Cat Looking Down at Me

First, he ignores me

and then, he looks down at me.  I love him so much. I so hate the blue wall.

Storm Me Away

I intended to attend PM's son's christening but the weather wasn't cooperating and a storm decided to stop by.  It's been raining since Saturday and Sunday last night we had a black out.  We had power back today at noon.  I really wanted to go but even if we went ahead and ignore the heavy rains it wouldn't be possible.  My bf had a temp Sunday morning.  Saturday night was raining hard and flooded the area where he works.  The flood was up to his chest.  I don't know why he walked home that night.  All he said was that he wanted to come home.  The next morning, he had a 39C temp.  He's getting better now.  He can breathe through his nose again.  Anyway, I'm waiting for the weather to be ok again so I can give PM's son's gift.  I also can't wait to start jogging.

Cat Sleeping

My niece and nephew are starting to call him Garfield because he's kinda getting fat.

Old Puzzle Mats Turned as Trash Bins

  

Going over the contents of the demolished apartment, I chanced upon a few puzzle mats that my niece and nephew used to enjoy playing with.  There used to be 40 or so pieces when they were 3 and 2 years old.  As always, I felt bad throwing them away: First because they are in good shape and second because they are made of rubber therefor non biodegradable.  I couldn't use them as mats because there were only a few left.  I played with them for a while until I decided to connect them into triangles.

Easy eh?

Then I just place a plastic bag inside.  I have loads of plastic bags hidden in storage that I have no idea what to use for.  I guess you can make a square but my plastic bags can only fit in a triangle.  I made 4 triangles for paper, plastic, cans and dust.  I like sweeping the floor. 

Cat Killed a Rat

I was folding clothes when it happened.  The door was open.  I was looking at the cat when he just ran out the door. There was a scuffle, I heard the cat's meow and some squeaking.  He had the rat by its neck still squeaking.  In some way it got away from the cat's bite and ran to my folded clothes.  Cat jumped into the clothes and everything was a mess.  After a few minutes, it was over.  The rat was dead.  That's when I realized I was screaming the whole time while standing on a chair.

My bf buried the rat and I was left staring at the cat in a whole new different way.  Sometimes I forget that my sweet 2 year old cat is also a predator.

Busy as a Bee

My dad built a few small apartments when he was alive.  The one that I'm living in right now is one of them.  I don't live for free, I pay rent.  The rent is used for the apartment's maintenance, insurance and other apartment related needs.  Also, it helps me not to be dependent (meaning lazy).  Meaning it forces me to work for a living.  Bless my dad's soul but he does not know anything about construction.  A few years ago, one apartment became vacant and we didn't feel like renting it again so it became like a storage for me and my sisters old stuff.  It was a good thing too.  Me and my boyfriend decided to clean and organize the vacant apartment because it was driving me crazy.  That's when we spotted so many problems.  The one in particular was the big crack on the wall.  It wasn't actually a crack but there was a big line from ceiling to floor.  That's when we decided to ask a professional.

This is the reason why I love my boyfriend so much.  He's a real handyman.  He sees the problems in the house, knows what to do to it, knows who to contact and knows where he can find a bargain for the materials needed.  The professional we talked to inspected the apartment and came back half an hour later.  He was really amazed at how the whole apartment was still standing upright.  He basically told us that the whole apartment was very unsafe and should be demolished.  At first I was doubtful and then he pointed out all the mistakes the previous contractor made.  My dad was never Mr. Fix It.  In fact, he'd surely choose the cheapest product over quality.

The day before the demolition, I was feeling a bit sad.  It's the sentimental side in me.  The whole structure was built even before I was born.  I just can't believe we have to tore it down.  My bf sensing my grief told  me there's nothing to feel bad about it.  He said it was basically a dust magnet.  That sort of lifted my spirits.  The untidiness was actually driving me insane.  So I tried hardest to forget the negative and focus on the positive. No more dust, more space.  I could put potted plants, a place to dine al fresco (did I use that term correctly?), a play place for my niece and nephew.  That did it.  I got excited.  

The whole apartment was basically a trip down to memory lane. It held all our old stuff.  The saddest part about it was that most of memories had to be thrown away.  I didn't know the roof leaked each time it rained.  A lot of my school books, old notes and pictures were damage. The last couple of days were used to sorting out the good ones from the bad ones.  I'm still not finished.   Also, I have no idea where to put the stuff in.  I'll find a way.

my sister would have loved to help but since I am the only one unemployed, my weekdays are now reserve for sorting and cleaning.  They will help me on the weekend.

You know, I can't believe I have never taken a picture of the apartment before the demolition.  I guess I was too sad to even think of it.  No worries though, I know better things are coming up our way.

