Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Starting to Feel the Stress...
It's just Tuesday yet I am getting stressed out already.
My week started with a whole day seminar-workshop for our company's ISO certification, and I, being the QMR for the Eng'g/Tecnhical Dept. is feeling the stress that goes with the preparation. The tasks ahead of me seems overwhelming, considering our department is the core of the company. Sure, we have in the design consultancy business for 16 years now, the procedure we have been following has never been properly documented. Now the burden of having to document everything from the detailed design procedure of each eng'g field of specializaiton to production of drawings is all in my hands. Seems easy thing to do huh? But with our wed preps...gosh! it's only 53 days to go! WAAHHH!!! I'm getting stressed!!! Proof: nagkaron me ng pimples!!! ASar! Buti na lang di cya lumabas nung prenups sked namin...i wanted to have another TMU, but with these pimples, i don't know when can I sked it...
Invites...these are my major concern. Talked to Raquel of C2...promised her to give the entourage list supposedly today, but we can't make it because of work and John is in Bulacan for their raket. Somehow, I was relieved because our ISO Meeting (again) was moved from Wednesday morning to Thursday afternoon...at least I can take a half-day of from work to drop by C2 and tunover the list. I still have to print some of our prenup pics for the invites...
Flowers....still my concern after we saw the flower arrangement of Sta. Rita for weddings. I (without John's consent..hehe!) finally decided to upgrade the setup for the church. My officemate (too bad she was just hired last Feb), was once a florist at Manila Pen, and she gave me tips on how to put some style in the church at the same tim e be able to use the flower arrangement as additional arrangement at Patio Ibarra. Her estimate is around 1k, the same price for an upgrade at Patio Ibarra for our gazebo. At least I can use the same arranngement both for the church and the reception. That would lessen a bit the guilt of going against John's stand on the issue. "Dagdag gastos pa pag nagpa-upgrade tayo", John remarked when I told him I want to upgrade the flowers in Sta. Rita. But the floral setup depresses me so much!! I jsut have to upgrade on the flowers. And that's final! ;-)
So many things to do but so little time....I thought I can handle this all by myself...now I'm starting to entertain thoughts of getting an OTD. Our target ISO implementation of new procedures is in June (naman! of all months, June pa!)...and for certification before the company's anniversary in October. But our budget seems on the max already...our big B has not been given yet...oh my!! Sana we can still squeeze in the OTD fee...
Haayyy!!!I can only sigh, hope and pray that I can still manage everything. I know God is great...He will see me through all these...;-)
joy [1:02 PM]
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1 Greeted us:
yup, God is indeed great. easy lang girl... things will work out ok for you guys. hinga lang muna. :)
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Thursday, April 21, 2005
UPDATES...and some rantings...
58 days to go till the big day...
so far, we've booked all the necessary suppliers...done with our church seminar...filed our marriage license (will pick up on May 2)...
i'vegot 18 Things in my To-Do list...will take one step at a time. My main concern is, of course, the payment...i just our big "B" will be given soon. Everyone in the office is praying for that.
Almost forgot to include in my wedtargets...we need to visit Mang Ferdinand, our florist a Dangwa. John and I saw the floral arrangement at Sta. Rita last Sunday (before our Faith Cathechesis Seminar). I DON"T LIKE IT!!! Walang dating! Nyar!!! Kahit naman wala akong arte sa katawan and and di mahilig sa flowers (bawal sa may asthma)...hay naku! I can never appreciate the setup done by the in-house florist of Sta. Rita. Super proud pa siya na may plantation sila sa Tagaytay ha! Ngeks naman mga flowers nya! Prang tinusok na lang basta ...and the white decor! Nay!! Dapat ibabad sa TIDE WITH BLEACH para pumuti!!! Kawawa naman ung other couples na he forced to have their floral arrangment with him...gusto ko sabihin...GIRLS!!! Di nyo ba nakita ang setup??? Even John commented on the arrangement done. We really need to go to Dangwa soon!!! Pa-upgrade for church setup...
joy [11:26 AM]
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4 Greeted us:
yikes! takot naman ako....we'll check out..pag di talaga ok ask for rescue ako sa florist ko. :)
goodluck with your "to-do list"! :) lapit na! :)
Uy si Joy, malapit na din matapos sa preps! Galeeeng!
bilis, bilis
hanap na ng flowers :)
went to dangwa with hubby... asked diff. people give us quotations...
yung stall no. 26... si mang ver, mukha naman mabait and mababa sya magbigay ng quotes... can't vouch pa lang for the products...
yung stall no. 12 naman, si mang marlon, mas mahal yung quotes na binigay kay mang boy (stall no. 16)
:D
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Monday, April 18, 2005
Freak Accident
They say that soon-to-weds are prone to accidents...with fellow June bride Mari's car accident, it's quite frightening, but thankful to the Lord for His protection, she was spared from that fatal one. Just this morning on our way to work, John and I had a freak accident...but thankful still that we were not hurt, especially for John.
John, who is staying in our house for the meantime for our preps, and I were on our way to work when the tricycle we were riding bumped into another tricycle, whose driver just avoided a car which suddenly overtook him (I say that car driver was stupid and careless for overtaking in a narrow barangay street!). In effect, the tricycle behind us bumped into our tricycle. Good thing that the accident only involved tricycles and the impact was not that hard. Had it been cars in front and at our back, it would have been a different story. Good thing also John had great reflexes or else his leg would have been sandwiched betweent the collision. He was at the back coz a woman was seated beside me inside the trike.
God is truly kind and ever-protective. After my niece's and our freak accident, it makes e even more assured of God's ever-loving presence in our lives...all I can say is Thank You LORD! I know you are always with us!
joy [5:05 PM]
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3 Greeted us:
good thing nothing really bad happened to you. i remember having an accident riding a tricycle and ended up with a big bump on my knee. buti na lang yun lang. =D
hope your niece is feeling better. =)
Thanks Dionne! We're really thankful nothing bad happened. My niece is doing fine already, might be discharged from the hospital today. Praise God! ;-)
aww sis
am sooo thankful for you and john that you were both lucky and got away unharmed...
i guess you really should start taking better care of yourselves... nde na kasi kayo responsible for your own self alone, kundi to the other na din (lalo na, the other's happiness)
my prayers go to all of us w@wies who have faith enough to take the plunge, and propagate something as magically challenging as marriage :) may God keep us all safe...
(and thanx sa support sa blog ko... am cool with reminders to not get carried away... mas bad trip yung wala man lang iniiwang contact info, kasi parang the intention lang is to make you feel more down... nde constructive at all)
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Of Near-Deaths and God's Promise
Last Saturday, while John and I were watching a movie in Gateway, my fone started to buzz, got a call from our house. In a most discrete voice, I answered the call...it was my mom, in a very urgent but firm voice...told me that there was an emergency. My immediate concern was my sister, who has a heart ailment which made her resign from work and just stay at home. Her ailment is really a concern for us, and that call from my mom again sparked that fear for my sister, but it was not my sister but my niece...my inaanak, one of my bridesmaids, a 17-year old girl fresh out of high school. She was rushed to the hospital because she supposedly passed out in their room...her kid brother found out when she called her for dinner. It was a blessing that my nephew Augie found her ate on time...still conscious but lying on the floor and was still able to talk to him. Based on their account, my nephew hurriedly fetched his mama and told what happened. Good thing we did not bring our car when John and I went to Pasay to inform one of our PS....my cousin (father of my niece) and his wife,together wih a kin, rushed her first to a doctor, but the doc was not there. They finally decided to bring her to Heart Center...best decision! Her mama recounted that my niece's hands and feet were already turning blue, indication of loss of oxygen, but thank God was still conscious but had difficulty breathing. My other niece, who is studying to be nurse, unfortunately was not there...but God was really very kind. My niece was able to reach the hospital in time... and still conscious. My biggest fear when I heard the news was that she might lose consciousness on the way to the hospital... a very bad indication of loss of oxygen in the brain which will lead to comatose (just like the late Terri Schiavo) or worse death (God forbid!). Oddly, I accepted the news calmly, but I immediately whispered a prayer to God to bless and help my niece and that she'll not pass out before reaching the hospital, as Heart Center is a little bit far from our house. I know that God works miracles...and in my niece's case, we all believed and very thankful to God for doing one. On our way to the hospital, I texted my sister at home and asked for the latest news, unfortunately, they were not able to bring any celfone. I was relieved when I saw my cousin's wife still calm but looked very much concerned. Thank God my niece was okay at the ER, but needs to be brought to the ICU because her heart rhythm was very erratic, plus she also has a heart ailment just like us (one of the valves don't close properly)....and she only has one kidney left (the other was taken out due to a tumor when she was barely a year old)...truly a miracle kid, if I may say.
