SCREWED!

A week ago, I woke up with a bad back on an uneven bed. My wooden bed's screw slipped off from its original joining and it needs re-screwing. I must have gained so much weight or the old bed must have loosen its screw because of my frequent turning while sleeping. When I checked out what was wrong, I found that the screw that joins the metal and the wood don't match at all. I was told to inform the matron of my situation so a carpenter could come fix my bed. But I was so lazy to go down the ground floor (I live at the 4th floor) so instead of waiting for a professional carpenter to come, I had my roommate lend me a good type of screwdriver and had me fix my bed in no time.

Being a single mom for 11 years had taught me to love and learn a man's job. Simple carpentry, climbing a ladder, painting a wall, mastered handling a hammer, fixing a roof, doing electrical wirings, changing light bulbs, plumbing, adding double locks to main doors, troubleshooting a clogged sink or overflowing faucet became my routine that I neglected learning doing what other women have mastered doing such as cooking, sewing, baking, crocheting, the crafts and the arts, etc.

Yesterday, after coming home from work, I sat at the edge of my bed while browsing my pad when the other side slipped off again. Same problem with last week! But this time, I can't fix the bed for reason that my roommate was fast asleep. I waited for her to wake up but she seem sleepless the whole night that she needs catching up for tonight's duty. To avoid bothering her, I went to Rameez to accompany a colleague to transfer money to the Philippines, dined in at McDonald's, did some shopping and went home at prayer time. She was still sleeping so I did my laundry, took my pad out and spent more time at the receiving room sitting on the sofa that's full of dust mites. At 3pm, the matron knocked at the door telling me to wake my roommate up for a telephone call from the Admin office. So my mate was forced to wake up that had given me the chance to check on my bed. Again, I have to ask a screwdriver so I could fix the other side of my bed. Good thing I kept screws I picked up from places I go to. So when a time comes you saw me pick up screws, DON'T WONDER! I keep them for a reason!:)

HEAD TO TOE

VANITY may be the right word for me having undergone series of pampering from head to toe on my 2012 vacation but be it fashionable trifle or worth the fun and the money, I believe working overseas for 2 years was worth having tried to feel better of myself.

HAIR: Ice Rebond with Cellophane

My limp, dry, damaged hair needs major repair. Salon de El Aura checked on my hair and recommended the Brazilian treatment for the "best result" but paying Php6,000.00 for my hair? No way! So I opted for the cheaper one, Ice Rebonding with cellophane. The procedure started with lots of shampooing. After drying it off, different hair products were massaged through my scalp and stayed there for an hour. The attendant shampooed my hair again, had it ironed, then another product was spread on and massaged on my scalp that stayed there for another hour. Hair colorant was also applied then they had it shampooed and dried. Haircut was free so I had them cut my bangs a little but the little became literally little which I'm really disappointed at. During the procedure, I was instructed not to shampoo nor have my hair get wet for 3 days. They told me to go back for a free rinsing but I never went back because of my tight schedule. For Php4,000.00, I gave Salon de El Aura 8/10 for a shiny, bouncing hair that I hope could last til my next salon visit.

BROW: Threading

Threading was a painful procedure to reshape an eyebrow. A well trained beautician should do the job of using a thread to remove extra hair on the brows. I usually do my reshaping with a blade but always end up with an uneven eyebrows. I ain't a pro when it comes to this kind of vanity so for a change, I had my threading at Feel Good Spa at a hundred pesos. I feel more confident applying an eyebrow liner now that my brows were even!

EARS: Candeling

A masseuse, trained not only to do body massage introduced me to this Indian Ear Candle Dense Therapeutics to remove earwaxes. A funnel like paper was placed on my ears during which, she lighted a candle and as if a magic was done to that I feel clearheaded after the procedure. Priced at Pho350.00, I didn't regret having availed of this not-so-well-known procedure.

