Mrs. Forgetful Jones' Blog

I was uploading photos to my flickr when I realized I was writing long and non-sense descriptions on my photos.

It made me decide that it's time to blog.

I was actually posting this picture, I've been wanting to show off my new machine ever since I got it. My old laptop seems to have found a friend tricycle inside. It's making a crazy noise (KKKRRRRRRR! - something like that) whenever the machine gets hot every time I work. It has bothered me for months and gets worse and worse.

Almost close to tears, I decided same day that I'll get a brand new machine. See, I'm not rich, the money I used is from "our" savings - which means I still need too pay it back. In my line of work, everyone needs a kick-ass machine. This isn't that of a kick-ass but I do love it coz I am the first owner and it's a lot lighter than my previous machine, a Mac Book Pro. The Mac Book is perfect for my size =)

Anyway, what I was supposed to blog was the photo! I think it's geeky to take photos while you are opening a box of your new purchase. But I gave in --- it was Aram's idea - not mine! I don't want to post the rest of the pictures (as in I have a step by step pics during the box opening) coz I've said, it's way too geeky for me.

I have finally accepted the fact that I am now 30 and how fortunate I am (somehow thanking my height) as family and friends were surprised when I revealed my real age. Oo, talaga, promise.

I mentioned Aram that I wanted to do something different for my birthday. So, I got excited when he told me we should catch Lea Salonga in the Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. I told him I wanna see the musical when I saw one of the billboards in Makati couple weeks back and he remembered! That's what I love about him. I think he has small Post-Its in his brain, takes notes of what I tell him and surprises me one day. And he even got me a tiara from the Cinderella memorabilia which I wore the whole time during the musical and worn it too at my mini birthday celebration/poker night/Guitar Hero night last Saturday. I was CinderELLA!

Thanks to all my friends who remembered with special mention to Bespren who sent cupcakes all the way from Singapore LOL and many thanks to our poker buddies who let me win on my birthday.

Btw, I am sharing the same birthday with my big sis, who is 3 years my senior, though we didn't celebrate together, we both had a blast! Belated happy birthday ATE! Mishu! =)

I took the MRT & LRT to meet JV of CSB and Jhoana of DLSU for the Graphika Manila 08 ticket distribution last Wednesday. I am aware how hard it is to find a parking area in these schools, so I was more than thankful that I didn't drive that day. As JV said, "Commute is the way to go."

I do enjoy train rides coz I get to see Manila from the top. I get to see our condo from the Guadalupe bridge. I get to see the latest billboards along EDSA. The Zanjoe-Marudo-with-white-hair-all-over Bench billboard is still bothering me every time I see it. I get to watch people inside the train. I get to see what other people are wearing. I get to hear stories from them.

On my way back to Boni Station, something odd happened while I was on queue for my one-way ticket. I could hear the person, an old man actually, from my back whispering. I thought he's crazy so I took a glance at him, and then he spoke to me, asking what's my station. I was aware of the "don't talk to strangers" but I don't know why I answered him in a polite manner, "Boni po.".

I was on the "exact pay" line. He wanted me to give him my Php12, so he can buy us two tickets from his Php20 and Php2. Now, more aware of the "don't talk to strangers" and thinking this could be a new scam, I said no to him. Then I heard him say in a very loud tone, "Thank you, ha." I thought it would end there. But I heard more whispers. Now I know, I'm not crazy. He really is talking to himself.

"Balang araw kakailanganin mo din ng tulong. Walang tutulong sa'yo. Kailangan mo ng tao. Sana walang tumulong sa 'yo pag kailangan mo ng tulong..."

("Someday, you will need help and nobody will be there to help you. You need people. I hope no one helps you when you ask for help...")

Freaky.

So, I confronted him. I said, "Ang laki laki ng nakalagay EXACT PAY tapos dito kayo pipila?" ("The sign says EXACT PAY only, why line up here?")

I almost laughed at his reply: "Kaya nga, sakto nga dapat pag pinagsama natin bayad natin." ("That's right, it'll be exact if we add our money.")

He made a point but he freaked me out. Weird people in the train. You don't get that everyday.

I can't find the exact words to describe how I felt after that incident. It was a mix of guilt and terror and my stand on being ethical. I hurriedly went inside the train after I got my ticket. I was afraid he might go after me and I actually saw him went in the same train, but thank God he went the other way. Thoughts haunted me. If I have given him my Php12, it could've been over. Done. Period. If I have given him my Php12, I could've been scammed, who knows. Haha. I know it's a little amount, but I realized it all boils down to: following the rules.

