RIP, Kuya

Gone too soon.

And the youngest is always the one who hurts the most.

Rest in peace, Kuya. I know you’re now in a better place.

Can’t Wait for the 20th

I'm quite excited to go to Nasugbu on Saturday. Really. After years of online communication, Bans and I are gonna meet.

And why we chose Nasugbu? It's because 3 of our online friends are based there. And yes, so we can also meet them.

I met all of them almost four years ago via e-Games's RAN Online. It's the last game I played quite seriously, and when you enjoy playing something, you also enjoy interacting with the other gamers until you become online friends. Not all of them became real friends, though. Others considered me just as a "grinding" buddy, while others stopped the friendship when they stopped playing the game.

But Bans and the rest of the Nasugbu guys stayed friends even after our RAN Online addiction. Bans was just 2nd year Nursing student then, now she's already a Registered Nurse.

There are four more gamers that I have constant communication with, but I can't handle big crowds so I'm meeting with just Bans and the Nasugbu guys on Saturday.

As much as I hate my online gaming addiction when I look back to it, I still wanna thank e-Games for giving such friends as Bans and the rest of them.

Thanks

It's a gift from my sister. Can you tell that she's religious?


And this Kensington MicroSaver was from Danilo. Can you tell that he's techy?

Thank you. Thank you. When you get older, the gifts become scarce. LOL!

Of Birthdays and PLDT Fails

I wasn't able to watch PBB Double Up Eviction Night and StarStruck V Live last Saturday. And even if I was able to, I didn't have internet connection from 4 pm of Saturday up to very late last night, so I wouldn't be able to blog about it.

But the reason why I was so busy as of late was because of my birthday. Yeah, yesterday. I kinda celebrated last Saturday. Had lunch at my sister's, went home around 5 pm to change and meet up with Danilo at the mall. I was buying something, and Danilo being a computer engineer and all, I wanted him to inspect the item first.

We had dinner at Pancake House and I allowed myself to eat meat cuz it's my birthday (celebration) naman. Then Danilo and I met up with Mylene and her boyfriend Richard at MOA's Sunset Strip.

The restobars were all full. We wanted to go to Berk's because the oldies band performing that night was so fun but we ended up at the restobar next to it. We were seated at the table nearest Berk's so we were like there na rin.

The bar we went to closed early, though, even if it was a Saturday. So we walked along the bay until the lights were turned off and the guards started announcing something on megaphones. After having coffee, we went to Mylene's and hung out a little. I was at home 4 am but I couldn't afford to sleep cuz Princess had a 6 am medicine. I knew I wouldn't be able to wake up at 6, even if I had an alarm on, if I went to bed at 4.

Yesterday was uneventful especially that I had no internet connection, but I was happy nonetheless cuz Danilo hung out at the house almost the whole day. Just like the old times when we would hang out and talk endlessly.

Come to think of it, the greatest gift a friend could give you on your birthday is time and company. Thanks Danilo!

Get Well Soon Danilo

Danilo is in Alabang Med. Confined since Friday. I only learned about it last night.

He was complaining of his tonsils when he dropped by last Thursday Wednesday to borrow my flamenco and talk about my coming birthday. I didn't know it's that bad.

Over the phone this morning, his dad told me that Danilo couldn't eat anymore last Friday and was already feverish. Danilo himself asked to be brought to the hospital.

I've texted our friends already. We're gonna visit him this afternoon.

Hospital stories make me sad.

New Year's Resolution #7

Read more.

I have a lot of unread books at the shelf. Have also downloaded a lot of e-books which I haven't even opened.

This year, I will read before sleeping, at the very least. I will also just gonna buy paperbacks so I can bring them anywhere I go.

Time to quench my literary thirst.

Still No Drinking

So how's the first day of your new decade been? Did you spend it with a hangover from last night? A lot of my friends did. But they were up late this afternoon looking for another party. If I were employed, I think I'd also take the opportunity of the holidays to party. But I'm not employed. And I can party anytime. LoL! But I won't have the problem of battling with a hangover, of course. Cuz I don't drink.

I'm not planning to change my "no drinking" rule this year. But they say beer is healthy. But still...

