theReliquary

Happy Holidays for 2009~! ^___^

2009-12-20T05:08:32Z

As per my annual tradition... :D

Just something I doodled today to send out my greetings to everyone before the REALLY busy holidays... um.. days... arrive and everyone disappears to their respective provinces, homes, vacations, retreats, etc etc. XDDDD

And yep, I didn't feel like drawing Santa's elves, so here's an Antivan elf and a mage elf instead. Tee hee! (I can dream, can't I??)

So, happy holidays! ^______^

K's 2009 Holiday Wishlist. :3

2009-11-11T21:11:17Z

Hehe... I haven't completely forgotten the tradition, despite me being absent from LJ, so here it is. My Holiday wishlist for this year. ^__^

Granted, I'd most likely have to get most of these for myself, but hey, it's called a WISHlist, and I can dream, can't I? XDD You know me, always pushing my luck and testing the waters to see if some rich, clueless person with a kind heart would decide to send me my heart's desires without question. Hehehehe...

So anyway, here we go. This year, K has been a good girl and wants:

- a second pair of Skullcandy headphones
- an iPod. Either Nano or Classic, as long as it has a good-sized memory
- a Nintendo DS Lite or DSi
- a point-and-shoot digicam, preferably Canon (supermacro mode, I LOVE YOU)
- an extra battery pack for a Canon EOS 10D
- a proper carrying bag for a Canon EOS 10D
- a 500GB (or more), USB-powered portable HD
- an original Konata-chan Nendoroid
- updated Vocaloid MP3 collection (because I just can't seem to keep up...)
- Guild Wars keys for Factions/Nightfall/EotN/GW2
- any recommended animu/scanlated manga/music/series/movie burned onto a disc
- any recommended book (as in actual, non-PDF book)
- gift certificates for The Spa/Fully Booked/Powerbooks
- gift certificates to a nice food place
- gift art
- snail mail (I miss it so...)
- a new dice set
- photography lessons or books
- a year's worth of membership to a gym/dance/yoga class close to the Ortigas CBD (then I'm FORCED to actually go... NO ESCAPE. XDDDD)
- a nice meal cooked for me :D (wehehehehe.... *AHEMELEAAHEM*)
- nice/inspiring Vintage photos
- a shopping trip at Saizen XDDDDD
- a good haircut at your favorite stylist's (because goodness knows I need it. XD)

NYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA~~ here's to hoping. :p

ADDENDUM:

- Zevran Fanart
- Dragon Age Collector's Edition

Give back what Ondoy took away

2009-09-27T15:09:55Z

Typhoon Ondoy: Emergency Help Lines and Contact Numbers

2009-09-26T11:44:43Z

Posted this in Plurk a while ago, but I guess we'll never know who might need it out there, so I'm also posting it here.

========================

HOTLINES:

For those who need help, you can also post here:
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=9724&post=33586&uid=116724526976#post33586

Text hotline for rescue - 0917-2414864/0927-6751981 (provided by Manny Villar)

SEND FULL ADDRESS of friends and family who are stranded to Sen. Dick Gordon 09178997898 or 0938444BOYS Phil Natl RED CROSS NCRPO 8383203 / 8383354 for rubber boat requests

For people who need assistance: National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Emergency Numbers: 912-5668, 911-1406, 912-2665, 911-5061.

Help hotlines: 734-2118, 734-2120.

DISASTER EMERGENCY HOTLINES YOU CAN CALL: 911-1873, 912-5296, 912-2665

National Disaster Coordinating Committee
911-1406
911-1873
911-1906
911-5061
912-0984
912-2665
912-3046
912-5296
912-5668

Help hotlines:
734-2118
734-2120

Bureau of Fire Protection, National Capital Region
729-5166
410-6254
413-8859
407-1230

Bureau of Fire Protection, Region III (Central Luzon)
Hotline (045) 9634376

Philippine Coast Guard
527-6136

Red Cross
143
911-1876
527-0000

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)
136
896-6000

Taguig emergency hotline
1623

Meralco
16220
0917-5592824
0920-9292824

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. emergency hotlines
for dumptrucks going to flooded areas for rescue of stranded people:
0917 4226800
0917 2414864
0927 6751981

(taken from http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173224/disaster-emergency-hotlines-you-can-call-911-1873-912-5296-912-2665 )

National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Emergency Numbers: 912-5668, 911-1406, 912-2665, 911-5061. Help hotlines: 734-2118, 734-2120. Red Cross: 143, 527-0000 Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA): 136 Philippine Coast Guard: 527-6136 Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (045) 9634376 Victory Fort is opening its doors to those affected by the typhoon. Call 813-FORT

RT @noynoyaquino You may get in touch with Clare Amador from our office at 9285205508 re the NoyMar relief efforts. #manilaflood

===============================

SPREADSHEET TRACKER OF PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE RESCUED:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/lv?key=tohu9kthNU6anlf21Low08g

SITUATION MAP:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&vps=1&jsv=177f&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=110868206150348750692.00047479b6400ee29bd89

===============================

DONATIONS:

If you wish to donate relief goods, please contact Clare DG. Amador (9285205508 ) or Jana Vicente (9285205499) at Balay Expo Center, Cubao.
Like Team Manila stores, papemelroti stores shall also be accepting relief goods (canned goods/milk/bottled water/clothes - NO CASH please.
91 Roces Ave. / Ali Mall Cubao / SM City North EDSA / SM Fairview / SM Megamall / Glorietta 3 in Makati / SM Centerpoint / SM Southmall
For those who have anything extra to spare, from food to clothes, kindly bring it to Jollibee C-5 beside SM Hypermart 7PM.
We need more people to help pack relief goods. 87 sct. fuentebella,Quezon City. look for any coordinator.

