Summa time!!!

Enemy approaching... Dive! Dive! Dive!

Showing off my camera (not the best photos, but sometimes the best camera is
the one you can take anywhere, anytime).

Ang sarap ng summer. More here.

Pixel Me Silly: Wag Matakot sa Ulan...

Santa's Little Helper, nakow, bilisan mo ma-late na tayo....


View Larger Map

Uulan ata, tsk-tsk-tsk...



Bat ka matatakot sa ulan kung sa taas ng ulap ka naman papunta. Parang buhay immigrant (Arya! Sugod lang ng sugod!). Reminds me of the line from YGM:

You're daring to march into the unknown armed with... nothing. Have a sandwich.

Tongariro National Park. Me nilalamig (payatot kasi, hehe...)

More here from our Christmas Day '08 Tongariro National Park Roadtrip. My second trip, the first was with Bernard completing the Northern Circuit.

Always a first

Hmmm... masyadong maliit.

....

Perfect! Pssttt... Lagariin na yan.

Our very first Christmas Tree. Yes, totoong puno yan, and ang bango-bango. Worth $35 lang yan (Or P1,000). Para tumagal kailangan sa timbang may tubig nakalagay.

It's Guyyyyy Smiley!!!

Merry Christmas to everyone! At ang regalo ko sa inyo, ladies & gentlemen, isang makatindig-balahibong linedancing to Jackson 5's I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause!

Ang galing ni Lola. Bonus points sa makakita kay Lolo High-waist...

Pixel Me Silly: Ambury

Bok-bok-bok-boook!

Clokotokotokotok.....

Moooooo....



..... (Silence of the Lambs). Pag umutot ang mga ito (sheep), lagot tong tatlong ito.

Pixel Me Silly: Culture Training

A little culture for the Rolas at the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra Free Family Christmas Sing-along Concert. Friday 5/12/2008.

With "extra" family in the background (Kulet...).

Pixel Me Silly: Muriwai Gannet Colony

Yak, parang bulutong, hehehehe...


Our log cabin (este C.R.) for the day.
















View Larger Map

More here.

Pixel Me Silly: Waiting for the Twins

Have you come from Bangkok?

CX107. Hong Kong. STA 13:05, ETA 12:05. Landed.

Deadly pickup: Miss U Harm.

Ayan na!

Mejo mabigat ata diaper ni Lexi.

Here!

After 20 months and 11 days, the Rolas are finally complete.

Racket

Self portrait ni Julia, tapos prinint ng Kindy nila sa dish towel na binebenta sa parents. Magaling na idea, kasi may captive market ka (pag inde mo binili, parang sinabi mong ang panget ang anak mo, hehehe).

Palit tubig ng fishbowl

This is the very last photo I took from our flat in Wakefield Street. Halos dalawang taon din ako dun (well from room. 707, 103, G6, to this one in 303).

Time to move on. Sabi nga, the fishies are coming home soon, we need a bigger bowl.



Not anthing like Skytower, but this will do piggy, this will do. One Tree Hill at a distance.

Eto ang panalo. B, ang street namin, A, the office. Lalakarin ko na lang (correction: I-tramp ko na lang) papasok sa office. Tamang-tama, kelangan mag-offload ng taba. And I need new shoes (ehem).

Pam busy putting together our DIY bed (60% off kasi display unit sa BedsRus sa Constellation Nshore).

The Garden of Eden. Mabundok at nung una ko nakita natakot ako parang me ahas. Good news sa may snake phobia, alang ahas sa NZ, ever (ay meron pala, yung lintik na naghahawak ng bond ko sa appartment, inde pa sinosoli't nagtatago! Grrrrr).

Alang tanggalan ng plastic.... Julia wawa naman nilalagnat.

Busy kami kakabuon ng furniture. Peste, yung isang upuan lang, 30mins ko ata binuo!(Ano magagawa ko, I'm a lover, not a builder).

Ang tawag ko pala sa lamesa is "the prayer table." Pano naman maski lumuhod ka lang, makaka-kain ka pa rin (napanalo namin sa trademe).

First morning.

These Boots | Sylvia Park

Since good girl si Julia sa school (at maulan na), binili namin sya ng bagong...

Boots!

NZ$11.95

Stagecoach models.

First Day High!

Pumapasok na si Julia sa school, St. James sa Grey Lyn (wala sila website). So far success, at nag-eenjoy naman sya.

Julia: Daddy, may mga friend na ako sa school, si Stella at si Spiderman.

Daddy: Spiderma... ?

Si Spiderman asa background, kasi yun ang uniform nya sa school everyday.

Nung isang gabi, natulog sya na yakap-yakap ang bag. Naalala ko tuloy nung grade 1 ako natulog akong suot-suot ang bago kong boots (me pinagmanahan, hehehehe).

Pixel Me Silly: Auckland Fish Market

Julia: Ala nang leaves!

While waiting for the free bus.

1 Snapper, almost a kilo smoked snapper bones (yung tinanggalan na ng fillet pero malaman pa din):
NZ$16.57 = Php558.65

Essential Kiwi: Fish & chips

Perfect with...

Timpalak

At ang ating unang contestant, singing Martin Charnin and Charles Strause original composition of the 1982 hit musical Annie... Audrey!

Pasensya na po at medyo nasira ata ang plaka sa bandang gitna.

At ang sumunod na kalahok, na papalambutin at hahaplusin ang ating puso sa isang makapagbagbag-damdaming interpretative dance number ng... kayo na po ang humusga. Ladies and gentlemen, Lexi!

At ang kampeon, straight from her New Zealand debut, with her own interpretation of the hit #1 song... Ladies and gentlemen... Julia!

At papatalo ba ang tatay? Hinde syempre... With her posse, MC Tuny!

Kala nyu noh, hehehe.

Tuny.V2 (buhay pa ako't maraming update!)

Buhay pa po! Medyo busy lang, at ang dami-dami kong update...



Welcome to our new fishbowl. Maliit man at masikip, eto't ang saya-saya padin. Ika nga ni L.V.

A room is a still a room, even when there's nothin' there but gloom. But a room is not a house and a house is not a home. When the two of us are far apart. And one of us has a broken heart...~~

###
Ang tagallllll-tagal ko itong inasam-asam. And after endless googling, and sleepless nights waiting, nahaplos na rin ng aking mainit na pisngi ang aking pinakamimithi...

