Happy Birthday Goorba the Greek Part 2

I started the day pretty worn out. I spent the whole day preparing the food, running out and getting more supplies that I pretty much forgot I needed. At one point during the party, I felt like passing out from lack of sleep. I just didn't say anything as everyone (well...the two other people at the party...the other one was preoccupied with a computer game...) knows my propensity for fainting. Lucky for us, Cindy made really really really strong coffee.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love it when she makes coffee for us. She brews the best coffee, but somehow it's always really strong so I tend not to drink more than a cup. That day was our eureka moment, as Sadrina takes her coffee black. So black it is... The moment she took a sip out of that cup she got up, got herself a full jug of milk and started stirring it in. For all the times we've had brewed coffee, we've never realized that we were drinking the brew undiluted. Ahhhh....no wonder I felt so wide eyed everytime I have that cup. Now, this cup was just half full (or half empty whichever you prefer). Diluted with milk, this is what it looks like...and just so you know, that was a full jug of milk right there.

I was awake til 5am that night, even after a full hour's worth of Wii sports. Everyone wanted to have a go at boxing by the time we drank that oh so strong brew. For all the entertainment the Wii provides, I think it gets plus points for the people watching the players have a go. I know I did (that was me and Sadrina laughing hysterically in the background). Somehow, this boxing session turned into taekwando.

*Video Deleted*

Apparently, there's a nice footage of me and Sadrina playing boxing with less than ample support.

Happy birthday Goorba the Greek Part 1

My kitchen hasn't seen this much activity since last Christmas. I've been so worked up about work (what?) that I just don't have the energy to make an effort to prepare our meals. It's a good thing Michael works late and has staffmeals, he's not really hungry when he gets home from work. I digress...I have a tendency to do that lately, like my mind is swimming with so many things that I've not blogged about and everything just wants to come out at the same time...and there you have it I digress again.

So anywaaaaay....as I was saying...my kitchen...so much activity. The reason for the sudden burst of food in my kitchen this weekend was the birthday party (well a party for 4 people...) for Sadrina...aka goorba. Also, it was my mother in law's birthday last week, and then Cathy's birthday yesterday. So 3 cakes in one go. I'm a cake novice so it was pretty nerve wracking stuff. Thank you Martha Stewart...you saved my butt. It's not that I don't know how to bake cakes, it's just that...I really don't find any enjoyment in doing it. Well ok I do, but it feels much more of a chore compared to chopping onions the whole day. I would happily chop onions than ice a cake. Sooooo....I keep running around in circles today...back to the birthday...

Sadrina didn't want any carbs (yeah...you give and give and they ask for more...) for her birthday menu. I admit, I was pretty excited to give the old girl *GRIN* a party. I haven't had something to look forward to in a long time. Hmm...that just makes me sound like a pathetic loser...well you know what I mean. I had the menu planned in advance, took my days off work and prepared for her party. What I didn't know was, everyone I know was born in July and practically everyone I know born in July was born in between 22-31. That just doesn't give me time to make the cakes on separate days. So while I was preparing food for the party, I threw myself on the deep end and baked 3 cakes. Stressss....but the cakes turned out ok. Actually, Mike and I couldn't stop eating the trimmings heheheh.

I was supposed to prepare minimal food and lots of booze for the party. In the end, we had lots of food and minimal booze. Oh...and outstanding company.

We had a riot with the Wii. I suspect we had too much coffee that resulted in our manic energy whilst playing boxing. More about that in a separate post. For the meantime, I'll leave you with Sadrina cutting the cake. By far the only woman I know who can make cake cutting look erotic yet scary at the same time.

Happy birthday Sadrina.

Out of sorts

After my fainting episode I decided to go to the doctor. First, to reassure everyone that I'm ok, but really it was to reassure myself. I'm not as young as I used to be. So off I went, but not before I took the obligatory test to find out if I'm expecting. The minute I woke up from my blackout, everyone was gushing on how I might be pregnant, and OOOHHHH I hope it's a girl!!! I tried to smile, and I don't think anyone saw the look of sheer terror on my face. B-a-b-y?!?! Now most of my friends (ok, not most, just one of my friends) would be ecstatic to find out that she was carrying a package (I just cannot bring myself to say the P word), but most of us just don't want to have one yet. So when I felt well enough, I took the test. PHEW! Don't get me wrong...I love kids...especially the ones that you can return to momma after a few hours of playtime. I'll probably read this in a few years and wonder why I didn't have kids sooner. Probably being the key word here.

I hauled my @ss to the doctor's to see what was wrong with me. When I finally saw the doctor, I explained what happened to me.

