halloween newbie

We don't celebrate Halloween ever! I mean never as of yet. I don't call a few isolated celebrations to be a real Halloween season...but we're getting there, don't worry kids we will have Halloween within your lifetime!^^ What we have is "Todos Los Santos" or All Saints Day on Nov. 1 and All Souls Day on Nov. 2, where people spend time going to cemeteries, lighting candles, and bringing flowers for our beloved dead, usually just a quiet time for prayer and family reunion. I don't have anything against these things that I wanted to have a halloween ball or anything loud and rid of the solemn tradition, but what I want is to make these holidays less SPOOKY. It's a holiday for our beloved dead and not for the evil things that lurk in the dark or the paranormal things that give me chills. Maybe a "Halloween Party" could at least make the celebration light and less scary... even if the whole idea of Halloween is to scare, the stillness and smell of burning wax- from the candles scare me more ...and you can add the tales of ghosts and the unseen forces being told on TV documentaries! great. I now feel very uncomfortable, I don't like the dark and scary stuff, BUT maybe... if there'll be a hundred Edward Cullens out there in the dark and I'm Bella, I'd be happy to have Halloween all year round! har.har.har.

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'Good thing, it's beginning...the whole Halloween Trick or Treat-ing is happening, little by little we will have our kids be doing this, instead of being outrightly spooked without the drama... at least they will be observing the old tradition while adopting a new one and wont be treating these holidays as "plain" scary as I do!

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Anyway, here are some photos of my hubby's FIRST Halloween ever! Lucky him, he went to the US just in time for the Halloween last two-oh-oh-seven (2007!) yikes. Oh sshh... no one's too old for Halloween! I'm so jealous!






boo!
Sassy.

simplicity 2

And so the gift giving for the birthday people in my life isn't over yet...hardly. I've had 4 "gifted" people from the last post and was equally generous with them 'cuz they're all dear to me and though my gift were simple, they loved it! I'm glad to have friends who understands the misery of my pocket! ^^

Anyway, last night we were at another birthday party besides the 4 we had last Oct. 14, I have another close friend whose birthday was last night but this time, the hubby came to the rescue for the GIFT expenses. whew, sensing my distress of having too many friends celebrating in October, haha...I might consider that as a criteria before being friends with someone, I must impose NO MORE OCTOBER celebrant friends!^^ I'm fully-booked...^^...kidding! Of course no matter what, I'll be friends with people who are friends with me and are true, that's why I make such effort to be there for them and make them feel special regardless of my capacity to actually pay for anything GRAND because they deserve it!

The gifts this time were better, thanks to the hubby, he's nice isn't he? Buying all these presents for me...I mean NOT me but For me ...arrgh. That sounds complicated, but thanks to him I had no trouble choosing stuff that needs to go in the green bag.

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Happy Birthday REESE and Zamer!

mabuhay

the small city we left for the BIG one.

We're up north once again to the BIG city where my husband and I created a life away from everything we knew, grew up with and fond of. Everything is just the way we expected, busy streets, ongoing traffic, gigantic billboards, the buzz of a busy CITY life, 24-hours non stop.

WE arrived yesterday to a happy warm weather at 10:16 am exactly as the Pilot says we'd land. How convenient, 45 minutes of flight from my province to Manila. You know we used to take an overnight travel by bus for almost 13 hours with just two 20 minute break to stretch and eat at stop overs, we like the old fashioned way of coming and going by the BUS... but! that was when we were 'younger' - energetic and crazy for long road trips, especially when sitting side by side and cuddling all throughout the 13-hour ride not feeling any bigger hassle than just lining up for the comfort rooms. Well, at 28 we are past that phase if there's an easier way to anything, we'd be using that regardless how much we pay for comfort! Indeed it was worth it, I felt super nothing like when we take the bus that I felt like I had a 12-round boxing match with Pacquiao the next day, we even went to work minutes after we arrived! ... ^^ haha well...Sorry if I'm sounding like a person from Mars who hasn't heard of the Wright Brothers ever inventing this bulky, winged vehicle that flies. Actually, it's not my first time to travel by air, I've been to some parts of the world and back aboard the biggest aircraft there is... but my experience of leaving my hometown to the BIG city that took only 45 minutes by flight means a lot to me more than any of those other flights I took...it means that I am just that close to my roots and that I didn't get emotional of leaving the neighborhood I grew up with compared to how I'd be able to think and wallow for the rest of the 13 hour ride...the quick flight wont even let me gather my thoughts! It was too fast of a ride that I'm still beaming with happiness as my parents drove us to the airport and kissed us both goodbye and 'till we meet again.^^

A reckoning, that we must take this fast flight off the soil that makes us weaker ... maybe not weaker but SOFTER. You know, it's a different world out here in the BIG city.

happy!

Hobby project 001: DONE!

I made bookmarks for my friends and gave it to them yesterday. I had fun making them and they were thrilled to receive it as presents! (it's just because, for no occasion.)^^ I named each after their names and color "coordinated" them with their personalities!

Here they are:


CHERYL

CHERYL

IRISH

IRISH

FLORDELIZA

FLORDELIZA

chill

Another long weekend!!! yeepee! Super happy that I could have relaxation time for 3 straight days! ... I just hope I wont start rationalizing again about how I use it for surfing the internet and "hobbying" that I'm left insomiac and exhausted by choice.

^^ I will ask the hubby to date me in one of those days to finally watch UP, the Pixar movie. We're both into 3D, kids stuff movies such as Nemo and those kind of films you let your kids watch even without supervision. In a way, it helps us detox from all the anxieties that the REAL world is already creating for us in everyday that our idea of a movie is bound to be for pure entertainment, without the "super", "hyper" climax of violence and mind boggling THE END. With the works of Pixar and Dreamworks in soft pastel colors, it is a breather.

Anyway, 'you all have a good weekend!

factory blooms

Some wild, some classic, they are tediously arranged by color. One section are the pinks, the other the reds, the whites, the yellows ... they come in different hues. I love them all. I just couldn't pick one. Anyway, I wasn't really up to it, until my feet has taken me to this side of the mall where my husband and I are supposed to meet for dinner. Now, I'm inlove. I know ... they wont love me back, they wont beam at me like fresh fragile products of the spring, I can touch them all I want, carry them around and swing them side to side, all the way around like a bride once more ... without freaking out the saleslady! YES it was okay with these flowers, the petals wont come off, they are lovely as the REAL deal.

looove thy neighbors.

oh those karaoke! I like. I like. But tonight ...could you pleeaasse stop now, you neighbor you 'cuz you've been singing the whole day and the rain wont stop! Yes, I do blame you for that... as we all say whenever someone's belting out a song in a not so pleasing way ... we blame the rain on you, YOU! stop now. sshhh...end.

(sigh) ... This is the only time that I wish there'll be a power interruption or something, I mean the whole day is not a joke, you could sing in the afternoon ... but then, I'd be doing my siesta, alright, sing in the morning ... but then I'd rather not wake up in a bad mood ... OK so let the neighbor sing at night ... hmmnn... nah. NO way ... just quit it neighbor, my schedule wont allow you!

These "portable" karaoke machines, jazzes up gatherings without effort and now that we invented a portable version of it (that's smaller than a CD player and operates with just a microphone!) Every household now got one ... it's like a refrigerator ... it's a MUST. You wouldn't have a party without it, trust me ... if you don't have it, the neighbor will lend you, just so you could.

AND here, it's not like anywhere else when it comes to expression of selves and fun, you can be as loud as you can for as long as you are in your homes, or yard, or within the boundaries you own, regardless if anyone else is annoyed by it (e.g. ME.) ... though of course there are LAWS about it, that you can be reported for disrupting the peace and order of the community ...BUT that is SELDOM practiced here, nobody really calls the police or the "barangay tanods" (town security) to knock on your neighbors door and tell them that they're making too much noise and that it pisses you! It'll be far complicated when you do that, unless you're moving to another town the next day.

BUT, in everyday ... it somehow works. Our patience with our neighbors are enhanced, we do let it pass and NEVER count the times that we annoy each other. After all, we do have these kind of moments too, when we sing our hearts out and nobody bothers us, blasting music and all!

...Unlike when I stayed in Italy that I just left my light on one night and the old lady next to my apartment came by to discuss it with me ... in Italian! Which obviously leaves me doing huge amounts of hand/arm/feet gestures just to make my point ... uhmm, can I call a friend? like it's the Million Dollar round already!

hmmnn...WELL, neighbors. We all have them, far and near. We cannot actually choose our neighbors can we? ... I've had sooo many neighbors in my life ... and here in my country, we treat our neighbors like extensions of our family, we love and hate them but we try to live with them...as "peacefully and harmoniuosly" as possible ... though, yeah I mind those high-pitch songs that sounded like galvanized roofing being ripped apart!!! ugh... I'll deal.

yes... I'll deal. Don't worry.

IN-LAWS: how to deal???

Happy times are here, I hope it stays. I haven't got so many things to worry about except that we're running out of toothpaste and we have to remember to buy now 'cuz tomorrow it'll all be gone and eeoww. Really, we must not forget today ... BUY TOOTHPASTE!

And now, I wanna share to you about the person who is very good with his in-laws ... yup, eyes rolling, goose bumping, jaw clenching in-laws ... But for my one true love, that is NO hassle. He is dear to my parents as much as they are dear to him ... aawww. I sometimes even wonder if I'm their "real", true-to-life daughter that they take his side when we have some rows! While I, could not imagine being left alone with his mom or will I be able to share a room with her for more than an hour ... I'm just too shy or just too worried to make mistakes in front of her... besides not being able to speak their hometowm dialect, my relationship with my in-laws are quite/slightly/gently doomed from the start... BUT surely, I' am working on understanding words and phrases, that I now could catch up with what they're saying ... I just couldn't speak it, not anytime soon! ... and when I practice, he hardly recognizes what I just said and laughs. poor you.

