Kat's Scribbles

Monday, June 11, 2007

spider-cali-band-a-listic-expiallidocious!

So some cool and not-so-cool things have been happening to me since my last post. Here's an example of something not-so-cool: Yesterday, I backed my new car into a pole!! #!$!@&! Gah! Gah! It's official: I.Am.A.Total.Idiot. I've been driving since I was 16 years old and this has got to be a first. I was pulling out of a parking spot and heard a big *thump!* I honestly did not see the huge-ass wooden pole behind me! Now, there are a bunch of tiny white scratches on the left side of my bumper. I tried to wax it off last night, but alas, the evidence is still there. Well, on the bright side, there is no dent! *sheepish grin*

So here's some cool goings-on in my life since my last post:

The hubs and I went to movies for the first time post-baby: We went to see Spiderman 3 on IMAX no less! We had a lunch date the day after our anniversary. We went to eat at Legal Seafoods (no fancy dinner at Bouley like our first anniversary) and then caught the flick. It was a great day --the movie wasn't an A+ but it was still entertaining to me. I can go on and on about how the storyline sucked (I've read my fair share of comic books), but that's a different post altogether. I'm just happy to watch a movie with the hubs! He knows I like going to the movies and that's something we can't do anymore post-baby unless there's some strategic planning involved.
I'm going back to Cali: San Francisco, to be precise! We're going there for a wedding (wedding number 3 of 7!) and decided just to make a whole holiday out of it. I'll be gone July 6 - July 10th and will be celebrating my 31st birthday over there. It should be fun! The one and only time I went to San Fran was back when I was 14 years old; the only things I remember are going to Chinatown, driving down that crooked road, and my little brother getting chicken pox. This time, I'll definitely take advantage of what San Fran has to offer. The best part is that my friend Karen will be meeting me up there!
A label is interested in my band! My bandmates and I are so excited because this label "expressed interest" in our band and is inviting us to go play for them. It's an indie label, but a label nonetheless and kind of a big deal for us! Perhaps my dream of becoming a rock star may come true after all *claps-hands-in-glee*...and if that doesn't work...

We're entering American Idol: The Band! We just recorded a show we did last night and we'll be sending our audition tape to them. Wish us luck!

And last but not the least...

I'm moving! *wink-wink* You'll definitely find out more details in just a couple of days ...so please check back here! Update: Here's a hint...I won't be packing any bags!

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a picture:

Why you shouldn't let your mom cut your hair

Labels: music, musings/personal stories, rockstar baby

POSTED BY KAT AT 6/11/2007 10:40:00 AM | 20 COMMENTS

Friday, June 1, 2007

happy 6th anniversary!

Today is the 6th wedding anniversary for the hubs and I. I thought I'd "rerun" this post I wrote from June 1, 2005.

The True Story of How We Met and Other Curious Adventures: During the summer of 1997 (before the beginning of my junior year in college), my good friend Julie said "Kat, I have the perfect guy for you! His name is Mark and he’s good friends with my sister." Julie knew full well that I was already dating someone else (but she never did like him which is why she did a plug for Mark). As it turns out, Mark was the older brother of my friend Daryl who went to school with me. By then, Mark had already graduated from NYU and was already doing the whole career thing. I thought nothing of it and then actually met Mark at a party a few months after my conversation with Julie. Eventually, Mark started calling me and we would chat. I remember our first full-length conversation. He basically bragged about himself and of how content he was in life and of how he is so sure of himself…yadda, yadda, yadda. I remember hanging up and thinking "damn, what an arrogant bastard. I sooo do not like him." But he kept chasing me and calling me. I kept on talking to him and kept mum on the fact that I did have a boyfriend (who I was trying to get rid of –we were always on-again/off-again). I had assumed Julie told him at the very least, and to me, I just considered him to be a friend.

The Library Incident: One night, Mark asked me to go meet up with him and his friends. I really didn’t want to go out with him, nor did I want to just straight up and say "I’m not interested in you." Like I said, I considered Mark only as ‘friend-material.’ So I told him, "no thanks, but I really have to study. I have to go to the library." Mark said fine. Later that evening, I went out my then-bf and we decided to go play pool. Lo and behold, who did I see at the pool hall? Mark, of course, was there. I felt like such a fool. I was blatantly caught in a lie. I mustered all my courage, acted nonchalantly and went up to Mark to say hi. He coolly replied, "oh nice to see you here." I think I tried to save myself by saying something like "oh I finished studying already" but I don’t remember. After I got home, Mark called and we got into a heated argument over the phone. We fought as if we were already boyfriend and girlfriend. We talked and yelled at each other for more than an hour! After that incident, we didn’t talk to each other for a while.

The You-Kissed-Me Incident (aka The Throwing Up on His Shoes Incident): Fast forward a few months later. I believe during the winter, circa 1997, Mark and I saw each other again at a club called El Flamingo’s (which no longer exists). At that time, Mark was roomies Kay, a girl I started to hang out with from work. So Kay and I were doing shots at the bar when Mark strolls up. By then, I was already quite buzzed and we decide to do another shot of tequila. So we do a shot all together and I suddenly cross the line from very buzzed to very drunk. For some reason, Mark and I then start to kiss. For the record, he kissed me! (Though we argue to this day who really kissed who. I swear he kissed me!). After the kiss, a wave of nausea just shoots through my body and I promptly throw up on Mark’s shoe. Was it the tequila or the kiss? Hehehe…. Then this big bouncer guy comes up and yells at me for throwing up. The bouncer basically drags me off and kicks me out of the club sans jacket in the middle of winter. Nice Mark felt compelled to come with me, and basically watches over me as I continue to throw up by the dumpster outside the club. Eventually, I think Mark helps me get back in the club. I spend the rest of the night sitting on the floor of a bathroom stall as the world spins around me. I don’t know what happened to Mark that night. We don’t talk for a while.

The Matchbook Incident: Early November 1998 at (the now-defunct) Pageant Lounge. Mark’s birthday. I get there with my friend Julie and chat with our friends. Mark was there of course, and we start talking. He was still clearly very interested in me. I was too and we spend most of the night talking. As it was, I also found his other friend quite interesting as well. Funny thing was, each time I tried to talk to Mark’s friend, Mark would be at my side with a quickness! Mark and I basically flirted throughout the night as Mark gets progressively buzzed. Before I leave, I write down my number and gave it to Tony to give to the friend. I say bye to Mark as Julie and I get into a cab. Tony then shoves Mark in the cab with us and before you know it, he comes home with me. I told me, "well I’m calling your brother to come get you." Drunk Mark does not speak. So we get to my room, Mark passes out on the floor. I keep kicking him and telling him he was not staying. I call his brother Daryl to come get him. Daryl comes over, and Mark mumbles "I can’t get up." So Daryl asks him if he can just stay and I reluctantly agree. As soon as Daryl leaves, Mark gets up from the floor as if nothing happened, goes to the bathroom to take off his contacts, and then proceeds to sleep on my bed! I tell him, "you are not sleeping next to me!" He again pretends to fall asleep. So I wedge a pillow between us, hit the lights, and sleep. I promptly kick him out the next day. He apologizes, claims to not even remember how he got there, and then tells me he has the matchbook with my number on it. A week or so goes by and we don’t talk. He didn’t even call to apologize. For some reason, I find myself calling him (pity, maybe?). We talk. Towards the end of the conversation, I once and for all, agree to go on our first date together. The rest is history.

