working wounded

GM LP, Part 2

2008-09-17T15:41:00.001+08:00

I mentioned some posts ago that LP's a bit of a chess player, and that her school's got a talent development program that exposes the children to different activities such as ballet, tae-kwon-do, chess, among others. First and second graders are exposed to an activity every month. LP's most recent stint was in chess.

She recounted how funny the first day of chess was, that her classmates called the bishop "priest" and the rook, "tower"and that capturing pieces was akin to "eating" them.

Then she told me how her she was the best player in class and that none of the kids wanted to go against her. Not once did she lose a match, and the teacher herself was surprised at LP's moves, specifically, the castle and en passant.

"Fritz taught me," LP replied when her teacher asked who taught her such moves. "I play with Fritz in the laptop all the time."

I had initially dismissed Fritz as too advanced for me, let alone a child. Turns out my chess skills are pathetic compared to LP's. She had also complained that Fritz was always beating her in chess. Now I realize that the beating she was getting from Fritz was way better training than playing with me (one semester of chess in college) or her peers.

So now the pressure's on me to nurture LP's talent. First tae-kwon-do, now chess.

This single mom's got a lot on her hands.

LP's birthday, part 2

2008-06-18T11:12:00.004+08:00

The perenially broke mother that I am, I had to figure out how to celebrate LP's birthday without taking out another salary loan. I had initially thought about getting three dozen doughnuts (again) from Krispy Kreme, which meant another Php 700 or so. Then I thought, why not just buy ready-made cupcakes and ice them a la Sonja's cupcakes? It shouldn't cost me more than 500 bucks! And since the nuns at LP's school seriously forbade birthday celebrations in the classroom, that meant I didn't have to feed the entire second grade and faculty.

So that's what I did, bought 6 packs of 10 cupcakes each (Regent, you know, the assorted pack that consists of pandan, ube, mocha, etc.), ingredients for icing, plus food coloring and candy sprinkles. Hehe, Sonja, eat your heart out!

Making the icing was easy, but icing 60 cupcakes proved to be impossible, as I was only able to squeeze enough of the stuff to barely top less than 40 cupcakes. Argh.

And it looked ugly. So bad, I didn't bother to take a picture. The icing wasn't stiff enough to form cute peaks, and even with the star-shaped tip of the piping bag, the icing fell flat. And the cupcakes were, er, rounder and flatter than I thought. They looked more like small mamon than cupcakes.

I started having second thoughts about bringing the cupcakes to LP's school, for fear of embarrassing her. I took out the candy sprinkles and very generously poured the entire can over the cakes. Whew, that improved the appearance somewhat.

I had Yaya smuggle the cupcakes to LP's teacher the following morning. The verdict? The kids loved it! LP recounted how her classmates raved over the cakes and how yummy they were, and that she should bring some more next time. It sure wasn't embarrassing for my LP.

And here I cropped some pics to show how my cupcakes turned out:

Check out the big smiles on their faces.

After school, we picked her up and proceeded to North Park for the much-appropriate noodles and LP's favorite food, siomai.

Happy 8th, Sweetie!

LP's sweet birthday, Part 1

2008-06-16T12:19:00.005+08:00

Just because she's over and done with the grand celebration of turning 7, doesn't mean my LP won't have as much fun for her 8th.

I had the folks at Krispy Kreme Megamall ice two dozen doughnuts with "Happy B-day Justine." Yep, all 24 of 'em. They suggested that they ice jelly-filled doughnuts instead, one letter per. I insisted on the whole banana each. I'm such a hardball mom, I know.

And isn't Chardy the chef hot? Er...get a grip, Cat. He's too young for you.

I took LP with me to the company beach outing Saturday, which technically wasn't her birthday yet. (It's on the 17th, Tuesday.) So this is celebration no. 1. Yep, everyone loved the doughnuts.

And since I got my first watch at age 8, I figured it was high time she got hers, too. Frikkin' Swatch cost me extra because it came with a diary and pen. Sheesh.

But she's worth it.

LP makes doughnuts

2008-06-07T21:13:00.007+08:00

Krispy Kreme's Ayala branch has a promo of sorts for kids. (By kids, I mean people aged 35 and below.) They let kids with grimy fingers and runny noses make doughnuts.

Hehe, I'm kidding, of course. They had LP put on gloves and I made sure she took some antihistamine for her allergic rhinitis that day.

Anyways, so here she is, clad in an apron and a hairnet, with KK's fun crew...no cranky old geezers here!

Btw, KK-Ayala doesn't have an oven and glazing conveyor, so the donuts they serve aren't piping hot, which I guess isn't a problem for most people. (Long lines during lunchtime and after 5:30.) Neither do they give free donuts (boo-hoo!!!). Imagine the inventory loss from giving out free donuts to hungry yuppies all day.

Anyway, here's LP dipping the donut in chocolate before dipping it in sprinkles.

And here's the lovely chef and her finished product.

l
Featuring KK's really cute crew. They know me by name, and to think I've only been there twice. Must be the record I hold for consuming a donut completely before reaching the table. Aren't they really, really cute? They remind me of the bibo waiters at TGIFriday's.

And here's LP forcing herself to finish the doughnut she made. Not that she's a terrible cook, but she disclosed that she liked the original glazed variety better, two of which she wolfed down later on.

Oh, and because I like this particular branch so much, I'm shamelessly plugging for them. Krispy Kreme Ayala has free Wifi! Not only that, all tables have power outlets, which means you can everything there: your laptop, your phone charger, your camera, your all-in-one printer...name it. Bring a jacket, though, the A/C's up on high to keep the glaze from melting.

Oh yeah, and the coffee's perfect. Yummmmmmmmm.

2 Nights, 3 Hotels

2008-05-06T16:41:00.017+08:00

Yep. Only in Tagaytay.

In my previous post, I recounted my horrible phone inquiry with Royal Taal Inn, and it ended with my calling up Residence Inn for a reservation.

So let's start there.

By 9am, we were at Residence Inn. The staff then led us to our viewdeck room...and I almost wanted to leave as soon as I stepped inside the room. It looked tired. That's the first thing that came to my mind. Tired. Then I noticed there was no TV, and called the attendant's attention. A few minutes later he reappeared with an old TV, and when we turned it on, the reception was so awful, only GMA-7 was on the screen. Turned out they didn't have cable. The bathroom was decent, though. No tub, but there was hot water, towels, shampoo and soap. The view from the room was great...unfortunately we felt like we were part of the attractions of the zoo. A flight of stairs from the lobby led to the lower level of the zoo, and by taking those stairs, guests could see us from outside.

That was another pain, the stairs. It was fairly steep...not an easy trek for my folks. And to add insult to injury, it rained that afternoon! Not only that, the power went out! Imagine being stuck in a "tired" hotel room on a rainy afternoon with two cranky senior citizens and a very bored 7-year-old. We had to contend with LP's lecture on snakes and spiders, which I guess were appropriate since she had a fantastic time with the animals earlier. (That was a plus, at least LP was happy.)

By 5pm, the rain hadn't let up and the power still hadn't gone back on. We decided to have a short joyride before heading off for dinner at Leslie's, rather than wait for the power to come back on. Fortunately, attendants brought flashlights and lit the way for us...yep, steep flight of stairs and rain and all.

By around 8pm, after dinner, we headed back to the inn. The highway was pitch dark and we missed the hotel by a kilometer! Anyway, I figured if the power was still out, then we'd have to leave. True enough, the inn was dark as hell. I threw a hissy fit at the staff and demanded a refund, which they gave. (Turns out we were the only guests that night! No wonder!) I started packing (in the dark, aided by candles and flashlights) and left in less than a half hour.

Hotel 2

A short drive down the highway, I spotted an inn (the sign just said INN) and checked it out. It looked curiosly like a motel, but the interiors were a fair bit more "wholesome," and had a small dining/kitchen/receiving area, and they had power! But there were no windows in the room, and I figured that would've brought out the claustrophobe in me. At P2,000, it seemed like a fair deal, but I wasn't about take it just yet.

Right next door was another inn, Sierra Spring. The only room available was a family room, and when I checked it out, I was sooo relieved. The place was new, the beds were new, the beddings were new, there was POWER and TV and CABLE! At 2,500, they threw in an extra cot for free. Whew. I checked in right then, and realized our room had a nice verandah, albeit no view of Taal. Plenty of fresh air, though. The staff were very accommodating, too. We had our first restful sleep that night.

Hotel 3

The following morning after breakfast, I spotted a resort right next to Sierra Spring. The sign read, WITH WIFI. Crap, how could I have missed that? Then I saw the name, Pura Vida Resort, and realized that I chanced upon its website once and dismissed it as way over my budget. But I figured there was no harm in checking out the place.

Wow, I was impressed. The lobby was spacious and had two desktop computers AND wifi. And they had a pool! The rooms were great, too! Just like a real hotel: painted in gentle yellow and blue hues, big fluffy comforters, flat TV, well-appointed bathroom, verandah overlooking the pool, etc. Really, a room for relaxing! Spanking new. At 3,800 inclusive of two extra cots, it was a steal.

So I had my folks pack up and move next door. Turned out that we had the entire place to ourselves, imagine that. Pura Vida also had three villas with views of Taal Lake, and each villa accommodates at least ten. I spent a good hour exploring the three villas, gushing at each and I had a house just as beautiful and tastefully furnished. The villas had the view of the lake, too. Whoo.

I guess the best part was having the place to ourselves. We lorded it over the lobby and the wifi...no screaming kids, save for LP and her peals of laughter from swimming in the pool. The staff weren't at all ignorant, and all our concerns (which weren't much, really) were addressed quickly and professionally. Questions were answered, no blank stares nor I-don't-knows were given. My folks were happy and LP was ecstatic.

We're definitely staying there next time! I recently found out that the hotel is only a few months old, but the vacation houses have been around for the past three years, so if you check out their website, there is no mention of the hotel. Call them, though, and be assured of a fantastic stay.

Where not to stay this summer

2008-04-14T10:00:00.011+08:00

I'm not much of a critic, really, but I do know poor service when I see it, or worse, experience it.

Take the case of Royal Taal Inn, whose "glowing review" I chanced upon www.tagaytay.com. What struck me was that the a few pages were dedicated solely to the hotel...duh, who reviews an inn that much? Unless the review was paid for. Sure, there were other inns and hotels that the site mentioned, but only as an attempt to compare what sucky and/or more expensive options there are in Tagaytay. (RTI's supposedly separate site is www.royaltaal.com.)

The sucker that I was, I emailed the RTI. Take note that their contact page, says "For faster service, please use e-mail."

Hi, I chanced upon your website, I was wondering if you still charge the same rates for a superior room?

I'll be taking my parents on a two-night stay in May, if you could please email me with a quote for the following:

Date: May 1 to May 3 (3d/2n)
Room: Superior room
4 adults, 1 child.

I understand your rooms only accommodate up to three adults, but I was wondering if you'd care to be flexible in our case. I'll be willing to pay extra for a cot.

Thanks very much. Hope to hear from you very soon.

To which they replied: Nothing.

I waited an hour and decided to give them a call on their landline and cell. After several attempts (two lines were down, apparently), I managed to get through. I said I sent an email earlier and wondered if they received it, to which she replied, "Ma'am wala po kasi akong access sa email, yun may-ari lang po, mas maigi po na tumawag nalang kayo dito." (Ma'am, I don't have access to email, only the owner has, it's better if you call us here.)

I answered, Ah, OK, and proceeded with the inquiry, for a 3d/2n stay in their superior room, the largest room among the choices. She then told me to make a deposit to secure the room. I got the bank account details, said thank you, and hung up.

Looking at their site and the glowing review again, I figured RTI would provide the best vacation experience EVER:

The surprisingly large rooms sleeps two adults and two children, a rare event in today's holiday industry, though there are only a few rooms suitable for a family of four and they do book up fast.

Extra sleeping beds available (at additional cost.)

Probably the best perk of all is the friendly, efficient and warm hospitality this family run business offers. You feel more like you're at home or your best friends house, rather than staying at an Inn. The family goes way beyond being helpful offering to arrange transportation, reservations and suggesting "to do" recommendations during your stay. What a refreshing change from the run of the mill business establishments nowadays.

The family running the Royal Taal Inn , trusts that by offering excellent value for money, they will encourage other Tagaytay establishments to lower their prices accordingly. Who knows, maybe this idea of bringing prices into parity with other Asian nations will spread across the Philippines and help attract a greater number of visitors to this friendly and marvelously beautiful country. At least this is the idea behind this site. Therefore it may be a good idea to bookmark or save this site as one of your favorites as we will endeavor to continually update and bring you the very best deals in Tagaytay and the Philippines we can muster up.

Two weeks later, I call again. Several attempts later, I get through. (After being charged two minutes for calls to their cell that were answered by nasty static.) The lady who answered the landline said, "Ma'am, kayo po ba yung tumatawag sa celpone?" (Ma'am, were you the one calling the cellphone?)

I replied, Yes, and proceeded to make the reservation. I then told the lady that there'll be three adults and one child.

Receptionist: Ma'am, di po pwede, kasi pang two adults and two children lang po. (Ma'am, that is not allowed, the room can only accommodate two adults and two children.)

Cat: Sa cot nalang ako, kasi yung bata di naman papayag matulog ng walang katabi yun eh. Sa kama sya kasama yung adults. (I'll stay on the cot, the child won't sleep without anyone by her side, anyway. She'll stay in the bed with the two adults.)

R: Di po pwede, kasi yung cot pang bata lang po.(That is not allowed, the cot is strictly for children only.)

C: OK, in that case then, I'll just pay for an extra bed.

R: Di po pwede, kasi di po magkakasya yung extra bed sa kwarto.(That is not allowed, the extra bed won't fit inside the room.)

WTF?!?! What happened to the "surprisingly large rooms?"

C: Di pwede? We'll be staying there for two nights and you won't allow us?

