Quick Update

Last month was pretty hectic. I came back from Bohol and Cebu. We celebrated my sister's birthday. The very next day I developed severe abdominal cramps which got me bedridden for a week. Then I was off to watch foreign films at the Spanish Film Festival. My computer broke down permanently and this 'event' had me frantic in deciding what to do next. Until I finally bought a new PC and couldn't be happier with my purchase. I celebrated my 39th birthday on the day the Glorietta explosion occurred. Then my sister and I checked into the Linden Suites for an overnight stay. I managed to watch only 1 movie at Cine Europa. I still have movie reviews to write, emails to reply to and tons of bills to pay.

D had 2 weeks off work due to the semester break so it was bonding time. A time well spent since we have made several concrete plans about our future. Exciting plans which I admit give me butterflies in my stomach and has my head spinning with numerous thoughts and ideas. Yet at the same time, I am freaking out if I am up to the daunting task ahead. I make it sound like doomsday but just imagine after spending 39 years of my life in the lap of independence and luxury, I am going to embark on a journey where I alter my last name, adjust to new surroundings, adapt to a completely different lifestyle and make decisions which would affect the rest of my life. But how hard can it be, right? After all since I was 3 years old I have been on this nomadic path of always adjusting to everything from locale, culture, climate, cuisine, residences and even friends, I guess it is time to dig in and grow roots!

The main point of this entry is to announce my intention to write sponsored posts on this blog because I need to build a nest egg. And yes I am getting married next year! Wish me luck, for both! =)

Meme Time

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night?
D, as usual!

2. What were you doing at 0800?
I'm not a morning person so I was still asleep

3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Washing the dishes

4. What happened to you in 2006?
Ah I turned 38

5. What was the last thing you said out loud?
"ok you can pull the USB thumb drive out na"

6. How many beverages did you have today?
2 - coffee and water

7. What color is your hairbrush?
I use a light blue comb

8. What was the last thing you paid for?
the car wash for my sister's car at the parking lot of the Shangri-la Plaza

9. Where were you last night?
Home

10. What color is your front door?
Brown

11. Where do you keep your change?
Coin purse which I have to search for deep within my bag everytime I pay for anything

12. What’s the weather like today?
Pleasant enough, no sun, not too humid.

13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor?
Mint chocolate which I haven't had in ages!

14. What excites you?
film festivals, out of town trips, special occasions and my dates with D

15. Do you want to cut your hair?
Yes, my hair needs a trim but the thing is my stylist has been assigned to another branch (all the way in SM North of all places) so I've been hesitant to try someone else

16. Are you over the age of 25?
Definitely

17. Do you talk a lot?
It depends on the company but not really.

18. Do you watch the O.C.?
Nope

19. Do you know anyone named Steven?
A friend of my sister but I don't really know him

20. Do you make up your own words?
Sometimes, yes

21. Are you a jealous person?
No

22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’.
Ash

23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’.
Karl but he was just some guy I went out with just once

24. Who’s the first person on your received call list?
My sister

25. What does the last text message you received say?
"Ok hon c u l8r ingats ha, i love you!"

26. Do you chew on your straw?
No

27. Do you have curly hair?
More like wavy hair

28. Where’s the next place you’re going to?
Baguio but nothing definite yet

29. Who’s the rudest person in your life?
No one

30. What was the last thing you ate?
Lunch - rice, kaldereta with clear veggie soup

31. Will you get married in the future?
Yes, next year. Gosh!!!

32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks?
"The Lives of Others" a German film and the only film I caught at the recently concluded Cine Europa at the Shang Cineplex

33. Is there anyone you like right now?
D

34. When was the last time you did the dishes?
I did it before I answered this meme

35. Are you currently depressed?
Not at all

36. Did you cry today?
No, do I have to??

37. Why did you answer and post this?
I decided to post this meme to prove I am not neglecting this blog, gone missing or abducted by aliens. Things have been hectic, period!

