sick in amsterdam

My hubby was very much looking forward to our first stop, which was Amsterdam. We were suppose to stay 4 days and 3 nights then drive for a business meeting in Zandvoort which is 45 minutes away from the city. We figured 2 nights of questionable state is quite good enough to start our 3 week workation.The hubby started having the flu in manila which made him very cranky the whole 12 hours from hong kong. He had equalizing problems during the plane's descent which made me feel i would like to borrow a feeding bottle to make him suck it, which is the usual remedy for newborns traveling, the other option, which would require no paraphernalia but would definitely scandalized the person sitting beside us.

Upon arriving in Amsterdam, which was quite early, we got in with a CX flight that arrives at 6am . so we were couldn't check in and decided to go into the hop on hop off canal boat ride, which I highly recommend. We went walking until 2 pm and check in. From the moment he got in , he resurfaced from our room 2 days after. So me and my companions decided to grab a drink at Leidesplein, which is like this square of bars and pubs. We decided to start drinking without eating, the cold or jetlag made me fell not hungry at all. i felt it after my 3rd double scotch with coke, we decided to go to Argentinean steak house which were quite abundant in Amsterdam, I never got to try it. I needed to get home, my first night in Europe, I was sick because of drinking. jetlag+ not eating+ scotch, off to the loo.

Because he can.

Its was quite the story last week that Chavit Singson did a Chris Brown to a former live- in partner. At first it was amusing as you would regard people airing dirty laundry, but later on you realize this just mirrors the state of our country. There are several factors that was raised by one blog I follow (Victorina) but also there are some items I would like to add as well.

• According to Chavit, he is under the protection of the law that states that if a spouse and get me a male spouse catches the other in act of sex with another, punishment is basically waived. Victorina stated that this will not apply to Chavit due to the fact that they weren't married. But also they say that if you have been living with a person for 3 or more years and with witness that basically calls you a common law wife.????
• According to Che, she wasn't caught on the act but actually having dinner. So again the first item can be discussed further.
• It is also said that they have already broken up, the only factor in consideration is the fact that Chavit is paying for the girls expenses, what was their deal??? Was Chavit just trying to be generous to a one time love and mother of his kids, maybe not.
• Chavit being asked by GMA to do a leave of absence, but instead dared the President to fire him, which of course she will not because he might do an Erap on her.
• Chavit basically saying he was good enough not to kill them, why in the world will he say that on record and to the media as well...well because he can.

Or maybe at the end of the day it his way of getting the share of attention, cause the election is just around the corner. He wanted to play up the victimized role to garner sympathy but the script did not match this though. Maybe a sex video with his apparent 18 year old new conquest would have been more effective.

At the end of the day, what will protect us from people like this?

my favorite baby photo of my daughter

She was so limber and loves to such on her toes.

Favorite restos

Top 5 Restos ( not particular order)

for foie gras, french onion soup, salad, steak, dessert

1. Le Souffle- comfort food

2. Lolo Dads ( malate)- very decadent

3. The French Corner (Alabang)- New discovery

4. Antonio's ( Tagaytay)- special occassions

5. Old Manila- diffrent take on Foie

other notable restos but does not have quite the complete combo:

1. Je Suis Gourmand

2. Myron's

The medical check up

Bummer, we just had executive checkup and learned we have to go on a diet especially Jp cause his triglycerides and other cholesterol stuff is quite high. This makes us feel sad because we love to eat. The doctor said we have to lay low on the scotch drinking as well. When we have dinner out we usually order french onion soup, a salad, Foie gras and steak and of course dessert.

Days look gloomy now that you can't seem to look forward to what's for lunch.

The Asian Hospital Center for Executive Health was quite exemplary as well, they have a good system that really caters to busy people. Its like a one stop shop. for 18K per person ( out patient/plus Asian Hospital privilege card) it was quite a steal.

Kids in costume

although its such a hassle sometimes, its quite funny to see the kids in costume. Since its August which is usually Filipino Week, I had a Katipunero ( freedom fighter) and a Dalagang Filipina. ( Filipina Maiden) The next costume days will be holloween, can't wait.

What being rich means now.

How do you say one is rich?

Before it was quite easy, he has the best clothes, best house, the only car in the barrio(provincial city), they have maids that call them "Senyorita" or "Dona." Come the late 90's it was still more or less the same, similar parameters but just different manifestations. Being rich was measured more by the material things you have and its elevation of one's status in society.

for some reason, calling someone rich was having lots of zero's on ones paycheck or that he can change expensive watches everyday of the week or she has a 3 million peso bag. Hell, I use to want to own my own Island, with matching Yacht that fits 2 ski's and a helipad. I would imagine myself being seen by the people I know so busy, that I'm flying here, always on the move, always on the phone for work, somehow that vision of activity made me feel that is how it feels to be successful, you very much needed everywhere that the minutes of you day is not enough. Plus the fact you fly on your own jet, driven in a chauffeured limo, had a diamond studded phone completed the picture. Yes, I did achieve that (not the jet,not the limo but still chauffeured ford vehicle, the diamond on the phone just as an exaggeration) , I use to boast that I was doing ten thousand things in one day, I thought I had achieve the life I wanted and then I realize I didn't have one. Slowly, it was the realization, that yes I do want to do ten thousand things in my life, but not the terms I initially placed myself in. I would like to fly on my private jet, but to go on a vacation, I would like to be completely busy but not to the point it defines me.

I now pray for happiness instead of riches, I ask for comfortability to an extent that I would have enough for my kids tuition and to have a simple vacation when I want it. I've heard some big hitting CEO's their life is a drive on an 8 million peso car to the office, sit their ass on a 100K office chair for some posture reason, work and be back to their 100M home, they don't have anything but work. Luxury now is not to be able to afford expensive things or vacation, its the time and contentment to enjoy them. What is the use of a 100 million house if you cannot enjoy it cause you're alone. What's the use of having $1000 satin sheets when you can't sleep cause you don't know where you're husband or wife is. What's the use of having foie gras, lobsters, beluga caviar and champagne if you can't eat it because there's no friends to drink with you.

So what does it mean to be rich... its up to you, again everything is subjective.

PS. Its funny that what it means to have lot in numerical value depends so much on the number of zero's which we know means nothing.