New Home, New Adventure

It was already past midnight when we stopped working since my pregnant wife is already getting very tired and started to feel some physical pains in her tummy. Other than that, there are two more surprising reasons why we had to stop working. First, the water supply stopped at 9pm. We found out that the watering system in our apartment is being supplied by a local cooperative and is being shut off from 9pm to 4am everyday - the reason why we started to ran out of water supply comes midnight. Second, electrical power was being cut off by 1am. It's truly surprising because you wouldn't believe controlled water and electricity still existed in this kind of place which is a part of Pasig Mega City. Feeling defeated, we spread a clean cartoon box on a newly-cleaned flooring to where we could call it a night. We we're on limited resources since all of our things were all boxed up and scattered everywhere. Since the electrical supply is cut and everything around is pitch black, we used our cellphones to produce some light we could use to prepare ourselves into going to bed (the makeshift cartoon box). There was no electricity to power the electric fan so it was very very hot. Nevertheless, the heat didn't deter my wife from sleeping who was very much exhausted after the day's work.

Sunday, August 16

Sunday morning, we woke up very late with muscle pains all over our body. We however recovered our lost energy and that was a good thing. Fortunately, my wife's friends - the couple living next door, gave us food for breakfast. It was such a relief. We hurriedly ate our breakfast so we could continue working. All of our things were still scattered on the floor and we needed to arrange all of those. The pregnant wife was very motivated and self-driven. She was very inspired with the new home and appointed herself as the boss in arranging things here and there. As the husband, I took charge lifting or moving those heavy loads my wife is not capable of doing. We could see ourselves united as one centering on one goal - fix all the mess and beautify our new home. We only rested during our lunch break that we prepared ourselves (noodles and sardinas). We resumed working afterwards.

In the late afternoon, we decided we needed to go out to buy rice and fish in the market for our dinner. We took shower and off we went to the market. When we came back, my top sider shoes is no longer on the rack. I supposed it was stolen since it was branded and a bit expensive. It was the pair of shoes we bought before we went home to the province for our wedding. I rarely use it here in Metro Manila since I prefer my steel toe shoes for walking purposes. I only use that top sider on weekends when we are going to visit friends or just strolling in the mall because it is very light and very convenient to slip on and easy to remove. Anyhow, no regret at all. I just consider it as an eye-opener for us that in this place we are new and are just familiarizing the area, we cannot just leave important things outside the house when we have to go out. We're lucky our gas cylinder and the stove were spared so we still could cook the stuf we bought for our dinner.

In the night time, we discovered that the lavatory sink and toilet floor drainage is clogged. We informed the owners of the apartment who responded immediately. Past midnight and we assumed the clogged drainage had already been resolved. Again, water supply and electricity was cut off so we had to go to bed. By the way, we were not aware before moving in that electricity and water is cut off in the night time.

Monday, August 17

We woke up very early to prepare going to work. I supposed to wash our soiled clothings but my wife suggested we had to leave it there for the meantime since we needed to familiarize first the transportation system of the place we're moving in. While we prepare ourselves, another discovery showed up. The toilet bowl do not flush properly. I hate to describe about it farther but it is already enough for me to momentarily set a "no number two policy" until it is get fixed. Our neighbor - Jovy's friends next door, offered their toilet for our use. But as a person with digestion problem, I wonder how will I manage it if the call of nature would suddenly wake me up in the middle of the night.

By 8am, we were already in the highway (Ortigas Avenue) waiting for jeepney. Jovy will be going to Alimall in Cubao and I'd be going to Shaw Blvd. It was easier for my wife to get her ride since there were a lot of unoccupied jeepneys going to Cubao. My problem is my ride going to Shaw Blvd. All the jeepneys from Tanay, Binangonan, Taytay, and Antipolo were already full as they passed by. As it was already past nine in the morning, I desperately ran out of options that I decided to take FX bound for SM Megamall. Even if the FX was taking an alternate road, we were caught up in heavy traffic along Ortigas Avenue flyover. It took us more than just 30 minutes going down from Ortigas Avenue flyover to Meralco Avenue. When we arrived in SM Megamall, I alighted from the FX and walked to our office in Shaw Blvd. I was two hours late when I reported to work.

In the evening going home, I waited for my ride at the jeepney stop in front of the old Kapitolyo building (that's located in Shaw Blvd. - Pasig rotunda). All the jeepneys that passed by were full of passengers. I waited and waited until patience was drained out of me. Finally, I decided to walk from Shaw Blvd. to our new home in Floodway. The time I started to walk was 6:40pm. I walked through Meralco Avenue, Julia Vargas Avenue, then C-5 until I reached Rosario. It was drizzling but I had to endure it. I brought with me the swapped umbrella just in case the rain would get stronger. I just continued walking until I arrived in Floodway. I pushed farther until finally I arrived home. It was already 8:10pm when I reached home. Total time of my brisk walking is one hour and 30 minutes.

