The Commute.

I think I’m coming down with a cold and I can’t say I’m thrilled about it. My brother, Miguel, had the flu last week and had actually missed a few days of school and I’m guessing I might have gotten it from him although very unlikely since I haven’t been around him a lot. Because I have training today and tomorrow, I brought Strepsils with me to work to ease my sore throat. Let me tell you, training with a sore throat and a cold is big pain in the bum. As much as I’d like to have an excuse to not come to work, being sick is quite uncomfortable.

On the subway this morning, there was this woman who sat beside me and her purse was half on her lap and half on mine. Don’t you find it annoying when that happens to you? I know I do. I tried giving her “the look”, tried adjusting my leg, squirmed a little… hoping that she would notice that her purse is on me. But nothing worked. I contemplated on just telling her but she looked like one of those people that could potentially cause a scene and I didn’t want to get into it so early in the morning. So I just put on my iPod, leaned on the side to nap and tried my best to distract myself from the annoying purse on my lap.

Speaking of commuting annoyances, I also hate it when a person doesn’t sit properly. You know those situations where the person sitting beside you:

• Is sitting diagonally and you’ve got this really tiny space to fit yourself into
• Is half sitting on you… this is the worst! Dude, your left butt cheek is on my lap and it’s impeding my blood flow.
  
• Has his/her feet up on the seat and you’re trying your best to avoid his/her shoe marks getting on your clothes
  
• Has his/her bag on the seat and all I could think of is how selfish and inconsiderate this person is when someone else clearly needs the seat
  
• Is tapping his/her fingers/feet on my chair
  

Really, really annoying especially when I’m running on a short fuse and I’m trying really hard not to blow up. I also get annoyed with people who play music stored in the cellphones but they don’t have a headset so they put the music on speaker instead. Gee, thanks man, I really wanted to hear your loud music. In fact, give me more please.

And since when did being a gentleman while commuting become outdated? It’s so rare to see gentlemen on transit and I sometimes I think my brothers are the only ones that are still mindful of it. Courtesy is sadly lacking.

Don't feel like working today but I don't have a choice

It was so quiet in the office yesterday with it being a US holiday. It just proves that 99% of all phone calls and emails we receive come from the US. It was boring but nice at the same time. One of my managers and I were just playing games on MSN almost all afternoon!

The weather was so nice yesterday too. It was 25 degrees and it’s the type of weather where all you want to do is stay outside. If it weren’t a Monday, it would have been a perfect day to do things outside. All I could think of was how perfect it would be if we could go biking or swimming or just sit in a patio. Steve remarked on our way home that it didn’t feel like late afternoon and that it felt like it was still early. It’s so nice that the days are longer now and the sun doesn’t begin to set until past 8 pm. Believe me when I say it does wonders to a person’s mood.

The weather is back to crap today and I can’t believe how windy and cold it was this morning when I stepped out of the house. I was considering wearing a light jacket outside but changed my mind right before I left the house. Buti nalang I did.

Work is back to normal today and we’re back to the constant flow of emails, the constant stress we get from our CEO (just having him around is depressing) and the hustle and bustle of co-workers walking, talking, and working. In short, it’s been busy.

I have a training session this afternoon and I am hoping it will turn out ok. You never know with these people. Sometimes I get really fast-learners and other times I get those who are just almost impossible to teach. It is when I get the latter that I think about quitting.

I am addicted to the Jigsaw game on MSN. It’s all I want to do at work today (if only I could do nothing but play).

So You Think You Can Dance

I’m so glad one of my favorite shows is back!

I missed the 2-hour premier episode which aired last Thursday because I was busy watching the season finale of Grey’s Anatomy. I had missed almost the entire season so I felt I needed to see the final episode at the very least.

Thankfully, I was able to watch the season premier of So You Think You Can Dance over the weekend and I can’t wait until they narrow it down to the final 20 dancers. It’s when they start doing the choreography that really makes the show interesting.

I wonder if the contestants from the former seasons who didn’t win have dancing careers now. I definitely saw a lot of talent and I really hope they succeed in their individual dance careers.

I wish I could dance just as well as them… but alas, some people just have the talent and some of us are left wishing we were just as good.

I miss Mexico!

It’s only my second week back from our trip to Mexico and I’m still trying to get over it. I had so much fun and I can’t help but reminisce about the whole thing and I can’t stop looking at the pictures we took. Yan ang hirap sa nagbabakasyon, pag nagenjoy ka mashado, ayaw mo nang bumalik. Hmpf.

I miss…

• Waking up after 7 to 8 hours of sleep, going for a buffet breakfast, changing into my swimsuit and jumping in our swim-up pool
  
  
• Going to the beach and playing in the waves or just lying down under the sun
  
  
• Getting half-hour massages on the beach for only $20
  
  
• Ordering as much Miami Vice as I want and not having to pay for it… actually I miss eating and drinking as much as I want and not having to pay for it
  
  
• The really hot, humid weather
  
  
• The scent of the ocean
  
  
• Our beautiful hotel room and everything in it...

