January 18 - 24, 2010: Strange Cravings

I lost about ten pounds in the last couple of months not from any physical regimen or strict diet. I simply lost the appetite. Ironically, it was a season of celebration and food was everywhere. I just didn't bite into it. Thank goodness...... This may be part of the reason why I never really put on the weight. I can easily gain weight but lose it just as easily. In the past few years, however, I noticed that I don't lose the pounds as quickly as I did in the past. Age indeed slows down metabolism.

I am not dieting, never had..... maybe choose certain food over others. When I don't have the appetite, I crave for simple food... really simple devoid of any fanciness. My favorite comfort food is boiled egg that is cooked just right..... not too hard nor liquidy soft with yolk bordering on yellow orange, not yellow. It's actually boiled egg that just set in..... it jiggles once the shell is removed. It's not an easy task to boil this egg. It posed quite a problem for my helper everytime I request for this fare whenever I don't like the food prepared at dinner. One time, she consulted MIL who came up with a formula. As I was happily eating my egg, MIL revealed to me the secret formula..... She counted up to 150 right after the water with the eggs in it started to boil demonstrating even the pace of the count. I almost choked on the egg.

This week I reached a point of satiation on the eggs and I would just not like to have it anymore, not see it or even hear it. I still have not regained my usual appetite which is a good thing. My cravings nowadays are convenience stores fares .... food served or rather, available for picking up at the shelf (because it's unlikely that the shopkeeper will fuzz over you) at Mini Stop and 7-11 in particular. These food are actually microwaveable TV dinners and they are now available to us. These convenience stores used to be just like sari-sari stores of old selling basic commodities that we need on those times. But they have evolved into an all-around shop that caters to our every need because times call for it. The emergence of call centers must have contributed to the resurrection of convenience stores.... just look at how many are being established at each corner of commercial districts. These establishments have also been refurbished and enlarged to accommodate customers who want to dine in or hang out.

At Mini stop, my favorite is their hot chicks which I always order with rice. I got introduced to this to this fare by my students who share the same liking for this food. I used to fight off hunger to have dinner at home. But it's a losing battle whenever my cravings are acting up. Lately it always has.... The aroma of the crispy chicken nuggets dipped in hot spicy gravy is just too much to bear for this moonlighting craver. This week I had it both times I was in school..... bad!

I also would discover by accident another would-be-craving. Sometime in the week, I left the office hungry and would like to take a bite. I was looking at my options..... the siomai, HK-style noodles, or shawarma which I get at the street kiosks where I take the bus going home. They used to make my mouth water and from time to time form part of food of my queer desire. But not this time..... I am tired of these fares and I want something else. I remembered the newly-opened 7-11 near my office. I decided I would go there. I was thinking of hotdog or franks. Indeed, I went to 7-11 and was surprised to see a number of hungry commuters like me taking refuge in the pleasant looking outlet. I decided to eat there. I ordered hotdog sandwich and french vanilla capuccino which I saw on a signage on the counter. Unlike in Mini stop, it was totally self-service here. I was fumbling as I was putting the hotdog inside the bun. I made it though. I nearly burnt my hand filling up the disposable cup with steaming capuccino. I sat and enjoyed my hotdog and capuccino. The capuccino was good that it would fuel yet another craving for me. I had it my mind until the next day.

I decided to do something about it. I called my friend and invited her to lunch at 7-11. I told her I'll treat her for a cup of capuccino. That must have been a good bait because she agreed. I actually didn't care much about the food. I ordered paksiw na lechon with rice and my friend had tapsilog.... These are microwaveable ready rice meals. We enjoyed our tete-a-tete over our capuccinos.

I finished the speech with nary a word from the boss or the people ...... Silence was the response to my work. Either it was a perfect job or it was junked....woohoo! Worse that could happen is my work could be given a fancy repackaging and claimed as someone else's work. It is not actually a remote possibility. Stranger things have happened in this office.

Over my cravings and thoughts on plagiarism, the weekend came. I happily alternated between resting and doing errands. I am looking forward to the next weekend.

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January 11 - 17, 2010: The New Becomes Old

The new year feels old on its second week. The honeymoon period is over. There is no turning back nor stopping it. Yet, somehow you still feel attach to the old..... Like when you write the year on dates of transactions with banks or dates on reports, I am predispose to writing the old year. Well. I have written that year for the last 365 days. Writing a new year takes getting used to.......

