Bursting at the seams

Lots of blessings in my life and the life of those I love lately:

• Family is safe and healthy and our home is intact after a terrible storm ripped through my home province. Still there is no electricity and water in some areas and a lot of other people have yet to recover their losses so do pray for them. Mom, really, you gotta stop worrying about the prime beef. I really just want to see you and don't care if I don't get another beef and broccoli dish there.
• Cousin Stein will be done with his PhD soon! And wedding bells may toll soon for him and Melissa... AWESOME!
• The amazing career oppurtunities I've had lately that have given me a renewed interest and passion for the industry I work in. I'm not in the dead end I thought I was in. God's reassurance for this doubter that He knows where He's leading me. The tricky part is whether I follow or not. =P
• Evaluation today. A step up the ladder. The bottom of the bottom of the food chain I am not. Bottom of the food chain na lang. I've paid my dues. Now there's someone else I can ask to proofread and translate. Oh, oh, oh! CODE PLANS be gone!
• Starting to gel with roommates! Never thought that was possible but God has a way of turning things around. Duh.
• Yams-skies is IN! I know that the journey has been hard for you dear but I know you're looking back now and thinking of how fruitful it has been. Aja!
• C is... He just is. Hahaha.

Thank You Father.

Forget Post-it (TM)

Things I absolutely adore and need for my office space and my living space (wherever that may be in the next two months) but will most probably only look at every now and then to remind myself that I am not rich and earning dollars. :(

The life organizer. Sometimes bad things happen to organized people. Be prepared for disasters, both major and minor, with the Life.doc Organizing Binder from Buttoned Up. The Life.doc Binder has eight sections including: Family Basics, Insurance, Legal, Caregiver Information (won't be needing this for a while though), In Sickness & Health (oh, this I do need!), Dollars & Sense (probably what I need most), Emergency Plan and Home Sweet Home

These? Because maybe it will make me feel better about all the files on projects I have...

And this kind of office space except in blue and purple. But since when did corporate slaves have spaces like this? :(

misty eyed

I don't think I'll forget the image of our dear Pastor Bel Magalit raise his hands to heaven, look up with tears in his eyes and saying in a broken voice "I cannot understand how a loving God can allow this to happen"

And then lower his hand and bow his head and say "But I know that He is just"

And so much more...

Amen.

Christ have mercy

The bombings in India...

The typhoon in Burma...

The earthquake in China...

Thousands dead, thousands more missing.

30 things guys should know about girls

Stolen from Angela who stole it from… who cares? The GUY (emphasis intentional) who wrote says he has a lot of experience… again who cares? But I read through it and most of it is GOOD stuff! Fave’s are in blue, comments in violet

1. Whatever you do, don't just show up at their house...they run around in their underwear just like we do

2. DON'T CHEAT ON THEM. It may seem foolproof, but girls tell each other everything about everything. Trust me, they WILL find out and you will be mud. [And do not deny when you are confronted. Coming out or confessing is the better option here]

3. Beware of every single male relative and all guy friends. Any of them would kick your ass at the drop of a hat, and a lot of them wouldn't even wait for the damn hat. [hahaha...]

4. Never miss an opportunity to tell them they're beautiful.

5. Don't refuse to kiss in front of your friends. If they laugh at you, it's because they're jealous.

6. If they slap you hard, you deserved it.

7. Don't be afraid to touch them if you want to. If they're going out with you in the first place, it's because they like being in your arms.

8. If you don't sleep with them, do not tell your friends that you did.

8.5 If you DO sleep with them, don't tell your friends that you did.

9. You can be dirty minded in private, really...most of them are not offended by it...

10. Not all of them eat like birds, a lot of them can eat like whales.

11. Most of them don't mind paying half of everything, but they do discuss these things with their friends. Realize that if you make your girlfriend pay half all the time, everyone will know about it and your friends will know you're a pussy…

11.5 Do you honestly need all your money that much? Be a man, pay all the time!

12. Every girl should eventually get three things from her boyfriend- a stuffed animal, one of his sweatshirts, and a really pretty ring. Even if it's not a serious relationship. [doesn’t have to be a sweatshirt and doesn't have to be a ring]

13. Make sure she gets home safely as often as you can. If you're dropping her off, walk her to the door. If you aren't dropping her off, call to be sure she's home safely. [to be honest, I didn’t know I wanted (neigh, utterly adored) this until someone actually did this for me]

14. If a guy is bothering her, it is your right to beat the shit out of him [even if we believe in nonviolence, we would love to watch]

15. If you're talking to a female friend of yours, pull your girlfriend closer.

16. Never, ever slap her, even if it's just in a joking way. Even if she swats you first, and says, "Oh, you're so dumb" or something, never make any gestures back.

17. Go to a chick flick once in a while. She doesn't care whether you enjoy it or not, it just matters that you went.

18. You're dead meat if you can't get along with their pets, parents, and best friends. Be prince charming to their friends, Mr. Polite to their parents, and make sure to be nice to their animals.

