Three for Three

Two weeks ago, I went to the post office and mailed 3 of the same item to 3 different recipients.

That was around past noon so my stomach was already growling with hunger. I was in such a hurry since I still need to go grab lunch and drive back to work.

So before I faint with hunger, I quickly wrote the shipping addresses on three separate USPS labels and just stuck the shipping labels on the each of the three boxes randomly.

When I got home, I remembered I have printed a personalized greeting cards inside each of the boxes! So I starting stomping (yes, literally) thinking that the recipients will get the gift but with the wrong name card. SO STUPID.

A few minutes ago, I received emails that ALL THREE RECIPIENTS got their cards RIGHT!!!
I stuck the right address label to all three boxes!!! THREE FOR THREE! What are the odds of that!?

Now, they are saying I should be a perfect companion to Vegas. Since I can't go to Vegas today, I shall buy me a LOTTO ticket while all my stars are still aligned.

Stars, keep it steady.
Stay... stay... hold it...

Rhythm of Love

This is my happy happy joy joy song lately.

This song makes me feel loved inside out that I want to ask my husband to renew our vows, plan another wedding and use this song on our official wedding AVP. Hahahaha!




My head is stuck in the clouds
She begs me to come down
Says "Boy quit foolin' around"
I told her "I love the view from up here

The warm sun and wind in my ear
We'll watch the world from above
As it turns to the rhythm of love"
We may only have tonight

But till the morning sun you're mine all mine
Play the Music low and sway to the rhythm of love

My heart beats like a drum
A guitar string to the strum
A beautiful song to be sung

She's got blue eyes deep like the sea
That roll back when she's laughing at me
She rises up like the tide
The moment her lips meet mine

We may only have tonight
But till the morning sun you're mine all mine
Play the Music low and sway to the rhythm of love

When the moon is low
We can dance in slow motion
And all your tears will subside
All your tears will dry

And long after I've gone
You'll still be humming along
And I will keep you in my mind
The way you make love so fine

We may only have tonight
But till the morning sun you're mine all mine
Play the music low and sway to the rhythm of love

Pinoy na Pinoy Din Siya!

This political campaign ad I heard this morning at a Filipino radio station here, made me laugh so hard I think I burned 50 calories.

THANK YOU POLITICIANS for all the creativity imparted to the people. Hahahaha!
(I have omitted the names because I am feeling kind today)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Politician's wife (each word said very, very slowly):

MEBOWHAI! Akoh powh si (***), ehsaweh ni (***). An tetey kow powh ey si (***) neh geleng seh Ilowcoes Sur.

Pinay voice: PINOY NA PINOY DIN SIYA!!! IBOTO NATIN, (***)!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I didn't think the wife was funny, but when the voice over shouted "PINOY NA PINOY DIN SIYA!!!" that's when I started bursting with laughter. Yes, half a star for the effort of reading Tagalog sentences in perfect American accent, but to say pinoy na pinoy din siya?! That's just plain joke.

Ergonomics of Your Workstation

For people who spend at least 90% of their work day sitting in their workstation, you better familiarize yourself with the word ERGONOMICS.


Read through this article I found in the net to help set your workstation properly. Some people may think that demanding the correct workstation ergonomics is too much for them "regular employees." NOT TRUE. You have to remember that you spend most of your day in the office, sometimes more than how much you spend at home. You better make sure that you are working in a comfortable and healthy environment... and ergonomics is just the basics.




Just looking at the above photo, I already have 80% wrong in my own desk. I can't do anything about it because well, it was just built wrong, or maybe not wrong but built for a person a foot taller than me. The desk isn't adjustable and the chair is too big for me. In my 1 year in office, I have probably made at least five desk configurations already. In desperate need to find the most comfortable setup for my laptop, phone, etc., but if the furniture doesn't fit you then you can't do much. Not to mention my most hated issue: GLARE. There's just glare in every direction I tried, oh what a headache (literally!).


Workstation ergonomics is just the tip of the iceberg. If you want to go all out, there are a lot more factors affecting your "Indoor Quality." There's air, sanitation, ventilation, temperature, lighting, acoustics, privacy, color, etc. A lot of the most successful companies started with providing the proper work environment to their people. If you are one of them, then you are very lucky.

20 Ways to Get Good Karma

Taken from The Dalai Lama:

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three R’s:
- Respect for self,
- Respect for others and
- Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great relationship.

7. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It is a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you’ve never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.

20. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

A Snore of a Conversation

I just had a whole conversation with my husband... while he was sleeping.

This was not the first time it happened but this is probably one of the most interactive talks with him while he is unconscious. Haha.

He usually just mumbles about some random phrases. Like when the time he was reviewing for his CLEP Algebra exam, he mumbled about a certain formula while he was asleep. While he was taking one of his subjects about IT Management, he mumbled about tables and databases.

The other night was my first work day after a 3-day weekend, and his first day back in the island after a 5-day vacation in the Philippines.

It was 8 AM, he was still in deep sleep. This was the gist of the conversation (translated in English).

Me: Mr, I am off to work.
Mr: Huh? You don't have work today.
Me: Me? I have work today, it's already Tuesday.
Mr: No, you have an excuse letter.
Me: What excuse letter?
Mr: The (mumble mumble mumble) letter.
Me: You're still sleeping, you don't know what you're saying.
Mr: No, you don't have work today.

'Me' then walks away.

Random Memories of UP Architecture Forum

My 29 random memories of you:


1. The then AF tambayan was the 4th floor landing of the Eng’g building (I don’t know what they call that side, basta yung side adjacent to the tennis court). Prior to being a member of the organization, I used to DREAD crossing that landing because the AF members were everywhere, yes, nakakakalat, sa buong landing. They were an odd looking bunch of people but the people who stand out are the long haired big, bulky, rowdy-looking guys who would stare at anyone who passes by. For a freshman like me, that thought was absolutely scary! So instead of crossing that landing, there were times I would just pass thru the center stairs of the building instead.

2. When people ask me what made me join Arki Forum, I couldn’t quite explain it except for one word: DIVERSITY.

3. I don’t think anyone can ever make a stereotype of what an AF member is. It’s a place to be comfortable with who you are. We all dress up differently, talk differently, have fun differently, I guess we all have something in common: how to learn while having fun.

4. A lot of the professors didn’t like the organization then, because we are not the typical angelic bunch. We are kind of territorial, we are noisy, we pollute the air, we get drunk in the tambayan, we ‘owned’ the boys’ and girls’ restrooms beside our tambayan, we are NOT THE NORM. Most people hate you when you refuse to be part of the norm. As much as the professors think they don’t like us, come events where they are in need of manpower, logistics power, creative power, free labor, who do they go to? Arki Forum.

