Before Burnout ... Baguio

My husband and I badly needed to get away...and it was perfect timging that our friend Rakel invited us to stay at her company's guesthouse in Baguio City. It was Axel's first trip there, my first non-working trip since 1998 and Andreas' first overnight there.

Things changed though - everything was a bit more commercial. SM Baguio now stood where Hyatt used to be, there's a color coding vehicular reduction scheme in the city and the parks seemed a little grittier than before. But we still loved the good old cold air, ube jam, snuggling indoors and running in the parks.

Food tastes so much better there, especially breakfast. As in, every day – sinangag, eggs, longaniza/bacon/corned beef, fresh fruits. Yum! We told stories, played boardgames, run outside on the hilly neighborhood – it was a lot of fun. No agenda, no big plans – just happy family wholesome togetherness. Hahaha...corny no?

And the shopping – there’s this surplus store inside Camp John Hay where I went crazy. Most of the export overruns here in Manila are for warm weather but since we’re migrating to the US this January, it was so ideal that I found long-sleeved toddler clothes, fleece jackets and winter stuff! Saya. I also got these great boots at the Ukay-Ukay for a song. I want to go back this December just to go shopping.

Best of all, we got the rest we needed.

Axel in Baguio

This is my new favorite Axel photo. I took this photo of Axel during a recent trip to Baguio City. As we trudged up a short hill near the house we were staying, his little legs struggled to keep up with me but he persevered. I was already on my way down the hill and he just gave a look at me, as if - "What? I climbed all this way and you're not going to take my photo?" So I brought out my camera, he stood very straight and gave me his best non-fuss smirk. That kid really kills me. He's so quiet and serious and I feel this photo totally reflects all that in him. Down to his little magnetic drawing pad he's clutching. He's such a big boy now.

Everything Old is New Again

I am really getting old.

Today, I was watching music videos for the first time in ages and I made one conclusion to my own horror: the 80s are back with a vengeance. One video had a very electonica sound, with guys in coordinated outfits. It truly paid homage to glam cheese. The second video I saw was the new one by Madonna. She sports a Flashdance tanga and performs the matching choreography throughout the video, which is plagued with long edit cuts, flat lighting and bad hair. Truly a mark of the 80s.

What disturbed me most was that Madonna actually made her name in the 80s and she is now reviving it in the new millennium. What even drove the nail harder was that I witnessed both eras and am old enough to remember the 80s clearly to recognize it for what it was: a decade of excess, bad taste in fashion, and in my father in law’s words “strombotico” manner. I always did see myself as a hippy.

Maybe by the time I hit 40, the down groove of the 70s and 90s will be back. I can only hope. And wait.

Work a Little, Shop A Lot

That's the motto printed on a poster of the monthly bazaar, sponsored by the American Women's Club of the Philippines. My sister and I were both on the verge of an emotional breakdown brought about the stress of moving houses. And shopping proved to be the perfect therapy.

Our initial objective was to buy curtains for the townhouse but we had no luck finding ones we liked. But instead of being discouraged, we were able to find clothes, Xmas gifts, yummy snacks, sweaters (perfect for San Francisco weather!), and coats. I soon ran out of money but I will definitely be returning next month for some really cheap J. Crew and Ralph Lauren winter coats (running from PhP1500-2500)! Our big find of the day was a beautiful hard wood chair that converts into a stool. I first saw the design in an american catalog. I read that was design was first made by Thomas Edison but was later adapted by furniture manufacturers. And I got one for a the pricetag of PhP3000! Not bad at all. Check it out below.
I'm not really a major shoppaholic but I always end up spending a lot of money here because the items are really very reasonable and not found in your usual tiangge. Also, the layout is not cramped and there's a good balance of items, houseware, gift ideas, furniture and clothes. Do check out the succeeding bazaars on the following dates at the World Trade Center, Pasay City. Entrance is PhP100 per person. Opens 9AM-Closes 3PM.

November 22
December 6
January 24
February 14
March 28

I Hate You Sabado

Yesterday was one of the most exhausting days I had ever. Plus, so many things went wrong. Emotionally wretching too.
I hate enumerating bad things that happen to me because I feel that I should be counting my blessings instead.

