This title means so many different things to me right now:
a. I woke up with a clear head and albeit some symptoms, my colds feel much more manageable today than the past few days
b. I wasn't sluggish getting up this morning. I felt energized. A rare treat!
c. My thoughts aren't the usual jumbled miasma of chaos and worries, despite the fact that I had quite a nightmare.
Christmas is over and the New Year is finally peeking round the corner, its tentacles teasing and urging, both wizened and enigmatic. Of course, loads has happened since I last wrote, but for brevity's sake, I will keep the list short, in chronological order, and only as relates to personal events in my life.
a. Tina arrived from the UK for the Holidays on Dec. 16th.I unfortunately wasn't able to see her till a few days later but the oh so lovely lady brought me home a University of London T-Shirt! I love her.
b. Tina and Jason are finally wed. They had a beautiful, intimate wedding at Chapel Dulcinea on Dec. 23rd. I will update this post to a link with pictures and videos (assuming I manage to find a site that will host a 30 meg vid).
c. With the help of Mr. A and Maria, I decided to spend my Christmas with them and Chris at their lovely Burnet home. Funny enough, it was the best Christmas I've ever had here - intimate, little or no presents, simple, and with loving people. I had a great time.
I believe that's it. If I continue on, I'm afraid I will relent and start talking about my beloved job and team, again ;)
I'll try to post before next year.
Ciao!
Friday, December 29, 2006
Sunday, December 10, 2006
The Piercing Retires
After 2 years and 10 months, the piercing finally retires. I had it put in Valentine's Day - February 14, 2004 after wanting one since high school. It was nothing extraordinary, especially here in Austin's San Francisco like vibe - just a simple left nostril piercing, with a bezel set-stud. But, it had all the special meaning in the world for me.
One little unconventionally placed piece of jewelry meant all the defiance, rebelliousness and headstrong-ness I'd been wanting to scream out and display to the world since the time my parents separated and my mom began her slow descent into hell. I'd always told my parents jokingly "you guys are so lucky to have kids like us; given our situation, we could have easily slid into drugs, quit school, and all the nasty things that comprise a parent's worst nightmare." Instead, my brother and I learned what *not* to be, realizing it made no sense to cut our noses to spite our face.
In my opinion, I was always a damn good daughter. Sure, I went through a time where I just didn't care, but I recovered after that, realizing my future, as well as my mom's and brother's, laid entirely in my hands. High school was the worst for me - puberty, mom acting up, and a change in environment (I transferred to an all girls' school) all rolled into one. That was the time the beatings started, and mom was determined to stay by her "best friend" no matter what it took. Sophomore year was also the time her best friend decided to have a little fun with me; I was molested at 14. And of course, my mom took his side, saying I was just inventing stories like that so she would get rid of him. She never did. I think he was the worst influence on her: he continuously convinced her that her children were conniving against her, he allowed her to wallow in self-pity and drunkenness, didn't stop her from gambling to the point of having to sell a lot of the stuff in the house and steal from others (I rationalized at the time that my mother was a legitimate kleptomaniac)... I mean, really, aren't real friends supposed to watch out for you and want what's best for you? Ironically, in high school, I was at the full flower of my intelligence. I knew I was smart, a thought confirmed by the fact that my IQ test showed I was "superior." My coping mechanism though was the death of me, even if I'd make up for it later on. I'd miss school just because I didn't want to go there. It didn't matter whether it was a regular school day or finals; I was simply so depressed when I was there. I'd get failing grades every 1st trimester, but miraculously make up for them by the 3rd - so much so that I was never sent to summer school, unlike others. Everyone also gave me a hard time about not showing up, including the principal, several times. But none of them knew, and I could never really explain what was going on. My friends thought it was my weight that kept me "sickly," not knowing what was really going on. I was at my heaviest at the time (ha, big surprise). But other than that, I did nothing wrong. I tried terribly to forge my rather uncomfortable relationship - any relationship, at all - with my father. I loved him dearly, even moreso than my mom, some would argue, but I still felt betrayed about him leaving us for another woman. I felt like an outcast, an outsider. Times were even so hard with my mother (she'd gamble away all the money to the point we had no food), that she'd make me "steal" food from my father when I was younger. God, I hated my mom for that. Of course, that didn't help dad trusting me, but I was determined to earn his trust, but at the same time, I resented him and his partner for feeling *I* had to fit into their perfect little world. They had all these other plans and events, including their wedding, that my dad's other kids knew of, but not me. God I felt so like an outsider. It was the worst feeling of all. In my mind, my beloved father had become a different person. So far away and beyond my grasp. I remember crying bitterly to him right outside the repertory theatre when he first stopped going home, begging him to come back. It tore me to pieces.