I chatted with Mylene this afternoon and she said she finds it "dyahe" when there's someone in the group not drinking. Dyahe in a way that they were all makulit already and I'm still not. And they're blurting out secrets already which they won't remember when sober, and I'm still not telling any secrets and at the same time will remember the secrets they've told.

Eh, I don't wanna drink, eh. Heh!

Another One Bites the Dust

Still not finished cleaning up. My first agenda for the day were the aircons. I don't use the Carrier anymore cuz it doesn't cool well. But I don't wanna junk it yet cuz the technician said I just have to convert it to manual and it will be fine.

So I bought a Panasonic sometime ago and it's what I've been using for a little over a year now.

Last time I cleaned the Carrier was, I think, December 31 din last year. LoL! And take a look:

The blower (or whatever you call it):

Grabe. I had no idea I was keeping so much dust in the house.

With regards to the Panasonic, I had it cleaned last month.

The blower is clean(er):

But take a look inside:

I can only clean the parts I can remove and wash. The body of the Panasonic will have to wait until I guess Tuesday cuz, the soonest I can get an appointment for it will be Monday.

New Year's Resolution

So what's your resolutions for the New Year 2010? Or are you the type who doesn't make a list?

1. I'd like to explore more of the Philippines. The farthest I went north was actually Bulacan. I went to Pandi last Sunday, but I have also been to Plaridel some four(?) years ago with Resty. Which is farther? The map says they're just on the same latitude up north.

Down south, I've been to various places in Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Lucena. Also ship traveled to Marinduque and Mindoro.

I'm not so well-traveled. And I'm looking at Laoag for my destination next month. But it all depends on whether Resty transfers to that area immediately (just like what he told me before Christmas).

Also, I wanna spend my birthday with a very small group in some resort. I love small groups. And I think Balai Isabel in Talisay, Batangas is just perfect. Their Sampaguita Room is just Php3,920 a night for up to 4 persons.

Look:

Lovely, no?

2. I don't wanna cram anymore. I have to be more organized this coming year. Hala, why wait pa pala for January 1? LoL! I should start with it NOW NA!

3. I wanna do more projects for the less fortunate kids. All I can think of are feeding projects cuz I've done that last Christmas (though not with the less fortunates) and I liked it.

Perhaps I can also initiate a fund-raising event of some kind. Or perhaps even start a charity. I know it's kinda big already but I wanna do something worthwhile.

4. I wanna have more time for myself; love myself more. I don't wanna be stressed out this year, but that doesn't mean I don't wanna be busy. Being busy is good, cuz being not busy means no money.

So how can I avoid the stress? This connects to #2. I have to be more organized. Prioritize what needs to be prioritized and cross out the unnecessary stuff on my to-do list.

And speaking of to-do lists, I wanna buy a new Moleskine! I only have until tomorrow to buy pala. So I'll have an organizer when 2010 starts.

And I really have to go out tomorrow (sick or not) because I have to print overdue pics dated June 2009 pa. I'll give it as a New Year's gift to Mylene.

I also should bring Princess to the groomer because she has a broken nail. I don't know when it happened but the blood in the crack was already dry when I noticed it Saturday night. I didn't bring her to the groomer ASAP cuz I think she's not bothered by it. She's not even pilay and she lets me touch the part.

5. I wanna be more friendly so I won't miss out on invites in the neighborhood. Mygawd they're afraid to approach me, really. Perhaps I should have a statement shirt made with an "I Don't Bite" print on the front and back.

6. I wanna start stitching again. I've been yearning to go back to cross-stitching but DMC shops are soo rare na. Megamall and South Mall na lang. I wanna stitch those cherubs that I loved since the first time I saw the pattern.


Actually, I have organized my DMC threads already according to their first digit and made a list of them so I won't be buying threads with the same number just because I'm not aware I already have them.




photos: balaiisabel.com binangonan.olx.com.ph

What Happens When There’s No Internet

I couldn’t blog the past few days. Not anymore because of the Playfish games, but because my PLDT MyDSL f*cked up. I had no internet for a few days due to a burned out modular box. Oh lo! Had I known it was the problem, I would have easily bought a modular box at ACE Hardware, the shop I love most. LOL!

