Nap Time Rocks!

I really feel motherhood kicking in even more when Mia gets sick. It started last Thursday morning when I left her with my mom. I got a text around noon from her telling me to come home early because Mia had a fever.

I started to tick off reasons why on earth she would be sick again, and I was almost sure I didn’t feed her anything unhealthy, nor did I forget to remind everyone taking care of Mia not to, nor did I notice that morning if she had a cold.

So there I was, with a slowly sinking feeling that Mia and I will be wrestling with medicines and her weight for the next couple of days again. It’s already hard enough struggling with her very low appetite for solid foods when she’s healthy.
And now that we learned tonsillitis is the culprit, it’s going to be war.

But even then, I’m kept surprised by Mia’s eating habits. First she would eat more if it was just plain rice and plain spaghetti strands (yup without the sauce). And now it’s just plain butter!

Yup, that’s Dairy Creme (Light) that she’s licking off the spoon quite contentedly. One  time she even finished off one of those small butter packs that are usually served in restaurants (it’s Anchor butter I think). Weird taste!

I’m pretty sure she didn’t get that from me though… Hehe. Well whatever makes her happy, right? It’s better that she’s eating something ‘fatty’ than nothing at all. I’ve been worried that she hasn’t been able to take much solid foods and even her milk since her throat is really swollen. Every time she takes a gulp of her juice, water, or milk she cries out and it breaks my heart.

Hay buhay. At least now while I’m typing this post she’s taking a well-deserved rest already. She’s been crying non-stop the entire day, and I mean NON-STOP. If it’s anything resembling a sob, a whine, a whimper, a moan, or a cry, I’ve heard it all from her in the past 2 days.

Well, she’s on recovery now and hopefully she’ll be back to her normal happy self, minus the 10-hour cling-to-mommy-no-long-naps mode, soon. *sigh*

What do you usually do when your kid is sick?

I’m just about ready tp plop down a comfy bed, curl up with a book, and have a good night’s rest. In the history of my happy-go-lucky, nothing-ever-fazes-me life, this is the first time I’ve been unbelievably busy. Organizing a party and looking for party rentals would’ve been easier. (Did you know that those dancing and floating men you commonly see at large events were called air tubes?) Work had been a wild but fun ride, save for a few people who just live for the reason of making your life more difficult. And yeah, I did have to look for air tubes and choose between them dancing men and giant inflatable party rentals. I mean who will want flying air tubes when there are water slide party rentals available? It’ll be great, except that I wasn’t planning Mia’s 2nd birthday party, but for clients’ store openings. Or, I could set up an entire theater experience, all in the convenience of renting it out courtesy of this company. That would surely make it a memorable opening day, and with our brands the highlight of the day. That’ll be the day. If I still had the job. Hehe.

Meet Kolokoy. Isa siyang monster na vegetarian.

Galit siya sa mga kapitalista.

At inglesero pa!

—

Kuha sa may kanto ng Katipunan at Xavierville Avenue, gamit ang aking mahal na N70. Para sa akin, tatak Pinoy si Kolokoy hindi lang dahil mga Pinoy punks ang gumawa sa kanya, pero dahil isinasapuso niya ang madalas na sigaw ng ilang mga grupo sa Pinas. At ang mga protestang katulad nito ay tatak na ng pagiging isang malayang Pinoy, hindi ba? Tanda na rin na ang freedom of speech natin ay nage-evolve na para maging mas creative.

At sa totoo lang, mas nakakatawag pansin siya.

Pag pasenshahan na ang aking recycled photo. Happy (belated) Thursday!

buzz… buzz…

whack!

nilalangaw na tong blog mo, ris.

aaack!

“Pag walang ballpen, walang notes.

Pag walang notes, walang pag-aaral.

Pag walang pag-aaral, walang diploma.

Pag walang diploma, walang trabaho.

Pag walang trabaho, walang pera.

Pag walang pera, walang pagkain.

Pag walang pagkain, magugutom.

Pag nagutom, papayat.

Pag pumayat, papangit.

Pag pumangit, walang siyota.

