Play Backgammon Online Sunday, December 30, 2007

Among the online gaming, gambling, and betting sites I've stumbled upon, here's another one to add to your list of web sites to try out. It's called Gammon-Fortune and it allows you to play backgammon online.

As it is almost similar to most online backgammon web sites, what makes it stand out among other sites offering backgammon online is that the site is available in six (6) different languages, provides information on backgammon tournaments and also includes backgammon software for real money or just for leisure. It's another site to try out.

Writing as a Career Friday, December 28, 2007

As a kid, I've always wanted to be a writer, seriously. Although I wasn't able to pursue this dream, I'm glad that I still have the verbal counterpart of what I wanted to be as a profession. However, blogging has become more of a passion than a hobby of mine. And through blogging, I am happy to say that I have been able to land several writing jobs that made me earn a pretty decent income right in the comfort of my home.

One of the writing gigs that I particularly like is writing custom papers. It makes me think (not that blogging doesn't) and recall things I've learned when I was still in school and I enjoy it a lot. The last time I made a dissertation introduction was years ago, and making another one was quite a challenge. A master dissertation proved to be even more of a challenge as I literally found myself reading and reading tons of web pages about topics that I was unfamiliar with. Although I would prefer a sociology coursework any time over dissertations, I have to admit, I do like the challenge.

In a way, I'm glad that I have a way to sort of fulfill my unfulfilled dream as a writer and even manage to earn from it. I don't think that's too bad, right?

Making Online Poker Easier Wednesday, December 26, 2007

I've checked out a couple of websites that offer online games and gambling like slot machines, online tournaments of backgammon, and casinos among other things. What I recently discovered is a poker calculator which actually calculates your poker odds to help you win easily, win more hands, and dominate your opponents! With the best professional poker advice anywhere online, this holdem calculator should be a must whenever you find yourself playing online poker, whether it be for fun, or for real money.

Merry Christmas! Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Merry Christmas everyone!

Training as a Medical Assistant Thursday, December 20, 2007

Medical assistants are really in-demand nowadays. But just before you go ahead and enroll yourself in an institution providing medical assistant training, it would be best if you were able to compare other institutions against each other before deciding and enrolling.

One of the things you should do if ever you find yourself ready to enroll in an institution offering medical assistant training is that you need to know the background of the institution you are enrolling in. Second, it would also be best to know the teaching styles, the facilities and equipment available for use, and if the institution has won recognitions and awards in the field of medical assistance.

Medical assistant programs are broad and range from x-ray assistant to physical therapy and a lot of others. So if you've already decided on which medical assistant training program to take up, deciding among the many medical assistant schools to go to would be next.

As individuals have different needs, it would be better if one would be able to find the right school offering the right medical assistance program that would match an individual's unique needs and interests. After all, where to study is just as important as what you're studying as well. An environment that is conducive to learning is also essential in the education process.

Boat Angel Thursday, December 20, 2007

Now here's a new website I recently discovered that's different from all the rest.

The site is called Boatangel and they are currently accepting boat donations and sell them at Ebay with the intention of creating and distributing children's Christian animation DVDs absolutely free - including shipping. If you're interested in viewing auctions for these boats, you can click here. Further information regarding donate boat are also available off of their site.

For the free children's animation DVDs, you can order them as I mentioned absolutely free of charge even shipping. Interested buyers can preview these animations and order them as well by following this link.

Boatangel has also recently completed their documentary about anti-drug use featuring several skateboard legends featuring their rise to fame, fall from drugs and their redemption. I've embedded the video below for easy access:



We can all help Boatangel by supporting their cause and if only I had a boat, I'd be one of the many people ready to donate my boat in order to support their noble cause. Previews of the animations that Boatangel has already completed are also available for preview at Youtube by entering "carangel" as the search term in the search field.

Not Working Thursday, December 20, 2007

I'm not working anymore!!!

All that's left for me to do is to file my resignation at eTelecare and I'm done for. I already have a new job for VXI and I'll be starting on January 7, 2008 and they'll be calling me for the orientation date. I am thinking that this job will be a bit better because of the location, and second, I still get the same base pay anyway. This job is like 30 minutes away from where I live, pre-shift OT is highly encouraged, and most of the shifts start at 2am and end at 11 am.

A letter from eTelecare arrived yesterday demanding that I come back to work and explain why I haven't been doing so.I'll probably send out a fax today, and that's about it. If ever I'll be going there, I'll just pick my jacket and my mug up and that's it.

Henry was right the first time around when he discouraged me from applying there. One of his co-workers worked there previously and also was not satisfied. So with my eldest sister Elena. Where she currently works there are also a lot of employees who left eTelecare despite the big salary.

Oh well, at least I can focus my energies on blogging until January 7, plus I get to spend the holidays at home.

Getting Things Right Tuesday, December 18, 2007

I mentioned previously that one of our goals for 2008 was to make sure that that year does not end with us still living in an apartment. Another one we added was to try our best efforts to purchase a car as well. I don't want my kids growing up commuting, as I personally didn't. Second, pollution rates are different from what they used to , not to mention UV radiation and other global problems. I also want their travels to be as comfortable as possible, which is also primarily why I wanted our own means of transport.

What Henry and I were also discussing were the options of buying a new one or a used one. If it were new, of course it would have its own warranty and maintenance at the store we'll buy it from. But if it's used, I told him we better have a reliable source of car parts just in case.

Auto parts are abundant and some shops sell them at ridiculously low prices, but then it makes you wonder where they came from. I wouldn't want to get into any trouble with buying parts reported as stolen, so I want to make sure the company that will be providing spare parts is a reputable one.

If we were to by a Ford SUV, Ford auto parts would also be something we should consider. Since most second hand cars are more affordable but new cars come with service and repair, we'll have to do a bit more thinking about it.

Not Working Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Yup, that's right. I finally got the chance to talk things over with Henry regarding how I felt at work. I honestly don't know what's gotten into me but I've already decided that I don't want to pursue my career at eTelecare anymore.

I was happy during the first month, but as weeks passed by, erroneous payroll, incompetent nurses, overtime that takes months before payout, and the account we were to handle all just made me feel the urge not to go to work anymore. This is my third contact center and by far, the one with the hardest and un-user-friendly system.

Imagine this, you're speaking with a customer while running six (6) different systems that look like it was made before Windows was invented. One system would provide customer info, one for billing, another one for services the customer is subscribed to, a different system to view bills from last year, another system for troubleshooting, and yet another one for payments. I'm not including the system we use as our resource for policies and other info about the program, our coverage checker tool, our call trackers, and a lot of other systems that all in all leaves an agent with around 20 Internet Explorers open with every single customer interaction.

Henry and my mom in law are naturally a bit worried that we might come into financial shortage as I will be without income, and Henry's trips are coming to a close already. We have two kids, plus the everyday and monthly expenses we have are enough to make our heads spin just thinking of it. But I guess they should have known me more - a new company already gave me a call earlier for a job interview.

