Children parties

On the rare occasion that D and I socialize, we usually end up going to the birthday parties of kids. His friends/co faculty's children in various ages, sizes and shapes. I am constantly amazed by how the whole party is turned into this grand production number. Complete with an emcee, a game show host, clowns, magicians - all of them trying their darnest best to entertain the guests. It is all very festive with loud music blaring in colorful balloons infested venues with buffet style dining. It is fun and entertaining. It brings out my inner child and I am totally amused by the tricks of the entertainers.

I also get a kick observing the other parents. Their minds wondering if attending these sort of parties would encourage their children to demand their own bongga birthday party. You know a sort of 'keeping up with the Joneses' attitude. Anyways I'm sure every parent just wants to provide the best for their children.

Speaking of parties, I laughed out loud yesterday because of something D said. The emcee interrupted his spiel during a game to announce "Mommies and Daddies you can now line up at the buffet table for your snack". My funny hubby turned to me and said "Papaano yan hindi tayo puwedeng kumain, hindi pa tayo mommy at daddy". Ha ha ha

Let's play Pool

D likes to play billiards. In fact, I'm proud to admit he is pretty adept in the game. So I'm sure he will find this website multiplayer games,8c1.net.http://www.8c1.net quite interesting.

It is a multi player billiards game, online. You simply register on their website. This gives you the chance to invite your friends to join as well. You either play with players worldwide or create your own room where you can play exclusively with your friends. They also have a forum section for friendly interaction with other players.

The best thing is that it is entirely free.

So join now and let's play pool.

Jose Rizal

Today marks the 148th birth day of our national hero, Dr Jose Rizal. I'm sure he will not be happy (wherever he is!) to find out that the facade of his ancestral home in Calamba, Laguna has been turned into a 'buko pandan cake'.

Click here to read about it. Such a pity, really. Instead of preserving the remnants of our rich historical past, we turn them into monuments of ridicule. So sad.

It has been ages since I visited "Ang bahay ni Rizal". It was sometime in the mid 1980s. So I'm posting a picture of D. It was taken a few years back (I think it was in 2005). It was taken in Calamba where they attended some conference/seminar and our paths had not crossed yet. Heh!

Back to School

Along with the millions of college/university students trooping back to school today to hopefully enrich their idle minds with knowledge are the teachers/faculty members. This naturally includes D, my hubby. The extra week vacation due to the postponement of the official opening of classes due to the A(H1N1) scare and the torrential rains was a welcomed surprise. It gave us more bonding moments especially during those chilly bed weather days.

So after almost 3 months of spending it being spoiled rotten by my dearest homebody hubby, I am now home alone yet again.

To try to drone out boredom by being online most of the time.

To think of meals to prepare so I don't end up starving.

To have more time to catch up on the novels I've stopped reading midway.

To turn to the DVD Player for amusement as the pile of films I've yet to watch is gathering dust on the shelf.

For more alone time to quietly reflect on our future.

Now if only our noisy neighbors would stop being such a pesky nuisance, I might just enjoy this home alone time without missing my hubby too much!

Let them eat cake

I have a confession to make. I have a sweet tooth. In fact I can minimize my intake of rice and viands but when it comes to sweets, I falter. Aside from the local delicacies (kakanin), my fave desserts are cakes. But I prefer my cakes to be of the "mild" variety. Meaning they are not too sweet. Yes I know that defeats its main purpose but what the heck that's how I like them. On special occasions like birthdays and/or Christmas our table won't be complete without the sinful presence of a cake.

Our top favorites are the mocha roll from either Red Ribbon or Goldilocks.



This mocha walnut cake from Kookie Korner. I ended up buying two of these cakes for my mother's recent birthday. One for them (my parents) and one for us (D & I). Although I admit that I was the one who basically gobbled it all up since D isn't too fond of sweets.

Asbestos exposure

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found in the surface of the earth. It contains strong fibers that have excellent durability, fire resistance and insulating properties. This substance is commonly used in the shipbuilding industry, housing and construction business. Its fibers are 50 to 200 times thinner than a human hair and it can float in the air for a long time. It can be invisible to the naked eye and can also be breathed into the lungs.

