Leslie

Leslie just sent me an instant message to say hi… she’s so sweet. =)

I’ve known her for as long as I can remember. It’s amazing that we’re still close despite growing up in two different places with a 12-hour time zone difference. I remember how she looked like when was still little. We would see each other at our grandparents’ house whenever there was an occasion or when my parents would take me to her house to visit.

It’s funny looking at each other now and we’re both in our twenties, both concerned with our careers, talking about guys, frustrations, and making plans for the future. I remember a time when we would play with dolls, trade our stationery, pretend we were teachers and even have our own chalk board and set of colored chalk. While everyone else in my grandparents’ household seemed to be busy with other things, we were in a corner upstairs in our own little world where we could pretend to be anything we wanted. We were always content in that little corner of ours and we really didn’t care much what everyone else in the house was doing. I remember once my brother came up with this brilliant idea of throwing his slippers from the upstairs balcony to the garden downstairs and for some reason we thought it was very funny and we kept doing it the entire afternoon! We would throw our slippers, watch it fall down to the garden and then we would rush downstairs to retrieve it and we would do it again. Now when I think about it, I couldn’t remember why we found it so funny. I guess when you’re just a kid everything in life is just so funny and interesting. You could see something else in piece of paper or something totally exciting about a falling slipper. Nonetheless, it is a beautiful memory.

I remember the day that Leslie had first mentioned to me that she might be moving to the states permanently. It was in the afternoon and we were sitting upstairs in front of my grandparents’ bedroom. She was about 5 or 6 years old at the time and I, a year older. I was very sad and I remember asking her if she was sure and if she’s coming back. That’s the only thing I remember of about that conversation and try as I might I have no recollection of the day she left. Through the years we remained close by writing to each other and every couple of years she would come to visit. She would stay a week or two and we would try our best to spend the entire time together. I remember we used to write to each other using stationery from Gift Gate (preferrably Hello Kitty). We would tell each other of school, our friends, people we didn’t get along so well with, what songs we liked, what was new with our lives. Once in awhile we would send pictures too. As the years passed, the letters became scarce but she would always come to visit. Our conversatons gradually progressed to subjects consisted of boys, courses, frustrations, hopes, dreams…

I look at her now and even though we’ve grown up since, we are still the same little kids we were back then. We may have grown wiser at some points, we may have gone through different things while growing up and we may have different sets of friends, different sets of experiences and we truly are two diferrent people but what it comes down to is that she is and will always be one of the best persons I will ever know and I will always look at her as my best friend and my sister.

A friend's b-day...

It’s a Friday afternoon and like all Fridays I am so eager for 5pm. It’s shey’s and jen’s b-day today. I can’t believe how many people I know whose b-day falls on either April 21st or 22nd. And it’s funny that these are the people who become close to me.

I miss my friends back home. I have so many fun memories of all of them. Sometimes I find myself looking at the pictures we took through the years. Everytime I look at those pictures, it’s as if I move back in time to that exact moment and I could hear their voices and their laughter. They make my life so much better. I will forever be grateful for them. They’ve been there through the years, through every high and every low. I’m so proud of each one of them. Now that it’s been 2 years since we graduated from college, I know wherever they are and wherever they go, they will touch lives, do great and amazing things and will grow to be magnificent people. I know that the people whose lives they will touch are truly blessed to have them. I wish nothing but the best for them.

Out of Town

Went to Ottawa for the long weekend and I had such an amazing time!!

Thursday

Went to work as usual and I was so excited about the Ottawa trip that I couldn’t wait for the day to end. Thankfully we were only working till 3pm that day and then having a company barbeque afterwards. It was good but I so badly wanted to go already!! I left work at 5pm then met up with Jerry to do a bit of shopping. We saw this really cute jacket for him and it fit him so well. A guy even walked up to him to ask where he got it! We had originally planned on leaving Thursday night but we couldn’t so we decided to take the 7am bus for Ottawa the following day. It was so much fun just getting ready for the trip and packing our stuff together. We finally narrowed it down to a big duffel bag a back pack, and my hand bag. Whew!

