I've seen mango trees for most of my life, but yesterday is probably the first time that I saw a tree filled with ripe mangoes still in its branches. Even in mango orchards, I don't recall seeing the golden yellow fruit attached to it still. Even as a kid, we would never have the patience to wait for the fruit to turn yellow before plucking it down to earth. Yet there it was, begging for some kid to climb up its branches and pick out the sickeningly sweet delight with their sticky little fingers.
So where is this mango tree that I speak of? Right in one of my client's backyard. I asked the security guards why no one bothered to pick it. He said that his boss didn't give permission and they were too embarrassed to ask. A pity, I thought, that all these ripe fruits would go to waste. Being in the middle of nowhere, in the heart of a vast industrial park, there are no kids running around to take advantage of this bounty.
I was to meet with the boss in a few minutes for an appointment. We spoke about business, some small talk and then closing the deal with a handshake. Before I walked out the door, I asked him about the mango tree and all why no one bothered to pluck any of it. Apparently, they already have, the first batch of mangoes going to the staff. This second batch is still not that ripe, he explains, but as soon as it is he will ask the groundsmen to gather them up and distribute them to his people. I resisted the urge to have a taste there and then.
So alright, I'm not a real big fan of mangoes, but I would really love to pick them. As a kid, I took pleasure in climbing up to the "alatiris" and "santol" trees in our compound and picking the ripe ones out of the branches. The pleasure that I get out of 'raping' these trees for their fruits was even better than eating all those fruits themselves. Strange.
*****
There was a big meeting at the office, apparently there is a crisis at work. Not enough sales supposedly. Gulp... don't I manage the sales department? So unsurprisingly all eyes were watching me fidget in my seat. I could only wonder what was going on behind their beady little eyes. Upper management asks for their understanding if they don't get the usual bonuses this year, nor the mid year pay that they had grown so accustomed to. Now I know how Alice felt when she shriveled down to pint sized proportions.
Okay, a moment please to defend myself? This is not my fault at all! Hahaha! Sure, they'll believe me, but it isn't really! I'll be the first to admit, I could be doing more than what I'm doing now, but sales are definitely not slipping compared to last year. If at all, they've pretty much stayed the same despite the global financial crisis. The only shortcoming that I will confess to is not having met my target SO FAR. Well, I've set a pretty high target for my team this year which explains the wide discrepancy between actual and forecasted sales. That's another matter entirely since overhead and capex weren't really adjusted according to the forecast anyway.
Stop staring at me! Okay, I'll be pretending to be out for a very important meeting right now and avoid the pitchforks... nuninuninu...
While driving to this imaginary appointment, my imaginary friend asks: "So what's wrong, anyway?" I look into his invisible eyes and tell him that nothing is wrong with sales. But should I also tell him the real story? That of where all the sales are going to? Maybe I shouldn't. After all, upper management is not pinning any blame on me, just gently poking me to pick up the slack as soon as possible. And I did agree to such a huge target, darn stupid pride!
Oh well, more work for me. Good thing is that approaching the half, business outlook is pretty darn good even for a recession. The team has been able to corral some pretty good contracts, and we've been growing our client list despite hard times. But I can't tell that to anyone unless the ink has set and dried and the receipts go flying out. Learned long ago never to count your chickens until they've hatched.
*****
Did I tell you I've lost most of my cable channels thanks to SkyCable's reformatting? Can't complain, it's an illegal connection (shhh...) so I'm stuck with the few channels that I have. Kinda reminds me of the time when I didn't have cable. The positive side of it is that I get to read more often. In fact, my reading has sort of interrupted my writing, not entirely a bad thing since I usually find myself writing nonsense anyway. This reading phase may actually be good for the brain. hehehe.
The bad thing is that is went out right smack in the middle of the playoffs. Had been following the games through nba.com instead of watching the action as it unfolds (albeit on delayed telecast). The same goes with the current formula one season, how I miss the drone of the engines as they fly past the cameras. Incidentally, I don't think the Scuderia have much of a chance this year, rats.
Showing posts with label snippets of a bored mind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label snippets of a bored mind. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
It's getting too hot for comfort
I guess it's fate. Got a wedding invitation that explicitly asks the gentlemen to wear suits. Just when I thought I've dodged this, it suddenly comes up again.
Maybe it's about time I got one. I never did own a suit and it might come in handy one of these days. Nolan had one tailor made a while back and I'm thinking of visiting his tailor for this purpose. Yes I will have to shell out some dough though I hope it will be worth it. And of course I also have to get new dress shoes as well, and a shirt plus a tie. Egad!
*****
Ugh... the summer is here. I have active sweat glands so this season is hell for me. My electric bill skyrockets, I can't reuse my pants, a short walk leaves me all sweaty and I take too many baths a day. And yesterday I heard on the news that the other day was the hottest day recorded in recent Philippine history. Great.
*****
Got into a fender bender yesterday. Dumb ass drove his SUV past me, hitting the bumper. This year, I've had quite a number of accidents with Kermit. I usually average just one per year but in the past 3.5 months have already been involved in 3. Been slipping, I guess.
*****
Had to leave the office quite early today. Got into sort of an argument with a VP. Of course I can't argue with authority so I thought it best to split before I get tempted to. It's funny how some people presume that I'm supposed to be doing a lot of stuff beyond the JD. I mean, I don't mind as long as they cooperate but when they don't it just makes no sense to me.
*****
Work has been all crap lately. Made me think back to what my sign said would be a great year for my career. Bullshit.
*****
A friend of mine broke his ankle a few weeks ago. In the spirit of friendship, here's what I wrote for our yahoogroups:
"Mark M. Reyes broke his ankle in 2 places while skimboarding (astig pakinggan no? first time lang nun...lesson number one: do not skimboard while drunk. hahaha!) last March 27. He underwent surgery and is now recuperating at home while learning how to play with his organ. To show our support to our blockmate, I will accept donations in cash and kind (pwede pagkain, alak, yosi, babae, etc).
Kung interesado kayo, reply na lang sa email na ito. Tapos lahat ng proceeds will go to our next block party. Dun natin ipagdasal and mabilis na recovery ni mark kay san miguel. Yung mga out of the country, ipadala ko sa inyo bank account number ko... pwede nyo dun ideposit. May paypal din pala ako, so pede rin credit cards. hehehe."
Hopefully he will get well much sooner in his desire to kick my ass as soon as possible.
Maybe it's about time I got one. I never did own a suit and it might come in handy one of these days. Nolan had one tailor made a while back and I'm thinking of visiting his tailor for this purpose. Yes I will have to shell out some dough though I hope it will be worth it. And of course I also have to get new dress shoes as well, and a shirt plus a tie. Egad!
*****
Ugh... the summer is here. I have active sweat glands so this season is hell for me. My electric bill skyrockets, I can't reuse my pants, a short walk leaves me all sweaty and I take too many baths a day. And yesterday I heard on the news that the other day was the hottest day recorded in recent Philippine history. Great.
