Backpacking

We'll be going to my hometown, Badian, without Mark after Christmas. We will stay there until New Year.

We'll be travelling by bus -- Librando fan kay silingan man namo. It'll be first time for Migi and Meg to be on a bus. I'm so excited to see their reaction. For sure, they'll love it.

I'm also excited to let them experience for a few days the childhood life I had which is just the best.

My problem is how to pack light. Just the thought of the feeding bottles... =(

teenage mother angst

burn out and suicidal -- my current state of mind.
* the tasks i dreaded and trying to get away from are thrown at me just days before christmas. perfect timing.
* my kids are over to the max hyperactive + hardheaded - perfect mother-killer combination. i'm sooo tempted to give them sleeping pills
* and, i can't start doing the new dreaded tasks assigned to me because my kids are all over me. (and, here i am multiplying)
* i feel so tired and worn out, i need some upper so i eat.
* eating to feel happy is bad because it makes me more obese.
* more obese = deeper depression
* two weeks enrolled to gym but only been there twice. big clap for my effort.
* major insensitive husband -- don't let me start on this.
* now, i don't know where to go,what to do. i'm like groping in the dark and i wish that i'd fall into a deep endless manhole.

i feel like getting so drunk and puking out my guts, then roll over my puke! it would definitely make me feel better.

(rose, stop it! think of those mothers alone taking care of their 8 kids in a row -- they survive! you're such a major whiner! no christmas presents for you!)

but let me be, i rarely complain! i'm crazy! owkeis, i'll think of mothers who have 12 kids in a row, alone taking of their kids plus household chores plus working out to bring food to their table! shame on me!

God, thank you for every thing but for now please let me whine!

My Thank-You's

As Christmas is just days away, I would like to say my big Thank You to Lord God for all the blessings and not so blessings He give to us.

1. Good health -- majorly, every one in my family is in good health, no major sciky problems.
2. Jobs and Opportunities -- I'm so blessed that after quitting from the 'corporate world,' He provided me with something I can earn from with the privilege of working at home near my kids. He also provided my husband jobs/projects where he truly enjoys doing.
3. Financial blessings -- enough to provide us with some luxuries -- like being able to eat out at Jollibee at least twice a month and being able to buy some toys.
4. Little troubles - that came our way which helps us to become a better person and have wider perspective of things.
5. Generous husband - he may not have a romantic side, he may be the most insensitive person in the world, he may not be the best father but definitely he has a very good heart not only for his family but for others as well.
6. My out-of-this-world KIAT babies - who keep me always biting my lips from frustrations and anger. They may not be Gerber babies or perfect little ones and sometimes they make me want to deposit them at DSWD but they never fail to melt my heart at the end of the day. God knows how to play tricks.
7. Friends - they may not have the most incredible fashion sense but definitely
8. Babysitters/Yayas -- the most underrated occupation. They may not be ala Von Trapp nanny but they have the biggest heart for my kids. Big enough to put up with me and Mark's childishness and immaturity and our kids' wickedness. They somehow have more patience for my kids than us.
9.

mastercard moment

I was 100% done with gift-buying. But, now I'm back to 95% because my kids opened some of the gifts and play with them. =( The thing is it's fun watching them enjoying the gifts not theirs. The look of their faces when they open the boxes is, as mastercard ad say, PRICELESS!

shopping is not for the weak

Shopping would be much EASIER if I do NOT need to look at the price tags!!! You know the feeling that you finally find the perfect item but when you turn the price tag and see that it costs your entire shopping budget, it's just so frustrating. Then, you'd turn and turn the price tag hoping that there is a 50% off printed somewhere on the tag, or you'd ask the sales staff if it this on sale but then no. You wish! Next thing is you'd try to look for something similar with lower price but unfortunately, either the most close to what you like has also a most close similar price to the original one or they come cheaper but they just do not have the 'feel' like of that of the original.

It kind of sucks when it's Christmas time and you're financially poor. You can do nothing but look for another item that would fit into your budget, but you will always have that nagging feeling of so-near-yet-so-far. It's like losing in a losing battle (does this make sense?)! That's why I hate shopping. It reminds me of how I and Gretchen Barreto are worlds apart!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, multipliers! I wish you get more than what is in your wish list.

Mugshot

I want to have this look in my ID picture -- so effortlessly chic. =) Di man layo sa tinood!

Janiz

My classmate from Kindergarten to Grade 6 back in Badian. My schoolmate from 1st year high school to 4th year college in UPCC. My laugh mate on our life's shallowness and stupidity. We drift apart from time to time, she changes boyfriends and I got married and have kids, we don't see each other that much or text often for updates but everytime we two get together, it always feels home.

Strange though how we became best of friends when I hated and still hate her guts so much! =)

Happy 25th Birthday, Janice Ann Casalme!!!

eeewww, tiguwang na ka. you no longer have the reason to be kiddoish! =)

A Whole New World

Last Friday, we went down to IT Park to see a friend. And, we're like 'wowwww!' We passed a lot of times on IT Park but I have not really looked at it closely. The place looks super sosyal -- it's just so not Cebu. I mean not the usual Cebu I know of. We feel so out of place. Everything there just looks so posh -- the people, the buildings with the restos, coffee shops, and whatnots. =) They say mura na daw Manila - well, I don't know, I've never been to the business district of Manila.

