Light up Our New House

Since I arrived here last September, Hubby and I are sharing the house with a colleague. Actually, nakikitira lang kami since the unit we wanted was not yet available. But starting tomorrow, we are going to move our things to our new house. It's a rule here for every condo/mansion to repaint, replace wallpapers, tatami, tiles and etc.. whenever a unit has been vacated, that is why we had to wait for a week before we could use the unit.

It's on the 3rd floor, with verandah(as usual), 3 bedrooms and a corner unit! It's actually the reason why I wanted to wait for it than look for another one. I like a corner unit because it has lots of windows which will become a blessing when summer comes and I like a bright house.

I heard the unit costs only Y60,000/month (P21,600), pretty cheap but the company will shoulder everything except for the appliances that is why Hubby and I have been busy looking for things to fill our house. As in from lights(that's one thing weird here in Japan, hindi kasama sa unit ang ilaw!) to curtains. We went to Yodobashi this afternoon to look for lights but I was shocked to find out how expensive lights here are! The cheapest one we could find is a bedroom light for Y8000! So now we are searching for second-hand lights for sale or giveaway in the buy and sell forum. I can't possibly spend Y24,000 for all the lights in the house!

Since the 3 bedrooms are too much for the two of us, we are planning to use one bedroom as our walk-in closet, yipee! dream come true! hehe.. and the other one as bodega or guest room, if we ever have guests. So whoever wants to visit Fukuoka, rest assured that you have a place to stay.. just bring your own light.. hehehe =D

Women's Clinic ala Spa

I became alarmed when my right breast is painful than the usual and decided to find a gynecologist to have my long overdue breast exam after 3 years. At first Hubby and I went to this women's clinic in Tenjin because the doctor speaks english daw, but actually he only knows basic english conversation like "where are you from?" or "what is wrong with you" so we still had a hard time understanding him during the examination. He only did "manual" breast examination and referred us to this women's hospital in Hirao (another town) that specializes in breasts. All that for a whopping Y8500! (I am never going back there again).

After reaching Hirao and studying the map, we finally found the Oikawa Women's clinic. It was one quiet and clean hospital, it looks like a hotel really. Unlike a normal hospital, you won't see patients, doctors or nurses busily roaming around the lobby because the patients have special waiting rooms designated according to the specialty they need. Only the patients who are waiting for their bill or their companions stays in the lobby to wait. Since it was a women's clinic, they have this special waiting area for women and children only. Hubby and I stayed there at first because of the more comfortable sofas but we were escorted to the other area because it was strictly for women. And we don't know why they have to have something like that.

After filling up my forms, I was called to this room which I assume was the breast examination room. With the dim lights, the smell of scented oil that fills the room, and the relaxing music made me feel I was transported to a spa. Then I was lead to this very small room with locker, closet to hang my clothes, shoe rack, mirror, cushioned stool and magazines where I was asked to change into a chocolate brown gown (that doesn't resemble a hospital gown at all), and wait there. Plus, their comfort room was like a victorian dressing room, the toilet bowl was hidden by a divider with lots of flowers, which makes the room smell of flowers, then it has a charming dresser with mirrors and lights around it. Para talaga akong nasa Spa and waiting for my massage attendee!

So I was called back to reality and had another "manual" breast exam, the doctor even drew circles on my breast which I assume are the cysts and measured them (pwede pala yun?). Hubby was strictly not allowed inside the breast examination room so I was all by myself with my survival nihongo because it was not an english speaking hospital. But I managed from the mammography, which by the way is I think one of the many painful things women had to go through, sakeeet! until the ultrasound. Unlike in Pinas where we had to wait at least a day for the mammogram result, after a while I was already called in to the doctor's room and my mammogram and ultrasound was already displayed there while the doctor explained to me the findings.

Thank God it was just Fibrocystic breast tissues and I have nothing to worry about. Buti na lang din that the doctor could understand english medical terms so I was able to ask if it's already Fibrocystic adenoma (which needs surgery) but thank God again it was not! He basically told me the same thing I heard from all the doctors that examined me, that this problem on my breast will clear up once I bear a child and start lactating. So there was nothing to worry about daw. Uhuh.

The whole exam costs only Y11,000 and every cent was worth it. It was indeed a world class medical service right from the state of the art machines to time efficiency. I am not worried anymore, para akong nabunutan ng tinik sa dibdib, and a with service like that, I will never have second thoughts again on having this exam regularly. Susundin ko na si ma'am nurse na dapat every year!

hubby trying to answer my all-nihongo patient form

Friends Ba Kayo ng Ex mo?

Got this from a friend through friendster, I know I shouldn't be answering questions like this but I can't sleep and I have nothing to do and I think it's kinds fun din and I want to tag some of my friends.. bwehehehe... ang hindi sumunod sa tag pangit.

