Random Blogging.

It's 3:30 in the afternoon on a Friday and surprisingly, I'm not that swamped with work like the past few days. Today, I am totally aware of the time -- which meant that I actually ate on time. When I got back to the office, not so much happening. I've a lot of things to write, yes, but nothing to stress about. It's actually rare that I get to be so...un-busy. Hehehehe.

So ok, here I am blogging. Looking over my shoulder from time to time, cautious that someone might see me logged in my Blogger account. Haha! I look at my to-do list for the day and five out of five things I list down I'll do have been highlighted, which means I have finally done the task. Wow! Seriously, I don't get to experience this often since I started working. Oh well, might as well enjoy the "free" time.

All right. We're about to end the second month of the year, and believe it or not, things are already going so much better than what I had planned it to be. I guess the realization just hit me when I got back from my trips to wherever. Haha! Two months in, and already I've made a lot of new friends, been to nine destinations already and have gone out with friends for four times. I'm loving it!

Work, as always, has been super hectic, of course. Lots of schedules, lots of interviews, lots of things to do. They say, it's all about time management. Well, as a dear friend once said, "It's not time management. It's the art of eliminating tasks." Thanks to him, I think I've gotten the hang of eliminating tasks. Hehehehe...

Now what? Well, ok...this may seem a little over-the-top, but in 53 days, I am celebrating my 24th birthday! Crazy, right? I admit it. But hey...I'm just really excited about turning a year older. There's something about turning 24 that makes me really ecstatic to celebrate. Like last year, I will be preparing a mini buffet for my officemates. Hehe. I already have a menu in mind but let me keep it to myself. I don't want to spoil the fun for my officemates.

When I turned 23 last year, I told everyone that it's the best -- and I do mean the best -- celebration so far! And I have this feeling that this year's going to be even better than the last. This early on, my mom has been telling me of her birthday wish for me. For some, you might know what that wish is already. For those who don't, just wait till it's my birthday. Then I'll tell you all about it. Hahahaha!

Let me take this time to express my gratitude to the blessings that have happened to me for the past two months. Some of the wonderful blessings I have received are:

1. Getting the DVD special collector's edition of one of my all time favorite movies, Forrest Gump ("Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.") -- I swear, this has got to be the most expensive gift I've gotten from anyone outside the family
2. Celebrating Mam Delza's and Ms. Mons' birthdays at Cafe La Carmela with the LEP and InFlight family (Yeah, it was definitely a blast!)
3. Pepper Lunch date with Jan and Det (The monthly bonding moments commence...when's our next date?) -- Who's next? Jan? Where to? Hehehe...
4. Bonding sessions with Alla and Euki (Let's get together as much as possible, all right? Hehehehe... you know I miss you terribly!) -- When's our next date, girls? Haha!
5. Lakbay Norte (This is one of the biggest highlights of my first two months in 2010! The best experience, so far!) -- I've gained new friends and I can't wait to see them soon. When's our next night out?
6. Getting free Starbucks drinks for two separate weeks (Oh I just love the iced soy caramel macchiatto!) -- Just before I went to participate in the Lakbay Norte media tour and just as I am about to go to another business trip, I am getting my favorite customized drink! Oh how wonderful it is to be a regular in Starbucks!

Yes, yes, yes! I am definitely one happy person. Hahahaha! Despite not celebrating Valentine's day (because I opted to celebrate Chinese New Year with the family), everything's great!

All right, it's time to go back to work.

Ciao!

Before Working.

It's past 7 o'clock in the morning and I am on standby for my editor's email. Just last night, I have been told to do an interview with Victor Consunji for our InPerson department. It's one of the departments I don't handle. Interviews are usually done by my editor. But due to some conflict in schedule, she has passed on the responsibility to me.

I was surprised, honestly. Surprised because I didn't feel like I could really do so well interviewing for the InPerson. But my editor's vote of confidence really gave me the boost I need: "Peanuts lang yan sayo."

So right now, I'm prepping myself for the stuff I'll be doing for the day. Interview, transcribe, write, write, write. Hehehe. In general, that's what I'll be doing.

Ok. I need to go and do some ironing now.

Ciao!

When Working Becomes a 24-Hour Habit

I should have blogged about this last week but I had a lot of work to do and it is only now that I had the time to log into my blog and publish this entry. Spoiler: that is exactly why I'm publishing blogging now.

I had one of the most unlikely conversations with my parents last weekend.

Since I got back from my out of town trip, I have been doing nothing but work. I've been on a workaholic mode for quite some time, I barely had time to go out with my barkada and just hang out with them. Whether I'm in the office or I'm at home, I work. It's sad, I know. And this triggered the unexpected "heart-to-heart" talk with my parents.

They've noticed how I've become so busy. So during our lunch out on a Sunday, Mama has told me that I should relax every now and then -- just so I could take my mind off work. Tempting as that sounds, I just couldn't leave my work hanging. I could see the look of chagrin on their faces. It's not that I didn't want to relax but with work piling up every day, I find it hard to take a step back and rest up a bit.

Around this time, my parents have told me stories of relatives who are in their 40s and are still single. Let's not discuss about that. But I would like to share with you the oh-so-memorable things that my dear mother told me.

"Morale of the story, Marge: Mag-asawa ka. Hay naku! Minsan, iniisip ko, sana may boyfriend ka ngayon para minsan man lang, nailalayo ka sa trabaho mo. Lagi ka na lang nakaharap sa laptop mo, puro na lang trabaho inaatupag mo."

It was positively hilarious! Although I do think my mom could have put it in a more subtle way. I knew what she meant. She just wants me to loosen up a bit. To go out and have fun. I've realized that I have been working for almost the whole day, everyday. Yes, I've made my work a 24-hour habit. From the time I wake up until before I go to sleep, I think about work. So when an opportunity to hang out with friends presents itself, I take it.

Just like yesterday. I went out with friends for dinner and dessert. When I told Papa about it, he said, "Buti naman naisipan mo lumabas kasama sila. O mag-ingat ha."

It's nice to see that my parents are happy that I'm going out. If anything, I think they're encouraging me to constantly do this. Haha! Not everyday, probably once a week.

So here's to making my life more eventful. One step at a time. I think by this time, I'll cut down my working hours to 20 hours a day. Hehehe.

Until then.