*****
Got into a fender bender yesterday. Dumb ass drove his SUV past me, hitting the bumper. This year, I've had quite a number of accidents with Kermit. I usually average just one per year but in the past 3.5 months have already been involved in 3. Been slipping, I guess.
*****
Had to leave the office quite early today. Got into sort of an argument with a VP. Of course I can't argue with authority so I thought it best to split before I get tempted to. It's funny how some people presume that I'm supposed to be doing a lot of stuff beyond the JD. I mean, I don't mind as long as they cooperate but when they don't it just makes no sense to me.
*****
Work has been all crap lately. Made me think back to what my sign said would be a great year for my career. Bullshit.
*****
A friend of mine broke his ankle a few weeks ago. In the spirit of friendship, here's what I wrote for our yahoogroups:
"Mark M. Reyes broke his ankle in 2 places while skimboarding (astig pakinggan no? first time lang nun...lesson number one: do not skimboard while drunk. hahaha!) last March 27. He underwent surgery and is now recuperating at home while learning how to play with his organ. To show our support to our blockmate, I will accept donations in cash and kind (pwede pagkain, alak, yosi, babae, etc).
Kung interesado kayo, reply na lang sa email na ito. Tapos lahat ng proceeds will go to our next block party. Dun natin ipagdasal and mabilis na recovery ni mark kay san miguel. Yung mga out of the country, ipadala ko sa inyo bank account number ko... pwede nyo dun ideposit. May paypal din pala ako, so pede rin credit cards. hehehe."
Hopefully he will get well much sooner in his desire to kick my ass as soon as possible.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Not finished...
Just when you think I've blogged enough, suddenly there's more! Bwahaha!
*****
Got home to find Leo on the LaZboy... he conveniently filled up the ice cube tray (I defrosted yesterday) so I happily plunked some ice cubes into a glass and had my fill of Johnny. He had one as well, while watching Gothika on AXN (he watches while as of blog-time).
So what to write? I dunno... I just have this urge to turn on the computer and tip tap on the keyboard, hoping for something to come to mind to write about.
*****
Watched Vicky Cristina Barcelona on pirated dvd today before I went to the office. The spanish guitar laden soundtrack was awesome. Wish I could play a tune instead of just vague sounding powerchords courtesy of the self-help songhits accompaniment that I used to learn guitar. So I was tempted to unravel my old six string but thought against it as I remembered that I have nothing to play from memory and certainly could not willow my way through a tune.
So instead, I daydreamed about spending a day lying in bed with both Penelope and Scarlett. That bastard! The other chick (Vicky, was it?) wasn't bad, either. She has this magnetic aura around her that seems deeper and more sensual than Scarlett. (Wait... are these words from me? What the hell am I talking about? I sound more like a gay movie critic than anything. Hmm... need to switch character...)
That bitch was ugly, but do-able. (There, that sounds better.)
*****
I find myself in sort of a pickle. Suddenly I realize that lowering expectations, though healthy, leads to a lot of discontent as well. And this is what I find inconvenient about this whole ordeal of mine. By not really giving myself more of a chance (or opportunity, is it?), I end up thinking about it more. This sucks. The more you think about it, the more you want more but then you consciously try to haul your ass back to the ground because you told yourself so from the very beginning.
Case in point: that awful want for a home theater system. (well... yeah. This could work as a quasi-illustration) I've been telling myself that with how things are going for me at this point in my life, better try to get that out of your head until some mystic force of nature enables me to have a go at it. But the more that I tell myself that I can't afford it, the heavier my credit card seems to feel in my wallet. Solution? I rid my wallet of 2 of my credit cards. (Yeah right, that helps) So now, I find myself thinking what if I just bought the damn thing in the first place and leave the worrying till later? (Hmm, that doesn't make sense, does it?)
Well anyway, the point is that I haven't bought the damn thing but I want it now more than ever. So imagine the mental anguish. Having thought about something for so long but not being able to have it because of some stupid moratorium that you had enforced upon yourself.
Yes, I'm talking about carbs, sure.
*****
Back in college, people used to say I had an alter ego named Jap. He was the evil, more obnoxious me. I can't imagine why they invented this personality but they did have a lot of laughs at my (or Jap's?) expense. This personality suddenly resurfaced over a conversation with Jundel and Nolan. Borne out of a discussion about having to write about a single topic over 500 times (yes, it is possible), they imagined myself having more than one (or two) personalities which is why I was able to pull the job off. Jap was one of them, allegedly.
So now, I am thinking (thanks to Johnny) about the repercussions (or benefits) of having more than one personality. Stephen King allegedly has a multiple personality disorder, which is probably why he can write about a bunch of different persons so well in one sitting, I can imagine. I grew up reading some of his earlier works and do find a depth of understanding he possesses writing about so many dysfunctional people. Hmm, am now beginning to doubt my sanity here.
*****
I bought a dvd of Tropic Thunder a few months back. (I think I even blogged about it in the past) Well, the dvd still doesn't work. A waste of 50 bucks that sure was! But while buying a pack of cigarettes at our friendly, all day all night even on Good Friday neighborhood store earlier today, I spied a copy that they were renting out. Was awfully tempted to rent it but somehow I was able to resist the urge.
I'm a big fan of comedy, and from what I hear I am sure to love this flick. But why I am able to resist watching it is some sort of mystery to me. Maybe I've gone soft on my love for a great laugh, or maybe subconsciously (and with a dose of premonition) I know that it isn't as funny as some of my all time favorites.
I did make a promise to myself that I will definitely be watching Fast and Furious 4 in a movie house. This is personal history in the making. This will be the first time I will be watching a movie in a theater since Happy Feet. So far, I've not invited anyone as I feel that I want to watch it on my own... a sort of personal pilgrimage back to the movies. And yes, I plan to splurge! LaZboy seats, popcorn (Yes, carbs I know) and the best darn THX system known to man. It should, nay, it will be special! Hahaha! How pathetic I have become.
Either that or Monsters versus Aliens. There's still a chance, actually.
*****
Hmm... watching some snippets of Gothika in between sentences has piqued my interest in the movie. I knew blogging was a waste of time!
*****
Got home to find Leo on the LaZboy... he conveniently filled up the ice cube tray (I defrosted yesterday) so I happily plunked some ice cubes into a glass and had my fill of Johnny. He had one as well, while watching Gothika on AXN (he watches while as of blog-time).
So what to write? I dunno... I just have this urge to turn on the computer and tip tap on the keyboard, hoping for something to come to mind to write about.
*****
Watched Vicky Cristina Barcelona on pirated dvd today before I went to the office. The spanish guitar laden soundtrack was awesome. Wish I could play a tune instead of just vague sounding powerchords courtesy of the self-help songhits accompaniment that I used to learn guitar. So I was tempted to unravel my old six string but thought against it as I remembered that I have nothing to play from memory and certainly could not willow my way through a tune.
