doggies' day out

Alej and I played doggie sitters on Sunday for Brody, Almonds, and Ala. Brody and Almonds are Alej's dogs. They are a MalShihTer (Maltese, Shih Tzu, and Terrier) and a Beagle, respectively. Amidala joined the bunch and they were all seated at the backseat where they looked really cute.

We went to Tiendesitas to get the dogs groomed. Ala was very excited. She was so excited that she escaped from her leash and I had to run after her like a lunatic with flailing arms and all as people watched me dash after her. I finally caught up with her when she was about to cross the street. Oh, my heart! There were lots of cars and the good thing was that she was wearing a pink shirt so I got to hold onto the shirt before she escaped.

Four hours later they were all pimped out! Ala with her bows, clipped nails, short hair, and all. She was so cute! I bought her a bandana too, it's pink.

The gang was happy but they were also tired after the whole four-hour pampering/pimping. It was fun and I think we're going to do this again because I want Ala to look clean and proper (HAHA!).

Ala looks smaller now but cleaner. Brody looks like a poodle and Almonds is still the same.

The gang prior to pimpin' them:







The gang after pimpin':

the magic of film and beautiful mistakes

happy, happy

I wasn't able to sleep properly last night because Ala (the little pup-no-more) kept waking me up. It was annoying but she's too adorable to hate so it was okay if I lacked sleep. It's amazing how you can get away with a lot of things when you're cute and cuddly.

So back to my lack of Zs. I woke up at 8AM because I wanted to get to the hospital early to buy some stuff Papa wants me to send to him. I was grumpy and sleepy when the alarm went off but I knew I had to get moving or else I'd miss clinic hours. Less than an hour later I arrived at the clinic and realized that it was before 10am. The clinic was still closed and even the secretary wasn't there yet! But I enjoyed the quiet time sitting outside on the waiting area in the hallway. It wasn't that long a wait until the secretary arrived. There's something different about early mornings at hospitals compared to after lunch hours when the Medical Arts Building is usually buzzing with patients and doctors and you'd have to wait long lines to use the elevators. Today was quite peaceful and everybody seemed calm. No one was in a rush. No one was impatient for waiting too long. Everyone seemed patient except for this woman doctor who seemed to be late for duty because she was practically running in her high heels.

My whole point to this narration of my early morning was that even if I thought that I wasn't a morning person, I actually am. I loved how cold it was this morning accompanied by drizzles of rain. I liked how it lightly dropped on my head, on my skin, and made the ground wet. The mist in the air was refreshing and I just had to love my being an early bird today.

I'd like to do this over and over again-- be some place other than home in the early hours of the morning because I've actually missed that. I hated this when I was in school during the times when I had to be awake so early but sometimes you just really miss the things that you no longer have and no longer feel.

To top off my good morning, here's a list of things that I was happy about:
>> cheap moist fudgey cake from Hungry Pac (three slices for P100!)
>> Vantage Point (Ang ganda, hands down ako). Like Jill, I too, love mid-week movies.
>> ridiculously slaving over my Lomohome. Seriously. I uploaded all the stuff that I have there!
>> mid-week spontaneous dates (haha, may ganon).

I have stuff to do tomorrow. I need to note them all down before it slips my mind. I tend to be forgetful.

I never claimed to be special

According to an ANONYMOUS comment poster, I'm insecure and that I'm in dire need of attention that's why I blog and that I think I'm "cool" and "angat sa iba". There's plenty more where those judgements came from. My initial reaction was to get angry, delete the blog posts that triggered the nasty comments in the first place, and delete the entire blog.

A few minutes later I was better again and I decided to keep this. If my presence, this blog, and my life is abhored by someone and if that person cannot swallow my existence...then BE IT. I'm going to keep this blog, I've been blogging for four years and no one has insulted me that way so why stop now when one meaningless faceless coward commenting person threw harsh words my way?

I never claimed I was rich or "angat sa iba" because I'm NOT. Or maybe ANGAT NGA AKO SA IBA kasi lahat tayo ginawang special ni Lord. Di ba? I never claimed that I was this or that. I never claimed to be anyone else I'm not. I don't blog because I love the attention. I blog because I like to write. Would I have kept this blog for four years just to brag about my life? Wouldn't that be tiring and pointless and just PLAIN STUPID? And if anyone else thinks that I've been bragging about my life, well, sorry to rain on your parade but THAT HAS NEVER BEEN MY INTENTION. But if you think that I'm bragging because of the so-called glorious life that I have, well, then go ahead.

