There was always a particular week in May that was celebratory for my family— the week that held the 11th, 15th, and 16th days which comprised of my mom’s birthday, my parents’ anniversary, and my dad’s birthday, respectively.

This year, obviously, is different, since it’s the first time without my dad. We celebrated my mom’s birthday a few days ago with family, and last night, the 15th, my brothers and I took her to Le Souk for mediterranean food (and made her take a flaming shooter; lightweight that she is, she was buzzed immediately. Which was hilarious.), to celebrate with her in place of my dad.
When I was about to sleep last night, it somehow only hit me then that the 15th didn’t just mark my parents’ anniversary; it was also when my mom had an aneurysm the same time my dad had cancer, exactly a year ago. I’m not going into details now, but the scarring events are still vivid in my mind.
My dad passed away some months after, but I could not be more thankful that my mom was given back to us. We’ve lost a lot yet we’ve been given just as much, in other ways.

Today, my mom, brothers and I are commemorating my dad’s would’ve-been-49th birthday by going to his grave, and then having dinner with the rest of the family, with whom, somehow, it kind of feels like we still have him around.

I have three younger brothers and every now and then I like taking them out, individually (as my wallet would permit haha), on a “sibling date,” where I get to be all big-sisterly and build a more solid rapport with them.
This was today’s lunch (my lasagna and his French sandwich something) with brother #2, Charles, whom I share a common interest in books, movies, and art with.

Haul from yesterday’s ukay/thrift-store trip with my mom, happily air-drying after laundry.
It wasn’t actually as successful as the last couple times I went, but the thing I’m happiest about is that I finally found the perfect reindeer sweater I’ve been hunting for since before Christmas! Well, I’ll have to wait months to wear it, but still— ecstatic!

My new baby!!! Which I just got last night, and I’m pretty proud of because I partly paid for it from my own pocket.
I’ve had my iMac for about 5 years now and while it’s always served me well, I thought it conducive to also have something more mobile. With clients whom I have to meet up with and the fact that I’m going abroad soon, I can’t really be lugging my desktop Mac around with me now, can I?

So now all I need is that MacBook case that looks like an old book, a sticker that’ll make the Apple icon look like a Snitch, and it’s all good to go.

I never really was a big Valentines person, but I was more than happy to spend this year’s Vday with two of my lovelies, jessicalahoz and thelittlelle! I suppose it was kind of an excuse to get together amidst busy schedules and catch up over lunch (that’s my Fettucine Tartufo e Prosciutto), bond over some Starbucks and macarons (by none other than La Vie En Rose Sweets), exchange flowers, and laugh uncontrollably at the most mundane things.
Also, nothing beats the barista going, “oh, you’re each other’s dates?” and I proudly answer yes at the same time thelittlelle states, “no, we’re not lesbians.” (Facepalm, sorella. Facepalm.)

Today, carafunk and I celebrated her 24th on the 24th!
We drove up to our family rest house where we made lunch ourselves— chicken and basil pasta with berry wine, and salad with dried sugared flowers, milk cheese, apples, grapes and croutons. Later on in the afternoon we picnicked outside, with a couple good books and strawberries, my pretty Austrian tea and her homemade macarons and strawberry cake.

Visited my dad today; we just recently had a headstone put in, designed by yours truly, about 3 months late lol.

Happy 2012!

Brought my iMac to our rest house so I could do some client and personal work with an amazing corner-window view, which I wish I had at home.

Oh! Also— hello, 1000th post!

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For the anon(s?) who asked, here’s what’s in my bag, currently— a scarf, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, journal, work pad, small sketch pad, pencil case, umbrella, wallet I’ve had for years, Mentos, a comb, my grandaddy’s sunglasses (it’s older than I am!), Nivea Soft Rose lip balm, iPhone, earphones.

The back of my pad at work.
Some days require me to be on the phone with various companies, and the lackluster of on-hold music and interacting with pre-recorded voice operators and snooty secretaries prompts me to space out and doodle a lot on the job. 

For the anon who asked for photos of our rest house—
From left-right: le house!; koi pond; front door that opens to the kitchen, which is the center of everything (our family loves to eat); counter top; dining area beside it, and a common balcony behind it; living room across it; stairs leading up to the second floor and down to the basement; my favorite window which my mom has coined “Isobel’s sunset window”; view from the second floor; balcony.

My mom and I initially wanted a country home, but my dad wanted a low-maintenance modern one, which was admittedly more practical so that’s what my mom made it to be. It’s mostly black, gray, and white, with red-orange accents that mirror the flowers from the fire trees outside.
It’s quite comfortable, and I like that it’s eco-friendly— well-lit, good airflow, and it’s made in such a way that the rain water is collected and it’s what’s used to flush our toilets and such. My parents put a lot of themselves into it, and I’m proud of my mom for finishing it for my dad even when he fell sick, that he was even able to spend last summer here, albeit being bedridden.

Sooo there you are— our rest house!

Visited a family friend who just gave birth to a baby boy today, whom she and her husband named after my dad— both of which equally make me extremely overjoyed.
Also, there’s nothing more calming than looking at newborns at a nursery after a taxing work day. Except maybe a spa day, but then again, the former is free of charge.

I spent a quieter next three days with family at our rest house, just staying together and remembering my dad.
I also whiled away time reading and strolling about outside, taking photowalks, and lounging in the middle of the road under trees and sunlight patches.