Spoiled Under 30 Crowd

I got this from a forwarded mail and thought it was funny (and spot on!) not to share. I have no intentions of offending our younger generations for posting this. Just to give all of you - youngsters - an idea on how it was like to be a kid in the 70s and 80s. Peace!

"When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning.... Uphill... Barefoot.... BOTH ways Yadda, yadda, yadda

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way I was going to lay a bunch of nonsense like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!

But now that . . . I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!

There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen!

Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!

Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our behinds! Nowhere was safe!

There were no MP3' s or Napsters! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself!

Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and the tape would come undone. Cause - that's how we rolled, dig?

We didn't have fancy stuff like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it!

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your mom, your boss, your bookie, a collections agent, you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy Sony Playstation video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!

You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your bum and walk over to the TV to change the channel! NO REMOTES!!!

There was no Cartoon Network neither! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little ones!

And we didn't have microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that!

That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled. You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980 or before!

Regards,

The Over 30 Crowd"

Hahaha...Well said and very true! What's your take young ones? ;)

Tight Clothing

I always make it a point to prepare the clothes I will wear at least a day before so I don't make bad combination. Unfortunately, I forgot to prepare my clothes last night. I hastily grabbed the blouse I could find with a neutral tone to go with my gray business suit. Well, I did not realize that the one I grabbed was actually tad tight. I felt like I was one of those ladies during the Victorian era with tight corsets around their bodies.

I lost weight for sure but I still have flab in my mid-section. That flab will not go away that easy. I need to work harder if I want my mid-section well toned.

So, the moral of the story, do not procrastinate! Always prepare your wardrobe in advance to avoid discomfort and wardrobe malfunction. Good thing, my buttons were still intact!

The Ferrari Goes Zoom

I have been around town since morning trying to figure out why my salary has not been released. I already received my payslip 4 days ago. Sigh...

I was cruising along Amman Street according to the speed limit of 60 kph. I noticed that the RTA installed a new traffic signal on the newly opened junction in Al Nahda crossing Amman Street going to the back streets of Sahara Centre in Sharjah. A Ferrari zoomed by the taxi in front of me causing the latter to break few metres from the junction. Thank goodness I was not speeding or else, I would have kissed the rear of the cab. And that Ferrari, you might ask, zoomed to the junction without a warning and in lightning speed.

I thought, if that driver keeps doing what he does to harm people and other motorists, he would probably end up somewhere not very inviting. I could just imagine Ferrari parts flying everywhere.

People cannot use "fasting" as an excuse to drive recklessly. These lunatics drive like Evil Knievel even when it is not Ramadan. So, what could be that driver's excuse for being a menace on the road?

Little Faith in Banking

I have very little faith on the banking system here in the UAE. I always have the feeling of being "robbed" of my own money. It is so hard to explain but I do not get the abstract banking law in this region. 

The banks charge the account holder so many fees, for example, if you want a print out of your statement of account, you have to pay so and so amount per page. If you want a liability letter, again, you have to pay so and so amount.  Isn't that ridiculous? They keep charging the hapless account holders considering we are the reason why they are still afloat.

I miss the banks in the Philippines where I can bank on trust. It is a different ball game over here...

What's New on the Big Screen?

It has been a while since my husband and I watched a movie together. It was the Ironman 2 and I enjoyed the thrill of watching the action-packed movie on the big screen.

I want to watch a movie this week. I like something funny and romantic or even animated as long as it is light and not violent. I can use my card to purchase the theater tickets in advance so I can reserve the seats my family and I prefer. I will wait until next Thursday so the new release of movies will be up by then. If not, we can all still catch Despicable Me or Toy Story 3.

Organizing my Stash

I have so many scrapbook stash which are all placed in plastic containers. I do not have any studio for my arts and craft so I keep all the stash on a cupboard. However, each time I try to look for something, I cannot locate it because I have not organized my embellishments and other craft supplies properly due to lack of space.

I have been asking my hubby to allocate a corner of the flat for my arts and craft session but it is not possible to drill holes at home to put the divider so I have to settle with doing my craft on my study area.

I am off to Ikea to buy wooden drawers to keep my smaller embellishments so they are not everywhere. I just want my area tidy-up and in order. I can't crank my creative juice looking at my table which is a mess right now.

