Celebrating Freedom

As planned, mother and daughter (Jocelyn and Grace) went to visit mi casa to return unsold merchandise as well as the chafing dish nanay loaned them last Christmas. As they started late from Bacolod and buses being scarce due to some licensing lapses, I was able to clean the house, feed the dogs and even paid the electric bill by the time they arrived.  
Tatay suggested that I take them out for lunch and so I did. Since it was only on my way back that I spied a new resto at Uriarte, I brought them to Solstice for some back ribs, spare ribs and pata (which the "instagrammer" failed to document). 

We had Italian Affogato ice cream at home for dessert. Three generations (3 baby boomers, 1 gen x and 1 gen y) of unlikely acquaintances found two common topics to kill time (until it wasn't too hot to take on the road again): Dogs and Bisaya (the dialect).

On whim, I decided to join KZ in finding a money transfer agent for her school payment (after seeing my visitors off). The search took us to Hinigaran but to no avail. Rather than run to Bacolod so late in the afternoon, we decided to tarry a bit. We spent some time for snacks at Mila's (which brought back poignant remembrances of day's past involving their famous boxed bibingka), strolling around the time square. When it started to get dark, we made our way to Pontevedra and waited for Mildred at St. Michael's courtyard taking pictures and eating peanuts.

With seemingly so much going around, we forgot about the goodies we took out with us from Mila's. On the bench next to ours lay the remains of what has been the buko pie that I had yet to sample. Luckily, the tarts were packaged nicely in hard plastic, the dog was not able to get to it as well.

(The turnips, we bought them at San Juan along the highway on our way home).

Testing 'em Brains 'n Brawn

Day 1-  I forgot about what my real business was but I ended up remitting the collection for the two-day Sports and Skilympics in Bacolod. Transactions in the office weren't that frequent, I saw no reason to stay and not watch the brain exercise part of the event. So with KZ in tow, I left after lunch.

Earlier, two people commented about how my hair looked greasy. Well, I thought that it should as I did not wash it before going to work. Nevertheless, I felt so bad I asked Grace if I could use their bath for a spell. Hahaha. I took the time as well to get the papers she transacted for sis, the muffins Mimi got me from Cebu before catching a late lunch at McDo before dealing with our errand.

With personal errands off the rack, our concentration were trained on the events for the afternoon. I took the photos as KZ was, out of the blue, promoted to VGD contest judge.

The challenge came to us on our way home. LCC bound buses were scarce we opted to take Hinobaan which was a very expensive alternative. Either that or face the possibility of going home so late and tired. As a treat, I made myself that mouth-watering sandwich of English muffins, cream cheese and blueberry preserves.

Day 2 - Team Red went back home a little bit blue from the day's events. Losing by mere four points really irked but more than that, I have woes of my own so I didn't care much. The only time I was really so involved was the fact that I woke up at 4:00 am just to make my rebellious locks look good as it is below :)

Apparently, yesterday's fiasco at the terminal was more serious than it seemed. It being Friday confounded the situation. There were only a handful of buses at the terminal and those that left were crowded with passengers desperate to go home.

We opted about taking double tire until the system of reserving seats pissed me that we had to go back to the terminal where Mae Grace was seated on a bus which departure time was yet unknown. Finally it has been decided that we take a taxi.

Damires Hills

Out of the Shire, across the sea and over the misty mountains.

Day 1 - (VDay) By the time I was done with the house cleaning, washing of sheets and feeding the "kids", taking the second ferry trip for the was not an option anymore. So instead of rushing, I took my sweet time spending some pep talk with Limbo, Pooh and Tara.

It's funny that at the ferry terminal, it was Ms. Teray that I have to run into. She noticed me as I went back to my seat after stuffing my empty chips packet in the bin in front of the terminal. She was with her sisters for a family event in Antique.

I went straight to the Atrium as we have booked at Day's for the night. Ordering my lunch at Floyd's actually took longer than finishing the conservative serving of microwave-heated meat in teriyake sauce over rice which I flushed with a cup of coffee from McDonald's next door. 

Checked-in in haste to join Manang Tines at Robinson's for the 335 screening of Piolo-Toni movie. What I love about this place is the fact that each of us had four downy pillows, most of which found their way to the carpeted floor the morning after.

Day 2 - Only 30 minutes left to the closing of the breakfast buffet, we had very limited choices. For starters, I had oriental chicken with coffee, followed by another cup of coffee, some watermelon wedges, a banana and a bowl of cereal and milk. 

It was UPV's CAS week so the trainers were as busy as their students. As they go about their duties, I did my waiting at Starbucks with Giek and finally meeting the rest of the "team" at UP campus when the lecture they attended was over.

We joined Tines in her car that I was able to go down and take pictures of places and landmarks along the way.

Dinner was a feast. We had the dining hall for ourselves. My tummy extended to accommodate rice, binakol, pork belly, fried bangus, bangus sisig, cheesecakes and two bottles of red horse while the junior faculty regaled us with Gen X music. The guard has been patient, allowing us another 30 minutes to finish our repertoire before "sending us to bed."

Day 3 - Swimming was the main event for this day. As at 7:00 the staff was still cleaning the pool, we killed time going around the ATV track as well as the end points for the zipline. 

I slept for most of the trip back to the city. Too late for the 2pm trip and too early for the last trip, we tarried a bit at SM having a late lunch until we decided that we can still catch the 3pm ferry. Off we went in haste and were the last passengers to go on board.

Accomplished. Relieved. Happy.

It felt good to see that despite his obstinate reluctance to listen to reason, I found him at work with a backpack not laden with his usual burden (of a notebook, a laptop, a keyboard and whatnot). It is also amusing walking behind him, spying his favoring the right shoulder with his bag slung only at his left. Deny as he could, at least he has seen some sense and what is good for him.  

The question now is how is he talking my meddling in his private affairs. Especially after telling him off to his sisters and consequently to their mom. I was ready to face a really difficult and awkward week of being ignored (at the least). Thankfully that was a needless thing to worry about. He may look unaffected but I have this  niggling feeling that he is taking in all the worrying ( and everything that goes with it).  

For now, I wait.