Ramblings and Brain farts

Farewell, 2010!

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I have mixed emotions about 2010. I can’t decide whether it was a good year for me, or a year I’d rather forget. There were a lot of good times, but there were also some disappointments. Being the optimist that I am, I choose to focus on the good times. So I guess that’s cleared then: 2010 was a wonderful year. 🙂

In January, we celebrated our tenth anniversary with a visit to Enchanted Kingdom. I wish there was a post or an album I could link to, but I realized just now that I don’t have either. What a bummer. It was such a fun day, and a wonderful start for the year that left us hopeful for what was to come in the next 12 months of our lives. Of course I could still go dig up the photos in my harddrive and eventually post them, but much of what made the day such a fun one is buried deeper in my memory and that’s a little harder to get back to.

Reminder for 2011: record and document your good times better.

In February, one of my posts was about losing weight and saving money for the wedding. Well obviously, the wedding didn’t happen hasn’t happened yet. We attended at least five lovely weddings though. As for losing weight – I did, but I’ve gained them all back. For saving money – I did, but I also spent it and am just now recovering from all of it. 2010 was one big and long roller coaster ride. It involves a crisis that got me in a funk, maybe even depression. As a result, I did A LOT OF SHOPPING and a whole lot of SPENDING.

One of the weddings we attended in 2010 was that of my best friend’s. Jo Arni tied the knot with Dom in March. It’s too bad that I had more posts about bags in March, than photos of the wedding. You see, it was in March last year that I started lusting for (and eventually ordered) an Epiphanie bag.

In April, I tried reviving my Project 365 by taking photos of Ann’s lucky plants. Sadly, the attempt didn’t take off and it was yet another start that didn’t have a proper ending. This year, I will complete P365. That’s a declaration if there ever was one. 🙂

2010 is election year and I casted my vote for the first time in May. The elections was a family affair for us. I also got hooked on Glee that month.

June saw the birth of my book blog, Between the Covers. It was also the start of, uhm, the great depression of 2010 for me. Looking at my posts though, one could never have thought that. After June, the year went by like a blur.

On my birthday month, I did the South Beach Diet. I found a retail dress I could fit into and wore it to Mayeen’s wedding.

The Philippines was at the center of the world’s attention in August because of an event we would all rather forget. Rather than blogging about the event itself, I posted about what I was thankful for at the end of the day. I also got Pinky that month.

September was the start of my love affair with the Tres Leches 🙂 I’m looking at my September archives and can’t believe some of those things happened way back then. I mean, I swear I though it only happened last month!

I voted in my first barangay elections in October. The Eraserheads Limited Edition CD boxed set also became mine. I also gave in to my Blackberry envy (and never looked back).

November started with a very brief Staycation, but it will always be etched in the history of my life as the beginning of a new adventure. I was also at another lovely wedding before the month ended.

December. Ah December 2010. It was a crazy month, but everything just stopped for the birth of our Beloved Prince.

Overall, I think 2010 was good to many people. Granted, there are others who would have wanted a better year, I’d say there are many others who have had to adjust their belts tighter than I have had to, there’s still too much to be thankful for to dwell on the negative.  And look at it this way – 2011 offers you so much more. 🙂

Thank you, and farewell, 2010.

Do you have a 2010 roundup?

Hello, 2011

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2010 was an eventful year. This new year, I have a lot more to look forward to.

Thank you Lord for the year that was, and all the blessings that came our way. Thank you for the new day, the new year, and the endless possibilities and opportunities it brings.

From my family to yours, a very prosperous and happy new year!

Dad & Daughter’s Day Out – Quiapo

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(This post has been sitting in my drafts for three days)

I remember a time when Quiapo was alien territory for me. I’d pass by the church many times throughout the years and see the mass of people that always seem to mill around the area, but I’ve never really been there.  Not before a class project we had to do for a Pscyh class (what was the class called again, with Dr. De Castro? Not 108.) maybe ten years ago. My groupmates and I decided to go to Quiapo Church and the surrounding area. Alfred offered to join us and we met up with him at Plaza Miranda. But that’s old news.

In the past three to five years, Quiapo has become a common destination for us. Before, it was to buy beads at Wellmanson (tama ba?). Then the purpose for the visits changed, we’d go to the camera stores along Hidalgo. Sometimes we’d go to the optical shops for Alfred’s glasses.

Yesterday, Dad and I were there to get speakers for tonight’s videoke session. ‘Twas the first time in a long time that Dad and I had a day out just the two of us, and the first time we went to Quiapo together.

I took pictures from my BB while we were on the road, and sent tweets about it. Here’s the story for those not following on my Twitter:

No traffic along España, what a relief! This was at around 3PM when one would expect traffic to start building up, specially two days before Christmas. I guess the mass of people were elsewhere, like Ortigas center where the big malls are.

We only slowed a bit at the Quiapo underpass. Before getting here, we had to pass through the Q.Ave-Lacson intersection where we were stopped by traffic cops. Dad was on the turn-left lane before he realized that that’s what it was. The green light was on for vehicles going straight through so Dad waited for an opportunity to switch lanes and we could go on our way. Unfortunately, the yellow cops saw us and stopped us right in the middle of the intersection. Dad explained how he wasn’t aware of it, and the good cop eventually let us go, without a ticket. No, we didn’t have to give him pamasko.

Upon arriving at this area, with a view of the Isetann Mall, my Dad started reminiscing. He said that Isetann used to be where the famed Cinerama was. It used to be state-of-the-art cinema of its time (60’s maybe). It was also the site of the studio where his grandfather’s radio program aired from. His lolo is Buenaventura Medina, Sr. Because he worked there, he had access to movie passes and that’s how Dad and his siblings got to see the first film with sense-surround (his terms), How the West Was Won.

He shared other bits of childhood memories too, like having a spot at the breakfast table of his Lolo who lived next door. He says he was the only apo who went there for brekky. I should record his stories.

After we got the speakers from Joy’s at Raon (lowest prices), we left the boxes in the car and walked all the way to Excelente to get us some ham. Ang daming tao! It’s like each person who emerges from this thick layer of people was coming off a victory in battle. It didn’t really take too long, maybe ten minutes. That’s Dad there in white on the far left. We ate all the ham he bought today, it really is yummy and worth the money spent for it. Dad only got half a kilo and we shared some of it with Papa. Now Dad’s thinking of going back there to get more.

Dad also showed me where the Globe Lumpia House is. I love their lumpia! Alfred and I couldn’t find it before, mostly because we never asked around for it. We thought it was a bigger place, more noticeable. I was surprised that something so famous was a humble place like this. We walked all the way back to Raon from Excelente to buy lumpia for dinner. We sat at their ‘dine-in’ space to sip some Sarsi while waiting for our take-out.

When we passed through the first time, the place was jam-packed on both sides. People just go for the lumpia and nothing else. 🙂 The second time we peeked in, there was more room. Thankfully.

The walk back from Excelente to Globe was a long one through people-packed streets. If you weren’t careful, you could get run over by a kuliglig. As for us, it wasn’t the kuligligs that were bent on killing is, am L300 delivery vehicle was backing away from his parking space and trying to maneuver. He wasn’t mindful of the people (and vendors) he could hit though, he was backing up as if the sea of people would magically part for him! Everyone banged on his rear to get his attention!

From the lumpia house to the car, it was a comfortable walk through the stores selling all sorts of uniforms, gun replicas, etc.

I took this final photo from inside the car on our way home. The sun was setting but that didn’t mean goodnight for Quiapo just yet, it was still bustling with people. As for us, we were back on the road, and it was a pleasant drive with very minimal traffic.

Near UST, Dad commented on how the street seemed to look better. I think they laid concrete over the old road, and then they fixed up the middle island with those new fences.  The streetlamps were changed too. Does this mean no more flood for this strip?

Anyhoo… it was a fun afternoon at Quiapo with Dad. 🙂

Presence of Mind

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Presence of mind. Being there in the moment. Awareness.

I kinda lost it a bit this afternoon. No, nothing serious or extremely embarrassing. Not a big deal really, if you think about it.

On my way out from of the office, I decided to withdraw money from the ATM machine right outside the pantry. I owed Mom for our Duty Free shopping spree last month and her card’s due for payment today. I had to withdraw a significant sum so I placed my paper bag of gifts (from my two bosses and a colleague) on top of the machine, and I was obviously guarded and in a bit of a hurry. There was a dude right behind me who didn’t bother moving to the side of the machine to wait so I felt rushed.

To cut straight to the end of the story, I forgot to reach for my bag of gifts as I left the machine. From there I stepped out onto the sunshine, crossed the road to SM and checked the line at the bank. Seeing quite a long queue, I decided to go to the BDO branch I opened an account with instead thinking they’d be more accommodating of my request to change a huge amount to smaller bills (we need hundred peso bills for the overtime incentive on Monday and Tuesday). That branch is along E.Rod, near home, so I hopped on a cab (after waiting on queue – this was past 1PM in Cubao so there’s already stiff competition for cabs). I realized something was missing just before I had to get off the cab.

I thought about going back, but I tried to think of who may still be in the office instead. In the process, I hassled quite a few people 🙂 It wasn’t for naught because one of them was able to check on the bag for me, and reported back that it was already in the security office and I could claim it tonight. Thank goodness whoever found it turned it in. They could have so easily taken it home and I’d have no one to blame but myself. To think I waited a few seconds at the ATM machine for a receipt that wasn’t printed, I didn’t notice my bag staring me right smack on the face! Complete lack of awareness. I’m surprised I didn’t lose anything else today.

Perhaps I still have angels watching over me. 🙂

This reminds me how sometimes, customer DSAT is driven by a rep’s lack of awareness.

iPad now Officially in Manila!

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Saw this on my mailbox today (although it’s been sitting there for a few days already):

I checked out the prices and I’m still happy to see that I got my 32g at a very reasonable price, 2k off the published PH prices. 🙂

So what is it to me that the iPad is officially here? It means that my worldwide limited warranty is acceptable here too! Yay! 🙂

Head over to Between the Covers where I have several iPad-related posts…

I’ll be having a brief break for Christmas after all, from the evening of the 23rd to 25th. Back to work on Sunday the 26th, and that’s just fine. This means I’m at work for New Year’s though. That was my choice. Not so bad since I won’t have to be at work until after the fireworks, at 3am. Pwede pa rin mag sing-all-you-can videoke! 🙂

On some sad news… Alfred’s grandmother didn’t survive til Christmas. She passed away at around 5am yesterday. Thank you for your prayers.

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