Happy Birthday Page!

Page1stBday
Originally uploaded by Pinipi.

My inaanak (godchild)Page celebrated her first birthday last Saturday with a luau party :0)

I'm amazed at how fast time flies. I can clearly remember cradling a 2-week old Page... and now, she's practically a teen ager! hehe

I'm a lil sad coz I just realized that when I'm far away already, I won't have the same ringside seat to her growing-up years.

Oh-well.

DAY 2

Can't be heroic for 2 days in arow, that's why I arrived at the clinic at 7.30AM. I was ready to wait the whole day as long as I get a decent sleep :0P

Today involves completing my immunization and waiting for my records to be released.

I was already settling down for a long wait when the Immunization Room opened. And wonders of wonder (but to the dismay of all those who came before me), I was the first one called for immunization! Turned out it wasn't first come, first served this time around, but whoever gets all their records sent up first. Guess I was the lucky one :0)

I dreaded being poked again but I have no choice. Was anticipating getting only one shot, but when I can't point out any lingering sign of my bout with chicken pox, I got another shot as a bonus :0P Now, both my arms are feeling sore.

After that, I just waited for my records. Turned out, I get only the X-ray film and the immunization sheet. All other results will be forwarded to the embassy for my interview.

I was done and out of there by quarter to 10AM.

With the whole medical exam over with and with no unnecessary delays, I feel lighter. Now, at least I only have the interview to worry about :0P

Day 1 down, Day 2 to go...

Finally finished with the first day of my US Immigration Medical Exam. Timeframe: From 4.40am to 11.15am.

I'm crossing my fingers that all results are what they should be (meaning A-OK) so that there will be no more unnecessary delays.

Details to come as I am already cross-eyed with sleep.

***

Got there at 4.40AM (yup, as in before the cock crows :0P). Was feeling proud of myself until I saw the loong line of people already there. Turned out, at that freakin' hour, I'm number 74! Can you believe that?

Spent most of my time sitting down and waiting for my name to be called. Out of almost 6 hours spent in the clinic, probably 5 hours were spent waiting, the remaining hour spent filling out forms, giving out samples of my body fluids and getting interviwed, checked and poked all over.

The most dreaded part, the physical exam, was actually anti-climactic. The MD asked a couple of questions I've been anticipating and spent less than five minutes examining me. Stripping took a lot longer than the physical exam itself :0P

All in all, it was OK. And Im thankful that Im finally done with it.

Constantine and updates

Watched Constantine last night with my siblings and my cousins. The movie awakened the innate Catholic school girl in me. I felt a lil uncomfortable about the plot and all its implications. Kinda like the way I felt while reading the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons.

Sometimes I really have a hard time reconciling faith and logic.

***

Went in a flurry of updating. I'm that anal that I blog about past events for posterity and organization's sake :0P



You can see from the pictures the range of emotions not to mention the fun I had during my bridal shower last December 17. Click HERE for a full account of that night :0)

While THIS will direct you to a rehash of the first Christmas Eve spent with my babe.

And you can find a (wholesome) collage of memories taken during our Tagaytay honeymoon HERE.

PRC and little blessings

I'm a valid Professional once again.

Finally got around to renewing my PRC ID. It just took me under an hour. And will be able to claim my ID next week.

The only hassle was walking almost 3 blocks in the noontime heat because the FX I rode decided to change its route. And it was really a hassle. According to the Plaza Miranda giant digital thermometer, it was 34 degrees Celsius out, jus 4 degrees shy of a fever :0P

***

Almost a month ago, I had lunch with friends in a Manila mall and misplaced a paperbag containing a newly bought bottle of the perfect tinted moisturizer (for me at least) (costing me P1200) and my favorite pair of sunglasses. I wasn't sure where exactly I left it, at the kiosk where we bought desserts or at the net cafe where I surfed after lunch. Inquiries to both places yielded nothing so I gave it up for lost but not without beating myself up for being so forgetful and careless. I couldn't shell out another P1,200 for the moisturizer so I comforted myself by buying a pair of sunglasses exactly like the ones I lost.

