The 24-hour bug

Yesterday morning found me feeling a little sick to my stomach. I thought maybe it was the chicken caesar salad I’d bought at Safeway the night before. As time went on, I started getting chills and every part of my body was aching. I wanted to stay in bed all day (I was so cold!). What a way to start the week, eh? Add to that I had Erynne, who insisted on playing horsey-horsey (”gi-yap mommy, gi-yap!” = “giddy-yup mommy, giddy-yup!”) every time she found me laying down, be it on the couch, her bed or our bed. I thought the day would never end. I even called her dad, hoping he could come home early. No such luck. I finally popped two tylenols into my mouth mid-afternoon (I hadn’t eaten anything until then) and it was only a few minutes before E came home that I started sweating out whatever fever I had. Yeck.

Happily, I’m better now and ready to start my day. I hate the feeling of being sick, don’t you? To the point where your bones ache so bad, you don’t want to move and even though it’s a beautiful hot day outside, you’re inside the house wrapped around a thick down comforter (I’m talking like winter comforter here guys). And let me mention again, when you’re feeling all that and you still have to tend to a little girl who wants to eat, play, horse around (and nurse!) like there’s nothing wrong with mommy at all…

Priceless.

Online dating

It seems you can pretty much find anything you need on the internet. Yes, even love! And why not, right? Online dating is nothing new. Some people don't do well when meeting the opposite sex and have found that free dating sites are a great way to meet great people. I've heard of some relationships that began through online dating and have resulted in marriage! And it certainly can happen to you on JustSayHi.com. JustSayHi.com is a free online dating site that requires no payment or membership fees. These are the kinds of online dating sites you should be looking into because any dating services that ask you to pay a fee – run! With JustSayHi.com, you can be rest assured of features that are as good as any paid dating site. See for yourself and join now!

Soon

Be a movie critic!

Hey guys, listen up! I just found this cool site where you can read up on what people are saying about different movies, tv shows and even video games. You can also actively participate in movie discussions if you so wish. I like reading up on sites like this; it helps to tell me which movies to stay away from, wait for DVD, etc.

Perfect example is The Simpsons Movie. We were supposed to watch it this weekend but ended up not going, thankfully. According to one of the movie reviews I read, it’s best to wait for the DVD. Good news for me as I really wasn’t looking forward to it anyways. Have you seen it yet? Say something about it and you just might win a free DVD!

I want this too!

I'm so crazy. I can't seem to get enough of these bags. I've yet to receive my US blue version this week, but already I'm dying for a green or gray one. Isn't that insane? Actually, no, what's insane is that someone bought a purple version of this bag for close to $2000. Let me repeat that: $2000. I seriously kid you not. On Ebay, no less! Wow. They must be so filthy rich, a bag collector and well, 2K is probably only pocket change to them. What a wonderful life :D.

Need extra cash?

Are you in need of a cash advance? Check out the list of economical cash advance marketing sites on the Web and decide which one might be best for you based on their advantages and descriptions. I personally have never taken a cash advance before but only because I was never aware of how easy the process is. In fact, if you take out an internet loan, you don’t have to step out of your home – the process can be done securely and anonymously from your home. And the best part is that the loan process is often completed faster. And by fast, we’re talking overnight fast! All you need is a savings or checking account and you’re good to go.

Pay day loans are great too. Did you know pay day loans don’t require a credit check? Pay day loans are a great way to avoid going through the embarrassment and hassle of bounced checks or having to borrow from friends and family. Another great use for pay day loans is avoiding late payment penalties and negative marks on your credit score. Whatever the case, payday loans are perfect for short-term financial assistance.

So if money might be tight right about now and you need some extra cash to tide you over until your next paycheck, check out cashadvance-fast.com. I’m positive you will find the loan that best suits your needs.

Happiness is..

...finding pleasure in a grocery bag such as this one.

$15 at any Whole Foods Market grocery store, $100 or so on Ebay. What crazy person would do such a thing? Me.

This is why my friends don't call me crazy for nothing.

I can't wait til it's in my hands! THANK GOD FOR PAID BLOGGING *LOL*.

Relocating?

