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!