October 28, 2009
With a few minutes left until my official out-time from work, here’s a list of the things that I’m wishing for right now, from the most inconsequential to the most invaluable:
Sigh…
July 11, 2009
James left home a while ago for his ward’s outing at White Capes Beach Resort located in Nasugbu, Batangas. I was supposed to have gone with him but unfortunately, the outing schedule coincides with my dad’s arrival from Bacolod. I’m left here at home and I am genuinely wishing to be somewhere else. Well, more specifically, to be with my hubby. Especially since I would be starting work very soon.
Well, at least it’s just going to be an overnight stay. I would be leaving tomorrow at around 4:30 a.m. with Mommy, Martha, and Joselle. We’ll be picking my dad up at the airport at around 8:00 a.m. Then we would proceed to Silang for my nephew’s christening. James would be meeting us at the church. I hope he doesn’t get lost since he would be commuting from Tagaytay.
I’m feeling really sad. I would probably spend the rest of this day in low spirits. Oh well…
June 26, 2009
For some reason, I’ve had another attack of allergic rhinitis during an online job interview. It is quite frustrating to live with the transient allergy. It comes during the most inconvenient times. I have long since determined dust to be my primary allergen. But living in the Philippines, who can avoid dust? The hot and humid weather in my home country is a veritable paradise for dust mites.
I’ve had allergic rhinitis for as long as I can remember. But it steadily worsened when I reached my late teens. While people might think that it’s a condition which is relatively easy to cure, it actually is a bit more complicated. To date, allergic rhinitis has no cure. It can only be controlled through the ingestion of anti-histamines. I have tried Claritin, Zyrtec, Virlix, and Aerius and all of them have worked fine. The problem with A.R. is that as soon as one becomes exposed to the allergen, it recurs at once.
My symptoms include a runny and itchy nose, and severely itchy and teary eyes which cause blurred vision. If the runny nose persists for more than fifteen minutes, my sinuses get inflammed, and this eventually leads to a migraine. It is definitely not a good experience. A.R. has made the most basic tasks impossible. Cleaning my room, reading books that have been on the shelf for some time, reading the newspaper, getting exposed to smoky places, or simply having the wind blow across my face could all cause an episode.
Living with allergic rhinitis is not easy. It gets mightily frustrating at times. I do hope that someone finds a cure to rid people of this allergy. That person would surely do the world a great favor.
June 26, 2009
For some reason I always get flustered at the prospect of job interviews. It’s a weird mixture of being nervous, excited, and confused all at the same time. I tend to get a bit talkative when I feel this way, and it sometimes works to my advantage. But not always.
Whenever things like this happen, I refuse to dwell too much on the outcome. I just keep in mind that if something is truly meant for me, then I shall be given the opportunity to obtain it. What matters is that I’ve done my part. Well, in today’s case, I think that I did what I can. I hope the outcome would be positive, but if it isn’t, then I still am grateful for the chance I was given.
I prefer to be optimistic. I believe that all people are given the chances that they deserve. If something is not for me, I take comfort in the fact that there still is something else waiting just around the corner. 
June 22, 2009
My hubby and I woke up this morning with the sunlight streaming through our windows. I was a bit disoriented though, because I distinctively remembered setting the alarm to 4:45 a.m. I was surprised, to say the least, to realize that our alarm clock was not malfunctioning and it was, indeed, 4:45 in the morning. It was only much later that I realized that today [or at least this time of the year] is summer solstice.
Summer solstice is also called midsummer. It occurs somewhere between June 21 and 22. This is when we experience the longest day of the year. Longest in the sense that it is the day in which we have the most amount of time with sunshine. There are two solstices; one in summer, and the other in winter. Conversely, winter solstice is when we have the shortest day.
So have a happy summer solstice to everyone! May the sunshine of this day herald a bright future for all of us. Cheers!~
June 22, 2009
I have recently taken an interest in relearning what little knowledge I had about the Japanese language. It’s proving to be a challenge, but quite fun nevertheless. I stayed in Japan for a year between 2006 and 2007. For those of you who don’t know, atashi wa Eigo no sensei desu. Nihon no ikara. I used to teach English as a Second Language for a language school located at Sukagawa-shi, Fukushima-ken. It was a fun experience, one that I wouldn’t mind happening again.
I’ve started self-studying with some practical lessons on conversational Japanese. As with any other language, I find it much easier to learn how to speak first, rather than to learn how to read and write. That’s why I’m studying lessons in Romaji. I do have resources on Kana, and even elementary Kanji, but I am still too intimidated to start on learning the writing process just yet.
