Wedding on a volcano

24 February 2006     •     2 Comments
Family Stuff

No, not me and Marc. We’ll just be attending Pio and Jo-ann’s wedding this Saturday at the Chapel on the Hill in Batanggas. I think it’s by the Taal volcano, hence the blog title. Did you HONESTLY think Marc and I will be having our wedding THERE? You’ve gotta be kidding me. We can’t afford to have it there even if I tie together each and every fur on Sheero’s coat.

Besides, if Marc and I had all the money in the world, we’d rather have it at Fernwood Gardens—it’s nearer. Planning a wedding out-of-town would be a logistical nightmare. And no, I still won’t hire a wedding planner even if I’m that rich. It’s my wedding, and planning with relatives is part of the fun of it.

Ninong Jake volunteered to take care of our wedding souvenirs as a gift. Her daughter Jalaine (my first cousin) and her boyfriend has a knack for making those things. Marc and I felt like some weight lifting off our shoulders because of their generosity. It’s difficult enough to worry about invitations (there’s no way we’ll buy from souvenir vendors, too expensive), and it’s a good thing that we’ve been saved the expense and effort for making souvenirs. We’re really thankful for that.

You know… I’m kinda getting glad to be the first girl in the family to get married 🙂 Everybody seems excited about it. Or maybe it’s just that they know I’m a terrible planner so they’re constantly making sure that I have everything under control 😀 But seriously though, I think another plausible reason for this touching participation of my mom’s family is due to the fact that she had a stroke and can’t help me plan. My dad helps me, but you know, it’s not the same as having a woman figure helping you. There are just some things that men don’t understand: like cakes, shoes, gowns (well, unless they’re gay, they’ll probably understand better than I ever will! hehe). This is one of those instances when I’m really glad that I have a close family.

Anyway, enough drama 😀

I’m now working on the new template (FINALLY). It’ll be online soon!

Check out the reboot of PixelBureau. I have a new column: Fleabytes. For this issue, I discussed creativity blocks (which is actually one of the reasons for the delay in the release hehe). Check it out and leave your mark!

Don’t like the default layout?

19 February 2006     •     5 Comments
Tech Things

Well, I don’t either. No offense to the designer of this theme, but I really don’t like using themes that I didn’t make myself on a blog or any site that I handle.

Anyway, I’m really not supposed to put this blog up till I finish my new layout, but I can’t help it. I’m suffering from “blog-withdrawal”—I don’t know if there’s such a word, but that’s the best I can think of.

I’ve been busy the past few days: work, wedding, work, wedding. Marc and I are stingy so we’re still not hiring a wedding planner. It’s MY wedding, not the wedding planner’s, so I want to plan it myself. Anyway, I’m learning a lot, that I can tell you. I’ve been learning to budget both my time and our money. I’m also learning to be resourceful (you just HAVE TO be resourceful if you’re not rich and can’t buy everything). I’m so learning a lot with this that I even created a category specifically for my wedding-related posts. Who knows? Maybe someone out there reading my blog might find our stingy wedding techniques useful.

First stingy wedding move: Create your own invitations. It’s a damn hassle scouting for paper suppliers, ribbons, and what-have-you’s, but I’m telling you, we’re saving a GREAT deal. Marc and I are still in the process of looking for suppliers (not the just the ones you find at bookstores, mind you, but FACTORY suppliers). God gave me the talent for creativity and art, might as well use it to save on invites and the missalettes 😀 Anyway, once we have sample, I’ll show you guys a pic. And if I’m up to it, I’ll write the instructions on how to create them.

Since I’m still in the “canvassing” process, let’s talk about my dogs for now… I think Sheero is having a “sleep-beside-Gail” syndrome 🙁 My dad didn’t want her (nor Choknat and Harry) sleeping beside me anymore because of the up-coming wedding. Why? Because they share everything with me, even their fleas. I can’t afford to have flea bites all over me on my wedding day. Sheero’s not taking it lightly though. She’s sad most of the time. I just let her sleep right beside me (we’re actually sharing the computer chair right now) while I’m working. She usually looks more cheerful after it. 🙂

Anyway, that’s it for now. I hope you guys are all doing well! See you.

Happy Birthday, Kutitots!

