Ramblings and Brain farts

Flash Flood

Looks like I’m skipping work today. I haven’t slept yet, can’t really sleep until the rain stops or the flood waters recede.

Yesterday I missed work because of the floods. I thought today would be different but it’s actually worse. The only good thing is that I didn’t have to wade through the flood today.

That there is my left slipper. It’s pair was claimed by the flood. I was sound asleep at 930PM last night when my mom shook me awake. The water was nearly at the gate. Both cars were still out there. Dad gave me the key to the RAV, he took the Civic’s. Outside it looked like the water was probably an inch away from getting inside my car. I waded through water that was probably a foot deep and got in through the passenger door of the Rav, losing my slipper in the process.

We got the vehicles to safety and then walked back home. I was barefoot. We were gone 10 minutes tops (not even) and already, the water level had risen significantly. I was wearing my favorite violet shirt and my striped Forever21 skirt. I put on one slipper, held an umbrella on one hand, and used the other to keep my balance. I followed Dad closely. I didn’t want to fall or step on anything, uhm, that I wasn’t supposed to step on. This is dirty flood water. Hello tetano and leptospirosis!

The deepest was maybe 3 feet high? I’m not good at measurements. I had to hike up my skirt. Soon as we got inside, I washed up, changed, and then used a LOT of my Human Nature Juicy Burst Sanitizer. And I kept spraying it on my legs through the night.

The people at the store next door were semi-apologetic about not sounding the alarm sooner. They too were taken by surprise. I guess it’s why these things are called flash floods. My cousin who lives nearest the road was also shocked.

As we drove home earlier tonight, we decided to leave the car on higher ground seeing that the creek is about to overflow again. Called my parents and told them about the situation. They were still at the supermarket. By the time they were ready to come home, the road was no longer passable.

The water is probably thigh-high inside my cousins’ units now. Last time water reached this level, it didn’t stop until water reached inside our house. That was during Ondoy. I hope this isn’t a repeat performance.

Water stopped rising in the past hour. But it also hasn’t subsided. The rain continues to pour. And Pag-asa predicts 2-3 more hours of rainfall.

The dogs are quiet now (not ours). Probably exhausted from running around, swimming, barking, and whining. Poor dogs. They’ve been enduring this since last night too. We can’t take them inside because they’re both wet, and too big for our house. Sad smile

So that’s what’s happening right now.

The silver lining? We have electricity, water, cable, Internet. And we are still warm and dry. We are still luckier than other flood victims. I hope I can still say this a few hours from now. 

Crazy July

July was a crazy month! I wish I could say that it was because I had so much fun celebrating my birthday the whole month, but it’s mostly because things have been super at work. And when I mean SUPER – it could mean both good and not-so-good.

The highlight of the month has to be my birthday. I didn’t get the family picnic I had wanted to celebrate this year, but that’s okay. I had my family with me and all is well. There was this crazy idea of taking our growing family up to Tagaytay for a nice picnic. It would be a nice outing for our Beloved Prince, I’m sure he’s missed running on grass.

Why didn’t we go? Dad went on a business trip to Barcelona that week and his flight back was due in that Sunday afternoon. It would have been a logistical nightmare to get him to join us in Tagaytay in time for dinner. Another consideration was the weather. July has always been a wet month and this year was no exception. The creek overflowed two Saturdays in a row, including on the day before my birthday. Picnic on the grounds while raining? No can do.

This is how it looked outside our gate on July 21st (photo courtesy of my cousin Che):

july21 flood

In July I also went a little crazy with the shopping. This year I’ve been a little better when it comes to prioritizing what I spend on, but with everything going on, I think I felt like I deserved some retail therapy. Christmas in July indeed!

That’s my Super Sale Bazaar loot. I didn’t get to do a reveal post (I still might!), but that big paper bag held Alfred’s gift for me this year:

The other bag held my Erzullie finds. A plus-size brand was the last thing I thought I’d discover in that big bazaar, but it was a welcome discovery indeed. I went home with a peplum skirt, a plain blue blouse, and flattering blazer. Hello outfit!

