Planning for Valentines Day

When you are married with children being romantic is like playing Battle Toads on hard mode. So events like Valentines needs a lot of planning, the same amount of planning when preparing for a company party for 500 employees. So here are my plans for that night.

Venue and Food:

Since Valentines Day falls on a Saturday, it would be insane to go too far from our house. So here are the options I have:

1. Isabelo Garden Restaurant - I have been hearing a lot of good things about this place and it would be nice to try something new.

2. Bellini's - I love this place but I haven't brought Elaine to this place and I know she will enjoy it.

3. Omakase - They have Chirasi Don and that is reason enough

4. Patio Rosario Love Suite - You know what I mean. 😏

Gifts:

I love the twinkle in my wife's eyes when she get something she likes. I have been hit and missed in the gift giving department, thankfully I have learned the not-so-subtle art of showing websites with things she might like and taking note of the things with the most reactions. I am getting her the following:

1. A dozen of white roses, it is her favorite.

2. The biggest Toblerone I can find and afford 😋

3. The one ring (replica)

Miscellaneous:

1. Babysitter is good.

2. Make sure is pampered before the dinner.

3. Spotify playlist is done.

Did I miss anything? Comments and suggestions are welcome.

My favorite TRPG characters

One of my passions in life is playing table-top role playing games. Over the years I have played a lot of characters, but some have made an impression in my gaming life. Here are them in no particular order:

Hector Graves - Vampire the Masquerade

This ravnos has been through a lot and has managed to survive, from the feast of folly, releasing demons, and surviving Gehenna. He has been the pawn of the camarilla, sabbat, demons, and antideluvian but has managed to outlast everything. He is a survivor.

Sleepwalker (Samuel Warren) - Adventure!

This pulp-fiction hero is my dream of playing golden-age sandman. Complete with gas mask and sleep gun, he fights injustices in the shadows. Also driving a German who defies death crazy for a millennium is awesome.

Alaunus - Exalted

Saying that I like exalted is an understatement, and playing a lunar exalted is a lifelong dream. A chosen of the moon that flies and  can deflect a titanic essence cannon with a bow and arrow is something for the books.

Hob - Dungeon World

I love the web comic Order of the Stick. So when I had the chance to play a smart fighter that had more common sense than most of the party. I wouldn't miss the opportunity. Killing a dragon with your your dwarven cleric companion is really cool.

Rabbit Minister - Weapon of the Gods

A wuxia themed game. I played the Dick Van Dyke of the martial arts world, able to play any musical instrument to deadly perfection. Also he is married to an all powerful wife, so it is not to far from real life.

My (Current) Casual Games

I used to be a hardcore gamer, I was the type who spent weekends in front of the pc playing games with only junk food as a source of sustenance. Unfortunately I had to grow-up, between trpg sessions, geeky social events, family time, and romantic relationship, video game time was the first one to suffer. Thankfully casual games were invented, they are the type of games you can play for five minutes during break and you can stop anytime you want. I will not deny I was addicted to farmville, candy crush and other games. I try to change my games I have once in awhile just to make I am up-to-date to new trends. Here are the games I am currently playing:

Angry Birds Transformers by Rovio Entertainment:

I am not a fan of angry birds franchise as a whole, maybe because I suck with projectile games. But I love transformers and it's free!

SimCity Buildit by EA 

The SimCity series has a special place in my heart, it is the first pc game I owned. I am really enjoying this game and I can't wait to unleash the disasters.

Carcassonne by The Coding Monkeys

The only paid app in my device right now and that is saying a lot. I played a lot of the actual board game and I am very happy when they made the app.

MMM Fingers by Noodlecake Studios

Sometimes you need a game that needs very minimal brain activity and this is the game for that occasion.

Spider-Man Unlimited by Gameloft

My current runner in my device. I love the comic book feel of the game and you get to collect Spider-Men.

Clash of Clans by Supercell

The latest game I am playing right now. I honestly just gave in to peer pressure since my brothers are playing it.

Marvel Puzzle Quest by D3PA

I love superheroes and I love the original puzzle quest. This is the perfect game for me and longest one I am playing. I can't wait to have Drax.

Ms Universe Thoughts

The Ms. Universe pageant happened today and my news feed in Facebook has been flooded by news, opinions, jokes, rants, and denials. Here are some of my thoughts about the event.

• I would be a hypocrite if I said that I didn't watch previous pageants and say that I didn't  enjoy them. Seriously people, when you see beautiful women the very least you can do is admire them and yes I have own Ms. Universe candidate crush that I will cherish over the years 

Ms. Belgium
Christelle Roelandts

• The candidates this year look very athletic, and I meant it in every positive way. They look like they can easily beat the crap out of me or make me a wuss in any sports event I face them in.

• I was impressed with Manny Pacquiao which saying a lot. Though I still wish he would stay away from politics.

• I love the posts where everyone is sharing about their favorite candidate and their violent reactions when their favorites don't win.

• I want to take whatever Ms America is taking. :P

• If you don't care about the pageant, why did you take time in posting to a social network that you don't care. :P

To spare the rod?

Most of my generation's parents, at least in my circle have followed the saying "Spare the rod, spoil the child." I was an extra active kid saw I got the tsinelas more than the average kid. I remember promising myself that my own children will never get punished like that.

25 years later, my perspective on things have changed a great deal. The rod or tsinelas is no longer the evil thing I remember it to be or what some child psychologist would tell you. Just remember these things I have learned:

1. Never do it in anger. They feel it and they are going to resent it.

2. Explain why you are do it, so they won't think that you just do it for kicks

3. Do it in private, keep their dignity.

4. After the crying, hug them and tell them that you love them.

Sleep

I honestly don't have anything to say today, I am really tired and my head is starting spin but I don't want to break the momentum I have going. So please bear with me this time.

- I spent the whole going up and down the hospital taking care of paper works for Sophia. Thankfully most the hospital staff were helpful.

- The boys and I did a regular show marathon just make sure they aren't horsing around. Thank you technology.

- My contribution to taking of our new baby is diaper duty. Thankfully I love my children that I can do this without flinching

- Elaine is doing better. She can now go to the bathroom without assistance.

- Sophia has now been introduce to Robbie Williams.

That's it for now really need to sleep for an hour or two before the next feeding.

Random Thoughts in the Hospital

-A couple hours earlier, my wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. When the doctor went out of the operating room and called my name, I literally jumped from my seat. It is a very wonderful feeling to see child for the first time. At present, I am currently in my wife’s hospital room making sure she is comfortable. She’s asleep right now so I took this moment to write.

Isn't she lovely

-My daughter’s name is Sophia Arianne Del Rosario Hernandez. I know it’s a mouthful and she will hate me when it is time to fill out government forms, but that name was a product of 9 months of extensive deliberation and research, it also involve at least to surveys among trusted friends. The reason for all effort in choosing the name for my child is my obsession in giving unique and awesome names. An example of this would be names I wanted for my second kid, if it weren’t for the intervention of family and friends he would have become Sol Invictus or Metatron (Awesome right?)

-I know that nurses are just doing their jobs but they make sleep impossible especially if you are the watcher. Currently running on adrenaline and gatorade

-7-11 and Mercury has now become a place where everyone knows your name during hospital stays. Mercury employees even give me advice on what meds and supplies are better and cheaper.

-Gatorade has now become my favorite drink during these times. It gives me enough energy to last these past few days. I am trying to avoid sodas since I have notice I have gassy the past few days.

-Galavant has been LSSing in my head since we got here. I actually did sang it when I was entering the front door and people were staring.