The Mill

First Step Towards a Dream Come True

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:09:00 +0000

First Step Towards a Dream Come True

I always knew i would go to Europe. It was not something I "wished" for, but something I believed I could make happen. In uni, I was surrounded by the kids of the wealthy rich businessmen of the Philippines who spoke in their distinct "conyo" taglish about having gone to europe multiple times for summer break. �Listening to their stories made my resolve to eventually tour europe even stronger. I was not content just hearing about the place - i wanted to experience it myself.

My idealistic college self set 25 as the age i was gonna see Europe. Well, when i was 25, i was in the US, working and NOT saving my money. Hence, i missed my target. So, i re-baselinex my workplan due to changes in ETC (hahaha!!!) and vowed that by 30, i will get to see Europe.

As I sit here in the airport now, i have an incredible sense of fullfillment. I have made my dream come true. �At the risk of sounding cheesy, i do think that the saying is true - if you want something bad enough, it will happen.

I cannot wait to start my European tour. I sit with butterflies in my stomach from the (strong brewed coffee I just drank) and the excitement of finally getting to do what i have long been waiting to happen.

In true awards night fashion, I would like to take this opportunity to thank my mom and my dad for being so supportive of everthing - from visa application to ticket purchase to dropping me off at the airport. You guys are my heart and my soul. To my kuya who, despite his intense worry, has also been supportive. Dont worry about me, Kuya. I'm old and wise... I hope. To everyone at Scorpio Travel, esp. Miss Tess and KC- without your help, i probably wont be sitting here. Thanks for coming in that stormy saturday to meet me about my visa application, for replying to all of my text messages and phone calls, and for going above and beyond what a travel agency does to make me feel taken care of. Thanks to sch for all the travel advices and for hooking me up with Vivi. Thanks to Rob for allowing me to crash at his place while im in NL. Thanks to Emmy and Jenny for the Bon Voyage lunch. Thanks to Hannah for the Bon Voyage dinner and for all the travel tips, too. Thanks to my boys jeff, ken, and andrew for sharing my excitement. Thanks to Ros and Meiks for approving my leave during the purchase. Thanks to liza and jake for "holding my hand" As i wAited for the visa decision. Thanks to Ridge for keeping me sane as well. Thanks to everyone who has sent me their well wishes. Very much appreciated!!!

Lastly, thank you to Ronald. Seriously. Without you, this would be a different and probably less amazing trip than what it is now. From the bottom of my heart, a million trillion billion thanks. See you soon.

Done with my coffee. I better end this entry. Check in with you all again later.�

As Parisians say it... Au revoir! :)

God's Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:58:00 +0000

I turned 30 two days ago and was a little disappointed to find out that it feels exactly the same as being 29. Thing is, I have always thought I'd know God's plan for me by now. I'm getting stir crazy. What is planned for me?!

It's 3am and I am blogging from my phone. Indicative of my state of mind? Probably. I still have it in me to wait, though. There really are worse things in life than simply waiting for God's plan to be revealed.

I've taken up praying the rosary again, by the way. Thanks to Tita Cory and the truly inspiring way she lived her life. Maybe praying more than I currently do will lead me closer to where I need to be. We'll see. Oh boy, the sisters of St. Paul of Chartres would be so proud. Sr. Victoria-1, Post SPCP Existentialist Influences-0.

God's Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:58:00 +0000

Aidan Visits my Second Home

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 10:29:00 +0000

The neph made it to The Windy City to attend a wedding. He's soooo grown up now! I miss the little rascal.

Step It Up and Dance: Man in the Mirror

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:59:00 +0000

Love, love, love this.

Philippine Easter Getaway 2009 - Capitano Farms, Anilao, Maricaban Island, Sombrero Island

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:22:00 +0000

A video made by Ryan and Scott of a Holy Week trip I took with them, Han, and Flo. Super relaxing. :)

REAL Lady Gaga Poker Face American Idol Season 8 HD Live

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:07:00 +0000

Uhm. Wow.

O.N.T.A.W. 4: Body Detox!

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 09:06:00 +0000

If you read my previous entry, you'd know this week didn't end with a happy whoop. I felt weighed down by my grief not even a McDonald's cheeseburger meal cheered me up. My Saturday passed by quickly with me in bed majority of the day with an annoying migraine.

Today, I asked my mom to go with me to try out this treatment I read about called Body Detox. I badly wanted to do something different not only for my O.N.T.A.W. but also to so rid myself of the negative feelings. The treatment seemed appropriate.

So, off we went to the salon to try it out and I was amazed, if not a little perturbed, by the change in color of the water I soaked my feet in. Talk about a tub of toxins! However, I'm still skeptical. I mean, the color seemed to be coming from the appliance they put in, not my feet. Also, the feet? Really?

