spring is in the air...

...i feel it in my fingers... i feel it in my toes...

ganda. 'di na ako makahintay for spring. pati mga paa ko, nangangati na rin. i haven't gone around at all because i don't like the cold. im really waiting for warmer weather before i go to parks, zoos, anywhere. im really excited, kasi finally i'll be able to take pictures again. pag malamig kasi, ang hirap maglabas ng camera because you have to remove your gloves then find a good spot, a good composition. before you know it, nanginginig na ang kamay mo at tuhod at wala ka nang gana.

but soon. it will be nice and warm. konting tulog na lang :)

far away by nickelback

i can't believe this song has been sitting in my laptop since last year yet i never heard it until today. the lyrics is sooo romantic and the vocals is really good. when you listen to the song, you'd wish ikaw na lang 'yung mahal nya at gusto mo na sya mahalin in return. hehe. oa ba? sensya na, ha! :)

On my knees, I'll ask
Last chance for one last dance
'Cause with you, I'd withstand
All of hell to hold your hand
I'd give it all
I'd give for us
Give anything but I won't give up
'Cause you know,
you know, you know

That I love you
I've loved you all along
And I miss you
Been far away for far too long
I keep dreaming you'll be with me
and you'll never go
Stop breathing if
I don't see you anymore

may line pa towards the end, i only noticed this after listening to it for several times -- "i forgive you for being away for far too long" -- awwww, grabe. ang sweet! important yan e, forgiveness. hay naku, promise, mahal ko na sya!

for the complete lyrics of this song, click here. if you want the mp3, let me know and we'll figure out a way to send it to you :)

Bittersweet Days

It's been a really busy week. I have meetings and deadlines each day and my working days don't seem to end when the sun goes down. It starts very early (at 7am) and finishes around 11pm, with lots of personal and health issues to deal with in between. I'm not getting good sleep lately, and not eating healthy food. My fault really, kasi last weekend all I did was to shop for clothes and watch DVD -- I was in front of the TV for 6 hours last Sunday watching a Korean Telenovela; 9 in total if you include the 3 hours I spent watching from 12am-3am Saturday! Nagpuyat pa talaga ako! This is an addiction, and its a bad one :( Ang ganda kasi nung palabas, e...Ever heard of 'Jewel in the Palace'? :)

Because I was glued to the TV, didn't manage to cook for the coming week, or buy groceries or do my laundry! I did manage to buy medicine though, so that was good...and buy the clothes I need for a client meeting which my boss told me to buy, so that was good too. Those are major goals at nagawa ko naman sila. Pero nakakapagod when you don't do the chores you're scheduled to do: the chores I just ignored in order to watch 'Jewel', haha! It affects the whole week. At nagkataon pa naman that this week at work was so busy. This morning, I was really tired and wish I could retreat to a place where someone would take care of me, but there was no one -- I only have myself to take care of me. Medyo sad no. Nami-miss ko tuloy ang aking nanay. She really takes good care of me, lalo na pag weekends. Sobrang buhay prinsesa ako 'pag nasa bahay... 'Nay, miss kita :( And she's not the only one I miss. Dami pa. It's not easy missing anyone at all pero it makes you realize who the important people in your life really are. Bitter-sweet thing.

-ooo-

It was a good surprise when I learned today that I could work from home -- my boss also did not go to the office kaya, this became possible. This was one highlight for today, nang malaman ko that I don't have to go out of the cold :)

Another highlight is that I was able to cook spaghetti: something I've always wanted to do since a week ago or even earlier. I have all the ingredients except cheese, pero I decided to go ahead and cook na rin, kasi I've run out of nice things to eat. I had ham and egg for dinner kasi. And then ham and egg uli for breakfast. That's why for lunch, I decided it should be a little more special:


Ingredients: Pasta, ground beef, tomato sauce, sausage, onions, salt and pepper, cooking oil. Not bittersweet at all. More of sweet and sour, instead.