1.Friends ba kayo ng ex mo?
♥ hindi

2.Ma ayos ba kayo nagbreak?
♥ maayos namanm, tapos naging hindi

3.Naging masaya ka ba sa kanya?
♥ minsan

4.Sa tingin mo naging masaya siya nung kayo pa?
♥ malamang hindi

5. Namimiss mo ba siya?
♥ hindi rin

6 Love mo pa?
♥ definitely not.

7.Musta naman lovelife mo ngayon? may bago ba?
♥ very happily married to a man with sexy chest hairs hehe

8.Hinihintay mo parin ba siya?
♥ hindi na

9.Kung mahal mo siya, bat di mo balikan?
♥ binalikan ko nga noon, pero ayaw na niya kay Sheryl Cruz =P

10.May bago bang bf/gf ex mo?
♥ happily married na rin

11. Nagtagal ba kayo?
♥ Sa awa ng Dyos umabot naman ng 4 yrs.

12.Natatakot ka na bang magmahal ulit??
♥ natakot after a series of wrong guys after him

13.Umaasa ka ba na may taong magmamahal sayo?
♥ meron talaga! lovable kasi ako! =D

14.Pano kung kayo rin ng ex mo in the future??
♥ impossible

15.Galit ka ba sa kanya?
♥ hindi na

16.Wat if, one day sabihin niya na mahal ka pa niya??
♥ malamang on drugs sya nyan

17.Ano kanta mo sa kanya?
♥ "Mr Dreamboy, Mr Dreamboy, ako kaya ang nasa isip mo.."

18 .Nagawa mo na bang maghabol? sa knya?
♥ yep, and thank God! he was in his right mind and did not take me back

19.Nakikita mo pa ba ex mo???
♥ hindi na

20. anu ba tawagan nyo?
♥ labskie (eewww)

21. bkt mo siya nagustuhan?
♥ kasi feeling ko ako si Sheryl Cruz

22. sa tingin mo cnu ang susunod sknya?
♥ may mga sumunod na ndi ko naging boypren. pero ang totoong sumunod ay si Sergio... kaya si Marimar na ako ngayon!

23. my communication pa ba kayo?
♥ wala na

24. kailan ba naging kayo?
♥ hala, nakalimutan ko na.. June or July ata yun, tanong ko muna si Jaja, sya kasi nag rremind sa akin noon pag anniv.

25.kailan kau nagbreak?
♥ hala, ndi ko na rin maalala

26. bakit?
♥ because destiny had to lead us to better partners, that will make us better persons and we both deserve to be happy.

27. Anong message mo sa kanya?
♥ friends?

I am tagging Georgia, Ysilona, Poeticnook, Claire, Madz, Mau, Dee, Chellie

What a Friday Night!

Maila and I had a date after work, we had ramen, window shopped, shopped at Daiso and had coffee and made some chiklets at Veloce until the cafe closed at 11. It's been a while since we last had a night like this since we became very busy with our lovelives, and it's also been a while since I had my bowl of the most delicious ramen in the world - Ichiran Ramen!! Actually, when she invited me for a "gimik", I hesitated and would rather curl up in bed because of the cold weather, but since it's my chance to eat ichiran ramen, I pushed my lazy-couch-potato mood aside (what a friend! hehe).

Well, hubby doesn't like eating at Ichiran because he doesn't get full from the Y650 a bowl. Konting dagdag na lang daw, pwede na kami mag eat-all-you-can.. which explains my weight gain.

looks harmless, but so deadly delicious!

Maila is not taking a test, she is just eating her ramen =p

When I arrived home, I found my hubby busy on the skype talking design stuff to his developer in Pinas. Then I saw that we had all our laundry washed and hanged and our bedsheets, pillow cases, futon cover and winter blanket fresh and cleaned from the laundrymat! He did all that while I was away and I was very impressed on how productive he is. Thank God for the PSP that kept him company while at the laundrymat. And thank God for a husband like him. =D

There is also good news tonight, because Claire is now in labor! We're very excited for the arrival of the first VPAL baby! Baby pa, bongga na, kasi tiniming niya ang pag "out" niya sa last day of work ng nanay niya!

I am so excited, I hope Darrix will keep his word to post the pics as soon as the head comes out.. ooppss ayoko ata makita vajayjay ni Claire, sige, when the baby comes out na lang! And I hope Claire will still remember us after the epidural wears off... sabi kasi nila nagiging makalimutin daw yung side effect nun... it's just like saying she will get total amnesia.. hehehe =p

Also, a long lost friend confided something to me tonight... hmmm, which I really can't tell yet. But I am so happy! I am just writing it here to mark a very special day. =D

The Good Daughter

I wrote a letter to my tita in the US because my mom told me to and because my tita wants to get my Japan postal address. I heard she and her husband is going to Europe (again!) for a vacation, so for conversation sake, I told her that Dan and I are also planning to have a vacation there because we still don't have a honeymoon yet. See, "planning" is different from "going" because with "planning" still entail "saving", "saving" and more "saving", plus "applying for vacation leaves", "applying for visa" which may either lead to actually "going" or "not going".

