Monday, December 29, 2008
The Doghouse
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Couvade Syndrome
By Robin Elise Weiss, LCCE, About.com
Couvade comes from the french word couvee meaning "to hatch". It has come to mean a man having a
"sympathetic pregnancy." Yes, ladies, this means that your partner could start to vomit, gain weigh
t, and have many of the "joys" associated with pregnancy.
Generally, couvade syndrome begins in the end of the first trimester and increases in severity until the third trimester. The only known cure for couvade is -- birth.
Some people have doubted the reality of couvade syndrome. These doubters say that the weight gain that the father may experience is caused by the eating habits of the mother, nerves, or other changes that pregnancy makes in one's life. The vomiting? Of course, that is blamed on nerves, too.
What do the dads have to say about this? They don't know what to think about vomiting, weight gain, and changes in sexual appetite. How can you tell everyone at work that you need to lie down because you have morning sickness?!? And, of course, they would stop vomiting if they could.
This is something that has been researched and found to be quite real. Some men are more susceptible to couvade than others. For instance if you and your partner have experienced infertility or if you were adopted, you could be more likely to experience couvade syndrome.
So, guys, know that you are not alone, and that you have the medical community backing you up. Eat some crackers, get out of bed slowly, drink some ginger tea and try to get a bit of rest and know that birth is right around the corner.
And don't shove her out of the way of the toilet!Enjoying the munchies
- Run 3 miles a day and lose my progressively protruding gut while controlling the munchies.
- Keep eating till I pack on enough pounds (and get launched to the sky as a new planet) and empathize with my wife's equally progressing tummy size.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
We're Pregnant!
- Big meals motivated by bigger appetites.
- food cravings and/or aversions.
- Midnight/dawn snacks.
- Unannounced pinching and biting frenzies (my wife has been feeling gigil at me. So she bites and pinches me for no apparent reason).
- Sleepy episodes with dizzy spells.
- Long siestas.
- Farting/burping tournaments.
- and a 6-day delay of her menstrual period...
Monday, December 15, 2008
Zen Husband
Crouching Shopper, Yawning Husband
Friday, December 12, 2008
Christmas Rush
- Walking like a cheap battery-operated robot taking hilariously small steps because of all the people you have to elbow and shove for proper positioning in the tight bargain aisles.
- Smelling a cacophony of odors (i.e. body odor, and plastic and leather from China).
- Carry 5 shopping bags (one for each finger) on both hands, 2 shopping sling bags on both shoulders, and 1 medium-weight shopping bag on your mouth (like a dog playing fetch).
- Asking "How much?" or "Tawad naman" a gazillion times.
- Waiting for your wife to pick THE ONE right color of fabric from among billions.
- Inquiring in broken Tagalog from Chinese nationals who are probably illegal aliens.
- Competing for parking space.
- Waking up at 5am to get there by 7am.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
How To Talk to Girls: Tips from a 9-year-old boy.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Making Fun of Me
- "Ang ganda naman ng misis mo! Ano ginawa mo?" (Your wife is so gorgeous! What did you do?)
- An old female family friend looks at my wife and says: "Ang pretty mo.". She looks at me, says nothing and just smiles. Then she turns to my wife again and says: "Ang pretty mo talaga!".
- "Nabili mo na ba siya ng helmet?" (Have you already bought her a helmet?)
- "Artistahin ang beauty niya!" (She looks like a moviestar!). The friend then looks at me and says: "Artistahin ka din..." (You look like a moviestar, too.) then bursts into boisterous laughter. I'm surmising she must have meant comic actor.
- "Totoo pala talagang opposites attract." (It's true. Opposites attract). I have no comment to that.
- The best I've heard so far: "Huwag kayo magsisimba kapag si healing priest Fr. Suarez ang pari, baka luminaw na mga mata ng misis mo." (Don't hear mass if Fr. Suarez, the healing priest is the celebrant. Your wife's eyes might get healed.)