Pag walang siyota, walang asawa.

Pag walang asawa, walang anak.

Pag walang anak, made-depress.

Pag na-depress, magkakasakit.

Pag nagkasakit, mamamatay ka.

Pag namatay ka, wala ka na.

Kaya ingatan mo ballpen mo.”

- forwarded text message ng kapatid ko sa akin

Ang Sementeryo, baw.

Kuha sa Euro Carnival noong isang taon, gamit ang aking N70. Sana nagustuhan niyo. Labo ko ba? Hehe.

May forum na ang Litratong Pinoy!

Pwede ka na magdadaldal tungkol sa photography, sa favorite mong shot, sa favorite mong photo op location, sa idol mong photographer, whatever!

Clickitik!

Literally, this quaint little bed & breakfast place in San Pablo, Laguna is a family-owned quiet retreat that offers more than just an outing venue. This was where I (unfortunately) spent 2 days of work last week, and I wish it could’ve been for something else.

Casa San Pablo is a place that becomes an extension of your home, and even better, the moment you step on the wooden bridge into the Gomez family’s haven. Hospitality and warmth are just some of the things that differentiate this resort from other resorts. The staff is friendly and helpful, the food is great (think Filipino favorites, and hot chocolate with pinipig roast), and the ambiance is just, well as one friend put it, “conducive”. For whatever, be my guest to fill in the blanks.

I like the candle-spotted lawn in front of that red brick house, when it’s lighted at night and they hang the duyan up. It’s just so romantic, I swear. I also love the wooden finish of some rooms, hallways, and verandas, making it homey and cozy like a country home.

Here you can be close to nature and your loved ones.

(Naks. Parang writeup sa website. Hehe.)

Anyway there are more information on their website, www.casasanpablo.com. It’s too bad I wasn’t able to take many pictures because I was too preoccupied preoccupying myself. Alam niyo naman, mahirap ng mag-senti habang nakadungaw sa veranda at umuulan.

And if you happen to be looking for a good prenup photoshoot location, or even a wedding (or debut, etc) reception, this is definitely a very recommended place. You may contact Boots Alcantara (the owner) through the telephone numbers in the website.

Up all night. Breakfast by candlelight. Sleep in till almost noon. Warm underneath the covers.

You’d think it was almost a romantic Sunday morning if not for the wind howling outside, the rain pouring steadily, and the street lamp busted outside. For all those in the comfort of being in another place not affected by the surprise typhoon named Frank, there’s a really bad signal number 2 over Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon, I think.

But nevertheless, nothing will come between me and my belated Father’s Day family dinner tonight. I know, it’s one week late. I just didn’t have the time the entire week past to go out and even to post any update here (thanks to Wordpress’ scheduled posts; yey for my Thursday LP entry). Thusrday and Friday I was out of town for a planning session, and the rest of the week before that was spent preparing for it and cramming whatever office work was needed before I retreated into the mean, mean internet-less world of Casa San Pablo. :p

Of course, Casa San Pablo is the best place ever. It’s such a quaint little place in the heart of the City of Seven Lakes in Laguna where you can lounge, relax, and get away from the city and yet be conveniently close to town and an internet access (P300/hr for unlimited 24-hour access). More on this on my next post.

For now, I need to prepare lunch and Mia has been badgering to get onto my laptop which has been classified “no touching” zone and she has yet to follow.

Ang pogi no?

Ang aking Itay ang aking palatuntunan kung anong klaseng lalaki dapat ang aking makakasama panghabang-buhay. Siya ang simbulo para sa akin ng isang taong matapat, responsable, magiting, mabait, mapagmahal, at higit sa lahat, maka-Diyos. Sa panahon ngayon parang ang hirap ng makahanap ng ganiyang klaseng lalaki, diba? Kaya ako, idinadaan nalang sa panalangin.

Kuha lahat ito ng aking itay, matagal na matagal na. Maligayang Huwebes sa inyo!

Sundays once or twice a month usually mean playtime for me and Mia with my cousins and their kids.

Tita Sarah: Seriously Mia, did you think your mom is gonna let you have that piece of chocolate?