I'm not glorifying my life. THIS IS HOW IT IS. No one has the right to judge me just by reading my blog because this is not even 1% of who I am. I'm just living my life and if anyone has a problem with that then there's nothing I can do.

You call me "papansin" or hungry for attention, well, if you think I am that then why are you giving me the so-called attention that I want from the rest of the world? Dear, I hate to break it to you but I like keeping a low profile. THIS BLOG ISN'T EVEN FAMOUS! But if I stand out in your world, then thank you for the attention that you're giving me. And I'm sorry if my presence makes you angry espcially with your ALL CAPS comment and all.

You're very free to not visit this blog anymore.

supermarket musings

I went grocery shopping with my sister yesterday. I love grocery shopping. I love supermarkets. I love the dairy section, the fresh produce section, and the the dry goods section (no I don't like the meat and fish section). I happily pushed away my own cart and reached for everything that we needed at home-- toilet paper, shampoo, new toothbrushes, shower gel, coffee, milk, yoghurt, ham, etc. And I had fun doing just that! I like looking at stuff, reading labels from productst that I'm not even interested in but just for the heck of it. I like smelling lotions, shower gels, soaps, and shampoo bottles. It's weird, I know but I just like supermarkets.

One sad thing about the whole grocery shopping experience was the fact that I realized that prices have sky-rocketed. I mean even for everyday Pinoy ingredients like garlic and onion prices are ridiculously steep. So when it was time to pay for the two carts of stuff we bought I realized that while prices continue to soar, the daily income of Filipino household members remain the same. And that IS sad when we think about minimum wage earners who live by hand-to-mouth existence.

shake it like a polaroid

it's all cool

We've been having crazy weather here in Manila lately. Did you notice how the seasons are all screwed up? Last summer we had the typhoon/rainy season, during the rainy season it was HOT like summer (this stretched on until the Holiday season), and then now the weather is like December because it's chilly. Isn't that weird? Mother Nature is drunk. She got the seasons all mixed up and now we're having mixed up weather because Mother Nature got dizzy from pollutants. It kind of gets to you after a while how everything is starting to sink in-- WE ARE, INDEED, IN THE AGE OF GLOBAL WARMING and it's scary. Imagine if one day we'll all wake up to a SNOWY MANILA MORNING instead of hot humid air we usually have after the morning cool has gone.

I bought a dvd of The Inconvenient Truth at Ruins a couple of weeks ago. I want to watch it because the jumbled seasons get to me-- how can we be experiencing cool weather when it's almost summer?

- - -

Watch Spiderwick Chronicles because it was okay. I HATE HATE HATE how it was our second attempt to watch Juno because it seems like it's my kind of movie but it didn't push through because we were too late. ARGH. But Spiderwick Chornicles, I'd give it four stars for being entertaining and because it feels great to feel like a little kid again. I'm also biased because I like the little kid who played the starring role in Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (both my top movies).

Also in Starbucks last night:

Me: One tall hot peppermint mocha please.
Barista: Ma'am, we don't have that anymore.
Me: Oh, okay. Cafe Mocha nalang, please.
Barista: Okay, would you like to add peppermint to it?
Me: Oh, can I do that? Sige.

Ten gruesome (!!) minutes later my order was served. I took a sip and laughed. Why? IT TASTED EXACTLY LIKE PEPPERMINT MOCHA. HAHA! So they don't have "Peppermint Mocha" anymore but I can customize the Cafe Mocha to make Peppermint Mocha. Parang natawa ako kasi ang labo. It's the same thing with a different name! Parang nakakaloko.

I love EVERYTHING peppermint. At Dairy Queen I always get the Chocolate Chip blizzard and a special shot of peppermint to make it Peppermint Chocolate Chip Blizzard. :)

I want new prescription glasses. I NEED new prescription glasses. I like my sister's Oakley Off Line 4.0 ones but the price is as much as a LCA so LCA nalang. Haha!

Alej gave me flowers. They are lovely and they're in a vase downstairs.