Finally, college came. It was at this time I decided to consider myself more or less autonomous from my mother and father and use the lessons I'd learned growing up. It was at this time I decided to become my own person and not be a victim of my circumstances. And so, I did it. I made a lot of friends, I did well, and I was involved in a lot of organizations. College was the best time for me. I realized who my real friends were, and who the real me was. I embraced my faults and strengths. But at the back of my mind, I still needed something meaningful that I can just put out there. Something that showed the pain and sacrifice I went through but proudly show that I never succumbed into what my mom allowed herself to be. Something that was not kosher, but was still "acceptable." Something I knew some people may be against. And so, I decided on the piercing. I was with Chris at the time and if not for him, I may have never had the courage to do it. And so, I did. And here I am now.
So why is the piercing retiring?
1. I think I've laid my demons to rest. The fact that I can spurt out more or less everything that happened in the past openly like that lets me know I'm doing good.
2. I've since reconciled with my mom, and I think we're doing good. Although I may still have some trust issues with her, I also know that if anyone can help her, it's me, and that I should give her the benefit of the doubt. Everyone deserves a 2nd chance.
3. I'm on my two feet and have established myself in my job. I have a growing career. And I am satisfied.
4. It's just a pain, especially when I want to do facials and crap. It gets in the way.
5. To be honest, it may be a CLM to keep it. So I'm getting rid of it, now that my position in the company is growing. As much as I hate to say it, in the business world, appearances are everything.
So, there we are. I didn't expect this entry to be this verbose and open... but I do feel an odd sense of relief and accomplishment after putting this all in writing. Cheers to the brave souls out there. I hope to meet you all someday.
One little unconventionally placed piece of jewelry meant all the defiance, rebelliousness and headstrong-ness I'd been wanting to scream out and display to the world since the time my parents separated and my mom began her slow descent into hell. I'd always told my parents jokingly "you guys are so lucky to have kids like us; given our situation, we could have easily slid into drugs, quit school, and all the nasty things that comprise a parent's worst nightmare." Instead, my brother and I learned what *not* to be, realizing it made no sense to cut our noses to spite our face.
In my opinion, I was always a damn good daughter. Sure, I went through a time where I just didn't care, but I recovered after that, realizing my future, as well as my mom's and brother's, laid entirely in my hands. High school was the worst for me - puberty, mom acting up, and a change in environment (I transferred to an all girls' school) all rolled into one. That was the time the beatings started, and mom was determined to stay by her "best friend" no matter what it took. Sophomore year was also the time her best friend decided to have a little fun with me; I was molested at 14. And of course, my mom took his side, saying I was just inventing stories like that so she would get rid of him. She never did. I think he was the worst influence on her: he continuously convinced her that her children were conniving against her, he allowed her to wallow in self-pity and drunkenness, didn't stop her from gambling to the point of having to sell a lot of the stuff in the house and steal from others (I rationalized at the time that my mother was a legitimate kleptomaniac)... I mean, really, aren't real friends supposed to watch out for you and want what's best for you? Ironically, in high school, I was at the full flower of my intelligence. I knew I was smart, a thought confirmed by the fact that my IQ test showed I was "superior." My coping mechanism though was the death of me, even if I'd make up for it later on. I'd miss school just because I didn't want to go there. It didn't matter whether it was a regular school day or finals; I was simply so depressed when I was there. I'd get failing grades every 1st trimester, but miraculously make up for them by the 3rd - so much so that I was never sent to summer school, unlike others. Everyone also gave me a hard time about not showing up, including the principal, several times. But none of them knew, and I could never really explain what was going on. My friends thought it was my weight that kept me "sickly," not knowing what was really going on. I was at my heaviest at the time (ha, big surprise). But other than that, I did nothing wrong. I tried terribly to forge my rather uncomfortable relationship - any relationship, at all - with my father. I loved him dearly, even moreso than my mom, some would argue, but I still felt betrayed about him leaving us for another woman. I felt like an outcast, an outsider. Times were even so hard with my mother (she'd gamble away all the money to the point we had no food), that she'd make me "steal" food from my father when I was younger. God, I hated my mom for that. Of course, that didn't help dad trusting me, but I was determined to earn his trust, but at the same time, I resented him and his partner for feeling *I* had to fit into their perfect little world. They had all these other plans and events, including their wedding, that my dad's other kids knew of, but not me. God I felt so like an outsider. It was the worst feeling of all. In my mind, my beloved father had become a different person. So far away and beyond my grasp. I remember crying bitterly to him right outside the repertory theatre when he first stopped going home, begging him to come back. It tore me to pieces.
