An Update on Raya's Ride

As posted earlier, RJ and I intended to get one of the new Graco Travel Systems for Raya, in lieu of the recalled Chicco lines. But all efforts were to no avail. Joy scouted major stores in the States and she couldn't get the models we asked for. Her only other option would have been to go and buy online but the delivery wouldn't be able to catch up with her departure date! So it was AGAIN back to the drawing board for us. The stroller business was turning out to be really trying...

Joy and her sister-in-law, Trin, were nice enough to suggest other brands like Stoke and Orbit but they were way too expensive for us (even if they looked uber cool!), so we just thought of getting our travel system here in the P.I. 

Stoke Travel System

Orbit Travel System (around 800$-1000$)

We figured we could just check the manufacturing date for Chicco items anyway as their press statement said and check if that particular base was part of the recall. We could take that risk at least. The only downside really is paying a little extra than we would've in the U.S.

And so off to the baby stores we trotted and began our quest for the perfect alternative Ride for Raya...and it was not in vain!  

We were able to buy a Chicco KeyFit travel system whose manufacturing date was not within the recalled batch, and we got it at 10% off too! We got it from Baby and Co. in Powerplant Mall (It was a thousand bucks cheaper than in Rustan's, before the discount.). Incidentally, if you're looking to buy some kids' stuff this would be a nice place to look because they give you an automatic ten percent off on ALL items if you agree to register for a baby shower, 1st birthday or christening, which I did even if there really was no baby shower to register for anymore. Hehe. A tiny, white lie for this...

And the great thing about getting it here too is that it comes assembled already! So that saves me and Arj a lot of poring over the instructions manual and a lot of arguing. Hehe! Such control freaks we can be...

It was manufactured last year so the latch of this car seat base isn't defective as those made between February and March of this year. 

It's not the Chicco Cortina Explorer that we originally wanted, but we still love the sleek design of the KeyFit. RJ brags it's because it's an Italian brand! Hehe. It's also really easy to maneuver and carry around. Everyone, including Mom and Dad, were psyched with all the features.

Forgive my over-eager husband, the pose...

Plus, we got Raya a rockin' stroller cushion for her to lie in when she rides this new baby. There were other designs with pink elephants and other cute, dainty prints. But she's too cool for that. We know already.  :)

ONE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! 

Another Pleasant Surprise

Woke up to a phone call from Dad asking about a Graco playard that appeared with Kris Aquino (of all people, yes, hehe) in Yes! Magazine and since I was still feeling a bit woozy, I couldn't figure out what exactly he was referring to. As the conversation went on though, I realized that he was asking if we ever considered getting a playard/playpen for Raya. 

I said we thought of getting one but because she already had a crib, we figured we may not be able to maximize it. Plus I thought, getting a Pack 'N Play these days can get pretty steep, ranging from 7k to 10k, so it wasn't really on our priority list. Not to say that we didn't want one because it would allow us certain conveniences like a ready sleeping place for her during out-of-town trips (Pansol? Hehe.) and for moving her around the different rooms in the house with ease (Bedroom to Master's Bedroom to Living Room, etc.).

Anyhow, Dad was saying there was a person from work selling him a slightly used (more like barely used we figured later on) Graco Playard for a very reasonable price. And I could only go "Oh okay." But he said he wasn't sure how much these things usually go for or how useful they were, and so...the phone call ended there. At that point I wasn't sure why he was calling but I figured he was probably gauging whether we wanted or needed one. Didn't know he was planning to actually get one. 

So, I was more than pleasantly surprised to find that a charming Pack 'N Play was waiting for us when we got back from dance practice in Blue Ridge! The color was a little boyish (denim blue and red) but also practical because the material looked easy to clean and maintain. It also looked brand new! Even the wheels and the aluminum and plastic parts were virtually scratch-free! 

