Finally Feeling Home & Some Random Thoughts

Due to another typhoon (Reming: Another Milenyo?), classes are suspended. Normally, teachers still have work unless the typhoon signal is increased to # 3. Today, however, our school Directress decided to call off work for teachers too. And I'm so glad to be at home. Since we got back from our trip, we haven't really been able to stay at home. Our first week back was busy catching up with family and friends (aka handing over pasalubongs). The weeks after that has been unbelievably busy. I can't believe the Christmas season can be so hectic for a teacher! You'll never believe how packed the 3-day weekend is going to be for us! That is why I am savoring this moment at home and taking the chance to tidy and fix up our place.

Our cable TV company installed this digital box as part of their system upgrade. That means another item to dust, another remote control to handle (imagine if you're watching DVDs. you'll be holding 3 remote controls -- TV, DVD player & digital box!!!) and added wattage to your electric bill. Since we are captives of this cable company (am hoping that someone gives them a stiff competition), we just have to stick with them. Problem is, since they installed the box, our cable connection has been really terrible! It's been a week and they haven't fixed the problem.

I am slowly shedding off the pounds I gained from our trip. But the stock European chocolates we have at home seems to be bottomless! Anybody want to help me get rid of them?

Yesterday, my hubby prepared my lunch box for me. Look what I saw when I was about to eat lunch!

To those who are waiting for the rest of our honeymoon pictures, I'm working on it. Hopefully, I'll be able to upload everything within the week.

Just saw on the news that typhoon Reming will hit Metro Manila at 12 noon tomorrow. Hope everyone has taken necessary precautions. Keep safe, people.

BESTest

I've always been very careful using the title "Best Friend". I've always believed that one can only have ONE best friend. Once you have given the title to someone, that title stays with that person forever. I read in an email that you can have a lot of best friends. A best friend for a particular purpose -- one to bum around with, go on adventures with, cry your heart out with/to, etc. I call them good friends, or really good friends at that. But really, for me, there should only be one best friend. The person you go to for whatever purpose you may have. Why do you think it uses the word "Best" in it?

I understand that a friendship can and will be tested a thousand times. There will be a lot of conflicts, misunderstandings, fights. And you go through ALL of these (good times and bad as they say) with THAT one friend and still keep the relationship as if it's never been scathed. You do not lose this friendship because whatever comes between you two, the important thing is, no one will feel betrayed (yep, for me, trust is the most essential part of friendship.), ever. And no matter how difficult things may be, you both trust that the other always mean well.

Growing up, I have always longed for a best friend. We moved around a lot, we never stayed in a place long enough for me to develop that kind of friendship I long for. By the time I develop a deeper degree of closeness with someone, we're ready for the next move.

We finally settled when I got to college. That's when I met my best friend. But she wasn't my best friend until 5 years after college. By that time, we have gone through hell and high waters. Let's just say, we fought over guy (among other things) - which I believe is one of the worst things to fight about between 2 girl friends. Our friendship is so strong that our parents have developed a friendship of their own, too! You might be wondering, where do my (ex) boyfriends stand in this. Well, sad to say, none of them stood the test of time. Honestly, I don't believe that a best friend can be replaced. But, on the contrary, something in me also dictates that your significant other SHOULD be your best friend. Makes sense. Thankfully, I never had the dilemma of "should I replace my best friend with my boyfriend-now-my-new-best friend".

Until I got engaged.

My hubby, then my boyfriend/fiance, has obviously stood the test of time and has qualities to be MY best friend. Oh dear. What now? I can't kick out my best friend nor can I deny the fact that my hubby is ALSO my best friend! So, I said to myself, what the hell, they can share the title. However, I have somehow always felt uneasy whenever I talk about my best friend and refer to a girl friend and not my hubby. And I feel worse thinking that people might be wondering why I refer to someone else and not my hubby when I use those words.

And I finally figured it out. My girl friend is (still) my BEST FRIEND and my hubby is (now) my BESTEST FRIEND. Ha! There you go! Makes more sense.

So let me tell you why he's my BESTEST (which is really the point of this post. obviously, you can tell by the title):

1. Let's start with the most obvious. He's my husband. The man I married, for, I believe, the right reasons. The person God prepared for me.

2. He respects and accepts me for who I am, and who I've been. I am not the easiest person to deal with as most of my friends can attest to. And I can shock the most liberated person I know with my past "adventures". Mind blowing for a conservative guy like him.

3. He knows what I want before I even say it.

4. He knows what food I will and most importantly WILL NOT eat. I am very difficult to feed. But he also knows how to encourage me to try eating food I normally wouldn't, like capers. My friends are actually surprise that I order salad now.

5. He's always ready for an adventure. Be it trying out a new resto, watch a tagalog movie, go dancing, videoke nights, pose for a photograph, going on trips, discovering what's out there, etc. How much more fun can it get than going on an adventure with the one you love? Or having someone to drag along (especially those spur of the moment moments) for whatever reason?

6. He's my shoulder to cry on. Even if the things I cry about are sometime trivial or downright ridiculous. Yet, he has the guts to tell me to get over it.

7. He's my kilig absorber. He doesn't mind if I tell him all about a crush. Or have coffee with one. Even calls me kikay. Goes without saying, I can really talk to him about ANYTHING under the sun.

8. He makes me laugh with his jokes. Well, he can make me laugh without even trying (go figure if that's a compliment or not, hehe).

