Passport fuck-ups

Just remembered my passport is expired!  Im leaving for saigon in 2 weeks!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

What a circus!

My fave guy

It’s my father’s birthday.

I love making a big deal about it.  I called him at 7AM and greeted him.  Kyler sang the  whole happy birthday song over the phone.  Made all of us laugh.  I had to give him a tight squeeze after.

I went to my dad’s office for lunch.  He has already started eating with others.  I had no chair in that room.  Felt out of place in the other board room.  Sat and joined my mom and the silly bankers who are there to kiss ass.  Could not stand the politics discussion and all the stupid small talk. 

Left after exactly 40 minutes.  My mother seemed eager to get me out of there.  But only before we sang happy birthday to my father in such a moronic way, I felt truly ridiculous.  It was not the gesture that was moronic.  It was the delivery.  My mother barged to my father’s office, and called all the bankers to sing!  And follow they did!  In an effort to help the bankers, I sang with them.  It was utterly, remarkably, so fucking stupid!

I just wanted to hug my dad.  To sit beside him.  Greet him happy birthday without all the commotion.  Make it a big fucking deal but without the fanfare!  My dad hates bankers!  Especially the kiss ass ones.  Why increase their number more than our staff on the day my dad would have hated to see them?!

Groan.  Maybe I am feeling selfish.  As I always want my dad’s attention. 

Dinner was a lot better.  Le Soufflé, Rockwell.  Dinner was exclusively prepared by Chef Jessie for us.  Menu was not the sit down type, but pass-me-that-dish!  Oh, it was delightful!  Menu was mixed salad, roasted lamb, poached sea bass,  beef tenderloin (best part of the meal), roasted baby potatoes, risotto, and pesto pasta.  I seriously gained a pound after that dinner.  But was it ever worth it!  Dessert was individual chocolate soufflés and mango crepe with a complimentary cake from Chef Jessie.

I had a better evening.  I had a chair.  My father and I got to hug.  And most importantly, I sang him happy birthday from the heart.      

’twas the night I had the best sex in the city

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not only did I have sex in the city for free, I also won the 2^nd prize raffle.  It was a Mercedez Benz  toiletry bag.  The night was flowing with pink margaritas, hors d’oeuvre (like mini canapés with portobello mushrooms), and gorgeous ladies with their chanel bags.

The night was obviously about the movie. Boy, it was a CHICK FLICK to my satisfaction!  I could see myself watching this movie over again with my girlfriends when I turn 40. 

10 unforgettable things about the movie:

Number one:     The couture bridal gowns. It made me shiver in delight.  I caught myself slightly posing as if I was Carrie Bradshaw when she had on the Lacroix.

Number two:     That Carrie Bradshaw could wear the quirkiest outfit and get away with it. 

Number three: To wear a bird as headpiece on your wedding is bad luck. Ha!

Number four:    To work for Carrie Bradshaw as P.A. earns you a limited edition Louis Vuitton purse.

Number five:     That I AM SAMANTHA JONES! 

Number six:       Walk in closets should be a girls wedding present.  (Plus a penthouse suite)

Number seven:                Charlotte is the funniest character in Sex and the City even if I’d rather shoot myself than be her.

Number eight:  Blue stilettos are gorgeous if its got the MANOLO BLAHNIK label attached to it.

Number nine:    Living in L.A. can make you fat.

Number ten:      That we can stay fabulous even at 50 if we are surrounded by the right friends while celebrating the occasion.

Here’s to us girls… as we remain to stay FABULOUS for life. Cheers!

 

I’m fucked

It’s ironic but I find it quite stressful to meditate.  A whackload of information go through my little brain, and I find it hard to concentrate.  I can’t even close my eyes after a yoga work-out cause I’m already thinking of what I must do next. 

But there was this one time after yoga practice, where I actually sat still.  Closed my eyes, and just concentrated on my breathing.  I’ve noticed that I had a week of calmness after that. 

And then, just as it happened, I can’t seem to focus again.  My mental activity is far too hyper.   And then it hit me.  I want to be busy so I do not have to connect with myself.  I am afraid of connecting.  I am a depressed individual when not busy.  I camouflage my depression by making myself busy. How sad is that?

It is true. Happiness is found only in yourself.  To be able to look around you and not want anything more.

What is it that I want?  I cannot figure myself out.

monday blues

I’m off to a bad start. 

I coughed up phlegm when I woke up.  It was that thick, yucky, greenish color that reminds me I have not recovered. GROSS!

I packed for my 6:30 yoga class, but I can’t seem to drag my body inside the shower.  Pretty soon, it was already 6:40, and I’m late.  SO… I decided not to go.

Then, my driver calls me on the intercom.

Diego: “maam, ayaw umandar yung kotse”

Me: “bakit?”

Diego: “Di ko alam. Batterya siguro“

CRAP!  That means I have to use Kelly’s car. I hate using his car.  I hate borowing people’s stuff. 

