start May with a BANG!

I'm starting off May with an act of stubbornness--or an act of standing up for what's right, depending on which way you look at it.

See, tomorrow's Labor Day, ayt? It's a declared public holiday so we working stiffs are supposed to have the day off. But my boss instructed us to continue this day's work tomorrow. Supposedly, I could file for overtime and receive double pay since it's a non-working holiday. So I confirmed if that was so with her.

To my rage and dismay, she said people from Sales--including yours truly, of course--are not qualified for OT since we could reimburse our food and transpo expenses. In my mind I was like, what the fuck? But since I couldn't afford to antagonize her so soon after my mess-up yesterday, I simply told her that it wouldn't be right to go to work--for a rather tiring task too, I must say--and not get paid, even if I could reimburse my food and transpo expenses. I even tried to bargain with her to let me work tomorrow and just let me have my day off on Friday instead.

It didn't really help my case that the requirements for tomorrow's task are all with me. So for the sake of being nice, I just told her that if she wouldn't let me file for OT or exchange tomorrow's day off for Friday I'll just give the requirements in the morning to another co-worker who'll be working tomorrow--but who'll get paid, mind you--but otherwise I won't be working.

I may be new at my job and not know everything, but I do know when I'm right and when I'm wrong. And whichever way you look at it, I'm right and within reason this time. She really had no choice but to agree. Which, I'm saying with complete satisfaction, is what she did. Ha.

crazy high

I should have known. As is the usual case, Franco effectively drove away the funk without even any real effort. Just how does he do that? Or more accurately, why does he affect me that much that way? I guess some questions really are not meant to have answers. Whatever the case, I just am thankful for it. =]

Anywho, got ball-jacked this morning for the first time ever in my two months at work. I should have been depressed about it but now I only want to laugh, crazy as it may seem. And no, I'm not even a sucker for scoldings. But I stayed relatively cool throughout the barrage of words--something one of my co-workers commented on since she said a weaker one in my place would have been reduced to tears. So that probably means I don't easily crack under pressure. Well, that kind of pressure anyway. Haha.

I admit it was my mistake anyway. Blame it on my inexperience, or lack of proper guidance in going about my work, or just plain stupidity. Bottomline is I messed up--although not irreparably so, fortunately. But I was a mere inch away from total disaster. Close call indeed. But I learned from it, cliched as it sounds. And I was able to make up just a wee bit for that in the afternoon.

On a completely unrelated note, CONGRATULATIONS to my two barkadas ENGR. DAVID ANDREW SIANQUITA and ENGR. SYLVESTER ADAME for passing the April 2008 Mechanical Engineer Licensure Examination!!!

Kudos guys!

apathy

I feel so down right now. I don't even know why.

Help, anyone?

the boots and the boys

A picture of my in my blasted PPE with the other guys:


From left to right: Kuya Marvin, Bitoy, Wilson [aka Batman] and yours truly. The boots, my dear people, the friggin' size 10 boots! Haha.

working hard, playing even harder

Got my British Embassy ID earlier. No, I did not transfer there. I'm still a full-time 911 Alarm, Inc. employee. We are simply working as a subcontractor for the Embassy. And this is my first full-fledged project so it's pretty memorable.

I really put in a lot of effort for this one. I endured waking up extra early to go to the site, drove the techs to and from the site whenever I could, had to do myriad paperworks, consult with superiors about practically everything, wear those damn oversized boots that is part of the required PPE, mingle with all sorts of people. And I really hope to God we all finish on time before the deadline.

Anywho, I was absent this morning. Why? My body was still aching all over from that long drive to and from KEILCO [in Ilijan, Batangas City]. And that's from the office here in Makati, mind you. I admit that even though I've been in Batangas all my life, I've never been to Ilijan. There was just no reason to go there--no relatives or whatever. So I was totally unprepared for the long drive--even from the city proper itself. I mean, I knew it's pretty far, but I had no idea it was that far. And that the road is literally full of twists and turns and goes right up and down. Think of the road going to Baguio, just throw in a generous amount of rough road and that's about it. An off-roader would have served me better instead of the sedan I was driving.

