7 Years of Marital Bliss

Start:

Dec 16, '10

Riki's Birthday

Start:

Dec 15, '10

My Birthday Bouquet: A Home Movie

December 17, 2009
TGR to Dangwa and back

It's all in the effort!

See how my sweet & thoughtful better half (and my adorable son) prepared and greeted me on my birthday.

*Raw footage taken using our reliable Ixus digicam, shot guerilla style by our DV rebel hero! Galing! :)

Love you guys! Mwah!

TGR - Our Starter Home

Year 2009

If 2008 was the wander year for the Garcias, 2009 was all about settling down. After five years of marriage, Riki and I finally took the plunge - invest on real estate that is (well in our specific case, an expensive box of air).

After coming back home to Manila in mid-December of '08, we began the quest for the perfect home for us. Given our budget considerations, the choices were narrowed down to either a house & lot property way far from Makati (our place of work and school) or a condominium unit a few miles drive away from it. Since we were never morning persons, we finally decided on the latter. Our dream house will have to wait.

After almost a month of checking out all our condo options, we were ready to commit to THE ONE! :). Now the whirlwind affair begins!

January - made reservation and later on, signed Contract to Sell
February - paid the required down payment (no turning back now!)
March - hired Interior Designer #1. big mistake. after disagreements, fired ID #1.
April - hired another Architect+Interior Designer team. was finally happy with proposal, service and relationship. Condo unit was turned over by the developer to us, interior fit-out project commenced.
May and June - interior construction on-going. shopped for furniture, fixtures and appliances. Enter all the stress and financial drain.

July - it was a Wednesday, the 22nd (a new moon), we finally moved in to our new (first-ever owned) starter home. Happiness! :)
August - Fr. Robert performed the House Blessing.

Sept - originally planned Housewarming Party. Invites had been sent out, but Evan got sick and was hospitalized a few days before the event. Party cancelled.

December - finally pushed thru with the housewarming party, combined with our joint birthday party this time. http://purplepinay.multiply.com/photos/album/106/1st_Holiday_Dinner_Party

What a year indeed huh? Whew!
Now, to a simpler, peaceful and better life in 2010! :)

1st Holiday Dinner Party

December 18, 2009
TGR (The Garcia Residence)

Finally, we hosted our first (long-overdue/always rescheduled) housewarming (now) cum birthday dinner party at our new home.

It was a fun night of RockBand demo, eating, chitchatting, eating, watching Xmas videos and eating. Thanks to everyone who came, most especially, for all your presents!!! :)

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

An MSSC Xmas Party

December 12, 2009
Crowne Plaza Grand Ballroom

In my almost seven years with the company, this is only the 2nd time I attended the annual year-end holiday gathering. Dress-code was semi-formal, so naturally, I came in wearing denim jeans! :)

Direk Riki was a special guest of the organizing committee (he produced their MTV...naks!).

All pictures were snagged from Shutter & Shuttest Clique, thanks PAD photogs! Hehehe...

I've got a feeling...woohoo!

SIX Years of Marital Bliss

Start:

Dec 16, '09

Madonna Sticky & Sweet : VOGUE

November 1, 2008
Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

I was missing my girl friends and gay friends when Madonna sang Vogue during the concert. But hey, from the looks of how this video was captured, it seems my better half was also gyrating to the famous tune. :D

Everyone in the arena was dancing and jumping and shouting madly! Truly only Madonna can give such an orgasmic performance.

"Strike a pose, there's nothing to it. Vogue. Vogue. Vogue."
I bet you are singing and dancing now while viewing this, aren't you? Hehehe...

Madonna Sticky & Sweet @ the Oracle Arena

November 1, 2008
Oakland, CA

My childhood dream finally came true! Watching Madonna in concert LIVE was the best party ever!!!

Even my videographer-in-tow (i.e. Riki) was dancing like crazy (he'll kill me for saying that! haha!).

This raw clip was of the opening song, Candy Shop. This may sound cheesy, but I was on the verge of tears when Madonna finally come out to the stage. LOL.

Madonna is the QUEEN!

*More videos coming up, gtg and watch RocknRolla first! ;)

Madonna Sticky & Sweet Concert

Start:	Nov 1, '08 8:00p
Location:	Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA

Promoters describe the tour as a "rock driven dancetastic journey".

For me, it is a climax to a music/life journey. From the Crazy for You days in provincial Marinduque, I will finally get to see her perform live here in the Bay Area, US!

Yes, i am a true-blue Madonna fan. My code-name for my high school crush (that's Riki) was even La Isla Bonita. hahaha!

I can't wait!!!!

Stone Temple Pilots Reunion

July 25, 2008
Greek Theater, UC Berkeley, CA

The air smells of smoke and weed. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club opened the show. The crowd was jumping and singing along. A scantily-clad woman was body surfing among the knoll of people in the front, while some boys do body slamming on the side . Stone Temple Pilots still rocks.

Here's the link to my teaser vidclip:
http://purplepinay.multiply.com/video/item/39/Stone_Temple_Pilots_the_Greek_Theater

What a high.

Stone Temple Pilots @ the Greek Theater

July 25, 2008
Berkeley, CA

Riki and I just watched the STP concert in Berkeley last night. Scott and the boys are back together for a 65-date reunion tour this year.

It was like being transported back to college days. The grunge-pop music (they sang Plush, Interstate Love Song, etc.), the body slamming and some body surfers.

Here's a teaser clip - one of the encore songs, Dead and Bloated.
The rest of our concert video clips soon (once Riki have squeezed and edited them to uploadable size, hehe!)

Bonus for me: front act was the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (whoo hoo!!!) Sadly, they did not sing my favorite Love Burns. Hmph!

Nevertheless, rock on!

Coldplay & (LOVE) Cirque du Soleil

July 18 &19
The Mirage & MGM Grand Garden Arena
Las Vegas, Nevada

We flew to the Sin City not to gamble but mainly to catch these two shows:

1. Coldplay Viva La Vida Tour
- totally worth the trip and the bucks we paid for the tixs. Brit bands rock!!! Here's a live vidclip: http://purplepinay.multiply.com/video/item/38/Coldplay_Rocks_MGM_Grand_Garden_Arena_

2. The Beatles LOVE Cirque du Soleil
- i am not a great fan of the circus nor clowns, but i LOVE the Beatles. If I am to watch a Cirque show, this should be the first. Totally worth the wait! Their interpretation of Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds, Revolution and Here Comes the Sun totally blew me away. Brit rockers rule!!!

Coldplay Rocks MGM Grand Garden Arena

July 19, 2008
Las Vegas, NV

I'm still high from the abso-rocking-lutely awesome concert last night of Chris and the boys! Here's a teaser clip.

The very minute Coldplay appeared on stage, the whole crowd got up to their feet. Everyone was standing the whole 1.5 hours that they performed! In the middle of the show, the band ran to the middle of the arena, and sang two songs just a few seats away from us! Unbelievable!

Totally worth flying to Vegas just to see them! Hay, i love Chris Martin!

Viva La Vida, Violet Hill and Lost coming up soon (tulog pa DV rebel editor ko! hehe)

To all die-hard Coldplay fans, wish you were there too. Mwehehe! ;)

Cirque Du Soleil (The Beatles LOVE)

Start:	Jul 18, '08 10:00p
Location:	The Mirage, Las Vegas, Nevada

All you need is LOVE.
Tout ce dont tu as besoin c'est d'amour!

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/showstickets/love/intro/intro.htm