keypad cover for maxxie

i strolled around wanchai window shopping.  went inside 298 to check out some stuff for maxxie.  i have been planning to get him some protection, if you know what i mean.  he's been bare ever since the day i bought him.  so, i got him 1) keypad cover  2) notebook bag  and  3) card reader.   i was excited for him so i let him try them on.  hehehe so for any defects, then i can exchange. 

keypad cover

-->  i first saw this on my friend's ASUS laptop.  it seems easy to use and most importantly covers your keypad from crumbs of food when you eat.  you don't have to worry about those remnants going inside.  

notebook bag

-->  until now, i still use the free bag that came along my MACbook purchase.  now, maxxie should be easier to transport - more protected with pads inside the bag and a strap to carry around.

card reader

-->  to retrieve my files from those different memory card sizes... digicam memory card, DS micro SD, phone mem card, even a sim card! (ohhh no, i didnt buy that one) --- damn, too many kinds! hahaha

adobe photoshop for maxxie

i installed photoshop for maxxie.  i got excited with the idea of playing around with photos, and decided to explore my creative side (if there's any).  bro mentioned some tutorial sites BUT, i have yet to complete my masterpiece.. yeah right!  after browsing thru the site, looking for simple, quick and easy designs, i realized that those pieces of artwork which we think are just so-so, take a LOT of time to create.  the video tutorials last for almost 1 hr!  and of course, i was looking for a touch and go type... sumthin like magic and wallah!  hahaha much to my frustration also, i should know FIRST my tools before actually using them hahaha so much for wanting to impress you guys immediately.  i know it's a loooooong way to go before i can show you anything... know this, im currently in step 4 of 30!  beat that! LOLZ.  

ipod shuffle: 3rd generation

have you seen the latest ipod shuffle already??? i mean, the actual one? i havent yet.  it's soooo small la! smaller than your average USB, i guess.  even smaller than the AA battery!  all right, enough about size.  this tiny player is still a powerhouse with 4GB, 1GB capacity.  added bonus is a voice over - available in 14 languages- to know what song is being played.  beat that! hahaha  the controls are now located in the earphone, except for the power button.  uhm.. ergo, i cant have the option to change my earpiece unless it has the compatible controls?  then again.. another biz strategy for apple to market their own earphones for such purpose?  possible, but we'll see... in the future.  heard apple still has a lot of in store the coming weeks.. new software releases, new gadgets... the turnover is fast.  i must say though, that im still pret-ty tied to my own shuffle.  i like the color (in red), small enough for me, and does its purpose of playing music.  any upgrade, i'll pass... for now.

must.not.be.late

9:02am.... and obviously, im soooo late! sadly, it's my 2nd time in our 30-day work period.  9:04am was my other login time.  it's more strict now with our company, as there will be a warning letter if you have 3 lates.  arghhh i CANT, SHOULDNT, MUSTNT be late!!! i dont wanna be lax in dealing with this attendance thing coz i dont want it to be used against me in any form.  im not pretending to have a squeaky clean timecard .. but hey, strike-3-you're-out is not a nice idea.  so now, i will remember to heed my alarm and wake up.. no more SNOOZING, ayt?!?! 

how to clean a fish

sinigang is my comfort food.  i wanted to do away with pork muna so i thought of fish sinigang - simple, easy to cook. i usually buy it from the market nearby. just point to the fish and they will clean it for you, pay for it and go. no more talkie talk as we won't understand each other anyways. so i went home to prepare ... and to my dismay.. the insides of the fish are still there! so much for service. so i was forced to remove everything that i feel should NOT be there. i wanted to google "how to clean a fish" and check some videos but my hands are too stinky for maxxie. hahaha i removed this yellow mass, uhm is that the waste??? and this inflated plastic balloon-size part. (pardon my ignorance) and washed it VERY well in running water. after i was satisfied, i cut in two and off it goes into the boiling mix. *sigh of relief*

broken strings by james morrison

Broken Strings (feat. Nelly Furtado) - James Morrison


Oh, it tears me up
I tried to hold on but it hurts too much
I tried to forgive but it's not enough
To make it all okay

You can't play our broken strings
You can't feel anything
That your heart don't want to feel
I can't tell you something that ain't real

Oh, the truth hurts and lies worse
How can I give anymore
When I love you a little less than before?