The long and winding road that leads to ... a new PC

Each time my PC develops a problem like say it won't start or the operating system won't load, my usual reaction would be to fester, fester and fester some more. I go through a period of being so indecisive, I give myself headaches pondering on the next step. I spend sleeping nights worrying:
( 1) should I just have it fixed?
( 2) where do I have it fixed?
( 3) do I pay cash or by credit card?
( 4) check my dwindling bank account online countless times
( 5) how much do I pay monthly if I use the Pay Lite 0% interest pay scheme?
( 6) do I buy a new one?
( 7) where and which brand?
( 8) how do I dispose of the old one?
( 9) how do I get rid of the broken ones I've accumulated which are gathering dust?

(10) do I buy a desktop or a laptop?

Then after I've obsessed over the above issues, I go through a period where I hog my sister's laptop to research online the different brands available, the specs and features of each unit - ergo further confusing my already cluttered mind. As if I didn't have enough worries to give me pimples, I had film festivals to attend, film reviews to write, dates with D to plan and pictures from my trips to upload aside from the chores I have to deal with on a daily basis.

My next phase would be nonchalance wherein I simply shrug, sigh loudly and wean myself from my obsession by sleeping it off. I would take naps midday for no apparent reason even if I wasn't even sleepy! Until one day, my sister, my parents and even D asks me the procrastinator - the 64 Million (dollars ha not pesos!) question: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT YOUR PC???

Argh!

I eventually snap out of my lazy phase then go full gear into my malling phase. The period where I drag my sister to accompany me to all the malls in the metropolis (well almost all, ok?) so I can have a look see on the different options available at my disposal. So we went to SM Megamall, Robinsons Galleria, Shangri-la Plaza, Glorietta even as far as SM North Cybermall and Trinoma wasting precious gasoline. I was deeply disappointed to learn that I only have 2 options desktop wise: Acer and HP. I know, I know there are other brands like those made in China or worst those brand less ones which are assembled in some warehouse. But I refuse to give myself more headaches once they start breaking down on the exact day their warranty expires! Surely you would say well there you go! How hard can it get silly girl you only have to choose among 2 brands. Well, I like to complicate things just for the heck of it. I'm strange that way! For example, I wanted a desktop without an operating system because I refuse to use Windows Vista. My sister has enough troubles dealing with tech support each time her Acer laptop hanged due to this very faulty OEM. Then I wanted freebies like an upgrade to a higher memory, a free printer or a USB drive or all of the above if I'm lucky enough!



You still with me?
Read on, I am going to wrap this entry up shortly, I promise!



So after agonizing for almost 3 weeks and numerous follow up phone calls to my contact in Complink at Trinoma Mall (of all places), I finally bought myself a HP Pavilion Desktop. Slick black CPU, Intel Dual Core E2140 1.6 Ghz, 17 inch LCD monitor, with a memory upgrade to 1 GB and the best part is my operating system is Windows XP.



Now comes the hard part - where on earth do I find the funds to pay for my exorbitant credit card bill?!!!

Linden Suites pictures

We stayed in a very spacious 2 bedroom suite (Room 1114) located in the Linden Suites Tower 2 on the 11th floor. A new wing of the hotel which recently opened and is still undergoing some construction. It was a refreshing change of scenery even though it was merely an overnight stay. =)

Living Room

Dining Area

Second Bedroom

Master Bedroom

Home Theater system

Office area

Room service dinner

View of SM Megamall

View of Ortigas area

Ortigas Skyline

Surprise Treat

I was still in dreamland yesterday when my sister woke me up at 11 am and told me to pack up for an overnight stay at my favorite hotel in the metropolis - Linden Suites. I didn't believe her and just chuckled "yeah right, I'm still sleepy go away".

Well it wasn't a joke!

I'm here blogging live (using broadband) from room 1114, a beautiful 2 bedroom suite at the Linden Suites Tower 2.

I'm having coffee typing away on the keyboard of my sister's Acer laptop with a panoramic view of the Ortigas area.

