It's been years since my sisters and I had a group studio shot taken. Mostly because our schedules wouldn't mesh and and we all live in different houses now that we are all married (or involved).

I think the last photo we took was about 14 years ago when all of us weighed less than 110 lbs. The routine would normally be ... we would go to David's Salon to have our hair cut (plus shampoo and blowdry) then we proceed to the studio to have our photos taken. Yesterday, on a whim, we had a group photo and ... despite the additional pounds ... I think we still look great! hehehe

I have many friends from the different circles I move in but none are closer to me than my sisters. We not only enjoy each other's company, we actually SEEK each other out all the time. Our favorite place to hang out ... AT HOME (in Kamuning). We are comfortable, we don't spend much, and we have a lot of stuff we could do.

From the time we were small we have always been close. We are sorta like the three musketeers in that we truly believe in the phrase "all for one, one for all". Anyone messes with either of my sisters, they have to deal with ME. Growing up a boy or two has felt the impact of my fist when they would tease my sisters to the point of tears. Oh, well. Boys will be boys ... but big sister will also ALWAYS be big sister, so BEWARE! hehehe.

Everyone, I'd like you to meet my best friends in the whole world.



May you be as close to your siblings as I am to mine.

In my opinion, the biggest mistake anyone can make is to mess with MY CHILD. When something happens that upsets Erika, her dad would often try to make light of it and (in my opinion) plays "lawyer" for the other guy. I know it is not intentional. He just assumes that maybe she is overreacting or reading more into it. But that's how guys are.

In my case, though, when Erika tells me these things I KNOW she needs my help already and I come out shooting from the hip with both guns blazing. How do I know it is an urgent matter already? Because, my baby doesn't complain until it has gotten out of hand and out of her control. This particular situation I am about to mention she has been tolerating for 1 entire month.

Someone has been harassing her via text all this time. She made the mistake of responding at the beginning because she thought that the person was a friend whose number she just didn't recognize and then later found out that this person was a complete stranger. At first Erika tried ignoring her, but as with most stalkers, the texter was persistent and finally got Erika annoyed enough to respond again.

Erika and I were having our salon day yesterday when this person started in again. As soon as Erika saw the message she gives me the phone and says, "Mom, it's HER again. Can you handle it?"

I tried to be nice. I texted her back to stop sending Erika messages already because they are not appreciated nor desired. This got her back up and her succeeding messages became more and more bitchy, and she made every attempt to incite Erika to anger to make her respond.

Because of this I immediately called Smart to get the number of NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) to have the situation dealt with. Upon getting the number I immediately called them up. The guy who answered (Victor) advised us to go to their office so that we could show their officer the text messages. NTC will then send the texter 3 warning messages. If we receive ANY other message from this person (which NTC will be monitoring) his/her sim card AND PHONE will immediately be blocked and unusable.

No one messes with me or my baby.

[singing on] I feel pretty! I feel pretty! [singing off]

I Got a haircut, folks! It's not immediately noticed 'cause ... well, my hair is still long. But a good 5 inches, at least, was snipped off. So ... my hair is no longer waist length but now falls to just the middle of my back.

I didn't have any particular style in mind. All I told the hairdresser was I wanted bangs maybe and to have my hair styled 'cause my hair is so heavy that it tends to pull my hairline. He refused to give me bangs. Said it doesn't suit my face. Instead he layered my hair (usual style) and took off most of the weight.

The curls are still there, just tamed by the blow drier. I made sure he would give me a "wash and wear" hairstyle as I don't like spending so much time primping.

On June 10 (Saturday) Kasuy, Gigi, and I were supposed to watch this dance-monologue at the CCP. At the last minute we were informed by Direk Chris that he had misinformed me the first time and that the event was actually for 3pm the day after. By the time we found out we were already on the road. So, rather than go home and do nothing, we (with Jon in tow) decided to go to greenhills instead.

First thing we did - go to this KTV place and bawled and croaked for 2 hours. Then we went to Figaro for a cup o' coffee and some conversation. While having coffee I asked Kasuy if she wanted to go to Fully Booked (which was on the same floor) and pick out her birthday gift. She said "SURE!" so off we went!

First we went to the sci-fi/fantasy section. Disaster! There were too many things we wanted to get that we couldn't settle on anything in particular! To make it easier on ourselves we decided to go to our other favorite section, the NEW AGE section on the 3rd floor.

When we got there the book selection wasn't that extensive, just ok. Kasuy and I initially chose this book on reading and writing Egyptian Hieroglyphs as her present but as soon as we saw the tarot decks we were transfixed! There were just so many and they were all so beautiful! We each saw a couple that we really liked. They say that for a tarot deck to work properly for you, you should not buy it yourself. It should be given to you as a gift. After oohing and aahing for a few minutes we both decided to get each other tarot decks for our respective birthdays.

