The Story Teller

Archive for July, 2011

Photo taken and owned by Charles Fredeluces Mundo

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

~Maya Angelou

Getting back to the office after my lunch break yesterday, I was surprised to find my colleagues hovering together over the printer. What was more surprising, however, was the group of people, parents I presumed, waiting at the reception obviously expecting to be goaded somewhere else. I shot the science teacher a curious look and she mouthed ‘meeting.’ I nodded in understanding then directed my curious look at the harmless looking-printer which seems to be causing the commotion. This time the science teacher spoke in a clear and dismayed voice ‘out of toner.’

I finally understood. The printer wouldn’t print the orientation hand-out to be discussed at the meeting because it was out of toner. The officer-in-charge rushed to the shop where we bought our hp toner cartridges. The parents are queuing at the reception because the OIC was not there to tell them what to do and the receptionist  was checking out the printer.

When it finally made sense to me, I approached the parents and asked them to get inside the play school and wait for the meeting to start. They thanked me and did what they were told.

Piece of cake!

Photo taken and owned by Charles Fredeluces Mundo

“The only way to have a friend is to be one.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I came home today with a heavy head. Well, what do I expect from a full schedule and a jam-packed classroom? It’s during this time that I consider resigning from my very demanding work and just stay at home and take care of my children. But with my eldest daughter in college, that is absolutely out of the question. Then, I began to ask myself how long am I going to do this? Will I ever stop? If I will, when will that be?

I see other people working themselves to death. I don’t want any of that. But I don’t want an uncomfortable old age either. It hurts to imagine myself wrinkled and emaciated and begging other people for food. I know life insurance and retirement planning will take care of that, and that’s why I’d rather break my back working hard now when I’m still young than break my back working when I get so old that there’s nothing more to  break..

Photo taken and owned by Charles Fredeluces Mundo

“The simplest things are often the truest.”

~Richard Bach

About a few days ago, I was requested my by my sister to take over her place as a host of her meme. I said yes as I couldn’t find any reason to say no. But, I think I said ‘yes’ too soon when I found out that the topic was actually about my preferred romantic getaway. Well, for an unromantic and very practical person like myself, it is just difficult to compose an entry that has a flavor of romance in it. But not someone who gives up at the first bump on the road, I still went on with it. But the task proved to be much more difficult than I thought. Writing romantically took half of my time and finding a romantic getaway took the other half.  So, I ended up posting about a place here in the Philippines that I think romantic enough. Then, as I was browsing the net early today, I found this website that features table rock lake homes at pinnshores.com with a picture of the awesome Table Rock Lake. Well, that is the one.. Perfect not just for a romantic getaway but for future retirement..

As per instruction, I checked out Wikipedia.org and got the following result:

November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in eap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 55 days remaining until the end of the year.

EVENTS

1856 - ‘Scenes of Clerical Life,’ the first work of fiction by the author later known as George Eliot was submitted for sublication

1860 – American Civil War: Abraham Lincoln was elected 16th president of the United States

1918 – The Second Polish Republic was proclaimed in Poland

BIRTHDAYS

1661 - King Charles of Spain

1921 – James Jones, American novelist

1939 - Leonardo Quisumbing, Filipino Supreme Court jurist

1946 - Sally Field, American actress

1948- Glenn Frey, American singer (Eagles)

1970- Ethan Hawke, American actor

1978 – Jolina Magdangal, Filipina singer, actress and television host

1989- Shaina Magdayao, Filipina actress

DEATHS

1406- Pope Innocent VII

1632- King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden

2007- George Osmond, American patriarch of the Osmond Family

HOLIDAYS

Eastern Orthodox Liturgics

Constitution Day of Dominican Republic (1884)

Finnish Swedish Heritage Day

Green March (Morocco)

Honestly, I didn’t expect I’d have this much fun. I was thrilled to know that I have the same birthday with one of my favorite actresses, Sally Field, one of my favorite band members, Glen Frey, one of my favorite actors, Ethan Hawke and the young Filipina actresses Jolina Magdangal and Shaina Magdayao.

It really was fun!

An entry for

“Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be.”

~Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

One day, a fine young man decided to eat at the diner along his way. He’s having a bad day. He lost in the bidding of a very important project. His car broke down. His ATM card was captured by the machine and he only had P500 in his wallet. He had to take the taxi that might cost him about P250 and he was very hungry.

So, he ordered the cheapest burger and the smallest cup of coke and took the farthest table. As he was unwrapping his burger, he noticed an emaciated and untidy boy looking at his food. Ordinarily, he doesn’t care about the boy or any of his kind. But the boy looked hungry and he was staring at his burger as if his life depended on it. So, he waved at the boy inviting him to come inside.

The boy looked over his shoulder and finding no one behind him walked into the diner. When he got to the young man’s table, he politely asked him..

“You called for me, sir?” he asked in a determined voice.

“Oh yes. Take your seat..” replied the man, still unsure why he invited the boy over. The boy sat down and looked expectantly.

“Well, I just noticed that you were looking at my burger..” started the man, “I wonder whether you would like to have it . If you do, I will give it to you, unless you want something else, if so, then tell me so that we can ask the waitress to get one..”

“Oh.. That’s very nice of you, sir.. But I wasn’t looking at your burger. I was looking at the wrapper. They’re sold by the kilo..”

“But papers are too light. It will take you forever to gather enough to make one kilo..”

The boy grinned “That’s why you need to be patient, sir. My mother said PATIENCE is the key to success. I don’t understand what she means, but she said someday I will.”

“Your mother is wise. Now, would you like to take this burger?”

“No, thank you. You look hungry yourself, sir. Maybe you need it more than I do.”

“How did you know that?”

“I saw you entered the diner. If I were the one wearing the fine clothes and fancy shoes that you have on, I wouldn’t look as sad as you did, unless I am mighty hungry..”

“I still want you to have it..” insisted the young man.

“Are you sure, sir? My mother said it’s not right to take something from someone who needs it more than you do..”

“Don’t worry about me. I will buy another one if I get mighty hungry..”

The boy smiled and took the burger..

“Thank you very much. I’ll go ahead, sir.. I wish you have a good day..”

The young man stayed at the diner longer than he intended to. He just wished he was, at least, able to get the boy’s name..

Image Source: 123rf.com

*Original story by the blog author. Any similarity with other articles, fiction or otherwise, is purely coincidental.

About 2 hours before my working shift ended, my daughter sent me a message on my cellphone telling me that she was on her way. Well, that simply means I have to wait until she arrives and then we’ll go home together. Ordinarily, I don’t mind waiting for her. But I was actually planning to go around and look for a nice pair of Ray Bans. It’s not that I couldn’t shop with her tagging along, the problem is that she doesn’t have much patience when it comes to looking for a ‘nice pair’ and she keeps on complaining about my ‘taking so long’ at the shop. As if that’s not enough, she also has this habit of asking ‘aren’t we going home yet?’ just when I am about to try on something that catches my fancy. In the end, it’s either I buy something that I don’t like much or I don’t get to buy anything all..