Fuss over a cellphone

My recent FB status shows the following:

My Eric died a natural death.. been together happily for almost 5 years. He already hinted last year that he can't be with me any longer. I was stubborn and I won't let go, yet he struggled to stay. A few days ago I reluctantly turned my attention to BB.. and that was when he finally let go.

Reading it over again made me feel a lump on my throat, heaviness inside. Akala ng iba, kung sino na yun. Actually, it made me think that I did refer it as if it were an actual person. Am I getting over sentimental with gadgets?!?! My SE810i has been a faithful companion for the longest time. Given to me by my brother, Earl, it has survived a salt-water plunge in Dubai when he was assigned there. Had it for a while then replaced it with an iPhone. So 'Eric' has been with me and recorded a lot of good (and bad) memories.

Last year, Eric showed signs of slowness and blacks out every now and then. Life expectancy would be less than 24 hours until I revive him. But then sometimes even that doesn't work. Then he'll surprise me one day waking me up from my sleep. Happy ulit. I was reluctant to replace him mainly because he is all I could ask for. But then there were instances when I needed him the most and he is not there.

Work finally introduced BB Curve. He catched my eye because he doesn't look too intimidating as his other companions who are too 'Bold'. It took a while for me to decide, and I finally did. After two weeks, I introduced BB to Eric. Their exchange went on smoothly and they got along pretty well. Then last week I began spending most of my time with BB. Eric probably knew that it would be inevitable. The other day when I checked to see how he was doing, he lay quiet. Efforts on reviving him proved unsuccessful. I will miss you, Eric. Thanks for the memories!

... and thanks for giving me the inspiration to start writing again.

A year that will be

2010. It was a bad welcome for me.

New Year's Eve, Andee was taken to the emergency room due to vomiting and loose bowel movement. January 2nd, it was Diego's turn. January 3rd and 4th, I was running a fever. Then now, for 3 days now, my allergies are more like a burning sensation on the skin.

But getting that aside, there are major looking-forward-to's for this year. February 20th will be our high school reunion's Silver Jubilee! Wow, 25 years na!!! Our batch holds reunion every 5 years. Each year handled and organized by a specific barkada, then 'assigning' the next barkada-organizer during the event. This time, everyone pitches in. As usual, I get to design the main tarpaulin for the event and take care of the physical arrangements. I will be (hopefully) posting a separate entry for that (fingers-crossed).

The next main event will be Lola's 90th birthday on August. It's going to be a grand family reunion, and everyone will be going home to Puerto Princesa. Exciting!

The last quarter of 2009 left a 'hole' in My Scratch Pad. After the Ondoy incident, phone and internet access are still non-existent. There were quite a few events that I should be blogging about, and of course, pictures to post. That might need to wait, I'm afraid, as I don't normally visit internet cafes.

So here's to 2010! :-)

Christmas Colored Mung Beans

Can't believe that Christmas was just yesterday!

Had to rush home from work, got home at around 10am. Caught cousin Angge cooking her specialty "Pad Thai" (she also arrived a few hours before me from work too!); had to gear up as well. My turn to cook (Dory Fillet with Asparagus cream sauce)!

Every year, Christmas Lunch is tradition for the family. We don't celebrate Noche Buena like what most families do. Normally we'd just spruce up the house, bringing out all plates and utensils, finish our cooking marathon. We'd then open a bottle of red wine and toast at midnight, Christmas Day, wake the kids and open presents! That was then. Sans the wine toasting and gifts opening, this year, sleeping early was the agenda. I was at work when I called at midnight expecting to hear the kid's excitement opening their gifts. Ha! everyone's asleep-- Mama answered the phone, a bit groggy--sorry, woke her up kasi. Anyway....

Our house becomes the venue for a grand family reunion. I remember about two weeks before. Mama was really down to tears, not wanting to plan the celebration anymore. Mainly because we (literally) have no chairs for our relatives and visitors to sit on! --thanks to Ondoy. And to add to mama's frustration, she has scanned the Marikina Yellow Pages for chairs and tables for rent..but everyone's booked! Good thing Yaya Wilma chanced upon a flier somewhere last week that rents out tables and chairs. Lo and behold! Problem solved :-)

Like clockwork, our relatives (and my brothers and their families) arrived like, just a minute apart-- and I am not exaggerating! After one family comes in and the beso-beso's were done, the next family arrives. This cycle continued on 5 times! 5 families! Enough to make everyone smile.

By mid-afternoon, we all went to Loyola Park (Marikina) to visit Papa and Lolo. Our ride has my kids and all my pamangkins. We are the schoolbus. Kids' ride. We call them the 'Retazos' --hahaha! A strip from the original!

It was a riot going to and from Loyola. Christmas concert ito. Singing ABS-CBN's Christmas staion ID, "Star ng Pasko, Salamat sa Liwanag Mo"... the 'RETAZOS' (aged 2-10):

"Salamat sa liwanag mo.. Muling magkakakulay ang munggo!"

Huh?!?!

Jacob and Bella

These are my two 3-month old choco point siamese kittens, Jacob and Bella (yeah..New Moon, i know!).
I am also testing the email posting feature.
Sent via SE810i

Sorry....

It has been an eternity since my last entry.

After Palawan, Andee's birthday, followed by Diego's antics, then finally Ondoy. It has been more than two months now and still, Globe has not yet reconnected our internet.

Tahgaaalll ..............Tons of stories to tell, lots of pictures to share.

I'll be back.