For the record, this is the true account of how it all happened.

Happy Anniversary my love!

Labels: family matters, musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 6/01/2007 03:28:00 PM | 18 COMMENTS

Monday, May 21, 2007

how to pick up a mom

Even while I was preggo, I was already aware of the “social landscape of new motherhood.” It's been mentioned in parenting magazines, and has been the subject of many a 'chick-lit' books. And what is that exactly? In a nutshell, new moms will expect to find themselves thrown back into a high school-like hierarchy of social status and new territory akin to that of the dating scene. Still not making sense? Let’s start with labels. There is the "high-end mom" = mom who has the latest hot stroller, the cool diaper bag, the latest educational toy, etc.; there is the "granola/earth mom” = mom only into organic foods, clothing, toys, etc. Or you can be a “hot mom” = a mom who has bounced back into shape, still wearing fashionable clothing and can balance a cappuccino on one hand and pushing a pram with the other. We're talking mom cliques. There are the die-hard breastfeeders who shun the formula moms, and SAHMs vs. working moms. There are definitely new associations you end up making –like making sure you set up playdates with kids of the same background as yours, be friends with moms who have the same parenting style as you, etc. It may not be as blatant as some magazines describe it, but you'll definitely notice it.

I do see this to a certain extent whenever I’m in the city with the baby. In the Upper East Side, there is a surplus of moms and nannies pushing Bugaboos (a stroller starting at $700) and nothing else. I see them in cafes chatting with one another, looking cool and posh. In the Village, I see more eclectic-mom types like myself, and so on. In my little neighborhood though, it’s not as common –yet. Moms in my area come in all shapes, sizes, and colors that they don't fit a specific niche. (Also, I haven’t really met any other moms that I associate with on a regular basis aside from the moms I’ve met in daycare.) So I can’t really comment on the types of moms out there. Nonetheless, I think moms are always on the lookout for other moms that they can bond with. When I’m at the playground, I definitely scout around to see which mom I can chat up. Likewise, I’ve been approached by other moms who try to pick me up.

One time, I was at our local playground (conveniently located at the end of my block) when this woman starts to chat me up. She was Chinese, probably about 5-10 years older than me, and had an 10-month old baby.

Her: Oh hello. How old is your child?
Me: He’ll be 12 months in two weeks.
Her: Wow, he’s walking already! Victoria (gesture to child in swing), can’t walk yet. When did he start walking?
Me: A little before he was 11 months old. He’s still very wobbly (and as if to demonstrate, rockstar baby trips and falls).
Her: Are you home? Or do you work?
Me: Oh I work, I just got out of work a little early. How about you?
Her: I work too, and she’s in daycare.
Me: Oh me too.
Her: Which daycare?
Me: Oh he’s in X daycare on 10th st.
Her: Oh where is that? Do they have a lot of white kids in there?
Me: Uhm..yeah, it’s pretty mixed.
Her: How much do you pay a week? Is it expensive? Are you able to afford it easily? Etc..

At that point, I got kinda weirded out by her personal financial questions, so I bow out of the conversation and turn to Jakey by saying “oh do you want to get on the slides now? Come on let’s go…” Since then, I’ve seen the mom around but I don’t think she remembers talking to me. I always see her chatting up other parents though!

I myself haven’t had the guts to approach other moms other than commenting on how cute their kid is and doing small talk. I think it’s really hard find other moms your age that a) have a child close in age to your child; and b) have the same interests as you. I'm currently trying to 'pick up' the mom of this cute kiddo that rockstar baby plays with in daycare. I haven't had a conversation with her yet (since she does her drop off/pick up earlier than I do); but since she dresses her baby kinda punk-y like sometimes, I keep thinking we'll get along.

I really wish my friends and I had kids at around the same time. We'd have built-in playdates and we already know we get along. A close friend I have with kids moved to Georgia (thanks Trish!) But at least there's Antonion (my friend Sol's baby) --I think by the time rockstar baby hits two, they can actually start playing with each other and actually realize it (as opposed to just staring at each other).

Until then, I'm still on the prowl. I have yet to see another mom wearing Vans with skulls on them or a shirt with a band’s name on it. Is that too much to ask? Should I put out a personal ad?

Labels: motherhood, musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 5/21/2007 02:38:00 PM | 16 COMMENTS

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

a crazy rockstar weekend...

Despite my wanna-be rockstar leanings, I don't actually have a rockstar lifestyle. *gasp* But you all knew that. The past week, I actually had a semi-rockstar weekend complete with coming home at odd hours of the night, getting sick, passing out, and meeting random strangers! Oh. Yes.

Thursday, my band played at the Iron Monkey along with our friend's band, Kilsy. We played at around 10:45 pm and it was a great show. Kilsy, however, totally rocked it as she usually does. Her band is just amazing. Our bands have played together a few times and it's always a fun show. I was even kinda flirting with her drummer (well, flirting for me is saying "wow, you were great!" and then leaving. Ha!) Anyway, I recommend you check her out! By the time I got home, it was almost 2 am and of course, I had work the next day.

Then Friday night, I had to haul my tired-ass to dinner with Eileen Joy, a friend I met on-line back in the day. It was one of EJ's last nights in the city. She just completed her Masters of Social Work degree and was headed back to Cali after her graduation. Congrats!! We all ate at Jeeb (where I had my 30th bday) and then went out for a quick drink afterwards. Well, I got a quick drink (and didn't even finish $10 glass of Baileys on the rocks) and made a mad dash home. I got home at around 1 am, but I was dead-tired from the night before that I was slightly delirious by the time dinner came along. You know how lightheaded you get from lack of sleep? Right?? But I had a lot of fun catching up with EJ, Jason, Gail, and Anna. I really wish I could've stayed longer!

So by Saturday, I just didn't have any energy. However, my family and the hubs' family all met up for brunch to celebrate Mother's Day a day early. We had a good time eating Japanese food at Minado. Rockstar baby didn't have fun though...

Saturday night, I met up with Analyse from France --making this my second "EB" with a fellow blogger. Ana was so cool and chic! She rocked a French accent with her English and Tagalog and we chatted about NYC, the babies, and how neat France is for subsidizing all her baby-related expenses. (Dang, Europe is the shit when it comes to maternity leave!). I really wish I got spend more time with her, but she was only in NYC for a hot minute. I did offer to be her tour guide for the next time she comes to visit.

All this time though, rockstar baby has been sick. As in mucus-y coughing, continuous fevers, and a total loss of appetite. I was/am a mess. He'd be better and then revert back to being sickly. I took him to the doctor who put him on a nebulizer for his cough, but then his fevers still continued. He actually had a 100-degree fever when we went out to eat on Saturday! So the rest of the weekend was spent at home taking care of him. My mother's day was crap since his fever went up even higher on Sunday and all he wanted to do was sleep and not eat. I have to literally force him to drink a bottle. Once again, he lost a few pounds and looks like a sickly little urchin. Argh.

Here he is managing a smile despite everything...

A sickly rockstar baby makes for a cranky rockstar mom. Yesterday, I came home early from work; he had a fever of 104 at the daycare (he had a normal temperature when I dropped him off, though). Luckily, I had already scheduled an appointment with his doc. So off we went to the doctor for the third time in less than 12 days. This time, he was diagnosed with bronchitis and was prescribed antibiotics. Hallelujah! So I took a half-day off and today off from work to help him recuperate.

