Roan got up extra early to prepare a surprise for me -- a simple but touching display of love in the form of cut-outs and a balloon which he pasted on his bedroom wall.
That Kay's commercial on TV, now I can't get the song out of my head. Originally composed by Cat Stevens, it's been sung by various artists, but the one on the commercial was by "Cat Power".
This is a beautiful song, one that I can relate to, because oftentimes and most especially with people I love, I can't always find the right words to say to tell them that I love them, and miss them. Dearly.
Commercial Sound Clip (Press Play to Hear It):
HOW CAN I TELL YOU
How can I tell you that I love you, I love you But I cant think of right words to say I long to tell you that Im always thinking of you Im always thinking of you, but my words Just blow away, just blow away It always ends up to one thing, honey And I cant think of right words to say Wherever I am girl, Im always walking with you Im always walking with you, but I look and youre not there Whoever Im with, Im always, always talking to you Im always talking to you, and Im sad that You cant hear, sad that you cant hear It always ends up to one thing, honey, When I look and you're not there I need to know you, need to feel my arms around you Feel my arms around you, like a sea around a shore And -- each night and day I pray, in hope That I might find you, in hope that I might Find you, because hearts can do no more It always ends up to one thing honey, still I kneel upon the floor How can I tell you that I love you, I love you But I cant think of right words to say I long to tell you that Im always thinking of you Im always thinking of you.... It always ends up to one thing honey And I cant think of right words to say
Anyway, here's "The One Ring to Rule My Heart" from Roan. He understood why I couldn't be there this Christmas, and wanted to get me his holiday package well before my trip to New York to see my grandmother. To make me smile, to make me remember, to make me believe and hope.
Roan bought us a matching set of his-and-hers rings, 18k two-toned Italian gold with diamond insets. And as much as he wanted us to be together, with him on his knees as he gives me the ring, he was also excited as heck for me to have it. So he sent the early Christmas gift via Fedex rush 2-day delivery.
So somewhere, oceans apart from here, someone is wearing the other half of this ring. Its perfect match is on someone's finger, with him as he sleeps, eats, showers, goes about his every day routine.
His love note goes:
"Mah,
It's a sign of my everlasting love 4 you. It may not be as expensive compare sa mga binigay ng mga past mo. But, I can proudly say (heart yells) what's inside this ring is an overflowing love of mine.... JUST 4 YOU. I'm here 4 you....for life!!! I love you so much.
"Maybe you soon Forget about all Or maybe you'll miss it like I do But one thing's for sure I'm all knocked out I spend too much time thinking of you
And I can't get you out of my dreams Now I know you're the dangerous kind And your smile is tattooed on my mind 'Cause I can't get you out of my dreams..."
...And so goes Sitti Navarro's song, "Tattooed On My Mind". The song came to mind as I thought of Roan, and his tattoo. He has a tattoo of my name, "Sugar", on his back in Old English font. For those of you that think getting a tattoo doesn't hurt much, think again. I watched him getting his tattoo done, and I cringed as much as he did, maybe even more. His skin bled and his flesh was sore for a few days. So yes, it hurts.
I asked him later if he regretted getting the tattoo, and people would say to him, "What if it you two don't end up together in the end?" Remember, a tattoo is a permanent mark or design made on the body when pigment is inserted into the dermal layer of the skin through ruptures in the skin's top layer, and that modern-day tattoos are applied by using an electric tattoo machine with needles that rapidly puncture the skin with an up and down motion not unlike that of a sewing machine. (see HowStuffWorks' article on Tattoos).
Although tattoo removal is possible down the road, (however, most dermatologic surgeons caution that complete tattoo removal is not possible -- tattoos are meant to be permanent, so removing them is difficult), Roan assured me that no matter what happens, he did not and will not regret getting the tattoo of my name. People who get tattoos usually get one of something that represents a special meaning to them -- and for what it's worth, our relationship, no matter what's been said of it, the skepticism and disapprovals, the ups and downs, the highs and lows... our relationship will always be a special force in our lives that shapes us into better people that's learned to love fully and completely, without reserves.
Want the full lyrics to "Tattooed On My Mind", as well as a link to hear the streaming (non-mp3) format of the song?
