It's so near........

How fast time flies!!! It's already October. And THE-day is so near (*hello lolo!!! don't forget ha)... hehehe. As compared to my previous years, this time I'm not that rich. I guess the DB from my previous employment counts a lot as I celebrate the big day. At least I won't have to give a big bash here at my present job because nobody knows... and if they do, I'll just prepare a nice Goodie Cookie line up for everyone.

Doodle doodle

I'm sorta at the state wherein I'm re-evaluating my life.. what I have been doing these past years and where to go exactly. There are a lot of questions still unanswered. Anyway, these are the things that I've been up to these days..

- I've been reading Rich Dad Poor Dad
It's a book that I bought at Serendra (Fully Booked). It basically talks about the importance of financial literacy and the importance of getting yourself out of the "rat race". Sometimes I wish I didn't really bought nor read it. It makes me realize that after working for almost 4 years, I haven't really established much, financially speaking. True that I have a savings account and a bond fund going on but then again I ask myself, 4 years and I only managed to have this? *sigh* Makes me sad to think about that. But there are times that I'm thankful that I shed P400 for it because there are good insights regarding the difference in mentality between the rich and the poor.

It also made me somehow thankful that I took accountancy as a course because the terminologies are easier to understand and manipulate.

- I've joined our Company's bazaar
It's a one day event so I grabbed the opportunity. Of course I showcased my Goodie Cookie collection. SOLD OUT!!! hehehe...I observed that people really liked my cookies although the brownies and butterscotch bars were also saleable. It's a good thing that I completed the roster of my cookies -- crinkles, chocolate chip and oatmeal. I made some modifications in terms of packaging, quantity and the price. The experience was great but the things I had to endure were sleeplessness, fatigue and not to mention the heat in the vicinity.

They are bugging me to make some for Christmas. another set of customers for me.

- Presentations, presentations and presentations
I've been doing a lot of powerpoint presentations lately. grabe!!! pero I like it. hehehe..

Sige na.... Fine!!!

Sige na!!! Fine fine fine!!!

Sabi ko na nga ba e.... From the first time I saw you... YOU ARE NOT NICE AT ALL. You are hiding at the skirt of your _ _ _ _. You are telling me that -- why don't you check your records first? Or maybe try asking your staff? Analyze what needs to be analyzed. It's like you are implying that you don't want this person to handle it next time. Well, sorry, that is not in your hands!!! Oh well... As per record, it's clean...

This situation is synonymous with auditing an old client with a new team. Well, the client won't be able to do anything about it!!! bleh bleh....

PS
Release lang ng tension friends. BAHALA KAYO!!!

Places to Chomp

These past few weeks have been a truly remarkable adventure for our stomachs as we search and tried some new restaurants here in Manila. After almost three years of trying stuff that are present in Greenbelt 3 and Glorietta, it's good to have an exposure to new tastes and aromas and healthier alternatives.

SEAFOOD MARKET (located in the middle of UN Ave. and Padre Faura)
It has the concept of "dampa" wherein you'll buy your goods fresh and just tell them how you like your goods to be cooked. What made it different is that the cost of cooking is already incorporated in the prices of the fresh goodies.

Upon entering, they will give you a push cart. Their goods are comprised of mussels, squid, shrimps, fish (lapu-lapu), lobsters, crabs and produce (veggies, mushrooms, fruits). At the end of the line is the cashier, where all your goodies will be weighed and priced.

We bought the following:
4 pcs shrimp (tempura size)
3 pcs squid (too small to be grilled, size is suitable for adobong pusit)
1/4 kl clams (clam soup)
a little bit of shitake and button mushrooms, brocolli, carrots, chicharo, string beans (chop suey)
1 coconut (drink)

All these for the price of P950++. This didn't include one cup of rice and house tea. Our bill was P1,068. Very pricey for 2 people. hehehe.. The food and service were great. Everything was cooked deliciously especially the clam soup and the chop suey. I computed the cost per dish and it turned out that the veggie dish was the most expensive -- ousting the P300 tempura.

I noticed also that most of the customers are foreigners. At the end of our meal, a table not so far caught our attention. The waiter served them a huge lobster. What puzzled us is that the "feelers" of the creature are still moving. To our horror, we saw the lobster's body is cut in half and its meat freshly scraped from the shell. Ewww... I dunno that the fresh version is a delicacy. Poor lobster, being eaten alive.