So instead, I daydreamed about spending a day lying in bed with both Penelope and Scarlett. That bastard! The other chick (Vicky, was it?) wasn't bad, either. She has this magnetic aura around her that seems deeper and more sensual than Scarlett. (Wait... are these words from me? What the hell am I talking about? I sound more like a gay movie critic than anything. Hmm... need to switch character...)
That bitch was ugly, but do-able. (There, that sounds better.)
*****
I find myself in sort of a pickle. Suddenly I realize that lowering expectations, though healthy, leads to a lot of discontent as well. And this is what I find inconvenient about this whole ordeal of mine. By not really giving myself more of a chance (or opportunity, is it?), I end up thinking about it more. This sucks. The more you think about it, the more you want more but then you consciously try to haul your ass back to the ground because you told yourself so from the very beginning.
Case in point: that awful want for a home theater system. (well... yeah. This could work as a quasi-illustration) I've been telling myself that with how things are going for me at this point in my life, better try to get that out of your head until some mystic force of nature enables me to have a go at it. But the more that I tell myself that I can't afford it, the heavier my credit card seems to feel in my wallet. Solution? I rid my wallet of 2 of my credit cards. (Yeah right, that helps) So now, I find myself thinking what if I just bought the damn thing in the first place and leave the worrying till later? (Hmm, that doesn't make sense, does it?)
Well anyway, the point is that I haven't bought the damn thing but I want it now more than ever. So imagine the mental anguish. Having thought about something for so long but not being able to have it because of some stupid moratorium that you had enforced upon yourself.
Yes, I'm talking about carbs, sure.
*****
Back in college, people used to say I had an alter ego named Jap. He was the evil, more obnoxious me. I can't imagine why they invented this personality but they did have a lot of laughs at my (or Jap's?) expense. This personality suddenly resurfaced over a conversation with Jundel and Nolan. Borne out of a discussion about having to write about a single topic over 500 times (yes, it is possible), they imagined myself having more than one (or two) personalities which is why I was able to pull the job off. Jap was one of them, allegedly.
So now, I am thinking (thanks to Johnny) about the repercussions (or benefits) of having more than one personality. Stephen King allegedly has a multiple personality disorder, which is probably why he can write about a bunch of different persons so well in one sitting, I can imagine. I grew up reading some of his earlier works and do find a depth of understanding he possesses writing about so many dysfunctional people. Hmm, am now beginning to doubt my sanity here.
*****
I bought a dvd of Tropic Thunder a few months back. (I think I even blogged about it in the past) Well, the dvd still doesn't work. A waste of 50 bucks that sure was! But while buying a pack of cigarettes at our friendly, all day all night even on Good Friday neighborhood store earlier today, I spied a copy that they were renting out. Was awfully tempted to rent it but somehow I was able to resist the urge.
I'm a big fan of comedy, and from what I hear I am sure to love this flick. But why I am able to resist watching it is some sort of mystery to me. Maybe I've gone soft on my love for a great laugh, or maybe subconsciously (and with a dose of premonition) I know that it isn't as funny as some of my all time favorites.
I did make a promise to myself that I will definitely be watching Fast and Furious 4 in a movie house. This is personal history in the making. This will be the first time I will be watching a movie in a theater since Happy Feet. So far, I've not invited anyone as I feel that I want to watch it on my own... a sort of personal pilgrimage back to the movies. And yes, I plan to splurge! LaZboy seats, popcorn (Yes, carbs I know) and the best darn THX system known to man. It should, nay, it will be special! Hahaha! How pathetic I have become.
Either that or Monsters versus Aliens. There's still a chance, actually.
*****
Hmm... watching some snippets of Gothika in between sentences has piqued my interest in the movie. I knew blogging was a waste of time!
Smelling Cinnamon and other stories out of empiricy (what?)
The table next to me seats 4 people, a sweet old couple with what seems to be their daughter and son-in-law. They are having a "soft" conversation, smiling and chuckling at what apparently transpired on their out-of-town adventure lately. Then the server comes out with three cinnamon buns. Three, yes. Three buns for four people. I found it odd. Maybe there was a mistake, maybe another cinnamon bun was on its way. I was trying to find out the mystery of the missing bun through my peripheral when the son-in-law asked the server for a knife. Hmm... strange. Why would you need a knife for a bun? A few seconds after and the server comes out with the said butter knife and hands it to the son-in-law. The son-in-law then cuts a cinnamon bun in half, hands one part to his wife and then leaves the other half for himself.
My thoughts? Either this young couple's excessively sweet or really really cheap!
*****
A Pajero is parked in front of me. While it parked, already sounded funny to me. Something seems to be amiss. So the guy parks, his family steps out to the restrooms while he opens the hood and peers into the engine. He is obviously lost in the engine, trying to figure out what was wrong. He goes to the back, and returns with a flashlight in hand. He jiggles it around all over the engine and scratches his near-bald head with it. He goes around back into the driver's seat and starts the diesel. It starts alright, but then he tries to put it in drive (Obviously it was an automatic from Subic) and then I hear the gears try to tear themselves apart. The sound was terrible, but the guy still struggles with it. The engine stalls, the gears are probably stuck now. The family comes back and without any question goes back into the Pajero. The guy shakes his head, goes back out to close the hood and tries starting the engine anew. It starts, gurgles metal and stalls. He tries is again, I hear him putting the tranny in reverse and it seems to have done the trick. He backs out of the slot, and when he tries to put it in drive, it stalls again. He seems irritated now, and seems to have started it in drive. The Pajero jackrabbits to life and he sustains it, now they're running. Tsk tsk... hope he doesn't lose it on the expressway else traffic ensues and I'd be stuck behind it.
*****
One advantage that I do love about the holy week on the expressway is the notable absence of trucks plying the SLEX. Of course, with most businesses closed, they have no destination. Being a sort of "expert" on the SLEX, I have noticed that come 8:30pm, the trucks come barging in on the highway, making life miserable for the relatively tiny cars that are racing home to the metro. These trucks are bulky, bumbling disasters waiting to happen on the road and many a time have I found myself clutching to the steering wheel for dear life when these monsters come swerving by.
Of course, the realization that these things are essential to our daily lives gives me some sort of consolation. How do you think the goods at 168 get there anyway? I have also had some experience in the past stuffing the containers that these trucks lug around, so I can't really say that they're all evil and a nuisance.
Thank God scooters aren't allowed on the SLEX.
My thoughts? Either this young couple's excessively sweet or really really cheap!
