Back To School

No, not me.

Summer is over and traffic is back. I felt it this morning when I was going to the office.

I usually pass through Boni, left on Sheridan Street, then out to EDSA. In less than 15 minutes, am in the office.

But this morning, as I was exiting EDSA, I was surprised (duh?) that it was all clogged up. So I had to leave EDSA by turning right to Reliance and out to Pioneer (Kapitolyo).

Ugggghhh. Good thing I still was able to get a slot at the basement parking or else it would have been a bad morning for me.

Gosh! I think I have to leave the house earlier.

Ang INIIIIIIIIIT

Pagkatapos magshower - ANG INIT
Paglabas ng bahay - ANG INIT
Pag pasok ng sasakyan - ANG INIT
Pagbaba ng sasakyan - ANG INIT
Pag lumabas ka ng tanghali - ANG INIT
Pag labas ng opisina sa hapon - ANG INIT
Sasakay na naman sa kotseng buong araw nabilad sa araw - ANG INIT
Pagbaba ng sasakyan - ANG INIT
Pagpasok sa kwartong mainit - ANG INIT
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
SAUNAAAAAA!!!

Am I Selfish?

I don't think I'm a selfish person.

But when a person abuses my kindness, that's when I get pissed off.

Then they think I'm a selfish person.

Irresponsible Driving

Arghhhh!!!

Have you seen a driver wearing headphones? How about a driver talking on his mobile phone? How about a driver smoking? ALL AT THE SAME TIME?????

I did! Tonight! I think my blood pressure shot up! All I could do was move away from him. I should have taken a picture of that *&^$*(@#^$ guy!

Shame on you!

Of Books and Deliveries...

Since last week, excited about our next trip (which is still in September 2010 hahahahaha), my sister and I have been going around Manila's bookstores for a particular travel guide book. We did find one at National bookstore at Shang but it was already removed from its plastic, it didn't look new, it was creased and just plain ugly (note that these travel books are worth more than PhP1,000) and it was the only copy. So I decided to have it ordered from this popular travel guide company's website.

On Tuesday, 17 November, availing of their buy 3-pay 2 only promo, I ordered 2 city guide books and one phrase book. (Actually, there was some problem [double order] when I went online but the staff at the online consumer shop sales was a big help and was able to cancel the second one -- thanks, Amanda!) The next day, I received the confirmation email saying that the books have been shipped (Yey!). Expected delivery date is Friday, 20 November 2009 (double Yey!). So I waited and waited (keeping tabs on the tracking services). Finally, by 20 November, the package arrived in Paranaque (sort facility). But I was still keeping my fingers crosssed that they'd deliver it that day. When I got home, I asked people at home if a package was delivered. None they said. When I tracked the package, it was still "Int'l shipment release - location Paranaque PH." So I called their local partner's number and inquired the status (because I was expecting it to be delivered on 20 November) and said that it was still in Paranaque and might be delivered on Monday. Arghhhhh.

Next day Saturday, out of curiosity, I tracked again the package and it showed that it was "At local xx facility - Pasig PH." I was thinking, it might get delivered today after all. Great! I checked their website and yes, they do deliver on Saturdays. So I called the company and inquired if it will be delivered today (kulit!). The call agent said that it was still for release and cannot assure me that it will be delivered today but had already put a red tag on the delivery. By this time, I was still hoping that I will get the package anytime, or else, Monday it is.

After lunch, I tracked the package and the entries were 21 November 10:33AM "On xxxx vehicle for delivery - location PASIG PH" and 21 November 10:35AM "Delivery exception - Pasig PH - Held, unable to collect payment" and 12:20PM "At local xx facility - Paranaque PH" Wait a minute! Something's not right. Before I called, I asked people at home if a package was delivered or if a delivery person came, again they said none. So I called the company and inquired. I asked why was the package returned to Paranaque, and why was the tracking message showing "Held, unable to collect payment" when no one from the company came to deliver? The call agent put me on hold and when she came back she said "Sorry po, Ma'm. Wala pong delivery truck na available kanina. Pag ganun po, binabalik sa Paranaque office." ARGHHHHH! Walang delivery truck pero merong truck na ginamit pagbalik sa Paranaque? ARGHHHHH!

