I have began writing in another environment. You can see it here

I just started a week ago so the appearance is pretty boring but I love the new environment and I am sticking to it -- for now.

 

 

I'm back. I finally got my PC with internet connection at work only after more than 2 weeks after I started. Now, that's a lot of red tape there to which I could not do anything. But at least the wait is over and the typing and documentation can start.

After what seems like eternity, I am back blogging again, well, for now, for today. Obviously, I have arrived safe and sound from my vacation in the Philippines with dear daughter in tow. Pristine enjoyed the sun and vowed to be back soon.

The trip back to cold Japan was fine except for unexpected delay in our flight leading to my temporary madness at both airports. Pristine went to the extremes upon seeing the wide airport area: running all around with me catching for my breath and dead worried about our things I have to leave behind. We finally reached our home and onto our beds at 2 a.m. January 4.

Our move to Dubai will be on the 12th, but we'll be out of the house from the 11th, so no blogging temporarily until all systems are active again. I will try to write entries while on the 12-hour flight, only if our three year old boss permits me to!

Some good things don't last. My vacation cum unwinding session and be lazy if you want setup has finally come to an end. One more night and it's done - I will be boarding the plane back to where I "belong".

Going back to the cold, cold Japan gives me the fright. First, there's my daughter's health to think about. Abrupt temperature changes from the tropics to the winter wonderland will surely bring about something unwanted. I am expecting some trips to the children's clinic but still hoping not.

These past three weeks had not only been fun, it was very relaxing. It's only here in my parent's place that I get to blog while at home, that I get to sleep longer while somebody else takes care of my precocious daughter, that I don't do anything but just wait for another day to unfold -- no work, no domestic chores to think about, thanks to my thoughtful family.

I will surely miss home and this vacation. But though I am sad to go, I am still happy I was able to spend time with family and greet Christmas and the New Year after six long years of being away. Indeed, home is where the heart is.

After six years of spending a quiet new year in winter wonderland that is Japan, I finally managed to board a plane home tagging along my daughter who has yet to experience a different Christmas and New Year in a tropical country.

Alas, everything is different in the home country. The spirit of Christmas more felt, and the noise of the New Year more loud and oozing with fun. We, including the little tots Pristine (3) and nephew AJ (1.5)  stayed up until midnight and shouted our countdown to the year of the pig. Pristine was all big eyed at how my folks celebrated the coming of the new year. Lots of noise and fireworks everywhere, compared to the tranquil (read:boring) way the Japanese spend the last day of the year. The Japs just sleep. I am not kidding!

Again, the pics are in flickr. If only I could include the sounds.

1. What did you do in 2006 that you hadn't done before?
Traveled all the way to the Middle East alone.
 
2. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, one of my high school best friends gave birth. We are not close physically but she remains close to my heart and I long to see her and her new baby soon.
 
3. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank God.
 
4. Did you travel? Where did you go? Best holiday memory?
Lots and lots of traveling this year! We went to Europe last April 2005. Visited Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and UK. Then I was off to Dubai, United Arab Emirates last October and again to my hometown, the Philippines on December, with my three-year old daughter Pristine.
 
5. Best thing you bought?
Our new car last April - sadly, we have to leave it behind because of our relocation.
 
6. Where did most of your money go?
To our travels!
 
7. What do you wish you had done more of?
Exerting patience
 
8. What do you wish you had done less of?
Talking about my husband's faults to my friends. Crying. Eating binge.
 
9. What kept you sane?
My darling daughter who never fails me, my friends who listen tirelessly to my woes and blogging.
 
10. What drove you mad?
Sadly, my husband, still. He has some growing up to do.
 
11. What made you celebrate?
Being accepted in a job that would boost my career and at the same time, give us an opportunity to live in some place exotic.
 
12. What made you sad?
The fact that I have to leave Japan - the country I came to love after 10 years of living here.
 
13. How was your birthday this year?
Lovely and sweet! I got an unexpected beautiful birthday note, intricately done and received an e-card from someone who only writes me only once a year - on my birthdays.
 