This morning, I went to the same net cafe before going to PRC. And was I surprised when the clerk recognized me and asked if I was the one looking for a paper bag before. I said yes and described the bag and its contents to her. Lo and behold, she took the bag from under the counter and gave it to me! Inside were my still-sealed tinted moisturizer and my old pair of sunglasses. I asked her where they found it but she was quite evasive about it. But it's not important anymore. What's important is the fact that I got it back :0)

Now, I have 2 pairs of my favorite sunglasses and a full bottle of the perfect tinted moisturizer. I'm really thankful for little blessings :0)

meant to be... mine

My closet is full of red tops, skirts and pants in varying shades. From the bright red of a Chinese lantern, to the deep red of fresh blood to the burgundy shade of wine. I also have 6 pairs of red shoes in the same varying shades. Plus the necessary accessories and bags that goes with the shoes and clothes.

I don't remember the exact moment I fell in love with the color red. But I do remember my first purchase of this dramatic color -- a pair of red flat sandals in a very simple design. Wearing it made me feel very special. That time, shoes came in mostly black, brown, blue and the usual pastel colors during summer. It was rare to see anyone sporting such a bright color on their feet.

I was hopelessly in love with red that everyday seemed like Valentine's Day for me. It came to the point that people at work started calling me Red and friends/family started associating me with the color.

Now that the local market becomes more and more courageous, I find myself consciously shying away from my beloved color and widening my horizons with other jewel tones (though I still salivate after beautifully crafted things in the red). To the point that I actually can't remember the last red item I bought for myself.

(Oh wait, now I remember. It was that pair of faded red jeans with the big pockets at the back.)

And then, I saw this...


It was love at first sight.

Comfy enough to travel in. Sexy if I feel like it and yet demure (and warm enough) for elegant family dinners. It moves with me and molds my body, highlighting the positive and graciously concealing the negatives. It's trendy enough for today's scene and yet classic enough for the next five years or so.

Plus it's RED!

All that in a two-piece top with a price that has been slashed to almost half of the original one.

But was it really meant to be mine?

So trying to adhere to a promise made to myself not so long ago, I left the top hanging in the store. I told myself to sleep on it to better decide if I really wanted it. If it's really worth buying. And if I find it still there waiting for me the second time around, then it was meant to be.

(Crap, I know. But buying a red top is serious business for me.)

From the picture above, it was obviously meant to be mine:0)

Happy V-day!!

14 (out of a million) reasons why Mr. A is my Dreamboy:

1. He tells me everything.
2. He's my best friend.
3. He makes me laugh.
4. He massages my feet after a long day.
5. He buys me lipstick -- in a color that flatters me :0)
6. He brushes my hair after I shower.
7. He dances for me.
8. He serenades me.
9. He makes me feel like the most beautiful woman on earth.
10. He accepts me for who and what I am.
11. He encourages my interests.
12. He believes in me.
13. He treats me like a princess...
14. And loves me like a queen.

Thanks for the bear, the flowers and the chocolates babe! I love you!

***

Yup. I watched the movie. (Can't you tell? hehe)

And I enjoyed it ;0)

There's just something about Pinoy romantic comedies that comforts me.

***


I spent Valentine's Day in bed... alone and in my jammies.

On second thought, I wasn't alone. I had Missy, the crying bear (pictured above) and Jerry, the skinny pig, in bed with me.

Even had lunch in bed. Called for pizza and split it with my baby bro.

I whiled away time by reading and sleeping. And waiting for the phone call that would make my day.

The 3-hour conversation with my hubby made my Valentine's day near perfect :0)

(Only his presence can make anything perfect.)

***

Palawan... remains a dream :0P

Turned out we need to reserve a week before to get the PALAKBAYAN package of PAL. The thing is, I'm going with a couple and the guy's scheduled to fly back to the UK on Sat. So, the plans just fizzled out.

Oh well.

But I still retain that thrilling sense of freedom and luxury hehe :0)

***

But this scares the hell out of me.

I guess this just hits too close to home. I could have been in that bus. Any of my family could have been in that bus.

I'm thankful that it wasn't us. But really sad and angry and confuse that it has to happen.

I love my life!

I take back everything I said about being all play and no work.

After all, there is a thrilling sense of freedom and luxury to be able to say yes and go to Palawan at a moment's notice :0)

(Ok, ok. It's actually 4 days notice. But believe me, to all corporate slaves out there, that's barely a moment's notice!)