Lately I find myself wanting to learn more how to cook and prepare food for others, although I haven't brought my cooking sa office or shared it with friends. So this was just something I'm hoping I could do in the near future, 'yung magpakain. Na-inspire ako dun sa bida ng 'Jewel in the Palace', she's a cook for the imperial palace in Korea who later became a doctor, one of the first lady doctors in that country if not the first. It's based on a true story kaya masarap panoorin. And masarap gayahin :)

Anyway, the spaghetti I had manage to cook wasn't the greatest but it wasn't bad at all. The pasta and sauce was really nice. Here are some cooking tips I'd like to share -- you can almost conclude na galing 'yan lahat sa 'Jewel in the Palace':

- I made sure I followed the instructions in cooking the pasta. There are different ways to cook it, depending on the brand.
- I made sure the ground beef was in a good condition. It's sitting in my fridge for weeks now, so I had to thaw it muna and put salt tapos hinalo ko before I placed it in the pan.
- When cutting onions or anything, you have to be consistent as much as possible. Kelangan pantay-pantay ang hiwa. Cooking will be easier this way because you will ensure that the ingredients are absorbing the oil, the sauce in a consistent manner. And it will look better, too :)

I was working the whole time I cooked it and I didn't have a good recipe to follow at the start -- I couldn't find one at first kaya nagmarunong na lang ako. I had to finally eagerly look for one when I couldn't decide if I'm supposed to put water sa sauce. Hehe. Also, I don't have all the ingredients, walang cheese napansin mo? But that was okay too :) Ang saya when I learned that I can cook spaghetti with such few ingredients. I can't wait to tell my mom and cook for her :)

the one that got away...

In your life, you'll make note of a lot of people. Ones with whom you shared something special, ones who will always mean something. There's the one you first kissed, the one you first loved, the one you lost your virginity to, the one you put on a pedestal, the one you're with...and the one that got away.

Who is the one that got away? I guess it's that person with who everything was great, everything was perfect, but the timing was just wrong. There was no fault in the person, there was no flaw in the chemistry, but the cards just didn't fall the right way, I suppose.

I believe in the fact that ending up with someone, finding a longtime partner that is, does not lie merely in the other person. I can actually argue that an equal part, or maybe even the greater part, has to do with the matter of timing.

It has to do with you being ready to settle down and commit to someone in a way that goes beyond the little necessities of giddy romance.

How often have you gone through it without even realizing it? When you're not ready to commit in that mature manner, it doesn't matter who you're with, it just doesn't work. Small problems become big; inconsequentials become dealbreakers simply because you're not ready and it shows. It's not that you and the person you're with are no good; it's just that it's not yet right, and little things become the flashpoint of that fact.

Then one day you're ready. You really are. And when this happens you'll be ready to settle down with someone.

He or she may not be the most perfect, they might not be the brightest star of romance to ever have burned in your life, but it'll work because you're ready. It'll work because it's the right time and you'll make it work. And it'll make sense, it really will.

So that day comes when you're finally making sense of things, and you find yourself to be a different person.

Things are different, your approach is different, you finally understand who you are and what you want, and you've become ready because the time has truly arrived. And mind you, there's no telling when this day will come. Hopefully you're single but you could be in a long-term relationship, you could be married with three kids, it doesn't matter. All you know is that you've changed, and for some reason, the one that got away,
is the first person you think about. You'll think about them because you'll wonder, "What if they were here today?"

You'll wonder, "What if we were together now, with me as I am and not as I was?" That's what the one that got away is.

The biggest "What if?" you'll have in your life. If you're married, you'll just have to accept the fact that the one that got away, got away. Believe me, no matter how fairy tale you think your marriage is, this can happen to the best of us.
But hopefully you're mature enough to realize that you're already with the one you're with and this is just another test of your commitment, one which will just strengthen your marriage when you get past it. Sure, you'll think about him/her every so often, but it's alright.

It's never nice to live with a "might have been," but it happens.

Maybe the one that got away is the one who's already married. In which case it's the same thing. You just have to accept and know that your memories of that person will probably bring a nice little smile to your lips in the future when you're old and gray and reminiscing. But if neither of that is the case, then it's different.

What do you do if it's not yet too late? Simple...find him, find her.
Because the very existence of a "one that got away" means that you'll always wonder, what if you got that one? Ask him out to coffee, ask her out to a movie, it doesn't matter if you've dropped in from out of nowhere. You'd be surprised, you just might be "the one that got away" as well for the person who is your "the one that got away." You might drop in from out of nowhere and it won't make a difference.

