Feast One Hundred & Fifty Six

Appetizer

Describe your laundry routine. Do you have a certain day when you do it all, or do you just wash whatever you need for the next day?

I am a stressed, undomesticated, working mom. I am fortunate to have help with laundry and other household chores.

When hubby and I first lived together though, we had no help. I was pregnant and working with four or five loads in the washing machine once or twice a week.

Soup

In your opinion, what age will you be when you’ll consider yourself to truly be old?

My mom is fifty-seven and I don’t consider her old. Her attitude makes a youthful difference. I hope to be hip like her.

I would probably consider myself truly old when I start losing weight without any effort, and get wrinkly fingers without soaking in the tub. I’d probably be between sixty-five to seventy years old. But I would consider myself very lucky if I lived up to sixty-five, considering my unhealthy lifestyle.

Salad

What is one of your goals? Is it short-term, long-term, or both?

One of my short-term goals is to get a promotion this year. I think that’s more realistic than losing forty pounds.

Main Course

Name something unbelievable you’ve seen or read lately.

It was pretty unbelievable for me to see the SexBomb Girls in Wikipedia, and that someone documented their history, including their oust from Eat Bulaga. It was interesting to find out how much each member was making. Not bad at all. Look it up. And I thought they were getting peanuts.

Dessert

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how happy are you today?

Nine? Because…

… it’s dark outside and I like that.
… my boss is on day off. (I don’t hate my boss, I just don’t feel any pressure when he’s not around, and that’s a good thing, right?)
… I have posted an entry today. I’ve been seriously busy these last couple of weeks.
… I still have money left from last pay-day.
… little bro sent me some $.
… I’m looking forward to having lunch at Kooky & Luscious. My newest fave.
… I know I’ll be with Ippo at the end of the day.

Might turn into a ten if Denver and I get along today.

More of Friday’s Feasts

My Son Loves Wowowee

I don’t know whether I should love or hate local television. My son has picked up a lot of antics from it. It’s hilarious but I'm not sure if I should be concerned.

Here are just a few of his TV influences:

1. Viva Hot Babes Song, “Basketball” – Last week, when I was in bed, Ippo placed his drum set on my knees, then started beating it while singing “bahkitbol bahkitbol ang sa sa ng bahkitbol.” The tune was familiar. Later on, I found out that this was Viva Hot Babes’ Basketball song, which is regularly played in Wowowee.

2. Dududu – I woke up from my nap and saw Ippo on the floor playing with our supply of Q-tips. In an attempt to distract me, he started singing “A dududu adada da ahaha.” His yaya had been bragging about it but I could never get him to perform it for me. Instead of scolding him, I laughed non-stop. The song didn’t really amuse me. It’s the fact that he already knows the art of diversion at two years old that got me.

3. Otso Otso – Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t this song a hit back in 2003? My son was born in June 2005. I don’t know how and where he caught this one, but I’ve seen him do it many times. One day he just started singing “tayo ocho ocho, ocho ocho.” And uh-huh, he can dance to it too. Not as well as the SexBomb Girls in my opinion, but he crouches and bounces his knees while singing. Sometimes, I suspect that his yaya is teaching him this stuff.

4. Game Ka Na Ba? – Every time he sees Kris Aquino on TV, he whoops “Game Na.” Even when were watching Deal Or No Deal. Edu Manzano in GKNB does not get any reaction from Ippo. I like Doods pa naman.

5. The Buzz – This is my fault. He says “The Buzz” when he sees Tito Boy (Abunda).

6. Moms, QTV– This is my favorite. Before they break for commercial, one of the hosts would say something like “huwag po kayong aalis, dahil magbabalik po ang… MOMS.” All three hosts (Lani Mercado, Manilyn Reynes and Sherilyn Reyes) would say MOMS in unison. Ippo would say MOMS with them on queue. Even when he is playing and not looking at the TV, he knows when it’s time to say it. Gosh.

7. Pangarap Na Bituin – When Ippo was still an infant, no matter how sleepy he was (as in, looking groggy and all), whenever he would hear Jewel In The Palace’s theme song Pangarap Na Bituin, he would raise his head and look at the tube. Grabe noh?

He does other things that I am certain he learned from television. When he wakes up in the morning, the first thing he does is turn the television on. But I like morning TV for him because he gets to enjoy Dora, The Backyardigans and kiddie stuff from Nick Jr.

I honestly want to limit his viewing, but the people taking care of him are addicted to local TV. It’s sad that I cannot ask my mom and his yaya to (please) stop watching Wowowee. I have nothing against the show, it’s just that I don’t think it’s appropriate for my son at this time.

One of the reasons why I decided to send him to school at such an early age is for him to learn other things. I am happy that he has learned to count and sing age appropriate songs. Pre-school is expensive but I feel that it’s worth it.

I have to admit though, that my son’s funny habits make my day.

Wisdom

I love it when it rains. Typhoons and flash floods don't count, of course. I just like listening to raindrops and seeing how it's exceptionally dark outside when the sun should be scorching. If I lived in the countryside, and weren't scared of lightning, I'd probably stay outdoors on a rainy day.

Today I am at work waiting for Denver to get off from his team meeting. I don't mind being held up since it's my day off tomorrow, plus, I am actually enjoying the pitter-patter on the window pane.

- - - -

I found myself reading up on karma earlier. Sometime this week, I eavesdropped on some interesting thoughts about attracting positive and negative experiences. I suddenly remembered insights on energy from when I was reading The Celestine Prophecy back in college.

It wasn't so difficult for me to re-embrace the concept of karma. It simply tells us that if we send out something positive, we attract positive experiences. And when we harbor negativity, we attract negative experiences.

In the midst of confusion and mixed emotions, the concept of karma gives me some hope. It makes me feel as though I can remove all my pain by learning to let go of all the negative feelings I've been nursing.

