Moments, Captured In Words

Three Stories

January Thaw

The past few days have been unseasonably warm, much to my delight, of course. With temperatures in the upper 50's and 40's, it is very easy to trick myself into believing that spring is almost here. The huge mounds of snow had disappeared in no time, and I can see some grass (though it is not as green) again. Most of all, it is very nice to walk outside without putting a coat on, a hat, gloves, and boots! I even got away with wearing just a light cotton sweater one time! But reality sets in and this weekend is going to be cold once more. Today it is pouring and I'm certain it will all be downhill, weather-wise, from here on. Ah, well. I'm not looking forward to enduring the bitter cold New York winters again, but this brief January thaw was nice while it lasted.

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Hillary for President?

Coming from a country who already had two women presidents, I think it is just the daftest, if not the most dangerous, thing to vote for someone amd base your choice largely on gender. I'm sure you've all heard about those feminists raving about how it's time to finally have a descendant of Eve in the Oval Office. Great, just great. And Hillary's (calculated?) emotional outburst in New Hampshire recently was said to have touched a chord in the hearts of women that became a defining factor in her winning that state's primaries. Yesterday on the way home, I almost got sick on my stomach when I heard those stupid ladies on radio sympathizing with Hillary and telling about how they changed their votes when they saw her cry. I mean, come on, surely people can tell that those were crocodile tears?! Here's a woman who is stoic all the time, whether on national issues (including the plight of troops in Iraq) or her own marriage, but faced with the looming probability that her campaign would be in shambles following a defeat in New Hampshire, she is suddenly terrified! Losing power and the chance to make the record books as the nation's first woman president is, quite obviously, her greatest fear. Obama's charisma is overwhelming, and he was riding strong in the Granite State until Hillary's dramatic show of emotion that rallied the women voters behind her. What is it with the female psyche that naturally commiserates with one who is hurting, even if it was all for the wrong reasons. Hillary didn't cry because she deeply cared about this country; she shed tears because she is scared of losing her bid for presidency! I hate to say this, but women do have a propensity to be stupid especially when they let emotions cloud their judgment. There is no better proof of that than what happened in New Hampshire. Why do I care so much about American politics, anyway? I am not a citizen of this country, after all, and I do not have the right to vote in this year's elections. But I have a daughter to raise and this country better be in damn good shape when she's growing up! That can only happen if the US has sincere, capable leaders who do not lust after power like Hillary does! What's worse, she does not have conviction at all. She changes her mind as quickly as the next poll results changes! Hillary for president, then? Women of America, please wake up!

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Boopy Updates

Eowyn is really talking up a storm these days. Everyday she is learning new words and phrases, and it's so funny to hear her blurt out something that she's heard from us, on tv, or on the movies she has been watching. Here are a few of the things that she has been saying on a regular basis:

- help me (sometimes, she says "help baby")

- i'm stuck!

- imagine that!

- again? again?

- honey, not!

- read book, please

- baby, utot (after she farted)

- let's go!

- i got you!

- pee-yow? pee-yow? (she's always looking for her pillow, and drags pillows all over the house too. Dan says Wyn has a pillow fetish... ha ha!)

- hug baby

- kiss baby

- it's a light!

- hi, Foster! (when I ask her "What did you say to Foster?" Feeling talaga!)

Snow on New Year's Eve

Okay, so I'm working... and bored to death! It's such a slow, dead day here in the office. Aside from me, only four other people are around in our department. Ho-hum! My only consolation, I guess, is that I have such a pretty view outside my window. Snow covered the trees and the almost empty parking lot --- it's just a winter wonderland out there! If I am not scared of cold weather, I probably would have gone snow-shoeing with two of my colleagues too... but that type of sport is not for me. I'm happy to stay indoors, warm and comfy while enjoying the view.

I don't like winter, but days like this makes me want to change my mind. It's just so beautiful out! I feel almost like a character in some quaint winter story, or a figure in one of those pretty winter scene photos. A cup of hot cocoa with some marshmallows and I'm content to just stay in my little corner.

Here are some more pics that my co-worker took this morning. Enjoy!

wet snow on the branches

one reason to love winter

winter wonderland

Flurries!

Today we got our first snow fall of the season!