Maintenance Woes

Three years in this flat and so many fixtures to update! Our kitchen counter is slowly getting out of alignment with the wall. The cupboards' hinges are loose. The faucets are dripping. The wall paint chips and even the door chimes do not chime!

I just changed the dripping shower head two months ago and in the other bathroom too. I asked the maintenance personnel to fix the wiring of the other room because the chandelier would not switch on even if the electrical system was working.

So far, none has been done. I may end up calling an electrician to fix the wiring at my own expense. The maintenance is bad and I hope the rents go down further so we can move out next year to a new building with better facilities and maintenance service.

What's Wrong with Fashion?

I have missed so many issues of fashion magazines already. Last time I reached for a copy of those famous fashion magazines was 3 years ago. I am so surprised by the fashion sense these days.

I went to the mall earlier to buy a blouse. I went straight to Forever 21 because it is my favorite shop apart from H & M. However, I got so shocked that I dropped my favoritism right then and there. The clothes styles are tacky and weird, if I may say. It is as if I am going through racks and racks of Halloween costumes.

What happened to the dainty blouses, chiffon dresses, comfort fit trousers and elegant blazers I used to buy from Forever 21?

5 Days of Over - Thank You

Instead of over time in the office, I am calling it over "thank you" because I have stayed back 5 days in a row for free. Even if I ask for compensation, I will have to justify the reason why I stayed back. I really do not appreciate being asked why I stayed when the management has been stretching all the employees' limits. How can they possibly ask why a person has to render over time? Obviously, 8.5 hours, 5 days in a week is no longer enough to finish the gargantuan work they are passing to us. It just keeps piling and piling. You finish one and 1 million new tasks come in. Arrrggghhhh!

Again Lord, please, make it 2013 now...

Smiling Voice

Yes, I know. It seems weird to say "smiling voice" because a voice cannot smile. What I want to convey here is that, a voice with warmth and sincerity when speaking on the phone that you can actually feel you are important.

I called Dominos Pizza few hours ago to order and I was a bit taken back by the sound of the Dominos Pizza crew's voice. His voice was cold and not welcoming. It is as if, I disturbed him from his sleep and that he was so upset to speak to me considering the fact that I was a costumer.

He did not sound the least happy to serve. I was not in the mood to give him a piece of my mind because it was not worth stooping on his level. However, I just wondered what ever happened to customer service?

There are plenty of people applying for customer service jobs right now. I think that crew does not deserve to be in a place where provision of customer service is one of the objectives.

I should have taken his name down and reported him. He needs a mega dose of customer service training!

Insurance at Your Fingertips

The modernity of our time has given us plenty of resources at our fingertips. We can do online banking, research, watch uploaded videos, shopping, go through the Insurance Information Network, sell and trade, marketing and networking, socializing and communicating all at the comfort of our homes and the presence of technology. This modernization has brought about comfort and easy access to many of life's necessities through the use of the internet. One of the necessity each household should have is the insurance.

It is good to have such technology within our reach because we can source information easily if we need to secure business insurance policy, health insurance, life, home and property, pets and auto insurance policy. It does not matter what we require because we can all get the information and quote that we need. This helps us decide wisely before making the deal with the insurance company or agent.

There is a myriad of websites offering quotes for insurance depending on your needs and location. You may be living in the California area who is eager to buy a local California insurance or in the East Coast scouting for quotation based on your needs; you can all acquire the comprehensive information and quotes for the kind of insurance policy you prefer in an instant. Gone are the days when local insurance agents used to knock door to door carrying a suit case filled with brochures and legal paraphernalia to explain to the client. It is not common these days to drive yourself to an insurance company provider to speak to an insurance agent to get more details on the kind of policy you want to purchase. All these can now be achieved right at your home or wherever you have access to an internet. 

Philippine Hijacking Gone Bad

I didn't realize that something bad was already happening in Manila while I was in the office. I checked my Facebook for updates when I saw updates from friends about the hostage taking. I got to read more information when I came home to check the news.

A sacked policeman named Rolando Mendoza, 55 years old, seized a busload of Hongkong tourists near the Quirino Grandstand in Manila today, 23 August. The hostage taker carried with him a M16 rifle and opened fire to the hostages.

