Not So HB Day

Got a surprise visit from Bicky this morning with a matching cute bookmark gift. Also this morning, I had an exchange of emails with her which started from an email I forwarded (a car in the parking lot with lights left open). Read on:

Me: baka kilala niyo owner, if not, please pass. kawawa naman yung car at yung owner pag hindi naipatay.

B: Hindi sa akin ito!!!

Me: Sinabi ko bang sa iyo? ang sabi ko, "baka kilala niyo owner, if not, please pass. kawawa naman yung car at yung owner pag hindi naipatay." Meron ba ha, meron ba?

B: HB! :P

Me: Ay...sino kaya ang sumagot na maraming exclamation point?

B: Ako yun! Ako yun! Excitement lang ang ibig sabihin nun.... hindi HB.... :D

Me: Hihihihihihihi

[Akala ko tapos na, aba sumagot]

B: Lagi mo naman ako inaaway. Peace offering ko nga yung sun bookmark. Hmp.

Me: Di kita inaaway. thank you ulit. bookmark ba ito? akala ko yung ginagamit ng mga doktor pag tinitignan kung namamaga tonsils ng pasyente

B: Kitam!!! Ayan ka na naman e! AKIN NA NGA YAN!

Me: Joke lang. ito naman, di na mabiro =)


Bicky, wag ka na magalit. I love your gift. In fact, sa sobrang cute nya, sinama ko siya sa pics natin sa Davao. Ang gaganda natin diba?

HB Day

Been feeling harrassed today, especially this morning. There has been no end to the edits in the Budget Document. And unending follow ups from departments regarding comments on papers we could care less about or approval on extensions of their staff consultants (why give it to us a day before COSO deadline???). It came to a point where I put "Call Later" on my phone. But this exchange with Becky restored my good humor.

Marie: you're not lunching?
Becky: i hab a sandwich baon
Marie: oh am eating at my desk
Marie: hmmm love my baon
Marie: bottled tuyo with egg and rice
Becky: show off
Becky: ako tuna sandwich.
Becky: i made it.
Marie: really?
Marie: you made it?
Marie: or ate annie made the tuna spread and you just toasted the bread and put the spread on top
Becky: may wheat bread kami and tuna na permex.
Marie: permex?
Becky: what i meant was
Becky: there was a can of tuna na ang brand permex
Becky: i opened the can of tune
Becky: and spread it sa wheat bread.
Becky: HMP.
Marie: hahahahaha....thought so
Becky: well..... ano pa ba ang ginagawa sa can of tuna but to make palaman sa bread?
Becky: HMP.
Marie: u know...if u say made tuna sandwich...my understanding would be you made tuna spread from scratch
Becky: Fine.
Becky: you have ur own definition of a tuna sandwich
Becky: ur making life more complicated
Becky: next time, i will tell you na lang i ate a can of tuna.

Our Condolences

Hang in there.

We're just here if you need us.

We love you, Mama Carms

From your friends here at HB

Argggghhhhh!!!

Nag text lang naman ako nung weekend na "How's Bataan?" at ito ang pinadala sa akin...




Di ba nakakagigil? Mang-inggit ba?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAZEL!!!

Hoping that this special day
Is filled with love and joy
Fun and laughter, Sunshine days
And all that you enjoy

Just a note to tell you
That you mean so much to us
All the times we've sat and laughed
Are all so precious to us.

Today is your day
The perfect time to say

" Happy Birthday "

May this be

The very best one yet

From all your friends at HB!!!!

from angelrays.com

Friendly Site Award

Thank you Girlie for this award. My first award! ;-)




I'm giving this award to the following friendly sites: Rhea, Becky, Bambi

Pasta Night MNO (Part 2)

Friday. Basketball game. Sprained my ankle. Plans for the next weeks affected. No basketball, badminton, volleyball for a minimum of 1 month. Bummer! Doctor said "Ideally, office-house ka lang." Sa loob-loob ko: No way!

Gonna go out Friday night. BabyFace concert on Saturday night. Gym on Monday. Badminton on Tuesday. Gym on Wednesday. Movie date on Thursday. Gym on Friday.

Joke.

I am not happy.

High Blood Moment #2: Pag nagmamaganda, sinesermonan

BACKGROUND: I'm arranging my boss' mission to SRI. In her itinerary, she will be staying two nights in SIN, one night of which will be on her personal account. Yesterday, I received a call from Special Agent informing me of a tax charge because of the two nights.

