Setrina, JJ, my bestie’s sister turned 18 last Friday, October 24, 2008 in a soiree at Patio Ibarra that was pulled together in 2 weeks. (I know, coz J was in a frantic pace trying to get everything done)

And i learned the past few weeks that planning a real debut takes a lot of effort and money. For one of those debuts with an event place, and decent food and all the fixins, prepare to spend around 100k or more. If you are the party planner, set aside sleeping for a while since you have to coordinate with everyone and decide on a lot of things and deal with a lot of miscommunication mishaps and teeny screwups that’ll drive you nuts.

I also learned that I wanna parlay my d40 purchase into a moneymaking venture by becoming one of those debut/prenup photographers (Man those guys charge a lot).

The mantra of the night was “Jeez, we’re old.” That i’m sure Diane (who i was with) got tired of hearing from me since i repeated the phrase like 20 times. Coz I felt like it. We were surrounded by the 17 to 18 year old set and these were kids from my high school. And man have they changed. Montessori definitely changes people haha. Come on, if you see kids (literally kids, playing various kiddie games) you haven’t seen in several years suddenly wearing tuxes and gowns wouldn’t you feel old too?

And Diane was all mommy stuff coz she’s a stay at home mom now. Lordy lord.

I definitely want to enjoy my childhood now (Yes I am still a child).

That said, HAPPY 18TH Trin! And like I said, I wish you love (coz love is all we need  wahaha), all kinds of love to get you through the last 2 teen years and the rest of your years.

One of my bestest friends in the whole wide world Martin Villamor was declared a Certified Public Accountant last October 20, 2008.

Congratulations Martin!

(and i chose the most decent photo of the lot that i have ahihi)

So Tony’s been at Mayer’s for a week and i called and asked when I could get him. They told me Monday after lunch, and I thought, perfect. Rest day. No plans. I can drag Mom and Joannaman along. We always like going around Binondo checking out the jewelry and they’ve missed Dong Bei so I knew it was easy asking them to go with me.

So we went around Binondo, at Joannaman’s insistence. I’m not much of a jewelry person myself, I only wear what people give me.

Dong bei was delish. I stuffed myself with dumplings, I think i ate 3/4 of the order. I was hungry so sue me. We even got takeout dumplings and chicken for dinner for two nights. Frozen so it’ll last.

Then went to Mayer’s to pick up Tony. When i asked what went wrong, they told me that they just replaced the unit. So rest in peace Tony.

It’s Rrrramon now.

This may be my favorite picture of my hand. Thanks Paolo!

Trinoma Kashieca store window. LOL.

Friday night, while settling down to a night of Heroes, I grabbed Tony (my camera you pervs) as I was planning to delete a few pics so that Joannaman would have primo memory for her trip to Tagaytay. After several frustrating attempts to turn it on, I charged the battery, but found that it wasn’t the problem when the charger stopped flickering after a few minutes. After several frazzled texts to my fellow d40 users and failing at everything they told me to try, i set Tony aside and drifted off to a troubled sleep.

I just got the camera a month ago. I really didn’t get what went wrong.

So when I woke up the next day I tried to turn the cam on again to no avail. Frustrated and panicked I brought it to work thinking the people who use the same camera would know what to do. Asked Steve, asked Ronan, even asked Nan, they all told me to take it to where I bought it. As i could not find the receipt that morning, I sighed and resigned myself to paying whatever it takes to fix Tony. For my peace of mind. Already saying goodbye to food trips until the next payday, I left the office at lunch. I couldn’t work, I couldn’t think. I knew i was overreacting (especially with the tears, wtf was that about anyway) but it just felt all was wrong.

So i dragged my depressed butt home and searched halfheartedly for the receipt i thought i threw away while i waited for Pao to pick me up to go to Quiapo (There was no way i was going there alone, I already was a helpless female at the phone with Mayer’s i wasn’t going to humiliate myself in person alone). Lo and behold, the receipt was tucked away in one of my old wallets, Thank God.

Feeling a little better i headed to Quiapo with Pao in tow. Lugging every single thing the cam went with at Berto’s advice (the box too i was that nervous about the return). Got to Mayer’s at half past three, talked to a cheerful Mang Ramon who told me that it was just a simple repair and I would get Tony back within the next week. I felt bad about leaving Tony there, but we do what we have to do.

Feeling loads better, I dragged Pao to lunch at Dong Bei at Binondo. I figured, I was at Quiapo already, why not make the best of it, so I did. It was an extremely late lunch (about 4 pm) but it was worth it, even if i did lose my way once or twice to get to Binondo church (my landmark to get to Dong Bei). Had the chicken, two orders of soup dumplings and rice.

Have i raved about Dong Bei yet? It’s a hole in the wall place that’s somewhat of a cult favorite of bloggers (as i discovered when i looked it up online) that servers the best soup dumplings evar. The chicken’s great too. And the rice. I always order the same thing (the things i just mentioned) but i never get tired of them. And they make the dumplings themselves right there in the restaurant. And even if I am that person that hates to know what goes on in food preparation, I don’t mind seeing the whole process right in front of me, coz i love the dumplings that much.

Only after eating did we realize that it was pouring outside. Having no umbrellas we ran all the way to the church. Took a trike to quezon blvd (who ripped us off btw, 80 pesos for a freaking trike ride? give me a break). Squishy ride home that took a reaaaaaally long time (we kinda forgot that Espana doesn’t have a Saturday cooling off period for traffic). But there it is. A saturday for the ages. And i got my Tony fixed.

So who’s coming with me to get him?

In the case of my best friend since I can remember, we’re totally different.

Jules is a straight up girly girl with a penchant for dressing up and is actually good at the whole thing.

Me I can hardly put an outfit together, I always have something a little wrong, whether it be the wrong jeans, wrong shoes, or wrong bag.

She is an expert at putting on makeup and getting the perfect hair.

Me i’m lucky if i get a good hair day out of a month. And my mom applies any makeup you’d see on my face.

And to that i introduce Just Lianne, my best friend’s blog.

Makeup, getup. The perfect brush. Everything i know nothing about.