Yayaless

Friends!

It’s September 1 today! Yes, August 31 kahapon, September 2 bukas. Haha! Ber month na naman. Days go by so fast ‘no? Hindi naman sa masyado akong excited but I can already feel a hint of Christmas sa hangin dito sa Baguio. Hanging amihan ba. Hanlamig lang. Ansarap humiga-higa lang, cuddle-cuddle, ganun. Hmp! Sagabal ang work. Siyempre, ‘yun ay isang malaking joke lang Lord ha.

Speaking of work, today was the second day of my work week. Hay, three more days to go. While at  work today, I received bad news from my Muder. My nanny’s father died. *sob* Well you know what that means to me. Mawawalan ako ng yaya, for maybe a week or two lang naman…sana. Sana. *more sobbing*

After knowing that, I couldn’t focus on work na. I’m really sorry if mas concern ko ang pagkawala ng yaya kesa sa pagkawala ng Fuder ng yaya.

My friend at work said –

Joy: Namatay ang Fuder niya. At ‘yun talaga ang concern mo – wala kang yaya.

It may sound sarcastic, pero joke ‘yan. May katotohanan nga lang. Haha! Para kayang namatayan ang pakiramdam ko ‘pag biglaang walang yaya tapos pareho nagwo-work ang Mommy at Daddy.

Another thing, I was the bearer of the bad news. Wala kasi siyang cellphone so there’s no other way for her family to get in touch with her but through me. I don’t think there’s any way to tell her bad news na hindi siya mabibigla at malulungkot at will make her feel better after. There’s just no way. At dahil ayaw kong sa akin manggaling an gang balitang tegi na ang Fuder niya, pagkarating ko ditto sa bahay, May I call ako sa husband niya at pass the phone to her. Solved!

Naawa ako sa kanya nung mega crayola siya while on the phone with her husband.

Just a brief intro on my yaya – this one is new kasi. Elmer, my kids and I call her Nanay Nelly. She’s already, wait for it, 60 years old. But I’m telling you, malakas pa ang loley niyo. At akalain niyo ‘yan, may Fuder pa siya…kahapon. Her father was 78 years old.

At ngayon, #alamna! Yayaless ako for I don’t know how long. I’m guessing, for about two weeks? May pa-siyam pa ‘yan e ‘no? I need someone to rescue me from this misery. Puhleeez! *more na more sobbing*

Paano na ang work kamo? E di emergency leave akish hwhile my Muder is looking for a reliever. I already mentioned this to the Manager-on-duty at work kanina, but I still have to call in later. Ulit-ulit? I know right. But I understand, walahis to the Manager-on-duty at work kanina, but I still have to call in later. Ulit-ulit? I know right. But I understand, wala kasing mga big bossing kanina na mag-aapprove. But then again I thought, even my emergency leave doesn’t get approved, hindi din lang naman ako makakapasing mga big bossing kanina na mag-aapprove. But then again I thought, even my emergency leave doesn’t get approved, hindi din lang naman ako makakapasok saok sa work. At saan ko naman daw iiwanan ang mga bagets ko?

Hosha, laters babies! Mag-call in pa ako.

Ciao! ♥

My Thinspiration

Hello guys! How are you?

Malapit na ang payday. Excited na ba kayo? Kasi ako super excited na eh. Kung three months na tengga ang payroll account mo, 'di ka mae-excite? 

Uy, check-check tayo ng payslip ha. May bago daw kasing deduction. Look oh --

Haha! That photo isn't mine. 'Di ko alam kung kanino ko iccredit. My friend sent it to my email. 

Tengeneng Janet Napoles 'yan IF true ang bali-balita ha.

Anyways, high ways. I was browsing old photos and found these. Excuse the face. 

 

Look at those arms. 

 

And I miss those pants!

Ang payat ko lang talaga noon. My thinspiration is my old self.

Elmer, few days after I've given birth, which I think wasn't the best time to play a joke on me but I took it really, really well, told me that he could see me spending a lot of money on new clothes and pants because my old ones wouldn't fit me anymore. We ended up having a pustahan. Itatak niya kako sa bato, three months after I started working again, kasya na sa akin those same pants I was wearing sa photo diyan sa taas. I'm on my 3rd week. So far, hindi pa din kasya.

