Living it up

Two years ago when I started working, I had very big dreams for myself and for my family. We are not rich and somehow that motivated me to strive harder in life. It wasn't easy when I started. Actually, it's really not easy - up to now. But I'm coping. And I'm happy that I have found friends who are willing to help.

My goal was this: at 30, I would have bought my own Honda Civic (I really love this car!), bought either a house and/or condo unit and would have saved up for my early retirement (I really wouldn't like to work until I'm 50.) Seems impossible. But this has been my calling ever since 2004.

At first, you would think that it will take 20 or 30 or more years to be able to accomplish this. You'd be thinking of working abroad because that's the "easiest" way to achieve this. But my mentor offered me a different advice. After listening to him and watching him do it, I realized that there is an alternative solution to this.

I listened to him and as I have said, to other friends who were willing to help me also. Realizing that I can get to my goals gave me the driving force. Everything seems to be a breeze. But it didn't last that long. I've encountered failures. I got rejected many times. It wasn't easy as I have said. I have lost that driving force.

Aside from that, being young and impulsive, I wasn't really focusing on the long term. My goals were short term and middle term. But after two years, and after reaching most of these short and middle term goals, I have no choice but to look for the long term. Say, 10 years from now?

That's what makes me so excited right now. I'm back on track and ready to conquer new heights. I'm more focused and mature than two years ago. I think I am also more equipped mentally and emotionally to accept the challenges that will come my way. That's the spirit. And I believe, after 10 years (or probably even less than that), I would have made it. There's no more turning back.

Dark Blue Sky

It was a cold night. The dry leaves rustled as a gentle breeze passed by. The night was eerily silent except for some occasional howls of distant dogs or cry of a midnight bird.

It was a cold, dark night. There was no moon, only stars. Stars shining like cut diamonds polished a hundred, no a thousand times. Like cut diamonds shining against the dark blue sky. The dark blue sky made them shine brighter.

With both hands in my pocket, I looked at the sky. I tried to count the stars. Stupid, I know, but I couldn't think of anything else to do but to count them. And count them I did. Without success of course. As the wind blew, I shivered. Cold as hell, I muttered to myself. I was just in a cotton shirt and walking shorts.

I was at around 150 or 170 when the clouds blocked my view; I forgot what number I was at. The wind blew harder until there was nothing in the sky but the clouds.

I thought it was gonna rain. I hoped that it would but it didn't. I was ready to leave because there were no more stars to count. But I stayed a little longer.

Then another gust of the wind cleared the sky. There were the stars again. Shining like before. Like cut diamonds shining against the dark blue sky. I tried to count them again. With enthusiasm at first, but the enthusiasm waned. Once more I lost count. This time I turned my back.

I walked home with the stars shining behind me. Under the dark blue sky.

Alay as Sugatang Sundalo

(This is a piece written by one of the engineers from our company, who is also a nationalist and a passionate speaker. He delivered this in an event last July 22 honoring disabled Filipino soldiers and a tribute to Apolinario Mabini. For a change, it is in honor of the pawns in our military defense. They who sacrifice their lives for a thankless job and a thankless people. A look into the day to day reality that these people have to go through to, to protect and to serve. Somehow reminds me of Aquinos honor guards who were rightly commended)

Alay as Sugatang Sundalo

(Ni Engr. Pedro Antonio V. Javier bilang Apolinario Mabini)

Ang nais ng Katipunan nung ito’y buo pa,

ay di lang palayain ang bayan, mula as Kastila

Kundi baguhin din ang moralidad ng bawat Pilipino

Bilang paghanda pag kalaya’ay natamo,

Ang kapangyarihang makukuha ay magamit ng wasto

Subalit di pa man nakakamit ang kalayaay nagwatak na ang Pilipino.

Nung manalo si Aguinaldo laban kay Bonifacio,

Ang mga kurakot, mga kampi ng kastila,

mga matalino‘t subalit masasamang tao, ay naibalik as pwesto!

Kayat natalo man ang kastila, pero ang tunay na kalayaan, ay di parin natatamo

Ngunit, as kabila ng lahat, ang pinagtataka ko

May nakikita parin akong pag-asa as mga Pilipino

Ito’y dahil as mga mabubuting taong tulad nyo.