R: Ma'am, kasi naman po pag more than two adults, two rooms po ang kinukuha. (Ma'am, when there are more than two adults, two rooms should be taken.)

C: But the only other extra adult is me, and I don't even take up that much space.

R: Istrikto po kasi yung may-ari pagdating sa capacity. (The owner is very strict when it comes to capacity.)

C: So you're refusing us?

R: Opo.

C: Really?

R: Opo.

C: Ah, OK, then.

A minute later, I receive an SMS from RTI: "gud am! wu u po?"

Crap. Where's the "friendly, efficient and warm hospitality this family run business offers?" My Yaya's a great deal more efficient and hospitable.

I managed to get a real review from Virtual Tourist, and here is junefer's review:

my stay in royal taal was "ok" just a little disappointed with the service they give, here are the good things about them, the room is clean, its just litlle small, and there is no closet, no hanger.....and they let our beer put in their fridge which is we appriciate it.....were buying beers outside to bring it in our hotel beacuse they dont have mini bar, and no stores near by..... and the bad things are....all the staff are unable to answere even simple question u ask about tagaytay....there fav. word is "i dont know" and then u cannot get thesame treatment as westeners guys get, they treat them very well than local customers ar asian customers...which is unfair i also pay thesame $$....if u are planning to visit tagaytay just do a little research about the place, there are plenty of hotels u can stay...

Jeez.

So I called up Residence Inn and reserved a viewdeck room that can accommodate two more adults. That's a queen-size bed LP will be bunking in with my folks, plus an extra bed for me, and another extra bed for Yaya. Oh, yeah, and I got the rooms CHEAPER. So much for the ballyhooed guarantee www.tagaytay.com referred to for RTI.

The Mom Song

2008-03-27T18:05:00.003+08:00

This is how I am to LP...and I'm actually relieved that most other moms are like this, too.

Courtesy of some colleagues from work, who all happen to be single and below 25.

LP gets whipped.

2008-03-26T09:45:00.003+08:00

And it hurt. Ouch.

It just had to happen, and on promotion day, at that. She may have been the best and most aggressive yellow-belter in her taekwondo class, but her skills were peanuts compared to this (slightly) bigger and older (by one year) boy who sparred against my LP.

Andolini summed it up: You could see fear in her eyes. Omigod...and I thought she only feared me. LP was never one to be intimidated by just another kid, until now.

At any rate, she did get her promotion to high-yellow.

Oh, well, she's got chess to fall back on.

LP's Holy Week

2008-03-25T16:23:00.004+08:00

Call me silly, but even after the hate e-mail that circulated a few months ago about Ark of Avilon, I figured LP was in some way heir to the throne of Slytherin and therefore less of a target of an albino python's bite.

For lack of enjoyable things to do (it was, after all, Holy Week), we trooped on to the (in)famous petting zoo Saturday. At 200 bucks per person, it wasn't so bad. (It sure beats driving to the boonies of Montalban to see their zoo.)

LP had a blast feeding the animals. Ten bucks got her two string beans for the sheep. Another ten bucks got her a small carrot for the bunnies. Another ten bucks got her chickenfeed, literally. Expensive gulay, yes. LP's big toothy smile? Priceless.

She got a big kick out of feeding sheep, and so did I. Those animals are smarter than I thought.

And here's the snake princess with her most trusted adviser:

ZTE Jun Loyspada Bubble gang Spoof

2008-02-26T21:53:00.001+08:00

This is sooooo hilarious. Have to try Bikol's tikoy, though.

Call me Engineer Cat.

2008-01-08T11:45:00.000+08:00

Remember the problem with my camera? The one here? And that it pulled a fast one on me while we were vacationing in Baguio last month?

Call me cheap, but I wasn't keen on buying a more reliable replacement, such as the Canon Powershot A570 IS, which is actually a fairly old model has been getting rave reviews for its quality and dependability. (Cybershot users are up in arms over that C:13:01 error...calling Sony, lots of angry people baying for blood here.) But I figured I'd go over the Cybershot one last time before making another major purchase.

I visited over fifty forums dedicated to this error alone, and tried each recommendation (removing and re-inserting the memory stick twenty times in rapid succession, formatting from the PC, formatting from the camera, dropping the camera, turning it on and off twenty times in rapid succession, etc.) and chatted with Sony's tech support...all of which proved futile. There were a few users, however, who reported the error as a main circuit board problem and "opening up" the camera and "setting the contact points in alignment" was the only solution that worked.

So that's what I did. I got my precision screw driver set and undid five tiny screws that held the camera together. (Ruined my french manicure, drat.)

So there sat my Cybershot with the insides spilling out...and I couldn't find the goddanmed contact points. Or rather, I didn't know where else to look, it was covered by the battery cradle and I didn't know how to undo that. It seemed that everything else inside was held by tape and other flimsy material.

Sighing, I put the whole thing back together.

And you know what happened?

Goddamned camera came back to life, good as new!

Cat and LP take a holiday

2008-01-01T15:04:00.001+08:00

Again, sorry for being incognito the past month. As most of you probably know by now, only work can keep me from my blog.

Let's fast-rewind to the holidays. I had planned on spending Christmas eve and Christmas day in Baguio City, and had in fact reserved a room at the Mile-Hi Inn in Camp John Hay. (The Manor Hotel was unfortunately fully booked for the season, and even if there were rooms available, I'd have been too cheap to spring for it.)

I had been looking forward to the much-needed vacay for weeks, daydreaming about the cool weather, pine trees, and great food. By some ironic twist of fate, LP fell ill days before the scheduled vacation, and was still sick on Christmas Day. During her illness, we paid two wee-hours visit to the ER...it was that bad. Consequently, I had to prepare Noche Buena instead of the planned Christmas dinner at the Manor. Argh. Cooking. Lots of work, but I couldn't help but make a Crown Roast braised in beer. Yummmm.

LP got well soon after that, and I proceeded to make arrangements with Mile-Hi for the 28th to the 30th. The lazy ass that I am, I decided that taking a Victory Liner bus to Baguio would be more comfortable and hassle-free than if I drove, and besides, I don't have particularly sharp navigational skills. ("Dalagang Ina, nagmaneho papuntang Baguio, nawawala!" headlining Abante was too much of a premonition for me.)

The day before our re-scheduled vacation, I got sick. I countered my cold with a day's rest in bed, liters of water, plenty of Bioflu, and time-tested broad-spectrum antibiotics.

No dice. Was still sick, though not feverish, when we boarded the bus. Argh. I spent afternoons asleep and feverish in the hotel room while Andolini and LP moved around Camp John Hay. Mornings and evenings, after some good hours' rest, were spent sightseeing.

So here's LP's first trip to the fabled city up north:

Tam-Awan Village.

A charming Igorot-inspired village cum art gallery that artists call home. A guided tour will take you around the different huts in the village, a minimal fee will get you board and lodging in one of the huts for that real Igorot experience, and for a measly hundred bucks, you can have your portrait sketched by the artists there. Four artists gamely sketched LP's portrait:

I was so happy with the results that I gave them a generous tip of 500 bucks. (Almost coyly asked if they could, um, share the "pot," get it?)

Camp John Hay Adventure Eco-Trail

LP had tons of fun here. She got to slide down a cable and rappel down a wall. All for a hundred bucks.

Downtown Baguio at Night.

Nothing beats walking down Session Road on a cool evening. Seriously, it's so different. (OK, it's a given, we were tourists.) Turn left and check out the tons of ukay-ukay stuff laid down on the sidewalk. Walk towards Burnham Park, grab a sweet corn from one of the street vendors, and take a leisurely (and tourist-y) boat ride on the man-made lake.

Mine's View Park

Spectacular view. Spectacular crowd, too. Crowded. Crowded. Crowded. Don't forget to visit Ibay's silver shop next door.

Oh yes, Camp John Hay.

I was one of the few lucky Pinoys who managed to get a pass from the Americans who lorded over the place twenty-odd years ago. I was 8 at that time, with my American uncle who had served in US military, his Pinay wife (my dad's sis) and Amerasian kids. As I remembered it, it was like I was in real mid-western town where fair-haired people walked the streets, the air was sweet with the scent of pine trees, groceries were carried in large brown paper bags, and stuff were paid for in US dollars. It was also the first time I saw a real fireplace with real fire, and real smoke came out of the real chimney.

Plenty have changed. The development is at a dizzying pace, and the small-town charm was no longer there. I couldn't even smell the pine trees. (My nose was not that stuffy, mind you.) But still, the place was...nice. Nevermind the commercialism, Andolini was ecstatic at the free Wifi at the Manor Hotel, and I was much too happy with the mint-spiked green tea from Starbucks that eased my cold and sore throat. The view from our room was not bad, either:

Pardon the paltry number of pics, the Cyber-shot locked down yet again the day we got to Baguio, and I had to make do with my phone's camera.

As I'm typing this, I'm in bed running a slight fever and a very nasty sore throat. So much for the holidays. Hope yours were merry, too!

GM LP

2007-11-26T09:57:00.000+08:00

LP's school has this program wherein first graders are exposed to different extra-curricular activities, after which, by second grade and onwards, they get to choose which activity they want, which is usually where they excel the most.

Driving home from her taekwondo session one Saturday afternoon, LP recounted a particular activity wherein she was pitted against a classmate and won: chess.

Really? You won in chess? I asked quite doubtingly.

Yes! She answered proudly.

I remembered buying her a chessboard last year, and I had tried to teach her the rudiments from what little I remembered from PE in college. (The only choice left among the PE courses, turns out pretty much the entire class had never played the game.) At that time she figured she could move the pieces any which way she wanted to, so there ended my aspirations for GM LP.

So as soon as we got home, I got the chessboard out.

Halfway into the game she instructed me to move my rook next to the king, to "protect" it. And that my bishop will be "eaten" by her pawn if I didn't put it elsewhere, among others. She also told me to be quiet, chess being "a quiet game."

The runt beat me two out of four.

LP in action!

2007-10-23T14:02:00.001+08:00

Here is her first spar with a fellow yellow-belt. She made very impressive kicks that reached her opponent's head!

LP kicks ass again!

2007-10-23T13:35:00.001+08:00

This is yellow-belt LP sparring with a blue belt. This was her third spar for her two hour session, so you'll notice her kicks are not as high as they should be. But she sure can punch and shove!

It's a Sony.

2007-10-10T00:08:00.000+08:00

I bought this camera a little over three years ago, when LP was in nursery school. I realized I was one of the very few parents who still had viewfinders on their cameras, and that prompted me to get onto the digital bandwagon. (I didn't want to embarrass LP at social functions.)

It was on sale at that time, as it had to make way for the slimmer models with larger LCDs and pixels. It's a 4.1 mp Sony Cybershot that worked remarkably well. After all, it is a Sony.

Despite its rather bulky frame, I found it indispensable. Last summer, though, it started having trouble reading the memory stick (Error C:13:01). At first all I had to do was re-start the camera, until after a week or two when it got hopeless and couldn't read it at all. I Google-searched that particular error, and discovered a sea of disgruntled Cybershot users who vowed to never buy another Cybershot again.

Then I had the brilliant idea of bringing it to Sony's Avid store in Park Square. The attendant slipped a new memory stick, and voila! Good as new, and just in time for LP's yellow belt promotion.

Good as new for a week, that is. Now it's displaying the same error again...argh.

Perhaps I should bring it to Hidalgo, then. What do you think, Sidney?

Almost done...

2007-09-30T20:31:00.001+08:00

I first encountered Milton Friedman in business school (for you econ folks there, sorry, but my undergrad was psychology) and I was struck by his statements against corporate social responsibility. Can you say tax-deductible?

Anyhoo, the subject I was most bored with in high school and college only made sense in business school, when I was already an employee and very much in the thick of the Asian flu. IS-LM models provided the logic for what became GMA's and the BSP's policies in money supply, pump-priming, etc.

But what really got me interested was the concept of the free market. A few years later, I chanced upon this precious find at Book Sale.

A paltry thirty bucks. It was fate. Kismet. Pre-determined. God willed it.

Commies should get a copy.

LP Kicks Ass

2007-09-23T13:30:00.000+08:00

A funny 6-year-old's answer to a Taekwondo pre-promotion review question. (Not LP, thank God.)

Coach: Where did Taekwondo originate from?

6-year-old: Pampanga.

************************

LP's been attending Taekwondo lessons since June, and as the overbearing mother, I see to it that she doesn't miss a session. Seeing your child get shouted at for misbehaving ("Stop picking your nose!") can get fairly embarrassing for me and humiliating for her, but then, the sense of accomplishment and sheer enjoyment combined seems to more than make up for bruised shins and egos.

Imagine our excitement when her coach recommended her for promotion. (No biggie, actually. If you think about it, it's still money for them. Hehe.) The promotion was held this morning in Ateneo, and wow, there were at least 100 white belts waiting to be promoted.

To be promoted, white belts have to show that they know their kicks, punches, and formations, as well as the history of the martial art. (Pampanga's not in Korea, by the way.) So here's some stuff that they did:

The promoting officer seemed to have been impressed with LP's question-and-answer portion. As he handed her the yellow belt, he said, "You're very smart! I want you to join your school's varsity team, OK?" Mind you, LP was the only one to be praised in her group, and he even volunteered to tie her yellow belt for her. None of the kids got such an offer. Other kids, meanwhile, were told to lose weight or cut their hair or find Korea on a map.

So here's the ass-kicking and snake-loving creature that came from my loins.

Heir of Slytherin

2007-09-19T09:31:00.000+08:00

I really don't know where LP got her fondness for snakes, but I suspect it all started when she was still in the womb. We went to Tagaytay for a weekend where we visited a petting zoo, and there was this huge boa that my brother carried to the lunch table. I remember screaming at the top of my voice and smacking him on the head immediately after.

