Cray Cray Carrillos: The Launch

How are you mga 'teh?!

Ako, keri lang. I have a new schedule, am assigned with a new task to a new team. It's just my second week. I am now team mates with one of the few friends I have at work. So far, I'm enjoying. So far.

And on Wednesday last week, my team had a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) with the client vendor manager. I'm so pleased to hear praises from her for the team. I don't remember her exact words. The only words she said that I could recall are, "you're doing the right thing", "the best feedback I received from Nesting since the last time I was here", "you got the right mix of people this time" to my manager. 

My manager was so happy! After the discussion, feeling ampogi pogi niya dahil sa magandang feedback. Sa sobrang saya niya, lahat kami in-I love you niya. He said to my coach, and they're both male, "I love you, p're!", and to my friend, "I love you, Nikki!", and to me, "I love you, Mina!". What a good feeling to end my Wednesday shift. Hindi 'yung "I love you" niya ha, but the good feedback from the client vendor manager. 

Okay, I'll go back na to what this post is really about.

Image Source

I'm pretty sure you already know by now that there's Team Kramer, Doug Kramer and Cheska Garcia's tag name for their family. I also have one for my family, Camp Carrillo. Why "Camp" 'ka niyo? Aside from the obvious, Elmer kasi is from a family of soldiers. I think nabanggit ko na 'to dati? Elmer's dad is a Navy Commodore, his uncle is a retired Marine, and his half-brother is a Navy Lieutenant. He also has distant relatives here in the Philippines and in the US na mga sundalo kung saan-saang branches. Kaya the "Camp".

I am launching this series here in my blog. Once in a while, may mga nakakaaliw or nakakabaliw na pangyayari or conversation sa bahay between me and the kids, or me and Elmer, or Elmer and the kids, or among the kids. Gusto ko lang i-share sa inyo here. Just like the other blogs that I follow. I'm calling naman this series Cray Cray Carrillos.

Haha! I know what you're thinking. Oo, gaya-gaya lang! Aliw na aliw kasi ako sa mga stories nila about their families, how they are sa mga bahay nila, sa work, with their friends. ^_^

I hope you enjoy my stories, too!

Ciao! ♥

Eleven

I am feeling so good today. Thank God it's Wednesday. My Wednesday is like your Friday, you know, last shift for the week. Ulan na naman nang ulan mga friends, kasi may bagyo na naman. Kalurks! Ang ginaw ginaw ginaw ginaw na naman tuloy dito sa Baguio. Ang sarap tuloy matulog. Sa day-off, #alamna.

Also, today, August 28, 2013, Elmer and I celebrate our 11th year of togetherness. Naks! Being together for that long is such an achievement, I tell you. Lalo na ngayong mga panahong 'to, madalang na talaga. It's hard work. I feel so proud! 

Image Source

There've been times when I stopped and thought what kept Elmer and I together for this long. After eleven years and three kids, it always boiled down to this - I have a firm belief in the saying "It takes two to tango". Whenever we hit a rough patch, I don't put all the blame on him (sa umpisa, oo. Hehe!). We are a team, so I am partly to be blamed. Kaya 'pag may drama kaming dalawa, eto ginagawa ko.

Ignored But Never Forgotten

Hey guys! How are you?!

I miss everything about this blog. So. Freakin'. Much!

There are so many stories to tell. I don't even know where to start. 

There are so many things that had happened since my last entry here. And oh my, that was way back in November 2012. That's a little less than a year ago. Every time there was something cool, sad, controversial, celebratory or interesting that happened or affected me in its littlest way, I'd always remember this blog. I'd say, "Iba-blog ko 'to." But unfortunately, it would never happen. :(

But say no more! I'm sooo baaack!

I hope I can catch up with all the stories.

So let me start with this - I have given birth on May 17 to my third baby, Elmer C. Carrillo III. Uhuh, that's right. The third. 

But he is Trace for you and me. 

One day old Trace

Two and a half months old Trace

Why Trace kamo? Because he's a trace of the Elmer Carrillos here in the Philippines, from Cmdre. Elmer C. Carrillo to Engr. Elmer D. Carrillo Jr. to him, Elmer C. Carrillo III. (Okay fine. Sa 'yo na ang korona Trace.^_^)

That's it for now. There's more to come! 

