Am I Back?

Shucks, this is awkward. I feel it has been ages since I last wrote anything on this blog. I checked the last post, it was in April. Seven months. It's been like years.

Rusty and melodramatic, I know. But I just feel emotional writing again. I'm having mixed emotions as I write these words. Not sure if I should be happy I'm back at it or sad because I feel like I lost my touch, my flair.

I still could not figure out why I stopped writing. I remember I had several drafts done but none of which I published. Sadly, I'm not sure if I'd still want to do so. What I know is a part of me is a writer, and a part of me is saying I should just keep it to myself.

Perhaps, this is a start... breaking in, I suppose...

Catching Up!

It was almost the end of January when I started writing this, and now it's already the second week of the second calendar month! A lot have happened along the way. As in A LOT have HAPPENED and I'm catching my breath.

For one, business is generally good. My new partners have been very happy with our sales. We just need to dispose whatever products are left so our projected revenues may be reached. Nah! Not a tall order but just a personal goal to have all our items sold. On the other hand, one of my businesses is on the "50-50" side. Still ironing things out and hopefully everything will turn out well, SOON...

Family-wise, I couldn't ask for more. All is GOOD. My Love Nald is forever supporting me in every way he can. Our daughter has done well in school last term and we're continuously working with her. Mom has been feeling better, void of new ailments, rid some of her old ones.

Anyway, I'm working on the following to be finished soon:

• Second article for HerWord of Business World Online (see an update below)
• Review articles for: ANTM Cycle 10 and 11, The Celebrity Apprentice, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Unit Season 4, Slumdog Millionaire
• A thesis project on an IT-related business

Of course, add to this my daily routine, work, and house stuff. To relieve stress, I indulge my PSP addiction. Since I got hold of our PSP Slim, I've finished the following games:

• Brave Story: Nice plot, great fight scenes
  
• Scooby Doo Who's Watching Who?: Super easy, but very entertaining
  
• Diner Dash: Challenging! There are some parts which I need to improve on, tee-hee!
  
• Virtual Tennis: What can I say, I'm number 1!
  
• Fight NIght: Again, I'm a grand slam winner!
  

I'm currently playing Neopets Pet Adventure, Wall-E, and B-Boy. Reviews will be shared soon.

Just late last week, I got word from Melody, HerWord.com's web mistress, that my second article contribution is up! Read it here. Or just read on below:

Embracing my child-like ways
Published on http://www.HerWord.com (owned and operated by the BusinessWorld Corporation)
February 6, 2009

I’ve been listening to the Twilight soundtrack for more than two months now. Day in and day out, whenever I am in front of my laptop, I automatically play the movie’s OST. It’s part of my routine already. I don’t mind listening to it more than eight hours a day. Even my ring tone assigned to my hubby’s call is Twilight’s Supermassive Black Hole by Muse. I’ve been freaking out about Twilight, Stephenie Meyer, Bella, and, of course, Edward Cullen. I guess I’ve also been smitten… and bitten (and not minding it at all)… by the Twilight phenomena.

I’m turning 35 in March and because of this obsession, I’ve realized how not-so 30-ish I’ve been acting. I’ve read all of Stephenie Meyer’s books (including Meyer’s Midnight Sundraft) in less than a week, in spite of the fever and flu I had before Christmas. Part of my morning habit is to research and browse through almost all of the most popular Twilight sites in the internet. I practically am all over Edward Cullen everyday. I’ve also changed my blog site’s layout to make it darker, more mysterious, more Twilight-er. In a few months or years, I may end up laughing at how silly I am about it.

I wonder why a lot of people do not act their age. Perhaps all of us would be mature, and logical, and boring if this would happen. Case in point, my hubby has not lost his child-like self in him—he plays and watches a lot of basketball and other shows with “balls,” he also likes toys like RC cars, pocket bikes, and PSPs, he often finds something funny in any situation.

He’s like a 10-year old boy but I love him nevertheless, and I wouldn’t trade him for anyone else, not even Edward Cullen!

In Brad Pitt’s latest movie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, it was a different take on ageing or should I say "dis-aging." What the movie was trying to say was, one must act his age. Take things in stride, enjoy the moments with our loved ones, and accept people for what they are. I believe that in a way we always keep the child-like (positive) or childishness (negative) in ALL of us. And it’s something that we can’t do away with, whether we like it or not. It helps keep ourselves grounded and realistic.

