Loving my surroundings

Enjoying the textures...
from cement...


to soil....

to sand.
Enjoying the sounds...
of traffic...
of animals...

and of waves.

Chad and I: Are we compatible?

I took this test and I must say, the results were actually better than I expected. Probably because even at the early stage of our relationship, most people do not think we will make it through. I thought, why would this test be any different?

Big Five Compatibility Test Extroversion |||||||||||||| 60% |||||| 24% Friendliness |||||||||||| 50% |||||||||| 32% Orderliness |||||||||||||| 58% |||||||||||||||||||| 86% Emotional Stability |||||||||||| 48% |||||||||| 40% Openmindedness |||||||||| 34% |||||||||| 36% scale key - you |||||| them |||||| Your overall similarity is 69%. Your overall complementarity is 63%.

Take Free Big Five Compatibility Test

Change is everywhere

1. Bermuda has changed.
Before leaving home this morning Chad said in a text message that I shall call a cab as the buses were not running still. Luckily for him, he was offered a ride to town by a local. I was hoping to get the same - a free ride - so I waited for awhile at the bus stop. A van stopped by and the good driver invited me in. Inside were two old ladies who appear to be "picked up" as well. So I got in and off we went.

The old ladies were talking about old Bermuda. How people in cars used to offer rides to those waiting at bus stops, if they are all going to the same area. They said, this rarely happens nowadays. And that they commend our good driver for showing that there are still people living up to the old Bermuda way.

And these ladies were right. Things changed here. Jorge, one of my officemates, was offered a ride by a local, too. Only, it cost him $6. All of them who were picked up were charged by their driver. And their trip was not continuous as the driver stopped by the hospital area to wait for more "hitchers".

2. Working hours have changed.
Since last week, my teammates leave the office no later than 7PM. With this week being our reporting week to the client, no later than 7PM is pretty early. Supervisor Scottie (who used to be the earliest comer and the latest goer) now arrives every morning almost exactly on time (10AM) and leaves right before we all do. When asked, he said, that's the new office culture. I'd love that if it's true!

3. The landlord has changed.
Summer is almost here. Last Sunday was a fine day for swimming and since Chad is not much into beach water, we could have enjoyed the pool here in our apartment. Only if it was clean for swimming. But the Landlord has not been cleaning it for sometime now. To add to the tall grasses, busted water pump and walkway lights. I have not seen him visit in a number of weeks; contrary to almost twice a week visits when he and his family first bought the apartments from our previous landlords.

3. I am changing.
I wish I could say I have changed. But I am still working on it.

Tonight, I turned the office lights off. Meaning, I was the last person to go out. Considering I was one of those who got there early, I am not doing very good in trying - trying to stop being very task-oriented. To the point of working like there's no tomorrow (or the next working day). I always want to get things done. To the point of forgetting what my real priorities are.

I realized a few months ago that my being very task-oriented does not always work for my benefit. And that's the reason I have to learn how and when to stop. To keep in mind my priorities... which are not necessarily my tasks.

I was asked by my manager if I am working tomorrow. I could not believe I heard me burst "it's Good Friday for God's sake!". I explained to her that it is my Lenten sacrifice - to not work while I want to. She thought I was being funny. Guess she does not know me enough.

See, I am changing.

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Good or bad, change is everywhere. How's it been there for you?

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

Name Game

My mother told me that I was named by one of my aunts. And the original choice was to include "Marie" as my second name. Thank God, for some reason, they were not able to! Don't get me wrong; I have nothing against that name. Growing up, I always enjoyed having a short name! I didn't have much to write during quizzes and exams but the answers (if I happen to know them!). I used to hear complaints from those who were named too long... two or three names, imagine! But I could not blame anyone for that! As a parent, you would also want your child's name to be unique, wouldn't you? You might want to spare him the hassles of getting a police/government clearances; those with similar names as others have to wait extra hours/days before they get cleared!

I finally felt how to name someone when I had to name our family's dog. She's the most different among her siblings as her head was spotted with black, while the others are so white. During those times, I was dealing with a recruiter named "Heather", and I liked her name. So much so that our dog's "head" is differently colored! So, "her" "head" is! So "Head" "her" is! So I named her "Heather"! A British name for our cute mongrel (mixed-breed or "askal" in the Philippines)!

It might not always be that easy to come up with a name for someone... a name is a name!!! Most likely, one would carry it for the rest of his life (at least if he wants to be spared of legal expenses to have it changed!). It's never an easy task I guess. There are a lot of considerations at place - - - What were yours when you had to do it? Did you ever have regrets? Was your subject happy with the name you gave him?