I am Determined to go Jogging

We were watching a kickboxing match on TV last night.  Two females were fighting.  Instantly, we both got interested, me because she's got the body I want, him because she was really pretty.  It's funny really, I don't get jealous learning when he finds another lady pretty but him feeling uneasy when I call other guys cute.  I guess I'm in a state where in things like that doesn't bother me anymore.

Going back, I guess I have no idea how long the bout took but my eyes were stuck admiring her body.  She wasn't voluptuous, seducing, etc but she was a bit curvy and with firm muscle tones.  I like it that her body looked good and healthy at the same time.  Sure as is, we never really looked at the scores but the referee said it was a draw.

I was absorbed with her. I turned to my boyfriend and told him I want the same body. I want to look healthy.  He frowned a little.  It's not the kind of support you were expecting from your bf of 7 years but he has a right to react that way.  I mean, I'm like any other person who tried a couple of diet and exercise and failed miserably.  And heaven knows how many times he supported me and I just let him down.  Ignoring his reaction, I told him I'd like to be as fit as her.  Sensing that I wasn't really going to let go of it, he turned serious.  FYI, my bf is a muay thai instructor.  He's been teaching it for 3 years now and prior to that has been teaching martial arts (will not say what kind but he is a first dan blackbelter) for more than 5 years.  He told me he would only help me if I start jogging at 5 am everyday.  I think he is trying to see how committed I am to this goal but I guess he has a point.  I've been lazy for quite some time that I need to build up my stamina.  I said OK and proceeded to mentally get me ready for what's supposed to be my first day of jogging but alas, I woke up this morning to the skies drizzling.  He was up before me and he sort of laugh a little.  He said: "I forgot to tell you, weather report says A STORM'S A BREWING".

BLEH!!!

Ok, so I did check the news and we are going to have a bad weather for a couple of days.  I explained to myself, minor set back, go jogging when the heavens clear up.  I WILL! I WILL!

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On other news, I'm trying to limit my food intake.  I'm an over eater to be honest.  I can finish 5 cups of rice in 1 sitting and sometimes even more and because of this I am overweight.  I am now scared of getting diabetes since I know a lot of friends who have it.  I'm 5 feet 4 inches and for 70 kilograms I am overweight.

Yesterday, I tried to lessen my rice intake.  And to be honest, cutting down on rice is an effort. No I take that back, IT'S REALLY TORTURE, for me that is.  I had about a cup of rice total for the whole of yesterday.  I was like an effing addict having withdrawals.  I was hungry all the time.  Food was all I could think about.  I compensated by eating small amounts of food but many times a day.  I had chicken with sotanghon.  I ate a small chunk of chicken about the size of my thumb and slurped 3 spoon full of its soup.  It would alleviate the hunger for about half an hour and when I felt hungry again I'd eat the same amount of chicken and soup then wash it down with lots of water.  Being able to do that was awesome and I was a little proud of myself.  I thought this will be easier than I expected then at almost midnight, I was proven wrong.  I woke really really hungry.  Can you believe that?  To wake up because  your tummy is literally growling in hunger?  I tried to sleep again but I couldn't so I decided to drink water but alas my tummy will not let me so I gave in and ate a cup of rice with the soup from the chicken sotanghon.  That's the only rice I had for yesterday.  Feeling guilty, I tried burning the calories with cleaning the windows, wiping everything in the house and sweeping the floor.  When I felt I had a decent amount of sweat expelled, I took a quick shower then went back to bed.  My boyfriend woke me up to ask if I was sleep cleaning again.  I said YES. HEH!

Anyways, Yesterday was an interesting day.  I just would like to say I am determined to lose weight!

Self Esteem and Acne

I know, many people have talked about their acne problems but this is my blog so I'll talk about it some more.   Acne and self esteem goes hand by hand.  Some people may disagree but this is based on my personal experience.  The more severe your acne is the lower your self esteem is.  I started having acne when I was 13.  My mom would describe me as introvert / shy type / loner.  What she doesn't know is that there's a reason why I'm like that.  It's the embarrassment of knowing that I have a lot of icky things covering my face.  I remember enduring a lot of hurtful jokes about it.  I've been called a pizza face for a greater part of my teenage life.  Teenagers, especially those age 13, are not so sensitive to people with this kind of issue.  They can also be creative with the name calling.  Aside from pizza face I was called sandpaper face, the pimple that grew a face, spikes and a lot of other things.  Before you go saying, don't be dramatic it's just a pimple let me just shut you up.  First of all, it's not A pimple, it's PIMPLES.  Acne vulgaris, google it if you must.  If you already have, you're probably traumatized by the mere pictures alone.

