Clutter Free May 14, 2008

Today, I just cleaned up my work station. I went thru all the papers scattered on my desk and organized them in the green office folders.

Even if I have so many projects to finish, deadlines to meet, people to call, I just took the time to organize my stuff today. Even if I knew I had to work on the 1 million manuals (na-praning ko just thinking about the work that has to be done!!!) which are due next week, I still didn’t do them.

Pero, somehow, I don’t feel as paranoid about my deadlines now that I have finished clearing up my mess. Somehow, the things I need to do seem easier and less overwhelming.

I think, that, in life, there are certain times that we just have to stop worrying and whining, step back, and start de-cluttering to be able to REFOCUS.

I’m glad I decided to weed out all the unneccessary stuff today. Now, things are clearer.

From Singapore May 5, 2008

Just got back from Singapore. I didn’t really enjoy the trip - and I couldn’t understand why. It was OKAY, nothing spectacular, but still, it was 5 days away from the office, so I guess I shouldn’t really complain.

Now I’m back, with a mountain of work to do - not knowing where to start or how to start. Sometimes, I wish I had a beach house where I could go to and disappear.

A Very Happy Birthday April 9, 2008

All my life (as far as I can remember), I’ve always celebrated my birthday with a party - attended mostly by family and close friends.

Through my teenage or college (and early twenties - Gaaad!!), I always had an an inuman to celebrate my birthday. This year, however, was different, even if it did end with an inuman (hehe!). I spent my birthday with my siblings, their spouses, and their kids. This is one of the best birthdays ever, although I would have wanted my parents and Jani to have been there, also.

I celebrated my birthday in Avilon Zoo, at Montalban Rizal. I had soooo much fun. I’m not really fond of animals but I really enjoyed the trip.  As in, super, super fun!!! Seeing the kids’ enjoy themselves was also a treat for me. My camera lost its battery in just a short time because of all the shots we took.

After Avilon Zoo, we went to Diliman to buy Centennial UP Shirts for ourselves and to hear mass (since my birthday was last Sunday).

Of course, a trip to UP wouldn’t be complete without the isaws, so, after hearing mass, we bought isaws (it took an hour for them to serve the orders, but it was worth the wait!). We had dirty ice cream while waiting for our orders.

We then went off to the hotel to have dinner (Pizza, Isaw, and Beer - YUMMY!).

It was a different birthday celebration, but it was really WONDERFUL. I just wish Jani and my parents were there to celebrate with me.

Pictures at my multiply site.

 

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Forgot to publish this. Should’ve published this a week ago…

My Frazzled Brain Cells March 27, 2008

Just 4 days in Manila and I think I’m going to have a stroke. My brain cells are so frazzled. I feel so uneasy and frustrated. So many things are expected from me from this freaking job that I don’t know where to start anymore. I know I should get my act together and settle things, but procrastinating seems to be the best option for now. I feel so stressed out. So much expectations…

I just wish sometimes that I don’t get too affected by mediocrity. That I don’t find the need to constantly prove myself - to constantly accept challenges which really stress me out.

I can’t help but ask - are these things worth it in the end? I’m happy right now, but will I still be happy in the end?

Only time can tell.

New Moon February 27, 2008

New Moon is the second installment to the Twilight Saga. It continues the story of Bella and her “vegetarian” vampire boyfriend, Edward. Bella develops a closer relationship with Edward’s family, which puts her life to a great risk. Edward, being overprotective and over-exaggerated, withdraws from Bella and leaves her (to save her!). Bella does not take this well. Quite a lot of chapters of the book convey the emptiness Bella feels when Edward leaves her.

Bella develops a friendship with Jacob, a family friend who told her about the Vampire-Werewolf Legends in Twilight. Jacob turns out to be a werewolf himself. This is a complication because vampires and werewolves are arch enemies.