A tech dropped by Wednesday to fix it, though. He was so kind it took away my quirky mood. It’s so hard to make taray to a very kind person. The tech also replaced my modem cuz it was so 2004 pa. He told me that model was phased out years ago and even called it primitive.

Anyway, I’ve just caught up with my Survivor Palau viewing. My mom uses the television every night to watch teleseryes on ABS-CBN and I use the internet to watch GMA (yes, we only have one tv). So no internet means no GMA, and I only got to see the past episodes on YouTube yesterday.

Shaun Rodriguez is so yummy in that red swimming trunks. And the bulge is so prominent I can’t stop looking (and rewinding and pausing, LOL!) Hot dad, indeed!

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I spent my Monday at the sunset strip of MOA. An old friend (who’s spending the day off) went with me, as well as my Princess.


Tuesday, despite still having no internet connection, was spent at home organizing my filing cabinet which had long been left unattended. I was thinking of finishing the cross-stitch project I had long ago started but organizing the filing cabinet took all of my Tuesday. And I was kinda sure I’d be “connected” na Wednesday even if PLDT 173 there’s still no tech assigned for me. I just knew Wednesday would be it. And so it was.

Goin’ Bananas

Mom made this for me. I really need potassium-rich foods like bananas. Two years ago, I was rushed to the ICU due to hypokalemia. It’s really scary when you cannot move any part of your body; not even sit or scratch your birdie.

The doctors found out it was due to Ling Zhi because it has steroids, and steroids make our potassium count low.

Since I’m into Ling Zhi again, I need lots of potassium, as much as I can get.

It’s a good thing I really love bananas, regardless of size or shape.

I Dreamed a Dream

I dreamt about dad last night. He was standing by the foot of the bed, smiling, looking at my dog sleeping beside me. He was a shadow, all black. But just as how dreams work, I just knew he was smiling.

And then I was awakened by the barking of my two other dogs sleeping at the kitchen. The clock’s hands said 4 in the morning. I got frightened. Dad died at the age of 50 in 1992.

I searched my still half-conscious mind for important dates in my dad’s life. Well, I don’t really dream about him on his birthdays or death anniversaries, but as a child I grew up with my mom connecting every single dream about a dead person to that person’s birthday or death anniversary. If it doesn’t fall on those occasions, important dates on the lives of the departed’s family are also considered. And even if the dreams and the dates don’t always coincide, the belief still remains.

So it wasn’t my dad’s birthday, nor his death anniversary. It wasn’t even his wedding anniversary with mom, nor any of his children’s birthdays. Lying awake, I wondered what the reason of his starring role in my dream could be.

Perhaps he just wanted to tell me he also likes my shih-tzu cuz he was smiling at it in my dream. The shih-tzu has been one of my sources of joy for over a year now; it actually takes away my day’s stress and somehow also makes me get organized – what if I have to arrange my schedules so I could be home for her meals or take a day off to bring her to the vet for the monthly grooming or the scheduled shots.

Perhaps dad is also amused that the dog is so smart and so jealous that she growls whenever I pet my other two big dogs.

Or perhaps dad just wanted to make sure that I don’t forget about him, and wanted to tell me that he’s just around, or behind me, like a shadow.

I love you dad. It may seem like it is, but believe me, you are not forgotten.

Boxes

I felt so sleepy yesterday afternoon that despite my workload, I locked myself in my niece's bedroom to take a nap.

It was my old bedroom but it became too small for me I decided to move to a bigger one. Most of my old stuff are still there, like my old clothes in the closet and my big office table that my niece is now using. Lying on the bed, I could see the small shelf built under the table where I used to store the gift boxes I accumulated from Christmas and birthday presents over the years.

I remember how I loved boxes. They keep me organized especially during the time I got hooked into cross-stitching. My DMC's were actually stored in those boxes in chronological order. And the boxes were labeled with the range of DMC number they contained.

The box labels were still visible from the bed.

Ah, I miss those times when my day wasn't divided into tasks; when I woke up in the morning unhurriedly and spend the whole day organizing my room, reading a book, or doing carpentry projects I would find on DIY magazines.

But then I guess those days are over. Well unless I'm so rich I can just stay at home the whole day without working.

Seeing those boxes, though, made me want to try cross-stitching again.