Between The Lines

First Month of 'Mommyhood'

2012-02-07T21:43:00.000-08:00

December 24, 2011 10:11 AM

Yessir! I gave birth last Christmas eve. I remember telling people that Iwant to give birth at least after Christmas so that I can spend Noche Buena athome. But lo and behold cos at around 4AM of December 24, I started feeling truelabor pain and was rushed to the hospital an hour after. I gave birth viacesarean section cos I've had a case of pre-eclampsia and cephalo-pelvicdisproportion (in layman's term, high blood pressure and baby's head won't beable to pass through my pelvis.) I used to be the one assisting an operational procedure, and now I was the one undergoing an operation lol.

And everything changed after that day.

I would be lucky if I will have a 5-hour sleep at night cos my baby wouldwake up every 2-3 hours for his feeding. Well, the trick here is just sleepwhenever your baby is sleeping so that you won't be sleep-deprived. I misshaving more than 8 hours of sleep but well, that's just the way it is. Or,maybe till we find a nanny. Hmm, not really cos I still want to be a hands-onmommy.

This sounds cheesy, but it's true that no matter how tired you are, onceyou see your baby smile, hear his coos, or just simply looking at him, you'dfeel better afterwards. Heh.

So now let me show his weekly photos!

I'll be posting his weekly photos on my facebook account and tumblr so that I can document his weekly progress!

Ugh, my maternity leave is almost up. So much for my vacation.

Almost There

2011-12-05T03:36:00.001-08:00

I'm on my 36th week right now, and d-day is fast approaching. I'm getting more excited each day and I can't wait to see my little angel. I was so giddy when we were buying his newborn clothes and items. Aside from the excitement that I am feeling right now, I am also getting paranoid if I will be able to take care of my baby properly. I can't stop browsing and watching those baby care videos like "Breastfeeding" and "Swaddling" 101. I am a believer of breastfeeding. I know it's hard and painful at first, but given all the benefits thatbreastfeeding offers, I am willing to learn all the techniques so that I won't have a hard time and get used to it in the long run.

It's still 4 weeks away from my due date, but I chose to already start with my maternity leave. Aside from I can't bear travelling from QC-Makati everyday, I also feel that I might give birth even before Christmas day. Contractions are getting more frequent and I just wanna rest in preparation for my labor and delivery.

I also can't help reading all the labor-related articles I find online so that I would know if I'm already experiencing true labor or if it's just false labor.

True Labor- Contractions gets stronger and closer together - Contractions are in a fairly regular pattern - Walking or changing position makes them stronger - Contractions are usually felt beginning in the back and moving forward - Cervix opens and thins

Braxton Hicks or False labor- Contractions remain the same strength, distance, and length - Contractions may be irregular - Walking or changing position does not affect the contractions - These contractions may be felt up high in the front

Signs that labor may be on its way Your body will usually give you clue that labor is beginning. You need to familiarize yourself with these signs. These are the signs that labor may be approaching, although they are not necessarily predictors of labor. They are good signs that your body is doing what is necessary to prepare for the birth. Some women notice them and others do not, either way is perfectly normal for you.

You should not worry if you do not notice these signs:
- A sudden burst of energy or the "nesting instinct". This is an instinct in which the female of the species prepares the nest for the impending arrival.
- Lightening or dropping of the baby (you may be able to breathe easier and urinate more). This usually occurs somewhere between two and four weeks before the onset of labor in first-time mothers. It is basically the beginning of the baby’s descent into the pelvis.
- Sensations of increasing pressure in the pelvis and rectum. Persistent low back pain may also be present.
- An upset stomach
- Diarrhea
- Bloody show (this may be the cervix beginning to open, or from sex or a vaginal exam)
- Loss of your mucous plug
- Rupture of membranes. Sometimes labor begins with the bag of waters or membranes rupture, however, this usually does not happen until very late in labor. If your water breaks you may notice a near constant trickle of fluid from the vagina or a sudden gush. You should talk to your care giver about when to call about your waters breaking, but you should definitely notify them if you experience the following:
- Fluid is not clear, but green or brownish
- You have a fever

Out of those signs, I think I already have the bloody show, lightening, increased pressure in the pelvis and increased lower back pain. I asked my doctor last week if my cervix is already starting to dilate, but after her examination, it's still closed. I was just paranoid cos of the bloody show I've had recently where you would see mucus secretions tinged with blood. Heh. That nesting instinct also explains why I am currently obsessed in cleaning the house and arranging the baby's stuff. I dunno, lol.

Also, did I tell you that I don't have gestational diabetes? Yay! I was so terrified when I've had my glucose test. Despite all the sweet cravings I've had during my pregnancy, my blood sugar is at its normal range. But my doctor as well as my mom advised me to watch what I am eating nowadays if I wanted to keep the size of my baby large enough to go on a normal delivery. With that, I already lessened my sugar and rice intake. I don't wanna go on caesarian section delivery but we'll never know till the big day comes. As of now, I am still okay for normal delivery. A lot of people also advised me to walk as much as I can everyday. It's a good thing that I live near UP Diliman. I hope it would stop raining so that I can continue my early morning walk again.

Ahh, a couple of more weeks and I can already see my baby! And it's just in time with my favorite season of the year!

Facebook Circa 2008

2011-12-04T21:12:00.001-08:00

I joined Facebook probably around late 2008. A lot of my friends didn't have their accounts back then and I think that was the time before this social networking site became so popular here in our country. There was also a phase when I was addicted to Facebook games namely: Pet Society, Farm Town and Cafe World, and now I barely play any Facebook game.

Then I discovered Archivedbook.com. It's a site where you can look back on all the things that you had done on your Facebook account since Day 1. I can't help but reminisce especially when I saw those wall posts and status updates. Lol.

The first batch of wall posts

Status updates from 2009 lol. Look at those lines from Sara Bareilles's Love Song and Alesha Dixon's Breathe Slow

My Andrew Garcia obsession (American Idol s9) Lololol

Just when things were starting between me and the boyfriend. Heh <3 Also, I really love quoting HIMYM lines haha!

I was also trying to find those status updates during the time when I was left by my ex-boyfriend circa 2009 and I was full of rage ad bitterness (just for the lulz), but I guess I already deleted them! It's also funny that when I was reading all those status updates, I can't even remember the reason why I had put them on my wall.

31 Weeks

2011-11-06T06:54:00.000-08:00

A few months ago, I was just telling the whole world that I'm pregnant, and now I'm just 9 weeks away till the big day. I am scared and at the same time looking forward on finally seeing my little angel.

Well, in a nutshell, here's how I would describe the last quarter of my pregnancy.

Back pain is becoming unbearable and that also leads to trouble sleeping. You know that feeling that you just want to hit the spa and have a body massage, but of course, I can't. I remembered that when I've had an ultrasound in World Citi Medical Center, I saw they offer a prenatal massage service but I am yet to ask my doctor about that.
FEET EDEMA. During the 2nd quarter of my pregnancy, I've been advised to avoid salty food cos of course, sodium retains water, and edema can lead to preeclampsia (prenatal hypertension). As months go by, I am trying to avoid salty food and doing all the things that could avoid edema, but it seems that my feet is getting bigger that usual. I can't buy new shoes and a lot of my shoes don't fit me anymore. I envy my sister who didn't experience this when she was pregnant. I can't bear looking at my feet cos they look worse than sprained feet.
I feel ugly. People say that if you're carrying a boy, you would look ugly and if it's a girl, you'd look prettier than usual. Well, even my mom noticed the changes in my face, like my nose is getting bigger and there's something different about the way I look. And then yesterday, a technician in CD-R King asked me if I'll be having a baby boy cos it's pretty obvious. Thank you for rubbing it in, huh?
From 131 to 150 lbs. I know, right? Well, it's still within the 15-25 lbs normal weight gain, but I am praying that I can easily lose the gained weight next year.
It's amazing when you see your tummy wave because the baby kicks so hard. And sometimes, you would also feel some lumps that would go away when you touch it. Could it be my baby's feet? Knees? Heh.

The only baby stuff that I have right now are the ones my best friend gave me. She bought a lot of clothes for her son and she didn't expect that her baby would be bigger than usual so some didn't fit him. I am planning to stock on the basic stuff by the end of November (after the baby shower that would be thrown by my high school friends). I can't wait to do baby shopping!

Weekend Mini Haul

2011-09-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

The rain had finally stopped pouring last Sunday—wait, not really— and I finally had time to hit the mall to buy some personal stuff (read: it's also the weekend after my pay day, lol).

I haven't used my wedges for about 2-3 months now. I am such a clumsy walker, and with this condition that I have right now, I better stick with them flat shoes. And it's really nice that we can now buy chic and trendy shoes from Parisian Shoes at an affordable price! I got these for just P600! :) You can also get a pair of pumps for just P1000!

Infant clothes are on a marked down price so I couldn't resist buying a dress for my niece. My sister and her daughter would stay with us for a couple of weeks and it's fun having a baby around the house. And soon, I'll also have my own angel! Heh. It's funny that I'm asking baby care tips from my sister— who's 4 years younger than me!

I got these books for just P164! Don't you love the feeling of leaving Booksale with such precious finds? Lol. I've been meaning to read Cabot's works since I am a fan of YA fiction books. We all love the film adaptation of The Princess Diaries, so this should be a nice read as well. And who wouldn't know Amy Tan— the author of the National Bestseller, The Joy Luck Club? I might be able to start with these books after reading the first book of Confessions of Georgia Nicholson— Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging (you should watch its film adaptation, too!)

Milk Tea shops are everywhere! And of course, we just have to try this new store in SM North Edsa called Chatime. The place is so cozy and I am amazed cos this thing really lights up when your order is ready to be served. Lol. They currently have a promo of Free Upsize which would save you P10. And I think by next week, they'll also start with their Buy 1 Take 1 promo which would last for a couple of days.

Aaaaand who can resist Army Navy's Burgers and Burritos? Omnomnom~

I can't wait for the next pay day cos we might start buying baby items! Or is it too early for that? Heh.

Can't Wait For December

2011-09-01T20:03:00.000-07:00

So it's the 2nd day of September and as we all know, the Christmas season is just around the corner. Lol, who am I kidding? It's 3 more months, but people already started to feel Christmas-y, and one of these days, we'll start to see Christmas decorations everywhere.

