isn't it bad trip when you just bought something that you really want and you go to the mall and see the same item on sale? you do a quick math and find out that you could have saved a few thousands if you waited for just a week or two. well, that's exactly how hubby felt a while ago when we went to Megamall to buy me a SmartBro prepaid kit. We passed by PC Corner and he saw that my laptop was on SUPER SALE! he could have gotten a 6 cell battery for the same price. it sucks big time. well, that's life. but that doesn't erase the surprise and happiness I felt when he got me this umpc. i was succumbed in a work-related toxic state when he revived me with that surprise. why, i was so toxic, earlier today, he called me an OFW. i argued my case as to why i should get a smartbro prepaid kit and that is - to be able to blog at home. hahaha!
i don't want to stress hubby too much. the other night i was walking at Ayala Avenue at 3am looking for an ATM so we can pay Makati Med ER. i took hubby there after he got majorly dizzy and started vomiting after basketball. I still need to take him to a cardiologist but right now, he has refused to drive to the hospital. they found abnormal results in his ECG parameters. I'm so worried. The experience actually taught me a few lessons. First, I really need to learn how to drive. Second, cash is good but during emergencies, credit card is better. so, i'm going to apply for a new card, for emergency purposes only. i had to cut 2 cards because i didn't want the temptation. i don't want to talk about what happened at ER only that I wish it won't happen again. i used to spend a lot of time at the hospital because Zoie had UTI.
grr... nobody seems to be online on ym. i guess a lot of my friends have internet access at the office only like i was or they're asleep. zzzzzz....
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
my MSI Wind
I am now typing this blog entry on my new MSI Wind. Turns out this was hubby’s surprise for me. Remember I was quite pissed when I learned that I will only know about the surprise that my hubby was telling me about in December? Well, all of those were just plain talk! He was already canvassing for the best umpc for me. He was hiding all of the flyers that he got from pc stores at his office and yesterday, when I did not ride with him to the office, he went out to buy this. Imagine my surprise when he reached out the back of the car at 6:00 am and handed over a box to me. I thought he got me makeup and perfume from their sale yesterday. These things were already ordinary to us. It didn’t count as major gifts anymore. Through my half-closed almost-24 hours awake tired eyes, I took a peek at what was inside the box. I was jolted off from my state of semi-consciousness when I saw the words on the box MSI Wind! I quickly opened the box and saw that it was black. I asked hubby why he didn’t consider getting me the white or better yet, the pink one. The love edition I decided to let go because its hdd was only 80GB while this has 160GB of hard disk space… way, way bigger than in my office computer. He said the pink one was more expensive and the white one, he didn’t need to explain, it turns yellow with age. So here I am typing on my sleek, black MSI Wind which I am willing to share with hubby… but only sparingly. Hahaha! I woke up 3 hours later. Normally I would’ve slept the whole day but because I’m excited… Zoie got her hands on this computer already. I can’t believe something this small actually functions as a normal computer and has more space than my office pc. Oh, oh… and did I mention that the memory of this has been upgraded to 2GB already? (smug). Hahahaha! Now hubby and I were discussing what bag we should put my pc in. of course, I’ll choose a kikay bag. Maybe hubby should buy his own bag if he wants to borrow this.
Friday, November 21, 2008
looking at life in another angle
my friend shared this to me. she got it from the internet. i think this is to help me understand a friend's behavior or maybe just look at life in another angle. i think the best for me is number 5! lol!
Number 7
life is sexually transmitted
Number 6
Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
Number 5
Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich
Number 4
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to use the internet and they won't bother you for weeks
Number 3
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing
Number 2
All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism
Number 1
In the '60s, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal
Number 7
life is sexually transmitted
Number 6
Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die
Number 5
Men have two emotions: Hungry and Horny. If you see him without an erection, make him a sandwich
Number 4
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to use the internet and they won't bother you for weeks
Number 3
Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing
Number 2
All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism
Number 1
In the '60s, people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal
Thursday, November 20, 2008
i won't be home for Christmas daw
the husband just gave me a bad news. it is THE bad news. we can't go home for Christmas. he has to work and he doesn't want to drive to the province on Christmas eve because of the fireworks and people especially drunk ones tend to gravitate towards the highway. so Christmas it is in Manila. tsk! looong break pang nalalaman. he gave me the option to go to Bicol with Zoie and that he'll just follow. no way! plus side, i'll get to see my friends. downside, i've been looking forward to spending a little time with my dad who doesn't seem to want to visit us here in Manila.
i got a little revenge from the surprise that he doesn't want to tell me. he asked what i'm going to prepare for noche buena and i said, SECRET! but i'll write it down here. lucky for him if he reads my blog.
CHEESECAKE (blueberry) cross fingers. i hope i still remember how to make one.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PASTA AND SAUCES - olive oil-based, tomato-based and cream-based
FRIED CHICKEN
HAM (ready-made)
ICED COFFEE AND VODKA - i'll buy a bottle of Mudshakers
CHOCOLATE CAKE (Mrs. Polly's)
hmm... i'll still think about other stuff to prepare.
oh well, knowing hubby, he might decide to still go for it and we might end up spending Christmas in Bicol.
i got a little revenge from the surprise that he doesn't want to tell me. he asked what i'm going to prepare for noche buena and i said, SECRET! but i'll write it down here. lucky for him if he reads my blog.
CHEESECAKE (blueberry) cross fingers. i hope i still remember how to make one.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PASTA AND SAUCES - olive oil-based, tomato-based and cream-based
FRIED CHICKEN
HAM (ready-made)
ICED COFFEE AND VODKA - i'll buy a bottle of Mudshakers
CHOCOLATE CAKE (Mrs. Polly's)
hmm... i'll still think about other stuff to prepare.
oh well, knowing hubby, he might decide to still go for it and we might end up spending Christmas in Bicol.
i hate surprises
darn! i hate surprises talaga. hubby told me earlier that he has a surprise for me and i was really looking forward to it tonight only to find out that he will tell me about it next month. i asked if it was a thing - something tangible... something i could own. he said yes but got irritated when i tried to find out what the surprise was. in the middle of this project, i get distracted. my luck talaga sobra! well, i did ask if it has something to do with my future notebook. he said no. now i'm confused whether i like surprises or not. i usually want things to be laid out to me but sometimes i find it boring... less spontaneous. still, i crave for surprises even if i hate it.
hubby has a way with surprising me and usually this happens during ordinary days. when we were bf/gf, he gave me a swatch irony watch out of the blue. it still works by the way and it's still in my closet. he gave me long-stemmed roses when he came to pick me up from work and it wasn't even my birthday or our anniversary. hay, he has a way talaga...
to appease me, he said they have a sale on some fragrances and cosmetics tomorrow and will forward to me a list so i can choose what i want. so i said, just get me some nail polish because i still have a boxful of makeup, fragrances and what-not from his last surprise and a bag that i haven't used yet. but he refused! he said i'll get my Shiseido nail polish this Christmas.
hubby has a way with surprising me and usually this happens during ordinary days. when we were bf/gf, he gave me a swatch irony watch out of the blue. it still works by the way and it's still in my closet. he gave me long-stemmed roses when he came to pick me up from work and it wasn't even my birthday or our anniversary. hay, he has a way talaga...
to appease me, he said they have a sale on some fragrances and cosmetics tomorrow and will forward to me a list so i can choose what i want. so i said, just get me some nail polish because i still have a boxful of makeup, fragrances and what-not from his last surprise and a bag that i haven't used yet. but he refused! he said i'll get my Shiseido nail polish this Christmas.
torn
oh my gosh... oh my gosh... oh my gosh...
hubby just told me that we're going to look at laptops/ notebooks this weekend... IF i can get out of the office for a few hours. ano ba to? a major launch is coming up and ako naman all i think about is the umpc that i'd like to have this Christmas. i'm torn between the Lenovo IdeaPad and the msi wind. hubby says, pwede don't dwell on appearances! first the love edition whose specs are more obscure than plainer MSI Wind. The one in the picture is the Lenovo umpc.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
selfish
in this selfish world, only the selfish survives... - Barbie
I got this from a Barbie Christmas movie. The movie actually teaches the audience (which are supposed to be kids so why am I watching) to share but I don't know why this stuck to my mind. Hahaha!
want... want... want... that's pretty much the word of the year. i want this... i want that... selfish but let's not be hypocrites here.
Christmas is coming so i want this and i want that? to keep up with the holiday spirit.
I met someone and i want him or i want her? is that statement even okay?
I really don't know what I'm getting at here just the fact that maybe I am looking for the words selflessness and sacrifice.
I got this from a Barbie Christmas movie. The movie actually teaches the audience (which are supposed to be kids so why am I watching) to share but I don't know why this stuck to my mind. Hahaha!
want... want... want... that's pretty much the word of the year. i want this... i want that... selfish but let's not be hypocrites here.
Christmas is coming so i want this and i want that? to keep up with the holiday spirit.
I met someone and i want him or i want her? is that statement even okay?
I really don't know what I'm getting at here just the fact that maybe I am looking for the words selflessness and sacrifice.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
my future umpc
i want this for Christmas. okay, deep in my heart i wanted the love edition but hubby raised an eyebrow when i said i wanted it for its looks compared to this which has higher hdd capacity. clearly his wife is just into appearances. pretty vain, don't you think?
Monday, November 10, 2008
Okay Yung Birthday Ko
My birthday turned out to be a decent one. It was more than I expected actually. There was no urge to look for a vampire to bite me and make me an immortal 30 year old vampire. It was painless. Except for the fact that my good old period that always comes at a right timing (days when I have shoots, a lot of outdoor activities etc.) said hello to me the night before my birthday. Hubby thought I was over-reacting over this becoming old stuff when he can't even find fine lines or wrinkles on my face. You're too blind to see, I grumbled.
I left the office early (is 730pm early?) because hubby wanted to take me out on a birthday dinner date. We settled on going to Pepper Lunch but at the last minute I got lazy and said that I really wanted to try Joey Pepperoni. Pareho naman may Pepper. Hehehe. I've been casting longing looks whenever I pass by the pizza place. Their restaurants are not located in malls so it was hard for me to convince hubby to eat there on a whim. Before I left the office I searched the net for the nearest Joey Pepperoni restaurant in Makati.
I found hubby dying of hunger inside Powerbooks at Greenbelt. We scoured the mall for Joey Pepperoni before I gave him the neon pink post it where I wrote the address of the restaurant in Perea. Like boyfriend and girlfriend (uuuyy) we walked to the sidestreets of Makati in search of the restaurant. I didn't want to eat at any other restaurant. I don't know but lately I'm not okay with the Friday gimik crowd. Must be old age. We went to the car park first to look at the city map.
Hello, Joey! Finally, we've met.
We ordered half of Joey Pepperoni and half of The Works 12 inch pizza. I guess I can say that there's really nothing very special about Joey Pepperoni but if you eat there, you won't go home regretting the fact that you've eaten there. The pizza does taste awfully good but I've tasted better pizzas and I thought the crust was a little bit too white. I'm looking for that little toasted edge to the crust to make it crispy. But maybe it's just the Perea branch that does theirs like that. I'd better try the other Joeys. I was a little bit creeped out by the large picture of Italian children on the wall. They looked like they were glaring at me while I munched on the pizza.
The Pasta Salsiccia that we ordered was very delicious. It's actually different kinds of sausages sauteed on olive oil and bellpeppers tossed on spaghetti noodles. It was so tasty I only remembered to take a picture of it when I asked hubby to finish the pasta for me.
The day of my birthday, I was very grumpy. I didn't want to wake up early and I've been hearing people greeting the half-conscious me and I thought I was dreaming when I heard Zoie's sweet voice saying happy birthday, mama and handing me a bunch of gerbera daisies (my favorite!).
I said to myself, I'm really getting old. My mom is giving me flowers for my birthday. I woke up to an empty house. Hubby went to the gym and Mama and Zoie went to attend Zoie's makeup class. I found Calet doing some chores.
I made two kinds of pasta: olive-oil based and cream based. Tinamad na but I was going to make a tomato-based pasta or the traditional spaghetti and also bring out the pesto sauce that I got from the grocery. I settled for a penne rigate pasta for both my tomato cream sauce and aglio e olio. I cooked spaghetti noodles for the left over sauces. Hubby was raving about my pasta recipes that he made me bring some to my MIL and SIL.
The tomato cream sauce that my family love so much.
Aglio e olio. Don't judge the book by its cover. Or if it looks too bland, try some bacon on top.
In the afternoon, we went to watch Madagascar 2 at the Mall of Asia. I bought tickets for the six of us and MIL treated us to a round of halo-halo while waiting for the movie. Razon's is the best in Manila but wait till you try DJC in Bicol.
My mom enjoying her halo-halo.
Again, don't judge anything by its appearance alone.
After Razon's, Zoie and Calet went off to ride the "balloon" ferris wheel.
Zoie was waving at us from the ferris wheel.
After entering the cinema, I went off to buy buckets of popcorn for all of us. I don't like the popcorn at Perfect Pop so I went running down the escalator looking for Popperoo. Ayun, I missed the trailer of Twilight. Groowwwlll!!!
You got to move it, move it! Zoie was singing "you got to moo it moo it" all the way to the parking area. When I asked which animal she liked best, she said, "I like the mermaid..." I'm really not sure but I think she meant Melman, the giraffe (?).
For dinner, we went to Seaside in Macapagal. A gay waitress or waiter or what is he? was able to convince me to try Sharmila Paluto. She said it's sikat in Dampa Parañaque. Well, I thought it was time for something new. For years, we've been eating at Sis Dang. I wasn't disappointed. I liked the restaurant at Sis Dang because it's a little bit more sosyal but Sharmila provided a very "paluto" atmosphere. Whatever that is...
The sinigang sa miso ulo ng fish (si Mama lang may alam what type of fish) was very delicious. Hindi masyadong maasim.
Zoie loved the Calamares!
Me love Baked Tahong!
Buttered Shrimps. We were going to get Tempura but the man there said that it may be special but it's just like Calamares. Prito lang. I'm glad I believed him. I couldn't resist but taste these and I ended up with Angelina Jolie lips and a few pantals on the skin after eating two pieces minus the head. Quite a sacrifice. But I didn't buy crabs. I might not live to see the dawn of my 32nd birthday.
After, we lingered around the area to buy DVDs and Zoie made her lola buy her a butterfly toy.
Zoie was fast asleep when we arrived home. Mama and I stayed up late to talk. I missed her. She's been at the house for a week and I've been at the office before she wakes up and I get to come home and she's already asleep... kinda like Zoie.
I was also happy because a lot of people remembered my birthday. I received text messages from friends from here, the province and abroad. It was all unexpected for this chuva because I really thought I'd spend the day doing nothing or reading Twilight and hating the lousy Bella character.
I like to move it! Move it! I like to... MOVE IT!
I left the office early (is 730pm early?) because hubby wanted to take me out on a birthday dinner date. We settled on going to Pepper Lunch but at the last minute I got lazy and said that I really wanted to try Joey Pepperoni. Pareho naman may Pepper. Hehehe. I've been casting longing looks whenever I pass by the pizza place. Their restaurants are not located in malls so it was hard for me to convince hubby to eat there on a whim. Before I left the office I searched the net for the nearest Joey Pepperoni restaurant in Makati.
I found hubby dying of hunger inside Powerbooks at Greenbelt. We scoured the mall for Joey Pepperoni before I gave him the neon pink post it where I wrote the address of the restaurant in Perea. Like boyfriend and girlfriend (uuuyy) we walked to the sidestreets of Makati in search of the restaurant. I didn't want to eat at any other restaurant. I don't know but lately I'm not okay with the Friday gimik crowd. Must be old age. We went to the car park first to look at the city map.
Hello, Joey! Finally, we've met.
We ordered half of Joey Pepperoni and half of The Works 12 inch pizza. I guess I can say that there's really nothing very special about Joey Pepperoni but if you eat there, you won't go home regretting the fact that you've eaten there. The pizza does taste awfully good but I've tasted better pizzas and I thought the crust was a little bit too white. I'm looking for that little toasted edge to the crust to make it crispy. But maybe it's just the Perea branch that does theirs like that. I'd better try the other Joeys. I was a little bit creeped out by the large picture of Italian children on the wall. They looked like they were glaring at me while I munched on the pizza.
The Pasta Salsiccia that we ordered was very delicious. It's actually different kinds of sausages sauteed on olive oil and bellpeppers tossed on spaghetti noodles. It was so tasty I only remembered to take a picture of it when I asked hubby to finish the pasta for me.The day of my birthday, I was very grumpy. I didn't want to wake up early and I've been hearing people greeting the half-conscious me and I thought I was dreaming when I heard Zoie's sweet voice saying happy birthday, mama and handing me a bunch of gerbera daisies (my favorite!).
I said to myself, I'm really getting old. My mom is giving me flowers for my birthday. I woke up to an empty house. Hubby went to the gym and Mama and Zoie went to attend Zoie's makeup class. I found Calet doing some chores.I made two kinds of pasta: olive-oil based and cream based. Tinamad na but I was going to make a tomato-based pasta or the traditional spaghetti and also bring out the pesto sauce that I got from the grocery. I settled for a penne rigate pasta for both my tomato cream sauce and aglio e olio. I cooked spaghetti noodles for the left over sauces. Hubby was raving about my pasta recipes that he made me bring some to my MIL and SIL.
The tomato cream sauce that my family love so much.
Aglio e olio. Don't judge the book by its cover. Or if it looks too bland, try some bacon on top.
In the afternoon, we went to watch Madagascar 2 at the Mall of Asia. I bought tickets for the six of us and MIL treated us to a round of halo-halo while waiting for the movie. Razon's is the best in Manila but wait till you try DJC in Bicol.
My mom enjoying her halo-halo.
Again, don't judge anything by its appearance alone.After Razon's, Zoie and Calet went off to ride the "balloon" ferris wheel.
Zoie was waving at us from the ferris wheel.After entering the cinema, I went off to buy buckets of popcorn for all of us. I don't like the popcorn at Perfect Pop so I went running down the escalator looking for Popperoo. Ayun, I missed the trailer of Twilight. Groowwwlll!!!
You got to move it, move it! Zoie was singing "you got to moo it moo it" all the way to the parking area. When I asked which animal she liked best, she said, "I like the mermaid..." I'm really not sure but I think she meant Melman, the giraffe (?).For dinner, we went to Seaside in Macapagal. A gay waitress or waiter or what is he? was able to convince me to try Sharmila Paluto. She said it's sikat in Dampa Parañaque. Well, I thought it was time for something new. For years, we've been eating at Sis Dang. I wasn't disappointed. I liked the restaurant at Sis Dang because it's a little bit more sosyal but Sharmila provided a very "paluto" atmosphere. Whatever that is...
The sinigang sa miso ulo ng fish (si Mama lang may alam what type of fish) was very delicious. Hindi masyadong maasim.
Zoie loved the Calamares!
Me love Baked Tahong!
Buttered Shrimps. We were going to get Tempura but the man there said that it may be special but it's just like Calamares. Prito lang. I'm glad I believed him. I couldn't resist but taste these and I ended up with Angelina Jolie lips and a few pantals on the skin after eating two pieces minus the head. Quite a sacrifice. But I didn't buy crabs. I might not live to see the dawn of my 32nd birthday.After, we lingered around the area to buy DVDs and Zoie made her lola buy her a butterfly toy.
Zoie was fast asleep when we arrived home. Mama and I stayed up late to talk. I missed her. She's been at the house for a week and I've been at the office before she wakes up and I get to come home and she's already asleep... kinda like Zoie.
I was also happy because a lot of people remembered my birthday. I received text messages from friends from here, the province and abroad. It was all unexpected for this chuva because I really thought I'd spend the day doing nothing or reading Twilight and hating the lousy Bella character.
I like to move it! Move it! I like to... MOVE IT!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Venti
Aaaarrrggghhhh! My project is giving me wrinkles and to think it's an anti-aging product that we're launching. Or maybe I'm just this edgy because a few days from now a whole number will soon be added to the 3 decades of my life. Do I have to mention this in every post before my birthday?
I've read that when you've reached 30, you're supposed to have achieved something. Well, I really don't know about that but I think the achievement in my life that surpasses all other achievements if I've had any is having Zoie. I guess being a parent actually changes a person. Work is just work. And people who make life harder for me are just people who are not really important. Family became a priority.
When I turned 30, I promised myself that I won't let anyone bug me. I should be stress-free always and should laugh at whatever mishap that come my way. I did manage to do that but still I'm human so from time to time, my feelings get hurt and I hurt other people too. I'm just not sure which happens more often. Hahaha!
Now that I'll be a year older and Zoie is already 3 years old, I find myself making deals with my husband. I don't want to get pregnant when I'm already 36 unless I'm pregnant with a third child. I guess my ultimate birthday wish is for Zoie to have a baby brother by the time I'm 33.
I also won't try to lose weight coz it doesn't work anymore. Hehe. I'm succumbing to old age. No offense to those who are older than me. I'm speaking for myself.
Oh well, better get back to work. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me.
I've read that when you've reached 30, you're supposed to have achieved something. Well, I really don't know about that but I think the achievement in my life that surpasses all other achievements if I've had any is having Zoie. I guess being a parent actually changes a person. Work is just work. And people who make life harder for me are just people who are not really important. Family became a priority.
When I turned 30, I promised myself that I won't let anyone bug me. I should be stress-free always and should laugh at whatever mishap that come my way. I did manage to do that but still I'm human so from time to time, my feelings get hurt and I hurt other people too. I'm just not sure which happens more often. Hahaha!
Now that I'll be a year older and Zoie is already 3 years old, I find myself making deals with my husband. I don't want to get pregnant when I'm already 36 unless I'm pregnant with a third child. I guess my ultimate birthday wish is for Zoie to have a baby brother by the time I'm 33.
I also won't try to lose weight coz it doesn't work anymore. Hehe. I'm succumbing to old age. No offense to those who are older than me. I'm speaking for myself.
Oh well, better get back to work. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me. I will not let anyone bug me.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Cooking Dash
Oh my gosh, Irene, you are soooo right. I'm supposed to be working right now but I'm so addicted to this! I downloaded the cracked installer thru Bitlord. Naughty... naughty...
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Havs Fever Finally Over
I've finally gotten over my Havaianas fever. I used to have four pairs, gave one away and am down to three very sturdy pairs. When I went to Royal last weekend , I was excited to see that Havs is on sale. But as I tried on a few pairs, I didn't feel that sense of exhilaration that I felt before... the feeling that made me pick up three pairs and take them straight to the cashier. Maybe it's because I've seen a lot of fakes out there. That a lot of people wearing Havs from Thailand?! But hey, I still couldn't forget the Havaianas Joy that I tried on. If not fever, may Havs Sinat ako. Gosh!
Zambales Weekend
People, I have had a great weekend. Even though it was but an ordinary weekend - no holiday, work-free day or whatever - considering it being November 1 and all (tsk!), I felt that the day has to be spent differently. Off we went to San Felipe, Zambales, my father-in-law's hometown where hubby's grandma is buried at the local cemetery. I would have wanted to go home to Bicol for the traditional undas but this year's Nov 1 sucks. It didn't even fall on a work day. I took a half day off from work because Zoie's ate (aunt really) went home to visit her mother's grave. So, I was a full time mom for 2 and a half days. Let me tell you, I've never realized until now what a little chatterbox my baby has become. She only stopped talking when she fell asleep!
What's different and great about this year's undas is that this is the first time that I didn't get scared at all. Normally around Oct 31, every year actually, I'll start becoming anxious and would often feel paranoid that a spirit or spirits of relatives will come to our house and haunt me. And there's the traditional halloween brownout from Meralco (which didn't happen at our place. Thank God!) not to mention my acute awareness that it is the day of the dead. Okay, I shouldn't be mentioning this but even if I've lived the 3 decades of my life already, I am still afraid of ghosts. I don't watch local programs whose themes are all centered to the ultimately scary. And before my grandma died I asked not to please visit me and she promised she wouldn't. That's kinda weird but she has kept her promise except for the occasional whiff of her smell which is really seldom but never fails to give me goosebumps. She may doubt it but I do miss her and I don't want to think about her because it makes me cry. Maybe if she's surfing the net from her place there in heaven, she'd be able to read this blog and I won't wait till I'm dead to explain her that. And I'm still having doubts if I could tell her because I don't know where I'd end up. Hehe.
