Wednesday, March 30, 2005

It's Official

We are now officially a broken family.

My mom managed to file for divorce a few months back. She did not tell us directly so I did not acknowledge it. But I somehow felt it when she came home for the wedding of my siblings.

Everything became official when my dad left a letter for all of us today. In it was my mom's letter to him telling him that she's getting married on July and she hopes that he'll be happy yada-yada-yada.

I thought I was already prepared for this, but I guess I'm not.

Monday, March 28, 2005

What Age will you Die?





You Will Die at Age 79



79





You're pretty average when it comes to how you live...

And how you'll die as well.




Hmmm...not bad. I'm aiming for a 100! :) My grandfather is blessed with long life. I onder if we'll follow suit. Probably, if I cut my weight to normal levels.

What Gender is your Brain?





Your Brain is 53.33% Female, 46.67% Male



Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female

You are both sensitive and savvy

Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed

But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve


Sunday, March 27, 2005

Happy Easter

For all it's worth, Happy Easter!

Leo picked me up last Thursday morning at around 9. Getting to Muntinlupa was no problem, but it is in this area where the traffic build up began. Nevertheless, we reached Sta. Rosa exit an hour later. We stopped over at Cafe Breton to have brunch and continued on to Tagaytay.

We arrived at the house at around 1130. I greeted Leo's parents, got settled and had lunch when his sister and her family arrived.




See the nice house above where I stayed.

We went to Tagaytay Highlands to hear mass at around 5 pm. I've been there before but it was the first time that I saw it that crowded. Almost all of the parking lots were packed with SUV's and high-end car models.

It was also very windy and overcast up there. Check out the skies and the view:







All mountains. That's all you'll see there. Of course, there's Taal Lake.

We went home where I started my CSI marathon.

Oh yeah, tried to catch American Idol but I remembered that they had this re-vote since there were some errors with regards to the numbers being flashed on the screen. I checked the website when I got home and learned that Mikaela got voted out. What do you know? My guess was accurate!

When I retired that night, I thought I'll have difficulty sleeping since it's so cold and SO quiet. I am not used to sleeping without any noise. So I turned on the electric fan and let the noise lull me to sleep (thank God for blankets and comforters).

Next day, Good Friday. I again started on my CSI cd's (Season 4). Chris, Leo's brother-in-law, invited me and Leo to go with him to try out the local Mushroomburger. I readily agreed since I have never been there even though I've heard good things about the place.

Around 3 in the afternoon, we again headed off to Highlands to hear mass and to participate in the Veneration of the Cross. (I really missed the celebrations at Villa San Miguel where I serve. This is two years in a row where I missed the events up in the chapel.) I, together with Tricie (Leo's sister) and his mom, went up to the altar to genuflect and kneel before the cross.

We had dinner at one of the numerous restaurants near the chapel. I had grilled blue marlin which was pretty much unremarkable. Afterwards,Leo and I walked around while we waited for his dad and his nephew to finish their bowling game (cosmic bowling!). We went home where I again wallowed in my CSI dvd's.

Leo and I left for Manila Saturday afternoon after having lunch at Highlands again. Instead of taking the Sta. Rosa route, we went through Highlands and took the Calamba route. It was a scary and lonely stretch of road. Good thing there were other vehicles coming from Highlands and we had some sort of convoy until we reached South Luzon Expressway. Since we did not take the usual route, I was not able to buy pasalubongs for the family. We passed by Alabang where I bought 6 kilos of ripe mangoes, a kilo of indian mangoes, a couple of melons (and a partridge in a pear tree). We then drove to Mandaluyong where I dropped off my stuff and we went to Powerplant Mall where we watched Coach Carter. I was lobbying for Miss Congeniality but SO wanted the basketball flick (not surprising). Being the congenial person that I am, I agreed and consoled myself with nachos and popcorn.

