Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas, darling.
We're apart, that's true.
But I can dream, and in my dreams
I'm Christmas-ing with you.
- The Carpenters, "Merry Christmas, Darling"

Day 85
24 December 2011


The night before, I was asking my family if I will go out and walk today. Mom answered a very sounding "yes," and I told her I was sort of hoping she'd say, "Don't go out and walk, it's Christmas." She said, "Well, it's not yet Christmas tomorrow." Toinks.

I woke up a bit late (because I did wake up around 4am again, but I went back to sleep because it was chilly - bed weather), but I still prepared and went out to walk. Very few people walking around Colinas Verdes today, but I was happy to still see several people walking and jogging, at least I wasn't completely alone.

Before going home, I passed by the market to buy ingredients for the Pansit Bihon, but I only brought along p150 and I was only able to buy chicken and the vegetables. My money wasn't enough to buy the pansit (haha), so brother and I went back to the market around 9:30am. Late afternoon we went back to the market again, just to see the chaos. Hahaha. Wow... I walked a lot! :)


I wasn't expecting any material gifts this Christmas (our family isn't into gift-giving), but I received a wonderful gift today - a message from Stephen. He was one of my very first online buddies, and he will always be one special man in my life because he is the only person who has given me flowers (you can read about that HERE). Well, a few weeks after I received the flowers, we got into an argument that caused us to stop talking, but sometime this year, we started talking again, but no talks about past feelings - just pure online subjects. Last time I spoke to him was last August, when I asked him about placing social networking buttons on my blog.

He's a friend on Facebook and he's on YM buddy list, but even if I see him online, I don't talk to him - I guess we've grown apart already. I was surprised to see a message from him saying he misses me. We got to chat after that exchange of PMs on Facebook, and it was great to talk to him in much personal tone again. However, like what I wrote on my personal blog (if you happen to click the link on the last paragraph), we will never be lovers. None of us are still willing to relocate, and he is still in the process of re-building his life and currently, he can't even support himself so he said even if he wants to, he can't be my boyfriend yet.

Well... the fact that he and I are friends again, I am already thankful. I love reconnecting bridges!


Around 9pm, us girls went to the nearby chapel to hear mass. I wore a blouse that I used to wear - my mom bought this for me sometime in 2002 or 2003, but I only got to wear it once because it was too small for me - my arms were so big for the sleeves, and my tummy bulges were too visible. After that one instance, I quickly placed the blouse inside the "for donation" bag, but never really gave it away. Every time I'd attempt to lose weight, I'd try it on, but I never got to fit into it again - until now.

Sweet gift indeed to be able to fit into something so small to me before.

Okay, about the homily. It was short and sweet... and it was about the reason for today's celebration: the gift of life. God gave us His son, and each and every one of us is a gift. This year, I am certainly most thankful about the gift of life, and I thank God for giving me a loving family (far from serious sickness, harm, and other negative forces), I thank God for giving me awesome friends - I don't have much friends, but what I have I truly treasure, I thank God for letting me meet people who has inspired me in more ways than one, and I thank God for gifting me the wonderful gift of being myself - being able to handle problems, sickness, pressures, and heartaches. Life truly is the best gift I have received.


What I ate today -

• 8:45am - 2 squares Biko
• 11:49am - 1/2 cup rice, Paksiw na Bangus (1 steak cut), 1 tablespoon Eggplant Omelet
• 5:20pm - 1 slice cake, some chicken cartilages (after flaking the chicken for the pansit we plan to cook for Noche Buena)
• 6:47pm - 1/2 cup rice, 3 medium sized prawns, 1/2 cup Pansit Bihon

Total Cups of Water: sorry, I wasn't able to count, I stopped updating the white board at 6 cups.
About the slice of cake... it wasn't too thick, just enough to satisfy a sweet tooth.

We had Noche Buena around 12:45am of December 25, so expect a longer food list for tomorrow's post. :)

And I Walked Again!

Day 84
23 December 2011


Mr. Pipoy's "motivation" sure made a big impact on me... I woke up at 4am! Oh my goodness! Well, I decided not to go back to sleep anymore because I might get headaches; I decided to just get up do some Internet works while waiting for the time to go to Colinas Verdes.

It was a cloudy day, something I was thankful for, because it made the walking much easier. My blisters are much okay now - not watery anymore, but all were itchy because of the friction. Well, the itch is something I could bear, at least I am walking again.


