Holiday Bliss?

A few more hours and it'll be December 1st already. Y'all know what that means? Christmas is just around the corner. Caroling, merriment, eggnog, decorations, christmas trees, all that shit.

A few weeks ago I found out that my request for a vacation this December was denied because there were others already scheduled to take their vacation so I could not be accommodated.

My Mom is leaving for the US in about two weeks and she'll back on the second week of January.

My friends are way up in Baguio so I can't visit them because of time constraints due to work. I was planning na pumunta dun using the vacation leave I applied for but that's obviously out of the question.

Now, I just found out that Parker won't be here before Christmas. Originally he was suppose to visit me before and after Christmas but because of work-related stuff, he can't come here before Christmas. So I'll be seeing him only after.

So Christmas day I'll either be at work or I'll lock myself up in the house or I'll go get stinking drunk somewhere where they'll play xmas tunes and I will hate every minute of it but I'd be too drunk to care.

So here goes another Christmas that isn't for the books.

I just got off the phone with Lyve and I cried my heart out and she's also upset because she expected me to go to Baguio this holiday.

I just wanna have a fucking normal Christmas. Is that so hard to ask?

Message In A Bottle...

I hope one day you wake up and realize na sa dami ng beses na pinagbigyan kita, kapag ako ang humiling eh pagbigyan mo din ako.

Of the times I stood by you and understood you, understand me too when I need it the most.

Listen to me when I need to be heard.

I'm not asking for the moon and stars or for you to part the ocean in half. I just have one simple request, is it so hard for you to give it to me?

I am willing to do everything for you but there are times when I would have to draw the line kapag nasasaktan na ako. Kapag ako na ang nahihirapan.

Tonight I'll go to sleep with a heavy heart and I hope and pray that when I wake up, I'd feel much better.

Kimono Ken!

Thursday afternoon nang mag-bonding kami ni Mama kasi pumunta siya dito sa Manila a few days ago. Whenever my Mom comes to Manila, she makes it a point to eat Japanese food kasi walang Japanese Resto sa bayan ng San Fernando, La Union. 

My Mom said that this is the place where she normally goes to eat when she's around SM North Edsa. Thus, I give you, Kimono Ken.

Simple lang yung loob ng Resto but it's nice. The chairs are very big plus kahit Thursday ang daming kumakain nun. Maaga lang kasi kami dumating.

Comment lang ah, ang liit ng plate. As in. 

Me and my Mom. Buti nalang may front camera ang iPhone 4. Ang daling magpicture. 

 Miso soup and Sushi Moriawase.

Tofu Steak. 

Sukiyaki. this is the reason why my Mom loves eating here. In fairness masarap siya. I like. 

At ang hindi pwedeng mawala na Tonkatsu. I cannot eat in a Japanese Resto without ordering a plate of Tonkatsu.

Konti lang servings nila pero andami kasi naming na-order para sa amin ni Mama. Hindi nga namin naubos eh hahaha. Masarap yung food pero ang mahal.

It was a wonderful lunch. Nagkwentuhan kami ni Mama. Plus, I havent had Japanese food in a long time.

New Case For My Phone

I have been dying to buy a flip case for my phone. Masyado kasi akong burara and im afraid na baka masira ko ang phone ko pag nasa bag ko what with all the coins and keys and pens that are in it. I tried going to Power Mac, Belkin, and Capdase. I was willing to spend a lot just to buy a flip case but I couldnt find any. As in literal na wala.

Actually ang hirap maghanap ng magandang case ng iPhone 4 kahit sa Greenhills and trust me inikot ko na ang buong Greenhills. Ke mura, ke mahal, wala talagang maganda.

Eh kanina, naglalakad lakad ako sa Cyberzone ng SM North nang mapadaan ako sa Halo at nakita ko na may flip case sila para sa iPhone 4. Tinignan ko ito. Denim pala eh I wanted leather sana para mas madaling linisan if ever.

To be fair, cute naman so binili ko na. It only costs P295 pesos so mura na sya and the quality is good plus it doesn't look cheap.

Funny thing though, Parker told me he bought me iPhone cases in Thailand so pagdating niya eh ang dami ko nang case hahaha.

