Today's Thoughts: On Long Overdue Past

I BBM'd my friend Karen today and kept her in my crazy mind's loop via Image Sharing. The problem that I have with getting too much information is it kills me at the same time.

Sometimes, it really is best not to know. 

Today in my attempt to gear towards a good vibe, I found these really nice quotes that serves as my brain candy.

I need to chew on this.

3 hospitals. 4 locations. 7 weeks.

I still believe 2012 is the year of those who knows how to bounce and fight back.

View from Hospital 1: LBDH

View from Hospital 2: PGH

View from Hospital 3: UHS

 Three hospitals. Four locations. Seven weeks. 

From zero response to knee jerks and lip twitch. 

 "The greatest tragedy of a man is what dies inside him while he is still living." - Anonymous.

I may have a big problem, BUT I HAVE A BIGGER, and even GREATER, GOD.

When God permits trials, He also provides comfort.

- Our Daily Bread, May 20, 2012.

Black Henna Allergies and Permanent Tattoos

Last February, out of a whim and spontaneity, I got my self a henna tattoo that I blogged about here.

It's probably my third time getting a henna tattoo, so I pretty much know how it roll. It just stays on for 2 weeks or three if you're lucky. I remember sleeping on the couch and my Dad saw my henna tattoo and he got mad. I told him to relax because it's only going to be there for two weeks tops.

So can you imagine the que horror feeling that I had when on the third week, my ugly henna tattoo seemed embossed on my skin and turned from black to red?

Third week

 So I did what a cheapskate would do: Google the symptoms.

I learned that after years of getting henna tattoo, the one that I got in UP's feb fair is actually a Black Henna, I know I am allergic to a lot of things but I did not know that I was allergic to Black Henna.

As I have said, I have had henna tattoos before, one in Puerto Galera and the other one was in Tagaytay, but it turned out that they're using NOT pure black henna.

I self diagnosed myself with PPD. To know more about it click here. (But thank God mine did not go that far because I panicked early and called up my doctor bff)

According to eHow:

Causes

One of the products often added to black henna to give it a dark color is the chemical paraphenylenediamine, known as PPD. According to the FDA, while PPD has only been approved for use in hair dyes, they have received several reports of PPD causing an adverse reaction when applied directly to the skin. Because the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act does not apply to products used exclusively by professionals such as henna artists, consumers often are not aware of what is being applied to their skin when receiving a black henna tattoo.

Symptoms

The most common reaction to PPD is contact dermatitis in the form of skin inflammation, blisters and open sores. Symptoms usually appear within three to 10 days of contact and can last for weeks, though if you are already sensitive to PPD they can appear much more quickly. In rare cases PPD can trigger anaphylaxis, a life-threatening, multisystem allergic reaction that can constrict the airway and affect heart rhythm. - SOURCE

Fourth week

Fifth or sixth week

Chaka no? If only I had known that it'll look like this, I would have gone for a cooler design. I let the creepy Bob Marley-wannabe bully me into letting him create his own hippie design for Php100!

So before it got any worse, when it was still in it's embossed red stage (see photo for 3rd week), I applied Contractubex and it somehow did the trick of mellowing it down. After finishing the small tube, I had to apply whitening cream next.

Now three months later, this is what it looks like now:

It's still there, it has faded, but I have not been exerting any effort to get rid of it for a month now. I am keeping it as a memory as one of the recent times that my Tatay, before he fell into a coma, scolded me like a teenager when I got a henna tattoo.

Lately, I've been having this insane craving to get a permanent tattoo to commemorate this painful experience that I am going through right now. I never wanted it before but I thought that if I am going to get one for my self, I am going to make sure that it is highly significant and not some patterns that I just saw from one of the artist's catalogue.

I have made up my mind to get one in sanskrit (because I am fond of buddhists, temples, and the culture) so I had a translator translate my "future" tattoo:

My father's daughter

I intend to have it done on my rib cage in white ink. I learned from one of my favorite blogger, Alessa Lanot, that she got her white tattoo about eight years ago in Robinson's Galleria. I find it so alluring that I really want to get one for my self, but it costs twice as much as the regular tattoo because they had to ink it twice for the color to show. ( So if the tattoo costs 4k, white tattoo will costs 8k).

I also have another one in mind that I will have my translator translate in Hebrew. The next one's going to say "One Woman Army", but I have not found the time to email him yet.

Again, still I am thinking about it. I wouldn't want my Tatay scolding me again in my sleep.

Lyle's Surprise GO AHEAD post birthday party

(*a scheduled post*)


I love giving surprises BUT I HATE Surprises when it's geared towards me. So when my friend Jim BBM'd me that one of our friend's girlfriend, who is currently based abroad, wanted to throw his beau a surprise party, I immediately said: LET'S GO!

The preparation:

 

Was supposed to take behind the scenes shots but we got so busy. So here are the power couples behind the "mala-amazing race errand marathon"

Check the video: 

Lyle's Surprise "GO AHEAD" Party from The Kea Channel on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Lyle! ( And thank you Mhy!) 

