Two Gettogethers

Last Saturday, our batch get-together pushed through. It was a success. There were about 20 of us.

Conversations were on: "What are you doing now?"...the usual reminiscing of college days, including teachers...How is UPCBA now?...talk on other UP students...some politics, the economy...and plans on how to celebrate our 30th anniversary out-of-town.

Food was plentiful - barbecue, chapchae (noodles), lasagna, rellenong bangus, curry, salad, three kinds of cakes, adobo roll, chicken empanada, fruits, chicharon with softdrinks and wine.

I was fetched (although rather late because the poor guy came all the way from Cainta) and brought home (by somebody who lives in Marikina). So I reached home past 12 midnight already.

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I caught Fr. Mario's healing mass on www.gnnchannel.com via streaming. It was a delayed telecast. Next week, they will be aired live again.

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Last night, we had a family gettogether because there were four birthday celebrants - me, a nephew, a sister-in-law, and a brother.

Food was pancit malabon, chicken inasal, beef with broccoli, sweet and sour pork, chicken salad, chicharon, manggang hilaw with bagoong, honey dew and chocolates.

Talk was varied. Again, there were plans to go out of town for summer.
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With all that eating, my blood sugar remains up. Oh no!
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Client did not agree to the increase in cost we were asking for. So my FGD won't push through. Yehey.
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Mom will be away till Wednesday. There's plenty of left-over food so no need to cook.

Feeling Not So Good

I should be feeling good because a friend treated me to Teriyaki Boy and gave me perfume. But I felt sorry for her as she told me about her problems. Couldn't help but feel bad for her. She cried a number of times.

Then, a friend who owns a research agency was late in coming to our 3 pm meeting. She arrived almost 5 pm already. She brought Shakey's pizza (which was my dinner already). We computed our costs for the FGD and looks like we have to charge P15,000 more per group. Client is likely to not approve so that's okay. I suddenly have lost enthusiasm for the project...And I did not get the payment I was expecting.

I did a rush project today. Not confident that I did a good job.

So, altogether, not a good day today.

On the other hand, I should be thankful for what I ate at Teriyaki Boy - salmon sashimi, chicken teriyaki, ebi tempura, miso soup, and yogurt with bananas. Thank You, Lord, for such blessings!

Last Night, I Didn't Get To Sleep...

Looks like the words from a song but the reason is totally different. I kept thinking of my FGD and its details.

It appears that it is grossly undercosted! I think I would have to substantially slash my fee. Oh no!
(The sacrifices I make for my projects.)

I hope despite the many things that could go wrong, everything will turn out fine in the end. Here's keeping my fingers crossed and then folded in prayer.

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It's my brother's birthday. I'm glad to know he recently got hired as general manager. He now sends monthly financial help. What are siblings for?

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End of the month is nearing. I hope to collect from three of my clients. Enough to pay for my medicines.

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I was able to get some sleep this afternoon. Feels good!

Now, I'm about to work on a project that is due tonight or tomorrow morning.

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A friend is coming over and she will bring me Mcdo Fillet o' Fish. Yehey. I will give her some stuff which don't fit me.

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I'm excited about our batch gettogether this Saturday. There will be about 18 of us. And the good news is looks like I finally have a ride going there. The poor guy lives in Cainta. The venue is in Pasig. So, I'm really out of the way. But I begged him to fetch me and I said he doesn't have to bring me home. Another attendee promised to be the one to bring me home. So problem solved!

Thank You, Lord!

God is a God of Perfect Timing

Today, I was supposed to have two meetings. One at 10 am, the other 2 pm. So happens, as of yesterday, I wasn't ready for the 2 pm meeting.

Guess which meeting was postponed?

The 2pm one of course!

I cannot count the times when God has fixed my schedule. I prayed that the afternoon meeting won't push through and my prayer was granted!

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I was able to get a cab ahead of my son. It was 8:30 am.

I reached Makati about an hour later. Since I was still early for my meeting, I went to the nearby Mini-Stop and bought Coke Zero and Nagaraya Crackers (original). Nice snack!

The 10 am meeting went okay. An outside consultant joined us and gave useful inputs.

I hitched a ride with him till Greenbelt where there were plenty of taxis.

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In the afternoon, I revised the screeners and GD guides based on our discussion this morning.

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All in all, a nice day and it's not yet over!

Busy Weekend

Yesterday, I worked on two projects.

I sent the screeners and GD guides to Client. And I gave comments on the concepts to be tested.

I also continued a long report, working till late at night.

During lunch, my sister and niece dropped by. They brought Pixie's inihaw na bangus (two boxes), liempo, rice and Coke Zero. Delicious!

My sister gave me a nice pink lipstick from Avon. It's nice for a change.

Today, I finished my long report. Feels good!

I have been trying to contact batchmates for our gettogether next Saturday. Looks like we will have a good number of attendees.

Oh no, my boss will not be able to join us in a presentation to client on Tuesday. I might be the one to do the presenting. I have to prepare tomorrow.

When my mom discusses finances with me, it's easy to worry or even despair. But I just have to trust in God. He will provide.

