Off, soon

I'm excited ;) (but hungry).

It's time for another trip!

I have never been to Lake Sebu. I can sit by the side of it, and look pretty, or ugly, as I see fit (for as long as none of the chapter people are looking or they might send me packing).

Part of what I love about trips is deciding what to read during. It's time to pay a visit to my bookshelf :D. I want something funny but absorbing. I can't read straight thru absorbing but heartwrenching books. I always need to put it down, and muster up enough courage to face what's in store. Bravery is needed everywhere, everyday, be it in one's own life or in one's reading matter.

The best work trips for me are when I can go and observe, and not have to be resource person.

A trip is always a new short life span. You get to carry a mini-wardrobe for just the right number of days (an adventure in itself). You're a "you" just for the trip.

giggle

i do declare that belly dancing is sexy.

even if not one of us newbies could do it properly.

even if i got more exercise mopping and sweeping the floor prior to belly dancing.

oh, my creaking back and jiggling belly.

:P

Grocery girl

The case of Eunilaine vs. Glori’s


Eunilaine – or Yonileyn as we fondly call it -- has been my grocery store since 1992! (hehe) Even when I moved two jeep rides away, I still went to my original Yoni near my office. Or failing that, the Yoni nearer the new home.

Yonileyn only really fails me because it does not carry my toothpaste (a reason to mall when I run out) and because when they started fixing Kalayaan Avenue, it became too taxing to cross the street for the dust and the exhaust fumes. (I picked up my tissues and wheat bread at the winning Breadwinner convenience store instead.)

We even buy birthday gifts from Yoni!! (hehe!)

Now I live nearer a Glori’s. It’s a tad more expensive because it’s open 24 hours but I can walk to it. I can still ride a trike to Yoni if I insist. But at any given time, it’s a toss-up between the two. Why so?

It’s more exciting to shop at Yonileyn because they carry more goods. And they carry more single-girls fetish or fad goods such as the bottled green tea and all Hershey chocolate flavors and roomie’s and my cereal of choice – almond nut crunch! As they do bottled kimchi and the occasional cute candle-holder.

But if you’re hankering for rice and ulam and can’t be bothered to cook, there’s loads more Pinoy food places by the Glori’s. It doesn’t stock my favorite since elem days Granny Goose tortilla chips (yes priestess, they are unfortunately on the GMO list :D) though. Also, my old reliable brands for laundry soap and fresh milk can’t be found at Glori’s. I often find myself pouting while scouting around that place. But then again, they have nachos :D

But the real honest-to-goodness reason I go to Glori’s -- my personal treat on grocery runs -- is this little magazine stall in it. This yummy mag shop has all sorts of house and home magazines on sale all the time.

Grin. Supplies for the addicted. For this vice, I’ve switched laundry soaps.

can you spot the stripes

can you spot the stripes
Originally uploaded by Pansy.

Furniture tour

(no Mang Gil required)

Spent Saturday with roomie, which seems to be the first entire day we spent together since moving house. (Talk about the realities and perils of “marriage”! Hehe!)

First order of the day: breakfast. My heart said Pancakes! But it was too late for McDonald’s and for the information of those in the UP Village area, the new Pancake House only delivers for orders of P500 and above (too spoiled-brat a breakfast even for two spoiled brats like us).

Later, walking down this unglamorous road, we chanced upon a store selling leftover (leftover from huge sheets) mirrors at 70% off. So what do you know, brushing your teeth while gazing upon thine countenance will soon become a reality in the house of bless (how romantic, hehe!). Sale freaks are we :D.

Next, we peeked into this warehouse that opened up an entire galaxy of fabric possibilities – oh the things that you can do with your sofa, curtains, rug, chairs, etc. They didn’t have too many funky and fun fabrics but it was an interesting place to be (they had this nice blue floral fabric that will surely get the Priestess’ ire and also costs an arm and both legs). I also got a quote for making over our loyal but dying divan. This simply means I know what maximum price to whittle down from once I find myself a fantastic but cheap upholsterer – in whose hands lies my fantasy of baby pink dining chairs and orange ottoman! (:p)

Then we sallied forth to the Union Square showroom along Scout something, almost at the corner of Morato St. Rattan ravers will surely be in bliss! They are having their anniversary sale and are giving great prices especially for those coffee table and two chairs combos. Promise, great prices! But I am so done with the ethnic look so we moved on.

Next, we moved to the place that used to be the premier shopping place in Metro Manila (hehe back when you could still see cogon grass along EDSA!), is now renovating itself quite well but remains to be Magya’s nightmare place, so that roomie could buy herself a very practical, functional and quite cheap bookshelf. With glass covers for herself who loathes dusting. Hehe! (my fantasy of hardwood barrister bookcases and display shelves remains, of course, but we gotta do what we gotta do, and I still have a long life to live).