Me: I fainted last Monday.

Witch doctor: I see.

Me: Yes, see I've had fainting episodes before but it took me a while to bounce back from this one.

Witch doctor: I see.

Me: I've just had my regular checkup done last March and everything was normal.

Witch doctor: I see. Did the nurse bother to take your blood pressure?

Me: No.

Witch doctor: I see. Ok let's do that then. *pump pump pump, my arm feels like it's exploding, deflate* Oh it's really high...come back in two weeks.

Me: What do I do till then?

Witch doctor: Come back in two weeks.

I so wanted to check if she had a key on her back that you turn whenever she stopped moving. This so called doctor didn't even do squat. I'm in my first week of doing nothing, hoping I don't keel over from the abnormally high numbers that I see on the bp machine. I'm also looking for a new doctor.

Dizzy Spells and Fainting...

I fainted yesterday. Nothing too melodramatic. I felt dizzy, then everything went all dark like falling asleep and then that was it. It's the waking up part that's a bit embarrasing. For those not in the know, I've been having fainting spells on and off since I was about 6. It started when I went to my first midnight mass with my mom and yaya (probably not my first but the first that I can actually remember). By on and off I mean every 2 years since college. I've fainted in an elevator with Tinah, outside a bar in Timog with Winnie (uy! Robbylyn!), at home in Kilburn with Michael which was particularly bad cause I banged my head and had a mild concussion, and now outside Liberty's with Beth. So everyone who's been at the receiving end of my fainting spells has had a shock, especially since I always wake up telling them *This is normal, don't worry, I'm ok* Heheheheheheh. I find it funny, I don't think they do.

So I thought, ey....what better time to come back to my blog? Fainting is as melodramatic as it can get.

Beware of scammers!

I received an email from a victim of a scam.

July 5, 2007
To Whom It May Concern:
Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Sandra Slate of San Diego, and my family and I were victims of Kathleen Kafashian Legaspi and her fraudulent schemes in the sham modeling business she operated. For example, she promised my son that she had secured him endorsement modeling contracts for Nike and Armani Exchange, a role in The Brazilian Job, and many other lucrative modeling jobs. In all she promised him contracts totaling in excess of $10M over 4 years. She promised my 3-year-old grandson an endorsement modeling contract with Nike and Armani Exchange plus commercials for Toys R Us for over $3M over 2 years. She used my credit card without my authorization. She forced my son to quit his personal training job to follow her to Los Angeles to further his career, which was a lie. She convinced him and our family that she was pregnant with his twin sons, which then became triplets, then lost one fraternal baby leaving the identical twins, and then months later we discovered it was all fabrication. She convinced us she had leukemia, a brain tumor, a brain aneurysm, a major heart defect, ovarian cancer, she needed a bone marrow transplant, she would die during childbirth, etc. None of these conditions were true.
I discovered Kat was in contact with you and I am writing to ascertain how you were involved with this individual and whether or not you lost any money or valuables to her.

I remember getting a call from someone names Jules interviewing me for a writing position for an online magazine. I even sent some of you the article that I was submitting for the position. Surprise surprise, I didn't get any calls back. Months later here I am reading this email.

I googled her name and found this: http://superripoff.com/KatleenKafashian.html

Someone up there is looking out for me.

WTF?

I had to delete a post today. Someone posted my entry online. I don't know how else to say it, but this blog is a personal entry and in no way connected to work. This is where I release my thoughts for my friends. Someone not happy with the office decided to invade my personal space.

I feel defeated. If they're not happy with the office, fair enough, but to invade my personal space? Low blow.

Then again, all is fair in love and war. Except this is a war I haven't started. I'm cleaning up after someone just left shit all over the place. Nice.

Oh well, at least it's not a sex tape.

I hate this city...and I think it hates me back...

Yesterday was not a good day. Heck, today is not a good day either. Depends on what perspective I'm looking at I guess. Michael got stabbed last night. Some kid grabbed his phone and he decided in his alcohol driven stupor that it was a good idea to chase after the hoodie. He got the kid by the shirt, the kid threatened to stab him and he thought that was that. When he got back to our flat he was telling me what happened and as he took off his top shirt there was blood everywhere. I can't explain what kind of panic set it, or what freak out actually means until you're there. I remained calm on the outside but my insides turned into jelly. It's like wanting to scream and knowing that it won't do you any good. The wound didn't look too deep but it was just weeping. By the time we realized that he'd been stabbed we were done calling the police and reported the theft. We called the cab to go hospital but by the time the cab came the paramedics were already here. There were a couple of police officers taking statements and it was all so surreal. The things that popped into my head were...

