Memories cannot fill an empty stomach

For the first time in my life I learned stuff about my father I never knew before. He had so many interesting stories like in the movie Joy Luck Club, things you learn about your parents now that you're at an age of maturity. You feel like you're an adult, and in my case, I felt like he was pressed for time as his health has at an obvious gradual decline due to diabetes and heavy smoking. It's sad really, and if there was a way for me to collect his stories like he collected his antiques, to salvage what he's amassed over the years in a financially viable way, I would, but I fear that my other family members would never understand the value of these things, as I know he feels I don't understand the value of these things either. My mother and sisters would probably sell everything thinking it's all useless junk, not because they don't appreciate it's value, but because there's the inevitable need for survival that no sentiment can overcome.

Whinner, I mean, winner!

You may have noticed that I haven't written a single thing for more than a month. That is to say, lightly, that I have tried not to complain as much, tried not to be my usual articulate self, since the summer has arrived. The tragic thing is I haven't been to the beach yet, contrary to what my previous postings suggest, and I have no concrete plans to pursuing such in the coming days, to my utter dismay. Instead, tomorrow I'll be going to the bummer, I mean, summer, capital of the Philippine Islands, BAGUIO CITY, to arrange the upcoming schedule of my life-to-be in a new and more temperate setting. I actually don't know what to bring. It's not like I'm gonna stay there for more than a week. I'll be back on Sunday or Monday, preferably, to follow-up on tasks I'll be leaving behind from today. I don't think it's gonna be as cold as December or January, especially in the day, but I'll be smart enough to bring thick sweaters and worsted socks for the chilly nights. (I'm sooo looking forward to it already!)

Life's been pretty kind to me so far, after a whole semester of semi-direction and whole-hearted prayer (Jabez is miraculous!), the only tangible thing I can rant on at the moment are my bluish, broken, bruised labials. It wasn't supposed to be like this at all. A week ago my lips were chapping slightly (yes, in spite of the summer heat) so I put on my vanilla-flavored Chapstick lipbalm on both my lips to try to prevent the thing from doing further damage. Lo! When I woke up the next morning, both my lips were swollen and in worse condition than the night before!!! I tried to think of the last time I ate squid adobo, because I had a similar "lip attack" the last time I ate the decaying contents inside one of those squirty pregnant squids. Now it's all become clear to me, my vanilla-flavored Chapstick lipbalm ......

...... is EXPIRED.

Holy shmoley! I never thought stuff like that expire, but I recall buying it years ago. It still tasted the same though.

Anyway, that's it. That's all for today, 2:14am HK/Taiwan time. I'm packing up now :)