Walang mag-iisa ngayong pasko

My friend, Barry, my kapamilya has been bugging me to view the Abs-cbn's Christmas station ID for 2007. Because of my hectic schedule, I never had the chance to visit youtube and take a look at this station ID.

And because I was very emotional last night because of the snow thingy, I decided to watch the Abs-cbn's station ID.

...I hate to admit that I almost cried.. *almost pa ba yung konting kurap na lang ng mata eh lalaglag na yung namumuong luha ko*

First REAL snow experience...

Today is the night before the thanksgiving day! Because of that, nagcutting ako sa client ko, hahaha! Everybody was in a vacation mode already so I decided to go home by 12nn. At 4pm, we went to the nearby shopping mall and did some shopping for some more winter clothes.

It was forecasted this morning that today will be the "first drop of snow". At 8:30PM, we already decided to go home. It was raining hard when we hopped inside the cab. When we arrived at our place, Randy was shouting with joy outside the cab while I was handing our payment to the cab driver. To my surprise, he was jumping for joy because it's snowing already! Hahaha... we were like crazy jumping and twirling around under the drops of snow!

hahaha...nakapagski dubai naman kami...but then, this is our first real snow experience...with matching umuulan ulan ng snow! Sayang, it's dark na kasi outside at malakas talaga ang hangin so I can't take my cam outside and take a picture. Maybe tomorrow, I can somehow take snapshots...

But then...I don't like winter season. Lamigin kasi ako...plus the fact that this reminds me na malapit na ang christmas... and I am away from my family. :(

Career realizations

I can vividly remember during those times that I would say that my current job is the most boring job I've ever had. But it's really surprising that right now, I am starting to realize the importance and the challenges that my job tends to offer. Some say that this is very much different from my professional degree and license...but right now, I was able to realize that yes this is very much different...but that is why I'm having the edge from other people who has the same license/degree with mine.

With my current job, I'm learning how the system works (particularly SAP)...not only in UI...but also how it works in the background! I'm just surprised at times that I am now able to configure and to troubleshoot some of the system errors on my own. And since I am dealing with FDA regulations, I am also exposed to different Goods Manufacturing Processes (GMPs), Best Practices and other business processess across all manufacturing modules. My work is actually beyond understanding the business process (which is more likely to be Internal Audit) but also deals with how the system executes those business processes.

...but then I still cannot erase the fact that I am somehow depressed when I don't usually understand the terminologies/jargons that my co-workers are using -- of course, I'm dealing with system/IT professionals and I'm not one of them! And it really sucks when the system stops working for the reason I can't really figure out! Grrr...

But then, at least I now learn how to appreciate things... :) That's one thing to be joyful about right at this moment.

Oh...speaking of the devil...batch determination of my SAP environment didn't take place...Grrr...need to dig this out of my system!

sick puppy

I'm sick today!

Grrr... I really hate having colds. My father would always complain when I was a child na "amo raw ako ng sipon". I easily get colds. Especially now that we have negative temp here...

I'm hoping that I will be well soon...I have tons of work to do... :(

...and also, thanksgiving holidays are up this coming week. I want to enjoy the holidays!

38 Qs

I was tagged by LC.... so here's mine!

1. Name one person who made you laugh last night? Randy. Kasi ginagaya nya si Bear Gylls ng Man Vs. Wild. Nakakatawa kasi yung pagsabi nya ng "Veetamin C". Hanggang ngayon natatawa pa rin ako...


2. What were you doing at 0800? Travelling in Highway 45
   


3. What were you doing 30 minutes ago? Tinatapos ko ang Production Planning Module ng SAP. Laban ka? hahaha...


4. What happened to you in 2006? Married my bestfriend (for 9 years)
   


5. What was the last thing you said out loud? (Ran)- deeeee...(diko na matandaan kung bakit kasi palagi ko yan sinasabi kahit wala naman akong sasabihin kay Randy. Trip ko lang syang tawagin palagi.)
   


6. How many beverages did you have today? Two - Veetamin C juice at tubig, hahaha!


7. What color is your hairbrush? Black na binili ko sa Spinneys-Mercato, Jumeirah, hehehe. (Nilalagyan ko ng kwento para mas masaya...hehehe!)