DONATIONS TO RED CROSS:

Monetary Donations

1. CASH or CHECK
Please send cash or check donations to the PNRC National Headquarters in Manila. Checks should be made payable to The Philippine National Red Cross. We can also arrange for donation pick-up.

2. BANK DEPOSIT
Account Name: The Phil. Nat’l. Red Cross

    METROBANK
    Port Area Branch
    Peso Acct.: 151-3-041-63122-8
    Dollar Acct.: 151-2-151-00218-2
    Type of Acct. : SAVINGS
    Swift Code: MBTC PH MM

    BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
    Port Area Branch
    Peso Acct.: 4991-0010-99
    Type of Account: CURRENT

    BANK OF THE PHIL. ISLANDS
    UN Branch
    Dollar Acct.: 8114-0030-94
    Type of Account: SAVINGS
    Swift Code: BOPI PH MM

For your donations to be properly acknowledged, please fax the bank transaction slip at nos. +63.2.527.0575 or +63.2.404.0979 with your name, address and contact number.

Credit Card

Please fax the following info to +632.404.09.79 and +632.527.0575:

Name of card member, billing address, contact nos. (phone & mobile), credit card no., expiration date, CCV2/ CVC2 (last three digits at the back of the credit card), billing address, amount to be donated.

For online donations you may also visit our website at www.redcross.org.ph .

In-Kind Donations

LOCAL
Please send in-kind local donations to The Philippine National Red Cross – National Headquarters in Manila. We could also arrange for donation pick-up.

INTERNATIONAL

Send a letter of intent to donate to the PNRC
A letter of acceptance from PNRC shall be sent back to the donor
Immediately after shipping the goods, please send the (a) original Deed of Donation, (b) copy of packing list and (c) original Airway Bill for air shipments or Bill of Lading for sea shipments to The Philippine National Red Cross–National Headquarters c/o Secretary General Corazon Alma de Leon, Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila 2803, Philippines.

The PNRC does not accept rotten, damaged, expired or decayed goods. Though we appreciate your generosity, the PNRC also discourages donations of old clothes as we have more than enough to go around.

SMS and G-CASH (Globe)

SMS
text RED<space>AMOUNT  to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)

G-CASH
text DONATE<space>AMOUNT<space>4-digit M-PIN<space>REDCROSS to 2882

Most urgent needs

Food items: Rice, noodles, canned goods, sugar, iodized salt, cooking oil, monggo beans and potable water

Medicines: Paracetamol, antibiotics, analgesic, oral rehydration salts, multivitamins and medications to treat diarrheal diseases

Non-food items: Bath soaps, face towels, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, plastic mats, blankets, mosquito nets, jerry cans, water containers, water purification tablets, plastic sheetings, and Laundry soap

Rehabilitation Programs: Shelter materials for house repair

Call Hotline 143 or 527.0000

THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL RED CROSS
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
Bonifacio Drive, Port Area,
Manila 2803, Philippines

From: http://www.redcross.org.ph/Site/PNRC/wtd.aspx

Because I don't want to forget

2009-09-05T03:19:00Z

Hi. Yes, I'm still alive. Pretty much. Hehe...

So yeah. Just posting this here because it's weird dreams season again and there's some that I'd want to keep a record of, just in case it's important. On the other hand, considering that it's Mercury Retrogade at the moment as well, this could all just be an anomalous blip in my head. Hehe... anyway, long, senseless post up ahead. Don't say I didn't warn you. :p

Now, I've been having a whole LOT of really weird, screwed up dreams lately, but I'm not sure why this one pops up from the rest.

In my dream, I was hurrying to work, except our building lobby was tiny, and to get to the office, I had to go up actual sets of stairs. So I got through the door, and the guard asked me my name. I showed him my ID, and another guard walked up and told me the other guy was new and let me pass. So I left them as the other guard was giving the newbie some pointers.

The office, in my dream, was a humongous version of my old class room in sixth grade. A rectangular space with wooden floors boards and wooden chairs, lined all around with jalousie windows. Except it was air-conditioned. Haha! Anyway, upon getting to the "office", my dream self was thinking how she should get ready for a written exam which was apparently part of work.

While waiting for the test to begin, I saw some of my current officemates milling about, all apparently also waiting for the exam, whatever it was. One of them told me to grab something to eat first as we waited for the exam to begin. I headed for the direction I was pointed to, and found that a side of the room has been allocated to a couple of buffet tables. The tables were laden with native rice cakes and ice cream.

Meanwhile, past the cakes, there were shelves filled with random things for sale, like a thrift shop. I was going through the stuff and I spotted a lot of things that I wanted. I also found several copies of a book supposedly written by a friend of ours, Mitch Azarcon. Her name was on the cover of the book, and I was so happy that I bought two copies. I had no idea what the book was about though.

As I continued shopping, I basically just picked up items from shelves and had them carted off to a corner to dump with the rest of the stuff I was buying. I didn't even bother to check price tags. Also, suddenly, other friends were there. Cliff and Maoi were shopping as well, so were Ian and Jyli, and Jed was complaining that he found something he really wanted to buy but didn't have the cash for it at the moment (it looked like some hairpiece shaped like an elaborate flower with a yellow gem or something in the middle).

Then I found this dish that I really wanted. It was like one of those Ming Dynasty plates, made of heavy porcelain and with blue designs on it. I wanted to get more of it, when this black lady approached me to tell me that she had more stock upstairs (and when I say "black", I mean the African-American type). She had short, straight, shoulder-length hair, she was a little on the heavy side, and she wore a nice gray suit, heels, and gold earrings.

