Ever since andrea got pregnant with mateo, I’ve been promising her my help in getting back to her previous weight (that is before she got pregnant which was around 110 pounds). Unfortunately, we never got to making a regular exercise routine to address the goal. Somehow, things always get in the way of exercises. This is why we both decided to try dieting instead of sweating our fats off.

So far, things seem to be doing fine. We’re on the 6th day of the 14-day introductory stage of the South Beach diet. Well, at least she is, technically speaking. I, however, bowed to limit my rice intake to just half a serving per meal while she agreed to go without any rice at all. We’re not supposed to take sweets. No pastries, desserts, or even fruits. It’s a real challenge considering I’m used to two servings of rice per meal and a tasty dessert after. Heck, I used to have pastry snacks in between meals. Can you just imagine?

For the past few days, whenever I feel really hungry, I couldn’t help but think that the mental torture that comes with dieting should be more than adequate for anyone to lose the extra pounds. And sometimes, when I get really depressed thinking about food, I even contemplate about just going for diet pills instead. Huhu!

There comes a point in time when you start to question your age relative to what you see around you. Am I still young? Can I still pass for a college student? Do I look like a dad already? (No offense meant here. I’m already a dad myself.) And whether we like it or not, there comes a time when you start doubting your answers to the said questions… especially when your body starts testifying to your real age.

You see, I’ve never quite pictured myself old. Heck, I’m only 28 so I’m sure I still fall under the young category. I’ve rarely questioned that stand. But recently, I’ve been experiencing some headaches and difficulty reading. In fact, I’ve tried different experiments already to figure out what’s wrong with me and I’m almost a hundred percent certain that it is my left eye that’s causing these peculiarities. It seems that my left eye does not see as clearly as my right anymore – a really scary discovery.

Andrea thinks that it’s time for me to see an ophthalmologist. I said no. Because you see, the moment a professional confirms it, there will be no denying it anymore. This possible burden of age stops to become a guess and starts becoming a depressing reminder of how good time is in catching up. Not to mention that if the doctor deems it to be an eye and age problem, then I might just be prescribed eyeglasses – another financial reason to stay away from ophthalmologists.

For now, as far as I’m concerned, my eyes are just tired and they just need more rest. Tomorrow it will be better! I JUST KNOW IT!

Once again, tension and stress become almost tangible in the teachers’ lounge as card-giving day draws nearer and nearer. The computers and printers, slaves to the teachers’ frantic wishes, are working overtime. Patience and humor sadly approaches breaking point. In this place, hidden from students’ eyes, a dark atmosphere looms over.

The day of reckoning once again approaches as the teachers get ready to break good and bad news to the parents and their children – accomplishments, shortcomings, achievements, and weaknesses. For the industrious and the unwavering – good tidings and praises; for the slackers and the weak-hearted – reminders and warnings.

Little do students and those outside of the teachers’ lounge know the sweat and effort that goes behind the making of the most-of-the-time-belitted piece of paper known more commonly as the report card or progress report. Rarely (if at all) do people realize the attention and stress that us teachers get just to come up with an accurate written evaluation that reflects or approximates student performance and behavior.

Perhaps I’m exaggerating a bit here, but I can’t help myself. A teacher’s world turns upside down before card giving day. Nope it’s not because we’re scared of getting a lot of heat from anyone. It’s just that the numbers on the cards that we give have to be nothing less than 100% accurate, because that’s what our students deserve. And also because whether we like it or not, these numbers will help shape their future.

Ever since we found out that Nanay Myrna, our landlady, is willing to sell us the house that we’re renting I often find myself now thinking of possible accessories to further adorn our lovely home. In fact, when we’re in the mall, andrea would catch me looking at different ornaments and tabletop accessories – frames, vases, centerpiece baskets, pillar candles, ceramic balls, etc – things that I do not ordinarily even glance at when window shopping. Now, aside from computers and car accessories, these are the next things that catch my attention.

