success! the seminar went great!

after spending countless days and nights preparing for this positive discipline seminar,

ITS FINALLY OVER!

thank God the team I worked with (meaning Anj, Giselle and Monique) did such a great job as we welcomed each others ideas and really put in a lot of effort for the things we were assigned to do.  Im am soo soooo soooooooooooo happy.

it was quite well attended too.  we were expecting around 40+ people and around 30+ came.

the open forum, which we were all dreading, went by without any glitches and the powerpoint plus the videos and everything else was well done....

challenging it was,  AND i was thankful for the momentary distraction haha

PLUGGING! SPREAD THE WORD

Please take a look at the wonderful poster!!!

And join the seminar too okay?

If you're not a parent yet,

pass the word to someone who is!

Ciao!

Terry's Gourmet and Frozen Brazo by Sweet Life

Just came from my pre-birthday dinner in Terry's Gourmet in Pasong Tamo extension.

Actually, we weren't supposed to eat there. I've always wanted to eat in Cyma but never had the chance to. Having read reviews about it in other food blogs that I frequent, I was convinced just looking at the pictures! But sadly, they were fully booked for tonight (as it is the eve of the Chinese New Year)!!!!! Argh! FOiled again!

And so my next choice was Kimpura. Actually, have been missing the food in Kimpura but for some strange reason, whenever they would ask about were I wanted to eat, I would say Kamameshi instead of Kimpura hahahaha. They both start with K and both serve japanese food so sue me!

Then C suggested Terry's!! Good thing as it's also one of those restaurants I always see and have always wanted to try. Let me just tell you, as of today it is now one of my favorite restaurants. Their food is very, very good and the price is quite reasonable. YOU HAVE TO TRY IT!

We had the chicken croquettes, a meat and cheese plattter, Paella negra, the Shrimp Risotto with truffle oil, Sole Medallions with lemon butter and caper sauce, Lengua..... everything was soooo goood. Can't wait for the next event to eat here again.

And for dessert, we went home and ate the Frozen Brazo with Ice Cream from Sweet Life by Ange in San Lo. This is also very, very good!

God, I've been eating the whole day and it's all been good =) *oink *oink

Thailand 24 hour endurance karting AGAIN (part 2)

FEBRUARY 11, 2007 (Sunday early morning)

2:45 am
D: I am so stressed!!!! Im such a disgrace to the team! The kart broke down when I was driving...were down to P6! SHIT TALAGA! :(

T: Relax it happens. Why did it break in the first place?

D: Naputol yung accelerator cable!! LECHE TALAGA!

T: Its not your fault it broke. Ok lang yan its not over yet. Who's driving now?

D: A

T: So its fixed na? How many laps to P1?

A: Mga 10? Imposible na.

T:Well think if it this way, it could have happened on A's run or on Js's run diba? It can't be your fault. How did the cable break ba?

A: Wear and tear.

T: Exactly. So its not your fault it happened. It's part of racing and nobody's to blame. You rest muna and get focused till your next run. Stay hopeful.

A: Thanks!

A: 11 hours and 5 minutes
Just finished 45 minute stint. Had to chase back as throttle cable broke while D was out. He crawled it to pit using the choke! We're P6 - 13 laps!!

T: Yeah D texted he was so stressed over that cable thing breaking. Its not over yet, stay hopeful.

4:39 am
A: 9 hours 29 minutes
V out and D in. They have gained us 1 lap. We're now just 12 laps down and up to P5.
Am going to bed na as Al and I alternate when the sun rises. Yummy.

9:32 am
A: 4 hours 35 minutes
We fought through night and are still 11 laps down in P5, but just 1 lap from P4.
Everyone has finished minimum driving time, so Al and I alternate til flag.

11:58 am
D: We are currently P5 with only 2 hours to go!

T: Kaya yan! There is hope.

D: Sana. If we didn't have mech problem P2 pa rin kami.

T: There might be traffic or an oil spill or something hahaha or someone else might have mechanical problems. How many laps away from P3?

D: 6 laps!
It aint over till its over!

12:33 noon
A: 1 hour and 33 minutes
Al just came out with full fuel load, I just came in - we've fought back to 4th from P7, now holding P4 by 17 secs. One more for me, Al till finish.

T: I can pray for traffic hahah. Not bad P4 and holding. How far away from P3?

A: 4 laps to P3. 11 laps to P1. If we didnt suffer the mechanical failure during D's stint, we'd be fighting for the lead! Grrrrrr! We're not giving up P4!!!

T: That sucks. Argh!!! Pero galing ha. Kanina you were 6 laps away from P3 now its only 4 laps na lang. Hang in there! :)

1:35 pm
A: 35 minutes
Did my last stint well and kept the gap to our rivals for P4 static at 20 seconds. Al now in til finish. Not over yet but am so proud of V and D as they did quick times in the evening to bring us to P4. Everyone else on the team is a racer, and they both matched the times on their fastest laps. Galing!

2:09 pm
A: 0.0 minutes RACE OVER
We're P4. Extended our gap to competitor vying for our spot by 1 lap. We also have the fastest lap. Thanks for all your support. It kept the team going.

A: Thank you! I hope there is a reconciliation so we can go racing as a team again in the future.

T: Im touched hehehe. =) on that note, though I'd want to be hopeful, I'd rather not set myself up for disappointment. Enjoy the rest of your stay there!

_over and out_

YOU are NOT INVITED!

I just remembered something that happened the other day.
It was funny but also sad (in a way). But I digress...

We were having dinner (or was it lunch) and the usual suspects were there, and the topic veered towards the kids, eventually towards discipline and parenting and stuff like that.

