Love in the City

Last night, the lonely duo (that's me and Lai) and our youngest sister, Zhar, watched the private showing of Sex and the City, thanks to an invitation by stylish, svelte and sweet friend, Grace Ang.

So we went, me and my sisters. Dinner was at Cafe Bola where I practically devoured my Parma ham mongo and crispy dilis rice meal; Lai, Rod and Zhar weren't able to even get a taste of the dish. Until now, I am still craving for another serving of that. I'll try to revive my other blog and write more extensively about Cafe Bola... which means, I need to go there for a second visit. Hehe... Excuses...

Over at cocktails before the movie where we had bite size servings of portobello mushroom canape and calamares by Sala, we got to talk about the TV Series. Among the 3 of us, I think it was Lai who watched most of the episodes. I, for one, having been 'brainwashed' (and thankful for it) by the nuns at Sacred Heart School-Girls wasn't really a huge fan of the tv series. For one, I thought it was a sin to even watch that because it had sex in the title. So, I would sneak to our TV room and pretend to scan channels on a Tuesday night at 10:00 (that was the schedule way back then), and 'just happen' to pass the HBO channel which was incidentally showing Sex and the City. Haha... After watching one episode not smoothly (I skipped channels every so often for fear of being caught watching what I thought was an x-rated tv series), I began to wonder why it was even called sex and the city. Sure, they talked about it and implied it, but I guess the censors did a good job of cutting the graphic scenes. Despite that, I didn't really change my sked to watch it.

When I got married, we had a collection of Sex and the City DVDs per season. I tried to watch one season but after 2 episodes, I kinda got "disgusted" at all the making out happening. It was just too much for me to watch the same girls with different boys and men. The Catholic in me couldn't swallow the liberalism of the series, where virginity was antiquated and sex was soo in. I didn't continue watching the dvds.

With my history of Sex and the City, I really wasn't expecting much from the movie. So imagine my surprise when even at the beginning, I was glued to the screen. Midway, I wanted to pee but I didn't because I might miss something funny, or heart breaking, or some quotable quote. The 3 of us laughed, sneakily wiped a tear or two, and related to the girls. It was a beautiful film that any woman who had ever been in love and who had ever experienced the joy of female friendship/bonding could relate to.

We are all a little part of any one or all of those characters in the movie. I'm Carrie for being the hopeless romantic; I'm Charlotte for being a prude; Miranda... for the brains (hehe... whew, a whiff of air there); and Samantha - well, I'm like Samantha when she had a big tummy. Hahaha...

It was a heartwarming movie with an "and they lived happily ever after" ending. (oops, did I just give the ending away? hehehe). In Sex and the City, there are happy endings, not because of the sex, but because there is love. When there is love that's pure and true, there will always be a happy ending.

Just Checking In...

No week round ups, no stories. Just dropping a line to say hello.

It's been a busy week with tons of work, lots of unfinished business and to-dos waiting to be done. I've issued out many memos (not scary ones), just work flows since we're introducing cash cards in our payroll and commission systems. There are plans to upgrade our cashiering, I'm working on the workflow of the new company, thinking of ways to improve collection, etc... Things are pretty full in the office and Bric had just recovered from a four-day fever with his temperature reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius!

There's also a Ruby Wedding Anniversary to plan. We've finally decided to hold the reception at Makati Shang. Best choice, really, considering the convenience and the freebie rooms. Now, we're working on the program before I leave for South Africa care of Mommy Nonie. (I hope the violence will have been resolved by then) But before Cape town and our safari, I am soooo looking forward to going to Disneyland HK with our mini family :). It'll just be me, Boydee and Bric and yaya Mila. Aahhh... a welcome break!!!

But before the break, have to make sure all's how it should be and make plenty of bilins. So, just thinking of everything leaves me a bit drained. But I'll manage :)

Round Up for Week (May 3-May 9)

This week I call the Glutton Week. Here's why:

May 3 (Saturday):
Dad suddenly got called in for a sleep test in Medical City because a slot got freed up. So, Mom grabbed the opportunity for the earlier appointment... which meant we had to keep Dad awake the whole afternoon until he is tested for sleep at 8pm. So after Boydee and I swam with Bric, we trooped to Edsa Shang with Mom, Dad, Rielle, Rogan, Raine and Bric, of course, to 'enterain' and distract Dad from dozing off.

It was Bric's first carousel ride in Edsa Mall and he was scared at first. He wouldn't ride the horse nor would he let go of me. But when his cousins arrived, and a little warmed up, he chose to ride the horse but still wouldn't let me go. Sadly, we didn't have nice pictures for this :(

Dinner was at Crustasia beside ClawDaddy. It's now a Thai themed resto and wasn't so bad. I kinda lost my appetite though because Yaya Mila brought Bric around and weren't within my sight. The paranoid in me got me so tense. I just made himay the crabs for Boydee and Raine.

