Happy 17th Anniversary Honey!

To the man I married 17 years ago and to the same man I will love till my last breath, HAPPY 17th Year ANNIVERSARY Honey!

Thanks for making beautiful memories with me and thanks for always being there.

I love you!

How to Thwart a Raging Bull

-- This is a repost. I have written this many moons ago when I was still in a different department. Things have changed recently. And as I recall how much I have been motivating and reminding myself how wonderful life is - I stumble upon this post I have written with humor. For those who can relate, I hope the tips below can help you recover or at least deal with the situation and the perpetrator. For those who are blessed to enjoy the peace and quiet of being at home full time, share this to those you know who can apply it in their corporate lives. Enjoy the read!  --


Best answer to this is to run! Run for your life! Kidding aside, there's nothing more enraging than someone crushing your spirit especially if you've gotten up on the right side of the bed.

I woke up with a bright outlook in life one fine morning, smiling my blues away, looking forward to another day and screeeeeeeecccchhhhhhh..... wait a sec! What just happened? It's like a dream sequel and suddenly you woke up like someone threw cold water on your face. Yes, that happened to me at work. Again, no details will be spared but the crux of the matter is, some people just ruined my day in a fraction of a second! Wow, that's Guinness Book of World Records there for you!

I was upset the whole day because:

1. I felt hurt.
2. I was treated with disrespect.
3. They ruined my sunny-side up spirit.

One thing that really pulls my nerve is when someone is sarcastic when spoken to. My point is, I speak to you kindly, then answer back with the same respect given to you. Isn't that the right thing to do to people? Was that so hard to do? I mean, to be kind? Golden Rule. Golden Rule. Golden Rule. I can't stress that enough.

After that event one fine morning, I thought of presenting this tips on how to avoid raging bulls in the office:

Here's one:
Look the other way. Try to avoid eye contact. You'll never know when he or she will pop your eyes out. ;)

Here's another:
Try to become invisible for a day or at least until the rage wears down. If you need to relay a message or have important matters to discuss with the raging bull then go through the assistant, if he or she has one. I just did that. If I could fold myself into several folds, I would have done that so I could put myself in my own pocket!

And another:
Play some funky tunes to cast the blues away. Music is like a therapy to calm my nerves. Just don't play heavy metal, head banging, ear drums crashing music or it will make you more upset. Tone down with a good "zen" like music or easy listening stuff. I played "Amazing Grace" in my head over and over until I cooled down. Another music which calms my nerves is blues/jazzy tune. Never disappoints me at all.

Last trick I tried:
I offered a prayer. I was scared of losing it too because I just gave them a reason to ruin my composure. Well, they actually did but to give in to such negative feeling is something I will not subject myself to. I owe it to myself to be happy and happy I will be. Bulls or none...

So, there will be another day again and this will be my prayer:

"As I enter the work area Lord, please give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can and wisdom to know the difference...and while I am at it Lord, please don't make me too strong because I might just throw them all away." hehehehe Just kidding Lord. =)

(photo courtesy of: www.yesnet.yk.ca)

Happy 15th Birthday Our Sweet Princess

Our princess,

Time flies so fast! It seems like yesterday when we were cuddling you in our arms and prayed that you would always be safe, that you would be blessed as you grow and be loved by all. And now, you're fifteen.

We  have seen you slowly spreading your wings. At first your Papa and I were scared. We didn't know how to react with your newly found freedom. Before, you would always run to us because then, we were your number one. Now that you have found a world outside our own world, I guess there is no reason for us to stop you from exploring your new environment as a growing teenager.

Bear in mind that as parents, we only want the safest and best for you. We know we can be overbearing most of the times but that's not because we don't trust you. We're just afraid that you'll grow up too fast, too soon.

So, we pray each night that God will always protect you and give you guidance and wisdom to live your life the best way you can. We will always support you along the way.

Now that you're 15, it won't be long for you to start to go out on your own and become fully independent. But remember us, our precious child. Remember the values we have taught you. Take them with you where ever you may go and know that you are and will always be loved by us.

Happy birthday princess. Always keep this in your heart - we love you and you'll always be our little girl. Always.

Photo credit: yahoo images

Encouraging Creativity

My creativity is still in hiatus for some months now. I am not sure when it will come back but I am looking forward to the day where I can create handmade cards and beautiful scrapbook pages again. I am also excited to get that Silhouette Cameo machine so I better have this creative juice flowing soon.

