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.

Sleep Pattern

Recent studies show that the human body doesn't really need eight hours of sleep to feel rested and re-invogarated. They say that all that talk about having at least eight hours of sleep is mostly just media hype.
They say that people need different amounts of sleep but that  most get by on six hours of sleep. One constant advise they give is to go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday.


This week, I have been consistently (but unintentionally) going to bed at around midnight and waking up at around 5AM. Surprisingly, I feel rested -- more rested than getting 6 to 8 hours of sleep where I sleep and wake up at random times. The latter actually made me feel more sluggish. Another thing is that I no longer wish for coffee first thing in the morning.


This is not to say that I'd no longer sleep in during the weekend (LOL!), but I guess it does help to maintain a consistent sleep pattern during the work week, especially when I have tons of things to do and only so much time left for sleeping.

Up Again

It;'s amazing how I'm on the roller coaster ride again. I thought it has come to a stop, but it seems I'm at the roller coaster's peak again.

It's crazy how things get broken down then quickly rebuilt. As Miss C and Miss Battery said, this must be how things are meant to be...our destiny.

What I've been Up To

Just some updates about how I've spent the past few weeks...


Avatar

Went to see Avatar with the Engineer a few weekends ago. Tickets were already sold out at the iMax theaters, and rather than go alone, I agreed to settle for a 3D cinema in Glorietta. Well, the movie was actually good. Nothing new in the theme and I saw no "hidden messages," as the so-called hidden messages were pretty much what the movie was really about anyway.

The movie also showed that science can only do so much. CS and I were talking about cloning and how the souls cannot be cloned. But if the soul cannot be cloned, what becomes of cloned human beings? Are they merely robots? Who would want to be just a clone?

Anyway, apparently souls still can't be cloned even in movies. Even the fictional Na'vi people had to rely on their deities to breathe a soul into an avatar - a mere robot. Makes me wonder again why science is trying so hard to disprove things that are spiritual in nature.

Anoher thing I liked about the movie was that when it ended I felt that it was really the end. There was a sense of a "satisfying closure" that I don't get with other movies where I go "huh?"


O'Sonho

I and a group of girl friends had our supposedly monthly (more like every 2 months really) dinner, and this time we tried the Portuguese resto along Jupiter called O'Sonho. I was really curious about Portuguese food, which Infinite raved a lot about. Well, although O'Sonho's dishes were really a fusion of Portuguese and Filipino, I found the food really superb. I wish I could go back there except that, other than this group of girl friends, I don't really know anyone who's adventurous with food. My family only likes Filipino food. Bo-ring! Anyway, as Infinite says, I guess that authentic Portuguese food is available only in...Portugal :P

Aside from the food, I really had fun hanging out with my girl chums, especially with PrettyLady now joining our dinners. It was just so nice to hang out with old friends and reminisce about the good ol' days -- both about us and other people we know -- as well as talking about the current stuff.. and some girl talk that I didn't expect...woah!

Well, I really enjoyed the dinner and can't wait for the next one. Wonder where SexyMomma will take us next?:P


Cambridge Village

With all the negative news I've been hearing about Empire East Land Holdings, and Cambridge Village in particular, I and the Engineer (She recently bought a unit there) decided to pay the condominums a visit just to make sure that our supposed units are really there and are not just imaginary :P

The Engineer's unit is already done, and it looks really nice. I'm so excited for her. The building that houses my unit is still being completed, but I hope it gets done before June! I'm really excited to move in!

We looked at the model units, and I'm now getting so many ideas on how to decorate mine :) Rather than hire an interior decoratior, I've agreed to let the Engineer take care of designing my unit, for a meager professional fee of P100/ square meter... LOL!

My only problem there is its distance from the Makati CBD. However, it's pretty near The Fort and near Ortigas, Eastwood, and the TechnoHub. I'm sorta thinking about selling the Cambridge Village unit and buying a unit in Taguig. However, Taguig is close only to Makati and the Fort and might be really far from the other areas. Since this will most likely be my permanent residence (until the US visa  comes at least), I do have to consider these things, especially since I might not always be working in Makati.

Anyhow, I think I'll be pretty happy living in Cambridge Village if I don't find a better solution to my commuting dilemma. And no.. buying a car is out of the quesion...LOL!

The One that Got Away

Source: The Manila Times
By: Mark J. Macapagal

(This is a repost of a friend's repost...I think this kinda makes sense...)

In your life, you’ll make note of a lot of people. Ones with whom you shared something special, one who WILL ALWAYS MEAN SOMETHING. There’s the one you first kissed, the one you first loved, the one you lost your virginity to, the one you put on a pedestal, the one you’re with… and the one that got away.

Who is the one that got away? I guess it’s that person with whom everything was great, everything was perfect, but THE TIMING WAS WRONG. There was NO FAULT IN THE PERSON, there was NO FLAW IN THE CHEMISTRY, but the cards just didn’t fall the right way.

