Updated January 17, 2016

The thing with big life changes, it doesn’t change you until it does.  Most of these big events have happened to me in the past five years and to say that they were unexpected is the understatement of the century.

I didn’t think it would ever happen, but it did:  I got married and my father didn’t get to walk me down the aisle.  My youngest brother did, though, and my younger brother drove us to our wedding.  To date, it was the most magical moment of my life.  It was also the first day of a whole new life for me.

Aaaaaaand because I have been so inconsistent in maintaining this blog, I have committed to writing about things that happen to me.  No other way to be honest than be online right?

Anyway, this is it.  The new page.  Welcome to my blog, the random ramblings of an immigrant (house)wife.

NOTE:  2015 edits in bold.

My name is Carla.  Of course that’s already obvious.  I graduated with a degree in AB Mass Communication, minor in Broadcast Journalism from St. Scholastica’s College in Manila, Philippines.  It’s one of those all-girl colleges that specializes in the arts and social activism.

I love photography, but I am yet to own a dSLR and my Canon 600D was better taught to me by Photoworld Manila.  (Oh yes, I learned photography the FPPF way!)  Moreover, I am very thankful for my iPhone5 and Instagram; the combination is amateur auteur fantastic.  I didn’t think that technology would play such a big part in making sure that I am still in touch with my artsy fartsy self.  An additional chronicler came in the form of my iPad Mini, but I am still never without my Moleskine and trusty pen.

I love music.  I probably have the weirdest music selection ever.  Euro pop, rock, techno, dance, punk, jazz, classical.  You name it.  And I love every bit of my collection.  I always wish I have more.  Weirdly though, I am not a fan of going to music festivals.  I think this is where my being a homebody comes in.

I hope to acquire a typewriter this year.  I still want it.  I don’t know why.  My old soul is craving for something a little more basic.  The age of touchscreen and speed dial has reduced romance in daily living.  I want to do my part to keep romance in my life.

Especially now that I have Le Beau back in my life.

I still believe that I am the sum of every single person I’ve seen, met and spoken to.  I am the sum of all the worlds that clashed with mine.  I am a very big sum.

I lost my grandfather Pedro Susi last October 2007.  He was 80.

I recently lost my Tatay, Wilfredo Arriola, last January 21, 2013.  It will always be recent, but that goes without saying.  It was a heart attack.  He was 59.

I am determined to really get fit.  I want the flesh of my bones to last long.

And also, I want to make my Lolo and Tatay proud as long as I can.

I believe in second chances.  And third.  And fourth.  But I also believe we can only tempt fate so much.  It too will get tired of giving you opportunities to seize.  So you better make sure you grab the ones that matter as soon as they come to your line of sight.  You’ll never know when you’ll get those chances again.

2013, I believe, is going to be has been a very challenging year for me.  I have never been that sad, or beaten down, or depressed, but I know it has had a lot to do with loose ends and unfinished conversations.  I hope, in my search for clarity, I get to commune with nature, pull myself together and gather enough strength just so I can make the most of what life has been offering me.

I look to this year with much more hope than usual.  I guess that’s what love does to you, as cheesy as it may sound.  But really, isn’t that the truth?  

After all, that’s what my father would like me to do.