Finding this relocation website couldn’t have come at a more convenient time. My sister, if I haven’t mentioned it already, will be moving from Vegas to California sometime in September. God willing, she will have already graduated with her Nursing degree by then and will be well on her way to taking her NCLEX exam. She’s made the decision—albeit a very difficult one—to move and live with us for a few months to get her groove going and frankly, I’m quite excited for her. I think this new move will open doors she never thought existed—professionally, mentally, and emotionally.

It’s fast approaching August and already I’ve been hounding her about how she’ll start her whole moving process. In the 6 or so years she’s lived in Vegas, she’s accumulated quite a few things, to put it mildly. She is definitely going to need a moving company to help and pack up her stuff and Relocation.com is the place to start – they’ll provide her with local movers, services and resources that’ll help make her move cost effective, efficient and pleasant. And though my sister won’t be needing a place to stay as she’s opted to move in with us for a while, Relocation.com really has everything you would need in terms of relocating to another state—they provide you with Apartment listings and/or you can click on their Real Estate tab and you can browse through several dream homes!

My sister also has a car. My mom has never been the one to feel comfortable about us driving our cars for long hours. In fact, she is always readily agreeing to pay for whatever costs might accrue just to have our cars shipped—that’s how much she hates us driving for long hours. I’ll be sure to let my sister know about CarMovers.com as all she would have to do is plug in her zip code and click on the state she wants to move her car and voila! There’ll be a list of car movers she can contact to get the best rate for her auto shipping needs.

And since we’re on the subject of moving, if you might need an international moving company to assist you with your moving needs, check out InternationalMovers.com. Let them know which country you’re coming from and what country you’re moving to, as well as the amount of things you want to move and boom! They’ll generate a list of international movers you can contact for free quotes. I just love what the internet can do for us, don't you?

What if?

Suppose we hadn’t made the move over to the States and we had remained in the Philippines. What would have been of our life? I know for a fact I’d still be a SAHM and the idea of a hiring a yaya would be completely out of the question — even if practically everyone in the country has one for their child. And this I have no problem with. I don’t know that I could trust my child with a maid/yaya/nanny anyways. And it’s not that I’m looking down upon those who choose to entrust their babies/children with hired help cuz man, God knows I wouldn’t mind having one myself sometimes (I’d probably be a better wife, in all honesty). Besides, when hubby and I explored the idea about hiring one (if we were to remain in the country a little while longer), my inlaws freaked out at the idea (something about me speaking English and not being a ‘local’).

But really, where would we be living? House? Condo? Apartment? I particularly enjoyed living in the condo we rented while I was there, and I did see a few kids in our building with their respective yayas playing near the pool/garden area but honestly? I don’t know that we would have continued living in a condo with Erynne. Sure, we lived in the condo for the first 5 months of Erynne’s life but that was only because we knew we’d be on a plane bound for America soon. If we had continued living in the Philippines, we’d probably be living in Tagaytay where the air is fresh and I wouldn’t always freak out over Erynne playing outside. I miss living in Manila sometimes, if I can be honest. I may have bitched many a times during my short-lived “adventure,” but you know how it is when you no longer have it — you miss it. I’ve asked Eric many a times why we don’t go back and live there. His response is always consistent: there are no opportunities there for us right now. But even if there were, would I really want to live there? I don’t know; I’m not “cowboy” enough. I’d have to live a certain way and even just saying this (or imagining it), I’m already trying to be humble. I might come across negatively by those who might be reading this, but I think it all comes down to the fact that when I think of the Philippines, I think of it only as “a good time,” — an everyday vacation, if you will. Our funds would be wiped out — over and over again. Then I’d wish we were back in the States, where somehow, I seem to have more discipline in my actions — and way of thinking.

And I think that living here really is best for our marriage. I’m not so limited. And by “limited,” I mean I can jump into a car and pop Erynne into her carseat and off we go. When we’re in the Philippines (not that I’m complaining towards those who fuss over me and Erynne, etc), I’ve always got someone guarding me or making sure I’m fine, Erynne’s fine, etc. I have no freedom there. And for someone as spontaneous like myself (with a bratty attitude at that), this is a bit of a problem for me. But I understand where everyone is coming from with their concern and actions (and I love them for it); still, it’s hard to shake off sometimes and well, to keep the peace, that’s just what you have to do, isn’t it? Imagine how difficult that is for someone like me — you tell me I can’t, damn right I’ll show you I can (gaah, I couldn’t in the Philippines though haha!).

