Franc on DSL

I finally had my PLDT phone and DSL installed yesterday... though I haven't used the phone to make or receive a call... a phone is not as useful these days... even at work, I'm maximizing my dsl at home with a queue of downloads...

Anyway, I'm still hiding in my anti-social shell... Things have not been fine and certain... or at least, I'm just stuck in a wall trying to peak at months to come... Months when I'll finally be out of my shell victorious of all the dilemma and problems at hand...

I'm still trying to be the usual reliable Franc I am... but I guess this time, there'll be less of an effort being always around... yet no worries as there are decisions to be made and steps to take... once I'm certain, I would be back... and for the mean time, back to the battles of everyday life...

Feisty Me....

Yesterday, was an emotionally heavy day for me... heavy thinking about "is it worth it? stuff" had me exploring other alternatives which I have ignored before... I'll always have a feisty side in me... someone who'll fight when I feel that there is something not fair...

That's me, I'm not someone to ask for the moon... all I want is my fair share of the pie... no more, no less... so when I feel that things are not just then I'd go out of my way to make things right... and I know, people don't always mean what they say or at least, defer what they promise... but then again, despite my mild mannered ways, I do know how to assert what I want... and I'll make things right even if it's the last thing I do....

Never promise something you can't keep... It's not sincere... but the good part of the emotional struggle was that I was able to open myself to a future which I failed to see... and no matter how it unravels... I'm bringing my "so be it" attitude with me... I guess, that'll do for now... we all have our battles to conquer...

Monday Blogging

It's the start of the week again and looks like it hasn't started right... For some unknown reason, I wasn't able to get a good night sleep... and this is not the way I wanted to start a tough week at work... Maybe I should just go home and take a rest just like all normal people do when they are not feeling well... but the adrenalin should kick in some time soon and with the help of coffee... I might be able to revive my tired and sleepy state...

That's what I dislike being at the helm of things... you don't get to enjoy the simple benefits of a day off on times like this... Responsible as I am, there's always a part of me that remains hesitant to be always the one leading the stand... It's just that I've assumed so much responsibility so soon... yet somehow, a big part of me has failure as its greatest fear, thus always do as much as I can to make things work...

This does remind me of Rodimus Prime of the Transformers... He inherited the matrix of leadership from Optimus Prime yet there's still a part of him that's youthful and carefree... but despite his hesitation to leadership, he somehow manage to do what he has to do... That makes him now my favorite Transformers... Optimus Prime and Bumblebee should be next on my list... I did watch Transformers reruns a few weeks ago just in case you're wondering where that wave of thought came from...

Anyway, the topic has shifted drastically but anyhow, I did try to salvage a false start with a nice cup of coffee with my stress ball... so much for the hesitation, it's time for some action.... =>

Some Parties Never End

It's Jan's Bday Salubong... and it was a real long salubong and birthday at the same time...

Venue was Good Earth (Bring's back memories to all those grad school days)... call time was 8 pm (for strict compliance per Mr. Viray... hehe)... Of course, the ocassion was Jan's Bday... and the participants were the Ateneo Gang ( Me, Jan, Blue, Tina, Hencel, Gryf, MJ, Anton, Rocky, Ronan, Steve, Lisa, Mascy, Grace, Poch, Jay, Eunice, Stephen, Owen, Lindsay, Bogz and Cig via phone patch)...

Like Jan said, Long Time, No Nothing... and finally there's something to celebrate and take us all away from our busy lives (for me, busy pathetic life... =<) and meet up again... but it's good to come out of my anti-social shell and celebrate and meet friends anew... Since there's been nothing going as of late... this party seemed never to end... after staying in Good Earth in Makati 'til about 1 am... We (Mascy, Anton, Rocky, Jan, Bogz and Me) shifted to Nommu in QC (It's not really that far at past 1 am) to meet up with Diane for more drinks and partying... and finally a party that seemed to never end finally ended... at past 3 am...

I think the next party would be mine... less than two months from now...

photos

Excess inkblogs: As in my previous blog, the tide is turning... I did get my second free coffee from Starbucks in a span of three days via randomly selected online survey participant... but after long thought, it wasn't really that the tide was turning but it was more of a reminder that there are still some minor blessings that come my way and believe that everything will end up right after all the sweat and effort... =>

The Tide is Turning...

After feeling that the odds has been stacked against me, I finally had a spate of good luck yesterday. After an exhausting plant tour from Bataan and Subic, I ordered coffee at Starbucks on my way home... and wahlah... my receipt had a randomly selected wordings that if I fill up an online survey, I would have a free coffee... survey done... free coffee this morning... yehey!!! The plant tour was also a nice break since things were a bit tense in treasury yesterday... hehe...

I'm not really one to rely on fate even if at times, I have to surpass several struggles which have consistently come my way at the most improbably times... all I know is that, there is a task at hand and luck or no luck, there can never be excuses... but only an accomplished goal waiting to happen...

A free coffee was a welcome treat... and a reminder that even at tumultuous times, there's still a little twist of fate that can alleviate the struggle... The tide is turning... or so i hope... =>

Is It Worth It???

Just as I made headway in sorting out a funding problem... not really my cup of tea but I've assimilated much information as of late... several new problems have surfaced again... I just feel that I'm in the end point of a manufacturing line and the product I receive from the previous lines are problems...

It really sucks big time and I'm caught with the thought, "Is it worth it?" Every time, you take on a risk position, it is always best to know the level of comfort and what the alternatives are... I don't want to come to a point in time that I would over exhaust my luck... my skills and my patience... GRRRRR.... An arduous task at keeping my composure...

Ok I guess, I have already vented out a lot... I'll probably go back to the idea that though life sometimes sucks (a lot of things haven't gone my way lately)... I'm doing fine... or at least, I'd like to think of it that way...

Excess Inkblogs: GRRRR.... It's past 7 pm now and I'm still cramming for my presentation for tomorrow's plant visit... sigh... sigh... sigh... so much to do so little time... I should consider more manpower soon but for now, all I can say is, "patience my dear Franc..." All will be well in due time...

Another Early Monday Morning Blog

It's early Monday morning again and I'm fighting a bout of sleepiness... so might as well blog a bit... before facing the roadblocks ahead (more of a mountain block... hehe)...

Had a nice restful weekend with my ongoing charmed series marathon... went to Ateneo to claim my alumni ID last Saturday (need to go back since the one releasing is only around at morning)... missed shooters night at Cig's again (was available too late)... went to divisoria yesterday (nice to shop for some stuff)...

Just caught with the thought that over the past few years... I felt the need to allot so much time on rest, relaxation and de-stress activity... It seems that it has been my way of managing stress... for one, I don't shout at the top of my voice when I'm stressed... I try to not get angry... I don't want to whine a lot with friends (ok sometimes, Jing is a great stress ball)... I just don't want anybody to feel obligated at being there through those tough times... I guess, that's probably what's wrong with me... I'm a little bit too independent... but then again, that's who I am so just have to find ways and means to vent out a bit...

I have to go back to the myriad of problems I get to go through each and everyday... Spice is definitely a recipe I get by day by day... but I'd rather live my life this way... always alert on challenges to come... I always learn a thing or two this way... =>

Excess Inkblogs: Remember the Spiderman quote, "With great power comes great responsibility..." Just seemed connected to my case above but I'm not one to be obsessed by power or position of authority... It's just that I made such great leaps that I had much
headway in my life... Come to think of it... I don't think people in power have held on to this adage... if they have then this country would have taken off real fast...

Dawn of the Busy Days

Busy days are coming and this week, I'm starting to feel the strain... Not much OT but so much work to do... Efficiency and stress are on an upswing...

Got a change of scenery with a plant tour for the bankers at Bataan today... 7 am departure time from Makati office with Ms. Del and Jing and the bankers... Got to the plant early so had a nice plant tour and meeting...

Arrived in Manila at around 5 pm... Jing and I went to Fitness First in the Block... and attended the body combat classes (ouch... my body's hurting)... I took the MRT for the first time in quite some time and the funny part is that I totally forgot to use the MRT card since I got the black dilapidated one and I didn't know which side was the right side... hehe...

I was planning on going home to Baguio today to reconnect with friends there since this may be the last time I could go there as it's the dawn of the busy days... but I decided to just take a rest and maybe attend tomorrow's shooters night at Cig's... and there'll always be my birthday to go back in Baguio in March... things will be more stable by then... =>

Blogging Early Monday Morning

By this time, if ever you're a reader of my inkblogs... it should be common knowledge now that my coding date is Monday... so here am I blogging early Monday morning... sure beats a bout of sleepy spells...

I received an email about how can someone do additional work for P800 increase last Friday... My take... there's such a word as professionalism... and increase or no increase, there's still a job to be done... and there's always alternative... if you think you're that good and I'm sure someone is more than willing to pay you more than P800 increase...

I'm seeing things in a new perspective... if you can't offer something new... develop new skills or increase responsibilities... then there's nothing to expect... People should be more dynamic in improving their craft and not waiting around for annual increases... There's always a fair way to see things... and speaking of fair... I've finally had my salary proposal for three departments approved ... I just hope it gets implemented soon...