*****
A Pajero is parked in front of me. While it parked, already sounded funny to me. Something seems to be amiss. So the guy parks, his family steps out to the restrooms while he opens the hood and peers into the engine. He is obviously lost in the engine, trying to figure out what was wrong. He goes to the back, and returns with a flashlight in hand. He jiggles it around all over the engine and scratches his near-bald head with it. He goes around back into the driver's seat and starts the diesel. It starts alright, but then he tries to put it in drive (Obviously it was an automatic from Subic) and then I hear the gears try to tear themselves apart. The sound was terrible, but the guy still struggles with it. The engine stalls, the gears are probably stuck now. The family comes back and without any question goes back into the Pajero. The guy shakes his head, goes back out to close the hood and tries starting the engine anew. It starts, gurgles metal and stalls. He tries is again, I hear him putting the tranny in reverse and it seems to have done the trick. He backs out of the slot, and when he tries to put it in drive, it stalls again. He seems irritated now, and seems to have started it in drive. The Pajero jackrabbits to life and he sustains it, now they're running. Tsk tsk... hope he doesn't lose it on the expressway else traffic ensues and I'd be stuck behind it.
*****
One advantage that I do love about the holy week on the expressway is the notable absence of trucks plying the SLEX. Of course, with most businesses closed, they have no destination. Being a sort of "expert" on the SLEX, I have noticed that come 8:30pm, the trucks come barging in on the highway, making life miserable for the relatively tiny cars that are racing home to the metro. These trucks are bulky, bumbling disasters waiting to happen on the road and many a time have I found myself clutching to the steering wheel for dear life when these monsters come swerving by.
Of course, the realization that these things are essential to our daily lives gives me some sort of consolation. How do you think the goods at 168 get there anyway? I have also had some experience in the past stuffing the containers that these trucks lug around, so I can't really say that they're all evil and a nuisance.
Thank God scooters aren't allowed on the SLEX.
Critters on the upside
How often have I been finding cockroaches lying belly up at home? Well, they've been everywhere lately. I used to be diligent in sweeping them up and throwing them away. Not for the past two weeks though. I've been observing the 3 or 4 cockroaches that I haven't swept up and this past week, I've noticed how strange it all is. First, they are still alive on the first day that I see them. Which is why I was apprehensive in getting rid of them at first. Figured that it was a ploy to get me to bend over. The next few days, they're dead. Cool, but I am still too lazy to do anything about it. After a week, they are reduced to their exoskeleton and wings. Their insides seem to have either dried up or consumed by other critters (ants, mites and the like).
But why do I care? I don't actually, but I do find it strange that this phenomenon seems to have an inversely proportional effect on the number of live cockroaches that I find crawling around the house. The maximum overturned cockroaches that I have counted is four. And then the toll stops and I don't see any live ones anymore. This has changed my whole attitude about dead bugs around the house. They don't bother me as much given the upsides that they bring.
*****
WTF! I'm talking about bugs again! How more bored can I possibly get!
But why do I care? I don't actually, but I do find it strange that this phenomenon seems to have an inversely proportional effect on the number of live cockroaches that I find crawling around the house. The maximum overturned cockroaches that I have counted is four. And then the toll stops and I don't see any live ones anymore. This has changed my whole attitude about dead bugs around the house. They don't bother me as much given the upsides that they bring.
*****
WTF! I'm talking about bugs again! How more bored can I possibly get!
Good Friday Blues
Got really close to the office's photocopier today. Think I'm gonna be shooting blanks for a while. What I am doing at the office on a Good Friday is indeed something of a mystery. Why I didn't do all the stuff I had to do today previously is a result of many things. First was the Calaguas trip. Then a gazillion things that needed to be done at the office when I got back. Then I got super lazy the next weekend and before I knew it, here I am driving from the office to my favorite hang out along the northbound stretch of the SLEX.
It feels kinda strange, I'm the only one who came from work. The gas station is cramped with vacation goers, a whole lot of them kids who just puked their guts out after the long drive. I missed my favorite Chickenjoy dinner because Jollibee was full of people trying to get a snack for the drive home. Had to do with a hotdog sandwich from Bonjour for sustenance.
I wonder if I were Catholic, would I be as willing to travel the distance to the office on a Good Friday? Can't say really, maybe I still would for the convenience of being employed. My boss certainly didn't find it strange when I texted her that I would be going to the office. Can you spell slave-driver? Hahaha!
*****
Leo is currently living at my house for the vacation. Why, I do not know. He does have his whole house to himself, so why he wants to crash at my place is strange, if not dysfunctional. So now I can't go on with my planned general clean up because he's there. I'd hate cleaning up and finding all of his shoe marks on the floor after just having mopped up. Arrgh! There are a lot of reasons why I chose to live alone, and having him crash over at my place is certainly not one of them. But what can you do?
*****
Am convinced that all of my hard work at the office today is for naught. I dunno, just have this stinking feeling. I won't tell any details, but there is one part of this "project" that I have to rely on someone else to be able to complete it. And I don't think this person could possibly move heaven and earth, so I can say that it is a complete waste of time. So why am I still working through the holidays for this? Because 1) I've nothing better to do, 2) I want to prove a point at the office, 3) My boss told me to.
*****
Warning: Emo comes up next...
I've been thinking a lot lately about why I don't just pack up and go back home to my parent's house. Been having a tough time trying to budget a lot of things that come with the territory of being independent, and I so miss the days when all I had to do was wait for my daily allowance. Lately, I found myself balancing a lot of my expenses and trying to figure out a way past them. This wasn't a problem when I was doing two jobs, but I gave one up to preserve my sanity and so here I am with another problem.
Well, I did come up with a lot of solutions, all of which I don't like. I could move to a cheaper apartment, get a housemate, get a loan (loan consolidation, that bull), or get back on the web review gig. But inertia keeps me from moving towards any of them.
Mom texted me this afternoon, informing me that she had cooked my favorite dish and was welcome to come home and partake of it. I didn't reply, I was then neck deep in paperwork and numbers that I got irritated at the thought of stopping in the middle of things to say thanks but no thanks. I've noticed that the both of them have been putting up ploys to get me to visit home of late. Reminds me of "Cats in the Cradle" a whole lot.
You see, ever since college I had sworn that I would leave the "nest" as soon as I found work. Seven years after and I have so far kept to that promise (save for a couple of months when I had no choice but to go back). And now, I am entertaining thoughts of coming back home? It's practical, it's convenient, it makes so much sense, but you know me always trying to prove myself to everyone.
So far, I think I'd still be able to keep up this lifestyle for a few more months before finding myself in dire need of tweaking my finances. Guess I'll be riding my luck as far as it would take me just because of my stupid pride. Hopefully a stroke of luck would come by and I wouldn't have to be too drastic. Till then, guess I just gotta keep paying the rent.
*****
Boo! It's April. Not only is it the birthmonth, but there are a lot of things which I associate with this month.