I need to catch some ZZzzzzs. This rockstar lifestyle is making me sleepy.

Labels: music, musings/personal stories, my friends, rockstar baby

POSTED BY KAT AT 5/15/2007 09:29:00 AM | 14 COMMENTS

Sunday, May 6, 2007

a post in pictures...

Here's an eclectic mix of pictures I want to share. As they say, pictures are worth a thousand words...so why describe when you can show!

Today was my mother's birthday. Getting to Queens for her birthday lunch was a fiasco; there was a bike-a-thon in Manhattan and they closed down the highway I take. As a result, it took me 2 hours to get to Queens, when it usually takes me 30 minutes! I was cranky when I got there, and I'm sure I disappointed her when I was being masunggit. But please know I love you mom!

Happy Birthday to my Mom!

Rockstar baby's uncle Daryl gave him this car for his birthday. He loves riding in it and being pushed around the neighborhood. Today though, he realized it was also fun to push his bear Rupert II around!

Rockstar Baby with his Little Red Corvette

The hubs and I are invited to a total of no less than 6 weddings this year! This is number 1: the wedding of Myeong and Dhruv. It was held at Chelsea Piers in NYC and it was a very elegant affair.

A Wedding at Chelsea Piers - NYC - April 28, 2007

Rockstar Mom and Rockstar Baby! Amazing artwork by my friend Ben.
Thank you for drawing us!

Last but not the least...

It's official: It's the end of an era! Here is a pic of my last night with my friend Alina (far right). Now there is only three (of 5) of us in the Party Posse...

Party Posse's Last Night

Labels: family matters, musings/personal stories, my friends

POSTED BY KAT AT 5/06/2007 09:44:00 PM | 19 COMMENTS

Thursday, April 26, 2007

the show must go on...(despite a car accident)

So last night, I got into a car accident with rockstar baby in the car! We were literally two blocks away from our house when I decided to make a left turn at an intersection --from the right lane. You see, we were traveling northbound on a two-lane, one-way street. I was on the right lane, and the car I hit was on the left lane. For some insane reason, I forgot all about the fact that I was on a one-way street. What I did was look for oncoming traffic to make the left, totally forgetting about the other lane next to me! So I turned and smacked into another car. Lucky for her, she saw me in time and swerved. The only point of contact was the right side, tail end of her car against the left front of my car (towards the headlights). Both cars suffered just scratches and no dents. But of course, the whole thing was scary (and could've been much worse. I prefer not to dwell on the what-could-have-been-worse part). Rockstar baby was fine and didn't know anything happened. But I was freaking out on the inside to think of how irresponsible I was. I mean, I've traveled down this same road since 2001 and last night, I just blanked out and made a left turn!

The lady I hit totally yelled and screamed. Even after I said "I'm at fault, I'm sorry. Let's just call the police." I understand the whole yelling and screaming thing. I probably would've done the same thing. However, she started yelling again while we were waiting for the police! She actually approached my window just to yell at me, and while I was holding the baby. Puh-leaze! I had to tell her 5 times NOT to yell and that it wasn't necessary to yell. The whole time, I said about only 5 sentences to her (incorporating the request not to scream at me).

The good thing was the cop who helped us out could totally tell the lady was being such a beeyatch. He even said he talked to her about being more civil and not to worry that much about the accident. It happens, mistakes happen, he says. He was nice, and helped make the whole ordeal easier.

But I must say, it sucks being the one at fault at a car accident. This is my 4th car accident and the first one in which I was at fault (the other times, people hit me). I mean my mind was and is still filled with "I-should've-done-this" scenarios, "what-if" scenarios, and worrying about what a terrible mom I was for putting the kid in danger. I don't care if I get hurt. Now, it's all about the baby. I'm definitely still reeling over this even though I may sound flippant about the whole situation.

But that was that. Later that evening, I actually had to play at a gig. I really contemplated on not going and just mope at home. But I figured I have to move past the accident and that the show must go on. So while I was actually scared to drive, I went and made it to our 10 pm show at The Annex. It went well and we were quite happy with the sound levels in general; considering I was using a 30-watt amp, I thought it came out well.

Also, we actually recorded the show for the first time. You can hardly see our faces, but I'm the one on the left. I was crap and sang quite shittily (is that a word?) but the show must go on... Here are some clips from last night's show:

Song: I Can't Wait

Song: Dear John (the new song I mentioned on a previous post)

Song Title: Ghost

So there you go. For folks who've made comments before about wanting to see me play and/or thinking I can play guitar and sing: well now you know the truth! I told you I wasn't good, and now there is evidence! LOL...

For more videos, go to You Tube and type in "plastiq passion."

And that was my Wednesday night, folks!

Labels: music, musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 4/26/2007 02:47:00 PM | 13 COMMENTS

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

plastiq passion is a sold-out scandal...*

wielding the axe
Originally uploaded by katdlr.

On Friday the 13th, plastiq passion played at The Delancey. It was our first gig with our new bassist Susan (since our old one quit). The venue was great despite being deep into the Lower East Side right by the bridge! I found parking right by the overpass and swear I thought I'd be mugged along the way (but thankfully wasn't!).

The show was...eh. It didn't go well according to my standards. In fact, I was sorely disappointed since a few members (and I'm not going to name names!) messed up some parts. Overall though, we had fun as usual. We also debuted my new song which I like very much (and yes, I'm singing it) and a lot of folks actually liked that one. Maybe because it's a little pop-punkish. Someone even told me it's had commercial-potential (which I took as a compliment). We also had a great turn-out (special thanks to Annie, Phil, and Christina who came out!)

Plastiq Passion at The Delancey

The new line-up

(from l-r: drummer Cil, new bassist Susan, Jes - vox/guitars, and me on guitars/vox)

I think most people in this world either care about music (as in they are passionate and have an opinion about it) or don't (as in they listen to it and know what they like, but that's about it). I fall into the former category. I joined this band primarily because a) I love music and bands, and b) I love music and want to make music reminiscent of my favorite bands (i.e., The Cure, Interpol, The Smiths, etc.) So when we mess up our songs, it's like a terrible personal slight on my part. There are days when I just want to quit the band. I mean, I'm not getting paid for it obviously and I know our sound doesn't appeal to a lot of people. But there are days when I'm just energized and I have all these hopes and the drive and determination to make our band the best it can be.

So yesterday at practice, I told my bandmates we're all going to have to shape up. I said "I don't care if you fingers bleed or your arm falls off. We're playing all our songs to perfection and we're writing new songs that are GOOD. Not just OK." I hope it works. I myself do not have a lot time (like I did before) to work on songs so it takes me a long time just to create one. I love arranging music. When I think of a new song, I think of it from start to finish: bass line, rhythm, lead, etc. I can't just have one part. When I make up a song, I record each part separately and it's a tedious, laborious process since I'm only working with two ghetto tape recorders. So it's hard when I envision a song and the execution doesn't meet up to my standards. *Sigh* Isn't it funny how some of our hobbies take up so much time and money?

Our next show is on Wednesday, April 25th at The Annex. Holler if you're in the NYC area and would like more details.

*this is a line from a Cure song.

