My Alibi

This is my first entry for the month of December and it's already the second week! I haven't updated this blog, because I've been busy. My free time for the last two weeks was mostly spent on JG Christmas party preparations.

There are so many things that happened for the last two weeks that are worth sharing. I will try to make entries about them, soon. I’ll keep this short for now, as I have pending things to attend to tonight.

To my readers: Thank you for always dropping by. I really appreciate it. ♥

Lalaland Day

It is 6:50 PM as I type this entry, but I feel like Monday is just about to start. This day has been nothing but eat-sleep-eat-sleep-eat.

I woke up at 9 AM this morning. After a bowl of cereal, a pan de sal with cheese, a banana, a cup of chocolate-flavored soya milk, and five pages of Super Freakonomics, I was off to lalaland. I woke up at 1:10 PM feeling hungry, and so I ate lunch and pledged to stay awake for the rest of the day. Once again I stayed in the living room after eating lunch with my book (big mistake!), but this time with the determination to finish the book before dinner. Thirty minutes later, I found myself dozing off when I heard my book hit the floor. I woke up for the third time this day at 4:30 PM, trying to recall a dream where I recognized a few people in a dream-esque setting. My brain probably worked twice as hard than its usual setting in orchestrating that dream, which is why I found myself eating a small bag of Chippy, a banana, and egg with rice afterwards. I decided to break the vicious cycle by going online. I needed to feel productive, and so I downloaded a couple of songs for our Christmas presentation. I also had a cup of coffee instead of my usual green-tea-after-a-meal-or-merienda ritual, because I needed my caffeine fix, pronto.

I slept late last night--at 3 AM to be exact--thus my downer holiday. I chatted with Cha on YM until 1:20 AM last night, and wandered on YouTube until 2:30 AM.

I suspect that the second cause of this day’s sleep pattern is the food supplement that I took twice today (i.e. breakfast and lunch). I just started taking it last night, which makes it a possible culprit. But I am not convinced that what caused my drowsiness today is the calcium supplement. I have not heard of anyone who feels sleepy after taking calcium carbonate. I just googled it and found no sleep-inducing side effects.

The Christmas Wish List

I struggled to jot down three items on my wish list for our office Christmas party. It was supposed to be a fun activity, but I felt like trying to recall a term from a footnote in a textbook that I read a few months back while taking a comprehensive exam. Such was the mental exercise that it took at least an hour (a conservative estimate) before I finished mine. I just could not think of something that would satisfy all three conditions: the items (1) must cost about P300; (2) must be easy to find; (3) must not identify the person requesting it.

If there were no constraints, my wish list would contain the items below. The following are items that I hope and pray to have soon:

1. Laptop (brand new, fast processor and high internal memory; a MacBook Pro- 4 GB memory would be great!) - My laptop is five years old and it needs to be replaced as soon as possible. The keyboard is falling apart—some keys are removed and sometimes the arrow keys appear to be eternally pressed giving the cursor a mind of its own. My laptop is also hindering me from learning Photoshop tricks necessary for post-prod.

2. Nikkor 18-200 mm VR Lens (brand new) - This telephoto lens will eliminate the inconvenience of changing lenses when shooting short-distance subjects. I have been eyeing this lens since the day I got my dslr.

3. Nikon Remote Flash (brand new) – This is a must-have enhancement for photography pro wannabes.


4. Hoya HD Polarizer Filter - I like taking landscape pictures. This baby will surely help bring out the best in any landscape shot.

5. LCD Protector – I should have bought this a long time ago, but I always forget to buy one.


6. HP Financial Calculator (brand new) - I will need this next year.

7. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell – This is the number one item on my books-to-buy list. I wanted to put it on the office Christmas wish list, but this item would give me away (Elaine knows I want this book).

8. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (Hardbound copy; separate copies/book) - C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite philosophers/ Christian apologists. I would love to read his works. I want a hardbound copy of the series, because I intend to hand it down to my future kids and grandchildren.

9. Baking Mixer (heavy duty) – I love to bake. If there is one thing that is keeping me from doing so, it is the inconvenience of mixing the batter manually. It is very tiring, especially if I am baking for many.

10. White High-Cut Chuck Taylor (no pun intended) - This is in my 2009-things-to-buy list. I still want one. It is a comfy pair of kicks for field work and dress down days.