Language/Dialect barrier, how bad can it be? For relationships not to flourish? ... bad. You can't really build that much out of elaborate gestures and smiles all throughout what seems like a conversation. While my hubby speaks mine since he studied in the city I lived in and though I understand some, I never could speak other dialects except my own ...

TRIVIA: In my province, Albay (popular for the Mt. Mayon) travel 15 mins. to another town and you will already be greeted with a different dialect! ... Travel 15 minutes more and another dialect ... the farther you travel, the more dialects you'll encounter.

AND so that is not easy. It's just not an excuse for not bonding well with my in-laws, it really is not easy. (believe me.) I swear!

The point is: Some people are just good with people and some people are like me, who needs more time to relax and be at ease with her surroundings, to sort through her brain some possible topics that one could discuss with in-laws and hopefully they elaborate in answering to avoid that awkward silence. You can never guess how jealous I am of people who can instantly be cool and get on with a conversation with someone they just met! Like, where do you get that??? What do you say? ... It's also a part of our culture that you can never be in a room with someone and say nothing. You can say "kumusta po?" ... (how do you do?/how are you?) then ask about occupation, school, kids, address, home province ... while nodding and smiling a lot ... and then try to make a connection between the things he/she said and yours. viola! is that it??? Are those the things you say even to in-laws? Because I can definitely deal doing that. Maybe with the same confidence as in meeting a new friend ... I'm brilliant with new friends and my old friends.

AND my parents, oh! they are the greatest, they welcomed our husbands into their home like their own sons. Even introduced my hubby to some friends and cousins over lunch last Saturday as being kind and devoted. *blush**blush* (I'm the proud owner!)

If only my in-laws could say the same about me...

See you at Bloglovin!

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P.S. not found? click on the widget on the right with the blinking Eiffel Tower. c ya!

here fishy fishy!

'


We spent this day at the Manila Ocean Park with the parents. We took them to see the Oceanarium. You know how back in the day that we don't have these things that's why we had so much fun watching fishes (we've never seen before) swim around, especially loving the sting rays because they swim very gracefully and has a "smiley face" when seen from the bottom. (see photo.) ^-^

The Manila Ocean Park, pay only Php 400 entrance for Adults. Important Rule: NO FLASH when taking photos (flash does stress the fishes). Take your time in viewing the aquariums, read and listen to introductions and information (if you're not too busy taking photos!) and Have FUN!

HE talked to me.

Just as I was having all these wondering about LIFE. I had a revelation today (if you call it that) while my mom had to literally drag me to church ... I know, I sound like a toddler for not liking to sit still for long and listening to long monotonous sermon! BUT as always I tend to surprise myself each time I make this kind of statement ... I was listening attentively and was singing hymns ... Well, that tells me something ... I'm back ... I should be. After listening to the reading and the verses that speaks about death and life and a girl who had bleeding problems and was cured when she touched Jesus' garment, hah! if that isn't an outright message to me, I don't know what is! Yeah, I really think the message was linked to my "stupid" human idea of I'm smarter than what I'm told. I know, there are plenty people inside the church, it was packed that people are standing on the aisles (as in every mass!) I just wonder how can the world be so cruel when the churches are filled with churchgoers every Sunday! I just wish people will do more good after being immersed in the place of worship. Well ... yeah that many people BUT I really, really know in my heart that the message was for me. Personally delivered by God to my tainted heart and withering soul! It was a message for me as it starts with the book of Wisdom, talking about death, that death is not from God but is overcomed by God when He resurrected ... you see? there is HOPE! haha ... just like what I wrote in my previous blog ... I wanna know HOPE. AND there it is, through the words in my Sunday mass. How brilliant was the explanation that it felt personal. Like it was intended for me and how accurate the message were.

Imagine, my recent visits to the Doctor are brought about my "bleeding" condition and that I was already subjected to get a D&C, so as to get tissue samples for biopsy. Twice that the procedure had to be suspended due to some "causes" ... like the 1st one, I had caught the colds and cough, that the Doc hesitated to proceed with the D&C because I had "cough" infection and fever for 2 days... the second time I was already lying in the operating room, lab gown on and was being asked questions trying my hardest to recall my medical history ... when the resident Doc had known I had eaten breakfast, she said ... we can't proceed unless the anesthesiologist says it's OK because patients should not take anything by mouth 8 hrs. prior the surgery ... darn!!! I had eaten bread and drunk hot chocolate! ^-^ Well, I wasn't told to do so ... my Doc has memory problems and I know myself too well to forget things like that! My husband was sooo mad that we decided to consult a new Doctor!!! The next day was Sunday and that's when we went to mass ... the reading was about a 12 yr. old girl who has "bleeding" problems and was healed by her faith. Coincidence??? Well, what a good coincidence that the reading at Church has answers for my doubts and medical condition! weird and amazing. "Now you see." mom said.