It was a good experience overall. A warm footsoak is always a good prelude to a pedicure. Also, at least I tried to do something good for my body for a change, right? Something to counter all that fastfood I eat all week long. :)

I'll miss you, Ate Marie.

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 13:34:00 +0000

She's just 36. That is what keeps popping into my head: she is TOO young to be gone.

I knew she was horribly sick and that in her condition, she could leave us anytime. Even as I went about living my own life, the reality of her condition was always a worry that nagged at me incessantly. Some mornings, I'd wake up and be afraid to check my phone, thinking it might be the morning I get the news. Some afternoons, her frail image would flash in my head and I'd sit in the office in a daze, wondering how she was doing at that moment. Some evenings, my mind would open itself up to fleeting images of her in her sickbed, weak, bone-thin, blind, and in pain, and I'd wonder if she was better off.... you know.

Now that she is, I want to believe that she is in a much better place, ree of pain and suffering and able to see again - she so wanted to be able to see again - but it is hard to accept that she is no longer around. My heart is broken. Shattered even. She was the closest thing I had to an older sister. Now, she's gone and no matter how much I cry, she isn't coming back. I know the feeling of loss will subside and I will soon stop crying, but now, allow me this moment of weakness as I struggle to accept life without my Ate Marie.

I can still remember the sound of her laughter, how she always squeezes my arm when she sees me and calls me healthy (malusog). I can still remember how I always looked for her in the afternoons and wanted nothing but stay by her side and listen to her joke around with our other cousins. She was such a character.

I remember when we were eating taho while standing out on the street, I finished mine and didn't know where to put my empty mug. She said with a serious face, "Pasok mo sa bahay, andun naman si Tatay, eh." Her dad's been dead for years.

I remember when we were so bored one summer afternoon, I asked my mom for some money to buy alot of instant noodles so we could have a "noodle party". She was our host for that party and she happily ladled noodle soup into bowls for a group of unruly children.

I remember seeing her right after she gave birth to MJ, all tired and sweaty, but still smiling. She reached out a hand to me and squeezed my arm in her usual way, and introduced me to her baby, "Pamangkin mo."

I remember how much I loved going to her house even if there was nothing to do there. I just liked being around her because she was fun and funny. Always in the middle of the room, mimicking someone or just making a complete fool of herself for our amusement. They had to shoo me home sometimes, because I usually didn't want to leave.

There are so many more... snippets of memories of her from my childhood and from my adult life. And even if her passing has put a stop to us creating new ones, I am happy to have all those chances in the past to spend with her. I wouldn't trade those for the world.

I will really miss you, Ate Marie. I'm so sorry that you had to go through so much pain during your last days with us. I hope that you are not too bummed about being gone. They all told me you really didn't want to go. I can imagine that. I know you didn't feel like going yet, but it was time. You didn't deserve that much suffering and maybe God wanted to relieve you already.

Rest in peace, Ate Marie. See you again someday.

Shoe-ology.

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:30:00 +0000

Love shoes. That isn't a sin, is it? I don't care much about brand or price as long as they are pretty and comfortable. I had an awesome time shopping today and I am happy about everything I bought. *sigh of contentment* :D

O.N.T.A.W. #3

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:01:00 +0000

I met up with Cla and her brother, Elgin, for lunch at Salcedo Market of yummy mussels, rice, and cran-apple iced tea. We were sitting next to a group of rich Makati housewives talking about their make-up which, of course, they bought in the U.S. This was an interesting way to start off our day.

We then went around the booths at the morning art bazaar - the one where all art pieces had a price ceiling of Php20,000. Lala, a college friend, had a booth, but too bad she didn't have her pieces on display. It would've been cool to see her works.

After a couple of hours being surrounded by rich people and interesting artists, off we went to Pier 13, South Harbor, to check out the World's Largest Library, the MV Doulos. It was fun, except for the fact that each square inch of the bookstore was packed with people. Sweaty people. Some of which push. It was a surprise I didn't get into a fight. Nevertheless, it was a fun experience overall.

Then back to Salcedo Market for more art - now, there was no price ceiling and the expensive sculptures were out. I was afraid to swing around and have my big bag topple over a breakable vase... "vahz".

Gosh, this O.N.T.A.W. thing is awesome. I wouldn't have done these things if I didn't open up myself to new experiences. I really think people should get into the program if they feel bored with the routine of their lives. It is an awesome way to spice up life.

What did I learn from my Art Day Saturday? That art is not frou-frou. That I could actually enjoy art and how each piece make me feel (or not feel) different emotions when I look at them. There is art out there for everyone and you just have to find what speaks to you. To me, it's modern to pop pieces. The rougher, the better. :)

Check out photos I posted in the Art Day Saturday a.k.a. ONTAW #3 album as well.

Summer Has Arrived

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:10:00 +0000

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. Summer has indeed arrived and it has been pretty impossible to ignore these past few days. The sun has been scorchingly hot, the air humid, the ground steaming. I'm pretty sure that it will remain this way up until late June if this year is anything like 2007.

