Happy Chinese New Year!

Or...Kung Hei Fat Choi!!! (there are a host of other spellings and pronunciations for the Chinese New Year, this is the one that I know...whatever dialect it is, lol!)

This snippet from Wikipedia gives a background as to how this celebration came about:

According to tales and legends, the beginning of Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called the Nian or "Year" in Chinese. Nian would come on the first day of New Year to devour livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children. To protect themselves, the villagers would put food in front of their doors at the beginning of every year. It was believed that after the Nian ate the food they prepared, it wouldn’t attack any more people. One time, people saw that the Nian was scared away by a little child wearing red. The villagers then understood that the Nian was afraid of the color red. Hence, every time when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors. People also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian. From then on, the Nian never came to the village again.

Explains some things, eh?

We didn't do anything exciting to celebrate the Chinese New Year. With the exception of Bang, none of us are true blue (red?) Chinese. But hey, we still look on it as an excuse to eat out! Which we did, at Causeway.

It's a time to look at all our horoscopes for the coming year, depending on your zodiac animal sign.

Wondering what your sign is? Check this chart:


Ours are the following:

Rooster

Get ready for an outstanding year. Aside from the Snake, the Rooster has the best prospects in the year of the Ox. This is the kind of year you have been waiting for, as everything seems to go your way. You have been diligently working towards some long term goals that finally come together this year. Your relations are felt at new levels, as you find a sense of satisfaction that you may not have experienced in a long time. Things you may have thought not possible will become a reality for you in this positive year.

Rooster Rating - 72% (10 favorable and 2 neutral months)

Rooster Career

Determination and diligence are two key aspects that put the Rooster over the top this year. 2009 is a year that you should promote yourself: Your ideas and your talents will be highly regarded and you will be recognized for past and present efforts. Give it your best this year and seize any opportunity that presents itself. This year will certainly be a landmark for years to come, as you will remember it as one of your most productive times in your life.

Rooster Relationships

Domestic matters will fare well for the Rooster this year. You will find comfort in the support and encouragement of family members and friends alike. Seek advice from your seniors, as they may provide information that opens doors to areas that are not known. The social life for the Rooster is a busy schedule. You will enjoy the company of others in many social functions and parties. Romance is highly favorable for the unattached Rooster, so flaunt your feathers.

Rooster Health

Health issues are minor for the Rooster this year. Though exercise and diet are not an issue, you may have a problem maintaining the discipline of a steady routine. Take the time to get the exercise you need and everything should work out fine for you. Being somewhat of a risk taker, you may want to try something new that holds your interests. Consider surfing orparasailing to indulge your fancy.

Rooster Wealth

This a great year financially for the Rooster. If you have any available funds, you may want to reinvest it in your work. This could prove to be highly favorable and you will reap the benefits in your return. One key issue is your spending habits. Make sure you don't spend the money before it is in the bank or this could pose a problem with your budget. Receive professional advice for any large investments in areas that you are unfamiliar.

* * *

Tiger Overview

From the outset, 2009 may present some true challenges for the Tiger. The year of the Ox presents an overwhelming influence upon the Tiger to maintain a steady and well disciplined pace. That is not to say that there won't be opportunities for achievement, but it would be more precise to say that this is a year that would benefit the Tiger in the areas of experience and possibly lay a solid foundation for the year to come. You will have to be resourceful and rely on your boldness and quick wit to ascertain anything in the year of the Ox.

Tiger Rating - 27% (3 neutral and 9 unfavorable months)

Tiger Career

It would be beneficial to be cautious and careful when it comes to career decisions in the year of the Ox. It would be wise to be aware of the views of those around you, as this is not a year to be too independent in your actions or take any unnecessary risks. Be persistent in your responsibilities to impress others, as this will lead to progress towards your future. For the Tiger seeking a career change, tread through the rough spots and your relentless efforts will be rewarded in surprising ways.

Tiger Relationships

The Tiger's relationship may be one of the more favorable areas this year. You can look forward to some happy times with your loved one this year. Though your domestic life may be busy, it can bring you much satisfaction. Be aware of the fact that those around you hold you in high regard and you may not want to jeopardize these relations by your independence or by being too stubborn. Pay attention to the thoughts and feelings of others in your life and everything should work out well for you.

Tiger Health

The Tiger will not have any serious health problems this year, but there may some minor issues that you may want to pay attention or they could become much worse than originally anticipated. One area of concern is stress. There may be some situations this year that could escalate your stress levels and you may want to find some ways to alleviate this issue. The Tiger enjoys outdoor activities and this could provide an outlet to relieve your stress.

Tiger Wealth

Take caution when it comes to your finances this year, as it is not a time to speculate or take any unnecessary risks. Plan your large purchases carefully and avoid impulse buying. The best advice is to monitor your spending throughout the year and you won't have any problems. This may sound like simple advice, but due to your generous nature, it may not be as simple as it sounds.

* * *

Rabbit Overview

The past year may have provided the Rabbit with many challenges and difficult situations, but this year will be a relief. The Rabbit has a very favorable outlook this year. Though it is not part of your usual plan, you may find that being assertive and bold will allow you to achieve unforeseen success. Your attraction to the finer life may lead you to living it. Personal relations are of great value to the Rabbit and will be emphasized throughout the year. Put your best foot forward in the year of the Ox and you will reap many benefits and rewards.

Rabbit Rating - 67% (7 favorable and 5 neutral months)

Rabbit Career

This year is one of change. Though the Rabbit is not prone to taking risks, you may benefit greatly from taking bold new steps in finding the career you desire. Complacency in your current job could lead you to such actions. September and October are two months that are favorable for a change. You may want to seek a position that allows you to utilize your social skills and your abilities to relate to people on a personal level. Set your sights high and you will get what you want in this highly favorable year.

Rabbit Relationships

The Rabbit's family and friends will be a source of great pleasure for the you this year. They will offer support, encouragement and will be the wellspring for meaningful and enjoyable times. Personal relations are held in high regard and could be taken to a new level. Rabbits seeking new friends or romance should make an added effort to go out more and come in contact with others-you will be well rewarded for your efforts.