Ciao! ♥

Ten Is Tin

Image Source

I've mentioned that it was Elmer and my tenth anniversary on August 28, and that I would tell you more about it. Well, that's it. There's nothing more about it, seriously. Null. Zero. Nada. Zilch. There was no celebration at all. Not even greeting each other "Happy anniversary, Mahal." Kasi nga 'di ba I've also mentioned na may pinagdadaanan ako.

Ganito kasi 'yun.

Months ago, my friends at work found a super cheap fare to Palawan. That was in March. Travel period was, from that time, in a couple of months for a couple of months. They invited me to go with them and asked me to bring Elmer with me. They were two pairs of couple, so Elmer and I would make the group three pairs of couple heading to Palawan in September. To cut the story short, Elmer and I agreed. We booked for a flight to Palawan. That was in March. Yes, we are heading to Palawan on September 3 and staying there until September 7.

You must know by now that Elmer is now with a new company that also works for Texas Instruments. He switched companies in July. You know what that means. New company. Tenure back to zero. No leave credits. Heavy workload. Limited number of people. So again, to cut the story short, his boss didn't let him go on this trip. He couldn't join us.

...and The Healing

Why is this titled as such? Click and read this to find out. ^_^

The way my friend Charlie described the suspense that I would feel of the movie The Healing made me all thrilled to see it. So that very day when I got home, I told Elmer we would see it. His treat. I got a nod. It was perfect!

Yesterday, after Elmer seeing Dra. Clemente for the test result, we only had 5 minutes to walk up from Benguet Lab on the ground floor to the cinema 4 floors above. We still didn't have ticket nor food. In short, we missed the first 8 minutes of the movie, which was just fine.

Image Source

All of a sudden, Elmer has become conscious of the food he eats. I said I liked popcorn. Before entering the cinema, he bought popcorn but never tasted it. Maalat daw kasi. Arte lang! So ako ang ngumata nang ngumata ng popcorn the whole time.

-- SPOILER ALERT --

The story was very much, almost exactly, the same as Final Destination. 'Yun na 'yun na mismo ang takbo ng story. The only difference and what made feel like the story was not bitin was the fact na parang na-end ni Ate Vi ang "sumpa".

I didn't like the movie at all but I super enjoyed the experience. I don't know if you're like me na 'pag ako nagugulat-gulat at napapasigaw-sigaw sa loob ng sinehan, kahit walang kwenta ang story, enjoy na enjoy na ako. Feeling ko sulit na sulit ang ibinayad ko.

After almost two tensionadong oras, Elmer and I were out of the cinema. I went straight to the ladies CR. Andaming kolehiyalang nanood. I was waiting for my turn sa toilet when I felt na parang I was catching attention. I tried to ignore. Still waiting for my turn nang napalingon ako sa shirt ko. Lintek! Para pala akong naligo ng cheese powder from the popcorn. So embarrassing! #wapakelshindinamannilaakokilala

So there. P180 for a ticket was I think sulit naman. It depends on how you look at it. Just look at the bright side na lang. Which is? ^_^

Ciao! ♥
 

The Sickness...

Toward the end of July, Elmer mentioned to me about this very unusual something that he observed. He thought there was what appeared like blood in his urine. He said it was just one time and the color was not very distinct red that's why he couldn't tell for sure if it really was blood. He immediately brushed it off, or maybe that's what I thought, so I also did. I never thought it was that big of a deal to him. It only occurred to me yesterday when he mentioned that he again observed the same in his urine the day before and that he would consult a doctor.

It was his day off yesterday. Original plan for the day was for the two of us to just go out and see a movie. So added to our agenda for the day was a visit to Benguet Lab to see a urologist before heading to the cinema. Unfortunately, urologist was out. Time was around 4PM. Family doctor would arrive at 5:30PM. He said he would see the family doctor instead. So we waited. 

We killed time at a nearby Bibingkinitan. By the way, at around 5AM yesterday,the weather looked promising. I knew Mr. Sun would already show himself up. And it didn't disappoint me. Sun came up but late in the afternoon when we were already in SM, heavy rain started to pour again. Really heavy rain. So a hot brewed coffee at Bibingkinitan was just perfect. 

