The Terrific Travails of Tracy the Cat Lady

DAY 27: A PHOTO OF LAST SUMMER

2012-01-25T19:34:00.001-08:00

And back to regular programming.

Para naman may follow through kahit late, let me finish this 30 day challenge.

So this is a photo from last summer, taken during one of my favorite shoots of all time in Tanay Rizal.

with Pokie, one of my favorite people in the whole world.
This was a little before his bizarre AWOL.

Pag low budget talaga mas may tendency maging fun. :)

FIRST REAL DAY

2012-01-19T08:12:00.000-08:00

This is so huli sa balita...
But breaktime is over, and bring it on 2012!

Yes yes, Jan. 20 na alam ko.
But since first work day of this year, to be totally honest I have been going through the motions.
Still reeling from the exhausting year before, and also the flurry of the holidays, Jan 3 till yesterday was all about not tripping over the sudden onslaught of work, and I am not using the word onslaught here lightly. Pero sa totoo lang, gusto ko lang talaga matulog, diyos ko.

Last night, my thoughts machine was back with a vengeance, and then...I'm ready. And today, I've earned my wage with dangal. Today, I was hungry for the fight.

Eto na. Bakbakan na to. Let's do this. Whaddayasay Joe and Mons? :)

"Eto na ang balang araw" - Danny, Big Time 2005

Baka ganun lang talaga

2011-11-17T08:26:00.001-08:00

The thing I hate about being down is that it reminds me I'm dadless.

So what might just be some fleeting sadness is then magnified 100x and I find myself
suddenly crying to movies like Despicable Me.

UNIVERSE, LET'S DO THIS.

2011-10-18T00:46:00.000-07:00

Ready, get set...

GO!

DAY 26. A PHOTO OF YOUR FAVORITE WEEKEND

2011-09-26T04:07:00.000-07:00

Boracay 02

I don't remember if this was a weekend. But I remember that in this 3-day vacation back in 02, I spent what remains to this day my perfectest day.

We woke up really early to go to another island by boat. Had the most wonderful lunch, despite the tiring party the night before.

In the afternoon, we enjoyed some choco peanut shake and decided to play relay games. It was super wholesome fun, even the local boatmen were cheering us. At night we had dinner with Reema's and Ryan's host. Tinola with carrots, who would have thought pwede pala yun.

Anyhoo, tagal na nito but its still my favorite favorite day.

PICTIONARY

2011-09-16T15:24:00.000-07:00

DAY 25. A PHOTO OF A NIGHT YOU LOVED

2011-09-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

There are many nights I loved but a lot of them I have no photos of.
But this one was a pretty good night, migeads!

Huy D ang fats mo dito ha. Gi, ang payat natin!

78 Orange was a place we loved back in the early 2000s. A lot of history was made there. I don't remember when it closed but it certainly felt like the end of an era when it did.

A few years ago, 78 Orange had a reunion party, some warehouse something I don't remember the name. But anyway diyos ko day what a night! Old familiar faces and tunes! King of Pain re-mix ikaw ba yan? Kevin Ruiz ikaw na! All of us in that place felt comfortable in each others presence. None of us felt like the oldies who were trying to be cool in a 20 somethings club.

Kahit mag-reunion sila ulit, hindi na ata ganito. Hindi ako nagsisi na pumunta ako dito. JOYRIDE na to!

DAY 24. A PHOTO OF YOU THAT YOUR HAIR LOOKS NICE IN

2011-09-15T22:02:00.001-07:00

What a long long day and I need a few minutes break before zzzzzz.
So let's talk about my hair.

Bagong gising ako dito, and my morning thought was "My teeth are too yellow."

So I took a picture to check.

Ok so this is not exactly a great hair or face picture. But isipin nalang natin na bagong gising ako dito and I'm trying so explain a point.

People always compliment me on my hair. Me, I take it for granted cause you know its just hair. Unat, bagsak, at sakto lang ang kapal. So d ko siya pinapansin kasi ganyan na siya. Ang nakakalimutan ko ay marami palang tao na hindi binayayaan ng ganitong kadaling buhok. Gising, ligo, alis. Mura rin ang buhay parlor, minsanang gupit carry na. Wala ng relax, rebond, hot oil, o kung ano ano pang kamahalan.

Unti unti ng lumalabas ang puting buhok ko. Pero normal lang yan. Ganyan talaga ang tumatanda.

DAY 23. A PHOTO OF YOUR FRIEND AS A BABY

2011-09-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

Guess who?

I messaged her today asking for her photo as a baby. The reason why I asked her was, among my friends, the child in her is the most alive. She loves toys, both for grown-ups and for actual kids. Her bedtime is at 10pm, and her favorite food in the whole world is SPAM. She has a collection of turtles, she is in love with dogs, and her best friends are her pamangkins.

One time while walking home in Boracay, I slipped because of a rock, or was it a sand covered manhole? When she realized she was a good 10 meters ahead of me while I was Dyesabel on the sand, she just giggled the rest of the trip from station 2 to 1. She even called me when she got home to giggle some more, alone with uncontrollable laughter tears.

I like that. I like that people keep the child in them. Otherwise what a gray gray world. So Reema, thanks for reminding me to always keep the kid in me alive. "FOR OUR STUFF!"

DAY 22. A PHOTO OF YOUR TOWN

2011-09-12T09:29:00.000-07:00

Serious? Anu ba yun?
So again henyway...

I live in Better Living Parañaque. The first thing you see as you enter this ghetto town is the photo above.

We moved here in 1997 in a super small townhouse. We came from a 400 square meter house, so you must imagine our shock at the move. We literally kept on bumping into each other cause we weren't used to the super limited space. But anyway here we are now in Better Living, it's name really soh ironic.

But we've managed to adjust, and this is now home. What I like about it is the access to everything. A decent grocery right outside our house, ukay, a beauty and massage parlor across the street. And of course the ever so classy SM a tricycle ride away. Except for the address, this really isn't such a nasty place to live in. Buti nalang, wala na ako sa age of ligaw, kung hindi dyahe. :)

3 in 1 - Birthdays and these women

2011-09-10T21:39:00.000-07:00

I am late for this post, but never.

August 22 - Chipooze, Royal Highness
One thing about Chioy is her fierce loyalty. People's first impression of her is that of a bitch and sometimes that can be true. :) But the bigger truth is, if she loves you, she is the kindest and sweetest soul. She will never betray you... ever, not for a moment, not even in her thoughts. In our whole friendship I have never heard her speak ill of who she loves so for that I am confident in our friendship. Now as for the people she hates, that's a different story. :)

August 24 - DSJ, Warrior
Pause before you complain. Think of DSJ and you might change your mind. After what she has been through I still wonder how she manages to laugh, among many other great things she does. So to all the depression junkies, nakakahiya. Here's a girl who is fighting to be happy with every inch of her being despite her cards. Ika nga niya "labanan mo yan." I never said this before but I admire and envy her strength.

August 28 - Mother, Hoarder
Never throw anything, that is her rule. And though Jet and I pull our hair with the amount of garbage she accumulates, we almost always end up needing her garbage at some point. For most of my life I had eyes for my father. Now that he's gone, I am thankful that I have this time to shower her like I've never showered her before, with things, time, and love. So Lord, please give me a lot more time cause I have a lot to make up for.

Happy birthdays to these women. Whom my life will not be the same without.

DAY 21. A PHOTO OF YOU STANDING UP

2011-09-10T21:33:00.000-07:00

Weird neto. Bakit? For a vital stat? But henyway...

Corny nito. Next!

BIRTHDAY BOY

2011-08-21T02:41:00.000-07:00

August 18, - Birthday of brother Jet

Jet with small cat, his favorite cat for now.

I think he's 40. But let me check on that again, baka 39.

Being the only girl sibling here in the Philippines, added to the fact that I am the bunso, I was always babied by everyone. More so by this big guy. He's the most generous guy I know. When I explain to people what Jet is like, the most simple way of putting it is this, if he gives me 10 bucks, it means he has 15. He is too generous to a fault.

He can fix your car, and even your house but he can't work an excel file. He's afraid of birds cause they freak him out. He is also scared of blood. Having sickly parents we always need blood but he's just to duwag to donate. One time he said I didn't need to share in the hospital bills, huwag ko lang siya ipag-donate.

I have always been a daddy's girl so when he passed away there is a huge void. So thank God for Jet, my new dad. :)

DAY 20. A PHOTO OF SOMETHING YOU ENJOY DOING

2011-08-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

Never na sa form.

I really really love boxing, but work just gets in the way. But that should not be a reason na. Because of this I actually called gyms so I can pick this up again. So it's either I go back to Punch Out, where there are just way too many people after work, or I can check out this Muay Thai gym in Pasong Tamo na ang daming requirements, including uniform.

In photo is my trainer Bunso, hala ang tagal na I forgot his name. Anyhoo he's the best. I love how trainers in Punch Out just treat you like you're one of them. One time I showed him a picture and told him that I wanted to be that thin again. He just looked at it and asked me, "boyfriend mo yun?" referring to Joel. Tapos sabi niya in disbelief, "Ows? Hindi Nga?"

DAY19. A PHOTO OF YOU ON A SCHOOL TRIP

2011-08-17T08:47:00.000-07:00

Fine fine fine. Kaya nga challenge eh, requires some effort.

So I don't have any photos from a school trip. Hindi ko ata afford ang camera non, pati na rin film and developing, but what I have is a photo from high school. I chose this para laugh trip. :) It is the one of the best photos of my dark days. Of fatness and literally darkness! Bakit kaya? Did my oils grab all the dust flying around?

So anyway...

wtf?!!?!?!

2nd shot to prove na hindi lang mali yung pag shoot ko with my phone cam

Diba? Crush ng bayan si Joel nun eh. So if ang bali-balita is that he's with Tracy Sarte, migeads, anong nangyari? Bwahahahaha! Kala mo against the light ako sa photo.

Note to self : Be afraid, be very afraid.

NEW TOY

2011-08-14T08:44:00.001-07:00

So this is what Joel finally gave me for my birthday. :)

a spanking new ipod touch. woohoo baybeh!

I never thought I would be a gadget person. Usually I get a gadget and just never use it till it gets obsolete, or I lose it. But this one migeads, this one keeps me up at night. On screen is Tiny Tower, a tamagochi like game. I know I hated Joel for playing this before but I gotta tell yah, don't knock it till you've tried it.

This gadget will also help me get in shape, which is the reason why he got it for me. But shear, ayaw mawalan ng baterya sa kakalaro ko ha.

This is the best! Thank you thank you. Christmas gift nalang kulang. :)

DAY 18. A PHOTO OF ONE OF YOUR CLASSES

2011-08-12T03:41:00.000-07:00

Well hello again blog! Hindi pwedeng I will revert back into my old cyber quiet me. So here we go again...

Ok another harsh ang photo requirement na to, requires baul and scanning. So this should be ok,
a cooking class in Thailand with my chums.

what we're cooking here is tom yum soup.

This is a picture of us in the market. We had to do our own ingredients shopping. Ang saya! At nakabili pa ako ng shoes, so why not?

What Gigi is holding is the best Chicken skewers ever.