Internet Connection Problem

It was already three days that I haven't had online with my computer. I checked email earlier of the day in the office using the office desktop but that was it. So when my wife and I finished our dinner and I was through washing the dishes, I set up my computer on top of the dining table. Since we moved in, I lost my computer table to my wife who used it instead for her television.

After I finished setting up my computer and everything's ready to go, I ran the Sun Broadband Wireless dashboard. The antenna icon in the dashboard indicated a "no signal" and the network icon indicated a "no Internet connection." That's the screencapture down there.

I tried to dial but it the dashboard just prompted a message that I couldn't connect unless I get registered to an available network.

It was truly a disappointment! If only we didn't move...

Why we had to move

And why we needed to move? You might ask. There were good reasons why we had to look for a new house. The one we occupied in Makati is a bachelor's pad (we call studio type here in the Philippines) and is only initially good for the two of us. It is not however ideal for a growing family. After we learned that Jovy is already pregnant, I arranged my mother to be coming over to watch for my wife on her delivery. Because of this, we realized we need to find a new house not only for the two of us but a house that we can also share to other members in the household. This is how we end up living in the new apartment adjoined next door where Jovy's friends presently live.

But with the congested vehicular traffic going to work and back home, the controlled water supply and electricity, the high humidity and heat, and the zero Internet signal, the flexible attitude that I aquired in my years of travels is now being challenged. Will I be able to adapt in this new home that easily?

Bicycle or Motorcycle?

Today, August 18, my wife is scheduled to see her doctor for her monthly pre-natal checkup. As usual, getting a ride seemed to be a punishment to both of us. Traffic is very heavy and jeepneys were always full. And even if there are jeepneys with available seats, you wouldn't want to risk yourself getting pinned down by unruly fellow passengers who are running after the same seat you're after with. Getting into public rides during rush hour is literally survival for the fittest.

After more than an hour of waiting, we decided to take the much longer route bound for Cubao. At least, there are lots of jeepneys available. I realized, commuting by jeepney from home to work and back proves to be very difficult and stressful for our couple since we moved in to our present location in Pasig. Sometime ago, I mentioned here in this blog that I'll be buying a new bicycle soon that I can use both to commute to work as well as for weekend touring rides. But if I buy a bicycle, it will solely be utilized for my personal transport only. Whereas, If I buy a motorcycle, both my wife and I can use it going to work. But that will also mean that I won't be able to realize my long-fancied weekend bicycle rides. I cannot afford to buy both at the same time. Now, I'm confused. Readers, please tell me, will I buy bicycle or motorcycle?

Surprises, Surprises...

For mistakes I actually didn't commit, my Twitter account was suspended for the second time. The first suspension occured on February of this year. At that time, I didn't make any follow up so my account could be restored. But after a few days, my account was reactivated. Both reasons of suspension is "strange activity" though I didn't remember any abuse that I do. In fact, I read Twitter's term of service to make sure I won't commit some mistakes in the future while using their service. I thought my account was hacked. Before the suspension occured, I couldn't log on to my account that I had to have Twitter reset my password. Also, based from the screenshot below, I posted a tweet about getting 500 followers a day of which I didn't do. I also noticed that my account is aggresively following other Twitter users. I didn't do it. That was probably the strange activity Twitter referred to. The screenshot below was taken during the suspension last week. And take note, I lost my followers and the people that I followed due to suspension.

I sent an email to Twitter contesting the suspension. I didn't receive any reply but today I noticed that I my mailbox got notifications from Twitter about friends and other Twitter users adding me. It only goes to show that my account was again reactivated. The people who were following me and the people whom I followed were also listed back. I can only say thanks for it...

And while I'm happy that the suspension of my Twitter account was lifted, I am still disappointed with the embedded comment form of this website. It simply doesn't work most of the time. Depending on what browser you're using, the comment form is acting up so strangely.

The screenshot below was taken with a Mozilla Firefox browser. It stated that the request could not be processed.

The screenshot above is displayed using Internet Explorer. The iframe is not displaying that visitors would only notice a blank white space.

Right this time, I am wondering how I may be able to blog or bloghop at home when I can't connect to the Internet using my Sun Broadband. Oh, well, I probably might use the time in other productive means like reading or watching TV with my wife. We can just hope that Sun Broadband signal will be available in our area very soon. I still have to call Sun and nag at them about this dilemma.

As of this writing, the owner of the house didn't send a plumber yet so the "No number two policy" is still in effect.