Cleaning up your house After the Flood

Cleaning up your house after it is being submerged with flood water.

In this situation our main focus and goal here is to make it Habitable as soon as possible.

Safety First - of course we would like to ensure that we don't injure ourselves while we are cleaning the house. 

We would need the following:

• surgical face mask
• sturdy gloves
• wash water
• hand wash soap
• Isoprohyl Alcohol
• safety glasses

SWITCH OFF HOUSE POWER

We would like to ensure that everything is safe in the house because the house was submerged with water we don't know if there are electrical wiring that may have been impacted or damage due to the flood. The sockets or plugs might have been damaged as well. Use battery operated tools and flash light.

While cleaning the house TIMING is really essential. Don't be in a hurry. As we have seen, several or if not most of the time flood water recede and then come back with a vengeance. Always have those transistor radio on to make sure you are updated from time to time. If you're living nearby a creek then make sure to evacuate your house even before the creek hits its critical level.

WHERE TO START?

Since the house is submerged with water we need to remove all clothing and linen items. Place them in a plastic or soak them in water with laundry soap and a good amount of ZONROX ( I normally use the color safe bleach) to at least disinfect the clothes and linen. Next is to remove or bring out your furnitures, appliances and other soft furnishing such as carpets and linoleum. 

Next is to box or pack everything from utensils to decorations to CD's etc. After packing them put them outside your house as well.

Have your appliances checked by an electrician to see if it is repairable or it is as good as junk already.

When everything is outside already or when you generally strip off your house it is now the washing and disinfecting the whole house.

We would need the following:

• Detergent Powder soap - First I would mop the house with detergent soap. This is to make sure the dirt and flood residue is removed.

• MOP and Bucket - At first I use the conventional mop however recently I found out that there is this kind of mop in the market where it has spinner to dry the mop. At least I don't have to touch and squeeze the mop already.

•  Then after washing the whole house (walls and floor) with soap and water I then wash it again with a very good amount of bleaching liquid or in this case I usually use ZONROX Bleach. I use this to disinfect the whole house.

• After bleaching and drying the house I use Fabric softner as a finishing touches of my cleaning agenda.

• So after, washing the house I would mop the whole floor and walls with dry rags.

After cleaning and drying the walls and floor of the house. Make sure that electrical wiring are checked by a qualified electrician. This is to avoid someone from the house being electricuted or the house to be burning because of short circuits.

RUGBY FOOTBALL at MRT STATIONS

Nowadays, infrastructures are built almost everywhere with the goal of keeping everyone's convenience and safety. The over pass and underpass are built to ensure the safety of the motorist. Bridges are built to tone down the traffic.

Another development that made the masses even more happy is to build the MRT and LRT. I myself liked it too because of the fact that it is cheap and fast. I can get from end point to end point in a couple of minutes. I do think that it is designed to help the grass roots have at least a cheaper mode of transportation.

I use MRT and LRT because I hate the rush hour traffic. However though, many times that I have to either hold my breath and try to push my self against a swarm of people flocking in or I would just let it go and just do a return trip from the starting point to the end point and back to where I should stop.

As other's say, when you buy the MRT Ticket its all up to you. No one care's (even the management) if you are old, young, lady, the moment that door opens be ready to play RUGBY FOOTBALL or just wait and ride back.

I must say though that this kind of scenario is actually visible during rush hour.

My Monsoon Rain Experience

Last August 6 2012 to August 9 2012, most part of the Philippines were blanketed with clouds and huge amount of rains. Most part of Metro Manila were flooded  water's are dripping on the walls of my apartment. The clouds are dark and the sun seems to be hiding somewhere over those heavy pith dark clouds.

After few days of intense rainfall water floods are rushing inside the house. Everyone in the house tries to look for a dry place to sleep during the days. It is indeed my first time of everything, to sleep in a wet mattress or cold wet floor.

 I would say I am still really lucky to have a tiny place to stay compared to this other families in the metro who lost not only their homes but a family or members of the family. I am lucky since I only lost my material belongings and not a dear friend or a family member or even the source of my income.

However, there were thoughts during these cold days and wet nights that struck my illusive mind. Is this happening because of the unpredictable weather condition and climate change. Before, when we say monsoon rain it wont cause us much of a trouble but these days it gives us more rains it drops a month of rainfalls in few days or even hours.

Or, is it because of incapacitated mentality of its residences. Undisciplined humanity. Every night I see tons of garbage along the highway. Worst, during those days I see plastics of garbage's floating at the side wishing this flood to take this garbage somewhere else away from them.