I initially planned on posting "Now" photos, I changed my mind. Pero hindi naman ako sobrang tumaba ngayon ha.Konti lang. Ang hirap lang paliitin ng midsection. Any suggestion how? Tumigil na ako sa extra rice. Because I delivered through LTCS dito sa last, I'm not sure kung anong mga exercises ang pwede na sa akin. (My first two deliveries were through NSD.) Pwede na ba mag-jogging? I'll ask na nga talaga my OB. I forgot to ask her last time I saw her eh.

I keep looking at these photos and I feel so much inspired. I still have 2+ months to win that pustahan. 

So help me God. 

Ciao! ♥

Coffee or Tea?

When I was younger, I was never a coffee aficionado. My parents and uncles and aunts were and still are. I remember them chatting over cups of coffee even during some hot mid-afternoons. I only learned to consume cups and cups...and cups of coffee when I started working in a call center. Oh yeah, I've been a huge coffee fan since 2004. And it's good my company for giving its employees free coffee. Most call centers do.

Image Source

 

Tea, on the other hand, is something that I only learned to love taking a couple of years back. Elmer's mom, who happens to be a health buff, was the one who I got the influence from. She believed that tea was much healthier than coffee. While popular belief labels tea as a health drink and coffee as not, I've read that mounting evidence suggests that coffee and tea are both brimming with about the same amount of anti-oxidants in them.

Despite my love for coffee, I have never become a patron of popular coffee shops like Starbucks, Gloria Jean's or the others. First, I am cheap. Paying at least P80 for a short cup of coffee, to me, is robbery. Second, magagalit si Elmer sa akin. ^_^. Sipping on a cup of Starbucks aromatic coffee as I feel the cool Baguio breeze, once in a while, is, I think, heaven. But I still prefer to have my caffeine fix at the comfort of my home or at the office. 

My good friend at work and I have (almost) never failed to take at least one cup of coffee during our breaks until she was advised by her doctor to cut down on her consumption of coffee and some other foods and drinks and until our boss instructed us to not go on break at the same time anymore. Since then, I have been sipping on coffee in the pantry all by myself.

Lesson learned: (1) Do not see your doctor. He/She might ask you to stop doing things you love to do, or eating and drinking foods you love to eat and drink. (2) Hide when you see an approaching boss. ^_^

How about you? Coffee or tea?

Ciao! ♥

I So Want To Kill You Right Now

This one's for you, a$$hole!

Dear Scheduler,

You keep changing my schedule whenever there's a need to tweak the team's schedule. When I confronted you and asked why among all people, it's always mine that gets changed. It's not the first time. For the past months, it's always been mine. You responded with "Kasi ikaw 'yung pinaka-feasible sa inyo eh". At first, I almost laughed with your response, even joked about it with friends. This morning, I was thinking about it. And I thought, what the f*ck! Do you think I don't have a life that's why you can just pick me as the one whose schedule can be changed just like that?

F*ck you!

When It Rains, It Pours

How are you guys? It's been days since my last post. I've been so busy. Oh so busy. I think I have yet to share to you that last week, I had to bring Calli to Elmer's mom in Pangasinan because no one would stay with her in the house while Elmer and I are at work and Nikki is at school. So there. Calli is with her Mama Shirley in Pangasinan and not living with us right now. Ang sad ng house. 

Speaking of house, my family has finally moved into the new house that we were supposed to have moved into a month ago. Yes, fi-na-lly! It was a good timing na din that I had to bring Calli to Pangasinan on Saturday because we were able to move here in our new house on Tuesday. Kasi naman for sure, mahihirapan kami maglipat-bahay with Calli with us nang walang yaya. Extreme pagod ang labas namin ni Elmer, especially ko, in case.

