I got a surprise email from a friend the other day. See, I nochalantly emailed her a week ago to ask when they were scheduled to go home. She's been saying she'd go home this December. Bumili na tuloy ako ng gift ko. It's been a while since I've seen her. She did go home earlier this year, but she only stayed about a week or so before she flew back to Nevada. Well, I got a reply 2 days ago and she's already here! Ang bruha, hindi man lang nagpasabi maaga silang darating - hehehe. Anyway, I planned to see her this weekend but she already has plans to visit her in-laws. So, I guess we'll have to meet next weekend. Not on a Friday though.
Reminds me, I have a wedding to attend to next Friday. Hmmm... I'm thinking if I should attend. The wedding's going to be in a INK (Iglesia ni Kristo) church. I have nothing against them, except I'm not really comfortable going to their churches. I don't know why. It's just the way that I feel. Weird, huh? Anyway, if I go straight to the reception, wouldn't it look even more awkward? Parang lafanga lang ang habol ko. Eat and Run ba? And wouldn't that look like I was purposely avoiding going to their church? I might insult the sensibilities of a few friends. I'm thinking of just skipping the wedding and just send a gift a few days after. I have a fool-proof excuse anyway! I work the graveyard shift and I can't get any vacation time for that day.
Bahala na...
Friday, November 26, 2004
Wednesday, November 17, 2004
'Tis the Season
I feel like I'm coming down with a cold, a sure sign that the Christmas season is near. Blame the infernal airconditioning at the office. It get colder during the Christmas season. And since we work in a controlled environment, if anyone gets a cold everyone gets a cold. It wouldn't be as hard though if I have the rest that I need. Unfortunately, we have a lot of Christmas carolers calling upon our dilapitated apartment gates. The racket wakes me up. Mahirap na talaga buhay ngayon. They started carolling as early as November 14. Para siguro may pamasko man lang. They brave the risks of being in the streets just to get a few coins worth of of rewards. The streets aren't safe anymore. Not these days, anyway.
Another sign, I've been getting calls from Citibank offering me everything from contests to instant loans that I will have to pay for in 24-months. I'm polite to these callers most of the time. I mean they work for customer service just like me. I understand the situations that they have to deal with. However, I have had it. Since Citibank started using third-party service providers, I have been a lesser-than-happy customer. It's been a hassle paying for my bills. I can't even call then without incurring toll charges (they decommissioned their toll-free number). Now, Citibank's paying thir-party providers to pitch marketing offers to customers. The first call I received a few weeks ago, I told the Rep that I was planning to cancel my card. I also asked to be removed from any calling list. They called me on my cell several times after that. I told the last Rep the same thing, but not before thanking her for the call and then griping about the Citibank service. They record the conversation, you know. At least that will get the Rep off the hook. The comments that I made would allow her to keep her job through these trying times. I still have a little humanity left in me.
Amidst all of the allergies and the materialism, I bid you a season full of reflection and joy. May we all find in our hearts the true reason for celebrating Christmas. Enjoy the seaon, everyone. Wherever you are.
Another sign, I've been getting calls from Citibank offering me everything from contests to instant loans that I will have to pay for in 24-months. I'm polite to these callers most of the time. I mean they work for customer service just like me. I understand the situations that they have to deal with. However, I have had it. Since Citibank started using third-party service providers, I have been a lesser-than-happy customer. It's been a hassle paying for my bills. I can't even call then without incurring toll charges (they decommissioned their toll-free number). Now, Citibank's paying thir-party providers to pitch marketing offers to customers. The first call I received a few weeks ago, I told the Rep that I was planning to cancel my card. I also asked to be removed from any calling list. They called me on my cell several times after that. I told the last Rep the same thing, but not before thanking her for the call and then griping about the Citibank service. They record the conversation, you know. At least that will get the Rep off the hook. The comments that I made would allow her to keep her job through these trying times. I still have a little humanity left in me.
Amidst all of the allergies and the materialism, I bid you a season full of reflection and joy. May we all find in our hearts the true reason for celebrating Christmas. Enjoy the seaon, everyone. Wherever you are.
Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Makati Musings...
Yesterday, we went to Manila to attend the christening of the newest addition to our "family." But wait. I need to clear that up. By "family," I now mean to include my wife's kin. The christening was for Gio, my brother-in-law's 2-month old son.
I came home from work yesterday morning and showered right away. We had to leave early because the christening was the the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart (in Makati). Since we lived in Pampanga, we had to schedule an early trip to get there by 11 am. Well, we barely made it in time, as our driver had trouble finding the right streets to drive into. I have never seen so many one-way street signs in my life as I did yesterday afternoon. Even with a map, you'll get lost.
When we went into the church, I began to understand why my brother-in-law wanted to have the christening there. See, it irked me that the christening had to be in Makati when he was from Pampanga and his wife from Quezon. Well-travelled as my brother-in-law was, he chose this small church. It was quaint, a little small, but quite beatiful. It had such a serene air to it though. If you were there, you'd feel how important the event was -LOL. As serene as it was, I had to stifle a giggle when I saw this 6-foot caucasian guy wearing a dark blue barong. He looked so proud. I always feel this awkward churn in my gut when I see caucasian men wear barongs. I have nothing against them, but barongs seem to suit the Filipino built better. Anyway, the ceremonies were dispensed with and we got the chance to rub elbows with a few PDI (Phil. Daily Inquirer) bigwigs afterwards. Gio's proud parents work there. Lucky them - LOL. With the binyag over, we headed over to a resto along Makati avenue. Or was that another street (?)
The wife and I had to eat alternately so someone could watch over my son. For most of the day my son was his inconsolable self. He's in the terrible two's now. He's becoming a real pain with the tantrums coming every now and then. You'll have to take it all with a grain of salt every single day. It's part of growing up, after all. But I can't help but grit my teeth sometimes. That's part of being a father. Hmmm... We all have our roles, eh. I prefer being an irate father to a being an unshaven heavyset perspiring white guy in dark blue barong.
I came home from work yesterday morning and showered right away. We had to leave early because the christening was the the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart (in Makati). Since we lived in Pampanga, we had to schedule an early trip to get there by 11 am. Well, we barely made it in time, as our driver had trouble finding the right streets to drive into. I have never seen so many one-way street signs in my life as I did yesterday afternoon. Even with a map, you'll get lost.
When we went into the church, I began to understand why my brother-in-law wanted to have the christening there. See, it irked me that the christening had to be in Makati when he was from Pampanga and his wife from Quezon. Well-travelled as my brother-in-law was, he chose this small church. It was quaint, a little small, but quite beatiful. It had such a serene air to it though. If you were there, you'd feel how important the event was -LOL. As serene as it was, I had to stifle a giggle when I saw this 6-foot caucasian guy wearing a dark blue barong. He looked so proud. I always feel this awkward churn in my gut when I see caucasian men wear barongs. I have nothing against them, but barongs seem to suit the Filipino built better. Anyway, the ceremonies were dispensed with and we got the chance to rub elbows with a few PDI (Phil. Daily Inquirer) bigwigs afterwards. Gio's proud parents work there. Lucky them - LOL. With the binyag over, we headed over to a resto along Makati avenue. Or was that another street (?)
The wife and I had to eat alternately so someone could watch over my son. For most of the day my son was his inconsolable self. He's in the terrible two's now. He's becoming a real pain with the tantrums coming every now and then. You'll have to take it all with a grain of salt every single day. It's part of growing up, after all. But I can't help but grit my teeth sometimes. That's part of being a father. Hmmm... We all have our roles, eh. I prefer being an irate father to a being an unshaven heavyset perspiring white guy in dark blue barong.
Wednesday, November 3, 2004
Found Another
In our quest to find the best free stuff on the web, we get to discover a few sites worth recommending. Found this site called the finger-keyboard synapse - while browsing BitWise Communications webpage. Been hearing a lot about BitWise's IM software. I'd like to try it too. I'll have to sched the download though. I need to sleep now. Haven't been sleeping all that well the past few days. I've been too busy wasting my time tapping away at the keyboard.
Anywa, visit BitWise and try it out for your self. Tell me how to contact you if you do so I can have a BitWise buddy - LOL. Don't want o be all alone, you know. A little bit of hand-holding won't be to bad.
Anywa, visit BitWise and try it out for your self. Tell me how to contact you if you do so I can have a BitWise buddy - LOL. Don't want o be all alone, you know. A little bit of hand-holding won't be to bad.
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