to make do with what we have.

Mabuhay ang mga Pinoy. Taas noo tayo kahit ang ilong natin ay pango.

For those of you who know me, I don't have to explain it. For those who think they know me - think whatever you want.

I'm going through another chapter in my life and I think this is what I've been waiting for all my life. I am happy, secured, content and cared for. My children are happy, content, nurtured and indulged. My mother and my family is very happy for me. I have everything I want and deserve.

Thank you, David for making this happen.

Bespectacled annoying little neighbor girl was in our house, coercing my daughter to go with her to her house. In the middle of her ill-fated manipulation, she resorted to trash talking instead.

Bespectacled annoying little neighbor girl: Let's go to my house! My cousin is coming and he's very handsome, more handsome than your brothers.

My Girl: Nah...I still think my brothers are handsome.

BALNG: My cousin is handsomer than your brothers combined.

MG: My brothers are still handsome anyway.

BALNG: My cousin is handsomer than your crush, AJ!

MG: *still calm and collected* I still think AJ is very handsome.

BALNG: My cousin is the handsomest of all!

MG: *In an annoyed and patronizing tone* It's not just about looks, you know. It's also about attitude.

***

My mother, who was witness to this couldn't stop laughing. I am a very very proud momma. *smug grin*

So I've had a lot of things to say about romance and the lack of it. Anyone who has ever met me or known me, knows that I get a little squeamish about romance and intimacy. Yes, I have intimacy issues - shut it. As one friend has beautifully put it "Dude, you're too sensitive to be so fucking concerned about cuddling and shit. It's a fucking irony" Just so we're clear, it's not an intimacy problem, now that I think of it; it's more of a trust issue.

Who the hell am I to complain about romance and intimacy when I really have it good? All I'm saying is, thank Eric Kripke that I'm not a duck...

Men, on the other hand may think that the duck is now an animal worth worshiping. Read these articles here and here and tell me that you don't have a new found respect for ducks.

Women might think about envying the ducks as well. Imagine what you can do with the power of choice like that, huh?

This is what my friend Sasha and I always say to each other when it comes to boys/men - "What use is the body if the garage is empty?" (But I would like to point out - What a hot body it is...)

So, apparently, this hot top GQ male model is hotness personified. (Why are you looking at me like that? What? You thought I would stop objectifying men? Pfft...How naive of you.) I have no objections, your honor. He IS hot. You'd think that he'd get any kind of girl/woman/man he wants right? Someone who would be equally hot or if not, hotter than the level of hotness he is in (Okay, stopping with the excessive use of the word hot and it's permutations and conjugations) That is where you're wrong, my friend.

He is currently living with this woman. This woman is about 20 years or so older than he is and get this, they have a child together. Yes...like they've coupled with each other and have procreated.


I hear you...you're thinking (and don't deny it, you hypocrites!) so many things your head is spinning. Let's take thought number one: Is she his sugar mommy? I don't think so. The woman is a teacher or something. He probably makes more money that she does. He, however, has 15 cases of robbery under his belt so that totally negates the fact that she's the sugar mommy. Thought number two would be: Is she blackmailing him? My response would be a swift smack to the side of your head. Dude...seriously? Which brings us to thought number three: Could it be love? Like honest to goodness true love? ...maybe. Well, he did say that he "...was tapping that ass" (referring to Gina Salamino - the woman) in a court room. Read the article here

***

I can look at this situation is so many different perspectives. One, I can say that there's hope for us common looking people to actually hook up with a hot GQ Top Model. I mean, if she can do it, then most definitely common folk such as myself can as well.

Two: Possessing physical aesthetics does not guarantee happiness. Again, I'm using my previous statement of "What use is the body if the garage is empty?" Right, Sashing? I prefer to have intellectual stimuli together with my hot sex, thank you very much.

Three: After 20 or so years, even with the help of chemicals and other cosmetic procedures, there could be an off chance that he may learn some new skill or develop his personality a little bit. If that's the case, all good things hoping, then *shrug* I guess it's okay. But even that is a chance that's way off. I think there's a better chance for me scoring with Jim Parsons or Jared Padalecki than him ever having to develop a better personality. Call me cruel but at least I'm honest.

In any which case, I leave you to your own thoughts. Watch this and tell me what you think.