Oh well. So much for additional courier delivery of US$20. Ughhhh!

So, no chance of getting the package on Sunday (they're closed on Sundays). We all have to rest.

Monday. When I got home, expecting that the package was waiting for me, I was welcomed by "Ate, meron pa daw babayaran, kaya hindi iniwan yung package." The additional was PhP1,665 for duties and taxes. This made me upset again. HOW COME I TALKED TO THEM ON THE PHONE TWICE ON SATURDAY AND THEY NEVER TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO PAY THIS AMOUNT. HOW COME????????

Of course, I had to make another phone call. This time, the call agent was apologetic. I said this is unacceptable. The call agents even confirmed my contact numbers last Saturday and they didn't even bother to call to inform me that I had to pay this amount????

Waahhhhhh!

Ending: It was delivered the next day. US$20 + PhP1,665 + cost of the books. Took them 7 days (still better than ordinary mail which will take 3-4 weeks).

Anyway, I love the books. It was all worth it. Bad experience lang. But I will give them another chance...Let's see (sana nakalimutan na nila pangalan ko bwahahahahahahahaha)

(If you are able to figure out the companies involved, or would like to know who they are, let me know)

Be Part of the Solution, Not Part of the Problem

Kita na ngang traffic e. Arghhhh!

Something Something

Since last week, I've not been feeling well, probably because of stress in the office and probably from many other things. The effect was quite tolerable until I experienced what I thought was a simple upset stomach Monday morning which turned out to be a gastrointestinal something something (I forgot the term used by the clinic doctor). Initially, she asked me if I experience frequent burping *burp* (oops excuse me), chest pains (!!!), bloated feeling, in other words, “general discomfort.”

Somewhere in the Q & A, she mentioned heartburn, which frightened me. I thought it had something to do with the heart, which is not true. It turns out that it is a digestive problem. At least it’s not a heart problem, thank God for that. So it’s a digestive problem. She showed this leaflet and explained what could have caused this: stress, bad eating and sleeping habits, coffee, alcohol, smoking (and other bad things hehe).

In conclusion of my consultation, I was prescribed 2 medicines, an antacid and another medicine and of course, informed me of SOME things to avoid:

• Avoid high-fat meals. Fats can slow down/delay gastric emptying.
• Eat small, more frequent meals rather than large meals.
• Don’t eat within two to three hours of going to bed.
• Avoid tight-fitting clothing, especially after a meal.
• Lose weight if over weight.
• Don’t exercise immediately after eating.
• Avoid eating late night snacks altogether, since lying down soon after eating will almost always worsen the problem.
• Smoking and drinking alcohol can worsen heartburn.
• Some prescription medications can cause heartburn.
• To reduce night time episodes of heartburn, elevate the head of your bed four to six inches.
• Some over-the counter medications can cause heartburn.
• Avoid: chocolates, fatty meals, coffee, alcohol, onions, peppermint and spearmint, tomato-based products, and beans.

Okay, okay. I am guilty of some of those listed above *sigh* and I have to do something and sacrifice some things.

I guess, its better than experiencing that terrible discomfort again.

Hey, btw, this gastrointestinal something something can recur *double sigh*

And I'm Off...

...to DAVAO in 6 hours!!!! Wahooo!!!

I'll be back on Wednesday. Watch out for our pictures.

Mr. Space Ship

View from our second floor window.

After enjoying more than 10 years parked inside our garage, we now have to move him out to give way to my sis-in-law's new car (and her other car). Saddens me because he'll now be exposed to more rain, dirt, mud, dust, to thieves, to vandals -- arghhhhh.

Wawa naman siya...

