misstinapie

Just when my year is fully packed with activities and things to write, I was ironically gifted with too much work that all the rest of the hobbies I'm trying to keep is an impossibility. I work around 11 hours in a day, commute for more than 4 hours next thing I know, I'm in bed surfing the web to bring my sanity back. I just don't have the energy left to focus on anything. I can't even study for my Japanese classes It's not even funny anymore. Obviously I want to excel but this work, as much as I love it, is literally killing my extracurricular activities. Anyway, we have just deployed today so by next week, if I'm as lucky as I think I am, or even remotely a good programmer there should be just a few issues. It is by far the biggest project I have handled in my career so it's a big deal that it has to work. Hopefully, i canget backto blogging!!

A high class resort hotel & casino in the City of Laoag, we visited the hotel for lunch. We would have stayed there if I wasn't the only sponsor of our trip so I don't have any idea on the rest of their facilities other than Cafe Ilocandia :-D Anyway, it wasn't planned but the trip was so long we badly needed the pit stop. We were right on time for their buffet lunch. There is not much on the menu when we came and the choices are nothing out of the ordinary. As you can see below my plate is a myriad of different Pinoy viands. The taste of their food is just okay, nothing you would have missed if you haven't tried it here. Fort Ilocandia is also near one of the 2 Sand Dunes here in Laoag and anyone who would have stayed here should definitely try that out early in the morning. We haven't because the sun is at it's peak and no one dares to spend another more minute under the sun. Other attractions other than that I'm not sure, but the Fort Ilocandia is jus...

While Blue Lagoon gets more blog promotion when you search for Ilocos roadtrips, there is also a much nearer option, the Saud beach. It's just around 10-15 mins drive from Pagudpud Archway. When you reach the area, you will see a handful of houses and resorts offering accomodations even up to your entire baranggay. We chose Saud Beach Resort & Hotel and went in. I actually loved this photo because on the background my father is holding a small hermit crab and he's so gleeful I can't help but smile whenever I see this. Never mind my sister posing teehee We (well technically they) only want to dip in the water so we didn't get the chance to see their hotel. Their parking is right where the the coconut trees are so don't be suprised if one of them happens to fall into your car :-D It was already noon that we reached the resort so the cottages are all but taken. It's okay though because we (or I, I didn't swim) get to have a shaded spot for ourselves. The sa...

If you happen to have arrived at Laoag on the wee hours of the night can grab a bite on this 24 hour food court. I'm not sure if the place has more stalls open at day but it sure is lively even at night. They offer the typical fried meat & rice and egg meals you can get anywhere. My father had bulalo and claims it was really good. I didn't attempt to try it though because I am already perspiring. There are however two things I don't like about the place. One is the lack of aircon. We were dripping wet inside and it felt like the air presses on the lungs. You see, there are no windows and it's an enclosed area. The electric fans they set up is an argument waiting to happen, being there are only a few of them to supply for the ventilation needs of customers. The second one is how, well, due to the similarity of offerings, are the aggressive "marketing" strategy of being the loudest and most convincing once you step in. Maybe it will be better if not all vend...

Just next to the beautiful Ilocos Arch stands a large nipa hut that offers comfort to hungry travelers who has been in the road too long. The first time we just passed the stop but the next time we stopped for breakfast. Offerings are the typical silogs and pinoy meals. I got Ilocos longganisa and egg as seen below. My sisters got -silogs as well except for my father. He can't help but voice out his annoyance on how his chicken lugaw does not have any chicken on it. What I can commend is how nice the manager and the waitresses are. The design is also perfect because they don't need to invest in aircon, the restaurant being with no walls. Over all cost for our breakfast: 380 pesos. That's enough for 4 people having basic meals.

I'm currently taking language lessons and you could say I could use some help in the memory department. So when, as usual PB's newsletter informed me of an upcoming free mini workshop with Eran Katz, I couldn't resist in not going. I went there and bought his book "Where did Noah park the ark?" and was able to read  a handful of pages before he came. He's not condescending at all, that he almost introduced himself instead of the host. I loved his accent, that even though he speaks almost perfect (he stammered a few times) English, the accent was clearly there. He is also funny too, and knows how to keep the crowd interested. As I've said I already read a few pages and you will know he is just repeating on what he just wrote. I'm not saying it's a bad thing of course. It just shows his consistency. He also taught us a few tricks on memorizing lists (I was doing it wrong when I read it but thank God for the demo) but not on numbers. He...

The church I'm in has this 'tradition' of shaking hands at the end before we go separate ways. Usually we chat a little as we shake hands, greet, etc. Today I shook the hands of a church mate who was a mother but not quite. The daughter who goes with her was adopted, she and her husband's final resort of having a baby. She wasn't like the first mom I shook hands with who I greeted gleefully a happy mother's day. With her case I was in an awkward position I don't know how to address. I don't know what to say, I don't know if she saw the panic in my eyes.  I've had a boss and this new boss on separate companies that was not as well blessed with kids. Both of them are really able financially but none of them were ever successful. If this is an 'omen' for my own fertility, I hope not. But realistically speaking, my chances are huge since my mom is the only one of the 3 children in the 'first' lolo who bore kids.  I also knew ...