Birthday gal

My beloved mother turns 74 today! Although she has several joints aches and her knee is giving her much trouble that she walks with a limp, she is still the most resilient woman I know. I deeply admire her unwavering support for her family. She is still in Singapore so I cannot give her a tight warm hug.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

We love you very much! =)

Ultrasound

SO now that my grand vacation and weekend getaways are out of the way, it was time to buckle my belt (as well as my completely depleted wallet) and head back to the fertility treatments.

Honestly, it's something I'm not really keen on and it doesn't really make me want to jump out of bed in the mornings, but it is an elusive quest that I need to hurdle every month. It is pretty much like an impossible dream and I feel like I am chasing pavements but such is life and there is no harm in dreaming and hoping, is there?



Luckily, we discovered this new resto right across the hospital that serves reasonably priced Chinese food so it makes the endless waiting for my turn at the OB Ultrasound completely worth it.

By the way, the results for this month weren't exactly positive so I guess I will eat at that resto ulit next month before another round of tests.

Subic tayo! (May 21, 2011)

I had barely settled back in my Q.C nest (after my month long trip to Singapore and my week long stay at the condo) when D and I joined our friends in an overnight stay at Subic in Zambales, last weekend. But hey I'm not complaining ha! Game ako basta sa mga road trips ba! :D

This was actually my second time in Subic. The last time, I believe was in May 2006 for my mother's birthday. This time we stayed at one of the Forest View villas on El Kabayo Road. It had 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms with a living, dining room and kitchen. So it was more than enough for our big group of 8 adults and 1 child.

Our first day there we went to a couple of beach resorts. Since I'm not a beach person, we just decided to take pictures of the scenery.

Credit

I've always been pretty organized when it comes to maintaining my finances. I would dutifully file every bank statements in folders, check my bank account(s) online (once it became available) as well as make sure I pay my credit card bill(s) on time.

So far, I've tried to avoid getting any sort of loans because I know it would put a huge dent in my finances. But no one can predict the future. Ergo, if and when I would need a large amount of money for emergency purposes, it helps that I am organized vis a vis finances so improving my credit score is imperative.

Hopefully, there won't be a need for that financial 'emergency' aid, any time soon!

DMV

I have several relatives in the US who are now either citizens or long time residents. One of the first things they had to do when they got there was to get their driver's license. Unlike in this country where getting a license is no big deal, they have stricter restrictions so one needs to be prepared both for the driving test as well as the driving written test.

They are manuals available but most of them are hundreds of pages long. It is simply a matter of finding the correct dmv handbook which contains all the relevant information one needs to master the test. It pays to be fully aware to ensure proper driving skills as well as road preparedness, at all times.

Cable Car Ride

I had made a list (well only in my head) about the activities I was most looking forward to during my month long stay in Singapore. To mention a few => eat at Seoul Garden and Crystal Jade Kitchen (done!); visit Universal Studios (check!) and visit Mount Faber via cable car ride.

So on cinco de Mayo, we all headed to the Harbour Front Center tower to take the cable car to reach Mount Faber which is described as the iconic hill top destination. First stop is Sentosa Island which hosts the Resorts World and the Universal Studios but we didn't get down anymore since we had seen these attractions already.

These pictures were taken from within the cable car. It is much more spacious now compared to the older version. It is quite cosy and can easily accommodate 6 people.

















Once you reach Mount Faber, your eyes are treated to a panoramic view of Singapore. Mount Faber itself can be explored through hiking trails or you can just lounge at one of the several fine dining restaurants to grasp the view. I only got as far as the upper viewing deck since it was another hot sunny day, I didn't want to or rather I didn't have the energy to go further down. No way! :D

Pros and Cons

Now that I am back in the heart of Quezon City, a residential area along a street which vehicles of all sorts traverse on a daily basis, I miss living in a self contained condo unit.

Or do I?

Perhaps I simply miss having an air conditioner which I can turn on any time regardless of the electricity cost. Or perhaps I miss going down to the ground floor to the Mini Mart to instantly buy items I've run out of. Or maybe I miss having to just flag down a tricycle to get to the nearest supermarket or stroll in the mall at the corner.

