This is a sticky post from my longest running blogspot, which I also uploaded in my vox account. Hopefully by the end of the week I will be able to come up with a book review of Kate Mosse’s The Sepulchre. Anyhow, here’s one book review I have on one of Nicolas Spark’s novel written back in February 4, 2009.

The Choice

I made a resolution to start reading again and hopefully finish one each month for this year. It has been a long time, 2 years I guess, no make that 3, when I was very religious about reading books. When I became pregnant, I suddenly lost interest in reading books, and sometimes I wonder whether it has something to do with the fact that I gave birth to a boy. I know, it sounds silly but sometimes when you listen to what all the old folks are saying about pregnancy and the difference when you’re having a boy or a girl. Anyway, going back to reading, since I made this pact to go back and rekindle my love affair with reading, in the same way I’m rekindling my love affair with blogs, I decided its high time to finally read one of the books my husband gifted me with for my birthday back in 2007.

When I started reading this novel, somehow I recognized quite a few things that were put together in a novel I’ve read before. Places like Beaufort and South Carolina and the way the author described the laidback lifestyle of the people in the South (of U.S.). Then I realized I was reading a novel by Nicholas Sparks. This is not a review; I’ve yet to finish the book since I still have a number of chapters to finish. Although it could be said that Nicholas Spark’s novels are quite predictable – the plot, the setting and the life style of the characters, I found myself still drawn to this book. I found myself not minding reading past my bed time, promising myself that I’d just finish just one more chapter, only to say that again after I finish the current chapter I initially promised myself to be the last before catching up on some shut eye. While on the MRT earlier, where I was fortunate enough to get a seat during a rush hour, I hurriedly opened the book to where my book mark is and started reading. When I alighted from the train, I was trying to figure out what draws me to this book. And then I realized that it was how Mr. Sparks profiles his lead male character in the story. They’re the kind of men a woman would like to end up with – the kind that could engage a woman in a witty banter, who’d be interested in gazing at the stars on summer nights, who loves children and dogs, and most of all, the kind of man whose love is not dulled by the trivialities of the succeeding years, but is still as alive and exciting as the first days of falling in love – the kind that loves her woman more that her woman could ever reciprocate that love. And yes, that’s what makes me read his novels, knowing that a man wrote the book, means that a man could love that way.

It was a scorching Saturday afternoon and the hubby asked me to go with him at SM Marikina to purchase some things at the ACE Hardware. I said yes since he obliged to go to the wet and dry market prior to heading to the mall. It was rather unplanned. After almost three years of not watching anything in movie theaters, I all of a sudden thought of watching a movie to de-stress. We became so accustomed to downloading movies and watching right at the comfort of our own home in order to make good use of what we pay for our DSL, that we’ve totally abandoned our love for watching movies in the malls. On top of that we don’t have to put up with other movie goers who has a habit of talking out loud amongst themselves when watching a movie. But like what I said, last Saturday was different. I feel so stressed out in the office that I begged my husband to treat me to the movies.

We don’t have time to actually watch tv at home that I don’t know anything about the movies that are shown then. The most that I could do is to look at the movie posters and hope I get a good clue on whether it’s worth watching or not. So I chose one that my husband will get to enjoy too. He was rather surprised when I said I want to watch it because he was probably thinking I’d pick either The Proposal or The Time Traveller’s Wife. But remember I said I wanted to de-stress, and remembering those 2 people in the office that I so would like to blot out from the surface of the earth then and still now, I felt that watching the Joes take on their opponents will at least give me satisfaction, thinking that the cobras were Aling Mila and Nanette. Oh God sorry. I’m being mean.

So we went in early, so we could watch the trailers of upcoming movies. After several trailers, the movie finally started with a flashback. Ooops let me leave it at that, I don’t want to put spoilers in my blog for those of you who haven’t watched it yet, just in case there’s still some of you who haven’t. Anyway, after the flashback came the demonstration of what the Nanotechnology is all about and on to the signed business deal. After which came the fight scenes right away which kept me glued in to watching the story.

The Joes

The Joes rescued the 2 soldiers who survived the encounter with then “unknown enemies” during their attempt to recover the war heads.

The effects and the fight scenes are very impressive, considering the idea of having a gigantic safe house, base, factory, laboratory all rolled into one, in the arctic is rather futuristic and fascinating at the same time. Although with the advancement of technology, it is something that you cannot fully say far fetched.

Scarlet and the black actor (pardon me for being too lazy to google his name) make a pretty good couple in the movie. Scarlet is actually smoking hot and I’m sure a lot of guys out there would definitely agree. Over all, I would say it is a good movie, despite the rumors that the story has been changed. Nonetheless, I like the movie over all, it was a worth the money we paid for it and we will surely troop to the theater again if there will be a sequel to it!

Rest days or time away from work is too precious, that it seems to almost slip by unnoticed. I guess that has to account for the fact that I no longer enjoy what I’m doing and I definitely am not denying that. I would have drafted, printed and turned over my resignation letter in a heartbeat, had my husband stayed with the big C. I guess it’s his turn to rest now. In the mean time I’ll have to drag myself each and every working day to go to the office and put up with someone who has an alternate reality. I am tempted to go on in detailing the animosity and mental wellness of the said persona but I decided not to. Not because I fear that the said imp will find out of this entry, but simply because I paid precious money for this domain and hosting package, and I don’t believe such a lowly creature deserves much more space.