I believe in the fact that ending up with someone, finding a longtime partner that is, does not lie merely in the other person. I can actually argue that an equal part, or maybe even the greater part, has to do with the matter of timing. IT HAS TO DO WITH YOU BEING READY TO SETTLE DOWN AND COMMIT TO SOMEONE IN A WAY THAT GOES BEYOND THE LITTLE NICETIES OF GIDDY ROMANCE.

How often have you gone through it without even realizing it? When you’re not ready to commit in that mature manner, it doesn’t matter who you’re with, it just doesn’t work. Small problems become big; inconsequentially become deal breakers simply because you’re not ready and it shows. It’s not that you and the person you’re with are no good; it’s just that it’s not yet right, and little things become the flash-point of that fact.

Then one day you’re ready. You really are. And when this happens, you’ll be ready to settle down with someone. He or she may not be the most perfect, they might not be the brightest star of romance to ever have burned in your life, but it’ll work because you’re ready. It’ll work because it’s the right time and you’ll make it work. And, it’ll make sense, it really will.

So that day comes when you’re finally making sense of things, and you find yourself to be a different person. Things are different, your approach is different, you finally understand who you are and what you want and you’ve become ready because the time has truly arrived. And mind you, there’s no telling when this day will come. Hopefully, you’re single, but you could be in a long-term relationship, you could be married with three kids, it doesn’t matter. All you know is that you’ve changed, and for some reason, the one that got away, is the first person you think about.

You’ll think about them because you’ll wonder, “What if they were here today?” You’ll wonder, “What if we were together now, with me as I am and not as I was?” That’s what the one that got away is. The biggest “What if?” you’ll have in your life.

If you’re married, you’ll just have to accept the fact that the one that got away, got away. Believe me, no matter how fairy tale-like you think your marriage is, this can happen to the best of us. But hopefully you’re mature enough to realize that you’re already with the one you’re with and this is just another test of your commitment, one which will just strengthen your marriage when you get past it. Sure, you’ll think about him/her every so often, but it’s alright. It’s never nice to live with a “might have been”, but it happens.

Maybe the one that got away is the one who is already married. In which case it’s the same thing. You just have to accept and know that your memories of that person will probably bring a nice little smile to your lips in the future when you’re old and gray and reminiscing.

But if neither of that is the case, then it’s different. What do you do if it’s not too late? Simple… find him, find her. Because the very existence of a “one that got away” means that you’ll always wonder, WHAT IF YOU GOT THAT ONE?

ASK HIM OUT TO COFFEE; ASK HER OUT TO A MOVIE. It doesn’t matter if you’ve dropped in from out of nowhere. You’d be surprised, YOU JUST MIGHT BE “THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY” as well for the person who is your “the one that got away.”

You might drop in from out of nowhere and it won’t make a difference. If the timing is finally right, it’ll just fall into place somehow and you know, I’m thinking, it would be a great feeling, in the end, to be able to say to someone, “Hey you, you’re the one that almost got away.”

“Everything happens for a reason…”, said the one that got away.

Keeping the Peace

I've finally attained some peace after weeks of trying to get myself grounded.


Now I'm careful in how I move lest I disturb the peace.


Allow me to bask in it for awhile, for I know this  is just another lull in the storm...

Simpler is Better

This is the slogan of a company where I used to work, and somehow I've tried to incorporate this way of thinking into my daily life.


Whenever I encounter difficult situations, I try to simplify them before I even try to think of a solution for them. And now I'm trying to employ the same principle on how to better handle an endeavor that has long been failing and getting stuck because of the original aim of thinking big and doing things big.


Despite the many who thought that this was the way to go, it just didn't work. We're obviously still where we used to be -- well, maybe we've made a teeny weeny bit of progress, but I can't help thinking that we could have accmplished more had we approached things differently.


Although I'm all for dreaming big and seeing the big picture, I believe that it's better to start small and to take baby steps. After all, isn't that nature's way of growing things?


Similarly, in the efforts to grow the seeds of an ideal, I think it's best to keep goals and expectations small and simple. This way, it will be easier and faster to get gratification from efforts, which can otherwise lead to frustration. It is also a popular belief that there is strength in numbers, that more heads are better than one. But I think that more than the number, commitment and the quality (for lack of a better term) of the minds at work are more important. A bunch of half-hearted wills (again, for the lack of a better term) is really quite useless when compared to a few who strongly believe in the same ideal.


I met with a small group of colleagues in efforts to continue pursuing an ideal, and I must say that enthusiasm is indeed contagious. I hope we can sustain this eagerness, as frustration, discouragement, and the lack of commitment are just as contagious.


With fresh minds joining in and with our optimism rejuvenated, I have high hopes that maybe, just maybe, this time it will finally work.