I got Kasuy the Tarot of the Mermaids, which she chose for the artwork. If you want to see more of the artwork click HERE. The cover art is The Magician card. At first I pointed her to the Vampire deck, then to the Nefertari deck, which used to be her default choices. Apparently, Kasuy is not as dark and gothic as she used to be.

For my belated birthday Kasuy got me the Tarot of the Gnomes. I, too, chose the deck for the artwork. The cover art is the King of Pentacles which represents Success! This deck is just too CUTE! To see samples of the cards click HERE. I think this deck suits me well. It certainly appeals to my sense of humor and love for fantasy and middle earth.

This deck is cute and fun and easy to use as it comes with a newbie guide on each card. You can use it for regular readings or simply to make short stories. The world of the gnomes is simply fascinating!

If I had a choice between being in front or behind a camera, I often choose to be behind it.

1. I have a good eye and I take pretty good pictures. I know how to compose a shot --- factor in lighting, location, subject, and compensate for weather, hehehe.
   
2. I HATE the way I look in most pictures
   
• I often feel my face looks all swollen (manas) or my hair is all wrong.
  
• I'm too fat, my bulges are showing. I haven't gone to the gym and had a decent work out in ages so I don't really feel sexy at all.
  
• I'm fat, fat, FAT! Just a few years ago (2003) I was a size SMALL and now I am a LARGE (sometimes medium). I don't really aspire to my former size 0 (23 inch waistline) ... I just want my trim shape back but time and money to work out just doesn't seem to coincide!
  
• I'm wearing the wrong clothes and I look like a frump instead of sporty or stylish.
  
• my eyes are closed --- I have this irritating, frustrating eye condition ... I keep blinking and so it is difficult for me to keep them open during photo ops without some strain. Timing matters.

I guess what this really means is ... I hate being photographed when I am not looking or feeling my best --- which is most of the time! Of all the pics taken of me (for the year, at least), the one at the right (with Joey Paras) is the best. Everything else I give a , , a , a ho-hum, a maybe, or a . I guess my mood will have something to do with it. I was feeling playful when that shot was taken.

In any case, is it still narcissistic when I refuse to show or have pics of me when I am not even passably attractive? Part of me realizes that the reason for this musing is the fact that I am unattached and not likely to get attached anytime soon. At least, not while I live with my folks! hehehe.

Maybe I'm being too picky. Or maybe I come on too strong and I scare away any likely candidates.

I've convinced myself that I'm really not on the lookout for anyone. But when I psycho-analize --- it seems that this is also because part of me thinks that I'm just not pretty enough or sexy enough to catch a man's eye.

And yet ... I am happy with the friendships I have made along the way. I guess I just miss having admiring glances follow me and look me up and down as they smile. Ah, the haydays. How I miss them. I don't think I was ever a "knockout" but I used to get my share of wolf-whistles and catcalls, hehehe. I console myself sometimes by thinking, "girl, you don't look bad for 35!"
Of course, you DO realize that any pics I posted here are those I think are halfway decent, hehehe. All the fugly pics, I either deleted or ripped to shreds or hid somewhere dark and deep.

So, I guess, in effect, I too am narcissistic ... though an unconventional one, in that --- I don't like taking pics of myself and I don't like looking at my reflection so much. Unless it is a magic mirror or I can afford to go back to the gym ... the mirror and I just aren't the best of friends.

I made the decision to start selling muffins at around the 2nd week of January. The banana muffins were a hit! I've recently come up with other types: corn muffins, blueberry muffins, and cappuccino cups. These 3 are still in the experimental stage --- I'm still fiddling with the formula, so to speak. I am hoping they do as well as the banana muffins.

I'm still trying to decide if I will make chocolate cupcakes. I'm more inclined to bake something that isn't so commonplace. Maybe I will try it once and if people like it, then I will make it more often.

In the picture I have banana nut muffins, blueberry muffins, and cappuccino cups. Wasn't able to make corn muffins tonight, which is why they aren't in the picture.

I hope I get more orders and maybe someday I can do this full-time.

Next step for me ... DTI registration.

I would like to thank my family (dad, mom, and my sisters Tina and Gigi) and friends (Myna and Ian) for enjoying my cooking and baking and encouraging me to cook and bake for profit, and not just for the love of it. I thank you for bugging me until I got around to it.

For those who have tried my "bites of bliss" and like them, I hope you can help me in promoting them. They don't cost much. (Riding a jeep costs more!) And I promise you that they taste good.

Thank you, thank you. I can't thank you enough. Thank you.

Charmedpinoy thon attendees this Saturday (January 28, 2006) will get a free taste.