Summer ended early in the Philippines this year. Too early! It was only the beginning of May when the first typhoon arrived and a storm warning signal was declared over parts of the Philippines. Now as I type this post, typhoon Feria (local name) is raging outside my window...
Next week it will be July. That means hoping for a bright sun shiny day is over, summer has lost to rain. This battle is now over. Soon the rains will completely take over: the skies will be dark for most of the day, the stars at night hidden by the dark clouds.
"You don't know me, but I know you, see, you're my favorite star..."
I miss the summer, when the sun is out and up. I miss the beach at summertime, when the sand and the water is warm and the nights a cool respite. I miss having ice cream and halo-halo to cool off. I miss not needing to bring an umbrella every time I leave the house (I keep losing it :p). I miss not having muddy floors to wipe. I miss jogging at sunset.
"..who needs shelter from the sun? Nothing, no, not anyone..."
What do you miss most about the summer?
Quotations are lyrics from "Who Needs Shelter" by Jason Mraz. If you like Jason Mraz, here's his blog, "Freshness Factor Five Thousand"
I'm no really a summer person but apparently this year is anoher El Ninia year which usually means wet and sticky. Not really my favourite! I do miss not having bare feet in the evening, being able to swim at 5pm, mango daquiries, the smell of grass after it rains and that fragrance of gardenia as I walks towards my front door. Well Reyjr, we've had our shortest day so the only way is 'up'!
ReplyDeleteLast summer I moonlighted as the doctor on call at my friend's resort in Sta. Maria Bulacan. There were several events; fire dancers, bikini open and almost every weekend it was packed with a lot of customers.
ReplyDeleteDang! I even stood at the gate and posted as a security officer. LOL. Talking to random customers is one of the perks.
Of course it wasn't short of uneventful. I had my own share of toxicities. Patients left and right. Whew! Those were really memorable times.
What I missed most last summer was the beach. Good thing even in the rainy season in our country, we can spend time to go to our favorite beaches. Maybe in December I'll go back to Boracay. (keeping my fingers crossed)
Zorlone aka Z
Here's hoping you get some sunshine to break up the monotony of typhoons.
ReplyDeleteLove the Jason Mraz quotes.
I didn't realize how rainy you get there in July! At least with a short summer season, you learn to appreciate it while it's there. Sounds like you make the most of it.
ReplyDeleteWe've had rain almost every day here in the Northeast US for the past few weeks. I'm ready to get out and enjoy some sunshine ASAP.
great pic! glad you seem to be back as a TT regular. summer....when it is gone i miss the stories around the campfire and all the stars on a clear night as family sits around watching the smoke reach for the heavens. hope some sunshine falls in you lap!
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts all round. I miss just being able to stay outside for extended times. New England winters can be brutally cold. Hoping you can weather the typhoon. I too, know their power!
ReplyDeleteI miss the lazy days at the beach with my wife and kids. They go by way too fast...
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
My favorite seasons would have to be autumn and winter. The heat and humidity of the midwest makes me miserable, so I'm looking forward to cool breezes and colorful trees!
ReplyDeleteHi Rey,
ReplyDeleteSame here. I love summers more than rainy seasons. But the upside to rainy seasons is that you can spent more time with indoor activities like: sleep cozily all day long, read more books and do some writing...lol...
But constant rainy days make me gloomy. I have read that this feeling has actually a scientific basis: sunlight increases the secretion of serotonin which is a substance that produces elation in human beings.
The decreased concentration of serotonin (when sunlight is absent), would cause depression. They still have to conduct further studies though. But this definitely explains the gloomy feeling we experience when rainy days assail us.
Doc Z, is this true?
Cheers and more power to you Rey!
My favorite times of the year are spring and fall, that is when we seem to have the best weather, not too cold and not too hot. In sunny Southern California, we have lots of sunshine and with this drought we have not had many days where one could feel depressed from lack of sunshine. I know they make special lights for those who do not get a lot of sunshine. Well I hope you get a little reprieve from the rain sometimes. When you do get out and enjoy the sunshine. You will feel great.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
@Baino - The smell of flowers! Yes, the rain just completely takes that away. Although, it does clear the air of pollution. :p Hopefully though the rain stops in long enough intervals so we can "stop and smell the roses!". :D
ReplyDelete@Zorlone - Hi Z! Another doctor friend of mine actually told me about these "doctor-on-call-at-beach" moonlighting you guys do. haha! (stomach pumping? bar brawls? viagra overdose?) I can imagine it's a great way to earn while at the beach. I have another friend who taught English to Koreans while they were in Puerto Galera. Cool no?
ReplyDelete@High Desert Diva - I hope so too! Needing some sunshine here now!
ReplyDelete@JGH - haha! same here! this year's summer was too short really. we usually have it until mid July even.