FACE: Diamond Peel with Facial

The salon that did my threading also did my diamond peel. The procedure is a simple facial cleansing and removing of blackheads and whiteheads and exposing to some sort of radiation for 45 minutes. There was no unusual change except that my face feels soufflé and clean after the procedure. They say, for a better outcome, series of diamond peels should be done. For php800.00, I guess, I will have another round of diamond peel once I get back home next year.

FACE: Chemical Peel

I told Dr. Richelle Mendoza, my dermatologist that I will make a blog on this procedure and she gave me her blessing to do it. I actually didn't visit her sturdy clinic near STI-San Fernando for a chemical peel but for other procedure to lighten my damaged right cheek caused by a car accident. She recommended a costly procedure called Derma roller for a complete disappearance of my "tinted" cheek but then again, the procedure will be a 6-series visit and I was there few hours before my travel to Manila for my next day flight back to Saudi Arabia. So for an hour, she had me treated with chemical peel specifically targeting the melasma on my left cheek. It was an itchy procedure. The thing is, unlike other derma clinics who have licensed and trained practitioners to do the job, it was the doctor who personally attended to me and had given me instructions on how to get the best result. She prescribed 3 products to use post-procedure and have written instruction on a pad, which I never really read til I came back to the MidEast. After a week, the melasma have lightened a bit. I wasn't satisfied but well, maybe other instructions never really get through my brain since I was on a hurry that night I came to her clinic. Should you ask me if I will go visit her again? But of course! I will! She was good, clinic was cozy, price was affordable at 1500php plus 750 for the vitamin c, a facial wash and a facial cream.

TEETH: Filling and Cleaning

For many Filipinos, the teeth weren't a priority when it comes to general grooming for reason that going to the dentist is expensive and sometimes painful. As a result, there are quite a number of Filipinos wearing dentures at an early age.

A friend referred me to her sister-in-law who is an orthodontic-dentist for my daughter's braces. During a visit, I availed first of tooth filling (actually a change of former filling of amalgam to the white composite tooth colored) and had her to cleaning as well. True indeed, you can add more face value when you visit a dentist! At a discounted price of Php1,200.00, I can smile more confidently.

UNDERARM: IPL- Intense Pulsed Light

I was at CSI mall in San Fernando City with my daughter Kryztl when we both thought of visiting Nisce Skin and Face clinic. She had her underarm whitening and I had my IPL, which I never really planned having it for reason that I don't have any idea what it was. The receptionist recommended IPL so I had it for blogging purposes. Vain, isn't it? During the treatment, a small hand piece was used in my underarm with flashes of light; a cooling gel was also applied. The procedure was a little uncomfortable, with a tingling or stinging sensation. The attendant told me that the procedure can be repeated at monthly intervals for between 2 and 7 treatments. I was in the Philippines for 21 days so I had availed of it only once. For Php2,000.00, I was convinced that it was "cool" to have hairless underarm for 2 months!

NAILS: Manicure and Pedicure

Pedicure was my vanity since cutex was discovered. Cutex is a Filipino word for nail polish and pedicure is really something I look forward to on my vacations because it isn't pricey and we can have choices who we want to do the cleaning for the hand and feet- the light handed manicurist or the "super makalkal na pedicurist". I prefer having my ingrown removed everytime I had my pedicure. Good thing, Kryztl introduced me to her favorite manicurist, the 3 sessions I had for manicure and pedicure were blood and sugat-free. So instead of paying 75 each for the hand and feet, my new favorite manicurist deserves a tip of 30% of her services!

FEET: Spa

Foot spa is the new trend in foot relaxation. Having my feet dipped on warm bubbling water and had my feet cleansed and massaged was the most wonderful feeling I had after having worn my 3-inch wedge. But it never put me to sleep because while I had my foot spa, hair treatment was also on going. Pedicure was included at Php 300.00.

