Morticia in hawaiian band

I'm kidding. It's just she looks out of place in her gown ü Maybe she came from a beauty contest? Kidding again. Her hair is shampoo-commercial fine though.

Gateway Mall, Araneta Center, Cubao

It's still a big tree but not as big as years ago when German Moreno's That's Entertainment was still around. I've just dated myself. Hee-hee. We were walking in Gateway Mall when we came upon this bistro with these small structures like several 3-foot fences made of bunched up thin bamboos.
And here's another Christmas tree inside the mall.
And here's a shot of chained up glass beads that act as a curtain to the center display which is of a model of condominium buildings.
And their hanging display- hundreds maybe thousands of paper butterflies which I first thought to be origami. Wouldn't that be cool?! Well, this one's relatively cool too. Ok, I take it back, they look like garbage.
Ok, garbage is harsh. Maybe confetti.

Whether vain set 16

Yes, I noticed it. In the first nine sets, I think I looked less stressed out. I don't know. Yeah, I can still smile in my situation but inside me, I'm stressed. Who wouldn't be stressed in my situation- my 5-year project ends in August, and up to now I don't feel I really belong anywhere yet? The project I'm supposed to handle keeps pushing back. The latest news is that it's delayed for, get this, at least 6 months. So I've aired my sentiments at the first opportunity. And they're getting me to help another project. And there's this other opportunity I'm interested in more and I don't know if I can get that. That would be like the chance I need to prove I deserve going manager by the next round of deliberations. I think I'd like to concentrate on managerial tasks now. Although there's some fulfillment in analyzing programs and coding, it's like 'been there, done that' for me. Ever since I became senior consultant (Associate Manager) in 2004 but kept on doing development work until my last project folded in August, I felt like I was bursting at the seems with wanting to do management work. But I had to be patient... And now, it seems it's the right time, what with being patient for so long and giving everyone a chance too to be supportive of me. It's time to be assertive and stay only for the work that makes me happy too.

Spaghetti Factory @ Megamall

Pretty affordable especially when eating in groups and ordering their samplers (photos below). The staff were friendly, even the owner (I think), who decided to bring out the Christmas decor and begin decorating. :)With samplers, you can choose one type of noodle and three types of sauces. This one has seafood.
This one a mix of spicy tomato-based sauces and a cream-based sauce.
Here's a shot of some of the drinks my companions ordered.
Spaghetti Factory is located at the basement of Megamall building B (the side with the supermarket and not the food court (correct me, if I'm wrong- I still can't memorize which side is which!)) just across Onesimus.

Tender Bob's @ Greenhills

Tender Bob's @ Greenhills Promenade! I remember like it was yesterday... I was still working in Makati and Greenbelt 3 had just opened and they had a Food Court the same level as the Cinema ticket counter...And my officemates and I would go there for lunch and we would, half the time, buy food from Tender Bob's... It had the longest line of people and their meals were affordable, reasonably priced, and you'd get your sizzling hot plate rather quickly, and it was delicious!
Now, this branch at Greenhills is a restaurant with a menu (above) and a table setting (like below)...
And I still order a plain Salisbury steak with egg! What's my problem?!? I like simple things...
And it was indeed simple. It wasn't outstanding, just so-so, like a regular Salisbury steak from any other steak joint. Ok, my fault. I'll try to come back and order something else.

Whether vain set 15

Went on training for a week. And when I got back, stress all over! I had to scramble at anything and everything I could work on just to keep the depression stemming from feeling like I'm in work limbo from taking over me or pulling me down-doo-bie-doo-down-down. So I act like a jolly camper making slide presentations and presenting them, and supervising a bunch of newbie programmers, and smiling when bumping into people along the corridors, and trying not to cry when they ask, "How's work?" And upcoming is less work and still not knowing where all this is taking me (just to learn how to be patient?!?!?!) and more training and more just-helping-with-what-i-can-while-everybody-else-is-passing-me-by-only-i-
know-what-i-can-do-and-everything-is-out-of-anyone's-control-especially-when-
it-comes-to-making-things-better-for-everybody-else-oh-well-i-don't-know-
there's-just-sigh-frown-sigh-again... Hope for the best? Think positive? Done that. Trying to be active, proactive, whatever, and there's just this wall I can't get around, over, under, alone... And it smells like I've been stranded... What if I click this?

Whether vain set 14

Happy set. Went to Tagaytay. It was cold. Road was scary at night- the edge of the cliff seemed so close! The inn was relatively cheap. The restaurants weren't. Good thing there were fast food places. But didn't go there. The view of the volcano was excellent! Ok, at first I wasn't sure which land mass was the volcano... ahwehwehwe Took pictures with an old SLR. Half didn't get developed. Half of those that did were crap. Last week I wanted to learn how to get some use out of the old SLR, had it cleaned even for P1,700; and this week, I'd like to sell it. Pentax MX, anyone? From the 1970's... In good condition... Original lens photographers (even digital ones) are scrambling for... (I could be exaggerating, I don't know, I just heard the lens was pretty good) But not for P1,700... No? Anyone? Dust. (I miss Little Britain! A little)

Bunny Kill

bloody cute!

Dinner at Tagaytay

Along a strip of restaurants is a place that's like an outdoor food court, sort of, well, not really... Maybe there were 2 restaurants there and then a couple of small food shops from where you can order burgers and ice cream, and there's Cafe Breton too.The lake can't be seen at night. There are lights far out maybe from towns that line the mountain ridge whose shores kiss the lake. So visitors can marvel at the lighted trees within the compound instead. A bit romantic. But families brought their children and children run around and stumble and keep on noisily running around. Kills romance. Murders. Had chicken parmesan at Massimo's. It was tender enough and you can really taste the cheese. For that alone, it was ok. But you will almost surely despise the rice. They give you a small ball of rice you have to cut with a knife to eat. I told the waitress about it when we asked for the bill. When she came back, she had a plate of 3 scoops of gelatto. And it was on the house! Still...
I think I'm unraveling something about eating in Tagaytay... The prices may be for tourists. And I may not be used to eating out much.

Hawaiian Bar-b-que @ Tagaytay

Late lunch on November 1... Here's their menu...And their viewing deck... great view of the lake and the volcano... It was a nice sunny day too...
Hanging lights and fan...
Onto the food! The baby back ribs were tender and moist. Their fries were too small yet fiery hot.
The verdict: the only thing spectacular was the view; the food was ok but way too pricey in my opinion and speaking as a regular-salaried employee.

4 of 98-6

The last batch of super-powered yuppies from SVI in 1998... After nine years, who's still single and who's had a super bouncing baby boy?

Mannang @ Megamall

So guys from my batch at SVI where I used to work and I met again for dinner this time at Megamall. We all met at the Food court but finally decided on Mannang just beside their sister-restaurant, Mann Hann.We ordered sisig.
Their iced tea is delicious and real lemon-y.
We also ordered some squid.
And tofu.
And this bacon-wrapped something (I forgot).
We also ordered some liempo for the late-comer. Fun night reminiscing and talking about where we are now and why {he} didn't continue courting {the girl}. Here's a picture of some of my SVI batch-mates in their ordinary yuppy identities...