5. I remember prior to being an active AF member, I go home whenever I had hours and hours of vacant time in between subjects. Post-AF active membership, I go to school early in the morning and leave school hours after my classes, just to hang out with the AF peeps.

6. Cozy. I absolutely loved our tambayan! Our batch ‘renovated’ the whole area to a point that we had soft couches, accent pillows, paintings, etc. We usually just hang out there during sun down, chit chat with friends while people watching, light the scented candles and play some good music in the background. Aaaahhhh…

7. The restrooms beside the tambayan may have Male or Female labeled on each of the two doors, it didn’t mean it was exclusive though. You should not be surprised to see boys in the girls restroom and girls taking a shower in the boy’s restroom. I have had a lot of heart to heart talks in the girls restroom, it’s our favorite place to talk about heartbreaks, etc. I also remember crying in the same room after my oh-so-good friend tripped me at the corridor, for everyone to see. Which reminds me of another fond memory…

8. After that friend tripped me at the corridor (itago natin siya sa pangalang Romel Orlando hahaha), I got mad at him, of course, 10% because of humiliation, 10% because I thought it was so immature and 80% because my knees was bruised and it was absolutely painful. It was hard to not be in speaking terms with one of your closest friends, whom you see every day, talk to every day, text with, and hang out with at the same place every single day. I remember people feeling either weirded or out that we weren’t in speaking terms, but see us at the same table, same vicinity, talking to the same group of people. Hahaha. Hoy Romel, ano na nga ba ung hinirit mo candidly kaya napilitan ako kausapin ka ulit? Hahaha.

9. I think 80% of the org members were smokers but not one of them ever asked me to try it too. I extra love my friends for that. :P

10. I had been taking a sip or two of beers or cocktails since high school but my official introduction to the word “tipsy” was from Arki Forum’s Meriendahan. I think I was already in third year then. I remember smiling almost the whole night and unstoppable laughing but to what? I do not remember. Ang unang nag-abot sakin ng baso ng ice-cold beer, itago natin siya sa pangalang, Inson Manalo. Bwahaha!

11. On our thesis year, we rented a 2 bedroom apartment near school so we can concentrate on our thesis. YEAH RIGHT! There were six of us renters in that townhouse, but probably at least 15 people sleeping in the house most of the time. During that year, I think that house became the official AF house. We have several desktop computers which was 20% of the time used for papers and 80% for network gaming, a huge parking space, a patio perfect for inuman, and very kind neighbors who did not complain. Haha.

12. Days before our thesis defense, the thesis house was packed! The overnight inuman sessions turned into overnight production of our thesis materials. Countless hours of labor of love that you did not ask for but was given to you wholeheartedly by your friends. Whenever one comes by the house, the immediate greeting was “What can I do?”

13. Come defense day, they were still there to watch us and become our instant jolalays, taga-pindot ng slide show, taga-signal ng remaining time, or mga dakilang taga-nood for moral support, fan club. When the panel of judges finally announced our grade, it was “95 point WHOOOOHOOOOOWAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!” Screams, shouts, loud applause from the crowd, like proud Moms and Dads, they were jumping for the team’s success.

14. Another culture I got from AF is to study hard on days that you want to, and on the other days, do whatever you like. Take your own pace. The morning I woke up for my thesis defense, both my thesis mates were missing – one went to a salon, one went to have her nails done. Haha! I was on the other hand in the house watching Betty La Fea. That is how you prepare for an important presentation. You RELAX.

15. The Architecture Forum applicant interview. A 3 hour interview to wrap up months of the org’s application process. All the members would probably want to forget that day but I bet they could never do that. Enough said. Haha.

16. Out of the blue, our batch of Arki Forum officers and friends felt like dancing in front of the crowd. So we did. Not all of us were born good dancers, but the rule is… if you want to dance, then just go do it. For the girls, it was Don’t Call Me Baby by Madison Avenue, and for the boys it was Bye Bye Bye by N’Sync. Lupiiiittt!

17. Vice relay. A game I first knew because of the org. It’s a, hmm, relay race of all vices. Haha. Each team member would have to finish a station of vice (e.g. beer, cigarette, etc) or the vice’s usual partners (e.g. pulutan like chicharon). First team to finish wins.

18. Sem-ender out of towns! Tagaytay, Batangas, etc. Well, it didn’t really matter where we go, but a day or two away from school, with the rest of the AF members, is always F.U.N.

19. I had a crush then, code named Blacky. What’s the point of having a code name when everyone in the org knows who he is anyway. Hahaha.

20. The blue comfy couch. I have slept on it, wept on it, people watched, studied, had small talks, drank beer, or had a heart to heart conversation on that blue couch. It’s probably the prime spot of the tambayan then.

21. The then scary looking big men I mentioned on item 1 later became my big bros. Who would have thought they were actually sensitive and emotional men? The type that talks about their feelings and knows how to appreciate love songs. What a disguise! :P

22. I was standing peacefully by the tambayan ledge, people watching at the parking lot below when I witnessed three men wearing ski masks pass by the driveway, smashed another car with baseball bats, then drove away. The car owner then saw it a few minutes later, opened and closed one of the doors of his car and said “PU*****NA!” Then walked away casually. Everyone else went on to do what they were doing, dedma.

23. Dance dance revolution in the tambayan! :)

24. When I was still an officer heading the application process, I had a few applicants who I knew was just joining the organization so they can put it in their resume. They complied with all the requirements of the application process. Text-book A student. The typical non-AF attitude. I knew they didn’t have the heart of an AF member but couldn’t reject their application just by my gut feel that “they don’t have the heart.” They did pass the application with flying colors, score-wise. Was they ever seen by the organization after that? Nope. Did they ever become an active member? Nope. Did they ever get in touch with the org? Nope.

25. You know you’re a true Arki Forum member when you have been to Sarah’s (all too) frequently. You need not be a beer-lover and drink all the time, regardless, you were there for the company of the ones who did.

26. Skyflakes na dinurog sa Century Tuna (bonus na kung may sibuyas kayo). Instant pulutan.

27. During Arki Forum week, we felt like doing a huge artwork of the AF mascot - Yattattee (Oh no! Wrong spelling?). So we did. It was so big it was covering almost a third of the width of the hallway. We’ve put it in the middle of the hallway where people would have dodge their way pass it. We didn’t get any complaints though, that’s how powerful that green monster is.

28. AF logbook. This is our exclusive FACEBOOK, TWITTER, BLOG page all in one. Most of us did not have cellphones then too, so this is our main means of communication. We write lyrics of songs, poems, or have our own chat pages in it. I especially love the comic strips in it! The logbook is your daily dose of comic relief, emo page, art, or just plain gossip. I wonder if they still have it now and still uses it as much as we did before. I hope so!