Yet prolonged exposure to this toxic substance can lead to the risk of cancer. Specifically Mesothelioma which is a fatal form of lung cancer incurred from Asbestos exposure. This disease is most likely to affect employees in industries which use asbestos materials like construction workers, contractors, auto mechanics and those in the shipbuilding business.

The use of all forms of asbestos was banned nationally since 31 December 2003. Since its ban, cancer victims have a difficult time asking for compensation. An experienced Mesothelioma Lawyer will be a good ally in their fight against these giant corporations. The companies knew about the toxicity of asbestos but they didn't reveal it right away. As a result thousands of people were needlessly exposed to this lethal substance.

Shopping Habits

I'm not a shopaholic. My shopping habits are simple. On the rare occasion that I decide to purchase a clothing item. I examine it. I try it on. If it fits me (meaning: I don't look like a stuffed squid in it), I buy it.

But men are different. Well I can only speak for my hubby. He takes his sweet time. He would canvass different stores. He would examine the merchandise like a CSI agent. Let several days pass by before he decides whether or not to buy the item. Then more often than not, end up not buying it after all.

Well yesterday, he had to reckon with me!

Our original plan was to scout for an appropriate gift for my mother's birthday tomorrow. He made the mistake of actually showing me the clothing apparel he somewhat fancied. So I told him well what are you waiting for? Go try them and let me judge if they look good on you. :D No biggie really since they all look good on him. I don't want to brag but hey he is blessed with a good height and well proportioned body so much so that even a rag would look good on him. So there!

To make a long post short. He ended up buying 1 polo shirt and 1 polo t-shirt and a pair of shoes which I 'picked' for him. Or rather which I deemed suited him best.

I also realized during this shopping expedition why men don't own too many shoes - they cost a fortune!

Goodness gracious.

Ring-less finger

The day of our 1st wedding anniversary, I woke up to a sky cast with gloomy dark clouds. After praying the rosary and doing some stretching exercises in bed, I felt a sharp throbbing pain on my right hip. Nope it wasn't due to the stretching exercise. Neither was it due to some nocturnal activity. In fact I had no idea why I was in so much pain, I could barely walk straight.

D insisted we just stay home so I could rest the whole day. Me being the stubborn one refused to adhere to his wishes. I hopped around on one leg, made my way down the stairs with difficulty, ate breakfast then drank a capsule of Alaxan Forte. In the hope that the same medicine that the national boxing champ endorses for his muscle aches would work its wonders on my aching hip.

I took a quick shower, dressed up in my new green blouse and new dark brown ballet flats (with jeans and underwear, of course!), put on some light make up, I was raring to go out for our date, much to my dearest hubby's chagrin!

We were in a hurry to catch the noon time mass at the Edsa Shrine. The place where we solemnly exchanged our vows albeit at the adjacent San Lorenzo Ruiz chapel, a year ago. We were already seated comfortably in a taxi, holding hands as usual when I noticed the 'discrepancy' - D wasn't wearing his wedding ring!

At first I thought oh no! it must have slipped from his finger, yet again. So as not to cause any panic, I lifted his left hand and sort of dusted his fingers. He didn't understand what I was doing. He barely even noticed he was ring less. I pointed with my mouth at his bare fingers. He still didn't get it! Ugh. Men!

So I blurted out "you are not wearing your wedding ring!". He shakes his head and swears he forgot because we were in a hurry to leave the house. I kept laughing and teased him endlessly that "today pa of all days, you 'chose' to not wear your wedding ring!!!' How dare you! Don't you love me anymore?"

Needless to say during our entire date, I kept teasing him about it to the point of being silly. He kept apologizing profusely. We had our laughs. The date was fun.


P.S.
The pain in my right hip has fortunately dissipated. I would just chalk it to the common joint aches and pains one experiences as one ages in glorious light years!