If Id' work there, feel nako mahurot ra ako sweldo kinaon sa mga kan-anan didto. =) Plus, people with cave-days fashion sense don't have a place there. Like me! =)

Lately, except for the Koreans, I noticed that local people are dressed up na jud. It's a good sign, I think. Though, I miss those days na mag laroy2x mi around Cebu, from Ayala (miss LFS) to Fuente to good old The Village (in IT park) in our slippers and ready-for-sleeping outfit and we'd never feel out of place. =) I think I'm stuck with the old Cebu. I need to move on -- move to the mountains! =)

Yakmo?

I noticed way before that Meg is medyo 'yakmoon' (upper teeth behind lower teeth). I already asked her pedia about it before, and she said that she's too young for us to tell that yakmo jud sya, and might be corrected over time. It's not really a suprise though because on my husband's side, it exists. But looking at this picture, yakmo jud sya tan-awon. I wanted it be corrected as early as possible. Braces? Yayy, stupid me.



She has a new hair. She looks weird in this picture, like some with a DS (God forbid! Ayaw tawon liwat sa mama).

Manong knows well...

Earlier this week, we got in a taxi and the driver has this ASEAN ID thingy hanging on his rear view mirror. We asked him how he got the ID. So he answered that he attended a seminar in TESDA, then he continued talking about how will the traffic go during ASEAN blahblah. Quite informative actually for someone like me who spends most of the time on celebrity websites. Then, he mentioned that no meetings will actually be held in CICC because the participants do not feel safe because it's newly built. All meetings will be done in Shangrila, Hilton, and Waterfront according to Manong. He said the CICC will be for the press people. Plus, he mentioned that not all head of countries will be here, only representatives. Well, what he said actually means sense but I did not take it seriously -- it can be all chismis. You know, CICC costs almost P800M as they said, and it's not going to be used this ASEAN summit? Oh well, as the saying goes, you need to spend to earn.

Anyhow, Manong's facts are all correct. An article in INQ7 Special Site confirms it. Lesson of the story, bilib jud ko ni Manong -- socially aware! =) Something Cebu can be proud of, we have well-informed taxi drivers.

toy$ r u$$$

I really fell in love the first time I saw this ZOOB toy at Play2Learn Ayala but that time I have no money so I was not able to buy one. The next time I went there with some money, the only available is the 35-piece set. Again, I came out of the shop empty-handed again. You know I'm a sucker for the biggest/largest/maniest size/pieces. =) My thinking is that the bigger the more practical.

The ZOOB functions like lego where kids can build something out of the pieces. My kids or I enjoy watching my kids enjoying playing with the building blocks, lego-like but another brand. From time to time, Migi would pick up some blocks (i don't know what's the right term) then after some time of connecting them, he'd then declare his creation as 'airplane' or 'bang2x' (two of his favorites to make or maybe they're the stuffs he's much acquainted at the moment) or sometimes 'truck' and just about any thing. Though they look far from an airplane or a gun or a truck but I can't help and get excited at the thought that my kid's imagination is working. Meg's favorite activity with the 'building blocks' is disconnecting the connected and putting them back again. Her favorite is putting together all the single-piece blocks which migi would just crash once on the floor -- poor meg.

That's why I fell in love with ZOOB because I think my kids would love it too. I happened to pass by their store again yesterday, and saw that they have the 125-piece set and 1 na lng jud ang stock, not really the biggest set. Actually, I was weighing between the ZOOB and Tonka truck because I read that the ZOOB is for kids age 6+ but I really really really like it and I don't want to pass the chance so I purchase it.

But after purchasing it, I feel like is it really worth it. It's price is P1,798.00, and for me any toy P500+ is already expensive. I think P1,798 for 125 pieces is too much and then mangawala ra. And, as the package says it's for kids age 6+ so I'm not sure if they'll really like this like they like the building blocks. So now, I'm still hiding the toy in the cabinet. hehheheh =) And, I feel stupid!

i wanna be gretchen barreto

before having babies, i had no fashion sense. now with kids, i still have no fashion sense plus i'm now the epitome of LOSYANG -- like mas japorms pa ang yaya sa akong mga babies. =) yes, i do get worried sometimes but what the heck there are no PTA meetings to attend yet. =) but all in all, i don't care. i'm dedma queen. what matters most is i know my self and i'm comfy with being losyang.

it's just funny though how some people would treat you base on your physical look. well, i can't blame them, if i'd be in their place and encounter some losyang, i might also act the same way they do. as they say if you want to be respected, you have to at least give an effort to look good also. usual case is when i and mark would go to the bank, the guards would usually greet mark but not me. this happens a lot of times.

funny incidents because of my losyang fashion sense plus tangaon look:

* one time in Landbank, i deposited my mother's pension check after cut-off time. the teller told me that she will not receive the check because it's after cut-off time already. in my mind, i was like whatttt??? ignorant-looking lang ko but i'm not ignorante. so i told her that this is the first time a check was refused just because it's after cut-off time. maybe she realized i'm not that stupid, she accepted the check and advice that i should have someone deposit the check so it'd deposited before cut-off time. hello? if naa lay lain modeposit, ngano mag hago2x man ko!!! ggrrrrr....

* i was looking on some sony digicams in ayala. then i asked the sales guy regarding payment modes. then he told me about 0% interest on credit cards blahblah. then he told me, you can ask a friend of yours who has a credit card to do the purchase for you then you just pay thru him. so i look like i can't afford a credit card?!? why? what does a person with a credit card look like? i don't qualify?

