I'm not a fluke; I'm lucky

Yay!

Thanks to my hubsand (who edited), the LitCritters (who inspired), and Dean (who believed).

Good News, Bad News

Monday found me opening an email from the people at Serendipity saying that my story is part of the Best of Serendipity. While on one hand, I'm ecstatic (to be part of only 12 stories of the virtual anthology is wonderful), I was a little put off by the fact that they had forgotten to inform me and had just remembered to tell me yesterday evening (Manila time). But I forgive them because I was a late in my submission even then, so I guess we're just even (it doesn't hurt that I also owe them my citation in the Year's Best as well :).)

But while a late email wasn't enough to keep me from jumping up and down with joy, knowing that Serendipity has already issued its final issue was. It seems like a lot of the markets are closing down this year and it makes me feel sad. It seems like I'm seeing the death of an era. An era that I had just discovered so recently.

Oh well.

Anyway, I would appreciate anybody and everybody if they could visit Serendipity and see the other wonderful stories that they had the honor of publishing over the years (and, if you have time, visit mine as well :P).

Hopefully, Serendipity and others like it, will find another life, another form, in the not so distant future.

How Japan Can Save The World (What, no cheerleader?)

Some interesting bit of news from Newsweek.

On other news, my last quarter storm has passed. On to more maudlin (if not exactly routine) projects.

Goodness, its February already...

Picture Taking with the Gang

Here's some of the pix from last December 30.

Its been an on-going joke that Hector (who is exactly one week older than Dean and Nikki's youngest, Rowan) and Rowan would have the kind of love story that would rival those epic florid romance novels. While I do find the notion interesting, for me, what I'm most glad of is that at the very least, my son will have someone his age to play with and grow up with.

I know it's selfish. But growing up as an only child (my brother only came along when I was 11), wasn't pretty. Everybody I knew had some sibling who would be their kakampi despite whatever gang wars that occured in our little universe. Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, I don't think Alex and I could afford another child to give Hector company. Seeing Rowan and Hector together consoles me a bit, in that, at the very least, he is not alone. In addition, he also has his Ate Sage (Dean and Nikki's eldest), although having grown up with a brother so far behind me in years has made me doubtful if Hector and Sage would actually find something in common.

Whatever the case, I fervently hope that though Hector and Rowan and Sage don't share the same gene pool, they will consider each other family.