Labels: music, musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 4/17/2007 03:54:00 PM | 18 COMMENTS

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

i'm a player hater

According to the hubs, I'm a big complainer. I can't fully disagree with him since I do tend to make comments. But I really can't help it sometimes. As much as I try not to be, I can be judgmental and snarky. I player-hate. I get jealous. I envy others. Should I? No, of course it's a sin to covet thy neighbor, but I think most people are guilty of it in some way, shape, or form. After all, we're only human, right?

Before I go and whine, let me say that I recognize that I have a great life. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful baby boy that I adore, a neat starter home, a good career with flexible hours, generous parents, wonderful friends, and I have my health and happiness. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

Now on with the whining. I can't help but make comments like:

"I want a bigger house. Can we move? Can we renovate? Now?"

"She's such a lucky bitch. People always buy shit for her and she doesn't have to pay for anything."

"I need a higher paying job. My friends make more money than me."

"I'm so jealous she went to Greece! I'd love to go to Greece!"

We all have our 'woe-is-me' days I suppose. Problems are relative and even people like Bill Gates can complain, right? So like I said, while I know I'm blessed (and I don't even think I need to justify this), I still express discontent. And while I'm genuinely happy when good things happen to my friends and family, a part of me also gets all jealous from time to time. You know what I'm saying?

Like when I heard about my friend Riss going to Australia and joining my friend Girlie there on holiday. My first thought was "Damn! I wish I could afford a trip to Australia!" Yes I should be happy for her and I am, but hey, I'm selfish as well. Although in reality I don't really have the liberty (or the desire) to leave rockstar baby behind even if I did have the means.

Or when my friend Alina told me she was moving to Los Angeles. For some insane reason, I felt jealous that she was starting this new adventure. I immediately told the hubs "we should move to L.A!" despite the fact that a) I did already live there and b) I have no reason to move there at this time.

So I've come to the realization that I'm a player-hater. Heck, I don't like this trait of mine. Everyday I try to be a better person and I try not to compare my life with others. But this weird streak appears on occasion and I become "Snarky Kat." Ugh. Is this normal?

Am I the only one who goes through this?

(Angelic people need not reply)

Labels: musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 4/10/2007 09:57:00 PM | 22 COMMENTS

Monday, April 2, 2007

there is no such thing as a free lunch

Last Thursday, I had a very nice meal at Peter Luger. Peter Luger is a well-known steakhouse famous for its huge porterhouse steaks. (Aside: I actually gave up red meat for Lent, but I swear I’m tacking on an extra day of atonement! Plus, I am planning not to eat it on a regular basis anymore.)

I went there with this attorney who had been practicing for many, many years. Now I knew that this guy was rich (from what I heard). What I didn’t know was that this guy was wealthy (because there is a difference). He’s a very unassuming gentleman and you’d never really consider him to be an intimidating sort of fellow. This guy has a combination of smarts and luck. Case in point: On his last trip to Las Vegas, he won $90,000. That’s on a hundred-dollar slot machine. In one try! Egads!

As soon as we get there, he’s discreetly peeling off bills left and right to the maitre’ d, to the waiters, and to the valet from a wad the size of a roll of toilet paper. I kid you not. I have no idea how that even fit his pocket, but it did. Anyway, we got our appetizers in 5 minutes, our lunch in 10. We’re talking service here. Good meal. Good conversation. He’s led a very full life and I was happy to get to know him. He was genuinely a good guy with no airs about him.

So that was Thursday. Thursday night, I get a stomachache. By Friday, I’ve developed a low-grade fever and couldn’t keep anything down. So from Friday to Saturday night, all I did was puke-poop-sleep. I know, TMI huh? But that was my weekend. Gah! I can’t believe I got the stomach virus again! Prior to this year, I have never really had it. What gives?! My only main concern was whether I’d get the baby sick. So far, so good.

So the moral of the story is: there is no such thing as a free lunch! But I must say, it was a good lunch indeed. Steak, red wine, a hot fudge sundae topped with massive amounts of whipped cream and a nice cappuccino. What more can you ask for?

P.S. It's tagging time! I've been tagged by Eileen Joy and Karen.

4 Things

Four Jobs I have had in my life:
1. Attorney
2. Law Clerk (judicial clerkship)
3. Sales Clerk (for Eddie Bauer, Gap Kids, and The Gap)
4. Babysitter

Four Movies I would watch over and over:
1. Lord of the Rings (especially 'the two towers')
2. Stand by Me
3. The Professional
4. Like Water for Chocolate

Four Places I have lived:
1. Manila
2. Los Angeles
3. New York
4. New Jersey

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Most Filipino dishes (especially pork sinigang and lechon kawali)
2. Sushi and other Japanese fare (especially shrimp tempura and donburi)
3. Thai, Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, Spanish cuisine
4. hamburgers and beef pho

Four Places I’d rather be right now:
1. exploring Greece
2. playing in Central Park with rockstar baby
3. eating a delicious meal with the hubs at the Four Seasons or Per Se
4. exploring Brazil and Argentina

Labels: musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 4/02/2007 02:46:00 PM | 17 COMMENTS

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

the ex-files, part 1: the asshole of my life

Note: I'm recommending you read my previous post "I was a single white female" as an accompaniment/background to this post.

As many women can probably attest to, there's always that guy, that asshole that you wish you can erase from your dating history. For me, that would be Feodor D--- Yeah, I typed his name. Let him google himself and see this! *evil laughter* It wasn't so much that he was an evil person. He just wasn't a very nice one, to me at least, and it was a matter of just two people really, really, really not meant for each other but just staying together and coasting along for reasons unknown or forgotten.

Let's see…I met him during the spring semester of my first year in college. He was actually a senior in high school visiting a friend (or rather, ex-girl). I thought he was very cute and flirted with him with my minimal flirting skills. (Aside: I was freshly broken up with my high school sweetheart and had been in a monogamous relationship since I was 15, so I really didn't have any flirting skills). Anyway, we ended up going out and hanging out. In a few month's time, we began to date.

It was a volatile relationship right from the beginning. We really didn’t have a lot of things in common. He had no interest in higher education, had no immediate goals in mind, and hadn't even graduated from high school when we started to date. In the meantime, I was still new to NYC, was still in the process of trying to fit in (again, see previous post), and sort of depended on him to introduce me to new friends, new hangouts, etc.

So him, coupled with my plummeting self-esteem = disaster. I was constantly trying to prove to him that I was good enough, when it reality, everyone around us knew that he was the lucky one. Since he was not even in college and not working, I paid for everything –dinner, drinks, movies, shooting pool, and the general costs of hanging out. I also paid for our vacations. Like a trip to Hawaii. Yes, you read that right. I paid through a mix of my own money (because I had a part-time job), and a bit of allowance from my parents. He practically lived at my dorm much to the dismay on my other room mates. He never bought me anything, constantly mooched off me, constantly looked at other girls (I myself like to appreciate other women, but you have to throw a praise or two my way, at least!), and never made me feel loved and secure like my previous boyfriend did. And here's the kicker: He even used my credit card to call phone sex lines and racked up a bill to the tune of $200+! What the F%#*!?! Yes, I took him back after that. It was Christmas time, after all. Me = doormat.