Ang taong tulad nyo, as kabila ng pagiging salat as yaman,

walang malalaking bahay, o magagarbong sasakyan

Ang iba’y di mapag-aral ang anak as pribadong paaralan

Nanaisin paring maglingkod bilang kawal ng bayan

Habang ang ibang ama’y nasa piling ng kanlang mahal as buhay

Tuwing Father’s day, Valentines o kaya’y Pasko

Kayo naman, ay narito, nasa foxhole o nasa campo

Nagmamasid baka may kalaban,

nagbabantay ng kapayapaan

Di man ito napapansin ng taong bayan.

Pagmay bagyo, lindol o anumang sakuna

Sa rescue operation kayo pangay kasama

Bakit, ang mahal nyo as buhay, di ba nasalanta?

Uunahin pa ang Bayan, kaysa sariling pamilya

Naalala nyo pa ba nung kayo’y tawagin

Report up for duty, dapat ngayon din!

Ika’y padadala as Mindanao at iba pang bulubundukin

Maraming kalaban ay iyong sasagupain

Iyong paalam, “Anak magpakabait ka

Lagi kang mag-aaral at sundin ang iyong ina”

Wika ng anak:Itay wag kanang umalis pawang awa mo na

Manood nalang tayo ng “Zoro” at “Tayong Dalawa”

(from here nag adlib ako: “Nanonood ba kayo ng “Tayong Dalawa”? Si Dave at saka si JR?” The audience smiled, “Buhay pa nga yung kapatid nila eh., sino nga ba yun?” Mayroong sumagot as mga sundalo, at sabi “Si Ramon!” (Uy updated sila ah… nanonood ng tele serye, he-he), the audience began to laugh including the Chief of Staff, but I have to cut & continue my speech….)

Dumating na ang Labanan, nagsimula na ang putukan

Isa, dalawa tatlo, patay ang kalaban

At biglang “BANG!”, ika’y tinamaan

Bumagsak as lupa, duguang katawan

Dyos ko, pamilya ko’y wag nyo sanang pabayaan

Sa labanan taya nyo ang inyong buhay

Paggawa ng tungkulin, isang pa’ay nasa hukay

Ilang beses man kayong masugatan.

Di nyo ito pinagsisisihan.

Babalik parin as labanan,

Manatili lang ang kalayaan.

Ang sundalong sugatan,

Umi-ibayo ang tapang!

Ang tanong ko, bakit nyo ito ginagawa

Wala namang kapalit na salapi?

Pagkat naniniwala ang mga taong tulad nyo

Na ang kabutihan ay di nabibili.

Ang mga nabanggit kanina ni Heneral Albano

na magandang bagay as aking pagkatao

Ay higit parian ang aking nakikita sa inyong mga puso

Kaya’t kinararangal ko….., KAYO!

Mabuhay ang Sugatang Sundalo!

Mabuhay ang Kawal Pilipino!

Chapters

I wrote this piece on my journal less than 2 years after graduation and been meaning to send this to the PDI's Youngblood section and later, the Peyups homepage. I never did for lack of an appropriate title and ending. Classic quarter-life crisis is what this was about - and I'm glad I'm past it. That's not to say that I've now completely come to terms with the way things have turned out - but it's a work in progress. Funnily, I've now managed in some way to define my life in "comprehensible chunks" in the real world.


One thing I noticed about working is that you lose track of what time of the year it is. It seems to make no difference whether it’s February or June or October. I guess the only time frame office workers recognize is December- when there are hefty paychecks and equally long list of expenses.

It’s not like when you were a student when there are lots of signs that says it’s another season, it’s another phase in your life. Something ends, something starts. Like by this time, when the temperature starts to rise, finals are starting to get scheduled. Like if you’re craving for icy Coke, you know you have a 2-hour summer class in a hot afternoon. And when you smell those funny-smelling trees or see higads you know it’s first sem and it’s going to rain soon. And when it’s cold, you know there’ll be the Lantern Parade, the Dakdakan, the Maskipaps and the Running Oblation. You’ll know you’ll be another year older when you don’t see other people you used to see in school anymore. You know it’s a new start when you get a Form 5 and stand in long lines for classes. You know it’s going to be an ending when you pass that paper or get that class card.

There was satisfaction to that kind of life. Like your life is made up of these sub-lives, each with a story of its own, with a start and end of its own, its own memories, its own characters, its own soundtrack. And its own learnings. Somehow it’s easier to look back and see everytime a sub-life ends - what happened to you, what good things, what bad things--- what things you can change to make the next sub-life better.