I am trying my level best to get it back but not being too forceful that will affect the passion I have with my projects. As of now, I have started the "rehabilitation" of my creativity by subscribing to my favorite crafty magazines. I have also browsed endless projects of crafty people for inspiration and I see a small spark right there in my brain. Yes, that little spark might just ignite the sleeping monster that I call "creativity."

Apart from the online activities, I am also looking at beautiful scenery and thinking of happy thoughts so at least I draw some inspiration from them. I feel it will come. I just don't have an iota of idea when.

Holiday season is creeping up fast and I just hope that I get this juice cranking before then so I can come up with pretty little crafty things to give to my family and friends.

OFWs Are Not ATMs

People think that all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are rich. Maybe some but not all. They thought, just because we are outside the Philippines make us eligible to claim fortune. On the contrary, we are just doing fine. We can live comfortably, enjoy other perks we cannot have back home, and invest our hard-earned money to properties and income-generating business. All these are achieved because of our sweat and toil.

Photo credit: yahoo.com

It is so unfair to be stereotyped as money-spewing Automated Teller Machines where you can get  money day in and out. It does not work like that. Please remember, we are humans too. We work, we flex our muscles, lift our fingers and exert effort to earn a decent living. We won't be here in the first place if we have a better life back home and if there is a high-paying job waiting for us in the Philippines. We too, have our sacrifices. We didn't get here by sheer luck nor fate. We got where we are because we worked hard. We spend money here for our daily sustenance. We have bills to pay, kids to send to school, loans and mortgages to settle and on top of that, money to send back home. We can only stretch ourselves so much but at one point, we need a break too. So, don't get mad if our ATMs will show a sign that says "out-of-order" one day.

Body Pain

I knew I have a fragile health from the time I was born until now. I tried everything I can to improve my immune system and health. I am desperate to lose weight and eat properly and yet, I still feel pain here and there. Could it be due to my soaring weight or age is simply catching up? All I know is that, the slightest move now either sprains me or causes pain in some areas of my body.

I was happily doing Zumba last Sunday, did some exercises last Monday, did ab crunches last Tuesday and yesterday took a rest. I remember reaching for a piece of paper on my office table and next thing I knew and felt was the twitch or slight pain on my right shoulder, almost above the armpit near the joint area. Since then, I noticed that my right arm's movement had been limited. I could not stretch it nor reach the top of my head. It's as if something is blocking my joint movement. There is no swelling. I don't have fever too nor have redness on the affected area but the pain is there.

I applied hot compress the whole night and straightened my right arm when I slept. I am trying to rule out other possibilities like tendinitis, bursitis, impingement or even high uric levels, arthritis or rheumatism. It can be anything until I see a doctor.

I will give myself another night to see how it goes even after I put another batch of hot compress. If the pain does not subside a bit then I am forced to face my dreaded fear - seeing a physician.

Weight Loss Dilemma

Again, I got stuck in a very long rut. My friends are losing weight but I am gaining more.

I can't blame anyone but myself because I have allowed it to happen. I used to have a strong will-power and deeply motivated but it is not working these days. I know what to do but I can't seem to push myself.

I have been bugging my other "round" friends to join me in my quest for weight loss for good health and they just keep saying tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. I am tired waiting for the day when I can actually have a buddy system or a support group to back me up on my endeavor.

Where do I actually start? I don't want to end up fat and miserable. There's nothing wrong when you are plump but if you are having health issues then that is something worth changing. I can't stay like this because it's not making me healthy. I have to start somewhere and I need to do it soon.

Caution On Online Shopping

I have nothing against online shopping. In fact, I have been shopping online since 2000. I am guilty as charged! However, I felt like I got burned on my last purchase in Cobone deals here in Dubai. They are currently running an electronics deal so I purchased an Apple Macbook Pro for a price which is significantly less than the retail price in Apple Store and other authorized Apple dealers here. Who would miss such  savings, right? Not me.

I bought the deal last 22 May and Cobone promptly facilitated the request and payment on the same day. In fairness, Cobone has done an excellent job on sending the voucher quickly as they have done in my past purchases. This, I thought, was just one of those purchases I have done in their site only a higher ticket this time. The company behind the deal, Multimindsit.com, is the main culprit in all the hassles I have been facing lately. They wrote me last May 23 acknowledging my order and that delivery would take place between 3 to 7 business working days.

