Thank You 2011

It's the time of the year once again when we bid goodbye to one good year and say hello to another year.

2011 was a mixed of happiness, pain, drama, stress, struggles, success, celebrations, hellos and goodbyes. I mentioned in my 2010 post that 2011 will be all about RUNNING. And yes, it was a wonderful running journey and despite the negative stuff, I still survived the year and have a lot of things to be grateful about.

Survived being PAS President and left a good mark to the association (I guess...)

Traveled to the beautiful Palawan and Bohol with my loved ones

Having healthy and beautiful children

Having a loving and supportive husband

Healed past wounds and nurtured friendships

Though the year sucks in many ways, I am still hopeful that everything will be great with God's constant guidance. I am still a work in progress and there's still so much room for improvement. 

...and now here's my wish for myself and everyone I love from the words of no less than, Neil Gaiman

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.

…I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you’ll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you’ll make something that didn’t exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind." -- New Year's Benediction by Neil GaimanCHEERS TO 2012!!!

Palawan Experience: Part 3 (The Baywalk)

After a tiring Underground River tour, we were itching to go on ukay shopping. We saw a couple of ukay shops in Puerto Princesa and the ukay addicts that we are, we were giddy! But first, our last dinner in Puerto Princesa was at Balinsasaw again.

We were so full that we decided to just walk 1 kilometer to another famous spot in PP --- the Baywalk.

They have interesting designs for their lamp posts --- I wonder if they're not overpriced just like what we had in Cebu hehehe.

Peacock

Fishes

Rented these old school bikes at P20 per hour...

It's like being a kid all over again!

After cycling around the Baywalk for hours and some minor accidents on the side, we went back to the pension house to freshen up and start packing up for tomorrow's flight. I refused another invitation from the husband to Tiki's bar --- yeah, yeah killjoy! 

Day 9: Hopes, Dreams and Plans for the Next 365 Days

It's Day 9 of this 30-Day Blog Challenge that's been running for more than a month already. But I will finish this challenge even if this would take me a year to tick off every list. Anyway, the topic for today is about my hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days.

With just a few more days before the year 2011 wraps up, I think this challenge is very apt. 

My Hopes...

...that our life gets better everyday.
...that nobody in my family will get sick (yeah, not even fever and colds).
...that we pay off our debts.
...that we will be able to renovate the house.
...that I could increase funds in my bank account.
...that work doesn't stress the hell out of me.
...that we will be able to furnish the house with nice appliances and furniture
...that my online business gets better.
...that I will be able to upgrade my gadgets (phone, laptop, camera etc.)
...that I will be able to improve as a professional.
...that I will be a better mother, wife, sister, daughter and friend

My Dreams...

...that I will be able to drive my own car.
...that we will be able to travel as a family within the Philippines and perhaps a country in Asia (for now)
...that we will be able to renovate the house according to our "dream house"
...that I will be able to visit my sister in Italy.
...that I will be able to lose unnecessary weight.

My Plans...

...house renovation
...paying off debts
...get a passport
...get a driver's license
...attend more seminars and conferences
...aim for 21k in 2012 (then gradually increase to 42k)
...eat less, run more
...love more

There you go...just something at the top of my head for now!

Company Recognition

Last night, the company prepared this little recognition dinner while our CEO is in town. Only those who have been with the company for five years and above were invited and of course the management team.We were given this TIMEX watch with our names and date hired engraved at the back plus three thousand pesos worth of gift certificates. 

It's amazing how the management has finally decided to recognize employees who stick it out with the company all these years. It has always been the top performer or those who bring in moolah to the company a.k.a. the Sales people they always pamper with lotsa perks.The backroom support, just like my department never gets to receive incentives. So, it's such a pleasant surprise that they started this kind of recognition to tenured employees.

Looking back all those years, I can't imagine how we've survived. I mean, it has always been very difficult to the point of quitting. We've been through so much --- the change in management, the office transfers (3 offices at that), our boss leaving us with me holding on the fort in our department, facility dilemma, all the drama, all the mess, all the nasty people you've worked with, the office politics, all those SH*T. I guess we're made of strong stuff. I know I have always been complaining on the side but at the end of the day, we cannot deny the fact that this job, this company brings in the food to our table, pays for my kids education, pays for the house amortization and takes care of our other needs.

In 4 months, I will be celebrating my 7 years in the company. I'm not certain though if I'm still around when that time comes. I guess I've reach that point when you said to yourself that it's time to look around and move on...not necessarily to a greener pasture but to something different, new environment, new people to work with, new challenges. When I get there, I know it will be a tough decision to make. 

But for now, allow me to bask in this feeling of being appreciated and wanted. 

Thank you XLIBRIS-ASI Management!

An Open Letter to the Office Aircon/s

Dear A/C,

Why do you make my work such hellish?

One time, you release some foul smell and crazy sound to the disgust of our employees. On rainy days, you drip buckets of water like it’s also raining inside the office. Sometimes, you refuse to work like some lazy ass. What is wrong with you? Our life in the office depended much upon your performance and yet you don’t perform as expected. We expect you to be cool on a hot Cebu weather and yet you carry out the other way around. Are we negligent on our responsibility towards you? I don’t think so. Among other office equipment, you are one that’s pampered the most. You often get spa treatment from Alenaire on a regular basis.

I’m sick and tired of complaints filed against you. There were times when I want to squeeze the life out of you. Why don’t you just speak up and tell everyone including the bosses of what’s wrong. From now on, I refuse to fight your battles and I will no longer be at your defense.

If only we could live without you, I would have chosen a ceiling fan over you. You’re such a big disappointment to the aircon family. Now, why don’t you get your acts together before I’ll ask HR to issue your termination notice? And I think I’m going crazy ALL because of you.

Love and hate,

Your Facility Guy