Next stop.... DYNASTY RESTAURANT (just across Manila Pavilion)

A typical Chinese restaurant. Since I've eaten already at Delifrance, poohbear chose the meal. He ordered yang chow (authentic!!) and beef in oyster sauce. They also have fresh goodies kept alive -- lobster, clams, "alupihang dagat", lapu-lapu, king fish... A bit pricey but the food is ok naman. The smallest serving of the dishes is P200++ minimum.

LA MESA GRILL (at the back of MOA)

I dunno if it's true but I think someone told me that it is owned by Sharon Cuneta. It's the same banana with Gerry's, Dencio's, Congo Grill... The place is designed with bamboo walls. Aside from the ala carte dishes, they also have seafood platters. The is one peculiar page in the menu that says --"niluto sa asin dagat".... something like that but we didn't try it. We just ordered the seafood platter and pinakbet. Affordably priced, the food tastes great but has a slightly smaller serving than its counterparts. They have a wide array of cocktails and spirits. We ordered long island iced tea (his) and weng weng (mine). Excellent service and you won't have to wait long for your food.\

HOTEL KIMBERLY BUFFET BREAKFAST

For only P199net, you would be able to enjoy a buffet breakfast of diferent kinds -- cereals, congee, pansit, tocino, ham, garlic rice, fruits, eggs, coffee, juice, bread (they even have a toaster on the table), jams and preserves..... As for eggs, they have this EGG STATION where eggs are cooked fresh according to your wishes. You can have omelette (with onions, ham, tomatoes), sunny side up or scrambled. They only serve few contents of each at the buffet table and refill the same frequently -- to ensure that the food is always warm and freshly cooked. Sooooo sulit.

Feel hungry already??? hehehhe..... more updates next time.

Happy weeksary in Work!!! (and other updates)

Yipee!!!

Another week has been added to my cap. It's one of the challenging days of my worklife. The one who turned over the job to me is not here which leaves ME and the job. Familiarity is my main hurdle. The job is too risky in the sense that whatever happens, the deadline won't budge and accuracy is a must. I've been here for some weeks. I haven't been really able to know who handles what and who's assigned to where and stuff like that. My work requires a lot of crucial information. Extracting such and finding the person to provide such is kinda difficult given the fact the you are only given limited amount of time. I'm thankful that I was able to pull it off. =)

What else, what else??? yeah, my pamangkin celebrated her 1 month yesterday. yey!!! My brother relayed the news. They celebrated it with cake and pansit in the apartment. Wonder what she'll be when she grows up. Can't believe that my brothers are already fathers (Kuya Memon's kid is coming soon this Sept. 15). Me? I'm frequently asked kung kelan daw ako... hahaha... I just say that I'm still young and I still have so many things to do in life before I settle down.

I have a new book -- Rich Dad, Poor Dad. It's a good book daw according to peeps and it's a bestseller. Haven't started it yet because I usually spend my precious travel time sleeping. When I go home, I sleep also.. so really no time and energy to flip through the pages.

I have been drafting my personal budget and other financial statements. I think gone are the days when I splurged on my salary in my new work.. hehehe... Gotta put the cash in the right funds and expenses. hehehe... and live by Colayco's KALAYAAN SA KAKAPUSAN campaign. I'm not really kapos kasi I have secret stashes (lolo's term). Siguro I'm more of "adding" to what I already have. hehehe...

I guess that's it. =) happy weekend.

Fresh Start

(look look look Lolo!!! I have title already... yey!!!)

Fresh start.... I've been here (new job) for 2 weeks already. I can say that the change of environment and people really helped revitalize me... to set goals and to set things right for my career.

I dropped by at my former office last week and because my effectivity was on August 26, I was only allowed to stay in the lobby. I saw some of my areamates -- they were just about to go home (12 midnight, on a FRIDAY night). Chat chat... and they keep on bugging me as to where I really transferred. hehehe... of course I didn't tell for some reasons.

I had a short realization... I didn't miss my old life there. The people would always be a part of my circle of friends but they won't be the reason for me to go back. My current encounters with them is on a much lighter feeling. They could tell that I'm much more happy with where I am now.

Up to now, I haven't been able to make the "thank you" email to everyone. But before I do that, I intend to construct a personal email to a few of my bosses.

To my former office, I'd also would want to say thank you. It has been almost four years of unforgettable experiences. I've learned and endured a lot. I've made people happy and angry as well. I wouldn't regret the years of my life spent there because I believe that my experiences will help me as a tool/guide as I face my future.