Boys, Birthdays, Babies

On my Inbox, the ultrasound picture of Yoy and Robert Mostert's first baby. It seeemed just like yesterday when Robert first met Yoy on a coffee date (For my young ones- this is a safe first date. It can be cut short if the guy starts to freak you out, but the invite can be extended over to dinner if there is chemistry). Anyway, that was ages ago, fastforward to the news of the wedding in Netherlands. Then Yoy celebrated her birthday with us while her papers were being completed. We bought Kink Cakes and asked Yoy if Dutch treats are uhmnn..like those (see picture). She just smiled, but had no trouble posing for picture when we asked her to. Game yan si Yoy! And now, these two are having a baby. Reminded me of Jim and Jane's baby. A tiny creature compared to Jim's 6'4 frame and Greek body (I'm quoting you Jim), but Princess Jasmine is now officially ruling the Dwyer house. She has inherited her mother's great smile, and her father's built. We can't wait to see some real pictures of Yoy's baby. Will the baby look Asian or European or the Eurasian great mix?
I only get 50 pictures a month on this blog, so until I get a much larger free internet space, or get ridiculously rich to afford anything in dollars, I'm going to stick to the freeware. Anyway, February is a busy birthday season for my friends. Let me see, Sony on the 5th, Astig on the 8th(what date is it, I remember the 6th o 8th nga ba?), Leng on the 6th, Ate Doris on the 11th, Robert on the 16th, Cathe on the 24th. So I couldn't post my gorgeous friends' pics. Whatever, they will find their way here anyways.
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armi: kuripot ka tange
Astig: kasi nagpapakulo ako ng tubig for coffee
astig: e may sobra yun na rin gamit ko inom
astig: hehehe
armi: ahhh..ok
armi: lusot
armi: hahaha
armi: oo hindi ka kuripot kasi nalibre mo na ako eh. hehehe
astig: wehehehe
astig: nyek
armi: turuan mo ako magkuripot
armi: to be wiser with money
astig: kaya mo yan
astig: isipin mo lang na bawat di mo nagastos
astig: pambayad na yan ng tuition ng anak mo
astig: hahhaha
armi: sira
astig: babae ka kasi
astig: walnag iniisip
armi: ayos..
astig: kung magpa sexy
armi: hahahahahahahahaa
astig: para makabingwit ng lalaki
armi: excuse me may lalake na ako
astig: e lalaki kailangan maraming pera pambili ng chicks
armi: mwahahahaha
astig: hahahha
astig: kulit
astig: ayos

i like astig. manong, pag-igihan ang pag-gym para sa chicks. Happy Birthday.

My Social Calendar

Darn. I haven't found my movie buddy (ies) yet. For someone who doesn't have a constant companion, here is how my social calendar looked like this week.

Sunday: The entire Manila is so quiet, streets are empty, as I make my way to Edsa Shrine for Vinci Angelo's baptism. It's the day of the Manny Pacquiao fight. Vinci's baptism was well-attended, unfortunately I can't say the same for the couple who chose to get married on this day. All their guests ate and run after the wedding to catch the fight. (Make a mental note- not a good wedding day: Manny Pacquiao fight)






I decided to drop by Kingspoint and see Louie's tropa. I went to mass first. They were waiting for me last night when I said I'd drop by. Lambo is closed (out of stock of beer), but there is no stopping these guys who like to spend time with each other just hanging out, relaxing and laughing out loud. I saw many things in Lambo. I saw Mike's Vespa (honey, his second unit is... sweet!), and Mike's little tyke because guys are guys, and they have this urge to pull each other's shorts whenever there is an opportunity. Yesterday it was Buboy's (aka Mark Herras daw) turn, but all we saw are his ample buttocks and his green boxers. The guys had San Mig Light, then later turned to Red Horse (para malakas ang tama- I'm doing my market research as well), while we chicks stuck to Carlo Rossi red wine. I like being there, I told Jing. Sorta makes me feel Toot Toot is with me. (naks!).
Jing is another character. She is loud and good and bad, a mother, a brader, well, let's just say that one day I just may write about her. It's complicated.

Bea kept crying. I didn't know what to do. Chin up, birthday girl. You are young, you have your life ahead of you.
"Allow me not to get in your way, as I make my own path , wish me luck, and pray that I find my happiness someday."
The guys remind me not to drink too much, and Louie calls me to go home, after all it is past 1 AM. I'm happy because Red gave me a Starbucks GC. Coffee!
Tuesday: First meeting of the year. Wine buddies. Timpla at Paseo Center (I love their pritchon and timpla pansit), then off to Greenbelt's Mezze. We had Hardy's Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, light and dry ,with the aroma of the cherries. A nice drink for the crummy cold weather. P220 per glass, we went for the bottle at P1200. A platter of fruits and French cheeses at P380. Simot sarap. Is Tuesdays a Lady's night out? We were inspired to take Spanish dance classes. Just loved that Latin beat! Home before 1 AM.

Wednesday: Gosh, there is no escaping her. My gym buddy! My first gym session for the year, and soon I realize what my first love is. Dancing. And later on, I was reminded why it was so difficult to continue going to the gym. The panting, the shortness of breath, the pain, the sweetness, the joy. I'm wet from perspiration and my cheeks are flushed. Hey don't get aroused.
Went back to the office, did my weekly report, checked my team's progress, how can I juggle all these projects all at the same time? I'm not a superwoman.

Thursday: Social meeting with a Nestle VP. Bunny, can I just say that I think you're fabulous and I adore you. We exchanged notes and numbers of Prof. Charlie Chao while he gave me Jennie Javelosa's number. A fabulous and gifted astrologer with an antique four-poster bed. My excuse this time is I need decoration tips. Ha-ha. I made calendar notes to see a guy who does finishing for ceilings, make an appointment for Mandarin Oriental's spa next week, to go to the bank to request for reissuance of personal checks, and to go to Studio 34! I learned people live there already, and 7-Eleven is 100% completed.

