birthday suggestions

In just a couple of days, it’s going to be Riza’s birthday. But up to now, we still don’t know how and where to celebrate. If you can remember, last year, I arranged a birthday dinner surprise for her at Cafe d’Asie, where we feasted on delicious food and her friends surprised her. This year though, I have no real idea or plan on how to celebrate her special day. Last month, I had my car’s oil change and tune up in a friend’s shop that also handles rv repair, so that makes the car ready to go anywhere. We’re thinking of heading up to Tagaytay. But nothing is definite.

Any suggestions?

Mario Batali Dutch oven

One of the main reasons for going back to Subic was because we saw this green Mario Batali Dutch oven in our first visit that was so cheap it’s begging to be bought. A cast iron enameled pot at more than 40% less compared with its prices here in Manila, this was a steal! But when we got there, it was nowhere to be found. I searched the surrounding aisles to check if they moved it somewhere but I couldn’t find it. Finally, I asked one of the staff (who seriously needs acne treatment fast), and she told me that the last one, the green one, was bought a few days ago. Bummer!

a tadpole

Don’t you just feel so bloated after consuming so much comestible during the holidays? There was just so much food! Riza and I would typically start our day waking up a bit late, heading down for a hearty breakfast, watching TV/DVD, then lunch, then more TV/DVD, then a mid afternoon snack, then dinner, and then a nightcap of chips and/or chocolates. And because of that, we gained a little, ok a LOT, of weight. I think we’ll really need that adipex diet pill now. It was short of a miracle that I was able to fit into my pants, but my midsection has swollen to less-than-attractive proportions. And of course Riza gives no help! She even teases me by calling me butete (tadpole)!

hoarding food

The trouble with duty free shops is that you see so many items on offer and on sale that you just can’t let it pass.

Chocolates, which is everybody’s weakness, were on sale, and you see almost everyone grabbing at least one bar that you can’t help but get one, or two, or maybe three, for yourselves or as pasalubong. Home decor and equipment were also there, from Pyrex and Corningware to Hubberton Forge Lighting. We also saw some Corelle plates but they weren’t on sale.

Still, we ended up with a lot of items; some could even last maybe three to six months. I think Riza and I subconsciously have this fear of running out of food that we bought so much more than we really need.

vacation mode

It’s the first day of work of the new year and I am feeling lazy. Lazy! I really tried to psyche myself yesterday for work today but somehow I still feel sluggish. All I really want was to stay in our comfy bed and soft pillows and sleep some more. Not even that cold shower in our bathroom with glass tiles was enough to shock me back to work mode. I hope this isn’t a preview of how the rest of my year will go.