Improved Home Safety

Guest post from my buddy Jerry Tames.

Since moving to my current home in the past five years, I have taken a few steps to improve the safety of my home. I have strengthened several areas along with contacting ADT in Detroitto get a home alarm system. First I removed the current front door, and installed a steel one in its place. It also has a deadbolt lock. High upper windows still allow me to see who is at the front door.

I purchased an inexpensive camera for my backyard and garage door area. The camera attaches wirelessly to my computer, and I have the ability to record action as well. For extra security, have a Home Security Alarm system installed.

I keep my car parked in the garage all the time, so people cannot easily tell if I am home or not. I installed curtains over the garage windows, to block the view of my car. Parking in the garage also decreases vandalism. At both the front and back doors, I have motion sensor lights to cover the area of any approaching person or vehicle, and they are left on all the time. They are so sensitive, they even pick up the neighborhood animals.

While our neighborhood doesn't have an organized neighborhood watch, we do watch over each other's homes while someone is away. I also have friends check my house during my vacations.

Shoe shopping

I don't have plans of going out today but hubby asked me if I want to go with him to DSW for shoe shopping. I have no plan of buying some for myself but then when I went to the clearance section I saw a good pair. It was 40% discount too. So how can I resist with that. When hubby was done picking his shoe we passed by a section where he saw a nike shoe for me. He told me to get it so I got myself two and 3 for him. It was unexpected of me to see hubby shoe shopping with more than one item. I prefer for him to have more shoe since he keep on wearing the same shoe all over so I never complain. I hope he can get more some day too so he can have many shoes to choose from.

Day with the girls

Ji-ann picked me up with her new car scion xd at 11am. I was greeted with a warm hug and a cheerful smile and laughter. She's a good friend and it's so nice to see her again. I don't often see my friends these days for most of my time I spent it with hubby. I can see them anytime as much as I would want to but these times my hubby needs me for a very good reason so I rather have it spend more with him and I will see friends when I am able. I am glad today that Ji-ann can go for a lunch date as well as Judith whom I chatted the other day and she's interested to go for it too. It was a good day to spend at Super buffet where we ate a lot. The food was great.Past 1am Ji-ann said goodbye while Judith and I went to stroll around Santana Row and also went to watch a movie "The Duchess". My heart bleed with the movie. I loved it but at the same time give me time to reflect what if I was her. What will I do with a Duke who is a womanizer, who doesn't give a damn on returning love or give time to make the marriage work? A prisoner in a great big palace where luxury is outrageous. Will that make me happy? At the end though I felt sad after the movie, it is still a good movie to watch. Keira Knightly is such a great actress. Loved her and her fashion.

How would you feel?

When I graduated from college, just 2 weeks right after graduation I landed a job in a pawnshop as an accounting clerk. I was trained for a month in a main branch then was transferred to another branch located in uptown Cebu. The locals used to call it but now it’s just an ordinary street name. But if you were originally born in Cebu, you will know where uptown is. If you don’t know where it is, the street name called Fuente Osmena. It started from the rotunda going to reclamation area. The concentration is more with Robinson area and the nearby the shopping stores. Changes started when the big mall opened up. I remembered SM, followed by Gaisano country mall then Ayala. The malls died the busy traffic at uptown but still it’s still a good location for peaceful shopping.

Anyway back to my story, it is all about how I worked not being fired. I just witnessed recently how an employee was fired and it was an unlikely sight. I felt terrible. I questioned myself if it could happen to me. But indeed, I had one incident here in the US. My first job assignment was an accounting clerk/admin assistant. I was happy to get the job. When I started working few hours I started, I got the vibe it wasn’t meant to be. The manager asked me if I had an experience working as customer service and I told them no but only here in the US. I got my experience in the PI. I saw an eyebrow raised and it soured my stay there. I called the agency and told them some alibi. When I went home, I got a call from an agency and I was told that I was not fit to the job. It was a failure in my part. But it wasn’t my fault. The manager who supposed to teach me didn’t orient me to what I should suppose to be doing. How can you manage to do your job when you were just handed a manual. What will it do to you when you don’t know anything about their system? That pissed me off. I got really upset because it never really happened to me being treated sarcastically. I got my share of luck to that company when I happen to see their posting for job vacancies several times. Probably it took them to find a replacement the very same position that I supposed to be doing. I got a smile on that. I don’t know now if they were able to find somebody who can stand their approach. That company’s method of orientation sucked.