* another store in ayala, i asked if they have rechargeable batteries, so the sales guy pointed me to some brandless rechargeable batteries. so i asked him if they have other brands of rechargeable batteries, then he said yes then added, 'pero mahalon ra ba to.' huhhh??? i really look like i can't afford. =) funny funny. you just said goodbye to some sales.

* in sm groceries, it's my turn in the counter. i told the cashier that i'd be using the bpi debit card to pay. i dunno if this is their SOP but she asked me if she can check my account first so that we'll have no problems. weird because that was my first time i was asked sthing like that. owkeis, in short she wanted to make sure that i can pay. yayyy!!! di diay ko katoohan?

there were still other many instances... but the latest is today, in gaisano ayala. igloo is having a 50% discount promo so i grabbed the chance to buy a cooler. i'm the kind of person who chooses the biggest size because i feel it's more practical. so i asked the sales guy if he thinks the size i chose would fit in a car's trunk. he nodded then asked me, 'naa diay kay sakyanan, ma'am?' i did not bother answering him, and try to busy myself examining the cooler. then he ask the question again and again like 5 times until i said yes to shut him off. ataya sad oy, unsa man diay tan-aw nya nako. bisan poor karon ka-afford na tawn og car oy. i did not answer him directly because his question some kinda puzzled me and i find it funny. why did he ask that kind of question? is owning a car prerequisite to owning a cooler?!? and, do i look someone so dirt poor who can't even afford to pay a taxi for me and my cooler? =) i wanted so much to laugh out so loud at his face.

hayyy, i wanna be gretchen barreto -- fashion, beauty, power, and money. people will kiss my feet. i will walk on red carpet glittering with all the precious gems. and would say i'm fine being called prima donna because it means acting like a queen (she said sthing like this plus she mentioned she thought, before, primadonna is like madonna... whatever.). 

of cat bites, shots, and pedias

*part of migi's daily routine is going around the neighborhood in the morning. almost all our neighbors are my husband's close relatives. when they came home, her ate mona told me that migi was bitten by a cat, actually a kitten. the bite is not that major, not really deep but it left bite marks. it does not look that i need to be worried. owkei, 90% of me just want to just dismiss the incident but 10% of me can't help but worry and  think about rabies. mother's nature, i don't want to take chances so this afternoon we'll go the city as in cebu city. gawd, kalayo ba sad sa ilang pedia oy. hopefully, it's nothing bad. and, i'd stop googling for cat bites! i just don't like the google results i got -- they're not comforting.

*her ate mona is quite defensive about the incident but i never blamed her nor complained about it. accidents happen. i'm just grateful it's nothing really bad. if ever there is to blame, it should be me. if i don't want accidents to happen, then i should hover over my kid 24/7. and even if i do that, it's still not a guarantee that they'll be harm-free.

*meg also has a scheduled immunization shot so we'll be hitting 2 birds with 1 stone with our trip to the pedia later. she's scheduled for MMR or MRR (i dunno which is correct.). she still does not fully recovered yet from her colds but i'm still hoping the pedia will still give her the shot though please...

*by the way, our pedia's name is fortunato. does any body here also have her as their pedia or know her? we'd been with her for 2 years already. it's been 2 years but i never get so close or at least chika2x with her. every visit with her is like straight to the point -- i'll narrate my reason for being there, she'll examine the kids, little chitchat and off. it's because she's just got so many patients. but maybe because i'm not also the chika type kind of person. so many times i think of transferring to another pedia, someone near 'lacion and not so many patients. but i kind of feel secure with her and trust her with my kids so agwantahon na lang. 

*one thing that i don't like with neighborhood doctors is they prescribed a lot of medicines but when i get to my kids' pedia, she'll ask me to stop giving the meds prescribed by them because they're not really necessary. money waste on meds not used. see, i resorted to neighborhood pedias to save money (money on fares plus snacks), time and effort but i end up not really saving. plus our pedia has this no-antibiotic-as-much-as-possible motto so when they prescribed antibiotics for my kids, i can't help but question if the prescription is apt. see, pointless coz i'd end up going to fortunato for 2nd opinion. but in fairness, there are also reliable doctors in our area.

* true story though, migi's cousin was prescribed antibiotics by a neighborhood doctor because of fevers but actually there's no infection. instead she had baby measles which does not require any medicine after all. see, you can't blame me if i'm a bit skeptical.

*recently, i noticed that their pedia knows my kids' first names already. because when i only bring one of the kids, she'd ask, 'oh, where is your sister margaret or your kuya miguel?' she has that many patients. happy funny because at least now i know we exist somewhere in her memory. validated. how shallow me.

*and, speaking of anti-biotics. i hope migi will only be given anti-biotics. anti-rabies is expensive. P1500/shot, and i think there will be 5 shots. huhuhuhu... merry christmas! does anybody knew here where to buy cheaper anti-rabies vials?

before and now

I was going through some pictures I have on file. Sorting out which I could burn para ako pa-print. Believe me, we don't have an album. Album as in physical album, kanang album ibutang gali sa center table sa sofa. =) Anyhoo, I see migi and meg when they're months younger, and so many things changed just in span of months.


This is before. I think this was taken this April 2006. Yagit looking.