Remedios Royale

Friday night nang magsipunta kami ng aking mga ka-opis sa Remedios Royale which is a resort somewhere in Novaliches. Nakakatuwa kasi from the outside hindi mo iisiping may resort sa loob. In fairness 200 pesos lang ang entrance tapos hanggang umaga na kayo dun eh keri lang.

Nauna ang ilan sa amin. Ako naman kasi walang pasok at medyo depress-depresan ako kaya join ako. Yung iba late na dumating kasi hanggang 10:30 shift nila.

Ayan kami nag iihaw ng Liempo na dala ni Mommy Tess. In fairness ang sarap nung Liempo. Saktong sakto yung timpla niya. Natuwa si Mommy kasi marunong akong mag-ihaw. Nagulat siya kasi iba ang style ko sa pagpapaapoy sa uling.

Ayan nagumpisa na ang kantahan care of Louie na hindi binitiwan ang mic.

Syempre ako naman swimming na agad. Thats Me, Maria, ang mga papaya niya. Si Mariah naman nasa background.

Pose kung pose. Sige lang.

Ang mahiwagang pool na bigla-biglang nag-o-on ang fountain at ilaw na mala rainbow.

Ang pancit na luto ng tatay ni Mariah. Haaang sarap nung pancit. May dala din siyang isang bilao ng puto pero hindi ko na napicturan pano ba naman kasi naubos sa isang kisap mata. Ganun kasarap yung puto.

Ako ang bumili ng cake. The reason pala kung bat kami nag-outing kasi cinelebrate namin birthday ni RJ at Mariah. Nirequest talaga ni Mariah na lagyan ng Happy Birthday yung cake. 10 years old lang?

I assume na nung time na to katxt ko si Parker kasi yun lang naman yung dahilan kung bat ko hinahawakan phone ko nung gabing yun.

Ayan kantahan. Teka nga bat parang walang picture yung napakadaming bote ng Emperador ng dala namin.

Preparing for the party. Kami kami kasi ang nauna dun.

At pwede ba namang mag-party ng hindi ako nagpo-poi? Infairness naaliw naman sila.

Ayan, sa sobrang kaaliwan nila naki join sila. Hindi manlang natatakot ang mga lintek na baka bigla silang mahampas ng mga poi ko. May ilaw yan kaso dahil may flash yung cam eh hindi nakita yung ilaw.

We had so much fun that night. It got my mind off a lot of things. Hanggang umaga na kami dun at buti nalang wala din akong pasok nung day na yun. Guys next time sa Batangas naman tayo para beach party naman.

Oh god I love my team mates. Makes me realize why I enjoy going to work.

Walk-A-Thon

Monday morning ang aga kong nagising. Naninibago ako na wala si Parker na tumatawag para gisingin ako.

Ang aga ko ding umalis ng bahay para pumasok sa office. Maayos naman ang jeep na sinakyan ko papuntang highway ng Commonwealth.

Pagdating ko dun, nagulat ako at nagtaka kung bakit ang daming tao na nakatayo sa gilid nang daan. Napansin ko din na walang bus. Walang taxi. Kakaunti ang mga jeep na dumadaan at lahat punong-puno.

"Oh shit. What the hell is happening?!", sabi ko sa sarili ko. Very posy-apocalyptic ang eksena sa Commonwealth Avenue.

Mga 20 minutes na akong nakatayo. Wala talaga akong masakyan.

Ayun sa wakas nakasakay na ako ng jeep. Laking pasalamat ko dahil dito.

Pagdating sa bandang Quezon Memorial Circle, hindi na gumagalaw ang mga sasakyan. As in nakahinto na lahat.

Nababadtrip na ako dahil male-late na ako. Tumingin ako sa phone ko. 6:45 na.

Shit I have 15 minutes to get to work. Huminga ako ng malalim at bumaba ako ng jeep. Inumpisahan kong maglakad.

Mula Quezon Memorial Circle.

Nagmadali ako sa paglalakad hanggang sa dumating ako malapit sa overpass ng MRT station. Tumingin ako ulit sa phone ko, 6:53 na. Shit, I only had 7 minutes to get to work.

Tumakbo na ako papuntang Eton Centris Building.