The first few taunts, I let go thinking that the hurtful jokes would not last that long.  When it didn't stop, I would usually just cry.  When it felt unbearable, I asked my dad to bring me to a dermatologist.  My parents are not the supportive kind.  They are loving but they see things in a different way ie they don't think I should get a college degree because in their minds, women will only marry and the degree would be useless.  So when I begged them to bring me to a dermatologist they replied with a: "What for? That will go away in a few years.  Don't be so vain.  Do you know how expensive that is?"  In case you're wondering if I hated them for that, NO, they had a different upbringing.  I was upset but I still love them the same.  So getting no support from my parents I seek advice from other people.  You would not believe the advice I heard.  Some were ok but the others were disgusting.  Not everybody was helpful, more of hurtful.  This guy who was 3 years older than me told me to eat a lot of bananas.  I asked him why bananas and he replied: "have you ever seen a monkey with pimples?"  There was this one who I never even asked for advice, he offered it.  Thinking it was really an advice, I listened.  He said my pimples would disappear if I wash my face with his saliva. Disgusting right?

I've been the butt of a really cruel practical joke.  In college, this guy came up to me and told me that his friend likes me and he would like to ask me out.  Not believing him, I told him that he must have made a mistake which he denied and told me he was going to prove it then he left.  A few minutes later, someone tapped my shoulders from behind and it was the same guy.  As soon as I did an about face, I heard the guy who was supposed to like me yell: "fuck no, no way" and then I heard his buddies laughing from a short distance.  After that, I ran to the nearest rest room and cried my eyes out.  I think that was the same time, out of desperation, frustration or whatever else you call it, I scrubbed my face raw.

Because of acne, I shied away from cameras.  I would protest when my family would take pictures of me.  I just hated my face and I didn't want a remembrance.  I so hated my face that I cut out my picture from the yearbook.  The only pictures I treasured were those that were taken before the acne outbreak.

This is also why I felt so comfortable chatting.  Nobody sees me unless I show them my picture.  I just wanted to be as invisible as I can be.  

Those were difficult times and it affected who I am now.  For the first 6 years of my 20s, I had no illusions of meeting the one.  I was convinced that guys will never be interested with me.  And if for some strange reason a guy sort of become interested, I doubted his sincerity.  I was never trusting.

I am 35 now.  I don't have acne outbreaks anymore.  I get A pimple from time to time but never as worse as before.  What was left of the outbreak was the scars.  I prefer my face with the scar rather than when it was filled with acne.  I'm more mature now.  Whenever people from the street make fun of me, I just ignore them and refer to them as idiots in my head :P  Also, I've been dating the same guy for 7 years now.  I'm thankful to God that I met him.  He never made me feel ugly and he makes me happy.  So the reason I wrote about this topic is because I just wanted you to know what it's like to have severe acne.  When you make fun of them, it's not just physical scarring that they get.  They also endure the mental scarring.

My Social Life

I received 2 messages in my fb. My friend PM is inviting me to attend her son's christening on the 29th and my other friend KN is asking me if I could be a god mother to his son on August 12. To both, I answered YES! My only dilemma would be, being jobless, I won't be able to afford a good gift. I'm thinking maybe I should make my own but could not come up with any idea what it should be. This will take some time.

Spruce Up an Old Table

We used to rent tables and chairs in the 90s.  It was my mom's business.  The business did  great for a decade and when it went down, we hid all the chairs and tables in a room.  They look old and dirty now.  I decided to just play with it.

See that round monoblock table, it's 2 decades old now. Trust me, I've cleaned it and it still looks like that.

These are what we're going to use:
     used wrapping paper (or any paper you want)
     scissors or cutter or exacto knife
     homemade mod podge (mix 50% water and 50% glue)
     pencil
     foam brush

At the back of the paper, I traced the triangle shape on the table with a pencil. You can use an exacto knife to get a triangle shape quicker but I'm not really good using it. So if you're like me, trace using a pencil. Cut out 6 triangles from your paper.

I made sure the table's clean before I applied my homemade mod podge.  I find that using 100% glue dries quicker than the water+glue solution.  I couldn't find any store selling a foam brush so I used a replacement.  See the white foam in the picture?  That's the foam placed inside shoes to protect them from wrinkling.  After applying water+glue solution, place the paper and allow it to dry.

Done with 3 triangles, looking good now. I didn't want to buy new paper so I used the ones I have. This is the wrapping used from one of the gifts I got last christmas. Yeah, I'm that kind of person! 3 more triangles to go.

And then we're done.

I decided not to stick paper on all the surface. I like how it looks and so did my niece and nephew.

Other Uses for Chalk

There was a short segment in the television showing the other uses of chalk.  It was very interesting so I'm putting it here for future reference.