shopaholic morning

it's saturday.  woke up early to catch the first screening of "confessions of a shopaholic" in UA cityplaza, at 9:40am.  AM shows are cheaper at 35hkd and as the day progresses, it becomes not-so-cheap, pricing as high as 65hkd in the evening.  i liked isla fisher in "wedding crashers".  there's something natural in her brand of comedy.  i think she fits to a T as rebecca bloomwood.  her personality as isla seems apt to what her character requires.  however, there's still something off which i can't pinpoint now.  i love to shop.  can't say im a shopaholic coz money is always my issue. hahaha we each have our own sense of fulfillment, sense of high.  whatever that maybe, let's not lose ourselves and take for granted the things that really matter.

cheque this out

i applied for a new account in hsbc (mainly because i'm qualified naman).  i collected my card and along with it is my own checkbook (didn't know it's included)! huwaw!  MY VERY FIRST EVER!  hahaha!  didnt feel the need to have one since coz i think it's for those with lotsa money who are afraid to transact in cash.  hmm.. i can't wait to sign my own cheque! 

heroes... and the like

in this time of crisis, we welcome (rich)people's help whenever they extend one. in forbes 48 heroes of philantrophy, we're honored that a few are pinoys.  huwaw! 

• manny pangilinan - PLDT chairman
  
• ramon aboitiz - aboitiz foundation chairman
  
• henry sy - SM malls magnate
  
• alfonso yuchengco - yuchengco group chairman
  

on the right is li ka-shing, hongkong's richest person, who is also included in the list for giving over $1 billion to charity during his lifetime. his works include donating to the university of hongkong and sichuan quake victims.  

it's endearing to know that they share their blessings in more ways... so i say, carry on!  

mga kababayan ko... 

francis m's untimely demise is still a shock to everyone.  though we know that he's already afflicted with the big C, one can never be prepared for the death of a loved one.  life is really short.  you can never tell when it's your time.  things happen to the healthiest people, what more to those who are sick.  let's just live life as well as we could.  carpe diem!

(photo courtesy of forbes.com)

"no plastic bag day"... everyday

hongkong has launched its "everyday is no plastic bag day" campaign.  it all started with one day a week up to fully implementing the scheme.  i have my own green bag bought from wellcome (grocery) and as much as possible i use it everytime.  first, i'd like to minimize my plastic bag accumulation, thus helping reduce usage altogether.  i fully support and welcome this since i observed that shopping bags are freely used anywhere. even clinics are joining this campaign not to handout plastic medicine bags to patients.  it's a mixed feedback from people saying that there are a lot of more important environmental issues to tackle.  still, big or small, whatever we can do to help, let's just do it.  

ohhh, i remembered, im a member in "no plastic bag" in facebook. 

pichurs

i've been trying to locate my pics.. but got too lazy to locate my digicam cable to download the pics.. im still short of peripherals for maxxie. was able to scour for a few though...

halloween 2008 in lan kwai fong.. of course, we took photo ops with those in costume. kahit sino lang makita namen interesting, pose lang. haha there was this one guy, ala phantom of the opera. he was was about to wear his mask but we all shouted "no mask, no mask!" lolz. too bad, i can't find his picture. eto na lang with the mad hatter. 

jack's birthday, unico hijo of ate ai and kuya j.  supposedly children's party... so here they are.. the kids at play.. 

hmm.. what to do in macau tower..

might as well, just sit down and let the others do it... hahaha 

inside "the venetian"

macau at night

ruins of st. paul

... and the colorful night lights

101... and counting..

well, sana... hehe 

i've been on hiatus for toooo long.. well, i realized this is my 101st post! yay for me hahaha

gotta get back on my feet now.. just wanna give updates .. and see how i've been the past months.  hmm.. i wondered what happened with my life? or me nangyari nga ba? 