Umabot din ako sa wakas.

Pagdating ko sa office, tumingin ako ulit sa phone ko, 6:58. I had 2 minutes to log in. Pagdating ko sa PC ko, naka off pala.

"Punyeta, ma stuck sana ng 10 oras sa traffic ang kung sino mang nagpatay ng PC ko", sabi ko sa sarili ko.

To sum it all up, naka log in exactly at 7AM.

Thank you Lord!

Hindi ako late.

Pero nag alay lakad ng ganun kaaga. Is it a sign that I need to start working out again?

I think so.

Quarterly Review

Tinawag ako ni DT para sa isang meeting. Napaisip ako kung ano ito. I dug deep into my conscience to check if I did anything wrong.

Wala naman so far.

So ayun, pagpasok namin sa room, may kinuha siyang mga papel. 

"Oh shit", sabi ko sa sarili ko. The three words I dreaded were running in my head. Verbal. Written. Warning.

"Do you know why you're here?", inosenteng tanong ni DT.

"Uhhm...because I was a few minutes late earlier?", sinagot ko nang tanong.

"Uh...nope. You're here because Im'a discuss your quarterly review."

"Which is what?"

"Oh yeah! It's your first time to get one of these", sagot niya sabay ngiti ng nakakaloko.

Binigay niya sa akin yung mga papel na hawak niya. He had his own copy pala.

Pagbasa ko palang ng first line, ngumiti na ako. Apparently, ang mahiwagang review pala na ito ay ang perception sayo ng Supervisor mo based on how he sees you perform at work.

Siguro si DT ang nag-evaluate sa akin kasi mas kilala niya ako compared dun sa isang Sup namin. Kunsabagay, wala pa ako sa Poker Department eh close na kami nitong si DT.

Very subjective ang review na ito sa totoo lang. 

He discussed everything with me. My good points. My bad points.

Overall it was a very very good review. Gusto ko ngang i-post dito yung review eh para makapag-yabang naman ako pero I don't know if I'm allowed to post it here. Baka kasi may confidentiality something clause yung review na yun, so it's better if I dont.

So here's the gist:

Performance, wala daw siyang masabi.

Leadership skills, needs a little improvement. Dapat daw maging mas visible pa ako. Josko eh lagi na nga akong pakalat-kalat sa floor. How much more visibility do I need? But still, point taken.

Attendance, needs a lot of improvement kasi ito lang ang bad point ko. Alam niyo naman ako, best in late award. Kamusta naman kasi ang 7AM na shift at nakakapangilabot na traffic sa Commonwealth Ave diba? Pero I'm working on it naman na specially since may taga-gising na ako sa umaga hehe.

Can't wait for the next one.

Oh and by the way, this is my 500th blog post. I couldnt believe I've had 500 posts already. 

ABS-CBN 2010 Christmas Station ID

Here is the 2010 Christmas Station ID of ABS-CBN. To be fair it's nice, but the one last year was much better. I was surprised it was Toni Gonzaga who took the female lead. She's getting better na ah.

I was also surprised Charice or Sarah Geronimo wasn't on this one. Hmmmm...



It's got a nice tune to it.

It's a 5 minute song. Hindi naman galit sa air time ang ABS ano? But still, nice.

Sorry naman, Kapamilya ako eh. =)

My Grown Up Christmas List

Christmas time is just around the corner. Jingle bells and all that shit.

I don't really like Christmas. It reminds me of things I don't want to think about. Two years ago when my blog was newly born, I wrote about My Very Blue-ish Christmas.

Ngayong taon, iniisip ko kung paano ang magiging Pasko ko. My Mom will be flying to the US on the 2nd week of December. That means, I wont be able to spend Christmas with them.

I'm gonna miss the food she makes during Noche Buena kasi thats Christmas is the only time she cooks that much. I'm gonna miss how she lets me taste the food while she's cooking kasi I'm very particular about the taste.

My dad naman lives very far and me travelling there and back for one day isn't a good idea because I'd be too exhausted to work. Kamusta naman ang 8 or 9 hours na byahe diba?

Si Parker naman will be with his family kaya he can't be with me Christmas eve or Christmas day. He said he'll come see me after Christmas so it's better than nothing diba? At least I'll get to see him.

