age are just numbers

Helen Sue turns 26
Liza is 31,Che is 30
Marc is 29, Giselle is 32
Shann is 31
Angel is 23, Fame is 37!

Helen Sue is a friend who's celebrating her birthday today, turning 26. When I asked her how she feels about being 26, she shrugged and said "I feel so old" haha ... she feels old at 26, that makes me feel heck a lot more older being 28! aarrgghhh... Anyway, she looked great in a Chinese inspired print of cherry blossoms dress shirt paired with a pencil cut skirt. It's her birthday she has to look good!

Well ... if it's just age and numbers were talking about, I know some people who seem to have defied aging. Yup, you heard me ... these people I know looks way younger than they actually are. I remember one time at Foxwoods in Connecticut, and were about to enter the Casino when the security approached us, asked for IDs and when we handed them our passports, he was like ... "1973! , 1977!, 1980?!" "does anyone age in your country?" whoa! flattering! really. but why? how do you think 30-ish people should look like?!

Snapshots: New York

Traveling to New York was one of the best experiences I've ever had. I went there twice. It was easy for me to get there because I stayed in Connecticut that time. By train from Hartford, we arrived at the Grand Central Station and worked our way through the streets and subways.

The first time, we paid 19 dollars to go up the Empire State Building, where we had a fantastic view of the City. It was bad a idea though to go there at winter time though for us it was already considered spring but the weather was still oh so cold that we had to limit our time on the deck. We also went to see the Times Square, its Mc Donalds with its glittery lights, the Broadway ... we walked in at Bubba Gump for some seafood and just chilled until midnight.

The second time, the weather was a bit considerate though still cold. We went to see The Statue of Liberty, where we had to fall in line for like a mile!!! It's a great thing that we did buy our tickets online that way, we went straight to waiting for our turn for the ferry that will take us to the island than go for another line to buy tickets.

The ferry carried people of sorts, students on tour, foreigners, families, couples ... grannies and a whole lot others. We had hotdogs while on board. It was all sea water for a while that we saw... and then from afar, a view of the island and miss liberty with its arm up in the air like a wave... "HELLO MJ, WELCOME TO NEW YORK!" As our ferry grew closer and closer, I can't help but to take several shots and videos, I was super excited. The ferry docked and we walked from where the view is behind miss liberty. We walked and realized that we also have a wonderful view of Manhattan on our left, across the water. I took loads of pictures and videos to show my parents. I'm happy and goofy.

After liberty, we went to the famous parks, Battery and Central Park. Took loads of pictures, bought souvenirs, saw the St. Patricks Cathedral, and Trinity Church, rode the subway ... did some shopping and took loads and loads of pictures. Imagine the power of the digital camera, what if we were still using rolled films?!!!

What a great experience, New York that is. At night, we went to Bryant Park ... were hoping to catch celebrities ... but nah! I was too engrossed at how beautiful the Chrysler Building was and the Empire State at night. How I imagined the Twin Towers if it were still there... Have I mentioned that we are commisioned to do one building of the New World Trade Center on the same site? ... well, yes we are. And I'm so proud!!! It'll be a great honor and pride. Anyway, we walked saw that on Bryant Park, one of our building constructions were there, dropped by a few moments and wondered how come we still have some drawings in our hands when it seemed 80% complete? hmmnn... anyway again, I was there to see New York and not work. "I could live here, you know?" I said to myself. I could be working and living in one of those apartments. I swear I wished that to happen that night. Everything seemed perfect. It seems to be.

sick but not ...

