Nightstand

This is the photographic evidence of my side table when I was sick for the past week. Well I am still not yet fully recovered but it isn't as bad as last Tuesday.

Toilet paper to blow my stuffed nose. Alcohol to wipe my body from the sticky ointment I would rub all over my chest and back. Then I would put powder to refresh. I would also drink plenty of bottled water and harabe (basically kalamansi juice with hot water). Then I would chew on Vicks Vaporub candies which also serve as lozenges to soothe my throat. I also read a book in between bouts of extreme browsiness to ease my boredom.

I figure my cold and cough last this long because I don't take meds except on the first two days (merely Paracetamol and Aspirin aside from my regular vitamins and fertility meds) then rely on balm, harabe and lozenges to do the trick. I also eat alot because the toxins coupled with the kalamansi juice makes my already sensitive tummy quite acidic. I guess there is a nasty bug doing the rounds since I also hear my neighbors coughing and sneezing at any given time.

Oh uh, I'm hungry again! He he he

Ghouls and pumpkins

October is my birth month. But it is more importantly known as the month when people in certain parts of the world go trick or treating on Halloween night. In this part of the region, most malls are all decked up in their Halloween refineries to welcome kids who stroll from shop to shop for goodies. Although it isn't a holiday that we usually celebrate, I guess for commercialism sake the malls are obliged to comply. Probably this early, the staff are already meeting to discuss their HalloweenDecoration Ideas to attract the most shoppers. After all, it is a fun filled activity for the kids!

Blues skies

I have been sick for the past 2 days (I still am nursing a terrible cold and cough) but to break the routine of lying in bed all day trying not to doze off while reading "The Lost Symbol" by Dan Brown, I would go online briefly. I even helped D upload some pictures to his Facebook Account, he didn't know that you can actually create a photo album of snapshots.

Here are some gorgeous photos of blue skies. He snapped them from the Harbor Square which is located right across the CCP Complex.

Night Caller

I was slowly dozing off while watching TV last night when the phone rang. It was around 11:30pm but I thought it might be an emergency so I answered the call.

Guy: Hello pwd po kay Mike?
Me: Walang Mike dito, wrong number.
Guy: Sorry ha sa Sta Mesa ba ito?
Me: Hindi Q.C.
Guy: Pwede ba magkwentuhan muna tayo?
Me: Hindi pwede
Guy: Ok lang, pwede ba next time pag hindi kayo busy?
Me: Hindi rin pwede
Guy: mumbles something
I hanged up and was laughing so much.

You have to know that this call was very brief and it happened so fast. I hanged up because by that time, D was standing in front of me after leaving his computer and was wondering whom I was talking to.

I told him.

He was pretty serious when he said: "Sana binigay mo sa kin, ako makikipagkwentuhan sa kanya" I don't know which was funnier the call or D's reaction to the nuisance call. I told him to relax I could handle it!

Milestones

My father turned 74 today so it was a good reason to splurge on food and desserts. We had lunch at Little Asia Restaurant in Greenhills and desserts at Icebergs at Galleria after the 3pm mass at Edsa Shrine.


Crabmeat and Corn Soup


Crispy Shrimps


Fish Fillet in Black Bean Sauce


Yang Chow Fried Rice



Beef Tenderloin in Chinese Steak Sauce


Crispy Fried Chicken


Seafood Fried Noodles



Special Halo Halo


Chocolate Sundae and Saba, Langka con Hielo

Boys will be boys

Today, D and his friends went to the Philippine International Motor Show at the World Trade Center to ogle at the cars on exhibit. So I lent him Samgy (my Samsung digicam, yes it's mine :D) so he can take snapshots of the display. He kept telling me that his friends were more interested in snapping pictures of the promo girls in skimpy outfits posing near the cars than the vehicles themselves.



So how come out of the 90 pictures he took, I counted 33 of them were focused on the promo girls not the cars, huh? He said well they just happen to be standing there and it would be rude to tell them to move. Yeah right! Very funny. Har har har.

Picture perfect Friday

Happiness is Nestle fruit yogurt

I like my yogurt cold so I keep them in the freezer. I usually eat one at breakfast and another one for snack. I admit I am partial to the Melon Nata flavor specifically its tiny Nata tidbits. I also discovered that it is cheaper to buy them at a grocery nearby than at SM. It costs merely P24.00 as opposed to P25 at the Hypermarket. Good deal!

Blogging Mechanics

Recently two friends asked me to teach them how to blog. Apparently, they found out that it can be quite lucrative. I don't know about them but honestly blogging isn't really as easy as it seems.

First of all, you would need to compose an entry every day. You also need to be somewhat familiar with html codes to change the layout of your blog to accommodate all those sidebars. They also need to be patient enough as they establish a steady stream of traffic towards the blog. Then and only then can they scour through websites for opportunities. Taking into account the fact that there are a lot of competition all vying for the same tasks.

But I don't want to discourage them so I emailed them with very basic instructions. I even advised them to find a good domain with unlimited web hosting to further their chances. Hopefully they don't give up easily.

