7th Anniversary!

As I’ve posted before, it was our 7th anniversary yesterday, March 5, 2012. We’re not big on grand celebrations, but everything was wonderful, like always. (:

It was a happy coincidence that we wore the same colors. (:

Our plan was to have lunch in Tagaytay for a change of scenery (and weather). Since we didn’t want to get caught up in traffic along C-5, we left early.

We stopped by Petron along SLEX for some breakfast! Decided I wanted tea since I still had a bit of a cold, so we settled outside Starbucks with our McDonald’s breakfast food. Woohoo!

It’s worth noting that before I entered Starbucks, I spotted this cat sleeping on one of the chairs, enjoying the warm morning sun.

Anyway, I brought along some cupcakes that I made the day before! I asked Kiks what his favorite kind of cupcake was, and he answered with Mocha, so Mocha he got! We had some for dessert (after breakfast, LOL).

We went to the convenience store just before heading out again, and I noticed this pack of candy. It was indeed worth noticing, because I had designed the logo back in 2009. I kid you not, I have the studies I made and the original Illustrator file, too. It was so weird to me to see only now. I had no idea that it was actually used, nor did I even know that they pushed through with this candy because I never saw it in convenience stores in Metro Manila. A friend of mine asked me to design the logo in exchange for lunch (a.k.a. pro bono), and I happily obliged. Technically, it was the first logo I was somehow commissioned to do. It’s pretty cool seeing your work on something being sold in stores. :D

I still feel weird every time I hold the pack in my hand and see it. But moving on!

It was still too early for lunch, so Kiks decided to explore a bit. After driving around, we ended up at the zoo! It was especially amazing being so close to those big cats in their cages. They’re huge!

Since it was still morning (and on a Monday, at that), we had the entire place to ourselves. We felt that we could shamelessly set up my camera anywhere to take photos of ourselves.

After the zoo, we thought to retire from the heat for a bit. We drove some more and ended up in a complex that included a Starbucks! Cake and coffee.

We finally went off for lunch. Kiks took me to this place calledPamana, a Filipino restaurant he had wanted to try. It was a very interesting place, there were so many things up on the walls like vintage photographs (and a camera!), posters, and antique(ish) mirrors.

We didn’t order much, but we couldn’t finish everything! The servings were quite generous — I think they were meant for sharing. Anywho, we had bagnet and adobo flakes! Crunchy goodness. And to cool off, some sago’t gulaman for me, and pandan-luya iced tea for Kiks. We were sitting outside, and the breeze was nice and cool, though.

Our last stop was a church nearby. Kiks suggested we offer some candles as thanks for the years we’ve been together. (: We’re not exactly your über-religious types, but it’s nice to think that there’s someone out there watching out for us and making sure the universe cooperates with us, haha.

There were actually seven different colored candles, each one for certain wishes you had like good health, safe travel, etc. We couldn’t decide which to get, so we got one of each, lit them all up, said our own prayers, and went on our way.

Before heading back to the city, though, Kiks suddenly stopped by a place that sold flowers along the street, and bought me this beautiful bouquet! Call me old-fashioned, but I absolutely love receiving flowers. While I’m aware they’ll eventually wilt, it’s still the thought and the gesture that counts. (:

When we got back to Manila, we spent the rest of the day asleep. We were pretty exhausted from the trip, so we spent a few glorious hours sleeping. We read some books after we woke up, and just had dinner here at home.

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Thank you for seven wonderful years, Kiks, I look forward to so much more. (:

How I was chosen to be a Green Lantern

So today, the Oans decided that I was worthy of wielding a green power ring. Unfortunately, I was working all day, so they decided to have Kiks deliver it to me instead when we met up this evening. They decided to give me their whole speech thing through a note with the ring, since you know, I wasn’t there to hear it and all:

Tracy Ann Liberty A. Monsod, you have the power to overcome great fear. You have been chosen as the Green Lantern of space sector 2814. Due to dire circumstances, the Guardians of the Universe have formed alliances with other wielders of light. Your primary mission is to serve as partner to Blue Lantern Kiks of your sector. May it be Brightest Day or Blackest Night, you are to stay by his side. Lantern Kiks has assured us that his light of Hope shall shine bright as long as your power of Will is capable of fueling that light. At times of utmost darkness, look into each other’s strengths. We believe you will achieve greatness through this partnership, Lantern Tracy. Welcome to the Green Lantern Corps.

There were a few typos in the note, but it’s okay, the translator must have been in a bit of a rush to fit all that into a tiny piece of paper as quickly as they could so the ring could be sent to me through Kiks.

* * *

Seriously speaking though, when I got the box, opened it up, and read the note, I felt like I was proposed to. I absolutely wouldn’t mind if this were to be the speech that Kiks gives me when he gets down on one knee for real - reading what my primary mission was stole me. (I wouldn’t mind either if the engagement ring looked exactly like a Green Lantern ring, it’d make the speech perfect, haha!)