In many instances in my life, after stressful situations, I find myself goofing around or if I’m too irate to do so, someone or something makes me. And I find it a relief. Soon after a bout of laughter with co-workers or my family, I’m ready for life’s battles again.

This leads me to how I interact and rear my eight-year old daughter. My hubby said that this year moving forward, his request is for me to be more patient with our child. Yes, I’m guilty. I find it so challenging to bring up our daughter. I must admit, I’m not so fond of kids. Unlike most of my friends who find their chatter music to their ears, I’m not amused. Not until I gave birth to my daughter. Sure I have not been changed 100 per cent, but I’m getting there.

I would probably credit this somehow to how I was raised. I grew up with not so many kids around. My brother is eight years my senior and I have always been a sickly child. My cousins, and there are not many of them my age, lived no where near our place. I’ve always been kept indoors because of my primary complex, asthma, and heart murmur.

My vivid memories of my childhood contemporaries are not so pleasant. They’ve often labeled me negatively and they didn’t want to play with me because they thought I or my family was not at their "level." Talk about discrimination among six-year olds. Thus I succumbed to being alone, playing alone, and appreciating that in the process. This went on for years. When I went to school, I was also a favorite bully target. Funny that when my daughter would ask me if I had a best friend way back, I couldn’t name anyone. That is because I didn’t have one. I was more at peace being by myself.

Sure I had friends when I was growing up, but I couldn’t enumerate names of those I’d consider as individuals I grew up with. This changed in so many ways when I started working, I realized that I had to do something about it. I reached out and had close friends. I found it wonderful and it opened my eyes to appreciating how it is to be child-like and enjoy it.

Again, I have a lot of blessings to be thankful for, like my hubby—he is my greatest adviser and most of all my best friend. My daughter—for accepting me for what I am, even if it means keeping up with me, my crankiness, and my funkiness. Because of them, I’m becoming a better person. They continue to show and let me feel unconditional love, they’ve accepted me for who I am, my child-like ways, my being.

Best of 2008: The Year That Was

There are many blessings, challenges, opportunities, things, situations, and individuals I'm very thankful for in 2008. And I'm taking this time out to let the world know how colorful the year that was for me.

First, I'd like to thank the beautiful people who've helped, gave inspiration, unconditionally loved, critiqued, and disliked me for they've made me a better person:

• My Love Nald, my forever confidante, best friend, adviser, my rock. I love you so much for accepting and keeping with all my quirks!
• My Daughter Aleks who is one little feisty, funny, smart, curious, and lovable kid. You keep me grounded. Love you forever, Naneng!
• My Mom, my inspiration. I dedicate my being to you who've given me life. I will forever me indebted to you, Mommy. I love you!
• Nanay and Juday, thanks for taking GREAT care of us.
• Our dogs Bugsy (our THEN 8-year old Rottweiler) and King (our NOW 7-month old Bullmastiff), you make life extra especial.
• For my very few AND very good REAL friends: OO, Quellay, Jae, Krissy, Heather, Dimples, and Alexish for the especial moments and care we've shared and continue to do so in many more years!
• My Business Partners: Lea B., Tessa L., Pam O., Grace V., Kat L., Jae L., and Gabby DS.. We're a team and our success is unstoppable!
• Other business suppliers I've dealt with: Lea O., Rona E. for trusting me with your businesses.
• My AGSB groups, professors, and classmates for all the learning you've shared.
• The many people I've met in my line of work who've also shown me what it takes to be more successful.
• My The DROPShop Online clients who bought my products. Thanks for all the trust and loyalty. =)
• My hecklers (you know who you are) for all the challenges and opportunities you've opened for me and the realizations I've had. Without you, life won't be so exciting!
  

Second, I'm also very much blessed to have accomplished all these and more:

• 2-bedroom condominium unit purchase at the East of Galleria in Ortigas, Pasig City " Four finished subjects in The Ateneo Graduate School of Business (Seven more to go and can't wait to enroll for the next term!)
• Successful IELTS Review and IELTS Exam (c/o Quellay E.) where I got a score of 7.5 (the highest score is 9)
• The DROPShop online launch (through Multiply): revamped and upgraded my site to Premium status
• The DROPShop online domain registration " Expanded The DROPShop clientele base to more than 150 people to-date
• First published article in HerWord, an internet gazette managed by Business World Online
• First public talk at the First Nursing Expo at the SM Megamall, again through my great friend, Quellay
• Second public talk at the Belle de Jour exclusive gathering in Rustans, Makati
• Travel journeys for work to Cebu three times and in Bacolod once
• Big sale of an Iloilo franchise (though not yet signed) at the office
• And the ICING on my cake: Purchases of the following: SAMSUNG smart phone, MAC 13-inch 2nd Gen laptop, LG KP500 Cookie touch phone, lots of clothes, bags, shoes, accessories, food, and what-have-you's
  