If you happen to come across this entry, and you are feeling generous, and you know me and I actually know you, feel free to share the love.♥♥♥

Of Fashion and Freebies

I attended the Do You Want to Be Stylish? Have You Found Your Personal Style?" workshop a while ago at my alma matter. One of the main objectives of the talk is to equip students and young professionals with the fundamentals of style. The two and half hours workshop included fashion basics such as color matching, women body type and how to dress them, clothing essentials, and fashion do’s and don’ts.

My good friend Esther was the main speaker. She is a good choice for the event because not only does she know fashion, she lives it. I think her greatest credential for being considered a fashion maestro is her personal style. She has a fine taste in fashion and a great personality to match. She is one of the few people I know that can get away with wearing just about anything--bold prints, bright colored tops/ pants/ dresses/ skirts/ shoes, fashion-forward cuts, and ornate accessories. She also has an eye for high-grade items, which is why we would always be surprised every time she would ask us where and how much it cost her to buy a new item she is wearing.

After the first speaker gave a lecture on fashion basics and fashion forecast (monochromatic designs and pieces), Ms. Boots shared practical style guidelines and stressed the importance of following them. She briefly touched on fashion faux pas that people already know but seem to ignore when choosing an outfit such as wearing something that draws unnecessary attention to one’s flaws.

My college friends and I were in charge of the registration. I was also tasked to be the photographer of the event.

All in all the event was a success. The talk was informative--it provided easy to remember guidelines and practical suggestions. The participants were active in the Q&A. The organizers were able to invite enough sponsors including the Franc Provost, Penshoppe, Go Nuts, Memo, For Me, Oxygen, Bayo, Deseo, and other generous individuals.

The organizers also gave out a lot of freebies. I was one of the lucky winners! Thanks again to the sponsors.

Loving my Deseo Kristel Bubble Tunic
I won this in the raffle.

Charming pieces are love!

This was given to me when I participated in the Q&A.

Congratulations to sis and the organizers!

Runaway Runner

I do not consider myself a running enthusiast due to my lack of experience and persistence (case in point: this entry). The first race that I joined is the company sponsored fun run last July. My training habits further attest to my newbie status.

I was flipping through the pages of the newspaper yesterday when I saw McDonald’s fun run ad. I would normally read the race details on the ad whenever I come across one. However, my knee-jerk response that morning was to skip the ad. My decision to forego running events until the year ends compelled me to do so. The thought process involved in deciding as to whether I would pursue running this year was easy. Joining fun runs is simply out of the question.

My health condition is one of my main considerations for skipping fun runs this year. The dental treatments for the succeeding weeks would render me unfit to run. Last Saturday’s procedure was a preview of the post treatment pain and discomfort for the weeks to come. I was also advised by the dentist to refrain from strenuous activities for at least a week after each dental procedure. This rules out fun runs, since the training and actual event involve physical strain.

Budget constraint is another reason that is keeping me from joining fun runs. My financial commitments and the forthcoming Christmas expenses make running a luxury. The potential savings from skipping the registration fees and other training expenses would surely help ease my cash flow for the next six weeks or so.

Another reason why I have to give up running until the year ends is time. The things that I need to attend to during weeknights and weekends are enough to keep me occupied until the year ends. I am not busy, but I want to allot enough time for the items on my things-that-I-want-to-do-while-I-still-can list that continue to haunt me since I graduated last year. The other reasons cited in this entry make joining fun runs less appealing, which is why running is temporarily removed from the list.

I seriously consider running as a sport that I want to pursue in the future, which is why my absence in the running scene would give me something to look forward to early next year. Perhaps the delay would also motivate me to catch up on the fun runs and trainings that I missed.

Why I Wish I were Katie Holmes, Annabelle Rama, and Lucy Torres

In college, I had a classmate who used to tell me that she remembers me every time she is able to watch “success stories” being told on television. This is likewise true of my closest friends in college ever since the “success stories” term was first coined to refer to that glorious moment. It was Tintol who first used the term when she excitedly told me about Annabelle Rama’s story that she saw on Sharon (I think) while waiting for our Econometrics class to start. I remember that we all had a good laugh when she first used the term. Then we started to exchange other “success stories”.

Success happens when a favorable outcome occurs. In the “success stories” context, the probability of success is so small that “success” is synonymous with luck. One can also say that in the “success stories” context, the odds favoring success is so small that words associated with the impossible such as miracle or magic are more appropriate. There are just so many external factors at play. That is why the rational response to this kind of event is not to be hopeful to rid oneself of future distress. So what is this favorable outcome? Hint: Katie Holmes, Annabelle Rama, and Lucy Torres.

