juls random thoughts

To those who know us well, they know that hubby and I are layas. We both have nunal on our foot and looks like our son is starting to have one as he is one hell of a "layas" too. After spending an almost whole day of watching dvds, surfing the net, playing "Burger Rush" (that's me) in the 'puter, we've realized that we can't take it not to go out today.

Our destination? Unknown. We prepared with no idea where to go. Then when we're already in C5, that's when hubby thought that we visit his dad's lot in Maris Village in Tandang Sora. They're offering this lot to us but we're having second thoughts on getting it due to its very far location. You see, we work in Makati, my province is Batangas and most of our family are in the south except for ate gem who's living in Kamias, but that's not so far though.

Anyway, we visited the place and yeah, its really far. 2.5 kms from the Tiera Pura gate to the lot then from the Tiera Pura gate to Manila Water in Balara was another 5 kms. We no longer bothered to get the distance from there to Pasig as it is really far.

Highlight of the trip, we visited Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes along Katipunan. You see, I fell in love with banofee pie eversince I tasted Starbucks' version, then I tried Sonjas and Red Ribbon. So far, Sonja's still the best for me. Banofee pie is my new favorite, replacing my old time favorite - chocolate mousse. So, hubby's officemate mentioned about this place and hubby knowing that I love banofee pie told me about it. The place is cozy and is full packed. What did we order? of course banofee pie, praline banana cream pie, americano coffee for me and home made iced tea for hubby and kurt. It was good!!! still thinking though if I like this better than Sonja's.

Here's some of the pictures I snagged from blogs I searched in Google.

http://thepalacioskitchen.blogspot.com/2007/03/restaurant-review-banapple.html:


http://overdosemd.blogspot.com/2007/09/banapple-day.html:


And here's pictures of the little boy devouring the banana cream pie and a picture of the "abused" banofee pie (LOL!) taken using hubby's camera phone:
Sorry if its grainy, low tech camera phone, P910 LOL!

Kurt had his first try at trick or treat yesterday in Lexington Village. His cousins actually started with this last year, unfortunately he was not able to join them as francis and I are in the US. We're really excited with this one but a little hesistant in a way. One, we're not sure if kurt will wear his costume. So my criteria when I looked for his costume: 1. should not be complicated to wear, 2. no masks, 3. something that he knows. So what did I get? the ever gasgas costume: Superman! Oh well, no originality at all but this is the safest one that I can get that I can try to make him wear as he knows superman. He also knows spiderman and likes at as it is the first movie he watched in a movie house kaso , the one I saw in Toys R Us with the muscles looks like an old stock and that's the only one available, add that the fact that I can't make him wear the mask. Second concern, he's so duwag now so we're kinda thinking if he'll enjoy it given the kids with scary costumes and houses with halloween decors.

Anyway, the little boy was so excited with his costume that saturday pa lang, he's wearing it na. On the actual day, had to convice him a little as all of a sudden he doesn't want to wear it.

The program in the clubhouse started at 3pm, they chose kids for the best scary costume and cute doggies. Had merienda too then start of the trick or treat. Almost all the houses in the village joined it. We wasn't able to visit to all the houses as we're sooo tired already but still the goodies the kids get was really a lot as in hindi nagkasya sa pumpkin bag that we have to transfer it too a plastic bag. Some really good loot that we were able to see and some get: popcorn (forgot the name but it's the popular one)- as in they have a popcorn maker there in front of the house, three houses had dirty icecream, one had cotton candy but the line was very long, hotdog on stick, taho but they don't have disposable cups na when we got there, imported chocolates, cookies, small pack of cornflakes, choco nuts, marshmallows. Then the usual candies, lollies, chips and a whole lot more!

Some of the kids even had two plastic bags full of goodies but since my little boy can't get near houses that are spooky and those wearing costumes, we weren't able to get a lot like them. Anyway, here's a picture of his loot after we have eaten some! hehehe! syempre pati kami ng dada nya enjoy.



And here's the little boy in his superman costume:



And here he is with his cousins:


Here are more pictures with the scary kids. I just wish we had more pictures.

Thank you Diane for tagging me! Just saw it today in my other blog. Decided to post it here instead.