Don't get me wrong, though. it's my favorite time of the year! I make it a point to create a Christmas playlist on my ipod— Nsync's Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays tops that list. And watch Christmas movies like Love Actually and Home Alone 1 & 2!

Anyway, aside from this festive season, I am also looking forward to this particular surprise that will surely change my life. Yes, guys, I am pregnant! I found out about it last May, and since it wasn't really planned, I decided to keep my mouth shut. It was just my high school friends and the boyfriend (of course!) who first knew about it. And a couple of minutes ago, I posted a photo of my baby bump, and my friends were all surprised. Maybe it's true that the baby bump will just really be obvious once you started telling people about it. The people that I am seeing almost everyday—my co-workers and my mom— only found out about it 2 weeks ago. And now it suddenly popped and I can't hide it anymore. Heh.

I really had a hard time during the first trimester cos I can't eat without feeling nauseated. I've had 'morning sickness' all day! And imagine that I travel from QC-Makati everyday— and that was really exhausting. Oh well, gone are those days, and I'm back to my regular eating habit. Lol. I am also avoiding them junk food,and since I am not a fruit eater, I constantly see to it that I include them in my meals everyday. I am also making it a point to sleep at least 7-8 hours everyday, and at least 10 hours during my rest days. I also try to walk around a lot as a form of exercise.

I can't wait to start stocking up on baby items— and I'll probably do that before the month ends. I just started buying maxi dresses and jump suits, and will also find time to buy more flat shoes. It's a good thing that I already have a lot of clothes that I can wear during my pregnancy!

Okay, here's my recent baby bump photos:

You really can't see it from this photo, but it's a jumpsuit!

And a maxi dress!

I also bought this helpful magazine! It's a good thing that Smart Parenting released this special edition magazine.

Plus, I'll probably start reading this one of these days!

And maybe you're wondering, it's a baby boy! Say hello to my December baby!

As for the baby's name, we're still trying to narrow down our choices and will probably come up with one soon enough!

MRT Woes

2011-08-24T20:07:00.000-07:00

Working in Makati while residing in Quezon City is such a pain in the ass. There are times when I miss my previous 15-min travel time to get to work, but I guess I just have to live with it. Lol.

Anyway, taking the MRT is inevitable— especially for me who can't take them long bus rides. And by taking the train 5 days each week will lead to endless bitching about the stupid people you'll find there. Sometimes, I need to put so much effort not to call someone out on her stupidity whenever I ride the train.

So let me tell you the things that irritate me whenever I ride the train:

It's a good thing that I am taking the train from the Quezon Avenue station, but I also tried coming from Cubao station— and it's hella worse there. Women would really push you that you don't have to move your feet to be able to get inside the train. Then people would shout to stop pushing. Lol. You just have to wait for 4 more trains so that you could finally get inside— which would make you late for work.
I really don't get it why people need to stay in the train's doorway, where in fact, there are a lot of space in the middle aisle. I would always make it a point to stay in the middle aisle (cos it's more comfortable there), then laugh at those who get squeezed cos of the people riding / alighting the train.
Those who won't let someone alight the train first, before going inside. Stupidity at its finest.
Women who pretend to sleep or not care even though there is a pregnant / elder woman in front of them. LIKE, REALLY? Are you that blind to read the signboards found inside the train? I tweeted about this a few days ago, and a friend sent me a link about an old man in Singapore who posted in Facebook a photo of the man who refused to give up a reserved seat for him.
The MRT Ayala escalator. It's been a couple of months, and they still haven't fixed that shit.
And speaking of escalators, I hate it when people push / make remarks cos they're in a hurry and you're blocking their way. If you're really in a hurry— TAKE THE STAIRS.

Would it be better if the MRT is as spacious as LRT 2? I'm pleading to the transportation gods for this miracle to happen. And to also not let any stupid cunt ride the train. Srsly!

Twitbook Medley

2011-08-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

It's my brother who introduced me to these Fil-Am guys who do amazing covers on Youtube. Yes, it's also because of him why I am in love with Gabe Bondoc since 2009.

Anyway, here's another amazing guy on Youtube. He's the 1/3 of GLP— Gabe, Leejay and Passion— sadly, they had already separated ways. And from what I heard, it's because of Gabe. D: )

I really like his cover of Robin Thicke's Sweetest Love and BSB's All I Have To Give in this medley. But his original, Well Done, will always be my favorite!

Affordable Luxury!

2011-08-11T19:43:00.000-07:00

I usually go to Lay Bare in Katipunan to get my monthly underarm waxing and eyebrow threading, and I've been wanting to try Nail It Salon. It was just last July when I first tried their pedicure service — and there I knew that I would be a regular customer here.

C'mon! Look at this place! It's so cozy and I really like their purple motif!

Nail-it-salon.com

Since my toenails were already shouting for a pedicure, I decided to drop by before going to Gateway to watch Ang Babae sa Septic Tank with my boyfriend.

This is where I placed my feet while doing the service — and look how comfortable it is! And even their towels are purple! Heh.

And here's Ate Mimie doing the pedicure. (And say hello to my ugly feet!) Lol. It's my 2nd time here and I never experienced any pain while they're cleaning my nails — unlike with other salons that would sometimes injure (with blood!) my toenails! Ate Mimie would often ask me if it hurts, or if I feel comfortable — so that's an A+ on their customer service.

They also offered me their magazines proactively. I picked up YES! latest copy about Top 20 Celebrity Endorsers. John Lloyd's the 2nd top celebrity endorser here in country — next to Kris Aquino, of course. And mind you, this guy's rate is 6-8 million per endorsement! OMG, right?

And of course, Sarah Geronimo! Heh. But why only 9th spot? Lol, fangirl lang!

They even have nail dryers. I am a cheapskate so the usual pedicure salons that I go to don't have this. Lol.

And speaking of cheap price, their pedicure service would just cost you P120! But if you would like them to put a nail polish, you would just add P100. So that's just P220 for a superb pedicure service! Did I mention they only use ORLY and The Face Shop nail polish? They also don't use Merthiolate which is good, I think, cos of its harmful composition.

Am I over-promoting this salon? Lol. So if you're a regular of Lay Bare, try dropping by Nail It Salon. They have the same owner, so that explains why they both offer an affordable, yet luxurious salon experience!

P.S.

I just recently discovered that Moonleaf Tea Shop already has a branch in Katipunan (Esteban Abada, near McDonald's) so I dropped by to grab a glass of their Wintermelon Milk Tea! And they would soon open in Valero, Makati — which is just a few steps away from my workplace!

I love my neighborhood!

Anniversary Dinner!

2011-08-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend asked me to find a restaurant that we've never tried for a simple celebration of our anniversary. I was supposed to bring him to Maginhawa, but I changed my mind when I remembered that I really wanted to try Cyma.

Mezedes Pikilia (480)
Actually, it's not our intention to choose this for our appetizer. I already had Mezedes Htipiti in mind but my stupid fingers pointed the Pikilia to the waiter. I know, right! There is a P300 difference, so imagine my shock when this was presented to our table. Anyway, at least we were able to try all the types of Mezedes that they have so we already know what to pick the next time we go here -- and that's Mezedes Melitzanosalata! It's made from freshly roasted eggplant, tomatoes, garlic, fresh lemon and EVOO.

Lamb Souvlaki (450)
OMG THIS IS SOOOO GOOOOOD! I really, really liked it! The meat is so tender, and you can really taste all the herbs that were used in this dish. This serving is already good for two, and I would go back to Cyma because of this baby!

Baby Clams Angel Hair (300/solo)
We actually didn't eat this at the restaurant cos we were so full of all the pita bread that we've had. I am a fan of oil-based pasta, but I really find it hard to eat it cos of all the baby clams that it contains. Lol. And their solo meal is already good for two! We just have to bring this home for our midnight snack.

And I really regret not ordering this one:

Saganaki (200)
Flaming cheese! IKR! That's the restaurant's specialty and the waiters will shout 'OPA' whenever they serve it.

And here's a bunch of photos that I've taken while waiting for the food to be served:

My boyfriend is actually munching his pita bread, heh

And as they say, "Right angle can hide them flabby arms". Lol.

I really like my hair that night

The boyfriend is busy eating his lamb souvlaki!

And here's another I like my hair photo!

A previous colleague recommended this Greek restaurant to me months ago, and I guess he's right that this is worth every penny. I'm a fan of food that are wrapped in pita bread, so I'd make it a point to come back here as soon as possible.

The 90s are ALL THAT!

2011-07-28T18:58:00.000-07:00

OMG OMG OMG, right?

I terribly miss the 90s. I miss its music (especially the boybands!), movies, TV shows, etc. And whaddyaknow! Teen Nick brought back all the classic Nick shows which includes: Kenan and Kel, The Amanda Show, The Adventures of Pete and Pete, Clarissa Explains It All, The Secret World Of Alex Mack and of course, ALL THAT!

I am really a big fan of classic Nick shows and All That tops my list! This is also where my love for Amanda Bynes started.

I hope we'll also have this block here in the Philippines! Please, please, pretty please! It's like childhood all over again!

Finally, another Sarah and John Lloyd movie!

2011-07-08T19:26:00.000-07:00

Well, it's no secret that I am a big fan of Sarah Geronimo. I really, really like her since she started last 2003. In a nutshell, here's a description of my Sarah G fandom:

I've had a terrible break-up last 2009, and one of the things that comforted me at work was watching her ASAP performances on YouTube. A colleague noticed that and from then on, he started calling me SG!
My ex-boyfriend surprised me by buying a ticket to her concert last 2009!
I know almost all of the lines from A Very Special Love and You Changed My Life. I actually lost count on how many times I've watched those films.
I was affected after reading the YES! Magazine issue which revealed her break-up with Rayver Cruz. I've had the biggest crush on that guy, but now I can't even stand watching him on TV. Seriously.
I watched her movies as much as possible on the first day that it's being shown here.
I am not ashamed that I AM A SARAH G FAN!

LOL.

Also, I used to really like JLC, however, it changed when he started going out with Shaina. But hey! It's still J-L-C! And as one of the biggest fans of their tandem, I am very much overwhelmed that they finally pursued into creating their 3rd movie! And I hope that it's true that it will be shown this year!

I CAN'T WAIT, OMG!

P.S.
They should think of changing its title. IT TAKES A MAN AND A WOMAN? WTH HAHA!