Plus this pink space capsule for bread that you can chew on the moon (baw tikal na gid na ya ;-))

Then we flew back to Metro Salon to clock in some beauty time. ;-)

P.S. There’s going to be a Philippine Furniture Fair at Megamall in November!

Joyride

Stumbled out of bed early on a Thursday (well, earlier than usual hehe) for a daytrip round town and country with the HB. I love long rides, and I squealed (squeal gid ya, daw pig!) when I found out Mang Gil would be driving. He’s this nice man who drove us – the naughty crowd – on an office trip to Pagudpod last summer (the one who didn’t quite manage to get the “welcome to Pagudpod” archway onto our pics, spoiling the cheesy campy effect :D).

So away we went to Microtel hotel at Gen. Trias, Cavite. Cavite always reminds me of an old flame (the one that always blew out but kept being reignited.) It was once no-man’s land to me, area of he-who-shall-not-be-named, now back to being just Cavite at the far side of the world. We checked out Microtel for a seminar we’re having soon.

MICROTEL marks: Great coffee!!!! (as roomie did say repeatedly). Spacious rooms. Newish and that counts. But the thing that got my attention were two seagrass lounge chairs that are so comfy, once you sink into it, you never want to get up.



Off we went to Tagaytay. There’s this nice traffic-less road that takes you directly from Microtel to Tagaytay in less than an hour. It made M. Gil very happy! We went to Residence Inn.

RESIDENCE Inn: It ain’t gonna work for our purposes. Since Tagaytay was the epicenter of one of two quakes that happened recently, the venue has to be earthquake-proof (as if). It didn’t pass my earthquake test because it has a zoo in it full of pythons and snakes and in the event of earthquakes those babies could break out of their glass cages and swallow me whole. Hehe, me who still has loads of plans cooking in the oven.


But I love driving around Tagaytay. There’s the great view, one can hop restaurants and go on a fruit-buying spree. Bag of Beans coffee shop and restaurant is such a sweet lil place. I fancy a boisterous and cozy brunch there with good friends galore on my birthday. Come, let’s squeeze into a van, and go! I hope to pick at everyone’s choice of dessert, and sit there, simply beaming. [Tita Eds, let’s go?! Say yes or you’ll break my heart!]


ESTANCIA Resort had this small pool bubbling invitingly when we drove in. It has a bigger pool that looks simply divine (I am always attracted to swimming pools and have been known to pick a place on the beauty of its swimming pool); you can swim around and around it without ever stopping. Its restaurant though looks like just the kind of place to go to if you’re having an affair (hehe HB and I both thought this at almost the same time). The de luxe rooms look ok – great view, and spacious. Overall though, the air is that of a place that once was new but isn’t anymore. What’s with old musty resorts that don’t sit quite right? How can hotels and resorts age gracefully, or are we too fixated with newness and shiny paint?


A longish nap thru roads strewn with wooden furniture stalls (hehe) and we were in Binangonan, Rizal. We drove into LAKE ISLAND RESORT, and it was heaven. I immediately felt rested, so peaceful is its atmosphere. Am not normally drawn to places made of all-native materials but this place, it’s like there’s not a hair out of place. We drove in at sunset, my least favorite time of day and it was just idyllic, didn’t feel depressing. You can fish, sing, swim, run, sing, kayak, eat, and seminar (hehe, new verb) at Lake Island. The food’s said to be great too!




HB and I started sweet-talking the Lake Island person to allow us to book a wedding there (they don’t do weddings anymore). It’s such a cozy-cozy family gathering kind of place, I can just picture relatives from all over the islands congregating for an exchange of vows (HB’s and her Lovey’s ceremony, silly :-P).

Last stop, we went up the hills again, this time to SEVEN SUITES at Antipolo, near Valley Golf and Bali Gulp resto (hehe, nice humor there). This place has loads of potential. It’s also great for a romantic dusk wedding (HB’s and her Lovey’s!!!!!!). They seem to be in the process of fixing themselves (lots of repainting, renovating, reconceptualizing going on) so I truly hope they do it right because they have a great little spot.

Up on the third floor, they have this balcony where they regularly book romantic dinners for two overlooking Metro Manila (yes, you can order privacy to go with your dinner.) It’s so perfect for when HB proposes!!!!!!!! Hehehehe!!!! Even though, they ARE already married!!!! Who cares!!!!! It’s still perfect for a proposal, and when he says yes HB, you both can step into the jacuzzi. Hehehehe!!!


Tita Eds, you can cap your anniversary at the Seven Suites!!!!!! (you should know, you’ve been there!!). “Cap”, because as you know, in the morning and noontime of that day, you will be in Tagaytay. Hehehehe!