I was assigned a speech to write for the Secretary this week for an upcoming Department-wide activity.... just as my lazybone was just about cracking out of hibernation but not really out of it yet. It was not exactly unexpected as I have been given the unenviable task before. In one such assignment, the Secretary raved about how much he liked a speech I wrote. That makes me a natural choice for this assignment.

I have been slacking off writing lately. My blogging suffers. The initiative is just not there..... I thought that pooling my daily journal into a weekly thing would free up time for me to write on things I really care about because there would be less pressure. It backfired..... I used to be able to manage writing a daily post and at my worst be two days late tops. Now, my posts are three week late. Blame it on my lethargy fueled by the cool weather of the Christmas season .......or more correctly my laziness.

It might take a jolt to to rekindle my fire. I think I work best with pressure. Be it school or office work or a hobby or errand, I accomplish a whole lot more under pressure. This would explain why I have to pile up or bunch together activities. I am sure I would do something about it but right now, I just like to get back on track.

On a personal note, this week saw some old wounds reopened due to an altercation between family members that turned ugly. I have not spoken to one of the protagonists for a long time and it just validated whatever animosity I have for this person with this latest caper. What's worst is that this person has the nasty habit of letting anyone who care to listen into the whole mess dragging innocent people in the process. The other protagonist would confide to me how he pities the other inspite of the strained relationship. Sadly, this other person can easily put on a sheep's clothing in front of other people. This person also gravitates towards people who welcome intrigues and controversy and take pleasure in other people's pains and misfortunes. Well, predators of the same mold hunt for the same prey.....

It seems like the new year would soon be just another year. We would keep on getting the same hits, the same misses, the same crap ....... Even if the new year takes time getting use to, it loses its novelty in time and we will all fit into a pattern of ease.... and just like old habits, it becomes familiar......

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January 4 - 10, 2010: Fresh Start

After my luxurious treatment at the spa, I am ready to face a new day on a new year.....

I am hoping that feeling good at the start of the week would somehow rub on people and things you encounter. It's a brand new year, a brand new week, a brand new day..... I was feeling good going to the office.

Last year's change in schedule proved hard to hurdle. I face the same challenge every morning. On some days, I would succeed...other times not so. I notice that I am coming to the office much earlier than my previous record. I see this as a small step that leads to the right direction. I just have to try much harder each day.....

Part of the reason I arrive in the office earlier is the change in the mode of transportation I have been doing since the last months of last year. I cannot battle with the monstrous traffic in SLEX. I studied my options and tried and tested all sorts of combinations of vehicles when I commute to the office. The uncomfortable jeepney ride to Alabang and the ride in the spacious bus (provided you sit in the middle of a three-seater or beside the window) would be the fastest route to my office. I have been making use of this route more often than not. I noticed that a number of my co-riders in the shuttle service in the village have been doing the same. Could it be because of the shorter travel time or just hard times? The fare is much lower with the public transport system.

I have been thinking a lot about my passion lately. I have been enjoying mingling with my pets. The long vacation gave me the time to reflect on the kind of life I would like to have in the immediate future. My mindset has somehow changed about the kind of things I would do when I finally decide to retire for good. I retired prematurely early on in my career thinking that I want to live a quiet life at that time. It proved to be an undoing and I had to reenter the corporate jungle another time. This time, however, I am yearning for a peaceful existence. It feels like I have been inching closer and closer to my dream....

The year is still young. I would like to face sunrise as each day unfolds and see through the day every time the sun sets......

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December 28, 2009 - January 3, 2010: A Toast to a Brand New Year

It sucks that I had to go to the office on Monday disrupting what is supposed to be part of the Christmas season. I don't mind not having to benefit from holiday economics any other time but this time P/GMA should really be declaring the entire Christmas season as one long holiday for the benefit of the lazy bones. Of course, it's not gonna happen. Holidays are very bad for the economy.... But isn't tourism part of the economy too.... so with consumption......

Being the responsible adult that I am supposed to be, I reported to work not only on Monday but also on Tuesday. My mind was on anything but work though. Thank goodness, school is off. I consoled myself with the thought of a long holiday beginning on Wednesday.

Miraculously, I started feeling good as soon as the long holiday started..... which is actually good as I want to exorcise the bad vibes and karma of the past year and start with a clean slate.