Special Agent: Ma’am, aware naman po si Staff X na may tax na i-chacharge sa kanya na Y amount for staying in SIN diba?
Ako: Huh? We weren't informed.
Special Agent: So ihohold ko po muna ang processing ng TRA nya?
Ako: Okay. Can you send me a written explanation about this? As I need to inform my boss that there is such a charge.

Maayos ang usapan.

Several minutes later, I received an e-mail with a PROFORMA INVOICE. No explanation, whatsoever. I called and asked what it was for, I also sent an e-mail addressed to the sender, and to Special Agent X reminding her of the written explanation.

After 5pm. Nothing.

This morning, I called their trunkline looking for Special Agent X.

Ako: Hi, can you please connect me to Special Agent X?
Operator: May I know who's calling Ma'am?
Ako: This is worst nightmare.
Operator: Okay, please hold Ma'am.

Was put on hold for 1 minute

Operator: Hi Ma'am, tungkol daw po saan ito? Sabi po nya na-process na daw po yung TRA ni Staff X.

My thought balloon: Aba! At nagmamaganda?! Tungkol saan?! Director ka na hindi pwedeng tawagan? At kailangan i-screen?

Ako (controlling my temper): Please tell her this is regarding the tax charge for Staff X. I just want to follow up the email that I asked from her. Can I talk to her please?
Special Agent: Yes, ma'am?
Ako: Hi, Impakta, na-send mo na ba yung e-mail na hinihingi ko kahapon?
Special Agent: Nag-email na daw sila kahapon ah. Tsaka nag bigay ka na daw ng "Go" dun sa TRA.
Ako: Wala akong natanggap na e-mail. Ang natanggap ko proforma lang, na wala man lang explanation kung para saan yun. I need an explanation why we are being charged for this which I can forward to Staff X. At hindi ako nagbigay ng go.
Special Agent: Yun na nga po yun. Yung proforma para sa tax.

My thought balloon: This is a recording.
Ako: Special Agent, hindi ba humihingi ako ng e-mail, written explanation, kung para saan yung tax? I sent an e-mail to you about this.
Special Agent: Ah okay. Sige po, ipapapull out ko sa front desk yung e-mail nyo para masagot kayo.
Ako: And one more thing Special Agent, hindi ba kami pwedeng tumawag sayo? Kasi parang nakakabastos na pag tatawag ako sayo babalik pa sa akin yung operator para lang tanungin kung tungkol saan yung tawag ko.
Special Agent: Eh kasi po Ma'am sinescreen lang main yung calls. Kasi meron namang iba na pwedeng ihandle ng front desk.
Ako: Pero when I called asking for you, it means that I need you. Not any agent. Right? Tapos may sasabihin pa yung operator nyo na hindi ko naman primary concern.
Special Agent: Ah okay. Sige po, sasabihan ko ang operator.

I got tired. It seems she's not getting my point so I hung up.

When you're a service provider, the first thing you have to do is LISTEN, and you have to do this really well to satisfy your customers. LISTEN. If you fail to listen the first time, I assure you your suggestion box will be full in no time.

Funnies #6

We enter the Egg shop to look around for bags. HV picks on a new arrival black bag.
HV: Uuuuuy, maganda ito!
Me: Oo nga e, gusto ko rin yan.
HV: Pero ang dami ko na kasing black na bag.
Me: Eto o, red?
HV: Ang hirap ternohan yan e!
Me: Ganun ba... yung creme! Maganda yung creme!
HV: Meron na akong creme, diba? Yung gold ko yun, diba?

Ano daw? Creme and gold pala is one color na ngayon! Labo mo, ha.

Pasta Night MNO - Postponed (Part 1)

We were looking forward to this MNO. The idea was to bring different pasta sauces for us to taste. Sarap sana dami nang ideas on the sauces. Sa bahay ulit ni Rhea. Kaso naman, nung Friday may nangyari sa kanya. Ayun, hindi tuloy. Reschedule na lang.

Yung nangyari kay Rhea, sya na magkwento sa Part 2 :D

Salad Night (MNO)

We were all feeling the effects of these night outs in terms of added weight and tighter clothes. So for last night, Rhea suggested we just watch a movie at my place and stop by the grocery to buy salad stuff.

After gymming, Karen, Rhea and I met at the main lobby and proceeded to Robinson's Supermarket and bought the ingredients with our Coop gift checks :)

As soon as we got to my place, Karen and Rhea got busy in the kitchen. I looked at what movies I had. Something light.