8. What was the last thing you paid for? Ang hirap naman...diko maalala. Basta pagkain siguro kasi naman di pa ulet kami naggrocery, marami pa laman ang ref.
   


9. Where were you last night? Nasa kama, nagtatrabaho habang nanonood ng TV.
   


10. What color is your front door? Brown.
    


11. Where do you keep your change? Kung saan-saan lang. Tamad ako magtago ng sukli.


12. What’s the weather like today? Sunny ngayon, kaya masaya...ay hindi pala..malas pala ko ngayong araw na to.


13. What’s the best ice-cream flavor? Jamoca Almond Fudge ng Baskin Robbins pa rin.
    


14. What excites you? Christmas & New Year holidays!


15. Do you want to cut your hair? Yes, sobrang haba nya na ngayon.
    


16. Are you over the age of 25? No. sakto ka lang.
    


17. Do you talk a lot? Depende kung sino kausap.
    


18. Do you watch the O.C.? No


19. Do you know anyone named Steven? Aba, oo!
    


20. Do you make up your own words? Oo minsan...
    


21. Are you a jealous person? Yata...
    


22. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘A’. Alvin


23. Name a friend whose name starts with the letter ‘K’. Kaye
    


24. Who’s the first person on your received call list? Chris
    


25. What does the last text message you received say? Your balance is now 547 minutes..ek..ek..ek...nagload ako sa fone, weheheheh!
    


26. Do you chew on your straw? No


27. Do you have curly hair? Yes...salamat sa teknolohiya ng rebond.
    


28. Where’s the next place you’re going to? Kama, tulog na.
    


29. Who’s the rudest person in your life? ha! Andami kaya...kalimutan na lang natin sila. Hindi sila dapat inaalala at dapat ay binabaon sa limot!
    


30. What was the last thing you ate? Ice cream!!! Salamat, jessamyn at dahil sa status mo sa YM, naalala kong may ice cream pako sa freezer, hehehe!
    


31. Will you get married in the future? I am "married" already.
    


32. What’s the best movie you’ve seen in the past 2 weeks? Pwede bang next week mo na ko tanungin nyan? Next week na lang ulit ako makakapanood eh.
    


33. Is there anyone you like right now? Oo naman noh.
    


34. When was the last time you did the dishes? Kanina lang.
    


35. Are you currently depressed? No


36. Did you cry today? No


37. Why did you answer and post this? Kasi ayoko nang may pending work to do, hahaha!
    


38. Tag 5 people who would do this survey. Emtee, Ab, Chachung, Ibyang, Gy

Architecture Cruise

Yesterday, finally, Randy and I were able to meet with Arbour Dubai officemate, Edward. He has been here in US for 1 month already but we haven't met ever since he came here. We were just 10 days apart of departure from Dubai in October. I came here last October 7 and I think he arrived here last October 17. He was assigned in Indiana which is 3 hours away from Chicago.

So yesterday, after so many research on how he can reach Chicago by train, he finally was able to come to Chicago! Our first stop? NAVY PIER! This is also our first time to go to Navy Pier. By the time we got there, it was already full-packed with sooo many people. So, we tried the number 1 activity that Chicago is boasting about...the Shoreline Architecture Cruise. Actually, this is Edward's idea since he only had 1 day to spend in Chicago. Sobrang layo ng travel nya from Indiana to Chicago. Supposedly, he will be joining us in our place, however, he parked his car in the train station in Indiana na hindi pwedeng overnight parking. So he had to come back at that day also.

This cruise showcases Chicago's architectural heritage. The guided Architecture Cruise departs from Navy Pier and travels for one-hour on the historic Chicago River. We were able to see more than 40 of the world's most celebrated buildings in Chicago. During the cruise, what made us proud is, the tour guide mentioned the BURJ DUBAI Tower and another building soon to be built in Abu Dhabi!

And another funny thing is (shift to t-a-g-a-l-o-g) naglipana na naman ang mga bola-bola na mga Pana (yung may pulang marka sa noo nila!) sa cruise! At syempre nagpapakaepal pa rin at pilit na isinisigaw ang bansa nila...bwahahaha! We were laughing so hard!