14 February 2006     •     Comments Off on Happy Birthday, Kutitots!
Tech Things

Kutitots.Com turns 2 years old today… I had no idea I’ve been blogging that long. And guess what? I f#$%ing lost all of my blog comments. Great. Just great. As they say… Shit happens. And shit is truly happening to me.

Sorry it’s taking long for me to finish the new layout. I was aiming to release it today, but since it’s practically non-existent at the moment, forget it. I have quite a lot on my plate right now. I have a lot of work. I’m working on this new project. And I’m planning a wedding to top it all off.

Oh and yeah. It’s Valentine’s Day. Happy Valentine’s Day everyone.

Upgrading…

8 February 2006     •     Comments Off on Upgrading…
Tech Things

Please pardon the default theme, broken links, and whatever nuisance you will encounter. I’m in the process of upgrading. Yeah, next layout is about to be released ) Please stand by.

By the way, please don’t get pissed if your comment is held for moderation. I changed the settings to accomodate the migration from WordPress 1.5 to 2.0. Sorry about that.

Goodbye, Mama Luz.

8 February 2006     •     Comments Off on Goodbye, Mama Luz.
Family Stuff

Funny how life works, doesn’t it? One minute you’ll have great news, the next, you get sad ones. Mama Luz had been sick during the Pamanhikan. We even passed by the home she shares with Tito Rommel (her son) and gave him some pancit from the restaurant. I had this bad feeling about Mama Luz, but never expected it would be so soon.

When we visited Tito Rommel, he said that Mama Luz was already responding to treatment. Honestly, I even thought Marc and I would be seeing her at our wedding. But her liver failed her. (

Mama Luz was Mama Nena’s youngest sister. They were very close, since their other sister and brother died much earlier. Although I wasn’t attached to Mama Nena as I was with Mama Luz (Mama Nena, after all, WAS my grandma), I got to spent quite a lot of time with her due to the simple fact that Mama Nena and Mama Luz were practically always together. She even helped my grandma tutor me when I was a kid—she was a great English teacher. Mama Nena was the one who taught me how to read, Mama Luz was the one who taught me to write.

Thank you for everything, Mama Luz. We’re going to miss you, but we know you’re happier there now with Mama Nena. May you rest in peace.

The Ring

3 February 2006     •     Comments Off on The Ring
Family Stuff

Sadako is coming to town! Nyahahaha! D

Kidding. I was just referring to my left hand:

Yeah, it’s official. Now everybody knows, so the pressure is on to come up with the needed wedding budget. Donations, anyone? Haha.

Anyway, the Pamanhikan itself wasn’t bad. It was a bit uncomfortable at first, but oddly enough, everyone started warming up only when it was time to leave. Oh well. Better late than never! We didn’t really talk much about the wedding, it was more like “getting to know the other family” kind of gathering, unlike the usual tradition of discussing the entourage. Our relatives are actually leaving the decision for the entourage up to us, they’re ok with it. All they’re asking is to have a “representative” in the entourage from all sides of the family. That’s easy to do.

Sorry I haven’t really been online much lately. I have a busy job, and with planning a wedding, I’m becoming busier and busier than ever. It’s stressing, I’m telling you. Marc and I are targetting to reserve a Church and a reception venue before the month is over (after what seems like a hundred “Churches should be reserved a year ahead or you won’t get any” horror stories, I think you’ll understand why we’re rushing that P ), and we’ll start by visiting Churches before deciding.

I’m stressed, I have my period this week, and my sleeping hours are being interrupted every day by caterers inviting us for food tasting. My dogs are stressed too… Dad banned them from sleeping on my bed so their ticks and fleas won’t reach me (he’d be ashamed to have his daughter in “polka-dots” on her wedding day, he said). So apart from the eager caterers ruining my sleep in the morning, I also get awakened by my Dad’s sermons if he catches Sheero, Harry or Choknat sneaking on my bed. I swear, one week before my wedding day, I’m going to have a sleeping galore. At the rate I’m going, Marc might end up with a bride who likes a hag P

Before anybody suggests it… NO, I will not hire a wedding planner. I know it’s going to be a stressful year, but both our families promised to help us anyway they can. We don’t want to spend too much on this event… I mean, what’s the point of emptying out our savings for the wedding and end up starving the next day? Marc and I have already agreed that it’s just going to be simple.

Anyway, if you guys know cheap yet elegant wedding alternatives, PLEASE, I beg you to tell me D

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