Just Browsing Engagement Rings Monday, December 17, 2007

Right now, my mom in law and I are busy going through the website of professional jeweler James Allen. Their collection of diamond engagement rings which you can personalize in terms of the size of the stone and the design of the ring is enough to make any woman say yes.

We both like the collection of clear, beautifully cut diamonds and the little magnifying glass that comes along every stone that you choose for viewing. The earrings are also wonderful; the simple elegance of the studs just speaks for itself.

Aside from engagement rings and studs, there are also wedding rings which you can make your own design and choose the diamond's size. These matching rings would also be lovely anniversary presents. There are also loose diamonds you can purchase, so in case you have a piece of jewelry with a missing stone, you can easily order one here.

What makes it even better is that all of these items include free shipping through FedEx, plus a 30-day returns policy.

Shopping with Keisha and Monic Monday, December 17, 2007

A couple of days ago (Dec. 15 to be exact), I went out with my mom in law and Keisha to StarMall to get a couple of clothes from Milk & Co. I wanted my mom in law to see the store; it was really elegant and didn't seem like a stockroom or warehouse at all. There were big, blue couches that Keisha kept tumbling on, while my mom in law and I were busy with the clothes and stuff. Keisha even met a playmate whose name I can't remember right now (lol) who was also 4 years old, and they kept running around the shop.

I got a striped green knitted blouse for myself, a striped red polo shirt for Henry, a green shirt for Monic, and the striped aqua-pink shirt that my mom wanted. Although we didn't get any clothes for Keisha, we did get her a toy sword which she kept wagging around the MRT. I felt as though she was about to make someone blind; good thing she felt sleepy and we were able to take the sword from her.

Keisha ate fried chicken at the food court, while my mom in law and I settled for a slice of pizza each while we were walking, which made it technically brunch. It was a really good day save for the fact that it was tiring, but I wish we had more days like this.

Great Deals on Hotel Reservations Friday, December 14, 2007

For people like me who are busy planning their vacation, a great site to help you decide not only where to go, but most importantly, where to stay is Hotel Reservations. The site guarantees up to 70% off on hotels, motels, and resorts. Plus, I always find the option of browsing for accommodation prices and booking online very convenient, since I can do this during my spare time.

Hotel reservations can be easily completed with one click of your mouse, which is really convenient especially for people who work odd hours like me. I honestly do not have time to wait in line at some hotel just to get information, nor bother calling them and wait on queue for a long period of time. And since Hotel Reservations also offers competitive hotel discounts off of other sites offering the same service, up to 70% at that.

Hotel Reservations does not only offer reservations for hotels, but also for for resorts, motels, and they even offer flights, car rentals, vacation rentals and even vacation packages. And they even offer a $100 Rebate as part of their low rates guarantee.

Another plus factor that I like about Hotel Reservations is their website. It's simple and uncluttered, and gives you that no-nonsense feeling. Everything you need to find out about the company is right there, and this gives skeptical people the assurance that the company can and will deliver what they promise. Hotel Reservations also offers their website with options of viewing it in your own currency and language, so conversion of rates from dollars to your own currency is made much, much easier and faster.

One more thing I liked about this site is their worldwide locations and options for traveling. You're not stuck on booking just flights alone - you can choose car rentals, go on a cruise, a road trip perhaps, or one of their vacation packages to ease your mind from planning too much. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and plan your dream vacation through Hotel Reservations now!

Online Slots at Sloterix Friday, December 14, 2007

Now here's a different online casino site that I recently discovered. It's called Sloterix and it's one of the oldest slots and slot machines sites on the Internet today, providing online slots and slot machines games. Customers can access the easy-to-use site that provides slot information, 24 hours, 7 days a week support, and updated jackpots on the various slot and slot machines to play.

As I mentioned, customers can download and play slots easily through the website. No need for technical knowledge or background. The site is so easy to use and navigate you're bound not only to have fun while playing their games, but also downloading and choosing the games as well. There are also various slot machine games available for download, and the jackpots are updated real-time. If you prefer, casino slots games are also available for download and playing for real jackpots over a secure connection.

So for online casino aficionados, visit Sloterix today. It's definitely worth your time.

The Blues at Work Friday, December 14, 2007

eTelecare is my third call center, and by now I sort of expected myself to be used to the attrition rate call centers have. I don't know if it's because I stayed at home for a year, or I'm really still not used to it until now.

I really felt sad when a couple of people whom I've made friends with during orientation and training all of a sudden left during out transition phase, or what the company calls the two weeks of Learning Lab. I have to admit, the account is hard, but the system we use makes it all the more harder. I'd consider myself somewhat a tekkie person, but I still fumble every now and then with the system, considering we had a whole month of training for it.

I've been absent from work for two days now, primarily because I don't feel the drive to do so. I miss my kids and Henry a lot, since I've been on the night shift I haven't been able to spend much time with them. I've been having trouble with my pay and whenever I talk to someone about it, I get the runaround. My signing bonus of P15,000 hasn't been paid yet, and we're forced to sell stuff for every call we make. From the months I spent on my first outbound account, I've learned that there are times when you just shouldn't pitch, especially if it's inappropriate.

I don't know if this is just a phase or something, but I seriously do not want to go back to work anymore. Our CST Trainer Donna was right - you can't be a good parent and have a successful career at the same time.

Another Day at Work Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Yesterday was yet another day (or should I say night) at work, and I was so beyond tired I didn't even get the chance to blog.

I'm beginning to have more and more episodes of coming home and feeling like a dead cow. I fight off sleep while on the bus on the way home since I might just miss where I need to get off, and when I get home there are about a dozen things to do I just cannot sleep immediately as I would wish to.

Maybe it's about time that we hire a housekeeper. I wouldn't want to burden my mom in law with the kids, the chores, and manning the computer shop. But it's the scenario we currently find ourselves in and she doesn't even complain - which makes me feel all the more worse.

So here I am, I got home past 9:00am due to a general assembly that was mandatory that we attend. And it's almost noon, so I won't be getting eight hours of sleep as I had planned.

Dating the Modern Way Monday, December 10, 2007

Whenever I recall how my husband and I met, it never fails to put a smile to my face. I used to participate in a lot of chat rooms and meet up with the guy I was chatting with. I wasn't familiar with the process of dating sites back then (it's almost a decade ago, forgive me) and the only social networking website I knew back then was Friendster.

Recently, with the popularity of dating sites for men, women, and the third sex, I wanted to find out more about how these dating sites actually worked and what effort one needed to put into if you wanted to participate in one. I have to admit, it's a great place to meet new people, even those which you're not interested to have relationships with, just for friends. One of the sites I came across which is basically a dating site for men looks really fun. I personally like browsing the site since I want to know what is it in a woman that makes her tick with guys. If you're interested in reading up on the site I mentioned, you can click here to access the site.

As I mentioned, it's a fun site. You can access a lot of dating tips like how to approach women or what not to do on dates, and basically how and where to meet available and looking women. You can even subscribe to their newsletter which offers a lot of dating tips aside from those displayed on their homepage.