Why the hell did I stick around so long? The only thing going for us was the physical aspect of it all. Which is not much to go by. All throughout our relationship, I asked myself that question. Everyone told me I could do better (even some of his friends and his own mom said that!). I knew I could do better. I think deep down, I thought I would lose the new associations I made. He was my connection, and I felt I wouldn’t have all these friends or be part of "the scene" if I let go of him. At the time, I think I was co-dependent on him for my happiness. Part of me liked the challenge of trying to change him, taking care of him, mothering him. It made me feel needed, especially in light of the fact that I was still trying to find my own way in life. Does that make sense?

I ended up dating him on and off for about two years. Two years of my life wasted. And the last half of our relationship was spent trying to get rid of him. I finally got rid of him when I fell for this other guy at school and started seeing him on the sly. Yes I cheated. It took someone else who appreciated me to see the mess I got myself into. I told him it was over but he still came around, thinking he would win me back. When he found out that I cheated, he got so mad that he punched me on my thigh --leaving a bruise. He said he wasn't sorry for doing it and would do it again because I deserved it. I was stunned and humiliated. And I never said anything about this to anyone except now.

Well that incident just about sealed the deal. After that, it was finally! over. Although for a few months after that, I would get his drunken calls in the middle of the night asking for me back. Such drama.

Now, I hear he's doing well. He supposedly lives with his girlfriend in their own apartment and I hear he's working in Wall St. Thank goodness I haven’t had the misfortune of running into him especially since I work in the city where he lives. If we did run into each other, I really don’t know what I would say. Other than maybe hit him up for money he owed me.

P.S. My latest review is up and running! Please check out: Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakthrough

Labels: musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 3/27/2007 10:43:00 AM | 18 COMMENTS

Monday, March 19, 2007

what would you do in my shoes? (aka I need your advice)

Okay my faithful readers (all 3 of you!), I need your advice on two big issues. Please read on:

1) Can you see yourself working with your mom? Your dad? Or both? Here’s some background: My father is a lawyer with his own firm in NYC –he started this firm in the late 90’s and it’s been going great for him. (My mother is the office manager and basically runs the show). He does mostly personal injury law and some immigration, but he doesn’t really like personal injury (he used to be a corporate attorney in the Philippines and complains about missing the intellectual stimulation). Anyway, now he’d rather focus on immigration law. Recently, he bought out another attorney’s immigration practice. So now, my father’s running two separate offices which he’s trying to combine into one. He’s asked me (repeatedly) to come work with him. I’ve never really given it much thought because of the following reasons:

a. I have always (been that kind of sucker who) wanted to work in public service.
b. Working with my parents feels like I would just be given money as opposed to earning money.
c. I feel it wouldn’t be a “real” job that I got on my own.
d. I’d feel once again, like the dutiful, obedient daughter who works with her folks because she feels obligated to.
e. I still like my job!

Now, if I worked for them doing immigration I would be still helping the public (helping them get visas, etc.) so that would fit my public service needs I suppose. So that leaves only concerns b, c, and d (and e). My mother says I’d be the running the immigration office side while my father stays downtown in the other firm until it consolidates. I’d be learning how to run a business and keep it afloat –which is always good experience. As much as I love my job, I am intrigued with this possibility. I do like immigration law, and the big plus is that I’ll be earning a lot more money that I am now, (and won’t feel like such a loser compared to my friends who earn a lot, travel for business, and do cool things). Another big plus is that I'd still have good hours. But if I take the job (and this would be in a couple of years), I'd feel like I didn't get the job on my own. I don't know why I feel like I’d just be getting a handout as opposed to earning money? In any case, I told my parents the same thing I’ve always told them, which is “I’ll think about it.” But this time, I really am thinking about it. A lot of my friends have said "go for it! I'd do it in an instant!" I am not too sure. And again, this wouldn't happen for another couple of years or so. What would you do? Any advice?

My other dilemma is not too difficult:

2) Would you take an almost 2 year old on an 18+ hour plane ride? I mentioned this briefly in another post. My parents are going to the Philippines in December and invited me (the baby and the hubs) to come along. The hubs isn’t too thrilled about it, but would be fine if I went with rockstar baby. My concerns:

a. The super-long flight with a persnickety 22-month old (that’s how old he would be in December). Times two!
b. The whole schlepping of the car seat to the Philippines, worrying about him getting sick from the heat or the food, etc. And did I mention worrying about him getting sick?
c. Losing vacation days when I know I should save it for baby #2.
d. Possibly being preggo during the trip (but this is just a ginormous maybe, obviously).

e. Rockstar baby and I would miss dad!

By far, the pros outweigh the cons. But the cons are my biggest hurdle. But I would love to see the Philippines (I haven't been there since 2000), see my family and chill with my cousins, meet up with bloggers (really, this is my raison d'être), and do a lot of eating, shopping, and relaxing! I just think it would be the best vacation (although the hubs wouldn’t be with us). My friends say once I get there I'll have a yaya to fawn over rockstar baby and I won't have a single worry. But getting there is half the battle. What do you think?

P.s. are there car seat laws in the Philippines? I honestly don't know.

Your suggestions and comments will be greatly appreciated.

Labels: musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 3/19/2007 03:03:00 PM | 34 COMMENTS

Sunday, March 11, 2007

i was a single white female...

Yes, I was guilty of copping someone else's style a la Single White Female (you know, that 1992 movie with Jennifer Jason Leigh). It started in college. Picture it: New York City, August 1995. I was (I thought) a self-assured 18-year old with a passion for writing, music, and literature. I was independent and a free-spirit --I had just moved from Los Angeles and haven't lived with my parents for two years. So when I moved into the dorms on Broadway and 116th Street, I wasn't even homesick. I did, however, miss my high school boyfriend like crazy. We had plans for the future, he was going to move to NYC to be with me, and we'd already worked out our lives. We'd move in together, I'd be a writer, he'd be in a band, we'd have day jobs until we hit it big, and that was that.

Or so I thought.

Enter reality (aka college). My freshman year roommate was a gorgeous, vivacious Korean chick named Christine. We got along great. We decorated our rooms together and shared everything. It was evident from day one that she was a popular, social butterfly. She immediately made tons of close friends, had 10+ messages waiting for her at the end of the day, and our room would always be visited by people --wanting to chat with her. Although I made a handful of really good friends (whom I'm still friends with present day), I wasn't the cool person that she was (or rather, the cool person I viewed her to be). She and her friends listened to hip-hop/pop music and I didn't. They smoked and drank socially, and I didn't. She went clubbing and and enjoyed the NYC nightlife, and I didn't (not yet at least). I suddenly felt like I've been missing out on life for some reason. It wasn't that I was jealous nor did I want to be her. It was more like she was the independent, self-assured person that I thought I was. As it turned out, I totally felt out of it. I lost my sense of self, and I didn't know how to deal with it.

The first thing I did was expand my wardrobe. Prior to college, I had my own unique style. I shopped at a lot of thrift stores (before it became fashionable), wore lots of dresses and skirts over tights and jeans, wore lots of black, and was considered to be artsy and creative. I only had 4 types of shoes: my trusty Doc Martens and 3 others pairs of black shoes (mary janes, workboots, and clogs). But compared to my roommate, I felt dated. I started to buy clothes like hers (trendy with a twist) and even asked her which stores she recommended. I also loved her jeans so I asked her to buy the same kind of jeans she had. So she had her mom buy them for me. Then she cut her hair short which I really liked. But I wasn't about to cut mine. A few months later, however, I basically ended up with a short hair style similar to hers (it was actually a lot shorter than I told the hairstylist, but what can you do). I picked up smoking, worked on my alcohol tolerance, and started to go out as well. I began to make Filipino friends (as I didn't have a lot of close Filipino friends in high school) and hung-out with them a lot. These new Filipino friends also had the same pop-culture tastes (read: mainstream) as Christine did. I boxed up all my old CDs: gone were The Cure, The Smiths, The Clash, and in with The Fugees, Biggie, and other hip-hop/R&B artists (most of whom turned out to be just one-hit-wonders: Queen Pen, anyone?). I felt like I had so much catching up to do since I wanted to fit into "the scene."