I guess the idea of finally getting a house of our own is bringing out the housekeeper in me. Well, it’s either that or I’m developing a queer taste for house accessories! I sure hope it’s the first! Haha!

I’ve always been a sucker for sales especially those involving computers. That’s why I’m always on the lookout for the latest news from local and international electronic shops.

As a matter of fact, when I heard about the netbook sale last December, I immediately consulted andrea about the idea of selling my current laptop in order to avail of an upgrade to a not necessarily better but newer unit – the Acer One netbook. You see, although the Acer One with its Atom processor lags in terms of speed behind my old but trusty Neo Centrino, it is significantly more portable than my current laptop (a necessary point to consider especially because I’m planning to walk from house to work for the summer). Not to mention, the One is more aesthetically pleasing than my current laptop’s design.

Unfortunately, after posting my laptop on the web and many negotiations with an interested buyer, we had communication problems and my laptop ended up in my arms again. Nope, it’s not because my unit is busted or anything. It’s working fine (That I’m very proud of). It’s just that I wasn’t able to reply on time so the buyer thought I wasn’t interested in closing the deal which prompted him to go for another laptop. By the time I texted him, it was already too late. A sad story but one with a lesson. (Never forget to bring your charger on a 3-day field trip. Hehe!)

Fortunately for me, computer sale has not stopped yet. I’ve recently come across several advertisements on the net and I’m hoping to finally catch a break this time. I’m planning on selling my laptop again so that I can get some money for a new netbook (so I can satisfy my netbook craving)! Hope somebody bites!

Christmas season is the the second best season for teachers. Aside from the thirteenth month bonus that we get, there is also that two-week vacation that comes with this season of festivities. Unfortunately, like any other good thing, it comes with its own set of vices.

For one, the yuletide season brings about the worst traffic conditions in the country. Second, store hours become unpredictable so certain necessities become very troublesome when shortage arises. Third, during this time, buying (especially in malls) becomes a game of patience and strategy.

As a matter of fact, when our kitchen faucet broke down on the twenty-fourth (can you imagine that?), we had to wait until the twenty-sixth to be able to buy a replacement. You see, buyers and mallers flooded the streets and the department stores so we were practically left with no choice but to wait. Almost all Grohe faucets were out of stock when we got to the mall. (Talk about difficult.)

And that’s not yet the end of it. The most difficult part of the yuletide season is the fact that it makes everybody want to stay home, spend more time with the family and finish all available seasons of the best TV series out there – Lost, Grey’s Anatomy, House, Chuck, etc.

All in all it’s the best and worst season of the year. And no matter how troublesome things get during these times, the yuletide season is still one of my favorite times of the year.

A few days ago, I just read an issue of YES magazine featuring the star of the popular noontime show Wowowie. I can’t help but be amazed at how rich Willie Revillame has become. I mean, I’ve seen quite a few well off people including some that own estates as large as a whole block but Willie just seems to top it all off. With three incredibly huge mansion-looking houses, 11 kick-ass cars and 2 yachts, he’s in a whole different league.

His houses (especially the one in Tagaytay), draped in several ornaments (and I’m not talking about just bamboo shades here), bathed in several picturesque colors are like images taken from an architecture album type of coffee table book. His collection of cars, if memory serves me right, was composed of american and european SUVs and sports automobiles. No Toyotas or Mitsubishis. Not even Hondas.

He’s probably earning more than he could spend in a lifetime. In fact, if I would be so cynical about it, it’s possible that he’s getting more than what twenty people could earn in their lifetime. But you know what? No matter what people say about Willie, he’s earned his riches through blood and sweat. He may not be the most likable or respectable personality on TV but he’s earned the love of the masses. Willie may be living like a king now but he’s tasted his share of poverty.

His is a classic rags to riches story – long, difficult, and sweet in the end – the typical fairy tale that most Filipinos are dreaming of (at least in terms of money and career). Family and love are totally different stories though!