Thank you, J.K. Rowling

2011-07-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

Last night was so emotional, especially for us Harry Potter fans. (If you are just laughing your ass off over us guys bawling in front of our computer screens, well, GTFO. LOLJK -- no, not really). Anyway, I slept early that's why I didn't get to watch the last premiere night of Harry Potter. Typing that phrase is really heartbreaking. LAST PREMIERE NIGHT, YOU GUYS! So when I woke up at around 4 in the morning, it had just ended and I just updated myself with other people's tweets, which made me cry, too! I'm currently browsing my Tumblr page, and still feel the same emotion. Nothing will make me ready for July 14.

People whom I've just met (IRL) a few years ago are probably not aware of how much of a Harry Potter fan I am since I was 16. So let's browse through my pensieve and rekindle my early Harry Potter memories.

It all started last 2002. Actually, my high school classmates were already reading this series back in 2000, but I didn't bother to ask them about this. I even didn't watch The Sorcerer's Stone in cinema! It was just through a friendly date with my high school friend that I got to watch The Chambers of Secrets. That's when the fandom started. That time, I still couldn't afford to ask my dad to buy me these expensive books, so I just borrowed from my classmates. I remember reading them during break time, and I even didn't study for quizzes just to finish a book. Remember mIRC? I'm always on the channel where you answer HP facts and trivia lol. I also kept on reading predictions about the next HP book that time which was The Order of The Phoenix.

Have you guys experienced watching in the front row (yes, FRONT ROW!) of a cinema? I only experienced that while watching The Prisoner of Azkaban. Back then, I think, reserved seats were not yet popular, so I just have to endure the eye strain, and of course, neck pain this had caused me. (It was worth it, anyway!) My siblings actually hated watching the films with me. Since I was the only one reading the series, I would always give unsolicited comments whenever we watch it together. Heh.

Then, 6 days from now, the last movie will hit our cinemas. And to quote a friend, "it's like something that’s deeply important to me will die on the 14th". I'll be watching this maybe a week after it had been shown here. Well, aside from fearing the emotional breakdown I might have (or probably will have!), I'd wait for my next salary which will be on the 20th. I wanna watch it on iMax with my boyfriend, and my wallet is almost empty right now lol (cos of spending way too much recently. And I'll have another post about that). Or, I could just ask money from my mom. . The boyfriend actually bought iMax tickets and that was supposed to be a surprise! So we'll watch it on the 1st day!

And speaking of iMax, I hope this will happen, too, in the Philippines! I'm starting to think of a plan on how to sneak this out of the theater. I really need to have this!

That's it. I'll probably do another emotional Harry Potter post after watching its last film. LAST FILM. Ahh, how many times do I have to say that this is just so heartbreaking. I'm just so proud to belong to the Harry Potter generation.

To end this, I'll just share my favorite screencaps from last night. And these made me cry so hard. I really can't imagine myself when I get to watch this.

"You two. I love you. I really do." - Rupert Grint

"And Jo, anything that I do for the rest of my career, I owe to this job. Thank you!" - Daniel Radcliffe

""Whether you come back by the page, or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home." - JK Rowling"

P.S.
See you on Pottermore, guys!

Twenty-Five

2011-06-30T19:52:00.000-07:00

So I turned 25 last week. Yeah, sure, it was fun; got a lot of greetings from people (which always makes me giddy!), but that was also the most expensive birthday that I ever had. Lol!

The celebration started the weekend before my actual birthday. And take note, I had eaten at buffet restaurants for 2 consecutive days! I know, right?

June 18, 2011
Yakimix, TriNoma

I was always curious why this restaurant is always full of people, that you must be there 30 minutes or an hour before 11 am if you don't want to wait for available seats. I'm also a fan of Japanese food so I decided to have my birthday celebration with my boyfriend here at Yakimix.

photos from http://patokplace.blogspot.com/

And I was in awe upon entering the restaurant. It was Japanese food heaven! I was overwhelmed with all the sushis and makis that I only got to try 5 kinds. I also didn't eat rice at all cos I want to enjoy all the other food that were served there.

I almost forgot to mention the dessert area. I had fun customizing my ice cream with chocolate sprinkle and gummy bears! It's like childhood all over again!

June 19, 2011
Kamay-Kainan, TriNoma

For a change, I want to treat my family this year cos normally, my mom would cook/buy food for us during our birthdays. And when I say family, I meant 10 people. Kamay-Kainan is one of the cheapest buffets in town so it's okay. I just had a round here since I was still full from yesterday's food escapade.

June 21, 2011
Amber's Restaurant, Makati

I celebrated my birthday at work. And being the generous cat that I am (no, not really!), I decided to treat my new officemates for lunch. I bought Amber's Pancit Malabon (good for 25 people), and of course, how can I miss their famous Pichi-Pichi!

Omnomnomnom!

Amber's still the best maker of pichi-pichi! It's a good thing that it's just near my new workplace.

June 23, 2011:

Peanut Butter Company

I promised my good friend, Anthony, that I'll treat him for my birthday. We were supposed to watch Toy Story 3 (and that was supposed to be my treat) last year, but I ditched him for a date with my boyfriend. Lol. And it was funny cos his work normally starts at 9 in the morning, but he was already in Makati 2 hours before just to have breakfast with me.

That's the Green Tea Vanilla Sandwich, and OMG, it was soooo good! It's kinda expensive, though. It already costs P70 for a half-sandwich while you can already buy 2 of that at The Sandwich Guy. Heh.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the Fish and Diablo pasta. I really like the spicy peanut butter twist!

So that's my 25th birthday celebration, everyone! It was really a good thing that this new company pays so much better than my previous one! LOL. And I was lucky that I got my first month salary days before my birthday. Birthday gods had heard my plead. Haha.

P.S. I'm not really using my camera that much, so I just grabbed photos from the internet. And thank God for Instagram!

Commuting Fiasco

2011-06-23T20:27:00.000-07:00

a.k.a I really hate my current work location!

I left my previous employer (after 4 years!), and I ended up finding a new job in MAKATI.

My friends know that I hate that city. Not just Makati, but mostly the south part of the Metro. I was born and lived in QC all my life, and going to the south is such a burden for me. Yeah, sure, I had worked in Mandaluyong, but that is still tolerable (at least in my geographical standards). For the past year, I am just 10 minutes away from work, so imagine the adjustments I have to make when I started last month -- I have to leave the house 2 hours before my shift starts. I also never tried taking the bus again to get to work. You see, during my 2nd week at work, I was late for 1 fucking minute, and it's all because this stupid bus that kept on stopping in every waiting shed in EDSA. And also, I have a motion sickness that I can't tolerate long bus rides. For serious!

Anyway, for a month of 2-hour commuting (make that 4!) everyday, I had experienced a lot of funny, scary and gross stories that I would like to share with you, guys! Heh!

1. When I was 19, I experienced being mugged on my way home. Since then, whenever I see suspicious people, I'd transfer to another jeepney or bus, and I don't care if I already paid the fare. So anyway, I was on my way home, and I was standing on the aisle of the bus since there were no available seats. And then a guy offered his seat to me. Then this guy with iPhone was about to alight the bus, but can't freaking get out since there were a lot of people blocking his way. Then I suddenly saw that the guy who offered me his seat was pushing him real hard. And I also saw him getting something from the guy with iPhone's pocket. I was tempted to alert him, but was afraid that something might happen to me. So I decided to shut up and just get my boyfriend's attention who's seated behind me. Then a minute later, the guy with iPhone went back and asked the passengers to check if they saw his phone. There I knew that it was already snatched. The boyfriend noticed that he was playing with his phone so maybe, that caught the attention of the snatcher. So freakin' scary!

2. As I mentioned earlier, I can't tolerate long bus rides. That's the reason why I have to drink Bonamine if ever I have to go to a province riding a bus. So one night after work, I was already feeling dizzy inside the bus. And it was freaking cold, too! I felt that I was about to vomit anytime, so I decided to just close my eyes and rest. Then I reached my destination, and dropped by at a convenience store to buy Doritos. I was standing in line, when I felt that I can't contain it anymore and ran out of the store. I puked in front of that store, and the security guard asked me to puke somewhere else (fuck him!). I also caught people's attention, and perhaps they're thinking that I am just drunk. That was gross, I know!

3. And this one.

I'm yet to find a place near Makati, and actually, I am beginning to get used working in this city. But ~the QC~ is still the best city ever!

Pizza All You Can

2011-06-10T03:13:00.000-07:00

So last weekend, this happened:

My boyfriend and I decided to drop by SM San Lazaro and saw this ad. We immediately looked for Chef d' Angelo since it's almost dinner time, too. And we were taken by surprise to see the number of people inside the restaurant. It's a good thing we found a seat after a couple of minutes of waiting. I tried the salad first since the pizza was nowhere to be found. Lol, cos the moment they put the pizza on the table, it was already gone in just a matter of seconds. (I'm not kidding).

So anyway, here's what we got:

Sorry for the resolution, all we've got is Instagram. Lol!

It's just for P150 so don't expect a superb food quality. I only tried the pasta once since it's just a plain pasta. Like, sauce and noodles. No meat, etc. But I kept on getting the Four Cheese pizza! It was delicious! And the salad, too!

So the next time I'll try this, I'll just choose the pizza and salad. I was really disappointed with their pasta. Really.

Cheapskate!

2011-04-14T03:59:00.000-07:00

I've always been the low-maintenance type (lol?). You'll never see me buy an expensive brand if I can get a cheaper item that will give me the same (or almost the same) results. Heh. My boyfriend once asked me why haven't I purchased a ~*Starbucks*~ tumbler (bleurgh!), and I've been working in a call cennar for quite some time. I was like, "What the hell? Is that required?!". I could buy a lot of kikay stuff, (or books!) for P500+, right? I could just buy a tumbler that's just worth P100 and it will still serve the same purpose. Lol, that's why he had given me a Starbucks tumbler for my birthday last year.Yay?

So anyway, here are the cheap items I'd just discovered during the past few months.

1. E.L.F Tinted Moisturizer

I was supposed to buy Myra E's Tinted moisturizer, but I came across E.L.F stall (in Watson's), and was amazed by all the cheap stuff they're offering. The tinted moisturizer is just for P125, (well, almost all of their items), and it's so worth it! I haven't had any breakouts, and I've been using this for almost 3 weeks now. I might hoard their items come payday (waterproof eyeliner pen, shimmering facial whip, eyebrow kit!). It's even cheaper in the US. Their price ranges from $1 to $3. OMG, right?

