The Story of my Life

"If I could wish for my life to be perfect,
it would be tempting, but I would have to decline,
for life would no longer teach me anything..."

1:26 PM

Housewarming for Door 103

Posted by Claire |

A month ago I wrote about Jom fixing up his rented place. He’s done with the renovation and yesterday, he had the first official housewarming party with his family. Housewarming parties for friends will be held separately as the place cannot accommodate a lot of people.

So if you’re wondering what his place looks like, here are some photos:

Front door Living Room
Dining Room
Mini Bar and Kitchen

I think some got confused with my last blog entry. My apologies for not being clear and accurate. So just to clarify, he's renting the unit. It's at Bonifacio Heights. He can't buy this unit primarily because the place is exclusive for the Military. He's renting it from a military doctor who's assigned somewhere else. He renovated the place nonetheless as he wants it presentable. He and his housemate, business partner Teban, shared in buying the furnitures and appliances. That's he's investment na daw. :-)

More pictures from the housewarming party can be viewed here.

5:07 PM

On Sabrina's 6th year...

Posted by Claire |

...do you think she will like this?

I don't remember the last time I gave her flowers, so I bought this as a present when we visit her tomorrow.

I love you Mame. :-) Mwah! Mwah!

10:49 AM

This is just perfect!

Posted by Claire |

Thanks Ryah!

When God Made You - Newsong

It's always been a mystery to me
How two hearts can come together
And love can last forever
But now that I have found you, I believe
That a miracle has come
When God sends the perfect one

Now gone are all my questions about why
And I've never been so sure of anything in my life

I wonder what God was thinking
When He created you
I wonder if He knew everything I would need
Because He made all my dreams come true
When God made you
He must have been thinking about me

I promise that wherever you may go
Wherever life may lead you
With all my heart I'll be there too
From this moment on I want you to know
I'll let nothing come between us
I'll love what ever you love

He made the sun He made the moon
to harmonize in perfect tune
One can't move without the other
They just have to be together
And that is why I know it's true
You're for me and I'm for you
Cause my world just can't be right
Without you in my life

I wonder what God was thinking
When He created you
I wonder if He knew everything I would need
Because He made all my dreams come true
He must have heard every prayer I've been praying
Yes, He knew everything I would need
When God made you
When dreams come true
When God made you
He must have been thinking about me

5:50 PM

Tagged by CQ a long time ago

Posted by Claire |

1. What is your favorite word? Love.

2. What is your least favorite word? Pwede “words” or phrase or sentence? Where na you? Here na me? Kainessss….But seriously, DEATH.

3. What turns you on, spiritually or emotionally? Faith, love for family, patience, perseverance, humor, respect.

4. What turns you off, spiritually or emotionally? Selfishness, cowardice, arrogance, hypocrisy.

5. What sound or noise do you love? Clicking sound of a camera; sound of my keyboard. Can’t think of anything else.

6. What sound or noise do you hate? Sound of a breaking glass.

7. What is your favorite curse word? Powtah.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? A landscape photographer or as an athlete.

9. What profession would you not like to do? Embalmer. hehehe

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? Welcome home, my Daughter.

I tag the HBs, Jake, Dyosa.

3:40 PM

Door no. 103

Posted by Claire |

For the past four months, Jom and I have been going to malls looking for the right furniture that will fit in his condo. That’s what’s keeping us busy. (Yes, Jom will be moving out from his parent’s house to live on his own.) We’ve been through every furniture shop in every mall and depot in Makati, Quezon City and Ortigas, and very few designs caught his attention. But last Sunday, while Typhoon Frank was making his way out of Manila, we (more like “he” -- I was there for second opinion, no financial investment) found and bought the last piece of furniture we need to make the living room more functional (meaning pwedeng kainan, upuan etc.).

Yesterday, his staff started working on the interior of the condo. And today, he said that the dining table and cabinet have been delivered, while the sofa (which was supposed to be due in two weeks) will be delivered on Friday. Soon, he'll be living there full time.

I'm proud of him for this achievement. A couple of years ago, he mentioned this as one of his future plans (over booze), and now he’s almost there. Who would have thought that wasn't usapang lasing?

Great job, Hon! Hope I’ll still get to see you even though you’ll be living at the far end of EDSA.

