Anywhere but here

It seems all I have time for nowadays are once a week posts. It's been a busy week and thankfully, my weekend's starting early. Tomorrow's a holiday commemorating one of our national heroes.

Right now, a military group has taken over a local five star hotel protesting the current government. It's the same group that took over the Oakwood hotel couple of years ago. They've allegedly been joined by two bishops (not sure, haven't been listening to the news at work). This is happening right at the heart of the business district and people have been let out of work early due to safety.

EDSA, the main thoroughfare, has been closed to traffic and people expect the police to storm the hotel shortly. My husband is already on his way home, having found someone to hitch a ride with (the car's with me) since I doubt I will be able to enter the area. Traffic, as expected is already bad everywhere. In fact, I'm wondering how I'm going to get home.

Things are really looking bad. Can't blame the group for protesting. The country's going to pieces -- poverty is at an all time high (two children have committed suicide citing severe poverty as the reason), the government's greed and corruption is vulgar (they're not even bothering to hide it well).

So sorry for the doom and gloom post. It's times like these when I really think about migrating to another country. This situation is what my kids and my (future) grandchildren will be growing up to. That's just sad.

Waiting for the Weekend

This is what was right next to me since yesterday. Have no idea how many I've eaten.

Am tired from lack of sleep and a tantrum from Faith that involved a lot of crying and screaming and me cleaning up her vomit from the floor. The smell of sick never fails to make me gag. I'd rather pick up a dead cockroach (which is the hubby's job -- after I kill it).

Thank goodness it's Friday and time for me to head for home. Now I just have to wade through rush hour traffic. How fun.

Tomorrow is Joshua's exam for the Prep level so am keeping my fingers crossed. Then we are watching Enchanted in the afternoon.

Have a good weekend folks!

I can already feel the cool wind blowing every time I exit the office building to get to the parking lot. It's only 6pm but it is completely dark outside.

Yep, it's that time of the year again.

Despite the explosion that killed several people at the mall around a month ago, the malls are bursting with holiday shoppers. I'm glad I'm 73% done with my shopping. So it says in my excel spreadsheet. Hmmpphhh. Yeah, so I'm OC about making lists. My worksheet goes back to...(checking spreadsheet)... *gasp* 2002?

I'm trying not to run around like a chicken without a head (ever seen one do that? I have. Darn funny once you get over the ICK factor) this year. I've got school stuff to take care of , toys and clothes to sort and give away, a garage sale to organize, remaining presents to buy plus work.

I'm trying to savor the last few weekends of November before it gets really hectic next month. Meanwhile, I wanted to share pictures taken last weekend from a Grandparents' Day at school and two birthday parties the kids were invited to.


Josh and Faith clowning around while waiting for the program to start. Only the Nursery and Pre-Nursery class are included in the program.


Inside the classroom where the grandparents had to do an activity with their grandkids. That's my mom.

Faith's number about to start.

They did the Five Little Monkeys song. I was able to videotape the whole thing. It was so cute!


She had her face painted at the birthday party.


The two of them had fun at the playground at the other birthday party the next day.



Weekends are getting crazier and crazier!

Happy thanksgiving to those who are celebrating it this weekend! :D

The one with the ring

Something Diesel said in a comment in the previous post made me remember an incident that happened three years ago.

You know how women tend to bloat when pregnant? Well, unless you're Heidi Klum, of course. Anyway, I usually stop wearing my engagement and wedding rings at the onset of the 6th month of pregnancy cause they don't fit anymore.

It was about four months after giving birth to Faith that I decided to try on my rings. It was only 5:15am and I didn't have to leave for work for another 15 mins. The kids and the hubby were still deeply asleep in the bedroom.

You kinda know where this is going right?

I took out my rings from the jewelry box and put the wedding ring on. So far, so good. Then I put the engagement ring on top of it. It fits!! I looked at my hand and noticed it still looked a bit tight. Maybe next month, I thought and decided to take it off.

I pulled and pulled and pulled. Could. Not. Take. It. Off.

I washed my hands and soaped the finger thoroughly. Nuh uh. Tried baby oil. Still not working.

It was when my finger started getting really red that I woke up my husband. He couldn't believe what was happening at first then I showed him my finger. He suggested soaking in cold water. Then hot water. My finger (the top part) now looked like a small Hungarian sausage. I had visions of my ring finger getting amputated.

I ended up in the emergency room at 6:15 in the morning. I felt so stupid when the nurse asked what was wrong and I had to show her my finger. And no, I don't need a wheelchair, thank you very much.

What are the chances of an emergency room doctor having a contraption that cuts rings off? It looked like a plier only it had something round that cuts the metal off the finger. How lucky am I???? Pretty darn lucky for a stupid girl who should've known better. The orderly who assisted said I was lucky Dr. Ring-plier was on duty. The last time someone's ring had to be cut off (*sniff* I'm not the only one, I guess), they had to use a steel saw. And there was blood.

The hubby, now that he knew the finger was not going to be amputated, started to laugh in the car on the way back to the house. No amount of dirty looks and slaps could stop him.

I took the day off from work. Better than having to explain the angry red finger that still looked like a sausage.

I was just thinking that seven years ago, I was on my honeymoon. By this time on that week (Nov 8) hubby had already lost his wedding ring on the beach. AFTER I warned him not to wear it as it might get lost in the surf. He was understandably upset and for posterity, I took a picture of him searching in the sand for the ring. Tomorrow would be the day that we went island hopping. I remember throwing up in a (thankfully empty) shopping bag that belonged to a Japanese girl sitting next to me when we stopped for snorkelling just off the beautiful beach in Phi Phi Island. Very embarrassing.

Sometimes it feels like we've been married forever. And I mean that in a good way.

We still make each other laugh. A lot. And we still fight very rarely.

It's been a great seven years.

Ummmmmm......

The road to weight loss has never tasted this good.

- Japanese Sesame Dressing
- Romaine Lettuce
- Mandarin Oranges
- Crunchy Cashew Nuts

I've been having this for lunch for the past two days. Really, really yummy! I don't even feel that I'm on a diet.

First dress fitting for the wedding in three weeks! Aaaaarrrgggghhhh! Maybe watching multiple episodes of Ugly Betty wasn't such a good idea.

All Saint's Day

Every 1st of November, people flock to the cemeteries to visit their departed loved ones. I'm sure this isn't unusual but over here, it's more than just a short visit and a prayer. It's an occasion to gather and eat and talk. It's like a party actually.

I remember when we used to go to North Cemetery in La Loma. We'd have to park somewhere far because roads would be closed to accommodate the crowds. Then we'd walk for more than an hour through crowds so thick, you don't even have to walk on your own sometimes. The press of the crowd would keep you moving.

We transferred our grandfather's remains to a nearby memorial park and it became easier. Now I have both sets of grandparents and an aunt in the same place. I left the kids at home this year with the hubby. I didn't think the crowd and the heat and hanging out the whole day at the cemetery would be good for them.

We still had to park a short distance away, below are my siblings while they walked behind me and my mom (she had an umbrella!). You can see we try to dress for comfort as the heat can become unbearable! Cars are lined up going inside (it's hardly moving, I don't know why they bother).



Scenes from the cemetery. Tents like the ones below lined up as far as the eye can see.




You can see how crowded it can get with a lot of people cramped over a small plot of land. Despite this, people stay from morning till night, even spending the night sometimes (Oct 31 to Nov 1).





Lunchtime! Typical Filipino food -- Grilled liempo (pork), diced tomatoes and onions with red egg, the ever present green mangoes, my Dad's bopis (don't know the english name for this) and tuna pasta that I prepared. The one below is what we call talangka. I don't eat it now (though my mom says I used to) but they like it. Ewww!



Is it too weird that I didn't take pictures during my vacation but I took pics of the cemetery trip?

Trick or Treat!

Thought I'd show you what the kids wore to their Mid-Year party at school last Friday. The theme was Enchanted Forest. I took a half day off work and played hooky with the kids till lunchtime. It was so hot and humid but I had lots of fun ogling the costumes!

Take a gander of my own fairy princess Faith in her fairy princess costume courtesy of my fabulous aunt who sent it from the U.S.



