Every word tell

Timeless advice:

"Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all sentences short or avoid all detail and treat subjects only in outline, but that every word tell." - Elements of Style 4th edition


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Cola free

It has been twelve days without drinking any cola products! A milestone, indeed. (hehehe)

This was a weeklong experiment only: to test my resolve in denying my taste bud's desire for Coca Cola. The craving to drink was strong in the first few days especially after devouring a lechon or adobong pusit. (Yeah, I know, lechon falls next) :-) But, after being cola free for a full week, the craving diminished.

Now I am aiming for a full month, and hoping for another milestone when November three comes.

Bird Kingdom

Birds are everywhere at the house -- at the windows, at the small nipa hut at the front lawn, at the lone coconut tree at the back; I even found one dead in the garage -- Dash must have been really annoyed.

This one, which sat at the top of the fence, left hastily when I took this shot.













Their favorite resting place: the windows!













Here: bathroom window.














Because their chirping always brightens my day, cleaning their occasional droppings, especially at the windows, is forgivable.


Early Bird

Oh, if you're a bird, be an early bird
And catch the worm for your breakfast plate.
If you're a bird, be an early early bird-
But if you're a worm, sleep late.

by Shel Silverstein

Message in a bottle

Just finished watching Message in a Bottle at surfthechannel.com. I can't believe we missed it at the big screen. Gem said we didn't watch it because I hate Kevin Costner. :)

I bought the book, Message in a Bottle, last year but finally read it just this morning -- which prompted me to search for the movie. I wonder why it took me all this time to read this is N. Sparks's creation.

The movie version is more poignant, even more haunting than the book. Usually it's the other way around.

I particularly love these lines: "... I already had what everyone is searching for and few ever find, the one person in the world who I was born to love forever ... no wind or trouble, or even a little death can knock down this house.... The prayer is that everyone in the world can know this kind of love..." I like to believe I have found this kind of certainty.

To all the ships at sea
and all the ports of call,

to my family
and to all friends and strangers:

This is a message and a prayer.

The message is that my travels taught me a great truth.

I already had what everyone is searching for and few ever find,

the one person in the world who I was born to love forever.

A person like me of the Outer banks and the blue Atlantic mystery.

A person rich in simple treasures,

self-made,

self-taught.

a harbor where I am forever home,

and no wind or trouble,

or even a little death can knock down this house.

The prayer is that everyone in the world

can know this kind of love and be healed by it.

If my prayer is heard, then there will be an erasing of all guilt,

and all regret, and an end to all anger.

Please God, Amen

- Catherine

Raining in Kabakan

I was on my way back to Davao yesterday. It was raining heavily in Kabakan.

I love it when it rains. I opened the car window just to feel and smell the rain touching the cement roads, the palay fields, the world. It's refreshing and cleansing.

The rain seem to wash away all the dirt inside this soul.

The third beginning

My first blog was created more than two years ago. But I forgot its log in ID and password. Darn. Now that blog is floating aimlessly in cyberspace. (http://januarysdawn.blogspot.com/)

My second one was made about a year ago, at first, to put all those wonderful tidbits I am finding from the net --- videos, music, stories, photos and others. But it slowly evolved into a personal journal and became a private blog, sealed from the outside world and supposedly for my eyes only until, of course, Gem started peeking at it. However, a lot written there were not so private after all.

Hence, this third attempt! Starting today, entries in my private blog, which are not too personal to shout to the world, will also be posted here.

We are on different journeys, you and I. Sometimes we make brief stops and marvel at others as they go on with their travels. You are making that momentary stop now and briefly intersected with my journey. So cheers to you fellow traveler.