WHAT is this??? Part 2!!

Ito clue... clue nga ba?
Magkabarkada yang dalawa =D
Isip isip while I get pic/s for answers =P

WHAT is this???

Anyone knows what the image is?? Make a wild guess =D

Sunog sa Cuenca Street (February 22, 2009 to February 23, 2009)

11:45PM ng Feb 22. Lumabas ako sa kwarto dahil ginising ako ni Wilma. Wiwi/ pupu ata kasi siya. Sinamahan ko siya sa terrace. Pero naglalaro laro lang siya. Kaya tumayo ako sa pagka-upo at pagka-idlip sa bench at naglakad lakad para mag wiwi/ pupu siya. Dumungaw ako sa terrace namin at nakita ko na ang kapitbahay namin ay may munting salu-salo. Sinilip ko si Wilma kung naka pag-wiwi/ pupu na siya. Sa panahong ding yun, may nadinig akong pumutok at sumigaw. Pag katingala ko, nakita ko na may nasusunog na na bahay malapit sa compound namin.

Pumasok ako uli at ginising ko ang kuya ko. Agad siyang pumunta sa terrace. Laking gulat ko dahil malaki na agad ang apoy. Bumaba ako para tumawag ng bumbero. Buti na lang na yung magnet sa refrigerator namin ay may mga emergency numbers. Kaya nakatawag agad ako sa Fire Fighter Volunteer. Habang nasa baba ako, ginising ko na din ang mga kasama namin sa baba. Pag akyat ko, nakita ko na gising na si mama.

Kinuha ko lang ang cellphone niya at akin. Pag baba ko, kinuha ko ang susi sa kotse, i-unlock ko at iniwan kong naka bukas ang mga pintuan ng mga sasakyan namin. Nagbabaan na ang mga aso at sinimulan kong hakutin sila at isakay sa mga sasakyan. Nauna si Scottie na sumakay. Aba! nakita ba naman ang aso ng kapitbahay eh gusto pang banatan!! Pinasok ko na lang siya sa kotse at sinara ng konti ang sasakyan.

Sumunod ay si Thatcher. Nung time na ipapasok ko siya, muntik pang tumakas si Scottie, kaya pina-andar ko na lamang ang mga kotse at sinara ng tuluyan ang mga pinto, para walang tatakas!! (Kasi nag na-alarm eh...).

Kasunod naman si Maya, nung nakalabas siya ng bahay, natakot ata at nag pupumiglas habang hawak ko ang collar. Natanggal pa nga ang collar, dali dali ko siyang kinuha at isinakay.

Isa-isang nailabas ang mga aso at sinakay.

Pumasok ata ako uli sa loob at kinuha ang gamit na nalaglag sa sofa. Umakyat din ako para tawagan na uli ang kapatid ko at isang katulong, si Michelle. (Kumuha din ako ng mga fire extinguisher na maliit!! hehehe )

Pagkatapos, sumakay na kami at umalis sa area. Naki-tambay muna kami sa bahay ng kaibigan ni kuya.

(Di ko alam kung kelan sumakay sa kotse si mama....)

Yan ang story ko... sa nanay ko naman...

Nagising si mama ng mga 12 dahil kinakalabit siya ni Thatcher, wiwi daw kasi siya. Nagtaka ang mama ko dahil may naririnig siyang mga commotion sa labas at may pumuputok putok. Pagkalabas niya ng kwarto, laking gulat niya dahil malaki na ang apoy. Tinawagan niya yung mga katulong sa intercom na maghanda na.

Kumuha si mama ng ilang mga importanteng bagay sa office. Tulad ng mga checke (namin at ng customers), mga recievable (nasa listahan lang nga), at kaunting pera. Balak nyang bitbitin ang lagyanan ng mga invoices kaso nag dalawang isip siya kasi malaki at mabigat ang lagyanan kaya iniwan na lang niya.

Habang ginagawa nya yun, tinatawag na nya yung mga tao para lumabas. At pinaalala din sa amin na isakay ang mga aso. Iwan na mga damit dahil madaling gawan ng paraan ang mga yun.