If the timing is finally right, it'll all just fall into place somehow and you know,
I'm thinking, it would be a great feeling, in the end, to be able to say to someone,
"Hey you, you're the one that almost got away."

araw-gabi

Araw gabi nasa isip ka
Napapanaginip ka
Kahit san magpunta
Araw gabi nalalasing sa tuwa
Kapag kapiling ka
Araw gabi tayong dalawa

'di ako fan ni regine pero nagustuhan ko 'yang kanta na yan nung narinig ko kung saan. naging lss ko sya nung isang araw. hehe. kinig ka by clicking here.

-ooo-

madami pang opm songs from Tristan Cafe. im glad i found that dahil okay sya. halo-halong artists and genre. hale, sheryn regis, sam milby, sharon cuneta, barbie almalbis, bamboo, rivermaya, mymp, orange and lemons, gary v, ogie, etc. cool no. you can't download the music file, pero pwede na rin. ayos naman ung quality at may lyrics pa sya.

if you have time to listen to just one song, consider araw-gabi or this one, high by barbie almalbis and the speaks. ganda rin 'yan.

pili ka lang and enjoy. tell me what you liked. wala lang sisihan pag na-lss ka sa 'di mo gusto na kanta :p

misterclay

this post is dedicated to almin or misterclay. friend ko from accenture and avid reader of this blog. hehe. yes.

hi almin, salamat sa palaging pagbisita dito :) i always find myself smiling after hearing from you thru the comments you post here. kulit-kulit ka talaga. minsan ba naman, mag-text ng walang masyadong kwentang joke from manila to chicago. naka-roaming ako, e...napagastos pa ako ng malaki-laki. hindi naman nakakatawa. thanks sa effort and thoughtfulness. haha! yun ang nakakatawa dun e, yung effort and thoughtfulness! pero salamat talaga, its always nice to be remembered by a friend :) imbento ka pa ng jokes, sige lang. i-master mo pa 'yang skill na 'yan. tournament kayo ni marlin 'pag nag-reunion ang rts -- sa singapore! yes! daming baon yan si marlin. yari ka 'pag pa-petiks-petiks ka. hehe.

so ngayon pala nasa singapore ka na, with all the other former rts members! hehe, si nino na lang kulang. i spoke to nino kanina at mukhang susunod sya :) i told him to contact dino and 'yung dati niyang TL sa national grid. abangan mo, ha. hehe.

kamusta naman ang singapore at ang buhay-buhay dyan? san ka work? inaalagaan ka ba ni anson? e si dino, kamusta? grabe, miss na ni shawee si dino! hahaha! ikumusta mo ako sa kanila. tell anson, salamat sa testimonial sa friendster :) alagaan mo sarili mo dyan, kumain ka ng marami. uminom ka ng vitamins! hahaha! mahirap magkasakit 'pag malayo sa bahay. walang magbibigay ng tlc -- unless, meron nang *special someone* dyan :) yihee! kwento ka if ever ha.

nabigla ako nung nalaman ko ke joy na andyan ka na. akala ko mga april ka pa punta e. ang bilis ano. ganon ata talaga when something is meant to happen, mangyayari at mangyayari -- minsan, kahit hindi pa tayo handa, the world will conspire for things to happen, as long as God wills it so. and when that happens, all we can do is to trust in His infinite wisdom and unfailing love :) im sure this is an answered prayer for you. you might not agree with timing pero trust that you are where you're supposed to be. we all are, but we oftentimes don't realize that.

anyway, ipapa-rebook ko 'yung ticket ko with tiger airways for september or october. nandyan ka pa siguro nun. ipasyal nyo ako ha, reunion tayo. one week siguro yun depende sa schedule ng VL na makuha ko at budget. punta tayo sa midnight safari and sa beach sa sentosa. if may time ka this summer pasyal kayo dun. padalhan mo ako ng pics nyo. kamusta na rin pala kay joy and mau. tell them i miss them :)

yun lang. ingat, almin, ha. im really happy for you! God bless!

chopsuey for the tiyan and soul

chopsuey ala oakwood, chicago. this chopsuey not only tastes good. it can cure homesickness, chase away bad memories and dark imaginings :)

some turtles have all the fun.

my roommate and our dinner :)

tsk. to swim in a sea of chocolate wafer bars. ahhh...sarap. this is squirt, by the way. do you recognize him? he's nemo's friend and now mine too. yeba.