Monday, December 8, 2008
Avoiding the Buzz 2
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Yes, Dear!
I have one small problem though. Sunday morning, Manila time is Pacquiao-Dela Hoya fight night in Vegas! For sure, I'll be fidgety... and so will the other ninongs and male attendees. I bet the priest will be restless, too. The parish probably paid for pay-per-view in the church's multi-purpose hall.
Baptism ceremony is at 9am. Same time as the bell for round 1 will clang. I'm guessing husbands will either be late or not show up entirely.
I asked my wife: "Can I not go?" She looked at me expressionless. "You can bring the car", I continued, trying to be cute. She smiled at me. The kind of smile that only involved the lip and cheek muscles. I gave a nervous chuckle while she stared with her contrived smile. Awkward silence..."Just kidding", I said. "Have you bought our gift?" I laugh nervously. Then she gave me her sweetest most sincere hug...and smile.
I called my nephew and asked: "Can you record the fight?...And can I borrow your Phone with the TV?"
Survey Says!
My good friend, Ross Harper-Alonso, told me about this article written by Rina David of The Philippine Daily Inquirer. Ross, a couple of days ago, commented on the November 27, 2008 episode of The Family Feud on GMA 7. I wondered where modest doses of sensitivity went. I sighed and shook my head. Read on:
A ‘shameful’ disease? By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 03:09:00 12/03/2008
Just a few days before the observance of “World AIDS Day” last Dec. 1, a TV game show proved how much work still needs to be done to change popular perceptions and attitudes about HIV/AIDS.
In the Nov. 27 episode of “Family Feud” (aired on GMA Network), host Richard Gomez announced that, based on a survey among an anonymous group of respondents, the most “shameful” disease to have was AIDS.
“I thought it was callous and irresponsible of the show’s producers to allow unverified and sensitive information like this to be aired on national television and abroad,” comments freelance writer Ross Harper. “Since 2000 I’ve been fighting to protect the rights of AIDS patients (or people living with HIV/AIDS) and change the stigma bestowed on them by ignoramuses. Geeez, with all the information available and advocacy going on in preparation for World AIDS Day, you’d think a celebrity and the show’s producers would be better educated by now.”
It’s especially ironic that Gomez would declare AIDS as the “most embarrassing” disease since he has had first-hand experience with the stigma that mere rumors about one’s HIV status could raise. If you will remember, in the early 1990s, rumors started going around that celebrities, including basketball players and actors, Gomez among them, had been diagnosed positive for HIV. At the time, HIV/AIDS was a relatively “new” disease, largely linked to homosexual sexual behavior although in a few years it would be revealed that most cases were being spread through heterosexual sex.
To prove the rumor-mongers wrong, Gomez went in person to the Department of Health, whose head was then Juan Flavier, and underwent an HIV test, making the results public and putting the vicious talk to rest.
* * *
Why would AIDS be the “most shameful disease,” at least based on the small sample taken by “Family Feud?” Is it because it’s a sexually transmitted disease? If so, then syphilis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and even cervical cancer—which is mainly caused by the human papilloma virus, which is spread through sexual contact—should lay equal claim to the “title.”
Is it because AIDS is infectious? So is tuberculosis or hepatitis, or SARS. Moreover, an HIV infection cannot be spread through the air or by casual contact, unlike the other diseases.
But what’s with this ranking of diseases by how “embarrassing” they are? Embarrassing to whom? Diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria, and errant cells, exacerbated by lifestyle, poor diet, lack of exercise and poverty. When someone gets infected by a virus or bacteria, is he or she to blame for getting sick? Of course not, not even if the infection is spread through sexual contact, unless one believes having sex is abnormal, or immoral.