Life is funny, isn’t it?

Need help losing weight?

It’s no secret I’m a big girl. I am always on some kind of quest to shed the million pounds I've accumulated since pregnancy (and the other thousand I gained during college). In fact, name it all and I've probably been there, done that (except for Jenny Craig and those advertisements/infomercials about food being delivered to you, yada yada yada — oh, I don’t do diet pills ever and I’d never go under the knife just to get skinny, psssh). Well, you won’t believe what I’ve found to amuse me — yet again — in my quest to turn my life around and shed these unwanted pounds: myfitnesspal.com. This site is so cool — it has a free calorie counter that will tell you how many calories you’ve consumed and how many calories you have left to consume in a day, depending on how many calories you want to lose in a given week (1 lb a week is recommended, 2 lbs a week is considered agressive). But the key to losing weight is not all about calorie counting — myfitnesspal.com will eventually teach you to make better food choices as it will also tell you how many fat grams and protein grams you should have in your meal plans (again, depending on how many pounds you want to lose in a week). Plus, the calorie counter is easy to use and absolutely free. Yep, you can use the free calorie counter without ever having to pay a dime. Try it!

10 facts about my mom

I was tagged by Lene.

1. In highschool, almost every night, my mom would check up on me to see if I was in my bed. I’d lock my door but she’d still find a way in, just to peek to make sure I made it home on time (this was in highschool when I started driving hehe) and I would get sooooooooooo annoyed. Where’d she think I would go?!

2. Without fail, every Saturday morning (sometimes Sunday), my mom would vacuum the home at 8:00. This was in highschool. Weekends are to sleeeeeeepppp in. I’d scream hell each and every time this would happen.

3. Without fail again–and without asking her–my mom would come barging into my room on the weekends around 7 or 8am to collect my laundry. I’d be livid.

4. My mom and I didn’t see eye to eye much when I was in highschool (can you tell?) but I considered her an absolute hero. I lived for no one but my mom.

5. I have the best mom. Really, I do. She may have her quirks and abnormalities and set old-fashioned ways (of thinking), but I am really blessed to have someone like her. She is beyond giving — doesn’t matter if she leaves nothing for herself, as long as her brothers and sisters and children have it all.

6. My mom is superwoman. She worked 2 full-time jobs AND tackled every task of a normal SAHM.

7. My mom is retired but she still works as a caregiver in her home care. She can and will never, ever just sit and do nothing. Drives her completely and utterly nuts.

8. I can say my mom and I are actually friends now (I don’t know if that’s because I’m a mom now and I fully understand her or she’s just proud of me for sticking to my guns about my beliefs and wants in life).

9. My mom has been married to my dad for 33 years. They came from the same town but their paths only crossed in Manila when she was still in Nursing school (my dad had already graduated from college and was working).

10. My mom has an extremely hilarious way of thinking. Case in point: browsing through LV bags, she saw it was “Made in USA.” She raised her eyebrows and told the salesman that she didn’t want an imitation bag. BWAHAHA. My jaw dropped and I’m sure the salesman’s jaw wanted to too. He wanted to kill her. I just love my mom, I tell you.

What's your blog rating?

Not that I was hoping for an "R" rating, but there's something about a G-rating that makes me think of Disneyland. Yeeck. Hehe.

"Your post has been rejected for payment."

Ouch. I've been getting a lot of those email notices from Payperpost ever since I've deleted all my posts from my wordpress blog. Completely and utterly sucks crap. I lost about $231 because of the whole wordpress vs. PPP hoopla. It may not be much but ei, that's a roundtrip airline ticket somewhere! Or a bag. Shoes even! Or a whole week's cost for vacation accomodations at one of our timeshare resorts. Oh well.

The good thing about losing money is that we can always, always, always earn it again some other way.

Prostate cancer

One of the reasons why I am always on Eric’s case about getting annual exams is because I worry about him getting prostate cancer. He may only be in his 30’s (prostate cancer is most common among men between the ages of 60 and 80) but it is still something I think about. Afterall, it is the most common non-skin cancer in men and the third leading cause of male cancer deaths.

