This Week

This week, I went to the hospital twice, revised a questionnaire a number of times, revised a report a number of times, submitted two papers to WriterBay, etc.

So here are the specifics.

Last Monday, we "hired" a friend to assist me at the hospital. She pushed my wheelchair, paid bills, bought food (lots of it) and waited with me. I had a battery of lab tests and she got the results. While waiting in the canteen, an elderly woman chatted with us. She, too, is sick with several ailments. Nice lady.

In the chemo room, the secretary had a problem. She had to sell her new Acer Aspire One Netbook for P15,000 because her son owed that much money. He may be in danger if he did not pay up soon. So kind-hearted me, looked for buyers, but to no avail. I decided to buy it myself. But my mom scolded me and got mad when she found out. We are not rich enough to afford such luxuries. I was able to borrow from my niece to meet the deadline, then a client was willing to lend the money in advance of projects and workshops in the future.

Back to the hospital story, we waited for my doctor. My lab results were all good except that my calcium is high. He asked me to see my hematologist who true enough, said that the high calcium is due to my multiple myeloma. She prescribed an injectible medicine which turned out to be expensive. It was delivered the next day. I had to go back to be administered with the medicine on Wednesday.

Still last Monday, I gave the driver a tip for his whole day service. He was able to do three other errands while waiting for us.

We had a wonderful dinner of adobong buto-buto cooked by my sister's maid. How heavenly delicious!

Then, on Wednesday, mom, the driver and I went to the hospital again. Me, to have my medicine administered. My mom saw her two doctors, and even had an MRI. I enjoyed my lunch of chicken with sauce (how descriptive!).

But I had a bum stomach. When we were in Mercury Drugstore, I could not help it anymore I begged the manager if I could use their CR. So there I went, just in time! The next thing I said after "thank you" was "do you have a medicine stronger than Immodium?" ha ha.

My ongoing projects are an employee opinion survey (hopefully the excel file I finished this morning is the last of Client's requirements), an online survey (questionnaire stage), a usage and attitude study (awaiting data tables for analysis), and a concept and price test (also waiting for tabulation to finish). Pending are a translation job, an FGD which might be converted to a quantitative study, another FGD (2 groups) for which I was asked to analyze, a collation job, and a few more.

I was able to finish my paper on punctuation, and a review of "A Rose for Emily". Fun!

My son immediately found use for our new netbook. He brought it to the office today to post pictures of the store of which he is the new branch manager. (It is his fifth branch already.)
He was sick this morning and even threw up. Hyperacidity. Good thing mom had medicine around. He was able to go to work.

After finishing my two rush jobs this morning, my friend's driver picked me up. We went to a client to get a check and I encashed it right away. My friend gave me a cane and people were kind enough to give me their number and a seat. I haven't sat for long when my number was called.

When we reached home, I bought six pieces of kwek-kwek.

Great week! And it is not completely over. One of my brothers is coming to visit us this Sunday. Something to look forward to.

Downpour

Whew! I counted the projects that I have/will have this month and next and it numbered about ten! That's a wow!

That means two things: I will be extremely busy and (more importantly hehe) I will have a lot of money. We could save as much as we can, maybe splurge a little (eat at Cabalen perhaps), and/or ask our regular donors (family members) to stop giving money in the meantime. I leave the decision to my mom.

So today, I am supposed to revise a report, come up with a questionnaire or two, and prepare tab specs based on two questionnaires. Busy, busy...that's me.

Mom seems to be feeling better these days, after consulting her doctor and taking muscle relaxants and pain killers. But the pain recurs though not to the same degree as before.

My brother just had his gall bladder removed. His laparoscopy was a success. Thank God!

Life is great! And I have the Lord to thank plus all my loved ones and clients.

Most Creative Website!

I had the wonderful privilege of having seen and visited the most creative, fun, interesting, and informative website ever! [It was voted as the most innovative marketing research company.]But don't just take my word for it. Come and visit www.brainjuicer.com.

I took their creativity test, hoping I will be among the top 6% most creative people. Ha ha, how ambitious of me!

I also watched one of their webinars on creativity.

I was so excited I wrote to them, asking if I can work with them.

No harm in trying, right?
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I am quite busy these days. I have a number of projects -

...preparing powerpoint slides on a book

...revising two questionnaires

...editing/revising a website

...and I am about to work on an employee opinion study (both quantitative and qualitative).

I love working!
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I am reading a nice book entitled "Mitigating Circumstances". I am almost finished with it. Thank God for books!
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Tomorrow, a client-friend will come over after lunch. We will work on a project and she will give me some money. Yey.
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Life is good...nope, not just good, it's great!

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.