So I followed her up a set of much nicer stairs that weren't there previously, but at the very top, I lost my footing a bit and dropped the "Ming" dish I was holding. Thankfully, the dish just clanged onto the floor and didn't shatter for some reason. The lady just laughed it off and picked up the dish and said she'd hold onto it for me until we get to... wherever it was we were going.

The lady then just strutted along ahead of me, like she owned the place, and I followed her closely. The weird part was that all of sudden, this part of the place was all marble, glass and granite, a far cry from the wooden classroom that we just left. Another weird feature was that we had to go along this loooong hall. To our left was a marble wall lined with columns at regular intervals. Above us were high, domed, ceilings with chandeliers. To our right was a glass and stainless steel railing which provided a good view of the classroom we just left, just below us. And under our feet was a floor made of plate glass.

I need to point out now that I am afraid of heights, and I absolutely HATE those glass block floors in malls. When I first started working, our office was on the 34th floor, and I couldn't even look out the pantry window out of pure fear. Once, I had to literally crawl on the floor just to have the courage to take a peek, and even then, I felt like the floor would tip over forward, and I would hit the glass and fall to my death.

So anyway, the glass hallway we were walking on was really narrow, and in fact just seemed wide enough to fit the lady who was walking in front of me. At certain points, a column would eat up half of the already-narrow space, and I'd be forced to squeeze myself in between the column and the railings and had to risk looking down (which I was trying to avoid). What's strange though, is that in this instance, I was scared, but not as scared out of my wits as I would have been had this happened in real life.

We finally make it to the end, and the hallway turns left at an angle. The glass floor has ended, and we were finally on something sturdy and carpeted. The lady put the dish down on a nearby bureau, saying we'd just get it on the way back. Stupid dream self me thought this was a good idea and agreed. At this time, I didn't really care much about getting more plates anymore. I just followed the lady down another chandelier-lined hallway and out a set of double doors which opened up to... a vast garden.

The garden was another huge rectangular space, similar to a soccer field. It was lined with tall trees, and under the trees were nice, fancy, wood and metal park benches. In the middle were plots of grass, spaces with dug-up soil obviously being prepared for planting, heaps of seedlings with their roots still wrapped in black bags, and carts and wheelbarrows with more seedlings and gardening tools. It was like a landscaping project in progress. At the very end of the soon-to-be garden was a big, white house with a line of grand columns in front.

We walked past a man with glasses talking to someone with a wheelbarrow full of seedlings, telling the other guy that he needed more of whatever was in the wheelbarrow. It was outdoors, and I couldn't tell if it was dusk or right before dawn. It was dark, but still light enough to see. The wind was blowing and you could smell the grass and the dug-up soil, and it was rather pleasant.

The lady and I sat at one of the park benches. She then took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter and started smoking something that didn't smell like cigarettes, but instead was very sweet. She pointed at a bagged seedling on top of a small pedestal beside her and then proceeded to remove the bag. It turns out that what was keeping the seedling in place was a whole bunch of ants holding up dead leaves all around the thing. From afar, it looked like the bottom of the plant was wrapped in camo-patterned cloth, but if you looked closely, the splotches of colors were moving slightly.

The lady then took another drag of her cigarette and told me, "See? This is how it begins."

She then proceeded to talk, and I remember listening intently because I knew that what she was telling me was very important... and then I woke up, remembering everything about the dream except what she said.

I woke up feeling confused, but now I'm feeling very heavy and disappointed about it. I wish I could remember everything that she told me, even just a little bit more. It seemed like it was highly important.

Which is why I'm typing out this long-ass entry right now. I'm hoping that I'll remember it all someday, and everything will make sense when I put the pieces together.

K's Spring Cleaning Bargain Sale! ^___^

2009-07-19T21:23:38Z

Yep, I cleaned out stuff from our piles and piles of... more stuff... recently. Can't afford to put up an actual garage sale and my eBay account is still awaiting reinstatement (long story...). So here ya go.

Prices are listed below, shipping not included yet. Will be using Air21 for everything else. Books/Printed material will be sent via 2GO since they ship books cheaper. So that'll be Item Price + Shipping. Yep, I combine shipping. Free shipping if you somehow manage to buy at least 500pesos worth of stuff. Hehe. I just want to get these things out the door.

If you need more info about the item, I'm gonna have to ask you to just Google it up. Sorry. ^_^;;;;

All these are second hand unless stated otherwise. Either they're used, or they're new but have been stuck inside my closet for a long while.

Items come from a no-smoking, cat-filled environment.

FIRST COMMENT FIRST BOUGHT BASIS. ^_^

We can arrange payment details later on. Just leave me your contact details. :D

Planet of the Apes paperback. Brand new. As in, I never read it after I bought it. 100pesos.

~~What Puppies Do. Hardbound coffee table book. Brand new. 100pesos~~ SOLD to dino! ^__^

~~What Kittens Are. Hardbound coffee table book. Brand new. 100pesos.~~ SOLD to dino! ^__^

~~Eight Cousins. Well-thumbed paperback. 40pesos.~~ SOLD to rosa! ^__^

~~Dojo Wisdom for Writers. 100 pesos.~~ SOLD to elea! ^_^

Celtic Parables. Hardbound book. Glossy pages. 100pesos.

Lord Foul's Bane. Paperback. Used. 50pesos.

Captain Tsubasa Road to 2002. Vol. 1-5. Japanese. 400pesos for the set.

~~Pooh's Letters from the Hundred Acre Wood. Hardbound. Book has pockets inside. Complete inserts and extras. 150pesos.~~ SOLD to nabs! ^__^

Dune: Battle of Corin. Hardbound. 80 pesos.

Pure Power Ultimate Personal Empowerment. Paperback. Never read it. 80 pesos.