29. August is our foundation month. In preparation for Arki Forum’s (usually) month-long celebration, the members try to finish all the production work by doing it all night long, for consecutive days for some. As the saying goes, Architects do it all night long. Being the morning person that I am, I usually wake up early in the morning and find everyone fast asleep, literally in each and every corner, hallway, steps in and along the tambayan. It was such a sight to see, a peaceful, breezy morning, cups of paints, wet paint brushes scattered everywhere, empty beer bottles on the floor, junk food scraps on your feet, and those angelic looking friends of yours sleeping in the oddest positions you have ever seen. You are the lucky ones (or the early sleepers) if you got a couch, or perhaps a table to sleep on, but for most of the people who worked all night, their bed is a piece of manila paper on the concrete floor, a 4” wide bench, 2 pieces of chairs to balance your body in, or perhaps the drafting table. Yes, for all nighters, if you can sleep on/in it, it’s yours for the night. Oh, how I wish I have the pictures.


Happy 29th Anniversary to Arki Forum!
MORE POWER!!! :)

Note: Above logo taken from UP Arki Forum Facebook page.

The First Jeepney in Guam

Guam Customs on the first jeepney in Guam: "Send it back to the Philippines or have it destroyed."

So this Pinoy jeepney has been making headlines here lately. The background, this Jeepney was imported from the Philippines to be used for display only, but was seen as one of the Liberation Day Parade float of a pair of candidates running for Governor & Vice-governor (the Governor is pretty much the President here).

From the news:

Guam - Guam Customs and Quarantine has revoked the entry of a vehicle brought to the island by Auto Traders last weekend. On Monday Customs officers cleared and inspected a jeepney, but received assurances from the owner that it would only be used for static display purposes because it does not meet U.S. Department of Transportation specifications.

Despite signing an agreement that the vehicle would not be driven on Guam's roads, Customs officials say they received numerous reports of the jeepney out and about. Additionally, Customs determined the vehicle was brought to Guam under false pretenses.

They've ordered the jeepney to be sent back to the Philippines or be destroyed.


I have to say, the jeepney looks pretty cool!!! :)
Above photo taken from other website.

Thinking GREEN

So, as of 30 July 2010, I am officially GREEN MINDED.

I am now a USGBC LEED Green Associate. Wooopeeee!!!
So a lot of people are not yet aware of what USGBC and LEED are, especially if you are not in the construction/design field. All the more, what the heck is a LEED Green Associate?
To summarize, here’s an article from Wikipedia:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies intended to improve performance in metrics such as energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is intended to provide building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

Since its inception in 1998, the U.S. Green Building council (citation LEED for existing buildings v2.0 reference guide page pg 11) has grown to encompass more than 14,000 projects in the United States and 30 countries covering 1.062 billion square feet (99 km²) of development area.[1] The hallmark of LEED is that it is an open and transparent process where the technical criteria proposed by USGBC members are publicly reviewed for approval by the almost 20,000 member organizations that currently constitute the USGBC.

The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) was established by USGBC to provide a series of exams to allow individuals to become accredited for their knowledge of the LEED rating system. This is recognized through either the LEED Accredited Professional(LEED AP) or LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) designation. GBCI also provides third-party certification for projects pursuing LEED.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In short, it means you are a certified expert in designing environment friendly facilities.

I have wanted to take the certification exam since last year but was too afraid to do so. Although my company will pay for all the exam expenses, of course, I would want to pass the first try.

I have also been doing the LEED analyses in our projects so I pretty much know the concepts already so I have no excuse. My boss has been reminding me too many times already to take the exam but all I say is “yes Sir, next month.”

Until the time when I realized I have ample free time at work. I just finished submitting a project and pretty much have around 3 weeks of free time to study. So I did.

My plan was to schedule the exam 3 weeks after I was able to read the book at least 3 times. Did that happen? NO!

I was able to read the book 1.5 times. Yes, the 2nd time, I was just browsing. It’s a pain for me to read books. After 5 pages I take a break, go facebooking, and forget about the studying part. Haha. I did practice on the sample exams I have and took me 5 tries (taken inconsecutively, in between reading and studying phases) before I perfected it.

I was so confident that I wanted to take the exam the next day. I felt like I had all the concepts fresh in my memory. Typical self-doubting me, I schedule the exam a week after, so I thought I still have time to read the book one more time. Of course I didn’t do that either.

Exam day, I went to the testing center 3 hours early, to make sure I am on the right place. I went to lunch and studied a little more, then went for the exam.

It was a hundred questions, each question weighted differently. Passing score is 170/200 which is around 86%.

By the time I was on question 10, I had lost my confidence. I was doubtful I had it in the bag. Boy was the sample exam misleading! Darn sample exam was too easy. The actual exam contains ALL trick questions, analysis type of questions. I marked around 14 questions, questions which I had doubts on.

I finished reviewing my answers. Cilcked END.

Then the results page displayed. I can’t see any “CONGRATULATIONS” on the page so I was beginning to feel cold. Haha! I see the scores, the percentages, but don’t see any CONGRATULATIONS or YOU MADE IT!

Under the total score there was a tiny text saying “Result: PASS.” THAT’S ALL I NEEDED TO SEE!

I started packing up my things, pens, scrap paper and ID with a smile. WHEW! I can’t hide my smile that time. BIG WHEW!!!

Now, this certification exam is just part 1 of 2 exams. It is a stepping stone to become LEED Accredited Professional. Being a LEED Green Associate is just good for two years. With that, I better start my reviewing… AGAIN.

You're Not You When You're Hungry

Today is Day 1 of my new nutrition plan, a healthy, no carb diet to help me lose the inches on the unwanted areas.

I had blueberry protein milk shake for breakfast, had almonds for snack, turkey breast and salad (yum yum!) for lunch, roast beef cold cuts for snack, and finally a grilled cod with asparagus on the side for dinner. Then tea before sleep. :)

Everything in the nutrition plan is so delicious. I just have one problem: I AM VERY HUNGRY RIGHT NOW.

I know I am just adjusting to this new diet and tomorrow my body will probably feel more inclined to not eating the usual eggs or cereals in the morning, rice and meat for lunch, and another set of rice and meat for dinner, will unlimited junk food as in between snacks.

I still have 2 more hours before dinnertime and all I can take is lots of water until then. I can almost feel myself slowly turning grouchy as the hour passes by, which made me remember the funny Snickers commercials on TV.

