Went to work greeted by a mess of unfinished tasks. I wanted to scream. SO much to do, so little time, and running out of sanity.

Bought half a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts and a large iced latte. I peaked and am slowly crashing.

Save me!

Beach Vacation documentation staple
Flip Video Ultra Series (60-min)

I actually don't have the money for it but I'm asking my parents to score me this baby when they go to SF tomorrow. I need it for the upcoming Boracay and Cebu trips. I CANNOT WAIT!

Score it now, worry about my insurmountable debt later...

Waynes World, Waynes World

It's Party Time, It's Excellent

Saw him in SF live and he's so much fun to watch.

...when my family was being handed out the "HOT" gene.

OMG. My (other) cousin is HOT. I'm currently referring to the half-german who reminds me of Odette Yustman in this picture (sorry, I can't post it, she might kill me). I can still remember her as the bratty little girl who kept on screaming "Nein! Nein! Nein!" at everything and everyone while screaming in rapid Deutsch.

Yes, yes. We have the same nose, and the same cheekbones, and the same eyebrows...It's amazing how genes work.

Yori, Tita Sheri and I in TPC last February 13. Photos taken by the mighty Aerika. More in my multiply but you have to be a contact to view them though.

My aunt looks so much like my grandmother it's slightly disturbing just looking at her.

I look different with lighter brows.

My hair was not in top shape that day.
Mukhang 80s ba?

Considering we never met before this day, we look like we've known each other a long time.

Photos are dedicated to Papi Eddie, Tita Baben, Gary and Mami who would have loved to see the reunion in person.

OMG

I just spent a FULL HOUR replying to over 30 different emails sent within a couple of hours. I feel lightheaded and woozy.

Pahinga ka naman ng konti pls...

*updated*

Emails still keep pouring in as I type this...and I need to reply to all of them!

I have no internet at home as an unidentified considerate person took the router to lalaland.

We had paid leftover bottles of rum in Pier One from last week's party so Bea, Niki, Kat, Jammi and Aila (plus Ailo?) headed over there to (try) to finish it up. It was a mini-Moulin Rouge party again. They all got drunk (emphasize on THEY) and started dancing. I was too tired and sleepy to join them in their merry making. I left them there while they flirted with the DJ (from Niki's last text, meow was winning the race). I had to leave as I have an opening shift tomorrow and the waiters were already stacking up the chairs and slowly closing down the lights. I had to get out of there since I knew they had to close down soon and didn't want to hold them up. The rest of the girls had something else in mind.

I hope you girls had fun. I'm going to bed.

I will be in Cebu (cross your fingers) when this happens but that won't stop me from participating. What's an hour on the beach with beer and the sound the ocean anyway right?

More info can be found on the EarthHour website.

So kinuha mo yung router para makapagwi-fi ka sa probinsya...

Hindi mo ba narealize na may gumagamit din nun dito? Na baka kailanganin din namin at mas kailangan dito kasi mas madami kaming gumagamit? Naisip mo ba yon or dahil lang na ikaw ang nagbayad na may karapatan kang kunin kahit kelan mong gusto? Konting konsiderasyon naman sana. Tubuan ka naman ng konsyensya.

Called a meeting at Fort last Thursday and welcomed my managers in my "office." Scored them all a donut each (what came over me?!). Since it was Miren's first meeting, she had to see we could all be dorks, too.

while Kat was in the restroom

everyone in!

I can't believe Ellyn stuck her face on the window!

stuck in a fish tank?

It was my 2nd wedding anniversary and since Paul isn't around, everyone tried to make sure I didn't spend it alone. Thanks to everyone who texted me :) Thanks for the invite to hang out but I preferred to not travel too far on my off day.

Went to the gym in the morning with sila Niki then had lunch at Gourmet's with Paul and Bea. I met up with Niki in ATC after eating then we both went to the Spa where we both received mouthwateringsleepinducing massages. We met up with the Santiago couple again then went grocery shopping at SM for the night's dinner. Had salad, chicken katsu, steaks and I made my mushroom and pepperoni bruschettas. Jad and RB joined us for the night then watched movies after dindin.

Georgie and his stuffed doggie

My contribution for the night

Preparing to scarf it all down

We drank more screwdrivers and what Paul calls "cosack cobra" which led to me napping on the couch halfway through watching 30 Days of Night. Thanks guys for keeping me company... :)

He's no longer you, she's no longer me.
I'm not sure what's going to happen at all.
I'm as unsure now as I was on that day.
But that voice in the back of my head,
the lump in my throat,
the thump in my chest,
still tells me the same thing.
That there's nothing else I want to do,
there's no where else I want to be,
than to be within inches of that smile.

Happy Second Year Anniversary

Endless vanity continues. Jammi and I had shots taken before we headed out to the TPC party in Pier One by the Bay. Theme for the night was Moulin Rouge and I managed to dig up the lace skirt the night before the party. I found it wrapped in a large plastic bag in the back of the upper closet that we never open, bundled together with our old grade school costumes. I managed to squeeze myself into one of Katrice's corsets (achievement of the year!) and bought myself lace ribbons for a choker and armbands and fishnets from Watsons.

