Why I’m a Good Friend
Friends always ask me for help whenever they need to research something – travel packages, cheap buys online, toddler schools, party planners even motorcycle accident attorneys. It’s because I always research as if it’s me who really needs them.
I listen to their stories before I tell mine. No matter how shallow or nonsense the conversations are, I enjoy talking to them. When the topic is pretty dramatic, I try to relate and offer my support when needed.
It’s hard not to give non-biased opinions but I do what I can because they are my friends. It’s like you’re in high school and deciding whether to tell your bestfriend that she has body odor or needs to use mouthwash.
I remember their likes and dislikes, favorite book, artist, movie so I’ll have an idea what to give them on their birthdays or other special occasions.
Most of all, I try to attend all parties that they throw so even if we rarely see each other, I can say that I’m always present on their most important events.
Gaining Weight Again
No matter how much I try to lessen what I eat, I can’t go back to my old weight anymore. The weight gain is not that huge, about 6-8 lbs, and something that you’d normally ignore. But whenever I gain weight, the extra pounds go to my lower body parts. It’s not noticeable especially when I’m wearing jeans but now, I realized that I’ve been ignoring it too long. When I tried on two of my walking shorts, they won’t get past my lower thighs. This never happened to me before even when I used to eat for three. I’m terribly disappointed for depriving myself and a little bit depressed. I am tempted to take a diet pill but worried about the effects. But it’s like I have time to work out anymore. I could either starve myself, a proven way to lose weight and also proven that you will gain it all back in days, or hit the dreaded treadmill again.
On Precious Metals
Many financial analysts feel that gold and silver, and specifically US gold and silver coins, present outstanding investment opportunities. More importantly, there may never be a better time for buying these commodities than right now. The demand for silver worldwide, for example, has been exceeding annual production rates since 1990. Another good reason for investing in silver is that the US Government is now replenishing its silver reserves after it had made huge amounts available to the world market in the years immediately after World War II; silver investors are practically assured a bulk-buyer outright.
As investment products, gold and silver are available as coins or ingots. Ingots are generally gold or silver of pure bullion cast, presented in a convenient size and shape. Coins have a currency value and are actually sometimes defined as ingots.
Monex Deposit Company (MDC) lets you purchase silver, gold or other precious metals and coins for immediate personal delivery or arrange for convenient and safe storage at an independent bank or depository. For over 30 years, the Monex companies have been America’s gold, silver and precious metals investment leader. For those interested, MDC currently offers American eagle gold coins (.9167 fine gold) in units of 10 one-ounce coins for personal delivery only. These are legal tender in the USA, with a $50 face value. Fractional sizes (ounce and 1/10 ounce) in units of 20 coins each are also available for personal delivery.
Alex
Sandy’s fondest wish is to have a baby brother. She said she wants to take care of the baby, change his nappies, give him a bath and feed him. She said she will put him to sleep by carrying him and burp him when he’s done “making dede”. I told her she can do all that with all her dolls. I bought her plenty because I know how she wants to play pretend. But everytime I tell her about her dolls, she replies with a firm NO. She doesn’t want a doll, she wants a real baby (emphasizing on the word real). She also said she can’t talk to her dolls, that they don’t talk back. I will then promise her that I’ll buy her one that can talk and walk to which she’ll reply in a very exasperated voice, “But I want a real baby”, as if that’s very easy. I know The Husband and Sandy are both ready, it’s just me who’s not.
And just in case you’re wondering about the title, Alex is the name that she wants to give to her future baby brother. There used to be a second name but she changed her mind and decided to call him just Alex.
Career Change
I can’t believe how many design programming jobs are available these days. I’m glad because if my line of work wasn’t so popular, my skillset would be totally worthless. I’ll have to pursue another career, possibly in a marketing department or sales which I’m pretty sure I would suck big time. But speaking of changing careers, here’s a list of what I really want to do if I’ve never discovered computers and the Internet.
Dance choreographer
Stage set designer
Interior designer
Art school teacher
Civil Engineer or Architect
These last three were my long time dreams ever since I was a little girl.
Supermodel (erm)
Astronomer
Archaeologist
Wordless Wednesday – Ready, Set, Jump
I Will Never Leave You
Papa: Sandy, embrace Papa. Stay with me please. Soon you wouldn’t want to spend time with Papa. Come here.
Sandy: But Papa!! I will always want to stay with you!!! (She then embraced her Papa really tight.)
Papa: No you wont, but it’s okay. When you grow up you will always leave the house and prefer to hang out with your friends.
Sandy: No Papa. I will stay with you forever. You’re so much fun. I don’t want to grow up. (she’s getting worried here)
Papa: Thank you baby. But these things happen. Time will come when you will no longer want to spend time with us. But it’s okay. You’ll have fun with your friends, go to the mall ….
Sandy: NO NO NO. I want to stay with you and mama forever. I don’t like my friends. You only and mama. I will spend time with you always. I will never leave you and mama.
Papa: Mama, paki-record nga to bilis para pagtanda nya at ayaw sumama sa mga lakad natin paparinig ko sa kanya. (Mama, can you record our conversation so I could play it for her when she grows up and wouldn’t want to spend time with us anymore?)
Household Management
It’s funny how my issues regarding our household vary from The Husband’s.
For him:
Car repairs and upgrades, plumbing checks, pest problem and ceiling cracks, organize DVD collection, fix cable wiring on our network, bank payments, health care, have the DSLR cleaned including lenses, storage of groceries and wet food to avoid salmonella, disease from water, food etc, cleanliness when preparing food.
For me:
Upgrade all our insurance policies, get another policy like term insurance for me, check out lot properties for sale, new hard drives, organize photos, new closet for clothes, shoe boxes and toy organizers for Sandy, toddler schools, travels and birthday plans, investments and savings accounts.
But I’m glad that we’re different because whatever it is that I miss, I’m sure he’ll get to it. That’s what you call partnership. 
Family Photos and More From Our Tagaytay Trip
Read about the trip here.
Sandy learning how to use the tripod. She took these photos.
Family photo.
I really enjoyed our stay at Yellow Coco. Their brick walls, high ceilings, spacious kitchen with undermount sink, glass walled bathroom, day beds, huge garden area, library of DVDs and big LCD TV. The rate for the room that we occupied was around Php6,000 and good for 6 pax. Not so bad if you calculate the fee per head. It’s perfect for families or group of friends who wants to get away from the polluted city. Bigger rooms are available for 2-3 families at Php7,500 per night.
Our Holy Week Trip
Last Holy Friday, we took our chances and went to Tagaytay without reservations. It took us more than an hour at least to find a vacancy but not without Sandy’s effective praying. She asked why we kept stopping and I said it’s because there are no available rooms anywhere. I told her to ask Papa Jesus for help to which she replied, “but he can’t help us, he’s in the cross now”. I would have launched into a long explanation but The Husband told me she’s too young so I told her that Papa Jesus can help us wherever he is. SO she said this with her eyes closed and hands clasped together:
“Papa Jesus, please help us. Please help us find a room so we can all rest”.
And voila! A few minutes after that, we found yellowcoco. It didn’t look promising outside because of the very small sign and the too tall gate covering the property. But this was what we found inside.
They have huge rooms with lofts and each room can accommodate from 6-12 pax. It’s more of a bed and breakfast than a hotel but we just love it because it’s really huge. There are also plenty of nooks outside if ever you want to eat there, read a book or in Sandy and Chloe’s case, run around.
We then had dinner at one of those overlooking eateries. The weather and view were perfect that we couldn’t believe our luck. First finding not only a vacancy but a very nice one too and then later having the perfect spot just below the restaurant.
More photos of the room: (this is the loft area with the LCD tv)
Breakfast at Bag O’ Beans.
The trip was a success because I had lots of rests, good photo opp and the kids slept early without throwing tantrums. It really helps if you travel with another family too.
More photos after this.
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About Joy
I am Dzoi, a 28 year old Filipina who currently works as a web designer. I am a loving wife to my equally loving husband Sherwin and a mommy cow to my 2-year-old daughter, Sandy.
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