And the wifey is carrying a big smiley :-)

The Husband will be telling his stories through photographs.

He has sparked his interest in photography after winning in a prestigious competition in the UAE, May of this year. While his winning was from having the most votes, it was nonetheless a big and motivating event for him especially joining over lunch some of the biggest names (and the big winners during the competition) of Filipino photo enthusaiasts based in the UAE. Quite a group of inspiring achievers.

With the guys who are breathing photography

And so his blog would be his platform to monitor his progress. His first works are HERE .

Not that I am ranting, I just wanted to share a quote that I recently read.

It's the 19th of July and this is my second blog post for the year!

Hello blog, I do miss updating you, and for a re-start, here's a photo that summarizes the absence:


I wrote this in one of those crazy days, and tucked it in my wallet. I forgot about it and found myself smiling after seeing it again. It's way better now, but with two adorable kids at home, they are the priority.

The note was my way of saying I can only do so much and I should not get myself sick, as at the end of the day, I have to keep my focus on my family/ies. (Cheesy, ei? =) )

Where have we been anyway? For the first half of the year, I wonder what our car tyres would say if it would speak? They've been threading the Lahbab desert tracks almost every week, except when we were away back home. Up until May, they usually reach the desert at 12 midnight to join some 10 other cars, and by morning, be gliding up, down and by the sand dunes. They know Pink Rock, Fossil Rock, Pyramid and Area 53. This summer, I started to complain (bad me!), the desert addiction stayed, not even the baking heat put them off. This time, they drive between 5pm to 7pm, rest awhile in the dark and be home between 10-11pm. By the way, I and Little Girl stay behind at home half the time.

There's Pixie attempting to reach a high point at the Pyramid.

And here's the best thing I should have been sharing, smiles, giggles and more smiles:

One thing that I so love about Dubai is the efficiency of processes in transacting with government services, that of course is in comparison with my experiences back home. In 30 minutes, I had received my sister-in-law's long term visit visa.

Having a baby from pregnancy to her first months, indeed slowed us down --  e.g. long drives are put off the shelf for a while, and career moves were moderated. But while diaper-changing and baby feeding can be kind of restricting, it freed me the time to do what I missed to do for a long while in my usually busy schedule– to reflect and assess myself and see what I had been missing to do.

I returned back to work at Riane’s third month. And that’s after a year since I popped the news I was pregnant; and that’s one whole year that our family had to slow down.

Coming out from my maternity schedule, I was eager to get back to my pre-pregnancy energetic self. But lo! I got myself wrong and realized I was not ready still. Firstly, I am having episodes of forgetting words and takes a while to remember things. Oh yes, it’s not a myth that pregnancy causes temporary memory loss. FYI – I had a normal delivery, I felt all the pain, was never put to sleep, and except for the delivery inducing drugs that went my veins an hour before Riane popped out, I don’t know any drugs that could have affected my brains! I got back to sitting with different people and if it’s a group, I would end up a listener since I had a hard time participating. When they talk of movies, I hardly recall the titles and casts. And I cant even remember that we watched Brave just two weeks back.

This frustrated me much, that I started looking at how I can get back on track. One quest led to another. I researched about gaining back my memory, but I realized that even if I have it back, I still struggle to chat with people who don’t speak my tongue. I struggle because for one, I had been avoiding to learn their tongue (language, culture and interests) due to fear of failing to blend in. And then I realized there’s a bigger underlying reason why I am this person–because I am probably an HSP, or a highly sensitive person. The write up I read about being HSP flatly listed most of my traits and confirmed the feedbacks on me. I worry at upsetting people, I easily feel hurt, I prefer quiet smaller groups, I am shy, I work in great detail, I am passionate, and after all these the article says “this means they are sometimes overlooked for promotions at work”.