I blame you Jessica Sanchez @JSanchezAI11 for making me cry this morning

I blame you Jessica Sanchez for making me cry this morning. Of all places, it has to be public transportation.

When my friend Jane tweeted that "Dance with my father" song by Jessica Sanchez made her cry, reminiscing her late dad, I have made sure NOT TO HEAR the song, especially her rendition. This morning I heard it on the radio while on my way to work.

I braved my way into listening to the Luther Vandross version because it just sounds/masks just like an old love song, but when Jessica Sanchez sang, tears welled up in my eyes and started to uncontrollably fall down on my cheeks, again, while riding public transportation.

I could have avoided that possibility, if only I used the car this morning.

If I could get another chance

Another walk

Another dance with him

I'd play a song that would never ever end

How I'd love love love

To dance with my father again

If I could steal one final glance

When final step

One final dance with him

I'd play a song that would never ever end

Cause I'd love love love to

Dance with my father again

I'm not really a Daddy's girl but there's just so many things that I still want to ask him if only I had braved my way into asking before. I know right now he is not well and I know I can still talk to him, it's just different when I can easily get a response from him.

Right now I am in the stage of wanting to ask him a lot of questions especially about the car, his baby, whose registration needs to be renewed this month.

He never really got the chance to teach me to change tires.

Or the procedure in renewing the car registration.

Or how to change oils.

How to check for water.

And stenciling. Is that those letter patterns that you put spray paint on? 

Or what the hell is an Emmission testing is for?

I am lucky and I am fully aware that even if I don’t have an older brother guiding me through this guy-stuff process, I have six consistent male figures in my life (in the persona of my guy friends since high school ) that consistently keeps me company, that helps me go through the process, who patiently teaches me how to properly go through road humps and sometimes who gets emotionally involved in car registry processing than I do. 

But still, I think it would've been nice if only I had learned it straight from my father.

Review: Monea Curl Defining Milk Hair Lotion

I've been asked a lot about what stuff do I put in my hair. It has been seven months since I had my hair permed and I tell you, it's probably the best decision that I did with my hair after years of relax-straightening-rebond since my college days.

This whole curly hair worked to my full advantage because it has become the least of my problems. I only have to comb while wet during shower and invest on conditioners.

The downside is I have been obsessed with trying affordable (emphasis on "affordable") curl defining products that would suit my fancy. So far I have tried mousse but not the gel/lotion kind. So when I found out about blog reviews about Monea Curl Defining Hair Lotion, I decided to give it a go.

Product: Monea Curl Defining Milk Hair Lotion
Price: Php 99.00.
Where to buy: All Watson's Store in all SM Malls
Rating: 1.5 out 5

The verdict:

It would "define" curls compared to not having anything in the hair at all but I wouldn't recommend this. It makes the hair a little greasy. The curls of the hair tends to be loose and not seem to be locking it in. I only use this if I intend to wear my hair up. I cannot wait to fully consume this whole bottle so that I can go back to my mousse that I blogged about here.

I mizzz...

It is normal for any human being to avoid or cut short any kind of pain – Said Le Bff last Monday.

I wanted a lot of things this year.

I wanted to finally get my Master’s Degree.

Finally travel on my own on my birthday.

Go on my own vacation.

Finally save up.

Finally get a life of my own.

On top of the other shameless wishes that I asked for.

You know, all these longing seemed mundane now. 

On top of a miracle that I’m praying for, I no longer have lusts for what seemed to be a big deal to me during the first quarter of this year.

Lately, I am only wishing for something that’s workable and simple and hopefully possible.

I just want a peaceful, uninterrupted, dreamless and healthy amount of sleep. 

And I really couldn’t help but lust for this photo.

Source

One day, when everything is better, I will have one like this.

Videoke Nights + Birthdays

It's been quite a while now since the last time we had a videoke party with my High School friends. We usually have videoke and drinks night during birthdays, bon voyage parties, new year kick off. Now it has transformed to amusement park get togethers, out of town beach trip and simple chill nights.

Not that I'm complaining but I really do miss the crazy alcohol-induced high notes that my friends have whenever we have videoke nights.

The BEST PERSON in OUR GROUP to party with a VIDEOKE machine is Marc. Check out his videos:

During a Bon Voyage Party
 
Why Marc Maligalig is the life of the party from The Kea Channel on Vimeo.

During a Birthday Party
 
She Bangs by Marc Maligalig from The Kea Channel on Vimeo.

Pinoy Videoke isn't the same without Marc.

Videoke's been a Pinoy thing. So it's no wonder my cousin also fell into the Pinoy Videoke bandwagon no matter how hard he resisted at first.

It doesn't matter if you're tone deaf, just belt it when you "felt" it!  :)

Anyway, this month a lot of my guy friends will be celebrating their birthdays. I don't know if we're going to have one of these videoke house parties that we haven't had for a while, but I kinda miss having everyone around fighting for the mic!