Sort of Independent Living

So this is how it feels to “live independently.”

I’ve been staying at our condo unit for the past nights together with my brother just for kicks. Okay, first it was just for kicks when we all slept over here last Wednesday, and then I was only supposed to be here until Friday. But no, I ended up staying until today, Sunday, because of a lot of reasons.

Some things I realized:

• It can get very boring when you’re alone. Really. I mean, when I’m alone at home, I can just turn on the TV and be logged on all day online, but since there’s no cable here yet, and my main source of Internet is Smart 3G (which means it’s on my bill), I can’t really be online 24/7.
• It’s hard to run out of clothes. Since I was supposed to stay only until Friday, the clothes I brought were only up to then. But since I extended, I ended up buying a new pair of pants, 2 tops and underwear just so I can have clothes for the additional two days. Of course, I can always go to the laundry, but there’s no laundry service in the condo yet. So…hello Bench.
• It’s kind of hard when there’s not much things yet. We have yet to buy plates, and shelves and stuff from furniture stores.
• It’s so tempting and easy to just buy stuff at the nearby mall — food, clothes, and all other things! It’s also so tempting to just stay at the mall and hang out…which I sort of plan on doing in a while.

It’s fun and interesting, but at the same time it gets sad and boring. For some reason, it’s a lot different than when I was staying at a dorm — maybe it’s because school’s just there and my friends are just there and my roommates are always there…or maybe it’s because I’m really sort of independent already, with me doing some of the cleaning and spending for myself. I miss eating home-cooked meals already. :( Although I have to admit it’s kind of easier to get to work from here (even easier than from home), I still miss being in my bed and in a more spacious place than this.

The good news is, I’m going home earlier. I don’t know if I will stay here next week, or just ask my brother to bring my stuff, but I can see it’s another packed week for me next week, so it might be easier if I stay here. Hm. Let’s see.

But today…I will work on the stuff I need to work on (so. many!) and then watch Kung Fu Panda (FINALLY). Happy Sunday!

Rain rain on my face

Okay, so there was actually no rain on my face, but it kind of sucks when rain destroys all your weekend plans of pampering yourself and and all the “pampering” you did was catch up on sleep. Bah. Not that I don’t mind sleeping in…but my pampering! :)) I didn’t get to watch a movie last week because of…lots of things, and I was planning to get a haircut today since my hair’s starting to get unruly, and split ends abound, and I want to have it cut before I get it straightened.

Oh well. The pampering shall wait, I guess. And it’s no use if my hair gets wet after it has been blow-dried. :P It is nice to snuggle under the covers and sleep, or write in my journal after days of not catching up (which reminds me, I need to get back to it). And I’m so glad electricity is back — every geek’s nightmare is when there’s no electricity and the gadgets are not charged. :-B Hee.

Anyway. I’ve had a long week. The last time I had something like this was last February, but that was just physically tiring. This week was physically, emotionally and mentally exhausting, that I still feel the effects of it until now. I’m just glad it’s over and I wouldn’t have survived if it weren’t for my friends, both inside and outside of work. Thank you.

The next week’s going to be just as busy as the last, but I’ve heeded my teammate’s advice and listed down the things I need to do so I can prioritize. I’m done writing down my “Big Rocks”¹ and placed them on my planner. I’m kind of nervous about the turnout of these things I will be doing, but…God is faithful. Be with me Lord.

I can’t wait till June is over. After this month I’m going to let go of a couple of responsibilities which I should have let go of since March. But this time, I’m putting me first, and focus on other commitments. Not even free CAT5e products can change my mind.

It’s still raining a bit outside, but I really hope the flood at our village gate subsides soon because I need to get to work tomorrow. I have to be at an important presentation in the afternoon and the presentation is not yet even started, plus I have tons of emails to send, which I really need to send tomorrow to get things rolling.

See, I’m thinking about it already. Bah. RELAX. Breathe.

Stay safe, everyone!

1. A 7 Habits for Highly Effective People term which refers to the big things you have to accomplish every week depending on your role which you schedule first and are not supposed to be moved. The other things that come during the week are “Little Rocks”, which you schedule around the big rocks [«]

Two Years Later, How’s that Heart?

It’s been exactly two years since I wrote this entry, which has been one of my most read/viewed posts to date. I’ve received lots of comments on that entry, all of which are inspiring and touched me at one point or another, from people I know to strangers who just found my entry online (which is on the third position when you search for singlehood in Google :P).

So now, two years later…how am I? More importantly, how’s my heart?

Yes, that’s everyone’s favorite question. :>

But seriously now. Here’s me, two years after the entry:

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We live on Avenue Q!

Rating:

So this review is a few days late, sorry about that. I had a very long week, which resulted in my blogging absence…but let’s not talk about that. :P

Last Saturday, Julie made me a Front Row Girl again by getting me and other friends to watch the show she’d been swooning over since last year, Avenue Q. Now I have to admit, after reading a lot about the show from Lauren and Sorsi last year when they watched during the first run, I was already curious, but I found the ticket prices too expensive. But after watching Altar Boyz and enjoying the experience so much, I decided to give theater another chance.

So again, I watched Avenue Q last Saturday. And it was fabulous.

Avenue Q is a quirky, cute Sesame Street-like play where Princeton, a 22-year-old BA English fresh grad moves in to Avenue Q, ready to start his life on his own. From there we meet his wacky neighbors: Kate Monster, a kindergarten teaching assistant who crushes on Princeton, Brian, an out of work comedian living with his fiance, Christmas Eve, a Japanese therapist with no clients; roommates Nicky and Rod, who are complete opposites; Trekkie Monster who lives upstairs from Princeton and is a porn addict and Gary Coleman, ex-child actor and superintendent of the apartment units in Avenue Q. Oh, and there are also the cute Bad Idea Bears who show up every now and then to influence Princeton to do something else that he shouldn’t do and Lucy T. Slut, a night club singer who sets her sights on innocent Princeton.

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Flipped (Wendelin Van Draanen)

Rating:

BRYCE:
My mom didn’t understand why it was so awful that “that cute little girl” had held my hand. She thought I should be friends with her. “You like soccer. Why don’t you go out there and kick the ball around?” Because I didn’t want to be kicked around, that’s why. And although I couldn’t say it like that, I still had enough sense at age seven and a half to know that Julianna Baker was dangerous.

JULIANNA:
What did a kiss feel like anyway? Somehow I knew it wouldn’t be like the one I got from Mom or Dad at bedtime. The same species, maybe, but radically different beast. Like a wolf and a whippet. Only science would put them in the same tree. Looking back, I think it was at least partly scientific curiosity that made me chase after that kiss, but it was probably more of those blue eyes.

I’ve had this book for ages, but I haven’t reviewed it ever (then again, I hardly review books back when I bought this). This, along with Stargirl is one of my favorite young adult books. I bought this on a whim, and ever since I first read it, I’ve loved the story. Julianna, especially, is a very memorable character that I wish a lot of times that I carry the same wonder and sparkle she has. :)

When Bryce Loski moves into the neighborhood, Julianna Baker was mostly interested in having a playmate than a boyfriend. But when she saw his blue eyes, she flipped. Bryce wasn’t interested in the Juli, mostly because she scared him. He spent the next few years running away from her — from avoiding her when she’d visit to play, to asking someone out so she’d stop chasing him (backfired big time), to throwing the gifts she gives him, and every thing he could manage to do. As they grow up, Juli realizes that Bryce isn’t really the guy she thought he is, and Bryce realizes that he really didn’t take the time to know Juli and started seeing her in a new light.

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