hmmm...

Magic Bullet

2009-06-24T15:30:00.005-06:00

My mother-in-law gave us a Magic Bullet (MB) set a couple of Chritmases ago and recently I have found this a very useful thing to have in the kitchen. MB is sold for $99.99+s/h via home tv shopping. I would not bother going that route as this is also sold in local stores like Canadian Tire(as with most home tv shopping products) and for the same price less shipping and handling too. There's also comfort in being able to return it much easier although I doubt you would want to do that as this is quite a handy thing to have around (more on this in a bit).

The $99.99 package comes with all the bells and whistles - the base/motor, two blades, a tall and a short cup, shaker and steamer tops, resealable lids, four party mugs, a recipe book and two "bonus" items namely the blender and the juicer. There are smaller variations of this package sold in local stores for less. For example, you can get a smaller package for $39.99 that only has the motor, blades and part mugs and lids. We have one of these smaller variations and my MB comes with the base, two blades, tall/short cups, lids, four party mugs and the recipe book. If I were to buy this, I would go for the smaller variations of the package.

The tv infomercial claims this product will do practically everything short of open heart surgery for you and in 10 seconds or less! It claims to do so by cutting down your prep time and cleaning to virtually nothing. It also describes MB being able to chop, grate and puree things like onion, cheese etc. Honestly, I would say that is stretching it a lot - the infomercial is indeed quite misleading. Having said that, this is still a nice thing to have around in the kitchen (more on this further down) but I would go for the smaller variation of the package.

My observations:

It doesn't really cut down your prep time unless all your ingredients come pre-washed and pre-cut into small pieces that would fit in the MB cups. You would still wash your ingredients, and use a knife and cutting board at the very least.

It most definitely will not replace your food processor for a lot of your bigger kitchen tasks. Smaller kitchen tasks, sure, but then who busts out their food processor for those.

It cannot chop things for you as everything pretty much gets pureed in there as can be expected from any blender.

I personally would not make the Alfredo sauces that they showed on the informercial / recipe book by grating cheese and cream and then popping it in the microwave - yuck (I can only imagine how bland or awful that must taste). But I would use MB to make salsas, guacemole and even pestos - don't expect anything chunky though.

I don't have the juicer and the blender attachments but with that small a base, I doubt you can do much with those bigger attachments. You'd be better off saving your $60 from the full package and just get a real full-size blender. Juicers are more expensive, of course, and there's a reason for that. You're looking for power when you buy a juicer and I doubt that small base can deliver that.

I would use MB to make veggie or fruit shakes at home. In fact, if only for this reason, I give this product a must buy.

I've used this for grinding nuts and spices and it worked just fine.

My family loves to drink fruit shakes and my husband would often have one for breakfast. I use my MB to prepare individual fruit shakes and the individual prep-serve mugs make making fruitshakes a breeze. I take out 3 mugs and place frozen or fresh fruit in them. Add some water/juice and some fructose for sweetness, buzz it in the MB and it's good to go. For my husband's serving, I also put in some whey and almonds slivers for a more balanced breakfast. The resealable lids allow my husband to bring his fruitshake to work and drink it there. When done, I just pop the mugs into the dishwasher and done. Easy! For sure, a lot easier than busting out the fullsize blender, preparing the same drink for everyone, and then washing that big jug.

In summary: A good buy if you like making fruit shakes at home. Useful for making shakes, grinding nuts/spices/cheese for which it's enough to get smaller package (versus the complete $99.99 package). Will not replace your food processor, will not necessarily cut down your prep time. Buy from local stores (versus from home tv shopping).

Happy Father's Day

2009-06-17T18:13:00.003-06:00

I actually thought that Father's day was the first Sunday of June so Sophia and I already got daddy his present that week, and gave it to him too. Only when the Father's day ads on TV persisted did we realize that it was actually on the 3rd Saturday of the month. Oh well...

Jay-ar tells me that Father's day is actually just an afterthought, that it was not conceptualized 'til after a hundred years of Mother's day celebrations. I even read an article on cnn.com on that very subject and written by a father nonetheless, and to say that his article sounded more like a rant is stating the obvious. So is it only an afterthought? This holiday celebrating fathers? I haven't really decided yet. But afterthought or not, one thing is for sure, we honor, respect and love our fathers every single day (yup, just like our mothers) and this special day in June is just a nice way to remind them of all that.

So, this is a shout out to my husband, my papa and my lolo. Happy Father's Day to the most important men in my, Sophia's, and Enzo's lives. We love you! And to all the other fathers out there, Happy Father's Day to you too!

As per request, my birthday wishlist...

2009-06-17T18:07:00.004-06:00

... for the benefit of the clueless (aka my husband :P)

- Foot spa and massage GC
- The Sims PC game
- Upgrade my main bath's faucet and shower head to something like what we have in the master bath
- Puma or Lacoste sneakers
- Gap perfume "Close"
- New jeans
- Mini Kitchenaid/Cuisinart food processor

Walking in a winter wonderland

2008-03-24T11:46:00.007-06:00

With the hassles of winter-living, it's easy to take for granted the beautiful little things that one can really only enjoy in this otherwise disconsolate season.

I would oftentimes find myself smiling, filled with happiness walking along Macleod trail in downtown Calgary and the southwest suburbs. An early morning snowfall or frost magically turns these places into, as the Christmas song puts it, a winter wonderland. I would find myself wishing I had a fancy camera to capture the moment so I could re-visit it every time winter's short gray days seem to get the best of me. But I don't have a fancy camera and I don't carry my old Olypmus around anymore - it used to be somewhat of a mainstay in my purse.

Today morning I was walking by city hall, where tall trees lined the sidewalks and fresh flowers sat snuggly in huge gray urns. Little blue christmas lights were wrapped closely and tightly on the tree trunks and branches, and they illuminated the entire side-walk with their cheerful yet mellow light-blue glow. I've walked by that street several times before and I am just as happy now as I was the first time.

Today, my sidewalk adventure was even more special because of a nice morning surprise - a gentle snow fall. The wind was not blowing angrily like usual, in fact I hardly noticed if it was even there at all. The snow fell slowly, gently, vertically - like it would in your favorite Christmas fairy tale. I've always felt that cosy, cheerful feeling watching snow fall like that.

Writing this post also reminded me of that wonderful winter morning we had a few months back. There was frost everywhere and in the early morning it looked like the trees were covered with silver glitters. Later that day, it looked even more beautiful, as though the trees made of glowing, little glass pieces. Simply wonderful...

Thinking about it more, I think I would not take a picture after all - it simply won't do the experience justice. Luckily the human brain has enough synapses to store 10^15 bits - I think I'll use some of them to save those 3 beautiful snapshots of Calgary, my new home.

End the annual seal hunt!!

2008-03-10T06:45:00.017-06:00

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Warning: Graphic images below

If you are thinking this is not much different from eating pork or beef or wearing wool... please think again. Until they start farming and breeding seals, I refuse to compare seals to livestock.

What is the annual seal hunt? When and where does it happen?
Seal hunting in general is the commercial hunting of seals for their pelts, blubbber, penis and meat. Sealing nations include Canada, Greenland, Namibia, Norway, and Russia. Canada is hands down the largest sealing nation with hundreds of thousands of seals being hunted each year. The sealing season is officially November 15 to May 15 but the majority of the hunting happens in late March off the coast of Newfoundland. In the year 2006 alone, 325,000 harp seals + 10,000 hooded seals + 10,400 grey seals were killed in addition to the 10,000 allocated for hunting by Aboriginal peoples. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) says the seal population is stable at five million and that the yearly quota of 325,000 harp seals is sustainable

Equipment and methods used to slaughter seals
The DFO also says that the current methods used to hunt seals are the most humane ways possible. Currently, tools used to kill seals are hakapiks and rifles. A hakapik is a heavy wooden club with a hammer head and metal hook on the end. The hammer is used to crush the skull while the pick is used to move the carcass.In numerous other cases, the seals had to be struck multiple times before they die. A hunter may also use a rifle but they prefer to use clubs to prevent damage on the pelt.