Monday Blues

Mondays! I hate Mondays! How come sh*tty things happen on Mondays?!?!?!? Sabi, if you don’t start your Mondays right…er, well, you know how it goes *big sigh*

A couple of things happened before I got to the office…

I really hate it when I have to move cars in the garage. Took me more than 15 minutes. (Texted my Kuya the night before if he could help me move cars the next day. He didn’t text back. When I tried waking him up, I knocked on their door, gave up after 5 minutes, and had no choice but to do it myself)…and I hate that——his not texting back, that I have to move cars myself…because it wastes my time, it’s stressful and it ruins my clothes. Ughhh!

Was already on my way when I noticed that the gas tank was almost empty…double Ughhhh!

Okay, okay. Finally. Geeeez! I was sooooo late! To think I still have to send out the OIC for the week, first thing in the morning. The whole morning, people kept asking me who the OIC will be and I kept telling them, in my ever sweet voice (pweh!), that I was still waiting for the prez to approve the memo. Haaaaaay! Impatient people! Hehe!

Still that morning, I found out my former boss passed away a few days ago…and that made me sad. Then I remembered last Friday while playing badminton, Liza asked me in passing if I knew him and I said yes. I had no idea. I was so busy last Friday that I wasn’t able to check all my emails. He was one of my first bosses. Good man. May he rest in peace.

Then in the afternoon, I found out that my friend’s mother is in the hospital. Nalungkot naman ako lalo…

Then before leaving the office, I received a text from my sister. She was apologizing for something she did Sunday night. No confrontation happened last night. I wanted to, but something inside me told me to just walk away (that’s just me – just-walk-away kind of person). So that’s what I did. I didn’t talk to her, she didn’t talk to me. Period. Then, yun nga, I got that text. I texted back saying that everything’s okay and that she doesn’t have to worry. That I love her kahit bitch siya. Hehe!

Thanks to my good friends who were willing yesterday to listen to my whining even when they were busy (actually, they had no choice)...who can sense me even if I’m in invisible mode. At least I was able to unload that heavy feeling inside me yesterday. Haha!

I just hope they don’t get tired of me and my grumblings *big sheepish grin*

Luv y'all!

The Case of the Missing Pakaw

Remember my missing pakaw? You'll never believe it but I got it back.

When I got home Monday night, I mentioned to my Mom that I lost my pakaw last Sunday while hearing Mass because of Regeena. Then she excitedly told me that my uncle found a gold pakaw on the floor in our room earlier that day. When I checked, it was identical to the other pakaw. I was so happy.

Actually, this is not the first time I thought I lost an earring.

December 2002, we went to our friend Maila's family resort/beach house in Mindoro (it was also a despedida for a friend who was leaving for the US for good). That was a 2 1/2 drive to Batangas port, an hour on the RORO and another 1 hour drive to the place. Before night fall, after resting by the beach, without any reason I touched my left ear, and did not feel an earring. When I reached for the other ear, I had an earring on. So I panicked and informed everyone that I lost an earring. Our ever-so-gracious host, Maila's husband Butch, looked for it where we last stayed. To think the place was all sand. Poor Butch. I could have lost it at the port, on the RORO, in the car, by the beach ughhhhhh. As expected, we weren't able to find it. So I just said, "Hayaan mo na nga. It probably got lost for a reason. Let's all just enjoy the rest of our stay." We stayed there Friday and left Sunday.

We arrived in Manila around 8:30pm. After driving for over 3 hours, I was so tired. All I wanted to do was sleep. I was already changing clothes when...well, what do you know, the other pair was just there on top of the dresser. All I could think was, "Oh no, Butch is going to kill me." hahahahahaha. It was there all along. I must have forgotten to put the other one on in my haste to leave the house on time last Friday *innocent grin*

Maybe these series of losing and then finding again must be a sign that it's really meant to be mine (duh? parang love) or that I should take better care of my things or maybe, just maybe, that I'm beginning to be more forgetful? Man, I'm getting old. hahahahahaha

Weekend #27

My weekend was uneventful.