A Quiet Birthday

Last night, my son brought home delicious pizza from California Pizza Kitchen. Mom loved it. She said she is not a pizza lover but this one, she adored.

Today, a family friend treated me and mom to breakfast at Alex III. I had longganisa, sinigang, two fried eggs and dalandan juice. Mom had tapsilog and our friend had arroz caldo.

We passed by our old house in Matulungin. Pink house with violet gates. No longer fushia. Haha.

No visitors came and no one invited me out for my birthday. So it's a quiet birthday for me.

Ate steak at home with corn.

But I was thrilled by the deluge of greetings through text, email and FB! So many, I couldn't count. That alone made my day.

After a long nap, I worked on FGD guides and screeners. It's a working birthday indeed.

That doesn't mean that this is the end of my celebration. I will be going out with friends to celebrate.

So how does it feel to be HALF a century old? Quite old. Seems like ages ago when I was young and pretty. I miss the "good old days" when I could dance, drive, walk long distances, etc. But, I'm glad that I carry with me now the lessons learned from the past. The strength gained from all the trials I have gone through. The friendships forged through the years. Oh, I'm becoming sentimental. Is that a sign of aging? Ha ha.

The Day Before...

It's the day before D day (my 50th birthday).

My lunch at Zensho pushed through but only with my mom. My son had to report for work because his OIC got into a fight and he had to open the shop where he is branch manager. Anyway, it was food trip as always.

Took a short rest and was fetched early.

So we were early for our 3 pm meeting. It lasted about an hour. Discussed details of an FGD.
I'm supposed to prepare a discussion guide and screeners due Monday.

(It looks like a working birthday for me.)

Had merienda in Cubao. Ate dinuguan, lumpiang togue and tokwa't baboy and dalandan juice.
And my son might bring home pizza.

All I do is eat!

Doctors' Visit, Client Meetings

I saw my two doctors today. Bad news. Blood sugar is high. Hemoglobin is low. I was asked to go on a low-sugar diet and no chicharon and chichiria. Oh no! We were told to buy 10,000 units of Recormon for my hemoglobin.

I have two client meetings coming up. One is tomorrow at 3 pm to discuss the FGD which has just been approved. Yehey.

The other is next Tuesday, February 22, which was the one supposed to be held on my birthday. Looks like they really want me to be present in that meeting. Hhm.

I am still not through with the long report I am doing. Anyway, no rush.

I'm eager to eat at Zensho Restaurant tomorrow with my mom and my son. It's eat-all-you-can!

Happy Heart Day!

It's Valentine's day and I have no official "valentine". So what?

I made a booboo in FB. I wrote, "On Feb 18, I will be turning gold. It's great to be a century old!" A friend immediately corrected me so I had to write, "I stand corrected. It's great to be half a century old!"

Already, friends are greeting me.

But alas, on my birthday, I have a 2 pm Client meeting. Sure, I will have breakfast at Alex III. And some friends might come over for lunch. But it would have to be a quick lunch because I will be fetched at about 1 pm.

I revised a report today. Converted summary tables into diagrams. Thanks to Powerpoint, the task was relatively easy.

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Sssh. I have a surprise for mom. I asked my son to buy her a rose or three roses since its VD today. She keeps saying that she loves receiving flowers and that she misses the times when Kuya (my older brother) would give her roses on Valentine's Day. Hope she appreciates the gesture.

Report Done, Looking Forward...

I finished the "difficult" report due on Wednesday. Turned out not to be that hard after all. Hope Client will be happy with it.

There will be a get-together of my BSBA '82 batchmates on February 26. It will be held in the house of one of the more successful members of the class. (He heads a bank.) I am looking forward to the occasion.

My friend emailed to me the name of the site full of puns. It is www.somuchpun.com. Haha funny!

I'm tired but I think I shall work some more. Am I a workaholic?

Problem Solved!

For some weeks now, I have had a problem - how to put the t-test formula in my programmable calculator. Then, it occurred to me. Why not put the "memory clear" command somewhere at the end of the program?

My problem was solved just in time! I now am using my calculator to do significance testing.

A big project consisting of several products came in today. I was able to do three reports already (the shorter, simpler ones). I am working on one of the longer reports.

So, I am taking time off from the difficult project I was doing yesterday since the additional tables I need will be given to me tomorrow.

Busy, busy. I love it when I'm busy. I love it when I have free time. I love life!

A Meeting, Dinner with Friends, and Work

Yesterday, I had a meeting with a new client. It lasted almost an hour. I'm being tasked to write a sample report. When I saw the data, it is indeed, not easy. Hope I will be able to do a good job.

Last night, I had dinner with friends at Little Asia in Tomas Morato. We had spring rolls, crispy fried chicken, combination chow mien, ebi tempura, and lengua in white sauce. Our balikbayan friend paid the bill.

Then, we had tea/drinks in a nearby coffee shop.

These friends are from the scriptwriting workshop of Mr. Nestor Torre way back in 1997. Long-lasting friendships are to be cherished!

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Oh boy, the report I am being asked to do is quite difficult. I really hope I will be able to deliver.