Products made from seals
Seal skins are used to make waterproof jackets and boats, and seal fur is even being used by some high-end fashion. Seal meat is sold to the Asian pet food market, and used as fodder for farm animals. Seal blubber is used to make seal oil, which is marketed as a fish oil supplement. The oil is also sometimes used as a raw material for red ochre paint. Seal penises are sold as aphrodisiacs in Asian markets. Also, seal hunting is being seen as a culling method to increase cod stocks for commercial fishing.

Awareness
Donatella Versace and Gucci use seal fur - find out if your haute couture is not so hot after all. Make sure your water-sports gear and equipment do not use seal pelt. Do your homework and find out if your pet food or farm fodder uses seal products. Get your Omega-3 from genuine fish oil and make sure to not use "fish oil supplements". Make sure your red ochre paint does not use seal oil and uses cod/linseed oil instead. And for the love of all that is good, do not eat penis and use the normal oyster, strawberry, chocolate and even balut to get your groove on. There are many more things you can do to help protect the seals.

You know, I read on today's paper that there are new guidelines in place to make sure that the killing of seals is "even more humane." After clubbing a seal, the hunter has to inspect the seal's eyes to make sure that the animal is dead. Otherwise, the animal has to be bled to death by cutting its main artery. This is a recommendation in response to reports that seals have regained consciousness after clubbing. I only hope they at the very least do this for every one of the 325,000 seals they will be slaughtering this year.

Images courtesy of http://www.harpseals.org/

Skinned seal carcasses (taken 2007) and no words needed for...

The Best of Unnecessary Censorship.

2007-12-30T23:04:00.001-07:00

Hilarious. Check out Youtube for more of Jimmy Kimmel's weekly clips of Unnecessary Censorship.

Christmas '07 Wish List

2007-12-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

I really love surprises so I am not too big on making my own Christmas wishlist, but to help that someone out there *cough hubby cough* scrambling to find something for yours truly, here is goes... I made it long so that there will still be some element of surprise.

For under the tree and stocking stuffers:
1. Robes, jammies or other articles of clothing from La Senza
2. Stuff for the kitchen: like a slow-cooker, food-processor, or other gadgets
3. A celebrity chef cook-book
4. DVD sets of my favorite shows
5. Thumb drive
6. GC's from girly stores like Sephora, Victoria's Secret...
8. Coffee mug for work
9. A fun 2008 calendar, planner
10. My favorite chocolate bars! :)

I <3 Elmo.

2007-12-02T21:16:00.001-07:00

Missing home

2007-09-18T10:11:00.000-06:00

When my husband and I say "back home," we are actually (still) referring to the Philippines. That is true even though we pretty much have our lives set, made here -- we have our house here, our careers, our kids will grow up here, and they might even send us to old people's homes when we're in our 70s... But inspite of everything, home is still the Philippines and I kinda like that actually. Reminds me of a Gary V song where he says "babalik ka rin."

Tati will be celebrating the holidays in the Philippines and she's made a list of the things she will be doing. It really made me think about life in the Philippines and I suddenly found myself missing home. Badly. So I decided to make my own list of what makes the Philippines home - and hopefully when we get the chance to go back, we get to visit these places, eat our most favorite foods, and celebrate the joy and comfort of being with the people we love - our family and friends.

> Spend time with loved ones: Most of my family and friends are still there. The only thing that would make a Philippine vacation even better is if my parents can make it back home too.
> Buy a box or two of Go Nuts Donuts: strawberry, peanut butter
> Stuff my face with Lapid's chicharon (you can tell I like junk food)
> McChicken and Chicken Joy (I choose both!)
> Ken Afford sisig (they have the best sisig. Get the one with egg.)
> Binuro on the side ng dahon ng mustasa, fried tilapia, hito, steamed okra, talong, dahon ng kamote (my favorite lutong Cagayan - must eat ng pakamay! - closest thing to healthy eating para sa'kin)
> Yakult (fake kasi yung mga lacto-bacili-blah-blah drinks dito)
> Luyong's pancit canton
> Sonya's garden (okay, so maybe closer ito sa healthy eating pero if you pig out naman - which I guarantee you will do - then wala rin)
> Il Ponticelo (yay for eggplant pizza and chicken wings!)
> Boracay
> Manila bay (for the jologs in you)
> Pagsanjan falls (I really like yung inihaw na manok doon sa turo-turo malapit sa falls)
> Places north and south na hindi ko pa napuntahan before
> Splurge at Kamiseta, Bayo, Maldita and Marikina shoes
> Shop, dine and watch movies at my favorite malls: Greenbelt 3 & 4, Glorietta, The Podium, Sta. Lucia! and SM Mall of Asia (never been there and wanna see what the hype is all about)

I know, I know, the list is kinda long... And I already held back on a lot of things sa lagay na yan. Seriously, I can make the list much longer without even trying but that would kinda defeat the purpose of having one -- I need something attainable para pag-bakasyon namin sa Pinas I have a realistic set naman of must-do's. Yes, I'm really looking forward to a trip back home. Very much so.

I confess

2007-08-31T12:15:00.000-06:00

I am hooked on WoW. So much so that I felt I needed a new space for my WoW woes. Of course I could have easily posted all that stuff here but I don't want to - I rather like the haphazard, unpredictable, most-random spirit of these pages.

2007-07-19T11:36:00.001-06:00

D'oh

On today's follow-up article

2007-07-10T13:52:00.000-06:00

"Details on the type of pie were sketchy, though conflicting reports have the pie as either banana cream or chocolate cream"

Does it matter? I guess it does. In retrospect, before reading this article, I read on the other paper that the pie was chocolate cream. My first thought after reading that was "But I thought it was a banana cream pie???"

Anyway, the premier says he did not see the event unfold, adding, "I had my eyes on the pancakes -- and continued to keep them there."

2007-07-10T13:48:00.000-06:00

Pie plotters fall short

2007-07-09T12:20:00.000-06:00

“She held up her pie. She said, ‘I've got this pie for you, premier — remember the pie?' She made clear and identified to everybody it was a pie — nothing else but a pie."

from the Globe and Mail

Obey the rules!

2007-07-09T11:43:00.000-06:00

That's from a memorable Simpsons episode showing Canadian vandals spraying graffiti saying "Obey the rules!" It's a parody on the supposed simple and peaceful Canadian people.

Here's the cherry on top... In Canada, they hire security to protect people not from assassins or kidnappers but from pies :P Apparently, the security was "ready for (the pie-thrower)" and they were "on high alert for pie throwers."

On today's headlines:

Stelmach almost pied

The Calgary Herald was on the scene to record the almost-pieing of Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach at the Calgary Stampede breakfast

from the National Post

Minis are cute but this,

2007-06-04T13:13:00.000-06:00

this is ridiculous.

This was taken nearby where I work on a nice Calgary summer (22ºC) with a Motorola K1

Now that's what I call a set

2007-05-27T09:19:00.000-06:00

This is reason I did not buy the boxed set of 1-5

Image from amazon.com

Promised to be in my hands by October 4, 2007

Bite my tongue?

2007-05-26T18:07:00.000-06:00

Yes, I guess sometimes I hold back... Because sometimes that's the only sensible thing to do. So yes, I bite my tongue. Sometimes. But not that time.

Someone once told me it's good to be able to scream out loud when you are angry or frustrated. And I agree. I have shouted into my pillow. I used to scream inside my car. These have been, at one time or another, outlets for that minute when I was angry or that second when I was in disbelief. On a recent Thursday, I discovered to my (pleasant) surprise that one can actually scream even louder, longer. Yes, I screamed. Here. And I liked it better than the pillow or the car because here there are no limits to how far my voice would reach. And it gets better - I can't possibly run out of breath.

Indeed I love how my blog can be a place to rant, to let go into the void that is the internet.