Lastly, what I am very much thankful for to my old man up there are not just all these things he provided me but MOST ESPECIALLY the small and often times ignored BLESSINGS that happen everyday:

• Waking up in the morning and knowing I'm still alive
• Our family's daily morning bonding routine - eating breakfast together, riding together and listening and singing to music on our way to the office and school
• The convenience of having my office located in the back of my daughter's school, so I get to bring and pick her up everyday
• The flexibility of my job to accommodate my school and personal schedules
• The comforts of our small yet very cozy home
• Being able to eat and drink any food I want
• Having the many talents and skills to do many things such as write articles, sell products, speak in front of many people, laugh at my mistakes and boo-boos, make people happy...

Overall, 2008 was very good in spite what others may say if they start talking about recession, economy, politics, and all other *rap. Sure I have a say on those things, too. But for now, there are just so many things to be grateful about. Period.

March Arch: Madness

Third month of the year...

I turned 34 this March. I celebrated it intimately with my family - My Love, My Princess, and our Nanay. It was good timing because it was the Holy Week before my birthday so I took a much needed rest for six full days. Ah, how wonderful to be away from the corporate jungle. Not to mention the dinosaurs, dementors, and what-have-you's on the side out of sight! LOL! Seriously, I used the time to reflect on what I want to do next with my career. And I guess the answers are slowly showin' itself. Maybe in the next few days it will fully manifest and I'm positively hopeful.

I'm not exactly sure if you would call it mid-life crisis but there's this longing for wanting to be whole and not getting it from where or what I feel I should be getting it from somehow frustrates me. I don't know, I have been feeling sluggish, perhaps distracted, that I can't focus on the usual things I used to be so passionate about. I guess this is because things aren’t meant to happen. I know I'm sounding vague here. Oh well, I have other more important things to allot my energy on, so I guess I really need to move forward. 'Nuf said.

I have a lot to be thankful for. First of all, my very supportive, loving, and not-to-mention hunk-of-a-guy hubby, Nald.

Through the thick and thin of things (that includes me, tee-hee!), he's always beside me, guiding me along the way.

I'm not the easiest person to live with, I have my quirks, my radical ideals, and my innate stubbornness and I applaud Nald for taking it all in stride. I love you more, My love. I also thank My Princess daughter, Aleksis Rae, I have been discovering and learning a lot of things from her even if she's just seven. I'm not the perfect Mom to her but she loves me unconditionally, sigh! Mwah, mwah! And lastly, for being my ultimate inspiration and strength, I thank my Mom.

March was also a discovery month. I've learned that some people are not who they seem they are and through situations that happened in the past, I'm glad their true colors surfaced. That's why I cherish the friendship I have with the following: OO (the best professional mentor and sincerest friend), Quellay (first and closest friend I had since I got here in Manila), and The Lemonaders (Krissy, Heather, Dimples, and Alexish). I maintain only the fewest friends in my inner circle, but damn they're the best!

Another year of lease in life... I am determined to make things better -- guide My Princess in her course through learning and enjoying life; be a more caring and supportive wife and partner to My Love; reach out and spend time with my Mom and Dad (I feel so guilty about this...); discover my true passion & calling in my profession and pursue it; best of all, achieve to be whole -- spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically. I can't believe I said that, I sounded like a looney, LOL!

I received my Weekly Kabbalah Inspiration email the other day and part of the message was this:

“If there is pain and struggle in your life, then remind yourself of the picture puzzle. Remember the Light is there, perfect, and that you asked for the sweat on your brow simply so that you could feel the satisfaction of being a Creator. And know that whatever you are struggling with will have a positive result. It might take all week, all month, all year - or as long as your karmic process requires - but if you keep applying what you are learning, you will eventually see - in all its perfection - the picture that is your precious life.”

Well, what do you know! The guy upstairs has answered my question... very aptly, indeed.

The February Leap

Today marks the end of February. Not just the usual February with 28 days, it has an extra day because 2008 is a leap year! So-called 'leap' years occur every four years, as a way of getting the solar calendar to sync up with our numeric one. And perhaps this has got to do with the many things that happened this month.