What do these ladies have in common? Aside from their good looks, they once had a celebrity crush. When they started eyeing the man of their dreams, they were not yet famous. Who would have thought then that these ladies would marry the man that they admired from afar, that somehow the paths of these ladies and their eye candies would cross and find themselves in love? These ladies sure have a success story to tell.

I bet these ladies had the boldness to turn on their girly charm when the moment they had been praying for finally came. I could imagine them overcoming the tendency to become nervous and panicky that naturally come with the high of meeting the person with whom they had wished to share their life with. These ladies were courageous enough not to let the moment pass. They responded accordingly by not letting their anxieties and reservations to hinder them from pursuing overtly or subtly the most coveted person in their eyes.

These ladies are extra lucky, because aside from having the opportunity to meet their crush and being able to respond gracefully, they were also successful in captivating the person they so desired. The likelihood for all three events to be satisfied is remote, which is why the love story from the perspective of the hopeful warrants the “success story” term.

I just hope and pray that when the time comes (I believe it will!) for me to meet “the one”, the favorable outcome of the succeeding events would follow.

The Day After

I missed the get-together with college friends last night. The procedure took longer expected. I was also advised to get some rest, and so I headed home after buying antibiotics. I also did not want to push myself, because my mouth was still numb I could barely move it.

Next week I am scheduled for another visit for the same procedure. Maybe I will ask Aiza to go with me, because I felt so weak last night when I left the clinic. I was an easy target to muggers.

The Dreaded Visit

Tomorrow is the day. I have been preparing for this for two weeks. Actually, the apprehension about tomorrow’s visit started four months ago when I first visited Esther’s dentist. It was then when I first learned about the extent of work that is needed to correct the problem.

The first visit was not necessary had I been satisfied with the workmanship of the previous orthodontist. I already evaluated the disincentives (i.e. the x-ray and other pre-treatment expense, monthly expense, the inconvenience of commuting, the time spent per month at the clinic, and the monthly post-treatment pain) before I made the visit. I was overwhelmed at first given the opportunity cost and inconvenience involved, which is why I had to constantly remind myself of the rewards of the treatment. I also thought that the treatment period would probably not take longer than a year, since my previous orthodontist informed me that the treatment is almost finished. I was convinced that things can’t get worse. What had I possibly overlooked? I prudently evaluated the pros and cons of the decision.

The first dental appointment was depressing. My suspicion as to the workmanship of my previous orthodontist was confirmed when she explained to me my case. I learned that my previous orthodontist only corrected the crowding of my lower teeth, and not the overjet—my main objective for undergoing orthodontic treatment. The thought of time and money wasted depressed me.

As Dr. Ang proceeded to explain the specifics of what the treatment would be like, I was all the more depressed. She told me that my case is a little complicated, as it involved the bone structure. While she was explaining it to me, I could already imagine the pain that I have to endure for days after each visit. When she mentioned that four teeth have to be extracted, I felt like crying. In my mind, there has to be some other way. Perhaps she knew what I was thinking, which is why she reassured me that the pain will be bearable and the gaps will be filled after the treatment.

Another thing that I did not anticipate is the cost of the treatment. My initial estimate is far from what the actual treatment would cost, since the basis of my estimate was based on the assumption that my case only needs fine-tuning. It turns out it is a different treatment altogether and a more complicated one at that. This treatment is a serious financial commitment.

Tomorrow afternoon will be the start of the treatment. I am scheduled to have two teeth extracted. I am really terrified of the procedure, which is one of the reasons why I delayed the treatment for months. It took me months to finally muster the courage to schedule an appointment. When I talked to Dr. Ang yesterday, I realized that this is really it. I just pray that I get the results that I expect this time.

First Things First

Finally, I have a blog! This is my first blog that I intend to update on a regular basis on matters of life and everything in between. This blog is really timely, because today is the first day of my being 24 years old. And what better way to start a “new life” than to document my fascinations and obsessions that I can later read (and hopefully find amusing) when I’m older and wiser.

I can’t seem to rely on my creative juices today, and so I’ll keep this entry short. It took me about an hour to decide on what blog address and title to use before I resigned to use my Multiply page title. It was the smart thing to do (after a series of spelling alterations of my first few ideas and then realizing that the essence of what I was trying to go for was lost in the process) before I lose the my-first-blog hype. Then I could not make up mind in choosing the page layout. At least the editing of the page color was easy, thanks to my page title.

Now I’m struggling with the other settings and options. This is quite a handful for beginners.