Unlike in the past, there are more prostate cancer treatment options today. One of those options is High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). HIFU is a state-of-the-art technology acoustic ablation technique that utilizes the power of ultrasound to destroy deep-seated tissue with pinpoint accuracy for treatment of prostate cancer. HIFU focuses sound waves in a targeted area which rapidly increases the temperature in the focal zone causing tissue destruction. What’s great about HIFU is that it only takes 1-3 hours, and is a one-time procedure performed on an out-patient basis under spinal or epidural anesthesia. Also, nlike radiation, HIFU is non-ionizing so it can be repeated if necessary without damaging healthy tissue.

There are two devices available when patients opt for the HIFU treatment -- Sonablate 500 or the albatherm. For sure, if Eric or any of my male family members were to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, I'm positive they would go with the HIFU with Sonablate 500. I know I would. Check it out and inform someone you know who might not yet know about this treatment option.

On compatibility

Occassionally, I'll stop and read a bit of astrology but I never believe it. Linked to this compatibility stuff by way of Che's blog -- I'm surprised there's actually some truth to it! I'm the Virgo, hubby's the Scorpio -- read on and see what it has to say of our union:

When Virgo and Scorpio join together in a love match, these Signs that are two apart in the Zodiac are brought together. Their placement gives the relationship an intense karmic bond. The Virgo-Scorpio couple is loyal and deep, with very strong ties. Usually, this couple will stay away from crowds; they aren't too inclined to go to parties or dances, but alone they can form a very fulfilling union.

Virgo and Scorpio enjoy working together toward acquisition: Virgo wants order and Scorpio wants power. Both of these Signs are about resources, including inheritances and property. This couple is very service-oriented and known to be dependable. They like to lend a hand to a friend or to the community. Additionally, Virgo can be withdrawn -- while Scorpio is more opaque and outgoing. Because of disparity, both Signs can learn from one another if they can agree to meet halfway.

Virgo is ruled by Mercury and Scorpio is ruled by Mars and Pluto. This combination is very heated, thanks to Pluto's influence. The two Signs unite to form the basic foundation of human relationships -- Mercury's communication and Mars's passion. Mercury and Mars go well together; Mercury is about the conscious mind, and Mars is about the passion of romance. Scorpio is rambunctious and intense, and Virgo is attracted to this energy. In turn, Scorpio needs the loyalty and practicality inherent in Virgo.

Virgo is an Earth Sign and Scorpio is a Water Sign. Scorpio is a very deep Sign; it's an ocean, and too much turbulence will cause a violent storm. Scorpio emotionally hides in their shell, but when the pressure becomes too intense, suddenly explodes. Their mutual need for emotional security fosters extreme loyalty to one another. But while Virgo is simplistic, with everything laid bare on the surface, Scorpio is more concerned with the undercurrents of life. Scorpio can show Virgo life beyond the literal surface, and Virgo is attentive enough to pick up on this hidden conversation. Virgo can teach Scorpio the facts and that they are sometimes quite literal and can be dismissed at face value. Scorpio appreciates Virgo's practicality and Virgo enjoys Scorpio's devotion -- it proves they are loved and appreciated.

Virgo is a Mutable Sign and Scorpio is a Fixed Sign. Once they have a common goal, nothing can get in the way of their love. When an argument arises, Virgo is adaptable enough to take a step backward and not allow a fight to take place. Scorpio often gets its way due to a stubborn streak. It's important for these partners to discuss what is truly important to them so they can have equal roles. This is not a relationship riddled with conflict. Both partners would rather work together than fight.

What's the best aspect of the Virgo-Scorpio relationship? It's their ability to carry out goals when they put their minds to the task. When Scorpio realizes that Virgo is an asset and a leveling force in their life, this relationship will grow. Mutual determination and organization makes theirs a harmonious relationship.

If you're bored, check out your compatibility here.

Unbelievable

Got this from Jane. I can't believe anyone let this happen. Read on:

ATLANTA - A woman said she and her toddler son were kicked off a plane after she refused a flight attendant's request to medicate her son to get him to quiet down and stop saying "Bye bye, plane."

Kate Penland, of suburban Atlanta, said she and her 19-month-old son, Garren, were flying from Atlanta to Oklahoma last month on a Continental Express flight that made a stop in Houston.