ReplyDelete@Brian - hm. I've never gone camping before. It's not as "normal" here than in the US I think. But I do enjoy watching the stars on a clear night. I always look out for Orion.
ReplyDelete@subtorp77 - I can imagine how cold it must be! The coldest I've experienced was Paris in November which is probably warm compared to that! haha!
ReplyDelete@wings - yes, it's always great to spend time with family and loved-ones. :D
ReplyDelete@willow - I love the autumn too, but we have none here. haha. The colors are wonderful at autumn, and the sound the leaves make upon cool breeze is very relaxing.
ReplyDeleteHi Jena! That's true. There's no time to read anymore, and especially since my free time is now mostly spent blogging. hehe.
ReplyDeleteI've heard about that too (the scientific references to depression and sunlight), but let's leave it to Doc Z to clarify hehe.
Thank you MrsU! I didn't realize you're from Southern Cali! I have friends in San Diego. :D And you do get a lot of sunshine there. :D We do too, but when the rain come, they POUR. :p Hehe.
ReplyDeleteHi Reyjr,
ReplyDeleteYup! There are exciting jobs for doctors out there! I would have wanted to be the boracay doctor on call, but for some reason a lot of UP-PGH grads.
Last summer, I was the doctor on duty in a friend's resort. You wouldn't imagine the accidents that happened there. hehehe. Of course, liquor made the condition more unfavorable on my part.
Z
@Jena,
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Leaving a comment about scientific jargons and letting me answer them. whaaa... But I like it, mental exercise. I have to do some research too. hehehe.
Geez! I think you were referring to seasonal affective disorder aptly named SAD. Researchers found out that the level of serotonin ("the happy neurotransmitter") is lower during the winter season (for those countries with 4 seasons). So, less sunlight, less serotinon, the more tendency for you to get SAD. LOL
Here is the link: http://www.swedish.org/16939.cfm
this one has a graph. Wow!
http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/43/21/20
And this one is the favorite of my Internal Medicine friends
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12480364
@Reyjr
Sorry for the links. Do read them only if you have the time.
PS. I wonder if my serotonin levels are low. I am sleepy regardless of the time of the day. LOL what do you think Reyjr? Jena?
Wow, you know where to look, ang galing! Doctor talaga, So it's SAD, Sad nga during non-sunny seasons. Lower serotonin- sad...Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteAyan Rey, may sagot na ang expert. Salamat po doctor.
hahahah!! grabe, natawa ako sa explanation dahil sobrang nerdy. I've unwittingly gravitated towards "my kind" of people. wahaha! Panalo!
ReplyDeletePS
@Doc Z- oo nga, parang laging tweet mo ay tulog ka. hahaha!
@Jena - hehe! buti na lang tinanong natin ang expert! :D
@Jena mabilis lang maghanap from Mr. G. yun nga lang I had to sort out through the non relevant ones. LOL Thank you for asking. That mental exercise woke me up (five minutes to ten minutes)
ReplyDelete@Reyjr hehehe.. Birds of the same feathers tayo nila jena... Pero baka magulat ka at mas nerdy pa sa akin yun.
Z
Rey, Oo nga. Siyempre, iba na pag expert ang nagsalita credible. Thanks, Doc Z.
ReplyDeleteDoc Z, he he he...huwag mo naman akong ibisto. Hindi ako nerdy huh, konti lang, kasi kelangan.
ReplyDeleteNerd lang ako..he he he..nagpapatawa lang po.
ReplyDeletewhere did i go last summer? hmmm...was at tagaytay a couple of times, and then in cebu. so many things i didn't do last summer. or was it because of the rain that made summer shorter, like we thought we skipped it.
ReplyDelete@JenaIsle No worries! You're in good company. :p I'm proud to be a nerd! Pero actually, where I work, I'm one of the least nerdy nerds around. hehe!
ReplyDeleteI'm curious Rey, aside from your regular job, do you sing for a living? I have kasi a colleague who moonlights as a singer in weddings, parties, etc; and he earns a lot from these singing engagements.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to answer if it's too personal. Thanks, just curious.
Have a stress-free day.
@jena, you have to admit, our professions need us to be nerdy. ;)
ReplyDelete@reyjr, off topic, but I would recommend a TV show. The big bang theory. I'm sure you'll get a kick out of watching it. Sasabihin mo, "that's me!"
Z
Okay, I've been commenting without my info here. LOL
ReplyDelete@Doc Z: "Leaving a comment about scientific jargons and letting me answer them." Hayan kasi, nagkakatuwaan na pala kayo dito di mo man lang ako sinabihan. Beh. Jena, ask ka pa ng question for our good doctor here to answer. lols.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I like the wistful tone of your post, Reyjr. And those leading quotes are indeed lovely.
