“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes,

but in having new eyes.” 

― Marcel Proust

My family has this tradition of going out for drives especially when we get together after some time spent apart. It's been that way since we were little and I'm glad we still love doing it today.  We have spent many long afternoons on these kinds of drives, meandering through the small streets of Valencia, down the wider streets of Bacong and further on to the beach-side roads of Dauin and Siaton. All of these come with good memories that I go back to over and over again, more often now that I spend so much time away from home. All these memories of being wonderfully lost with my family cramped in one car, with no destination but the road in front of us keeps me excited for the next vacation when we can do it all over again. 

This one was in Tambobo Bay, on a scorching hot Wednesday after a filling lunch at Malatapay. Even with all the good things that we enjoy here, there is no place better than home.

“Have a happy wet Sunday.

Rainbows love the rain.” 

― Anthony T. Hincks

Seasons are changing, and after the intense waves of summer heat, we're having more rain as summer rolls into autumn. This Sunday is particularly gloomy, although that's what CQ weather usually is for most of the year. The anticipation for sunnier days is not helping my homesickness, though. Sundays usually make missing family and the dogs Nemo, Pip, and Kimchi so much harder. 

It's a rainy Sunday, and news of the storm pummeling some cities here after it wreaked havoc in the PH is all over Wechat. Wet Sundays do not make a happy camper out of me at all. But no complaints.

We bought Tomas his own pair of glasses from Daiso, just because it was cute and a pooch needs to look like he reads books from time to time. And we are home safe and dry. A lot of people are living through strong winds and rain right now and that can't be easy. Praying that all the people and animals caught in the storm will stay safe and get the help they need if they're not.

Hopefully, the rainbows will start peeking through the clouds soon. 

I put off writing this post because for some reason, I hesitate putting very personal highs and lows online in great detail. I like to keep the most personal moments close to my heart and writing about them and sending them off to the great big virtual world seems like the opposite of that. 

I think the only thing I remember vividly is the ride to my hometown on the day of the ceremony. Rain was pouring, like a big bucket was being emptied out from the sky. I sat in the car, thinking of a plan B. "I think four tables can fit in the garage," I tell JP in my calmest, I'm-not-freaking-out-voice. Holding the ceremony in my parent's house would be the likeliest Plan B we'd have, because at the rate the rain was going, the venue was going to a soaked, muddy, mess. Jeff, our friend and photographer, chimed in from the back that no, no, no, it won't rain.