Of Reunions and Homecomings

Photo credit: wiznation.com

I'm not a fan of school reunions and homecomings.

Why? I really have no answer.

When I was younger, I was pretty friendly.  I knew almost everybody and most knew me.  That was pre-beeper and cellphone days.

Now, I see my classmates' and batchmates' faces and wonder why I have no desire to meet them again after all these decades.

When I was still taking up law, my answer to this was, well, everybody's successful now and would be telling stories of their trips abroad, their families, their cars and jobs. What would I share about? That I have a ton of photocopied cases decided by the Supreme Court? That I was still unmarried and have a love affair with my books?

But now, what is my reason?

A classmate/friend commented that I used to be friendly in high school.  I even performed a lot in high school. Now, as I'm growing old, she joked that, "Kung kelan ka tumanda, saka ka naman naging takot sa tao."

I admit, I am anti-social now. I don't like going to events unless I have a part in there - emcee, materials provider, singer, coordinator, name it.  I try to avoid them, in fact.  I love being invited though.  Is it because it's inaccessible for me since I live far away, I don't have a car and it's so hard to commute? Is it because I'm always tired and that events, like reunions, are usually held on weekends, one day of which is my only day to relax? Or because I would have to unnecessarily spend money just to attend an event?

Or, it's just that, it's so hard for me to attend. Period.

And I wish I know why.

So to my friends and family:  for all those affairs, reunions, homecomings, events, celebrations that I was absent, I have a perfectly valid reason for not being there.  Just please don't ask why.  You're still in my heart and I hope I am in yours too.

“I Can Be Body Beautiful at Any Age with Wacoal”

I was asked to answer this:

“How can you be body beautiful at any age with Wacoal?”

For some, this may be very hard to answer but since I have a long love-affair with Wacoal, I have a ready answer:

Whatever your shape is, you are beautiful.  But Wacoal makes it more beautiful.  So for me, Wacoal makes my body more beautiful because in my fast-paced lifestyle and ever-stressful jobs (with an 's', as in plural), Wacoal makes sure that my sensitive body part is supported and that my shape is not compromised.

For women in the 30's bracket (that's where I belong), intimate apparels are essential not only for one's well-being but also to ensure that one looks good no matter where they may be - at home, at work, engaging in sports and what-have-you's.

And this is my dream piece for now:

IB 5662

Php 1,100.00

http://www.wacoal.ph

Love the color, love the shape, love the everythin'! lol

http://www.wacoal.ph

Irritating Staff at Picnic Grove's Fish Spa

It's a Monday and I want to start the week by ranting.

Last Saturday, we went to Picnic Grove because we were itching to leave the house. The last time we went there was when my baby was still a baby, less than a year old! So that was what, four  years ago?

Anyways, I noted a lot of changes in the area and my tita/ninang showed me the new Fish Spa inside.  The place has got aquariums with doctor fish inside to nibble on one's feet.  The person gets a 10-minute massage after being "EATEN ALIVE" by fish for 20 minutes.

I wanted to try it, but I was too chicken to try it so I asked hubby to try it instead. And he gamely did.

I wasn't able to count how many fish
were inside each tank

One must wash his/her feet before submerging them inside a tank-full of fish.  This is to ensure that the feet and legs are free from lotion or other chemicals that may harm the fish.  Obviously, if the fish would eat you, they would possible ingest the chemicals too.  (Paano kung may athlete's foot, mangingisay kaya ang fish?)

Konti pa lang, kasi kakalagay pa lang ng feet.

A few seconds into the tank and the fish greedily chewed and sucked into hubby's feet.

Once the news had spread...
Munch...munch...chomp...chomp...yummy feet!

According to hubby, at first, the chewing is tickling and it is a bit "nakakakuryente".  After several minutes, one gets used to it and the gnawing/chewing/munching becomes tolerable and relaxing.  About the massage, it was not exceptional.

The downside.

I wanted to try it, but the staff wouldn't even let me touch the tanks with my hand.  They want me to pay first and they don't want me to see if I would like it! For something this noveau, the management should be tolerable to customers who are not so keen on trying out this thing.

My baby enjoyed looking at the fish so much, he wanted to try it too.  But the staff kept on saying, "distansya lang po, distansya" without saying why.  If course, I would ask my boy to stay away from the aquarium, but after saying that at least five times, it was irritating already.  I asked them how old is the youngest who can try it. And they said 5 yrs. So I said, my boy's 5, can he try it? No. no explanations whatsoever. So my boy and I left

My dejected baby after not being allowed to try it.

Lahat na lang bawal, eh magbabayad naman kami?

I would tell everyone I know, not to go to that place.  For P200 pesos, you may waste money because you wouldn't know if you'd enjoy it because they aren't accommodating to their customers and won't let them try it first free of charge.

Second, the staff are very aloof. They welcome you, but they don't have smiles on their faces. Were they underpaid, oppressed or depressed about their jobs? I don't know. Basta, nakakairita na magpunta sa kanila.

Third, it's overpriced.

Fourth, masungit ang staff. Super not friendly.

Fifth, masungit ang staff. Super not friendly.

Sixth, masungit ang staff. Super not friendly. (Oh did I mention this many times already?)

So there, need I say more?

How to make Devil's Food Cake

It's fun to bake. But it's more fun when there are additional little hands that try to make a mess of what you bake.  Oh yeah, their intentions are sweet- they just want to help.  But imagine little hands tasting the batter from time to time, spilling flour and everything on the table. Do you still get to bake your special treat? YES! Why? Because it will surely be made with love.

Here's how we baked our devil's food cake:


Ingredients:

Flour
Cocoa Powder
Eggs
Butter
Sugar
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Salt
A gallon of Love
A bowl of laughter


Mix all the dry ingredients

Add water

The little boy is itching to add the eggs as soon as we started

Mix

Add eggs.

Ah not on your clothes cutesy... This is how to break an egg, kids.

See the little boy? He changed clothes because
he cracked the egg on his shirt

And this is how to mix... Mix in one direction only.

See, there, you're getting the hang of it.

Ta-daaaannnnnn! devil's food cake by my little angels :)

Spelling Bee Non-Qualifiers

I love being a teacher.  But what I hate most in teaching is checking exam papers especially when the questions asked are essay-type.

I remember that song, "I wanted a shadow I don't anymore.
No matter what happenS, I can't anymore!"

Because and Bankrupt. Is that so hard to spell, my dear?

Half!!! I thought it was a mere error, then he repeated it.

Barrow, Borrow, Barrow, Borrow! Grrr!!!

Hince!
And the word "barrowed" again. Hay!

Exceptive - similar sounding words include:
Exception, Expletive, Except. Wait...
Oh, I get it, EXEMPTED!

The proper term here is "Ultra Vires" meaning acts done
outside of one's authority. 

Primary and Secondary Education in the Philippines should really be drastically improved to avoid Spelling Bee disqualifiers like these in high school.

And it's not just the spelling. It's the entire communication thingy!!