Green Day

Today is St. Paddy's Day or St. Pattie's Day or as the Irish call it Lá Fhéile Pádraig. And it's a big holiday here in MA because this state is majorly Irish. Everyone's wearing green and drinking Guinness or maybe a bottle of Sam Adams in between. The Boston Celtics are wearing their gold and green uniform and people are just a little crazier today than most days. Shamrocks everywhere and leprechaun hats are in fashion. Simply because

I was wearing my green hoodie around the house and playing the latest U2 album as my own little way of celebrating with them Irish lads. We also had our Irish beer battered fish and chips last night.

It's a good holiday. I wish we had something like this back home. It's so festive and mischievous. Just like this cute little care bear "greening" the Chicago river every year on this day.

Happy St. Patrick's Day me lads.

First Vday

A year ago I wrote an entry about how every year, my Valentine's Day has been alternately bitter and sweet. See Bitterweet Valentine Flashback. And as predicted, this year it has been real sweet. As I had hoped in my post, I spent it with Chevy and with a new last name.

We're not into the whole celebrating on Feb 14 but since it was our first heart's day as husband and wife we just had to do by tradition.

It started out as a regular oh-so-domesticated day. Woke up unbelievably early (7am!) and had brunch at Wendy's (so romantic) near the supermarket then we did our groceries and spent our early afternoon sorting out the house and the kitchen as we always do during weekends. Then Chev played his strat games while I played Jeopardy on PS3. Then we played against each other and I played online and lost to a dork who had all the answers memorized. We also had some cake, my fave red velvet with cream cheese icing. Then I cooked my valentino a dinner that was so Buon Apetito Italiano.

Menu:
Sote di Vongole or clam saute for appetizer
Shrimp and Scallop Scampi over fettuccine
Side of bruschetta (with tomato and mozzarella)

and for dessert: chocolate covered strawberries.

We also had some sparkling wine which I discovered really didn't go well with the dessert. We should have gotten port or rose. But wine is wine and I drank a lot of it. Then we curled up on the couch and watched NBA All Star weekend and a bunch of late night shows that we Tivoed.

Chev got me flowers and a box of Rocky Mountain chocolate (drool). And then he complained about the flowers because they sent me the wrong colors and the flowershop sent me a new bouquet a week after so I got 2! Suhweet. I got Chevy a card which showed a couple lugging around a giant hamper after doing laundry. It was so US. And our Vday celebration was so US. We're domesticated fastfood munching gamers with a flare for romance, experimental dinners, Italian food and wine + nightcaps of NBA or tivoed shows :)

Cheers to my sweet valentine in 09 and to more simple happy romantic days like this. Hope next year won't be bitter.

red velvet cake...mmmm...

Sote di Vongole

bruschetta

Shrimp and Scallop Scampi over Fettuccine

my second bouquet with the right colors

table for two

Let It Snow

Snowstorm last weekend. The people at the weather channel made it sound so dreadful. Storm will hit around 3pm Friday and it will snow nonstop until Sunday and we're all going to be buried alive. Of course they didn't say that but that was the message that I got.

We prepared for the storm. Bought tons of food and water and flashlights like what we do in the Philippines when there's a storm. Also because half of New Hampshire has no power after being hit by an ice storm (the trees grew icicles) and we were afraid it might happen here. We bought a ton of meat and then I realized that if the power goes out the meat will go bad. Then again we can always put it in the snow right. So we still stocked up on that.

And we waited and waited. Some people didn't want it to arrive. I on the other hand was soooo excited because it was going to be my first snow storm. My first snowfall actually since the snow I saw in NYC was just flurries (but I was so psyched about that too and nearly cried but of course I tried to look cool and not get emotional in front of them savvy city folks).

Friday saw me constantly checking for snow outside my window.

And when it finally started snowing I was out the door in multiple layers of clothing catching snowflakes with my tongue. So beautiful.

prancing around in the snow

my name in snow

that's me making snowangels

chevy with our snowman/ snowhead

everything's white


I love it. Even though it feels like a thousand pins when you're trying to thaw yourself in front of the heater. I love it more than wind chill and rain :)

My New Haircut

I got my hair cut. It’s my first hair cut since March. It’s horrible. Well ok not that horrible. If I sweep the bangs to the side it looks ok. Acceptable ok. Not glam ok. But the drama queen in me thinks it’s horrible. My most horrible hair since my Demi-Moore-in-Ghost hairstyle back in grade school.

