I Want: Gadgets

I want. Will save up for all these...unless nice generous people would like to give them to me as a Birthday or Christmas gift!

The new Ipod Classic.

to replace my stolen Ipod.

Nintendo Wii.

to replace my busted, ancient PS2.

Sony PSP

In Tokyo they launched a GPS gadget for PSP. that would be the coolest. Especially for a not-so-street-smart girl like me.

Silver blackberry

to replace my ancient 02 XDA

Ipod portable speakers

to match my classic Ipod

We live in a techie material world. And I am a semi-techie material girl.

Breakfast and Tiffany

September 9 2007.

Chev surprised me with breakfast at The Boutique in Tagaytay like he had never done before.

I felt really bad when he gave me the surprise because I've been giving him a lot of heat about not paying much attention to me since I got back from the States. I rattled on and on about how he didn't even plan anything for us when I got back. It was Low Self Esteem and Bad Career week and he was taking the toll. Poor Chevy.

So imagine my face, when, in the middle of my ranting, he pulled up in front of The Boutique and told me he made reservations.Weeks ago.

I hugged him like a girlfriend would hug her boyfriend in my situation.

We had a normal breakfast. This exact spread.

He was not that normal. Extra sweet and affectionate. Told me the nicest and gushiest things. Barely touched his food.

Then he popped the question of all questions. Like he normally does when we're extra sweet and cuddly. And I said "yes I will...we will..soon" like I always do.

So I turned back to my food and chatted up a storm about how excited I was to taste their breakfast and then I saw this shiny thing near my plate.

And he gave me a ring like he has never done before. A ring I have never received before.

And I hugged him like a girlfriend would hug her boyfriend in my situation.

Only then, at that exact moment, I stopped being a girlfriend. I became a fiance.

And I hugged my fiance like I have never done before.

Highlights of my US Trip 2

Theme Parking Like A Rockstar

Universal Studios: Meme, Anne and JD aka Bombom

Disneyland: Ate Karen, Moin, Ate Weng, Che, Josh and Baby Armaan.

Did the whole Universal Studios theme park in 1 full day (split in 2) where we all got wet in the Jurassic Park ride, where Anne and I screamed our lungs off with eyes shut in the Mummy Ride, oohed and aahed in the Studio Tours and more. All while carrying around miniature Spongebob. Ooh and we ate a lot, taking advantage of our Eat-All-You-Can Tags. We also went around the shops in Universal Citywalk a good hangout place lined with stores, bars and restaurants. Now I know where Eastwood got its name.

Disneyland was super!! Better than the one in HongKong (duh). My fave rides? Finding Nemo (submarine ride), Indiana Jones and The Haunted Mansion. (Not-so) Highlight of the trip: We saw David Hasselhoff (my only star sighting) and glimpses of the Human Torch and (drum roll please) Jojo Lastimosa!!! Hahaha. But seriously, Disneyland was great. I loved the Fantasmic show. It’s always been my dream to become a Disneyland employee. I’d love to be Jasmine and get paid to dance and pose for pictures and just wave at the kids. It’s like working in a whole new world . Going there just brought back my dreams that never quite came true. Sniff.

Viva (Viagra) Las Vegas!

Las Vegas Strip and around Nevada: Meme, Anne, Cecile and JD aka Bombom

In the States, there’s a commercial for Viagra where the jingle goes “Viva Viagra!” instead of “Las Vegas.” Hence, the title. The Three Little Pigs and the piglet go to Vegas. We stayed at the Luxor Hotel (a big pyramid) where the elevator goes side-wards while going up instead of just straight up. We braved the 100 degrees + and walked around the Strip and visited the cool hotels. My favorite was the Venetian. It was cool literally and figuratively. We also went shopping in the Primm Outlets (or was it Chelsea?) and ate Japanese buffet (salmon and crabsticks...yum) and burgers from this popular hamburger place, I don’t know if you’ve heard of it, um McDonald’s? Yes. We ate McDonald’s. I ate chicken selects with ranch dressing. Too bad it’s not available here. We also went to the Stratosphere and Fremont Street Experience and watched the Bellagio fountain show thrice J What was fun though was driving in the Hertz Mazda to, around, and from Vegas and getting rated by Bom on our driving skills. And yes we did a bit of the gambling and drinking. But just a bit. We were too exhausted to gulp.