They have a pool too. Ms. Comfy Capricorn that I am though, I think they need to update their rooms some more.

But the best thing about the joyride is quality time with the HB. The woman whose personal motto/ rejoinder and favorite line is and has got to be “But why?????” HB, no one else has your all-abiding curiosity and need to know exactly why or why not simply because your intelligent mind requires consistency between ideas and action, and your big heart requires unity of mind and heart.




Hehe, I always learn a lot from you, kulit. :D

that dress

I don't know about headaches and restlessness HB. joanna says the earth is fixing itself at its core, and we can feel it.

all i know is it's that dress of mine. it makes noteworthy natural/ environmental events happen (hehe superstar complex to the trillionth degree) along with good stuff. last year it was a typhoon that literally stopped me on my tracks on my way to boracay, and almost sideswiped my scrabble game (aha but i still won). and yet the sisig was quite good that night.

last friday, it was that earthquake while at the topmost floor of a mall. and getting accepted into a new MA program.

that dress :D

my second quake at Galleria with another C

Yes, we were at the topmost floor of that mall that's said to have been designed to sway safely in the event of earthquakes [I truly hope so!], engrossed in a happy movie when the row moved. Not that the Priestess noticed, so engrossed was she in Kate Hudson's enviable curls hehe!

Everyone looked around at the others to see if they too had noticed. No one panicked or immediately ran out for the quaking had stopped. Everyone looked to see what others would do. Slowly people began filing out coolly and calmly. The movie kept on playing.

Outside Cinema 10, the air was more tense and more people were exiting the other cinemas more quickly. C and I held each other's hands and walked purposefully to the back part of the mall, down three floors by the escalator and out the back entrance. It was eerie to see the mall's ceiling lamps swaying high above us. The ground didn't seem to be moving no more but the sight of those lamps made the possibility of a stronger tremor more real.

In the cool October air, we breathed easier, flagging cabs and looking up at more high-rises that could come toppling down.

Thus capped a week wherein, try as she might (five times!), Claudette just isn't allowed to catch Helen. Perhaps, more details on this later.

News Brief courtesy of A, sick in bed with tonsilitis.

6.4 Quake Shakes Philippine Capital
Friday, October 08, 2004

MANILA, Philippines — An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 shook
Manila on Friday night, swaying high rises, knocking out power over a
wide area and sending frightened residents into the streets. There
were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The shaking began at 10:36 p.m. and lasted for more than a minute.
The epicenter of the quake was on Mindoro island (search), 55 miles
south-southwest of Manila (search).

The temblor was felt over a wide area, including nearly 90 miles
north of the sprawling capital on the main Philippine island of Luzon
(search).

The U.S. Geological Survey (search) in Colorado said on its Web site
the magnitude was 6.4 at a depth of about 73 miles.

A magnitude 6 quake can cause severe damage, but the depth appeared
to have eased the effect Friday's temblor, said Renato Solidum Jr.,
director of the Philippine Institute of Vulcanology and Seismology
(search).

Panicked residents and hotel guests poured into the capital's
streets. Police were easing traffic away from a condemned building
that was cracking and dropping debris. Utility company Meralco
reported widespread power outages, possibly due to damaged power
lines.

The Philippines is along the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire,"
(search) where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common. A
magnitude 6.2 quake shook Manila and surrounding areas of Luzon three
weeks ago.

The Institute of Vulcanology and Seismology said Friday's quake was
believed to be in the same fault line, along the Manila Trench.

Solidum said that raised concerns that the area is becoming active.

"It means that part is moving. We could have more earthquakes, so we
should always be careful," Solidum said.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in 1990 killed nearly 2,000 people on
Luzon.

Copyright 2004 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved.

Furniture Issues

My favorite problematique* these days (from a long list, I have to tell you) is where and how should I place my writing desk.

Yes, I want a writing desk. Perhaps, this one. Maybe it will be my Christmas gift to myself.



Yes, I want it in the bedroom for those quiet moments with myself. Yes I want it in the office/ study room because that’s where it belongs, conceptually, so the bedroom is a place for rest and for tackling fashion issues (hehe). Yes I want it in the attic because it’s the quietest part so far (but hot). Yes I want it in the living room, which is right now the comfiest place. Yes, I want it in the kitchen coz it’s alive.

Yes, I want it.

In the bedroom, I want it by the window so I can look down on the street (but I’ll have my back to the door …oh poop). Yes I want it by the other window (but it’s near the aircon and I dislike being too close to the aircon.). Do I want to be facing a wall? Eurgh.

Yes to x where x marks the spot but x is still the unknown variable. Hehe.

Yes, a desk needs a chair. Hmmmm (more surfing needed).


Let me ask you this?