It was a Saturday afternoon and my sister and I wanted to get our hair cut at her usual salon in Buena Park. But lo and behold we were so lazy we decided to go to the Super Cuts salon near our place. After all, I just wanted a basic trim. My hair is halfway down my back and part brown and part black with my real color showing at the top. I just wanted to have it cut so it wouldn't’t be flying all over the place this windy season. Super Cuts is like a basic salon. Like a Ricky Reyes in the Philippines. Cheap but reliable for trims, not for styling. And besides we also wanted to go to the Jollibee near Super cuts. So we went. After chowing down 12 bucks worth of chickenjoy and halo-halo (goodness) we went to get my crowning glory chopped off. My stylist’s (if you can call her that) name was Maria and she envied my hair for being so straight since hers was uber curly. I made small talk with her while reading about The Lonely Life of Suri Cruise in OK magazine. I told her to cut it shoulder length, no layers, with bangs. Low maintenance kinda hair. I looked up from time to time and gave her some directions on how to cut it but I wasn't’t wearing my glasses so everything looked a bit blurry. After a few minutes I put on my glasses and saw the horror that is my hair. I swear I heard the JAWS-remixed-with-the-TWILIGHT-ZONE soundtrack. I didn't’t get the blow-dry package since it was 20 bucks more than the usual. She only blow-dried my bangs while the rest of my hair was damp. The result: my bangs were all big and poofy and thick while the rest of my hair was damp and plastered around my head, highlighting the roundness that is my fez. I was shocked. I wanted to go on a rampage but the courteous lady in me thanked her while my drama queen side suffered in silence. My sister tried to console me and said it will look nice once it’s dry but after a while she started calling me Edna. As in Edna of The Incredibles.

Thank God I don't wear round glasses. I think my hair looks more like Adrianna of 90210. Self-proclaimed.

Lessons Learned from this Eye-opening Experience:

1. Don't read magazines while getting your hair cut

2. Wear contacts

3. Don't get caught up in chismis

4. SUPERCUTS = SUPERBAD

At least I can go as Edna this Halloween. Or as overdosed Adrianna. Ah. The silver linings behing my gray cloud.

Cravings

When I got here 3 months ago, I didn't want to eat Filipino food because of course, I've been eating Filipino food all my life. I wanted to try the restaurant chains here that I haven't tried during my previous vacation. I also didn't feel like eating Chinese food because that's like secondary to our cuisine. I wanted to eat in the restaurants featured in Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. And I did. I tried diner food and the US fastfood joints and the usual Italian and Seafood restaurants. But now I'm CRAVING for the home cooked Pinoy ulam. Particularly my mom's adobo. I tried to duplicate it but of course it's not the same. It's always been a miss or miss for me. Which is acceptable since I'm probably just Level 2 at home ec. Months ago, I thought adobo needed calamansi. Now at least I know that it needs a bay leaf, peppercorn and that there should be more soy sauce than vinegar, because I learned from my mistake, a pretty sourly disgusting mistake.

While there are Filipino restaurants here, it's just not the same. Maybe because they don't have our brands or our sometimes odd/ exotic ingredients. The really good ones are usually fusion restaurants. More Asian than pure Filipino. Which made me realize how good Filipinos are because we can copy other country's cuisine but they can't duplicate ours. Anyhoo, I'm starving as I write this and I'm picturing the food I miss. Makes my mouth water and my stomach rumble just thinking about it. It's just another cliche. You crave for those you know you can't have. And you appreciate those things more than before. The grass is indeed greener on the other side.

I'm missing

green mango and bagoong
kare-kare (but I don't miss the tripe because I don't eat tripe)
halo-halo (with the leche flan and the ube)
Dencio's oily crispy sisg
Congo Grill's tinumok
Sentro's sinigang na corned beef and the crispy GG
Ebun's adobong pusit
Milky Way's pork binagoongan
Jollibee spaghetti (they don't serve it in the Jollibee here)
Bibingkinitan mini-bibingka and Ferino's !!
cuchinta with niyog
Island Fish crackers
Bicol express
Chicken Bacolod chicken

and last but not the least...