Anyway, back to the story. At 4 in the morning, we were already on the road. I love NLEX and SCTEX. Adrian kept the speed to a hundred. It's illegal to go any faster and we have a little girl on board. We stopped at a gas station for gas and coffee. Why did I ever buy that large cup of cold coffee?! I forgot that in college that's the only beverage that keeps me awake all night. So, I ended up talking all the way to Zambales (guess saan nagmana si Zoie?).
Too bad, they had to blow up a few hills for this (SCTEX).
We stopped at a grocery store in Subic, Zambales. Yes, folks, the Subic that we know is different from this Subic. The Subic that we know is actually in Olongapo and there is a town after Olongapo called Subic. So if ever someone tells you that he or she's going to Subic and your mind has already been opened up to this truth, you'll end up asking that person, "in Olongapo?" And then you'll get that "of course, weirdo!" look from that person. Har har! I bought milk for Zoie at the grocery store and used up all my cash. The only ATM there was Metrobank. I really hate BDO during pay day. All their ATMs are either not working or a line a mile long is attached to that ATM and with your luck (mine pala) I'd end up with an empty ATM. So, the whole undas I was cashless and at the mercy of my mother-in-law. I could not buy anything and couldn't wait till the next day so I can withdraw cash again. I don't know why but I feel really weak without the cha-ching! cha-ching!
The weather was great that day. It wasn't sunny but it wasn't raining just an occasional drizzle. The house was big and lonely without Lola. Whenever we're in the province, we live at the second floor. The first floor is occupied by the caretakers. There is the tumba-tumba or rocking chair which I noticed was wedged on the windowsill. Malay mo nga naman baka gumalaw and wala naman nakaupo. I saw our wedding pictures in a frame. Yuck, payat pa ako dati! The kitchen was unusually spacious before I noticed that the old ref was missing. Dinala na daw ni uncle sa farm niya. I stayed mainly inside Lola's room na may aircon (figures! hehe) and read the third book of the Twilight series. Hubby is scared to stay at the second floor alone but I wasn't. Ang nakakatakot lang sa house was that the stairs leading to the second floor is very much alike to the stairs where Lotlot saw her dead body being dragged by Lotus Feet in Feng Shui! That's why I'd rather stay inside Lola's room. I didn't shoot a picture of that, I might find Lola standing there.
Zoie played with her dollhouse and all the Hello Kitty and toy trains there while I waited for them to call us to eat. The food that I look forward to whenever we're in the province is the chicharon or sitsaron which is really deep-fried pork. But there's a secret to how it's cooked that's why it costs 500 pesos a kilo. Raw pork is only 150 but people seem to really go for the chicharon because as soon as it's laid down at the market, people are in a hurry to buy them even if they end up paying thousands for a few kilos. It's great sahog to Pinakbet and Munggo. Next time I'll post a picture of the chicharon. Sarap kasi you'll forget to take a picture. Excuses! Excuses!
The next best thing that I've eaten was the boneless flying fish daing. Super sarap. Super garlicky. Although I ended up feeling a little itchy after eating the fish (don't blame the fish. I get like this everytime I eat seafood), no regrets.
Can't fly no more.
The third was the kamias fruit straight from the tree. There were a few hopeful looks that went my way as I munched on the sour fruit dipped in salt. Sorry, di po ako naglilihi. The sourness actually left my mouth numb for a few hours.
We went to the cemetery for just a few minutes. It was so different. In Bicol, I stay till almost midnight at the cemetery but it only took us 10 minutes to visit Lola's grave in Zambales. Well, different family, different tradition. The sad thing this year was that I wasn't able to offer anything to the church for the undas. Nada!
We left early the following day. We stopped by the "bukid" first. It's a piece of land owned by Adrian's family. There are mango trees planted there. Some older than me. Sad to note that they've already sold their cow so I didn't see her there. Poor cow.
There used to be a bahay kubo here. sigh***
Adrian stopped somewhere in Castillejos, Zambales so I can take pictures of President Ramon Magsaysay's house. The trike drivers watched me take pictures. A man was walking towards me before I got in the car. Sabi ni nanay baka raw bawal to take pics. Eh di takpan nila ang bahay. It's on the side of the national highway kaya. I liked the old church beside the president's house. It has more character.
Okay, my camera didn't do justice to this scene. But if you're passing through, it feels like you're in another country.
We went to SBMA. The Subic that we know. I didn't feel like eating giant tacos so we didn't stop by at the Coffeeshop Restaurant (read about this in a previous entry). I was surprised to see that there were other restaurants that offer jumbo tacos. You'll know if you're in Subic already when you see the name Gordon all over the place.
Tsk! Still no BDO ATM so hubby had to withdraw from his account because I was growing weaker by the minute. No cash... empty wallet... can't breathe...