BODY: Aromatherapy Massage

I blogged my spa experience at Copacobana Hotel few hours after I landed and the whole body massage is something I look forward to on my 2013 vacation. For massages, it's important to know what you wanted. Feel free to tell the masseuse what you need relaxing. They may use terms you may not understand like Swedish, Shiatsu, Thai, deep tissue or hot stone. For me, I just wanted back massage to relax my stiff back and ease out my back pain so Aromatherapy was best for me at that time. Paying Php 650.00 for a job well done was never a hurt on my pocket!

Oh well, I guess, that's the perk of having to work hard on a country where the word FUN, RELAXATION, ENJOYMENT, sometimes VANITY is quite hmmmmm.....EXPENSIVE!

CROSS-MISMATCHED!

One busy Sunday night, I received quite a number of procedures endorsed to my shift and had them troubleshooted the whole 8 hours. 'Tho extremely worn out, I went home confident and satisfied that I've done what was expected of me. When I came back that same night for my last 11-7 shift before a 2-days off, the resident doctor who was with me that night waited at the ICU entrance and told me to hastily go to my patient's room because he has something to say. He was agitated and looked really worried. He showed me one form that doesn't belong to my patient and said, "This was the request given by the blood bank THAT DON'T BELONG TO OUR PATIENT!"

Blood was requested by me a day before but was not transfused because patient has no good peripheral line. After a central line was created and hemoglobin was still low, another order to transfuse 1 unit Packed Red Blood Cells was written by the doctor. Since 1 unit of PRBC was readily available for the patient, I informed the blood bank if I could take the unit that morning and was told to have it. The blood bank staff took the unit out from their big refrigerator, pasted the name of my patient on the blood bag, and in turn, had me checked the blood type, the serial number and the expiry date that matched the compatibility and the request form. I signed the request form without checking the name on the right upper part of the form. Blood bag was counterchecked and signed by the resident doctor. Since the name , hospital number and blood type handwritten and pasted on blood bag was the same with my patients', I was then certain that everything was perfect. Transfused the blood at 6:20am, endorsed at 7 o'clock and went home and slept in preparation for another night shift.

Back at work, blood bank called 6 hours after I left, asking if blood requested the previous morning is still needed. Staff assigned to my patient informed them that blood was already transfused! Blood bank panicked, came to ICU and checked on the patient and the papers that were sent together with the blood bag. The request form given to me was for another patient which was wrongfully given by the blood bank staff, which I and the ICU doctor didn't recheck. Doctors and ICU heads were contacted and verbal report was given with the instruction of the blood bank director wanting to "talk to the staff who transfused the blood".

I was informed that night what happened. Everybody was on the height of their emotions while I stayed calm knowing that nothing happened to my patient. I waited for our department head the next morning but she didn't say a word when she saw me. Thought that everything was okay, I went home excited for a double days off. At 10am, when I was about to take a good slumber came telephone calls telling me to go back to submit an incident report. An Incident Report or an OVR (Occurrence Variance Report) is a protocol wanting to know the 'why' and not the 'who' of anything that had happened that needs reporting. I wrote the IR the next day, submitted it to the ICU team leader and heard nothing more until the next night I came for duty. TRENDING was the only word I can use to describe how my fellow nurses have reacted on the incident. While I was enjoying my 2 days off, everybody in my department have had different stories, made opinions of their own, some mistakenly thought I was re-oriented by the department because I wasn't coming for duty, some were asking if I am okay (which absolutely I was!), some looked at me as if I've killed a patient, few were simply staring at me as if wanting to know my reaction. A colleague, a charge nurse praised me for submitting a well worded Incident Report, which was written in full truth and having me accepted humbly my fault and didn't blame anyone for my mistake. Yet, no matter how everybody thought of the incident, what matters most was NOTHING happened to my patient! Some said I was lucky that same blood type was transfused. Indeed, it was fortunate of me having given same blood type but the incident left me something to think about - that no matter how effective and efficient and well experienced you think you are, incidents like this could happen, incidents that would serve a lesson or two, incidents that made me more careful with my decisions and more importantly, the incident made me realize to take good care more of LIFE.

