Reasons

The following reasons are applicable for the sporadic posts on my blog:
1. The World Cup. With the final 16 matches currently at play, I've somehow adjusted my sleeping habits so I can stay awake at 2:30am to watch exciting games. The first time I tried it I developed a freaking headache which lasted the whole day. Now I've more or less managed to stay awake until the start of the second half. Then simply doze off from exhaustion.

2. D and his friends are venturing full blast into a business. A venture that involves long hours planning and marketing their products. Naturally, as a wife I try to give my full support in every aspect but it can be tiring too especially when I am in a zombie like sleepless state. :D On this note, I hope that soon enough when we are ready to market the products online, there will be some orders from the very few who read this blog. :D

3. Movies. There are a number of films I've been looking forward to watch at the cinemas instead of relying on our friendly Jack Sparrow to provide us 'copies'. Then the Japanese film festival is starting early July so I intend to see a few.

4. Computer problems. It seems that both of our PCs developed modem problems. In the middle of a freaking storm where lightning was wreaking havoc, some of our electrical appliances conked out. Strange though that our PCs still function normally but when we try to connect to the Internet, the modems don't work. At first I tried reconnecting all the phone lines which took me hours but the problem still persists. Not being able to connect online can really get me into a very very very cranky mood. Now I need to rush to the nearest internet cafe for my online fix. Bummer.

5. Hospital visits. Transvaginal ultrasounds (yes I know TMi!!!) are not painful per se but just uncomfortable. After I have like 3 consecutively in one week, I feel really lethargic and out of bounds with my normal perky self. It is hard to clearly explain the gamut of emotions I experience during these procedures but suffice to say it isn't pleasant.

6. The most pleasant reason would have to be that my sister will be visiting second week of July. Ergo more sister bonding moments filled with shopping, spa treatments and massive feasting. I'm already quite excited!

So until the dust settles and I can go back to my normal blogging schedule, I bid thee farewell, for now! =)

Vision

While we were still dating, I found out that D has 20/20 vision. I admit it was difficult for me to imagine someone with perfect vision. I've been wearing glasses since I was a toddler so I'm pretty much useless without them.

Then I remember one day, he started feeling dizzy and developed splitting headaches. So I forced him to have his eyes checked. A few minutes later, the optician said that he needed reading glasses. No biggie since he can still see perfectly well, long distance. He went through some adjustment period to develop the habit of putting his glases on when he has to read. Other times, he simply forgets. It isn't like he doesn't want to wear them. In fact, he isn't conscious about his looks. So I don't really have to tell him that he looks distinguished when he wears them. :D

Picture perfect Friday

Happiness is Wind Chimes

I love wind chimes.

I believe they add some personality to a home. At the condo I have three different chimes hanging from the living room ceiling. The picture above is our house warming gift to my sister. The capiz shells wind chimes is now prominently displayed in her flat in Singapore.

I have a tiny wooden chime here but unfortunatley I haven't found the appropriate area to hang it. Even though we have been living here for 2 years now. Strange! :D

Dad's day

I was already seated in the taxi when I realized that I forgot the digicam at home. How perfectly forgetful of me. It just shows I'm not one of those people who take pictures of everything. Well, no offense meant but sometimes I think people tend to focus more on documenting the event instead of simply enjoying the occasion.

Anyhoo, D and I treated my dad to lunch at where else but Teriyaki Boy. We feasted on Miso Soup, Yaki Soba, California Roll, Creme Dori Tempura and Chicken Teriyaki. Ok just imagine in your fertile minds how that looks since obviously I don't have pictures of the mouth watering dishes. But rest assured, it was yummy as usual!

I've always been close to my dad. In fact, Mom calls me dad's little defender. Being surrounded by 2 strong willed daughters and a caring yet sometimes stubborn wife, I guess he has had some moments where he felt he was 'overpowered' but nevertheless he has always made his family, his topmost priority. And for that thankless responsibility, I honor and adore my father so much. Besides he keeps thanking me for blessing him with a son in law who is now his big defender. Hehehe :D

Business Ventures

D has been busy helping one of his closest friends in the promotion aspect of his retail business. I suggested that the best way to market a product/service is on the web. E-commerce is actually quite the trend nowadays. I further recommended that his friend should invest in a good webhosting package.

Naturally I first had to explain what exactly is involved in owning a domain name without sounding too technical. It is quite easy as there is a proliferation of companies offering these type of service. They even offer tutorials for first timers. Hmmm something tells me that eventually this 'task' might fall upon me. I should probably brush up on the subject matter.

Picture perfect Friday

Happiness is playing Scrabble on FaceBook

I've never taken to playing Farmville, Mafia Wars or Petville on FB. But lately I've been hooked on Scrabble. I remember playing the real game with my cousins during family reunions, way way back. I may have never won but at least it helped develop my vocabulary! =)

Get insured

I've lost count the numerous times I was hounded by a telemarketer selling life insurance. I just let the agent deliver his standard spiel on how it would be beneficial to have life insurance. Some of them would even scare you into thinking that you are careless in not securing a profitable future. Or how it would be a good investment to get insurance.

But with money being tight, I don't really have extra income just laying idly by so for now I have to say no to securing life insurance.

I'm lovin' it

That's the tag line of the McDonald's ad at the football stadiums at this year's World Cup held at various cities in South Africa.

I've always been an avid fan of soccer.

