Survey from Nancy

Here is a survey I stole from Nancy's blog:

1. What time did you get up this morning? 8 AM

2. How do you like your steak? Medium

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Transformers

4. What is your favorite TV show? Sex and the City, Friends, Jeopardy and of course my soaps

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Baguio City

6. What did you have for breakfast? My husband made me a big waffle

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Viet

8. What foods do you dislike? Curry

9. Favorite place to eat? Famous Dave's, Chili's, Musashi

10. Favorite dressing? Dijon Balsamic Vinaigrette

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? a blue 2008 Honda CR-V

12. What are your favorite clothes? Jeans, dresses, and skirts

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Japan

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? 1/2 full, most of the time

15. Where would you want to retire? Baguio City

16. Favorite time of day? When Tony gets home from work

17. Where were you born? Pampanga, Philippines

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? NBA

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? It doesn't matter, nobody really knows about my blog unless I post this on facebook...

20. Person you expect to tag you back first? It doesn't matter

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? It doesn't matter

22. Bird watcher? Not really

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? I am definitely not a morning person, but I don't think I am a night person anymore either.

24. Do you have any pets? No

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? Tyler just recently started sitting up unsupported!

26. What did you want to be when you were little? Teacher

27. What is your best childhood memory? My mom bringing home siopao

28. Are you a cat or dog person? I'm really neither but I'd rather have a dog

29. Are you married? Yes

30. Always wear your seat belt? Yes

31. Been in a car accident? No

32. Any pet peeves? Tailgaters

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? Pineapple and Pepperoni

34. Favorite Flower? Calla lily and vendela roses

35. Favorite ice cream? Rocky road and pistachio

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? In-n-Out

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? I didn't

38. From whom did you get your last email? Not sure, I don't want to check my email, but if I remember correctly, it was a bill notification from Time Warner Stupid Cable

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Babies R Us! Haha!!! and Macy's and Target

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? uhhh, can't remember the last time I did.

41. Like your job? It's super tiring but I can't complain

42. Broccoli? Love it

43. What was your favorite vacation? Hawaii

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? My family

45. What are you listening to right now? TV (Who wants to be a millionaire)

46. What is your favorite color? Green and pastels

47. How many tattoos do you have? None

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? zero

49. What time did you finish this quiz? 7:17pm

50. Coffee drinker? Oh yes! Can't wait 'til I can drink regular brew again.

A Sticky Situation

Tyler started eating baby foods just recently. I do not buy those in jars because I like to make my own, not only is it much cheaper and fresher, it is also safer. I also opt for organic produce. It just takes a bit of preparation from cutting, cooking, and puree-ing but it's so much worth it. I am introducing one new food to Tyler just once week so that I can watch for any allergic reactions without guessing. And then I mix-and-match with food I've tried I'm sure he's responded positively to. This week is squash week. I chose butternut squash for its sweet, nutty taste and he loved it! After each meal, I usually give him a sweet treat. This time it's mashed banana and apple juice to wash it all down. Today though, he left a really big surprise for me for all my hardwork! :) Let the pictures tell the story.

7 Months Ago

So everytime I read Nancy's blog, I get inspired to update my own blog but I just can't keep up. My last post was 7 months ago and there has been a plethora of changes I'm not sure I've got the time to list in detail since I'm online on borrowed time. I did not intend to take a 2-hour nap but being a mother is a 24/7 job that requires a lot of rest especially in the daytime. But that much-needed nap is preventing me from getting my much-needed sleep. So instead of tossing and turning in bed, I thought I'd try this thing again while my ears are alert for any sound and indication of Tyler wanting his mommy. So I'll start typing but I doubt I'll finish...

7 months ago, I was 8 months pregnant. Now, my son, born on April 30, 2009 at 7 lbs and 11 oz, is almost 6 months old. I was due May 10th but due to some complications (the baby's movements decreased significantly causing us alarm and my constant visit to the hospital before work), I was scheduled to be induced at 7am on April 30th. But I didn't have to be. 1am that day while sleeping, Tyler decided himself it was time. So we rushed to the hospital at 2 in the morning and I had Tyler that day after 15 hours of labor, 2 hours of pushing included. I can't tell you how much childbirth kicked my ass! But I can tell you right now that I am not planning on having another baby for a while. It's true what they say though, at the end, hearing your pink baby's little cries for the first time make everything so much better.