The cruise was great since we were able to learn so many things about the architecture in Chicago...which is also needed by Randy since he will soon start to find jobs here. Actually, he started already but he can't start to work until he receive his EAD (work permit). For now, houseband muna sya...and I can assure you that that is only for now...hehehe! (Minsan, naaawa din kasi ako sa kanya na nasa house lang sya eh...)

After the cruise, we ate at Navy Pier and headed to Millenium Park...dropped by to some souvenir shops and did some shopping.

Next Friday, Edward will be heading back to Dubai and will just come back here on 1st December.

I will post some of our pictures soon!

First christmas outside Pinas

While everybody's busy preparing their christmas list and doing some christmas shopping errands, I am busy planning for our first christmas outside Pinas and away from our family. I have accepted this fact since the beginning of the year (while busy preparing for our wedding) but then, I was thinking of celebrating christmas in Dubai with friends. But since we're already out of Dubai, I thought of coming up with some other plans. But definitely outside from where we are right now. By December, snow might already be covering our place with several inches thick! I don't wanna experience christmas just staying indoors. So, I planned this trip:

After the Fight, Criss Angel has something to say...

I posted last week about a fight that happened on LIVE in the tv program, PHENOMENON.

Well, here's the explanation of Criss Angel why he reacted that way...

http://www.nbc.com/Phenomenon/video/#mea=178444

And...I totally agree!

After the Fight, Criss Angel has something to say...

I posted last week about a fight that happened on LIVE in the tv program, PHENOMENON.

Well, here's the explanation of Criss Angel why he reacted that way...

And...I totally agree!

PHENOMENON -- What a riot!

I am currently watching this show, Phenomenon in NBC and I was shocked with what happened! This show is a competition for all mentalists (I'm not sure what term to use, honestly. They are the ones practicing mentalism as form of magic).

This so-called "Jim" performed his magic by acting or seemingly possessed by a dead person who according to him will tell him the object to write in the white board (while being possessed by the dead person, he was writing something in his whiteboard). At the end, he guessed the object inside a box by showing what he has written in the whiteboard. The object by the way was selected by a guest celebrity before the show from hundreds of options of objects. So that was his trick/magic.

Two of the judges are CRISS ANGEL and GELLAR. Gellar commented that he was amazed by the performance. However, Criss Angel commented that it's like a comic act and started challenging the contestant and his co-judge to guess what is inside his envelope and he will give $1Million to any of them.

Jim, the contestant, suddenly became hysterical and they started yelling and challenging each other to a great confrontation.

And I was like, "Ohmigod!" The show is on LIVE and they had no choice but to cut the voices on air and even the host acted as mediator of the confrontation!

Tsk...tsk...tsk...all I can say is...the performance is indeed a comic act! hahaha... I like Criss Angel more...hehehe =)

Ceiling poster for HALLOWEEN!!!

This is my post for the halloween season! hahaha...

Nice ceiling...but I will never have this kind in my house!

Wedding Invite...not from Randy's mom though, hehehe!

To those planning to get married, don't ever let your MIL (Mother-in-law) do your invites. Hahaha...

Yeah right...I look like a kid!

Now I have proven...I look like someone below 18 years old!

Randy and I went to supermarket today and just the usual, we bought 6 bottles of Bacardi. This time, I was the one who paid at the counter while Randy was packing our goods. To my surprise, somebody from the customer information approached me and asked for my ID. And I was like, "What the..."

I showed it...and he said, "OK."

It took long before I came to realize that he thought I was below 18 years old...and should never be allowed to buy liquors! Hahaha!

...I thought I was in Dubai or something that I need to have a license before I can buy alcoholic drinks.

Yun pala...... baby-face lang ako, bwahahaha!

Lipat-bahay

Haaayyy, kakabwiset na tong blogger na to! Palagi na lang palpak! Hindi sya nagko-cross post sa Multiply account ko...grrr....

Mabuti pa, I'll move permanently na nga lang! hmph!

Please visit me here --- http://lvillanera.multiply.com

See you there!

Divalicious will resume!

Ohmigod...just got hold of this news early this morning from another blog...