To be more specific, the site gives tips on how to improve your flirting skills with women, how to build confidence especially around members of the opposite sex, learn how to attract and keep women attracted, learn how to get a girlfriend, how to display male qualities that will spark sexual attraction with women, and how to stop being the nice guy that every girl wants to be their best friend, and not their boyfriend.

Don't get me wrong, my marriage is going just fine, it's just that I'd like to know what makes a guy like a girl to the point of involving himself into a relationship with that one person and eventually go into a lifelong commitment. To be more specific, what is it that some women have that others just don't? It's just something that fascinates me up to know, 'coz whenever I ask my husband what he liked about me, he always answers "Everything."

Another Great Day Monday, December 10, 2007

It's 2:00am where I am now, and I'm awake because I'm seeing Henry off to work today. I'd just like to tell you guys that my mom's birthday went really well, except for one thing. Since I was a bit late going there, the food I had delivered to my mom's place arrived before I did, so it sort of ruined the surprise. But it was still OK though, mom was really happy.

Henry and I took Keisha and Nicole with us. Keisha was her usual jolly self, save for the instance when she was feeling the need to poop. I guess she doesn't like pooping at somebody else's house, but she still did.

We took turns carrying Nicole as she is heavy, and although she was crying a bit when someone else carried her, later in the day she wasn't crying at all and even smiled a lot.

In all fairness, I would say that our surprise party for our mom's birthday party on December 12 went well. She even called me later when I got home to thank me, and she did that twice. Maybe we should have more of these whenever there are occassions.

Mister Gammon Sunday, December 09, 2007

Here's another website I recently stumbled upon for backgammon aficionados - it's called Mister Gammon.

I've blogged about other online casinos and other backgammon sites, and this one is something that should be added onto your list of websites to visit. Mister Gammon features online backgammon on a very easy-to-use web page. Everything you need to know about playing backgammon online is right in front of you when you access the site's home page. You can download the best online backgammon games, get hot online backgammon playing tips, and take part in world-class backgammon tournaments either for fun, or for real money.

The website also has a pretty cool logo, which really made me smile when I first visited the website. What is it? You'll have to visit the site yourself first to find out.

My Mom's Birthday Sunday, December 09, 2007

My sister Elena and I are planning a surprise party for our mom today. Although her birthday is still on the 12th, we decided to go ahead and celebrate it today, since she, our dad and I will be at work on that day.

I don't know if she's already figured out that we have something planned up on our sleeves, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she hasn't yet. I'm taking Nicole and Keisha over at their place today, and surely Henry will be coming along as well.

I'm also keeping my fingers crossed for one more thing - that out 13th month pay from work miraculously be debited into my ATM, or that my PayPal funds be debited to my UnionBank Cyber Account today as well. Otherwise, I don't know what I'll do.

Online Backgammon Tournaments Friday, December 07, 2007

I hope it's not getting too obvious that I'm really getting my hands into as much information on online casinos and gambling.

I stumbled upon another website called Gammon World that allows users to play backgammon, another popular game online. For those who aren't familiar with the game, backgammon is a board game wherein pieces are moved after each role of the dice. The player wins when he removes all of his pieces from the board.

Gammon World offers live, online backgammon tournaments everyday on their website that is very pleasing to the eyes with the use of great color combinations and useful tabs and links on the header of the page. There are huge cash prizes, and everyone is a winner.

An Online Casino Portal Friday, December 07, 2007

I've been writing in my other blog about online casinos and my curiosity about them, and I just thought that I'd share the interest with this blog as well.

One of the websites I came across is called Gamblux, and it has a really easy-to-use interface. The site has tabs for top online games, casino games, rules and strategies, and online resources. The main page of the site provides information on online casinos payouts table, and the sidebars are loaded with relevant links on online gambling, biggest jackpots, online tournaments, etc.

Gamblux is updated daily and features casino news and a casino guide for those new into online gambling.

Slightly Disappointed but still Happy Friday, December 07, 2007

You might be wondering why this post is entitled "Slightly Disappointed but still Happy."

Well, it's because I thought I was going to see Henry today, either by seeing him off to work with Keisha's godfather or I'd see him home because he didn't have a tour today. Both didn't happen.

I'm still happy on the other hand because we all had a great day yesterday, and whatever the circumstances may be, the highlight of my day is when I get home. I miss my kids every single minute of the day, and they're constantly on my mind. So when my time at the office is done, I'm almost always the first person who logs out and can't wait to get home.

Both Keisha and Nicole are still asleep, and I'm trying to finish all the work I have as soon as I can so I can sleep early and have the rest of the afternoon with them.

A Parent's Worst Nightmare Thursday, December 06, 2007

I was visiting my eldest daughter Keisha in a rehabilitation center. She was currently undergoing alcohol rehab and drug treatment, and I couldn't help but cry when I saw her. She looked far different from the little girl I raised, like an unknown person had taken over my daughter's body and claimed it theirs.

"Her addiction treatment will still need three more months to complete," the doctor stated.

"But she's too young to be in a place like this!" I burst into even more tears. Having your kid in a rehabilitation facility is the worst nightmare any parent could have.

I opened my eyes pleasantly surprised to find my daughter Keisha back to the age of 4, still smiling at me and snuggling close on my bed. I held her tight and kissed her forehead while I thought, "Thank God it was only a dream."

I Saw Henry Before He Left Wednesday, December 05, 2007

I don't know if people get annoyed with how much I talk about my kids and Henry (which is almost every time), but I guess being a parent and all, you sometimes just can't help but talk about them. A lot.

I was really glad when I came home from work around 10 minutes before 6:00 am that I found him still here, brushing his teeth. I guess you can say I caught him just in time; with my shifting schedule at eTelecare I rarely get the chance to see him. Imagine this: I leave for work around 6:30pm and arrive usually at 6:00am the following day since I'm on the night shift. Henry leaves for work at around 3:00-4:00am and more often than not comes home around 8:00-9:00pm, depending on how far his tour's itinerary was. So we literally don't get that much time to spend with each other, let alone see each other.

For someone who's used to being around with the people you love, it's kinda hard to adjust. But I always think that we're sticking to our jobs because of the kids. I miss him terribly, and to think we've been together for almost 8 years already.

I walked him down the street to where he'd ride the bus to work, and I just couldn't help but feel sad when he left. Walking back the way home alone was the hardest part, and I've been doing this for years, especially when he goes away for long trips.

Last Week in CST Tuesday, December 04, 2007

This week is our last week in our Client Specific Training for Sprint over at my work, eTelecare. I'm pretty excited and nervous at the same time, since we'll be moving on to Learning Lab, which is another two weeks of training for us. What's different from Learning Lab and CST is that in Learning Lab, you actually get to practice all the theories you learned in CST since you get to take real, live calls. It's sort of like a prep for when you get to the production floor where you get calls almost all the time.