Woo-hooo! Pixelmesilly's back, bebeh. Sample shots with my new models.

Sa zoo... hahaha nakapikit...

Tamaki drive papunta Mission Bay.

Auckland Domain.

Old Ferry Building.

###

Makinis na pala ako't matagal nang walang bulutong. Surprisingly halos wala rin akong marka (salamat kay Dra. Judy).

Pero naknamputsanamannnnn...

Nung isang lingo, habang papunta kami sa simbahan, me sumalubong bigla sakin't sabay matching making-a-cross-symbol with his fingers "Ton!! Kamusta na-naku-baka-mahawa-ako-sa-bulutong-mo-ha!!!" Someone I've never seen for over a year (Buong pinoy community ba ng Auckland alam na ba na nagka-bulutong ako??).

At kanina me pumunta dito building, at naglulundag sa takot nang makita ako. Abah, feeling ko ako ang mamang kumakain ng manok sa circus.

Sa inyo:
#1 basahin ito. I'm not disease, but your ignorance is.
#2 Salamat sa bulutong [deleted].
#3 Sa inyong [deleted].

Inhale... Exhale... Ika nga, write an angry blog entry and throw it away in cyberspace (Get over it and move on).

Legendary

I had a boss in a previous job in Manila that I absolutely hated working with. It wasn't just me: The GM hated him, the VPs hated him, security hated him, even maintenance and housekeeping hated him. And with his reputation preceededing him, technically EVERYONE in the company hated him.

But he didn't give a damn. He just did his job everyday, and kept on annoying everyone up to this day. He even claims that he sleeps like a baby at night.

Despite this, he's also one of the very few people I admire as a mentor, only because of a thread of wisdom he shared that I still hold dearly to this day.

"Whatever happens, whoever happens, even if the whole world connives or discriminates against you, or says `you're wrong' or `you suck', be comforted that from now on you will always, always have someone to take your side of the fight-- Your wife and family. Congratulations!"

He told me this during my wedding day. Best gift ever (and to think I almost didn't invite him ;)).
****

It's been over a week since naglabasan ang aking mga pesteng bulutong sa wang-kata, at halos magkabali-baligtad ang plano ko last few days. Yung kasama ko sanang susundo kila Pam sa airport eh hindi mangyayari, mahirap na kasing makahawa at me baby sya or maka-cause ng problema.

Naku po, disedido na nga akong mag airport bus at sugurin ang lamig, basta ang importante eh masundo sila at mauwi ng maayos. Bahala na ang bulutong, at bahala nang halos magdiliryo ako sa lagnat at sa sakit ng katawan. Bahala na ring pagtignan ako ng mga tao sa kalsada na parang me ketong (naku po, Lord sorry sa mga iwas-tingin kong kilos sa mga me ketong na nakakasalubong ko dati, eto pala ang nararamdaman nila).

Friday, a day before padating sila Pam, nakasalubong ko si Aloha. Si Aloha eh Pinay na asawa ng landlord namin, na paminsan-minsan ko lang makausap tuwing nagbabayad ng rent. Tinanong ako kung may susundo na raw sa magina ko (nag-aalok din kasi sya dati, at since hindi kami close, nahiya ako't sinabi kong meron na). Nagsinungaling ulit ako at sinabi kong Oo. Aba naman, nagpilit na kung pwedeng sumama daw sya. Kinulit ako ng kinulit, till nasabi ko tuloy ang totoong sitwasyon.

Aba, hindi pumayag na ako lang ang susundo sa mag-ina ko. Dadating daw sya bukas ng umaga dala ang kotse nya, may carseat, at sasamahan ako sa airport, bulutong or no bulutong.

My gulay, Aloha, nakaka-touch! Meron pa palang mga taong busilak ang puso, na susugurin ang kapahamakan at ibubuwis ang kanilang makinis na kutis para lang makatulong ng ibang tao.

Ika nga ng mga Kiwi, you're a legend!

The sad irony of it all...

... is dadating si Pam & Julia bukas, pero ni hindi ko man lang sila mayayakap or mahahagkan. Ni indi ko mararamdaman ang init na papawi sa lamig na bumabalot sa Auckland (na ang forecast sa Sunday is 3 degrees--aguuu!).

Oh baket.... Bakettt........

BAKET AKO NAGKABULUTONG KUNG KELAN SILA DADATINGGGG....

###

Ready na pala lahat (I think) para sa pagdating nila bukas. Medyo maliit lang ang temporary home namin. Correction: maliit talaga sya. Ni hindi ko alam kung san ilalagay ng mga gamit na dadating by freight.

Pero OK lang kasi mura sya at $220 a week(thanks Aloha), including water and electricity, fully furnished, and the view is to die for.

Para kaming nakatira sa Makati (yey).

###

Niregaluhan ako ni Pam ng gift voucher para spa treatment, and since ang sakitt-sakittt nga katawan ko, nagdecide ako mag-pamasahe (Before ko ito nalaman na me tom-boluts ako, kawawa naman si Paula the masseuse. Sinasabi nya siguro ngayon "Nilalagnat akowww (in english of course)" and after 3 days "Who the f$%k! Am covered with spots!". Inde muna ako dadaan sa Newmarket ng isang buwan, hehe.

First time ko magpa-masahe sa mga Kiwi, at feeling ko alta-de-syudad ako kasi puti ang nagmamasahe. Ang treatment ko is Aromastone massage. Bato lang na panghilod na mainit, pero syet, ang sarapppp....

At inde lang yan, first time ko ring humarap sa tao na ang tanging suot ko lang eh isang disposable t-back.

Syet, buti na lang me natirang blue(lahat ng nasa box kasi eh pink na). Nakaka-ilang pala, para kang fino-floss ka sa pwet, hehehe.

Time Travel & IC Mendoza

YouTube is scary...

Audrey & Lexi inuuto ng mga yaya. Taken a couple of weeks ago.

And check what I found online (A parallel universe Audrey & Lexi??? Exactly the same names).

Or maybe visions of the future? I don't think so. Pam, ikulong ang dalawang yan until they're 32, hehehe.

****

Are you following American Idol Season 7?

Finalist Danny Noriega

IC Mendoza.

They have another thing in common aside from the looks (they're both pretty, nyarharhar....).

I Just Heard A Real Angel

This one's dedicated to all those lucky enough to have a daughter (I have three!! Nyehehe).