The Faith of Qumran: Theology of the Dead Seas Scrolls. Paperback. 80 pesos.

~~The Heart of Buddhism. Paperback. 80 pesos.~~ SOLD to Cliff! ^_^

Gift of a Letter. Paperback. Well-thumbed. Pages have highlights and notes. 50 pesos.

Victoria's Secret Pear Glace Ultra-moisturizing hand and body cream. Large tube. Never used. 300 pesos.

~~Hello Kitty Plush Toy, Nara, Japan Edition. Small. 80 pesos.~~ SOLD to gia! ^__^

Esprit Purse. Bought a couple of years ago at the Esprit outlet store in New York. Never been used, but has been in my closet for years. Too small for me who carries a PSP and a sketch pad most of the time. Authentic. 800 pesos.

Gold-plated bracelet with moon charm. Never been used. 100 pesos.

Rose quartz necklace. Clasps are slightly tarnished. 200 pesos.

Glass bead necklace. Clasps are tarnished. 100 pesos.

Cellphone pouch. Never been used. 50 pesos

TOMATO Kikay pouch. Medium. Used. 30 pesos.

Rubber Luggage/Bag tag. never been used. 30 pesos.

Liz Claiborne Purse/Shoulder Bag. Authentic. Bought in outlet store in the US several years ago. Never been used. With tags. 800 pesos.

FAKEY JanSport TokoDoki backpack. Straps can be interchanged to make it a sling bag. Used but clean. 150 pesos.

Canon PowerShot A430 with freebies. Used. DEFECTIVE. Photos come out stripey. See here for samples of stripey-ness. Camera comes with camera bag with strap, box, manuals, CD driver, AV cord, cleaner wipe, 2 rechargeable AA batteries, rechargeable battery charger, mini-tripod, original Canon 16MB MMC. Sorry, no mini-USB cable. I'm using it. If you can somehow make it work or have it repaired, be my guest. At the moment, I'm just not inclined to take it in for repairs. All for 1800pesos.

One-piece, Corduroy, button-up, wine-colored dress. Medium. 100 pesos.

Gray, sleveless, mini dress with embroidered/beaded floral designs. Medium. 100 pesos. ON HOLD

Purple, body-hugging top. Small to Medium. 50 pesos.

Silver and black patterned jacket. Small. 50 pesos.

Black, patterned blouse. Small. 20 pesos.

Sheer, long-sleeved, blue, patterned top. Medium. When I say sheer, I mean SHEER. You need to wear something else underneath. 50 pesos.

Light blue office blouse. Medium. 50 pesos.

Brown turtleneck. Small to medium. Stretches. 30 pesos.

Black blouse. Note deep V-cut in neckline. Medium. 50 pesos.

Long, chinese-inspired top. Medium to large? 50 pesos.

Long-sleeved top from XY Shop. Small. 100 pesos.

Black/silver pinstriped blouse. Small. 50 pesos.

Black, long top. Medium. 50 pesos.

Black and white top. Medium. 50 pesos.

G2000 blouse/jacket. Medium. 50 pesos.

~~Off-white/cream long jacket/blazer. Has shoulder pads. Neckline and inside lining in neck area has yellowed from being in the closet too long. Medium. 50 pesos.~~ SOLD to gia! ^__^

Gray Penshoppe top. Small. 50 pesos.

Top with green sleeves and print. Small. 50 pesos.

Brown blouse. Small. 50 pesos.

Brown blouse. Small. 50 pesos.

Long skirt. Elastic waistband. Shimmery material. Floor-length. Small to Medium? 50 pesos. ON HOLD

Knee-length skirt. Crochet-work. Elastic waistband. Medium. 50 pesos.

DBZ Gashapon cellphone strap. brand new. 100 pesos.

FFXII Vaan Gashapon figure. Brand new. 150 pesos.

Nintendo Gashapon Celphone straps. 50 pesos each.
Designs are:
(Top Row, Left to Right)
Luigi + 1UP mushroom, ~~Mario + Coin~~ (SOLD to jeme! ^__^), Mario + FireFlower, Luigi + Star, Mario + Growth mushroom
(Bottom Row, Left to Right)
Red Pipe + Chomper, Green Pipe + Mario, Yellow Pipe + Luigi

This is the entry I've been telling myself I'd write

2009-07-19T08:46:36Z

*Peeks in. Gets rid of the cobwebs on her LJ account.*

Um... hi. Yes, I'm still alive. Hehehe... I've been telling myself that I'd start posting regularly on my LJ again, but... well... yeah. A lot of things have been happenning, and I've got a ton of excuses. Work has been busy, always tired, rather sleep, no internet, can't use a PC, net cafes in Ortigas are in Korean, LJ has been blocked at the office, etc.

Well, I've finally found a chance to sit down and write at my leisure, so here I am again, trying desperately to breathe life into this blog.

Have I mentioned that a lot of things have happened?

Stay tuned. :D

And again, "Hi".

The GREAT WAVE (TM) of oncoming dental bills

2009-06-03T18:39:14Z

(This is me describing some really gross dentist-y details AND doing some computations and budgeting, aka, "talking to myself". You can still turn back. You have been warned.)

So... for the past week, I've been bearing with a toothache, and finally, I was able to get to a dentist this afternoon. It was a mind-opening, wallet-burning experience.

I went to this nice little clinic in Robinson's Galleria which honors my HMO card, called The Tooth Doctor. It must have been the swankiest dentist's office I've ever been to, and all the staff and the dentists were composed of nice women. Anyway, the dentist told me that there's something up with one of my molars in the back again, and that I needed to have a panoramic X-ray taken.

