Post-Valentine’s

FINALLY. This long long week is over. My past week has been filled with essentially non-work related stuff since my time has been eaten up by extra-curriculars. I tried squeezing in some work in between (which almost got me in trouble, but was resolved much thanks to “teh master”)…but now it’s over, and I can finally focus on real work. :D I missed that. Hah.

My Valentine’s Day was actually quite surprising, besides the entire tiring bit. I got to work and immediately started delivering flowers, leaving them on the tables of the night shift people since it’s only day shift and seeing the delighted smiles of the girls (and some boys) who received flowers from their co-employees. It was kind of hard to see other people who’d look at us wistfully because they haven’t received anything. If only I could afford it, I’d give something to everyone…and believe me, I know how it feels to be left out on this day.

Interestingly, it was really nice to be able to make people smile on Valentine’s. It’s true that there’s more joy in giving, which is why no matter how tiring the entire flower delivery thing was, it was still fulfilling. :)

But the next time we do that, I’ll make sure we have all their workstation numbers. Heh.

My Vday was actually quite…nice. The nicest I’ve had for the longest time. I did buy flowers, but I never got the chance to give them — I didn’t even get to hold them. There was a shortage of flowers for the serenade service, so I offered mine for the use. Alvin surprised me with one rose though, and I really appreciated it even if I snapped at him at first because of the bad mood. Heh. Then after one batch of delivery, I headed back to my desk and saw two more flowers on my table. One was actually Gel’s, which she left on my table, while the other one was mine (pictured on the right, fuzzy picture by Captain Tal). Both our flowers were from Rosco, our resident flower guy who barely had any sleep for the week. :) Thank you!

But what really clinched the day was the surprise at night, which turned out to be a non-surprise after Alvin spilled. Haha. I was finally sitting at my table, working when I called Alvin to tell him that Ron was already there, then he tells me what’s about to happen. A little while later they were starting to crowd behind me, then Gel taps my shoulder to get my attention and I say, “Is it time to react now?”

Long story short, Gel made my “dream” come true: I got serenaded for Valentine’s Day, much thanks to IBM Club. :) Altogether now, awwww! :”> Even if I was spoiled of the thing beforehand, I enjoyed it very much. :D Thank you!

So there was my February 14. It was tiring, yes, but it was also the nicest Valentine’s Day I’ve ever had. :) I spoke too soon, yes, and I am very thankful that the day wasn’t what I expected it. Thank You Lord, for making me smile on that day.

Life is now back to normal, with me having to focus on one of my other extracurricular stuff at work and my real work, and finding ways to cut my spending as I had a lot to pay for this month (I wrote my biggest check ever last payday! Eeep) — from Aslan and Triskal payments, life insurance, credit card bills and the everyday expenses, and I still have to buy a dress and a gift for a friend’s wedding in the next month…so I have no time to even look at home insurance quotes, not only because I don’t have money, but because I don’t need it yet.

Now I’m about to indulge myself in MTV’S Daria, which I finally finished downloading last night — all five seasons! :)

I hope everyone has a great Sunday. :)

February 14

So. The “obligatory” Valentine’s Day post.

I slept at 4:00am this morning because we were fixing stuff for IBM Club’s flower delivery today. I’ve never been so stressed for Valentine’s Week, and this certainly tops everything. I’ve been up to my ears with EVERYTHING, and I’ve snapped one too many times at too many people because I’ve got too many things to do and other people are just too busy doing other things and I really shouldn’t let that bother me, but it does. How about that for spreading the love?

So if you see my YM status for today, it’s me reminding myself to be patient: I will love the people I find hard to love. Even if it kills me. Happy heart’s day! @};-

Sooo…on the subject of Valentine’s Day. As opposed to last year’s V-day, this year is a bit…no, not sadder…just a bit less happy than I want to be. I wish I could say I’m not bitter about all these Valentine’s hoopla, but to be honest, I am. Just a bit. It’s like what I said here, I was processing serenading requests and flower requests and as much as I don’t want to think about it, I can’t help but wonder if someone got something from me. Not from anyone in particular, but just someone. Anyone. A friend, a teammate, whoever. It’s not that I am asking for anything expensive like a plasma cutter…a simple flower will do. Or chocolates. Heh. But I ended up fixing all flower orders and no, my name wasn’t there. Except when I decided to buy some flowers. Who are those flowers for? No, not for myself, but I might just end up keeping one. Hah. Kidding. Oh, but my dad gave me flowers last night…thanks Pa! :D
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My Lenten Sacrifice