It's pretty awesome how God talks. How I feel small and "stupid" for ever doubting and letting the thoughts of death be painful. I know it is painful ... for our mere human understanding, it is painful ... it is unimaginable pain ... but HEAVEN is a promise by God. Who am I to challenge that?

I love you Dad!

A Greek short film

...and I just said to myself while a friend of mine posted this on her facebook that I wont get carried away by another "emotional" video, that none of these things will ever make me cry at all, after seeing so many of these, I just refuse to be a crying mess! BUT as usual ... whenever I gear myself on something too much ... I'm a wreck. I guess I haven't learned how to stop myself each time!!! This film is short yet has struck a string into my soul that resonates guilt and shame. I'm probably not alone in this feeling, that sometimes we are too impatient for the elders and our parents that we never realize what it was like when we were small and they had to teach us almost all things we know. Imagine how they had to clothe, feed and hold us so we'll never fall while learning how to walk. 'Just the same, when our parents are too old to be feeding by themselves, to be clothing by themselves and to be walking by themselves, it's time for us kids to be there for them because they were never too busy to do it while we were needing them.

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Anyway, it's a good cry, not a cry of loneliness but a cry of times that I wish I could spend more with dad. But as you know, we live far and now that mom and my brother is here ... I'm so guilty I'm making him spend Father's Day without us! But I'm sure my sister and her family will spend this day with him ... Happy Father's Day Dadi!!! I love you, I always say I do with the hugest hug in the world and the loudest kiss!!!

You know, it's not hard to be communicating all these thoughts of love with my dad on this very special day anymore because he is 60 years old and uses a cellphone! I think every dad now has a cellphone, so why not just call or send over a text message or with a picture message that says: Happy Father's Day! That's what I'm going to do ... when I'M DONE WRITING MY BLOG. haha...

Well, my dad Jose ... 'always the strongest, tallest, bravest person I know in the world. He used to carry both me and my sister in his arms and swirl us around the room while mom laughs and cheers. That's when we were kids, small and needing protection, small and believing in super heroes! When my brother came, he was a proud dad. My brother is named after him, Joseph. They would spend every Sunday together going out to play, buying comic books and ice cream. They call it: "Bunso Day" which means dad's day for the youngest one in the family who is my brother. Dad never gets mad, he's a man of few words, he was quiet and patient. When he says he'd be there, he'd be there on time! ... so NO excuses that the "dance" didn't finish on time ... haha, yeah, he'd pick me up from my High School Dance or parties, or the beach -- I'm like the girl who's always had dad and mom on the wing... ^^

My dad, most of the time just loves cleaning up his things and stuff in the garage. He spends most of his hours tinkering on cars, he loves cars! That's what he's good at, cars! Our family car is always on tip-top shape, that he's got many people wanting their cars fixed and tuned up by him, it had become a business at some point, that we had sold car parts and supplies that put us through school. Now dad is I guess, retired from doing that business ... it just slowed down for him when BIG car companies started putting up huge car supplies and dealership that had put him and other small players well "out-of-business." BUT, his love for cars and collecting rare parts didn't fizzle, he still spends time scrubbing, cleaning and restoring things, like any other collectors do. That's my dad's thing. If other dads got fishing and golf, my dad has 'car parts' thing goin' on!

I think good dads deserve as much shown love like we show mom.

... I love my dadi, he's forever be my number 1 guy (husband wouldn't mind!) ...

Happy Father's Day!

of mothers,brothers and daughters

Sleep was tooo bad but it was because I got pretty excited my mom and brother is coming over to visit. So we spent the night, tidying up our place, skewing and moving about furnitures to see if the place would get any larger (?!) But nah! urban-apartment living can't get any better ... (yeah, in-a-bad-way.) Space is just too precious around here, that I haven't seen too many places with large rooms, except maybe if you live around those expensive villages with security, or Condos that cost millions, yeah ... you'll get your space! But for us, as typical-hard-working members of society, who had happen to live in the province all our lives until work ... WE get this place. Where one could see the whole house by just standing at the door step. ^^ Anyway, for starters, this is OK. It's accessible to the office, grocery, church, hospital, parks, museums. YES, getting a place like this with all the amenities close by is tough, so we stick around though we are lacking room for my closet alone!


Anyway, that's not really why I'm here. I know I haven't written anything for 2 days ...'been very, very busy at work, 'been sick all the time and had lots of stresses lately. BUT, here I am alive and will sort things through. promise. I wont be hiding away from the world and not communicating, especially with my Doctor who had to see me for my test results, but I did not make it because we were rushing on things at work that I had to work overtime while having the flu. aaarrrggghhh....

Beautiful just beautiful how my world is just so crowded right now, with lots of things going on that I'm starting to feel tired and crumbling inside. and I just wonder what more for others who have worse? ... how do you deal when your body is your enemy?! There is no escape...