Then she replied like we are actually "going" and told me not to forget about my parents and that my mom told her about my "promise" to bring her and papa to Singapore. You see, I just told mom before that there's a promo fare to Singapore on May and Hubby's whole family is going there. So Hubby offered to pay for my parents so that we can get together in Singapore hopefully. And that was before all these expenses for papa's hospitalization and other stuff came in. Plus we have to book in advance to get the promo fare, but with my dad's ongoing recovery it's just impossible to do that.

Since hubby has given a LOT already since what I have is not enough for their needs, I will assume that Singapore trip they are hoping for. The fare is easy, but the pocketmoney is a different thing. And I have other things to save for this year, so it will not be an easy task for me.

What actually irks me was how my tita told me, "do not forget your parents" when I told her I may be going to this grand vacation. Am I supposed to feel guilty if my husband do able to save for our dream vacation, but I won't be able to bring them to a Singapore trip?

It even reminded me of how another aunt told me last year, "tulungan mo papa mo, ano ka ba, wala ka bang naipon?", when my dad was diagnosed with this disease and at that time might require operation. It was so hurtful to hear those words like you never did anything, like I am laying golden eggs here.

I do want to give my parents a long deserved vacation, but I just don't want to be pressured on it and I don't need the guilt trips. It makes me feel so sad that after all you have done, kulang pa rin.

Roller Coaster

I thought when you find the right person, get hitched and settle down you are finally saved of riding that emotional roller coaster ride. But I was wrong, because after finding the right person, got hitched and settled down I realized it's not yet the end of my fairy tale after all. Because I was not a princess who slept for 100 yrs nor an orphan slaved by my stepmother and sisters, well this is not a fairytale land after all.

Okay, okay before you jump into conclusions or before my lawyer friends offer me their Pro Bono divorce/annulment services, let me make this clear that I am talking about my career.

I have come to a point that I already know what I want to do with it, after 7 years of hardly threading on my chosen career path. I found the technology where I want to specialize in but it wasn't enough. This happened a year ago when I talked to the vice president of this certain firm and he told me something that confirmed what I have been thinking about for a long time but chose to ignore (because I am so lazy to move my butt), he said if you want to stay longer in this field, you have to master an industry because technology changes, but the business rules in an industry don't. It may be just part of his salestalk to lure me, along with the others, to his company but I know part of it is true.

Now, I found the industry I want to focus on and which path to choose (if there are options). I thought it was just a whim but after months of finding myself seriously looking for a job in one, it's gotta be something serious. Initially, it was just the money that I am after but after a while, I can feel it's something more than that.

I had a chance to be in a big company before I came here, but I wasn't ready and not sure if it was something I want. Plus I was still a new bride who just wanted to be with her husband. And now okay, so I know what I want but the problem now is, that something is being so elusive! To date, I have flooded my resume to all of the industry's job site, and I have talked to 5 different recruiters. I have even talked to recruiters from London and Singapore, I'm not yet sure where they got my resume and to think I only posted for Tokyo jobs (because my hubby loves working here as much as I hate it, but then I have to be with him). But all of them either rejected me, ignored me or never called again.

My first rejection was with this very big multinational company, and they have this opening in Tokyo. After the first interview, they rejected me because for them, I have an unstable employment history. I was so disappointed and it hit me like a bedrock, I sulked to my friends like a girl who just lost this almost perfect man because my records show that I am afraid of commitment. At least this man told me straight why he doesn't want me, through a very formal and beautifully written email. Then hubby tried to comfort me with "it's okay, just wait, maybe God will give you the 2nd best company." and I answered, "but I don't want the 2nd best!". See, so like a brokenhearted girl.

I feel like I'm on the dating game again because the feelings to deal with are so alike, the hopes, expectations, frustrations, waiting to death and rejections. It's also as exhausting.

Inspite of it all, I am not losing my faith. I pray for it and doing the best I can, what happens to it is not in my control already.

I am still on my journey and the roller coaster ride is definitely a part of it as well as the happy ever after.

Instant Starbucks

I'm not sure if we have this one in Pinas but I was surprised to see cups of Starbucks coffee casually displayed at a convenience store near the office. I haven't tried one yet, coz I am trying to stay away from caffeine, but if I am a coffee addict like my other friends, this would be good news for me. If you're craving for a cup of Starbucks but you don't have time to waste on a fancy coffee shop nor wait for your name to be called, for only Y210 you can get one in a dash - minus the cute barristas though.

Heaven

This is one of my favorite desserts in the whole world, Strawberry and Cream mochi. All the goodies that I love are rolled into one rounded treat, it has cake, cream, mochi and strawberry. It's not too sweet, perfect for a not-so-sweet-tooth-but-loves-desserts person like me.


They said a piece of mochi is more fatenning than a 3/4 cup of rice, but whattheheck this goody is available during winter season only and it's worth all the fats it will add on my already big hips.


Costs only Y250 and comes in a pretty take-out box. Yummy! it gives me one good reason to look forward to winter.

Bday,Bday...