And, this is a recent picture of them. I feel they look so grown up in here already. Pwde na mag grade 1. More yagit looking.

Can they just be forever 1 year and 2 years old?!?

Snag-it

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Possibilities

Just for some conversation, I usually ask Mark 'what if we did not meet?,' 'what if there is no US?,' 'what if I'm the boy and he the girl, would we still choose each other?,' 'what if I get married to one of his male relatives instead?,' stuffs like that.

Mark's usual answers to first 2 question are:
1. I'll finish college and get into masters. (So I should be blamed for his being dropped out?!)
2. I can go abroad or any where I want. (He has a point though.)3. I'll have lots of girls. (Yeah, right!)4. I can do any thing without someone checking on me from time to time. (His main point is he can work all he want, and play all he want and does not need to go home.)5. I'll be rich. (Yeah, right. He only works his ass off and thinks of saving when he has kids already.)6. I'll never get married or have kids so early/soon. (hahahaha. trauma?)
I. I only have 1 answer. If I could not get a pinoy man as a boyfriend to marry me, I'd probably whore myself over the internet and get a foreigner guy. =)

My Little Playhouse

Mark once said to me that there's a new place for kids in SM beside ACE hardware. He described it as jungle2x place, and said I should bring the kids there because they're going to enjoy it. So when we get to visit SM, I was excited to bring the kids at this 'new jungle2x place.'

Why did I ever believe him?!? I know that I should never trust his judgment. So I was expecting jungle with stuffed animals, fake trees and such. But when we got to the place, there was no jungle. It's actually play houses, and it's not something new. Anyhow, the kids still enjoy it. Migi was crying and rolling on the floor when I said we need to go.

There's not much kids in there when we were there. Entrance is P40/40 minutes, so it's like P1/min. =)

CLOSEYS night-out 2

From the The Outpost, we went to Cebu Doc area to hunt for some internet cafe because we planned to have some conferencevoicechat with Tatz, but sadly gi-indian mi ni Tatz. No, Tatz had to attend to something.

After internetting, actually it was only Liyah nag internet, googling for her 'DOKI CRUSH' and also hunting him sa friendster, we decided to stop over at Bo's. Bo's has this new look now. I noticed almost all of the people there are studying. Why?! The 2nd sem has just started. Medical course must be real hard.

So we chitchat away until Bo's closed which is like 1AM. Huh!

Next month... =) When Tatz left, Liyah and I realized that we need to do this on a monthly basis before everybody is somewhere and unavailable for bonding.

ka-CLOSEYS scheduled night-out

Before Tatz went to Dubai, we promised to go out this Thanksgiving. We were planning to hit 'The Outpost.' So there we were last Thursday minus Tatz though but had Shyne instead.

We had nachos and chimichangas(sp?) for starters. Both are good, best I ever tasted though rarely I had the chance to eat these two. Then, we had baby back ribs (as the waitress said it's their bestseller), porkchop sthing, and fish called hemi-hemi(not sure). Fish is good. The ribs and porkchop is okay. They have this little green stuff peppered over the ribs and porkchop which made them have this taste like the godfather chops of Roma Pizza. But I love Roma Pizza so I like them also then. =) Then for dessert we had mango crepe and choco rum watever. All I can say is save the crepes for EastWest. The choco rum is something new to me. I can say is maybe we did not order the right desert(sp?). But all in all, it was a good experience.

I only got to take pictures of the desert(sp?). Obvious nga gigutom.

On our way out, we really wanted to pose sa entrance pa picture but their were a lot of people so we're kinda shy doing some posing. hahahah

Happy family

I got to chat with my workmate awhile ago as it was not a busy day. Maybe because it's desperas to Thanksgiving, everybody in US must be busy preparing for the event.

We chatted, and she shared her pictures posted in flickr. She's also a mother. Her baby is just 6-month old. She's from Argenitina. After watching her pictures, I told her she has such a beautiful family. I mean it literally and figuratively. They're like Barbie and Ken plus their beautiful daughter.

Then, after watching her pictures. I also shared with her my pictures posted here in multiply. She also said I have a beautiful family. Well, all family I believe is beautiful figuratively. And, that we look so happy. Happy? Yes, I know we're happy despite all the craziness that comes with having 2 kids just 1 year apart. But I'm just wondering what made her say that by just looking at the pictures. We're we all smiling on the pictures?!? Now just I realized that maybe because mostly the pictures posted there are like group pictures, family events, or friendship events. Mostly there are more than 3 persons in the pictures. Compared to the pictures she posted which mostly have a maximum of 3 persons = parents + baby. This is just my assumption, though.

I just noticed that most of the mother/baby blogs I read whose author are from other countries (yes, I used to follow a lot of mommy blogs), the pictures usually posted by mothers are of their baby/ies or their family. Pictures with extended family are not really rare but usually on special occasions or vacations they have. (not on a daliy basis unlike here)

I just then realized that it's a Pinoy culture that when there's a camera, everybody like swarm in front of it. (This is just my assumption, though.) It's also our culture to be together when there are events (and we have like many events) but I think because we have the time to slack, or we always find time to slack. Thus having more opportunities for group pictures that have more than 3 people in it.

Smile! =)

to my roommie

After reading rofie's post about his roommate leaving him. I can't help but be nostalgic. Tatzie, my roommate for 3 years back in college just left for Dubai.