The Royal Subic supermarket is my favorite tourist spot in Subic. Tourist spot daw! Hahaha! For a grocery shopaholic like me. This is the highlight of my day. I can just picture the giant cans of Piknik shoestring potatoes in my arms. That's bigger than those in the local supermarkets here in Manila ha.
For lunch, we ate at Dear.Soup which is obviously Korean-owned since sandwiches there are described as "portable." If I may correct, THEY ate their lunch there. I waited for my lunch until I found out a staff went out to buy bread for my clubhouse sandwich! My mother-in-law's loud "oh my God!" was enough to make them cancel my order.
Dear Soup, if you don't have bread in your supply, do tell me, because I just bought some and they're in the car.
Hubby went with me to Royal and I bought myself chicken shawarma. The first shawarma stand has no change for a thousand pesos. I mean, who the hell doesn't have change for that money. It almost has no value anymore! It's for the better really because I just had the most satisfying chicken shawarma from San's (Korean-owned, I presume) and it's only 55 pesos compared to my clubhouse which would've cost me more than a hundred bucks.
After my satisfying shawarma lunch, we went to the Bat Kingdom in Cubi. Or rather, what used to be the Bat Kingdom.
Where are the bats? Hey, Halloween is over!
The tree branches used to bow down with the bats' weight.
I don't think Zoie respects this rule. Hehe!
I actually told Zoie that there are no more bats because they served it up all here. I wonder if it'll affect her the same as when a child grows up and finds out that there really is no Santa Claus.
There were no monkeys either... just a few crows. Where are all the monkeys? Are they still at the monkey cemetery?
And what is this creepy golf bag doing there in the middle of nowhere? Makes me think of a scene from a horror flick.
If it weren't for the heat, I would have stayed and looked at the peaceful scene... not to mention the pink ship. So kikay!
Haay, Subic looked so desolate. After driving through Subic and constantly bugging hubby to put on his seatbelt and some drama from Zoie because she wanted to stay where I was (my throne. front of the car.), I tranferred to the back and ended up with a darker complexion because of the heat. The drive back to reality was peaceful.
What's different and great about this year's undas is that this is the first time that I didn't get scared at all. Normally around Oct 31, every year actually, I'll start becoming anxious and would often feel paranoid that a spirit or spirits of relatives will come to our house and haunt me. And there's the traditional halloween brownout from Meralco (which didn't happen at our place. Thank God!) not to mention my acute awareness that it is the day of the dead. Okay, I shouldn't be mentioning this but even if I've lived the 3 decades of my life already, I am still afraid of ghosts. I don't watch local programs whose themes are all centered to the ultimately scary. And before my grandma died I asked not to please visit me and she promised she wouldn't. That's kinda weird but she has kept her promise except for the occasional whiff of her smell which is really seldom but never fails to give me goosebumps. She may doubt it but I do miss her and I don't want to think about her because it makes me cry. Maybe if she's surfing the net from her place there in heaven, she'd be able to read this blog and I won't wait till I'm dead to explain her that. And I'm still having doubts if I could tell her because I don't know where I'd end up. Hehe.
Anyway, back to the story. At 4 in the morning, we were already on the road. I love NLEX and SCTEX. Adrian kept the speed to a hundred. It's illegal to go any faster and we have a little girl on board. We stopped at a gas station for gas and coffee. Why did I ever buy that large cup of cold coffee?! I forgot that in college that's the only beverage that keeps me awake all night. So, I ended up talking all the way to Zambales (guess saan nagmana si Zoie?).
Too bad, they had to blow up a few hills for this (SCTEX).We stopped at a grocery store in Subic, Zambales. Yes, folks, the Subic that we know is different from this Subic. The Subic that we know is actually in Olongapo and there is a town after Olongapo called Subic. So if ever someone tells you that he or she's going to Subic and your mind has already been opened up to this truth, you'll end up asking that person, "in Olongapo?" And then you'll get that "of course, weirdo!" look from that person. Har har! I bought milk for Zoie at the grocery store and used up all my cash. The only ATM there was Metrobank. I really hate BDO during pay day. All their ATMs are either not working or a line a mile long is attached to that ATM and with your luck (mine pala) I'd end up with an empty ATM. So, the whole undas I was cashless and at the mercy of my mother-in-law. I could not buy anything and couldn't wait till the next day so I can withdraw cash again. I don't know why but I feel really weak without the cha-ching! cha-ching!
The weather was great that day. It wasn't sunny but it wasn't raining just an occasional drizzle. The house was big and lonely without Lola. Whenever we're in the province, we live at the second floor. The first floor is occupied by the caretakers. There is the tumba-tumba or rocking chair which I noticed was wedged on the windowsill. Malay mo nga naman baka gumalaw and wala naman nakaupo. I saw our wedding pictures in a frame. Yuck, payat pa ako dati! The kitchen was unusually spacious before I noticed that the old ref was missing. Dinala na daw ni uncle sa farm niya. I stayed mainly inside Lola's room na may aircon (figures! hehe) and read the third book of the Twilight series. Hubby is scared to stay at the second floor alone but I wasn't. Ang nakakatakot lang sa house was that the stairs leading to the second floor is very much alike to the stairs where Lotlot saw her dead body being dragged by Lotus Feet in Feng Shui! That's why I'd rather stay inside Lola's room. I didn't shoot a picture of that, I might find Lola standing there.