Well, it’s so different now. Life has just become so... big. You can’t just cut it into chapters as easily as you used to. Like February doesn’t seem to hold any more meaning than May or August does. Being cooped up inside the office also makes you fail to realize, “oh, it’s getting warmer outside” or “look, it’s 6 o’clock and it’s still so bright” or “the first drop of rain this season!”. There is an eerie sameness to each day. Sometimes it even takes me so long to realize that June is when a new schoolyear starts and my brother is going to high school by then.

Somehow, it’s just music now that tells you - music that serves as your time keeper, and puts these light marks which chops your life into more comprehensible chunks. Or perhaps the people who at some point was part of your life but eventually left, they too help put it in chronological order. But apart from that, nothing seems to make one day different from the other anymore. Nothing sets one week apart from the next. Or the months. And knowing my life, probably even the years.

Is it the whole routine of working, this neverending routine, or is it just me?

Reality Bites

Thank you for the speck on the floor
As I float away towards the gathering dust.
The pink dog, the day by day hurdles
Sharp images blunted by surrounding crust.

All of a sudden, the floor started to sprawl
And I panicked losing sight of the beautiful speck.
The pained faces, the silent desperation
Blunted images sharpened by the haunting reality check.

B-side

Update to the Peyups Bloggers!

1. B-side (e=mc^2)
2. jipre (Gelatin Silver World)
3. selenakyle (the cat whisperer)
4. rdangel (trends spotting)
5. leela (Pinay and money)
6. suicidedoll (melovesflying)
7. judz (Anooping and then some)
8. lateralus (Atheista)
9. PogingNilalang (conflict of interest)
10. boomslang (My thoughts exactly)
11. avalanche (Caffeinated Dreams)
12. romina (I-Speak)
13. mars (marsheemarsh)
14. pendong (ekstrangero)
15. tqbfjotld (neloblogs)
16. claudine (of life and an angel)

Welcome to tqbfjotld and claudine, our two new members! New Peyups bloggers can either start contributing to the Peyups Webring in the "theme of the month" after your email address has been included as an author OR have their own blog included in the Peyups Webring. Either way, we're glad to have you in the webring. As an author, you may now start posting your "Meet (name)" or "A day in the life of (name)" as introductions. Post away!

B-side

Meet HardBoiled

My original online moniker is based entirely on my real full name, coined directly out of wordplay. It is a misnomer. My character isn't really as strong as the name suggests, even when I display extremely aggressive behavior on Peyups.com. Nonetheless, I think the name is still appropriate for me, if only because I'm always on hot water.

Someone had said that at one point in a person's lifetime, the person had to make a crucial decision that will either make or break his/her future. For me, it happened when I entered college. It took many years for me to realize I chose the wrong decision.

I received the admission letters, I got my student number (98- followed by 5 of the first six counting numbers), I was admitted to my preferred course (BS Math) and I have an offer for a scholarship. The future looked so bright. Just then, a few weeks later, I received another letter, this time for a study grant for Geodetic Eng'g. I dismissed the offer, but my parents noticed it and took it with great interest. 

In the end, I decided to take the GE course, albeit with a bit of hesitation, out of respect for my parents and my own indecision. It initially appeared to be a harmless decision. After all, Eng'g is still a math and science-oriented course, and I can safely say that those were my fields of expertise. 

The first year passed uneventfully. But just when I thought I'm finally settled, my college life had suddenly shifted by 180^o. The course took its toll on me by preying on my biggest weakness. GE was a group-oriented course, for which my reclusive personality would be having trouble adjusting to.

It had begun. My status got reduced to various acronyms. It's odd, my adviser noticed the 1's I got for my Math's and Physics, followed by a succession of 5's. I had never recovered. Seven years later, I just gave up the fight. I didn't have a choice. 

* * *

Oops! Length.

Of misconceptions, perceptions and realizations

About two years ago, I started working. As expected of a fresh grad, I was very idealistic, full of hopes and very naïve about jumping into the Philippine labor force. Earning my first paycheck, being able to buy all my whims and finally, living independently as a young professional were all at the top of my head. It seemed that the world out there was exciting, full of challenges and obstacles.
After two years, I realized I couldn’t be more correct. Indeed, the real world is exciting, full of challenges and obstacles. If I could just summarize all of my learnings for the past 24 months, this would be it. Comments, suggestions and reactions are very much welcome.