I planned many new recipes to cook for Hubby's birthday, because he likes anything sweet I decided to try my hands on baking for the nth time. Cookies and Cream cupcake and chocolate cake were among the list. But on the day itself, my body hurt so, so bad from the skiing the day before. As in when I woke up I couldn't move from the pain and I was crying! I never had that kind of "pamaol" or muscle pain before, and what's worst was the Alaxan we had at home are expired. I had the day off, coz I couldn't possible bike nor walk from the pain. I may have a lot of time to cook and bake that day before Hubby got home, but most of the time was spent agonizing on the bed, I couldn't even chat with my friends coz my fingers also hurt.

Hubby did get home very early from work, bringing with him a box of japanese "salompas" that truly, truly relieves the muscle pain(for about 3 hours I think). I was also able to drink Mefanamic Acid donated by a pinay friend. It was my hubby's bday and I couldn't possibly just let it pass without even a small celebration. Even under his strict order for me not to go out so the "salompas" will work longer, I snuck out of the house while he was napping and went to the nearest grocery(Thank God for Sunny 24 hrs supermarket that's all over the place!) and bought some stuff to cook. For longlife, I cooked a very special spaghetti with mozarella, oregano and basil eklat chuvaness, with garlic bread(cream the butter, then pour in some garlic powder and salt and pepper, spread on a loaf bread and toast). Because there were no available cake in Sunny, I bought some vanilla ice cream instead, showered it with Oreo cookies(his favorite) and M&Ms chocolate (his new favorite), put on some candles and voila, an ice cream cake! (a cheaper version of Cold Rock ice cream in GB that costs P395 a cup).

27 Things I Love About Him

1. He has the most beautiful eyelashes which I envy. It is so thick that even the Shu Uemura eyelash curler couldn't curl.
   
2. I hated chest hairs but surprisingly, I find his ala Sergio chest hair really sexy.
3. He is very intelligent.
4. I have never met anyone as passionate and dedicated to his craft, a total opposite of myself.
5. In less than a year, with hardwork and "charm", he is able to master the Japanese conversation and now speaks like a native (even speaks nihongo in his dreams!).
6. But when I brought him to Makati Med Emergency, and was on drugs (the pain and muscle reliever drugs the doctors put him in), he was talking in straight english all night until the drugs wore off.
7. At grade 3, he was able to make a simple database system for his mother's office and even made his first P5,000 for it. At grade 5, he started teaching computer classes (to adults) in his tito's computer school.
   
8. At 27 he is able to establish his own company which he started 4 yrs ago (with his friends Ben and Georgia's Harley to help him with his first client), made deals with clients in US, Singapore, Japan and Philippines. Also, because of no.5, he singlehandedly, able to bring his developers to live and work here in Japan.
9. Inspite of no.8, he always tells me we are poor and we have no money (so kinda like Claire!), and I should simplify my lifestyle.
10. He knows what he wants in life and had it all planned out, but then being the businessman that he is, he already have plan B, C, D for unforseen circumstances that might happen. (actually he always have plan A, B, C, D in everything)
    
11. Even with no. 9, whenever I'm in trouble with my credit card or there is emergency at home, he provides for me with no qualms at all.
12. Not just No. 11, but when I say I really want something and I couldn't afford it, and he thinks it will make me really happy, he will surprise me with it. (and will still remind me that we have no money so I should still simplify my whims)
13. But he loves to gift me with personalized, hand-made things he made by himself, inspite of his busy schedule. That is why they are definitely more priceless!
14. On our first valentine, and he was in Japan for a business trip, he still made it a point to be memorable for me by asking his most good looking developer to dress up and go all the way from Taft to Makati to deliver the biggest bouquet of flowers I have ever seen in my entire life, which he himself designed through the power of laptop, digital camera and wi-fi.
    
15. At work he is a stern boss, but at home is is literally a baby. Talks and acts like a baby, for all those asking me, that is the reason why he calls himself "babyng smol" because at home he said he is still a small baby. It is annoying, funny and cute altogether.
    
16. He is not a sporty person, and I like it coz I wouldn't have to force myself to like to climb walls, crawl, or play this and that.
17. He may not be sporty, but he is so good at biking (one hand, no hands, fly, even wants to try unicyle).
    
18. We are just two lazy people who loves to stay home and cuddle, and we both prefer to explore a city than a beach.
19. He is very supportive of my interests and he is the main reason for my new found love on cooking and (hopefully) baking.
20. Also when I go shopping, he is not like normal men who passively sits on a sofa or rushing me to finish, instead, he helps me choose, fit or decide, no matter how girlie the stuff I am buying.
    
21. He is very, very, very, very, very, very, very patient.
22. Because of no. 21, we only had 2 fights on our more than a year of being together.
23. With all his achievements and responsibilities, he still remains simple, uncomplicated person.
24. Inspite of no. 23... it takes a very understanding, very secured woman to love and stand by him. *wink, wink*
25. With his unimposing ways, I learned how to be patient and compromise.
26. When we were just starting to be boyfriend-girlfriend, my mom warned him about my temper and tantrums, but because of his patience and "strategies" I was able to overcome this "sickness" I have since I was young. He said this is actually his greatest achievement.
27. He is two years younger than me, and I am a year older than her eldest sister. But he is way, way more matured than me.
    

