My new year's resolution

When I write things down, I commit them to memory and to heart. I make the words true, for if I do not, I would have lied to myself and to lie is to be unjust. So, here goes.

My new year's resolution is to stop thinking about other people. Selfish people have it so much easier. I do not know why I even bother. From now on, I will think only for myself, for every single time I do otherwise, I only end up hurt. I will not care about other people's feelings for, anyway, most of the time, all they care about are their feelings. Why bother, really. Why bother.

"At the end of the day, shit. With that mighty word, you can console yourself for all human miseries, so I enjoy repeating it: shit, shit."
-- From Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert

A short sojourn

Today we drove to Intramuros for a mini tour and for the most part had a lovely time. The sun wasn't too bright, the cobbled walks were pretty, and the La Pieta replica at the Manila Cathedral was enthralling. Some buildings in Old Manila, however, were terribly restored and still some others merely feigned antiquity. A few blocks from the Cathedral, too, the sidewalks were desecrated with garbage and reeked profusely.





But a walk in Intramuros is a walk of nostalgia. And so, as when we are leafing through the pages of our memory, we trekked only the paths which led to those which were beautiful.

Today was sort of a run-through for a 2-day trip we're planning this Christmas break. We intend to make a documentary film of it.

I'm quite excited. :)

According to Woody

The things that make his life worth living:

Groucho Marx, to name one thing; and Wilie Mays; and the 2nd movement of the Jupiter Symphony; and Louis Armstrong’s recording of “Potato Head Blues”; Swedish movies, naturally; “A Sentimental Education,” by Flaubert; Marlon Brando; Frank Sinatra; those incredible apples and pears by Cézanne; the crabs at Sam Wo’s; Tracy’s face…

Now, my turn. The things that make my life worth living:

A Moveable Feast; Fitzgerald's short stories; watercolor; Paris; pastel-colored pastries; Woody Allen's movies, of course; classic Hollywood films; notes from my students, Moon River; lavender essential oil; flowers, and tons of them; Ice's curls