Then there was this trip to Manila Zoo where they took out the snakes for an exhibition of sorts. LP was 2 (or 3?) at that time. Somehow she slipped from my grip, and a few minutes later we found her crouched low on the ground, beside a table where a snake was hanging. LP was staring at the snake...and the snake was staring back at her. (The person supposedly responsible for the snakes was busy with another snake. ) I could've sworn LP's lips were moving. Perhaps she speaks Parseltongue?

Which is why Tiendesitas in Pasig is such a treat for her. The first time I took her there, we went to this pet store that was selling a baby python. With no assistance, LP scooped the little snake up with her bare hands. Eeewww.

Check out the red eyes.

A month later, a cornsnake.

Imagine how much she begged to get a snake for Christmas. Eeewww.

And just last month, we chanced upon a snake that had just moulted. I asked the owner if the little girl could have the shed skin. Eeewww.

That's the closest she'll ever get to owning a real live snake.

I was checking out LP's quizzes and tests last night, and among them was this Filipino test where they had to draw pictures and assign nouns for each picture. One of items said, "Iguhit ang dalawang hayop na nais mong alagaan. Isulat ang pangngalan ng mga it." (Draw the animals that you would like to have as a pet. Label with nouns for each.)

To which she answered, "Ahas, cobra" (snake, cobra) and "gagamba" (spider). The cobra reminds me of one of the worms from the Combantrin ad from way back.

To which her teacher wrote, "Nais mong alagaan ang ganitong klase ng mga hayop?"

My kid rocks.

Another LP moment

2007-09-11T23:53:00.000+08:00

I've gotten much too busy to write about anything else other than this creature that sprung forth from my loins. Just over a year ago, I was a gym rat, had men at my beck and call, and still had time to read to LP before bedtime. Now, the demands of my very dynamic new job have transformed my abs to flab, forced me to reexamine the precious time I was wasting on Messrs. Right Now, and drastically reduced bedtime reading with LP to study time. To make up, precious weekends are spent enriching her with Tae-kwon-do, regularly hearing mass, and watching TV. (Yes, TV for LP has become a weekends-only activity. How cruel.)

So what have I got to blog about other than that sweet creature? Nada.

So here's another one of LP's wise words. This time, on beauty. (Backgrounder: Andolini's tall, muscular, and dusky. And by dusky, I mean really DUSKY. LP, on the other hand, is Snow White. Physically takes after LXH's mother, who happens to be a nice lady.)

Andolini: (Sips coffee on a beautiful Sunady morning.) Ahh. Nothing like a good cup and the Sunday paper.

LP: You know, you should stop drinking coffee. You're so brown already!

Love and power according to LP.

2007-09-03T10:44:00.000+08:00

A meaningful conversation between a 6-year-old and her grandmother:

Lola: Lolo's the boss.

LP: No, you're the boss.

Lola: Why do you say that?

LP: Because you tell Lolo what to do and you have plenty of money.

Lola: I have plenty of money?

LP: Yes, you're the one who's always buying stuff, so you're the boss!

Lola: But that's Lolo's money. I use Lolo's money to buy stuff.

LP: Huh? Lolo lets you spend his money?

Lola: Yes.

LP: Why?

Lola: Because he loves me!

LP: Really, Lola!? Lolo loves you even if you're fat!?

Four-eyes

2007-08-29T08:50:00.000+08:00

I had LP see an ophthalmologist last week, and she was found to have slight astigmatism. The doc said it wasn't necessary for her to wear glasses, that her eyesight will eventually correct itself, but as the overbearing mother, I didn't want to take the risk.

So we trooped on over to the optical shop where she chose this pair of purple Disney-themed glasses:

She's never looked so cute, and so...angelic. Like she's not at all the rambunctious, loud, boisterous, unruly child that calls me Mommy.

What I did over the weekend

2007-08-27T11:45:00.000+08:00

I've always wanted to make a meringue pie. The soft, cloud-like exterior always intrigued me. Is it soft? Is it stiff and crunchy, like those meringue kisses sold at the corner store? Is it really full of air? And what's underneath it? Just a lot more meringue?

I finally got the resolve to find out once and for all, through baking one myself. And the result was not one bit disappointing:

The topping is soft, like cotton, but firm to the touch. (Just don't poke it too much.) And yes, it is full of air. The cream filling was yummy, though.

Check out how beautifully golden-brown the meringue topping is. Doesn't it make you want to touch the screen? Vanilla cream pie. It was supposed to be lemon meringue, but the leftover lemon I had from last week's blueberry cheesecake got molded over.

Verdict? Really nice to look at, guaranteed to impress guests. Visually, anyway. As for the taste, it would really delight people who absolutely love sweets. I, for one, would be content with one slice.

Still satisfied, anyway. Pretty good for a first-timer.

As for LP, she was content to lick off the remnants of the whipped eggwhites from the mixing bowl.

True Colors

2007-08-25T19:06:00.001+08:00

There's so much you can learn from children's encyclopedias. Or perhaps, I'm really more ignorant than I thought.

I was reading to LP one evening and the topic we I thumbed through was about vision. There was a small part there about color-blindness, and some pictures of dots that will determine normal vision or colorblindness.

LP looked at the first picture and said, "23".

Huh? I asked.

"There, I can see the number 23."

Where?

"There, can't you see it?" she replied, tracing the number 23 with her finger on the picture.

"Er, no," I replied. "You're pulling my leg." As mother to a perennially rambunctious, and imaginative seven-year-old, I vowed never to fall prey to her practical jokes.

There was another picture on the next page. Barely had my lips moved to ask what she saw in the dots when she blurted, "A sailboat."

What sailboat? I asked.

"There, mom," and she traces yet again another sailboat on the dots with her finger.

I decided to call in a responsible adult, Andolini. He had been fixing the ceiling in the other room and was not privy to what almost became a frustrating verbal tussle.

"Twenty-three," he points to the first picture. "Can't you see it?"

I scratched my head.

"And there's a sailboat," he goes on. LP giggles.

"Mom's colorblind!" she shouts with glee.

I felt...blind. Like I deserved the parking slots nearest the mall entrance.

The following day at the office, I Google-searched color blindness.

From this site, the following pics showed themselves.

Well, you're supposed to see a square, a circle, and a star. Everyone's supposed to see that, colorblind or not.

Next pic:

Try to find a circle, star and/or square within 3 seconds:

I found a square right away. But no star nor square. Surprise, surprise, colorblind folks will only be able to see a square. "Normal" people should see it, too, along with a faint brown circle. (Duh.)

Another pic:

See the boat? Damn! I only see dots!

I figured a second opinion of sorts (denial being the first phase of depression) was needed, so I checked out this other site.

This was the third pic, and I was happy to see the number 70.

Until I read that if you're colorblind, that's exactly what you should see. "Normal" people, like the rest of my colleagues in the office, should see 29.

On the last pic, the number 5 was completely clear to me. Can't you see it? It's so...VISIBLE.

To us colorblind folk, anyway. If you have my daughter's perfect vision, you'll only see a meaningless scatter of dots.

So not only am I nearsighted and astigmatic, I'm also colorblind. May I add, though, that it's not at all like I can't tell the colors of the stoplight, nor what color blouse I'm wearing now (red, FYI), nor that I wonder as to why they call it the White House. It just means I can't fly planes nor be an astronaut. Shucks. That seriously limits my career options.

Although that does explain why I wore green to an Ateneo-La Salle basketball game many, many years ago. I swore I was wearing blue. My friends insisted it was green. And so did the people we asked on the street. And the rest of the fans in the bleachers.

Because my boss is out...

2007-08-13T09:23:00.000+08:00

Swiped from Punzi:

CATOLOGY
Q: What is your salad dressing of choice?
A. All hail Caesar!

Q: What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
A. Jollibee...they have everything, including thieves.

Q: What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
A. Gullivers Steakhouse. *drool*

Q: On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?
A. 20% standard. If the service sucked, no tip. If they waited on me as if I were Paris Hilton, I'd be more generous.

Q: What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of it?
A: Prime rib from Gullivers.

Q: What are your pizza toppings of choice?
A. Mushroom, pepperoni, and plenty of cheese.

Q: What do you like to put on your toast?
A. Butter, real butter, not Dari Creme nor Buttercup, because they're really margarine (Check the fine print.)

TECHNOLOGY
Q: What is your wallpaper on your computer?
A. Windows landscape. Got more important things to do.

Q: How many televisions are in your house?
A. Two. All hand-me-downs. My folks change TVs once a year, so now I have two flat-screen TVs that replaced two perfectly-working ones that were donated to two lucky Yayas.

BIOLOGY
Q: Are you right-handed or left-handed?
A. Right-handed. Rather uninteresting.

Q: Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
A. My appendix, when I was 18. Two wisdom teeth, apart from the baby teeth that everyone has to get rid of.

Q: What is the last heavy item you lifted?
A. Yesterday's purchase of one rotisserie chicken and rellenong bangus.

Q: Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
A. I once passed out because of the weather. Does that count?

BULLCRAPOLOGY (pardon the words)

Q: If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
A. Yes. So that I could compute exactly how much I should be saving up now for LP's inheritance. (She gets everything, assuming XLH doesn't get greedy.)

Q: If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
A. Paris Hilton because I look like her.

Q: What color do you think looks best on you?
A: Blue. Not because I come from the hill where the bright blue eagles fly, but I look most OK in it.

Q: Have you ever swallowed a non-food item by mistake?
A. Hmm...so far no one's put a surprise engagement ring in my dessert, if that's what you mean.

Q: Have you ever saved someone’s life?
A. I once caught a woman who collapsed while her boyfriend looked at her helplessly. Does that count? She could've hit her head on the pavement....

Q: Has someone ever saved yours?
A. Figuratively, perhaps.

DAREOLOGY

Q: Would you kiss a member of the same sex for $100?
A. Sure. Make it a hot lesbian and I'll have sex with her, too. I'll consider the money as icing on the cake.

Q: Would you allow one of your little fingers to be cut off for $200,000
A. OK.

Q: Would you never blog again for $50,000?
A. OK.

Q: Would you pose naked in a magazine for $250,000?
A. OK.

Q: Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?
A. OK.

Q: Would you, without fear of punishment, take a human life for $1,000,000?
A. OK.

DUMBOLOGY
Q: What is in your left pocket?
A. My skirt's got no pockets.

Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?
A. Haven’t seen it.

Q: Do you have hardwood or carpet in your house?
A. Neither. Got marble floors.

Q: Do you sit or stand in the shower?
A. Stand. Haven't gotten around to getting a stool for the shower. Helps a lot when you gotta scrub hard-to-reach areas, and it lessens the risk of slipping.

Q: How many pairs of flip flops do you own?
A. Two, LP's always taking one pair with her.

Q: Last time you had a run-in with the cops?
A. None.

Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?
A. Rich.

Q: Who is number 1 on your top 8?
A. LP.

LASTOLOGY

Q: Friend you talked to?
A. Andolini.

Q: Last person who called you?
A. Andolini.

Q: Person you hugged?
A. Andolini.

Q: Person you kissed?
A. Andolini.

FAVORITOLOGY

Q: Number?
A. 17. It's the day when I was born, LP was born, and my parents got married. (All coincidental.)

Q: Season?
A: 2 of House, MD. Hehe!

CURRENTOLOGY

Q: Missing someone?
A. My folks.

Q: Mood?
A. Relaxed.

Q: Listening to?
A: The Cardigans.

Q: Watching?
A. The computer screen.

Q: Worrying about?
A: Money.

RANDOMOLOGY

Q: First place you went this morning?
A. Bathroom

Q: What can you not wait to do?
A. Hmm...Can't think of any.

Q: What’s the last movie you saw?
A. Bourne Supremacy. They send faxes face down there!

Q: Do you smile often?
A. Gotta soften my bitch persona.

Q: Are you a friendly person?
A. Yep.

Ten Things I Learned from Jason Bourne

2007-08-08T15:50:00.000+08:00

1. NYPD patrol cars don't have airbags.

2. Security in CIA offices in New Yorkis so crappy, even the most wanted ex-spy can walk right inside the top honcho's office undetected.

3. You can afford to travel all over the world without a job.

4. You can emerge unscathed from a car that plunged six floors down, so long as it's an Audi.

5. Get an office right across the street from your favorite CIA operative's cube, and you can hear and see everything he/she does.

6. A book can literally save your life.

7. You can wrap a seatbelt around your arm and emerge unscathed from a three-car smashup. (The car doesn't even have to be an Audi, or have airbags, for that matter.)

8. There is no such thing as a concussion.

9. You can actually send faxes face-up!

10. Jason Bourne uses Google. Shouldn't you, too?

Exactly a month later...

2007-08-06T09:54:00.000+08:00

Talk about schedules.

Yes, I gave birth to LP exactly one month before my birthday. That means everytime my birthday rolls in, I'm broke.

And so on my 31st, LP had a surprise waiting for me at home. She insisted that I come home early from work because she "missed" me. It was a crappy Tuesday afternoon and I figured I'd rather celebrate with a simple dinner with then-bungi LP.

Not that I was expecting anything. She had the lights out as soon as I got out of the car, and yelled "Surprise!" when I stepped inside the living room.

And this was what she was slaving over the whole afternoon:

Aww...really.

According to her yayas, LP was "problematic" about what to surprise me with. Good thing there was some flour in the fridge, and Yaya had some knowledge in baking and making frosting. Add a bag of Nips and a tube of chocolate from the corner store, an old picture of the two of us together (pre-digicam era), and there's LP's masterpiece.

Can you tell how much effort she put into lettering "Happy Birthday Mom"?

I really am lucky to have such a sweet, thoughtful daughter.

And so it went.

2007-06-21T09:12:00.000+08:00

And that was the party.

Head count: 75.

Venue, food, and party setup: P20,000.00

Clown, with magic show, balloon twisting and game-hosting: P3,500.00

Loot bags and goodies from Divisoria for 50 kids: P1,500.00

Cake: P750.00

Do-it-yourself invites and printing: P600.00

Fun meter: 9.5 out of a possible 10.

LP's happiness: Priceless.

Thank God for MasterCard.

I'm baaaaaack.

2007-06-15T15:04:00.000+08:00

Goodness, has it been that long?

Not that too many people have been clamoring for more posts from this blog, but I have been negligent. New job, see.

Yes, it's that demanding. But so much more exciting, at least until I realize I'm really in denial, and/or rationalizing that for all this work I'm doing, I must be a genius and a really, really prized employee soon to be rewarded with riches beyond my wildest dreams.

Updates:

1. LP started first grade this week. After an entire summer of clocking in ten-hour late-night slumbers, getting up at 5 am isn't a piece of cake. And staying in school until 3pm, then rushing to the Kumon center right after can leave a 7-year-old exhausted.

Argh. And she's still egging me for Saturday taekwondo lessons.

2. LP's turning seven this weekend, and I promised her a party. Working within a budget, I had to choose between:

Venue A, exclusively ours for three hours, with an "inflatable" playground (a real hit with the kids) and a one-plate-and-0ne-drink-per-person menu (a real sore spot for the grownups).
Venue B, a sectioned-off portion of a large restaurant, two hours, with a clown-host and a few magic tricks and some games (not as rip-roaring fun as an inflatable playground but still entertaining), and an eat-all-you-can merienda buffet and bottomless iced tea (a real hit for us grownups). Good for 100 pax.

Of course I chose Venue B. More bang for my buck, and the buck these kids' parents will be spending for LP's present.

What's getting me thinking now is:

What if less than 100 pax come?
What if more than 100 pax come?

I'm more inclined to think that I'm gonna have to deal with an overbooked party. One of LP's classmates' parents SMSd me yesterday, thanking me for the invite, and confirming the little girl's attendance, as well as her dad's, the mom's, the little sister's, and the nanny's.

Eat-all-you-can must have been a real giveaway.

Anyways, it should be fun. The more, the merrier. And there's always my trusty MasterCard that should bring me enough miles for at least one free ticket to Boracay.

3. I cancelled my gym membership. Huhuhuhuhu! I really couldn't find the time nor the energy to work out, not with this new job and LP's demanding schedule.

And so now I'm back to my flabby old self.

What I did during my summer vacation

2007-04-24T08:12:00.000+08:00

Yep, all three days' vacation.

A confusing ride to Batangas pier led us to a rickety boat ride to Talipanan, Puerto Galera. Contrary to what I've heard, Batangas Pier isn't at all bad. It's quite modern, and way, way better than the piers in Manila.

Fast forward to the resort, Mengie's, where they served us the freshest seafood. Yum...you gotta wait a whole hour, though. Service is really slow and inefficient, albeit friendly.

Where the rooms are.

I didn't take pics of the inside of the room. Suffice to say it wasn't worth the 4 megapixels in my camera.

And the beach. Really clear waters there. Take note, though. This is Talipanan, not White Beach. Talipanan is at the tip of PG, where it's a great deal quieter. We visited White Beach that evening, and let me say that place needs to get its act together. The first thing you'll notice is the concrete platform where the bars, restos, and stores are located. Concrete at the beach? Far from charming. It's really, really, UGLY, like a palengke greeting you upon arrival. And the bars have nothing different to offer, all the same beers and pulutan and hip-hop music. Or perhaps I'm getting too old for this scene.

Anyways, back to Talipanan.

Really quaint, really quiet. Luka's, a small Italian resto known for its huge, delectable pizzas, also serves the best coffee in Talipanan. Nevermind that it's the only resto in Talipanan with a cappuccino maker.

A pizza from Luka's, which LP was only too happy to devour.

LP begged for a tattoo before we left. She picked a Chinese character for "dragon," the year she was born in. (Incindentally, my mother and I are both dragons. So there are three lady dragons at home right now.)

What did you do during your summer vacation?

LP goes snorkeling

2007-04-23T08:59:00.000+08:00

The highlight of LP's summer, snorkeling. Here she is scanning the water for sharks.

After much thrashing and hair-pulling, we finally got her to stick her head in the water.

And this is just a bit of what she saw:

Beautiful, isn't it?

And then there's me. And my fabulous butt. Amazing what camouflage the sea can do.

Whatta looong lull...

2007-04-16T15:12:00.000+08:00

...and I apologize to my millions of followers, most of who probably don't/can't post comments on my blog.

Updates, in chronological order.

1. I resigned from the small consulting firm I once loved so much. Enslaved myself for three and two-thirds years, and it all came down to a simple, I love you, goodbyeeeeee!

2. Went on a short vacation the Sunday before the Holy Week. Since my only objective was to relax and take a dip on a shoestring budget, I decided Puerto Galera would be ideal. What can I say? You get what you pay for. Will post pics later. Should I dare compare PG to Boracay? Still thinking about it.

3. My folks are home and chocolates are filling up a third of fridge space.

4. My prayers were answered, and I suppose some feng-shui tips helped as well. Got myself a new job, and an absolutely spacious cubicle with a nice view. Top-rate office address, to boot.

Another MasterCard Moment

2007-03-23T11:15:00.000+08:00

Simple carbs + sugar+ coffee + sunny morning = two hours of cardio undone.

On a whim, Luigi and I drove to Bonifacio High St. at The Fort for coffee and Krispy Kreme donuts.

Ahhh...the splendor of an impending heart disease and diabetes, all for a measly P200. We ordered one donut each, and coyly asked the guy behind the counter if they gave any more free donuts.

To which he replied, Yes.

So four donuts, two each. Soft and warm, paired with coffee (very good coffee, I should say) and the day's newspaper.

Under an umbrella on a breezy, summer morning. PRICELESS!

Jackie Bird

2007-03-16T10:32:00.000+08:00

A few days ago while Yaya was clearing the ceiling of dust and cobwebs, a tiny baby bird fell to the floor. She surmised it must have fallen from the ceiling. It had one bad leg. LP scooped it up right away and had Yaya set it on a basket cushioned with an old potholder.

(It looks dead, but it's not. Pardon the grainy pic, I left my Cybershot in the office and had to make do with my camera phone.)

That evening, LP showed it to me and announced that she was going to call her (or him, can't really be sure) Jackie. Call it maternal instinct, but she knew how to take care of that bird. Quite easy, actually. Since it couldn't fly, it just stayed there in the basket. And even if we laid it down on a level surface, it couldn't walk very far either because of its bad leg.

Feeding Jackie was easy, two or three grains of (moistened) rice and that was it. Once she starts chirping, that's when you start feeding her. (It was fun to see her open her mouth so widely for her next grain of rice.) Oh, so low-maintenance.

Last night, though, LP met us at the gate with Jackie in her hand. "Mommy, Jackie's dead," she said.

"Are you sure?" I asked, because it still looked alive to me.

"Yeah, Mom, she stopped eating already and her eyes are closed," she replied, stroking Jackie's head.

"OK, Sweetie, let's bury her and say a few prayers for her," I told her. I went to the flower box and dug up a small hole for Jackie. LP says one Our Father and then whispers her own improv prayer.

Though she didn't look terribly upset, she started asking questions about where Jackie will be going, and that she felt responsible for her death because she had fed the bird cracker crumbs instead of rice moistened with water. I told her Jackie's on her way to heaven, to which she replied tearfully, "But she's going to have such a hard time getting there because she doesn't know how to fly! She has no mommy to teach her how to fly! What if her mommy gets mad at me for letting her die?!?!"

By this time she's really crying. Not bawling, just really upset-over-death crying. I realize this is the first time she cried over a pet. (Her pet dogs don't like her too much, she's not exactly gentle and affectionate towards them. Quite violent, actually, which deserves another post.)

So I explained to her that Jackie won't have to fly all the way to heaven because God will scoop her up himself, and that Jackie's mom wouldn't be angry at all because LP had become Jackie's second mommy and that Jackie had been well taken care of and fed for.

LP cried some more and asked some more philosophical questions that I knew she would just have to ponder on by herself. And my beef stroganoff was getting cold. So I had her sit on my lap while she was sobbing away.

You know it's summer when...

2007-03-12T14:48:00.000+08:00

...kids have so much idle time on their hands, it shows on their feet.

Imagine how much concentration it took to suppress the tickling sensation to bring such masterpiece to finish.

I can imagine her right hand drawing on the sole of her left foot. But her right hand drawing on the sole of her RIGHT foot? I must've given birth to a contortionist.

Congratulations!

2007-03-12T09:46:00.000+08:00

Saturday morning, LP had her farewell program for Kindergarten 2. (AKA, graduation.)

Ain't she sweet? I guess LP (Little Preschooler) won't be such a fitting callsign anymore.

And a buffet lunch at Señor Alba's to celebrate the occasion.

Mwah! Love you, Sweetie!

Breakfast, Ilonggo vs. French

2007-03-09T10:37:00.000+08:00

Check this out:

Breakfast at Bacolod Chicken Inasal: one HUGE cup of fried rice, adobo flakes, fried egg and a cup of molo soup (not much meat in it, though, but plenty of molo strips.) All for P89. Throw in bottomless brewed coffee at P35. Morning paper (PDI and Philstar), priceless.

There was so much food on my plate, I couldn't finish the damn thing.

Quite a break from my usual breakfast fare at Delifrance. (I don't pay. Andolini does. Freeloader here.) Breakfast trays start at P160 (bread and omelet, no drinks), and can go for as much as P220. The most expensive tray, Deluxe, has two sausages, two slices of ham, a strip of bacon, scrambled eggs, a croissant or ciabatta, butter, jelly, orange juice (they say it's fresh, I say it's fresh from the bottle, at any rate it's better than all-sugar Tang), a cup of coffee and a flower in a small glass.

Sorry, no pic. (Shoot me, been eating there practically everyday and I never took a pic.) Pretty to look at, yes. Filling, too. But goddamned expensive. Again, I don't pay. I don't hear Andolini complaining, but I have to at least volunteer a less expensive place to chow, right?

And at BCI, we don't have to put up with missing sections of the PDI like we do in Delifrance.

One-TV Household

2007-03-07T10:24:00.000+08:00

A few weeks back, our Panasonic 24-inch which has been entertaining the family and guests in the living room for ten years already, grew silent. Picture was ok, though. This was the second time we had to take it to the repair shop, the first was a few months before when the ON switch wouldn't stay put. (It kept on popping back out, which made it turn back off.)

Two weeks later, the repairman gave up. "You might want to take this to Panasonic's service center," he said. So we did. On a Sunday. Jeez, of course it was closed. It didn't help that I'm only able to run such errands on weekends, and the past Saturdays have been booked solid for me. (Single mom here, see.)

So for over a month already, the two Yayas, LP and I have been subsisting on one TV, which used to sit in the master's bedroom.

Yeah, no TV in my room. Imagine that.

Exactly. Imagine having no TV in the bedroom. LP and I have been able to spend more quality time together. Talking, exchanging stories, reading, drawing...name it. I get home in the evenings, slump on the bed, reach for the remote, and find a book and a precocious six-year-old with a wobbly tooth instead. More time for tickle fights, hug fights, and kissing fights. More time for Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, and Captain Underpants.

My guess is that new DVD player will be gathering dust for a few more months, or until my folks come back home from the giant sandbox, whichever comes first.

Blind date bad date

2007-02-20T15:44:00.001+08:00

I'm with 'ya, Sistah!

A V-day message

2007-02-15T11:12:00.000+08:00

Got this in my inbox yesterday:

The image attached has been a source of inspiration and hope to everyone who was in love, who is still in love, and who plans to be in love.This only shows that love is and will always be proof that there is something far greater thanwhat we humans would ever truly understand.This is the power of holding hands...

Worth a Kodak moment

2007-02-09T14:54:00.000+08:00

Was browsing around Bound Bookshop in QC (a great second-hand bookstore, leave your contact details if you want a particular copy that they don't have and they'll call you when they get one) when I spotted this:

At five hundred bucks, not exactly a steal, ain't it?

I leafed through the pages and I realized there was really no way I'd part with the money left in my wallet for this bright-yellow cover of a book. I'm no critic, but a peek inside gave me visions of a very angry woman (e.g., more than a few sentences and phrases in uppercase letters, swearing and name-calling in the vernacular, the Tulfos being the sons of Satan, etc.) not unlike a certain top-notch lawyer who supposedly eats death threats for breakfast. I just don't like authors getting emotional.

Incidentally, Ms. Santos couldn't get much of it circulated as major bookstores such as National, and even the UP Press, refused to sell the book.

By the way, I don't like the Tulfos, either. Them brothers and Richard Gomez go together like peas in a pod.

This is creative

2007-02-09T14:43:00.000+08:00

Gotta love those Coke people.

If the pic is too grainy, that's a bottle-shaped barcode.

Revealed to me on a 500ml PET bottle of Diet, er, make that Coke Light.

Gimmick for us B-listers.

2007-01-29T10:53:00.000+08:00

I recently checked out the, ahem, scene, at Serendra, that tenement, whoops, "mid-rise residential development" at Fort Bonifacio. I guess no one's moved in yet because construction is still ongoing, but establishments have been put up in its atrium.

Upper-crust crowd, if you ask me. How Greenbelt was prior to the peroxide chicks laying claim to Cafe Havana.

Had a few drinks at Fez, one of the smaller bars in the area. I spied upon this chick and her mug filled with some green concoction. I asked the waiter (very friendly and efficient service, by the way) what the mixture was composed of and he replied, "It's called Jaguar, and it's got red horse, vodka..." and as soon as I heard Red Horse, I told him to send me a mug, pronto. Turns out it was a bar special.

'Twas ok. Nothing to write home about, I guess. But the color was kewl.

Oh, and check out their lamb appetizer. Yummy.

I can't get over this. Really.