7 months ago, I made constant trips to the library and read a number of books per week. Now, I'm lucky if I can get a page in in a day. Although I did finish Twilight finally after putting off the reading for a long time and I had a chance to watch the movie today. I am now reading New Moon. I am not crazy about this little story as other people are out there, I think it's overrated, but that's just me. Maybe because I am really not into vampire stuff or maybe I'd really prefer reading stories about people my age, not 10 years my junior. But because I can never find the time to visit the library and I'm too cheap to buy books I'll read one time and never touch again, I read what I have on my shelf (and I have all the Twilight Saga, thanks to my Aunt who is crazy about it). I'll keep reading, maybe I will change my opinion.

7 months ago, I was 26, I turned 27 last month. There's really nothing special about turning another year older. I don't know when I stopped caring about my birthday, and I don't remember the last time I looked forward to it. Although I did get some cool stuff -- my pink Vaio laptop being on top of the list from Tony.

7 months ago, I had a paying job, now I'm a full-time housewife and mommy. Money is very scarce but our options were limited. I asked my boss if I could work at home but I guess I didn't impress them very much with my performance that I was turned down. Not wanting my son in child care or be taken care of by anybody else, I had no choice but to resign. I truly loved THQ, it's the only company I've worked for I have high respects for, my boss included. I love being a mother and Tyler is the apple of my eye, but having a baby really does come with a load of responsibilities. I must say, my current job is a lot more demanding and tiring. I work all shifts, graveyard included and breaks are almost always non-existent. Poor Tony has to provide for all of us, so he takes extra jobs like coaching volleyball and giving golf lessons as much as possible. Which also means I can't pass on my job to him when he gets home. The really only guaranteed time now I've got to myself are during my showers as long as I try not to peek out of the shower curtains to see Tyler in his swing waiting for me to finish.

More responsibilities plus old age equal deterioration. My body has never ached more. Like right now, I just don't know how to arch my back to alleviate this backpain that's been bugging me. I once slept funny on my wrist and it's been hurting since that I can't even dial with my left hand. I've got no time to care for myself that I lost all confidence I was once oozing with. But despite all this, I've got to say I'm very, very lucky. I have a very loving husband who thinks I'm still the most beautiful woman he's ever laid eyes on and a healthy baby whose smile just washes any pain away.

IPhone Post Test

I have not posted in a week thanks mainly to my books, the telly, and my husband who keeps me constantly entertained. No major and exciting news anyway other than a brand new car Tony and I bought last weekend. It's a brand new 2008 Honda CR-V with all the techy good stuff! So freaking amazing how technology just keeps on evolving. I'm probably stuck in the Jurassic era but my car from 9 years ago does not even have a cd player. This new car has everything... from rear camera to voice activated commands. Tony gave up his Audi Quattro and I'm proud of him. My little boy husband is growing up after all. Haha!

Well before I go any further I must try and see if this will actually post as I'm using my phone.

Tinola

I figured I needed my veggies so I decided to cook tinola last night! My first attempt and it actually turned out really good. I never learned how to cook and now that my mom is so far away, I have to take care of myself and my baby. I just wanted to share because I'm freakin' proud of myself! Hehe :)

Water Shutdown and Green Dinosaur

It was announced at work today we had an emergency water shutdown right around lunch time when people actually needed to go the bathroom. The whole city was affected! They also said that they didn't expect it to come back til 3pm. We had to drive to the next city just to pee!

Completely unrelated to this, my boss told me last week he was sending me a package of invoices and to expect it on Monday (today). So today a box came for me and it was surprisingly light. He's so sneaky, because they weren't invoices, it was a gift for Tyler. A green dinosaur among other things! I just happen to have the coolest boss! (Especially because he's in Michigan and we're so far apart he's in a different timezone! hehe!) But seriously, I haven't had a lot of job experience because I've only been in 3 companies since I joined the workforce but I've had several bosses and no one comes even close to how fabulous my boss is right now.

Was this me?

