Umm… how time flies. I haven’t had the real feel of summer yet but look, days have flown by and now it’s the merry month of May. Before we know it, June breezes in and lo! half of 2006 is consumed. Oh no… June is my birth month! I am oldddd! Hahaha!

Anyway, because of these preparations for my daughter’s (indefinite, uncertain, unsure, vague, etc.) flight to the States, I have neglected some home duties. My stay-out maid has not reported to work again for days, as I think she is busy with her ’sideline’ selling oysters (which I hope are not ‘red tide toxin carriers’), apparently taking advantage of the peak season this summer.

I look at the laundry baskets and my, my, my - are they overflowing! If Teresa doesn’t come until Monday, I have to go through the unpleasant task again of packing these dirty clothes and send them to Sta. Barbara for my parents’ maid, Josephine, to launder. Well, I’m sure this is not at all a burden for her since she will be earning extra, but to me, it definitely is - because apart from the laundry fee, I have to shell out more bucks for the gas because Sta. Barbara is a good 15-20 minutes drive away from my home.

Aside from the laundry, I have to clean four bedrooms, two bathrooms, indoor and outdoor kitchens, living and dining rooms, carport, … God, by the time I finish, I will be a total wreck. Sad truth is - I am no longer as sprightly as I used to be when younger. Before, I would occasionally throw on the bed contents of our closets and arrange, rearrange them whenever I fancied. And when I felt the urge to clean up, I would scrub, dust and straighten the house until 2 or 3 in the morning, not stopping until I was satisfied and every little object was dust free and laid in place. Unfortunately, with every year that passed there also came added responsibilities in my work, family and social duties. Therefore, house chores have been delegated mostly to the helper and I only laid my hands on them on my free time.

Side notes: This morning, I sat in the couch trying to figure how and where i should start the house clean up. While thinking, I scanned the inbox in my cellphone, and I realized that my server, Globe, has been sending me these home, fashion, beauty and even romance tips (lol) which cost Php2.50 per send. I have been wanting to stop these by sending OFF to 2346, but they still persist. So anyway, I have given up and just let them come everyday though I get occasionally annoyed when I get roused by my message alerts only to find 2346 texting me tips on love, dating, (lol), home, etc.

Browsing on these alerts though, I found some of them quite useful, and which I have noted down for reference as I go through my housework this weekend.

Here are some of these tips:

1. Soak old newspapers in water for two hours, tear them into small pieces and compress them into balls. You can use them as charcoal substitute. It is also one good way to recycle.

2. Decide what to do with your garden. Do you plan to entertain, relax or play in your little patch of land? This way, it is easier to plan what things you want to add in or remove from your garden.

3. Have different colored towels for each member of the family to avoid mix up. This way too, you can identify the one with the habit of leaving their towels lying around.

4. To easily remove crayon marks on walls, place some toothpaste on an old toothbrush and use it for scrubbing the stain.

5. For cleaner and clearer windows, mirrors and glassware, mix some drops of white vinegar in the cleaning solution.

6. The best way to cook your veggies is by cooking them in the microwave. The less time they are heated, the more they retain their nutrients. Place a little water or butter in a microwavable container along with the vegetables.

7. To add extra flavor to your soups or salads, try roasting your veggies in the oven toaster. Add a few drops of olive oil, salt, pepper or even your favorite herbs. This method goes well with carrots, potatoes and bell peppers.

Okay… time to don the apron! Wish me luck! lol…