The hostage drama ended in a bloodshed and this is not good to our tourism.

I am completely saddened by this event. Innocent lives were endangered because of the gunman's bid to get his post back. And all for what?

I offer my prayers to the victims and their families. I hope the Filipinos will get through this though circumstance and show the world that this is just a setback done by a lone Filipino.

Insuring Your Home in Texas

The Lone Star State is very vast and exposed to the Gulf Coast and various waterfronts. Given that fact, the residents of this state is exposed to floods and calamities arising from the Gulf Coast region and other water system. On the other hand, it also have desert areas which may expose the residents in the hotter part of the state to fire risk.

Having an insurance is an advantage these days. No one can foretell circumstances which are beyond our control. It is difficult to lose everything you have worked for in an instant. However, this can be averted if you secure your home and future by acquiring an insurance.

Luckily, Texas dwellers have the option to avail Texas home insurance for their properties. It is a wise investment in terms of securing your assets and properties all together.

Even if Texans move around the Lone State and decide to use movers in Dallas or avail of relocation services elsewhere, it is still wise to insure their properties. The coverage does not have to end once the residents move to another area because protection of property must be one of the primary concerns of the citizens. It gives the residents peace of mind and financial protection for something that is valuable and worth a lifetime of saving.

A Gift Request

My daughter will be in Grade 7 come September. Time flies so fast! I still remember the time when she was in kindergarten tugging a small trolley bag filled with toys, crayons and snacks. Now, I look at her bag and see teeners' books, pens, notes from friends and doodle pads.

We had an agreement before the end of the school term. My husband and I told her that if she pulled flying colors on her Mathematics and Arabic, we would definitely give her something she truly wanted. And guess what, she improved on her Math and the teacher was even amazed by the level of dedication she had shown. Arabic is a hopeless case because it is difficult to learn as they need to read, speak and write this foreign language. Apart from Arabic, she also had French to learn.

When asked by her dad what she wanted, she hastily said "iPad." I paused for a while and asked, "baby is it i-p-o-d or i-p-a-d." Your guess is good as mine! She really loves electronics and gadgets a lot so this did not come as a surprise. She keeps borrowing my iPod Touch as she enjoys listening to her anime playlist. However, when the iPad was released to the market, I have already seen her gawking at the iPad here in Dubai sometime back and I knew she fell in love.

So now I have to check and compare iPad and ipod reviews to see which one will be right for her age. Of course the answer is very obvious - iPod! I made an agreement with her that if she makes it to top 10 this coming school year, she will get the electronic device and that is for sure. You should have seen the twinkle in her eyes ;)

World Wide Coverage

I cannot stress enough the importance of  being covered by an insurance; be it for yourself, family, home, auto, travel, pets, health and business. It does not matter where you are too. You may be in Timbuktu or Antartica but the need for a good coverage is a necessity.

My husband and I ensure that we are fully covered. We want to feel safe and know that we won't be hassling other people when the emergency arise.

Whenever we travel, we always carry our travel insurance for protection and safety for unforeseen events. So, when we travel again to the US next year, we will make sure that we carry a North Carolina health insurance and travel insurance to cover our trip. We may take a long drive from New York to North Carolina to visit some friends. Although, we pray that the trip will not be eventful, it is assuring to know that there will be help everywhere.

And the Report Goes...

I earlier asked in my other post if it is right to post a report about a bad boss. Well, after consulting my husband and colleagues for opinion, I finally wrote the report as diplomatic as I could despite the circumstances which transpired last week.

Let us just say that the person involved was so inconsiderate despite the information he/she already received from my colleague about my mother being rushed to the hospital due to stroke.

That person was irreverent and showed lack of compassion towards his/her team by reprimanding me on the phone and barraging me with questions about work and deadline when I was incoherent, shocked and crying. I am only human. I do not deny myself of these emotions but I try my level best not to cry when I am at work. But to receive a call during office hour about a love one who might be in potential danger is nothing I have to be ashamed of. I cried then and there. And all I asked for was a wee consideration, not sympathy, to refrain from answering questions because I could not process my thoughts clearly.

Was that a crime?

Waiting for the Winter

Summer seems to be short this year. It was not the same case because same month last year, it was very hot and humid. This morning, when I drove my hubby to the airport, it was a bit breezy and slightly cool which was not normal.