- - - -

It's starting to clear up. Although I enjoyed the rain, I guess it had to stop for a good reason.

Parody

I’m beginning to have second thoughts about passing off on our company’s next Leadership Convention. I usually welcome these events, but I developed a certain allergy to it since the last Lead-Con.

You see, my husband’s ex-mistress is an esteemed Team Leader from one of our sites. As such, this Lead-Con would be a reunion of sorts for the two of us. Bleah.

Let’s just say that after the last Lead-Con, I wanted to admit myself to a hospital because of hypertension.

After getting caught cheating on her boyfriend with my husband, the piece of trash had the audacity to strut beside me. And I swear that if I didn’t value my job, I would have slit her throat right then and there.

So, this thing is two days away and I still don’t know what to do. If I go, I know I will feel so damaged again.

One of my bosses called me the other day to ask why I am the only TL in our site who did not accept the invitation. I told her the truth. She didn’t want to accept my shallow reason and was pushing me to go. She thinks I shouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to be inspired by Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II. I honestly want to go, but what can I do? I’m still so damn affected. All I want is to never see her again. Earth, please swallow her now.

I can’t believe I don’t have the strength to face that slut. And I thought I had toughened up.

Wishful Thinking

Very recently, one of my colleagues educated me on Pag-ibig Fund, bank housing loans and good property deals in Pasig City. On Monday, Denver and I visited Riverfront by DMCI. The unit we checked was very small, but we both loved the location and amenities. We could probably get a unit if we forced it, but then we would both have to live cheap until our fifties. A tiny 3 bedroom unit is around 3 and a half million in cash. If you add the 15 year interest through financing, the cost becomes ridiculously crazy for people in our income bracket.

Like I said, Denver and I could force it, but that means goodbye to Starbucks for the next 15 to 20 years, and possibly even goodbye to Mcdonald's value meals. We would probably have to live on tuyo and kangkong everyday. Not that tuyo is bad, but hey, that's still 15 years!

Anyway, it just makes me wonder how other people do it. Of course, this strikes out irresponsible dick-heads born with money, young athletes and instant celebrities. What I mean are other ordinary people like me. My colleague is younger than me, and has held a supervisory position for less than a year, but here he is scouting properties and intending to actually obtain one this year. Yeah, yeah, so he's single and doesn't have the same financial responsibilities, but still, I can't help but admire people like him.

It would be so great to be able to afford our own home here in the Philippines without having to slave away overseas. I wonder if we'd have to get to that point. Sigh. I want a condo, damn it.

Ten Inches

I don't mean to bore you with my wellness talk but it's just been my focus for the past few weeks. I quit my no-rice diet on the third day. But wait! Before you shake your head in disapproval, let me tell you what I've been stuffing myself with for the past week. Well, I've been eating vegetables. For the first time in my life, I am eating greens like it were normal for me. That's everyday for the last seven days.

For those of you who do not know me, my regular diet consists of anything smothered in butter or fried in oil. I am no fan of ulam with sarsa or sabaw, except if it's Kare-kare or my mom's La Oya. I just like fried steak (not even grilled), pork, hotdog and eggs. No fish, no veggies. I only eat fish if it's canned and swimming in oil and preservatives, filleted (especially if it's from Mcdonald's), or if it's sashimi or in sushi. I will eat veggies in the form of french fries, onion rings, and occasionally, gourmet salad. I almost never eat veggies at home, except for the squash in Pinakbet, onions in Bistek Pinoy, my mashed potato recipe (does that count?), frozen/mixed corn, carrots and green peas (I throw away the peas though), tortang talong, and probably a few more not-very-healthy vegetable dishes. I don't eat healthy at all. I love fat. You are what you eat, huh? Even my tuna omelet has lots of oil, butter, milk and cheese.

I know that I am a good (and young) candidate for heart disease or cancer, especially with my old habits – tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking, no fruits, no veggies, all fried diet, very little water. This is the year when I attempt to change all that by adapting a new lifestyle.

I still have a lot of inches to get rid of (around ten on my waist alone). I don't think I've lost any weight at all (huhuhu). It's been a month since I enrolled in Fitness First. But guess what? Those chicks that I used to envy? I can outrun them now. Normally I alternate 2 minutes of walking with 3 minutes of jogging, until I complete 30 minutes on the treadmill. On Wednesday, I walked for 2 minutes and jogged for 23 minutes non-stop. Yesterday I did 2 sets of 25 minutes (non-stop jogging). Who would have thought? I can't wait to see the results. I hope that my new plan proves to be effective.

Liver Talk

Today, I (re)started my no-rice diet. No, it’s not a no-carb diet. I still had pandesal for breakfast. For the lack of green salad in Jollibee Cybermall, I ordered fries. I know that French fries is a lame substitute for greens but it’s still a vegetable and it’s not like there are better (or healthier) choices at four in the morning.

I am trying to integrate fruits into my life gradually. I’ve made a commitment to have at least one serving of fruit a day. This time, I’m serious. Promise. It’s not just because I want to trim down. I watched something about liver disease on telly a few days ago and it scared me. I’ve been eating junk for over twenty eight years. I am poisoned and I want to detoxify. The do-it-yourself cleansing processes are intimidating. Look up coffee enema and liver flush and you’ll see what I mean. I am not sure if I am ready for the enema but I will definitely try the flush. Just need to figure out when to start and where to get Epsom salts.

As a part of my healthy liver campaign, I have also (re)started taking glutathione. According to the doctor from that show I watched, it really does good to the liver. I thought that glutathione was just for skin whitening. Doc says healthy, glowing skin is a reflection of a healthy liver. I was getting breakouts recently, so now is really the perfect time.

Living healthy is expensive.