Finally, college came. It was at this time I decided to consider myself more or less autonomous from my mother and father and use the lessons I'd learned growing up. It was at this time I decided to become my own person and not be a victim of my circumstances. And so, I did it. I made a lot of friends, I did well, and I was involved in a lot of organizations. College was the best time for me. I realized who my real friends were, and who the real me was. I embraced my faults and strengths. But at the back of my mind, I still needed something meaningful that I can just put out there. Something that showed the pain and sacrifice I went through but proudly show that I never succumbed into what my mom allowed herself to be. Something that was not kosher, but was still "acceptable." Something I knew some people may be against. And so, I decided on the piercing. I was with Chris at the time and if not for him, I may have never had the courage to do it. And so, I did. And here I am now.
So why is the piercing retiring?
1. I think I've laid my demons to rest. The fact that I can spurt out more or less everything that happened in the past openly like that lets me know I'm doing good.
2. I've since reconciled with my mom, and I think we're doing good. Although I may still have some trust issues with her, I also know that if anyone can help her, it's me, and that I should give her the benefit of the doubt. Everyone deserves a 2nd chance.
3. I'm on my two feet and have established myself in my job. I have a growing career. And I am satisfied.
4. It's just a pain, especially when I want to do facials and crap. It gets in the way.
5. To be honest, it may be a CLM to keep it. So I'm getting rid of it, now that my position in the company is growing. As much as I hate to say it, in the business world, appearances are everything.
So, there we are. I didn't expect this entry to be this verbose and open... but I do feel an odd sense of relief and accomplishment after putting this all in writing. Cheers to the brave souls out there. I hope to meet you all someday.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Post Vacation Greetings
I just wanted to drop a quick note to say I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had a fantastic time with my grandmother in Vegas (Henderon, actually). The town is booming, and Henderson is ever gorgeous. I'll post pictures soon. I'm still catching up and recuperating from my week-long break, and man, I have lots to tell. Till then...
Ciao!
Ciao!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Nothing Fails by Madonna
My latest "it" song... I think I'll dedicate this to Rachel for you know who ;)
I'm in love with you, you silly thing
Anyone can see
What is it with you, you silly thing
Just take it from me
It was not a chance meeting
Feel my heart beating
You're the one
You could take all this, take it away
I'd still have it all
Cause I've climbed the tree of life
And that is why, no longer scared if I fall
When I get lost in space
I can return to this place
Cause, you're the one
Nothing fails
No more fears
Nothing fails
You washed away my tears
Nothing fails
No more fears
Nothing fails
Nothing fails
I'm not religious
But I feel so moved
Makes me want to pray,
Pray you'll always be here
I'm not religious
But I feel such love
Makes me want to pray
When I get lost in space
I can return to this place
Cause, you're the one
I'm not religious
But i feel so moved
Mmmm mmm...
I'm not religious
Makes me want to pray
I'm not religious
But i feel so moved
Makes me want to pray
Pray you'll always be here
I'm not religous
But i feel such love
makes me want to pray
I'm not religious (I'm not religious)
But I feel so moved (but it makes want to pray)
I'm not religious (I'm not religious)
Makes me want to pray (But it makes me want to pray)
I'm not religious (makes me want to)
But I feel so moved (pray)
I'm not religious (pray)
Makes me want to pray (pray)
Nothing fails
No more fears
Nothing fails
You washed away my tears
Nothing fails
No more fears
Nothing fails
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Pictures from the Cello Party
Pictures from our most recent Cello Party at Janelle's - 11/12/06. Her birthday is on the 14th :)
I miss playing!!!
Counter Clockwise from top left:
Louanne, Krissy, Andrew, Janelle, C.J., Luke, Janelle's yummy ice cream cake, the rest just repeat over. Aki, Janelle's cute kitty, is in the middle of the set!