Friday: Who is going to be my movie buddy? I haven't seen Narnia, and I'm curious to see how the film Memoirs of a Geisha fared compared to the book. (I loved the trailer though). I think I'd opt to watch Brokeback Mountain on DVD (cowboys kissing is not really my fantasy). But I am such a movie fan. I hiss at loud moviegoers and I boo those who use their phones. Cie, where is Maan? Her MTRCB card is sayang. Oh, Divina, Atty. Divina and I have a Rockwell date next week. Maybe we can catch a film there.
But work is going to be full and heavy. Once I'm done with that, I head for the gym and try the Hatha Yoga. Then, not sure yet, maybe go to The Politics of Dancing with Paul Van Dyk. (Toot Toot, you could've gotten me that Ministry of Music CD, you know).
Sunday: A trip to Westgrove Heights to see Don Robert's multi-million project. To see what the year of the Fire Dog will bring. I should watch out for stress signs, and learn how to control my finances. I finished my 2-year excel spreadsheet and will tightly control my expenses. Right after I check Joy Lim's charms at the event.

Postscript: For Jim who found his Jane in the Philippines

This is a postscript to my previous blog "They Just Don't Get It". After conversations with the girlfriends, I apparently caused a chain reaction prompting Jane to talk to her hubby Jim, who of course, freaked out, as no man in his right mind wants to hear,"Can we talk?" when she obviously wants to even if he'd rather be skinned alive. Anyway, Jim later on wrote this in his blog. It is beautifully written. Here it is, in the interest of objectivity, a man's point of view on why they just don't get women.

"Enough about poker, I wanted to write something else today that is important to me. Relationships. When I got home last night my wife wanted to talk. Now any husband or boyfriend out there dreads the words, “can we talk?”, or, “We need to talk.” More often then not you are not going to like the conversation that is about to take place. Anyhow, she wanted to talk about relationships. Ours, relatives, friends, that sort of thing. Normally, she says this when we are in bed and I can instantly fake some snoring to get out of it but she has gotten smarter over the years and caught me when I was wide awake and still dressed and standing.
So the conversation was not so interesting that I feel compelled to write it here. What was more interesting was I thought back to what my Father-in-Law had said to me when he met me for the first time. I had arrived in the Philippines to ask for permission to marry his daughter. After he had gotten to know me a little and we discovered that he and I had so much in common that it was scary, he decided to impart on me some advice. He took me aside one day with no one else there, just him and I.
He said, “Jim, there is one real secret to a happy and healthy marriage. There is one and only one.”
I of course thought I already knew this, having seen clips of Oprah and Dr. Phil on E’s show Talk Soup. I decided to impress my Father-in-Law with my extensive knowledge of the female species. “I know the secret is communication!” I was so proud and thought this would be the end of this conversation and we could talk about things more important like government.
Manny said, “No, communication is important but it is not the secret. The secret is to just do what she says.”
Now I try not to be a Neanderthal here, I was raised better then that, but there is something genetic that gets in the way. Obey?!?!?!?!?! I am not going to let some woman push me around. I am not going to let some woman walk all over me and make me some stupid little puppy!!!! I AM A MAN DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!
He went on to explain, “Just do what she wants. It is just easier for you. You will eat better, you will sleep better and you will have less stress. The truth is son, you are going to do what she wants you to anyway, so eliminate the middle man and just do it. You will have a lot more peace. Besides, I have tried to change me daughter for 28 years and have never been able to do it. I do not think you could either. I know she loves you but do not underestimate the stubbornness of that girl.”
Now, I have to admit that I was surprised and a little bit offended. Surprised because I felt this was a defeatist attitude. We were just giving in to a woman and losing our own right as a man to be dominant! Offended because something deep within me, something that is deep within every guy is the urge to be in control. To be in power and master of all we see. We are taught this from birth. Male dominance is in all forms of education. The church teaches that a woman should obey her husband. They are not even allowed to hold high positions in the church. Television teaches us that women are objects or victims. Men are the ones who swoop into rescue them. When male children see a strong woman on the screen they are often seeing a villain.
So needless to say, I was really taken aback by this statement. I said to myself that this is not the way things will work in my marriage. I will not be walked on or stomped over. So Jane and I were married and the first year we were together was not as pleasant as it could have been. I would like to say it was Jane’s fault but it was not. I was trying so hard to exert my own will on her that I completely overlooked or didn’t care what she wanted. I was just so sure that I was not going to be the one being controlled here.
It was really not until the second year when I had a revelation. I realized the truth in what my Father-in-Law was telling me. He was not saying that I should just be a mindless drone and do whatever she says. He was saying that when you truly love someone, what you want becomes irrelevant. The most important thing is the other person. That when she wants to go to a ballet (thank you Jane for never dragging me to one) and you want to go anywhere else in the world that when you look at the big picture, a few hours at something you find boring and tedious is nothing when compared to the happiness and bliss it brings to the one you love. That fighting over trivial matters is meaningless and petty. All it dose is make you feel more and more defensive and angry. That the most important secret to a long and happy marriage is not a question of dominance and submissiveness but one of caring and understanding. Letting your petty thoughts and your misconceptions about gender go and focus on the one true thing that is important to you.
This makes sense to anyone who has known Jane’s parents. They had a long and happy marriage and they did something I have not seen in the states, or at least seen rarely. They live together happy until death did them part. Her Dad was not a mindless drone to her Mom. However, there is nothing in the world that he would not do for his wife. I strive everyday to live up to that ideal.
The secret to a long and happy marriage is love and caring for one another. I get it now."

Postcript to a Postscript: I was one of the many people who witnessed how Tito Manny loved his wife. We have always wondered how a mom can look so happy, so beautiful and elegant. Tito Manny never failed to show his wife how he loved her. In front of his kids, and in front of his kid's friends. He let her shine. He let her manage her own business, drive on her own, have active roles in organizations -civic or social. He let her have a life of her own. To us onlookers it looked like he spoiled her. Now I understand. He let her enjoy life. She was happy, and he was happy she was happy. Til the day he died.

