As I fly home to New Zealand today to mark the end of my 2 week business trip to the US, today also marks the end of MrsG’s Other Life.
As I close this chapter of my personal blog, I fervently hope I leave behind the heartaches and pains of the past some of which I have revealed on this blog and my old blogs which are also now “defunct”.
I am pleased to announce though that I am ready to start a new chapter of my blogging life. This time, I joined by my lovely family, MrG and Bea as we embark on the beginning of our family project, For Gooding Sake.
We hope that you will carry on your MrsG’s Living My Other Life’s reading habits and enjoy what our family blog, For Gooding Sake has to offer.
All of the blog posts from this blog and my other 2 personal blogs have been consolidated into FGS so yes, you will still have access to the old entries.
This blog will be shut down by 10 February so if you want to leave any comments, please do so at For Gooding Sake 
Categories: Uncategorized
I really do believe that you’re never too old to learn something new. This old dawg learnt something today. From Kristene Hekmi no less!
I met Tintin in early 2004 at the height of my personal blogging days. Not sure who discovered whom but from visiting and commenting on each other’s blogs, Tin and I got to know each other. Our online friendship went beyond visiting each other’s blogs though. Soon we transferred to sending private emails to each other, sending Christmas cards every year, collaborating on an online e-magazine for Filipino Expatriates and more recently, participating in the Project 365 Days 0f 2010 together. Because of the Internet, Tintin and I are always regularly updated about each other’s live. Facebook made regular communication all the more possible too!
Tintin, I must say, is one of my favourite friends online and I wasn’t surprised when our online rapport proved to be ‘real’ when we finally met each other in person in September 2009 when MrG, Bea and I went on our big trip to the US last year.
I’m glad that when on this trip of mine to the US, Tintin and I got the chance to catch up again and this time, I got to ask her something that’s been on my mind.
“How do you do that pose of yours?”
You see, Tintin has this ’standard’ pose when she poses for the camera. It seems to be consistent through most of the photos I’ve seen of her and I got curious…was this pose something she does intentionally or does her body have a mind of their own when posing for the camera?
This question that I’ve been pondering for the last few months or so finally got answered. LOL
And yes, it is a pose she does on purpose. That’s where my education to MrsHekmi’s School of “posing” started.
Tintin shows us how to do the ‘pose’.
This one…well, she’s just showing off her muscles! Take a look at that. Too bad, I can’t zoom in on her very nice hamstrings, too! I got to do Pilates too methinks.
Keep reading →
Categories: 365 Days of 2010
Tagged: blogging, friendship, online friendship, travel
Social Networking Conference 2010 Miami, FL
(because she’s busy mixing business with
pleasure…errhhmmmm……far, far, far away!)
the mouse will “play”.
Someone who shall not be named will be in BIG trouble when I get home. I specifically warned this person:
Keep reading →
Categories: 365 Days of 2010
Tagged: #snc2010, business, project 365, travel, work
Today I learnt that a colleague of mine that I highly respect passed away from advanced Pancreatic Cancer. I didn’t even know she was ill. She asked that her illness be kept secret for she wanted to fight it. V was given 3 months to live, in the end she only had 6 weeks after the initial diagnosis.
On the same note, I was told that a University professor of mine also died in his sleep. I may not have seen him since I graduated from University in 1995 but I will always have fond memories of him. Bobby Mendoza was one of my favourite professors. He made our Psychology classes very interesting. Learning with him was an enjoyable process.
To V and Sir Bob, I hope you are both resting in peace. I will be thinking of you.
To everyone out there, do hug your family and loved ones tight. Tell them how much you love them. Don’t hesitate. Do it now.
Live as if this is your last day on earth and love like you’ve never done before.
Categories: 365 Days of 2010
Tagged: death, life is too short, project 365
Have you ever done anything that has caused you to cringe in embarrassment each time you think about it?
I think I’ve just had one of these moments.