2:34 PM

4th Weekend of May: Last Hurrah

Posted by Claire |

Joined a team of engineers in their summer outing last weekend at White Coral Beach Resort, Bataan. This is the last in our calendar of summer activities. In the next couple of weeks, I'll be active in sports.

Goodbye, Sunshine! Hello, Rain!

10:15 AM

3rd Weekend of May: Date with Jess

Posted by Claire |

We took a break from all the fun and summer getaways we've been doing the past couple of weekends to spend time and serve Kuya Jess through the Yuppie Days with the Lord.

This is one of the most memorable Weekends I had with Days as I was turned over to being Rector. The highness of all highs. I was dead tired when I got home, but it was all worth it. Being called to serve Jess this way is a great honor that I will forever cherish and be grateful for.

+BIL

4:06 PM

Contract No. ABCXY123: Jerome Odsinada

Posted by Claire |

Jerome Odsinada, you’ve been rated.

After an in-depth analysis of the performance indicators set out at the onset of this partnership, I am pleased to inform you that your contract, which was initially drawn from 21 October 2007 to 21 July 2008, has been extended...INDEFINITELY.

Happy Monthsary, Hon! I love you.

ps. I'm not putting end dates this time, baka ma-disappoint ako ulit eh. hahahaha

3:43 PM

Not only in the Philippines

Posted by Claire |











So who said they only exist in the Philippines?

4:16 PM

2nd weekend of May: From South to North

Posted by Claire |

We are trying to maximize summertime, so last weekend we travelled from South to North for a short vacation.


We were in Tagaytay last Friday night to join the Yuppies for the Recharge. It was an intimate recharge with just Carlo, Camille, Jom and I present, the rest of the Yuppies went the following day.

On Saturday, we drove from Tagaytay to Clearwaters Country Club in Clark Field, Pampanga to join ADB Volleyball Club's Beach Volleyfest. Storm signal no. 2 was up and we were still playing. Mga addict talaga!

8:28 AM

Isn't he great?!

Posted by Claire |



Meet Sungha Jung from South Korea. This 11-year-old dreams of becoming a professional acoustic guitarist and at the rate he is going, it's not unlikely he'll achieve his dream.

More of him here.

2:45 PM

One Sunny Sunday...

Posted by Claire |


...we took this photo at Malate Church. Jom and I were suprised we looked fair in this photo. Then I started thinking...bagay kaya sa akin ang maputi? hahahaha

Dang! I'm soooooo bored!

1 May 2008: Visit to Mayon

Arrived in Guinobatan Town around 5:30 am. Then we headed straight to Tita Judy's (Jom's mom) house for breakfast. We were served various suman and tsokolate, Bicol delicacies, for breakfast. Slept for two hours, freshened up then went to Tito Roy's house (Jom's dad) to visit some relatives. After some hi's and hello's we were off to see Mayon Volcano.

Mt. Mayon is taken from the word Magayon, a bicolano word which means maganda. It was shortened to Mayon siguro for recall. hehehe. To see the enchanting view of Mayon, we went to Cagsaua ruins. Cagsaua church was buried by lava when Mt. Mayon erupted in 1814. Historians said that about 1,200 people died during that time. What's left of the church is the Bell tower seen in this picture. Unfortunately during our visit, parts of Mayon were covered with clouds. We just contented ourselves by taking pictures choreographed by one of the tour guides. Please check my Multiply for more pictures.

For lunch, Jom took us to Lets where we ate two of the famous Bicol dishes. Pinangat and Bicol Express. Pinangat is the local name for Laing. But unlike the tagalog Laing, their Laing or Pinangat is all vegetable and gata. No meat nor fish. And the gulay was tender and juicy. You only need to chew a few times and it will slide down your throat easily. Bicol express was ultra spicy, para syang siling nilagyan ng meat! I had a small bite and man, it was really hot!!!!! I'm not a fan of spicy food so I can't describe it to you first hand. I can only tell you that Archie liked it so much that whenever we ask where we're eating he'd say, "sa Lets"

After lunch, we went to Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave. Hoyop means ihip in Tagalog. It is called as such because they say that when you're inside you can hear the blow of the wind. Inside the cave (and just like in any cave), are several stalactites and stalagmites. There was also a man-made dance floor inside the cave (okay diba!?). They said that during Marcos' time, the locals built that dance floor so they can party despite the Martial Law. Maabilidad ha! hehehe

Our last stop was the Mayon Resthouse and Observatory. It's situated a few feet from the foot *(that sounded funny!) of Mt. Mayon. From the resthouse, you can see Bicol province. :-)

We were all tired, nanlalagkit at amoy araw so we headed to our resort after Mayon Resthouse. Jom got us one night stay at The Black Sands Resort in Sto. Domingo town. The resort looks fine. It's clean and the furnitures are okay with native look. But the service crew are not that efficient yet. I heard it's a year-old resort so I hope in our next visit, we can rate their service excellent.