19. Don't flirt with their moms… That's just freaky.

20. Don't be freaked out by PMS. It's not gross, and it really does make them feel like CRAP, so be understanding.

21. If you don't like the way they drive, you do it.

22. If you're officially dating, and you're introducing her to your friends, you'd better damn well introduce her as your girlfriend.

23. Don't stress where you go for every date. They REALLY only want to be with you.

24. If they complain that something hurts, rub it for them without being asked.

25. Girls are fragile. Even if you're play fighting/wrestling, be very gentle.

26. Memorize their birthdays. You forget her birthday and you're basically screwed for life.

27. Don't marinade the cologne, but smell good.

28. Don't give her something stupid for her birthday or Christmas or Valentine's day. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it has to be meaningful. Jewelry is always nice.

29. If you think the relationship isn't going to last, don't wait to find out. It will only hurt you more if you draw it out.

30. After you've been dating for a while, realize that they really have started to trust you. When you have a girlfriend who truly trusts you, you have a lot more responsibility, privilege and control than you would think. Be careful with it, most guys would kill for that kind of power, and it can be lost in a nanosecond

Keeel me now

So Joy showed me her awesome (read Fi-erce!) pictures taken when their church went to the 100 Islands...

And I found myself utterly jealous and miserable. Dude, that amazing place is in MY province! And I've been there twice but never really taken pictures like that and never had THAT MUCH fun.

Why why why? *Bawls*

Hopscotch

Back and forth we go

Trying to stay at square one

With our pennies already on the other side

Hop hop

We laugh

Then another hop back

As I hide my sad smile

Forbidden Expectations

For a movie with Jet Li and Jackie chan, Forbidden Kingdom's plot runs too shallow. Don't expect the storyline, cinematography and music of Hero. The fight scenes are good but at after some times, they begin to wear thin on you. I liked one scene though.

Chan pours and keeps pouring tea into the main character's cup (yeah, can you believe that Chan and Li have only supporting roles int his movie?!) until it overflows. Chan asks lead character Jason (who's so full of himself), "How can you fill your cup when it is already full?" Unfortunately, the meaning was lost on Jason who proceeds to throw his tea. Hahaha...

It's a recurring lesson in my life: You can hold onto your full cup or you can trust and allow it to empty in order to see God do "immeasureably more than you can ever ask or imagine"

Project LIFE Timelines

13 days - until Payday *drools*

5 days - until you know you love me, XOXO Gossip Girl resumes *screams*

2 days - until I move into a new home *frowns*

5.5 hours - until the water supply to our village is cut off for some pipe construction along Shaw *bawls*

2.5 hours - until we meet *smiles*

1 hour - until I'm out of here (office) *woot!*

**Timelines assume that the world is not messing with me.

Surround Me

The people who work at Penshoppe Megamall must think I'm crazy. I love hanging out there. I just stand there in the middle of there store, soaking in One Republic's "Too Late to Apologize" picking out the violins, the piano, and what sounds like a drum but in the music video the guy is beating the top of an electric piano. Speaking of music video, I am hypnotized by the rotating table...

Give me my numbers!

Must say lunch is always something to look forward to. A toast to us ladies for creating sacred lunch hour.

Anyway, today was interesting. Spent a good part of my afternoon and evening figuring out formulas on this template of ours (among other things)... I tell you now folks, I am no math whiz, but I rather miss the days of college when figures swarmed in your head like busy bees. At least I knew brain cells were still alive and kicking. Most days now, I feel like they have gone into hibernation. Today, after initial panic, I embraced the stress if only to know brain was alive.

Last night was even better. *Wink* Tip: At 7Pm on weekdays, head for McDonalds El Pueblo if you're in the Ortigas CBD. All Starbucks outlets are insanely crowded and if you need to have some quality time with someone, McDonalds El Pueblo with their amazing music mix is the place.

Ich liebe dich

Mcdonalds Pearl Drive, when will you open your doors and let us have some of your wonderful fries and fantastic sundaes?

Work news: The boat is sinking BUT I can't jump off it until I get the whole 12 months and a bonus. Panic level at an all-time high but I can't let it get the better of me. Not now when I'm on my 12th month.

Home news: DUDE! It is incredibly difficult to find decent (read as affordable, near my office and ACed) housing. Just the thought of walking the entire San Miguel Ave, not to mention jepp and tricycle ride before walk... Argh! Brain is soup. So if anyone is looking for a place to live in Ortigas or is looking for a housemate (I can clean!!! I'm neat!!!), give me a buzz.

LL news: Uhhh... I realized I need some Expectations Management. Did some work in that area. So last Sunday was good. Had it's share of weird moments (Samahan kita tumingin ng swimsuit) but overall it was some good hanging out.

I feel...

...like I was run over by a garbage truck

...angry, disappointed, frustrated. Talo ko pa ang isang Psych graduate sa galing ko sa pagprobe kahapon na ala In Depth Interview pero wala akong napala. He was the perfect example of the worst kind of respondent to have in a research study.

...sad. Sad for me. Sad for him. Sad for my parents. Sad for my mentors. Sad for my friends. I don't even know how to answer my parents.