So how was your Valentine's Day? Mine was fun. I spent it with Alej and his family. We had dinner at Saisaki and indulged in gluttony. I stuffed my face with as much sushi and sashimi as I could and raided the dessert spread like there was no tomorrw. I topped my chocolate cake with scoops of mocha and vanilla ice cream and polished off my dessert plate with a big smile on my face. By the end of the night I was sleepy and my tummy was bulging. But it was a lovely dinner, nevertheless. Spending Valentine's Day with his family has become a tradition of some sort. I remember spending Heart's Day with them last year when we had buffet dinner too.

I realized that Saisaki is good in small doses-- like once in a while. Nakakasawa din minsan. But I haven't been there in ages (since my last birthday when Alej and I celebrated there) so it's good if you go once in a while. The food isn't as good as it was before or is it because I've had better?

But I loved the milky sashimi and tempura. Mmm. Now I'm hungry again.

How was your day? :)

Happy Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

We already had our PRE Valentine's Day. We had dinner (California Pizza Kitchen) and a movie (Jumper) at Shangri La. We were supposed to watch Juno because I wanted too but Alej might not like it so Jumper nalang. I had a really great time and I hope you'll have a good one too. =)

Notice that I wrote "POST" instead of "PRE" on the instax. EEEEEEEEEEEK!

from the camera older than I am

I finally got the Minolta XG-1 cleaned! Can you imagine that this vintage SLR older than I am is in perfect condition? WOWWW. AMAZING! This camera was given to me by Kuya John because he said it was gathering dust (and possibly rotting away) in a cabinet. It was moldy and dirty when he gave it to me but it's in perfect condition! WHOPEEE.

These came out from my test rolls. Yes, I do reazlize that I don't have steady hands. Must practice. Some photos are by Alej too.

The weekend was so much fun!

I met up with my college friends in Makati. It was supposed to be a get-together for Mitchie but because of miscommunication and the text message about a bomb threat, she ended up at Rob Manila and us at Glorietta. Mitch wasn't able to join us in Makati so it was just Apple, Simoun, AJ, Alej, and myself. We had lunch at Mexicali and stayed there for a LONG time because we got carried away reminiscing and just laughing like lunatics. It was so much fun! My cheeks hurt after our lunch get-together. I also saw Tito Jon and Tito Lynn! HAHA! Apple saw them as they were passing by Mexicali. It was hilarious! I had to run after them and banged my knee onto a chair that was on my way in the process.

Lateron Apple, Simoun, Alej, and I had ice cream at Dairy Queen. When it was nearly 6PM we headed to Banana Leaf at Greenbelt for our dinner reservations. Simoun couldn't stay because he was going to be busy the next day so we waited for our blockmates to arrive. After dinner we had coffee at CBTL and talked some more. WHEW. OHWHATFUN!

It was such a fun night. It's been a while since my face hurt, talked that much, and laughed that much all in one day. I can't imagine how my college life was...it was that way everyday-- laughing, talking, and everything else in between. These guys are the best. We're the best block! And those happy times are always relived whenever we have these small get-togethers. These people are my best people because we share the same interests, we have are on the same wavelength, and they gush about movies/books (pao and chezka!) the way I do. I love being around them! They remind me of how great it feels to be surrounded by people who know you well.

By the end of the night I had a migraine and my cheeks still hurt. HAHA! Onto photos!


apple, aj, simes, me, and alej


hmmm, san kaya nag-aaral ng Law si Simoun? HAHA! Dude, make us proud! And we'll be there pag nag bar exams ka na with a big tarp banner with your face plastered on it. GO, SIMOUN! :P Tsaka yung U.P. Law t-shirts namin ni Apol ha! Cmown!


Chex, Gab (Tal's eldest and the first baby of the block!), and Ies. She got the U.P. Centennial Planner for Apple and Bea. WAHH! INGGIT! ANG GANDA GANDA KASI! I want one for commemorative purposes. It's 350 for students and 500 for alumni.


Us with Paoie. Super tagal namin di nagkita ni Paoie. It was more than a year because he went to Thailand to work. Now he's back home and he's still "dashing" according to Dr. Mateo. Haha!


Chezka, Ies, and Bea-- my fellow bookworms.


With Gab gwapo!



Over the weekend, I came into a possession of a new toy: FUJI INSTAX MINI!

FYI

I am feeling blah tonight. I'm tired. I'm always tired every after driving lesson. Tomorrow is my last day and I specifically asked for a 5pm-7pm schedule so that it would be rush hour and NIGHTIME. I haven't tried driving at night. I'm pooped, as usual. Even after a nap I'm still tired. Doing.

