Monday, April 30, 2007

More sales please!

My JustCATS store, same as last year, picked up its sales just before Mother's Day. And it looks like it has become a trend already, or a pattern. But unlike last year when the more popular designs sold were under my 'Here, Kitty, Kitty' collection, this time more sales are pouring in for 'Cat Signs' and 'My Cat, My Life'.
Hay naku, Mother's Day...

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Zaturnnah Ze 5th!

Tanghalang Pilipino brings back its rousingly funny hit musical based on Carlo Vergara's graphic novel - ZSAZSA ZATURNNAH (ZE MUZIKAL)! The beloved parlorista superhero(ine), is back in fighting form to defend a small town from a giant frog, rampaging zombies and power-tripping planet women. This fabulous production will again run for three weekends from June 15-July 1 (Thurs- Sun) at the Carlos P. Romulo auditorium of the RCBC Plaza in Makati City.

Eula Valdez now has an alternate as Zaturnnah-- singer-comedienne Kakai Brosas, known widely as K Brosas (see picture), known for singing jazz blues music. A bit of trivia here... did you know that K Brosas was the first choice as Zaturnnah? When we heard about it the first time, when the muzical was still in its planning stages, we really thought it was a good choice. Babaeng bakla! I've seen K in person and she does have that big, sexy built and character to portray ZZZ. It was only because of her schedule that she was not able to commit. Eula is THE Zaturnnah. But it would definitely be fun to watch K!

Tuqs Rutaquio (gandang-ganda talaga ako sa kanya) as Ada now has, ehem, Vince de Jesus as alternate. THIS I WOULD DEFINITELY LOVE TO SEE! I admire Vince because of his brilliance in putting in the right music to the play. Watching him would be something!

Joey Paras, I've heard will not be able to do Didi since he has other engagements. According to Cak, his replacement would fit the role to a 'T'. I just forgot his name... can you read my tongue please? Nasa dulo ng dila ko e. He was one of the TP company of actors who are the townfolks.

As a side note... around 1-2 months ago, after work, I saw a familiar figure outside our office building. It was Red, the actor who opened Act2 of ze muzical with a very soulful song, and the one who doned the giant frog's costume. Hmmm..what's he doing here? Di ko matiis. I went over to him and introduced myself. Lo and behold! We work for the same company but in different accounts. Small world.

This (bigger and better) production is reportedly the last, before Cak releases the second book. Naku, bro, have we finished with the revisons already?!? .. Toxic ito!

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Conjunctival lesion

I arrived at Medical City 10 minutes before 8am straight from work. Andee is scheduled for her eye operation at 8am. When I was lead into the Surgury Suite's Pre-Operative Preparation Room, I heard nurses talking to Andee asking her to do something which I heard her reply, "wala pa si Mama" (Mama is not yet here). Call it photo finish. Her lola mentioned that Andee kept on saying "wala pa si Mama.. di ba sabi niya dadating siya" when the nurses started to prepare her for surgery. I was asked to put on scrubs too--as I would accompany her inside the operating room. *What?!?!" *gulp*. I can't bear the thought of seeing her eye being 'sliced' but then again I wanted to go to be sure she's ok. Later on I found out that I would be led out of the room after Andee was put to sleep (general anesthesia).

The operation, according to Dra. Alvina Santiago, would take only about 10-15 minutes. It was 8:30am when I was led out of the operating room. Then came 9am, then 9:15am. Mama and I became restless. Friends were already texting finding out if everything went ok. Finally at 9:30am, Dra. Santiago came in and apologized that it took longer than usual. "Malaki kasi e" (It was a big one).

On the medical report, it read.. "Excision Biopsy of Conjunctival lesion (left eye) done.8.5 x 5.5mm pigmented lesion, raised, closely adjacent to limbus." After 'slicing off the mole, part of a membrane was pulled to cover the wound. It incurred 5 stitches (ouch!). The sensation that Andee will feel is something like having sand in the eyes.

After around 10 minutes, one of the nurses came in and asked me to go to the recovery room coz "nagwawala po si Andrea" (she's restless). When I got there, there were 3 nurses holding her. Andee was moaning and wanted to sit up. When I got closer I almost cried. Awa ako. She kept on asking where she was. She says she can't see. She is still a bit groggy, coming out of the anesthesia. Her right arm has welts apparently from demerol. In between, she'll sleep and all of the sudden, wake up suddenly and cry and moan. Then she said something that made me shed a tear.. When she was injected with anesthesia and was asked to breathe into the oxygen mask, which she resisted, she said.."tinatawag kita ng 'mama, mama'..pero walang lumalabas. Hindi kita matawag.." Then she started to cry.

At least it's okay. We'll know the results of the biopsy by next week.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Diego's First Day

It was Diego's first day in trial class. He was wide awake at 5:30am! (his class starts at 9am). Sobrang excited. When we arrived, there were already about 5 kids there. He was quite when he was led inside the room. Parents and yayas were allowed to go at the back to peek at the windows. Diego was already sitting quietly and then all of the sudden, you'd see him trying to supress tears! He was looking around the room then at us (I was with Andee and yaya Wilma). Then he'd start rubbing him eyes. Naku! umiyak na!!! As 'nanay' as I can be, naiyak tuloy ako. His teachers were now trying to comfort him and finally they requested that Andee accompany him for the meantime. (In the picture, he does not want Andee to leave his side) Oh well, and I thought 'barumbado' itong si Diego. Tumitiklop din pala!

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Clearance

Went directly to St. Luke's after for Andee's series of tests to see if she is already cleared of her Bronchopnuemonia in preparation of her eye operation. St. Luke's is really soooo kainis to go to. Aside from the traffic and heat, the grounds are enough to make one suffocate-- sobrang sikip and parking is hell. GMA apparently, reportedly converted the 5th floor of the hospital into a mini Malacanang because of the First Gentleman's condition. True enough, there was a cordoned part in the hospotail lobby for paparazzis and reporters, a podium set-up for news updates. The lobby was filled with familiar political faces, aside from a group of priests and nuns. Anyway. it took all morning for the tests to complete.

Results will be taken directly to Andee's pediatrician. The follow-up check-up on Tuesday will now set a schedule for the opeartion.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

I'm back

Hello again-- after 100 years! I've been not in the blogging mood for sometime after my birthday. Lot of things in my mind-- Andee's operation, Diego's school, tuition schedule, etc., etc. Trying to get as much inspiration as I can.
I'll be up and about again. Sorry for that.