Off to the x-ray technician I went, sighing and grumbling about the 800-peso fee that blindsided me for today. After getting my results (it took 10 minutes for the whole thing), I handed the negatives to the good dentist and it was then that I realized just how badly I need to get some serious dental work done.

The molar that's hurting me right now is hurting me because it is lying ON ITS SIDE. Hence, it's growing out and pushing perpendicularly against the other teeth beside it, so no wonder my whole lower jaw has been hurting all week. Next, thanks to the X-rays, we also discovered that I have a freak tooth in the front. Apparently, right below my lower front two incisors, another, fully-formed tooth is right underneath it, in the gum area. Brrr... Seriously freaky. It reminds me of those news reports of a fetus forming inside another fetus, or something like that.

I know I've got bad teeth, but this is just ridiculous.

Anyway, the dentist recommended that I get some deep cleaning done first to prep for the extractions, because apparently, yes, a lot of damage is caused when you only start seeing a dentist at the age when you begin employment and you discover the convenience of company-provided healthcare. The cleaning has to be done in quadrants, once a week, at 1500php per quadrant, so that's 6000php in total.

THEN, she can finally go all surgeon on me and get rid of the wayward molar and the freak front tooth. That's about 5000 to 6000php per tooth, since this is obviously not going to be a simple extraction, especially with the freak tooth since it has somehow managed to grow INSIDE my gums.

But no worries. I think I can handle this, for once. My cunning plan so far is as follows:

My first appointment for the deep cleaning thing is on June 20. 1500pesos, I can handle.

The next appointment is on June 27, two days after payday. That's fine, too.

I will also have to pay for my appointment on July 4... BUT! by then, I would be regularized, which makes this expense reimbursable with my company. ^_^ Same rule applies for my July 11 appointment. I just have to remember to set aside 3000pesos once I get my pay on June 25 to cover for my June 27 and July 4 appointments. Maybe make that 4500pesos to include the July appointment as well... Hmm...

Then comes the big ones. I could set aside 7k for the first tooth extraction on either the 18th or 25th of July, and then another 7k for the second extraction. If I have extra cash that day, I might ask for both teeth to be removed in the same session just to get it all done and over with. I'd be staggering or crawling out the door, but at least it's done.

So, in total, I'm expecting to have at least 20k worth of emergency (yes, I now consider this an emergency!) dental work done within the next couple of months, and have 17k of it reimbursed by my company.

Hmm... not bad, eh? ^_^v

Quick, personal, health-related updates.

2009-06-01T22:42:57Z

Gonna make this as quick as possible because my head is starting to spin and I need to get home soon.

First of all... no PC at home. ^_^;; Our PC died on us, so I only get to do all my online chores and rituals when I'm at the office. Like now. Hehehehe...

Second, been watching the series Leverage. I LOVE IT.

Next, health updates (prolly more for my reference than anything else, but if it suits your entertainment, then heck, why not).

My legs started hurting last Monday, May 25. I thought it was just muscle pain at first, but I realized soon enough that it's not because the pain only starts at a certain point on my thigh halfway between my hip and my knees, then goes all the way down to my ankles. It's the type of pain that just.. FLASHES and pulsates and practically blinds you if you're caught unaware. Just imagine someone striking your thigh bone with a sledgehammer in a way that's too weak to break it, but just enough to make it really, really hurt. Yeah.

Anyway, I've gone to a clinic last Wednesday when I couldn't take the pain anymore and I was practically screaming in our room. The brilliant doctor I saw had no idea what was going on and told me to just take painkillers nonstop until we get the results from the blood tests he ordered. I did as I was told, came back on the appointed day, and was told that my blood tests were all fine and peachy. Trouble was he still doesn't know what to do and instead told me to just take a STRONGER brand of painkiller for another TWO WEEKS, and THEN he just might consider referring me to a neurologist.

Of course, I promptly went off to see another doctor. Second guy seems to be better, and he thinks it's nerve inflammation in my legs. I was given a prescription for better (and cheaper) painkillers, as well as a nerve anti-inflammatory drug-thing. He asked me to take it for a week, and if I'm not well by then, off to a neurologist I go to have my back and my spine checked to see if the problem is there.

I still think that ONE week of possible cure and relief ending in immediate action, is still better than TWO weeks of guaranteed pain ending in more uncertainty and guesswork.

In the meantime, I'm still on painkillers since I can't function, walk or think the moment they wear off.

No wonder House is so grumpy.

Good thing I have my babuy to take care of me. ^_^

VOTE for your 10 favorite blogs! ^__^

2009-05-25T19:10:07Z

In case you haven't heard yet, Miss Janette Toral is currently holding a contest to determine the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2009, and here are my picks. ^__^

* Let's Go Sago!

* A Photographic Saga

* The LoliDudes

* Magnetic-Rose.net

* The Struggling Blogger

* Hay! Men! Ang Blog ng Tunay na Lalake

* Patay Gutom

* Be Inspired Now!

* Digital Manila

* Coffee Stains & Inks

Aaaaand because I want to join the raffle, a word from our sponsors. ^_^;;
- Absolute Traders
- My Brute Cheats
- Business Summaries

EDIT:
Hehe... had to update my list. Gomen. :p

Pleasant Surprises: Krung Thai

2009-05-18T21:52:35Z

Last May 9th, me and some friends made the trek to Marikina to visit a seamstress about some dresses. Due to some hiccups in the planning, though, we were forced to retreat for a while to plan what to do next and how to get over the said boo-boo. Hence, the first thing we did was look for the closest air-conditioned food place, which so happened to be this little, unassuming nook in front of Marikina Market with a sign that declared that they served Thai food. As it turned out, we were so very thankful for the boo-boo because we wouldn't have found this gem of a place otherwise.