Okay, I was looking at my old emails from years ago and this was an email I sent to an ex-boyfriend. Oh my gosh, was this me talking? I can't believe how much things have changed... how much I've changed. As embarrassed as I am to share it, here you go:

I know you don’t fucking care. You don’t even fucking care about the people who fucking care. Stupid shit you call happens to be something I had to think hard about. So fuck you!

I think I need a new email account - bad, bad memories the delete button can't fix and erase years of foolishness. Hehe.

Sunday the 15th

I don't think I'll be as active today as I was yesterday. Tony asked if he could take my car this morning because it has better gas mileage (he's in Oxnard playing golf) but I said I might go somewhere today so he better take his own (he drives a stick, and I have yet to learn how). That was 7am this morning and I didn't feel like getting up since I stayed up til 1am last night trying to finish "Straight Talking" (of course I didn't). So I stayed in bed and got up at 9am. I made some pancakes and bacon for Tyler and me (I now refer to myself as two people) for breakfast and made instant decaf coffee (it's not as good as a brewed one but I'm the only coffee drinker in the house and I can't finish 10 cups in a day).

It's 10:30AM, and I still do not have the energy to do anything. I'd want to revisit the thought of going to Kohl's but again, I'd really rather read. The library doesn't open 'til 1pm today (yeah on a Sunday!) and I don't know if I am in the mood for that either. I can probably go to the Simi mall, maybe this time taking a real purse, to window-shop and do some walking since I'm getting close to my due date. Or I can probably drive all the way to Westlake to go to the Old Navy there since they have a maternity section. (I tell you, I just have two black slacks I alternate everyday since they are the only ones that fit! I've been meaning to buy more pants but it's so hard finding the right size since I am so short and nothing can accomodate both my height and my watermelon of a belly at the same time). But then I am not in the mood for Old Navy either. Ah, screw it. I'll finish my book and watch some tv. I'll give myself a break since there's another a weekload of work ahead of me. These are the times I wish I had a dog. A walk in the park sounds good just right about now...

Saturday the 14th

I woke up today at 430am. It is just funny how'd I'd milk as many snoozes as my alarm clock would allow starting at 6am during working days and yet I can't manage to sleep past 5am during the weekends. I guess it also didn't help that Tony got up today so early making all kinds of racket in the dark getting ready for a volleyball tournament. He had to catch the bus at 6am. For extra income, he took on a coaching job at a private high school in Calabasas and has been exerting extra efforts to pay our rent so I do not have to. $3,000 for 3 months, Monday thru Friday, 2 hours per day, not bad right?

But anyway, as Tony got ready, I started watching TV. I didn't know "Entertainment Live" was on so early. I scanned through the channels and found a more interesting show on the Food Channel - "Ice Cream" - what could be better?

Tony left at 5:30 and I got up and decided to get some breakfast and watched more tv. At around 9am, I fell asleep and woke up again after 2 hours. The silence was deafening, so I ate a quick lunch and jumped in the shower. I thought I'd rather make a good use of my day by going to the library rather than sitting around and watching tv. Well I am supposed to be resting, but it is such a beautiful day so it'd be a little depressing staying in. I made the drive to the library, just about 2 miles away, carrying a big tote bag (Target gave it when I signed up for a baby registry) and spent a good 3 hours in between fiction aisles from A to Z (well, I only got as far as M in 3 hours). Intermittently, I'd sit and read at least 15 pages, usually I'd start in the middle, a good trick that works for me since summaries on the covers might seem interesting but the book could be a difficult read. One of my favorite authors is Jane Green and I'm too cheap to buy books so I visit different libraries to find books she wrote. The Simi library only had 3 of her work and I've read one. So I checked out the other two and as soon as I was back in my car I realized I own one of them. Stupid, I know. But anyway, I was carrying 6 thick novels by the time I proceeded to checkout and the man at the counter had to laugh and said "Boy you read alot". I pointed at my belly and said "You'd do the same thing if your movements are so limited."

