whats happening lately

i have been relegated to giving tours to family...





...at the same time, keeping the balance between university life and my 'old' life.

i wish i can keep up doing this, but i want to buy time..

my mind is torn between enjoying, and being a party pooper..

i have university responsibilities (which i am so worried that i have been slacking on a bit).

if i get through this semester, i wouldnt say it would be unscathed...

it would be on the wings of a prayer, and caffeine-overload.



***

i am an absentee friend on your blogs. but it doesnt mean i dont know what's going on.

i still read...

just a day or two late.


*kisses*

neglectful but not out of choice..

i'm first to admit, i have not been very diligent leaving my comments on my girls' blogs recently, but its not because i have not tried. i did. but i have two powers against me.

1st off: time.

-gosh, i never knew i thought i'd show a longing face whenever someone mention's the word "sleep". time seems to be such a commodity with me these days.

for instance, tonight, i just came back from my brother in law's birthday party. the whole afternoon today was spent out with the family buying christmas present-shopping. the morning was spent organizing my university project,and going to the hospital to borrow some equipment for my 'movie'...(re: movie: is an assignment i have been working on the last few weeks..its a DVD presentation regarding a case study).

every single day,we are out of the house doing touristy stuff. the whole weekend was spent in Stonehenge and Bath. if its not that, its in London doing touristy rites of passages: ie: the London Eye, Tower of London, Madame Tussaud's, Kensington Palace,etc..


those above, and university days, not to mention working on my essays.

during the nights, im either working on a book for research, or having tete-a-tete with visiting family, if were not out and about somewhere.


and because of time constraints, i feel im so sleep deprived.



Second: blog templates

-i have said this again, some people's blogs have 'embed' comment..i cant comment on those formats for some reason..but i can on 'pop-up' comments. (paging Aileen...i suddenly cant comment on your blog, whereas i was able to, the other night *scratches balding crown*).



***

I never thought too that I would miss my laptop this much. its suddenly when now, using Ana's laptop made me realize i had a 'good one' which loved me unconditionally. it sat here for me for ages, but i mistook it for dutiful service of a relatively expensive laptop.

but all laptops go to heaven too.

mine is in the icu (intensive care unit) for laptops.

i promise to kiss it when it comes back. Adrian asked me whether i would like a new laptop for christmas, i felt a sudden pang of missing my old one. it was still in good condition (it was just 3 years old).


when it comes back from the repair centre, i promise to appreciate what it was for--an extension of my life.



***

here's a photo of me, just in case you forgot how i look like now.LOL...




( im at least 10 pounds more heavier than in that photo..that photo was taken on 15th of November..blame it on mama's cooking).

Dear Ana, thank you

..thank you for fixing the settings on this site.

as you probably have noticed by now, i have never been astute when it comes to following instructions, or reconfiguring settings,or in any thing for that matter.

yes Ana, i know, 21 years with your Ate, you probably know that i am incompetent with alot of things.

but it does not matter,because you're here. and that i commend myself for.


thank you, for noticing that i was quite morose the last few nights, everytime i check my blogs. that you felt, how it is not to be able to reply or comment in blogs (at least you can feel it coming from another blogger's perspective).

once again, i say "thank you" for telling me, that all i needed to do, was change the comment section into "pop-up window" instead of "embed". thank you for explaining too, that embedding codes can sometimes get really funny when there's something wrong with the cookies.

speaking of cookies, did you like the ones i left for you?

isnt it great that apart from writing you this, i can also get to share those cookies with you.


thank you,Kai..i am so glad you're here.



love,
Ate



***

i am so happy...

its amazing how settings in my blog can actually make or break how my night turns out..

happy weekend all of you my lovelies...=)


***

note: i still cant post comments to blogspots which have 'embed' type comment settings...but i can on pop-up ones=)

craaaapella

jiiizzz wiizzz, nothing irritates me more than not being able to comment on my own blog.

this blog, i can post new updates, i can post/approve comments, but i cannot comment or reply on the blogs (i love replying to comments, as you probably now have noticed, it does not matter if people do not comment, because really, we sometimes, dont have something to say to all posts we read, but when people comment on my posts, i just find it courtesy to reply back).


(weird, coz the other site,the pansies and lilac ambitions one, i could comment there..maybe, my computer curse strikes again,huhuhu).

this site does not pull out my name even if im logged on...

i wonder if i should log out, and comment..(hmmnn, will try that after this post).

i am really annoyed, but according to my friend, if the one you're getting annoyed at will not know that you're annoyed at them,no use keeling over dead because of it. i must agree, blogspot/my template/computer will never know, that im seething with frustration here..

bless the heavily battered keyboard.



***

*currently looking for ways to sort this problem out*



***

*currently also using my sister's laptop, and the new-household favourite plug-in mobile internet*

good news; not-so-good news

the past few weeks have been crazy, for good and bad reasons:

i need to sort out my head, so i'm writing it all down. lest someone takes heart on me...=)


***


good news:

-my mama has been with us for more than a month now, and so far,she has been enjoying it.

-my sister and brother arrived here on friday the 13th. we had a big party on the night they arrived and invited the filipino friends ive met here so they could meet my mom. it was a successful evening, and it was enjoyable one too.

