SubscribeI have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the box from Glo this month because it holds my dear motherboard from DELL. G, Dell Inspiron laptop, has been incommunicado since June already and while I have quite grown accustomed working in our ancient but still so very effective desktop computer (gotta love the big screen), I miss G every now and then. I miss her more whenever the kids would stay over my parents’ place and I would need to go home because I can’t afford not to work at night – I try to work as much as I can (even writing subjects for future entries and investing on one more project) so that I can take it easy in the coming weeks as I expect that we will be so busy. I also ordered a Magic Jack from Glo so we can call relatives from the US and now it will serve as our phone line too, as my Dad will have one and Edil has one in Manila. More cost effective than calling from the cellphone (my prepaid load bill tripled this month because of Ondoy and Edil working at Manila), dont you agree? I think we are only expecting one more box before the year ends and I am excited for that one because it houses Glo’s gifts for the kids 
You need to see Glo’s boxes to appreciate how she packs things, very very efficient and no space is spared when she packs stuff. Adhesive Packaging Tape and balikbayan boxes are now bought in bulk, she told me.
Archives for October, 2009
This maltese pup has captured my daughter’s heart instantly. She would ask for Santino as soon as she wakes up each morning. I thought it was only a phase – but it has been more than a month and Martha still can’t stop talking and asking about him. She even went as far as asking a Mommy, or Daddy, or Tuya, even Lolo and Lola and Tita Abbie Santino – meaning she wants her own pup. (She is like that, every thing, living or otherwise, has a Mommy, Daddy, Tuya, Lolo, Lola and Tita Abbie versions. She sees a parrot, she says, “Small yan eh baby parrot yan. Where’s the Mommy parrot Mom? When I tell her, wala, she would say, “Ay wala, where is the Daddy parrot, Tuya parrot and when you tell her wala, she would then proceed, “Wala mommy, daddy, tuya nya…..Lolo parrot nya? The one that takes the cake is “Where’s the Tita Abbie parrot Mommy?”)
So back to the pup, the kids have asked it for Christmas from Santa. She even named her puppy, “Berrito” (Burrito) – ask her once a week and she would say the same thing. Im not ready to have another baby yet, so Im still over the fence on this one. I cant imagine giving this dog a bath and even blow drying his hair (Ang buhok ko nga tamad ako iblowdry eh). I think this will be a test on how much I love the kids if I allow a dog in our house .
But then again, you ask her, “Marts, what do you want – a puppy or a bibbity bobbedy boo?” she would answer alternately. So she is also over the fence. I hope.
I recently rediscovered a close high school friend in Facebook. He was my dance partner and all around close guy friend during high school – we have been classmates since Grade 5! We lost touch after high school and would just meet once or twice at our high school reunions (we don’t attend often). The last news I heard about him was he was applying for exchange student masterals and got accepted overseas. He is now affiliated with Syracuse. Over at Facebook as I was looking at his photos I noticed how very much he has literally toured the US – San Francisco is his home, Washington, Hawaii, LA, Vegas, Boston, New York. Out of all the states, I keep seeing him in New York more. I am not surprised as he is a member of the Ateneo Glee Club and as far as I can remember is a great fan of Broadway musicals. In fact, I actually see him being more adaptable to New York lifestyle-wise than anywhere else. He was that eclectic. Restaurants In Midtown Manhattan are included in his picture albums, labelled as such. There were dinners at Rosie O’ Grady’s more often than anywhere else.
I worked at the call center industry for five years. If not for anything else other than money, the job taught me a lot about discipline and punctuality. Despite what others think of being an agent as an extremely easy job, it really isn’t. One, it requires you to work at odd hours, shifting times. You, in short, work like someone who does hospital work. Not all people can adjust body clocks easily. Two, there are a lot of metrics involved. Bonuses are many but are hard to come by. Three, as we have Americans as bosses and clients, we go live by the American time as well – meaning everyone is expected to come in on time, and get paid their money’s worth by making sure every penny is clocked in. Integrated Time And Attendance in our workplace is state of the art technology. No more bundy machines that involved other friends clocking you in. Your office log/time-in is recorded on the front desk using your eCard or fingertip. That is your time in at work. And how finance computes pay. However, the time you log in the Avaya workstation and PC is your time for actual workload and that is how management/supervisors computes your metrics. For a long time before I resigned, I knew that the IT and Finance Dept were working hand in hand to streamline the process. I hope they got the system provided by TimeClockeShop.com
Martha. Has been obsessed with a maltese dog names Santino, wants a pup for Xmas, a bibbity bobity boo, a crown, anything Barbie (she keeps saying, I like a Barbie ballpen, a Barbie towel, yada yada), has a school bag with books, loves to read and draw lately. Wants to go to school because she wants to have “signment” like Kuya.
Matthew. Busy with choir practice. Is renting out with my parents all the time (he sleeps there every chance he can get especially when there was no school late week). Became extra diligent in his studies. Can finish a Jollibee or Chicken McDo, 1 piece with rice, spaghetti, cheeseburger meal with large fries in one sitting. GROWING booooiiii.
Mommy. Work is good. Health is good. Deathly afraid of being hospitalized again so is strict with her medicines. Been walking a lot. Want to curl her hair. Decluttering the house. Throwing out more junk.
Daddy. Works two jobs. Lives in Manila. Always reading lately, which is a good thing. Cabal retiree (Thank YOU! Lord!!!), Mafia Wars addict (Better than Cabal). Forgetful Joe pa din.
I have been browsing storage solution spaces and interior decorating web sites for weeks now, in the hopes that it will help me decide the fate of our two small rooms in the house. I have decided to use one room for the kids’ study and play room. Basically everything from their books to their toys will be there. I’d just use a folding sofa bed if ever Matthew decides to grow up and tries to sleep alone 
. So far, I have a visual on my head on how it will look like, I just don’t know what to buy first. What do we need more? It’s hard when you need to make do with limited money! But I have faith that we will slowly but surely complete everything we need for the house.
As early as now, Matthew has been asking me when will we be putting up a Christmas tree and start decorating for Christmas. I would really like to buy a new tree. I have always been partial to the traditional tree colors – green and red with gold with white lights. We have a little Nativity scene that is always at the foot of the tree. Decorative Throw Pillows will be an accent for the couch I think.
“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?"” – William Arthur Ward
Proof of which is today.
Please do not make us forget You once again.
on 
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