Going. Our “ampon” roomate who stayed a little over a month with us left last Saturday. For the past few weeks, its been such a treat to have her there, with her daily uppers, sugar high moments. Now with a week gone, I can truly feel the difference of not having her around. For starters, she’d always remind us to de-stress, and by that she means, let’s go party! So when she was around, we had several bonding moments and night outs, which was uber fun.

Marj… thank you for all the uppers, the sha-lala lingo, the haircut (sayang, hindi na natuloy ang bangs, bangs ever!) the spa and gym moments, the *shake-body-body-dancer-dancing”, the wa-poise laugh, and all the other wacky crazy times. For all that and more. I’m glad to have known you… and I will really miss you. I wish you success wherever you may go! *Bugis*

Coming and Going. Before Marj left, we met up with Mhinx, my friend from Dubai who came for a short visit. He joined my roommates and I in dropping of Marj to the airport, before we headed off to a night out, along with his brothers, Minx, Mingx (kulit nila diba?) and their friend. It was a crazy, fun, and tiring night. After the band in the first bar where we were dancing, took a 15 minute break, we hopped to another bar, and danced some more, only to go back to the first bar when the band got back. And of course, sayawan uli! Ang saya! Our cool down session was hopping to another bar, where we had another round of drinks and shisha! It seemed like such a workout because of the aching muscles at the end of the day.

Met up with Mhinx a couple of times after that, and was a great thing that I wasn’t as loaded in the office. I was able to bring him around to some of the places, most memorable was a food trip session for chili crab, and other *Singapore* delicacies. Lafang, lafang ever. He and his brothers left last Wednesday. Thanks Mhinx! Saya saya! Sa susunod, lakwatsa sa Dubai naman.

Coming. Business must be going well for our office, because this week, we had new people in our department, specifically one in our team. I don’t think I’ve talked about my office too much (unless it’s to complain that it was all I do). Although the department itself is big, our team is new. Since I started, my boss and I have been a 2-woman team, with me, being the “assistant”, left with all the nitty gritty, dirty jobs. Hence, the late crazy hours. With our new teammate on board this week, I feel that work is going to be easier hereon *cross fingers*.

In another team, we have another pinay on board, who happens to also be a photo enthusiast, and a certified party girl. Over the weekend, we were supposed to go dancing, but at the last moment, I remembered the age limit of the bar I was going to. I could have gone to another bar, but I was with my roomates who have become regulars already. Oh well.. don’t worry Jen, there’s other parties!

And finally, Going. Although our sales department has grown, our Pinoy friends from the other department will be heading back to Pinas. Last Friday was their last day in the office. They will now be based in Manila. It *might* now be a little harder because I super feel the lack of creative staff. With more people in the sales, it makes more sense to support the sales with more designers. But it feels a bit backward this way. Oh well, there’s still email…

So there. I’ll try to post some pics within the week also.

*** p.s. Ate and Chie… ayan na ang blog update. Hehehe! Mwah!

So, again, watch Iron Man.  I give it 5/5 popcorns.

Now I don’t know whether you know, (some of you know actually), but I’m actually a cheap drunk. I know that technically I only drank one cocktail and one shot, but if you count the number of alcohol that goes with that, well don’t blame me that the floor started to move under my feet.

I admit, damn… I was tipsy… but not yet the bad kind (I don’t think I embarrased myself yet). But another one of those B52s and I’d probably be doing something crazy. Anyway, it was definitely a night of laughs (the one where you just keep going and going) and major catching up with Poidy. I was thankful that I had that night (and was looking forward to another, had the scheds not been too hectic) as I haven’t gone out like that in ages. All of my friends in Dubai were in the family track, thus most of the discussions went around “grown up” matters. Which wasn’t bad. But just before I headed back to normalcy, I definitely needed a night where I could have fun as free as I could, without any holding back.

Thanks, din to you, Poidy, for such a memorable night. Love you girl!

So was in Lipa for the New Year celebrations. And it wasn’t how I remembered it to be. For one thing, we weren’t as many as we used to be. There used to be a gazillion kids running around, loud music playing, children’s games, exchange gift even, and fire crackers started as early as 10pm all the way till midnight. And don’t forget the loads and loads and loads of yummy food that makes the festivities so much happier and livelier.

This time though, families came but also left around 9 or 10 to spend their countdowns somewhere else. By 10pm, I was saying, where are the people? Where are the kids? Why are the people who were left already sleeping or just playing with the computer? By 11pm, I was bored to death and decided to join the very few men (used to be the entire male clan) to drown down a couple of brandy shots. By 1115, I was expecting that firecrackers should at least start by now. The neighbors were already making their racket, but the Laygo house was still decently quiet. Is it how we would be spending the new years? No bang?

By 1145 though, we started getting our act together and prepared the firecrackers. People also started waking up, and getting ready to go outside as the noise outside became more and more. By 1150, we started with the fire crackers but ended a little after midnight. Bitin, even if I did say that I didn’t like fire crackers. After we ate a little, had some gift and ampao givings (which, I didn’t get any, hehehe!) and after that, wala na. Finish na.

Is it just me? Or did that just feel like an ordinary day?