But really, I hope I get a break today because I don't think I can keep this up for much longer.

My New Nephew

My sister Joli and her husband Kevin are new parents! The new baby is all the way in Illinois but we can't wait to see him, hug him, play with him.

Welcome to the world, Darrien Gabriel! It's a rough and tumble place, but you'll love it.

Honk if You're Horny

Another scene from my mundane life...

My sister and I decided that applying for our applying for our college diploma was long overdue! I graduated in '94 and she in '99, so we thought it was a good idea to head over to University of the Philippines. On our drive there, the horn on the car started beeping without me even touching it. We drove on, but eventually, it started honking non-stop. Oh great, probably an electrical short. We decided to take a turn and head back home to change cars. As I turned back into C5 highway, we hit bumper to bumper traffic. So, here we are stuck in traffic with our car horn honking non-stop. Pedestrians, drivers, heck...even bystanding dogs were beginning to stare at us. In panic, I call my husband to ask him how to disable the horn. The instructions are to open the steering wheel panel and cut the wire. Not thinking, and without killing the engine, I tear off the steering panel and attempt to hold the horn. Man, it was hot, my finger got burned and worse, the wheel started to smoke. Now, I was really getting worried. In sheer desperation, I start pounding the wheel hoping to dislodge any connecting wire. Bystanders looking in the car would have seen a crazed woman banging at the wheel. But hey, it worked. The honking stopped and life went on.

We still went home to change cars though, I didn't want to risk another "scene."

Celebrity Dental Tips

I was watching free TV recently and lo and behold, I *actually* learned something! The show was one of those usual talk shows and it featured a celebrity who shared her "beauty secrets." For shiny pearly whites, she recommended brushing your teeth with plain water for about 3 minutes before actually brushing your teeth with toothpaste. I tried it and it works! Initially, my gums were senstive so I had to use a gentle hand but afterwards, neato! My teeth feel so clean and fresh, just like I came from a dentist cleaning. It was refreshing to pick up something useful from TV, for once.

The celebrity with the close-up smile? Charlene Gonzales Muhlach.

Women Are Gross

Okey, let that read (Some) Women are Gross.

I just got back from Powerplant Mall in Rockwell where I watched an excellent first rate movie with my husband, entitled 40 Year Old Virgin. *grin* After the film, I visited their bathroom, used the toilet facilities and wanted to wash my hands. Every single space was filled with women preening in front of the mirror. And to my horror, Que Horror!, many of these women did not wash their hands. Ew, gross. I had to wait about 5 minutes to use a sink because everyone was putting on makeup/combing their hair/ fixing lipstick with their unwashed hands. Okey, maybe 2 out of the 12 women there washed their hands after peeing. Tops!

Mental visions (and smells) of these perfectly coifed, well heeled ladies with pee-germy hands just weirds me out. Of course, as soon as I got out of the bathroom, I gave a full reportage to my husband. He just grinned and said, "Oh honey. Men don't care about how germy women's hands are. They just care if you look good." Ok, so men are pretty gross too.

Anansi Boys

I just finished Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman. Good book, devoured it in 3 days. A definite read for any Neil Gaiman fan. I am not one for a 1000 word analysis on what makes it sparkling, shabby or shameful. I just like it. I feel that Neil is getting older though or maybe wiser in his ways as a family man. His thread on family relationships rings a familiar tune to me. His words make me shrug and say, yeh that's life, baby.

On a very shallow note: I fancy that my hubby is Fat Charlie and Basti Artardi is Spider. Of course, I would prefer my husband any day.

And so it begins...

Words uttered by two of my favorite fictional heroes - Yoda and Gandalf the Grey. *sigh*

And yes, so it begins. Yesterday we made it official. My mom signed on the dotted line and sold the house of my childhood. It's been a love-hate relationship all the way with Villa Barbara but now we only have fond memories and forsee a painful separation. We have until the end of November to say our goodbyes.