"Kapamilya"

From Left: Me, Amy, Ana, Che, Enrico, Jaye, Lianne, and Shay at Enrico's Birthday Party

Eto ang mga kapamilya ko for the next couple of months, mga onshore assignees rin from Accenture Manila Delivery Center. Most of them were here since last year, kaya they will stay until either April or June. The picture above was taken from the party we had last Saturday for Enrico, it was a surprise actually and was really fun. The food was good, too --- syempre, I had to mention food! May pancit, lumpia, pizza, chips, drinks, and the one i was crazy about, chocolate cake na may Batman w/ his bat mobile decor! Ang cute, the icing was white and blue. Sarap, hehe!

They played Texas Hold 'Em poker for more than two hours, and since I was still learning how to play the game, I couldn't join. I watched and tried to learn the rules and the hands instead. Also, you had to place a bet before joining kaya there was no way I could join. I really did not want to gamble even if it was a small amount :p Anyway, naintindihan ko na rin yung poker at last, I've always been curious about the rules.


Just us, enjoying a game of poker.

O 'di ba. OFW na talaga ang drama ko, mother! Hehe. Pero seriously, to be in the company of good friends on a Saturday night -- this is the closest thing to being home here in Chicago. I feel blessed to have friends like them :)

army of two

since i will be here in chicago for quite a while, i didnt just bring a sea turtle. i brought reinforcements. meet elektra and bad badtz. they are the guardians of my apartment, standing just beside the window to make sure no one unauthorized to be here comes in.

so beware :)

Downtown Chicago

View from Accenture office at the 36th floor, taken yesterday at around 5pm. I was facing north so this is the road leading to the Chicago River. This is the first photo I took since I got here in Chicago. I wasn't expecting to see warm sunset that day because it was snowing a little that morning. So this was a nice surprise. At least for me. There is only as much beauty as you are ready to see :)

plans by an unknown writer

The best gift anyone can give me at Christmas is a planner. I like planners because I am a planner. I like thinking ahead. I like being prepared. I get a high from being on top of things. But some things are beyond planning. And life doesn't always turn out as planned.

You don't plan for a broken heart. You don't plan for a failed marriage. You don't plan for an adulterous husband. You don't plan for an autistic child. You don't plan for spinsterhood. You don't plan for a lump in your breast.

You plan to be young forever. You plan to climb the corporate ladder. You plan to be rich and powerful. You plan to be acclaimed and successful. You plan to conquer the universe. You plan to fall in love - and be loved forever.

You don't plan to be sad. You don't plan to be hurt. You don't plan to be broke. You don't plan to be betrayed. You don't plan to be alone in this world.

You plan to be happy. You don't plan to be shattered.

Sometimes if you work hard enough, you can get what you want. But most times, what you want and what you get are two different things. We, mortals, plan. But so does God in the heavens.

Sometimes, it is difficult to understand God's plans - especially when His plans are not in consonance with ours. Often, when God sends us crisis, we turn to Him in anger. True, we cannot choose the cross that God wishes us to carry but we can carry that cross with courage, knowing that God will never abandon us nor send something we cannot cope with.

Sometimes, God breaks our spirit to save our soul. Sometimes, He breaks our heart to make us whole. Sometimes, God sends us pain so we can be stronger. Sometimes, God sends us failure so we can be humble. Sometimes God sends us illness so we can take better care of ourselves. Sometimes, God takes everything away from us so we can learn the value of everything He gave us.

Make plans but understand that we live by God's grace.

Growing up we get dismayed by the realization that we could not get everything we want. Growing old, I am delighted by the realization that although I can't have everything I want, I can want everything I have.

sa halip na maghugas ng pinggan

i was standing on my kitchen counter yesterday, right after attending a 7am conference call which i had to take from where i was because its the only place where there's a phone i could use...in that spot, in front of the bread toaster, after the call, i was contemplating on whether i should go ahead and prepare for work, or go ahead have another breakfast, or go ahead and clean the dishes which i havent done since i occuppied my apartment 3 days ago :p there wasnt a big pile of dishes relatively, according to my standards, but there was a pile and im beginning to run out of mugs for coffee and bowls for beating eggs for my perfect omelette dishes. then i notice my laptop, which was naturally in front of me since i took it with me during the conference call, had the webcam attached to it :) so... i instead of doing the things i originally was contemplating on doing, i decided to take some photos, todo inarte photos of myself. these are what came out:




according to my brother, i looked as if nalasing at naulol. haha! classic :)