A good friend of mine says the following of her blog:

"There's not much to find in here except for my rants, fangirling, and random bursts of geekiness. I'm a very opinionated person and there is very little that I hold sacred, so if you get offended by something I say here, move on. I won't STFU for anyone in my own journal."

And I couldn't have said it better.

/smile

2007-05-26T17:49:00.000-06:00

In the MMO game that I play, that command would express to the world (or at least everyone close enough to hear) that my character is smiling. And I am smiling now because I am once again happy and at peace. I've had the chance to B.O.S.S. (blow off some steam), think and come to terms with the realities, uncertainties and, in lack of a better term, "injustices" that life can sometimes bring. Furthermore, I've come to realize that even though I am not the only authority in my life, I always have a choice. My happiness and very sanity anchor on the choices I make. And so I make a choice - and it is one that makes a difference.

/smile

Changing the font and removing lines...

2007-05-24T11:34:00.000-06:00

does not make something your own work, thief.

I'm still alive...

2007-05-04T11:22:00.000-06:00

and well. It's been a while since I've been able to post here mostly because of two reasons:

New role - which means I am ever so busy and I don't have the 'spare time' at work anymore... I simply love this new role by the way. Lotsa new things to learn, new people to meet and more responsibilities. Oh and I get to ask silly interview questions too like #45 which goes like "If you were an animal, what would you be?" Nah, just kidding. We skip the silly questions but I remember getting asked that when I was looking for work last year.
New hobby - I've started playing WOW (post-BC) as I mentioned and I've been spending a lot of time getting my toon to cap. And now that Ilythia's capped I'm spending a lot of time still, this time getting her geared up. Yay! It's a fun hobby - cheap, but very time consuming

The same reasons why I am not current with my emails anymore *sigh* and my snail mail and my laundry haha :)

So what else is new?

Our little girl turned two. We are simply blessed.
Our car got carnapped but we purchd a new one. The car eventually got found anyway, dumped by the side of a road with the ignition busted. The cops (they should be called police officers btw) say it was probably used for another crime which, if true, I am hoping was burglary and not homicide. Anyway we sold the car to another kababayan but not before paying $200 at the impound (Just fantastic Calgary! Make the victims pay!)
I am now baking as well. Woohoo! I have the best cheescake and chocolate krinkle recipes which I will (eventually) post in my other blog dedicated to food.

Lastly, if any of my family and friends back home are reading this, I really miss you guys so very much. You can bet I'll be hopping on Friendster soon to check out your profiles so please update your pics and that column that says "Single/In a relationship" :D Take care and God bless. And I don't normally do this but what the heck --- Muah!!

I want one

2007-01-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

... but then again, who doesn't? You'd have to be crazy not to want one. Love, love, love the new iPhone. I especially like how it's a phone and an iPod in one. I've always wondered when they would come up with that and here it is! Check out the hi-tech tab for a little preview of that ultra eye-candy GUI and for all the hi-tech you tech junkies would love to have on your phone.

from www.apple.com

University of the Philippines Department of Computer Science Homecoming

2007-01-09T12:47:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Aimee and here I am copying Sir Quiwa's letter from Chewyl's blog. I wish I had the resources (that's the other word for money) to go home for the homecoming. I spent 2 of my 4 years as a student assistant and I'd say those were some of the happiest times I had in UP. Let's not forget this is where I met my dearest and closest friends, and most , if not all, of us have one way or another served the department during our stay in UP. It would've been nice to be part of that homecoming and celebrate how much our beloved department has grown since those good old days.

Below is the invitation letter from Prof Quiwa:

Department of Computer Science
College of Engineering
University of the Philippines Diliman
January 05, 2006

Dear CS Alumnus:
The Department of Computer Science, your home for four years or so, is celebrating its 26th Anniversary. As a member of this family, we invite you to come home to see and experience the CS life as we have it today.
The Department has gone through a number of changes — from ES to ECS to CS, from a few lecture rooms to a new building, from 'the youngest department' to 'one of the best departments' in Engineering, from paper to online submission of academic requirements, from a few Radio Shack TRS 80’s running TRSDOS and Basic to fully-equipped laboratories running the latest software. Indeed we have gone through exciting transformations, but still we are the same CS Department that you know.
With 5 Outstanding Engineering Faculty awardees among our faculty members, with 7 Engineering Class Valedictorians, 2 Summa, 40 Magna and 121 Cum Laudes among our 1047 graduates (so far), with several BPI Science, P&G Excellence, and Undergraduate Research Competition winners among our students, and a curriculum that is constantly reviewed and revised to adapt to the dynamic discipline we are in, we keep alive the tradition of excellence that has always been the hallmark of our Department. With 22 CS Week celebrations, annual freshmen orientation and department-sponsored events and competitions, with the newly instituted Mentoring Program and GeeCS for academic-related activities, we continually strive to keep our students well-rounded as well.
No matter what period of the CS Department history you were a part of, no matter what contribution you have made, your Department is waiting for you to be back home. Be a witness to the way it has grown; better yet, be a part of it.
We hope to see you in February 24, 2007.

Very truly yours,
(signed)
Evangel P. Quiwa

Isn't it ironic?

2007-01-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

Quoting Fred Allen "A celebrity is a person who works hard all his life to become well known, then wears dark glasses to avoid being recognized."

Lost my template

2006-12-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

Long story.... I lost it and the links that came with it *sniff sniff* I'm still in the process of restoring it atm. The only good thing is I'm almost done as I've managed to put back a lot of it already *sigh*

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Jan 3, 2006 - I'm 99% there. Something still doesn't look right... somehow it doesn't feel the same but that's okay. I think I'm done with all the links. Just need to put back some of the titles for the mouseover.

Happy Holidays!

2006-12-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

I know I should've posted this 2 days ago but, as the cliche goes, better late than never.

Merry Christmas

and

a blessed New Year to all!

And a happy, stress-free Boxing Day too!

Ideas anyone?

2006-12-19T15:22:00.000-07:00

I am, without a doubt, the least creative person when it comes to creating online aliases and screen names.

*points at address bar*

That is (primarily) why my blog is not-so-creatively called ninacarla. My email addresses, forum names, Ebay and, at one point, mmorpg accounts are mere mutations of my name, nothing fancy. In fact, the closest I've ever been to having a 'special' e-name was during my Half Life and Warcraft III days. And even then, the best I could come up with were Juday and Ping Lacson. But I gotta give myself credit because I tried. At one point, I tried so hard that I even came up with really cheesy names like delphi (I keep forgetting this Peyups name) and suki (Japanese for love). Yes, I cringe at the thought of those names.

So when I decided to create a family recipe blog, it was no surprise that all the names I could come up with have already been taken. And I mean all. Some of them were blog names that I really wanted too. But I must admit I was really shocked to find that even the corniest and what-in-world-were-you-thinking names I managed to conjure have already been reserved as well.

http://recipeshare.blogspot.com/
http://sharedrecipes.blogspot.com/
http://familyfavorites.blogspot.com/
http://familyrecipes.blogspot.com/
http://foodgallery.blogspot.com/
http://homecooking.blogspot.com/
http://ourrecipes.blogspot.com/
http://recipeworld.blogspot.com/
http://recipecentral.blogspot.com/
http://recipezone.blogspot.com/
http://recipebook.blogspot.com/

And even Filipino ones like:

http://salosalo.blogspot.com/
http://lutongbahay.blogspot.com/
http://fiesta.blogspot.com/
http://hapagkainan.blogspot.com/

Sigh. I'm afraid I'm gonna end up with cookme.blogspot.com or an equally corny name unless I get help. Help!!!

Boy they were good but,...

2006-12-14T12:54:00.000-07:00

as this website says, all good things must come to an end.

Ever wonder what happened to your favorite snack? Check out the Hometown Favorites website and their list of discontinued products. It's kinda like the obituaries for food items. That's how I found out, to my utter dismay, that my old time favorites Planter's cheese balls and cheese curls are no longer in production.