Graco Contour Electra Deluxe Pack 'N Play

AND the best part about playards these days? They can fold to the size of big duffel bags, not like the huge, inflexible ones we had when I was a kid. So we can lug it around practically anywhere! PLUS! They come with hanging animal toys, a vibration device (for soothing baby) and a control pad that lets you turn on a night light or choose among different sounds like soothing music and nature sounds. Dad loves this feature by the way. He actually takes the pad out of the playard to check out the different musical selections. :) 

There's also a changing table (complete with a counter for diaper wipes and other changing/cleaning-up implements) and a bassinet with a canopy for your little one. 

Talk about major convenience! Now, it's almost as if we have another crib for Raya! Another great accessory for our coming Angel! Thanks so much Dad! :)

 

   

Hooray!

We finally succeeded in getting the better part of our "clearing and cleaning" done in preparation for the refurbishing of our room! And I must say this is something short of a milestone for me since I've really been feeling woozy and sluggish the past week (must be the hormones going haywire again). In fact, I was beginning to worry I wouldn't be able to see any of the things in my to-do list through to completion because of my erratic moods and fluctuating energy levels. I really can't wait to deliver. It's getting a little cumbersome, carrying my belly around and negotiating my weight and size every time I move. Hay. Raya, be an angel and arrive at the soonest possible time! Hehe. 

It's also another good thing that my Lola came over to help start the overhaul. I think her fluttering about and supervising the "operations" helped me avoid slacking off the rest of the afternoon.  

That's not to say that the stuff we unearthed weren't interesting and enough to get me going. A lot of it was trash sure, but some were also little treasures. RJ found pics of him from his Les Roches days and he was more than happy to brag about how thin he was then! Haha! But it's true. He couldn't have been any more than 160 lbs! And he actually had a long neck! Hehehe! 

We also found pictures of him and old girlfriends and (oh-so-mushy) love letters. Hehehe. This isn't really a problem for me because I also keep souvenirs from the past and I like browsing them from time to time. ;) I even suggested that he returned part of the album to the party involved because some of them were childhood pictures, and if I were her, I'd want 'em back, diba?!

But really, the find of the day was an old toy camera from his dad's exploratory photography days! We're not sure if it's still working but I'm interested to see if we can still get it up and running by a vintage camera repair shop in Manila. I'd been wanting to get my hands on old film cameras to try and play with them and see what kind of images would turn up...maybe it's just me missing production work or "feeling creative". Hehe. But I really can't wait to get the old thing a'workin! 

I wonder what sort of other treasures we'll be unearthing in the days to come. Hihihi. But one thing's for sure, I'll be posting pics the next time! 

Now, I gotta catch some zzz's. I'm exhausted from all the sorting and packing. I think the dust also triggered my allergies that's why my eyes are feeling a little heavy...Till the next post.

Meet Raya!

Surfing the Internet is one of my favorite occupations. I would say pastime except that I do it so often, it hardly qualifies as a hobby anymore. I browse all kinds of sites and I read all kinds of stuff that sometimes, even RJ wonders whether I don't get information or sensory overload from all the surfing, clicking and browsing that I do. Needless to say, I think the Internet is the best invention ever. Hehe. Next to Ziplock, that is. 

Anyhoo, in one of my internet exploits, I stumbled upon this cool site: www.morphthing.com where you can morph the faces of famous celebrities together (reminds me of a hilarious segment in Late Night with Conan O'Brien, If They Mated) or better yet, register for free and upload your own pics and morph them together. Naturally, with our baby coming, I took the liberty of uploading some of our headshots to see what she would actually look like. The results were, well...very interesting. Hahaha. 

Guys and gals, meet Raya (or at least an approximation of her):

I've been getting mixed reactions to this image. Some say she's pretty, some say she just looks downright weird. Haha. I say she still looks like RJ. Parang pinagbigyan lang yung ibang features ko. :) It'll be interesting to see how she actually turns out. We love her already anyway. Hehe. 

As for how she'll look as a baby, I'm not sure. I don't think morphing baby images will be successful using MorphThing. So you'll just have to do your own mental morphing. Here are some of our pics to help. Hehe. 

