Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Blogger App

I remember a few months back l was looking for the perfect iPhone app for blogging. Simply because Blogger hasn't released any yet, and the third party apps were bleh. I sold my laptop mid year so I really depend on my phone for my online needs.

Thanks to Google, I learned today that they've release the official app September this year. I'm blogging from it right now and will check tomorrow when I get to the office how the posts are. Oh and I'm supposed to be able to add photos too. Let's try that one out... [takes a photo of my migraine meds]

Hmm. I can't seem to choose where to position my newly snapped photo.

Now let's try using something from my camera roll... [uploads photo collage from Peri-Peri]

Same problem. I'll have to see how this ends up tomorrow. I have no idea where my photos are gonna be.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Proposals: Are you really ready?

At a quarter of a century, I have already been proposed to. Twice. I have always thought I'm ready to settle down, have a family and all that. I browse Facebook albums and you see friends getting married and lately, having babies and sharing tips about it. I'm not in a rush to have babies though. If given one, I'd be happy; but I'm not yet on the desperate level.

Colleagues ask me how it feels, being proposed to. It's surprising, it's overwhelming. But for the most part, it's heart-pounding. I know it is too with the proposing party, but guys have to understand that it's a different level of confusion and happiness for the ladies. Sure, men are nervous about being turned down, but that's about it. Unlike men you have thought it through over and over in their heads if they wanna marry this lady, the ladies have to go through that thinking process in minutes.

The pressure is intense. You can't think about it for more than five minutes, otherwise your possible groom-to-be would have been brokenhearted already. As much as possible you want to say yes, but you also think about it if you really want to spend your life with this person? Are you ready to soon end this in a relationship stage? With marriage there are no break-ups, divorce is a frowned upon option--so is your time/years/months with him already enough to get you hitched?

Yes, these went through my mind in a few snaps. The second time though, I felt like it was too soon, so I just couldn't get any words out of my mouth. I had to cover my mouth as my jaw literally dropped!

No, my current boyfriend has not yet proposed. I'd like to keep it that way hehe. But I had this weird dream the other night where people were telling me I was pregnant and need to go give birth already (though in my dream I look at my tummy and exclaim, "Eh parang namang galing Lang ako sa buffet eh?"). And people were asking me if I'm gonna get married, that same panic went inside my head and I can't say anything. I know the boyfriend wanted to (in the dream) but I can't get myself to do so.

Is this a sign?

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Family Dinners

Yesterday, the great news of my brother passing the Licensure Exam for Teachers (Sep 2011) reached everyone in my family like an outbreak. We are all so happy, and of course as the one who paid for his schooling, I'm grateful. Ecstatic, even. I immediately sent an SMS back to my whole family. In an hour, my mom starts texting my bro if he wants to have dinner with the family, since "Ate is scheduled to go home tonight." She CC's everyone.

I reply and tell my mom that yes, I am planning to go home, but I don't have a car. I'm hitching a ride from my friend Mel; given my recent track record on cars and driving, I have no plans on driving through the Christmas-holiday-rush-traffic / payday weekend / Breaking Dawn Part 1 opening night. And more importantly, I don't expect to be out earlier than 7PM as my boss is leaving the next day. I'd probably just eat morsels by the time I get off work and brave through the Friday traffic. Emailing everyday, it's second nature to me to copy everyone too. (If only there's a Reply All button on SMS, I'd hit that.) My bro, being an anti social, is not so thrilled about it (or family gatherings in general) and couldn't care less. He replies and reminds mom that Ate's schedule can't make it.

So of course, the mother--a Taurus like me--calls me up and puts it on me indirectly that it's somehow my fault that we can't have family dinner that night. I get so pissed, and lose my momentum at work. I literally stopped working and kept pacing around.

Don't get me wrong, I love family dinners. My family is used to bonding over food. Dinners and lunches are usually three hours long because of the unending stories. But what I don't understand is how my mom would still kind of instill in us like it's a chore. I know it's some unwritten rule on responsibility to catch up with your family, but my point is, won't they understand that the kids grew up and can make plans on their own? It's not like I go home from school, and I have no money so I have no choice but to stay home and wait til my 'rents figure something nice to do that night.