I didn't even realize I was copying Christine until I overheard a conversation between her and her friend Nicole. Nicole basically said "look, she's copying you. You guys have the same jeans, she cut her hair like you, and she's always looking at your clothes. I think she's trying to be you! Hahahah..."

Ouch. But like I said, I never wanted to be her. She just happened to personify what I thought I should be in order to feel like I "fit in." What Nicole said put things in perspective, but by then, I already had adopted this "new me" and I was letting go of "old me." College has a way of hazing you whether you are trying out for a sorority or not. I decided to go with "new me" and became one of the crowd. I broke up with the boyfriend (which is another story altogether) and started dating this Filipino guy (who turned out to be such a big-time asshole --again, another story altogether). I went to parties with my new Filipino friends, danced away to hip-hop music, and became your normal, average college chick. Inside though, I felt like I closed the doors on my old personality.

Of course the choices I made more than 10 years ago made me who I am today. Now, I've reconciled "old me" with "new me" and realized that "real me" is an amalgam of all my traits, passions, choices, and tastes as it evolved over the years. I realized that most of me never changed all along. It's all just under the rubric of "growing up." I'm still a music geek (and a fan of all genres), still a bookworm, still have a passion for writing, and back to dressing the way I want to dress. I learned that you should never compare yourself to anyone.

I am who I am. And I most certainly am not about to cop someone else's style. I like my own, thank you very much.

Labels: musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 3/11/2007 09:26:00 AM | 19 COMMENTS

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

so apparently, i'm raising a vampire...

Rockstar baby bit two (2!) kids this past week in daycare. One boy and one girl (I guess he doesn't discriminate) within 2 days of each other. The kids were fine. The daycare director spoke to me about how he should be reprimanded at home and gave me an article as to why some kids bite. The article stated how some kids bite because they are either overstimulated/understimulated, angry, frustrated, etc...etc. It offers parents advice as to how to show their kids to express their emotions, yadda yadda yadda. But I'm like, hello! Rockstar baby is not even 13 months old yet. He's obviously still teething! I know we can help him control who and what he bites; we tell him "No!" when does something wrong (and sometimes, I even put him in a corner). But like I said, he's still very young and still doesn't fully grasp this whole "No!" concept. He understands we're not happy, but then he looks at us and starts giggling and then goes off his merry way. Either that or he gives you a hug and a slurpy kiss to make you forget that you're mad at him. Smart, huh?

Man, this is just the beginning of upcoming parenting woes....

Oh, and can I just say that within the first 2 weeks of starting daycare, rockstar baby was bit on the arm by some baby? I understand that babies are just being themselves and things happen, but maybe the daycare needs to be more vigilant in watching these kids, no?

behind the music

Have you seen those 'Behind the Music' VH1 shows where they do a short documentary of a band and how they split up/come together/reunite/etc? Well we had our own "Behind the Music" experience several weeks ago. After our last gig in late January, our bassist Matt walked out on us. He had some beef with our lead singer Jes (aka the band leader because she started the band). Basically, Jes's brother told Matt that he had a shitty personality, and the shit hit the fan. Matt was pissed, looked to Jes for some mediating, but Jes ignored it all. So Matt talked back, made other people angry, and then officially quit the band.

Well the Monday after that, Jes and I met up along with our drummer Cil. I told Jes that since we're looking for a new bassist, we might as well get one that had good vocals. Jes was silent and clearly did not like that idea. She said, "No, we're fine as it is." Then Jes started telling us that she'd like us to start practicing 2-3x a week and that we needed to get our act together. Cil and I said "No way! We're not practicing that much a week!" Jes pretty much said "Ok then, if can't do it, then there's no point for all of this." She then packed her shit up, and then left the studio just like that! Cue voiceover: And on February 19, Plastiq Passion broke up....

Cil and I were aghast. I mean, who walks out on people without talking about their problems? We're not in high school anymore, right? Bottom line: We were able to talk later on and all's well and good. But really, it felt like we were straight out of an episode of 'Behind the Music.'

And we're still looking for a bassist. Know anyone?

Labels: motherhood, music, musings/personal stories, rockstar baby

POSTED BY KAT AT 3/06/2007 10:15:00 AM | 15 COMMENTS

Monday, January 29, 2007

I'm One Stomach Flu Away From My Ideal Weight!

Okay, this facetious remark was not made by me, but rather by the brilliant Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada. But I totally know what she means (and a few women at work even remarked how they wished they got the stomach virus!!) Remember how I battled a stomach virus not too long ago? Well the good thing about it is that I lost a couple of pounds. In fact, I was able to wear a pair of size 0 pants that I've long ago shelved to the back of my closet. Also, my stomach actually looked flat for the first time post-partum! Check it out!

Okay, that only lasted a few days and I'm back to having the mom-pooch (and can't wear those pants again). And really, I've stopped obsessing about weight ever since I became a mom. Sure I complain about the flabby arms and jiggly thighs, but I'm otherwise ok with how I look. For the past 6 years I've hovered around 110-115 pounds. But I've never been the type to look skinny. That's just not my body type. I was a lot heavier in college (after gaining the infamous freshman fifteen) and was downright chubby (and I have pictures to prove it see below).

L-R: Trish, Girlie, Sol, and Me (the dark clothes hide the chubbiness)

At my heaviest, I weighed 125-130 pounds which really did show on me considering I'm only 5 feet tall. So how did I lose all the weight? Being happy and content is my secret. Naks naman. ;)
When I started dating the hubs, I was still in my chubby stage. As time passed, I became slimmer and the pounds came off without even trying. Then sometime in 1999, I actually joined a gym and started getting regular exercise. More pounds came off. By the time I got married in 2001, I weighed about 108 pounds and was toned. But it wasn't like I went to the gym religiously (I went about 3x a week max) nor did I stop eating crappy foods. So I chalk it up to being content with my myself, with the hubs, and with my life.

Fast forward now: I still weigh around 110-115 pounds and lost all the baby weight I gained (about 25 pounds) without even trying. I haven't been to the gym since June 2005 and I look the way I looked before. Of course, my body fat percentage is probably off the charts, but at least I look normal. The secret? Again, being happy and content. (And yes ladies, breastfeeding works wonders!). I love being a mom, taking care of rockstar baby, and being giddy over the fact that I have my own little family. I think if you're at peace with yourself, you won't obsess (too much) about the weight gain. (Of course, being fit and getting regular exercise if a whole other story).

Labels: musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 1/29/2007 02:39:00 PM | 30 COMMENTS

Monday, December 11, 2006

So I Bought a Car!

