Swept Away.

We went to Batasan this morning to check the construction progress of the house. We’re very pleased with what we saw. It won’t take long before we see a fully constructed Little Mansion. Yahoo! We’re quite readying ourselves for a very busy summer ahead: PAG-IBIG errands, canvassing (and shopping) for furniture and appliances, the big move and so on. It seems like we’ll get well versed with terms related to house owning like mortgages, movers, floor plans, foreclosures, etc. We’re really really excited!

And a happier news… Asher’s well now.  According to his pulmonologist, his lungs are wheeze-free now and albeit occasional cough episodes at night are to be expected as an after-effect of the steroids he took recently and the bronchodilator meds that he was just prescribed, he’ll be 100% okay in no time.

As always, Thanks Bro for these good news!

Okay…I think I’m so ready to retire the night and finally I can say, TGIF..but TGIS will be more apt since Friday’s ending in 16 minutes. It was a long day actually but I’m fulfilled and happy with my accomplishment. Did 70% of my pending online tasks, woot! It’s also great that my internet connection cooperated with me today. No down times and the connection was fast all throughout my usage as if I’m connected on the web via Bell internet services. I can somehow relax this weekend since the deadlines of the remaining 30% tasks aren’t that soon.

Have a great weekend everyone!

It will be one busy weekend ahead again for us for we will be out of the house most of the time. That’s why tonight, I’ll try to finish some online works so that I can relax and not worrying about work deadlines.

Here’s our itinerary for tomorrow:
1. We’ll pay Little Mansion a visit and check out the construction progress. I think the husband needs to get the measurement of two spots where we’ll be setting up the tv stands. We’re already canvassing for appliances and stuffs we’ll be equipping the house with.
2. Head to the hospital for Asher’s X-ray then a follow up examination by his Pedia Pulmonologist in the afternoon.
3. Meet Peachy to hand her loots from the US (part of the “Shopping Box” that arrived last week from Boston). Her kids and Asher have the same doctor so we’ll probably meet along the clinic’s hallway.

So far that’s what we have lined up for tomorrow. Sunday will be another long day for malling, mass and fiesta activities here in the neighborhood.

I got inspired by the Goal Tracker part of my BDJ Planner. It’s actually labeled as 2010 Goals. But I find it so broad and I want to monitor it on a timely basis so I decided to tweak it a little. Thus, I’m coming up with my “Monthly Goals”. This is my pursuit of curtailing the very bad habit of procrastination and hopefully, this “habit tracker” tool of mine will carry on even after 2010.

I started last month with three goals for a trial. I’m pleased that I was able to cross out 2 out of 3 in my list as I was able to:
1. renew our passports (which we’ve been meaning to do for several months since last year)
2. scout a good pediatric pulmonologist for Asher

I know it would have been better if I accomplished the third one, too. But it’s alright. That has to be the number one on my list this February and I vow that the month will not end with it undone.
1. Open a joint checking account in the bank. (Hmm, calling The Husband, please let me know when is your free time)
2. I declare that February will also be a Health Month for my family. Big thanks to our HMO and health savings account, we have our health bills covered so no worries on the expenses.
- I have started it with Asher as we are currently seeing a Pediatric Pulmonologist, a specialist who can manage expertly his asthma.
- Asher will celebrate his 2nd birthday next month so that means I’m due to be seen by my gynecologist for my annual checkup. I’ll also see to it to undergo a general checkup and have my primary concerns checked: thyroid (possible culprit for having extreme weight loss) and my dextroscoliosis.
- For the husband, I’ll make it a point nag him to have his eyes checked by an ophthalmologist as recommended by the annual checkup results.

While waiting for the husband tonight, I find myself earlier browsing a particular gold investment site, out of curiosity. I actually know nothing about these stuffs but I just got intrigued when an expert explained that despite the upward and downward price trends, the value of gold does not actually change very much at all. This supports the experts’ idea that now is a pretty good time to buy gold bullion. In fact, it is always the best time to buy gold. No matter what the world economic condition will be, gold will withstand financial crises as its value stays the same. There’s just a little tricky part in understanding the relationship of currency values and interest rates to gold’s prices and trends but gold trading has proven over time that it’s a promising investment.

I am heavily but happily loaded with online works these past few days to my paypal’s (and husband’s) glee, of course. So even though I’m a bit unwell and nursing a clogged nose due to a bad case of colds, here I am finishing all these one at a time. Our schedule this weekend will be pretty tight so I’m targeting to accomplish majority, if not all, by Friday night. I just hope that the little one will less disturb and forcefully take my seat on front of the laptop. He discovered that he can watch anytime his favorite commercials and videos through youtube. And of course, his wit and charm are simply irresistible that I don’t have the heart to decline his request demand.

So what are consecutively playing on youtube? In this order:

He’s deeply mesmerized by his very own video. Perhaps, he’s calmed down by the mellow lullaby accompaniment of the video. It may also sound familiar to him because I’d always watch and let him hear the music when I was still pregnant.

Isn’t it amazing how we’re now technologically advanced that it’s easier for us to take, upload on the web and watch videos anytime? Gone are the days when we use jurassic video recorders in 8mm films. Now, there’s no need to resort to 8mm film to DVD conversion process because the latest video cameras can shoot and process DVD output. Most of the mobile phones now are capable of capturing videos! So babies and kids of this generation are indeed lucky because their parents can shoot as many videos of their milestones as they want. My generation (I’m an ’80s baby so I’m not that old..hehe!) sees the emergence of video cameras, precious moments are stored in traditional film formats like 8mm, Super 8, 16mm films then later, V8 formats for VHS viewing. It’s good that there are video conversion experts who can perform magic in converting film to DVD. So should you wish to unearth and watch those old videos of your younger years, check out the magnificent FILM TO DVD services of Video Conversion Experts via their website. They use the most advanced film scanners and tape transfer machines to come up with the best quality film, video tape and slide transfers.

The terms Options picks and alerts may sound uninteresting for most of us. It may sound boring for a lackadaisical Commerce college student. It may be a little overwhelming for a newbie who’s just about to try the stock market world. But for an expert, passionate options trader, these terms matter and mean a lot in his daily business life. In fact, a day will not pass without uttering or mere thinking about these words. After all, his strategies will depend on the trends of these terms.

You might be wondering why I suddenly brought up this topic. You might be thinking, I probably just unearthed and read my Stock Investment college books or perhaps I just tuned to a stock market TV news channel. Well, not really. I just happened to read an interesting line from a finance-related website that says “What are you doing TODAY to become a millionaire TOMORROW?” It actually is a strong question and given a plummeting economy that we have, it really is hard to answer the question objectively. For most, being employed in the corporate world or investing in a business may be the answer but for the braver ones, they find ways to hit easy profits by studying stock options trading strategies and going for good option picks. Stock investment can be quite puzzling in the beginning but once one gets the flow and the hang of it, hefty earnings will just follow easily.

Just like in any business or in any games, strategies and good judgment are the keys to succeed. Continuous research, learning and alertness are also important, thus, it’s best if a stock options trader is kept abreast about the latest trends and strategies. One way is subscribing to options alerts blog such as MomentumOptionsTrading.com in which instant access is given about daily options tips and stock options picks email alerts.

It’s the first day of February and albeit I’m head starting it in a sickly state (colds and cough), I’m all pumped up as I have a lot to look forward to this month.

1. Dad’s homecoming this weekend. He’s taking his annual vacation leave from working abroad plus he’s gracing our youngest sibling’s college graduation on April. I’m excited to see those graduation invitations!

2. Twitter Bebot’s Grand EB on the 19th and the Twitter Babies’ Jollibee Party on the 20th courtesy of balikbayans, Glo and Trin.

3. Possible completion of Little Mansion by month end.

4. There’s also a tentatively scheduled lunch date with my CWL barkada since MN-based Wella, is also here for vacation.

Wow, it looks like February is a homecoming month. Looks like it’s also the month of pasalubongs. Hehe!

Just a month to go before mine and Asher’s birthday month. The countdown to big Terrible 2 stage officially begins.

Also, I vow and declare this will be a “no sickness” month for Asher. We’ll be visiting a Pediatric Pulmonologist later this noon for a more intense treatment and management of his asthma.

I can’t help but chuckle because I got a few reactions from certain people what’s up with the passport renewals that I’ve blogged yesterday. Even though I have mentioned already that we’re not scheduled to go elsewhere (abroad) anytime soon, I got questions still and were excited with suspicions that we’re going to Hong Kong some time this year while one asked if we’re already Chicago bound. How I wish we have the funds to travel internationally and take a vacation but nah, we’ve got our priorities for this year nailed and that’s what we’re determined to do.

But of course, the dream never dies. Who wouldn’t want to experience New York Holidays or visit Mickey Mouse in his home in Florida or get marveled by the very bright and lively Las Vegas? Who wouldn’t want to stroll around downtown Manhattan and feel Holidays New York? Or meet the Statue of Liberty and ask how Holidays to New York tourists is like.  I guess there’s no one who would not want to step on Uncle Sam’s native land.

So for those who are asking, don’t worry I’ll right away share should there be sudden change of travel plans (which I doubt) this year or in the future.  I know what your follow up statement will be like… the traditional “don’t forget my chocolates” or the funnier “size 8″ (pertaining to shoe size) lines.

Finally, there’s one major task for the month that we’ve accomplished last Friday.

