Here's an LO I did during Easter weekend. I actually started working on it last week and turned the house upside down (my computer mostly) looking for the ring choices before I deemed this LO final.

Hope you all had a meaningful lenten season. Mine was quiet, though busy at work. Unlike the Philippines where Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are considered holy days and holidays, it is but a regular working day here in the US. Still, we tried to make it a point to go to church. First, to thank Jesus for the sacrifice He made to save us from sins. Second, to reflect on where I've been and where I'm going. Third, to rejoice now that the Lord has risen. Fourth, to renew my hope in the Risen Christ. With Him, all things are possible.

Vertigo Tour: U2 in Concert

Everytime I hear a U2 song being played on the radio, I feel a deep sense of regret. I have always been a big fan of this band for as long as I can remember. I love their songs, and I so love Bono!!!! He truly knows how to rock!

When I heard that U2 is going to have a concert in San Francisco on April 9th, I felt giddy with excitement! I will finally be able to hear my favorite band play. I asked some friends if they wanted to watch them in concert but I guess I'm the only rocker around here, tee-hee! My roommate L has friends visiting from Australia on that weekend. Neighbor R said it's her SIL's birthday that day so they're going out to celebrate. I'm torn between watching alone, or not seeing them at all!

As soon as their tickets were released to the general public, they sold like hotcakes. People actually camped out to get some. And so, by the time I'm ready to get a couple (will just beg a friend to see it with me, hehehe!), they're gone - as in SOLD OUT!!!!!! You can just imagine how disappointed I was then, especially hearing Bono at the Grammy's when he apologized to the fans who couldn't get any more tickets - thanks Bono, I'm one of them fans!

I searched ebay hoping for some tickets at a reasonable price, but I couldn't find any in SFO anymore. They have tickets selling in Chicago, LA, and some other states, but not around here. What's outrageous is the prices they're selling it for. Would you believe they're going for $500 a piece, and people are actually buying them?! What irritated me is the fact that there people like me who would like to get tickets because I'd like to actually see the show, but can't get anymore, while there are vultures out there would hoard tons of tickets to auction off to the highest bidder. They're making an easy profit out of someone else's suffering!!!!

Oh well, just venting out I guess. I'm hoping this isn't their last tour because I swear, even if I have to camp out the next time, I will... just so I can see them in concert!

Hmmm, it's St. Patrick's day today, and what do you know, I'm blogging about an Irish band. Is it coincidence or what?! Happy St. Patty's Day anyway!

What My Husband Misses About Me

In exactly a month and 13 hours from the time this blog gets posted, I am leaving for Manila. I can hardly wait!

I asked hubz a while back what he misses about me and here's his response:

* Holding hands while walking. There's no greater feeling than having someone walk with you side by side, holding your hand as if they're afraid of losing you.

* The cook in me. He said he misses having tapsilog, longsilog, baconsilog, or tocilog for breakfast, complete with coffee and a table made up for two... :)

* Snuggling in front of the TV or just plain cuddling. When we were just starting out, he told me he loved me because I'm so "malambing". In fact, when we'd get into an argument (because of my own doing), I won't necessarily say "I'm sorry", but I'll snuggle with him. He said no matter how angry he'd be, I have the ability to soften his heart when I do that.

* Talking face to face. Though we talk on the phone every single day, nothing compares to the magic of being able to talk to each other in person.

* Flirting with each other. He would kiss me at random, fiddle with my hair, hug me tight. It's simple ways of showing off our love for each other.

* Plain ol' foolishness. We'd tease each other endlessly and we'd laugh so hard in the end.

* Dining out. My husband is a penny-pincher. He would seldom eat out, especially not on his own. Ask him about good restaurants and he'll ask someone else. He once told me he loves it when I come home because he gets to try different restaurants.

* Dates. Be it a date to the movies, or a date with friends, he enjoys it immensely just because he's with me.

* Going to church together. There was a time when we got into an argument because he doesn't go to church all that often. He told me he misses me whenever he does that. Now he's back to going to church regularly. In part, I owe it to the fact that he lost his ring and because of dire prayers, he found it. He told me he is so grateful that he was spared of a big expense - I was demanding a diamond wedding band, should he lose his'.

* Making plans. It is when I get home that we get to plan and dream of our future. You know, serious stuff.

Of course there are other reasons but if I am to keep this blog wholesome, I'd have to stop here. I think you know what I mean (wink, wink).... :)

One good thing about being in an LD marriage is that we always feel like newlyweds everytime we're together. Everyday is a honeymoon. We try not to argue because we'll spoil the short time we spend together.

Ahh, a month to go and still counting... :)

An LD Husband's Request

Part of my frustrations as an LD wife and a good cook (testimony based on my victims' willing participation on my recipe experiments, hehehe!) is not being able to cook for my dear husband. On occasion, I would cook gazillions of food to feed an army, but I couldn't get the chance to sample it on my husband's very choosy palate. Whenever I'd come home, our activities would prevent us from eating in, not to mention that the condo units we end up renting has miniature furnitures that it's tough to fix something to eat.