Dahil ang aga namin gumising and gutom na gutom na kami we grabbed a couple of sticks while doing our shopping. Much to our teacher Noosi's shock boogie. Pag lingon niya sabi niya
"What's that?!" Habang nakatingin ang aming classmates, sabi lang namin "hee." Bawal pala kumain kasi kakainin namin lahat ng niluto namin.

Me and seatmate Adi.

with our very own pad-thai

So the photo above is a sample of the portions we had to eat. Anim. Anim na pagkain ang kailangan namin kainin. So every time kakain kami, titingin sa amin si Teacher Noosi with a "sabi ko na kasi" look.

This class was the highlight of my BKK trip. Teacher Noosi is the best. One of our classmates didn't eat shallots, which was such a staple in Thai cooking. So sobrang shocked lang ni Teacher Noosi ang nasabi niya lang in Thai accompanied by a look, "ehwan."

DAY 17. A DRUNK PHOTO OF YOU

2011-08-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

Drunk by 3 pm. Very happy hour lang ang peg.
Notice wala namang alcohol, kasi nasa water bottle. Chaka!

DAY 16. A PHOTO OF YOU AT THE LAST PARTY YOU WENT TO

2011-08-02T08:52:00.000-07:00

Philip's birthday party

Judging from my smile here, I haven't lost my bag yet, or at least I haven't realized it. Cute ng mga girls dito ha, in fairness. Kala mo mga sober. Sige inom pa kayo! Kaya niyo mamaya ha.

DAY 15. A PHOTO OF YOU AND SOMEONE YOU LOVE

2011-07-31T05:41:00.000-07:00

Meet Cash, my office love!

Cash is our office dog. After Mang Dolfo, I am the one she loves most next. And that is a fact. Being a cat lady I am most often ignored by my pets. But not Cashie. She knows the sound of my car and is already by the door waiting for me once she hears it. It'll take me about 5 minutes before I realize, na oo nga naman, I have to give her some love.

She loooves sitting on chairs. I don't know where she got this. And when she does you don't just push her off, you get another chair. She also doesn't like fattish lady strangers. Bwahahahahaha! Much to the inis of some of the chums. Buti nalang she loves me kung hindi, this dog will hurt my feelings.

DAY 14. A PHOTO OF ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE FAMILY MEMBERS

2011-07-30T03:40:00.000-07:00

Everybody's favorite

This is Leyla, Rina's daughter, the only Sarte baby in Manila

When we asked her what happened to their dog, she tilted her head let her tongue out to the side and said "ulk, patay na."

DAY 13. A PHOTO OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS

2011-07-28T19:22:00.000-07:00

I do not use the word friend loosely. I also don't have a lot of friends but the ones I have now are for life.

we call ourselves "chums"
-not in photo are Abi Aquino and Mario Cornejo

These guys were with me during the saddest year of my life when daddy passed away. They took care of everything in the hospital when it happened, like soldiers on a mission. Parang marriage na ata itong group na to. Tested through thick and thin and till death do us part.

Generally sick in the head, fun loving, and deeply in love with each other, (in more ways than one.) Alam niyo yan, venn diagram, aminin! They are eaters, drinkers, and lovers khee khee khee. Very smart, some more than others. Very funny, again some more than others. A group of 30-somethings who finds joy in activities for a 10 year old.

Cut to:

Ang payat ko dito ha, and si Chipooze ang daming buhok.

Before Joel and I became a couple, this was the original couple. Three pero parang mag-aasawa. I only became friends with Chipooze for 3 years. But those solid 3 years were worth a lifetime. Then she went to the states. From 1995-1997 I think we did not see each other only total of mga 10 days. Too many memories to share here, but one time she picked me up and was too tamad to wear shorts, so long pambahay longish t-shirt nalang. We ran out of gas and nauso yung self service period, and pure hindi ako marunong. So in Caltex Better Living, you can figure the rest of the story out.

DAY 12. A PHOTO OF YOU

2011-07-27T21:20:00.000-07:00

O another sweetness diba? I admit it, hindi ako pang candid shots. Smile kung smile!
Ang necklace ko ay props at ang blouse ko is UK. Php 40.00

AW AFFECTED AKO

2011-07-27T08:02:00.001-07:00

DAY 11. A PHOTO OF YOUR FAVORITE FILMS

2011-07-27T02:53:00.000-07:00

Haven't really decided yet on what my Top 10 are cause that is just too hard. So here's a few, not in order:

A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man. - Vito Corleone

I love you Edward Bloom.
If you don't know this then you suck.

"And in the end should someone die?" - The Duke
Or, or "The Spawkwing Diamond" - Toulouse

And because I appreciate stupid movies:

Ok this is not in my Top 10. But if this is on HBO baka hindi na ako umalis.

BABY # 6 SMALL CAT

2011-07-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

SMALL CAT

I had Small Cat around June last year. Found her in our garage and she could barely walk yet. She was in luck cause our outside cat Benny was nursing her kittens then and she just adopted her. So thanks to Ben Small Cat survived. She is no longer small but its too late to change her name.

She is also my favorite lately. But we shouldn't let Baching know.

DAY 10. A PHOTO OF YOU AS A BABY

2011-07-26T07:09:00.000-07:00

And we're back to regular programming.

Ang harsh naman ng requirement na to! Eh, I'm not one of those babies of who had framed wooden photos. Ok din lang cause I honestly wasn't a cute baby. Unlike my brothers who were cute babies, I was a little gremlinish.

So here's the youngest photo of me I have in digital file. Tantantinin...

Ang Chaka!

In photo left to right: Trica, Me, Odit, Jimboy, Jet

Ma, masyado na atang maliit ang outfit ko ditae. Pang toddler eh four na ata ako dito. Mini kung mini. Si Jet naka flair pantch aminin.

WEEKEND SHMEEKEND

2011-07-24T06:41:00.000-07:00

Can't get over how fun filled my weekends are of late.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Dropped by at Fluidpost opening. Thank you guys for the chicharon bulaklak, my arteries will never be the same again.

Then straight to Philip's birthday bash in Quantum Bar. I don't remember having that much good old fun since college. Tequila shots, happy brown things, and drunken Monster F.D. Jimenez.

Hindi na baleng ninakaw ang buong bag ko. Sige na, isang napakalaking hassle ang buhay ko for the next few weeks but I choose not to dwell on that matter. Let's move on. Just remember, Quantum Bar is a DON'T LEAVE YOUR BAG UNATTENDED ZONE. So uni, just give me my new credit card now as this is derailing my voucher buying life.

Moving on, we vow never to touch tequila in our lives again, but I think I'm going through my first 2nd childhood now. I hate you Punch Pineda, what did you bring back into my life?

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Joel picked me up to check out the model unit of his new condo. Weehee. And then to check out the Ford dealer in the Fort. Iba na talaga ang nakaka luwag-luwag.

Then straight to our Saturday routine of masahe. This one we had at Simply Spa at The Fort. Ok naman, tama lang ang name niya, Simply Spa. Fair deal, fair price. :) Although the voucher duped us cause it wasn't an 80% discount, just 50%. If it wasn't a good masahe I would've had a cow.

Then we had the biggest and priciest Burrito at Ristras. Don't think would be going there again. Merchants, warn your customers if portions are to share cause thats just irritating.

Finally went to watch Shokot at CCP.

Kuya Dick, Ikaw Lang!

I'm so proud to be their friend. It's a movie worth your time and money. Congratulations to Raymond and Jade, you're the best!

Sunday, July 23, 2011

Took my family out to lunch using my Mongkok voucher. I'm so happy I'm able to take them out to lunches more often. Family Sundays are the best days of all.

Bwahahahahahahahaha!

2011-07-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

TRACY IS AN

2011-07-20T05:24:00.000-07:00

DRESS KUNG DRESS

2011-07-19T08:34:00.001-07:00

O diba tipong co-host lang ni Kuya Germs nung araw?

WHEN IT RAINS IT'S FOUR

2011-07-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

Friday July 15, 2011

There are many reasons why this day is special. First, sweldo woot woot! Second, a big surprise came in an envelope and a big black box. For those who know, RAISE THE ROOF!
Thank you sa Arkeo, alam niyo yan! Blood, sweat, and tears = happiness.

For once the our office wasn't drowning in God awful cheap drinks, but instead celebrated 90's style with "blow job" - a kahlua, baileys, and jack mix c/o of the beautiful sales team. Oh and by the way, our mirienda was classy Shakey's pasta c/o direk Joe (na lingid sa kanyang kaalaman). After it was downed siyempre bitin so we had to do a quick replenish at Shopwise. Asked Gianne to get gatorade while I fell in line. 15 minutes later a giggly and one-eye-shut Gianne crept up the line and said "khee khee khee, hinahanap kita duon eh." pointing to the other end of the store.

Siyempre early pack up cause G was dead by 11. Joel and I went to Pen to join Gigi, Dsj and Abs. Migeads, napakalasing ni Gigi and Abs. The driving girls had to sober up, so Joel suggested we have coffee at the lobby. Pwede ba naman yun kay Dsj? Siyempre andun na rin lang so mag-ADOBO! Natawa na rin kami sa 540 pesos na itlog.

What a day, what a special day. Thank you universe, these blessings are not unnoticed. When it rains it's four.

Saturday July 16, 2011

What is burn out? Thank God I had the will to do a quick work out to flush out the sins of last night. These are the simple signs of aging. First went to Rina's to celebrate Grace's b-day. I think I still had adobo in my stomach when I ate the sushi, liempo, shrimp, laing, bangus, and kare-kare. Saw uwa after a long time, and I just luv her. Sana she lives forever.

Went to The Spa to redeem my birthday gift from Marcela. Ok naman, but won't go back there if its not free. If I was to pay for that price, service must be excellent. Did not appreciate the 20 minute wait despite having set an appointment. And the slippers should not be oily! Obviously just been used. Kadiri. But free is a good price, so huwag akong umangal.

Went to watch Mons' Q&A at the Cinemalaya screening then went to Barcinos for a round. Got home at 1:30. Decent going home time for a 30ish perzone.

HARRY POTTER

2011-07-13T07:51:00.000-07:00

Vives took Joel and I to the press screening of HP7 as my birthday gift, thanks Vives! :) But hee hee, I'm not jumping up and down. But wait wait wait, this is utterly and completely my fault. Didn't read the books, watched around 3 of the movie series and didn't bother watching a refresher of 7 part 1. So kasalanan ko to, huwag akong umangal.

The first movie ever, I was with Joel, Dsj, and Paolo (Joel's nephew). Didn't remember much cause Dsj and I kept on going out to buy food, Smokey's hotdog to be exact. Next I watched was 3 or 4, again with Dsj and Joel. Siyempre, gusto na kami batuhin ng mga tao kasi puro kami "Sino yun?", "Anong meaning nun?" So to the HP fans out there, pasensya na.

This last one was ok lang, but as a last installment, penge naman ng mas konting FUN! So anyway the only point why I wrote this is because there were COSPLAYERS there. Took some pictures of them.

May something no? D ko ma place.