As much as I love, love, love summer because of all the happy summer school break memories I have, it is easy to feel sick in this heat. Just today, I had a nagging headache all afternoon and I had a strong suspicion that it is weather-related. After downing copious amounts of water, the headache went away. I can't help but wonder (writes Carrie Bradshaw), was I actually dehydrating as I lazed around in bed this afternoon without me knowing it?

I recovered early enough to hit Bonifacio High Street to have dinner and drinks with my college friends Cla, Les, and Lala. A couple of ice cold glasses of Madras kept me cool during dinner, but as we cam-whored around the strip in the warm evening breeze, I found myself wishing for a second... I take that back, I wished for a split millisecond... that I was neck-deep in fresh Chicago snow. It was *that* hot.

I feel compelled to give some summer survival tips. I think it's because I have always thought of myself as a summer expert. A 100% Tropicana Girl. Here are several things I live by that I think helps me through the Manila summer months.

1) Drink plenty of water. I'm no doctor, but I don't think the recommended 8 glasses a day is not going to be enough if you need to live in this heat. I'd say drink more than that. Also, don't wait until you are thirsty to take a drink. Thirst is already your body telling you it is running low on water - Oprah's doctor friend said so! Haha! Make a conscious effort to drink something every hour and maybe you would be able to avoid heat headaches like me

2) Wear sunblock. There are tons in the market now that isn't think and sticky and doesn't give you that whitish cast on the skin like the old school sunblock lotions used to. Find something that protects you from UVB and UVA rays and has a pretty high SPF. I use Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunblock SPF 70 for my face and body. A friend swears by Spectraban SPF 60 which is hypoallergenic. Another friend says the Maxi-Peel sunblock is pretty good, too. Bottomline is that there is a product that would suit your skin type and budget, so why continue exposing yourself to the dangerous rays of the sun? Oh and boys, putting on sunblock won't make you gay. Please be a man and protect your skin, too!

3) Wear light fabrics. This is not the time for fleece, cashmere, or argyle unless you would be in an airconditioned office all day. Opt for comfortably light tops in cheery colors which will keep you looking cool and happy even if you are sweating buckets. If you would be switching from hot to cold (a.k.a. overly a/ced indoors) locations, still wear something summery, but make sure to bring a jacket, cardigan, or a wrap with you so you won't freeze to death when you go indoors.

4) Listen to Tiesto. Pretty random, but his music just screams summer to me. I play his music in the car sometimes when I'm driving in the middle of the afternoon and imagine that I'm at the beach... which brings me to my last piece of advice.

5) Hit the beach. The summer heat feels suffocating when you are in the city, but it is 1000x easier to tolerate when you are next to the water with a ripe mango shake in your hand. Hello Boracay....

I hope there is someone out there who would find my 5 little tips useful. They are in no way expert opinion, but they are effective for me. :)

Enjoy the summer everyone. Maybe I'll bump into some of you on some beach. No to baking. Yes to SPFing.

"Kayeology"

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:02:00 +0000

Let others know a little more about yourself, re-post this as your name followed by "ology"

***********FOOD-OLOGY***************

What is your salad dressing of choice?

The vinaigrette dressing at Kitchen.

What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?

Right now, CYMA.

What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it?

Ripe mangoes.

What are your pizza toppings of choice?

Cheese, tomatoes, and basil

What do you like to put on your toast?

Cream Cheese or Strawberry Preserve (the kind with huge strawberry chunks)

**********TECHNOLOGY***************

How many television sets are in your house?

What color of cell phone do you have?

Black

***************BIOLOGY******************

Are you right-handed or left-handed?

Right-handed

Have you ever had anything removed from your body?

Teeth. I’ve had 4 tooth extractions, plus all my wisdom teeth were also taken out. Oh and that bit of skin under my tongue. It was too thick when I was younger and it gave me a slight lisp. Now I can thpeak thuperbly!

What is the last heavy item you lifted?

My Luggage. The manager of my apartment in Chicago didn’t want their employee to help me with my bags because if they hurt themselves, the building needs to cover the medical costs. It took my 15 minutes just to get my stuff onto the trolley.

Have you ever been knocked unconscious?

Nope.

************BULLCRAPOLOGY**************

If it were possible, would you want to know the day you are going to die?

Yes. I want to be given the chance to prepare me and my loved ones for that day.

If you could change your name, what would you change it to?

Change Francis to Frances.

Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?

I have gastritis. The $1000 might not be able to cover my medical bills, but if the price money was a little bigger, I am not above doing a stunt like this.

************DUMBOLOGY******************

How many pairs of flip flops do you own?

Too many. I live in flip flops.

Last time you had a run-in with the cops?

Never. I still believe the MAPSA is not part of the police force despite the uniform. They are still traffic aides. :P

Last person you talked to?