2. Human Heart Nature Balancing Facial Wash and Toner

I've always been the zit-free type ever since I could remember, Yes, there are occasional zits every now and then, but it was late last year when I've had the worst breakout ever! Facial treatment helped me get through that phase, but I don't wanna it all the time, just occasional trip to a facial center, I guess.

I was fond of reading beauty blogs / online forums, and read a lot of raves about Human Heart Nature products, so I decided to give it a try. Bought their facial wash and toner, and OMG, it worked perfectly for my skin. Lol, I maybe exaggerating here, but it took me forever to find the perfect facial wash and toner for my skin. It's organic, and cheap, too! I might as well buy their Sunflower Beauty Oil, since I read that it's a good make-up remover and moisturizer.

3.San San Mousse Blush in Mocha

I never really liked blushes in pink shade; it just never suits my complexion. Anyway, I never intended to buy this since I always prefer the powder blush. It's so easy to apply, and I think this will last me for a couple of months. Again, NO BREAKOUTS! Heh.

4. Lewis & Pearl Body and Face Powder (Pink)

I've been using Maybelline's Clear Smooth Face Powder (in Honey) for a year now. I never really had any serious breakout using that face powder, but I dunno, since I'm already using a tinted moisturizer, I just wanted to skip the compact face powder. Yes, this is me trying to avoid zits. Anyway, I read in Girltalk! that this is really a good face powder. At first, I didn't see that as an option, cos you know, I think baby powders are just for high school students. Lol. I even started using a compact face powder in HS. But hey, I never expected that this will give me a good coverage after the tinted moisturizer. It's really light and good for everyday use. For real! But I might go back to Maybelline one of these days. Or maybe not. Heh.

Thanks to these products, I really have a good skin right now.I will stick to this regimen for a long time. :P

So Much For My ~Resolution~

2011-03-03T17:27:00.000-08:00

Or maybe it's not that late? It's just March, right? Lol.

So my last post here says that I wanna lose weight before my 25th birthday, and read 100 books this year. Heh. A lot of things had happened last month that stopped me from pursuing those things. I was off to a good start last January. I was really motivated to lose weight. Lol, I even had some exercise routine before going to work. And I bought a lot of books that I wanna include in my to-read list.

Then a break-up ruined it all.

Fun fact! Yes, when I'm depressed, I tend to eat A LOT. And yeah, I gained weight, and people had noticed it! It's that obvious!

I was also stuck in reading Love The One You're With for like, 3 weeks?! (I know, right?). It was just hard for me to finish it at that moment. So to sum it up, February was such a blur. A lot of things had happened, a lot of lessons learned.

Anyway, moving forward, we got back together, and things are now A-OK! So, since March had already started, I wanna try my luck again on these resolutions. Like, I am again motivating myself to lose weight. That is, and will always be a forever dilemma. Lol. But I managed to do that last year, so I am crossing my fingers on this!

As for the book reading challenge? I am on my 6th (yeah, sore loser!) and hoping to triple the number by the end of the month! Heh.

Wish me luck!

Probably A Little Too Late For A Year-Ender Post

2011-01-16T03:23:00.000-08:00

16 days had passed since 2011 had started, and yes, I'm just about to write my ~hopes~ and ~resolutions~ for 2011.

2009 sucked. 2010 was the exact opposite.

You see, everything went well last year. I got promoted (finally!) at work and I was transferred to UP Technohub which is like, 10 minutes away from home. I also met my boyfriend this year. :) We've also had less family problems as compared to 2009, so I guess, 2010 is really a good year for me.

So here comes 2011.

I wanted to do a Reading Challenge for 2011. I've been buying A LOT of books, but I barely read them. You know the giddy feeling of adding something to your collection, but due to lack of time, they are just piled under my To-Read books. If some are doing 100 Movies for 2011, I'd do 100 books instead. I am already on my 2nd book, (and with my pace right now, I probably won't make it). I finished Pam Pastor's Paper Cuts in 1 day. I am now halfway through Emily Giffin's Love The One You're With. I'm reading it for almost 2 weeks now, but I still haven't finished it. WHY OH WHY. Oh well, I'll try to squeeze it in so that I can finally start with Jessica Zafra's Twisted 9 (I know, I should have started with this one, IT'S JESSICA ZAFRA!)

It was also last year when I had a drastic weight loss that made everyone wonder what the hell did I do to achieve that. I dunno how many pounds I lost (since I'm not checking the weighing scale), but I know it was a lot since a lot of people were asking me what happened. Lol. It started when we had our Puerto Galera summer getaway, and upon looking on my photos, I realized that it's time to start losing weight. It went on for months, then I gained it all back since my boyfriend and I keeps on eating every time we're together. Sad, isn't? That realization suddenly occurred to me again yesterday, upon looking on my December photos. Wish me luck, I guess?

So there. I finally had time to do this since I've been thinking of writing this for days now. Heh!

Cheap Thrills

2010-11-25T21:08:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been two months since I've last updated this blog. Well, I barely have time for blogging nowadays. My Tumblr was even abandoned for some time.

So anyway, let me just share some of my cheap finds recently. I'm a cheapskate, so these things make me happy!

1. Mini Stop's Fried Chicken

I'm a fried chicken lover (Chicken Joy in particular!), and I always wanted to try Mini Stop's Fried Chicken. There will always be a long queue of lines in Mini Stop during lunch time, and it's all because of this. So when I've had a chance last week, I finally grabbed one for lunch, and OMG, it sure tastes good! There's also a free refill for their gravy! AND IT'S JUST FOR P55! Btw, the photo above is not true, cos there are no Lipton Iced Tea that comes with this meal! Or maybe, just in the Technohub branch? Heh.

2. Asian Secrets Lulur

I read about this some time last week, and when I got a chance to pass by at Watson's (it's only available there), I bought the smaller tub, just to give it a try. And just like everyone else, I am happy with the results of this body scrub! First of all, it smells good and it'll stay even after a couple of hours! I really don't have to apply lotion that much every time I use this! And yes, it's so cheap for a body scrub. Small tub will cost you at around P80, while the bigger one is just for P130+! This is a must try, I tell you!

3. Latagan Sa Cubao Expo

Last November 20, I was strolling around Araneta Center, and decided to drop by Cubao X to check on some shoes. I had no clue about this bazaar, and I was in awe with all of the selections that were on sale! Cheap clothes, artsy stuff, books, shoes, etc! I was tired from buying stuff from SM Cubao, so I only grabbed a couple of things here. Several clothes, a bag, and a pair of shoes for just P385! Huzzah! They'll have another on the 4th, but I don't think I can make it since it's our company's Christmas party. Sigh. Or maybe not. Lol.

4. Cental BBQ Boy Grill!

"Where Everyday is a Weekend!"

I celebrated my 24th birthday in their Makati branch (where I got so drunk that a friend even have to bring me home lol). I suggested this to my boyfriend when we're thinking of a place to drink on his birthday a couple of weeks ago. They sell cheap food and drinks, that's why they are always filled with people even on a weekday! A plate full of Nachos for just 135? Buffalo chicken wings for P95? Yay, right? My favorite would be their best seller drink which is called "Bad Trip". It's a mix of gin, rhum, pineapple juice and Absolut, I think! It will just cost you P199 per pitcher, and they also have a promo of Buy 2, Take 1 on their mixed cocktails every weekdays! We've been to their Central branch every week since November had started. Lol.

Well, there you go! Isn't it nice to find stuff that won't make you really spend that much? Heh.

Party Crasher

2010-09-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

So it's been two months now since I moved to UP Technohub (from Edsa Central). I already met new friends, and adjusted to the new environment. I like my new work location, because it is so convenient, that it only takes me 10 minutes and P55-P60 cab fare every time I go to work.

But despite this work contentment (no, not really), it hit me last week that I really miss the people that I used to work with for the past 3 years. Thankfully, I had no work last Monday, so I kinda "gate crashed" at their party. They missed me, too, I guess?

Photos!

Spot me

Workforce guys. I've been with them for 3 months, and I miss being part of their team.

Um, LOL?

I dunno if you can spot here the leggings that I wore that night, which I eventually removed before I went to the dance floor. Heh.

This pose never gets old

I have gorgeous friends

Fun!

Something Peculiar, II

2010-08-15T22:53:00.000-07:00

So last night, I saw this on my Tumblr dashboard, and I reblogged it immediately (not even wondering what movie this came from). It is just relevant, okay?

Then hours after that, I decided to watch Another Cinderella Story (finally! cos I have a copy oif this film for a couple of months already, and it was just last night that I got to watch it) after watching a serious documentary about Ninoy Aquino. I just wanna get rid of the sad feeling before falling asleep. Then I saw that particular scene and all I could say was "WTF?!" Lol.

The universe is trying to tell me something, dontcha think? Heh. Loljk. I was just in awe with this kind of coincidence.

"You see, everyone has a baggage..."

2010-08-15T07:06:00.001-07:00

“…It’s a part of life. But like anything else, it’s easier when someone gives you a hand with it.”

This Ted Mosby quote is so relevant that I posted it twice or thrice already on Tumblr.

People say that I should stay on guard with my current ~relationship~, because things are complicated on his side. They say that I’m too young to handle this kind of situation, and that made me think hard before pursuing this thing with him. But just like Ted (I think I’m like him IRL lolol), I (or they) keep on pointing out his baggages, but I just realized that I have my own baggages, too. Perhaps coming from a painful breakup (lolwhat) has its downside. There were instances that when I am seeing that things were like the previous relationship that I’ve had, I will remember the feeling I’ve had back then and would feel completely paranoid, which is wrong. I dunno. I’m still keeping myself on guard, not because of his baggages, but because I’m afraid to be hurt like that again.

Lol. This weather makes me wonder, I guess.

Finally Caved In

2010-08-15T07:04:00.000-07:00

"Right when she’d given up and stopped looking, she stumbled into her own fairytale." - Dawson Leery, Dawson’s Creek

It's been almost a year since I've been dumped by the recent ex-boyfriend, and I think it's true that good things happen when you least expect it.

It all started with a cup of coffee. We had a bet regarding the recent NBA finals (lol idek), and whoever wins will have a free coffee from the loser. Of course, I lost, but it's okay. I have a crush on him since early this year, but we barely talk to each other. And the rest, as they say, was history.

