Early Weekend

The last one was, that is.

Around 10am I heard a fire truck siren. It seems so close yet I am not aware of the fact that it was actually outside our office. Then my co-workers were rushing to the window to have a look and only then I realised what was happening.

The power pole where our power in office is connected was smouldering. There was only a few centimetres left on the top that connects to the bar where the power lines are attached. It looked like termites had been gnawing at it. A few minutes later, we were advised to vacate the building. I only grabbed my personal gears and left my machine on. We waited across the street but eventually were advised to leave for the day.

It’s funny that once loss is our gain. Yeah, our company lost valuable time that we could have been working – alas I left my machine, I could have worked from home. So, it was an early weekend for me.

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What the World is up to

...when I was born?

Tagged by Leah.

In 1977 (the year you were born)

Jimmy Carter becomes president of the US Most of the 10,000 Vietnam War draft evaders are pardoned by President Carter Singer Anita Bryant starts her "Save Our Children" crusade against gay rights Elvis Presley dies in his Graceland bathroom Congress creates a Department of Energy Anwar Sadat flies to Jerusalem in a dramatic gesture of willingness to discuss peace Orlando Bloom, Shakira, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Liv Tyler, and Ludacris are born New York Yankees win the World Series Oakland Raiders win Superbowl XI Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup Swedish music group ABBA passes The Beatles as having most records sold Star Wars is the top grossing film The Shining by Stephen King is published "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone spends the most time at the top of the US charts Three's Company premieres

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

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Just Ranting

Travelling by train everyday gives me so much insight about people. I commute with almost the same person almost everyday. We waited at the station to get onto the same car; the same people get on and off the train in the same station. It’s like knowing their schedule without even talking to them.

There are some people who are courteous and real gentlemen. There are also daft and jerk.

Yesterday, I was so pissed off. There were lots of people standing up while there was a vacant seat next to the wall. I was standing up but I didn’t pushed to seat to the vacant seat because I don’t want to disturb those who are sitting to get up and let me through (and because they look like they need NV diet pills to let somebody like me in). Why can’t they just move to the vacant seat and let somebody sit where they were sitting? Then, someone who was sitting got off, and what did the person sitting next to her did? Move to her sit and vacate the one that’s close to the wall. Didn’t even offer to somebody if they want to take the seat. Grrr...

I told Mcj about it and he said, common decency and courtesy is apparently not common these days. My experiences really prompted me/us to inculcate to Jens good manners and right conduct and start at an early age.

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Something We Both Love

One of our clients is a hardware/warehouse/timber dealer/etc. Every time I visit there, I always get amazed with the different sorts of bathroom products (some might be Delta faucets) available in the market. Why you think, I particularly notice the bathroom products? Because it’s within the isle where we always dilly dally to kill sometime until our meeting. I’m always fascinated with home furnishings anyway.

These past couple of weekends, we’ve been spending sometime in one of the biggest hardwares close to our home. It’s so easy to get lost. The isles are huge, the stocks are almost innumerable.

I thought before, I won’t be interested in shopping for timber, tools, etc. But I was wrong. With the vast choices available, it’s so much fun thinking which one is better than the other. A sales attendant’s advice is always necessary and sought for. And Mcj, I reckon loves shopping for these stuffs. At least, we agree in this department.

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Working Mum

That’s me. I have been an absentee in the blog world for quite sometime now. Why? I’ve joined the Aussie workforce three months ago. And so far, so good – both in the home front and my career.

I’m now a newbie in the IT consulting industry (though there are more logistics jobs). The job description is closely similar to my previous job in RP but the system is completely different.

My going out to work is a big change for our family. It is a great leap from being a stay-at-home Mum that I used to be. It means missing Jens.

It is one of the biggest decisions we’ve made. And it was made not just on the financial factors. We reckoned, it will also be good for Jens as he won’t be that dependent on us and make him sociable. True enough! It only took a couple of weeks or so for him to settle down in day care and now he is enjoying it. He’d grown so quick, I reckon, and knows so many things now. He’d made friends – with the other kids and the staff as well. I’ve been told by several staffs that he is very clever – mimics their every move and smiles and waves to everybody.

He was assigned to a baby room when we enrolled him and after a couple of months, he was transferred to the toddler room. And just that, made me cry. Yeah, because he’s no longer a baby. Even I can attest to that. Well, didn’t we all want our kids to grow up quick?

I know I am missing a lot in Jens’ growing up years but I’m striking while the iron is hot. We want to retire sooner rather than later.

We are all so looking forward to evenings and weekends. Catching up time, cuddle time, play time and most especially Jens showing off what he learned in “school” – there is always something new almost everyday.

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Filipino Fix

Most of us, Pinoys who lives overseas long for Pinoy food or any products. And finding an asian shop that sells Pinoy foods is definitely a cure for homesickness.

I am momentarily cured. I work just a few blocks away from an Asian shop that sells primarily of Pinoy food. The owner is a Filipino. I had my fix today.

What I really miss from all these? Corned beef.

There are more there – frozen kananin, frozen plantain banana, bar of detergents that I only found in RP, Filipino brand of shampoo and conditioner, etc (but haven’t seen a fat burner).

I’m just pissed though that I only found it out now that we are moving office on the 1st week of December. By then, I can’t just take a lunch break and go there. I have to make a special trip. Asar!

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Tennis Talk

I know I am bad. Even with the economic meltdown that the world is facing now, I still can’t help it to plan for something that needs a dip in the hip pocket. Notwithstanding the expenses that we might incur on our trip back to RP next year.

My ex-workmate back in the Philippines is a big fan of Roger Federer. She came back to RP from her holiday in the US with a sports magazine with Roger’s face on the cover. It was the first time that I heard of or read his name. The next year after that, I had a chance to see his game in the Australian Open – just in the tube. But right there and then, I like him. And the admiration grows as I came to hear and read news about his personality plus hearing praises of the commentators while he is playing. I found him very down to earth. My judgement may not be that sharp but I share the same opinion of him not just with my then officemate but also with my mother-in-law (who I reckon is very sharp). My high regard of RF runs deep as it is not only based on the superficial qualities, I don’t really find him so pleasing to the eyes and his tennis skills is somewhat below his par now, but also on his attitude. Mcj once said that he is successful mostly because of his attitude.

Okay, back to where I was, I just checked the tickets for the Australian Open next year. I’ve told myself that I should see Roger play live before he retires from tennis. But I think, next year AO is not the time yet. Going to Melbourne for just the AO would be lame, I want to go shopping and sight seeing as well. In short, it will not just be a trip that will be planned in the spur of a moment. It’s not like hiring New York movers to go Down Under. It should just be well-planned and long thought of.

So, I found a compromise – Brisbane International. The new tennis stadium in Brisbane, Tennyson, will be for the first time used for the Brisbane International tennis tour. It is an event just a week or so shy of the AO. I have doubts if Roger will be there as I haven’t seen him played even once in Hopman Cup in Perth for these past years – this event is also leading the AO. Yet, I would be happy just to see the other big names and faces of the tennis world. All we just need are to take the train to town and a couple of hundreds of bucks.

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