They Just Don't Get It

armi: meron ba pasalubong si Toot Toot sa akin?
Cielo: wala no
armi: i told him to buy the book on the couple who founded the Lonely Planet, but then i said wag na lang
Cielo: kasi kinukulit ko sya. sabi nya ayaw mo daw. Binigyan ko na nga sya ng one hour to look eh, tapos wala pa rin
armi: tange (term of endearment po) talaga yun eh. hindi pwede walang pasalubong
Cielo: kaya nga. it's your fault
armi: kulang pa sa training yon
armi: oo, magulo din ako
Cielo: sabi ko na lang "Oh men."
Cielo: pero wala na ako energy to nag him
Cielo: they just don't get it
armi: exactly!!
Cielo: kaya nga
armi: sabi ko kasi toblerone, pero wag na lang pampataba. told him i'm on a diet.
Cielo: kasi sms na ako, sabi ko padala mo kay armi ha. tapos sabi nya sige daw then pag meet namin sabi ko asan na? wala pa daw, hanap daw. ok sabi ko coffee ako with John then hanap na sya for one hour
armi: oo nahirapan daw sya maghanap nung big Toblerone bar ko. sabi ko sa singapore airport duty free meron nun, tapos sabi ko nga book na lang. then i made bawi and said wag na lang
Cielo: nag text ako sa kanya thursday pa lang na prepare na sya pasalubong para wag kalimutan
armi: kainis! grrrr
Cielo: so yon
armi: ganun yon eh
Cielo: sabi ko nasaan na after one hour
Cielo: wala daw eh kasi sabi mo huwag na kasi diet ka
Cielo: they really just don't get it
armi: oo. pero pwede naman sya padala maski key chain (not that i like keychains)
Cielo: but he seems so sincere in believing you (or maybe just sleepy)
Cielo: ayoko na. i give up!hindi ko na kinulit
armi: ganun yon. gaya nga ng sabi nya," state the facts."Cielo: exactly
armi: so kung ano lumabas sa bibig ko, ang understanding nya YUN gusto ko
armi: grabe cielo, 7 years na hindi pa rin well trained
Cielo: kaya nga
Cielo: so it's your fault. i did my best. sana man lang keychain, a note, or something
armi: korek!!!
Cielo: ayan
Cielo: so never do that ok
Cielo: they just won't get it
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armi: si Toot Toot what you see is what you get. he doesnt like guessing whats on your mind
Jane: Ah! But most guys are like that , simple minded, straight to the point..women analyze things and always want more. Yan ang parating argument namin ni Jim,kasi with him, whatever you say he takes by face value.Sometimes he does not get the hidden meaning. That's just the way it is, that's why communication is key kasi talaga yatang di magiging exactly on the same page tayo with the guys. I have learned that with Jim, he gets so confused when I get upset cause he could not figure it out. Like when I say, I need this done...i have to state that I need it done now kung gusto gawin niya kaagad or I get upset kasi di niya kaagad ginawa.
Jane: I guess that's the frustration and the fun in a relationship din, you have to find ways to understand each other to make it work.
armi: oo nga eh. Toot Toot gets exasperated hahaha
Jane : Naku, believe me pag-nag-usap ang mga lalaki parehas din ang mga complain about their women, "I don't understand what she wants. "
armi: hahaha
armi: but ur right. kagabi when cielo said to me na, pag tinanong ako ni louie kung ano gusto ko, yun ang binibigay nya
Jane: Sabi nga ni Jim the best advice to men, is just say YES to what the woman says. Don't even argue 'cause eventually they will win.
armi: so you should just state what you really want
Jane: Yeah! I know it kinda loses the romance and surprise but you can also communicate that with him
Jane: I tell Jim to surprise me once in awhile, but make sure that he plans it also cause you know me ayoko ng maraming unknown.
armi: or maybe i can teach him how to read my mind..as if!
Jane : Don't even expect that they will figure it out, Jim gave up already ;^) He just goes with the flow. He knows the things I like and when he is not sure, he just flat out asks me and I try to tell him the best I could. He can tell you that I am not the most direct person when it comes to what I want.
armi: yeah i cant be direct also. its like youre supposed to know that already
Jane: I know what you mean, but they do not get what they are supposed to know. It also takes time for them to know the signs. Like when I get upset and he asks me if I am upset, I will say nothing. Dati tagal niyang ma-figure ngayon, tanong kaagad what did I do wrong? Then straight to, whatever it is I do not mean it, I'm sorry. Sometimes natatawa na lang ako kasi I tell him it's not him, but now I am worried you did something wrong that I do not know about ;^)...try hulihin ba!
armi:ah tama ka, si Toot Toot alam na rin when i get upset, because i get quiet and my eyes look sad. dati deadma ngayon alam na nya,ask agad "whats wrong?" syempre sagot ko,"wala.."
Jane:Have you seen Chris Rock's stand-up comedy DVD titled NEVER SCARED? You should get one and watch it, he talks about marriage, soul mates and women that is so funny but true. We just watched it last night and we were laughing so hard, but it was also a good conversation piece to talk about your relationship. I don't know if you like Chris Rock's type of comedy but that segment of his was entertaining
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Oh well, that's why me and my father get along so well. We love to eat, and we watch boxing.

The Lingering and Complex Kind

There is a Veramonte 2003 Sauvignon Blanc from Casablanca Valley under my bed. On the bottle: "Zesty and full of bright tropical flavors, made from the Veramonte Estate 22 miles from the Pacific Coast. Cooling coastal influences produce delicious Sauvignon Blanc with light floral aromas, crisp fruity flavors and well-balanced acidity. " Yesterday, my friends from Lambo and I finished a 1.5 Liter Carlo Rossi. Last week, Mama and I finished the Shiraz last week, we find it best with thin slices of apple, and uhmm..cheese. On my flight to Manila, I chose a sparkling French wine instead of my usual orange juice. I envied the 3 wine connoisseurs of Singapore Airlines whose job was to select and accredit wines to be carried by the airline. Tomorrow, I will be with my two most favorite wine buddies. We are as eager to hear from each other as to taste "the lingering and complex kind", of wine, of course.

I remember my first sip of wine. I remember it along with the hot sake of Nagano, Japan, their 7-meal courses, with the elaborate preparation and presentation of food that is distinctly Nihon. I learned social drinking in Nagano. I learned having after work beeru (beer) in sakana-ya (fish shops) and Irish pubs in Tokyo. I started taking wine with steak with my Japanese tomodachi (friend) Kenji (oh Kenji, I wish you are all right), white wine with sushi with my French friend Christian, and sake and karaoke with my bucho (division manager). The appreciation did not happen overnight. I took to Japanese food much easier. I was hooked after my first meal. Coffee I was addicted to, after a year. Wine grows on you, much like miso soup.