May they be angels forever.

Decisions! Decisions!

Eenie-mini-miney-moe... Which is the best flat where we should go...



That's my Trade Me watchlist. Hopefully one of these will be our first nest in NZ when the family arrives in mid-May. Pam and I decided that we're NOT renting a house in the suburbs, and instead getting a flat(a small apartment) in the city.

It's a decision that actually took a while, but we think we made the right one-- and will surely be met with objections from friends ("No! That's wrong... Mahirap maglipat ng gamit... Mahal parking... Masikip... Mahirap magbyahe... It's not convenient.. Kung ako ikaw, ito ang gagawin ko...").

I appreciate well-meaning comments, pero some people lang just shoot their mouths off with such ignorance. Dati I mentioned flatting will let me walk to work, nasabihan ba naman akong "Eh ang hirap sayo, ang iniisip mo lang eh kung ano ang convenient sayo!"

AsarRRRRR!! How dare he say I'm prioritizing my personal comforts over my family. Kung hindi lang sya kaibigan, na-ultraelectromagnetic-top ko na sya. He's renting a dream, 3-bedroom, $375 a week house kasi on the side of a hill-- Ang ganda talaga (nice neighborhood, a deck, garage, off street parking, etc.). Pero my problem with that is he says he's only saving $5 a week from his salary, so he has to share his dream house, renting out two rooms to make ends meet (ika nga nya, bahala na).

I didn't say anything because I admire his faith, and trust he's doing what's right for his family. But just don't say what's good for his will work for mine. Every family is different, and I can't screw in a screw if you hand me a hammer.

By flatting, we won't get that dream house now (with a lawn, a garden and a white picket fence under beach or bay views), pero we'll enjoy the benefits of city living:
- We can just walk (to work, to the grocerry, to the hospital, etc.).
- Pam & Julia won't get bored, with shops, cafes and parks minutes away.
- Easier for job hunting (for Pam).
- It's a lifestyle we've always wanted to try (Like CBD living in Makati!).

And the biggest benefit in flatting, to us, is the savings.
- We can afford our own place.
- We don't have to buy a car now (it's just a burden).
- Won't have to buy furniture, since most flat are furnished.
- I can keep my part time job in the city.
- We can save for our dream house (Who says your dream house is the one you rent anyway!).
- We can send more money home.

Click here to see my projected weekly expenses.

Why send money home? We'll we've also decided to leave the twins behind muna with their Lola until we get settled (maybe 6 months to a year). It's a decision many people will not understand, and I don't blame them since I thought the same until I had my own family.

Moving is an emotional and difficult decision. And it's not even unique: How many OFWs do you know who have been forced to leave their families temporarily for a better future? Sometimes you just have to make tough decisions, and sacrifice a lot to gain in life.

It's like climbing a scree: One step up feels like two steps down.

But I'm not worried. I know we'll eventually get up there anyway.

I’ll be at the call center
Until something better
Comes along my way
It’s been a long, long day

The future is alright
The future is so bright

Basta't tayo'y... Magkasama...

Ray Ann?
Ray Anne?

Errr... Ano nga ba?

Nanood kami last Friday sa Beaumont Center ng concert ni Ray-An Fuentes. Hindi ko matandaan hit mga songs nya, till binanatan nya yung duet nila ni Tillie Moreno (Da who???)...

Senti time...

Halika na
Pumikit... limutin ang problema
Hihintayin ang umaga

Magpahinga
Managinip ng kaliligaya
Darating din ang umaga

Basta't tayo'y magkasama
Laging mayroong umagang kay ganda
Parang sikat ng araw
May dalang liwanag
Sa ating pangarap

Haharapin natin

Gumising na
Araw ng pag-asa'y narito na
Dumating din...

Harapin natin

Pictures from my trip back home Christmas '07

Floating Around.. In Ecstasy...

Uy... May package...





Wo-hooo!!! At ang ganda ng bigote, parang si Rico J.

Dilemma:
- Pano ko kaya magkakasya sa 25 kilos ang maleta kong punong-puno na ng Cabury?
- Pano ko mapapabilis ang next 6 days?
- Ano kayang una kong kakainin pagdating sa Las Pinas (hito, ginataang suso, laing...)?
- Makikilala kaya ako ng kids?

Julia far left, nangongopya...

First Christmas party ni Julia nga pala kanina, at nag-perform (song and dance) ng English AND CHINESE songs. Oh diba, talo pa ako, eh ang alam ko lang eh...

- Qing da jia jiu zuo, yan chu ji jiang kai shi (hurry up the
show is starting!)
- Jin zhi pai zhao (no photos please!)

... na nagagamit ko pag me Chinese shows dito.

We're so proud, kasi nung umalis ako eh ni hindi sya bumibitaw samin sa mga childrens party, at ngayon nagsasayaw na sa stage. Sana paglaki nya, magmana sa akin at maging na total performer din.

Hay super dami ko nang nami-miss. First baby steps and b-day ng twins, first day sa school ni Julia, anniversary namin ni Pam. Pero it's OK, going home nanaman in 7 days, 9 hours, 45 minutes and 11 seconds... 9 seconds... 7 seconds...

Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time
I feel alive and the world it's turning inside out
Yeah! I'm floating around in ecstasy
So don't stop me now don't stop me
'Cause I'm having a good time having a good time

I Dream of Home

I just read a blog entry from Jinkee where she talks about her dreams of Manila.

I also have similar dreams, but mine are closer to home. I once dreamed of carrying my daughter Lexi, and how happy I was when I felt how big and heavy she has grown(despite not seeing her since March). I also dreamed of taking Julia to the playground. When I left, I had to push her since she didn't know how to make it move. In my dream, she raced me swing for swing.

Extremely homesick? Not really.

I'm not saying that I don't miss them (I'd shave my head to be home now). You see, I often dream when I start missing.

I think dreaming is our subconscious' way of coping and realizing. Our mind is like a wide basin on a pole, and memories and emotions are the water that slowly fill it. Dreams spills the water so slightly, it keeps the basin from falling.

Dreaming, I guess, keeps us sane.

Hopefully I won't have to dream of home often, because I will be in 27 days.

Artwork from Akira Kurozawa's Dreams

Playing in my mind:

One dream, one soul

One prize, one goal

One golden glance of what should be

Its a kind of magic

HBD Pam!