You see, I barely blog or tweet about him, or about us. Unlike with the past relationships that I've had, I like to be discreet this time. No, not that discreet, discreet. IRL friends barely know details about us. People at work were surprised when they found out that we're going out (or finally are a couple!). It's just that after several failed relationships, maybe, I wanted things to be different this time.

It's funny that when you've given it all on your previous what-you-thought-was-ideal relationship, you would not question the ideality of the relationship, but will just focus on things that make you both happy, which is more important, right?

And speaking of things that make me happy, I remember posting this a couple of months ago, and I can see that I have an 8/10 out of that checklist.

1. Good Conversation
> Things started with having a sensible/gibberish conversation over a cup of coffee. I want someone who I can learn things from. Someone who knows he is smart, but does not shove it in my face.
2. Lots of hugs
<3
3. Can understand my need for blogging / tweeting some stuff about us
>LOL I'm not really blogging stuff about us, (well, I don't know now that I already started it), but he reads this blog hahaha!
4. Movie Buddy
> We already watched a lot of chick flicks, and Star Cinema movies (yes, even Sarah Geronimo's Hating Magkapatid!), even though he's not a fan of those kind of films. Heh!
5. Honesty
6. Communication
7. Drinking Buddy
> Cheers?
8. Love. <3

As for the letters and camwhore buddy, I dunno. He's not fond of writing letters (sad face) and we don't have a chance to take a lot of pictures of ourselves. But it's okay :)

I'm happy that we both took a chance on things. Blame that quote ("What and If are two non-threatening words that when put together can haunt you for the rest of your life.") from Letters to Juliet which we watched on our second date, heh!

Yay for 2010

2010-08-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

2009 was a pretty bad year for me (work-related stuff, family issues, two break-ups, etc.), but I guess being optimistic at the end of that year helped a lot!

I got promoted at work two weeks ago. It's just sad that I have to be away from the people that I've been working with for the past 3 years, but thinking that I'm just 10 minutes away from work makes me giddy. I still have to adjust to new people (and responsibilities, lol!).

Also, after a year of being hmm ~single~, I can say that my love life has finally opened another chapter (LOLWHAT). Well, anyway, I'll blog about that some other time.

I also heard a lot of good news from my friends this year. My college best friends all got married this year, and one of them is already pregnant! Then a high school friend got a scholarship to pursue medicine. My high school friends who broke up after being together for 7 years are now back in each other's arms just a couple of weeks ago. Another high school friend (whose boyfriend died March 2009), also found someone who's worth a second chance on love.

Four more months before the year ends, and I hope I'm not putting a jinx on things. I'm just thankful with all these good stuff that had come my way this year! Cheers, 2010!

Brilliant, Just Brilliant

2010-07-20T04:57:00.000-07:00

Just like what everyone had said, this film was brilliantly made. I was completely blown away while / after watching it last night. Same feeling I've had after watching The Dark Knight, which was of course, another masterpiece of Christopher Nolan. Also, the brilliant cast made me love it even more (Err, Tom Hardy? Ellen Page?). How many times do I have to use the word brilliant in this post? Lol.

All I did today was recommend this to my siblings and friends, telling them that they'd miss half of their lives if they don't watch it. Lol. However, I'm kinda disappointed that some of my friends weren't interested (at all) in watching this film. Like, oh my god why? Well, haha, I just decided to watch it after reading some of the rave reviews from the people that I follow in Twitter and Tumblr. Their reactions made me curious enough to watch it. I'm not a fan of sci-fi films, I'm sarreh. But it was all worth it! It's a good thing too that we decided to watch it in 2D. P191 was a good price for this film.

This probably sums up my (and the whole theater's) reaction after that fucking ending! Hahaha! I might watch it again one of these days. Maybe after watching Sarah Geronimo's "Hating Kapatid". Heh.

Something Peculiar

2010-07-18T12:38:00.001-07:00

I was never really fond of reading horoscopes. I read them from time to time, but never actually believed them. I love my Zodiac sign, though. You see, I was born on the 21st of June which turned out to be a cusp or the boundary of signs. I am Gemini / Cancer. But thanks to the new Zodiac sign shenanigan, I am now just a Gemini.

Well anyway, I was at the office lobby when I saw a copy of Cosmopolitan's issue for the month of June. Then while browsing the magazine, I stumbled upon the horoscope for the said month. All I could say was "WOW." after reading my horoscope for June.

"A cute co-worker is into you. Have a coffee run with him, cos that’s all he needs to ask you out."

It was last month when my co-worker (that I had a crush on) asked me out. And as you might have guessed, our first date was in a coffee shop.

I just find it funny when things like this happen.

You Can Say It's Relevant

2010-07-18T11:49:00.001-07:00

Or maybe not.

"I think we’re just going to have to be secretly in love with each other and leave it at that." - The Royal Tenenbaums

The one that got away
Source: The Manila Times
By: Mark J. Macapagal (2007)

In your life, you'll make note of a lot of people. Ones with whom you shared something special, ones who will always mean something. There's the one you first kissed, the one you first loved, the one you lost your virginity to, the one you put on a pedestal, the one you're with...and the one that got away.

Who is the one that got away? I guess it's that person with who everything was great, everything was perfect, but the timing was just wrong. There was no fault in the person, there was no flaw in the chemistry, but the cards just didn't fall the right way, I suppose.

I believe in the fact that ending up with someone, finding a longtime partner that is, does not lie merely in the other person. I can actually argue that an equal part, or maybe even the greater part, has to do with the matter of timing. It has to do with you being ready to settle down and commit to someone in a way that goes beyond the little niceties of giddy romance.

How often have you gone through it without even realizing it? When you're not ready to commit in that mature manner, it doesn't matter who you're with, it just doesn't work. Small problems become big; inconsequentials become dealbreakers simply because you're not ready and it shows. It's not that you and the person you're with are no good; it's just tha t it's not yet right, and little things become the flashpoint of that fact.

Then one day you're ready. You really are. And when this happens you'll be ready to settle down with someone. He or she may not be the most perfect, they might not be the brightest star of romance to ever have burned in your life, but it'll work because you're ready. It'll work because it's the right time and you'll make it work. And it'll make sense, it really will.

So that day comes when you're finally making sense of things, and you find yourself to be a different person. Things are different, your approach is different, you finally understand who you are and what you want, and you've become ready because the time has truly arrived. And mind you, there's no telling when this day will come. Hopefully you're single but you could be in a long-term relationship, you could be married with three kids, it doesn't matter. All you know is that you've changed, and for some reason, the one that got away, is the first person you think about.

You'll think about them because you'll wonder, "What if they were here today?" You'll wonder, "What if we were together now, with me as I am and not as I was?" That's what the one that got away is. The biggest "What if?" you'll have in your life.

If you're married, you'll just have to accept the fact that the one that got away, got away. Believe me, no matter how fairy tale you think your marriage is, this can happen to the best of us. But hopefully you're mature enough to realize that you're already with the one you're with and this is just another test of your commitment, one which will just strengthen your marriage when you get past it. Sure, you'll think about him/her every so often, but it's alright. It's never nice to live with a "might have been," but it happens.

Maybe the one that got away is the one who's already married. In which case it's the same thing. You just have to accept and know that your memories of that person will probably bring a nice little smile to
your lips in the future when you're old and gray and reminiscing.

But if neither of that is the case, then it's different. What do you do if it's not yet too late? Simple...find him, find her. Because the very existence of a "one that got away" means that you'll always wonder,
what if you got that one?

Ask him out to coffee, ask her out to a movie, it doesn't matter if you've dropped in from out of nowhere. You'd be surprised, you just might be "the one that got away" as well for the person who is your "the one that got away."

You might drop in from out of nowhere and it won't make a difference. If the timing is finally right, it'll all just fall into place somehow and you know, I'm thinking, it would be a great feeling, in the end, to be able to say to someone, "Hey you, you're the one that almost got away.

Obligatory Birthday Post

2010-07-08T23:35:00.000-07:00

In case you didn't know, I turned 24 two weeks ago. Heh.

There are only two occasions that I look forward to celebrating every year: Christmas season and my birthday. Who doesn't want to celebrate their birthday, anyway? I feel special whenever people (especially the unexpected ones) remember my birthday.

Started my day at around 7 in the morning. I was actually surprised with all the greetings that I got on my Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter accounts. Yeah, it was shallow, but it really made me feel giddy. Zach and Rod asked me if I have any plans for lunch (it was a Monday, so my family and most of my friends were at work/school) and we decided to have an eat all you can escapade in TriNoma. It's been a while since I've eaten that much!

Zach and Rod :)

Zach insisted eating here since he missed eating Kapampangan dishes

HEAVEN!

Sucheen and Kittykat :)

ZachKat (lol)

Went home at around 5 in the afternoon, rested for an hour (early dinner with my family), then headed to Makati to celebrate with my high school friends. We chose Makati over QC cos most of them would be coming from the south part of the metro. I also didn't have work that day, so I agreed that I'd be the one to adjust. Heh.

First thing I learned at 24: Never get drunk in Makati if you're residing in the QC area. Thankfully, my friend (who lived near my place) fetched me after her shift that night. I must say I ended that day with a blast. Also, the last birthday greeting was the sweetest I got that day.*wink*

More photos:

All dressed up, while the birthday celebrant was just wearing shorts, racerback and a cardigan. Lol

Nen :)

One of the perks of having a friend who works in Rebisco: Having to taste their soon-to-be released products. It's the local version of Cheetos (I guess?).

Ok.

Drunk face is on!

I can say that this year's celebration was better than last year. :) A big hug to those who remembered my birthday!

On Repeat

2010-07-03T18:33:00.000-07:00

"The best lyrics are the ones that give you goosebumps, or make you cry in public, or help you realize the answers." - Katy Perry

I usually have some songs on repeat on my iPod for a week or two. I remember listening nonstop to LFO's Girl On TV and Glee's version of Poker Face some time last month, and it's just because those songs put me in a happy mood. This week's LSS do otherwise.

What's Another Day - Maria Mena

"You know concrete colored buildings all grow stale"
You say as I look up dreaming
I know better than to include the both of us
But I can't sleep when you're gone
And you say, "What's another day?"

Beautifully - Jay Brannan

He loved her, but he wasn't too sure
If he could return the love she showed
When she said, my love extends
Beyond the realm of being friends
He kissed her head, and quietly he said
"It's not that you're not beautiful, you're just not beautiful to me"
She said, "How beautiful do I have to be?"

