My in-laws are coming!

Ford texted me yesterday morning informing me that Mama and Daddy (his parents who live in California) are coming over this January 30! OMG! That soon???

Picture courtesy of Bitstrips

Don't get me wrong. I am happy that my in-laws will be visiting us here in Edmonton. I just had a few concerns though...

First, sa January 24 pa lang kami lilipat ng bahay and I feel that we are not ready to 'accept' guests yet. By January 30, wala pa talaga kaming furniture kahit isa (as in nada!). I want my parents-in-law to have a comfortable stay here so I am really worried.

Second, they'll be staying here for 21 days and I don't know how to 'entertain' them especially when Ford's at work. This will be the first time I'll be staying under one roof with my biyenan so I am a bit scared (haha!). I mean, I don't know what the arrangements will be.

Third, I really am not domesticated (yet). I am not good with house chores, especially cooking, and I know na hindi ako papasa sa standards ng oldies. My own mother could attest to that. I remember her always telling me na mapipintasan ako ng biyenan ko pag nakasama ako sa bahay. Naku, eto na yun! #praningako

Forth, Ford's car is only good for two people. We are contemplating on buying a new one come spring time but now that we have the parentals coming soon, what do we do? The only option aside from renting (which is costly, of course) is borrowing Ate June's sedan car. I honestly feel uncomfortable borrowing. Hindi talaga ako mahilig manghiram, and so is Ford.

Fourth, I have plans of starting to work this February and I don't know if I have to delay this since we have guests at home. I would like to believe that I am hospitable, I really don't want my in-laws to feel neglected nor taken for granted when they visit (that's why I am concerned on how to entertain them).

Fifth, I intend to do a lot of shopping days after we move in to our house and I don't know how to do that when they're around. I always shop alone, kahit nga si Ford madalas ayaw kong kasama eh. And oh, kailangan na rin pala naming mag-advance shopping ngayon pa lang para may konting gamit na pagdating nila. Hay, I do not want rush shopping pa naman.

Sixth, I thought I could do something highschoolish this Valentine's Day (since it's the very first Valentine we'd be celebrating together physically). Oh well, better luck next time.

Pero katulad nga ng sabi ni Ford, there is nothing we can do anymore. And we can't say no, right? Ford's been reminding me yesterday that they are not "guests," they're parents.

I have to embrace the fact that they're will be living with us for 21 days. Period.

In fairness, I am grateful to Mama and Daddy because I know they are coming with very good intentions. Daddy, a more experienced handyman, only wants to help his son fix everything in his new home. With nobody else to help us, talagang it will be a struggle to do things on our own. We need extra hand.

Also, I admit that deep inside, I am longing for a company of family. For the past two months, it's only been just me and Ford. It will be nice to have the parents around. I know Ford misses them so much.

My husband has a good set of parents, I am sure that I'll never have problems with them. I always say that I am lucky because unlike other in-laws, mine are not child-dependent and pakialamero/a. They let us be. They're just there if we need them.

Having the parents here would definitely entail a lot of personal sacrifice on my part (i.e. goodbye for now, "me" time!) but it's ok. I will try my very best to be a very good daughter-in-law to them. I owe them that.

Happy New Year!

Thank you, 2013... Hello, 2014!

Picture courtesy of Bitstrips

We are hoping that more happy things will come this new year!

Isang masaya, masagana, at mapagpalang bagong taon sa ating lahat! 

It's Christmas in Pinas!

The Philippines is 15 hours ahead than Edmonton so they are already celebrating Christmas now. I can't help but feel sentimental. This is my first Christmas away from 'home.'

For the past so many years, my mother and I, together with Tita Oya and other relatives, would attend the December 24 10pm mass in Lolomboy (my Nanay's home barangay where I grew up). Then after, we'll head straight to SanDoc's house for a simple noche buena.

I am lucky because in this day and age, we have all these technology in the world to connect with our loved ones who are so far away. Nakakatuwa kasi kahit ang misa, mapapanood na live online!

The Roman Catholicism is really shaping up!

Ang saya ko kasi hindi ko pa rin totally na-miss out ang mass na dinadaluhan ko taon-taon.

I wasn't able to finish nga lang because I had an abdominal ultrasound appointment at 8:30am (Edmonton time). Pero hanggang sa sasakyan, I was watching.

And after my appointment, when I turned on my Iphone, this was what I saw. I knew that my cousin Cricket posted this for me. I used to be their photographer.

On our way home, I contacted SanDoc via Facetime and I was able to see my family at home, feasting! Really, I've never been this grateful with technology!

I spent the last two hours scanning my FB, making usi on how my friends and relatives spent their noche buena. It was fun, feeling ko kasama ko na rin sila. Postmodern na talaga ang celebration ng Pasko ngayon.

To everyone in the Philippines, especially to my family and friends, Merry Christmas from us here in Edmonton!

Picture courtesy of Bitstrips

It's almost Christmas...

... pero hindi ko pa rin ma-feel dito sa Edmonton.