Birthday ng kumander ko ngayon.

I can't believe it's been 15 years since we first met. Sa school, although hindi ko pa sya pinapansin noon. Wala eh, busy ako sa studies ko at iwas sa chicks, alam mo naman...

Then again, I do remember the first time I saw her. It was the first day at uni, she walked towards me, turned around, and sat right in front of me. She was with her friend abby (and a gay guy called manuel which I thought for a minute was her papa). She had short hair, just cut below her chin, at medyo me pimple breakout pa sya(hehe). She was already wearing the school uniform which I though was odd (baka sipsip sa teacher, hmp).

And I remember her eyes.

Among all the people I know, she's the only person I know that I remember the very first moment I laid my eyes on her. It's like that fleeting--but significant--moment when you say "Hmmm...."

Who knew that that would eventually mean:

"Hmmmmhoneytamanaaaaaaaaamekilitiakudyannnhihihihi..."

Which then became:

"HmmmmanganganaknaakooooooooooooOOOOO"

And less than a year later:

"Hmmmmanganganaknaakoooooooooooongkamballllllllll"

And finally:

"HmmmmangokanasakamapumasokkanasaopisparamekakaininkameeeeeeEEE"

Kaya tuloy andito na ako sa NZ, sila na Pinas, at nagiipon para mapalaki ang munti ngunit masaya naming pamilya, hehehe.

Kidding aside, Pam, mami, my love, my among tunay, happy-happy birthday.

See you and the kids on December.



Playing in my mind right now:

I'm a little bit of crazy

I'm a little bit of a fool

I'm a little bit of lonely

I'm a little bit of all

Oh, I need a cure

Just a little bit of you

And I will fall

Ang tatlong itlog...

Scream no evil, see no evil, eat no evil

Sumo Wrestling

Wala lang, ang ku-cute kasi, hehehe...

Halaga

Ang isang bagay na patuloy kong ina-apreciate dito sa Middle Earth eh kung pano nila pahalagahan ang buhay.

Si Kate, officemate ko, kakabili lang ng pusa, at ang halaga ay isang makatindig-balahibong NZ$650(that's +P21K to you, Pedro). Turing nila kay Rex ay para nang sariling anak, na dinadala sa office pag matamlay upang mapatingin sa vet during lunch break, at binibilhan ng masustansyang cat food at inuuwian ng laruan sa gabi. Sa sobrang pagmamahal nga nila kay Rex eh binilihan pa nila ng kapatid, si Ruby. Pansin daw kasi nila eh nalulungkot si Rex pag naiiwan sa bahay magisa.

Si Karine naman (amo ko), daladala ang poodle na si Poppie araw-araw sa opisina. Matanda na si Poppie, at balita ko nga eh pinag-gastusan ng NZ$1,800 para lang moperahan ang kanyang tumatandang hip... Naku po, hip replacement para sa aso! Hindi unique ang eksenang ganito dito. Minsan nga may pulubi sa Queen St. na kahati sa nagiisa nyang hamburger eh ang kanyang maamong aso na mas malinis pa yata sa kanya.

Kung gayon na lang ang pagmamahal nila sa hayop, eh i-imagine nyo na lang kung pano pahalagaan dito ang mga bata. Libre ang edukasyon at panganganak, at subsidized pa ang daycare. Pati nga ang batas eh nasa panig ng bata. Naku, wag mong mapalo-palo at iwan ang Ineng at Tutoy dito magisa sa bahay, kundi malamig na rehas ang yakap-yakap mo sa gabi pag me nakita sayo at isumbong ka sa pulis.

Kaya nga hindi ko matanggap-tanggap na nangyayari sa atin ang mga bagay na katulad neto.

Lord, alagaan mo po ang mga chikiting ko at ilayo mo sa lahat ng kapahamakan, lalo na't nandito ako sa Middle Earth at sila'y nasa Motherland. Ms. Visa Officer, aprubahan mo na residency ko para next year eh madala ko na ang mga bata dito.

Ah, sulit ang hirap..

As usual, pagdating sa office, bago ko pa harapin ang ga-bundok na trabaho na dapat tapusin, open muna ako ng Gmail. Regular routine ito, dahil pagdating ni amo, nakuuuu... Iba talaga ito sa iniwan kong trabaho sa Pinas. Kung doon nakakapetix pa ako, eh dito para akong naghahabol ng oras palagi para lang maisingit ang mga dapat tapusin.

Nagemail nga pala si kumander, with good news. Really good news.

Pre school ni Julia, at Chinese school. Yari tayo dyan, buti na lang at
Grand Lolo nya eh Fil-Chi din (Naku sana gumaling sya s Math, di tulad ni Mami & Dadi)

Hay, sarap. Pag ganitong ba namang mga balita ang matanggap mo, feeling mo kahit anong ibato nila, eh para akong pader na di matinag. Di lang sulit lahat ng pagod at sakripisyo, kundi lumalakas pa ang loob kasi napupunasan ng tuwa ang ang lungkot at homesickness na nararamdaman. Aba naman, 65K daw ang tuition sabi ni Kumander, at saan ako kukuha ng ganoong kalaking pera sa Pinas!

Ika nga, pag may anak ka na, wala nang mas importante pa sa mundong ito kundi maibigay lang ang lahat na para sa kanila.

Dahil dyan, kelangan magcelebrate at makapag-prito na nga ng lumpia (and that's another story, abangan sa susunod, harhar).

Playing in my MP now:

So glad weve almost made it
So sad they had to fade it
Everybody wants to rule the world

Sent!

Nung Friday sa opisina, nagpadala ako ng email sa client ko, para ipaalam sa kanya na naipadala ko na yung press release na ginawa ko para sa lodge nya:


Ewan ko ba, at biglang napako ang mata ko sa salitang Sent! Aba naman at ang nagregister sa utak ko eh, pag binaligtad mo ang exclamation point, it would read Senti.

Yes. Tinamaan ako bigla ng homesickness. Malamig kasi at naalala ko ang mga masasarap gawin pag malamig sa Pinas, like kumain ng goto pagkatapos ng simbang gabi, magkulong at magbasa ng songhits kasi umuulan at di makapag-basketball, o matulog ulit pagkatapos maligo kasi signal #3. Pati na rin ang walang ka-kwenta-kwentang pagsabit sa jeep ng madaling araw ay nalala ko, with the wind on your hair, at mapadaan sa mabahong creek sa Recto. Ah, ka-miss...

