You know, before I became Auntie Aiyah, I used to never go to places like Babies R Us, FAO Schwartz, Baby Gap and all those decidedly "foreign" places. But now, along with Fishpimp, we've been crazy daring and have been going to check out some of these places because of our nieces. For two gals who really do not want children, this is a big step for us. It's not that Playskool or Sesame Street or stuff like that scares us, it's just that - this really isn't *us*. We never thought it was but now we're heading into unknown territory and it's......strange.

I should say that I can't be more happy than to have a good friend like Fishpimp who also became an aunt three days after me. So now, I can see that the future holds many many many opportunities to shop together for stuff for our nieces since they are only 3 days apart. Another good part of this is that there's someone as newbie as I am to share in all of this since this is the first baby in both families. We're both as green as can be unfortunately.

Before the kids were born, I didn't know what the hell a Boppy 5 In 1 was and now I'm saying it like I'm coding in BABY-ML code or something. And what the hell was the difference between a swing, a bouncer, a rocker, etc etc etc? Who knew there was this whole mysterious land out there to explore. What's really amazing are all the things that they have to offer as educational tools for kids now beginning from 1 month onward. Ehhh???? All I remember from my youth were those books with yellow covers entitled "Sam I Am" or something. As a child didn't we just play up till the age we started going to school? No wonder kids are so mature for their ages now.

The funniest thing is seeing two aunts like us who have no clue about babies and watching us try to buy something for them. I think Fishpimp will agree that I'm a bit more knowledgeable about this stuff than her, thanks to information overload from my bro and SIL N. :) I dare say that whenever we're in any toy establishment or baby retail establishment, we can't help but ooh and ahh our way through the aisles. We are just like those kids in Willy Wonka. Hell, make that I'm the fat Augustine boy who drinks from the chocolate river and gets sucked up the tube. But I digress....we literally are wide-eyed at all the things we have to offer children now. It's really fucking amazing.

So today, Fishpimp and I met up for our Monday outing at the last minute. I like spontaneous events by the way. It adds flavor to one's life. :P While our conversation normally is dominated by japanese dramas, the latest shoes seen in Vogue, online journaling, gossip -- we now naturally gravitate towards niece chat from the get go. Odd. Peculiar. We used to never be so.....maternal. The only really maternal stuff I used to talk about are breasts and spoiling my doggie.

:::

Recently I haven't been shooting as many photos because my digicam is weirding out on me. It's the damn battery. I think it's in its final stage of life. Even when it's all charged up, it still shows that it's dying out on me. Either that, or maybe it's my cam. *sigh*

Anyway, the reason I mention that is because I had a really fun day today. And I wish I had photos to take of it. After I had a late late lunch with Fishpimp, we went to run a few errands and then we met up with K for some roller blading. Fishpimp has been really apprehensive about trying it although she really wants to. I know that deep down inside, she's got a yearning to be like in Xanadu but she's afraid of falling on her ass (which is not quite as padded as mine). So she finally agreed to try mine on (since we wear the same size shoe, although she has narrower feet and much thinner calves. :P) and K and I led her around this small concrete area for her to get used to. Well I think she's pretty much hooked now. So I think I'll be shopping with her soon for a pair for herself.

It was starting to get dark but 3 of our other friends, called to say they're coming over to blade as well with us for a little bit. It's so much more fun to blade in group, even in the dark I say. Nothing can be more fun in a group aside from say, square dancing or what not. All we need now are those hats that miners use to do down into the coal mines with the big light strapped to it. That way, I can see where I'm going. Ok OK, so there's lights at the park as well but having better vision of the path will help me avoid those big rocks that kids deposit. :P Because if I biff on one of those - I'm a goner.

I guess being in a group of friends where guys do their thing and girls do their thing separately, I really want to do a group activity that everyone can get into. It gets kind of hard when planning for activities since a few of us don't bike, a few of us don't swim, a few of us don't quite move aside from lighting up a cigarette - so it's fucking challenging to find something that fits almost all of our lifestyles aside from....oh....eating. With summer on the way, there's no better time than to start planning on what to do then. Oooo....can't wait to rollerblade with a tank top on and then fall and scratch up the entire tattoo with gravel embedded in it or something. ;P

But yeah, as I was saying before my brain went into 80 fucking directions, I wish I had a cam to capture what we did today. I haven't had this much fun in a long time.

I'm out.