My first wine tasting session was with Joseph of the family of Ralph Wines and Spirits. He took time to explain how to appreciate wine, how to taste its complexities, how one can detect oak, smell pine, hints of berries, the tannin, and other wine-speak or jargon. Ming Roxas, my favorite Assumptionista, would then invite me to wine festivals. We would take wine with pates, canapes, cheese and pastries. It was actually during this French festival that I started really appreciating wine. It is best appreciated with food (needless to say, among my interests). Soon, my friends and I graduated from coffee, and began taking pasta with our wine.

Many years later, Robert (bless you, Lady) would often invite us to wine buffet. We did the rounds of Australian wines in Shangri-la Edsa (P595++) and New World (P395++). The background: good friends, updates on our lives, sharing of pain and joys, talking, listening. Soft music, soft lights, good food. Our favorite Italian restaurant Pagliacci in Podium is now closed, we had good wine sessions there. Grappas in Greenbelt 3 where we had the long and lingering kind, Casa Armas of Podium and Greenbelt for Consuelo's birthday. Chris and Consuelo have something in common other than me- both agree on good food and wine.

Although celebrations and revelations are both good wine moments, a relaxing moment can be a wine moment. Salud!

Sauvignon blanc is a green-skinned grape variety which originates from the Bordeaux region of France. It is now planted in much of the world's winelands producing a crisp dry refreshing white varietal wine. It is best enjoyed slightly chilled, with fish or cheese. Along with Riesling, it is one of the first fine wines to be bottled in screwcap in commercial quantities, especially by New Zealand winemakers.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a variety of red grape mainly used for wine production, and is, along with Chardonnay, one of the most widely-planted of the world's noble grape varieties. Many of the red wines regarded as among the world's greatest, like Red Bordeaux, are made from, predominantly, Cabernet Sauvignon.

Merlot is a variety of wine grape used to create a popular red wine. Merlot-based wines usually have medium body with hints of berry, plum, and currant. Most connoisseurs consider it "easy to drink" when compared to other red wines, particularly its traditional blending partner Cabernet Sauvignon.

Trivia: According to anecdotal reports in the US media, Merlot received sales-dampening notoriety due to the following exchange from the 2004 film Sideways:
Jack: If they want to drink Merlot, we're drinking Merlot.
Miles Raymond: No, if anyone orders Merlot, I'm leaving. I am NOT drinking any fucking Merlot!

Fabulous Housewife Dream Sequence 1

It was a quiet and lazy Sunday afternoon. The white and sheer curtain flaps are billowing against the gentle breeze, while soft, almost muted chirping of the birds can be heard. The wind makes its presence known; tree leaves are fanning the hot, tropical climate with air that lulls the people around the house to sleep. The cream-colored couch is inviting and I browse through the magazines, my favorite slowing down activity because one’s thoughts are led, and one does not have to think. I just read the small print and stare at the big pictures, and off I go to la-la-land.

I wake up to a kiss, a peck from my tall, dark and handsome rich husband who lightly pats my back to tell me it is merienda time, and the kids will soon come down from their rooms. My eyes light up as I gaze upon him, and he helps me up to my feet. We hold hands while we make our way to the kitchen. Apparently he was inspired to concoct another version of pasta, or spaghetti to the kids, while everyone was asleep. This is something he does once in a while, and every time he does this makes Sundays feel special. I make my way to my favorite machine in the house, the osterizer, and make our favorite fresh dalandan shake. I remember I ordered Rina’s blueberry cheesecake; the kids would love it, although a nice polvoron session with the kids would have been more fun.

I began setting up the lanai, getting my dainty rose designed plates and the tall pitcher while Honey wakes up the kids. I can hear the kids’ happy shrieks while they make their way to me.

The workshop I am attending is coming to a close. What a way to multi-task. Too bad, there is no wireless connection so I can easily upload this. Oh well, that is why somebody came up with the word dream.

Inspiration:

• Vogue , with the Madonna cover
• Sonya’s garden for the house, the weather, the billowing curtains and the dalandan shake
• Toot toot waking me uo to tell me about his new pasta went I went to Singapore to de-stress
• Ikea for home accessories
• Desperate Housewives for the women
• Rina’s fabulous cakes
• Charmz’ and Yobel’s polvoron cooking session for Tatay
  

Dating a 40-year Old (Not So Virgin)

Why is dating a much older man exciting?

Because they say all the right things: “I love you, Lovely Girl”

Because they sing to you (ok fine, corny, but they dedicate songs, they really do)
“You are my song, playing so softly in my heart I reach you,
You seem so near yet so far, I hope and I pray you'd be with me someday
I know down inside, you are mine and I'm you're true love or am I dreaming
How can I, each time we try you say goodbye you are there
You look my way, I touch the sky
We can share tomorrow and forever more
I'll be there to love you so, you are my song, You are my song
I know for sure that we were meant to fall in love
I look in your eyes I know what you're thinking of
I try not to say the words that might scare you away
‘cause I know down inside you are mine and I'm your true love
Please no more dreaming
How can I, each time I try you say goodbye.
You are there each time you look, I touch the sky
We can share tomorrow and forever more
I'll be there to love you so, You are my song. You are my song
We can share tomorrow and forever more I'll be there to love you so,
You are my song You are my song "

Because they tell you what to do:
“Get dressed. Meet you in Greenhills.”
“Log on at 11 PM”,
“I’ll be there with or without you at 7:30”

Because they ask you to take your meds when you have a migraine

….And ask if it still hurts

Because they say I love you instead of Hi

Because they give good career advice

They can cook, live alone and they know all these great food places

And can speak another language

Because they give you their schedule, Lovely girl

Because they know how to make your day

“Walk with me, the path of life, to explore every bend of the road
Enjoy with me the beauty of life, along its wonderful way
Find comfort with me, in each other's arms, when grief crosses our path
Find strength with me, in each other's strength, when despair lies in wait
Laugh with me, a single true laugh, to enlighten another's distress
Cry with me, a single true tear, to understand true happiness
Cherish with me, the wonders of life, as they need to be preserved
Rejoice with me, in the mysteries, of what is yet to be
Find peace with me, in each other's souls, when the world has gone insane
Find love with me, in each other's hearts, until this life has been fulfilled
And when the path comes to an end I hope we can say from within
We've known the beauty of true love, our love came from within"

Yoy and Robert

Congratulations Yoy and Robert. I'm sure your kid is going to be gorgeous. You know, I think yours is the best wedding invite I've seen. Just lovely.
"When it feels right, it is right," says Robert.
As good as any a wedding vow:
Robert: " I cannot imagine a happier journey than going with Yoy..anywhere"
Yoy: "Robert is a blockhead. But I like blockheads."
Guess who is the more romantic. Real excited to see your baby, well if it's a July baby, she's going to be a beauty. Hehe.