My mom.

Last person you hugged?

Jeff because it was his birthday.

**************FAVORITOLOGY****************

Season?

Spring. Maybe because it is such a welcome change from winter.

Holiday?

Christmas

Day of the week?

Sunday. Time with the folks.

Month?
December

***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************

Missing someone?

My brother and my nephew. I miss them incredibly and think about them everyday. It literally feels like something is missing in my life because I am not with them.

Mood?

Pensive. This questionnaire is making me think!

What are you listening to?

The sound of the leaves rustling in the breeze (there is a huge tree next to our house and my room is on the second floor, so I can really hear the leaves… pretty relaxing sound) and the television set.

Watching?

ASAP. I’m waiting for Billy Crawford’s dance number. WHOOHEE!

Worrying about?

My mom. She’s sick and can’t keep her medicine down.

***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************

First place you went to this morning?

The Lavatory

What's the last movie you saw?

Yes Man

Do you smile often?

I’m always smiling.

Do you always answer your fone?

When it’s with me, yes. I never screen. I cringe and make faces, but I never screen.

It's four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?

Hannah asking where I am and why I’m not out partying with her.

If you could change your eye color what would it be?

Hazel. Might look nice with my dark skin.

What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic?

I only tried that Orange Cream Crush drink – it was okay. I’ve only been to Sonic once with my cousins out in Orange County. They didn’t have it in Chicago, I think. We definitely don’t have it here in Manila!

Do you own a digital camera?

Yup.

Have you ever had a pet fish?

No. You can’t really pet a fish, so what is the point? I still don’t get it. It’s like owning a plant. Sorry fish lovers!

Favorite Christmas song?

“Weeweeshu a Meri Krismas” the way the street carolers here in Manila sing it because it sounds so rushed as they try to end their song number and wrap up with the “Thank you” song.

What's on your wish list for your birthday?

All the visas I need for my European Tour. J

Can you do push ups?

Yup, but it’s hard. I can just do the plank.

Can you do a chin up?

Gawd, no.

Does the future make you nervous or excited?

Highly excited.

Do you have any saved texts?

I used to. I saved a lot of messages I got from this person, then when I left for the US, my mom used my old phone and saw the messages. Thank goodness most of them were written in a language my parents can’t speak!

Ever been in a car wreck?

In college, my two guys friends thought it would be a good idea to race down Katipunan Avenue. The car I was in hit a HUGE boulder that was on the side of the road, flew high up in the air, and landed – fortunately – right side up. The car’s radiator blew up, but everyone was alright. The people in the other car said we were so high up in the air they saw the underside of the car.

Do you have an accent?

Hard question to answer. I don’t think I have an accent, but other people say I do.

What is the last song to make you cry?

Summertime by Brianna Taylor

Plans tonight?

Rest. It’s Sunday and I need to psych myself up for the work week.

Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?

No. I hope to never feel like this.

Name 3 things you bought in the last week
Someone came to the house and started out with a story about his husband’s death, then showed me a catalog for the things she was selling. I ordered sandals and panties. I also bought birthday gifts for Jeff and Alvin.

Have you ever been given roses?

Yes.

Current worry?

None. Worrying is bad.

Current hate right now

Hate is bad, but I still dislike how muggy it is outside.

Met someone who changed your life?

Not one particular person, but those people that I still have as super close friends now all shaped my life. You guys know who you are.

How did you bring in the New Year!

Japanese for dinner at Kaiseki and then the fireworks display at The Fort with my parents. It was pretty poignant. It made me so happy to be home.

What song represents you?

Pretty Woman? LOL!

Name three people who might complete this?

I’m hoping Tina Beran would. Maybe Tessa and Des?

What were you doing at 12 AM last night?

Celebrating Jeff’s Birthday with him and his friends.

What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up?

I’m thirsty.

O.N.T.A.W. #2

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:22:00 +0000

I knew that when I started with my O.N.T.A.W. program that there was the risk of it turning into an excuse to try one new restaurant after another. Eating in new places with good friends is just something that I enjoy thoroughly. However, I really am exerting effort in coming out of the box and actually trying new experiences and not just new places to do old things at.

But cut me some slack and allow me to just do one resto-related O.N.T.A.W.

Okay, so you'll be surprised to know that I would be writing about Pho Hoa. This place has been around for quite a number of years and I have been going there to eat vietnamese spring rolls for as long as I can remember. However, I have never tried the vietnamese coffee until yesterday.

Boy, have I been missing out! A special treat for those with a sweet tooth, their vietnamese coffee can almost qualify as a dessert. They serve it in a clear mug with the coffee beans in a small metal filter thing set on top of the mug. The hot coffee then filters onto the condensed milk inside the mug. What is produced is a sweet smelling, sweet tasting coffee that is just strong enough to give you that caffeine buzz without the heart palpitations!