9. He makes me cry, too. Unintentionally, of course. But he knows when to humbly say sorry. Which I really believe makes our friendship/marriage stronger.

10. He stays up with me even if his eyes are already heavier than both of us combined. He doesn't even mind being awakened from his hard earned sleep whenever I feel like talking about something that's in my mind that I can't get some shut eye.

11. He doesn't mind just bumming around. And I know that, this takes a whole lot from someone who feels guilty about not doing anything "productive". You know me, I love to just sleep and chill.

12. Everything I cook/feed him is great! Even my pathetic kitchen experiments. But he also suggests how to improve my kitchen skills.

13. No matter how much of a failure I feel I am, he's always proud of me. He believes in me, no matter what.

14. He understands me whenever I say "I'm not in the mood", and I don't want to talk. Or when I wake up grumpy. Or when I'm PMSing. He doesn't probe. He patiently waits until I snap out of my drama. Then he starts asking :). Because he knows I'll feel better talking about it.

15. He encourages me to try out/learn new things (not just food). He has this immense hunger for learning that it's amazing how much more enriching life can be, even if you know that things are already at its best.

I can go on and on, but this post is too long already (probably wouldn't read it myself!). And with that I'd like to say:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY BESTEST!

I LOVE YOU!

Work Perks

One thing I miss about being in the corporate/advertising world is getting free stuff from suppliers, broadcast networks, print media, etc. It's always a pleasant surprise getting movie premiere passes, tickets to a stage play, promotional copies of newly released CDs, meals in the newest resto, junket trips, and so on.

I think the biggest product sampling happening right now is that of Krispy Kreme. Bloggers have been posting about it. Newpaper columnists raving about it. My friends & former colleagues tasting it. I'm not a fan of doughnuts, so it's really no big deal. Although, after hearing this news all over the place, I thought to myself, if I were still with my former company (industry at that), I'd surely be getting my own sample. I really don't think they would do sampling to teachers (because we surely cannot afford their product :)). But guess what was delivered in school today?!

(Sorry about the resolution of the photo. I just used my phone camera here.)

Yup! What do you know? They are doing aggressive sampling!!! We ate the doughnuts over lunch and ended up with ultra hyper kids! What's more, each student and teacher gets to bring home a dozen!

I might sound as hyper as our students here, but no. I'm just happy that we teachers do have perks, too! In fact, I just had a bite from my co-teacher and that's it. The box I brought home remains intact. I've never been a fan of doughnuts. I find them TOO sweet. At times, when I crave for them, I only get a piece or two of those bite sized ones and I'm more than satisfied. Krispy Kreme is no different. Uh oh. Krispy Kreme fans all over the world will surely despise me for this. But, I can't help it. I've tried Krispy Kreme a few years back and found it sweet. But being the unadventurous eater I was, I decide to try it again, thinking maybe I can have a different appreciation for it now that I've become more open to more food variety. Well, nope. It's just a doughnut! I don't understand what the hoopla is all about! Then again, I am no foodie expert, so I don't think I'd know any better. One thing though, it sure is soft/spongy (whatever the correct term is). And it sure is a hit for kids! I was surprised to see our students finish 2 pieces in one sitting!!! Oh, and I can imagine it would be good with a cup of black coffee.

You might ask, what will I do with the dozen I have? Well, there's my hubby who's a doughnut fan (but might refuse to indulge much because he's on a diet), bring some to my mom and brothers, share it with friends who would want to taste. Want some? Come on over!

Anyway, a sincere THANK YOU to Krispy Kreme for the free doughnuts! I might not be a doughnut fan, but I will surely have my once-in-a-while doughnut fix from your shop.

***

On a separate note. I've been stressing about how to lose the 5 pounds (5 freakin' pounds in less than a month!!!) I gained while on vacation. No, I didn't eat more than my usual. I blame it on those addicting European chocolates!!! Would you believe, I am now into dark chocolates?!!! Apparently, all the walking we did in all the places we went to didn't compensate for all the eating I did. Thing is, I can't go back to swimming yet. I'm not enrolled in any gym. No dance class at the moment. The exercises I do in school no longer work. Add to that, our ref is overflowing of these chocolates and I can't stop myself from indulging (no, gorging).

This afternoon, I saw a top that I really like (and can afford, hehe). It's a spaghetti strapped top that hugs the body. I was so afraid to find out that I am now a size bigger. I told myself that if indeed I am, I wouldn't buy the top. That I would double my effort in losing weight. Much to my surprise, I'm still a size zero (well in that particular store)!!! Yehey! I can eat more chockies!!! Hehehe.

Seriously (this is more of a "note to self" thing), I gotta work out because Christmas is just around the corner and I happen to like Christmas dishes.

Sinigang, kanin, patis, atbp.

Ahhh...it feels so good to be back home.

Anyway, I had a blast and have so much stories to tell but don't know where to start! Add to that, I am unbelievably jetlagged! Bangag is the word, as my hubby would say. Therefore, I will do what what I usually do -- show pictures and hopefully get around to blogging about this adventure. So, here are the highlights of our wonderful dream honeymoon (i'll try to upload all the photos in an album as soon as possible. meanwhile try to figure out the chronological order of our "stops" through the change in season or the gradual growth of my second chin. whichever is more obvious. argh!):

Wait, I don't need to tell you where we've been, right? :)