From the yearly archives: 2006
Hello, it’s the last year of 2006 and I still can’t connect through FTP so the layout will really just have to wait. Perhaps there’s other things God wants me to put in the layout so it’s waiting. Just be surprised when I have it up. :P
Anyway, I’ll be out later to go to my aunts’ house in QC for a pre-New Year visit, so I’ll be doing this 2006 look back now. I’d upload pictures, but it seems like I won’t be able to…so I’ll just link lots of stuff and re-post pictures I have lying around the site.
So…2006 was a year of fulfilled (and still being fulfilled) promises. 2004 eventful, 2005 was quiet, and 2006 was a year where I believed in God’s promises for me and the people I love; and also a year where I learned to branch out a little bit. Without further a do…here’s the monthly look-back I love doing. :P
Oh, and before you click that, I warn you this is going to be a long entry. :P
I still can’t connect to my FTP, so the layout would have to wait. Another pending layout must be finished this weekend, but it’s late, so I have to go because I have some serious journalling and praying to do before I lose these realizations. I’ll share them next time, but in the meantime, here’s some things I’ve been using to reflect on things…and life, in general.
[God] often takes us aside every other source of comfort so that He alone can have our heart’s attention.
- Captivating, John & Stasi Elredge
That quote has been on my Livejournal for months, and only now did it really strike me. Next, a song:
ANYTHING
[Mae, The Everglow]Love, it’s the wave I ride
That won’t ever reach the shore
Overwhelmed by the tide
but wanting nothing more..tonight
Than to take this time and make it all mine
It’s coming around again[Chorus]
Every now and again sometimes
I get lost on the wind of a dream
The air gets clean and the seas get wide
and I can do anything
The pain it won’t even cross my mind
There’s wonder in everything
The rope gets loose and the chains unbind
and I can do anythingHope, it’s the light that strikes
that burns inside of me
It’s a blinding light but somehow I can see…again
When I’ve lost my way
It’s becoming very clear
And it’s coming around againEvery now and again sometimes
I get lost on the wind of a dream
The air gets clean and the seas get wide
and I can do anything
The pain it won’t even cross my mind
There is wonder in everything
The ropes get loose and the chains unbind
and I can do anythingSomewhere between the darkness and the light
My spirit takes to fly
The colors fill the sky
And I’m free
Oh-oh…It’s coming around again
It’s coming around again
It’s coming around again[Chorus] 2x
I’ve been playing Mae’s songs nonstop since yesterday. Gotta love their music. Anyway, I’m off to write. :D Good night everyone!
New layout was supposed to be up last night, but because of the Taiwan Earthquake, Internet connectivity was intermittent. I couldn’t retrieve the directory list for my domain at all during FTP, and loading sites was a pain because it was just as slow as dialup. I ended up fiddling with my site’s layout, adding new plugins in my local server, which are all ready to be uploaded while talking to my friend on the phone. I sure hope that I will be able to access my domain via FTP tonight so I can upload the new theme.
Anyway, today’s the last day of work for the YEAR! Wow. Somehow the idea of work for the next year kind of scares me, like all I’m seeing for the coming year is a year full of work work work, unlike back in school where there’s summer vacation to look forward to. Hay, the costs of adulthood. But then again, it’s useless to look around and wish I am somewhere else because I believe I am here for a purpose, and because God has been faithful and is still faithful, I will stick to this until He tells me to move on. Lord, just give me a God-listening heart so I know when it is time to let go.
Anyway, because there’s nothing else to do, here’s one of the 2006 year-end surveys that can be found around the Internet.
What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Get a proper job and get paid for it. Turn 20 years old. Go to a Hillsong United-led worship. Go to Davao. Be really accountable to people.
Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I made 10 and I successfully fulfiled 4. ^^; The others are done in half, like I did it sometimes or did it for the half of the year then stopped. I will make resolutions again next year, but this I’m going to make them different. More specific and such. :P
Don’t you think the word “Pre” looks naked without the accompanying dash? As in pre-school. Pre New Year looks weird as opposed to Pre-New Year. Don’t you think?
Anyway, today’s another relaxed day at work, mostly because all the higher ups are on leave. This will be the case for the rest of the week but come next month, everything will be in chaos. Or not. But there will be more work, for sure.
My officemates and I signed up for this Gold’s Gym promo for Gokongwei employees where we only pay P1,000 a month for three months starting January to March, but we get December free as well. I got my brother in too, so we’d get to work out together. Yes, I’m taking my “get fit” resolution seriously and it’s just a big blessing this promo comes my way. But I think I’m going to start seriously working out on January because…well, there’s still so much food to be consumed for the end of the year! Haha, kidding. My officemates and I might drop by tomorrow, and I could do some cardio or whatever. Yay to fitness? :)
I’m sorta kinda dreading January because of the amount of work looming for us…but it’s not like I have any choice. :-s I feel like I’m kind of restless though, like there’s something that I need to be doing that I’m not, or that I should jump into one big change or something…or maybe I’m just being distracted. I don’t know.
Such an unsettling way to end the year, and for the second time in my twenty years, I am not really looking forward for the coming year. I wonder why. Hmm.
Anyway, more later. I should finish all my pending work today so at least I’d have some free time tomorrow. New layout to be up by tonight, hopefully. :D
Your birthday is the most popular in the whole world because everyone celebrates it. And I mean everyone. Even the ones in the remotest areas know that this day is special, I bet. Your birthday is also the inspiration of a lot of novels, movies and TV specials; in fact, everyone feels special on Your birthday, as if it was theirs too. Everyone gives everyone else gifts, and every family prepares a HUGE dinner at the Eve of Your birthday — it’s like one big birthday party all over the world.
It’s sad to think, though, that most people forget that it is Your birthday on Your birthday, that they forget to greet You. Everyone’s happy, but more often than not, people forget about You, the celebrant. People forget the reason why they celebrate with all these gifts and food; people forget the night where Your mom and earthly dad wandered around your hometown and end up in a stable where You were born, when You deserve to be born in a palace.
So this year, I pray that everyone remembers You this time. That in the midst of the gift-giving, Christmas wreaths, the eating and the festivities, people would pause even for just a minute and remember that it’s Your birthday and if it weren’t for Your coming into the world, we wouldn’t be where and who we are right now. :) I know You know this already, but just so You know (again), we’re having cake tonight for You. :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY DEAR JESUS. ♥ ♥ ♥ I can’t wait to see You smile this big when we are all together and celebrate Your birthday up there with You. :) I love You! ♥ ♥ ♥
About that time, Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounte for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
There were shepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.”
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
“Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.”As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They had told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!
- Luke 2:1-20 (The Message)
Merry Christmas, everyone! May we all remember the reason for the season. :) God bless!
Because December started out quite busy, I didn’t get to prepare birthday greetings in this site as I used to…so, here’s the belated Birthday Greetings for all those I know who celebrated in December (not all have pictures, though :D).