Early Morning Post

It's only past 4 am and already I am blogging. Well, basically because I want to go bragging. He he.

Yesterday, I was able to finish my write-up on Mr. Nestor U. Torre and my learnings from him as my mentor. It was about 3 pages plus a few lines on page 4.

And early this morning, I woke up to write a report for my regular client. It was a short one. Just about 18 slides. So I'm done with it.

Now, time to go back to sleep. I might take a snack first.

Boy, Am I a Fast Worker

Pardon the self-adulation, but I'm pretty proud of myself today.

I was able to finish three tasks:

...a report

...a proposal for an FGD (focus group discussion)

...a questionnaire for a UAI (usage, attitude and image study)

Now, I am ready to write my article on NUT (Mr. Nestor Torre) and what I learned from him. Hmm, time to boast, time to be humble, but most of all, time to give thanks for all he has done for us, his students.

When It Rains...

...it pours!

I was able to finish my report on time. I'm working on the other one and will surely finish by tomorrow.

Up and coming are:

...another project from the same client. I'm supposed to do the questionnaire already so it's a sure thing.

...two projects from a recent client. Almost certain as well.

...three projects from my regular client. Also 100% to be passed on to me.

That's six projects already.

And on Wednesday, I have a client meeting. Don't know yet if we will be discussing projects already.

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It's my birthday month and already I have several "dates":

...on February 17, my mom, son and myself will eat at Kamayan (eat all you can) along EDSA because Thursday is my son's day-off.

...on February 18 (my birthday), a family friend will treat me and my mom to breakfast at Alex III.

...Three client-friends have agreed to treat me out.

And I haven't texted some friends yet to tell them I will be turning 50 this February. Ha ha. Not many people can get away with the way I "co-erce" people.

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I'm being asked to come up with a write-up on my learnings on the mentoring of Mr. Nestor Torre. It's a good thing the deadline is next week. Plenty of time to write a good essay. It's the least I could do for all NUT has done for me as a writer.

Work Mixed With Pleasure

I was so tired yesterday, I started working after my afternoon nap. Nevertheless, I was able to cover much ground such that I am already in my last section prior to the Conclusions and Recommendations.

After this project, client said there's another one coming up. I'm supposed to do the questionnaire already.

So, tomorrow, I shall have finished one report. The other one, I will submit on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest.

I was pleased to see my balikbayan friend today. He dropped by to get the book that I forgot to give him last time we saw each other. We were able to chat some more. He might be back end of this year or some time next year. Yehey.

Ohhh, How My Back Aches!

I've been working on my report for hours for days already. How my back aches!

The good news is that I'm about halfway done in one report. The bad news is I have another report due also on Monday. I might ask for an extension.

On Wednesday, I have an important client meeting. Hope it goes well.

My friend texted me a while ago. She was inviting me for dinner. Too bad. Wrong timing.

Presentation Time, Another Report

I woke up early so as not to be late for my 8 am presentation. But my friend was late in fetching me. She came all the way from Taguig and got caught in traffic. It was also rush hour going to Makati. So we were more than an hour late (we felt so ashamed and apologized to the Client who was there at 7:30 am!)

It's a good thing the presentation went well. I wasn't nervous at all even in the beginning.

The clients were very receptive to the information being presented. The presentation ended 10:20 am.

We have a new project with them - this time, an FGD (focus group discussion) consisting of four groups. Praise God!

My friend then treated me to lunch. We ate at Binalutan - I had inihaw na baboy. I wanted dessert so I ate halo-halo at Razon's. My friend also bought me chicharon which turned out spicy (I shared some to the taxi driver). I was given money for taxi fare.

Mom ate some chicharon.

We both took our afternoon nap.

I resumed working on my other report which is due Monday. So, I shall concentrate on report-writing for the next few days.

I was supposed to give my book to my Balikbayan friend yesterday but I forgot. Hope he finds time to get it from me so I'll see him one last time before he gets back to the US.

Starting the Month Right

It's only February 1 and already, everything felt right today.

I was able to revise my report due for presentation tomorrow...just in time.

I went out with my balikbayan friend who is an avid reader of this blog. (That means I have to weigh my words carefully now.)

We first went to Serye in Quezon Memorial Circle. Nice place. Great food. Since we stayed for several hours we ordered a lot - pork barbecue, grilled salmon, lumpiang ubod, turon, sans rival, calamansi juice, Coke Zero, coffee and chocolate iced frappe. (We bought apple pie for my mom, too.) But too bad they didn't have their specialty - boneless crispy pata.

My friend tried to help me with my problem regarding my programmable calculator but alas, he couldn't figure out what's wrong either.

We were lucky enough to get a cab right away and we went to Bagoong Club.

The monggo with bulalo tasted good but I didn't like the binagoongan (I must have ordered something else before).

All the while we were together, we talked about a lot of things: family, work, health, finances, politics, economy, heaven, dreams, my blog, etc. etc. It seems there was so much to say to a friend who has been away for many years although we do correspond by email from time to time.

Thanks for a great time, friend!