There’s a lot of truth to the stuff about my Will fueling Kiks’s Hope, too. Blue Lanterns are only able to create constructs with Green Lanterns present - without the will to do something, hope remains just that. Kiks is more of the hopeful kind, always thinking positive and literally saying what all Blue Lanterns say - All will be well. Or at least something along those lines. I’m more of willpower - I’m the one that pushes for the both of us to do things.

This was pretty much the highlight of my entire week. Thank you, my Blue Lantern. (:

* * *

Now since I have been chosen…

In brightest day, in blackest night,
No evil shall escape my sight
Let those who worship evil’s might
Beware my power…Green Lantern’s light!

thank you, everybody!

Thank you to everybody who remembered and greeted me on my birthday! To everyone who left comments on my Tumblr and Facebook wall, who sent me text and YM messages, gave me a call, even spent time to celebrate my birthday with me, thank you! I always seem to find myself overwhelmed by the number of people who manage to send me a simple greeting through whatever means. You guys, my heart, it explodes with love for you all. ♥

My birthday this year was a two-part celebration, at least it has been for now. I have yet to celebrate it with my Biatch girls and boys! Anyway, on the eve of my birthday after work, I met up with Kiks and my college loves, Roxy & Maui.

I took them to my ultimate favorite Japanese restaurant, The New Kamameshi House (but I just call it Kamameshi), since Rox & Maui have never been there. I had them try my favorite dish, the Tori Kamameshi. WAS IT NOT DIVINE, YOU GUYS? Haha! We also ordered a little more of the sweet anchovies for appetizers, the usual Ebi Tempura, this other tempura thing where it was quail egg wrapped in bacon and deep fried in tempura batter, the Macarena (LOL I know) and some Shake Teriyaki. I’m serious when I say I felt like I was transported to the ocean when I tasted the salmon. I could seriously smell the water for a second, and it was absolutely heavenly.

Anyway, it was an excellent dinner! Thank you, Kiks, Roxy & Maui for spending the evening with me! Rox & Mause, I miss you both immensely, it was great being in your company again! (:

* * *

On my actual birthday, I just had family + Kiks come over for dinner and more good company. Very simple, but it was still fantastic. (:

I got some gifts, too - cute and funky clothes from my relatives, some money from other relatives, a simple but very nice black top that could pass for a dress (though Kiks may not approve) from Kiks’s mom, and of course, the usual goody bag from Kiks, haha! Goody bag, because he always seems to get me more than just one thing.

Two of the things in his birthday goody bag for me was a green iPod shuffle and a pair of cute green edamame earphones to go with them! ♥ As most of you already know, my iPod Touch was stolen last month, so I’ve been going out music-less and my collection of headphones going unused. It’s great to finally have another iPod, even if it isn’t the same one as I had before - at least it’s much easier to bring around, and actually less of a hassle now. I used to take so long picking out what I want to listen to with my old iPod. Haha! Thank you so much, Kiks, you know how music is really important to me. (:

Other than those two, he also got me the first volume of The Sandman series, Preludes and Nocturnes! I’ve been wanting to reread all the books again, but I only have the 8th and 9th volumes, haha! So yay, another book to add to the collection. (: Apart from the graphic novel, he also got me another Batgirl…something from Topshop. You can all take a guess as to what I mean. Hahahaha!

* * *

Anyway, it’s all good. Thank you again to all of you! ♥

seeing stars

After dinner, Kiks decided he wanted to go out for a drive.

“Bring your camera, it just rained.”

I immediately knew what he meant. I grabbed my star bokeh-fier (LOL) which I’ve been neglecting for quite some time now, and we were on the road. We were driving aimlessly for a while, not really knowing nor caring where we went. We finally decided on a place to go when we just passed the Libis area.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen the stars because of all the pollution and I guess the abundance of artificial lights in the metro. But then I guess I could always pretend those lights are stars. But just sometimes.

The city is always prettier at night, and even prettier after it rains, IMHO.

We ended up in Pho Hoa in the Capitol Hills area, in that place called GreenStreet. The place was practically empty, but we were lucky they weren’t closed yet.

While waiting for our food, we like making faces and stuff. It’s one way to catch the waiters’ attention so they might think we’re going crazy from hunger. Here we are portraying a couple of sunfish.

Our food arrived, and we sort of…finished everything rather quickly. Kiks had some spring rolls, and I had some cake. Kiks likes playing with the garnished carrots, apparently.

I actually rarely go out wearing slippers, but I had a long day (work from 10 to 7, and going back and forth between malls!) so I wanted to rest my feet. My toes are not pretty, I know, and I will never show them to you again. Probably.

I’d post a picture of my To Do List that I made last night and taped to my wall to show you all just how busy my day was, but I’d rather not because I’ll just sound whiny and stuff. So I’ll just leave it at this.

It’s wonderful being able to see Kiks after a long day at work - it makes for great stress relief. We’ve been best friends (I mean really, we were best friends before we started dating, really!) since high school, and it’s great how he knows me so well to know exactly how to cheer me up. (: Kiks, my heart explodes with love for you!