THINGS I LOVE MOST (WISHING, AND HOPING..AND CRAVING)...posted 01/JUNE/08 at 12:01 gmt

raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens...
Oh, forget it! Those are Maria's favorite things, not mine. I have a long list of my own. I never actually realized what mine were until recently..when I started to be looking for things I didn't realize I couldn't and actually don't have any more.. So here are the few of my favorite things..


BOOKS - my sanctuary, my escape, my travelling companion, my counsellor, and many more. My passion for reading is my greatest gift. Books excite me and thrill me when i'm down, make me laugh and cry all at the same time, they illuminate me, they can brighten up my dampened spirit, they have given me great knowledge of the world and beyond. What would I have been if not for the books i've read.
to quote-"I've traveled the world twice over, met the famous, saints and sinners, poets and artists, kings and queens, Old stars and hopeful beginners, I've been where no-one's been before, Learned secrets from writers and cooks All with one library ticket- to the wonderful world of books."-anonymous
I'm currently hooked on Haruki Murakami and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I favor fiction-the out of this world kind, i'm not much into romance, i only read ones by Nora Roberts. I think Paolo Coelho is great, Og Mandino is wonderful, but let's not forget the works of Jane Austen and Leo Tolstoy and Alexander Dumas. I don't understand Shakespeare, what I know of his is only Romeo and Juliet. Bob Ong of the pugad baboy fame is so talented, and Gary Lising's attempt on bad humour is pure fun. I read, i laugh and i weep...i don't give damn if i do it on my own.

RAINDROPS-ok, so perhaps i'm like Maria, i love it when it rains-dark clouds that would envelope the land so slowly, the sound of thunder clapping from above, the soft wind rustling the leaves quietly, then the raindrops falling down..slowly, gently and oh so softly. The rain pattering on the windowpane, dancing wonderfully.
I had always loved it as a child, being able to go out and bathe in the rain, not minding what it would bring. As an adult I only have one wish when it rains-that it would wash down all my sorrows away...

MUSICALS-i am just mad about it! i'm a great fan of andrew lloyd webber and his music. i love musicals made into movies. perhaps one of my prized possessions is my dvd collection of movie musicals..from fiddler on the roof to the sound of music, phantom of the opera to rent, ah..the list is endless, and still goes on and on...

FOOD-a category as wide as my waistline. will narrow down a bit. PASTA-with the sauces from bolognese to carbonara. CHEESE- i just love it! just recently tasted bavarian cheese with chilli and red pepper, heavenly! CHOCOLATES- i love it dark-sinful! ADOBO- i can eat this food over and over until the world runs out of vinegar and soy sauce..and adobo reheated more than twice is just so perfect. TUYO - coupled with fried egg and garlic rice, and spiced vinegar for a dip-perfect breakfast. as i write this i could almost smell it being fried very early in the morning, nearly at dawn, with the fishy smell lingering on my nose as i eat it bare hand. ah..i missed the philippines so suddenly. SIOMAI-feed me with this and we're friends.thanks to the chinese shops all over dublin, i could have this anytime i want to.
there it is, i still have quite a few on my mind, but they're more preferred than favorited. i'd like to wake up in the morning with fried dilis and tomatoes on my breakfast table, i'd trade my nike rubber shoes for a cup of taho or a bowl of pancit lomi. i'd be in heaven if i could have right now a slurp of dirty ice cream or eat isaw. Ahh..the things i couldn't have..

COFFEE- i need not elaborate. what's not to love with a good cup, anyway?

PILLOWS-the softer and plumper, the better. i have 6 big pillows and three throws, i sleep(if ever i do) with my head propped up on two, and the rest scattered around me. they are my sleeping companions,