I am not getting any younger, and I need to live out the unwanted effects of being an HSP. Moving on, I wanted to keep the advantages of being sensitive, and  outgrow its disadvantages starting with the following acts:

1)     More to physical social meetups - not just Facebook minutes
2)     Get out often with inspiring people who talks of travels, career achievements, excellent child rearing, investments
3)     Setup the family’s vision wall and get reminded how being sensitive could help or hinder our thoughts
4)     Work on a sense of feeling beautiful – i.e. learn and buy makeups and accessories (I look so boring, you know)
5)     Lessen saying “please”. I say it unnecessarily a lot, decreasing my confidence
6)     Set out to the outskirts more often, drive again and mark off some in our to-go list
7)     Leave gossip-mongers alone, theirs is not a positive sense of belonging-ness
8)     Watch more movies with Riane, Kalel and their Dad (Riane’s 2nd moviehouse trip: Bourne Legacy)
9)     Be more positively expressive, and tell people they are lovely when they take an extra step to be one

... and there's more to the list I could add as I focus getting forward.

Enhancing my confidence and the feeling the sense of beauty : my first ever  purchase of eye shadow and  foundation.

My husband rarely do window shopping, and when he does, he rarely (can) spend.

We were too early for the Global Village's opening last weekend hence we detoured by Jeep's showroom along Festival Center to check an item on his wishlist - a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, one for his dream drive - to climb the high desert dunes.  Of course, we're far off able to affording one.

Interested how much it costs now (as of 2nd week of Nov11) here in the Sandpit?

Jeep Wrangler Sahara Unlimited - AED 134,900 / USD 36,700

Jeep Wrangler Sport Limited - AED 89,900 / USD 24,500

Jeep Wrangler Sahara Limited - AED 107,900 / USD 29,400

Tags: How much does a Jeep cost in Dubai?

Buying a new Jeep, anyone? Or shall I say, wishing for a Jeep?

"Ate, may delivery ka" came the other end of the line, the Reception. I was not expecting any delivery but as I advance out, I  felt a wee nervous realizing it must be the husband bringing me flowers at work! And I was not wrong!


Last week's occasion was something we had always overlooked in recent years with the coming of our son and with putting our Church wedding anniversary a greater importance. It was a celebration of thanksgiving especially of having a blessed relationship and union since then.

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for blessing me with the love of a man who despite my imperfections, remains steadfast in letting me hold You. Please bless him as You bless me.
Please guide us as we share these blessings to others too.

Yours lovingly,
His Wife

Okay, I am married with a five year old Gremlin and another Little Precious One on the way, but the video below shared on cousin Geri's facebook account moved me, kilig pa rin ba :-) . (Dont get me wrong, My husband do surprise me once in awhile giving the same feeling as below, near tears, naks!)

Some three weeks back, my colleague answered "Are you ok?", as I suddenly kneeled by her desk and asked "Is there an earthquake?". I thought there was a mild tremor as I swayed a little. Later in the restroom, I got scared when my head was like ready to hit the floor when I stooped. I remembered my granny who lost consciousness in the restroom due to stroke.

This was the second since the first experience I had late last year. These happened in the times my husband knows it's futile calling me during the day, but just at least to make sure I have my dinner unless I promise to be home early to join him and the Gremlin.

Oh well, ok, I have to go slow from here. This blog post is just a reminder for me to re-assess where I am heading.

"I've been passionate, and selfishness is the least I want in return"

What matters:

The Gremlin laughs at the most unfunny sounds, at least

Tired Gremlin

What makes gremlins think fried chicken is yummy?

Sleepy Gremlin on the way to the desert

"It's the deed that makes the man," and so the Spirit of the West grumbled to the lizard of no name, err, Rango.

We just watched Rango (dubbed by Johnny Depp) on the big screen. A cinema date with a kid must always be a rated G.  Rango though, with gun firing, slapping, spitting and some adult comments, is not the Barney/ Little Einsteins type that confines the kid to wholesome takes. From time to time we'd whisper to the Gremlin "...but that is not good", most of which he was heartily and loudly laughing at. I don't really endorse it for kids, but yes,  the storyline and the settings are entertaining for adults. I consider it an animated PG 15 movie.