We watched an episode of Ugly Betty and half of the movie the 40 Year Old Virgin.

And here are our masterpiece(s): Salad a la Italianni's Sicilian, Vinaigrette, Foccacia Bread, and Durian.

Sadly, the durian was spoiled na. Still, we had fun stuffing ourselves. Healthy naman right?

Funnies #5

As SCF volunteer for our department (plus partner T), I've been doing my rounds (to solicit donations) since yesterday. This morning, our director asked me to see him so he could give his donation...
After lunch, around 2:30pm...

Me: knock! knock!
D1: Hi, R. So, has everybody given their donation?
Me: Well, not all. I'll still be going around.
D1: Good. Tell you what, I'll go down to the bank and then I'll come over to your room.
Me: Hmm...Okay then. I'll come back later and see you.

Shet! Ang labo ko!

HB VMNO

Just dinner, drinks and billiards. And yes, a lot of heckling.

HB in Kapitolyo Pasig

The intersection of East and West Capitol drive in Kapitolyo Pasig is always busy specially in the morning. I always use the pedestrian lane when crossing the streets … Anyway, this is my second experience where a driver didn’t slow down when they passed the pedestrian lanes. The first one, I let it go because it was raining and he was making a turn, therefore, didn’t see me. But the second one – my goodness! – the lady driver already saw me crossing the street two or three meters away! She was driving a bit fast but hesitated when she saw me but to my surprise she continued with her speed as she was getting near me… did she want me to make a run so she won’t need to slow down?!?!... my gosh!!! the nerve!... she only stopped when she was about to hit me, I stared at her and told her in a loud voice (which I hoped she heard inspite of her closed windows) “THIS IS A PEDESTRIAN LANE (pointing at to those white lines), YOU SHOULD SLOW DOWN!!!” … and then I walked on… I saw her shocked face though… but I was still fuming… and remembered my trip to Colombo where even the tuktuk drivers slow down on pedestrian lanes… I felt sad thinking of my beloved country with such unethical drivers! Then again, it made me reflect: am I one of them?

O yan, Mawee, as promised… I made a blog na… hehehe…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KLER!

Today is your day to celebrate

Your day to be the star

So let the ones you love all cheer (or heckle)

And say how special you are

A year of fun and happiness

is our Birthday wish for you

You are someone special and

your birthday should be too

Funnies #4

It was Friday and I was convinced by lil_jnx that we should play badminton after office. So I called some friends including LJ.

Me: [dialing] tut-tut-tut-tut
Ringing. No answer. Fine. Maybe later.
After 5 minutes. LJ's calling.

Me: Oi, lalaro ka ba mamaya?
Nagpapanggap na LJ: Naka leave si LJ, sino to?
Me: Si Reeyah, sino to?
Nagpapanggap na LJ: Si DC.
Me: (nagulat ako kasi si DC ang sumagot at hindi ko malaman ang sasabihin ko, kaya ang nasabi ko na lang ay...) So hindi maglalaro si LJ mamaya?

Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!!! Ewan ko lang kung natawa siya...

The Introduction: Finally!

It was 12 June. Independence Day. After an all-morning badminton games, we headed to Persiana, an Indian restaurant along the busy Street of Pioneer, Mandaluyong. We slumped on this long table which comfortably sits 8 famished addicts (holiday na nga, pumasok pa sa opisina para maglaro ng badminton). Cler suggested the resto so we asked her for recommendations. Order here, order there. You can imagine the buzzing of the table - 7 hot ladies and a lone hunk! Talking all at the same time - hecklin', shoutin', laughin', and bitchin'! And we were all bondats! Since we stuffed ourselves, you might think we calmed down after that. Nah ah! Everyone was hyper - every conversation was carried out in high pitch tone, full of angst! Until one of us hot blooded chick got carried away with her kwento that another chick had to check her pulse on the neck, uttering, "High blood ka ba???!!!" Everyone had a good laugh at that scene and since then "high blood ka ba" or HB for short has been used in every opportunity. Like, EVERY opportunity. You think it ended here? Nope. In the spirit of spontaneity, one chick suddenly suggestted that we go for coffee and dessert at.......... Tagaytay City! And off we went to Tagaytay (minus the lovely couple C&M). The roadtrip was non-stop hecklin' shoutin' laughin' and bitchin' plus getting lost in Highway 41 (it refers to Exit 41 but for some reason, we call it Highway 41). Caveat: Don't you dare get lost on a road trip. You will never hear the end of it. Never.