Joshua got a Buzz Lightyear costume which he couldn't wear to school so I had to scramble for another costume at the last minute. He went as a bear, which he thought was cool, thank goodness.



Here's Faith's Nursery class.


And Joshua's Senior Kinder class. Take note of the kid in the bird costume. Heard he just got out from the hospital the day before but insisted on going to school to wear his costume. I would've gone to school too if it were me.


Have a Happy Halloween everyone!

Book Meme

I've been tagged by Princess Shin and Pacha for this meme and since I love doing book tags, this was a cinch for me to do.

Total number of books
I really don't know. I used to have a card catalogue (that's how OC I was with my books) and the last count I remembered was over a thousand. That was more than fifteen years ago. So maybe, five thousand?

Last Book Read
Autobiography of a One Year Old. Really amusing.

Last Book/s Bought
Skinny Bitch -- I thought it was a diet book. Very direct way of saying things but I skipped through to the end and found they were espousing a vegan way of life. Totally not going there (I like my meat).

101 Things to Buy before you die -- Lots of stuff I will NEVER be able to afford. Frankly, I won't buy it even if I HAD the money. But a really interesting and amusing read.


5 Meaningful Books
The Little Prince - I was quite young when I first read it and it made quite an impression on me. Then I read it again as an adult and I was as entranced as when I first read it.

Wuthering Heights - I loooove Heathcliff.

Bram Stoker's Dracula - This is what hooked me to the horror genre. A great story, but I think I will hold off reading it as a bedtime story for the the time being.


The Arabian Nights - I've lost count of how many times I read this collection when I was a little girl. I read it from cover to cover every time and never got bored.

Baby ER - This struck a deep chord in me because of how I felt when Joshua was born premature. I cried buckets while reading this.

Another bedtime story

Just another comedic bedtime in our never boring household.

Both kids were slowly drifting to sleep when Joshua asked me to sing "The bear went over the mountain." I liked singing this to them because personally, I think it is one of the most boring songs in the planet. Heck, it even makes me want to fall asleep and I'm the one singing it. Really, try singing it over and over and over and over......preferably in an undertone....you get the drift.

Faith took exception because she wanted another song. She wanted me to sing the family patented (my mom and grand aunt used to sing this to me) "Sleep my darling, Baby." Which is kind of not a song because those are the only lyrics. And you sing it over and over and over again in any tone you want. I used to sing it to them when they were babies while nursing or rocking them to sleep. I was really surprised she remembers it.

Anyway, the point is, they wanted different songs. Then Faith starts crying...the full monty -- copious tears, enough to make her shirt wet.

What to do? Hubby is already asleep despite the escalating noise. Joshua is looking at me expectantly, probably wondering what I was going to do. It is already past ten pm, we've been in bed for more than an hour, three of us not even remotely close to sleep.

So in the interest of fairness (Joshua asked first), I explained to Faith that Joshua asked to be sung to first and she has to take her turn. So she has two choices, if she doesn't want to hear mommy sing to Joshua she can go to the corner of the room and continue to cry there or she can stop crying, lie down and wait for mommy. She keeps quietly sniffling for a minute and when I asked if she wanted to lie down, she nodded. Finally the crying and kicking stops.

So I sang for about five minutes more to Joshua and asked him if it was ok for me to sing Faith's song. The sweet boy said yes. Then he proceeds to scratch various parts of his anatomy while I was singing Faith to sleep. She was half asleep when I noticed Joshua's hand inside his pajamas furiously tugging at something. Still singing, I tried to get his hand from wherever it was and he resisted.

"Mommy! My pwet (butt) is eating my jockey!" he exclaimed indignantly before going back to what he was doing.

I snorted with laughter mid-song, glad that Faith was already asleep. Joshua followed soon after, apparently done with fixing his undies.

I was left staring at the ceiling.

Wide awake.

It's been quite a heavy week for me work wise hence the lack of posts.

Ever since my vacation, I've been thinking about my grueling work commute. Three to four hours (sometimes five hours!) every day is sapping my energy. The hubby and I get home late, the kids stay up later than usual since they wait up for us then have a hard time waking up in the morning for school. I am seriously considering making a major change.

