A Strange Meeting

I will be meeting with a person who was a keeper of my soul until we had some falling out a few months ago. The meeting will be about some impersonal stuff, some things that I needed done, but since I couldn't get someone to do it for the right price, I had to retort to some user-friendly tactics. I'm so so bad.

Anyways, I had a hard time trying to contact the person after I erased all the numbers that I've stored and blocked all the memories that went with it. It was like pushing the last of those stuff the gets its much needed stuffing into the cupboard as a penalty for not serving anymore purpose than collecting dust in your living room. Out of sight, out of mind, until you finally find a useful need for them again in your life.

Kung kagustuhan, maraming paraan. Just like anyone who wants to get things done, it was not difficult, to again get the number from people who moved in the same circle as the person. My cupboard door wasn't made to withstand brute force after all. A little prodding and everything I stashed inside came out and ruled over me again.

The messages were cordial, if not censored. Testing each other's response to the mildest endearments. There was talk of the familiar, but never the specifics. Hence, the meeting at the end of this day.

I've always believe that the best way to prepare for the unexpected is not to prepare for it at all. So we'll see... how things will go... how I will behave... how much repulsion have I for the person with the way things have turned...has the balance been tipped...am I barking at the wrong tree...we'll see...we'll see...

ADDENDUM:

We met without any awkwardness not even with the latest turn of events. Questions were asked and curtly answered. I was straight to the point, you were evading. I give you that.

What's with the LBM?

I called in sick yesterday. Told the office that I had LBM, which was true, considering the many trips that I had to take to the toilet early yesterday morning. The weekend that passed I spent gorging on sumptuous delights from my aunt's kitchen and the many other dishes served during my granny's 85th birthday. Who wouldn't really? with all the lechon, cheesecakes, valenciana and many others. My condition had improved in the afternoon but I decided not to report to the office to use the time to care for my hubby who was also sick due to allergies. Like me, the disease was food-related. LOL!

This morning, while on my way to work, I was thinking of what else could LBM be? I mean, yeah, I didn't come to the office because of the real thing. But I could have played hero and worked in the afternoon which I chose not to. Other than work, there's really not much to look forward to. Staying at home liberated me from all the negative energy hovering around the building.

And then, I found my answer seconds before I placed my finger on the scanner - the LBM that caused me to absent from work was not only a physical but also an emotional thing. I had Lasting Boredom Malady, the kind that lingers long after I've flushed the last of the weekend's smörgåsbord out of my system. Sigh! what a life!

One of the Four

It's Friday am I'm still sick. Work and the weather has taken its toll on my not so well-maintained health. I've been plagued with flu and sore throat for the past three weeks! It's like, I get well for three days, but the four days I get to spend in groggy disarray. And today is one of the four. I've been wishing for busy days at work and now I'm getting more than what I had wished for. Then there is the impending activities of the weekend, my Granny Lola's 85th birthday! I'm so full of excitement I could use up all my energy thinking about it. *giggles* And after the weekend, I'd have to be back at work again. I should have not wished for busier days... Or better yet, I should have kept my body in top shape before I wished for busier days! LOL! I'm sharing this photo from one of my travels to Numancia, Aklan. Ain't it great to spend a weekend in a place like this?



Oh well, just writing my thoughts before I start my day.

Ciao!

Primary Colors

Yesterday Boz woke up and held is right hand up high saying, "Mama, amo ni kuno ang primary colors siling ni Ma'am" his fingers curling to a number three.

"Really? ano ang mga primary colors haw?"
"May blue, red and...."
"Ano pa gid?"
"Kag yellow"
"Ay ka very good sang baby ko a!" Kissess and laughs.

He's paying attention in class. Thank God!

Work after work after...

Work has been work lately. Which is what it's supposed to be except that it hasn't for the most part of my days spent at work. But now work becomes work, and I find myself going to the office, burrowing myself in my computer, taking and addressing queries, taking a break for lunch, hurrying to get back to what I was doing, forgetting the time and even bringing work home. And then, at the end of the day, there are still tons of work that needed some serious working.

Some work I have these days.

So I am Grateful

It's one of those few times in a year when I get swamped with work to do. Another assessment - the proverbial looking back at how the program has been implemented for the past six months of the year. Let me just say that I was not a bit excited about the whole preparation thing, although, I'd like to point out that this is by the first time that I organized one without so much as a trip to The Office for any query, comment or words of discouragement from the big boss. Well, you can attribute that to a lot of reasons, like, he's been busy or he's got better things to do or he just stopped caring about us. Whatever it is, I'd rather not know. Too much tension has been looming over the building and I wouldn't want to have a taste of it first hand.

So last week was all about preparing the presentations. While I buried myself in my computer, drowning everything with Akon's convict music. I isolated myself from office pressure. At times though, I get to overhear people talk and I end up absorbing some of their negative energy. But since I really don't have anything more to say about their concerns, I just go back to my work and finish what I had lined up to do.

The financial part of the presentations I was able to finish early with all the data already available from the finance dept. But for the work reports, I had to rely on the promptness of submissions to get a head start. Consolidation - my hatest job ever! I always end up with a headache each time. Before, it required migrating data into a prescribed format then checking and rechecking the breakdowns with the summaries. Before, I don't even reach the checking and rechecking anymore. I just migrate the data and submit the consolidated reports! Then after some time I would get calls from my coordinator asking me about the discrepancies, which obviously were never scrutinized at my level. Embarrassing! I learned my lesson and put an extra effort to ensure that all adds up.

And so I was overjoyed, when we were prescribed new reporting formats. I gave them to the staff with strict instructions on how to use it - just fill it up and don't change anything about the format. Well, I had to! As I was told to do the same by my coordinator. After one quarter into it, I was able to cut my consolidation time to 4 days. And this time, only two days! And already included the validation of figures! Well, I had to otherwise I would have nothing to report. LOL!

The day of the assessment, it was gloomy. There's been news of a storm coming and I was a bit concerned at the thought of our bosses flying in from Manila. I only got to stop worrying when I received a text message that they already landed and that they are heading to the office. When I reached the office, I made some last minute printing of documents and rushed upstairs.

And there I was, I was prepared! Suddenly, I was seeing my old self and what I liked about myself again. I saw able to look at people in the eye, the big boss in particular, and I was not afraid. Everything went the way I wanted it to - us, finally sitting down and address our financial concerns, the big boss going into the details and getting us to make commitments bordering on the impossible, I taking down notes and everybody not talking until the big boss left the room. I had it all played inside my head long before it actually happened. But despite the tension, I'd say that everything turned out okay. Somehow, the universe conspired to


So I am grateful. I somehow to find old self in the chaotic situation that I placed myself into. I was happy, despite the fact that I lost my voice again, after days of flu without proper rest. It felt great!

Words of Thanks
I thank the hubby for putting up with my using his laptop to finish the work that I had to bring home. Thanks for the cups of tea and the back rub. I'd like to thank my son for his ability to put himself to sleep without requiring any help. I'd like to thank the rain for stopping/ slowing down when it was time for me to go to the office. Thanks to the caterer who served great food at a very affordable price. Thanks to our cashier who brought tidings of financial gains which I never expected. Thanks to our clerk who did all the legwork to get the activity done without much trouble. I thanks all my colleagues who nurtured an environment of sharing without inhibitions. I thank management for guidance, which, I know was bordering on mockery but quite essential as it is. I thank the universe for conspiring to make all these happen to me. And I thank myself for being prepared to receive it all.

Life is still good, eh?

I kneel down to say my prayer.

Dance with me Tonight

The thing with waking up to a raining morning is it gets me in the mood for some thinking and writing about whatever. Today, I opened my eyes to a song playing inside my head- Dance with me Tonight by Hugh Grant still from the movie Music and Lyrics.

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Benjo Mangayo ko Kwarta

English Translation: Benjo, Give me Money

A lawyer friend shared with the hubby this you-tube video done by, obviously, an Ilonggo. Reminds me of those times when you find yourself watching a foreign film and in your boredom you start dubbing the movie in a more interesting tone. Or that junk food commercial where two guys try to make something out of the actions of the ladies at a nearby table. Gawain ng walang magawa sa buhay. LOL! If you enjoyed that brand of past time, you will find this video to your amusement. It's been a while since I laughed my heart out while watching a movie. I sure did enjoy this one.

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Music and Lyrics

It's funny seeing Hugh Grant wiggle his hips to an 80s song, much so see him sing. Seems to me he enjoyed doing the movie, experimenting with new roles. And of course, the British accent, something that I always look forward to. Drew Barrymore was cool too! Playing a very light role, not so much emotional preparation really needed there. But the tandem was a little off for me. There was neither the "tickle my heart effect" like in Notting Hill nor the "emotionally charged" confrontations as is Ever After. The connection that materialized was just not that solid. Until they kissed, I was so sure that Alex (played by Hugh Grant) was just into it for the task (spoiler!)

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