But bitching aside, the drive itself was as thrilling as it was tiring. Damn, I felt like a rally car racer [minus the protective gear] navigating those twists and turns at past the maximum allowable speed. There was even another car that was [sorta] racing against me there--it overtook me first, and that was when I realized he wanted a race so I overtook him and never let him pass again. Ma'am Chona and Kuya Ronnie would kill me if they found out--it was their car I was driving after all. Just you be quiet, ayt? Haha.

Franco just caught me online right now. Just goes to show how much of an addict I am--I still am not asleep when he woke up. Geez.

the perks and pitfalls of a woman working a man's job

Hmmm... Seems I'm not as antisocial as I thought myself out to be. Even though I've only been to the construction site several times these past few days, people already seem to know me. And even though I managed to antagonize my main contact there, the other engineers are on joking terms with me and have already invited me to their get-together on Friday. Haha.

Speaking of the construction site, going there is plain exhausting--and I mean both physically and mentally. When I go to the work area, I have to wear PPE just like everyone else. Which means I have to wear a hard hat, a way oversized reflectorized vest and size 10 boots for my size 5 feet--seems all workers have really big feet. Geez. Not an easy task at all. The hard hat and vest I could manage--it's the boots that make me wanna cry. Can you say kid playing dress up? Only a hundred times worse since I could barely walk without them threatening to fall off every other step. Sheesh. And don't even get me started on how hot it is at the site. My goodness.

And yeah, since the male to female ratio at the site is about 50:1 I have to endure the stares all throughout the time I'm there. Like I'm some kind of a freak for being there in my ill-fitting PPE when I have no business in that oh-so-macho world. Sometimes makes me wanna just shout I'm a fuckin' licensed engineer, you morons, and I fuckin' earned the right to be here! Honestly. Not that I'm saying I'm superior to anybody, but I hate being looked at like I'm just some piece of ass with no intellectual capacity. I'm not. I may be caught off-guard sometimes, but most of the time I'm actually a rational-thinking being, thanks very much.

Well, so much for ranting about that.

Despite everything, I actually like being there with the technical team. One of the boys and all, their driver and project engineer. Nux. Haha.

so and so

Awww, fuck.

It's past midnight once again, meaning I've been online for hours. Nothing really new there. Although the time spent wasn't as unproductive as usual since I was able to chat with Patrisha--my long-lost little sister with whom I've had no contact for some weeks now. Also with a fellow CSer who just left the Philippines. At this rate, Franco just might catch me online again. Haha.

Anywho, had a pretty tiring afternoon. Rushed to the site because of a glitch in the tech team's work permit--only to find out they've remedied the situation by the time I got there. Geez. I went out for nothing. At least I was able to reimburse my taxi fare. And speaking of taxi, don't even get me started on how looooong I had to wait for a taxi in that godforsaken site.

after a two-day hiatus

That shower I just took felt soooo great. And the soap I just bought smelled so good too. Not too bad after a hard day of shuttling back and forth across the metro catering to clients' whims.

Drove our four techs to the site this morning as per planned. Way too early morning for my liking--being at the office at 6:30 AM when my regular day begins at 9:00 AM is not exactly what I'd call fun. It would have been a tedious task if I didn't get along well with the four guys. Fortunately for all of us, we all got along just fine, my being one of the boys kicking into high gear. Imagine, I'm the only girl in the group--and I'm both the driver and the supervisor. Beat that, huh? Haha.

Got tied up with stuff there and I wasn't able to get back to the office until some time after lunch. I had barely caught my breath when another prospective client called to confirm our site survey at their place. Left again after a few minutes to do the site survey. It was just a few minutes before 6:00 PM when we finally got back to the office. I only had time to again catch my breath, start the client's quotation and do a quick email check before finally calling it a day.

Headed to ShopWise first before finally going home. It was my mother's explicit order before letting me out of the car yesterday that I drink milk in lieu of my refusal to eat any kind of vegetable. So I bought a liter of chocolate milk--hey, it's still milk--plus some snacks and some toiletries, including that bar of soap I was praising earlier. And yeah, I was already too tired to scrounge up a decent dinner so I bought a Jamaican pattie as well.

And now, I'm a bit drowsy from exhaustion after all those tasks. I'm only waiting for Marie to get out of the bathroom so I could take off my contact lenses and go to sleep. I still want to write about my exhausting weekend too, but I've just about spent the last of my energy. Maybe some other time, or tomorrow.