2 May 2008: Interaction with the Butanding and Bigg's

This is the part I've been waiting for. Ever since I heard of the Butanding, I kept bugging my friends to plan a trip to Bicol. Good thing I have a Bicolano boyfriend who so willingly arranged this trip for us. :-)

We checked out of the resort around 5:30am as we were told that there are more sightings of the Butanding from 8:00-10:00am. Towards noon, when it's hot, the Butandings go deeper into the water so you won't see as much Butandings.

The drive to Donsol from Legaspi took about 1 and 1/2 hour, its a long and winding road. When we arrived, we already got in for 2nd batch. Which means the take off would be at 10:30. But we were only able to take off a little past 11:00am. I was getting both excited and worried. Excited to see them, but worried that I won't get to see a single Butanding.

The drill was, when the Spotter signals to the guide that there is a Butanding in sight all passengers should (1) put on their mask; (2) ensure their lifevest is tightened; (3) sit on the lower side of the boat; and (4) jump into the water-- all this you have to do quickly. In the water you have to wait for the cue of the guide to look down. When he says look down, it means you're either swimming side by side with the Butanding or you're right above the Butanding.

The first sighting was quick. I didn't get to see the full figure of the Butanding because I was fixing my cam. The next thing I know it was gone.

The second sighting was unsuccessful. The guide, Randy, grabbed my hand and we tried to swim with the Butanding. Napagod ako kaka-swim sa sobrang bilis nung guide. Sa sobrang pagod ko, hindi ako naka-concentrate. When we got back to the boat. He asked, nakita mo ba? I said, hindi eh. Tawa kami ng tawa. Sabi nung guide, "kala ko naman nag-eenjoy ka na dahil ang tagal-tagal natin syang sinundan yun pala wala kang nakikita." Super comedy. Jom and our friends were all laughing. Super napagod lang ako pero wala akong nakita. Randy said I don't have to swim the next time kasi hawak naman nya ako.

The third sighting was clearer. Randy grabbed my hand and Shawie's. This time we saw the full figure of the Butanding. Pero medyo malayo pa din. Then when we got back, we told the boys, who were still unsatisfied with their sightings, that they should go with Randy so they can catch up with the Butanding.

The fourth sighting was super fun and successful. Randy jumped with Jom and Archie. Shawie and I stayed on the boat as we wanted to rest. Then Randy got back and asked me to jump, so I did. When Randy asked me to look down, the Butanding was right beside me! It was huuuuugggeee!!! Sobrang laki nya. Grabe! I was overwhelmed by its size. And sobrang galing ni Randy because eventhough the Butanding was flocked by people, he still managed to bring me closer to it. Sobrang laki talaga, they said it was approximately 9 meters long. Width? I have no idea. I was really this close. Then we moved closer to the mouth, which was open. I got a bit scared cause I felt it was going to swallow me. Super galing! Super fun experience.

We called that last Butanding a show off Butanding. Because it stayed there, motionless. We didn't swim. It just stayed there for people to see him/her.

After that last sighting, we went back to shore. We were more than contented.

We ate late lunch at Bigg's Diner. When Jom was planning the itinerary, there was a time for Bigg's. I wasn't that excited because I thought, it was just an ordinary burger tapos Bicol pa. I wondered what would make that burger special if it's locally made. But when we tried it, we were all satisfied. It tasted different because of the dressing. And the burger patty also tasted good. We wanted to bring home a few burgers nga sana pero baka masira.

We spent the night at Tita Judy's house. Had a few drinks then dozed off with smile on our faces for a very fun day.

May 3: Kneeboarding at CWC

After lunch at Tito Roy's house, we headed to Camsur for the much anticipated Wakeboarding. Though, I'm not that confident I could do it. Andun na rin naman kami, so why not try it.