All I want is to celebrate Christmas with the people I love. I don't care about gifts, I don't need material things. I have everything I need that money could buy and not everything can be bought to make you happy.

I don't really like Christmas and my close friends know that very well, especially Lyve. It's the one time of the year that reminds me that I can have the things I want, but not the things I need.

Every year this is my wish, I know that someday I'll get that. But for now it's on the top of my Christmas list.

My grown-up Christmas list...

P.S. Sorry about the emo post (again). Christmas just brings out the worst in me.

iPhone 4!

Ring...ring...ring...

"Yes Ma?", I picked up.

"Where are you?", she asked.

"At home watching TV. Why?"

"Im in Trinoma in Globe. Come here."

"Why?"

"Im buying you an iPhone 4. Now come here."

"No no no no...I mean Yes!...I mean...wait...what?!"

"Im buying you an iPhone, I've been here for almost an hour so come here"

"Okay I'll be there in 30 minutes"

"Okay"

After months of waiting, and blogging, and blabbering about it, I finally have it! 

So I took a shower and hailed a cab and hauled my ass to Trinoma.

Ring...ring...ring...

"Babe?", Parker answered.

"Im in shock right now"

"Why? What happened?"

"My mom is in Trinoma and she just bought me an iPhone 4"

"I thought she's back La Union?"

"I though so too"

"Im happy for you Babe. Finally, because you've been talking about it non stop. Haha. Where are you now?"

"Im outside the village waiting for a taxi"

"Alright call me when you get there. The moment you get your hands on it, call me up"

"Okay. Bye Babe"

When I got there my Mom handed me this paper bag.

Inside the paper bag was this. 

My heart stopped. I swear to God, it stopped. Hindi ako makapaniwala na hawak hawak ko na ang box nito. Alam ko medyo OA na to, pero pagbigyan niyo ako. I'm a gadget freak.

What's funny is that, the night before, I was talking to my Mom and she said she'll buy it in December before she leaves for the US. 

Apparently, that was just a joke because she didnt want me to nag her if I knew that she was planning to buy me one today. All the while, I thought she was on her way back to La Union. Pinagtripan lang pala ni Mama.

So we waited for our number to be called and when they did, they unsealed the box and unbricked my iPhone.

Since I'm on a data plan, I needed to have my sim converted to a micro sim. And because of that, my number was disabled for a few hours. Sabi nila mawawalan daw ng signal phone ko and pag bumalik na yung signal, ibig sabihin na-activate na ulit number ko.

And since I cannot have two iPhones, according to my Mom, she got my iPhone 3GS so she could sell her iPhone 3G. Umuwi muna kami sa bahay para magtransfer ng files from one iPhone to another.

 My iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4.

 iPhone 4, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS.

After almost two hours of transferring files, natapos din ako. 

Hinatid ko si Mama sa bus terminal at saka dumeretso ako ng Greenhills para bumili ng case at protective screen para sa phone ko. Aminado ako, I'm careless with my things so I really need a case for my iPhone. Dahil mahirap na kasi the front and back panels are made of glass.

I wanted to just buy at Power Mac or Power Books (yes they have iPhone cases there) or at Pods pero josko ang mamahal ng cases dun. Now, I'm the type who doesnt mind splurging but spending almost 2K on a nice iPhone case just doesn't seem to be worth it. Watcha think?

So ayan, pumunta ako ng Greenhills at namili ng case. Medyo wala akong ganang bumili kasi gusto ko sana kasama ko si Parker. Eeeenyway... I bought a hard case with the burberry-plaid design in green, and I bought a bumper case. Oh yeah I also bought protective screens for the front and back of my phone.

I've been hyper the whole day. I'm that happy. After the long wait, I finally have it.

Thank you Mom for giving me this. Couldn't thank you enough. I hope you enjoy the 3GS, it was an awesome phone.

That's it for now kids. More to come in the following days. For now, I have to call it a night because I have work in the morning.

Conversations...

After months, here's another round of conversations I've had with people.

Lyve: You look crappy.
Me: I know!
Lyve: Oi I said you look crappy ah, hindi you look like crap.
Me: I look crappy and I feel like crap. It's all good.
Lyve: Shot?
Me: Sure.
Lyve: Hahaha.