You see, I am very particular about the kitchen. I want it fully functional and big, with lots of cabinets to store the precious cooking gadgets I've accumulated over the years. This is all because I experiment a lot. I look for new menus to whip up. I especially like baking and so an oven is a must. Most of the time, I'm successful with my so-called cooking experiments.

And so, a few days ago, I was talking to hubz and he told me he missed my garlic fried rice, eggs, and longganisa or tocino or tapa or bacon in the morning. He was asking me if I could cook them for him when I come home. I'm thinking, "ok, I can definitely do that!" My husband's taste is very simple - he's a carnivore who loves sinigang. You can probably serve him that everyday and he wouldn't mind! Next, I told him about baking and decorating a chocolate cake for a friend's baby shower yesterday, and he asked if I could bake him cakes too. I told him I'd be happy to do it except he'd have to hook me up with an oven, hehehe! He requested sans rival and so I'm in now in the lookout for a good recipe to experiment with. Friends and good-hearted neighbors, look out, hahaha!

Note that I used to bake a lot - back when my roommate has no clue she had diabetes. When she was diagnosed, she toned down on sweets. So, if I do find the time to bake, I'd either give most of it away (to happy recipients?) or eat them all on my own (bad idea!). That said, it had been a while since I practiced my baking. But hey, I've got a month and a half to hone my skills.... :)

Don't worry hubz, I have it on my list to fatten you up with good food courtesy of moi! After all, you don't get dubbed the domesticated goddess for nothing - with the kitchen as my kingdom, and the ladle as my scepter, what can possibly go wrong?

Happy birthday Jane! Lots of hugs your way today!

The Never-Ending Saga that started with a Fender Bender

In late 2003, we had a little fender bender in San Francisco, going towards the Bay Bridge. This filipino guy hit us because he was on the phone. Our story began...

Since it was my roommate's car, the guy gave her his contact information sans his address, his insurance policy no. and the name of the insurance company. My roommate immediately contacted the insurance company and this lady that she first talked to was very helpful. She made sure they paid for her car repairs without question. L also informed her about back pains and she advised us to see a chiropractor. When we told her we had an initial consultation with one, she told us this doctor that we went to is know to charge exorbitant fees, but to go ahead and send her our bills later. All's well (or so we thought).

After our treatments, we were given the final bill and though we were shocked of the bottomline, we submitted our claims to the insurance company. The new adjustor called us to ask for an appointment for routinary questions. When we called him for the appointment, he told us that there wasn't any need. Then, we got a notice in the mail that our claim was denied - no further explanations!!!

Our nightmare began - we started the phone brigade with the insurance guy but he wouldn't return our calls. When he finally did, after several attempts, he was very rude and even had the nerve to say he's "protecting his client, and that we might be taking advantage of the situation". Well, helloooo - if we are, we should've hired a lawyer in the first place and not have done it ourselves. Besides, we gave them a copy of the final bill, no more, no less. If we were taking advantage, we should've asked for more money that that!

We have no choice but to file a small claims case. First, it was against the insurance company but the judge told us we can't sue a corporation. We need to sue the guy so he'd go after his insurance company. Fine, we were re-scheduled. Since my roommate wasn't given an address, we decided to do our own investigative search. We came up with several addresses - a few in Sacramento and some more in San Francisco. The phone no. that the guy gave my roommate had Sacramento's area code, we decided to go there first. We went to the sheriff's office so they can serve him the summons. We were told they needed a month to do that. With only days to go before the next hearing date, we were running out of time.

Today was our hearing so we showed up at the court and told the judge what happened. Luckily, my roommate called the San Francisco phone no. prior to our schedule today and she was told that he wasn't home, which meant that he lives in SFO (and not Sacramento). We asked the judge if we should continue to pursue the case in Napa when he lives in SFO and the accident happened there. The case was dismissed and true enough, we needed to file in SFO.

As soon as we were out of Napa Superior Court, it was a mad dashed to the city to file a small claims case and have them serve him a certified mail.

A simple accident that could've been settled out of court turned into a nightmare and a continuing saga. I still think insurance companies are high-profile crooks. You get asked to pay your insurance premiums, you pay it religiously to the point of sacrificing a few luxuries, and then they screw you just when you need them to pay up! I'm sure the poor guy who caused the accident saw an increase in his insurance premiums because he is now considered a "road hazard", while here we are, scratching our heads and are close to begging them to pay for a $4K chiropractor bill!

Lesson to everyone - if you ever end up in an auto accident, ask for the complete contact information (including address) and take photos. Cellphones now come with cameras which could prove useful should you end up in this situation. Then if you can, file a police report. This way, the "crooks" cannot deny your claim because you have it documented.

What a bitter lesson to learn! I sure hope it doesn't happen to anyone else.