October 2008

i forgot what transpired or if anything interesting happened last october.  nothing really, i guess. forgettable, ba.. ohhh, waitttt, i went to singapore! how can i miss that??!?!!? baka magtampo un mga host ko. shout out to anshe, jeff and mon for accommodating me. :)  i went there on short notice lang.. i've been wanting to visit singapore.. see how things are there.  so finally, i just did. i emailed anshe less than a week.. and i told her to make some 'plans' .. and sooo, i arrived at the airport, met with mon.   waited for anshe and jeff at the ferry terminal to bintan, indonesia.  stayed overnight at bintan lagoon and resorts where we did kayaking and go kart.  it was sooo fun! the next day, anshe and mon took ML to accompany me to sentosa.  went to palawan beach .. but i missed the siloso beach.. we also rode the luge twice! no thanks to mon who coerced us kase me promo ata. buti na lang we only had to ride the ala ski lift once. hahaha it helps to ride at night if you're afraid of heights.  i went to bugis street which is like mongkok in hongkong.  saw the esplanade, singapore flyer, and of course the classic merlion.  ate the famous chicken rice in lau pa sat and roamed around clark quay.  all in all, i felt so at home in singapore.  i can go around on my own, not that anshe need to worry.  i would love to visit them again.  they have no choice. haha  super duper thanks to you guys :)

November 2008

i was bent on watching "cinderella" with lea salonga at the helm.  i bought my ticket at the last minute hoping someone can watch it with me.  but then again, not even this circumstance can stop me. i went by myself. yeah yeah, pathetic na!  but i had a good time. wala lang akong mapagsabihan na katabi how proud i am, seeing a fellow pinoy being applauded, recognized, appreciated by foreigners.  lea's proud moment, is mine too (nakisawsaw ba?!) 

December 2008

bought maxxie.  finally, my new macbook! after intense research, comparison between available notebooks in the market.. i decided to switch to a MAC.  what gives?  primarily coz i've been reading not-so-good reviews about vista.  plus, i wanted to try the look and feel of owning a macbook - coz of the OS X, and the prestige that goes along with carrying an apple studded laptop. hahaha i just purchased the lower end unibody 13" macbook 2.0ghz.  

January 2009

went to macau to explore.  havent been here before even if it just takes 1 hr ferry ride.  i wasnt really keen on going coz my fwends say it's just "ok".  not so many places to go to.  still, i wanted to make the most out of it.  went to macau tower first to try to do the skywalk where you will traverse the outside of the tower X storeys high on a harness. but damn! i cant!  i got scared. hahaha plus it's expensive!  i can't even look down the glass floors of the indoor observatory! we just roamed around the deck.. and lo and behold!  2 people had the guts to do bungee jumping! hurrah for them!  went to the venetian macau where we ate late lunch and played few rounds in the slot machine.  dropped by the fisherman's wharf, rode the bus to senado square to see the ruins of st paul.  walked to the area of the casino hotels to take pictures.  they're sooo colorful at night with grand lisboa, hotel lisboa, wynn hotel, MGM as backdrop.  we went inside those hotels just to take a peak, and played slots again.  that's the only thing we can afford.  or if we get thirsty, free drinks in the casino. hahaha lastly, we chanced upon the dancing fountain show of the wynn hotel.  just amazing.  now, i wondered why they say they didnt enjoy macau?

February 2009

was in manila for a couple of days to pay my last respects to my dear mamuy.  wasn't really expecting her death this soon coz she's always been a survivor.  i know she's becoming weak coz of age.  doctors could not find anything wrong with her in the numerous times she went for a checkup.  i guess she just didnt want to become a burden coz she just stayed in the hospital for a few days... and never left.  sabi nga ng uncle ko... "sulit na".. but it still hurts.  i will not be able to tease her about selective hearing anymore.. na pag pera ang pinag uusapan, naririnig nya.. otherwise.. it falls on deaf ears.  hehehe wala ng magbibigay saken ng pocket money everytime i would go back to hk.  wala na ang paborito kong lola. (ako raw kase paboritong apo. hehehe)  hers is a life well-lived.  moreso because a lot of people love her.. and always will.  i will miss you mamuy.  *hugsss*

pics on my next post.. hopefully soon.. 

food scare: campbell soup

another form of food scare that directly hit me is brought by this piece of news below:

"The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department will conduct laboratory tests on samples of Campbell's Soup after hundreds of thousands of cans of soup were recalled following complaints of a bad smell.
The Centre for Food Safety advised people not to consume two types of the canned soup in question.
A spokesman of Campbell Soup Asia Limited said it has worked out a refund deal with supermarkets.
Those who have purchased the 405g condensed cream of mushroom soup and the 410g condensed cream of creamy chicken mushroom soup can get full refunds at ParknShop, Wellcome and Vanguard even with no receipt.
The company has set up a consumer hotline 3128 8022 for enquries."