Na-miss ko rin ang mga iniwan ko sa Pinas, like mga magulang, kapatid, kamaganak, barakada, mga tropa sa bundok(ang sarap umakyat pag umuulan!), mga dating opismaytes.

Pero ang hinahanap-hanap ko ngayong eh si kumander, ang twins, at si Julia. Naalala ko tuloy si Dong, at hinanap ko agad ang lyrics nya:

Senti

Inaliw kita, tawa ka nga nang tawa eh
Sinabi mo, wag kitang iwan, ayaw mong mag-isa
O.K. lang sa akin, abutin man ng umaga
Lahat ay gagawin para ka lang mapasaya.
Ako, mahal kita
Mahal na mahal
Natatandaan mo, ang saya-saya natin ano

Sa zoo.

I can't wait for Christmas at makauwi. 137 days to go.

Julia at the museum

Julia at the museum
Originally uploaded by Pixel Me Silly.

So cool. Closest thing I'll get to seeing my work on a museum.

Baby Talk

Julia's first conversation piece:

Pam: San pumunta si Daddy?
Julia: Owpis...
Pam: Ano ginagawa ni Daddy sa Office?
Julia: It...
Pam: Ano eat ni Daddy sa office?
Julia: Korn
Pam: Ano pa eat ni Daddy?
Julia: Sup (soup)

No Salt? Big deal!

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN JUNE 6, 2006

I tried going on a no-salt diet.

First thought: "Salt? Big deal!"

Big deal until I tried cooking without salt. Everything tasted bland (paper bland). I tried putting paprika, turmeric, lemon, garlic powder, onion powder, anise, italian seasoning, curry powder, white pepper, black papper and the entire McCormik product line on fish, meat or poultry, but everything still tasted like paper. It came to a point that cooking became a big effort, and eating a chore.

I'm reminded of this bible passage c/o Armind:

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." -- Matthew 5:13

D' Adventures of Alexa & Audrey

I've been busy lately...

Liver update

Blood extraction. It's been sort of a regular ritual for me. However this time instead of a creatinine count, I'm having a SGPT test to check my liver condition.

Painful? The only pain I felt was from my backpocket (P350!).

My new toys, muggers and doing a good deed

Shopping for toys
Off to Divisoria/168 Mall to see if I can find soccer uniforms we can use in our next tournament. However halfway through my Chowking longanisa meal I decided not to go to 168, instead head to Adidas Sportkamp where they are holding a warehouse sale.

Didn't find what I was looking for, but picked up some goodies anyway. I pegged myself to a P1,000 budget and below are the stuff the I got.

- Kinetic Wristband set (P250, sale price P150)
- Pursuit SL Sleevless Shirt (P795, sale price P397.50)
- F50 X-Lite Shin guards (P795, sale price P397.5o)

Net: P945 (saved P55)

The wristband set (last one in the basket) comes in 5 individual pieces (black, green, khaki, orange and mint green). Now I have a matching wristband for every soccer jersey in my cabinet, hehe.
***

The good and the bad
On my way home, from my seat on the bus I saw a guy being mugged by four indigents along Roxas Blvd. in Baclaran. They were groping his pants (for his cellphone I'm sure) and took his wallet. Poor guy looked like a highschool kid on his way to a date. They returned his wallet when they were satisfied and walked away as people around seemed to ignore the whole incident.

God, I wish i had better X-Men powers, but my Gay-Dar wouldn't be any use in this situation. I could interfere, but would anyone help me? The only martial arts I know is "Sayonatsi" (short for "say-na-tsinelas-ko-takbo!"). There were also no cops around, whom I could have shown a camera photo of the suspects(that is, If I had the presence of mind to take one).

I felt bad about doing nothing. He could have been me 15 years ago. Would have you done something?

Later on along Coastal Road somebody called Lenon handed me a small note and it read:

If this was a ploy for me to shell out P12, it worked. After missing an opportunity to do a good deed, I just couldn't let a second one pass and got a pack of special macapuno(which looked dry and old). I gave it to Pam and it made made her forget I left her with the kids all day when I got home.

The P12 was well worth it (Thanks Lenon!).

Gay for a day

[Post originally created April 12, 2006]

Tomorrow Pam goes back to work after her 1 month maternity leave. Why just one month? Well, it is supposed to be 3, but she just had 3 months off last year (with Julia) and she's a bit guilty that she's taking long a leave again.

For all those not in the loop, a little over a year after Julia was born last March, we had our second AND a third daughters. That means three kids in two years(syet, world record?!?)-- I know, someone should cut off my testacles, but what can I do (kalabit kasi ng kalabit eh, buwahahahahaha!).

Anyway, before she goes back to work, she said she had to be "beautiful" and needed her hair relaxed and feet pedicured ("baka sabihin nila na-losyang na ako!").

"Do you want your feet done as well?- Pam

Hmmm.. interesting. I've never had a pedicure before. Despite being an avid runner and a mountaineer, I've always had nice feet although they do sometimes smell(yummy) and my big toes are bigger than normal(They have excess thick skin on the insides-- a mutant adaptation after years of climbing). The other defect is the right pinky, where the cuticle has almost grown over the actual nail (enjoying your dinner so far? Hehehe).

"Won't I look gay or DOM?" I suddenly see images of me with manicured nails and matching gold rings and necklaces.

"Has that been a problem? Just don't have them put acetone."- Pam

Good point. Below are pictures of my first ever pedicure.



Honestly it's scary with all that tinkering with the small knives. Fortunately Edel my pedicurist(who looked like Sexbomb dancer Rachel Panganiban), is very good. It felt pleasureable, just like having your feet scratched or your pimples popped.

Tadaa.



Don't they look great with my Haviologs?

Cool baby

Photo of Julia I took last Saturday.



Ain't she cool? :)

Liver problems(Oh-oh)

I just got my results from my recent annual check-up, and everything's OK (urine, stool) except for my SGPT, which was almost double the normal values.

I wasn't too concerned at first (I thought it had something to do with having just one kidney), until Dr. Sarao, a scion of the famous family that produced the best Philippine jeepneys said "Boy, you have some damage in your liver"

NOTE: Definition of SGPT
Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, an enzyme that is normally present in liver and heart cells. SGPT is released into blood when the liver or heart are damaged. The blood SGPT levels are thus elevated with liver damage (for example, from viral hepatitis) or with an insult to the heart (for example, from a heart attack). Some medications can also raise SGPT levels. Also called alanine aminotransferase (ALT).