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night? My officemates
2. What were you doing at 0800? This morning? Preparing to go to work
3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? eating dinner
4. What happened to you in 2006? hmmm... i was in the US for five months
5. What was the last thing you said out loud? ano ba?!?! (really mad with the car who cut on me in EDSA this afternoon)6. How many beverages did you have today? Water-coffee-coke light-water
7. What color is your hairbrush? untangler - violet at home and pink in my pouch
8. What was the last thing you paid for? Mc Donalds double cheeseburger meal
9. Where were you last night? Office
10. What color is your front door? Brown ~ the color of wood
11. Where do you keep your change? in my wallet's slot for coins
12. What’s the weather like today? Not sure if it rained but it was dark this afternoon
13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor? Strawberry from FIC and anything with choco or coffee
14. What excites you? seeing the arrival of my magazine subscription
15. Do you want to cut your hair? Nope, i want it rebonded
16. Are you over the age of 25? Yep
17. Do you talk a lot? I talk a lot when I'm with people i'm comfortable too, otherwise I'm shy
18. Do you watch the O.C.? Nope
19. Do you know anyone named Steven? Nope
20. Do you make up your own words? Hmmm...no
21. Are you a jealous person? Yeah but selective..
22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’. Aira
23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K'... hmmm. i don't know of any friend with a name that starts with this
24. Who’s the first person on your received call list? A landline number, can't remember who that is
25. What does the last text message you received say? Tnx! Will check it later
26. Do you chew on your straw? Nope
27. Do you have curly hair? Yes. I always have my hair rebonded
28. Where’s the next place you’re going to? Bedroom to sleep
29. Who’s the rudest person in your life? can't think of someone right now
30. What was the last thing you ate? Sinigang na baboy and rice
31. Will you get married in the future? I am already married!
32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? I think we only saw one movie in two weeks and that's the movie by Catherine Zeta Jones - I forgot the title but she's a chef here33. Is there anyone you like right now? My husband of course
34. When was the last time you did the dishes? Hmmm... i think when we had breakfast before we leave last weekend from Batangas
35. Are you currently depressed? Nope
36. Did you cry today? No
37. Why did you answer and post this? Because Diange tagged me = )
38. Tag 5 people who would do this survey. Hmmm... i dunno who else to tag, i think everybody answered this already

Over the past three years, we have never really celebrated our wedding anniversary. Our first year, 2004, hubby is in Singapore for a work assignment and I can't go visit him as I have just given birth that October via CS. Second year, 2005 - we were together but we were not really able to celebrate it for a reason that I cannot remember anymore. Third year, 2006 - I am in the US. And now, on our fourth year, looks like we can have a grand celebration.

We're going to Singapore! well, actually, original intention of going there was not actually to celebrate but it just happens that hubby's frequent flyer miles and expiring. And I have miles that I can use too so we decided to go there.

He's booked already, leaving on Nov. 29 evening (since Nov. 30 is a holiday) then we're going back sunday. Me, medyo low tech ang PAL, I can't do the booking online so I have to process it by calling then going to the PAL office.

Ok.. so hubby and I went home at past 1am from our Bagaberde gimik and I think we went to sleep at around 3am looking for more news regarding the Glorietta accident. So, I am worried that I will be really tired to go home to Batangas that saturday morning.

My brother, who's working in Singapore arrived that thursday since it was his birthday and he wants all of us to go home to Batangas to celebrate there. He also wanted that we leave Manila early to spend more time in Batangas and at the same time, to avoid the traffic. Good thing, I still woke up early, I think around 8am, packed up, had breakfast then prepared kurt. It will only be me, kurt and yaya as hubby has other commitments for that day. We went first to fill up the gas then straight to Makati and meet up with my brother and sister in law. I drove up to the Petron gasoline station in SLEX, I could actually drive until we get home but decided to let my brother drive instead. We arrived there lunch time. Ate adobo, pinakbet and sinaing na tulingan. After lunch, I went to sleep, to recharge since for sure we'll be staying up late that night. Then around late afternoon, I cooked spaghetti, it's actually my first time to cook the simple sweet style spaghetti and I am happy kasi mabenta sya. We had that for merienda. Then we prepared na for dinner which are bulalo, turbo chicken and ate ireen will be bringing pancit lang-lang since it's her birthday that day. Early evening, we already started with the videoke then got a call from hubby telling me that his bowling tournament that night got cancelled so he'll follow us, he'll just take the bus so yehey!! Hubby arrived past 10pm and we're really having a good time singing. It was really fun. Kurt as usual would want to get the microphone so he could sing as well. We really had a great night. They downed 3 bottles of Chivas!