I find it unfair coz earlier that incident, I did follow the (MRT) rules. I was queued at the senior citizen/pregnant women line (Crazy rules, I know, but makes sense though.), I thought maybe I could make drama to the ticket lady that I was in a hurry or maybe I should have just acted like a pregnant lady. I mean, it wouldn't be too much of an effort since myyy - I have a big belly! LOL. But being the goody two-shoes, I felt guilty - that I left the line and took the exact pay line at the other side of the Taft Station. And there, where my story happened.

My big sis was a big fan of Rick Astley. So her, being my idol on many things, I too was a big fan of Rick Astley. I used to memorize all the lyrics, and when sis plays her cassette tape, I know by heart which song goes next.

I actually got tired of watching and hearing Roderick Paulate sing and dance Astley songs when I was a kid. But I have to admit, after fewer and fewer TV guestings nowadays, I miss hearing him and see him do "that" dance. Watching him sing with Rick now is priceless. And the story behind it is far more interesting.

I never made it at the concert. I guess I was too shy to admit that I am still a Rick Astley fan. :) Thanks to Aram for showing me the link and to Gabe Mercado (Okay ka ba tiyan?), even if he doesn't know me. That is just so brilliant! It does not get any better than that.

What I love about being a full-time freelancer is I can find time for other projects that I love to do.

I have been a fan of some crafts and interior design-related sites like Design*Sponge and Apartment Therapy. Sometimes I wish I'd have my very own house with a hobby/craft room where I can do whatever I want, sew all I want and just get crafty!

My sister gave me a good supply of fabrics from her business. (She makes book bags, for big and bulky medical books, and sells it in school for extra cash. She is actually making well, she's known to be the "bag lady" in UST Med School and I'm extremely proud for her extra effort.)  I've been wanting to re-upholster something using the fabrics, so my first project is: my work chair.

After re-upholstering the seat part (the one which meets my butt cheeks all the time :) ), Aram wanted me to use a different fabric for the back rest part. So we went looking for a fabric for the back rest part from Glorietta. I really freaked out when I found out that a yard of fabric costs about Php 250-300! So I immediately called my bag lady sister and asked if she could accompany me to Divisoria the next day. And good thing she was scheduled to go too.

I was awfully happy with the fabric I got from Divi, so I removed the first fabric I used (saved it for another project)  and used the new fabric I got for the whole thing. For Php 35/meter with a 60-inch width (most fabrics in Glorietta have 40-inch width only.), it was a sure good buy!

On that same Divi day, I finished my work chair project. And these are my before and after pics...

From the gray boring chair to this. I have extra fabric to do Aram's work chair and more for throw pillow cases as well :)

I always ask Aram if he likes my cooking. He'd always say, "It's okay.", but I do look forward for the day that without a blink of an eye - he'd say that he liked what I cooked. It has always been a challenge for me, because I honestly, honestly love to cook. And having your boyfriend say "It's okay." every damn time - is not a good sign. =(

I can actually relate to what Phoebe of Friends commented about Monica's cooking that her cooking always tasted garlic. Aram said nothing tastes bad about my cooking but the use of the same spices over and over again is what he hates. Ouch. I love garlic, oregano and most of all basil (fresh or dry - I love basil!).

Even though I love these spices, I guess I need to stay away from them for a while. So I've been slowly adding more spices in my spice rack. I bought ginger, sage, cumin and I tried using those I seldom use like the rosemary and thyme.

And for the first time yesterday, he liked what I cooked! I got so excited that I had to blog about it. =)

We had Thai Chicken and Basil for lunch - yes, I know I said I had to stay away from basil, but it was my last stash of fresh basil and I hate throwing away food. I went looking for a recipe, aside from pesto and bruschetta (like he will kill me if he sees those on the table), which I can make use of what I have in the ref, and I remember that Thai in a Box Chicken and Basil rice topping. I went looking online for the recipe and there goes our lunch!

Then it's good that I have checked one of my Rachel Ray "Everyday" magazines before I went out for grocery. I found a beef kebab recipe. Aram loves kebab, maybe him being half-Iranian is the reason why. So for dinner I have prepared the beef kebab (with a pinch of cumin) and a salad (with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and fresh grapes). I have asked him to prepare the garlic-yogurt dressing earlier (whatever they call that... He said they don't serve that in Iran.)