I'm a bit sad though because our class for CST will more likely than not be split into two teams once we get to the floor, since a class of 23 as our trainer stated, was more than what a regular team leader handles. Speaking of our trainer, Donna Asistio, she is also a very cool trainer. We learn a lot about our account in a very fun way. It's a bit sad that we have to part ways, but that's just the way things go. I'm glad that we had the chance to know each other and spend a whole month together, since she's really fun.

Our team is really lucky to have been blessed with a great roster of trainers, from Ef and Jackie during our New Hire Orientation in October, to Carnel in Foundations Training during the first week of November, and Donna for our CST. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that out trainer for Learning Lab will be just as great as they are, since these people have really set the bar high for us, and we expect no less than the excellence and professionalism that we're used to with our trainers.

Tonight our team will probably discuss what to do on our last day of CST, like if we'll end up going somewhere or if we'll buy Donna a present, or if we'll just order tons of food and eat it at work with her. Whatever we decide on, I'll keep you posted on it.

I Need Cash for Holiday Shopping Monday, December 03, 2007

I need cash for shopping this Christmas!

Well, who doesn't? I've been doing a lot of thinking about getting a payday loan so I have enough cash to buy the people I love what they want this Christmas, instead of getting them what I can afford. My only concern is that I've never applied for payday loans yet, and I'm not sure where to start, what are the terms available, and how the payment process goes. Worse, I absolutely don't have time to go look for a store where I can apply for a cash advance since my work entails me to be on the night shift and our shift changes every week or so, let alone have time for my kids and sleep.

Aside from not having time, I also don't know how to get approved for my loan, how to choose a lender to loan from, and how these loans actually work. Since I do most of my transactions online like shopping, banking, bill payments, etc., I'd also love it if I could find an online payday lender. And one more thing, if the loan could be deposited straight into my bank account without me having to go back to the store just to get my check, that would be perfect.

So let's do a recap. I'm looking for an online lender that would directly deposit my loan to my bank account to save me the hassle of going to and from the store or bank where I'd get my loan, a lender that would provide me with information I need about getting a loan, getting approved for it, and how it works, and how to choose a lender in case I need to do comparisons and stuff.

I'd like the luxury of applying for a loan anonymously so I can save face when it doesn't get approved (lol), I don't want to stand in long lines or leave work early so I can get to the store or bank before it closes, and I want to have access to all the information I need about loans instead of having to ask people at the store about it. All of these I found at Cash Advance $1500.

My Own Disclosure Policy Saturday, December 01, 2007

This policy is valid from 29 November 2007


This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact me, Leslie at isleng17@yahoo.com.


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A Reliable HMO Just When I Needed It Thursday, November 29, 2007

When I was still in Convergys, my previous contact center, our HMO or health maintenance organization was Maxicare. I just loved it, and I still do. One of the great things about Maxicare is that whenever you need medical assistance, all you need to do is go to an accredited clinic or hospital and they'll take care of the rest. No need for phone calls or a pre-screening in a clinic before you're endorsed to a specialist like Intellicare. Sorry, but I'm not a big fan.

A few months prior to my leaving Convergys, they switched HMOs and Intellicare was a real pain to deal with. You first needed to be seen by a clinic or the company physician for proper endorsements before you're allowed to use the card itself at the hospital. For others it may not seem like a big deal, but for my former officemate, it meant the life of her husband. He was having a really bad case of hypertension and his BP was around 200+ already (I'm not so sure about the details anymore as it's been years since the incident), and the hospital they went to had to turn them down because they "didn't follow Intellicare's procedure." She ended up paying for everything herself instead just so her husband could get immediate treatment, and filed a formal complaint against Intellicare as soon as she got back to work.


When I joined eTelecare, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that they had Maxicare as their HMO. I recently had appendicitis and all my husband and I did was to go to the hospital and everything was taken cared of. I didn't even shell out a single cent for anything while I was confined. And no clinics or pre-evaluations needed too. As soon as I was being treated, a Maxicare representative came in contact with my husband to assure him everything was arranged and he didn't need to worry - and we didn't.

Last 2 Days in Eastwood Thursday, November 15, 2007

For my work this week, which started from Tuesday and ends this Saturday, we were assigned at the eTelecare office at Eastwood City Libis, Quezon City which is currently one of the places I hate primarily due to the fact that it is very inaccessible and the path I have to take along Cubao is honestly not that good. Seeing a lot of people bystanding and sleeping on cardboard mats along the streets honestly makes me nervous.

Second, there is no footbridge access so you literally have to run across the highway with speeding cars to get to Eastwood. I'm not that good of a crosser, particularly if there's no official way to cross and there's no near stoplight to help.

Lastly, I hate having to walk a great distance just to get to where the jeeps going to Rosario or Citibank is, considering that I'm a terribly slow walker.

I'm glad that we only have two more days left in Libis and after this, we're back in Shaw Boulevard on a night shift that starts from 8pm-5am.

A Real Shifting Schedule Saturday, November 10, 2007

When I first applied for a job at eTelecare I was informed that the schedule we were to have was not stable and it would be a shifting one. Well, they weren't kidding. Initially, the schedule I had was a 7am-3pm shift, which was replaced by a 4pm-1am one, then followed by 5am-2pm, and there was this one time we were asked to come in 11pm-8am. The interval days (or should I say hours) in between shifts were pretty harsh, but I honestly got used to it already.

For now, our Client Specific Training will be held on the same schedule, 5am-2pm. However, it'll be held at Libis instead of Shaw, where our office is. I honestly hate that place, since it's so not accessible and the road I need to walk on is honestly not that safe.

I'm just glad that the training will only be conducted for a week, then we're back to Shaw again. When our office said the schedule was shifting, they were really right. Little did my team and I know that not only the schedule was shifting, but there would also be occasional location changes as well.

Goodbye Travel Blogging Friday, November 09, 2007

My days (or should I say months) of travel blogging has come to an end. The guy we four bloggers work for has called to a close on our travel blogging stint, and November will be our last month. I guess I'm just a bit sad since I've grown so accustomed and attached to the work that I had. For now I'll just focus on my other blogging jobs, the video music blogs and another blog in which I'm a contributor for.

I'll surely miss blogging about places I've never been to, and some that I actually have gone to. I'll also miss my new best friends, Wikipedia and Wikitravel.

Oh well, I guess good things really do come to an end. I'll just have to find a new blogging job to supplement the income I've lost. Hope my efforts of finding a new blogging job will be as successful as the one I previously had. I guess I shouldn't feel too upset, after all, I do already have a real job now at another call center. But I guess the real reason why I just love this job is that I get to do what I really love, writing.

I Need Help with my Motorola V3 Monday, November 05, 2007

For people who read my blog, I will be very much thankful for anyone who can shed light on how I can transfer the pictures I have on my mobile phone, a Motorola V3 to my PC. I have the USB cable and all, but when I plug it in and after my PC detects the new hardware and installs it, nothing happens after that.

I tried installing the Motorola Phone Tools program that came with the phone in the form of a CD, but that doesn't work with the phone I have. It keeps giving me an error message that states "Your phone is not detected" or something.