I still did not want to go home and I thought about passing by Kohl's to do some shopping (yes, I shop there!) but my feet couldn't take anymore standing and I would really rather get started on my reading so I went back to the apartment and parked right by the gate with a path leading to the Simi Town Center and walked there. I first passed by Starbucks and got my usual extra hot, upside down caramel machiatto, picked a sunny spot since it was a little chilly, and started "Straight Talking" by Jane Green. The book is a very interesting read but I couldn't help but glance up every now and then just watching people walking by. Most of them teenagers with thick make up (I remembered highschool) carrying a yellow Forever 21 bag, mommies carrying diaper backpacks and pushing strollers, men and their big bad pet dogs, little boys and girls having the time of their lives playing in a puddle of water by the fountains, boys in rollerblades or skateboard showcasing their plaid boxers with their pants halfway down their legs (this was the trend when I was in highschool and that was 12 years ago and the magnitude of my hatred towards said trend is tenfold - why can't someone do something about this?). I thought about doing a little bit of window shopping but I was more than embarrassed carrying the Target tote bag - it's just as bad as using a grocery plastic bag as a purse - I was afraid the fashion police would spot me and put me in jail. So I stayed in my shady spot and finished half the book when I decided to walk back to the apartment complex 2 hours later.

On my way back, I got a call from Mum and she said they were on their way for a visit. My mom makes it a point that she visits me often enough to try and convince me to move back home. I don't know what Tony does that makes her think I shouldn't be living with him; but then I don't really think it has anything to do with Tony. My Mum just hasn't moved on and still can't get over the fact that I am married, that in 4 years I'll be thirty and in 8 weeks or less I'll be a mom myself. *Sigh* She even was convinced I'd take her up on her offer when we found out I was pregnant and she thought it was best if I moved back home temporarily ('kahit 3 months lang!') so she could cook for me. Hayyy. Mga Nanay talaga.

So they came bringing food and my dad bringing a sack of rice. I get regular rations of food you would think I live in an area where food is scarce. But it is awesome! I can't find a Filipino or even an Asian store here anywhere anyway and it is free, so I won't complain :)

Mysterious Candy

So, almost every morning, someone is leaving candy on my desk. I work earlier than most people and yet I just can't catch the culprit. They're good too - mostly assorted tootsie rolls. It's sweet (pun intended) - but it is just a little puzzling. The people who get to work earlier are all account reps and all women and I don't even talk to them so it couldn't be any of them. So one night before leaving, I wrote a note saying thank you and left it next to the candy. The next morning, the person left me a note saying"You're welcome" but didn't leave a name. So I'm back to square one. I'm still on the case of the mysterious candy up to this day.

Dreams and Ice Cream

I don't know why but everytime I dream about my husband, he always plays the jerk. Not once in my dream was he nice. Like last night, in my dream - I was at home waiting for him. And then he finally came home but he was followed by a woman in blue floral print dress and then she was followed by a 10-year-old boy. Tony said "I'm sorry but they are my family and I love them." And I was like "You know what, I am tired of this shit. I am filing for divorce!"

And when I woke up and saw Tony beside me sound asleep, I just wanted to kick him real good. It was a dream, I know, but for some weird reason it hurt! So tonight, he's punished - he can't go home unless he brings me home cookies-n-cream ice cream cake.

Red, Bumpy, and Nasty Rashes

It is my first time being pregnant and just like all first time moms, everything just totally freaks me out!!! So this weekend, my belly broke out into red nasty rashes and immediately I blamed my anti-stretchmark lotion because it was the latest addition to my little nightly routine children (okay, not so little). These suckers prevented me from getting my good night's sleep two nights in a row, thick layers of Cortizone didn't help; and I was alarmed - "what if it is connected to the pregnancy?" was the question I was dying to get answers to. So I called my OB and she referred me to a dermatologist. I had red bumpy nasty pimples on my face as a teenager but I never once even thought about visiting a dermatologist, but now my belly is getting full attention. So I went yesterday after work and after a brief examination but long interrogation, the dermatologist prescribed two creams that I now use simultaneously. It's only been one day and the results greatly show already!

My purpose is not to promote my derma or the creams she prescribed -- but to promote awareness: anti-stretchmark lotions - THEY DO NOT WORK! And no, cocoa butter does not work either! As thick as you'd like to layer it on, whether you like it or not, pregnancy and stretchmarks often work concurrently. So save the trouble and save the money. Unless you'd like to pull a Jenny and end up waiting in line behind old folks in canes and life support at CVS dropping and picking up prescription creams!