Speaking of yaya naman, I found a new yaya for Calli. (Thank you, Lord!) And I can't thank my workmate enough who found this yaya for me. (Thank you Melanie Sido. You're the best!) Well, truth is, it was her niece's yaya who looked for a new yaya for Mel who was looking for a new yaya for me. My new yaya's name is Pinky De Leon. (Yeah, I know. Very celebrity ang name niya, right?) She started working for me yesterday although Calli's still not here. Calli's coming back on Sunday. Yipee!

Okay going back to Pinky, I have a very good feeling about her. It's such a small world. She's Elmer's kababayan from San Manuel, Pangasinan. When Elmer and she finally met in the afternoon, they started chatting and tracing common people they know. That added to my feeling good and comfortable about her. Not to mention, she also is a mother, a single mother that is, to her 6-year-old daughter who she left with her parents in Pangasinan. Now, I have gained again a bit of peace of mind and a little time to rest. I have been so tired and stressed this past week. I can't tell you how tired my body and mind had been because of having no yaya and to bring my daughter somewhere so she can be taken care of while her parents are at work, moving into a new house and of course, forever work.

Speaking of work, Elmer has resigned from his current job. It was his last day as Equipment Engineer yesterday. But wait, there's more! He resigned because he's got himself a better job. Better job means higher pay, more perks, and irresistible benefits. Woot, woot! He thought he could take at least a week break from work before starting his new job but (un)fortunately, he's started training today as Field Service Engineer also in Texas Instruments.

I can't stop sighing as I write all these. Sighs of relief. I feel a little relieved now although still sad because Calli's not yet with us. Elmer and I give her Mama a ring every now and then to hear Calli's voice. She has gotten more daldal na talaga. Just like last night.

Daddy: Sino mga kalaro mo diyan?

Calli: Takbo ako nang takbo. Hindi ako nadadapa Daddeeeh!

Daddy: Saan ka tumatakbo? Sa kalsada?

Calli: Sa SM! 

Sushal! Tatakbo lang, kelangan sa SM pa talaga? ^_^ 

Daddy passed the phone to me.

Me: Hello Mahal! Kumusta ka na? Kelan ka aakyat dito?

Calli: Dito muna ako kay Mama. Papatabain pa daw muna niya ako Mommeeeh.

Me: Wawa naman kami dito. Wala kaming Calli. I miss you Calli. I love you Calli.

Calli: I love you (Pauses a bit), Daddeeeh! (Then leaves the line)

Waaah! Mommy ako! :(

It is so nice and makes me miss her more hearing her voice on the phone. Parang ang laki laki na niya when she talks on the phone. Very daldal! She's turning 3 years old on July 27. 

God really is sooo good. I can't thank Him enough and the supportive people around me. Alam niyo na kung sinu-sino kayo. Alabyu guys!

That's it pancit!

Ciao! ♥

36th National Milo Marathon: Baguio Leg

Today, Elmer came home late and with these. 

Two kits of the Milo Marathon 5K run

He was telling me about this Milo Marathon weeks ago and that he would definitely join this event. I never thought that he was serious. More than that, I never thought that he would like to run with me because he never asked me to join him. That's why I was surprised when he came home with two kits and one of them has my name on it.

One for him and one for me.

Spaghetti Bolognese on Father's Day and Some Yaya Rants

I am again starting to feel that the nature of my and Elmer's jobs are making our lives and our kids' young lives abnormal. Sunday is family day. But Elmer and I work during Sundays. Holidays mean vacations or travels. But Elmer and I work during holidays. I feel that our kids are missing a lot because of our jobs. Yes, we work for our kids but... Oh well. Don't mind me. Just me...ranting.

Yesterday was Fathers' Day. It was one simple, ordinary day for my family. Elmer left for work because, uhm, he had to. I had to not go to work because our effin' house help slash nanny didn't come back from her supposed dayoff. When Elmer came home at around 4:30PM and the rain was pouring really hard, my kids and I had just waken up from siesta. We had brunch in the morning and never ate lunch that day. We agreed to have spaghetti bolognese that afternoon for our early dinner and in celebration na din of Fathers' Day.