I would always get the feeling of being stabbed in the heart whenever I listen to these songs. I can't remember how many times these songs made me shed tears (before going to sleep, at work, or even in a public transportation).

Lol why am I so emotional these days? I think I should start listening to happy songs again.

So Long, My Luckless Romance

2010-07-02T16:15:00.000-07:00

"Should've known you'd bring me heartache. Almost lovers always do." Almost Lovers, A Fine Frenzy

It was this time last year when we became friends, and today, I consider you as one of the best guy friends that I ever had. We have a lot of things in common, and we also influenced each other with our own interests. You made me watch Survivor and American Idol religiously, while I got you addicted to How I Met Your Mother & The Big Bang Theory.

Liking you was inevitable, and I've tried my best to keep it discreet, but I guess you already knew it all along. People thought we were actually are a couple, and they wouldn't believe us whenever we tell them that we're just friends. But there were times that I wished that we actually are.

It's been some time now since I've accepted that we were just bound to be friends; you're the guy best friend that I never had.

I find it funny that we're saying our goodbyes that as if you're going overseas, whereas you'll just change your work location (which is just a few blocks away from my house, lol). Maybe, I'll just miss seeing you five times a week, and spending every break time with you. But just like what you've said to me, you're just 1 call / text / plurk (lol) away, so I guess I have to stop being emotional. You've been wanting this promotion for the longest time, and I want you to know that I am happy for you.

I was apprehensive about writing this entry because I know you'll be able to read this one of these days, but I just want to let you know that you'll be missed big time (I cried after reading your text message yesterday, heh), and good luck on your new career!

The Universe is Funny. Really.

2010-06-25T20:56:00.000-07:00

"Right when she’d given up and stopped looking, she stumbled into her own fairytale." -Dawson's Creek

It has been a month or two since I've given up on something that I really wanted. I thought I was patient enough, err, maybe I was still willing to wait, however, there are those times that you know that it's going nowhere and you just have to stop; just for everyone's sake.

I recently realized that I was right about moving on. It was universed! The sudden twist of events left me dumbfounded cos I really didn't see it coming. I was (or am still?) apprehensive because things can get complicated in time, but there's no harm in trying, right? Right?

I've been ecstatic the past few weeks, cos maybe I missed this kind of feeling. It's been some time since I've had a real date! Also, I missed having sensible / gibberish talk over a cup of coffee. It's now back to square one, I guess.

But just when I thought that things were already falling into places, something came up that made me distressed. Why? The person I've given up hope will leave in two weeks time. I remember when I was in high school, I believed that when you're too happy, it wouldn't last long; sadness will come next. It was shallow, I know. But hey, it happened again. And because of this, I almost cried on my way home earlier. It was when my last relationship ended that I cried (like, real hard) inside a bus, and I really didn't care if people were staring at me. I realized that I will sure miss him being there all the time. I'm happy for him, though, cos he's been waiting for this to happen for the longest time. But don't get me wrong here. There were no rekindled feelings. It's just that I hate it when people leave; I hate all sorts of goodbyes.

Anyway, I know the universe has a plan, and that plan is always in motion. It’s a scary thought, but it’s also kind of wonderful. Did I just quote Ted Mosby, again? Heh. For now, I would just enjoy whatever it is that makes me giddy the past few weeks, and maybe, it'll be all worth it.

My Last Birthday With You

2010-06-19T22:58:00.000-07:00

So it was 8 years ago, when I've had one of my happiest birthday celebration ever.

It was my 16th birthday, and I thought I would have the usual birthday celebration just like the past years: I would treat my friends for a snack then go home for a family dinner. Right after classes had ended, me and my friends went out for a snack. It was just around 5 in the afternoon, I think. Then an hour later, I received a text message from you, asking me where I was. I told you that I was out with friends, and I was surprised with your reply.

"Maaga nga ako umuwi kasi naghanda ako sa birthday mo. Umuwi ka na."

So I went home immediately after reading that text message. I was surprised seeing that you've prepared a lot of food, (more than my usual birthday celebration) and you've bought me a new mobile phone, too! We had a fun dinner that night.

It was the year after that I came to realize that it was my last birthday with you. So that's why you were mad when I went home a little late than usual during my 16th birthday. I also remember that you were extra sweet to me that day. If only I had known that you'd be gone too soon, I could've done things that you would be so proud of.

It's been 7 years since you left us, but I would always miss you. It's my 24th birthday tomorrow, and I wish I were celebrating it with you. It's also Father's Day today, and if you were still here, I bet it would be a double celebration.

Happy Father's Day, Papa.

Boyfriend Classification, How I Met Your Mother Style

2010-06-16T04:44:00.000-07:00

I was reading my old blog entries on my livejournal account when I saw this post I've had last February. I just love this show so much, that I even compare my future relationship on these guys. Heh.

I have the biggest crush on Ted Mosby since I started watching How I Met Your Mother. But if you would ask me if who among the HIMYM characters would I want to have as my boyfriend, I'd choose Marshall Eriksen .

Ted Mosby embodies a boyfriend per se; one who would run an extra mile just to knock you off your feet. The hopeless romantic who always believe in destiny. While Marshall Eriksen is your best friend / boyfriend type of lover. He may not be the sweetest guy that you'll ever meet, but being with him means having a day of endless laughter.

The best TV couple ever -- Marshall & Lily Eriksen.

I am in love with the Marshall & Lily tandem. They are not just husband & wife but also partners in crime. Who wouldn't want to have a love story just like theirs?

“Marshall, I love you because you’re funny and you make me feel loved and you make feel safe. And for our anniversary you gave me a sweatshirt that says, “Lily and Marshall, Rockin’ since ‘96” I kinda wish I was wearing it right now cause it smells like you. But the main reason I love you, Marshall Eriksen, is you make me happy. You make me happy all the time." - Lily Aldrin (the sweetest marriage vow ever!)

Okay, I am really having a hard time defining these types of boyfriend that I am trying to point here. So here's the deal, I've recently realized that I want to have a ~barkada/ best friend~ type of boyfriend. One that I could have endless conversation just about anything under the sun. You could crack jokes that only the two of you would understand. 4 of my ex-boyfriends were like Ted Mosby, and most of the Marshall Eriksen type that I meet always end up as an "almost lover".

I've been in and out of relationship for the past 10 years and it is just with the recent ex-boyfriend that I've had this kind of realization. That's why when someone was trying to court me 3 months ago, I immediately turned him down cos I know that he's just another Ted Mosby. I really don't want to start our relationship in dating; set the friendship first, then let's see what happens next.

I think I have yet to meet my Marshall Eriksen. Or hmm.

Things had changed the past few months. I still want to meet my Marshall Eriksen, however, a little bit of Ted Mosby would be better. :)

Gabe Bondoc Will Tell You My Story

2010-06-10T04:46:00.000-07:00

I have the biggest crush on this talented singer/songwriter/ guitarist/ nerd for almost 2 years now. Look how adorable he is whenever he's singing, and how dimples appear whenever he says "Ello" at the start of his videos.

So anyway, when people ask me "What's new with you?" or "How are you today", I'd just come up with several versions of "I'm fine", but there are really a lot of stories to tell. I was in the mood to listen to some of Gabe Bondoc's covers on my way to work this morning, and then it just struck me, that maybe a couple of Gabe's covers/original songs could somehow narrate or summarize those piled up stories.

So almost a year ago:

I Remember (Keyshia Cole)

I remember when my heart broke

I remember when I gave up loving you
My heart couldn't take no more of you
I was sad and lonely

Then an unexpected thing happened:

Fallin For You (Colbie Caillat)

I am trying not to tell you
But I want to
I'm scared of what you'll say
So I'm hiding what I'm feeling
But I'm tired of holding this inside my head

But you know that some things take time:

My Plan (Gabe Bondoc original)

Even though I like to keep you mine,
My plan is not to change your mind
I'll lock the feelings deep inside,
For another time, for another time

But no matter how you much you try to think that it's not meant to be, you just can't control what you really want and feel:

Stronger Than (Gabe Bondoc original)

I swear I'm stronger than these emotions
But they're taking over me

At the end of the day, you'd end up wondering if it is all worth it:

Chasing Pavements - (Adele)

Should i give up,
Or should i just keep chasing pavements?
Even if it leads nowhere,
Or would it be a waste?
Even If i knew my place should i leave it there?

There you go. Lol that was sappy.

Last Weekend

2010-06-05T23:13:00.000-07:00

It was the weekend after payday and so I decided to splurge a bit and hang out with my friends.

Saturday:

I planned to go home immediately after work, cos I wanna have enough sleep before going out for a drink with my high school friends. But one of my office buddies, Justin, asked me to accompany him cos he wants to buy a new phone. I also ended up buying a new phone for myself. Heh.

I got this water jug as a freebie for that phone, and decided to give it to Zach instead.

And later that night, I went out for a drink with 2 of my high school friends. Too bad that the rest didn't make it. Also, it's one of the few times that I went out drinking and I don't get home drunk. Yay for me!

Nen, Flo, Kat

Franco, Mike, Rex

The pseudo-lovers. LOL!

So I was the "fifth wheel" during that night. Flo was with Franco, while Nen was with Rex. But then Mike came to join the fun, however, he just stayed for almost an hour. Still, it was a fun night!

Sunday:

I finally had a chance to hang out again with my best friend's twin brother, Anthony. It's been months since we were planning to meet up, but because of our busy schedules, it just wouldn't happen. I also bought him a scarf during my Baguio trip last February, and it was just this day that he finally got it.

We had these for lunch at Teriyaki Boy:

Then had some sweet dessert in Krispy Kreme after:

You may be wondering why he's dressed up like this. Heh. It's because he just came from a flight attendant application earlier that day. And then he needed to go home immediately after that, and since I was already in the Cubao vicinity, I decided to do some thrift shopping. :)

Things are different for this week, though. I'm just enjoying the bed weather so I might as well stay at home the whole day.

17 Days

2010-06-04T04:33:00.000-07:00

So summady's excited for her birthday, eh? Yeah, maybe. But there are also certain things that made me giddy during the past few days:

1. Rainy Season
The rainy season here in our country usually starts by the end of May or the first week of June. I remember 2 years ago, I celebrated my birthday with no electricity because of Typhoon Frank. Lol. So when PAGASA announced that this year's summer would be extended on my birthday month, I thought that for the first time, I would celebrate my birthday on a hot weather. As much as I would like that to happen, I dread the country's temperature during the past few months that it was almost unbearable. But I guess we could now sleep under a blanket, cos the rainy season is finally here!