Greetings on a Moonlit Night
Hello, it's me again. It's 8:57PM and I'm still at work. Correct, people, still at work (now how is that a surprise? :) ). And I am so... not really tired... more like restless. This damn SQL job is taking forever to finish.
I hate the fact that I am too busy to even enjoy the thought of leaving for LV this Saturday to spend time with my maternal great aunt who happens to be my mom's aunt. She was always my favorite grandma on my mother's side - straightforward, apolitical when it comes to family matters, loyal, fiercely protective of her loved ones, candid, loving, God-fearing... all qualities I so treasure and are yet so rare in the world today. Serendipitously, I learned today - after several consecutive months of unintentional silence - that my childhood friend Ryan will be going to LV to celebrate Thanksgiving, as well! Apparently, his mom lives there, too! Yippee! We plan to meet up.
I've started looking around for places to move into. My first "serious" venture happens to be a really frugal one for me - $475 to rent an entire 2nd floor which includes 2 bedrooms and a sitting area + pets are okay + includes all utilities including wireless internet! Who can beat that?!?! The only caveat is that the owner likes to smoke in the house. I have nothing against smokers, but I don't want to go into a home that smells of smoke. So I am still looking and still deciding if I want to rent an apartment instead. Going that route will certainly give me much more autonomy, but will be a much bigger drain on my finances. I really can't wait to buy a house. Methinks that renting that house's 2nd floor will get me to where I need to be financially much sooner... but I have yet to if it's worth it to lose some of that autonomy and independence I relish so much. So, we'll see.
I wish I could go to work late tomorrow, but I can't. This project needs to be out as soon as possible tomorrow. *Sigh*. The managers are all in Ireland for their Q4 Managers' Meeting. You can tell they are all not here. Some folks are reveling in their newfound albeit temporary freedom. Unfortunately, they return when I am gone. I don't think my boss even has email access right now so I doubt he's seen my emails updating him of what's going on here. My team's actually doing pretty good. We're very well behaved ;)
I sooo miss the tracks... Here's to a promising future of travel and adventure; of learning and growing; of passionate pursuits and blessed merrymaking; of music and love and rainbows in unexpected places. To faith and serendipity, may you ever hold true. Lord, this is all for you.
Amen.
I hate the fact that I am too busy to even enjoy the thought of leaving for LV this Saturday to spend time with my maternal great aunt who happens to be my mom's aunt. She was always my favorite grandma on my mother's side - straightforward, apolitical when it comes to family matters, loyal, fiercely protective of her loved ones, candid, loving, God-fearing... all qualities I so treasure and are yet so rare in the world today. Serendipitously, I learned today - after several consecutive months of unintentional silence - that my childhood friend Ryan will be going to LV to celebrate Thanksgiving, as well! Apparently, his mom lives there, too! Yippee! We plan to meet up.
I've started looking around for places to move into. My first "serious" venture happens to be a really frugal one for me - $475 to rent an entire 2nd floor which includes 2 bedrooms and a sitting area + pets are okay + includes all utilities including wireless internet! Who can beat that?!?! The only caveat is that the owner likes to smoke in the house. I have nothing against smokers, but I don't want to go into a home that smells of smoke. So I am still looking and still deciding if I want to rent an apartment instead. Going that route will certainly give me much more autonomy, but will be a much bigger drain on my finances. I really can't wait to buy a house. Methinks that renting that house's 2nd floor will get me to where I need to be financially much sooner... but I have yet to if it's worth it to lose some of that autonomy and independence I relish so much. So, we'll see.
I wish I could go to work late tomorrow, but I can't. This project needs to be out as soon as possible tomorrow. *Sigh*. The managers are all in Ireland for their Q4 Managers' Meeting. You can tell they are all not here. Some folks are reveling in their newfound albeit temporary freedom. Unfortunately, they return when I am gone. I don't think my boss even has email access right now so I doubt he's seen my emails updating him of what's going on here. My team's actually doing pretty good. We're very well behaved ;)
I sooo miss the tracks... Here's to a promising future of travel and adventure; of learning and growing; of passionate pursuits and blessed merrymaking; of music and love and rainbows in unexpected places. To faith and serendipity, may you ever hold true. Lord, this is all for you.