You can find a list of products that are confirmed to be out of production and another list for those that have just assumed new identities (yup, Tangy Taffy is going under a different name now). They also have the Hard-to-Find Grocer where you can buy some rare but still in production favorites. Or maybe you're just looking for a unique, nostalgic gift - make sure to check out their Gift Center. And don't leave the website without checking out their really cool Candy Store that has retro candies from as far back as the fifties. Ooh, I wonder if those are still edible!

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And no, this is not a splog :P I just really love that website.

My Christmas wishlist

2006-12-12T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hey, everyone else is doing it! This is my Xmas 2006 Top 10, in no particular order:

1. A cuisinart griddler: it's actually a contact grill, panini press, flat grill & griddle all in one
2. A nice warm winter coat or jacket: to help me brave those -40C wind chills
3. Black winter shoes
4. A celebrity chef book: the likes of Ina Garten, Nigella Lawson and Emeril Lagasse
5. A USB Flash drive
6. Subscription to O
7. A brown cardigan
8. Bare Minerals starter kit: yes, their home tv shopping glib got to me
9. New jars for my spices
10. A donation to one of your favorite charities

Your heritage versus your environment

2006-12-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

This is just my opinion. I'm not saying I am absolutely right, but I know I am not utterly without reason either. Living in Canada, I often read on the papers about the native's ways of living and their rights to preserve their heritage. While I am not (completely) against that, it still sometimes frustrates me how protecting a people's culture oftentimes, if not always, takes precedence over protecting our environment.

First, this is not to point fingers or to put blame on aboriginal peoples only. I can just easily write an entry on the barbaric annual Canadian-government subsidized seal slaughter. But once again, this post is about my frustration on the fine line between deeming certain activities as integral to a culture and recognizing their potential and actual adverse effects on the environment.

A recent Supreme Court ruling allows the Mi'kmaq and Maliseet of Atlantic Canada to cut down crown trees for consumption. This means that even though the Mi'kmaq and Maliseets no longer use canoes or live in wigwams, they can still cut down crown trees for making furniture and firewood. The court says the native's rights are "not locked in time".

I have yet to read up on this topic some more before I want to form any solid opinion. However, it did bring to mind another topic that has, time and again, brought forth frustration and disbelief to this blogger. That topic is whaling.

Who is hunting our whales? There are the commercial whalers (Icelend and Norway, for instance) and they are the worst kind of whalers. Then there are scientific whalers (ex. Japan), and there are the aboriginal peoples (ex. Inuit and Chukotka). I object to all three kinds whaling activities equally and vehemently. Why? Because whaling, in my opinion, is unnecessary, cruel and barbaric. And no, it is not comparable to killing and eating cattle because cattle has been domesticated and is being farmed. Whales are not. Whale numbers are dwindling and, at this rate, we are close to a point of no return. Yet, we still give special considerations when it comes to the exploitation of these natural resources by aboriginal people for the purpose of subsistence. Sure, it might be sustainable but for how long? Also, it presents a very static view of a people's culture. It implies that a people's culture cannot and will not evolve over time. And that is, in my opinion, wrong.

When you embrace a new era, you inevitably lose part of your heritage. When you are faced with the realities of a threatened environment, you as a people might have to shed some of your culture and determine a new one for your future generations. This culture over the years will form a heritage that

regards all life more important than tradition
accepts how change is necessary to adapt to new threats to our environment, and
ackowledges how everyone is obliged to protect mother earth -- no exemptions.

This in my opinion are the kind of rights that are truly not locked in time.

Boggled blogger

2006-11-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

It is only prudent to start this long post with word definitions.

tran.sex.u.al /(")tran(t)s-'sek-sh(&-)w&l, -sh&l/
Function: noun
:a person who has undergone a sex change operation

trans.ves.tite /tran(t)s-'ves-"t/
Function: noun
:someone who adopts the dress or manner or sexual role of the opposite sex

In order to settle a lawsuit filed by transexual men, the New York Metropolitan Transport Authority has changed their restroom policy to allow "gender expression". This means that a man dressed as a woman could choose to use the ladies' room instead of the men's room. Yes, "dressed as a woman" versus "who's had a sex change" because there's really no way of checking for the latter -- at least not for the purpose of permitting or restricting restroom usage.

This topic has been the heart of countless conversations and debates alike. And while I may have participated in both many a times already, I still don't have a firm stand. In fact, this controversial topic has been boggling this blogger's mind for a couple of years already.

First of all, can you always tell if a person is a transexual or a transvestite? See, I can't say for certain but I might be fine with using the restroom with someone who has undergone a sex change operation (i.e. a transexual). As for someone dressed as a lady only (i.e. a transvestite), I am most definitely opposed to them using the ladies' washroom if only because sick perverts can take advantage of such provisions. Yup, just slip into a dress, slather some make-up on, pretend to be a transgender in the ladies' room and you are in pervert heaven.
I actually had a similar discussion with a friend a couple of years ago and they told me to "forget about differentiating between transexuals and transvestites." After all, was I "even certain that that pretty girl next to (me) was born a girl?" And I concur because some transgenders are indeed more feminine (or even prettier!) than a lot of the XX-chromosomed populace.
And isn't it just as uncomfortable for a man to use the urinal next to a someone dressed as a woman, as it is for a woman to use the restroom with someone who may be a man? I'm just speculating here but my guess is yes.
And what does all this say about the ever debatable topics of freedom, discrimation, human rights, safety, equality, religion.... and I could go on and on.

And at the end of this long (and pointless?) exercise, the mind is still boggled and I'm still at a quandary. Maybe the answer lies in having 3 restrooms in all public places. A He, a She and a Free For All.

We love coffee!!!

2006-11-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

I guess I'm not the only one contemplating over a cup of coffee :P Kewl! Hehehe :)

Get your own daily dose of...

2006-11-22T16:17:00.000-07:00

... mighty optical illusions. I've put this on my Google home page so I can check out what's new for the day. Really cool site!

Here's one of my favorite illusions. It's called "Life's too short for the wrong job!"

T.M.X. - X stands for 10

2006-11-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

Sophia is getting a Tickle-Me-Elmo for Christmas. She loves Elmo and I can't wait for her to get one that moves and giggles, and actually looks like the real deal. Right now, all she has is a 4 buck Elmo from the Superstore that doesn't do a lot. Actually, it doesn't do anything. And I'm not even entirely convinced that it resembles the Elmo from TV!

I can't wait to see my daughter's reaction when she gets her new and improved Elmo -- a moving, giggling one! Here's a description from one of the TMX stores:

In 1996 Independence Day rocked the box office, the "Macarena" began its trek up the charts before landing on wedding dance floors, and Elmo first showed the world his predilection for tickles. Tickle Me Elmo is remembered as one of the most difficult-to-find toys of the 1996--or any--holiday season.

Ten years later, T.M.X. Elmo (the X stands for 10) was unveiled to the world on Good Morning America on September 19. The most secretly guarded toy of the pre-holiday season, if not all time, T.M.X. This Elmo is all about tickles.

Sit T.M.X. Elmo down and hit one of his three "tickle" spots. There's one under his chin, one on his belly, and one on top of his foot. Yes, this Elmo wiggles just like he did 10 years ago, but that's just the start. Elmo slaps his belly, falls forward with his butt sticking out, stands back up again only to topple backwards, kicks his legs over his belly, and then stands right back up, all while laughing hysterically.

"Again! Again!"

Lost: Johari Window. Found: Nohari Window.

2006-11-17T13:03:00.000-07:00

I lost my Johari Window's URL. I tried looking for it. And I tried really hard too. Gave a shot at:

http://kevan.org/johari?view=ninacarla (was not in use prior this post)

http://kevan.org/johari?view=carla (not mine)

http://kevan.org/johari?view=nina (still not mine)

and I even tried http://kevan.org/johari?view=carlasungit (nice try but no)

I know I can always create another one but I kinda liked that old one. I have my reasons :) Anway, here's my new Johari window. I even made my very first Nohari window. Bwahahaha! :)

Flu shot

2006-11-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

Should we get it?