Personally, chalk brings me back to my childhood.  I cannot forget the many hours I had fun using it with other kids.  The freedom to do chalk art on the sidewalk, running away from the yelling neighbor for vandalizing their walls with colorful Rainbow Brite and the little girl's favorite, hopscotch.  As I have just learned, chalk can be used for many things.

AS A STAIN REMOVER

Chalk is porous which is good for absorbing stains. Just grind white chalk into a powder, rub the powder on the stain, leave it for 10 minutes then wash afterwards.

ABSORBS MOISTURE

Moisture and humidity can wreak havoc to your tools. To avoid rusting, wrap a small bundle of chalk in a cheesecloth or put a couple of chalk in a plastic bag (just don't tie the ends) and place it in your toolbox. You can also place chalk in any other damp areas in your house.

GET RIDS OF THE FUNKY SMELL

Moisture can be a breeding ground for bacteria and bacteria can bring forth some smells. Wrap a bundle of chalk in a cheesecloth and place at the bottom of your hamper. It will absorb moisture from the cloths and eliminate the funky smell.

AS A LUBRICANT

There were times when I couldn't get my key into the keyhole like it's refusing me to gain entry. Just rub chalk on your key and it will help your key slide into the keyhole. You can use oil as a lubricant but it's greasy and it can be messy. Chalk is a dry lubricant and easier to wipe off your key.

CINCH A SCREW

Just rub chalk on the head of the screw for a firmer grip or stop your screw driver from slipping.

So there you have it, the other uses of chalk.

A Tribute to the King of Comedy

Dolphy Quizon passed away last night at 8:34.  He was 83.  I have watched his movies since I was a little kid.  I still remember it.  When we were still living in Antipolo and in those time Antipolo was still part of Rizal.  I remember it all too well, Channel 9 in the afternoon where they feature the old black and white films produced by Sampaguita and LVN.  This was also a bonding time with my grandma.  She would be watching next to me and she would share small details of how it used to be.  It was a time where comedy was not laced with green jokes and his comedy was backed up with pure talent.  He was a big part of the movie industry.  My  personal favorite is Facifica Falaypay.

He was also a big part of TV comedy.  Who could forget John and Marsha?  It is because of that show that my parents decided to nickname me Maricel.  My family shared laughs watching that show.  It's very memorable to me.  It is where I first saw Brod Pete, Dely Atay-Atayan and Matutina.

People everywhere are talking about how he should be proclaimed as a national artist.  I agree, I very much do but it would have been more memorable, more meaningful to Dolphy if it was done while he was alive.

Why should I care?  I don't know.  I can't explain.  He was such a big part of my childhood memories.  Loosing him feels like I'm loosing a family member, a friend, someone special.  Now that he has moved on, I would like to say we will never forget you.  Thank you for all those years of laughter and memories.  You truly are the King of Comedy.

Diet Time for the Cat

I think I may have been overfeeding my cat.  Earlier, an acquaintance ( I secretly call him snoop because he looks like snoop dog hehe) asked if my cat was pregnant.  First of all, my cat is NOT pregnant and second of all, my cat is a HE!  I politely told him my cat is a dude and he laughed a little.  After he left, I sort of went into a flashback mode.  I kept thinking of the amount of cat food I feed him like more than 3 times a day.  Then those times wherein he'd have a hard time leaping from floor to window.  He'd have those 2 front paws on the window sill and his lower body dangling while he was struggling to get the other 2 paws in the window.  I always laugh when I see him do that.  The most alarming and also the cutest would be when he'd wake me up as early as 6 in the morning to remind me that he's hungry.

I told my bf about it and he said he's been telling me that our cat needs to diet.  So I'm thinking maybe it is time to get my cat in a diet.

DIY Air Freshener

I have been dying to try the DIY room air freshner that I read from here. One of the owner's website is named Lauren. She showed how easy it was to make it so I made my own!  Here's what we need to do:

GATHER supplies: a container / baking soda / essential oils

CLEAN and DRY your container then pour 1/4 plastic cup full of baking soda.

I have so many plastic cups that's why I used plastic rather than a glass container.

POUR a couple drops of your preferred essential oils. In my case, it was about 12 drops of eucalyptus oil.

I was sick last week and as it turns out, eucalyptus was really good for a clogged nose.

COVER with lid and there you have it your homemade air freshener.

There were days when I got tired of the eucalyptus scent so what I did was cover the hole with a sticker (you can also use a scotch tape). When I started missing the eucalyptus scent, I just peeled off the sticker. There was this one time I thought the scent was gone but it turns out you only need to shake the cup from time to time.

Lauren promised it would be the easiest thing to do and she was right!  I'm keeping this in my blog so I would never forget how to do it.  Thank you Lauren for sharing this to us.

Lazy Afternoon

Bored out of my mind.  My everyday companion is my cat and I love him so much.