My Retail Business: I'm happy that it has expanded in January and this month I felt ultra-high that I was able to tap some of my former co-workers to become my resellers I've also met new suppliers and friends whose products and services I'm endorsing.

IELTS Project: I've reviewed and tested for the IELTS (International English Assessment Testing System) and just this afternoon, I received my results ---- I got an Overall band score of 7.5 (highest score one may get is 9). I received an 8 in Listening and 7.5 across Reading, Writing, and Speaking. I know I may have done better, but heck I'm very proud of it, considering that I enrolled in a crash review course and took the exam the day after I completed it! I'm now working on the training program for IELTS review, a project my good friend offered me to do.
I'll be conducting it to IELTS reviewers soon!

Graduate School: Major hectic. My Managerial Accounting class final exams on the first week of February was tiring but fulfilling! I got a 3.5 final grade (95 to 97 or Superior), yipeeee!!! I'm now enrolled in Management Dynamics and my goal is to get a great grade as well. Running for a gold medal, tee-hee!!!

Health-Wise: I've lost a total of eight pounds already!!! Yes, yes, I'm gradually getting my groove back and it feels wonderful! 'Lotta sacrifice and discipline, oh yeah!

Overall, February had its highs and lows. The last two weeks has been particularly stressful --- my little princess got sick, work was major toxic, and I've been thinking of a lot of things about what to improve in my career, etc.

Oh well, life must go on! Looking forward to March, my birthday month!

January's Over and the Great Things are Just Beginning

Whew! It was like just a few weeks ago when everyone celebrated (or not) Christmas, then New Year... and now it's already the month of hearts (yeah, yeah, traditional association with February). Time flies so fast, indeed.

What happened in my life in January was definitely a blast. The guy upstairs has been ultra great to me and my family that I couldn't ask for more. First, I made a major investment last month. I bought a condo unit at EOG (East Of Galleria). I'd like it to be the first of many more good investments to make. Second, I've actively participated in the entrepreneur arena of Multiply and have also expanded my sales network not only in my office, my hubby's, but my previous offices as well. Lastly, I started on my goal to lose weight again! Thanks to Heather who introduced me to a South Beach Diet Food seller. They sell and deliver SBD (South Beach Diet), very yummy and convenient for me.

Apart from all these wonderful things, I also closed a project with one of my long time friends. It has got to do something with what I do best - training (but i guess my selling skills is fast becoming my number one competency!). Though I'm not actively doing it in the company I'm working for, it doesn't mean I couldn't do it outside (without conflicts, of course). My friend tapped me to be her industrial partner for her IELTS Review Center business. IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It measures ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication. It is basically what's required by all immigrants to countries like Canada, New Zealand, Australia, etc.

That's why February will continue to be very busy and happy for me - family, work, projects, business, and school.

I love it!

Me, Myself, and I

It took quite sometime for me to draft this, Rachelle’s blog was a constant reminder, so here it is, at last!

Lady in the Attic

That’s what my love Nald would often call me. Not that I’m anti-social, except that I consciously create my bubble in places I consider very private – like at home. I have my personal nook where I do all the stuff I like to do – read, write, surf the net, do my crafts, etc. And it is understood by everyone at home that when I’m at my corner, I couldn’t be disturbed. I am also not that sociable with neighbors, I choose to be that way because I find it weird that in order to be called “friendly” I’d have to knock my brains off just to think of topics for conversation or worse case is finding something in common, when obviously, there’s none. In addition to this, I often choose the occasions I attend – if I really do not know the people who’d be attending, I’d rather not go. I know, I know, it seems like it’s not the Miami perhaps my co-workers and friends know, but I’m telling you now that I’m like this, ha-ha!

Arty

That’s right, not “arte”, huh! I don’t know where I got this, but I’m thankful I have it in me, anyway! A few people know that I’m creative and I didn’t realize I had a special talent not until a friend of mine admired my sketch of my wedding venue several years ago. I guess, it was brought about by the fact that when I was a kid, I often played alone, thus apart from the toys I had, I made myself busy with what I could further do with pencils, crayons, and papers. I specially like sketching faces and nature. I also like small projects such as those “paper art craft” and “figurine painting” you see in malls – I have gazillions of them at home, some I’ve finished already, some I’ve stocked for future use. Lastly (I just discovered two to three years ago) I love sketching shoes and bags. This was further fueled when I took my Entrepreneurship subject in my MBA class. I’m now thinking if I could turn it into a lucrative business, tee-hee!