Friday

Woke up at 5am...actually I got up at 15mins till 5am since Jerry’s alarm is 15minutes in advance. We both lacked sleep but since we were so eager to go, we were up so fast. We made sure we hadn’t left antyhing behind then took a cab to the bus station. It was all new to me… I’ve never been down town in the wee hours of the morning. It was kinda weird and a bit creepy going along Queen Street at 6am when it was still dark and the streets were empty except for a few here and there. I was thinking that I would probably be uncomfortable if I had to go to work that early and be out that early. It just doesn’t look safe.

So we got to the bus station about 45 mins early and I sat while Jerry tried to find out where our terminal was located. We finally found it and the line was sooo long!! Jerry was saying how if we had only known, we would have gone there earlier. Thankfully they had 4 buses all going to Ottawa at 7am!! God is kind to us. We chose a seat in the back because it was more quiet and spacious. During the ride, we took a short nap, watched a DVD (I had brought my portable DVD player with me), ate, and listened to some music.

We arrived in Ottawa around noon and Leslie picked us up at the bus station in Ottawa. We took a cab back to her place since it was only about 15mins away. Her place was absolutely amazing! Jerry and I loved it the moment we saw it. We dropped off our stuff and went to grab a bite at this Lebanese place where they served good food.

One of the things that were so great about Leslie’s place is the fact that she lives downtown so it is so easy to go everywhere. We walked to the market place where you find cute little shops, boutiques, restaurants, bars, dessert shops, etc… it was really nice. I loved it! I loved how easy it was to go around and the shops were all so cute. I loved how you can find so many things in one place.

We bought ice cream and walked some more then we ate dinner later that evening. Since it was a holiday, the malls were closed so we decided to just rent a movie and hang out at home. We didn’t feel like going to a bar anyway since we were all tired.

Saturday

We went to bed at 2am the previous night so it was such a challenge getting up early the following morning. We woke up at around 10 or 11 am and then we were just lying in bed talking. It’s funny that even though so many years have passed and we’re both older now, we still have our old habits together. Ever since we were younger, we would only see each other every couple of years since she lives in Virginia and I live in the Philippines. But whenever she would come to visit me, we would try to spend as much time together as we could. Shopping, talking about boys, people, experiences… We have a silly habit of talking either before going to bed or when we just woke up or when one of us is in the bathroom putting on makeup or drying her hair… I don’t know why. It has just always been like that and we’ve always been comfortable with each other. I guess partly because our moms were close too.

So, we ended up getting out of bed close to noon!! I was surprised my back didn’t hurt from all the lying down. I was so tired that I didn’t even move the entire time I was sleeping. Even Leslie noticed that I didn’t move an inch! Jerry had called (he stayed with his cousin) and I was surprised that he was up earlier than us. He called to say he was going to meet us at the mall. We met up with him, ate lunch at a place called Oreganos (amazing wings), then we went back to his cousin’s place to return the keys and then we went back downtown to the mall so that we could go around and do a bit of shopping. Leslie and I spent the entire time at Garage Clothing!! We just got too fascinated with the clothes we saw and we tried so many. Of course we ended up buying!!

We found out we won’t be able to catch a bus bak to Toronto on Sunday since the bus station will be closed for Easter… the earliest bus we could catch would be at 12:30 am Monday morning! Jerry and I had decided we would go for it since we both had to be at work Monday. Sucks…

We then decided to go home but first we passed by Loblaws to get some food (yup, by this time we had realized we were spending way too much money on food). We rented another movie for the night and just relaxed. Leslie was so tired that we let her sleep ahead of us.

Sunday

Leslie and I were just too sleepy to get up so we ended up sleeping in till noon. Brian was flying from Virginia and Leslie was going to the airport to pick him up. Jerry was coming to pick me up then we were going to his cousin’s place to pack while Leslie was going to the airport with Doug. Jerry and I met up with Leslie and Brian later in the afternoon downtown and then we went to The Keg to have dinner. It was good that Jerry and Brian got along so well (probably because they both liked to joke around and also due to the fact that they were both very sociable). After dinner, we decided to pass by the ice cream shop to get some ice cream then we rented some more videos and walked back to Leslie’s place. We watched the movie till about 11pm then Leslie called a cab for me and Jerry to take us to the bus station. We took the bus at 12:30am and we slept the entire ride home. We got back to Toronto at about 5am then we called a cab to take us home. We slept for a couple of hours then I went to work. I was so tired I was practically walking with my eyes closed.

Jerry brought me home that night. Leslie had given me a desk lamp which I had asked my dad to setup for me. It was such a fun trip and I really enjoyed it.

Bacolod

It has been a slow week for me...not too many e-mails, phone calls, and definitely not too much work… it has been a bit boring to be honest and time just seems to pass by ever so slow. Atleast I’m not stressed…I don’t know but I guess I prefer being busy than being bored.

Oh, and another good thing is that it’s a short week due to the Easter holiday. =)

It’s already summer in the Philippines and I’m almost sure it’s scorching hot by now. I bet resorts are fully booked and airline tickets are at an almighty high. Traffic jams would also be present (but then again traffic jams are present all-year round there anyways…haha). I’ve always loved the month of March there because it signals the end of school and the start of summer. Perhaps a vacation to Bacolod, a trip to a resort, entire days spent eating, sleeping and doing whatever I feel like doing and not having to worry about exams or wakin up early the following day. I also love the fact that weekdays don’t matter because everyday’s a weekend!! I miss the last day of school… the day where everyone’s just excited about the summer.

I love going to Bacolod to see family. I remember taking a flight with my brothers and then being greeted by grandmothers, uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, and neices upon arrival. I love my family…they’re the best. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by people who love and support me. My brothers and I have the privelege of belonging to a close-knit family so aunts and uncles are also our moms and dads and buddies. My brothers and I would always ask our parents if we could go to Bacolod for a week or two during the summer and our parents would always let us. My brothers loved it simply because everybody there would spoil us…we got to go fishing, swimming, bowling, etc… we got to eat anywhere and anything we wanted. Our uncle would also take us to see the mountains and swim in rivers or privately-owned pools or to see farms and beaches… we really enjoyed it there. Since we moved to Canada, we haven’t been able to go back though (sad)…

I just realized lately that I would rather have rain together with a warmer temperature than a sunny day with cooler temperature.

Rain in Canada (rather Ontario, since I’ve havent’ been anywhere else) is nothing like rain in the Philippines….Nothing! It rains so hard there that you feel like the roof’s going to give way…and sometimes raindrops do hurt! Oh, and did I mention it floods like crazy too? Oh yeah, above a person’s height… yup, rain here? Nothing…

I love absolutely love the climate in the Philippines… just love it!

To wonder...

The moment when you first wake up in the morning is the most wonderful of the twenty-four hours. No matter how weary or dreary you may feel, you possess the certainty that, during the day that lies before you, absolutely anything may happen. And the fact that it practically always doesn't, matters not a jot. The possibility is always there.

Primary Reason :: Stress Reliever

Brand new blog!! Keep note I am new to this whole blogging craze..
Primary Reason:: Need Stress Reliever

So hello world! I am but a tiny voice in a multitude of people.

I've had a headache since this morning and I have no idea why..I had to adjust the contrast of my pc in the hopes of easing the pain a bit. Too bad I'm currently at work and can't just simply step away. As I write I can hear "customizable fields...module..quick look up..launch the web page".. getting bored..

I'm glad it's finally spring!! I have never loved the sun as much as when I moved to Canada where it's cold for most parts of the year. A little sunshine makes such a difference. I've always loved warm climates where you can go swimming at anytime of the year, where you don't have to worry how many layers of clothing you have to wear, where everything's green all the time.. it's amazing what the weather can do to a person's mood. I must admit I feel so much better when the sun is out and the temperature's warmer. I dunno but everyone seems to also be a lot nicer.

I miss my friends from back home.. I can't believe how fast time flies. I was talking to shey the other day and we were talking about how it seems like y'day we had just graduated. I remember sitting beside her in class and writing notes on a piece of handout to keep ourselves entertained. Really early in the morning and after lunch are always the hardest times of the day to keep oneself up. But having close friends sit beside you in class is always helpful. =p

A quote I came across:

Probably the difference between man and the monkeys is that the monkeys are merely bored, while man has boredom plus imagination.