Unwritten Rules

...yet I am writing them down :D

1. No houseworks and gardening during Sundays and holidays.
2. Wear a suit or your best dress during Sundays and on special ocassions.
3. Be on time or better, be early
4. Bring something with you if you come for a visit
5. Always call before coming for a visit
6. There are many ways to say 'thank you' - a card, a call, a gift
7. Aperitifs before dining or sekt before starting with the real party

8. Always make the bed, and dont forget to plump the pillows, please
9. When answering the phone, always say your name and not 'hello'
10. We greet everyone we meet on the street not with a 'hello' but with a good morning/good afternoon/good evening
11. We acknowledge the other driver who let us pass first

And there are some old ones I got from my husband

1. Saturday is bath day. Other days would mean wash or shower day :D
2. Expect potato soup and damfnudel (steamed noodle, something like siopao without the filling) every Saturday
3. New Year's Day menu? Potato salad and wurst
4. Always eat everything on your plate, or else...
5. Friday is fish only day

I dont know if I missed anything, I dont have any guidelines on it. They are supposed to be unwritten rules after all :D

My Father's Way

Tatay during our visit in 2008

I've decided not to have a list of new year's resolutions this year because I noticed I've been writing down the same resolutions over and over again for the past, hmmm, past years!

But you know what, I am doing a monthly resolution thing. I got the idea from my 71 year old father.

My mother wrote me a letter a few months back, proudly telling us that my father has finally lost his beer belly. Wow, I was happily astonished. My father's got his beer belly ever since I can remember. You know what he did? He maintained a regular regular jogging schedule of jogging two times a day for 30 minutes each.

For him to have the enthusiasm and the strenght to keep up with this rigorous fitness schedule at 71 -- I salute him! Actually, it is also because of health reasons and I know, his love for his family that made him do it. He is diagnosed with diabetis a few years back. He's got a real sweet tooth. And now he is really watching his diet and yes, after loosing his beer belly, he's stopped the two times a day jog and stuck to running in the mornings.

Of course, I told my husband about it immediately. To give him a bit of inspiration. What happened next? He went home with a diet plan which he's been following strictly for almost two months now; even throughout the holiday season. Plus, he's been running regularly and enjoying the results. He is indeed happier as he feels lighter (which he is) and feels more confident. And yes, the beer belly is almost gone, too.

Well, I am loving my husband's dedication, too. And you know what, it is my turn to follow my father's way. I am facing the challenge presented by these two men I love most.

My goal? Slowly but surely :D

Now you see it, now you don't

Freestyle

Now you see it...Now you dont!

'Yan ang istorya ng gansa na handa namin nung bisperas ng Pasko. Aminin ko sa inyo, ako ang nag request sa aking asawa na ihanda yan. Para maiba naman, kasi halos parati na lang isda ng nakaraang taon e. Pero nung nakita ko na sya, at nung naluto na sya? Hmm... hindi ko sya kayang kainin pala :) Mabuti na lang at andun ang aking papa in law at ang aking asawa! Ubos din sya.

That's the goose that my husband cooked last Christmas Eve. It's a change from the usual fish. And I really thought I could eat it, but nope. As soon as I saw it, I realized I cant. But that didnt stop my husband and my father in law from enjoying it.