Instead, we should be asking the public, including game show producers, what they propose to do about our most common diseases, many of which are preventable and curable by cheap and readily available drugs and public health measures. Recently, for instance, there was an outbreak of typhoid in a town in Quezon province, and it was found that the deaths and illnesses were caused by contaminated water. Who should take the blame? Not the victims, surely, but local government officials need to ask themselves what they did (or did not do) to ensure the safety and potability of their water supply. Such a simple, basic thing—and yet so many died. They should hang their heads in shame!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Walk the Dog
When I was still single, his puppy good looks were a chick magnet. He'd evoke aawwws and aahhs, and how-cute-naman-your-dog-is remarks. Upon hearing those comments, I'd make eye contact with the ladies, smile pogi, and make my move...in my dreams. Good thing, I never scored with that method. If my dog could talk, he'd rat me out, shake his head and tell me how pathetic I am. If he could talk now, he might tell my wife how ridiculous my game plan was.
Anyway, every time I walk my dog Adam, he walks with a sense of purpose and heightened awareness. He barks at other dogs and people in greeting while vigorously wagging his tail, chews grass from the vacant lots, smells dried poop from other mutts and felines both friend and foe. He sniffs the neighbors cooking from their kitchen to the road. Aside from declogging his colon, his purpose is to observe, experiment, and participate. While I may not find it pleasurable to bark, chew foliage, chase wet tennis balls and smell white turd and other dogs' genitalia, I've a lot to learn from Adam's daily wonderment. I don't walk my dog...my dog walks me.
I smell my neighbor's adobo. I bet Adam is savoring it now.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Puerto Azul's faded glory
My family and I had great memories of the place. My papa taught me how to play golf in Puerto Azul's championship-Arnold Palmer-course. Even if my golf games were consistently disastrous, my enjoyment of nature's harmony with modern architecture brought a sense of amazed wonder. With the exception of the fairly well maintained golf course, the hotel villas, club houses and major facilities looked like an abandoned compound that is perhaps now inhabited by ghosts and elementals. My father would've shaken his head and made the "tsk tsk tsk" sound had he been still alive to see what I just saw.
My wife's excited giggles and bright smile were my only consolation. Had Puerto Azul been restored to its glorious history of 20 years ago, she would've shrieked with pure excitement. My wife can see great things out of the ordinary, beauty even, in things that once was considered great. I keep learning that from her.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Fuel Filling Tips
A friend sent this useful information through group email. I'm thankful that there are still people that are thoughtful enough to consider other people's general financial well being. I just thought I'd pay this forward. May you have enjoyable and safe road trips.
Tips on Filling your Vehicles...
This is a Message received from a friend:
Here at the Marian Hill Pipeline, where I work in Durban, we deliver about 4 million litres in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline.
ONLY BUY OR FILL UP YOUR CAR OR BIKKIE IN THE EARLY MORNING WHEN THE GROUND TEMPERATURE IS STILL COLD.
Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground, the denser the fuel, when it gets warmer petrol expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the evening.... your litre is not exactly a litre.
In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and the temperature of the petrol, diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products play an important role. A 1degree rise in temperature is a big deal for this business. But the service stations do not have temperature compensation at the pumps.
WHEN YOU'RE FILLING UP, DO NOT SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER OF THE NOZZLE TO A FAST MODE.
If you look, you will see that the trigger has three (3) stages: low,middle, and high. In slow mode, you should be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapours that are created, while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapour return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that goes to your tank becomes vapour. Those vapours are being sucked up and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less worth for your money.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TIPS IS TO FILL UP WHEN YOUR TANK IS HALF FULL. The reason for this is, the more fuel you have in your tank, the less air occupying its empty space. Petrol evaporates faster than you can imagine. Petroleum storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the petrol and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation.
Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated, so that every litre is actually the exact amount.
ANOTHER REMINDER, IF THERE IS A FUEL TRUCK PUMPING INTO THE STORAGE TANKS, WHEN YOU STOP TO BUY, DO NOT FILL UP - most likely the petrol/diesel is being stirred up as the fuel is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom.
Hope, this will help you get the maximum value for your money.
DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS! LET’S SHARE INFORMATION AND BENEFIT ALL, FOR THE BETTER OF MANKIND.