Told Vives that for Dumbledore's picture, I wanted to be in it, so picturan niya ako. Then Dumbledore, walked towards us wand in hand to greet his friend beside me, "MUGGLE!" Ay fear! Muma-mascot. Bye!

DAY 9. A PHOTO OF YOUR FAMILY

2011-07-12T19:19:00.000-07:00

This was hard and that's so sad. We don't have pictures as a family. I already posted the one I have that we're complete and that's the only digital one. So here's one I just took just now. It's in my mom's room above her bed. Missing here is Rhea, she was already in the states at the time.

Some Christmas or New Year in Auntie Pin's house in Merville.

Left side: I remember sinadya kong hindi tumigin, bakit kaya? Top Model?
My mom is so pretty here and also my dad is so handsome. Please note Jet's folded sleeves, hee hee, so very 80's.
Though I don't want to go through all of it again, I wish we're allowed to go back to our childhood 10 times within our lifetime. That would be just awesome.

MGA NONSENSE!

2011-07-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

So today was supposedly my last day of birthday celebrating with my Arkeo family. Pero walang mga feelings mga NONSENSE! This is how Gianne felt on her birthday, ala-sais na wala pang kumikilos. Hmmmm, pano kaya kami gaganti? Huwag ngang mapirmahan ang mga check request. Evil laugh here.

Anyway, ito ang hitsura nila habang birthday na birthday nako.

Busy kayo ha?

But anyway this is my munting handa,
salamat kay Mommy Rose na napilit kong bilhan ako ng Coke Zero:

Cake care of Marcela. Buti pa siya naka-alala.

But anyway kahit na ini-snob niyo ang birthday ko, mahal ko kayo, alam niyo yan. At dahil nonsense kayo, sayang naman ang bihis ko so dito ko nalang ilalagay.

Completely ukay:

Complete set at Php 120.00
Except for belt na borrowed from another dress
Pag payat nako, full shot na. :)

DAY 8. A PHOTO OF YOUR FAVORITE BAND

2011-07-10T21:58:00.000-07:00

Honesty lang ang dapat content sa blog. So ito na, this is truly my favorite band:

E-heads, old school diba?

Whenever I hear their songs, it brings me back to my kabataan/dalaga days. Fine mataba ako nun, pero masaya. Problem and stress free.

Watched their reunion concert last year. Yung hindi na himatay si Ely.

The E-heads chums.
Si Gigi, sa kaliitan niya nakatalikod siya sa stage at nanood nalang sa projector.

DAY 7. A PHOTO OF SOMEONE YOU LOVE AND ALSO BIRTHDAY BLOG

2011-07-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

This is easy and expected, so with no frills and drumroll here it is:

I didn't choose a recent photo cause wala lang, also because he's cute here.
Never mind my half nguya and half ngiti, ano ba yun?

I thinks it's apt that this photo entry is also my birthday blog. Joel and I have been officially together for 11 years. 6 years best of friends before that. We're not mushy or uber sweet. That's because of the years of being best of friends. Though he says I don't find him funny, truth is things are really never that fun when he's not around. Ok tama na yan, birthday blog naman.

Though I have been celebrating for the past 4 days, today is my official birthday. Woke up and bought a Yellow Cab Feast for the fam. I think they won't be eating that for another year. Then they went with me to do my favorite thing in the whole world, ukay! And because it's my birthday, I have such good finds for 10 bucks per item. San ka pa? Birthday ko nga talaga! (Girlfriends, meron na naman akong things for our next night outs)

Side kwento: We went to this cheap mall called Sunshine, and since I can only really do 30 minute ukay trips, hinanap ko na si Odit agad para umuwi. He wasn't picking up my calls but as the blaring videoke caught my ear, I recognized the "rume-regine velasquez" voice and I went to the source. Yun na nga, bumibirit siya. La lang nakakatawa lang.

Anyhoo, so we got home at around 5. Then Rina and Marlon picked me up for dinner with Prynze. It's been ages since our last "WE ARE" (code for family things) and ang saya saya lang. Dobie and Odit joined us and as usual, katatawanan. We went to Cervesia in GB3. Wonderful Spanish food. The chicken is a must try.

We used to call ourselves "The Trinity"
Inseparable. Used to take baths together till we were 18.

10 minutes before my birthday will be officially over. Pero meron pa bukas for Arkeo naman. It's been such a wonderful birthday week and there are many many things why it was so. Today was a day for family, and it was the best. If you don't have fun with your family, then you suck.

3rd INSTALLMENT - PRE B-DAY THINGS

2011-07-10T02:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday July 9, 2011 - One of the best days evah.

Not my birthday yet, so I started the day off with some exer. Hindi masama, napagod naman ako. And a good way to offset the sinful night ahead.

So Joel picks me up at 5:30 pm to spoil me with a 90 minute massage at NEO spa. Not all massages are equal and since I am late to this masahe party, this one is my absolute best yet. Malinis, maayos, at magaling. At! masarap ang cha-a pagkatapos. I suggest that the masahe lovers out there try it. It's at BGC in front of Mc Donald's. O diba Zenish projection lang si Angel Jacob-with-cha-a-in-hand dito?

poster of NEO Spa

Next stop, dinner date at The Goose Station. Weehee. This is just gastronomic superdom. Lagyan natin siya ng cape dahil isa siyan superhero!

It's a small place so I like it. It's also in BGC near I.S. Service was good, and if Joel wasn't so hungry he wouldn't have been so impatient to get his entree. Anyway here's us, enjoying night.

Pogi.

I didn't realize till we were gorging on our entree that I wanted to document nga pala our dinner.
So I'll just tell you about what we had na walang photo.

Snacks: Foie Gras Cone, The "Chip", Jamon Croqueta, Mais con Yelo
Oh my God, ang laking pagsisisi ko lang hindi ko na picturan ang mga ito! The foie cone was ohzam. Joel and I almost burst in laughter as we put this small dee-light in our mouths. Napakasarap! We wanted to ask the couple beside us if they were enjoying it as much as we did, but they were so prim and proper. Corny.

Next: EGGS BENEDICT
Slow Cooked Egg, Hollandaise Foam, Truffle Oil, Bacon Tuile
By this time we were giggly. Imagine, the one food we love the most (egg) nilagyan mo ng truffle oil. Ahow my God, this was just amazing! You must try this before dying.

Next: Salad
Oo na pangit na yung picture.
This is the pre-entree salad, trust me nalang that this is dee-lish.

Next: Entree
Joel's 24-hr. steak. Hindi na rin namin natanong kung bakit 24 hr.
But this is 2 thumbs up! Insanely dee-lish.

My pork belly - Honestly this is too sweet for me.
But I can imagine others liking it. The meat was tender and moist.

Next: Dessert
My bread pudding, my God I normally don't eat dessert, but this is a Diyos Ko Day.
Simot kung simot.

Joel's deconstructed cheesecake. Ok naman, light. Pero pudding pa rin ako.

Hindi pa nagtatapos diyan ang gabi ng kasiyahan. After dinner, we still go to Mandarin, Martini bar for a round of drinks to salubong my birthday. What else do I drink in Martini bar but:
Manileño, Martini bar's twist on mojito. Refresin.

Here's one picture of the night. We're not complete but here's the early birds:
Sayang walang full shot, pero I am proudly Php 70.00 last night.
Talk to my cropped palazzo pants.

Got home at 3am. Yet another another historic night for lil ol me. Thank you everyone for making my birthday so fun. Thanks B for everything period. :)

DAY 6. A PHOTO THAT MAKES YOU LAUGH

2011-07-09T00:24:00.000-07:00

I just choose photos by day of actual posting, so dito ko lang na realize na mas apt dito ang photo in Day #3. This one makes me smile though.

Photo taken after I took a picture of my latest ukay find.
Tumalikod lang ako ng sandali, pag tingin ko, ito na siya.
In photo: Baching

PRE B-DAY TINGS

2011-07-08T13:02:00.000-07:00

Unlike Joel, I hate birthdays. But I'm trying to steer clear of that attitude for this year. Ganda ganda ng taon eh magiinarte pa bako? So let me enjoy this year's birthday from the bottom of my heart.

Sa Sunday na yung actual b-day thoughts. Let's just re-cap the 2nd day of my usual week long birthdays. So diba nga kahapon Varekai, today naman:

6:00 pm. - Arkeo office. - Dumating sina Gianne with Alma from a long day location check. Siyempre up na up na naman ang energy ni bakla, so nung nag aya mag 1 hour, why not? Si Alma, love ko yan, so how can I refuse? 2 The Bar Apple with Sprite. Hindi na masama, sa 2 oras, borlogae na siya sa couch, walang malay. I wonder kung andun pa siya ngayun.

10:00 pm. - Barcino to meet up with my chums. Foods, eats, foods, eats. Memory lane aka ESL, Venn diagram, "I don't love my katabi," at ang pinakamasayang "Fix This!" Aminin, alam niyo yan!

Again thank you Uni, clap clap clap. Today was a good day. :) You gotta be grateful for these things.

DAY 5. A PHOTO OF YOU

2011-07-07T20:23:00.001-07:00

Sweet diba?
Mag antay ka lang Tracy, papayat din tayo ng ganito ulit.

VAREKAI = NAKAKALOKA!

2011-07-07T11:35:00.000-07:00

YAN ANG SHOW!

Hay Diyos ko day! Late na but I'm still on Varekai High, so might as well, isulat na natin ito.
This is Joel's gift for me for my birthday, (first intallement I hope. :)) And isa siyang WINNER! I love these fantastic spectacular thingies so I really regress into a 5 year old giggly girl. I've never seen a circus show before so imagine nalang my happiness!

This is the first official performance of the show:

AHOW MY GAWD. YOU HAD ME AT HELLO!

I wouldn't attempt to write about the performances here cause my words will not do them justice. So I'll just leave it at, sige na Cirque, IKAW NA! Panalo rin to watch with fellow Pinoys kasi we as a people are an appreciative bunch. Energetic crowd = inspired stage. You rock Noy-pis.

As a sidenote, first time I saw my chums in ages. Couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Clap clap clap. Tonight is a good night world. Thanks thanks!

DAY 4. A PHOTO OF THE LAST PLACE YOU WENT ON HOLIDAY

2011-07-06T20:15:00.000-07:00

Ay corny. I posted the my Cebu getaway a week ago. So this nalang. This is the Cebu Lechon we sneaked in the resort.

In photo:
Joel Ruiz - hands with fork digging in the pork-hidden-in-bag
Punch Pineda - Girl in stripes on left. Also owner of bag.

Nung nahuli kami ng waiter, sabi niya lang, "Gusto niyo ng suka?" BUSTED!!!!!

DAY 3. A PHOTO THAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

2011-07-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

DAY 2. A PHOTO OF YOURSELF A YEAR AGO

2011-07-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

Para naman feel good ako ng konti. Pumigler ako ng sobra last year. Though I have not completely lost the weight yet, I am at least 7 pounds lighter than this behemoth.

DAY 1. YOUR FACEBOOK PROFILE PHOTO

2011-07-03T09:49:00.000-07:00

Aw, good thing I changed it recently. This is my favorite picture in the world of all time.