It's not as easy as telling your kids to drop everything, do it later coz we have to go somewhere. I have friends who have adjusted their schedules, meetings that were set prior, and work that I must pay attention to. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Daydream Mode: My Cars

My first two hours at work were spent checking out cars online. Here are my likes:

For an everyday Sedan: Chevrolet Cruze in red



For an everyday SUV: Nissan X-trail in whatever you call this color



For a cutesy-girly look: Volkswagen Beetle in Blue
(Photo courtesy of sebeetles.com)



My not-because-I'm-girl-you-can-mess-around-with-me vehicle: Hummer H3 preferably the same color as the X-Trail


I have not decided on which car is my show-off car, the one you bring to night outs or something. A Camaro looks nice. But not really sold on it. And I haven't thought of my elegant car as well. How about you?

Saturday, November 12, 2011

11/11/11

Just a few minutes or an hour ago, it was 11/11/11. It's not big deal, it's meant to happen, right? There's an eleventh month, an eleventh day of the month and a year ending in eleven.

Intertwined in a cuddle--would you believe--I kinda figured out it's quite cool. We get to experience all these palindromes. A lot of other people did not, think about those people born after 1920s and dies before 2001? That's a lot.

True it may not even matter. It's not like the stars give you something great every palindrome day that you live, but it's just cool to be able to live through 01/01/01 through 12/12/12 and even 12/13/14 (pray to God that nothing bad happens to me). The next series of these dates will be in a hundred years. My kids might not even be able to live through it!

Note: This just lets you in on how weird I can be. My boyfriend finds it amusing that I find something cool out of ordinary no-big-deal stuff. But yeah it doesn't get me off the hook that I'm weird. LOL

The Undeserving Princess

Friends would know that I've been very uncertain with my current relationship. Don't get me wrong, I have a great boyfriend. Of all the partners I've been with, he is the one you could see yourself having as a husband. He'll make a good husband and a loving dad to his future kids. I'm a princess. I'm his everything. He's loyal and loves me a million times than I do.

And that's the dilemma: I can't figure out what's wrong. I can't quite honestly say I have zero feelings for Al, but I know that that's gotta take a back seat. That one's not gonna go anywhere. He doesn't wanna try anymore and I understand. Like he said, make the best of what we have.

But I want to give it a shot. Deep in my heart I know I'd try having a Skype relationship. It's bullshit but what the hell. But I have to constantly remind myself that he's not willing to do that and it might just not work.

I hope I get my closure soon. No more "maybe not right now", but more like "I'm sorry it's just not gonna happen." I hate it when people can't say things as it is. The truth and even the half truths hurt, and I'd settle for the complete ones hands down.

I can't move on. I can't wait; I don't want to wait. I wanna start living my life without that percentage of hope. It breaks my heart admitting to all these. My boyfriend does not deserve this, he deserves so much better. I need to move on and start living my life with him as my focus and not because he's what I just settled for. Not just because he's the next best thing.

I need to move on. But I can't. I don't know how.

Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Car, Driving and the Road Bad Luck

How does one rub off bad luck? I'm on my fifth week. And it's all about my car, driving and being on the road.

First I get into a minor accident involving my car and a biker. Entirely not my fault with him swerving in front of me while I'm running 60kph. He's okay, he's got a bruise but no broken bones or anything. His bike was a different story though. So I had to pay his days off work (to recover), buy him a new bike and get my license back. My conscience would eat me if I don't. It's a man after all.

Next, on a payday weekend my Geo gave up and got me stranded in Edsa. Like, dead. Had to leave him at a gas station, commute going home, go back the next day. Brought it to the mechanic and money went down the drain again for repairs and replacement of my timing belt.

The following weekend, Geo's radiator is no longer in shape; leaking out half of its content in a short trip. So out goes PhP 4,000 for a replacement cover.

Another long weekend after, the previous incident happened regarding engine oil cap. By this time, it's becoming unbelievable.

And the latest of the five-consecutive-weekend streak? A ticket. Apparently the traffic enforcers got me a ticket for beating the red light (I swear it wasn't) and added--get this--reckless driving for trying to outrun them. Point being, I didn't even know they were flagging me as I wasn't guilty. Now I'm without a license.

This is just. Plain. Un. Believable.

Friday, November 04, 2011

Simple Mishaps: Big Risk

My month hasn't been the greatest. For the past three consecutive weekends, I had to worry about my car or bring it to the mechanic. Week 1 was for its timing belt, week 2 was for its radiator. Last week though, was not even my fault. Unbelievable. I have written a complaint letter regarding the incident, so allow me to copy and paste it as it has complete details.