Having absolutely no idea on what was good to try and what was not, we basically just started picking semi-randomly from the menu, and while waiting for our food to arrive, we had some time to take in the ambiance.

And then the Thai Iced Tea arrived.

Needless to say, I was surprised at how big they were and how GOOD they were. Nice and cool, and sweet and milky. I suppose I was expecting one of those small glasses of iced tea that they normally serve in other restaurants. This, apparently was a sign on how the rest of our orders would turn out.

Thai Fried Rice and Beef Noodles

Both were HUGE. And the rice? We thought it would just be plain fried rice, but it turns out that there was meat and seafood tossed in the mix. We were all expecting that each one was good for only one person, but as it turns out, it could feed a small family, as could the rest of the things we ordered.

A beansprouts-Pho noodles mix

Spring Rolls

AND the most tender and the tastiest chicken satay I have ever tasted.

And one of us even made the mistake of ordering a set meal.

Had we known we would have a FEAST in front of us, we wouldn't have eaten breakfast that day. In the end, a group of SEVEN adults were defeated by the food, all left will popping waistlines and full bellies, and we had to concede and have the rice and the beansprouts wrapped up for take-out.

And the total bill for ALL that goodness? 1070 pesos. It IS GLORIOUS.

So, if you're ever in the Marikina area, just head for the Marikina Market, and look for the statue of the dude washing some kid's butt. Head in the direction of where the kid is facing and you're bound to run into Krung Thai. You can't miss it. Seriously.

-------------------------
PLUG: X-Men Origins review by the Lolidudes: MANCAKE MENAGERIE!!. Please do check it out! ^___^

Mogu Mogu mugumagumumu?

2009-05-14T23:08:19Z

BEHOLD! I give you the drink MOGU MOGU! I'm posting this here so that the people whom I've told about this cute little thing would finally believe me, that there IS such a drink called "mogu mogu" which exists on this planet. So, yes. Existence confirmed. Available for 28php at the 7-11 at the gound floor of Raffles Corporate Center on Emerald Avenue in Ortigas. Hehehehe... other than that, I'm afraid I have no idea where else to find it. ^_^;;;

Anyway, right. Mogu Mogu.

Basically, it's a fruit juice drink that comes with nata de coco chunks. I know it sounds weird, but it's actually quite good. Well, the orange-flavored one anyway. I've seen a lychee-flavored one in the same display cooler, but I haven't exactly been brave enough to try it out just yet.

Meanwhile, the concept of having chunky, chewy bits of goo stuck in your drink may seem a little strange, and to be honest, it DOES take a minute or two for one to get used to the drink. However, I've found that when you think about it, it's just like drinking sago gulaman, or like having Jell-o squeezed into your drink.

Also, the thought of having the taste of coconut clash with the fruit juice is also easy to get over once you get to taste it since the nata de coco isn't overpowering, and instead takes on most of the flavors of the fruit juice it's been swimming in, while adding its own bit of sweetness.

I love the stuff. :D

I guess my only qualm about this is that I find myself wishing that WE Filipinos thought about making this lovely drink first. Oh well.

DIY Sewing Project #4: Shorts + Leg Warmers

2009-05-14T00:02:11Z

It's been a while since I posted my sewing projects. There's still a whole stash I SHOULD have posted ages ago... but let's just skip that and fast forward to 2009, shall we? XDDD

Anyway, as everyone knows, I love raiding ukay-ukays to look for stuff to tear apart, cut to pieces, butcher and basically modify. It's been like that back then, it still is now. So, my latest ukay-ukay trip has yielded a good bounty, and it just so happened that I also needed something to wear to the Shizen Orchestra event days away at the time.

First, get a perfectly good pair of pants from the ukay-ukay. Make sure it fits nicely. Don't get tempted to settle for badly-fitting ones just because it's cheap.

Butcher it mercilessly. I mean, measure up to the length that you want, add 1.5 inches allowance for hemming, and SNIP! To keep it straight, you can either draw a line with a pencil or a pen (make sure to do this on the reverse of the fabric!) or use one of those... whatchamacallit-that-looks-like-a-tiny-pizza-cutterROTARY CUTTERS. There. It doesn't cut the fabric per se, but there are the ones with blades shaped like cogs so it leaves a nice dotted line for you to follow. Also, 24-inch rulers are handy. :D

Fold up the edges and secure with pins all around. Befire stitching it in place, make sure you fit it one more time (be careful with the pins...) just to make sure that the length is still how you want it. Once you're happy with it, STITCH AWAY! Personally, I had to stitch it by hand since I have no sewing machine. ^_^;;;

Once everything's hemmed in, add trims!

And as for the pant legs... I just added garter/elastics inside the hem to keep it from falling off my legs.

Hehe... I was pretty conservative with the trims since I didn't have much material, and it was my first time making something like this, so I wasn't sure just exactly how much was too much. ^_^;;

And there we go. And yes, I wore it a few days later. ^_^;;;

(Big thanks to h_matsumoto and her Project Rockway series of posts. I got the idea from her. ^__^v)

EDIT:
here we go! Hazel's Project Rockway series! ^________^

LOVE for 25 pesos

2009-05-07T23:47:43Z

As many of my friends know, I find joy in senseless knick-knacks and inane curiosities, especially when I can acquire them for cheap. So yes, at this point, you can start imagining me walking up to a cashier inside a 7-11 branch to pay for some chips and a bottle of flavored tea... then spotting the candy rack and giggling like an idiot before grabbing a pack of mints and tossing it at the counter to be rang up along with the rest of my purchases.