If asked for a recommendation, hmmm, I would recommend it to coffee drinkers who like sweet treats or those looking to diversify their coffee experience. I don't think this drink is for everyone, though.

Thank you, Cla, for introducing me to vietnamese coffee. My sweet tooth thanks you. :)

O.N.T.A.W. #1

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:19:00 +0000

My officemate, Rhon, and I attended a workshop about innovation. One of the take-aways from the workshop is to feed our heads with "mind junk" in order to foster a culture of innovation. One of the ways suggested is a program the trainer called "O.N.T.A.W." which stands for "One New Thing A Week".

I did my O.N.T.A.W. #1 last Sunday.

I've always had shoulder pains and I just shrugged it off as a part of my life as a chick with an 8 to 5 desk job. Usually, I seek relief by getting massages, soaking in hot baths, and swiping on tons of Bengay. Last Sunday, I finally succumbed to my mom's insistent urging that try Nugabest at Market! Market!

Click here to find out about Nugabest.

All I can say is that it was a pretty interesting experience. The jury is still out as to whether it is a better than a massage in getting rid of the kinks in my shoulders in the long term, but I did feel pretty good after the treatment. Bottomline, the whole process - the heat, the kneading, the tense pad - is something I will try again.

So, She Blogs...

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:06:00 +0000

The other day, I was talking to my officemate about how cool Facebook is and he asked me if it was the reason why I have neglected my blog. Neglected! The word used to describe kids whose needs are not provided by their parents; to describe something that is forgotten because it is no longer valuable. Poor blog. So here I am, about to jot down a few paragraphs worth of thoughts on this thing just so I can say that no, my blog is definitely not neglected.

I was distracted with life. It has been good with putting things in my way to keep me busy lately. I'm not complaining, though. The current pace of my life is fast enough to keep my mind off what I don't have, but slow enough to give me ample time to appreciate what I do, and boy, I have alot.

Also, I have not been reading much lately. As those of you who have been reading my blog from the start know that I need to take in words to write. Either I need to make a trip to the bookstore or read that self-help book I bought months ago. I have been meaning to read that book on saving money, but I was too busy shopping. Ha. Ha.

I definitely need to get back on my bike. Or do yoga. Or simply stretch. What I know is I need to move much, much more. Down with the sedentary lifestyle.

Speaking of sedentary, I really should get some sleep. This work week has been so busy, I barely felt the nights breaking up the days. I will try to write more often and will post photos. For now, good night.

I miss my brother.

Pasko 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 02:35:00 +0000

Sorry I haven't been blogging. It's just been so hectic lately, and I am not just talking about work. I am talking about how life has been going at what seems like lightning speed since I got back from the US. Thank goodness I have finally settled back in. I better - it has been three months!

I just hopped off my bike and I am still feeling a little wired from the exercise (it isn't used to not moving), so I can't seem to think of too many things to write about. I just wanted to greet everyone who frequent my blog a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thanks so much for staying interested in what I have to say. It is my pleasure to let you into my head and give you a glimpse of how cuckoo I am.

Here is my Christmas Wish, in case any of you out there is still thinking of what to get for me. I know it is slightly reminiscent of my wish from Christmas 2007, but see I didn't get my wish that year. So, I'm hoping I would get it this year. If not, I will keep wishing for the same bloody thing until I get it. As the song goes, "Fairy tales can come true, it can happen to you...."

"Revival"

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:15:00 +0000

When I was in Chicago, I kept thinking about all my friends and family that were here in Manila and how I missed them all terribly. Now that I am back here, I have been obsessing about making sure that I get to see them all. All, all, all. I have this nagging need to be able to catch up with what they have been up to and what their lives are like right now. I feel like I really missed out on alot when I was away, even if it was just a year.

When I really think about it, I have not seen some of my friends and family for a long time even before I left, and it didn't use to bother me. I don't know if it's me getting older that's making me realize how important it is to spend as much time as I can with the people I care for... while I can.

Dark comment, I know. It's just that I am quickly learning how true it is that life is fleeting and insanely unpredictable. I will not pull you guys under my little black cloud, trust that me and my family are okay and it is just the people in our periphery that are having more than just a tough time with life. I am still my happy self, still ready to laugh over the silliest things. Nothing changed there. :)

Since I got back, I have been doing alot reconnect with people. I have been trying to revive communication lines that I've lost and friendships that have weakened. It is both fun and tiring to keep making plans, but this is something important to me. I don't think I'm going to give up anytime soon. I'll just sleep when I'm tired, I guess.

To those that have already taken the time to meet up with me for dinner, coffee, or drinks, thank you. It means alot to me to just know that you still value our friendship enough to take time out to be with me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Happy Halloween 2008!

