Living on my own

When I think about the thing that triggered my living away from home, I realize how good things have turned out for me. If not for that unfortunate incident, I would probably continue to live under the constant scrutiny of grumpy retired parents. It's also fortunate for me to be allowed to stay in their condo unit that is very accessible to where I work.

While I would have initially preferred to live alone, I guess having my brother for a roommate isn't so bad after all. Especially now that he's gone for a few months for a foreign job assignment, I can't help but be a little sad sleeping and waking up alone in an empty unit. It was alright for a year or so. Now, I admit it does get lonely.

Good thing Toti comes around often, hangs out at night to keep me company until it’s time for me to go to bed. And at times, stays over so I can wake up in his arms to start a new day. It’s the best feeling in the world! I really can’t wait to spend each and every waking moment with him.

The one that got away

I was cleaning my mailbox and got to browsing old emails. I couldn't help but read through this particular message Toti forwarded to me a year and a half ago. It is cheesy, but its a happy hopeful thought --- that sometimes when we least expect it, things can and do fall in place. Didn't even think it was possible for me after 9 years...

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Source: The Manila Times
By: Mark J. Macapagal

In your life, you'll make note of a lot of people. Ones with whom you shared something special, ones who will always mean something. There's the one you first kissed, the one you first loved, the one you lost your virginity to, the one you put on a pedestal, the one you're with... and the one that got away...

Who is the one that got away? I guess it's that person with who everything was great, everything was perfect, but the timing was just wrong =( There was no fault in the person, there was no flaw in the chemistry, but the cards just didn't fall the right way, I suppose.

I believe in the fact that ending up with someone, finding a longtime partner that is, does not lie merely in the other person. I can actually argue that an equal part, or maybe even the greater part, has to do with the matter of timing. It has to do with you being ready to settle down and commit to someone in a way that goes beyond the little niceties of giddy romance.

How often have you gone through it without even realizing it? When you're not ready to commit in that mature manner, it doesn't matter who you're with, it just doesn't work. Small problems become big; inconsequentials become dealbreakers simply because you're not ready and it shows. It's not that you and the person you're with are no good; it's just that it's not yet right, and little things become the flashpoint of that fact.

Then one day you're ready. You really are. And when this happens you'll be ready to settle down with someone. He or she may not be the most perfect, they might not be the brightest star of romance to ever have burned in your life, but it'll work because you're ready. It'll work because it's the right time and you'll make it work. And it'll make sense, it really will.

So that day comes when you're finally making sense of things, and you find yourself to be a different person. Things are different, your approach is different, you finally understand who you are and what you want, and you've become ready because the time has truly arrived. And mind you, there's no telling when this day will come. Hopefully you're single but you could be in a long-term relationship, you could be married with three kids, it doesn't matter. All you know is that you've changed, and for some reason, the one that got away, is the first person you think about. You'll think about them because you'll wonder, "What if they were here today?" You'll wonder, "What if we were together now, with me as I am and not as I was?" That's what the one that got away is. The biggest "What if?" you'll have in your life.

If you're married, you'll just have to accept the fact that the one that got away, got away. Believe me, no matter how fairy tale you think your marriage is, this can happen to the best of us. But hopefully you're mature enough to realize that you're already with the one you're with and this is just another test of your commitment, one which will just strengthen your marriage when you get past it. Sure, you'll think about him/her every so often, but it's alright. It's never nice to live with a "might have been," but it happens.

Maybe the one that got away is the one who's already married. In which case it's the same thing. You just have to accept and know that your memories of that person will probably bring a nice little smile to your lips in the future when you're old and gray and reminiscing.

But if neither of that is the case, then it's different. What do you do if it's not yet too late? Simple...find him, find her. Because the very existence of a "one that got away" means that you'll always wonder, what if you got that one?

Ask him out to coffee, ask her out to a movie, it doesn't matter if you've dropped in from out of nowhere. You'd be surprised, you just might be "the one that got away" as well for the person who is your "the one that got away."

You might drop in from out of nowhere and it won't make a difference. If the timing is finally right, it'll all just fall into place somehow and you know, I'm thinking, it would be a great feeling, in the end, to be able to say to someone, "Hey you, you're the one that almost got away."

Chinese wedding pet peeves

1. I guess there’s no harm in having a laureat. But geez! Steamed crabs??? Who would eat steamed crabs in a long gown, barong or black suit?
2. The reason why a reception is held at a hotel is to give the function a formal and classy feel. I know it’s a Chinese wedding, but dear Lord does it have to feel like a Chinese resto? With waiters clearing used plates and utensils right beside your table? It’s just not right to have gotten all dressed up only to be seated beside a mound of leftover food.
3. Finally, please… Don’t leave soy sauce and vinegar on the table! I made it a point to at least smell good wearing an outfit I carefully put together, only to get dizzy with the sharp acidic smell that hopefully didn’t stick to my hair!

Overall, the 80’s icons thing was a hit! Clap. Clap. Clap. We were blown away by host, Jojo A. I couldn’t really understand what you were talking about man, but just watching you laugh at your own jokes was hilarious! And THE Tina Turner’s co-singer, Gino Padilla?! I never imagined I’d ever get to hear you sing “…The closer I get to touching you, the closer I get to loving you…” live! But the best pre-valentine treat was debonair Jo Mari Chan singing Beautiful Girl. Panalo. The middle-aged aunties couldn’t control themselves! It was truly a night to remember.

I’m all for official Menstrual Leaves

Yesterday, I was bedridden with my usual, or rather unusual, menstrual cramps. It was terrible. It happens when I don’t exercise – which actually means all the time.

I woke up with lower back and abdominal pains, a migraine, and a severe case of LBM. Could I ask for more? And the worse part was that I couldn’t drink medication for the pain because I couldn’t get up to eat breakfast! Based on experience, drinking medication without taking in any food resulted in hyperacidity and vomiting. There was no food in the condo. If I wanted to eat, I had to buy or call delivery. I was too sick to think and do anything.

I therefore spent the whole morning in bed struggling through the pain. Much as I had to go to work for two very important meetings, I decided to take the day off to rest. I could have actually forced myself to get up. But after the stress of the past few months, making me feel so tired and demotivated, I chose to take a whole day leave.

I think it’s unfair though, that a number of us women have to use up our official sick leaves for a condition that happens regularly. So what if it happens to some people every single monthly period? That means 12 SLs used up already! Most of the time we just force ourselves to go to work. But we aren’t really productive. I just think it would be more considerate of companies to allow women to take Menstrual Leaves. On top of the pain, who would want to work around a moody and cranky person with a severe case of dysmenorrhea? It’s really for everyone’s peace and convenience. =D