Let me just get this out of the way. As I became mature and started to work, I unconsciously developed commitment and love for my job. I learned the value of work and time, and became accountable and more responsible. I'm not saying I am a perfect employee, because I absolutely am not. It's just that, my job (and of course Elmer's) is what keeps my family live everyday and, sometimes, buy things that we want and not just those that we need. Pero again, sometimes lang 'yung mga ganun.

I don't get people, like that effin' girl that I hired as our house help slash nanny, na walang isang salita. Walang kwentang kausap. Walang utang na loob. Nakakainis ang mga taong walang kwentang kausap. Wala siyang kwentang kausap! Pakshet siya!

Hallelujah, I'm Still Alive

How are you my dearies? I know, I know. I suffered from writer's block. (Wow, writer lang talaga?) I have not posted anything since that post I had about the AI 11 finale. Because I was so much disheartened by its result. Charot!

Kidding aside, I felt like nothing interesting worth sharing to you guys happened to me these past couple of days. Reading all your new posts about your summer escapades, new gadgets, new outfits, collectible items, family gatherings, etc. made me feel that my life was sooo boring. Arte lang, pero there's a teeny weeny truth to it with konting inggit factor. So with this new post, does that mean there's anything worth sharing here? You tell me. ^_^

Let me do a li'l recap. What did I do these past couple of days? Lemme think. Hmmm. The usual. Work-home routine. Then there was my two days off. I didn't go out. I didn't accomplish anything productive during those two days. I don't wanna elaborate on that. Maiinis lang na naman ako. Then there was my feeling guilty about Calli and I not having any bonding activity last week so we went out to the mall and played again in Playmates. Then there was Elmer and I doing some de-cluttering and a lot of packing in the house. We are moving to another house soon. Very soon. Then there was the payday. Then I had my hair cut. Reading those back, I guess, there were things naman that were worth sharing pero tinamad lang ako. Yes, that's the keyword. Tinamad lang talaga ako. 

Labor Day Fun

Nikki is still in Pangasinan. Elmer and Calli have left for Pangasinan yesterday. While still at work today, I didn't feel like going home to an empty house. I was making up reasons to go to town. Oops, I remembered, I needed a new tube of lipstick. Okay, I would go to town and buy one. I was planning to do exactly just that when my plan changed. My friends Joy and Charlie invited me to go out with them. I was hesitant at first but...the heck! My house was empty. So I went with them. 

The plan: have ONLY "two rounds" at Caltex in PNR. 

The suspects, Joy and Charlie. Walang hiya na sa camera talaga.

Again. This time with Apol.

Look who we found at Caltex. 

How Do I Love Thee?

Every time my sickness gets validated by my company clinic, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to feel. Am I happy because I have extra days to rest? Am I sad because I am actually sick?

Yesterday, I played as my sisterful and her boyfriend's tour guide. The boyfriend hails from a far city in Romblon. That explains his fascination over Baguio City. Okay, I will not talk about him here. I'll make a separate post about him and our city tour. 

Going back. Yesterday was a very hot and exhausting day. When it was almost evening, I already started feeling a headache. I was so tired and already not feeling well. I just had to wash Calli and put  her in her peej. Then after a tablet of paracetamol, there was my zero-energy body on the bed with Calli.

When I woke up this morning, I felt energized again. I thought I was feeling better until I started sneezing and coughing like there's no tomorrow. The sneezing and coughing almost stopped until I could hardly breathe already. That's what happened all day which worsened earlier this evening. I ignored it because it was just Calli and me in the house. Elmer went to work. My sisterful and her boyfriend went out to the mall to do some shopping. I cannot not feel well whenever my daughters and I are alone in the house. Plus, I have work at 2AM tomorrow (or shall I say later because it's already 11:50PM). 

But when my sisterful and her boyfriend arrived earlier at almost 9PM, breathing became more difficult. Good thing I was able to put Calli to sleep early tonight because she didn't have her afternoon siesta. I was thinking. Oh my G! This can't be happening. I'm having asthma attack again. Whenever I'm having an attack, I cry. I don't know why but I can't help crying every single time. I felt like I was dying. That's how I feel every time I'm having asthma attacks. 