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog

2006-05-12T15:31:00.000-06:00

Some might find this silly but I felt pretty amazed when I realized that I cannot type with my fingers in their kb proper positions. I cannot even list the keys in order (yung qwerty....vbnm) But I can type pretty accurately at a pretty fast pace without having to look or even glance at my kb. "Kewl."

Happiness

2006-04-03T16:26:00.000-06:00

This post has been edited and has some missing lines

2006-03-29T08:43:00.000-07:00

Last time I did a Johari window was at a team building over a year ago. Golly wow, time flies! Now I don't remember how I saw myself a year ago but I'm pretty sure I must have said something along the lines of masungit or impatient because I was and still am. I almost forgot about this until it happened to come my way twice! this month through Regnard and Sheila.

------

... and so my post went. I inadvertently deleted the URL (nyak!), and was careless enough to hit publish (nyak!) and now I can't locate my Johari window. Hehehe :)

Wrapped up like a pinsec frito

2006-03-27T21:21:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I ranted about Murphy and his role in my losing a wallet with a handful of valuables in it. On a sidenote, that post is missing because it would not cooperate when I was trying to reformat and republish it so it was appropriately called "Bwiset!" and soon after deleted. At any rate, I am elated to say that the wallet was returned not long after I lost it and everything was complete and intact. Thank you, Calgary Transit, for having a reliable and centralized database, and for duly returning found items to their respective owners.

I've been busy organizing my daugther's 1st birthday party which we are having 3 weeks after her actual birthday. Why the big gap? The long and the short of it is there was some initial confusion with the lent season and the specific days when most Catholics opt not to eat meat. So I ended up booking the food place for April 22. It seems to be working out for the better anway because I find I have more time to plan and execute.

It's a tremendously exciting experience I might add. The celebrant being a girl meant so many lovely, charming and simply adorable themes to choose from. I decided to go for a garden-with-little-bugs theme and a lot of my party supplies are being ordered online - the invites, the party favors and the cake. This was the first time I trusted my monitor, mouse and DSL to do most of the shopping and organizing and everything is just peachy.

Lastly, I've also been looking for work. I am currently trying to email my way back into challenging yet rewarding (hehehe) industry that is IT. I have submitted my resume and polished my cover letter, and I am praying to get that interview I've been drilling for. Hopefully, it won't be too long.

I'd like my blog to...

2006-03-27T20:52:00.000-07:00

look more sophisticated but I'm too lazy to create my own CSS so thanks to that-dude-credited-at-the-bottom-of-my-sidebar for giving me something I could build my template on
be more artsy fartsy with artistically edited/created photos but I'm too scared to download an infected, pirated Adobe Photoshop and I can't afford the origianal one
be more insightful but I've always preferred sharing with someone who can talk back, agree, argue, laugh, and cry real time
be more positive and yet remain my vent for all those times I transform to ranting meanie me
stay as random as it is because it truly reflects how crazy and whimsical I am
stay meaningful even if only to me and I know it will because I always always find it amusing to read and re-live my old thoughts, beliefs, feelings, values and dispositions

That said, I'd like to end with a quote from the blog of one of my best buds, Tinnerts. I hope you don't mind me posting this here hehehe:

"they say people who have these blogs are, in a way, exhibitionists. they want others to know what's going on in their lives in a way that is more.... impersonal. hehe. in a way that you just want to text someone instead of calling him/her, or worse, talking to the person face-to-face. yet, they jot down everything... ironic no? others say bloggers don't have close friends whom they can confide to. they just type down everything so their hearts can feel a lil lighter after dumping a few words on this online diary. as for me.... i'm bored."

...and it felt so good I wanna do it again

2005-12-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

I've sunk out at sea, crashed my car, gone insane...

Just because you are paranoid it doesn't mean they aren't out to get you

2005-12-01T21:36:00.000-07:00

Got this quiz from Sym

Me paranoid? I don't think so... Why's everthing and everyone insisting that I am? Do they hate me that much? Can't they ever like me enough to treat me like they treat other "normal" people? What do I need to do so that my critics would just leave me alone?

Ang tamportal. Bow.

2005-11-29T14:51:00.000-07:00

Kami ay makulay
At higit na mahusay
At syempre paminsan minsan mahalay

Magaling sa programming
Mas lalo pa sa singing
At 'wag na wag kakalimutan ang dancing

Mayroong dalawang bibo
At ilang maloloko
Mataba, payat, malaki ang noo

Mayroong isang kakaiba mga damit
Mayroong rin minsan tampuhin o galit
At lahat sigurado'y sa team meeting makulit

Marami pa kaming katangiang mapupukaw
Pero higit sa lahat kami ay matatakaw
Pati pagkain ng iba'y aming inaagaw
Kami ay pataygutom pa nga daw
Okay lang, di naman kami mukhang bakulaw

Ang tamportal
Bow

Parang Little Miss Philippines gone bad. Walastik na second stanza yan. I wanted to upload a pic with everyone in it kaya lang wala ata akong Photoshop (in other words hindi ako marunong mag-collage). Pero marunong ako mag-resize and upload hehehe :) Grabe! Miss ko na team!

This post is about what's on TV

2005-11-29T13:30:00.000-07:00

Nowadays I find myself with a lot of time on my hands so I waste it wisely by surfing the net, reading, or watching TV. All that on top of laundry, dinner, and baby of course. I pretty much read all the child rearing books I managed to borrow from a friend and they really really helped me understand how I can raise a brighter and happier child. I've read and noted (literally) a lot of interesting tips, pointers, and how-to's that I think other new parents out there would find useful as well. More on this later... You see, this post is about what's on TV.

Yes, cable TV has become this housewife's friend. In fact, we are so close that I am more than familiar with the schedules already -- Friends will be on from 5-7pm at channel 40! It has become one of my favorite shows and I do tune in religiously to watch it. I understand I have A LOT of catching up to do as I've never really bothered to watch the show 'til recently. Four months back I wouldn't have thought I'd be asking Santa for the complete series this Christmas!

I have other favorites most of which run on the Food Network but there is this other show on an obscure channel that I find very useful especially now that I am in charge of what checks out at the grocery, hardware, and department stores. It is hosted by two women who review and compare basically any commodity that you could think of under the sun. And it is, I think, most appropriately called The Shopping Bags. So far they have helped me pick out my plastic wrap, bacon, pancake, and stain remover and I know I'll find their car alarm tips useful when I eventually buy my first set of wheels here. Did you know you can get a 30% discount if you install a $200 immobilizer on your car?

There is this one thing that bothers me and, I must admit, kinda surprised me about cable TV here and that is what some channels show late at night. When you stay up late enough and if you have a habit of flipping through the channels using that up-down button on the remote, then you are bound to come across a handful of shows that air, what I think, could only normally be seen when you type in "porn" on Google. It's kinda frustrating to think that poeple's values out here are way too different so much so that they are willing to air such things at night. Anway, last time I came across such shows on TV was at the Marriott Bloor in Toronto and I was naive enough to think that that "feature" came only with hotel cable.

So I'm gonna rephrase what I said earlier. Cable TV is my friend so long as we part ways right around the time my momma would ask me to go to bed when I was fourteen. In short, 10pm. After that, one is better off playing Guild Wars to level up that Mo/R7 to a Mo/R8.

It's cold...

2005-10-06T15:04:00.000-06:00

...and I'm missing home.

Dear Fitness First

2005-09-02T18:52:00.000-06:00

Thank you for returning what is rightfully mine. I'm glad na, sa wakas, nakahanap kayo ng matinong empleyado who can actually get the job done. Nagtataka lang ako why this person took less than a week to resolve my issue while your previous employees ay walang ginawa kundi pass the blame around and make lousy excuses to buy time.

