So I was tagged for “25 random things about you” I gave it thought and effort so here it goes:

1. If I were a kitchen utensil I would be a ladle. I like the notion of cradling my family and taking care of those anyone in need.  If I were single, I would probably be a half broken food processor for obvious reason where one good blade only works.
2. I was once a registered “young Democrat” in high school.  My political views have changed over the years and I’m more “independent”. Although, some would argue that I’m  a ‘pansy-liberal’.
3. Even though I have taken swimming lessons many times I still can’t swim.  (more of a matter-of-fact than random)
4. I recently wrote an essay for NPR (National Public Radio) for “This I Believe” program.  I dedicated to my father-in-law.  It is in the NPR’s national archive forever.
5. I like to sing Norah Jones tunes in the shower but I often think I sound more like Karen Carpenter.
6. Biggest imagination I had when I was a kid, I was a black-belt Ninja.  I often would jump off tree branches and throw ‘star-fruit’ at unsuspected passers-by (i.e like the ‘fish-ball’ vendor).
7. Piggy backing on number 6.  I was born in Philippines and immigrated to America when I was 10.  Up to this day, I don’t know how to answer the question “Did you grow up here?”
8. I speak several languages:  English, Tagalog, and Spanish.  I can understand some Portuguese, which I will de-bunk the idea right now that Portuguese is nowhere similar to Spanish.  In addition, I’m also fluent in sarcasm.
9.  My full and real name is French “Mignon” pronounce like that stake filet mignon.  I went by as Meg for several reasons:  in middle-school, most kids did not care to know my name some thought my name was “egg-nogg” As I got older, there wasn’t a place or a person I introduced myself to that I did not have to say my name several times so “Meg” was more for simplicity and convenience.
10. During my hey-days, I was a cocktail waitress at this bar called “Mitty’s”.  I quit and got in a fight with a group of military-guys because they tipped me “. 25cent” I told them, I’m trying to make a living not a phone call.  Thanks to you I can now call my landlord and tell them I can’t pay rent.  By the way, pay phones are now a rare sight.
11. My random act of kindness in more than one occasion:  I helped a lady pushed off her car off the middle of a highway ramp and changed a flat tire for a senior couple.  Yes, I know how to change a tire as well as changed oil but I’d rather pay someone for that
12. I really believe we’re all here to learn some lessons and help each other grow.
13. I don’t believe in love at first sight.  My definition of a soul-mate is not one that you marry because he or she is  your best friend.  It’s the person whom you are with and vice-versa and that while you’re both on this world.  You are both to treat each other with utmost respect and unconditional love so that when one soul passes on to the next world and the other’s soul in time passes, both souls are reunited as one.  No soul is longing for the other to join or wishing eternally that soul should’ve been kinder while on the material world.
14. My major paranoia is loosing my kids.  I constantly worry about them.  When they were babies, I would have vivid dreams that I had hired a crack head baby-sitter and that she would take my kids in her car driving aimlessly looking for crack.
15. I love the smell of a box of crayons.  It brings nostalgia and wonderment when my life was much simpler.
16. I wish I could read people’s aura on demand.
17. I will always cheer for the underdog.
18. I have a temper; I can be a cynic yet my saving grace is my magnanimous heart.
19. Secretly, I am, my husband’s, biggest fan.  His admirer and personal stalker.
20. I like to write things down on a list of what I want to do, to get, to accomplish but I never get to scratch anything off the list.  It’s what I call “the perfectionist-procrastinator syndrome”
21. I never finished my novel on NaNoWriMo in ’08.  Hoping to give it a shot this year. 
22. I’m not afraid to get hurt on a skateboard.
23. I love music and one of my favorite thing to do is going for a lazy drive with the windows down and listening to music.  My title playlist on my ipod:

-   drop to the lbs.  (for running and exercise purpose)

-   not in the airwaves (selection of songs that will never be played on the regular radio)

-   podcast (collection of This American Life, various Moth Stories, books on tape yeah sexy ones too!)

-   iRoad (the kind of music you will recline your chair to and wait for the transcontinental flight to take off)

 24.  I have a hard time saying “I love you”

 25.   I love Italian food though I love Thai food equally.

26.    I once got busy in a Burker King Bathroom.  ooops! 25 random things not 26.

 If I tagged you it’s because I want to know more about you.

 

The Voice Mail

via Wikigeneration › Edit — WordPress

Since Halloween is coming soon, like about a week, I decided to post  scary short story (ies) of my own.

     They were inseparable since the day Carrie nervously stepped on the school bus as the ‘new girl’.  Back home she wouldn’t have had a kind of best friend like Brittany.  Carrie was ordinary and Brittany was everything Carrie wanted to be.  Everyone liked Brittany. A girl could only feel so privileged to even breathe the same air with her.  Brittany was beautiful with long golden hair and Carrie’s spectacle on her facial frame gives her a constant complex of her looks.  Nonetheless, Carrie was just as pretty if one cares to look long enough.   So both girls sat together each day and bantered as if that day is a new day.  When they weren’t together, they constantly kept in touch with each other.  They had matching phones for they were equal.  No shade less.  Each phone encased in rose pink and accessorized with half of charm hearts thus side by side the halves complimented each like a puzzle.  Their phone was their way to communicate each trivial part of the day.  Who’s going out with who, their like and dislike, boys, and more rambling about schoolwork and not so distant plans.  Not a trivial information is miss.  

     One evening, as the crisps fall air was starting to set in and the crimson glow of the moon oddly shone behind the thick gray clouds, they made a promise that they we’re always going to stay in touch and be best friends forever.  Carrie walked home and Brittany waved from the bus.  The evening was unusually bright as Carrie walk home preoccupied by the coming school dance.  She had never been to a dance before and she looked forward to going with Brittany and meeting the rest of her newfound friends.  Carrie was so elated she didn’t notice she was almost home when she heard a voice.  The lady was unusually tall with red hair just like the color of the crimson moon her skin was smooth but pallid and she had on her hand a heavy broom.  A little late for maintenance Carrie thought.  The pile of leaves rattle in the cold wind.  “Promises can turn into a vague longing on a night like this.” The lady spoke.  “Um…er I guess.”  Carrie simply replied not trying to be rude or annoyed.   Carrie swiftly ran to her front door.  Frantically she dialed her best friend number and Brittany did not answer.  Carrie thought it might just be a vain imagining and decided it was nothing. 

     It was an uneventful weekend for Carrie without Brittany.  Carrie busied herself with her usual household chores and homework.  The motion of her day was mundane with her best friend out of town.  Monday came and Carrie sat in their usual seat. No doubt Brittany would have filled her in about her weekend get away had Brittany not left the cell phone on the bus seat.  Carrie didn’t realize how much of her day revolved around her best friend so much since they met.  School was dull without Brittany and Carrie was glad that the day was over.  It was unusual for both of Carrie’s parents to be home on a weekday.  “Hi honey.”  Her mother’s tone was grave as she console Carrie.  Her father quickly grabbed her hand.  Carrie didn’t know that she would loose her best friend that Friday evening.  It would be the last time she would see her best friend’s smile.  An Unfortunate mishap took her best friend’s life too soon.  Carrie went to her room and cried in silence.  Moment’s pass and Carrie’s mother checked in on her condition.  “You have a message in your phone.”  Carrie, uninterested, let the electronic device reverberated on her bed while she stared furtively at the screen that says “1 new voice mail.”  She finally gathered enough strength to check her message.  “Hi Carrie it’s me Brittany.  It’s Sunday.  Call me back.”  Carrie gasp was it a coincidence or a consequence for wishing under the crimson moon.

 

 Happy haunting.

Happy Halloween.