Aaaw, They Love Me

The Yahoo! Escalations is our account's newest LOB so far. It started as a one-team desk which grew with two then three more teams making it a single cluster. Our company was the only site that has this line of business until this year. I was lucky to be part of its pioneer team composed of seven Tier 2 agents and five Tier 1 agents when it went live in 2008.

If I were not mistaken, this was Vic's idea.

I am no longer part of the Yahoo! Escalations Team or what we simply call Y!ET. I was sent from it back to the Tier 2 Team with new assigned task at that time. I still kept in touch with my teammates and friends from Y!ET. Parang ang layo naman ng pinuntahan ko 'di ba? Its bay and the Tier 2 Team bay are just a laway talsik away from each other. ^_^

Intro lang 'yun. Eto talaga ang kwento.

It's More Fun Being Blue!

Quarter Recognition Party, Cook-out Party, Christmas Party. Anything that has party in it  (except for third party opkors!) is sure fun at work. Not to mention, we only get to have one once in 3-4 months...if we get lucky. And we sure did get lucky today! Our account just had a cook-out party for meeting/exceeding the goal for Connectech sales. Although it was not really a cook-out  party by definition kasi cooked na ang food when they got to the venue, that was in our humble parking lot. Spell tipid! ^_^ But that didn't bother us. It was scheduled for breakfast. So we took our "lunch" for breakfast. You know what I mean, all you call center peeps out there, yes?

The stage. The emcee. The bosses.

Daylight Savings Time

Time springs forward and falls back for Americans and some other people around the world. Thanks to the Daylight Savings Time. But it does not for us Filipinos. We don't practice DST. But I am very familiar with it. Well, at least to when the day and time, most specifically in the US, it's either springing forward or falling back. It's happening in less than 24 hours. On Sunday, once Americans' clocks hit 2AM US Time, for all time zones, they have to adjust it to 3AM, losing an hour of their day. In reality, they didn't lose an hour of their day. Kasi palit lang 'yun sa one hour na nadagdag sa oras nila when their time fell back last year when they switched back from DST.

Photo Credit: hotarmisticenews.blogspot.com

Hello Guimba!

Hindi ako naka-attend sa party. Hindi ako nakapaglinis ng bahay. I was invited by the team I was supporting before to an after-party party. Hindi ako nakapunta. Hindi ko pa rin napanood ang Praybeyt Benjamin. Hindi nag-kick in ang 'gana' to do house chores. To make this long story longer, wala akong ginawa kahapon. Nood nood lang ng TV at surf surf lang. Tinamad ako! :) Ay wait, there's more. Meron naman pala. Nagtupi ng mga nilabhan kong damit the other day. Nagtahi ng mga damit ni Elmer at PJs ni Nikki na may butas. O ha! Nagtahi ako. Habang nagtatahi nga ako kahapon, naalala ko ang mga teachers ko sa THE nung high school. I was trying to recall their names. Dead! 'Di ko maalala talaga. I hate that feeling pa naman na parang nasa dulo na ng dila mo. At...naalala ko din ang mga iba't ibang stitches. Ay, tatlo lang pala. Cross stitch, running stitch, back stitch. Yun lang ang mga naalala ko. Nakalimutan ko na 'yung iba. Back stitch ang ginamit ko. :D

At...habang tinutupi ko ang mga damit nina Nikki at Calli. Naalala ko din sila. Miss ko na sila. Pero hindi ko na mami-miss si Nikki mamaya dahil Nueva Ecija, here I come! :) Si Calli, miss ko pa rin. :( Pero 'di na din ako masyado nag-aalala kay Calli kasi uuwi din naman si Elmer sa Pangasinan. Tama 'yang nabasa niyo. Magkakahiwalay kami ngayong Undas. Elmer and I think that's just okay. Nasa Pangasinan ang "mga patay" niya. Nasa Nueva Ecija naman 'yung akin. So tama lang.

