Garfield Minus Garfield Moments

Larry’s find- http://garfieldminusgarfield.tumblr.com/

-- and we realized we are Jon in these strips, oh well, sometimes. Here are my own “without Garfield” moments:

1. I sit on the floor and try out the ‘how to fold a t-shirt” instructions that someone found on the net (in Japanese, no subtitles). I show my friends how to do it.

2. I watch Home Shopping Network and I am compelled to get the food processor so I can turn spinach into a form that I can swallow. But wait there’s more…

3. My dreams appear in the form of powerpoint presentations- before the next frame appears, I have to click the next button first.

4. I carry on conversations with myself, sometimes out loud, if I don’t catch myself in time (now, who doesn’t?). One time, I was on a public utility jeep, and the tail end of my conversation with myself slipped out—I said “…I don’t want to talk about it”. Good thing it was my stop.

5. If I can’t sleep, I really try to count sheep, the ones that jump over the moon. No kidding.

6. I watch Hallmark channel on lazy afternoons and Crime/suspense in the evening.

7. I am taking sewing lessons so I can add sewing curtains and repairing ‘ukay’ finds to my Garfield minus Garfield moments.

8. I take down notes when I watch Barefoot Contessa.

9. I think about my Garfield minus Garfield moments.

10. I blog. (hehehe)

Greetings for the New Year

In 2007, I said goodbye to smoking, and except for one minor lapse one drunken-night among strangers, have never smoked cigarettes since; watched my parents walk down the aisle on their 40th wedding anniversary; swam with the Butanding one summer weekend and saw Mayon Volcano for the first time; met and made new friends; met newfound cousins; was unexpectedly told I am loved by a dearest friend, which drove Tita Gigi to tears when I told her about it; walked the ruins of an ancient city in Thailand; was happy to see an aunt recover from breast cancer and prayed fervently for the recovery of another good friend; spent 6 months getting an open water diver’s license and spent oh so many weekends by the beach and 60 feet underwater, was treated to a weekend in Las Vegas by very good friends whom I have known since grade school and I finally realized what ‘handsome’ is while watching Chippendales; was blessed with my parents’ good health and unwavering good sense of humor; drove a mini cooper in suburban roads of Amherst and enjoyed an spectacular solo early morning drive from Tagaytay to Batangas; was excited to welcome a cousin’s new baby; felt for a friend’s grief over a recent loss; finished reading many good books while spending so many hours in many different pre-departure areas; enjoyed a night of music and heard my favorite song ‘Smile’ played with a passion that resonated from deep within; shopped for cds in Quiapo; cheered on friends who got engaged, sang many love songs on videoke with good old singing and drinking buddies; said goodbye to my home of three years and anxiously moved into a smaller place that I could now call my own; sadly watched my dearest housemates pack up and move into their own little places; found a new home for my dog; climbed the 268 steps to the big Buddha in Lantau and offered a prayer for my brother on his death anniversary; laughed out loud so many times, cried a few times; celebrated my birthday with an after dinner party with friends closest to my heart while missing those who could not be there; and capped the year with a quiet time with Papa, Mama and Mana Adette, all of us grateful for this time together while never forgetting him, whose absence will always be felt.

With deep gratitude I say goodbye to 2007 and look forward to 2008! May the New Year bring you love, peace of the soul and mind--