Young Mavie (perched on top of cousin, Joe)

Young RJ (with Mommy Vkyh)

Thoughts, people? :)

Tag! I'm It!

I have been tagged! Here goes nothin'... ;)

Rules: Answer the questions using only one word. Then tag four others.

1. Where is your cell phone? Table.

2. Your significant other? RJ.

3. Your hair? Brown.

4. Your mother? Tina.

5. Your father? Brick.

6. Your favorite thing? Books.

7. Your dream last night? Dunno.

8. Your favorite drink? Tea.

9. Your dream/goal? Travel.

10. The room you're in? Dining.

11. Your hobby? Blogging.

12. Your fear? Dark.

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? School.

14. What you're not? Famous.

15. Muffins? Cakes.

16. One of your wish list items? Library.

17. Where you grew up? Bulacan.

18. The last thing you did? Chat.

19. What are you wearing? Dress.

20. Favorite Gadget? SLR.

21.  Your pets? None.

22. You computer? Mac.

23. Your mood? Agitated.

24. Missing someone? Lola.

25. Your car? Umm.

26. Something you're not wearing? Rings. 

27. Favorite Store? Bookstore.

28. Like someone? Brothers.

29. Your favorite color? Black.

30. When is the last time you laughed? Tuesday.

31. Last time your cried? Birthday. 

Now, tagging four others:

1. Jon 

2. Amira

3. Trixie

4. Kinx 

Meet St. Raymond Nonnatus

After a long hiatus, Mrs. Imperial and her family visited Ponzo's again. She wanted to ask for Ginger's (RJ's sister, who used to be the operations manager of the resto but has since moved on to greener pastures as a Flight Attendant for Emirates Airlines -- Mrs. Imperial was very fond of her :) ) email address to thank her for the chocolates she sent her way.

As she is a frequent customer of Ponzo's, she and RJ got to talking about some of the developments in the Magallanes-Makati area like the exorbitant price of village stickers in San Lorenzo Village (where Monique's school is) and the environmental/health implications on Magallanes Village of the public school recently opened right behind the Parish. 

Soon though, as most small talk is bound to lead to these days, conversation turned to my bulging belly and my impending delivery. 

She asked when I was due and the circumstances of my would-be delivery (at least the ones we know so far) and was nice enough to say she'd be including me and Raya in her prayers. She also gave us the name of the Saint of Unborn Children, St. Raymond Nonnatus whom her mother introduced to her when she was about to have her first child. She said that novenas to St. Raymond never failed and it would help ensure a safe and sound birthing experience for Raya and Me. 

As RJ and I didn't know anything about St. Raymond, we looked him up on the Net and found that he was made the Saint of Unborn Children because of his special birth experience. 

St. Raymond Nonnatus was born in the year 1204 in Portella, Spain via cesarean section to his already-dead mother.  In fact, his surname Non natus actually means "not born" in Latin. 

He was earlier prepared for a life at the Court of Aragon and later on for commerce and trade as a farm manager to his father's lands but he chose to enter priesthood. He entered the Order of our Lady of Mercy for the Ransom of Captives and became a Mercederian, whose main mission was to ransom Christians held captive by Moors.

St. Raymond rose in the ranks of the order and was supposedly being eyed by many to replace the founder, St. Peter Nolasco, as ransomer. He was also said to be a zealous preacher which got him in a lot of trouble with the Mohammeden authorities of that time. 

He was eventually held hostage when he ran out of money/estate to ransom more captives and was subjected to all kinds of torture and cruelty. It was even said that in order to prevent him from preaching, his captors bore a hole through his mouth and padlocked it. 

Eventually though, he too was ransomed and he was able to return to Barcelona to become a cardinal under Gregory IX.

He died of fever in Cardona, on his way to Rome, on August 31st. He was 37 years old.

His is truly a compelling story and we want to thank Mrs. Imperial for sharing this beloved Saint with us. I know that a lot of factors may be beyond our control, especially during a time as dynamic as giving birth, but we believe prayers and faith will go a long way. Here's looking forward to the coming D-day. :) 

Postscript: For a guide to prayers and novenas to St. Raymond Nonnatus, you may visit this site. 