Excited ako! It's been 2 months na hindi ako nakatapak sa soil ng Nueva Ecija, particularly ng Guimba. Palaging kino-compare ni Elmer ang Guimba sa San Manuel (at syempre laging angat ang San Manuel para sa kanya). Kahit nagpaka-tourism ambassador pa siya ng San Manuel, 'di pa rin niya na-convince si Nikki na dun magbakasyon. Mas gusto ni Nikki sa Guimba. Si Calli kasi hindi pa makapili kaya kung saan siya buhatin, dun siya. :)

Ito ang 10 reasons kaya excited ako umuwi.

Optimism: Key to Survival

Photo Credit: federatedmedia.net

One of my friends in Facebook posted something like this some time last week -- We always complain about our job. But we should be thankful that we have a job to complain about.

Tomoh!!!

Recently, I have been reading news articles about more and more people everywhere becoming jobless everyday. Joblessness results to a lot of things like homelessness and hunger to name a few. Some jobless citizens in the US get by on government-provided aids like food stubs and stuff. Good for them, they're US citizens. They receive some help from their government to the least. E sa Pinas tayo 'tol! If one is jobless in the Philippines, good luck na lang. He should not depend or even expect too much from the Philippine government. Asa! Help yourself dude. Or maybe you can ask your mom to help you. Or your girlfriend. Or your wife. Or your fafa. Whatever! 'La na naman 'tong post na 'to, nararamdaman ko.

The reality that I'm trying to say - this isn't necessary really because it is true, a fact -  is that these days, it is so hard to look for a decent job, one that fits one's profile and eligibility. I am so happy that I (still) have one right now. Despite all the negativities going on at work, I realized, I still want this. This job has let my family survive for the longest time. So all the nega things around? I just brush them off. Pessimism is the last thing that I need at the moment. 

So whenever I'm feeling bored I just psyche myself out, there's something interesting coming soon...and I blog. :p Whenever I don't feel like coming to work I just think, there's something good happening with me at work. Someone has told me that if I get bored of what I do at work, before resigning, that try to look for a challenge at work, try other positions. If still bored (and unhappy), then that's the time I resign. Optimism sister!

On a kinda different and lighter note, here are the things that make me excited to come to work --

1. Rica's Best Shawarma. I was never a fan of shawarma because I thought it was just so overrated especially every Panagbenga. Rica's Best Shawarma, although it does not have the classic shawarma taste, changed all that. I always look forward to eating one everyday. But I don't eat everyday unlike Gibson. He even joked, "Pumapasok lang ako dahil sa shawarma." ^_^

2. Big Boy Toppings. I was not paying too much attention to it when its booth set up in our pantry. I got curious on how it tasted so I tried. Since then I am a fan. 

    

3. "Sharing" sessions with Golden and Gibson. About anything under the sun, mostly about everything that's going on under our office building's roof. ^_^ Chika Minute!   

Kayo, what makes you excited to come to work?

Ciao! ♥ 

   

His One Great Dream

Each one of us had his/her own what-i-wanna-be-when-i-grow-up thing when still young. Even our kids have their own - doctor, model, engineer, lawyer, teacher. I, myself, also had one. I always wanted to be a teacher since I cannot remember when. Due to some circumstances, I did not become a teacher. I finished Bachelor of Science in Information Technology at Saint Louis University. I am now a humble (and privileged senior) call center agent. ^_^

After having spent 6 months in a call center in Manila, 6 months in a technical school in Nueva Ecija (but not as a teacher) and 7 long years (and still counting) in this call center, I realized, I still want to be a teacher. I guess that's my passion and that's the career path that I always know I am going to be happy and feel fulfilled with. Elmer has always encouraged me not to give up on my dream. I can at any time take an 18-unit education course and take LET after that. I have always excused myself with having no time at the moment, the timing is not right, or saving money for something more important - a house here in Baguio. Going back to school to pursue that dream is still an idea that's always welcome to me nonetheless. 

This is not about me. Come on, read on.