Okay, that’s it. No new layout for the season; I’ll have one in the New Year. So forgive me for having a black layout for Christmas…I still have the Christmas spirit, really. :D
Ooookay, so maybe I’ll make a new one before the year ends…but it won’t be Christmas themed anymore. Still. :P
Everyone’s relaxed here in the office, even if there’s still work. And it’s fun because it feels like being in school during vacation. I kinda wish I wore jeans because everyone else seemed to be wearing it. Oh well. We have a party later at Parañaque and it’s early time off too. Thank God for one of our managers agreeing to let me ride with them on the way home later. :D
Of course, I should make the most out of this, because come January, it’ll be work, work, work again. :P
My dad arrived last night, and we went straight to Duty Free. What’s really cool is that since we’re not studying anymore, we have more room for the things we couldn’t buy back when our parents still had to pay our tuition fee. Well, that’s how we understood it, that is. :P My Duty Free stash last night was a yellow collared top (perfect for work), The Body Shop Lip and Cheek Stain (an improved version of the Lip and Cheek Tint), The Body Shop Lip Shine and Revlon ColorStay pressed powder. Oh so kikay! I don’t think that’s going to be the end of the kikay mode for me. Let’s see. :P
Anyway, when we got home, I got the most awaited things! My books from Amazon.com! :) Yahoo! That’s 6 books all in all, thanks to my dad who ordered them for me. :) I was so excited last night that I couldn’t help but put nametags on it already, even if I should’ve slept because we still have to go to Simbang Gabi. The Amazon.com book stash includes:
- The Whitney Chronicles (Judy Baer)
- Redeeming Love (Francine Rivers)
With This Ring, I’m Confused (Kristin Billerbeck)
- Reconstructing Natalie (Laura Jensen Walker)
Dreaming in Technicolor (Laura Jensen Walker)
Savannah Comes Undone (Denise Hildreth)
Six good good good books! :D Composed of Women’s Fiction, five chicklit, one romance. Gotta love love love this! :) Haha. I’ve also got three more books from the bi-annual OMF sale:
- Lineage of Grace Omnibus (Francine Rivers)
Cure for the Common Life (Max Lucado)
- God Chicks (Holly Wagner)
Whee. :) I have one more book I want to get, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt
Anyway, it’s 12:00 already, which means it’s lunch time, but I still feel full after the two Krispy Kreme doughnuts I had which Ms. Rox brought during our meeting earlier. This is such a fun day, really. And it’s only Thursday! :)
A more serious and insightful entry sometime this weekend, promise. :D On forgiveness, self-pity and other things I could think of during the weekend. :D Have a great day everyone!
So basically, my week left me without sleep. Or at least, minimal sleep. From Tuesday night where I shopped for my clothes with my brother’s girlfriend to last night where I wallowed in self pity and annoyance over the events of my Friday, which was supposed to be a good day. Later, I’ll be out again, but this time to do some good for myself because I’ve been too stressed with work and been too busy with parties for the past week. Baseco + OMF = good. Yeah.
But anyway. The Sun Christmas party last Wednesday was fun. :P I loved dressing up, and although I looked like such a good girl with my costume, I had fun with the Marketing people. :) Pictures galore, too. It was the first time I actually partied on a school night weekday, in the middle of the week. Talk about hard to wake up the next morning. Although it was fun the next day because all everyone can talk about is the party. ;) Plus the fact that there was another party the next night. :P
Jane, Reg, me and Anne after the make up session
Me, Anne, Reg and Jane at Hard Rock Cafe
The Marketing people. I’m somewhere there, promise. :D Photo c/o Sir Euge.
More parties to come next week, I think? I know we’re all looking forward to Tuesday because it’s videoke night. Yeah. Lord gimme sleep. I’m looking forward to Wednesday because my dad’s coming home. :D
Friday was actually okay at first, although I was late by one freaking minute. I was working all day, and looking forward after work because of the OMF trip. However, our salary didn’t arrive until what, 5:30pm? And usually, by that time on a Friday, I’d be relaxing because it’s the weekend already; but nooo, I have to learn some Unix things for Monday. I’m not complaining about that, really; it’s just that all the scripts we were trying weren’t working. And I’m supposed to be relaxing already.
I left the office at 7:00pm, passing up on the party everyone else was going to because of the OMF trip. I hurried down to the ATM to grab some cash, but just my luck, the lines were loooong. I got to withdraw, but it was already 7:30pm and OMF was only up to 8:00pm. :( Bea offered to go the next day (today), which is actually okay with me, but I was just so disappointed about my day that all I wanted to do was cry. So I headed over to the Adoration Chapel and cried. Then after some time, I decided to go home, but I was supposed to stop by the Department Store first to buy something as retail therapy. But before I got there, Pinky called and I ended up facing a corner in Galleria, crying as I talked to her. Haha. I must’ve been a funny sight then.
I was about to go home, but I decided to meet up with Bea and Migs first. We talked, and then I went home. I thought the sucky parts of the day was over, but it wasn’t. If I had gotten to the FX a bit earlier, I would’ve caught the earlier ride. But I didn’t. I got on another one, which left after 20 minutes, then when I was about to go down, the driver just had to rush me but I couldn’t rush because my seatmate was an older woman who couldn’t move fast. I rode a jeep, and got off at my village, bought ice cream and rode a tricycle.