<

I never knew that Elmer was afraid of doctors until yesterday. Ako kasi, konting kibot, especially 'pag sa mga bagets ko, consult a doctor agad. In those ten years that Elmer and I are together, not once that he consulted a doctor. Never, until yesterday. Before going out of the house, Mama Shirley talked to me on the phone.

Mama Shirley: Mia! (she calls me Mia and may exclamation point talaga, haha) Pilitin mo si Jay-ar (Elmer is Jay-ar) magpa-checkup. Takot sa doctor 'yan! Pilitin na pilitin mo ha! Baka kung ano na 'yan. Nasa lahi pa naman namin ang cancer.

My First Hodori Experience

Remember I mentioned how our new house was so empty? We've started filling it with furniture.

Last week (Oh yes, this is a very late post. Hamsowsowri!), during Elmer's only rest day, he and I went to Tiongsan Mabini to check out their dining sets. And we got one. We finally bought a dining table and chairs. Yay!!!

There's nothing spectacular about the one that we've bought. Nikki was even complaining "bakit walang bilog na umiikot sa gitna" (Lazy Susan), to which her Daddy replied, "Pang-tamad lang 'yun!". Then I explained, "Kasi pang-malaking mga tables 'yun. At pang-mayaman."

Okay, this is not about our dining set. Near Tiongsan Mabini was Hodori, a popular Korean and Japanese Restaurant here in Baguio. Elmer had been bugging me that I try dining there. He already did couple of times before with I forgot who. We headed right there and there was m first ever experience at Hodori Restaurant.

First we were served with this. Please don't ask me what it's called.

Jar of water with two bags of I-don't-know soaked in it.

At first I was, "Anong nasa loob?"

When It Rains, It Pours

How are you guys? It's been days since my last post. I've been so busy. Oh so busy. I think I have yet to share to you that last week, I had to bring Calli to Elmer's mom in Pangasinan because no one would stay with her in the house while Elmer and I are at work and Nikki is at school. So there. Calli is with her Mama Shirley in Pangasinan and not living with us right now. Ang sad ng house. 

Speaking of house, my family has finally moved into the new house that we were supposed to have moved into a month ago. Yes, fi-na-lly! It was a good timing na din that I had to bring Calli to Pangasinan on Saturday because we were able to move here in our new house on Tuesday. Kasi naman for sure, mahihirapan kami maglipat-bahay with Calli with us nang walang yaya. Extreme pagod ang labas namin ni Elmer, especially ko, in case.

Speaking of yaya naman, I found a new yaya for Calli. (Thank you, Lord!) And I can't thank my workmate enough who found this yaya for me. (Thank you Melanie Sido. You're the best!) Well, truth is, it was her niece's yaya who looked for a new yaya for Mel who was looking for a new yaya for me. My new yaya's name is Pinky De Leon. (Yeah, I know. Very celebrity ang name niya, right?) She started working for me yesterday although Calli's still not here. Calli's coming back on Sunday. Yipee!

Okay going back to Pinky, I have a very good feeling about her. It's such a small world. She's Elmer's kababayan from San Manuel, Pangasinan. When Elmer and she finally met in the afternoon, they started chatting and tracing common people they know. That added to my feeling good and comfortable about her. Not to mention, she also is a mother, a single mother that is, to her 6-year-old daughter who she left with her parents in Pangasinan. Now, I have gained again a bit of peace of mind and a little time to rest. I have been so tired and stressed this past week. I can't tell you how tired my body and mind had been because of having no yaya and to bring my daughter somewhere so she can be taken care of while her parents are at work, moving into a new house and of course, forever work.

Speaking of work, Elmer has resigned from his current job. It was his last day as Equipment Engineer yesterday. But wait, there's more! He resigned because he's got himself a better job. Better job means higher pay, more perks, and irresistible benefits. Woot, woot! He thought he could take at least a week break from work before starting his new job but (un)fortunately, he's started training today as Field Service Engineer also in Texas Instruments.

I can't stop sighing as I write all these. Sighs of relief. I feel a little relieved now although still sad because Calli's not yet with us. Elmer and I give her Mama a ring every now and then to hear Calli's voice. She has gotten more daldal na talaga. Just like last night.

Daddy: Sino mga kalaro mo diyan?