When I saw her at the ER, she was smiling...her usual jovial self...goofing around with her cousin who carried her to the hospital. I cannot imagine her in any state other that that. Thank you, Lord! Around 10pm , she was wheeled to the ICU to closely monitor her condition. Her eldest sister was already there, at least she can take care of her sis and, as a nursing stude, she will be able to report to us (esp to my sister-nurse in NY) everything, most epecially the doctor's prognosis.
After everything was settled at the ICU,we all went home around 11pm...her parents, John and me. They recounted to us what happened...from the house on the way to the hospital. I was extremely suprised with myself coz I was unusually calm and not crying! Scenarios like these always break my composure...these always remind me when we brought our dad to the same hospital 6 years ago...just one day then he died the next. Everytime I remember the last hours of my dad in the ICU, I could not control my tears...just me, my sister and my mom waiting for the last breath of my dad...it was the biggest trauma for us! I shudder everytime I go to Heart Center...I avoided going to a hospital for sometime...I also stopped watching ER on TV...and the faintest sound of a beeping device sends shivers down my spine. With what happened to my niece, I dreaded that the trauma will be back...thankfully, it didn't. I guess my dad's demise taught and made me to constantly hold to God's presence in difficult times...that no matter what happens, He will never leave nor forsake us....that if you just complete faith in Him, He will see you through your darkest hours.
Saturday's events made me even more confident of God's promise. Truly God very kind and merciful! My cousin's wife told us that when she finally got to talk to her daughter (my niece), she told her "Mama, isinasama na ako ni Daddy." They also call our dad as Daddy and our mom as Mommy, too. I had goosebumps when I heard this! I only read and heard about people at near-death seeing dead relatives fetching them...now I now it's true! My niece had a near-death experience...but through prayers and God's mercy, she was saved.
Now, she's still in Pedia-ICU but is doing better and enjoying her stay in the hospital...she has asked one of the nurses for Cartoon Network...as if nothing happened. Hopefully when her heart is already stable, she'll be transferred to a room...and soon be sent home....a new life...but always in Christ's loving care and mercy.
joy [2:26 PM]
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Baking 101 with John
For some lighter and yummier side of things...
I brushed up on my baking skills(?) last Monday night with my attempt to make Sans Rival...o di ba? Ambitious!! ;-) The thought came up when, after making leche flan last Saturday night, as requested by my mom, I had a bowl of eggwhites left in the fridge waiting to spoil (as always have been everytime I make leche flan). Sayang naman when it will all get down the drain...hirap pa naman mag-separate ng egg yolks sa whites and ang mahal na ng eggs huh! So I went to browse over my collection of recipes and voila!!! A recipe for Anchor Butter Sans Rival which called for 14 egwhites! Perfect! Thats what's exactly in the bowl...and so I jotted down the ingredients which I had to buy...butter, milk and 6 more eggs (yolks only). The rest are in the fridge and my baking pantry...always ready the next time I took fancy in baking some goodies...flour, cashew nuts, cream of tartar, and sugar. The ingredients were ready for Sunday baking, I was hoping I can bake it Sunday night after our seminar at Sta. Rita, but I was so sleepy and tired because John and I still went to SM North and got our Unity Candle from Acclaim. Our dinner at Shakey's only added to my sleepy state...dami kc kinain...Caesar's salad, pizza and a tall glass of strawberry super shake! Yummy!! Kaya pagdating sa house, tulog na lang...;-)
I promised I will definitely bake it Monday...and as soon as I get home from work, I immediately got the butter outside the fridge to soften it, and after dinner I took out the rest of the ingredients to let them stand at room temperature (an SOP in baking). After washing the dishes (it was my turn everynight), I proceeded with my baking task...took out my baking pans, mixing bowls, measruring cups and hand mixer (I still have to save for my much-dreamt of Kitchen Aid stand mixer), and washed them clean. John saw me preparing and ever-helpful in everything I do, asked me what can he do to help. SO I asked him to separate the eggs and save the eggyolks (I hate this work...hehe!). I started beating the eggwhites with cream of tartar to achieve the stiff peaks needed...grabe ang tagal pala nun. My arm was getting tired of holding the mixer and making sure the cord won't get into the mix. While I was mixing this, I instructed John to brush the baking pans with butter and then dust it with flour. The butter thing he quickly did, but when it came to dusting the flour, he went "Duh? Pano un?" Cympre he doesn't know a thing about baking and its terms, so I thought of a layman's term to explain it to him, and being both in parallel fields (engineering and acrchitecture), I quickly said "Hon ung dusting eh para kang nagsasabog ng cement pag nagpapalitada...", to which he replied "Ah ok...alam ko na!" Haayy!!! Gawin bang construction ang pagbe-bake! Hehehe! But to come to think of it, baking is just like contructing a house...you need the exact quantities to make it stand....and so this started my Baking 101 lessons for John. I'm so glad because I will get to bake more often because I have a kitchen partner na to help me out. ;-)
Back to baking...when I achieved the desired consistency of the eggwhites, I asked for the cashews which John himself had measured and chopped using the grinder. After folding them into the mix, I immediately spooned it into the pans which John had dusted perfectly well (galing ko mag-explain!!). John volunteered to level out the mix using the spatula...galing!! I told him," Galing mo hon ah! Pwede ka na...pwede ka na maging mason!" Hehehe! Off to the oven the pans went...had to wait for 30 minutes for this...