Shopping break

Well, it is very exciting to read or hear about shopping. Today isn't so much for me. Majority all the things I bought were all for my hubby. We will spend our wedding anniversary next week on Wednesday. I am preparing myself to get some so by next week I will not rush to buy something I am not fond of. Last night, I spent few hours and thinking what things to buy. So when I had my running around today, it's very easy and not frustrating. I spent a lot I would say. Not too much but just even. I have 5 items total. 3 for the anniversary and 2 for his birthday. I am excited. I spend a few of myself just things that are very necessary but I forgot to buy stocking. I will just buy it tomorrow in a nearby walgreens. Another shopping again. For now, I have to reserved the places I went to and what the items are. My husband might read this. I don't want to spoil the excitement.

Plan for the day

Last week was kind of unfortunate for my honey. His truck giving him problems until last Friday, as you all know its Friday the 13th. It's quite a bad day for him. The truck was giving him problems to the last minute that he pushed it so hard just to be able to get back to our place. It caused him so much stress. So our plan for the day is to look for cars. Not too certain if we will get a brand new, but for now all we need to concentrate upon is to get a reliable car for him. I am still paying my dues for my car so we will be considering some monetary plans on the next one. We don't guarantee of the progress of our search today, but we will still be looking around for few days. Also, considering my neighbors bad behavior which happened again yesterday. They were arguing until the police came. I don't know who call for the police and it was settled right away. This bastards are just making us all nuts. Sorry for my language, but that just how I feel about them. So with that, it pushed up to find some new place to settle in. We are hoping by August we can move from here. By that, we need to start packing. It will be so tiring then but we just want our peace of mind to leave out of this place.

Dating

A good day to start our day with some coffee from Starbucks that my husband swang by at the nearest location. We spent our few hours watching tv while waiting for our appointment at 2:30pm. We took a shower, dressed and ate out first at King Chopstick near San Tomas Expy. Few minutes there and was entertained by a very wholesome vietnamese who thought I am vietnamese. She said I looked like Thailander but my hair looks like viet. That's still a compliment. Afterwards, drove to Scott boulevard heading to N Winchester Blvd. It took us sometime to find a parking lot in Santana Row. Until able to find a good place few walking distance to Inspa. We were greeted by the receptionist, took our names and had to filled out information. It was a good day to have a relaxing massage. We walked through some boutiques and then drop by to DSW. I didn't find what I'm looking for so will take another time to find a tennis shoes that I really want. Hubby decided to come home and let us check on movie. I searched the time schedule, went to AMC Mercado in Mission College and watched Indiana Jones. It is so nice to spend the day dating. We always have the moment to spare every weekend and I love doing it. For me dating can make the relationship work, it is the best time to do it now while we still don't have kids. Dating should not stop if there are kids. Never stop doing it and don't let other people's judgment intervene what it is best for you.

What the day had been

This morning the day was gloomy. It looks like it's going to rain but it did not. A little bit cooler. All my co-workers were wearing sweaters where I just wore a casual tops. I felt a little bit cold but I didn't mind it. When the lunch time came, I went outside to have a 15minutes break just to relax inside my car and listen to music. The sky is getting better and it was a nice moment to find peace.

The clock strike at 4:30 I logged out, turned the phone lines off eventhough Liz wasn't there yet. She was attending a buyer but I can't wait for her to get back. I just went to check with her and told her that I turned off all the lines while she's negotiating with the auto buyer. I hurriedly drove to Savemart. A 10 minutes drive from work. The streets not busy so it's a good drive. The routes I take always not so busy. I feel relieve on that. Anyway, I parked the car when I was in the location. A guy came up to me while I was heading to the door and asked for money. I ignored him walking too fast and he said "have a nice day" disgusted. Why would anyone ask for money when they're very healthy they are able to work. It could just mean one thing they're lazy and look for easy money. I hate those people. We immigrants are even striving hard to a different country to survive and earn a living than having this local who just ask for money. No way, I would care to give a dime.

It was few minutes from all the things that I need to buy I came home ate some left over pizza for snacks. I need to iron my clothes, wash the dishes, cook some dinner and clean up the apartment. A lot of things to do and I should or must do. Until then , see you next time.

Doing Some Errands

When the time hits 4:30pm, I bid goodbye to Liz and head to my car then go home. But today is payday! I wear a smile and a time to spend. I do want to buy something for myself as a pay to all my hardwork. Not to spend all that I have but some and save some. So I went to the closest bank, withdraw some cash. Head to one of the store few miles from the bank, shop some clothes and satisfied myself. Though not all the time I shop, still money is very easy to spend. It's really amazing you can just spend it in a flash. I also went to do some grocery shopping since our bathroom supplies are getting low. I took some few items that are very necessary for a few days and will just have my big list prepared when we will go to Walmart. Much more savings in that store especially now that prices are keep on going up. Afterwards, I saw my headboard in my car flashing, gas low. I forgot to add some gas so I hurriedly went to a gas station and filled it up. Prices of fuel are way too expensive this days. Commodities keep on rising and its too sad salary won't keep up on the expenses. Better to really save this days and not really spend all the money that you have.