Calli: Takbo ako nang takbo. Hindi ako nadadapa Daddeeeh!

Daddy: Saan ka tumatakbo? Sa kalsada?

Calli: Sa SM! 

Sushal! Tatakbo lang, kelangan sa SM pa talaga? ^_^ 

Daddy passed the phone to me.

Me: Hello Mahal! Kumusta ka na? Kelan ka aakyat dito?

Calli: Dito muna ako kay Mama. Papatabain pa daw muna niya ako Mommeeeh.

Me: Wawa naman kami dito. Wala kaming Calli. I miss you Calli. I love you Calli.

Calli: I love you (Pauses a bit), Daddeeeh! (Then leaves the line)

Waaah! Mommy ako! :(

It is so nice and makes me miss her more hearing her voice on the phone. Parang ang laki laki na niya when she talks on the phone. Very daldal! She's turning 3 years old on July 27. 

God really is sooo good. I can't thank Him enough and the supportive people around me. Alam niyo na kung sinu-sino kayo. Alabyu guys!

That's it pancit!

Ciao! ♥

36th National Milo Marathon: Baguio Leg

Today, Elmer came home late and with these. 

Two kits of the Milo Marathon 5K run

He was telling me about this Milo Marathon weeks ago and that he would definitely join this event. I never thought that he was serious. More than that, I never thought that he would like to run with me because he never asked me to join him. That's why I was surprised when he came home with two kits and one of them has my name on it.

One for him and one for me.

Apps And Games Installed In My Samsung Galaxy Mini 2

I never planned to buy a smartphone even after Elmer has acquired his iPhone. Okay na ako sa pahiram hiram sa iPhone niya. But he got overprotective of it. He would let Nikki, but not Calli, play with it. At first he did naman. Then eventually, ayaw na niya ipahawak kay Calli. As expected, that's C.H.A.O.S. Naturally, Calli would like to play with it. Whenever I let Calli play with his iPhone, he would get mad at me. Very mad. And because I hate loud cries in our small house, ginawan ko 'yan ng paraan. I bought a new Android phone. Hindi ko kayang ipikit ang P20,000+ para sa isang iPhone. 

I bought a Samsung Galaxy Pocket. Mura kasi. Cheap lang naman ako. It was just the first day but I was already having so much trouble with it. It would shut off even without me doing anything with it. Even if it was just in my bag or on a desk. The technical support in me started troubleshooting it. I eliminated all possible cause - I took out the SD card, I uninstalled the apps and games, I restored its factory settings, I tried another battery pack and I read forums about it.  It was still shutting off on its own. It was really frustrating, but it was a relief to know from the forums that it was not just me who was having that problem. To make this long intro even longer, err, short, I returned it to the store where I bought it from (it can be replaced/returned within 7 days from date of purchase) and instead of getting the same kind as replacement (baka kasi it would have the same problem, ayoko nang ma-frustrate ulit), I chose na lang Samsung Galaxy Mini 2. Mas mahal konti so I had to pay more. Nikki, Calli and I are still enjoying it until now. So far so good. No complaint at all. 

I didn't install anything in it until the second day of it in my possession. I wanted to make sure that it would work just fine with the default apps installed in it. And it did, so I started installing apps and games. I now have a few too many installed. 

Happy Birthday

...to me!

I am now,

*drum rolls*


29 years old today! Yay!!!

Before, I would feel miserable about the fact that I was already almost 30. My friend Golden would tell me that age was just a number. I contemplated on that...seriously. Then I thought, I don't feel like I'm 29. (I feel like I'm 30! Kidding!) I realized she was right. Age really is nothing but a number. One is only as old as he feels. I feel young, therefore, I am young. ^_^

The truth now is, I look forward to my turning 30 next year. I wonder how it's like to be one. Again Golden told me that an average person's life daw is at its happiest at 33. Yay!!! I'm 4 years away from the happiest year of my life. But that thought makes me wonder, will my life eventually start to become less happy or unhappy when I turn 34? Whatcha think guys? Me thinks not so.