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 09:43:00 +0000

The first time I met up with Hannah for dinner when I got back from the US, Hannah already made me promise to party with her on Halloween. She knows I tend to get lazy after work, so she sent a daily text message to remind me that I am not supposed to back out. She had nothing to worry about. That Friday, I was in such a good party mood, that I couldn't wait.

I did my hair and make-up and still had 30 minutes to wait until she arrived to pick me up. I was that excited.

So, Hannah picked me up and we drove to Makati to pick up Ryan and Scott, the handsome couple in black. Next was Angela, the gypsy/fortune teller. Then we picked up Arnie who came as an Army guy, sexy arms and all. Then it was party time!!!

We went to two rooftop parties and then to a club called Ascend. It was alot of fun and it sucks that Halloween only comes once a year. I'm not all that worried, though. I'm pretty sure this crew would find a reason to party every weekend anyway.

It's so good to be home. :)

Simply No Place Like Manila.

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:46:00 +0000

September 26, 2008, 6:30AM MNL

I’ve been home for four whole days now. I stepped onto Philippine soil at precisely 10:30pm last Monday, September 22. The days seem to fly by so fast despite the fact that I have been getting up really early since I got back home (No, I have not magically turned into a morning person. It’s just the time switch.). The good thing is, I’ve managed to get a lot of things done in the past 3 days and should have most done by today. Hurray for Paid Time Off!

People have been asking why I haven’t blogged about what it’s like to be back and what I’ve been doing. So, below is a brief summary chronicling what I have been up to since I got back home.

Day 1 (Tuesday)
After a sleepless night, I gave up on trying to catch some Zzz’s and rolled out of bed at 6am. I went downstairs and decided to fix myself some breakfast. I boiled some water for coffee (yep, the parents are into instant coffee), then fried some eggs and red hotdogs. Parents got up around 7am and we all sat down to have our first meal together. Finished eating around 830am. I started looking around the house and planning my unpacking strategy. After realizing how much stuff I need to go through when I saw a boxed labeled “Kaye 29”, I just went back downstairs to chill in front of the tv. It is too much to deal with too soon.

After flipping through the cable channels from our new provider, Destiny Cable, I realized that I wasn’t feeling groggy. Half the channels were really speaking a foreign language! The awesome thing is that it has TVE and I am hoping to get a glimpse of Rafa on it once in a while.

I had planned to go get my nails done on Day 1. Thing is, my head was swimming after lunch. I was so sleepy I was incoherent, so I did what all women my age do when they need to recharge: I curled up into a ball next to my mom and napped in her arms. Woken up by my mom at 8pm because my dad wanted to go to sleep and I was on his side of the bed. I was then force-fed dinner by the maternal unit, before being shepherded upstairs to continue my sleep.

I woke up at 2am feeling sheepish because I had let jetlag spoil my plans for Day 1. Read a book, then slept again until 7am.

Day 2 (Wednesday)
Got up with a little bit more resolve to get things done. First item on the agenda, set up the wireless router so I can stay connected to the cyberworld that I have grown to love. Once I was done with setting it up, I had to spend around 30 minutes of my morning answering my dad everytime he asked if there was connection in different parts of the house.

“Sa study table mo, meron?”
“Aba, sa kama mo meron din?”
“Sa baba, meron?”
“Sa kitchen ba?”

The thing is, he genuinely just wanted to know. As much as I wanted to jump off our new veranda, I just tried to stave off a screaming fit and just kept nodding until I felt my neck muscles cramp up into knots.

Then I unpacked my suitcases. There is something extremely relaxing about unpacking that is directly proportional to the stress involved in packing. It took me the rest of the morning to put everything where I wanted them. Then it was lunch.

The afternoon was spent with the mom at the salon where we got manicures, pedicures, and a footspa. I still can’t stop marveling at how much better professionally done toenails look compared to how I haphazardly just swipe on polish. Afterwards, I went to my dentist for a check-up and a professional cleaning. Healthy teeth? Check. Healthy gums? Check.

Dinner at Chowking at around 9pm. Despite the fact that I was walking around in a zombie-like state at this point because I was so tired, I was still ecstatic about dinner at Chowking. I had rice, siomai, and kangkong. Yum.

Slept at 10pm.

Woke up at 2am and chatted and surfed until 5am. Tried to get some more sleep and managed to get 4 more hours until the mother hen barged into my room (note to self: lock door) at 9am with a high pitched morning greeting of “Kayeeeeehhhh!”

Oh, Lordy.

Day 3 (Thursday)
My books are staring back at me, asking me why I have not yet taken care of them. I stare back at them with shame, asking them to wait patiently as I am still unnerved by the fact that I have a ton of shi… stuff to unpack.

I ran downstairs to find suman (a form of rice cake) on the table with some coco jam. I wolfed down one and a half before someone could remind me I had a lot of “Popeye’s Chicken Weight” I needed to lose. After breakfast, I called Forex to track the boxes I had shipped home. Then I called The Spa to schedule an appointment with them. Then I called my hairstylist to make an appointment with him as well.