Amen.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Rajesh's Last Day
Rajesh, Me, Dave, and Naresh at Manuel's
Rajesh leaves tomorrow at 7:15AM. It was his last day today... I never thought I'd get to know and be so fond of one of our coworkers from India. His three month stint has come to an end. Quite sad I only got to know him his last month here. But at least, I got to know him as much as I did... Perhaps I'm mainly to blame for the initial distance between me and our guests from India. I had some resentment to deal with because in my mind, they were still the guys that replaced my friends, Nezha and Vidya! I know it wasn't their fault, but still... I guess I can't help the stubbornness kicking in. But once I got over that and decided to give it a chance, everything went great.
We just got along! It was really great gaining a friend who empathizes in that they are not necessarily entirely assimilated into the local culture here, and in more ways than one, shares the same cultural background as I. Perhaps it also helped we were in the same age group :D I also owe him the fact that I got to know my city AND my colleagues on the other side of the building a little better. We all had a blast. I suppose Scorpios and Taureans really do get along well. Generally, anyway ;)
I almost got all emotional when it was time to say goodbye after a fab dinner at Manuel's with Dave and Naresh (too bad Marco couldn't make it :(). He said I became his best friend here :'( Aw, I'll miss him!
Rajesh, this entry is dedicated to you, man. May you and Shushti end up together ;) May you visit real soon. And I wish you great success in life. I'm so glad we got to know each other. Don't ever forget... you are a special soul... you are AWESOME! :D
Love,
Jenny
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Can you tell I once was a victim of the *P* word?
I can't believe how audacious some people can be.
Fellow students of the world, you are *STUPID* if you think you can't get caught plagiarizing. It's an insult to your intelligence to even bother... not to mention that you undermine your own intelligence by stealing other people's ideas and passing them off as your own! Plagiarism makes your whole project a lie.
In the "real world", if your work ethic is stealing other people's ideas and getting credit for them, you definitely won't last long.
And that's my rant for the day.
Fellow students of the world, you are *STUPID* if you think you can't get caught plagiarizing. It's an insult to your intelligence to even bother... not to mention that you undermine your own intelligence by stealing other people's ideas and passing them off as your own! Plagiarism makes your whole project a lie.
In the "real world", if your work ethic is stealing other people's ideas and getting credit for them, you definitely won't last long.
And that's my rant for the day.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Humans are still better than computers
...especially when it comes to speed. When it comes to processing calculations, the argument could go either way; after all, there is no one person recorded in history who was supposed to have used more than 10% of their brain. So, who knows. But man! I could have gone home 2 hours ago. Excel is taking a tad too long to update my pivot tables. Aaargh. If I didn't mind going bald, I would have probably pulled all my hair out by now.
On a positive note, I finally got my little slide show working. I like :D
On a positive note, I finally got my little slide show working. I like :D
Morning =)
It's 7:47AM, been awake since 7:15AM. Woke up by my body clock, no less! I'm so proud of myself.
Why the non-rush on a Monday morning, you ask?
Well, I got a couple of appointments this morning (one with the doc, one with the dentist), and with the boss's approval, I get this morning off :)
Last night was fantastic. I went out with Gail, Jerri, and eventually Colin to show Rajesh and Naresh - our guests from India - around town. We went to the Imax theater which is lodged in the Texas State Museum, the Capitol, walked the length of Congress all the way to 2nd Street, checked out the (in)famous Driskill Hotel, drank some beer (Bailey's for me!) at the Irish pub Fado, and then had a truly luxurious seafood dinner at Trulucks. I am ashamed to say that in my 3 years + stay in Austin to date, I have never done any of these things save for one or two. I plan to go back to the theater and do more Sunday walkabouts in the city. It's soooo lovely when it is quite empty and the cobblestone/granite/brick streets are ready for some unguided meandering. Gail even had quite a few, as George would say it, lamp-post inducing moments :) Last night made me truly appreciate how great a city Austin is.
The company, the food (oh, the fresh lobster and calamari!), and the sights made for quite an unforgettable and smile-as-if-high-on-MJ-cause-you're-just-so-satisfied Experience. Love it!
Why the non-rush on a Monday morning, you ask?