If We Hold On

While sitting at home and watching TV (As I am writing this, I had just finished two movies in a row on HBO. Only the harrowing prospect of watching Chuck Norris in another B-movie tore me away from the screen and on to another couch potato occupation, the Internet. Hehe.) I saw a plug announcing the premiere on HBO of one of the most memorable animated films of my childhood -- Land Before Time (July 27, 5 PM). 

For those who don't know, Land Before Time was an animated film originally released in 1988 by Universal Pictures. It features five young, anthropomorphic dinosaurs who are trying to find their way to the Great Valley (a place of abundant food source where all the other dinosaur species have converged because of a drought that has devastated the rest of the land), all the while, trying to elude the film's carnivorous villain, Sharp Tooth (a Tyrannosaurus Rex) and being guided by the spirit of Little Foot's (the main character) mother who died trying to protect him.

It is a story of five friends journeying through life, coming of age and reaching the end of their quest despite insurmountable odds -- a formidable group of youngsters who find strength and courage in each other. 

The main character of the film is Little Foot, an Apatosaurus. It is mostly his determination to reach Great Valley, just as his mother had told him to do before she died, that drives the journey forward.  

Cera, a Triceratops, is the feisty one in the bunch. She was also separated from her pack in the confusion of the evacuation to the Valley. Little Foot saves her life and after much prodding, she eventually joins him in his journey. She likes to assert her independence and pretends to be brave and self-sufficient even when she feels afraid and vulnerable.

Ducky, a Saurolophus, is probably the sweetest and most adorable character of the bunch. She seems to be the most impressionable too. Yes, she's the one who says, "Yep.yep.yep." all the time. 

Petrie is the baby Pteranodon who can't fly. While Spike is the Stegosaurus with the hearty appetite who can't talk.

My personal favorite as a kid was Cera. 

Her rebellious streak and tough-girl exterior attracted me (If you must know, I was never the sweet, demure type.) and while the many illogical decisions borne out of her gigantic ego irritated me at times, I guess I respected her for not wanting to take crap from anybody and looking to take care of herself. I guess she was also the one who seemed most real to me with all her trust issues and what-not. Haha. PLUS she vindicated herself when she pushed the 'ol T-Rex to his death in the end. ;)

Anyway, RJ and I have been talking about the movie for the past two nights now and we were both amused to find that it was one of the first movies we cried buckets of tears over. The first lines of the film's theme song, "If We Hold On Together" did us in. Hehe. All the nostalgic talk about the movie has also made my young sister-in-law Monique, eager to see it. I'm glad she now has a chance to catch it on TV.  

On a more reflective note though, I think the reason why it had such a huge impact on my 6-year old mind (and on the many who got to see it), was that it may have been my first "educational cinematic experience." Okay fine. I first saw it on video but I'm talking about films in general. 

For one, it launched me into this MAJOR dinosaur phase where I forced my mom to buy me all the dinosaur books I could find in National Bookstore. I also just HAD to know by heart then, the different pre-historic periods and the dinosaurs that appeared within them. And let's not forget all my gloating over getting the spellings of the dinosaur names correct. Talk about getting the right motivation. ;)

Of course, I could only remember a handful of those stuff now but more memorably though, Land Before Time also educated me in a way that it allowed me to confront the reality of death and loss through the experiences of the five young characters, particularly Little Foot's. To my young mind, it was a little traumatic to look at Little Foot and witness him deal with the loss of his mother and come face to face with situations or choices that could spell the difference between survival and death.  

Yet it was also the perilous circumstances he had to endure along with his friends that lead me to a more profound understanding of friendship, faith, and love. It allowed me to perceive that a deep connection that defies even physical absence or separation is possible. In a sense I guess it taught me about Hope and what it really means.

As adults, we sometimes remember the most mundane yet interesting details from our childhood. For instance, I also remember how Land Before Time merchandise was sold everywhere then or was even part of the promotional gigs of some establishments like Shakey's. Heck, it's only now that I realize what a commercial success that film was. 

