Wednesday comes after Tuesday...and now it's Thursday again

Tuesday, I left the office early, managed to ride the MRT at around 5:30pm, just before the great rush hour rush. I couldn't resist though, and treated myself to a Greenwich Pizza, Lasagna and Pizza Fries meal before heading home. Yes, takaw ako. This was just before dinner. Hmmm.

Grateful for: a speedy and convenient commute, to and from the office.

Wednesday, I am thankful for:

- managing to ride another Ortigas Flyover bus from Cubao (2 days straight, rare!)

- transitions

- riding home with B.

- watching Inception

- movie foood!

Thursday, thankful for:

- being able to change my mind

- second chances

- and hopefully, waking up late later.

Monday

It's a Monday.

Thankful for:

• Zoe's first day at school after a week's absence
• Watching The Sorcerer's Apprentice
• Chances
• A Singapore Vacation and Birthday party

Midnight Snack

Donuts and coffee, c/o B.

I really like the honey glazed donut, served warm and toasty (not pictured here, nakain ko na eh, hehe). Thanks B.

Bagyo Bagyo

Typhoon “Basyang” (international codename: Conson) came barging into Metro Manila last night. A little past midnight, the power went out in our area. It was restored roughly 12 hours later. We were lucky though -- other areas still have no power up to now.

I am thankful for:

• Being able to give Zoe her anti-fever medicine around 11:30pm. She was so sweet, wala yung usual na angal nya. Siguro sobrang sleepy na sya nun. After drinking her meds, she promptly went back to sleep. Ang saya! And I thought it would be another stressful event...
• Zoe slept soundly thru the storm, despite the strong winds, and the various creaking and huffing and puffing sounds. Parang may liliparin na bubong!
• Wala na yung fever ni Zoe! After almost 5 days! Weee!!! When she woke up today, her fever was gone. Cough na lang.
• That our house is still intact. And we're all still safe.

Don't Blame This Sleeping Satellite

"I blame you for the moonlit sky
and the dream that died
with the eagles' flight

I blame you for the moonlit nights
when I wonder why
are the seas still dry?

Don't blame this sleeping satellite..."

- Tasmin Archer, Sleeping Satellite

Thankful Notes:

• Friday -- Thankful for my Mom, her birthday, and her birthday treat. But most especially, thankful for my mom.

• The weekend -- Saturday and Sunday were a blur. The daughter was sick, and had on-off fever since Friday afternoon. Up to now, she's still sick.
  
  "Mommy, may sakit ako," she whispers so sadly. Her voice is also gone. She has had cough and fevers, and sometimes a runny nose. We had a check-up with the doctor today, and she just gave meds for fever, allergies and cough. Apparently, the cause is suspected to be viral. But her fever does have to go down by Wednesday, or else a blood count will need to be done. She probably caught the virus in school, since nobody in the house is sick. Yet. B asked his mom to have "tawas" done though, and there were a lot of "shapes". Na-matanda daw. Ewan. Basta, sana gumaling na sya.
  
  The thankful note -- she started to eat a regular meal again. Matamlay pa rin, pero at least by Sunday she ate lunch and dinner.

• Monday -- Spent the whole day with the daughter. By dinner time, sabi ni daughter: "Nasaan na si daddy?" She wouldn't eat dinner or drink her medicine until daddy's home. Naku po. She also didn't want to drink her fever medicine, which is really important because she has had the fever for almost 3 days already.
  
  "Sobrang tamis!" she complains. Wow, nag complain na matamis! But practically all kiddie medicines are sweet!
  
  "Susuka ako dyan eh," she cries. That won't happen, we (the yaya and I) tell her. Eventually she relents and drinks the pink concoction. And two seconds later...she pukes. O.M.G.
  
  Thankful for: Quality time with Zoe. The yaya for cleaning up the puke. Hehe. Daddy B. for doing nightwatch...and our cool comfy bed.

Cliches and other musings

Warning: long post delving into motherhood and domestic matters. Read at your own risk. Don't complain if bored.

"It's 3 AM I must be lonely..."
- Matchbox 20

It's actually 2 AM here. I am hungry, thirsty and feeling so flabby. Everything's yin and yang, this and that, push and pull, surprises and blessings. They say to whom much is given, much is expected. I am in a funk, and I know I can get out of it, but only if I choose to. Right now all I'm feeling is -- tired, hungry, thirsty and flabby.

Yes, I need those endorphins, and I need them quick. Unfortunately...yes, I feel lazy, hungry, thirsty and flabby. I should change. Late nights are not healthy, especially if I have to wake up regularly before 7AM so that the kid can get ready for school on time. 3 AM bed times do not work with 7 AM wake-up times, not if this has to go on for 5-days a week.

My guilty confession is -- I can't sleep when something's troubling me. Or when I can't properly identify what's troubling me. I used to watch brainless TV shows at home -- the mindless noise probably calms my brain. But I can't even do that now. No TV. The maid sleeps in our sala, and that's where the TV is. Ha, I'm a prisoner of my own device. Well, actually she has a room, but she complains it's too hot there, and most of our electric fans are really busted.

Anyway, sometimes I do miss the freedom I had in my childhood home. Wow, weird gripe huh? I should have more freedom now right? I'm the Queen Bee, the queen of the domain, the queen of the castle. Yes. And the castle is expensive. And high maintenance.

I mention about mixed surprises. Last Saturday, was a milestone. Zoe decided to sleep the night in her own room. "Love ko sya sobra," she said about her room. You see, the kid co-sleeps with us, and suddenly, she has now fully accepted that the room opposite ours was her own room. Which is great right? This is what we were aiming for. This is why she had a hand in choosing her room color (light blue, yes she's so not kikay), why we bought the furniture (bed and cabinets), and why we painted her room like Twitter (light blue with white clouds). We wanted it to be her place, her "crib" -- a place to dream, a place to be herself. She was already playing in her room, and taking afternoon naps there. We were surprised though that she wanted to sleep the night there. So soon.

We were not ready.

Really. We weren't. This was the end-goal we wanted, but we were simply not ready yet. Or maybe it's just me. Look at us now. 5 days later, the big daddy is sleeping with Zoe in one single-size bed. They have the electric fan (yes, we have an electric fan shortage), and I'm sleeping in our bedroom, alone with no electric fan. It's nice that it's breezy sometimes here, but it gets hot and sweaty when there's no breeze. Do the parents look ready? Is this a sustainable scenario?

Sigh.

Alone, in a big bed. I guess, this is a reward of sorts for all of those nights Zoe keeps kicking me in the face while we're sleeping, and "getting" my bed space whenever I have late night meetings. Haha. Those nights, I was imagining buying another bed all for myself. Mixed surprises right? Now I have the whole bed to myself. Wee.

So Zoe sleeps in her own room now, in her own bed, but she expects either one of us to be right there beside her and hug her while she's sleeping. Hmmm.

This is B's fault (he knows this). Zoe as a baby was sleeping so happily and peacefully on her own in her own crib, before all this happened. She's an amazing baby -- after the first few months, she slept the whole night uninterrupted. She didn't complain about full diapers, so no need to change diapers in the middle of the night. Amazing. Until one day...B felt guilty with the long hours he spent at the office. He came home late, and always encountered Zoe already asleep. He missed being with his baby, so he took a sleeping Zoe from the crib, and put her in our bed. This happened frequently, such that, Zoe didn't want to sleep in the crib anymore. She wanted to sleep with us. We were now, officially, co-sleeping.

Co-sleeping isn't all that bad though. It sure made travelling around easier. She could sleep anywhere, as long as it was between the two of us. No more need to lug around a portable crib, book an extra bed, or bring a comfort toy or something. We could just pack our clothes and go.

The fact that she didn't want to sleep in her crib also helped us in removing Zoe's thumbsucking habit. We told her only babies suck their thumbs, and babies slept in cribs, so if she wanted to suck her thumb, she can, but since she's a baby that way, she can sleep in her crib and not on our bed. It worked. Thumb sucking removed in a few days! Gone was my irrational fear that I'd see a 10-year old Zoe still sucking her thumb while riding the jeepney. I guess she saw our bed as the "transition" from baby-hood to bata-hood.

And now, her own bed makes her a bigger bata.

As a parent, I am thankful. And hopeful that all this reasonable-ness persists. As a person with my own life, I'm thinking, I need to get a life! I need to exercise, get endorphins, which I haven't done in such a long long time.

"Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.
Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't."
-Elle Woods in Legally Blonde

I wouldn't want to shoot anybody right? Least of all myself. Now only if I could discipline myself to make time for it...

Always Zoku - San Chome Me No Yuhi

ALWAYS 続・三丁目の夕日

Watched "Always -- Sunset on Third Street 2", with good friends from college. The movie is part of Eiga Sai 2010, Japanese films screened at Shangrila Mall for free. It was great, and I liked it. Great CGI effects too -- I mean, to show old 1950's Tokyo and integrate it seamlessly into a fun and also dramatic storyline -- that takes talent and passion. And we always appreciate that. So thank you. :)

The filmfest runs until July 11, 2010. You can check out Click the City's site for details on the schedules and films.

Thankful for: good stories, good friends and good meals.

The Thankful Wave

"Think about what's right, what's good, what's valuable & fulfilling. The more you focus on the good things, the more abundant they become."

- Ralph Marston

A lot of people are on a "thankful" spree nowadays. And for that, we are thankful. Life is indeed happier when we are thankful for something.

Waiting, after school

"Waiting for Wednesday..."

My imaginary friend asks me, why wait for Zoe after her preschool class? You could always delegate this, ask the yaya to go to her preschool and do the waiting and the fetching, just like the other mommies out there.

I wait. Because I still could. I still have the flexible hours to back this up. And I wait. Because I like the way she smiles when she comes out of the class room. I like the way her face quietly lights up, knowing that mommy was out there with her, just as she needed her. I like her quiet calmness at school, amidst the chaos of all those crying children longing for something they can't express. At this moment, she has this quiet calmness, that quiet confidence that she will get what she wants, that confident patience that she doesn't need to cry to express herself. I am amazed. And proud.

I hope...that she will retain this sense of calmness, this sense of awe, this sense of quiet excitement regarding schooling. Some say schooling can destroy creativity. I am hoping nothing can destroy her sense of self.

The Comfy Cab and the Power Lightning

It was a cloudy afternoon when I rode the taxi cab from McKinley Hills to Ortigas. First of all, I was lucky, I got to ride a cab at once. Secondly, the cab was really nice, not dilapidated, and looked really new. Thirdly, the taxi driver took a shortcut, so we got to circumvent C5 and Edsa traffic. It started to rain really hard when we were near Sheridan, normally just around 5 minutes from my actual destination. From the cab, I could see the lightning bolts touch the different skyrises around the area. Lightning bolts are scary when you're in the receiving end of it (and here I remember the story of the girl who was struck by lightning while hiking), but from my vantage point inside my cushy, comfy taxi cab, it was awesome. God displaying His artistry and magic, His Power and His Might.

Amazing that a thing of beauty has more than enough power to kill you off.

Because of the rains and resulting traffic, I was 15 minutes late for my scheduled appointment. Everything happens for a reason though, and the lightning show reminded me that there is a more powerful force than ourselves at work here. It's all good.

Redux Baguio

Nippy weather, a warm fireplace, and SMART GPRS connectivity FTW!

Thank you for a safe trip.

Bon Appetit!

Today, it is food.

A good lunch with DH at the McKinley Hill Piazza.

And a great buffet dinner at Makati Shangrila's Circles Buffet, for free!

Thank you for food.

And thank you, to the persons who treat us to good food, and for the opportunities that enable us to have this little luxury.

Bon Appetit!

Happiness Whirls

DD and DH at SM Mall of Asia's Merry-Go-Round.

Happiness whirls.

DD had to pay full price though, because she was more than 3 feet already. She's less than 3 years old though, so of course we wouldn't be comfortable having just her sitting on the horse (plus she wouldn't be able to get on top of the horse on her own). So it's weird that the adult has to pay also to just stand beside her. Hehe, I guess I just got so used to DD always getting in for free. Soon, may bayad na din sya sa Disneyland or Universal Studios!