Well for that, when you can't seem to get away ... we have mothers and brothers who'd make you realize that you still belong. That besides having a life of your own and the love of your own, after leaving the house and tried finding yourself, YOU will only realize that finding yourself is better when you have your ground.

That yes, I was like the others who wanted to go as far from home as possible to be my own person. BUT lately ... at 28 ( too soon?) I realize that I'm becoming more and more of the person that my "mother" is!!! ... the way I talk, the way I run my marriage ... (hehe), the way I act on certain things kinda resembles my mother, even at times that I hated to react on it that way! I am going to be like my mother (I figured.) 'tried to deny it for sooo many years that I will NOT be like her (on some things) BUT I am becoming ... HER.

Will I ever avoid it? avoid it, YES. Stopping it? NO. I think it will go on and on in the family, for as long as there are women in the family, YES! haha. I think my sister does too ...'think that she has some characters instilled in her by growing up in the same house and having the same values, she too will have our mother's character in some ways ... BUT I think she's a subtle version of her, she's got all the good side ... of being nurturing and loving, of being smart and confident. While I ... I don't know exactly what I got but my husband does tell me ...

-"you are sounding like your mother each time ..." (yikes! haha)

-"Oh, I'll tell her you said that" and he's like,

- "why? what's wrong with sounding like your mother?"

... haha, Oh, I know what he means by that! BUT, mothers ... I appreciate them more now that I find myself being at the place where I want to be (working my way into the BIG city), now that I spend my own cash and buying toiletries, kitchen and "carpentry" stuff ... all the none "glamorous" plumbing stuff, that only mothers wouldn't mind shopping for... I appreciate them more now that I live away from our family house that I just miss home cooking ... err ... wait, my dad cooks! He does the cooking all the time!!! (because he cooks better!) haha ... and now that home cooking means "my" cooking, it's not the same. Home cooking is always the best, because I get fed without having to worry how it happened!

hmmnnn... mother.... i cannot thank you enough! So, where does the brother come in this tale? Well, brothers are like brothers ... they just come and eat and play and do housework. I'm close with my brother, he's like the male version of me ... only that, he's more... cool and relaxed. I watched him grow, he's just a baby in 1986 and now he's 6 ft. 1 inch tall, and trying to find his way into this world... finishing University and looking for a job ... well, I hope he finds it easy ...I hope the world wont be as bad as I know it is for some, I hope he gets his goals right ... because he loses focus at times ...'spending lots of nights with the boys out and that's what he's gotta learn how to control ... his time! Well, I'm sure he'll figure things out and I'm sure he's gonna be OK as life goes. He deserves good stuff 'cuz he's a nice guy.

Wrapping things up! I'm glad they are here, because when I get exhausted with life, I can be just a daughter taking orders from my mother like the way it's supposed to, even if it's my house our culture says that whoever is the oldest person in the house rules!!! so ... i'm chilli'n, i'm just a daughter and my husband is just a son, we are all kids in this house as long as there's a mother!

we are all somebody's child for life afterall.

of childhood and gloomy weathers and CURTAINS, finally!

I said I'd write about India but this super gloomy weather is not making my creative writing juices flow. tsk. I nearly missed my stop on my way to work because I had dozed off. But not to worry, I will still be writing about it as soon as I snap back into the real world ... (e.g. when I'm not staring at the monitor for too long that my eyes can't back away until I already feel half dreaming and making conversations in my head.)

This day, well reminds me of my childhood when we'd make paper boats to float on the puddle that the rain makes, by the old love songs on the radio that we tune in to, while we were young and the stations weren't transmitting very well that it make noises and squeaks when you try adjusting the knobs. Rain and gloomy weathers, remind me of my sister when we would hide underneath a blanket scared of the thunder. While mom prepares rice, noodle soup and dried salted fish. yum. It's a must when the weather is cold to have "tuyo" (dried salted fish), best with sliced tomatoes, salted egg and sardines too!!! oohh! This cold weather is making me hungry!!!

(EY! that was fast, I now got a noodle soup on my desk ... Beef Wanton Soup with siomai! wow. I soo love it, it's warm and spicy and the noodles are perfect. Thanks hubs! I guess I was thinking out loud again! ^-^)

Well, for sure summer is gone now. From all these global warming mess, our summer was cut short that I have been to the beach, only once... ooonly once! How sad. 'could've gone a whole week if I'd known summer will be out by June. tsk. I really don't like rain, but I like drizzles and the cold wind. It's doing us a favor for not having 'airconditioning' at home, that it makes our house cooler than it normally is, while saving up on energy bill. By the way, we got curtains now ... haha ... our own fancy curtains! well, we have "old" ones, 'you know when you just got married ... almost all of your stuff comes from "charity" and each others homes ... so buying just mere curtains is BIG deal. It's our first REAL, lovely curtains ... soft, silky and expensive. We love it ... er... i love it!!! My husband thinks it's not the color he thought I'd choose, he thought I'd pick Blue but hey! I picked a red and white striped, mustard color curtain that has metal rings. Lovely while it hanged at the mall with all the spotlights goi'n, I just had to pick that one. And so I did and couldn't wait for it to get installed that we were drilling in the screws for the curtain rods at the wee hours of the evening... of course I got curtain rods, had to buy it too! Metal but finished in light wood pattern. Perfect!