San Mig Light (so expensive here!)

In other news:
Cibo's Pene al Telefono and Spinaci Zola, Casa Armas Paella Marinara, Sonja's Melt-in-your-mouth flourless chocolate cupcake. Conti's mango bravo!! And from USTe days the famous Almer's porkchops and Mang Toot's liempo .Yum.

of detours and crossroads

written approximately 15 days ago...

I tried hard not to press my nose against the bus window. Windows of public transportation must be swimming with bacteria. but i wanted to see the accident upclose. The uzi Pinoy in me was yearning to see something gory...just like the rest of the passengers. The LAPD guy came up to the bus and started talking to the bus driver, pointing towards a different direction. The scene was a mess. An SUV and a sedan collided in the suburban streets of Norwalk and both looked extremely, if not totally damaged. It was my first time to see an accident that upclose. LAPD, 911, Fire Department, the works.

"But this is the only way I know. It's the only route I drive." The bus lady's panicked voice startled me from my thoughts of William Shatner and the 1990's hit show Rescue 911. She was freaking out because we had to take a detour. And she had no clue where to go. Good thing a shabbier version of Chuck Norris stepped up and guided her through the unfamiliar way back to her route. The entire bus was in eternal gratitude. I almost heard them applause.

For a moment there I felt like I was the lady bus driver. Except that she was black and had a booming voice and er, giant bumpers. With her poor navigational skills and utter lack of street smarts, she could have been my black (with an enhanced chest) version. But it wasn't her lack of street savvies that hit me, it was her words. Words that echoed what I was feeling. Words that could have been my own.

I've been in the States for 3 months now. It hasn't been a joy ride but like the wheels on the bus it has gone round and round. There are happy days, there are joyful days. There are rough days filled with homesickness and tough days filled with doubt. The only road I have known is back in the Philippines. A road of career, nearly 7 years of hard corporate slavery with family and friends around me who cheered me up when the going got tough...and with a steady bank account that financed my needs and luxuries. That road stopped and I got detoured and now I don't know how to continue. It's the only route I know. Work and play. Now I've been a bum for 4 months and my bum is getting restless. I need a job. I need security. I need a hopeful future. I need the little luxuries in my life that keep me sane in this cruel cruel world. I need a hopeful future.

But the road I'm on now is unfamiliar and I don't know the way.

But today I had help. Not just from Chuck Norris back at the bus but from a little company who wants to give me a chance. And now it seems my life is starting to get some direction. It's not final yet and there are still a lot of steps to take, people to impress and papers to be processed. Hopefully I will get through the detours of unemployment and passiveness and get back on track.

Thinking about it now, I realize that when that happens, I will be faced with a crossroad and the painful need to decide whether to stay for good or to go back home. A no-turning-back kind of decision. A decision that could alter my life. Forever. Drama, drama, drama. While the decision will be lengthily discussed, I know he'll say that it's my call. I frown at the thought. Making decisions is not my forte. I'm a Libra. It's written in the stars. We just have trouble deciding, even if it's as simple as what color of shoes or what flavor of ice cream to buy. But I will cross (and hopefully not burn) that bridge when I get there. For now I know I'm not ready to go home yet. I'm not coming home to live my robotic life without Chev. He may be on the other side of the country right now but at least we're still in the same country. Whatever happens, I'm making sure we come home together.

I pull at the cord to signal the stop request and alight the bus. I'll have major decisions to make in the future but for now I'll go home, have a cup of coffee and a bagel with cream cheese and watch TV...watch fictional people make their own decisions until the time I have to make mine. I shiver at the thought. It's such an adult thing to do.

Ex Party Girl/ Workaholic Gets Domesticated

written ages ago.

Since I got to the States, my life has made a drastic change. My 25 year old self would be shocked to see what she's turned into in just a couple of years. I've done a complete 180. And it's a relaxing break from the whirlwind life I used to live. I call this the Domestication of Maya Navarro. It's the stuff housewives and old maids are made of. I'm enjoying it so far but I don't know when I'll grow restless from too much down time.

