One Corel Morning

Started my Sunday morning at 7am by having an oatmeal and egg breakfast with mama, Andee and Diego. This is one of the very rare moments that we'd sit down together during mealtime. After breakfast, I had to get started with good 'ol Corel for teasers and certificates for an office project again. This is a repeat or a continuing project that started late 2007 to give recognition to outstanding agents who meet their stats and KPI's.

Patterned after America's Next Top Model, I was included into a team of apprentices and senior agents, headed by one of our Coaches, to start off the project. The first four months ran cycles 1 through 4, of course, changing the word 'America's' in America's Next Top Model, to the account's name. It was also the first time in years (after designs for my JustCats store, and lay-outs for a coffee-table book) that I again got face-to-face with Corel. After four Top Model cycles, it was followed by our version of Pinoy Big Brother- Celebrity Edition, which unfortunately, didn't quite had the impact we were hoping. It only lasted 'Season 1'. Those times were great because I get to spill out all my frustrations (!!), depressions (?!!?), and creative juices with Corel. It was again a getting-to-know-you stage. Insecurities started to settle in mainly because, well.. old school syndrome. Feeling ko lalabas na masyadong outdated ang layout or design..pang 80's ba. Had to spend more time online and check out subjects on graphic designs, consulting with Cak, and try to reinvent myself..etc. , etc.

Now we are again back with the Top Model Cycle 5 project and I'd say, this time.. or, this morning rather it seemed that it didn't take me forever to think of what to put in or do. It was the usual surfing for new America's Top Model pics (Cycle 10 pala na sila!) and embelishing again. Aside from blogging and dating (hehe)... good thing there's this therapeutic 'work'. Never been better!

Mama Mia!!

It's a girlie flick. Pang barkada, mother-daughter bonding! Guys 'would' enjoy it too-- granting if they're Musical fans or aged 50 up (hehe); or were dragged along by their girfriends or wives-- at least show that you enjoyed it, man!.

Pierce Brosman was a surprise. Never thought I'd see the former James Bond belting out tunes. Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried had voices very much Abba. Bagay na bagay.

I'm having last song syndromes with this movie. Mama Mia will work for you if you are a huge ABBA fan (like me!). I think I still have Abba's 33RPM-long playing record hehe... it was a christmas gift (naku, grade school pa ata ako non) and I was gaga over 'Nina Pretty Ballerina' and 'Mama Mia' that time.

HSM Ice Tour

Watched Disney's High School Musical The Ice Tour with Andee as a sort of mother-daughter bonding thingi. I was not able to get tickets beforehand so we LRT'd over to Cubao Gateway and got our tickets an hour and a half before the start of the second show at 1pm. Good thing we did, and went in, as the tickets we got were 'free seating' tickets-- coz the moment we got past the ticket turnstile, 2 or more buses arrived at the Coliseum's driveway. Astig nga eh. Field trip ng St. Mary's Academy (of Guagua, Pampanga -- if I read it right). Kakatuwa. They all (teachers, students, parents and chaperones alike) sat at the same section we were. Ang dami kaya nila!

It was fun, mainly because literally everybody (including parents!) knew the songs. And why not if Disney Channel has reruns of High School Musical 1 & 2 almost every now and then! The cast are near look alikes of the original shows' main characters, like Troy, Chad, Miss Darbus, Sharpei, etc. The only thing is, Gabriella's character doesn't seem to come off as well as the others. Very poor characterization. Actually, it was rather boring, her character.

Overall, everybody had fun. Andee had fun. And as if we didn't get enough... we followed it up with Brendan Fraser's Journey to the Center of the Earth at Robinson's Metro East :-)

It's Remifemin time?

Remifemin. A reliable, clinically-studied black cohosh extract can provide natural relief from hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings.† It allows you to have a strong alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.†

... and I am taking it. Had another fit of discomfort at the office, was sent home (again..) For almost three years that I've been trying to find relief and been gone through all possible tests.. potassium levels, thyroid tests, ct scans, etc., etc., etc. Finally went directly to my personal OBGyne. Well, lo and behold! (Probably) got the answer I needed. Not surprisingly though, as mama also mentioned that she had a first cousin who 'stopped' at age 38. Symptoms I've got --hot flushes, headaches, restlessness, depression (?!?!) etc.,-- but my doctor says it really isn't official yet because of the fact that I am still menstruating (occassionally missing a month or two).

... *sigh* lalo ata ako nadepress!

Barkada?!?!

When mama woke up this morning and looked out of her window, she saw what she thought were 3 cats sitting under our star apple tree, side by side --- one white one (Shiela), another white one with black spots, and a brown one. Afraid that it might be a noisy morning (Shiela was menstruating and it has been an interesting few days when a lot of tom cats would visit and fight over her), Mama tried to shoo away the two suitors.

Shiela and the white with black spots scampered away, while the brown one went up the star apple tree... and went swinging from one branch to another. Swinging?!? The brown one happened to be Muy-Muy.

Friends sila?!?!