Last Wednesday, 30 May, I decided to follow up thinking my order might be delivered anytime soon since the 7 days would lapse on 3 June. I spoke to a staff and was told that the product was scheduled that day. So, I patiently waited and even went home early to personally receive the order. It was already 3:30 p.m. and no sign of any delivery nor a call from the delivery man. I called the company again to check. The same lady I spoke to earlier said that it would be scheduled again the next day, 31 May. So I waited and nothing came. I called the company in the afternoon and was told that they would hold a special delivery on Saturday, 2 June.  The whole day of June 2 went by without a sign of any delivery. So, I called again the very next day which was on Sunday of 3 June. The same lady was surprised that I did not get any delivery. That's when I thought to myself that if she said that my product was scheduled for delivery, how come no one informed her that nobody called me from their company nor someone delivered my laptop? Alarms sounded off. I began to think that the deal was bogus. I asked again when I could receive my Macbook. She put me on hold for what seemed like an eternity only to be promised again that it would be done on the same day until evening. So, you should see the pattern by now. Of course, no call of delivery, no Macbook.

June 4 - Monday, my heart was palpitating because I felt I was being duped already. I called again. As usual, the same lady picked up the line. I asked her what happened to the delivery and again, she was surprised. Obviously, there was no coordination in their part. So I asked her if there was really a product or was I just being scammed. She was apologetic and told me that she was just telling me what was on their list. I asked for her superiors but unfortunately, one is on vacation and the other comes in the afternoon. I asked her to tell her boss to call me right away because even when I was following up through the phone, I was also sending follow up emails from the confirmation mail they sent me last 23 May.  And no one from their company bothers to respond nor call. Some guy called me in the afternoon around 2:30 p.m. that my Macbook would be delivered that day and maximum the next day around afternoon. The company even sent me an email to confirm that my Macbook would be delivered the same day, if not the next day. Well, you guessed it. I didn't receive any call yesterday until evening nor have seen any delivery. As of this writing, I have not received my "promised" Macbook yet. I decided to escalate the matter to the Government of Dubai under the board of Consumers Rights. I raised an official complaint and also called Cobone today to tell them of the fraud.

I am appreciative of how Cobone is handling the matter. However, even if the manager of Cobone gave her word to me that I would get my Macbook today (obviously, I did not!), I just decided to get a refund.

I hope to get my money back and this time I hope I don't get any hiccups. I feel so sad because one company ruined my trust on online shopping. I was just wondering if there is actually a product behind their deals. If there are, shouldn't they be ready for this massive deal? If they ran out of stock, at least inform the clients so we're not left in the dark waiting for a delivery that never happens!

So beware of Multimindsit.com. They have promising deals and really at a good price compared to the retail price in the stores. The question is, will you get what you actually paid for? My answer - NO. So, don't buy from them. If you do, then "I told you so" is all I can say. That's all!

Don't Jump Into Conclusions

Well, I have a very funny thing to tell you. My daughter is a friend of mine in Facebook. And please don't judge me for allowing her to have an account. She is a smart and sensible kid so she knows who to accept in her friends' circle in Facebook. Okay, going back to what I am supposed to tell you. I can actually view her posts in my wall and there was one she just posted few minutes ago regarding how she got home safe and that her friends left her in the school bus and she hear the teen-aged boys calling her name and saying malicious things. I don't know the whole story but I left some comments in her message trail and asking her friends as well to tell me if the boys don't stop teasing my daughter. And then I paused and thought for a while? Was I over-reacting? Did I even bother asking my daughter the full account of the story behind the message? Or was my daughter just sending out coded messages to her friends? Whatever her reasons are, I decided to ask her.

In all honesty, I am not really someone who jumps into conclusion or quick to judge like some people I know. So, I asked my daughter if someone was harassing her in the school bus. She said none so I asked why she wrote something like that on her wall post. Then she started laughing. She told me she was just listening to the teen boys' conversations and she as shocked that she had to share it to her friends. GASP!!!

Upon hearing that, I almost wished the ground I was standing on would open up and swallow me alive! I was getting ready to go "fight-mode" and then good thing I asked her. 

So, lesson learned - never, ever jump into conclusion. Or better yet, never, ever meddle with your kid's affairs. I am so mortified.

Fake Friends

Life is so much better when you are surrounded by real friends, the real people who will be there for you no matter what. There are times when you thought a friend is a real friend because this person treats you nice when you are around. This person makes you feel special and loved and when you turn your back, it becomes a different story.

I wish people can be real for once. I don't deserve people like that in my life. So, I decided that I will remove these kinds of people in my life. I don't have to deal with them and I certainly don't have a space for them. I am happy now and I want it that way. One less insignificant and fake person in my life will not make a big impact to me. I have other real friends who love me just as I am!