Nung nasa kotse na, may mga documents ng office ang nakalimutan niya. Sabi ko bayaan mo na, aalis na tayo dito. Mahirap kung maipit tayo.

Nung nakasakay na sa kotse, tsaka siya nakaramdam ng panginginig ng mga paa.


Syempre incomplete story iyan... di ko naman naaalala ang lahat eh...


Buti na lang at hindi umabot dito sa compound namin. Buti na lang at ang mga kapitbahay namin dito ay kampante lang. AT buti na lamang at walang nasaktan sa pangyayari.

Laking pasalamat ko din sa dalawa naming mga katulong, dahil kahit na natataranta sila, di nila kami iniwan sa ere. Inaalala pa din nila kami. Tumulong silang dalawa sa pag-hakot ng mga alagang aso. Isa sa kanila ang nag-alalay sa mama ko. Ang isa naman ay nagbuhat ng mga gamit na pinabibit-bit ni mama.
Special mention ito para sa magkapatid na sina Marivic at Michelle.
Yung dalawa pa, wala ng special mention yun! Nauna ng lumabas sa gate. Pagdating namin sa gate eh parang taxi kaming pinara! =P

Nakakatakot na experience iyun... ayaw ko ng maulit...

Canine Parvovirus Strikes

February 20, 2009, Friday

This morning at 6AM, we received a terrible news from our vet. Green died at 3AM today due to Parvovirus.

He was my favorite among the litter. He was malambing even if he's quite an iyakin, I still like him. Who wouldn't? He already sees me as his master. He would whine whenever I leave him behind.

He was already mine... I begged my mom to have him instead of adopting him out. He became mine, but Parvovirus took him away from me.

Monday morning, 12AM, he pooped. His poop was a bit soft but I found no traces of blood nor any foul odor, as far as I can recall.

1AM, he vomited.

Almost every hour, he would vomit. I opened a bottle of Pedialyte to prevent him from getting dehydrated. But he wouldn't drink much.

3AM, he vomited again, so I texted our vet hoping she'd be awake.

As I wait, he fell asleep. I observed him and hoped that he wouldn't vomit again. Hoping that he only ate something bad that gave him an upset tummy. Unfortunately, he vomited again.

So I called our vet afterwards (4AM) and told her in detail what has happened.

4:30AM, my bro and I were preparing to leave to bring Green to the vet when I saw he pooped. That was probably the 3rd or 4th time already. This time his stool was very loose already but still no trace of blood.

Around 5AM, the vet checked for his stats and gave him IV. He was still very masigla that time. He was whinning and crying so I stayed by his side to comfort him. I was still hoping it was nothing serious. But then, his poop started to have a foul smell.

I thought everything would be well since we have the vet treat him early. But I didn't understand that Parvo doesn't work in that manner. Parvo attacks mercilessly. The worst part is that there is no direct cure for the virus. All the vet could do is prevent secondary complications like dehydration etc.

By the end of the day, he was still fine. He even ate, but his stool was still loose so we couldn't bring him home.

As the day passes, I was hoping that Green would get better and better. But he didn't. He grew weaker and weaker little by little each day. Yesterday, he was quite matamlay. I was starting to loose hope but I shoved the feeling away. I told him, as I have been doing, that he has to fight off the disease. That his ka-tropa are waiting for him. That I'm waiting for him too and that we would come home together. But he never made it...

I really miss him.. He hasn't been home since Monday until today, Friday. He would never be. His home is somewhere else, in a place where he would no longer get sick. Where Sydney, Benjie and all the others have gone first. I really wish there is a rainbow bridge waiting for them. Also, that they too, have souls and that one day we would be together again.

Goodbye Green/ Lincoln... we miss you already.... Your stay, though short, was full of life. (November 28, 2008 ~ February 20, 2009).

To mommies and daddies (of beloved pets): Please take care of your pets. Be a responsible owner and have them vaccinated properly. Give them the love and care the deserved. I don't know much about caring for pets aside for dogs. But losing one, I knew the pain. Let's not wait to learn our lessons the hard way...