As the plane was taxiing in Houston en route to Oklahoma, "he started saying 'Bye, bye plane,' Penland told WSB-TV in Atlanta. The flight attendant objected, she said.

"At the end of her speech, she leaned over the gentleman beside me and said, 'It's not funny anymore. You need to shut your baby up,'" Penland told WSB-TV in Atlanta.

When Penland asked the woman if she was joking, she said the stewardess replied, "You know, it's called baby Benadryl."

"And I said, 'Well, I'm not going to drug my child so you have a pleasant flight,'" Penland told the TV station.

Penland said other passengers began speaking up on her behalf, and the flight attendant announced they were turning around and that Penland and Garren were going to be taken off the plane.

Penland and her son were let off the plane and did not complete the trip to Oklahoma, said Kristy Nicholas, spokeswoman for Express Jet Airlines, which flies as Continental Express on behalf of Continental Airlines.

Attempts by the Associated Press to reach Penland under a telephone listing that matched her last name were unsuccessful.

"I was crying, I was upset and I was thinking, 'What am I going to do? I don't have anything with me, I don't have any more diapers for the baby, no juice, no milk," Penland told WSB.

Nicholas said, "We received Ms. Penland's letter expressing her concerns and intend to investigate its contents."

Tagged by Jane

Two names you go by: Jenny and Jen
Two things you are wearing right now: Shirt and cut up yoga pants (now shorts)
Two things you want in a relationship: Laughter and honesty
Two of your favorite things to do: Eat and laugh with friends/family
Two things you want very badly at this moment: A brand-new Suburban or Yukon XL and a cruise
Two pets you have had: Nada
Two people who will fill this out: Gracious and Apols
Two things you did last night: Gave Erynne a bath and look up cruises
Two people who live at your house: Big E and little E
Two things you ate today: Hefty sandwich on dutch crunch that I made myself and crispy pata
Two people you talked to last: Big E and little E
Two things you are going to do tomorrow: Costco and hopefully window shop
Two longest car rides: Manila/Camiling to Isabela in ‘04 and Seattle to San Francisco ‘06
Two favorite holidays: Memorial Day (does that count?) and Labor Day (does this count too?)
Two favorite drink: Water and cranberry juice or diet soda

Crabbed out

As I mentioned yesterday, my mom came home with a huge box of fresh crabs. As in, she had just bought it the night before and had steamed it all before flying out of Alaska at 6am the other day. Some of them had cracked shells so some of its juices came spilling out of the box but my ever so efficient husband had it cleaned up in no time. THE FAT! ‘Twas truly amazing. I didn’t have a camera on hand but I promise you there were about 25 crabs in total. Because some shells had cracked, the purple fatty parts were just oozing out. Feast for the eyes, no less! Neighbors across the street from my mom’s place were kinda staring at us so it was but right that we gave them a few pieces. We’re nice neighbors, you see. I hope they enjoyed it because by the time we had dinner, that stuff was soooo sweet and fresh. Popped it into the microwave and it was slurp, slurp, slurp. Didn’t get as PG as I wanted as after a while, so much crab (we cracked open 2 between E and I) gets to be pretty overwhelming. Plus, I don’t enjoy legs at all. I just like the inner part. Mainly because I don’t like to put stress on my teeth and we didn’t have a cracker thingamajig. Sadly, there’s about 10 pieces of crabs sitting in our freezer and it’s just a shame they’re going to sit there. I’m so crabbed out — yes, after last night’s semi-feast. I’m pretty maarte like that, I guess. Once it’s frozen, I no longer desire it. I like them super duper fresh. Arte, I know. Crab cakes? Eh. I don’t have the patience.

Someone's definitely hungry

Aha, you thought wrong if you think I'm referring to myself.

It is 9:29am as I type this and Erynne has already had a bowl of cheerios cereal with milk (with seconds that she didn't finish off completely), half of a bbq pork siopao bun, half of a cup of orange juice and now that I'm eating my breakfast of maple and brown sugar oatmeal, she's eating some of that too. She's now walked away with her other half of siopao to watch TV in her room while she continues to eat. Isn't that wild? I love it! Now if she would just gain weight with all the food she eats, I'd ask for nothing more. But I guess in the long run, she's lucky. She can be PG and still be skinny. Lucky girl, tsk tsk.