I wonder if the weather is really changing because of global warming or mother earth is just going through a cycle. Nevertheless, I am looking forward to the winter and hope it will be pleasant unlike last year when I didn't even wear any winter clothing. We didn't even take out the electric blanket and thick comforters to warm us. I didn't get to wear my thermal socks at all! Not that the winter is very cold here, it is just that the air from night time to the early morning has that cold, crispy feel and you can actually get the shivers. Besides, we do not have any fireplace to warm our place.

Off to the Airport

I am still dizzy but have to snap out of this morning disorientation because I have to drive my husband to the airport in a short while. Good thing about driving in the morning is that there are few motorists on the road and it is not traffic. I can easily zoom home.

My hubby's going to pick our daughter from Manila after her one and a half long summer vacation. I am sure that she is very thrilled to be back in Dubai because she'll get to see Millie again and her friends in school. 

Okay, I have to sign off for now. I will be the driver today. 

Waking Up Disoriented

I had a very bad day yesterday in the office. I also received a phone call from my sister about my mom's stroke. She was rushed to the hospital but is now recovering.

I woke up this morning feeling a bit disoriented, puffy-eyed, dizzy, exhausted from all the crying, confused and absent-minded. I have been looking for some of my stuff but I could not figure out where I kept them last. I knew I have been missing my polo boots and other business outfits which I haven't worn for some time. I was also searching for my other purses which I could not remember where I kept.  What is going on?

Oh, I am so young to forget things. Could this be stress or sheer exhaustion for being exposed to people who does not matter but gives me tough time 8.5 hours, 5 days in a week? 

Must We Report Bad Bosses?

This question has been going on in my head for sometime now. Can we actually report bad bosses? What if the person we are going to send the report to is someone who is buddy-buddy with those bad bosses? Does it mean that the report is futile? 

I hope there is an easy solution to every employees' dilemma about bad bosses. I hope we can all turn the table around and be the boss too. Maybe then they will realize how it feels to be on the other side of the table.

On Rugs and Dull Floors

When you come in a house, do you normally check out the area or first look on the floor and see if it is clean, shiny and have a "wow" factor? Well, I am one of those who normally look down when I wipe my feet on the Rugs and give an ocular inspection on the floor I am stepping at. It is a weird habit but I get to see and admire a lot of people's home by doing this. It also gives me an idea on what to put on my dream home when the time comes.

I have seen floors made of marble, granite, terracotta, vinyl, wood and wall-to-wall carpet. Some are nicely covered with Area Rugs. Others are white as a cloud and glossy. And others have intricate tile work that will leave you in awe.  

Our flat's floor are covered with 12x12 sq. ft. yellowish tiles.  I wanted something glossy but I had to settle with what was available when we scouted for a flat.  I thought when we first moved in the building that it was plain and simple. My opinion of the floor has turned to ho-hum. In short, I am bored with it. Our contract does not allow us to alter any original component of the flat except for paint improvement and other fixtures. That is also to our advantage because we do not have to spend a fortune updating the floor when there are other means of brightening a dull floor. I keep imagining my friends' houses with nice glossy floors. I just admire them!

So, to solve my slight problem whenever I look on our floor, my husband bought some Cheap Rugs to spruce up the place. He covered the living room with a slightly shaggy area rug to make it more homey, inviting and cozy. It improved the look of the flat and gave more definition to the place. He also bought some house plants to put in the corner of the dining place to give a little life and color on the area and the floor. I bought a small colorful mat and placed it on the hallway's main door to add pizazz on our simple floor.

Now that my slight problem is solved, I can let out a sigh of relief and be grateful to my husband's genius ideas and practicality.

Cute Millie

Please check out my post on how cute our Millie is when she is asleep and on our master bed at that!!! feel free to leave some heart-warming comments too. Here is my post on the subject in my other blog. Just follow the link :)  MILLIE

Too Fast, Too Soon

You might wonder what my post will be about based on the title. It can be weight loss, growth, expansion or just about anything about getting big and wider. However, that is not the case. It has nothing to do with expansion or increment. It's all about the dexterity of my mouth to out-run my thoughts. Simply put, my mouth is faster than my thoughts. And I have noticed that this week.