But it's also interesting how some things, the really important ones, also find their way to our minds and hearts, aside of course, from the action, plot twists and engaging artwork/graphics. I guess the key to keeping them alive in us is just to have the same openness and receptivity that we once had as children.

We may just be surprised at the messages that many of our experiences, mediated or not, hold for us.

So I highly recommend seeing the film if you haven't yet. It may just be what your weary heart needs these days.    

Allow me this...

I love RJ to bits but there are just moments in your life when beauty smacks you right in the face. 

Ang gwafuh niya. I think I'm gonna faint. His name is Akihiro Sato, by the way. And he models HERE in the P.I.! 

Whoever thought Japanese and Brazilian would make a good combo? Well, I didn't but nature does have a way of surprising you.

I'm into my third trimester. Is it too late to make lihi? ;)

 

Where's the Party?!

Never thought this day would come...but Vilma Santos just made my day. :)

Where's the parteeh? Come on show me!  

To kindred spirits, click on the link to jumpstart your day: Vilma Santos is asking you "Where's the party?!"

The Business of Weddings

I've finally started on Fr. Benny's assignment and I'm proud to say I've been making considerable progress!

Nongnong (as we fondly call Father) has requested me to help produce a primer for the many couples interested to wed at the St. Alphonsus Mary de Liguori Church in Magallanes Village (where we also got hitched!) and since I've got nothing better to do these days except catch up on my reading, watch TV and surf the net, I figured I might as well start being productive and get my writing and creative juices flowing again.

Anyway, working on the primer brought me back to the months leading up to our wedding and I am reminded of how much work it took to put everything together. Even with me, my mother-in-law and RJ all working at it, we still had to hire an on-the-day wedding coordinator (much to our chagrin - we were confident we could do it by ourselves!) just to string together and tie up loose ends in the preparations (which were still A LOT by at least one week before the day itself). Granted we only had less than three months to plan it all, but still, our wedding was relatively simple and low profile compared to most magazine-type nuptials being eyed by many. 

I can only imagine the kind of money and effort that goes into the more complex wedding extravaganzas. Garsh.  

Now, I know a lot of people will scoff at the idea of elaborate plans being launched and executed, all in the name of one day or night of festivities that will in no way ensure the success of your marriage. Especially since most of us are left to worry about more important things like putting food on the table or the skyrocketing fuel prices that affect virtually all facets of our everyday lives. 

And I am in complete agreement when some say that the wedding industry (with the media) by turning itself into one gargantuan empire, has not helped the ridiculousness of the situation by manufacturing increasing wants masterfully disguised as needs. It's like, today, every bride must have her own personalized menu cards printed on special stationery for her guests to glance at, or if she's really lucky, to browse during the reception. And let's not even get to the flowers.

But not all can afford or choose to go this I daresay, less-conscientious path. Some brides and grooms content themselves with the simpler alternatives, either by virtue of a limited budget or a wiser outlook. But regardless of whatever motives are behind a more purposeful attitude towards spending, especially for something as fleeting as wedding days, I think that these couples deserve some credit. After all, possessing some degree of sensitivity is always welcome in a Third World country like ours.   

But I'm not riding the moral high horse here. I don't deny that I too wished for the many finer things associated with expensive, high-end weddings when we were preparing for ours. And I also looked forward to choosing charming gowns for our entourage and decorating the Church and Reception venues so they would look nice in the pictures. But more than all those, it was about keeping everything in perspective for me. 

While it did matter that we had an attractive wedding celebration and that our guests had a good time, it mattered more that it looked beautiful and memorable to US. It was not always easy but we forced reality checks on each other so we'd be more into making memories to last us a lifetime -- memories that would hopefully remind us of why were together in the first place if and when our marriage hits rough waters -- than getting the hottest supplier of the season. 