On new year's eve, we went to hear mass. Then, we feasted on our Media Noche. As midnight drew near, we went out to join the neighbors in welcoming the new year. Firecrackers turned the neighborhood into a virtual warzone even if the fireworks appear to be getting smaller each year. As midnight stroke, we would be toasting to a brand new year with our neighbors. Kids and even oldies would be jumping up and down in the hope of getting taller or perhaps to symbolize aspiring to get closer to one's goals. As the firecrackers died down, we would get back into the house with empty wine bottles and wine glasses.

Before finally hitting the sack, I started sending my greetings to friends and foe on my phonebook. It might be worth mentioning that I seem to have mended fences with a bitter enemy..... I hope I did. She actually initiated the gesture by sending me a an unexpected gift before Christmas. I was actually taken by surprise with her gift but felt good about her gesture. I had to thank her which she acknowledged. She was among those I sent greetings to on this new year's eve and she greeted me back. Could this be the start of a new year for us?

I had to finish off the weekend with a feel good day at the spa before I go to work the following day. The spa has a promotional offer on its services and i just have to avail it. Carting MIL and MD, we trooped to the spa for a pleasurable time. MIL was given with a gift certificate at the spa by the kids. I gave her another treatment as my gift. MD also availed of a number of services. Of course, I had the most treatments and services. Well, I deserve it. It took us all of seven hours to complete all treatments and services but it felt very good afterwards. I swear I could skip dinner to avail of more services but MIL and MD were probably raring to go home.

With an eventful week, I am ready to face a new day on a new year...........

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December 21 - 27, 2009: It's Christmas Time

This week marks the most awaited event for Christiandom, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

At home, I hurriedly spruced up our home, brought out the Christmas curtains, put up the remaining Christmas decors which we have not yet put up in the weekend when we started decorating the house. I was just supervising and our helpers were the ones who put up the tree. I am not sure why I am not as enthusiastic as before in decorating the house for Christmas. I told MD that I am getting bored with the old decors. I actually bought additional trimmings for the Christmas trees and some wreaths. Somehow, our home looks festive enough for the season this week.

There is still work in the office but it's the start of the Christmas break for school....ya'y. Going to the office becomes a drag as people's minds are on parties and celebrations.

After office on Monday, my friend V....... and I together with another college classmate went to a party with batchmates at a diner in QC. It's good enough to see old and not so familiar faces anymore. It was a party for three batches which somehow made the affair a little uncomfortable for some. We don't know each other. The consolation was that everyone brought home raffle prices.

On Tuesday, I had to squeeze in shopping for the food packs we distribute to carolers and kids who roam the village on Christmas day.

I had plan to meet up with two friends, one has been long lost, on Wednesday, which went awry. I went home disappointed because I was in party clothes looking forward to a night of fun.

Christmas eve was spent preparing for Noche Buena. MIL was at the helm. I have been so lazy preparing meals lately. I am also not feeling well. We went to hear Midnight Mass in the village chapel. We partook of our Noche Buena. Afterwards, everyone went to bed.

On Christmas day itself, we are expecting hubby's brothers and their family. MIL would be at the kitchen supervising the cooking. I spruced up the house and put on some scents for a Christmassy air. In time, my two BILs would arrive with their family. My youngest brother and his family would also visit as they were not able to go home to his wife's province. There would be dining and some drinking; chatting, and laughing.......... until it was time to go.

In the weekend, we had the traditional family reunion on hubby's side again in QC where there would be gift-giving and kids and anybody without a source of income or those with less which would include the senior family members, household helpers, drivers would line up for money. Earning family members would serve as Santas giving money to those who are lined up. When the party is over, kids are observed to be in high spirits smiling sheepishly with their loot, I mean aginaldo. The designated Santas, on the other han, look like they have just been robbed.

As a country known to spend the longest Christmas season, our celebrations with families and friends would attest to this observation. However, let us not lose sight of the reason for the celebration. Tis the season to be jolly because Jesus Christ, our Savior, was born.

Merry Christmas to One and All!

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December 14 - 20, 2009: Celebrations

It is a crucial week for everyone as this is the week that school requirements have to be completed before the long Christmas break. Some of my students are going away while I relish the thought of staying home for the holiday. It was to be a long and difficult week for everyone as midterms have to be given before we can party on Saturday which was set so as not to conflict with school skeds. As always, students openly talked about my nose-bleed causing exams like I wasn't there during the exams. Prior to the exams, I distributed my Christmas gift, an erasable ballpen, to the delight of my students. The objective portion of my exams should be strictly no erasures. The pen practically invalidated that rule.