First, it's also the month when I joined good 'ol BE. Bittersweet, but worth it definitely. Then, there's this thing that happened last year, shaking up the whole household (you can guess, but I'm not telling). April is also when most of my childhood vacations happened, Baguio, Pansol, Pansol again and again, Bicol, Batangas. The coincidence that it is a summer month means that a lot happens just around this time obviously. All of my break-ups occurred on this month too... weird.
So a third of the way through April, wonder what happens this year?
It feels kinda strange, I'm the only one who came from work. The gas station is cramped with vacation goers, a whole lot of them kids who just puked their guts out after the long drive. I missed my favorite Chickenjoy dinner because Jollibee was full of people trying to get a snack for the drive home. Had to do with a hotdog sandwich from Bonjour for sustenance.
I wonder if I were Catholic, would I be as willing to travel the distance to the office on a Good Friday? Can't say really, maybe I still would for the convenience of being employed. My boss certainly didn't find it strange when I texted her that I would be going to the office. Can you spell slave-driver? Hahaha!
*****
Leo is currently living at my house for the vacation. Why, I do not know. He does have his whole house to himself, so why he wants to crash at my place is strange, if not dysfunctional. So now I can't go on with my planned general clean up because he's there. I'd hate cleaning up and finding all of his shoe marks on the floor after just having mopped up. Arrgh! There are a lot of reasons why I chose to live alone, and having him crash over at my place is certainly not one of them. But what can you do?
*****
Am convinced that all of my hard work at the office today is for naught. I dunno, just have this stinking feeling. I won't tell any details, but there is one part of this "project" that I have to rely on someone else to be able to complete it. And I don't think this person could possibly move heaven and earth, so I can say that it is a complete waste of time. So why am I still working through the holidays for this? Because 1) I've nothing better to do, 2) I want to prove a point at the office, 3) My boss told me to.
*****
Warning: Emo comes up next...
I've been thinking a lot lately about why I don't just pack up and go back home to my parent's house. Been having a tough time trying to budget a lot of things that come with the territory of being independent, and I so miss the days when all I had to do was wait for my daily allowance. Lately, I found myself balancing a lot of my expenses and trying to figure out a way past them. This wasn't a problem when I was doing two jobs, but I gave one up to preserve my sanity and so here I am with another problem.
Well, I did come up with a lot of solutions, all of which I don't like. I could move to a cheaper apartment, get a housemate, get a loan (loan consolidation, that bull), or get back on the web review gig. But inertia keeps me from moving towards any of them.
Mom texted me this afternoon, informing me that she had cooked my favorite dish and was welcome to come home and partake of it. I didn't reply, I was then neck deep in paperwork and numbers that I got irritated at the thought of stopping in the middle of things to say thanks but no thanks. I've noticed that the both of them have been putting up ploys to get me to visit home of late. Reminds me of "Cats in the Cradle" a whole lot.
You see, ever since college I had sworn that I would leave the "nest" as soon as I found work. Seven years after and I have so far kept to that promise (save for a couple of months when I had no choice but to go back). And now, I am entertaining thoughts of coming back home? It's practical, it's convenient, it makes so much sense, but you know me always trying to prove myself to everyone.
So far, I think I'd still be able to keep up this lifestyle for a few more months before finding myself in dire need of tweaking my finances. Guess I'll be riding my luck as far as it would take me just because of my stupid pride. Hopefully a stroke of luck would come by and I wouldn't have to be too drastic. Till then, guess I just gotta keep paying the rent.
*****
Boo! It's April. Not only is it the birthmonth, but there are a lot of things which I associate with this month.
First, it's also the month when I joined good 'ol BE. Bittersweet, but worth it definitely. Then, there's this thing that happened last year, shaking up the whole household (you can guess, but I'm not telling). April is also when most of my childhood vacations happened, Baguio, Pansol, Pansol again and again, Bicol, Batangas. The coincidence that it is a summer month means that a lot happens just around this time obviously. All of my break-ups occurred on this month too... weird.
So a third of the way through April, wonder what happens this year?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Aliens (or elves) have invaded my home!
Woke up at noon today. I came out of my room and noticed the house was still a mess. The aliens (or elves) still hadn't tidied up after themselves and are starting to irritate me. I am awfully tempted to go back to bed, giving the aliens (or elves) another shot at redemption, but I needed to go to the restroom and have my cigarette and coffee fix for this morning. Maybe tomorrow...
*****
Went to another Calaruega wedding yesterday where I became unofficial cameraman for 2 of the bridesmaids. Of course I didn't do a very good job as I spent much time tinkering with the settings of both cameras and taking nonsense pictures. Hanging out with Nolan, I've learned a couple of things about photography so I thought I'd try it out with their point and shoots. Well, I did manage to take some pictures that looked cool but I have no idea if these qualified as good shots. Oh well, so I will still be postponing my purchase of a real point and shoot camera until I can actually afford it. Hahaha!
*****
First time I've been to Sonya's Garden (the venue for the reception of said wedding). Didn't realize how big the place was, one could actually get lost roaming around the place. Wanted to buy something from their gift shop but there was nothing interesting there. But did buy some oatmeal cookies from their bread shop which also sold Mika'san chocolate crispies from Baguio. Strange.
*****
Friday caught me unusually lazy. I just ended a meeting at Makati and did not have an appointment till the afternoon so I called up Rachel to see if she wanted to have lunch. Turns out she was also getting restless in the office so we headed out to Cafe Juanita because I was by then really curious what the fuss was about that place.
We ordered the bagnet salad and the chicken inasal and it was delicious! The restaurant slash antique shop's reputation is truly well deserved. Then Rachel's bosses called up and she invited them over. They too hadn't been to the restaurant yet and were also curious about the food. They also seemed to like what they ordered and now Rachel is worried that they would often be having lunch there and end up spending more than the usual amount of money for food. Good luck!
*****
It's a Sunday, the laziest time of the week. I'm thinking of heading over to UP for a quick jog but the sun is threatening to sear my already sunburnt skin, so am waiting till late in the afternoon to don my cross trainers. In the meantime, I might start cleaning the house. Damn aliens (or elves)!
*****
Went to another Calaruega wedding yesterday where I became unofficial cameraman for 2 of the bridesmaids. Of course I didn't do a very good job as I spent much time tinkering with the settings of both cameras and taking nonsense pictures. Hanging out with Nolan, I've learned a couple of things about photography so I thought I'd try it out with their point and shoots. Well, I did manage to take some pictures that looked cool but I have no idea if these qualified as good shots. Oh well, so I will still be postponing my purchase of a real point and shoot camera until I can actually afford it. Hahaha!
*****
First time I've been to Sonya's Garden (the venue for the reception of said wedding). Didn't realize how big the place was, one could actually get lost roaming around the place. Wanted to buy something from their gift shop but there was nothing interesting there. But did buy some oatmeal cookies from their bread shop which also sold Mika'san chocolate crispies from Baguio. Strange.