As usual, I become a different person only when I am in the office. I am very calm and happy at home because home is where my heart is. Lately, "my mouth speaks what my heart feels" and this is not telling my colleagues, it is telling my bosses! No, I am not venting out my sentiments and grievances to them but I am already giving them a piece of my mind - in an assertive and yet stern manner, still doused with respect. 

I used to just say yes this and yes that even if I have to beg for extra appendages to do my work. Now, I just tell them straight that I cannot finish this or that on time or they move the deadline. I have been vocal about what I can and cannot do now because the bosses are compromising me without consulting me first or asking what other projects I have. This is the problem with people, they think of some bright ideas and I get to do the dirty work. And who else gets the credit? Of course, NOT ME. So now, forgive me if I am wrong but I believe it is my right to advise them if I can meet the deadline or not by being realistic and being in the "real world" and not somewhere else where I can warp time to their advantage. I know I should think a million times before I say something especially in the work area. I am beyond that now. I am tired. I need to speak up or forever hold my peace. 

People are just asking the impossible these days. I feel that they are pushing their staff to the limit by requesting impossible feats in short notice. I am already bugged with so many work I can barely breathe and here they come, throwing more work to me and asking me to deliver the end product in 10 minutes time. Say what?!? Unless I am the goddess Shiva (is she the one with plenty of arms?), then yes I can commit. Hello, last time I checked, I only have 2 arms, 10 fingers, 2 legs, 2 feet, 10 toes and 1 torso. For crying out loud!

Self-Motivation Tools

Self-motivation is becoming my favorite topic these days. I recently posted tips on how to motivate yourself. I am going to share some tools which I found in the web so you can pick up some great tips. The site is Mindtools.com and it has plenty of articles on time management, decision making, problem solving, various skills on communication/career, creativity, stress management, and motivation. You can take a quiz to check how you fair in self-motivation. 

I took the quiz on self-motivation and I got 49. To know what it stands for, you have to check the site and take the quiz.

Welcome my Home and Family blog!

I have contemplated long enough to actually put my plan into action. I created another blog that will focus on family, home matters, pets and what's close to my heart. So, please feel free to visit the site and leave some lovely and heart-warming comments. I will surely appreciate it.

See you at HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS blog!

Maybe you can send some linky loves too :)

Self-Motivation - When No One and Nothing Else can Motivate You at Work

I am still fortunate that despite the recession, our company has maintained its staff. Although it is difficult to work with 400x as much load as you previously had, we cannot complain. This is the time where employees are being squeezed dry to the limits because the employer can always give you the "take-it or leave-it" approach. And if you are one of the millions who have bank obligations to settle, you have no choice but to keep mum and just bear and grin it (for the time being...).

Unfortunately, it is also difficult to maintain one's sanity when you work in a place when no one even bothers to motivate and look after you. I have that misfortune. So, I am sharing some few tips (and tricks) to those who are in a similar boat as I am. 

1. Be positive. 

Time and time again, this line can always surpass the cliche mode and it always work. I use the power of positive thinking to help me get by. You know, always see the glass "half-full." I always tell myself that I am lucky to have a job and that matters a lot especially at a time like this.

2. Be thankful.

Lift your head up and say a prayer. Be thankful for the blessings no matter how great or small. A humble man prospers just like what the 8 Beatitudes say: Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

3. Be creative.

Spruce up your cubicle with nice photos of you and your family. That's what I did. Although we are not allowed to make a collage out of the cubicle wall, we can put nice pictures in frames to display and my table is brimming! Put pictures of happy trips you have, candid shots with funny faces, pictures of your pets and beautiful sceneries. Post sticky notes on your computer monitor with a smiley face drawn on it. That will put a smile on your face.

4. Surround yourself with wisdom.

Read books that you like and inspiring during your coffee break. Read the bible. Read, read, read... Read newspapers (but try not to read the negative headlines! This will just defeat the purpose of self-motivation) especially the comics section (I do this all the time and it brings a smile to my haggard face).

