Catching Up

A week's absence, that's what it was. I was busy doing nothing. My days nowadays are spent working, commuting, and watching tv. Pathetic I know. But driving an hour to and another hour from work daily in traffic can really sap one's energy.

Going out with friends can rejuvenate the soul. That's what we did on Saturday. We met with this couple we know for about 2 years now. We've been out once, which was nearly a year ago if I'm not mistaken. We keep planning but it's difficult to get our skeds on the same page. Our skeds finally synched on Saturday and they took us to Creek Monkey Tap House, where we ate and drank and chatted the afternoon away. Never underestimate the healing power of getting together with friends.

Anyway, I just found out that Princessa has tagged me. She wants to squeeze the last ounce of brain juice I have.

Here are the questions and my answers with explanations although it's not required:


1. You have to give up one part of your body: brain or heart? Pick in the context of the debate mind vs. heart or right vs. kind in making decisions.

Heart. I rely too much on my heart, I'm a heart over mind type. If I give up my heart, I'd no choice but to use relying on my brain.

2. Fictional characters are great! Would you rather be the hero or the villain in the greatest story ever told?

Villain. Too much responsibility on the the hero. Plus I'd have more chance to get an Oscar's by playing the villain :)

3. Smart and ugly or gorgeous and dumb?

Smart and ugly. I can use my smarts to make myself gorgeous.

4. Yes or No: becoming a parent and having kids.

Yes. No explanations needed.

5. Yes or No: divorce.

NO. My gutt tells me NO, but I'm not against it as a whole. It's a case to case basis.

6. You are about to do the one best thing that you have always wanted to do ever. What stops you from taking the plunge: your personal fear of failing or your fear of judgment from others?

PERSONAL FEAR OF FAILING. In addition, it's fear of making the change, taking the leap.

7. For one day, you get to spend the day with this famous person. Will you pick your favorite athlete, your favorite musician, your favorite author or your favorite actor?

ATHLETE (Buster Posey). Even if you don't know him, once you see him, you'd want to spend the rest of your days with him.

8. Yes or No: watching cartoons until your ridiculous old age now. (Admit it )

YES. I recently just watched the SMURFS, the movie.

9. The unfortunate has struck: your lover is dying. You are faced with this option: donate your vital organ to save him or her and die yourself while he or she lives without you or let your lover die without doing anything?

THE SECOND CHOICE. He knows my organs aren't in good shape :). He wouldn't want them in his body :)

10. Yes or No: death penalty.

YES. But on a case to case basis.

11. At a huge crossroad in your life, a decision has to be made which will alter the course of your freaking life. What do you do? Do you take the ridiculous way or the safe way to go about it?

RIDICULOUS WAY. Just for the sake of this meme, I'd choose that. But I know deep in my heart I'm a safe-way kind of person.

Aha! There I finished it. I also finished Amy Tan's SAVING FISH FROM DROWNING. I'm about to start another Amy Tan's book, the name of which I totally forgot.

One Word Answers

I was tagged by Ms. Bing to play this meme. I'm always up for memes so here goes:

1. Where is your cell phone? Bag
2. Describe your boyfriend/girlfriend? Married!
3. Your hair? Dry
4. Your mother? Fighter
5. Your father? Quiet
6. Your favourite item? Camera
7. Your dream last night? None
8. Your favourite drink? Coffee
9. Your dream car? Mini
10. The room you are in? Office
11. Your ex? Who?
12. Your fear? Disease
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? Mature
14. Who did you hang out with last night? Hubby
15. What you’re not? Organized
16. The last thing you did? When?
17. What are you wearing? Dress
18. Your favourite book? Dictionary
19. The last thing you ate? Siopao
20. Your life? Blessed
21. Your mood? Varied
22. Your friends? Far
23. What are you thinking about right now? Food
24. Your car? Toyota
25. What are you doing at the moment? Blogging
26. Your summer? Hot
27. What is on your TV? Sports
28. When is the last time you laughed? Earlier
29. Last time you cried? Dunno
30. School? Fun

Mission accomplished Ms. Bing!!!!

2011 Survey

Here's my 2009 survey.

Here's my 2010 survey.


In 2011:


Did you do something you would never do?

>>I went white water rafting and ziplining. Two actiivities that I really thought I'd never ever do.

Did you keep any New Year's Resolutions?

>>I never make any so nothing to keep.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

>>No one.

Did anyone close to you die?

>> Yes, a dear friend and faux FIL, Ken died in December.

Did you visit any countries?

>>Yes. Went to Mexico and Costa Rica

What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

>>A child of my own.

Will any date from 2011 stay etched in your memory forever?

>>I can't think of any one particular date.

What was your biggest achievement of 2011?

>>Conquering my fear of heights by going ziplining.

What was your biggest failure?

>>Unable to conceive. Inability to follow a strict diet-exercise plan to lose weight and be healthy.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

>>Epstein Barr, hypothyroidism and low iron level.

What was the best thing you bought in 2011?

>>Maybe not the best, but the most expensive. I finally got a hybrid car.

Did your behaviour changed over the year?

>>I tried to be more sociable.

Where did you spend most of your money?

>>Travels, bills and car purchase.