30 DAY CHALLENGE

2011-07-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

Saw this going around facebook. Might as well do this and give my dying camera some use before it completely conks out.
day 1. your facebook profile photo
day 2. a photo of yourself a year ago
day 3. a photo that makes you happy
day 4. a photo of the last place you went on holiday
day 5. a photo of you
day 6. a photo that makes you laugh
day 7. a photo of someone you love
day 8. a photo of your favourite band/musician
day 9. a photo of your family
day 10. a photo of you as a baby
day 11. a photo of your favourite film(s)
day 12. a photo of you
day 13. a photo of your best friend(s)
day 14. a photo of one of your favourite family members
day 15. a photo of you and someone you love
day 16. a photo of you at the last party you went to
day 17. a drunk photo of you
day 18. a photo of one of your classes
day 19. a photo of you on a school trip
day 20. a photo of something you enjoy doing
day 21. a photo of you standing up
day 22. a photo of your town
day 23. a photo of your friend as a baby
day 24. a photo of you that your hair looks nice in
day 25. a photo of a night you loved
day 26. a photo of your favorite weekend
day 27. a photo of last summer
day 28. a photo of what you ate today
day 29. a photo of someone you find attractive
day 30. a photo of you when you were happy.

KOTA BA KAMO?

2011-07-02T07:50:00.001-07:00

ARKEO SALES POWERS ACTIVATE!

Baby # 5 GOLDIE

2011-06-28T08:47:00.000-07:00

This is Goldie Girl. Halata bang by this time tinatamad na kami magpangalan ng pusa? We named Dots kasi when we picked him up we said, "Uy! may Dots!"

So anyway this is Goldie, name c/o my mom. She was originally an outside cat but one morning we found her limping cause her hind feet were swollen and dripping with blood. My mom of course took her in promising us, "only until she gets better." SHEAR. Hindi na siya lumabas ever since.

She is the shyest most mahinhin cat so Bazzy's pastime is to terrorize her. Siya din ang victim of my mom's karinyo brutal.

Mommy : "Are you my retarded ha?" "Are you my Toni Gonzaga?"

SOMETIMES WEIRD

2011-06-26T10:23:00.001-07:00

Today my mom was angry at the world, for no good reason. She really is sometimes weird. So its a relatively slow Sunday cause she locked herself in the room, so there was really no reason to go out cause Sunday pasyals are mostly for her sake.

Went to Joel's house for a belated Happy Birthday for G and Tet. Bianca sang Defying Gravity and na emote naman ako sa galing niya. Kung gets niya lang ang language gusto kong isigaw "Bianca Ikaw Na!" Si Lea Salonga.

BLOG LOVING

2011-06-25T23:00:00.000-07:00

I'm on a blog roll. Suddenly I have this constant feeling to share. The ups and downs, the lefts and rights, and everything small in between.

I stumbled upon (I LOVE STUMBLE UPON!) an inspirational article "Tips for a Happier, Simpler and More Productive Life" - chizy but never.

This is #2 in the list,

#2 BE GRATEFUL.

Simple hindi vwa? Here's a list of a few things, not all, not in order. Warning folks, cheese incoming.

1. I'm grateful for what I have and that I'm simple. Little things make me happy, so for that thank you. But Uni, ok din sa akin ang Big Things! Baka naman ma misinterpret mo ako.

Cheap thrills sample:

My latest ukay ukay find. Php 50.00 happiness

2. That I have my cats. They make me smile all the time.
Smiling sample:

Had to clean my bag cause these things were inside it. Yes cat included.

3. That I have these guys:

And these guys...

And these guys...

And this guy...

Say it with me: "cheezler!"

Movie Night - SUPER 8

2011-06-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

After a restful yet fruitful day, B and I decide to catch the last full show of SUPER 8.
Tracy's rating: Like! No frills, just fun. Very much Goonies meets E.T. ang peg. And apparently may connection pala siya Monster tells me later on, but I forget. And I love the kids, hindi ko sila gustong sampalin. I like watching these types of movies kasi minsan ayaw mo naman mag isip.

HAPPINESS

2011-06-24T20:46:00.000-07:00

Cat owners, carry niyo ba to?

MUST. FINISH. THIS.

2011-06-24T18:50:00.000-07:00

When I was younger I used to love reading. Our house didn't encourage reading so there weren't age appropriate books lying around. Although I remember that the letter F of our BOOK OF KNOWLEDGE set was more used than the others cause I keep on reading FABLES and FAIRY TALES. Later on Auntie Chit gave me an old set of HARDYS collection. And thank God for rich cousins I was introduced to the wonderful world of CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE, ARCHIE, SWEET DREAMS, and permutations of the SWEET VALLEY SERIES.

Since then I've always preferred reading over television. But I have developed this thing where I can't move on to my next book till I finish what I've started. That is until the road block that is "IN THE NAME OF THE ROSE" by Umberto Eco 15 years ago. I will not be ashamed of my average intellect and the fact that I have, at that time, read all of Judith McNaught's books. So maybe that was just too smart for me. And just like that my reading hunger had vanished. I may have read 2 books a year after that but it was never the same.

This year I've been trying to re-find my love for reading. I loved the 2 books that I've finished. Read it like a newspaper. 2 days each cover to cover. And then, I mistakenly picked up this book as my next read:

And I have been reading it for 5 months! It's supposedly a very good book. But again I am not ashamed to admit that I find it corny, though her words are like butter on a hot fresh pandesal. But I WILL FINISH THIS BOOK by hook or by crook. Arundhati Roy, you will not break my goal with your plotless book!

Baby #4 DOTS

2011-06-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

HUNNYBUNNYDOTS

Because of him, I have discovered this site:
http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com

He has a mean stare despite being the most malambing. He would hear a can of Friskies being opened from a mile away and nd he would stick his head in the can even if it would wound his cheeks. Being the most independent of my house cats he is most often ignored. But when you do want some quality time, he will not disappoint.

I love you babes and I'm sorry if I tried to have you adopted once. I'm so glad no one responded, you'll be here na forever promise!

HELLO CEBU, GOODBYE CEBU

2011-06-24T07:18:00.000-07:00

I never share enough here cause I'm afraid my life is not interesting enough to have updated posts. I keep on forgetting nobody reads this stupid page but me, so I'll try to record my life more often.

June 21-23 2011 - My second visit to Cebu. A 3-day surprisingly fun filled escape from the chaos of my recently canned goods filled life.

Day 1 highlights :
- Joel speaks in front of Cebu crowd. Very proud of him and very proud of the company he is speaking of.
Sidenote: The girls and I actually crashed the place. Diyahe #1

- While waiting for Joel, Sir Nestor Jardin sits with us mere mortals, the Arkeo girls.
Clincher: Pinagbayad ko siya my God! Diayhe #2. Eh pano ko naman aagawin ang bill?!?

- Quick afternoon drink at Gerry's Grill. Had a glass of margarita and at 4pm, I get drunk. I walk back to the event with blurred vision.

- Dinner at Moon Cafe with our hosts Zen and Norbert.
Here I have confirmed we have just made good new friends for life. :)

- Our hosts gives us a quick joyride around the city. Then we go home to our fabulous hotel Radisson Blu. I have a thing for hotels and this one is for the books. This alone makes the trip all worth it! Ika nga ni Joel, "Ito lang naman ang gusto mo Babe diba?"
Final missing thing: Bath tub experience.

Day 2 highlights:
- We wake up to Breakfast Buffet! Zen, Norbert, and Vicki join us.
Tracy's plates: Eggs, bacon, fried rice, pandesal and cheese.

- Norbert gets us a Cebu shirts! Weehee. :)

- We drive to our next destination, Costabella resort.
Quickstops: baboy, kanin (PU'SO), and booze.

- Quick change for swimwear. There is a mild hiccup that I cannot put here in detail. Historic event that the girls will remember me for.

- The water is cold, so what else do you do on the beach? Debauchery. We may have ruined Zen's good name in that resort. Drunken master from 2pm to 11pm. It is practically a full day's work. (recall eating and drinking the contraband here)

- At 11pm we called it a night but not without achieving my bathtub dreams.

Day 3
- 9am buffet breakfast #2.
Tracy's plate: Eggs, bacon, fried rice.

- Quick swim and watermelon shake!

- 12pm, pack up, and travel to airport.

Just like that we were there then we were outta there. Wish it had been longer, but we sure milked out that 3 day trip. Good company, good food, good place = good times. Thank you Cebu and everyone and everything in it. This is not the last you'll see of me.

My baby # 3 Dusty

2011-06-08T20:47:00.000-07:00

Honestly the most handsome of all my bebes. Modelesque.

Baby #2 Bazzy

2011-06-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

Found her sa Basura hence the name.
Pinaka masungit of my cats. Hates the other female cats. Siya ang tunay na prinsesa.
Love you my Chingching.

Perfect Day

2011-01-23T06:47:00.001-08:00

I love Sundays, and I especially love today. It's just perfy perfy perfy.

Cleaned, read a bit, ate, read, nagpagas, repaired shoes, bought a new book, bought my mom and Jet mirienda, read, left again and bought shorts and soup ingredients, cooked, cleaned and read in between, ate and read again.

It was a day of nothingness, yet it was fruitful. Thank you for this wonderful day.

And by the way good news came in the mail. :)

Am now inspired to take up the hobby of sewing. My first simple project: a simple short bias skirt. Good luck to me.

Tsk tsk tsk

2011-01-19T09:37:00.001-08:00

Today, for the first time this year, my streak of good spirits has been broken. Ugh.

You cannot choose what things will hurt you, it just hurts or it doesn't. And no matter how hard I try to tell myself to never these things, I can't. So for that I want to box myself in the face.

I'll just make myself feel a little better ok?

Thank God for Dobie. He was my guardian during my formative years and I think I am who I am today cause he's passed on so much of himself to me. I am not the perfect person, but I think that I am pretty much the best version of myself. That may not make sense but I understand it and that's all that matters.

Thank you God that I am selfless and that helping others make me happy. Thank you also that I am capable of loving people no matter who they are and where they're from.

Thank you universe for giving me enough. I was born in this world with enough chips to play the game, and teaching me enough to be in the game forever. Others are not quite as lucky.

Thank you also for not giving me too much, that I have learned the value of hard work over just having money. I will live a much more satisfying life.

Thank you God that I have manners, I am tactful, and careful about other people's feelings. Someone said, "if you keep your mouth shut you will never put your foot in it." Please people, try this sometime.

Baby # 1 Mister Dexter Wexter

2011-01-16T04:23:00.000-08:00

Mister Dexter Cat

I love Lightroom. A photo editor that makes the stupidest pictures nice. So I am Lightroom trippin!
Anyway this is Dexter. My first cat and now I have 7 cats in a span of 1 year. Yes I am a loser cat lady but that's another story.

I found Dexter in April 2009, a year after dad passed away. I'm guessing he must have been 8 months old. He was just there hanging on the hood of my car. And here I am now, as I mentioned with 7 cats. Since Dexter life became less gloomy. For that he will always be king. Never mind that I am now some scratched and battered person who goes to work with nothing but cat hair.

Dexter loves fish and he has learned how to open the toaster and microwave. He hates Whiskas and tolerates Friskies. He loves sleeping in high places like on top of the fridge or cupboard. We used to think he ran away when we couldn't find him, in which case my mom, my brother and me are on our street looking under every car. Katense.

One time he had ringworm and his medicines were killing me, so I researched for some cheaper home remedies. They said I can treat him with Apple cider vinegar. So one day I did and it burnt him. He fell from the 2nd floor and didn't land on his legs and made his nose bleed. Fear! So anyway, I just wanted to say he hates the smell of vinegar. Sometimes when I want to laugh I'd make him smell a bottle just to see his tail puff out and his ears flatten. Hee hee. Then he'd retreat sideways like he was seeing the devil. IT IS D BEST.

This is Dexter and he is the love of my life. Later on you'll meet the rest of the gang. But this guy is my favorite. :)

Great Work Day #1

2011-01-03T06:48:00.001-08:00

Ok so I was late for work. The change in sleep cycle is too much for my aging body. But nevertheless, I think I started the work year right. Started to work on my backlog and I must say it was a relatively fruitful day. Oh and may I mention I stayed away from rice. :) Yeah, the regular carinderia food did not merit the sin that was white rice.

Anywaaaayyyy, my favorite client was quite pleased with our service, new boards came in for costing, I saw cashie, and I was left alone enough to work on my PET THEMED year end report. You gotta be grateful for these things.

I know that the dreaded first quarter storm is well on its way, so I want to milk the good spirits I have while it lasts before its replaced by stress induced acid reflux.

Dear 2011, I love you already, please love me back!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-01-02T06:42:00.000-08:00

Here we go 2011! Wootwoot!

I have high hopes for this year, so I couldn't wait to start the year right. I have so much hope and enthusiasm. I thought I wanted to kick 2010 away cause it was a bad year, but looking back, it was actually pretty good. Not my best, but it sure wasn't 2008.

So for this year, my word will be FLY!
Yes, baby Me Gonna Fly! This is the picture on my desktop:

THE GRIFFON VULTURE
highest flying bird

And thateesmee for 2011. I will take what is mine and get the bigger crab. I will be deliriously happy and give everything I can to those I love.

Happy new year to me!

PLEASE

2010-06-27T19:31:00.000-07:00

C'mon little guys. Pull through!

Yoohoo! Where are you?

2010-05-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

Hey zest for life, where did you go? I'm right here.

FUN LONG WEEKEND

2010-05-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

I LOVE LONG WEEKENDS! This is the 2nd long weekend this year that wasn't interrupted by work. And I luvvveeeeeettttt! 2010 is not bad at all, starting with a work free christmas break. Man I can get used to this enjoying all the holidays thing. Very good for my years of holiday deprived soul.

Friday - Running - CHECK. Won't let the rain be an excuse anymore. Vives and I forced a run around our ghetto neighborhood and I must say, not bad. Ika ng ng Nike, JUST DO IT. So yey for us! Followed by...

IRON MAN 2! Not as fun as 1, but as sequels go, this ain't bad. Doesn't hurt that Robert Downy is still hot. Wooh.

Saturday - VET visit - CHECK, now my kitties are all worm free. Weehee!

Boxing - CHECK. Had a boxing day with the girls. But more than healthy reasonsn, I think its mostly in preparation for...

For fear of being full right away, Dsj snarfed it down as if it were cocaine.
And me...

I just really have to eat rice. Sorry boxing.

Sunday - Woot! Woot!

TFF baby!
This night is for the books. The only downer is Joel is not here to enjoy it. Tsk tsk. Sa bagay he watched Lion King naman eh, so patas na kami.
Dressed the part too, will post a picture of my 80s get up soon. Tried my best not to embarrass Jet in front of his friends, but I think I did anyway. :) Gigi and Maite teased their hair. They looked like they prepared for their grad pic.
Araneta they say has never had a louder crowd. I may be responsible for half the noise. God it is D BEST! Couldn't help but revert to the 80s groovy moves. Sway sway, clap clap. Haaay to try to put it into words will just be a failure, so the only thing I can say is HHHHHaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!

Monday - steady day - CHECK. Brought my kitties for a 2nd VET visit. Their face is full of wounds and scabs, they are allergic to something ang pity naman. But I bathed them again in some harsh shampoo and I think they will be better real soon. Yeyeyey!
Nap - CHECK. - I love naps. Although now I am an owl, but still I love naps. :)
Oh and I don't have to be hating Monday at the office, cause only 4 days of the work week to go. WWWWEEEEEEEEHHHHAAAAAAAAWWWWWW.

Run Baby Run

2010-04-27T23:18:00.000-07:00

I've always wanted to try out running, but a good friend told me to be ready that running might not be for me. Since I hated the treadmill (I'm using the word hate here), I must say that really burst my bubble and I didn't want to be disappointed.

So to counter that, I had to make sure it would be a fun first time.

First, BUDDY CHECK! - Ran with officemates and good friends Vives, Popo, and Gianne. = FUN TIMES.

Second, chose a friendly route...

AYALA TRIANGLE - busy with running people at night. It's small enough to rest on a bench before a possible pass out, but big enough for a good sweat. = double fun

Third, hearty meal after running = triple fun.

And lastly but surely not the leastly, TADAAAA......

New spanking running shoes. Had my brother buy me these. Purposely rugbied my ghetto pair in front of him for the pity. It worked!

So far so good. Second time was better than the first. I hope tomorrow will be just as fun. Woot!Woot!

Happy B-day My One and Only

2010-04-27T21:59:00.000-07:00

It was your b-day yesterday. This time I did not forget, unlike your death anniversary. So sorry did not want to celebrate it. :( But I ran. :) Which you would have liked for sure.

Went home early enough to make sure mom was still awake. I think she didn't want to celebrate either cause there was completely nothing to eat when I got there. Hee hee. So we just chatted for a bit. I'm taking her out on Saturday for some cheap shopping fun. Alam mo naman yun allergic sa Makati.

Been looking at your pictures. And it was so little. Why were you never picture crazy parents. I hate that. My slideshow repeats na in 30 seconds. Grrrr.

I hope you had a blast up there with the rest. Sana someone gave you potato salad, your favorite. I think mommy and I will make that on Saturday.

I miss you so much still. I think of you always when I drive, which is a lot nowadays with Joel gone. But I follow your rules right? No going home late alone, and no driving when I've had a drink. And with this daily driving, I don't people make singit na unlike before. Hee hee.

I love you so much. Always and forever.

shoecrazee

2010-04-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

Dear shoes please arrive na and fill the void in my heart.

PETS ROCK

2010-04-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Pets should live their entire lives healthy. Also they shouldn't die, they should live as long as their master if not longer. There should be a law na "no master should ever bury their pet." Ika nga ni Theoden King, "No parent should ever bury their child." Eh diba child natin ang pets?

Aaaaaaannnnnnyyyyyyway, I found Baz my younger cat drinking water from the toilet bowl. Pity naman! She hates going in the dirty kitchen where her water and litter is cause I'm temporarily taking care of 3 kitties till they get adopted. Usually she's the most gentle, sweet cat, but when she sees the kittens she really turns into Gollum. She'll sit outside their cage and just hiss. Then a session of terrorizing, she'll bite one of us as if to say "Will you get them out of here!" Sooooo cute. I realize now why crazy people own cats. They turn crazy nalang pala cause really with cats, you don't need the outside world na.

Spent time with Sasha after a TRX session with Erm. Its strange seeing him old and weak. Sasha has always been an active playful doggie. Eric had to carry him down the stairs cause it took all of his energy to go up to Erm, he left nothing for the trip down. :( Haaaaaaayyyyyyy. Worst. Please please please, Lord let him be comfortable.

Cash our office dog loves my slippers. She doesn't play with it or bite it, she just loves to take it and dump them on her bed. Tomorrow she will be sad again cause its Mang Dolfo's day off. Which means I will be the apple of her eye. And that's a big YEY! for me.

Must rename my job title

2010-04-16T22:12:00.000-07:00

It's so hard to explain to people what I do. I am a producer for a production house. Outside the realm of my industry, that is a major ?????. It begins from what is a production house? Oo nga naman, what do we produce? Pwede nga namang t-shirts, or lapis for that matter.

But anyway this is not a blog explaining what I do exactly, since no one reads this anyway. I just think I don't do a very good job at explaining what I do, cause really I get favors that are totally whoah.

Whoah # 1 - Tracy can you write a script for me? Uhm... I am not a writer. I work with writers but I cannot write to save my life. Read my blog and you'll see what I mean.

Whoah # 2 - Tracy can you think of a name for my company and a logo. Uhm... I can try to think of a name, it won't be any good. And have you seen me draw?

Whoah # 3 - Tracy I have a short film, can you produce it for me? Uhm... I don't have money. Nor am I the one who whips out money for the films I produce. But you can use my car. :)

Whoah # 4 - Tracy get naman my baby for your shoots. Tracy: Sure! (with evil thought balloon)

Whoah # 5 - Tracy can you direct our X-mas company presentation. God I don't even know what to say to that. Too many jokes. Must mock favor asker.

Sometimes I want to pull their hair.

Covenant of Yes and other nonsense things

2010-04-14T09:58:00.000-07:00

I just watched Jim Carrey's Yes Man on HBO about 3 weeks ago and being the shallow moviegoer that I am, I liked it! So much so that I am now trying to live by the covenant of YES. Yes lang ng yes! But because we live in the real world, there are of course, some fine prints. But so far so good. Its a much better way to spend my otherwise "watching the wall paint peel" days since Joel left. So now, I will apparently kill myself on Sunday by way of Disc.

I found 3 stray cats on our street tonight and I am heartbroken. I can't keep them for sure, but I my heart is crying NO! at the thought of having them walk back in the street. What to do? What to do? I hope someone replies to my calls for help. If all jobs were equal, I just want to be an animal lover.

Yesterday was dad's 2nd death anniversary and I totally forgot. Just made a decision not to beat myself up over it, I mean, alangan namang i celebrate ko pa yun diba? I just wish I could have gone home earlier to spend time with mom while she was awake. God knows what her day was like.

Missing Joel a lot so I just try to do things he's told me.
-take a different route every now and then to avoid dementia - CHECK
-start using Mail App and drop GMAIL - CHECK
-exercise - BOXING CHECK, DISC CHECK, TRX CHECK

Not bad, got to put more on that list.

The heat is killing me! But not as much as Meralco. What the F is going on with that bill?!?!

Had to unfollow flooders in Twitter. Dude updates don't have to be on a per minute basis.

Yey! Finally I'm sleepy. Good night world. LOST, I will deal with you tomorrow.

crowning glory

2010-03-16T23:31:00.000-07:00

Bro has alopecia. Researched on it on the net and apparently its hard to recover from. If there's one thing about our family, we have the thickest hair in the world, so I'm bothered. Most articles say its stressed related, and I'm pretty sure his is. Urgh.

So dear family and friends, please be healthy or stay healthy. I don't think I can take any more unhealth.

LSS

2010-03-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

Was watching snippets of Magnolia last Friday at DSJ's. Corny na kung corny, but 1 is the loneliest number... Haaay. Everything just seems so boring if you don't have a +1.