Mornings

Before: Wake up to the sound of my annoying alarm clock at about 8/ 8:30 am, drag myself out of bed to shower, get dressed for work with about 2-3 outfit changes before finally settling on my first choice, drink coffee or pour coffee into a tumbler and drive to the office. In stilettos.

Now: Wake up to the sound of baby Armaan cooing in his crib. Sing him a good morning song while I unwrap him from his swaddling blankie. Change his diaper and play with him on the bed. Sit him down on his walker and turn on his Shapes and Colors DVD while I make coffee and cook eggs for breakfast. Barefoot and in my jammies.

Lunch

Before: Grab quick lunch at the caf or a long lunch with bosses. Or skip lunch due to the number of things to do for work.

Now: Put Armaan down for a nap while I cook (yes ladies i cook now) or heat food. Then watch TV or play Guitar Hero on PS3 (I'm getting really good!!). If I dont feel like playing, I just watch TV and drool over Home TV Shopping stuff like the Pancake Puffs maker or the Chef cuisine equipment. Very Bree Van de Camp.

Afternoon

Before: Work work work

Now: Read a book while Armaan watches his series of cartoons: Postman Pat, Theodore Tugboat, Pecola, Sitting Ducks etc. Then Ate gets home and we chat and eat snacks and play with Armaan. Or we watch downloaded movies cinema style with the blinds closed and everything. Or we cook. Again, I have learned how to cook already. Or am still learning. cookbook-in-hand style. I have cooked spaghetti, carbonara, other pasta inventions and viands like adobo, caldereta, pochero, nilaga, tinola and have experimented with Indian and Chinese cooking like Chicken Tandoori, Tofu with sesame, Lemon butter fish and shrimps, and a few more other recipes from the Internet. As I type, I'm preparing for another batch of beef caldereta with a twist (To Al Jean, thanks for the recipe).

Chicken Tandoori

Pochero

Night

Before: Dinner with friends/ dinner with Chev and a movie. Drinks or coffee with friends. Get home at around 11 or midnight, latest at around 2am then sleep. It also used to be nights at Embassy, Cuisine, Ponti, Capones or Good Earth. With blaring music, cigarettes and alcohol.

Now: TV show marathon. Mondays it's Gossip Girl, Tuesdays it's American Idol and Hell's Kitchen, Wednesday it's A.I. again and then other shows like Supernatural, Smallville, House, and Sunday's Desperate Housewives. Then it's off to bed at 10pm. Ho-hum. There are days though when we go out for dinner or we drink and play poker here at home because of the DUI law thing. Sometimes we also play Taboo and my newest game board Scene It or other card games. With chips and soda and occasional wine or beer.

Weekends are spent like how I spend it in Manila. At the mall. Bright side: At least now I don't have to work during weekends.

And on some very special weeks, I fly off to Boston to be with Chevy. And we go around and eat at places we've never tried before or have been recommended by friends or by the Best of Boston or we just hang out at this apartment and watch TV (usually NBA, Comedy Central and Food Network). Someday we plan on taking culinary lessons so we can start our own diner or cafe in Manila haha.

Sounds like a total bore huh? Not really. For me, it's my rehab from days when I shouldn't have partied too hard or worked too hard or drove home from a bar buzzed or wasted with the risk of hurting myself or other people. I enjoy learning new skills and exploring new places. It's like household-parenthood training.

I'm floating now and can't work until after 60 days since I got here. Soon I'll get back on my feet and join the Big Bad World of Work again. Hopefully :) I'm both excited and dreadful at such thought. Until then I'm just enjoying looking after my baby nephew. I mean, who wouldn't right?

Drama Queen Driver Turns Action Star

It was a Sunday and we were going to Glorietta to buy stuff for me to bring to the US. More stuff!! I haven't finished shopping for my sister and cousins hehe. They just can't get enough polvorons and pancit cantons and other cheap Philippine thrills. It's ok since they are kinda cheap and I know I will miss them too when I go. So there we were cruising along EDSA nearing the turn to Ayala. This area is kinda confusing since it's right before the tunnel and you have to stay in this one lane between the lanes heading down the tunnel and the fricking yellow bus lane until you see the dotted lines which mark the area where its legal to turn. Now I've passed this area a million times but it's still confusing because a lot of private cars enter the yellow lane sometimes and the MAPSA or MMDA guys let them be. We don't know if it's already legal to do that or not. Like the pink fences, traffic law in Makati sometimes changes without notice. Or maybe we just think they do. EDSA is just a riot.