Since our maid is in vacation (for two weeks. She has been gone for a week already), we had to do household chores. I was assigned to do the laundry today. I started on it this morning and took a break to have lunch with Leo and his family (it's his uncle's birthday) at Hardrock. There was also an ongoing Easter celebration where they had this DJ from 94.7 hosting and a magic show to boot (boy, was I entertained!). Leo took me home afterwards where I continued with my laundry chores.

I really hate doing the laundry. Although I hate ironing more. My palms are hurting from all the squeezing. Most of the clothes are mine (due to my 3 day vacation) and there were a couple of my jeans which I had to squeeze and beat. Sure, we had a washing machine and a dryer, but I still had to squeeze the water and soap residue out and to dip it in fabric conditioner (Go Comfort!).

Oh, and speaking of fabric conditioners, Leo said that my natural scent smells like fabric conditioner. I don't know whether I should feel insulted or complimented. I mean, we leave our scent on our clothes and beddings (especially our pillows), that when another person smells them, they smell us (but we can't smell our own scent). As Leo said, I smell like comfort. I was laughing when he said that. Leo smells like perfume (Blue Harbor specifically).

Enough about fabric conditioners.

I finished doing the laundry about 4 pm afterwhich I planted my ass in front of the TV and did not get up until 8 pm. I managed to channel surf and watch some pretty interesting stuff.

I dread returning to work tomorrow. I feel like my vacation was not enough. Come to think of it, it was not much of a vacation. Being with Leo's family is stressful itself. Don't get me wrong, Leo comes from a really great family. But that's the point, they're so great and poster picture perfect that I can't help but think that there's a catch somewhere. It made me think whether I really do fit into their poster perfect picture. I mean, his parents are so accommodating, congenial and successful in their respective fields. I don't know if anything could ruffle their feathers. His sister and her husband are both high ranking officers in their respective companies. They have two sons who are exact replicas of their two grandfathers. I mean hey, do I really have a place in there? Will I be changing myself?

Anyway, I still have to face work tomorrow and an accounting case and paper for the next two to three weeks. By the fourth week of April, I'm going to relax.

My dad also wants to watch The Cascades perform. Thinking of taking him to watch. It'll be a treat for him. Haven't done anything special for him lately. About time I reconnect with my parents. I've been shutting them out too much.

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Hallowed Week

For the first time in years, I was not ready for this Holy Week.

I haven't been to my regular church choir for the past month already, although I did leave word that I'll be back on Easter Sunday (Nabuhay ang patay!). I recall the previous years when I actively participated in the activities. I missed last year's events since I was in Pagudpod with my family. I'll be missing it again this year since I'll be spending the next two days with my SO's family in Tagaytay.

I managed to submit our paper last weekend. I only have to worry about our oral defense, my accounting final paper and our final exams. I can't wait for finals to be over! I'm not really hoping for a high grade this term. Heck, I'm happy if I even pass. Gosh, I do HATE accounting (my apologies to my accounting friends out there).

Stress from work is another story. I don't know how I can go about that yet. I'm barely coherent right now. Maybe some other time.

Today's American Idol performances were rather not at par with what I'm used to. My usual favorites (Bo, Anwar, Tina and Constantine) barely passed muster with what they sang. Carrie, Scott and Nikko sang really good. I would predict that Michaela would be voted out tomorrow. Hopefully their cable in Tagaytay will carry Star World.

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

American Rocker Idol



Constantine Maroulis

Got this photo from http://brooklyn.about.com/od/arttheatre/p/maroulis.htm

Anyway, I'm not really an avid watcher of American Idol, even during the Jasmine Trias days (or even during the first season). I just remembered that I came home one day with Leo and we were looking for something to watch and we came upon the auditions of Idol. We found it amusing and we were hooked.

When I first saw Constantine, I knew that there's something special in him and he will definitely make it to Hollywood. And now here he is, proudly part of the Top 12.