Bella feels Edward’s presence from her subconscious mind every time she does dangerous or risky things - like driving motorcycles and cliff diving. Edward learns a wrong message - that Bella is dead - and decides to mess with the Volturi, a Vampire family which ensures that the existence of vampires remains unknown to normal people by killing them (the vampires). The Volturis are like the mafia. In the end, Bella and Alice (Edward’s sister) saves Edward from the Volturi and return to Forks, only to find herself betrayed by Jacob to her father (for riding motorcycles!).

I did not like New Moon as much as Twilight. There was too much grief on Bella’s part and she did a lot of crazy things, which I think was so not her (yet still so her - hehe!). Also, I’m an Edward fan (swoon, swoon) and Edward was pretty much non-existent in most parts of the novel. Don’t get me wrong. I like Jacob, but he’s just not Edward.

All in all, Meyer still did a great job. Her writing is still wonderful. I felt everything that the characters felt and I ended up crying when Edward thought Bella committed suicide. It would be interesting to see or read the story at Edward’s (or Jacob’s) point of view (just like Midnight Sun for Twilight).

Again, I recommend this book. Well, I think, anyone who gets started on the Twilight Series won’t be able to stop themselves from reading the rest of the books. It’s addicting - just like Narnia or LOTR or Harry Potter. You just have to read it all.

If I Had A Choice February 22, 2008

One Friday night, I had dinner with 2 officemates. The food was good, the conversation better. We got to talk about our lives, problems, heartaches, and absolutely everything we could think about. Naturally, the conversation drifted to the inevitable - love…

We discussed love; argued about it; agreed on certain aspects of love. We argued about making choices in the name of love - specifically having to choose between your one true love and the people who have loved you and will love you no matter what - your family.

I had mentioned that IF there ever came a point in my life that I would have to choose between the one I love and my family, I would probably choose my family. My officemate reacted and said that it shouldn’t be that way with love - that you wouldn’t have to choose. I told him that in the real world, people make choices - that life is a choice (ha! what a cliche - but still true). In the real world, people have to make deicisions, stand by their principles and always, always have to make a choice in practically everything they do.

My officemate answered that, yes, he knows life is a choice, but that the choice should benefit everyone you love and that if I would choose my family, then what I have right now with my boyfriend is not the real thing.

I reacted, of course. And I got kinda affected with what he said. But I know better.

I know what I have with Jani is as real as the sun and the moon and the stars. I know that we wouldn’t have lasted 11 years just to realize it’s not the real thing (I know time doesn’t matter - but it’s different for us). I know that I’m one of those lucky ones who has a family who loves my boyfriend and who would never make me choose in the same way that Jani would not ask me to choose between him and my family. But I also know that if, hypothetically, I absoultely had to make a choice - I would still choose my family and I know Jani would understand.

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I don’t really know what the point of this post is. Hehe. I’m just rambling here. So if you don’t get it, spare me. Will come up with a decent post soon - when I’m not that demented…Hehehe. Have a happy long weekend everyone!

First Quarter Storm February 14, 2008

January’s finished, February’s starting, March is coming…

First Quarter 2008 is about to be finished and I haven’t accomplished any of my personal goals - like losing weight, blogging more, reading more, etc.

Work has just been so busy, busy, busy. I often feel tired at the end of the week. Weekends are spent mostly in bed, after doing the usual chores (groceries, laundry, cooking). I got to watch only 1 movie since January. Now, if that isn’t a sign of a hectic life, I don’t know what is!?

But, you know what? I’m loving every minute of it. Finally, I have what I’ve been waiting for sa work.  Yup, it’s official. I’ve been promoted to Product Systems Manager.I know it’s just a title and the responsibilities will be bigger, but I feel happy about it. I know my parents are happy for me.  It scares me, but at the same time, I feel challenged. I know it will be a tough year and that I have to prove myself, especially with the kind of culture there is in this office - people seem to think that longevity is the key to promotions. Luckily, my boss does not think so.