My sister and I have started the tremendous task of sorting out, dusting off and selling 40 years worth of family relics, heirlooms and accumulated junk. We only have one month to determine what stays, what goes and what gets tossed. For example, what do you think of this nice glass fruit we found?



It yes, so it begins. We have exactly one month and half to move out of Villa Barbara. Life will never be the same again.

A garage sale is called for.

Let's get together soon...really.

You know how when you bump into an old friend at, say the mall and you chat for 1 minute animatedly and end the conversation with, "We should get together soon. Really." And you promise to text and it never happens? And well the days turn into weeks, and days turn into months and before you know it, you haven't seen that friend in years?

Finally...yes finally... I was able to get together with my old high school softball team buddies! The catalyst? A old friend named Anna Lyssa who was visiting Manila from Australia for one week. Thanks to Friendster, we hooked up and were able to arrange a get-together dinner at Metrowalk.

It was great, lots of reminiscing about softball practices, coaches, defeats and victories. It was a nice run around the softball diamond with old pals.

Here's what we look like ten years later. Excuse me, 11 years later. Still gorgeous, right?

Definitely Not Hirschsprung

My son pooped on his own twice this week! Yehey, he definitely does not have Hirschsprung disease. So, he's definitely pyschologically anal-retentive. Well at least that doesn't require major surgery.

Random Axel Photo

This is the way my son looks while watching TV. Intense eyes, furrowed brow, slight pout.

Marriage Advice from Beyond the Grave

I was cleaning my grandmother's old drawers and came across this typewritten "mainfesto" of sorts tacked in one of her diaries. I read it and laughed out loud for its outdated wording and Stepford sensibilities but it slowly downed on me that there's some something to be learned from it.

I don't agree with everything but it's fun to read. Do keep an open mind as you read it. Take note my grandma and grandpa were married 61 years!! This must have been written in the 1920s.

THE HUSBAND'S 10 WISHES TO HIS WIFE AND VISA VERSA

The HUSBAND TO HIS WIFE:

1. Make yourself beautiful for me too, not only for your visitors.
2. Do not make me responsible if your friends are in a better position than yourself.
3. Do not waste all the beautiful things I have bought for our home on strangers.
4. Regard your calling as House-wife in the same earnest way I do mine.
5. See that the meal to which I return home is ready when I enter the house. Hunger causes peevishness.
6. Confide your worried and troubles to me alone. Do not make your friends your confidants.
7. Have no secrets with strangers or relations against your husband. Your husband is your best friend.
8. Do not be more considerate of your furniture and dead object than of your husband's nerves.
9. Get up so as to be ready when I leave the house. I like to speak a quiet work with my wife in the early morning.
10. Do not let anger cause you to utter ugly and insulting words.

THE WIFE TO HER HUSBAND:

1. Do not leave the house without telling me where you are going to.
2. Make no reproaches in the presence of strangers.
3. Take my side when other people are present, even though I may be wrong.
4. Tell me what you have to say in a kindly manner.
5. Do not blame me for all that happens in the house.
6. Do not let me wait in vain for your return home, but let me know in case you came later.
7. Treat me with the same consideration as you treat your employees or colleagues.
8. Allow me to purchase a few requirements and grant me some pleasant amusements.
9. Be courteous and chivalrous to me although we have been married several years.
10. Devote some of your spare time to me, so that I may be sure that I can give you recreation and relaxation.

The Tooth Hurts

Extraction of an impacted tooth is not one of my favorite activities but it was on the top of my to-do list for about six months now. After a painful bout here and there, I'd often swear to have the darn wisdom tooth removed, and today I finally did. It was not fun. Dr. Librojo is a patient man but I swear, even he seemed pretty amazed at my tooth's refusal to be removed. After the initial local anaethestic, I endured tugs and pullings to and fro but that darn tooth seemed pretty steadfast in place. At one point, the kind dentist took what seemed like a deep breath, as if saying mentally "God, give me the strength." Those 40 minutes in the chair seemed like an eternity but finally the tooth is out. It was an evil looking tooth, with a bent curvy root. Not wise at all.