Charityrdelacruz's Weblog

A couple of years back, my aunt gave me a replica of a Louis Vuitton bag.  It was a “pasalubong” from Hongkong.  Back then, I wasn’t too conscious if the bag was a counterfeit or not.  As long as it serves its purpose and it is fashionable, it was not a problem.  It’s just like having a pirated DVD.  As long as it is a clear copy, to me it’s as good as the original.  In most cases, I would never watch the same DVD once I’ve watched it. 

Anyhow, back to the bag.  As mentioned, it was no problem if the bag was a fake.  Maybe because when I was 5 to 10 years younger, owning an original LV bag wasn’t in my list!!!  As far as I’m concerned, it did not exist in my vocabulary.  Maybe because I was not too brand conscious.  Well, maybe I am, but only for the ‘affordable’ brands like Lacoste, RL or Nine West.  Then came my liking for Coach, DKNY and Kate Spade.  Some of which, came in the form of a gift from Mama and Ninang while the others were bought at factory outlets when we were on trip to the States.  I thought it wound end there considering their costs were a few thousand bucks.  IT DID NOT!  My desire for another bag (even if I already have a couple of designer bags) just evolved!  I can be seen surfing the Louis Vuitton website! 

I wanted a Speedy 30 or a Neverfull MM.  And when given the chance to ask my mom’s friend coming from the United Kingdom to buy for us an original LV bag in an LV store at England, the gates of happiness opened!!!  I had to ask permission from the hubby!!!  It was like actually asking for funds, literally (which I’ve pre-committed, take note).  He initially said, ‘NO’.  He said I already have a collection of bags sleeping in their boxes, gathering dust.  It’s just eating up space in his closet because mine is already full.   He even said that even if I change bags every day for a month, with the plentiful I have, I won’t repeat a bag!  If only he can sell them, he will!  

Admittedly, yes I don’t need another bag.  But with my super “kakulitan”, I finally made him say yes!  Woohoo!!! He was giving-in into my whim and I on the other hand was already having second thoughts on pushing thru with the purchase since it’s a major cash outlay.  But just like any major expenditure, we had lots of things to take into consideration: the monthly bills, baby expenses, savings, etc.  And so, after a biased analysis, hubby just turned a blind-eye.  How can he not?  He’s a witness to my sleepless nights since the day I gave the full specs of the LV bag that I like.   As he said it himself, “I’m obsessed!” Hahaha.

Well, he’s not saying that we can already super afford it, but somehow he understands my “caprice” to just let the resources flow for us to be able to afford it.  One line of reasoning he told was that I’ve spent more than a decade working day in and day out, and in one way or another, I deserve to splurge a little on my obsession/whim/caprice!  I like this part of our argument although the splurging was not a little, it was a lot!  To me it seems a fortune! Exaggerated!!!).  Well I guess he was just into defending the purchase of his Nikon D90 just this year too, hahaha.  We’re quits!  But as my husband has warned me, it probably may be the first and the last!  And that it would be his gift to me for the next 2 years worth of occasions.  Well take note, there was a word “probably”.  Hehehe! 

Sleepless nights no more, the bag I ordered has arrived.  I’m as happy as a clam!  I can only “clap, clap, clap”.  Yipee! And what a better way to do it, my mom ordered one for her  too!!! Meaning, I could borrow.  Double happiness!

Stage 2 of the Sky Way construction at the South Luzon Express Way began during the 3^rd week of March.  That’s almost 4 months ago.  It caused terrible traffic during the first few weeks of construction.  Going to the office and traveling back home after a hard day’s work were a nightmare.  We had to start earlier than our usual time leaving the house and we had to contend with the bumper to bumper vehicles on the expressway!  Thank goodness, “counter flow” was invented.  We probably would never arrive at our Makati office on time if not for those precious counterflows that we took.  It’s just sometimes we always have to keep our fingers crossed that the counterflow opens before we even get to the opening!  Otherwise, we go thru the experience of roving the horrendous Alabang to Bicutan stretch!  And imagine, that’s just going to work and that we’re just half way thru.  The other half is this:  the normal 1 hour ride going home has been doubled and for me it was truly a waste of precious time!  It meant lesser time being with CJ all the more.  Hahaha.  How about on weekends?  We don’t try passing thru SLEX, at all!!!  We’d rather take the Coastal route.  And besides we usually stay at home on weekends.  If it’s not that important, our cars our parked Saturday and Sunday at the garage!

We have to thank God the construction’s progress is steady fast.  A lot of posts have been built and it seems workers have been working round the clock!  Compared to the construction of Sky Way’s 1^st stage way back the 1990s, I guess Stage 2 will be done sooner!  More visible are the equipments, construction people and pre-fabricated steels and thrushes.  They are beyond doubt so quick.  I suppose we can attribute it to the enhanced superior technology nowadays.

At present, there’s still traffic but it’s more manageable.  There are still traffic jams but before was super worse.  Probably, the ease was brought about by the fast progress in the construction and probably also because of the notion that people are more acclimatized to traffic already!  Everyone seems to be expecting it. 

Noteworthy though that the flow from Alabang to Calamba is so much better now.  My brother said his travel from Alabang to Sta. Rosa is so smooth.  It only takes him 15 minutes to arrive at home.  Now, isn’t that wonderful?

I wonder if Sky Way Stage 2 is completed how fast could traffic flow from Makati to home?  Haaaay, I’m sure it’ll be a breeze!!!  What’s not a breeze is the pricey toll fees that may be imposed!  Well, I can only hope that it’s not gonna be that unreasonably steep.  =)

Michael Jackson is a legend. He is truly an icon that brought zest to today’s music. Controversial even to his time of death, MJ made it big for a fact! Though I’m not a big fan, his hit songs were songs that I like to listen to. Some of it, I even know and memorize by heart. ‘She’s Out of My Life’ and ‘Heal the World’ are personal favorites. His dance moves were to scream for. The crotch-grabbing “you know I’m bad” step and the moonwalk were a blast!

The King of Pop

To the King of Pop, may you rest in peace as you are welcomed by God’s loving embrace. Thank you for bringing “Thriller” to the world. A lot of people mourn your death but a lot more believes in your music that brought magic. Forever your music will live on!