out of service phone line

It's been almost a week now since our landline phone was busted. Blame it on the typhoons lately; it seems our phone lines were grounded. We can't receive any incoming calls as well as we don't have any outgoing dial tone. I've been calling our landline provider (PLDT) almost daily, but it seems they are not interested to restore our line. My patience is running out and we need the phone lines badly. This is my way of checking our helpers daily activities. Luckily, the DSL is working despite trouble with the voice services.

As a temporary solution, I call my helpers through their personal mobile phones. Good thing the wireless signal is very strong in our neighborhood. Despite house and building obstructions, phone signal is still very strong. Thanks to cell phone repeater installed inside our village. I can easily get in touch with my helpers anytime I want to! Though the rate per minute is very expensive compared to fixed line, but I have no choice until my landline is restored. I just wish better customer service from my landline provider, PLDT. Coming from another communications provider, I expect better customer service from them since they are known as the benchmark of the industry. But boy, I was so wrong. Service is really bad! Oh well, what can I expect? Its been like this for years and years ... think this separates them from other telco provider company ...that is, bad service.

Simple Birthday Treat

Yesterday I celebrated my birthday... another year older, but wiser, I hope.

I just had simple and quiet celebration with my family, with no fuss and frills. I simply enjoyed my day pampered and loved by hubby and the kids. I guess as you grow older, you prefer to celebrate birthdays the simple way. Just enjoying quiet and more bonding time with the family.

So how did I spend my special day ... with my family, of course.

Day before my birthday was on BL or Birthday Leave. As I blogged before, I need to do some series of labaratory clearance for my upcoming thyro-glossal duct cyst operation. My BL was the perfect time to complete these requirements. As early as 9am I was at Medical City for biopsy test and series of lab exams. After lunch, went to meet up my Mom for our final decision on the memorial lot at Heritage Park we plan to get. Went home by 3pm and cuddled with Sam the entire afternoon. By 7pm, Kuy Ico, Sam and I met up with hubby for dinner at Promenade Greenhills and watched Kung Fu Panda movie. Went home late and bought take out ice cream and pizza from Yellow Cab and had my birthday asalto late-night snack while watching Dr. House series.

The next day (my birthday) we all woke up late. My Mom arrived together with my sister by lunch with my Tiramisu birthday cake and my favorite buttered crab. I just cooked spaghetti and chicken corn as additional food for lunch.

the yummy lunch pictures ...

Sadly, they forgot to get me birthday candles ... but pretended to wish na lang din! Hahaha!

After the yummy meal we had for lunch, hubby and I decided to go out on a date night. Went to Promenade again for late dinner at Teriyaki Boy to satisfy hubby's craving for sukiyaki and makis.

Then after dinner, we had coffee at Starbucks. Capuccino overload for me! With a good cup of coffee, wonderful company, great conversation ... the night was simply perfect!

By 11 pm, we decided to have a good laugh at Zirkoh Comedy Bar at Greenhills. I enjoyed watching Wally and Jose's stand up comedy show. Believe me, worth every cent watching the guys perform. Really funny and I can't stop laughing the enitre night. Never had that tummy-aching laugh for quite sometime now. I think really good food for the soul.

at Zirkoh entrance ...dyahe pa si hubby pa-pix noh!

stand-up comedians as fillers for the show ...

primetime show performers: wally and jose -- really hilarious!

Went home really tired and sleepy by 3am. Enjoyed my day so much. Had simple but great birthday celebration. The entire day was spent with the love of my life.

In case you are wondering how come I never mentioned any birthday gift from hubby, well... hubby decided not to give me anything "yet". After losing my weight challenge bet, he promised me to give me travel gift instead anytime this quarter. During our coffee conversation, he told me he will bring me to Tokyo or Korea. Was delighted of course! He initially offered me to join him at Memphis, US but I declined. Been there and I want to visit something new this time. Tokyo or Korea will be great! I so want to see Japan...and experience Korea too! Hahaha! Let's see. I am hoping I can visit both this year. lol.

To all my friends who greeted me and remembered my natal day, thank you so much! I am so blessed having great friends like you!! :)

in my pantry...

Just received our mid-year bonus last week, and I must say the moolah was carefully well-spent. Aside from paying Ico's tution fee and paying the downpayment for the memorial lot at Heritage, part of my bonus was spent shopping! Nope, not luxury items shopping but ... Splurged a little for grocery items!! Bought some items not found on my usual monthly grocery list. I so want to fill my pantry with these items which I find quite expensive and really not a neccessity, but I've decided to splurge this time.

My splurge grocery lists includes:

a. Mc Cormick bottled spices : chili powder, garlic powder, italian seasoning, thyme, rosemary, basil, oregano, white pepper and tarragon.

b. San Remo pasta : 500 grams of penne and fettucini

c. EVOO or extra virgin olive oil

d. Kraft parmesan cheese

e. Balsamic Vinegar

f. bottled pesto sauce

g. maraschino cherries --- hubby's request!

h. canned tomatoes

i. bottled olives

I was giddy happy when I got the items above. It is a one time, big time splurge for my pantry and I must say...they really look good inside my pantry. It's a well-stocked pantry, enough to whip up a la minute pasta in the middle of the night. I wanted to do this for the longest time but I often de-prioritized buying it. For some reason, I always tend to forget! Blame it on being a working mom! Hahaha! But seriously, I find joy having a well-stocked pantry. Seeing that I have the basic Italian/Mediterranean ingredients in my cabinet now, I feel so happy and rich! Parang ang yaman-yaman ko! lol!! It's a cheap way of feeling rich! hehehe! Anyway, feeling lng naman...sana maging tutuo! Hahaha!

So there you go... bonus moolah no more!! You might be wondering what happened to my plan of getting something big for hubby as Father's Day gift? Still thinking. No idea yet ... might check out the golf bags available on the net or get him new mobile phone this year. Nothing final. Still open for ideas.

The World is Mine.

Those who own the world see it differently. What most consider conventional contradictions, they see as a seamless fusion. Bold yet refined. Rugged yet stylish. Brimming with power, yet safe as home. A symbol of strength, yet a vision of beauty. Teeming with cutting-edge technology, yet interfaces effortlessly with its master. A luxury SUV unlike any other - the new Toyota Fortuner.

Very nice caption ... it gives you sense of power and control. Makes you proud and fortunate (kaya nga fortuner brand name nya, bwahahaha!) of owning one. And we are happy to say, we are now proud parents of this car. The dream of owning big, family SUV car ... finally a dream come true!

The car was released today at 240pm from Toyota, Ortigas. Since hubby was needed back at his office, he allowed (and trusted!) me to drive the car from the casa to our house. As in alone ha!! It was my first time to drive SUV...as in ever, in my entire life!! Hence despite the cold aircon of the car, my palms and feet were sweaty! As in praning the entire drive! Naka-hazard pa ako nyan on my way home! lol.

Look at our pictures below, di naman kami mukhang excited sa casa kanina noh?!?!

Our new baby arrived safely at half past three. Fits just perfect inside our garage. Real beauty!

No travel plans yet for "break-in" this Lenten Season. Probably next weekend na lang...if di na traffic! :)

So ... no more bags, watch, shoes and shopping galore for me for the next couple of years. Less starbucks coffee, extravagant travel plans and expensive dining na rin siguro! Hahaha! With the new baby, need to be a responsible parent, you know! Ako taya paying the monthly dues for this car...kaya, the world is really mine! nyahahaha!

I hope we really made the right choice ... well, I believe it was really a good decision.