The next day, we ordered lomi for breakfast, since we wont be staying for lunch na. It was not as good as the one our neighbor cooks pero we still enjoyed it. Then, when we're in Lipa na, that's when we realized that its lunch time na pala so we stoppped by Gotohan sa Baranggay and ate lunch there. Yummy yummy goto! kurt was the first one to finish his food. Syempre pa, favorite nya kaya ang sabaw. Very cheap lunch, it only cost us P291! and that's for 5 people!

We droppped by my in laws house in Lipa first as Istong wants to have a picture of the two new labrador puppies taken (oooppps.. which reminds me, I have to download it from my phone). It seems that kurt missed staying there as he still doesn't want us to leave. Hubby drove until the end of Turbina in Calamba then I took over driving until we got home.

We're so tired that hubby and I decided to have a body massage that night! really really good! of all the spas in our village, i still liked the massage of Sublime the best.

My boss gave me two free tickets to watch John Lesaca's In My Life show in Bagaberde, Roxas Blvd. last thursday. It's actually from one of her partners here in the office but since her husband will be arriving from an out of the country trip on the same night as the show, she decided to give it to me.

I am familiar with John Lesaca, I know he's into classical music, being violinist. I am curious to watch it but not totally excited.

Friday came and all go with the plans of watching the show until the Glorieta incident came. Hubby is not comfortable of going out that night, worried about security since Bagaberde is a crowded place. Around 6pm, we've decided not to go so I am looking for someone who can use the ticket kasi sayang namin but most of my officemates has other plans and I am in the client in the office anyway.

I am the one who brought a car since hubby's is on coding. He wanted me to pick him up from Makati. At first, I am hesitant because of the traffic in EDSA going to Makati. But I decided to pick him up anyway. We were surprised that it didn't take us an hour from QC-Timog area to Makati, I guess everybody got scared in going to Glorietta. Ayala was so dark and gloomy when we entered from EDSA. SM, Rustans, Landmark and of course Glorietta are closed but Greenbelt is open.

I dropped by the office first to replicate my mails then met up with hubby at the back of my office. He then told me that we'll go ahead with the plan of watching the show. I was not really excited since I have already set my mind that we're not going.

We dropped by Glorietta first and made uzi kaso we can't see much as the area has been cordoned (sp?) off.

We arrived at Bagaberde at past 8pm and surprised to see that most of the guests are old, mostly on 50s-60s I guess. And more suprised (yet happy) that it is a dinner show. Met up with our sponsor and he showed where we could seat. Dinner consist of: soup, salad, steak wrapped with bacon (forgot what it's called), mashed potatoes and buttered vegetables. Green House, a band consists of the alumni of UP's Alpha Phi Omega fraternity was playing, they are the organizers of the show anyway.

At past 10pm, John Lesaca started and whoa! we were so in awe. Never thought that we'll enjoy it as much as we did. He is really good! Some of my favorite repertoire are:

- Hindi kita malilimutan (didn't know that he was the one who composed the song)
- surprised to see Roxanne Barcelo (of PBB and RX) was there and that she sings beautifully
- My Strength - a song composed by Noelle Cassandra, dedicated to her mom. She is very good in playing the harp, and her voice is as hubby put it "pang high school musical" while for me pang Disney cartoons theme song.
- Am I the same girl - performed by John Lesaca. He looks so cool while playing his violin with matching kembot pa, really really cool
- Waters of March by Sergio Mendez performed by Tots Tolentino - really talented saxophonist! and funny too!
- Twilight time by Platters - still performed by Tots Tolentino
- I also enjoyed it when all of them played together, they played this song which I forgot the title with this lyrics: "Tatanda, at lilisan rin ako, ngunit mayroong awiting iiwanan sa inyong alaala. Dahil minsan tayong nagkasama..." Really good ender.

hay, super sulit that we watched the show. Was glad that we've decided to go after all.

Free Florida Dating

a lot of happening last week. highlight and the most heartbreaking of all is the Glorietta 2 blast. i work in makati, walking distance to glorietta and before i decided a month ago to bring home-packed lunch, i always spend my lunchbreak window shopping in glorietta particularly glorieta 2. i always visit the stores there as the second floor is mostly children's clothes and the ground floor houses my favorite stores which are Kamiseta, Bayo, Kashieca, Mylk and Body Shop. That is always my route, I use the Landmark-Glorieta walkway, turn right and visit the first store-Spin, Baby Guess, Enfant, Think Pink and Gingersnaps. Then go down to check my stores or head to 3rd floor to visit the polo store near the escalator. I now fully understand why I experienced the financial difficulty that I am going through because that financial difficulty is my reason for deciding to bring packed lunch. I realized that I will save a lot by bringing my lunch. It is also a blessing that I was not in Makati that time, that I was in QC, in my client's office the whole day. God definitely has reasons for everything and I thank God for saving me.

