Shopping isn't for girls only. Na-ah.

This afternoon turned into an unplanned shopping spree. It started out with a purchase at Sanuk, a long coveted pair of summer sandals (I've always been a summer girl). Then some undies from Bench's new collection. And 50% off steals at Bayo with the last pair of cute brown satin wedges and ruby red ballet slip-ons and some shirts made me swipe the hell out of my credit card. I've reached my monthly shopping quota in a single afternoon. Darn.

Enumerating my purchases reminds me of Dodong. A LOT. Because in the years that we've been apart, long distance relationship mode, I've realized that he's more of a girl than I am. I will enumerate why…

He shops when depressed.

Times have been challenging in the desert. So every time the going gets tough (stressful at work and all), Dodong troops to the trusty and numerous malls in the city and goes SHOPPING! From his all-time favorite brand Nike to his new found brand Fred Perry. My gash. Natalo ako talaga!

I have to even get into the right move and groove to start shopping. Plus its really at least once a month. Not even on a regular monthly basis or I just have to wait out for sale season. Come to think of it, hindi nga e. I hate going to crowded malls kc!

He loves chocolate more than I do.

Yes, I do not like chocolate. I eat it but it's not something I crave for. Or go crazy over especially in times of loneliness.

Dodong LOVES chocolates. He would pay for an eat-all-you-can chocolate buffet. He would hoard chocolates galore of all shapes and sizes. I remember that even in his 1st Dubai homecoming, he brought home camel-milk chocolates. Don't even ask me what it tastes like because I did not even get to taste a single piece. My sisters ate them all! Hehehe!

He's very fickle minded.

Both of us are planning something big for the near future. Since what we are planning is here in the Philippines, I am the designated go-to person. Obviously, since he is out of the country da ba? I research and go on ocular inspections and do follow ups.

And it is just soooo hard to please him. I have a clear idea of the plan, but Dodong has a gazillion ideas. We've been planning this for around 2-3months and have not nailed down a solid plan! Gah! So are girls the only ones fickle minded eh?

Isn't Dodong such a girl too? But trust me he's not gay. It's just these LDR loneliness moments that drive him crazy I guess.

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

The gates to loneliness are empty.

When one (or rather two since a couple is involved) is in a long distance relationship, both must expect fairly regular dealings with the sickness of LDR loneliness. One sickness that I am going through at this very moment. One sickness that I loathe to the core because it's so hard to get out of…plus it is regular in long distance relationships.

Do you have your bouts of LDR loneliness too?

I would like to reiterate that I do get them, at least once a month. Sometimes I feel that people think that I'm ok and that it's a breeeze since it's been two years. But it's not…

There are times that…

• I cry myself to sleep because Dodong thinks that he can't talk to me plus I'm nahihiya to tell other people.
• I treat myself to a good meal to offset the loneliness. Very expensive at times.
• I go to my favorite massage place (Tonton's Thai Massage at the moment) and get a two-hour body massage. Expensive too.
• I just walk around like a zombie in a crowded mall.
• I stare into space. Okay, this is similar to the previous one.
• I write a lonely email to Dodong.
• Or yes, write a blog post like this one.

How do you deal with your seasons of LDR loneliness?

Love the distance (Do I really??? I just hate it sometimes),

Inday I. Nagintay

I sure do miss this...so much

These past weeks (ever since Dodong left for the desert) have been tough on me emotionally. It's literally been a rollercoaster. So what better way but to just reminisce on the latest LDR Homecoming, a quickie one at that, or just reminisce the happy moments we were REALLY together.

What exactly are those happy moments I do miss?

Spending some time with my family

The day he came home, Dodong was able to hang out and chill with my family over ice cold bottles of his favorite Coca-cola.

Mum and her glass of bubbly Coca-cola

Dodong opening his bottle of Coca-cola

It's just so cute when you see the love of your life bonding with your family, right?

Surprising him with little gifts

I came across a CD of one of our favorite local, up and coming artists and decided to surprise him…

CD of Techy Romantics + Cold Bottle of Coca-cola = Happiness!