2. New camera / mobile phone
So it was last February when I lost both my camera and mobile phone. My phone was snatched from my mom when she borrowed it one night cos hers was broken. And as for my camera, I still don't have an idea how it got lost in our own home. So my mom gave me money in replacement of my lost phone, and I decided to buy a cheap QWERTY phone from Cherry Mobile. I heard it's pretty durable, plus I was eyeing for a phone that has a QWERTY keypad for some time now. Heh. I'm a cheapskate so brands don't matter. Then 2 days ago, my mom texted me that my grandma gave her a new digital camera. She's in the province right now, so I haven't seen the camera yet. Yay?

3. Morning Shift
I've been on graveyard shift for almost 3 years, and I think this is the longest time that I experienced sleeping at night. It's pretty relaxing, plus this reminds me of my student days in which I have to wake up before sunrise, and go home before sunset. Heh. But I miss my office friends cos they are all on night shift. Well, this is just temporary, though.

4. Weight Loss
Lol I dunno. Some people kept on noticing that I've lost some weight recently. Yay, right? But honestly, it's not intentional. Maybe I just lost appetite the past few weeks? But for the past years, I've noticed that I usually lose weight whenever I feel giddy, and I tend to gain weight whenever I'm broken-hearted. Lol on this body metabolism.

4. Lovelife?
For the past 3 years, I've been celebrating my birthdays with my then-boyfriends. But it will be different this year cos I'll celebrate it with friends, which would be fun! So who needs a boyfriend, right? Loljk. I just don't wanna elaborate on this stuff right now. All I can say that things are confusing, but overwhelming. I guess you can somehow connect it on my recent weight loss. Haha!

I an ThisClose on Calling it Quits

2010-05-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

"You can ask the universe for signs all you want, but ultimately, we only see what we wanna see when we’re ready to see it" -Ted Mosby, How I Met Your Mother

So I've mentioned on my previous post that I wanna have a progress career-wise, and I think the universe had heard me, but not in a good way.

I have been putting up with this job for almost 3 years cos I was having fun. I know that every workplace has its own politics, but when people close to you are involved in your predicament, it's actually too much to bear.

I think it's about time to start a clean slate. I just need to find a perfect way out.

Just in time for my birthday

2010-05-25T21:04:00.000-07:00

I wanna watch this in 3D with friends. I'm not sure if my office buddies are interested in watching this film, so I guess I just have to drag along my college / high school friends; either way, it will still be fun!

It's been more than 10 years since they've made Toy Story 2, so imagine my excitement when they've announced last year that there's gonna be a 3rd installment of this film.

Oh, what a joy!

A Month Before Turning 24

2010-05-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

So aside from Christmas, there's another occasion that I am really looking forward to every year -- my birthday. I have always been giddy whenever this day comes because I feel special whenever people greet me (via SMS, social networking sites and of course, personally). I've had this habit of listing down the people who greeted me on my birthday but I think I stopped doing that when I turned 21. I also love it when unexpected people remember my birthday.

As I was browsing my old multiply site, I've seen several photos of my past birthdays (2007-2009), and it occurred to me that I've celebrated my past 3 birthdays with my last 3 ex-boyfriends. Lol. Yes, I was in and out of several relationships after graduating college but it doesn't mean that I wanted it to be like that; things just happen.

Also, I am a year behind the so-called "quarter-life crisis", and I think I am already experiencing one of its prime characteristics.

Disappointment with one's job:

This is no doubt the number one in my list. Well, I have been stuck in this job for almost three years, and nothing really fulfilling had happened. I am a registered nurse, and my license is about to expire next month, but I still have to use it yet. I am really not sure if I still wanna be on that profession, though.

Same time last year, I tried looking for a different job, but it wasn't really because of self-fulfillment issues, but mainly because I wanted to have a normal day job (just like my then boyfriend). But I guess things aren't really meant to be, and I wasn't that ready yet to leave this job.

I have 6 more months to go before this year ends, and I hope that at one point or another, my career would start to move forward.

On other note, I wonder how would this year's celebration would turn out.

These Emotions Are Hard To Deal With

2010-05-15T02:08:00.000-07:00

So you've finally decided to give up hoping cos it seems that you're on a dead end street. But some things had happened that made you want to hate the universe for being so fickle-minded.

You agreed that you will just go with the flow, and that includes hoping AGAIN, but you know that this time you will just play it cool.

Surprisingly, someone wants to join the fun. That simple conversation you've had made you ecstatic. People thought you were stoned cos you just wouldn't stop smiling the whole day. You know this means complication but you know you're not doing anything wrong.

That same day, something came up that made your giddy emotions flipped 360 degrees. You've never been so jealous for the longest time and you hated the feeling, but it was inevitable. You want to leave right there and then, but you can't cos everyone would wonder why you're acting like that. You don't have a fucking right in the first place.

A big sigh with a heavy heart was all you can do at that moment. It's so hard to act normal when you're actually not okay. You know that you're overreacting but you just can't help it.

That's when you realize that no matter how giddy this other someone made you feel, a simple action from him would actually make a lot of impact on you.

And now you know that there's no point in confusion. The answer's already there. You just have to learn how to properly deal with it.

All I See is a Dead End Street

2010-05-02T23:12:00.000-07:00

"There are certain emotions in your body that not even your best friend can sympathize with, but you will find the right film, or the right book, and it will understand you." -Bjork

Or in this case, the right song.

Soon enough, perhaps?

Still Can't Marry at Almost 24

2010-04-27T23:14:00.000-07:00

I was sick last week, and my sore throat finally took its toll on my body, so I didn't go to work last Friday. My supervisor asked me to present a medical certificate, even though I barely go on sick leave. It was supposedly an easy task, since I am not lying about my sickness, however, our company decided to change our health care plan, and I haven't got my card just yet. I immediately asked my mom to help me get that medical certificate. It was a simple medical certificate, but I still can't get it without my mom's help. Lol.

You see, I am still living with my mom and I can't imagine myself moving out any time soon. We grew up with our dad cos my parents were separated, and we just got to live with our mom when my dad passed away 7 years ago. We had a hard time dealing with his death, cos we've been pampered when he was still alive. My dad would wake up at 4 in the morning, prepare our breakfast and our things for school. We didn't have to do any household chores except for dish washing and cleaning our room. We also stopped getting maids when I was in 3rd year high school, so he's the one doing most of the stuff around the house. There was this one morning after he died, that I woke up feeling sad, cos I miss waking up with a prepared breakfast. Don't get me wrong, though. It's not just because no one will do the chores for us. I will always miss my dad cos I was a daddy's girl back then.

My mom isn't really the typical housewife. She's always busy with work and other stuff. But she taught us how to wash and iron our clothes, just so we can deal with these things whenever she's not around. Still with these changes, I can say that we are still dependent on her. Back in college, there were times that she'll help me fall in line during school enrollment. Lol. Whenever I need some documents for some important work-related stuff, she's the one getting them for me.

I also have a confession to make: I don't know how to cook. Yeah, I know how to prepare instant noodles and fry easy meals, so every time my mom would let me do the cooking, expect some hotdog for lunch or dinner. I love hotdogs, btw. =)

I just wondered about this because there are too many wedding news for this year, and that includes my 2 college best friends who got / will get married this year. I'm sad though cos they are both out of the country, which means I can't be there on their special occasions. Oh well, live online coverage (lol) and photos will do!

On The Hook

2010-04-19T23:57:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of this show since late last year, and there are a lot of episodes that really made me laughed real hard. There could be a lot of misconceptions about life and love on this TV series (esp Barney's FYI's), however, there are just some scenes or issues that will make you think and sigh, cos you can see yourself (or past life) in the story. LOL.

So two weeks ago, I've had a marathon of the latest season's episodes and there's this episode (the 16th one, I think) entitled, "Hooked". Basically, it's about stringing along someone's interest in you until someone better is available. So here, you can be the one on the hook or the hooker, and that brings us to a regret I've had a couple of years back.

I wouldn't really know exactly if I've hooked someone on my strings, cos I'm not an ass like that, however there's this time when I've been on someone's hook -- big time.

I met him during my summer class in college. We became close cos he would usually tease me and I think we were seatmates back then. Even though classes had ended, we still kept in touch almost everyday. We talked on the phone for hours and texted each other every now and then. I really couldn't tell if he likes me, but I was beginning to like him cos he's really fun to be with.

We became busy with school stuff so we barely talk or see each other. Whenever we got a chance to catch up on each other's lives, he would share that he was beginning to like someone that started a month or two ago. So yeah, I kinda assumed it was me. Ugh.

Then there was this time that I saw him hanging out with a girl and that really shocked me. I asked him who she was and he told me that it was the girl that he's been referring to in his stories. I tried to keep my cool and said that I'm happy for him. I knew then that I had to move on and just accept the fact it's not meant to be. But I really dunno what happened then, that I managed to do the stupidest thing in my life: confess my feelings for him. It was such a shame. He told me that he liked me back when we were still hanging out a lot, but it just didn't last.

After that confession, we just remained friends and tried to bring things back to normal. I told you guys that admitting my feelings was stupid, right? That was because it began this "on the hook" thing. And here are the instances where he started controlling that string:

Whenever he needs someone to help him with his school work, I would be the first person he had in mind. Even though my class would start at 12, he'd meet up with me at 9am cos his class would start at 10. Then I'll just bum around for 2 hours. And this happened not just once, twice nor thrice.
Whenever he'll start dating / seeing someone new, I'm totally out of the picture. Like he didn't know me at all. And when he'd start calling my house / texting me again, I knew he had just broken up with that girl he had recently dated. And he would totally forget me again once he meet someone new. I thought that it was a never-ending cycle. My friends would scold me for being so stupid, but I just couldn't resist him. Yeah, just like that teacup pig in How I Met Your Mother.

The worst part on that "calling/texting me whenever a girl dumps him" happened in 2006. It was almost a year since we've last talked and he suddenly called me up. To tell you that I was surprised was an understatement. So we started catching up on those lost years, and there he told me that he just broke up with this girl he's been seeing for a year (yeah, that's why he forgot me for a year). I wanted to hang up the phone right there and then. But as usual, I can't. He told me that he still wanted their relationship to work and he's been trying to contact her for a couple of days already. Then after 30 minutes of talking, he said that he needed to go because this girl just texted him and said that they needed to talk. That was the last time that I got a chance to talk to him and up until now, I think that they're still together. He totally forgot that I existed and he even deleted me on his social networking accounts.

