So it starts...

Had a week off from work and I was glad I was able to spend it fruitfully. This was the first week that we started to build the house. I got to meet the work force behind the construction, watched and learned a bit. Also arranged papers for the water and electricity supply, and canvassed for the cheapest raw materials.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed. And hope it will turn out okay.

Saying Goodbye...

Bought a few years ago, because I truly liked the design and color, was one of my favorite slippers. A team-up of Nike and Lego, Clikits hearts are snapped onto the designated holes on the slippers. It took me sometime to find the biggest kids-size to match my feet. When I did, another dilemma came in when I lost one of the hearts. That, eventually, was resolved.

The other day, I was wearing it and it just snapped. It got broken. Unable to be repaired... So, as I say goodbye to my slippers, I thought of transferring the Clikits to my Crocs, as Jibbitz. Luckily, it fit. I didn’t have to completely say goodbye to it after all. I didn’t want to throw it all away, along with its memories. So I’m still keeping parts of it with me.

Lucky Day

And so, based on the Chinese calendar, October 30 is a lucky day to have the groundbreaking ceremony. But we didn’t follow everything on the previous blog entry. Here is what happened:

1. Our architect and contractor went there. They had an ocular inspection on the site.

2. For the offerings, we opted for the fish because a whole pig is expensive. And of course, no to chickens. But there were five different fishes, all colored red, which is a good color, right?

3. We also prepared the fruits. Tomato is a fruit, right?

4. We dug up soil but we didn’t spread any blood around.

5. We just prepared a short ceremony and prayed for a successful construction of our house. And of course, a peaceful and harmonious home.

6. Three other special guests came. We didn’t check if our birthdates matched. I just wanted them to be there because the two people are the good luck charms of my life. And the third one is a baby that is an angel to us.

Groundbreaking

Based on our Chinese Friend, before a structure is built, there should be a groundbreaking ceremony. I actually never attended one before, so we have to research and inquire further. Yup, this is for our “soon-to-be,” “long-awaited-for” ---HOME.

First, check your birthdates with the Chinese calendar and look for the best/luckiest date to hold the groundbreaking.

Prepare the offerings. Here are the possible choices:
1. A whole pig, cooked.
Head cut-off, blood to be spread over the boundaries of the lot.
2. A whole fish, with its gills, fins and tail uncut.
3. A whole chicken, with its head.
Blood also to be spread around the boundaries of the lot.
4. Three kinds of five-piece fruits.
Those are not connected/intertwined, i.e. grapes, bananas.

What to do:
1. Spreading of the blood around the boundaries.
2. Digging of soil on the corners of the lot.
3. Bring someone who could wipe out bad sprits.
4. Pray for a successful construction of the property.
5. And of course, a peaceful and harmonious household.

Apart from the cliché that you invite people and have a party afterwards, this is not recommended on Chinese Feng shui. Only those who are part of the household should be on the groundbreaking. If there are other people present, especially if your birthdates aren’t well-matched, they might bring bad luck to you.

But these are just guidelines. What you’ll do will still be based on your discretion. Thanks to Tess, for these info. And goodluck to us as well.

Cous-cous and Ton-ton

Last August 22, the night before Cebu-Bohol Trip, we were surprised when we saw two baby puppies inside Casper and Cotton’s cage. We didn’t even know that Casper was pregnant. And painfully, we had no choice but to leave them for three days. But I had confidence in Casper and Cotton that their puppies will do alright. When we came back, they were all okay.

After more than a month, cute and lovable as they might seem, we have to let both puppies go, with the assurance that they’ll both be in good hands. Goodbye, Cous-cous and Ton ton.

Callelicious

Papa seemed happy on his birthday celebration. As soon he made sure that we didn’t buy the puppy (Thanks to Sir/Uncle Jes.), he liked it already. A black Labrador retriever, soon-to-be Sam’s playmate. No name yet, this will be up to Papa. (Bumba, No! Not Batman!)

We had lunch at Miro’s event in UP, part of his HRM course: Callelicious. A complete meal of Mexican food. Appetizer: QuesadillaAztec, Entrée: Halo Taco Pasta with ZoCabob, Beverage and Desert of MIXican fruits. Yummy. (Thanks, Miyok!)



Seeing Papogs, Tita and Tito Meng gang up on a table and compete with each other on which joke’s better somehow showed he’s really happy. Though his favorite daugther was absent.




We still had dinner later that day. So we were completely stuffed. Ikoy, a.k.a. Robot-boy, thought the birthday candle was for him so he kept on singing the happy birthday song and blowing it.

Para kay Chime

Paano sasabihin?
Bilang na bilang naman ang mga “heart to heart” na usapan natin.

Paano ipaparamdam?
Kahit na dulo ng daliri ay alaganan akong hawakan.

Paano aalagaan?
Kung ayaw mo naman magpaalaga.

Paano ipapakita?
Wala ka namang nagugustuhan.

Paano pasasalamatan?
Kung hindi mo naman tinatanggap.

Paano mamahalin?
Iisang tao lang naman ang nakita kong minahal mo.

At binilin ka nitong taong ito sa amin.
Kaya susubukan, at hindi susukuan.
Hindi ka papabayaan, hindi ka namin iiwan.