ICO AT AKO (Official Statement)

Once upon a time, there were intriguing questions, doubtful looks, dubious grins, arching brows, funny, and both positive and negative comments, I, more so often encounter with "the handsome man you are always with, in most of your pictures" here in the Kingdom. So for the record, I have written a narrative of how I met that good looking guy and who he really is in my life.

It was the last Friday of December, 2010 in our little branch in Khobar when I first met Rico. He came in to our little gathering place with 2 friends-Reagan and Princess, a bit late for the meeting and were later introduced formally during the Sunday School by Evan Glassett, our teacher. They were newly arrived nurses at the Dammam Medical Dispensary, a primary hospital not so far from my place. First meeting was flat. It was a simple asking of what they do and where they came from. Second meeting was the first Friday of 2011. It was more lengthy considering that he came alone for the meeting.

I came to Saudi Arabia 3 months and 2 weeks ahead of Rico. That simply means, I have more stories, mostly funny, to tell about the place which would later made us "laughing partners".

The succeeding meetings, 'tho casual, were cozy and more relaxed. I get to see where he lives when Kees, also a member of our Church, drove him back to his place one Friday afternoon. There were laughters as usual and those laughters, 'tho sometimes seemingly non-sense brought us closer together as newfound friends.

Then came invitation to becoming friends in Facebook. He said that his Facebook name was Ico Potter, a name he owns and don't share with anyone but him. True enough, I didn't get a hard time finding Ico Potter in my search.

Then came exchanges of information. It was on our many conversations that he made mention that he was a former band member, a vocalist of Jeremiah who popularized the song "Nanghihinayang". I wasn't a big fan of music bands nor into romantic and "pathetic" songs so I don't have any idea how big the name was but I sure have heard of that song.

Because we belong to the same faith, it took us no time to feel at ease with one another. We share a lot of things in common. We laugh at simple jokes, share personal concerns, took advices from each other and simply, being there when things go wrong, be it at work, at home, in Church or with simple matters that concern us.

At the time that we were developing a very rare kind of friendship, however, which I believe, many have misunderstood, he was on a long distance relationship with a member of our Church (which never lasted). On the other hand, he became a reason of jealousy to my children, especially Knycole. She would accuse me of having a boyfriend in the person of Ico Potter, which I just simply laughed it off. Soon, my children befriended Rico through Facebook and later call him kuya Rico. What made them at ease with him was the fact that he was on another new relationship with then, Trish Nepo.

When Rico was offered a job at an oil rig somewhere in the desert, our communication never stopped. He would make phone calls long or short just to say 'hi' and giggle over simple matters. For 2-3 months of being away from the city, we made sure we are updated of what's going on - on our job, Church and personal matters, family and friends and in almost everything.

Back at my workplace, a younger colleague became the closest of all my friends, Aizza, who don't only speak the same dialect like mine but also think the way I think when it comes to principles on friendship and other related matters. That made us closer to one another in a place so rare you can find a person to fully trust. On one occasion, I invited Aizza and Rico at a Japanese restaurant in Rashid mall where they've formally introduced to one another. Needless to say, at that moment, they've "clicked"! And so, the many adventures, some mischiefs, some good, some not-so-good,that cemented our friendship.

Rico's job requires him to travel to the rig once in every 2-4 months. And whenever he comes home, the 3 of us won't let another 24hours pass by before we get together at our favorite hang out- McDonald's and keep ourselves abreast of his not-so-interesting adventures at the rig and our many travels in the city.

