Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

You know I am an addict when it comes to bags. I tried to be good this year... pretty please :) I made room in my closet already :)

thank you for the photos shopbop.com

Christmas wish 2nd edition

I know I want so many things for Christmas but this one I really, really want! Tadaaaaa... the Amazon Kindle!!! It gives you access to a gazillion books at any given time. For me it's like the bookstore fairy godmother :) "I want this book!" *Ching* and it's there. Perfect for bookworms like me.However, I do love books because I love to read but also because they smell great. I know this is malabo but people who know me will understand *wink*. So although I would love to have this, I really cannot fully let go of my books because they smell so good hehe... Plus it's not yet available for use outside the U.S. Great innovation though I must say.

Christmas wish 1st edition

If only I could afford this for myself. I love watches and I hope this Cartier loves me back :)

Cartier Roadster small diamond watch

My favorite actress

Whenever people ask me who my favorite actress is in Hollywood, I can't seem to think of anyone... except now! Favorite kita Kristin Chenoweth, I just wanted you to know that :)

You are one super talented woman. I would love love it if I can watch you in Wicked but for now, sa Pushing Daisies na muna.

photo credits: thepiemaker.com - thank you :)

some lessons learned

1. Everything is not about me
2. It is never too late to learn how to cook
3. Books are really great companions but nothing beats a good friend
4. Learn to take things as they are, sometimes we overthink!
5. It is easier to be kind
6. Parents are great dinner mates and mall buddies
7. "Cool" is very relative
8. Alone ≠ Lonely
9. Everything seems to be better in the morning, whatever it is.
10. Get a journal, it's good therapy

Hang time with the Space Captain

AL and I had a late lunch earlier and we while we were talking, I did not realize that I just zoned out. Then he had to ask, "Hey, what are you zoning out about?" Damn. Its always happening! In the middle of conversations, no matter what we are talking about, I just zone out. Akala ko before pag alone lang ako and walking, but nooooooo... the virus has spread!

Just like the one time I was talking with CJ and I gave a small laugh. To which she said that there was nothing funny about her kwento. It was like I reacted on cue pero actually wala na ako sa moment. Freak me!

AL pa said that it happens ALL THE TIME. As in while he is talking to me about work, he will just realize that I am staring blankly at him. Naku I really better have my brain checked because para syang nag off for a nano second before it turns on again.

As MH said, hang time nga! Nag hang ako and it takes me a couple of seconds to reboot. Oh well please bear with me please it just happens hahaha... I wonder if I got this virus from my super slow PC?

Cosmosyana bisyo #2: Books

Super hilig ako sa books! That is cosmosyana bisyo #2. We had a part of our house renovated recently and that involved clearing bookshelves for repair. I cannot believe how many books I have accumulated in 27 years! Anyway, I have always been asked by friends about the books I read because I rarely read popular books, kumbaga I am more of a "search the bookstore for hidden treasures" kind of a reader. But when I do read popular books, it's because all my friends are reading it (and I want to be part of the book chika) or there is a movie about it and I want to compare the book to the movie later on. Hence, the book I am reading now...

It's a really great book because it reminds me of a lot of YA books I have read before. Para syang Christopher Pike, R.L. Stine and Sweet Dreams all rolled into one but at the same time it's different in its own way. I borrowed it from fellow bookworm and book OC, LD. I will borrow the next one naman from MH.

Of all the books I have read though, this series is the best ever so far. They are by Thalassa Ali and I discovered them because CA lent me the middle of the series. I looked for the 1st and 3rd book here but I can't find them so when CJ went to Singapore, I obligated her to buy for me hehe... I like historical books by Indian, Pakistani and Turkish writers because they paint very vivid images of the stories they are telling. Magical is the word I would use actually. I feel like I am being transported to the places where the stories happened, much like feeling like I have been there even if I haven't. The landscape is very clear to me, the smell of food, even the dust in the desrt. Galing talaga!

My love for such books started with Gina B. Nahai and her novel Moonlight in the Avenue of Faith. It was reading this novel that made me realize why I got into reading in the 1st place. 'Yun na!

