7 Best TV Shows

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I used to love watching TV. I don't have the time to do that now because of mommy duties and work. I have to do two or three things at the same time if I want to watch something. I get to watch the news when I'm preparing dinner or washing the dishes. 

I miss the days when I have lots of free time on my hands to do everything that I want to do. Here are the top 7 shows on my favorite list.

7th Heaven - Reverend Eric and Annie Camden makes parenting looks so easy. I just don't understand why their kids still finds a way to misbehave. But I so love this show. A local channel airs a 7th Heaven marathon during the Holy Week and I always look forward to watching the reruns for one whole day.

The Cosby Show - Dr. Cliff and Atty Claire Huxtable, my fave TV  parents just like the Camdens. Their kids didn't give them as much headache as the Camden kids gave their parents. A funny TV show, just the way I like it.

Friends - Phoebe, Rachel, Monica, Ross, Chandler and Joey, I miss them all! Fans have been waiting, when will they ever start planning for the Friends movie?

The Nanny - Do you feel that you'd rather be wearing a headset when Fran is talking? Not me! I love how witty and funny Fran Drescher's character is. Or was.

Charmed - My week then will never be complete when I miss watching the Halliwell sisters beat evil warlocks.

Gilmore Girls - I love watching the mother-daughter tandem of cool-mom Lorelie and smart Rory Gilmore.

Brothers and Sisters - Did this tv show left us hanging? I do think that the last episode shoul not have been the last episode.

Some good things never last. But at least I can still watch these shows on cable, dvd, blu-ray and online.

Friends with Benefit

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I have a lot of acquaintances but I can count on one hand the number of people who I can call true friends, really true friends. There are those who fall in the category "friends with benefits". These are the people who only remember to call or text, or that I even exist, when they need to ask something from me. Like the mom of my son's classmate, she calls when she needs to ask questions about a school project or ask if her son copied some words right, like whateverworditwas.

Well, that would have been okay. I'm not selfish. But after getting the information that she wants she'll add, "We haven't seen each other for a long time! We should meet up one of these days. I miss you, friend!" Yup, friends with benefits.

surprise visit

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Do you like surprise visits? It was never an issue for me but that feeling changed over the weekend. After eating lunch, day after my birthday, I feel like being lazy. I turned on the computer but I got interrupted before I even started browsing. My Dad was calling me from the living room. Apparently I have a visitor -a high school classmate that I haven't seen in more than 10 years! I haven't brushed my teeth, combed my hair and I am wearing something even Doby, the house-elf from HP, wouldn't even think of wearing! Thank God I already took a bath!

I just changed my shirt and rushed outside. My classmate was with her husband and baby. They we're in the neighborhood so they decided to drop by and say hi. They only stayed for a few minutes and I was a bad host because I even forgot to offer them something to eat or drink. The baby was just smiling and cooing, in his stroller the whole time.

As much as I would like to get reacquainted with friends from years ago, I don't like to experience any surprise visits ever again.

how important are friends?

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Funny but true!

this friend is MIA

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I haven't seen my college friend, AC, for more than 10 years already. Have been searching and googling this person's name but haven't found him/her yet. Why "him/her"? Because this person wants to be a "she" but he hasn't outed yet , well, while we were still in college. Actually, the whole world probably know already except for his Dad.

The gift that I gave him for Christmas, during our first year in college, was a troll mermaid. He wanted to bring it home with him, during our Christmas break, but he can't because of his Dad.

Where are you AC? If ever we get to see each other again, this time I will give you sexy corsets for Christmas.  

friends?

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get your own locker!

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I remember asking my mom to get me a school locker on my first year of high school. Upon learning that I have one already, my roommates in the boarding house didn't bother to get gym lockers for themselves.

Students who availed of school lockers were asked to provide own lock and key. My roommates were so unashamed to ask me if I can have my lockers key recopied! What? I wished I could have shouted, "Get your own wood lockers!". But I didn't because I was still a nice girl at that time.

So if you're looking for lockers for sale and planning to avail of one, don't tell your roommates about it!

friend unashamedly asking for money? what should i do?

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When I was in grade school, I attended a public school in a small town in Albay, Philippines. I moved on to a private school in the city during my high school years. I took up Applied Mathematics in the most prestigious school in the country, the University of the Philippines (sorry La Sallites and Ateneans, UP is the best :) ) in my college days.

I still see my grade school friends when I go home in the province once in a while. I seldom do that though because RJ has sports activities during summer break. When I went home August of 2009 for my Lola's (grandmother) wake, a friend visited me. Let's call her JJ. She went to my house with her fourth child and with a big belly.

JJ: "My eldest, you're inaanak (godchild) is Grade 6 already."

Me: "My inaanak?" *confused* I visited you when you gave birth, but you didn't tell me I am the godmother. Of course I didn't say that, I didn't want to embarrass her.

JJ: "Everytime P comes home, he always give gifts and money to us. You know, we're very poor. Last christmas, when R was here, she also has pasalubong and gave me some money." P and R were our grade school friends.

Me: "So, how are you and your husband? How many kids do you have?"

JJ: "I am going to give birth to my fifth child soon. But we don't have money, I can't even afford to give birth in the health center. We don't even have rice for lunch today. My husband helps clean tombstones at the cemetery near our place."

Me: "Does RC live near your house? How is she?" RC is another grade school classmate. I wanted to change the subject because I don't want to be more depressed (we just had Lola's funeral day before).