Dumaguete and Siquijor 2010

A dive trip with Jao and Michelle, and a quick side trip to Siquijor.

We've been to Dumaguete and Siquijor before, but this time, chill lang!

Dumaguete: Diving was great. Even if I haven't dived in a long time, parang kailan lang. Our first day took us to the Masaplod Sanctuary in Dauin. Nice dive site, and our last dive for that day saw us being chased by 3 giant triggerfish. Who knew it was possible to shout underwater!? Jao can! Actually, she said she also sings underwater. I should try that sometime. Hehe.

Our second day saw us dive some sites in Apo Island. Still cool, saw schools of jackfish (mamsa), but not as plentiful as what we saw last time we were there.

We stayed at Harold's Inn (sulit). Free wifi, free continental breakfast (toasted bread, tea and coffee).

Siquijor: Sarap! We stayed at Coral Cay resort, and just basically chilled! Had drinks and sumptuous dinner at night, then kayaked and just bummed around the next day. Free kayak! And a beachfront cottage! We splurged, yes, but it was still PHP 1600/cottage! Pwede na!

Thank You Bro

While urging DD to take her afternoon nap, she, out of her own volition and with no prompting from me, started praying:

in the name of the father

and of the son

and of the holy spirit

thank you bro

punta kami school (we did go to her preschool earlier in the day)

punta kami mcdo (and we ate chicken nuggets at mcdo, as she requested)

punta kami...ay wala na. (natawa ako dito, umuwi nga naman kami after those activities)

thank you bro! (akala ko tapos na, di pa pala)

tulog kami, punta na kami mall. (I did promise her she'd go to the mall after her nap)

uwi din kami bahay (don't forget the final step, have a safe trip home!)

thank you bro!

From me: Thank you Bro, for such a thankful child.

Sushi Katsu

My dad wanted us to have Sunday night dinner, and he mentioned a resto he read somewhere in the Inquirer. "Sushi Katsu" he said, somewhere in Tomas Morato. Since it was Father's Day weekend, I decided to google the resto and try to reserve a table for us.

Sushi Katsu opens during lunch and dinner only. Dinner hours start at 6pm. At 6pm, I decide to call their listed number.

The line rings. The other line answers: "Sushi Katsu"
Me: "Hi, I'd like to reserve a table for later"
Sushi Katsu: "We don't accept reservations. Punta na lang kayo mamaya."
Me: "Ahh. So punta na lang kami mamaya?"
Sushi Katsu: "Yes"

One of the online reviews mentions that Sushi Katsu isn't usually full. The resto serves Japanese food prepared by a Japanese chef, and the food is supposedly good, so why not try it? We arrive at the resto around 7pm-ish. The resto is full. We request for a table for 5.

Sushi Katsu: "May reservations kayo?"
Me: "Wala."
SK: "Kailangan may reservations po."
Me: slightly irritated already. "Tumawag ako kanina, sabi nyo di na kailangan ng reservations eh"
SK: "Kailan kayo tumawag?"
Me: "Kanina lang."
SK: "Wala pong table eh, kailangan may reservations."
Me: Angry, and breaking the cardinal rule in eating out -- don't express anger before being served the food! "Eh tumawag ako kanina sabi nyo pumunta lang, di na kailangan ng reservations. Sana sinabi nyo na lang na kailangan ng reservations."

I didn't want to disappoint the dad though, so I stepped out first to cool off. DD was a bit noisy at this point, you know, just shouting a bit having fun, playing hide and seek while screaming a bit. Normally I'd shush her, but this time I just let her shout as loud as she wanted. I was irritated, and so what if the restaurant patrons were irritated. Haha.

To their credit, Sushi Katsu offered to find us a table -- "gagawan na lang po ng paraan". After some time (medyo matagal, I wanted to step out already), they did prepare a table for us.

Food
Food was ok and my expectations were met. We had sashimi, sushi, sukiyaki, teppanyaki, ebi tempura, ebi fry (magkaiba nga sila!), agedashi tofu. My dad says the agedashi tofu was good. DH felt it was just so-so. Rumor has it, the Japanese chef also prepares okonomiyaki, although we didn't try to order it anymore that time. There were a lot of customers streaming in, so people obviously think the food is good.

Service and Ambience
There were only 2 waitresses to service the whole place that night (plus, I assume, the owner's wife), so service was understandably not that fast. But you can see they try, and even in the hectic-ness of it all, they were still courteous and smiling. [Nag-tip kami! And when we got a table, mabait na ako.]

Interiors were simple. They had nice wooden tables and chairs, and I liked the solidness and simplicity of the furniture. The restroom was clean.

Verdict

Overall, this is one place I wouldn't mind returning to (when it's not so busy). I'm not an expert in Japanese food, but I do like to eat, and yes, it was delicious. Do try it.

The Hunt for Z's Preschool

Ok, maybe writing it down can clarify things.

Choices narrowed down to 3 (or maybe 4. Ok, 3).

Preschool 1: Preschool/playschool walking distance from our home. But DH doesn't like it because he once saw a cockroach zoom past in the playroom, indicating that it's not that clean. The yaya also mentioned that sometimes the teacher is a bit lazy in teaching, especially if there aren't that many students. And my initial impression was the teacher wasn't that capable. But maybe I was wrong.

Plus points: near the home, and relatively affordable.

Preschool 2: Affordable, but DH is hesitant since it might incur some lifestyle changes on our part. ("Got to be conventional, you can't be so radical" comes to mind) Reading and writing won't be taught early. And we know how we want our kids to follow convention and at least appear smart and capable right?

Plus point: affordable. And I like that they'll eat healthy food during class. And that they'll have this opportunity to see the world in a different way.