We only have one hour to do it so I have to do good on my first try. I tried kneeboarding first and what do you know?! I almost finished the track. :-) If it weren't for my helmet, which was blocking my sight, I would have finished it. On my second and last attempt, I completed the track. Woohoo!!! Not bad for a beginner. I'm so proud of myself!

The trip was more exciting and fun as I've expected. I am so happy (thanks Hon!). It was definitely worth my time and money. And it is one experience I would recommend to my friends. So, tara na! Biyahe na tayo!

We're off to Bicol tonight...

All my bags are packed...

All my cams are ready...

I will finally get to meet the whale shark...

Got to strike that one out from things-I-want-to-do-before-I-die list...

My mind is shutting down...

Don't want to work...

Cler on vacation mode...

Will see you when I get back....

Ciao!

11:33 AM

I Can't Wait...

Posted by Claire |
3:46 PM

Living her happily ever after

Posted by Claire |

Love is knowing you will spend every day, of every week, of every month, of every season, of every year for the rest of your life with this person, and thinking, "This is exactly what I want".

Marriage doesn't promise a smooth sailing ride. It will be a rollercoaster like it was before. You may still feel a deep and abrupt plunge at times. One that makes your stomach sick. Other times, you will be on top and nothing can put you down. Like you hold the world in the palm of your hands. But through it all, know that God is with you. And as my friend put it "you were brought together by God and it is only by His grace that you will remain together".

So here, the long and short of what I want to say is the family that prays together, stays together. :-))

Seriously, congrats Marsy! I'm happy for both of you. We look forward to your silver. :-)

ps. Click here for pictures from Mars' wedding.

8:26 AM

Things to do while on vacation

Posted by Claire |

Take gazillion pictures


Play volleyball with locals


Kayak


Hangout with friends

7:38 AM

peechurs

Posted by Claire |

Just want to share some pictures from Boracay. Except for the first picture, the rest of the photos were taken by yours truly. Papasa na ba?




3:44 PM

Boracay 2008

Posted by Claire |

We stayed in Discovery Shores (DS) on our first night. Then we transferred to a more affordable resort the following day. The stay at Discovery was more for experience. We wanted to know what was in store for us in such a luxurious hotel.

We were pretty pleased with the service we got form DS - Customer service at its best talaga. Aba eh sa mahal ba naman ng rate nila, dapat lang! Their personnel are very pleasant and easy to talk to. We never had a hard time requesting for anything. Like what we told our friends, VIP treatment nga. I saw one colleague there and we had the same reaction.

Our arrival was very well coordinated from the airport down to the resort. Everything was organized, our luggages were delivered in our room. Our room was ready before 12noon unlike other resorts where you have to wait until 12noon to check in. We arrived in Bora half past 9:00, and our room was ready for occupancy. We only waited a few minutes before we could use our room.

Their staffs are well trained, I must say. They are very pleasant. They greet you every chance they get and are very helpful. I think they love the word CERTAINLY. During our stay, I heard CERTAINLY more than a dozen times. hehehehe

The resort is wi-fi equipped, you can connect anywhere in the resort. If you’re having problems connecting in your room, call Guest Services and they can provide you with broadband cable. If that fails, they have a Library where you can use their computers with internet. They have a kids’ room where your children can stay and play ind oors; a billiards' table; poker room; swimming pool with bar. All those you can use for free. Each room is equipped with LCD TV, ipod dock, cd player, a mini-bar, security alarm and safe.



You can also request any water sports equipment for free, so long as it doesn't consume gas. hehehe...Other equipments using gas come with a rental fee. At the beach, they have several beach chairs for sunbathing. And while you're at it, the resort provides beach towels, complimentary drinks, evian water spray, newspapers and magazines.

Upon arrival, the hotel gave us complimentary foot spa (which I didn't get to use), snacks and refreshment. The room is cleaned daily. Towels are replaced daily, too, if I'm not mistaken. The bed is a standard room huge, it can accommodate 4 people. Actually, 5pax. 1 can stay on the sofa bed by the window.
If you're planning to go anywhere within the island, you can also request for transportation to and from your desired destination, .

The next day we moved to Sur Beach Resort. It's a couple of resorts away from Discovery. It's a small resort within Station 1. The room we got is probably half the size of the room in Discovery. But it's nice and clean. They have a number of cabanas and beach chairs where you can watch the magnificent sunset or enjoy the happy hour famous in Bora.