How did I spend my birthday? I'm so sorry to disappoint you, my dearies, but it was just an ordinary day for me. I worked. I didn't file for a leave. I was not in the mood for a celebration. Ilang araw nang bumabagyo dito sa Baguio. And you see, I never had a yaya  since this past Sunday. I was feeling really tired - physically, mentally, emotionally. In fact, during those days when I couldn't go to work because I didn't have a yaya, I forgot that it was my birthday in a few days. Yesterday, Elmer said, "Ang init ng ulo mo Mahal. Birthday mo pa naman bukas." I was so stunned by what he said. I stopped for a quick moment and gathered myself. Hala, oo nga! June 19 nga pala ngayon! Ganun ako sobrang nawala sa tamang wisyo ng panahon na 'yun. Well, I survived those days. Having no yaya for a few days didn't kill me. ♫ What doesn't kill you makes you stronger! ♪ I love that song. ^_^

My Muder gave me the most wonderful gift - a new yaya! Yay!!! She arrived last night bitbit ang new yaya. Mothers really know best. Da best ka Muder! 

I started my day today very early (as usual) to work. It was raining really hard with strong winds all day dahil sa bagyo. After shift, I went to PRC to have my Sisterful's board exam result certificate authenticated. Whatever that means. 

We went straight to SM which is near PRC. Basa na ang mga shoes namin and since my friends Karen, Golden and Apol are so much into water shoes these days, opkors kasi nga tag-ulan na, I felt like I wanted to have a pair too. May inggit factor. ^_^ So I bought myself a pair of water shoes and my Muder pairs of slippers.

Spaghetti Bolognese on Father's Day and Some Yaya Rants

I am again starting to feel that the nature of my and Elmer's jobs are making our lives and our kids' young lives abnormal. Sunday is family day. But Elmer and I work during Sundays. Holidays mean vacations or travels. But Elmer and I work during holidays. I feel that our kids are missing a lot because of our jobs. Yes, we work for our kids but... Oh well. Don't mind me. Just me...ranting.

Yesterday was Fathers' Day. It was one simple, ordinary day for my family. Elmer left for work because, uhm, he had to. I had to not go to work because our effin' house help slash nanny didn't come back from her supposed dayoff. When Elmer came home at around 4:30PM and the rain was pouring really hard, my kids and I had just waken up from siesta. We had brunch in the morning and never ate lunch that day. We agreed to have spaghetti bolognese that afternoon for our early dinner and in celebration na din of Fathers' Day.

Let me just get this out of the way. As I became mature and started to work, I unconsciously developed commitment and love for my job. I learned the value of work and time, and became accountable and more responsible. I'm not saying I am a perfect employee, because I absolutely am not. It's just that, my job (and of course Elmer's) is what keeps my family live everyday and, sometimes, buy things that we want and not just those that we need. Pero again, sometimes lang 'yung mga ganun.

I don't get people, like that effin' girl that I hired as our house help slash nanny, na walang isang salita. Walang kwentang kausap. Walang utang na loob. Nakakainis ang mga taong walang kwentang kausap. Wala siyang kwentang kausap! Pakshet siya!

A Special Shout-out To Our Captain America

Elmer and I became parents to Nikki at a very young age. I have to admit, at that age, I doubted his ability to become a good father and provider for his family. Or even just for his daughter alone (We had only Nikki then.) 'Wag na ako, I knew I would be alright because I could take care of myself. As I look back to those years of our young lives, I can safely say now that his attitude before was relative to his age. I kept telling myself that his maturity level would surely develop eventually sooner or later. 

And I was damn right! Lumevel up na talaga his maturity, responsibility and accountability. Although it happened later than sooner. Whenever I look at him now - how he takes care of Nikki and Calli (and myself), and how he tries his best to provide for Nikki and Calli (and sometimes myself) - I cannot help that li'l smile from painting on my face. He's just the perfect imperfect partner for me and daddy for Nikki and Calli.

To Nikki and Calli, their daddy is simply their protector, their superhero, their Captain America.

My Love-Hate For June

The very next day after I've written on the sixth paragraph here that although "summer has unofficially ended here in Baguio, we were already getting a lot of rains every afternoon", I heard Kuya Kim (Atienza) announced in TV Patrol that PAGASA already declared that summer has officially ended here in the Philippines. Sweet!