May 4 (Sunday):
Dad couldn't sleep last night with a cpap machine on his face. They had to give him sleeping pills which kept him groggy and sleepy the whole morning. We heard mass at 1030 in Dela Strada and had lunch at home.

I got bitin with my crabs the other night and was psyched at eating out on Sundays, I asked Boydee if we could eat out for dinner... which we did. And in Zensho. No crabs there but my, my... what a treat we had. Here's what our tummies digested: seafood fried rice, buttered shiitake, oysters teppan, steak teppan, assorted sashimi, 15 pieces of ebi tempura, cold noodles, clams in the shell, fish on a clam shell!, bean sprouts teppan, chicken teriyaki, asparagus and tofu teppan. All these between Boydee and me! Hehehe...

May 5 (Monday):
Monday being an office day is supposed to be gluttony-free but we had a scheduled Columbarium meeting that morning. I step inside our Board Room while Japa was listing down our lunch menu from Mr. Choi!!! Now who could resist Chinese?!!! (Well, Ate actually... hehe.. but not me, definitely!) So we had.. yang chow fried rice, hakao, chicken feet, fish fillet with garlic, tofu with mushrooms and minced meat, taiwan pechay, mushroom with lettuce and brocolli. Yummeee... :)

May 6 (Tuesday):
Ate and I shared a rotisserie chicken for lunch. I had on side of thigh, drumstick and wings while Ate had 2 sides of the breast. We gave the other half of the dark meat to Letty and Elma.

It was today when I recommended the 'termination' or the 'non renewal' of one of our newly-hired staff. Although she had shown some improvement after I had a one on one with her, her growth and either her mental capacity or lack of focus was a deterrent in doing her simple job well. Add to that her innate talent for finding excuses and answers for every issue, question or fault, whether valid or senseless, which is most often the case.

I hope she'll find work in a company better suited for her talents :) I wish her well.

That was not an appetite-inducing activity. No gorging out today.

May 7 (Wednesday):
1st Wednesday mass and Father Benny's a day late birthday celeb at the office. Since it was our suki and fave priest, Father Benny's birthday, we had a more than the usual lunch. That day, it consisted of: Spaghetti Carbonara, Chicken Flambe, Roast beef, creamy brocolli and cauliflower, steamed fish fillet, pork asado AND chocolate cake and Rocky road ice cream.

May 8 (Thursday):
Today is the twins' birthday and Rod arrived in the early morning from the States. Zhar planned for them to have breakfast. More details of this in Ate's blog. Suffice it to say, I had one major meal. Skipped lunch because we would be having dinner at Choi that night.

Mommy Nonie arrived today too for an overnight before she'd depart for SanFo the next day.

In Choi, we had hotpot, fish and tofu hotpot (yum!), rich man's fried rice, hakaw, siao long pao, sio mai, beef with pepper, birthday noodles for the birthday boy, roasted duck, fried taro duck, eggplant with minced meat (not yummy this one). For enders, I had white almond puree while the rest had taho. Stuffed was the word to describe us after dinner.

May 9 (Friday):
Brought Mom to Mamou for lunch and had the following: Batac Bolognese spaghetti, Roasted slab of steak with red steak rice and creamed spinach, cuban spiced pork and chicken with white steak rice. It may sound like a little but they came portions good for sharing. Their iced tea was flavored with anise for that bit of 'spice'. Good meal with Malou Fores adding that personal touch.

Dinner was here in LV for Rod's surprise party catered by Las Paellas. On the buffet spread were: Paella Valenciana, Roast pork, grilled blue marlin, thinly sliced roasted angus steak, vietnamese spring rolls, baked macaroni, calamares, canonigo and fresh fruit mix plus cakes coming from Rod's friends. Loved the mocha cake from Hizon's brought by Keri.

That was my week. Happy birthday to the twins Randy and Rodney! Happy Birthday to Father Benny! And belated Happy happy to Japing! (last week).

To sum up my week in one word: burrrpppppp!!!!

Round Up for Week (April 26-May 2)

Since I'm not always in the mood to write and yet I want to keep (or at least try) to keep my blog updated, I'll be doing bullet points of my week's highlights per day. I call this the Round Up for the Week. At least since my memory is regressing (blame it on the epidural, as Lai would fondly say), these entries will help me remember. So I hope my memory won't get so bad that I won't even remember I have a blog. Hehe... (Boydee kind of joke when he's busog)