Let me give you a bit of background. I hate using the toilets in aeroplanes. The sound of the toilet flush as it sucks in whatever you’ve deposited in the bowl makes me feel like I’m going to get sucked in myself. I literally had to hold on to the toilet door with my back to the toilet as I press the flush button.
Anyway, that’s not the point of this story. The point is…since I hate using the aeroplane’s toilets, I was busting by the time our plane landed in Miami from LA. The flight’s around 4.5 hours roughly.
I walked out of the plane, grabbed my suitcase from the baggage carousel then happily went to the rest room to “unload.”
As I had my suitcase, back pack and shoulder bag with me, I decided to use the disabled toilet as it had more room to got my luggage. Imagine my shock when I heard this soft knock on my door with a voice barely above whispering “ma’am, ma’am, I think you’ve got my suitcase.” (hmm, when did I become a ma’am? I’ve always thought I was a Miss!).
Anyway, I did insist that I had the right bag (remember I was still inside the toilet stall doing my business when this surreal conversation was happening. Don’t worry, I was only doing no. 1).
I was asked to double-check and that I did and when I did, you could probably guess what happened. I really wished the ground would open up and swallow me whole. I had to apologise profusely to the dear old lady who followed me all the way to the ladies’ room to reclaim her suitcase.
I could’ve died in shame. I did assure the woman that I’ve never done anything like that. I have OCD tendencies when it comes to double-checking stuff. Who would’ve thought that we’d have the same Kenneth Cole suitcase down to the same size, model and colour and that our bag tags were in the same place baring the same colour!
Oh the shame! What a grand way to welcome me to Miami!
I wonder if this incident is more embarrassing than the time when my skirt literally fell off me while I was on my way to work in the middle of a busy CBD street?
That one though is a story for another day!
Viva Le Miami!
PS Posts for Days 23 to 25 coming up soon. Haven’t downloaded the relevant photos to go with the blog posts
Categories: 365 Days of 2010
Tagged: embarrassing moment, project 365
One of the best things I loved about this trip is the chance to re-connect with my dearest and oldest friends.
The highlight of today is the chance to catch up with Mayen. A friend I’ve known since I was 14.
That’s 23 years of great friendship. The last time I saw Mayen was in 2001. At my wedding.
We had a minor tiff then and lost touch through the years. But you know what? I realised that if a friendship is real, it’s genuine..it survives distance, misunderstandings or lack of constant/regular communication.
As Mayen and I caught up tonight, I felt 9 years (of barely any contact virtual or otherwise) melt away as we updated each other about what happened in our lives during that period.
No awkward moment, no dead air that needed to be filled with empty chit-chat. We fell into companionable silence when mindless chatter would’ve ruined the moment of just enjoying our time together. We resumed the conversation with ease like two people who’ve known each other all their lives.
I loved everything about today. Loved the meal at Max’s Restaurant in Glendale. Thanks for the treat my friend! We could tell Max’s management that their fresh lumpia ubod and sauce leave much to be desired eh?
Keep reading →
Categories: 365 Days of 2010
Tagged: friendship, glendale, max's restaurant, online work, project 365
Watching the sun as it settles down the horizon to signal an end to yet another day must must be one of the most peaceful scenes one can bear witness to (if you are into these sorts of things).
Today, I am fortunate enough to witness a beautiful sunset in Laguna Beach in California. I live in the east coast of New Zealand so watching the sun set is a rare thing for me.
And what do you do when you have a camera in your hand and the sun was about to set? Take photos of it, or course!
I know photos of the sunset leave much to be desired. I’ve yet to learn how to take better sunset photos. I will persevere!
I love sunsets. So relaxing to watch the sun set. So peaceful. Do you feel the same way as me about sunsets?
While sunsets signal the end of another day, it also paves the way for the hope of a better tomorrow where you can start anew and correct the mistakes of the past day.
Sigh.
