Monday, February 27, 2006

New citizen of the world
He emailed:
I'm just home from the hospital and exhausted.

Our daughter, Sara, was born just after 9 PM. She's healthy, active, and mom's doing fine. Weighs 3.1 kg and has big blue eyes.
I got to hold her in my arms and watch her wave her arms around, squint up at me and drift off to sleep. I need a drink. Feeling giddy and freaked out and happy and crazy all at the same time.

Daphne, you've been really supportive through this whole thing, and I want to thank you again a zillion times for that.



Congratulations to my soul mate and his wife M.
Welcome to the world ... baby Sara!

P.S.
I swear, the tears I shed were tears of joy!
I can't believe he's now, a dad!
If you asked me a year ago if this is possible.
The answer would have been no.
I'm sure he's totally freaked out now.
God bless him!

Sunday, February 26, 2006

Survey said ...
1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what did you think? Time to pluck my eyebrows
2. How much cash do you have on you? P2,050 in my wallet
3. What's a word that rhymes with "TEST"? Best
4. Favorite planet? Earth
5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? Caesar
6. What is your favorite ring on your phone? This is My Song
7. What shirt are you wearing? Pink with beaded flower
8. Do you "label" yourself? Nope
9. Name the brand of shoes you're currently wearing now? Hush Puppies
10. Bright or Dark Room? Bright
11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you? S (through email), he's honest
12. What were you doing at midnight last night? Watching TV
13. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? "Yup. Coffee and more! =)"
14. Where is your nearest 7-11? It is just a short walk from here
15. What's a saying(s) that you say a lot? Merde!
16. Who told you they loved you last? My mother
17. Last furry thing you touched? Woolite
18. How many days of school did you miss this week? N/A
19. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed? I don't have them developed anymore
20. Favorite age you have been so far? 35
21. Your worst enemy? No one
22. What is your current desktop picture:

Paris
23. What was the last thing you said to someone? "I made you breakfast"
24. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly, which would you choose?: Million bucks
25. Do you like someone? You mean romantically? No one
26. The last song you listened to? Robbie Williams "Eternity"
27. Carmen Electra or Pam Anderson? Neither

Friday, February 24, 2006

Breaking News
President Gloria M. Arroyo declares state of emergency.
Hopefully this would just fizzle out over the weekend.
Enough already!
I was planning to go to Makati, today.
Not to join the freaking Edsa I activities.
But.
To watch "Brokeback Mountain".
Yeah ... yeah ... I know I'm frivolous.
Whatever! :D

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

"She dances, she sings. She entertains you, whatever you want. The rest is shadows, the rest is secret"
Still basking in the euphoria of her Japan trip, my sister insisted we watch "Memoirs of A Geisha" today.
On its first day of showing.
So even if we are color coded, we sneaked out between the 10 am to 3 pm time frame.
Then we had a sumptuous meal at ... yes you guessed right.
A Japanese restaurant ... Teriyaki Boy.
Surprisingly good food at reasonable prices too!
Now is it just me or did the movie not live up to all the hype?
Seriously, I think there is something missing.
I can't quite figure it out, just yet.
I believe it is time I re-read the book.
But I can't find my copy!
It is probably buried in a box at my parents' place.
Or I misplaced it and probably lost it.

*** Note to self: go home this weekend and ransack boxes! ***

Saturday, February 18, 2006

I was tagged by Selina

4 Jobs I've had in my life --> Consular Clerk, Secretary, Freelance Web Designer

4 movies I could watch over and over --> Love Actually, City of Angels, Under the Tuscan Sun, The Brothers McMullen.

4 places I've lived --> New Delhi (India), Brussels (Belgium), Singapore, Dubai (UAE).

4 TV shows I love to watch --> The Amazing Race, CSI, Survivor, NYPD Blue

4 places I've been on vacation--> Petra (Jordan), Limassol (Cyprus), Florence (Italy), Paris (France)

4 websites I visit daily --> Click the City, Gmail, Imdb, blogs

4 of my favorite foods --> California Maki, Pasta, Seafood, Banana

4 places I'd rather be right now --> in bed but I'm wide awake!

