Semi Hiatus due to Severe Addiction

There's just so much things that I want to blog about but this thing always, always gets on my way. Now I've summoned all the forces of the universe to bring myself to finally write. But I suppose I will be in such a hurry so I'll just summarize my whole week in one entry to save my precious time. What's up with me?

I'm on a The Sims 3 phase once again. Every time I get ahold of a new game or expansion of it, I always go nuts playing it non-stop for days/weeks or even months. It all started a decade ago with The Sim City. It has a quite different game play than The Sims, but the heart and soul of these games is all the same - simulation. Then came the first ever The Sims game. It has a crappy graphics but who would complain about that in the early 2000s. Then Sims 2 went out with better-looking graphics. It also has the most awesome expansions ever! Yeah, better than the Sims 3, well atleast for me. Now the third version of the Sims is out along with several expansions already. The graphics is kick-ass. The game play is better, of course. Now, I recently installed the Generations expansion set, it was quite late having it, that's why my curiosity and excitement boiled up to this level that I can't even stop playing it while working. Next month, they'll be releasing the Pets expansion and I wonder how will that affect my work, health and social life, hahah. Some people may not get why am I wasting time with this boring game. But hey, who wouldn't want to play God? Okay, that sounds wrong. But just think of it like playing dolls but far more complex ones. 

Here's my sim, taking care of her client's children. She's a daycare specialist.

Oh, I was about to talk about my week. Last Friday, we had our test engagement photo shoot. It was just a fun way to immerse ourselves slowly into the photo taking world. I am very fond of having my photos taken but not in that level. I was quite uncomfortable actually, but our photographer is nice so we got through it very well. The idea was to have a very light feel, no still poses, no dramatic outfits and sceneries, just everyday mundane stuffs. We decided to do it on my boyfriend's work site. Imagine ginormous satellite dishes, cables and equipments. It's very fitting and original. We wore our matching shirts (they are not couple shirts, just plain black shirts with a little printed detail which is supposed to be an inside joke). 

Taken outside a storage room, yes that is a broken washing machine and in front of it is a lawn mower's handle. And yep, he's holding a fluorescent light.

Another highlight of my week is the album launching of my favorite local band, Chiro. I first heard them way back in 2008. It was my birthday when me and my boyfriend decided to spend the night drinking in a bar. He requested Sunny Came Home to this band and dedicated it to me. That was the first time I heard that song and it was beautifully sang. I became a fan. I followed some of their gigs and I got so excited when they won a national contest. I am happy they are now somehow recognized as they already have their digital album. They launched it last Saturday in Marquee Mall and I was so determined to watch it. I wasn't disappointed of course, they gave a great show and their album just costs 99 Php. We didn't finish it though because my mom's really starving so we decided to have our dinner already. Right after eating, the mall is about to be closed when we saw the band heading out to the parking lot. I asked them to sign the album and had my photo taken with their lead vocals. I know, they're not that sikat yet and it's so not-sosyal to ask for an autograph, but I did. So what! Hahah, defensive. They're really talented, I can see them hitting it big someday soon. 

Me and Toni with our flaming aura

Then last bed-weathered Sunday, I peeled my lazy ass off my chair as I attended my cousin's cotillion practice. Yes, I was asked to join that dance because they were short of female dancers. Don't get me wrong, I love my cousin and I am also excited about it because it will be my first time (me and my close friends didn't have this kind of bonggang debut) but I was kinda reluctant for two reasons. Reason number one, I seem to be too old for it and number two, I am a very, very bad dancer.


A supposed graceful dance turned into a painful one. My fellow dancers (most of them are teenagers) all wore cute sandals and flip flops while I did not bother to think of that because I was too lazy to dress up so I just grabbed my shoes (with a brand who boasts strong grip from the sole). So there they were, gracefully gliding over the tiled floor while I was squeaking my feet difficultly. The steps looks easy but I just can't seem to follow them. Ugh. After less than two hours of awkwardly dancing without a partner, the practice finally ended. Then my knee started to hurt. Lesson learned, if you do not want to look like an old fart who just got inflicted by rheumatism, do not wear shoes with sticky soles when dancing waltz. Or I guess every sane person who knows how to dance knows that already?