---------------


Mr. & Mrs. Desi Tomacruz
Owners, Donica Corporation
Shell at the Fort
32nd Street, Bonifacio Stop Over
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig


Dear Sir/Ma’am:

I am writing to file a formal complaint against an oversight by one of your crew in re-placing my engine oil cover. Please allow me to relay my side in chronological order:

On Monday, October 24, 2011 at around 7:00 in the evening, I brought my vehicle, a Suzuki Vitara `97 model, to your The Fort station for gasoline fill up. Once the tank was full, I handed over my Citibank Shell card for swiping. While waiting for the charge slip, a lady attendant—Liezel Nullan—offered to check for oil and water levels. Popping the hood, she does, and eventually notifies me that the engine oil level is low. I proceeded and purchased her recommendation, a Shell Helix H5 (according to the receipt), which retails at PHP 234.00.

Trusting all is well, I proceeded to do my daily routine. I live near C5, a stone’s throw away from your Pasig-Valle Verde station.  On Friday, October 28, 2011 around 6:00pm after arrival at home, I went to check my vehicle and prepare it for my next-day early morning trip to my hometown, as it is the long weekend for the All Saints Day. To my surprise, oil is scattered all over my engine and the engine oil is uncapped.

Unable to contact your station through the number given by Shell Customer Care, I asked my staff to go to your station and look for a supervisor. I was able to talk with Jimmy Espeleta, and was given feedback through SMS later that night. Unfortunately, they were unable to find it, and was assured of reimbursement instead.

The following day, Saturday, October 29, 2011, I went and bought one instead, from Suzuki Pasig (along C5). Brought my vehicle to the mechanic to check and clean up my engine. I had to delay my plans on going back to my hometown for a day.

Today, Thursday, November 03, 2011, I was reimbursed for the amount of PHP 306.89 for the replacement.

Though reimbursed, it does not take away the fact that the simple mishap of not re-placing the engine oil cover (or, screwing it back on loose enough to fall off) had put myself, my vehicle and even nearby vehicles and establishments at risk. It could have:
               
·         Resulted in an explosion or be engulfed in flames had the oil been in contact with an exposed electrical part of the engine;
·         Resulted in fire if anybody was smoking by the vehicle, as the oil had spilled and possibly dripped to the ground;
·         Caused malfunction of the engine due to lack of engine oil—it had already been driven nine times, to and from my home and office by the time I had discovered it;
·         Put me at risk of being stranded somewhere if I had not been able to check on it and proceeded with my planned long drive.

I certify that the above-mentioned information and events are true and correct. Please find attached copies of any supporting document I have with me.

As a frequent customer on both your the Fort and and C5 Pasig stations—and Donica Corporation being a Shell Global Multi-Site Retailer awardee—I believe that you value customer satisfaction. I am hopeful that this event does not happen again to me, or to any other customer for that matter. May this incident be a wake-up call for the crew members in knowing the responsibilities they take whenever they do anything with anybody’s vehicle.

Thank you for your time and more power to your company.

Sincerely,
(signed) 
My Complete Name

---------------

In all fairness to me, I really wasn't looking for any compensation. I should reimburse the oil but decided not to, since it still has enough oil in it. This could have been a lawsuit in the making, if you ask me. But I would pity the lady attendant, who for all I know, is not even earning enough and that PHP 300 is already a big chunk off her payslip. 

Today, I got a call from Mr. Tomacruz and he offered to reimburse my payment for the engine oil as well. I appreciate the call, sincerely. 

So to all the drivers out there, make sure you watch and check if they replace those thingies: gas cap, engine oil cap, and radiator caps. Simple mistakes like these can put you at risk big time.

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Emotionless Online Life

There was a time that blogging was about what's in your heart, what your soul was screaming about. Then came a time for me that blogging was no longer that. It's just a mere what-I'm-doing-or-spending-time-on. Looking back and reading older posts, it does mean a lot...

You read through a person's blog and you feel the emotions. How certain posts make you smile and say, "those were the days." You read heartbreaking posts and you can connect with the emotions; most likely post a comment with comforting words. With Facebook and Twitter, online life just seemed so...emotionless. I'm listening to this, I'm doing this, I'm doing that, I'm with who, I'm watching this. Just so boring.

I love blogging for the fact that you can just say, "I just can't get over you." No judgment, no holds barred. If there are no comments on your posts, it doesn't even bother you.

I remember how I got friends online, and knowing which ones to trust by reading their posts. Knowing how they think and what they value in life.

I miss you, blog world.