*****
Friday caught me unusually lazy. I just ended a meeting at Makati and did not have an appointment till the afternoon so I called up Rachel to see if she wanted to have lunch. Turns out she was also getting restless in the office so we headed out to Cafe Juanita because I was by then really curious what the fuss was about that place.
We ordered the bagnet salad and the chicken inasal and it was delicious! The restaurant slash antique shop's reputation is truly well deserved. Then Rachel's bosses called up and she invited them over. They too hadn't been to the restaurant yet and were also curious about the food. They also seemed to like what they ordered and now Rachel is worried that they would often be having lunch there and end up spending more than the usual amount of money for food. Good luck!
*****
It's a Sunday, the laziest time of the week. I'm thinking of heading over to UP for a quick jog but the sun is threatening to sear my already sunburnt skin, so am waiting till late in the afternoon to don my cross trainers. In the meantime, I might start cleaning the house. Damn aliens (or elves)!
Friday, April 3, 2009
Italian Bugs
Hung out at a coffee shop in Makati this morning. Over my third cup of coffee, I overheard (not eavesdropped, mind you) 2 people talking…
“I’ve this new product, do you know royal jelly?” Says the salesman.
“Hai… yes. From bees?” Says the Japanese fellow.
“Yes, from bees. This product I have is 300 times more potent!”
“Why?”
“It was developed from Italian bees…”
At this point, I knew I had to turn and run. Italian bees? ITALIAN bees? My mind was playing tricks on me. In the first place, what do Italian bees have that other bees don’t? If you prick them, do they not bleed? If you tickle them, do they not have a “bee-laughing” fit? What if the hive was right on the Italian border with France, does this affect the general quality of the “royal jelly”? Did the pope bless them with holy water, thus creating a superior master bee-race? Vafancu…
So if you got Jollibee’s “royal jelly”, would it taste like secret sauce?
*****
The whole day has been marked by laziness. Up till now, I can’t seem to bring myself to do anything productive. I should be doing a number of things instead of writing, but then my brain and muscles simply won’t budge.
*****
Talked over the phone with my friend Mark. Surgery went well, he’s resting and recuperating in the hospital till Tuesday I think. Sounded kind of groggy, he just woke up and was still medicated. Managed to make him chuckle at an absurd remark, so I guess he’s alright.
Come to think of it, Mark was the person who has led me into a number of things that on my own I wouldn’t have done in the first place. Back in college, I was not really into the whole fraternity culture and was quite content being a “barbarian”. Mark was already decided on joining one and had asked me to go with it as well. Around that time, fratmen stopped courting me and so I assumed that I was no longer one of the select few. I told him I would consider it if they asked. True enough, someone did ask, not one of the many friends I had in this particular fraternity but a stranger. Yet, remembering Mark, I said yes. He on the other hand begged off due to family reasons, and so I went through it without him.
During a drinking session at his house, we talked about blogs. Neither one of us had one but we enjoyed reading stuff people wrote. He encouraged me to write one, he was planning the same. I wasn’t too hot on the idea then, but 4 years later, here I am bored to death and writing to stay sane. He still doesn’t have one, by the way.
During college again, we were always the loudmouths heckling the organization’s officers about an outing for the break. One day, the then chairman suddenly and without warning assigned us to organize it. We planned and planned over many bottles of beer, but the day prior suddenly realized that we had done nothing yet! Off we went to Los Banos, with my car’s battery kaput and with less than 24 hours before the outing to look for a resort. The house was great and while walking the surrounding areas, found a great little spot where the view was spectacular. We instantly made a pact to keep this spot secret and during the party discreetly lure our “partners” to the spot for some quality time. Getting there, after a few drinks and dinner, I made off to the secret spot, someone in tow. Mark was still at the party and did not seem to notice me heading off. As the crowd thinned out, he looked for me and asked someone where I was, to which the reply was that I went in that direction with “others”. Mark grew furious, thinking I gave away the spot. He called on everyone and charged there with the mob, only to find me not even seeing the pitch yet! He realized his mistake but it was too late. Blue balls had set in, and now everyone was there, no chance at privacy. Asswipe.
Well, there are a lot of other stories which comes naturally when you’re friends with someone over the years. Hope he gets well, still have to repay that debt I owe him high up in the mountains of Los Banos…
“I’ve this new product, do you know royal jelly?” Says the salesman.
“Hai… yes. From bees?” Says the Japanese fellow.
“Yes, from bees. This product I have is 300 times more potent!”
“Why?”
“It was developed from Italian bees…”
At this point, I knew I had to turn and run. Italian bees? ITALIAN bees? My mind was playing tricks on me. In the first place, what do Italian bees have that other bees don’t? If you prick them, do they not bleed? If you tickle them, do they not have a “bee-laughing” fit? What if the hive was right on the Italian border with France, does this affect the general quality of the “royal jelly”? Did the pope bless them with holy water, thus creating a superior master bee-race? Vafancu…
So if you got Jollibee’s “royal jelly”, would it taste like secret sauce?
*****
The whole day has been marked by laziness. Up till now, I can’t seem to bring myself to do anything productive. I should be doing a number of things instead of writing, but then my brain and muscles simply won’t budge.
*****
Talked over the phone with my friend Mark. Surgery went well, he’s resting and recuperating in the hospital till Tuesday I think. Sounded kind of groggy, he just woke up and was still medicated. Managed to make him chuckle at an absurd remark, so I guess he’s alright.
Come to think of it, Mark was the person who has led me into a number of things that on my own I wouldn’t have done in the first place. Back in college, I was not really into the whole fraternity culture and was quite content being a “barbarian”. Mark was already decided on joining one and had asked me to go with it as well. Around that time, fratmen stopped courting me and so I assumed that I was no longer one of the select few. I told him I would consider it if they asked. True enough, someone did ask, not one of the many friends I had in this particular fraternity but a stranger. Yet, remembering Mark, I said yes. He on the other hand begged off due to family reasons, and so I went through it without him.
During a drinking session at his house, we talked about blogs. Neither one of us had one but we enjoyed reading stuff people wrote. He encouraged me to write one, he was planning the same. I wasn’t too hot on the idea then, but 4 years later, here I am bored to death and writing to stay sane. He still doesn’t have one, by the way.
During college again, we were always the loudmouths heckling the organization’s officers about an outing for the break. One day, the then chairman suddenly and without warning assigned us to organize it. We planned and planned over many bottles of beer, but the day prior suddenly realized that we had done nothing yet! Off we went to Los Banos, with my car’s battery kaput and with less than 24 hours before the outing to look for a resort. The house was great and while walking the surrounding areas, found a great little spot where the view was spectacular. We instantly made a pact to keep this spot secret and during the party discreetly lure our “partners” to the spot for some quality time. Getting there, after a few drinks and dinner, I made off to the secret spot, someone in tow. Mark was still at the party and did not seem to notice me heading off. As the crowd thinned out, he looked for me and asked someone where I was, to which the reply was that I went in that direction with “others”. Mark grew furious, thinking I gave away the spot. He called on everyone and charged there with the mob, only to find me not even seeing the pitch yet! He realized his mistake but it was too late. Blue balls had set in, and now everyone was there, no chance at privacy. Asswipe.