So I've no time to post or write something when I get home cause mostly I'm rushing to get the kids to bed so they won't have to stay up so late. Lately, I get to spend a little morning time with them as I've been giving them their baths in the morning before school but that's basically it.

Change is inevitable and I've never been afraid of it. However, I know that whatever happens will involve not just me but my entire family and how we live right now. So I know I have to be careful before I decide to take a step.

Half of me is saying, Stop, think about it a hundred times and the other half is daring myself to go for it.

Too many decisions to make and I'm not giving myself enough time to think about it. Someone I love always said not to make decisions when your emotions are too strong and I totally agree.

I'm too conflicted right now so I will probably let my thoughts simmer for a while.

Tomorrow is a holiday so I have a long weekend to distract myself from negative thoughts. No specific plans except to spend tomorrow afternoon at my favorite place (the bookstore!) with the kids and probably take a look at fabrics for my sister's wedding with my mom. Hopefully after this weekend, I'll be in a more positive frame of mind. The hubby thinks everything's boring when I'm not in a happy mood.

Quick! Distract me! Any good books you've read lately? Tell me.

Ice Cream Series

One rainy and lazy weekend night, I decided to take the kids to Haagen Dazs for ice cream (actually, I was craving for some coffee ice cream). So while their dad took care of some errands, the kids and I just sat and chilled. (And I took photos from my camera phone).










Gonna get me some ice cream now.

Have a great weekend!

Missed Blogging!

You know what they say about the best laid plans.

In my case, they remained just that. Plans. I had planned to post twice before leaving for vacation. I even had the pictures prepared and all.

But the day before I left was so hectic with last minute stuff at work and errands plus a visit to the pediatrician cause the kids were under the weather that my blogging plans went poof!

So anyway, I'm back from a five day trip to Singapore. It wasn't all that I had planned it to be. For one thing, kids took a turn for the worse with a nasty virus when we left and I was mostly worried during my stay. Racked up a huge mobile phone bill with calls to my mom checking on how the kids are. What rotten timing, huh?

Then I had a list of all the places I wanted to visit and things I wanted to do. But I ended up just walking around mostly and staying by the pool trying to make a dent in my pile of books (some I brought and a lot was bought!). While I lament the fact that I missed a lot of places, I appreciated the time spent alone with no schedule to follow but my own. The hubby was out during the day for work so it was just me and whatever I wanted to do. But of course I hit Borders and Kinokuniya (largest bookstore in SE Asia?). I was in heaven.

But, um, don't have much pictures. I'm not too big about taking pictures myself. I'd rather have someone else take them (the hubby, of course). On our last day, when we were finally determined to take pictures, camera battery ran out. Pathetic, I know.

The hubby and I went to the Funan IT mall for electronics and other techie stuff. He was entranced. While I could feel my eyes glazing over within five minutes of stepping into the place. Now I know how the he felt the night before as my friend and I happily scoured through the night market in Bugis.

I could tell the kids missed me. They were finally ok by the time we got home. Got super nice presents for my parents, of course! Have to make up for all the sleepless nights they spent taking care of sick kids (you cannot imagine how guilty I was the WHOLE time I was there).

I missed the kids, I missed blogging. But I totally cherished the alone time. Now reality intrudes but I feel more than up for it. This morning Faith woke me up and said, "love mommy". And it felt good to be home.

Spooky!

Something weird happened last night.

I was fixing the bed and telling the kids to turn the tv off as it was time for bed. About five seconds after I said it, the tv was turned off. By itself.

I was in the middle of the bed, hubby was sitting on the big bed tapping on the laptop, Faith was lying near me and Josh was sitting on the floor a little to the left of the tv. The remote control was lying very near the tv. No way it was one of us. I looked at the hubby and asked, "What was that?!". He didn't know. The kids just said the angels turned it off, mommy.

Needless to say, I didn't sleep very well last night. I remember thinking of all the unexplained instances that have happened to me in the past. And I dreamt about a ghost in the house.

I can't count the number of times something like this has happened.