14. What political issue stirred you the most this year?
Not really interested in politics, unless I saw Bush stepping down the office, I would care less.
 
15. Were you in love in 2006?
I wish.
 
16. What would you like to have in 2007 that you didn't have this year?
My ideal weight.
 
17. What date from 2006 will be etched in your memory and why?
Our trip to Europe. I could never forget our visit to Keukenhof, Lisse, Netherlands. It's the world's most beautiful garden and open only for 8 weeks every year. It was picture-perfect and every image of what would be heaven.
 
18. What song will remind you of 2006?
Looking back, I was not into listening songs in 2006.
 
19. Compared to this time last year are you happier?
Yes, I guess so. At least, Pristine is not waking up too much at night and can pretty much take care of herself, giving me some time to breathe.
 
20. Biggest achievement this year?
The Dubai job offer.
 
21. Biggest disappointment this year?
Not being able to go back to my pre-pregnancy weight.
 
22. What is the one thing that would have made you more satisfied?
If my husband is not too pedantic.
 
23. Best new person you met this year?
The new girl in the office: Rieko-san. We share the same wavelength.

24. A valuable life lesson you learned this year?
That there is a limit to everything - loving and forgiving included.
 
25. How was your health in 2006?
Not bad, except for a few headaches which is already a part of what I am.
 
26. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Did I make resolutions last year? I have to check. But the resolution to lose some weight, yes! I kept it. I mean "some" weight so don't be too expectant!
 
27. What countries did you visit?
Germany, Belgium, Holland, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong.
Including stopovers? Hahaha....Thailand and India!
 
28. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Savings
 
29. Did you suffer hardship in 2006?
Not really, mostly minor marital woes, but who has the perfect marriage anyway?
 
30. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My MIL, would you believe! She kept up a sympathetic ear and listened while I voice out my disappointments (and some occasional cursing) on her son! And still, she was on my side!
 
31. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My husband, still.
 
32. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our trip to Europe and my travel to Dubai.
 
33. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? lighter
iii. richer or poorer? Break-even
 
34. How did you spend the New Year's? With my family in the Philippines, after six years.

35. How many one-night stands?
Still waiting for volunteers.
 
36. What was your favorite TV program?
The Discovery Channel.
 
37. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I am starting to build some hate towards someone I should love and understand more.
 
38. What was the best book you read?
The Da Vinci Code
 
39. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
Sheryl Crow
 
40. What did you want and get?
A chestnut colored, dark brown hair!
 
41. What did you want and not get?
A slimmer, firmer me. My sister's visit last spring.
 
42. What was your favorite film that you watched this year?
The Butterfly Effect, The Bourne Identity
 
43. What one experience do you never want to repeat from this year?
Traveling halfway around the world having stopovers in 3 different countries!
 
44. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
No bigger sizes even if my body expands.
 
45. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Dunno
 
46. Who did you miss?
Some high school friends
 
40. Quote that sums up your year:
Hard work pays.
 
41. Was 2006 a good year for you?
Yes! Yes! Yes!
 
42. What was your favorite moment of the year?
Landing
 
43. What was your least favorite moment of the year?
When I have to be away from my precious daughter for four nights. I can't sleep well without her.
 
44. Where were you when 2006 began?
In the emergency children's clinic. Pristine had fever triggered seizure.
 
45. Who were you with?
My husband.
 
46. Do you have a new year's resolution for 2007?
To take things lightly. Thinking too much about petty things only adds wrinkles.
 
47. What was your favorite month of 2006?
December �Ewho doesn't like December?
 
48. What was your favorite song in 2006?
This darn song question again!
 
49. What was your favorite record from 2006? None

50. How many concerts did you see in 2006?
Still never been to a concert. I have to break this record and go to a concert soon.
 
51. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2006?
Oh-uh, I think so. In barbeque parties during the summer (lots and lots of margaritas) and in so many sayonara parties for me later this year.
 
52. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2006?
Painkillers, still.
 
53. How many people did you sleep with in 2006?
Do you mean sleep? Or go to bed with or bedded?
 
54. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
None I can think of.
 
55. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2006?
They he'd go with me to Disneyland...only to cancel on me afterwards.
 