April 26 (Saturday)
Attended JV's son 's baptism where Boydee stood as one of the 25 Ninongs and that's not counting the 23 Ninangs. This is a highlight NOT because I saw Richard Gomez and Susan Roces during the baptism, but because of 2 things:
1. The Plaza Miranda ham with pan de sal and fresh corned beef with brussel sprouts!!! Oooh, I am literally salivating now and I am looking for an excuse to have a party in La Vista so we can order from them. Their ham is deliciously pink and very lean. They have a variety of sauces you can choose to 'glaze' your ham with. I chose the traditional honey glaze, but there were wasabi flavored sauce, garlic sauce, and 2 or 3 more. Ate this with the soft, yellowish pan de sal, and I was in ham heaven.
The corned beef was tender and flavorful. For me, this was a healthier option instead of the canned corned beef. I've been looking for a resto here that served fresh corned beef because I was missing this one from Eddie's Log Cabin and Cebu Country Club. Now, I've finally found it. Thanks to the baptism! :) hehe...
2. The centerpiece - I am NEVER one to take home centerpieces or decor from weddings and children's parties. The only thing I had ever brought home that wasn't a giveaway or a lootbag were balloons for Miggy then and now for Bric. But I broke my record that day. I couldn't resist asking Rhina's permission if I could bring home this cute ferris wheel of a centerpiece, despite Boydee's embarrassment. But once I had put Bric's pictures on it, I totally think he felt it was soo worth it! Hahaha...

April 27 (Sunday)
Mass in Holy Family at 11am; lunch at Il Pirata. Love their parma ham something. Japa devoured the osso buco. Had DQ dessert with the kids! :) Walked in LV with Boydee and Bric but had to cut the route short because Bric was getting restless and I suddenly had the urge to poo.

April 28 (Monday)
Nothing much going on except that this is the day Boydee made an account in Face Book simply to play Who's Got the Biggest Brain. This is the "IT" game for the Dizons now. Of course, I'd have to brag... my Love currently has the biggest brain with 3079 points with Japa and Rondic not far behind. Emphasis is on the word "currently" because all of them are breathing down each other's necks for the number one spot. I am by the sidelines cheering Love on :) As they say, behind every successful man is a woman. Behind the man with the biggest brain is his coach of a wife. Hahaha... Just kidding :)

April 29 (Tuesday)
My much awaited concert date was tonight. Boydee and I first knew of the singing group, Angelos, when they sang during the Silver Anniversary of Ninong Cecilio and sweet Auntie Irene. This is our version of Il Divo with F4 looks. Can they sing!!! Lea Salonga, who was a guest, gave them a standing ovation. After their performance, they announced that they had a concert on April 29, so Boydee and I marked our calendars.

That night, Boydee and I along with Mom, Ate Rona, Rondic and Lai converged in CPK, Greenhills for dinner then proceeded to Teatrino for the Angelos concert. Charo Yu, the group's gracious and accommodating manager showed us to our seats but then we opted for the balcony - our own private box! Hehehe... As usual, we were wow'ed by the group when they sang together. Beverly Salviejo provided comic relief. I could hear Lai laughing her heart out :) She's one talented singer-comedienne. We're considering getting them for Dad and Mom's Ruby. The Angelos, not Beverly, although Rondic immensely enjoyed her spiels and suggested in jest of getting her instead.

April 30 (Wednesday)
Office day for me while Mom, Ate and Lai brought our kids to Tatang to have their measurements taken for the Ruby Anniversary.
2 meetings in the office: Mona and Andrew Q. for work and Ruby, respectively.

Bric now knows how to nod his head to mean 'yes'. Hehe...

May 1 (Thursday)
Labor Day, meaning Holiday. This is one of the few holidays GMA didn't move for that long weekend, domestic tourism pitch.

Did some cleaning - sent 2 boxes from our room to the attic. Bric's overgrown clothes filled up a whole large plastic organizer. Baby Tyler will have a lot of hand me downs from his cousins! :)

Our sink pipe leaked and we found out it was because it cracked. Good thing Jess was here to fix it. But not after my big bag of paper and plastic bags were soaked. Sharlyn had to hang them to dry.

That afternoon, we (myself with Melinda and Elma) went to Farmer's market to buy seafood and meat for Bric and the house. Despite the smell, I enjoy going to the market. It's fun to look for what's fresh and think of what to do with it. Melinda cooks a variety of dishes but I still long for the food in Mabolo like the tanghon, chinese lumpia, bihon soup and the longanisa from Ramos market.

That night, we had steamed pampano, manila clams with black bean sauce, sauteed spinach in garlic, and spaghetti vongole while Bric had fish head soup with fresh noodles. All fresh from the market :)

May 2 (Friday)
2 meetings again today. One with Aida, one of our sales agent who's either a poor manager of money, or who's really unlucky with her staff. This is giving her the benefit of the doubt. I hope she'll manage to fulfill her obligations. Second, second presentation of our existing ad agency who offers personalized service but sorely wanting in the creative and copy department. This one's up for evaluation with one start-up company as its main rival. Judgment day on Monday, perhaps.

Then, we attended the Ruby of Tito Joy and Tita Bambi Ramos. There's always something sweet and endearing watching an old couple still holding hands and dancing, swaying slowly to the music even after 40 years. I wish Boydee and I will still be up and active 40, 50 years from now and loving each other more and inspiring people with our love and through our families. To the Ruby couple, happy anniversary!!! To their kids who prepared for the party, congratulations!

That was my week in a nutshell.