I was a bit worried though when his past three performances were not agreeable to the judges. I breathed a sigh of relief when he survived each week unscathed. However, his performance today turned me into a slobbering avid fan. He sang "You Made Me So Very Happy" with so much gusto and passion that you could feel yourself melting. Simon Cowell hit it right in the head when he said that if the contest was "Smoldering Idol", Constantine will win hands down! Hehe.

Sunday, March 13, 2005

Have a break...

Went to the birthday celebration of my SO's father. We had lunch together with some close relatives at the rooftop of Vivere. The food is really good! To think I was not initially impressed when I first ate there a few weeks ago. Difference was that we had the buffet. The food is really divine coupled with the view makes dining there a wonderful experience. It's also relatively cheap! Around Php510/person. Not bad considering you pay almost the same amount at Dad's where the food is already so-so. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Currently in the middle of updating our Prodman paper due on Friday. SO took me home early so we can both get started on our respective papers. Coupled with the stress at work, I don't know how I manage.

I'm also thinking of taking only one subject next term. Probably a Saturday at that. I'm always needed at work, moreover with the new developments. With the resignation of my good friend, my boss is also moving to another department. Learned that the OIC is also moving after a couple of months. He mentioned that I might be taking his place and I just laughed. That would be pretty ironic considering if I do accept that responsibility, I will be handling assistant managers whereas I'm just a lowly junior officer. We'll see how everything goes.

Saturday, March 12, 2005

Stress and Allergies

Seems I've only been writing about negative stuff lately. Can't help it when everything seems to be happening all at the same time.

Our DSL has not been working for the past four days. Called up PLDT and they kept on giving us the run around. We were supposed to have some technicians come over since last Friday, but they keep on giving us reasons. The latest reason which they gave was that they got lost. That was very hard to believe considering that they've been here before and I'm sure they have a map on file. How can they get lost?

Due to the need for an internet connection, I was forced to purchase prepaid internet cards. It's amazing how cheap they have become. About a couple of years ago, a 100 peso internet card can give you 9 to 10 hours. The two cards that I bought are a hundred pesos each and both having 20 hours or so internet time EACH!

My lip allergy also acted up again. I had a reporting last Thursday so I had to put on make-up. Unfortunately, my lips still did not like the VMV Hypoallergenics lipstick that I bought. My lips swelled and dark spots formed around the lip edges. The nurse prescribed a non-drowsy antihistamine and it's still hurting up to now. I was advised to stay away from lipsticks. (Woe is me!)

School is also beginning to suck big-time. I have a group paper that's due this Friday. Unfortunately, the group that I'm stuck with is the most difficult group that I have ever worked with in my whole stay in school. They elected me as group leader since I'm the only girl. Unfortunately, they're all very opinionated and most of our bull sessions become literally bull sessions. They all don't want to listen to one another. It's becoming more difficult for me to handle them. Our professor gave us less than three weeks to come up with a paper that we will defend at the end of the term. I want to beat them up and stuff their butts into trash cans. Ugh!

Sunday, March 06, 2005

Shopping!

I seldom shop. In a year, I only go marathon shopping twice. I did that today. Don't ask me how much I spent, although I spent half of the amount for my family (new router for our dsl/lan connection, stuff for my unborn niece/nephew and weekly groceries).

There's something therapeutic in shopping. Wandering into a store and finding something that grabs my fancy is so exciting. That's why I only go shopping if I have money. Otherwise, I don't even try to windowshop. I hate seeing something I like and being not able to buy it. I hate living with the thought that it will be gone the next time I see it, so I try to buy it on the spot. It maybe compulsive buying that's why I have only one credit card in my wallet and it's the one wherein I HAVE to pay in full every cycle (transactor. BSP DOSRI requirement).

Anyway, I have tons of stuff to accomplish tonight. I was supposed to be on leave for the next three days, but my reliever is in the hospital due to a heart problem. Being the dutiful (*cough*martyr*cough) employee that I am, I asked my boss if she needs me tomorrow and she did ask me to come in. So my planned trip to the parlor and the masseuse is now put on hold.

