9th December 2009

I wonder if Harrison is aware that his pictures pepper my walls. I bet he does. I bet he's all smug about it.

8th December 2008

It's my dad's birthday today. He would've been 65. I don't believe in lighting candles for those who passed on but I wanted to do something to commemorate his birthday.

7th December 2008

Now that the weather in Dubai is deliciously cold, I hardly go out without a jacket on. My favorite is the hoodie that I bought a long time ago in Kamiseta. I wear it so often that I feel like it's my uniform.

6th December 2008

I can tell if there's a lot of people in the mall just by going to the stairwell and looking at the mall parking area. Normally it's filled to bursting every weekend. I like going to the mall when it's quieter.

Simple Pleasures

No. 2 happened to me today while ironing my clothes. And it did give me a pleased smile on my face!

Read here: The 30 Most Satisfying Simple Pleasures Life Has to Offer

5th December 2008

My mom is very creative - she made this bracelet and ring for me out of 14k gold wire and swarovski crystals. Never in a million years will I be able to create something like this. What I did inherit from her is the size and shape of her hands - which are hardly delicate and sturdy-looking.

4th December 2008

The female washroom in my office has a great view of which I think are the villas located on Jumeirah Islands. Amazing, as not all washrooms are as picturesque. I hope they put a chair or two in there so us ladies can sit and ponder while enjoying the view.

3rd December 2008

Despite the size of my room, the three of us - me, Harrison and Stanley, are cohabiting quite well. I'm glad Stanley is there to keep Harrison company when I'm at work. Until Cheryl arrives though.

2nd December 2008

This is my sofa bed "in action". Everybody told me to buy a proper bed but my sofa bed is really comfortable. Even the cats like it.

1st December 2008

I was supposed to send this cat bed to Manila for my other cats to enjoy. Harrison didn't use it much before but now in my new place, he seemed to have reacquired his liking for it. I guess I'm not sending it after all.

30th November 2008

This is the view from my new office. Being at the 51st floor has it's perks. I can even see the Burj Al Arab in the distance.

29th November 2008

This is the tiny kitchen I share with the young family I live with. In such a small space, everything that's essential is there: cupboards, stove, microwave and even a washing machine. My refrigerator is inside my room.

28th November 2008

I've moved! Now that I'm no longer a hotelier, I have to move out of the company accommodation. Harrison and I are on our own now.

27th November 2008

I've accumulated a lot of drugs due to my past illnesses. Not one of them were really serious, just the usual cough/cold/flu/occasional asthma. I keep all my medicines in this medical-looking bag.

26th November 2008

I suspect there is something in Coke Zero that makes me want to drink it all the time. I have to consciously will myself not to drink it every day. Sometimes I succeed but more often than not, I just give in and guzzle.

25th November 2008

Gladys gave me this wonderful cookbook as a birthday gift. The recipes are fuss-free and ingredients are generally easy to find. I think I will try the Greek-Style Scrambled Tofu first.

24th November 2008

It's my birthday today. As a birthday treat I went to Starbucks (inside Borders) and treated myself to cake and coffee (the cake was actually a brownie) while browsing a photo book about the Beatles. As far as low-key birthday celebrations go, I think mine was alright. :)

23rd November 2008

In my own little way, I am lessening my water bottle consumption by purchasing this red pitcher from Ikea. Harrison was curious why I was taking a photo of the pitcher. Look at his quizzical expression.

A Tasty Meal

Food porn courtesy of www.tastespotting.com:

Appetizer - Eggplant and Tomato
















Entree - Green Beans with Baked Tofu - great with rice
















Dessert - Fudgy Chocolate Cookies
















Burp!

22nd November 2008

I put birdseed on my windowsill to attract birds to come and eat. This is a source of endless amusement for Stanley. Harrison was intrigued with the birds at first but when he realized he couldn't catch them - he lost interest.

21st November 2008

I love milkshakes. This one I bought from a nearby Hardy's. It's definitely a feel-good drink.

20th November 2008

How am I going to finish my packing when Harrison and Stanley keep playing with the boxes!?! I am unable to stop them because they are so adorable. This is their secret weapon: their cuteness.

19th November 2008

Unlike most people, I don't like full body massages. Getting a massage stresses me out because I'm so ticklish. But foot massages - now that's a different story.

18th November 2008

Whenever I go to Borders, I feel like a child set free inside a candy store. I love the fact that it has a Starbucks coffee shop inside. Definitely one of my favorite places in Dubai.

17th November 2008

I brought some boxes home to pack my things in but I had to delay my packing for awhile because Harrison and Stanley decided to play with them first. It's funny how much they enjoyed themselves. When I'm done with my move, I'm going keep one box for Harrison to play with.

16th November 2008

I finally bought my Solsta sofa bed from Ikea. The seat pulls out to be a bed. I love how it looks so minimalist but can be so comfortable at the same time.

