High quality wordpress themes are available for instant download.

Archive for the 'WS Chika Tuesday' Category

Long Distance Love Affair

Wifespeaks: Chika Tuesday

Been there, done that.

I left a rather successful career in the Philippines, office furniture and all, in order to live with my husband overseas. His job offer was too good to pass up, and it would really help us jump-start the finances of our young family considerably. The decision to accept it, really, was hubby’s because if it were all up to me, I’d rather stay in Pinas (my comfort zone) as a complete family and make-do with my meager salary.

However, our final decision was: to let him leave, but only if we leave with him also.

First of all, married people are supposed to be together – through thick and thin, hard times and good, here, there, or wherever. Besides, we are lucky that we were given the option to leave as a family, which some overseas workers don’t have the luxury of.

Secondly, we have a daughter who deserves to grow up right before her father’s eyes. I’ve seen what happens to families left behind by OFWs – I believe that, remittances (or money, for that matter) will never replace good parenting. For this omission, we pay a greater price, and I do not want to pay.

Thirdly, leaving behind everything that we are used to, opens us up for new challenges. Hubby will improve his professional skills (and even be well-compensated fo it), my daughter will grow up learning from a culture so different from her own, and I will develop survival skills (ehem, domestic skills) which I would never have learned had I not left my comfort zone.

For us, it really has been a win-win situation. I wish that everyone will be as lucky as we are – that we were able to leave to seek greener pastures, and yet live together as a family.

Compatibility Qs

Wifespeaks: Chika Tuesday

He says, she says:

1. When watching television, custody of the remote controls belongs to:
a. the husband
b. the wife
c. whoever turned on the TV
d. whoever is stronger
e. whoever can find it underneath the cushions

He says: a. husband (of course!)
She says: b. wife (of course!)

2. Entertaining friends for dinner should be:
a. a catered affair
b. a sit-down meal lovingly prepared in your own kitchen
c. served buffet style
d. pot-luck
e. food brought home in boxes

He says: d. potluck (i’m sure this will be his answer, hehe!)
She says: b. a home-cooked meal lovingly prepared in your own kitchen (i love cooking for my friends)

3. A new car should be selected based on:
a. its purchase price
b. its performance, repair and insurance costs
c. what your business associates are driving
d. its color
e. the arrangement of the cup holders

He says: a. and b. (he doesn’t care about c. or d. although e. could be a huge issue, too. )
She says: b. its performance, repair and insurance costs (i am always willing to pay a little bit more for performance and comfort)

4. The toilet seat should be:
a. down, with the lid closed
b. down, with the lid up
c. left up
d. left up or down, it doesn’t matter
e. up in his bathroom, down in her bathroom

He and She says: d. left up or down, it doesn’t matter (let’s just say we pick our battles.)

5. The proper location for dirty clothes is:
a. the clothes hamper
b. the floor near the clothes hamper
c. the floor in the room where the hamper is located
d. on the furniture in the room where the hamper is located
e. near the bed so you can wear them again the next day

He and She says: a. the clothes hamper (anywhere else is just… eww.)

6. In the middle of summer, it’s best if:
a. the air conditioning is in full blast, at all times
b. the air conditioner is on, sometimes
c. no air conditioning, the electric fan will do
d. no air conditioning and no fan, a pamaypay will do
e. the windows are left open for the breeze to come in

He and She says: b. the air conditioner is on, sometimes (actually, it all rests on ninna. without the a/c on, she can be pretty cranky.)

7. Any home-cooked food is best if:
a. it is eaten immediately after it’s prepared
b. served with candlelight and soft music
c. it’s made the way mom made it
d. it has catsup on it
e. the fire department didn’t have to be called

He says: a. it is eaten immediately after it’s prepared (very predictable)
She says: a. and d. (hehe!)