Well, I got a couple of appointments this morning (one with the doc, one with the dentist), and with the boss's approval, I get this morning off :)
Last night was fantastic. I went out with Gail, Jerri, and eventually Colin to show Rajesh and Naresh - our guests from India - around town. We went to the Imax theater which is lodged in the Texas State Museum, the Capitol, walked the length of Congress all the way to 2nd Street, checked out the (in)famous Driskill Hotel, drank some beer (Bailey's for me!) at the Irish pub Fado, and then had a truly luxurious seafood dinner at Trulucks. I am ashamed to say that in my 3 years + stay in Austin to date, I have never done any of these things save for one or two. I plan to go back to the theater and do more Sunday walkabouts in the city. It's soooo lovely when it is quite empty and the cobblestone/granite/brick streets are ready for some unguided meandering. Gail even had quite a few, as George would say it, lamp-post inducing moments :) Last night made me truly appreciate how great a city Austin is.
The company, the food (oh, the fresh lobster and calamari!), and the sights made for quite an unforgettable and smile-as-if-high-on-MJ-cause-you're-just-so-satisfied Experience. Love it!
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Quickie Update
1. After 2 long years & 363 days, I am now single and loving it. I feel, once again, that the world ahead has no bounds.
Hindsight is always 20/20 and a bird will always want to be free whether the cage is gilted or not. The point is, you never put the bird in a cage. You let it come back to you.
2. After working as a Report Analyst cum Marking Liaison for 2 years, I got promoted to Business Analyst & Design Engineer/Creative Designer. Ok, I got a huge raise, and I do love it, but I like the opportunities more - travel, education, learning to manage projects and people. I still can't be thankful enough to God for giving me this chance of a lifetime. It's a great career and I hope I continue to grow in it for years to come. Most of all, the culture and the people are awesome, and I have the best boss on earth.
3. I haven't gone to Church in *ages*. I want to go back. I'm still a Catholic, if only by name. I want to be one in practice.
4. I'm renewing/reinforcing/refreshing relationships with family. My mom, most of all, my brother, my Grandma Lulu (mom's Aunt), Aunts Edna and Marissa (whom I am absolutely proud of), and my dad. I like, I like, I like!
5. I'm planning to move into a house next year. Note I didn't say buy a house, but move into one. I'm learning it's more practical (and less lonely, I'm sure) to be someone's house mate. I found a great contact on craigslist who is willing to rent his entire 2nd floor (2 bedrooms, 1 bath, sitting room) for a good price! I just hope his place is still available come Feb/March 2007. Eventually, I do plan to buy a house. Especially when my brother finally moves here.
6. I just bought a digital camera. Finally! I got me a Canon S3 IS :D.
7. I'm visiting Granny Lulu on the 18th of November. 2 more weeks to go! I can't wait! I've already booked my flights with Delta and Southwest, and reserved my first rental car with Budget. Woohoo! We even have tickets to the Cirque du Soleil show at the Bellagio! Woohooooooo!
8. I got no plans for Christmas yet. Any (cheap) suggestions?
9. I spent last night at Annie's. It was awesome fun. We enjoyed ourselves and plan to do sleepovers more often! I've forgotten how fun it was to be a girl.
10. I still suck with being tidy and organized. Hey isn't it comforting to know some things never change? ;) I'm working on it.
Let's leave it at 10. Perhaps a longer post next time... ;)
Heidi, I miss you. Start blogging again, will ya?
Hindsight is always 20/20 and a bird will always want to be free whether the cage is gilted or not. The point is, you never put the bird in a cage. You let it come back to you.
2. After working as a Report Analyst cum Marking Liaison for 2 years, I got promoted to Business Analyst & Design Engineer/Creative Designer. Ok, I got a huge raise, and I do love it, but I like the opportunities more - travel, education, learning to manage projects and people. I still can't be thankful enough to God for giving me this chance of a lifetime. It's a great career and I hope I continue to grow in it for years to come. Most of all, the culture and the people are awesome, and I have the best boss on earth.
3. I haven't gone to Church in *ages*. I want to go back. I'm still a Catholic, if only by name. I want to be one in practice.
4. I'm renewing/reinforcing/refreshing relationships with family. My mom, most of all, my brother, my Grandma Lulu (mom's Aunt), Aunts Edna and Marissa (whom I am absolutely proud of), and my dad. I like, I like, I like!
5. I'm planning to move into a house next year. Note I didn't say buy a house, but move into one. I'm learning it's more practical (and less lonely, I'm sure) to be someone's house mate. I found a great contact on craigslist who is willing to rent his entire 2nd floor (2 bedrooms, 1 bath, sitting room) for a good price! I just hope his place is still available come Feb/March 2007. Eventually, I do plan to buy a house. Especially when my brother finally moves here.