1. The flat is a mess what must they think?
2. Oh my god I have underwear lying around.
3. Why didn't I wash the dishes before going to bed?
4. They must think we're chavs.
5. If they see my husband's weed we're doomed.
6. They must think I'm a refugee from China.
7. I want to cry but I don't want to seem like a blubbering idiot.

It's true...when you're in a stressful situation you end up thinking about the zaniest things. Case in point...who the hell cares if you're underwear is on display when you're husband's trying to explain to the police how he got mugged and stabbed in the process? I just can't get that image of my underwear hanging on display for all the paramedics to see.

After all that hoo ha the paramedic guy took us for a ride to the hospital. My husband then decided it was a good time for a little chit chat. *Honey? Have you ever been on the inside of an ambulance?* *Are the ambulances in the Philippines as complete as this?* Now, I know he was just trying to calm me down but it was just not the time to engage me mindless banter. Breathe deep...relax...calm down.

We got to the hospital and waited...and waited...and waited... I finally found a Filipina nurse and talked to her about Mike. She was kind enough to call one of the doctors who were too busy to spare a few minutes. She poked and prodded the wound and told us that it didn't seem like it was anything to worry about. And then we waited again. You know that feeling where you want to freak out just to get someone's attention but you know it won't really do you any good? The thought of grabbing one of the nurses and holding them hostage until my husband was seen was just running around in my head. After 1 hour this bitch doctor comes in and promptly says to us... *You just cost the council 500 pounds to take you to the hospital in an ambulance. You should've taken a cab if you felt fit enough to do so.* Right. Bedside manner...zero. We had a cab...the paramedic said they'll take us to the hospital instead. What do I do? Be a hero and say no we can manage? She poked my husband for a bit and left to do something more important. After 15 minutes she came back and said everything was ok. I asked her how to stop the bleeding and she rolled her eyes. *It's just a small wound. Just put plaster on it. OH ALL RIGHT I'LL GIVE YOU SOME PLASTER* Great...don't sound too concerned now. After all it's just your job. Damn bitch doctor.

We took a cab home, but not before Michael puked his guts out. I was starting to feel panic again by this point. Why was he vomiting? Was it because of the alcohol or something else? He got up at the middle of the night and puked some more. Graphic details not included.

Today there were 2 detectives who came to the house. They called in advance to tell us they were in the area and would be stopping by. That's more like it, call before you actually come so I can sort out my underwear.

Wet and windy

I just got back from Taste of London at Regent's Park. I'm having a think if I'd want to go back next year. Previously it was all about the food, and it was nice food. In recent years however, it's become more of where to be seen. Am I being too snooty? In the first few years, it was mostly people who had a passion for food just wanting to see what other chefs were up to. Hmmm...yeah I guess that's being a bit snooty.

The food is still great and the old chefs are still there. Although I don't think I saw Rhodes anywhere this time around. Ramsey had a big tent in the middle for his F word series complete with an area for all the groupies to take pictures with the uber chef himself. I must admit I was giddy with delight when I saw him. My husband didn't see why. I wanted to queue up and have his book signed by him saying *To my one and only bitch...* Fitting I think.

I wanted to take my brand new camera with me but I had a tiff with Mike before we left so I didn't really feel up to doing anything else. Luckily for me I didn't. It started pissing and by the time we left we were all wet and muddy. I got to try some good things though don't get me wrong. I had Marcus Wareing's beer and ale pie which was absolutely gorgeous. An oyster topped with poached quail egg with apple caviar...yummmm. Asparagus with hollandaise foam...yawn. Rump steak and chicken heart which the server fantasticaly topped with some sort of a pole dancing routine. I had beer made with coffee beans called the London Porter and a banana flavored beer. Yum.

The whole thing was just dampened by the rain. Tick tick tock little April shower...except it's not April anymore.

My Camera has Arrived!

I got my new Canon Rebel XTI yesterday. Woohoo! I've had loads of fun on my first day with the camera. I went to the house blessing party thrown by Beth and Cathy. We had tons of food, loads of fun and karaoke. My husband spent a good few hours drinking beer by the corner and smoking tons of cigarettes, but by the time evening came I think he was so sloshed that he had couple of rounds with the singing! Vanilla Ice Ice Baby! Wahahahahahahaha!


I took Michael out for dinner on is birthday. He loved the food and the whole evening was going well sans for me getting drunk on a glass and a half of wine. It got so bad I had to keep propping my head up on the table. I had that familiar feeling of passing out so we took an early night home. I just can't hold my wine for some reason. It just doesn't agree with me. Winnie said I just need to build my tolerance level to it but I think I'm getting too old for this.