The things I miss:

- locking our rooms and pigging out. yes, we're that bad.
- food hunting in the middle of the night
- purposely not waking her up early in the morning so she will be late to her 730am class. hahahha. i love it when she  found out she's going to be late
- talking about boys and boys
- bashing each other
- chismis, libak
- her excessive perfume waking me up early in the morning
- her kikayness level that i can't understand, and constantly criticize her about it
- boys
- talking and talking and talking until we dose of
- 'studying together but end up talking and talking and sleep

honasan's perfect timing

Honasan could be happiest with Pacman's victory. For sure, his issue is now forgotten. Somehow, Honasan could have planned to have his arrest to happen just before Pacman's game. Because he knows, Pacman will then be on the headlines until NEXT YEAR. Thus, burrying any issues about him 6 feet below the ground. =) Pinoys are all happy because of Pacman's great victory so more likely Honasan's case will be forgotten, and he will be forgiven.

Perfect timing! Let Honasan enjoy his time, while we endure watching Manny Pacquiao to be featured on all local TV shows until next year!!!

Congrats, Manny. Way to go, Honasan! =)

weekend dose and the O.C.

Thanks to torrent for some entertainment during weekends. My watchlist during weekends:
1. Everybody Hates Chris
2. CSI
These 2 are musts!

If I still feel like watching other stuffs, I go for:
3. the O.C.
4. Greys Anatomy
5. Numbers

So I watched the O.C. awhile ago, I forgot the episode title. But somehow the theme of the episode is 'Cheating' or something to that effect. Marissa got back with Luke, but she still makes sure to see Ryan to tell him that she and Luke are together again. Luke wanted to go homerun with Marissa but Marissa kind of not ready. She went to see Ryan but caught him doing the grandmother of Zach -- I assumed her reason for wanting to see Ryan is to have sex with him. Disappointed Marissa went ahead and had sex with Luke. Then, Ryan and Marissa together with other friends went to Mexico. Surprised Marissa caught Luke making out with another girl. So she overdosed herself. hahahah... Gawd, I love their storyline! It's like a confused teenager made it.

Zach's father (Sandy is the name?) accepted a new job and somehow flirted with his officemate which I assumed an ex of him. And Zach's mother helped this neighbor, who is going through a divorce, who was her ex also, and they kissed. This made me think, are all people in america divorced?

Also I noticed that there's always a party in every episode!!!

Do really american kids/teens/whatever watch this?!? Because sadly it's sad. Stupid me because I still watch it though not religiously (defensive). And, I'm actually looking forward to watch Laguna Beach, as they say the TRUE OC. =)

It Might Be You

Except for NANANANA and LALALALALA hymns/songs, I usually find myself singing or humming the following 2 songs in repeat shuffle until I or my kids finally landed the dreamland:

1. Our Father - I'm not sure why. It just comes out my mind. Maybe because it's one of the few songs I know the lyrics to. Or, maybe I'm silently praying that the kids will go to sleep ASAP so I can have ME time.
2. It Might Be You -- This one is odd because first I really don't like this song. I can't figure out why a lot of people love this song, and now I can't figure out why I'm humming it, and yes I find that somehow I know some of the lyrics, not perfect but it sounds right to me:

Time, I've been passing time watching trains go by
All of my life
Wondering where you are, and what makes you cry.
wishing there would be someone's waiting home for me
someone's telling me it might be you
yes, it's telling me it might be you

so many quite words to say
so many dreams to make
love is nanananananannana...

-------------------------
That's quite good 2 stanzas(?) of the song. Better google for the correct lyrics, if I can't sing it well, at least the lyrics is correct. =) My kids will never be American Idol/Pinoy Pop Superstar/Star In A Million material -- blame it on my crooked It Might Be You.

that unexpainable giddy feeling and starry eyes! the mushiness and all

I badly missed that kind of feeling.

* Imagine college/high school setting where you have this crush, and you constantly haunt/stalk for him inside and outside the campus, and you never get tired... 

* When  you can't help but become dumbfounded and you just want to hold on that moment replaying the scene in your mind again and again in different scenario, that feeling...

* the feeling that you feel like it's raining and you just want to curl in your bed and daydream...

* the feeling of becoming daydreamy when you heard a song that you sort of connected to him...

* and that freaky sweet tingling smile you have when you see him or when he pops up in your mind or just for no reason at all...

* that christmassy feeling -- it's cold but you feel good, calm and warm and just satisfied having him or still wishing for him...

* the i-wanna-hug-you-tight-but-can't-get-enough feeling.

I totally miss the feeling of having crushes like in college/highschool where you really have no chance of getting the guy but still you can't help but magpa-OGG (olipon sa gugmang giatay!).

How about you what feeling are you missing? hehehe...

i'm looking forward to...

* i'm currently waiting for the Globe DSL tech guy who called and said he's coming over here to fix our dsl. (thankfully our smart wifi/bro's working.) i need it fixed or else i can't work and we'll have training later. on other thought, at least i get to rest.

* i decided to go for Holiday Spa. Promised Monday or this weekend, I will go there to enrol. lazy lazy lazy me!

* tomorrow, we'll visit my special cousin, jonel, whom the last time i saw was on his birthday last May. Uncle's asking me to get pictures of him and send them to him via email. he badly misses Jonel. We'll probably bring Jonel a ball for a present.

* after Jonel, hopefully we still time have to go to Transcentral Highway. I haven't been there. I mean haven't been there when it's popularly called Transcentral Highway.