Unfortunately, for this type of phone, sending pictures via Bluetooth or Infrared is also not an option compared to Nokia phones, and the only thing I can think of at the moment would be to send each picture one-by-one through MMS to another mobile phone. Aside from being expensive, I also don't have someone to pass all my photos to since Henry and I share just one mobile phone.

I was really looking forward to uploading pictures from Keisha's birthday and some of Simone's pictures too, but I guess I'll have to wait until I figure this out.

Working at eTelecare Global Solutions Monday, November 05, 2007

Yesterday was my fifth day at work with eTelecare and so far, I'd have to say that I like it a lot. I haven't been working for several months (or close to a year) already and have been staying at home for quite some time now. To be honest, I really enjoy being back at work as I learn new things, I ride the MRT and commute, and I have my own pen again (lol).

I'd have to thank my uncle Jaime who literally gave me the right things at the right time, like my Tommy Hilfiger bag and blue Champion sneakers which I both use at work. As sandals with no heels are not allowed at eTelecare, my sneakers are my new best friends during dress-down days (Friday-Sunday) and holidays.

The only thing I miss though is the time I now don't have with my kids and Henry. I am just glad that this company gave me the privilege of starting on Oct. 30 instead of the 29th. As the recruiting offer from their HR Department informed me, the company is very family-oriented and they understood that since it was Keisha's 4th birthday on the 29th, they wouldn't force me to start on that day.

On a lighter side, I'm also looking forward to my first pay on Nov. 15 and when I finally manage to get my PayPal funds through Unionbank, I just might have enough spare cash to get my hair done.

Happy Birthday Keisha Monday, October 29, 2007

It's my eldest daughter's fourth birthday today, aside from being a holiday due to the barangay elections, and right now I'm busy cooking. I just got the chance to be in front of the PC right now as I'm busy deep frying her chicken. I'm just glad she's really happy and excited. I think she knows that it's her birthday (aside from constant reminders from us) and she knows today is a special occasion. I'll try to post pictures this week about today's celebration, and I need to go now as I just might burn her chicken. Lol.

I Lost Php1,000 Yesterday Monday, October 22, 2007

Keisha, my mom in law and I pushed though with our much-anticipated trip to Ongpin yesterday. Our trip was fantastic, except for the unfortunate incident that I only realized while we were already eating out and concluding our trip. I realized that I lost Php1,000 out of the Php3,000 total that we had. I honestly have no idea up to now whether I dropped it from my pocket (which also would be the first time in my lifetime to drop money) or someone had picked it up from my jeans pocket.

I find it sad that my first time to lose money would be that big of an amount, but oh well, there's always a first time for everything. I honestly don't want to think about it anymore as I can't help but feel bad at myself for being so careless, and plus the fact that no matter how had or how often I dwell on it, the money's gone and there's zilch of a chance it'll be back.

We bought Keisha a pair of sandals for her birthday to match her pink dress, a pair of earrings, a ring, a bracelet and a necklace that she refuses to take off and insists on wearing all at the same time. She reminds of a Christmas tree and the holidays that are only a few weeks away. I'm just glad that we were still able to buy almost everything that we planned on buying, except for a pair of shoes for Simone to wear on her older sister's birthday.

Cleaning out Our Closet Saturday, October 20, 2007

I literally spent an entire afternoon just cleaning out the closet my husband and I share. I've been putting off this task for days, and today I finally forced myself to do it and be done. I even restrained myself from using the PC just so I could finish the monumental (or so I thought) task ahead of me.

There are a couple of things I do like about cleaning closets. One is that I'm able to find clothes that I like and haven't worn in months, primarily due to the fact that I don't know where they are and I'm too lazy to dig them from underneath the closet.

Second, I also find some odd stuff that my daughter Keisha has kept hidden in the closet. There was even one time we turned her room upside down to find the tv's remote control, only to find out weeks later that she hid it in the closet.

Third, now that I have everything organized, everything is so much easier to find. I know where things are and have an easy time finding them. I also have no trouble looking for a pair of socks for Henry's trips, my shorts, or a shirt to wear when I go grocery shopping. The only question is, as my husband asked, for how long will we be able to keep the closet as organized as it is right now? We have a bet that 2 weeks would be at the most, but we'll keep you posted just in case. :-)

Glad to be Home Friday, October 19, 2007

My kids and I left our house, but I admit to be glad being home. I missed my worn-out messy bed, the cluttered room my husband and I share, and about a thousand other errands I kept telling myself I'd do but never gotten around to doing it at all. You can read about my and my kids' little escapade here, and all I can say is I don't regret having done it at all.

Going abroad is not in my thoughts...for now. Monday, October 08, 2007

My uncle Jaime who lives in Pasadena recently called me up to ask me if I was interested in nursing jobs in California. He was ready to sponsor me and pay for any expenses that I might incur. He and his wife Nerry were also willing to let me stay at their house for the time being. He sent me a link to view a list of available nursing jobs that would best suit my skills, or at least those I could take courses for here until I was suited for the job. Through the link, I could also choose which state to be employed, and what type of nursing job exactly I would be applying for.

The question I first asked them was not the pay; rather, it was whether I could take my kids with me. When he said he wasn't sure, the thought of leaving my kids and Henry really saddened me. A lot. I had to turn down his offer no matter how good it sounded.

Life is hard, only my husband works, and I have two kids. Of course I need the money and decent work with an equally decent pay would be perfect to supplement our financial needs. But for now, the thought of working in another country is out of the question. I want to be here when they grow. Going abroad is really not in my thoughts...for now.

An Unfortunate Incident Wednesday, October 03, 2007

When Henry, Keisha and I went to SM Valenzuela yesterday, we had a really great time together. Our family day-outs have been very far in between, due to the nature of Henry's work and Simone, since she's only 3 months and we do not want to take her to malls yet, since she really won't appreciate where she is anyway.

When we were going home, it was raining, and Henry and I had a hard time getting off the jeepney we were riding, as Keisha had fallen asleep and she was relatively heavy. In addition, we were both carrying grocery bags each, plus Henry was holding the umbrella up for Keisha. The inconsiderate, ill-mannered, and downright obnoxious driver (the jeep had a plate number of DHY 887 which I will remember so I can inform the LTO office of his driving "skills") suddenly started the jeep while Keisha and I were still getting off. Henry shouted at the driver to stop, but he didn't listen. I shouted as well, "****, don't you see we're getting off? I'm holding a child for crap's sake." The stupid driver replied, "You're taking forever to get off, kasi."

That bastard. Excuse my language. But blood really rushed to my head when I thought of the worst-case scenarios that could have happened. If Keisha had tumbled down the road, I would have ripped that guy's head off. Even the remaining passengers in the vehicle loudly complained about the said a**hole of a driver. Henry was furious. If only it wasn't raining and he didn't have to hold our umbrella up, I'm sure he would have pulled the guy out of the jeep and gave him a solid punch on the face or two.

