Reminiscing with a hot cuppa tea

It's June 16 today! And it's a doubly special day for me because it's Loving the Distance blog's 1st ever anniversary AND it's our 8th anniversary as a couple. I take this time to reminisce on the good year that was…

The  VERY FIRST TIME I received flowers

On this very same day last year (2009), Dodong surprised me with 7-Dozen Yellow Gerberas on our anniversary It was the first time I've ever received flowers in our then 7-year relationship. I remember him in his video message (yes, ala ASAP ito!) that the 7-dozen flowers represented each month of our relationship. How sweet!

Our Pagudpud Roadtrip

After 8-months of separation (It was the looooongeeeeesssst ever!), Dodong came home and we took off to the northern-most tip of Luzon, Pagudpud, for a much needed homecoming date. It was also the first time we took Dodong's super gwapo car, Sharkface, on a joy ride…a 13-hour one. Oh 26-hour road trip considering it was a roundtrip. Hehehe.

Our Impromptu Photo-Opp at the Bangui Windmills

On the way back to Manila, we just had to pass by Bangui Windmills. The very reason we went on the looooong road trip. It was such a blast taking photos of each other, whether day-off mode (i.e. solo pic) or the two of use together. Oh we also just had to take photos of Sharkface too!

The time I lost 8-lbs for Dodong's Birthday

I had no idea of what to give Dodong for his birthday then. So I decided to take on the challenge of losing weight for him (a much coveted dream of his). I was super successful and I'd like to think that made him very happy Hihihi!

How Dodong continues to show his soft side (heart flutter!)

Long distance relationships make people miss each other like CRAZY. So duh. I just super love reminiscing about how Dodong misses me like WILD! Hehehe!

Sigh. Just thinking about that made me sad again. This is our 3rd anniversary apart But still Happy Anniversary to Us: myself, Dodong and Loving the Distance blog! More years of happiness, romance and love

Love the Distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

P.S. Watch out for the Loving the Distance Anniversary contest winner tomorrow

8 Is The Loneliest Number

Originally uploaded by Argyle Assassin

This coming June 16 is Loving the Distance's 1st Blog Anniversary. Yey! And I would like to share the overwhelming love and blessings I have in my life right now, despite being in a long distance relationship.

And so, my dear readers (who ever in the world you are), I am giving away Skin Food beauty products (so that you're pretty all the time) and a little long distance relationship surprise to the one (only one) who can answer these two questions correctly on or before June 16:
1. How many years have Dodong and I been in a long distance relationship?
2. On June 16, how many years have Dodong and I been officially together? I think I have given a clue already

Easy right? If there are many of you who get the answer correct, I think I'd have to raffle them prizes off

Thank you so much for the support! Remember, add your comment (a.k.a answer) on or before June 16.

I will be announcing the winner by June 17

Love the distance,
Inday I. Nagintay

Loving the Distance moves up!

In exactly 9 days (tama ba ang bilang ko?), Loving the Distance turns ONE YEAR OLD! Imagine that! It's been a year of celebrating the romance, nurturing the love and defying the distance

But wait there's more…

In addition to that, Dodong and I will be celebrating our 8th year anniversary HUWAW! So cool right?

I will also be then having a blog contest for the Loving the Distance readers out there (whoever and wherever you are!) as part of my thanksgiving for the great year that has past So watch out!

Aren't you super excited?

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

It's been sweet

I was supposed to post last Tuesday but unfortunately (for some reason) the blog was down But now it's back, I just wanted to share another milestone in our relationship: Dodong's Desert anniversary…his 2nd!

I can't believe it's been two years since he left for greener pastures in the desert. How ironic right? Green in the desert? Hehe.

I was actually thinking of celebrating his desert anniversary. Do you think I could celebrate? We've been through a lot in the 2 years apart and I must say despite the challenges, it's really been sweet

Congrats my love! We've survived!

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

A flower for you on our 7.5years anniversary

Today is our 7.5 year anniversary and a few days left till the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010. This has left me feeling a bit senti about the year that has past.It really has been a whirlwind of a year but so many things have happened and are really worth sharing and celebrating.

As I was thinking of a title, the word "milestones" seemed so ordinary. But come to think of it, you could break it down into mile and stones. Miles because of the distance, and stones because of the strong foundations we've built in our relationship. Okay I may be analyzing too much here. Wag ng ipilit kasi walang konek!

I'd like to share with you what I consider as our Top 2009 LDR milestones…

The birth of this blog!

Of course, if not for the distance, this blog would not have been born We do love the distance because it did help us both grow as individuals and as a couple. Plus, I super want to help and support all other couples who are going through the same thing we are. It is not a bed of roses really. There are times that it is great, but it can get lonely. So we all need to really support, support, support!

The first time I received flowers!

7-dozens for 7-years <3

Last June 16, on our 7th anniversary, Dodong was such a sweetheart because he sent me 7-dozen of my favorite flowers to the office. Surprise! A super duper pleasant one at that

The first time we went on a VERY LONG roadtrip together

The perfect breathtaking view for his homecoming

The Pagudpud trip was fairly recent during Dodong's homecoming. I guess it was significant because we were driving his very new car, Sharkface the Mitsubishi Lancer EX (Tama nga ba?). It was quality time well spent because it was just the two of us, 24 hours a day (este 3 kasi 3 days lang pala yung trip). I guess we are getting used to the idea of being glued to the hip very soon? Hahaha!

2009 was overall a very kind year, lots of ups but a lot of downs (which sometimes really get to you!). But I (along with Dodong)…Ehem, let me rephrase that: WE thank the Good Lord for 2009. And in advance, thank Him for the year to come

What are your 2009 LDR milestones?