Rico, Aizza and I have undergone series of not-so fortunate turned fortunate events. The 3 of us were together on my motorbike accident in Half Moon. Aizza was with me during a car accident which later became the reason of so many intrigues in our workplace because everybody thought that Rico, too was there (which, lucky enough, he wasn't!). Most of our common friends left us while Aizza and I sticked to one another. And 'tho they left, we both found a better friend, a friend we both can trust, a friend who have understood, a friend who listens, a friend who've laughed, who've cried, who've stood with us when we both needed a shoulder to cry on, someone who cheered us on our lowest, friend who knew our shoe size and a friend who introduced us to so many iPhone apps that now we greatly enjoy. And that friend, who happened to be a HE was Rico.

Having a boy-friend, a male friend, a friend of the opposite sex seems to be very unusual, unacceptable and a little out-of-the-way, more so in this part of the globe where men and women don't go out together, not unless they're married. Because of this, we got into so much encounters with their religious police called motawa.

Once, we were window shopping at Rashid mall. A bearded native man whispered to Rico, 'tho he was walking few meters ahead of us, to have us cover our hair. Quite light! Next encounter was at Dahran mall while we sat down at a coffee shop waiting for shops to open (closed for prayer time), him sitting on one table and us on the next table, but still were questioned if we were together. Denial seemed to be a normal reaction but those encounters were nerve wrecking!. Third was at Jarrir Bookstore. During prayer time, we were told to get out from the store and while waiting outside, and 'tho he stood few feet away from us, a roaming motawa in a car still caught him and was told to pray. 'Tho that incident didn't involve us, it was still pretty scary considering that we were together. But those encounters didn't stop us from going out and be in our own world, away from reality.

At the same time that we were having fun with our adventures, Rico, Aizza and I share the same gadgets, bought the same set of comforters, the same iPhone bunny case, kept the same McDonald's happy meal toys, celebrated our birthdays together, just the 3 of us, having eaten at flashy restaurants together but most of all, never really get tired of chatting even after a threesome date til we drop.

While Aizza and Rico were both into different relationships, I stayed on neutral ground......Okay! On a more complicated grounds! So when things go wrong, our viber accounts would be as busy as a bee as we listen to each other's rant over some not-so-important personal matters. Even if we get into a point that we disagree on some matters, still we are there for each other, list'ning to and cheering each other.

In addition, our relationship was one of a give and take. While Aizza is fond of giving fabulous, expensive, branded gifts, (lucky friends we are, aren't we?), Rico is more of a thoughtful giver. On his travels to Riyadh, he would surprise me and Aizza with gifts he would carefully choose and bring back home to our delight. And on our meal adventures, everybody take their turn to pay. And that's how we got hooked into dining in to different eateries both here in Dammam and Khobar.

During my first annual vacation, I get to meet Rico's mom, Ate Carolina and his sister, Jenny and niece Jam and nephew. Lahing arttistahin was my first impression. They seem to be good people, too, like Rico. Both Ate Carol and Jenny became my friends, too at Facebook. On my 2012 annual vacation, I got to meet and chat with Rico's mom once again. During our lengthy conversation at the Mall of Asia, I've witnessed how Rico was loved and appreciated by his mom as she would tell stories about her youngest son making lots of surprises for her and showering her material things. Ate Carol never get tired of saying how humble and kind his son is and how his feet firmly stays on the ground even if he gets lot of praises and attention from people who knew him well and people he just got bumped into for the first time. I've witnessed Ate Carol shed tears when her Rico's in pain, emotionally or otherwise. And I can tell how excited she is, knowing that my friend, her son will soon go home in 69 days.

For almost 2 years of knowing Rico, here's a glimpse of how we have developed our seemingly doubtful friendship: Whenever there was something new with us- be it a funny encounter at work, an unscrupulous decision we made, mean words we want to say to other people (and have kept and laughed it off to ourselves), new things we bought, found a new place to dine, activities we attended, or even if we're in the height of our happiness and emotions, we never failed to "report" through our endless chats at viber or Facebook. During his break up with Trish, it was me who knew it firsthand. Admittedly, I got angered seeing him at his lowest but listened to his flaws anyway. Knowing him, I thought he didn't deserve such cruel treatment but he've moved on fast so with the smile and laughters with our chats.Those endless conversations not only opened the doors to knowing and understanding each other but have truly been the key to our most coveted one-of-a kind form of relationship.