Now the tricycle ride was just too darn annoying, really. The driver seemed to not know where he’s going, and at one point, he went straight to a street then turned abruptly around and went back to another street. When we were nearing our street, he took another route which was okay with me because it would be easier for him, but then instead of turning towards our street, he was about to go straight, so I kinda snapped our street name at him. Without an apology, he turned to our street. I got down, paid him P16.00 since it was only 9:58pm, fare would increase by P5 at 10:00pm. As I was about to go to our house, he had the nerve to tell me, “Ma’am, alas-diyes na po.” (Ma’am it’s already ten).
I swear, I wanted to snap at him so much then, tell him that it’s not yet ten on my watch and that how dare he ask that from me when he almost didn’t drop me at my street. But I didn’t. Maybe because I was just too tired and that I’m not really that kind of person. I sighed with frustration and gave him P5.00 and left in a huff. No thank you’s from him.
GAHHH.
I got home, ate ice cream and wallowed a bit. I was supposed to sleep early but I uploaded some pics, and then when I was about to sleep, I found myself crying again! And that totally couldn’t get myself to sleep because of that. I finally dozed at quarter to eleven, then woke up to open the door for my brother and slept. Woke up early for the first day of Simbang Gabi. I’m ashamed to admit that I mostly stared into space during the Mass; all I really wanted to do was sleep, sleep, sleep! I got back, slept, woke up 2 hours after my alarm and now I’m looking forward to my afternoon with friends.
What is the lesson here? To be honest, I don’t know. That everyone has a bad day somehow? I have to admit, my annoyances yesterday were quite shallow and I added to it by choosing to be a brat. >:P Hay. But it’s over, and it just goes to show that Fridays can also suck.
But anyway, God still loves me despite how bratty I was yesterday. And difficult days are part of life, so why reject it? Like what Ayiesha Woods sang: But if everyday was an easy day, you’d never be able to say that Jesus brought you through. :)
Have a great weekend everyone. :)
Tonight’s our company Christmas party, and HR announced an earlier time off today, so it’s just 45 minutes before quitting time (insert cheer here). People are starting to be Santa Clauses around here, giving gifts to everyone. I feel kind of bad for not being able to give any gift to anyone…well, yet. When my dad arrives I’ll have chocolates to share with everybody, so I can pack some of them and give them to people around here. :) Or at least, bring one big bag to share with everyone.
Anyway, it feels like a Friday. I don’t like feeling like Friday on days other than Friday itself. It’s cruel to feel like a Friday in the middle of the week, especially when you still have to go to work early the next day. Cruel, I tell you!
But anyway, there’s another party tomorrow night (which I’m still contemplating if I will go seeing that I haven’t had enough sleep since last Monday) and an OMF Bookstore trip on Friday with Happy, Bea, Pinky, Gigie and Jomar, if I am not mistaken. Then Saturday is Baseco day (at long last! I haven’t been there since March!) and Sunday is the SFC Christmas party (I need a tiara! And a magic wand!). Then next week, there’s another party on Tuesday. I know there are more parties/gatherings to come for the next few days, so I need…well, rest! Prioritize! Where should I go first?!
I’ll figure that out soon.
Our theme for tonight is 50′s/60′s/70′s Rock, but I’ll be sporting a 50′s Grease look. :P Pictures will follow in the next few days, when I get enough time to do so. :) Yeahba.
19 minutes to go! :D
I’ve been meaning to post since last weekend but I was too caught up with real life that I didn’t get to. I planned to make a Christmas layout for this but I’ve been staring at Adobe Photoshop with my gathered images but inspiration still hasn’t struck. Hmm. I think I’m going to be more creative. Or, I’ll end up with a theme.
Nah.