I was kinda hatin' the summer heat and now that summer's over, I'm feeling sad. Just a li'l bit of feeling of sadness. Spell arte. First, my family hasn't set foot to the beach yet and it's already over? Sad. Golden told me I shouldn't be sad. "Hindi naman aalis ang beach Miss Mina." May point siya. At hindi naman uulan everyday for the entire duration of the rainy season. My family can always visit a nearby beach resort whenever there's a chance (and budget for it).

Second, I hate rains. So. Much. I don't like bringing umbrella to work or whenever I go out, and at the same time, I don't like getting wet. I don't seem to have a very strong immune system. I don't like the feeling of too much moisture all over the house - the walls, the floor, almost everything. I don't like the washed clothes taking a long time, like two days or more, to dry. I'm not a rain-lover at all. This is one of the few things that Elmer and I are so much opposite in. I don't understand his love for rains. There was even a time when a storm was hitting us, he asked that we go out. "Mag-lakad lakad" lang daw kami sa Session Road. 'Musta naman ang trip niya? Stroll lang sa bagyo?

That's why I don't like the coming of June. June always marks the start of the rainy season. If we could only skip the rainy months. Who's with me on that?

On the contrary, I also like June. It is my birth month. Yipee! Every year, I get excited for my birthday (but not the increment to my age). Although, not as much as when I was still younger.

I hope you lovelies had a great kick-off for June. So far, I'm good.

Ciao! ♥

Something Went Really Wrong Here

Elmer and I were browsing old photos and found these. I really find these boys really, really, really cute and so adorable. I jokingly, carelessly uttered, "Ano nang nangyari sa mga batang 'to?" Elmer replied, "'Yung isa nasa LA, 'yung isa andito oh!" with his thumb and forefinger placed under his chin aka the Mr. Pogi pose. ^_^

I teased him about how he looks so differently now from that photo of him when he was five years old. "Ang cute kaya nung nasa picture kaya hindi ikaw 'yun." "Survivor ka ba ng isang grabeng aksidente?" "Magpapapalit ka na lang ng mukha, bakit naman 'yan pa ang pinili mo?" Despite my teasing him, I know deep inside him, he was feeling proud that he was ONCE a cute li'l boy. And he kept saying that it was him who looked like Nikki and Calli when they were still babies. 

Li'l Elmer Jr. (top) + his cousin Li'l Julna Jr. (bottom), Philippine Military Academy Fort Del Pilar, Circa 1988

Weekends + The Avengers

How did your week go my dearies? It's weekend. But my weekend was over yesterday. Today is the first day of my week. You see, I work in a call center. Work days and hours are different. "My" week starts on a Saturday and ends on a Wednesday. "My" weekends fall on Thursdays and Fridays. Or shall I say, "used to"? Starting next week until end of June, I will have normal weekends on Saturdays and Sundays. Isn't that exciting? Yay!!!

What did I do during the weekend? Calli is back from Pangasinan. As I've already mentioned before, Elmer went on a quick break with the girls and left me (I had work during the holiday) here in Baguio with our yaya. He went yaya-less. Anlakas ng loob! But he managed (and he managed very well ha) so I give him a round of applause for that. I missed Calli so much. So she and I played and cuddled and sometimes fought. Before coming back from Pangasinan to Baguio, Elmer and Calli brought Nikki to Nueva Ecija. Nikki has moved from Pangasinan to Nueva Ecija for the second part of her vacation. You know, it's still school vacation here in the Philippines. Oh, how I love to be her right now. *Sigh* And I love how my daughters are very much acquainted to traveling and commuting. Sanay na sanay na sila. They started traveling and commuting early.

Yesterday, Elmer and I, just the two of us, went out on a date. We've finally seen The Avengers. The non-3D screening before the last for the day was at 6:30PM. The one for the 3D was at 5:30PM. We were already at SM City Baguio at around 4:30PM. We didn't want to do some shopping, or even window shopping, because of the thick crowd that came and went to the stores. Super Sale kasi. Nakakainit ng ulo lang makipagsiksikan. We didn't want to wait and do nothing for 2 hours so we decided to see the movie at the earlier screening time in 3D. Plus the fact that Elmer still had to go to work at 11PM, I also had to go to bed early because I had work at 4AM today. And the most convincing factor was that Elmer had not tried seeing any movie in 3D. Spell ignorance. No more, na-experience na niya last night. ^_^

Prayer Is Powerful But...