No more PPP

I had to delete all my posts here that had anything to do with Payperpost. Lost a bit of money but I'm just happy that I got my blog back. PPP suspended my account because they know they're not allowed to be there. So to answer your question Abby, no I wasn't banned from too much swearing hahaha (do I swear that much??). So in the grand scheme of things, you know what this means. I'll have to build this site up as I did the other one so I can increase my page rank in order to qualify for some good PPP posts. Sorry, it's the money hungry in me guys. That said, I might be backing off from wordpress and making myself comfortable here in order to do just that. Trying to figure out how to make this place look nicer as the free templates have got to go -- big time. I just wish I was computer literate enough to know how to get things done. Tsk tsk. I also want to put up a blog on my own domain (am I even saying it right?!) but I don't know which to go with (what's expensive and what's not?). It hurts not to know enough about the internet, I tell you. Would you believe I took an HTML class in college, learned how to create my own homepage from scratch (inputting codes or something) and scored an A? How I did that, I have no idea. So it was an introductory course, fine but at least I knew a little HTML. So anyways, if you have any suggestions as to where I should put up a new home without having to use these free domains, let me know. I would love to be enlightened.

My mom is back from Alaska in a few hours. She has my Alaskan king crabs! Yummmmmm-o! My cholesterol is going to shoot way up but that's how it'll have to be for tonight. I am going to feast!

More kwentos to come.

It finally happened

It was only a few days ago through an email from Joy did I hear about Wordpress shutting down websites with paid Payperpost posts. I'd yet to receive "the email" about being given 7 hours to back up my blog. So imagine my surprise a few minutes ago when I saw I couldn't access my Wordpress blog anymore. Where was my supposed email with my 7 hours to pack up and say goodbye? I don't understand. I knew my time would come but I didn't think it would happen today -- and without so much as a warning! Though, thanks in part to Joy, I should have acted accordingly and followed her advice to back up my blog at that moment. Who's the sorry @ss now?

So if you're here because you saw I've been shut down (or will be), welcome. Make yourselves comfy as this is where I'll be hanging out for the meantime. I'll have this place cleaned up in no time. Corny as it sounds, I'm a little sad that I wasn't able to save some of my entries from Wordpress. Nevermind the money I'll have lost from PPP -- so many memories I'd documented there that I've now lost forever :(. What a bummer. Ugh. I so need some proper closure.

Bastards!

Blogsvertise

In my efforts to maximize any and all opportunities to make money from home, I have discovered a new site to do just that -- Blogsvertise. The steps are really very simple if you'd like to join and make some money while blogging. All you have to do is register your blog and wait for an approval. Once approved, you will be emailed tasks that will contain the url to a website that you need to write about in your blog. You need not advertise -- simply share your opinion. Just remember that your blog entry must provide 3 links back to the assigned task's website url. Upon completion of the task, submit your blog entry for review and once approved, you can expect to be paid via paypal 30 days later.

Addicted to blogging

67%How Addicted to Blogging Are You?
Hala. But it could be worse.

Shoulda, coulda, woulda

Having been born, raised (and made!) in Alaska, it was literally a dream come true for me when I had the opportunity to live in Manila for less than 2 years. My only regret though was that hubby and I didn't travel the country as much as we should have--could have and would have-- had we known we'd be leaving for the States a year and a half into our marriage. Palawan, Cebu, Baguio, Samar -- so many places we had yet to experience! And it's when you're far and away from your surroundings do you start to wish you'd done the things you should have when you were already there. And I highly doubt we'd ever go back to the Philippines to live -- I was so anxious to get out as it was, LOL. But oh, how I've yet to experience every part of my parents' homeland (and err, my husband's!).

My Lakbayan grade is C-!

How much of the Philippines have you visited? Find out at Lakbayan!

Online romance

Are you the type who doesn’t do so well when meeting the opposite sex in person? If so, ever considered using free dating sites? I’ve heard of people who have had relationships that started on dating sites just like JustSayHi.com. And a lot of them have resulted in marriage! But you must be weary because any dating services that ask you to pay a fee – run! There is absolutely no need to pay for such services because you can join JustSayHi.com for free. You can be rest assured JustSayHi contains features that are as good as any paid dating site. See for yourself and join now!