Pilitin ko man, gustuhin ko man, hindi ko magawang sabihin na "All's well that ends well." Kasi, hindi naman talaga eh. Sana na lang when something like this happens again wag niyo naman antayin abutin 1 year, 1 wedding, 1 baby, 6 resignations, 2 visas, and a formal complaint threatening to sue your bums off (i try to avoid cursing na kasi). Not that mangyayari uli sa akin yun -- I promised myself na hinding hindi ako aanib sa kahit anong merong phrase na "fitness first."

Let me end this by saying congratulations for nailing it this time sa paghanap ng matinong empleyado. And my sincere thanks sa kanya for knowing what "customer always comes first" means and making sure we get nothing short of that.

Sincerely,
Carla Arcilla

Still proud to be a Pilipino?

2005-07-03T21:21:00.000-06:00

Interesting email from a friend. She posted this at our barkada's yahoogroup. I can relate with her on a lot of her sentiments. I'm not sure how we're going to pull ourselves out of the mess our country is in. Whatever sad state we are in is the consequence of thougtless actions and poor judgment on the part of every person from several generations ago up to present - from each person who did this nation ill to every person who didn't care enough to do anything.

I said/promised before that no matter how bad things
get, I'll always be proud to be a Pilipino.

I broke my word for a while during July 2004 when the
Philippines pulled out from Iraq for the wrong
reasons, and "always" became "most of the time". I
don't care if any of you think that the war in Iraq
was not worthwhile. I don't agree with you but that is
not the point. The Philippines did not pull out of
Iraq because there were no WMDs to be found or because
it felt that its principles were being violated. It
pulled out because its government wanted good press
and popularity points from the poor ignorant masses
who wanted to save their so-called overseas "hero"
workers.

For the first time in the 24 years that I have
existed, I was ASHAMED to be a Pilipino.

But I bounced back and, once again, I was proud to be
a Pilipino (At least we're not French, right? Insult
intended.) until Thursday evening on my way home while
listening to the news on the radio.

You know your country has hit rock bottom when your
own legislators publicly vote on whether they should
break the law or not.

The Constitution has been reduced to nothing but mere
toilet paper. For the sake of public interest, of
course. Apparently, the demands of the masses and
popularity points are more important than protecting
our Constitution. Even more apparent is that
Congressmen can break the laws they made themselves
whenever they want to pander to the greatest common,
and often ignorant, denominator.

How disheartening it is to have the fact that
lawbreakers and criminals are ruling this nation
rubbed against your face so very thoroughly.

I am once again ashamed. Ashamed of this country and
its people. I don't know how I'm going to "bounce
back" from this. I have always looked at the
Philippine flag with pride and thought the Americans
were stupid for wanting to have the right to burn
their own flag. But now, I can't even bear to look at
it.

At the end of the day though, everyone but members of
the Communist Party of the Philippines should be giddy
with joy. The Philippines has finally achieved true
democracy: the rule of the majority unhindered by law.

Mom's carbon copy

2005-07-01T23:05:00.000-06:00

I looked a lot like this when I was a baby

Thank you, Tita Che and Tito Aldwin, for the lovely dress =)

A OK

2005-07-01T19:23:00.000-06:00

I feel better now. I had the chance to blow off some (ok maybe a lot) of steam and I managed to get some good night's sleep. On top of all that, I had the chance to reconnect with a couple of old friends, and that was nice. No, it was awesome!

I've never been the type who brushed things under the carpet but I wish I thought more carefully about things before I went berserk. I now realize how badly I took things - like a sore loser. It's too bad I lacked the grace and wisdom to have reacted differently.

After being able to think some more about all that has happened , I realized that everything I was ranting about I brought upon myself. I have been barking up the wrong tree. It may have been someone else's call but in the end, when I really think about it, the ball has always been in my court. For in this very real (and sometimes bad) world you only have 2 choices: keep up & shape up, OR pack up & ship out. It's never enough to do only the things you want to do. Forget that, it's not even enough to the things you NEED to do. As far as the limits of tradition and memory would go, it has always been the survival of the fittest -- the selection process where the best of the best comes out on top. In all your undertakings, never simply aim for the standard but always seek to set the bar high. You should not only get to the finish line but be ahead of the pack when you cross it. No, I'm not saying crab mentality. I would never associate my person with that mindset. But sometimes the to be remembered it's not enough to do your best, you have to make sure your best is THE best. Not that I only realized all that now. I guess I've always been the type whose initial reaction to the bitter pill is a crazy fit. At kakaunti lang ata kaming ganun!! Haha.

Bottom line is I got angry and my thoughts and actions lacked the grace of a Christian. But I'm not gonna beat myself up over all that. At least now I see and accept things as they are. There is no bone of contention. The has jury decided and I abide by the decision.

Do not disturb me.

2005-06-30T21:31:00.000-06:00

Masama ang loob ko. Wala na akong kwenta, oo. Sana lang hindi bumubulaga sa akin ang mga ganyang klaseng balita. Hindi naman sa wala akong ideya talaga... pero hindi ko akalaing ganun pala kasama ang tingin niyo sa mga ginagawa ko. Wala na akong kwenta, oo na. Sa susunod sabihin niyo lang sa akin ng harapan. Kasi kung alam ko lang na ganun na lang kayo ka-hindi masaya, inaayos ko na ang walang kwenta kong sarili. Prankahan na, para kahit papaano magawan ko ng paraan at maitaas naman tingin niyo sa akin.

Sabihin niyo na nag-fee-feeling ako pero I truly, honestly think I deserve better... kahit papaano. Well... naisip ko rin 'di bale. Layayasan ko rin kayo.

Totoo nga. Ignorance is bliss.

Long lines make short tempers

2005-05-24T09:33:00.000-06:00

I went to NSO Vibal the other day to get my daugther's birth certificate. Needless to say there were long lines at the entrance, at the cashier, at the releasing area... In short, everywhere. To make matters worse, the processing was also excruciatingly slow which meant client numbers 450 to 500 took nearly an hour to process. I looked at my number -- 596. Whine. Sigh. Good thing I brought a book.

Unfortunately for the majority (the 99% majority) they had no books to keep themselves preoccupied 'til that blissful moment when your number is flashed, and your name gets called. Maybe it was the devil making a workshop of all those idle minds... maybe it was the heat... maybe it was the stench of tired and sweaty people... or maybe it was just the ridiculously long and slow moving lines. Whatever the reason, the people started getting extremely agitated. A handful of mga nanays started shouting "HOY! BILISAN NIYO NAMAN DIYAN!" Even the men who are generally more patient in long lines began hurling nasty words "P^7@n* !n@!!" Their efforts bore little fruit if any for the "NSO team" must have felt quite safe behind the glass panes and made a fascinating job at ignoring the remarks. I guess it was all routine to them. The crowd (nothing short of a mob) was quick to notice this and they immediately flung their anger at someone else -- the guard. It was the guard at NSO Vibal who bore the brunt of the people's attacks. I found this quite amusing and a lot silly. As if kasalanan nung guard na napakahaba at napakabagal umusad nung pila.

Well I have to admit I would have been flaring too if I hadn't found the people's outbursts entertaining. But I was a good girl that day and just sat there reading my book, occasionally turning my head up for an entertaining break. I told myself I deserved a sundae cone for that. Anway, before I knew it my number got called. Ah... the moment I've been waiting for. Adios amigos. Next stop, McDo.

If you're happy and you know it

2005-05-24T09:29:00.000-06:00

D day

2005-04-03T01:25:00.000-07:00

March 29, 2005
5:00am - I woke up feeling stronger than usual contractions coming in at 5 minute intervals and lasting 15 seconds.
6:30am - Called my OB who told me to stay put and come in at 10am for an IE.
7:00am - 30 minutes after that call I'm getting admitted at the hospital. Hindi ko na ata maantay ang 10am.
7 thru noon - Laaaaaaabor!!!!!!
12:05pm - My baby girl is born! :o)
And here is my little angel 4 days later...

And in this corner...

2005-04-03T01:22:00.000-07:00

...weighing in at 7.4lbs, and 49cm in length... Sophia Katelyn!

Shari R. Barr put it best

2005-03-02T11:02:00.000-07:00

"Expecting life to treat you well because you are a good person is like expecting an angry bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian."