After a busy Friday... meetings... rushing reports... and all the drama... I had a nice and restful weekend spent mostly on series marathon of Charmed... Saturday night at Cig's with Eunice (Missed Mascy, Jan and Bogz by a few hours)... and a short gym workout late Sunday...

And now it's back to work at Monday... Glad to recharge a bit before the busy times come...

More of Myself...

It's been an aloof version of me that welcomed the new year... I felt the holiday was so short and I was left wanting more... so it was a different me...

On the second week of the year, I'm slowly being more of myself... passionate about life's everyday challenge... regaining focus on things to be done... and finding ways and means to remain motivated on crossing tougher times... and just about ready to be the self less person wanting to save the world (ok... that's already too much hero stuff)....

Tougher times... yes it's about to begin... and I dare say that things have gotten a lot tougher this year at work... but I guess, it's part of the complications I'd love to hurdle at this time of year... I just make it a point to explore a new phase of responsibilities or skills as each year passes...

Anyway, it'll be a more focus me getting set for tougher times... and in terms of visibility to friends... I won't be high and active but after all the busyness (is there such a word?) is gone... it'll be another fun-filled ride... but then again, there's always my birthday to look forward to a full two months from now... and probably a few get together along the way... =>

Forever Charmed

After the holidays comes another celebration... Charm, my inaanak, celebrated her first ever birthday at North Greenhills Clubhouse last Saturday. And it was my first time to see Charm again after seeing her when she was just a few months old... Charm has done a lot of growing up and she's definitely a big baby girl.... and not to mention a very pretty baby...

It's a reunion of sorts meeting my SLU friends Ges, Allan and Hermie, SGV and AGSB Pal Chelsea, Balik-SGV HR Kuya Nonoy and my former Seniors in FAA Group, Tina and Vic (who's also with their daughter Sam) and of course Arnold and her Mom... the Hello Kitty inspired party took off around 2:30 pm with so many kids which featured various games and programs and the magician Wanlu... cool tricks with all the puppetry.... incidentally, I also became one of the puppets and having to wear a cape with a Winnie the pooh in front... hehe... It was a funny skit... Allan and Kuya Nonoy did have their YMCA Number after losing in one of the games...

Food was great... with Hotdog, Snow Cone, Ice Cream and Potato Corner booths for snacks... then of course, there's still the main dish after all the games... then there's still the cakes and cupcakes... the party lasted until 6 pm... and btw, the blog is titled 'forever charmed', since being one of Charm's Godparents, I'll be around her life for quite some time... and she'll always be a lucky charm to people around her... it was journey back home at the end of the party... Happy Birthday Charm!!!

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excess inkblogs: Or so I thought it was my way home... as I decided to drop by Rockwell for their sale... and surprise surprise... I get to bump into AGSB Eunice... lovely and sweet Eunice... who's also around the place to shop... then a while later, I get to bump into my cousin Manong Arman and Manang Marbs, who's going to meet our cousin Max a little bit later... small world huh!!! then my sister followed in Rockwell... We didn't join the dinner with our cousin Max, due to a very jologs reason of my sister... It was PBB big night... hehe.... so now, I can call it a day...

Holiday Hangover!!!

I'm not sure if I'm still in holiday hangover mode or just tired from all the driving yesterday from Baguio to Manila but rest assured I'll start the year right... The holiday seemed so short considering that I have to drive the distance by day instead of taking the night bus... for safety purposes...

The holiday was spent at a spur-of-the-moment swim to Asin hot spring, which is about 19 kilometers from Baguio... The road to Asin was now much better compared before but on a joker's perspective it should take you three days and two nights going there... the two nights being that you have to pass by two tunnels... The difference of Asin from any resort is that you see yourself surrounded by different mountains... The water was cold as usual and the place has really improved from the last time we went there... with all the slides... the warm jacuzzi... the gazebo... and all the new pools... We went back to Baguio early in the afternoon to prepare for the new year celebration...

After a few hours rest, we drove to Session Road and Harrison Road to buy cakes and fountains... we were not able to buy fountains since they moved the shops to another area... then came the mass and it was a few hours wait until new year... too bad we were so few this time since my cousins were in the other house... At the stroke of midnight, the fireworks
started and it was midnight... Decided to sleep at past 1 am since I'm still driving the next day...

The next day, it was our trip back... total driving time is 5 and half hours excluding stopovers and it was time to rest after a short holiday and a long drive... I'll probably just take the bus the next time... More time at home and less hassle driving but then again... the thrill of a long road trip has its own merits...

Back to starting the year right... so better get back to the task I have to accomplish...

Asin Pics