6. I just bought a digital camera. Finally! I got me a Canon S3 IS :D.
7. I'm visiting Granny Lulu on the 18th of November. 2 more weeks to go! I can't wait! I've already booked my flights with Delta and Southwest, and reserved my first rental car with Budget. Woohoo! We even have tickets to the Cirque du Soleil show at the Bellagio! Woohooooooo!
8. I got no plans for Christmas yet. Any (cheap) suggestions?
9. I spent last night at Annie's. It was awesome fun. We enjoyed ourselves and plan to do sleepovers more often! I've forgotten how fun it was to be a girl.
10. I still suck with being tidy and organized. Hey isn't it comforting to know some things never change? ;) I'm working on it.
Let's leave it at 10. Perhaps a longer post next time... ;)
Heidi, I miss you. Start blogging again, will ya?
Friday, November 03, 2006
Still Catching Up in Austin
It's been a week since Bentonville and I am still trying to catch up with the horde of projects that is Nestle. I'm certainly not complaining about the Nestle projects - I am complaining about the measly number of hours that comprise a day. Seriously! I need more time!!!
I did say I'd talk more about Bentonville, but I'll post about that later. I'm still at work and it's 8PM. I'm just tired and need to rant and let out a little (in the manner of words, of course).
Before I forget, Nestle (Mike, Chip, Monica, Nancy, Jim) and Laney (the best Account Manager on earth) is visiting this week, with Mike and Chip staying till next week. Fun. I so love them! They're an excellent group of people to work with.
A couple things that have been keeping my thoughts all jumpy and excited as of late is that:
1. I just found my favorite grandma (Grandma Lulu, mom's aunt)! I haven't seen her for like what, 10+ years? I've been looking for her since I moved to the States and I just happened to give my mom a call when she serendipitously just happened to receive a letter from my favorite gran. I jumped at the chance to give her a call and we've been talking ever since. I'm even visiting her for Thanksgiving and spending a whole week with her! I'm so excited - we're even watching a Cirque du Soleil show together. *Sigh* And finally, I am old enough to rent my own car. Heh. I'll be in Vegas/Henderson City for about a week and already have my plane tickets and my car reserved. Woot :D
2. My mom finally wrote me a letter! I'm so glad to announce we have reconciled and made up and are making up for lost time. She's going through so many difficulties in Manila right now, it pains me. I can't wait to be in a position to help her significantly.
Oh and another thing is, my brother and I are talking (regularly) again. I'm so glad about that.
Well my last project for the day is finally done.
Will post again later. Just a quick update.
I did say I'd talk more about Bentonville, but I'll post about that later. I'm still at work and it's 8PM. I'm just tired and need to rant and let out a little (in the manner of words, of course).
Before I forget, Nestle (Mike, Chip, Monica, Nancy, Jim) and Laney (the best Account Manager on earth) is visiting this week, with Mike and Chip staying till next week. Fun. I so love them! They're an excellent group of people to work with.
A couple things that have been keeping my thoughts all jumpy and excited as of late is that:
1. I just found my favorite grandma (Grandma Lulu, mom's aunt)! I haven't seen her for like what, 10+ years? I've been looking for her since I moved to the States and I just happened to give my mom a call when she serendipitously just happened to receive a letter from my favorite gran. I jumped at the chance to give her a call and we've been talking ever since. I'm even visiting her for Thanksgiving and spending a whole week with her! I'm so excited - we're even watching a Cirque du Soleil show together. *Sigh* And finally, I am old enough to rent my own car. Heh. I'll be in Vegas/Henderson City for about a week and already have my plane tickets and my car reserved. Woot :D
2. My mom finally wrote me a letter! I'm so glad to announce we have reconciled and made up and are making up for lost time. She's going through so many difficulties in Manila right now, it pains me. I can't wait to be in a position to help her significantly.
Oh and another thing is, my brother and I are talking (regularly) again. I'm so glad about that.
Well my last project for the day is finally done.
Will post again later. Just a quick update.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Waiting in Dallas
DFW - Dang Fuckin' Wait.
I'm actually cool and not in a hurry. But anyone who knows me well also knows I am extremely impatient. Most of the time. I hate having to wait when I technically don't need to. It's both a trait my dad tried to redeem me of and a trait shared equally among my closest friends, perhaps mostly with Sarah ;) Thank goodness I have a laptop to use and a wireless connection to go with it.
