Just got off hula practice...tired...but happy as always.

We'll be dancing in the 4th of July Parade (The Mayor's Parade) and we rehearsed the numbers earlier.  We're dancing (instead of walking) forward, and I'm not sure how that's possible for an entire two hours.  Hopefully, we'll get a chance to rest on top of the truck/float.  And pray for me because sun block is my arch nemesis of all time and I have to bathe in it for the 2-or-so-hour UV exposure.  I'm crying already.  But anything for the group and the 4th of July Parade. I mean, how often do people get a chance to be in the 4th of July Parade which is the second longest parade in the nation?!?

Another highlight of my evening is watching America's Got Talent. Did you see Kevin Skinner? This unemployed farmer who caught chickens for a living? That was a truly moving song he rendered.  I was touched -- but well, everybody loves a cinderella story. Susan Boyles...Paul Potts.  Nonetheless, he's really got talent and I really liked his number.

Hubby came home late because he was stuck in traffic. There was an accident at the bay bridge.  I'm glad he's home now, and even brought me food...thai pork, fried rice and spicy vinegar sauce.  It's too late too eat so I'll just save it for tomorrow.

Okay, hubb's causing trouble now.  He wants to change the channel and if I don't stop blogging, he might take over the clicker. But before I say toodles for the night, let me just remind you guys to drive safe always.  It seems that the city accident statistics are going haywire these days. Anyway, hubby's saying something about city state car accident stats (in view of that bay bridge mishap) and even car buyin tips are now getting into the one-sided conversation.

I'd really better say toodles, before he tries to find someone else more responsive in a conversation.

Nighty!

Call me an obssessive-compulsive hygiene freak (note: it doesn't equate to neat and organized at all times *LOL*) but I like to be clean.  I'm not exactly a strict and dysfunctional germophobe but I always make sure that I don't clean myself all the time, brush my teeth, change my clothes...wait a minute, that's normal, that's standard for most of us.  The thing is, I have this issue about getting my feet dirty. I mean, I'm okay at the getting dirty part, just not go to bed with dirty feet.  I think I can go to bed without brushing my teeth (yeah, that's gross) but I'd tolerate that more than going to bed with dirty feet. Hahaha. 

To me, it's really okay to get dirty...I love dirty jobs, I don't mind soiling my hands.  As long as I go to bed fresh and clean even if I have to sleep only like 2 hours and wake up again.  I also hate going to bed in my day clothes or street clothes even if that was only to dive for a short rest. 

And that's where hubby and I argue most of the time.  Men...He's not exactly a dirty filthy thing, but sometimes he'd hop on the bed wearing jeans that he'd worn during the day, and then I start imagining germs transferring to the bed after having travelled with him on his pants, especially the bottom part.  Eeeeks!

But eureka, I've recently found the psychological tactic that seems to be working so far...

Step 1: I told him after coming from this and that's house that I was so positive they had mites on their couch. And that if he sat there, the mites probably started clinging on to his pants and then by sitting or laying down on our NEW bed, they will probably appreciate the move to the fresher home, thank him for the lift and probably start propagating on the mattress. 

Step 2: I showed hubby the Orkin site and gave him a Bed Bugs 101.

Step 3: I had no chance for step 3.  He jumped out of the bed and stripped off his day clothes and took a shower, and never hopped on the bed with dirty clothes again.

Not an entirely different approach from educating 5 yr-olds!

Waaaah!

Busy busy busy! I'm tasked by dear hubby to look up the Cox bundle (and so do I sound like I'm speaking a foreign language again) because we are shopping around for a good bundle in order to save money and finally see our Shrink the Bill project come into fruition.  So we're clumping the plan -- to include Cox cable, phone and internet.  That's one of the Cox cable deals that I need to look at because right now, the only thing together that we get are internet and homephone.

And, shouldn't I be busy looking online that ranting about my busy schedule in this blog?

I don't know, I just want to delay things. For some reason, I'm happy with our internet connection, but if we can get a good deal, then that really is highly likely the way to go.

I wonder if one day, we can consolidate all our bills into some all-encompassing household plan, that will include a monthly supply of groceries, house-cleaning services, catering, daycare, and even medical coverage and the like.

That will be the day!

*sigh*

Who knows? If that get's invented, you know where you first heard about it!

<wink>

I like to google images of stuff I like and I found one that is not exactly my dream watch but close to it. Actually, I have another model of the same brand but I wish I can have more. I've really fallen in love with Philippe Charriol -- maybe I got it from my dad, who loved it from his spectacle frames, to his belt buckle.

Here it is:

Mine is the St. Tropez in Rose Gold but one day, I wish I can have that one. I like Philippe Charriol's cable style, and the celtic theme. Here's mine (but without the chain):

Aren't they lovely? But I'm just lusting...and dreaming. Seriously. I've never been so attached and attracted to a material thing except this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It certainly isn't a priority these days (unless hubby sees this post and thinks of it on our 10th anniversary, which is like 4 years from now).