Brutally Frank

Since I was in my teens, I was often regarded by friends as such. At first, I reacted negatively towards it and forced myself not to be so, but I always ended up being the same. Until now, I still am “wicked”, but I’m not evil, LOL! I do not mince my words with anyone, no matter who the person is. But as I matured, I have tempered this trait of mine in a way. In the professional world, it’s a must; otherwise, I’d end up elsewhere! With my friends (very few and very true), I freely speak my mind. It’s my advocacy to help people know the truth, so no matter how hurtful it may be, I’d let one know what he needs to know.

Hilarious

I find delight in laughter and that’s why I share with people anecdotes or real-life situations that are outright funny or comical. I may not be the best person to tell you this, perchance my friends from way back and my circle now would attest to how humorous moments with me would be. I may be serious when I’m alone or when I’m at work (he-he), but when I’m surrounded by friends and family, I could pass for a stand-up comedian. Many of my friends have been volunteering to manage my so-called other career and they’ve been forcing me to join contests. I still have to muster my courage to do that, whoah!

Rebel Yell

Yes, I am often described as one. I am an advocate of justice – in any way. I rally for rights and I abhor “bad” people and their ways. Though at times, my idealistic views of anything put me in trouble, I relish in the fact that it opens people’s worlds of what is to be done, in a different way, the right way. In the past years, I’ve done a lot of things that other people may find radical, and I look back with a smile because I know that on one hand, I’ve paved the way for things / situations to improve. That for me is a wonderful achievement.

Pure Heart

I may be drastic, comical, and often thrive alone but I’m proud to say that my heart is untainted and I only wish for the best in everyone. Not only my family members and close friends say this. I’d often get this comment from people I’ve interacted with in the past and present. I help out whenever and in whatever way I can, whether it be for an individual or group of people, whether it’s for the improvement of the person, or as grandiose as helping a group of people. Whenever I do something, I make sure I do it with all my heart.

MAC Trivia:

• I love crabs, shrimps, pancit, and yang chow fried rice. I’d eat everything until there’s no more, ha-ha! This accounts for my constant “yo-yo” weight. I love food. Period.
• OC-OC to the max. I like things organized and clean. My workstation says it all.
• I love to read and write. Would you believe that I wrote my first book when I was in second year high school?!? Too bad, I gave my one and only copy to one of my friends. I wrote it using a classic and ever-reliable typewriter. I patterned it after the then famous “Sweet Valley High” and “Sweet Dreams” books. I haven’t written any book after that, though. Nor have I had any articles published. This blog is a start - to work on one of my life goals, which is to be a contributor to a magazine or a newspaper.
• Tech Savvy. I won’t claim I’m a wizard but I would often be able to troubleshoot simple PC issues, TV, DVD, and what-have-you’s at home and at the office. It complements my husband’s dislike for such stuff. He admits it’s not his competency, too!
• I swear by the following stuff and services: Body Shop’s Grapeseed Extract, Vitamin E Moisturizer, and Loose Powder (fair); Avon Glazewear Lipstick in Perfect Brown; French Tip by Nail Station in Robinsons Galleria; Haircut by Jonel of Jessie Mendez Robinsons Galleria; Diamond Peel, Body Scrub, and Swedish Massage by Glenda of Pamper People (home service, all for P800 only!).

There you go! These are the things I’m basically made of!

What My Name Means ...

Yes, yes... my name is Maria Lourdes... well, my real name, that is. My parents got it from my Grandma's. But well, what do you know... the name's full of spunk, LOL! What was mentioned in the 'thingamajig' are true, too...
har-har!

***What Maria Lourdes Means***

You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily.
You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way!

You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start.

You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light -hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is.

You are well rounded, with a complete perspective on life. You are solid and dependable. You are loyal, and people can count on you. At times, you can be a bit too serious. You tend to put too much pressure on yourself.

You are a very lucky person. Things just always seem to go your way. And because you're so lucky, you don't really have a lot of worries. You just hope for the best in life. You're sometimes a little guilty of being greedy.
Spread your luck around a little to people who need it.

You are balanced, orderly, and organized. You like your ducks in a row. You are powerful and competent, especially in the workplace. People can see you as stubborn and headstrong. You definitely have a dominant personality.

You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat.

Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together.

You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do.