How Gra got her groove back
November 29, 2009I have been in a rut for so long and I just could not understand myself for so long. No matter what I do, there are times when I just don’t want to do anything at all except stare in blank space. I know I have been extremely unfair to myself, to my kids, my agents and friends and I have totally decided to snap out of it.
But how? How can I be my old self? How can I get my groove back? When my 10 year relationship ended a few months ago, a significant part of me died with it. I am actually okay now but I am still feeling the aftermath of the devastation I felt when it first happened to me. Not only did I lost a love I have cherished for so long, I also lost my self-worth and confidence. sudenly, I began doubting myself and I even shy away from those that mattered to me.
I am very fortunate though to have friends who were always willing to listen to me even though I sound like a broken record at times. There were a lot of i-told-you-sos but I know that they mean well and have my best interests at heart. An improved relationship with my mom also helped a lot. The quiet support and understanding I got from my agents was a welcome bonus. They did not know the whole story but they knew I was having problems and never added to it. The joy I always get from my two wonderful kids is undeniable.
But it’s actually my own determination to really move on by getting rid of my demonsthat help me get my groove back. I decided to confront my fears and deal with it. I am no longer in the denail stage. I let go and now I am happy no matter what the outcome is.
Rain, rain go away
I have been very sickly, since we had our teambuilding and I have yet to go back to work. Somehow, my one week rest is making me reluctant to go back to the real world. I am seriously contemplating resigning from my work now.
I believe it was the heavy rains that did me in. On the night that CDO experiend the flood again, I had to help someone push the car and I was very soaked. That same night, I could not report for work since the water was more than knee deep outside the house when it was time for me to leave it.
The office informed me that the shuttle would pick me up, but I told them just to forget about it.
I never realized how awful that flood was until I was browsing through Facebook and chanced upon this picture from Jenalyn Torres’s profile:
Good thing, it is no longer raining. PAGASA though has issued a warning that there is another typhoon coming our way. Would it be too much to ask to spare CDO?
The ABCs of Traveling
November 26, 2009
photo credits by: http://livingwithjoy.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/ibiza/
One way to totally relax is to take a trip somewhere preferably out of the city or even better, out of the country. Like most people, we dreamed of having that grand vacation in places we only read in magazines like Ibiza in
If sky is the limit, always think about your comfort first. Do not think about scrimping on things that will make you comfortable. Don’t go Economy if you can afford Business Class in airplanes. Settle for more comfortable yet pricier seats in trains. Always ride the bigger and better buses for long distance trips. If you have a lot of luggage, always take a cab. Travel during slow season when everything is cheaper.
If you have limited budget, research thoroughly the place you want to visit. Buy your plane tickets during promo. Scout around for cheaper accommodations. Travel in numbers so you can share expenses. Always travel light. Bring only the barest essentials so you wouldn’t have to pay for excess baggage.
Also don’t forget a couple of must haves that you need to bring wherever you go like distilled water, crackers and candies, toilet or tissue paper, baby wipes, common over the counter medicines like Paracetamol and Loperamides. If you are going to the beach, don’t forget your sunblock lotion. If you are going somewhere colder, never forget to pack a couple of coats and scarves.
Do not bring expensive jewelry. They have a tendency to get lost during vacation. It would also avoid calling attention to you.
As much as possible, avoid using your credit cards since it will totally put you way out of budget and will disrupt your purchasing power in the succeeding months to come. Use cash and make sure your wallet is full of loose change. If you need to pay something, try to pay the exact price or pay with bills in smaller denominations.
Most of all, never forget to bring a camera and bring a couple of batteries for contingency. Always take pictures of the beautiful places you’ve been to since you’ll never know if you’ll have another opportunity to visit the place again. Remember, a picture paints a thousand words.
Of debts and loans
November 25, 2009One of the traits that I truly detest but I know I am guilty of is “Keeping up with the Jones”. That mentality is also evident in most people as well. We desire what others have and we want to get it as well using whatever means we have. Because of this unhealthy desire for material goods, sometimes, people tend to live way beyond their means and borrow money from other people even at such exorbitant interest rate.
And it doesn’t stop there. The more we fuel our penchant for whatever our neighbors have, the more we are digging ourselves into deeper and bigger debts. There are so many means where you could borrow money in no time and with less hassles.
Interest rates vary. For banks, they usually charge between 8% to 16% interest per annum. Your friendly coworker’s rate is much steeper at 5% to 20% per month but with fewer requirements than banks. They usually will just get your payroll ATM as collateral.
They’ll earn more when amortizations are delayed! Your original loan of say, 10k will balloon to 25k by the time you are done with your term and it doesn’t stop there. Sometimes, you will borrow from Tom to pay whatever you owe Dick and before you know it, you’d be dreading pay days since it means debating who to pay first.
If you owe your officemates and you do not have the resources to pay them, the best that you can do is to always avoid them. That would be feasible if your office is quite big with a lot of employees but how about in very small office where everybody knows about everybody else’s business? Would you have your colleagues talk behind your back about your bad credits?
I guess it would be easier to ignore banks and lending institutions since you wouldn’t be dealing with them often. However, they play hard ball. Before you will be able to get a loan from them, you’d be signing a lot of papers with them which they will use as evidence when they serve you with demand letters and even worse, sue you for non-payment of loans. Others would publicly humiliate you and publish your picture in leading newspapers. You’ll have your name blackballed in their portal. Banks and Lending Institutions have this association and they tell each other if one person is a credit risk or not.
Be thankful if you’re not yet neck deep in debts. It always pays to live below your means. Also whatever your neighbor has today will be yesterday’s news by the time you purchase it.
Of weddings and babies
November 24, 2009One of my closest friends got married several weeks back and I wasn’t even invited. Huhuhuhu……then I realized I never gave her my new number so how was she to invite me?
Sheila Bones was one of my closest friends when Ex and I started dating. In fact she’s close to my ex as well and they even have an endearment for each other. They called each other “igsoon”. We had a lot of crazy time together. I remembered when she ran away from home and we went to Ozamiz to hide in Lemuel’s place. She was the one having problems but supportive friend that I was, I accompanied her to Ozamiz where we stayed there for almost two weeks with very limited funds. I remembered, she has to leave her things in the boarding house coz our funds were not enough to pay for our bill. I also remembered that her dad came to pick her up.
After that incident, Bones went back to Butuan to continue her studies there but we kept in touch. I would visit Butuan and she and I bonded everytime she was in CDO. The last time I saw her was last year when we had dinner in Butuan on our way back from Siargao.
Til a couple of months ago, I would receive sporadic texts from her then my Smart phone got stolen and my Globe sim got PUKd and I never got the chance to give her my new number.
I was browsing through Friendster when I chanced upon her profile and saw her wedding pics and realized that it’s been awhile since we last communicated. Her wedding was very simple and she looked very radiant and happy. I’m glad that after meeting a couple of Mr. Wrongs, she finally met Mr. Right and tied the knot. I’m so happy for you Bones! I know you would also be a great mother someday!
Paula and Paolo
The radiant bride and the dashing groom
The number of single ladies is dwindling down in my circle of friends. One of my bestfriends, Zen, is also tying the knot in May and I have to look sensational as one of the maids of honor. Little Dion will be one of the flower girls and I’m excited since the wedding will be held in Bohol and it would be my kids’ first time to visit the land of Chocolate Hills.