The only difficulty we had in this resort was communicating with their staff. Theirs is not as articulate as those from Discovery. We ordered orange juice and we got pineapple juice. We ordered decaf coffe and we got instant regular coffee. May communication barrier ata. Other than that, Sur is fine.

Other than checking out hotels, Jom and I dined out a lot. Parang we stuffed ourselves with too many baby back ribs. We had too much, we will stay away from it for a while.

This Bora trip is so much different from the previous ones. For one, I didn’t get piss-drunk. Second, I didn’t get lechon-burned. Third, we splurged on food and hotel. And fourth, it’s Jom and I’s first bora trip as a couple. This is also the most relaxing bora trip I've had so far. And of course, the most memorable. Got to bond with Jom for four straight days. I'm happy.

Click here for more pictures.

Bicol is up next.

8:00 AM

Off to Paradise

Posted by Claire |

Photo by Flip

I know I said I’m not coming back. But, I realized, I can never get enough of your sunsets nor your powder-like sand. So, wait for me. I’ll be there in a few days.

8:56 AM

Black Friday

Posted by Claire |

I guess, you already know why.

But don't despair. There's no winner yet. We still have a chance on Sunday...and the pot has grown even bigger...it will be worth P232M on Sunday.

I gotta run! Ciao!

11:52 AM

Tournament for A Cause

Posted by Claire |

I would like to take this opportunity to promote this tournament that my MBA friends and I have initiated. This is co-organized by Addictus-SMZ, in cooperation with De La Salle University Professional Schools Inc. (DLSU-PSI), DLSU-Graduate School of Business Student Forum and DLSU-GSB Alumni Association.

The tournament’s main goal is to generate financial support for Jason Tuazon, an MBA friend suffering with end-stage renal disease. Jason has been diagnosed with urethreal tubercolosis in 2005. Late last year, this illness progressed to a stage that required regular dialysis treatments. It will just be a matter of time when Jason will require a Kidney transplant.

We hope that this tournament will encourage others to be part of this undertaking through participation in the tournament or contributions, both financial and in kind.

The tournament will be held on 4 May 2008 at Club 650, Libis. It is expected to be participated by players from various badminton organizations and students from DLSU. Please feel free to leave a message and your contact numbers if you wish to get a copy of the registration form. See poster for more details.


3:48 PM

Ang sarap mangarap paminsan-minsan!

Posted by Claire |

Did you hear how big is the Lotto Jackpot now? Last I know, it’s at P194M. Wew! That’s a lot of money.

Do you also remember how I secretly wished I win in the Lotto though I never placed a bet?

Last week, while the whole country was preparing to go on vacation for the Holy Week break, I urged my lunch mates to bet in the Lotto. And so, the conversation about what you’ll do if you win (it was only P185M then) began:

C: If I win, bibigyan ko kayo tig-iisa ng P1,000. Hahahaha.
G: Wag ka nang magpakita sa amin pag nanalo ka.
C: Ikaw G2, anong gagawin mo?
G2: Magtratravel tayong lahat sa Europe! Sagot ko. Magkano ba isa, sabihin nating P400,000 each times 6 pax. P2.4M lang, chicken!!!
I: Grabe no, pag may P185M ka, magleleave ka agad ng 2months. Tapos magtravel ka lang ng mag-travel.
R: Mag-reresign ba kayo pag nanalo kayo?
R2: Oo naman. Mag-reresign na ko!
R: Ako din, mag-frafranchise na lang ako ng Jollibee. Sigurado yun.
C: Ako siguro hindi muna. Sisiguraduhin ko munang okay yung negosyo ko bago ako mag-resign.
G2: Oo nga.
I: Grabe! Pwede ka nang maging individual donor ng opis natin pag nanalo ka!
C: Ako, magpapakasal na kami ni Jerome. Tapos sasabihin ko sa kanya sagot ko na. Pati engagement ring ako na magbabayad, bigyan ko na lang sya ng pera pang bili. Pati kasal ni Kuya, ako na magbabayad. Kahit bukas mismo!
I: Pag madalas kang mag-leave tapos papagalitan ka, sabihin mo sa amo mo, kukuha ka na lang ng reliever mo. Kahit ikaw na magpapasweldo! Hahaha

That afternoon, after all our day dreaming, we marched to the mall and placed our bets. We even agreed that if we lost, we would all wear black the next day to mourn our shattered dreams.

11:08 AM

Yahoo!!!