Liver damage? Eckkk!!! Is it due to my years of eating adobo(with matching rice with adobo grease and bagoong)?

Well fortunately the Doc said this isn't that serious and is reversable. He asked me to take Essentiale Caps (ang sosyal ng name) once a day which aids in liver regeneration. Also, I'm trying to cut down on meat (I'm in my low salt-low protein-lots of water diet in preparation for my creatinine exam next month), that should help.



Nothing like a good before and after photo to scare you shitless back to health.

My Brazilian Name

My Brazilian nickname is:



Current mood: Bored

I wish: I was playing football (even though I'm not really good at it!)

My Havaianas...

My Havaianas [Ah-Vha-ya-nas]...



... NOT! Call it Tuny's Haviologs [Ah-Vha-yo-logs]. Bought these for P85 at Landmark, aren't they cool? Below's the real one.



Jeez, they look the same. People buy Havianas for P800++. That's plain crazy if you ask me. They look exactly like the Spartan sandals I wore in gradeschool, only a bit metrosexual.

Goodbye Judy

Goodbye Judy.



Hello Julia's extreme all-terrain, all condition tandem roadster(Hala, may wang-wang yan mind you).



I've accepted the bitter truth that I'm not riding my mountainbike anytime soon, except buying softdrinks at our neighbor's. With the babies taking most of our remaining free time, it's difficult, nay, impossible to squeeze in my weekend bike trips.

I'm crying as I type right now. I love my bike. My bike's cool. It has an all-Shimano LX groupset. It's fork is a Judy Rockshox. It's shiny. It's red. It has a good plush seat anatomically designed to keep my fertility intact (no doubt that's true).

But as a firm believer of the saying "If you love me, let me go", I've decided to sell it. Mountainbikes are ment to spin up mountains and crash down ravines, not as a trophy in a dark corner.

If anybody out there wants to bid on my bike, you can see more photos at my garage.

One instant pool party

Syet, ang ineeeeetttttt....

We could be at the beach right now, in Bohol, Boracay.. Heck, maski Matabungkay papatulan ko(me pumupunta pa ba sa Matabungkay?).

Then again circumstances won't allow it. So for now, we do the next best thing:

Recipe for one (1) instand pool party:
- Get a rubber pool (beach ball optional).
- A garden hose
- Lots of water
- Space to sunbathe


Tada!!





See more photos of these at Where's Julia

Summer na!

I just saw ABS-CBN's TV summer plug, and it reminded me of this photo.



Last January 3, while walking back to our room from Cocomangas, me and Pam chanced upon these group of local kids playing on the beach, ala-John Cena of WWE shouting "You can't see me!" while waving their hands over their face. I asked if they want a photo (of course they obliged!).

Sigh.. Next year when the kids are 2 and 1 years, Bora here we come!

Lexi the Poop

Lexi pooped last night, and boy did she let out a shitload of poop, you'd think an adult did the stinker.

She had poop in her diapers, on her diapers, on their crib, on her sheets, on her feet, on her hands, and on her cheeks. Good thing we didn't name her Winnie or she'd be Winnie the Poop.

Click: Wonder Baby

We're proud parents of a very "special" baby.









This is Julia at 3 months, enjoying Michael Chrichton's Prey and Sydney Sheldon's If Tommorow Comes. She gave up on nursery rhymes at 2.










Below's Mommy and Julia sharing a light moment (I think there's something wrong in this picture).

Nakautot ka na?

---------------------------------------------------------
Date: March 25
Time: 12NN
Location: Perpetual Hospital, Las Pinas
Current Mood: Still drowsy (and a bit gassy)
---------------------------------------------------------

Pam was rolled in this morning from the recovery room. First thing I noticed (aside about her catheter) was how small her tummy was. Honestly, I don't remember the last time i saw her that "slim". Note that it was only last year that we gave birth to our panganay Julia, making it a two year-long pregnancy. I think this was a record of sorts, adding the fact that we have 3 babies in 2 years(Maybe I should check the Guiness Book of World Records). I asked her how she was, and she gave me a nasty stare (I have a 6-inch incision in my belly, and you're asking me if I'm OK?).

Well she was up and about that same day-- brave girl I married! I think if men were the ones giving birth, I would have chosen celibacy (Tule nga lang nanginginig na ako sa takot, panganganak pa!). Her doctor insisted that she try to move around as much as she can para mautot na sya. An hour later a nurse came in with her meds, and asked non-challantly if nauutot na sya. That evening the care giver who came in to change her napkins (mental note: no sweet & sour pork for dinner) also asked if na-utot na sya. She then asked if she was nautot na. Even the nice hospital janitress joined the fray and asked:

Nautot na po kayo?

Maybe you're asking: What's with this fart fetish? Why was the entire hospital staff suddenly obsessed with Pam's fart? Did it turn sweet after the c-section?(Mam, utot mo ang bango.. at kulay orange!).

Well as funny or repulsive as it sounds, doctors do look forward to seeing (or hearing) their patients break gas after an operation. As explained to me by my nephrology doctor after my kidney donation, passing gas is a good sign that indicates your digestive system is working normally after a major operation.

Well apparently Pam was well enough the next day to say (and proudly at that!)"Oo, nautot na ako".



********


Some fart facts
- Farts are created mostly by E. coli.
- On the average a fart is composed of about 59% nitrogen, 21% hydrogen, 9% carbon dioxide, 7% methane, and 4% oxygen. Less than 1% is what makes them stink.
- The temperature of a fart at time of creation is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Farts have been clocked at a speed of 10 feet per second.
- A person produces about half a liter of farts a day.
- Although they won't admit it, women fart as much as men.
- Termites are the largest producers of farts.
- Farts are flammable.
- The word "fart" comes from the Old English "feortan" (meaning "to break wind").
- Excess gas in the intestinal is medically termed "flatulence."
- More but utterly useless (but funny) fart facts at www.heptune.com

You can also make music with the Farting Nun Organ

Yipeee! (The twins are out!)

---------------------------------------------------------
Date: March 24
Time: 5AM
Location: Perpetual Hospital, Las Pinas
Current Mood: Drowsy but ecstatic
---------------------------------------------------------

Yahoo! Yipee! Yadda-yadda-yadda! U-ki-ni-na-nat-tuyen! (Sorry, baka may Pangalatok dito,hehehe)

Attention: The twins are out! The twins are out! The twins are out! Yes, I'm a father all over again.



First to come was "Alexa" (Code name: "Baby Rola A"). I wanted to name her after another famous Hollywood movie star (After naming our panganay "Julia" ala Julia Roberts). Pam however put her foot down a week ago and said she wanted "Alexa" for no apparent reason other than it sounded "sossy" (Eh gusto ko eh!). To all unmarried men out there, never, never argue with a woman with a bowling ball under her skirt-- it's too painful, hahaha. "Alexa Sophia" btw weighed in at 5.4 pounds.



Next up was "Audrey" (Code name: "Baby Rola B"). Fortunately after the Alexa incident, Pam was compassionate enough to allow me to name the second one, and Audrey was my choice (for Audrey Hepburn.. oh deh-ba!). I wanted to add a second name "Nike" after the greek goddess of victory, kaso Pam said I should stop while I'm ahead ("You're enjoying too much freedom Tuny, down boy"). Audrey Isabella weighed in at 4.12 pounds.



That's Julia above visiting mommy and the twins.

So we have Julia (Roberts), Audrey (Hepburn) and Alexa (The Great? De Rossi? Hehe)... Sorry Pam, couldn't help it.

Oh yeah bebeh, things can only get better in my fishbowl.

Story of the day: Ang Catheter.

[Inaalay ko ang istoryang ito sa milyon-milyong mga lalaki sa mundo, mahirap man o mayaman, na dumaan sa hirap at kahihiyan dulot ng isa sa pinaka-malupit na instrumento sa larangan ng medicina, ang urinary catheter.]

****
Na-ospital ako noon, kidney operation (opo, isa na lang po ang kidney ko, binigay ko sa Daddy+ ko ang isa). Pagkatapos kong magkamalay, ang una kong napansin, bukod sa malaki kong tahi(9 inches) sa tagiliran, ay isang manipis na tubo na naka-pasok kay junior.

Tuny: "Syetttt!! saan galing ito???(AT ang mas importante, sino at paano niya naikabit ito???)

Hindi ko alam kung sino nagkabit (Chicks na doctor kaya? Dyahe, punong puno pa naman ako nun ng anesthesia) at hindi ko na rin inalam kung paano ito naikakabit (at ayaw ko na rin isipin kung paano). Iniisip ko na lang na isa itong misteryong katulad ng alien abduction (Sigurado ako pag mahaba-haba ang operasyon mo at pinatulog ka, pag gising mo meron nang nakatusok sayong straw sa ayaw mo man o gusto-- enter twilight zone theme).

Ang sasagutin ko na lang ay kung saan ito nanggaling.

Ang catheter(or in this case, ang urinary catheter) ay ginagamit sa mga pasyente na walang kakayahan na bumangon at pumunta sa palikuran upang mag-dyingle/jingle. Sa Wikipedia, it is defined as "a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity duct or vessel, allowing drainage or injection of fluids or access by surgical instruments."

Ayon din sa Wikipedia, ito ay isang sinaunang imbensyon, kasing tanda ng mga Pyramids of Giza. "The ancient Egyptians are reported to have fashioned catheters from papyrus, and the ancient Greeks from reeds." [Mga hayop! Mga aso! Mga pusa! Mga manok! Sadista kayo!]. Pasalamat na lang tayo kay B. Franklin, ang sikat na amerikanong imbentor na naka-gawa din ng lightning rod, odometer at daylight saving time, dahil siya rin ang naka-isip ng flexible urinary catheter (Nainspire kaya siya after gawin ang lighting rod?

Anyway, mabalik sa istorya ko, okay din naman ang Catheter. Medyo maski nakaka-ngilo sa umpisa, it has its advantages. Sa tulad ko noon na hirap bumangon, pag naiihi ka, wiwi lang at diretso na ito sa isang urinal bag na-nakakabit sa ilalim ng kama. Pag nagbabasa ng libro at naiihi, wiwi lang. Pag kumakain at naiihi, wiwi lang. Pag may kausap sa telepono at naiihi, wiwi lang (wag lang kikiligin ang boses mo at mahahalata ka). Para kang hari ba (Kako nga e "Hey, I can get used to this!Hehe.").

Pero as in all things good, it must come to an end. Nung palabas na ako after two weeks, dumating si doc para tanggalin ang catheter(kundi hindi daw e uuwi ako na parang unggoy). Pinaupo niya ako gilid ng kama at pinalislis ang aking gown (help, rape! ;) ).


Doc: Okay iho, at the count of 3, inhale...

Tuny: Sure doc


Medyo kinakabahan ako. Aparently isasabay ni Doc ang paginhale ko sa paghila niya sa Catheter-- para siguro hindi ako makasigaw. Humawak na rin ako sa bakal na headrest, baka kasi ma-right hook ko sya e. Ang nanay ko naman ay nasa isang sulok, ngingiwi-ngiwi sa takot at tawa.


Tuny: Doc?

Doc: Yes?

Tuny: Kasabay po ba ng pagsabi mo ng "3", hihilahin nyo na, or pagkatapos mo sabihin ang "3", saka mo hihilahin?(Bale 1-4 na pala yun)


Natawa si Doc-- ano kayang nakakatawa dun???


Doc: Okay, pagsabi ko ng 3 saka ko hihilahin. Okay, ready?

Tuny: Ready po (Lunok, asan na ba yung butiki sa kisame na kahapon ko pa nakikita...)

Doc: 1.. 2..3, inha...



Bigla ba namang pumasok si Doctor/professor na kasama ang isang batalyon na nursing students. Kulang na lang ang sumigaw sila ng sabay-sabay "Surprise!". Napatingin kami ni Doc at mommy na nakanganga. Huli si doc ay nakayuko sa harap ko, hawak ang catheter na naka-kabit pa sa anu ko. Ang Mommy ko na ang tanging nasabi ay "Ano pu yun??".

"Ohmygod, sorry... sorry-sorry-po!!!" ang tanging nasabi ni doctor/professor, sabay atras at sarado ng pinto. Nakita ko pang ang lima-o-anim na mukha na humahabol ng tingin.


Doc: Sorry, ha. Okay, nasan na ba tayo? 1... 2....


