I realized lately that working in a telecommunications company wipes out the fun for me about anything related to mobile technology. For example, last Friday, I was holding SIM cards and cellphone load all day to prepare for this User Acceptance Testing I was conducting. A few months ago, I would’ve been really amazed at the amount of credits and SIM cards I was holding then…but at the end of the day last Friday, I was sick of it. Being the one who goes through the UAT of the promos we have, by the time the promo comes out in the market, I have no intention of taking advantage of anymore because I have used it a lot of times before it was released and I know every bug I’ve encountered that other people might see too.

Or like one of my officemates, who holds different kinds of cellphones everyday to test. She gets to see and hold and play with the latest Nokia, Ericsson, Samsung and Motorola handsets, and she can tell you which phone is the best to suit your lifestyle. But when we talk, she tells me she’s tired of seeing all those phones because they’re all the same and there’s always something missing with the new unit. Being around new cellphones everday wiped out the amazement and wonder she used to get whenever a new unit comes out.

Hay, this is the work life, I guess.

I’ve made up my mind to go on gimmicks every weekend as this year started, and so far, I’ve been doing just so. Last year, I preferred staying at home during the weekends so I could rest, but I end up bumming around all day. For the past month, I’ve managed to go out every weekend and not be a party pooper. :P

Last Friday, I went to a small blogger’s dinner sponsored by Abe. I got there late, as usual, because the UAT finished late, but not too late that I couldn’t enjoy dinner. Jomar, Juned, Jun, Gail, Marc, Rico, Jayvee, Noemi (who is featured in this month’s Marie Claire), Will, Carlo and Miguel were there and that was the time these people discovered two things about me: (1) I’m the “baby” of the group, being the youngest and (2) I have a blog. I know the second one sounds funny, but really, some people thought I was just a nice non-blogger who wanted to help with the Blog Parteeh. That’s why people missed me in the link love in the Blog Parteeh site – I was not in the list of attendees or organizers. Hmph. Biruin nyo yun, after all the bingo calling I did?! Waah! Kidding, kidding. Jomar told me I should’ve spoken up about not being linked there, but I’m not the one to speak and call attention to myself (seriously). And I thought they only listed committee heads. Haha. :P But thanks to people who linked me, especially to Miguel and Jomar who actually has a post about me. =)) You guys are funnee. Haha.

Of course, being the baby of the group, I left early because I had to catch my mom and brother at Megamall who were waiting for me. On the way to the MRT, I saw Pam, an old YFC friend, and we chatted for a while. Then I passed by Recipes, where my old college friends (fondly named YM Berks since we all love Yahoo! Messenger) were having dinner (which I skipped). Said hi, then left and headed to Megamall.

I got my pink iPod mini back by the way. That is the fourth unit I have, the third and last time I have it replaced since my Apple Care warranty expired last January 30. The first two times I had my iPod replaced was because of the battery and this one was because of the defective hold button. Now, that’s maximizing an iPod’s warranty. :P I recommend all iPod owners to get an Apple Care warranty for their iPods. For Php 3,500 only, you get to extend your warranty to another year, which could save you a lot of money if your iPods are overused (haha, likem mine). I didn’t count the numerous times I had my earphones replaced, by the way. :P It feels kind of weird holding a small unit again since I was using my brother’s iPod for three weeks already, but it’s nice to have it back. I do, however, want to sell that already so I could save up and buy a 30GB iPod video (seeing as someone else won the iPod video a week ago) for a change. I need to check out the prices of that before making any decision. I just hope my newly replaced mini won’t die on me too fast — iPods tend to be broken after I use it. :P

Yesterday, I was supposed to go to the gym but I woke up late so I decided to bum in the morning and then head to Greenbelt after lunch to meet with Tuesday (who is now on the plane on her way to Tampa where she will stay for three months). I was late again, as usual, because I let two senior citizens go ahead of me in the line while buying an MRT ticket. We (me, Happy, Tuesday, Joey and Joby) hung out at Seattle’s Best at Greenbelt 3all afternoon. Since I didn’t eat lunch, I got myself a small bag of Holy Kettle Corn from the MRT station before going to Greenbelt 3. What you see in the picture is my side of the table: my new blue bag given by Majoy, my drink (Double Mint Chocolate something. Which now makes me ask, is Seattle’s Best more expensive than Starbucks or are they just the same?), the popcorn and my copy of Christ the Lord Out of Egypt: A Novel by Anne Rice. Tue saw my book, and Happy and I told her we’ll buy her a copy as a “going away present”. Too bad Bea wasn’t there; I would’ve been home a bit later if she was there for all the gabbing we would do. She was there on the phone though. :P

[From L to R, 1st row to second row, except for the biggest picture]
(1) The back of Tuesday’s really cool jacket
(2) me, Tue and Happy on the way up to Powerbooks Live
(3) Tuesday, Joey and Joby
(4) Tuesday talking to Bea on the phone
(5) Tuesday and her going away present

There’s my weekend. Sundays are reserved for rest and family and sometimes, SFC stuff. It’s nice to be able to go out every now and then. :P It makes me feel so alive. :P I still have a goal of being able to go to at least three out of town trips this year, with different sets of people. Let’s see where that brings me. :)