Roan's brother, Roger, will be leaving for New York on vacation next Tuesday (his first trip to the U.S.) and Roan will be sending me another one of his 'love mails'. Today he showed me the letters he's written me so far that will be sent via Roger.
Awww <blush>.
My little 5'8 cutie-pie.
His love letters to me which will shortly be on their way. Awww <blush> again.
Hard to believe it's been 12 months since we've been together -- so many ups and downs; a whole year of intrigues, hurdles, difficulties of being apart and maintaining a long-distance relationship, that we've managed to get through. It's been one heck of a ride so far with this guy, but I wouldn't trade the experiences, the lessons, the emotions, the tears and laughter for anything in the world.
Our first anniversary started off with a sweet wake up call from him in the morning, and later on, being that we're thousands of miles apart, we spent about 14 hours online together.
Just what the heck do people do when they're together online that long? Well, long hours are typical with us, and we spend the time just chatting, talking about our days, about people, our families; we play online games together, chat with our friends, eat together on cam -- like photos below.
Roan either brings a "baon" (packed food) to the Internet cafe where he chats with me, or buys food from outside vendors. The former is of course more cost-effective for him.
Today, he brought some spicy squid conconction that he cooked himself, along with some rice and hot dog.
I don't know why he even tries. I always beat him at word games. Like here, for instance, in a game of online Word Racer where I kicked his butt pretty badly.
Roan singing his heart out before he went home to sleep today.
It's the little things he does that makes me smile no matter how annoyed I am, how problematic or stressed. Let me sing to you, he says, before I leave. He sings pretty off-key and yet, I don't think I've ever heard a more beautiful song than the one he sang today.
I crush on easily and quickly with things one minute, and forget about them the
next. This category talks about my so-called "5 minute crushes".
Call this section a journal, a blog, or pathetic, nonsense
rantings. To me, it's just a silly old diary to record
my thoughts and feelings.
Sometimes I go places, and I like to talk about where
I've been.
Because I am one, and some times -- ok fine, admittedly,
a lot of times -- I talk like one.
Posts about this crazy, magical feeling of being "in
love".
It's about whom you choose to be friends with, and not.
Distinctive
individuals I admire, loathe, leave me awe-struck, can't
get out of my mind, consider as my role model, irritate
me to no end, or a little of all of the above.
On the occasions that I take and post digital images,
and want to talk about them, you can find those posts
in this section.
Posts that talk about tweaks, changes, or upgrades I've
performed on this baby.
QUICK INFO
• What is Cornbip?
The Philippine word for the processed good, Corned Beef.
• Does Corned Beef Really Have Corn?
Corning is a form of curing; it has nothing to do with corn. The name comes from
Anglo-Saxon times before refrigeration. In those days, the meat was dry-cured
in coarse "corns" of salt. Pellets of salt, some the size of kernels
of corn, were rubbed into the beef to keep it from spoiling and to preserve it.
• Why Cornbip?
Cornbip is a common item found in many household pantries. It's a relatively inexpensive,
quick meal to serve and can be cooked in several ways that can satisfy anyone's
hunger.
Although this site doesn't really have anything to do with food nor cooking,
I have chosen this domain name because its contents are best served to an audience
with an unfussy appetite for an eclectic mix of photos and writings.
Welcome
To My Setting - My Online Diary
(Requires that your browser has 
I crush on easily and quickly with things one minute, and forget about them the
next. This category talks about my so-called "5 minute crushes".
Call this section a journal, a blog, or pathetic, nonsense
rantings. To me, it's just a silly old diary to record
my thoughts and feelings.
Sometimes I go places, and I like to talk about where
I've been.
Because I am one, and some times -- ok fine, admittedly,
a lot of times -- I talk like one.
Posts about this crazy, magical feeling of being "in
love".
It's about whom you choose to be friends with, and not.
Distinctive
individuals I admire, loathe, leave me awe-struck, can't
get out of my mind, consider as my role model, irritate
me to no end, or a little of all of the above.
On the occasions that I take and post digital images,
and want to talk about them, you can find those posts
in this section.
Posts that talk about tweaks, changes, or upgrades I've
performed on this baby.