* Sunday is Cathy's (mark's cuzn) birthday. I'm hoping we'll have some event. i know already what to give her as a present -- 2 dozens of gonuts donuts. She's 8-week preggers, and she's craving for doughnuts! =)

* getting a new aircon. i CAN live without it. all my life, the only time i get to have some aircon is when i'm the office or i'm in a mall, in the car, or any place where there's an aircon. mark insists we NEED it for the kids to be comfortable. duh! he's just using the kids as excuse, he's the one who actually WANTS it. but really, our place has poor ventillation. it's like hot oven inside. electric bills demmit?!!!

* purchase more parols from merkado para ibitay sa amo balay. migi was throwing tantrums coz he wanted to play with the 'tar (star = parol).

for next week...

* i'll work on SSS, PAG-IBIG, PhilHealth. i'll see how to process them on my own. SSS -- if ever i get pregnant again, to get some loan, and when i get old - pension. PAG-IBIG for housing loan -- hopefully we can get our own house in the near future. Philhealth for our health, wa man seguro'y loan sa philhealth. =) bottom line - LOAN. 

* that DORA show in Ayala. I'm hoping to bring my kids and their cuzns to that show. Any idea how to avail of the tickets?

* i think ayala will have a weekend SALE. SM? i'm wishing i can go para tan-aw (tan-aw lng) for christmas presents. i'm thinking of having a BALL as theme of my christmas presents so i'll be giving away balls -- bouncing ball. as Barney said, 'Ball is the world's greatest toy!'

next next week...

* thanksgiving holiday! i don't celebrate it but it means no work for me for 2 days! liyah and I minus tatz will have a date.

always on my thought...

* migrating. i wanted to try applying for migration to see if we qualified. =) i'm thinking of Canada and NZ. but thinking of the papers/requirements to prepare, major DUH! i don't even have a TOR and diploma! and, i'm lazzyyyy!!! wa nako'y chance!

aha naman ang taga GLOBE?!? wa nako'y masuwat, wa japon sya naabot!

autograph

A to Z.

A- AVAILABLE?
- available but married

B - BEST SPORTs
- sleeping

C - CRUSH?
- matt damon

D - DOGS NAMES?
- tamtam

E - EASIEST PERSON(s) TO TALK TO?
- myself

F - FAVORITE COLOR(s)?
- orange, red

G - GUMMY BEARS OR GUMMY WORMS?
- worms

H- HOMETOWN?:
- badian, cebu

I - INSTRUMENTs?
- guitar -- i can play any song with DAGA chords

J - favorite JUICE?:
- is iced tea juice?

K. KIND OF MUSIC?
- r&b, hiphop

L- LONGEST CAR RIDE?
- banaue to laguna

M- MILK FLAVOR?
- chocolate milk

N- NUMBER OF SIBLINGS?
- none. how sad!

O- ONE WISH?
- my kids to be god-loving and smart ones

P - Phobia/Fears?:
-

Q- FAVORITE QUOTE?
- don't let the things you want make you

R- REASON TO SMILE?
- friends, family and ckret nlng

S - SONG YOU LAST HEARD?
- deal or no deal song? naa ba?

T- TIME YOU WOKE UP TODAY?
- 9am...

U - UNKNOWN FACTS ABOUT ME?
- i am serious...

V - VEGETABLE YOU DON'T LIKE?
- onions...

W - WORST HABIT?
- cramming...

X - X-RAYS YOU'VE HAD?
- for UP med check up

Y - YUMMY FOOD?
- chocolates...

Z - Zodiac sign?:
- taurus

My New Phone

(Yay, the image is so big!)

My 2-week old phone is busted -- my precious Nokia 1100.

After series of banging and throwing from migi and meg, my old reliable 3315 gave up on me. I was celphone-less for months because I tried to save some moolah for a Motorazr or any phone with a camera. Yes, call me pathetic but I wanted to be cool! Un/Fortunately, after 6 months of saving, I'm only able to afford Nokia 1100. Yeah, is it obvious I don't sound excited? =)

Anyhow, one morning, I woke up to Migi's voice from the bathroom saying Nanay (my mother) many times. I have the same celphone with my mother, maybe that was what Migi meant. When I get to him I saw him dipping my celphone into the pail with WATER! Waahhhh...

After drying the phone, wonderfully, it works! But when I tried to charge it yesterday, it did not charge!!!

It has a one-year warranty though. Will they still accept my phone back and give me something new in return like an orange flip Motorazr?!? Yeay, baratohon ako 1100 but still it's P2T+!!! Gggrrr...

God, please let them honor the warranty! I promise I'll be more grateful to have a cam-less phone!

after shift thoughts

• My sked right now is 12AM-9AM. As much as I wanted to go straight to dreamland as I get off, it's just too difficult. Lisod og tugpa!
• How to deal with an insensitive and asshole person especially when you're with him 24/7?!? Yes, I'm referring to my husband!
• After 2 kids, I/we realized we're not yet ready to become parents! I'm scared what will become of my kids. =(
• My new phone Nokia 1100, 2-week old, is broke. It won't charge.  I'm too lazy to go to SM to return my broken phone -- baratohon ra man gud. =) http://www.lanet.hr/images/artikli/NOKIA%25201100.jpg"

border="0">Hay, how I wish I can afford Motorazr. I saw one in orange!

