Hello and Goodbye, Lafawnduh!

It saddens me that tonight before I go to sleep, I’ll be packing her and say goodbye…

… to Lafawnduh.

Yes. I have to say goodbye to Lafawnduh, a handy and quite light in weight 12-inch PowerBook G4 is Jose’s first Mac portable. He named it Lafawnduh from a character in Napoleon Dynamite that changed a character for the better. And as for the  leopard “skin” dress-up, it’s for the fierce effect

Me with Lafawnduh during a client’s meeting (Photo by Myles Jamito)

Jose whole-heartedly lent me Lafawnduh weeks ago as I badly needed a portable for a project since my Biggie/Hughie is still in the Mac hospital and to be virtually connected via the internet. Ohhhh… Lafawnduh’s one heck of a baby keeping me sane (of course I’m exaggerating).

Anyway, I have to return her now since her real master calls for her service and my project’s done already. With that, I thank my virtual boyfriend, Jose for sacrificing and trusting his Lafawnduh to me.

Awww… I will miss Lafawnduh . I think I’m having separation anxiety now

Flashback To My Childhood

My heart sank when I saw the old ancestral house of ours that used to house my grandparents from my mother’s side and my cousins. That house has been leased to a various families right after the deaths of my grandfather and uncle and when my cousins and auntie moved out.

I just overheard from my m0ther that the place was damaged due to the floods that Ondoy brought last year. The last tenant came in today and informed us that they’ve vacated the place. And after decades from the last time I was there (I think it was the wake of my grandfather) I set foot again of the place.

I had no strength to take photos for I have mixed emotions when I entered the place. The house held memories of my good childhood weekends. My lolo (grandfather) usually brings me there to spend the weekend with my cousins. I remember forced siestas (sleeping after lunch) imposed by my lola (grandmother) and fresh hot breads from the nearby panaderia (bakery) for merienda (snack). The house was my childhood haven. It was my playground.

I remember it being a huge place with high ceilings and big rooms. I have lots of hiding places to choose from every time me and my cousins played hide and seek.  But today, the place is quite small and not so huge after all. though the old-fashioned frosted glass windows are still there, and the second floor is still held the hardwood flooring, the narra tables, chairs, cabinet and other wood furniture are not there anymore.  My heart skipped a beat when I went upstairs. I was still hoping to see something upstairs which I don’t know what would that be. All I saw was space: a not-so big space that seemed to be wide space before. It was empty, but not that spacious as I recalled when I was a kid.  I felt happy though, recalling my childhood as I went around the old place but felt sad too seeing the condition: chipped off paints, dried mud and bloated wood and other remnants of the recent flood.

I wish I have at least a cousin with me right now. It was nice to recall good old times though it’s unavoidable to bring back not so nice memories as well. I overheard from Nanay and Tatay’s (my parents) conversation that tomorrow they will look for a carpenter to fix the place and prepare it for the new occupant. The house will forever hold my childhood memories and will always remember it in my heart and mind, reminisce it by myself or with family members. I just exhaled a deep sigh as my father called my attention for it’s time to leave.

Garfield Has A Point…

Knew a couple or more people who’d gone to dieting but they were better off looking with a little weight

Careful guys, ok?

Photo Op

Bihira ito mangyari…

… na sama-sama silang tatlo…

The big bosses… si Myles (boss ko! Motorola pa ang phone oh, eh naka-iPhone 3G S na s’ya ngayon), si Dennis at si Emily (ng Naturale noon, DEG na ngayon Ü). Teka, straight at maikli pang buhok ni Emily dito. Ngayon kasi long at curly na!

Goofy and happy sila ah…

Nakatiro sa itaas? Naka-no.1 na senyas? Isa pa daw na ano?

Kelan nga ba ito? Ewan ko ba? Nakita ko na lang ito sa archives ko e. Wala lang… Ü

2009 That Was

Hello 2010.

Just a few hours ago, we’ve bade 2009 goodbye. Some gave 2009 a good riddance for all the pains, sufferings and death it had given us. Others just blaste some fireworks and ate their heart out last night.

Undeniably it was a hard and heavy year for most of us. Famous celebs died. Almost all had lost someone close or dear to us and if not us at least someone we know had been affected by calamities. But despite those not so good events we experienced, we’ve had blessings. It is by nature that bad memories overwrite the nice ones perhaps due to it’s impact. We’ve survived 2009 and bet it made you stronger.

2009 for me perhaps was the hardest year. Finances drained and I struggled to survive in a daily basis. New challenges I’ve faced and battled emotionally and mentally at work and I knew I have to harness my skills further. My trusty now rusty Powerbook broke down twice until it totally crashed on me losing files and files of my journals, projects and photos of my travel and other memomies. Tatay had a heart attack and had to go angioplasty. A stent had to be inserted in his heart. He had to go back home.  Afterwhich he had a traumatic head injury accident. Nanay is still battling in pain for her bone degeneration and still in theraphy. Older brother still have no job and have family to support. And loved ones of myc lose friends passed away. These are just to name a few. But the best part of all these downs there were up times.