Good night for now.

mushy. ewww.

Listening to A Fine Frenzy's Almost Lover. Such a sad song. Almost makes me wanna cry even if it doesn't relate to me. But beautiful nonetheless. So heartfelt, you could just hear the pain in her voice.

Mushy, I know. Sue me. Haha.

Anywho, I was way late to work this morning. As in it was almost 10:00 AM when I finally arrived at the office. Ouch. But sleeping just feels so good. Especially when the reason I woke up late is because I was up until the wee hours of the morning chatting with Franco.

That guy sure has changed a lot since he left, and I couldn't honestly say it was for the better. He admitted as much. But no matter. Fact is I still love him despite that. Yeah, even though I hate myself for it sometimes--for being too vulnerable, too weak to resist him even even if he's at his worst. Tsk. Lucky guy, eh?

just plain prolific or too much of an addict?

I just noticed. It's just a little past halfway of the month and I've already posted more than thirty entries. That's like 1.8 posts per day. Err. Is that normal?

abnormal

Fell asleep right after I got home. I was so desperate for sleep that I barely managed to get out of my shoes, went straight to my bunk, just plopped down and fell right asleep, work clothes and all.
It felt good, even if I'm awake right now in the wee hours of the morning.

It just follows that I didn't have any dinner, just a bar of chocolate Inipit I snarfed down when I woke up. Good thing I ate a peanut butter sandwich at the office some time before I went home. Kinda surprises me now that I'm not feeling hunger pangs with so little food on my seemingly cavernous stomach. Oh well. Thank God for small favors.

seafood as glue =]

Nikka, Kat, Tine and I went to Dampa earlier for dinner and some bonding time. It was a girls'-night-out-turned-seafood-gorge-fest. Honestly. There was no poise to speak of as we devoured pork BBQ, shrimps and crabs--all by hand. And I was the last one left eating. Haha. Gluttony personified.

Kat went off to work after dinner while the three of us headed home and continued bonding by chatting up a storm. We're getting quite comfortable with each other as far as I could tell, and I'm really glad for that.

Right now I'm waiting for Franco to go online. I hope he does soon. I'm running out of things to do online as it is, despite the addict that I am. Err.

How to sleep on company time--with impunity

So I lost precious sleep because of the pizza.

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to make up for that since I filed yesterday for OB for this morning. I informed my superior that I would be getting my SSS number--yeah, I didn't have one until this morning even though I've been working for more than a month now--since the SSS office was near the client and she agreed. The process usually takes some time because of the queue so I budgeted for some extra time aside from my errand to our client, thus taking up all morning. So technically I had the morning all to myself. Hence, the rare chance to sleep later than usual.

Much as I hate protocols and all, this one time I'm thankful for the technicality. Thank you Lord.

i broke my promise because of PIZZA

No shit.

I was all but asleep just mere minutes earlier without turning my laptop on as per planned. So what does it mean that here I am posting yet again despite my steadfast promise to get a good night's sleep?

Nikka just had to blurt out that she's hungry--then immediately follow up with a query if we want to have pizza. And of course, Christine just had to agree that she's hungry too and that pizza sounds great. And it just follows that I would do so too--pizza is a major, major weakness of mine. Like, all thoughts of sleep just flew out the window at the mere mention of the word.

God, this is madness.

Just the perfect reason to not go to sleep--at least for the moment. So while we're waiting for the pizza delivery, I decided I might as well check my email and rant about this here. Geez.

some thoughts about my job

Had a pretty productive day. I went to the orientation as per planned this morning. Learned some things mainly about the paperwork, but nothing about the system I couldn't have figured out by myself given a day or two using it, all bragging aside. In all fairness, I was able to access the system this morning and navigate around it--and that was before I went to the orientation.

I'll be going back there tomorrow to submit the documents to make me their official contact for our company. Geez. The thought is both exhilarating and scary, sends shivers down my spine. It is a big account after all--it could easily make or break my budding career. God, I hope it's the former and not the latter.

My other appointment--supposedly this afternoon--was postponed. So I'm going there tomorrow instead. Which means I'll be out most of the day tomorrow.

