Thursday, November 26, 2015
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ElsewhereYou'll find me elsewhere soon--but this blog will stay up, but not updated (oh gosh, re-reading this line made me sad, for some reason. But then again, things change and I think I need something new. Besides, I haven't blogged since 2012. My last entry regarding Kate Middleton. I still love her).In any case, for now, my adventures--I like to call them such--can be followed here:
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Friday, February 17, 2012
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I haven't been blogging nor journaling, although I can be found on Twitter a lot. I find Twitter more engaging than Facebook and I update always what I do or think about. How dangerous! Haha! But since I've been blogging and updating in Facebook for quite sometime now (actually more of the former, never got so involved in updating my FB), I've learned the art of being careful. My posts aren't so much about what I do but more of what's on my mind now. So yeah, pretty filtered and studied, but that's okay. I'm also a pretty reserved person in real life, except to those who know me well. :) My blog is beginning to look like a series of answered surveys! Yes, this week's 5 is coming up and this is only because there are things I want to sort out in my life... and I don't know how to express them yet. So I don't know exactly know what to write about. My journal has been blank as well since January because plenty of thoughts and concerns are cluttering my mind and I'm just too distracted to write them down. I need some quiet time to sort out and write, but I'm just not in the mood. Writing is my refuge, but right now I am running away from that because it's going to make me confront and study some issues I don't want to deal with just yet. Not right now, the first quarter. This quarter is what I have always said, something I have to get through first. And so I will. Oh yeah, I also need that nice Muji pen I am obsessing over. Ack. 1. What’s your favorite green article of clothing? It's not a favorite favorite, but it's an old, fail safe blouse (that I hope to retire soon). 2. What could you do with a little bit of extra spending green this weekend? I hope I understood this question! "Little bit of extra spending green," as in extra money? Then I'd buy books! I need something new to read. 3. In what way are you conservative of natural resources? It's not so much, but I really try to reuse scratch paper. I also bring an reusable bag when shopping so that at least it cuts down the use of plastic. 4. When did you last shoot some pool? Ahaha! College! It's not really our thing. 5. Of whom are you envious lately? People who are confident and know their place in the world.
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Monday, January 30, 2012
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I tweeted today that I needed to get through the first quarter of this year. It's a tough one until March - financially, work-wise, personally, emotionally. This quarter is sort of like my new year: I posted something on Twitter regarding how new year's resolutions might work better if you start in February. January is for getting over and detaching from the past year, as well as preparing oneself for the goals for the year ahead. Makes sense for me because it can be overwhelming during the holidays then trying to force new habits all of a sudden in January. It's a transition month, so to speak. So this January has been pretty steady, but still strangely tiring. It looks the same for the next two months, which requires me to stretch a bit, especially financially. It seems that I have been adjusting for the past six months already to a different quality of life and I can never get used to the changes just yet. For once, so many changes in my life - I still can't seem to recover from each blow, but maybe that's what makes life interesting now and I'll try to roll with the punches. January will be ending already and I'm already prepping for the new year resos to implement in February. It's not easy and I have to say this, I have a lot for food-related resolutions! And I have continuing plans for the second quarter. I just need to pull through February and March. In Tagalog, kailangan ko lang itawid ang first quarter. Very challenging, but holding on to the hope that this year will finally be so much better! Hey, it's supposed to be better for the Monkeys! But aside from that, I sincerely believe it is so. We really deserve this year for all the good things to carry forward. :)
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Monday, January 02, 2012
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Oh my! I have not given up this blog for Twitter -- no way will I give up this blog, it's almost 10 years old -- but I've been having a hard time reviewing 2011. I had been hemming and hawing over how to do my usual year-in-review. The past year was pretty much... surprising. At the end of 2010, I thought I was settled and ready to continue where I was; after all, I had learned to accept plenty of things. All of a sudden, and I mean that, I made a big decision (without really thinking it through, I will admit that now) and then, boom! My life was... not really in shambles, but I was in the middle of big changes that I was caught off-guard. And I thought I was already set where I was! It's crazy. Now I'm still marvelling where I am and maybe I am heading to be where I am supposed to be (let's see about that). That is my fervent wish. I sincerely believe now that things are beginning to change for the better and I will do my best to be a better person too.