Pic courtesy of Bitstrips

This will be the first Christmas I'll be celebrating away from "home" and I am feeling a little low. I guess I should avoid looking at Facebook's News Feed at this time. All I see are photos of Christmas partying, mindless shopping, gift wrapping, and food indulging in the Philippines. Those merry making activities make me miss Pinas (and my family and friends) all the more. I am envious. I am jealous.

I guess my 'depression' is a bit justified because at this point, my life here in Alberta can be objectively described as 'boring' (not complaining, just saying). I have no family (except for hubby), no friends, no job, no money (of my own). Heck, I don't even have a Christmas tree to celebrate the holidays with! I have tons of new clothes but I have nowhere to wear them. This season sucks!

I can't wait till the holidays are over. Haha, I've officially become the Grinch!

Happy birthday, Michiko!

My good friend Michelle (one of "my girls") celebrated her birthday last November 23.

Picture courtesy of Bitstrips

Though a birthday is always a happy occasion, I felt a bit sentimental that I am no longer in the Philippines to celebrate with her. Simula college, magkakasama na kasi kami sa lahat ng espesyal na araw ng buhay namin.

Oh well, cliche as it may sound, change is the only constant thing in this world. Siguro kailangan din namin maghiwa-hiwalay talaga for us to grow more (as fabulous individuals haha!).

Happy happy birthday, Michiko! I may be away but keep in mind that I'm always here for you. As in always. I love you, Friend! I miss you all so much!

Picture taken on October 5, 2013 @ Starbucks Landmark Trinoma

PS. I hope you had a fun birthday! Errr, sa Davao ba? =)

A little celebration @ Tony Roma's

Ford comes home every lunch time to eat with me. Yesterday, he told me he needs to get back to the office early because their HR Officer has scheduled a talk with him.

At 2pm, he texted me and told me he got promoted! With a salary increase, of course! We were very happy and grateful!

Picture courtesy of Bitstrips

And so we had to celebrate! This would be the first time that we'll be celebrating 'real time' a milestone in his career. I was so excited! Nagsink in na rin sa akin, hindi na kami LDR! Yebaaah!

He picked me up at around 6pm and we went straight to West Edmonton Mall. I realized that we are typically very Pinoy. The first thing that came to our mind with the word celebrate is "mall." Lol!

West Edmonton Mall (WEM) is around 20 minutes drive from the downtown area (where we live). It's the biggest mall in North America actually. Pero di ako masyadong impressed. Mas bongga pa ang mga malls sa Pilipinas noh. Meron lang siyang indoor swimming pool, casino, at hotel kaya siya malaki.

selfie selfie

The thing with just being the two of us, walang tagakuha ng picture. Kaya ayan, pagsamahin na lang. :)

I love love love the giant poinsettia tree behind me. 

I was so happy with the Christmas decors. At least nafeel ko na magpapasko na. 

Anyway, unlike sa malls sa atin sa Pinas na sangkaterba at nagkalat ang mga kainan, WEM only has three areas for eating. Two food courts and one for a bit high-end dining.

We ended up at Tony Roma's because we were both starving and wanted to eat something familiar.

Niloloko ko siya na magpa-burger naman siya so he really ordered burgers for us. Funny, because when we got home, he asked me why burger. Bakit daw hindi steak. Kaloka, I then realized na hindi nga pala niya alam yung commercial na "pa-cheeseburger ka naman" ng McDonald's. He's been living in North America (California then Alberta) for the past twelve years kaya hindi siya aware. Haha, sineryoso niya talaga ang burger!

Aside from burgers, we also ordered a rib sampler. But when these three plates were served on our table, napalunok kami. Shaiks, we were hungry but there was no way we could eat everything! Ang laki ng serving! We should have ordered only one burger.

Roma Burger, Bacon Swiss Burger, and Star Studded Rib Sampler

The busog-lusog couple...

We loved the food and we enjoyed our little celebration. I was so glad that for the first time, I got to be with my husband in an important event in his life.

To my dear Pod, congratulations! You make me proud as always! I love you! =)

Joel Ford G. Blanco, PEng

PS. At exactly my second week here in Edmonton, the Husband got promoted. Hmm, ako nga yata talaga ang lucky charm niya hehe!

Minimalist (for now)

This basically describes my life now.

Picture courtesy of Bitstrips

I realized, kaya ko naman palang mag-survive with just a few stuff and a little space.

We are currently dwelling in a studio type building apartment here in the Downtown area. Ford has been living in this place (although he already changed rooms three times) ever since he landed in Canada in December 2009. We have actually already 'bought" (i.e. paid down payment) a town house last year but we are still waiting for advise as to when it will be turned over to us. We are hoping that we can move there by January 2014.

So now we have no choice but to stay in this small bachelor's suite. We even rented a storage just to free some space. Imagine, my bedroom in our Philippine home is a lot bigger than this. I am not complaining though, just saying. Hehe.

If truth be told, I was NEVER a minimalist. I am a collector, a shopper, a hoarder. I love to be surrounded with so many things. So this is a huge adjustment for me.

Hay, I can't wait to transfer in our new home so I can be myself again. Though minimalism is ok, I think I would still go by my old lifestyle.