Idiotic

I am disgusted at how some people just set stupid guidelines in order to avoid complication or additional work.

My team got second pick in the June schedule bid. Naturally, we chose a schedule with weekends off. I’ll skip the crummy details. Middle management just told us that there will be no transition schedule changes. This means that before we can have our weekend off, my team will have to render work for 7 consecutive days, and will not be able to file it as overtime. Even if we could file it as overtime, this friggin rule they just came up with sucks.

Other teams will also be rendering 6th or 7th day work. Why can’t we all make adjustments so that everyone is in a win-win situation? The only reason I could think of is their convenience. Problem solving and decision making is still part of their development plan right? Shit heads. (Whoever came up with the idea anyway?)

Little School

We will be enrolling Ippo in play school today. My baby boy is going to school in June. I am very excited about it. I can’t wait to see him wearing his school uniform and school shoes. I already gave him my tiny Jansport backpack. We just need to pick out a lunch box. I told Denver I want him to have the best lunch box.

I remember myself back when I was in little school and grade school. I needed to have the best looking lunch box or the coolest pencil case. It didn’t really matter what I had inside the lunch box as long as it was “in.” For the pencil case, the more features or openings it had, the better.

If my boy is anything like me, it’s going to be very expensive raising him.

Pet Peeve # 1

I just realized that losing a pen is one of the things that I really hate the most. It put me in such a bad mood when I found out I had lost my pen yesterday at work. It was almost emotional. Like losing a boyfriend you’re really fond of.

My workstation was in chaos after emptying the contents of my bag in search for my black Starbucks pen. Then I remembered that I heard something drop on the bathroom tile just the day before. I looked down on the floor but was too lazy to search for whatever it was, and figured the lady from the next cubicle must have dropped something. Stupid. I should have given the floor a second look.

I’m very protective of my pen. Sometimes I lie and tell my team members I don’t have a pen on me because I don’t want them touching it. I even started to bring decoy pens for them to use. I am secretly annoyed when they have to pick up the good pen. I remember a time when I told one of them my pen wasn’t working. Haha. They had to pick up the decoy pen on my workstation. It’s so silly when I think about it but what can I do? It was on impulse. And I swear I am not like this with other stuff, just with my good pen.

So I went down to National Bookstore after failing to recover the pen from the washroom at my office floor (where I was hoping to see a sign saying “found your good pen, please claim from Gayren”). I hastily picked out a slim silver and gold pen. It looked really nice and expensive, and wrote fine, but that didn’t cheer me up. It has a different feel on my hand. Today, I even handed it over to a team member who needed to sign some papers.

Like I said, it’s like losing a good boyfriend. You can get a good replacement, but it’s just not the same.

DBD, DBD

I meant to post an entry during my 4-day vacation but ended up watching DVD endlessly. I was fortunate to find a copy of Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain at the Metrowalk. The reviews got me interested in this film. I must say that it did not disappoint me. It’s a light film and Amélie’s eccentric character is refreshing. I recommend it to shallow folks like me.

I’ve nothing left of Grey’s. My season 3 DVD only has until episode 17. I really hate that I had to end at mid-season. I wonder how and when I can get the rest of season 3. I miss Preston, Derek, and even Sloan.

Watching Scoop was a disaster. I am always excited to bring home any movie with Scarlett Johansson in it. Midway through the film, the media stalled on me. Now I have to go back to have the DVD replaced. Drat.

Most of my time was spent watching this Korean Drama Series, When Spring Comes. As usual, I was smitten by the male leads. Too bad I don’t speak Chinese. The sub-titles of these Korean flicks are making me crazy. I am able to make sense of everything through the gestures and facial expressions. In this series, I discovered that concentralization is a word Koreans often substitute for concentrate. I swear I’ve never encountered anyone using this word in their daily conversations.

Sherry Baby. The write-up was intriguing enough for me to pick it up from the vendor’s rack. I honestly don’t know whether I should classify it in must see films or struggling/wannabe films. The story is about an ex-junkie longing for a real relationship with her daughter. The usual crap hinders her from realizing this dream – drugs, sexual abuse and every predictable shit that an addict or ex-con can go through once he or she is back in the real world. As for the character, I really pity her. I know there are women out there suffering the same ordeal. I guess the movie has a predictable plot but its still a moving story. It makes me realize how lucky I still am compared to millions of other women who have worse battles to fight everyday. I feel like such a chump now.

Freedom Writers reminded me so much of Dangerous Minds. Idealist teacher tries to make something out of losers. Hilary Swank was never my favorite actress. She came out trying too hard in my opinion. But I guess that was part of her role. Teehee. I just don’t like her, period. But the fact that it’s based on a true story counts for something. It makes it inspiring. I would have enjoyed it minus Hilary.

Cheat n Save

It was payday last Friday. The only thing work-related that I look forward to these days. It’s only Sunday morning and I am nearly broke because of bills!

A couple of weeks ago, I was planning a trip to Greenhills so I could buy this thing that I’ve been obsessing about. I sort of changed my plans as soon as I finished calculating payables for this pay period. A bit depressing but it’s not like I’m not used to it. Besides, I really went overboard with my shopping last month.

It’s been ages since I shopped for myself. One of my goals this year is to manage my money so that I could afford to treat myself. I must say that I am doing well with the “treat” element. Managing my money is the tricky part, and I can’t really say that I am successful.

I am auditing my purchases and I just realized I got too much stuff:

black strappy sandals
brown slip-ons
cheetah print flats
beige flip flops
leather thong slippers
jeans
two work trousers
three bags
at least eight tops
one 100 ml bottle of Ralph Lauren

This list doesn’t even include my beauty products, DVDs, magazines and the little unplanned purchases. No wonder Denver’s credit card is maxed out.

I have this other goal. I want to zero out my credit card debt. I am almost done paying off my BPI credit card but I’ve been using Denver’s plastic. I know it must seem like I’m cheating but I swear that I am more dependable when it comes to paying Denver’s credit card bill compared to paying my own. When it’s my bill, I am too stubborn to even think about the finance or late payment charges.

Because of my recent indulgence, I am prolonging this trip to Greenhills until I am, uhm, financially better? Maybe next pay day then.

I recently read this article about saving. It says that you should delay buying something that you really like for at least two weeks. After that period, the desire to obtain this thing would have decreased (or it would be out of stock, haha). That’s what I’m going to do and I hope it works for me. If it doesn’t, at least I’ll fulfill my heart’s desire.

Kolehiyala Noon, Eh Ngayon?

I’ve been reading this stranger’s blog for a few days now. I can’t seem to get enough of it. I find it refreshing to see how much this person enjoys her friendships.

She reminds me of myself when I was younger (like eight to ten years ago-younger). That was a time when I was so caught up in myself. My life was all about just me and my friends. Breakfast at McDonald’s Greenbelt, lunch break at T.G.I.F. or Area Café Glorietta, night walks at the S.L.V. park, parties at Zu, Fashion Café, Hard Rock, afternoons at Starbucks 6750, movie premieres at Louie's THX, FAB nights… kolehiyala drama. We did everything together back then, and oh, how I loved every minute with my friends. We’re still in touch. We still have so much drama in our lives (does it ever go away?). Things are so much different now. It’s nice to look back at a different me, but I love my life now. Now is difficult, but I love it anyway.

Someone close to me made a comment a few days ago. That person said that I never enjoyed my money ever since I started working. True. I worked because my family needed my support. Not like my peers who work to spend for enjoyment. I admit that sometimes, I wonder how it feels to splurge all my earnings on myself, but I never regret working hard to put my brother in school, to keep my family in an apartment and to place food on the table.

I may never enjoy the feeling of buying a brand new car, but I don’t think that can replace the joy of taking care of my family. I could only sympathize for that person who made that comment. Responsibility is such a challenge for him. I am sad to say that he would be eating my dust if we were in a race. Laughable, but still sad.

I was immersed in "fun with friends" at one point in my life. Like I said, now is different, now is difficult, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery-Shepherd And Besuto Prawn Crackers

Denver and I watched the last two episodes of Prison Break Season 2 today. I must say that I didn’t like how it ended. I’m not going to spoil it for my “PB addict” friends, but after the last scene, I couldn’t help but ask… that’s it? Oh well. It kept me excited for weeks and I am still a big fan even if I did not particularly enjoy the season ender.

Anyway, I feel kind of relieved because Season 3 will not air until August. That means I get to be normal for the next few months, unless I find something else to obsess about. My cousin suggested Lost, but I’m really not into that. But then again, I also didn’t think I would enjoy Prison Break, and I did, so we’ll see. Right now I just want to finish Grey’s Anatomy. I don’t lose so much sleep over it. I try to watch just one or two episodes whenever I feel like it. I think I’ll watch some more tonight since I’ll be on my off and Denver has work. He usually falls asleep whenever I’m watching Grey’s. Typical male.

I like Addison over Meredith. I know that Meredith is the victim being the clueless girlfriend, while Addison is the bitch for having an affair with her husband's bestfriend. I like her best for admitting that she was the one who cheated on her husband and not the other way around. I just admire Addison’s sincerity (not to mention her desperation to win back her husband).

Now that I am pondering over Grey’s, I want to go home and start a marathon. I must remember to get more Besuto Prawn Crackers if I’m going to pull off an overnighter. We've run out since I have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I can't get enough of it.