I remember being shocked when i received hubby's call telling me of what happened. then after that receiving a call from my sister, ate gem, checking where i am then a text message from one of my officemate doing a headcount and another text message from my sister in law, asking how i was.

I also am grateful that on that particular friday lunch, hubby and his officemates has decided not to eat at Luk Yuen as they usually eat there on fridays. I am thankful that they have decided to eat in Greenbelt instead. I am grateful that there are a lot of people i knew who just left the place when it happened or were just on their way to go there, or have decided to go to a different part of the mall instead. Thank you for this coincidences, thank you God for saving us.

The sad story, I received this email from my good friend laura sent to our egroup, it was a forwarded message, the origin of which was the discoveryweekend yahoogroup, it was an email from carlo cruz, husband of one of the victims of the blast. below is a copy of the email, i cried when i read this email.

**************

To: discoveryweekend@yahoogroups.com
dwvolunteers@yahoogroups.com
dwf-board@yahoogroups.com

Good day everyone,

I wish I were writing under different circumstances.

I would like to inform you that my wife Leslie Cruz
was part of the casualties in the Glorietta 2 Mall
bombing in Makati City, Philippines. She was supposed
to have a minor out patient surgery at Makati Medical
Center at 230pm.

I had taken a leave from work to accompany her there.
We dropped off our daughter, Amber, at my parents
place in QC to babysit at around 10am. We then
proceeded to Makati and was there at 1230pm. Since she
had been fasting in preparation for her procedure, she
wanted to move ar ound and listen to some music while I
grabbed a bite to eat. We parked at the basement of
Park Square 2, and headed for the Glorietta 2
entrance. We parted at the top of the escalator, she
turned right towards Filbar's while I went left
towards the restaurants. That was the last time I
would see her.

Around 120pm, she had called me so that we can meet at
the Glorietta 2 exit just in time to make her
appointment. As I made my way there from Glorietta 1
through the connecting hallways, and was about to turn
the corner, I heard 2 deep thumps and the shock-wave
from the blast hit me. At that moment my heart dropped
as I knew that the origin of the blast came from the
same place where we were supposed to meet. I tried
getting to where my wife was, but the dust was too
much and it was as if I was staring at a white wall.

I still tried to convince myself that she was able to
make it out, and that after ringing her mobile without
a response only meant that she dropped it in the
confusion. After 6 hours of searching from Makati Med.
to Ospital ng Makati, the blast site, and back again
to MMC - with the help of all the people I could get
hold of, that I was able to get confirmation in what
the state of my wife was.

My Dad and Uncle signaled me in from the ER of MMC. My
Uncle (who's a doctor) asked me to describe Leslie's
appearance to another group of doctors. I saw in the
eyes of one that the description made sense. Instead
of confirming it to me, they huddled together, then
brought me to a small examination room. It was only
through a digital camera that I was able to confirm
(and deny) that she was indeed gone.

I have so many regrets. I should have met her sooner.
I should have ran instead of a brisk walk. I should
have not chose to park where I did. I should have
braved the dust and went in the blast site. I should
have ...

Today's the 4th day. It is still terribly difficult to
breathe, let alone wake up realizing that your source
of strength, your best friend doesn't lie beside you
on your bed. That my deepest worry is when Amber
starts asking for her Mama.

I am glad that Amber's too young to understand the
loss and pain. In time I would like to tell her the
details of how her mother died, but more importantly I
would like to raise her as how her mother lived - a
loving person, strong willed, decisive, caring, and
nurturing. She has always cared for her family and
friends, and sacrfied her career for being a full time
mom and home maker.

As with all couples we had our ups and downs - none of
which I regret not going through. The sweet is never
as sweet without the sour. For almost 4 years of
marriage, we've finally hit our balance in life only
to be taken away in an instant. I have no regrets
about our marriage. She has loved me and Amber beyond
her capacity. I will always love her.

It is my first time to write to egroup as I've lurked
and watched emails being sent to and fro. All I want
now is that for each of the couples here is to cherish
each moment that we spend with our loved ones. Pretty
simple to say, very easy to take for granted.