Today, the man who owns to all those things I listed above turns 27. The man whom I believe God prepared me for. God couldn't have gifted me a more perfect husband than him.

I love you baby more and more everyday!

Bad Dream

This might be a season of bad dreams.

Last night, I dreamed that Hubby and I had a big fight and because of that, I got back to one of my exes (guess who!). I don't remember anymore what happened in that dream but when I woke up this morning I was crying and scared that I was looking for my husband whom I gladly found at the end of the bed dressing up for work. He hushed me and told me to get up and start getting ready for I was running late for work.

Ah, I was so relieved to be back to reality.

Too much sleeping is indeed bad for your health.

Friends

7 noon, 3 na lang ngayon...

I got so engrossed with the hustle and bussle of juggling the roles of being a wife and an employee that I forgot the other life that I was missing until I saw the pics of my highschool friends' holiday in Davao. I forgot that December is also a time of many reunions and get togethers and catching up on each other's lives. Seeing my barkada in their all-girls nightout (minus the bfs of course), doning on their sexiest gimik attire, checking out the latest hip places and reconnecting with highschool batchmates made me feel a little envious, coz I used to be present in all those events. It is just weird to realize that this is my first time to miss one and I didn't even remember that we usually have one!

I have also become too wrapped up in the technical world that I haven't touched based on my other side, coz with my high school friends, I can never talk about Java, IT companies, salaries, not even the latest PSP or Wii, otherwise, they will just give me a blank stare. It was just plainly being kikay and all that. No wonder I have become a little grumpy at times, kelangan ko na ata mag reboot. =p

I think I really have become domesticated, oh no, I am just becoming a wife... what will happen if I become a mother?

the Ateneans in green?

"highschool life oh my highschool life..."

Prayers and Camera

We say our prayers and we are awed as we see them answered. And we become happy and thankful.

But last Wednesday, I saw how it was to be on the other side, to be the instrument in making a prayer happen. Thinking about it, made me all the more believe in prayers and all its amazing ways of making it happen if it's meant to be given to you.

A month ago, a friend jokingly asked me for a digital camera, kahit na daw yung mapulot ko lang sa basura dito. Apparently, people back home still believe that the streets of Japan are filled with trashed but still usable electronic goods. Well, maybe a long time ago, but not any more now because they already put up a rule against that and they had to pay the government or sell it to a recycle shop if they want to dispose it.

I know it was just a joke but I also know that she really need it for her band's gigs and her children's activities. As much as I would want to give her one, I just couldn't spend Y20,000(cheapest I could find) or more for a gift these days as my dad got sick and all.

Last payday, I asked hubby to withdraw money from my bank so I could start my christmas shopping and send money home. When he came back, I was surprised to find the amount in my passbook to have Y10,000 more than my expected amount. I didn't exactly know where it came from, maybe it's the interest I earned all those times that my account had been idle, since my husband provides for everything I need here, I rarely withdraw from my bank unless there is emergency back home. or realistically speaking, maybe I just forgot the exact amount of how much I have there.

Then I also received a call from a pinoy friend who told me that there was Canon Powershot 7 mega pixel digital camera on sale at Kitamura for only Y10,000. Anyways, I thought I have an extra Y10,000 and a cam right on the budget, so why not seriously buy one for my friend. I know it is still too much a cost for a single gift, but I'm really supportive of my friend's calling of spreading God's love through her music. And I couldn't thank her enough for all the prayers she said for me when I'm in trouble. I was so ready and excited to grab one of those dirt cheap cameras, but unfortunately, they were sold out already when I got there.

But, but, last Sunday when I had nothing to do while waiting for Hubby to finish his meeting with his Japanese clients, I found myself in one of the recycle shop here. There I found this super cute Fine Pix camera, old but still looks new. It is also way cheaper than the other one, this may be second hand but it is still in perfect condition. So I bought it right away and because it was New Year they had this raffle at the store where I won extra store credit which I used to buy myself a hello kitty hand bag!

As I excitedly told my friend I already bought her wish, I was touched to know that it was indeed included in her kids' prayers every night and it was an answered prayer for them. I know they need it as anybody does but I never thought that they seriously wanted one. No wonder, everything just happened smoothly until I found one that is perfect for them and for what I could only afford.

This may be a simple story, but it's a simple way of reassuring us that God indeed listens to our prayers. Especially now that it's the start of the year and many of us are already making plans, or even confused on how to plot their lives for this year. Some of our prayers might be answered, some may not. But if it is meant to be, it will happen.

Years back, I didn't understand my friend's decision of choosing her life now than all those tempting offers laid before her(she could have been in showbiz now), but that is where her heart is and where she believes she should be. She said she may not have a lot but she is sure that He will provide. The camera is just one simple thing and she had been through a lot more that will really prove that He indeed provides.

Each of us has a purpose and a path to take and we have goals we want to achieve, and we can also stumble upon challenges along the way, but if we just continue praying and believing, then we have nothing to worry about.

I Miss Cebu too...

