Almost done...

I first encountered Milton Friedman in business school (for you econ folks there, sorry, but my undergrad was psychology) and I was struck by his statements against corporate social responsibility. Can you say tax-deductible?

Anyhoo, the subject I was most bored with in high school and college only made sense in business school, when I was already an employee and very much in the thick of the Asian flu. IS-LM models provided the logic for what became GMA's and the BSP's policies in money supply, pump-priming, etc.

But what really got me interested was the concept of the free market. A few years later, I chanced upon this precious find at Book Sale.

A paltry thirty bucks. It was fate. Kismet. Pre-determined. God willed it.

Commies should get a copy.

LP Kicks Ass

A funny 6-year-old's answer to a Taekwondo pre-promotion review question. (Not LP, thank God.)

Coach: Where did Taekwondo originate from?

6-year-old: Pampanga.

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LP's been attending Taekwondo lessons since June, and as the overbearing mother, I see to it that she doesn't miss a session. Seeing your child get shouted at for misbehaving ("Stop picking your nose!") can get fairly embarrassing for me and humiliating for her, but then, the sense of accomplishment and sheer enjoyment combined seems to more than make up for bruised shins and egos.

Imagine our excitement when her coach recommended her for promotion. (No biggie, actually. If you think about it, it's still money for them. Hehe.) The promotion was held this morning in Ateneo, and wow, there were at least 100 white belts waiting to be promoted.

To be promoted, white belts have to show that they know their kicks, punches, and formations, as well as the history of the martial art. (Pampanga's not in Korea, by the way.) So here's some stuff that they did:



The promoting officer seemed to have been impressed with LP's question-and-answer portion. As he handed her the yellow belt, he said, "You're very smart! I want you to join your school's varsity team, OK?" Mind you, LP was the only one to be praised in her group, and he even volunteered to tie her yellow belt for her. None of the kids got such an offer. Other kids, meanwhile, were told to lose weight or cut their hair or find Korea on a map.


So here's the ass-kicking and snake-loving creature that came from my loins.

Heir of Slytherin

I really don't know where LP got her fondness for snakes, but I suspect it all started when she was still in the womb. We went to Tagaytay for a weekend where we visited a petting zoo, and there was this huge boa that my brother carried to the lunch table. I remember screaming at the top of my voice and smacking him on the head immediately after.

Then there was this trip to Manila Zoo where they took out the snakes for an exhibition of sorts. LP was 2 (or 3?) at that time. Somehow she slipped from my grip, and a few minutes later we found her crouched low on the ground, beside a table where a snake was hanging. LP was staring at the snake...and the snake was staring back at her. (The person supposedly responsible for the snakes was busy with another snake. ) I could've sworn LP's lips were moving. Perhaps she speaks Parseltongue?

Which is why Tiendesitas in Pasig is such a treat for her. The first time I took her there, we went to this pet store that was selling a baby python. With no assistance, LP scooped the little snake up with her bare hands. Eeewww.

Check out the red eyes.

A month later, a cornsnake.

Imagine how much she begged to get a snake for Christmas. Eeewww.

And just last month, we chanced upon a snake that had just moulted. I asked the owner if the little girl could have the shed skin. Eeewww.

That's the closest she'll ever get to owning a real live snake.

I was checking out LP's quizzes and tests last night, and among them was this Filipino test where they had to draw pictures and assign nouns for each picture. One of items said, "Iguhit ang dalawang hayop na nais mong alagaan. Isulat ang pangngalan ng mga it." (Draw the animals that you would like to have as a pet. Label with nouns for each.)

To which she answered, "Ahas, cobra" (snake, cobra) and "gagamba" (spider). The cobra reminds me of one of the worms from the Combantrin ad from way back.

To which her teacher wrote, "Nais mong alagaan ang ganitong klase ng mga hayop?"

My kid rocks.

Another LP moment

I've gotten much too busy to write about anything else other than this creature that sprung forth from my loins. Just over a year ago, I was a gym rat, had men at my beck and call, and still had time to read to LP before bedtime. Now, the demands of my very dynamic new job have transformed my abs to flab, forced me to reexamine the precious time I was wasting on Messrs. Right Now, and drastically reduced bedtime reading with LP to study time. To make up, precious weekends are spent enriching her with Tae-kwon-do, regularly hearing mass, and watching TV. (Yes, TV for LP has become a weekends-only activity. How cruel.)

So what have I got to blog about other than that sweet creature? Nada.

So here's another one of LP's wise words. This time, on beauty. (Backgrounder: Andolini's tall, muscular, and dusky. And by dusky, I mean really DUSKY. LP, on the other hand, is Snow White. Physically takes after LXH's mother, who happens to be a nice lady.)

Andolini: (Sips coffee on a beautiful Sunady morning.) Ahh. Nothing like a good cup and the Sunday paper.

LP: You know, you should stop drinking coffee. You're so brown already!

Love and power according to LP.

A meaningful conversation between a 6-year-old and her grandmother:

Lola: Lolo's the boss.

LP: No, you're the boss.

Lola: Why do you say that?

LP: Because you tell Lolo what to do and you have plenty of money.

Lola: I have plenty of money?

LP: Yes, you're the one who's always buying stuff, so you're the boss!

Lola: But that's Lolo's money. I use Lolo's money to buy stuff.

LP: Huh? Lolo lets you spend his money?

Lola: Yes.

LP: Why?

Lola: Because he loves me!

LP: Really, Lola!? Lolo loves you even if you're fat!?