So then I remember that I had a seminar coming up and proceed to invite the bro-in-laws and basically everyone to come as I was going to be one of the speakers for it and it was going to be very informative and interesting. It was going to be about Positive Discipline, so we got to talk about what it was, how its done and etc.

And then M says "anu ba alam mo diyan, mas may alam sila diyan no kasi may anak na sila" to which I reply "Ang kapal mo talaga! You are not invited!" and proceed to laugh. And then C and the others say, "M, teacher yan no! She knows what she's doing, I've seen her around S and he actually listens to her, not like our weakest link N hehehe"

Yun lang. Food for thought.... I feel M thinks my work isn't "REAL" in a way and its all just play, a common misconception for most pre-school teachers I think. Oh well. No offense taken, I'm used to it.

And the sound bite in my head is
"Ill give you 4 hours with 16 kids and let's see how you last!"

I think its really time to push for Hongkong. Will see in November.

Thailand 24 hour endurance karting AGAIN

(thanks to the website for this wonderful AD www.thailand24h.com)

NAMES HAVE BEEN OMITTED TO PROTECT PRIVACY

This time i wasn't able to go because of ...... BASTA many things :(
But of course, that won't stop me from getting text updates from friends who are there.

The enduro race is a four day event in the Birakart Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand which showcases on the last two days, a 24 hour enduro karting race. Since their very first one last 2006 (which I went to when the skies were still bright and sunnY), I heard improvements have been made (so far, I'm not there remember?!) and the event organizers are learning (thank God).

Like the fact that they actually have tents (with doors) for the teams but the problem now is not the non stop rain or poor-excuse-for-living-space which was what made the 2006 event quite unforgettable, but the hundreds of BUGS (non lethal)!!!

The ff. is a text account of events from pre race day to race day (in progress) which ends on Sunday, February 11.

FEBRUARY 8, 2007

A: Such an irony that last year D and V were struggling in the wet with minimum laps. Today, V was 3rd quickest in his stint while D was fastest of them ALL - a full 2 secs quicker than J! It is great as their confidence is up. Very important more strong teams this year.

T: Wow! So there is hope for the team to place in the top 3?

A: There is hope. In a race like this, though, I want them to have the right frame of mind. It will be a long race pa, but they started it right.

T: Good to hear that. :) Will be rooting for all of you here in Manila. Thanks for the update.

FEBRUARY 10, 2007 (early morning, race day)

T: This is it! Good luck to all you! I know you guys will do well. Dont forget to bring Shout hahahaha. VERY IMPORTANT!

A: Thank you! packed a secret stash of Shout, but the bugs will be our biggest nightmare. There are hundreds of them. They don't bite but they're just there!

T: Then Baygon katol and a lighter will be your best friend, or Citronella candles too. I can just imagine sleeping then having them crawling on you. Ugh.

A: Of course the "experts" that we are, we bought katol and imitation OFF lotion. We really should do candles. I'll update you as soon as we get on. Should start by 1 pm.

2:44 pm
A: Race started 12nn.
We qualified 7th and took the lead in traffic at 30 minute mark.
Gap is 1 second 23 hours and 15 minutes to go!

3:46 pm
A: 22 hours 20 minutes. V maintains pace. Al in. P1, 5 second lead

A: Some problems as driver change computerized with swipe card - Al forget to swipe on first stint. We almost got a penalty. Then on this change, Al didn't stop at fuel and went straight to driver box. Asked V to sit Al down and clear his mind. J in after 40 mins. Js and and V in charge now.

T: It's good to se you guys working as a team. go go go!

7:32 pm
A: 18 hours 38 minutes.
A did 45 minutes, J did 30 minutes.
Gap static at 1 lap to leaders.
We're in P2. Al out now (setting fastest laps), then P (our 80kilo Canadian)

T: How are the bugs? Which team is in P1 and P3?

A: Octopus in P1, Benefica in P3, French 1 in 5th. Benefica and French 1 won Le Mans 24 hour karting!

9:41 pm
A: 16 hours 27 minutes.
P7, 11 laps down as we did compulsory 8 minute maintenace stop.
Other teams must do maintenance also.
We must drive 0.5 seconds quicker than others now

T: Any chance of rain tonight?

A: No rain tonight. Besides D quick in the rain.
We really miss you - C just arrived and before that, we were struggling with duties.
It cant be done by 7 racers alone as 3 are always in rotation, 1 boss/strategist,
1 laptop/notebook encoder. And am always out as pics needed for sponsors.

T: Wish I was there, but....... Good thing C is there at least you guys have 1 den mother around.

T: You guys are 2/3rds away from the finish! konti na lang

D: Still P2!

T: Galing! Nahabol from P7.

11:12 pm
A: 14 ours and 55 minutes
Just outside 1 lap deficit but we are setting fastest times.
Js, D and I alternate till early morning. If you want updates past 12am, reply by SMS.

T: Okay, will apreciate the updates even after 12. Good luck to the three of you!

TO BE CONTINUED
_over and out_

re-connecting

It's nice seeing old friends again! Good thing Jo decided to visit from HK, which gave us all the more reason to get together. I haven't seen these guys in ages!

What's funny was how we remembered the trivial things we used to do way back in MultiCenter...

such as....

- ordering lunch from Thai in a Box

- eating Cable Car rice and sneaking a wee bit amount of alcohol FOR LUNCH as well hehe

- having a break in the balcony and suddenly realizing we had to hide from neighbors as we found ourselves magically in San Lo territory

- breaking the wall blocks

- Pamudi

- playing Counter Strike or Hearts on the LAN when the kiddies were gone

- what ever happened to.... (insert former officemate here)

- 5 thirsty na!!

or maybe i look like...

i look like.....