First, your boss couldn’t make you rich. I know many of us work and dream to be rich someday. If you are among this group of people, then please realize now that your boss and your present company couldn’t do it for you. You have to do it yourself. I hardly see employees who became rich by just working 8 to 5. And if there are any, I’ll be glad to know their secret.

Second, learn how to work with people. Maybe when you were in college, you were the type who didn't socialize a lot or was more comfortable studying alone. Well, the real world is entirely different, i think. Because in here, if you can't voice out your opinions, then you are wasting precious time. Remember: you have to deal with "strict" bosses, "gossipmonger and crab-minded' office mates, "nasty" clients, etc. Lucky you if you happen to deal with the "cool and happy" bunch. But if not, it's safe to know how to deal with all kinds of people. Oh, and if possible also, don't burn bridges.

Third, know what you want and stick by it. Perhaps the reason why many people are unhappy nowadays is because their focus is getting out of hand and they are trying to please everybody. For me, the secret to fulfillment is knowing what you want and working hard to achieve it. Let me use myself as an example. Right after graduation, I wrote down all my goals in a sheet of paper. I labeled which ones are short-term, middle-term, and long-term. Every time I accomplish one, I check them on my list meaning I've done it. It brings me sense of contentment knowing that my goals are being fulfilled and that my life has a direction. Try it. I'm sure you'll going to love it also.

Fourth, just because you're from UP, don't think you are the best. While it matters in the beginning the honors and medals you received while studying, in the end, it will be the skills and experience you gained that will weigh more. Be professional. Show that you're really capable for the position. Work hard. And if possible, work smarter.

Lastly, have faith. Whatever your belief is, I still think that it's better to hold on to someone Supreme. Life is not always a smooth ride, we all know that. It's best to know Someone who can help you in times of trials. Take it from someone who has been there.

So far, these are the most important realizations I've learned. Do you agree with me or not?

A day in the life of Mars

I start the day at around 5:30 am, but I only get to my senses halfway through finishing my breakfast… the first part of which is spent in half a daze and staring in space 'til my father yells me back to the kitchen.

By the time I get out of the bathroom though, I'm already full of energy as I start doing my morning rituals. By 6:30 am I'll be found rushing to the pickup point of our shuttle service, which leaves by 6:50.

I always like it when the morning traffic is heavy, because that means I'll get to listen to my favorite morning radio show (Good times with Mo, Magic 89.9, which always leaves me laughing out loud to the bewilderment of whoever chances to sit next to me), or I could listen to more rockin' good music at NU. Our company always excuses bus lates, no deductions.

By 7:50am we're already within company premises. I'm a process engineer in a semiconductor company (subcontractor) which lives and breathes pressure and has an unforgiving work schedule and pacing. So before I get into the battlefield, I try to unwind and laugh with a few co-engineers for breakfast at the canteen. I see to it that I get to give my friends a high-pitched, cheerful "good morning!" =D

I get into the production line by around 8:20am, and start working my ass off, taking a peek at yahoo messenger and blogs and my other online vices (all forbidden in the office) every once in a while. We only take a 1 hour break from 12-1pm. We work 10hours a day, 5 days a week. If you're lucky, that might stretch to as much as 14 to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and you can't even guarantee that you'll get a complete overtime pay. That's for worst case scenarios.

I'm quite new to it because I just had a lateral transfer from product engineering, so I still have lots to learn. Thankfully I'm starting to enjoy it. There's never a dull moment. Action action action… but after a few months or so, it can really burn you out and eventually it will be a test of endurance. (not to mention the disappointing pay that comes with being in the manufacturing industry)

So on a normal and not-so-busy day (which I hope just stretches til forever), I get to go home by 6pm, reach the house by 7:30. eat dinner, do the dishes, watch Tayong Dalawa and Only You, or try to finish up on my pending books to read. By 10:00 pm, my mother would be incessantly nagging me to sleep. It goes on til 10:30, when I start putting out my bedroom lights and turning off my computer. But I don't really get to sleep until 11:00pm.

During that time before I sleep I'd be daydreaming or pondering on how one day is just never enough when you have to work for 10 hours, (I always rant at how I never seem to get to do anything else at all because work just drains the shit out of you), how and when I'll get my lifelong dream of independence, if this crap of a schedule will ever get me a boyfriend, if I even want to have a boyfriend at all at this point, I think of my dreams I think of my plans and I fear that they might be too big or I might be too weak … what I can do to be a better person, and the list goes on and on and on…

And then I pull the sheets over my face and scold myself that I should sleep earlier next time… and then I dream once more…

Update to the Peyups Bloggers!

Let us welcome two more members to our webring, Mars and Pendong :)

1. B-side (e=mc^2)
2. jipre (Gelatin Silver World)
3. selenakyle (the cat whisperer)
4. rdangel (trends spotting)
5. leela (Pinay and money)
6. suicidedoll (melovesflying)
7. judz (Anooping and then some)
8. lateralus (Atheista)
9. PogingNilalang (conflict of interest)
10. boomslang (My thoughts exactly)
11. avalanche (Caffeinated Dreams)
12. romina (I-Speak)
13. mars (marsheemarsh)
14. pendong (ekstrangero)
    

Update to the Peyups Bloggers!

O ayan, it's official, isang dosena na tayo, wuhoo! xD welcome to our 12th member, romina!

1. B-side (e=mc^2)
2. jipre (Gelatin Silver World)
3. selenakyle (the cat whisperer)
4. rdangel (trends spotting)
5. leela (Pinay and money)
6. suicidedoll (melovesflying)
7. judz (Anooping and then some)
8. lateralus (Atheista)
9. PogingNilalang (conflict of interest)
10. boomslang (My thoughts exactly)
11. avalanche (Caffeinated Dreams)
12. romina (I-Speak)
    

Update to the Peyups Bloggers!

Isang dosena na tayo! Nice! ^_^ - Thanks rdangel for pointing this out, nadoble ng entry. Ocean's 11 muna tayo, FOR NOW, hehe.

1. B-side (e=mc^2)
2. jipre (Gelatin Silver World)
3. selenakyle (the cat whisperer)
4. rdangel (trends spotting)
5. leela (Pinay and money)
6. suicidedoll (melovesflying)
7. judz (Anooping and then some)
8. lateralus (Atheista)
9. PogingNilalang (conflict of interest)
10. boomslang (My thoughts exactly)
11. avalanche (Caffeinated Dreams)

A Day in the Life of B-side

Today I woke up before 7am. Usually, I need at least an hour to prepare whenever I go out. Two things that I immediately did when I got out of bed: made sure my brother was awake so we won't be late since we're both headed to Diliman and plugged in the heater which takes around 15 minutes to heat the water. I like warm baths. When I saw that my brother was already awake, I ate breakfast - which is usually oatmeal and bananas because I've stopped eating red meat over a month ago.

Ended up leaving the house at around 830am, not because of too much time spent on applying makeup or blow drying my hair - I rarely use makeup and my haircut's always wash and wear - but because...I'm not really sure; time just seem to fly by when I'm in a hurry.

The usual one hour drive was cut short to 30 minutes because traffic was in a cooperative mood. I arrived five minutes early in class; but not without my brother's errie display of concern before I stepped out of the car - "may hand sanitizier ka na ba? may gask mask, e , facial mask ka ba?"

After one and a half hour with intellectual giant Cynthia Bautista (she was a substitute professor), I spent some time with friends who were also part of the same class while I had my staple sweet corn at FC. We visited a friend's boarding house, had our IDs countersigned at the Main Library, had lunch inside the Beach House while we did some catching up. We parted ways around 1pm and I walked to SC with one of them despite the rain. I had a book alike of Rainer Maria Rilke's 'Letters to a Young Poet' made for my little sister and afterwards, walked to J. P. Laurel to look for the recycling center I read about in Peyups. My search led me to the Solid Waste Management Training Center, a few blocks from Lutong Bahay, and a DVD stall, selling four for P100. My search proved worthy, the men inside the facility were very accommodating and informative; I now plan to donate recyclable materials in the house on a regular basis - not to mention a new source of cheap thrills inside the campus.

I left UP around 2pm and headed to the mall to buy a bottle of Ascorbic Acid brought about by the AH1N1 scare. Originally, I was supposed to meet a consultant from the OPACC (Office of the Presidential Adviser on Climate Change) in the evening for an informal interview as part of my stint in an NGO. I planned on watching "My Fake American Accent" in Robinsons Galleria to pass the time. But we had a change of plans so I headed to SM Fairview. My trip to the mall was a futile search for cheap and lip-friendly pink lipstick (vanity was calling but I ended up not answering), frustrating grocery due to too much commercial products disguising themselves as natural and organic (where does a consumer turn to against synergistic toxicology?), and comfort food from a large mashed potato from KFC. I was at home before 5pm.