There you go - the intro on how the blog name came to be. How about the highlights of the day? It's worth posting, too!

K had a chocolate bar as palaman for her tinapay. Seriously.
Kailangan inuulit ang salita ng dalawang beses. Kailangan inuulit ang salita ng dalawang beses.
M was entirely glued on her PDA the whole time. Anti-Social of the Year.
The birth of Row 1, Row 2 and Row 3
Coffee and dessert at Starbucks, Tagaytay - overlooking Taal Volcano
The famous air-conditioner of the spaceship - dalawang tao lang nakinabang sa aircon pero anim ang pasahero
No sleeping during the entire trip - back and forth



And the most important lesson we learned at the end of the day: if you have a car, ensure that the car stereo is working. You don't want to get stuck in traffic with chicks with iPods.

Funnies #3

Remember yesterday's Funnies #2? Read on.

lil_jnx: uy uy congrats
Miles*: huh? for wat? hehe
lil_jnx: hehehe nag deny pa
Miles*: di nga...saan
lil_jnx: sa OAS daw
Miles*: huh? indi ha
lil_jnx: teka hindi ikaw
lil_jnx: ma. imelda ab__
lil_jnx: asus
Miles*: hahahahaha
Miles*: sabi ko na nga ba
Miles*: wrong person ehehehhehee

Funnies #2

Today, 12 September 2007
2:03pm

lil_jnx: kelan nga ba na upgrade to 5 si miles?
rhea V: hindi ko alam e
lil_jnx: 6 na pala sya sa OAS
rhea V: sinong level 6? sinong taga OAS yan?
lil_jnx: si miles daw nakuha sa level 6 oas opening
rhea V: si miles!!!!?????
rhea V: sino nagsabi????
lil_jnx: administrator doo doo sa oas
rhea V: sige tatanungin ko siya
[Reeyah YMs Miles]
rhea V: asa singapore daw siya, nag iintay ng eroplano
rhea V: hahahahahahahaha
rhea V: hayuf ka
rhea V: imelda ab__ daw yon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS. Miles and Imelda have the same last name.

High Blood Moment #1: Ang Kumot

Nag-sleepover ang ilan sa HB sa bahay namin sa Bataan. Inilabas ko ang kumot na sort-of-cashmere ang material para sa kanila. Nilapag ko ito sa kama.

Reeya: O, ano yan?
Ako: Kumot para sa inyo.
Reeya: Mainit yang ganyang klaseng kumot! Ang init na nga, magkukumot pa ng ganyan!
Ako: Eh kasi baka mamayang madaling araw, malamigan kayo. Lumalamig kasi kapag madaling araw...
Reeya: Wag na!
Ako: Itatago ko na lang?
Reeya: Itabi mo nga lang jan. Mainit yang kumot na yan.

Kinabukasan, umakyat ako sa loft para manggulo. Lo and behold! Nagulat ako sa nakita ko! Yung mainit na kumot eh nakapalupot kay Reeya! Nakatalukbong ang bruha!

Mainit pala ha!

Update sa Wednesday Badminton

Reena's really bent on acquiring the proper form in playing badminton. Hence, it seems that we will be doing this every Monday. In these games, she's attempting to apply the basics she's learned so far. Let's see how she does....

Feel free to point out any mistakes, she welcomes all critiques.

Funnies #1: Nawawala si Rhea

reena: asan rhea
mawie: wala ba sa wkstation nya?
reena: andiyan
reena: kelan daw sila papalevel- hello hindi pa nga sila nagkikita ng pakner niya noh
mawie: o e tanong mo sya
reena: ganun nga kausap ko na siya
mawie: nakuuuuuu

Wednesday Badminton

5 September 2007

10:12am: Mawie agrees to train Reena and Howard starting tonight IF and only if Reena gets a court. Reeyah volunteers to be Mawie’s assistant (will play for free food hehe).

1:59pm: Walang makitang court si Reena. So looks like the training will not push through.

2:12pm: No courts available according to Reena. Reeyah calls this badminton court in Kapitolyo, WD (8 wood; 4 rubber mats; 4 cement courts). They have a lot of vacant courts but they do not accept reservations by phone from non-members. But assures that courts will still be available from 6pm up.

3:22pm: Reena realizes that Howard’s badminton clothes are with him and he will only be leaving Binondo at 6pm. Chances of playing tonight is getting dim.