I give you... love for 25 pesos. XDDDDD

Yes, I was so excited over it that I plurked about it that day and showed it to my friends at the office. We all giggled like schoolgirls. XDDDDD

Apparently, that's the toned down version, because as I learned from the manufacturer's website, in other countries, the name stamped on the package is "SEX" instead of "LOVE". And speaking of their website, I love how they ask you to choose between ENERGY and SEX. XDDDD

Lovely. Who says laughs have to be pricey? XDDD

Damn, I love them Plueys....

2009-05-06T21:02:17Z

I remember about a year ago, during one of my many trips to Serendra with Ian, I spotted these gorgeous rain boots displayed on a rack. I was surprised, because I've never seen a pair of big, rubber boots which were obviously meant for getting wet, which didn't look like the black or yellow ones that I normally saw being worn by traffic cops or construction workers. I wanted one so badly back then, but when I learned that a pair costs about 2000++ php each, I sadly had to put it down and walk away. Since then, I never forgot about the boots in different colors and cute patterns.

Fast forward to now.

It's the beginning of the rainy season again, and quite frankly, I was getting sick (both literally and figuratively) with having to bear with getting my shoes, socks and feet wet in the rain during my daily commute to work, and then having to stay in a cold, air-conditioned office for the next 10 hours or so with wet, cold feet. Thankfully, the main difference between then and now is that I could afford a pair of those lovely rain boots these days.

So, a quick search in Google for "patterned rain boots" turned up the name "Plueys". I found their site, saw the photos of the same boots I lusted after, all those months ago, and learned that I could apparently place an order online. Now, having been an eBay user for this long, I was bracing myself for delays, long gaps with communication, at least a one-week period before getting my order, and even the grim possibility of receiving an item in either the wrong size or pattern. I was, however, completely wrong.

I placed my order on a Monday night, got an email about payment details on Tuesday morning, paid for it via bank deposit on Tuesday afternoon... and by Wednesday, at lunch time, the Air 21 van was honking in front of our house and a box with the Plueys logo was in my hands in no time. I opened the box, and found that I got exactly what I ordered: a pair of size 7s, in a pattern called Catstooth. It was a wonderful experience.

Of course, being excited as I was, I tried using my spankin'-new pair the very next day. The results?

First of all, I need to point out that I was able to wear my Plueys for 15 hours straight with no problem at all, which, considering its weight and all, was pretty surprising. And speaking of weight, yes, as one could expect from a pair of footwear that you can use to wade through ankle-deep floodwaters if necessary, the boots ARE heavy. It takes a bit of getting used to, and it took me about 10 minutes to fully get accustomed to walking around in it. On the other hand, I'm guessing that if you're used to heavy footwear (I used to wear heavy hiking boots everyday for 3 years back in college), it should be no problem.

Other things I need to point out about it would be the fact that the interior of the boots are WARM, which is a wonderful thing when you're stuck in a cold, cold office. However, because it's quite toasty in there, leggings or long socks are a MUST when wearing the boots, because otherwise, I think you'll just end up with sweaty calves. Also, I noticed that I had some difficulty going up and down steps while I was wearing the boots because of the thick rubber that the boots themselves are made of. The material pinching into my ankles as I was going up and down the pedestrian overpass was rather troublesome, but walking everywhere else that WASN'T a set of stairs was wonderfully comfy.

And of course, there was the puddle-stomping. Oh, how I loved the puddle-stomping... Walking around in the rain with impunity is a particularly nice experience, I think, and I'd recommend it to everyone. :3

All in all: Plueys are <3

ANNOUNCEMENT: I NEED AN ARTIST FOR A WEBCOMIC ASAP

2009-05-06T14:39:47Z

Yep, me and some friends are gonna be launching a webcomic. We have scripts, and now we need someone to illustrate it for us.

We'll pay by page. 5 pages per issue. Weekly or twice a month.

If you're interested, email me your rates for:

- 1 manga page - lineart only
- 1 manga page - colored
- 1 chibi drawing - lineart only
- 1 chibi drawing - colored
- 1 character illustration - lineart only
- 1 character illustration - colored
- 4-koma strip - lineart only
- 4-koma strip - colored

Also, please do send me either links or attach files of your sample art (male and female).

You can contact by sending me an email at ksolaris at gmail dot com

THANKS!!

*runs off again*

Shizen Orchestra and one week of SWAG!!

2009-04-27T02:05:27Z

In case you're wondering what has been keeping me busy, I've been working with a bunch of friends on starting up LoliDudes.com. So, past month or so, we've been attending cons to gather material. ^_^ Anyway, here's our report for Shizen Orchestra which was held last April 25. ^_^

With a brief special featuring Ian, of course. :D

I took all the photos. ^__^

LEL. On top of the con-attendance, the past week has also been phenomenal in my book in terms of acquiring STUFF! WHEE!! A pair of Skullcandy headphones and some Lucky Star figures. YAY! ^_____^

BOOP!

Maid Kona and Kagamin~

Chibi Kagamin~

Miku Miku

(LEL. Gomen. She's a fakey. But still fun to play around with. Hehe... And... I'm glad I had this to practice with first before getting a real one. I think I broke one of the ball joints within five minutes of opening the box. O_O;;; But then again, it could have also broken BECAUSE she's a fakey. ^_^;; Oh well. Still... pictures!)

I has a pirate hat! :3

And Ian's present for me which he gave me last Friday... MY OWN PAIR OF SKULLCANDY HEADPHONES!!! THEY ARE AWESOME AND LOVE ROLLED INTO ONE! ^___^

And and Lem got one for himself, too, of course. :3

Hehe... yes, this is my stuff-itis kicking in again. :D

Reasons we love our cats.