Posted by Claire |

He is now a Dazer!!!! Thank you Jess!


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Discount Magazine Subscriptions - Save big!



11:58 AM

Where I was last weekend...

Posted by Claire |

in Subic with Jom's family...

to celebrate his Mom's birthday...
to binge on seafood ...

to have fun...

and to take loads of pictures.

3:59 PM

I Want

Posted by Claire |

3:28 PM

20 Questions

Posted by Claire |

1. At what age do/did you wish to marry?
- I had initially planned to marry at the age of 25...now its 32.

2. What color do you like most?
- Green

3. If you can have a superpower, what would it be?
- To be like Jumper too, without the complications too.

4. If you can travel anywhere in the world, where would you want to go?
- Europe!

5. Which part of you that you have the most?
- Tummy

6. When you get sad, what do you do?
- I shop. I pamper myself.

7. What are you afraid to lose the most?
- The people I love.

8. If you win $1 million, what would you do with the money?
- Pay our family's debts, shop and travel with my honey, invest.

9. What do you love the most last year (2007)?
- Nung napasagot ko si Jerome. bwahahahaha

10. What is your New Year's resolution?
- Save! Save! Save!

11. What is the moment you regret most?
- None.

12. What type of person do you hate the most?
- Disrespectful people.

13. What is your greatest asset?
- My Life and my family.

14. If you had one wish, what would you wish for?
- Please make the people I love happy.

15. How did you celebrate the New Year?
- Sleeping.

16. Name the one body part your hubby or boyfriend tells you he adores.
- My face and my miniature hands and feet. hehe

17. It's 2008. What are you looking forward to this year?
- A wonderful year with Jerome.

18. Anything in your life that you wish weren't so awful?
- Can't think of anything right now.

19. What's the shallowest thing you intend to do this year?
- See the Butanding! hehehe

20. What is the one thing you can't give up?
- My family.

I'm tagging the HBs.

11:19 AM

Hirap magpapayat

Posted by Claire |

I did as I promised myself last week. I cut down on slacking and pushed myself to workout. Decided on taking up boxing again as it's been a year since I last wore those gloves. I thought I lost the strength of my punches, but Benjie said I haven't. I hit those mits as hard as I could and in less than 10 minutes, I was perspiring like hell.

On the fourth round, my right fist felt a little sore. It felt worse at every punch so I had Benjie remove the wraps. My knuckles were bruised, some skin peeled off. Benjie immediately took out his bottle of alcohol wanting to pour some on my freshly-made wound. I tried to stop him...begged and cried...but he was so much stronger and I had no choice. So I just settled with screaming and cursing him as he generously poured alcohol. Hindi sya nagtipid sa alcohol...mukhang madaming supply ampotah.

Haaayy...Hirap magpapayat!

5:45 PM

I vow to get in shape

Posted by Claire |

I went to the office wearing my skinny jeans, which I haven't worn for months, and a plain top, slightly loose to hide my bulges. Midway through the morning, I regret wearing it. When I sit or bend forward, my pants reveal my butt crack and when I walk I have to pull it up once in a while to keep it from falling (revealing my butt crack again). My top, whose fabric sticks to the skin, reveals my bulging tummy which grew by a few inches.

I'm going out tonight. I can't afford to look horrible. So off I went to the tiangge to get some cheap but nice stuff to replace my hideous outfit. True enough, I got a pair of jeans for P650 and two blouses priced at P250 each. Great! I'm so excited to change.

When I got back, I told G and R in the elevator of my good buys and explained why I had to change my outfit. I'm getting fat. R, with conviction said, "Alam mo oo nga! Nung nakita kita kanina...ibaaaaa. Lalo na yung braso mo." When I was about to take off to get my lunch, she said "oh, wag ka na kumain". Now everyone in the elevator knows my body measurement.

Lesson learned: The truth really hurts.

Upstairs, while I was chatting with R's seatmate, Dyosa, R said "Claire, papabasa ko sa`yo tong book na `to pagkatapos ko." The book is "French Women Don't Get Fat". Then said, "binili ko nga ito kahit di ako mataba eh."

Lesson learned: If you can't join them, beat them.

10:20 AM

Survey

Posted by Claire |

I have one month to get fit and shed off some unwanted fats and I don't know what additional exercise to take. Can you help me? Cast your vote now.

You'd burn fats faster with:

Boxing.
Gym.
Yoga.


