Almost...

I dreamed this morning that Juan Manuel Marquez won... Don't get me wrong but I wasn't that obsessed with the boxing match, mind you.  It's just that, I blogged about them right before I hit the bed at 5 o'clock in the morning.  That explains..

Anyways, in my dream, he accordingly stepped down from the ring.. on a stretcher, lying down.  He didn't look terribly injured but just bad enough to declare his opponent, Juan Manuel Marquez, the winner by the time they reached the 10th round.

As of this writing, I still haven't seen the replay, thanks to my non-functional tv.  Maybe I'll just check it online later.  But according to my mother (good for her, she saw the fight on tv), Marquez could have won had it not for the majority decision of the judges in favor of Pacman.

Now, why am I making a fuss about this whole thing?  It is because I dreamed about it.  Silly as it may sound, but I do believe that my dreams would come true.  And this one, okay this one, sort of deviated and gone out of way.  But it almost happened, don't you think?

Not Once... But Twice!

I was apprehended just yesterday, twice!  The first instance was because of my passenger, my beloved mother, who did not put on her seat belt.  I always reminded her that but on that day, I did not bother to as I thought she made it already a habit.  Good thing, the two MMDA traffic enforcers let go of us after showing them my ID... but not before giving them my stock of playing cards. Waaahhh!

The second time was worse:  beating the red light.  Actually, I did not see the traffic light.  It was a small intersection that until now I am still wondering if that traffic light is really visible to the drivers.  I could still not believe that I did not see it!  Must it be that the light was no longer working when I approached that intersection?  Nevertheless, we are still fortunate that nothing bad happened to us.

At first though, the traffic police was intimidating when he demanded for my driver's license.  But when I identified myself (again...) and showed both my ID and license, he mellowed and just asked us if we usually ply that route.  He did not bother to scrutinize my blurry answer and just let go of us.

I was traumatized by those incidents!  I'm afraid I might not be lucky the next time...

So, Is It Effective?

I was surprised when Ann, my beautiful cousin (next to me, of course! hahaha!), asked me if the Extreme Power Saver, which I previously posted in this blog, is really effective.  I didn't realize somebody is interested to know about it.  Anyway, shown below is the screenshot of my recent billing history and consumption graph.  You be the judge:

Well, here's a short explanation of my consumption.  Since I bought the Extreme Power Saver sometime after I received my May 2010 bill, I decided to maximize the use of my aircon.  There my power usage increased to 101 kilowatt hours in June 2010.  Just when I decided to start saving energy, my mama visited me and stayed for three weeks at home. Of course, I gave her all the convenience that she needed even if it means increased electric cost.

It was only after mama left for Surigao that I was able to lessen my electric consumption.  Hence, that explains the sudden drop of my MERALCO due in August.  Now, I don't know if the Extreme Power Saver has something to do with it.  Again, you be the judge... :)

Papa Visited Mama and Zhea!

Last August 6, Friday night, I was talking to mama over the phone when I overheard my niece exclaimed, "humot!" (smells good!). They were three in the room. Only the babysitter didn't smell the fragrant of a flower. Then it hit mama! That day was supposed to be the 1st day of the nine-day novena for the death anniversary of my father! Mama totally forgot to keep track of it.

I teased mama. She was so guilty that she promised to visit the cemetery the following day. What about me? When will papa come and visit me? Perhaps tonight? Scare me papa. hehehe

Belated Birthday Greetings

The most important man in my life would have celebrated his 71st year in this world two days ago, July 14.  Nevertheless, to my papa, happy birthday!  Knowing that you are smiling up there while lovingly gazing at your children and mama is already enough to make me feel that you are still here with us. :)

My Mama Is A Coffee Addict!

My mama loves coffee so much that she would not have a breakfast without it.  In fact, one of my very early childhood memories includes a scene at the kitchen table wherein mama was sipping coffee while making sure that my siblings and I were eating our meal well.  I could say it was mama who indirectly influenced me into drinking coffee because of its strong but sweet aroma.

I am thinking of giving mama a gift now that she is going to be retiring soon.  She would surely appreciate bags of coffee from Cafe Britt.  Since 1985, Cafe Britt has been a premier roaster of gourmet coffee and one of the few companies in the world that produces, roasts and ships coffee right from the country of origin for a taste that's as fresh as can be!