5. Blow your Horn.

Okay, you may think that this contradicts what I have pointed at number 2. It will only if you boast about it. In this case, you do this tooting of horn in silence, in your thoughts. Well, I do "pat myself" for a job well done when no one else will and let me stress this out - I DO IT IN SILENCE. Yes, it sounds weird but it works well for me knowing that what I have done is great and I congratulate myself for that. It boosts my confidence too. Try it. You don't have to announce to the whole world how marvelous you are. Just say it to yourself and believe.

6. Pray.

Start your day and end it with a prayer. I always lift all my worries to God. I am only a mortal with limitations and weakness. I surrender all my doubts and concerns to Him because He knows what is best. At the end of the day, I always tell myself that I have given my best and I offer all those sacrifice to Him and my family. I may not be recognized at work but in His eyes I am worthy.

So, I hope I have helped impart some important tips to help you get by if you are in a similar situation as I am. I know it is very difficult to motivate yourself but look at the bigger picture. Millions of people out there have no work as I write this. You and I have... Shouldn't that be a motivation in itself?

Family Time vs. Work Load

It is a rule of thumb in our family that we will never bring work-related problems nor work itself at home. My husband and I have been guilty in some cases but we have been very good sticking to that rule.

Our family time is very precious and we take it seriously. Our principle is, we only get to spend 2 days with the family as opposed to the number of grueling hours we spend at work with people we barely know (and perhaps we don't even like).

I feel guilty breaking that rule today. I told myself, only for today. I brought one chunk of my workload at home because of time constraints in the office. I know my efforts will never be recognized and no one will even know that I will finish some work at home except for myself. I brought some work because there is no way I can meet the deadlines with all their demands. If I can only tell them what I am thinking, I would but that would land me either in jail or to my early "retirement." LOL!!! Nevertheless, I had to make a drastic decision. It was not my preferred choice but someone's got to give. And it has to be me!

So, after I finish this blog post and while my husband do the laundry (oh yes, we share household chores too...lucky me!), I will sneak in the bathroom and read the work I brought home. Perhaps I can flush it down the toilet before reading it. What do you reckon?

Swimming in Garbage

Yes, people can swim in garbage - not the actual soiled things we throw but in a garbage dumpster. Who would have thought that a dumpster can be used as a pool? Well, Macro Sea is an innovative company who created the first dumpster pool last year. Now, they have set 3 more dumpster pools around the Park Avenue areas in New York to allow residents to take a dip.

The 8 x 22 foot dumpster pools are just 3 - 4 1/2 feet so diving is prohibited. The inside walls have been lined with layers of felt and pool linings. The pools have their own filtration system and deck and can easily be transported to other cities who will take in the innovative design of David Belt.

Residents in the Park Avenue areas are trying the unique experience. The city has given bracelets to residents on a first-come, first-serve basis to try out the dumpster pool. The pools will be around for 2 Saturdays (August 14 and 21) before the pools are moved.

So, if you live in the area, you may want to shake off the summer heat and take a nice dip in the dumpster and swim in garbage (dumpster pool that is!) with style!

(Photo credit: David Belt)

Money-Saving Tips for the Holidays

I know, it's still very early to think about the coming holiday season. As a matter of fact, I am not even sure if the economy is in great shape for people to spare some money to shop for gifts. It does not matter whether we plan to give gifts this Christmas or not. The point is to save as much as we can, as early as now.

Here are some tips to help you stretch your budget should you decide to be Santa Claus this Christmas 2010:

1. Scour flea markets. This is the best place to find unique and precious items.
2. Re-use Christmas decors.
3. Use handmade gift wrappers from scratch papers.
4. Check major sales from malls and buy in bulk.
5. Allocate at least 10% of your salary towards a "Holiday Season" fund which you can use for any other purpose. The goal is to save for the holiday season whether you want to buy gifts or not.
6. Have pot-luck instead of hosting the Christmas Eve party.
7. Use artificial Christmas Tree. This way you can re-use them for next year or the years after.
8. Offer garage sale as early as now to clear your unwanted clutter. One man's trash is another man's treasure.
9. Save on car gas, electricity and water consumption.
10. Make handmade cards instead of buying commercialized ones.

So, start saving and enjoy this year's Holiday season without burning a hole in your pocket. The economy may still be bad but that does not mean we cannot enjoy the true meaning of Christmas.

I Miss You Dad...

There is never a day that I don't think of my dad. My dad has been gone for four years and today is the fourth year of my grieving in silence.