(View Results)

Create a Poll

11:17 AM

'Nuff said

Posted by Claire |


11:32 AM

dummy pills overdose

Posted by Claire |

While the rest of the world was out celebrating V-day, Jom and I were at home to catch the final episode of Amazing Race Asia Season 2. I heard from someone that Team Philippines lost in the final leg but I had to see through my own eyes so I watched nonetheless.


We watched closely as the team move closer to the finish line. We were anticipating what wrong decisions they would make but everything seemed right all throughout, until it came to the final road block. The task was to identify the flags of the countries they visited throughout the race. One of the guys from Team Singapore has a "big big passion for flags", beat that! They arrived last at the scene, but they finished off first. That's how good he is with flags. It was a no-brainer for him. Napakaswerte naman nya at yun yung last road block. Kakainis! gggrrr...

It was devastating seeing our team left behind. Ang bigat kaya sa puso! Para akong nanood ng MMK sa bigat. But, just like what Allan Wu said, they "worked amazingly throughout the entire race". They've proven themselves many many times so it's all right that they didn't win the race. They've already made us proud and that's more than enough.

8:05 AM

a bunch and a carwash

Posted by Claire |

I was up early today as I planned to get Krugger washed before I go to work. He really needs that bodywash dahil ang dugyot dugyot na nya and for heaven's sake V-day naman, he deserves some loving!!!

I was out of the door by 6:30am. As I walk towards him, I noticed that it regained its natural glow. I thought, someone must have wiped off the dirt from the windshield. I checked the rear to see if the dust and dried leaves I saw the night before was still there...but no it's squeaky clean. So I thought again "ah, bka lininisan nila Beth kaninang umaga", which is possible because she does that when she was still working for us. She would get up early, cook breakfast for us then clean our cars. But before I could get the key in the keyhole, I noticed the beautiful bunch on the passenger seat...a valentine treat from my Honey. :-)

So this morning, I had this silly grin on my face while driving to work. Ang sarap pala mag-drive ng malinis na kotse, lalo na kung iba ang nagpa-carwash (may libreng bulaklak pa, sosyal!). hehehehe. Thanks Babe!

3:07 PM

Snippets

Posted by Claire |

My writing skills went on leave thus the silence in this blogpage for weeks. So for now, I can only provide you with bullet points of what happened in the past four weeks.

  • My first out of town trip this year was Punta Fuego. Thanks to Wilson's generosity. Check out my multiply for photos.
  • I'm back gymming, playing badminton and volleyball. And I'm sooo loving it!
  • Jom and I watched Tuesdays with Morrie a couple of weeks back. Sorry naman naiyak po ako...haayyy.
  • My brother got married by civil rites last January 11. Church wedding to be announced.
  • We've just booked our flight to Boracay for 4 to 7 April.
  • I'm currently reading Sputnik Sweethearts by Haruki Murakami (I stopped reading How to walk in High Heels to give way to this book). Next in line, A Thousand Splendid Suns.
That's it for now. I hope next time I get to write more.

1:26 PM

Copied from Dyosa

Posted by Claire |

What Claire Ann Means
You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily.You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind.A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable.
You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow.You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily.Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.
You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality.
You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing.You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long.You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.
You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something.You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense.You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.
You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone.You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together.At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people.You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts.You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

3:28 PM

Happy Birthday Jom!

Posted by Claire |

My wish for you is success in your career, happiness and contentment in your personal life, and a stronger and deeper relationship with God. Aylabsyu. :-)


Cheers!

12:15 PM

New Year Recipe

Posted by Claire |

Take twelve whole months.
Clean them thoroughly of all bitterness,
hate, and jealousy.
Make them just as fresh and clean as possible.

Now cut each month into twenty-eight, thirty, or
thirty-one different parts,
but don't make up the whole batch at once.

Prepare it one day at a time out of these ingredients.
Mix well into each day one part of faith,
one part of patience, one part of courage,
and one part of work.

Add to each day one part of hope,
faithfulness, generosity, and kindness.
Blend with one part prayer, one part meditation,
and one good deed.

Season the whole with a dash of good spirits,
a sprinkle of fun, a pinch of play,
and a cup full of good humor.

Pour all of this into a vessel of love.
Cook thoroughly over radiant joy,
garnish with a smile,
and serve with quietness, unselfishness,
and cheerfulness.