He will not like the fact that I colored my own hair or that I cut my own bangs. He will not be happy that the US haircut I got was not layered enough and had no swing to it. He will throw a bitch fit over the state of my hair with a tantrum reminiscent of Jack McFarlin from Will & Grace… then proceed to talk about his girlfriend. As long as I walk out with nice hair, all is cool.

I just chilled out the rest of the morning, then had lunch with the parents. Their never-ending stream of conversation is starting to get to me a little bit. I guess I got used to living alone afterall. I just grin and bear it because I know they just missed me and have all these things they couldn’t wait to tell me. Still, I was starting to feel the familiar throbbing of a headache at my temples.

I locked myself in my room for some solace. Took a bath and got ready to leave for the spa. It was going to be a glorious afternoon. I had waited for this day for one full year. A massage. Finally. Since my driver’s license expired this year, the father had to drive me Bonifacio High Street. He dropped me off at the driveway in front of Gaudi, so I had to walk the two whole blocks to The Spa. I could not believe what I saw. The strip mall now has Calvin Klein, The Gap, Aldo, and a lot of other extremely familiar brands. I will take some photos when I go back there for you guys to see. Except for the extremely thick tropical air and the extremely friendly security guards (“Hi ma’aaaaaaam.”), it was almost like the US.

Finally, I step into The Spa.

The foyer of the spa was done in dark wood, metal, and glass. On the wall beyond the staircase that led to the lobby was a waterfall structure that looked and sounded soothing. This is how cheesy my mind works. As I walked up the stairs, I can’t help thinking I was on the Stairway to Heaven. Damn you, Led Zepplin.

I got the Refreshing Start Spa Package for myself. It included a full body massage, a foot massage, and a facial. I swear to God, I could not stop smiling at this point. When I opened the door to the actual spa area, I was hit by the smell of aromatherapy oils that I have missed so very much. Someone handed me a white robe, white towel, and white Croc-like rubber slippers, then someone else in white asked if I wanted some ginger tea. My minded drifted off again, this time wondering if this was how the wives of the ancient Japanese lords were treated.

Wrapped in a towel, I headed off to the steam bath. Oh. My. God. I missed the feeling so much, I wanted to break down and cry as the hot steam rolled over me in waves. When I stepped out to cool down a bit, someone served me a glass of ice cold water. Japanese lord. Wife. Nice. Snapping back to reality, I went for another stint inside the steam bath.

20 minutes later, I was ready for my Swedish massage. I was wrapped in a robe and was escorted by my masseuse to the massage room. Then she asked me to lie face down on the bed and proceeded to knead away a year’s worth of muscle pain. There are no words to capture just how wonderful it is to get a massage after not having one for a year. All I can say is that I felt so thankful for the way the masseuse was making me feel that I wanted to put her through college. I was THAT grateful. She kept at it for a full hour, massaging me as if she was put on this Earth with the sole purpose of making me feel good.

Oh. I unintentionally moaned out loud. I guess I really, really, liked the massage. I was so embarrassed, but she didn’t react to it at all so I just took her cue and pretended nothing happened. Then I had ginger tea.

After the full body massage was the Oriental foot massage and the facial. Four hands directing me to paradise all at the same time. The treatment room for this is different. They sit you on these plush lazyboy-like chairs and as if that wasn’t comfortable enough, they put a really nice smelling soft sheet to cover your arms and chest. Cooooozy. Once I was done with the foot soak, my seat was reclined and the girl started to massage my feet and legs. One. Full. Hour. As this was happening, another girl was giving me a facial. It wasn’t the dermatologist-visit-blinding-pain kind of facial. It was soothing and was more about relaxing than treatment. I was steamed, massaged with creams, wiped clean, and massaged some more. It also came with a head, shoulder, and back massage that just about undid me. It felt sooo good. By the time I was done, I felt like a princess. A really relaxed princess. And I then understood why those women agreed to become one of the Japanese lords’ wife. Then I had ginger tea.

Sidebar: There is absolutely no historical data to back up my metaphorical references to Japanese lords and their treatment of their wives. Don’t send me links to Wikipedia explaining how it really is. These are just my thoughts. Kayepedia.

I then met up with the parental units at Hap Chan for dinner. I was quiet and lethargic and was not able to be my usual chipper self. It was still good food, just the same. I’ll make it up to them today and be more fun.

Shortly after dinner, I met up with my triplets Jeff and Phiney. It was amazing to see them after a year and we just fell back into our easy pattern of talking and laughing… as if we were never apart. I love these two to death and I loved them even more so after we finished the
three pitchers of sangria at Gaudi.

I didn’t have keys so we had to call it an early night. We hailed a cab at 11pm and as usual, we all jumped in and asked the driver to make multiple stops. Oh, trivia – Manila cabs now require an additional Php10 on top of the meter as a fuel surcharge. Awesome, just like Chicago with the $2!