Baby Love

But the highlight of my trip is really meeting Armaan for the first time. He’s just so adorable. He likes sleeping and drinking milk and staring at lights. He cries occasionally and has just learned how to coo. He also likes it when I dance for him and when we play cycling cycling cycling shorts and the staring game. He also likes to grab handfuls of my hair. He’s only two months old but he’s been around. That little traveler. And not just on his stroller. Car. Tram. Plane. Submarine. Oh and he’s got a fly crib. With the fishy mobile and projected lights and twinkly melody songs. All pimped up. He's gonna be a cool kid someday. Made in Vegas. (Born to rock).

he kinda looks like me doesn't he?

Highlights of my US Trip

From August 3 to 27 I was vacationing in California, USA. I’ve always wanted to go to the States and I was lucky enough to have been given a visa. It was my first time but I know I’ll go back before my visa expires. I believe in traveling while still young and worrying about your savings later. Haha. That may seem wrong to most people but there’s so much of the world to see!! And I think we should all see them now while we still have a strong pair of legs and full control of our bladders.

It was a great vacation. Relaxing, shopping, dining, sightseeing, babysitting and catching up with friends and relatives…unlike other vacations where you catch trains and planes, lug around heavy luggage, take audio tours and get lost in translation. But like other vacations, this made a heavy dent on my life savings. But it’s a dent well spent. This vacation was, as Mastercard tells us, priceless.

Here are the highlights of my trip:

A Bay Bay in L.A.

Artesia/ Cerritos: Ate Karen, Moin, Ate Weng, Che, Josh and the newest bundle of joy Baby Armaan.

My homebase was Ate Karen’s apartment in Cerritos. I spent free time babysitting Armaan with Ate Weng, playing Monopoly and Game of Life with Josh, swimming with Josh (and playing Joshua Airlines where I was the plane and he was the pilot), watching Pinoy horror flicks and late night snacking with Ate Karen and Moin. I also spent a great deal of my time in malls within the vicinity like Cerritos Mall, Town Center, and of course trying out the local restaurants (I especially loved Olive Garden for their salads, Soup Plantation, and the Golden Spoon yogurt). For the shops I loved Ross (hahaha for cheap reasons), Forever 21, Old Navy, Urban Outfitters, Macy’s, Claire’s, and our favorite H&M. But I also loved looking for good buys at Walmart, Target and Walgreens. We also went to two of the nicest malls: The Grove and The Block in Orange County where we ate at the famous Farmer’s Market (where Hollywood stars dine and do a bit of veggie shopping). Armaan and Josh went everywhere with us. Armaan gets really excited when he’s getting strapped in his carseat cause he know’s he’s going out!!! And Josh was just so willing to show me around (with trivia pa). They’re both soooo adorable.

The Hills and Thrills of San Francisco

Milpitas/ San Francisco: Ate Karen, Armaan, Miranda and Capili Families

Flew to San Francisco via Jet Blue Airways (Long Beach-Oakland) with Ate Karen and baby Armaan (his first plane ride). When we got there, we stayed at the Miranda house in Milpitas where I met the adorable dogs Buster, Milo and Rosco. We were there from Saturday-Wednesday. We toured Sta. Ana row and San Jose Area where we grabbed the famous Counter burgers, also went around the bay area and quaint little towns there about. Did all the touristy spots in San Francisco –Golden Gate, Union Square, Lombard Street, Little Italy (where we had the best gelato), and chilled out at home...bonded with cousins over wine&cheese, strawberries&cream, and Wii marathon til the wee hours. It was so fun seeing cousins Tin, Frances and Tommy again. We got to talk about family chismis the whole time J hahaha. Also met Tin’s fiancé Johnny Judo and Frances’s boyfriend Mark. Pretty fly boys J