After dinner I asked him if he liked dinner. He said "Yes... and also the chicken and basil lunch earlier." Yay! Finally the day I've been waiting for. =) The kebab isn't far from the King's Kebab taste, a Persian Grill we frequent for dinner in Shaw Boulevard for kebab cravings. Now, I can save us couple hundred bucks and gas, too.

Aside from these, I was able to cook bread pudding too and shared it with our pad mates. Our ref is full of old breads, our bread + their bread + eggs + milk + raisins + apples (that I've been wanting to get rid of) + crushed pineapple = home made bread pudding.

I realized I spent my whole day yesterday in the kitchen and grocery. Oh well. At least finally Aram loved my cooking. =)

A bazaar was held at our condo last March 2, 2008. Aram and I decided to drop by, just to 'look' at the sale items. There were old books, magazines, framed butterfly collections, second hand PSPs, designer shoes and bags and a pet shop. We stopped and checked out the birds and mini pinchers... and there she was, at one of the bottom cages, a 9-month old cream Persian cat, waiting for her new parents. When we saw her, it was love at first sight.

Buts. She was too expensive. She was sooo cute. We have no idea how to take care of it. She's sooo sweet.

After an hour of debating if we can afford her or not - and some more haggling, we got the price down to what we can afford. She was delivered to our home by the pet shop owners. I sensed they were close to tears when they said their good byes.

Aram thought of the name Betty, and I loved it right away. Betty's eyes reminded me of Puss in Boots from Shrek. She looks so peaceful when asleep. We hardly hear her MEOW, it's music to my ears when I hear her talk! She sleeps with us in bed. Wakes me in the morning when her chow plate is empty.

Betty (and Pooh Pooh) is our baby. At least for now.

(Maybe I shouldn't be writing this today... today that my stress level seems to go up a bit.)

This is my 18th day as a full-time freelance designer. People have been asking me how was it and they all think and say the same thing with a pinch of envy, "Buti ka pa, sa bahay na lang".

I thought it's gonna be sunshiney easy, but yeah, I work at home, but I do work.

Like, I still wake up early to check my email. I try to finish every project the shortest time possible. We got a white board to track projects. I feel shitty when the internet is down. I wanna figure out how I can pay my tax and pay my SSS and Pag-Ibig contributions, coz no corporation will do it for me from now on. I get phone calls early in the morning from people I don't know, asking about projects I handle. I hardly go to may fave sites anymore- pinkisthenewblog.com and people.com for the latest Hollywood chismis. I don't know if my work area setup here makes me not go to the sites anymore or because I am that busy compared to my 10-7 job before where I get to visit these sites almost everyday! I'm back to my coffee drinker self, since I still stay late to work. I'm forced to use my Mac Book Pro... I've been a pc user all my life and switching to Mac is sooo stressful for me. I know this shouldn't be a problem but it is for me.

On the good side, I shouldn't be complaining...

I don't get that look from my boss 'you-are-late-again' and catch him glance at the clock whenever I come in the morning. I save gas and transportation money. I save laundry money, hardly wear jeans now. I get to cook, which I love doing. I fall asleep working without getting worried that my boss will catch me. I can now do groceries and malling anytime I want (well, of course except when I have a deadline.) Lots of quality time with my pretty cat, Betty. I get to watch Aram while he sleeps his day away. I catch Tito, Vic and Joey in Eat Bulaga (a very famous noon-time show in th Philippines), I still find them too funny, I guess nobody can ever reach their humor level. Hmm, I don't know why I watch Daisy Siyete. I fart all-I-want, pick my nose til-i-see-blood, belch ten-times-in-a-row - ANYTIME I WANT and I still get to be the OC of the house. My house mates are too damn lazy to clean our common area. And I can find an excuse if I still don't wanna work, like right now, coz I wanna finish this blog.

And the best thing probably is I get to earn more while working on my pj's on or even without my pj's on. Haha. =)

Jerome said people might not believe my post yesterday coz it was April Fool's Day...

But I swear I was telling the truth. Finally gave up the (semi)corporate life that I had. Now I'm domesticated. Domesticated with my beloved cat, Betty, who's purring right now and my sweet Aram, who's snoring right now...

I know, I know.

Hopefully I will be able to blog regularly.

Today I celebrate my first day of freedom. My first day as a full time freelance designer.

Cheers to me and everyone enjoying their freedom!

=)