My first shot with the camera....

Thank you for farting

To the old man shopping at Sainsbury's...thanks for making my day. I was pissed off today because my day off was cut short. Lyn called in sick and she was supposed to cover for me today so... I was in a very bad mood. Dark clouds hanging over the horizon and all that. I went grocery shopping and I was still miffed until... I walked past an OAP (old age pensioner is what the term they use for senior citizens) who was getting his groceries. Out of the blue he let out this tiny fart. Tiny but unmistakable. It made me laugh. It's great how you throw away your inhibitions as you get older. Or maybe it's just a bit harder to keep it all in. Hmmm...this is not the first time that I've been farted at publicly. Is it me? I was at Windsor Castle (no not formally, I bought a ticket just like everyone else) on tour with my cousin. We were looking for directions to the cathedral (my mind is not that clear on where we were going...I have a mind of a goldfish according to a lot of my friends...but that's another blog in itself.) Ok, I digress. Windsor castle...looking for the cathedral. I was walking towards the exit and looking at the map and then this guy just let out this almighty woop of a fart like you wouldn't believe. *Hey Sharon I think it's this...did-he-just-fart-in-front-of-my-face?!?!?!* I turned around and saw Sharon laughing hysterically. What else can you do right?

I stumbled across two blogs today. The other one was an offshoot of a blog. I think it got so much nasty comments that the author decided to open another one. Either you love it or you hate it. Most people would say the latter. I think it's brilliant. The concept is to make everyone hate you so that your site gets so much hits that it can take. To anyone who will go and satisfy their curiosities, tread carefully. It hits lots of nerves.

http://www.kantuterongatenista.blogspot.com
http://www.blurty.com/~caffeinerush
http://www.cofibean.blogspot.com

Grumpy Morning

I woke up today to the sound of my phone. I'm pretty good at sounding wide awake when I answer a call...probably stemming from my days as 24 hour tech support. But today is my day off, so I assumed (wrongly) that no one from the office will be calling me. They know my day off is sacred. I haven't had a decent day off in months. Turns out the person who's supposed to handle some stuff at work can't make it in today. Guess what dear...you've got the booby prize. Dang. I sometimes feel like a hostage.

Dying of stress

I didn't think stress could literally kill you... a friend forwarded an email the other day. Now normally it'd go straight to deleted items but the subject caught my eye. *To all you workaholics out there* it said. It was about a girl from Singapore called May Leong. She worked in a fortune 500 company (search and you'll find it) spending long hours at work and then taking home more work just to catch up. Sounds familiar...I pratically spent everyday for the past 4 years at my previous company staying in the office and working. I went home every 3-4 days to sleep in my own bed. Except in her case, she formed blood clot in her legs that led to her demise. I googled her blog...and kept on rereading it. Something about her words struck me...it was very very sad. She sounded so confused...on whether she was doing the right thing with spending so much time from work. It just struck me as really sad...how she was only trying to work to give her mom the best things in life. I can probably relate that's why it had such an impact on me.

Public Transport

I've been going home fairly early for the past few weeks. We've finally been able to sort out stuff at work to allow us to get home at a respectable hour. Don't get me wrong....there's still loads more to do. I'm estimating another year of hard labor and then things will be back to normal...with major improvements. I've been wondering lately why I keep on getting jobs where I have to go through so much in my first year. A friend commented that I seem to be getting jobs where there's a lot of fixing involved. Well, better I fix it than cause it eh?

Yesterday I left work at 8pm. Yeah...that's respectable for us. I got on the bus at half past and had the worst ride to date. Usually it's just a matter of the bus driver revving and putting on the brakes too hard at every stop. That I've gotten myself used to. What made this one particularly bad was the constant beeping. Every corner turn and stop the sensors would beep. I understand that it's for the visually impaired, but really...the whole trip was just one constant beep. *Beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeep* It'd start as soon as the signal to turn right or left was activated and stop 3 seconds after the turn was completed. As you can see I had loads of time on my hands...plus it annoyed the hell out of me. Add to that the beeping each time the doors opened. The guy sitting in front of me actually started tapping his fingers to the rhythm of the beep. Ten minutes on I saw him put his hands over his ears and left it like that for the rest of the journey. At the stop before I got off the bus we had a bit of a crisis. The back doors jammed. The driver tried closing the doors once....twice...three times...four...five.... WTF?! I counted...a total of 12 tries before he finally gave up and realized that any more attempts and he'd get himself killed by the passengers. Luckily there was a bus driver hitching a ride on the same bus and pressed a button and voila... beep gone, doors closed....crisis over. We actually thought there was a respite from the beeping...2 minutes and no beep. The guy in front of me put down his hands and gave a huge sigh of relief...and then the beeping started again. What fun.