Or the obsolete drainage system that was designed 20 to 50 years ago. Or the growing up population living in those creeks that was used to be a place for running water to flow.

Well whatever the cause may be, we cant blame nature. This elongated heavy rains leaves us all a lesson to learn from.

Mandaue Furniture: A Piece that I Deserve

I am not very particular of having furniture before since I am just renting a house so it is really difficult to have big and bulky furniture to go along with you more so if you are moving from one place to the next. However a sudden change of outlook and views of this matter when I decided to apply for a housing loan, I then became interested of owning the best of furniture in town.

One of the most beautiful moments in everyone’s life is going home. To catch up with the family, to bond, dine and watch tv together at home. Isn’t it nice to have furniture to complete this moment? I guess it is. Furthermore, the great choice of furniture adds value and perfect ambiance to the home you build.

My criteria for furniture are as follows:

·         Quality and Durability

·         Design

·         Price

Good to say that upon checking the Mandaue Foam Furniture they surpass my expectations.

These past days of nonstop raining be it thunderstorm or typhoon, I have lost some of my valuables. Electronics, electrical wiring and some furniture are all worn out and either totally wrecked or needs to be repaired.

As I browse the Mandaue Foam Website I totally got hooked to some of the furniture. I thought that this would definitely benefit me and would add up on the new furniture that I deserve to have while I transfer to my new house.

I would say that I deserve to have the ERICA as my LIVING ROOM COUCH. I am imagining this couch to be my haven in my living room. It is this couch that would captivate my mood to gear towards definite relaxations. After losing some of my furniture due to heavy and continuous rainfall this August, it is always best to change them with the best that we have in the city.

After a hard days at work at night so I could provide a glass of milk on my families table, don’t I deserve a reclining chair just enough for me to have my aching muscles relaxed. Also, I wanted to have a chair for my mom to sit when she visits us (her 2 children) in Manila. She complains with the hard wooden chair that I have.

 Both of this furniture is a must for me aside from the reason I mentioned above I also want to have my mom who works really hard for her children to go to college and finish their education. To sacrifice her own luxury for us to eat. Now I and my sister is miles away from her and it is always good to have a soft and welcoming furniture for her to stretch her tired and wearied muscle.

What about you, do you want to experience a very Mandaue Furniture experience? Are you looking for a furniture that is worth your money? Check out their website and visit their stores nationwide to experience the awesome goodness of Mandaue Furniture.

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Ooooopppssss there's more.... It this time of the year again and Mandaue Furniture is giving away an OH so AWESOME 40% OFF as part of their ANNIVERSARY SALE.... Isn't that wonderful!!!

Click on the image above to learn more....

When the Rain Don't Stop

It was a non stop rain. I never imagined that I would have another terrible flood experience after Ondoy.

On our way to my friends house.

On my way to my Friends house.

 After the rain, now it is cleaning time. Everything is wet, from my pillows to foam to blanket. I am sure it will be a busy week. Washing and drying and cleaning the house.

During those time when heavy rains showered the Philippines for more than 5 days, I had terrible and sleepless nights. The flood water is knee deep in my apartment so I have to improvise in order for me to catch a sleep.

I have to sleep on the table.

I sleep on my friends house. 

Slept on a hallway.

Online Shopping Tips

When you go shopping at the malls you would have to spend much time going from one store to the next to compare prices and quality. However online shopping offers every shoppers an easy access to browse and search on their favorite gadgets, apparels, make up, perfumes, in fact all most everything you need you can have it on your finger tips. It’s easy and sweat free.

In many occasion for a very busy life style this innovation of shopping makes this as a leading growing business all across the globe. It is sad to say that a part from this growing business it is also a growing opportunity for some people to virtual steal your bank credits. Bottom line is of course shop safely.

There may be a lot of safe tips out there that you could use. However I would like to add a few more tips that you could follow.

Just a recap of this popular safe tip is as follows:

·         Don’t store credit card or any other important information online or in your laptop or desk tops. When I say information this would mean: credit card number, social security number, tax identification number, date of birth, and name middle name. Your facebook account could have most if not all this information so I would say don’t put all your information out there.