Preschool 3: Ok, this one's colorful. DH likes this one better. At first I did like this better, since it was also accessible by public transpo, had a big field, and big large slides that DD liked. But compared to Preschool 1 & 2, it's more expensive, although it was the least expensive of my initial shortlist. Nagbago na kasi yung shortlist, nadagdagan bigla ng Preschool 1 & 2. I liked the lifestyle choices espoused by Preschool 2. But here she will learn to read and write. It's supposed to be progressive, so hopefully, no pressures. DH likes this better. And...I guess I can just learn to make healthy snacks then. And...bawas bawasan ang luho para ma-afford.

So...I need to pay later. Ayush.

WOW (Words of Wisdom): Make sure you have enough savings before getting married. Because once you get married, hindi ito nadadagdagan. Been married four years already, everytime I add to my personal savings, something eventually comes up to make me subtract from it. So actually, quits lang. I guess kung ano yung na-save ko 4 years ago, yun pa rin ngayon. Pero no regrets. I have great experiences and great memories. Nasulit din naman yung gastos. =) It's not always about the money.

More WOW: it's just preschool. chill. next year, major decision on schooling.

License to Drive

Though I'm a generally happy person, I'm also cynical by nature, and putting up a Thankful 365 entry that's entirely cheerful is kinda difficult. I doubt anyone is really interested in all of these Thankful 365 entries anyway, so I interrupt regular programming to give you a feature on some useful stuff that you'll hopefully need.

Today's topic: How to renew your Philippine Driver's license.

Why am I writing this? Because when I was trying to renew my license, I didn't find enough information to adequately prepare me. I mean, my knowledge was all based on previous experiences, and some areas even caught me by surprise. So, hopefully, this entry lessens the surprise for you and prepares you for what to expect.

1. Verify if your license is expired or not. Preferably renew your license before it expires, because renewal after expiry entails a fine (from PHP 75 to PHP 225).


2. Check the LTO website on where the most convenient renewal center is.


3. Go to that center and renew


• Aside from the renewal fees specified in the LTO website (PHP 417.63 in total), you also have to shell out almost PHP 500 for the medical exam (urine lab test, etc). So make sure you have enough cash.


• This step assumes you're just renewing your license and not changing anything else (ex. change of name, address, etc). If you have the need to change anything, or you're replacing a lost license, better renew your license in one of the LTO offices instead. You can check the LTO site for an office near you.


• There is usually no line an hour before closing time (for the renewal centers)


4. After you go through the hassle of the urine exam, having your picture taken, having your fingerprint taken, and affixing your imaginary signature on your pretty mugshot, the LTO personnel will then check your records with the main LTO database to check if you have outstanding tickets or unpaid traffic fines. If you do have outstanding tickets, you're screwed! No, really, you are. But don't sweat. You just have to go to MMDA's main office in Guadalupe to contest/clear your name/pay your fine. If you feel you've paid for the said offence already, you better have proof of payment, otherwise, you'd have to line up and pay all over again. Then line up again to have a "certificate of clearance", then go back again to the LTO office to proceed with your driver's license renewal.
   
   Don't worry, they won't be taking your picture again. So make sure your first mugshot is perfect.

It's that easy. On a good day it can take 2 hours, if you're unlucky it can take you 2 days. Whatever you do, keep your cool, smile (because people help other people who smile, really), and always keep your traffic fine receipts.

Let Me Dream

My body clock is broken/misaligned/confused.

I'm still awake at 4AM! It's been this way for weeks already. I am thankful though, that DD has not inherited this craziness. Yet.

I find it funny that when she tries to sleep, she closes her eyes tightly, kitang kita mo yung effort to close her eyes. When her face is all relaxed, ayun tulog na.

Coffee Dreams

Today, B. said, let's claim our free Starbuck's drink from HSBC. Then, I can stay awake tonight so we can watch a DVD movie.

Okay, I said. And we walked and walked to the mall to claim our free drinks. Then we walked back home, and put the daughter to bed.

Immediately after lying down, B fell asleep. Even before the kid. Oh well. At least the intention was there, right?

Thanking:

• free Starbuck's drink from HSBC's promo (every single receipt purchase worth at least 2K using your HSBC card gets you a tall Starbucks drink for free)
• B. for reading DD a story before conking out
• Microsoft Excel, because I've been budgeting like crazy
• coasting by. For now.

Bringing on the Revolution

Here's Sir Ken Robinson's follow-up to his 2006 talk "Schools kill Creativity". Uploaded in TED just a few weeks ago, this is "Bring on the Learning Revolution"

Since I was contemplating preschool for my preschooler, I kinda really took what he said to heart.

Some highlights for me:

• Education needs to be transformed into something else.
• Challenge what we take for granted
• The tyranny of common sense - a roadblock to change
• "Education, in a way, dislocates very many people from their natural talents."
• College begins in kindergarten...not! Words of wisdom: "Kindergarten begins in kindergarten."

To end his talk, Robinson quoted from W.B. Yates -- "I have spread my dreams under your feet; tread softly because you tread on my dreams."

"And every day, everywhere, our children spread their dreams beneath our feet. And we should tread softly." - Sir Ken Robinson

Listen on, so you can find your own nuggets of wisdom, and hopefully, bring about our own revolution.

You say you want a revolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

- The Beatles, Revolution

God Knows Hudas Not Pay

Look what I found while taking a walk down a QC street. A poster for Termicon! The termite specialist that did not honor their commitment to us.

"Free inspection" my ass. It's not our (the customer's) fault that one of their employees became "rogue" and allegedly sprayed our house on his own, pocketed the money, and refused to do the follow-up services. We (the customer) contacted them through their legitimate numbers, and thus were expecting that it was the legitimate company who we were transacting with.

I hope people google them and find this! How did they fool us? Read this! Hmph! Government could not help us, but at least there's the internet where we can spread the word. Don't be fooled, don't transact with shady termite exterminators like Termicon!

Kids and Schools

Zoe's last day at the playschool near our house.

"All kids have tremendous talent, and we squander them. Ruthlessly."

- Sir Ken Robinson, in a TED talk given in 2006 wherein he says "schools kill creativity".

Next parental dilemma: to enroll or not to enroll for this school year. If yes, where to enroll? Funds are tight, so I don't really want to be too OA regarding the preschool. After all, the goal is for the kid to have fun while learning. I don't want her to be traumatized or pressured, but I don't want her to learn bad habits either.