Tonight's dinner was steamed plapla with mayo sauce courtesy of Pinoycook. After the evening news, I lounged in front of my laptop - emailed a cancellation of my online classes on Saturday since I have a family event on that day, checked facebook, UPVC, Peyups, my blog and the Peyups Webring, and resumed my torrent downloads. Also had small talk with my brother when he arrived.

It''s now 10pm and I'm still in front of my laptop with the TV on (trivia from the Discovery Channel: jaw muscles are the strongest muscles in our body, our nose inhales 20 billion dust particles and the fastest sneeze recorded was at 110mph). Thursdays and Fridays require no early wake-up call since my classes are in the late afternoon so I have the luxury to just waste away in cyberspace until I fall asleep. That is until the demands of graduate school gain momentum again in the coming days.

A Day in the Life of Leela

5:15 AM – Leela wakes up to her cell phone alarm “I Love The World (aka Boomdeyada),” Discovery Channel’s theme song. It wasn’t a conscious decision to use a very optimistic and cheerful song but looking back, she thinks it’s a great song to start the day.

Every morning, without fail, she turns on the TV and watches Unang Hirit on GMA. She catches up on the day’s news, especially now that H1N1 is wreaking havoc in the country. Her work in corporate communication requires her to monitor the news about H1N1.

5:50 AM – By this time, she has already kissed her husband goodbye and has stepped out the door. She rides a tricycle to get her to the FX terminal bound for Makati.

6:50 AM – Leela arrives at the office. She checks the cafeteria on what breakfast it is serving. If the cafeteria is serving something edible, she’ll join the casual employees from her division. If it’s just hardboiled egg, she’ll forego eating breakfast.

7:30 AM – Leela checks her emails—office and three personal emails. She also checks the Inquirer and GMA News websites to read on the latest H1N1 updates.

8:30 – 11:30 AM – Work, work, work. :)

11:30 AM to 12:30 PM – Lunch with officemates

12:30 to 5:30 PM – Work, work, work. :)

5:30 to 6:30 PM – Leela travels from the Mandaluyong office to ABS-CBN, where her husband works. Unless it’s Monday (color-coding), Leela and her husband usually goes home together (or go to Trinoma).

If going to ABS-CBN is not convenient, Leela usually goes to Trinoma to meet her husband.
6:30 – 7:30 PM – Trinoma has been their hangout place since Leela’s husband transferred to ABS-CBN (it used to be Robinson’s Galleria). It is in Trinoma where they have dinner, do the grocery, pick up their weekly comic subscriptions, buy hubby’s toys.

7:30 – 8:15 PM – Leela and her husband head home.

8:15 – 10 PM – Leela de-stresses at home by watching TV, surfing the Web (harvest her farm in Farm Town), read magazines, discuss things with her husband (from the most mundane to the latest show biz chismis to money matters).

10 PM – Leela retreats to bed.

A day in the Life

For the past 10 months, this has been my schedule. Most of it is influenced by my work which predominantly controls my everyday life. Not that I am complaining; I just find it hard and exhausting. However, all is going to change come next month (hopefully), that’s the reason why I am very excited now. But for the mean time, here’s my daily agenda.

5:00 a.m. – My cell phone’s alarm clock rings telling me “Hoy gumising ka na kung ayaw mong ma-late!” Usually, I don’t get up immediately. I still linger on the bed waiting for my sluggish state to subside.

5:30 a.m. – This is the time I usually get up and take a bath, brush my teeth, empty my sh*t, and dress up. You know, the boring stuff.

6:00 a.m. – By this time, I have got to be at the MRT Kamuning Station. I go down at Taft station which usually takes the train 30 minutes to do so.

6:30 a.m. – Breakfast! Usually at McDo Taft or I just buy bread if I am saving up or in a hurry.

7:00 a.m. – I should have left with the van or jeep already going to my site (which is in Cavite). This is the time-consuming part because it takes me more or less an hour to arrive at the office. While some people are still in their homes probably eating or taking a bath, I have to wake up and travel early or I would be late. Yes, I’ve been doing this for the past 10 months already.

8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Office hours (actually, more of site than office work). Let’s leave it at that. Hehehe.

5:00 p.m – Batsi na! that’s what we often call it when it’s time to go home. My most favorite part of the day. Hahaha (That is if there’s no overtime work).

