Cutty

So, Vic and I stayed up till the wee hours of Monday just to avail of PAL's promo for the coming months. It seemed like everyone had the same strategy as ours. I started my online search right before midnight. I figured, by the time it would finish searching, I would see the promo right before my eyes. Thirty minutes had passed, still no search results. Another twenty minutes resulted to nothing. We decided to sleep on it. I just knew the online reservation thingy of PAL just couldn't handle the load. Diba sila nag-stress test man lang? The site hangs on any ordinary day, why should I expect anything else on a major traffic day? I woke up for Javi's 4am feeding. I tried searching once again. Sayang din naman kasi. The MNL-LAS quote is 16XX per person. Okay, lost cause na ito. When I woke up once again at around 830am, I got a 300+ fare for the MNL-LAS route. I hurriedly got my card so I can proceed to the payment part. However, I realized, I should check if I ...

This is the fourth day that I don't have DSL . We've reported the problem several times. On the second, they said that we're lined up for some remote testing. Ping test lang ba yun ? Today, they said it was a network problem that affects the whole Balara area. The couldn't give me an idea as to when the service would be restored. I am currently resigned to using the hubby's Visibility to access the Internet. It gets disconnected every five minutes. How am I supposed to get some online shopping done, let alone some research?

My zygote friend from ACS is due to arrive this week from Paris. He has a Le Pliage in tow for me. This will be my new pang-harabas bag. It didn't cost me more than 100 Euros. Yey! Sana di gayahin, di naman niya type ito e. Mura lang kasi =P

Bakit ba palagi na lang kung anong meron ako, gusto mo meron ka din? Dapat ba palagi ka na lang nakakalamang? Hindi ako nakikipagsabayan sa iyo. Hindi rin ako nakikipag kompetensya. May originality lang ako =P Parang ayoko na tuloy ipakita sa iyo kung anong bago meron ako. Allow me to savor my gifts a bit longer. Pwede? Okay na ko.

I just heard about PAL's Real Deals yesterday. A Round-trip flight to the US is just $418 starting this September. Since this round-trip fare doesn't cover our trip in August, we'd just have to settle for the one-way promo fares. One way to the US/Canada is $303. All fares don't include taxes and surcharges. Even so, the promo would still allow us to save around $200 per person. There's a catch, though. We'd have to purchase the tickets online from April 27 to 28. I hope PAL's site can keep up with the volume. Lagi pa naman nagha -hang yun site. I also hope they don't run out of seats. ------------------- My mother called me up this morning to say that they got a promo from PAL. A pair of travellers to HK will cost only $142 per person. For three people, each person would only have to shell out $112. I am tempted to join them since they "need" a third person. I want to go to the places I failed to visit when I was there last...

I've been planning to put up a business for some time now. I know, it is still in the planning stages. The one location I had set my eyes on is already filled up. The Franchisee is so slow that we lost the opportunity. Now, I am considering putting up something from scratch. I haven't had the time to actually do research on those ideas. One thing's for certain, I need a surefire way to promote the business. After all, marketing can make or break a business. I saw this company that provides online marketing. It explores different avenues to make your business known all over. Though it specializes on Hawaii Design , I hope they can accommodate my requirements even if I am across the Pacific. I hope they throw in their photo services, too. Their work looks good.

Last Monday, I remembered that I had to show up for the Jazz Class in Moro. I already missed two classes because I had no alternate baby-sitter for my two boys. I made it a point to be present at the remaining classes. When I arrived, I was surprised to see teeners and kids in the class. They decided to merge the kids and adult classes. Man, did I feel old! We stretched to the tune of Po-po-po-po-po-poker Face. The curves I got during pregnancy were in the way. I could hardly keep up! I could handle the kicks and the plies. I didn't bother with the splits. Some time during the class, I got the feeling that the class is being prepared for a recital. Nyek! I told the instructor that I am there only for the work out. She did say that I have the option not to join the recital. Buti naman.

