Faint Pleasance

What is the color of the sea?
Is it blue like the sky?
Or blue green?
Is it dark as the night?
Bright as sunshine?

What is the sound of laughter like?
How long does a real one last?
Why are the eyes passionless?
Shedding sorrow, sadness...
Are they real windows to the soul?

Play, sing and dance, should one?
Drink, stop at no chance.
Enjoy the night, have fun.
Go laugh and wear the mask...
Enjoy the show from dawn to dusk?

The Ring

This post is for you Ace... now you see "the ring worn in my hand". =p

All About Reactions

I got a number of reactions and responses from my friends and family who heard about the engagement. I wanted to reply to each one but a text message is just not enough to cover the story. Hope I'll be able to answer their yearnings for details here... and share a few more things about the event.

I never really told anyone yet until I had the ring sized to fit my finger. Unfortunately, my then boyfriend thought my ring finger is a little bigger than it is. My fiance put the ring on my finger on February 18. He proposed on the 14th.

Another reason that I did not tell anyone yet is that my fiance and I had a misunderstanding right after the proposal. We had everything settled only on the night of the 17th. So everything was just timely to tell the news the day I got the ring.

So I told my family and closest friends about it. The general reaction was: "Wow! Congrats!/Best wishes! How did he propose?" I guess I was to blame for that question. It was kinda leading when I texted you guys that he proposed; instead of just saying we got engaged.

On February 13, after office, we had dinner at one of our favorite restaurants here. He gave me flowers, artificial ones. Before you take it against him, let me tell you that I requested for that. I wanted to add flowers to that dead spot in our studio so I asked him to buy those for me on V day. (I would not want to buy them myself as they are more expensive than real ones! If you know me well, you would understand... Hehehe.)

Saturday morning, 14th, I woke up later than he did (as it would normally be). The only thing different is that he is in bed, watching over me, when he would usually be doing stuff in the living room. He smirked and just popped a small black box. I am not naive to not know what that was and what it's for, but I asked anyway. It took a while and a little teasing from me before he said those words in three languages: English, Filipino, and some Chinese (which obviously I did not understand - and could probably be wrong since he's not really good in Chinese).

So there ends the story of the proposal. I could not remember when I answered since it also took a while. It probably was between an argument which we had right after we got out of bed. Not your conventional proposal moment I suppose. But if you're looking for a romantic scene, I can tell you that also between our argumentative lines, he knelt on his knees holding the ring (but he was kinda joking). The rest is history.

Going back to the reactions, the strangest one I got was from my mother. I told her through Skype, I showed her the ring. I guess she did not get it at first since she said, "Ilang carat?" (How many carats?). I could not remember when I told her that it was from my fiance, but I remember her asking again if the gold is of good quality. Hahahaha!!! Could you imagine my face when I got that reactions? (To be fair to my Mom, I am not really sure if I made her understand that I got engaged. I think I just assumed she would know.) I was so disappointed that I no longer ask to talk to my Dad to tell him. Maybe tonight I will.

This morning, my fiance and I spoke with his mom who, I found out, knew about the plan all along. She said, when the wedding's done, I get to call her "Mama". At least this eliminates the usual awkwardness that married people normally have when they do not know how the in-laws want to be called. I know few people who had this dilemma.

So much for my/their reactions. What's yours?

Sakal, Kasali, Kasalo, Sakali

I got engaged last February 14. I've been with my steady for six years and eight months. We do not have a date yet but since we are scheduled to go home this December, we might as well get married then. As much as I wanted the big day to be on our anniversary (June) next year, it is just not practical especially considering the airfare and the status of our employment here in the island (we're kinda scared of being laid-off due to the financial crisis - we are both accounting for hedge funds afterall!).

SAKAL, KASALI
In every wedding that we attended, we always get the questions, "E kayo, guys? Kelan ang kasal?"("How about you guys? When's the wedding?")... or any other way of asking us when we'll tie the knot ("sakal" - yes you read it right and there was no transposition - I always believe that wedding is about commitment). I think most of our friends have been wanting us to get married more than the two of us actually do. I used to answer, "5 years from now... and it doesn't change from year to year". Guess it changed almost five years ago! Hehehe

Surely it will be hard to do the preps for the wedding while in a faraway land. Technology would help a lot but I am certain we'll would be bothering a lot of our family and friends for help. Most would volunteer I suppose (we've been getting volunteers since forever as a matter of fact. And we'd greatly appreciate the privilege of a hand! Most likely if you are a friend of mine reading this, you'd likely be "kasali"!

KASALO
I am currently busy with the list - the list of the invites, that is! I am positive I'll have problems with that as I have quite a number of friends (as far as the two of us are concerned). It'll be hard to shortlist if necessary (due to budget constraints). And as much as we want to invite all of them, we also prefer a simple and solemn wedding. We really need to decide on who we want as "kasalo" on that special day.

SAKALI
In case ("sakali") our plans push through, I'll post updates here. I was actually thinking whether I should use the blog as the wedsite as well. But I like this blog to be a personal thing for me (between my fiance and myself that is). I dont mind him reading my posts here, but I prefer him not to. I just like to think of it as: that in having separate networlds, we exercise our individuality. As much as we enjoy being with each other (he's beside me most of the time I am writing this; I dont think he's looking anyway.). So I am more inclined to create a wedsite. I'll post the link when available.

The Fall

When I first got here in the island, I was provided with accommodation at Rosemont Guest Apartments. I stayed there for one month. Of course, I got pictures of the place including a tree which I liked to look at before going to my unit after work.

I browsed over the website of The Bermuda Sun this morning and was shocked with the picture I saw. It was that tree but no longer standing! The clip reads:
A 150-year-old Poinciana tree blocked the way to a number of rooms at the Rosemont Guesthouse after Monday evening’s storm ripped it from the ground. Winds of 68 knots felled the tree at about 10:45pm Monday, but caused little peripheral damage. *Photo by Mark Kennedy

It was sad to see an old tree fall like that. My consolation is that I took a picture of it while it was standing. Who would have thought it would fall a few months after!

Colgate Bookmark

On this day, I could not help but remember one of my birthdays when I was so happy to receive a bookmark from my then little sister. It was a bookmark with yarn on top made of carton from our family's toothpaste. It was not much but I remember feeling really delighted, especially coming from my youngest sister, who at that time was a student and could not afford a pricey present.

On this day, I remember, my youngest sister, and I wish I could be with her on her 23rd birthday. In about four hours, she will be getting a surprise from her closest friends... video greetings recorded by family members abroad (including myself) and who knows who else or what else! I wish I could see her reaction! I am guessing she'll be delighted as well!

25 Random Things About Me

The net has really become a place for sharing. I saw on TV that some people even share those things that should not be shared (at least in the opinion of that TV host or his writer). I guess I could not be spared of this fever; a few days thereafter, an old friend tagged me in Facebook to read 25 Random Things about her. Being tagged also means I have to share 25 things about me.

I today succumb to endure this fever. But I am not writing this on Facebook, since my readers there would only be my friends, who would know some (or probably most) of the things I'd write. So I would just share these 25 things with you... just so you'd get to know me more. Read on if you please...

1. I do not know how to ride a bicycle (and most times that I say this to someone, I get a "big L face"). I tried to learn once, when all my siblings already knows how to... but scared as I am, I failed! :(
2. In high school, I would always be the one wanting to go swimming with my friends. They all swim well, and during those times, I do not even know how to glide.
3. I am my dog's mom and my boyfriend is her dad.
4. I am allergic to shrimp. While this is quite usual, the fact that I never really liked shrimp isn't. I guess that makes me lucky, right?
5. I was a bum for more than six months twice in my 8 year career.
6. This last valentine, I asked my boyfriend for a bouquet of artificial flowers. I guess I grew tired of receiving fresh ones.
7. In college, I was BFF to three chinese ladies. I have no chinese blood whatsoever.
8. I had a boyfriend at 23. He is a pure chinese (born in the Philippines).
9. I never liked cooking (you know this by now if you read my other posts) but I just finished three dishes earlier.
   
10. If I want to sleep while not sleepy yet, I listen to alternative music.
    
11. I finally admitted that my favorite color has always been green when I was 29.
12. I think I used to be a Blattodephobiac (or someone who has phobia of cockroaches - whatever that is called). I no longer consider myself one 'cause now, I can kill cockroaches using my slippers. Am still afraid of them though.
13. My lowest score ever in a school quiz was 20%.
    
14. I blame my mom she did not let me join Little Ms. Philippines. I would have been a great actress.
    
15. I never studied in an exclusive school but had girlfriends in high school and college.
16. I am righthanded but I use my left hand for the mouse.
    
17. I have a proven low EQ if you'd test me on not opening gifts.
18. I can clap my feet with my knees barely apart (try it!).
19. My bestfriend and I once rode a tricycle with no money in my pocket and ended up paying him with a small bag of duhat/java plum.
    
20. I used to keep a notebook of my dreams (which are just everyday scenario) and realize them coming true (feels like deja vu).
    
21. I was healed by Father Fernando in 2007.
22. I set "tentative" long-term goals as I have always done in the past. I usually end up reaching them or going beyond anyway.
    
23. I am not a fan of very famous people. I am a fan of some of my friends. My role model is Morning Artist.
24. I admire people who know what they want and know how and when to get it.
    
25. I had a hard time completing this post.

Congratulations and thank you; you made it through number 25! I hope you did not have a hard time reading. Have a great week ahead! ;D

I rested... so should you!

The past week has been really tiring at work. Not that it justifies anything, including not writing at all since last week. I got home at night much later than the usual 'cause I had to do some overtime. My co-workers said this is usually the case until March since we're accounting for the year-end and it's the audit season. So they say, I better brace myself.

Truly, when I get to the office last Saturday, it was almost like a regular day; just missing a few people in their desks.

It was a good thing I was privileged to attend a party (a birthday and leaving party in one) . I had fun and I was able to rest (especially my hands) and forget those piles of folders I still left at my desk. Certainly, I could not discount the benefits of rest (and a good laugh).

Which brings me to my point --- did I take too long for my intro? Well, sorry, I guess I missed sharing hehehe --- Sometimes, we just need some rest.

I used to work with a company which highlights the importance of human energy. While I stayed there for a short six months, I certainly enjoyed working there and I realized how good it is for a company to really implement prioritization of human energy. Doing so includes providing employees with time to rest.

Our workstations back then were designed to fit each individual's needs. We used to have rest breaks and micro pause breaks, which is necessary for accountants to avoid repetitive strain injury. We had activities that would promote health and welfare of employees.

When I started working here in the island, I really missed my workstation from that company. Good thing there are organizations which could help us out. Google repetitive strain injury (RSI) to learn more. You might also want to download the software that would freeze your computer for you to have breaks at work. Try Workrave; works for me. You can customize it depending on your needs. Just remember, discipline is necessary if you want your hands to be healthy and well-rested for that matter.

So no matter what you do, make it a habit to find something which would keep you healthy. And "rest" should always be in the picture. My co-worker nailed it when he said earlier: No health, no wealth. How true!