Getting down(town) with Anne and Meme

Downtown LA and Hollywood: Meme, Anne, Cecile and JD aka Bombom

Stayed in Meme’s fabulous apartment. Anne’s trip from New York was such a hassle. They transferred planes last minute and their luggages were left in NY and delivered the next day. Mental note; Avoid taking Northwest Airlines. So we just went grocery shopping and cooked artichoke dip and munched on cornchips while playing Taboo. We also relived our Dapitan days while playing pool at their rooftop gamehall and just lounged around and chilled out. Stress days included: walking around Las Vegas strip in the heat of the sun, driving around in our rented not-fully-insured Hertz Mazda 6 and freaking out on the freeway. We also dropped by Hollywood where we were not that impressed with the Chinese Theater and Walk of Fame and the teeny Hollywood sign. But we were impressed with the Spongebob mascot who actually spoke like Spongebob. I haven’t seen these girls in a long time. It was so much fun hanging out with them. We haven’t changed much over the years. We’re still the crazy funny people we used to be. But a lil older and with a lil more money (and we talked about our tipid days back in college). But still crazy. Oh and Meme’s better at billiards now and Anne loses to Bombom in table tennis. And they’re both working on their triceps and talking gym talk.

To be continued…

Flying Away

August 3, 2007. 9:10PM.

Philippine Airlines Centennial Airport Gate 6

I think they should make airports more colorful. Put in reds and greens and more plants. More coffee shops with more comfy couches and more boutiques with friendlier prices. Airports are too gray and too concrete and too uncomfortable. Well, at least the new airports are. NAIA still reminds me of the CCP lobby with all the wood and worn out carpets. While we all appreciate all the glass and high ceilings and Duty Free shops, airports still feel so cold. Particularly the departure area. It feels drab and gray.

Or maybe because I feel drab and gray and cold right this moment. And very very anxious.

I hate flying. I really do. Especially really long flights. I flew to London once, 19 hours with a 3 hour stopover, to Paris for 18 hours with a 1 hour stopover and now I'm flying to Los Angeles for 7 hours with no stopover. So this will be a walk in the park compared to my other long flights. Yup a walk in the park indeed. Jurrassic Park.

I'm flying alone. And that in itself explains how Jurassic Park-ly this "short" long flight to the US will be. I will be alone, strapped to a seat for almost 7 hours, elevated hundreds of thousands of miles above ground with metal walls merely separating me from a horrifying plunge to death. I have no one to talk me through the scary take-off, no one to share the bland food with, no one to switch with me when the cramped seats make me feel like i'm getting bedsore, no one to watch my bag when i go to the teeny lavatory with the waterless toilet bowl...and that makes me feel very nervous. Add to my anxiety the feeling of loneliness. Because I'm currently in an airport full of families and friends waiting for a flight. And I'm leaving my boyfriend behind and we'll be celebrating our first year anniversary in different parts of the world. And I'm missing my mom and dad and wishing they were here with me and coming with me on this trip so they can meet my their grandkids and see my sister and cousin. All these thoughts are making me teary eyed. And i don't want to look stupid all over again because I was crying and sniffing all the way from the departure gate to check-in.

So I try to dwell on the positive. My sister. Cousins. Nephews. But right now all feelings of positivity seem to be a thousand miles away. 14 thousand miles away, more or less. And so we board the 10PM flight....

August 4, 2007. 3:15 AM. Flight PR102

So I'm on the plane. And trying to entertain myself with all the stuff I brought with me to keep my mind from remembering all the airline accident specials featured on Discovery Channel. My book The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, my Ipod and my travel journal.

I've been drifting in and out of sleep. Catching glimpses of Spiderman 3 and Blades of Glory, the in-flight movie features for tonight. My stomach's upset. My back hurts. I barely ate dinner or snacks and now my stomach is so acidic I can feel it almost boring a hole to the surface of my tummy. I want to call the flight attendant and ask for medical attention because I feel like I will faint anytime soon. But I still write because it occupies me from all the pangs of sadness, anxiety and hunger. And i really don't feel like talking to anyone. Because that means reaching for my gum in my bag which is safely stowed under the seat in front of me. The only words I have spoken during this flight so far are: Chicken, Tea, Water please, Thank you, More water please, and No thanks (to the alcoholic beverages and Duty Free merchandise...I knew I should have said yes to that glass of wine). The guy beside me tries to make small talk. He's a businessman with his power suit and blackberry and laptop. But I just smile politely and give him the I'm-sorry-but-I'm-a-loner look. And he minds his own business. Argh. I'm counting the hours. Painfully counting the hours.

August 4, 2007. 5:25 AM. Flight PR102

I just woke up and realized how planes are actually time machines. When I get to the States it will be 7:40 pm of August 3 once again. Lucky pilots and flight attendants, going back and forth in time. But I wouldn't want their job even if I have the height. That's a tough job, pushing those carts up and down the narrow aisles while the plane's tilted or bouncing from turbulence. And dealing with this airplane smell all the time. My stomach feels queasy all over again. But they'll be earning money while flying to different parts of the world and they won't be strapped to this seat the whole time. And the time traveling's also pretty cool.

August 4, 2007. 9:12 AM. Flight PR102

We're almost there. I just freshened up. And now they're serving breakfast. My body clock is all messed up now. So much for the coolness of time travelling. It's breakfast here on the plane but when we get there it will be dinner and knowing my sister and cousin we'll have dinner or snacks before going home. But I still try to eat anyways....


Ok I ate a little rice and a little corned beef and took the ensaymada for baon. And sit back and wait and think of my family and Chev. And I feel sad and homesick and airsick all over again. And before getting off the plane, I threw up in that waterless toilet bowl and I think for the nth time I hate flying.

August 3, 2007 11:30 PM
I'm now here in California and still dizzy and queasy from the flight. ...but seeing this baby in person just made that horrible flight all worth it.

Artist Chef Birthday Surprise

Last July 1, Chev celebrated his 29th birthday and I surprised him with a romantic dinner arranged by the Artist Chef. I had to work that day (it was a Sunday) so we met up near the office. He asked me where I wanted to eat and I nonchalantly suggested "Serendra, Portico or some other resto there...wherever..."but first I had to drop off something at “my officemate’s condo” near Ayala. “My officemate’s condo” was actually the venue for the surprise dinner and on the way, I was secretly consulting the map to the place. I remember he even asked me what floor her place was and I absentmindedly answered “20th floor” since I was trying so hard to read the map in the dark.

When we got to the condo I almost laughed out loud since the building was only 5-storeys tall! Good thing he didn’t notice. I had to convince him to go up with me since he wanted to stay and wait in the car.

3 floors later I knocked on the door of the Artist Chef’s place. I told him to wait by the hallway while I got in. I said hello to Joanne Manalang, the Artist Chef and checked the arrangements. Everything was just so romantic. The table was set up in the corner. There were candles and rose petals all over the place while instrumental bossa music played. I invited him in saying I’d take a little longer than expected so he stepped inside and got his birthday surprise :)

The dinner was great. The food was delicious. The ambiance was perfect. We had an amazing time. It really beats celebrating dinner for two at an expensive restaurant. We had a four course meal for a very reasonable price. Since Chev loves Spanish food, I chose the Spanish menu with Crema de Mejillones as the soup (mussel soup), Spanish potato salad for entrée, Paella Valenciana for the main course and ended with Crema Catalana or a really rich strawberry topped cream dessert. We also had two non-alcoholic pinacoladas (really yummy). At the end of the dinner we were both so full we could barely move hahaha. After eating, we sat down and chatted with Joanne, who by the way is my sister’s friend from college (also a fellow Thomasian) and talked about the food. She really researches and experiments with different dishes, usually from her favorite international chefs and then she concocts her own. We thanked her and said our goodnights and left her place grinning like Cheshire cats. Big, fat, full Cheshire cats.