My officemate and I were heading out from Macy's when a rather big snowflake touched my cheek. I blinked my eye, uncertain about what I saw. It was quite cold and blustery, but I did not think snow was in the forecast at all. And then just when I was about to brush it off as just a figment of my imagination, down came more flurries, twirling and dancing across the parking lot on this chilly November day. It was a pretty sight!

It is still snowing now as I write this. And while I do prefer warmer weather, there is something almost magical about seeing the first snow of winter. People are in a festive mood in the office, delighted to watch the flurries fly past the windows. For a moment, the sun came out to peek behind the clouds and it was really quite amazing to watch the play of sunlight and swirling snow against a backdrop of leafless trees and a few evergreens. I wish I have a camera with me so I can take pictures or a video because mere words are just not enough to describe the beauty of it.

Anyways, bundle up and stay warm this weekend, everyone!

Sad

It really depresses me, knowing that summer is almost over. L  Today is a warm, beautiful day… perfect for going out on a picnic, a swim on the beach, a walk on the park.  Instead, I am stuck in the office, slaving away for an hour more before I can go home.

The days have gotten shorter too.  It already gets dark by 8 pm, but I guess I shouldn’t complain considering that the sun always sets in the Philippines by 6 pm or earlier.  Ah, well... my point is that soon enough, it will get dark by around 4:30 pm!  That thought is really distressing!

How come summer seems to fly by but winter just drags on and on?  Haaaayyy, buhaayyy...

Wa diri, wa didto...

Baby Stories

Last night, Eowyn did two very funny things:

• We were playing on the floor together, enjoying these wee moments of bliss, when I exclaimed “Kiss mommy, Wyn!” To my surprise, she started pointing at her cheeks and did that everytime I say “kiss mommy.” Only then did I realize that she was copying me because I always point at my cheeks before when I tell her to “kiss mommy.” Silly baby!
• Before bedtime, she crawled out of bed, leave the room, say “bah-bye,” wave her hand, and close the door behind her. Then within a few seconds of doing that, she would reappear with a big smile on her face, I would say hello, and she would do the same thing all over again. It was really quite cute!

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Paper Cut

Leche! Oooops… sorry for swearing. I just got an infernal cut between my thumb and pointer finger as I accidentally swiped a piece of paper in the area. I can never quite understand paper cuts. Paper edges are not really sharp, but if they stroke your skin at the wrong angle, you get slashed! I flinched as blood spurted out from the fine cut on my skin. Leche talaga!

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Remembering DTI

When I was still working at DTI, I remember that Ate Zenda and I were the two people who most complained at how cold it is in the office. Sometimes, the temperature would drop to about 18° Celcius (or about 65° Fahrenheit), and I really thought that it was freezing cold despite wearing a long-sleeved blazer. While I still find temps in the 60’s a little chilly, at least I do not shiver anymore. It’s about like that here in the office now, and I am just wearing a sleeveless blouse, capris, and bare sandals! Kung sauna pa ni, nagkurug-kurog na siguro ang akong beauty, Ate Zends! Suddenly I am struck by a pang of homesickness. I miss you all, guys!

Sans My Sunglasses

I made the mistake of leaving the office without my sunglasses – and oh boy, that really cost me! The glare of the sun was almost blinding, and really I was tempted to go back and get them, but laziness won over practicality. Besides, I told myself, I won’t be out for long, and my feet are hurting from wearing my new pair of sandals. I didn’t want to turn around so I could save my footsies the agony of a few extra steps. Heehee!

Anyway, I was never a big fan of sunglasses, until more recently. In the past, give or take a few years ago, I rarely ever wore them. And in the few instances that I did, it was more fashion-driven and not because I want to protect my eyes from the sun’s harmful UV rays.

But now… it’s really funny because I can’t seem to live without them, especially when I’m out in the sun. Last winter wasn’t so bad. The sun’s glare wasn’t as strong as it is now, or am I just imagining things? I remember Dan telling me once that the sun sits low in the horizon during winter, so maybe that is one reason why the glare isn’t so bad then.

If I even venture out without my sunglasses now (on the assumption that it’s a bright, sunny day), I would be squinting the whole time – and that’s not good at all! Maybe it’s just my eyes, maybe I am just getting older… who knows? But whatever, I’m not leaving my sunglasses anymore the next time I go out. J 

Hot... and senti!

