Earlier, it was my misfortune to ride a jeepney with a hotheaded driver. My first inkling of his temperament was when he turned left and encountered a fellow driver who was competing with him for passengers. They called each other “Buaya” (crocodile) and it was not a sweet name-calling mind you. They encountered each other twice more during that 20 minute ride with two more name-calling incidents. Then he got angry with a trash collector boy who was driving a sidecar because the boy muttered something while waiting for our jeepney to move. He shouted something but I don’t think the boy in the sidecar heard him. As we neared the intersection of Amang Rodriguez and Marcos Highway, the driver stopped the jeepney and made a hand signal to the boy. I was muttering to myself because I was already running late. He started the jeepney and moved a little bit forward before stopping again. I think he was waiting for the other jeepney driver, his nemesis. Call me a coward but I so abhor confrontations. I suddenly got off the jeepney and crossed using the footbridge to the other side instead of waiting for him to go round the U-turn slot and getting off on the other side of Marcos Highway. Before reaching the footbridge I turned to look and saw that the other driver did not stop for a confrontation. I think I got off the jeepney prematurely for nothing but I’d rather err on the side of caution.
China has been in the headlines again with the Melamine in milk scare. It’s becoming a common occurrence to wake up to exposes regarding products from China. There was the White Rabbit candy incident (I was very fond of those chewy White Rabbits when I was a child.) then the baby toys and baby things from China that were recalled from the market because the paints used were harmful to babies. There was even a recall of tea light candles from China some years ago because they burned too brightly and were considered fire hazards. I also received an email warning about slippers made in China that cause very painful blisters. Not only that, there is an email going around about how cheap hair rubber bands from China are made from, of all thing, used condoms! How gross is that!
I really don’t know how true the emails are but with all the bad news you hear about China products you start to believe things. I guess it’s really the right time for us to patronize our own country’s products.
Last Saturday I attended the wedding of a friend. Actually I was one of the readers, I was part of the liturgical ENTOURAGE (hehehe). Anyway, the priest officiating the mass and wedding ceremony was very old and somewhat strict and sarcastic. While the bride was walking very slowly down the aisle, the priest whispered to us, “Should we get her a bicycle?” Then he repeats parts of the mass that requires a response if he does not hear the congregation answer, like when he does not hear an “Amen” or something. Then when it was time for him to read the gospel he told us as he passed, “Look at me. Look at me.” I thought that it was to show respect to the gospel that’s why he wanted us to look at him but Lai, my friend and co-reader opined that it was because Father wanted to show us the proper microphone position. Hehehe. Then at the end of the mass he approached us. We thought it was to congratulate us on our reading but he slapped down that preening quickly enough. He told us, “You’re all so young to have arthritis. You did not kneel during Consecration.” Waaaahh hahaha. But in fairness it was a solemn and organized ceremony. It was also the first one I attended wherein the bride and groom faced the congregation while saying their vows. Another thing, the priest highlighted the fact that the Arrhae was an exchange between the bride and groom and not just the groom giving the Arrhae. This was to show that there is equality between the bride and groom since both were earning big salaries. It is a modern thought from an old priest 
December is almost around the corner. I still can’t feel the cold nip in the air. Sure, the days are shorter but it’s still very hot and humid. In some parts of the world someone is getting her electric blanket ready, while somewhere else someone is shopping for a bikini. My neighbors have already put up their Christmas decorations. I heard from our cleaner that my mom is planning to put up the Christmas lights next week. I’m in a quandary on where to get the money to buy Christmas gifts since I’ve already run through my bonus. December is really a very expensive month.