My mom and I were chatting up a storm and I was dodging buses and taxis and didn't notice that I was already in the yellow lane until the oh-so-familiar figure of an MMDA traffic enforcer started flagging down the car. So naturally, I slowed down. I was preparing to park the car by the curb together with my speech and excuses when my mom told me to make a run for it. And being the obedient daughter, I stepped on the gas and drove like crazy to Ayala Ave. In the rearview mirror, I watched the MMDA guy. I was so afraid that he would jump on his motorcycle and chase us. But you know what he did? He just scratched his head and turned away then flagged down another car that was in the yellow lane.

When we got to Ayala I was so nervous. I drove really fast until we were in the safe sanctuary of the covered parking. And I was shaking a little from the adrenaline haha. My mom nonchalantly said you could always tell the MMDA you didn't see him if he chased us down. I didn't argue with that. Although he was right smack in front of us. But yeah, I could always deny it.

I didn't feel guilty about it though. It was an honest mistake and those guys let those buses run amok outside the yellow lane. But us private cars, we are grilled to death when we're an inch past the yellow bus lane. It's just not fair. So there. I ran away from them again. But I would choose my old strategy over this one anytime. Pleading and bawling your eyes out is safer than driving like an action star. One thing's for sure I will miss my MMDA friends. But I'm pretty sure we will have more precious memories in the future.

Can't Wait

Can't wait to see them :)

What A(n awesome) Day

Written last February 12

Whew! This day has been one of my busiest days this year. I finally got out of the house and ran my errands like a mad(wo)man. For the past weeks, I’ve been busy only because of work. Nothing gratifying in turning over an old job that has been dead to me the day I decided to resign and in hunting for a new job in a country where they prefer H1B-vers. But today. Ah. Today was purely about me preparing for a new life that does not require slacks, blouses and stiletto heels to function. Today I wore jeans, sneakers and a sports shirt, got off my Interneting-Diner-Dashing-dvd-marathoning ass and spent a day like the busy but happy bee that I should be. While it has been tiring, I feel really good about myself. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.

9:00 am – Woke up a couple of hours earlier than usual. Had breakfast of leftover Christmas ham and Four Seasons juice. I downed a cup of coffee while moping over the fact that I’m going to miss my Wheel of Fortune-Jeopardy-Entertainment Tonight-Insider routine

10:00 am – Drove my sister to work over in Sucat. We battled pranela selling boys along the way. (K: I see them every day. Do they really think I need a fresh 10-piece set of pranela each time? M: Well maybe they think you wipe your ass with it). Yup, we’re no Maria Claras. 11ish – went to the office to drop off docs, pick up checks and withdraw money.
The office ATM for me is the safest ATM here in Makati

11:30 am – went to the bank to deposit checks pay bills, etc. Adult banking stuff. Then headed back to the office to print some docs and check email. I also finally surrendered my ID to HR.

1:00 pm– went to the travel agent to get my e-ticket. March 8’s the date! Can’t wait! (ok the rhyming thing is just lame). I encountered a couple there planning to tour Europe. They’re flying first class, up in the sky... the flossy flossy. They’re prolly loaded! 2:00 – had late lunch at the McDonald’s across the street. They had milkshake! And I pondered a little on whether I should spend 40 precious bucks on a stupid milkshake or on an even more stupid parking space. Decided that the milkshake is luxury. Parking space necessity. Chow Chow.

3:00-4:30 pm head office of an account I have handled for a long time. I gave them some documents and bid them goodbye. Some of the assistants where teary-eyed because according to them they have seen me grow up and transform in my 4 years as their account manager. Most probably from Overeager Trainee to Stoic Employee. Or from thin to chubby to thin to chubby.

