weekend recap

This weekend started either early or late for me, depending on how you look at it. My family thinks it started early because I went out of town on Thursday morning. It's not what you think though. It's not for fun. I went to Antipolo for work (haha, is Antipolo even considered out of town? It did to me.. It was just soooooo far!!). We had our team-building there for all managers in my division. The thing was supposed to be until Saturday morning, but I managed to get myself out of there legitimately on Friday mid-afternoon.

Anyway, even if I didn't get to finish the entire session, I believe it went really well. For the ff reasons:

1. It made me get to know better the ones I already kinda knew and always admired. I loved the first break-out session we had, because I was grouped with people I've always admired and always wanted to know more about. True enough, the discussion covered so many things, from work to personal to family to interpersonal relationships that it gave me a whole new look into the lives of my officemates. I truly felt honored to be in their midst-- all of these people went through a much tougher childhood and life than me and survived so much. In comparison, I felt like such a pampered, naive little child who only knows the tip of the iceberg when it comes to surviving and triumphing past life's worst blows. It also gave me a lot of realizations and lessons on the things that are truly important.

2. It affirmed certain suspicions I had about some people and their motivations. It also gave me a look into the psyche of certain people and why they behave the way they do.

3. It taught me so much about trust, about good faith, and about what "quality people" really are. It pointed out to me just how much fakeness there is in this world, and in contrast, the people who remain pure and true to themselves and their pure intentions must always be appreciated.

4. No matter what the company, at the end of the day, you work for a boss. And I'm so mega grateful to have such a wonderful boss.

5. No matter what our differences about work style may be, my teammates are just some of the safest, best people to work with. I'm so grateful to be surrounded by people I can trust... people who have more dignity and integrity in the hairs on their heads than some people have in their bodies.

6. Its in moments of crisis when one lets his or her true colors come out. And some people's true colors are about as bad as colors can ever be.

7. For all its faults, this company does make it worthwhile for you to stay. If you don't need its rewards, then well and good. But I doubt one can find it so easy to just let "it" go and not miss it :P

So there was my teambuilding. After coming home from Antipolo, Dennis picked me up on Saturday for Karen's despedida de soltera. I've never been to one til that day, so it was refreshing to see what went on in such an occasion. Karen was radiant and beautiful in her Joji Lloren pink gown. I was so happy to see her so happy.

Today was family day, where apart from spending time with my family and Dennis, I also spent a ton of money. Hahaha! Not that those two things necessarily follow, but I just couldn't pass up a good deal when I see it. I bought myself a designer leather bag, with the justification that it was secondhand and therefore at a good good good price. I also told myself that since it's leather, it's bound to last long and really, for the price, what else is there to consider? Dennis was right beside me as I went through this internal debate. He just looked at me strangely and said, "well, if you like it, get it. That's how simple it is, if you ask me!" Haha, my darling boyfriend, if I followed that rule everytime I saw something I liked, I'd probably be starving from sheer poverty now. :) Hehehe. Still, it's so cute to hear something so simplistic :p

Today was also when I got two super cute summer dresses made by Dennis' mom especially for me. I loved how cute they are and the care that went into making them. For all their faults, this family of his has always made me feel welcome and special.

Oh, and we also watched No Reservations today too, which is your typical chick-flick except the little girl is just sooo adorable. You gotta hand it to Dennis-- it's not usual to have a guy who doesn't mind catching chick flicks with ya. :p

So that was my weekend. Very fun, very interesting and very expensive ;p Hehehe.. It's bound to get more expensive though, as there's something really big I plan to buy on Wednesday evening... Hay, will this cycle of purchase ever end?! (That's a rhetorical question..)

back!

I'm back! Finally, the series of back-to-back overseas trips have ended. As much fun as the trips have been (and they're super fun, especially this last trip to China where my family bonded like there's no tomorrow! Hehehe!), I must admit I feel really tired. I really need a massage, after all the walking and the not-sleeping-enough we did in our trips.

The China trip was great, as usual. We went first on our pilgrimage to the temple that's about 2 hours away from the city. We also went on a side trip to my lolo's old hometown, where he was born and where he spent the first few years of his life. My dad was especially wistful in this trip, I don't know why, but he kept bringing up old stories about my lolo and kept saying just how happy my lolo's soul must be just knowing that his grandchildren were stepping on the very same ground that he once did. Awww... I just knew how much my dad appreciated that the three of us agree to go on this trip year after year, no matter what our schedules were like and no matter how tiring and taxing the trip gets. He even made a comment that such trips may even include Dennis in the future. Hehehe :)

My gosh, it's almost October! (what an abrupt change in topic, hahaha!) I can't believe how fast this year has gone. It all just went by in a blur. I can hardly remember things that happened in Q1, Q2, Q3... Hehehe. Also, since October is almost here, so is my birthday. And then in just a few short weeks, the Madrid trip. Then finally Christmas! I'm so excited. This year has been sooooo good to me. I really love 2007.

off to china!

Going on our annual family pilgrimage to China! Wish us luck :)

grrrr...

I really really hate stupid, slow people. People who just ask for answers instead of taking time to think about their questions first to see if they can arrive at the answer themselves or realize that their question is plain dumb and doesn't deserve the light of day.

I also hate really slow people who need to be told a simple thing over and over for them to get it through their thick skulls. Some of these people are actually nice and don't mean to be slow, but still... Just because you're a good person doesn't mean that I have the patience to say something about 4 or 5 times to you just for you to understand it. Sorry, but stupid, nice people are still stupid.

GRRRRR!!!!

Hay, all the stress yesterday and today just erased all the relaxation I achieved in HK. Hay....

HK!

Off to HK tomorrow! Goodbye, work. Hello, family time, lots of dimsum and hopefully a bit of shopping! :)

it's here!

Tadaaaa! My brand new, almost free car is here!

I've never had a gwapo car before.. Scrap that, I've never bought a car before. So, I must say, it feels so damn good :P

current obsessions

1. Avenue Q


Can't wait to catch the Philippine staging of Avenue Q on Friday. I watched this in NYC with my good friend Karen and we loooved it! It's such a happy play and everyone who ever went through college will be able to relate with all its messages. I even bought the soundtrack in NYC and I listen to it every so often especially when I need a pick-me-up. Go watch it! You won't regret it.

2. Brothers and Sisters

Thanks to Guia, I got acquainted with the new series Brothers and Sisters, and I'm sooo obsessed with it now. Bought the 1st season DVD and I've been watching it til the wee hours every night ever since. Love it! Go watch it! You'll love it too! :)

OK enough plugging. Back to work :P

milan or madrid....

This company and this job has certainly spoiled me to bits, sending me to different places in the world for absolutely free (in fact, with pay pa if you count the per diem) Just heard that the next destination will either be Milan or Madrid.

OH MY GOSH! Lord, please make it come true! Please make everything fall into place so I can set foot in either one of those countries for FREE! Please!!!

:-)