I also do online shopping but as much as possible I don’t use my credit card or my debit card in purchasing items over the internet. If I can’t help it I would need to:

·         Check the security features of the website if it doesn’t start with HTTPS:blah.blah.com and I usually check my statement online. I don’t need to wait for my bill to arrive I wanted to see if the purchases I am making is correct every after 2 days. I also don’t purchase my stuff on internet café’s. Lastly I clear my browsing history after making a purchase. (I don’t know why I do the last part but I feel safe if I clear the cookies and my browsing history.)

·         I only shop to established websites. Before I make my purchase I usually read reviews. It is always better to read what others write about a certain website before I shop. Investigate the integrity of the website or online store first before you even make a purchase. Ask your friend or colleague about their experiences in that website if any.

·         Also, as much as possible if they can offer a Cash Upon Delivery policy then it is better rather than paying them in advance. If not, and if it is available then use a disposable credit/debit card (I hope this is available in the Philippines). It is your safest route in buying online or even over the phone.

·         I only buy my stuff in a reputable and established website. I also read their policy and their payment system.

So I just want to share some website where I could say I had a wonderful experience.

1.       Group Buying

·         Cash Cash Pinoy

·         Deal Grocer

·         Ensogo

·         Metro Deal

·         Yuga Deals

2.       Website

·         Zalora Philippines – aside from the usual mode of payments they also offer Cash on Delivery.

3.       Facebook – I also shop at facebook.

The Way I look at Skinny Jeans

I felt comfortable using skinny jeans. It is giving me the illusion and the feeling of being tall, sexy, and confident. I feel manly and very fashionable with that leg-hugging denim. A nowadays skinny jean is the name of men’s fashion. Gone are the days of bulgy square pants or too loose strait cuts. We may have different point of views on many occasions about people wearing those second skin jeans but it’s a new trend a new stride and definitely the pinnacle in pants fashion.

Another reason why I adore the skinny jeans for men is because it elongates your elongates your legs and it gives a different array of boldness.

 However in an article published by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reports that skinny jeans are responsible for the occurrence of health problems around the groin, it is linked to inflictions including low sperm counts, twisted testicles, bladder weakness, urinary tract infections and fungal irritations.

"I have seen several cases of men who have twisted their testicles due to wearing jeans that are far too tight," British GP Hilary Jones told the newspaper.

Jones further added that wearing tight-fitting clothing over a prolonged period of time can lead to urinary tract infections leading to over activity of the bladder.

A study of 2000 British men revealed that one in 10 experienced an unpleasant side effect of wearing skinny jeans.

Half the men in the study reported groin discomfort, while more than a quarter had bladder troubles.

One in five suffered a twisted testicle, a condition that occurs when tight trousers prevent the spermatic cord from moving freely, meaning it twists and possibly cuts off blood. This requires immediate surgery.

Wearing tight pants has also been linked to lower sperm counts as a result of the scrotum becoming overheated and harming the delicate sperm production process.

In my point of view wearing skinny jeans shouldn’t be bad at all. One thing to consider in wearing skinny jeans, “don’t eat, sleep, breath and live with skinny jeans”. Give your balls sometime to breathe and relax. Wear very loose undergarments when you sleep or sometimes don’t wear any undergarments when you sleep (LOL) and lastly don’t wear skinny jeans on a daily basis make it every other day.

Coming Home With Mandaue

Is it nice to come home with such a wonderful and majestically created furniture. I think it is safe to say that it feels so good to come home after a long day of work and stretch those tired muscles in a soft mattress that brings you to dreamland.

Mandaue offers a lot of mattress selection. Since it is made by Mandaue am sure it would last. It is for sure that bed you have been dreaming off. It is also my dream mattress....

I would like to have the following mattress and furniture in my master's bedroom.

To have a bed like this is magical. It would definitely doze me off to my dreamland.

"It's rainy outside and there's no other thing that comes to your mind but to stay put in your bed. Make your bed more irresistible and more comfortable with our signature QUEEN SIZE HOTEL QUALITY POCKET SPRING MATTRESS!", Mandaue said in their facebook fan page and I couldn't agree more.

Giving the fact that I have a big family,  I would like to have this bed in my guest room. I would like to have the idea of having the pull out bed so it could accommodate more visitors.

photo credit

Staying Positive In Every Situation

Positive thinking is expecting, talking and visualizing with certainty what you want to achieve, as an accomplished fact.

Positive thinking is one of the key to someone’s success. It gives you good and sound reasoning about negative things that is coming your way be it at work, at home or at play. Positivity makes you a better person inside and out.

However is there really an end in staying positive? When will someone say ENOUGH? What if you feel that people around you resent you or say something bad against you? What if someone stronger is really pinning you down, will you still stay positive and just move on?