Rabbit Health

The Rabbit should not encounter any major health issues this year, but you may want to take precautions during certain times of the year. The Rabbit's sensitive constitution may leave you vulnerable to colds and flu during the winter months. You may want to get a flu shot during this time and make sure that you get plenty of rest to avoid any setbacks

Rabbit Wealth

The Rabbit should enjoy a new level of wealth. If you are inspired to make a career change, this will prove to be a successful venture financially. You will be particularly pleased with some of your purchases this year, as many could relate to redecorating or changing the appeal of your home. Beware of any risky investments and continue to do the things that accumulate your level of savings.

* * *

Dragon Overview

The year of the Ox may slightly hinder the Dragon's independent spirit. There will be gains, but you may have to adapt to situations with different strategies than your usual style. There are three favorable months to provide periods of substantial progress and you would do well to take notice of these times and make the most of the opportunities offered. You will have many situations socially that provide great joy throughout the year. The single Dragon will be happy to know that romance is favored this year, so you may find someone to share your experiences. Be conservative in your spending or it could result in problems next year.

Dragon Rating - 67% (3 favorable and 4 neutral and 5 unfavorable months)

Dragon Career

The Dragon's career may be one of the more positive aspects of the year. This will be a year of reasonable progress. Even though the Dragon may have some distinct ideas on what you want to accomplish, 2009 will disclose conditions that you will have to adapt and overcome. You may have to adapt and work with others to gain what you want, rather than doing things in your own independent style. With care and effort, you can make considerable progress and improve your position, but your true gains will be with experience and skills you acquire this year that will prove invaluable in the future.

Dragon Relationships

The Dragon is a social creature and you will invariably relish in the company of others adding enjoyment and pleasure throughout the year. Your family life will offer the support and encouragement you need. You will have to pay attention to your family members feelings by using tact and discretion in vulnerable situations. By not doing so could deteriorate close relations. There will be a number of occasions that will allow you to add to your circle of friends. The single Dragon will be pleased to know that romance is favored.

Dragon Health

The Dragon has an active spirit and it is important that you involve yourself in a number of physical activities to maintain your health. You enjoy being outdoors and you might want to get involved with something that tests your skills and provides a change of scenery, such as rock climbing or hiking. Failure to remain active could result in added stress and emotional swings that could effect your work, as well as your personal life.

Dragon Wealth

The Dragon would do well to pull in the reins on lavish spending and take a more conservative approach this year. You may want to avoid any risky ventures or speculative investments in the year of the Ox. Failure to take care and caution this year could result in future problems. Keep a close watch on your financial situation throughout the year and you may find that you will have times when you can make purchases that coincide with your budget.

* * *

Monkey Overview

This year offers the Monkey some opportunities to go far with your talents. The Monkey's generous nature may leave you stretched in several different directions, so it is important to stay focused in order to achieve the goals you have set for yourself this year. You will be given the opportunity to impress the right people both in business, as well as in your personal life. Don't hold back this year, for this could be one that will leave an impression over the course of the next few years.

Monkey Rating - 49% (4 favorable and 5 neutral and 3 months)

Monkey Career

Great strides can be made in your career this year. Timing is everything and in your case, time is on your side. You will be in the right place at the right time to impress the decision makers in your career. The steady Ox rewards those with strong work ethics and the Monkey will surely reap the benefits of your labor. Don't hesitate to do anything that will aid your skills and benefit your position.

Monkey Relationships

This could be a busy year for you domestically. Look to your family for the encouragement and support you need. On the same token, it is important for you to listen and heed the advice of those who care. Your social life is active filled with plenty of opportunities to make new friends. Don't forget the ones that have been with you through the rough times, as it is just as important to offer your time with your existing relations.

Monkey Health

Take note that there are several high points to your year. With such a busy social year, you may stretch yourself thin with your health. Be aware of your energy levels throughout the year, as you may need some added rest to counter your affairs. It would be wise to take an active part in your health, taking up a new form of exercise that follows your interests: martial arts or dancing are two good possibilities.

Monkey Wealth

This could be a great year for the Monkey financially. You will possibly make great gains in this area throughout the year. Due to your generous nature, you may have a difficult time refraining from giving to others. Be mindful of this and make sure you give to yourself every once in a while because you deserve it.

* * *

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Swimming, Camping, Scrapping

Activity-filled day today!

1. Swimming - Since we went to mass yesterday, we planned on going swimming Sunday morning. Not to be dissuaded, I called and texted Rod and Zhar to see if they were still coming along, as planned. Good thing they were up; we had planned to meet at 10 am.

Yes, not a great time to go swimming because of the sun's rays, but the kids had mentioned that the water in the Ayala pool was freezing! We weren't going to take that chance; besides none of us were scared of getting some color in the process.

The kids of course, being the water babies they are, joined us. Japa, Rod and I finished the 24 laps we needed to do for the Ateneo Aquathlon. Zhar did 20 I think. We were the only ones in the pool, so we put the entire area to use: we emulated the aquathlon by swimming in ALL lanes (although the Ayala pool had only 6 lanes as opposed to Ateneo's 8). It made a big difference to me because I didn't need to count at all, hehehe.

At the beginning of the swim, I was cussing myself, thinking that I wouldn't be able to finish the entire thing at all. The water felt so heavy, my ARMS felt heavy! But as I got into the swing of things, it became easier, thank God! Hehehe. Besides, pride was pushing me too, I didn't want to quit in front of the kiddos, you know! I finished 24 laps in 20 minutes. Not bad for doing it for the first time since......last year. Hahahahaha!

The run will be a different story. I know I'm just going to DIE when I do that. I have yet to train for running the 5k! Yuck! Any ideas?

After our laps, the kids pleaded for us to do some relays with them. And we had the bright idea of teaming up the adults (Rod, Zhar and moi) AGAINST the kids (Raegan, Rogan and Raine). NOT that fair of a team-up, I think! Hehehe. But we did give them a run for their money, at least in the freestyle:

The kids had Raegan, Raine then Rogan. For us it was Rod (we wanted to demoralize them early on.....yeah right!), Zhar then me. Rod did beat Raegan, but only by a few meters. Zhar dove into the pool first...a good few lengths ahead of Raine. And then I really looked at her....her arms were sooooo slow, especially when compared to Raine's! Hehehehe, sorry Zhar! As they passed the halfway mark, I was screaming for Zhar to go. Raine was swimming like she had sharks on he tail, she was fast gaining on Zhar! Aaaargh!

