On Midway of 2020

Numerous mishaps has transpired namely the closure of a business, the explosion of a volcano, the accident of mother hen, KB's death and of course the corana global pandemic, to name a few. The world is in a disarray and it is only the midway of 2020! People have no choice but to adjust to the current phenomenon.

Despite all this I am grateful that:

1. I STILL have a job

2. My family and love ones are healthy

3. Chance to attend online meetup/conferences

Yes, too many nasty events has transpired and no one can go back and make a brand new start. However, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending for the new normal.

Let's do this!

On WFH

I am grateful to have the opportunity to WFH after my ML. Despite the challenges of watching a baby and working I am thankful for my working arrangement. It allows me to spend more time with my LO and experience her milestones first hand. 

Then this global covid-19 pandemic happened. WFH felt different. I put pressure upon myself to do more due to the fear of losing my job (which I know is secured). I registered numerous conferences and meet-ups (which I normally would not have attended due to logistics) as they shifted online. I tend to take lesser breaks and cannot seem to differentiate work and leisure. Now I am exhausted and want to go back to the office at least once a week. 

Then I read...  You are not "working from home", you are "at home during a crisis, trying to work". 

This is important to realise as even I'm struggling and I have been working from home for almost a year.

Time to step back and alot time for self-care. 

On Restart

Well hello dear world!

How far was my attempt to 100 posts?

3! lol

There are no failures, just learnings.

So let me try again.

On One Push Wonder

 Last Friday morning when I got up I felt a gush from my privates. When I checked my pad there was a good amount of blood discharge. I thought it was normal to have some blood so I was not that alarmed and knowing I had  MW appointment at the three quarter where I could ask about it.

Before leaving for my appointment I called mom to catch up and told her about the blood situation. She advised me to mention it to the MW. I also asked her how would you know if you are about to give birth. She said you will feel contractions. In my mind I was thinking... what is a a contraction? Apparently the back pains I was experiencing was the start. I thought it was just my wonky back acting up again. 

At around 5pm when we got back home I tried to sleep off the pain but no luck. I would get up due to pain and ask husband to massage. I tried to sit on the ball and it did relieve the pain but for a short period only. After having salmon for dinner, dear husband prepared a warm bath. It was good in there but of course I could not sleep in there.  

After bath I decided to monitor the so-called contractions. Husband asked if I want to all the assessment line. I answered that maybe I am overreacting. I tried to sleep it off again but to no avail so I agreed to call the assessment line. The person who answered advised us to sleep it off. I asked if I could use the tens machine to relieve the pain yet sleep was no where in sight. At this time I had to rush to the toilet every so often and there was blood. So husband called Rosie to explain the situation. and finally the lady told us we could come in. I guess my my shouting at the background did the trick.

The car journey was the longest I had in my entire life. It was gross. I peed myself. I had my eyes close 95% of the time. I was shouting for the Lord to help me. I was calling for my mom. It was torture. 

I looked ugly when we finally arrived the birth centre. While checking in I had to interrupt the small and mentioned I felt something between my legs. MW asked to pull down my trousers. Oh it was a head! She asked me to go on the bed an push. One push and hello dear LG!

Grabe! What a miracle! How the body knew what to do! We almost did not make it tbh. Too bad I wasn't able to experience the birthing pool, set the music and play with the mood lights. That aside, I am beyond thankful for the smooth (if you could classify it as such) delivery and my healthy and complete hunny bunny.

On Six Months

Six months since I relocated to an area where the weather is one of the main small talk topics. Who would have thought that I would find my tropical bum in this side of the globe? Certainly not me who prefers the heat anytime over the cold. Luckily there is a human heater to keep me warm. Other than desperately trying to adjust to the weather numerous things have transpired. 

I moved here and my initial goal was to maximise being a homemaker and quickly settle in for the remainder of the year. I had a good start; the house was starting to look and feel like a home and found things I enjoy - basketball and ultimate. These sports were good entertainment/distractions as it was a venue to socialise and exercise. But like most cases, things do not always go as planned. Less than a month and we are already expecting! Two months in I started a part-time job as a result of boredom. 

Oh life! You are truly one great adventure. Bring it on.

On Being Better

Don't be angry with the people who are smarter than you--it isn't their fault. Don’t be angry with people who are slow in catching up, they need your help. Don’t be angry with the bashing in social media, they are just mere opinions. Don’t be angry with those who are angry at you, you cannot control them. Just preserve your energy and concentrate on doing better and being better.

On Surprises

Wishful thinking and slight deduction and there he was.

I knew it!