This is how I am currently accessing the Internet. This is how the IT in me made it work. As I've written in my previous post, I have several options on how to still utilize the Mac. I tried using the TV as my monitor. It worked on Vic's Lenovo but it won't work on the Mac. I finally got over the laziness and decided to test the PC monitor. It worked! Excitedly, I detached the monitor from the desktop and transferred it to the bedroom. That way, I can stay with my sleeping boys while I surf. When I finally decided to log back in again, I can't see my wallpaper, the icons and everything else! Grrr . I figured, it must be the resolution. Since I have a broken monitor, my only option is to use the short keys. I called several people to see if the can help me out. I got nothing. Apparetly , there are no short keys to change the resolution. It seemed stupid, but I decided to reconnect the Mac to the TV again then to the stand-alone monitor. It worked the first ...

The place is home to Breakfast at Antonio's from morning till 4PM. In the evening, it transforms into this dimly lit place, perfect for those who want to impress their dates. According to the chef, the menu changes from time to time. The greens are grown by the Chef's wife, Agnes, in her garden. On the way to the restaurant, you'd think that you'd gone out of the way because of the quiet, narrow streets. You'd never guess how vast the place is unless you've gone around to explore it. The restaurant can seat around two hundred people. It has the find-dining feel that even Manila's five star hotels can not live up to. After sampling the food and the service, I believe that they deserve being in Miele's top 20 restos in Asia. ------------------- I just want you to see how special Antonio's was. Photos are courtesy of Vic. The salad is much better with the Baked Brie and Cranberry in Puff Pastry. This the Bulalo on toast with caramelized onion. ...

The husband accidentally dragged the Macbook to the floor. He broke the monitor. A. Shop at the Podium quoted P20K for the replacement. Someone said it will be around $200. We're waiting to hear from Vic's contact from MicroWarehouse. I hope it is cheaper. If not, we are considering sending it to the States for fixing. If that is the case, I will be without the Net for two weeks. Grrr. Now, that I have time to surf, I don't have a laptop. The desktop's broken, too. As a workaround, we bought a cable to connect the Mac to the TV. I hope that would work out. I think I can live with that. In the meantime, I am using the husband's laptop.

Now that the kids' nannies are back, I can finally fill you in about our Holy Week. ------------------- Ours officially starts on Maundy Thursday. On this day, most people witness the re-enactment of the Last Supper. For us, it is the day we visit seven churches and recite the Way of the Cross. This year's Visita Iglesia is quite hurried mainly because of the shortened version we have in our prayer booklet. The kids weren't with us also so going around was a lot quicker. We were able to squeeze in some time to grocery-shop. The following Friday, we headed to Tagaytay to be with the rest of Vic's family. Going there without the yaya was quite manageable. Javi was asleep the whole time. Johann was busy looking at all the cars and trucks on the road. It was a good decision to wait till Friday because the rest of the vacationing public were already off the SLEX . We were in Tagaytay in less than two hours, all the way from the far side of QC. We headed to ...

As a kid, I used to love the summer season. Not only does it mark the end of school, it also denotes the beginning of fun-filled days at the beach. Now, summer stands for extreme and unbearable heat. The heat brings various physical ailments like flu, cough, colds, sore throat, dehydration and heat rash. It is also bad for people with hypertension. Until a few years ago, I never thought that people died of heat stroke. It is because of this heat that Johann and I are still coughing and wiping our noses. I’m afraid that his condition has worsened. I hope it doesn’t develop into asthma. If only I can afford air conditioning all day. I'm sure my everyone would be in a much better disposition.

Here's how our expansion would look like if we push through with it. We're still waiting for the bids to come in. I hope we can afford it.