Meanwhile, I creamed the butter and milk for frosting, and as soon as the cake was baked and cooled, John again did the frosting on the cake. Had a hard time coz the supposedly chewy wafer turned out a little soft, parang Mercedes de Brazo...mejo makapal kc pag-spread sa pan (k2 pans lang kc, dapat 3) and as my officemate told me, dapat daw 200 deg. F ang temperature (the recipe called for 300 deg F for 30 minutes). Eh I just followed the instructions to the letter! Anyway, I just had to make do with that...at least I know I'll be able to bake a Brazo next time! ;-)
So after frosting the meringue and decorating it with chopped cashew nuts, we freezed my own version of Sans Rival, ready to be eaten the next day.
The following morning, I checked on the Sans Rival to see if it hardened. Well, it did not...just the frosting. But the meringue was not really soft nor stiff either. I sampled a little slice and it tasted very good!! The meringue layer sort of melts in your mouth and the butter frosting was not too sweet...just right to the taste! I was very happy with my Sans Rival! John tasted it too and he liked it, so were my officemates when I brought some slices for them to judge. Thankfully, they appreciated my baked goodie despite the soft meringue. Next time I will do it again, but will decrease the oven temperature to 200 deg. F, specially for baking meringues. I also learned about this from Heny Sison's cooking show when she baked sylvannas.
Nonetheless, my Sans Rival was a hit! I felt so accomplished and proud because my family and friends liked it, but moreso because John and I baked this together and he praised me (as always) for my baking. ;-) My next project: SYLVANNAS (the Heny Sison recipe) !!!
joy [4:33 PM]
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1 Greeted us:
Yan ang frustration ko talaga, ever since, mag-bake :(
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One Hot Tuesday...
This is a wholesome read... hehehe! This is just an account of our trip to NSO.....moreso a ranting of a bride-to-be going through the agony of document procurement...
Yesterday, John and I went to NSO to apply for copies of our birth certificates and CENOMAR. I was not supposed to go with him since I did not file a leave from the office, but early in the morning, our water pump broke down and I have to wait for the water delivery, which came around 730am....seemed like a warning of more disappointing things to come....
Because it was already late for me, I decided to take a half-day off from work so I can accompany John to NSO. We arrived there around 10 am. GOSH!!! I was overwhelmed by the multitude of people filing for various documents. The place was hot, the mist fans were not really that effective to make it more comfortable. Good thing I always bring my ever-reliable pamaypay. Came in very handy...and great also we brought mineral water...the atmosphere can make you dehydrated due to the heat! Argh!! I had to bear two hours of waiting....I had to make sure my asthma puff was in my bag just in case I had asthma attack, which for sure I'm gonna have...
The process was orderly in a way...some people were not, sad to say!! It can be so annoying because while there were Q-numbers given out and being flashed on the screen so you know when it's your turn to line-up, some people still go to the line even when it was not yet their turn! Pasaway!!! John and I had a hard time squeezing into the queue because of these people who stood along the aisle waiting...haayyy!!! Mainit na nga ang paligid, iinit pa ulo mo!!
