It is delightfully refreshing to come home to warm delicious meals and the presence of family. Ngin Ngin and Tita have only been here for 5 days but I feel as though I were back home in Manila once again. Aside from the pasalubongs I had requested, Ngin surprised me by bringing my humongous doggie bedroom slippers, my favorite Nike's, my black Mary Jane heels that I wore to my college graduation, my bright orange parasol, the caricature portrait of myself that my friends gave on my 18th birthday and old ID photos of myself from kindergarten and elementary. Though I may not use those things anymore, it was still very thoughtful of Ngin to pack them up and bring to me.

I now wake up to the smell of breakfast cooking. The apartment is virtually dust free. My dad has suddenly become neater in an attempt to impress his clean-freak mother. And the best part of it all is that our fridge is filled to its capacity. I lavet!

The Juice has met the family as well, and I think they're getting along quite well. It's important for me that he loves them, as these two women helped my dad raise me. I hope he gets to meet my mom someday too.

That's it pancit for now!

Booooooo!!! The Juice got into a car accident today. He's not hurt, thank God, but the expenses and the trouble of dealing with insurance and car repairs will be pretty stressful. It's very unfortunate that this had to happen at a time when he's burnt out from work. I can't help but feel partly to blame because I had asked him to wait 5 more minutes before leaving his house to pick me up. Damn you, wet hair. No, damn you, Britney, because I put off taking a shower to listen to your song.

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A favorite childhood toy for many Filipinos was on the news a few days ago for being recalled due to their hazardous properties. The "plastic balloon", or "children's balloon blowing kits," were sold by vendors manning the Philippine booths of the International Pavilion at the Canadian National exhibition. Apparently, these kits have been banned in Canada since 1973. Whoops.

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/health/080904/x090411A.html

Funny how I feel no shame on behalf of my homeland even after reading the article. It just dawned on me that maybe my toyo came from all those school-age years of inhaling dangerous fumes.