contribution

Went to Pag-ibig yesterday to pay for hubs voluntary contribution. Paid for 4 months already as it sometimes gets too tiring to go there every month, get a number and wait for my turn to be served.. You probably share the same sentimes with me that our government system has its palpak side. Although these employees already see that the place is jampacked they still have time for idle chickahan instead of tending to the taxpayers (that's us!) who pay for their salaries! Hmp! So when I went there yesterday I paid in advance already. Yey! Won't be going there for a couple of months!

resort or condo or hotel?

Resort Condo Hotel. That is what Mondavi is being tagged as. I got excited when I saw the proposed amenities. Aside from the usual, they also proposed a man-made lagoon, an artificial beach with waves and an observation tower with views of Tagytay, Laguna, Batangas and Metro Manila. It is situated about 5minutes drive to Tagaytay. The weather is cool. (A real plus factor what with all the hot temperature we're having lately)
So what is a resort condo hotel? In a nutshell, I would have to say that it is a condo which can be rented out like in a hotel with a resort vibe to it. Clear? Well, I don't know how to fully explain it. But they say that it is totally different from a time-share because here you hold the condo title unlike in a time-share. Although you can choose not to enroll it in their program and make it your home. (I think, it would be better to have it enrolled and rented out, then it becomes a business as well. Your investment is earning for you.)
Wow! Living in a place this nice! Wow! (can you see by now how excited I am?)
This is how a 1 Bedroom loft would look like. Construction is still underway. I can't wait to see it when it is completed already. Although by then the prices may be sky high already and we probably could not afford it. (".)

the name game

A few days ago the importance of names was discussed in an e-group I belonged to. And just now, I read that a very unfortunate girl was named Talula does the hula from Hawaii. What were her parents thinking naming her that? The girl was so embarrassed by her name that she refused to let anyone know what it was. Even close friends do not know her name as she's always say to call her K. Events have fortunately turned to her favor, as a judge allowed her to change her name. Which was not released anymore so as to protect her privacy.
When I was younger I disliked my name. Maria Carla was often mistaken for Maria Clara. And I'd often be the butt of jokes because of it. (fyi, the ladylove of Jose Rizal's famous novel, Noli me Tangere, was named Maria Clara) I also disliked my surname. I don't know why, I just do. But as I grew older I learned to love my name. I like my name's meaning. Pure Strength. Plus my surname is also synanymous to strength. I guess I've lived up to my name because believe that I'm a very strong person.
Although I love my name, I hate it when people call me differently. Earlier today, when I got my postal ID, lo and behold, Maria Clara was written on that little piece of paper. Hmp! Another mistaken identity.

retirement fund

I am reading Bo Sanchez' book 8 secrets of the truly rich. And I'm learning a lot!
Hubs and I have already agreed that we don't want to be a burden to anybody when we grow old so as early as now we are already saving for our retirement. But through this book I have learned that the amount we have agreed upon is too little. We need to increase our retirement fund! Bo's recommendation is 20% of the salary should directly go to the retirement fund. Can we do this? We still have to discuss this, most probably when hubs goes home. But right now, I am sticking to the amount we've agreed upon.
Did you know that among all the senior citizens and retirees only 2% is able to look after themselves without asking support from loved ones? Yup! A measly 2%! Imagine that! 98% are dependent upon others for the food they eat, the medicines they drink, etc... What if there is no one to take care of you? Or what if your loved ones have no means to support you? What will happen? I guess, that's why there are so many elderly out on the streets still working even if they have passed their prime already. I always feel sorry for the lola (grandma) I see on the road selling newspapers. Or the lolo (grandpa) calling out to passengers to ride the jeep. They are weak and frail but they continue working. Why? Because they did not prepare for their retirement.
That's why while we are still able to work and earn hubs and I are saving for our retirement already.

a woman's language

these are some things that women say that has an underlying meaning. guys you are forewarned!