Scandalous pictures from the party can be found in Grace's Multiply but only contacts can view them due to the nature of the photos (hehehe). A few select photos are in my multiply.

I haven't seen everyone from work that drunk! I woke up this morning with thoughts of last night's events and I wanted to bury myself in a hole. I did a few embarrassing things I may not have done if not for the alcohol. Bea was a goner as usual and Niki is sober no matter what she drinks. All my managers were sloshed which was a lot of fun to watch. Oh well, it's all in the name of fun. :)

You can't say he's not one of the cutest things you've ever seen...

I'm ready for my close up now...

Ninang Kari and the bbwith Mom and Dad

Never mind that I only had 4 hours of sleep last night since I had to wake up early to meet Tita Sheri and Yori at their hotel for breakfast. Never mind that I was unable to finish whatever work I needed to do for the umpteenth time. What matters is that I got to go out with my cousin and she got to meet TUS (the usual suspects, foo). It was great being out with her without her mom that way we got to chat and talk about things that matter to us. She is such a great girl and it's a damn shame she's heading back to Canada tomorrow. How I wish we'd met sooner or she could have stayed longer!

Dinner and drinks at Pier One at the Fort then more drinks at Piedra. Took her back to the hotel where I stayed a chatted a bit more with her and her mom before I said our goodbyes and see you soons.

blurry shot infront of Pier One

I was so underdressed and it sucked tonight.
Eighties hair baby!
Notice the very sleepy eyes.
Antok na, posing pa din.

More pics to be uploaded as soon as I get myself some sleep.

I surely hope I don't have to wait another lifetime until I see them. Hopefully we get to meet again and I'd like it to be in the U.K. so the rest of the family will be with us as well. Here's to hoping...

Nobody wanted to be alone on v-day so we all got together for a home-cooked dinner party. The best part of all? I COOKED! Paul had to make his signature Rosemary chicken breasts on his own but we had a night of mushroom and cheese bruschettas to start, then field greens (with Jad's balsamic vinegar concoction, mmmmmm!), a side of diced pears and apples and pasta. It cost me a lot more than I wanted to spend but I felt like I deserved a little treat and scored me and the girls MIMOSAS!

I heart mimosas

Me and my bruschettas

It's v-day niki! Konting lambing naman!

Niki's neice was brought to the store today and I finally had the chance to meet the cute little bugger. She is one of the most adorable little girls I've ever seen! She loved having her picture taken and I absolutely loved the photos I took of her!

with mom and dad

photographer and model
never mind that I look pregnant in this shot
but see how small she is in my arms!
Such a DOLL!

Even took pics from photobooth!

Plus a video!
Ignore my high pitched baby voice please...

Went to the gym in the morning as planned then had a chicken and salad lunch with Niki, Bea and Paul right after. I had to run home and get dressed and head out again for a very important milestone in my life...I was finally going to meet an aunt and cousin for the very first time.

Tita Sheri is my dad's (real one) sister and Yori is my only first cousin from my Dad's side. Tita Sheri's last visit to the Philippines was to attend my dad's funeral 27 YEARS ago and it's Yori's first trip here. We have never met until today and I honestly didn't know what to expect when I'd meet them for the very first time. I have to say they were exactly as I thought they'd be. It was a looooong day of shopping (I took them to Rockwell and I scored myself red peeptoe flats), eating dindin at Dencio's and extended hours chatting in their hotel room until 2:30am! I'm exhausted but very pleased I got the chance to meet them finally. We had photos taken at the Rockwell store (c/o Aerika) and I will upload them as soon as I get them. Tita Sheri was saying that Aerika was privileged to take our photos (haha) since no relative, alive or dead, has ever seen the three of us together.

It was a pretty emotional night of reminiscing (for Tita Sheri) and listening to stories of family members I've never met or thought existed. I was never in touch with anyone in my dad's side of the family apart from my grandmother, who passed away three years ago, and my dad's sisters. It was so great to finally fill in the gaps between the little stories I heard about that side of the family. I don't think I would ever know anything about anyone if not for my aunt.

I'm looking forward to seeing them again for breakfast on Friday. They're both set to leave on Saturday. Yori is to head back to Canada for work and Tita Sheri for the last two legs of her vacation. She's to go to Singapore and Japan next.

...a little something would be nice...

Actually, kahit na tumawag ka lang at makapagusap tayo ng matagal na wala ka sa trabaho at sa akin lang ang attention mo at wala kang ibang ginagawa, masaya na ako. Kausapin mo lang ako, makinig ka lang sa akin, mangamusta ka man lang, magkwento ng kaunti...madali naman akong paligayahin eh. Hindi naman ako umaasang magkikita pa tayo ngayon buwan eh. Mejo tanggap ko ng hindi ka makakapunta. Wala na kasi akong narinig eh.

and I'm not even being discreet about it.

At KK, finishing up long postponed paperworkshiyet. Spent about 5 hours cleaning up my new store and I'm not quite done still. Waiting for the KK Red Light so I can score free donuts. My iced latte isn't kicking in just yet. I want to crawl back into bed...or drink screwdrivers...or go to the gym...or watch movie...or cuddle. Valentines day in 3 days and I find myself a member of the lonely hearts club. How nice...