Categories: 365 Days of 2010
Tagged: laguna beach, project 365, sunset
I hate to leave New Zealand after the delightful, warm summer season we’ve been experiencing. NOT.
I thought escaping to California was a welcome respite from the cold. But again, I was proven wrong.
Christchurch's so-called "summer"
I left Christchurch on a cold, rainy day. It was kinda frustrating to arrive in Los Angeles only to be greeted by the same, horrid weather I left far, far away from here. The other side of the world, actually.
Los Angeles International Airport - Rain. Hurrah.
Why didn’t the blo*dy rain just stay where it was?
I’m a staunch person though (Believe it, believe it, believet it). I wouldn’t let piddly rain cramp my style. Thank God for my skinny jeans and lovely winter boots. It did made me feel good just a teeny, weensy bit.
Filled with pasalubongs
So here I am again in the Land of the Free. Looking forward to some shopping, work and catching up with friends and family. No, Maricar, hopefully no LV purchase on this trip! LOL
Hasta la vista baby!
Categories: 365 Days of 2010
Tagged: christchurch, laguna beach, project 365, travelling, USA
When I lived in the Philippines, my regular trips to my favourite salon to get my hair, nails and feet pampered where one of the highlights of my week.
Me at my hairdresser's - BEFORE and AFTER my trim and hair colouring session.
Prior to my emigration to New Zealand, well-meaning friends and relatives warned me to not expect the same lifestyle of weekly pamper sessions. It seemed at the time, that this little luxury that I’ve taken for granted for years would be taken away from me.
And boy, were they right. My first year in NZ, going to salon was the last thing on my mind. All I could think of for every purchase I made was how exorbitant the prices seemed when converted from NZ dollars to my beloved third world, Philippine pesos.
Unfortunately for my husband (LOL), I found a job and started earning my own money and realised that I should stop converting into pesos because I no longer lived in the Philippines.
After that realisation there was no turning back. As my earning power grew, my hesitation in spending X amount of dollars just to pamper myself eventually dissolved (I could just hear MrG moan “uh ohhhhhh” haha).
So now, I go to a “proper” hair salon for all my hair pampering needs. No DIY for me in this department. Not that there’s anything wrong with that but the thought of trimming and dyeing my own hair do not appeal to me. I go once a fortnight to have my hair treatment (ie conditioning) and every 6-8 weeks for a trim and a re-growth “coverage” (if my hair’s dyed at the time).
I work hard so I should play hard too, right? And for all you women who hesitate on going to a salon to have your hair pampered properly, it is now time to start. Remember, your hair is your crowning glory. If you have nice hair, your mood lifts, your disposition becomes more positive.
How’s that for justification?
Are you reading this, MrG, my hunny bunny? *wink*
Categories: 365 Days of 2010
Tagged: bliss hairdresser, pampering, project 365
My laptop and (a reliable) internet connection. THE most important tools of my trade.
My Mac. My Baby. Our awesome wi-fi. My lifeline to work. To beloved family and friends living thousands of miles away from me.
Without it, I’d be lost.
Through this medium, I get to have a voice in the world.
I get to read, listen and watch what’s happening in the world.
Without this medium, MrG and I wouldn’t have been able to maintain a long-distance relationship. You made our wedding preparations easier while living in opposite sides of the hemisphere.
This medium kept me sane through days, months, years of homesickness during my early days in New Zealand.
While the Internet was also the medium by which my regular “follower” (READ: Stalker from Hell) harrassed me, the benefits and advantages it has brought me far outweigh the intermittent interference.
This medium opened doors to new ways of keeping in touch with people that matter the most, of nurturing old friendships, to new opportunities that were just waiting to be discovered, to new relationships that started online and eventually evolved to solid friendships. Some of the nearest and dearest friends to me, I met online.
Day 20 of our Project 365 days of 2010 goes to my laptop and the great world of the Internet. Thank you. You deserve my undying gratitude.
Categories: 365 Days of 2010
Tagged: macbook pro, online work, project 365