What upsets me is the fact that we were in an unloading spot on the road, so there was no need to rush. Second, the guy should have been considerate since it was raining, and most importantly, I had a child with me. Due to the rain, the traffic was pretty slow and the vehicle in front of him was moving only inches, so really, there was no need to rush. To think before I even stood up I told him, "Give me a minute, I have a child with me." But nooo, the a**hole just started his engine before we even had the time to get off.

Grrrr....That guy better not pray he get lost in our street otherwise, I will employ all my neighbors to beat the crap out of him. I am still going to report him to the LTO so that he be penalized of some sort, and so that he won't be doing what he did to us to other people carrying kids.

The not-so Long Wait is Over Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Keisha's days of waiting and looking for her dad are over. Henry finally came home at around 5am earlier today, and Keisha had to be the happiest person on Earth. Although Keisha hates being woken up from sleep, when she saw her dad she was really really happy.

We went to SM Valenzuela and bought a lot of toys for her, did a bit of grocery shopping, and rode some amusement rides. It was raining pretty hard when we came home, but we managed not to get Keisha wet by carrying her most of the time.

Henry's out for another daily tour, but Keisha doesn't mind. Instead, she stated that she planned on not sleeping the entire day until her dad comes home.

Day 2 Monday, October 01, 2007

Henry's still at Ilocos and Keisha's getting sadder and sadder every day. There is no time wherein she does not ask where her dad is and how to get to where he is. She told me earlier,

"Mommy, is it possible that daddy found another daughter and doesn't like me anymore?"

I reassure her that she and Simone are the only daughters Henry has, but then she asks,

"Doesn't he miss me? Why won't he come home then?"

*Sigh.* How can you comfort a four year old whenever her dad is not around and is out of town for work? And how do I comfort myself, too? I'm trying really hard not to show Keisha that I miss her dad too, but I guess I'm not that good in conceiving my feelings.

Day 1 Saturday, September 29, 2007

Henry's probably at Ilocos already. I was meaning to write earlier today (I slept at 4am earlier and woke up at noon). I've said it already and I'll say it again, I'm really not used to not having him around. Keisha's been asking about him all day yesterday and today. I guess she misses her dad a lot. I understand why, he's her wrestling mate and playmate as well. She keeps asking when her dad will be home, and I always answer "Soon." I guess she's tired of hearing the same answer over and over again.

I was able to contact him through sms with one of our patron's cellular phones. But I'd like to hear his voice for a change.

Off to Ilocos Thursday, September 27, 2007

Henry's leaving for Ilocos tomorrow noon. He and some of his cousins will be on a field trip to the said province, and he'll be gone for 4 days and 3 nights. He's sound asleep right now, but as early as now I'm already beginning to feel sad. He's still here but I miss him already - does that make sense?

I packed most of his things tonight so that I won't be in a rush to pack tomorrow. But every shirt I folded and pants I ironed was filled with the longing that he won't leave. Although I know he'll only be gone for a few days and he'll be back sooner than I expect, I guess I'm just not used to having him not around. I know that he'll miss me and the kids too, and he's doing it for the money he'll be taking home.

I hope he'll have a safe trip and be back soon, else I'd go nuts.

Staying over at my mom's place Saturday, September 22, 2007

My eldest sister Elena surprised me this evening by suddenly showing up at my house and announced that she will be taking Keisha with her to my mom's place. I didn't want her to go at all since I'd miss her the moment she starts stepping out of my door. Then my mom called on my sister's cell and she told me that my dad would need to have an operation due to a clogged artery. Repeated instances of half of his body going numb were my mom's primary concern, not to mention the problem he's had with his gallstones. She said that my dad often talks about my daughter Keisha and says he misses her a lot. I suddenly got an ache in my heart myself, and I'm still worried over my dad. Imagine the effort he took to drive at night just to pick my daughter up. My mom wasn't kidding, he missed Keisha a lot.

I also hope that Keisha will eat a lot while she's there, because whenever she's sick or just recovered, she has little or no appetite. When Simone had a fever a couple of weeks ago, Keisha followed with matching cough and colds. I guess I shouldn't worry that much anyway, since they have their own pc, Keisha will still be able to play all the pc games she plays here at home. Plus, she's with people who love her, so she won't be harmed or anything. So need for me to worry. But I still miss her. A lot.

Applying for a Job Saturday, September 22, 2007

I had to leave really early today since I was called by a certain call center for an exam. I had applied for the position of Customer Care Specialist (the same position I had when I was still working with Convergys) through Jobstreet and two days later, they called my cell and conducted a phone interview, the first stage of their recruitment process. I passed both the phone interview and the exam, and I have to come back tomorrow for an oral assessment.

I hated leaving Keisha and Simone. I guess after several months of staying at home, I wasn't used to the idea of leaving them. I comfort myself with the thought that I'm doing this for them anyway, so I shouldn't feel bad. But nonetheless, that thought only provides a temporary comfort.

I have to go all through this guilty feeling tomorrow as I leave to complete the next step in the recruitment process. To be really honest, I'm more sad with leaving them than excited with the prospect of a new job.

I Fixed It! Thursday, September 20, 2007

Finally, I can peacefully sleep knowing that my Blogger template looks decent enough. You see, here's the problem I initially had. Whenever I tried uploading a new template (aside from those provided by Blogger) I always received an error message where the pop up window for the Preview was. I read in the Blogger Help forum that whenever you encountered such a problem, you can try a different browser, and/or clearing all your cookies and cache. This did not work for me, though. The second option was to remove all your existing widgets (I just copied and pasted mine on Notepad for easier uploading later) then try the HTML code. True enough, like magic, the template's on! Yipee! Now all I need to do is re-add those widgets and I'm off to a good night's (it's 3:30am my time right now) sleep. Ciao!

My Template's Screwed Up Thursday, September 20, 2007

Aarrgghh!!!

I initially had on my well-loved Birdie Love template, but since I wanted to try out a three column blog, I had to park that template for a while. My first attempt to download and install a three column template was successful, but it wasn't really the look I had in mind. Yes, it does have three columns but I wasn't satisfied. So I downloaded and applied several other templates, some were successful and some I didn't know what I did wrong since I always get an error message and now, I'm screwed! No matter what template I apply, whether it be the original three column template I was using or the most recent ones, NONE OF THEM WORK!!! When I press Preview, the pop-up window where your blog preview should be gives me an error code that I should inform the Help center of. Now until I find a fix (which I will most likely not since I know zilch about htmls) I'm stuck to the templates blogger has. *sigh*

Trying out a New Template Monday, September 17, 2007

For those of you wondering where my Birdie Love Template done by the wonderful TJ of Zazzafooky, it is safe and sound with me and will not be harmed (lol). I'm just trying out this three column template since I plan on monetizing my blog and having a two columned template just doesn't leave you with that much space for ads. Also, I'm not that knowledgeable with editing HTML scripts. To be honest, just looking at the script itself is enough to make my head hurt. This current template that I'm using allows me to use the customize function of the new Blogger, so I can pretty much just drag and drop items around.