Next year's dilemma: deciding on an actual big school for the kid. Huhu. We've sort of shortlisted some schools, and I have accepted already that my goal of having the kid enroll in a progressive international school that teaches Chinese is impossible -- I can't afford it! Sh*t. =D

Oh yeah. This blog is supposed to be about being thankful. So, I'm thankful I still have a choice, even if those choices are limited. I am thankful that we were able to enroll the kid in playschools, that she enjoys it, and that she's always excited to go to school. Her favorite period in playschool though is recess. "Kain na tayo?" Hehehe. Kahit bata, merienda time ang favorite!

Princess Fiona

A kind security guard gave us a Princess Fiona head cap while Zoe and I were eating ice cream at a fastfood place in Cubao. Super happy ang bata, Shrek is her current favorite!

Kiddie Bravery

A great swimming lesson for the kid today! It's her last day of swimming lessons. She was able to do bubbles, hold her breath under water for 10 seconds, swim underwater towards me, and she wasn't afraid or crying before she did it! Yehey!

Free Food!

A Pizza Hut Pan Pizza, free with BPI Credit Card's current promotion. Our grocery bill never looked this good!

All You Need is Patience...and Donuts

Thank you for donuts!

After today's Santacruzan experience, I think:

1. It's criminal to let small children wear high heels
2. Children should not wear make up, especially thick foundation/face powder that makes the color of your face so different from the color of your neck.
3. Santacruzans with children should be outlawed!

Of course, this might just be the ranting of a first-time parent, whose kid initially did not want to wear the gown ("Ako si [Prince] Charming, di ako Princess!"), and did not want to ride the dressed up trike ("Di pa ako ready!"). This can also be the ranting of a first-time santacruzan participant, who did not expect to walk 3 hours (?!) for this.

All's well that ends well though.

After the initial drama, Daddy B volunteered to pedal the trike, the toddler agreed to ride it, the kids were bribed with donuts and lollipops, and everyone lived, happily ever after.

Sometimes all you need is patience...and some donuts.

Thank You for Usability

Windows Vista Ease of Access Center's On-Screen Keyboard was a lifesaver today!

Was fixing up my dad's unused HP Mini, so that he could use it. Upon boot-up, uh-oh. The keyboard was totally unresponsive. No reaction whatsoever, no matter what was pressed. The mouse pad was also unresponsive. Dilemma! Good thing the laptop still responded to an attached USB Mouse, but I still had to type the password to get into the system. On-screen Keyboard to the rescue! Was able to type the password, log in, open a browser, and google for a solution! Had to download updated keyboard drivers from the HP site. After a reboot, voila! Everything worked. Whew!

Good thing someone thought of putting this in the log-in screen!

Date Night!

Movie night with lots of Buy-the-Buckets, nuts, drinks, quesadillas and popcorn!

For the People Who Take Care of Us

Po Po - Cantonese for Maternal Grandmother

My grandmother died 17 years ago today.

Who's Popo To Me?
My parents were both working, so my grandmother was the one who took care of me. She was my dad's mother, but like my cousins, I called her "Popo". Popo was strict, and I still remember when she used to chase me with a feather duster, so she can spank my behind to discipline me. Like most parent-figure relationships wherein the parent figure disciplines you, it was love-hate for some days. But there were always good days. When I was a bit older, she always prepared instant noodles for me to eat when I came home from school. Yes she monitored my phone calls (back in the days when phones were still used for calling and "telebabad"), but as I grew older, I understood the discipline came with love. The expression may not be perfect, but whose is? We shared a room, and the last few years, I always made it a point to tell her I love her before we fell asleep. That's one thing I will never regret -- saying I love you, every night.

And She Said Goodbye...
That summer, it was my first trip abroad on my own, a 6-week Taiwan study tour. A few days after May, the family ate a meal in a resto on Shaw Blvd, roast duck cooked 3 ways, from what I recall they told me. Popo didn't want to eat the roast duck...she said she wanted to wait for me to come back. And then a few days later, she was hospitalized. Massive organ failures. I don't even recall the root cause, one organ failed followed by another, until everyone knew she had to go. They called in the priest and baptized her, Maria. Through it all, she held on until I did come back. I don't think she could recognize me anymore when I did come back. But she waited. And with our history, who wouldn't be touched that she waited to try to say goodbye?

...While I Couldn't...Yet
I think I held on even after she went. She had grandchildren, but I was the latest one, the closest one. We lived together, we slept together, we loved and fought and knew each other as people who live together closely can. I kept on dreaming about her, until one day, she appeared and said, let me go. And I did.

"Though lovers be lost

Love shall not

And death shall have no dominion"

- Dylan Thomas

And Death Shall Have No Dominion

Thank You
Because Popo was always there. Because taking care of someone else is a thankless job sometimes, and the people you care for don't always appreciate what you've given up to take care of them. The little things and gestures, considered routine and expected, are not always mentioned, but they matter, because those little things become the foundation of a relationship. It's not always about quality time. There are times when quantity trumps quality, especially when it comes to raising a child, so we should give a hurray to those people who do choose to spend quantity time.

To the people who've taken care of us, Thank You.

Today is for my grandmother. I know she is at peace.

Things That Make You Go Oomph

I'm thankful for passion and hope, for the emotions and motivations that enable anyone to go beyond the normal effort.

We last longer because of our passion. Long hours and late nights are nothing, if we're totally engrossed in what we're doing.

And Hope. We stay and trudge on, because of the hope that things will be better. Always.

Big Daddy and Swimming

Picture taken on a Saturday

Thankful for my co-parent and partner, who accompanied the kid to today's (a weekday!) swimming lesson while I attended a work meeting. I heard the session went great!

WFH

Work from Home days

Happiness is an Amusement Park Ride

Ride like the wind...and never fear anything.

Fun ride at Powerplant Mall's kiddie area. There are some overpriced kiddie rides there (come on, PHP50 for something that costs PHP20 at other malls?), but hey, kids will be kids. Plus, I can't complain, since we went malling with the doting grandparents, who keep showering the happy kid with marshmallows and gummy bears. And, there are PHP12 rides too, for when you're feeling a little stingy.