Bits bits 2

Wednesday...
I saw my college blockmate Mijen at CANS last Wednesday. I was very happy to see her :) As what always happens to me when I see people I know, she was the one who called me because I did not see her while I was going in. Grabe so much proof that I am a Space Captain talaga! So peeps, when you see me, please shout at me or if you are closer, shake me kasi I am somewhere in space piloting my ship :p

Thursday...
It was Chari's first day and the Bs are so happy but at the same time we are sad because another B is leaving :( So I have a poem for the 2 Bs:

Bye bye Jakee

Hello again Chari

My gosh, you did not even miss a Christmas Party!

Friday...

My dad picked me up early for work because we had to go to the wake of his cousin. On the way there, he was asking me if we can plan a short trip before the year ends. Hmmm... where kaya?

Saturday...

The day was quite uneventful as always because I want it that way :) Too much happening during the week just totally makes me tired!

Sunday...

My mom told me I can have a mobile phone for my birthday. Yay! Naawa din Mom ko sa phone ko finally. Thank you God :)

When you are nice, people don't like you because you are too good to be true daw.
Pag biatchy ka, of course they will hate you even more.
Walang middle ground eh, sorry.
Sabi nila sari sariling interpretation na lang yan ng mga peeps.
C said she does not care if people like her or not,
what matters is that people who matter does.
In fairness...
Sa'kin lang, the best thing to do is to form your own opinion. Yun na!

why and how

Why do I love my friends so much even if they frustrate me so?

How come even if they are unintentionally doing it, our mothers can hurt us so much?

How can an old memory still haunt me to this day?

Why do I wear 2 gargantuan rings in 2 fingers in the same hand?

How can my tummy hang this way?

How come I know more old songs than contemporary ones?

Why am I bothering you with these questions?

Cosmosyana bisyo #1: Bags

The cosmosyana (thanks Sheils!!!) is such a bag addict. Good thing she can't afford the ones she is lusting for... yet! I love these Nancy Gonzalez bags!

I am not a big fan of clutches because I am a big bag girl, but this one I likey.

Anyway, here is a big bag I like also like from Nancy Gonzalez. Her bags are really gorgeous and classy and I wish I can afford them haha...

I want to have a designer bag sana which I plan to buy with my B's R and J. However, I am not sure just when that will be. Hopefully soon.

Photo credits: Bergdorf Goodman site :) Thank you!

Yes, you girls are the cutest.

Yes Rory, you are the cutest toddler in the world.

Rory and Kali, you guys make us happy everyday.

Before you guys came along, I did not know that such little people can make such a huge difference in our lives. I love love you both and I can't wait to spoil you guys, promise yan!

Bits bits

Two weeks ago I tried to withdraw from my ATM. I did not check the balance anymore because I know how little money I have haha. Anyway my money did not come out, instead the screen said I have 93k+ in my account. Woohoohoo! I never had that much money in my ATM evah! I kind of had to pause as 10 million thoughts raced in my head. I tried to catch them one by one and the only thing I can remember was thinking that I do not know what to do with so much money because I never had that hehe. So biglang the screen changed and said to get my money, card and receipt. I think my mind was playing tricks on me! But I was relieved, really. Oh well sana premonition sya.

Next...

Naalala ko lang na 'yung first Nancy Drew kong book which I lent to my friend when we were in grade school was never returned. She said her mom burned it daw because the name of her dad's girlfriend is Nancy. At that time, I don't know whether to feel sad because my beloved book is gone forever OR that her dad has a girlfriend OR that her mom burned by book only because it has Nancy on it. Oh well.

Next...

I want to eat at Hula Hula and have Sebastian's Maltesers flavored ice cream.

Bye bye.

Still not enough time

When my Dad told me that Lola passed away last Wednesday night I felt really sad but I can't cry because I still have not figured out my emotions. She is after all 100 years old and she deserves the rest after a life well lived. I remembered her telling me before that she is already praying for death because there is nothing more to do after so long and that she wants to be with my Lolo already. I suppose that is reason to be happy so I decided not to cry because her prayers have been answered.

However, last Saturday morning, my dear Daddy delivered the eulogy for her and this time I cried really hard. He said that he often cries during sad movies so this time, it really is time for him to cry. "Kahit na kayo maiiyak siguro king iiwan na kayo ng nanay nyo." was what he said. He added that "Matagal man ang nilagi nya sa mundo, parang hindi pa rin ako ready na umalis sya." My Dad was with my Lola for a very long time but in the end, he realized it was still not enough time. He said it never will be enough buti na lang daw he made the most out of it.

Yes Dad, I took note of what you said :)

Curtain Call

Yesterday afternoon my Lola had her curtain call already. It was a good run. A good 100 year run. How lucky she is to be loved for a hundred years.

Thank you La. I'm sure excited ka na to see Lolo after 15 years.

Good bye and I just want you to know that we cannot thank you enough.

check list and matrix moments

Since the start of the year our group had been really busy. Projects left and right... actually even from top to bottom pa nga eh but its okay because I like the work and the people I work with. Meron lang slight side effect sa'kin ang work load and that is that I always think about what I have to do next even while walking, eating or right after I wake up. I always have an invisible checklist in my head na I can see on the floor, walls and wherever else may space!

A lot of people have told me na "Uy nakasalubong kita di mo ko pinansin." Super nahihiya and apologetic ako kasi I don't remember but I am super sure nag checklist moment na naman ako. The worst pa is when I am walking and talking with someone at the same time specially about work because I really get transported to another dimension, matrix moment naman yun. As in I tune out of the environment kaya I always trip, slide, or bump into people (sorry po!) and overall walang consciousness on what is going on around me. Literally wala sa sarili.

One time I was at the walkway and a friend of mine who I have known since highschool was waving at me and di ko sya napansin so she really had to step in front of me and shake me. Nakakatawa yung sinabi nya kasi para daw akong namamasyal sa clouds. Next time daw malayo pa lang sisigaw na sya ng "Earth to Kathy!" Good idea yun actually. Oh well :)

horror in da parlor

Yesterday was the wedding of Kuya Kev and of course I wanted to look pretty on his special day with Anna. Because of that, I wanted to have my hair blow dried at the parlor. Actually, I have a hair dryer naman but because of katamaran, I wanted to have it done at the parlor near my apartment. I was thinking I am sure mura lang naman yun. In fairness it was cheap just PHP 100. But with the cheapness came the price. This is what happened... (my side comments are italized :p)

CHARACTERS:
Kathy
B1 - Bading 1
BB - Bad Bading

Kathy: Pa blow dry ako.
B1: O pa blow dry daw... (as in nagtuturuan kung sino mag blow dry...)
BB: I plantsa na lang natin para maganda ang bagsak.
Kathy: Hindi na blow dry na lang kasi nagmamadali ako (quarter to 6 na eh 7 ang wedding)
BB: Bakit saan ka pupunta?
Kathy: Sa kasal
BB: Anong oras? May kasal ba ng gantong oras? (kamusta naman marunong pa sa ikakasal!)

Kathy's reaction --> deadma and smile
BB then draped me with a towel for the process.

BB: Ano ba naman tong gupit mo. Ang taas ng layers!
Kathy then started itching then she looked at her shoulders and there was hair all over. The towel that was draped was used!!!

Kathy's reaction --> deadma pa din because I pick my battles.

BB: Saan mo ba to pinagupit?
Kathy: Sa Piandre
BB: Piandre ba to??? Gumugupit ba ng ganto ang Piandre??? Magkano binayad mo? (okay so nairita na ako because I have gotten really good reviews with my hair and I really love it. Plus this is coming from a bading with an ugly haircut as in botched layers and with roots showing na from lack of hair color retouching!)

Kathy's reaction --> deadma pa din! so not me

BB: May kaibigan ka ba dun?
Kathy nodded her head to hide the evil brewing in her eyes... This is because she considers her hairstylist and manicurists as friends because they have developed good relationships over the years.
BB: Ay sorry ha! Sorry ha! (with so much sarcasm to ha!)
Kathy: Okay lang (smile pa din ako ano ba!)
Then BB "accidentally" poked Kathy's forehead with her nails.
Kathy: Aray! (irita voice na to!)
BB: Kasi naman idiretso mo yang ulo mo straight ka lang sa salamin tumingin. Di ka naman tatamaan ng plantsa! (pinlantsa pa din nya ang hair ko 'di nagpaawat!!!)

Kathy's reaction --> super patient grabe parang nasapian!
So over na din ang ordeal ko after 20 painful minutes. The BB was like super deadma after it was like she was irritated. Take note sya pa ang nairita!!! So I paid and I left, and I said thank you with a smile! A very smart lady kasi once told me that you can kill people with kindness so there haha!!!