Demmet, I want some chocolates right now. :(

Betty White:



Diva:

Dona Facunda

Nakilala ko ang isa mga kakumpetisyon namin sa pamomotograpo dito sa isla. Hindi kaaya-aya dahil may common friend kami at parang hot seat na biglang pinag-uusapan namin ang parehong bisnes sa harap ng iba. Parang comparing notes. Lagpas isang taon na siya namimityur at okay naman ang mga kuha niya. Iba-iba naman talaga style at siyempre yung bisnes namin, feeling namin may maibibigay rin kaming maganda. Masmaganda sa mga kuha niya. Bwehehe.

Kailangan ko sabihin ito sa tagalog para siguradong hindi nya maiintindihan. :P

Okay naman sana siyang kaibigan, madaldal, walang awkward silence. Kaso, parang may dugo ata siya ni Don Facundo. Hinangin ako eh. Sumobra siya sa hilig sa pang-o-okray lalo na sa mga ibang namimityur na mga kapitbahay niya. All knowing talaga. Siguradong na-okray na rin niya ang mga gawa namin dahil sabi niya sinilip na raw niya ung aming facebook. Tapos walang binigay na kumento man lang tungkol sa gawa namin.

Pati tatak ng kamera ko inokray.
Yung nagsisimula pa lang sa bisness, inokray na.
Yung nakita niyang babae na panget ung suot, inokray.

Kasali sila sa organisasyon ng mga kaasawahan dun sa loob ng base. Ganon pala sila, mega-okrayan lang ng kapwa mga misis dun. Buti na lang hindi ako kasali dun sa organisasyon na yun. Buti na lang sa labas kami ng base nakatira mula simula pa. Whew!

Okay na sakin kahit isa o dalawa lang kaibigan ko dito, at least siguradong hindi tsismis inaatupag.

Sabi niya, madami daw nag-a-add sa kanya sa facebook, tapos pagkatapos makita ung mga gawa niya, idedelete din daw siya. Sinisilip lang daw ung mga gawa niya nung mga kapwa mamimityur, tapos tatanggalin na raw siya sa facebook.

Sa palagay ko, hindi yun yung main reason bakit siya dinedelete ng mga tao sa facebook.

Baka hinangin lang talaga sila. :P
Hinangin papalayo.

Wooooooshhh!

P.S.
Sa lahat ng mga mamimityur na hindi nag-aangas at marunong maka-appreciate ng mga kapwa nila artist, mataas respeto ko sa ating lahat. Bow.

P.P.S.
Wow, ganon kalakas ung dating ni Dona Facunda na ginawan ko pa siya ng article dito sa blog ko.

One Hour to One Half Day, Hafa Adai!

Yesterday, I was once again reminded why I am not in love with this island. Not yet, that is, let's stay positive.

Woke up early, emailed work that I will be coming in late, like 1 or 2 hours late.

Mission: Drop my visa application at the Japan Consulate office.

7:50 AM: Went to the biggest copy/printing shop in the island, Copy Express. They can do pretty much anything, photocopying, print ads, plotting, framing, etc. Name it.

Though that day, that lucky day, all their photo-printing machines were broken, at least that was what the guy told me. With more than 20 big ass printing machines there, not one can print a passport photo. Yeah, right!

8:00 AM: I noticed I forgot my application forms at home anyway. Drove back home.

8:45 AM: Went to the other branch of Copy Express. This time they said "Oh, we don't print any photos here anymore. Only in the other branch." Regardless if they have all those huge "Photo printing services" and "Fujifilm" posters there. I asked the lady to at least print my print-ready-photo-all-sized into any glossy paper she had there. She did.

$2.00 as file access fee. Yeah, they charge you $2.00 for opening your file. How the hell can they print your file unless they open it?! $5.00 charge if you email it to them!
$1.50 for each page.

Where else can you get a "file access charge?"
Made me remember when I bought a movie ticket online a couple of months ago, I got charged
$3.00-per-ticket convenience fee. O ha?! Most of the time you get a discount for buying online, right? Paperless, no man power, and all that. Not here. :P

9:40: AM: Finally reached the Japanese Consulate. They accepted my blurry passport photo, only problem is: they need a flight itinerary before they process your visa. Gotta reserve our ticket first.

10:20 AM: Went to a Continental Airlines ticketing office. All tickets for our trip are fully booked. We told them we just tried online a couple of minutes ago and the flights were still available. Travel agent told us that's how it is so we better just try online.

11:00 AM: Went to Netopia to book our ticket online. Will waste too much time if we go back home just for the internet.
$0.20 for a page or printing. $2.25 for internet use. Not bad.

11:20 AM: Now back at the Japanese Consulate. Dropped off my papers.

11:30 AM: Had lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant.

12-ish: Home.
Was able to go back to work 1:00 PM. Half day! Hafa Adai!

P.S.
Hafa Adai ~ Mabuhay ~ Aloha

P.P.S.
This is where we are:

Photo courtesy of: http://www.pata.no

Hindi Nakakatuwa

Since last week, the guys (guys = husband and husband's guy friends) have been planning for a poker night at our house. It's all set. All the husbands will stay at our house and all the wives and kids will stay at the other friend's house, just within the same village.

Everyone's supposed to meet at 6:30 PM.

Come 5:00 PM, I got a message from my husband saying that the our girl friend, aka Wife #2, the owner of the house where the wives are supposed to stay, made other plans already and will not be home tonight. No house for the wives.

Damn.

May tawag dun eh... ahh, hmm... INDYAN! Hmmmp! Or amnesia?

We girls already planned this before, we will just do a chick flicks marathon. So me and wife # 3 are stuck now, she couldn't get a baby sitter in such a short notice. I just told wife #3 that it's okay, she'll just stay home with her kids and I'll find something to do myself.

I did went out, window shopped. Until my husband called me to pick up some cups for them. Therefore, I had to go back home. Too late to go out tonight as I don't have anything else to do outside.

It's not like Manila here, no Starbucks where you're safe to just chill on your own, bring your laptop and all that. Malls close up pretty early too, PLUS there's nothing interesting in the malls. Just earlier I was walking alone on the sidewalk by the mall and a man was following me whispering stuff like "hi, have a good night." Creepy!

I have just locked myself in the bed room. I am pretending not to be here as all the guys downstairs are enjoying their poker night.

Times like these, I miss the Manila malls, I miss my kaladkarin friends.

I miss my real friends.

Okay, just wanted to get this out of my system. I'm gonna go back to bed now and watch When in Rome and Whip It, with junk food, pizza and soda on the side. Sayang hindi pa malamig ung Red Horse beer.


P.S.
So... this is how it feels like to be grounded. :P

P.P.S.

Earlier today, I was in such a good mood that Friday is done and the weekend is here. I just left my work desk and was heading to my car when someone from behind called me...

Tactless Co-worker: Kayan!!!
Kayan: Yep?
Tactless Co-worker: Tinutubuan ka na ng bilbil o. Ang laki diyan sa may bandang tagiliran.
Kayan: Ah ganon ba, eh baka kasi ang higpit ng belt ko naiipit?
Tactless Co-worker: Sus! Nagjustify ka pa ah.
Kayan: Ganon talaga, lahat ng bagay may explanation.

Bwiset! Ganda na sana ng week-ender ko eh. Pwet ka!

Party On

I wasn't surprised at all when I heard Lindsay Lohan was finally sentenced to jail. I thought "it's about time." The court has dealt with her for 3 years already. Why would she be surprised when she's been wearing the SCRAM bracelet for so long, has triggered it several times, and is still being seen partying all over the world, has missed her court trials because of some lame excuse like she's sick, or she has no passport so she can't go back to the US, or my all time favorite "my dog ate my passport!"

She even had this 'discreet' message for the judge during her sentencing. Yeah, the judge couldn't see that from her pedestal but the press can. Stupid. Don't you even think at all Ms. Lohan?! In court, the Judge is THE high and mighty. You're supposed to bow and respect them at all costs, dress up appropriately, and all that, haller?!

Go party 90 days in jail, then 90 days in rehab. By then we all hope she has already fixed herself up, and her career too. Such a good talent going to waste.

Watch her emotional sentencing below:

My Non-political Comments on Today’s Inauguration

Feeling tigbak authority lang...

My blog has never had a political article (to avoid overly-opinionated people in my site) so I would like to stick with that tradition.

1. Noynoy’s convoy actually stopped on red light! Yebah! No wangwang indeed!!! One of my prayers for the country have finally been answered!!!

2. Really loved PGMA’s gown. Simple and very appropriate.

3. Ganda ng exit ni PGMA, via convoy, cameo appearance effect. Diretso sa sarili niyang inauguration sa Pampanga.

4. Have you noticed when Noynoy offered his hand while PGMA was going back up to her platform, she didn’t take his hand (or baka hindi lang niya nakita ung kamay…).

5. Very happy with Charice Pempengco for singing the National Anthem with the correct rhythm and correct notes. THAT IS HOW EVERYONE SHOULD SING IT. This song may not be re-arranged for your own KSP purposes.

6. Noynoy should learn to improve his posture.

7. At first I was happy I barely saw Kris Aquino on stage, until later, she actually stood in the middle while Noynoy was taking oath.

8. The Philippine Madrigal Singers and Philharmonic Orchestra were so awesome! They made me extra proud to be a Pinoy.

9. APO Hiking Society: Wala kayong katulad.

10. Christian Bautista sang a Josh Groban song, are you even surprised? Parang tinawag lang siya bigla tapos sinabi “uy, kanta ka naman plis?”

11. No comment on Ogie and Regine’s song, it didn’t actually stick.

12. Masyado yata madaming song numbers. Konti na lang aakalain ko ng ASAP yun.

13. Ano kaya feeling ni Erap habang kumakanta si Noel Cabangon ng angst-filled song niya? Buuuuurrrrrrnnnn!!!


With these said:

Kailan ba aalis si Kris Aquino? Akala ko nag-promise siyang maglalaho na siya?

Practice Exam

Trial 1
Correct: 22
Incorrect: 28
Total: 50
Percentage: 44%
Result: FAIL

Trial 2
Correct: 39
Incorrect: 11
Total: 50
Percentage: 78%
Result: FAIL

Confidence has turned gray...



Trial 3
Correct: 39
Incorrect: 11
Total: 50
Percentage: 78%
Result: FAIL

I actually thought I had perfected the exam by the third try. I double checked the answer key and saw I had one incorrect answer. I thought maybe there were difference weights to each question so I tried one more time…

Trial 4
Correct: 39
Incorrect: 11
Total: 50
Percentage: 78%
Result: FAIL

I was pretty sure I had a perfect score this time so I double checked the answer key again.
I HAD NO MISTAKES! PERFECT SCORE!

Dang you practice exam software, you suck!!! Boo!
This is what I get for downloading free from torrent. Haha.

Sunog Kilay

I HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO STUDY.

Work is very light this month and it is a perfect time for me to prepare for a certification exam I have been wanting to take for a year now.

I have all the reviewers, the desk, the light, everything ready. I just can't find my mojo to study. Maybe I have forgotten how to do it.

It's been almost a decade since I was a student. I have no plans on becoming a student again, unless it is for a short term course for arts or interior design.

I try to put a background music, a relaxing one, and I tend to be too relaxed. I try an upbeat music and I can't concentrate still. I always end up opening facebook, or checking my mails. Or looking for some other work. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?!

How do I focus on reading? I have always been the graphic type of person. If only there would be a video version of this book, I'd have finished it several times by now for sure.

May the Force be With Me

Something is off with the universe lately, well, MY universe.

I showed my car registration last Saturday, for oil change, and for some magical cosmic reason, I can’t find that piece of paper now. I remember, not vaguely, but clearly remember myself putting it inside my car’s glove compartment. I remember doing it with a thought in my mind “mailagay na nga dito, baka mawala ko pa ito.” Now, IT ISN’T THERE! Can’t find it anywhere.

I remember packing our new digicam’s charger cord on my way to my vacation last week. The camera power is now empty, and I can’t find the damn cord! It wasn’t in any of my packs. Can’t find it at home either.

I went out to buy some groceries yesterday, my first day back from vacation. I made a u-turn on red signal (I remember my co-workers telling me it’s okay to do that in that intersection, yeah and I believed them! Tange!). The police car pulled me over a quarter mile from my house. She asked for my driver’s license and car registration. Uhm… dehmet! My registration wasn’t there, remember? The police woman then asked for my proof of insurance instead, and she finds out my copy was expired too! Dehmit!!! I told her I live just around the corner, and that it was my first day back in the island, and that I would need to ask my husband, blah blah blah. She said I need to fix this asap or the next time they will just confiscate my plates. Dehmit!

On my way to work, I couldn’t find car keys! I called my husband, it wasn’t with him. I remember just using it this morning, since I searched all the corners of my car interior first thing after waking up, looking for that damn car registration. I remember throwing a lot of papers in the trash. I went ahead and checked the trash can, maybe I threw the car keys there altogether with the papers. I found my keys finally, where? IN MY CAR THAT I LEFT OPEN! Dehmit!

I am losing trust in myself.