Flores de Mayo Para Los Niños

Things you learn when you're older: The Flores de Mayo is different from a "Sagala" or "Santacruzan". All along I thought they were one and the same. In Catholic Philippines, it's a tradition to dress little boys and little girls (and even teen girls and boys) in formal attires and gowns, and parade them around the barangay during May. It's a festival to commemorate the finding of the Holy Cross by Reyna Elena, mother of Constantine the Great, although I doubt anyone really remembers that. :)

It turns out that there's still another Flores de Mayo event before the Santacruzan. It's the offering of flowers to the Virgin Mary. The flowers are carried to the Church by little boys and girls in simple clothing. Upon arriving at Church, novena and prayers are said, and then the flowers are offered to the Virgin Mary.

The kid and her cousins were part of this year's offerers

A Cool Coffee Drink in a Hot Summer Town

Had lunch with B, and he treated me to free coffee. Wee!

(Yes, Manila still has the old Seattle's Best Coffee logo. If you want to see the new logo, check this out.)

Swim, Eat, and Be Merry

Today, the kid and I had lunch together, at one of the fast food chains on Tomas Morato. We just had her swimming lessons, and were on our way to "investigate" one of the preschools near E.Rodriguez Ave.

The Swimming
The swimming lesson was eventful since: 1) we were late, and 2) the kid developed the fear of submerging her head under water, going to ridiculous lengths and overacting poses to make sure her head was above water while we were gliding. It was irritating me (I blame my hormones). Really, I still remember how she looked like in the water -- if I wasn't irritated (because I know she was overacting it), I would find it really funny. Instead of forcing the matter (and making her really afraid of water), I deemed it more prudent to not finish today's swimming lesson. She wasn't wild or tantrum-y, probably just resistant to change. She still likes to swim, just doesn't want to put her head under water.

The Preschool
I haven't really blogged about our search for a preschool. But trust me, I've spent hours and hours poring over forums and websites, looking for an affordable, progressive preschool that hopefully also teaches Chinese. Have I found it? No. I've read about Montessori, multiple intelligences, international schools, progressive schools, pseudo-Montessori schools, and now even Waldorf schools. Have I decided? Not yet. It's a bit scary to think that my decision now could have the possibility of limiting her options for the future. So...I'm not 100% on anything yet.

The Meal
The kid and I had a quick lunch together. With the turmoil of learning something new (submerging her head while swimming), and the anxiety of deciding on a course for the future, it's really the quiet moments spent with her that matters. Being present. I'm thankful she can eat well. I am thankful that we have this opportunity to spend some quiet time, together, just the two of us.

Thank You for the Music

Funny. I have a lot of things to be thankful for, I don't even know where to start.

Photo by Michael Yarish/FOX

Today, among other things, I am grateful to Neil Patrick Harris and Glee. It's Episode 19 of the 1st season of Glee, with the episode titled "Dream On". Let me just say, I have never watched Glee on actual TV. I usually come home late from work, and if I am at home, the TV is owned by either my daughter (who watches Playhouse Disney), or the househelp (who watches ABS-CBN). Sometimes B. sneaks in and gets to watch basketball. So there, I've never actually caught an episode of Glee on actual TV. I don't entirely live under a rock though -- I've caught my fair share of episodes online so I know the show and the story.

So anyway, today I get home almost 10pm, and surprise! No one's watching TV! My daughter's asleep, the yaya's watching the kid, the hubby's drinking with his buddies. Guilt-free TV for an hour.

So...I am thankful for some alone time. And I am thankful for music. For entertainment that moves us and seeks to inspire. Music inspires, it's fun, it's...cathartic, as needed. It doesn't even have to be pop, rock, alternative, hip hop, jazz, death metal, whatever. As long as it suits your mood for the moment, it inspires. Music can make you fall in love, run faster, release your anger and sadness and grief. It can make you cry, plunge you into a deep emotional abyss, and then take you along as it soars through it's own uplifting arc.

I am thankful for music and the ones who have made, written and sang music. Every time you create art, you give a little of yourself. Just like giving love though, giving a little of yourself doesn't make you any less. On the contrary, creating art (just like love) makes you go beyond yourself and makes you bigger than you originally were.

Giving oneself -- whether it's a personal sacrifice, your time, your love, or sharing your gift of music -- does that. It inspires. And at any given the moment, you should always opt to inspire people. Why? Just because you can.

"I'm trading my one dream, for the chance that the 13 of you will have a chance with yours." - Will Shuester, Glee

Thankful 365 - The Start

All of us are thankful for something. Sometimes, anger, negative emotions and difficult experiences just make us forget it. But it's there. For the thanking.

This is my Project 365*. To write about the things I am thankful for. Happy thoughts, every day of the year.

*Originally, I wanted to call it Project 52 -- so I can do a post just once a week. Hehe. But what the heck. Go for broke. Project 365. Something to be thankful for, every day of the year.

Singapore Stopover!

Our Singapore stopover would not have been possible without our hosts! Too bad that I forgot to have pics taken with them though. But thank you thank you thank you to Lala and Simon and my friend Jen for accommodating us!!! And thanks to the Singapore-based Enterworks ex-officemates for the company, the white pepper crabs, and the Paulaner beers!

Sa July daw ulit sabi ni Jo Jao. :)

The Bali Vacation

Bali, Indonesia
April 2010

Spent 5 days in Bali with the husband and the baby, before flying back to Manila via Singapore:

• Sanur
  
• Kuta
  
• Ubud

Back Story
April was a personally tiring month for me, but Bali was one of those places that I wanted to go to and where I haven't been to yet. So when the opportunity came up, I said 'yes' to Bali and a quick stopover in Singapore (because I also wanted to visit friends).

I had to work with limited budget (mine), and limited cheap flight schedules. We rode a smorgasboard of budget airlines -- Tigerairways to Singapore, Airasia to Denpasar (Bali), and then Jetstar back to Singapore. It was a whirlwind of late night flights that you probably shouldn't put a toddler through, but hey, we survived!