We had our institutional party in the office in the middle of the week. It was to be a modest celebration due to the recent calamities that have befallen us. A mass was celebrated followed by a simple merienda cena. The main event is the recognition night for outstanding performers in the Department. If last year was marred by cheating, would this year be any different?

For one, the leeches in cahoots with the HR office are still actively involved in the selection process. As to how this happened beats me. We are supposed to be a planning office, why are we doing HR work! As to why the higher ups are letting this happen is beyond my understanding. Maybe, they just don't want to rock the boat.

What is to be expected with them at the helm? They can't win another time I am pretty sure of that...... sobrang garapal naman niyan if they do it again. But I am sure they will ensure that their friends (if they have any) or those they hob-nob with for favors would win.

Actually, I left the party early pretty much like last year. Rather than subject myself to aggravation, I indulged in therapeutic window shopping at nearby World Trade Center, the biggest bazaar you could find. Similar to my experience last year, I breezed through the entire bazaar aisle to aisle in record time. Inside, I would see familiar faces from the party and we would nod in silence acknowledging each other's presence and smile as we seal a compact of silence about each other's absence from our celebration.

I would have classes in the evening..... I had no plans of buying anything unless it really is a good find. There is an ATM inside WTC which makes shopping so tempting. I intentionally did not bring enough money but just the P800 in my wallet to avoid shopping. However, the pull of merchandising with all the wares displayed is too much to bear for a recovering shopaholic. I was down to my last P30 pesos that a booth owner was trying to still fish from me.... just enough for my bus fare to school. Still, I have not seen the entire center so I hurriedly scoured the last remaining aisles. I found another interesting item, wind chime, which I collect. I haggled with the shopkeeper and she gave me a good price. I told her I have to withdraw money and will be back. When I reached the ATM, there was along line of people queuing for more shopping money.

This time reason prevailed....... I had to forego buying the chime or I will be late for school. I left whimpering because I missed my chance. I rode a bus going to school and paid my fare with my last remaining money. Reaching Makati, I had to withdraw money from the first ATM that I saw. I went to school like nothing happened. I proctored my midterm exams and went home immediately after.

The following day I had to take some time off work to give my midterm exam for the other subject.

MS celebrated his birthday on Friday and I took a leave from the office. They are having their Christmas Party. Like in previous years, I brought some food to add to their Christmas fare. MS is given a portion of the party for his birthday celebration and his classmates would gladly oblige. I would try to be as invisible as possible taking pictures during their party.

We went home afterwards. We have actually hatched a plan with his sisters. We would be going to the Noel Bazaar at WTC in the evening and have dinner somewhere. MD had her cheer-leading practice and we have to wait for her. It was early evening when the kids and I headed for the Noel Bazaar.

I thought it was going to be a pleasant experience but the kids were exhausted from school work, practices, and the parties. They were grumpy once we were in. We did our shopping just the same but not as enjoyable as what we had at Cuenca Ayala Alabang. It was almost 11pm when we finished shopping and headed for the exit.

We still had one more thing to do..... have dinner to celebrate MS's birthday. At that time, there are aren't too many choices. We agreed to stop at any resto that is acceptable to everyone. As we near home, the restos are all close. Except for the 24 hour fastfood restos, there is not much choice. We initially agreed on chowking until i thought about the tapsilog inside the village. When I mentioned it, the girls' eyes glimmer with delight. MS was sleeping and was not a party to the decision.

We came to a stop at the tapsihan inside the village. It's nothing pretentious but the usual tapsihan where you sit, get served, pay, and leave in an al fresco setting. We took our seats and ordered tapsilog, of course. My mouth is watering as I recall the experience. MS ordered hotdog with egg. He hasn't quite acquired Mummy's and the girls' exquisite taste for the ordinary. The service was fast. We ate equally fast. I paid our meal. Soon, we were on our way home. Tired and sleepy, everyone retired to his and her own rooms.

The following day, a Saturday, my dam, Hershey, has been showing signs of whelping since morning. I was nearby to give her a hand. Everyone is watching her. Hours passed and she still has not whelped. I was worried that she will do it in the evening. I would be attending our school party. I briefed my helpers on what to do in case she whelped.