@Zorlone oo nga eh, may "Guest" tuloy sa aking The Outspoken list. :p
ReplyDeleteAko ba yung "The Big Bang Theory" hehe. geh, hahanapin ko nga.
@Jan_geronimo Thanks! This post is actually in participation to "Theme Thursday". (of mostly non-Pinoys) They're an awesome bunch, you can check them out if you like. :D
ReplyDeleteThe theme was Summer, and I was seriously bummed that summer ended early this year. I had so many plans: Palawan, CDO, Mt. Pinatubo, all deferred to next year. :(
Oo nga e, ako yung outspoken na guest mo. LOL!!! Ikaw naman nawalan ng picture. I think I know why, gamit mo ang phone mo ano? (Nerd) LOL. Dude, pareho lang tayo.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, di lang ikaw ang sa show na yun dahil 4 sila. Pero lahat sila mahilig sa math. Phycisists and engineers sila. Di ko alam kung bakit walang doctor dun, dang! I have a copy of season one, I can give you a copy in .avi format if you like. Just bring a portable hard drive. LOL
Z
@JenaIsle I wish I had the time and the resources. (wala akong band eh, and have no idea where to get minus ones of songs - legally!) :D I'm still open to the idea though. heh heh heh...
ReplyDelete@Jan, di naman sarcastic ang dating ng pagkakasabi ko ano? hehehe. Nawawala kasi sa topic ang usapan pero enjoy ako at nakikigulo lang kami ni Jena dito sa blog ni ReyJr.
ReplyDelete@ReyJr,
I'm also into traveling. Sa list mo, I haven't been to Pinatubo yet. Kapag kasi long drives di ko masyadong gusto, lalo na kung ako ang magdadrive. hehehe
Z
OMG. That's why your comment platform looks familiar! It's JS-Kit. Cool.
ReplyDeleteI love JS-Kit. A theme Thursday? That's nice. Gives a nice structure to
one's blogging. Something that your followers can actually look forward to
reading in your blog. Youre a pro! ",)
@Doc Z: I love the way Jena put you on the spot and how willingly you take
ReplyDeletethe bait, being the gentleman that you are. Ahahaha. I got intrigued by
the tweets in your timeline. I don't know what y
Sali ninyo ako diyan.lol. "Bing Bang?"
ReplyDeleteBTW, Rey, you have a katukayo at twitter. @reyjr and username niya. I thought it was you so I clicked on it, but lo and behold, ibang tao pala. So Doc Z, @ryjr dapat ang use natin because ibang tao iyong @reyjr.
Doc Z, that would be too big to send through email attachment ano? Sayang.
And Rey, tama si Doc Z, We need to be nerdy. But I try my best not to look the part - lol. I don't want to wear eyeglasses kahit malabo na ang mga mata ko. Baka wala nang lumapit sa akin...he he he.
kidding.
Really, you guys have never been to Pinatubo ? That's incredible..because you see I,too,have never been there...lol...but Roy and I would be your tourist guides should you decide to venture into the craters of Pinatubo.
ReplyDeleteRoy, where are you? (nagpapasubo na naman ako, hindi kasi kumpleto pag wala si Roy.) Roy, payag ka di ba? Tourist guides tayo. Kape lang daw ang bayad...lol...
And Jan, Doc Z naman is always a gentleman. Next question pls.lol.
ReplyDeleteMy colleague has a manager who finds venues for him. Perhaps, it would help if you had one. He earns 1,500 for 3 songs, for at least 2-3 hours. Not bad, right?
ReplyDelete@Jena,
ReplyDeleteSa twitter ryjr ang gamit ko to talk to our host. Pero dito e ReyJr kasi wala namang ibang rey dito e. ;)
Naku, nakakalabo ng mata ang hindi pagsuot ng prescription glasses. hehehe... Tanungin natin ang expert, teka, hmmm... ako nga ba? LOL
Z
Ah... that is so true Jena. I haven't taken advantage of a lady, yet. ;)
ReplyDeleteWow, that's one great outing. Sana matupad agad yan, Jena. Saan kaya si
ReplyDeleteRoy?
he he he, Doc, sino pa nga ba? Mas malapi ka naman na expert diyan. Unless we talk about "experience-wise"? Si Jan, ask natin siya, baka magtampo na naman iyon hindi natin isinali.
ReplyDeleteI know Doc Z, and I laud you for that.
ReplyDeleteWhere na si Roy? Roy?
Ahem, LJ? Hello? Nasaan ka na din? Sa paggamit mo ba ng salamin e palagi mo bang sinusuot? Hindi yung salamin ni Boy Abunda na isinauli mo kay lil bro Elmot ha. LOL
ReplyDeleteZ
@Zorlone @JenaIsle @Jan_geronimo Pasensya na po, the host is MIA! Hehe. I've moved to a different house and just bought a new wifi router last night. :D Hopefully I will be "BIA" (back-in-action? hehe) by this evening!