First, let me rave how great, fast and easy it is now to undergo passport application and renewal. Big thanks to the DFA’s Online Appointment System, that is, for enabling us to process ours (mine, hubby’s and Asher’s) unbelievably in just 30 minutes. The husband’s passport has been more than a year expired while mine will expire on Feb 4th. The little one doesn’t have a passport still. We aren’t scheduled for any international travels soon but it’s not bad if we prepare for it this early, right? Besides, I don’t have any valid IDs since I’m not employed so it’s just imperative to have my passport renewed. The reason why we’ve been delaying this task for so long is because we dread the long queues and the unsystematic way we are accustomed to and we used to hear about the process wherein you have to get to the compound and line up as early as in the wee hours of the morning. Thanks to Trixie who commented on my post and it’s from her that I’ve first learned about the Online Appointment System wherein you can now request a schedule as to when you can go to the DFA office (applicable to DFA Manila only) for application or renewal of your passport without having to fall in long lines and wait for several number of hours. Personal appearance is required for all renewals now.

So I submitted our details last January 19 and requested 3 slots for a January 22 schedule: 2 renewal, 1 new application of Machine Readable Passports (MRP) through the MRP online appointment system. If you’re still unaware, there are two types of passports currently being issued by DFA. Check out the difference between the E-passport and the MRP at DFA’s site. Normally, the appointment day given is 2-3 working days after your online application. So before requesting a slot, it’s highly recommended to have all the requirements ready especially those original NSO certified documents (birth, marriage, etc).

Here’s a tip I stumbled upon one poster in a forum who has just renewed his passport. Although the schedule will be randomly assigned, you can actually indicate in the application your preferred date and time after your last name: Ex: DANGANAN (10AM JAN 22)

I received 3 acknowledgment emails for my request upon submission. The next day, the confirmation of our appointment was sent. I printed 3 copies of the email (1 for each applicant) and attached to our collated documents.

We arrived at the DFA compound at about 9:10 am. We had a tough time finding an available parking slot but thanks to a roadside assistance of a “barker”, we’re able to find one nearby.

As usual, a fixer with a seemingly DFA-issued ID, approached us pestering and trying to “assist” us. We just ignored him and went directly to the entrance at the side of Libertad St. We looked for Gate 2 then proceeded to Windows 1-4 as instructed in the email. This is the first step where all the documents will be reviewed, checked and received. Windows 1-4 are specially designated for Online Appointment Applicants while the rest of the windows (there are several of them) are for those who opt to apply passports the “regular” and “manual” way. Present the printed copy of the email confirmation of the appointment and the staff will check it on their list. There’s a bench allocated for every window so we were seated the whole time we were waiting for our turn. There were about 3 applicants before us at Window 1 who were all served fairly fast. After 10 minutes, it was our turn and our documents were received. Another tip is to make sure that your documents are correct and complete for a hassle-free transaction. DFA has a complete list and you can download the application form from their site. Mention to the attending staff if you’d like to avail the regular 14 working day or the expedite 7 working day processing. We were given back our documents (including the old, cancelled passports) plus a slip that we have to present to the cashier. Since we’re applying a new one for my 23 month old son, Asher, the staff requested to have my verified application form photocopied which will serve as a support document for Asher’s application. No need to get out of the area should you need to photocopy something because there’s one in the other side of the room at Php3/document.

Step 2: There are four lanes of Cashiers in the same room just beside Window 1. No long queues either so in less than 5 minutes we’ve paid for our passports.

Step 3: We proceeded to the Auditorium for the encoding of our data. Make sure to mention to the guard that you are an online appointment applicant so you will be led to Lanes 1-3. As opposed to the other lanes where the regular applicants’ lines were even encircling, there wasn’t any queue and we were served at Lane #1 right away. The staff encoded our data and asked us to check before he printed the forms. Then we proceeded to the stage to imprint our thumb marks and submit the documents which ends the application process.

Step 4: This is actually optional. We preferred to have our passports delivered to our home through an accredited courier instead of coming back to personal claim them on the release date so we proceeded to the basketball court. I believe all of them offer their shipping services for just Php 99/passport. We opted for 2Go’s services. We’re expecting the delivery a day after the scheduled release date from DFA.

In 30 minutes, we’re done with the process and we were home bound. We’re very satisfied and happy how fast the transaction was. It really pays if you research beforehand and come in very prepared. I feel for those applicants we left behind and endured long lines. Obviously, a lot isn’t informed still and are unaware of the easier way of passport application through the Online Appointment System.

I’m also glad that we were also able to save thousands. We were almost inclined to avail the guaranteed fast but more expensive services of Teleserv (Php 1300). Thankfully, everything went well without a hassle. Kudos to DFA for implementing such a fast and easy process. Here’s hoping that the other government offices and other customer-service oriented firms follow suit.