I have just finished reading the book of Richard Paul Evans entitled The Last Promise. It actually took me a while to finish this particular book which is uncharacteristic of me because I usually take just a few days to finish a paperback or a few hours if I read uninterrupted.

The book to me was dragging in the early pages but I think that is because I have been used to the fast paced storytelling of crime and suspense authors. Towards the end however, I had a difficult time putting it down. Since I read just before I sleep, I stayed up late a lot just to get another page in.

The story takes place in Tuscany, Italy where an American woman, Eliana, is unhappily married to a wealthy Italian businessman, Maurizio. They have a son who has severe asthma attacks and often has to be watched over in any kind of activity. The husband was no help as he was always away from home on business or cavorting with his other women.

Ross, is an American who ran away to Italy to forget a painful past. He finds his way into Eliana’s life by becoming a tenant at the family’s villa. He becomes attracted to Eliana and eventually falls in love with her. They were able to spend a lot of time together as the husband is rarely home. As expected Eliana falls in love with Ross. She finds it hard to imagine how someone could be so good to her when her own husband is not.

The plot becomes more complex when Maurizio discovers the truth. Although nothing has really happened between Eliana and Ross, their intimacy was apparent and Maurizio threatens to take their son away from Eliana.

The story ends with making Maurizio more human and Eliana and Ross making a future together back in America.

I was crying as I read the last chapters. I totally felt for Eliana and her son… and of course Ross. The romantic in me imagined myself in Eliana’s shoes. I hated the fact that there exists such double standards even in today’s world. And that is what I remained thinking about long after I had put the book down. I thought about how Eliana could not be faulted for being human and started thinking of things that would make me vulnerable as she had been.

• If the time comes that I feel neglected and unappreciated by my husband
• If the time comes that I feel like I was taking care of everything in the family and for the family
• If the time comes that I find no one taking care of me when I am sick
• If the time comes that I feel I can no longer talk to my husband
• If the time comes that I feel all of the above and then someone comes and takes care of me… treats me like a princess… haha… what a fantasy that is.

Good thing I am enveloped in my husband’s love… at least I think so…

I was tagged by Bing and thought you would also like to know more about me.

Link to the person that tagged you.
Post the rules on your blog.
Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
Let your tagger know when you entry is up.

Six Unimportant things about Me…..

1. I hate rain

2. I am obsessive compulsive

3. I do not eat ampalaya (a.k.a bitter melon)

4. I am a sucker for warm hugs

5. I drink diet soda not because I am watching my weight but because I actually like the taste

6. I love wearing stilettos

I know I am supposed to tag six people but I am letting myself off easily by just tagging two: Dine, Girlie.

I was tagged first by MegaMom then by mixednuts to blog about the last movie that my family and I have seen. MegaMom last watched Ratatouille with her family and mixednuts watched Transformers with her family.

First of all, my 2 kids are both too young to watch or appreciate movies so I am writing about the last movie that my husband and I watched during one of our date nights.

It took me a while to blog about it because honestly, I could not recall the last movie we watched. It was so long ago. And the movie that kept popping up was “Transformers” but hello that was released around June-July and it wasn’t THAT long.

Finally, I remembered that we had watched Beowulf around November. Beowulf is an action/fantasy movie about the legendary Beowulf. He is a warrior who fought and defeated the monster Grendel and Grendel’s mother. She happens to be created in the image of Angelina Jolie. Cool huh. Its animated but at times looks so real on screen that I can’t help but be amazed at the technology that was used. Recalling the film, there is only 1 outstanding line that keeps playing on my head… much like LSS - Angelina’s remark as she sees Beowulf for the first time.. “Are you the one they call Beowulf?” rolling the words in her tongue that made the words sound like a caress. It was a good movie.

Now my husband and I both love movies but have totally different tastes in films - extremely different tastes. He is into science fiction and Mr Bean/Simpson/Family Guy type of movies. I am into chick flicks, comedy but on the romantic side, and truly tear jerking dramas. You may ask how we manage to get along when watching movies? Well its really simple - we only watch the movies HE likes. (wink wink). Hehe.

So there. Now this is a meme so there are rules and I get to tag other people.

1. Link back the person who tagged you and write what was the movie his/her family enjoyed watching recently.

2. Now your turn to tell about the movie your family had just watched.

3. Tell something about the movie and spoilers are accepted (hehehee).

4. Write anything that has something to do with movies: Trivia, your top choice or favorites and why, your family’s story about your favorite motion pictures, the first film you watched with your husband, any traditional film the family’s been keeping etc…etc…

5. Copy and paste the rules of this meme on your blog and pass the tag to as many friends, bloggers and movie lovers you want. Don’t forget to tell them they’re tagged and leave a comment here if you’re done with the task.

So now I am tagging some other moms and friends… Inkblots and andrea.

Do you watch Brothers and Sisters? I do. Every week I try to catch it on Star World. When the teaser was first aired, I thought the series was too heavy and mushy for my taste. However, for lack of a better show on a tuesday night, I allowed myself to watch it.

Brothers and Sisters is a tv drama about an ordinary American family dealing with everyday family conflicts. These conflicts include a gay brother, a controversial sister, sibling rivalry, dealing with mom, a mistress, sterility, and competition between husbands and wives.

Last week’s episode was one of the heaviest. It tackled these issues all at once. I am sure any one of us can truly relate to at least one of the problems featured in the show.

The episode was about the family finding out about their father’s child with his mistress. They not only find out about her, but some of them actually get to meet her. This revelation threatened to tear their family apart as the siblings scrambled to keep the secret from their mother. In the end, it was Saul (their mother’s brother and the new mistress’s boyfriend) - whew what a twist! - who was forced to tell the truth.

When everyone was blaming Saul for spilling the beans, he stopped them by words that touched my heart to the core:

“I did not want to tell her. But I had no choice. She was in front of me telling me about Holly…. and I could see her opening her heart to forgiveness. I will not allow her to be vulnerable like that only to be devastated when the truth eventually becomes known.” (** not verbatim)

That moment showed clearly how strong the bond between siblings or brothers and sisters is. It is so strong that not even the brother’s relationship with Holly can break the protective barrier that the family has woven around themselves with.

And I think about my own family, and my brothers and sisters. And then I become thankful that like the Walker family - we are very much protective of each other. And I am filled with love….

I applaud the writer of Brothers and Sisters. Unlike most dramas that grace our screens, the writer has managed to depict real life relationships and relevant family issues. I encourage you to watch it. Trust me, even my hubby who is wary of drama does not cringe when watching it (and that is a good thing).

If I have to go shopping for myself or go to the grocery even, I try to leave the kids at home. I did not fancy the challenge of maneuvering the stroller along the narrow aisles or up the escalator or getting squished inside the elevator. Going to the mall with young kids is like going through a Survivor challenge or Fear Factor. Hehe.

That was before I discovered My Playroom. It is a place where you can leave your kids (with a guardian of course) for an hour or more while you shop. All you have to bring is a good pair of socks for your kids and your yaya or whoever it is will be staying there with your child.

They charge P170 for an hour but they have rates for a no time limit stay or even a minimum of 30 minutes. The place is clean with lots of toys and books, and even video games. The place is not crowded and you can watch your kids play inside the glass walls. I took some pictures of my kid as he stepped inside. I think he forgot about me the second he entered the playroom.

There is a branch in SM Megamall too so those in that area can enjoy the service there as well. Whoever thought of this place is a genius (well for me that is)!

My Playroom

Robinsons Galleria Lower Ground Level
EDSA cor. Ortigas Ave.
Quezon City
Hours open: 10:00am to 8:00pm Sunday to Thursday, 10:00am to 9:00pm Friday & Saturday

Most mothers are built capable of nurturing and taking care of their families… not all, but most. It is such a stereotype but sometimes I think that genes also have something to do with it.

When a child is sick or sad, mothers are often the first to reach out, hug, comfort. I myself, do not think twice about staying home (instead of going to work) to care for a sick or troubled child.

So what happens when mothers get sick? Who stays at home to take care of them? Add to that, who takes care of those she cares for if she becomes too sick to even stand up?

So fellow moms, who takes care of you when youre sick? Who cooks you soup? Who prepares your juice? Who makes sure you drink your meds? Who checks your temperature?

Are you ready to get sick?