While reading Mau's blog about Sinulog and the new happenings in Cebu, I felt a tinge of nostalgia and there is no more denying that I really miss that beautiful city where I lived for 4 years. How I left the place left some not so good memories and experience that there was a phase that I was so afraid of going back there and face the mess that I left off. But now, oh boy I really, really wanna go back there again and check out the place, and of course attend the much awaited Sinulog!

Aside from the non existent pollution and the urban but laid-back life, I love Cebu because that is where I first learned of independence. I stepped foot on that city for the first time 7 years ago with no idea on how to do the laundry, ironing, cooking, ride the jeep, budgeting or even cleaning my stuff for I was so used to having maids around me and parents and grandparents telling me what to do, where to go... I couldn't even speak Cebuano very well, I didn't have any plan of learning it coz I grew up with the notion that speaking in bisaya is baduy (well that was how it was in Davao or at least in my school). I was also overwhelmed with the freedom I had, for all my life I was always too sheltered and life was too routinary. But I was often found crying because I missed my dad, and my guy housemates would tell me their comforting words, "kelangan mo lang ng boyfriend.". And that was how the metamorphosis started (with a buffet of freedom plus the need for a boyfriend, you know what happens next) ;P.

Now, I can perfectly survive by myself and I can even feed another mouth with my cooking skill. I can speak Cebuano better than Tagalog, and very comfortable using the dialect (well if you want to survive and enjoy the city and its fabulous inhabitants, you gotta master the dialect or else mabaligya jud ka). The closest people in my heart are those fabulous ones I made friends there. Plus, I managed to go around with their very complicated Jeepney Route System by... learning to ride the taxi! Hence, I really can't say if I finally learned to budget.

But the most important things I learned from my stay there were the lessons on life and love, which would have been impossible to learn if I was just safely tucked in Davao. Cebu was my brewing pot where all the right decisions and mistakes I made that rooted from all that freedom are what built my character now.

When the Hongkong honeymoon Hubby and I planned didn't push through, I suggested that we go to Cebu instead, but he didn't want to and asked me, "hindi ka pa ba nagsawa sa Cebu?".

Well, I guess you'll never have enough of home.

To Ski or or not to Ski

The pinoys here are planning to drive up to Tenzan Highland in Saga for some skiing adventure. The price is a little steep for Y6000 (or 2300 pesos) per beginner plus we have to chip in for the gas so I am contemplating if Hubby and I should go. I am not kuripot nor have I sulked in to my shell and bade goodbye to adventures BUT it's just because of these horror stories Hubby tells me about skiing. He said he saw one person who learned to split instead of ski and tore her pants in the process. And I don't want that to happen to me kasi kakabili ko lang nung pants ko sa GAP and it's so darn hard to shop for a pair of pants! and also he told me that I'll get body sore after and I will surely be absent from work the next day. When I said, I'll just rent a sled, he just teased me more with "sinong hihila ng sled mo?" and when I said I will just sled like that video I saw of Jan W., he said "mag sled ka pababa tapos ndi ka na makahinto, tuloy-tuloy na hanggang sa pinakababa hanggang mawala ka na." - que horror.

So what should I do? The closest ice activity I had was ice skating in mega mall, and that wasn't even a nice experience to relate to, that is why I'm not sure if all his stories can really happen to me coz I don't have a single idea on skiing.

Is it worth trying? will I enjoy it? should we go or not?

Frozen Delight

Last Sunday we went to Canal City to return our Coleman air bed because after 2 months of use, it suddenly gave up on us. We just woke up that morning, sank in the floor. Our other pinoy friends who bought the same air bed also had theirs returned for the same reason but they had theirs exchanged with new units right away. But on our case, Coleman had to investigate it for some time due to the many returned cases, all by pinoys. (ano ba kasi ang ginagawa ng mga pinoy sa kama nila) =p Well, yesterday, Coleman gave us a call and informed us that they're giving us a replacement but it will be the last one. So now, hubby and I are cramping ourselves in our single futon while we wait for the our new bed, not that we're complaining hehe.

Anyways highway, on our way to the store we passed by Glico Ice cream vendo! It's our favorite ice cream, I personally like it better than Hagen Daaz actually (mas barato man gud hihi). So even if it was freezing cold, we still couldn't resist the inviting vendo lights. We gave in to temptation and grabbed two for our hearts content, may heater naman yung mall so ma-eenjoy pa rin namin yung ice cream. Oh it's been a while since I last had a stick of my super favorite, Glico Chocolate Mint Ice cream! That sweetness of chocolate and the right tinge of mint, makes me want to live here in Japan forever or better yet, buy myself my very own Glico vendo. What I like about this ice cream is, it doesn't melt easily, so I can take my lovely time eating it without having to worry about being bulingit.

simple pleasure for Y120

Holiday Shots

How we managed to celebrate our first holiday together...

went to our favorite Yakiniku place after a very, very busy work day

traditional xmas party with manito-manito with pinoy friends

goofing around with my best gift ever

eat again at New Couria buffet restaurant

shopped for my boots! (fatness is the result of all the eating)

another strolling and shopping at Tenjin Chikagai (subway)

Go With the Craze

This is how the queue at the cashier at the Games Department of Yodobashii looked like awhile ago. Apparently, the Japanese are not yet done with their New Year shopping. And this is the busiest floor in the store, where people are lining up for the latest DS Lite, PSP Slim, Wii Fit and game softwares. We also bumped into a pinoy friend who was buying his Bleach Anime Figures.