Moral of the story: Everything comes with a price... even cheap services come with a price! (Kasi naman nagkuripot eh! Or better yet nagsipag na lang ako to do my own hair) Haaay... Anyway moving on...

Kaloka. Kapagod. Kaloka ulit.

Yun na! That is how my week is going pero oks lang, I am sure this was all meant to happen. Test of character maybe? Anyway it's good to have an inspiration and here is mine, my sushi loving niece.

It's nice to look at my desktop and see her. She never fails to cheer me up. Love you Rory.

MommAteneo: Update

As expected, Mom told her confidante Fr. A and Ms. E about our issue. As I was driving Ms. E to get something, she told me what Mom said "Sabi ng mommy mo di mo daw sya tinext the whole week, nagtampo ka daw. Ayaw mo daw kasi ng naaapi ang La Salle." Kamusta naman??? Medyo napa break ako in the middle of the street at 12MN! So I had to make her listen to what I had to say because for sure it will reach my mom - - "Actually po ako ang inapi nya and not La Salle. Wala naman po akong pakialam whatever people say about La Salle because I know the real score because I came from there. Same reason why the Atenistas feel proud about Ateneo because they came from there. Not one from whichever school can judge the other kasi di ka naman galing dun so how would you know?" Wala syang nasabi, iniba ang topic.

I assured her that I am fine and that I would rather not talk with my mom about it. Okay na ako at naiiyak ko na sya ng mga 3 teardrops so tapos na yun dun. Besides, madami na ako nakausap in multiply about it and of course everyone was right, it's not in the school, nasa tao talaga sya. Your character makes you who you are not the Archer nor the Eagle. What we make of our lives is what is important in the end, green ka man o blue. Actually in our area at the 17F, green and blue are not schools, they are more like the new black and white in patent shoes... =)

I did cry. Why shouldn't I?

Mom and I had a talk last Sunday after lunch. It was a casual talk about people in the office and how is the mix here like who came from which school. I told her that this is work and people actually ask what former agency you were from and not your college or university. Anyway, she still insisted and I told her we have good mix of people from different schools and I hoped that was that. She is my mom so I know may motive sya aside from asking about people from work. So, meron nga.

She then asked how people from Ateneo are doing versus those from La Salle (ano 'to mamu UAAP basketball?!). Anyway I said we get along fine because as a matter of fact, C is from Ateneo and we are very good friends and business partners. I told her that I don't really look at how other people are working because styles are different so no point in comparing. Eto na, na interject na nya ang intention nya... "I wanted you to go kasi sa Ateneo for college eh." Kamusta naman. This happened 10 years ago na di pa maka let go si mother. To which I was stunned talaga and me pa I am never at a loss for words! Then I said "Mom, gusto ko sa La Salle kasi may advertising management. I turned out okay naman ah I hope." Then she said "Wala lang, I think Ateneo people lang are better and smarter because not many people get in." Wow this is my mom speaking mind you, in front of her La Sallista child. I knew she wanted me to go to Ateneo but I wanted to go to La Salle. This is not out of defiance, it's what I wanted for myself. So I asked the question I have been wanting to ask since the start of the conversation "Do you think they are better than me? I mean other people who made different choices from me like go to Ateneo?" She said "Yes, maybe. I think so." I have not cried in ages over personal reasons, sa movies lang na cheesy. However last Sunday I did cry. Why shouldn't I? Haaay...

What I learned in traffic... (vol 1)

It is a reality that there is traffic everywhere so me being typically Pinoy, I just thought of ways to deal with it. Since I love to read, I practically read everything from the taxi cab company names to bumper stickers and of course the vandals in buses and the jeepney stickers :)

Here is what I have learned so far:

1. EC 2 GET HARD 2 4GET
- I read this sa bus. Super laugh trip since it was made from those colored cut out stickers and it was huge! :)

2. Basta driver, sweet lover
3. God knows Hudas not pay
4. Barya lang po sa umaga
- 2, 3 and 4 are from jeepney stickers

5. Badge not honored
- This one is from a bus (I think almost all buses have this) which basically tells policemen that they cannot ride for free. A badge is not equal to a peso and it will never be so pay up!

6. Ang "katok" sa pinto, ang "sutsot" sa aso ang "para" ay sa tao.
- This was painted on a jeepney ceiling. As in those old fashioned jeeps with wood panels and not the stainless ones like now.

Maybe you guys have some more to share, please do!