I decided to stop by the Clubhouse today and it was such a cool change to see the pool clean now. Seeing the great change, I told myself I will bring my camera next time to capture much better pictures; my cell phone takes great images, but part of me wants to capture it using my camera.


Walking back from the Clubhouse back to the main gate, I spotted a purple flower that took my interest. I went near to take a picture of it when a surprise came to greet me - a small caterpillar! Talk about being at the right place at the right time!


Sister's duty at work was at 10pm, so she had the whole day at home. We planned to eat out today, but she got home at 6am and she had to sleep, so when she woke up around 1pm, we decided to go to the tiangge to buy some clothes and shoes as we still don't have our Christmas outfit.

I was able to buy a pair of black leggings and a dress. The dress was an ordinary summer dress, but I loved it! I loved how it looked on me, which is why I plan to go back to buy two more dresses, after all it only cost p100 each. As for the shoes, I wasn't able to buy any. I wanted to wear a pair of elevated wedge shoes, so I thought of just buying at the tiangge, after all, I am not going to wear it that often - I still prefer the flat ones for everyday use. I did get to see this beautiful pair of red wedge shoes, but the size 9 look a little small on me. I sure hoped they have size 10, but there weren't. It made me sad because the vendor already agreed for me to pay p310 for it - it's base price was p350. Other stores sell the same kind of shoes at p380, but they didn't have the red one.

Well, I may not have a new pair of shoes, but I am fine with it. I am already thankful for the dress and the time spent with my sister.


Today I ate -

• 8:22am - 2 squares biko
• 12:26pm - 1/2 cup rice, 2 pieces Chicken Franks + 1 teaspoon mayonnaise
• 6:24pm - 1/2 cup rice, 40g Halabos na Hipon + Datu Puti Pinoy Kurat vinegar dip
• 8:02pm - 1 Yakult

Total Cups of Water: 13

Overall, the day went well. It was so nice to be able to go out and walk again - feel the cool morning wind... then walk around the tiangge to check for items to shop. I feel amazing!

Time to Wake Up

I'm yours indefinitely...
- Marit Larsen, "What If"

Day 83
22 December 2011

I told myself I'd walk today, but I wasn't able to, because my blisters were still watery. I also wasn't able to do any of my video workouts because of my period, but the universe was conspiring to help me, that while flipping the pages of Yummy Magazine (to look for healthy, pork-less recipes), I saw this page:


I really, really need to go out and do my morning walk! Sure, I walk to the market and buy ingredients for dinner, but I really miss walking to and around Colinas Verdes! Since I can't do any video workout for now, I felt not being able to walk makes me think about food most of the times. Exercise has truly became a part of my life that in the few days that I am not doing anything, my body is already longing for it.

When Mr. Pipoy called me tonight, I told him my situation and asked him a favor: to get angry at me tomorrow if I didn't go out and walk. He agreed that I really should walk again and not only did he promise to do my favor, he also told me a very powerful motivation. It was a kind of motivation that really woke me up. Thanks, Mr.Pipoy!

Well, my day wasn't really wasted - aside from the late afternoon walk to the market, I also cleaned my room and did the laundry. :)


My food for today -

• 8:02am - 2 squares Biko
• 11:07am - 1 cup Fish Sarciado Pasta (spaghetti, Dalagang Bukid fillets seasoned with salt and pepper fried in Lite Margarine and Olive Oil, spaghetti sauce, dried basil leaves, chopped fresh tomatoes, bell pepper, onions and garlic)
• 6:46pm - 1/2 cup rice, 1/3 cup Ginisang Kangkong, 60g Fried Fresh Dilis (dusted with cornstarch, flour, salt and pepper), 1 slice ripe Papaya
• 8:20pm - 1 Yakult

Total Cups of Water: 14

Sometime in 2008, I attended a scrapbooking charity event and we were served Red Snapper in Marinara Sauce Pasta. It tasted so good that it was the only seafood pasta (aside from tuna) that I wanted to eat. I wanted to re-create that pasta this year and serve it for Noche Buena, but I might have to think of another dish because even if I liked my version, none of my siblings really dared to taste it.

Green eggs and ham?

Anyway, I think I will just cook two pasta dishes for Noche Buena then, or maybe I will just ask mom to cook Pancit Bihon - using chicken and shrimps. Our family don't really serve much during Noche Buena, but since it's the day we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ, I just want to have something special on our table. What will you serve for Noche Buena?