I pushed from the wall a tad bit earlier than Rogan.....and must have breathed only TWICE in the whole damn 25 meter length! To top it off, I was ticked off that I saw Rogan LOOK ----LOOK!!!--- at me while he was swimming, to check out where I was in relation to him, the little bugger! Grrrr! Yes, sad to say, he beat me by close to a body length. Hmp! *grumble grumble*

Then the kids had a not-so-bright-idea to mix up the strokes. We were to do butterfly, breast and then free. We should NEVER have agreed to do it! I did fly...against Rogan. And here I was, feeling proud of myself that I was keeping up with Raegan! Hahahahaha! Yes, Mama was dreaming! When I realized it was Rogan who was ahead of me, I started laughing, and got a slight cramp. I stopped with about 5 meters to go, and sputtering, yelled at Zhar to just dive. Hehehehe. Needless to say she never caught up with Raine. And I don't think Rod waited for Zhar to touch the pool before he pushed off, gunning for Raegan. He stopped because he was laughing; apparently, he had tried to reach for Raegan's FOOT to stop her, but he missed.

Bwahahahaha! Yup, the kids are stronger and faster, that's for sure!

2. Camping - It was Father-Child Day at Child's Place, so Ranger, Papa AND Rogan and Raine went to Antipolo. Raegan and I went to the parlor where I got a foot spa and Raegan had a trim (so that she could hot iron her hair everyday if need be).

Anyway, the kids had a blast at Alpadi where they went rappeling, of all things! Even Ranger was a daredevil! That was pretty much all they did in the 2-hour activity. I know, camping for 2 hours. Whatever. But after a few games, Japa prodded the kids to go because he was tired. Hehehe. At least he got some great photos of the kids rappeling down the wall. Sorry, no pics now, they're all in the camera still.

3. Scrapping - Well of course I took advantage of the few hours of peace and quiet to scrap. I finished Ranger's 8th month. Raine's will have to wait, unfortunately, since her pictures haven't been scanned yet. Sigh. Another thing to put on my to do list. So 3 down and 1 more to go, pending the scanning, for The Sisterhood Challenge! Woot!

8th MONTH - RANGER

And how was YOUR day? :)

Continuing the Sisterhood Challenge...

Elizza send out a message asking---demanding---to know whether we had any intentions of finishing up the baby books of the kids. It *has* been AGES since any of us have done a page for the Books, and we were soooo behind!

At least, I was. But that message of Lai's spurred me into action:

8th MONTH - RAEGAN


8th MONTH - ROGAN

Two down, 2 more to go!

Shopping for Cars

Ahhhh, the world of cars. As a normal female, I can tell you I could care less about a vehicle's features. Sure, I like the basics: air-conditioning, options for music (this means a radio, hehehe), power windows, automatic transmission, and power-steering. Oh, and an SUV would be nice since it's been a tried and true thing for me, especially in this country of flooding. :)

But ask me about the engine, the wheels, the chassis, the seats? I don't even look at those things, really! For me, just as long as it goes and I can drive it (see basics above), I'm fine.

Now, our little family isn't so little anymore. For the longest time, Japa and I have been considering getting a new (or gently-used) car that'll fit all of us comfortable WITH trunk space. Sasha the Everest was peachy when the kids were in their older toddler years. Now, Ranger's the toddler and the others aren't. Ummmm....you can just picture us in the Everest squooshed in. Thrown in 1 driver and 1 yaya, and you've got a car of sardines. Fat sardines, with the exception of Japa and Ranger.

Hahahaahha! I can't get the picture of that from my head!!! Can you???

Anyway, we've narrowed down our search to 3 vehicles:

1. First up, our "bugaw" car, the Chrysler C300:

The C300 is one of the few cars that Japa and I agreed on. We both like the look of it, basically. And yes, I *know* our family's not going to fit in there, but it sure would look FINE when we have formal occasions, hehehe. I drove this car when Rod's car was brought to La Vista. Man oh man oh man! It drove like a DREAM! Like a Benz (no wonder, it shares the same chassis with some Mercedes model---like I would know that, if Bobby, the salesguy didn't mention it), but definitely NOT at the price of a Mercedes!

Rod got an excellent deal on his, but Japa wanted the Hemi C300. To me, they both looked EXACTLY the same. Japa made me go out to look at the Hemi to compare. Ok. The difference? The engine is supposedly more powerful, needed for a heavy car such as this one, there are 2 tailpipes instead of one (like I *CARE* about tailpipes!!!) and the leather was finer. The leather was finer. Yup, you read that right. Could I tell the difference? Nope!

2. Next, the Suburban:

When we were in the States, we were all set to purchase a Suburban and have it shipped here. But for some inane reason, GM (yes, the company that's about to go bankrupt and is waiting for bailout from the government) would NOT sell us the car?!?! What the??? I have NO idea why, but oh well.

We like this car for one main reason: the SIZE!!! Look at this baby!
Now, don't ask me about those model numbers there, I just got this pic off the internet. You think I can tell you the difference between the models?!? I seriously doubt it!

This car is a monster. Our entire family can fit in this car, including a yaya and maybe a driver....if Japa or I decide to let someone else drive it, hehehe. And the trunk space, oh the trunk space! Can someone say HUGE?

Another great thing about the suburban is, even if it runs on regular gas (as opposed to diesel), the engine is a technological wonder: if the car thinks your driving doesn't deserve a V-8 engine, it'll switch down to a 4-cylinder one! Cool huh? Yes, I listen to the salesperson's explanations you know! So aside from the size, the fuel-efficient engine is a definite plus.

The major downside to getting the Suburban? The PRICE!!! Ack!

3. Last car we're considering is the Hyundai Starex:

Not a winner in terms of looks, but man is it roomy inside! Even the back seats can move forward OR backward, depending on how much leg room you want! That is a major plus in favor of this car! The second row can also swivel...look at how much room this van has! Comfortable seats 8, maybe 9, but I count 8 seatbelts, how about you?

The starex has some great trunk space as well, which is what we're looking for, ultimatel y. With the kids' activities, they've got mountains of stuff they need to stuff in the trunk: Raine's taekwondo equipment (helmet, pads), Rogan's guitar for Kids' Band, and the kids' swimming stuff: fins, pull buoys, goggles, towels, toiletries....and the list goes on.

So there you have it. What car would YOU choose?

Health Test Results Are In

I picked up the test results for my blood work and my nerve tests today and........