Compiled by Ramesh Patel on 16.03.2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Things that make you go Hmmm 2
I watched the sports news on local TV during my lunch break. The Pacquiao and Dela Hoya fight is 10 days from now. Manny is still 6 pounds short of the weight class that he will fight in. On the other camp, Oscar is now maintaining his new yet much lighter weight.
As expected, both camps are already claiming premature victory. Freddie Roach seem really confident of Manny's heightened skills in spite of his elevated weight. While Oscar's shoulder portents to be a potential problem area, his camp is confident nonetheless.
Angelo Mirena a.k.a Angelo Dundee is Dela Hoya's new coach. He says Oscar can easily figure out Manny since Pacquiao has been a "one-sided fighter ever since".
Hmmm...One-sided? Did Morales, Marquez, Barrera, Ledwaba, Naseem, Velasquez, Larios, Diaz, etc etc etc. fought and lost against the same 'one-side'?
One sided....Rriiigght.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Shopping with Husbands in tow.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
We're Ovulating!
Monday, November 24, 2008
I dozed off watching Hatton vs Malignaggi
Friday, November 21, 2008
Nigella Bites: I've been bitten!
Then Stepen Yan came. Great cook, amazing showman. Though halting and a tad broken, he spoke good English...and he was funny. He entertained while he cooked, blabbering his mouth like a market vendor, and jabbing his spatulas flamboyantly. In spite of all the showbiz he flashed, his recipes looked as appetizing as can be. Manila simply raved for Stephey Yan and his Wok With Yan show. Everyone wanted a Wok in their kitchen. That Yan was the Man!
When cable TV was made accessible to almost any home, cooking shows became a dime a dozen. The Food Network made a killing with all these chefs that showed off what they can show off. Various chefs who were funny, had panache, or was simply snooty, all vied for cable viewers' attention. They exuded differing degrees of confidence and sometimes a bit of elitism.
Then Nigella came. All the qualities of a TV chef I have seen, viewed, critiqued, lambasted, and even cherished have hit a hard and high yet invisible wall. I was dumbfounded. She's neither funny nor flashy. Truth is, I see no need for her to be. She had a face suited for royalty, eyes that saw through the camera and direct-hit any viewer, a body like a Greek goddess (Oprah calls her a Domestic Goddess), and a smile that could melt butter in a walk-in freezer. One episode I watched (and attempted to comprehend), she was mixing this and that, and preparing a bevy of ingredients. In the end, she showed a cake. I was staring too much! No wonder the TV show did a lot of close ups on the ingredients and the utensils. It is sooo hard not to stare at her! After every show, I'd end up feeling torn. I don't know whether I'm hungry or turned on.
On occassion, I'd have the initiative and energy to prepare the cuisine I recently watched. Not with Nigella's show. I can only gawk. My wife finds it amusing that I have a crush on her. Besides, she blushes everytime I tell her she looks like an Ilongga version of Nigella...but prettier.
Norah Jones and Elmo
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Achmed the Dead Terrorist: Finding humor in the stupidity of racism.
Ventriloquists are hilarious people. I've always thought their sense of humor bordered on the perverse and twisted since they represent themselves as individuals who could make a conversation work even if the conversation is between him and another inanimate puppet made animate by his talent. You get what I mean, I'm sure. You've seen ventriloquists since you were a kid. I you haven't, then you must have lived under a rock.
The hilarity of ventriloquism took on a new meaning when I saw Jeff Dunham on YouTube. I thought, this guy is in serious trouble for his racist jokes which he projects on his character Achmed the Dead Terrorist. True, the jokes are racist but I think it made fun of racism and attempted to transcend the stupidity of racial prejudice. Consequently, it also somehow diffuses apparent tensions across ethnicities.
I'll shut up now...I might over analyze this and defend humor for humor's sake. Twisted? Maybe...maybe not. I think I've outgrown the naivete of Sesame Street.