I adopted a puppy which now is a fully grown “handsome” dog that’s so lovable and adorable. I named him Jake. I can only see him during weekends. But I know he brings joy not just to me but also to my parents at home.

I was able to have my vacation out of the country. I went back to Bangkok, the city I guess I feel in love with. The feeling the first time I went there was not the same when I returned but I felt free and relieved somehow. It’s a break. My personal break. My trip. It’s what I wanted.

Just a few days before our office closed for the year 2009, Myles, my boss-friend announced to the team and officiate a meeting, sort of a year-end review and assessment of the group and indivivduals. And the best part of it, he announced that each member of the team is considered and officially not just an employee but a co-owner of the company. Yahoo. And before we parted ways, he gave each of us a salary raise. What a good way of ending a work year Ü

I don’t have my own portable right now but Myles was kind as always (thank you ulit, Bosing!) to lend me his MacBook Pro momentarily for a week. Was able to do errands and initial designs for my personal project.

2009 is way behind us now and I hope all the bad memories were carried off when it left. Today is a fresh start. I cleaned my phonebook for one. It’s a self-reminder that I must look forward, no more looking back. GIGO = Garbage In, Garbage Out. Some astrologers say 2010 being a Metal Tiger can be a harder year to some but of course our lives is what we make it, right? Let’s hope for the best, work for it and let destiny and fate perhaps do the rest.

A peaceful, prosperous and healthy 2010 to everyone. Be strong. Smile Ü

Oh by the way, it’s time to kick some ass

10 Things To Do Before the Year Ends

Was thinking what to write so I decided to surf a bit until I stumbled into a site’s entry “10 Things To Do Before the Year Ends” at www.webworkerdaily.com

(exact link––> http://webworkerdaily.com/2009/12/29/10-things-to-do-before-the-new-year/)

Let’s see what I’ve accomplished from the list and if it means I still have to be cramming since it’s the second to the last day of the year already.

1) Plan for a successful New Year. This one well, the top and yet the hardest. Isn’t it obvious that call it procastination but I’d say I’m a lost on where to start on the “planning”. That’s why I’m having trouble on what to write/blog. Well… I have less than 48 hours to plan my 2010.

2) Clean your email box. Since my Powerbook is busted and mostly I’m working in my office iMac I guess I have to hit the “all read” button the moment I go back to work on Monday. I have a habit of leaving emails unread in the intention of going back at it “if” it seems interesting until it comes to a point that I forgot all about it. Bad habit I have to kick in 2010. I should delete it if it’s not interesting or read it at once to avoid those unread mail numbers from getting any higher.

3) File papers. Partially done. I guess since mostly I pay online though I’ve been receiving bills via snail mail. I should be sorting those envelops and throwing them into the trash bin for recycling giving space to my table area/drawer.

4) Update your resume and bio. This I had to strikeout. I’m cool and satisfied with where I am so I think there’s no need for me to update/create any resume or bio. What I updated was my notebook of work. Wrote all my notes on scratch papers to my work notebook for a cleaner and clearer reference.

5) Organize your workstation. Proud to say I’m done with this one since Monday. Even though it’s our break, I went back to the office to organize my area Ü

6) Clean your computer(s). My personal computer, an old Powerbook is still in the computer hospital As for my iMac in the office, I’ve cleaned it from inside-out.

7) Take care of administrative tasks. I don’t think this is applicable to me in the field of work. But if it’s on household chores, I guess I’m good to go. Christmas feast was over and quite a success. All my prepared food were a hit and those who ate them are still alive :p As for the meals to welcome the coming New Year, all are prepared as well.

8) Review your address book. I’m still having problems syncing my phone with the Address Book in office’s iMac. I’ll just sort my phone and update the Address Book manually.

9) Review your social media strategy. I’m still single and I don’t really depend on the internet and the social networking Facebook, Multiply and other social networks are doing. But as one of my “plans” for 2010, I think I have to lessen my time in these networks or at least schedule the use of it. But I should drop the FB games I’ve been addictedly playing for the past months.

10) Assess your marketing strategy. Is marketing strategy part of selling myself? Honestly, I’m in no hurry to get out of the “single” circle. But if in terms of work/business I have now a responsibility to consider being a co-owner of the company/group I’m working with Ü

Not bad. Half of the list has been striked out. Now, on with the “planning”. This time I guess I have to keep it and give myself the challenge

Come to think of it, what has 2009 brought me?

2nd to the Last Entry for 2009

I’m blank.

Gees.

The rush could have washed out my thoughts and I just hope I get to recharge before 2010 comes in and I had to go back to work.

Been staring for quite sometime at the blinking cursor and this is it… sigh.

I guess I can still feel the rush that drained me. The rush from the deadlines on work and other duties. Rush on preparing for Christmas feast. Rush to go home and help on the traditional family get together despite most of the members are ether not coming or are already settled abroad.

Rush.

And I still feel the aftereffects. 2 weeks was declared break from work. I should take advantage of it to rest and relax, right? I still went to the office to use and organize my files in my iMac and to clean my area. Twice. I’m grateful with Myles for lending me his MacBook Pro for a week for a side project I’m waiting and hoping to be working at during the break. I guess i should say, I’m getting bored just staying here in the province that my veins are looking for the tapping, clicking and typing on the keys of the board

But happy or not, Christmas has to come. I’m not happy totally as the past years was or it wasn’t perfect as before but no one can stop Christmas. If not for the kids I love (my nieces, nephews and “inaanak”) it would have been just an ordinary day to pass by. I guess as you get older some moments tend to fade. Oh well.

Reality bites.

Well, I just have to end this entry for now. Hopefully there would be another entry to close the year and top 2010. For now, I bid good night.

*yawns*

When Twitter or Plurk Isn’t Enough

I was watching the MMFF (Manila Film Fest) 2009 by accident. Well, actually I’m not intentionally to watching really but more on “listening”. I’m busy typing away another blog entry and I miss the the sound of the clicking keys, hehehe.

And I dunno if it’s just me but the entire program/show was bland. The grandness of award shows is missing. Even the singing of Lea Salonga, I can’t pinpoint but there’s something wrong. I’m not sure if it’s the rendition of “Imagine” or she forgot some lyrics. I dunno. But the usual effect of Lea singing, her powerful voice didn’t give me the usual goosebumps

Plus the nominees, they seemed to have included ALL of the actors and actresses in the movies to fall on such categories. What’s the use of the board if you’ll just include all people “acting”. Sigh.

Anyway, there’s only on word that has been screaming in my head all this time that I’m typing. And I know at least one gay friend of mine would agree to me in this word to describe the winners and the entire show: CHAKA!

Oh. Wondering why the title? Well, too many words (and thoughts) to be placed on Twitter and Plurk accounts. :p

Winterland Experience in a Tropical Island

Just fancied the title. Actually me and my colleauges went to SM Marikina to have our lunch. I already saw this setup a couple of days ago so I shared it with them. Thanks to Myles’ ever amazing iPhone I had my winter wonderland experience in a tropical island called Philippines ^_^

Me with the cute pandas

And with the polar bears and penguins (though in real life these 2 are in opposite poles)

10 Things

I’ve been tagged by my virtual boyfriend Jose in Facebook about this. I have time to bite on it while waiting to be picked up here at the office. So here it goes:

10 things you want for the holidays: (in no particular order)
1.) Lotsa money to buy items 2 to 6 Ü
2.) 15″ MacBook Pro
3.) iPhone
4.) Japanese table (meaning the low type table) with matching big and small throw pillows to go with it
5.) Own refrigerator, TV (with cable) and other furnishings for my own place
6.) Books that fancied my reading mood (may it be novels, comics/graphic novels, design-related books, etc)
7.) Lose weight without much effort (if it’s possible)
8.) A man (take note, I said man) like Jacob Black… if Bella doesn’t want him, I’m all his (and he should be ALL mine… hihihi *blushing*)
9.) Superpowers but I’m not decided yet if I’ll prefer telepathy or telekinesis or both perhaps :p
10.) World peace Ü

9 musicians/bands you love/like:
1.) Linkin Park
2.) Eraserheads
3.) Bamboo
4.) Madonna
5.) U2
6.) Maroon 5
7.) No Doubt
8.) Michael Jackson
9.) Paramore

8 things you do everyday:
1.) Work (on weekends, physically resting but my brain is still pumping)
2.) Email checks
3.) Think…
4.) Listen to Chico and Delamar’s Morning Rush (M-F) at Monster Radio 93.1
5.) Surf net for inspiration (on work/projects)
6.) Take a bathe
7.) Check/read interesting blogs, Plurk, Twitter, Facebook and at times Multiply
8.) Play some Facebook games (flavor of the “moment”)

7 things you enjoy:
1.) Playing or just being with children
2.) Buying/collecting stuffed elephants (or anything about them) Ü
3.) Reading (books that interest me – depends on the mood)
4.) Eating nice/fave food specially if someone else will pay for it
5.) Sleeping (and not being bothered or woke up by anyone)
6.) Traveling/exploring new countries/cities and experiencing their culture
7.) Cooking/baking for someone else… and they’ll like what I cooked/baked

6 things that will always win your heart:
1.) Elephants Ü
2.) Children/kids
3.) Non-dictating people
4.) Funny (but not nasty) people
5.) Romantic movies
6.) Cute/charming smile :p

5 favorites: (currently for 3-5)
1.) Animal: Elephants Ü
2.) Food: Ice cream
3.) TV series: Glee
4.) TV series: Ugly Betty
5.) Song: Defying Gravity (sang by Kurt of Glee)

4 smells you enjoy:
1.) New books
2.) Baby’s breath (specially when newly breastfed)
3.) Eternity for Men
4.) Nature-ry smell (cut/wet grass, cool clean breeze, etc)

3 places you want to go:
1.) Italy (Rome, Florence, etc)
2.) Greece (ancient ruins)
3.) Africa (Safari)

2 holidays you love:
1.) Christmas
2.) self-declared holidays… *evil laugh*

1 person you’d marry on the spot:
Hmmm… si John Lloyd *blushing*… hihihi