I am such a wimp.

it's time to go back

2008-10-25T04:42:00.000-07:00

It's really more satisfying to blog here. So gaya gaya kay adi. I will post something here soon.

sometimes

2007-02-25T09:31:00.000-08:00

Sometimes i am heartless.

2007-01-23T02:52:00.000-08:00

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

New Look

2007-01-19T02:11:00.000-08:00

Naks, new template. I chose this cause its the kind of color I would choose when I'm editing. I'm sick of Pfizer Blue.
Yesterday as I was driving with Joel, it was the first time that I drove without being crippled by fear. As in wala lang, let's go! I think I can do this alone na, although I will miss Joel's constant insults on my driving. Hmmmm. Fun.

2007

2007-01-16T23:06:00.000-08:00

2006 turned out to be a pretty good year for Tracy. A lot of firsts and a lot of trials. Her Word for that year was HEALTH.

In January her fourth and last wisdom tooth grew and while doing so, it decided to make her useless until it was given proper attention. So to the dentist Tracy was off after 12 years of hiding. Of course her dentist, also the dentist of Joel her baby, must have thought “My Goodness, how can Joel kiss this woman?! Very dirty her teeth!” Total of 10 pastas and 1 extraction was Tracy’s first big expense for the year. This would jumpstart her expensive life of 2006.

On Feb 17, she was in Park Square in search for a Sun cellular application when suddenly she found herself in the cramped sales office of Slimmer’s World across the street. After being identified as “fat” in the body index/matrix, she left the room 15k poorer. Put together she only went for 1 month tops.

In March Tracy has rediscovered the wonderful past-time of watching T.V./DVD. She loooooooooves Arrested Development, Lost, and The Office U.K. Her cable service carried ETC this month so it was only then that she discovered Blind Date, Trading Spouses, Change of Heart, Biggest Loser, and all the trashy yet wonderfully entertaining T.V.

In July Joel left for the states for a little more than two months. This is the first time that Joel and Tracy will be separated for that long after being together almost everyday since 1995. It will also be Tracy’s first b-day without him since then, which would be weird because Joel always took care of her birthday celebrations. So she decided to spend her b-day dinner before he left. It was Dampa dinner with brother Jet and chums. Lots of things to eat.

For her salubong, her Arkeo family gave her a surprise treat. And because she always finds out surprises on her birthday, she saw her cake in the fridge before they could yell surprise. This turned out to be one of the funner birthdays she’s had. And on the day of her actual birthday, July 10, she spent it at home with her family. Its been a long time since she has done this. She’s always been celebrating her birthdays with friends. So this one has been very special.

After her birthday bashes, Tracy still had to fill up her Joel less days. So she enrolled in jarann………………. Guitar lessons. She became very very cool. She bought her very first guitar and it was a very handsome choice. That took up her Monday mornings for a while. Most of the songs she learned are old OPM from Eraserheads, which betrayed her age to her very young teacher. She also promises to go back to that soon. She has already been accused of not having followthrough. This of course is true, but she is really trying hard and promises to try harder.

In August, she thought it was about time to be a complete adult and decided she wanted to learn how to drive. On her first day and after ten years of her attempted driving in her old village street, teacher Jess decided she can handle going around SM Bicutan. After all there were only 12 vehicle types going in 17 directions in that traffic. That day is one of the happiest of her life.

In September Joel came home na. Yey! He makes her envious with stories of Madonna, Lion King, Stomp, A Chorus Line and many many other plays that Tracy would have loved to watch. Tracy finds this a little unfair. It sucks to be poor.

On the fifth day after Joel’s return to Manila, Tracy and her family had to face a very big test. Uncle Gozen got very very sick and they thought they were going to lose him. This was Tracy’s saddest moments of her entire life. But miracles do happen and after 3 weeks of being in the hospital and 2 months of complete rest at home, Uncle Gozen is in much better shape. The Sartes are very thankful and happy. She also would not have made it without the support of her baby who was there beside her all the way.

Rhea her half sister went home to visit daddy Gozen for 2 weeks. Because there was a 20 year age difference and because they never really lived together, there was never a chance to bond, except this time. Perhaps it was because Tracy has matured already but she found it very easy to relate to sis Ri. They soon found out the other was incredibly funny, and that they shared exact Gozen stories, only 20 years apart. Tracy took her out drinking, talking, drinking, talking. Rhea also loved Joel and found him very accommodating and entertaining, she says he is the only handsome fellow in Manila.

Rhea came and went a few times before. But this trip, Tracy felt very sad. She actually cried the day Rhea left. To Tracy’s think : “My sister left na.” It was a wonderful vacation and she hopes it will happen again. And oh did I mention that she is also very beautiful? :)

By the end of September her baby was given a wonderful break in his career. He was given the chance to do his first film format, short feature. This would be a first for all of Arkeo peeps, which also meant stress levels shooting up. This occupied most of Tracy’s time till end of October. All in all Tracy thinks they all did a kick ass job. She believes she will have a better career after this experience. So now if someone asks Arkeo if they’ve worked on film, they can say: “Bring It On!”

In December, a few chums aged 30 years in a span of 2 weeks. Because they enrolled in a very youthful hobby of ballroom dancing. Hee hee. SALSA! Vying for top in their class were Popie and Joel who were really burning the floor with their moves. Haay., it was a very very happy place for the girls. Most especially the lonely girls………..

Because also in December, there had been a major change in the chums dynamics. Good friends Drach and DSJ broke up. Very very sad. And because the chums are a fucked up bunch who have a difficult time coping to change, they have thrown ourselves into a state of sin. Meats, smokes, happy things, drinks, meats, smokes, drinks. During Joel’s birthday they we’re quite d drunk bunch that they suddenly found themselves in Rufo’s under extremely bad lighting. Really it is 1995 all over again. Geads, really lots of December events to live in sin.

There is one very special thing that was the result of all that sin, and that is Caye. For me, he is no longer the person beside Popie. How lovely.

Speaking of lovely, another lovely thing that has happened in December is Tracy’s……….. FIRST CAR! Kuya Jet called her at home and said “uuwi si Marvin dala yung mga Christmas gifts ko.” And then suddenly Marvin leaves her a key to a white Corolla parked in their garage. She calls kuya Jet sobbing. “Th-th-th-thank—yu-huh-huh-huh.”

On December 27 Tracy, in the middle of her pack decided to stop smoking. She is yet to see if she will be successful in this attempt but is praying very hard. Let’s keep our fingers crossed. That is a very late (in the year) but very strong HEALTH change.

In a nutshell - (like a Being Happy) :

Health wise this is what she achieved last year:
Healthier attitude towards money. – This is probably most important and most life changing. Life is better now in the Sarte household so now Tracy allows herself to enjoy the fruits of her labor. And baby Joel will now only keep getting kick ass gifts.
Eating healthier – This is happening in baby steps. She has given up the habit of iced tea and soft drinks. Water is not so bad after all. She has also been eating a more fibrous diet: More brown rice, wheat bread, cereals, and greens.
Better body clock – Being able to dictate her own working schedule, Tracy wound up with the lifestyle of waking at 12 p.m. and working till 3 a.m. Lately, Tracy forced a saner body clock and has been waking and working earler.
Oral hygiene – Never again the 12 year absence. Never. Also never leave home without floss.
Quitting Cold Turkey – This is the biggest and bravest effort by far and she is confident about how it will turn out.

They many not be ground breaking, but Tracy thinks it was fair enough. Maybe this year would be better. And for this year, her word is nothing less than…FEARLESS. – Tracy thinks this is self explanatory. So wish her good luck!

The ends and starts

2006-12-06T07:53:00.000-08:00

On December 31 Cable Car will be closing. As Rachel of FRIENDS would describe it, or was it Monica? It is the end of an era. Now we're stocking up on Cable food that used to be such a staple in our diets. Goodbye cable rice and chicken burger, you will be truly missed.

Now on to new and more fun things. SALSA. Puta ang saya lang mag lessons ha. I swear the one hour could as well be 10 min. To my think, "Hello I just got here!" Ang saya saya niya ni hindi ko ma describe. Guitar lessons X 82. Of course I told my parents all about it, and they're so excited. Understandably dahil kapanahunan nila yan. And words niya ay: hay naku Tracy, pinagkakaguluhan ako dati ng mga lalaki, alam ko dahil ang galing kong sumayaw at ang laki ng boobs ko. Yang daddy mo, na in love ako diyan dahil ang galing sumayaw. Tinataas pa niya yung piston ng pantalon niya pag mayabang siya. The next day, my mom unearthed all of her latin cd's and that night she taught me a few moves while my dad watched. Kakainis. Had i picked this up a few years back, i could've danced with him. I could've fucking danced with him. Instead he's just watching me while telling me to please move my hips. But all is good, it was one hell of a night.

4 months

2006-11-07T21:39:00.000-08:00

Four months blog vacation. Truly busy bodies. From sickness of a father, to a homecoming of a sister, to Joel's first film. Hay, isa siyang whirlwind.

Sige lets trace the events. Mag daddy events muna tayo for today.

GREATEST FEAR talaga. But ok na siya. His appetite is back and can walk a bit, short distances. I'm thinking of getting him a wheelchair. But I don't think I can take it, not yet at least. Baka lalo siyang manghina.

Ito na ata ang pinakamasakit na experyensya ng buhay ko. Makita ang tatay ko na parang nauupos. It took a lot of courage and strength to go about my day to day routine while there's constant fear in my heart. Thank god thats over. Still a bit sad that things have definitely changed due to his weakness. Dati rati I can ask him to cook, to fix my watch or shoes, kasi thats his way of passing the time sa house. To do things for us. Now I can see that the mind is willing but the flesh is weak. Nagpasama si Jet sa clinic for a check up. Pag balik nila sa house, mas worried pa ako kay dad kesa kay Jet, kasi halos d na siya makatayo sa pagod sa konting pag-lakad. But nevertheless I'm still thankful. He's a lot better now than when he was in the hospital.

Siyempre mas morbid na ako ngayon than ever before. More praning, more exagg when it comes to daddy. I know its not a healthy way to go about it, but that is me. I woke up today to a silent house. Nakakanibago cause its so silent. Living in a very tiny house, you know everything that everyone is doing. I knew they all went out to go somewhere, but affected ako sa silence. The sofa where Jet sleeps was fixed, which seemed like he didn't go home. My mom's stuff were on the bed, obviously she went out again to go to Divi or Baclaran. Breakfast was left for me on the table na so halatang walang tao. Super lonely. Then, I saw a note under the plate. "Went to SM to buy medecine" - Daddy. Wala siyang connection pero bigla akong umiyak. Parang the world gave me a taste of how things will be when I'm all alone. Waaah. Buti nalang bigla na siyang pumasok ng door, so nahulasan ako.

Hay, you're so morbid trace.

Maturity rocks

2006-08-07T04:57:00.000-07:00

Two days into my driving course. And woo! Although pure kabading lang ako lagi, its quite the exciting experience. Hindi pa man ako real deal driver, I can already feel the sense of freedom when driving. I feel like a complete adult. (I also got my credit card today, so hello can I be more mature?) Meet the new me, yun lang ang masasabi ko sa world!

What is Polaris

2006-08-05T00:03:00.000-07:00

Killing time in this wonderful yet very noisy internet cafe in SM before I go to my... VERY FIRST DRIVING CLASS! Woohoo! My geads, dapat kasi marunong na rin ako mag drive ngayon kung di ko lang muntik banggain yung sasakyan ni Leoy sa nananahimik na parked car ng tatay niya. Brrrrrr. Skery.

Kanina on my way up to the escalator, I saw this really fat child intent on eating her sesame covered baked goodness. Dun lang nag rerevolve ang mundo niya, and I was thinking, pity naman this kid. She's going to go through the same horrible fat filled childhood I had. I don't know if parents are somewhat responsible for obese children. Kasi God knows hindi nagkulang ang magulang ko sa pagsabi at encourage sa akin to lose weight. Ano pa ba ang dapat nilang ginawa? My tito's and tita's would tell my parents pa nga, "Bayaan mo papayat din yan." Feeling ko non tama sila papayat ako, like in some wala lang papayat lang talaga ako way. Kailangan pala may choice. It was the misery of teenage life nalang talaga that made me decide it was time to kill Rae Anne. Meaning sa akin na nanggaling mismo. But as a child ano ang motivation mo?

I remember growing up with Rhinze and Prynze. They really refused to eat. Ordeal for them almost. Me, I was always hungry. I was the first one to quit whatever game we were playing if it was time to eat. Yan tuloy, payat ko ha.

Anyway bat ko ba iniisip to? Siguro parang cruel lang kasi yung thought to put a young child on a diet. I mean she's going to do that naman for the rest of her adult life eh, pati ba bata? Oh well. Ganyang talaga ang buhay.

Sabi nga ni DSJ nung isang araw, "Our fats are preventing us from truly enjoying our lives. "

Energy

2006-07-07T21:58:00.000-07:00

May saying sa gusto kong sabihin eh, but I can't remember. But this is the explanation. Kung ano yung nilabas mo yun din ang papasok.

I am overwhelmed with a certain energy, I don''t know what, but I love it. Positivism ata ito. And hindi siya convincing myself kind of kalokohan. Nagstart ito nang nagpabangs ako. God lots of things to say, cannot articulate.

Joel will be gone for almost 2 months so I want my days full. Suddenly so many things to do and ready and willing to do it. I keep a planner now, to make sure I get to do the small things I never get to do, like visit my brother. Lots lots lots.

Last night, I was planning to go home early after my movie with arkeo peeps. Yes, for the first time ako ang demander. Buti nalang I didn't suddenly hail a cab dahil may surprise lang pala sila for me. And dahil surprises never work for Trux, I found my cake in the fridge. Ha! But super fun niya lang. And super nice lang ng lahat. Usually ma u uncomfortable ako for the big, ako ang bida gesture?!?. Kaya ko ha. Pero never, have fun Trace. And fun siya! Kasi naka chill pill na ako. Cj baked me a cake. I love her. The kids were there, ang kulang nalang the alma, sig, and xtian and buo na ang arkeo family ko.

I think masaya ako. Hindi na ako natatakot sabihin. Bilog ang mundo, maaring bukas hindi na. So my geads, enjoy ko lang talaga to.

Ready to Eat

2006-06-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

In The Joy Luck Club, Waverly Jong's mother (not sure anymore of their names) pointed out to her that she always took the smallest crab in the plate. Malalim ang description ng nanay niya dito. It shows daw na she thinks that she is not deserving of the best crab. Etc. Etc.

Hay, ako yan. But I don't think naman that I DON'T DESERVE the bigger crab. Most of the time, I just want the person I'm eating with, to get the bigger crab, kasi I love them. A simple gesture. Ganun. I grew up in this kind of environment din kasi. My family always wants to give the best thing of something to the other. My daddy always leaves the tiyan ng bangus, Jet will give me the fancier phone. My mom will buy me pricier shirts than what she would buy for herself.

Henyway, my life has been about getting the smaller crab, cause I have nothing else to give anyway. But I remember one time when I was younger with my cousin, I was about ten. We stayed at home during one Sunday family gathering. So they brought us back hamburger sandwiches. So I was torn, which one of the two should I choose, the extremely small one, or the one na dulo ng loaf yung isang side. I hated the dulo, as in bakit ba may dulo na bread, d na dapat sinasama yan sa tasty. So I chose the dulo, kasi I didn't want her to have it. When she ate with me 2 min later. Sabi niya, tignan mo kinuha mo yung mas malaki, inunahan mo pa ako. Binaliktad ko pa yung dulo ng bread para d niya makita na dulo yung kinakain ko and she won't feel bad. Pero wala nalang akong sinabi, Pero sa totoo lang naiiyak ako non at gusto kong ibato sa kanya ang tinapay. At siyempre hanggang ngayon hindi ko siya makalimutan. But never ganon pa rin ako lumaki. Kasi mas marami pa ring giving na tao sa pamilya ko.

Ngayon 30s na ako, I have to re think this crab shit.

I was talking to a college friend recently and I told him na ang dami kong plano na maliliit na nonsense but I want. Kasi d ko siya kaya at afford gawin non. Guitar lessons, dancing lessons, at kung ano ano pa. Tinanong ko, loser ba? Sabi niya, ang loser di ginagawa yung gusto niya, kasi takot siya. Ha! I love how simple things can be. So the very next day, nagpa bangs ako. Yup may bangs na ako. Gusto ko eh, bakit ba ako natatakot eh hahaba din yan.

During Reema's housewarming, this lovely person Candy, asked me, how's being in your 30s treating you? I told her "Well I thought that when I would this be age, I would be a totally different person, but hindi eh. " Then she said, "Me I've never been happier. Kasi (something about Saturn's return) when you're 27-31 1/2 you're developing to be the kind of person you are going to be, or something like that, then buo ka na. Well mag thi-thirty two na ako, and dapat buoin ko na yung sarili ko. And it starts NOW!

World, I'm ready for the bigger crab. Ako naman bumili eh. I know I can't change the way I am in an instant. Pero unti unti, fun ata to. In simpler terms, without the symbolic crab crap. Enjoy trace, enjoy.

Waiting

2006-05-11T03:53:00.000-07:00

For everything. For anything.

Halo halo

2006-05-08T01:50:00.000-07:00

Pag type ko ng Z sa address bar, nag auto complete: zanjoe.blogspot.com. Geads, sari sari talaga ang mga tao dito sa office.

Pag uwi ko kagabi, malagkit ang sahig tsaka may trace of putik. Sabi ko sa mom ko, ano to? Bat ang dumi? Mababakas mo yung inis sa mukha niya at bago niya ikwinento.

Kasi init na init na kami ng daddy mo kanina, so pumunta kami sa SM para bumili ng halo-halo. Ehwan ko ba naman bakit hindi pa namin kinain duon. Pag pasok namin kanina nilapag niya sa sahig at binitiwan naman niya yung screen. Nagkandatapon.
Hee hee, I know this is very tragic, nakakaiyak pero tawang tawa lang ako.

Whae-eae-it

2006-05-04T23:45:00.000-07:00

Whae-eae-it! What is happening?! Sobra na tong pagka unfit na to. The last month had been pure madness, so d ako nakapag-gym. (Whatever!) Buti nalang may date na ako to go, si Addie, our new producer. At least may kasama akong umalis ng office.

D ako maarte, but while I was on the treadmill today, d talaga ako mapakali sa scent ng katabi ko. It's of a different variant eh, hindi dayuhan, hindi laborer, hindi damit na basa pa tinupi na, basta iba ito. I don't know about other peeps but me, I lose all senses when I run kasi full effort siya for me. Sa 2 min run and 2 min walk intervals, sa walk interval dun naman bumabalik ang senses. So while gasping for breath, d ko carry ang scent. As in whea-eae-it! So ninever ko na, transfer to a transport. Geads, this is the devil pala. Weird kasi I don't remember it being so evil. Siguro, kasi more of ngalay siya than gasping, so mas madaling i-never. So ooh, Go! Inspired by the calories burnt meter. So pag baba ko, ok wobbly, but i remember that, so ok lang. Pagdating sa dressing room pag upo ko, geads, as in no kidding 5 minute head rush. It was like drugs and I was having a very bad trip. Or kalasingan. I usually take a bath in the office, pero this time feeling ko a shower would make me feel better. It didn't. By this time more of after party burn out ang feeling ko, shallow breathing and very out of it. Yuck. I really don't feel so good, till now.

Ngayon feeling ko I'm dreaming. What the hell is happening?!

Tug of War

2006-04-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

Slightly ako lang makakaintindi nito so never. Something I have to say out loud, to reassure myself and para maintindihan ng universe.

Last year ang word ko Rocks. Sana mag rock ako sa work para ma-achieve ko naman ang responsibilities in life. Although late ko na yan na start, parang ok naman ang net take away for the entire year. Maraming nakatulong at maraming nag inspire. Some examples,

Go lang ng go. - Sabi to ni Carol our fashionista editor. Huwag hihindi hanggat kaya. Patay kung patay. Kung baga, huwag tumanggi sa grasya.

Rock ang roll - Nakuha ko naman to kay Cristina our babes PD. Go rin siya, never na sa complain, sayang sa oras at pagod. Kahit i brief ka ng 5:00 pm the day before the 6:00 a.m. shoot, ROCK AND ROLL lang.

Dead or dying - Recently lang to, kay Alma naman. Dapat kung nawala ka, dead or dying ka na.

Marami pa yan, naka dalawang pages ako sa notebook ko last year. Pero hindi ko na iisa-isahin. At marami pa rin akong natututunan even from the PA's.

But recently nahabol ata ako ng pagod. And something that Maite, my wisest friend said a long time ago keeps replaying in my mind. (note : kaming 2 lang ang nag confirm na wise nga kami) Sabi niya, in passing pa to ha. "Hindi lahat nadaaan sa determinasyon."

Sigh. Oo nga, this time hindi ko nadaan sa determinasyon. May mga bagay na di talaga adya. D bagay, d talo. So there, break muna. One or two weeks lang, tapos go na ulit.

Universe, sana maintindihan mo.

Trabaho lang

2006-03-10T22:52:00.000-08:00

Buzyness ang lahat sa trabaho. Kayod at banat ng buto. And recently lagi kong pinagmumuni muni ang trabaho in general. I can't say I loooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeee my job, but I don't hate it. I guess the most that I can say for it is that marangal siya. Walang taong naloloko o naiisahan. I may not feel very passionately about it but i think I work naman with a good sense of responsibility. D ko siya binababoy kahit na My ged!

So whats my point? Wala lang. Like naisip ko si Jet. He sells other people's extremely luxurious cars after they've realized na d pala talaga nila kailangan. Pero naisip ko, well at least dapat he's sure that he's selling cars na maayos, after all maaring buhay ng taong nakasakay duon ang nakasalalay. Naisip ko rin ang printers ng labels ng gamot, d ba pag nagkamali sila, maaring may masamang mangyari sa iinom nito? Or yung nagooperate ng machine ng nagkakarga ng bakal pag ginawa ang skyway, dapat serious siya don, dahil maaring mahulog sa mga ibang tao. Or si Din who wants to just kill her brides, at least she's dealing with the most important day of this chick's think.

Sa trabaho ko kasi d naman ganito. The worst thing that will happen eh mag ju-jump cut siya. Or di mabasa masyado ang font. Or biglang didilim kasi natago ng clouds ang sun. Wala naman talagang marahas na mangyayari. For example, a client I really like, sabi niya "Di naman tayo mananalo sa Cannes diba? Baka pwede na yon?" So bakit may ibang clients na para bang pinatay mo na yung bunso nila eh actually wala namang kabagay bagay ang di nila nakuha. Or like Maite's client who commented on the way she dresses, d naman na-aaffect ang trabaho niya. I have lots more thoughts like these lately, but with no sense of galit or imbot. Just a wonder. Sana may mag-explain sa ibang tao na, ah.... ate, it's ok. Wala po tayong damage.

Nonsense, never.

TV rocks

2006-03-03T04:22:00.000-08:00

I love the Bluths. I want to be a Bluth.

The other day, when i opened the T.V. eh si Paulina Poriskova. God. Ang tanda ko na.

grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

2006-02-15T01:31:00.000-08:00

Before leaving the house this morning, I went to my parents' room for my morning goodbye kiss when I saw Gozler, naked except for his briefs was sewing a button to his pants. God he's the cutest, d ko kaya. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr...... Kahit d ka masaya pano ka namang di matutuwa diba? Gusto ko siyang kainin.

Shimmy

2006-02-08T04:30:00.000-08:00

Naks, nag enroll ba ko sa gym?
So in this search for health, my first gym endeavor was a belly dancing class. It was my first available gym time, so WHY NOT?
Side Note : The difference between Slimmers and Fitness First is their patrons. Sa Fitness, mga athletic good bodied peeps who want to maintain their figures. Sa Slimmers, mga lalaking sasali sa body building at mga babaeng balyenang kailangan na talagang pumayat. So I guess tama na rin na nag Slimmers ako.
Back to belly dancing. Michael Jordan in a ballet class. THAT IS ME. First off, mine is a body that has abstained from any form of exercise for the past four years. Yan. Second, one of the issues I want solved is my back problem. Eh sa belly dancing, power pelvis pala ito. Double yan. Third, first timer rin ako sa Japan sa ganitong class. Triple yan, so now you may go ahead and picture me.
Main form and movement, Hawaiian curling of hands and arms, and HIP THROWING, geads, siyempre masakit yan kay Trux, so ang attack ko instead of a jerky hip throwing eh slow sexy figure eight. Ganda. Puta. Striptease. Isa pang basic step: "Shimmy." This is the tiny epileptic movement of the whole body. D ko siya ma gets, so ang movement ko, Just Got Lucky ng Bagets. Super ganda.
Anyway dahil nawawala ako sa steps and very limited ang pwede kong gawin, i did not get the work out i wanted. Naks.
So minabuti ko na ring mag treadmill. Uulitin ko lang: Four years akong walang exercise. Hindi ko na isasalaysay ang buong encounter ko sa unang pagtakbo ko in a long time. Basta isipin niyo na lang na pasimple nalang akong umupo sa likod ng isang stationary bike pagkatapos akong balutan ng kadiliman. A trainor went to me and asked if I was ok and if i wanted to lie down on a mat. Siyempre ako pa cool, tumayo ako and said 'No I'm ok, ok lang ako, thanks." But in truth, kaya kong bumaba ng stairs ha.

leper

2006-02-01T22:37:00.000-08:00

Itawag nalang nating emphyzema ang levels ng cough ko. 3 gabi na ako walang tulog, d pa kasama ang 24 hour day shoot namin nung sunday ng dahil lang sa ubo.
My coughing comes in cycles that last for about 10-15 min. Sabi ko na nga ba, mag taxi na ako pabalik ng makati eh. But fear of traffler. So I force an mrt. GMA kamuning pa lang, nararamdaman ko na ang itchy feelings. Sa kakapigil ko, ayan full force na siya come Ortigas. Isa akong ketongin, isang cancer victim na mamamatay na sa ubo, sabay sabay ang pag iyak, pagsipon, at ang ubo at d malaman ang uunahin, kung iinomin muna ba ang lung tonic, pupunasan ang luha, o sisinga. My gead. Gusto ako ng katabi ko ha. Gustohin ko mang bumaba at pahupain ang delubiong nangyayari sa ating katawan. D ko talaga kaya. Pawis na pawis ako, mistulang ng 4 points sa loob ng frisbee game.
God kaya ko ha.

Worklers

2006-01-27T02:45:00.000-08:00

Dati sabi ni Chipus sa isang masungit na toll booth chick. "Kung ayaw mo yang trabaho mo, umalis ka diyan ha!"

This is true. Ayoko na maging masungit. But then again how? Ayoko kasi ng ambush. Ayoko ng wala sa usapan. Gusto ko ng proper lead time kasi I prepare myself physiologically for work. I'm really trying my best to be nice, but sometimes, saya kong ka work ha.

All Dogs Go To Heaven

2006-01-19T09:06:00.000-08:00

This is Dexter. He's now in heaven.
Here he's on his mat in his favorite spot in the room.
I'm really going to miss him. And i have to write this down while I still remember.

He's the most gwapo mongrel in the world. And also the most gentle malambing doggy.
He hates other dogs, so when I get bored editing, I will play a clip of noisy barking dogs. He will stare at the speaker with his tilted head and one folded ear. After a while he will roam around the room searching. I get a kick every time. God its a hoot.

For three years, he's been my best bud in QC. He keeps me company all the time, when I smoke, when I eat, and when I edit. He loves to play, but he understands if you need to work na. On stand by lang siya if you're ready. Sometimes I frustrate him by petting him and then stopping competely. He'd nudge his nose under my hand for more. Then I'd lie down and play dead. By this time he's lost complete interest. To him, you're useless if you're dead.

I give him food whenever I eat. Once I tried fooling him by giving him sitaw in between small pieces of meat. He chewed on it and pure dinura niya lang in the very clean house floor. You really can't fool a doggy.

Before he would scratch the door so you'd let him in. Later on he just learned how to push it open. One time I heard light banging on the door. I ignored the first two sounds, kasi nga hindi scratching, I thought someone was moving things around outside. On the third sound the door flung open, and he let himself in. Apprarently kukuha siya ng buwelo running and slam on the door para makapasok siya.

When we're outside smoking at may nag doorbell, he'd crouch peek in the very small slat under the gate. I think he's trying to know who it is by their shoes.

Hindi naman sa feeling, pero according to Don, the Lani of QC, he never used to go down to the editing area, before me. Cause he's afraid of the stairs. Aw, but he braved it for me, until sobrang sanay na siya. Till he became the king of the editing suite. May mat na nga siya don.

When I look at the other dogs sa backyard (cause only Dexter being the alpha male is allowed to roam around), he follows me and tries to block my path. As if to say, "Bakit? Bakit? Anong nangyayari? Huwag ka diyan."

Cut to cut. Since today lang nag sink in na he's in heaven, I was crying when I got to work. And I think Rich, trying to make me feel better, let the other dogs out for a while. I know all dogs are cute no, pero really. First the lab was way too fat. He was a pig. He looked nothing like Hammer. Oz and Jojo, kids of Dexter, were poor shy versions of him. Gusto ko lang sila sipain.

They say, sometimes when a dog dies, he saves someone from the house. I think this is what happened to Dexter. He saved one of us, me included. I don't know who, basta i know he did. That's why he's in heaven.

Fats and kadaldalan

2006-01-08T01:56:00.000-08:00

I know na issue ko lagi ang fatness, pero daldal lang naman ako ng daldal. Wala naman akong ginagawa about it. Pero can I just whine.

Ito kasi yun.
Pictures - carry ko naman ang sarili ko sa pictures dati. Everything before I started playing disc. Pero ngayon, geads, I really have to check kung si Odit ba ito.
Profile- alam mo yung taong nasa kalagitnaan ng lunok or inom. Yan, yan ang chins ko. Naka 45 degree angle. maling mali
Cheeks and nose- I'm afraid. Prominence
Bra- Ito na. Kasi, Issue ko ang bra. I feel really uncomfortable when my bra begins to fold at the back, meaning... di na niya carry. Boobs sa likod. Hold on kung baga. Ngayon every five min siyang tumutupi. Geads. I hate it. Ito yung parang singit ng shorts na umaakyat. Grrrr.
And of course the heaviest of all, chan. Gulong pag nakaupo.

Needs for snappy.

2006-01-06T08:30:00.000-08:00

Starting the year with a bang.
Barely over the holidays, here we are again making a film! Woohoo! Location : land of tahong.
I used to love tahong but not anymore, seeing where they're grown. Geads. linis ha. Eaters na rin sila ng etchlers. A community on stilts lives directly above the tahongan eh their toilet is a hole on the floor, so picture it nalang. Of course this is just one of the many tahongan areas. But still.

That aside, that barangay is one of the nicest and friendliest communities I've ever been to. Which leads me to believe that people who live near water are really kinder people. Because another location was a nearby village, and hindi naman sa exaggeration, but I was really in fear of the staff and crew's safety. Due to a major miscommunication which is too long to discuss here, we suddenly ended up as disturbers of the peace. We were surrounded by 14 tanods, some of them with sticks. Fear of the Lord.

Second day, Monday. I have got to get back on the zone. Still reeling over the "vacation". Shear ayaw maging one day vaca ha. But nevertheless. Snappy na ito.

New Year Blues

2005-12-30T03:40:00.000-08:00

Early last quarter of this year, I went through an unexplainable mild depression. I had my theories but I really haven't solved it yet. When I got over it, ayaw ko ng ungkatin. Nakakatakot. Pero gusto ko na ring isama ito sa word kong health for next year.
My greatest fear, (apart from mabungi and makulong) is to turn out to be like a mom I know. Crazy, to put it plainly. I have the knack for burrying reality and sadness and one day I know it'll really catch up and I won't have any place to stash it, cause my life is just full of unresolved basura.
So world, include mo na rin ang mental health.

tis the season

2005-12-22T21:37:00.000-08:00

I love christmas. I feel like a child, very giddy, very mababaw.

Mom - I don't know how she does it, to think wala naman siyang work, but every chirstmas, she manages to have a little something for everyone. Talagang siya ang epitome of the cliche' - its the thought that counts. Siguro pang off set ng pagka kuripot niya whole year round.

Chums - so much hulabaloo about this kris kringle. And I'm loving every min of it. Sa sobrang chismosa at taklesa ng mga tao eh buti nalang bigayan na soon, otherwise isa pang linggo eh pure acting nalang of surprise.

Kuya Jet - pareho kaming alipin sa aming mga trabaho, so naatasan siyang maging chaperone ng isang UK supplier nila. He is in fear of silence, so d pa niya na proprocess yung sagot ng dayuhan eh may totally new question na siya. Never na rin sa kanya ang banter, basta may ready question siya in his head. Pagbaba ng bisita, sumigaw lang siya, Tang ina nagutom ako don ha! I say, eh bat kasi slang ka rin? Sagot niya "Para maintindihan niya ako no." Geads.