Oh well…. At least it’s with family. And I guess at the end of the day, that’s what counts…

Anyway, so back to my mom being back.  That means that I’ve officially moved back to LP as well.  And I can’t help but feel that it’s tiny different from Cali Garden – what with no guards to greet you, no “free” unsecured/nakaw wi-fi and no cats to make lambing.  On the brighter note, at least my parking is free (haay my biggest hassle in Manda), no cats making a mess and I’m back in my big and comfy bed.  With my mom coming back also meant that I needed to clean up.  My house has technically been un-lived since October, so dust has settled big time.  It took me hours cleaning, throwing, straightening up because it was so dusty and I got mild asthma attacks from it.  (Allergic to cleaning!)  And of course, my mom eventually cleaned up as well hehehe.  She keeps saying that her first activity is to clean up my house.  Not true.  We first unpacked and segregated the gifts for the relatives.  Then we, rather she, cleaned.

Today, we’re heading to Lipa for New Year’s Eve celebrations.  I’m a little less uptight going there as there are gifts to give.  (Otherwise, my cousins/inaanak would come up to me – Ate/Ninang ano pamasko mo?) I wish I was one of the “young” batches, but luck would have it, I still have cousins who are babies.

And cripe, I’ve been hearing that I’m ninang to 2 of my new pamangkins from my pasaway cousins.  Sigh.  More kids that I need to give gifts to.  Gosh, the holidays really are for kids! Not for the adults (in this case adult=me).  It just makes me broke!!  Kaya nga very good thing my mom’s here.  She can help me take the load off!

Oh but who am I to complain anyway… I got my Christmas wish.  Tee hee.  (Future journal topic!)

Shall I call her Nikki? Naah…  don’t like.  What should I call my new Nikon?

Thanks to the Canada clan!  Oh and to Glenny and Ate din for your powers of persuasion and the gift!  The best kayo!!! I wuv you all!

Why I even bothered to plan to do this, I couldn’t remember. Oh yeah, now I do. My friend asked and I said, okay. Cheap ko no? To add to my dilemma, he also asked me to do organize an exchange gift activity as well. Pahirapan daw ba. There are times when this group of friends (esp. the guys. Sorry guys… totoo kse eh! ) are so KJ so a part of me was actually quite scared that we’d be the only ones to bring a gift. Sige na nga. Have faith that they will pull it through.

In fairness they did. Come 23rd, those who didn’t have a gift and was there before everyone else arrived, made a point to get something (siyempre may konting kanchaw from the rest who made an effort!)

The theme was “get something that reminds you of our group.” The person who brings the most creative gift, wins a dessert treat.

Here’s what people got:

1. Wine –> dapat beer daw, because we’re a beer drinking bunch. Oh and Tambay’s delight! *** I even used to be part of training team drinking marathon — don’t think I ever graduated as I still can’t hold my alcohol. (Yo, Bum… kailangan ko na uli ng training! Hehehe!)
2. Starbucks coffee mug and
3. Starbucks coffee beans –> because SAs daw have graduated from the beer/wine drinking after a while!
4. Keyboard wrist supporter –> kse nga, it was the computer lab that brought us all together
5. A clock –> kse laging late mga tao! Because our friendship has gone on for a long time. Naks.
6. Joyously Single book –> Because we were all single once upon a time. Remember SMP?  Samahan Malamig ang Pasko!  Cripes.  Only SAs will bring me back to corny days.   :glee:
7. Colorful Vase –> Colors represened the different colleges were we all came from but put in one place (aka the vase) to work together as one. Naks. Nice one, C.

Those who didn’t bring anything voted who brought the best gift, and it boiled down to the Joyously Single book by Dietz. (I want one too!) She even read the brief and it seems like a pretty cool read.

So to: Chard, Lala, Baby Niko, JC, Sherill, Dietz, Joan, Mikef, Che, Julia, Allan, Jing and Noc…. thanks so much for coming! Had so much laughs I could forget the hassle of planning. Promise, next time I’ll throw it back to Dietz. Hehehe! Miss you and hoping I could join the January activity.

Pics to follow.

I haven’t had time to surf because of the holidays (unless it’s a quick email/blog check) – most of the previous posts are scheduled as this one is as well. But it’s almost Christmas and I did say I wanted a meaningful Christmas. Normally I would have probably just stayed at home or sleep it out (it is after all, just any regular day). But since that wishlist post, I have expressed to the world that I wanted something different. And the world happily responded with different suggestions and offers.

Noche Buena will be as ampon with housemates Kris, Harv and Kris’ relatives. Initially, thought of NB hopping, but most of those who invited, also backed out last minute. Which was fine, because I needed the energy for the next day anyway.

Now for Christmas day got me many exciting offers and ideas. But I’ve decided to take on the soul searching-photo adventure-nature trip route which is a long drive to Ilocos Sur with good friend Reg. She’s my schoolmate friend from Ireland/Canada, and is here for the holidays. I’ll be the sabit here since it’s with her relatives. I only know her immediate family, and we’re not that close, but I do remember them to be very nice people, so I’m hoping that the relatives are just as nice.

I’ve never ever gone on this long of a drive. Ever. The farthest I’ve driven of too was to Quezon down south or Bataan up north (approx. 4 hours each). This, I hear, is a whopping 8-10 hour ride! But, as I heard, this is going to be well worth getaway.

So there. That’s where I’ll be spending Christmas. Partly on the road. Partly on a resort. It’s times like these that I wish that I already had a cam. Might as well make use of my point and shoot.

Merry Christmas everyone!