...angry at myself because here I am YET AGAIN giving more than I am given, willing to risk my neck while the other person pulls the cord that operates the guillotine, still trying my very best to be a good person and a good friend even if I want to hit him, feeling bad that he's probably feeling bad right now, ang knowing that I may not have the willpower to walk away if he took but one little step towards me.

...grateful for all those who have tried to keep me sane, who've poured out wisdom, who've prayed are are still praying, who have hurt for me, who have gently rebuked me, who basically stick by me and give me hugs and boinkies

...that God will teach me a lot through this but right now, He knows I need to grieve

Circus Freak

"So... Yeah, I thought it would be cool to grow a beard. A girl with a beard! Now that's different! But I won't just stop there. I thought, a beard of scars trumps a beard of hair. So here it is folks!"

Sigh. Third month of acne therapy is the dumps. Absolute dumps.

Sweet!

I'm incredibly happy... and excited.

And terrified. Hahaha...

Didn't think you'd hear that from me eh? But new things are always scary things I am told so I take comfort in the reassurance I'm normal. What I love most about this is how awesome (and painfully humbling) it is to get hit over the head by the "far more abundantly than all we can ever ask or think" line. God is chuckling at this all. And He's not the only one having fun.

And so it begins...

"There is no safe investment. To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken... The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the DANGERS and PERTURBATIONS of love is Hell." -- CS Lewis; The Four Loves

Hurrah!

I bought a pair of jeans yesterday, enough reason for my close friends to celebrate. They're been gently telling me my jeans no longer fit properly. I gave away all my "thin clothes" in a fit of depression over my battle with my weight long ago. So now I've tasted some victory, I have to buy new thin clothes.

But what a victory! I walked into the shop, spotted a good style of jeans and grabbed the medium to try on. I actually laughed in the dressing room! The medium didn't fit well! I asked for the small and that fit just right... WOW! It's been what?! 8 years!!! EIGHT years since I wore a small size!!!

Freak out! Hahaha... Thank You God, clients, vegetables, fruits, and the weighing scale! Now to celebrate with some Kit Kat Cafe Latte! Hahaha...

PS Don't worry, I'm not after skinny. I'm after healthy. Hehehe...

New Book!

I spent a whee portion of my Valentines gift (or so I've come to call my latest salary) on this book. It cam highly recommended and I finally own my own copy to read, highlight and reread like crazy.

Lovely cover eh? LOVELIER CONTENT! Sample:

"It was a rimy morning and very damp. I had seen the damp lying outside my little window, as if some goblin had been crying there all night, and using the window as a pocket handkerchief."

See? What an image! I am quite aware this screams LIT GEEK all the way but I don't care --- I AM UNASHAMED!

A joint review by me and joy is in the works.

On Money, More Chocolates and Michelle Obama

Okay, I threw in Michelle Obama just for fun. Hahaha... But I have to say I feel that she's more "authentic" than Hilary Clinton.

I told God and a couple other people that all I wanted today was for my paycheck to come through. And it did, so I'm happy and it's St Valentines Day, so I guess it's a happy Valentines Day for me.

The M&Ms Dark Chocolate is dogging me every night. It's comfort food already. But I'm trying to steer away from that and steer towards a better source. It's been an uphill climb but the weighing scale needle is staying steady so HURRAH for that.

"Broke up" with someone yesterday. Always sad stuff but in this case it's balanced by this odd feeling that some things really have to break in order for other things to heal. I can't find a sliver of guilt in me which is scary to not find. Screams PRIDE all the way. So hopefully, I can get around to repenting for that. But I can find a strong feeling of knowing that I've given it all I had and that I can't take a step anymore and that even if I did, that faltering step would be meaningless.

I'm no poster child for Christianity. But I realized yesterday that you can take a lot of stuff/people from me... and I believe I will be okay/happy/joyful somehow and somewhere later down the road. As long as you don't take Jesus from me. So good thing that nothing can separate me from His love. These are things that are easy to say when life is good. But I've been through bad patches and I'm still here because of Jesus. And that gives me hope for any bad patches I'll run into.

Pyrolympics 2008

World Pyro Olympics 2008 Schedule

Start: Feb 16, 2008 6:00pm
End: Mar 15, 2008
Location: Bay Area of Mall of Asia,
Pasay City

The skies of Manila will once again
glitter as the La Mancha Group of
Companies bring you the 3rd World Pyro
Olympics 2008. This year’s edition of
the fireworks competition in Manila will
showcase what is considered to be the
world’s best when it comes to Fireworks
craftsmanship and artistry.

The 2008 World Pyro Olympics Fireworks
Competition will be held at the Bay Area
of Mall of Asia, Pasay City, Philippines.

February 16 - China (CN) vs Germany (DE)
February 23 - Japan (JP) vs Australia (AU)
March 1 - Korea (KO) vs Dubai (AE)
March 8 - Italy (IT) vs Venezuela (VE)
March 15 - France (FR) vs Philippines (PH)

Meet Wuji

This pic made my day. It reminds me of someone special. HAHAHA... Insider's you know what I'm talking about it... Notice the "hair"