Thank you all for the prayers. I would still like to
ask you to please include Leslie in them until her
40th day so that the path to God's kingdom is well lit
and she is no longer in the dark.

Sincerely,

Carlo Cruz

***************************

i am deeply saddened by this email, most especially when he mentioned that they are merely 4 years married. francis and i are also having our 4th anniversary this december. it was not enough, they haven't shared much yet. for some reason, i have decided to check my yahoo account and there i learned that carlo and leslie were our batchmates in discovery weekend. we took the same seminar last march 7-9, 2003 and this new news made it more heartbreaking. i pray for the repose of leslie's soul, i also pray for the family she left, his husband carlo and their two year old daughter amber and her parents who are mourning for their loss.

i hope we learn from what he shared, that we treasure the people we love while they are still with us, when we still have the chance.

I just love music from the eighties. I am 3-13 years old that time so I actually don’t know why I preferred it over the music when I was on my teens to early twenties which was the 90s. I guess I was greatly influenced by my siblings as this was actually their time. I have 5 siblings who are on their teens to 20s this time (kuya jay on his highschool years while our 4 other siblings are on college days to early working days) so probably since I always hear it at home, hearing it now brings back happy memories. Right now, I’m listening to the “Best 100 Music of the Eighties” released by EMI and I absolutely love the album. I learned about this cd from Chico and Delamar in Morning Rush in RX 93.1 and I looked for it na in music stores, its not available in Astrovision, I was only able to buy it from Odyssey and it’s definitely worth it. It contains 6 cds for P595.

Great long drive music.

Kurt turned three last saturday. We did not plan any party for his third birthday though I almost did. Our plan for the day, have pansit, home-made pizza, cake and ice cream with his cousins. Then last minute, we've decided to invite na rin sila ate gem, when we learned that andito sila kuya joel. our original plan was to have another celebration in Batangas when we go home but now, we've decided to invite them here at home. So, final menu for kurt's simple birthday party. Pansit sotanghon, home-made pizza (more on this later), garden fresh salad, crispy pata and barbecue. Everything was made from scratch except for the barbecue which we order na lang from the kanto here in the village.

Dapat, spaghetti kaso Aimee just celebrated her birthday on 11th and she brought spaghetti and cake here so we decided na iba na lang.

For the pizza, I bought 2 packs of mini-pizza crust and another 2 packs of solo sized pizza crust. For the toppings, I bought Del Monte pizza sauce, Eden cheese (mahal kasi quickmelt eh I know that this cheese melts), Purefoods sweet ham, mushroom, bell pepper and onions. For the mini-pizzas, I only had ham and cheese, ham, mushroom and cheese as toppings. While for the solo sized pizza, which are for adults, it has all the toppings. Hit naman my pizza. A little sweet though kasi I used the sweet sauce tapos I used pa sweet ham then siguro medyo matamis din yung cheese so the next time that I make pizza, I'll use na the classic sauce.

Then ate gem brought a Red Ribbon choco crunch cake. Eh francis bought din a mango crunch cake from Red Ribbon. Original plan, a Barney cake. Unfortunately, Ria of cakes n scrap will be out of town.

Then I bought balloon na i-inflate ko and bought din sticks for the balloons.

Will post pictures one of this days.

Grainy pics taken using my cellphone's camera:

I was looking for some pictures that I can bring tomorrow for scrappin moms' scrapfest and I chanced upon the cd that contains our family pictorial in 2005. The pictures are so great. Kurt is turning one when we had this pictorial. Pictures were taken in Mount Malarayat Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas. Photos taken by our wedding photographer, Chito Cleofas.

whenever i log on to friendster and check out my friends photos, i can't help but be amazed at where they are now. and that deep feeling of, what ifs? start to creep mo. i always think what our life now would have been if we've decided to live overseas? i dunno. is it worth trying? i dunno?

we still can't see our future clearly. just yesterday, we looked at the for sale lot here in greenwoods, but is this really the life that we want? if we buy that lot, we'll pay P1M+ then a good house will cost P5M?! according to our friend. whew! i can't just imagine how long we're going to pay to build our house. i've been thinking about that last night. is this really what we want? are we really going to stay here? or are we going to join most of our friends who went overseas?

i dunno.. that's the only thing i can say. may God help us decide on where we really should go. He've been a very good guide in the past years.