I have Josh Groban (in concert DVD - another birthday gift) serenading me with his rendition of the Don Mclean song "Vincent" or is it "Starry Starry Night?" I'm still half awake so pardon the memory lapse!

I had a refreshing soak at the jacuzzi located on the 9th floor, yesterday.
We ordered room service for dinner last night. We had mussel & clam chowder, pumpkin soup, margherita pizza, poached chicken linguine carbonara, philly cheese steak burger and a plate containing a combination of mini desserts of panna cotta, bread pudding and blueberry cheesecake. Yes we were hungry!

I had a very good night sleep on a pristine clean white bed with just the right kind of pillow covered with a fluffy duvet.

I'm overwhelmed, I'm grateful for having such a generous sister and boy was I surprised with this post birthday treat. But I enjoyed every second of this experience! =) Now excuse me as I take a relaxing bubble bath before we check out at noon.

Dangling Earrings (Batch 1)

It is 4:50 in the morning and I'm suddenly in an artistic and creative mood, go figure! I'm weird that way. It is probably due to lack of sleep or my maniacally insomniac tendencies. So I decided to take pictures of my (growing) collection of dangling earrings. This is the first batch because my digicam battery supply ran low. I reckon it would since I clicked several times to perfect each shot at a good angle. By the way, that glass cup contains a scented candle gift from the Shangri-la Mactan and not a glass of warm milk! Just in case you were wondering. Heh! So enjoy the pictures while I drag my large derriere into my cosy lil bed.

Birthday recap

Birthdays in my family have always been special occasions more so than Christmas. It is during birthdays when we splurge and shower each other (well we are only four anyway) with gifts. The usual practice is to eat cake once the clock strikes midnight followed by the opening of gifts. This year I had mocha walnut cake and received 2 books, 3 vcds, a gorgeous Lady Rustan's brown leather bag + gift certificates to my favorite stores all courtesy of my very generous family.







Our original plan was to have Chinese fare (I've been craving for fried rice for days now) at Shanghai Bistro at Eastwood City in Libis, then proceed to the Greenbelt/Glorietta area for some shopping where D would eventually join us for dinner at Cabalen. As fate would have it, my sister's brand new Acer laptop developed a technical glitch so our lunch was delayed while she berated the technical support guy over the phone for coming up with a product that chose to use the very faulty Windows Vista for its operating system. (More on this topic when I post about my brand new PC!). It was already 2pm when we finally shoved off to Libis totally unaware about the unfortunate incident which occurred in Makati. I received several frantic text messages from D who asked if we were already in Glorietta. I believe that if we didn't get delayed by the software glitch on my sister's laptop, we would have been in Glorietta around the same time the explosion went off. A blessing in disguise, indeed. By the time we reached Libis, Shanghai Bistro was already closed so we ended up having something known as the Manila Bay boodle feast at Blackbeard's Seafood Island. A complete meal for 4 people which consists of bagooong rice, sisig, fish, crab, squid, fishballs along with a serving of bulalo soup.



After shopping at the shops located in the Cybermall at Eastwood City where I was able to buy 2 blouses which don't make me look like a stuffed squid, we made our way to the Trinoma branch of Cabalen for dinner. The Ayala Land Corp. owned mall in the Quezon City area which is conveniently located just 10 minutes away from D's residence. We all had a great time bonding together over the buffet fare of local dishes that I totally forgot to take a picture of the food. But now I finally have a picture of me and D (together with my family) which sorry na lang won't be posted on this blog. :D

This was definitely one of my most cherished birthday celebrations ever not to mention the fact that this MIGHT be my last birthday as a single person. I was happy beyond belief surrounded by the most significant people in my life who shower me with so much unconditional love and overwhelming support, I can't ask for more, really!

Today I turn 39!

The mosaic maker only accepts 36 so let it not be said that I lied about my age. "Wala na nga ako sa kalendaryo pero pwede pa itaya sa Lotto!" A joke I got from my beloved D who makes me laugh like crazy all the time! =)