8. The best way to travel on vacation is:
a. by plane
b. by train
c. by car
d. on foot hiking through the wilderness
e. separately, to different destinations

He and She says: a. and c. (plane if too far, car if within driving distance)

9. Trips to the mall should be made when:
a. there is a specific item that is needed
b. there is a big sale
c. it’s raining and there’s nothing else to do
d. you can’t find what you need at a tag sale
e. you have a new credit card

He and She says: a. b. c. and d. (hubby doesn’t admit it but he loves going to the mall, too, especially when there’s a sale and we have nothing to do)

10. The volume on the stereo should be set:
a. low enough to allow normal conversation
b. loud enough to fully appreciate the quality of the recording
c. low enough so the neighbors don’t complain
d. loud enough to feel the vibrations
e. just low enough to avoid significant structural damage

He and She says: a. and b. (we both love music and we’re not deaf, so a reasonable level of volume is okay)

11. Laundry should be done:
a. twice a week
b. weekly
c. every other week
d. monthly
e. when you run out of clean underwear

He and She says: b. weekly (we do it the laundry ourselves so we try to limit it to once a week, hehe.)

12. My idea of an exotic vacation destination is:
a. Hawaii
b. Thailand
c. Boracay
d. Tagaytay
e. Luneta Baywalk

He and She says: a. b. and c. (what can I say, I am married to a man who understands what “exotic” means)

13. Repainting the living room should be done by:
a. a licensed professional
b. the two of us working in harmony
c. the college kid down the street
d. whoever’s idea it was to repaint the room
e. the time your mother arrives to visit

He says: b. the two of us working in harmony (he has confidence in our abilities)
She says: a. a licensed professional (i don’t!)

14. When buying a new TV, it is important to consider:
a. the size of the room in which it’s located
b. what will fit in the entertainment center
c. your budget
d. how many people you’ll be inviting over for football games
e. whether you can fit it through the door

He and She says: c. your budget (no argument about this)

15. Before having children, you should be together for:
a. at least one year
b. at least two years
c. at least five years
d. at least nine months
e. one quiet, romantic evening

He and She says: e. one quiet, romantic evening (we wanted to have kids asap)

16. Eating in bed is:
a. inappropriate under any circumstances
b. okay if you’re sick and can’t get up
c. acceptable if served on a proper bed tray
d. good to do while watching late night TV
e. an effective way to avoid having sex

He and She says: a. and b. (meals are taken in the dining room only, that’s a rule in our home)

17. The best videos to rent are:
a. the newest releases
b. classic films
c. romantic comedies
d. action dramas
e. found in stores with XXXX on the sign

He says: a. and d. (but will also succumb to c. should i insist too much )
She says: a. b. c. and d. (anything! movie buff kasi ako!)

18. When one of you feels he or she should lose weight, the other should:
a. insist that their partner is perfect just the way they are
b. be supportive
c. join in the weight-loss program
d. buy him or her a membership in a health club
e. move out until the diet is over

He and She says: b. be supportive (because now its a matter of health for us, kaya we have no choice but to be supportive.)

19. When the female is upset or angry, the male should:
a. be comforting
b. ask what the problem is
c. try to solve the problem
d. tell her to get over it
e. apologize. She’s already decided it’s his fault anyway

He says: e. apologize. She’s already decided it’s his fault anyway (“how true”, my husband would say! )
She says: a. b. c. and e. (haha!)

20. Household chores should be done by:
a. the wife
b. the husband
c. both of them working together
d. the maid
e. the kids, that’s why you had them

He and She says: c. both of them working together (we have no maid so we do it together, as much as his work schedule allows.)

21. When decorating your first home, the furnishings should be:
a. the latest style
b. an eclectic blend of antique and new
c. the best you can afford
d. purchased at tag sales
e. whatever you can swipe from your parents’ homes

He says: d. purchased at tag sales (i’m sure this will be his answer *rolls eyes*)
She says: all of the above (haha!)

22. You should attend a place of worship:
a. weekly
b. monthly
c. on major holidays
d. when your mother’s in town
e. when you find one that serves 1995 Domaine d’Auvenay Criots-Batard-Montrachet for communion

He and She says: a. weekly (this is an imperative in our relationship.)