3:33pm: Reeyah decides to just go to the gym instead. Mawie plans to window shop and then go the doctor for her allergy shots (6-8pm).

4:54pm: Mawie informs Reeyah that it’s a go. To play from 6-8pm. Mawie tries to call Reena for confirmation but Reena is away from her desk.

5:07pm: No answer from Reena. Mawie is upset because she still has to go home and change clothes. She says, “tinawagan ko di sumasagot grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr…ay naku forget it!…ayoko na…di sumasagot ng phone.”

5:12pm: Reeyah: Gusto mo ba maglaro or hindi?????? Mawie: Gusto ko, kasi i really don’t feel like gym but baddy i can drag myself. Sige going na ko. Me: E yun naman pala e, go kunin mo na, sabay naman tayo punta don e.

5:31pm: Reeyah receives an external call. Si Mawie pala. Mawie: Any update? Me: Ha…Wala…I’ll call Miriam. Finally gets Reena on the phone: Me: Are we still on? Tuloy pa ba? Reena: Meron court pero walk-in sa WD…pero tatlo lang tayo, si Howard 6pm pa alis from Binondo…cancel na lang natin. Lalaro naman tayo ng Monday diba? Si Mawie? Me: Umuwi para kumuha ng gamit. Okay. I will call Mawie to tell her hindi na tuloy. Me with Mawie (on landline): Hindi na tuloy. 6pm pa daw makakaalis si Howard from Binondo. Babalik ka pa dito? Mawie: Ah okay. Yup, babalik ako. Sige, bye. Click.

5:33pm: Reena calling me sa phone. Me: Yup? Reena: Tumawag ako sa bahay. Asa bahay na si Carmela, walang siyang assignment. Kaya pala di tumatawag…tuloy na lang tayo! Kahit tatlo lang tayo? Me (panicking): Sige, tawagan ko na si Mawie. Magtatawag ako. Kung wala, okay lang sa akin kung tatlo lang tayo. Click.

Cler is the willing victim.

Meeting place: West core (lobby? bench? Basta West Core – text text na lang daw).

6:15pm: Traffic on A** Avenue near LSM…

6:30pm: On WD…looking for the badminton court…Mawie: Malayo pa. Sa dulo. Liblib yun e. Alam ko yun. Hindi ako nawala nuon e. Asa RIGHT yon.

…after 3 minutes…Cler: Parang dyan tayo galing. We were back to where we started.

Mawie: Mali kayo! Si Reena talaga oh.

Isang malaking DUH!!!

U-turn.

6:35pm: Cler: Ayun o (pointing to the unlit sign to our LEFT)

6:39pm: Inside WD
Mawie to receptionist: May reservation kami Reena O___
Receptionist: Wena?
Mawie: Reena O___
Receptionist: Wena daw.....alas syete pa kayo
Mawie: Hindi pa ho pwede magsimula?
Receptionist: Hindi pa
Mawie: Wala naman hong tao
Receptionist: Alas syete pa pwede (sabay nagtinginan sila ni Cler)
Mawie: Ngayon na ho ba ang bayad?
Receptionist: Oo, mamaya na (duh!)
Ang importante ay we have a court. Court #6

We started playing at 7:00pm. Howard arrived around 8:00pm. We played until 9:00pm.

Pero hindi na siguro kami babalik dun...pero kayo baka gusto nyo mag Q-ing:



Note: Photo taken by Mawie

Nanay tip#2

On medicine related topic again, I have excess medicines at home, sometimes I forgot what the medicines are for, I mean, for which sickness. Good thing that Mercury drugstore has this "search" facility so I could easily check the medicines by keyword, manufacturer, etc. We can shop medicine online, too. But I wish the pricelist are available in the website, too.

Here's the link to mercury drugstore website:

http://www.mercurydrug.com/cgi-bin/product/logout.html?id=AyvixkX9&mv_pc=2

Nanay tip#1

My son Ambeh prefers to take medicines in tablet form already. The Jr. size ones, he can easily swallow, but the bigger one, he still finds it difficult to take. My hubby can cut it by using kitchen scissors but I bought him this tablet cutter, just in case, di nyo pa feel na there's this product in mercury drugstore already.

Also, we sometimes cut tablets not just for the above purpose, sometimes my son had to take a 325 mg. tablet but the available in the market is only 250 mg., the doctor said I let him take 1.5 tablets so I have to cut 1 tablet, too......... or vice versa.