15th November 2008

This is the interior of the new and very spacious bus I rode from Karama to the Satwa bus station. It wasn't rush hour yet so there were only a few people onboard. I was very comfortable in my seat that I didn't mind the slow moving traffic.

14th November 2008

Soon I'll be moving to this building. I'm pretty excited because I feel more independent living here. Finding this place was really a blessing.

13th November 2008

When I start to do my ironing, Harrison gets excited and squeezes himself under my tabletop ironing board. I don't know why he likes lying under there. He can hardly fit in there though because he's now full grown.

12th November 2008

This sofa bed was in a nearby Home Centre and I considered buying it. However, the store supervisor was very uncooperative. I'm buying my sofa bed from Ikea instead.

11th November 2008

My treat of the day: A big chocolate cinnamon roll from Cinnabon. I've been craving this the whole day and I decided to have it for dinner. As Gladys said, sometimes you just have to give in.

10th November 2008

This is a fragment of one of the 2 cheques I wasted because I couldn't sign properly. When I sign on any paper, it looks like my normal signature but on cheques and other important documents - it looks very different. It must be psychological.

9th November 2008

Harrison and Stanley casually sniff the air while I prepare their dinner. Usually it's Stanley who acts all excited during mealtimes. In contrast, Harrison maintains his dignity and tries to appear nonchalant.

8th November 2008

Our friends Adrian and Edwina got married today and we joined them in the festivities. Surprisingly, I enjoyed myself. All my friends from my previous company were there and it was great seeing them again.

7th November 2008

Most Fridays, I join Harrison in his daytime naps. There's nothing like sleeping beside a warm, purring cat. It's enough to melt all the stresses, worries and cares.

6th November 2008

This is how I wake up every morning - curled up and reluctant. Harrison would always be nearby, waiting for me to stir (yes, that's him on the foreground). As soon as I make the tiniest move, he'll be all over me until I finally feed him.

5th November 2008

Even if there is no direct relevance to me, I'm pleased that Barack Obama won as President of the USA. It is unlikely that I'll see him personally and take his picture - so I looked for a photo of him in Flickr and took a snapshot of that instead.

4th November 2008

As usual, the Dubai sky is clear and blue. When I go for my walks it's still a little warm. I hope by the end of this month, by my birthday (the 24th!), the weather would be cooler.

3rd November 2008

Four days ago I had new glasses made because my old pair was broken (I think I stepped on it by accident). It's rectangular like my old one because I think it complements my round face. I like wearing my glasses better than wearing my contact lenses.

2nd November 2008

I have a deep distrust for scented candles. They usually smell good when you press your nose to their waxy sides but smell nothing once you light them. But this ice cream scented candle I bought from Ikea makes my room smell heavenly, especially when it's lighted.

1st November 2008

After Chop Chop my next favorite restaurant is Wagamama. They serve Japanese fusion food. That big bowl of noodle soup is as delicious as it looks.

31st October 2008

When I can, I attend services at the Victory Christian Fellowship in Oud Metha, Dubai. Coming late is not a good idea because the place fills up really fast. I do come early but if I'm late, I know an alternative entrance where I can get a seat anytime.

30th October 2008

It's the rocking chair again. I wonder why the owner is selling it. I like my sister's rocking chair - it's very comfortable and the rocking doesn't make me dizzy.

29th October 2008

A vegetarian frozen food treasure trove. If the Tofurky wasn't so expensive (Dhs 79.75) I'd buy one for Thanksgiving. But wait - I don't celebrate Thanksgiving. But I'd still want to know how it tastes like.

28th October 2008

One of my favorite places in Dubai: Choithram Supermarket at the Greens. The Greens community lives up to it's name - the surroundings are dense with foliage. When I go there I don't feel like I live in the desert.

27th October 2008

Taxi fares in Dubai are horrendous (at least for us lower income folks) so I take a cab only if it's not accessible by bus. Most drivers are Pakistani or Indian nationals. For some reason, I have yet to encounter a Filipino taxi driver.

26th October 2008

An opportunity was handed to me today and I was so excited I could hardly work. It's amazing how God is so good to me. Change is scary and can be uncomfortable - but this change I'm about to take...it just feels right.

Maybe an Aquarius

Someone once mistook me for an Aquarius. According to him these traits described me:

Optimistic and honest.
Sweet personality.
Very independent.
Inventive and intelligent.
Friendly and loyal.
Can seem unemotional.
Can be a bit rebellious.
Very stubborn, but original and unique.
Attractive on the inside and out.
Eccentric personality.

Hmmm.... almost 98% accurate. However, I was wasn't born an Aquarius. This reinforces my disinterest and unbelief in the zodiac. But it sure is nice though to be thought of as an Aquarian.

(image from denn @ flickr)

25th October 2008

This is my sister's rocking chair which she bought in Ikea for Dhs 375. Aggie included a similar one (or the same one I suspect) in her wedding registry but it costs Php11,850 (which makes it nearly three times the cost of my sister's) in Manila. It must be the taxes or the seller's horrendous markup.