Ok, fine, I miss just about everything. We really should've stayed for 2 weeks instead of a week.

Ha!

What Karen Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are very intuitive and wise. You understand the world better than most people. You also have a very active imagination. You often get carried away with your thoughts. You are prone to a little paranoia and jealousy. You sometimes go overboard in interpreting signals.

Ola!

Hey folks!

No, I didn’t stop blogging for good… I went on vacation in Mexico and just got back on Friday which is why I haven’t been posting.

Steve and I, along with a few of our friends, decided to go on vacation together and we had actually booked our trip last March, made the necessary preparations and reserved our airline seats ahead of time. We left for Cancun last Friday, May 9th and returned May 16th. We were in our lovely resort for an entire week!

It was soooo worth the money we paid. We were actually regretting that we didn’t book it for 2 weeks instead of a week. It was so nice and relaxing and not to mention loads of fun. We had a great time.

We paid about $1600 CAD each for an all-inclusive trip. It included our airfare, hotel, food, booze…everything. We even had our very own swim-out pool from our room balcony and a Jacuzzi in our bathroom. For a little over a month prior to the trip, we were so excited that we were practically bouncing off the walls. We had also pre-arranged our seats on the plane so that we’d be sitting beside each other.

The place was so beautiful and we couldn’t believe how big our resort was. Denny even said that it’s the biggest resort he’s been to (which says a lot since he goes on vacation almost 2x a year and he’s been to a lot of places!). We had massages by the beach, went to the spa, had ala carte dinners, and we even paid for a tour to the Mayan Ruins where we biked through the Mayan ruins, climbed the highest pyramid, went rappelling, zip-lining, cave swimming, canoeing, and trekking through the forest. It was hot, humid, dusty and very exhausting but sooooo much fun.

We are all quite tanned and peeling but we would do it all over again as much as we can. Here are some snapshots of the trip… enjoy!

Bits & Pieces

Nakakatamad talaga magtrabaho this week.

I’m off on vacation beginning this Friday and all of next week and I’m itching for it already. I bet once Friday gets here, I’ll have mixed feelings about it. Of course I’ll be glad it’s already here but I know I’ll also be a bit sad knowing that it will go by quickly. I wish I didn’t have to work… that I were wealthy enough to not have to work.

Nakakainggit talaga ang mga mayayaman.

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I got a pedicure yesterday. I haven’t had one for over a year and it looks so nice that I can’t help but look at it every now and then.

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The cool (when I say cool I mean to say cold), cloudy weather is making me depressed. Where did all the sunshine go? It’s supposed to be 21 degrees today but I’m not feeling it!

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When I was taking a shower this morning, I noticed that my tummy seemed flatter than usual and it made me happy. I suddenly started thinking of what I did different yesterday or in the last few days because maybe if I continue doing it, I’ll get my fabulous flat tummy back.

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Dad gave me a copy of the pictures he took during the weekend but I haven’t had the chance to work on them. I have to re-size them to make them smaller so that it is easier to upload in an online album. My cousins and I all agreed that this would be the best way for all of us to share the pictures we all took during their stay in town.

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I’m supposed to be doing QA again today but I’m just not in the mood for it. All I want to do is go home and sleep since I only got 5 hours of sleep last night and I feel really tired.

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I started packing my bags for the trip but I couldn’t remember the weight allowance for the plane. I’m concerned that my luggage would exceed the weight allowance. I tend to over pack for trips because I am the type that thinks “What if I need this or what if we go there or what if this happens…” when I pack so I end up bringing things that I think I might need just in case something happens… plus, I like having options. If I’m staying at a place for 2 days, I will bring 3 or 4 days worth of clothes so I can choose which ones I would like to wear for the day. I typically dress based on the mood I’m in, where we are going or who I am going with. Steve, on the other hand, will bring only enough for the length of stay and doesn’t mind wearing the same clothes over and over again if needed. I figured the stuff that can’t fit in my bag can probably go in his.

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I am glad that the office is quiet today but I am dreading my training sessions tomorrow. I don’t expect them to be easy so I’m a little anxious. Why is it that the day before I get off work always seems to be difficult?

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I found a pair of big sunglasses at the Bay that surprisingly fits me well. Because I have such a small face, a nose that’s barely there and high cheek bones, I rarely find glasses that will fit me and look good on me at the same time. The irony, just when I’ve already spent $120 on a pair of Ralph Lauren sunglasses, I find a $20 beautiful sunglasses at the Bay. Retail is once again poking fun at me.

Birthday Bash

My cousins drove to Toronto from Virginia on Thursday to spend the weekend in town to celebrate my grandma’s 90th birthday. The entire Gloria family has been planning the birthday bash for months and the time to party finally came. I was really excited to see my cousins since I haven’t seen them for such a long time. Sabi nga ni JR, the last time we saw some of them was during our grandpa’s funeral… I was only 12 years old at the time. It’s been 12 years since then.

I was also happy to see my nephews and nieces… the last time I saw my cousin, my niece hadn’t even been born yet. I can’t believe how fast time flies… this cute, little girl is now 3 years old! The kids are just so adorable. My brothers and I kept saying how nice it is to have kids in the house again since our youngest brother, Miguel, is not so young anymore. Sometimes when my brothers and I talk, we tell our parents how it nice it would be if we had a baby sister. Of course mama says she’s done with having kids and that she’s too old to have anymore. But having our cute, little niece with us for the past few days just strengthened our desire for a little sister. We are all so very fond of her that we kept taking turns holding her and playing with her. It’s funny hearing Chris and Cjem talk because they have the American accent na.

While they were in town, we went to the Eaton Centre to go shopping. I’m always by myself when I go shopping so it was really nice to have my cousins with me for a change. It turns out I’m not the only shopaholic in the family. It seems that Leslie and I have the similar shopping habits. We had a nice lunch at the Pickle Barrel and later that night we had Chinese for dinner. One of things I really enjoyed during their stay was our late night talks. I think we were talking until 5 am on Friday.

A few family members worked together to make a PowerPoint presentation showing my grandma’s 90 years. It was basically a collection of pictures of her, family and friends. Leslie, Ate Kit, mama and I worked on the program and in preparing the games we were going to play during the party. We did scrap the “Kembot” by the way. I told you there was no way we were doing that.

I have to say though that the party went really well. I was nervous about being the emcee and talking in front of people I didn’t know but I’m just glad I didn’t trip on anything or say something totally weird. I was also worried that people might not participate in the games and activities we prepared but thankfully, the guests were nice enough to join in the fun. My grandma was so surprised with the PowerPoint presentation and she kept asking how and who made it. She enjoyed it so much that when guests arrived during the presentation, she was hesitant to get up because she didn’t want to miss anything. Some friends and family in the Philippines also recorded a video with their birthday greetings and wishes for my grandma which I thought were really thoughtful.

I am really glad we did this for my lola. She can be a bit makulit at times but she’s also a really wonderful person and we love her very much. I just wish we had more family reunions like this. I always have a blast when my cousins are with me.

To you lola, Happy 90th Birthday!

Sayaw.

I can’t wait for the weekend. My relatives from the U.S. are going to be in town to celebrate my lola’s 90th birthday. I can’t believe she’s already 90 years old. I wonder if I’ll live to be that old. It’s scary to think of it… what if I’m old and alone and bedridden? Yikes.

Tita: “Karen, pinanood mo ba yung DVD na dala ko?”

Me (inaantok pa): “Opo… pinanood ko po kagabi…”

Tita: “Alin yung pinanood mo? Yung sabi ko? Yung Kembot?”

Me: “Opo…”

Tita: “O sige… gusto ko lang panoorin mo kasi nga sa Sabado, yun ang naisip kong sasayawin ng mga youngsters… kasi yung DJ ng lola mo ang patutugtugin eh yung mga songs na luma.. yung tipong di pa kayo pinanganak noon… eh at least yung kembot para sa mga bata…”

Me: “Eh sino po ba yung mga youngsters? Kami ba yun?”

Tita: “Oo… yung generation niyo… para naman may maisayaw kayo diba? Kasi di niyo naman ata sasayawin yung mga lumang tugtog…”

Me: “Ngeh, tita naman… di naman kembot ang music ng generation namin eh… we dance to hip hop and R&B… yung mga ganun… ”

Tita: “Alam ko nga… pero kasi nga at least yung video ipe-play lang tapos makakasunod yung mga kabataan…”

Me: “So ipe-play lang yung video tapos bahala na yung mga bisita magsayaw kung gusto nila?”

Tita: “Oo.. pero siyempre kailangan mauna kayong magpipinsan… dapat siyempre pagaralan nyo yung steps para kayo ang magpapasimuno tapos kung sino gusto magjoin, eh di sasali na lang sila…”

Me: “Ngeh, nakakahiya naman… eh di ganun din, sasayawin ko din.. ayoko ata…”

Tita: “Eh sige na.. minsan lang naman magcecelebrate ng 90th ang lola mo.. at di naman tayo parating nagsasalo-salo… kausapin mo yung mga pinsan mo para pagaralan nyo yung video para maisayaw nyo sa Sabado…”

Me (sighing under my breath): “O sige po, ipapapanood ko sa kanila and I’ll ask kung ok lang ba sa kanila na sayawin yun… pero unlikely na papayag sila… kung ayaw, kayo nalang po kumausap…”

Tita: “eh bakit naman di papayag eh minsan lang naman…”

Me: “eh kasi nga po maypagka-corny at medyo nakakahiya nga po eh…”

Tita: “ah basta ikaw na bahala kumausap ha…”

Me: “opo…”


I can’t wait to tell Leslie… she’ll freak out!!