Dear Ysa

Dear Ysa,
Your Nanay emailed me last week telling me how you have grown but you still only weighed in at 8 kilos, and she was worried that you needed to eat more. I told your Nanay that your Ninangs and Ninongs will be visiting soon. It’s too bad your ninongs and ninangs only get to see you only once or twice a year, as we are at one time or another stationed in another country. We never seem to get hold of each other, and when we are gathered together, it is enough reason to celebrate. So like your fairy godmothers and godfathers, we came last week to your house, bringing gifts and lots of love. We were disarmed by your charming smile. You were as precocious as any one year old baby, playing peek-a-boo and smiling while Ninang Consuelo read with Ate Yobel and Ninong Sony (oh how your Nanay missed Ninong Sony) and Ninong Robert looked on.

It seemed only yesterday when your Nanay married your Tatay. We were all there too. In fact I was there when your Nanay first went out on a date with your Tatay. Not exactly there, but we met her up before her date with your Tatay. We were at Wendy’s, we ordered fries and fudge sundae, held our hands and prayed before eating, after which two men asked us what our religion was (just because we prayed before eating). Then Nanay’s eyes were sparkling, shimmering and splendid while she talked about meeting her date. They knew each other in college, they were both in CYA, but your Nanay was hooked up with somebody else all through college. In fact, we thought your Nanay would end up with him, but God had other plans. After leaving Nagano in 1996, your Nanay, who usually weighed less than 90 lbs, gained weight and had ample red cheeks when we landed at NAIA. She lost this weight sooner than expected and before we knew it, God has led her to a new path. A wonderful, joyful path that brought you and Ate Yobel into this world.

Look at your Nanay, she was so beautiful as she walked down the aisle. You could see she had fullness of joy in her heart. In fact, your Nanay was singing her heart out to the Lord during the marriage rite.
But who would not? She had a fairy tale then, and when we met her 6, almost 7 years after that wedding, she is still living a fairy tale. When you are old enough to speak, ask Nanay to tell you her story, it is the best fairy tale you’ll ever hear, and the best part is, it’s all true. She is as in love, more in love with your Tatay than before. Your Tatay is more gwapo than ever for your Nanay for he has continuously led a life following God's will. With the Lord at the center of their marriage, and their lives, there is, indeed a happily ever after.

Drunk and Happy

When do we know when we've reached maturity? I knew it was last night for me. After a plant visit, I've had just enough time to put on make-up, don a beautiful black silk dress, killer pumps, pearl drop earrings and played host to CEOS, exchanged small talk with my expat boss' boss, ok , flirted a little with the cute Aussie guy (I always fall for the tech guy), spiked my Slurpee with Vodka and drank red wine.
It was not the wine, the dress, nor the CEOS that made me feel mature. It was when I reached my fifth glass of wine and danced 3 hours straight to DJ G.P. Reyes' rhythm when I realized I will be going home alone and had to drive. Shit. Drunk and driving. I was in the restroom when I realized I had to stop drinking or dancing (It's much nicer to dance with a glass of wine on one hand and a cocktail bag on the other). I was already past tipsy and onto losing my dress' dignity as I could not walk straight anymore. So I left Embassy's VIP room, lest I get pulled back in, and went down the stairs only to see a lot of beautiful people just starting to get in (It was 2:30 AM).
After that it was a struggle walking past Embassy onto the NBC Tent because my killer pumps were..killing me. I made it to my car but I didn't know if I could make it back home. First of all, I didn't know how to get out of the Fort. I know how to get there, but either I ride with somebody in or out or somebody always drove for me on the way back. Last night I had such a great time I thought why not drive, get lost and then find my way home. Well, a lot more happened in between that decision. First, I knew I was drunk when I forgot to put down my Maidenform Flexees (the kind Jennifer Garner wears in Alias everytime she has to wear a dress) after going to the loo. I was walking to the parking lot wondering why I have a slight bulge in my stomach when it was supposed to be flat. Upon reaching the car, I managed to slip it out of me, but not very Sharon Stone-like, if you know what I mean. Then I asked myself if I could make it home. I was certain I'd get lost, but I made the decision anyway. I waited it out a bit til I got my drowsiness and tipsiness manageable and started WLE (he is for sale, my beautiful Honda City).
Sure enough, I think I entered the wrong alley at the Fort and was on my way to Pasig Church when I managed to ask tricycle drivers where I was headed. I said " Sta. Mesa" and they looked at me and told me why I'm headed in that direction, but they had my answer because I think my words were slurry and my eyes glazed. They taught me the direction, all I had to do was back up by about 5 meters to the intersection and head straight to find my way to C5 -Ortigas. Everyone knows I'm not the greatest driver, and under the influence of wine, my skills are the same (Woo-hoo!). So I backed up, hazard signals on, and my car started skewing to the left too much I had to check the mirror intently because I was already near the curb. Of course there were oncoming cars, and I saw them, but I was not really seeing them. I had this young guy guide me til I reached the intersection, then zoom, zoom, zoom. I made the right turns this time and was at home by 3 AM. What an interesting night. I puked a little after I parked the car (not in the car! No sex, cigarettes or puke in my car), but its red wine naman eh. Shosh-yal. HAHA.
You know you're mature enough when you have consumed almost a bottle of wine, know you're going to get lost but certain you will find your way home. There's always an adventure somewhere, but weighing the risk, and eagerly setting up yourself for the unknown is what maturity is all about. You know you either win or lose. Alone or with somebody else.

Supplier Night Dos and Donts

It's that time of the year. When Marketing gets cleaned up. While all of us try to have the emaciated, waif look of Kate Moss and Lindsay Lohan, we do end up looking more real..I forgot how we used to laugh at faux pas committed over past events, until Ervin reminded us of the Dos and Don'ts I sent over email a year ago. Wish it were that easy to pull off a look, but it doesn't matter when you have friends who are willing to laugh at themselves and the people they work with.


DOs
1. Do wear make-up and fix your hair

2. Do wear evening attire that fits the theme.

DON’T’s

1. Don’t borrow someone else’s clothes 3 sizes too big
2. If you’re a supporting star, don’t dress like a beauty queen

3. Don’t show your legs (especially if they are actually your arms)
4. Wag magpakulot nang mabibigla ang lahat. Sanayin kami, pati ang iyong supplier.
(Dine, saan ka man, miss ka namin)
5. Wag magsuot ng puting bra at panty kung itim ang suot
(Dinah, miss ko kabaklaan mo)
6. Drink moderately- wag masyadong pumalakpak pagkatapos ng speech ng boss
7. Wag masyado makapal ang foundation, Ate Ging.

The last but most important part: DO HAVE FUN! AND HAVE LOTS OF PICTURES COURTESY OF FUJI !

Happy Anniversary

Thanks to Hazel and Ice for this wonderful memento.
For more of Ice's works, see http://iceworkz.cjb.cc/

Why I Hate Friendster

I hate Friendster. Everytime I upload photos, it's like playing Hide and Seek. Is it there? Not yet. I check again. Oh it's there. I add a caption, is it there? No it's not yet up, and shocks, where are my recently uploaded photos? They say check back later, I do, by the way how long does later mean? Later to me means after I've rechecked and it's not there, I'd recheck again to see if it's posted. After about 6 or so tries, it's there and I don't dare change the caption anymore. It's too much work. So imagine my effort for uploading 30 pictures in over 6 months. Then imagine those who have 50 photos on their profile! Those are the real Friendster addicts.

So again, I try. After all, this is a better way of using my mind instead of worrying and sitting idly. This time I try to insert images in my blog. Except when I press the Insert Image icon, the status bar says," A pop-up window is blocked". What the f_#C!! I'm smart, I can do this, I tell myself, so I try to do the same thing 15 times then try right-clicking the icon and hit it again. That does it. The upload photo dialogue box opens. What a weird application this is. Is there something wrong with the script? Has the site been hacked? Is my blog offensive? Because as I was finishing up on this same blog I wrote for about 20 minutes, the webpage disappears, along with all my thoughts previously written. This happened once before, and I tried to track back, but the page is gone. Na-da. The page refreshes suddenly and boom, the Title and Post Body window don't have a single word. This is the second time this happened to me. The first one was when I was writing about The Godfather, trying to correlate men's fascination with the mafia with their machismo. " Do not let them know what you're thinking," Michael says to the bastard son of Santino. (Interesting, right?). Anyway, just as I was getting into it, bara-bing, bara-boom! The words are gone. So when I noticed today that the page was moving to another webpage without me hitting on anything, I selected my entire text then right-clicked Copy, and said ,"a-ha!Do you think you can do this to me again?". I was right, the next thing I know, the page becomes empty, and without a trace, my writing is gone. But I copied it, remember? I'm such a fool because when I right-clicked hoping to find Paste, it's disabled. Freaking bug. Am I really that naive? Or is this a ploy to convince bloggers to upgrade and subscribe to $4 or $8.95 a month. Or maybe everytime I write a word that attacks Friendster, or press a set of hotkeys (like typing the word Why I Hate Friendster), they run the script which automatically erases your entire blog post.

I read about Joyce Park's blog about getting shitcanned by friendster because of her blog write-up about switching from Java to Php (won't bother to trace back on the real techie terms but you can Google her blog). I want to ask their customer service this question, "Mr. Adams, are all these bugs coming out because of the switch? The layout and features are much better than the old one, but it's got to be stable, you know. And reliable. Because I got to get my fix. Like my caffeine fix in the morning, my pretty girls scamper and view profiles and blogs before 9 AM in the office to get their Friendster fix satisfied. "

"5 minutes na lang, wala na ang Friendster," shouts Joyce to the girls. After all, it won't be til 7 PM til they can access their accounts again. The site is blocked in most offices, but I don't know why ours opted to block it from 9AM to 7 PM. Hey, I should count this as a blessing.
Another thing I really don't like about Friendster is that they have this embarassing feature which announces to your first degree friends (some of whom you don't really know) that "Armi has updated her Blog". I stopped posting my blogs, and wrote instead in my blogspot account and then I tried Yahoo's 360 degrees. The thing is, I still have to check on my Friendster account because there I get to write a few words of messages and im instantly reconnected to my friends scattered all over the world. I still chat using YM, but Friendster is fun. I see updated looks of my long lost kindergarten classmates, my college friend's babies, or travel photos. I am able to guess who has uncoupled because they update their profiles (and discreetly delete the picture of the ex in the photos), finally know that this person has come out (the shirt is a dead giveaway). Mostly though, Friendster has a lot of young people addicted to digital cameras and always manage to find a great photo-op. In Marketing, when suddenly everyone is wearing the same color of shirt, somebody yells, "Picture!", then everybody leaves their toxic table and waits for the click of the digicam. When somebody notices they seem to be wearing great pastel shades, it's another perfect Cannon/Fuji/Kodak moment. Walang patawad, and later on, you'd see the photos uploaded in their Friendster accounts.

So anyway, I thought this Friendster email alert feature has been deactivated so I start posting again. Then I remembered I had this Friendster alert marked as SPAM in my Inbox. My free email filters all these stupid Friendster blog update alerts, so if you're also smart you would have done this already to save us both the embarrassment of knowing we sent something that's not meant to be seen by you in the first place. You read it if you want to, but no forced mass alerts puh-lease! After all, Friendster also has that feature which lets us know what our friends have recently done to their account- added photos, changed profiles, updated blog, new testimonials. Let us click our way to our friends, but do not force feed us trash.

