After 3 excruciating days, Matthew's fever is finally gone for good. We went to our pediatrician this morning for his regular check-up. She confirmed Matthew was on his way to recovery. We did ask her for a new prescription, because he wouldn't drink the antibiotic that was originally prescribed. So she wrote up a new one for a more concentrated form, for the same dose and lesser volume. That'll be easier to swallow (literally!) than the orange-flavored misery Matty spit out every time.

Good thing I prayed ;-) And who says prayers don't work anymore?

Now this is interesting!

Parang napakabagal ng oras kapag hinihintay mo ito. Bakit ako naiinip? Wala pa kasi akong tulog simula kaninang alas-3 umaga. Baket? Nag-alaga ako ng bata.

Nakakaawa naman kasi, nilalagnat. Dinala na nga namin sa ospital kagabi. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag ng sinabihan ako ng ER doctor na hindi na s'ya kailangang i-confine.

Ang hirap lang, kahit naiuwi namin ang baby namin, napuyat parin kaming mag-asawa. Nasabi ko tuloy sa sarili ko na, "Ganito palang maging tatay, mahirap pero titiisin mo kahit gaano kahirap. Idadasal mo pa na sa iyo na lang mapunta ang sakit."

Napuyat kami dahil pabalik-balik lagnat ni baby. Hindi kami magkandaugaga sa paghilamos sa kanyang noo kapag masyado na s'yang mainit, at ganun din namang pagmamadaling suotan s'ya ng panglamig kapag giniginaw.

Mainit ang ulo n'ya kasi wala siyang mapagbalingan ng sakit ng loob. Hindi n'ya alam kung paano n'yang sasabihin kung ano ang masakit, kung ano ang gusto n'yang ilunas mo, at kung ano ang nararamdaman n'ya. Kapag nagkasakit ang bata, hindi lang physical, emotional din. Dangkasi, umaasa pa sila ng buong-buo sa iyo. Ayokong biguin ang anak ko, kanya kahit lumiban na ako sa pagpasok sa opisina eh parang pumasok na rin ako dahil binuno ko ang puyat.

Kanya heto't para akong wala sa sarili. Problema nito eh kung kakayanin kong tapusin ang shift ko.

And then there were three...

Home-made Segways, anyone? Geeks, this way please: the specs.

I went to Tarlac last Saturday. I went to visit soem old friends and pay for my son's educational plan (incidentally, I got the plan from the Tarlac branch of a reputable company). I haven't gone there for the better part of this year. So I made the trip last Saturday.

I got to visit one of my old college buddies, Wilson. I was surprised to find out his wife was pregnant wih their second child. About time. Their daughter is almost seven I recall. I gave her her aguinaldo before I left. I might not have the chance to go backa to Tarlac for Christmas adn aI have a lot of time to make up for. That was just her second aguinaldo from me since her baptismal, and she's almost seven! Bright kid too. Makes parting with my money easier to think about - hehehe.

Then I got to visit my old fraternity brod, Odie. We go way back. 10 years or so. I listened contentedly to his raves about the changes that've happened in his life. He's started a mortgage for a new house, for one. His oldest kid is now in her freshman year. His now actively campaigning for composting/recycling in his youngest daughter's elementary school. I'm happy for him. When I was about to leave for home, another brod came by. We traded a few more stories before I was off on my way.

When I got home, I played with my son a couple of hours. Then i slept for another 2 and I was off to the office. It was a tough day. But in the end of it all, it made me a happier man.

Naalala ko na ganitong panahon may anim na taon na ang nakakaraan nang kausapin ako ng bunso kong kapatid. Ang sabi n'ya'y, "Ang lungkot naman ng pasko natin ngayon.." Patungkol ang sinabi n'ya sa pagkamatay ng ama namin nang Abril at ng kapatid naming si Oliver nang Oktubre ng taong yaon. Pagkaraan ng ilang linggo ng pag-uusap naming 'yun, namatay din ang bunso kong kapatid. Hanggang ngayon, may mga araw na bigla ko na lang silang naaalala.

Hindi naman nawawala ang sakit na dulot ng pagkawala nila. Natututunan lamang nating maging manhid sa sakit. Natututunan lang nating itago ang sakit sa kung saan lihim na sulok ng puso. Ngunit dali-dali itong manunumbalik tuwing may isang halos malimot na ala-alang sasagi sa isip mo. Tulad halimbawa ng, " Ang lungkot naman ng pasko...."

Ditto

Last Saturday, my wife took me out to dinner. Ummm....On second thought, that isn't entirely accurate. We met a few of her friends for dinner over at Salvatoré's. That's a local Italian resto that's right smack in the middle of Angeles City's number one tourist attraction for Caucasian pensioners -- Fields Avenue.

I discovered this resto on our first date some 2 years ago. I non-chalantly asked my wife (still my prospective girlfiend back then) if she'd like to go to a movie with me some time. She said yes and we went to the theater without checking the movie scheds. Turned out the only "good" movie playing was Rush Hour 2. I say "good" because at the time, my wife had already seen it and she still insisted we watch it. Anyway, after the movie I asked if she wanted to have dinner with me. She recommended we go to a restaurant she frequented. That was the night I opened up my heart and life to her. Salvatoré's has since figured in most of our dinner dates.

It was nice coming back to Salvatoré's. I had been wanting to go there for a long time. My dietary restrictions have prevented that in the past. Being an Italian resto, almost all of the food they serve has either herbed tomato sauce or rich luscious creme. Both have been off my diet since January. I confessed the fact to her friends. They knew I loved tomatoes on pasta. It puzzled them that I ordered Carbonara (just egg, no creme).

Anyway, it was wonderful to be back in Salvatoré's. It did annoy me a bit that the waitresses seemed to prefer waiting on other tables, specifically ones seating geriatric geysers who were escorted by young "exotic" beauties. I felt that I was being treated like a second-class citizen in my own country. If tales of old are to be believed, this "racism" has been going on since Clarkfield and Subic were established.

What Irritated me more was a stare I got from a large 30-yr old German guy from the next table. Coming back from the restroom. I caught him eyeing me as I returned to our table. He was checking me out. A shudder went down my spine. I was having dinner with 4 women (one of them being my wife). He must've assumed I was gay. I almost scoffed aloud at the thought. Once seated, I was fighting off the urge to hurl invectives at him. Had he not been with an equally corpulent 6-ft tall compatriot, I would not have hesitated.

Distractions aside, we have a great evening. At least my wife's friends enjoyed my company. Don't know many married men who manage to do that.