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

The days of wine and roses
No, I didn't drink any wine nor did I receive any roses.
I was referring to the Andy Williams song.
My sister and I played chaperone to our parents Valentine date.
Since dad has some difficulty driving at night, we drove them to the Araneta Coliseum for the concert.
So my sister and I hanged out at the Gateway Mall.
Geez.
The whole place was swarming with people.
You see it has been ages since I've been to Cubao.
I mean it must be like over 10 years now.
So I don't know if the Gateway Mall is really that crowded.
Or since it was V day the entire population of QUezon City were out in droves.
Finding a table at restaurants was an arduous task.
Long queues everywhere.
After shuffling from one diner to another, we found a table at Cibo.
We munched on heart shaped bread that accompanied our penne.
By the time we were done, it was too late to catch a movie.
So we just parked ourselves at Figaro, overdosed on caffeine while people watching.
Ladies with roses.
Guessing if couples were still single or married.
Guys fumbling with credit cards to pay for their meals.
Whole families wearing red outfits.
So yes I survived Valentine's Day 2006.
Out in public without a date.
Without a rose.
It wasn't as painful as I thought it would be.
Besides the huge smiles on my parents faces from enjoying the concert was worth it.
After all, isn't that what love is all about?

Sunday, February 12, 2006

My favorite shots from my sister's Tokyo trip

Fuji-san
The imposingly majestic Mount Fuji!

Mt Fuji

Saturday, February 11, 2006

Sights and Sounds of Tokyo, Japan - part 2 (c/o of my sister)

The Imperial Palace
The Royal Imperial Palace


Meiji Shrine
Entrance to the Meiji Shrine


Meiji Shrine
Meiji Shrine

Friday, February 10, 2006

Sights and sounds of Tokyo, Japan - part 1
(c/o of my sister)


Every district is distinctly different in this bustling city.
Ginza
Ginza
The Ginza District - a posh area with designer boutiques


Shinjuku
Bic Camera
The Shinjuku District - the electronics haven

Sunday, February 05, 2006

One liner tidbits
Today is my parents' 38th wedding anniversary.

So, yes I will be turning 38 in October.

Yikes!

It is also my dear friend in Dubai, Aoff's birthday.

My sister returns from her Tokyo trip, this afternoon.

She didn't find any Gap "Dream" perfume for her.

Neither did she find my "Splendor".

But I'm sure she has loads of stories to tell.

I'm excited to hear her 'Land of the Rising Sun' adventures.

This past week I watched 5 movies.

2 at the cinemas.

3 which I borrowed from the video store downstairs.

I am looking forward to seeing "Brokeback Mountain".

"Munich" and "New World" too.

I didn't know Harrison Ford had a new flick.

"Firewall" which I may or may not watch.

But I'm definitely skipping "Walk the Line".

I don't dig Reese Witherspoon.

Survivor is back.

New exciting twists abound.

I'd watch it anyway.

Jeff Probst rocks!

I had a haircut last Friday.

Same style but 2 inches shorter.

I'd post a picture but it is blurry.

My hands shake when I use the camera on my cellphone.

Yes it is the month of the hearts.

Definitely no date for me.

Same standard line for the past 3 years now.

I don't even have any prospects.

Nary a blimp in my radar.

A private joke between ER and me.

If you don't get it, tough luck.

If you do, then pat yourself on the back.

By the way, his wife is due to give birth this month.

So ... oh never mind.

I need to move on.

Sad tragedy how 79 people are trampled to death in a stampede.

All because they watch a show that indeed feeds on mendicancy.

Enough said.

Friday, February 03, 2006

Phased out
The thing with being a former diplobrat is we had to change residence like every 4 to 5 years.
So every time we settled in a new place, I would get attached to certain products and use them all the time.
In Singapore, my main kikay kit consisted of a CoverGirl creamy beige powder/foundation compact.
It was perfect for my skin tone.

1995 - we moved to Dubai.
Lo and behold - all of the department stores did NOT sell Cover Girl products. It was very frustrating, I had to switch brands but never found one suitable for my skin tone so I just quit using them.
I went au naturel and just use lipstick and eyeliner.

My love for perfumes was enhanced in Dubai.
I had all kinds of scents.
Some of them I bought, myself.
The others were given as gifts by my suitors.
This phenomenon (I call it so because believe me I did receive numerous bottles of different perfumes) made me wonder.
Did they think I didn't smell good or did they just grab the first perfume bottle from the counter and hoped that I would grow to love the scent?
Till this day, I haven't quite figured it out, yet.

My latest favorite scent is Elizabeth Arden's Splendor.
It was given to me for Valentine's Day 2000.
The last one of the 3 bottles I bought during my last trip to Dubai (July 2003) is running out.
So yesterday I ventured into Rustan's to check out how much it costs in this country.
Guess what?
Much to my dismay, the lady at the Elizabeth Arden counter told me it has been phased out in the Philippines since last year.
WHAT???!!! *insert cuss word here*
So I sent a text to my sister and asked begged her to find COVERGIRL and SPLENDOR in Tokyo, Japan for me.

Please!