Sunday, November 25, 2007
Hola! A month after Fort Ilocandia, what's next? A bunch of my closest friends left/are leaving, another one getting married as well, new accomplishments in wedding planning, and a lot of other crazy stuff.

Long Distance Friendships
After a month-long vacation to the US to visit Papa Jed, Nix left for Singapore last week, this time for work. It's really sad knowing that she won't be here to share her OC-ness with me for my wedding preps. No more late-night to early morning telebabads about anything and everything (no matter how stupid the topic is/are). Sad. You better be here a day before you turn 27, girl. I swear. You have to promise me or else.

Before Nix left, I learned that Omar and Jean are planning to be OFW's as well. Jean will be trying her luck in Singapore next year, while Omar is moving to Korea in two weeks! (He called me just last night to tell me he's leaving on December 5 and that he might not make it to my wedding.) Now the only O-C crew left here in PH will just be me, Shirmae, and Cris. Sigh.

As if my college friends leaving the country isn't enough, I talked to Arlene the other night only to find out that after her vacation in the US next month, she might go back there to study next year. She'll be gone for 2-3 years - which means that she might not be here for my wedding either. Boohoo! I won't have a "Dra." title in my secondary sponsors list anymore!

Of course I'm sincerely happy for all of them, and I believe that true friendships do not allow distance barriers. No matter how long we may not see or talk to each other, the bond will always be there - whether we all like it or not. Good luck, my dear friends. We all have our own dreams, and I cannot be any happier knowing that they're all coming true - we may not be there physically to witness each other's successes but I know in heart and spirit, we're still "there". =)

Getting Hitched Too!
Congratulations, Emily and Migs!
12.19.08
Who would've thought we'd be doing the preps at the same time? Good luck to us!


Update on Our Wedding Preps
Since our wedding website isn't up and running yet (because #1, I promised myself we won't go online until we finalize our entourage - which is still on-going "negotiation", and #2 I don't want the typical ready-made website - I want to be able to design our website somehow), I'm posting what we've done/thought of so far here:

1. Venue - 100% paid by end of this year (I am sooo broke!)
2. Caterer - 100% paid by end of this year (Need to beg soon! Waaaaah!)
   
3. Photo/Video - paid RF, scouting for the best venue for our pre-nup shoot
   
4. Gowns - have inquired w/ Cecil Abad though I still have a few others to check out. Jax and I need to work on our swatches (our theme is pink and gold) really soon!
   
5. Cake - Perfect cakes, Arlene's cousin, yet to set a meeting for conceptualization. I want a simple but yummy cake; what I'm keen about is the topper as I like it to clearly speak of our personalities.
   
6. Music - I initially wanted to get JJS, but I'm having second thoughts now since their rates are a bit high, especially since we're having an out of town wedding. My brother is starting his violin lessons next week and I told him to prioritize studying my wedding march song (hehe) so I'd only have to worry about the reception. My ex-piano teacher also called this morning and is volunteering to play for our wedding! I'm sure she's gonna give us a good deal. Apparently, her son (who's my ex-schoolmate and Don's friend) also plays regularly at a bar in Greenbelt and is part of Nyoy Volante and The Manos. Hmmm.... I hope this means savings for me. *wink!*
7. Bridal Suite - somewhere in Tagaytay. So far we've checked Casa Blanca and Country Discovery Suites. Our main concern here is that it should look good in the pictures. Hehe... Hopefully we can do another ocular this weekend.
   
8. Flowers - already met with our venue's in-house florist. He asked us what design we want for the place and we couldn't give him an answer. Honestly, I was expecting him to first have a concept in mind, and then we'll just approve. Oh well... we'll still check Flowers of May. I hope they're ok.
9. OTD Coordinator - still contemplating on whether to get one or not. I really want to be a hands-on bride-to-be but with all that I've been reading from the forums, seems like I'm gonna need one if I don't like to look all harassed on my wedding day.
   
10. Invitations & Souveneirs - will be DIY. As of now, that is. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can have the lay-outs and printer sourcing done by May or June.
    

Whew! I haven't done much, I know. And it's just 11 months away! Jax, I know we can pull this off. Can't wait!

What Else?

• While Jo, Don's girlfriend and soon-to-be fiancee (yes they're getting married just months after we do!), is planning to enroll in CCA, I also promised to start being friends with cook books and Martha Stewart-ish self-help materials. Our kitchen is currently undergoing a major makeover and hopefeully I'll be inspired to learn to be a homemaker soon. I really need to take this seriously. Seriously.
  
• I have a decision to make in terms of my career - to stay with Company A and continue to be an architect, civil engineer, equipment/maintenance engineer, project manager, packaging analyst, industrial engineer, human relations officer, and events coordinator all rolled into one, OR move to Company B where I'll be a product technologist, process engineer, and an R&D officer. Both have their own set of pros and cons, especially now that I'm thinking about our (Jax and I) long term plans. Major considerations are: proximity from my (current) or our (future) house and my plan to, eventually, go into teaching. Somehow I know the answer to these questions, but I'm still seeking advice from the One Up There.
• Right now, Jax is in Subic again for another RWYB event. This is the first time he's not taking his "+1" because well, I'm stuck here at home waiting for the flu fairy to finally come, go, and get this over with. I've been having this sucky throat that's making it difficult for me to swallow anything (even water) for days now. Aaaaaargh! Anyway, I hope Jax wins his class this time. Go Tammy!
• It's difficult to be friends with someone whose actions make you want to puke sometimes, not to mention that you see that person every day at work! Ok I'm gonna shut up now.

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This is, by far, the longest post I've ever made in all 3 years of my blogging life! I must have missed blogging this much. Til next! ;)