"Birth control is not one-size-fits-all. Find the method that fits and may be right for you." I've read that somewhere sometime ago. So true. And I agree. A method that's working perfectly for one woman may not work for the next. Unfortunately, I have not found the method that's best for me. As of this moment, I don't use any method at all. Elmer and I do exactly what my friend Golden and her husband do. We "pray".

Lemme just share a funny story about this "praying" thingy. 

Golden and her very preggy friend Kharen and I (and maybe some others on that table that I just cannot remember) were having lunch at the pantry when our conversation interestingly segued to a topic about contraceptives and birth control methods. Share-share of methods used. I shared my method which is none. Golden's answer was really funny. It cracked me up.

Home Alone

Nikki is in Pangasinan. Calli is in Nueva Ecija. Buti pa ang mga bagets, naka-bakasyon. 

Elmer and I are home alone. 

My work starts very early in the morning. Elmer's starts very late in the afternoon. Super baliktad ang schedule namin.

Even my landlady noticed, "Anlungkot ng bahay mo, wala ang mga bata."

Elmer eats breakfast alone. We eat lunch together. No one eats dinner. And we're not eating decent meals anymore since Calli left. 

Natawa naman ako kay Elmer kani-kanina lang while we're having eggs and hotdogs for lunch.

Elmer: Walang saysay ang buhay kung wala ang mga anak ko dito sa bahay.

Me: Saysay talaga? Drama lang!

Elmer: Awan gamen agbang-bangad ditoy. Makapa-miss met. (Wala kasing nangungulit-ngulit dito. Nakaka-miss din.)

By the way, Elmer is an FBI, Full-Blooded Ilocano. Nagtangken nga unay! ^_^

I miss Nikki and Calli, and sure does Elmer too!

Ciao! ♥

  

A Good Way To Start My Day

...or maybe not.

I was feeling so much guilt about me not doing any thing productive yesterday. So I've decided to start my day right today. I told my self I was gonna start it with jogging. So kagabi pa lang, kinausap ko na si Elmer na magjo-jogging kami bukas, which is today. Then mamamalengke kami after. The original plan was to leave the house at mga 4AM pero may dumating kaming bisita at 3:30AM. Yes that early. His Tita Sol from Batangas. So chika chika muna and everything. To cut this long story short, we weren't able to leave the house until 6AM. Maliwanag na. Conshus pa naman ako tumakbo 'pag maliwanag na. Arte lang!

How often do I jog? Regularly. Yeah right, mga once a year. ^_^ This is another thing that I feel guilty about. I do not jog or even exercise often. But that's another story to tell.

Going back. So Elmer and I started jogging from 118 Liwanag Subd to our destination which was Burnham Park like we originally planned. When we were already in EPZA, Elmer said, "Mahal, jogging ito, hindi alay-lakad." Haha. Okay fine. He already started jogging. Ambilis niya. Hanlalaki kasi ng hakbang niya e. Until I couldn't have a sight of him anymore. You know here in Baguio, every after a couple of meters, there's a curve. Hanggang hindi ko na talaga siya ma-sight. 

Loakan Road to me is a perfect route to take when jogging, sans the vehicles passing. Hundreds of vehicles passing. Jeepney, cars, buses. There are parts pa naman na "nauubos" ang sidewalk. So gilid gilid lang dapat. Mahirap na.

When I reached Scout Barrio, I found Elmer already waiting for me sa waiting shed. Nagmemeryenda na ang loko! Nagutom na daw kakahintay sa akin. Antagal ko daw. 

Elmer: Nag-jogging ka ba o naglakad?

Me: Nag-jogging. Pero andami kasing sasakyan e.

Elmer: Madami pala. Sumakay ka na sana.

Deadma na lang. Bakit ako sasakay?! Heller! Wala kaya ako dalang pera. Nasa kanya kaya! ^_^

Elmer's Timberland Boots + His Jumping On The Bandwagon

On Tuesday, Elmer was feeling so much happiness. His shoe collection has been added with another pair of Timberland boots. His Ate Pla gave it to him as a gift which she sent through a friend. That's in fact what made him extraordinarily happy. He has a new pair and he didn't have to pay for it. I don't get his fascination over shoes especially Nike and Timberland. I really don't get it. I think it's a man thing. 

His old pair