That made me realized I need to buy a phone/handset with a MUTE function for my work.

My world is getting smaller. One of my friends who I get to see rarely will be leaving soon for Dubai.

GYM wanted... BADLY!!!

I'm no longer FAT! I'm OBESE!!! I'm too far away from my dream of having Nicole Richie's body. =(

I decided to really do something now (like this is the nth time decision)! I tried skipping meals and starve myself -- yeah, it worked for like 1-3 days. I tried South Beach diet but I get lost with their suggested menus -- it looks like only Sharon Cuneta, Korina Sanchez and the likes can afford it (yeah, excuses excuses!) I tried exercising -- in my dreams! So now for real, I'm going to go to the gym. Right now, my only 'practical' choice is Holiday Spa for following reasons:
1. Mark is there. I might as well join him.
2. It's somehow the closest to where we live -- 'Lacion. But still, I feel like my travel time will take longer than my gym time.
3. There's no other gym near us. We do have Figura Gym located sa merkado sa 'Lacion -- I checked it out but it's not motivating. There are other 'neighborhood' gyms along the way to Cebu City but never mind...
So I'm going to sign up for their 'special' promo and that non-peak hour rate so it would be cheaper. I'll probably would sign up for 3 months (promo thing) -- hopefully this would give me the kick until I get the hang of 'fit' living -- like my day will not be complete without sweating from exercise!!!

Anyhow, I also checked People's Fitness(not sure with the name), it's near Innodata -- recommended by a friend. The place looks owkei, monthly rate is cheap (P450/month) -- if you compared it to Fitness First rate but of course FF has way better place and amenities. I just find it too far. Think again travel time vs. gym time!

I'll check Slimmers World this week. Because I always find them doing aerobics. I want to do aerobics because it's not boring. Though, I don't like the idea of making 'paso2x' sa mall in your gym look. (If you have more info about Slimmers World, please do share.)

But I really wanted to go to Pacquiao's gym. It used to be in Salinas Drive, in JCA building. But they're in JY Mall right now. Mark used to go there, and I like their program but I'm not sure if it's still the same now. Problem is I find it somehow 'tuyoon' na kaayo. Though, if you come to think of it --- JY Mall is not really that far from Holiday Spa. Also, they're inside a mall.

Guys, I'd like to ask some help from you. I hope you can give me some gym suggestions and a little review would be great. Please don't suggest Fitness First to me or any 2T+ monthly-rate gym. I can't afford it. Keep in thought that I live in Consolacion, so please don't suggest some gym in Basak, Pardo.

Please also share any 'thinning' tips -- not necessarily a healthy tip as long as it will bring me back to the FAT level (as I'm obese right now). I BADLY need it. I can already feel my double chin hanging -- it's getting heavier! It's no longer funny!

On the other thought, Christmas is fast approaching. Christmas = FOODS! Maybe, I should postpone my attaining FAT level to next year. It would make a good New Year resolution! Nooooo!!! HELP!!!

Happy Birthday to my uyab!

Autistic does grow old. =) (no pun intended)

He's good with kids?!?

Thank you for letting me eat the first slice of your birthday cake. =)

I really much not have to say... I think we still have milk and diapers.

i'm D-listed star

I invited a person. The person accepted it. Then, I'm removed from her contact list. I know the person, and I guess the person too. It was not some random invitation to strangers. I'm delisted!

Am I too good for the person? Or, the other way around? =) Anyhooo, I'm not bitter! I totally respect that person's decision.

Most Supportive Mother

I support whatever things that would make my kids happy and well, except those that are against the 10 Commandments. Who am I to stop their happiness?!?

(Does it says 100% protection from all kinds of germs, meg?)

I really wish we have a big beautiful garden with all the trees, butterflies, flowers, river, treehouse, with Barney and friends to entertain my kids 24/7. Oh well, they can let their imagination work for now on that. =)

third world thoughts

1. CICC (Cebu International Convention Center) --- I do pray that it will be finished in time for the big event. I believe the summit ek ek would be a good thing for Cebu. =)

2. Nursing leakage --- Why are they making big issue out of this? And, their decisions on how to solve the issue are just making the situation worse and worst! Leakage happens, it's a common knowledge, and sad truth.

Road trip thoughtsies

The last time I'd been home in Badian was last Christmas which is like 10 months ago. Dugaya na oy! Last Wednesday we go down south as it's my nanay's birthday. Nalipong jud ko for the 1st time. I think for the past 10 months, it's my longest road trip ever. How boring! Anyhow, these are some of my thoughts:

1. SRP is such a treat. It can save you 1 hour of travel time.


2. I can say the road is not really impressive but at least it's improved. Though after Badian, I have no idea unsa na'y hitsura sa dalan. Is it because of the upcoming ASEAN Summit? Gwen Garcia? Anyhow, I think Gwen deserved to be acknowledged for this.


3. There were some people cleaning the road sides when we passed by. We then knew that Arroyo was going to be in Badian the following day. Any connection?
4. Still, the most beautiful scene ever for me, in going down to Badian, is still the Rogelio's place in Barili -- the one where you have an overview of the sea. I don't know unsa tinood name for that place. But that used to be or still is the the garage of Rogelio bus line.





(it says, 'a postcard you can walk right into...' ---> catchy??)