Can't wait for next week!

TAR 6

Such a shame Cris&Jon didn't win. But at least the winners were nice. That Aaron is so sweet!

thinking out loud

Been a while since I've done any introspection. All I've been able to do was jot down the details of my not-so-exciting life :0P But reading her take on friendships that have come and gone made me stop and think.

I'm real proud of the fact that I make friends easily and I've kept a lot of the friendships I've made through the years. Thinking about it, I view lost friendships as a failure on my part.

It's only lately that I've realized the fact that people do change, and unfortunately there are times when these changes make them grow apart from you and you from them. Maybe these people have already played their role in your life. Maybe you have already played your role in their lives. Whatever, it's better to just say thank you and move on.

I've been trying to hold on to some friendships just for old times sake. But with this realization, I think it would be wiser to just let go rather than exert futile effort in keeping up pretenses.

***

I feel so dirty.

I stooped to levels lower than I've ever stooped before.

Today, I became a hypocrite.

Yup, I played the game of bureaucracy that I've always ranted about. I used (monetary) power to get ahead. And left dozens and dozens of people who can't afford to pay, eating my dust.

I used a fixer in renewing my very expired driver's license. I paid double the usual amount to have my ID card in less than 3 hours.

Seriously, I am ashamed of myself.

***

Here's one more thing to be ashamed of:

I succumbed (again) to the call of the shops.

Bought a pair of capri pants that would be perfect for spring and 2 tanktops to pair with it. Also bought a multicolored tanktop that goes well with my rainbow sandals. And 2 yummy chocolate tops :0)

I promise that this is gonna be the last time I'll indulge myself (for this month at least). Though, come to think about it, I really have no choice coz my personal funds are dwindling.

Guess it's goodbye to the Happy Feet I was planning to buy and to the sequined flats that was calling out my name.

So many shops, so little money.

Sigh. This is the tragedy of the unemployed kikay :0P

needin change

Feelin lost again. Im gettin bored w/ the easy life. All play and no work make me dull.

no damage done

I'm ok.

Was lucky enough to find an opthalmologist that night I got my contact lens stuck in my right eye. She got it out without any difficulty. Big relief really. I thought I would be meeting Mr.A on the first week of April (keeping my fingers crossed :0))with a big red eye patch on my right eye hehe :0D

Thank God again for little blessings because I got out of that incident unscathed. No pain, no infection whatsoever. Just a mild headache, probably caused by my paranoia about being blind :0P

a not so ordinary day

Just when I thought that today's not worth blogging about, I went and stuck a part of my contact lens in my right eye.

I have 3/4 of the torn contact lens in my hand and I can feel the missing 1/3 somewhere at the topmost part of my eyeball.

I think I need medical help.

It has been a very long day.

My day started when I gave up trying to sleep at 3.30am this morning. I kept having these weird dreams where I apply and reapply for a marriage certificate just to be denied again and again. Guess it's now obvious what's on my mind :0P

At 7.30am, I called the NSO number given to me and was told to proceed to NSO-EDSA in Quezon City and to bring my personal copy of our marriage certificate.

It was a very good thing that my day started early since I had to get my documents from the travel agency in UN Ave. in Manila before I can proceed to NSO-QC.

Kuya Ed from the travel agency asked me if I really wanted to be the one to do this. He told me that he could do it later this week. I told him that it was ok and I had nothing better to do. What I didn't tell him was that I don't want a repeat of my weird dreams last night:0P He warned me of the long lines that would surely await me. Well, waiting is a small price to pay for my peace of mind.

So off I went to NSO Quezon City. I arrived there at exactly 1pm. Although Kuya Ed already warned me, I was still surprised at the volume of people there. There was also no sense of organization. You just give your documents to the guard, who in turn endorses it to the people inside the office (you can't enter the office). There was no line, no numbers. The guard doesn't even give you anything to hold on to to prove that you gave your documents to him. In essence, you just wait there until you hear your name called.

