identification division.

i was extremely surprised when my boss asked me to do a demo of the cics program i developed for some racf maintenance. it’s like going back to college defensing some kind of thesis complete with panel and projector. i know my program works fine, so it was very brief, and i did it as fast as i can. at the end, they looked happy. one boss commended on my job, says it was very good and they’ve been looking to fix that for ages, which made me feel more elated. it’s definitely not about getting salary increase or promotion because i know i will get stuck in the financial benefit i’m currently getting for the next 2 years. what i’m talking about is that it just sounds nice when people around you appreciate your job, and this gives you a sense of satisfaction, morale and proving that you are able.

i missed to great everyone a merry christmas!

at perfect peace

a little more than a year ago, i left the philippines for a strange land as a brave, confident, aspiring middle-aged professional. i left new zealand as an immature, dense, broke but happy (that’s for alanis fans) normal person.

My life may be little and boring, but at least its mine–not some assembly line, secondhanded,hand-me-down life.

- C. Palahniuk

listen, i’ve got a story to tell.

in an attempt to bring life to this blog, let me tell you what’s been happening for the past couple of days. i want to start this story about the day i got extremely lucky, and that was yesterday. waking up saturday early morning is so unusual as i usually sleep until 12pm, or until the early hours of noon, but i’ve been planning to get this tetenal chemical for c-41 process for ages (okay i know half of you understand it, so it’s just some important thing i have to get) so i woke up, with uncooperative body heading to kitchen for breakfast (yes i take breakfast now), a quick shower and off to tao payoh by train. the place i was going to is very much off the map of singapore i have in my mind and so i wanted to just walk my way ’cause i suppose it was easier to find it and not get lost, but i was wrong. rain started to drop from the sky, and then it was heavy downpour. i was running to and fro while talking to this local lady over the phone how to get to their stock building under the drenching rain for half and hour! eventually i gave up, soaking and a bit frantic, i decided to go back to where i started and take the bus. getting off the bus, i still have to run a few meters circling the block and then finally finding the spot. i really hate myself for not bringing a raincoat as i highly suspected it would rain while still back in the flat, and getting lost is alright if i dont have a restricted time, but the factory will be closing at half past 12. they waited for me until 1pm, which evens it out, and obviously, i realize it’s not their fault if i don’t have a clue about my directions. the building was old, elevator creaking with a stripper-pole-like in the middle of which i have no idea what it is for, i went inside, walked the eerie hallway, and was greeted by the lady i was talking to over the phone earlier. she was apologetic about her misdirection but i told her never mind, i know it’s my fault really and my stupid desire to process c-41 on my own. and so, i spent a total of $32 for the chemicals($10) and thermometer($22). they don’t have a developing tank, so i took a bus going to city hall to their commercial store in peninsula where i spent another $33 for a 500-ml paterson tank, making my total investment to $65. i saw they sell the very same chemical for $23, and moments ago i just bought it for $10! so i remain quiet.

i know i’m hungry then and despite spending so much already, i headed for a kfc lunch where here, started the very lucky day. i found 2 folded-together-crisp 50 dollar note, lying on the floor. i was in queue, it was just slightly on my left. i did not see it drop from anybody, because if i did, believe me or not, i will return it to its righteous owner. so i looked around, stepped on it, and fish it in front of me, bend down, and pick it up. i felt guilty and shameful and happy (for my personal gain) and sad (for the loss of the other person), but hey, as much as i want to return it, i don’t know to whom! it is out of the question that i won’t be giving it to the cashier or the person ahead of me in line, so i pretended nothing happened, although my face at that time completely betrayed me i know. i ordered my meal, sat on furthest empty table i spot, and then i found myself eating hurriedly, perhaps deep inside  i want to get out of this place the fastest possible for the reason that i hate the true owner to show up and look for it. i would feel entirely guilty and devasted believe me, haha. i’ve lost other valuable things before and i know it’s not the most pleasant thing to happen to anyone.

thinking back, i know i did the right thing. the money was designed to be lying on the floor the moment i lined up to get my food. it has been there waiting for me because you don’t run after things. it comes to you, and so it’s mine.

Run

well, this one’s from yesterday:

distance: 4 km. time: ~26 minutes. maximum heartrate: 160 bpm

we all live by different clocks and calendars.

monday’s not my favorite day, everything seems slower, and despite the many things that i did at work, i’m still almost convinced that my clock get stuck from time to time. i know that this blog has almost long forgotten, and merely the reason is because i just can’t find enough time to sit down and write something. i’ve been pretty much busy with work, and a lot of extra curricular activities. i’m still a ton behind all the pictures that i have to upload, even from the few weeks after leaving casino and auckland, going down to queenstown in south island, and here in singapore. i’ll try my very best to make it up, especially now, that i have an internet connection at work! ‘was able to get around by bringing my own laptop, and renting a mobile broadband from a friend/officemate. i use it officehours, his turn is after office hours. we split the cost, and the best thing, i don’t have the contract under my name!

getting home today was shocking, not because it was pleasantly smelling inside the train, but because i was welcomed by 2 packages from 2 different friends! one is from cielo from kiwiland, even i’ve known her only for a few weeks, she’s very genuine, and most of all, she trusted to join me in my craziness and adventure reaching down south of queenstown!  i was only asking her for filter tips (to be used for a special project, ahem), but she tossed in a whole box of OSM (one square meal), which provided my staple diet during numerous hikings and eternal bus rides when i was still…well, under the great influence of recession.

the second present was the earliest christmas greeting card i got, enclosed in a red envelope, from nave (hk). she’s my closest friend when i was living in hong kong, and despite not seeing her for like more than 2 years, i really appreciate it that she remembered me. the card was from japan, during her recent trip, and it plays a christmas carol in tune of joy to the world, and as an extra, there’s a snippet of notes color-coded, and buttons matching the colors that you have to press simultaneously and will sound to another song, which is pretty cool! (that was twinkle twinkle little star, and i guess if you know me, i spent a couple of minutes playing with it and discovering other tunes that can be made out from it, lol)

nave and cielo, thanks a lot! ‘really appreciate your thoughts!