We only did one window though, because for some reason the one that's near the headboard won't fit my other curtain rod, wont fit like it's SHORT! darn! short. The holes were already there on the walls ready for the rods when we got the apartment, but how come the gap in between the two holes on this side is wider than the other!!! grrr ... I insisted the whole look to be done that night that we spent hours more on trying to make extensions for the rod!!! grr... didn't work. We'll have to try again this weekend. So there, every morning ... I admire our one window with the lovely curtain. How it looks so smooth and expensive. That I wondered if celebrities got one like ours ... because I'd probably wont be buying again anytime soon! So, this had to be something ... (*convincing myself*) really special.

I'm chuckling! ^-^

just be worry free for a day!

Back from the not-responsible for any actions world!haha... that was sooo fun to be like kids again. When you don't have to worry about anything but the time when to get fed again and play! We spent Saturday and Sunday at a friend's vacation house in "Cavite" ... haha NOT in Laguna, we got confused with the location since the name of the place is also Sta. Rosa ... most popular in Laguna, but there is a Sta. Rosa in Cavite and that's where we stayed overnight for a "slumber party" ... only that, there were NO slumberi'n that took place! We climbed up to bed when there was already sun! Exhausted but happy from a karaoke marathon!

Though I was already slumping and sliding off my seat realizing that I'm not good as a night-person that I was before, I still knew I was having fun! haha... I couldn't keep my eyes open and when I get my consciousness back ... I'd start singing again! Funny what karaoke does, it makes me belt out songs that were all cheesy and wouldn't even find in my player but was karaoke worthy, and it's always those songs you know the lyrics to but don't know why you knew them, or how come you know them because you think they're not cool! hehe

Anyway, before spending the ... dawn away! We went to Paseo de Sta. Rosa in Laguna, you see? the Sta. Rosa place we thought we'd be was kinda near where we stayed minus the weekend traffic! It's a place of cozy Spanish Architecture, Live Music, Coffee and Outlet Stores ... and Outlet Stores! ... and Outlet Stores! haha It was love at first sight! ... We took fun photos amidst the curious faces of the passersby, because my friend Liza, is all out in posing for the camera, she's always been the fun and whatever-she-likes-to-wear or do or say person. Kinda like the Phoebe character in Friends. Then we had Frappucinos and chatted with another friend of ours who live 15 minutes away from Paseo. Lucky guy! No wonder he has all these cool, signature stuff, he's got access!haha ... oh he'd kill me when he finds out I said that! But he likes to shop for these fine things, which I ... find really hard to match! He's a good friend but when it comes to shopping, leave me outside 'cuz I'm not loving anything with a tag that's not loving me!

But this time, he didn't do shopping, in fact none of us shopped! 'Guess we had talked and laughed for too long that the stores started to closing and we're left standing right in the middle of the shops not knowing where to go next. Good thing there was a band playing, and we opted to watch and entertain ourselves with lively, dance music! There was a box of pizza that came by... too trivial to notice, if it wasn't huge as a table at 36 inches round! wow. Now, that's a party pizza! It wasn't even a pizza, it's PIZZA! My eyes followed it to the parking lot, thinking that it can feed me for a week if it's mine! Then went back to dancing.

We bid goodbye to our friend and "see ya on 'monday!" haha yeah, we see each other everyday at work and we're friends and one is my husband ... we are that in touch with each other that we still had to spend hours talking like we've never seen each other for a long time! *friends* it doesn't matter what day or time it is for a good company!

So we went back to the house, did the setting up of the Karaoke, plugged each cable right and then the singing began! ... until that first paragraph I wrote.

THE NEXT DAY. The sun was shining happily, the wind was cool and we all had a nice, little sleep. Breakfast was ready when we came down ... (ain't that grand?! ) hotdogs, dried squid, danggit (small dried fish), bread and fried rice. yum! The plan for the day was to go at a Theme Park. Remember? my Carousel ride?! and all those none life-threatening rides?! hehe ... We did all that at the Enchanted Kingdom, when we arrived at around 12 noon. The sun was "scorching" but we didn't care ... it's supposed to be that way when the fun is outdoors! So, better to have sunblock on! We rode the Ferris Wheel, which I haven't been on one since I was 7! Then the Log Jam, where we got a bit wet ... the drop was SICK!!! Then we had a few other rides including the taadaa! Carousel! ooohhhh... sooo friendly that ride! ... And to finish our day at the Enchanted, we rode the Rapids ... the river that gets violent every now and then with water falls here and there ... and you're all strapped to your seats and of course screaming with excitement for who's gonna get wet the most! haha ... my poor husband did! He was seated where the most turn went for the big splash! oh! he was drenched! haha ... haha... haha... Me too, I got the waterfall "pouring" down on me! We were all wet but one, she came prepared with all her outfits, including the one she'd wear after the drenching, but alas! she didn't got that wet! Unlike us, we got really soaked but had only shirts to change to ... and had to wear the pants and shorts we had on yesterday...sshh!