5ish - I went to SM to pay for some bills I couldn’t pay at BPI. The BDO bank branch is open until 7. I learned that from the TVC. Then I went around the mall waiting for my sister’s text on whether I will pick her up or we’ll meet somewhere in the area. I also did a bit of window shopping and drooled over chocolates in their Happy Valentine’s Day section.

Around 7ish - I just got here. Bluewave. After looking for free but safe parking, I am now seated here in Starbucks. And this is where I’m writing this entry from. I wish I had my laptop so I could type this straight but no, I’m writing on my journal with my pencil which I keep sharpening from time to time with my handy dandy Faber Castell. I just realized how odd the crowd here is. To my left, we have the young magic-card trading boys pretending to be old and to my right we have an old Japanese man clad in shorts, K-Swiss high tops, gigantic blings and lady bug sunglasses, obviously pretending to be young. They both gave me disgusting flirtatious smiles.

And I just gave them both my best “Go find someone your age” look. For the boy it means “I am old enough to be your mother had I been a slutty/ curious 13-year old.” For the man it means “I am young enough to be your daughter had you been here in Manila 27 years ago.” They both left already. Thank God. But they have been replaced with a bunch of tambays drinking C2’s. I know it’s a free country but at least, out of courtesy to Starbucks, at least buy one short cappuccino. And oh my God, someone even took out a ceramic Mitsubishi mug and he’s pouring C2 into it. I’m not acting obnoxious here. I’m a bum with about 300 bucks in my wallet and no idea where I’ll get spending money once I use up all my savings. The only luxury I have spent on myself so far is my P 150 worth of arts and crafts supplies (pointless stuff, hence luxury), this white chocolate mocha frappuccino (which I charged on my credit card), a gray cotton hoodie (from SM teen brand Redhead), and a P20 bottle of Nail Polish (purchased out of the points I got from my SM Advantage Card yey!). I am not better than them or anyone else. But I’m not hanging out at places I can’t afford for the ambience or the image. I wish they’d get some common sense and transfer to the equally metal and uncomfortable tables in the courtyard where they can have all the C2’s they want and gab about their Valentine plans all night long. Oh yah. It’s Vday. But today is also an important day. It’s Abe Lincoln’s birthday. He was born today four scores and seven years ago. Haha.

Here’s to you Abe-bay-bay.

So here I am using up my journal on what started out as a post about my day but turned out to be a post about other people. My sister’s taking so long. I just drafted wedding plans. Prolly my fourth draft. It’s so hard to decide on themes. I feel like the theme I want is too modern for my family. People say I shouldn’t care since it’s my wedding. But they’re my guests, and like a hostess with the mostest, I care about whether they’ll enjoy or not. Vegas is beginning to sound like a fun plan more and more by the minute. Not to mention inexpensive.

I’m in my poorest state at the moment and having a grand wedding when you can only afford a Vegas wedding is like drinking C2 at Starbucks. Ok it’s not the perfect metaphor but get my drift. Thank God my future hubby will not let that happen :P He wants a nice wedding. He’s been dreaming about it since….well since he was a little girl :P

Despite my current major tipid mode, I’m still happy. Because now I value money more than ever. And I value what’s necessary. And I find happiness in the simplest things (like free nail polish). It’s been a good day. For errands. For wedding plans. For coffee. For America’s independence. And for realizations over 4 pages of my journal. I’m happy with who I am and where I am now. I hope this year will see my Multiply filled with entries like this. I hope my life will be filled with feelings like this. Right now for me, life is good and I know it’s going to get even better.

Goodbye V

We’ve had some fun times together…V and I.

She’s been my travel companion and adventure buddy.

She’s given me warmth during cold weather, cool AC during summer.

We’ve had our share of ups and downs…smooth and rocky rides.

We’ve seen our share of road trips, drive thrus, carwashes and gas stations.

She’s a good friend. She always got me home in one piece even when I‘ve had a bit too much to drink. She’s always been there for me (never had a flat tire or a dead battery in the middle of nowhere), never let me down. And I’m so sad I have to let her go…

Goodbye Venice. You will be missed.

Steady V

unsteady me with V

long live the queen

Arrivederci Venice!

TGIF

T.G.I.F.
Thank God it’s Friday. Thank God it’s February. Thank God I’m Free.

