Noel & Via

Ok, maybe it's old news to most of you.. but I think WD-40 is the best invention of this century! The first time I tried it was on our squeaky door. We hated that we could hear that noise every time we closed the door. So with a little spray on the hinge using the little straw that comes with it, voila! the squeaks were gone. It worked so well that now the door doesn't get stuck at an angle anymore. It closes on its own!

So that was about a year ago. We've been staying at my in-laws here in paranaque for the holidays. The bed frame of our bed here is made of metal. So every time we sit or lie on the bed we hear a loud squeak! Getting out of bed in the middle of the night can also wake up the neighbors. Even the slightest shift on your sleeping position can produce a major squeak.

But no more! A couple of sprays on the joints of the bed frame... Voila! No more squeak. I can't believe my ears. I even tried to jump up and down on the bed and can you believe it? No squeaks whatsoever! Ok.. buy one now.

Posted by Noel at 03:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

NOELPERLAS.COM the blog is now online. Nope, I'm not abandoning Via in keeping this site updated (although it does seem like she writes more than me). I just wanted to separate my design and tech discussions there and keep personal stuff here. I'm still fixing it up both visually and structurally. But I promised that my process in updating the pages will be transparent. If you care to see what that I'm up to. Please head on over to that site. And please tell everyone about it. hehe. :)

Posted by Noel at 07:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Posted by Via at 01:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)

For all of you living in the suburban south, check out this invaluable source that my friend Betty has very meticulously put together. So if you're from the south or just visiting, make sure to bookmark the link below. It's just getting started but is already on its way to bigger and brighter things! :)

Visit Southbound right now and be part of this growing community today! Ideas are more than welcome so just holler and send them to southbound.ph@gmail.com

Posted by Via at 04:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I was very moved watching coverage of QTV's (the channel I find myself tuned into a lot lately since I got sick) Operation Reming. Spain through Cooperacion Española sent an airplane to Albay with medical equipment, a water purification system and some hunky Spaniards (hehehe) to train the medical staff there. Here are some ways we can help the poor victims of this terrible typhoon:

How to be a Volunteer:

• The GMA Kapuso Foundation welcomes volunteers both individuals or groups to participate and devote their time in assisting the staff with its various projects. To be a GMA Kapuso Volunteer, all you need to do is go to the Kapuso Foundation building and fill up a Volunteer form. That form will be filed and will later on be used as a record for the Kapuso staff to contact you if there are any upcoming events or projects that would need the assistance of volunteers. Interested individuals or groups may also download the PDF volunteer form in the GMAKF website and send it at bisigbayan@gmanetwork.com or gmaf@gmanetwork.com.

• Volunteer Tasks:

Volunteer tasks consist of packing relief goods for possible relief operations and packing of school materials for the UHSK project which is done before the start of the school year. In some special cases, volunteers are allowed to come with the Kapuso Staff to assist them in their respective projects given that they are responsible for their own safety an. Venue for the packing session will be announced by the staff before the event.

How to Place Donations: (Monetary and Material)
• The Foundation exists mainly because of the overflowing generosity that is entrusted to us by concerned and kindhearted people to be given to our disadvantaged brothers and sisters. For all types of donations, it could be handed over in the GMA Kapuso Foundation office from 9am to 6pm.
o Material donations can be delivered to the GMA Kapuso Foundation office from 9am to 6pm, Mondays to Fridays. We accept old clothes, food and hygiene products, mats, medicines, medical equipments, toys as well as other items which could be generously given to our brothers and sisters in need.
o For monetary donations, the foundation accepts cash or check donations. It could be given to our finance officer personally from Mondays to Fridays 9am to 6pm or your donations could be coursed through our GMA Kapuso Foundation Saving account numbers in the following banks:
METROBANK ACCOUNT NUMBER
o PESO Savings Account # (3-098-510347)
o DOLLAR Savings Account # (2-098-00244-2)
Code: MBTC PH MM

UNITED COCUNUT PLANTERS BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER
o PESO Savings Account # (160-111277-7) or (115-184777-2)
o DOLLAR Savings Account # (01-160-300427-6) or (01-115-301177-9)
Code: UCPB PH MM

EQUITABLE-PCI BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER
o PESO Savings Account # (1383-07544-7)

through Ateneo de Manila University:
NEEDED:
- Volunteers for goods repacking. Details, as follows:
o December 8 (Friday) 8:00 p.m.
o Cervini Function Room (ADMU Male Residence Hall) back of Church of the Gesu
o Contact Person: Franco Soberano (0917-6442626) or Cervini Director Tim Gabuna (Tel. 426-6001 local 5900)
- Trucks for shuttling goods and construction materials
- Construction materials (G.I. Sheets, Plywood, Nails and other basics)
- Medicines for cough, colds and fever and surgical mask
- More food, preferably canned goods and noodles
- More funds

DONATION MECHANISM
=====================

GOODS
------------
You may directly donate the goods to the Cervini (Male Residence Hall) Function Room at the back of Church of the Gesu. Temporary AGAP BIKOL Relief Operation center can accept donation from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight. Contact person is Residence Hall Director Tim Gabuna. You may communicate with him through 426-6001 local 5902.