i remembered purchasing 2 cans of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup. (that's me, trying to be domesticated, keeping my own stock of comfort food hehehe) then i happened to read the paper... and so i immediately returned them. and of course, refund! even for a measly $20. hehe i treated myself with mcdonald's. the default alternative. hahaha

cindyrel-lea in hongkong

i first saw this poster in the MTR, traversing taikoo station. i was ecstatic and proud, of course, knowing that a Filipino will grace the theater here in hongkong. so much so, i stared at the poster for a while, feeling a little cultured that instead of a movie poster, i got myself interested in the 'arts' hahaha in fairness to me, i AM interested. it's just that i never got to rationalize spending a $$$ for a musical over a more affordable movie, which i can even get for free (ooppsss) the only plays i recalled watching are those required in school (novels by Rizal), widows orphans wildebeasts (music museum) and miss saigon (yey).

i contemplated watching cinderella in pinas. fortunately, i have another chance here. tickets are reasonably priced @ $180, $290, $490, $690. i would like to watch in the earlier part of their showing (5-16 november 2008). how do i make sure it's lea and not an understudy??? hope ate ai will join me. simple plot, simple story. magic. love. that's my recipe for one great artsy evening.

hmm, i wonder when the next musical will hype me up.. i'd love "wicked" to come to hongkong.

always keep a change

i listed down my paranoia -- things that would just get me panicky inside. and out eventually. i would just lose my guard and feel all the more helpless.

1. leaving the flat without my keys... AND phone


2. leaving the flat without my keys


3. boarding the bus without money


4. traveling without my passport/ticket


5. having my credit card declined or won't get any reply from VISA or the issuer (with no money on hand to spare)

items 2 and 3 already happened to me... item 3, not so long ago... and i felt so embarrassed!



i boarded the bus on the way to work, tapped my Octopus card to the reader. *one long beep* with red light. meaning, i have negative balance in my card. i searched for my wallet, tried to find some loose change (you have to give exact fare as the drivers don't give you change). bus fare is 5.7hkd. i found 4.7hkd total. i was hurriedly looking for 1 more dollar. just one more. please.

unluckily, i found none. i tried to talk to the driver if he can let that 1hkd go... but not surprisingly, he ignored me... or he didnt understand? i thought of asking 1hkd from the other passengers, but didn't push through with it. then the bus stopped and the doors opened. i didnt see any bus stop nearby. i warily talked to the driver, "you want me to go down from the bus now?". with eyes like that of a feeble child, i silently hoped he would say no. (but then again, maybe he didn't understand what i said.) rather than be forced out of the bus in broad daylight in front of many people, i volunteered to alight and find another means to go to work.

i was SO embarrassed! one of my paranoia came true again. hopefully, i'd be more in control, more organized next time.

when dengue strikes

we got quite a scare after bro is diagnosed with dengue. it all started with fever, loss of appetite and pananamlay for 2 days. of course, we thought it's just the usual fever, flu that can be cured with a dose of tempra. his fever went on-off for 2 days and mama, the paranoid that she is (well, good for all of us na rin) urged him to see the doc. the first time, it was holiday so we just went to the ER ang got some stronger meds. the attending physician wanted to admit him but mama wanted him to be checked by our doctor personally. so off we went home. the next day, ayun... after series of tests, it was confirmed. DENGUE. normal platelet count should be above 150k but his is 104K. blood transfusion will be administered when it reaches 20K. that's the SOP, as i know. i don't know much about dengue and anything that keeps a person hospitalized is enough for me to be worried. who wouldn't la?! i read related stuff in the internet, even suggested this one drink to help increase platelet count... all because i read it in a forum. i guess i was on the right track coz mama already made one for bro. a few days, his platelet count went up-down.

with prayers, he was discharged after a few days. he was told to monitor his platelet count though. (yeah, here goes the drama) i feel helpless not being there in those times. i know they can handle everything, but i just can't help but feel frustrated for being away. what keeps me going though is the thought that i have to be strong. not only for myself but also for my family. i realized that in times when things are down, the more i should step up -- knowing that my strength is not my own.