JJ: "She works in the Middle East. She has a big house already."

Me: "Why don't you let your husband apply in an overseas job also?"

JJ: "We'd rather be together with our children."

Me saying to self: You'd rather see your kids go hungry that be separated from your husband for a few years.

We talked for an hour, she talking more about her poor, sorry life. I gave her rice and cakes for her kids. I also gave her some money but not without telling her, "Use that money to give birth in the health center/hospital. Stop getting pregnant also".

Fast forward to today. I received a text, "Manay this is JJ. How are you? I got your cellular phone number from R".

"Hi JJ, how are you?"

"I'm fine. I have a new baby.Your godchild is going to graduate from grade school this March. I want to ask for your help. I also asked help from R and she gave me your number. As you know, my family is poor."

Saying to self: If my godchild's tuition fee is only a thousand or two, I can help her if she really wants to continue high school. If and only if her grades in grade school are not failing and she won't quit until she finish schooling.

"How is my godchild? Is she going to continue high school? Does she have good grades?"

I got a reply from her asking for a cellular phone load.

Uh-oh, I got scared. Honestly! I am not kidding. I am not filthy rich to support a family of 7! She is not even ashamed to ask for money. Her husband is a big guy, not tall but big, he has the body to do hard labor to support his family.

Should I give her money again? My sister said that she might get used to asking money from me. What should I do?

american embassy, why are you so cruel to my friend?

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My friend J is heartbroken because her father died. All of J's family are now based in the USA and Canada. She is all alone here in the Philippines. She won't be able to see her dad for the last time because she wasn't given a tourist visa by the American embassy. This is the third time she applied for one. She wasn't planning to apply anymore but, when her dad was fighting for his life, she wanted to be with her dad and the rest of the family.

Year 2001, about 9 years ago, her dad had a heart transplant. The first time she applied for a tourist visa, and also the first time the US embassy denied her one. The consul's reason was J didn't provide enough reason for them to believe that she will come back to the Philippines before her tourist visa expires. Good thing the heart transplant was successful.

Second time that she applied, she just wants to spend time with her family. A lot cheaper for her to go there than for all the rest of the family to join her here for a vacation. She presented the embassy with her bank accounts, land titles, employer's certificate and other assets. Again, they denied her application.

Two weeks ago, her dad had colds and cough. He became so weak and he wasn't cooperating with his doctor's anymore. The medication and the tubes inserted in his body were so painful for him already. J tried to apply for a tourist visa. But it was too late to hug her dad alive for the last time. Before her scheduled interview, her dad died. She heard his last breath on the phone.

This tuesday, January 19, she arrived very early for her morning interview in the US embassy. She was very hopeful that maybe she can still hug her dad for the very last time. Her family decided to wait for J before cremating her dad. She went home with a heavy and bleeding heart, she didn't get a tourist visa.

Why is the american embassy so CRUEL to my friend. She just wanted to grieve with her family, a two day visa was enough for her. She doesn't even care if embassy people escort her 24/7, pick her up and bring her to the airport, even put a leash on her for all she care. She doesn't have any intentions of staying there. She recently got promoted again and she can have a luxurious life here.

All she wanted was to see her dad, for the last time.

have you cleaned up your inbox yet?

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This was originally posted by me last April 13, 2009 entitled Messages.

I am trying to organize my email accounts. So far I finished deleting unsolicited emails as well as forwarded messages in one account. Out of 3000 inbox messages, I still retained 500.

Why didn't I delete messages even those from 5years ago?

I didn't delete messages from my family, even if its just a grocery list. Everytime I read their messages again, it makes me remember that I'm part of a group -- a group that God has chosen for me to be in. That no matter how big or small my mistakes or their mistakes have been, we'll always support and respect each other.

I didn't delete messages from my friends, even short messages like "Don't forget, kita kits on friday sa McDo Glorietta". Everytime I read their messages again, it makes me remember that I'm part of a group -- a group that I've chosen to be in. Through thick and thin, they are always

there for me. Never judging me no matter how unbelievable my decisions are.

I didn't delete messages from acquaintances, because maybe 10 years from now I can apply their forwarded messages to my life.

It's not just my email messages. I am fond of keeping text messages as well as Christmas, Valentine, Invitation, even Report cards =)

What about you, what "messages" can't you delete from your life?

Messages

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I am trying to organize my email accounts. So far I finished deleting unsolicited emails as well as forwarded messages in one account. Out of 3000 inbox messages, I still retained 500.

Why didn't I delete messages even those from 5years ago?

I didn't delete messages from my family, even if its just a grocery list. Everytime I read their messages again, it makes me remember that I'm part of a group -- a group that God has chosen for me to be in. That no matter how big or small my mistakes or their mistakes have been, we'll always support and respect each other.

I didn't delete messages from my friends, even short messages like "Don't forget, kita kits on friday sa McDo Glorietta". Everytime I read their messages again, it makes me remember that I'm part of a group -- a group that I've chosen to be in. Through thick and thin, they are always

there for me. Never judging me no matter how unbelievable my decisions are.

I didn't delete messages from acquaintances, maybe 10 years from now I can apply their forwarded messages on my life.

It's not just my email messages. I am fond of keeping Christmas, Valentine, Invitation, even Report cards =)

What about you, what "messages" can't you delete from your life?