Weekend Adventures

Just had a long, but fun day yesterday...quite unusual for me on a Saturday. Anyhow, I felt I had a lot of things accomplished.

I was supposed to meet MissEngineer, but as expected (???), we never got to meet at all...LOL. Hmm, nothing new anyway :P

New LCD Monitor

My CRT monitor was about to go out completely. I was so scared and worried the other day coz I couldn't get my monitor to start up when I had some work to do. So before it completely died out on me in the middle of the night or in the midde of some critical work (hate when that happens), I just decided to buy a new one since I was at the mall anyway. I got a 20-inch Samsung LCD. It was quite pricey, but with HSBC's 0% interest promo or something, I decided why not? I'll be watching a lot of movies on my PC, too, so why not get a good-quality monitor? 

Condominium Dilemma

So I've been thinking about selling my Cambridge Village unit to buy another condo unit somewhere nearer Makati. Cypress Towers of DMCI was my prospect, so I went tripping there wth the DMCI agent I met some four years ago. Well, I only felt disappointment at the entire condominium.

For one, I really didn't dig what they call the Neo Asian design. The lines on the walls (whatever they call it) make the place seem claustrophobic for me. The model unit was also very small for its price, and it felt kinda gloomy. I just felt like getting out of there as soon as I could.

The only plus sides were that the unit had a terrace in the master bedroom and that it was nearer The Fort and the Makati CBD. However, I didn't feel at home there and really felt quite uncomfortable. The grounds were also quite unappealing, and they had much fewer amenities than Cambridge Village. It just didn't wow me.

I later went to Cambridge Village to check out the building where my unit was. I was glad to see it was nearing completion, but it still wasn't possible to go inside. I looked at the model unit again, and it instantly brightened my mood. Although I'd seen it before, it still wowed me. It felt more homey (homier? LOL), and I could imagine living there more. It's got more space, too, and the condominium's grounds felt more like somewhere I'd like to just hang out at to get some fresh air or something.

So that's settled. I'd no longer sell my Cambridge Village unit. I'd rather deal with the long commutes twice a day than go home to a cramped place that does nothing to cheer me up. 

Backstreet's Back!

Speaking of getting cheered, I had a perfectly awesome night at the Backstreet Boys concert. Unlike the rock concerts I usually go to where the guitars seem to overpower the singer's vocals, it was good to be at a concert where vocals were the main source of entertainment. Of course, it was also good to watch a group of performers who could sing and dance at the same time. Well, obviously, I have a lot of admiration for these guys.

It was also great fun just screaming and singing along with them. For an hour and a half, I was transported back to the euphoria of the good old days, and all the stress I've been feeling the past few weeks momentarily faded.

The music was great. They had a DJ instead of a full band. But bonuses were that Brian and Howie D. blew me kisses and they, together with AJ, waved at me...so exciting! Brian also gave out some roses to the audience, and during one of the short intermissions, one of the guys from their crew gave me a rose! :)

Admittedly, I would've been more excited about all these 15 years ago...LOL! But I still absolutely enjoyed it and would go see them again and again.

Finally Taking Off!

We recently held the first event for our professional organization after almost two years. Baby steps. Small, but reachable goals. We seem to have found the formula for making things work.


Success is not measured by numbers. In this instance, success is measured by the qualitty of the experience. Overwhelming goals just won't cut it and will only lead to frustrations and eventually to death.. of our will and our spirit...to keep moving forward.


I was just so happy to be around like-minded people who shared my enthusiasm, passion, and ideals -- who believed that small steps were the way to go. I couldn't imagine what we were thinking before -- coming up with such huge plans and huge goals for something that was only starting. On hindsight, it all seems ridiculous now. No wonder it all failed.


With renewed vigor and enthusuasm for our ideals, I can see things only getting better. I'm so happy and grateful for the people I met along the way. This time, I'm staying on this track, and no one can divert me from this direction.


Looking forward to more successes in the future...I know now they're within reach! :)

Ugh!

I had such a tiring week, and I can't understand why despite all my efforts to plan ahead, i still had to scramble in the end. Match that up with being struck by colds and nausea, and that had all the makings of an awful week.

I am a big believer in planning. Knowing what lies ahead helps me better organize the things I do, enabling me to make sure that I allot enough time for each. It seems I've been even busier since the start of this year. I've had to juggle my time among going to the office everyday, working on my freelance gigs when I get home, "leading" (???) a professional organization, spending time with friends and family, and doing errands among others -- oh, and of course, sleeping.

I have a lot of friends -- mostly guys - who say they don't plan ahead, that they take each day as it comes, that they live for the moment. Well, I really can't imagine living this way, and neither can I understand how they manage to live that way.

Sure, it's good to be relaxed and not get all stressed up about everything, but I've also read something that says you should be worried once you feel too comfortable or something like that, and I really believe this. It's when you're too comfortable and too complacent that you're caght off guard, and that can get things really messed up.

I guess it's part of my cynical nature that I make sure I never rest on my laurels. I make sure I'm always aware of the things going on around me in anticipation of possible problems. I never take anything for granted.

The awful thing is that no matter how alert and prepared I try to be, I still can't help falling victim to others' complacency and being the one to suffer for it.

Ugh! If you can't get your act together, can you at least spare me?

Pay It Forward

I learned most of what I know in my work from my mentors -- my managers and some teammates with lead roles. What I appreciate most about my mentors is not really how good they are with their job, but how willing they are to share their knowledge.


I really appreciate it when others help you become a better person by giving you advices and honest feedback. This information is something I take with me even long after the working relationship has ended. It's amazing how even mentors from afar can leave their mark in my being through the knowledge and wisdom they've imparted with me.


One such mentor has been coming to mind lately. She used to give me a lot of tips on how to handle certain situations and how to improve the way I do my work. She constantly gave me the same advvices and reminders throughout the years that I've known her that I didn't realize they have become a part of me.


I used to take the things she told me for granted just because there really wasn't any opportunity to use or apply them. I didn't realize, however, that I've been putting those advices to good use recently.  I just realized it when I started hearing myself talking like her whenever I share the same tips and advices with others. The amazing thing is that I don't even have to struggle to remember these things. I just do them naturally (probably because of hearing it so much for so long?), and I find that following these advices makes me feel empowered and confident.


I recently thanked her for all of the things she imparted with me, and her advice this time was to pay it forward, to also share with others what I have learned. Another awesome advice, and one that I totally agree with. I am totally in favor  sharing what I know with others. You sort of replicate yourself this way as opposed  keeping what you know to yourself for the fear that you might become dispensable. The latter, I think, is selfish and does not promote any growth.


A good leader, I think, is not one who has all the know-how because these thngs can be learned from books, and not one who just helps you in the moment by addressing a particular concern. I think that a good leader is one who can help you become a better person above and beyond what your job calls for and who truly cares about your development as a person and provides you with the guidance you need.