Our Q-number was 2117, and the numbers flashed on screen was only 1800 when we got seated...thankfully we were able to get some seats! I braced myself for a long wait...so I amused myself by observing other people's antics and listening to other's kwentos...sorry, can't help overhearing them. ;-) Finally, after about an hour of being seated, our number was among flashed on the screen, and so we made our way to the line.....still with those pasaway people, much to my dismay! Haayy!!! Just when will people ever follow the rules...
Finally, our forms were screened...we filed for 2 copies each of our birth certificates and one each for CENOMAR. I thought the screening process involved checking on the computers if your names are registered with the NSO... but no!! All the lady at the table did was make check marks using her ballpen all the items you filled in the form, then off you go to the next step. She never even bothered to look at you nor ask you if you were the one filing....she was like a checker in a department store counter...should have changed that process to FORM CHECKING (as in literally check by pen)!
Off to the next step we went...and with the same Q-number, we had to wait for our turn to line up for payment this time. Of all the counters there (from 25 to 47), only around 10 were open...and since it was nearing lunchtime, most were closing for a break! Oh no! I asked John if they'd be closing for lunchbreak, and he said no. Thank goodness! I can no longer wait for an hour more in that place...my head began to ache and I was in the brink of an asthma attack. At last our number was among those flashed, and I jumped on my seat and hurriedly lined up, unmindful that John was not behind me pala. That time, only 5 counters were open....I just have to be very patient coz konting tiis na lang. At last I was in front of the counter, and the girl behind it was quick in the process even though she looked like a trainee only. In a few minutes, I was done with the payment...cost us 860 pesos for those documents. I quickly went to see John waiting for me near the exit, and I made a big sigh of relief when we were outside....ahhh!!! (Not so) fresh air!! It was 12nn already, our stomachs were grumbling and I was dying to make a pee! The short walk to nearby Chowking was quite a task! I was so tired, and with the heat of the noontime sun, I thought I was going to faint. Finally Chowking at last! When we entered, grabe haba pila!! Oh no! Not again...
joy [3:03 PM]
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Joy, alam mo ganun ang inendure ko nung nag-file ako sa NSO for our Marriage Contract. Naku, pati sa PRC ganyan! Grabe no????
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Thursday, April 07, 2005
Some Prenup Pics and A Lot of Side Kwentos...
John and I had so much fun with our prenups with Vignette photographer Mang Henry. I also had my TMU with Bronson of Midane Salon.
Side kwento about my TMU...although I like his make-up on me, the hairstyle 'di ko masyado feel. Now I know why Serg disliked her hair when she had TMU with them. Para kong conehead pala when I saw the pics na naka-side ako..inis! Sakit pa kc sobra dami pins he put on my hair...kapal kc hair ko, mahaba pa. John called me nga donya....ngek! I wish he'd change my hairstyle on my wedding. Bronson (astig ang name noh pero mas mahinhin pa cya sakin!!) was telling me yesterday "Ay mam maganda yan kasi lalagyan ko pa yan real flowers as accent sa wedding day mismo", in a very sof-spoken and ladylike manner (mas astig pa ko magsalita...hehehe). I'll see on the wedding day if it will turn out beautiful with my veil and tiara. In fairness to him(her), I like his attitude when doing MU. He came on time at Vignette Studio, was even ahead us. Tahimik cya mag-work, so every now and then I ask him about make-up and all... wala kasi ako alam sa make-up so chika ko cya about his work.