I had to stand while waiting since the benches in the wait area could only accommodate about 15 people (of my size :0P). Two hours and 2 bottles of 500ml mineral water later (it was freaking hot!), they finally released our marriage certificate in security paper. My 2-hour wait was still a blessing because the lady I talked to told me that she was there since 9am in the morning! Thank you Lord for little blessings :0)

Now, I just want to go home and sleep.

test post

im posting this thru my mobile fone. Cool huh?!

NSO, you're breaking my heart.

I was in such a euphoric mood but the National Statistics Office had to go and dampen my mood.

The travel agency taking care of my passport amendment updated me that our marriage certificate has not been released yet. I've been waiting for that certificate to be released since December! What the hell is happening?!

Finding out that our marriage of 8 months (then)was not yet in NSO's registry was a disappointment. But since we couldn't do anything about it, my husband and I followed what they required us to do and secured a copy of the transmittal slip from the local civil registrar where our marriage was registered. We (the travel agency, in essence) were told to wait two weeks after submission of the transmittal slip. When the two weeks passed, we were told to wait another week. After yet another week, all they have to give us was a number to call for another follow-up.

I don't know the problem. I can't understand why the government agency boasting of their SERBILIS service is being very inefficient. My passport amendment is being delayed because of them. Our immigrant petition was delayed 2 months (and counting) because of them.

I am gonna be calling that number the moment office hours start. I can't take this waiting anymore.

answered prayer

Thank you Lord for this blessing!

I received my K3 packet in the mail, informing me that my visa interview will be on March 31 2005! At long last, the end of our waiting is in sight :0)

It has done wonders to my emotional and physical well-being to finally have a concrete schedule. The hardest part about waiting is not knowing how long the wait will be and being as anal as I am, it has been doubly frustrating for me. But now, I can finally plan my life again ;0)

I know that the next two months will pass by in a blur. And I'm looking forward to doing everything I hope to do before I finally say farewell to the land of my birth.

I'm keeping a positive view on all this but keeping me in your prayers will be a big help:0)

testing audioblogger

making memories of manila -- a partial list

As I was ranting to a friend about my frustrations regarding staying here until summer, she reminded me to enjoy Manila while I'm still here.

And to get me going, she sent me a partial list. I have edited her list to suit me and will make a complete list soon...

1. Visit Fort Santiago
2. Visit Corregidor
3. Visit the Black Nazarene at Quiapo (and my old haunts selling beads and crystals)
4. Eat BBQ at Beach House, UP Diliman
5. Eat seafood at Dampa
6. Go through the shopping district of Divisoria
7. Have mass at Baclaran (Visiting Baclaran will be an ode to my college self -- she of the well-worn sneakers and jeans, who can elbow her way with the best of them through the rush-hour crowd of LRT.)
8. Have dessert at Chocolate Kiss, UP Diliman
9. Visit Manila Zoo
10. Window shop at Harrison Plaza (my tambayan during my short stint as a medrep)
11. Browse through Solidaridad bookstore (and maybe buy for myself the whole Rosales saga of F. Sionil Jose... and have it autographed if I'm lucky!)
12. Have dessert at Hizon's, J. Bocobo
13. Visit Malacanang

(Will try to do as much as I can of the things on your list Tessa-girl... Thanks for reminding me of my chance to do this before I leave. I really appreciate it :0) )

Happy Birthday Zoe!

DCP_1518
Originally uploaded by Pinipi.

This is Zoe, my nephew. He turned 1 last January 26 but we celebrated his birthday today.

And what a celebration we had! There was all-you can eat, pink, fluffy cotton candy. Lots of dirty ice cream in cups and sugar cones, and even a face painter to draw temporary tatoos of your favorite cartoon character. There's the usual magic tricks and a very entertaining puppet show with a talented ventriloquist.

There were two buffet tables, one for adults and one for kids. My cousins and I gravitated towards the kids' buffet -- sweet spaghetti, crispy fried chicken, cocktail hotdogs-and-mallow kebabs and mini burgers without the veggies:0) It was comfort food for every kid (and kid-at-heart).

Games were also abundant with showers of prizes. Adults and kids alike enjoyed the 2 pabitin and the pinata.

And for a very cheery goodbye and thank you, lots and lots of goodie bags containing candies and little toys were given out together with a souvenir CD of a Barney episode.

I passed over the Barney CD but got 2 loot bags for myself. After all, no one is too old for candy :0)