Here are some of the events which took place the past two months:

1st week of January - arrived in Manila from Bacolod with a very bad hangover from the holidays; Jani kinda told me that he wanted to get married this year.  Yay! Freaked out and started planning, planning, planning…

2nd week of January - starting to adjust; had our performance appraisal; appraised my team members also; found out I was going to be promoted! Power at our building was cut-off for a few days - had to transfer to our test kitchen or visit stores.

3rd week of January - full of meetings

4th week of January - full of meetings

5th week of January - full of meetings, store visits, and HEADACHES!!!!

1st week of February - had our annual Managers’ Convention; we catered the event - twas successful but SUPER DUPER STRESSFUL!!!! Damu na naman ko kontra. Hehehe…

Now, it’s the 2nd week of February. I know it will be a busy month. Still a month and a half to go before this first quarter storm is through….

That’s it for now. Will update soon. Miss you blog! Miss you fwends!

Pendulum January 10, 2008

I can’t understand.

Just last week we were okay.

Now we’re not.

You swing back and forth

Back and forth

Back and forth

Playing with my emotions

Happy

Sad

Happy

Sad

Swing

Swing

Swing.

Simple Joys During the Holiday Season January 4, 2008

Christmas season is kinda over and just like all those times that I went home to Bacolod, I now dread going back to Manila. I feel so lazy to even think about my trip back. I don’t want to think too much about it because I will end up feeling sad and sentimental - and questioning my decisions/choices in life - and it will make going back to work harder again.

This year’s vacation was pretty long (about 18 days, I think!) and I can’t believe it’s nearing its end. It’s been a family-focused kind of vacation. I didn’t go out as much. We had a lot of celebrations over the holiday season aside from Christmas and New Year. Nanay’s birthday falls on the 26 and ever since I can remember, we’ve always had a party for her. Aya, my niece’s first birthday was on the 25th, so we just had to celebrate it. On other days, my siblings and their spouses, plus a few close friends had a couple of beers - AT HOME! The only time I went out to drink was when I went to Iloilo.

Haaay. I’m dreading going back to Manila also because I know Nanay will cry (more like weep) on the day I leave. My older brother left for Manila with his wife and their baby this morning and my Nanay had been crying since yesterday. I never saw my Nanay in this state - well, not until up to 2 years ago. She was always an epitome of a strong woman - successful as an educator and as a school administrator, a strict and perfectionist, but loving mom, and a wonderful wife. But things have changed ever since she suffered 2 strokes last 2005. Actually, I’m not really that sure if it was in 2005 - you see, I stopped thinking about her condition since her 2nd stroke. I can’t explain it - I’ve accepted her illness, it’s real, yet it’s surreal. Sometimes I can’t remember what she was like before her strokes, yet sometimes, I can’t believe this has happened to us. Basta, I can’t explain it. Although I know she knows that we need to go back to Manila, it still hurts to be away from them, to not let them know physically that I love them. It scares me, too, that she might not have enough years pa and I know it scares her, too, because she thinks I’m not yet settled. And it feels so heavy seeing her cry and cry and cry….

Amidst all these worries and kadramahan, I am grateful for the time I spent with my family. As we Ilonggos would say - Indi gid kabayad! I am grateful for the little things that make my parents happy - my nephew and nieces being super kulit, going to e-em t-t  (SM City according to Evie, my niece) with our “complete” (according to Enzo, my nephew) family, simply hanging out together watching TV, cooking together for the different parties, making paper boats for my nephew and niece to play with in the pond, going to the beach, etc, etc, etc. These may be little things but I know these meant a lot to them and I know that this Christmas was extra special. We’ve had two Christmases together since Nanay got sick and we’re hoping for more. I know He won’t forsake us. I’m so looking forward to next Christmas!

Seasons Greetings December 29, 2007

A belated Merry Christmas everyone! Happy New Year, too!

Wishing you all the beautiful things life has to offer!

 Cheers to another year!