It has been a week since I became a full-time mom. Vic, our remaining help and I have been taking turns watching over the two kids. It was easier last week since there were several vacation days. Many days were spent with family who were willing to help look after them. Now that the little boy is with me most of the time, he has turned into a mama's boy. He has become very clingy. He always whines and cries until he gets what he wants. I'm afraid that I have given in too many times. I have learned to ignore the loud noise coming from my hyperactive toddler. I hope my next-door neighbor has learned that too. Johann eventually stops when he is tired or distracted. During the past week, Johann has also become more confident when it comes to feeding himself. I've found out that reading him stories and exposing him to Bob the Builder and Facebook pictures calm him down. I thank God that Javi doesn't mind the noise his kuya makes. He just smiles, shrieks and sl...

As early as the third quarter of last year, Vic and I have decided to go to the States this August. One of his cousins is getting married. We already received the Save-the-Date card. We are just waiting for the actual invitation, and, of course, Vic's Visa renewal. As soon as I located the hotel, I quickly to referred to my best travel buddy, Mapquest. It seems that the hotel is just in the middle of everything I miss in the US. Ross, Target, Costco and Marshalls are less than a mile away. The Napa Premium Outlets is about 15 miles away. Unfortunately, the nearest PF Chang's outlet is in Walnut Creek, a good 20-minute-drive. At least, there's an Olive Garden and a Red Lobster nearby. I hope we can squeeze in some time for a wine-tasting tour. I can't wait! I should start saving up.

Yes, he's 5 mos old today. I knew buying that brazo de mercedes today was for something special. I've been spending more time with him these past few days because his full-time nanny went home for her much-delayed vacation. Recently, I've noticed a lot of activity concerning this baby. He is now more mobile. He can crawl and roll-over. He's been shrieking like crazy these past few days. He seems to have discovered that that is more interesting than cooing and gurgling. His first tooth also came through. We'll just have to wait for him to sit on his own. Soon, he'll be eating solids. Soon, we'll be getting him a new car-seat. He's growing really fast. Time surely flies.

...is one of the luxuries I'd have to trade off when looking after my kids. It is also one of the luxuries I look forward to when my boys are in deep slumber. For that reason, putting my toddler to bed is one skill I have to master. So far, two things work for us: 1) "Deadma." It could be Mama pretending to be asleep or Daddy watching TV while the boy tumbles and turns on the bed. Once we hear steady breathing, we know sleep has come. 2) Scratch the itch. If the first one didn't work, this one will. The little boy likes to sleep on top of a queen-sized pillow. He usually lifts his shirt to scratch his tummy when he's ready to sleep. If he has his back turned, I work my fingers onto the itchy bumps on his back. This has worked several times. I hope it doesn't lose its effectivity.

Though I officially turned thirty last Monday, we just celebrated the event last Saturday. Family from both sides, balikbayans (who are in town for Inay's death anniversary) and friends from the ACS graced the event. As usual, the buffet was opened by the Cadanos and the Endrigas. It was closed off by the ACS. I still had some leftovers that I do not mind eating the whole week. As promised, good food and booze flowed endlessly. Vic and several people remarked that the waiters are well-trained. They always top-up drinks. They were also very courteous. That is why I got them again. I had no problems giving them quite a hefty tip. Of course, Cathy's Kitchen just had to make something for dessert. I debuted my Red Velvet Cake recipe. It was a winner. I am glad it turned out well. My guinea pigs loved it. It will be another offering for my "future" business. One friend welcomed me to the club. She asked how I felt. When we were younger, we felt that 30 is ...

We've been going to the Autoshow at the WTC for several years already. First, it was because of the cars, of course. Now, it is because of the Russ Swift driving exhibition. I like the way he uses the Subaru to its full potential. Anyway, several things came up that week that resulted to not seeing the new "toys" nor the precision driver. Johann and I were still recovering from flu during the week. We had a party to prepare for last Saturday. Then, on Sunday, we were just plain lazy. After the mass in Gesu and a monggolian brunch at Sweet Inspiration, not to mention the summer heat, we opted to stay in and catch up on sleep.