Well, there are a lot of other stories which comes naturally when you’re friends with someone over the years. Hope he gets well, still have to repay that debt I owe him high up in the mountains of Los Banos…
Monday, March 23, 2009
Boredom taking over
Spell I-r-o-n-y
Woke up early this morning. Thought I would get to the office early or at least on time. Lo and behold when I went down to the garage, I had a flat tire. Some days, you just wish you hadn't gotten up from bed.
*****
Turn on the fan, time to spread some bull-shit!
Wouldn't you know it, have been preparing the wrong sort of data the whole day for my 3pm meeting. Well, my boss certainly didn't mind, I guess he was trying to see how much of my job I was really doing. Not much, admittedly but I do have a great talent for spewing out a lot of bullshit for the very little I know. This is probably why I know I'm headed to hell when I kick the bucket.
*****
No thanks to Mondays...
Again, I'm looking at another hectic week. There seems to be no end in sight until I am able to hit my target for the year, good luck to myself. Hopefully, luck favors me and hands me my job on a platter, otherwise it's going to be a very long year. But hey, I do owe my job a lot. For these past years, I have been putting in the least amount of effort and somehow end up getting the most credit. So in a way, I'm just satisfying the law of averages, or Murphy's Law whichever is more applicable.
*****
Timber!
Went for a jog at UP yesterday. As I was hobbling down past the sunken garden, I suddenly remembered that trivia question about how many coconut trees could be found there. The answer? Nil. Someone cut down the coconut tree, leaving a stump where it used to be. A sign of the times? I guess UP no longer tolerates people standing out and being unique and special, thus the coconut tree has to go! Either that or penis envy.
*****
Check mate
There used to be a really cool chess game on this computer of mine. So far, I've been able to beat it twice out of probably a hundred times (Hey, I'm rusty!) Got the urge to play all of a sudden here at the gas station, but I couldn't find it. Though I can't remember it, the most likely cause is that I got so frustrated at losing once again and deleted it out of rage. (Die computer, DIE!) Of course, the possibility that it simply got bored with playing with me and decided to uninstall itself is not that far off as well.
*****
Anyone from Nestle?
The buyer from Nestle sent me an email. It was a request for a quality audit on their stocks and deliveries. In the past, I would normally just reply that we weren't capable of doing this... blah blah. This is beyond our capabilities, and yet I am taking it on in the name of "business development". Frankly, I just want to get more business and of course, more money which is why I am researching how to subcontract it to other parties and pass it off as our own work. So does this entail that I am providing alternative solutions as an added value to my client or simply ripping them off and taking their money? Hmm... who cares! I need the effin bonus!
*****
Where's that trout when you need it?
(If you understand this title... I pity you, nerd!)
Facebook developer: So Hap, how do you like fb's new look?
Hap: Huh? did it change?
FB: Yes, we've made it better! Unfortunately some people are not used to it and are expressing their dislike.
Hap: Bunch of losers!
FB: But we truly understand how they feel and welcome their comments and insights. Maybe you would like to comment on it as well?
Hap: Why?
FB: Try it! It might be fun!
Hap: Uhm, I dunno. sounds like work to me.
FB: Mo-Fo.
*****
Me the pig
Woman: What do men look for in women?
Woman's Conventional Wisdom: Companionship
Hap: Me too, and the more women, the better the companionships!
Woman: What first attracts a man to a woman?
WCW: Her eyes
Hap: WTF? they're called breasts...
Woman: Do men also believe in love at first sight?
WCW: Absolutely
Hap: Yep, if they were naked the first time we see them... and horny.
Woman: True or false, a gentleman always lets a lady go first?
WCW: True
Hap: Depends on which is better, breasts or butt.
Woman: Is it alright for a girl to ask a guy out?
WCW: Women should be able to ask a guy out without losing dignity! You go girl!
Hap: No, unless you're putting out. Are you?
Woman: What is the best way to celebrate a year into a relationship?
WCW: A breathtaking date out of town, only the two of you! Aww...
Hap: Sex... definitely. Time to try out other orifices...
Woman: What is the best way to breaking up?
WCW: Communication is key, one has to understand the other and realize it's just not working out.
Hap: Seeing you in bed with your other girlfriend, maybe she'll join in on the fun!
Woman: Do men talk about how a girl is in bed with other guys?
WCW: A true gentleman should know better!
Hap: A true man needs not have sex with a particular girl to talk about it! hahaha!
Woman: What do guys think if a girl has had more than one sexual relationships in the past?
WCW: A guy should respect a girls privacy.
Hap: Ohh-ohh, me next!!!
Woman: Why don't some men call after a first date?
WCW: Because they want to seem cool and not over-eager.
Hap: Guess you didn't put out, huh?
Woke up early this morning. Thought I would get to the office early or at least on time. Lo and behold when I went down to the garage, I had a flat tire. Some days, you just wish you hadn't gotten up from bed.
*****
Turn on the fan, time to spread some bull-shit!
Wouldn't you know it, have been preparing the wrong sort of data the whole day for my 3pm meeting. Well, my boss certainly didn't mind, I guess he was trying to see how much of my job I was really doing. Not much, admittedly but I do have a great talent for spewing out a lot of bullshit for the very little I know. This is probably why I know I'm headed to hell when I kick the bucket.
*****
No thanks to Mondays...
Again, I'm looking at another hectic week. There seems to be no end in sight until I am able to hit my target for the year, good luck to myself. Hopefully, luck favors me and hands me my job on a platter, otherwise it's going to be a very long year. But hey, I do owe my job a lot. For these past years, I have been putting in the least amount of effort and somehow end up getting the most credit. So in a way, I'm just satisfying the law of averages, or Murphy's Law whichever is more applicable.
*****
Timber!
Went for a jog at UP yesterday. As I was hobbling down past the sunken garden, I suddenly remembered that trivia question about how many coconut trees could be found there. The answer? Nil. Someone cut down the coconut tree, leaving a stump where it used to be. A sign of the times? I guess UP no longer tolerates people standing out and being unique and special, thus the coconut tree has to go! Either that or penis envy.
*****
Check mate
There used to be a really cool chess game on this computer of mine. So far, I've been able to beat it twice out of probably a hundred times (Hey, I'm rusty!) Got the urge to play all of a sudden here at the gas station, but I couldn't find it. Though I can't remember it, the most likely cause is that I got so frustrated at losing once again and deleted it out of rage. (Die computer, DIE!) Of course, the possibility that it simply got bored with playing with me and decided to uninstall itself is not that far off as well.