Look at how jerk he was, and stupid I was back then. It's been so hard to let go once you've been on someone's hook. I hate these "hookers" who take advantage on someone else's feelings, and just keep them around until someone better comes along.

I'm afraid that this could happen to me again because once you've been on the hook, you would never really notice that you've been hooked by someone. You'll probably be in denial, not until you see those small details that you've overlooked, and finally have the courage to move on, stop hoping and just cut the string.

Not A Flower Person

2010-02-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

Word.

Of all the guys I've dated, there were only 2 of them who managed to give me flowers during a special occasion, and that would be my college suitor and my 4th boyfriend. The college suitor / college ka-barkadagave me a bouquet of roses on a random school day after I told him that I never received a single rose even though I've already had 2 boyfriends at that time. Oh btw, I just had 5 relationships plus some MU stuff during the past 10 years. Hrhr.

I was so giddy upon receiving the bouquet that I immediately inserted some of the petals on my Philippine History book. Huhlolz.

But over the years, I've realized that I would appreciate chocolates over flowers. Lol. But srsly, I just find flowers unnecessary.

So for my future suitor / boyfriend, no flowers please. Any artsy, cutesy stuff would do. Books, too!

Clean Slate

2010-02-02T16:09:00.000-08:00

I am a social networking whore. Since Friendster began, I've signed up on every social networking sites that existed. I've also tried several blogging platforms and microblogging sites, too. I consider blogging as one of my emotional outlets. My friends are asking me what do I get out of blogging and I just tell them that I enjoy writing down my present predicaments and thoughts. To each his own, I guess.

When the year started, I started to realize that I have to start cleaning my online footprints. Especially my blogs from 2004-2008. They were too detailed and lulzy! To quote my recent ex-boyfriend "My stench is all over the internet". HUHLOLZ.

So I've already deleted my 2 blogdrives and wordpress (my outlet during my post-breakup with the recent ex-boyfriend) and privatized my blogspot (that contains a lot of posts about my college love life lol). I've also privatized my other entries here that contain my hatred for the recent ex-boyfriend. Hahaha.

I am thinking of deleting my Friendster account since almost all of my friends and relatives are already in Facebook. But then, I am still holding on to its memories. LOLWUT. So I guess Friendster's staying, for now. Also yesterday, I've already disabled my Formspring.me account. I dunno if I'll still enable it cos Formspring is so 2009. Heh.

So that leaves me with Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, Plurk, Last.fm and this Livejournal. Oh! I still have my i.ph blog but I can't delete it. I've already sent an email to the i.ph staff last year since they're the ones who could only delete that blog. But they still haven't deleted it, yet. Oh well. It doesn't really matter, anyway.

Speaking of Facebook, I already stopped making status updates about my current musings in life. Again, LOLWUT. I dunno. I don't wanna whine about random stuff every now and then. There's a better place for my 140-character rants and raves and that is Twitter.

Off to a good start, 2010.

A Sudden Change, Cynically Speaking

2010-01-08T17:01:00.000-08:00

I think I am in my best mood to finish this journal entry that's been pending on my drafts for days now. Ok, indifferent feeling, bring it!

I never really liked this movie cos it's so shitty and emo. Plus, overrated. I'm always a chick flick type of girl and this film just makes me sad. I want happy endings, yah know. But watching it again made me realize something which I think changed my perspective on a ~certain~ aspect of life.

Taking chances was a part of my life. Yes, you've read that right. WAS. I was the type of girl that whatever I think that would make me happy, even without really thinking of the future consequences, I'd certainly go for it. Why would I bear the feeling of loneliness, if there are things that could make me happy. Life is short, is what I always say. I always see the glass half-full, never half-empty.

That specific scene from the movie made an impact on me but in 2 different ways. The first time I watched it, I was all "MEH, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU. THAT'S BULLSHIT" at the back of my mind. Then after having a re-run just a couple of days ago, it suddenly hit me that maybe she was right. She certainly has a point.

My recent breakup was maybe one of the worse I've ever had but no, that IS NOT the reason I'm having this POV on romantic relationships. So what's the deal here? It's just that I suddenly realized that having a romantic relationship with someone would just complicate simple things. Heartache is definitely inevitable, however I just wanna spare myself from that feeling, as of the moment.

Aside from personal experience, I've had friends who underwent the same kind of dilemma just recently, which left me thinking, is it all worth it? Yeah, I know that you'll disagree with me. That why am I being this pessimistic on this idea. I've had several relationships, I tell you and they're all basically led to the same road - heartaches.

I just find it funny and I didn't expect that I would be thinking this way. The once-hopeless romantic in me, is now gone. Or not?

For now, that's my stand. I'm enjoying my life with friends and work. Life is simpler.

Or you know what? Maybe I just need someone who'll made me realize that another chance is worth a try, again.

*LOL EMO SHITFACE IS ON*

What I Am Looking For in A Relationship

2009-12-22T16:07:00.000-08:00

It's been three months since he left me. So if you all remember John Lloyd's Three Month Rule in One More Chance, I can now freely date anyone since the 90-day grace period had already passed. But lol, I don't see anyone wanting to date me. Haha yeah, there have been some who had shown their intentions but I couldn't see our relationship going anywhere further than friendship. Nux!

I was browsing several Tumblr blogs when I saw this post so I thought of creating my own list, too.

1. Good Conversation
> Like we can talk anything under the sun. Hobbies, latest showbiz chika, personal problems, past lovelife, how your lunch tasted, anything! Cos I'm talkative like that and I have lots of stories to share.

2. Lots of hugs

3. Can understand my need for blogging / tweeting some stuff about us
> I'm that type of person who would most probably blog every aspect of my life, especially my <3 life. But hey, I now know my limit. Facebook status are not included. I've learned my lesson already.

4. Movie Buddy
> Especially the latest chick flicks / Star Cinema love stories. I'm a big fan of those films. Don't worry, I'm willing to accompany you on some action / sci-fi films that you wanna watch.

5. Honesty

6. Communication
> You don't need to tell me your every minute whereabouts, but at least keep me updated.

7. Drinking Buddy
> Cos there are times that I really wanna be drunk as hell.

8. Letters, letters
> One of the reasons why I was really sad when my last relationship ended cos he was fond of giving me love letters / notes, which I never really experienced again since high school. A simple note, just enough to make me smile.

9. Camwhore partner
> One who would never be ashamed to take pictures with me, serious or not.

10. Love. <3

I'm currently enjoying my ~single~ status, since I've never been single for this long in about 3 years. But I hope 2010 would be a good year for me. *wink*

When Your Favorite Movie Happens IRL

2009-11-17T16:04:00.000-08:00

I'm a sappy movie fan. Every chick flick I watch, I wanted that things could somehow happen in real life too. (Well wait, I think I've blogged about how sappy movie fanatic I am, and how I wanted things to happen IRL. But this is completely a different story.) Like how two strangers meet unexpectedly, fall in love with each other, have some dilemma, dilemma resolved, and then happily ever after ending. How hopeless romantic can you get with that idea. But sometimes, I know I'm just being stupid.

That's what I get for being exposed to some romantic novels when I was a kid. The old school Sweet Dreams series is my all-time favorite. Next to Sweet Valley, of course. I can finish a book in just a nick of time and it will leave me with a smile on my face, and hoping that someday, the story could happen to me, too.

I'm also a big John Lloyd Cruz fan. Since 2003, I never missed any of his love story movie. From My First Romance to You Changed My Life. He swooned everyone else over with his smile and romantic gestures. But among his known movies, there is this one movie that broke my heart or let's just say, made an impact on me the first time I've watched it. I purchased a DVD and now I don't know how many times I've watched this film already. My estimate is about 10 times or more. I know every well-known and some not-so well-known lines of the film. That movie is, well, you may have already guessed, it's One More Chance. Yes, it's the love story of Popoy and Basha.

A not so typical love story. It focuses on how two long time lovers broke up and managed to redeem themselves first before getting back together again. Alongside the whole break up, Popoy found a new love. But as we all predicted, it was just love on the rebound. The name of the girl? Trisha.

"I don't wanna be a Trisha on your Popoy-Basha love story", was the exact phrase that I said to him before we started to get things into a more serious level. "That'll never happen" was all he said.

Fast forward to the present time, we all knew what happened. Just like in the movie, "Basha" and "Popoy" are now together again. Things may have happened a little differently with the Trisha side of the story. I didn't accept things easily. Not like the one in the movie who just cried and left cos I'm not a martyr like that. I asked for another chance which was obviously turned down. He said that having a girlfriend isn't his priority right now, but that's one of the biggest bullshit lines I've heard. Cos as you can see, he went back to "Basha" after less than a month of ending things with me. I may be bitter then, but I already accepted things aren't meant to be. Lessons learned, finally moving on. I'm not completely over him, but in God's time I know I will.

This may or may not be my last post regarding this issue. Well srsly, I don't know. Let's just say I think I was already okay back then. That's what I always tell my friends whenever they ask me. But deep inside, I know I'm still affected.

Every book or movie has its lesson that you should keep in mind. In this case, the moral of the story is don't get into relationship (and giving your best shot and hopes) if that person just broke up and came from a long time relationship. And if ever you'll still take the risk, make sure they'll no longer be in contact with each other. Kthnxbai.

-	A sudden burst of energy or the "nesting instinct". This is an instinct in which the female of the species prepares the nest for the impending arrival.
-	Lightening or dropping of the baby (you may be able to breathe easier and urinate more). This usually occurs somewhere between two and four weeks before the onset of labor in first-time mothers. It is basically the beginning of the baby’s descent into the pelvis.
-	Sensations of increasing pressure in the pelvis and rectum. Persistent low back pain may also be present.
-	An upset stomach
-	Diarrhea
-	Bloody show (this may be the cervix beginning to open, or from sex or a vaginal exam)
-	Loss of your mucous plug
-	Rupture of membranes. Sometimes labor begins with the bag of waters or membranes rupture, however, this usually does not happen until very late in labor. If your water breaks you may notice a near constant trickle of fluid from the vagina or a sudden gush. You should talk to your care giver about when to call about your waters breaking, but you should definitely notify them if you experience the following: - Fluid is not clear, but green or brownish - You have a fever