Then it was all of a sudden. NIGHT. Time really flies when you're having FUN.

FUN.FUN.FUN it was but have to go. It's really great to have a day out with no worries! To be like we were before bills and other grown up responsibilities! To unwind and take a moment to be happy with yourself and friends. To be sooo tired out of fun doing happy things and sleep soundly after! It's amazing to wake up and had that rest. Amazing to have seen a different and new place. It's good to be out there and see what the world is like while you were at work! haha...

...Thanks guys! Well 'Looking forward to the next getaway!

when do i get to write this stuff?

uhmm... in between laundry, watching boxing on TV, facebook-ing (tending to my pet Badgley, on Pet Society), giving out "reminders" for my husband to go buy bottled water 'coz the delivery guy didn't show up yesterday ... water? yes! nobody I know drinks tap water here anymore, there are water purifying stations everywhere, that'll deliver you purified, oxidized ... whatever to make your drinking water safe.

... and there he is, my husband with our purified, drinking water... wait! my laundry just stopped spinning.

Anyway, I had to cut-off writing and finish today, Monday before I start working at the office.

Well... what I'm up to is that I'm sooo obsessed with the song "Lucky" by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat... I don't know if Jason Mraz is a big hit to you guys, but I like his songs... easy to the ears, besides Metallica he's one of my favorites ... uhmmm... my ears seem to tolerate the softest, mellowest to the loudest and baddest sounds there is, so no problem switching in between Metallica and Jason Mraz ... is he a hit? 'coz he's not going around hollywood like John Mayer does, who dates a lot of hollywood ladies ... yes! we heard about them here, all of them ... in fact Hollywood is sooo big here that if you're an actor and you thought to yourself you're BIG, you have to make it here too 'coz we support Hollywood Movies more than any other english-speaking country.Though I, personally have a thing for French short films, subtitles included of course! Hollywood will always have a grip on me that I couldn't resist watching E! and Daily 10! That I loved fashion on the red carpet, hot celebrity couples and who's adopting next?! ... There's such a fuzz over adopting kids in Hollywood right now ... How I wish Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie would one day be in Mindanao and adopt a poor, orphaned Filipino kid ... I mean it in a good way, not for publicity! But I sincerely believe that these Hollywood figures wanting to adopt has good intentions in providing a good life to these kids, though character and care may be in question that besides the material things they could obviously provide, these kids need a real family. Don't worry kids we may not be in Hollywood, but if I get rich and we still don't have a family by 10 years we will adopt and raise as much as we can! ... AND we will all love you!

well... time to go and work for those future kids! ciao!

"lucky to be inlove with my bestfriend ...oohhwoohohhh" ... aaarrgghhh... that song!

Wanting One of Our Own

husband and not our kid, =P

Today, I'm done with my old project, the construction is well underway, we were sent photos of the progress on site and by the looks of it ... it looks fine, everything seems to be flawless, how come when you're behind the scene you see all these flaws, as if things will never ever be put together, all the mails and questions and drawings sent back and forth, mayhem!!! Just mayhem. But when you see the progress photos and how the skyscraper is beginning to take its form, you see tranquility and beauty, as it stands tall and still, like a giant gem reaching for the sky!

aahh... the perfect words to describe the love for what I do. But LOVE + MONEY is better love though!

And as I write, options are popping in my head that I want to grab my husband and shake him off from sleep!

"Yes, I want to work outside the country for better pay!" That is now my answer. Though his question came way earlier today, that he pointed out his reasons and how it'll make things better for us and our "plan" to have a baby soon. We're hoping to save and invest and come home to a more comfortable life. Though our life now is as comfortable as we wanted it, we wanted to move on to the next phase, which is "making a family" and that! at these times, is not easy. We may be comfortable, being just the two of us, we may be happy by just being the two of us ... but you know, we wanted "offsprings" haha, those bundle of joys! Those little ones who celebrate birthdays that you'd bake cakes for. Those that you send to school and teach homework to... and those who makes you cringe by growing up so fast and now thinks on their own, they don't want to be dressed by you anymore! ... hmmn... will this go ugly if I continue? haha ... KIDS. We want 'em no matter what.

And so that thought of a better life (fast forward) in a greener pasture while were still young is OK. I think there's a lot more out there for us, if we step outside our comfort zones. If we try to look farther than what is being put in front of us and think not only for ourselves but for the future. We want a family and if we are moving slow, how far long should we wait to start one?

Home for a Week!