No major tantrum issues (she's normally a patient kid, even through long car rides and flights), except for the Jetstar flight back to Singapore, when Zoe didn't want to sit on her own chair at once. The flight attendant came to our area and said the kid had to sit on her own chair. Bok said, "ok, she will in a while", intending to sweet talk Zoe into sitting. The flight attendant said, "now sir" in a taray tone. Kainis, sarap saksakin! I mean, it's not like Zoe was a noisy brat who was disturbing everybody (I think), but demanding the kid to sit now at that very instant when she expressly said she didn't want to was inviting the kid to a major tantrum. So she cried loudly. Another flight attendant came and bribed Zoe with 2 pieces of chocolate. She sat on her own chair after, sniffling and eating chocolate. Although it was good the other flight attendant managed to subdue Zoe with chocolates, I didn't particularly like bribery as a method of discipline. Whatever. By that time, I was slightly burned out as well.


Back to Happy Thoughts
Ok, so Bali has several areas you can opt to go to. We spent 3 nights in the Sanur area and another night in the Ubud area. Most people go to Kuta where the bars are. All of the travels were done on a leisurely pace. We only visited 2 major temples, because one of my companions does not like visiting temples. =) There was also this grand plan to rent a bike and bike around Ubud, but someone developed a mild case of vertigo and plans didn't push through.

Already forgot the names of the restos we ate at (sorry!), but all of them were great. At Sanur, we stayed at the Puri Mango Guest House. At $35, the rate included tax and breakfast. There was a mini-pool too. The rooms had a slightly old-ish style -- big wooden bed frame, big wooden cabinets, the type of decor that reminded me of "Blusang Itim" or "Bahay ni Lola". It wasn't really creepy though. The room was clean and spacious, and yes, it was value for money at $35 with breakfast.

Bok liked Ubud better. We stayed at Tegal Sari, where our room cost RP330,000 a night including tax. The room was spacious and more modern. It looked like a 5-star hotel room! There was a veranda that opened up to a view of really green rice fields. Reservations had to be paid in advance though. After the conversion, credit card surcharge (1.8%) and tax, the room costs PHP1700 a night. Not bad, and so worth it since Bok really really liked the room. Tegal Sari is maybe a 15-30 minute walk from the Ubud downtown center, although there's a free hotel shuttle to downtown.

The Singapore Zoo Experience

April 2010

While planning this Singapore trip, I was mulling over whether to visit Universal Studios or the Singapore Zoo. After getting a reply from Twitter (the Zoo!), and realizing that:
a) the zoo was cheaper
b) Bok hadn't been to the zoo yet either, and
c) a 2 year old will definitely enjoy a zoo more, right?

It was decided. The zoo it is.

We started the day late (what's new), and took a cab to Singapore Zoo (because it was late, the weather was hot and humid and we couldn't find the bus stop. doh!).

While we were queueing to buy tickets, a woman approached us and told us we can enter the zoo for free. Ako naman, huh, thinking it was some kind of scam, or I had to buy something first. Hehe. Good thing we trusted her. It turns out they were our angels! We got in for free because she had a card good for 4 people, and they were only 2. Yey! (Kids under 3 get in for free)

Zoe really liked the zoo. Even if she was asleep when we entered the zoo, when she woke up, hyper na! That evening, she was even slightly sleep talking and saying "aaahhh, dyan pala galing yung mga animals". On our way back, she kept saying, "balik tayo zoo ha!"

Happiness!

Being Healthy for the Kids

Ewan McGregor on giving up alcohol years ago:

"What kind of regret would I have had to tell my children or my wife that I was dying because of something I could have done something about? I didn't want to be that kind of man."

From http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/03/30/10/ewan-mcgregors-alcohol-alarm

Crouching Father, Hidden Toddler

While "rushing" home today, I thought I wanted to buy a good book for myself. As I entered the mall (to go to the MRT station), a Booksale branch caught my eye. "Maybe I could buy a book I could read during the Holy Week," I thought.

Well, I didn't buy anything for me. But I did spend precious minutes contemplating whether or not to buy Zoe another book (I didn't). And I did end up buying B his own book, Crouching Father, Hidden Toddler: A Zen Guide for New Dads, by C.W. Nevious. It's a collection of short, funny essays about being a father. There's truth in those essays, which also makes them insightful. And, they're not just for fathers.

Here's an excerpt:

The Mighty Virtue of a Daughter and a Dad

Deep in the secret depths of their silent hearts, some fathers are the
tiniest bit disappointed when the learn the new baby will be a girl.

This is an epic error. For starters, girls play sports now. A lot. And
these aren't bunt-and-giggle games either. Elbows are thrown, knees are skinned,
and trash is talked.

But that's not really the point. Explaining the mysterious, powerful bond
between dads and daughters takes a lifetime. Why is it that you two can speak
without saying a word? Or can sense each other's moods? Does her mom complain
that you sometimes let her get away with murder?

Um...maybe. Is that a problem?

A daughter will unexpectedly give you a hug. Or sit with you and watch your
favorite classic movie on TV.

In fact, you are likely to find that your daughter is a nearly perfect
companion. She likes and understands you. Which is why, when she goes on a date,
you may find your heart taking an unexpected lurch. Remember when you secretly
wished she was a boy? This is payback.

Terminate the Exterminator!

Termicon Pest Control Services, located at Lot 2 Blk 14 Augsburg St, Mercedes Village, Cainta Rizal -- you suck! Honor your committment. Be a responsible company. Right now, you're acting like a fly-by-night operator.


Is there any recourse for decent and honest Filipinos who wish to report such fly-by-night companies? I've checked the site of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, but I'm not sure if there's a venue there to air our complaint.


The Story

Termicon, through their agent Randy Velasco, came to our house last July 2009 to do the termite treatment. We paid the full amount (probably our mistake), and was promised 4 quarterly check-ups, starting October 2009.