Feel Good 

I was "low" lately, and to lift my spirits, I went for a haircut (had the other one almost a year back), I asked for a movie, and I asked to go on a long drive (the husband is now reading through for options).

Oh well, i think my feeling "low" was aggravated by my "period" (this monthly-womanly-mood-swings thing is just annoying). It's frustrating when others misunderstand your passion and motivation, and acts too personal. Anyhow, I have recollected myself and had my self-motivation back. I said, first, I'm doing it for my family and second, will not take anything personal unless it genuinely compromises my motivation. (Hehe, I'm ranting here when I promised not to. Let' see if I'm gonna delete this later)

More importantly, it's just so nice to come home everyday with lots-a warm hugs.

Thinking about the replacement camera to buy has been the next question, so I did a facebook survey. I cropped here some of the comments:

The 36th cheque, and supposedly the last, for our car loan just got debited in our bank account, but I'm taking to the back seat the full sigh of relief, since we have yet to know the additional $ we need to shell out for the bank's interest rate adjustment.

During the economic boom, Dubai's banks race to offer loans -- "light" requirements at low interests rates (our car loan was at 3.99% per annum). Many expats received loans. This spelled trouble for the banks when recession came in the picture early last year. As expats lose their jobs, they opted to leave, including their unpaid liabilities. For car loans, news had it that cars in couple of thousands had been left in the airport, in malls and other car parks. I'm not really sure of the impact to the banks this has, apart from obvious liquidity issues. I mean, do banks run to their insurers?

Now for us, we signed with a new local commercial bank then. At 3.99%, they offered the lowest annual rate against 4.25% to 5% of other established banks. We thought we were practical. But halfway thru our loan period, we received a notice that for the remaining amount, the rate will be charged at 8.5% ! Their reason is that they need to cope up with the challenge of the times. So, ah ok!

Some of our lessons:

1) Check banks with history of changing agreed terms
2) Read and understand all terms and conditions fully. Be careful of lines to the effect of "... the bank reserves the right to...". Sometimes, they give you a sentence with hidden details. It might just say " ... as per bank's terms and conditions" which one would be blind of until he/ she complains and ends up  being told "... but you signed acceptance..."

That sign used to say "Baby On Board"

I guess every German and every Football World Cup fan passing by Dubai Mall's Underwater Aquarium would grin on seeing this signage.

I speak about Paul the Octopus, the mollusk who sent shivers to the less superstitious because he correctly "predicted" the winners of Germany's seven matches, as well as Spain's win in the finals during the recently concluded 2010 World Cup =)

For those who knows nothing about Paul yet, here he is in this Inquirer.net article :


Paul (purportedly hatched January 2008) is a common octopus living in a tank at a Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany. Paul became internationally famous for correctly "predicting" the winner of Germany's seven matches at the 2010 World Cup, as well as the final, with no errors.


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I had recently been commenting on my facebook status entries with "Thanks kuya Greg, reposting". I find kuya Greg's quotes readings extra nice so I started copy pasting them. Here are some:

"Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much." ---Oscar Wilde

"Never confuse the size of your paycheck with the size of your talent." ---Marlon Brando

"Chance makes our parents, but choice makes our friends." ---Jacques Delille

"There are no ugly women, only lazy ones." ---Helen Rubenstein

"All of us do not have equal talents, but all of us have an equal opportunity to develop our talents." ---John F. Kennedy

"Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that. It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar." ---Drew Carey

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ---Epicurus

"Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters." ---Albert Einstein

"Speak when you are angry - and you will make the best speech you'll ever regret." --- Dr. Laurence J. Peter

There is no greater leadership challenge than parenting. --- Jim Rohn

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Our Gremlin would soon turn four and be attending school for the first time. This week, we asked him to practice drawing so he can cope with his to-be classmates who saw school ahead. It's his first time to draw faces so however "monstrous"  me and his dad are really happy:





Enjoy the weekend everyone =)

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Unang araw ko sa trabaho ngayon.