- since then, weve been out and about trying to let them enjoy their stay.




bad news:

- two weeks ago (on a saturday) the internet at home packed up. a week after, it came back.

on monday (the 9th of november), it packed up again, and rang our internet provider to send a technician. thursday, the technician turned up, but said, it wasnt our modem that's problematic, but THEIR signal. (after letting us wait for days for a technician to come to the house? they knew their signal was defective, why didnt they tell us on booking for a technician's visit?? *scratching my pahak*).

the worst of all,they are not that concerned to get the signal up and running as they know that their signal was defective around our area for weeks now, they still have not done anything about it. i asked them 'when do you think this will be sorted out?". "it depends..it could be days, or weeks"...if i answered the same answer when they ask for payment, i wonder how they would feel.

-so that very same night, i had to get an internet connection! (assignments research and adrian's work depend on the internet..not to mention my need to read/answer blogs), adrian and i (and mama) went to get an internet plug-in connection. excited, we went home thinking i could get on, and read blogs, i attached the plug-in to my laptop. guess what happened next: my laptop died!!! my laptop died!!! talk about bad timing.


-adrian's desktop does not enable wireless internet, so we could not use it either.

-on saturday, we were finally able to use the plug-in internet, using Ana's laptop. (thank goodness ,Ana brought a laptop).

-for some reason, i cannot comment on my own blogs. (this blog specifically). when i need to comment on some people's blogs, certain blogspots template will not pull out my name,thus making me unable to comment on blogs. it would not budge no matter what!!! talk about "grrrrr" moment.


***

so far, i'm waiting for the people who are trying to retrieve the data on my damaged laptop.

i am so annoyed, but i guess, fate balances it out..because im enjoying so much blessings, i guess, something has got to give.

id rather it my internet connection, and laptop gone kaput, than something else.

i miss you all.


*sorry no photos yet* this is Ana's new laptop, and she has not installed the photoshop on this laptop yet.

today, the 8th of november

after hearing mass, (and feeling enlightened by such powerful words by a charismatic priest),we took mama to a lunch at a charming little resto in leigh-on-sea.

and a little browse and smooch in battlesbridge antiques centre.


i could say it was a little quiet and laidback sunday than we normally would, but there is a reason.

the reason, will reveal to you soon.



***

i wrote this on a piece of napkin for adrian to read while we were waiting for the bill.




to which he responded with a smile and a kiss.



***


last night (the 7th), this was devoured in honor for someone's birthday.

that someone i know is an ice cream lover.

so what better way to eat ice cream in the middle of a burgeoning winter, but to celebrate someone who is so loved.





vanilla ice cream on hot belgian waffle and chocolate sauce..=)



***





its amazing that christmas is just around the corner once again.

as most of my friends know, ill be celebrating it with my family in cebu (with Adrian).

i have so many moments being acted in my mind,moments of fun, food and conversations (catching up!) that comes along with the season's celebrations.

all moments with family and friends...and i know, most of it will come true (with prayers).

my life right now is a hazy whirlwind of activities and it just gets the best of me. i am ever so grateful, and i feel so blessed.

and i know you guys will agree with me that prayers do work.

Aileen

***

well, what can i add, except, you are the epitome of a true blue artist to me..

you've got that midas touch, and anything you put your heart and mind into,

people just seem to swarm around you and want to be you.

keep that smile, and that hearty laughter, and that tenacity to chase where light and happiness springs.

most of all, keep that spirit.

a generous heart, eyes that tell stories from childhood, and

creativity thats just borne naturally from you.


happy birthday dearest Aileen--the one who not only chases light,

but also captures it.

x



PS: remember when that photo was taken? that was pre DSLR days for all of us (if im not mistaken)..but yet, you can tell we were so into photodocumenting our every move and meet-ups, a DSLR was in order...again,we have to thank you for paving that way. letting us believe photography wasnt an alien thing.

gosh, we will be having a repeat of photoshoots like this soon.

photoshoots, that arent contrived or posed, just normal, happy documentation of our get togethers..

a bunch of girls, bound by intellectual (and sometimes, corny/funny) conversations, laughter, food and YOU.

welcoming mama

weve had a few guests come by the house to meet mama.

this set, was special, because they're family, and to mark that occasion, we made sure,we cook them filipino dishes.


we had adrian's brothers and sister-in-law for some good filipino grub and conversations about anything under the sun.


friday night, 30th of october,2009..




































there were no photos after the meal..

i was practically begging for bed.

my body's system is (definitely) older than these group of people in these photos,LOL.

dear ana, we thought of you

..today.

mama and i amused ourselves at Covent Garden , and did some antique browsing, , buying handcreams and colognes at l'occitane (christmas gifts,LOL),and just general sightseeing.

we had a snack at Ella's Cupcakes, and thought of you.

why the hell not? when the glittering Chocolate chip oreo cupcakes had glitters that reminded us of the baubles you put on your face whenever you feel bored.

mama recounted how since a little girl she always knew you were special.

i filled her in of anecdotes she missed when she was working,and i was your nanny.

lovely that.

it was a nice afternoon of the two of us at that table, but you were definitely there.

we are missing you badly.






Ella's at Covent Garden





the chocolate was mama's.
the oreo choc chip one--i had for you..see how much ate loves you? *wink.lol*



and also, thank you for keeping the fort intact and running smoothly.

you are the replacement "ate" for the meantime.


love,

your sister who will slay sugar demons for you...=) x




***

i also met this guy called richard bridge today at calumet.

apart from being a handsome young man, he is a talented photographer (check his website).

he gave me some helpful hints about the medium format camera im eyeing.

i gave him some helpful hints about Cebu.

will you tour him for me?

x