24 May
Meet our new baby, Timmy!
He’s only six months old but he looks big for his age. He does nothing the whole day but sleep, eat, play around with his tennis ball and just be adorably cute! With this Persian kitten around, constantly running and licking my feet, I have learned to watch my steps. Now coming home to see him waiting near the front door and waggling his tail brightens up my mood on any given day.
12 May
Or last seven days of working at my current company. The coming days will definitely be extra hard for me, as I expect to hear the non-stop chatter of my colleagues and my boss asking me to reconsider.
I’ve thought about this long and hard with the same end result – my decision is final. Despite the shallow reasons I’ve listed in my letter, I still have other reasons that are better left unsaid. It is enough for me that I’m exiting the company in a professional manner.
I’m sad about leaving. But when I think more about it, I’ll be just as sad if I decide to stay. It’s a choice between the happiness of my boss or mine. And everyone knows that I’m not happy, not of the work but something else, so in this case, I’d rather leave him sad. He is after all, as he mentioned several times in the past, pretty capable of doing well on his own. I just hope he didn’t lie about this.
9 May
Move over UP and ADMU, DLSU now has a College of Law.
Out of boredom, I was paying my alma mater a visit online to check out the news and happenings when this announcement greeted me. I sure wasn’t surprised at all. Rumors about this addition was already circling way before I left college save for details of when and how. This just confirmed everything.
With the plan now already in motion, I wish nothing but the best for the new college. The first batch of law students without a doubt will be the subject of criticism and high expectations. But this is all normal and similar to taking a new car for a test drive. I’m pretty sure this college will do just as well in producing a high percentage of bar passers, like the six other colleges.
Way to go, DLSU! Congratulations! 
8 May
My normal weekday goes like this. I get off work at 5pm, reach home by 7pm, eat supper then go to bed three hours after.
Is 7pm too late for supper? I feel like it is. The number of hours between supper and bedtime is not enough for my body to fully digest everything. Besides after a long and hard at work, it’s really an effort to keep myself from not having my fill during supper and a snack later on.
I’m tired of this insane, unhealthy eating pattern. Tired of feeling grumpy afterward and also of the unwanted extra pounds.
So in an attempt to end my constant struggle, I’m taking on the 21-day challenge. Research has proven that it takes about this long for a person to change a habit. So beginning tomorrow, I plan to eat only until I’m 80% full, as recommended by Dr. Oz of Oprah and will refrain myself from stuffing myself an hour before I go to bed for 21 days. This blog serves as a testament to my plan and I hope to update at the end of this challenge with good news!
1 May
This has been on my list of books to read since 2007. I’ve heard so much about it from my friends back then when school still ate so much of my time. Anyway, I’m so fortunate to have a sister who went out of her way to buy me a copy weeks ago. And in a country where there is hardly any English Bookstores, or just none in my area, I was elated to finally get my hands on it. I read this book for weeks on my way to work and back at home till the sun sets in.
This book did not disappoint. It managed to make me laugh and cry, not mindful of the glances other passengers would give me once in a while. I was too engrossed with my reading to even care. The friendship that Hassan and Amir had wasn’t like any other. It was bound with betrayal and lies that made the perfect twists to the story. This is the first book of Khaled Hosseini that I’ve read and I’m left really impressed. With the bar raised so high, it probably would be hard to top this one. I hope the rest of his books are equally uplifting & inspiring, if not great.
25 Apr
This is my newest song addiction by Kris Allen of American Idol! I’m so loving the new arrangement! Check out the full version below. It’s really good! I don’t know if this is a twist of fate, but the song is really reflective of my current state.
I’ve been bringing work at home for the past two days. It has been a whirlwind at work so this is the only way I know how to lighten my workload. Right now, I’m working on a very important and long memo. I’m now on my fifth page yet I haven’t written everything in my notepad! I’d better concentrate on this or else I’d be a walking zombie tomorrow. 
15 Apr
I wish there is a clear solution to my situation. A detailed step by step of what-to-do that even a grade five student can easily follow. What I only have right now is a dream without the short-term goals. It’s frustrating to wake up everyday not knowing what’s in store for me in the next two years. The only thing going on in my life is work. I’m beginning to think that I’m not cut out be an OFW just yet. Or perhaps I just don’t want to be one deep inside.
To my parents and to the rest of OFWs around the globe, I salute all of you for being so very brave. Battling with homesickness is no easy task to overcome everyday. I’m experiencing it now first hand and what can I say? It’s really a challenge!
10 Apr
Not much happened this week save for my dad arriving with loads of my favorite goodies from Philippines. Everything has been pretty back to normal ever since and I could not be happier. For me, I consider surviving one month without any complications a feat and a huge relief.
I felt this midway in my first job and now I’m starting to feel it again. A part of me is getting bored with the usual routine after work. That or I’m just not motivated to go to work everyday. I really don’t know. Thinking about it for days got me nowhere. If anything, it just made me binge till I fall asleep.
Oddly, I found the inspiration or motivation I’ve been looking for in Slumdog Millionaire. This movie created quite a buzz in Hollywood, and rightly so. Not only has this movie given the people and culture of India international recognition, it has moved millions of people by its story. The whole cast and the brilliant director all deserve every single award they brought home. Even the soundtrack is inspiring by itself. Listening to it gets me all ready for another round of week.
You might want to check out also the soundtrack version of the Pussycat Dolls. Entitled ‘Jai Ho’, it’s fast, upbeat, and maybe slightly sexier. It’s just as good as the original version.
3 Apr
The past week ended quite abruptly. I started having stomach cramps, the kind women would only understand, last Tuesday and it lasted for three days. It was only bearable during the first day. On the eve of the second day till early morning of the third day, it already became an effort for me to move or walk. That was my cue to call in sick yesterday.
I spent half of the day lying on the bed, crouched in a fetal position while cursing the cramps until it fully subsided. Silly me but the whole time I was in pain, I tried to eat anything on sight thinking it would satisfy the pain I mistook for hunger. I loaded up on chocolates and other treats that I normally ditch. These unusual cravings became uncontrollable and intense for a day. If I didn’t know any better, I would think this has something to with the pain I’ve felt.
Anyhow, I’m all good now and ready for another week at work. I’ll be trying out the 1 day detox tomorrow just to cleanse out my system. I’ve thought of doing the one week version but my chances are slim with dad arriving this week. He doesn’t approve of me skipping a meal, let alone for a day. I’ve missed his strictness this past month and now I’m just thrilled to see him in two days!
31 Mar
If given a choice between coffee and tea, I’d take tea any day. Most days, I try to avoid deciding what to order from the long list of coffee drinks available. And If really really have to, I stick with my usual order – Caramel Macchiato. I’ve enjoyed drinking it the first time around and since then, I’ve been ordering the same in all coffee shops. It’s the only order I can think of that would keep me from exposing how coffee illiterate I am, if such term exists.
But alas, not anymore! I should have researched these coffee basics sooner. It could have saved me all the trouble and the embarrassment of not understanding what exactly to order.
Espressos, Cappuccinos, Lattes, and Mochas are four of the most common types of coffee besides the traditional forms. Espressos are the base of most of the alternate forms of coffee, being a shot of rich, full-blooded coffee with a layer of silky crema. The color of the hazelnut crema is an indicator of the quality of the espresso being served. Cappuccinos are standard espressos with silky foamed milk poured into the cup and then topped with a light sprinkling of chocolate powder. A latte is a standard espresso with hot milk which is then topped with a small layer of milk foam. These drinks are traditionally served in a glass. Mochas are the same standard espresso and hot chocolate and hot milk all combined and also generally served in a glass.
Easy, right?
