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I just had to post this story, taken from this page. enjoy! ^____^*

The boss wondered why one of his most valued employees was absent but had not phoned in sick one day. Needing to have an urgent problem with one of the main computers resolved, he dialled the employee’s home phone number and was greeted with a child’s whisper. ‘ Hello ? ‘

‘Is your daddy home?’ he asked.

‘ Yes ,’ whispered the small voice.
May I talk with him?’

The child whispered, ‘ No .’

Surprised and wanting to talk with an adult, the boss asked, ‘Is your Mummy there?’ ‘ Yes ‘

‘May I talk with her?’ Again the small voice whispered, ‘ No ‘

Hoping there was somebody with whom he could leave a message, the boss asked, ‘Is anybody else there?’

‘ Yes , ‘ whispered the child, ‘ a policeman . ‘

Wondering what a cop would be doing at his employee’s home, the boss asked, ‘May I speak with the policeman?’

‘ No, he’s busy , ‘ whispered the child.

‘Busy doing what?’

‘ Talking to Daddy and Mummy and the Fireman , ‘ came the whispered answer.

Growing more worried as he heard a loud noise in the background through the earpiece on the phone, the boss asked, ‘What is that noise?’

‘ A helicopter ‘ answered the whispering voice.

‘What is going on there?’ demanded the boss, now truly apprehensive. Again, whispering, the child answered,

‘ The search team just landed a helicopter ‘

Alarmed, concerned and a little frustrated the boss asked, ‘What are they searching for?’

Still whispering, the young voice replied with a muffled giggle…

‘ ME ! ‘

Hi, everyone. Remember when I said I'd write about the second half of our adventures in Aduana and Quiapo? Well, here we are.

After an hour spent in the corridors of Tabora browsing through cloth swatches, shopping for sewing notions, and finding our way back out to sunlight and fresh air, Mary and I decided we'd had enough of the fecund grunge and grit of Quiapo. High time for a retreat to sterile civilization -- a sink to wash up in, a sit-down meal, and air-conditioning in Tutuban Central Mall. (Oh, those were the days when we feared neither smoke nor dust nor unwashed men... XD)

Fed, watered, and gussied up, we began exploring the stalls around for gifts to bring home to our significant others. We got delightfully sidetracked, however, by a textile store on the second floor.

I do have the feeling I'll be back. Quite often.

I do declare, I sincerely do have a weakness for this one.

les cerices!

Hereare three short videos that tickled me this early afternoon. Wow, European kids sure have it lucky if they have cartoons like this every Saturday morning! :)

This past Easter Monday, Mary and I hied off to Aduana, the Pier area in Manila to help me buy my very own first sewing machine. (I do say "my very own first" because this was the first sewing machine I bought with my own well-earned money. It's a very good feeling, it is. ^_^*)

We started our trip from Cubao, and drove, drove, drove past Quiapo, past Intramuros, even past the Manila Hotel. Upon arrival, I was thrilled to find the shops were so close to the newspaper presses near the harbor. It brought back fond memories of my father and I driving through those gates, sharing a small bottle of Coke, and spending some quality time talking about creativity with Dong Ampil De Los Reyes for my thesis. He's a writer with a mind, body, and soul to be reckoned with, and I do say he is the Kurt Vonnegut of our shores. (no, Sir Dong, I'm not taking that back. :D)

The Pier in Manila has earned its notoriety for being the dumping ground for Japanese appliance overruns sold at astoundingly cheap prices. Have money and good haggling skills ready, and you're good to go. Just don't forget to pick up a transformer for your new purchase if you don't want it to fry. Where else can you find a 21-inch flat screen TV for around P5,000, or a washing machine for P4,000? (That's roughly $100 and $80, respectively.)

Or in my case, a Holiidaynu Bernina package (complete feet, extending table, knee lift, cables and instruction manual -- in hiragana, unfortunately -- included), with a free baby transformer, fresh needles, and high speed bobbin winders thrown in?

And all for the tidy price of P3,000? No, scratch that -- I very nicely asked for a discount on the beauty, and the storekeeper closed the deal at P2,800. (that's about $60, reduced to $56.)

First, a couple quick clips of the store we visited -- one of the many peppering the Pier walk -- with the ever-lively and lovely Mary:

We certainly enjoyed that a little bit, didn't we? ^_^ Mary, Mary, quite contrary, what a dear she is. I wouldn't have my baby home without her, and that's God's honest truth. She had me over for a spell at her gorgeous home and spoilt me with silvanas and chocolate-striped suman from Bacolod, and let me drive her cat and two dogs nuts. :D Thank you, luv! :D

And as promised, the unveiling at home!

Ta-dah!

but does the adventure end here? Oh no, dearie me! There's still more fun and stories and pictures to be had with our denouement, coming to you soon in the next blog post! Stick around for it. ;)

(or alternately entitled WahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahaHA! Try sustaining that.)

Officemate and sewing gal pal Mary and I took a trip to the Pier area and Divisoria today to have an adventure, and indeed, much adventure, energy, and laughs were there to be had. I'm finally home, bathed, dressed, and settled down. I'd really love to write about our exploits, but my body has been slipping in, ehem, subtle clues that it wants Me time. (try going out like a light at half-hour intervals for subtlety. Ha!)

I do promise all you lovely people a good story in time, but let me leave you with something to keep you in suspended animation: