After Alfred and I went out for his birthday dinner on Sunday night, we spent some more quality time together and then I snuck down for computer time and some TV. I was in front of either monitor until it was time to wake Alfred up. He needed to get up early for his first day at work. I know, it sucks that he had to go on his actual birthday.
I tuned in to HBO just before the movie Baby Mama started. I thought I’d just have it in the background while I surf blogs or do whatever. Didn’t happen. I actually stayed on the couch and just watched.
The next movie: The Spiderwick Chronicles
I had fully intended to write a review of both films which I saw for the first time that night. But now that I’m doing this, I just have no inspiration. Plus Tayong Dalawa is showing right now. Gotta tune in to that of course 🙂
I am disappointed that it’s been twelve days since it happened, and yet I’ve received no support at all from them:
They even marked the request resolved, with no action being done and no notification to me at all. Er??
To think that I was pleased with the Twitter support team because my account was restored (and I received an email response apologizing for the mistake) within two or three hours the first time my account was suspended. Ugh. I had so intended to send twits the whole time I was in Baler so some friends (and workmates who can’t help but check Windows Live profiles 🙂 ) can be updated on my vacation. I figured I’d just check if FB will allow me to send updates via SMS, but it’s only open to Smart subscribers here. Double Ugh. I’m seeing more people using Plurk. Maybe I should just sign up for that?
This whole spending spree in the last six weeks has really got me back to thinking about saving up. We purchased Maxine, and we got the Elba. Alfred and I have bought shoes, have eaten out soooo many times, that there’s no way for there to be any money left for a wedding fund – not that we’ve even started one.
Anyway, so I’ve been thinking of ways to cutback on some of my spending. But that’s something I’ve consistently tried to right? Sometimes I succeed, other times I don’t. Then I thought about some of the things I still have to payoff – like my insurance premium. I think this is the last year of payment for my life insurance that my parents convinced me to get four years ago. If I remember correctly, we only have five payments and this year’s would be the fifth. After that, it’s just a matter of waiting for it to mature.
So maybe it’s time to look around for a second policy? It’s savings that has way better interest than a savings account in a bank. And it will ensure a secure way of life when I get old, or for some money to go to my beneficiary if I die prematurely right? Haha.
I tried searching around the web for insurance quotes available online for us Pinoys, I found a couple but am not satisfied with the information available. Mostly they’re quotes for travel insurance. But there is better resource for free insurance quotes for those outside of the country. I guess what we can get from sites like that are tips on what to look for in a good insurance policy. Such information is useful, and very welcome.
I have yet to see though, policies that are actually customized for individuals. Remember the movie Along Came Polly starring Jeniffer Aniston and Ben Stiller? Ben was working in insurance right? And he calculates risks or something, then the company uses that information to determine the best insurance package. Anyway that’s how I remember his job in the film. But my point is, here I have not yet seen companies offering policies that are customized to an individual’s lifestyle. There are just several packages and the main difference is how much the premium is, and how long you have to wait for it to mature.
Of course I can always turn to our friendly family insurance agent for more information 🙂
Have you heard of Project Natal? I went back to work yesterday and this was one of the buzz words I heard – though I didn’t pay attention. I went puttering about and tried to work, attended meetings, until the end of my shift. Back home, I did my usual bloghopping and encountered Project Natal again. I took time out to watch this video, and I was sold to Xbox’s newest innovation – Project Natal:
Back at work last night, while looking up some work-related information, I clicked on a link for information on E3 at Xbox.com and to no surprise there were videos there showcasing Project Natal. If this video already sold me to the concept, the rest of the videos I watched at Xbox.com brought me over the top.
I don’t own a 360 but I’ve been tempted to get one before. Good thing the boyfriend isn’t much of a console person. But when he sees these videos, maybe he’ll be converted.