2009-04-19T22:34:35Z

Let me count the ways. XDD

All photos taken using Cliff/Maoi's awesome Canon 10D (the manual of which I am yet to read...). No cropping. All I know how to do in Photoshop is use the Auto Levels/Auto Contrast button. XDD

Video editor wanted! ^__^

2009-04-12T03:42:16Z

We are in need of a reliable video editor for occasional projects. Just short video clips, 10 minutes long at the MOST.

We'll need his/her services probably about once or twice a month, tops. Needs to be able to work with deadlines, raw digital footage and lulz.

We're willing to pay. We'll negotiate later. :3

If you can recommend anyone, or if you want to apply for it, please send us samples of your work at thelolidudes at gmail dot com. Please have the email addressed to me, Kristine/K/ksolaris.

Thank you~~~~ ^____________^

Plurk Timeline desu~~

2009-04-06T20:31:09Z

FINALLY. I really should have figured this out earlier. Hehehe...

Well, here you go, something to look at, just so you know that yes, I am alive. :D

WHOOO!!

EDIT: Is it just me or it it showing up in a tiny iframe? T_T

ksolaris says...

2009-04-06T15:34:06Z

... um, hi? :3

Yes, PLURK has taken my soul. Hehe. Anyway, I'm back. I think. Sorry, LJ. Don't worry, I still love you.

The portents of 2009...

2009-01-06T02:29:13Z

... seem to reaffirm what I already know. The affirmation is much-appreciated, though. :p

Got it from AstroProfile.com and I highlighted bits of it.

Here's to Capricorns everywhere~! XDD

Obligatory cat pictures post

2009-01-05T03:01:09Z

I've mentioned some time ago that our cat gave birth to four kittens, and I've also been complaining on Plurk that we've been losing sleep over herding cats who have just discovered the wonders of running, jumping and climbing. Especially climbing.

And I feel fluffy today.

So, I give you... CAT PICTURES!

The rest of the photos are in my Multiply Album. ^_^

ABS-CBN, you bunch of goddamned LIARS.

2009-01-04T12:44:04Z

Don't think you're off the hook yet.

NEVER underestimate the powers of Google Cache. You shit on the internet once, it's there forever. Or at least for a certain amount of time, EVEN AFTER YOU'VE REMOVED IT FROM YOUR WEBSITE.

Now, isn't that nice, hmmm?

A big thank you to R who has graced us with this wonderful morsel. XDDDDD

And so, just in case it gets wiped from cache as well, here it is. I took a screenshot of the entire cached page for posterity.

ABS-CBN'S ANNOUNCEMENT ON THEIR WEBSITE THAT THEY WERE GONNA COME UP WITH A DUMB REMAKE OF AN ALREADY-DUMB FILM WHICH IS BASED ON AN EVEN DUMBER BOOK. And yes, this was exactly five days before they started washing their hands of the whole thing, claiming that they NEVER made an announcement, and then blaming Perez Hilton for everything. Personally, I think Perez Hilton should sue their asses off.

Oh, and also, even that Erratum of yours is horrible. All is lost. The network has forever lost credibility in my eyes.

Yes, I do believe that the Spider Queen shall be pleased.

This is the reason why I don't watch local TV anymore. It's worthless.

Here's to 2009: the year of Card 13

2009-01-02T06:55:41Z

This is my first post of the year, and already I begin to wonder what's going to be running through my head when I read this at around the same time next year. So let's see...

First off, let me talk about 2008.

The year that has just ended has left me with many lessons which I do believe will stay with me for a good while. If I could draw a card that would best signify 2008, it would be The Tower. It was a year of surprises, of upheavals, of changes... but all for the better.

I've been caught off-guard too many times this past year, but I've learned from my mistakes. I've also tolerated a lot of things which I shouldn't have, and I let a lot of things pass me by when that should not have been the case. It took something sudden and terrifying to happen for me to realize all this, and for me to wake up, get up and get moving again.

I let myself fall into a rut and I allowed myself to pretend that I was comfortable and contented to be in such a state. Apparently, I was insulting the Universe, and all it could possibly give by thinking as such, and as punishment, it gave me a powerful reminder that mediocrity or self-pity is not one of its most favored traits.

As a parting shot, 2008 also revealed the truth about certain people to me, and I am very grateful for the knowledge. Such a gift is not one to be taken with merely a simple "thank you".

Now, for the upcoming year, 2009.

When the clocks struck midnight last New Year's Eve, I promised myself that this year would be Card 13: Death. Whereas other people see the 13th card of the Tarot in a negative light, as an end to all that is dear to them, one has to remember that in the Tarot, Death signifies something more profound than merely ceasing to exist. It signifies change, destroying the old in order to give way to something new. It is a transition or a transformation. It is part of the natural cycle of destruction and creation. I hold much love for this card, and I aim to follow the lesson it attempts to teach.

Already, I have begun. I have shed unwanted and unnecessary burdens, and I am more than ready to welcome the new opportunities, challenges and lessons that I have made room for. I am eager for the transformations to begin, and for new life to spring from the ashes of the bridges I have burned.

I have promised myself that this year, I shall respect myself more, and believe in my own self-worth. I will no longer tolerate people who are not important in my life to dictate how far I can go or what I can or cannot do. A year and a half of my life has already been wasted in such a way, and I will no longer allow something so precious to be taken away from me again.

No more pointless complaining. No more quietly bearing it all and gritting my teeth. No longer will I allow myself to think that THIS is fine when it's NOT. No longer will I accept things that revile me and completely goes against my beliefs. No longer will I allow undeserving people to belittle me. No more fear. No more regrets.

It's my time now. I've been given the signal, and I've been provided with the tools. I plan to make use of it well, and they better be ready.

The Universe is great and awesome in every way, with all it can give and provide. To expect any less of it would be a damned shame.

I have emptied myself out for you. Now, COME!