23. Taking out the garbage is the responsibility of:
a. the husband
b. the wife
c. whoever put the last item in
d. whoever is going out anyway
e. the household staff

He and She says: d. whoever is going out anyway (practically speaking.)

24. My idea of the ideal birthday party is:
a. a romantic dinner for two
b. cake and coffee with a few friends
c. a small gathering with family members
d. a surprise party with everyone I know
e. a celebration that would rival a Presidential inaugural

He says: a. a romantic dinner for two three (my hubby is very low key, and is happy with a special dinner date for us and ninna!
She says: a. b. and c. (depends on where we are and who’s around. i love celebrating my birthday with all the people i love!)

25. If we have an argument we should:
a. kiss and make up before we go to bed
b. sit down and discuss it like two rational people
c. go to separate rooms until we cool off
d. contact a marriage counselor
e. make sure all lethal weapons are out of reach

He and She says: b. and c. (we are two very headstrong people so we have to cool off first before sitting down and discussing the issues.)

~~~

How compatible are you with your significant other? Answer this quiz, too, via ChikaTuesday at WifeSpeaks.Com.

Newlyweds, The Day After

Wifespeaks: Chika Tuesday

For ChikaTuesday, what gross, weird, ugly, or even unnatural things did you discover about your husband after you started living together under the same roof?

My husband hardly reads my blogs so I hope he will not make an exception for this particular entry, haha! Here goes…

The snoring. Aarrgh! But surprisingly, I think I’m the only person in the known world who can sleep through this phenomenon. In fact, I really can’t have a good night’s sleep without my nightly lullaby. It actually comforts me in a way nothing does.

He does the number two every morning without fail. And if, by some freak event he doesn’t get to do his thing, for sure his whole day is flushed down the toilet, hehe!

As opposed to me, hubby can be pretty OC about sticking to a schedule, working on a plan of action, keeping our home clutter-free and organized, and wanting to know each and every little thing that happens in our life. If something goes awry, or if he feels he is left in the dark, he easily gets panicky, phobic,  or frustrated – which is pretty easy to be when living with little ole me, haha!

But, he does cook like a pro. I am so happy that I snagged a guy who is unnaturally good in the kitchen. Everything I learned about cooking adobo and sinigang, I learned from the master. Not a lot of wives can lay claim to something like that, so I definitely know a blessing when I see one.

Finally, and in order not to unneccesarily strain our marriage any further with my erstwhile confessions (haha!), he’s surprisingly a very hands-on dad. Just like the cooking thing, I really don’t know how I could have survived without his direct involvement in the household and  in raising our daughter.  For a guy with a seemingly tough exterior, he really is a highly responsible and adept softie inside – thus, effectively canceling out every gross or weird idiosyncracy that currently exists (or may eventually manifest) about him. :)

Ideal Showbiz Marriage

Wifespeaks: Chika Tuesday

Name three celebrity couples that defied the norm and stuck to their marriage through thick and thin, fire and brimstone, and paparazzi and tabloids.


Barack and Michelle Obama

Aside from the fact that both of them are good-looking, their marriage inspires me because although both are highly self-actualized as individuals, together, they are formidable. They have a clear picture of what exactly they want for their family and their country, and they’re not afraid to show their love and support for one another. They are truly a very good role model for every family in this country.

David and Victoria
David and Victoria Beckham

A pop star and a star athlete, after almost 12 years of marriage, they still look good together and look soooo much in love. Who knew, right?

pangs
Anthony and Maricel Pangilinan

Going local, I first wanted to include my idol, Sharon Cuneta and her hubby, Sen. Kiko but, because of all the chismis about them that never seemed to end, I just decided to post the other Pangilinan couple. I admire Anthony and Maricel because, from the very start, they already know that they need to have God, each other, and their family as the center of their relationship – everything else comes second. Plus, I also love that they are very hands-on with their kids, not a lot of celebrity couples can lay claim to that.



Want to download movies? Check out this website.