Before the month closed I had spent time with two friends with dragon babies in their bellies. We also attended a bittersweet reunion with old work friends. I had read two books, and even got to see movies (read all about them in Between the Covers). I also had a haircut, but two hours after the salon visit, my hair looked just like the way it did before I went there.

I had blogged 56 goals for my 101 in 1001 challenge. Not proud to say that I haven’t accomplished any of them yet, though this is the beginning of having a monthly review on the blog. SmileDropped 171 comments all over the blogosphere, 29 short of my 200 comments goal.

Before the month ended we also received fantastic news: Alfred has been promoted to the Team Lead role! Yay boyfriend! I am very proud of him, and wish him all the best in his new role. Of course, I’ll be here to help him in any way I can.

What were you up to in July? Link me up on your round up posts will you? Smile

 

The first day of August isn’t even over yet, but it’s already shaping up to be another amazing month. Looking forward to much more.

Taking on the Day Zero Challenge

Back in May, I had read a blog from somebody doing the 101 in 1001 challenge. I wish I could link you up to that blog because she was really very inspiring, but I didn’t bookmark it. I suppose she’s someone on My Reader, but I so far haven’t seen her post about her list again. Sad smile

Anyway. 101 in 1001 is a challenge to go through a list of 101 goals (or tasks) in 1001 days. That is a huge undertaking, both in the number of goals, and in the period of time. Almost 3 years to complete. When I first heard about it, I had written up a list. So far, I haven’t completed my 101 goals. So instead of starting in June 2012, it has been pushed so far back.

I’ve given myself a deadline. I will complete my list of 101 and post it here this weekend. My 1001 days will officially begin on July 14. I thought about launching it on my birthday, but that means waiting two more weeks to start, and I’ve already wasted a lot of time as it is. I gotta go by my word for 2012: START.

It probably won’t be a surprise that some tasks on my list will be blogging related. What may be a big surprise is that so far, there’s nothing really work-related. Or current-career related. Not sure if that will be true of the final 101. We’ll see.

To know more about this challenge, and to checkout other people’s lists, checkout Day Zero.

If you’re doing your own 101 in 1001, link me up and let me be inspired Smile

The Holstee Manifesto

These words have been shared so many times before, but this is the first time I’m seeing this video, and also the first time I checked out their website.

Holstee

I am truly, truly, inspired. I try not to complain about my job and everything that I have to do for it because I do believe that if one hates it so much, then one should just quit. And I’m not ready to quit just yet. Smile

Life is short. Live your dream and share your passion.

Hello, June!

June is among us, seems like May just breezed through.

On the blogging front I’d only made it up to 10 posts for May. Published 5 in Between the Covers. I actually had more posts (18) on The Newbie Photographer but they’re mostly cross-posts with Instagram and only 2 with actual text content. Oh well.

As for the Comments Challenge – I was 9 comments short of the 115 goal. I’d have met it too if I didn’t have to get on an impromptu work trip.

We did go to this beautiful wedding last weekend. A childhood friend got married to her long-time sweetheart in that beautiful church in Sagada. Their 12-year-old son (or is he 13 already?) was their Best Man. I haven’t blogged about it because I’m trying my best not to post any of the photos prematurely. Hehe. But I’m looking forward to sharing them soon.

It was quite tiring but I had so much fun. I think that next time I have a project like it, I’d need endurance training beforehand. Seriously. And the whole wedding just gave you a certain happy vibe, I guess all or most weddings have that. For this one, you kinda expected the groom and his posse to each whip out a macanudo cigar and puff circles of smoke all over. Haha! You would know what I mean when you see the photos.

Anyway, I’m off to get a headstart on my June Comments Challenge, thanks to Paula and the BC Bloggers’ Comments Exchange. Anyone out there want to join my Comments Challenge? Just create your own ticker at Ticker Factory and play along. If there’s more interest maybe we can make a badge too. Smile

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