Since the night was still young (and so were we...and yes, only God can make a tree) we decided to go to Serendra for a late night stroll (to at least burn off some of the calories) and for some book shopping at Fully Booked. It was a really good dinner. Compliments to the Artist Chef!! I hope Chev enjoyed his birthday. I would have loved to cook him dinner myself but my culinary skills are well, very limited. Happy birthday again Chevy!! xoxo

I recommend the Artist Chef to couples out there who want to try a unique dining experience. It beats eating at the usual places – Serendra, Greenbelt, The Fort… Here, there are no lines, no waiting, no hassle looking for parking, no parking fees, no loud chatter. It’s like a secret romantic hideaway in the city. So the next time you’re celebrating anything, give the Artist Chef a call and schedule dinner at her place. The Artist Chef is available only on Sundays. One friendly tip: try to reserve in advance since a lot of people make reservations. That’s how good her food is ;)

Visit

The Artist Chef

All Grown Up

Last Father's Day, my high school girlfriends and I met up to celebrate the 1st birthday of Chey's son Joaquin Lorenzo or Enzo in Cavite. Jeng and I drove together to the venue, while her boyfriend Eugene convoyed us in another car. Despite having a map, and despite the fact that Jeng grew up and live in Cavite (I was the only non-Cavitenya among us 5), we still got lost. Because (1) we were making chismis in the car nonstop and (2) Chey drew a really lousy map (hehe) After a couple of illegal turns, we found ourselves in Enzo's Blue's Clue's party. It was so much fun seeing Joy and Merv and our cute inaanak Kyle there. We haven't seen him in a long long time and my, my, has he grown. The first words 2 year old Kyle said to me? "Oops I farted!!" He has indeed inherited his mother's charm!!! We all screamed "Joy na Joy!!"

Newborn Kyle. I am innocent

1 year old Kyle with pretty ninang (me)

2 year old Kyle. Super pilyo.

It was a swimming party but unfortunately for Kyle, he had a slight fever and was banned from the pool by mom and dad so he just played and entertained us by farting away all afternoon. Kidding. Kyle side from being sooo cute and funny is really really smart, speaking straight sentences and singing nursery rhymes and songs. He even knows the PCSO jingle! Despite having a fever, he played video games, stepped on ants, sang songs, bounced around, ran to and from the cake (which he wanted to smash with his chubby fingers) and played with balloons while Joy, Jeng and I sat there chatting and Merv chased after him all afternoon (in celebration of Father's Day). Every once in awhile, Joy would shout "Daddy faster!" when Merv would slow down while chasing Kyle and then go back to the juicy gossip we were spilling. Too bad my digicam got lobat (it always fails to take precious Kodak moments) and we weren't able to take much pics of each other (not even the birthday boy who was then so busy entertaining his guests while in the arms of Mommy Chey). But I managed to take some pics of Kyle during his "Lagot ka kay Tito Eugene" behaved moments and a pic of the four of us (we miss you Anne) while reminiscing about the time we posed as Sailor girls back in high school (with Chey as Sailor Moon and the rest of us as the less significant Sailor Planet Girls).

From high school girls to mothers. My, my have we grown up. And I'm so damn proud of my friends. Joy has grown up from the girl who impersonates Marimar in high school to this doting mom who has taught Kyle to be so articulate and smart at such a young age. And Chey who used to spend all her money on clothes and parties to this hostess mom throwing a kiddie birthday bash and giviing away Blues Clues cakes. And Anne, who used to play "Save Save" and "Name the Movie" games, do Brenda (also from Marimar) impersonations, is now raising a handsome binata in Bom and a little doll in Alyssa. It's amazing how they have transformed.

While Jeng and I..uh..um....uh we know how to cook really good spaghetti! And uh...we're good at Tabboo and poker...Don't worry Jeng, you are next in line. I know it.

Good boy. Takot kay Tito Eugene "the policeman"

2006: with Joy and 1 year old Kyle, and Chey and Enzo (still inside his Mommy's tummy)

June 2007: with Jeng (the next in line) Mommy Joy, Mommy Chey sans preggy bump

Though we are all busy with our own lives with almost everyone rearing children and husbands (haha) and we see each other only during weddings, baptisms and birthdays and occasional house parties, I'm so glad we still have that special bond. From Sailor girls to Spice Girls to College girls to Wives to Mothers, I know these girls will be around the many transformations in our lives. And I know underneath the "mommy facade," they will always be the silly girls I grew up with in High School. And we will always laugh at ourselves, no matter how old we will be...