So in the end, it didn't really matter as much that we only spent so much on flowers (that wouldn't stay with us till the end), or that we got a basic menu for the reception (it was tastier anyway). It wasn't like we were being miserably deprived of a great wedding after all. Instead, not surprisingly, what mattered were the things we barely spent any money on but instead invested time and ideas into: like that wacky Thriller Dance or the look on our parents' faces when we said our Thank You's.

So what is my point here? I have no personal vendetta against costly and elaborate wedding preparations if your pockets can hack it, but really, if you stop for a while and look at the value for money that you're getting for all the many, wonderful things that you absolutely have to have on your wedding day, are you really getting much? Or does it really just seem reasonable because the latest issue of Metro Weddings says so? Or because it's a little cheaper than what your friend who last got hitched had? 

Again, like any bride out there, I'm all for making beautiful memories. It's just frivolity I'm against.

 

 

Welcome to the Blogosphere Chefangga!

After much deliberation, my better (bigger - hehehe!) half, RJ, has also decided to pour his guts out on a new blog dedicated to his many passions! 

I must admit though, mas benta ang title ng blog niya sa 'kin! Why didn't I think of that?! Hehehe!

Anyway, welcome to the Blogosphere Honey! :) We look forward to the juiciest and most entertaining posts on food, basketball, Kobe and the Lakers, and the Holy Grail! 

At least, we're now both assured of ONE comment every time. Haha!

Looking for the perfect ride

RJ and I have had our hearts set on getting the Chicco Cortina - Explorer Travel System for our Raya. We really did our homework, comparing features and specs from different infant websites and parent reviews because we wanted to get the best, most reasonable ride for her. We think that a Travel System will be one of her most-used accessories for her first two years (at least) so we were willing to make the investment. 

So as earnest parents-to-be, we looked around and canvassed for the model in baby stores and found that Rustan's carried it. But it cost a whopping 20k (buying it online would only cost around 13k, without shipping costs)! 

So we decided to ask relatives in the U.S. to try and purchase it for us and send it back home. We estimated that doing that would still save us around 2000 bucks at least. We got lucky when we learned that our Ninang Lizza was headed to the States for a couple of weeks so we ordered the stroller from her. 

But suddenly, all the baby stores in the U.S. were out of Chicco! And even buying it online wasn't an option because there was now a "back order" for the particular model. 

We were naturally disappointed! How could this perfect, "No. 1-rated Travel System" run out of stock?! Was it that in-demand that the supply couldn't keep up? RJ thought that a competing manufacturer may be behind it and that its disappearance from sales floors was part of an elaborate plan to sabotage the Chicco brand. Hehe. Cute. But the more practical Mommy Vkyh suggested that the line may have been among some baby items recalled from the market due to manufacturing defects, as she had heard. 

So RJ asked me to google "Chicco out of stock" and lo and behold was an official press release from Chicco saying that they had indeed recalled some car seat bases that were part of their KeyFit, KeyFit 30 and Cortina Travel Systems. They said that they had reason to believe that some car seat bases manufactured between February and March 2008 may be defective. At least sa States, inaamin nila kung defective diba? We can only wish for the same sense of accountability here. 

So Mom was right after all and it was back to the drawing board for RJ and me. 

But we're happy now because we have since then settled for two new options for Raya. Since we really wanna get a travel system for her because it would be more economical (like hitting three birds with one stone) than getting the Buggy, Carrier and Car Seat separately, we've chosen the next-best brand in the market (in our opinion at least, hehe) and they're actually cheaper too. The only downside I think is the design. The Chicco's is sleeker and more sophisticated, not to mention "gender-neutral" so there would be no problem handing it down. The Graco designs are just downright sappy (we find the first one too futuristic, the other, sickeningly sweet) but hey, if the features deliver I guess the aesthetics would have to take a backseat. :) Now, we just have to keep our fingers crossed and hope that our dear cousin, Joy finds them and brings them home to Momma!