Catharsis

Over the weekend, I had a defining moment over a cup of coffee. Between wracking sobs where copious tears flowed freely, I revealed my innermost fears. Reassurances were made. Vows were reaffirmed. I feel so much better after I was finally able to unleash my burden. It was weighing heavily on my vanquished soul. Now that it is out in the open, I admit I'm still a bit shaken but totally relieved. So bahala na, time to move onwards!

Invest in Gold

The US dollar is weakening at an alarming rate. But there is an investment product which is gaining grounds - purchasing gold. Gold is available in coin or ingot form. Ingots are generally gold of pure bullion cast in a convenient size and shape. While coins have a currency value.

Buying gold has been recognized as a stable way to preserve one’s wealth. Gold bullion is a unique investment. Its proven ability to diversify investments, protect wealth and preserve one’s purchasing power makes it a practical choice of investment.

The best time to buy gold bullion is now as world demand has significantly increased over annual production. Just be sure to buy from a certified dealer who can offer competitive prices in the gold trading market.

Picture perfect Friday

Happiness is watching movies on CERA

It seems like my life has turned into a big blah. I'm tired, uninspired, unmotivated and I really have nothing to look forward to. I feel like Frances McDormand's character in "Friends with Money" when she uttered:
"I just, guess I feel there's no more wondering what's it gonna be like."

And if you regularly read my blog, I figure you more or less have an idea what I'm lamenting about!

Anyhoo, my computer is having another one of its numerous tantrums so I 'borrowed' my sister's Acer Laptop. After all, it is just gathering dust at the condo since my sister relocated. I affectionately call her CERA. And thanks to her, I can get lost in the world of cinema where happy endings abound.

Lights Out

I'm a fussy sleeper. I prefer my environment to be cold, dark and devoid of noise. Since we live on a main street, there are various types of vehicles that pass by any time of the day and night. You have jeepneys, tricycles, private cars even motorcycles. So there is no escaping them.

Thankfully when it rains, the air cools down a bit so it is blankie time. As for the intrusive street lamp and/or the blinding sunlight, at the condo we installed some blackout blinds to block it off. But here at home, we simply rely on the curtains. Sad to say, it doesn't really darken the room. Yet I guess I should be thankful our street is well lighted to deter crime.

We can't really have it all, can we?

Picture perfect Friday

Happiness is new additions to my wardrobe.

I'm not much of a shopaholic because I only buy clothes when my sister is in town. That would be like once a year. But when I do well I might as well max out my credit card, right?

The funny thing is that I cannot shop for clothes with D. I still don't feel comfortable trying clothes on in the fitting room and then coming out for his 'approval'. Perhaps it is because I've heard many fitting room conversations where the wife almost always get reprimanded for choosing a certain item.

I remember a guy (who I presumed is the husband) telling a woman at the top of his voice "Hindi bagay sa yo, iyan. Tignan mo nga nakalabas na ang dibdib mo!" On another occasion, I overheard some guy chastising his wife for another frivolous purchase "At saan mo naman isusuot yan? Di ba kabibili mo lang last week?" Boyfriends/husbands/significant others should totally be banned from fitting rooms, I'd say!

When I told D about it, he said that he won't do that to me and that I can wear anything I want. Hmmm. I think I rather just avoid the situation just the same. Thanks for the support but I still won't go shopping with you, hon! LOL :D

The Anatomy of a Street on a Rainy Day

Flash Floods

The thing with living in this neck of the woods is that it rains frequently. It feels like we live in a rainforest. The downpour usually occurs in the afternoons and early evenings. It is usually preceded by really loud thunder and ear piercing lightning flashes. They scare me terribly. I switch off all the appliances in our house and unplug them from the electrical outlets.

Surely, I have nothing against precipitation. It cools the atmosphere and the temperatures, just a tad bit. What I dread though is the inundated street. It seems that our street is the catch basin of the entire village. Luckily our house is on an elevated area and we have a second floor. At the height of Ondoy when it rained for 6 hours non stop, the water level rose to an alarming height, it entered our house at ankle level.

But lately though, I noticed that a heavy downpour of merely 20 minutes already floods the entire street. It is alarming how the drainage system can no longer accommodate such a heavy volume of rain. Because every time it rains I go into panic mode. What if the water rises up to our second floor? How will I have the strength to carry the pieces of furniture and the ref up the stairs? How will D get home?

Scary thoughts, really!

Oops time to log off, darkening skies abound!

Food Food Food

Ice ... ice ... baby!

I'm currently 'munching' on an ice cube as I type this entry.

Why?

Well, according to my sister it helps cool down our body temperature. Ergo it can minimize sweating. Ever since she relocated back to Singapore, she noticed that she doesn't sweat as much as she did when she lived here. She attributes it to her habit of chewing on ice cubes.

So in my quest to lessen my excessive sweating, I've adopted this 'habit'.
Let's hope it is effective too for moi! =)

Oh by the way, D is totally not the sweaty type. He hardly perspire and can stay as refreshing as a newly bathed person. Totally not fair compared to my basang sisiw look! Pffft.