We've called the numbers they listed in the paper given to us. It's been several months after already, and Termicon still has not done any follow-up checks. We've called their phone number several times and were always given the run-around. Either there's no secretary, they'll call us back. There's no paper, they'll call us back. There's no schedule, they'll call us back. Eventually, today, 8 months later, one of their people comes to our house to explain that our record does not exist in their company, that the agent who did the treatment probably pocketed the money and did not enter it into their records. They didn't even offer an alternate solution to us! As a good service company, they should have offered an alternate solution, we'll do follow-up checks or you can talk to our manager, we'll reprimand Randy Velasco, we'll file cases against him, etc. But no, wala talaga. Nakakainis. Parang, they're in cahoots.

The person who came to our house, Mark Falcone, even asked us if Randy presented an ID when he came. When we asked for Mark's ID, he had none! None! Nada! Wala man lang calling card. He just wrote his name on a piece of paper because we asked him to.


My Conclusion -- We've Been Screwed!

So to the owner of Termicon Pest Control services, you're either a real con man, or your employees are screwing you big time.

And us unsuspecting customers, we're helpless! Can government help us? Can the taxes we pay guarantee that we'll be offered protection from these con people? I highly doubt it. But I do pray to God that the day will come that government will do it's duty.

3 Years of Boracay...and I'm only 2!

Yes, I've been to Boracay for 3 years in a row already! All because Daddy Bok is such an ultimate frisbee addict. Looking back at the blog posts, it turns out during my first year in Boracay, even Mommy Sym played frisbee. Now, she's fat and lazy just like me! Hehe. Joke lang mommy Sym!

3 years of Boracay-ness

It seems every year, I have this "warm-up" period before actually loving the sand and water. This year, I truly truly enjoyed the beach and the water only during our last full day in Bora. Mommy and Daddy should bring me more often to the beach!

I built sand turtles and sand fishes and sand crabs and sand seashells! Or rather, my Tita Rhea and Mommy Sym built them for me. Hehe. It's truly great to be a little princess!

Plus, guess what, imagine my delight when we opened Villa Rhazel's humble TV set and discovered, there was Playhouse Disney! Yippee! My favorite channel in all of the world!

I hope to see you again next year Boracay! Check out our pictures in the photo album section...some of these I took myself!


Thank you so much,
Zoe

Boracay Open 2010

March 11-15, 2010
Boracay Island, Philippines

Bok played in the Boracay Open, and his team (Toda the Flying Sprockets) won 3rd place! A great achievement indeed, considering their first 2 games on Day 1 were not so great. But they made it, 3rd place in Pool A! First and second place went to the Boracay teams -- Boracay Dragons/Bora A and Boracay B.

As usual almost all of the pictures here are of Zoe. Read her blog too.

Some highlights:

• watching the Pacquiao fight at Hey Jude bar. Really different vibe when you're watching a boxing match with lots of people rooting for the same person.


• romantic seafood dinner at Balinghai Resort. Medyo malayo sya ha. Bok told me not to raise my expectations too much. Hehe. It was really sweet. Thank you B!


• beer in the ocean while watching the sunset


• cocktails by the beach while watching the sunset


• great sunsets


• never-ending Playhouse Disney. Yes, may Playhouse Disney sa Boracay


• Zoe walking by herself in the ocean.


• Zoe's sand toys


• Zoe's sand pail, which also doubled as a "tabo" for giving Zoe a bath. Takot kasi si Zoe sa shower. I am so taking this one to the next beach outing!


• buggy ride around part of the island


• Zoe falling asleep a few minutes after sitting in the buggy


• Eating at Hungry Monkey and talking to the owner's parents. They live in QC but also go to Bora to kiteboard


• Asking the jeep driver how much it would cost to rent a kiteboard, and being told, "ay, sobrang mahal nyan." It turns out, it costs around 17-19K to learn, and that still excludes buying the equipment.

Overall mood: Thankful.

Mix Mix, Same Same

While snuggling to go to sleep:

Zoe: Mommy, bakit punta kayo office?
Mommy: Kailangan kasi mag work ni Mommy and Daddy eh.
Zoe: Bakit, para meron bili dede?
Mommy: Ahh, opo.
Zoe: Thank you! (sabay kiss)

On one hand, I'm surprised that she understands we work for the money, and that money buys the milk. I'm doubly happy she even said thank you. On the other hand...shouldn't we be working because we're passionate about something? And how about the saying that one should make money work for you, and not the other way around?

Passion. Someone once told me that if I didn't like what I did, I should quit. For me though, I like what I do. I like to program. I like discovering new things. I like helping people make use of those programs to make their lives easier. I don't like the politics though. Sabi ko nga, kadalasan, the bibo takes it all. [lots of stuff to be inserted here that I opt not to insert since it exposes my vulnerability to...well, politics].

So what's the point of this post?

1. Zoe is smart.
2. Zoe knows the value of money. For now.
3. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Nyeta.
4. I am trying to be optimistic. I hope you see it.
5. Hindi ako bibo. Pero di rin ako bobo no.

Harumph!

Diving into June

Buddy Jao took the plunge and booked us tickets to Dumaguete so we can go diving! It's still way off in June, but I'm still excited. Hopefully I still fit into the wetsuit. Haha.

Things Only Kids Get Away With

Zoe eating in a traditional Chinese banquet restaurant. The walls are lined with aquariums teeming with live fish. Mommy points out the fishes to Zoe.

"Zoe, look fish!"

Zoe looks at them gleefully.

"Wow! Swim swim sila!" says Zoe. Mommy is so proud that Zoe appreciates fishes.

Then Zoe says, "Mamaya kain Zoe kayo!" (Later I'll eat all of you!)

Toink!

------------------

Mommy and Zoe walking to the parking lot. Mommy sees a moth beside the car. Mommy thinks this is a great opportunity to teach Zoe about moths.

"Zoe, tingin tayo ng moth," says Mommy.

"Moth?" asks Zoe.

Mommy lifts Zoe up so she can see the moth more closely.

"Ayun oh, moth. Buhay yan. Tingnan mo gumagalaw galaw pa yung antenna," Mommy says, while resisting the urge to actually touch and prod the moth, since Zoe might imitate her.

"Ahhhh. Mamaya patay Zoe yan!" Toink!