We were expecting it, but not as early as it arrived. There was no electricity (as is always expected when there’s severe weather conditions) so we were outside enjoying the cool wind and the light drizzle (versus the heavy downpour just prior and then again after that time). I also took it as an opportunity to socialize with my cousins, and the kids too 🙂
Then I heard someone at the gate asking for me, I knew right away who they were! They came in a truck, bearing a big box with my name on it. Labelled this (Italy’s Finest, it says):
Because they came earlier than expected, we hadn’t cleared space for it in the cooking area yet. So we just asked the delivery men to set it somewhere without opening the package before they left. This old love was still in it’s original place of honor, though we’ve moved it already when this photo was taken:
We’ve had this oven for seven years, and got it for less than a third of the price of the Elba. If I remember correctly, our earnings from baking (mom and mine) paid for the monthly installments then. We’ve had some good times, me and this oven. It was the first I ever had and for awhile, it nourished my love for baking. I haven’t used the oven for over a year. I hated that it doesn’t have a proper thermostat, and that you had to turn the knob from high to medium for specific intervals just to achieve the right temperature. Whatever happened to leaving the muffins to bake for 20 minutes while you move on to something else? That was impossible.
But – the La Germania served me well. The goodies that came out of it brought smiles to many people. I expect to have a longer journey and a more regular bakeoff with the Elba this time. 🙂
It still works, by the way, though it probably needs a good cleaning. I’ve offered it to my cousin at a very very low price, but she hasn’t decided yet. I’m not sure if I want to sell it to anyone else if she decides not to take it.
So how did I end up buying an oven on Tuesday? I’ve always wanted to. I had my eyes on a bigger model actually, one that would’ve cost more than twice as much as the one I ended up getting. But I just never had enough money. Whenever we go into an appliance/electronics store, the boyfriend and I would check on three things – DSLRs, TVs, and ovens. Last weekend was no different.
We saw this on Sunday, and decided that it’s all gas sister was perfect for us. Sunday was the first time I checked my ATM after the last payday and I was overwhelmed by how much money I had available. I got my leave conversion, and anniversary bonuse see. 🙂 Rather than slowly see that money go down on clothes, shoes and food, we decided it was better spent on something big. Something significant.
And something that can help us earn on the side 🙂
But the final decision happened on Tuesday after somehow consulting mom, and discussing finances with Alfred (will I be able to pay my bills even after I splurge on this? Do we pay half in cash and half in credit? Do we do installments?). Even at the mall, walking through the aisles of the Appliance Center at The Block, I was asking Alfred if we were sure. We could get a 17-inch LCD/flat screen TV for a lower price. I could buy a Samsung Pixon. Or an Iphone.
But this baby won out.
So there it is in it’s permanent home. Thank you boyfriend for setting it up for me, and cousin Mice for helping to lift it out from it’s box. We couldn’t test it today though because the hose to the gas tank is too big. I can wait a few more days. 🙂
Apart from being a park where families can go to relax, unwind, have a picnic and enjoy nature in the middle of a bustling city, the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife is also a Nature Center. What this means is that rescued animals are nursed here until they can be set free again. For those who can no longer be brought back to their natural habitat, they stay in the center and those are the animals that people like us can visit.
I have memories of entering an aviary as a young girl. A big one where you can see the birds flying around you. I still can’t be quite sure if this is a memory from a trip to the Wildlife or to Nayong Pilipino ( is there an aviary there?). I don’t know how many species of birds can be found at the Wildlife, I can’t even name the birds that we were able to see. The cages are not properly labeled you see.
I was quite frustrated though that the cages completely ruin your chances of a good shot. The animals are in cages, then there are railings that keep you more than an arm’s length away from the cage itself. For a frustrated photographer like me, there’s just too many challenges to think of. Haha 🙂 Nevertheless, blogging about our day at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife will not be complete without showing photos of the animals we were there to see.
Sheesh please do not ask me what these birds are called. I’d just tell you that they look like African lovebirds to me. You don’t agree? Well here they are kissing!
There you go, kissing scandal at Cage 27. See, no labels at all to tell you what you’re looking at! So even if I wanted to educate Esban on what birds these are, I couldn’t!
According to the boyfriend (who wanted to become a veterinarian, if not for his fear of blood), the birds on this next set are sea hawks. The last one I’m sure is a hornbill. Or something. 🙂
[svgallery name=”sea hawk”]
Now this majestic peacock was kind enough to hold his pose for me. But what caught our attention more than his magnificent stance and the beauty of his feathers, was the fact that he shares his cage with turtles. Ya don’t believe me? Well see for yourself! We even photographed one turtle struggling to get out of his water bath 🙂
