The Year of The Franc... Part 4

It's the 4th year of my Year of the Franc blogs and every it's becoming more difficult if it was a good one or not... Though the landscape changes every time... the level of success higher which goes with a direct increase in the level of stress... and challenges...

2009 was not really a good year for most part with all the calamities that came but the fact that we're still standing at the end of it all is a nice feather in the cap on the test of resiliency... Bittersweet that's how things has been... And I guess that's we're it goes moving forward...

Travel is still on top of my list... Still stuck in those numerous foreign travels (3 times in Taiwan, 2 times in Cambodia, and China and Singapore) and this time I had my domestic destinations as my vacation spots (Bicol, Bohol, Davao and two trips to Bora). Had my vacation every time I had and even at work I did take a day or two to go around. Well, still nice to go around every now and then.

I was a little less spend thrift in 2009 (Ok, I was more on the impulsive buyer side)... It's an excellent stress reliever... hehe... At least, I did pamper my self as much as I could... but let me try to be more stingy in 2010... Oh well, just trying to live a life.

Work has been the usual emotional roller coaster I get to see on a day by day basis. A litlle lighter on the first part as I was able to resolve the funding issue late last year but real heavy towards the end of the year due to the super early deadline. Heavy is still such a light word on how I feel regarding work as of the moment... Really considering Bum Town alternative to the level of burn out I currently have right now but let me finish first the impossible deadline and I'll make up my mind by then... I'm looking for a change of environment...

Speaking of new environments, there's so much more to look forward to. There are some cycles ending and new ones unfolding... I'm seeing some things in a new light (=>)... and quite excited on working on a business venture that would be more in line with my skill set... I think 2010 is the time I shake things up and make some changes so it's gonna be a different year.

I'm ending on a note of Thanks as the year may be good or bad but it's the people who lend out time, a smile or a helping hand that I'd like to remember... Families always being there (sometimes via helicopter roving mode of always being there)... AGSB friends and our constant dinners and gimmicks... SGV friends on the get togethers and out of town trips... SLU, XCV and SLSC friends for being rediscovered via Facebook... People I worked with for the fun and challenging times... constant companions and new people and friends I get to meet everyday... A year won't be a year without people to share it with...

Happy New Year!!! Let's shake thins uo for 2010!!! =>

Thoughtless Thoughts: Stressville or Bum Town... =>

Christmas in the Middle of the Cold and the Bluewater

Merry Christmas to all!!!

I've been stucked in the middle of Stressville for most of the time leading to Christmas Day and probably still a foot in Stressville even during the holidays. I'm tired from all the pressure I have to live by and peace of mind is not something I can take home this year but I'm still trying to spend as much of the holiday without the scawl and pale expression I've been carrying the rest of the time.

Off to the cold weather at home. Nice crazy party at home (maybe noisy is an understatement). We weren't able to go with some usual traditional stuff but we'll just squeeze it in within the next few days. A good part of it was that I was able to maximize my sleep in the bus going home to Baguio. Hello cold weather (though it's also been cold in Manila last week). Christmas Mass and Dinner and then the gift giving (no more receiving since we're following a No Gift once you work policy). Oh well, let me bitterly say, it's better to give than to receive.

Shortly, we're off to Manila then to the bluewaters of Boracay for a few days there. I always love the view of the beach maybe it'll calm some of my anxiousness. Second trip to Bora this year so this one would be more on relaxation (did I say I'm bringing my laptop to be able to check on some work stuff??? sucks!!!). I'm trying my best to have fun but I'm sure it'll be fun. Technology has its ways to ease (or at times worsen) some workload.

Haay!!! Not in the best of times but not also in my worst of times... I guess that's a fair compromise given that I still have a deadline yet I still want to have fun. Christmas has its way bringing us home and meeting family and friends amidst the difficult circumstances. =>

Thoughtless Thoughts: It's always a difficult choice when you are torn with what you want to do and what you need to do.

The Last of My Charmed Days

It's my Inaanak Charm's advance third birthday and knowing that this would be the one of the last one I would be able to attend since the next one would be down under. The last of my charmed days... sigh... sigh... Oh Well... Down under will always be one of my favorite places, so I'll still get to see Charm from time to time...