The cons though would be the terribly slow dial up service to connect while I'm at the condo. Also the fact that I don't really see much of the bustling city life while I am ensconced on the 12th floor.

Essentially there is no sense to this post because at the end of the day, I'm married now and this yellow apartment is now home. After all, I do have DSL here so that's a major plus. I will just grin and bear the fact that the computer room turns into a scorching oven with the afternoon sun blazing and melting my brain cells as I turn into a clammy ball of sweat.

Not to mention the fact that as long as I got my loving hubby with me, any where is home. :D

General Cleaning

D was the first one to notice it as I stepped out of the airport into his loving waiting arms. Well that I gained so much weight during my month long stay in Singapore despite all the walking and commuting I did in that very hot and extremely humid city. The weather was stormy that evening when our flight landed in Manila. The flight was a bit turbulent and we were delayed by several minutes. I was extremely tired from all the heavy lifting I had to do for my luggage and hand carried bag. It turns out I was overweight oh wait rather my two pieces of luggage were past the allowed baggage allowance by as much as 10 kgs. So I had to drag 10 kgs of luggage around the terminal even though it had tiny wheels. But the difficult part was to pull it up the stairs (budget terminal hence no attached chute) to get to the plane. By the time I was securely fasten with my seat belt and ready for take off, I was oh so very fatigued and dehydrated I promptly fell asleep. Only woke up to turbulent air pockets rocking the plane as we approached Manila.

The condo was our sanctuary for a week. I came up with this brilliant idea to spruce up the condo in order to lose some weight. Boy was I in for a rude awakening. Our condo unit is a 69 sqm two storey affair. Upstairs it has two bedrooms, one bathroom and a space my sister has converted into her office. Downstairs is the living room/dining area with the kitchen and another bathroom. It is a self contained, cozy unit but then you pack it with stuff and items which we have been hoarding and it turns into this big huge pile of personal belongings.

Wednesday, we decided to tackle the master bedroom upstairs, first. Armed with a surgical mask and plastic gloves, we sorted through every single item in that room. From the numerous handbags of my mom to the storage of folders of receipts from bills that my dad organizes. Plus the shoe rack, the home entertainment area (holding the TV, DVD player and stereo set) to the side tables, the cabinets, the mirror and the queen size bed.

On Thursday, we cleaned the 2nd bedroom which is much smaller but it still contains most of my things like photo albums, books, souvenirs and clothes of both me and my sister. It also contains a computer table with a desktop that doesn't work anymore and my single bed. It was fairly easier to handle due to the small space.

Friday and Saturday was a major operation. We had to clean up the mess that is my sister's office. Documents of all types and various sizes were stacked up in two huge book shelves. Press releases from her line of work to folders of her reference materials when she was taking her Masters in International Relations to junk mail, brochures, novels. It was so dusty, my nose was jet black from the thickness of the dust.

But I have to hand it to my husband for someone who is very impatient when it comes to lining up at banks or grocery counters, he was VERY patient and VERY thorough in making sure we dusted EVERY single item in this condo. He is such a handy and capable person when it comes to household chores, I am always in awe at his ability to be so organized all the time. Plus he manages to stay and look really nice and sweat free as compared to my basang sisiw look! Me in my tattered shorts and sleeveless tank top, hair in a ponytail with a headband and drenched with perspiration. Phew it was indeed quite a workout for 4 looooong days!

By Sunday evening the upstairs part of the condo was all spic and shiny and really dust free. We did go out to celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary by having lunch at Teriyaki Boy. Otherwise known as our place of our first date! :D



The general cleaning of the lower floor will be continued next month. A few days before my parents return from Singapore. I'm sure that is another major major operation.

Number of the day: three, trois, tatlo!!!