I just stepped out of the office for a little walk, and my oh my oh my! It was so hot outside, it feels almost like summer. I’m definitely not complaining – this is my kind of weather! The warm air actually reminded me of mid-afternoon strolls in the boondocks of Mintal (where the UPMin campus is) to grab a snack either in Marichu’s cafeteria or in one of those little stores by the roadside. Whew! That seems like a lifetime away, but I do miss those days! Sa mga ka-berks nako sa UPMin, gimingaw na ko ninyo!

Miserable

Sometimes I am just plain stupid, or maybe recklessly bull-headed is a more appropriate term. Despite weather forecasts predicting that today will be a cold day, I defied all odds and (gasp!) wore only a long-sleeved shirt and a light hoodie to work.

Geez.

I reckoned that since it was sunny this morning while I was getting dressed, it wouldn’t be cold at all. (Yeah, talk about stupidity and bull-headedness!) More sensible logic didn’t prevail as I really convinced myself that today would be one of those warm spring days – despite what the meteorologists are saying!

Now I am afraid to venture outside. It is cloudy and gloomy, and there are even a few flurries. So who’s to blame? Eeeeek! I see a thousand accusing fingers pointing at me!

Guilty!

Just my thoughts...

A few days ago, I was reading a baby magazine and one of the articles that really jumped at me was about choices mothers have to make – whether to stay at home or work. To me, it is still an ongoing battle and I must confess that there are days when I wonder if pursuing a career is really the right thing to do, or whether staying home to take care of Eowyn is the best alternative. It’s not an easy choice, and my conviction varies from day to day.

I was almost teary-eyed when one mom said that she never regretted quitting her job because she is with her baby 24/7, and that she never has to ask someone else about how her baby’s day has been. How I wish I can say the same for myself! A lot of times during my work day, I do wonder what Eowyn is doing, but I just have to content myself with phone calls and conversations with Joyce, as well as the hand-written notes she always gives us about all the things Eowyn did during the day.

Am I missing something? Definitely. But then it also makes me appreciate every moment I spend with Eowyn more than ever. Because I am not with her all the time, every second with her is precious to me – and even if she gets a little too fussy, I now have more patience with her than I ever did before when I still wasn’t working. At least, getting bored just staying home and being too tired taking care of the baby are out of the picture now.

Being a working mom is a big challenge, but I also know that this is something I want to do. I’ve long ago found out that I am definitely not cut out for the role of Little Ms. Housewife. And while family will always be my number one priority, the opportunity to pursue my own career and have an identity separate from simply being good ol’ reliable mommy is also important to me.

I guess we all have to make choices. The trick though is how to strike the right balance between family and pursuing your own personal goals. I know I’d rot to the core if all I ever do is stay home, cook, clean, mind the baby, etc. And I also know I won’t be happy if my world revolves around work alone.

I may not be in my ideal place just yet, but I am happy where I am. I know I’ll get there someday.

headache

So… if you have a headache and a dose of Tylenol isn’t doing the job, what do you do? Bang your head against the wall? Pull your hair until your scalp tingles? Nothing just seems to be helping, not even a breath of fresh air. Ah well. The clock is ticking and in less than an hour, I’m outta here! Yay!

Water Cooler

We had a new state-of-the-art water cooler installed here in the office last week --- and the first time I tried to use it, I couldn’t figure out how to get hot water from the thing. Naturally, I was sheepish and felt so promdi, inwardly despising these high-tech gadgets but at the same time chastising myself for not being as tech-savvy as the others were!

Eventually, I learned to use it after much experimentation and observation. The trick to getting hot water was to press both the hot water button and the start button at the same time. When you want cold water, you simply just press the start button.

Yesterday, one of my officemates (who was on leave the past week) came over to my desk, scratching her head because she couldn’t get hot water from the cooler! I grinned and gamely assisted her. She thought that the thing was broken. Hahaha!

And then again, this morning, a colleague from another department asked for our help because she didn’t know how to get hot water for her tea.

Hmmm… seems to me like I’m not the only person here who’s not tech-savvy, after all!

Haayyy... weather!