Regret, Bittersweet Sundays And Celebrity Marriages

"I am sorry." - ala Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo nung nag-sorry siya. Remember the Hello Garci scandal? Mismo! Parang ganyan ang gusto kong sabihin sa dati kong blog site I mentioned I did not want to use any longer. Just earlier today, I was hoping that I could export my posts here to that other blog site. I decided I would start using that other blog site again at the same time as this. Unfortunately, there's no option just yet to export old posts here in Multiply to any other blog site. Only way is to copy-paste each one of them to that other blog site. And doing it that way would not keep the dates when the posts were originally created. That's sad! Sana soon meron na. *Fingers crossed*

I am at work as I write this. Yes, I have a lot of "free" time here at work. Idagdag mo pang today is Sunday. I hate the fact that I have to work on Sundays (at least until October). There's the missing the Sunday family activities, the usual Sunday masses, and the list goes on and on. But at the same time, pampalubag-loob na din na konti lang ang trabaho pag Sunday at wala pang maraming bosses. Isa lang ang manager-on-duty pag Sunday shift, at di pa masyado visible, figuratively and literally. Hihihi! That's another story. Aside from the fact na konti lang ang trabaho pag Sunday, walang masyadong ginagawa pero sulit sa bayad plus may time pa mag-blog. At mag-surf sa mga websites kahit blocked pa yan (isp tech support kami kaya dapat alam niyo na yan). At makipag-chismisan sa mga workmates na bored na bored na din kasi wala ding magawa tulad ko kundi maghintay ng end ng shift. Aarte pa ba ako?!

Isa sa mga ginagawa ko pagdating ko sa office, aside from the usuals na work-related, is check the new articles and my daily horoscope here. And Kirk Douglas, American film actor, quoted "You can tell a lot about a guy by the woman he marries." in one of the articles. But I think that does not apply only to married men. Kahit yung mga boyfriends din. It makes a huge impression on a guy the girl he is with, not necessarily the looks lang. You know what I mean. That made me think. What can other people tell about Elmer by me? "He could have done way much better than that"? Sh*t! I may not be a perfect partner but I think I am perfect for him. Ayeeee!

Ciao!

  

And The Countdown Begins. 85, 84, 83...

Today's October 1. Ambilis ng araw! 85 more days before Christmas. It's the waiting and preparing for Christmas that's really fun, and not Christmas at all, at least for me. For the past 6 Decembers, palagi na lang akong malungkot. Pag malapit na ang Pasko, I start to have this feeling again na gusto ko na talagang mag-resign. O kundi naman, winiwish ko na sana sa bangko na lang din ako nag-wo-work like my close friends Jona and Elley. O kahit anong trabaho na walang pasok pag legal at special holidays at pag sinabi ng presidente ng Filifins. Kasi every December 'di ba, there's this almost-a-week-long vacation from work dahil sa mga sunod-sunod na holidays. Kaya naman, pag December, uso ang lahat ng klase ng reunion (family, high school, atbp.), mga gatherings at of course, mga parteys! Most of the time, absent ako sa mga ganyan. Aheytchit!

Here in Baguio, I can already feel the Christmas vibe. Couple of times that I visited the mall this week that I heard Christmas songs playing. There are early Christmas promos in some stores, ads on TV and radio and Christmas decors in some places. Almost everywhere, I can see hints that Christmas is just around the corner. (Wag na magtanong kung saang corner ha?!)

And when we say Christmas, there also come the words family, togetherness, gifts, parties, and gifts, inaanaks, Aguinaldo, and gifts. Haist! I always want to be home every Christmas. My family has a home here in Baguio, that's for sho'. So I guess, I should say, I always want my family to be home every Christmas. And when I say home, I mean, Nueva Ecija or Pangasinan. Pero mas masaya sa Nueva Ecija kasi mas marami kami dun. At dun talaga ako. If I ask Elmer, for sho', Pangasinan pipiliin nun. Siya taga-dun e. Pero isa lang ng mama niya dun. Hindi masaya. But as he always says, "Yun na nga. Mag-isa lang niya dun, kaya mas dapat dun tayo mag-Pasko." Paano naman ang mga kamag-anak ko sa Nueva Ecija? Ma-mi-miss nila ako? (Siya kayang tunay?! Hmmm..)