I go downstairs to meet Diego, and he tells me that I have to get rid of my car.  THE NERVE!  What right does he have to tell me what to do?!  I love my cefiro.  Even if its more than 10 yrs old. 

AS i sit in a borrowed car, Diego continues to give me unsolicited advise.  I hate it that he is right.  Fuck!

Fuckity fuck.fuck. fuck

 

Jap Cuisine without the Tempura

There was a nostalgic feeling that I may be in Japan rather than inside a Manila restaurant as I stepped inside Seryna.   The waitresses had their hair covered in a beige bandana, and had Japanese-like robes as uniforms.  95% of the guests were Japanese. In fact, we were the only LOCALS there that night.

 

Our kumpare Melvin suggested the place.  He is the guy you’d like to be with if you want to sample extraordinary dishes beyond the usual tempura (and not just in manila, but in HK, shanghai etc..).  I was ready to be astonished.  Kelly and I resigned to let Melvin take the lead in ordering.  As expected, the food was beyond satisfaction, and had me booking the place as venue for my father’s birthday next week.

The first thing to arrive is the assorted sushi.  Selfish me immediately sampled the salmon & hamachi. Boy!  It will give you a reason to never go back to tsukiji.  No offense.  I also like tsukiji, but its just not worth it if you can have sushi just as good elsewhere.

A bed of oysters cooked in butter sauce came next.  And I cannot even describe to you how delicious that was.  It was kinda like the first time I had foie gras prepared by chef ariel of lolodads.  Anyway, I was peeking at this point.  My level of excitement was reaching heights, and my face was flushed. 

Then this arrangement of prawn with mushrooms and tofu under a piece of paper arrived! It was placed above a burning candle.  It was the highlight of my night! I’ve never seen paper not burn under heat. I had to ask Melvin explain without sounding ignoramus.  Somehow, the moisture of the ingredients will produce the soup as the heat is created.  True enough…  a few minutes later, the arrangement is boiling with soup!  MAGIC!  I was deeply fascinated.  I’ve never had this dish.  And I’ve been to Tokyo quite a few times.  According to Ron, this dish is called Yosenabe.

One bite out of the tuna and salmon from this soup, and I was ready to BLOG!  It was that melt in your mouth kind. Please, oh please…. Sample it for yourself!  I KID YOU NOT!  Give the other entrees a try too.  I have a feeling this restaurant cannot disappoint even if it messed up a few ingredients. Ha! 

My night with the SUA couple became such a rare treat.  I enjoyed myself far too much I couldn’t bear the thought of parting after dinner.  We headed to Tabu for a few drinks, but mostly to enjoy each other’s company more as I allow my body to savor my dining experience.

Thanks for this wonderful introduction, Melvin and Ron!  I shall be visiting Seryna and bringing the locals with me to push the percentage a bit higher to our favor! Tee hee! 

Seryna: 894-3855

www.seryna.ph

nothing like brunch with jo and rosette

Today started off slow.  I did my morning yoga routine, but cheated, and skipped 3 poses.  It took me 2 hours to finish my yoga as I pretended it was ballet.  I did everything in slow motion.  The amount of sweat that leaked out was still buckets.  And towards the end, I was exhausted rather than empowered. 

I miss the sound of my boys screaming.  My whole house seems empty without them. 

I have brunch activity!  Yeay!  With 2 of my favorite peeps.  I always have a great time when I go out with Jo and rosette.  I find assurance in their company that I am still ok as a mommy.  I relate so well to them.  They make me realize its not just me dealing with mamahood issues. 

Their both 5′7″.  I have to sit in the middle to form some sense of balance. Just not in this picture. 

I am truly happy today as Rosette looked so stylish in a bob, and she has lost so much weight.  Jo too!  I’m forever asking both of them to lose weight.

I tell them not to order too much.  That’s me.  The controller.  Otherwise, our food orders would feed the entire edsa shang summer palace.  They gang up on me as they know I hate to see lots of temptations. 

Then the stories came.  We do not gossip.  Ok, sometimes we do.  But rarely.  Its mostly about our lives, and how we’re coping.  We envy, sympathize, humor each other.  Its like we want to be re-assured over and over again that we are on the right path.  We compare.  We judge.  We’re like a mini support group.  And that’s what support groups are all bout, isn’t it?  Finding similarities between each other?  Relating?  The only difference is we’re selfish with our supprt group, and kinda keep it to just the 3 of us.  We just talk about all the other ones we know.  Then we also use them as part of our comparisons. ha!

It seemed like we didnt really want to break away from our brunch, that turned into lunch.  We stayed there til 2, and we were already making plans for our next  get together.

I’m a happy happy camper!

What do you want?!

Imagine yourself about to fall asleep after having been deprived of sleep for a week.  You wanted to steal a 30 minute nap just before you head off for dinner.  And then your cellphone rings.

Naturally, as “professional” business people, we answer our cp’s even if we do not know the number. 