Wala yung team meyt ko sa kalapit na upuan.  Bumiyahe daw sa lugar ng giyera. Nanlaki saglit mga mata ko. Totoo ba ito, ibig sabihin ba bibiyahe ba talaga ako dun? Nakipagkwentuhan ako, totoo raw, marami daw bumibiyahe. Yung mga pinoy daw ang kwento, kung nakakarinig ng missile ay nag-ii-smile na lang =)

Sa paglilibot ko, nakalimutan ko din takot ko, kasi :

-- Maganda yung toilet, maliit lang pero parang kasing linis sa hotel
-- Maraming pinoy at palangiti sila (mahalaga yun :) ). 40% daw pinoy
-- Pastel colored yung tables sa pantry
-- May isang freezer sa pantry na puno ng sopdrinks, libre
-- May little pantry malapit sa pwesto ko
-- Hindi kailangang magsukbit ng pagkakakilanlan para makapasok, daliri lang ang ini-scan pambukas ng pinto
(pasingit -- ang opis gurl ay isang kababayan namin at sumusweldo ng AED 3500, saya ko para kanya =) )

Ang babaw ko ano? Pero ganito lang siguro, nakaka-aappreciate sa mga bagay na matagaltagal ding hindi nararanasan. Ako man ay blessed sa maliliit na bagay pero hindi ko pinapansin na para sa iba ay ikakaligaya nila. 

Higit sa lahat, nagpapasalamat ako nang lubos at tinanggap ako sa trabaho pagkatapos ng hassle na hindi ako nakasipot sa napag-usapang araw ng pasimula ng trabaho dalawang linggo ang nakakaraan...

Oh wow! My voice was heard across the UAE via DJ Moe's Channel 4 FM radio show @ 8:30 pm. And you know what -- I got to talk to Moe while a song was being played and the conversation was aired about some five minutes later =). Now that answers my long time question, on how fast DJs retrieve requested songs played on air right after a caller asks for it.

Here it was: we were stuck in Sheikh Zayed traffic as the gremlin got so noisy. HIs dad, expecting a Wake Me Up When September Ends play on the radio, asks him to tone down and sing instead. Minutes passed and no said song, and all the more the Gremlin got noisier crying and insisting for the radio to play it. His dad instructed me to call the disk jockey. I held both our mobile phones ringing on both my ears. It was taking longer and everytime a song starts, I'd put down both phones while they ring, when suddenly I saw my call got answered. Startled, I lifted, and lo! DJ Moe was on the other end. I sort of stammered, apologized that I lifted the phone some seconds later. I was not conscious of my words too, since I thought I'm not live on air anyway. I managed to say it is dedicated to my son Kalel as Moe asked me. Some minutes later, we reached Al Ghurair mall's parking when my conversation was aired. As I listened, I thought I could have talked better, but I was more glad my voice did not sound mickey-mousey- squeaky =) . 

I'm becoming an addict! To blog-hopping that is =) And so far this made my feel:

• I have a looooooong, long way to go in my vocabulary, structure and spontaneity in expressing my thoughts.
• There's still lots to do in Dubai/ UAE other than our mall/ park/ resto/ beach routines. Came here since five years back and we have yet to see Sharjah, Creek Park cable car, view deck of Burj Khalifa, enter the cinema (oh, yes! havent tried here yet), MOE's snow park.
• I wondered how much I would be cutting from my five-six hours daily sleep to give way to blog-hopping. Hayy, anyways, I am learning so maybe that would compensate, except if it's neglecting my health and family =)

You checked your parked car, found a dent/ scratch somewhere, and you dont even know who did it. You are in Dubai, what can you do?

Either (1) Ignore it. Then hope that somebody hit lightly that side in your presence so you can obtain a police report and you can claim insurance, expense-free (except for the stress of taking the car to the garage). Or (2) visit the police station, pay AED 60 for reporting a fault against no one. Pay AED 350 to your insurance and bring the car to the garage.

The insurance company justifies the AED 350 by saying they bear the cost of repair.Being a case against no one, they have no knowledge whom to charge it to.

So is the dent/ scratch repair commanding higher than AED 410? (We took 1st option as it wasnt).