My blood results all indicate that I am one very HEALTHY individual!!! Sure, considering my weight and my size, ALL my doctors here automatically assume that I have diabetes and high cholesterol at the very least. HMP!!!! In their faces! Hahahaahahaha!

I am so healthy, all my numbers are right smack in the middle of all reference ranges. That's how healthy I am! On the inside at least. Let's not go into back problems for now please, hehehe.

My fasting sugar? Normal.
Triglycerides? Normal.
Good cholesterol? Normal.
Bad cholesterol? Normal.
Hemoglobin count? Normal.
White blood cells? Normal.
Thryoid stuff - TSH, T3, T4? Normal.
Creatinine? Normal.
Potassium? Normal.
Sodium? Normal.

Normal, normal, normal! So at least I have a baseline of sorts for when I get older. Hehehehe. At 39, I guess I *better* have baseline numbers for reference!!!

To "celebrate", I ordered a very very BAD thing when Japa and I had lunch at Chili's. I had my old favorite: country fried steak. Yum yum yum!!! I *was* thinking of going healthy and ordering a salad just to feel good, but what the heck! I totally went for the steak and I did NOT regret it! It was sooooooo delcioso!!! Lip-smackin' good, literally!

Hey, I'm entitled!!! :)

Working Productively

.....or so I hope :). I've been working steadily on a number of things here at the Site and am taking a break. Storage areas, airconditioners, personnel, uniforms, maintenance equipment......a whole gamut of stuff! Sigh! But hey, I'm enjoying myself actually. Sort of.

Thank goodness we have internet here in the office now; at least I can take a break every now and then to check on email, download stuff, and update my blog :) Yup, somehow when my CTs decide to come out with new products, they more or less come at the same time and I have to download everything! At least that can be done in the background while I type away at Excel and Word.

And Photoshop in a few minutes, yeah! No, not to scrap, well sort of not to scrap in the truest sense of the word. I AM scrapping, but for office stuff. Trying to finish the rate sheets that Boydee wanted out since last year, hehehe. I told him creativity really couldn't be rushed! And it's true. There are times when I *want* and *need* to scrap but if there's no mojo, there's no mojo. It can't be forced! I've spent hours trying to WILL the creativity to come, but it's a useless exercise, really. Creativity will just come to you, yes?

Nerve Test

Nerve test? Sounds scary eh? Medically known as EMG and NCV tests. I *think* those letters mean Electromagnetic and Nerve Conduction Velocity tests. Oooookay. You woozie yet? Don't worry, no blood or anything gory like that. I was just made to lie down ---quite comfortably, too!--- on my back and then on my tummy while the technician put this instrument that looked like a huge battery with 2 short antennae sticking out on top on certain points on my body.

What the thing does is zap some sort of current and measures how my nerves react, their speed and strength. Or something like that. It was relatively painless, but there were some moments when my arm or my leg would jerk hard enough that I was scared I would involuntarily KICK or slap the technician, hehehe. But she was adept at what she was doing and the session went fine.

After the nerves, it was time to test the muscles. A neurologist came in and STUCK ---yup, you read that right!!!--- this uber-thin NEEDLE into whatever part of mybody that had to be tested! If I were leery of needles, I'd probably have fainted in a dead, heavy heap!

As it was, I concentrated (while doing crosswords, mind you) on where the needle was stuck in and tried to imagine what the monitor of the machine looked like. The needles "read" the muscles and translated the reading into sounds. I could hear the sounds and they were very similar to how our baby's heartbeat sounds when they're still in the womb. If it weren't for the dang needle, it would have been cool!

Now I almost screamed for the doctor to take out her needle when she stuck it into my lower back area. Yes, where my slipped discs were. They had asked me where my herniated discs where, but I told them I couldn't remember if it was the right or left side. All I know is that the discs in question were L-3, L-4 and S-1. That's all I could tell the technician and the doctor.

Well I found out soon enough what SIDE waas affected! Ugh! Curled in a fetal position so that the doctor could insert the needle into my back better, I didn't flinch when I felt the needle. But then I started to feel cold with dread when I *FELT* a wave of pain inch slowly from the middle of my spine towards the right side. I wanted to scream and threaten the doctor that if her sticking the needle into my back made my back hurt all over again, I'd sue her ass off! Grrrr!

But of course I didn't. I had to be still as a mouse otherwise that damn needle might break or hit a nerve or something and I'd be in a worse situation than before. Slightly panicky by now, I tensed up when she put the needle on my left side. Thankfully, the wave of dull pain subsided from my right and just sort of kept at bay on the left side. So yeah, it was my right side that my slipped discs affected. Hmp!

On the way to the office, I kept concentrating on and flexing the muscles in my lower back to see if the pain was completely gone. Just to check, hehehe. Thankfully, everything was fine. Whew!

Blood Tests

I woke up bright and early and remembered NOT to eat OR drink.I had to have fasted for 12 hours before having my blood taken for several tests that the doctor had ordered.

So off I went to Medical City, getting there before 9 am. Good thing, too. Apparently, people here really don't like getting up early to do things, in general. While not exactly empty, I was able to put in my request, pay (a whopping P8,000 plus!!!), and do a few crossword puzzles before my number was called.

Five minutes later, with a bandage in the crook of my elbow, I walked out of the lab and straight into Starbucks for much needed nourishment. Like a mocha frap would give so much, hahahaha!

I have a few layouts to share, that I wasn't able to upload yesterday:

SKETCHING LIKE A PRO
SKETCHING POOH
REINDEER PLUTO
PET FOR A WEEKEND

That last layout of Ranger and his pet for the weekend, Pikachu the turtle, was hurriedly done because I had to put photos of Ranger in the class folder detailing what he had done to and for the class pet turtle. If you know me, I totally CHAFED at slapping on just photos on that blank sheet of paper! Hahahahaha! So yes, I layout just HAD to be created specifically for the occasion! :) I think it turned out pretty well :)

Leisurely Sunday

Since we went to mass last night, we enjoyed Sunday morning immensely. Japa rowed in the pool, the kids lounged in their pajamas playing DS, on the computer, watched Monk with me. We stayed in our jammies until we had to get up, shower and get dressed for lunch at La Vista. Grudgingly, at that, hehehehe. None of us wanted to move from our spots!

But I had confirmed that we were going to have lunch in La Vista with Lola, so off we went. A few minutes after lunch, though, we were saying our goodbyes, as we wanted to catch the 1:40 pm showing of Bride Wars. Chicks watching a chick flick: Raegan, Raine, Reese, Zhar and me.