We gave Green/ Lincoln the best we can. But the vaccine for Parvo didn't seem to have taken effect. Still, I couldn't help but regret that maybe we missed out on something....

February 14, 2009

This is the day when Bam Bam came home to his new family. We were planning on bringing him to his new home on the first Sunday of February. However, he got sick so we had to complete his medications first before seeing him off.

At his new home, I saw that he would be having a lot of companions. There was actually one little dog, a Yorkie, called Nuggets A.K.A "King". Nuggets seemed to hate Bam-bam at first sight. He was constantly bullying and nipping Bam-bam. So tago muna kami sa loob ng bahay. But still Bam-bam continued yapping outside. Along with him are two mini pins, who like to bark like there's no tomorrow. One of the mini pins like an energizer dog, who never ceased to jump up and down outside.

After a while, Bam-bam got to adjust to his new home, but is still scared of Nuggets. We left hoping he would be able to adjust soon.

On Monday, we got a news that Bam-bam has befriended Nuggets already. Actually, more like the table has turned on him. This time around, it was Bam-bam who was pestering the King. Hehe... also some bad news... Just hours after leaving Bam-bam, he got to destroy a charger and two slippers... Wonder what's next?


Aside from re-homing Bam-bam, we got good news from Tessa (who's now called Stacey) and Momo. Being the only *ahem* daughter, Stacey is very spoiled. Stacey's yaya is so fond of her that she forgets to do her household chores. To which Cely doesn't mind, cause Stacey's her little baby. What's funny is that even if Cely's busy with work, she would always have a little time to tell us short stories about Stacey. She spoils Stacey with material things as well as tons of attention, not only from the two of them, but also from her pamangkins. Baby-ing baby talaga tong si Stacey, mukhang tinalo pa si mama sa pag baby kay Thatcher.

Momo would, time to time come to see Stacey and play with her. They still know each other. Every time they see each other, their tails would wag like crazy. Then they would play just like before. Like Stacey, Momo too has gotten fatter and is well loved by his new mom and dad. Some would even joke that the dad loves Momo more that his wife ehehe...

Mom's Favorite Candies

Here's a list of my mom's favorite candies.

1.) This is, I would suppose, her most favorite. It's COCONUT CANDY. She got to try it out when we went to Hong Kong. So every time we go there, she tells us to buy LOADS and LOADS of it.
Where it can be bought:
It's very common at Aji-Ichiban stores. Although, if you buy there, it is expensive. Around 70+ HK dollars for 2 lbs.
We happened to stumble upon a store that sells a cheaper one! Ayun lang nga, I can't remember the place (Trust me to do just that!!). It costs around 20+ HK dollars for a pound.
So, if we compare notes, if I buy at the un-named store, I'll get an additional pound for the price of Aji-Ichiban.
If anyone knows where we can get a hold of this here... you get me... I haven't tried looking at Aji stores here though...
Here's a pic

2.) Lemon Drops. When I was still a kid, I can recall that she had been eating this candy already. That habit stopped for a long time and manage to resurface again....
Where it can be bought:
Cash & Carry. The problem is that, it's almost always out of stock!!!
Unimart. It was only once that I saw Lemon Drops being sold there...
No other groceries have been found selling this candy... yet.....
Cost: around 25php
My bro actually told her to just get the number of the manufacturer and ask which groceries are distributing this very illusive candy.

3.) If there's no Lemon Drops, Nougat ang bagsak. She likes this too, but not as much as the Lemon drops. The dogs love it, though (background - Me: Ma!! wag mu na bigyan, masanay yan. Maya magka-diabetes pa yan eh!).
Speaking of dogs loving it, remember the melamine scandal? hehe... I even said na baka may melamine yang candy?! In hopes that she would stop giving candies to the dogs.
Where it can be bought: Ay! Naglipana ang mga yan sa groceries!!!
Cost: around 22 php
4.) Last but not the least Werther's candies. It's a butterscotch candy, which I also like. I remember eating this as a kid as well. Aaannnd again, dogs love it too... teka nga, lahat naman ata type ng dogs eh!! Parang mga patay-gutom tong mga to oh!!
Where it can be bought: Any grocery.
Cost: 60+ php (nearing 70) a pouch... Kaya nanghinayang magbigay sa dogs (sa wakas!!). She likes this but since it's a bit expensive, she saves it during rainy seasons (ahem... when above candies are running low po ang ibig sabihin nun).

