Training Day 1

Yes, indeed and I have to mark it! I need to know if I'm learning something though I feel like I'm a complete moron doing this. Anyhoo, what's in it for me not to go for it? Besides, I'm gonna skip listening to those fucking conference calls from London or Melbourne. MacPac for today so I better be going. Wish me luck!

x

For the Love of Art

I love art and I'm so in love with this particular Francoise Nielly's painting! She's one of my favorites aside from JK Potter. In her homepage, she shows a video on how her paintings actually evolved. Pretty impressive! Go check it out!

x

It's been...

...a while since I last posted. I've been very busy you know. Loads of things happened in the past 2 months? Wait what?! I haven't posted anything for the last 2 months? Oh well, blame it on ebay!

Being in the grave yard shift seems to be pretty boring but websites like Facebook, Twitter and ebay keeps me sane and up all night. That's basically where my life revolves for the past couple of months. I've even been convicted as an addict -- addicted to ebay but I proved them all wrong. Hah!

Well, aside from being crazy about ebay, I've been busy browsing and reading about the typhoon that just hit Philippines which leads to a disastrous flood that killed lots of people. Up until now, though it's been 2 weeks or so, most Filipinos are still in shock and in grieving mode for the things and people they lost. I even have a friend who experienced this and she's still recuperating from this traumatic tragedy. I felt so lucky that my family and I are safe during those times. These are the times when people start to treasure their lives even more.

I had a chance to visit my friend after the calamity. It never occurred to me what it feels/looks like after surviving such natural disasters but when I came across the place where the flood reached its high, I was in deep shock, as in really shocked! It's like a bad catastrophic movie that came to life! The place looks abandoned and in total darkness and you will never see any sign of people on the street, though there are people inside some ruined houses, trying to fix and take whatever is left from them. Cars are covered in mud and stinky garbage are all around, scattered on the street. It feels eerie and that any moment zombies will suddenly appear! Yay! It was the scariest place I've ever seen in my life.

We finally arrived alive at our friend's house. I can feel their sadness and dismay but I really am happy that there's this slight of hope in their eyes. I don't know how but Filipinos are like this -- it's easy for us to accept things and finally move on. But if you think about it, whatever that is gone are just material things anyway. The most important thing is that we are still breathing.

I guess this serves everyone a lesson. We should be more alert and proactive especially that according to the news, there will be four more typhoons coming in. We all should be ready by then!

Until then, let's all be safe.

x

Exhaustion = Happiness!

Late Thursday and Friday morning. I am widely awake 30 hours or so before my birthday. It's Friday when I had a nice dinner at Old Spaghetti House with Sissy and Partner. Yep, t'was a pre-celebration. It's been discussed and approved long time ago that we should at least meet, chat and dine during our birthdays, so yeah why not? I brought Xioms with me and fortunately, Kets brought Lana. After munching, we went to Timezone for the kids to enjoy. Restaurants are pretty boring for them. We then went home by 10pm.

With Donna and Kets

Thumbs up with Munchkin

Friday night. 11pm and still I'm walking around at home like a zombie picking up Xioms' stuff and cleaning. I know I haven't been sleeping or at least resting since I went home Friday morning from work last Thursday evening. I just feel I needed to clear things up very badly before I go to bed. I even managed to change my stat at Facebook before actually dozing! Hah!

Next morning, Saturday. Xioms woke me up and I was clearly familiar that it is my 26th year of existence. I just can't believe I made it that far, so thank you Father. Anyway, I don't have any huge plan for that special day. I just want to celebrate it with my munchkin, family and some trusted friends. Xioms was singing a happy birthday song and thought it was her birthday... again! We went downstairs to fill up our empty stomach. Mom and Achi was there and they both greeted me. Achi handed me a gift for my hairspa treatment. Yay! I was like wow, my day is getting better and better! By lunch time, my family and I feast on Mom's famous fried chix and my fusilli specialty.

Late afternoon, Saturday. Do you know that that day was a very tiring one? Anyhow, my droogs planned a birthday party for me. I decided to do it in Polu Kai for them to experience some good affordable cocktails. I was quite excited because this will be the time that we'll all meet again. It's been like 5 or 6 months since we last met.

Karla made this artistic invitation

Blowing of candle with my mini P cake by Martha's

Sunday morning. We had a blast and fortunately, the party didn't end there. We went to WG Diner in Makati Avenue for the extended celebration! We were caught by the rain but we can't resist the amber fluid that we're seeing on our table so we stayed, drink, chat, laugh, drink, eat, drink, laugh, drink again and again and again. We went home past 3 in the next morning, happy and fulfilled!

Today. I am glad I have shared and enjoyed this important day with my loved ones despite my decreasing strength, energy and stamina and and and... Hehe. Looking forward to another year of happiness, completeness and prettiness of course! Ta-ta!

x

PS thanks guys for your fabulous gifts! I lov'em all!

26th

I wasn't surprised waking up one day finding myself at this age. All the adventures that I've been through... nah! I'm always in a state of awareness that I will grow up and get old gracefully. I hope! I remember a quote that I read somewhere: Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional. True, in the sense that not all of us grow up even if we are the the oldest living person in the world. I, myself don't know if I'm a grown up person. I sometimes find myself confused of things but accept them as it was and never regret anything. I do believe that I will not be the person I am now if I never came across all the things that you can imagine a person can stumble upon in life.

If I only have a list, it will be a long one since there's a lot of people I wanted to thank my life for. I won't elaborate them here but am sure they know who they are. I am very lucky having Xioms in my life -- she's the best gift ever! Everyday is turning out great with her beside me. I am learning things, things you'll never thought of learning. Patience (for example), one of the attitudes that I lack is quite improving. She's the one who thought me to fight not just because you have an enemy but because you believe there's something or someone worth fighting for. She thought me to love unconditionally, regardless of tears and sorrow, things like that.

I'm not hoping for a car or a house on this special day of mine though if it's all been given, why not??? But rather, I am hoping for more happiness and long life for me to witness my kiddo growing up. I would be a hypocrite if I say that my life's perfect. Nothing's perfect you silly! But I truly am blessed having an understanding and supportive family, true and trusted friends and best of all an angel who gives a reason for my daily survival. I love you all and happy birthday to me self. Cheers!

x

Munchkin's 2nd

July 9, 2007 when I gave birth to an angel who changed my life completely. I keep on telling myself that I wasn't ready that time but surprisingly, I was. It feels like it was just yesterday. It's strange how time flies soooo fast. My munchkin is now 2 years old -- "the terrible two" as what they always say.

Anyway, I have planned for a lunch or dinner out with my family on her special day but you know, not all of our schedules are matching so I decided to do it on the 11th. It wasn't that grand -- come on, I'm not into that! As long as am with my family and some good friends (with good food of course), that would be totally fine.

Grandma won't let Xioms' REAL birthday pass without anything of course. So she bought a Barney (Xiomai's love of her life) cake and cooked pansit puti and some fried chix to feast for our lunch last July 9.

Munchkin wasn't really feeling well that day, she had measles.

But of course she felt good when she saw Barney!

June 11th. We had our lunch at Polu Kai, an American/Hawaian Restaurant in Serendra. The food was good and the service was even better! We enjoyed dining there, not to mention their 50% off cocktails. I got tipsy because I tried all of their cocktails but STILL, frozen margarita was my fav! Luckily, mom didn't bother bringing Xioms home. Thank you mom and I love you!

My happy family and friends

The blowing AGAIN of candles. Yep, Xioms was quite afraid of fire.

And was never afraid of sweets! Yummy cupcakes are from Martha's.

So there. Even though Munchkin doesn't really understand things like this now, I am positive that she will in the coming years. Happy 2nd Birthday my angel. Mama LOVES you so forever!

x

Pitseleh

It was actually a busy day when my good friend Karla sent me this mushy song. I have heard it a long, long time ago and I hate it. I hate it because it is disgustingly beautiful. I dunno if I can relate to this but Karla insists that I do. Oh well, whatever it is... I've never been bitter and I have no regrets with my past. I'm happy that Elliot picked this title as it rhymes my name. It felt like it was made for me.

Pitseleh

by Elliot Smith

I'll tell you why I don't want to know where you are

I got a joke I've been dying to tell you

The silent kid is looking down the barrel

To make the noise that I kept so quiet

I kept it from you, Pitseleh

I'm not what's missing from your life now

I could never be the puzzle pieces

They say that god makes problems just to see what you can stand

Before you do as the devil pleases

And give up the thing you love

But no one deserves it

The first time I saw you, I knew it would never last

I'm not half what I wish I was

I'm so angry, I don't think it'll ever pass

And I was bad news for you, just because

I never meant to hurt you

x