Yey. I just resigned. I’m officially a bum. Returned my stuff today in a box, just like what they do in the movies. Then I said my goodbyes to the people I have worked with in and out of Wyeth. Of course I sent out my short but sweet goodbye email to colleagues and bosses before they deleted my profile. I felt sad writing the email but felt so much better when I received emails from well-wisher friends.

Before officially beginning my life as a bum, I attended a meeting today endorsing my replacement. We were talking business and as always, I was committing a bunch of things that I would do as action points after the meeting. Then we all laughed. And my replacement took over from there. While they were discussing problems that need to be resolved, I was thinking “I don’t care…I don’t need to care anymore after today.” And that felt so good.

Then I started thinking about happier things I would be doing at home when I resign. Dorky domestic stuff like scrapbooking, playing Sims2, making collages and other arts and crafts, cooking Valentine’s dinner for my mom and dad on Vday, reading books in the big comfy couch, playing PSP in my bed. And that felt so good.

Then I emailed lists of things to do to my replacements. And then I finished and just stared around and didn’t know what to do next. Cause I didn’t have anything to do anymore. And that felt so good.

And I thought about what I’m going to do tomorrow, which usually involves a bit of work (despite it being a Saturday) and realized that it’s just gonna be a laid-back Saturday with friends. And that felt so good.

I have to admit, I was anxious at first about this stage in my life. Kinda scared to not have a steady income after so many years. Kinda scared about what lies ahead. But I think about this scene that I play over and over in my head when I miss Chev. It involves the arrivals gate at LAX, Chev and a lot of hugs and laughs…And that felt so good.

It’s the first Friday of February. I just had a McDonald’s happy meal while watching Zathura on HBO. I’m closer to seeing my Chevy. I feel like a kid after the last quarter exams. I feel so free.

And that just feels SO DARN GOOD.

so long suckers!

and yes it's funny how it's my last day but i was there til 7:30pm. har.

Chronicles of Maya 2: Pics that made me go awwww...

In the course of sorting out my personal and work files from my laptop, I found these pics that made me go awww...

December 29, 2007. Ate and baby Armaan's first night in Manila. Astoria Suites

November 29 2007. Last dinner date with Chev before he left for the States. Vivere

Armaan doing ducky lips. Just. Like. Me. (I'm so proud)

Chronicles of Maya 1: The Creepy Photo Show

I'm starting a series about stuff I found in my archives/ files since I'll be doing plenty of cleaning and organizing during the new few weeks.

This one is about the CREEPY stuff. NONE of the pics below have been altered at all. Girl Scout Promise.

Creepy Photo # 1

Pic of me and Chev at M Cafe in Greenbelt. This was when we had drinks with Aimee, Bry, Vina and Dino. We were using night mode but someone's hand was a little shaky, hence this blurry shot. Check out the right corner. If you look closely, you'll see something blue that looks like a face. Gives me the creeps.

Creepy Photo # 2

Pic of me, probably at my thinnest. I don't like it. My eyes look bigger and my lips more Jack-Nicholsonish. My head looks bigger than my body. I like my bulgy cheeks better. This pic gives me the creeps too. Plump is beautiful :P

Creepy Photo # 3

Ok this isn't creepy. It's just plain disgusting. Dirty feet from walking around Vegas. And those chipped nail polish! Horror of horrors!

I can't find anything better to post here since I haven't gone through all my files just yet. I'll improve this post tomorrow. I'm kinda sleepy. It's 2 am. Gasp.

I'm outtie.

Things To Do When I Resign

9 working days to go and I’ll be free as a bird. Now that the day is fast approaching I can’t help but feel anxious. Butterflies in my stomach anxious (flip, flop, flip, flop). I’ll be unemployed!! For the first time in 6 years I won’t have a new job to look forward to and dread at the same time. Mixed emotions. But mostly excitement. I’ll be seeing my bee after 2 months of being apart!! Yay!

I’m trying to plan what to do during the days I will spend waiting for my clearance and moolah. The days before I fly off to the States and so far, here’s what I’ve got.