ReplyDeleteLet's go to Mt. Pinatubo! I saw the photos on Annalyn's blog and the place looks awesome. :D
Wahaha, I wear glasses too. But usually wear contact lenses. 400 ang grade ko. :p Kayo?
ReplyDeleteSa twitter naman, I tried reyjr pero taken na daw kaya ryjr na lang. :p naisip ko nga may mga magkakamali. hehe.
I am enjoying the JS-kit commenting tool a lot. hehehe! There are a few kinks and I've had to reinstall it a few times, pero worth it naman!
ReplyDeleteI don't wear glasses. 20/20 last time I had an eye exam. ;) Thanks to the genes of my parents of course!
ReplyDelete@ReyJr,
ReplyDeleteAh, maybe you can ask Annalyn about the particulars of the trip. Nangangati nanaman ang mga paa ko! Whaaa!!! As long as the budget is within limits. hehehe.
@Jena,
Sama kayo ni Roy?
@Jan,
time to go to the mainland huh?
Z
I have astigmatism, but I refuse to wear one. Siguro mapipilitan din ako eventually, hindi ko na mabasa ang iba..he he he...nakikinita ba ang edad?
ReplyDeleteSure, Doc Z. If the stars are so aligned and the budget is as you say - reasonable, that would be lovely. ",)
ReplyDelete@Jan_geronimo We need a syzygy! :D Hahaha... sorry, I couldn't help it when you said "..the stars are so aligned..."
ReplyDeleteAnd what is a syzygy, you say? :D :D The definition in on the bottom of this page! ;) :-D
Yeah, I meant to ask you that. Always slips my mind. Well, got to grab a
ReplyDeletebite first. ",)
@Zorlone
ReplyDeletemy soul's sole addiction, traveling is,
so may i direct you my travels in this
awesome and beautiful world that we have,
the places i've been to! click the "Travels" tab
hehehe! 8-)
Hayan. Naku po at nagkatulaan na yata sila. Makatabi na nga muna at baka
ReplyDeletepati ako e patulain dito. Makikikape lang po ako noh. Hehehe
@Reyjr
ReplyDeleteOh, man! Now I envy you!!! Let me guess, you traveled around the world from UP coral, right? For competitions? I wish I have joined the UST coral too! Well, if I'm wrong, what the heck, I'm still envious! he he he.
@Jena
Pang international ang boses ng batang to! Baka di tayo umubra sa videoke. LOL
@Jan
Galing ni Engr ReyJr ano? Ang dami sigurong naghahabol dito na mga babae kaliwa't kanan! Sabi na at mali ang course ko e.
Z
Mukhang maganda ang diskusyunan dito ha..^^ I just dropped by to say hi to all of you especially Doc Z, LJ, and Ms. Jena Isle. ^^ Nice meeting you ReyJr. Very nice blog.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day! God Bless!!
JeD Chan
Oo nga, Doc Z, but I know willing naman siyang umalalay, di ba Rey? And yes, siguradong marami ang mag humahabol sa kanya. Nagpapahabol ka ba Rey? lol... :)
ReplyDeletehi ceblogger! oo nga, ang ikli kasi ng summer parang dumaan lang tuloy. :(
ReplyDeletehello Jed Chan and welcome to my blog! Oo, nagkakatuwaan lang kami dito. :D Thanks for the compliment. Sasama ka na ba sa karaoke party? :p
ReplyDelete@jan_geronimo haha! natawa ako sa comment mo! @Zorlone @JenaIsle taken na po ako. :p di na nagpapahabol. HEEHEHE! 8-)
ReplyDelete@jedchan
ReplyDeletenapahaba ang mga kwentuhan namin. Siguro until Reyjr here makes a new post. what do you think Reyjr?
@Reyjr,
Saw the lady in your about me page. She looks pretty. ~thumbs up~
Jedchan works near my clinic. So, basically, we can all meet at trinoma. Right JedChan?
Z
@JenaIsle I've been wearing eye correction lenses since I was 12. :p I have astigmatism too. My sisters on the other hand have 20/20 vision. boo!
ReplyDeleteRecent blog:=- The Uber Prestigious Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009
Hmm. bakit ako hindi nag work ang genes? Both my parents did not have to wear glasses until they were in their mid 40s. :p
ReplyDeleteRecent blog:=- The Uber Prestigious Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009
I chose the fairest of them all. :p (ako kasi ung evil mirror, lol).
ReplyDeleteYeah, Trinoma is a good venue. :D Let's schedule it!
Recent blog:=- The Uber Prestigious Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009