Rationale

There is an apparent reason for every item I spent my money on today. I should not listen to that other inner voice dictating my other brain lobe that I splurged because it's absolutely of no truth. (repeat last statement 10x).

1. MyBook 1TB. I learned my lesson the hard way, when I lost my office laptop (and iPod!) few months back and I never had any backups since day 1 of my work. Since my personal stuff is highly essential, and completes my human life, I make sure this time it's all backed up and redundant enough not to lose anything I worked hard for (pictures, personal docs, pictures again, and more pictures).
2. MicroSD Card. I lost my iPod fine. And I can't survive days without listening to my music. So I'm going to convert my BB to an iPod with this 8GB capacity SD. Looks enough for me.
3. Swatch. It's my mom birthday on September and she deserves it. Gotta give it to her on my Pinas visit next week.
4. The Lovely Bones. I think this book is really for me. There's only one copy left from Times on this nation and I got it reserved for me. I couldn't wait that I went to Funan to pick it up myself. It's got a tear in the front cover but I bought it anyway. I promise myself to read this book during my UK trip 2 weeks from now.
5. Gel Mouse Pad. This is a favor from a friend I will visit in Northern Ireland. Of course, this is my "pasalubong" for her na din.

Well, so I guess it's all needs than wants. I had a good deal to myself today.

Trying Hard

Hi. My name is Delfin. Friends call me Delpoy. And I'm certainly in need of attention.

Ok enough of that. I'm glad I'm back to writing though I don't know when I can be as good to stay up to this after being away for months now. Honestly, I don't care. I don't really care if I'm in or out of blog. I just want to go back to where I used to shout, and keep record of things I observe of myself and the world and forget it in the long run.

I am certainly rambling. But understand that I'm warming up here. And I'm trying hard to get my rusty writing back to it shiny smooth condition.

I think I should stop here. Or I rather should blame twitter. Now I can say a lot in 140 characters than to gather long senseless words to fill my blog.

Looking Back and Forward

How time flies really fast. It was almost unnoticeable until I stood in front of the mirror and saw the creases and marks of wisdom (I have to sound good). There may never have a perfect year in my lifetime but I think it is the imperfection that always makes the year so exciting, challenging, rewarding, unique, and worth living.

We had a sort of year-end meeting in the office (complete 4 of us) and I personally enjoyed it, having to recount the year that was and discussing our lofty personal and work endeavors. It was my first time to finally introduced my background to my team after being with them a couple of months now.

My 2008 has been unique mainly due to personal gains and losses.

* Until August 2009, our family will have our first firsts without my dad.
* I bid good bye to teaching and hello to banking
* lots of major travels; major =>sgd600; minor =< sgd500 (my personal definition hehe)
* faith experience
* personal discoveries
* new laptop
* new friends (and enemies!)

I stopped listing my new year's resolutions but the heck, it still feels good to see the words of reminders.

Here are my lists of less and more:

LESS

* credit card swipes (geez I can't believe it topped my list!)
* MAJOR travels (see definition above!)
* material living except for shoes, watches, shirts (ok I'm kidding!)

MORE

* patience, patience, and patience!
* organize
* forgiving (but can't really help to feel indignant at times)
* assertive
* prayer time
* careful (in general)
* movies to watch (hehe)

A happy new year.

Quick and Sharp

After finishing my read of Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, I was so excited to go to the bookshop and get another one to read. I was choosing between The Lucky Ones of Nich Sparks and Middlesex of Jeffrey Eugenides and finally decided to get the latter. Both are interesting though except for the price so I will just ask my friends to get me Spark's for Christmas.

Anyways, my story ain't about that. As I was paying it, with much conviction I told the staff that I am a bookshop member and if they honor it for the item. He asked me to present my card and I did it with delight. I was halfway pulling it from my wallet when he saw something that made him to react with humility, "I'm sorry Sir this is not Times, it's MPH."

"Oh I'm so sorry. I had a long day. Blame it on my work but I'm deeply sorry", I said.

I was apologetic and to my embarassment, I strode myself away from the cashier and went across back to our coffee table in Gloria Jeans, to where we ate non-Gloria Jeans food.

Another book to read, another story to kid.

Movies

RockNRolla
-----------------------
amusingly and creative clever.

Nights at Rodanthe
-------------------------
very Nicholas Sparks.

Tropic Thunder
--------------------
there must be a second installment.

Max Payne
---------------
like chewing gum while eating lunch.

Ironic

1. Drained but active.
2. Hungry but full.
3. Patient but anxious.
4. Positive but negative.
5. Friendly but snobbish.
6. Mature but childish.
7. Bully but sensitive.
8. Excited but worried.
9. Broke but splurgy
10. Seeking advice but unwilling to listen.
11. Seeking to be understood but not to understand.
12. Ending the suffer but extending the life.
    
13. Prayerful but sinful.

and the list goes on...life is an irony.

Sunday Like Never a Weekend

11:00pm (Sat) - 2:00am
Midnight chat with Kuya Edwin, Meg, and Jo at home, talking some highs and lows and moymoypalaboy.

2:00am - 11:00 am
Sleep

2:00pm - 3:30pm
At Holy Trinity Church for my sharing about CLP Talk 7: Christian Family with Cleo as the speaker. I was surprised to see a a sister participant who was a childhood neighbor.

4:00pm - 6:00pm
With Louie, Jess, and Janice at Plaza Singapura to shop for Louie's prenup attire, to which I end up buying a cardigan for myself.

6:00pm - 7:00pm
Mass at Good Shepherd Church.

8:00pm - 11:30pm
Dinner at Jess' place with Lenie, Lou, Louie, Janice, and Reggie. We had baked crab and prawn in garlic and butter. We had so much fun bullying each other and crushing other friends through our silly speculation-but-soon-to-find-out stories.

Then I did the one round of laundry before going to bed so I can save time tomorrow (but lose time for sleep).