This was published in the August 27 issue of Manila Standard, page C1...tsk..tsk..tsk..iba na talaga ang journalists ngayon, makabenta na lang. Kunsabagay dahil sa isyu na to, sobrang laki siguro ng step-up ng number of readers ng Manila Standard and People Asia. Buti na lang di ako nagbabasa ng dyaryo...hahaha!

Not feeling well?

Can anyone tell me the message of this poster?

All geared up...to work out!

Last year, Leisure Unlimited LLC has started opening various branches of their fitness club, Fitness First here in Dubai. Of course, syempre, dinumog to ng maraming kababayans...for diverse reasons. According to the critics, nag-eenroll lang daw ang mga kababayans dito just for "show-off". But I do believe, that though there are SOME na ganito nga ang reasons, still there are many people who are also dedicated to being fit...and now they wanna do it more religiously. That's why they decided to enroll in Fitness First. Pero kahit ano pang mga rason nila, wala tayong pakialam, hehehe. Pera nila yun eh, keber!

Even when Randy and I are still in Pinas, we usually visit this club and do some trial work-outs...but we never enrolled, hahaha...And now that FF is already here in Dubai, we have received several calls from consultants in FF offering us various membership promos. Kahit na andami na naming friends na naka-enroll, hindi pa rin kami nag-enroll. Kahit na, lagi namin pinaplano na mag-enroll, hindi pa rin kami nag-enroll...I think we just had so much alibis for doing this...

(1) Ang mahal..saka na pag nakalipat nako ng work!

(2) Ang layo naman ng branches! Tapos ang traffic pa!

(3) Busy kami eh!

But it seems na ako lang pala ang nag-aalibi...hehehe. Randy kept on bugging me about joining this club. Sa Pinas kasi, nagwowork out sya sa may *kanto* sa lugar nila (*yun kasi tawag nya dito, nakalimutan nya name ng gym). And since feeling nya eh he's getting fat already, he's really keen on enrolling here.

And finally...last Thursday, naubusan din ako ng alibi. For sure, my officemates will criticize me for doing this ... since we already have 2 free fitness club memberships. But then, ang layo naman ng Novotel at The Club from our place...and hindi rin makakapasok si Randy dun dahil hindi extended to family members ang membership. Plus the fact na most of my friends are working out in FF, siguro mas maeenjoy ko sa FF. And super fabulous din ng benefits and amenities...sarap din tumambay kumbaga.

I started working out yesterday...some are asking, "Bakit kelangan mo pang magwork out, eh ang payat payat mo na?" I usually answer, "Sinagot mo na rin tanong mo eh...ang payat payat ko". And sige, gagamitin ko na rin ang reason ng aking evil sister na si Emtee... "Bonding na rin namin ni Randy to, " hahahaha!...and syempre bonding na rin with w@w sisters, Emtee & Shelai! See you at the gym...

I'm keeping my fingers crossed na maging devoted sa goal na to... =)

Update: Malu Fernandez

Few weeks ago, I sent my YM friends a link to a certain blog discussing about a Manila Standard article authored by Malu Fernandez. The article expressed derogatory opinions about OFWs especially to those who are based in Dubai - UAE. Of course, this resulted to alarming comments, movements and actions from different parts of the world -- mainly from OFWs...and even from fellow Filipinos who are based in the Philippines.
Here's an excerpt of the article:




And now, as an update, I just heard that Malu Fernandez finally resigned...

I didn't feel excited about this news...because I want the Manila Standard/People Asia to withdraw her directly... The damage that this woman had caused is irreparable.

Here's a link to a blog which featured her resignation letter.

Various videos are also available in Youtube...

Turok at E-Vision

Obvious na walang ginagawa noh? Hehehe…This is my 3rd entry for the day. Pag sinipag kasi ako magblog, tuloy-tuloy…pag tinamad, tuloy-tuloy din. Kaya take advantage na ang kasipagan ngayon.

I woke up @ 7am today. Randy and I had a fight last night…so I woke up without even being kissed or hugged by Randy before he left for work. Alright, the feeling is different. But that’s fine. He should learn now…he should be more cautious to all the words that he tends to utter when we’re fighting. I’m his wife…let me just remind him of that. But this is not really a big deal…normal na sa min ang magtalo…kiss and make up din to later…ganun lang kami, parang bata. Kaya I really enjoy our relationship…we know our mistakes, and we both know how to feel sorry for what we’ve done…I just hope he’ll feel sorry later, hahahaha!