Are you happier than this time last year?

>>I don't know.

What song will remind you of 2011?

>>Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars

What do you wish you would have done more of?

>> Diet and exercise.

What do you wish you would have done less of?

>>Blogging and tv watching and worrying.

What did/will you do for Christmas 2011?

>>Same thing every year, a day with family.

Did you fall in love in 2011?

>>Yes, I fell in love with Costa Rica.

Did you get your heart broken in 2011?

>>Yes. My fertility treatment/procedure wasn't successful.

Favorite TV program of 2011?

>>Merlin, Haven, Big Bang Theory, The Good Wife, and many more.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

>>Nope

What was the best book you read and/or movie you saw?

>>I haven't read a single book in 2011, which is a pity really. Best movie? Off the top of my head I'd say BIUTIFUL.

What was your greatest discovery?

>>What a fascinating country Costa Rica is and how warm and friendly are its people.

What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

>> We went to Esperpento for lunch and had glorious tapas then walked off the calories in Mission District.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

>>Having a baby.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?

>>I don't have a fashion concept.

FRIENDS:

Who was the best new person you met?

>>I met a few people this year, but Heather is reallhy lovely.

Who did you wish you did not meet?

>>No one.

Who was your bestfriend?

>>My husband

Who was your enemy?

>>Laziness and procrastination.

Who do you miss?

>>My girl friends from high school.

Who will you never forget?

>>The lovely couple from Germany Lars and Andrea who we met in Costa Rica.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

>>Just Do It, or you'll run out of time.

What will you always remember about 2011?

>>Busy schedules, church meetings, church activities, church plannings.

ASPIRATIONS FOR 2012:

What do you want to do in 2012 that you couldn't in 2011?

>>Have a baby..

Any resolutions?

>>Walk, move, exercise.

What is different about 2012 than 2011?

>>Lots of good things, I hope.

Anything you want to change about yourself for 2012?

>>Reinvent myself by adopting a new positive attitude towards life.

Do you want to make more friends in 2012?

>>Absolutely!

It Feels Like Christmas

My Christmas tree is up and I joyfully completed the task on Saturday after Thanksgiving. What is more amazing about that is I did it by myself. I am growing up hahaha!

I found so much joy putting up the tree this weekend that I took the least amount of time necessary to get it up and lighted. You see I am a master at procrastination. My style is minimalistic so my ratio of green to ornament is heavily in favor of the green tree. I know my mother’s style is the opposite and she may still comment on my very minimalistic approach, but for now she keeps mum.

This year I have used my red ball ornament. I’m still trying to get as much use from my old ornaments as I could. But the tree that I have right now is a new one. I gave my old tree away to Salvation Army. I use plastic tree versus real one. I love the smell of the real tree, but disposing it is so much hassle that I have never purchased a live one again.

Likewise the garlands are already decorating the banister in my staircase, they’re lit up as well. That’s about the extent of my decoration so far. I have yard decors that would have to wait for this weekend to be put up.

And speaking of Christmas, blogger pal Kayni broached up the idea of x-change gifts. I know this may cause a little wrinkle in the blog world as I passed the chance to play x-change gifts with Princessa Musang this year and said yes to Kayni. I’ll make it up to my other blogger pal some day.

Here’s my list for Kayni’s Christmas party:

Something you can use everyday: Cutesy journal

Something cute: Anything Sanrio/Hello Kitty

Something light or small: Kitty ornament or kitty item

Something fancy: Fancy (fashion) earrings

Something sweet: Dark chocolate bar

Favorite colors: Pink, yellow

Something you really need: Small wallet

Something you collect: Pressed pennies, postcards, ref magnets

If you have one wish, what would it be: Is this about world peace or totally selfish answers? I want to have one 5 x 8 print of your most favorite picture that you took. I’ll frame it and put it up on my wall.

I hope to get Kayni's response to these questions/lines soon so I can start shopping.

Happy Christmas everyone! I know too soon right?

Ten Things I Have Not Done

I'm playing with Rob of Sensory Replays because I thought this was a fun game.  It would also make me realize what else I wanted to do that's left undone so far.

Here goes:

1. Join a photo contest - been planing and planning for years, but never had the courage to do so.
2. Travel alone - not that I have any intention of doing it, I just merely say I haven't done it.
3. Write a story - okay book or something. I have some story lines up in my coconut, but I just need to put in a word doc.
4. Bungee Jump - not particularly high on my to-do list, but if I were in some exotic place, maybe.
5. Meet a Fellow Blogger in Person - no offense but I have no real urge to do so - mainly because I have always maintained my sort of anonymity in the blogging world. "Sort of" because some of my blogger pals are also my FB friends.
6. Wear a 2-piece bathing suit - and will never happen :) - not now.
7. Master another language - went to school to study Spanish, but I was too advanced for the basic and they didn't have anything after the basic class.  Would also love to learn French and a Chinese language.
8. Explore the wonders of the Philippine Islands - high up on my list.
9. Attend an organized class reunion - hopefully next year with my college class.
10. Stay in a hostel - would I or wouldn't I given the opportunity, I wouldn't know.

Thanks to Rob, you saved me one post to think about.