Cravings

2005-03-01T23:17:00.000-07:00

After having lunch I suddenly found myself craving for my all-time favorites from the chocolate and pretzel departments. I've never had cravings as bad as these before.

Craving 1: Milka Lila Pause - Fraise

www.germandeli.com

The last time I had one of these was 8 years ago, in the United Arab Emirates. Yup, almost a decade ago and I still haven't forgotten the luscious taste of Lila Pause Fraise. The bar is not too sweet and the kind of milk chocolate they use really goes well with the light, strawberry filling. Ah the filling.... It's the only fruit filling in chocolate that appeals to my taste buds. It doesn't taste fruity or jam-like, but at the same time it doesn't taste artificial at all. It's like soft nougat flavored with strawberry mashed in milk. Anyway, I'm really bad at describing things and I guess I'm not doing justice to the chocolate. You can check out germandeli for more information. You can also read what other people are saying about Lila Pause. Yum!

Craving 2: Cemoi Truffles

www.thechocolateshoppe.com

It was at grandma's where I first tasted Cemoi Fantasie truffles. In retrospect, the more appropriate word would be devoured. Yup, devoured a whole box! Actually, the ones I had then weren't as fabulous because they've sorta melted and lost their powdery coating. They were very good nonetheless. As for my succeeding encounters with the truffles, I can only describe them as perfect. The chocolate melts in your mouth leaving a taste that makes you want to go for more. The dusting of cocoa powder provides a perfect balance to the sweet melt-in-your-mouth ball of chocolate it covers.

Craving 3: Lindt Pistacchio

www.lindt.com

I love my grandma. It was at grandma's (yet again) where I first had what I would say is the best bar from the Lindt collection. The light outer milk chocolate melts in your mouth to reveal a creamy milk and pistacchio interior. I'm not a chocolate connoisseur and again I fear I may not be doing justice to the food. All I can say is it is simply F - A -B -U -L -O - U -S. Fabulous! Rustan's in Katipunan used to sell them but I don't think they do anymore. Or at least I wasn't able to find them in the shelves the last couple of times I've been there. Oh well....

Craving 4: Synders of Hanover - Sourdough Hard Pretzels (Honey Mustard & Onion)

www.snydersofhanover.com

Have I mentioned that I love my grandma? It was at grandma's (where else!?!?) where I first had a taste of these delectable hard pretzels. I know a lot of people who find the flavor weird or too strong but I for one love the tangy taste of the mustard and onion. It's kinda hard to describe but the taste of Piknik honey mustard shoestring potatoes come close.

It's a pity that I can't find them here -- the reason I am desperately looking for an online grocer that would deliver them to the Philippines. If anyone happens to know where I can find any of these cravings please let me know :)

Easy Rida

2005-02-24T19:52:00.000-07:00

I woke up looking forward to my day. It's Friday, and it's a holiday. I was more than happy to have the whole day to laze around guilt free. While surfing friends' blogs, I came across this "What Classic Movie Are You" online test. I took it and all the while I was hoping to be The Sound of Music or Gandhi or even Rocky. Whatever as long as it's some inspirational movie. I got Easy Rider. Anyway, before I "decided" to be disappointed with the result, I wanted to check out what the movie was about first. After all, I haven't even seen it yet and for all I know it could be one of the most inspiring movies *ignores rough-looking men and the bulky motorcycles on movie poster*

From imdb
Genre: Adventure / Drama / Action / Crime
Tagline: A man went looking for America and couldn't find it anywhere!
Plot Outline: Two counterculture bikers travel from Los Angeles to New Orleans in search of America

Okay. So much for inspirational movie.

What Classic Movie Are You?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Shopping + OC Shopper =

2005-02-22T23:21:00.000-07:00

I think shopping comes naturally to a lot of women so much so that some would even use it as a means of relaxing and having fun. True if you had the money and you are NOT "OC". I came to that conclusion when I realized how long I've been looking for a set of comforter and pillows for my little girl's playard. I've been to at least 6 malls over the past month and still had no success in my quest. I'm having a particularly hard time finding a set that satisfies my requirements, all of which for me are essential:

It must be of good fabric.
It must be beige in order to match the color of the playard which is navy blue, maroon and beige.
As much as possible, no prints.

For sure, my obssessive-compulsive nature makes the shopping experience particularly tiring. I know that if I can let go of at least my second or third requirement I would have found (and bought) a decent set in that first mall, in that first store, on that first day.

On top of making shopping less fun, the combo shopping + OC can also empty the pocket faster that you can say "money". I was looking for a baby book and of course I had a not-so-short list of qualifications:

It must not have the face of someone else's baby printed on it (and I've seen a lot of these around).
It must have a family tree (quite surprisingly, not all baby books had one).
It must have space for all the information that I want to note down. Would have been simple if only I didn't "need" space to note the what the weather would be like when we bring baby home.
It must not have a theme like Disney or Pooh or Looney Tunes.
It must not have crazy, flashy prints, or too many colors.
A pink one please.

Needless to say, it took me a looooooong time to find what I was looking for but I did find one eventually. And much to my joy, it even had a matching keepsake box and photo album.

Perfect! Of course, the catch for finding just what you're looking for (and more) is that it comes with a price, and a high one at that. I won't say how much but it was pricey alright. So much so that I am actually quite embarrassed to admit to people (even to my mom) how much the set cost me, mostly out of fear of being judged "hindi marunong humawak ng pera". Well I'm not saying there is no truth to that but I just had to let my being OC get the better of me. In retrospect, back in the store I knew that if I just walked away and didn't buy the set I wouldn't be able to sleep. Yep, I'd have a sleepless night (or even nights) knowing I let such a "perfect" find go.

So, going back to the math:

Shopping + OC Shopper = More Effort + More Expenses

When I really think about it, I'm not to bothered by the extra effort and cost. My philosophy is if at the end of the day everyone's happy then it's safe to assume that all is good.

Ok, yun lang muna. Au revoir. Gotta go find that comforter set pa :P

There is only so much I can do...

2005-02-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

...but I know that God will make a way for me

God Will Make A Way

God will make a way

Where there seems to be no way

He works in ways we cannot see

He will make a way for me

He will be my guide

Hold me closely to His side

With love and strength for each new day

He will make a way

By a roadway in the wilderness

He'll lead me

And rivers in the desert will I see

Heaven and earth will fade

But His word will still remain

He will do something new today.

What's in a name?

2005-01-31T23:44:00.000-07:00

A lot. And that is why we still haven't managed to come up with a name for our little girl. I never thought it would be so hard to come up with a name for our daughter. And the pressure is even more intense knowing that she will be stuck with that name forever and it's up to mom and dad to come up with a good one.

We are trying to find a name that:

sounds nice by itself and sounds even better when put together with our family name
doesn't have a negative meaning or history to it, and
doesn't remind us of anyone we would not like to be reminded of (and mind you, a lot of good names have been rejected thus)

Needless to say, the most popular question I've been getting asked recently is, yes you guessed it, "What are you gonna name your baby?" Admittedly, right now, it would be an awful lot easier to answer what we're not gonna name our baby. But hey, I'm not losing hope. I know we're not far from nailing that elusive perfect name.

Rocking the boat

2005-01-28T02:00:00.001-07:00

My experience with Fitness First Makati makes me wonder if the people there have ever heard of the term "Customer Service". It is practically non-existent there. Nada. Zero. Nil. Zilch. Brace yourself for one of the sorriest, saddest, most-sickening true stories of lousy service, and more lousy service. All that from people who should be providing us with good service, and good service only, given how good they are at ripping us off. Unfortunately, that is no overstatement.

Looking back at all the things I've had to go through, this may very well be one of the most stressful and frustrating experiences of my life. And the worst part is it ain't over yet. Not by a long shot.

