Some people really amaze me.  No, not in a good way.

My mom came over to share some news of her day this evening and I came to learn this:  a grandmother who was working in a home care (filled with mentally challenged residents, if I may add) was holding down the fort while babysitting her 4 month-old granddaughter.  The grandmother, having forgotten her key in her apartment (just a few steps away from the home care), steps out of the home care while her granddaughter sleeps peacefully in her playpen to get her key.  In those tiny seconds the grandmother is gone (my mom never indicated if door to home care was left unlocked), who should pull up but a social worker who decides to pay an unannounced visit to the residents.  Social worker sees the little baby sleeping soundly in the playpen, grandmother returns….. let your imagination roll.  They take the baby away for 4 months (the family went through endless court hearings, lawyer fees–you name it–just to get their baby back).  Piss me off!  Gad, what are people thinking sometimes?!?!?!!?  Leaving a baby with a bunch of loonies!  Serves the grandmother right that she’s left with that pain and torture of not knowing if her grandchild is getting the best care from strangers!  4 months of torture and pain–do you think any of them has learned their lesson?!  I EFFIN HOPE SO!

Stories like this get my blood boiling.  I may not be the best mother in the world, but I have more brain cells to know I shouldn’t leave my baby sleeping unsupervised with a bunch of not-so-stable people! 

And another story that really just boggles the hell out of me that I almost want to call the authorities myself:  a lady owns a home care with 19 residents.  How many caregivers does she have on duty?  No, let me rephrase that.  How many caregivers does she have period?  1.  WTF????????????? 

I don’t want to rant and I don’t want to insinuate anything here but both stories?  Filipinos.  Why is it that (not all ha) filipinos cannot understand or abide by rules?!?!?!?! 

I just don’t understand.  I’m so hot and bothered right now.  You don’t even want to know.

Okay, I just have to say this. 

What is up with straight hair?  I understand if you have bulbalic hair and you have to get it rebonded… but if you didn’t have that BIG of a problem, I always thought bed head hair was hot.  Or long hair with shiny, big waves that you just flip around with your fingers as you please.  Person who comes to mind and I feel cheesy for even mentioning her cuz it just shows how Pinoy I am (LOL) — KC Concepcion.  I don’t suppose she does that rebond stuff.

What’s the point really?  Buy some hot rollers, roll up your hair for a few minutes and let it run wild… be crazy… or frizz it out for all anyone cares.  Just enaf with STRAIGHT HAIR!

And buns!  What is up with them buns?!  In all the times I’ve been in weddings, I’ve never ever donned a bun.  How creative is that?!?!?!

So come wedding day, one request from my entourage:  no made up, neat girly buns.  Loose, crazy, wavy, frizzy.. you name it, DO IT!  I wish someone would don an afro.  Talk about hotness.

I couldn’t… Eric wouldn’t like rubbing his face against the bulbalic-ness of it all.  LOL. 

Figured out and done with entourage colors and gowns.  Next up was supposedly invites.

But how?  We haven’t even finalized our entourage and I so wanted to include their names.  

I have a confession.  I stopped going to the gym after my sister’s visit in late August.  Well, okay, I went once the whole time she was here.  Then she left earlier this month… and I still hadn’t gone back to my daily ritual of working out.  So what.. did I hit my plateau?  LOL.  After eating such scrumptious foods and eating out galore, I got llllaaaaaaaaaaaaazzzzzzyyyyyyyy.  It was easier to make excuses as to why I shouldn’t go to the gym than to jump into the car and just go.

So I joined Weight Watchers last week to “wake me up,” if you will.  If I wasn’t going to jump into the car and just head to the darn gym, the least I could do was take a 3-minute drive on down to a WW meeting.  This was last week.  I’d joined in January of this year but lasted only a month, thinking I’d be able to follow the rules and what nots on my own.  HA.. bull!  (Ei, but I did lose less than 10 lbs during that month I was an official member! *defensive* LOL).  My meetings are every Sunday.  They have 2 meetings (8:30 & 10 am).  I went at 8:30 am and I was real happy I did cuz though I had nothing to share (ssshhhh, I cheated and didn’t follow the rules all the way heeeeeeeeeee), there were lots of people.  We were talking about music and what songs get us going or get us up and exercising.  I was with a Beatles type of group .  No way in hell I was going to shout out, “Rumpshaker” or “Sexyback” or “Whoop There It Is.”  LOL.  But golly, have you ever heard of a song called, “Go You Chicken Fat Go”????  Damn.

My poundage lost?  1.6!  Funny, isn’t it?  I didn’t drink very much water, I went to the gym ONCE the whole last week, I ate my share of rice and then some, etc etc etc and yet, I still lost over a pound.  Call it a cult, anything you want — but after the meeting, I was empowered.  If I could lose less than 2 pounds doing absolutely nothing (well, I did eat some carrots), then imagine what I could lose working out even 3x a week?  Plus, it also helped I heard “Sexyback” on the radio as I drove home… so I was dancing and snapping my fingers for all the world to see.  Hell, this mama was on a roll! .