So, I made it to my bed at midnight, thinking the red wine in my veins must surely buy me at least 8 hours of deep sleep. Boy was I wrong.

My eyes opened at 5am.

Day 4 (Friday)
Got up and freshened up, but I did not feel like starting my day just yet. I did walk down to check if I was in the mood for a little early morning chow, but wasn’t. My lack of hunger then gave birth to this blog entry you are currently reading. At this point, it has been two hours since I started and I have chatted with RJ, Denise, Neo, Janice, Tessa, and Adam at the same time. Later this afternoon, I will go to the bank then the salon. Should be a fun day!

My stomach just grumbled, so I shall head down and foodificate. If you are still reading this entry up until this point, thanks. But seriously, don’t you have better things to do with your time? J

I will be posting photos of the new house soon. I want to get everything just right before I show you guys how it looks. It’s smaller than the old one, but I like this one a lot. My room has orange walls. How can I not like it?

Geez. Stop reading already.

Big Boy AJ!

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:46:00 +0000

Aidan is such a big boy now! I will see him in 13 days and I can't wait. I miss this little sucker!!!

He Blogs!

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:52:00 +0000

Turns out, my little Rafael blogs. Funny how the English version of his blog is alot less detailed than the Spanish version! I guess he (or his English Blog ghost writer) cannot be bothered to translate everything word per word.

This is such a fun way to practice my Spanish, I tell you.

If you are curious, click here to view Rafa's blog. It is a pretty interesting peek into his psyche. Not everyone will appreciate it, of course, but this is my blog and I love it so I posted it. Claro? :)

Trance.

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:29:00 +0000

Breakeven, The Script

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 00:25:00 +0000

What am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're okay?

Click here to listen to the song, Breakeven, from my newest favorite band called The Script. They are three guys from Dublin who people say sound a little bit like Maroon 5. Their songs just resonate with me.

Doctor, why does it hurt here? *points to chest*

The Science of Sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Kaye) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 01:18:00 +0000

Yesterday, I stayed home, curled-up in a ball, as my body was wracked with my monthly bout with womanly issues. I was having cold sweats, a tummy ache, and a back ache. The sad part was that at the end of the day, it still hasn't come. If that was a sneak peak, I don't think I want to see the movie. Speaking of movies...

The silver lining about the staying home sick was that I was able to catch a movie On Demand. I watched a French movie which only means it was created in France by a French production company. However, the story was told in the most interspersed mixture of heavily accented English, oh-so-sexy Spanish, and frou-frou French. It stars one of my favorite actors, Gael Garcia Bernal (of Y Tu Mama Tambien fame) which was the reason why I wanted to check it out in the first place. I mist say, deciding to divert my attention from my pain with a little cinema therapy and ending up picking The Science of Sleep has got to be one of the better decisions I've made in a while.

Click here to see the trailer.

It is a very funny film, but not the type that would have Hollywood laughing. It is soaked in imagery and alternates between seriously heavy lines of script and hilarious vulgarity. Here are a couple of quotes from the movie:

Stephane: That's for two people. Love, friendships, relationships... and all those "ships", together with songs you heard during the day, things you saw, and also, uh... personal...

Stephane: It's like touching your penis with your left hand.
Stéphanie: I don't have a penis.
Stephane: But you have a left hand.

The artistry is awesome, too. It was a pretty cool visual experience that went really well with the colorful language of the film. Here is a cool still from the movie:

I want to say that it is like Big Fish, but without the strong Hollywood feel and commercial after taste. It takes you on an adventure that you don't necessarily want to go on, but can't get out of because it is just too much fun. Don't overthink the movie. It is fast and confusing and you might be tempted to analyze and decrypt symbolism. I say don't. Just go with the flow and enjoy the quick-changing scenes and cooky characters.

Check it out. It's worth the 105 minutes.

The Mill

First Step Towards a Dream Come True

God's Plans

God's Plans

Aidan Visits my Second Home

Step It Up and Dance: Man in the Mirror

Philippine Easter Getaway 2009 - Capitano Farms, Anilao, Maricaban Island, Sombrero Island

*REAL* Lady Gaga Poker Face American Idol Season 8 HD Live

O.N.T.A.W. 4: Body Detox!

I'll miss you, Ate Marie.

Shoe-ology.

O.N.T.A.W. #3

Summer Has Arrived

"Kayeology"

O.N.T.A.W. #2

O.N.T.A.W. #1

So, She Blogs...

Pasko 2008

"Revival"

Happy Halloween 2008!

Simply No Place Like Manila.

Big Boy AJ!

He Blogs!

Trance.

Breakeven, The Script

The Science of Sleep

REAL Lady Gaga Poker Face American Idol Season 8 HD Live