I said “hello”, and paused.  The guy replied “hello”. 

me: “yes?”

idiot: “ahhh….” 3 second pause “mag-te-text na lang ako”

ARGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And then i get this text message from him after 2 minutes: “Got ur number frm a friend just wanted to knw if u wud like to meet?”

Hello?!!!!!!!! What is this? Are we back in college?! The answer is NO! 

NO! NO! NO! No, I don’t want to meet.  And i don’t want to waste a peso on you either.  I don’t even want to know which asshole gave you my number.

So, please Mr. 0920-8665450, don’t you ever call my cellphone again, especially since there are moments when it would have been real nice to steal a catnap in between!

My idea of life is like a Board Game

How nice it would be if we can live in little clusters of life.  Rather than one journey.  Kinda like casual workers and change status every 6 months.  With rules like no backing out until 6 months complete. 

Just imagine, we can be a party animal for 6 months.  Then we can be a Buddhist monk the next 6.  Chefster, Porn star, athlete, fireman, stoner, pilot, teacher, dancer, comedienne, dreamer.  We can make rules like 15 choices per decade with 3 bonus choices .  Bonus choice would be something like Official Bum, Stoner, Billionaire, Playboy, Heiress, Beauty Queen.  And you can get more bonus choice per decade if you excel in your normal 15 choices.

I know.  Don’t say it.  I’m mentally fucked!  I just think it would make sense to experience it all.  How can someone claim they’ve experienced it all if they’ve never been a drag queen?  Or fought a war?  I just want the chance to have done more than just talk, drink, sleep, shop.  Thank goodness I’m a mother, otherwise, I’d really have nothing on my resume.

Or if not, perhaps we can get 1 year free pass for every decade.  And we can use those free passes to do whatever we want. Admit it!  Wouldn’t that be cool?! 

I’ve made a mantra to try something new everyday.  I’ve noticed I’m lagging behind in that mantra, and I haven’t really done anything new in the past 3 months.  I have almost given up on my Chinese learning.  Delaying to learn new yoga poses, and I’ve got nothing new, except  for bags and shoes! Even my travel plans have been to the same old places. 

That’s it!  *STOMP MY FOOT & FIST* I will try kiteboarding with Jeleen even if I really don’t want to.  I will also scuba dive, learn to fly a plane and even cook Indian food!  And if all that fails, I will learn a new sex position everyday  until I’ve mastered the art of kama sutra!  These things, I promise myself to do before the age of 40!

Toddler to Teen overnight

Alec said, I built a spaceship!  I look over my shoulder, and there it was.  A spaceship.  The blocks all perfectly balanced, aligned and color coordinated. 

I thought to myself, oh, that’s what you’re supposed to do with the blocks!  I thought its meant for towers , arches, and bridge.   I was glowing with pride.  I’m 32 and I had no clue!

More than anything, I was TRULY AMAZED and convinced that Alec is really a 12 year old trapped in a 4 year old body. I’m sure all mothers feel this way, and I’m sure my son is normal and is not better than anyone in his age group.  But… I see other 4 yrs olds. And they’re not like Alec. Ironically, I would trade to see alec behave like them.  The other 4 year olds do NOT reason out to their parents the way Alec does.  They do not know how to lie yet.  They have the child’s innocence I can no longer find in Alec.  And they do not sneak out of their rooms at night tip-toeing so the yaya’s don’t wake up.  Alec has done all of those, and continues to speak like an adult (WHICH I TRULY DESPISE!!!!), in a child-like voice. 

At night, he reads books even teen-agers won’t borrow from the library.  He reads about the sea creatures, bugs and the life of biologists.  I refuse to read this to him at night as I am bored to tears.  He has resigned to reading the books himself.  I’m sorry mommies, I am not exaggerating. 

He continues to surprise me when I brought him to ocean park, and he named those “swimming thingies” by their names!  MAN!  I have no idea what is a moon jelly, a flying ray, or a shovel shark, let alone, know them by names!  I asked him where he learned this, and he said through his books.  I validated his claim when we got back from our trip, and he showed me the thingies on his book.  It was one of those books I refuse to read to him at night.  Amazing.  The mommy calls them thingies, and the 4 yr old calls them by their scientific names.

My little scientist continues to educate me further.  I now let him read the book to me: “looking like land spiders, sea spiders belong to a group called py-co-no-go-nids” I swear to God he read that to me on his own.  He asked me if he said it right, I shook my head, and said “don’t have a clue”.

I’m a terrible mother.  I didn’t even notice his talent to read has reached a different level!  What do I do now?  How do I deal with a boy so ripe for his age?  Did I tell you,  I leave him to figure the instruction manual for his toys? And I know this sounds awfully like bragging… but I don’t know how to convince you that I long for his baby-like-self.  Back when I can read Dr. Seuss to him and we can both laugh and re-read the book 5 times over.  What happened?  Who stole his 5 yr old stage from me?!  I can’t help but feel that I’ve missed so many many things.  I don’t want a teen-ager just yet.  How do I bring me back my Alec?