Now I am at work, I am thinking, the trash will be picked up today and what if I threw some important documents there? I am thinking, what if I left the house door open? Did I leave the aircon running? Or did I turn off the oven after I used it? PARANOIA.

Dehmit, universe, please be my friend.

Is this bad karma? But what did I do to deserve it? I thought I was being good. Hmmm.

Dehmit.

Semi-vacation Mode

It's May 13, 2010.

I was so busy the last few weeks that I did not even notice my daily calendar. Didn't even find time to flip the pages.

My hectic month has officially ended yesterday. Petiks mode again. Woopeee. Petiks mode for the next week, that is. I don't mind being busy at work, in fact I love having a lot of tasks and I absolutely love multitasking. It makes time pass by faster, keeps my brain cells fit, it makes my day more fulfilling, and it makes me feel somewhat useful. Haha.

I will have a semi-vacation next week. Spending 1 week back in the homeland with the family. I call it a semi-vacation since I don't plan on doing any touring or any trips to somewhere grand. My main reason for going is to visit my very old and now weak grandma in province. It's just weird to call it a vacation when deep inside the family is at their toes that our grandma might pass away anytime. My Mom was the one who convinced me to visit ASAP. I was a Lola's girl before. One of her favorites. My siblings and cousins used to hate me for being the Lola's favorite. Sumbungera sa Lola, kaya laging napapagalitan mga pinsan ko. Hehehe. Unfortunately, Lola wasn't able to attend my wedding, nor were we able to visit her in the province during the 'wedding season.'

Secondly, I just plan on spending lots of bonding time with my 4-yr-old BFF niece. She'll be going to school this year and I am pretty sure she wouldn't be this sweet and cuddly after she gets to gradeschool, when all that 'growing up' stuff happens. Probably take lots of her photos, our photos while she is still a willing model. :)

It's also a semi-vacation because Mr can't come with. My trip home was something we did not anticipate. Oh well, we'll just plan a real vacation late this year.

Alrighty, Semi-vacation Pictures coming soon!

Nak-nak-nakaw ang Wallet Ko

I just got in the office 7:30 AM Tuesday, I realized my bag was too light, to find out that my WALLET IS MISSING! Yeah, that’s how much coins I have that the weight difference would be noticeable. Haha. I remained calm as I was so confident I just left it at home so decided to drop by the house during lunchbreak to go get it. Then it wasn’t there. Not in my car, not in my husband’s car. Nowhere.

I have never lost my wallet before. I did almost lose one last November 28, 2008. I remember it very clearly as it was a very memorable day.

I left work around 6:00 PM to meet up with my then special friend (now my husband) for a pre-birthday date. He planned a surprise dinner for me and my friends. We were already 20 minutes away from my office when I realized I left my wallet in my desk. I called my coworkers and had them check it but all of them said it wasn’t in my workstation at all. We drove back to my office, got to the 16th floor, checked my locker, it wasn’t there too! I was on the verge of crying by then.

Then out of nowhere, my co-worker stood up and gave me my wallet!!! He was playing a joke at me; he took my wallet from my desk, and then got carried away with whatever he was surfing or playing in the internet that he didn’t notice I already left. He was really very guilty and sorry. I was so relieved yet very angry at him, and in times like these, I got nothing to say or do but cry so the tears started to well up and I just walked out.

That’s how my 2008 birthday celebration started - very memorable indeed.

Now I am half-hoping that one of my co-workers was just playing a joke at me again. It’s been 3 days already. I guess it’s real. Time to move on.

In one day I was able to get a replacement for my driver’s license, order a replacement ATM card, and order a replacement healthcare ID too. I have 3 more IDs yet to be replaced. Whew! If only the money could be replaced too, I could use some extra money. Hehehe.

Deep inside, I am still in denial my wallet is missing, and that I lost that much money just like that. I can’t even blame anyone, not even myself.

Oh well, I won’t be using a wallet anytime soon.

Why I Dread a Trip to the Nail Salon

As per my facebook status: A trip to the pedicurist is scarier than a trip to the dentist. Most of the time it is even more painful.

1. The last time I had a pedicure, I had them put a clear polish which then caused my nails to weaken, then crack, and so part of my toe nail was chipped. I tried to groom it and ended up wounding myself. Hehe. So I said, I better go to the professionals the next time.

2. This is probably the 5th time I am having a pedicure… in my entire life. I have never been that type of person. I have never enjoyed manicures or pedicures, most of the time they end up hurting my tips and toes. I have tiny fingers, thus tiny nails. There won’t be much room for them to work on. I don’t think I get the worth of my money. Haha.

3. In Guam, the first time I went to the nail salon was when a friend asked me to accompany her. We both asked for the same pedicure package, but I did not get the same treatment. The only reason I can think of is because I am Asian. My friend is white. The staffs were Vietnamese. They were more accommodating and friendlier to the American-looking people. They entertain them, talk to them, smile at them. Me? I just get the pedicure. No talking. There was even one point they had me move to another chair (yes, in the middle of all the pedicure session), just so they can give a corner seat to another white woman.

4. That same trip to the nail salon, I was already standing up, holding my purse, waiting and watching for my friend’s toes to get done. She asked for the flowery details on her toes. Nice. Then another white manang approached me, handing me the nail polish she picked. She thought I was one of the staff. Why? The only reason I could think of was because I was Asian. I told her, “Sorry, I don’t work here.” She said “Oh, so what are you doing here?” I said “Waiting for my friend?” Being a passive person that I am, I was mad, but didn’t do anything. Damn you manang!!! I’ll remember that stupid face of yours wherever.

5. I don’t grow my nails long, there’s too much in life you have to give up when you have long nails (e.g. gardening, scratching your skin and eyes, eating with your hands, etc).

6. My feet are extremely ticklish. Once they start doing the scrubbing, the massaging, I immediately laugh or smile. I try to think of sad things and horror movies, just so I could stop laughing. I tear up, in most cases. It’s torture. Hahaha!

7. This last weekend, I went to the nail salon because of pure necessity. I was afraid of wounding my toes again, trying to clean up some left over ingrown. I let a professional do it, and what happens? She was able to take out the ingrown alright, but with blood. Yes I saw blood. I had at least 3 OUCH moments there. Why do they say pedicures are relaxing? Why do most women do this to themselves regularly?

8. Item 3’s nail salon is different from Item 7’s. Apparently though, both have Vietnamese-full staff. Why do I know? Because they talk it. They talk loudly with each other, all across the room, the whole time. Again, they were more friendly with the white people, of course. I didn’t get the same service, of course. My seat’s back massager was broken, they don’t care. While someone was working on my pedicure, another woman was working on my manicure. She was standing on my right side the whole time. Instead of walking on my other side, she asks me to stretch out my left hand to the right. So she can work on it. In short: YUNG KAMAY MO ANG LALAPIT SA KANYA. Bwisit. Of course, they weren’t like that with the white woman.

9. It was the first time I tried a non-neutral colored toe nail polish; it was a dark old rose hue. When they put it on my toes, it looked more like fuchsia. So tacky. Fuchsia naman oh! I don’t even know how to pick a nice color.

10. I am perfectly happy with clean pinkish tips and toes. That’s it. Simple, clean, BEAUTIFUL!

I'LL DO IT MYSELF.

The Hill of Crosses

I have this daily calendar “1000 Places to See Before You Die” on my desk. Every morning, I tear a page from it and read about a new ‘must see’ place. Each day there would be a postcard photo of a great place, the printing was not that very good that everything looked dull. Until today.

It has been 3 months, 89 days to be exact, of flipping pages, for the first time I found a photo so enticing, some place that really makes me wonder if I could ever be able to go there.

The Hill of Crosses
Lithuania

From Wikipedia:

The Hill of Crosses (Lithuanian: Kryžių kalnas (help·info)) is a site of pilgrimage about 12 km north of the city of Šiauliai, in northern Lithuania. The exact origins are unknown, but it is considered that the first crosses were placed on the former Jurgaičiai or Domantai hill fort after the 1831 Uprising.[1] Over the centuries, not only crosses, but giant crucifixes, carvings of Lithuanian patriots, statues of the Virgin Mary and thousands of tiny effigies and rosaries have been brought here by Catholic pilgrims. The number of crosses is unknown, but estimates put it at about 55,000 in 1990 and 100,000 in 2006.

I googled more photos, and I am more attracted. HOW AMAZING WOULD IT BE TO TAKE PHOTOS THERE!

I don’t know, some people may find it weird, but I think I have a thing for taking photos of cemeteries, graveyards, and now, the hill of crosses. I find some sort of eeriness at the same time find these places like a piece of art. Regardless if it’s a high end cemetery, or a very dense, old cemetery, I still find all cemeteries like art.

I hope that soon, I can take some formal photography sessions in these types of places. I think they’re as beautiful as taking photos of sunsets.

C Minus

My Lakbayan grade is C-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Created by Eugene Villar.

It's a Chauvinistic World

c/o wikipedia

Chauvinism, (pronounced /ˈʃoʊvɨnɪzəm/), in its original and primary meaning, is an exaggerated, bellicose patriotism and a blind belief in national superiority and glory.

By extension it has come to include an extreme and unreasoning partisanship on behalf of any group to which one belongs, especially when the partisanship includes malice and hatred towards a rival group. Jingoism is the British parallel form of this French word.
A contemporary use of the term in English is in the phrase male chauvinism.

Because "chauvinism" is most often heard in this context, it is often mistakenly believed to refer exclusively to "male chauvinism" such as anti-feminism and sexism.

Chauvinism as nationalism

Chauvinism is an almost natural product of the national concept insofar as it springs directly from the old idea of the "national mission." ... (A) nation's mission might be interpreted precisely as bringing its light to other, less fortunate peoples that, for whatever reason, have miraculously been left by history without a national mission. As long as this concept did not develop into the ideology of chauvinism and remained in the rather vague realm of national or even nationalistic pride, it frequently resulted in a high sense of responsibility for the welfare of backward peoples.

Chauvinism as sexism
Male chauvinism is a term used to describe the belief that men are superior to women. The term was widely used by the feminist movement in the 1960s to describe men who believe or display an attitude that women are inferior to men, speak to women as inferiors, or treat women negatively based solely upon their gender. Female chauvinism is a less commonly used term used to describe the symmetrical attitude that women are superior to men.

The term female chauvinism has been adopted by critics of some types or aspects of feminism; leading second-wave feminist Betty Friedan being a notable example.These critics argue, for example, that in some gender feminist views, all men are considered irreconcilable rapists, wife-beating brutes, and useless as partners to women or as fathers to children.

Mas-gusto Ko Pa ang TSISMOSA

Oh, you gossipers, why don’t you just spend your time more sensibly? Besides, there’s always Lady Gaga or Kris Aquino to talk about. Why me?

Just because I have a headache doesn’t mean I am pregnant. It’s normal to have a headache. Haller?

Just because I said I wanted to snack doesn’t mean I am pregnant. It’s normal for human beings to be hungry.

Just because my weight is fluctuating, doesn’t mean I am pregnant. It’s normal to change your lifestyle every now and then. It’s even more normal for your dryer to shrink your clothes!

I’ve been married 1 and a half years; my church wedding was just 2 months ago.

I AM NOT PREGNANT. That doesn’t mean my husband has a problem, nor do I. Deennnng!

Oh, you old schoolers… please evolve.
Don't treat your brain as an artifact.

Magtanim ay 'Di Biro

Majority of my weekend time is now spent outside the house, with my attempt to awaken the "inner green" in me. The green thumb that is!

I go to Home Depot almost every weekend now. Buying pots, buying baby plants, gardening tools, etc. My mother has such green thumbs that she can grow anything, even dead looking plants. The problem is, she CAN grow ANY plant, and WILL grow ANY plant. So for those who've been in our house in Quezon City, the first impression they'll get from the facade is "Hansel and Gretel House" or "Hobbit House." What's in common? Foliage covering a small house. Haha. Unlike my mother, I tend to pick just what plants I want to care for. Most of them has something to do with color. I only want flowering or fruitbearing plants - with color.

My favorite as of the moment are the Vincas (aka Periwinkles). They are very low maintenance, they are perfect with Guam weather, they don't go very bushy, they are colorful, and the best part - they are abloom all year round! I plan to have as much Vincas as I can in front and around our house.

Me and my mother in law also bought a few orchids from the flea market. They say orchids are very low maintenance, but I SOOO DISAGREE! I remember my Grandma's garden having so many orchids of different varieties and I also remember just watering them every late afternoon, putting eggshells on them, that's it! My aunt also leaves her orchids by the window, and the orchid seems to be very happy. I have 5 orchid plants and as of the moment, only 2 are left healthy. I am not even sure if the other 3 are alive. I think they didn't like too much wind in the backyard, or maybe I didn't water them enough? Whatever, I'll stick with the Vincas for now.

This is the only happy looking orchid left. This one stayed indoors the whole time. Maybe the orchids I bought are made to just stay inside a cool house.

I also have a few edible plants. I have what they call boonie peppers here in Guam (aka siling labuyo in the Philippines). One of our friends here also gave us a few eggplants, Thai peppers, basil and mint. I bought a little cherry tomato plant couple of weeks back, and it already has fruits! Woot woot!