I listed down all the stuff that I needed to finish. I have a paper due for Prodman next week, an accounting case due tomorrow, an accounting final paper due at the end of the term and other stuff which I can't seem to sort in my mind.

Might as well get started.

Thursday, March 03, 2005

What Sci Fi Character Are You?

I had no intentions on answering this, but when my immediate circle of friends starting posting their characters in their respective blogspots, might as well join the bandwagon.

I think this came no surprise--especially to the circle. Funny how our characters seem to jive.

Which Fantasy/SciFi Character Are You?



Possessing a rare combination of wisdom and humility, while serenely dominating your environment you selflessly use your powers to care for others.

Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.

Galadriel is a character in the Middle-Earth universe. You can read more about her at the Galadriel Worshippers Army.

Wednesday, March 02, 2005

Moving On

I wrote a post a few months back about an officemate's resignation. It came to the point that out of the friends that I made at work, only a couple of people are left.

The day that I dread has finally arrived. Ching tendered her resignation a few weeks back and Jas, gave hers today. I already knew of Jas' resignation ever since she applied for that other job. Heck, I even made her resignation letter for her. But it was only after she handed it over that it hit me--that I'll be alone again.

Honestly, a small part of me does feel happy for her because I know she deserves that job offer and she will do good in that new position/company. Walang plastikan yon. However, a major part of me is selfishly miserable. Miserable because the last of my good friends will be leaving me behind; miserable because I'm stuck in that quagmire called work wherein the situation is getting worse; miserable because of the feeling of ineptness--of not being good enough.

Some people might not find that a problem since there are always new people coming in and that everyone has work problems. But one thing that people should understand about me is that I don't make friends easily. I know how to interact with acquaintances and how to make them, it's just that I really don't make friends easily. It's difficult for me to find people who I can jive or get along with, morever find people whom I could trust. The recent batch of females that entered are department are not really close to me, maybe my fault. But I just can't seem to make the effort to get to know them better. I don't know if it's because I'm insecure or that I'm the only girl who has a boyfriend in our department.

As they say, what goes around, comes around. When I first joined my present employer, I was basically a loner. I ate lunch alone and never really bonded with my colleagues. I guess I'm back to that kind of set-up. The old feeling of being unwanted and not belonging is coming back full force.

I've been crying on and off since this afternoon. Good thing I'm not wearing make-up else my face will be full of blotches. But heck, who knows how everything might turn out. Maybe my time has yet to come.

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

One Year Anniversary (yeah sure)

It was our one year anniversary yesterday (Feb. 28).

I wanted it to be a special day but I ended up crying over my boyfriend's shirt.

Unfortunately, the 28th fell on a Monday and a month-end to boot. On top of my daily productivity, there were so many things to do at work. I had to come to work early to decorate the cubicle of our boss' boss. Afterwhich, when I tried logging into my work pc, it wouldn't accept my password due to lan problems. I learned later that afternoon that my harddisk gave out (good thing they were able to back up my files before the whole disk crashed). I had a meeting after work at La Salle Taft and it took me an hour to get there while negotiating through Makati and Manila traffic (Quirino is only one lane thus the traffic spilling over to Taft and South Superhighway was horrendous). When my boyfriend came to pick me up later that night, my groupmates and I were in the middle of an argument and Leo kept on calling me to come down since he's doubleparked. We had dinner at a place in Bluewave and I'm not particularly that happy with the food.

So much for our special day.

I really did want it to be special. I don't know how special is special but I envisioned it as a day where we'll do something special together. Where everything's pre-planned and not just a spur of the moment thing. I don't know whether I should be disappointed on myself or on my boyfriend. It felt like this is just something normal for him, but celebrating a one year anniversary is VERY extraordinary for me. I have never celebrated it with anyone before and I was so much looking forward to this one.

I really didn't know what to expect, but it was definitely not something like this.

My only consolation is that at least we're together. That counts for something. And we did spend the weekend together at Tagaytay (with his parents). I should be thankful at least for that.