Prior to the TMU, we had our canonical interview at Sta. Rita in the morning. It was okay naman...asked all my concerns regarding the wedding. I thought Fr. Manny was kinda strict but he can be funny sometimes. When it was my turn being interviewed, he told me some things which need to be reassessed in our relationship...nad I respect his opinion about it. Ms. Alma Mariano, the lady counselor, also had some valuable insights for us during a pre-counselling she did, while we were waiting for the first couple to be finished being interviewed by Fr. Manny. There was some sort of compatibility test where John and I answered separately...most of the items proved our compatibility (dapat lang di ba?), and for this I was relieved that we really think on the same wavelength...hehehe! ;-)
After our interview, we proceeded to Vignette Photo Studio in Midland Plaza beside Robinson's Ermita, and so I decided we take our lunch there to avoid the traffic, lest we might get late for our 2pm appointment with Midane. On the way to Vignette, John and I had a slight asaran...I kinda got peeved with him coz I was telling him about the route going to Vignette as told to me by Ms. Fe, but instead of turning to Taft Ave., he turned right to Kalaw...and I asked him if he was sure about it. Ok fine, basta we need to enter M. Adriatico so we can park at the 3rd level of Midland. Then he told me, "Ayun na ang Robinsons...", so I asked him again, "Adriatico na yun?", he answered "Faura yata...". So I said, "Dapat sa Adriatico tayo kasi dun ang entrance ng parking sa Midland." So he made a left turn instead of diretso "Eh di hanapin...", but Manila has lots of one-way streets (darn it!), so instead of getting near Midland, we ended up going farther... To make the long story short, we went around the whole route again, and that time I was getting peeved already coz it's almost 1pm and we still havent had lunch...we still have to buy pa white shirts fo the prenups. I told John "Ikaw kasi di ka nakinig sa sinabi ko kanina dapat sa Taft tayo kasi un ang sabi sakin", to which John retorted "Eh andun na tayo malapit sa RObinsons kanina, ayaw mo pa." Nakasimangot na ko...salubong na ang kilay...nagsusuplada na....and I know John was starting to get peeved na rin me because I kept on ranting in the car. Mejo tumaas na boses nya, pero trying to be cool pa rin....Tumahimik na lang ako kc I know John seldom gets angry...he's very pasensyoso with my moods. Na-guilty naman ako kasi I just remembered the words of Ms. Alma (the counselor), "Dapat magbigayan kayo...he is your husband and he is the head of the family..." Haayy!!! Takot din ako baka magalit na si John...so quiet na lang beauty ko dun sa car. Eventually we reached Robinsons again (back from where we were), so I just let him drive and park na lang sa Robinsons. When we alighted the car, sweet na uli ako, mejo apologetic kasi kasalanan ko bakit kami paikot-ikot (kulit kasi eh!). I asked him na lang "Hon, san mo gusto kumain?", to which the usual reply "Ikaw, bahala ka.. basta ung mabilis service". So we settled with Wendy's na lang, but we bought white shirts muna sa Giordano.
We arrived at Vignette Studio at 2pm, just in time for our sked with my HMUA Bronson who was already there waiting for us. We immediately started with the TMU while John caught some nap (he just came from Pangasinan very early in the morn). The TMU finished at 3pm. John commented on my make-up, mejo makapal daw. Sabi naman ni Ms. Fe, kulang pa nga daw sa blush-on kasi we'll have outdoor pictorials naman. So add uli si Bronson ng blush-on, then we proceeded to Orchidarium and had our prenups taken. Haayy! Hirap pala maging artista (feeling)! Hehehe! Sakit na ang jaws ko kaka-smile, eto naman si John ang tipid ngumiti! Pa-macho effect daw! Nyeh! ;-) Mang Henry was really good and very patient in coaching us on the right poses. He even looked for the best locations to shoot, which was not hard coz Orchidarium is a perfect place for prenups. My officemates who saw our pics think he's great, especially in those pics with really good angles.
Comment on MU, on the other hand, was ok na rin, except that my friend suggested to put some concealer on those laugh lines. John naman suggested kung pwede raw pink ang blush-on, baka daw mas bagay sa akin. I don't know what color Bronson put, But I think he just matched it with my color motif. I don't know anything about make-up coz I don't use them, so any comments and suggestions will be most welcome. ;-)
We finished our prenups at Orchiarium around 4pm, had some drinks muna at Lush Life before going to Baywalk for another round of pictorials. We got there a around 5pm, mataas pa ang araw so we had to wait pa for the sun to go down. We had some pictures taken amid the people's stares...akala nila sino feeling artista kami...hehehe! When the sun is turning a little orange na, picure-picture again, but kainis ang clouds which blocked the orange effect when the was going down the hroizon. Badtrip! Sayang ang ganda pa naman ng effect nun. Mang Henry was disappointed, but still managed to have some silhoutte pics taken. Oh wel...you can't have everything. Ok na rin, coz we really had a great time during our prenups, and our pics were really very nice! Please check out our online album and see for yourself. Please feel free to make any comments about it, especially on my MU. Thanks!
joy [3:09 PM]
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2 Greeted us:
JOY!!! Ang ganda ng sunset pics nyo! And dont worry, lagi kaming ganyan ni Edil, asaran lagi ever!
hi joy! saw your online album. ganda ng pics! soo sweet! =)
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Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Prenups na tomorrow!!!