The funny thing is, when I do not want to think of anything, I still find myself clicking my way to Friendster, knowing my friends (and my friend's friends) will be there, smiling back at me.

P.S. There is a reason to this madness. Go figure.

Seven

I was a latebloomer-

I still giggled in my 20s,

my hair was unkempt,

eyebrows unplucked

lips devoid of colour

and cared little about boys.

Along my journey I didn't think

I had a missing piece

I've always felt whole-

scattered but fine,

I chuckle and shriek

I try, I fumble.

You were there when I was at my best

And when I'm broken, your silence

Was my best support.

You glowed in my shining moments,

Your presence,

Has always made me calm.

How I miss many of those days

When I talked and you listened,

And when I argued, you'd try to be patient

When I crow, you never let go

When I let go,

You never did.

In despair I try to keep sane

I write about you,

Remembering you in my heart.

I have known its power

O'er distance, over time

It sneaks up on me.

Last night I counted my blessings

I had seven.

Wonderful ones,

Warm, Sappy, crappy

I remember most of it,

but you remember all.

Your happiness is my happiness,

And mine, how you long for mine.

What a sweet bunch of sorrow

What tomorrow may bring,

Yet rest easy,

is all that I hear.

Home Ideas

I love IKEA. Its home furnishing and accessories is like Disneyland to me these days. "Sweet dreams are made of these," I am reminded of a line from an Annie Lennox song. Although IKEA is actually a low-budget home furnishing outlet, it sparks wonderful and creative ideas in my distraught mind, giving me something to look forward to. For instance, I used to think beech would be the color scheme of Studio 34, and then I talked to a furniture expert and she said the popular wood color these days is dark. And so I thought my new scheme was going to be dark wood, but then I looked at white, and ooh-lala, it looked just the right color for me. White shelf wooden planks would be put on the wall to act as a book/CD/DVD holder. White bed and white side tables, white Japanese lamps. The overall white theme would be accompanied by stainless steel color, Toot Toot convinces me.
A set of halogen lamps hung from the ceiling could also be the option, but I figured this can work well with the high-ceiling of the condo (see picture with the staircase and bulky TV set), and should be used to accentuate a painting or artwork. The halogen lamps can be quite intense for the bedroom. Cost of the 5-set halogen lamp from IKEA, $129 or around PhP4.5K. In the meantime, I remind myself I have to start with just a bed, an airconditioning unit, a lamp and a fridge.
Chris fell for these glass-covered cabinets and the white theme for the bathroom as well. For the other areas of the bedroom, a workstation, a reading corner or TV set would be an option.

Next project, the dining and nook area.
I like the stainless steel table hooked up to the wall, I can put 2 high-backed chair or stools and it would work well. A foldable wooden area may also be considered.

IKEA linked to ikeaph.multiply.com
Valentines linked to Valentines.com.ph

Shoe-Crazy

Ok, I admit. I'm shoe crazy. Who isn't? Look at all these women. It's not just me. It's not just for a special ocassion. Women want shoes so they can have a reason to go out. In quest for the cutest, fanciest, sparkly shoes, I've scoured ebay and found some of the best ones in Singapore. It's too bad some of the nicest ones are not in my size. Here are some of my loveliest finds:
Purple flower pumps from Trendy Zone, for the true Kikay. I'm meeting the seller of this item.
Silver Mondo flats for casual dates ala Carrie Bradshaw without the heels. I'd bid for this if it had heels. Now, I'm just content looking at it.
New Black Mondo pumps selling for $35. My budget is only up to $25, but these are cute.
I love love love love this X:odus pink pigskin pumps, but they do not fit me, and cost $50. It's for a size 39.
Shiny ball shoes, Size 39, PVC, baby blue with a bunch of blue plastic stars attached to the toe-front, worn once, in EXCELLENT condition, price starts at $5.
This is one of my favorites because of its unique style. Of course it doesn't fit me. Size 38, multi-coloured (silver, pink, gold, etc).
This butterfly shoes is just lovely to look at. Size: 36, Measurement: Heels-3/4', Length of shoes-23.5cm, width- 7.8cm , Color: Pastel Green , Material: Canvas, Style: Short Heels, Match: Skirt, jeans. Bid starts at $19.90.
This one I'd love to find, but these are not available in the stores where I looked at. Brand NEW PINK Ballet Shimmer from X:ODUS. Still retailing at $59.90 but is up for bid starting at $37.90. Size 37.

Navy blue wedges. Brand New *Size 7 (23cm) *Colour: Baby Blue *2.5" High.
Look at these girls. Pink Adidas for $33-$50.
And another one up for bid for only $25. I'm watching this item too.
So far, I've only bought 2, they were on sale!