This is precisely the reason why I wanted this job as much as I did back when I was applying. I won't be tied to a desk or post for the whole day--a fate I simply could not bring myself to face. I'm simply too restless and my attention span too short for a regular desk job or a job as a line operator--the typical job of those in my line of profession, most of my classmates included.

I know my own limitations and I found a job with that in mind--something I'm truly thankful for. This is by no means a dream job, but I'm glad I'm enjoying it so far. Thank God.

working from home

Events conspire to keep me from getting enough sleep. I had every intention of NOT turning on my laptop tonight so I could just go straight to sleep. And I would have pulled through with that plan too, if not for work, of all things.

Yes, work as in W-O-R-K. I actually brought home my work--something which is so not typically me. Oh well. Some things have got to change anyway. After all, I did promise myself that I'd make up for all the slacking off I did when I was still a student. This is just one manifestation of that promise.

Thank God for that small but positive change. Hallelujah.

Speaking of work, despite my post this morning, I had a pretty hectic day at the office. I even had to go out at some point in the afternoon to clarify something with the client. Which, I must say, I'm truly proud of since it was my first time to go alone to meet a client alone and I managed not to get lost in the process, literally or otherwise. I guess I am learning some things after all.

Tomorrow is promising to be even more hectic, what with two OB's--one in the morning and another in the afternoon--where I'm going by my lonesome. And I have to get to the office über-early to meet a deadline. I really really hope I wake up in time to do all those things I have to do. God help me.

little things

My eyes are burning yet again from lack of sleep. Nothing new there. But it was all worth it since I was able to chat with Franco earlier anyway. God, I missed that guy. =)

So far, I've taken care of one task for today. Just one more to go and I might finally be able to relax. Ooh. The client just replied. Seems I won't be having such a hard time today after all--I'm not due at the site until tomorrow.

Thank you Lord.

I'm lost

I don't know if it's from lack of sleep or proper dinner, but right now I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed at my own life. Absurd, considering I managed to catch CSI and CSI: NY on CSI: Supreme Sunday earlier--just something normal I used to do back when I was home and hadn't done since I moved here. I should have been comforted at the semblance of normalcy, but I'm not. I'm still friggin' overwhelmed, Lord knows why.

It's that old feeling I remember so well from my angst-y teenage years. Though I'm well out of that particular age range, the disorientation still attacks unexpectedly sometimes. Like right now. I feel like I'm in limbo, lost in the trappings of my own life without any real idea of who and where I really am.

Hopefully, this too shall pass. And soon. The stress I'm facing these days ain't really strengthening my tenuous grip on sanity.

Or maybe I just really need to sleep. Shit.

This is the last time I'll wait for him to go online this week. I'll even wait until morning, never mind that I desperately need sleep and energy since I have a lot to do at work. I'll slog through them all, I always do. But starting tomorrow, I won't go online when I'm here at home. I'll just check my email and all at the office and just try to catch up on some much needed zzz's after work. No more wee-hours-of-the-morning blogging. Until when? A day to three perhaps, if I don't show signs of withdrawal. Harhar.

But seriously, I'm getting alarmed at my seemingly depreciating mental faculties. So I'm taking this drastic step to ensure my mental health. God help me.

just drives me crazy

I waited for him until morning and he didn't show up. Fuck. I hate that. I miss him. Shit.

Someday soon, my life will be in order. I'll sleep during normal sleeping hours, be in a normal non-LDR relationship, have a healthy social life, spend reasonable time online, spend quality time with my family, possess at least a couple of gadgets I've been lusting over since forever. Someday.

Until then, I'll subsist on caffeine-induced wakefulness, make my long distance relationship work, try to minimize my antisocial tendencies, try to cut back my online time, try not to just sleep when I'm home on weekends and save up for at least one of my dream gadgets. Lord help me.

update, update

Here I am at Ktle's house on our weekend get-together and I'm still glued in front of her PC and trying to update my online life as I best could. Geez. Talk about addiction. To the max, man. To the highest friggin' level. Harhar.

Went to SM earlier with the family, then met up with my two best friends. Gave in to temptation in the form of a pair of white Havaianas Flash sandals--meaning less money to spend till the next pay. Tsk. One of these days I really gotta practice some good, old self-discipline. The whole world would celebrate when that day comes, trust me.

