No, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. Au contraire I have been suspended in air and I'm accumulating Mabuhay Miles living on plane food and passing time listening to my Lauryn Hill doo wop me off my boredom. I couldn't get online for a couple of weeks because I have been traveling and spending time with my father, the Colonel.

This Miles thingie is getting to be an addiction. Everytime the Colonel would tell me we're flying somewhere the first thing that pops in my head is if I get Miles. So when he said that we're going to Legaspi my mind went overdrive and a single word floats: MILES. I took a hold of myself and ask too casually what airline we're flying he replied Philippine Airlines my face breaks into a smile like a Cheshire cat.

But as soon as we land at Legaspi City I started fretting. I brought the wrong clothes. Too many shorts, too many spaghetti straps, too many halter sundresses when it rains there all the time. My luggage is still full of my Boracay clothes. No shorts, no spaghetti straps, no halter sundresses allowed when the Colonel is around and MOST ESPECIALLY if the the Colonel is surrounded by his bodyguards. Despite being labelled a rebel I try to conform too especially if the Colonel is around. I survived that trip wearing jeans and a lousy shirt every time I go out of my room and occasionally use my trusted thai pants.

I never used to worry about stuff like these before. Then again I was still working in Purgatory Land slaving for two falllen angels for bosses so I had no need to worry if my clothes will pass the Colonel's taste.

So now I am off again. Gotta run to the airport again this time to pick up my older sister -Tanduay Babe, and my brother - 3rd Mate. Whoooohooooo! Family reunion!!! I am soooo excited. This might be something for the family annals again. I'm planning to just watch and place bets this time but I think I should prepare my Everlast just in case.

I have been babysitting my niece. She is totally something for an nine year old - rambunctious. For people who have to deal with nine year olds they wouldn't find this surprising at all. But I am single and though I have two younger siblings that I had to care for once in awhile when my parents were away they had a similar upbringing as mine and a similar parent who ruled us with an iron hand.

I have a father, the Colonel, who hailed from the hallowed grounds of Loakan where the Philippine Military Academy stands proud with all its glory and cadets cower and are cowered upon depending on what year you are. As his children we grew up cowering. I don't even want to start with my mother - the General...I'd freeze my gut just trying. So growing up we cannot live, breathe, move, and think without our parents approval. It was tough but it kept us all lined up straight as a rod...for a couple of years.

My niece, Baby B, makes me feel emotions that I have never felt for other people especially grown ups. We have almost a 20 year gap but she and I argue like siblings… nothing deliberate just that after growing up (almost) following my parents stringently and gotten used to being followed all the time by subordinates I find her indifference when asked to do her homework slowly taxing my patience like a wave crashing on a land over and over until erosion occurs. And taking on her face when I asked her to help in chores I challenge her patience too. She is can be so obdurate.

I had to leave her while she was sleeping one early morning and bring my youngest sister, Kitty Cat, to the airport. I came back with her eyes puffed and in a pensive mood. My brother-in-law said she was crying when she realized I was gone and did not say goodbye. she had to be comforted that I will be back soon. My heart did a wee bit of a somersault and my face softened as she walked over to me and gave me a hug asking if we can go swimming that afternoon. She got me under her thumb this time.

I have forgotten how to be a child as I stripped off my memory of my childhood and painted a white canvas instead. It is a past I only recall selective memories and the rest of it I stuffed in a black box and pushed in the back of my mind which I try not to reach. But feeling her hug and her unselfishness to give me kisses I realized that a child's primary job is to play. And she could she mean at times but I know that she does not mean to hurt and by reason (and prayers) eventually she will grow up a healthy person responsible but have the zest for life.

I just walked back to my portable after shouting above the music for her to lower the volume of the iPod as there are customers eating in Smoke. She gave me face before she complied and I grinned asking what she wants for dinner. She beams and smiles up at me as she headed down stairs, halfway down she shouts, “Cheese Omelette, tita!"

They say that the beginning of the year will pave the way on how the rest of your year would turn out. I thought "yeah right!" but a part of me is wondering if that is true because if it is then I am up to a troubled year...

After being booted from a company where I worked 3 years 10 months and 28 days I find myself a jobless dependent on my parent's financial support. I have been living a normal life — being able to sleep at nights and celebrate Christmas with my dad and sister while enjoying New Year at Boracay, reading books without the worry that I have work later. But this is not something I fantasized doing at the age of 28. I need to work. I need to work! I NEED TO WORK.

My father is not too happy with me going back to work. He is afraid I will be stuck being a call girl and he doesn't think it is a real job. He dreamt of me as an architect or a cardiothoracic surgeon or a top notch executive. Working in a call center even if I was a manager is not a real job for grown ups. So I am stuck. How can I bite the hand that feeds me. I console myself with the thought that I am still doing what he likes anyway which is starting my papers to go to Canada. I could probably still apply. After I get over my phobia with my two fallen angel bosses who expected me to pull bunnies out of hats.

In the mean time, I’ll be staying here (Boracay) in an extended period because my sister and her husband is going to Bacolod. I’m gonna babysit my niece. *evil laugh*

But I will do whatever I could to make this year better. I need to work.