Mia: (very confused now)

Mia: What? The chocolate has a thousand calories in it!?? Mom!!!

Me: I told you so!

Clarice: Well that’s how it is. Whatever tastes good is always, always unhealthy.

Mia: I see…

Tita Baby (background): Tingnan mo tong dalawang to, ke-bata-bata pa, diet na ang pinag-uusapan!

Clarice: Well, don’t forget what I told you about chocolates! They’re good for you while you’re a kid and you still have all your teeth!

Mia: I won’t! See you soon!

—-

And that was my weekend. How was yours?

Good morning Upper East Side. It’s your favorite Gossip Girl dishing out the latest on what and who matters in Manhattan. Spotted 6 weeks ago: Serena van der Woodsen stepping out of the Grand Central Station, back in the lives of the Upper East Siders. Not that we’re lacking enough complication already. The past few weeks since her debut in her bestfriend Blaire’s (and unfortunately Nate’s too) life has been altogether bitter and sweet.

Spotted today: Serena strolling down Park Avenue with a backpack in tow… Is she leaving again? I know you’re itching as much as I do to know what S is up to again. Does B know about this sudden departure? I’m pretty sure S is leaving because her direction sure points back to the Grand Central Terminal. And you know that this girl does not rest until mysteries are solved — the UES way.

As if it hasn’t been enough for Serena to have secrets (like the one embarrassingly announced at the Ivy League party). Her rep hasn’t exactly been sparkling clean even if she had come back like a changed girl. And all these sneaking around? There’s definitely something going on here.

Can’t wait to find out? Well so do I. But you know there’s only one thing to do now, check back in on my blog for updates. You know you love me. xoxo, Gossip Girl.

——

Serena decides to cut the trip short and flags down a cab. It screeches to a halt in front of her and she gets in.

“The La Guardia airport please.”

“Lady that’s gonna cost you.” The cab driver measures up his passenger. More →

I’m only into the third episode of Gossip Girl and I already know why it’s such a hit.

It’s got pretty faces, good music, a glamorous prep school lifestyle, a simple complicated story, and a good cast. Ironically simple but complicated is how I’d like to describe the story so far. After all, I’m only getting to know the interesting characters of GG. Love triangles, rivalries and teen angst is such a used up idea but this series has definitely something deeper going on.

And oh, did I mention the third-party story teller which definitely takes on a different perspective on the whole plot. Think Mary Alice on Desperate Housewives or Meredith Grey on Grey’s Anatomy, done over a blog. How ‘now’ is that? More →

I just love love love Pocoyo. Not many of you probably know who Pocoyo is. It’s not another anime character because I’d be dead first before I even watch an anime series. (No offense to anime fans).

It’s an animated show on Playhouse Disney which Mia and I are currently getting hooked on. Well, Mia not so much. Hehe. Pocoyo is also a little baby boy whose friends are a duck, a pink backpack-toting elephant, a sleepy bird, a baby bird, and a cute little dog named Loula. More →

Ito ay kuha sa Hong Kong noong 2005, sa isa sa mga restaurants sa downtown Kowloon. Dito, makikita ang dalawang (mukhang masarap at malaman) mga isda, handang iluto anumang oras. Ano kaya feeling nila? Para sigurong nasa death row.

Sa mas siryosong usapan, naniniwala ka ba sa multo? Sa mga kaluluwang ligaw? More →

I seriously need an inspiration. It’s been ages since I last wrote a short story, so that doesn’t just mean a “love” inspiration. It hasn’t kicked in lately and I’m wondering, have I really lost my touch?

Or am I just out of practice? Alam niyo naman, if I weren’t a corporate junkie I’d probably be a photographer for NGC, an artist (which was my ambition when I was in nursery, I promise!), or a writer. But since I’ve gone at this office girl thing full time, and with Mia along for the adventure, my passion has taken the back seat and strapped itself there like it was riding with a mad driver.

So how do I get the swing going again? It’s just so hard to even start at something. And I need to have a brilliant idea. Right now, it’s just not coming… Well, yet. I hope. More →