On this date three years ago, we became one. Days turned into weeks, weeks into years and now 3 years later, we still feel and behave like newlyweds. Our lives are filled with much laughter, a few disagreements but overall there is much mirth and contentment, I'd say. It helps that D is such a jolly person who always focuses on the positive aspect. While I'm the more patient of the two so I tend to overlook his 'flaws'. Not that he has several but you get my drift. So here's to more blissful years of wedded life for D & D.



P.S.
what a difference 3 years make! I'd like to state that the blue top I'm wearing in the picture is now a 'basahan'. It was taken in February 2008 before we got hitched but no matter how hard I tried to wear it ulit, it won't fit me anymore! Hay naku. :D

Mother's Day Celeb

May 7, 2011 was my last day in my month long stay in Singapore. It was the eve of Mother's Day so after hearing the anticipated mass, we headed to Suntec City to treat our beloved mother. We had dinner at Crystal Jade Kitchen (one of the restaurants in the Crystal Jade group) and had a blast over good food, chatty conversations and just thankful for all our blessings. I could tell that my sister was making a lot of effort to seem strong even though I know she was and still is in a lot of pain. Bless her and bless all mothers! =)

Marina Sky Park

By the time this post comes out, I'll be heading to the Changi Airport Budget Terminal to board my flight back to Manila from Singapore. A city I visited to take care of my sister as well as do some sight seeing touristy stuff. It was warm, extremely humid and quite a welcome change from my routine sedentary housewifely lifestyle. Now it's time to return to my ever loving hubby. :D

In the meantime, here are 3 pictures (it was difficult to choose because I took hundreds of photos up there) I took of Singapore from the Marina Sky Park. It is located on the 56th floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. The entrance fee is 20 Singapore dollars and you get a really fantastic view of the entire Singapore!

Universal Studios Sentosa

The last time we were here in December 2009, the Universal Studios was still in its final stages of construction. So this time with parents and sister (before her surgery) in tow, we headed to this movie themed amusement park with excitement. I'd have to say I'm not a theme park fanatic. Museums are more my cup of tea. But might as well soak in the atmosphere and enjoy myself just for the heck of it.

That Tuesday was another bright and sunny day but surprisingly not humid. The four of us were regaled by the Shrek 4D Adventure show, the Treasure Hunters motor rail ride and watched the Water World live water show where we made sure we sat in seats where we will NOT be doused by water.

Then my sister forced me to accompany her on the Revenge of the Mummy ride. She convinced me it was a harmless ride but boy oh boy it was very wild and quite rough! You are strapped in this seat, the ride moves forward slowly then gains speed really fast. It suddenly stops and pulls you backward and sideways. It was horrifying. OMG! But I survived by taking short breaths in and out like one does during a Lamaze childbirth class. Hehehe But definitely no roller coaster rides for me, thank you. I still highly value my life. :D

The Universal Studios is located in Sentosa island. Sentosa is accessible by bus, cable car or the Sentosa Express train. The Universal Studios is adjacent to the Resorts World which is a chain of hotels and casinos. We simply boarded the RW 8 bus from Vivo City (this huge mall) and dropped off at the Resorts World where we steered our mother away from the casino. Or else we would never have set foot in the Universal Studios! :D

Marina Bay Sands

We had 4 days after our arrival before my sister's surgery so she decided to make pasyal with us muna. On Monday, April 11 it was a hot humid day with bright sunshine enveloping us with its warmth.

It was quite a shock to my system. I'm not used to walking, walking and walking under such harsh warm weather. Beads of perspiration were racing down my back, my forehead and basically all over my lil body.

I'm not much of a commuter either I simply would pop into a taxi or FX - any vehicle that has aircon blasting at maximum! But here in Singapore where the bus and MRT system works like clockwork, it is very convenient not to mention way cheaper to commute to get from one point to another point!

So after walking to the bus stop, waiting for the bus in humid conditions and then alighting at the Marina Bay Sands area, it felt good to be inside such a swanky place.

A vast enclosure that houses a museum, a rain oculus, some art galleries, tons of boutiques, a casino, a convention center and a food republic (food court) along with sculptures and ultra modern architectural design both interiors and exteriors - it was a sight to behold!

Enjoy.