The three of us jumped into the car right after my meeting and headed for the gym.  Did our thing and headed home for a scrumptious lunch.  I just have to put Erynne down for a nap and when she wakes, we’re off to buy her some coloring materials and coloring books!  It’s really been such a good day for me — physically and mentally.  

I think I’m slowly waking up again (to exercise and my weight loss goals).  Yayyyy! 

I’ve been pretty frazzled these past couple of days. I’ve been obsessed with colors for our wedding. I’d started dreaming about our color motiff and trying to decide if we’re going to go with one plain shade or two colors combined. I’d make a decision and then Cecil would assume that was final but before you know it, just a few minutes after finalizing (we chat practically every single day), off I go with another YM message saying I’d like the opposite. Typical… bwahahhaahahaha. She calls me her “maldita bride” and I tell her I’ll bring her cake to my 1st fitting so we can munch — everyone comes out happy . (I’m so lucky to have Cecil, really I am. To have the patience and the ability to work with me… haaaaayyyyy. And for this, I shall love her forever and will always be excited to give her more business. So for anyone who’s looking for a rock-out, awesome designer for ANY event, check Cecil Abad out. She is HILARIOUS, extremely adaptable, and very talented [click here for her website]. Not to mention, her rates are reasonable. I could go on and on. Love love love her!)

Color is final (Cecil was even starting to have dreams about our colors as well hehehe): red wine and (carnation) pink. I felt red wine chiffon would look too plain. So regardless of what my entourage is going to think (heeeee!), two colors it is. But I think they’re going to be pleased with the outcome as the gowns will not reflect your typical “abay” gowns. They’ll (hopefully) be wearing their gowns to different events — cuz I would!

And speaking of, I was just sent the mothers gowns. Seeing their sketches (and paying the 50% dp for our total package) suddenly confirmed that things really are coming along and this wedding is finally, finally going to pull through. Halleluja! We’ve postponed this madness way too long.

Didn’t go with the black motiff. Mother of the bride didn’t seem to approve. Well, husband of the bride as well, if you really want to know. So fine. Everyone just make sure to smile nicely for the cameras.

FIRST NAME:  Jennifer Rose

WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?  Nope.. I think Jennifer was a popular name back in the days so my mom followed the trend, I guess.

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?  I guess, I don’t really think about it much – all I remember about my handwriting is my friend Olga constantly asking me to write things for her in highschool cuz she didn’t like her own handwriting.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCHMEAT? Turkey
KIDS? Yep, one… hopefully, 2 or 3 more to go  

IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?   Hell yeeeeaaaaaaaaaahhhhh .

DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? A diary – junior high.  Now, my Weight Watchers log book .

DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?   Unfortunately, yes.  Especially when I’m pissed off and I’m talking down to someone.
DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?  Yes.
WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?  I think so… am not as daring as I used to be though.  Maybe not.  Depends — if Eric was with me.
DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?   Never!
DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?  When I was single, yep – super.  I thought I was the shit .  Now?  I wish I was stronger. 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?  Chocolate forever.
SHOE SIZE: 8.5
RED OR PINK?  Hmm.. fuschia?
WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?  My temper.  When I’m mad, all hell literally breaks loose. 

WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?   A lot of ppl — those I havent seen in ages, family and friends alike.
WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?  Black yoga pants.  No shoes on.
22. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?   Erynne tossing and turning on the bed.
23. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?  Something bold like magenta or fuschia or a nice, vibrant shade of green.
24. FAVORITE SMELL?  A lot of things — my fave foods, Juniper Breeze lotion, the smell of Issey Miyake perfume on Eric, the smell of Erynne’s detergent on her newly washed clothes, the smell of rain…. I could go on and on.
WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My dad.
THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU ARE ATTRACTED TO:  Smile. 

DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU?   Extremely.

FAVORITE SPORT? Volleyball
EYE COLOR:  Dark brown.. but in college, green.
HAT SIZE?  Oh god, umm…. are there really sizes?  Okay, for me, the largest size!
DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?  I do.
FAVORITE FOOD?  RICE IS LIFE remember!???

WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING?  Babyville by Jane Green.

WHAT’S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?  Don’t have one.. using a laptop.
WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT?  I don’t watch TV.
FAVORITE SOUNDS?  Waking up to a bird chirping on a bright sunny day, Erynne’s giggles… get back to me on this. 
ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?  Beatles.
THE FURTHEST YOU’VE BEEN FROM HOME?  Philippines.
WHAT’S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT?  Do I have one?  Would laughing count?
WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN?  September 3, 1976 in Juneau, Alaska.

My turn.  This is from Liv’s and Van’s blogs.

How do you like your eggs?:  Over easy.

How do you take your coffee/tea: I no longer drink coffee and I’ve always hated tea.

Favorite breakfast foods: Egg whites omelet with red bell peppers, mushroom, spinach, green onions served with fresh rice and something salty — like spam or kielbasa sausages!!!!  I love tinapa too — served with garlic rice and some vinegar to dip!  OMG yum.