Movie Summary: Liv and Emma are best friends who since childhood have planned every detail of their respective weddings. At the top of their bridal "must have" list: a ceremony at New York's ultimate bridal destination, the Plaza Hotel. Now, at age 26, they're both about to get married; they're about to realize their dreams; and they're about to live happily ever after. Or maybe not. When a clerical error causes a clash in wedding dates--they're now to be married on the same date!--Liv, Emma and their lifelong friendship are put to the ultimate test. Liv, a successful lawyer who is used to getting what she wants, including the perfect job and the perfect man, won't settle for anything less than the perfect wedding she has dreamed of for years. Emma, a schoolteacher who has always been good at taking care of others, but not so much in looking after herself, discovers her inner Bridezilla and comes out swinging when her own dream wedding is imperiled. Now, the two best friends who'd do anything for each other find themselves in a no-holds-barred, take-no-prisoners struggle that threatens to erupt into all-out war.

It was an ok movie. Touching at times, funny for the most part. I could totally see Reese and Raegan as Liv and Emma. Not the fighting part, but the closeness part and the sentimentality part :). I was getting teary-eyed towards the end (apparantly, so was Zhar), but these dang kids looked at us and asked in this incredulous tone, "are you crying?!???" Sheesh! Talk about a real tear-stopper! Hahahahaha!

Scrapping Day

I had the morning all to myself, pretty much. The kids were up early to go to swimming, and Japa went with them. After swimming, they went straight to Kumon, which gave me another hour of peace and quiet in the house, hehehe.

Watching Monk and scrapping, that's pretty much all I did today. That, and getting pissed that my hands are getting numb and all prickly. Not to mention the fact that my thighs are ultra-sensitive to any touch right now. I have NO idea why this is happening....maybe because I'm going to turn 40 this year?!?!? Hehehe. Oh well. I did go see Dra Bitanga yesterday, and she prescribed a nerve test (NCV and EMG) and a plethora of blood work to be done. Talk about everything! Whatever type of blood work you can name, she probably wrote it down!

The doctor did say that there was nothing neurologically wrong with me, as far as she could tell. But because I was complaining of my hands going numb and feeling like they were 6 inches thick and the hypersensitivity of my thighs, she said she was going to recommend the nerve testing for me. She asked me my baseline numbers for cholesterol, thyroid, and other CBC stuff and I told her I didn't have any. Hehehehe. Yup, at almost-40 and I have nothing to show for it! So she whipped out her prescription pad and scribbled all these acronyms for blood tests.

So from thyroid to kidneys and liver and everything in between, she wrote it down. I asked her why my liver, she said it was because of the diet pill I was on now and from before. Hey, a girl has to lose weight somehow, right? Oh and she kept asking me if I had diabetes, to which I said no, I'm just a big gal! Hmp!

Oh well. My numbing hands notwithstanding, I scrapped.

ARMED WITH A SNOWBALL
TOMORROWLAND

TTFN!

TGIF!

Well, this week certainly went by fast!

I multi-tasked: I scrapped while watching Monk. Oh, and I exercised today on the elliptical machine! Yay me! :)

Using some CT stuff (of course!). I have a TON of catching up to do!

MY SONSHINE
ROGAN SLEDDING
BRIC IS 2

Not bad, for a night's work! :)

Maintenance Demo

....at the Columbarium. I spent at least a couple of hours looking at these guys extolling the virtues of a low-speed floor polisher, a high-speed polisher, a wet-dry vacuum, and some garbage bins, among others. I could already tell it was that kind of day, eh? Hehehehhe.

The low-speed polisher was nifty in a way, because it was multi-purpose. We could use it as an everyday polisher for the granite floors in the columbarium, and then, with a change of the brush/polishing head, we could head to the bathrooms to scrub the tiles. With yet another change of brushes, we could scrub clean the outside parts of the columbarium! AND, there was some contraption attached to it that allowed us to squirt some water and soap while the polisher was scrubbing. Cool! :)

While the low-speed was just that, low speed polishing at a mere 175 revolutions per minute, the high-performing high-speed polisher was a champion at 1,500 revolutions per minute! Whoa! And man, could it buff and polish the granite tiles! This is definitely something that we need to buy to make our lobby at the very least looking very spic and span for our clients!

There were lots of fun cleaming stuff to go over. I even considered getting these loooong mops with a 36-inch mophead (!!!) for the house. I saw those being used at La Vista and they helped speed up the dusting. Anyway, I've got a list ready, and I demanded a longer term than 30 days if I was going to spend so much on their equipment. (who the heck knew garbage bins would cost so much???) They gave me 45 days. Ooookay. At least it's more than a month, right? Hehehehe. Every little bit helps!

Days like these...make me want to plan for yet another vacation getaway. How about a trip to Branson, Missouri? :)

Silver Dollar City, the theme park in Branson, sounds kind of like Williamsburg, Virginia. Like Americana stuff, which is always fun to see and experience. The kids will love the many rides there, especially the looping roller coaster and the log ride. The girls are going to have a blast in the crafting area at Silver Dollar City, what with their love for anything and everything artsy.

And where to stay? Seems like Branson has lots of hotels to stay in, from the fancy schmancy ones, to the simple inns. But I love the look the Settle Inn and the Grand Oaks Hotel's suites. Oh oh oh! The kids will fall all over their feet when they learn that the Grand Country Inn has a water park! Hehehe. True water babies, they are!

I'm still on the lookout for family packages for the place. The site lists couple prices only so far, so maybe as we get closer to the summer season in the States, we'll see more family-friendly prices! :)

Ok, enough with the plugging. I scrapped again! Whoohoo! I'm on a roll, so far so good!

SCARED OF MINNIE

TTFN!

US Embassy Bound

We started the day bright and early. Not to mention COLD! We had an appointment at the US Embassy to renew Rogan's passport. Being a minor, he *had* to have BOTH parents present during the interview before they'd actually renew his passport. Sigh! We did try to have it renewed ---expedited, even--- while we were in the States, but there was no way that we could get it in like 5 days, what with the holidays and all. So...here we are, doing it in Manila. :)

The interviews were no problem, actually. It was just the waiting that was the hassle. Our appointment was at 8:50 am, we were supposed to be there half an hour before. Being the punctual people we are, we were there a few minutes before 8 am. We were finally called around 9:15, and the lady at the window asked Rogan a few questions. Like what his real name was, his birthday, his age, the real names of his parents. Good thing we had coached him on that last part, hehehehe. Otherwise, he'd probably be staring at the lady with his mouth wide open!