I guess it's the DS Lite, PSP fever that brought the people here. I am not a game lover and didn't have any plan of partaking with the craze, but last night during the party that we attended, everyone had their own PSP Slim (because Sony just released the PSP Slim Deep Red Value Pack) and were busy playing Tekken. And the other friends kept lending me their PSPs and convincing me to make Dan buy one for me or for us. I thought I was a hard nut to crack on this one, but when they showed me that I can play The Sims 2, with my very own pink or lavander colored PSP Slim plus I can also connect to Wi-Fi and surf the internet, I conceded. It's not that expensive here anyway, so hindi masakit sa budget.

So this afternoon, I went with the flow that lead me to Yodobashii. I originally wanted a pink PSP, but Hubby asked for a compromise, since he said anything but pink, I chose Lavander.. =D
It is soo beautiful, so cute... I haven't played with it yet but simply looking at it makes me swoon.

As of this moment, Hubby brought it at Lex house to downgrade the software so it can play P games. Since he is the only one around here who can do it.

As I've said, i'm not a gamer so let's see how long this baby is gonna last on my hands.

Lavander PSP Slim

VPAL Global Kriss Kringle Result

Hehe parang lotto result. =D

Anyways, congratulations my dear VPALs for our first successful Kriss Kringle! I never thought we could pull this off so well even with some glitches on the side. Speaking of side, here's a side note: I officially hate the Philippine Postal Service! My gift to Mau hasn't arrived yet and I'm no longer expecting it will. Stupid me for being optimistic on our Notorious Postal Service and sent the gift through ordinary parcel mail when the Japanese postman promised that the longest it will take to arrive in the Philippines is 20 days for a futsu mail. My wiser kunsensya was telling me "lumluman pa na sa custom and kung magustuhan goodbye na", while the kinder one hoped, "hindi naman takaw sa mata ang box ko, plus sa Makati naman ipapadala and I still believe that Filipinos are still worth dying for.." But, 48 years na ang nakakaraan wala pa rin. And what made it even worse was when I asked my cousin to call Makati Post Office to inquire and this is what the person on the other line said "Ma'am kung ordinary mail wala pong assurance na makakarating." Itaga nyo yan sa bato, even better, gawin nyong motto before even thinking of sending something back home. I couldn't believe it, our Postal Service couldn't even promise to deliver the most fundamental reason why they are there. So when I lost all my hopes, I crammed to buy Mau another gift in the middle of a very, very busy work week, so Maila could bring it when she left for her christmas vacation.

Oopps, I got carried away with my side note. I just actually wanted to thank my Mommy Claire for the fabulous gifts from the fabulous US of A. Obvious talaga ang pagkakikay ko sa gifts niya. A complete set of Morning and Evening Olay Regenerist plus 3 kinds of Burts Bees tinted Lip Balm! from the wishlist talaga.

Since santa said I've been good this year, may bonus pa na package from Europe! Royal Mail pa, which made me feel like the wife of Prince William na may matching messenger pa na naka kabayo hehehe.

Salamat Georgia!

2 in 1 perfume with bolang krystal or sosyal na bato ni Darna?
(kidding aside, the smell is like you're fresh out from the shower)

Plus I also received a snail mail christmas card from Maricris, since it was addressed to Dan and Me, it was officially the first christmas card we received as a couple.

Call me old-fashioned but what made the gifts and cards more exciting was it came in snail mail which we very seldom use nowadays. The hand-written envelopes, and cards gave it a more personal touch, I even found myself telling Hubby "ito pala writing ni Crys noh?" or "pang electrical engineer lagi writing ni Georgia." and of course it made me miss my friends even more.

To VPALs, thank you for the wonderful years of friendship!

Sale, Sale, Sale

I just found out the best time to go shopping in Japan, it's after the New Year (I think Jan 2-3) where all the stores go on sale and I mean super sale! I was surprised to see Tenjin overflowing with people bringing along lots and lots of shopping bags. One thing that is popular now is what they call the Happy Bag, it is a bag or box of goodies from different brands that actually costs around Y30,000-Y50,000 but sold for only Y10,000. The brand that was sold out first was Nike, where you can have a sweat pants, jacket, sweater, etc(I forgot the other stuff inside) for only Y10,000. I got Hubby a Dunlop Bag with a more formal, business styled jackets and shirts inside for his birthday. If only Shu Uemura or Bobbi Brown had a Happy Bag, I could have gotten one for myself hehe.

