Cutty

Johann is at the stage where he easily remembers and copies what we say. Here is the latest addition to his vocabulary. 1) My Gosh! - I guess he heard it from me. I was surprised when I first heard him say that because I don't say it that often. At least, it is not the curse mothers do not want to hear. 2) Ano ba?!?! - He got this from me (again). When somebody cuts into my lane, I'd honk my horn and say this. So, when Johann hears the horn (it doesn't matter if it came from another car), he'd shout "Ano ba?!?!" 3) Bakling - This one he got from his Dad. We were watching some guys on TV. His dad remarked that those guys were "bakling." The little boy kept repeating the word until we diverted his attention to something else. I never heard him say that again. 4) Interchangeable vowel sounds - My househelps are all Bisaya. The one who is most talkative has problems saying the vowel sounds correctly. Now, Johann says "air" when...

That's what I've been telling myself all afternoon. I went to the nearby mall after lunch to have my haircut and to pick up some necessities from the grocery. On my way to the salon, I noticed that the stores were on sale. I made a mental note to go around before going to the grocery. As if I needed reminding! After an hour and a half of primping, I made my usual stops. All the stores I frequent are on sale. Most of them give 50% discounts on clothing. I tried on several items. But, there was nothing that tugged my heart enough for me to bring it home. *I can hear the husband saying, " Buti na lang !"* I went home with nothing in tow, just groceries. I did what came to do. My husband would be proud.

When people are away from home for a long time, they'd end up craving for food they grew up with. I remember the time I was doing lots of business-related trips. I’d stuff my suitcase with lots of mixes so I can cook whatever I feel like eating. I’d even ask other people to bring food from home for me. My cousin, who lives in London, lost a lot of weight because she can't find Filipino food over there. She rarely eats rice and consumes sandwiches and salads most of the time. It's also unfortunate that she doesn't know how to cook. Needless to say, her cravings aren't satisfied. I hope she found these online recipes. They're very simple to follow specially for someone who doesn't spend a lot of time cooking. If she's adventurous enough, she can experiment with different cuisines. The same website carries food products from Asia, the Middle East, Americas and Europe. She also need not worry about getting the ingredients. Everyday ingredients, ...

I've indulged myself too much these past few days. I ate what should've been kept outside my system. A few days ago, I snacked on Pastillas . Last night, I had chicken. For several weeks now, I've been having eggs for breakfast nearly everyday. Now, my skin is breaking out. I've got rashes in one arm, several traces of allergy on both legs and cheeks. I went to my dermatologist last Monday. This was prior to the breakout. I was given the option to have the topical and oral meds or have it injected. Since I was driving myself home, I chose the first one. Now that the allergy has progressed, I may have to re-think my decision. I know what you're thinking. Don't blame it on the meds . I just started taking them yesterday. It was too late.

After Beverly Hills 90210, it seems that they are bringing back another Aaron Spelling production. Melrose Place is set to make a comeback this fall. Check out the teaser here . One of the villains in the old production, Sidney, is back. Looking at her brunette hair, she reminds me so much of Kara Dioguardi of the American Idol. So, what's next, The Love Boat?

One of the privileges of owning a BPI-Petron Master Card is this 24-hr Price Shield. It gives the cardholder an opportunity to buy the same volume of petrol at the price (per liter) prior to the price hike. For example, I intended to buy P1000 worth of gas. If it yields XX liters, I would only be charged for XX liters based on yesterday's price per liter. This is only applicable within 24 hours of the announcement of the price increase. I have to make a mental note to gas up at the station near Zuzuaregui Rd next time. Not all branches participate in this price-shield scheme. No wonder it took them quite a long time to get back to me with my card. Other than that, I am one satisfied customer.

One of my goals this year is to set up an income-generating business that I can call my own. I have checked out several spaces for potential business ventures. I have even gone as far as submitting an application for lease and application to franchise. However, every time I get the motivation to move on, I am saddled by one very big factor: capital. You see, we are putting aside our disposable income for other stuff. We have allotted some percentage to our travel this year and some to our home expansion. I don't think there still some we can put away to capitalize the business I have in mind. So now, I am looking for a reputable firm that offers Small Business Loans to people who are starting out like me. Do you know of any? I don't want to delay this venture for another year.

I am not really a follower of American Idol. I watched several auditions and I've seen the finale. I didn't even root for anyone. After seeing the two finalists, I kinda sensed that though Adam is more talented vocally, Kris would get the title. Adam's lined eyes and hip clothing may be too much for conservative America. Kris looks more "pang-masa." I didn't see Kara's number. I've been looking up a video of how she showed Bikini Girl how "Vision of Love" is supposed to be sung. There's none in YouTube but I found one. She kicked BG's @ss. Ayaw pa din patalo ni BG. Still trying to outdo Kara but she didn't succeed. Buti nga. If you haven't seen it yet, check it out here .

...I am supposed to find Vic's missing passport. The missing passport is an old one with no valid Visas. It's just that it has the bulk of Vic's travel history. I don't know where to start because I have to turn the whole house upside-down. That means I have to clean up our closets again. I need to find it soon so Vic can renew his US Visa in time for our trip this August. ...I have a Jazz class but I am not going. My body has changed so much that I can't cope with the teens . I am disheartened by the fact that the group is preparing for a recital that I am not joining. I may enroll for a workout class next. ...I just watched a new TV series by Fox called Glee. It is about a teacher who wants to the high school singing group a new life. Our group, ACS , finds it very timely and fitting. We have a friend who's about to do the same thing in a Jesuit school in NJ. If you want to see the first episode, you may view it here . The pilot episode was aired...

I went to our subdivision's developer to, hopefully, get the construction permit. They've finished doing the Location Plan and the Survey, prerequisites to getting the permit. I submitted the architectural plans along with the other plans (structural, electrical and plumbing) for approval. It seems that we need to revise the plan to comply with the restrictions set by the developer. I wanted to argue with the resident engineer but I can't. I don't understand their jargon. I was hoping to get the construction started this week. I guess we'd have to wait for another week to get things moving.

Last Thursday, I finalized our plans to go to the US. I already bought our tickets. It was all so sudden because the travel deal expired the next day. I needed to make a decision fast because the promo seats are limited. My mother's travel agent was very accommodating, considering that I changed my itinerary several times. It was ever-changing because I had to consider my husband's schedule also. We're booked on the 29 th then moved to 31st then back to the 29 th . We had several points-of-entry in mind because we're going to SFO , Vegas and LA, all accessible by PAL. Finally, I had my mind set on the 29 th because Vic said he can go on leave two days earlier. I told the agent to finalize the booking. When everything is all booked, I realized that we can NOT leave on the 29 th . I will be coming from Taipei on the 29 th . We're scheduled to arrive in the afternoon. If I leave via PAL in the evening, I will not see my kids. That is nearly three straig...

There's this photo circulating in Facebook about Prayer. I am a fan of the deed but this picture makes me wonder if the girl is indeed praying. Ready to pray or concentrating not to barf?

The Discovery Spa was the first spa I've ever tried. It was an anniversary treat from Vic. This was during the time when spas were only a handful and were really expensive. Only a few offer the home-service we know today. I got my first taste of the Swedish massage. My previous massages were the Hilot-type of massage. On one of our anniversaries as BF-GF, we tried out the couple's massage in Natural Spa in Tagaytay. It was so relaxing that we hoped to stay and sleep. But, we couldn't. We also tried Suriya, The Spa and City Lifestyle in Morato. Still, nothing beats the first. Now that Discovery has relaunched and re-branded their facility, I definitely would like to try it out. Terra Spa looks really relaxing and inviting. I wonder how much it'll set me back this time. Now, we'd just have to be content with the lady frequents our home to massage Vic and me.

Last night, we participated in the yearly concert series produced by the Philippine Madrigal Singers. If I remember correctly, it is week-long concert series. It is a real treat to music enthusiasts and choristers. This pseudo-festival showcases choirs handled by current and former members of the Madrigal Singers. Our choirmaster, Jonathan Velasco, performed with two choirs that night. Our program consisted of three songs, Ave Maria by Verdi , Now That I Have You by Trina Belamide and Hold On, a gospel song. I don't know why, but I had the jitters last night. It had been a long time since I last felt that way. Anyway, I think it ended well. We enjoyed ourselves performing last night. The crowd enjoyed the impromptu skit in the second song. We were all giggling by the time we finished the song. Click on the links so you'd see.

We met with our architect and contractor this morning. We are just waiting for the Location Plan and Construction Permits then we are all set. The City Hall and the Developer gave us a two-week deadline. I am hoping to get everything started by next week. The architect, who is Vic's cousin, mentioned that she wanted us to approve the tiles she picked out for the lanai. I can't wait for the time when we'll furnish the place. I'd like to get some rustic furniture to give off that cozy ambiance. A 12- seater dining set and some nice wooden seats are on the top of my list. I would like that part of the house to exude the simplicity and warmth of a country home. On the other hand, I could go for these rustic furniture that give off that modern vibe. What do you think?

... we got our Macbook's LCD replaced. Vic found a site called iFixit that sells the LCD screen for a little over $150. That already includes shipping to a U.S. address. It was quite timely that Vic's dad had a scheduled trip to the U.S. So, he brought it home with him. A nearby Apple store said that they'd to the replacement for 1.5K. Go na! So, the Mac's been fixed since Monday. Not bad, eh? It sure beats the 20K the Apple store was charging.

