Archive for Family & Friends
Advent. Thanksgiving. Birthday.
November 26th, 2009 Events & Holidays, Family & Friends, Sticky NotesTags: Advent, birthday, Thanksgiving
It’s been a great day for me, and I’m thankful for all the love and birthday wishes sent by friends and kin via SMS, Facebook, Friendster and Twitter. I feel warm and giddy all over!
Earlier on, I had planned on just lazing around and doing mindless things on my birthday. But upon checking my datebook, I thought I’d get ahead and accomplish some tasks before the long weekend comes in. Here’s how the day went:
* At 8:30am, after a quick breakfast with G, I left in haste. I went to the Nat Home branch in Imus to pay for the house’s monthly amortization.
* At 9:30am, after paying for the amortization, I walked to the nearby mall (Robinsons Imus) to get some stuff from the grocery, buy a prepaid card for my MIL, and to withdraw some money. I also made quick trips to Booksale and National Bookstore, hoping to score some books (it’s something that I like to do on my birthday). But I didn’t find anything worth buying, so I ditched the idea and went to Jollibee for some lunch take-outs.
* Got home at 11:20am and had lunch with Candice and Alfie. The two girls had burger steak, I had Jolly Spaghetti.
* Gave Candice a quick bath at noontime. Afterward we read books and talked about colors, horses and even more horses. At past 1pm, she asked permission to watch a Barney ep. I let her watch the Mother Goose special.
* When Candice finally dozed off at 2pm, I got online and replied to birthday messages (which kept coming until around 11pm). I worked on an article on scrapbooking, albeit highly distracted by friends’ birthday wishes. I finished the article and submitted it to my editor. Whew. After a few more clickety-clicks, I shut down the laptop and took a nap.
* At 5:30pm, we left for Alabang via the Kabisig shuttle service. It was my first time to bring Candice to Alabang on a public vehicle. I’m glad she was well behaved while we were inside that dark and cramped van.
* We reached Festival Mall at 6:15pm and got to MyHealth Clinics at 6:30pm. G was waiting for us at the lobby. We had Candice’s skin examined by a dermatologist and were told she has eczema. Oh, dear. After I’ve discussed medication and prophylactic procedures with the doctor, I realized my wrist watch was missing. It wasn’t anywhere in the clinic; I must’ve dropped it somewhere. I kind of felt bad because the watch was an anniversary gift from G. And I’ve had that watch since I was pregnant with Candice. And, well, it’s hard to live without a watch!
* At around 7pm we went up at Shakeys and ordered pizza, chicken and mojos. While dinner was being prepared, I rushed to the nearest pharmacy to get Candice’s prescription meds. When I got back, we all stuffed ourselves with good ol’ Shakeys food and downed a pitcher of iced tea. I got a free sundae because it’s my birthday.
* Got home at 9pm and gave Candice NSS compress. Then, we prepared the suspension (my first time to do it!) and gave half a teaspoon to the little girl. Gave her antihistamine too.
* While I was putting Candice to sleep, G gave me a good foot massage. Then I gave him a back rub to relieve a bit of the wheezing. He’s been sick since Monday, my poor hubby.
* Went online again at 11:30pm. Yawn.
Now it’s just me and this yawning fatigue. I’m aware that I’ve officially turned 34, but I’m afraid I’m still none the wiser. Maybe I just have to wait ’til everything sinks in.
Before I log off, may I just share with you this Advent prayer sent by Catholic Digest:
God of all creations, the
days grow shorter,
and I hope for the returning light.
May this Advent be
a time of patient waiting.
May this Advent be
a time of patient
hoping.
May this Advent be
a time of patient
longing
that the Good News
will be fulfilled.
As days grow darker,
give me the eyes
to see
your lights in the faces
of all I meet.
Fill me with the light of your grace
that I may proclaim
your goodness from
dawn ’til dark.
Amen
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Holy Wednesday
April 8th, 2009 Family & Friends, Going Places
It’s the Wednesday before Easter:
One of our dogs died this morning. It was a slow and agonizing death. I don’t want to sweat the details.
G buried her in the garden. He planted forget-me-nots atop the shallow grave. I thought that was sweet.
***
We drove through the long stretch of Buhay na Tubig, temporarily relieving ourselves of grief by checking out live farm animals and interesting signboards.
***
We went to SSS at noontime to check our records, get forms, etc. I really need to pay my SS religiously. It’s something that I need to work on this year. If I remember it correctly, my last contribution was in July 2007, a few months before I gave birth.
***
Had a late lunch with my sister (who’s vacationing from Canada) and my other siblings at Reyes Restaurant in Manila. Afterward, we drove her to her house in Dasmarinas. It was a long and tedious drive for G. Traffic was terrible in Bacoor, as usual. To make the slow road trip bearable, we chatted gaily about life in Alberta and all the cheerfulness its cold climate could possibly entail. It looks like my sister’s settled there altogether. She’s in a good place. It’s convenient, clean and comfortable. It snows 5 months a year in AB, though. Brrrr.
***
It’s already Maundy Thursday. Who knows what this holy day will bring.
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Merry Christmassing With You!
December 30th, 2008 Family & Friends
Candice and I missed the Noche Buena! She fell asleep 3 hours before Christmas Eve. The tired Mommy shamelessly followed suit.
Here’s a few from our side of the planet:
Yay, it’s almost Christmas! I think this was taken mid-afternoon of the 24th. She had a rather long afternoon slumber, so I thought she’d be awake ’til 10 or 11pm. Alas, the Little Pumpkin just wasn’t ready for late-night gimmicks yet.
Candice loves this Christmas tree at Grandma & Grampa’s house. We sing “O Christmas Tree!” whenever we stand by this.
Candice’s gift to Daddy: 3 pairs of socks!
Christmas Day in San Pedro, Laguna. We attended a HUGE family get-together (G’s clan). Got to meet some of G’s cousins, nieces and nephews for the first time. The food was awesome!!! Also got some cooking tips and a simple ensaladang talong recipe from Ate Susan. (I’m sooo ready with my Teflon pan!)
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Kanin Club
December 24th, 2008 Family & Friends, Food & Health
To celebrate my husband’s 35th birthday, we had lunch at this Filipino restaurant called Kanin Club (Westgate, Alabang). The name “Kanin Club” doesn’t seem to promise any specialty dish — just the usual Pinoy staple food. So as soon as we got there I wondered for a while what sort of food we could eat aside from kanin. It didn’t seem right to eat rice cakes for lunch. Haha. But you got to trust my husband when it comes to food. He comes from a clan of good cooks.
G ordered 2 of the restau’s bestsellers: Sigarilyas Express (Bicol Express with freshly chopped sigarilyas – one of my favorite veggies) and Crunchy Dinuguan (lechon kawali heavily laden with dinuguan sauce). Ooh. I just had to burst every thought balloon on cholesterol, calories and diet — and eat!
The fresh sigarilyas blended so well with the soft texture of Bicol Express. I also loved the balance of flavors: the saltiness of bagoong, the sweetness of coconut milk, and the spiciness of siling labuyo and siling haba.
The restaurant’s kind of small and the kitchen is so near the dining area. We actually smelled of Bicol Express and Dinuguan when we got out of the place. But overall, service is good. And the food is so Pinoy, it will make you want to go back home and ask your mother to cook the same dishes for you.
Here we are, standing in front of Kanin Club. See the sign on the door? Yup, we asked the management to close the restaurant just for that day.
OK, not really.
I’ll definitely come back as soon as I manage my fat intake and trim this Romanesque belly, which is now busting ready for the holidays!
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