First thing I've really wanted for 2010

Aside from the ever fleeting PEACE OF MIND....

I saw a friend of mine use this for this mic at a gig last night.  I wants it.

The Pioneer EFX500 DJ Effector!!!!!

I want this little gizmo:

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But I think the red is pretty....

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Either way, it seems like a nice little gizmo to play with.

I will try to get it from HERE.

Resolutions

Since today is the last day of the 'vacation', I thought today would be a good time to think about the year ahead and start planning. 

And see it through this year around and not be one of those New Year "statistics" that break every one of their resolutions by February....which I used to be.  I will not be that person anymore!!!  AS THE WEB AS MY WITNESS!!!  I WILL NOW STICK TO ....er.....THE STUFF I SAY AS RESOLUTIONS!!!

Here we go:

1. Get detoxed sometime in the middle of February for at least one month.  If can be continued for longer, do it for longer.  Maybe til my birthday.

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2.  Put away 1/3rd of my salary every month.  Open new bank account to keep it in WITHOUT A DEBIT CARD.  Maybe just an ATM card that will be kept at home.  Or something.

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3.  SORT OUT THE FLAT.  To work on it for the first quarter of the year so that by my birthday, I will be able to have people over without them tripping over boxes.

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4.  Go see doctors for everything in the first quarter of the year.  Get allergies sorted out.  Immunization and all shots should be done.  Try and get ACL operated on this year.

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5.  Get the kittykids sorted out for this year.  Spay and neuter them :(  Maybe later in the year, get a huge cat tree for them so they can stop scratching everything else.

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6.  Make songs every month.  Make enough for an album or EP by September. :)

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7. Get a makeover.  Nothing drastic, just start to not look too much like a teenager.  (Though I had the best compliment last night when this doctor thought I was still in college.  THANKS DOC!!! )  More like a punked out Audrey Hepburn.  Start wearing skirts and dresses.  Edgy ones.  Maybe even with boots.  Ooooh...get boots.  And start wearing heels.  Cool ones.  With spikes. hehehe :)

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8.  Hopefully with the Book Club, to at least read one new book every month.  If I can manage, 2-3 books.  I find I'm not so good with the classics.  And Jane Austen sounds cool to me now.

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9.  Seriously look into pensions and life insurance plans. 

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10.  Seriously look into places abroad, just in case.

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11. KICKASS AT WORK.  Learn as much as I can. 

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12.  Try and survive the elections.

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13.  Be a good friend, daughter, sister, girlfriend, colleague to everyone I know. :)

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OK.  That seems good to be starting off with.  :) 

I love where I live: PART I - Uncle Moe's and Dave's yoghurt

Two favorites in the village my friends / neighbors live in....

Uncle Moe's is owned by a friend of mine from college.  When he opened a branch here in our village, it was manna for us.  Cheap and good persian food.  Shawarmas, koftas, etc.  YUM.

Big beef shawarma

Chicken kebab with rice (drool) with

tomato salsa :)

Dave's Yoghurt is behind Uncle Moe's.  His (Dave's) little store brags really yummy all natural yoghurt.  Kalamansi, choco hazelnut and grape are some flavors that rock our world. :)

The Menu :)

Part of the selection

:D

Awww :D  Healthy!!!

He makes yoghurt cakes :)

I love where I live. :)

Kobikicho

For our Christmas dinner party, the company went to THIS restuarant.  I don't know if I should even call it a resturant, since they served HEAVEN in there.

Check out the pics HEEEERRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Faint from sheer happiness :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! :)

 It's January 2nd and it is officially New Year.  The new planner has come out, I'm getting all giddy of how to start the year, I'm over the inevitable hangover that came yesterday, and now I'm in full Taurus kickas ass head butting mode. hahaha!  I should've just said "tenacious" mode.

SO! FULL SPEED AHEAD!!!! :)

I'm looking forward to starting up the band again. I've missed playing drums more than I'd like to admit and my hands just wanna play play play.  And I miss my crazy bandmates, the Marshas.

(L-R) Carlita (vox), Pat (bass), me (drums), Conch (guitar), Nina (keytar&vox)

I can't wait to WRITE new songs!!!!

I will tackle my health and my flat (the cleanliness of it) this year in the same way: one step at a time.  For the health, I have filled out the insurance forms and such so I am just waiting for that to be processed.  As for the flat, it will be one shelf (or a couple of shelves) at a time.  Also, I need to get rid of several boxes.  I'm just hoping that there will be buyers for some of the BOOKS and CLOTHES I'm selling.  From there, I'm hoping to buy the long talked about shelving which I want to install into various parts of my flat.  I would also like to install the water heater for the shower already.  Yeah, that's been hanging around for 3 years now, I reckon it's about time I installed it.  :-s

As for work, well, just to kick ass in it.  :)  No two ways about it.  And to keep a lid on all the expenditures.  If ever, to have only say, a once a month major date with C with nice food and all.  Maybe even hit KOBIKICHO together.  I will make it so.  And we can even order the omakase menu...egad. *drool*

OH.  And the tattoo.  The phoenix tattoo. AAAAAH yes. 

This is gonna hurt like a mutha.  See all that detail?!  Those LINES?!?  But it is, I think, the best representation of this past year though, and that this year I will be rising stronger than ever.  It will look cool, if I can stand getting it. 

I can't wait for this year.  So much hope and potential. :)  It makes me happy.  Hope it all goes well for everybody. WOOHOO!!! :)

Last meal of 2009

Sorta. C and I went to Myron's a kickass steakhouse. 

We first had the salad with scallops.

That we shared

Though C finished it.

I ordered the steak, Bianca style (the slimmest cut) topped with foie gras.

Let's just have a close up on that livery goodness.

EGAD.

C got the Franco cut, which is twice the thickness of mine.

LOOKATTHAT.

And the happy man with all the different sauces.  He couldn't choose.

(L-R) Chimichurri sauce, peppercorn, mushroom and shiraz reduction.

DROOL.  DROOL. DROOL.

This was my plate. I was proud of how hungry I was.

C was happily eating away.

"Do I LOOK like I'm sad?  OR that this is a bad busog? (A "bad busog" is the code for when you're so full you can't move and it just puts you in a bad mood. hahaha!)

Whatta champ.

NOW he's busog. hahahahahha!

Happy new year everyone!!!  I hope it all turns out well for you guys and that you have a great time celebrating!!!  :D  See you all on the other side of midnight. :D

PS. for those who need a bit of help with those pesky resolutions, here you go! http://moninavelarde.com/newyears/

The QLE awards

It started out as a little protest against not recognising some of the Philippines' great musical acts, undergound or otherwise.  So these three chaps (whom I am very proud to call friends) decided to put up one of their OWN awards, without the awards show.  The basic rule is that, if they like it (the song, the band, etc) then it wins.  It's a very subjective sort of thing, but if you know the taste in music these 3 have, you'd have to agree with most of their decisions.  Heck, it'll at least make you listen. :)

Here is this year's cut: QLE AWARDS