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

His homecoming is DEFINITELY a SPECIAL EVENT!

Dodong and I are already talking about his next homecoming. I know he is still here, yet it seems as if I am sending him off! Hehehehe

For now, he still can't pinpoint when exactly he will be coming home next year since there are a lot of factors that come into play with this decision. Aside from the fact that, of course, work load is a crucial factor, which includes asking permission from the powers that be at work.

Here are the non-work top factors for consideration in scheduling homecomings…

Special Occasions with "Normal people" (i.e. family, friends, colleagues)

One of the reasons Dodong came home is to attend his high school classmate's wedding, which we did go to last weekend in Tagaytay. If I remember correctly, the earlier homecoming this year was also scheduled (or maybe it was just a coincidence?) during another friend's wedding. The abundance of weddings of friends in 2010 is actually creating quite a dilemma. Tsk tsk tsk.

Of course, Christmas is the biggest homecoming occasion for OFWs like him. This is the biggest Pinoy gathering of family and friends. So he has to really fight with the hundreds (oh, okay maybe I'm exaggerting) of OFWs in his office to get a vacation leave. This month's homecoming is I guess also a Christmas one. Though he won't be here. Christmas is a few days away anyway.

Special Couple Occasions

Another special occasion we are looking at is our Anniversary. We haven't been able to spend 2 anniversaries together. So next year, our 8th year anniversary, I am hoping Dodong would be home.

Dentist – Doctor appointments

Though he is covered by health insurance in the desert, Dodong makes it a point to time homecomings when he is in need of dental-medical attention. For the past homecomings, he makes it a point to visit the dentist for the regular oral prophylaxis (is this the correct spelling?). Luckily, a very good friend of mine is his dentist. Hehehe! Friendly prices are an added bonus when undergoing procedures. Hihihi!

Travel documentation updates

Dodong also went home to renew his passport. A good thing for OFWs is that they have a special privilege when renewing passports. They don't have to go all the way to the DFA. Instead, they have a special queue in the POEA (Philippine Overseas Employment Administration) for faster processing since OFWs have limited time during vacations.

Investment documentation updates

Dodong recently took the plunge in investing his hard earned money in some . So he is taking the time to fix all his papers while he is here. Of course, so that the cash keeps on growing and growing Yey for him!

What other factors does your better half take into consideration when coming home?

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

I then went to work expecting the usual work day. Rode to work with my "K" carpool mate, long-time community friend and officemate. Read and replied to emails. Nothing special. But I was dead wrong. It was one of the MOST SPECIAL days of my coupled life…

1st Suprise: Chicharong Brownies

While I was going about work that morning, "K" lugging her laptop came to me in my area saying "Huy may ipapakinig ako syo…" Of course, I said "Go" thinking that it was a music peg she needed for one of the presentations.

Lo and behold, it was not a song but a video of Dodong!!! OMG! I was so touched I cried…on my desk.

If you must know, Dodong is not at all a thoughtful nor a creative gift giver. He would always ask me: "What do you want?" So I was surprised!!!!

It was his video greeting for me. He said he remembered me telling him a story of how I loved chicharong bulaklak when I was young and actually consumed half a kilo of it!  I asked my dad to buy me half-a-kilo of chicharon bulaklak to be my reward if I won my swimming competition. I obviously won since I ate the whole half kilo! Hehehe.

So he was giving me 7-pouches of chicharong bulaklak to represent each of the 7 years together. And yes, he says have mercy on my heart's cholesterol so I have to share the chicharon. Hehehe!

Unfortunately, "K" wasn't able to find chicharon bulaklak that would keep fresh that morning. So she instead bought a box of brownies from Goldilock's. Which are so moist and yummy by the way! In fairness!

Ang chicharong bulaklak na naging brownies!

2nd surprise: My FIRST EVER flowers from Dodong

And so I continued working working working…Honestly I tried working since I was just so high from the morning's suprise. Little did I know that a phone call would give me another surprise!

Our receptionist called me to say "Ms. Inday you have flowers from Ms. Dodong." I said "HUH?!? Flowers? Sigurado kang ako yan?" I put down the phone and went out to the office lobby.

Lo and behold, it was not just one bouquet of flowers, but SEVEN yes SEVEN bouquets of Yellow Gerberas!!!

I have been shamelessly plugging to Dodong that these were my favorite flowers in the hope that one day, someday he would give me flowers.His retort would always be: "Bakit makakain mo ba ang flowers?!?" which, obviously, silences the usually madaldal me. Hehehe!

Along with the SEVEN bouquets of flowers came another round of video messages c/o "K".  He said in the video that he sent 7-dozen Yellow Gerberas to symbolize our 7-years together. 12 months in a year equals a dozen flowers. So 7-dozen flowers equals 7-years And I thought that Dodong was not at all thoughtful and creative at gift giving huh?

Bouquet #1

Bouquet #2

Bouquet #3

Bouquet #4

Bouquet #5

Bouquet #6

Bouquet #7

Until press time, I still am in a state of disbelief that this actually happened. I am beyond pleasantly surprised. I was so giddy happy kilig that I could not function efficiently at work. Sowee! I was just in Cloud-9…SIGH.

1,2,3,4,5,6...7!!!

See what wonders being away can do? It really does push the envelope in gift giving! It did wonders for me. Imagine, the FIRST TIME in seven years!!!

How about you: What is the best surprise given to you by your better half on your long distance anniversary?

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

P.S. It was also the first time that Dodong has upstaged me in creative gift giving. hehehe! I know I'm a bit competitive. My gift was a photo compilation / album of the text messages he sent me. It reached about a 100+ text messages.