Saturday After a quick breakfast, we dropped off the gang (Johann, Javi and yayas ) in Pasig . I intended to go to Rockwell that day for the MomExpo . I wanted to get a coupon from Tumble Tots. Johann started out with that. I wanted to see if Javi would like it too. I'd also like to try several variants of insect repellent for Johann. I already tried several brands. But they were either too weak to repel mosquitoes or they reeked too much of citronella. I got the patch and a spray from GIGA . So far, the spray is working. I have yet to test the patch. Lunch was at Pepper Lunch. Vic didn't want to go in because we'd end up smelling like food by the time we get out. I've been craving for it for several days so Vic indulged me. Yep, we both smelled like peppery steak though he got a cheese steak sandwich. Dessert was taken from the Baker's Dozen at the Concourse Level. We got ourselves some Bico, Leche Flan and French Macaroons. Yum! We passed by the...

Several months ago, we saw someone drive an Audi TT along the highway. The husband was salivating. I bet he was thinking, if only we can afford an audi turbo. For now, he has to be content with Japanese cars. He is currently focusing his efforts on pimping our family car. He's been planning to change the speakers and install a small DVD player and monitor in the family car. I wonder if he is thinking about installing a turbo charger in there. Would it work with a CRDi engine? It would definitely help in long drives. He often says that it lacks power, most specially when he tries to overtake slow moving vehicles. I don't blame him. He is quite used to cars that accelerate instantly. If only http://www.turbochargerpros.com accepts international orders....

By yesterday afternoon, our DSL is already up and running. Unfortunately, I didn't get to use it because the electricity got cut-off due to the storm. Pagminamalas ka naman talaga . ----------------- Anyway, I didn't buy the network problem excuse they were giving me. It was so vague. I bet it was just a configuration glitch or some loose connection on their end. Kung napakalaking network problem talaga , bakit isang tawag lang ni boss nagawa na yun problema ? If it were really a big issue, I wouldn't expect it to be resolved that fast. They dropped by in the afternoon to check if it was a physical connection gone wrong. It wasn't. They called back, probably after some tweaks, expecting that it would be restored. Still no DSL . They called back again, 30 minutes later, we have a DSL light in the modem. I am glad I'm not using their DSL service for business. It would've gone down because of their slow after-sales service. Nevertheless, I...

Yep, our youngest boy will be a year old in six months. Though Javi's quite tall for his age, he hasn't been gaining much weight. We were advised by the ever-attentive grandparents to start giving him solids. They said that the milk is no longer enough for his needs. At first, we had to hold his chin to force him to swallow. He is getting much better at it now that we've mixed an ounce of milk to his rice cereal. We also changed his milk to HW 2. I am glad that he isn't that sensitive to the change in taste. Javi also likes drinking water, unlike his Kuya who gets "samid" from time to time. Like his Kuya, he is still afraid of people with loud voices. He got used to people talking to him in gentle tones. He still loves to be hugged and kissed by Kuya. His two teeth have fully erupted. I think we'll see a new set in a few weeks. He's been sucking his fingers and lips to soothe his gums. He is definitely more agile now. He rolls over with con...

I sent my mother a message to forward it to one of the VPs , who is a family friend. A few hours later, we have several people calling, asking us the same questions all over again. For the fourth time today, the DSL is the problem. Somebody said there was a ticket created already. Somebody said there's none. Somebody said it is a network problem. Looks like the network is working to me since they're expecting a DSL light on the modem when they called back. Another said they'll send someone to check it out. Ano ba talaga Kuya ? Magpunta ka na lang kaya dito para makita niyo yun problema . Grabe na talaga . I try to go through the normal process and they don't move. Do I always have to escalate the issue to elicit some action?

We woke up early last Saturday because we had a lunch reservation at Antonio's. The first order of the day is to drop off the kids in Kapitolyo then a quick change of cars. Vic wanted to test the strength of his dad's new toy. It is a old car but it still garners a lot of attention from other motorists. The color is a bit unusual. Hay naku, if only they knew. The car looks pretty. But, it is in need of a lot of repairs. The previous owner failed to give it love and attention. I was afraid that we wouldn't make it to Tagaytay because of the temp warning. It may have been not used to the exercise it was given that day. It still accelerates like a powerful European car. But being used to the bulkier vehicles with better suspension, I was afraid that the car would give out. We got to our destination and back with no problems...just sore bodies from the seats and poor suspension.

I finished the tasks I'm supposed to do today. One of which is to go to PLDT and report the DSL outage. It has been 9 days since I first reported the issue in 171. Everyday since then, we've reported the problem, hoping to get it working so hubby can work at home. There were still seven people before me so I decided to bring out the magazine I brought with me. I was expecting a long wait. Besides, I needed something to calm myself down before I approach the CS Rep. I told the Rep my story. She looked up my phone record. She said that there was no repair ticket created. Ganon?!?! Juskoduday, all the ranting I made during those phone calls went down the drain? She immediately created a ticket for me and called up the repair guy. She mentioned that it MAY be done by tomorrow. Oh well, at least she's more efficient than those in 171. Gosh, I am so tempted to write to Manay P. and tell him how poor his company's service is. One friend said it worked for him. I wil...