So, with the many positive things I've seen about Rico, how then do I feel towards him? Setting aside the "generation gap", I believe I am one lucky bitch to have been blessed with someone who have accepted, cared for, listened to, and simply being there for me. Once, I was in my darkest and deepest abyss, and Rico and Aizza supported me all the way, never left me, guided me through and accepted me wholly. Indeed, both my young friends were heaven sent! As Ulysses G. Grant once penned: "The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity".

Rico is leaving in 2 months. There is so much anxiety in my part, knowing that I may not see him again or may not talk to him again personally, and have me back to my usual lonesome world, but I know that wherever his fate takes him, the friendship we cultivated in this part of the Lord's vineyard will be cherished forever. To you, Rico, thank you may not be enough but thanks anyway for in you, I found a brother, a friend, a confidante, my angel in my most trying moments, my laughing partner, I will surely miss you but wishing you all the best life can offer. For now, we have 68 days left to rock and roll! KUDOS, Brother!

QUOTES:

"A true friend freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues unchangeably".- William Penn

**Blog proofread, re-edited and published with the consent of Rico Madrigalejos, a.k.a. Ico Potter.

MY SPA EXPERIENCE (The Room Service Way)

Arrived at exactly 1:45pm at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Wednesday, September 19 feeling so tired and dizzy. I opted to stay in a hotel for a day to rest and had my children come over to Manila for a treat after my almost 4months absence.

After a 9-hour direct flight from King Fahad International Airport, Dammam to NAIA with a jet lag (or just a plain lack of sleep and exhaustion due to the last 2 days of me being so busy with my unfinished vacation papers), I thought I deserve a full body massage, of which these days, spa is the new term for massage.

After checking in at Copacabana Hotel, a 3-star hotel in the heart of Pasay City, I immediately had warm shower to freshen up. At the lobby, I was told of the hotel's amenities, one of which is a spa and a salon at the 2nd floor. Good enough I already had my pedicure done 5 days before my flight, I dropped the idea of having to pay 250pesos for a pedicure and 250pesos for a manicure, I could wait til I get to the province and pay 120pesos for both.

Called the reception for room service but I was told that the masseuse was busy with a client. I jumped into conclusion that there's only one on duty that time. I was told that if I can wait 2 hours more, I could be the next in line. I agreed and waited til 9pm and had nap in between. When the phone rang, I knew it was the spa center that's calling. A very young lady knocked at my door holding a basket of different oils and some kind of lotions and stones with a paper funnel in yellow color with candle and match sticks in her hands. She greeted me courteously and asked what I wanted for a massage-was it the normal massage, the aromatherapy, swedish or shiatsu? Oh, boy, what do I know about those terms, except that aromatherapy sounds cool and I just needed to have my painful back have a taste of rubbing and let the pain go away for sometime. She suggested the aromatherapy for she will use some sort of a special oil for the massage.

I couldn't explain in detail how she manipulated my aching back and how that I feel so light after an hour of the aromatherapy massage. She did so well that the painful back and tired muscles was so relaxed and painless, I wanted more but paying more wasn't in my agenda. After the treatment, she suggested that if I wanted to experience their new service called candeling at a price of Php350.00, then I can have my ears get clean painlessly as well. So for experience (and having something to blog later), I availed.

Overall, I had a wonderful time experiencing these things. Honestly, the massage was on my bucket list for my 2012 vacation. Haven't had it in years and as I thought of working so hard, giving bath to 2-4 patients every night for a 30-day night shift, turning and pulling patients up to 180 kilograms everyday and going home tired with no one to attend to me except my lifeless computers, I never regretted paying out 60 rials for a massage that made me say, "AH, THIS IS LA DOLCE VITA!".