I was eating my lunch 30 minutes ago when I happened to look out the window… and whoa!!! It was snowing like crazy and the wind was blowing in full-force. Was snow in the forecast today? I don’t remember, but that was most certainly a mini-blizzard there.

After about ten minutes or so of severe weather, it cleared up and now it’s sunny again. Just like that. You can’t even tell that a squall just happened. It’s really weird!

Global warming or just a quirk of the Northeast weather? Who knows?! I’m just super glad to be safe and warm, all bundled up and not braving the elements outside. J

High Blood

I don’t know what it is with me today, but I keep banging doors here in the office. Hindi naman ako galit. Hmmmm… ateh, lumalabas ‘ata ang pagka-amazona mo! Bwahahaha!

So… just let me rant, please?!

What is it with Pinays who want to have blonde hair? Bato-bato sa langit, ang tamaan ‘wag magalit… but I really find it pretentious that some gals dye their hair blonde when they are so dark-skinned naman! Highlights are okay, but to cover your beautiful black tresses completely so that you look like a hilaw na kana is (in my opinion) hilarious. Maybe you’re just trying to blend in with the “foreigners” in this foreign land, but I’m sorry to burst your bubble: you actually stick out like a sore thumb, ya know. Haaayyy… kung bakit ba kasi di na lang makuntento sa kung ano ang ibinigay ni Lord sa ‘yo. Hihihi!

Funny :-)

I was in a meeting this morning when my boss asked for names of people who were consistent in giving donations to the college over the years. One of my officemates, a Japanese girl, mentioned a faculty whose name she couldn’t recall.

“Bu…something,” she said.

Having recently worked in that account, I was quite familiar with the name so I piped in, “Buchanan.” (my pronunciation: boo-cha-nan). Makiko nodded in affirmation and told everyone that was it.

My boss gave me a quizzical look and said she didn’t recognize the name. A little later, during the course of our discussion, another co-worker finally figured out who we were talking about, and burst out laughing (not in a bad way though).

Their pronunciation of Buchanan??? Byu-ka-nan! No wonder everyone got confused. I guess I can use a good bit of American twang, huh?!

Thank heaven for jackets with hoods!

After two days of staying home (yes – our office was closed for an unprecedented two days due to the big snowstorm here in Upstate NY) and being lazy (if you can call spending a whole lotta time surfing e-bay to monitor my bids that), I’m finally back to work. J

I actually just went over to the other building to bring over some checks, and boy oh boy! It was really nasty out! It was (still is?) bitter cold, the wind was gusting, and snow was being blown all over the place. It was all I can do to try not to slip since the ground’s still slick with melting snow. Ugh!

What can I say? Thank heaven for jackets with hoods! For someone who’s as negligent as me when it comes to bringing hats and wearing them, they really are a godsend. Not only did it keep me warmer, it also prevented my hair from looking like a snowy bird’s nest by the time I reached seclusion in Bldg. 3!

And oh, just for the record, I hate my winter “clown” boots (the heavy duty ones that Dan got me to wear for when it’s snowing really bad). Sure, they’re warmer than my more fashionable ones, but they make me feel so clumsy. Even if I’m only wearing a size 6, it seems to me like I’m riding a boat! My feet are simply lost in them.

Anyway, I hope you guys bundle up and stay warm. Have a great weekend!

Keeping my fingers crossed...

We're expecting to have a big snow storm tomorrow - the first major one this winter. After such a mild season (we only had about 6 inches of snow at the most), I guess many people, including me, are anticipating the coming of this storm.

I have my own selfish reasons though. I hope that the college will be closed tomorrow (heavy snow and sleet/wintry mix are in the forecast) so I can spend all day with Eowyn. I look forward to waking up in the morning, seeing the landscape blanketed in a foot of white snow, and then calling the office hotline to hear a recording that says we're closed for the day.

Woohoo... wishful thinking!

Working in Corporate America

When I was pregnant, I worked several part-time jobs to thwart my boredom, but I never really stayed long enough in a corporate setting to form an impression about the American workplace. It’s been two months now since I accepted this admin position at a local college here in New York’s capital district, and I guess I can now prudently gauge the differences between working in the Philippines and here in the United States.

