Home Maintenance

I'm finding out the hard way that it's a lot of work maintaining a house. A couple of weeks ago we had a bathroom makeover that initially started as simply replacing our sink/vanity as its wood base had warped. In the end, we had to replace both sinks, marble countertop, faucets, plumbing and cabinets. Two weekends ago, we had a major problem with our kitchen sink and had to call Roto-Rooter to unclog our drainage. This last weekend, we had to have the faucets in our guest bathroom re-fitted with new washers (to stop a leaking problem) and had to replace the sink's drain plug. We've also been slowly working on removing the tile in our garage (a really tough, back-aching process) since we are planning on re-doing the entire garage floor and building floor-to-ceiling cabinets on two sides of the garage.

The list of things to do around the house keeps growing. Our kitchen faucet is leaking, our fridge's water filter need to be replaced, the lighting unit in the guest bathroom needs to be changed so do the shower door decals, the front door and stoop needs to be re-varnished, the air filter screens in all three bathrooms need to be replaced, our water softener needs to be installed, the kitchen counter tiles need to be re-grouted, the living room walls need to be repainted, the house needs to be tested for termites, the window screens in the living room need to be replaced, the list goes on and on.

Of course along with keeping the household running is making sure everything is in place. While I handle the cooking, Jojo is in-charge of laundry and car maintenance. We have a gardener that works on the front and back yard and we split the cleaning chores down the middle. Now we don't have a huge house and with just two people living here, it would seem that maintaining the house should be a breeze. It is NOT. Every night we do the dishes (but there always seems to be a cup or spoon left in the sink). Every night we go through the mail (and yet our mail basket is still filled with unopened envelopes). Every night we try to put things away (but there's always something that's not in its place). Every weekend I sweep, swiffer, and mop (and every weekend the amount of dust, dirt and grime is just incredible). Every weekend Jojo mops the bathrooms and scrubs the tubs (yet there is always icky stuff stuck to the sponge each time he does it). Every weekend we do the wash, scrub the counters, load the dishwasher, put the laundry away (and still there is always stray pieces lying here and there). Every weekend we have a list of things we need for the house (whether it is groceries, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, paper towels, etc, etc). We change the sheets, vacuum the rugs, dust the shelves, and clear the kitchen cupboards and fridge every two weeks. We wash our rugs, fix our garage, wash our windows, rearrange our closets, and air our pillows / mattresses every month. We have a schedule so that everything gets done. But it seems even with a system, the list of things still left to do remains endless.

I always took these things for granted. Growing up our home was always spic and span, where everything was working well. My mom was a really meticulous homemaker and she and our helpers really made sure everything was clean and ready to use. I recall waking up in the mornings and leaving clothes strewn around my room, my cosmetics and accessories all over the bathroom counter,shoes and bags under the bed. I would return home with everything made up and in place. I could get a fresh supply of towels, sheets, toothpaste, shampoo or anything else I needed from well-stocked closets. The rugs would not only be vacuumed but shampooed and the floors not only swept but waxed. Dirty clothes would be hand-washed, ironed and put away in the closets. Meals were always ready on time and there was no need to do the dishes when you were done. My mom always knew who to call to repair leaky faucets, clogged drains and broken appliances - and it didn't cost an arm and a leg to get it done either. Our home was even better than 5-star-hotel housekeeping. That's a really big part of what I miss about living with my parents back in Manila. Life was easier and so much more convenient. Of course things are different now that I live abroad and have a home of my own. But even with all the wonderful things I've come to experience here in the States, for everything in my present life that I have and am thankful for, and for all the wonderful conveniences I am truly blessed to be receiving ... I still have to admit that nothing beats the convenience of life back home.

Daylight Saving Time

Yesterday we had to spring our clocks forward an hour because of daylight saving time. You would think that moving time forward by one hour would not make a huge difference. But it does! Especially when it means losing one hour of my precious weekend. After a grueling 5-day workweek, I look forward to my weekends – all 48 hours of it (not counting Friday night). A 47-hour weekend just does not cut it and makes me feel slightly short-changed. Why don’t they ever schedule switching to and from daylight saving time during the workweek? Say Monday morning? It would be great to come in at 9:00 AM and then find that it is actually already 10:00 AM and we get to skip our weekly staff meeting. (Although we would then to be stuck with an extra hour at work when we turn back time in October).

Last night, we went to bed at around 11:00 but my mind kept telling me it was only 10:00. My mind likes to screw with me that way. So even if I put in a full day and was actually tired, my brain kept me up based on that 1-hour technicality. It was so frustrating. I tried reading, watching TV, praying, deep breathing, nothing worked. And of course the more restless you are, the more your mind races, the more you panic about being awake, the harder it becomes to fall asleep. Finally after tossing and turning and fighting off the urge to take a sleeping pill, I caved and took a Sonata. I finally dozed off around 1:00 (technically midnight). Of course waking up this morning was another story. Monday mornings are always tough but when the alarm went off at 6:45, it was especially torturous since my mind was screaming “it’s only 5:45 in the morning”. I was pretty out of it this morning, which is the case when I get less than 8 hours of sleep, plus I was slightly groggy cause of the sleeping pill. This jet-lagged feeling was definitely not a great way to start the week.

Pinkberry - a new favorite!