... in pictures

went to the restaurant for early dinner... didn't know what to order so pichuran na lang muna!
actually, this is what we came here for... the freebie!!! hahaha uhm, chicken, i think.
... and of course, pizza!!! this one's not free na. four-flavored pizza so we can have a sample of each kind. with tabasco shempre.
angel hair pasta, as recommended by sistah. i thought palabok fiesta ng jollibee. hahaha with tabasco ulet.
lastly, pichuran moment again... sino raw ang spoiled?!?!?!

happy 888

i just can't let this date pass.. according to chinese belief, 888 is a lucky day - to get married, to open the olympics ? hehehe fortunately, i was able to see it live, err, on the TV. and all i can say is.. AMAZING! though i haven't seen previous opening ceremonies to compare it with, the display of grandeur from a multitude of performers is enough for me to hang on to every presentation. what i loooove the most though is the number from the chinese military (ata) where they use ancient drums to signal the countdown of the olympics opening. just amazing!

i know! im at a loss for words. i borrowed some pictures from getty images below to describe just how in awe i am.. hahaha

(Pictures courtesty of getty images from boston.com)

greetings

to mamuy and aya...

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y!!!

mamuy is already 90 years old. wow, 9 decades! and still kicking. hahaha in spite of waning strength in going to out of town family gatherings or just plain spending sunday afternoon in the house, her determination to just be with the whole family is encouraging. she can walk a few steps, still manage to do things on her own. still is game enough to go strolling at the mall (perks: when parking is full, we can always park at the 'disabled' area, coz we bring her wheelchair hehehe)

though we don't get to talk much coz i had to yell at her (people might wonder why i shout at my lola?) her mind is still sharp. she remembers people, events. she still gives advice (read: lecture, sermon) when necessary.

aya, rio rossa in full, is turning 18. she's one of our family's debutante's along with mhack, being born on the same year. aya got her name from who else.. but mamuy, rosario. gets? i haven't seen her since they left for the US ages ago.. hmm.. how many has it been? she left as a shy, little kid - very young, small and thin. i like carrying her because i can. haha she's weighs lighter than mhack. hehehe but now.. she's already a young lady - beautiful, confident and vivacious. i don't get to talk to her as much i talk with her other siblings... coz i know my english speaking skills will be challenged. hahaha!

my wish for her is to stay humble and God-fearing. don't be affected by negative things, especially when we say, she's soooo huggable. hehehe *lotsa HUGS* mwahh

mini paris in wanchai

after strolling along hennessy road in wanchai, we decided to settle in Mini Paris, a quaint restaurant situated in the busy street ala quezon ave in pinas. i didn't know what to expect. i can eat anything at that time especially, i have acquired a taste for chinese food, i think. scanning through the menu, they actually serve... viet food. how did i know? well, i just compared it with pho hoa (i looove this place) and i just know.. hahaha here's my lame attempt to describe what we ordered: veggies with sauce that tastes like a faint bagoong, noodles with fried spring rolls and cold shrimp rolls. the last two are served with a sweet and sour sauce but with a way thinner consistency. (HA?!?!?! there you go, can you taste the food with my description?) all in all, they're good! another proud discovery.. and oh, before i forget they have english menu. yey!


masabi lang... i served this on my last birthday.. simple lang: shrimp linguine, steamed chicken (thanks maria for the recipe.. well cooked kse sya and delish, unlike the steamed chix , chinese way.. me blood pa), buttered veggies, breaded pork chop, cake (not in pic) and of course, ice cream.. i thought Dreyer's ang sponsor ko that night kse i have 4 of them. haha (un lang nag pa sosy, actually haha) it would have been ben and jerry's only, they're not available then.

nga pala.. to those who remembered... thank you =)
*hugs, hugs, hugs*

financial happiness

ano ba ito??? euphemism for "im so damn rich, more than you can ever imagine"? well, for what it's worth, i know i have financial obligations. blame it on culture and of course, out of the goodness of my heart (haha) i TRY to regularly remit money back home... yeah, yeah, thanks to the remittances of OFWs GMA is saying the economy is gaining ground. right, right. when i think of ways to achieve financial contentment, the only that comes to mind is saving. this is a LONG way to go since bank interests are less than the other charges or taxes imposed on your account.

recently, im trying to think of ways to invest. business is one option, maybe buy and sell? buy here and sell in pinas? i buy here and sis, bro can sell.. kaso seems they got no interest. so i opted to read more about ways to invest - bonds, funds, maybe? stocks - for me seems a lot of work. im not too keen on watching every move of the market and do trading once tragedy strikes. what im looking for is stability, low maintenance and of course, high return (less other charges, etc). easy management is very important, if it can be done securely online, better. i dont know yet what will come of this endeavor. i hope to talk to a mentor/consultant, discuss my goals and create a financial plan.

how about you, done any investing already?