After that initial interview, we waited a few more minutes before going to another window where another lady told us to raise our right hands to attest that everything we had written in the documents were true and correct. And that was it. Easy peasy. Just the waiting, like I said.

I did ask the second lady if it was okay for the kids to have their own signature on their passports at their ages. She thought about it a little bit and she said of course they could, just as long as they wrote out their full names, and that it was legible. At least the kids can truly say it's *their* passport, hehehe!

From the embassy, both Japa and I were dropped off at work, and Rogan went on to school. We asked him if he had any plans on missing the whole day of school (like I would let him!, hehehe), and he emphatically said, "NO!". Apparently, he had a birthday party during lunch which he didn't want to miss, AND he had Trumpets after school, and there was no way he was going to miss that since he did get a minor part in their play, after all :)

I scrapped a page today!

CHEF MICKEY

Okay, off to watch more episodes of Monk. I sure wish we had a Slingbox...anything would be better than having to contend with skipping DVDs! Not sure if it's the disk itself or maybe it's time to get my DVD player cleaned? Whatever it is, I have to skip some parts of a few episodes just to get some closure of some sort! Hehehehe.

I love Monk :)

Living Up to My Word!

Remember what it was? Yup. WORK.

And that's what I did today, at the site! Whoohoo! Yay me! I was quite productive today, going over sooo many things at the columbarium, the day just flew! Hehehehe! When did that ever happen to me? Uhmm...think never! :)

Sure, there were tons of stuff to catch up on, but I made progress, if I do say so myself. And my body is paying for it. Ugh. It was a looooong drive from the site to home. I had my laptop, unzipping files from a month ago (!!!) and getting dizzy because I was in the car. Sometimes I wish I have an iPhone, mainly for the cool games on it. Games that I like to play like Text Twist. Babaw, I know, but I think that would definitely while away the time, especially when I'm stuck in traffic!

Oh, for my non-local readers, don't worry...I don't drive and text/play. I'm in the back, with a driver up front :) Yes, I like the iPhone, but I tried texting on the darned thing, and it just won't work with fingernails, you know? Pet peeve for sure! I mean really, is this phone just for guys?!? Hmp! Another pet peeve is the fact that I can only use the iPhone here with Globe. Not that I like the competitors for cellphone service (I hate hate HATE and ABHOR Smart!!!), but I don't want anyone limiting my choice, you know? Pet peeve number 3 is that this phone is pretty expensive here! I would sooooo love to buy this phone in the States where it's cheaper, but then I'd need an unlocked phone when I got here just so I can use it here. Think of the hassle! Sheesh!

Oh well. I did see on TV, when this reporter was at the recent electronics show in Las Vegas, there was a phone that was going to go against the iPhone (Samsung, I think? Not sure). The cool thing that stuck in my mind was that you can actually use your fingerNAILS to text on it! Hehehehe. Now THAT is how you market to women! But then again, I don't like Samsung phones. Picky, I know. :)

Another cool thing that was featured was this tiny laptop that can fit in a clutch! Tres chic, no? That'd be very cool to have...but then again, maybe I'd have to have my eyes operated on if the screen were too small! I guess you can't please everyone! :)

Ok, enough wishing and ranting. Monk is calling me! :)

Another Scrapped Page!

I *knew* all I had to do was scrap that first page! Hehehe. Tickled my creative juices that's for sure! I spent the early morning downloading some CT kits and I came up with this:

IF ALL THE SNOWFLAKES

And the words? From Barney the purple dinosaur, of course! It was just perfect for my photos! The kids were so excited to have some snowfall that day, they were sticking out their tongues trying to taste the snow! Take note, they were so busy sticking their tongues out, they were tripping over their own feet! Hehehehe.

Mom, if you're reading this, know that I've already ordered Dad's Transport Chair and his nebulizer. The chair's the same as his current one. I wanted the "suv" chair, the ones with the 12" wheels, but the arms probably wouldn't go under dining tables. Like Dad would be seated at a table with him being fed on a Peg tube for now! I just thought about that! Oh well.
The nebulizer I chose was a new portable one. And it is tiny, weighing less than 3 pounds, I think. But the motor is relatively new, and very quiet. And the best thing is, treatment time is cut into half because of it's ultrasonic capability....or something like that, hehehe.

Hey, at least if we're traveling together, the kids can use that, too! Best to nebulize and pre-empt any and all sort of throwing up on the sofas, Kohler sinks, toilets, wooden floors, etc., right? Ugh. Just thinking of what all the kids have gone through because of asthma and allergies just gives me the shivers, hehehe. Blech!

After work, I went to the grocery store. Again. But this time it was for La Vista; I had called Marivic to go on ahead and fill the carts with must-need stuff only. So that when I got there, all I'd have to do was pay. And as luck would have it, Rustan's looked like it was newly-stocked, too! I quickly grabbed some Tostitos that weren't there a few days earlier and checked out. My lips were a-smacking as they anticipated the taste of those Lime flavored chips! Yummmmm!!!

Ok....off to start my Monk marathon for the night....

I Finally Got to Scrapping!!!

Can you feel the excitement, can you? Can you?

All I can say is: ahhhhhhhhhh!!!! It feels soooooo good to be able to scrap again! FINALLY! Not the greatest layout that ever came out of Photoshop, but hey, it's a page DONE!!! Whoohooo! Yay me!

TOGETHER-CHRISTMAS EVE

Good thing Nina of Nina's Scraps Designs came out with an SOS in our google groups for layouts for her new kit, Simply Together, which is coming soon. I told myself I had to DO something since I hadn't produced a page in more than a month (!!!). It was a start, and I knew all I had to do was start (and finish) a page for me to get my scrapping mojo going.

Sure enough, I could feel the creative juice flowing, and I was actually looking at pictures and kits to scrap with! Unfortunately, this had to be short-lived as we had to go to Ayala for lunch, and then later, left the house for an early dinner to celebrate JR's birthday at Coral Garden (yummm!)

But at least, I got a page scrapped, and I'm happy!