Ugh!

Ok, I got my layout all figured out but not blogspot. I tend to mess it up, so I'll give it a rest for now. Hopefully I'll have time sometime this week to do some tweaking. I'll stick with this one for now...

As for my cooking, it turned out ok - not the best, but ok. I also made burgers out of the leftover pork which turned out to be a lot yummier than the actual food I tried to make. I put too much patis kasi and then tried to kill it with water. It was at least edible :)

In sports: Shannon Brown played tonight and I like the guy already, Pau got a triple double (first being with the Lakers and third in his career), KB didn't have to play much during the 4th and L.O. shined! All my boyfriends from the Lakers did well tonight beating the Hawks by 13! Yee-haw! And a side note: Clippers got their asses seriously kicked being down by about 50! Wow. And the violence!!!

Tomorrow is yet another day at work. I do not hate my job, my coworkers are cool, and my boss is stellar and yet I just can't find the energy to look forward to working. It is busy enough so that the day goes by faster and it's easy enough that I'm not trying to pull my hair out trying to figure things out, but still has challenges that keep it exciting. So I just don't really understand why everyday just feels like "Oh, I'm sick" day. Oh well... I'll sleep on it.

UPDATE: Finally got my header inserted. Still needs a little bit of adjustments but there you go!

Working on a Layout

Oh, the days of layout making! I actually have Paint Shop Pro open already and all I need is a substantial amount of creative juice to flow in. Last I checked, we're running dry, we'll see in a few minutes.

As we wait, I'll step out and play my wife role. Well now, come to think of it, I'm playing my mother role because first, my husband does not eat pork. Second, he is very picky so even if he did eat pork, he would probably think twice about eating this food. It's not so appetizing -- kind of like pork and beans you know, without the tomato sauce and the can. But this is healthier and my baby needs his veggies. Ingredients all ready...

I'm still lucky though. Though my husband isn't easy to please when it comes to food, he isn't one to bitch about what a lousy wife I am. I cook probably about 5 dishes and all of them Pinoy (eh si nanay ang teacher ko eh!). You'd think when I say "I'll cook spaghetti" you wouldn't picture it swimming in sweet meat sauce with red hotdogs, yeah? He likes stuff like chicken adobo (who doesn't?), caldereta (you didn't think I can cook that, did you?), and even tried longanisa although "it gave you a nasty burp smell." He's such a great husband though. When I try to point at my shortcomings, he responds "You are a perfect wife and there is nothing else I can ask for." Buti na lang cute ako!

Ok, I'll start now. Be right back!

Reposting "Friday the 13th and Confetti"

Friday the 13th is so rare that it isn't any different than any other days. Work didn't seem so different other than my workaholic boss not being there. Emails and voicemails were still waiting for me, coffeepots were still all empty, and the bathroom still reeked of someone's bad dinner from the previous night and yep, skidmarks and all the works. GROOOSSSS! Ok, I get there early enough that the company does not even officially open for another hour, the parking lot is still practically deserted and about 95 percent of the building's lights are still out. And yet, someone just always manages to get to work and stink up the place with assbombs and confetti! Come on! Drop the kids in the pool at home before leaving!!! Oh and the skidmarks! It only takes a second to flush a second time, utilize the shiny silver handle! There is nothing worse than walking into a stall and finding the toilet showing off very artistic remnants and swirls. Take it from a pregnant woman who uses the restroom at least once every 20 minutes - always, always go to the very first stall where your feet are most visible to the outside, chances are bigger that fewer assbombers visit there. And definitely avoid the stall with the handicap sign (since it's bigger, it's usually last and in the corner) and the middle stall -- that's where swirls, remnants and confetti are most popular and if you're lucky you'd even find J and I floaters. And if you're really, really lucky, you'd walk out of the restroom and bump into someone entering, and then giving you "the look." As much as you'd like to say it wasn't you, you'd put your head down, quietly walk out of there and although you know you didn't do it, you'd feel and look totally guilty.