2007-01-29T10:38:00.000+08:00

I got this for my birthday last year. I love it to pieces. And to think I've seen the movie(s) several times. True, Puzo's style was pulpy, the love scenes icky (he could've done away with such), but the plot and the Don's philosophy were amazing. I couldn't put it down.

So why come up with this.?

Searched high and low for a paperback copy, none available in the bookstores, and secondhand shops only had it on hardbound.

Now I know why copies of it abound in second-hand shops. It doesn't deserve the shelf space at home.

The characters are lousy (a Magic Sing-freak mafioso, an FBI agent who probably descended from Javert's line), the women unworthy (a female lawyer vigorously opposed against capital punishment, a forgettable nympho who wins Don Magic Sing's heart), the plot convoluted BUT horribly predictable. I had to force myself to finish it.

This particular novel was Puzo's last, and supposedly left to his common-law wife to finish. I'm not commenting on that.

Christmas in HK

2007-01-03T09:26:00.000+08:00

Late to post? Lots to post!

LP and I spent Christmas in Hong Kong. My first visit to the then-colony was twenty years ago, the second, and still as a colony, thirteen years ago. Both times I was still a minor, living off my parents' good graces.

Plenty have changed. The airport, Kai Tak, has long gone. I remember seeing tall buildings right below us as the plane prepared to land. Chep Lap Kok, on the other hand, is in Lantau Island, a good half-hour drive from Hong Kong Island. Much to my surprise, there were no towering skyscrapers as we landed at the new airport.

Day 1, Hotel: Marco Polo Gateway, right in shopping haven Tsim Sha Tsui. We checked in around 12 noon, and were told to come back around 2pm, when the rooms would be ready. No prob. HK would be the best place to get lost in!

First stop as we were looking for a not-too-frilly Chinese resto to have lunch at: Giordano. Of course. Grabbed some shirts for pasalubong, and then off to that elusive resto.

We ended up at McDonald's.

Next stop: The Peak Tram. We took the MTR (subway) to Admiralty where we got lost and had to find a Filipina to ask for directions. What a long, long walk. And a goddamned long line. Almost got into a fight with some senior citizens who cut in.

So there's the Tram.

And The Peak. Nice view, lots of shops and restos. Merienda at, where else? McDonald's.

And some photo-ops for LP.

Dinner? McDonald's, again.

Day 2: Paid tour. An hour wasted at a jewelry store, a few minutes at the HK Convention Center, which had a nice view of the bay,

a half hour (or so) on the Sampan,
and a stopover at what the tour guide claimed to be The Peak, but which was merely a stop somewhere lower than The Peak LP and I visited the day before. Oh well. (Not even worth the 1MB on my camera.) I really should've skipped the tour.

After lunch, it was off to...Ocean Park! Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I love Ocean Park! Such fun memories!

Crap. Twenty years ago, it wasn't this crowded. It really has been that long.

Lines moved at a snail's pace. LP and I waited an hour and a half to see jellyfish. Pretty.

An hour to ride the cable car.

And twenty minutes to navigate through the crowds and to find the Shark Aquarium.

I had to pony up an extra HK$50 for a go-kart ride, for the speed demons in us.

Oh, and it was Christmas Eve. For Noche Buena, LP and I, sore leg muscles and all, had the best Yang Chow fried rice and pork barbecue (aka asado) this side of the hemisphere. Really. It wasn't greasy, there was not much MSG, but it was heaven. Call for room service. (Sorry, was too tired to take pics.)

There was a street party right outside our hotel, and it seemed like the entire population of Hong Kong gravitated to Tsim Sha Tsui that night.

Day 3: Christmas morning, off to Disneyland!

Tiny, as compared to the parks in Anaheim and Orlando. But lovely, and nonetheless charming. Customer service? Perfect.

Oh, and there was snow. Unfortunately for LP, she realized she was catching soap suds. Still fun, anyway.

See?

And here's our hotel.

And the room.

Even Mickey Mouse is on the slippers.

And the view from behind the hotel.

And carollers at the lobby.

So that's how LP and I spent Christmas. How about you?

2006-12-07T19:05:00.000+08:00

Grover Asks What Marriage Is.

This is absolutely, absolutely sweet.

2006-12-07T09:33:00.000+08:00

Heeeeeere Fishy Fishy Fishy

I just love Sesame Street. Go fish!

'Ya talking to me, Punk? Part deux

2006-11-27T11:54:00.000+08:00

Perhaps she's gotta lay off Ghost Recon for a while.

Laissez-faire forever

2006-11-17T10:08:00.000+08:00

Free-market champion Milton Friedman died yesterday at 94. *Sigh*

Currently reading

2006-11-15T09:34:00.000+08:00

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck.

Verdict: Wang Lung's a pig. O-lan reminds me of me.

No, I'm not even halfway through. Been alternating it with a re-read of Like Water for Chocolate. Ooh-la-la.

I got myself a copy because it was at 30% off, not because it had Oprah's seal of approval.

Gimme my cake, and my shoes, too.

2006-11-10T17:15:00.000+08:00

I don't care what the critics say. Booed in Cannes? I heard there was more applause. It may not have been too historically accurate since it was based on only one biography, and attempts to humanize her may only have given her an image of, er, a bubblehead.

At any rate, there was a lot of eye candy, and plenty of the color pink. (I am not much into pastels, so it takes a lot for me to like pink.) And the costumes! The shoes! The Palace of Versailles! Entertaining, very. The soundtrack (Nu Wave and pop, among others) added that punch.

I would also like to add that the French do bathe. With their clothes on. Kidding.

See it. Only at Greenbelt Cinema 3.

Cat, DMD

2006-11-09T16:46:00.000+08:00

I'm updating my resume. Will be adding "simple tooth extraction" under Other Skills.

Yep, LP is now officially bungi. Her tooth was loose enough to knock out with my left punch, but that would have left her face black and blue. True to form, though, she was playing with her Gameboy while I deftly tied a length of floss around her lower incisor.

She giggled as I gently tugged away, "Heehee!!! Are you making my tooth dance, Mommy?"

And one strong yank upwards, it came off.

I announced, It's off! It's off! Andolini, who was watching TV, scrambled madly for the camera. Let's take a picture! Smile, sweety! The corners of her mouth stretched into an uneasy smile, as blood started trickling down her lip.

Quick! Gargle with icewater! I yelled.

After which she started yelping in pain. Blood in the sink is never a pretty sight.

She carried on, crying, blood and tears flowing, Don't do that again, OK?!?!?!? Twenty minutes and few tablespoons of ice cream later, she's happy again.

And happier the next morning. The tooth fairy gave her a hundred pesos for her perfect, no-cavities tooth.

Scenes from the weekend

2006-10-30T09:58:00.000+08:00

At a wedding reception, before everyone else arrived:

Waiter: Sir, gusto 'nyo po ng drapper?

Guest: Ano?

Waiter: Drapper, sir.

Guest: Dropper? Para saan?

Waiter: Drap ver, sir.

Guest: Ano?

Waiter: Drap ber, po.

Me: Ahh, beer! Draft beer!

Waiter: Opo.

Guest: 'Wag na.

*************************

After a movie:

LP: Why do they call it The Grudge?

Cat: What do you mean?

LP: 'Di ba a grudge is where you park your car?

Ngeeeeeee!!!

Shaking some brain cells to life

2006-10-26T14:43:00.000+08:00

Milyeno's effects have been more long-term than expected. Even physically, for me at least.

Our weather-beaten roof and gutter (thanks in no small part to lousy construction) gave way to the pounding rains and rendered some parts of the house wet, to say the least. A good friend offered to fix the roof pro-bono, but I guess some damage was already beyond repair. Like the closet, for instance.

The door of which came slamming down my head yesterday morning, as I was getting dressed for work. I literally saw stars.

Head injuries are really messy. There was so much blood, I thought I was going spray all over.

Three ice packs later, I couldn't feel my skullcap, but the bleeding had subsided. I was taken to the doctor that same afternoon, who said I didn't need any stitches despite sustaining two cuts and an abrasion on my scalp, and a scratch on my back. An anti-tetanus shot, though, had to be administered.

I guess it's not so bad as getting hit by felled billboards.

Who needs a dentist?

2006-10-18T11:05:00.000+08:00

"My tooth's moving, Mom," LP said, sticking her lower jaw out.

I took a look, and sure enough, one of her lower front incisors yielded to some gentle pressure from my index finger. She asked why.

"Sweetie, you have baby teeth that will last only a few years. It will fall out soon because your permanent teeth are pushing it out. That means you're growing up."

(Side note: She has the best set of teeth I've seen, among kids her age, anyway. No cavities, man! I made it a point to brush her teeth twice a day, since her first tooth came out. Bottle mouth never became a problem, and to think she has only begun to ease away from the bottle. At age six. That's another entry altogether.)

"Did your teeth wobble too when you were a little girl?"

And suddenly, memories came flooding back. Of Mama tying a piece of string around a wobbly tooth and giving it a good yank, of me screaming and tears pouring afterward, and of frozen Jellyace and ice being fed to me to numb the pain over the "stump" where my tooth used to be. For sentimental reasons, Mama kept one of my baby teeth, as well as one of my kid brother's, in her jewelry box.

Will be looking forward to literally pulling teeth!

Time-peace

2006-09-28T09:46:00.000+08:00

My legions of fans have been asking what the watch looks like. I could've posted the link to Armani, but then you'd see how much it cost. It's not a Rolex or anything, but still, it's something I really can't afford.

The funny thing is, I really needed a new watch. I used to have three, all at the same time: two Guy Laroche and a Fossil, all gifts from LXH from when we still had some affection for each other. Guy Laroche No. 1 needs major cleaning, which would set me back a few hundred pesos too many. Fossil's strap broke at the most inopportune time, which was right after Guy Laroche No. 2's strap broke, too. I decided to purchase a new strap for No. 2, and a few days later at the gym, it went missing.

So my Nokia had to double as my watch for the next two months.

Oh, the watch. Yeah. Here it is. It actually looks better on my wrist. Hehe.

This apple fell too far from both trees

2006-09-26T17:28:00.000+08:00

I met with LP's teacher this afternoon and discussed her performance the last quarter.

Get this. She got an "O" for Religion.

Not zero, you idiot. "O" for Outstanding. The highest possible grade for any subject. She got poor marks for Filipino, though. (I guess she doesn't watch enough Eat Bulaga.) She scored VC (a notch below O) in English. (Thank God for cable TV.)

Not surprisingly, she scored perfect in her first quarter exam on Religion. According to her teacher, LP absolutely loves discussing God. She even elaborates on her answers.

(Mental note: Research on kid-friendly versions of 'Ol Nick's The Prince.)

Hard feelings begone!

2006-09-22T15:38:00.000+08:00

Some people have got more balls than others.

Let's pit my Hemingway-wannabe-it's-complicated-but-we're-friends friend against the seed of my beautiful offspring.

The former sent a "token" of his friendship and appreciation of my candor this morning. The token? A freakin' beautiful Emporio Armani wristwatch, along with a pashmina (because my cube is directly under an A/C vent) and a pretty scarf.

Talk about closure. Or starting over as friends? Whatever. I guess, at the very least, the message was, "No hard feelings."

Now for my selected sperm donor.

Zip.

No, I don't expect him to shower me with expensive jewelry. But given how many years we've been together, and how freakin' long it's been, and that we've both moved on without ripping each other's heads off, shouldn't he at least even have the decency to initiate unhostile talks for the sake of his daughter? Or at least say, No hard feelings, let's talk about her this once.

New guy

2006-09-12T09:48:00.000+08:00

Is this the new Kimi?

This guy, Robert Kubica, placed third in yesterday's F1 race in Monza, Italy. It was his third race in F1. Imagine that.

Exciting race. Quite an emotional victory for Schumacher, who announced his retirement. (Yay!) Kimi (handsome as ever) won second. Alonso's (sorry, baby!) engine gave out in the middle of the race. So now, Ferrari's got two points over Renault, total.

Back to Kubica. Wow, this guy was leading the race for more than a few laps.

He's so hot.

Another apple tale

2006-09-08T13:42:00.000+08:00

One Sunday morning:

LP: Let's play chess!

Cat: Huh? You know how to play chess?

LP: Yes!

Cat: Who taught you?

LP: Yaya!

Cat: Do you know how to play it?

LP: Yes!

Cat: How?

LP: When the black eats the white, you're dead!

Cat:....

Getting better

2006-08-29T10:45:00.000+08:00

Sorry, but there hasn't been anything new to blog about. Some "projects" in the pipeline, but I don't want to discuss it yet. You know how it is when you're so hopeful about something, you'd think you'll be chasing the luck away if you even talk about it?

No, it's not about my love life. (Or the illusion of it.) Heck, I've been too busy turning down dates. *Sigh* It ain't easy being beautiful inside and out.

There have been, though, some "developments" in LXH's. Hehe.

But a well-meaning friend told me I really shouldn't be bitching about the (23-year-old) chick.

I won't.

I just really can't compete.

Not with her:

1. long, rebonded hair. (I really like mine short 'n sassy.)
2. papaya-whitened skin. (Proud to be brown.)
3. penchant for noontime variety shows. (Seriously...joke joke joke?)
4. pool-shooting skills. (Proficiency in billiards is a sign of wasted youth.)
5. eloquence in the vernacular. (I grew up in an English-speaking household.)
6. academic achievement. (Blue and white...I don't even mind green. But does she know what her school colors are? Does anyone EVEN know?)
7. racy pics taken in the bathroom, stark fluorescent lighting and white tiles in the background. ('Nuff said.)

Sorry, couldn't help it. Punzi agrees with me.

You talkin' to me?

2006-08-22T09:51:00.000+08:00

I finally lived up to the family name. Dad will be thrilled.

Sunday, a friend took me to a firing range somewhere in Manila. I was loaned a .45 Colt, the type you see in the movies. Jesus, it was heavy.