Ladies and gentlemen, here are the runners-up: 

1. Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe Travel System in Milano (damage: around 240$)

2. Grace Metrolite Travel System in Cherry Blossom (damage: around 230$)

    

Can't wait for Raya to ride either one! :) 

Incidentally, thanks to Mom and Dad for "advance gifting" this to us. This was their pledge during the baby shower, among other necessities for the little one. :)

I'm a Dynamic Thinker!

I took this online test that's supposed to determine your personality type. It's funny how I've tested consistently in these kinds of tests. In fact, during my final year in college, we were required to go to the campus guidance office where they'll interpret your personality test results (we're required to take 1 personality test annually) and the counselor said that all my personality tests showed basically the same type of personality/attitude/behavior. She also added I needed to work on "Intimacy" because I had a hard time "getting close" to people. Well, I'm married now, so how does that figure? Hehe. Maybe RJ can shed some insight...Incidentally, the results also offer some advice for partners of DT's (Dynamic Thinkers). Wonder if he will agree? ;)

DYNAMIC THINKER

Dynamic Thinkers are confident and independent persons. They radiate enthusiasm and energy. Dynamic Thinkers pursue their objectives actively and energetically. They love nothing better than new challenges. This type is the born leader, competent, energetic and responsible. They have a sharp eye for errors and can criticize without mercy if they see the success of a project endangered. They are completely unconcerned as to whether they alienate anyone in the process. But they are always open to objective arguments; they love discussions, they are very gifted rhetorically and they are good at convincing and enthusing others. 

As they are very sociable, Dynamic Thinkers like to have a lot of friends around them, preferably those with whom they can share their interests and discuss all sorts of subjects. They are very direct but never in an underhand or scheming manner. If you can bear being spoken to frankly, you have in them a loyal and unwavering advisor as friend. Everything new and unknown stimulates Dynamic Thinkers and awakens their curiosity. However, rules, routine and traditional things arouse their resistance. If something does not go the way they want it to, they can react rather pigheadedly and obstinately.

Dynamic Thinkers expect a great deal of themselves and of others. Whoever does not fit in with their scheme of things does not have it easy. They sometimes appear to be rather severe due to their frankness. Partners and family also find it difficult to satisfy Dynamic Thinkers. They know exactly what they want and compromising is inconceivable to them. Whoever has a Dynamic Thinker as partner should have a strong personality and have a great deal of independence and sufficient self-confidence in order to give this dominating type some opposition. 

Normally, for Dynamic Thinkers, a partnership only takes second place after their profession. But they like to have someone at their side who is a match for them intellectually, with whom they can pursue mutual objectives and have interesting discussions all night long; preferably factual discussions -- sentimentalism and romance are not their thing. 

Just got off reading Time Magazine's Summer Journey Issue for this year. It was pretty great as they featured a series of stories on the different games that we play, across various cultures and generations, from marbles to yo-yo's, to competitive sports. 

Theirs is an interesting thesis, and a convincing one too, that in the final analysis, in the age of globalization and endless connectivity, consumerism and popular culture may not be all that unites us today but also that the more simple, fundamental desire to engage in play remains ingrained in all of us.  In that sense I found the articles insightful and enlightening as it made me take a second look on something as seemingly innocuous and banal as play and see it as something that potentially shapes and continues to transform our perspectives as people and cultures.

Now, as an adult and a mother-to-be, the subject of play is something that I find myself highly interested in again. Not that it's charm ever lost its hold on me. I still find that going to the toy store, playing game boards, watching sports, and just daydreaming and make-believing are some of the activities that top my list as the most enjoyable things to do. But now, the kind of toys and activities to get my baby started on seems to be at the forefront of the many conscious decisions RJ and I need to make. 

Good thing we both agree that the purchase of toys will not be a priority for our Raya because we want her to be more into books and puzzles. And besides, we also want her to try and use everyday stuff for play because we think it'll foster imagination and hone her problem-solving skills. I'll be a prouder parent seeing my daughter play with a box and pretend it's a sail boat or a fortress than seeing her passively seeking entertainment from an electronic toy.

Now I just have to *wean* RJ off that PSP habit...hehehe!