^$#@!*&%

******

Also see Ella's experience in her blog "Oy, bawal magkasakit!".

Story of the day: The Presence

I swear this is a true story.

***
Alas-tres ng umaga, bilog ang buwan. In my bedroom.

Supposedly "alone".

I couldn't remember exactly what it was, but I was in deep slumber, tired from the previous week's events, which at that time was a blur to me.

Suddenly.

I was awakened from my deep sleep. It was as if something had just moved across the other side of my bed. I opened my eyes, but did not look.

I remember almost a year ago having a similar experience. I felt something, or someone heavy, sat beside me on my bed while I was sleeping(or in my sleep?), almost causing me to fall on to the floor. I looked, but nobody was there.

I've heard ghost stories like this from my friends, of long gone friends and family visiting them in their sleep. Sometimes even physically interacting with them.

I quickly thought "Dinadalaw kaya ako ng Tatay(+) ko? Or my Aunty(+) whom I've dreamed of once, wanting to pick me up?"

And on that most recent event, was it happening again? Was it... or were they back (ngiiiiiii!!!)

Minutes passed, and then there was nothing. Somehow I felt that, like before, whatever it was, "the presence", was gone.... or so I thought.

I closed my eyes again and tried to drift myself back to sleep. And as I was about to loose consciousness, another movement rocked me back to my senses, but this time it was as if someone had jumped on my bed (Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkk!).

Startled, I immediately turned my head. And what I saw was something.. no someone... that I would never ever forget till the day I die.

It was a slender pale figure laying beside me in fetal position, back facing me. I could tell it was a woman from the shape of her long white legs and shoulders, barely covered by a white night gown.

A mixture of shock and raw fear caused me to jerk back to my side of bed. I felt my hair stand, my spine tingle, my eyes pop, and my head explode.

Sino siya? Or more importantly, ano sya??

With my head still spinning from the sudden gush of adrenalin, I gathered myself and whispered to "the presence":

Tuny: "Sino ka?"

[She did not move]

Tuny: "Anong ginagawa mo sa kama ko?

[She, must have noticed that I was now fully conscious of her. It shivered, and slightly lifted her head. And in the most eeary way, she slowly, slowly looked at me from the sides of her right eye and said.]



Presence: "T_n-t_n. Get used to it, pwede ba matulog ka na?"








Did I ever mention in this blog that I'm married? ;)


###

Actual events happened (though less exaggerated, haha) a week after I was wed to P_m, now my beautiful wife. We had our wedding on a chapel on top of a hill in Batangas.

Manghuhula

Nagpahula dati ang Mommy at Daddy(+) ko, specifically about their children.

"Naku, ate, ang suwerte mo naman, ang dalawa mong anak na babae ay yayaman, pero yun nga lang, yung isang anak mong lalaki, hindi"--- ???!!!??? Waddaheck??? Ano ito, feminist na na manghuhula?

Mula noon sinumpa ko na ang lahat ng manghuhula. (Then again fast-forward 10 years today, mayaman na ate ko, bunso naman mas malaki suweldo kasya sakin nung k-age ko sya--bwisit na mga call center---ako hindi... Anak ng... tama yata ang hula ah ;))

Click: Beba in a glass

As a kid I was always amazed whenever my Mom and Dad(+) came home from parties, with pictures of them as Time: Man of the Year, or as Calendar Models, or them in a wine glass. "Ang laking baso naman nun", "Wow, parents ko sikat!" said an 8-year-old Tuny.

This is my own version of that wine glass photo, with my cousin's baby Beba as my model.

So 80's, hehehe.

Marriage & weight gain explained...

Ackk... gaining.. weight... must... close... zipper... [inhale]... ulk... ;)

*****
Cornell studies examine how weight relates to dating and marriageExcerpt:"Obese women were happier with their marriages than other women, whereas obese men had more marital problems than other men [Oh-o>> tuny]. Men who gained weight were more likely to report marital problems than men who lost weight, while women who gained weight were more likely to be happy compared with those who lost weight," the authors reported in the Journal of Family Issues (Vol. 16, November 1995).

"One theory about why obese women were happier with their marriages is related to recognizing their decreased value in the marriage market in a society that stigmatizes obesity. As a result, obese women are more likely to be satisfied with their current marital condition compared with opportunities for seeking a new partner. In other words, women appear to internalize and accept the negative assessments of their obesity," the authors said.Obese men, on the other hand, may be more likely to have marital problems because their wives may be pressuring them to lose weight; such pressure may lead to hostility and conflict. Also, the authors speculate that men are less likely to accept the negative social view about body weight than women.

More at:
http://www.news.cornell.edu/Chronicle/97/4.10.97/weight-marriage.html
****

Weight gain theories

Tuny's 3 theories why men (drastically) gain weight after marriage:

1. Alpha Male theory. After hunting (translation: spending 8 hours pretending to be productive at the office), men basically sit, watch TV, sleep, eat and keep their wives company-- much like male African lions we see on Discovery Channel.

2. Evolution. During pregnancy, a woman's hips grow to accommodate the baby. Ours come later. Having arms and hands not designed to carry a TV remote and a baby at the same time, we grow a beer belly to act as a skidway or platform to support the baby's weight.

3. Sex becomes the only exercise for a while. Its more convenient than driving yourself to the gym, and its more fun! However note that for a person weighing 160lbs., moderate sex lasting for, say 15 minutes, can only burn 14.4 calories. Compare that to 15 minutes of jogging which burns 132 calories. (see http://www.healthyweightforum.org/eng/calorie-calculator.asp)
###

Funny story of the day: Si Andy

Courtesy of my sister, Jeng

She was in Dapitan, near UST, with her new husband, Chito, shopping for native furniture for their new house in Connecticut. They’ve never been there and was having a tough time looking for the right shop so they pulled over, opened the window and asked this scrappy-looking fruit vendor sitting along the street.

“Manong, saan po ba yung mga Handycrafts?”

It took sometime for him to answer [Isip…isip…], looking at his apples and mangoes for knowledge, and then with great relief he enthusiastically replied:

“AHH, si Andy Craft, yung maputing nag tra-tricycle, nakita ko sya kanina, doon sya nakatira sa…”

My sister decided not to wait for him to finish his response, closed the window, and drove away laughing hysterically.

Poor Andy, I wonder how many misinformed tourists drop by his house everyday looking for rattan furniture.