Weird as it is, the first thing I did notice this year for Christmas are the not so good elements, traffic jams, jam-packed parking slots, the calorie overload that goes with too much gatherings, the long queues at the mall, the multitudes of gifts to buy... and so on... I'd like to appreciate the things that make Christmas a jolly time of the year (unfortunately it's not a jolly one right now)... You get to see friends (planned and coincidence) in their festive moods... Funny, how I kept bumping into friends last Friday and Saturday... Pleasant surprises... You get to see kids in singing their hearts out to the Christmas tunes... Eye catching decorations and landscapes that goes with the season... People tend to reach out more at this time of year... and then there's always the joy of giving...

Busy with work and fun that's how I describe my week. That's what happens when you get come up with an equation of an early deadline plus Christmas = One real tired Franc... Well worth it... Had my chance at meeting old colleagues (FAA, CPA, Tina, Vic, Arlyn) last Thursday... Met Diane, bumped into Anna for dinner and then Mark and Mina last Friday... Drive to Subic with Ruth and the Bumping into Ves... then Meeting Arnold, Jing, Chelsea and Ephz for Charm's Bday...

And the business has been at its peak in fact, I just realized that I have most of my people spread out all over just to ensure that we finish on time... I had to do some clerical stuff... Anything to get the job done... Unfortunately, we're put in a spot that leaves us no leeway for taking it easy... Let's see if we get to pull this difficult task...

It's less than five days before Christmas and add another day for a family Bora Trip... I hope the festive mood catches up with me by then... As of now, it's the sandman who caught me...ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Thoughtless Thoughts: The best victories are those we get from the heels of defeat.

Fast Times in Slow Motion

The days are trickling in fast and yet each minute has been critical and valuable. Each moment is magnified with each tick of the clock - chasing to do's, catching deadlines and resolving unending riddles. Fast Times in slow motion... The days to go are limited and yet the task at hand is limitless.

The irony of fast being slow in congesting so much stuff in the limited time before the holiday. While the days are going by unnoticed, the level of effort and stress have felt like it's been ages already as if every stress-ridden moments has been accumulating by each drop of the sands of time.

A jolly feel of the season is yet an anxious event that has yet to come but at the least, I'm almost done with my Christmas chores... buying gifts, burdened by the Christmas traffic, attending and missing Christmas parties... and I guess, it's more of the wait that lies ahead. The sad part of it is the countdown that has taken my time and energy is my January deadline and not Christmas.

Anyway, there'll still be a lot of reason to smile... Amidst the busy times, I still am left with time to reconnect, relax and attempt to take another difficult task... shed some pounds in this dinner-infested season... there's also some chances to lend a helping hand every now and then.

This weekend has been a tiring one but at the end of it was a little time to pamper myself and knowing that the days are numbered before the holidays sets in, I know it won't be the best of times that awaits but who cares... even as good times, come and go, and so do difficult ones... A trying climb but there'll be a nice view after the long climb.

Thoughtless Thoughts: Each moment, good or bad, is an experience that defines what lies ahead so treasure each experience as they happen as they'll soon be part of history.

Patience My Dear Franc

This week and the following weeks would be a test of patience and I guess people won't let on and continue to be annoying and attention seeking. I guess it takes much effort to drag myself to work. The deadline is lurking and difficult as it is, there are some developments. Patience my dear Franc.

Also had the chance to meet up with 'rarely' seen SGV friends, Warna and Dodoy last week. Always a nice breather seeing friends on times like this. The jovial mood has set in and difficult as it is, I'll be trying to squeeze some time with family and friends. Work is work, friends are friends and family is family and the lines should be drawn and not let the eminent deadline dictate on me.

Speaking of the season. I'm glad I'm almost done with my Christmas shopping and awaiting the next urgency to finish up my Christmas chores. It would be better if I'm in the mood and not just feel obliged. I remember a scene in the Big Bang Theory I watched on the plane that a gift is also an obligation to reciprocate the thoughtfulness of the other party. I guess, it's really the thought that count.

Another item I did squeeze in this schedule was a quick visit to Baguio for a dental appointment and short as it was, I did appreciate having the cool weekend feel in the city of Pines. The cold days that made the place famous is back and I also had the chance to go through old school photos for my part in our elementary group site. Wait, I did have a rather unusual trip back home starting with almost missing the bus, having a snoring passenger nearby, and upon reaching home, home repairs so the not much sleep but the 9-11 degrees weather was well worth it.

And speaking of sleep, I better get one now to complete my weekend recharge.

Thoughtless Thoughts: When the glimmer of hope is bleak, then you got to believe.