On Teenage Years

We were just friends that spoke like lovers and that seemed enough for two teenagers who were scared to love one another. 

On Processes

No matter how efficient your processes are, if people running these are not trained and lack integrity, something is wrong.

On Savage

3 girls and 8 boys
Up against a whole classroom
Tell me whats savage

On 12 to 4

Running up and down
going with the flow of things
underneath the sun

Skin getting darker
feet burning,  shrugging it off
for the love of disc

On 100 Days

Let me try to write
something random everyday
for one hundred days

Let me test how far
my scant vocabulary
endure this challenge

On Small Talk

Have you ever tried to start a conversation with someone you have not spoken to in a long while? Then you notice that they do not make any effort to participate in the small talk. Suddenly it hits you. You realize that things are not the same. Things have changed and it would probably be better to let go. People come and go... Even the ones you thought you have shared noteworthy experiences. It is sad but change is the only constant thing.

On the Cock

Today is a special non-working holiday due to the Papal visit. However, given the nature of my profession I have work to attend to even if it should be a day off. As a trade-off I could work from home since technically I should not be reporting to the office. As usual, my VPN acted up and I had to call technical support.

While the tech support was troubleshooting my VPN issue, he suddenly blurted out: "Is that an actual cock?". Initially I thought he was talking to his peers and he forgot to put his mic on mute. Then it dawned to me that his inquiry was directed towards me! My neighbor's rooster was making its Tiktilaok sound again!!! Apparently I got so used to the sound that I didn't notice! Oops!

On Good Posture

To amaze or keep myself awake during Misa de Gallo, I watched my posture. I made a conscious effort to sit straight and stand tall all throughout the duration of the mass. However, there were instances wherein lack of sleep got the best of me. 0:) 

This little game of mine did not end during the novena. It carried over outside the chapel. I had dinner with my former colleagues turned friends. One asked what my height was and checked if I was in heels. When she stood beside me we were almost the same height. All along I thought she was not only bigger but taller than me. Apparently good posture and keeping fit make one look taller than reality. 

On Acceptance

There are things I miss that I shouldn't. 

There are things I don't miss that I should. 

Sometimes we want what we couldn't. 

Sometimes we love who we could. 

Acceptance. 

On Increase

A raise is a raise
No matter how high or low
Please be contented

It is prorated
October to December
I must be thankful

Come to think of it
If I multiply by 4
Rate is not that bad

Be optimistic
Always remain positive
Hardwork will payoff

On I'm Not That Girl

Hands touch, eyes meet
Sudden silence, sudden heat
He could be that boy
but I'm not that girl

On Bad Service

We were craving for Japanese food so we decided to try out Akira at Shang East wing. We heard it was good based from the feedback of my aunt who ate there 3-4 times during her 3 week visit. We were excited to try their bento due to her recommendation.

Taking into consideration that it was the day before Christmas we called up the restaurant to make sure it was open. We were happy to find out that they were open so we made a reservation for a party of six. Apparently there was no need to make a reservation since there were only 2 tables occupied when we arrived so it was easy to get seated. Everything was going as planned until....

#1: It was tough to get the attention of the servers taking into account that there were only 3 tables occupied. Instead of paying attention to their customers they were busy talking to each other and ignored us. I know it is almost Christmas, but please do your job!

#2: When a server finally approached our table, my sister asked "Anong tempura yung sa bento?" and guess what the waiter replied? "Tempura". So my sister had to restructure her question to, "Anong klaseng tempura?" But wait there more! My mom asked, "Anong meron sa bento?" and he answered "Lahat!". WTH Panira ng trip talaga.

#3: After we discussed what we wanted to order when we looked up, the server was gone and was chatting with his fellow server. A server is also known as a waiter so how come he did not wait? GRR.

We could not stand the bad service and decided to leave the restaurant. On our way out, we passed by a server and mom said, "Aalis nalang kami kasi mag oorder na sana kami pero umalis na yung waiter at pahalang pang sumagot". Then we stepped out of the restaurant.

We ended up eating in Sumosam to satisfy our Japanese craving. Nearing the end of our meal, a waiter from Akira approached us and apologized again for the incident earlier. Stalker mode alert! He also mentioned that the bastos waiter was outside and he would like to apologize too to which my mom just said no na just talk to him. As a pampalubag loob, they gave us complimentary dessert. Bumabawi?

This was the first time we walked out from a restaurant. And I would do it again if ever I will encounter bad service. We are paying customers and we do not deserve impolite servers. Good call!

On Kalokohan

Alam mo yung nakakainis kasi gumawa nanaman siya ng kalokohan pero mahal mo parin siya?

Anlungkot.