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Monday, August 29, 2011
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My 30-day blog project for August is a failure! I was aiming to blog at least once for 30 days --- sort of like a habit again to flex my writing muscles, but I couldn't keep it up, what with all the stuff that happened during the month. I should think about doing that again; it was a good exercise for me, trying to do writing regularly once more.
Can I just share though, August was just plain cray cray! In a fun, engaging, unexpected, hurtful, wild, exhausting, overwhelming way. So many different things happened in August, I was pretty bewildered. Rundown:
I am all surprised, tired, amused and grateful. But what can I say, I am happy to be busy and back on track (not in the way I expected though). August turned out to be pretty interesting and am looking forward how September (oh my the -ber months already!) and the rest of the year will turn out (even better, I hope!). Labels: life
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Friday, August 26, 2011
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Steve Jobs' resignation from Apple as its CEO unexpectedly touched me. Strangely.
Steve Jobs is a belated discovery/inspiration for me. When I was leading huddles in the office before, I refused to use the huddle material sent everyday because I wanted to inject something fresh to my teammates' day. The value I wanted most to do was "Display Passion and Optimism" which I never seemed to get (I eventually did, on my last huddle lead), so I would look for articles relating to passion and optimism and the value that I happened to land on for that day. I was planning to use Conan O'Brien for a later huddle, so I decided to search for other good reads. I came across the text of Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement address in 2005 and I loved how it spoke to me about failure and passion. I was in a very distressing time already in my life and this was a good aid in reflecting how things such a failure can change your life in a good way if you let it. I loved how Jobs related how he looked back on life and could see how everything fell into place. This is one of my favorites:
I also appreciated how he failed (was fired publicly from Apple) and this led to so much grief, and yet he still pursued what he loved. He found that the worst thing that could happen was actually the best thing that could happen. I cried at this point (as I said, I was in a bad place). And finally, this part, I kept: Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle. Isn't it nice? Holding on, not losing faith and just love what you do. And not settling. How true. I hate how I discover these things at A lot of things shook me soon after that huddle. But I kept the text of the speech and kept on re-reading it. Sort of like a mantra on how to keep it together and just holding on to what you love to do. It served (and still does) as my inspiration as I try to make it with my various passions. As long as I know what I want to do and be, I know it can and will happen. Full text of Steve Jobs' speech can be found here. Labels: life
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Thursday, August 11, 2011
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Today was a semi-rough day - from a snippy conversation with someone to a long wait for a meeting and then traffic going home. Super nothing went my way! (Retrograde?) Bad day! Days like these, I don't like. Gets me really down and hard to snap out of it. The good things that happened today? Oh my, completely forgot about due to the stress.
But let's hope things will change for the better. *cross fingers* We live to fight another day tomorrow. Labels: life, random, rant-rave
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Monday, August 08, 2011
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 I wish I could stand up to an impending bad decision.
From PostSecret. Labels: life, postsecret
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Wednesday, June 29, 2011
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I have been having the strangest dreams lately, they sort of scare me and have got me thinking, but I do not know what they mean. Maybe it's the state of my life? Then how come I have no answers? Wah! Drama aside, here's a rundown of the memorable dreams in the past weeks: The reason why I haven't visited I have not gone to visit my friends in the office because... well, I dreamt that when I arrived, they gave me a case to work on, but not system access or my PC!! So stressed!! When I woke up, I was freaking out! Slight nightmarish. I told this story to my friends and they were so amused. Varied reactions: "Uy, we're not that mean naman..." to "Pwede! Gusto mo?" (latter was in jest... I hope. Haha!). Real Nightmare! Oh gosh. I visited a friend in her office a few weeks ago and, well, I was told of ghost stories in that building. I dreamt of it that night! It was my first nightmare ever, comprised of horror movie levels of ghouls and ghosts! Although I didn't wake up screaming or crying (thank goodness!), I did get up quite unsettled and not sure if that was a good thing, listening to those ghost stories. I am normally unfazed by those... Dream guy! This I like. :) I dreamt this really *perfect* guy (who literally does not know I exist. I mean this!) became my boyfriend! Haha!! It was really a dream! But he was not speaking! Maybe because I have not heard him speak yet, just photos. Oh well. Can't hurt to dream! And dream more of him! ♥ Haha! :) Hope for a good future Last night's dream was that I saw some former officemates in this place that was pretty much like my high school (the lawn between the LRC and Cluster 4). It was our former head J and friends A and P. It was nice --- they
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011
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When I begin quoting Grey's Anatomy (and guess what, I'm still stuck in Season 5. Incomplete at that!)... you can sort of figure out the state of my life.
-White Wedding, 7x20 Labels: grey's anatomy, life
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Monday, March 21, 2011
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My first time to feel a bouncy, up-and-down earthquake. :( The floor got really quiet --- we're at the 15th --- because it was so unusual to feel that kind of earthquake. After the bouncy quake, it was the sway kind and ugh, that got me kind of dizzy. Awful these quakes, causing us to be so paranoid after all that's been going on. And now the news is showing what would happen if there would ever be a magnitude 7 earthquake. So not encouraging. Please, praying that nothing like that will happen. :( Labels: life
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Monday, January 03, 2011
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What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before? Wear glasses. I finally gave in and got myself eyeglasses! I have forever been denial about my eyesight, but I had to give in for the renewal of my driver's license. I found out I am near sighted. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Nope, even if I said last year I would, I didn't make any. Oh, alright, something I really should remind myself to do is to pray regularly and in a good way. Instead of just the usual prayers, but learn to listen and talk to Him. And thank Him too! I know I have always been asking a very frustrated "why" for all the things that have happened in my life instead of accepting and having more faith. Did anyone close to you give birth? One of my teammates at work, Falsetto Jen. Did anyone close to you die? Yes. What countries did you visit? Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? TRUE LOVE!!! As my really good friends and travel buddies Tessa and Jen say and wish and hope for, the new year should bring us (romantic, true) love! More travel and better opportunities as well! What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? October 30, 2010. This was our second and only full day in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The day started with our guide and driver picking us up early at the hotel and going to so many temples (Angkor Wat was only one of the many!). It was a very exhausting day, but we didn't feel it because the temples were just so breath taking and the experience was just amazing. Loved that day and we can still never get over it.  We hope to see you again real soon, Siem Reap! What was your biggest achievement of the year? No, I don't think I have conquered any big fear that would merit an achievement. What was your biggest failure? A lot. I could do worse pala than the previous year. In all aspects of my life, I think. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes. I was sick for five days in February due to an infection. I had to take loads of antibiotics and stayed in bed with fever. It was not fun. But no major cough and cold! Good job, me! Berocca is my new found friend. What was the best thing you bought? The trip to Indochina! I also invested in my travelling carry-on bag too. I think it's worth it! Going to be my pang harabas travelling bag (literally dragged it up and down the temple steps in Bahkeng [sp?] Hill). Claiming it that I'll be travelling out of the country more! ;) Whose behavior merited celebration? Lot of my friends'. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Mine. So I keep paying for the consequences until now. Where did most of your money go? Indochina trip and car maintenance. Aside from that, books and coffee. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Visiting Cambodia! We really built our excitement for Cambodia from Vietnam. Haha! What song(s) will always remind you of 2010? Firework by Katy Perry Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars OMG by Usher Taking Chances, True Colors by Glee cast Compared to this time last year, are you: i. happier or sadder? Sadder. ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner daw! People (mom, hair stylist, etc) have commented I am so thin, but I think I look the same. iii. richer or poorer? Financially poorer. Started the year with car expenses and it held through the year. I will never forget that week I paid for my trip and bought four new tires! On the same day! Stress. Let's hope the new year will be better financially! What do you wish you'd done more? Less manang. What do you wish you'd done less of? Stressing myself unnecessarily. How many one-night stands? None. Did you fall in love in 2010? With someone, no. With the world after travelling, yes. :) What was your favorite TV program? Glee kept me sane when I was at home, sick. I couldn't keep up, though, when it came to the following season because of my schedule. Waiting for the season to end so that I can watch it straight. I also enjoyed How I Met Your Mother --- I do not know what season is in the house. So I keep watching that over and over. Hehe. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Yes. I said it last year. Still the same nagging feeling, this time multiplied by three. It's just exhausting being angry at these people and yourself because you're letting yourself being affected. Yes, it still brings out the worst in me: petty, jealous, bratty --- things I don't like about myself. What was the best book you read? I was going to say The Hunger Games Trilogy which I only began reading this year. It was good although the last book was confuzzling for me. This was usurped by the Millennium Trilogy which I got for Christmas from P! Oh my gosh, it's unputdownable but I seriously needed a light book after going through the second book. I discovered Emily Giffin this year too and I really like the way she writes. What was your greatest musical discovery? Katy Perry! I love her, I think she is absolutely gorgeous. What did you want and get? Travel this year. :) Justin Timberlake, live last March. What was your favorite film of this year? The Social Network! I also liked Toy Story 3 very much. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? My closest friends know I What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Love? Ahaha! But even more so, some opprtunities I missed. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010? Errr boring? Hehe. I need a revamp (yes I have been saying this for two years!). This time, it's serious! So shabby already! What kept you sane? My friends, coffee breaks. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I have a crush on Ryan Reynolds, Matthew Morrison. :))))) What political issue stirred you the most? It was the National Elections! Not that it stirred me so much, but interesting candidates and I did vote for someone I really felt could make a difference. Too bad he didn't win and I don't know what he's up to now. Who did you miss? My college friends! I hardly saw them all year. Who was the best new person you met? My LD friends and group! Our Thai hosts! They are love. ♥ Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010: To quote from my LD experience, being strong means letting go to God. Every time I remember this from Sunday morning, I can't help but cry. What was the nicest thing someone told you about yourself: Not just a "nicest thing," but the love and support of my friends. The most touching experience you've had this year? I can think of two. One, the afore-mentioned moment of support from my friends. I still keep their SMS to me and it's super touching to remember. Two, my LD experience. Even if I don't see my group as much as I want to, I had the nicest time sharing myself and learning from them. What did you like most about yourself this year? Ahhh the effort to be happier? What did you hate most about yourself this year? I still get so jealous and angry easily and my patience wore out to the wrong people. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: This question never fails to stump me every year! Why do I even include it? Haha! Was 2010 a good year for you? 50-50, not so good. What was your favorite moment of the year? Indochina trip days --- super fun bonding moments. Last night in BKK at the Cafe. :) LD and the fire. ;) My birthday! What was your least favorite moment of the year? When I became my petty self, getting jealous and getting frustrated with my own struggles. :( Where were you when 2010 began? Home. Who were you with? Immediate family. Where will you be when 2010 ends? Home. Who will you be with when 2010 ends? Home. How many concerts did you see in 2010? I think one only? Timbaland featuring Justin Timberlake! Of course, cannot pass up the chance of seeing JT and hearing Sexyback live! :) Hehe I wished for it ages ago somewhere on this blog and it happened! Must declare more things to the universe! ;) Did you drink a lot of alchohol in 2010? Yes, more than my usual! Funny no? There was time, before and after my birthday, I'd be out every Friday night! Malor was kidding me, just because of my birthday, I've become a drinker! Haha! Not to mention the "raging" Welcome Dinner, etc.! Fun. Do a lot of drugs in 2010? Nope. You do anything you are ashamed of this year? Yep. How much money did you spend in 2010? Rather not say and remember, but it was a lot. Time to save! Or at least be more conscious of what I spend on. What was your proudest moment of 2010? Gahhh... another stumping question. I think when I decided to let go of the things I couldn't change, albeit slowly. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2010? Something about certain stuff I did... basta, it's a wah. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2010 and change something, what would it be? Can we start the year over? :P So many things --- little things that I should have done differently. What are your plans for 2011? Do my work well, travel more, have more fun, let go, buy new clothes. :P How are you different now that the year has ended? A little more settled and accepting of where I am now. What are your wishes for the new year? I wish that the new year would bring us lots of love, friendship, travel, contentment and happiness. Labels: life, new year, survey