We were planning to have lunch at Il Toscano today. I’ve heard rave reviews about the place and was looking forward to trying their famed Pasta Negra (pasta with squid ink sauce). I’ve been craving Pasta Negra for the last 7 years (ever since I’ve left Manila that’s been 1 dish I have yet to find in any menu!). Another reason we wanted to try Il Toscano was because I wanted to see if this would be a good place for my sister’s wedding rehearsal dinner. Jojo, Jules and I were there shortly past 12 but were disappointed to find that the place did not open for Sunday lunch. Instead we headed over to the reliable El Pollo Inca for Peruvian food. Normally one of my favorites, today’s meal seemed a bit salty and oily.

Feeling slightly unsatisfied, I suggested we try Pinkberry ( a frozen yogurt place that my friends have been raving about). Pinkberry opened a store in West Hollywood (as well as several others) and it has been so popular that the LA Times has dubbed it “the taste that launched 1,000 parking tickets”, since people have been lining up and down the street for their yogurt fix. Pinkberry is so popular it has developed a loyal cult-like following and is so addictive that it has been termed “Crackberry”. What’s even better is it’s a treat that is low-fat and low-sugar – actually finding a healthy indulgence in this high-calorie world is definitely worth lining up for!

The Pinkberry store in Rolling Hills (we sat outside the store and enjoyed people-watching just as much as our desserts).

The Rolling Hills Estates store we went to was sparsely furnished and had a very modern but aesthetically pleasing green and blue hued design (pretty standard for all stores). You walk up to the counter and order one of three flavors (original, green tea or coffee) and choose from an array of toppings (fruits, nuts, chocolate chips, cereals, mocha, coconut, carob chips, and granola). They also come in three sizes (small, medium and large). We all had the medium combo (which comes with three toppings).

(My medium combo - original yogurt with raspberries, blueberries and almond slivers).

We sat by the open air plaza to enjoy. IT WAS AWESOME. Now I understand what the craze is all about. I fell in love with it at first bite – the yoghurt is tangy but with sweet aftertaste – and because of the combination of tastes it is very delightful and refreshing. Its consistency is a bit stiff and not as creamy as ice cream (but the texture is very similar). And my topping choices (tart raspberries, sweet blueberries and crunchy almonds totally complemented the yogurt). I could totally understand people’s fixation because as soon as we got home I ws craving another cup!

Guakong

These days I am quite concerned about the health of my grandfather. Guakong is in his early ninties and up till recently has been surprisingly strong, alert and independent. A couple of months ago, he was re-diagnosed with cancer (something he has kept at bay for several years now) and because of his advanced age, extensive chemotherapy did not seem like a viable option. Instead he has been on medication and has been receiving intensive doses of TLC from his round-the-clock nurses, caregivers, maids and family. In the beginning he seemed to be responding well - was in no pain, maintained his alertness, and could move around on his own. It helps that my guakong is a very health-conscious person (loves fruits and vegetables, is up to date on all the latest health trends, stays away from all things "bad" - drinking, smoking, gambling, staying up late, and eating salty, fatty and sugary food). Guakong is also a very well-educated and cultured man - his opera and classical music collection is extensive, he has books with topics ranging from China's political history to horticulture, and his gardens have always been awe-inspiring as he grafted and grew his own orchids and plants. I have also always found him very knowledgeable in so many topics and he has always been the family proponent when it comes to further education.

A couple of days ago, my guakong was diagnosed with pneumonia which has resulted in him being confined to the hospital. I've heard from my parents and sister that he is so weak and frail these days. He has no appetite for anything - not even his favorite fruits and soups. Because he is cooped up in the hospital (and wants to go home), he has been short-tempered and easily irritated. I really feel terrible knowing he is going through a tough time. And of course when someone we love is suffering, the rest of us are very much affected too. I can only imagine what my mom, my aunts and uncles, my guama and everyone else around him are going through. I am sure they must be worried, tired and anxious too. I myself am worried about guakong and I feel quite helpless being away from home as well. Not that I could really do much if I were back home but at the very least I would take time out be with him in the hospital and indulge him with his favorite shark's fin soup as often as he wants it. I am hoping Jojo and I can go home soon so we can see him and spend some time with him too. I know my guakong will get through this and I pray that he will do so without pain, stress and too much difficulty. Take care and be well, guakong - we love you and are praying for you. My prayers and thoughts are with you and the rest of the family as well.

Airborne

I feel cheated! I've been such a huge proponent of taking Airborne to fight off the cold and flu virus. I got my hubby and the rest of my family started on taking Airborne. I've sold the idea to friends and colleagues at work. And I buy a huge supply every time we're at Costco. Today, I came across this article:

Airborne settles lawsuit for $23.3 million

Here are some excerpts from the article:

Airborne - the herbal supplement company that once claimed to help fight off colds - will pay $23.3 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought against the company for false advertising, according to one of the groups that joined the suit.

"There's no credible evidence that what's in Airborne can prevent colds or protect you from a germy environment," said CSPI Senior nutritionist David Schardt. "Airborne is basically on overpriced, run-of-the-mill vitamin pill that's been cleverly, but deceptively, marketed."

Customers interested in more information about how to recieve a refund should log onto www.airbornehealthsettlement.com.