Going to A Wedding

It took me 15-20 minutes to put on my make up. And 40 minutes or so to go through my closet looking for something suitable to wear to the wedding of RanRan and Michelle. Sigh! I was adamant that I was NOT going to be wearing a dress! I swear, I hate getting dressed for events like these! I finally pounced on a chinese-inspired blazer...which I initially paired with a long, slimming black embroidered skirt. But, there was a looong slit in the front which showed some leg. Leg that was unshaven (sorry for that much information, hehehehe). And being the stubborn person I am, I did NOT want to wear a pair of nylons. Uh-uh. No thank you!

I vainly searched for a pair of black pants that looked at least a little bit dressy. Finally, Shirley brought out a pair that I had forgotten about. But it was just HUGE on me! Japa was getting antsy and irritated---we were definitely running late here--- so I grabbed it and put it on. After 3-4 safety pins at the waist, I was ready.

I grabbed a pair of low-heeled sequined mules, slipped them on and trotted to the door. And almost fell flat on my back! The damn soles on the heel were missing!!! I guess that's what happens when you haven't worn some shoes for a long time, hehehe. I tried looking for another pair, but in the interest of time, I told Japa to forget it. He'd have to hang on to me if we'd walk on a slippery surface.

The wedding was going to start at 7 pm. We left the house at 7 pm. Can you see my sheepish face now? Hehehe. Plus, Dic had just called some 10 minutes earlier to say that it was traffic on the way to the Forbes church! Grrrr! But luck was with us, and as it turns out, the wedding had started at 715 pm; there was a regularly scheduled parish mass from 530-630pm, so by the time the church was cleared of non-wedding people, it was closer to 7 pm. By the time the entire entourage had walked down the aisle and the bishop started the mass, it was 715.

Japa and I got to the church at 735, walking in in the middle of the First Reading. Yes! We had made it! Hehehehe. The mass was anticipated; luckily, we had told Coset to take the kids to mass tonight at 7 pm just so we wouldn't have to worry about getting them up tomorrow morning.

The reception was at the Polo Club. And no, mother dear, if you're reading this, I was NOT underdressed at all! I fit in just fine, and I was ecstatic that Tita Tinggoy had proxied for you as Ninang. I could not even FATHOM getting myself into one of those sequined long gowns that the principal sponsors were wearing! Ugh! Thank goodness for Tita Ting! :)

Obviously, with the mass starting at 715 pm, dinner started at around 9 pm. Grrr! Good thing Japa was smart enough to bring a couple of Snicker bars, which he passed around our table to silence our growling stomachs. The menu looked pretty good and filling. It was just that by the time the entrees were served, it was past 11 pm! Sheesh! Everyone at our table was itching to get home, but I refused to leave without dessert, hehehe. After scarfing down the mango crepes, we were ready to leave.

Not wanting to draw too much attention to our table, which was one of the MIDDLE tables, we left discreetly, one by one, or in pairs. Lai and I stayed the latest, wanting to see RanRan dance with Michelle. Then we stood up and walked towards the exit.

And of COURSE I was stopped by at least 3 people wanting to say hi and asking about Dad. Waaaaaah! It always always ALWAYS happens in times like this!!!! I rushed into some sort of explanation, giving the information in as few words as possible, but enough to satisfy. I thanked them profusely for all their prayers and inched towards the exit. And safety.

A little bit past midnight, and we were home. Finally. What a wedding! I think going to a late wedding will be on my list of things NOT to do in the future!

Feast of The Black Nazarene

Today is the feast of the Black Nazarene. On TV, the streets from Laguna to Quiapo were PACKED with people! As in! There was this moving, squirming throng of people that led the Black Nazarene float; it was just jaw-dropping to see the amount of people packed in such a small space. Towels were being thrown up to the people with the statue, who'd wipe the statue with them, then throw the towels back down to the throng.

From Wikipedia:

The Black Nazarene is a life-sized, dark-colored, wooden sculpture of Jesus Christ held to be miraculous by many people, especially its Filipino devotees. Its original carver is an anonymous Aztec carpenter, and the image was transported by galleon from Mexico. The image is currently enshrined in the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila where novena celebrations are held every Friday throughout the whole year. Roman Catholic tradition holds that the Black Nazarene came from a boat that caught fire, turning it from its original white into black or charred complexion. The Black Nazarene is carried into the streets for procession in a "Caroza" or carriage.

Check out this awesome photo by Marvin Maning:


I later learned that the statue was forcefully diverted to go to Quiapo instead of following some new route the bishops and priests had planned. Apparently, many rich Chinese had paid the people leading the Black Nazarene to do this. It is considered lucky (read that as "fortune will come to") if the Black Nazrene passes by your house, luckier if it faces your house, and luckiest if the statue is made to bow or nod towards your house!

Yup, learning something new everyday, I say!

Tummy Ache

Well what do you know? A day AFTER I had proclaimed to the blogging world about my word for the year (which was WORK), I don't show up at the office! I've got some weird tummy ache making me feel queasy with this niggling pain inside. I have no idea what caused it, but it's not a very comfortable feeling at all. Ugh.

I made myself get up to go to the grocery. Our pantry is bare. Our ref and freezer are practically bare. Sigh. No choice, really. And I spent P18,000 for groceries! No junk food, too! Yikes! Sigh and double sigh.

The worldwide economic meltdown isn't as felt here as in the States, but the prices HAVE gone up, especially on some basic food commodities. Spam is at P110, up from either P98 or P102. A can of sardines is P35, up from P28. Noodles have probably gone up, too, but these are the 2 notable ones that I remember. Oh, cooking oil inched up as well, at P399 per gallon, up from P379. And chicken! Breast has gone up from P124 to P137!!!

Oh well. My family has to eat, so I filled up 2 carts' worth of "basic" food items. :) Of *COURSE* there's noodles, spam, vienna sausage, sweet ham, chicken popcorn and hotdogs. Hehehe. MSG and all sorts of preservatives anyone?

Our new cook isn't all that great. Passable, but nothing great. She can cook basic dishes, but Japa's not all that happy with her. I told him to give it some time, for her to be able to read and learn new dishes. Soooo, I called Melinda and asked her to cook some siomai, chicken tocino, hamburgers, and beef tapa for me. I willingly shelled out an additional P2,500 for everything, plus a little bit of something for her trouble. At least my freezer will be stocked with something edible, hehehe.