Bic Camera also had their own version of a more exciting Happy Bag, they had ipod for Y4,990, 8 mega pixel Digicam for Y19800, Digicam plus a printer for Y23,000, Laptop plus a printer for i think Y90,000 or less. I wanted to buy their Happy Bag of 5 mega pixel digital camera for only Y9800 (a gift for my friend in davao sana) but they ran out of it when we got there. Umaga pa lang daw naubos na, zannen desu ne.

GAP was also on sale and it was so filled with eager-to-spend Japanese. I didn't buy anything coz I have already finished buying gifts for my friends, and I didn't find anything interesting enough to make me squeeze in to the long queue. Louis Vitton was also interestingly crowded, parang SM lang sya sa Pinas that it didn't look like the goods cost an arm and your two legs.

Nakakahawa ang energy ng mga Hapon kanina, but too bad I had no reason to shop anymore(plus Yahoo Dome flea market is just a week away), but I know better now so next year I will wait for the after new year to buy my gifts. =)

Cold Pasta Salad

I discovered this dish new to my taste buds when we were in this fab buffet restaurant at Canal City, and the line to the tacos was long, so I tried this what they call Pasta Salad for appetizer instead. I don't really like pasta on mayonaise but surprisingly, I loved it. I love the taste of garlic, vinegar, cucumber and tomatoes together.

Last night, I had a craving for it, so I made my own version of Cold Pasta Salad. Hubby hates anything with mayonaise(like he never touches macaroni salad) and vinegar, but he got curious of what I was eating, tried it and was able to finish one bowl and just then did I tell him the truth which he answered with a shock, "huh? may mayonoaise at suka pala yun??" then shrugged it off with "sige gawaan mo pa ako ng isa pa please..".

Oh my, one of my resolution for 2008 is to lose weight, but I can't help it, I just love cooking and eating. The New Year hasn't quite kicked in yet and I'm about to break one of my resolutions. tsk tsk.

Anyways for those who are curious to try this Pasta Salad, let me share with you the recipe.

Ingredients:
Pasta (spaghetti, curly, macaroni, etc..)
Cucumber cubed (optional)
Carrots minced (optional)
Tomatoes cubed (optional)
Bell Pepper minced
Parsley
fried bacon

for the sauce:
1 cup mayonaise
2 tsp cider vinegar
dash of sugar
salt and pepper to taste
onion powder
garlic powder

How to:
Cook the pasta. Mix the vegetables and bacon with it. Then cover it with the sauce. Shower it with parsley and lots and lots of Parmesan cheese! Add some croutons and chill (or not, you can eat it right away if you want).

New Year, New Shoes

Thank God the japanese take New Year seriously, at least we can celebrate one normal holiday (coz we had to work during Christmas). We have almost a week off and free from work related stuff! That is why I was so excited to make my first Buena Noche, I didn't mind the very strong wind and the drizzle of snow(masakit pala tumama sa mukha ang snow) while I biked to the nearest grocery to get some ingredients. Added bonus to my bravery was most of the things in the store was on sale! I was able to buy 300g of ground pork for Y70, half a kilo of fresh strawberries for Y147 (that usually costs Y400-Y700) , Beef meat for Y350, 5 bell peppers for Y200 (believe me that's already on sale, I'm not sure why bell peppers are always expensive anywhere) and 4 carrots for Y100.

I made Pork Embutido and Beef Mechado for the main course. I highly recommend the Mechado recipe I got from here! It's delicous! I followed the recipe to the T and just added sugar and cheese to suit my taste. Hubby kept reheating the Mechado leftover until there was none left. About the embutido, well I love all embutidos, so I'm not the best judge for that, but I gave some to our Pinoy kapitbahays as New Year gift, and they are still alive and never called in for some complaints so I guess I did a pretty good embutido.

The best part was, I made my first ever cake! Emphasis on the word "made" coz I didn't bake it. I just bought a ready made chiffon cake, powdered whip cream which I just mixed with milk and vanilla. And Loaded it with lots and lots of strawberries inside. When I was piping the frosting, I realized I have no calling at the pastry department. I just couldn't make a decent shape so I just asked our housemate Jhen to do the honors in decorating after I painstakingly covered the cake with icing. (ang hirap pala!). I also bought a ready to use pencil icing (it's just a pastic shaped into a pencil with colored pink icing inside) which I intended to use for lettering. But the cold weather froze the icing inside that made it so hard to write with. So ended up writing "Hapi 8" instead of "Happy New Year 2008". My sweet toothed Hubby finished the cake faster than New Year to finish.

my first ever cake

After dinner, Hubby and I went to Canal City to see the New Year countdown, but because of the bad weather it was canceled. So we just walked around showered with snow, and my feet was kept warm with my new boots Hubby bought for me as a New Year gift. Yes, I finally found a pair of boots that fit my big "bagtak". Actually, I already gave up the search when yesterday after mass, while walking around Tenjin, Hubby and I passed by a shoe store that was on sale. Where I found this pair that according to the price tag originally costs Y9500 then dropped to Y5000, then to Y3000 until Y2900 when I found it! It fits so great and so comfortable to walk on. It feels sexy wearing them. =)

"look ma, boots and skinny jeans that fit!"

Happy New Year indeed.