They said, grieving takes time. No one can actually say when someone will come out of it. It seems like he is just on a long vacation and that one day he will be back. Deep inside I know he won't and will never be. He already joined our loving Creator and I know he is now happy and free of pain.

I just miss him so much. I am still not used to the fact that he is really gone. I may be in denial up to now but it is hard to let go when you love someone so dearly. I didn't even get to say good bye to him and that hurts me so much.

Dad, I know you're looking down at us right now. I know you can see and feel what we are going through without you. I just want you to know, you are always (always and forever Tatay...) in our hearts and minds. We love you so much and one day, we will meet again in eternity.

Same Old Stuff, Different Day

Ah, the saga of the corporate bondage continues and this time under a different dictatorship. I really don't understand how big guys up there decide on things in the office. Sometimes it leaves me so baffled that my mind gets numb. Oftentimes, I am left reeling, palpitating and praying that I discover another portal to transport myself to a corporate utopia.

The office is very lucky to have me as a staff. And this I tell you without any sign of modesty because I know what kind of person I am. I am self-motivated despite the lack of support and boost of morale from the higher echelon. Unfortunately, my dedication is never noticed. I am not sure if they actually do not see what I do inspite of the numerous emails I forward them regarding the projects I have accomplished or they simply want to turn the cheek and look on the opposite direction. Hmmmmm... What kind of game are they really playing there?

I have been given numerous tasks with deadlines happening on the same time. Same time! Same time! Same time! Whew, I thought if I tell myself that over and over again, I might come into a realization that everything is just a nightmare and I would wake up from this mess. So far, reality bites so hard that no matter how much I deny myself about the deadlines, they are going to happen and I have to commit and deliver. How? Don't ask me because I have no idea.

Oh man, it is just the same old stuff and different kind-of-thing day for me in the office. I just wish 2013 rolls in as fast as the lightning. I just want to get out. So help me God...

Half An Hour Run

I ran for half an hour today. I didn't want to go more than that since my knees would give up. I still have plenty of weight to lose so I am taking it slowly but surely.

I put the treadmill on level 2 incline to give my run more oomph and substance. I wore an elastic band around my waist to encourage sweating specially on my waist area which is my main problem. After the half an hour run, I ate a meatloaf sandwich and downed 2 full glasses of water to re-hydrate myself.

A lot of people can do an hour stretch of running but I cannot subject myself to that. I have read in the web that if you run right away without building your stamina, you will only get injuries. Also, I have checked the web for the best weight loss supplements available in the market to aid my weight loss; apart from drinking green tea. I am also taking omega 3 fatty acid as a supplement to help my joints and heart.

I still have a long way to go. Like I always tell everybody, I don't mind the slow, steady pace as long as I get to my goal the healthy and proper way.

Private Video Scandal

I have just finished watching a TV program in our Filipino channel a while ago. The story was about a disgruntled boyfriend who uploaded his and her girlfriend's private moments. It didn't stop there. The boyfriend made the video public and was forwarded to all the girl's families and friends in Facebook. Let's just say that the video is very, very sensitive and should be for the eyes of both the involved only. Unfortunately, there is now a twist to the saying, "hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." In this case, "a man scorned."

I have nothing against Facebook having the option to upload photos. My concern is that, doesn't Facebook view the videos uploaded before actually letting it get published live on the site? Just a thought.

Another thing that irritates me to the core is the fact that people will do stupid things like having their "intimate moments" recorded on video. What is worse is that, the girl consented and now she filed a complaint. I understand the trauma it has brought her. Imagine looking at the faces of the people who loves and cares for you and all of a sudden it goes tainted just because of a video.

I do believe that people have the right to say no when they don't want to. Sometimes, it's just foolishness presiding over sensibility, or more so, lust over right conviction. We can always refuse such act because it is an invasion to our personal space and privacy.

I don't understand why a lot of people do this kind of thing. Makes me wonder, are there so many frustrated actors/actress out there searching for their fast ticket to fame? I would say fast all right, very fast ticket to SHAME. Tsk-tsk-tsk. Come on girls (to all the ladies out there who are contemplating of having their private moments recorded for "posterity"), be clever! If you don't want to be the subject of ridicule and shame, then say NO. It is that simple.