Don't Miss a Sunset

I've been pondering about sunsets the whole day. I miss seeing one so badly it makes the shutterbug in me ache! Hahaha! Well, that's just me being melodramatic! :) It's Thursday, no wonder I'm wistful and wishful. But seriously, I wanna be out there capturing beautiful sunsets, pretty soooon.

As an alternative to this hunger for sunset, I'm uploading photos of sunset taken during my vacation in Hong Kong taken at Repulse Bay in December 2009.  Just looking at these photos makes me all dreamy (as if I'm not already in a dreamy mode!). I love this side of HK, no concrete jungles, just the sea, the ships, the boats and the sun waving goodbye! :)

"May I never miss a sunset or a rainbow because I am looking down"

~ Sara June Parker

Sentiments on my Birthday

Today is my 28th birthday! Yikes, I'm old! I just got home from my simple birthday dinner and know that I should blog about today ASAP. For it's already 10:30 PM.  I don't wanna miss out an entry on my special day although nothing really special happened during the day. The truth is: I am quite melancholic today.:(  And it showed in the photos taken two hours ago so I don't really wanna post them except for this one:

Those were my few guests (minus my brother and my nephew Paul who went to the car already) which may very well explain why I'm sad today. For one, neither one of my parents are here today (my Papa's in Casiguran and my Mama's in HK). My oldest brother is also working abroad. Although all of them called me early today to say their greetings, something is still missing.  I don't know why I haven't learned to get used to this set-up in my family (my Mama's been an OFW since I was eight years old).

Or perhaps, I couldn't help but compare this year's birthday to my 27th when more family members were present (my Papa included) and we spent two precious days at the beach. And I didn't have to work.  

Well, anyway, I didn't invite much, just few of friends whom I know would be available, although sad to say (again) that most of them didn't make it. Why oh why??? Hmmm... I guess this is another reality you have to deal with when you're growing older or nearing your 30s.  Either you classify your friends to (a) workaholics; (b) night-shift/midshift workers; and (c) already married and have more important things to do.

Moving on... I think despite today's sadness, I should gently pat myself on the back for knowing who I treasure. Because today, I honestly did not ponder on things that I don't have (work abroad, savings, err boyfriend, etc.) Yes, there are plenty of things that I miss out on life, that I wish I have, that I get insecured about. 

But still, I am thankful... for friends who remembered (through FB and SMS), for my new job, for family who stick through my mood swings, for talents that I've been gifted with, for being a recipient to God's amazing love and grace for 28 years. Most of the time, I just really need to practice having a grateful heart.

Thank you and I'm sorry Lord for today. Next year will be better right?

2010 Valentine Project

It's Valentines! ♥ ♥ ♥ I'm dateless today (it's a long story why I'm single) but that doesn't mean I can't be in a hopeless romantic state, right?  Let me be the Ms. Romantiko through these love notes in photos albeit I have no one special to celebrate this day with, romantically speaking. Since I learned that I should pray for the right man and seek His will over the love section of my life, I've started praying and knocking on heaven's door for that one man I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. In the meantime, I'll keep on wishing, dreaming and praying. :)

I first posted these photos in my facebook and was so overwhelmed with comments from friends who appreciated them.  Thank you guys! It's wonderful being able to share the love bug I felt when I was doing this little project! :)  Happy V-Day!  Hopefully, next year's will be er, more romantic. Hmmm...

Simply Lai

Today, I re-created this site and promised to stick to this blog. I've been here since 2008 but have done most of my sporadic blogging in the past three years (2007 to 2009) in a now defunct site (Multiply). Time came when I wanted something new. I felt like I've outgrown them and just needed a new breathing space with all the major changes in my life that happened in the last part of 2009 which shook the best of me.

Can't think of any other name than Simply Lai. It's lousy. I knooooow. :) But I want to make things as simple as a blog's name, no complexities. In so many ways, I'm true to that title. I have simple wishes and desires at this stage in my life. I'm in the process of rebuilding dreams, learning to love myself again and reconnecting with God. I wish to keep this simple and sweet as days roll by.

I want to write again. I want a clean slate, a fresh start. We all want one right? So dear world, I'm back on my feet. Let's rrrrroooooll. This is me at 27, no make up, no blues. Can I just stop here?! :)