1.) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up..
2.) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.
3.) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine .
4.) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!
5.) Loud Sigh This is actually not a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing.
6.) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.
7.) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome.
8.) Whatever: Is a women's way of saying F*** YOU!
9.) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to #3

craving for

I was wondering when the time comes for me to get pregnant, what will I crave for? There are a lot of food to crave for. Hmmm... Coffee crumble icecream. Chicken curry. Chocolate chip cookies. Bacon. Makes my mouth water already just by thinking about it.
Anyways, here are a few stars and what they craved for.
Madonna was into eating poached eggs when she was still carrying Lourdes.
Jessica Alba craved for ham and chees sandwiches. Classic american choice right?
Bread, salt and pickles an unlikely combination was what Halle Berry ate during most of her pregnancy.
Sweet cupcakes is the food of choice for Katie Holmes.
Gwyneth Paltrow was into snacking on banana toffee pie.
A breakfast treat, frosted mini wheats cereal was what Debra Messing ate for most of the 9 months she was pregnant.
Well, what these stars craved for where ordinary, normal food. But there are those who's craving are really unusual and hard to find. Like maybe a blue banana? Haha! Does one even exist? But hey, give the pregnant lady what she's craving for...

spending on me

Before marriage I was a true blue kuripot. You'd think I'd have a huge savings, right? Wrong. I had no savings. Because although I frown upon spending money on myself I lavishly spend it on the ones I love. I get guilt trips whenever I have to buy something for myself. Even if my shoes is practically begging for a replacement, I'd still wear it. Because buying new shoes meant money spent on me. Which is money not well spent. That was what I thought. But if I see something that a loved one would like I'd buy it on the spot. Ridiculous right?
Now that I am married, hubs is teaching me to spend things for myself guilt-free. (to a certain degree)
I'm so lucky to have a husband like him!

scared

The rain is pouring. The thunder and lightning scares me. This is one of the moments I wish hubs is here to comfort me. I admit, I get scared easily. Shall I list them? Well for starters, spiders. Dogs (except our own). The dark. Injections. Sharks. And yes, lightning. Lightning with all its scary electrical energy moving through the sky ready to hit anything on its path.
So moments like this I want my hubs to be beside me to hold my hand and comfort me.

mini biz

Hubs and I started a homebased business about 3 weeks ago. It's really small and something that we can operate right inside our home. We just had to have someone we trust to handle the collection of payments. And it's really a delight to find out that we are starting to recoup our initial investment in such a short span of time. We maybe putting more money into it before the month ends. Is it too early to expand? I don't think so. What we initially invested was a small amount and being able to invest more means that the biz will generate more sales. Anyways, the additional cash out would go to buying stocks thus being able to have a wider customer range.
We do hope that this continues to be a productive biz for us because we are really trying to save money. We have a lot of plans ahead of us.

cooking for two

One of the first things we argued about was cooking. Yup cooking. Between the two of us, hubs is the better cook. Well, not just better, he does all the cooking before. And now that we are married hubs wants me to learn to cook as well. Oh no!
I have always disliked cooking. Having to chop all the ingredients. Onions making me cry. Oil accidentaly spilling when frying. But most of all smelling meat/chicken while it's raw. I don't know but somehow these smells always make me want to throw up. And now, here is hubs asking me to please learn to cook...
So learn I did. The very first viand i cooked? Vietnamese chicken curry. I had to search the net for a recipe for this. But since I have always loved the taste of curry and hubs does not know how to cook it I knew this was the perfect choice for a first cooking lesson. He couldn't tell me to do this or that because he himself does not know how to. Haha!
It turned out ok. Although there was a little bit of leftover. But since by the next day we still ate it, I would have to say job well done!

afterwards

Been married for a 7 months already. With only 3 of those months spent together. Hubs works abroad while I work here. So here we are, newly married and yet miles apart.
How hard is it keeping a long distance relationship? Very!
But inspite of the distance, we are happy to be married!