Finally a band we BOTH love: Techy Romantics Together with an ice cold bottle of Coca-cola again!

Cruising around with Sharkface

No Dodong = No Sharkface. So I did miss his bad ass car as well.

How handsome Dodong's Car is noh?

I just love cruising around, holding hands in the middle of a horrible traffic. Aba syempre dito na iniinom ang pabaon kong Coke.

Ice cold Coca-cola!

Hay. Sigh. Happy times ang homecoming talaga. That has made my mood perk up a bit. Don't you also get a smile on your face when reminiscing?

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

P.S. Apologies for the photos. I still am using my camera phone so no decent pics. Sadness.

P.P.S. This post is supported by Coca-cola

Killing loneliness doesn't have to be a suicide mission

Earlier this week, I was just feeling down in the dumps wanting to rid this gripping feeling of loneliness.In our almost two-years in a long distance relationship, the loneliness pops up, creeps up once in a while…maybe even regularly. Once a month? Once in a quarter? I have not taken note of the patterns just yet. But it never totally disappears. I just wanted to kill it. Yes, kill the loneliness. At least temporarily.

And I worked hard to do so. What best killed that bastard called loneliness this time?

A wee bit of reassurance from Dodong

I was afraid to share the heaviness of the loneliness load with Dodong but I knew I just had to. I had to go straight to the "source" of all loneliness. And I just literally poured my heart out…it wasn't a pretty sight. Well, he didn't see it since we did not engage in webcam chat (I guess it would be painful for him too. Another nuisance of a long distance relationship). So tears, tears, and more tears galore.

But then after two consecutive nights of loneliness dumping, I did feel better. Plus it made me fall in love all over again with Dodong because he truly does love me seeing me going through that emotional ordeal. Thank you.

A whole lot of comfort from friends

I just had to share the load. So I emailed and chatted with my friends, M and C, who've known me since grade school. They know Dodong and our LDR (well, they've seen us grow through the 7+ years) I even wrote a loooooooooong loneliness sob story on Facebook. Their listening ears and reality-slapping words helped put things back into perspective.

And just getting out of the house, meeting up with other friends, made the overpowering loneliness slowly fade away…

Last, but not the least, some booze and good food

Okay, I am a certified food addict. When I'm lonely, I eat. When I'm happy, I eat. Hehehe. So in this case, I treated myself to some good eats at the ff: Qasa 61 with my good friend E and her boyfriend C, Uncle Moe's Shawarma with C and Le Ching with myself (Okay, I'm such an addict I can actually eat out by myself).

Booze? I had a little. Not so much. But there's something about being inebriated that messes up with your feelings. In my case, it did in a good way.

So today, I am definitely feeling much better. Loneliness killed…again, at least temporarily. So it's back to regular long distance relationship programming

How do you kill your LDR loneliness?

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay

Today is quite a lonely day. I hate it. I am definitely feeling EMO. And while surfing, I stumbled upon this song: Killing Loneliness by HIM.

Perfect.

The lyrics don't make any sense in my teary state. But what the heck. I just want to kill this loneliness…

Memories, sharp as daggers
Pierce into the flesh of today
Suicide of love took away all that matters
And buried the remains in an unmarked grave in your heart

With the venomous kiss you gave me
I'm killing loneliness (Killing loneliness)
With the warmth of your arms you saved me,
Oh, I'm killing loneliness with you
I'm killing loneliness that turned my heart into a tomb
I'm killing loneliness

Nailed to the cross, together
As solitude begs us to stay
Disappear in the lie forever
And denounce the power of death over our souls and secret words are said to start a war

With the venomous kiss you gave me
I'm killing loneliness (Killing loneliness)
With the warmth of your arms you saved me,
Oh, I'm killing loneliness with you
I'm killing loneliness that turned my heart into a tomb
I'm killing loneliness

Killing loneliness

With the venomous kiss you gave me
I'm killing loneliness (Killing loneliness)
With the warmth of your arms you saved me

So how do you kill your loneliness? HELP.

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay