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.

Prayers Needed

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Alfred is currently in Bicol – Jose Panganiban town to be specific, in Camarines Norte. Unlike other times that he visited his grandmother there though, he considers this the worst time. His lola is probably around 88 years old already, and very frail. They are there to spend some time with her, and perhaps, see her alive for the last time.

The boyfriend was pretty close to his lola. She lived with them for many years, and he even had to share his room with her. So I understand how this is very hard for him. His Lola has been sickly, and I’ve urged him to go visit her since last month but he refuses to go. I think staying away was his way to deny the possibility that she might go very soon.

He sent me a message today saying that he’s finally come to terms with the inevitable. Of course, we all continue to pray for longer life for his Lola, but whatever God wills…

It is sad that I still have not met Lola, although we have talked about her a lot, and she’s asked for me over the years too. We always said that this year would be the year I’d get to visit her. Unfortunately, I decided to move to a new job and going on an extended leave just isn’t possible for me at this point. So the boyfriend left with his brother yesterday, without me.

But I don’t need to be there to pray for her, and to send her virtual hugs and warm thoughts. You could too. Pray for her well-being and we’ll forever thank you for doing so. While you’re at it, pray for their entire family too.

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December Wedding

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So I finally have two consecutive days off this week. Yay! 🙂 They are weeknights though, and some people may have a problem with that. I don’t. 🙂 First, it coincides with the boyfriend’s off. And second, it’s still two days straight.

Tonight I go back to work, hopefully better rested than I’ve been in the past two weeks.

I still haven’t done all the shopping I need to do. Looks like my parents are resigned to taking care of all the Christmas shopping required for our annual gift giving on both sides of the family. I feel sorry not being able to help out in the shopping part, but perhaps I’ll just volunteer to wrap them up. What I don’t feel sorry for is having to decide what gifts to get each person on the list, that’s proven to become harder and harder every year.

But let me digress from talk of Christmas, gifts and shopping, and instead talk about a wedding we witnessed last week.

I will forever think of the bride as my Auntie Leesah’s friend, which is why during the wedding I kept thinking that if there were angels in heaven happy that she found love and happiness again, it would be her departed parents, plus my auntie.

Auntie Jenny was married before, but her husband passed away at a young age. She has two grown up sons now. The groom is an Episcopalian priest who, I think, is Irish. He came here to live and teach at the Seminary a few years ago, and who would’ve thought he would find love too? 🙂 Their union is a true inspiration that we can’t (and shouldn’t) really give up on love.

Now. Weddings in our small community are mostly simple and traditional. The ceremony is pretty much the same, even the hymns sung. People don’t always wait for a formal invitation, and we certainly don’t look at how many seats are reserved for the guests. Which makes it difficult to plan a budget wedding – because it’s difficult to say exactly how much people will be coming.

But such weddings are fun, because people you really know and who really celebrate your happiness are in attendance. And they don’t care much about how you look, or how they look. Dress code is also something people pretty much ignore. Haha. A lot come in their Sunday best, but for most this also just means jeans and a clean shirt. I know that doesn’t look pretty in pictures, but that gives the occasion a happy, relaxed vibe. Really. 🙂

Here’s some of my favorite photos from the Church ceremony:

The happy couple

Lovely bridesmaids

It was really just a fun wedding. 🙂 I have more photos to post-process, mostly from the reception but I’ve yet to find time for those. Let’s just hope I don’t forget them, haha 🙂

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Moving Hosts

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In the next few weeks, I will be working on moving my blogs to a new host. Thanks to Gee, I have found an alternative to my current hosting plan. Again, let me say that I’ve had no snags in the nearly two years I’ve been with Dreamhost. But the cost of renewal is going to be high, because the discount I got for the first two years will no longer be available.

I’ve decided to settle with Fat Cow.

affiliate_link

Of course the low rates was a primary consideration, but I also checked out the reviews and none were on the negative as others tended to be. That’s a big thing for me. Like I mentioned before, I don’t mind paying premium for premium services and I’d rather continue paying that if going for the cheaper option meant having a lot of problems along the way. I had a super cheap plan with a local hosting company, and well, my site had frequent downtimes and I received lousy customer service. I learned from that experience and it ended up costing me more than if I had never done business with them at all.

I’m hoping that the transition will be smooth and won’t be noticeable. I will start moving my other blogs and keep verabear.net online as much as I can. Wish me luck, and pray I don’t lose anything in the move! 🙂

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