I did my usual chores while waiting for Hershey to whelp. By late afternoon, I got ready to go to my party as I repeated instructions on assisting Hershey. I was about to go when my helper called out to me that Hershey's pup was already coming out. Good timing Hershey, as usual. I expected I would be delayed and made calls to several people as follows:

a dog buyer I am meeting in my office prior to the party
a couple of friends who will hitch a ride with me to the party
the vet to tell her to be on stand by

As I do this, Hershey wouldn't whelp like the other times i assisted her. The puppy would not come out. I decided to tell the vet to come over. While waiting, I was still assisting my dog. In my party clothes, I was slumped on the floor cajoling my dog to push as we rubbed her tummy and I pulled her thingy. The vet was caught in traffic. After more than two hours, the first pup came out..... alive. Thank God!

People were calling me. I kept telling them i would be out as soon as one pup is out.... but I couldn't leave. I told the dog buyer that maybe she should just proceed to my home. Luckily, she agreed. Soon, the second puppy was coming out. It was breech.......... oh no. Hershey had a hard time. I was so into it myself. I asked MD to call the vet to update her on the status. After much effort, the second puppy came out........ but he's gone. It felt bad because I saw that puppy moving just minutes ago.

Soon, the dog buyer came. I had to meet them somewhere in the village. I brought them home, settled our transaction, and they left with the puppy.

The vet was already at my house at this time. and I could breathed a sigh of relief. One more puppy came out.... alive. I told the vet I had to for to the party and excused myself. I am confident that Hershey is now in good hands so I can leave.

I thought about the best way to get to the venue and decided not to go through SLEX expecting bad traffic there. I took airport road instead and went out to Roxas Boulevard and entered EDSA. Luckily, I was right on track. The whole trip including weaving and maneuvering took just about an hour. Along the way, I would text our administrative head to include me in the grand raffle where a TV set is the top prize telling her I was on the way. I actually felt I had no chance of winning based on previous experience but still I had to make sure I am in the raffle for the heck of it.

The party was almost over when I arrived. People were assembling their loot, I mean gifts. One would get a huge box to put all his gift. I was given one gift as a consolation for my effort in getting there. I joined some games and group photos and had a quick bite. Soon, guests started leaving. I was among the last to leave.... just so I could spend some more time or my party clothes would have not been optimally used.

Going home, I drove leisurely thinking about my day. When I got home, I saw Hershey nursing her new-born pups though our glass door. I thought I saw two pups and when once I got inside I saw four puppies happily sucking away.......... It was a sight to behold.....as once again, a circle of life begins......

On Sunday, I was too tired for anything else............. But I had to fetch our pom, Poochie, from the vet's clinic. She gave birth to two pups who died eventually early this week. It's her first time to whelp. We were saddened but thankful that Poochie is alive and well.

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December 7 - 13, 2009: Tyangges and Bazaars

All of us have to do shopping for gifts for friends and others this week. Shopping for family members happen just a few hours before Christmas. Next week will be the last week for school and there will be parties all over town.

I am actually cramming too....... preparing my lessons and midterm exams. There has not been enough time to cover more lessons and it is harder as some requirements were missed. Our midterm exam is scheduled next week. In this mode, I should work efficiently and very, very quietly to get things done. As Christmas approaches, work in the office would take a lull. I was actually surprised to receive an email from the boss and later from my colleague asking for a report.

In the weekend, I would go to the bazaar in Cuenca Ayala Alabang with the girls on Saturday night and my son on a Sunday evening. We had to do it separtely due to conflict of sked. MD wanted to study on Sunday. During my date with the girls, we had to rush with our shopping because it was 30 minutes to closing time. The girls and I went separate ways to cover more areas. Some booths were already closed and some were closing but would still accommodate customers. Even with the little time and just a handful of booths opened, the girls were able to complete their shopping. I bought some DVDs and MS's exchange gift.

The following day it was MS's turn. He said he needs to shop for some more gifts for his friends and favorite teachers. Initially, ED was coming with MS and but decided not to. So it was just MS and I. We had enough time so we shopped leisurely. At some point while waiting for a gift that has to be personalized, MS and I had dinner. Surprisingly, MS liked the adobo flakes that I ordered for him. At home, he wouldn't touch anything adobo.

After shopping, we went home contented with our finds. MS was so pleased with the tyangge experience that for the first time he asked if we could do it again. I promised him we'll visit another time.......

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