There was the time the hubby and I were napping in the afternoon (no kids yet) and the radio was on. We both woke up when the volume was turned to maximum level. Remote was on top of the stereo. The volume dial was turned all the way to maximum. Whoever it was wanted us to wake up, I guess.

Several times when I was alone with baby Joshua, I felt a presence. Usually happens when we were napping. I'd suddenly be very aware, all the hairs on my arms would stand on end and I absolutely knew I didn't want to open my eyes. So I would just cuddle closer to the baby.

It lessened after Faith was born. Maybe because there was more noise. But appliances being turned off kept happening (even at my parents' house). There've been too many instances to write them all down. Things that happened when I was still living in my parents' house with my sisters. A frightening incident at my dorm when I was awakened by a sharp pinch on my chest and saw two pairs of small glowing red eyes hovering over me and I couldn't move. I don't know if it was a nightmare but I always felt uncomfortable and slightly scared in that room. The feeling stopped when I transferred to the adjacent room.

Of course, there could be an explanation for all of it. Most of the time, I just shrug it off.
Last night I remembered my grandmother's death anniversary is on Monday. So maybe she was helping me get the kids ready for bed.

Angry Mama Bear Post

Lately, Joshua and I have gotten into the habit of talking about school before bed. I love the quiet, intimate talk, sometimes whispered, between the two of us. I am happy that he opens up about who his friends are, what games they played in the playground, funny things he or his classmates said or did.

But last night's conversation worried me.

Are some of your classmates naughty?
J: Not all. J is sometimes naughty but sometimes not. D is naughty because he hurts me. And calls me names.

D hurts you??!!
J: Yes. But you know what mommy? It doesn't hurt anymore because I have an invisible shield around my body.

Why does D hurt you?
J: Because he said I'm new in school.


I couldn't sleep right away. He fell asleep a few minutes after while I was stroking his head and pushing his curly hair out of his face.

I was angry and sad that this has come up so early. That my little boy has conditioned himself not to feel the pain being inflicted by someone else. I didn't think I would have to deal with this situation at this early stage. They're only in kindergarden, for crying out loud!

So I'm at a loss. The school doesn't encourage hitting back (of course). My first instinct is to teach him how to fight back and I know there are conflicting schools of thought about this. Yes, I know violence begets violence. I've read the literature and the experts' opinions on it. And of course, I forbid the siblings to hurt or hit each other. We don't believe in spanking and have enforced discipline through time outs. This has worked for us and the kids.

But faced with the reality of my child being bullied, well, makes me angry. Really angry. But I decided last night to swallow my instincts and work with the school. I told Joshua to tell D to stop hurting him. I believe his mentor used the words, "verbalize". I hope it works. And of course I will have a talk with the principal and the teacher about these incidents.

Because if it doesn't and I learn that it is still happening, then all bets are off.


What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Birthday Post

Isn't it cute? It's a card my brother and his fab girlfriend made for me. It's supposed to be me, the hubby and the kids -- Southpark version. I love it....even though it's not supposed to be blue! (I can't freaking figure out why it's blue.)

I celebrated my birthday yesterday. My 36th. There, I've announced it to the whole blog world. To those who sent their birthday greetings by way of this blog, text, snail mail, email, YM, etc., etc., thank you!

I told my dad that in four years time, he's going to have a 40 year old daughter. Ha ha. I couldn't quite grasp the idea. He just laughed. Then I thought, does that push me out of the mid-thirties category into the late thirties one? Or do I still qualify for mid-thirties? What's the cut-off?

I don't feel any major change except for the fact that I don't think I'll ever be asked to show my passport the next time I try to get into a bar in Sydney. That was embarrassing. Especially when I was 24 at the time.

On an aside, the hubby and I attended a 25th wedding anniversary celebration and were asked to say a few words for the couple. I just said congratulations to the couple and let the hubby take over the talking (a rare occasion, I know! I was shy! *cough* *cough*). He basically said what we talked about on the way over. That he was thankful to the girl for setting us up on our blind date and that we were glad to be in an event that was celebrating 25 years of togetherness at a time when so many of our friends' or acquaintances' marriages were not going so well. We then spent the rest of the evening taking multiple versions of the picture I posted here and generally just enjoying ourselves at our table.