5. Road to Basdako, Moalboal is now 'concrete' all the way.
6. Basdako in Moalboal now has an entrance of P5/person and a parking fee of P30. And, cottage of P150 -- not really that bad.
7. But I find the place dirty. Why? I still remember when there were just 5 cottages there, and kasagbutan ra the rest. That was beautiful. Anyhow, basin we're not just lucky at that time. Basin wa sila kabawo nga moabot si Arroyo. =) Still it's 'lami.' The waves are quite 'big' when we were there, the sea was rather unfriendly. The waves reminded me of the surfers in Liloan,




8. P10/person japon entrance sa Kawasan. Going up to Kawasan is now a lot easier, the concrete mini bridges and all. Though, up to 1st Falls ra mi. Naay natagak na dako na bato on the way to 2nd falls so not safe. It's kinda have that commercialized aura but at least the place is clean. I remember back then every summer, hasta kapila ko mag balik2x sa kawasan kay every time naay bisita moabot, adto jud kawasan. When I get older, up to Tubod na lng ko moadto (no entrance fee pa). =) And, now Tubod is already commercialized -- it's now called Children's Spring(?). Waaahhh... The parking fee is P50 --- anyhow, they say it's for the church.




(I think everybody knows or have been to Kawasan, so I'm not going to waste any multiply space for that.)

9. Any where, usual scenario is oldy foreigner with their teeny weeny very young pinay mate, or pinoy mate.

(Can you spot the couples in here?)

11. Don't forget to stop by at Shamrock.


10. I think that's it for now.

Outsourced Support talking to another Outsourced Support

I work as a customer support for a US company. All the members of the customer support are all home-based, some are from Philippines and mostly are from Argentina.

We were having problems with our phone lines the day I was absent. (We are using Vonage for our VOIP.) Anyhow, they found out that removing my number from the simulring list solved the problem. So my manager, based in Argentina, instructed me to call Vonage support so they can check on my number. Honestly, I don't know what to say to the vonage tech support. As first I don't care much how to set-up this thingy. Just for the sake of it so I called.

Anyhow, I know my call will be directed somewhere around the world. I was really hoping to be directed to a callcenter in Philippines. First, I was received by an American accented support who keeps asking for the billing address or else no assistance. Ggrrrr, that freaking SOPs. I gave him all the info except for that billing address. Anyhow, as if not almost all of my friends and even I are in call center so I understand. By the way, we don't have SOPs regarding taking calls so I'm kinda ggrrr about it.

After I got info of billing address, I called vonage again. This time, I was received by a somewhat Latino accented support. He sounded a lot like my Argentinians workmates. So I asked him where he's located, and he confirmed he's from Buenos Aires. Isn't it funny circle of life, my manager is from Argentina and I'm received by a Argentinian tech support? He told me that vonage also have tech support in Philippines. I was really wishing I would be directed to a Filipino tech support so I could just blah in tagalog or bisaya. I don't care about recording the call for monitoring. heheheh My manager could have talked to him instead, and they could speak in Spanish and understand each other better. After some talking with the John, tech support, you know the usual change in settings blahblah... He promised to call us to test our line. And before he put the phone down, he has this Thank you for calling blahblahblah --- so callcenterish.

I just find it funny that a support is calling another support. And, we know that all lines we are talking are somewhat scripted. Please, no pun intended.

So when I received his call, I saw from our logs that his number is listed as TELEPERFORMANCE. So vonage customer support is handled by Teleperformance. We do have Teleperformance here in Philippines right? I think there's one in Bacolod. Then, he asked me if I'm interested with their other products -- so callcenterish again. Anyhow, I told him my account is company provided and I'm penniless. Then, again before he hung up, he said his goodbye spiel again --- Thank you for calling blahblah...

Do you have any idea how to be directed to a Philippine callcenter?

HUG a TREE

and in this hole(?), there was(?) a tree
the prettiest tree
that you ever did see
and the green grass grows all around all around
and the green grass grows all around
(Barney)

I think we have a hippie(sp?)!

at the park, drinking and doing coke!

After some running, everybody gets thirsty!



carlo's way...


pete doherty, is that you?! GOD forbid!


I think manoktok na sa amo ang Bantay Bata. I know, I'm a crappy mother. =(

Chillin' at the park.

Lack of place to hang out on a Sunday afternoon, we went to a park... a MEMORIAL PARK. I'm actually surprise when we got there, a lot of families were also hanging out there -- with all the foods, and banig. Yes, we badly need a park -- it does not need to be grand as Central Park. A park like memorial park will do. =)

First, pay homage to the masters.

(I dunno whose tomb were they stepping)

Then, it's time to runnn and playyy...

and, skip...


and wander, and pose...

and, take pictures

and, eat...

and, see the next post for the drinking sessions....

The other families there....



I'm definitely going to vote for whoever will build a park!!!

I Want to Be Anorexic

I think that will be my only salvation from having a body of an overdue pregnant.... Make it overdue pregnant whale. Somehow, the baby kay nagawas na 1 year ago but for some reason I still look pregnant, and bloated like a red hot air balloon.

I'm also thinking of bullimic-ness but puke is just gross. And, I'm too lazy to exercise and engage in some healthy diet. And, I'm too poor to get a lipo or do drugs(joke). So can anybody tell me how to be anorexic?!? I'm already tired of being a moby dick dumbo. I wanna be stick-thin for once. Anorexic is the new black. I wanna be Nicole Richie!!!
HELP!!!