To Date Again

Saturday, July 15

9:30AM: Dionne and I awoke to the ringing of the phone downstairs. We slowly got up thinking that somebody downstairs might pick up the call. As I opened our door, the phone had already rung four times and that the answering machine had kicked in. I was surprised to hear Daddy's voice that I told Dionne, "Si Daddy!", and immediately, I ran down the stairs.

I didn't pick up the phone immediately after realizing that Daddy was dictating the transaction number for Western Union. It would be easier to replay the message later to jot down the number. Hehe.

"Hello Dad?", I said. "Kakagising lang po namin."

"Bakit, anong oras na ba dyan?" asked Daddy. Ooops.

It was then that I noticed that Mommie was taking a bath and that our kasambahay, Isay, was ... I can't remember. Probably outside. It could also be that she is still too shy to answer the phone.

That's how our lazy Saturday morning got jump started.

After lunch, I went to the gym to continue lifting weights that I never before thought I could lift. Have I been losing weight? I don't think so. At this phase of my training, I'm more concerned with my strength and power instead of shedding pounds. Those will come off as a side effect. A later phase would accelerate this. I have been enticing Dionne to join me at the gym, especially now that yoga, salsa and belly-dancing classes will be added. I will join her for the yoga. Salsa: maybe. Belly-dancing: not likely. I'll probably be there to "watch" the class though.

After gym, Dionne and I were supposed to meet at LRT-UN Station for our ocular inspection of the swimming pool at EAC. Lessons are handled by Bert Lozada Swim School. I arrived a little later than expected because of the light rain and the two plastic bags of books I was carrying. They were part of the latest installment of 150 or so collection of books (fantasy and sci-fi) that I bought from Dexter.

Saturday was a busy day at the pool. Most of the swimmers were young people and students from other schools. Only a handful were adults AND beginners. All of them were wearing the proper swim attire: swimming trunks and bathing suits. Haay.

We were introduced to Remyr, one of the coaches there. He told us of the lessons and suggested that we take our lessons 2-3 times a week instead of 2-hour marathons on Saturdays. There would be 12 1-hour sessions in all. He also mentioned that I could wear a swimming/cycling short. As long as it's not yet loose and won't easily come off as I swim. YES!

Lucky that there was a Western Union branch across the school. While there, we planned on what we wanted to do for the rest of the afternoon. Since my mobility was reduced (books were actually heavy compared to when I first lifted them at the gym after squatting weights heavier than I am), strolling at Robinson's Place was out. SM San Lazaro would have to do.

At SM, Dionne went straight to the cinema while I went to check on my Advantage Card which turned out to be not yet available. Dionne bought 2 tickets for the 6:45PM screening of Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest. We decided to eat dinner first before the movie.

Problem was it was already 6:15!

We headed for Burger King for a quick bite. Unfortunately, the family ahead of me wanted to order all of the toys that BK was currently selling. It turned out that they only had 2 currently in stock. The boy started to cry and shout. Exactly what we needed when we're in a hurry.

I had a chicken sandwich while Dionne had spaghetti and 5 very small, deep-fried-almost-burnt chicken tenders. McDo's chicken nuggets still rule. I even had a small "discussion" with one of the crew when I was about to refill my drink. They put Dionne's apple juice in the cup where my rootbeer was supposed to be. I was quite worried with the time that I wouldn't budge. They had to refill my cup or else... Or else I'd refill the apple juice instead. They gave in and I had another cup of rootbeer.

5 minutes to go...

We hurriedly went into Cinema 1. This was bigger than the other cinemas, explaining the 30 peso price differential. We didn't know that the movie ran for 2 1/2 hours. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the movie. There were even times that I was the only one still laughing... It makes me want to see the first movie. And the third as well, Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End. I only learned from IMDB that there extra scenes at the end of the credits. Too bad we missed it.

After the movie, we had frap and chocolate cake at Starbucks. Just like old times...

But before I even get to our table, I spilled my drink onto the floor. :(

I was waiting for the crew to refill the tissue, and then when I was about to get some, I toppled my venti mocha frap. Another venti gone to waste.

Dionne was puzzled when I came back to our table with only 1 frap. I told her what happened. I was responsible for the screams a little earlier. I didn't want to buy another one but Dionne saw the look on my face and decided that she'd be the one to get me my drink. While waiting for her, I couldn't help but overhear the conversations at the table beside us. It was a lady's suitor meeting her co-workers. No, I wasn't really eavesdropping. They were just too noisy. =P

Sunday, July 16

After mass, Dionne and I went to my Nanay for a visit. No statements yet from my credit cards. Whew!

From there, we went to SM San Lazaro again. This time, to look for our swimming apparel and Jeffy-jeffy's birthday gift. And also to check on my Advantage Card. And also to get 2x2's of me having hair.

We were set to have lunch at home but by 1:30 PM, we were still at the mall. I had to have lunch. The Zagu and 50g of chicharong bituka were not enough to fuel me for what we still had to do.

We had lunch at the food court. Sizzling Plate. Sarap!

We got home at past 4PM. Pics, check. Grocery, check. Advantage Card, check. Jeff's gift, check. But no swim apparel (not enough choices, actually). This is the difficulty in trying to look for swimming stuff during the rainy season.