Oh, and I managed to finagle a bottle of sunblock from Mama. I swear without going to the beach at all, I somehow managed to get darker just from going through my everyday tasks. All that metro heat. Damn. I'll be more careful with my skin now, promise.

burn, baby, burn!

Shucks.

I fell asleep last night with my contacts on. So now my eyes are even more red-rimmed than usual. And they burn. Damn. But how can they not when I have the contacts on for more than twenty-four hours now? My poor peepers.

lethargic thoughts

Addiction.

I have a headache probably brought down by my lack of sleep, I only had a Jamaican patty and Reese's Pieces for dinner, I fell asleep on the ride home for the second day in a row and I'm still sleepy up to now but here I am still plugged into my beloved laptop and drowning reality in digital oblivion. No shit.

I miss Franco like hell. As always.

I'm chatting with Ktle, planning our get together with Ketty on Saturday, ironing out details even though I have about as much dough as the next beggar.

I feel so empty right now.

hear ye, hear ye!

After struggling so long to liberate my frustrated inner writer, I finally decided to do something about it.

Hence, my new blog: stale ruminations. My plan is to just write down whatever literary tidbits come to mind, maybe even accumulate enough related articles to form a cohesive story. But that's getting too far ahead. All I have at the moment are a few elusive words struggling to form a coherent thought.

Comments, critiques and suggestions are welcome. I'd like to say please be gentle with your words, but that would be pointless. Just shoot me straight in the eye.

That's all for now. A good morning to y'all.

rant queen

There's no drinking water, no LPG and the Internet connection is intermittent as hell. Ron--our landlord--is treading in dangerous waters. Believe me. Shylloh is a hairline away from sinking her claws into him--or refusing to pay her rent, which is more believable. Hehe.

Anywho, I was able to have about an hour's nap when I got home earlier. I swear, I was so totally wiped out I kept nodding off on the ride home.

Went to Navotas earlier for a site survey, with me driving as usual. We were on the road for almost two hellish hours--traffic is que terrible, especially with the sun mercilessly beating down on us and the car A/C and engine threatening to give out on the way to a location we have yet to find. But that's not the worst thing. What is? The actual survey only took us less than five friggin' minutes. That's a wee bit too much effort for too little if you ask me, even if it's a sure client. Or maybe I'm just being a prick. Blech.

catching up

I am dead tired. As in so tired I actually fell asleep on the jeepney on the ride home. Damn.

if you're the lazy type, just read those written in ITALICS

What Nathalie Joy Matanguihan Atienza Means

You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you. You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries. You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice. You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care. You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You are deeply philosophical and thoughtful. You tend to analyze every aspect of your life. You are intuitive, brilliant, and quite introverted. You value your time alone. Often times, you are grumpy with other people. You don't appreciate them trying to interfere in your affairs. You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way. And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life. You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy. Spread your luck around a little to people who need it. You are incredibly wise and perceptive. You have a lot of life experience. You are a natural peacemaker, and you are especially good at helping others get along. But keeping the peace in your own life is not easy. You see things very differently, and it's hard to get you to budge.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Gee, that's a lot of things. And I do mean a lot. Even I got bored going through all that. Just to make it easier for you reader, just read those that are written in ITALICS since those I consider not too far from who I really am.

Anywho, I'm just bored even though I'm supposed to be asleep hours ago. At this rate, Franco might again be able to catch me online and I won't get to sleep at all. Haha.

online life and bad memories

Finally managed to make a decent enough banner for my Blogger account.

I thought I had run fresh out of creative juices but it seems there's still a drop or two left in the system after all, thank God. Though I have to say I'm still a long way from making fully customized layouts for either Blogger or Multiply. But whatever. I've made a start, that's good enough for now.

Oh, and I caught Patchi--one of Franco's CCA friends/family--online and we were able to chat a bit. And now we're friends Facebook and Multiply too, aside from Friendster and YM. Haha. Addicts.

But I saw some disturbing pix on his Multiply account--if you know me and you see those pix, you'd know what I mean. But there's no need to elaborate on that anyway, it's still a sore subject for me. Makes my blood boil even up to now. Grrr.

responsibility

I'm on my second mug of coffee for the day, contemplating when I'll finally be able to design a system on my own. As it is, I still have a lot to learn. Estimation in particular. I can't really tell if I'm learning too slowly for my own good, or if it's just normal to take some time to get used to the whole idea of being responsible for a client's security so to speak. Scary, I tell you.