*****
Anyone from Nestle?
The buyer from Nestle sent me an email. It was a request for a quality audit on their stocks and deliveries. In the past, I would normally just reply that we weren't capable of doing this... blah blah. This is beyond our capabilities, and yet I am taking it on in the name of "business development". Frankly, I just want to get more business and of course, more money which is why I am researching how to subcontract it to other parties and pass it off as our own work. So does this entail that I am providing alternative solutions as an added value to my client or simply ripping them off and taking their money? Hmm... who cares! I need the effin bonus!
*****
Where's that trout when you need it?
(If you understand this title... I pity you, nerd!)
Facebook developer: So Hap, how do you like fb's new look?
Hap: Huh? did it change?
FB: Yes, we've made it better! Unfortunately some people are not used to it and are expressing their dislike.
Hap: Bunch of losers!
FB: But we truly understand how they feel and welcome their comments and insights. Maybe you would like to comment on it as well?
Hap: Why?
FB: Try it! It might be fun!
Hap: Uhm, I dunno. sounds like work to me.
FB: Mo-Fo.
*****
Me the pig
Woman: What do men look for in women?
Woman's Conventional Wisdom: Companionship
Hap: Me too, and the more women, the better the companionships!
Woman: What first attracts a man to a woman?
WCW: Her eyes
Hap: WTF? they're called breasts...
Woman: Do men also believe in love at first sight?
WCW: Absolutely
Hap: Yep, if they were naked the first time we see them... and horny.
Woman: True or false, a gentleman always lets a lady go first?
WCW: True
Hap: Depends on which is better, breasts or butt.
Woman: Is it alright for a girl to ask a guy out?
WCW: Women should be able to ask a guy out without losing dignity! You go girl!
Hap: No, unless you're putting out. Are you?
Woman: What is the best way to celebrate a year into a relationship?
WCW: A breathtaking date out of town, only the two of you! Aww...
Hap: Sex... definitely. Time to try out other orifices...
Woman: What is the best way to breaking up?
WCW: Communication is key, one has to understand the other and realize it's just not working out.
Hap: Seeing you in bed with your other girlfriend, maybe she'll join in on the fun!
Woman: Do men talk about how a girl is in bed with other guys?
WCW: A true gentleman should know better!
Hap: A true man needs not have sex with a particular girl to talk about it! hahaha!
Woman: What do guys think if a girl has had more than one sexual relationships in the past?
WCW: A guy should respect a girls privacy.
Hap: Ohh-ohh, me next!!!
Woman: Why don't some men call after a first date?
WCW: Because they want to seem cool and not over-eager.
Hap: Guess you didn't put out, huh?
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Incoherent Thoughts
Woke up late this morning. As I was having coffee, I realized that I am incapable of holding a single coherent train of thought. Hence, I need to write if only to organize myself for the "short" day ahead of me.
*****
Recently, I've been finding myself unable to catch up with all the things that I need to do. There's work, then there's my reading list, then car repairs, a haircut, cleaning the house and so forth and so on. Timely that I had given up my other job, otherwise I wouldn't know how to manage all of these.
So this is the rat-race, I suppose. That spectacle of chasing after something that you are never really going to catch up to. I started working as an assistant, rock bottom in a small company with a salary pegged at minimum wage. Back then, I thought if I could only double that salary then everything would be fine. As the years went pass, I did get that raise year after year to a point that was unimaginable for me starting out then, but I find myself stuck even more firmly in quicksand. Heck, I'm even poorer than when I started out! Hmm, heirarchy of needs, I guess. The more that we have, the more that we want. And the finish line is nowhere in sight.
But don't be mistaken that this problem is limited only to finances, it is an all-encompassing phenomenon that I realize is part of life. A few days ago, I listed down my top 5 goals (unrealistic as it may seem) and realized that there is a long way to go to achieving contentment. Maybe what I really want is that Jedi mind trick to condition myself to find happiness in whatever state I might find myself in. The only problem being finding oneself too happy in a certain state that life gets pretty pointless after that.
Now this brings to mind the statement "Evolve or die" which I can't place where I got but has stuck to me, nonetheless. And next comes "Life's a journey, not a destination" which was popularized by Aerosmith. It would seem that happiness is in the pursuit and not in the actualization. Now that sucks.
Consider an example, two kids in the car with their parents going to a resort far away. One kid is playing with a PSP, the other is too excited about all the fun he could have at the resort. Who do you think yells, "Are we there, yet?" much to the irritation of the parents? One is perfectly happy where he is and the other is miserable at how long the journey is taking. Scenario 1: The resort is closed, and the family settles on an out of town picnic. So one kid is devastated while the other continues staring at his PSP. Scenario 2: The resort is open, one kid is terribly ecstatic while the other merely amused. Yes I know, dumb example. But hey, this is my space and I can put all the dumb things that comes to mind, can't I?
*****
Recently, I've been finding myself unable to catch up with all the things that I need to do. There's work, then there's my reading list, then car repairs, a haircut, cleaning the house and so forth and so on. Timely that I had given up my other job, otherwise I wouldn't know how to manage all of these.
So this is the rat-race, I suppose. That spectacle of chasing after something that you are never really going to catch up to. I started working as an assistant, rock bottom in a small company with a salary pegged at minimum wage. Back then, I thought if I could only double that salary then everything would be fine. As the years went pass, I did get that raise year after year to a point that was unimaginable for me starting out then, but I find myself stuck even more firmly in quicksand. Heck, I'm even poorer than when I started out! Hmm, heirarchy of needs, I guess. The more that we have, the more that we want. And the finish line is nowhere in sight.
But don't be mistaken that this problem is limited only to finances, it is an all-encompassing phenomenon that I realize is part of life. A few days ago, I listed down my top 5 goals (unrealistic as it may seem) and realized that there is a long way to go to achieving contentment. Maybe what I really want is that Jedi mind trick to condition myself to find happiness in whatever state I might find myself in. The only problem being finding oneself too happy in a certain state that life gets pretty pointless after that.
Now this brings to mind the statement "Evolve or die" which I can't place where I got but has stuck to me, nonetheless. And next comes "Life's a journey, not a destination" which was popularized by Aerosmith. It would seem that happiness is in the pursuit and not in the actualization. Now that sucks.
Consider an example, two kids in the car with their parents going to a resort far away. One kid is playing with a PSP, the other is too excited about all the fun he could have at the resort. Who do you think yells, "Are we there, yet?" much to the irritation of the parents? One is perfectly happy where he is and the other is miserable at how long the journey is taking. Scenario 1: The resort is closed, and the family settles on an out of town picnic. So one kid is devastated while the other continues staring at his PSP. Scenario 2: The resort is open, one kid is terribly ecstatic while the other merely amused. Yes I know, dumb example. But hey, this is my space and I can put all the dumb things that comes to mind, can't I?
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