Rest assured that once I get everything fixed and my ads are where I want them to be, I'll decide on whether to stick with this new template, or to switch it back the way it was.

Fever Remedies Wednesday, September 05, 2007

I had my second daughter Simone immunized earlier today...I have to admit I really hate immunizations. Even before when I took Keisha to the doctor, I was the first one to cry when the shots were being administered. I guess it's the maternal instinct in me that doesn't want my kids to feel or be inflicted with pain.

Simone's fever is running pretty high right now, I'm glad I have my mom in law to help me with taking care of her. We're applying a cold compress to her forehead and administering her fever meds and cough meds on their scheduled hours.

I'm calling it in early for this night, I'm going to check on Simone first, and try to get Keisha to sleep early.

Here Comes September Sunday, September 02, 2007

It's just a month before my eldest daughter Keisha turns four. I wonder what I'll get her for her birthday. When September comes around, I can't help but be reminded of how near Christmas is. Just think, it's only less than 4 months away! Better make my Christmas list and avoid Christmas shoppers as early as possible. Hahaha.

What To Do Friday, August 31, 2007

For people who have been reading my blog, I assume you all know that I just gave birth two months ago to my second daughter, Simone. My problem is this - how can I make my eldest daughter Keisha (turning four on October) feel and understand that she is not being left out nor neglected but merely that her baby sister needs more attention now than she does?

I have been spending a lot of time with her, i.e. watching her favorite cartoons, holding her tight while she sleeps and making sure that I am the first person she sees when she wakes up, playing all the games she can think of, and even take baths with her. But the thing is, when Simone wakes up, whatever we were doing has to end abruptly and my attention is now diverted away from her. She hates this pretty badly and she even told me once, "I hope Simone doesn't wake up."

*Sigh.* I wish I could split my body in two so I can attend to both of them at the same time. Anyone have good parenting tips to share with me?

Songs I Listen To Thursday, August 23, 2007

These are some of the songs I listen to. I'm still completing the playlist, though. I'll try to upload some of the songs myself if I can't find them on Imeem.

On Losing a Friend Wednesday, August 22, 2007

I can't believe it's been a year since my Team Leader GP passed away. I still remember the night when I got the sms that turned our world at work around. I was half asleep in the middle of the night when my mother in law woke me up, holding my cellphone in her hand. As usual, she was playing games on the cell when the sms was sent, and she accidentally opened it. I still remember what she said like it was yesterday, "Hey, you got a text message. It's from Tye." Lazily, I asked what it was about, reluctant to get out of bed. "Read it for yourself." Noticing the expression on her face, I stood up, took the phone from her hand, and read the few words that meant so much. "GP passed away..." I sent an sms back to my officemate Tye, "Hahaha, nice try. Go get some sleep." Then the phone rang. A sobbing voice was barely audible. "It's true. I wouldn't joke about something as serious as this." Tears streamed down my face and I began to sob as well.

My teammates and I went to the wake, attended the funeral, and went back to work the following Monday. Everything seemed surreal. As if everything was just a bad dream which everyone was dying to wake up from. We pretended to be alright even though we weren't, but everyone knew we were all just putting up faces. Whenever I remember him, there's a certain loneliness I still can't shake off even up to now. Our Team Leader was more than a mentor, he was a friend, a great friend at that. He had high hopes for our team, pushed us to do better everyday, and never forgot to show us how to have fun at work. Some of us are guilty for letting his hopes down, some are happy that his dreams for us have been fulfilled. But one thing's for certain, GP is, and will always be, someone who will be terribly missed not just by my officemates, but his family as well.


For some people, work keeps friends together, but for us, it was the other way around.

GP is at the rightmost side, wearing a long-sleeved black shirt and a tie.

I've Forgotten How To Sleep Wednesday, August 22, 2007

• written on 08-17-2007 from my previous blog.
  

Never thought I'd actually say this, but my mom was right on almost every occasion. When I gave birth to Keisha, the words she always said that I almost often ignored all materialized to be real, especially the part that she said when she had my eldest sister Elena, she forgot how to sleep. And guess what - she was right.

Having two kids of my own, I've proven most of her words true, especially that one about sleep. I'm amazed sometimes by how keen my sense of hearing has gotten. Before when I was younger, I used to sleep like a dead cow. Now, even the slightest moan of any of my daughters wakes me up, no matter how tired I may be.

And there's one more phrase that my mom always says - "When you have kids of your own, you'll understand." She was right.

And We Named Her Simone Wednesday, August 22, 2007

• written on 08-17-2007 from my previous blog.
  

Simone, our new baby, is getting pretty big pretty fast. I guess being breastfed does help a lot, plus the fact that her dad is pretty tall. I'm just glad that her older sister Keisha is almost over the "I'm jealous of the new baby" stage. I can even trust her to watch her kid sister for me while I make coffee, pee, or eat. She's also pretty reliable when it comes to running errands for simone.

Whenever I look at Simone, I sometimes wonder how our hearts make space to love when you're already full of love for someone else. Believe it or not, I honestly always thought I didn't need another kid, since I'm content with Keisha. Just looking at her makes me unbelievably happy. Never thought I could be happier having Simone around.

It's A Girl! Wednesday, August 22, 2007

• written on 07-15-2007 from my previous blog.
  

It's a girl, I gave birth last June 28 via cesarian section...Thanks for everybody's support and outpouring concern. I'll try to post pictures soon, but just to give you guys an idea, she looks just like her dad.

Why Am I Nervous??? Wednesday, August 22, 2007

• written on 06-26-2007 from my previous blog.
  

I'm honestly unsure as to why I'm nervous about my upcoming cesarean this Thursday. I've literally been there, done it, and doing it again this Thursday, so why the goosebumps?

I remember when I gave birth to Keisha. It was the afternoon of October 28, 2003 and I had induced labor until the wee hours of the morning, and finally had my cesarean section noon of the following day. I was honestly relieved when they announced that I'll have a cs instead, since I was already beyond pissed off at the interns who kept screwing my dextrose, taking my blood pressure on the same sore arm with the screwed up dextrose, and those damn IE's. I was also too tired from pushing and pushing, and those induced contractions also didn't help at all to change my temper.

So now, when we had our second child, I expected that I'll have another cs, which I was quite right on. But what bothers me is the fact that I'm actually "bothered." I'm not bothered in a bad way, since I completely trust my doctor (who happens to be a family friend, aside from being the head of the ob-gyn department, and is the same doctor who did my first cs) but I feel excited/nervous/tense. Like the first day of school, just that it's a new school, not the one you used to go to.

*sigh* I'm sure these jitters will go away soon, and I hope I calm down soon enough. I wouldn't want a high blood pressure before the operation.

June 28, 2007 Wednesday, August 22, 2007

• written on 06-22-2007 from my previous blog.
  

Henry, Keisha and I went to the doctor earlier today, and little did we know we were to have a surprise. The doctor announced that by June 28, I'll be 38 weeks, and ready for my cs delivery. Henry and I just stared at each other and said, "That's 6 days away!"

Too bad for Keisha though, her plan of having her sibling's birthday on July 07 (which we all liked, since her sibling's birthday if written numerically would be 07-07-07) will not materialize. The funny part was, she tried really hard to negotiate with Dr. Abalos (the same doctor who helped me give birth to her) to have the operation on July 07 instead. But, well, no matter how hard she pleaded, there was nothing she could do.

The doctor advised us to have the operation on that date mainly because I will be 38 weeks around that date. And second, my kid is already too large for it's gestation age. It would be a little risky to let him/her grow too much inside my belly, since that would pose several complications.

I'm fine with having the operation this June 28, although I still have one problem, though. What to name my kid.

Oh yeah, don't tell Henry I haven't thought of a name yet. I forced him into agreeing that I would name our second kid and he wouldn't meddle, since i let him name Keisha. So it's just 6 days away, and I don't have a name yet. Heck, I don't even know if I'll have a boy or a girl!!!

And Yes, We're All Better Wednesday, August 22, 2007

• written on 06-19-2007 from my previous blog.
  

Yipee! I'm back to playing Ran Online on an on-off basis, depending on whether we have an available PC at home. I'm a lot better from our sore eyes episode. Henry's eyes aren't back to completely normal yet - he still has one blotchy red eye, incidentally, the first eye that was infected with sore eyes.

I know he'll be better in the coming days, but I just wish it would be sooner. I can't help but be reminded of stale fish whenever I look at his eyes...hehehe... :-)

Sore Eyes Wednesday, August 22, 2007

• written on 06-16-2007 from my previous blog.
  

All four of us in my family - my mom-in-law, my husband, and my daughter, and me all have sore eyes. Henry has a fever of up to 39 degrees along with the blood red eyes, my daughter's fever ran up to as high as 38.4 degrees. Hopefully in the coming days we'll all be better.

For now, I'm stuck to Visine, cold water, ice cubes, and a break from staring at the PC's monitor until I'm better.

Lucky Me Wednesday, August 22, 2007

• written on 05-21-2007 from my previous blog.
  

I just had a sudden realization. I am lucky to have Henry as my husband. Why? For a lot of things. One is that he never does anything that would embarrass me, and he never does anything without either asking me, or thinking about how it would affect me.

Second, he takes really good care of our eldest, Keisha. He's actually the one our daughter obeys. Her grandma and I are just punching bags to her, made to follow her every whim. I know he's also very excited since we'll be giving birth to our second child. It's very different for him this time, since he's with me to witness the whole 9 months before our kid arrives, unlike with Keisha.

Last and most important of all, he puts me above everything else.

I don't know what's gotten into me tonight, but I just feel really, really lucky.

Ming Ming Wednesday, August 22, 2007

• written on 05-02-2007 from my previous blog.
  

Around last week I got bit by a stray cat that stays a lot at our house at the back of my right foot. I accidentally stepped on her while I was reaching for sugar to make my first cup of coffee. I was shocked by how loud she cried when I stepped on her, and I even apologized to the cat, whom my husband and I have named Ming Ming. And so I proceeded with drinking the cup of coffee I've made, and then I went to the bathroom. That was when I realized a stinging sensation at the back of my right foot when water hit it. That was when I saw two marks with blood gushing out of it. I didn't panic, since first of all, I'm not afraid of blood and second, they didn't look like teeth marks at all. I thought maybe one of her paws had inflicted the wound. I proceeded with washing the wound with soap, and then I went upstairs to watch TV.

Henry came home early that day since he wasn't feeling well since the day before. I told him about the incident, and he took a look at my foot. That was when I realized that what was on my foot were indeed bite marks. On the other side of my foot (which I didn't bother to look at) were two other puncture marks - making all the marks on my foot a total of four. That was when I started to cry. What worried me the most was the fact that I was pregnant, and that the rabies and/or the anti-rabies might affect the child I was carrying.

I called my dad and he asked me to go to the hospital the following day. My first injection went on smoothly, and we were also advised to keep a good eye on the cat. We actually started feeding Ming Ming so she'd keep coming back to our house, and she's been staying around ever since. Today was my third injection of the anti rabies and the good news is, Ming Ming's attitude hasn't changed at all. In fact, she's even sweeter and nicer now than before. So at least I'm clear of rabies.

Since Ming Ming's around most of the time now, I have to look first before I put my foot down.

House Wednesday, August 22, 2007

• written on 04-04-2007 from my previous blog.

My husband likes watching TV for two reasons - one, to catch up on the news, and two, TV makes him fall asleep. Which is why I was so surprised when I started to watch House (I borrowed the complete season 1 and 2 DVD from my eldest sister Elena, I couldn't wait for it to be shown on AXN, especially since Jumong changed my viewing habits), he actually watched it with me and didn't fall asleep. Imagine my surprise when I turned around - expecting him to either be snoring or drooling - I found myself looking into wide awake eyes and he even asked me, "Are you going to turn it off? I'm still watching."

I guess House had stirred some forgotten aspiration from my husband when he wanted to be a doctor. I remember one story he told me when his pet died and he tried doing CPR and cried his lungs out when his pet didn't revive. I've tried getting him hooked on to Alias and CSI, but both shows only put him to sleep. I don't know if it's House's sarcasm that keeps him awake long enough to watch 2 episodes or just all the blood and intestines you see when watching the show. In any case, I'm just glad he found a show aside from the news that he actually 'enjoys' watching.

The only problem I have now is that AXN is still showing season 3, and he's already scouring every DVD store he passes for season 4 . Either he'll be content watching reruns, or he'll succumb to withdrawal symptoms. ^_^.

On Almost a Decade's Love Affair Wednesday, August 22, 2007

written on 03-23-2007 from my previous blog.

My husband and I met during the last quarter of 1999, and we started going out in 2000. We've been together ever since. I just love this picture of us, just sad I can't rembemer the exact date it was taken. All I remember is that this is one of our friend's kid's birthday party. Looking at this photo never fails to put a smile to my face. We seemed so naive back then, not to mention the fact that we looked undeniably younger.

As I look back on everything that's happened in our relationship before we got to where we are now, I'm grateful for everything that transpired, regardless of whether they were happy moments or otherwise. All those moments made us who we are now, and I just love it. His hair may be thinner and me heavier due to childbirth (and yes, the occasional pigging out every now and then), but our love and respect for each other has grown much deeper and stronger.

I'm proud to say we are more mature and responsible in every aspect of our relationship with each other. It's almost as if we grew up together. We're the best of friends and rivals in online games. He's the only person I want around whenever I'm sick or upset. He's the only one who withstands my whims and has the patience of a mountain regardless of how many tantrums and made-up tantrums I throw at him. I'm glad he's the dad of Keisha and our soon to be second kid. I couldn't have wished for a better partner in rearing our kids.

After almost a decade's love affair with my best friend, my lover, my boyfriend, my soulmate and my husband, I love where I am now and I eagerly look forward to our lifetime together.