I figure that in basketball crazy Pinas, I may be one of the very few who actually watches men in tight shorts running after a ball trying their darnest to score a goal. But you should be aware that there is more to the game but I don't want to bore you with the technical details. hehe

I'm also glad that a local channel has decided to telecast the games. They show 3 matches daily at 7:30PM, 10PM and the unholy hour of 2:30 AM. My favorite teams are Italy and France. But I try to watch most of the games religiously, even the replays!

Oh I'm also very happy that I was able make a convert out of D so now he likes watching the games as well. Nevermind that he tends to snore after a few minutes of the second game. I know he is tired from teaching all day so it's understandable if he can't keep eyes open. But at least he makes an effort to actually understand the game by asking me questions. Now that is a good measure of a great husband, di ba? =)

Tan Lines

I always find it funny when 'pale' people go to tanning salons. There are a lot of movies where they always depict the session as going haywire so they turn out looking like the human version of orange marmalade. It does draw laughs because it is indeed a hilarious incident.

I suppose there is a saturation of tanning products available in the market each claiming to be the best self tanner 2010. Since it can be a rather tedious process, I guess it would be easier to merely go to a professional for the treatment. And hopefully the machine or whatever it is called doesn't malfunction.

Friends Request

In my past entries, I've lamented about how miserable I was during high school. We had just returned from two continuous stints abroad (India and Belgium) so I didn't speak a single word of Tagalog. I had thick wavy hair, wore thick eyeglasses and was thin as a rake. I was also anti-social so I came across as a snob. But somehow I managed to survive. I did make a select few friends who accepted me despite being an oddity. I've maintained the friendships through the years. We still keep in touch albeit via email and Facebook.

So I sometimes hesitate when I receive friends request on FB from my classmates in high school. I guess you can say I'm bitter but they didn't make any effort to befriend me back then but suddenly they want to add me to their contacts? Strange! Well it depends on my mood. Sometimes I confirm but more often than not, I decline the requests. They are probably thinking 'wow she is still a snob until now' but frankly I don't really care. :D

Then I receive messages like this:
"I just looked at your wedding pix and I must say you look so much more prettier than when we were younger. And you were glowing in your photos! Keep on glowing, girl!"

So I ask myself is she reaffirming that I was indeed 'ugly' or should I just be thankful that she thinks I am prettier now?

Hmmm what do you think?

Standing in Line

This past week has been pretty hectic. I did a lot of standing (in line). You see the thing with these film festivals is that they are free of charge so they implement a first come first served policy. But you still need to get a ticket to watch. Normally, they would release the tickets 1 hour before screening time. Then you can only enter the cinema 30 minutes before the film showing. Since it is free, expect a long line of moviegoers. It is interesting to note the different personalities. Senior citizens, students, yuppies and mind you even construction workers patiently line up. So I was in queue to get tickets, then I had to line up again to enter the cinema. In between watching movies I would be at the hospital waiting for my turn at the OB GYN ultrasound department.

For me it was a minor inconvenience (because I was able to watch 4 films) but what I can't really stand (literally hehe) is waiting in line at the taxi stand. Because more often than not, the taxi drivers will ask for your destination and once they find out it is a traffic prone area, they refuse to accept your fare. Ugh. I've lost count the number of times we were bypassed by a cab. It is such a frustrating experience.

At times like these, I wish I was back in Dubai or even Singapore for that matter, their taxi service are top notch. Their cabs are always well maintained and very clean. No broken door handles, no strange smells and most of all their drivers are courteous and won't EVER refuse a passenger.

Oh well c'est la vie in jolly old Pinas which coincidentally celebrates its 112th independence day, today. Maligayang Araw ng Kalayaan, Bayan kong Mahal! =)

Poetic Rain

Somewhere by E.E Cummings

Somewhere I have never travelled, gladly beyond
Any experience, your eyes have their silence:
In your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
Or which I cannot touch because they are too near

Your slightest look easily will unclose me
Though I have closed myself as fingers,
You open always petal by petal myself as spring opens
(Touching skilfully, mysteriously) her first rose

Or if your wish be to close me, I and
My life will shut very beautifully, suddenly,
As when the heart of this flower imagines
The snow carefully everywhere descending;

Nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals
The power of your intense fragility: whose texture
Compels me with the colour of its countries,
Rendering death and forever with each breathing

(I do not know what it is that closes
And opens; only something in me understands
The voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)
Nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands.

Picture perfect Friday

Happiness is film festival season

I tend to get all giddy whenever film festival season sets in. The 15th French Film Festival officially starts today. It will continue until the 13th of June. I also look forward to the Eiga Sai (Contemporary Japanese film festival), the Cine Europa and Pelikula, the film festival that features Spanish movies from the different Latin American nations.

I also get to stay at the condo (it is centrally located) for a few days while these film festivals have their run. So I'm really thankful that D understands me and my need to get lost in the world of subtitles for a few days during the year. =)

Embarrassing Situations

In my quest to conceive there have been a number of situations where I would cringe with embarrassment.

(1) wearing hideous hospital gowns. You know the ones where your behind is exposed for the whole hospital staff to see. It is imperative that I go for a transvaginal ultrasound, every month. Sometimes 3 times a month. So although I welcome the fact that these tests will improve my chances, I don't relish putting those 'gowns'. For the life of me, I don't understand why someone hasn't invented a more presentable and decent hospital gown. The kind which will save us from cringing moments.

(2) buying pregnancy test kits. I tend to be quite paranoid nowadays. The moment I miss my period by a few days, I reach for those pregnancy test for confirmation. Back in my single days, I would really dread buying these kits. But you know what? Wearing a wedding ring doesn't ease the embarrassment, either. So what I do is to buy my vitamins along with the testing kits so it won't be too obvious. hehe