For me, it doesn’t really matter it is YOU who would have to decide what action you would take. It is either you growl and leave or simply take a deep breath and move on.

Here are some of the few things I learn through the years.

A negative situation is really frustrating. Normally, I wear a mask I have developed through the years while I am thinking of a solution. My mask however is misinterpreted as a RANTING COMMENTARY KING OR QUEEN. For me it doesn’t matter. I would advise though that you Zip in when you are at the peak of your anger. Always calm yourself before opening your mouth. Always take a deep breath. Somehow taking a deep breath brings down the tension and fire.

Do whatever you do to calm yourself. What I normally do is go down take a heavy puff of ciga while I am screaming and discussing it with a real friend. Well this is how I do it to release all the tension I know you have your way.

When you need to talk to the people involved. It is always better to talk calmly. This would help neutralize the situation. Always look for opportunities to be positive. Ignore negative comments and action and look for the positive one. Get an inspiration to what is going around. Explore new things. Don’t be afraid to take on new roles and challenges.

While other people say mistakes as downgrading, an opportunity to pull you out of their way it is always best to see mistake as opportunity to be better. Learn from it. As George Bernard Shaw says, “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”

There may be a lot more of tips and tricks of being positive out there. The truth is the higher you climb in life, the worse the negative situations would be, so you’d better be prepared for them. Read your bible it has helped me a thousand times when I am at the edge of giving up.

How to Survive the Graveyard Shift

To work in a graveyard means a total change of your routine on a daily basis. For the past 20 years or so of your life you sleep at night and do your stuff in the morning. Your brain and body has been resting at night and work when the sunshine. All of these will change when you work on a graveyard.

I had been working on a graveyard for the past 4 years and counting and I had so many issues. I had difficulty in sleeping during daytime, I am stressed, I was even confined for at least a month in the hospital. At least now I have learned some things that I wanted to share that it may work for you too:

Here are few of my tips:

Your diet plays a very important role. A poor diet means you will have a lot of problem in the next few years.

• Water – we all know that we loose water in our body day in and day out. Drink plenty of water when you are in the office. It helps cleaning up toxin in your body.
• Avoid caffeine and soda or any drinks that has high sugar content. I’ve tried this before so I could not doze off but this has destroyed my sleeping habit. Just recently I had issues sleeping and so that’s when I stopped this things and started drinking water and fresh milk instead. Now, I am recovering my sleeping habit.
• No Junkies – it means that you need to eat Nutritious Foods. Not processed foods but instead real food. When I was starting in the night shift I drink coffee a lot, soda drink, energy drinks, junk foods, fast foods. After a few years I ended up having difficulty sleeping then later I was hospitalized. I was advised by my friends to refrain from those JUNKIES and try fresh vegetable and fruits as my diet instead. After few years, I experience the same problem so I totally shifted my diet to fresh fruits and vegetable at home instead. However, if we get tempted I think its ok but you need to double your water intake.
• After work Activities – Relaxation in so many ways. Maybe you could go watching tv, chatting with friends or walking your dog, jogging or going to the gym. Do anything to loosen up. Just do the things you normally do when you are working on a day shift (the only difference is you are doing it in a different time). It is also advisable that you do some activities outdoor so you could catch up the sunrise. An hour of sun exposure is healthy and it helps regulates sleeping habit. Force yourself not to sleep after you take your dinner/breakfast.
• Multivitamins – It is helpful to take multivitamins to ensure that we are getting the vitamins and minerals that we are not getting from the food we take.
• Sleeping Schedule – It is very important to set a standard sleeping schedule. It is not good to sleep immediately as soon as you arrive home. Create a pattern of activities that your body needs to adopt before sleeping. Make sure as well to get at least 8 hours of sleep each day. Once you wake up then you go ahead and prepare to work. EAT GOOD BREAKFAST OR SHOULD I SAY DINNER FOR MOST BUT YOU CALL IT BREAKFAST. Eat fruits and vegetable. Don’t drink coffee or soda to awaken your senses instead give yourself sometime to be awaken. Sticking to your schedule is very important it is as important as having a good diet.
• Re-create your sleeping room. Design it for sleeping only. What I did was to shut off the sunlight by placing hard cardboards in the window. The room as well is so quite, no tv, no radio. I’ve asked my roommates as well to avoid being noisy while I am sleeping.

“train yourself to adjust in working at night”