Anything under the sun: short stories, poems, opinions, random thoughts, musings, remembrances, feature articles. Just need to write, write, write.
Maski paps (maski paano in Tagalog), mish-mash,hodge-podge... a veritable cornucopia
If a writing formula guaranteeing success can be bottled, I would have been the very first one on the line to buy gallons of it. My inner evil twin (thankfully repressed) would have surfaced and would have beaten the other wanna-bees to a pulp if they ever think of jumping the line.
If the writing genius genes could be absorbed by touching the books of my favorite women authors, I should have been as famous as J. K. Rowling, Maya Angelou, and Erma Bombeck.
If a magic wand drops down from Hogwarts, I would probably ask that all three women bless me with their brilliance. Ahhhh, if only.
My bookcases are crammed with my obsession with the written words. These three women- Dr. Maya, Erma, and JK- have opened fascinating and exciting new worlds for me. Their words captivated me by their power, their humor, their passion, their imagination.
DR. MAYA ANGELOU (1928-2014) is a hero to me. She was a phenomenally phenomenal woman. With her words of wisdom and strength in adversity, she had inspired whole generations of people of all races. All Renaissance woman, part warrior, part performer, the People’s Poet.
She wrote seven autobiographies, and several books of poetry, all of which are positive affirmations of her graciousness and her tenacity. From the small town of Stamps, Arkansas to the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C, to her final resting place in South Carolina, Dr. Maya Angelou brought hope and optimism for the future.
She was larger than life, an iconic figure who had triumphed far and beyond the expectations of her color and her origins by which she had further inspired those who aspire to such greatness. Her eloquence spoke straight to my heart. The story of her life is a masterpiece of how to overcome all odds and how to always strive to be a blessing to others.
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style."
"Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud."
J.K. ROWLING- Harry Potter turned J.K. Rowling from a welfare mom to the richest woman in United Kingdom. Joanne "Jo" Rowling is a British novelist who wove magic and sorcery with masterful and imaginative brushstrokes to bring us the adventures of Harry, Hermione and Ron.
The Harry Potter fantasy series gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, and sold more than 400 million copies. The idea of a young wizard came to JK during a long train journey back home; one can never discount that inspiration comes in the most unusual places.
I was probably a bigger fan of the books than my son, often finishing the latest book before him. I am not ashamed to admit that I stayed late up into the wee morning hours mesmerized by flying brooms, Quidditch, teleporting and the Pensieve. Even Neville Longbottom got his shining moment when he transformed from a bumbling and mediocre character to the hero who decapitated the snake Nagini.
Hermione proved to be a strong heroine, JK Rowling’s double, much like I envision myself to be- strong, bull-headed, no-nonsense and passionately loyal.
And I like that she is nicknamed “Jo”.
ERMA BOMBECK (1927-1996) made me laugh out loud and made me cry. Such is her influence on me that I dream of being her nursing counterpart. Sadly, I still have yet to find my inner Erma.
Erma was a prolific American humorist with a popular and witty column about suburban home life. Copies of her articles were taped on refrigerator doors in households across America. Her witticisms on motherhood struck a chord that holds true to all generations; her self-deprecating humor about her passport photos made us look and laugh at our own likenesses. She was really a stand-up comedian who dispensed hilarious stories about everyday life, even when she was at wit's end.
As someone said, she made something extraordinary out of the ordinary. She had written 15 books, most of which became bestsellers. Her sense of humor propelled her to the top of her game.
And when she was not writing about septic tanks, she made me tear up with such poignant lines "If I had my life to live over again... Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle."
It was a sad day when she passed away during an unsuccessful kidney transplant operation.
"Getting out of the hospital is a lot like resigning from a book club. You're not out of it until the computer SAYS you're out of it."
"Giving birth is little more than a set of muscular contractions granting passage of a child. Then the mother is born."
"Never accept a drink from a Urologist."
"There is nothing more miserable in the world than to arrive in paradise and look like your passport photo.
I am as guilty as everybody else. I proclaim my preference for things that may be considered campy, embarrassing, and unsophisticated by some misguided souls.
The guilt is not from liking them, but in that perverse pleasure of adding color and uniqueness to my otherwise ordinary and strait-laced life. Somehow there is humor in shattering people's expectations as they realize that there are more to you than meets the eye. Life becomes more interesting when you do things outside the box.