Maybe if I win a casino bonus in Vegas when we go there in August. An unexpected and free casino bonus might be able to get me that, and the rest of the Philippe Charriol Collection.

I keep talking about winning, but I really don't even know how to play casino games.

But what do you think...  beautiful, isn't it?

...that after so many months of holding back, I have now jumped into the iPhone bandwagon.  Well, it's not to be trendy or tech-savvy or anything, I got my unit as a hand-me-down from hubby who upgraded to the 3GS.  I mean, it's available, and I don't have to buy it, so why not?  Plus, my old (hand-me-down as well) blackberry has conked out on me for over a couple of months now to the chagrin of my callers-- friends and family who have already stopped attempting to call me ever, suspecting that I've finally migrated to Pluto as I would always threaten. Yeah, I think my signal would have been better in Pluto anyway.

So, I'm now officially an iPhone user despite my not wanting to be a tech-slave like many (didn't I just say that for Facebooking too, and look at me now..) 

Anyhoo,  I am slowly getting suckered into the apps like I thought I'd never ever be.  I'm a serious Pandora listener (yippy, no more downloads!) and I'm always tuned to the Spa Station and my R&Bs.  I have this Big Oven app that features recipes and a whole lot more.  But I guess the iPhone doesn't in anyway contribute to our "Shrink the Bill" project since I'll have to upgrade my data plan yadada. So earlier, I started contemplating if, in order to compensate, I should shift my housephone service to Qwest because it's so much easier on the pocket with their bundle and save plans.  Aside from basic Qwest phone service, you can also get the Qwest high speed Internet plan. It's almost $15.00 less than what we are paying monthly which is just about right, because I'll be adding $15.00 to my iPhone service plan.

I know, it didn't shrink the bill at all, but at least it's breaking even. And now I can blog from my phone, upload photos, go to Facebook  (just kidding, I'm not always there), and most of all, I can start learning Italian with the new language app. I haven't tried it, but I'll let you knof if it will work for me.

And most importatly, paging my friends and family, you can now call me, I'm no longer on hiatus in Pluto and you'll hear my voice clearly now...finally, without the one thousand and one wild horses galloping in between my ye....no...thi...mon....le......wh....at?

There are many people who, having lost their jobs, are finding every ways and means in order to bring back a steady income to their household.  There are many options that people consider  and most of the "driven" people I know have found getting laid off as an opportunity to go back and finish their schooling, or go into short courses that will land them another job --  or finally pursue a career that they have always wanted, if not for the money.

Many individuals also find their spouses making payday loans in order to secure a cash advance for a prospective business that they can put up. Any opportunity is important and is a meaningful leap to be able to get out of the rut.

Some people succeed and some don't. But as long as you listen to the pulse of the market, identify the needs, come up with a brilliant product or service and make use of the fast cash to get your concept flying, work hard to pursue it, you can never go wrong.  Take risks.  But at this time, it will be worth it to take extra precautions too. Start small, end big.

Balance is the key.  And good luck, my prayers are with you all.

Hubby owns one of the old models of  SLR Digital Cameras and is now contemplating on upgrading to a nikon d90.

It's not within our priorities but this summer, we are thinking of enrolling in photography lessons together. I remain to be a point-and-shoot queen and so I am not sure if I'd like to go through the lessons and act like those masters of the hobby laying down on the pavement to get a nice angle, desperately keeping one's balance on the edge of a cliff for an award-winning shot.  Not to say that I'm not interested, but in my hierarchy of things I want to pursue, it's not among the top 5. 

But since hubby is my Top One, I'd probably go with him for support.  After all, he needs a hobby partner. It will be interesting to tag along photography trips too...must be nice to wait or eat, and be the subject, hahaha. 

Well,  I'll keep you posted should I decide to learn more about cameras, flat panel tvs and all those jargon.

Say cheese!

So you think it's over, huh!

You're wrong.

Mr. TV and our satellite connection just don't mix. Hubby was on the phone late last night, talk for half an hour to a machine as he replied, "yes", "no", "yes", "no" and some occasional information that it wanted like... TV... Westinghouse, yadadada yadadada...

And so it's final, the repair guy's coming again, after one hundred visits on the thursday before 4th of July and hubby's happy because he has really that day off.  Thank goodness.  Because if the TV problems make us get another sick day, I'll ... uhm, I can't think of anything. I still need that TV. We both do.

We are contemplating on shifting to ATT satellite tv though. I've heard that ATT offers a good deals like their ATT Internet offers which are very tempting to grab, especially now that we're having too much problems with our connection that goes in and out and changes its mind as quickly as a woman. Whooops...

We're considering the different options. 

So, we'll see what happens after thursday.