Videographer

We had reserved a slot to our photographer already. He's such a sweetheart. A supposed "service-only" package suddenly included a whole lotta freebies after just two meetings. After all, I can sense that he's a genuinely good person without some pushy sales talk. He advised that we get a separate videographer so they can focus on their respective tasks. 

We scoured and scoured of videographers who's got some good deals. Yes I found one, HD video services for an affordable price. Not bad, definitely. I've checked his works and they're okay too. I have talked to him before email and bargained for a price. I gave my name so he knows whose he dealing with. We went to his office after closing the price at 15k.

He wasn't at his office that day. We talked to his assistant and told him about the price we settled. He called his boss to confirm. I was kinda disappointed that the price was again raised to 18k even after I told him my name. I understand that he may have a lot of customers and pricing may come confusing, but I find it a little unprofessional too. He should know, right? Or if he's not sure, he should have checked first. After some back to zero bargaining, it was settled once again to my expected price. I gave the deposit and left. 

After reaching home, I sent him an email, informing him about the down payment and since the breakdown was not clearly stated in the contract (we got a photobooth service too), I asked for his acknowledgment. He replied that he would check it. Days have passed... I waited. Until I knew I had to follow up. I sent him another email asking when can we hear from him. The morning after I sent that, he called me on my phone. He was asking what I needed. I was shocked since I was sure the thread of messages were there on the email I sent. I said I just wanted an assurance that everything was okay regarding the services included and he said he already acknowledged it. When?? Well, it was that time when he said he would "check it"... that was his acknowledgement. And then there's this feeling of impatience in his voice. Twisted. I was disappointed. I do not expect to be treated as a queen, but at least someone who deserves some courtesy. 

But then again, I know my coordinator knows him. I'll just let her take care of it to save me from such minor headaches. We might got off on the wrong foot, but I really reallly need him to do his job perfectly on our special day. So I will let this slip off. See? I didn't even write his name. 

My Teenage Dream

Before our highschool graduation, me and my friends were brainstorming what college course we should take. I didn't have any clue. Deep in my mind, I knew what my dream is. It's not a typical fierce, independent-lady-like kind of dream. I know I can take up any course because I wanted to be a housewife. Yep, you heard me right. A housewife.


I ended up taking a very challenging course. I even made my parents proud by passing its licensure exams. I had real jobs with related tasks to my field. I had no fun so I hopped from a job to another one quickly. Yes, we're talking about months, not years. In a span of 4 years, I already had 6 jobs already (and several months of rest). And then I realized, maybe this career is really not for me?


Fast forward to today. I've been staying at home for the past 8 months now. I have some ways to earn online that makes me survive somehow.


Recently, my bf and mother had needed a whole lot of support. My bf had an accident which made him barely mobile and my mom had to be hospitalized due to a condition. My housewife DNA took over and made me oh-so domesticated and caring. I attended to their needs while juggling my online job and household chores. Then it occurred to me. My highschool self must be grinning with pride for her plan is finally at reach. I am exactly a plain housewife now! 


Did it bother me? No. I may be tired, but as cliché as it may sound, I feel fulfilled for the first time in my life. I know I may have to rethink if a baby is on the way, but it's not yet. I am happy now and it works for me. So why not. 

Back to Mommy's Trainings All Over Again

I'm her clone

As babies, we were gifted with the rights to receive maternal teachings like, clapping of hands, talking, walking and dancing. Mommies are so patient nurturing us, making sure we grow up just right. I am very thankful I was never an exemption. My mother was very hands-on in bringing me and my brother up as she was a stay-at-home mom and an intrinsically kind-hearted human being.


As now grown-ups, me and my brother still live with her. With my wedding coming this year-end, I know it will, somehow, break her and my dad's gentle hearts as they would have to let me go. I will, for the first time, live on a different house, with my new set of family (husband and maybe in-laws). Instead of being reluctant of that big change, she's just so wonderful of trying to teach me things that will help prepare me.


Now we're back to basics. My mother, teaching me new things, but this time, it no longer involves potty training. Lessons that are more valuable. From time to time, out of nowhere, she tells me things, without me realizing she's actually lecturing me. Maybe that's her subtle way of readying me because I may seem oh so excited, but a little part of me is scared as sh*t. Marriage is a lifelong commitment which requires unending love, understanding, passion and compromises. See that? I included the word compromise. If there's something I've learned from the past, that's one of the most important I guess.


Some important pointers I recall receiving lately (mostly while we're washing the dishes):

• Don't ever nag.

I lived with my parents most of my single life. I am proud to say that I've never heard them yell at each other. Yes there have been some arguments in the past but they kept their cool. They kept their respect for each other by not cursing and name-calling.


As tempting as it seems to just vent out every time things do not go our way, nagging doesn't always help. Yes it may feel good for us at that very instance to let it all out but it will just be converted to some random ramblings to our partner. It will never be listened to! Well, unless we include some taunting and insults, I'm sure our voice will be crystal clear. But you know where that will take us. So why not save ourselves from regret (or sore throat) and just be silent whenever we're angry. Silence is the best weapon anyway. It will cool your heads off until both of you are on your sane minds to talk and sort things out.

• Love your in-laws.

We all know how mothers-in-law are being stereotyped as "monsters". I'll be very honest, mine is not perfect too. She has this very strong personality which can scare anyone away. She's over protective of her family and their traditions. She loves being in-control of the house. I can't blame her, she has a loving husband and three sons who treated her as the queen ever since. And now, one by one, her princes are marrying their new "queens". And I am next. I don't know if I can be in par with her expectations and capabilities. All I know is that I'm quite scared of how I will handle it. 


You see, I've been a princess in our own little home. My parents and only brother spoiled me rotten with everything I needed. Soon I'll be leaving home. I may be staying with my new mom - my mother in law. I know I should be impressing her. My mother told me that no matter how scary it may seem to live with the in-laws, I should always aim to win their hearts. She never taught me to avoid it. Instead, she wanted me to exert a lot of effort in loving them. Yes, real, genuine love just like how I love my immediate family, walang kaplastikan! She wanted me to listen to them and allow any corrections, even reprimands, to be given to me. No, she's not teaching me how to be a martyr. It's just how it goes. Pour out love, and she's a hundred percent sure it will all be given back to me. 

• Don't let money rule the marriage

Let's face it, we all need money. We need it to pay our bills, to eat and even to live comfortably. But it should never be the center of marriage. It should never be an issue. Money comes and goes. Why bother fighting over it. It should not be the main goal of our every day living. 


My family, just like any typical Filipino families, went through some financial problems in the past. Curse unemployment. My father had this very long "vacation" while me and my brother are on our graduating years (highschool and college respectively). I saw how hard life can be that time. My parents had to borrow money from relatives and we had to live off the same ulam every day. But never, ever, had I heard my mom pester my dad about it. My dad did his best to do something and always assured my mom that God will always provide just like how he provides foods for the birds (Matthew 6:26). My mom trusted him and Him and we made it through. If you look at it the other way, it's so easy to just break down and let it out on your partner, especially if you see your kids hungry. But they didn't. And it made us strong. 


And now that she's got this fat bank account and we're teasing her that she's already a Donya, she still knows the value of money. She doesn't live off like a superstar, splurging with their hard-earned cash. But instead, she saves it for their retirement. It's still a mutual decision with mutual benefits. 


You see, money is just an everyday tool. You just have to know how to use it wisely. It should never be fought over. It's just like fighting over a hammer or a screwdriver (Yeah because i said it's like a tool). But no, my analogy's messed up. Money is consumable. Maybe I can compare it with water? It's like fighting over a glass of water? Now I'm not making sense anymore. Maybe I had too much serious talk, lol, ignore this last paragraph.