Anyways, at 7:45am, I went straight to Al Baraha Hospital. I had to undergo Blood Testing as part of my visa processing. At an early age eh naexposed nako sa mga TUROK na yan. I, together with my siblings, have complete set of vaccines. For the past years, I never experienced the numbing and pantal-pantal and pagpapasa (may diin, as in pasa) nung tinurukan na parte ng arm. But this time, dyos ko…ang sakiiit nya! Plus nagpasa, namaga, at nagpantal pantal na parang measles yung turok! Namamanhid din sya paminsan minsan…I can feel that there’s something wrong. I feel a little discomfort. I feel having fever…ang tindi kasi nung Nurse eh. Maskulada tapos hinila ba naman yung syringe na ubod ng lakas na na-feel ko na umangat yung ugat ko at sumama sa pag-angat ng balat! Ang sakit talaga!!! I also feel cold today…feeling ko talaga lalagnatin nako neto…haaayyy…

After going through the dreadful experience with that Nurse, I headed towards E-Vision office at Khaleej Center in Bur Dubai. I was going to apply for the transfer of our E-Vision package to our new flat (yep, we’re transferring once again…reason? This would require a new entry.). I was in high hopes that I will get this settled once and for all (this is also one of the many causes of our (with Randy) fight last night). But lo and behold, the E-Vision rep told me that since our new flat is in a conspicuously new building, it is not yet covered by their service. Punyeta! But then, I calmed down. I asked, “What are our options?”. She told me that it’s either I will transfer it to one of my friends within Dubai OR pay the cancellation fee of Dhs744! Huwaaaatttt???? Isa pang Punyeta!

We availed the one-year contract promo…the reason for the huge amount of cancellation fee. Oh well, ayoko pa problemahin yan ngayon…kung hindi ko ma-transfer, eh may choice bako?! E di bayaran ang punyetang Dhs744!...tutal one time lang naman yan, ang kapalit naman eh more comfortable living. Pero I just wish na macover na ng E-Vision yung building namin…naadik na rin ako sa wowowee… =)

So, if anyone is interested to a TFC Package (E-Vision) account, just drop a note! Wala na kayong babayaran pang iba…basta itutuloy lang yung monthly bill na Dhs99 lang naman and mata-transfer completely sa inyo ang ownership ng decoder and everything.

Gusto kong matutong magdrive...

Obvious naman sa title ng entry noh? I just started my driving lessons (after almost 5 months of waiting after initial registration) in Belhasa Driving School last August 3. Kung hindi pako nangulit kay Ashish…eh hindi pako mabibigyan ng schedule. Syempre umiral na naman ang ka-malditahan ko…sabi ko, wala silang ‘word of honor’…sabi ko rin, ako ang tipo ng tao na hindi pinapalagpas ang mga to. Tapos pinagkukuha ko lahat ng pangalan ng mga nakakausap ko sa phone na nangangakong tatawagan ako...na never ako tinawagan. After so many pangungulit, I finally got called! Whew!

Last Friday, I went there in the driving school, expecting na classroom training lang muna. But then, nakuuu…pasakayin daw ba ako sa driver’s seat! Then, ayun nga, pinagdrive at pinagpark ako…so far, ok naman. Ang prob ko lang eh hindi ko palagi matantsa ang pagliko ko at nalilito ako sa kung saan ako unang titingin.

Honestly, hindi ko alam kung maipapasa ko to…ok sana kung sa Pinas eh. Eh dito sa Dubai, naku, pahirapan ang driver’s license. Hindi problema ang kotse ng mga tao dito…ang problema eh ang lisensya…haaayy…Sobrang tuwa ko na kung maipasa ko to ng 2 to 3 takes lang. Nakakatakot din ang gastos, imagine, for every failure eh halos Dhs650? Gravacious!

Actually isa pa to pala kung bakit ako tinatamad these past few weeks…I really feel demoralized ata…haaayyy…

There’s something in me na ayokong tinuturuan ako, gusto ko ako mismo ang nagdidiscover or nag-aaral. =(