Every year, I get to choose only one. Opo, isa lang sa dalawang mahalagang holidays ng taon. One holiday to be off work. Christmas or New Year. At di ko mapagtanto kung bakit ang mga kasama ko sa trabaho ay mga gaya-gaya! Gusto din nila ng New Year off. Parang nanalo sa lotto sa office pag natapat ka sa New Year off. Parang raffle draw kasi ang pag-decide. Hmp, kaloka!

I remember, nung 2010, Christmas off ako. As we all know, Christmas day and New Year's day always fall on the same day. Kung Thursday ang Pasko 2010, for sho', Thursday din ang New Year's Day 2011, yung ganun? So wala akong pasok ng December 24 at 25. The following week after that ginawa nilang December 31 AT January 2 ang off ko. Well, dahil tinamad ako at sa kagustuhan kong makasama ang pamilya ko, nagparamdam na ako sa boss na hindi na ako papasok ng January 1. Deadma siya at panay ang paalala na pasok sa banga ng suspension pag absent during critical work days. Pero mabait talaga si Lord at muli kong naramdaman, Ate Charo, na mahal Niya ako at ang aking pamilya. Ang pinakapuhunan ko sa industriya ng call center, ang aking malamig na boh-sehs, ang sumalba sa aking holidays. Minalat ako! Syempre secure agad ako ng aking medical certificate. Nakalimutan ko na ang tawag sa sakit. Basta may -itis sa dulo. Happy-happy ang Christmas 2010 at New Year 2011 ko.

And another good thing about Christmas ay ang kabi-kabilang mga Christmas parties. Photos below were something that I took last year in one of the Crhistmas parties that I attended. This was with Team Espinueva that I was assisting before.

Who gave me those horns?! ^_^

With my friend and choco mousse master Renj

Below are some photos naman that I took on December 25, 2009. This was the actual evening of Christmas. Elmer and I had dinner with Nikki outside. Baby pa lang si Calli dito. Five months. Elmer is not a fan of going out with a baby with us. He claims he's protecting the baby from possible sakit na makukuha niya outside. If I know, ayaw niya lang magbuhat, 'no!

Nikki was only 5 years old here

Elegant place pero sa SM lang naman 'to.

Bigla kong naisip, bakit ba itong sinulat ko? Ooh, I remember, because I was going through my photos in Facebook and saw some of the photos taken these past 2 Christmases which reminded me na malapit na nga na naman ang Pasko. Haist! Ambilis talaga ng araw. Siyang tunay!

And out.

Ciao! ♥

 

Sighs Of Relief And Frustration

Power's back up. I lewv it. All phones: batteries fully charged. Check. Laptop: battery fully charged. Check. Digicam: battery fully charged. Check. Ayus! May TV na. Tuloy-tuloy na din ang tubig. Perfect! Sun started to shine yesterday. Back to normal. *Sigh*

Weekend na, but I don't get excited with weekends. Elmer and I have to work on weekends while our daughters have to stay at home. No classes for Nikki of course. Monday is again my rest day but I don't think I will get to rest kasi uuwi si Manang Pearl, my kids' yaya, sa Pangasinan on Sunday. Once a month she gets to see her family in Pangasinan. So ako lahat ang gagawa sa bahay sa Monday at Tuesday. Just thinking of it, napapagod na ako. *Sigh*

Gusto ko ng bonding time with my family on Sunday after my shift. Lunch lang at movie/s, pero sa bahay lang. Ano kaya lulutuin nino? *Sigh*

Hunt-mode muna for recipes online.

Ciao! ♥

I Should Have Listened

Just a few weeks ago, our account (or is it our company? Whatever!) started to implement dress codes. I mean, dress codes are here since I don't remember when but these new dress codes require us to wear business casual attire every Monday and Tuesday shift (so that's Tuesday and Wednesday for me). Since I'm off work every Monday and Tuesday, I only need to wear business casual attire every Tuesday shift. 

The weather on Monday was still okay. Sunshine in the morning. Grey skies after noon. Not unsual here in Baguio. I was already planning to go out on Monday to buy some clothes to wear for today but I got lazy (I wrote something, explaining this, that I should have posted on that day but I didn't have the chance to post but I'll do it later).