Devil Pasta

Long time ago, I watched a cooking show (a beautiful Italian lady who I can't remember the name.. parang Giana something...). I tried out her recipe with a few alterations.. It sure tasted gooood!!

What you need:
garlic, minced (a lot would be good!)
chili, chopped (depends on your tolerance, I use a piece or 2 only)
olive oil (depends on how much your making, although a few goes a long way na)
butter (depends on how much your making, although a few goes a long way na)
basil, shredded
salt and pepper, to taste
pasta, cooked
Parmesan cheese, grated
(tancha tancha-han na lang yan!!! =D)

What to do:
(Low fire only please)
Melt butter.
Add olive oil.
Brown garlic in melted butter and olive oil.
Add chili.
Salt and pepper to taste.
Turn off fire.
Add basil.
Serve with pasta and Parmesan cheese.

Add-ons:
Nuts, finely chopped (we tried cashew)
Shrimp

If you hate chili, just remove 'em.

HAPPY COOKING!! =D

Grumble grumble

A day or two afternoons ago, a customer of ours, e-mailed me an extremely long (and boring) quotation. Costing the items is no problem. Pricing them is done by THE BIG BOSS but was forwarded back to me (due to the length of the quotation). What is excruciating is computerizing it on an existing template. I should have copied the e-mailed quotation instead. Panu kasi I thought that the old e-mailed quotation is the same with this one. (Wrong assumption). Tuloy na helo helo na ako!! To the point I got a headache. So I just ditched the whole thing last night and continued today. FINALLY, I'M DONE!! Yun lang nga, haven't double checked it though... oh well... will do later

Disturbing na Pang Ra-RACKET

Last Saturday, my bro and I went out to buy some grocery stuff at MOA. After being gone for a few hours, my mom (actually the secretary,Grace, di kasi marunong si mama gumamit ng CP) called us and asked where we were. We were actually on our way home already. Then Grace told us that they received a text message saying that we got into an accident. Of course, I was like huh? Eh pauwi na nga kami. Baka wrong sent lang yan.

So upon arriving home, commotion is what greeted us. I haven't read the actual message yet so I said baka wrong sent lang. However, when I read text, I came to a conclusion that it totally is not.

"Ma. d2 q s osptal nabanga ung cnaskyan nmin nkitxt lng po aq 1 lng lud n2. lud nyo nga po 2ng # n2 60 pra mkatawag aq sainyo blisan u lng po gas2 at play lng sugat q."

That was the actual text (which I found difficult to understand and type =P). Obviously, this is one "pang raracket" to get a 60 load. What is very annoying is the story the person weaved to get the load. Kawawa naman yung makaka-tanggap ng text. Paano na lang kung may sakit sa puso ang nanay? E di inatake na yun?

Of course the people would be panic stricken to think properly; to understand each and every word in the text; to even think of calling us first, to make sure. Siguro ganun lang talaga pag nataranta, madaling mapa-ikot. Nabulabog ang mga tao dito sa amin. They actually went out to buy 60 load. (Buti na lang at sarado ang tindahan!! Sayang naman ang 60 pesos!!)

The story has its loopholes, as I've told the people.
(1.) We're riding OUR car (cnasakyan means commuting),
(2.) I don't use "po" or "opo" to my mom (hehehe...),
(3.) If I'm/ we're at the hospital at wala akong load, nandiyan naman si bro. If both of us don't have load. E di mang hiram ng landline (I bet others would do the same)!
(4.) If I'm/ we're at the hospital, I would specify which hospital I'm/ we're at. Natural lang naman yun, di ba?
(5.) If I'll ask for load, bakit sa number ng di ko kilalang nilalang? Dapat sa number ko na. Swerte naman nung ugok na matitirahan ng load!! Di ba? Di ba? =P
(6.) I don't text like that!!! Di ko nga ma gets nung unang basa eh!!