I had not been feeling well yesterday that I went straight home from work, read a book and went to bed. My husband who's so worried wanted to take me to the hospital ... it was 10:30 in the evening. I myself was scared and not sure of how much blood I already lost though besides a headache, I wasn't feeling sick or dizzy. I just wanted to sleep and felt my body was tired. I'm bleeding...again. It's semi-normal to me that I bleed instead of a normal monthly period, that would last about a week, mine would last 2 to 3 weeks of beyond normal blood shedding! It scares me everytime ... every month. That whenever my period is here, I'm afraid that'll kill me! >.< Eversince I started having my period at 9, it had been this way. Much worse when I was in highschool when I had to receive several blood transfusions due to anemia. Odd enough to say but my condition is now deemed NORMAL. Yup, you heard me, this too happens to other millions of women out there who experiences excessive menstrual bleeding. Though of course I have to tell you some probable underlying causes that I had received treatments for way back when I was a teenager. I was given oral contraceptives (Trinordiol) and Provera to help balance my hormones, as I was diagnosed with Hormonal Imbalance... (that explains my mood swings, depressions, and major PMS-es! imagine that as a teenager!) my bleeding is regulated by Daflon and my blood supply is sustained by Iberet Active (Iron Supplement) and blood transfusions in worst cases! It's so much easier now to recount those facts than being in that situation at the time when I was an active student in highschool, I was in a Science-Oriented class with subjects for Advanced Science and Math, more like half College and half High School Curriculum (spell ..G-E-E-K ...), I did Arts, Music, Sports and Dance (spell ... uber G-E-E-K ...) imagine the inconvenience that my "illness" brought me! I was young and so not ready to die!!! I remember the time when I had been bleeding profiously that I was already having convulsions and was vomitting nothing but water, I was an emergency case, Doctors and Nurses surrounded me and did their best to keep me awake and stabilize my blood pressure as it had dropped dangerously low ... a near death experience? YES. I was just praying sooo hard... and was ... smiling ... smiling? Yeah, I knew I was smiling, I wasn't delirious! I knew I was smiling. I smiled in between barfs! I was smiling at my mom and my siblings who were there and was crying in a corner who thought they'd lose me that day as though it'll make them feel okay. My brain is too active watching the doctors and listening to what they were doing but my body was revolting, convulsing and I couldn't stop it from happening... I almost died if it wasn't for the blood that came from a volunteer who came to the hospital earlier that day when my mom had asked for help from our neighbors and from other towns for blood donors! The man is said to be a security officer who came from another town, donated his blood for me and took only the hard boiled egg that my mom prepared. Thank God for those kind of people!

I survived. Though I still have to endure what's said to be "normal" for me now. Normal, in a sense that my cycle is normal, though it's long and on the heavy-flow side I don't have to take medications for hormones anymore, that I don't have cysts that were visible after my period and that the doctors would tell me, "I am not sick, wait 'till she has a baby and then it'll wash off" ... hmmn ... I wonder when. My OB says, I should consult her when were ready to have a baby, probably for some tests and work ups if ever I get a hard time figuring out my cycle... hmmnn ... so, today after realizing my life ... I'm stronger. I'm not letting this get me down. My husband needs me and I don't want him worrying about me. We will see my OB on Saturday, who knows more than a check up we might consider consulting for a baby soon!

work and hair things.

'Never been so excited to be at work ... I know I sound like a total geek, but the thing is ... it's better than to come back from a vacation for nothing! People are losing jobs everywhere and I'm still lucky that my company is staying afloat amidst the global financial crisis! Oh I'm not the best person to discuss that but all I know is, I'm gald to be at work and there are projects for me to work on. So today, was pretty hectic, I know... it's hard to get back on track after having been away and was just eating and sleeping! So, it was a bit of a challenge for me to stay awake and focused. Though my lines and dimensions are still pretty straight and accurate, it's my butt that can't sit still!!! I've been going around so many, many times ... just walking past cubicles and looking around, spying on people if they're really as eager as me to be at work ... hmmnn ... probably just like me, glad to be back but not to eager to work. ssshhhh....

anyway, besides work, I cancelled an appointment with my hairstylist because I was running late from the office ... (you see I'm dedicated har.har.) When I got home I was pretty sure my bangs are long enough to affect my vision! I was whining at my husband for not being early that I could have catched my appointment. Seriously, the bangs had to be snipped!!! Funny but sure can do, my husband volunteered to do the snipping, "Honey, it's just the bangs! I'll do it!"

...Well, we go together for trims usually on the weekends, so he knows that I recently had my hair done, going in just for the bangs wouldn't be so practical ... BUT dont worry, I don't really trust him to do my hair, so I got the scissors and did it myself. Viola! bangs if bangs it is!!! It looked alright and saved me money. If you're wondering what it looks like, it's a full bangs ... Katy Perry style ... 50s style or something ... I don't know how close the look is but I like it!!! I'll have some photos up tomorrow! =P

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!!!

Snapshots: Lent

Here are photos of the life-sized images depicting Christ's Way of the Cross in Legazpi City, Albay that we saw on Lent. Some of these images are a CENTURY old but are constantly being restored and cared for, for the future generation as these are priceless antiques and heirlooms. They are presented to the public in a procession where it has become a tradition and a tourist attraction, but above all, may it be a reminder of Christ's love for mankind.

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