Saturday
7 July 2007. 9:30am. Aero Marathon. Hehehe. I didn't join, I just watched. Saw familiar faces among the contestants, Jake, Cecile, Sue, Ja, Eufie, Lelet. I think the part I enjoyed the most was the cool down session – Belly Dancing!!! It’s such a sensual dance. It looks easy but it’s not. You have to coordinate your stomach and hip movements or else it won’t look sexy. Watching the instructor, all I could think was I wish I could gyrate like that hahahaha kaya lang naisip ko palakihan na lang ng tyan!!!

12:15pm. Gym. Ahhhhh!!! I had the gym all to myself. Since I was all alone, I did not need my DAP so I changed the TV channel from Discovery to MTV AND increased the volume. Just cardio, 40 on the cross trainer and 40 on the treadmill.

Wimbledon. Women’s Singles Semi Finals. Justine Henin lost to Marion Bartoli of France (seeded 18), 1-6, 7-5, 6-1. Marion won all because of Pierce Brosnan. During the post game interview, while playing she saw Pierce Brosnan cheer for her from the players’ box. She’s a big fan of the former James Bond star and she said she was going to be embarrassed if she loses so she stepped up her game and eventually won over Justine *one big sigh*

P.S. As of this writing, Venus Williams won over Marion, 6-4, 6-1, to claim her fourth Wimbledon Women’s Singles title. Meanwhile, Roger Federer has won his fifth Wimbledon Men’s Singles title against Rafael Nadal in 5 sets, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 2-6, 6-2.

UAAP Basketball. La Salle won over UP, 82-61, in the season opener. Nuff said.
Animo La Salle!

Sunday
7:00am. Woke up early. Was still too sleepy to get the newspapers from downstairs so I just got my digicam (my trusty old Casio QV-R51), some small toys that my nephew left in our room, and did some micro/macro picture taking.

12:00nn. Heard mass with my Kuya’s family. I lost my favorite earring’s left pakaw (earring lock) because my niece was playing with a hair clip that she kept “clipping” to my ear. The clip must have clung to my earring that when my niece tugged on it, I felt the earring and pakaw fall. I was able to catch the earring but the pakaw, hindi ko nasalo. When I searched for it, it was nowhere in sight. Must have been kicked/stepped on by the other church goers. Oh well, I’ll just use some other pakaw from my other earrings …sayang, yon pa naman first investment ko when I started working (with a matching ring that I hardly use) *sigh*

PM. Was planning to go to Rockwell with my sister-in-law and the kids, kaya lang something came up that required me to stay home. So, the next best thing to do was take a nap.

Later in the PM. Got pissed off with my Kuya (something about what he said). Arghhhh!!! He proved to be an asshole again…brothers!!!!! #($&@%(&@$(%& @#&*( hahahahahaha

Much Later. Found out Baby Face will be in Manila on 13 October for a concert at the Araneta. Just thought you’d want to know…

My Thursday

Ever since my Kuya sold our Moss Green Corolla (that’s the official color in the registration) it has been a problem for me. Before, I can just use whichever car is available during off the road days (the Corolla ends with 5-Wednesdays and the Space Wagon with 7-Thursdays). Now, since the SW is the only one left, during Wednesday nights, I have to decide whether I should bring a car (therefore leave early to beat the 7:00am number coding scheme) or just commute or have somebody drive me to the office (but the driver needs to be informed the night before). If I decide to bring a car, that means I have to wake up at 5:30am, take a bath, prepare my things and leave before 6:40am (or else I will not make it).