Hahaha, I am a paradox. Layers of contradictions, some kind of a biological puzzle. I am thirty shades of surprises. I am me.
THESE ARE MY GUILTY PLEASURES:
1. MAXINE- that crabby character from the Hallmark cards, who says what she wants when she wants. At this time in my life, I still have to filter my words and refrain from rolling my eyes at some absurd people, lest I offend someone. Or lose my job.
When the time is right, I want to be Nurse Maxine.
2. FAVORITE MOVIES- There are movies that just stay with you long after the credits had stopped rolling.
Airplane- was voted as the funniest movie of all time with three-laughs-a-minute rating, as per a recent survey by Love Film. This spoof disaster film starred Leslie Nielsen of the famed "I am serious and don't call me Shirley” quote.
Sleepless in Seattle- at least once a year, I watch this romantic comedy by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. When “Sam” talked about missing his departed wife, I joined the chorus of “Awwws” from the radio listeners. The movie sound track was terrific, even the song “Makin’ Whoopee”.
Big- another Tom Hank starrer. This is a feel-good family movie of a child who wanted to be a grown-up. And he ended up having fun with the piano at FAO Schwartz. Heart and Soul and Chopsticks.
Harry Potter- turned J.K. Rowling from a welfare mom to the richest woman in United Kingdom, even richer than the Queen. I am a bigger fan of the book, but the movies mesmerize me. Especially the scene when Neville Longbottom, who used to be bumbling and mediocre, turned into my new favorite when he decapitated the snake Nagini. That deserved my loud “YES” (and fist pump) at the theater which earned an embarrassed laugh from my son. Have I traumatized him for life?
3. MUSICALS- I have been very vocal about my unrealized dream as a singer. It started when I got hooked with musicals, whether on stage or in the movies. It’s like being transported in an alternate universe of songs.
Singing in the Rain always leaves a smile on my face. Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. Absolutely top-notch dancing with the milk rain and umbrella-twirling and upturned couches. Jean Hagen was hilarious as the shrill-voiced Lana Lamont.
Other favorites- Sound of Music, Les Miserables and Miss Saigon
4. ABBA, a Swedish pop group provided the background music to my high school and college years. The group had long disbanded, but their music stood the test of time, thankfully, with tribute bands and the musical and movie “Mamma Mia.”
"I have a dream, a song to sing
To help me cope with anything
If you see the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see."
5. FIFTY SHADES OF GREY JOKES-
Out of curiosity, to see what the hype is all about, I bought the book. Only Book 1; I don't have any interest in Books 2 and 3. Mommy-porn erotica does not appeal to me. Men with BDSM predilections scare me, even though Christian Grey is hot, hot, hot. (fans self)
What started as an e-book Twilight-based fan fiction by E.L. James became a run-away best-seller and spawned a whole industry of BDSM products and copycat books, and now a musical.
Critics bash the writing as "abysmal and sophomoric". My inner goddess says those critics are just jealous because E.L. James just got lucky and is now a very, very rich woman.
And that’s what I am impressed with. Every author dreams of hitting it big. Erika Leonard James certainly had a roller-coaster year, with a movie in the works.
I also love the jokes that came out of this book. I just get a perverse pleasure in seeing the shock on people's faces when I unleash my quirky sense of humor.
Overheard at the bookstore, two females in their 70s were discussing the merits of the book Fifty Shades. The ladies were nicely dressed and made-up, with bouffant blue-rinsed hair.
Lady#1: "This book reminds me of the good old days."
Lady #2: "Huh, speak for yourself. My playground is still active."
They both looked at me when I chuckled.
Me: "Good for you, lady."
Funny how you can get different reactions from the audience. We had a meeting one day with the ED leadership to discuss some changes in our electronic tracking board, with ten people in the room.
Chief: "We need to change the color of this new icon to gray."
MD: "Gray is boring."
Me: "There are fifty shades of gray."
Reactions (coughing, laughter, gasps of horror, surprise, confusion.)
Me: "Just kidding; just want to wake you up."
How can I hit it big when all I really want is to write innocent Harlequin-book romances?
If something gives me pleasure, why should I feel guilty?