Here are a few of my observations:

Ø      While everybody recognizes authority and hierarchy of positions, people are less formal about addressing their bosses. More often than not, “ma’am” and “sir” are not part of the everyday office lingo. I call our president, my boss and all other college officials by their first names. With the exception of UPMin’s School of Management, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that in the Philippines. J

Ø      Everything is high-tech, from computers (mine is an HP Compaq with a 17-inch flat panel monitor and an attached laser scanner) to phones (capable of conferencing, call forwarding, hands-free calling, voice mail and a host of other features I’m not yet familiar with!) to keys (everyone has a fob, an electronic key that is used to open doors and secure areas in the college) to gadgets in our pantry (would you believe we have a fridge, a microwave, an oven toaster and a coffee maker in our department?).

Ø      The big wigs are not prima donnas. My boss (a vice president), in particular, is very down to earth. She would even fax documents herself, make her own cup of tea/coffee, and do other little things in the office without bothering us. I’ve noticed the same thing in other officials too – they are very approachable and not “bossy.”

Ø      Work hours are more flexible here. I can take a 30 minute lunch break and just work from 9 am to 5 pm (in lieu of working 8:30 am to 5 pm with an hour-long lunch break). As long as you satisfy the 37.5 hours a week, you’re okay. We also just use electronic timesheets (E-time) that you can fill out by the end of the 2-week pay period. No waiting in line at the bundy clock to punch out every 5 pm, hehehe!

Ø      Instead of getting vacation and sick leave credits, we have what they call the Paid Time Off (PTO) that we can use anytime we want to. Since I am a new employee, I only get 5.25 hours of PTO every pay period, or a total of about 10.5 hours every month. The PTO credits will increase every year though. We also have an Extended Illness Bank (37.5 hours) that is reserved primarily for when you or someone in the family gets sick.

Eklat

Another cold morning…

I guess there can never be getting accustomed to cold weather for me. I’m simply just a tropical girl thru and thru. This morning was terrible. As I headed out for work, the chill was almost depressing. Thank heavens Dan had the sense to start the car earlier to warm it up and bring it over near our front door so I don’t have to walk all the way back to the garage. Even if it’s just a distance of probably about 5 meters, with the temperatures only in the low single digits and the wind chill making it even colder, the extra distance from the front door to the garage would seem like a kilometer to me. Try walking in freezing weather with the wind whipping at your face, wearing high-heeled boots, and the ground slick with frozen dew and you’ll know what I mean. Good thing I only have to endure a couple more months (at most) of this nasty weather. I truly miss summer! Haaaayyy…

And the Colts win!

I stayed up late last night to watch the Super Bowl… and I should say that was one heck of a game! The weather was miserable in usually sunny

Florida

, and I told Dan I wouldn’t exchange the comforts of home to be out there watching the big game even if it were the Steelers playing. Imagine staying out under the pouring rain for hours… I just couldn’t take that!

I’m happy though that the Colts won, and my favorite Colt Peyton Manning got the MVP Award. Woohoo! Towards the end of the 4^th quarter, I guess they were so sure of winning that they didn’t even bother to kick a field goal during their last play. I thought that was stupid --- with about 2 minutes left, it is possible (though quite unlikely) for the Bears to score a touchdown and maybe another one if the Colts mess up and do a Jerome Bettis fumble near the end zone. Hehehe! Dan thought it was gracious: instead of upping their lead (a good field goal kick would have given them 3 points, making the score 32-17), the Colts chose to just give the ball to the Bears. Whatever. I still think that was a big risk.

But all’s well that ends well, and my second favorite team in the NFL got their championship ring. Pate looked super cute when he got the Lombardi trophy and made that little speech during the awarding ceremony. Ok, ok, ok… don’t you worry, Steelers fans. My allegiance is still with fafa Ben and the rest of the team. I sure hope to see them again in the Super Bowl next year!

Yehey... FRiday!

And so today is the last day of the workweek. That just feels great, really great! One more hour and I’ll be heading home… and already I am looking forward to spending the entire weekend with Dan and Boopy.

Plans for the weekend?

Hmmmm…

-         play with Eowyn (the best part of the entire weekend)

-         clean the house (boring, but needs to be done)

-         do a little shopping (more clothes for Eowyn?!)

-         rest (I have to, I have to, I have to!)

-         watch a movie (just a DVD at home)

-         sleep in late during the mornings (ah, bliss!)