After much deliberation, research, and pulling of hair, I finally buckled down and bought me my first car! Yehey! The hubs and I went to the dealer this past Saturday, and four hours later, I drove home with a brand new 2007 Toyota Highlander in Bluestone Metallic:

Check out the new hotness:

Up until the last minute, I was still considering the both the Rav4 and the Highlander. The Rav4 was definitely more fun to drive and a lot faster (more horsepower), but the Highlander to me felt a lot more substantial. Plus I figured I drive fast enough as it is (my mom says I'm a kaskasera); I knew that with the Rav4, I'd just be tempted to fly. The Highlander felt much more stable, smoother, and was a quieter ride. It also didn't hurt that they were offering a $1K rebate!

I bought the car for about $5K less than MSRP Price with the options. I got the car for under $30K even though the sticker price was close to $35K, and the price I got was hardly $1K over invoice price so I think I got a darn good deal considering all the options I got with it. We're talking 4WD with a V6 engine, heated leather seats, premium JBL 6-CD stereo with 8 speakers, power driver's seat, a third row, etc... I pretty much got a Limited Highlander for the price of a base model.

Let me just say though, signing all those papers was like signing my life away. It's pretty much signing on for a 5-year debt (the financing term I picked out). It's quite disconcerting, which is why I can't fully celebrate the whole new car thing. The whole ordeal was exhausting. We were there from 1:30 to about 4:30 pm! Poor rockstar baby was there and was bored out of his mind. Who can blame him? I don't know why buying a car has to take such a big chunk of your life away. Thank goodness I already had my price (care of Carsdirect); all I asked was can you meet this price and if the dealer had said no, I would've walked.

I still haven't taken my car out for a full drive yet since I'm a bit scared to drive it. When I drove it home though, I could already tell that a Toyota just isn't the same as a BMW. Then again, you can't compare apples and oranges, right? Maybe one day, I'll get to buy a pre-owned BMW...one day.

But here's some more news: Dumb-ass me already put a scratch on the back bumper! ARGHHHH!! I came home today and parked my old car behind the new car; I was inching forward a bit and gauged the distance incorrectly and BAM! Hit the new car. I.Am.Officially.An.Idiot. *hits-self-on-head*

Just a little update: The scratch is miniscule, really. You can hardly see it unless I point it out to you. But it's still there! Do'h!

Labels: musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 12/11/2006 09:17:00 PM | 0 COMMENTS

Friday, December 1, 2006

So I'm Buying a Car (aka I Finally Feel Like a Grown-Up)

Though I'm 30 years old, I still feel pretty much like a young'in. I still act like a petulant teen at times, do impulsive things, still dream about what I want to be when I grow up, and pretty much act the same way that I did when I was in my late teens/early 20's (sans the boy drama and love woes). And even though I've accomplished personal goals and done "grown-up" things like buy a house, give birth to a baby, have a real career, become a mother, and all that jazz, I think that nothing makes you feel more grown-up than buying a car.

I've never owned my own car. To this point, I've only driven cars owned (or leased) by my parents. The current car I drive is a very nice 2004 BMW X5 which my dad leased for me (yes, my parents are very generous creatures). Well, the lease is up this month (the day after Christmas to be exact) and I thought that it was high-time to buy and be responsible for my very own car. So I'm doing all this research to see what vehicle is right for me and my family. (Of course, money is the big factor. As much as I feel that another BMW x5 would be tops, I certainly can't afford the monthly payments!)

Here's my top 2 choices thus far: the 2007 Toyota Rav4 Limited (4x4/v6 engine) or a 2007 Toyota Highlander (4x4/v6).

2007 Toyota Rav4 and the 2007 Toyota Highlander (respectively)

(photos courtesy of ToyotaUSA.com)

I think Toyota is a great company, and I figure you can't really go wrong and with choosing any of their models. The Rav4 is more to my budget, and it's a great deal. A fully-loaded Limited Rav4 is less than a base model Highlander. But I really liked how the Highlander handled on the road, and I like that it's a bit roomier (after all, we are a growing family). So far, I'm sticking with these 2 cars as my top choices. UPDATE: check out Carsdirect --you can get a car online with no hassle and guaranteed low price. I got a quote for a Highlander (with the options I want) for the same price as a fully-loaded Rav4!

I did, however, consider other brands like Honda and Jeep (for a hot minute because the hubs had a company discount). I also had to decide whether to lease or buy. I was initially going to lease, but I thought it was high time to buy something for myself and start paying a monthly fee for something I will actually own in the end. (And too bad that unlike a house, a car isn't an investment that will make you money).

Let me just say that doing research is exhausting! Learning all the differences between MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) vs. factory invoice price vs. dealer cost can give you a headache. A lot of my time is spent on the internet learning the ropes and comparing prices. I'm also filling out spreadsheets to figure out what I should offer the dealer. Check out www.carbuyingtips.com for amazing tips, free resources, etc. According to them, your offer to the dealer should be about 5% over dealer's actual cost. Edmunds is also another wonderful resource.

I feel so adult doing all this crap, and it's kinda a cool feeling. It's also freaking scary because I'll be responsible for everything --the haggling, the acquiring, the maintenance, etc! So if I enter a bad deal, then I have no one to blame but myself (of course, if the dealer was shady, that's a different story).

Wish me luck folks!

Labels: musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 12/01/2006 04:27:00 PM | 0 COMMENTS

Sunday, November 26, 2006

My Post-Thanksgiving Post

So Thanksgiving has come and gone. I always think of Thanksgiving as an American tradition, but as they say, when in Rome...yanno? My family, of course, celebrates it. But we're not big turkey fans, just big eaters in general. For Thanksgiving, we eschewed the usual turkey and tried a turducken --a chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a turkey. It was good, but not stellar (I think if we had some gravy to go with it, it's would've kicked more arse). We also had lechon (roast pork), kare-kare, sweet-and-sour fish, shrimp tempura, and several desserts --including my pumpkin gingerbread trifle (which my bros and the hubs really dig), leche flan, and pecan pie.

Rockstar Baby's First Thanksgiving

Even Rockstars Get Braces

So it's only 2 days until B-Day...the day I get my braces! Yikes! As you all know, I had some teeth taken out a few weeks ago and it's all because I'm getting braces. Well, it's actually a whole, long story. Suffice it to say, I've lived with a few extra teeth in my mouth. After getting those teeth out, I now need braces to re-align my teeth. Luckily, I only need it on the bottom (plus, I can only afford one arch! LOL)! Otherwise, I'd definitely be called a brace-face! At 30! Wish me luck! I hear eating will uncomfortable for a few days afterwards...which would be great because:

Holiday Weigh-In

I'm trying to watch what I eat, but it's basically hopeless especially now that it's holiday season. When I went back to work after my maternity leave, I weighed about 110 lbs --a few pounds less than my pre-preggo weight. Now, I've re-gained about 10 pounds, I think. It's from eating out at lunch, eating the goodies people bring in to work, junk food, fast food, and the lack of daily exercise. I really don't care how much I weigh as long as I fit into my clothes and feel healthy. I certainly am not feeling healthy at the moment. I used to take the stairs to work all the time (6 flights) and be more active. I remember doing free weights, leg-pressing 150+ pounds, and doing countless tricep dips. Now I'm just a slug with a mom gut, flyaway arms, and jiggly thighs. Ugh. To add insult to injury: at 226 points --I have the cholesterol level of a out-of-shape 40+ year old person! I really need to get back into shape so can I run after rockstar baby without losing my breathe. Why oh why am I so lazy??!