Priority: Food (Canned Goods, Noodles and other kinds with long shelf life) and Water

CASH/CHECK
---------------------

Direct deposits (online from any of the BPI branches) may be made to:

SIMBAHANG LINGKOD NG BAYAN (Account Name/Payee)
Bank of the Philippine Islands (Loyola-Katipunan Branch)
BPI Peso Checking Account Number 3081-1111-61
BPI Dollar Savings Account Number 3084-0420-12

For proper acknowledgment:
- Please fax a copy of the validated deposit slip to SLB through telefax 426-5968
- Kindly indicate contact information: Name, Address, Email, Mobile
- Those who wish to remain anonymous may skip this procedure

Or you may send it to

Loyola House of Studies (LHS)
Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights, Quezon City
Telephone Number 426-6101
Time: 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Official Receipts will be immediately issued to you by the LHS Lobby Porter.

For dollar remittances:
- You may purchase a Manager’s Check and send it via any courier to SLB’s address OR
- Course it via telegraphic transfer to BPI Dollar Account

Should there be any concerns, please contact:

MS. MARJORIE TEJADA
Telephone Number 426-6101 local 3440 (Office Hours)
Telefax 426-5968
Email: slb@slb.ph

MR. RC BATAC
SLB Project Officer for Socio-Economic Development
Mobile 0921-3509565
Email: rc2_adnu@atenista.net

Posted by Via at 09:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thank God!!! It was so nice to get reacquainted with our bed last Friday after one full week of being in the Medical City due to nasty bacterial pneumonia. It was my first time ever to be confined in a hospital, thank God Medical City is around with its high-tech equipment, not too bad food (you are even given a choice of your menu the day before) and over-all efficient and caring staff. (Save for one nurse by the name MT who really shouldn't be a nurse- as she makes patients feel worse) And thank goodness this hospital has wireless internet which allowed Noel to do some work in the hospital lobby from time to time. We were also so grateful for the 2nd floor food court which has a variety of choices and Pancake House is soon to open as a separate restaurant as well. If this hospital weren't around, it would probably be ugh, hello Makati Medical Center.

Am so, so very grateful to my wonderful husband who stayed with me the entire time even if it meant having to sleep on an incredibly uncomfortable, short and narrow leatherette cot, which was all that would fit in our little room. He was with me during all the lousy tests I had to go through: 3 blood tests, sputum tests, x-rays and the dreaded CT scan where they inject this blue dye into your IV and you really feel this viscous liquid flowing into your hand and up your arm. :( It was really cold (also in that room so I had a really thick blanket on) and I was drawn into this revolving doughnut that took xrays as the machine asked me to take deep breaths and hold my breath, then breathe naturally. This was also my first encounter with an IV (or suero as we like to call it here) My veins are rather small so the IV plastic thingy popped out twice which meant reinsertion of the needle twice. :( He only left on the first night for a few hours of real sleep at home. I panicked when he left and threw up and didn't quite make it to the bathroom. Sigh. During the height of my illness when my fever was still high, Noel said I would make weird exorcist noises in my sleep and I would answer questions that he'd asked hours ago. :( My delirium was really kind of crazy as I would talk to my IV stand, calling it "my tree." Noel really took care of everything, getting me water (I need to take in lots of fluids) and things to read. He even surprised me with Pinklet (a Piglet imitation hehe) and a huge tri-colored marshmallow lollipop. And he fended off visitors that I really wasn't prepared to see what with my every 4 hour nebulization and occasional oxygen rounds. I know it was a really tough couple of weeks, thank you for sticking by me and helping me get back on my feet dear husband of mine! :) I really don't know what I would've done if you weren't there to hold my hand.

Thank you to everyone who called and texted especially my folks who constantly renewed my stash of fluids and breakfast things, Mommy Vic who sent lots of oranges and my sister who provided me with lots of reading material. Also to dear Tito Alran Bengzon who took time out from running Medical City (yup he's the CEO) to check in on me and reassured me that he was up-to-date on my progress. He was Noel's Dad's best friend. I was really touched that he treated us like his family too. :)

Thank you God, I got pretty scared for a while. Let this be a lesson to me to cut back on work and get more regular rest and exercise. And to the rest of you out there, see a specialist straightaway the minute you feel something is wrong. Don't do what I did and go to the ER where the doctors could make a mistake with the drug they prescribe. And so I will continue to rest so that things can go back to normal.

Posted by Via at 07:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)