the weekend that was jul 4-5: overdue

Saturday. Jogging and badminton at Island Cove. Went home to change clothes. Went to SM for some errands. Went home - tv, books, internet. Already asleep by 9 PM (barely slept last night).

Sunday. Jogging and badminton again (I just love weekends like this). Rest, rest, rest. Chat with Ate. Met with my highschool friends Mavel and Orlyn after mass.

the weekend that was jun 27-28: overdue

Nahihilo pa ako sa antok nu'ng gumising ako, but no choice, I have to get up because call time is 7 PM at RCBC Plaza (and penalty is 10 pesos per minute of lateness). Kasi naman, pinilit tapusin ang Pugad Baboy 21, ayan! Hehehe :)

Okey naman ang biyahe, chika-chika lang kami sa van. Dumating kami sa Los Balcones at around 11 AM. Nadaanan namin 'yung Munting Buhangin Resort, I remembered being there around 2005 yata 'yun with my SGV colleagues. Los Balcones is like a private resthouse na I think pinapa-rent na lang habang wala 'yung may-ari. The place is nice, the rooms are cozy at madaming indoor games na pwede i-enjoy. Hindi nga lang siya beachfront, so inasmuch as I wanted to stroll by the shore, hindi na ko nag-attempt dahil baka maligaw pa ako pabalik.

Wii, picturetaking at swimming muna while waiting for our teammates na humabol. Dinner na sila dumating.

Team activities na! First is 'yung may pagka-serious na if you will be left in an island for 3 day, whom would you pick to be with you. (Well, I'm happy to have been picked out by several people because they think I'm an interesting person. If only they knew… Hihihi!) Second is 'yung pass the clay. Third is 'yung gagawa ng nest na kapag hinulog 'yung egg, hindi siya mababasag. Team effort ito! Awarding ceremonies at picturetaking after. Then, tulugan na!

Sunday. I think ako 'yung pinakamaagang nagising, andun lang ako sa poolside, nagsa-soundtrip habang nagte-take ng pictures ng sunrise. Breakfast, ligo, some more picturetaking and goodbye Los Balcones na.

Pics from my camera and my teammates' (Two of my teammates have DSLR cameras. * Inggit mode*)

Madaming tulog on the way pauwi, kami ni Ruffy nagkwentuhan pa about DSLRs (Sigh! I would love to have one!). Nagpababa na ako sa Robinson's Tagaytay to meet Irvin.

Hindi pa bumababa si Irvin so sa parking lot na kami nag-meet at sa kotse na ako nag-change ng shirt (I can't walk around having Chevron logo at my back). We had lunch at Teriyaki Boy, went to Amira's to buy pastries for my teammates, then off we go to MOA for Transformers (again!).

Nakatulog ako sa biyahe, poor Irvin! :(

Having read the movie's storyline, na-appreciate ko na siya more and this time, hindi na ko masyadong nainip. Most of the time, I would say to myself "Aaaah, oo nga…" The key is to not be analytical, 'yan ang masasabi ko.

some of life's paradox

Sad

I was in a state of shock when my colleague-friend sent me a text message about Michael Jackson's death on June 26 morning.

Is that true? Or could it be another hoax?

When I got to the office, I immediately did a research. Yes, it was true.

Well, I am not a super big fan of Michael Jackson, but I am a fan. I have a CD and DVD of Michael Jackson Number Ones and a few songs I've downloaded from the web. In one of my earlier posts, I said that I was memorizing Michael Jackson's song lyrics when I was on maternity leave. I always say to myself that if his concert tour would bring him back to the Philippines, I would definitely watch it.

His greatness as an entertainer can never be questioned. And he will always fascinate me with his emotive songs and distinct moves.

May he rest in peace.

Addendum: I just read a news about Michael Jackson's memorial service, if I get to watch it, I'm sure to cry.

Happy

I got a hold of Pugad Baboy 21 last June 26 at National Bookstore Glorietta. Finished reading it that same day (despite Irvin's reminder that I need to sleep early because of our team bonding the next day, hehe).

Hello

Our team leader got back last July 1 from her 3-week Europe tour. We got a magnet and a keychain and chocolates for our pasalubong. Yipeee!

Goodbye

As I will be moving to a new team, my teammates gave me their farewell gift last July 1. *Sigh* I'll miss them, that's for sure. (Why pillow? Because I'll be moving to a team where WD5 is so toxic that there might be times I would need to sleep in the office.)

thoughts for today

State of focus

To be highly effective in what you do, enter a special state of being that you can create with your own intention. Enter a state of focus.

In this state, trivial outside events do not have the power to distract or annoy you. You simply accept them, move past them, and continue working on what's truly important to you.

In your focused state, there is no hesitation or worry about getting it wrong. You move ahead with steady, persistent efforts, knowing that even the mistakes will lead to learning and improvements.

Always with you in your state of focus is a clear and authentic sense of purpose. The energy to keep going and to keep focused comes from remembering why.

When you are focused you are curious, flexible, and open to new ways of creating value. At the same time, you're able to keep yourself solidly on track toward the specific goals you have chosen.

Enter a peaceful, powerful focused state. And make good things happen for your whole world.

-- Ralph Marston

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Hope fulfilled

It is wonderful to live with hope in your heart. Yet by itself, hope will not accomplish anything.

By all means, hope for the very best. Then put that hope into action. It is positive, productive, effective action that will bring about those things for which you hope. Let hope be your reason to act, and not a substitute for action.

Hope will put your mind and your spirit in a positive place. Hope can strengthen your will for doing whatever is necessary to move forward.

Keep hope alive within you. Treasure it, nurture it, and allow its warm, enriching glow to fill your world.

With your skills, your resources, your commitment and persistence, bring that hope to life. Through your own efforts, be the living fulfillment of the best of your hopes.

-- Ralph Marston

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Thanks for these food for thoughts, Nes!

the weekend that was jun 20-21: overdue

Saturday. I was up early but Irvin doesn't feel well so hindi kami natuloy mag-jogging. Sad! Plantsa the whole day because of 2-weeks worth of laundry, but it's okay. Ironing clothes is my fave household chore! Agnes, coming from her visit to Asian Hospital, visited me :) Yey! Sarap ng muffins, Nes!

Sunday. Jogging and badminton at Island Cove! Yipee! Nagpa-carwash then breakfast sa bahay, chat with Ate. We ordered pancit canton and lumpiang shanghai from Lydia's for our Father's Day celebration. Saw Orlyn and her sister at mass, chika galore! :)

the weekend that was jun 12-14: overdue

Friday. Holiday dapat but since it's WD10, we went to work (although I'm not really in the mood for working). We had lunch at Aveneto. Sinundo ako ni Irvin around 3:30 PM because we need to shop for his clothes. Buti na lang may Father's Day sale sa SM Makati! Nakabili kami ng 5 polos, 2 slacks and 1 black leather shoes. Nakabili din ako ng cute brown dress. Hehehe! Haaay! We had dinner at Luk Yuen at Glorietta 5.

Saturday. I was up at around 5 AM, jogging day today e! Usual Saturday lang - read, TV, plantsa. Was already asleep by 9 PM. (Early to rise, early to bed.)

Sunday. I woke up with my swollen right eye, tsk tsk tsk! Tatay's birthday pero may toyo, hehehe! Mahirap talagang magpalaki ng magulang :)

not so me!

I bought a pair of Ipanema Gisele Bundchen from Agnes (at a friendship rate, of course!). This is with approval from Hubby :) Mwah!

So why is it not so me? Mahal kahit super discounted na, but it's Ipanema so what do you expect? (Haha, talking to myself!)