And not just that, it was LOUD.

And another thing, I thought the gun was going to fly off my hand after the shot. The recoil was that strong.

So that's me, looking macho and all, twenty meters or so from the target.

And those are my shots. Well, some of them, though. My friend says my grouping's great, not too scattered and they ALL PRETTY MUCH HIT THE FREAKIN' TARGET.

Sorry...

2006-08-15T16:00:00.000+08:00

Crap, been neglecting my blog.

Nothing much has been happening. I'm still single, but very much attached to LP.

As for Cat's dating misadventures, I was stupid enough to gorge on free Jack Daniels Friday night. Open bar. Imagine that.

"Party starts at 8." Now, for a veteran barhopper (nyahahaha...), them open bars run out of booze FAST. Nevermind being fashionably late. I'd rather be drunk and happy.

Drunk and happy, alright. I had consumed more than how many triples, before ten o'clock, by which time I hurled Red Kimono's beef kamameshi and california roll on a broken table somewhere in the building.

Next thing I knew, I was in bed, with LP beside me. I had no memory of how I got home.

I called up my date.

Do you remember getting down on one knee and asking me to marry you? He asks.

Er, no. If I don't remember it, it didn't happen. I reply.

Whew.

A portent of things to come

2006-07-24T17:21:00.000+08:00

Very few people know me well enough to know that I have a violent streak. It seems that LP has a thing for violence, too. And it's not just her swordplay with the boys next door. Nor our wrestling matches every weekend morning.

Get a load of that big smile on her face. Big gun, eh? Taken last week, at the gun show in Megamall. That wide smile was nothing compared to how she reacted to the shotguns and M16s. She literally squeezed through a throng of grown men just to get a better look.

One Big Fight!!!

2006-07-03T09:40:00.000+08:00

Yeah, I forgot to bring my Cybershot with me, so I had to make do with my cameraphone.

So there's Da Manny making his grand entrance. See the smoke? He's somewhere there. Look closely. If you look hard enough, you'll find Waldo, too. Oh, and I finally heard it live: Let's get rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrready to rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrumble!!!

And there's the match. Twelve spectacular rounds. One thing I can say about Larios is that he's a real sport. Accepted defeat graciously...he's a champ in my book.

At the lobby, right after the big match. Jesus...alcohol was everywhere! Beer, scotch, wine, tequila. And the food! Oh, the food!!! Catered by Cibo. We thought the spread was for the VIPs, but nobody stopped us when we tried to nip a beer and some grub...so we ended up staying for another hour. Alcohol units consumed by 1pm: one beer, one glass of red wine, five shots of tequila.

Celebrities! Here's my pic with Gary V. and manager-wife Angeli Pangilinan. (Sorry, Ms. Pangilinan, my photographer isn't used to shooting away with a cameraphone.) I'd have posed with Keanna Reeves...thank God I wasn't that drunk.

!@#$%^&!@#$%^&()

2006-06-30T11:20:00.000+08:00

I am BROKE.

And I thought I had saved up enough for the rainy days. Turns out, I had already spent for it. Over the summer.

And that louse of an ex-husband...Jesus, don't let me get started again.

Gah.

Another one of Cat's recent misadventures in dating

2006-06-27T17:09:00.000+08:00

I will not glorify this email with a reply.

But I will immortalize it with a blog entry. Heh.

Saturday morning, I was SMSd:

"Sory for the urgent decision bt please cme nd join my civil weddng. Few r nvited. Venue @ highlands,june31 @ 4pm. I'l be xpecting u 2 come. ;)"

I found it hilarious...June only has 30 days. I forwarded it to as many as twenty people, including this guy I was seeing. (Same a-hole who dumped me a few months back, see archives.) He replied that he'll "disappear into the shadows from whence I came."

To which I answered, Er, it was a joke, Baby.

Fast forward to today, Tuesday. In my inbox:

I've told you before that I keep you at such close range that there is no space for bullshit filters, and very little even for masks. Then you send me that BS about your upcoming marriage, and of course I swallowed it hook line and sinker - now I find that you too would casually crap on me? (There's an ocean of difference between a joke and BS. -Cat) Again?

Whom then can I trust? If not my few friends?

You know that I must go once you are married or otherwise attached, and that is the only correct course for myself, who is not allowed to offer you what you most desire. (Senti portion here, deleted.- Cat)

I have paid such a price before, and I had already sensed the potential costs to me when I first met you - therefore I do not raise protest at this, my inevitable bleeding.

But to think that you had bled me for the equivalent of a few cheap words and a quick laugh is such agony. I actually hope that this particular BS was a calculated and necessary move on your part to signal to me that my time is up, a clear road sign that even a teenage male gorilla can understand?

I do not think I have it in me to risk hemorrhaging again, especially with this timing you have chosen, when work and duties press down especially heavy upon me, these past few weeks. All night last night I lay in fever from lack of sleep, and towards dawn I decided that the only polite thing for me to do was to write you some notes from my perspective.

And I do not think I have it in me to risk hemorrhaging again, so soon, with all these signs I have seen and sensed regarding your passing, that even I cannot miss. (Signs-signs ka dyan. Tadew. Mga kasinungalingan mo pinalampas ko lang. 'Kala mo di ko alam tungkol dun kay ano tsaka ano? -Cat)

It will suffice for me if you merely acknowledge this note, perhaps briefly apologise for your prank (calculated/necessary or not - no need to explain), and I will henceforth stay my words both spoken and written, and completely melt away (ano ka, keso? -Cat) into the shadows from whence I came, deleting, denying, and discarding this and other notes and memories, staunching the bleeding, and taking some small comfort in knowing that at least I bleed but once.

(Name withheld because of a-holish behavior)
27 June 2006

2006-06-16T13:48:00.000+08:00

keys me

very entertaining!!!

Lovesick...

2006-06-15T17:19:00.000+08:00

If You Forget Me
Pablo Neruda

I want you to know
one thing

You know how this is:
if I look
at the crystal moon, at the red branch
of the slow autumn at my window,
if I touch
near the fire the impalpable ash,
or the wrinkled body of the log,
everything carries me to you,
as if everything that exists - aromas, light, metals
were little boats
that sail
toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,
if little by little you stop loving me
I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly
you forget me
do not look for me,
for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,
the wind of banners
that passes through my life,
and you decide to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember
that on that day, at that hour,
I shall lift my arms
and my roots will set off
to seek another land.

But,
if each day,
each hour,
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness,
if each day a flower climbs up to your lips to seek me
ahh my love, ahh my own,
in me all that fire is repeated
In me nothing is extinguished or forgotten
My love feeds on your love, beloved
And as long as you live, it will be in your arms
without leaving mine.

Grrrr...

2006-06-13T14:44:00.000+08:00

Why, oh why, do I fall for men I can never have completely?

Big little brother

2006-06-07T17:39:00.000+08:00

Proof that my parents love my younger brother more than they do me:

Kidding. Just a healthy dose of sibling rivalry.

Congratulations, Kid! The world's opening up to you...and soon, I guess, quite a few ladies' legs!

Monaco madness

2006-05-31T12:58:00.000+08:00

A bit late, but TK asked and I couldn't stop myself from posting:

Schumi was supposed to have finished pole from qualifying, but for some reason (and I wasn't able to see Saturday qualifying because of a power outage) he was penalized for "impeding" the track. He then had to start from the pit. Imagine that. The pit. After all the cars have whizzed past him.

Now, what I like most about Monaco, is the track. It's narrow, and there's this incredible hairpin turn, and overall it's quite impossible to overtake the cars ahead of you. Your qualifying position pretty much determines how you'll end the race.

Anyways...

Alonso was pole, followed by Webber, then Kimi, and Montoya. Barichello was somewhere lower, if I remember correctly. Schumi, of course, dead last. Fisichella was penalized in qualifying as well, he was supposed to have been on second.

It was boring for the most part...Alonso maintained pole, followed closely by Kimi (Webber was out long before), Montoya, Coulthard and Barichello. Schumi, as expected, whizzed past more than half the cars, and ended up with the fastest lap. At fifth, from dead last.

Now, the exciting part was...ta-daah...Kimi's engine overheating. At 20+ laps to go. It was heartbreaking. He had to walk the rest of the way to the pit. A few minutes later he was seen topless in a yacht. Ahhh...Monaco.

The other exciting part was Schumi very desperately trying to overtake Barichello. Haha...RB would have slowed down for him if he were still with Ferrari! But not now, not ever! I guess. Good for him.

Race ended with Alonso, Montoya, Coulthard (draped in a Superman cape), Barichello and Schumi, in that order.

I'll burn in hell...

2006-05-31T09:59:00.000+08:00

Greed:	High
Gluttony:	High
Wrath:	Medium
Sloth:	Very Low
Envy:	High
Lust:	High
Pride:	Medium

Discover Your Sins - Click Here

Scenes from a bar

2006-05-30T09:47:00.000+08:00

Or, Cat's non-adventures in living the single life.

A cute guy sits next to me at our table. We're introduced, and we chat it up. He tells me he likes my hair, and suggests that I wear it some other way, asks what salon I go to, suggests another salon and his stylist...It takes less than a minute for me to realize he was gay. No prob! I've got loads of faggoty friends. They make the most fun gimmick partners.

The following week, we meet again at a bar. Turns out he plays percussions for the band. Cozies up beside me, chats it up once again. He says, You look hot tonight! And I tell him, Yeah, and I ain't getting picked up, hahahaha!

He says, Now that's a line if I ever heard one. I laugh. And he continues, I'm not gay, you know.

I laugh some more and reply, Yeah, right.

He insists, I'm not.

Sounding like an idiot, I ask again, You're not?

He replies, 'Course not. I'm mistaken for one all the time, but I love women!

Stupid me says, Oh, you're metrosexual, then.

And he rebuts, I hate that term. So what if I'm particular about my hair and I get pedicures?

******************

At the same bar, but a few hours earlier. Different guy:

"I'm from Singles for Christ."

Read during my lunch hour

2006-05-23T21:31:00.000+08:00

A timely excerpt from Chapter 20 of Machiavelli's The Prince:

When you disarm your subjects, however, you offend them by showing that, either from cowardliness or lack of faith, you distrust them; and either conclusion will induce them to hate you. Moreover, since it is impossible for you to remain unarmed, you would have to resort to mercenaries, whose limitations have already been discussed.

Funny, or amazing? How Machiavellian tenets can be applied to HR.

Because I'm a mom...

2006-05-15T00:18:00.000+08:00

...and LP's gifts are priceless.

I found this taped to my dresser one early Saturday morning after a particularly embarrassing and humiliating episode at a bar. It really, really, cheered me up. No, not just cheered. It made me deliriously happy. Notice that the smiley face is just that...a face. No hair.

And this, too, she made in school. Sunny day, green grass, Cat and LP holding hands and all. Awww...She tacked it on my bedroom door.

And of course, a real labor of love from yesterday. Her nanny helped her spell and penciled lines on the paper to help LP write straight across.

Happy mother's day, too, to fellow bloggers Ron and Punzi!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2006-05-04T15:00:00.000+08:00

It was yesterday, and no, I did not forget. I never forget. My brother, however, is just nearly the opposite. Good thing he remembered this year.

She replied to my happy birthday text with this:

"...I think I will enjoy my birthday this year. Thanks to the Lord and my family. I'm so proud of my children. Your papa and I are so blessed."

Aww...

I had to stop myself from telling her that she had no reason to be proud of me, having thrown to the gutter my dreams of becoming a doctor and settling for the life of an ordinary employee, taking too sweet my time to finish my MBA, marrying young, and essentially throwing caution to the wind by changing my marital status with one swift kick. But then again, a mother's love is unfathomable.

She had me surrounded with books at a young age, and I am doing the same for my darling LP. She had to pull some strings to get me into a good school, because I purposely messed up the entrance exam for Kindergarten. (By purposely, I meant I thought it would be fun to just mark all A's. I had no idea there were consequences invloved. Hey, I was five.) There were countless times I had to endure her wrath because I did poorly in math. In hindsight, maybe I should've gotten more of it, I'd probably have turned out a more competent and accomplished adult.

Happy birhday, Mama! This entry's for you. We love you so much!

Taken last year. That's my giant brother ten years my junior, Mama, and myself. No, that's not an elemental being in the corner of the picture. That's LP, enjoying herself by the water, much too engrossed with her own thoughts to join the photo op.

Thoughts after a mad weekend

2006-05-02T14:01:00.000+08:00

I'm reading Machiavelli's The Prince. For the life of me, Jesuits didn't mark this as required reading in college.

Just a few points I'd like to cite from the few chapters I've read:

Chapter 2, Hereditary Principalities: I say, then, that hereditary states accustomed to the family of their ruler are more easily kept than new ones...if he is once deprived of it, however, he will nevetheless regain it at the slightest adversity that the conqueror encounters.

If unusual vices do not make him hated, it is reasonable to suppose that his subjects will feel a natural affection for him.- How true, especially for political dynasties. And I thought it was just as easily summed up by "Better to be ruled by a stupid San Juan actor than by an educated QC lawyer."

Chapter 5, How to Govern Cities and Principalities that, Prior to Being Occupied, Lived Under Their Own Laws: For in truth there is no sure method of holding such cities except by destruction. Anyone who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it may expect to be destroyed by it; for such a city may always justify rebellion in the name of liberty and its ancient insitutions. - This is what Marcos tried to do. This is what GMA is trying to do. And rebellion is what's happening.

Chapter 6, Concerning New Principalities Acquired by One's Own Arms and Ability: Those who become princes by virtue of their abilities, as these men did, acquire dominion with difficulty but maintain it with ease. The difficulties they ecnounter in winning their dominions arise in part from the new forms of administration and new methods which they are compelled to introduce in order to establish their state and assure their security. It must be realized that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more uncertain of success, or more dangerous to manage than the establishment of a new order of government; for he who introduces it makes enemies of all those who derived advantage from the old order and finds but lukewarm defenders among those who stand to gain from the new one. - There goes charter change.