****

Eden: Baka naman masyadong ma-baby si Parker sayo.
Me: And?
Eden: Baka magsawa ka.
Me: Hindi ano ka ba. Style ko yun para hindi siya maghanap ng iba.
Eden: Hahaha

****

Lyve: My boobs are shrinking.
Me: Maybe its because of the cold.
Lyve: What the?!
Me: Why?
Lyve: Anong tingin mo sa boobs ko?! Parang ****?!

****
Over the phone:

Mae: So ano gagawin niyo diyan?
Me: Orgy.
Lyve: What the fuck?!
Jet: Oh I like that!!!
Ajang: Hmmmm...
Me: Masaya naman ah. Dalawang bakla, isang amazonang bakla at isang lesbiana. It should be a fun night.
Mae: TAMA!
Lyve: Sino yung lesbiana?
Me, Jet, Mae: IKAW!
Lyve: Im not a lesbian.
Me: Alangan naman si Ajang?!
Ajang: Hmmmm...

****
Over Skype:

Parker: Smile like this.
Me: I dont wanna.
Parker: Sige na. Smile like this.
Me: Ayaw!
Parker: Sige na konting pilit pa gagawin mo din naman eh.
Me: Ehhh tumigil ka.
Parker: Please? smile, tilt your head and squint your eyes like this.
*After doing it*
Parker: Hahaha ginaya mo naman.
Me: Sino sa atin ang may screenshot?! Hahaha
Parker: Shet!
Me: Kala mo ah.

****

Me: I have something to tell you.
Chiara: What? You make kwento na kasi.
Me: I have a boyfriend.
Chiara: (silence)
Me: Did you hear me? Are you mad?
Chiara: Yeah I heard you. Im happy for you. But its unfair!
Me: Wha...why?
Chiara: Because you all have boyfriends and I'm still single!
Me: Huh?!
Chiara: Hindi naman ako choosy ah! All I want is a guy na gwapo, who's 5'11-6'2'', may trabaho, with nice eyes, blah blah blah.
Me: Oo nga teh. Hindi ka choosy. Unfair talaga.

Relaks, Puso Lang Yan, Malayo Sa Bituka

Because of a friends incessant posting and tagging on Facebook, I got curios as to what this hoopla was all about. I went to Yoshke's blog to read through the article.

Apparently, it's a planner. But not just any ordinary planner. Kinabog ang annual planner ng Starbucks hahaha.

Every year I buy a planner for the sake of it. I've also planned to get a Starbucks planner this year but I dont know how it looks like yet. Sana naman mas maganda siya kesa dun sa planner last year na mukhang binalutan lang ng felt paper.

But this changed my mind. Ayoko ko na ng Starbucks na planner. Masyadong common. Kaya eto nalang.

Di ko alam kung pano siya i-explain, so let these pictures say a thousand words nalang ano? Click on the images to get a closer look at them and to read kung ano yung mga nakasulat.

Ang cover ng mahiwang planner na to.

Ang babala ng planner para sa gagamit

Ang mga napaka-cute na month dividers at guess the movie ang drama.

Syempre dahil planner nga ito, may calendar din.

Ito ang LET GO MOVE ON Tracker  na hindi ko kinaya.

Ito ang instructions kung paano mamarkahan ang tracker.

Notepad kung san ka pwedeng mag scribble ng kung ano anong shit.

Love history.

I really love this page in the planner.

Ito naman ang not-so-subtle na contacts page.

Coupons na nakapagpangiti sa akin.

And of course, may horoscope din siya.

The planner costs around 350php and will be available by the end of this month. The distributors are Witty Will Save the World, Co. so just click on that link to go to their Facebook page.

I already told them that I'm gonna order two planners, one for me and one for Parker. Since mahilig magtravel itong si Parker at lagi din siyang busy, a planner should be able to help him sort things out specially with things he needs to finish at work and planning his trips.

I hope he likes it.

If you wanna order/reserve a planner, you can text them at 0906-465-21-91  and just tell them your name and how many would you want to order. Mention my blog too, I'm not getting a discount or anything but still, ipalaganap ninyo ang blog ko.