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Monday, December 27, 2010
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 My red nails! Only on the hands --- should do the feet too for a Fight! Fight! Fight! New year, yes? ;)I would like the next year to be a Fight! year indeed. The past two years have been quite a struggle. It's been a challenge to appreciate myself and all the things that have happened to me. So now, I am taking this unexpected time off from work to rid of the plenty of literal and figurative clutter in my life and create a vision for myself for the coming year. I need to focus and plan to what I want to be, where I need to go. So fight it is for the new year! No need to be frightened of where I am and how I am because, well, that's it. These are the choices I have made, will live with it and learn from it. :) Labels: life
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Tuesday, November 09, 2010
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October just zoomed by! I can't quite get over it, but now that it's November (and the last day of my leave), I think it will be pretty steady until... the next big thing that happens. Really! I'm looking forward to just sitting back and relaxing until the end of the year --- well, save for the Christmas rush. But that's always a good rush! October Highlights: Team Building in Bataan My officemates and I made the trip to Bataan to have our official team building and to unwind, too! From our house in the hills in the East, we left at 545am and made it to Bataan way out North at about 9a plus? It's a gorgeous farm of one of our supers' family. It has an infinity pool and another pool but we didn't get to go there. It was a good team building activity which was fun and productive and I hope, solidified our team more. :)   Tessa's 21st! Jen (coordinating with Tessa's friends and family) prepared a nail sparty to celebrate Tessa's *ahem* 21st at Nailaholics in Megamall. Fun that she was suprised! Got to catch up with old friends from college! And it was a treat to relax after the very busy days at work. So funny that it was like a bridal shower too that we had to explain our gifts, but I'm glad the staff (and other clients!) accommodated us with that! (Even the piped-in music!)   CS does GK As part of our community day, our team elected to help in one of Gawad Kalinga's communities in Tanay, Rizal. I think this was the first time for most to go and participate in GK's activities. Our team was assigned a house to paint (my first time to paint a house too!) and afterwards, we had a session with one of the GK residents. It was a very interesting and enlightening experience for all. :) Looking at the FB pics reminds me --- there are good Samaritans out there! Aside from people volunteering, little things such as a complete stranger offering us a ride to the GK site and everyone pitching in to help. Really GMH. Restores faith in people. :)   During and After! That's our lovely Citrus and Blue House! Indochina Trip! Deserves a separate entry on its own. I loved our trip --- going to Cambodia was definitely the highlight (Angkor Wat, Bayon, Ta Phrom), although Vietnam and Thailand were pretty memorable and interesting too.   Pictures from FB and cameras of Karina, Anna, Jen and Tessa. Thank you! :) P.S. Hmph. On the night before trip to Indochina, while I was packing, I fell down the stairs at home for the first time! I hit my lower back and right elbow pretty bad. Good thing nothing really acted up while on the trip, but my back hurts on occasion. I sincerely hope it will go away! P.P.S. I missed Halloween at work! Always my favorite time at work. :( P.P.P.S. Semi started Christmas shopping! Hooray for sudden efficiency and sheer luck! Labels: friends, life, memories
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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
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Waaah have not updated because I am super tired and busy! Super pressured to finish so many things this week as I am finally going on leave next week! Squee!! I knooow, I really take my leaves late in the year when I am super ragged... On a frizzy note, I think I really should invest in travel stuff. I don't have my own luggage (borrow from parents or brother), travel hand carry bag (the one I use gave up on me, badly need a new one), walking shoes (acck flipflops apparently do not count), dresses (boo I have legs issues), shorts (leg issues), travel essentials (adaptors and the like) and so on. Isn't that the saddest?? I am always cramming before a trip, be it buying or borrowing. Stressful. Hmph. I should really, really believe that I will always be travelling all over the world -- yes I am claiming this -- so I better invest in these things! That includes a basic camera, travel towel, a better phone and to continue my revamp which should not be limited to office/weekend clothes only. Yes, I have to believe this, to attract more travels. ;) Teehee. Wanderlust is indeed something I love and hate at the same time, but when the opportunity comes along to indulge in it, why not. :) Labels: life, random, rant-rave
