The latest holiday collection:

I was about to buy shoes at Rockport, which is currently doing a sale up 30% off. Quite a good deal there if you’re looking for christmas present ideas for him. But then again, there’s the nagging decision not to overspend. So I headed home thinking of ways on how I can recover my latest splurging. Then I passed by this neighborhood spa, and had a massage. I swear, with my muscles aching as of this writing, I will never come back to that place again. No one beats Manang Tonyang, the famous “hilot” (local massage therapist) in my place, who charges P50 for a back massage. She does it so well that you sleep like a baby at night.

Okay. So what’s the use of having that sticker “to any point of Luzon” when you are not even asking for a ride to Ilocos, but just 4 kilometers from where you hailed the cab?

My love affair with cab drivers is more than a decade strong, and they have evolved too. From completely ignoring you to shutting down the meter to demand for a fixed fare, they now have the latest excuse. Like the gas is not enough to take you to your destination. “May LPG station po ba doon?” So I was like “Malay ko. Hindi naman ako driver.” (“I don’t know. I’m not a (cab) driver.”)

That’s the latest driver bullshit to date. As if there are no gas stations in every major thoroughfare. It happened to me twice in just one night. I swear the next time I encounter one isnabero driver, I will make sure DOTC will hear about it and that driver will get suspended. If you are a victim of these choosy taxi drivers, get the plate number, date & time and location and report them to 7890. Let’s see how serious DOTC is in their Oplan Isnabero campaign. If not, lit a fire to blow up that smelly cab, which should be easy since most of them run on LPG.

No. 2 in my wish list. No. 1 being the dress I saw at Calypso.

- Pressed face powder from Body Shop
- All-In-One Face Base from Body Shop
- Tea Tree concealer from Body Shop
- Lipstick (Fabulous Fig color from Revlon)
- Maybelline cheek blush (creamy cinnamon)
- Liquid Eyeliner from In2It
- Sun-baked eye color set from In2It
- Smooth Felt Liner from Maybelline
- Brown brow and eye liner from James Cooper
- Blue eye shadow from Fanny Serrano
- Marionnaud sponges

What’s lacking:
- eyelash curler
- mascara
- mini brush set

Last night, I was passing by the booth that sells michael kors watches when I spotted this blue blouse and eventually bought it, since I have technically nothing formal to wear to tonight’s dinner party at EDSA Shangrila Plaza Hotel (my dresses were basically stashed somewhere in Cavite home). Then I dropped by Watson to buy a blue eye make-up, which I thought was a terrific match with my blue and black ensemble. And since I haven’t been crazy over eye colors and style, I find smokey eyes quite a big challenge.

Until I found this video that copies Lea Michele’s smokey eyes in some awards night.

This girl on video now looks like Megan Fox. Imagine how these colors can really transform you. So really, good luck to me later.

But, I do look forward to spending the holidays in the new home and checking on the prospect of going somewhere to spend some me time. Those dark circles under eyes are obvious signs that I need a well-deserved break. So I have prepared a to-do list in advance:

1. Spend a weekend in Tagaytay on Christmas break
2. Meet with my BFF’s
3. No work-related stuff for one week
4. List down my goals for 2011
5. Get a hair cut

But things today have changed as listeners became more comfortable following jocks they can relate to. Another genre was born that changed the way we define radio. The local radio has lost its elitist touch and gave way to a number of Filipino-speaking DJ’s most people from the lower social strata follow.

My current lifestyle usually includes missing out episodes of my favorite soap opera, skipping early evening news and listening to radio stations most FX drivers listen to when traffic becomes unbearable. This was how I’ve learned about Papa Jack at a time when the traffic in C5 road was a mess that riding on a smelly van or an orlando car rental no longer made any difference.

Papa Jack (John Gemperle in real life) was the DJ who unselfish devoted his brains and time to figure out petty love problems of security guards, domestic helpers, students and workers in the middle of the night when people are snoring in their beds. That was indeed a tough but noble job, but he seemed to have created a niche with his own brand of humor, like playing “Doors” in the background while counselling distraught women. This guy was absolutely funny. And having quite a following made him attractive to the advertisers. He’s on TV quite recently.

So I will change some things the way I run my life. I will let go of certain attachments that keep me from doing what I should have done a long time ago – be my own person. It would be this year’s ultimate decision.

1. Get my own place. Somewhere near the workplace and everything else – mall, market, etc. While it would be a temporary set-up (I’ll be renting a small room), it would allow me to save more time, energy and money.

2. Buy a property in the city in two years time and live in there. Part of the plan is to make that property self-liquidating. I will lease out studio units. The income it will make goes to the mortgage. That covers my rent too.

3. If I already have money to burn, visit a foreign destination every year. Like Eastern Europe! There’s so much about those former Soviet countries that is mysterious, quiet and reserved. Like the Bran Castle in Romania. (Creepy.)

4. Keep healthy. I am starting feel my immune system is getting weaker. I easily catch cold and have fever almost on a monthly basis. I need to find out what natural anti aging product or other sort of treatment I would need.

Should done these things in 2-3 years. I guess that would be a reasonable amount of time.

I was in the office last week as early as 8am for a training. I picked up my coffee frap from Starbucks, passed by your former office and walked pass by the parking lot where your pajero used to be, under those shady trees….

I miss you and our dinner together.

I’m glad you’re doing very well there. I had my passport renewed last week, hopefully I get to travel soon God knows where (again). It has been a very busy year for me I hardly have time to even go out and enjoy. I haven’t been inside the cinema since we have moved down south last month. My travel expenses have gone up, and about to shoot to the roof.

I miss Bloody. And his van.

I badly need to reconfigure my life, see what would work best for me and the family. That’s part of me whining but I’m thankful too for a very nice house bro bought. The house sits on Cambridge Street near Berkshire. So we’re ‘shire folks now. Outside the village gate is the Philippines. It’s a 10-minute walk from the house. Walking has been part of the routine, keeps me from paying Thyroid doctor austin a visit.

Better adopt a stray cat to keep you company. Tito Red (my cat) has been neutered prior to his transfer here. He became less aggressive, more lazy and fatter. He sleeps whenever or wherever it suits him. That creature has got class, you know.

Take care. Hope to see you soon.

I couldn’t wait to go out to work tomorrow and be in the city once more with all noise, smog and yes, more people.

It would take me some time to get adjusted to this type of environment. All my life, I grew up in the crowded cities, lived in densely populated villages and thrived inside rented rooms sharing the use of the toilet with other roomies. I was used to the kind of neighbourhood made alive by cranky old men, gossiping housewives, alcoholic husbands, street children, taho vendors, the smell of pandesal in the morning and the weekly karaoke. None of them seemed to worry about getting foods that burn fat, or fixing those holes on the roof. Everyone could easily adjust to change and move on. It wasn’t easy dealing with various characters but you learn from connecting with them than those empty pink walls.

But a red van came in to save the night. Just in time for a ten o’ clock dinner. And I was the last person to board the van, taking the front seat.

While we’re on our way to Libis crossing the Ortigas flyover, the wiper broke down and we’re left with sheets of torrential rains blocking our sights. It was already zero visibility and the driver was on an emergency tail light signal just in case someone wants to cut us from behind and risk getting his head lopped off from his neck. The driver relied on the small convex mirror on his side while everyone inside was on a red alert for a possible vehicular accident. Two ways – either we collide with a truck or jump off the slopes of White Plains.

Apparently I just had my second life.