Evil Entrepreneurship

2006-04-26T17:07:00.000+08:00

Borrowed from Number Cruncher, with permission, of course!

evil entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship will bring about the destruction of the middle class.

Got your attention there, didn’t I?

The current trend emerging since the 1980s is that to succeed in life, one has to be an entrepreneur. Then stories of the taipans (Tan, Gokongwei, Sy) and recently the pinoy trailblazers (Villar, Hortaleza) would be narrated. However, articles don’t usually cover the mid-sized entrepreneur or the effect entrepreneurship has on the professional class.

When businesses and ventures fail, banks would usually be involved in the cleaning up process (whether to collect a direct loan from a failed expansion or to collect from a dead credit line). When asked why companies fail, they have two major reasons: succession problems and poor hedging.

Succession problems occur when the 2nd or 3rd generations of the owners don’t do as well as their trailblazing parents. Some squander the fortune, some don’t have the same acumen as their parents, and some have the exact acumen as their parents but the talent is inapplicable to the changing current business environment.Hedging happens when one offsets one risk with another risk. For example, a businessman would need cash for the future, so he borrows in dollars in order to pay a lesser amount, with a reasonable expectation that the exchange rate will not fluctuate too much.

What happened was before 1997, where the exchange rate was P27 to a dollar, capital was free-flowing, and it was easier for businessmen to avail of loans for expansion. After all, this was the Ramos boom years, everyone was optimistic. But the crisis struck, and interest rates shot through the roof. Thus, the businesses couldn’t pay off the loans anymore and they shut down.While thinking about these things, I thought about the life cycle and profile of an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs usually belong to upper middle class to high class families. Lower middle class and low class families usually have little access to capital to start a sustainable and realistic enterprise (there is a limit on how much sari-sari stores and fishball stands one can put up in a community). Standard entrepreneurs on the other hand have access to their families’ capital, or have enough clout to borrow from a friendly bank.

Due to the intense competitive business environment, only a few entrepreneurs succeed; even then, these successful entrepreneurs have been through numerous failures before hitting the big time. Thus, with their instincts hardened by experience, most entrepreneurs believe that they alone can dictate how the business should be run, if not by someone they trust. Thus, they appoint family members to hold positions of authority.The pattern isn’t breaking anytime soon, as can be seen by the failure of several businesses due to succession issues. Entrepreneurs would cling on rather than change, until the friendly bank becomes less than friendly and/or funds run out because of the sheer magnitude of losses.

When members of the middle class (upper and middle) opt to work as professional employees, they become disheartened since their way up the ladder is necessarily blocked by family members of the owners. Add this to the fact that because of the low level of trust owners have for outsiders, professional employees are only exposed to supervisory and administrative duties; no real responsibility is given.

To achieve a sense of accomplishment, professional employees currently have two options: become entrepreneurs or become OFWs. As more professionals leave the country, the country’s supply of professionals lessen, and the quality of work degrades. If they become entrepreneurs, the cycle begins anew, distrusting yet another generation of middle class professional hopefuls.

The original goal of entrepreneurship encouragement is to stem the preference for title-specific white-collar jobs, but lacking in substance. However, through selling entrepreneurship, emphasizing the “own-boss” notion only solidifies the señorito mentality, too many chiefs, not enough Indians.

I wish I could give a solution to this observation. I could always say, encourage a sense of professionalism within companies and the public sector, in order for professionals to have a better sense of self-worth, but that’s pointing the finger to the powers-that-be; and in this republic, the powers-that-be are still relatively ensconced that they do not feel the pressure to change. Any attitudinal change for the professionals themselves can only create incremental effects, due to the leverage of resources between the haves and the have-nots.

And the drain continues…

Mano a mano in Imola

2006-04-23T21:52:00.000+08:00

Quick one.

More than three quarters of the race was focused on Alonso and Schumi. Crap. That whole stretch, I didn't know what was happening to Kimi, Fisichella, Barichello, nor Coulthard (out).

That's one reason I found it boring.

Second, Schumi won. Ok, for a change, he won. Hasn't won since the season started, anyway.

But there's a rumor going around: Kimi's moving to the prancing horses? Hmmm...he's even hotter in red.

What I did during my summer vacation

2006-04-20T08:54:00.000+08:00

Yes, I'm back. And hello to my Malaysian friends! Spent a glorious week in your country, and I was very impressed, and felt very, very much at home.

Sorry, but I took very few pics while I was there. (Punzi and Ron would know why) I wasn't much of a tourist, you can say I pretty much relaxed in the confines of my host's sprawling pad. A bit of shopping during the day (mainly because KLCC was a mere five-minute walk from where I was staying, and Bukit Bintang was a fairly short drive) and plenty of bar-hopping in the evenings.

Nope, no beach. My host couldn't get out of his busy schedule to take me to Langkawi. Next time, perhaps.

Incidentally, alcohol commands a steep price. No wonder my host asked me to bring him some good ol' SMB from home.

One of the highlights of my stay was dinner at Menara KL, supposedly the fourth tallest tower in the world. It was a revolving restaurant, and by revolve, that means the floor literally moves. Hehe. Not too fast, though, but it got me a bit disoriented at first. The view was absolutely breathtaking (sorry, no pics) and romantic. I was all dressed up and made up (little black dress, killer heels, smoky eyes and red lipstick) for that particular dinner, you'd think I was expecting my date to pop the question or something. After dinner, we were off to Zouk bar, (Malaysia's trendiest, I was told) for 80s night.

And here's the famous Petronas Towers, in all its steel-and-glass glory. Suria KLCC, the mall, is right there below, in the middle. I regret not getting up early enough to line up for tickets. (A real lazy ass, I was there a week) I was never able to visit the bridgeway (as most tourists should, and probably have) and am kicking myself already.

To my Malaysian friends, and I mean this good-naturedly, just what is it with Malaysia and tall phallic structures? Hehe. You already have Menara KL, and you couldn't resist building Petronas. And not just one! You had to build two!!!

You know what else? I couldn't help but wonder even more when my host and I went for ice cream after a visit to the National Museum. The ice cream was served in these cones:

Or maybe I've just had too much action, really.

To all ye lonely hearts

2006-04-18T09:35:00.000+08:00

Can it be right to give what I can give?
To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears
As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years
Re-sighing on my lips renunciative
Through those infrequent smiles which fail to live
For all thy adjurations? O my fears,
That this can scarce be right! We are not peers
So to be lovers; and I own, and grieve,
That givers of such gifts as mine are, must
Be counted with the ungenerous. Out, alas!
I will not soil thy purple with my dust,
Nor breathe my poison on thy Venice-glass,
Nor give thee any love--which were unjust.
Beloved, I only love thee! let it pass.

Sonnets from the Portuguese, 9, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning

Sounds different when not sung after a basketball game

2006-04-07T10:01:00.000+08:00

Yes, I'm blue and proud of it.

Nicked from Punzi's blog:

For everything else, there's MasterCard.

2006-04-03T17:21:00.000+08:00

Ahh...vacation. Overnight stay and meals for 3 adults (mom, two loyal nannies, child under 6 is free): Php 3,500. 00.

Intro dive, haggled: Php 1,200.00

SPF 70 sunscreen: Php 1,045.25

Boat transfers: Php 1,000.00

Watching the sunset with my Little Preschooler and later laying down on the boardwalk to "catch" shooting stars: priceless.

Got my mojo back

2006-03-31T18:20:00.000+08:00

...but apparently it wasn't enough. Oh well, better than nothing, right?

A female co-worker's been egging me to "gimmick" the past few months. I've always declined, citing, among other things, gym. I know, lame excuse. The truth is, I've been doubting a good fit between myself and the club scene nowadays. I step into a bar and I feel either so old or so pretentious, or both. Or maybe I'm not really into rubbing elbows with the likes of society columnists and their subjects. Whatever.

The first gimmick my co-worker invited me to, I got cold feet. I was already there, as in inside, between the tables, on the ground floor, while she was in the mezzanine. I felt like hyperventilating, and ready to collapse. "This just isn't my thing...I feel so old...This just isn't me." And I stepped out and hailed a cab. My co-worker frantically texted, "Where the hell are you?!?"

To which I sheepishly replied, "Sorry, I just couldn't go through it."

Not much fun there, am I?

The next few weeks, she egged me some more. I realized I was denying myself some fun. It wasn't that the bar scene was a bad fit, more like, I really was too chicken to try to open up and meet new people. And yes, the mojo thing. Did I have enough mojo to flirt with the men at these bars?

Open bar time. A good incentive, really, for me. Even if I went home empty handed, at least I'd have gotten inebriated for free.

Cut to the post-party. I went home 4am, drunk and giddy from Jack Daniels and beer. Yes, BSB peeps, I met quite a number of guys, not one though, asked for my number. Good enough. At least one of them wanted to get laid. Haha. "I'm a lousy lay drunk," I told him.

So there. Opening up to the the swingin' single life. Maybe I'll improve as I go along.

Fly high survey

2006-03-23T12:54:00.000+08:00

Snitched from Punzi

(x) eat at Manang’s-- once or twice, the caf was always nearer
(x) learn the Alma Mater - UAAP fanatic here
( ) get on the Dean’s List- asa pa
( ) lie down and sleep on a bench along EDSA walk - Colayco kid here
( ) be a TNT! - ano yon?!
(x) jog around the campus in the evening - yep, that's how I lost weight
(x) visit the art gallery-- twice, the first during Orsem, the second...because I had nothing better to do
( ) know at least one xerox lady, manong, or technician by name - Sorry...
(x) get a Jesuit for a teacher-- Fr. Bu! Fr. Leonard! (May God bless his soul.)
( ) itch from higad bites
(x) have gotten an F in something - yabang ni punzi. Ma 11 under Justan
(x) have taken a crap in school - if you gotta go, you gotta go
(x) watch a La Salle vs. Ateneo UAAP game - every year!
( ) give a PowerPoint presentation-- only them rich kids had ppt!
( ) study in the caf upstairs - wadda...no caf upstairs during my time
(x) watch a T.A. play- Ron Capindig was my crush, that dude in the Jollibee Hongkong commercial. Awesome actor!!!
( ) sit on the SEC ledge and watch the stars
(x) eat in Full House, Martha’s Kitchen, and Ken Afford - not Ken Afford, Kent Afford daw yun. Usually Tita Amy's.
(x) sleep in the lib-- back when Rizal Annex wasn't airconditioned yet. It was nice to sit by the window and listen to the breeze blowing through the trees, and the occasional chirping of the mayas.
( ) visit Mr. San Andres--
(x) go to the chapel- everyday
( ) have gotten a pebble stuck in your shoe/slippers in the middle of the quad-
( ) cut class with your block to watch a movie - after classes nalang
(x) sign up for those institutional (i.e. difficult but brilliant) teachers: Ferriols, Dacanay, David, Manacsa, Ang, Escaler, Arcilla, Totanes, etc.)-- Calasanz lang, after the suicides. I was sick with the flu while I was enrolling...
(x) go to CERSA night - open house
( ) have tried siomai rice - ano yun? panahon ko, beef teriyaki and mashed potato!
( ) learn how to smoke- after I became yuppiescum
(x) fall in love-- unrequited
(x) actually read the book you keep borrowing from the lib-- of course
(x) play cards during your free time-- pusoy dos!
(x) dress in business attire-- Alternative class facilitator! Job fair mock interviews!
(x) learn to stay awake for more than 24 hours straight - of course
( ) have gotten side comments from ASSOC- i was never their type
( ) take (and enjoy) Saturday classes - never
(x) go to your immersion - Gabaldon! Bobby Guev!
(x) eat Food for Thought sandwiches - Galantina or turkey on wholewheat with cucumber and tomato and mustard mayo
(x) get a boyfriend-- charge to experience
(x) take time to read the vandalism on the CR doors-- ehehe, yeah!
( ) watch “Minsan Lang Sila Bata” and “Macho Dancer” for class
(x) do a last minute paper - master procrastinator
( ) have spent a lot for 1x1 ID pictures
( ) get exempted from final exams-- never (what college prof exempts?)
(x) attend a college mass - the only ones i really liked were presided over by Fr. Joe
( ) promise to quit smoking -
( ) play hide-and-seek in the mini-forest -
(x) know where the best restrooms are on campus-- Bellarmine, you can "go in peace"
(x) join an org - LiKaS, president!!!
(x) allow yourself to make mistakes (but make sure you sort them out before you graduate)-- want a philosophical discussion on that one? Kantian?
(x) take summer class-- always, first was for PE 101, second was required, third because I underloaded the previous sem due to an injury
(x) admire the sacred heart statue in the evening - yep
(x) make a video for a project - I was the star. Fell down the stairs, got run over by a trike, etc.
( ) have a crush on a teacher -
( ) attend a Jesuit retreat - nope...ehehehe
( ) have gotten a parking ticket-- always parked properly
(x) come to school in your crappiest yet most comfy clothes - yeah...hell week usually
( ) learn how to use the Bayantel pay phones - PLDT's fonkard ruled during our time!
(x) participate in school activities - always!
( ) catch the Blue Babble Batallion tryouts-- nope
(x) date an Atenean-- date lang
(x) find a tambayan - designated org room at Colayco
(x) ride a tricycle on campus-- like Punzi, walking is always better
(x) admire the Marikina valley at night-- either to reflect or to make out
( ) learn how to beg for a higher grade - as long as i passed, didnt matter
(x) use your cuts wisely -
( ) volunteer to be class beadle -
( ) had the worst lottery schedule for reg - not too bad, really
(x) admire the trees on campus - sat under them a lot
(x) have forgotten your freecut and gone to that class - always!
(x) eat in the ISO canteen-- yep, friendlier people there
(x) be active in your org - president nga eh!
(x) have signed up on an ACP class just because the girl or guy you like signed up for it --facilitated because I wanted my crush to notice me!
(x) get as many app forms as you can during the job fair - got my first job from the job fair!
(x) learn how to cram - doesn't everyone?
(x) sell tickets (or watch) an org-sponsored movie premiere-- Independence Day, aka ID4!
( ) save money to Xerox all of your seatmate’s notes -
( ) have accidentally seen a make-out session -
(x) check out the meron lagoon and lambingan bridge - yep, years after I graduated.
( ) have dozed off in class in Bel right after a class in CTC/SOM/Comm Bldg or vice versa -
( ) learn how to work with groupmates from hell
(x) perfect the art of parking on campus -patience...
( ) had a bad encounter with one of the guards on campus - no way!
(x) develop a love for sisig - dencio's katipunan!
(x) learn how to pronounce “AEGIS” properly - who can't?
(x) have used typing rooms at the library-- yeah!
(x) have reserved a classroom, AVR, etc for a class or org function - yep
( ) have asked the lib for an endorsement to research in other libraries
( ) have lost a perfectly functioning umbrella - never carried an umbrella, would rather get wet
( ) have used consultation hours properly
(x) looked forward to lab breakage refund, in case you didn’t break any equipment-- ilang iced tea din yun
(x) visit the Guidance Office - and cancelled my appointment
(x) visit Admission and Aid-- a few times

will try to be faithful this season

2006-03-19T18:38:00.000+08:00

Aaacckkk...Schumi and Massa suck. OK, not too bad, actually. From 14th and 21st, respectively, in qualifying. Massa wouldn't give his teammate his spot.