Labels: musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 11/26/2006 12:53:00 AM | 0 COMMENTS

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Of Reunions, Ninjas, and Baptisms...

Last week was a great week for me because of the following highlights:

I only went to work for 2 days! I took off Monday because I was still recuperating from my oral surgery, and then there were court holidays on Nov. 7 (Election Day) and Nov. 10th (Veteran's Day).
I had a reunion with my friends Trish, Girlie and Sol at my house on Nov. 9th. The Ferreras family moved to Atlanta this past June and I've missed her (especially since she’s one of the few friends I have who is a mom). They were here in town for the baptism of her newest little one, Annika. The other guest of honor was little Antonio --born just about 3 weeks ago! Trish and Girlie haven't met him yet so I invited them over for a dinner of kare-kare, crispy pata, and desserts galore. Fun times!There were 4 children in the house (all under 2 years old) and the hubs remarked it was like a daycare. It made me realize how much we’ve all grown up. Us girls all met circa 1995 over an IRC chat-room. Now, more than 10 years later, we’re still bonding! Plus, we now have a second generation to boot! Hopefully, the kiddos all become friends as well --we call 'em "Three A's and a J."
Then on Saturday night, I had an evening of fine dining at Ninja. Ninja is designed to look an 18th century Japanese village (birthplace of Ninja lore) with many different-themed rooms (I’m told that the Ninja in Japan is one of the harder restaurants to get seated in). My law school friends and I gathered here to celebrate my friend Annie’s 30th birthday and she picked this spot (which was coincidentally just a few blocks down from our law school in Tribeca). The food was excellent --I had the Kunoichi menu which featured the Kuro-Subuta: this incredibly tender pork dish which was delicious. I also tasted my friend's steak tartare dish and some spicy tuna rolls (the best I've ever had). I also had an excellent tiramisu bonsai for dessert. The best part was probably the presentation (which included a few Ninja tricks and some fire), and our waiter was an incredibly nice and funny guy. Expect to spend hours dining here (I was there from 8 pm to 12 am) and a lot of money. Check out a review here. If you're in the NYC area, I highly recommend it for great dining without the pretentiousness.
On Sunday, we attended the baptism of little Annika at Holy Name Church in the Upper West Side. The baptisms here are held without a mass and are done in big groups. There were about 10 children being baptized raging from 3 months to 11 years old! Afterwards, we had a great dinner at Mama Mexico –one of my favorite spots to dine in (check out their site because they even give out recipes!). They got amazing guacamole and delicious entrees. And again, the company was great! Rockstar baby was bouncing off the walls in this joint, but little Annika slept through the whole thing (including a mariachi band!). Thanks for inviting us Trish! We had a fabulous time!

But one of my favorite parts about this weekend was strolling down the streets of NYC with the hubs and rockstar baby. Rockstar baby kept trying to peek out of the "sunroof" of his stroller (we had it covered because it was cold and rain was imminent) and kept sticking his hands out. So cute. It made for great family time and it's clear just how much the baby has changed our lives. Even though he's only been in our lives for a little less than 9 months, we can't imagine it any other way.
Lastly, my latest book review is up and running! Check out my review of Only Revolutions right here.

Labels: musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 11/14/2006 08:03:00 AM | 0 COMMENTS

Monday, November 6, 2006

Older, Wiser, Hooters…

So I am at home today recuperating. I had oral surgery this past Friday and got 4 teeth removed –two extra molars that never aligned with the rest of my bottom teeth, a wisdom tooth that was growing sideways, and a canine that never descended (and was stuck beneath my nose). They put me under general anesthesia and needless to say, I felt like a truck hit me after it was all over.

I’m still pretty nauseated from the surgery and my gums are very sore. I wasn’t allowed to have any food past midnight after Thursday, and I have really eaten a full meal since Thursday night! I was pretty much debiliated on Friday and Saturday. I’ve been living off soft foods for the past few days and it sucks. Although having milkshakes do ease the pain (and nausea) a bit. I’m on antibiotics and Vicodin, but taking the painkillers made me throw up so I gave that up! Blech…

But on to happy news: Happy Birthday to my hubs! His birthday was on November 4th and we celebrated it yesterday by going to Hooters with his friends! Hooters, of course, is well known for its yummy….wings. The hubs hasn’t really been hanging out much with his friends post-baby and I thought throwing him a lunch with his friends would be enjoyable for him and great way for them to meet rockstar baby.

We had blast a Hooters (even though I couldn’t eat a single wing). We ordered more than 150 wings and then some! Win, one of the hubs' friends, is a big-eater (although he doesn't even look it) and ate 50+ wings and a whole burger! Damn.

Rockstar baby had a great time hanging out with the gang. He was like one of the guys and was a hit with the ladies. Fun times!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful hubs!

The Guys

The Gals

Rockstar Baby and an Admirer

Labels: musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 11/06/2006 09:39:00 AM | 0 COMMENTS

Sunday, October 29, 2006

So I Can Now Vote (and Other Weekend Snippets)

After many years, I finally became a U.S. citizen last Friday, October 27th! Yehey! Now, I don't have to apply for a visa for every single country I visit! At last, I can just breeze through! And of course, the biggest perk is: I CAN VOTE! November 2008 Presidential Elections here I come!

Me with my certificate

(poor rockstar baby fell asleep during the ceremony)

Then Saturday, my band plastiq passion had our EP Release party at Arlene's Grocery. What a fiasco that was! It was "the night we almost didn't play." We were scheduled to play at 7 pm, but we didn't get there until 7:03 pm. When we got there, the bookers were pissed and yelled at us and, and our drummer and bassist were at each other's throats. It was a really bad and stressful situation. After people calmed down a bit, we got the thumbs-up to go on, but it was a mad rush to do the soundcheck and all that jazz. I hardly even tuned my guitar! It was a mess, but then halfway through the set, things sorta smoothed out. However, we were still frazzled and we fucked up 2 songs. But I'm glad that a few of our friends were there to show their support.

Lesson learned: NEVER be late for a gig (even though we think no one will be there). Well actually, I'm a pretty punctual person, even post-baby. So I was sorely disappointed at my tardiness. Special shout-out to Christina and Phil for always being there; to Angie and Jules for coming to check us out; and cousins Mao and Ige for watching us!

Our EP: I Can't Wait

(most of) the Band

With my friend Christina --our biggest fan!

Sunday, I went home to Queens to celebrate my little brother's 16th birthday (a few days early). Gawd! My little brother is going to be 16 on Nov. 2nd! We went to this Chinese buffet restaurant that we always go to in Flushing, Queens. It's quite possibly the best buffet in the world. It's at least 100 feet long (with 4 tables, each about 20 feet long), with a noodle station, a peking duck station, a sushi station, and a dessert station. I always end up feeling like Homer Simpson when I'm done eating.

When we came back home though, this is what we saw in our back yard:

The wind blew our poor tree down! Now we have to go find a tree specialist to get it out of our neighbor's yard! Thank goodness we're on pretty good terms with our neighbor and that no one go hurt!

Have a great week! I'll be posting some cool Halloween pics on Tuesday!

Labels: musings/personal stories

POSTED BY KAT AT 10/29/2006 09:47:00 AM | 0 COMMENTS