Good night people!

Last Tuesday I brought along some clothes with me so I can sleep in the office instead of going back home since I do have a lot of things to do anyway. After finishing the tasks I have outlined for the day, I went ahead and got my back went down to the 2nd floor and took a shower in the shower room. Immediately after dressing and brushing my teeth, off I went to check out the sleep room in the third floor. No luck, already full despite the fact that it’s only 4pm. So I went up to the fourth floor instead and found a spot there. I could feel my headache going a notch higher already. Now the spot I found is right in the middle of 2 other girls. Unfortunately, both of them are snoring so all my attempts to sleep were apparently futile. It was already past 5pm when I finally decided to just go home. I rang my husband to check if he’s already on his way to the office and if he could find a way to pick me up and drive me home. He told me that he will get stuck in traffic and he wont make it in time for his 9pm shift. So we agreed that I’ll just take a cab.

Before going down to leave, I went back to the 3rd floor to go to the clinic. Sad thing is, they don’t have a medicine to give me to alleviate the pain. I have way too many allergies. I’m allergic to paracetamol, ibuprafen and mefanamic acid. Beat that! Anyway, I told the nurse on duty that half my head felt numb with tension pain and I actually feel nauseous.  I was told that if the pain will escalate I will just have to go to the hospital.

I have no intentions of following that since I have a high pain tolerance. That is proven by the fact that I have never been hospitalized my entire life, except of course at the time when I gave birth. So when I got out of the office, I prayed that I get a cab right away. God is indeed good, I hailed a cab once and the cabbie obliged. I told him that I’m going home somewhere in the east. Traffic was horrendous actually, and in between napping, sending SMS and talking to my husband on the phone, I get to check where we are already. Right when we were already past Green Valley Country Club, I felt the pain getting worse. I guess the traffic exacerbated things. Right then and there, I called hubby and told him that I will just ask the cabbie to bring me to the Medical City’s emergency room.

When I got there, hubby was already there. The nurses and doctors were all polite and I was given immediate attention. I was later on asked to lie down on a bed and was asked to gulp several medicines. I was napping in between talking to my husband and the doctors. Good thing that it’s not anything related to the brain as per the neurologist, was just diagnosed with vascular headache. I was prescribed a number of medicines and later on I was happy to be sent home. Drugged and happy, doesn’t sound right eh? We got home almost 10pm and as an evidence that I’m too drugged, I woke up at 10am the following morning, I ate, slept again and then I woke up at 2am the next morning. How’s that for a rest? hehe

Oh well, I’m just really grateful that that was the only thing. I’m praying that it’ll be the last time I get to go to a hospital’s emergency room.

the little clock watcher

Some time last week, our house helpers told me that my little boy learned something new. I could not comprehend how he learned it and am completely amazed when I was told about it, more so when I actually caught him in the act of doing it.

I’m sure the title of my post gave it away anyway. Let me just explain it further. Over the last couple of weeks, I was given quite an odd shift – 4am – 1pm. Because of the distance between our house and where my office is located, add to that the fact that I have to take several mode of transportation to get home, I normally get home at 3pm or past 3pm, well, mostly past 3pm to be more specific. When I get home, my routine is to do my daily ablutions prior to kissing the little boy, of course I want to make sure I’m squeaky clean before I embrace my son. After which, we – me, my son and the 2 helpers would normally go out, either for a walk or to get something in the wet and dry market.  This is how I spend my quality time with my son, doing what he loves best – going out of the house.

Going back, my helpers told me that he’s learned to watch the clock especially when it’s about to turn three in the afternoon. He was doing that for a number of days until they figured out that he was checking the time because  he knows mommy’s about to arrive from work and then of course, his favorite time of the day will come – the time he gets to go out and ride a tricycle. He still talks gibberish and sometimes he can actually utter a few words, but well, I’m not in a hurry anyway since it’s pretty normal for little boys to talk much later than girls of the same age. At the same time, I know that he’s progressing well, taking into account all the things he’s starting to do – clock watching for one!

Well, I certainly hope you guys had a great and blessed Sunday!

cluttered desk

Tomorrow I will have seven (7) new agents added to my current team of four (4). Quite manageable you’d say. Perhaps I would agree with that given my circumstances four years ago, meaning – single, without child and without so much bills. Today, I’m going through the motions as if I was walking down this path for the very first time.

I work for the BPO industry, specifically in a contact center, where the company generates revenue from having a pool of phone representatives answer to client’s customer calls day in and day out.

I am actually wondering how come I feel quite inadequate to be handling a team all over again, to think that I was able to manage a team of 40 agents for 11 months in the past. I guess things had to change at one point. In my walk with God, I know that God has had to humble me and is still trying to humble me in a lot of areas in my life and one of that is at work. I used to be very cocky, thinking that I have all the answers and that I am good due to the fact that I was able to inspire a lot of my subordinates to reach greater heights. But looking back now, I would say that it just always because the Lord is saving me each and every time.

I am anticipating that the coming days will be so much challenging and to some point stressful, but I trust that the Lord will be there for me each and every time.

***photo taken from  the internet