Disturbing na Pang Ra-RACKET

Last Saturday, my bro and I went out to buy some grocery stuff at MOA. After being gone for a few hours, my mom (actually the secretary,Grace, di kasi marunong si mama gumamit ng CP) called us and asked where we were. We were actually on our way home already. Then Grace told us that they recieved a text message saying that we got into an accident. Of course, I was like huh? Eh pauwi na nga kami. Baka wrong sent lang yan.

So upon arriving home, commotion is what greeted us. I haven't read the actual message yet so I said baka wrong sent lang. However, when I read text, I came to a conclusion that it totally is not.

"Ma. d2 q s osptal nabanga ung cnaskyan nmin nkitxt lng po aq 1 lng lud n2. lud nyo nga po 2ng # n2 60 pra mkatawag aq sainyo blisan u lng po gas2 at play lng sugat q."

That was the actual text (which I found difficult to understand and type =P). Obviously, this is one "pang raracket" to get a 60 load. What is very annoying is the story the person weaved to get the load. Kawawa naman yung makaka-tanggap ng text. Paano na lang kung may sakit sa puso ang nanay? E di inatake na yun?

Of course the people would be panic stricken to think properly; to understand each and every word in the text; to even think of calling us first, to make sure. Siguro ganun lang talaga pag nataranta, madaling mapa-ikot. Nabulabog ang mga tao dito sa amin. They actually went out to buy 60 load. (Buti na lang at sarado ang tindahan!! Sayang naman ang 60 pesos!!)

The story has its loopholes, as I've told the people.
(1.) We're riding OUR car (cnasakyan means commuting),
(2.) I don't use "po" or "opo" to my mom (hehehe...),
(3.) If I'm/ we're at the hospital at wala akong load, nandiyan naman si bro. If both of us don't have load. E di mang hiram ng landline (I bet others would do the same)!
(4.) If I'm/ we're at the hospital, I would specify which hospital I'm/ we're at. Natural lang naman yun, di ba?
(5.) If I'll ask for load, bakit sa number ng di ko kilalang nilalang? Dapat sa number ko na. Swerte naman nung ugok na matitirahan ng load!! Di ba? Di ba? =P
(6.) I don't text like that!!! Di ko nga ma gets nung unang basa eh!!

Dining at Joey Pepperoni

My bro and I would usually go out on Saturdays and have lunch at MOA. One time, when we were searching for a resto to stuff ourselves, we stumbled across Joey Pepperoni. Being an Italian food lover me, I automatically pointed the place. No regrets after that!! What's fantastic about the place is that they have a promo of 50% off on all pizzas between 1PM to 6PM (I think...).

Well, aside from the slash off, the food itself is Purfecto =D The crust is unlike any crust in any pizzeria. It's thin, sweet, crunchy crust! Doesn't taste like bread, unlike others =P It's sooo addicting!! Well, so far I have tried Brooklyn (if you like anchovies, go for this one), Alfredo (this is good too), Quatro Fromage (4 cheese - my personal favorite), and another one which I forgot the name .

Aside from the pizzas, the pastas I have tried and fell in love with is Alio Olio. It's an oil based pasta with a lot of garlic!! Yummy!! We did try their specialty red sauce pasta, but I prefer the Alio Olio anytime. I even made sawsaw the pizza crust to make simut-simut of the sauce hahaha... Hey, it went well. I feel that the taste got enhanced even more haha..

We seldom go for starters. But their mozzarella sticks is at the top (so far). Specially when really hot!! Aw aw aw.. but real good!!

The prices for the food is very reasonable, considering it's good food. If compared to other pizzeria, it's by far cheap.

If you'll be dining at MOA, they can give 10% off if you have SM Advantage/ Prestige Card!! Cool huh? Yun lang nga, cash basis pa sila.

It's really a must try!!

Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation

Around October or November last year, I was doing some activity that involves me bending. Bend, straighten up, bend, straighten up.. the process repeats over and over. At every straightening up, I'd feel a slight pain on my lower back, which I simply shrugged off. After finishing with the bending activity, my back was quite painful but, I didn't mind thinking it's nothing a good nights sleep can't fix.

The next day, the pain was still there but, it was tolerable as long as I don't bend too much. Unfortunately, days after, I was accidentally pushed at a wrong angle and I actually felt my lower back snap. "Aw aw aw" was all I could say. Again, I simply shrugged it off.

That night was extremely painful. I couldn't sleep properly! I can't even shift position without hurting my back. I practically slept in one position only, to which I am totally not comfortable with.

Days and days passed. The pain was subsiding little by little. But never totally gone. At certain postures, my lower back would hurt like shit.

So, I finally decided to see the doctor. He prescribe some medication and I got my back and knees (it hurts when climbing up the stairs.. just didn't mind it for a long time) x-rayed. The result was simply muscle strain on the lower back. As for the knees... I need to lose weight!!! Darn it!!! I was advised to go to therapy for at least six sessions however, if the pain still persists, I need to have an MRI (don't want too....).

Having my physical therapy actually feels good! At times, I would actually fall asleep. The process goes like this:
(1) They have these huge hot compresses placed on the bed. Then they attach "tense" (some sort of mechanism that massages certain area/s of your body) to the affected area. So you lie down for twenty minutes. =D Feel soooo good!!
(2) They have this machine called "ultrasound". It's not really the common ultrasound we know. It basic purpose is like that of the hot compress except that the heat it generates penetrates deep within. At first, I really thought it's gonna be painful. But I didn't feel a thing at all. Takes around 20 minutes. Well, sometimes I would fall asleep too =D
(3) Next is the massage. Well.. it's not the common massage we get from spa treatment. The massage would only concentrate on one part of the body. Mine would be my shoulders.
(4) Probably the most boring part is excersice and stretching. It doesn't really take that long, if your fast, that is.
(5) Lastly would be "retraction". They bind you to a bed (ate, parang siraulo ba ako?) and attached the straps to a machine. The machine pulls your lower body. It should feel good, as some patients said. But... I don't feel good. Parang wala lang nga eh! Mas masarap pa nga kung manu-manong hatakan nalang eh =D Pwede ba yun?

The therapy session would usually last for 2 hours. Usually, I would be the last patient to leave. Panu kasi 3PM ang lagi kong pa-schedule eh. Last week, i got to finish my 6th session. Unfortunately, my back still hurts at times. So today, I'll be having another therapy session. Hopefully, I won't have to get an MRI done.

Moses "Momo" close to Tessa

Nung kinagabihang in-adopt si
Tessa sa amin, tumawag si Cely. Ayun, kwento siya ng konti tungkol kay Tessa. Nag shopping na sila para sa kanyang, *ahem* baby needs. Hmmm... mukhang ma-spoil si Tessa ah!! Got no problem with that!

At isa pang good news, ang pamilya ng asawa ng sister pala nya, hilig mag-alaga ng dogs. Dadaan daw sila kinabukasan dito sa amin para i-adopt na din si Momo! Ang galing kasi itong si Cely, napaka-animated siguro ng pag kwento nya sa sister nya ang tungkol sa pagka-hyper ni Momo. (Sabi sayo type ka din nun!!!)

Kinabukasan ng gabi, dumaan ang in law ni Myrna (sis ni Cely) para kunin ang tuta.

Dahil sa kanya, nalaman ko na medyo nalulungkot si Tessa sa kanyang bagong tahanan. Pero di ko na kelangang mag alala. Kahit hindi araw araw, magkikita naman silang magkapatid nyan =D

Ang isang bagay na aking lubos na pinagkakatuwa ay kahit na nahiwa-hiwalay na sila, napunta sa iba-ibang tahanan. Gumagawa ang panahon/ tadhana ng paraan para di sila tuluyang magkawalay sa isa't isa.