1. Wake up late…

2. Eat long brunches while watching The Daily 10, The Insider, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy

3. Clean out my closet.

4. Have a garage sale. Sell old clothes, bags, shoes and accessories. Ok give half of what I find to cousins as “pamana.”…if they’ll take it, that is.

5. Go to the spa for a full body scrub, facial, the works!

6. 3 words: Hip. Hop. Abs.

7. Finish my Gossip Girl Season 1 DVD

8. Finish fixing my wedding clear book / organizer

9. Bake. Try out the recipes I’ve marked on my new cookbook. Now that I’ve got a new hand mixer. Hurray!!

10. Search online for cheap rates and cheap things to do in the US

11. Hang out with friends before I leave (hopefully they’ll treat me because I’m saving all my money…if they can’t treat me, we’ll just YM na lang siguro haha:P)

12. Use the beauty products I have unconsciously accumulated over the past few months a.k.a. magpaganda. Pa. Lalo.

13. Organize, organize, organize.

14. Brush up on my French. Kidding. Eat like the French.

15. Read the stack of books I bought but never got the chance to read

16. Return stuff I borrowed that are still with me.

17. Go out-of-town with parents and sister

18. Magwalis-walis ng bakuran hahaha. Magplano ng kasal-kasalan with Diche Kytes and my wedding dream team.

19. Learn how to cook everyday dishes from Mommy

20. Shop for pasalubong for Chev and baon. The instant pansit cantons and nido soups, chocnuts and hello pandas.

Long Lethargic Weekend

This is probably the longest vacation weekend of the year. And no I didn’t do anything special. Didn’t go out of the country, didn’t go out of town, didn’t even go out of Makati. Hahaha. I call it the mother of all lethargic weekends (so far). Here’s how it went.

October 29.

Election day. Nope didn’t vote. I’m not registered in Makati. Didn’t want to vote in BF since I don’t know the people running for office there and what do I care, I don’t live there anymore. Stayed home and played PSP. Then we put up the Christmas tree and then Chev dropped by and we watched That 70’s Show on DVD.

October 30.

Went to work. I was so on holiday mode already but it’s end of the month and it’s the most hectic time so I worked my buns off. Speaking of buns, Bun and I had dinner at Cibo. Haven’t seen her since August. Catch up catch up on each other's lives.

October 31.

Work, work, work. Then Chev and I watched 30 Days of Night on Hallow’s Eve. Eep. Wanted to watch Fright Fest in g4 but you know...stigma, stigma. Slept at around 4AM because I played PSP again. I finished the game The Con already. Hooray.

November 1.

Went to the supermarket to buy food. Junk food. Sugar free soda. Snacks. Baking stuff (I want to try out some sugar free cookies to sell for Christmas...for my charity). Then Chev dropped by the house and we had a Matrix marathon. He also brought a lot of Mafia movies for my dad. We had a street food fest. I cooked squid balls and kikiam. And we played Scrabble with the Christmas tree all lit up.

November 2.

We went to Manila Memorial Park. My bad. I did leave Makati pala. Spent my day there hanging out with relatives, both dead and alive. Played Scrabble with my Mom and Titas like we always do. Then went home. And slept like a log. And woke up at around 10PM and played PSP until 3. This time I was playing Thrillville...where you build nice little theme parks.

November 3.

Chev and I went to the mall and bought DVDs. I got Knocked Up (no, I didn’t actually get knocked up. I got the movie) and Final Destination 3 which i haven’t seen yet. Chev got his Sopranos DVD changed since the last episode doesn’t work. We bought ice cream and pigged out in front of the TV. I watched Knocked Up while Chev played PSP . Then he fell asleep on the couch. He only saw Katherine Heigl’s character getting a pregnancy test then when he woke up, she was already giving birth. When he left I played more Thrillville...I was already on my 3rd theme park.

November 4.

Today. I spent my day playing PSP. I finished Thrillville already. Now there’s nothing else to do. So I’m just posting stuff on Multiply. Tomorrow it’s back to reality. Need to wake up early. That would be soooo difficult.

I was so unproductive the past 4 days. And so anti-social. But it’s only rare that I get the chance to do these things. So there.

Can’t wait for Christmas break. I feel all giddy just thinking about it.

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.

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 ;)

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