I am no politician

I now remember the one thing I hated about working in a corporate environment...politics. People who have a hidden agenda will always make themselves look good while shirking the responsibilities that come with the job. I don't play well in this type of setting. I say it as it is...my mom always told me that it'll get me in trouble. The thing is if you don't say it as it is someone who has ulterior motives will always try to get the upper hand. A simple yes or no will do.

30 and hating it

My mom always said that if you're fat at 30 you'll be fat forever. Well, I guess I'm screwed. I gained back all of the weight that I lost so I feel very very shitty. I've been staying late in the office to clean up other people's mess. I'm tired and grumpy and feeling ugly. I'm back to cigarettes. I just woke up one day and realized that I'm back where I started. Geez, old habits do die hard.

I'm tired

It's been more than a month since my last post. I've been working my butt off since I started work. There are a lot of things that need fixing in the office. It's tiring but I'm still ok. No day off yet since I started. I'm starting to feel the strain. My back is starting to hurt (I feel old). Hopefully I'll be able to take a day off soon. I won't be able to stay long in this job if I don't get some rest.

My husband has been so understanding for the past month. We haven't seen each other in quite a while. It's been so bad that whenever I want to call home I mistakenly dial the office number. The other week, when Mike and I were talking, I told him that I was going to go to the office early next day, but I told him *I'll be going to the house early tomorrow.* Dang. Not a good sign.

I like my job though. It's challenging....cleaning up the mess of other people. Hopefully it'll be rewarding too.

What are you saying ba?

Today was my first day in the office. It was a bit overwhelming but I think I made it through the day. My head didn't start thumping until about 4pm. It was a combination of all the stuff I needed to learn and the problems I needed to fix plus the fact that all day I was hearing *Why like that ba?* Hmmm...I've forgotten about that kind of taglish. The way *posh* people try to speak when they come from one of the exclusive schools back in Manila. Why nga ba? Are your english lessons a combination of english and tagalog formed into one sentence? *Paki pulot naman thiiiis* (Emphasis on the thiiis...you have to drag it a little bit and curl your voice when you say it haaaa...) No, I'm not making patawa you...naman eh...would I do that baaa? It was a bit tiring when we got to the part where I was being endorsed 2 mobile phones...

Her: Oh yah by the way, we have 2 cellphones here in the office...
Me: Ok. What are they currently being used for? Are they for incoming or outgoing calls?
Her: Well...to call the clients...kasi sometimes when there's too many calls then we have to make tawag the clients. Or else they get mad...as in galeeeet talaga.
Me: Ok.
Her: Oh yah...so this one (pointing to the phone) we call her Britney.
Me: You what...
Her: Yaaah...kase it's like this. A lot of times like I have to ask them when I want to hiram it. So I'll tell them can I borrow the cellphone? Then they'll say which one. So it's nakakalito diba?
Me: No, not really but go ahead...
Her: So I gave the cellphone names nalang...
Me: (At this point my headache gets worse) Ok...
Her: So you've met Britney na....
Me: And what...pray tell...is the name of the other one?
Her: Paris

Cute diba? The kind of cute that you just want to squeeeeeeze until it pops out cute.

Oh joy oh joy oh joy

I start my new job today! In another ten hours. Hoooray!!! Si mi amigos (ok that's as far as my spanish goes) I have a job! Like they say on Perfect Strangers...Let's do the dance of joy! (dadaaadaaadadadadaaaa)

Thanks to you who prayed for me (sana magkatrabaho na si robs para di na ko kinukulit sa chat). Yes thank you to you too (sana magkatrabaho na si robs nababaliw na sya sa bahay). And to my mom (what? hindi ka pwede umuwi! papakainin nanaman kita???) Hehehehe.

Bored bored bored

Have you ever felt like there was something missing in your life? Like everything's here but not quite? I've been feeling like this for a few days. Maybe it's the nicotine patch or I'm just bored out of my wits staying at home.

Never leave your laundry to pile up

I finally moved my ass today and did the tons of ironing left from over 3 weeks ago. I always do this until the last minute, I don't really like ironing. Geez...I feel so domesticated. So I've finally finished all the clothes. Yipee. Well, at least it kept me busy and stopped me going nuts from not having a cigarette.

How can 2 people have so much clothes????