Work

WORK.

This will probably be my word for the year, if I can help myself. Surprised? Sure, me too, hehehehe. I want to be able to say that I worked my behind off this year. Ok, not to strain myself just thinking about it, how about saying that I want to be able to pull my weight at work? Sounds good, I think.

And as proof, here I sit, in the office, a day after I arrive. Not bad eh? What greets me? A mound of paperwork, and another mound of checks to sign. I feel like I'm grappling on where to start, it's been more than a month since I've actually done anything work-related! Yikes!

Ok, enough blogging for now. I've got work to do! Hehehe. But I soooo wish I can scrap! Waaaaah! It's been AGES since I've opened up Photoshop!

Maybe tonight. Yeah, right. :)

Good to Be Home

We were a tad delayed because of all the snow in Vancouver. Before we could even leave the ground, it took at least 45 minutes to de-ice the roads! Man!

The flight was uneventful, having way less turbulent pockets than the first leg to Vancouver. The kids were asleep most of the way, thank goodness! So was I actually, hehehe.

As we neared Manila though, I made sure to drink some coffee. I knew I had to do the reviewers of the kids and I couldn't spend most of the day asleep from jet lag could I? And that was how the morning went: me on my laptop hurriedly typing, and the kids, after a shower and a brief respite, hit the books. Ranger was whisked off by his yaya (yay!!!) so that he wouldn't disturb his siblings.

I am sooo looking forward to sleeping on our own bed. It has a NEW memory foam topper. Four inches this time around, which Japa brought home with him to air it out. It is nice and thick and just oh-so-comfy to sit and lie on!!! Our old 2-inch topper was cut in half and the girls each had one, which made them happy, hehehe.

It's been a long day, but at least everything's done. The kids are off to school tomorrow and are already asleep. I'd best try and get some shut eye, too, just so jet lag won't be so hard to get over.

Ta-ta!

Bye, Vegas! and A Snowed in Airport

All good things must come to an end. I leisurely packed when I got up, finishing up 1.5 suitcases while the kids were asleep. While they were taking showers, I threw everything in the washing machine and started packing the comforters, the sheets, the towels. In a frenzy? Not really. Just trying to be methodical about the entire packing thing. So nope, no panic. Yet. Hahahaha!

Good thing we had gone to church yesterday. We had the house to ourselves and I was able to pack continuously (in between yelling at the kids to hurry and to pick up after themselves!). Everyone else attended the 1130 am mass. A little bit before 1 pm, Boydee called to ask if we were going to eat out. I told him I was planning on taking the kids for one last time at CiCi's Pizza just so they can stuff themselves, hehehehe. Besides, they LOVE pizza! I was just waiting for a car.

So everyone dropped of Mom and Dad at home, picked us up, and off we went. And man, did the kids (any myself, of course) have fun. Love all the pizza selections, but I especially love the pizza bread and the sticky buns! Yummmm! Yes, not exactly great for my (forever) diet, but that's what my trusty diet pills are for, eh? Hehehe. I never leave home without them, or in this case, I never start the day without popping one in my mouth! They seem to work, since I don't think I've gained any weight at all over the holidays. Crossing my fingers that I lost at least a couple of pounds, though! I know, with all the pizza-stuffing we've done this trip (three times!), it'll be a WONDER that I don't gain any weight!

While we enjoyed our lunch, no one thought of the time. When next I looked at my watch, it was 130 pm and I had said that I wanted to leave by 2 pm!!! Yikes! We rushed out of CiCi's and headed for home. I literally threw everything that was out into our handcarry bags; thank God the boys were there to make sure my last few bags were within the prescribed weight limit and Roc hurriedly heated up sausages and rice for the kids to take on the plane.

Yes, I always take food for the kids. Never know what the airline will serve. At least this way, I know they'll have something to eat for sure, especially picky Ranger!

As we neared Vancouver, the pilot announced 3 or 4 times that the Vancouver airport was closed. Oookay. I thought we weren't going to be able to land because of the apparently heavy snowfall in Vancouver. Luckily, as we got closer to our destination, we did land because the snow had stopped.

We disembarked from the plane to this:
Look at all that snow! We were lucky that the snow HAD stopped, otherwise we'd be looking at spending the night at the airport! And with 4 kids to contend with, I wasn't looking forward to that possibility at all!

At the airport, the kids ate and then started to review for their exams. Hehehe. Yup. Can anyone say CRAMMING?!?!

Packing Like a Madwoman Possessed

Um yup. I had to pack, pack and pack some more until I fill up close to 11 bags and/or boxes to take home to Manila when we leave on the 4th. With Japa gone, I was like a madwoman possessed...seriously! All I could think of was that I had a day and a half MAX to do everything: packing, laundry, storing our stuff so Roc could move into the room.

*very loud sigh here*

Thank goodness the kids could pretty much fend for themselves, with the older ones taking care of Ranger, seeing to it that he was bathed, clothed and fed, hehehehe. Whew!

Everything the kids got for Christmas were folded into suitcases and boxes. Used clothes in the hamper, ready to be thrown in the washing machine tomorrow. Winter clothes --- the jacket, sweater, vest, gloves, cap, beanie, etc of each family member --- all went in two under-the-bed storage thingies that Roc will probably put in the garage.

My mail? Oh goodness, my mail! Hehehehe. I have NO time to go through everything, so that'll be crammed into my laptop bag just so I won't forget to look at them.

Good think I like to pack (it's the UNpacking that I hate), otherwise I'd be hating life right now. Of course, it would have helped if my dear husband knew how to pack, but for you travelers out there, here's a direct quote from him: "Seventy pounds is seventy pounds, no matter how you pack it."

Uh, yeah, right. *roll eyes*. Should I say typical guy? With the exception of Dic, all my brothers are lousy and useless packers. No one took after Dad except Dic and me, sheesh! Good thing my brothers married people who are excellent packers! And I'm not saying that lightly, either! Bang's pretty good (although I have yet to see one of her "creations"). Lai learned from Dic, and she does a pretty good job. Stella sure knows how to stuff anything and everything that needs to go in the box or suitcase; she finds every available space there is! Zhar I've heard can pack pretty well too (she has to, knowing how Rod abhors packing!).

So, yeah, I'm in good company......but I've got 3 more suitcases to go!!! That'll be tomorrow's project (like I have a choice---we leave tomorrow afternoon)!