Since we’re on the topic of Lent, and Ash Wednesday just passed, I found this piece I wrote last year for Jun, for his email distribution list. I find it funny how the thing I wrote really happened, and how many emails and text messages I received that day because of this thing. True, love life is a big thing for everyone, even if a lot of people deny it. :P

Anyway, this was posted on Godchicks, but since the site is kind of hibernating right now, I’m reposting it here for everyone’s…I don’t know, enjoyment? Haha. I hope you guys will be blessed with this one as I was blessed writing and reading it. :)

My Lenten Sacrifice
(March 9, 2007)

Two years ago, I gave up boys for Lent.

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Ash Wednesday

Today is the start of the Lenten season, and I think that this is the earliest Ash Wednesday I can remember. This year holds the earliest Holy Week too — with Holy Monday falling on my birthday. I have mixed thoughts on that, but let me get back at that later. :)

Earlier today I heard mass with some officemates and I was amazed at how many people heard mass today — the usually not-so-full chapel overflowed outside, all the way to the street. I remember my dad and I joking about how the church is filled to overflowing during Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve mass, and suddenly we realize how many people really live in the village. Only in the Philippines. ;) But it’s nice to see the chapel overflowing with people; it gives me hope that people still care.

I was listening to Lifeteen’s Lent Overview podcast earlier and Mark Hart mentioned how he used to not like Lent as much as he liked Advent when he was a kid, because Lent means sacrificing a lot of things, and it always happens to be Friday whenever he wanted to eat the most meat. I have to admit that I used to think the same thing. I hated how during Holy Week, there’s nothing to watch on TV. I hated how we all have to be inside and stay inside and be forced to attend masses, go through the entire Bisita Iglesia in the heat of summer. I was happy when Easter rolls by because that means I can finally eat normally, and there’s no somber mood around the place.

It was only recently that I started to appreciate the entire season, and that’s what I plan to impart to you for the next few weeks until we reach the “climax”. I think this is really something we should take time to reflect on. :) You don’t have to be a real estate agent or a priest or a really “holy” person to appreciate this season.

In the meantime, here’s the podcast I mentioned earlier for your listening pleasure. :)

If you haven’t heard mass yet, there’s still time! I’m sure there’s another one (or two) masses before this day ends. And I’m also inviting you to join the 40 days of prayer and fasting led by Bo Sanchez. Click on the link for more details. :)

Mid Shift

So today I start mid shift.

FYI, I’m still home. I’m leaving in a while though, because I need to hear mass at Eastwood since it’s first Friday. Plus, I need to get at the office early to get some work done since I have two meetings tonight, and I won’t be able to get stuff done.

Ah, the price of being busy. The past two weeks I felt like I was on midshift all ready because of all the meetings I have to attend (it’s a miracle how I can still blog — thank you short free time), but I still go to work early because of sheer laziness of commuting on my own in the afternoon. It’s okay anyway; I get more things done that way. :D

It’s been a sort of crazy two weeks. Tonight’s meeting consists of planning and an education session about some other stuff I should know. I’m not complaining; it’s fun to be involved, since it’s been a long time since I was involved in stuff. I get to meet a lot more people, be hands on with the activities, and I really, really like that. :P Of course that means I’m more tired and there’s a lot of things to do which means a bit more stress after some time, but a little stress is good. They’re not really complicated and I don’t have to learn how to do anything complicated or something I haven’t done before (like install Grohe faucets, for instance), though there were some brain-dying moments. But I’m good. :) And besides being good for my resume (heh), I like what I’m doing and it breaks the monotony of everyday web editing. :D

I have a feeling this month’s going to be crazy too; with all the stuff I need to have finished. Plus I always feel like my hours are short when I’m on midshift as opposed to night shift, where my hours are looooong. I didn’t mind the extra allowance, though, but really, I prefer to sleep at night than during the day.

My ten minutes of posting are up, so I should get ready if I want to get there in time for mass.