Why the sudden interest? It’s too soon to say the primary reason. But for one thing, I really miss Japan and all my former students. Also, knowing several languages would always be an advantage wherever you go. I am currently fluent in both English and Filipino, and I can speak conversational Spanish. I’m at the lowest rung of learning Nihonggo, but I’ll go up the ladder bit by bit. Seeing as I have some time in my hands, I don’t see any reason why I would not improve, albeit in small increments.
I even took pains in researching on the JLPT or the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. It is given once a year, every December, in various locations in the country. the closest being De La Salle University – Manila, where I went to college. The lowest level, which is level 4, requires an individual to have mastered at least 100 Kanji characters and at least 800 vocabulary words. The test is divided into 3 parts: Kanji and Vocabulary [100 items], Listening Comprehension [100 items], and Reading Comprehension and Grammar [200 items]. The minimum passing rate for level 4 is 60% or 300 points.
My friends Paul and Mherrie are also studying Nihonggo as of now, but unlike me, they’re focusing on Kana first, rather than conversation. We’re all planning to take the JLPT this year if we feel ready enough to register by August. Wish us luck! For the meantime, Watashi wa Nihonggo no benkyo suru desu. Yamenaide!
June 18, 2009
I have always loved to pen out my thoughts. Writing often came easy for me, especially when I’m touched by that brilliant flash of inspiration. I’d like to think that I am knowledgeable enough to write on a variety of topics. I’ve tried my hand on essays, biographies, fiction, and poetry and everything turned out prety much okay. I have also tried to nourish the writer in my by regularly writing entries for this blog.
I have never thought of writing as being difficult or taxing. Never, that is, until now. Well I guess it’s because I have never been required to write a certain number of articles on a certain topic within twenty four hours. It was interesting and quite enjoyable at first. But after several hours, I think I am now officially experiencing a writing drought.
It’s not a pleasant feeling. It’s similar to having all your thoughts sucked up into a vortex. It’s like all my creative juices have suddenly and unexpectedly stopped flowing. Now my head is throbbing and my eyes are all blurry. I guess this is my signal to take a break. @__@
I have no doubt, however, that I could get free of this stump. Maybe catching a few winks would do the trick. I think I’ll try that right now.
June 17, 2009
I haven’t been able to write any entries the past couple of days. There have been a lot of things to do concerning the business. I had to accompany James several times to NKTI and LCP, and we went to visit my sister [who recently gave birth to a cute baby boy] at Silang, Cavite. It’s been hectic and tiring, but the weather did a lot to lift my spirits.
We’ve been experiencing several rainy days in succession since last week. And contrary to the popular belief that rain dampens the spirits, it has an opposite effect on me and my family. Thank God for rainy days!
June 4, 2009
Being married and being in love are two completely different things. One is a legal and voluntary act. The other is involuntary and knows no laws; it simply is. Some people, by unfortunate circumstances, can never have both in perfect harmony. While the luckier ones experience the best of both worlds.
On the surface, there seems to be little or no difference between being boyfriend and girlfriend and being husband and wife. Going deeper though, there is a world of difference. Love deepens and matures. It acquires so many different facets that there is no single angle by which your view can encompass all of it. Heady bliss becomes quiet joy. Exciting dates become simple togetherness. Petty fights become mutual growth. Reluctant giving-in becomes willing self-sacrifice. Yet love remains love; strong and steadfast.
James and I have experienced a lot of growing the past year. Our married life has been full of challenges. We both have cried countless tears and we’ve had our share of arguments. But at the end of the day, we still are each others’ shelter. We have become so much a part of each other that being apart almost seems to cripple us emotionally.
I love my husband. I love being a wife. And no matter how difficult things may be for us sometimes, my love remains and grows deeper each passing day.
June 3, 2009
I have never posted anything that can be categorized as dark, wiccan, goth, or emo in my blog. And to be completely honest, I have no affinity with such genres. I guess that’s because generally, my personality is completely on the opposite end of the spectrum. But I would make an exception in the case of this photo.
I stumbled upon this as I was looking for a visual to accompany my previous post. When I saw this picture’s thumbnail, it didn’t strike me as anything unusual; until I was able to view the full picture size, that is.
There is something disturbing and haunting about this picture, but weirdly enough, I find something beautiful about it as well. I guess my mind has been addled enough that I am now able to appreciate creative representations of death, and not just plain death, but suicide at that. Or is it murder?
I wouldn’t want to dwell on it too much though. As I have said in my earlier post, I would be alone in bed tonight. And I don’t want any unwelcome thoughts keeping me company. I leave further assessment to you. Good night everyone!~
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