Roommates

Chris comes in at around 8 PM, the sun is already out but the sky is still lit. He says hi, goes to his room and never comes out. One time when I was here he did, the adobo toot toot cooked got the best of him and he helped himself to some. (I thought it was salty, because I asked toot toot to dry up the sauce, just like Tata does it at home, but I digress, and that's unfair). Mark comes home way past 9 PM, when his shift ends at 8. Before sneaking into his room he talks to toot toot, mostly on office stuff, or gadget talk. Sometimes Mark cooks, or joins us in watching CSI or a movie, while he checks his mail on his brand new HP laptop and chats using Yahoo's Instant Messenger. When I came here 4 months ago, he was using an old laptop to communicate to his friends and family, now his brand new toy is worth every penny, or every Singapore Dollar he says. So this is how life in Singapore is. Guys love their gadgets and girls love their shoes. Let me count the ways:
Toot toot's desktop has 2 terabytes (that's 200 Gig) of hard drive, 19 inches flat LCD screen, pentium D-dual core processor, 1 Gig RAM, multiple card readers, Sonic Gear speakers, webcam of the latest model with the highest resolution available at Sim Lim Square. Actually, I love his set-up because we don't use the TV anymore. He downloads movies and shows from TV series, music, and uses the unit as a gamer's machine. Yesterday we stayed in and watched a season of Whose Line Is It Anyway, before we went out for dinner. This evening we watched CSI; the other day Serendipity and my season 1 of LOST which was in my external Samsung hard drive, bought from Guang Hua in Taipei. The other day we listened to new CDs we bought in HMV, the Balcony and Lounge CD we bought are fabulous finds. Actually, I forget that the set-up is a PC, and that I brought my laptop with me. So every time toot toot uses his desktop for checking his emails and chatting with his friends, I feel bad. Like at this moment, I hear loud gunfires and realize he is online gaming with some other guys on the internet. And then I realize, shit I have a laptop and they have a wireless set-up so I can hook up and actually check out my mails, write some stuff or view items on sale at eBay. A-ha!
While I'm typing this, Mark is already in his room, still chatting or using Yahoo Voicemail to call home. He has recently uploaded our photos from our little field trip with Elton and Toot Toot at Marina Bay. His digicam is a Sony Cybershot digicam (of course), small, but with very good resolution shots (as they should be). While chatting his iTunes play some lounge music that suits his lavander aromatherapy set-up in his bedroom. (He let me peep into his room and even let me borrow the lavander oil lamp for one night. I swear, I slept well that night. ) His laptop is the latest HP model in Sim Lim Square, but his cool set-up includes a docking bay for all his other accessories.
While we were watching CSI tonight, I asked about the other Chris and wondered what his computer set-up was. (You see, the way to a man's heart is not just through his stomach, but if you speak gadget talk, they can't stop talking). They say Chris bought 2 flat LCDs for his computer monitor, taking back home his laptop. Chris works for HP as a programmer, and I ask," What do you do with 2 LCDs?" Well, obviously, you can work on one screen while doing something else on another screen. Oh I get it, so you can have more work done. While some of us back home puts on our make-up while the computer boots up, Chris has 2 LCDs, one for his syntax and another for his excel files or porno download or whatever it is that guys download on the net.
So here I am in Singapore, with 3 geeky guys and their hardware set-up wondering why men are so different from women.

Trailblazer

I was still a child and she was already driving her own car. When she chose to live independently, she went to Singapore while I was still working at the Japanese factory in Canlubang. Years later, I lived in Tokyo while she packed her bags in Singapore and went back to Alabang. After 6 months in Japan, I did the same and went back to work in Ortigas. By the time I had my own car, she was in graduate school, and one day, called to tell me she was going to tell C that she is going to New York and that she loved him, even if things were difficult for them. She did, even if C's secretary wouldn't take her calls so when I told her to go after the man she loves, she just drove from Alabang to Greenhills to tell him that, and flew off to New York. In a month's time, C followed her in New York and then to Canada.

You see, Lei is always one step ahead of us. She would make her mark and blaze a trail. Not that she wanted to, she just did what she wanted and in the process inspired others to find out who they are and be the best they could be. At least she had that effect on me. She's almost like a man, practical, rational and ambitious. But in the same sense, she's the modern woman because she pursued open doors and opportunities without thinking that she's a woman, or that it mattered if she was a woman, a Filipina at that.

Seven years after I last saw her, we kept in touch through emails and instant messengers and Friendster. After all, she's a friend worth keeping, and friends keep in touch in spite of the distance. Now she's been to the Bahamas, Europe, navigated the United States, and is now working on a new career path. A tough act to follow, indeed so I just made sure I drove all the way from work on a traffic-jammed December weekday all the way to Alabang to see her. She's my friend. She has made me shine, supported my journeys, shared my success or setbacks, loved the people I loved, and made me think a woman's life is best lived if we just did. Live life the best way we could, that is.

Thanks Lei, for the inspiration. Remember our parting words," Whenever, wherever!" Love you!

Shoes

I find myself drawn to shoes lately. Is it a coming of age thing? A woman thing? Flats, mules, sandals, wedgies, strappy, slingbacks. Pink, blue, checkered black and white, peach, white, black, mocha. Putting these words together is a cacophony but sounds like harmony to me. Carefully flanking them next to each other is done like a ritual. I have three pairs under my desk (don't ask me why), driving and cross-trainers in the car, and some at home. It is not a lot, but i treat them with predilection, you can almost see me whisper "My precioussss...."
I guess as a woman matures and tries to explore her personality and along with it her sexuality, shoes become a form of self-expression. I feel pretty today, I'm a strappy sandal. My hair is a mess, my cold's making me teary-eyed, how about a pointy heel that will scare bad vibes away? Casual is never just casual anymore as one has to look carefully put without looking overly made up.
If they say you can tell a man by their watch and shoes, you can most certainly tell a woman's personality by the shoes she wears.

Latebloomers

Consuelo has just finished a creative writing course, and is starting on her French language course soon. I'm not quite sure if she has completed a dancing class, after the make-up (serious!) classs she took in Singapore. I enjoyed the poem she wrote which Tweetums published in PhilStar. Totally surprising for an IT project manager.
I bumped into Ime at the derma last Saturday. We were supposed to see each other for a nightcap, but I had an invite to a karaoke at the Red Box in Greenbelt. These days Ime is busy with work that is quite fulfilling her. I hope she gets that black belt (go girlfriend, make Yoy proud!).
These are my girlfriends. We belong to the same club of free spirits. Once a month (we hope!) we get together to enjoy a massage, a parlor day, a good dinner or coffee. Gee, we should do more stuff girls. The most enjoyable ones were overnight sessions at Ime's place. Once, I brought a massage therapist along, and they were laughing at me. But guess what? We finished at 2 AM and both of them wanted to get my therapist to do them on weekends! Too bad Glenda is now into selling DVDs. I miss those days =(.
Another time was when we decided that a night out to be seen is best, and boy did we see a lot of people. Greenbelt 3 is the place, and we saw friends from Fujitsu, from college (who made first eye contact with Bernard???!), from Singapore and some other people it was unbelievable. That was the night that we saw John who took this picture of us. John died almost a year after from liver cirrhosis. We didn't know he was sick, and apparently he didn't know it either, til his last days. John was one of our favorite guys in FCCP. Too soon, he went too soon.
Once we went to a BMW event and got drunk with wine and laughter. Robert spoils us. Most often though, it is the dinner which highlights our gatherings. We hope though that Roblao, Charmz, Maan,Grace,Yoy and Sony could join us more often. Do I have news to share? Need a lift, Ime? Or is it time for a haircut again Cie? It's that time of the month, you know!