January 2004

A classic example of curiosity killing the cat. A friend from work was looking for a new gym and he wanted to check out the gym 2 floors below our office. So him, me and another officemate stepped out and took a quick trip to the 8th floor. I wasn't even interested in signing up for membership. I went only because I was curious to see what their facilities were like. Of course, I didn't know I was about to meet the most convincing salesman (a.k.a. membership consultant) who can make me sign up for a 2100 a month membership on the spot. I don't usually get duped by salespeople but this one made me an offer I could not refuse. Well not really. In retrospect, I COULD have refused but he promised he would personally transfer my membership if I ever changed my mind about it. So I was like, "Hey, what have I got to lose?” As it turns out later, A LOT.

March 2004

3 months of membership and I haven't even used the gym once. So I gave Mr. Membership Consultant (Mr. MC) a call and I asked him to transfer my membership. A couple of days later, he gave me a call at the office and informed me that (1) he has already transferred my membership and (2) they would stop billing me starting April. Great! Thank you, Mr. MC! End of conversation. Or at least it should’ve been.

April - June 2004

I signed up for my company's fitness program and started going to this other gym. If one would compare my new gym to Fitness First, it would not fare very well. It was smaller, not as hi-tech, had a very limited number of equipment, and provided only a limited variety of classes. It was also several blocks away from the office so getting there itself was a work out. But I still chose to go there for one good reason: I didn't have to pay them a single centavo. No more 2100 a month for me. Anyway, I went there religiously and may I note that I lost a reasonable amount of weight (hey, isn't that the number reason people go to the gym in the first place).

August 2004

So imagine my shock when I saw this come in. That line is no stranger to my previous credit card statements but I didn't think too much of them at first - I thought Fitness First's posting must have been delayed or something. But when I saw the same on my Aug statement, I knew something was amiss. I knew right there and then that they've been overcharging me. A more thorough review of all my previous statements confirmed this, so I gave the 8th floor folks a visit. I wanted my money back.

Things that followed, in chronological order:

FF: Mr. MC has resigned. Do you remember to whom the membership was transferred.
Carla: No. He didn' tell me and I didn't ask.
FF: Did you sign a transfer form.
Carla: No. I didn't know I had to.
FF: Ma'am, we will look for the record of transfer.
FF: Ma'am, we've gone through all the files but can't find it.
Carla: You probably won't find it. I doubt it even exists. What else can we do about the situation?
FF: Pls write a formal letter of complaint and we'll set a meeting between you and our manager (GM). In the meantime, we will stop billing you.
Carla (only not out loud haha): Yeah, and I guess you're expecting me to thank you.
GM: You'll need a written statement from Mr. MC. We'll try to contact him and get it for you.

September - December 2004

Why Fitness First is a sorry excuse for a gym:

They might as well have an answering machine that says "Ma'am the person you are looking for is in a meeting", "Ma'am the person is out right now", or "Ma'am the person is at our company party". It is close to impossible to get an update from them. It's hard to reach them and you can forget about getting a return call.
It took them 4 months to track down Mr. MC's residence, and when they finally did, they couldn't even manage to get his new contact number. Well I know why it took them so long - They were not persistent, not sincere about wanting to help and doing everything they can to do so.

And now, the mother of all reasons why FF is a sorry excuse for a gym
Their lady admin managed to speak to Mr. MC himself some time September. I believe he paid them a visit to get his final pay. He told lady admin that he has indeed transferred my account but he can't remember to whom. She asked him to come back later to formalize his statement and guess what, he never did. Surprising isn’t it? Not. On top of that, I have another lady employee saying she remembers Mr. MC transferring my account. She goes on to say she is certain and cannot be mistaken.
SO WHY ARE STILL THEY REFUSING TO GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK? What more do they want from me? What more do they need? One would think all those "eyewitness" accounts would be enough for me to get my money. Not enough for them apparently.

I should mention that I know of other people who have had terrible experiences with this gym. Some of them, just like me, are still going after the gym for a resolution to their own cases. Under normal circumstances, it’s nice to find out you are not alone. But in this case, it wasn’t nice for me at all. Finding out there were more of us only made me sicker to my stomach.

January 2005

Still waiting for the long due statement from Mr. MC. The last person from FF who was trying to get his statement in writing has already resigned but not before giving me Mr. MC's address. I asked the admin if she could go to Mr. MC's to get his statement in writing. In the spirit of customer service she told me she was not allowed to. Her manager (remember GM from August?) won't let her. So what is one to do when faced with such an incredibly ridiculous situation? I don't know if what I did was incredibly stupid but back then I felt I had no other choice. They weren't doing anything about my case so I had to take matters into my own hands. So I went to Mr. MC's residence myself to try to get him to sign a written statement. Unfortunately, he wasn't home but his brother was, and he called Mr. MC on his new cel number. I spoke to Mr. MC and boy was he mad when he learned of how I managed to get his address. On a sidenote, I understand where he was coming from. Anyway, he promised me he would send me the letter via fax. It never came.

I also tried to get a written statement from my other eyewitness. She was nice and told me she would fax me a written statement. Sadly, nice as she was, that never happened too. So I went back to the admin, asked for my witness's address and got it. This time I didn't even bother asking if she could go there for me. Anyway, I went to the address and just as fate would have it, my witness wasn't home. But her parents were and I left the letter for their daughter's signature. Well today morning I got a call back from my witness and she was really mad at the admin for giving me her address. And just like with Mr. MC, I understood where she was coming from. Talk about deja-vous. Anyway, she told me she would get back to me once she has made up her mind about the letter.

What Now

So here I am, still waiting for that letter. I am hoping to get it to add to my list of supporting documents which already includes the following: (1) a letter from my employer certifying my membership with the other gym, (2) a letter from the other gym with my attendance record attached, and (3) a letter from the admin narrating her conversation with Mr. MC. Not a lot, but better than nothing. I’m going to get them notarized and I’ll be attaching them to my affidavit and formal letter of complaint. I’ll be forwarding everything to the following: (1) Fitness First Makati, (2) their main office, (3) my credit card company, (4) DTI, (5) Bureau of Consumer Protection, and (6) the media. I don’t even care if I end up spending more than the amount I’ve been asking them to return to me. I guess this is my way of saying “I'm tired of not rocking the boat. I am going to do something about this. AND YOU ARE NOT GETTING AWAY WITH THIS!”

I miss the man

2005-01-26T09:30:00.000-07:00

It's 12:01 a.m. and all I can think of right now is how much I miss my husband.

I am 31 weeks along and I could feel our baby moving for quite some time now. Aside from myself, only 3 other people have felt our baby work out those little arms and legs - my mom, a lady doctor from the immigration, and a girlfriend. For some reason, little angel is most active just before I go to bed at night. For the most part of the day however, she is... well... asleep.

Like most if not all moms, I always feel a tremendous rush of joy whenever I get to experience something new with our baby. But what may be unique to me is that the rush is soon followed by pangs of sadness. The reason: I would always wish that Jay-ar was here to share in every new experience.

If I were to list the top 3 most-exciting-baby-moments-so-far, I'd say they are:

hearing her heartbeat for the first time
feeling her move for the first time, and
finding out our baby is a girl.
On a sidenote, I wasn't hoping for a boy or girl in particular. It just felt awesome to know we can finally refer to her as "she" versus "he/she" or "the baby". Not to mention it made shopping a breeze.

Consequently, not being able to share them first hand with Jay-ar also makes them most heart wrenching. Bittersweet.

I've already done some shopping in preparation for our baby's arrival. My mom has been great and she always accompanied me in my sprees. I still have several items (like 20 items several) to scratch off my list, and I need to get that done before my tummy gets too big for me to walk around the mall. I know my mom will be there to help pick out the good buys and to restrain me from any impulse buying. Still, I'd give anything for baby's mommy and daddy to be doing the shopping together. Now let me say for the record that I love my mom, I appreciate everything she is doing, and I enjoy spending time with her. It's just that I've always pictured such moments differently, especially for the first baby. After all, you get to have the first baby... well... only once.

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Jay-ar, I miss you so much. I wish you were here to share in all the special moments first hand.

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