What's more, Cafe Britt offers free shipping for a minimum order of six bags!  Isn't it great?  I guess I should get going and bring home that coffee to my mama. :)

Our Owner-Type Jeep

Our residence in Surigao was four kilometers away from the city proper.  If you live in a place like ours where regular transportation is a problem, owning a vehicle is a necessity.  Hence, one day I saw papa driving home an owner-type jeep.  He acquired it from Cagayan de Oro City.  If I'm not yet mistaken, the brand was Toyota.

I had a lot of childhood memories with that owner-type jeep.  My siblings and I used to sing songs (and sometimes shout) to our hearts' content while papa drove us home.  Mama would sometimes scold us, but would secretly hum along.  That was the good ol' days...

My papa had the top fabric of our vehicle changed a number of times.  There were also instances when my siblings and I, being adventurous as we always are, would request papa to take out the side and rear skins of the jeep.  The air then was still not as polluted as it is now...

When papa passed away, it was as if the jeep died along with him.  We were not able to maintain it the way he care for his jeep.  It stayed in our garage for many years before mama reluctantly sold it.  It took a lot of convincing from her children that disposing that precious memento does not mean forgetting papa.  It's just that there are things in this life that we just have to let go... and move on...

A Tribute To My Mama

While everyone else is going gaga over the results of the Philippines' national and local elections, let me just post here the text message I sent to my mama last Sunday in time for the celebration of Mother's Day.  (Warning:  Cheesy and sentimental as it may sound but please remember, this is my blog. :)  Here it is:

Ma, happy mother's day.  You are the best mother in the whole world.  I won't replace you for anything else.  You are my best friend.  I hope you will forgive me for all the heartaches that I caused you and papa.  I love you ma.  Mwah!

(In photo:  Mama with her eldest granddaughter, Zhea)

It took me a whole lot of courage to send that short text to her.  Already sobbing uncontrollably while composing that message, I even hesitated whether to push through as I am not that expressive as I would like to be.  Nevertheless, it's all worth it.  She replied with a joke and that, is already enough for me to get the message across... of how much she appreciated that simple gesture of love and care from a daughter who is miles away...

Another Birthday Greetings!

To my brother, glenn, wishing you all the best on your 35th birthday today and beyond.

Also, if I'm not mistaken, yesterday was supposedly the 109th birthday of my tatay, my mama's father.  May his soul rest in peace.

Yesterday was also the natal day of my aunt badik.  I wonder when will I be able to taste again her clan-renowned cassava cake. yummy!

Oh my Mama!

While Surigaonons were in panic for the Tsunami alert, my mama still managed to crack a joke when I called her up yesterday. She said she was about to recite the Mi Ultimo Adios when her phone rang. And my cousin Ann, according to my mama, was afraid that she might lose her most beautiful aunt that Ann kept on calling her, prodding her to join them.

Well, knowing my mama, she won't just give in to such scare. She has always maintained her composure and of course, her sense of humor. And that's just two things that I admire about her.

I must say, i'm so lucky to be her daughter! :)

Baby Wipes...

Last Friday, I decided to go home early (early, meaning, not later than 8pm). At that time I just felt that I need to take a break from work. But when I got home, I sensed something is wrong with my health. I felt cold and my body temperature was hot. I immediately snuggled under my comforter. I then realized that, finally, my physical and emotional stress were already catching up with me.

Anyway, I looked for bioflu in my medicine box and got dismayed when I did not find any. I settled for biogesic instead while trying to console myself that my mama would prefer biogesic over any other medicine for fever.

I panicked when the thermometer showed 38.5 degrees celsius! I was trying to imagine how it feels on a hot, summer day when the temperature at yahoo weather reports at 33 only. What more for a 38.5?!

I felt that my body was so hot that I was already worried that my fever might worsen. Instinct instructed me to wipe my whole body with a wet towelette. But then, i was afraid to wet my hands with water. Good thing, I remember I still have a few packs of baby wipes in my cabinet. I got it and let it do its job.

Voila! After less than half an hour, my fever was almost gone! Was it because of biogesic or baby wipes? Maybe both. Or perhaps thanks to the science of oral medicine? Hmmm.. I would rather attribute it to baby wipes. It's like magic! :)