I haven’t blogged here for a long time. I, however, have blogged more in SUPERPASYAL because I had photos that I need to post before they become stale and non-current. I can only blame my PC for this because I haven’t been able to Photoshop at home since the memory went beyond capacity last year (I can only do it when I visit the farm, which makes it rather embarrassing as the staff there might think I only go visit to Photoshop. Dyahe naman) I am currently in the process of unloading photos and burning them to CDs.
How are you? I hope you are all well. I have been very sluggish lately (wait, I have always been sluggish) because it’s been two months since I decided to do night shifts so I can be home with me Mum in daytime. There really is nothing like sleeping at night, trust me. Going to bed at 6AM and waking up at 1PM is so surreal. It gives me a headache all the time. I use an eye patch but the sun just had to shine on my face on many occasions (the bed is near the window) and the bloody dog, Turnip, barks up a riot every time someone rings our doorbell, which is often. There’s this little tramp (a neighbor) who makes it her habit to ring everyone’s doorbell every morning. I can’t wait to pounce on her one day and feed her to the dog. And oh, need I tell you that she’s always accompanied by an adult? My dog won’t be eating for days, I reckon.
Lately, I’ve been finishing several books that were given me as gifts last year. Then there are the DVDs too. I haven’t bought DVD like I used to (read: h-o-a-r-d) in months, which is good. I need to save up for many, many things foremost of which is insurance, mortgage retirement, etc.
Re finances, finding my pay cheques at 40% off at all times could drive any sane hardworking person crazy, but I am not complaining. I am happy that I have made forced savings a habit and I have been doing this for over two years now since a significant portion of my salary goes to my office’s cooperative fund. Problem is I don’t patronize our store that much (if at all) and I don’t take out loans so there goes my chance of earning more through patronage points. At any rate, I can’t wait to find out by March how much I’d be earning when the Board declares this year’s dividends. And oh, I might just run for office too. Wala lang. I’m doing it to understand how the coop system works. Might just come in handy in the future.
Work has been at a feverish pace for the last two weeks. I could sense dumping going on from other facilities, but I am not privy to this information. Suffice to say that our office has declared a 24/7 job schedule so overtime pay all around. I do not know if that makes sound business practice, but paying too many people to work on irregularly flowing work might just be a major drain on finances. I have seen many people sleep on the job (I have been guilty of this once or twice) and the supervisors have beaten us to that too. Pakapalan na lang ng mukha. Matira ang matibay.
By the way, had a chance to visit M/V Doulos twice (I didn’t bother going up the 2nd time) and boy, was I disappointed. I had visions of a book heaven brimming with über-discounted contemporary lit and classics pa naman, but it escaped me until the very last moment that this was a Christian group on a mission aboard a ship hence the variety (or lack thereof) of the selection. I, along with co-officers of the Writers Guild, also had to shepherd around 50 co-employees during two Saturdays and the heat aboard was just daunting and since I sweat easily, I was out of there in 15ish. I found comfort in bland lemonade (Php 10 bucks each) and vanilla-chocolate sundae (at Php 30 per order, this was akin to being held up), but the Manila Bay sunset, which was just too beautiful to pass up, provided comfort and assurance.
I am surprised that battalions of people came, although by my own account 6/10 went home empty handed. Personally, I found no use for cookbooks, storybooks and self-help which formed a major portion of the collection. The music CDs were expensive prompting a co-officer to comment that it was far cheaper (and far more exciting, I bet) to buy at Goodwill Bookstore albeit sans the novelty of being on the world’s oldest seagoing vessel. Sigh.
Mom is fine. We are ever thankful for your prayers. Also, we thank you for the support that you have extended to us all these time. We owe you so much already.
Ciao for now.
_________________________
CD Playing: Bandang Pinoy Lasang Hotdog (The Hotdogs Tribute Album)