My weekend was fine, thankyouverymuch. I was out both nights: Saturday for the YFC East A2 reunion at Ate Cla’s (where I left early because I need to) and Sunday for the LRMS Alumni Homecoming where I was supposed to go home early but ended up not doing so because I ended up at Starbucks at Blue Wave to hangout with the few batchmates who attended the Homecoming: me, Pau, JF, Carlo and Ana. The five of us talked about life, work, friends, high school memories and God. It’s fun talking to high school friends when you’re out of high school already. We’ve definitely matured a lot since we were last together — in fact, that night was the first time JF and I talked about serious topics. I used to ignore him during high school, and what he usually asks me is about assignments, and in his words: “Tina, pa-kopya.” (Tina, may I copy?) Yes, I’m that socially inept and that’s how my high school was. No regrets, though.
In a way, I think it was God’s will (well, what isn’t God’s will?) for the five of us to get together that night because the five of us hardly hung out together. Well, Pau was my constant barkada, Ana and I were close during second year high school, I’ve known Carlo since Grade 3 and JF…well, I know him, he knows me, but we’ve never shared a group as far as I could remember. We’re a pretty…er, weird, group?
But it was fun. :) I may not have a big group of friends from high school, but God is surprising me more and more because He’s really changing me from who I was before. And it’s just amazing. :) I look forward to more moments like that. :P Next time with a bigger group, perhaps? EBS REUNION NA ITO!
Work today was long and I was late for the second time ever. Darn traffic. I’m getting hit by laziness because it’s party week, as my boss said, but that doesn’t change the fact that I have work to do. Gah, making reports is so tiring.
But God is good and faithful. As always.
I got my Starbucks planner today, much thanks to Pau and JF for filling in my last stickers last Sunday (they ran out of planners at Blue Wave so I had to get mine at Galleria). It looks so much more professional than the past one, but it’s funky. I love how it’s designed and how the space per day is big enough to put so many scribbles. I kind of miss the stories in between the months but that just means I can write my own stories every month given the space provided. Ah, I can’t wait to stick it with little memorabilias and such. Thing with the planner, though, is that it’s spiral bound. I have trouble with spiral bound planners because I end up tearing out some of its pages accidentally. Hmmm. I should keep in mind to take care of this one better.
I remember the 2006 planner was my brother’s Christmas gift for me…and because of that, I’m gonna let a bit of materialism in this blog and post my 2006 Christmas Wishlist (what a segue :p)! From the totally unaffordable to the ones within reach. If you’re planning to give me a gift, this is the perfect place to see what to give me. ;)
- A new laptop with the following specs: Intel Centrino or Intel Core Duo, at least 80GB HDD, at least 512MB DDR memory (expandable), at least 32MB separate video card (not shared with memory), DVD+RW, WiFi ready, good speakers and is small enough to bring around. :P
- Laptop cooler
- Lapdesk
- Reading lamp
- Additional memory for my laptop (if the first on the list isn’t available :P)
- At least 80GB external HD — if it’s a laptop HDD with enclosure, better! :D
- Sound blaster — any brand
- Staedtler Triplus Fineliner colored pen set — the one with 20 colors.
- Two Pilot gTec Black 0.4 refills.
- A medium-sized bookshelf
Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by Anne Rice, paperback- Flashbang by Mark Steele, paperback
- Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty, paperback
- The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde, paperback
Showdown by Ted Dekker, paperback- Nokia 6020 casing and keypad
- Catholic Bible, NAB translation
new black framed eyeglassesnew contact lens caseBody Shop Lip and Cheek Tint- Nivea Caregloss and Shine Tinted
whatever foundation powder that looks good on my skin- new tops I can wear to work
- new black slacks I can wear to work
- new work shoes
- new jeans
- Hillsong United albums.
- a sunflower (good luck finding this at this time of the year :p)
- anything with stars *
- blank unlined notebooks.
Okay, that’s materialistic enough. :P Haha! Now I should get to shopping, really. Like soon. Hmmm.
It’s past eleven, which means it’s bed time. I promise to make a new layout within the week and write serious entries next time. :D For now I need to do my nightly rituals. Good night everyone. :)
