Because of Tabby, I am not back to perusing baby disposable diaper shelves in the supermarket. It is back to choosing which one is more absorbent; which one is more aesthetically pleasing; which one has a snugger fit; which one is hypoallergenic; which one is eco-friendly and which one has all these qualities while at the same time is priced the lowest. Do you know what I found out? None!. The ultra baby disposable diaper has not been invented yet.

On the other side of the supermarket aisle is the shelves for adult diapers. I am quite amazed at the number of choices in adult diapers. There are numerous designs and styles of adult diapers today not like before when one looks like a larger version of a baby diaper. Anyway, it's back to shopping for baby disposable diapers.

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I think we seriously need a water softener. Our area has a new water provider. The water comes all the way from La Mesa Dam in Quezon City and it is common knowledge that this water has passed through a lot of purification and chlorination. The process makes the supply water quite "hard" which means soap is not as "sudsy" as before. I've been looking at Aquatell water softeners and I think I should really get one before all my pots, pans and appliances and water heater succumb to scaling.

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The street back of our house has been elevate to two feet. Almost two years ago, the street side of our house was elevated to. Since our house faces three streets, that leaves the front entry not yet elevated. Our municipal engineers seem to think that elevating the roads and streets in our town will prevent flooding. They never thought of revamping the drainage system to lessen the flooding. Of course! It is easier for the contractors (and more profitable) to just elevate the roads in the hope that it will lessen flooding. Wow! I wonder where will the displaced water go once it starts to rain. Do you need to ask? The water will seek the lower areas.... and that is the homes of residents of the elevated road!

We are currently "upgrading" our backyard to level it with the new road. We had to clean out the carport before we could "fill" the backyard. The place is peppered with things that were long forgotten - roller blades, two-wheeled scooter, skateboard, stroller,bikes and even a long-gone-thought-loss hydraulic crimping tool that hubby used when he was into VFH radio et al. Cleaning out the garage sure is like a trip to the past.

Sigh... the task of cleaning and ridding the house of "garbage" is really tiring.

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I was at a local furniture shop selling indigenous living room and dining room sets. I took a fancy on a petite rocking chair made from rattan. I specifically bought it so I can "rock-the-night-away" with Tabby. Ethan was quite envious so I told him that he could use the rocking chair when he watches TV in my room.

Anyway, I went back the other day at the furniture shop to inquire about pine beds. D2 wants to dismantle her built-in bed and replace it with a new stand-alone bed. Ethan was with me and when he saw a bed that is similar to the one on the right, he wanted one. Too bad, there's just no space in the house for this loft bed.

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Twice or thrice a week, I receive an e-mail notification from a leading local airline company informing me of seat sales. Sometimes flight rate to any part of the Philippines is as low as 1 PHP. Sometimes the rate is from 500 PHP to 700 PHP to 1,500 PHP. The thing is no matter how much I try to book such seats, I never could! A niece who works in a travel agency told me that there are plenty of scrupulous travel agencies that buy these sale seats in blocks that is why a regular person trying to book any of these sale seats will find it next-to-impossible to avail of such seats unless that person sits in front of the computer all day waiting for new sale seats to be available.

Ano ba?!

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My brother and his family are coming home for the Christmas. Another niece from New York confirmed that she'll be home for Christmas too. A nephew, his wife and their year old baby girl will spend Christmas in the Philippines too! Oh! my girls and I are so excited! We are going to have new participants in our yearly Christmas day party. On this day, it has been our tradition to gather for lunch after Christmas morning services. On this day we do "potluck" and exchange gifts. After a sumptuous lunch we proceed with carol singing and start our parlor games.Fun! -as D2 really prepares unique, wacky and physically challenging games. Fun! Fun! I guess I better start designing Holiday Party Invitations now. Better early than late and harassed!

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The FACE that launched and still does... many a-sleepless-nights! It's not she wants to make our lives "sleepless"... it's just that 2:00 am to 5:00 a.m is her choice time to play and coo.

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After 4 days of being absent from school, Ethan finally was well enough to go back on last Monday. He missed a lot in terms of lessons and quizzes. His teachers scheduled make-up quizzes for him which is fine. The only thing that bothers me is the fact that he has long tests scheduled the same days as his make-up quizzes. For a regular kid with non learning disability, that would be no problem but for a dyslexic, that would be an ordeal. What can I do? Nothing I guess. Ethan and I just have to review harder. Meanwhile, it's time that I saw-on the name tags on Ethan's uniform. The patches have been sitting in my sewing box for the longest time already. Even Ethan noticed that he is the only one in their class without a name tag.

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A new ordinance is being implemented in local communities. Smoking in public places is no longer allowed. And I say "huh?" I thought that regulation has long been implemented! So, where will people smoke? In designated smoking areas?

Back in the days when I used to smoke I seem to have the urge every 30 minutes. I just have to have my nicotine! While I was waiting for my flight one time I suddenly had to smoke so I asked where I could. I was led to a smoking area at the airport. I was crammed-in an all glass smoking room where non-smokers outside can ogle at smokers puffing away inside that smoke-filled room. Oh, the smoke smelled like a mixture of different brands of cigarettes and cigars. I distinctly remember seeing an elderly gentleman putting away his cigar holder filled with cohiba cigars.

You know what? I did not even have to light up for believe me, a small room filled to capacity with smokers is just too much!

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Ethan did not go to school today. He was not feeling well when I picked him up from school yesterday. He said he has a headache. He was starting to sniff and cough so I thought he has colds. The weather here in Manila is so unpredictable. One moment its so hot you feel as if you're melting. Then the next moment, rain will fall hard - catching pedestrians and commuters unaware and later wet.

The sudden change in temperature is not good for Ethan. Not that he's commuting but I guess you get my drift. I was surprised to hear a wheezing sound coming from Ethan. Asthma? I don't know but I had him with the nebulizer in no time. Sigh...

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The social networking site FaceBook has made the grade as one of the Modern Marvels of the 21st century. Why? I really don't know but I guess it's because there are more than 750 million people all over the world who has signed up with FB. On average, statistics show that more than half of the total users login on any given day, spending more than 700 billion minutes a month on FB! That's a lot! The thing is, there's this application that keeps on popping at my site each time I log in. It's so irritating as I can't seem to get rid of it. Anyway, it's not unusual for me to login and find at least 4-5 friends ready to chat with me all at the same time which I can't do as I don't think FB has a megameeting web conferencing software. Wouldn't it be great if a group of friends can see and talk with each other online all at the same time?

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Funny how "planking" has become an "in" activity for all ages. What's planking? Well, it's basically lying facedown for a photograph. The proper way to plank is to assume a prone position - your face flat on the a surface with your arms at the side. So what's so great about planking? The idea is to "plank" in the most unlikely places - such as on a busy road, on top of the roof, on top of an elephant, on top of a moving car... let your imagination work to come up on the most unlikely places to plank.

Planking is another crazy-useless-amusing thing to do. Look! Even Tabby is doing it!

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My mother has been quite worried that my brother who lives in NJ is on leave from work. I told my mother that there is really nothing to worry about as my brother is not really sick. He just had an episode of a real bad backache when he over-exerted himself while lifting.... a bag of groceries! His backache is intense though as he finds it difficult to sit, stand and walk for long periods. He is better now and it's a good thing he has social security disability insurance. Bro has recovered but he has to take it easy for a while though.

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