A question I think underrated, ignored. Begging to be addressed.

Where does one place one’s bags/ stuff when one enters the house (first) and when one enters the bedroom (last)? There has to be somewhere. It can’t be on the floor (or someone will get mad ;-) ) or the chair (not when there are limited chairs) or the dining table (not when one loves to eat hehe!) or the sofa (for it will surely get displaced) or even the bed!

How petty?! How surreal but real! One needs a place for stuff, a place to call its own just before it leaves and when it arrives.

If even the toothbrush has a home.



*"favorite problematique" indicates enjoyment and pleasure from perusal and reflection even with the furrowed brow :-P

Maldita rants

Disclaimer
Daily Reading for 06 OCTOBER 2004
Today you're in danger of behaving in an worrying, even violent way that those around you will have difficulty in understanding, V___. Under the influence of the Tower, there's a risk that impulsiveness may lead you to speak too plainly or abruptly. This may result in comments or conflict which you will find difficult to resolve.

Only inspired by Buddha's Piscean "How are you's" but entirely about everyone who asks that I don't care to answer because .... NO OFFENSE MEANT :p ... This is supposed to be a truthful comic post.


“How are you?” is a question with no answer. I dunno, another Capricorn friend almost dropped off his seat one time when I asked him that question, replying with “Where did that come from?” so maybe it’s a Capricorn thing (sneaky, suspicious and controlling like, “What?!? Just what do you mean by that?”)

Or it could be the vagueness of the question, the one hundred possible (and a million other) contexts for such a question expressed in three simple words. Instead, be clear. What are you referring to? Why are you asking? Are you asking with ulterior motives? LOL. Will I agree with your ulterior motives? Do you just want something from me? Are you actually looking to put me down? Am I paranoid?

Hahahaha (sounds weird I know but I’m coming from past experiences) I don’t want to have to figure it out myself so tell it to me straight. Racking my brains, I find “How are you’s” that are cool. Like when close gfs ask, I usually know what they’re really asking about similar to when I’m the one doing the asking, usually in reference to something specific – a bad mood, an awarding ceremony, the rain, coffee, a life-changing recent circumstance, a skirt far too long or for that matter, far too short.

Or in the case of another friend, it starts off our ritual for shooting the breeze. He asks, “How are you?” I go, “Talking with the birds about the bees.” He replies, “What’s wrong with humans?” I could go “They have too much hair.” Or whatever pops into our heads, providing of course that we have the time, the mood, and the text load to pass off the time so pleasantly. Chuckle chuckle. (Which reminds me, I still haven’t answered his last message: “I know you’re a feminist, but isn’t it wrong to stalk a man?”)

Or in the case of my mother who asks directly, "Are you ok?" so I know she wants reassurance that I'm ok. (Hehe, yes Ma, am ok.)

What are you “how are you-ing” me for? Typewritten, ten pages, double-spaced or Times New Roman, 12 points. Due by Friday.

And in the meantime, … so, how are you? (insert knowing look, smirk, mischievous smile, caring heart, vague persona, genuine curiosity or boredom as entirely appropriate.)

Hehehe!

red letter days

My astrologer refuses to cooperate so I'll go and create my own horoscope. Wadahel, it's my life *GRIN*

iT'S MY life, i JUST waNNA LiVE FOREVER :D

Here goes:

All your planets are in disarray, now and then swanning off to other galaxies in boredom, spinning back in fright, staring into spaaaaaaaaaaaaaace, coming back to life to tell stories or laugh galore. Also broody (broody does not mean you want to hatch eggs, but you tend to brood.) Also one or two seen flagging down tricycles with much haste, wet hair and bags of files. Hihihi.

Conclusion: confused :D and easily tired. Generally happy, momentarily annoyed, occasionally angry, busy as a bee fixing things up. Yes, your twelve houses need sorting.

Preoccupied as hell. All sectors need attention = lots and lots of work, family updating needed, house awaiting, education in the balance, no lovelife to speak of except love for friends, family and inanimate objects (read: all new soft sofas) -- no time for a lovelife (have just contradicted myself). Loves everyone but scattered in all directions. Just blown over by an entire school of bangus.

It's all quite good.

The Priestess calls it Boisterous Beige

Restless At Three AM, Bugged And Bitchy

Fry Day

I want to fly to Boracay on the Cebu-Pacific twin-share promo of just over five thousand bucks!

I am on the brink of a very bad mood/ tantrum but luckily it ebbs and flows!

I want HB to call her landlord again (and again) so I can just listen in on their conversation, hihihihihi! Promise HB it suits you!

Oh, and again, Joanna's giving hope ;-) sister, am so glad to be reunited with your sense of humor (along with your wisdom) or perhaps they are often one and the same.