You're bound to have a happy new year.

2:57 PM

post script

Posted by Claire |

Remember the nicely wrapped present I found on my desk? I opened it and it contained the book I asked for. And the donor? It's from my lovaaaahhh, sent thru his angel Dyosa.

I only found out when I noticed that the present he gave me on 21 December was wrapped the same way that mystery gift was wrapped.

Thanks Jom!

1:27 PM

ANNOUNCEMENT

Posted by Claire |

I found a nicely wrapped present on my desk this morning. It doesn't say who it is for, so I assumed it's for me. If this is for my boss or for my friend, sorry but you would have to get them something else because I own it now. IT'S MINE.

Remember this: ANYTHING PLACED WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF MY TERRITORY FOR MORE THAN 1 HOUR WILL BE DECLARED MY PROPERTY UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED.

Merry Christmas people!

Ps. Thank you for the brilliant idea Diyosa.

9:59 AM

Santa Claus is coming to town!

Posted by Claire |

A (mystery) passser-by left that message on my magnetic board a couple of weeks ago. It came with a box of chocolate that I'm supposed to eat everyday until Christmas. Yes, Santa Claus is coming to town! And before he does, I want to make sure he (and my baby, kuya and friends) wrapped the right presentSSSS for me. hehehehe

To my family and friends and special someone, below is a short list of what I want this Christmas. Feel free to get me everything. hehehehe

Pangkabuhayan Showcase

1. A townhouse at Enclave or a condo unit at Fort Bonifacio.
2. A brand new car. Not that I'm complaining with Krugger, I just need an extra car on days Krugger is off the road. Ang shoray!

Pangpalakasan Showcase

1. A dozen white socks (ankle high please) - nagbabacon na kasi ang mga socks ko. hahaha
2. Yoga matt. I'm planning to get into yoga next year. So I will need a matt for that.
3. A trendier badminton bag. The bag that I bought last year is breathing its last breath. Medyo terminal na sya. Need to get a new one!
4. A new badminton racquet.
5. New generation Ipod Nano (the red one!). I love Sabs but I need room for more songs.
6. A Mizuno rubbershoes.

Appliance Showcase

1. An industrial fan. I sleep with fan and fan alone. No aircon. So my fan makes my sleep more comfortable. But it has stopped working. *sigh* I want a fan! fan! fan!
2. DVD player. I just learned that our pirated DVD player has stopped working as well. I will be on long vacation and I need a DVD to keep me busy.

Pangpa-beauty Showcase

1. Shisheido make up set. Yes, I'm into make up these days. I'm experimenting, trying on different shades on my eyes. I love the smoky eyes look. :-)
2. 5-pc Suesh make up brushes. If you're feeling more generous, you can get me the MAC Heirloom Bag. hahaha
3. Because of this make up obsession, my kikay kit is packed. So I need a biggger make up kit enough to house all my make up.
4. MAC pressed powder. NW30 please. The shade is just right for me. You don't want me looking like espasol, do you? So give me the right shade please. :-)
5. A red bag.
6. Belle de Jour Power Planner.
7. A strappy silver shoes.

Iba-ibang Showcase

1. 2008 Our Daily Bread. I want the January to December edition. I read ODB every morning before I start working. So it would be nice if I could have one for 2008.
2. Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Suns. I'm sure you've read this in my previous post.
3. The Secret. I have 3 books waiting to be read, but I want this in my shelf nonetheless.
4. Andy Warhol style picture of me and my baby. I want this. Really! It's super creative. If you don't know what I'm talking about, click here.


There. The things of what I want for Christmas. So, what are you waiting for?! Avoid the rush, shop now!

4:55 PM

Jobesity

Posted by Claire |

Tell me, how can you resist a yummy menudo and your favorite kare-kare? You cannot. So I ate two plate-full of rice and menudo (and Kare-kare and Tilapia) at lunch. So now, my tummy is HUUUUGGGGEEEE.

I thought I'm going to lose weight because of my hyperacidity (which requires moderate eating and no alcohol intake for a month). But no....my apetite is not helping me. I crave for more food!!!! Food!!! Food!!! Food!!!

The scale is going up everyday because, aside from eating a lot, I don't exercise at all! I've stopped playing badminton and volleyball, and I've forgotten there is a gym in the office I can go to in case badminton and volleyball is not available.

Demmit! Gotta get fit again!

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