-         cook… maybe even bake some cookies or a cake (yum!)

-         watch the Super Bowl (go, Colts!!!)

So… looks like I’m all set.

Happy weekend, everyone!

A Contradiction Of Sorts

I was pleasantly surprised to see a scattering of snow on the way to work this morning. Despite my tropical-girl-aversion for the cold winter weather, it really felt nice to see the landscape coated in a thin blanket of white. Although there were large bald spots where the snow had already melted here and there, still it gave the impression that finally, finally, finally... winter is here!

I was also amazed as I looked out the window across my desk, and saw little ice crystals falling from the pine trees and dancing in the air when the wind blew. It is truly beautiful! The sun is shining warm and strong outside, and the green needles of the pines provided such a wonderful contrast to the tiny floating bits of snow. I wish I can take a picture, but I don't have my camera with me.

Weird, that I am happy because it snowed last night. My body totally detests the cold, but my senses delight in seeing this wintry scene anyway. I am a contradiction of sorts and I can't help it. After all, I am a pure-bred island girl transported halfway across the world, where the seasons are continually changing and each one (with the exception of summer) is a totally  new experience to me.

I guess this is what makes life here even more amazing.

Cold Hands

Maybe it’s just me and my tropical-girl-hates-winter personality, but today I felt especially cold here in the office. Perhaps it is the draft that comes in from the window, or the gloomy January sky hiding the sun away.

I am wearing a grey wool sweater today, and underneath that, a white thermal shirt… so I should be plenty warm, right? No!

What to do?

Despite holding cups of hot cocoa and noodle soup, my hands remain cold and clammy.

I’ve been to the restroom many, many times already to immerse my hands under hot running water, in the hopes of making them warmer later. It didn’t work.

I tried rubbing my hands together, tucking them under my arm , and cupping my face… to no avail. They are still ice-cold.

The worst part is, I seem to be the only one in this office who’s suffering from the chill.

Doesn’t that just suck?!

Walang magawa...

Ganito ba talaga dito, o kaya lang wala silang pinapagawa sa akin eh kasi magpa-pasko na at lahat halos ay gusto nang magbakasyon? He he he. Nakakatuwa naman.

On second thought, hindi s'ya nakakatuwa huh! Nabo-bore na ako kasi wala akong magawa, kaya 'eto nagbo-blog ang byuti ko. Kaya lang, nako-konsiyensya naman ako kasi ginagamit ko ang company time para gawin ang mga personal na bagay. Labo noh?

Ewan!

Yung ibang officemates ko, wala dito ngayon kasi nag-sho-shopping. Hik hik hik! Eh sa di pa naman ako nagda-drive at di ako makalabas ng office nang walang ride (hatid-sundo po ako ni Dan araw-araw), nag-o-online shopping na lang ako. Binili ko na ng gifts si fafa Dan sa online website ng Steelers, pati si Eowyn nabilhan ko na rin ng gift! Aliw...

Gulat siguro kayo kasi nagta-tagalog ako, noh? Strategy lang 'yan para di nila ako maintindihan. Pag natingin sila sa computer ko dito, kahit basahin pa nila nang basahin itong mga pinagsusulat ko, di rin nila ma-ge-gets! Bad talaga ako, I know...

Bruhita smiles... hak hak hak! Bye bye na muna... till next!

Happy, happy, joy!

Just got a note in my inbox (a message from our president) that the college will be closing early on Friday, and possibly next Friday too.

Yipee!

It's funny how such a simple thing can bring me so much joy. Translated, this simply means I'll have more time to spend with my precious Eowyn.

(singing) Happy, happy, joy, joy, joy!

Yay!

Snow...

What a pretty sight, snow falling gently outside my office window. Flurries against a backdrop of clouds and a little hint of sunshine every now and then. The ambiance is very winter and so strikingly different from the view I'm used to working in Davao.

I really like my work space: a big L-shaped cubicle with lots of room and nice big windows on the side. From where I sit, I can see this tiny patch of garden with hedges, grass that's turning brown, and two huge pine trees (the big white pine grows directly outside my window... and I love it!). Beyond that is the parking lot and somber-looking leafless trees scattered across the ridge.

Anyways, I have to get back to work now as my 15-minute break is almost over. The copyright forms await.... :-)