Just confirmed our Prenups with Vignette Photography tomorrow afternoon! I'm excited already!! Cympre, dapat pretty tayo dun kaya I arranged na rin for a TMU with Midane Salon, which was recommmended by Mary Ann of Patio Ibarra. Fellow June bride Serg also had her TMU with them.
For our prenups, we'll be having it first at Orchidarium then we'll proceed to Baywalk hopefully just in time to catch the beautiful sunset...I hope we'll have fine weather tomorrow. I'll post the pics as soon as I can.
Early in the day, we'll be having our first seminar at Sta. Rita de Cascia. I wonder what we'll be discussed there, after Serg told me that it was not informative at all! Oh well...I just hope John won't get sleepy...he's always antukin!
joy [1:17 PM]
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1 Greeted us:
joy! goodluck sa prenups mo! post pics ha :) sa 24 pa kami eh...
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Monday, April 04, 2005
With This Dove We Release You To God
Goodbye, dearest Pope John Paul II. The whole world is mourning with your passing, but just like the dove which represents hope to mankind, we are consoled by the thought that you are now in heaven with our Lord...in a place you rightfully deserve....you consoled the whole mankind of everlasting hope in God's loving kindness and mercy.... and so, just like the dove, we release you to God... and as you have said it in your last breath....the Lord's will be done...AMEN.
joy [2:34 PM]
Friday, April 01, 2005
A Hearty and Happy Lunchdate
I had a hearty and very happy lunchdate yesterday at Sitio Filipino in Podium...but not with beloved h2b John! Lest tongues start wagging wildly, let me clarify that the lunchdate was with my barkada way back college...Jan with hubby Dan and baby Jada (don't u just love their names), April with my inaanak Miguel (and the lola in tow) and Wench, who hurried her doctor in an outpatient operation just to make it to our meeting... and I have to call it a half-day from the office (unpaid leave!) just to be with these bunch... talk about loyal friendships huh!
Our friend Jan texted me Wednesday afternoon and asked if we could go out together. I said fine, what time, expecting it would be a dinner gimik. Then she replied "Lunch tayo nila Wench somewhere Ortigas." I replied back, "Ba't naman lunch sa ortigas pa? 'lam nyo naman working girl ako!" (as if naman may ginagawa sa office aside from blogging and checking out W@W mails... hehehe!). Sagot ng aking friend: "Mag-half day ka na lang." Ay ang galing ha! Nagtitipid na nga ako ng leave in time for my wedding (6 na lang VL ko) tapos pag-half day-in daw ba ako! So i asked, "Punta ba sila April (who will be coming from Dagupan) and Wench (from Batangas naman)? When she replied yes they're coming, there's not much I can say but yes too. Eversince these three got married (ako na lang bukod-tanging single!), we seldom get together na andun lahat, most of the time someone can't be there due to family reasons. Kaya go na rin me, even if this would mean half-day ako without pay! Ouch! Laki na naman deductions ko nito! I replied to Jan, "O cya, half-day na nga lang! Kung di ko lang kayo prends!"
So yesterday after the ISO Meeting of QMRs, I just checked out a few emails then left the office shortly before 12nn. I chanced upon an FX going to Megamall outside Pacific Star Bldg so I just took this ride and decided to walk my way from Mega to Podium, lapit lang naman. Our meeting time was 12:30, I got there just in time expecting that Jan and Dan were already there because they are just staying in Renaissance Towers. But, as always, not one of them was there. Hay naku! Parang di nako nasanay sa kanila. So I texted all of them and asked saan na sila. On the way na daw. Ok, i just reserved a table for six in Sitio Filipino and seated muna in one the nooks there as I wait for our table to be cleared. Gutom na ko! Grabe tagal nila! I have already texted John informing him I was in Podium for a lunchout with my college barkada. O di ba? Bait ko nagpaalam pa kay h2b! ;-)
Finally after ten years of waiting (hehe! exagg!) and looking at the door for any one of them to arrive, I saw my inaanak Miguel boringly walking outside Sitio, obviously still sleepy. Then I saw April and her mom, so I waved at them. At last, may makakausap na ako! SO beso-beso, then chika-chika na! Parang ang tagal na naming di nag-usap ni April eh Wednesday night lang we spent 2 hours on the fone when she called me up asking directions to Podium ("Sencia ka na sister, tagal ko na di na nakagala sa Manila eversince lumipat kami Dagupan."), then had chika galore up to 12mn (thanks to PLDT's unlimited 10 peso call promo)! I asked her, "Ba't nga ba nagyaya si Jan ng lunch?" April replied, "Eh kasi po etong si Jan Shiela eh nagpabinyag na pala ng anak nang walang inimbita! Palagi daw kasi nailalabas baby kaya kelangan ma-binyagan agad." Ah ganun! Cya pala may utang sa amin tapos ako ang magha-half day! Loka rin 'tong frend ko! ;-) But I was excited to be together again, after so many years. The last time was during Jan's wedding, but we did not have the chance to have real bonding time (as in be our usual selves) coz we had to be behaved on the wedding. Hehe! ;-) Wench and I kinda gave Jan a wedding shower, a wholesome one...just the three of us coz April was not make it then.
Back to Sitio...Shortly after, Jan and Dan (with baby Jada in his arms) arrived. Then Wench arrived na rin. Finally we got to order food!! Good thing it did not take long for our food to be served. Sarap!!! I specially liked the Crispy Fried Hito. I normally don't eat hito because I don't like the itsura of the fish and I thought it was malansa. But April and her mom told me masarap daw yung ganung luto so I tried and I liked it a lot! Nothing of the fishy smell nor taste (I dipped it in vinegar full of garlic and onions!) The others are equally delicious.. the kare-kareng gulay, lumpiang hubad (with which Jan joked me "Bakit lumpia order mo, dapa lalaking hubad!" With that, April added "Wag ka mag-alala Jan. Meron na cya lalaking huhubaran! Malapit na!" GRABE!!! Buti na lang my inaanak Miguel who was seated beside me does not understand Tagalog (inglisero po ang bata at 6 years old lang ha!) Ganun ba talaga mga married people? Mga green-minded na! Hehehe! All I can do was laugh at them! Sus! Kung kasama ko siguro si h2b eh namula na yun sa hiya! Super shy pa naman si John! Kaya nga daw siguro di ko siya sinasama sa mga gimik namin kasi baka daw umatras sa kasal once he get to know my barkada! Grabe mang-asar mga frends ko (sabagay ako rin!)...typical students of Eng'g (the pinaka-alaskador college in UP)...not to mention we're all members of ACES (the most notorious org for CE studes), except Jan who's from GPs (another wacky org for ME studes naman, she's one of the only 2 female members!).
Yesterday the butt of our ribbing is our friend Wench, who just had a cyst removed from her chest, just below her right breast, but was still there because she just can't miss that meeting daw (she even demanded her doctor to hurry up on her stitches!). As always, we kept on teasing her, she just have to beg us not to make her laugh kasi masakit pa yung tahi nya! When Jan and April learned that Wench will be one of my hosts in our reception, together with April's hubby Concon (my blockmate in 1st yr college), they all asked me if I was sure of that. "Joy, once ka lang ikakasal! Baka gusto mo maging comedy and kasal mo pag si Wench ang host!" Oo nga noh! I was thinking pa naman aside from her, I'd like to have my friend Mark or Gilbert (Concon's frat brods ) as her partner. Baka instead kami ang i-roast ni John as couple, si Wench na lang alaskahin ng 2! Ay grabe! Kaloka yata un ah! ;-)
We were so engrossed with our kwentuhan that we barely noticed we were the only ones left in Sitio. As in the waiters have started cleaning up. We left the place around 3:30pm. Merienda na nga lang kulang... but then we were just too full (both from the food and from all the laughing)! We all had a real good time, and I did not have any regrets taking the half-day off! I just could imagine how will it be with these friends on my bridal shower!
I'll surely miss those get-togethers, probably one of the last (wholesome) gimiks I'll have as a single woman. Sigh!!! I guess the next time we'll be together will be on our wedding day.... Have to remind them to be prim and proper... behaved dapat kasi baka masira ang poise, naka-gown pa naman! ;-)
For sure we'll meet up again after the wedding... finally I'll be joining them as a married woman na rin... greatly relieved of the fact that at last they'll stop teasing me as the only single among the group...but surely willl be missing those times when we were all still in college... young, carefree and single! ;-)
joy [1:10 PM]
