Tadaima~

Just got back from Iloilo. My mom was able to find us really cheap tickets and we saved a bit of money -- the only catch was that it was the earliest flight out (710am)

Had a very interesting experience on the flight going to Iloilo -- I sat beside a lady who was apparently allergic to newsprint ink. She asked me if I could not read my newspaper. (This being the holiday season, the nagging need to be charitable and generous made me reluctantly agree.)

Thinking about it now, it must be sad to be allergic to that -- imagine not being able to read the newspapers. I wonder if her allergy extends to books as well -- it's not like those are printed on glossy paper.

I am rambling. Apologies. ^_^

Merry Merry! --

Going home to Iloilo tomorrow to celebrate Christmas with my family and will be back here to spend New Year with Johann's mom.

I'm really excited to go home to Iloilo -- I'm already thinking about what to eat. ^_^

* * *

Watch --

The Family Stone

I thought it was a fun movie to watch and prepares you for the holidays.

And my hun cried during some bits of the movie. Lol!

No. Really. He did. ^_^

Almost done with my Top 5s --

Books for the year:
5. What to Expect When You're Expecting (my bible!)
4. Angels and Insects by AS Byatt
3. Castle Waiting series by Linda Medley
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blooded Prince by JK Rowling
1. Brand New Friend by Mike Gayle

Happy Thoughts
5. Mandarin Oriental
4. my work and my students and my friends at work
3. Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong
2. July 23, 2005
1. Still my J (and the little bean along the way ^_^) / my sibs and my parents

Life-Changing Experiences
5.
4.
3. living away from my sister =(
2. the Little Bean (I suspect this will be number 1 next year)
1. Getting married

Promises for 2006
5. watch more movies!
4. adopt a healthier lifestyle
3. read more books
2. be a better teacher
1. finish my MA

* * *

Didn't realize --

How painful it would be to wrap so many presents!

I'm distributing the ones for work today and we're having our annual sibling party on Sunday.

* * *

The Christmas Story --

I'm letting my students read is O Henry's Gift of the Magi -- it's consistent with the authors I've been taking up with them so far.

How well do you know your bands? --

Name the 75 bands this picture represents.

<-- My bro pointed this site out to me. I think Johann will have fun with it because he is more of a music buff than I am.

* * *

Deciding --

Whether I should end the year with Misery (by Anton Chekhov)

or giving my students a nice Christmas-related story.

I don't want my students starting their Christmas holidays with a depressing story like Misery but, if I want to stick to my schedule, I should.

Plus, I don't know which Christmas story to let them read in exhange.

* * *

Reminding myself --

Dinner with the Dans girls on Wednesday.

* * *

Because admission is one of the steps to recovery --

I am addicted to Naruto.

On Weddings --

Last Sunday Johann and I attended my cousin's cousin's wedding (meaning we aren't related) -- the wedding ceremony was at San Sebastian and the reception was at Edsa Shangri-la.

I like attending weddings. I like attending wedding receptions more. When we got married, we really didn't get a chance to eat and the food at Mandarin is really good. ~sniff~

So now, we make it a point to attend weddings so we can eat.

* * *

Need to watch --

Chicken Little
King Kong
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros

I need to do this --

-- because I am getting forgetful and I have taken to using my phone's calendar/appointment keeper as a reminder of what I need to do on certain days.

December 10 - VtES MCM Party
December 11 - Wedding
December 12 - Lunch with V
December 18 - Una's Binyag (I'm ninang! I'm so excited! ^_^)
December 23 - Iloilo

* * *

Preparing for Christmas --

I'm almost done with gifts for my sibs -- we've already agreed on what we're getting for our parents so we'll just chip in for that.

It's interesting how our tastes change with time and how it's becoming more and more challenging to find the perfect gift for them.

The hardest gift to purchase is my hubby's -- we're together most of the time and it's hard to hide his gift in such a small place.

I have a plan, though and I hope I can pull it off. ^_^

Places in Katipunan
5. 7-11
4. UP Shopping Center
3. National Bookstore
2. Rustan's Fresh (nothing cures a bad mood like a supermarket ^_^)
1. Our place

Places elsewhere
5. Gateway Mall
4. Greenhills Shopping Center / The Promenade
3. All the Fully Booked branches
2. Podium
1. Mandarin Oriental <-- special reasons why ^_^

Games (console, PC, online, etc.)
5.
4.
3. Harvest Moon <-- just got this yesterday (so much potential...)
2. Stronghold / Stronghold Crusader
1. Caesar III

OSTs
5.
4. Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
3. Avenue Q
2. Wicked
1. RENT movie OST (though I don't have this yet, I'm sure I will love it)

Places to get Hakaw
5. Tin Hau at Mandarin Oriental
4. Won Ton
3. DEC (frozen)
2. North Park
1. David's Tea House

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Weekend --

Actually, my weekend started yesterday because classes today were cancelled to give way to ACP 2005.

I'm very happy with the progress I'm making with my Christmas shopping -- I've been able to scout around for some potential gifts and I have this long weekend to purchase them.

One bite at a time. ^_^

* * *

Top 5s for 2005 --

I should've started yesterday, but I was really busy and, by the time I got home, I was really tired and tamad.

1. List five things you'd like to accomplish by the end of the year.
- learn how to cook good arroz caldo
- hang all the framed pieces on our walls
- find time to have lunch/dinner with all of my friends
- visit my teacher friends in Xavier
- finish watching Naruto

2. List five things you'd like to learn how to do.- good arroz caldo
- draw
- manage the budget more effectively
- drive
- swim

3. List five things you'd do if you won the lottery (no limit).- give some of the money to the Ateneo and UP Scholars Fund
- set up funds for my future children
- travel!
- set up a retirement fund for all of my teachers and yayas
- invest in some pieces of art (We want an Orlina!)

4. List five things you do that help you relax.
- walking around with my hun
- read / write down thoughts
- prepare a peanut butter and nutella sandwich
- have a good meal / go shopping
- ask for hugs ^_^

Day with my sister --

I didn't have anything planned today and I needed to get something for Johann's boss who is getting married this week. I called up my sister and asked her if she wanted to go out and do some Christmas shopping (a perfect opportunity to do so because we weren't with my sibs and my hubby) --

We went to Podium and browsed through all the nice shops. We ended up with a handful of shopping bags each.

Had a good lunch at Delifrance -- one of our favorite places.

I was able to buy a really pretty formal top from K&Company (one of the sister brands of Kate+Jack/Gingersnaps) which will grow with me as the months progress. I am ready for any wedding and formal occasion. Raar!

It was a fun day -- while waiting for the wedding gift to be wrapped, my sister told me that she missed me. Aaaawwwww.

I miss her too! >_<