I know how truly blessed I am. There really is nothing else I'd ask for (except for everyone to be forever in good health). Everything else is just fluff. Nice to have but not really needed.

Back from the dead

I had good intentions last night. I was going to relax and post something as soon as dinner was over and the kids ready for bed.

Just five minutes on the couch, I thought. Two hours later, the hubby had to pry me off it (literally) so I could get ready for bed.

Both kids have been sick since last weekend. Faith had a really bad cold and cough then Joshua's fever started 2am on Monday. I've been up in the wee hours of the morning everyday trying to get his fever down and checking (and rechecking) his temperature. The on-off cycle of the fever finally stopped yesterday and he's back in school today. Which is probably the reason why I suddenly felt all my energy drained last night. My body decided it could afford a break since everybody else was ok. Huh. Nobody to use the nebulizer on, no nose to wipe, no back to rub, no fever.

I find it weird that I rarely get sick or catch anything from the kids. With the way Faith rubs her runny nose against my mouth, you'd think I'd be down with it immediately. But noooo, I've got mommy immunity. Which is kinda cool. Makes the hubby envious cause unlike me, he catches everything.

Things are crazy at work too. Coupled with my Mandarin classes (which I am running behind on), I've hardly had time to do anything else. Am going on vacation in a couple of weeks so I have more work to finish before then.

On brighter news, my birthday's coming up! I'm getting waaaaay old but that hasn't stopped me from being excited about it. Who cares, right?

In a rush....

Why did the banana go to the doctor?

-- Because he wasn't peeling well!



So says Joshua in his first stand up joke.

Nothing much to say except I'm out for two days (including today) for an offsite work thingie.

Miss the kids, miss the hubby.

Been inactive for the past three days, by choice. I've caught up in my reading, the hubby was sick and other things that needed doing.

Thank goodness for wireless connection in my hotel room.

Hope to catch up with you guys soon.

Impromptu Date

On a very rainy Friday night last week, the hubby and I decided to hold off fighting the traffic on the way home and have dinner.

Off we headed to High Street, where we spent a few minutes browsing through the stores (he browsed, I bought crocs for Josh) then went to this quaint little restaurant that's famous for its pastries -- ensaymadas and the softest cheese roll you've ever tasted.

It was a beautiful night despite the rain. I could feel the stress of the week draining away as we sat at our table enjoying steaming plates of pasta and just quietly talking. It's a relief to be in a restaurant where you don't have trouble having a conversation.

In the picture you'll see what I had for dessert. The cheese roll, of course, and a cup of steaming Mint Hot Chocolate. Perfect for a cold rainy night.

I lost something...

My wallet was stolen yesterday. *Grrrrrrrr!*

We were having lunch and the hubby and I were busy feeding the kids and talking. My bag was on the seat next to me. When I looked over I saw it was wide open and my wallet was missing.

I lost quite an amount of cash. My driver's license, ATM card, social security card (which is soooooo inconvenient to get) , a lot of my discount cards, and family pictures (which i regret losing most of all). It's a good thing I keep my credit cards in a different purse.

What's funny is that I passed on buying two pairs of shoes which I really, really liked. I told myself I'd think about it some more so I left the store to meet the hubby and kids at the restaurant. I should've bought the shoes. That way that thief would have gotten very little cash and I would've had two pairs of shoes. (My dad laughed when I said that, wonder why??).

Needless to say, I was bummed out the rest of the day. And the three day weekend had started so well. I feel so violated...like my whole life is being dissected by a complete stranger. It was one of those big wallets where you can put a lot of things.

To the person who has my wallet....can i have the pictures back please???? Pretty please???

UPDATE: (About 5 minutes after I posted this)

Well what do you know? After I posted this, I checked my cellphone and there was an SMS that said my wallet was surrendered to Customer Service by a janitor at a different mall from where I lost it.

I called the number and everything was intact. Except the cash, of course.

I remembered that Joshua prayed that my wallet be found right after I lost it.

Still wish I bought the shoes, though...