I am not afraid to get under the sun, but I have to say it's beginning to show now. I jumped two shades darker, according to my face powder. Hehehehe. I used to not like that shade because it was too dark for my color, now it is perfect! Haha!

Snake

It was a beautiful morning. I decided to get up at 6:00 AM. I ate a little breakfast (aka Leftover potatoes and eggs from Denny's the night before). While resting and psyching myself to not go back to bed, I watched John & Kate Plus 8 reruns.

Come 7:00 AM I went for a quick jog. I went several times around our village, appreciating the beauty of some of the neighbor's houses, and partly dreaming of how our house would look like had we owned it. Then I got reminded of how some part of me is still not happy that our landlord doesn't seem to have maintained the house we're renting in. There's so much to improve on. Wait, it's a beautiful morning, shake off the bad vibes and go back to appreciating the neighbor's flowers.

The sun was just beginning to be too bright around 7:30 AM so I went back to the house. It was a beautiful morning indeed. I decided to visit my baby plants first before going back in the house. My heart was still beating faster than normal by this time. I was happily walking to my backyard and what do I see? A DEAD SNAKE! What the f?! My knees shook. It took me a few seconds to realize it was a dead one. Whew.



When we got here in Guam, I attended an orientation for the military spouses newcomers and the representatives from USDA shared the truth about Guam and snakes. That it has been a huge problem before, but has been controlled. They said that for us military families who are here for only around 3 years, almost no one would probably see a snake.

I probably am too lucky then. Been here a year and already saw two snakes. First is the live snake trying to cross the hi-way (which later on became my first ever roadkill), and now this dead one.

I told my Mother in law about the dead snake and apparently here's what happened:

Our new neighbors from across the street are cleaning up their yard, they found two snakes. They killed both snakes and left it in front of their house for trash and debris pick up. Then the kids probably played with it and threw it to our yard! DARN YOU KID! Had I seen that happen, that kid would be reporting to his/her mother - in front of me. Grrr.

Doesn't matter if you live in a clean, peaceful, pretty little village; you still can't choose who your neighbors will be.

Boys' Night Out With a Twist: The MISIS

My husband got invited to go out and watch the Mocha Girls. He thought we could take the opportunity to do some event coverage too and post it on our photography business website, so I got invited too. Of course I wanted to go, I love practicing my photography especially on low lights. Very challenging.


An hour before we were about to go, I contemplated on what happened and I figured they might have wanted a boys night out and I could be ruining it for them. We called our friends up, it was too late, the wives have already been invited and are all set to tag along.


Looks like it's a Boys' Night Out turned Date Night. Haha!


We got there, and there was a fundraising dinner for a Senator at that moment. I guess we were too early, but it's all good, we got free food out of it. Then came the Mocha Girls and what can I say, they are pretty good performers. Dancing, entertaining, singing, hosting all at the same time. They surely know what they're doing. We noticed there are some lip-synced parts, but who the hell cares. Imagine singing two sets with all songs choreographed. That is not easy. Not at all.


They were pretty interactive, very very interactive. Too interactive at some points, if you know what I mean. Or maybe I'm just a girl.


Then came the Mocha Girls' break and the house band took over. Well, after watching them for a few minutes, I started to call them the Seriously Band (I didn't remember their actual name). We had to say "Seriously?" like a hundred times during their sets, please don't make me elaborate. Going back to the Mocha Girls...


Our friend was one of the lucky five who had a chance to experience a song and lap dance number from the girls. My husband was supposed to be one of them too, but he used the famous line "My Mrs. is right there!" after the Mocha Girl invited him, she had to say sorry to me. I was busy taking photos that time, had I heard that, I would have nominated my husband too! ;) The girls had our friend sit down with his hands chained behind. Another friend got to dance with one of the girls too. As for us women, for some mix up - lost in translation - moment, we got included in the "How Low Can You Go" dance contest, along with all the other guy audiences. It was probably the most confused moment of my life. I am pretty sure I am not supposed to be there. Please, delete it from my memory. Woosaaaaaah.

There's a reason my personality leaned towards photography, I love WATCHING the limelight. Never enjoyed being in it.

It was all in all a very fun and NEW experience for me. Thanks to our friends who invited us. It was an eventful Boys Night Out. ;)

Donate Your Hair!

I have been keeping my hair long for probably more than 7 years already. I've been wanting a new look but was not bold enough to make drastic decisions. So for the past months, while planning for the wedding, I was also planning to change my look after it. I heard about hair donations from TV (ahem, Jolina Magdangal) but didn't know where or how to donate. Then I googled about it and found LOCKS OF LOVE. I read through the page and I was very surprised it was that easy!

You just need to follow the instructions on how you should tie your hair first before cutting at least 10 inches off of it. Then mail it.

I had my hair cut in Manila and unfortunately, the hairdressers there weren't aware of such donations. I had to instruct them how to tie my hair and how to cut it. A girlscout that I am, I even bought a piece of paper to guide them as to how long they should cut it.

Going out of the salon, I felt really light, literally and figuratively. I was already imagining how many wigs they can do with my long, straight, black, silky hair. Hahaha! It takes getting used to this hair. My husband sometimes stares at me, he says I look exactly the same as in High School. Hahaha!

For those who are planning on changing their look, this would be the best way! And probably your best excuse! :)

For those who would like to donate, try to take care of your hair now. You don't want to donate unhealthy hair, do you? It feels really great to do something good, and for so little effort too. If only I can donate more often. I won't mind. :P

November?!?!

WHOA!!!

My last entry was November!? 3 months ago?! WHOA!!!

Well, I guess I have a pretty good excuse: I GOT MARRIED!!! Re-MARRIED?
I got married the second time around in two years, to the same man. :P Pretty cool huh! Hahaha.

I figured I'd write about the wedding. Or maybe about the whole vacation itself. Or maybe just the wedding? Hmmm. Or maybe my wedding supplier review? But then again, I do have a few topics in mind that I want to write about! Maybe for now, I'll list them up:

I want to write about a year in my life here in the island.

I want to write about my new iPhone (Coolness)!

I want to write about my hair donation.

I want to write about my work.

I want to write about my "Year 2010 Projects."

I want to write about our house.

I want to write about people I miss.

I want to write about different kinds of people I have meet from all over the world.

I want to write about house chores.

I want to write about randoms on being married.

Okay that's ten topics! That will be my checklist for the coming days.

Yes, I WILL TRY TO WRITE AN ARTICLE AT LEAST 3 TIMES A WEEK (repeat until fade...).