According to Wikipedia (another guilty pleasure), a guilty pleasure is "something one enjoys and considers pleasurable despite feeling guilt for enjoying it". The "guilt" involved is sometimes simply fear of others discovering one's lowbrow or otherwise embarrassing tastes.
Excuse me, but I don't consider my tastes "low-brow"; it's just that others do not have the same good taste that I have. Really, no accounting for taste. (Picture me clicking my fingers with an attitude.)
Young ones mistakenly think that they need to conform to be cool. But in my maturity and wisdom, I can finally claim my God-given right to state my own opinions and proclaim them to the whole wide world without fear of repercussions, without any embarrassment, or a dip in my social standing... what the heck, I deserve my guilty pleasures.
So, dear readers, these are my favorite things:
1. Korean Telenovelas-
Watching Korean dramas till dawn (even though I had school papers to write early this year) and reliving lost youth with sweet romances and naivete, albeit with subtitles.
For full measure, I even had the audio turned up just to hear their voices. "Saranghae" (I love you) sounds more romantic in Korean. Lee Min Ho, Lee Dong Wook, Jo Hyun Jae... all gorgeous and, unfortunately, too young. ( Ah, to be 18 again).
NOT GUILTY!
2. Harry Potter-
I am a Muggle and I'm proud of it. Magic and sorcery are woven with masterful and imaginative brushstrokes by welfare mom-turned-cultural icon J.K. Rowling. More bonding through reading, I shared Harry, Ron, and Hermione with my son through seven books, most of which I devoured one night way ahead of my son... just to explain the eye bags the day after.
NOT GUILTY!
3. Books- check out my design template
By my modest approximation (and a big dent to my finances), I have close to a thousand books in my home, half of which are unfortunately packed in boxes waiting for that time when I have a bigger house.
My future library will have wall-to-wall shelves that will be bulging with my classics collection- some Agatha Christie and Jane Austen novels, and certainly none of that brain-numbing-torture-from-highschool Shakespeare nor Tolstoy for me.
My eclectic collection will display my fascination with numerous authors, especially Angelou, Keillor, Koontz, Sparks, Roberts, Baldacci, Meyer, Higgins Clark, Grisham, Cornwell, Albom, Sheldon, and that queen of humor, Bombeck.
It all started at age 16 with extreme addiction to Mills and Boon romances with their British maidens and dashing foreign-born heroes; I flashback to those nights spent under covers with a flashlight just so as not to disturb my mom.
No Kindle for me. Why spoil the pleasure of smelling the books and of putting dog ears on the pages (to the utmost consternation of my son, who hates putting dog ears on books)?
NOT GUILTY!
Addendum: 6/12/14. Argh! I have succumbed to the temptation of convenience. Finally got a Kindle and loaded up on books since I have no time to go to bookstores anymore. On rare occasions, I have managed to sneak to the neighborhood CVS stores to buy books that I can smell and dog-ear.
4. Old-time crooners
Perry Como, Matt Monroe, and Andy Williams were respected vocalists of eras gone by when the singing was seemingly effortless and their intonations impeccable. When the crooners looked debonair and suave in suits, or in Williams' case, sweaters. No low-waist pants with crotches on their knees worn by hip-hop artists of today (shudders). For the record... these gentlemen were actually before my time.
Listen to Perry Como's "And I Love You So". Close your eyes and let the melodious voice envelop you like a warm embrace. Sigh.
NOT GUILTY!
5. Norman Rockwell
One of my prized possessions was a gift of an oversized Norman Rockwell book from a friend (Thanks, Fe-pot). According to filmmaker Steven Spielberg, “Rockwell painted the American dream — better than anyone.”
My mouth watered at the glorious illustrations of Americana. His vivid portraits of everyday life graced the covers of The Saturday Evening Post. I had dreamed of following in his footsteps, until my rude awakening that I can't draw bodies, only faces.
NOT GUILTY!
6. Food- "I see food, I eat"
Can't get the Thai Crunch salad from California Pizza Kitchen out of my mind: Interesting flavors with fried wonton strips, fried rice strips, avocado, cabbage, carrots, scallions, cucumber, cilantro, edamame, and peanuts with lime-cilantro and Thai peanut dressing.
Yummy!!! Never mind that this salad staggers with 1460 calories!!!
NOT GUILTY!