6:00 p.m. – I usually arrive at the MRT Taft station by this time. Sometimes earlier, sometimes later depending on the traffic.

7:00 p.m. – I should have been in Cubao station by this time. It’s also time to eat. And buy some personal stuff before going home.

8:00 p.m. – If I am not yet at home this time, probably I am at an internet café surfing or in the mall watching a movie.

9:00 p.m. – My set time to sleep to achieve the needed 8-hour rest. I usually sleep at 10 p.m. though.

This is a typical day for me. I also have work on Saturdays though half day only. After that, I go home in my home province (Bulacan). Sometimes, when in the mood, I also go clubbing or bar hopping with my friends somewhere in Quezon City. But that’s very seldom.

Well, that’s it for now. Til next time again. (I'm bored. Sorry.)

selenakyle: My Life As An Amateur

When I left my 9-to-sawa corporate job months ago, I had a long to-do list for my own fulfillment but what I didn't anticipate was that I'd be stuck on one item for a long time.

Designing our provincial family home remodel was not on my list at all but it was a challenge I just can't say no to. I love doing it, for one. A few years ago I tasked myself with our pied-à-terre in the city and from there considered myself quite an authority on small spaces in my social circle. This time, it's a 5-bedroom/2-bathroom bungalow with dated interiors - a nice opportunity to expand my skill set, as I gear up for a home of my own some day. And so I'm here, detached from my "real life" for a while, oftentimes wondering why I never became an architect when I've begun sketching floor plans in my formative years.

Here then is my typical day, with a disclaimer that it usually starts late because living in the midst of a "construction site" leaves you with minor inconveniences - a disoriented cat that needs to be let out in the middle of the night being one.

7am. Wake up in time for workers to arrive. Leave instructions from previous day's inspection. Eat breakfast, freshen up, and on most days, fall back to sleep.

10am-12nn. Research. Which means reading up on the latest apartmenttherapy posts tuning and tuning in to the Lifestyle Network (House & Home's on everyday at 11am). I constantly need inspiration to avoid the track of a one-trick pony. Check emails from my "client" (i.e., Dad who's abroad) in reply to previous day's updates.

12nn. Lunch and mini-rounds around the house while the workers are on a break.

130pm-5pm. Do stuff: paint pallettes, cabinetry design, space planning, devise solutions to mini-disasters, answer questions, check output and make other decisions. On some days it's time for home depot visits. On other days, it's just letting all information sink in to inspire me.

On days that I'm at home, I'd usually "work" with the following TV shows in the background:
3pm. The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien
4pm. Homes With Style
430pm. Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic

5pm. Workers call it a day, I check the work, take pictures, and send my Dad an email.
6pm. A little pocket of time for yoga or Tracy Anderson. Let the cat in and feed it.
7pm. Nice long bath.
8pm. Dinner.

9pm-12mn. If so needed, check in with my Dad again for urgent instructions. Usually I keep my Mom company while she watches her telenovelas. Watch the news, blog, see what friends are up to on Facebook, chat up with a few, take stock, make to-do lists for next day.

It's a little odd, my slice of life these days, but, it's definitely a nice break from the usual 12-hour workday at the office. Sometimes I wish I get paid for it, but as far as my long to-do list goes, this too merits a checkmark, because (1)The list was all about getting to wear different hats for different periods of time anyways, and an interior designer's is one I'll never get tired of wearing. (2)In the grander scheme of things, I know this has a lot to do with my yet hazy path, and (3)Doing something I love for people I love is always worthwhile.

So, how's your day going?

Topic Of The Month (June): Day-In-A-Life

In keeping with last month's getting to know the bloggers on this site, I think Jipre's suggestion is the perfect follow-up.

For June, let's take a peek in the what goes on in our typical day from sun up to sun down and post it here. Any form is okay! Be it a chronological list, a diary entry in prose or poetry, a photojournal - you decide.

In the same spirit of flexibility on the format, you may use any title as you see fit . But ***please include labels "topic of the month" and "day-in-a-life" in your posts.***

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
- Annie Dillard

"There's more to those insignificances that contribute to our dreams, desires and desperations."
- Jipre

Check out the discussion on this topic on this thread. Post away!

Do you have brilliant ideas on next month's theme? Join in the discussion and see other suggestions here or you can post your topics on the shoutout box on this site.