I am on my way back home (currently Austin) from a 2 and a half day trip to Bentonville, Arkansas wherein we got to meet some potential clients and learn more about the Wal*Mart culture back there. I'd say the trip went real well. We have 3 promising contacts, and learned a bit more about how businesses deal with Wal*Mart with the other two.
I didn't expect much in the way of sights to see, going there. Much to my surprise - and delight - the area was extremely pretty, with the fall colors of deep red, fiery orange, deep yellow in full bloom. It was a rural type of area for sure, and it had the quaint, darling feel of a little town in the south, at least until you see the looming Wal*Mart Distribution Centers marking the underlying presence of a giant retail industry just waiting to take over the world. It wasn't as blatant as I thought it would be, but you sure could feel the presence of a great looming force out there. You can tell that Wal*Mart's changed the town; whether for better for worse is probably a matter of perspective. You can see that the area is definitely riding the wave of progress, and that its local economy is booming.
Surprisingly, there is not much of a presence of food chains in the area. A lot of the places to eat are locally owned enterprises that have a home-cooked feel to them, but also have the most delicious gastronomic delights in the planet. The best steak of my life I've had in Bentonville, AK. If you ever go out there, you better check out Doe's Eat Place. Its melt in your mouth steak and world famous hot tamales are absolutely fantastic. For a unique experience, check out Briosos Brazilian steak house. They have a set menu that includes soup, some really yummy cheese toast, a world-class salad buffet (with lots of Smoked Salmon, capers, and dill sauce!), and different kinds of meats carved tableside.
*Sigh*
More on the Bentonville story later... I think our plane is about to board (Finally!). I wish I had taken pictures. I'm definitely buying a digital camera come QIP :D
Thank goodness I didn't have to wait till 2010 to post!
~ Jen
I'm actually cool and not in a hurry. But anyone who knows me well also knows I am extremely impatient. Most of the time. I hate having to wait when I technically don't need to. It's both a trait my dad tried to redeem me of and a trait shared equally among my closest friends, perhaps mostly with Sarah ;) Thank goodness I have a laptop to use and a wireless connection to go with it.
I am on my way back home (currently Austin) from a 2 and a half day trip to Bentonville, Arkansas wherein we got to meet some potential clients and learn more about the Wal*Mart culture back there. I'd say the trip went real well. We have 3 promising contacts, and learned a bit more about how businesses deal with Wal*Mart with the other two.
I didn't expect much in the way of sights to see, going there. Much to my surprise - and delight - the area was extremely pretty, with the fall colors of deep red, fiery orange, deep yellow in full bloom. It was a rural type of area for sure, and it had the quaint, darling feel of a little town in the south, at least until you see the looming Wal*Mart Distribution Centers marking the underlying presence of a giant retail industry just waiting to take over the world. It wasn't as blatant as I thought it would be, but you sure could feel the presence of a great looming force out there. You can tell that Wal*Mart's changed the town; whether for better for worse is probably a matter of perspective. You can see that the area is definitely riding the wave of progress, and that its local economy is booming.
Surprisingly, there is not much of a presence of food chains in the area. A lot of the places to eat are locally owned enterprises that have a home-cooked feel to them, but also have the most delicious gastronomic delights in the planet. The best steak of my life I've had in Bentonville, AK. If you ever go out there, you better check out Doe's Eat Place. Its melt in your mouth steak and world famous hot tamales are absolutely fantastic. For a unique experience, check out Briosos Brazilian steak house. They have a set menu that includes soup, some really yummy cheese toast, a world-class salad buffet (with lots of Smoked Salmon, capers, and dill sauce!), and different kinds of meats carved tableside.
*Sigh*
More on the Bentonville story later... I think our plane is about to board (Finally!). I wish I had taken pictures. I'm definitely buying a digital camera come QIP :D
Thank goodness I didn't have to wait till 2010 to post!
~ Jen
Friday, July 07, 2006
Warming Up
*Rubs hands till a sufficient amount of warmth is produced."
Just dropping by to say hi and feel like a legitimate "blogger" once again.
Will be back to write more and catch up - maybe post pictures (YAY!) - after work. Which means I won't be back till 2010 ;)
I miss the tracks.
~ Jenny
Just dropping by to say hi and feel like a legitimate "blogger" once again.
Will be back to write more and catch up - maybe post pictures (YAY!) - after work. Which means I won't be back till 2010 ;)
I miss the tracks.
~ Jenny
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
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