Peanut butter: Nasty!

What kind of dressing on your salad?: Used to love ranch but it’s so thick and heavy… now, it’s vinigraette/olive oil.

Coke or Pepsi?: Pepsi for life… only bec. they make Mt. Dew.

You’re feeling lazy. What do you make?: Spam

You’re feeling really lazy. What kind of pizza do you order?: Pizza Hut used to have the New Yorker pizza, sauce slightly sweeter than the traditional sauce… so I’d order that even though it’s no longer on their menu. 

You feel like cooking. What do you make?: Sinigang (with LOTS of petchay/bok choy.. not overdone, still a bit crunchy) or bbque spareribs or grilled salmon.

Do any foods bring back good memories?: chinese food from this chinese resto in Juneau, Alaska that no longer exists — I swear no other chinese place can compare… no matter where I travel!

Do any foods remind you of someone?: Adobo will always remind me of my highschool friends — they’d always come over and there’d always be a fresh pot of adobo ready for them to devour (they’re white so they just really love that stuff).  Good times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And I associate chicken feet with Eric bec. it was with him that I discovered a new love for chicken feet.  Mongkok!!!! 

Is there a food you refuse to eat?: This dish called dinengdeng.  And “labong.”  My parents (and Eric!) love this stuff to death.  Nasty! 

What was your favorite food as a child? I can’t remember…. Twinkies was up there, I think.

Is there a food that you hated as a child but now love? Sushi 

Is there a food that you loved as a child but now hate? I used to eat this kilawin type of dish made out of liver, I think.  My grandpa would prepare it all the time and I’d eat it… I didn’t know any better, I guess.

Favorite fruit & vegetable: Fruit – watermelon; vegetable – petchay/bok choy!  (I’d even request tinola with petchay).

Favorite junk food: Mt. Dew.  Pizza?  Not really into junk food. 

Favorite between meal snack: I don’t know.  A sandwich?

Do you have any weird food habits: When it rains, I always want to eat sinigang (with lots of petchay/bok choy).  And I’m such a rice lover that my rice has to be perfect…. not mushy like mashed potatoes… and just right with that tiny touch of hardness.  Get it?  If rice is mushy, I’d rather not eat.

You’re on a diet. What food(s) do you fill up on? Everything .

How spicy do you order Indian/Thai? Medium.

Can I get you a drink? Water.  If I have to be maarts, make that bottled but no sparkly crap! .

Red wine or white? I’m too barbaric for that stuff.

We only have beer:  No crown? hahahahha

Favorite dessert? Anything with whipped cream… like Coldstone ice cream!!

Pinakbet: A mixture of vegetables that include: bittermelon, eggplant, and squash
Take this quiz!

WHY WOULD YOU STAY?!

CRAZINESSSSSSSSSSS!

I am officially 30 years old.  20 more years, I’ll be 50.  I hope I’m still laughing as hard.  I was so happy receiving my greetings and I was extremely touched by, guess what, Eric’s birthday card(s).  Remember how I said his cards always touch me in just the right spots?  I swear that guy can break me down like no one else can.  My dad treated us all to a lunch buffet (the worst kind: chinese!) and we had the yummiest cake ever (honest, I ordered my own cake cuz I didn’t want anyone to screw up on the order hahahah).  The theme I chose for my cake, check this out – 4 princesses .  Why?  Cuz I wanted Erynne to have the little princess toys after I blew out the candle hehehehehehhee.  Eric bought me a big-ass princess balloon that sings happy birthday to me.  HILARIOUS.  And then for dinner, I had asked my sister to buy me some green beans (so we could have some light, fresh vegetables with our dinner).. guess what she comes home with?  FROZEN GREEN BEANS.  WTF?!  Who the hell eats frozen green beans?!  LOL.  I was so turned off.  Frozen green beans with ribeye steak.  LOVELY. 

Second hilarious story for today.  We were at lunch, enjoying our meal.. my dad was getting more food, Eric had just come back to the table with a new plate of food and my sister and I were casually talking about whatever.  Then Eric offers Michelle some food and says, “Hey Michelle, try some of this chicken.  It’s really good.”  My sister agrees and says, “Oh, it is?  Okay.”  I look at it and I have to look down at my plate for fear I’m going to bust out laughing.  Eric does the same, but my sister notices nothing.  She continues talking to me, but interrupts Eric to note, “Oh, this is good chicken.  Where’d you get it?” only to realize half a millisecond after she’s said that that she’s eating FROG LEGS!!  And while frog legs might be something you’re accustomed to, you have to bear in mind my sister is VERY, VERY picky about food.  So once she realizes it’s frog legs (bec. she claims she’d seen it somewhere in the buffet line), she spits out whatever is in her mouth and is trying to take a sip of her drink and not laugh at the same time.  OMG, it was such a good time at that moment.  Eric and I were laughing so hard… it was a bit mean but hey, it’s my birthday.  LOL.

Anyways.  I had a really good birthday.  I was with good company and I had my little family with me.  Life is definitely sweet.