56. Did you treat somebody badly in 2006?
No, at least not intentionally.
 
57. Did somebody treat you badly in 2006?
Yes.
 
58. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2006?
When I received a warning email from the company's network administrator. I was "caught" accessing non-work related sites and I have to email my apologies, cc to my supervisor!
 
59. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2006 and change something, what would it be?
I would not change anything. I am satisfied with my year 2006 and besides, changing the present would jeopardize the future.
 
60. What are you most looking forward to in 2007?
Our new life in Dubai, Pristine attending British Montessori Kindergarten and my new job.

When we were growing up we were picking on each other, calling weird and disgusting nicknames and sometimes attempting to get rid of one another. Some years later, we are the same jolly group, never failing to laugh at each others jokes and cry at every individual problem if any.

I love our group and I thank God for blessing me with such wonderful siblings. I could not ask for a happier Christmas.

ABOVE: with my younger sister (17)

BELOW: the whole gang

 

Merry Christmas everyone! I had a warm christmas after 6 years of spending it in winter wonderland.

Pristine's birthday photos are found here

I uploaded some but not all. Go see them...!

I direly need to practice my party planning skills and update my existing party-planning methods to suit the Philippine style.

For starters, I should tell the restaurant where we ordered some of our food that we'd pick up our order at least 1 hour earlier than the actual party time. Today, we went to pick up our order at 2:30 p.m., as the party is planned to start at 3. Our order arrived at 4:30 p.m.!! They just told us to wait and wait and wait as the delivery is "coming". If my Japanese husband (who is very strict with time) had been here, I would be so busted. To hell with Filipino Time !!!

We arrived 2 hours late because of the delayed order and heavy traffic jam that could be the next important reason of making my home town less and less desirable to me. Some of our guests already arrived and waited, waited and left. I feel so bad I want to cry.

Next blow, we estimated 35 people to be there. Only about 60% came. I asked them to be there, they said yes but the small venue looked smaller and empty and lonely. As ironic as this may sound, this is normal in the Philippines. 11th hour invitations, affirmations and absences. The invited don't come and the uninvited often appear out of nowhere. I would have loved to have the uninvited to be at the party to fill in the empty chairs!

un-Kiddie party - I invited a total of 10 kids, including 2 infants. Only half of the kids came. No games, no dancing and no kids playing.

To my friends who came, thank you very much for making filling up not only the empty space in the function room but also filling up my broken heart (along with my broken spirit). I was a failure host. I am too inept with parties I promised myself not to bother with doing some unless I can please all the guests and plan at least a party better than this one.

To my daughter Pristine, Happy 3rd birthday! I wish you health, happiness and lots of birthdays to come.

I am not going deaf.

I woke up at 1 a.m. after sleeping at 12 midnight. Our closest neighbor (close in terms of house to house distance, our houses being only over a meter away from each other), a young couple with a kid as young as my 3-year old daughter were fighting again. It's their regular-almost-daily fight that makes them the most famous couple in the neighborhood.

Pristine got up in the middle of the night because the couple, or should I say, the noisy wife chose to scream and nag just over the wall just outside of the window off the room my daughter and I are sleeping. She was the neighborhood drama queen and everyone knows the Oscar-winning script she recites on their fights and the cries she makes, oh! She cries like a lost sheep unfed for days and attacked by coyotes.It's very rare to even hear something from the meek husband.

Enough is enough. Last night, I was ready to scream at them to say "shut up!".  My parents who used to sleep in the room I am temporarily staying had had sleepless nights because of them, yet they did not complain. I stood up over the side of our bed and leaned over the window. The drama queen stopped screaming for a while and I heard her voice in a different tone of oh's and ah's...what the f_ck! As in they were doing IT and the tone of her voice was climbing into a very crescendo. After a very heated argument -- when I thought someone would end up dead just like in NBI files for crimes of passion.

The oh's and ah's coming from the drama queen lasted for another few minutes. After which, I finally heard the husband talk, er, let out a sound. They were both laughing and once again the silence of the night enveloped with the darkness. Pristine and I finally slept through the night.