Anyway, yesterday was Ash Wednesday and it was only this morning that I learned from Simoun that Ash Wednesday isn't a Holy Day of Obligation for Catholics. That explained why St. Jude Church wasn't as packed as I expected it to be although I've heard stories of masses yesterday where people pushed to get in line for ashes. Isn't that weird? Everyone gets their turn, I don't understand why they have to push. So the three Holy Days of Obligation are December 8, December 25, and January 1. FYI.

It's almost Saturday. WHEEE! :)

i'll tell you what i want, what i really really want

I really really want this. NAMAN 'e. I'M TRYING TO SAVE. ='(

It's the Fuji's counter camera against the Polaroid instant cameras. The film is cheaper too! Halos 1/3 of the price of Polaroids.

Speaking of Polaroid, I saw this awesome kick-ass Spice Cam. Yes, as in Spice Girls! It's a Spice Girls edition of the Polaroid. Ughh! It's so pretty (but yes, very bulky in size). It's cheap too but the film is SOOO EXPENSIVE.



I really want it. =/

teacher's pet

Sorry, I can't get over myself...BUT I'M A STAR STUDENT AT MY DRIVING SCHOOL! Haha! I'm so happyyyy! Well, they don't have star student ranking or whatever but my instructor today was the best instructor they have and he said he wanted to observe if what he heard was true-- that I was a fast learner and that I was already a good driver.

He made me go through tests like the tunnel going to Quezon Avenue from Quezon City Circle because it's always traffic there and it's not just traffic but HANGING TRAFFIC. And he said he only brings the best students there and guess what? I FRICKIN' PASSED HIS HANGING TEST! And he said he was also impressed by me because I AM SO READY to drive on my own. Isn't that awesome? I still have five more hours to go (I took the five hours extra because I thought I needed it) but it's okay, at least when I drive on my own I'll be really ready. He tested my parking skills and reverse driving and both where "Highly Satisfactory", now all I need to do is practice like crazy because I still think my parking needs a LOT OF PRACTICE just for confidence on my part.

Papa already made me agree to pick him up from the airport when he comes home for my sister's wedding. I still have a couple of months to practice. So...GO ME!

Now, isn't Alej glad he has a new driver now? You bet he is! HAHA! I keep complaining how he rarely visits me on Fridays and he keeps complaining about the Friday traffic. He drives manual as well and now I understand why he keeps whining about horrible traffic. It's tiring to drive stick!

Now, my next mission is to ask my sister if I can take the CRV for a spin on Saturday! XD

I'm surprised by how easy it is to learn how to drive. I don't know why I didn't do this sooner.

My driving instructor yesterday WAS NUTS. I said I wanted to practice my parking and he said the best way to learn was to go to the nearby mall's parking building. I didn't know what to say, I mean, I thought they always do that-- practice in public parking areas like that of the mall. So he let me drive and beause I was driving stick, I had a hard time entering the parking building. A LOT of security guards were there and I was already causing traffic (GULP) so I panicked because I was under a lot of pressure. I swear I already know how to operate a manual car especially when it's HANGING but the pressure made my brain not to function. So the security guards were all bitchy and I was about to burst into tears even if they were scolding my instructor and not me because I was a poor little driving student who didn't know anything *bats eyelashes and pouts lips* (NOT!). So my instructor agreed that he would drive to get into the building. So we switched places and got away with getting into the public parking.

It was scary at first, parking. But I did pretty well and I did the parking excercise for like three times. Of course, I scared the car owners in the parking area because stickers were stuck to my practice car DRIVING STUDENT so whenever I'm maneuvering the car to park, I'm sure they get sweaty. HAHAHA! I love it! I can't say I hate my instructor for putting me in the situation because it gave me a glimpse of how hard it is for newbie drivers like me to be put under pressure. I learned that if you panic first before thinking, NOTHING good will come out of the situation. Plus, he did teach me how to park properly in a parking area, didn't he? All is well!

Charge it to experience!

My instructors also think that I drive well now compared to my other days. My engine doesn't die anymore (woohoo) and my u-turns are smooth now compared to my other tries. Trucks and buses along the highway give me jitters but to hell with them, no guts no glory!

Go me! =)