Last Wednesday night, I decided to bring a car. So I programmed my phone’s alarm to go off at 5:30am. Before sleeping, I checked first what’s on TV and I saw the live Wimbledon quarterfinals match between Justine Henin and Serena Williams. I just had to watch. All throughout the game, Justine was struggling with her first serves but because of her solid ground strokes and excellent backhand down the line passing shots against Serena, she was able to compensate her bad service game (she had 7 double faults, while Serena had none). Justine won in 3 sets: 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Wahoooo! When I looked at the time on my phone, it was already past 1:00am. Uh-oh. Got to sleep now or else…

What a beautiful morning --- not!!! It was already 6:30am!!!!!!!!!! I had no choice but to commute and to hurry. Commute means 1 tricycle ride (P12), 1 MRT ride (from Boni to Ortigas) (P10) and a few minutes walk to my workstation. But my story does not end there.

When I got to the office, I found out that I had the car key with me. Grrrr!! So I texted my Kuya to let him know the key is with me and that I’m sorry. (My sister-in-law’s other car is parked inside the garage, with the SW blocking it). He texted back and said it was okay. He probably has the spare key and my sister-in-law will be using her other car. Sigh…what a morning. Did I mention that it rained hard last night??? (You know how much I hate it when I’m commuting going home and it rains...hmmpphhh) So I had to stay in the office and wait for the rain to die down a bit. Around 6:30pm, Bex and Meyri called to invite me to have dinner. Of course I said, “Yes.” Hehehe. At least I won’t be alone.

Because Meyri has a foot injury, she requested to have dinner in Galleria (and also because it’s near her place); Piadina was the hands-down choice. We ordered one margherita pizza, one funghi piadina (mushroom) and one pasta dish that I forgot the name. Myummy!!! Made me miss Piadina in Megamall. Aside from the carbo-loading dinner, we had fun taking candid pictures, sharing funny stories, the day’s boo-boos and office tsismis that night. (Oh, classic Meyri struck again last night, but that will be in another entry.) I could say that it made up for my not so good Thursday morning.

So that was how my day went.

I don't...

...feel well *dry cough* *dry cough*
I think I should have changed shirts when I watched the ladies' basketball last friday. Because I remember after sweating it out at the gym, I went down to watch the game. That was a good 20+ minutes I had that wet shirt on. Yeah, I think that was it.
Then my throat started to itch come Saturday *sigh* and have been coughing ever since. Sheesh! I even went to the gym and played basketball on Monday, and played badminton on Tuesday. Oh, but I rested yesterday but still went home late... *sigh*
You know, I was thinking, if I didn't get that anti-flu shot a couple of months ago, I'd probably be at home, in bed, feeling weak and helpless, and coughing *dry cough* *dry cough*

Lessons learned:

• Change shirts or wear a sports jacket to keep you warm if you have to wait.
• Have your Anti-Flu shots every year (should be done before the June-July influenza season).
• See your doctor
• Rest

You're Disqualified

It's not that I expect to win (wala akong swerte sa mga raffles) but everyone should be given a chance. Gaya na lang nitong Vend 2 Win promo ng Nestle vending machines. Araw-araw pa naman ako bumibili ng kape nila. I cannot join because my sister-in-law works for Nestle. Under the heading "Redemption of Prizes," item F, it states that "Employees of Nestle Philippines, Inc., all agencies, suppliers, partners and sponsors, including relatives up to the third (3rd) degree of consanguinity or affinity are not qualified to join the promo." The raffle coupons are just either given to friends or are thrown away or naka dikit sa CPU ko. Sayang, gusto ko pa namang manalo ng vacation package o ng kanilang gadget wish. Okay na rin sana sa akin manalo ng PSP o ng portable DVD player, o ng SM Gift certificates, o ng Nokia 6020, o ng Canon Digicam, o ng iPod Shuffle. Kaya lang hindi talaga pwede. Baka pag nanalo ako, pag tinanong ako kung kamag-anak ko si R***** V******, at sasabihin ko na "Oo" (ayoko magsinungaling noh!), sigurado ko ang sasabihin sa akin ay, "Sorry po, according to our rules blah, blah, blah, blah. Because of this, you're disqualified." Arghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!