After days and days of nadaaa, I'm back in the cyberworld. As I have completely disconnected myself from the world outside Bicol (my hometown) I didn't even use my cellphone to contact anyone too! haha... no wonder if I'll get "who are you?" looks when I'm back to meet my friends at work! =P

Well, there were two days squeezed in between 3 holidays, so me and my husband filed a leave of absence for those 2 days and was gone for a full WEEK!!! (how fun is that?!) So, WE went home to my province went to the beach, ate out, joked around, grilled some fish, planned an extension room at my parents house, played with my niece and ate, a lot!!! Now I have to go to the gym and work it out seriously!!! But I could never realize that while at home, my mom and dad would never tell me anything about weight, they always think that I'm way too thin and keeps feeding me loads of delicious food to put on some pounds! tsk.tsk.

Anyway, it was great fun to go on a feeding frenzy with my 6 feet 1 inch tall of a brother and a very pregnant sister whom I'd leave very disappointed if I went out there only to eat like a bird! I was very happy to be there. I was well reminded of the good, old days when I was still in school, still living with my parents, everything seems easy ... well, I can always come home whenever I can, right? I get the best of both worlds ... as my 3 year old niece would say in a Miley Cyrus way. Yeah, the best of both worlds ... The BIG City with my career and ambitions and The Good Old Town where my heart and home is.

'Can't wait till it's Christmas!!!

of bags and birthdays

Every girl should have a RED bag, it's flattering and an instant "pick-me up" color. It goes with anything too ... uhmmm yeah maybe not especially with purple! I don't know maybe for some it works but for me ... it's not an easy match. Anyway, I got this RED bag at my favorite mall, ST. Francis Square, which offers loads of great buys plus you can still haggle for the prices to go way down a bit more! yup! surprising isn't it? Well, they are usually direct suppliers which is great, they have their own products to showcase and I have a favorite store called Charice that makes their own clothing line, they can even customize a design to fit your size perfectly! Besides that, they also do imports from Hong Kong and Bangkok which is great 'coz I've always considered Bangkok a shopping paradise! Good quality at a great price! In fact, I still have this pair of khaki pants that's still looking new, after 4 years! hmmnn ... it could also be the detergent I'm using, but khaki pants are hard to maintain especially when you got a color that you don't ever wanna wore out! Like a perfect brown-beige that might easily fade by frequent washing... aahhh the joys of Chatuchak (night-market in Thailand).

SO, anyway... 'love this RED bag that's got pockets and room for all my stuff. 'Love the fact that it can also be a sling bag 'cuz it's got another strap that you can easily clip on to the sides ... great buy at 200 pesos! WHAAAATTTT???! 200 PESOS? yes, that is like 4. 16 in US dollars... I know. I know it's a steal!!! haha ... but what can I do? I've mastered the art of haggling!!! hehe ... of course they wouldn't give it away if they don't have something for it so trust me, don't feel guilty!!! ^-^

AND ... besides the fabulous find, I have a day to share with you. It was yesterday when my hubby decided to celebrate his birthday though his birthday was last March 20, he decided that we could have a lunch party in the office on April 3 ... aahhh you know the story, we were broke last month for his birthday that we only spent a dinner of soup and pasta with two of our best friends. BUT as you know, birthdays are ought to be celebrated! It's the wonder of life that we ought to celebrate each birthday, a blessing, a gift. So yeah, we had food brought in to the office c/o an officemate that has a catering business ... SUPERB food, the chicken barbecue with sauce is the best ever!!! Also the Pancit Malabon which is a recipe of noodle, seafood and veggies! yumyum! and for dessert ... we had Buko Pandan ... a green gelatin of Pandan leaves and shreds of young coconut meat. yummy! We were all stuffed and happy!

* To my husband, Happy 29th birthday! I wish you good health and wonderful things! Thanks for being a blessing to me.* kisses*kisses* MJ

Earth Hour: World Record: Philippines

What a great news! For an environment-saving cause, we got the world record for participating the most in switching off our lights in response to the call for an hour of energy saving.

Well, if we at home had to do it, maybe it was big deal, maybe it was indeed on to set a record! As for me, I just thought it's an event that I wouldn't miss or like a birthday that I had to text my friends about to remind them that it's time to turn their lights off with a smiley in the end. Only to get a response from one of them that they already had their lights off and that my watch is like 50 seconds late!!! ^0^

And so it was an event that we had known from friends of friends, from concerts held using solar panels for energy, shirts printed and worn around by anyone, billboards everywhere, TV ads ... even church bells were rang! So, the intention was there, and ... though I noticed from the next door that they had switched off their lights early thus turning it on early too ... that I being soooo observant and excited about this whole lights-off thing whispered to my husband that they were Earth Hour-ing at the wrong hour! tsk.tsk. hehe (i was just making him laugh...)

Anyway, this is a moment of unexpected pride! We hope that more and more people will consider it as an event like New Years or something ... an hour wouldn't hurt anyway if given for the environment.