philippines.

I've only been to the Philippines once.. and stayed for only 2 weeks..
Lola Precy comes to visit once a year and usually stays about a month..
Lolo Pete comes to visit once a year (if even that) and stays about a week and a half...

We rarely see each other, we rarely talk to each other, but these are my two MOST favorite people in the world.. I love them so much and miss them even more..

I don't think they realize how much I love them.. that when I say it, I'm just saying it because they're back in town... But every time they leave, or every time I see pictures of the Philippines from my other cousins who meet up with them, I cry... I cry because I miss them so much and wish I was there... I wish I lived so much closer to them... I wish I had enough MONEY to visit them more often...

Lolo Pete has emphysema and his doctors say he shouldn't fly for long periods of time anymore..

That's why we're having the big Catholic wedding in the Philippines.. I want Lolo Pete there... and Lola Precy of course...

To be honest, if it wasn't for them, I'd settle for just the courthouse wedding... I'm sticking to the tradition just for them.

I wish I could save up money to see them this summer.. but we'll see... too many bills to pay, too much debt to reconcile first... =(

miss busy bee

It's JJ's 23rd birthday tomorrow, and THANK GOD I have a day off today.. (even though I feel soo lethargic - due to the biting winter weather)

I have much to do, including shopping, bills to pay (so I don't worry about it this weekend), and BAKING!

His birthday mini cakes:

Red Velvet Cupcakes =)

*Thanks to Recipe Girl for this picture

So far, I've gathered all my ingredients except for a few garnishes, which I'm picking up later this evening... Oh, trips to JoAnn Fabrics... how I love thee...

Also on today's agenda, I gotta buy JJ a gift, which I'll probably order online. I HAD ordered a DVD from him, along with my David Foster & Friends DVD... and I am STILL waiting for this order to come in... ugh. So I'll probably just find a new gift to give him... I know he's been wanting a few items for his car (there's a list in the basement that he's been keeping. I am definitely stealing it -wink-)

I'm paying my bills online this very moment (I love online bill pay as well lol)... so hopefully the rest of the day goes just as productively (new word lol)

Part of me wants to get a 2nd job, but at the same time, I love this free time I have to just catch up with my own life... The whole idea of "penciling in" my schedule sounds so cliche, but it's such a vital part of my month / week / day / moment that I'm pretty sure I'd go insane if I didn't do so.

Ah well, at least everything will be organized and smooth for this weekend (ha. yeah right)...

cabin fever.

1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!


IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
When It Started - The Strokes "Why oh why.. I don't know" lol

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Forgive them Father - Lauryn Hill
"Beware the false motives of others Be careful of those who pretend to be brothers" - wow.. kinda harsh :(

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Such Great Heights - Postal Service
"Everything looks perfect from far away" haha

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
You Could Have It So Much Better - Franz Ferdinand
"Now there's some grinning goon on my TV screen" -- aww... it's the filipino Journey dude. haha
"The last message you sent said I looked really down That I oughtta come over and talk about it Well I wasn't down I just wasn't smiling at you"

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Professional Rockstar (from the SuperRad / Phanta C + Joey G)
no lyrics needed. ;)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Blood to Bleed - Rise Against
"Still I wait with a hope inside of me" - yeah.. it's hard for me to let go of things when they're over lol

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Nothing Better - Postal Service
"Tell me am I right to think that there could be nothing better"
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Crazy - Ne-yo w' Jay-Z I wrote your name on my wall 3000 times last night You were on my mind Then one by one i went down the line Just repeating it Cause it makes me smile
- guess JJ's on my mind a lot haha


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS?
This Boy - Franz Ferdinand
I see losers losing everywhere - hahahaha... no way. I love my friends. :)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
They Can't Save Us Now - Kill Hannah
So this is how it feels to be insane, the world looks like a movie always playing"
yeah... kinda morbid...

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
The Unlocking - The Roots "Bend over bitch, you know this is what you were born for" hahahahahahah

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Nobody - Ne-yo
So supernatural, for real, a crazy style and sex appeal - oh yes... haha

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
I'll Be Loving You Forever - NKOTB
I'll be loving you forever, just as long as you want me to be
All this love is for you

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Why Does She Stay - Ne-Yo (hahaha)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Alone, Together - The Strokes (aw too bad the actual song isn't right completely fitting)
" I am with you, now I've got to explain Things they have changed in such a permanent way Life seems unreal, can we go back to your place"

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
For Once In My Life - Michael Buble (OMG! that would be awesome... and make people cry lol)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
New Slang - The Shins
I'd 'a jumped from my tree And I'd a danced like the king of the eyesores And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Single - NKOTB
hmm.. big secret on this one would be that everytime this plays when I'm by myself, I sing at the top of my lungs haha

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Title & Registration - Death Cab
Behind its doors there's thing to keep my fingers warm; and all I find are souvenirs from better times" --> pretty much something bad that could happen...

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Let's Fall In Love - Nat King Cole --> ha.. this love is killing me... (lame)
Let's close our eyes
And make our own paradise
Little we know of it
Still we can try
To make a go of it

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Sexify My Love - NKOTB
Forget about tomorrow, right now we could have forever tonight
--hmm... one thing I regret is wasting so much time? pretty true..

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Paper Wings - Rise Against
I'm looking at you now
and I can't tell if you're laughing
between each smile there's a tear in your eye

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Busted - Matchbox 20
I dreamed that the world was crumbling down
We sat on my back porch and watched it
I dreamed that the buildings all fell down
We sat on my back porch and watched it

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Blue Eyes - Cary Brothers
I just wanna sing a song with you
I just wanna be the one that's true -- cute song... never heard it before haha

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Anywhere But Here - Rise Against
I'm so tired and turned around and scared
And I'm lying in empty beds again
I'll wait for you to come

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
A Little Bit Cooler - The Cool Kids (hahaha)

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
3am - Matchbox 20
She says baby,
It's 3am ; I must be lonely
When she says baby
Well I can't help but be scared of it all sometimes
Says the rain's gonna wash away, well I believe it.

motivation

So, I've come to realize that I haven't been motivated to do much lately... I mean, there's a lot to do, and I'm glad I was able to accomplish some of my short-term goals (cleaning the basement, getting a pedicure, getting my eyebrows re-threaded, etc), but I have this huge urge to do something big...

((LIST TIME!!))

Things to Do for 2oo9:

*side note: I'm sure this list will be constantly growing

• Buy a DSLR
• Go to CA to visit Dennis ;; then road trip to LV
• Finish my scrapbook / craft room
• Organize and frame all my pictures --> then hang everything.
• Organize my bookshelf --> time to sell some of these or pass them on...
• Drive JJ's car + learn how to race ;)
• New Scrapbook: Desserts!
• Blog more often.
• Architectural Boat Tour
• New Blog: Coolest places to eat around Chicago
• VISIT ALLISON!!
• 3 canvases - 3 graffiti tags
  
• Sox game w' JJ and the Usuals
• Visit Kuya Rico / Kuya Rob / Toronto
• Buy a RipStik
• Hotel hopping ;)
• Get JJ a folding bike so we can ride in the city together!
• Become a professional baker **complete with all necessary tools... a.k.a. BUY BAKING TOYS!! :D
  

GOD I can't wait til the summer!!! I have a feeling this winter is going to be a very, very long one. =(