But Fisichella and Alonso exceeded expectations. 1-2. I'm really more for Alonso, but hey, they're teammates. I didn't know Fisi was HOT. Never saw him without his helmet until a few hours ago, after the race. (What rock have I been hiding under?)

I kinda miss the Ferrari 1-2s of Schumi and Rubens. Really. There was usually some drama involved. (Like, Rubens giving up first place for Schumi, all for points for the team.)

Kimi, meanwhile, ran into suspension failure in the first lap. Montoya was fourth. I still love you, Kimi.

Newcomer Rosberg's (Williams) luck ran out too early, five laps into the race if I remember correctly. Qualified at 3rd.

Pics will be uploaded tomorrow.

Gotta get back to form

2006-03-15T16:45:00.000+08:00

This is bad.

I've retreated too much into my shell, I haven't been updated on F1.

There are now new teams and some rigodon. Barrichello's (I love the guy but he's just got balat sa pwet (jinx) wherever he goes) with Red Bull (Austrian team that bought the Jaguar team, quite interestingly Red Bull's engine is Ferrari). Felipe Massa's with Ferrari (still a Brazilian #2) while Kimi Raikkonen's still the dashing glamour boy at #3. New teams Toro Rosso (starring no one you nor I know), and Midland (rehashed Jordan, Toyota engine).

Barrichello's most down-on-his-luck moment (for Cat, anyways): 2003 Brazilian GP, His engine stalling in the 47th of 53 laps, in FIRST place, in HIS HOMETOWN of Sao Paolo.

Barrichello's most down-on-his-luck moment No. 2: The glass trophy he won at the British GP in 2003 was knocked over and shattered at the airport.

Somebody get Mikka back. This clip is my favorite, from 2000. Arguably the best maneuver ever versus Schumi.

Update

2006-03-15T11:35:00.000+08:00

I should have blogged about this sooner, but I was too busy begging off dates and other romantic inclinations. (It's raining men...an ego-booster at best, annoying at worst.)

A few of you already know, namely, Punzi (hooray to single parents) and Number Cruncher, that my louse of an ex-husband (LXH from now on) braved the possibility of the wrath of a madwoman and asked that we patch things up. And of the dates he had to choose, our wedding anniversary. (Sixth, technically, because we still are married.)

It was a beautiful Sunday and I chose to spend the whole afternoon in Greenbelt, with my leisurely re-read, Sophie's World, and lots of coffee, al fresco. LP was with her dad, as arranged (but not always followed to the letter, not surprisingly, there are even times when I'd let her stay with him for three days, and he'd negotiate for two, this coming from a father who has my parents' car and who's had considerably less expenses since I kicked him out) and I decided that that day would be a Me Day.

At around 6pm, while hearing mass, I get a text from LP's nanny, that LXH has been asking for me, and what time I'd be home.

Weird...whatever for?

No, I didn't rush home. I took my sweet time praying. When I did get home, LP's nannies didn't waste time telling me that LXH has been calling every few minutes, "Is she home yet? Is she home yet? Text me as soon as she gets in."

I instructed them to turn off their cellphones and put the phone off the hook. "If he comes over, tell him I'm not here."

Lo and behold, a few minutes later, he was at the gate. With three red roses and an apology for "whatever it was that I did."

A lesser woman would've forgiven him.

As an ex, I am...

2006-03-09T23:49:00.000+08:00

You Are an Indifferent Ex

You're not one of those girls who thinks about her exes - or even remembers them
"Love 'em and Leave 'em" is your motto. And your break ups tend to be a clean break.
It's a nice strategy to have, and guys appreciate your total lack of emotional baggage.
But just a little reminder: it is okay to remember the good parts of your past, even with exes.

What Kind of Ex Are You?

Senti post

2006-03-04T02:55:00.000+08:00

DREAM WITHIN A DREAM
Edgar Allan Poe, 1827

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow --
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand --
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep -- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?.

Mommy boo-boo

2006-02-27T15:39:00.000+08:00

I was informed by Little Preschooler's nanny that her Kumon tutors will be holding an anniversary party Saturday, and parents, particularly whose kids were to receive an award, were required to attend.

The venue was merely a 5-minute tricycle ride from where we live. It was high noon, so I opted to dress casually in decent walking shorts and a linen sleeveless shirt. LP's father had picked her up earlier and was to drive them straight to the party.

Little did I know, or rather, stupid of me not to realize, that the party was also an awarding ceremony of sorts. LP got a bronze medal (which got me to thinking, if I weren't so overbearing, would she have gotten a gold?). I, the proud parent, walked up the small stage to hang it around her neck.

Proud as I was, I couldn't help but pray for the earth to open up and swallow me alive. If LP were any older, she'd probably have told me, Mom...couldn't you have gotten a bit more dressed for the occasion?

I was the only parent in the room wearing shorts. Embarrassingly casual.

Currently re-reading

2006-02-27T15:32:00.000+08:00

Yes. I, too, can bluff my way through a philosophical discussion.

Transcendental existentialism, too, at that.

Love this book.

currently reading...

2006-02-20T11:31:00.000+08:00

Originally posted on BSB:

Chapter 4

(excerpt only)

He's not that into you if he's not having sex with you.

Ladies, you are going to meet, and have already met, many, many men in the years that constitute your dating lifespan. And I hate to tell you this, but some of these men will simply not be attracted to you. I know you're hot, but that's just the way it is. (Even Cindy Crawford has dudes that go, "I don't know what the big deal is about.") And every single one of these men that are not attracted to you will never ever tell you that. Oh, the things they'll say...they're scared, hurt, tired, injured, sick, scared (again). But the truth is simple, brutal, and clear as a bell: He's not attracted to you and doesn't want to hurt your feelings. If he were into you, he would be having a hard time keeping his paws off you. Oh, the simplicity of it all! If a man is not trying to undress you, he's not into you. (Behrendt and Tuccillo, 2004)

*Sigh*

Oh, and another excerpt:

Chapter 2

He's just not that into you if he's not calling you.

Oh, sure they say they're busy. They say that they didn't have even a moment in their insanely busy day to pick up the phone. It was just that crazy. Bullshit. With the advent of cell phones and speed dialing it is almost impossible not to call you. Sometimes I call people from my pants pocket when I don't even mean to. We may try to make you think differently, but we men are just like you. We like taking a break frou mour generally miundane day to talk to someone we like. It makes us happy. And we like to be happy. Just like you. If I were into you, you would be the bright spot in my horribly busy day. Which would be a day that I would never be too busy to call you.

Ok...that clears things up with The Singer.

It's been a long time, really...

2006-02-14T14:34:00.000+08:00

What a surprise. Even more surprising, there was no note.

Wallowing in self-pity by tagging

2006-02-14T09:37:00.000+08:00

What did you do for the last Valentine’s?
Nuthin'.

What are you planning to do for the next Valentine’s (tomorrow today)?
Hit the gym.

What would be the ideal place to celebrate Valentine’s?
The beach. A secluded beach with a handsome stranger.

What qualities in a person would make an ideal Valentine’s date for you?
That he speaks English well, has interesting stories to tell, will spring for everything for the date, and is over 5'7".

What gifts would you buy/have bought for your partner?
An IPod.

What gifts have you received/would like to receive from your partner?
Alimony.

What’s your all-time favourite romantic movie?
Love Story, Vertigo, Like Water for Chocolate.

If you could choose any person on earth to be your date on Valentine’s, who would it be?
The Stud. *sigh*

I tag:
Kitty Litter
Number Cruncher
Pipe
All BSB peeps

sigh the most I can do with v-day just around the corner

2006-02-12T23:30:00.000+08:00

width="240" height="180"
alt="Charming Amorous Temptress"
border="0">

This got my goat

2006-02-10T15:59:00.000+08:00

Infuriating!!!

I received am SMS yesterday morning. The number was not registered in my phone book.

Anonymous: Hello, dis s alfred.

I ignored it. Then he gives a missed call, and another text.

A: Pwde b?

Cat: Who r u?

A: Alfred Cruz of qc. Pwde ka mamaya?

Cat: I'm sorry, I don't know you. You have the wrong number.

A: For hire ka raw.

!**!*%&^%^(*&^%#!!!!!

Cat: Sorry, I'm not. Please don't try to contact me again.

I get really pissed...how the fuck did he get my number? Is somebody out to destroy me? I text him again.

Cat: Loser.

A: Hooker!

Tangina...

Cat: FYI, I'm very generous with my money. Hooker? That's so 80s. Ask all my exes what expensive gifts I gave them. I don't need your dick nor your money. The moment I find out where you live, thugs will ransack your house and threaten your family and relatives. You'll regret you ever thought about me. Never mess with someone who's already made a pact with the devil. That appendage between your legs only whores are willing to suck will be found in a flowerpot somewhere.

To which he replies...

A: U kol me loser e!

May a thousand fire ants crawl up his nether regions and render his member inutile for eternity.

This song goes out to Cat

2006-02-07T00:16:00.000+08:00

A certain somebody from my very recent past called, and said this was his song for me:

November Rain by Guns 'n Roses

When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But darlin' when I hold you
Don't you know I feel the same
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain

We've been through this such a long long time
Just tryin' to kill the pain
But lovers always come and lovers always go
And no one's really sure who's lettin' go today

Walking away
If we could take the time to lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowin' that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me
then darlin' don't refrain
Or I'll just end up walkin'
In the cold November rain

Do you need some time...on your own
Do you need some time...all alone
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know you need some time...all alone
I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you

Sometimes I need some time...on my own
Sometimes I need some time...all alone
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know you need some time...all alone

And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain, ohhh yeahhh
I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain

Don't ya think that you need somebody
Don't ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You're not the only one
You're not the only one

(Currently bingeing on vodka since black label's out)

2006-02-05T02:26:00.000+08:00

Its 2:30 am and I'm blogging. Just got back from drinking ONE beer with two college buds who both had to go home early. Early as in 12 midnight. We met up at nine. It was a good three hours of laughter, something I haven't had in a while. I would've preferred a six pack each...but then we weren't in college anymore. And to think I dressed up and made up...turns out I had nowhere else to go after that one beer.

*Sigh* What I wouldn't give to relive my days as a kid living off on allowance, with my own car, and the rest of the world to discover.

working wounded

GM LP, Part 2

LP's birthday, part 2

LP's sweet birthday, Part 1

LP makes doughnuts

2 Nights, 3 Hotels

Where not to stay this summer

The Mom Song

LP gets whipped.

LP's Holy Week

ZTE Jun Loyspada Bubble gang Spoof

Call me Engineer Cat.

Cat and LP take a holiday

GM LP

LP in action!

LP kicks ass again!

It's a Sony.

Almost done...

LP Kicks Ass

Heir of Slytherin

Another LP moment

Love and power according to LP.

Four-eyes

What I did over the weekend

True Colors

Because my boss is out...

Ten Things I Learned from Jason Bourne

Exactly a month later...

And so it went.

I'm baaaaaack.

What I did during my summer vacation

LP goes snorkeling

Whatta looong lull...

Another MasterCard Moment

Jackie Bird

You know it's summer when...

Congratulations!

Breakfast, Ilonggo vs. French

One-TV Household

Blind date bad date

A V-day message

Worth a Kodak moment

This is creative

Gimmick for us B-listers.

I can't get over this. Really.

Christmas in HK

'Ya talking to me, Punk? Part deux

Laissez-faire forever

Currently reading

Gimme my cake, and my shoes, too.

Cat, DMD

Scenes from the weekend

Shaking some brain cells to life

Who needs a dentist?

Time-peace

This apple fell too far from both trees

Hard feelings begone!

New guy

Another apple tale

Getting better

You talkin' to me?

Sorry...

A portent of things to come

One Big Fight!!!

!@#$%^&*!@#$%^&*()

Another one of Cat's recent misadventures in dating

Lovesick...

Grrrr...

Big little brother

Monaco madness

I'll burn in hell...

Scenes from a bar

Read during my lunch hour

Because I'm a mom...

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Thoughts after a mad weekend

Evil Entrepreneurship

Mano a mano in Imola

What I did during my summer vacation

To all ye lonely hearts

!@#$%^&!@#$%^&()

sigh the most I can do with v-day just around the corner