Zoie played with her dollhouse and all the Hello Kitty and toy trains there while I waited for them to call us to eat. The food that I look forward to whenever we're in the province is the chicharon or sitsaron which is really deep-fried pork. But there's a secret to how it's cooked that's why it costs 500 pesos a kilo. Raw pork is only 150 but people seem to really go for the chicharon because as soon as it's laid down at the market, people are in a hurry to buy them even if they end up paying thousands for a few kilos. It's great sahog to Pinakbet and Munggo. Next time I'll post a picture of the chicharon. Sarap kasi you'll forget to take a picture. Excuses! Excuses!
The next best thing that I've eaten was the boneless flying fish daing. Super sarap. Super garlicky. Although I ended up feeling a little itchy after eating the fish (don't blame the fish. I get like this everytime I eat seafood), no regrets.
Can't fly no more.The third was the kamias fruit straight from the tree. There were a few hopeful looks that went my way as I munched on the sour fruit dipped in salt. Sorry, di po ako naglilihi. The sourness actually left my mouth numb for a few hours.
We went to the cemetery for just a few minutes. It was so different. In Bicol, I stay till almost midnight at the cemetery but it only took us 10 minutes to visit Lola's grave in Zambales. Well, different family, different tradition. The sad thing this year was that I wasn't able to offer anything to the church for the undas. Nada!
We left early the following day. We stopped by the "bukid" first. It's a piece of land owned by Adrian's family. There are mango trees planted there. Some older than me. Sad to note that they've already sold their cow so I didn't see her there. Poor cow.
There used to be a bahay kubo here. sigh***Adrian stopped somewhere in Castillejos, Zambales so I can take pictures of President Ramon Magsaysay's house. The trike drivers watched me take pictures. A man was walking towards me before I got in the car. Sabi ni nanay baka raw bawal to take pics. Eh di takpan nila ang bahay. It's on the side of the national highway kaya. I liked the old church beside the president's house. It has more character.
Okay, my camera didn't do justice to this scene. But if you're passing through, it feels like you're in another country.We went to SBMA. The Subic that we know. I didn't feel like eating giant tacos so we didn't stop by at the Coffeeshop Restaurant (read about this in a previous entry). I was surprised to see that there were other restaurants that offer jumbo tacos. You'll know if you're in Subic already when you see the name Gordon all over the place.
Tsk! Still no BDO ATM so hubby had to withdraw from his account because I was growing weaker by the minute. No cash... empty wallet... can't breathe...
The Royal Subic supermarket is my favorite tourist spot in Subic. Tourist spot daw! Hahaha! For a grocery shopaholic like me. This is the highlight of my day. I can just picture the giant cans of Piknik shoestring potatoes in my arms. That's bigger than those in the local supermarkets here in Manila ha.For lunch, we ate at Dear.Soup which is obviously Korean-owned since sandwiches there are described as "portable." If I may correct, THEY ate their lunch there. I waited for my lunch until I found out a staff went out to buy bread for my clubhouse sandwich! My mother-in-law's loud "oh my God!" was enough to make them cancel my order.
Dear Soup, if you don't have bread in your supply, do tell me, because I just bought some and they're in the car.Hubby went with me to Royal and I bought myself chicken shawarma. The first shawarma stand has no change for a thousand pesos. I mean, who the hell doesn't have change for that money. It almost has no value anymore! It's for the better really because I just had the most satisfying chicken shawarma from San's (Korean-owned, I presume) and it's only 55 pesos compared to my clubhouse which would've cost me more than a hundred bucks.
After my satisfying shawarma lunch, we went to the Bat Kingdom in Cubi. Or rather, what used to be the Bat Kingdom.
Where are the bats? Hey, Halloween is over!
The tree branches used to bow down with the bats' weight.
I don't think Zoie respects this rule. Hehe!
I actually told Zoie that there are no more bats because they served it up all here. I wonder if it'll affect her the same as when a child grows up and finds out that there really is no Santa Claus.
There were no monkeys either... just a few crows. Where are all the monkeys? Are they still at the monkey cemetery?
And what is this creepy golf bag doing there in the middle of nowhere? Makes me think of a scene from a horror flick.
If it weren't for the heat, I would have stayed and looked at the peaceful scene... not to mention the pink ship. So kikay!Haay, Subic looked so desolate. After driving through Subic and constantly bugging hubby to put on his seatbelt and some drama from Zoie because she wanted to stay where I was (my throne. front of the car.), I tranferred to the back and ended up with a darker complexion because of the heat. The drive back to reality was peaceful.
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