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Tuesday, August 10, 2010
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Oooh just looking through my blog posts and I posted (began posting, actually) yesterday, 08-09-10! Hehe it can happen next month again, 08-09-10 September 8, 2010, right? I haven't been exactly I don't want to implode on myself. :( Labels: life
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Friday, February 19, 2010
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I am at home for the fifth day in a row because I am a sick clam - well, have been sick since Sunday and today was the only day that the fever has gone down. Imagine, fever for five days? :( I was just so out of it. Went to the nearby hospital Monday night for a check up that included a blood test and a whole bunch of meds to alleviate the fever and pain. But the fever still didn't go down until today. I went to get a second blood test today and got an x-ray too. I cannot look at the crooks of my arms because the left one (where the first blood test was done) is a yellowish-greenish bruisey color - the vein collapsed or something and the right one feels, well, strange. :P I have a strange diagnosis from the doctors - I really don't get it, but based on what the doctors said, it's an infection, etc. I am just relieved it's not dengue fever. So much for my resolution not to go on sick leave the whole year this year. How come I could do it during school and most of my CTP days but not now? :( I hate being so sickly all of a sudden. Labels: life
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Thursday, January 28, 2010
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I love this - from Conan O'Brien's farewell speech on "The Tonight Show":Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. Sigh. I needed that. I've been weepy and tired all week and it's not a really good time. Sigh. Isn't it inspiring? Right now, I just need a lot of good vibes and happy thoughts. Labels: life
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Tuesday, January 05, 2010
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So. Five days into the new year and I have already cried, almost broke down, become slightly hysterical and just became a plain unhappy clam. :( Fail with myself and my resolutions for this year! Sadness. My new project: stop being so emotional, there is more to this. Detach! And move on from this messy, frustrating set up. Really. I have to. Sigh. Labels: life
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Thursday, November 26, 2009
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 Isn't it gorgeous? It's the Estates Theater in Prague. I have taken to watching The Amazing Race 15 and in the latest episode, they're in Prague! Love, love it. It looks gorgeous and I would love to go there one day (channeling The Secret). When the challenge was in the Estates Theater, my jaw literally dropped when they showed the interior of the theater. So beautiful. Not sure if I blogged this before or was it in my journal? Anyway, ever since college, my friends and I have been wishing and hoping to join The Amazing Race. They did come up with an Asia version, but I haven't been able to follow that so I don't quite know how it compares to the original version. Funny, we used to think of the different team combinations among us friends - Ate Ina and me cannot be a team because we like to eat, Tessa and I can't either, we're both unfit and unbalanced and so on. The Amazing Race can make you hop from one country to the next, but I wonder how much of that country can you see and enjoy? It's pretty after being edited for TV, but ugh I can imagine the stress and hassle of jumping in and out of planes, carrying that huge rucksack everywhere, doing extreme challenges and having a camera constantly in your face. No chance to wander around leisurely and be suprised with little hidden discoveries. Still, I imagine it would be quite the trip. Oh, to travel. It's definitely one of the things I will do in my life and I want to see the world! It's always a very interesting and inspiring experience to visit another country and experience their culture, even for a very short time. I am also happy to have friends (and a brother, too) who share this wanderlust and I am hoping the I felt bad at first writing this because I thought it was quite funny to blog about travel - this year was a travel-less year - not even locally. I was pretty frustrated, especially with my very long leave. Had more travels last year, but I believe (and hope) that being travel-less this year is a sign for a huge, fabulous trip in the works next year. This is me sending this out to the universe. ;) Photo from here Labels: life
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