That is not to say that I'm not enjoying my work because I am. It's just that the idea of being responsible for something as vital as a client's satisfaction and the company image is quite discomforting for someone as new to this stuff as I am. Simple systems I can manage, but I was given this rather finicky client to handle and I really want to get things right even if I have barely half an idea how to. All I know is I want to get my job done the soonest time possible--and flawlessly at that.

On a completely unrelated note, I'm chuffed that I finally got myself a decent charger for my Nokia phone. After running through the bundled charger as well as two knock-offs, I decided to wisen up and get myself the real thing. But I have no money so I finagled one from Papa yesterday before I went back here. Cruel of me since he said it was his last money, but he gave in anyway and bought the bloody expensive charger for me. Awww.

standing still

I just realized something earlier while sitting on the bus on the way here. I haven't changed at all. Or if I have, the changes are minimal, not enough to merit attention.

When I came to work here, I was a nihilistic girl--totally uncaring of how I look, how others would see me, you get the drift. I thought a change of environment would be enough to change that. This is after all, Makati. Way different from Batangas in every sense of the word. The pace of life faster, the people dressed more stylishly, the views more liberal. I honestly thought it would get to me enough to effect even a change of way of dressing.

But more than a month later, I find myself going to the office still dressed in my typical college getup--shirt, jeans and Chucks, uncombed hair still dripping wet from the shower. You wouldn't mistake me for a professional, much more a licensed engineer. Truth be told, I look more like an on-the-job trainee than a regular working stiff.

I can't really explain what I feel every morning when I arrive at the building and see the stereotypical yuppie types dressed in crisp corporate attire. Part defiance, part envy. I don't know. Maybe I'm just a sucker for anonymity and intentionally want to be underestimated though even I can't figure out why. I guess I'm just crazy that way.

On a positive note, I'm proud to say that I still have a strong Batangueña accent. I know a lot of promdis--no offense meant, I am one too after all--suddenly speak sawit after only a month or so here. I don't know if they're that impressionable or they think it's cool or what, but for me that's just sad. It's like forgetting a part of your heritage.

I'll be the first to admit that I am no patriot, but the Batangueña blood runs deep in me. I love my province, its culture, food and people. It's as ingrained in me as the genes I was born with. Though I escaped the first chance I got, I know it's just a temporary thing. I always look back. And I know I'll be back.

crap update

Went home for the weekend. Part of the weekend rather, as I went straight to Badong's place and to Green Coral from there, only getting home early Sunday morning.

I just slept all day yesterday. Made up for all my sleepless nights here, I guess. Did me some good, although I still feel the vestiges of lethargy up to now. Oh well. Better than no sleep at all.

Nothing even vaguely sensible pops to mind just now. Hence the crappy post. Blech. Whatever.

tweaks

There. Just finished customizing my Multiply page.

Honestly. Being OC can really be the pits sometimes. Now is definitely one of those times. I lost precious sleep over a friggin' layout. Shit man. If that doesn't qualify me as an addict, I don't know what will.

But all in all I'm pretty satisfied with the way it turned out. Never mind that I didn't create the damn layout from scratch. I am honest enough to admit that that is beyond the scope of my abilities. The most I did was find a decent template and change some things here and there to better suit my personality.

So. Gotta go to sleep now. I still have to get up early because I'm going home for the weekend. So many things to do today. God give me the energy to do them all. Amen.

cars! cars! and more cars!

As planned, Tine and I went to the MIAS 2008 at the World Trade Center earlier this evening. And what can I say? Nothing. I was rendered speechless. So many cars. And not just cars, but lean, mean machines. A drool bucket would have been handy. Haha.

I took a lot of pix. Unfortunately, not very good ones. A three-year-old 3.2MP point-and-shoot can only do so much in not-so-good lighting conditions. Sharpens my hunger pangs for a D-SLR which would have done a way better job. Argh.


So before I go wailing into the night for a D-SLR which I could not have--for the moment anyway--here are the links to the photos I took:

Subaru Impreza WRX STi [a whole album dedicated to my dream car]
Vintage Cars
Lean Mean Machines
Mags and a Motorcycle
Color It Red performance

Enjoy! ^_^

I'm going to the Manila Intenational Auto Show!

Location:
The World Trade Center
WTCMM Complex, Financial Center Area
Roxas Boulevard along Senator Gil Puyat Extension
Pasay City, Philippines

Show Times:
Thursday, 03 April to Sunday, 06 April
10am (1000) to 10pm (2200) (no admittance after this time).

Ticket Prices:
Adult: PHP 50.00

For more details, just visit their website.

running on fumes

Shit. My system is an inch away from automatically shutting down from fatigue. I could barely keep my eyes open and the coffee I drank just served to upset my stomach. But even that cannot overpower the lethargy settling over me. I so want to go back home, crawl under the covers and sleep for the rest of the day. Or even up to tomorrow. Or even the day after tomorrow. I need sleep that badly.

Gluttony, thy name is Nathalie

Damn. How could not gain weight when I eat [probably] more than your average guy? Take note, that's average guy and not average girl. I eat that much. Argh.

Just this evening I downed chicken nuggets, spaghetti and a serving of KFC's Famous Bowl. Plus lots and lots of juice. Ooh, and yeah, let's not forget the potato chips. And I'm still giving the chocolate bar sitting innocently a few inches from me the evil eye. Even though I'm hanggang leeg ang pagkabusog. Literally. I feel like I'm gonna hurl if I take even just one more sip of the mango juice I was drinking. But I still want the chocolate, darn it.

Hmmm... Looks like another sleepless night. Or a night at the CR. Shit.

caffeine fix--not

Barely ten minutes since I slurped the last drop of my perfect coffee and here I m already yawning. Geez.

I guess caffeine still is no match for several days' lack of sleep. Harhar.

for the first time since i could remember...

I was able to fix a perfect cup of coffee. On the first try. Which is a really big deal to me since whenever I fix myself a cup, it always tastes just a bit off--lacking sugar, or cream, or coffee itself and it takes me several tries just to get it to taste just right. Pathetic I know, especially given the fact that I'm a caffeine addict.

Oh well. I never did say I'm Little Miss Domesticity in the first place. Haha.

i SO want to cry

It's finally here. The Canon EOS 450D. And as usual it's so much cheaper on OneGear Shop. But I have no money whatsoever. What to do?

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Ketty!

Karen!

Badong!

Ivy!

Emil!

Oh God, I'm so happy for my friends who passed the March 2008 Electronics Engineering Licensure Examination!

Here is the rest of the list:

March 2008 Electronics Engineering (ECE) Licensure Examination Results

Hallelujah!

God is good!

Really. Despite waking up late yet again, I made it within the grace period. Yeah, as before, I managed to punch in exactly fifteen minutes after nine. My running like a madwoman to dash at the waiting elevator to use the emergency stairway wasn't in vain after all. Whew!

Oh, and guess what time I was finally able to sleep last night? Or should I say this morning? I can't be sure about the exact time, but it was past 4:00 AM, probably just a little before 5:00 AM. Is that the sleeping of a normal person who works a nine to six job? Err. But then again, I'm not normal in that sense of the world, so what the heck.

Anywho, there was good reason why I was up til dawn: Franco. He actually managed to catch me online when he woke up. That's a change, usually he's the one who stays up til morning to chat. But I don't mind. I'm just really glad we were able to have a decent conversation. =)

And before I forget, I downloaded Gunbound last night too. God, the game is so addicting. It was actually the reason why Franco was able to catch me online: I was playing it. I missed the Raon Launcher and Mage and Dual and Miramo and all that. Big time. Geez, yet another addiction.

What a good way to start my April. Haha.

it's April Fools already?

Say what?

It seems only moments ago that I posted my last entry. Darn. I really REALLY am an online addict. Tsk.

Anywho, part of why I'm still up is actually not as useless as my usual reasons [read: addiction]. One of my roommates, Marie, is suffering from dysmenorrhea. In fact, she's in so much pain her toes are curling. Tsk. Poor girl. We already fixed her some soup and a hot water bottle, for all the good that did her. Plus her boyfriend's here now to take care of her. I hope she feels better now.