Mid-Year Update

With half of the year already gone...
Let's have an update of my plans for 2007.

1. JLPT Level 2
Unfortunately, I'm no longer taking it...
I'm taking level 1 instead, as advised by our sensei.

Not so good news for me because it seems
that I'm not going anywhere with my studies.

But then again, I would still want to try my luck on this.
If I fail on this one, maybe it's time for me to move on.

2. Read more
Still trying my best...
I started several books and have not managed to finish any.
Hopefully, I may be able to complete a couple by the end the year.

I also got myself a 1-year subscription of Linux Magazine (UK).
I was able to get it with a 40% discount. Very Nice... :)

3. Get more certifications
I'm done with PhilNITS SW.
I'm going to try my luck with LPIC.
Hopefully, there's another discounted exam later this year.
I just wish that I will have time to prepare for it.

4. Spend more wisely
I already stopped using my credit card for online purchases.
I also applied for an Insurance + Investment in Sun Life.
Most of my money goes there now, so I really don't have
that freedom to spend nowadays... T_T

5. Play more, sweat more
Still on it... :)
We just got more badminton players.
And they're really good...
Hopefully, I may be able to learn something from them.

Finally, a recap of some significant events...
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January

World Pyro Olympics

Tagaytay trip

Wall Climbing at Market Market

Engagement of my eldest sister
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February

College of Science Alumni Homecoming

Baguio trip
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March

Baptismal of Dennis' daughter
Graduation of my sister
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April

PhilNITS SW exams
Dennis' Resignation
SWQC Convention in Cebu
Tambuli Beach Resort
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May

NSP Beach Party

Joined World Vision
National Elections
Jecal's Resignation
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June

Cold Sores
Nina's Resignation
Melissa's Resignation
Renan's Resignation

Kate's Wedding

Pagudpud trip

Choice...

"Trust me, if you make this choice, you will not regret this, chances like these are not easy to find here in the Philippines."

A Leader's Farewell

A post dedicated to our project leader...

Farewell dinner at Conti's in Serendra

Together with the PWLAN and xGSN team

Fish and Chips
Tofu SteakMango Bravo

PWLAN and xGSN team with Jasmine and Renan

Melissa, pointing to someone

Melissa with Tripoley
Good luck and God Bless...

Losing Drive

It seems that I'm beginning to lose interest in some of my daily activities.

Nihongo

I'm really having difficulties catching up.
I'm gradually losing focus, confidence and motivation.
Now I'm not even sure if I am really capable of passing.
I might have made a big mistake for choosing level 1.
Language is definitely not my area.

Project

It's not that I'm getting tired of being stuck with the same project.
But I'm starting to feel that I'm not getting anywhere with this.
I'm not sure until when I could continue doing these things.

Maybe it's just because so many people are leaving the company.
It causes a lot of stress and pressure to remaining people in the office.
I can't and won't hide the fact that I'm deeply affected by these changes.

As much as I wanted to do something about it, I can't.
People won't change because you told them to.
At this point, I can only change myself.
And hopefully, be able to make a difference.

Close Encounters With A 3rd Gender

This seems to be the worst day of my life...
He was trying to abuse my knees.

He was lucky I was able to control my temper...
Otherwise, all hell is going to break lose...
I can't imagine what he would look like
after I break every single bone in his body.

I cracked my fingers loud enough to let him hear...
He was wise enough to stop his plans...
My message was sent loud and clear.

======================================

I took a Baclaran-bound bus after our badminton game,
The bus was a bit full so I went to the rear and found myself
a seat on the right row. When the guy next to me left,
I noticed this person wearing red sitting in the opposite
row. The person said "Hi".

"Oh Shit!"

I already knew that he is gay.
I observed him for a while and realized that aside from
having a long hair, he has a pair of boobs, his Adam's apple
seems to be removed as well or just to small to notice.
And he seems to be enjoying looking at me.

"Holy Shit!"

When the bus reached the LRT Station, I let him go ahead
so I won't have to worry about my back. He was in front
of me while I was walking to the FX terminal.

The all of a sudden, he turned around and
said "Hi! Are you Korean?"

I said "No, Local ako", thinking that he's going to stop.
But he asked again "Chinese ka?" "San ka nakatira?"
I said "Tondo". But he was persistent, he was not afraid.

I ignored him and hopped inside the FX rear.
Unfortunately, he followed and sat in front of me.
He was trying to get my attention all the time.
And I ignored him all the time.

But when he started touching my knees,
I decided to scare him a bit.

The Beatles Collection

While cleaning some of the cabinets at home...
I came across something interesting and valuable.
I wonder how much would these cost nowadays.

I'm not so much of a Beatles fan,
but I'm pretty sure some people would be willing
to pay any amount of money just to
lay their hands on these items.

The box...

The title...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_Collection

The contents...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolver_(album)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help!_(album)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber_Soul

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper's_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let_It_Be_(album)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Hard_Day's_Night_(album)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Please_Please_Me

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With_the_Beatles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles_(album)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbey_Road_(album)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rarities_(Beatles_compilation)

It's not really mine though, so I won't be able to auction it...
Sigh... :(

Holes, Cracks and Dreams

I was able to spare some time today to fix my clothes and stuffs.
I re-folded all of them and stacked them nicely in my drawers.

My bed seems to have collected a considerable amount of dust
since it was last cleaned, which I can't really remember when.
I disassembled it so we could easily move it out of the room.

After the bed was moved out, this is what our floor looks like...


Not too far from a jigsaw puzzle...


With some deadly holes and cracks...


This is where rats and insects like cockroaches enter our room.

Most parts of the house are pretty similar to this, some even worst.
This is quite expected for a house which is almost 50-years old.

Our house is just holding by a nail, figuratively.
There’s really no way telling when it is going to give-in.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to save enough money before that happens.
This is one of my missions in my life...
to do what my dad has failed to.

Too Good To Ignore...

Some people say that everything happens for a reason.
But how you would really know that reason?

I've contracted a herpes simplex virus last week.
For what reason? I really don't know.

Maybe it's a lesson for me...

Not to take my health for granted?
Not to eat in restaurants with reused utensils?
Not to use hotel towels?
Not to use public napkins?

Be more meticulous?
Be more careful?

Or maybe, just maybe...
It's a sign for me to quit my job.

While I was sitting in the waiting area of the
derma clinic, I noticed this big guy in a blue polo
and black slacks. He was standing in the middle
of the hospital corridor facing the opposite direction
and talking to someone in his mobile phone.

Yes, he looks cocky, like someone I knew few years ago.
He sounds as cocky as him as well.
The best part is... when he turned around...

He saw me and I saw him.
It's really him...

I was very surprised to see him.
Of all places, of all chances...
Why here? Why now?

So, what's with this guy?
He's one of my high school teachers.
But for me, he's not just a regular teacher.
He's someone that I would always look up to.

And he's still offering me the job
he has offered me 3 years ago.
That time, I told him that I would like to
practice my specialization first and I joined NSP.

During that encounter I felt a different kind of
adrenaline rush and excitement.
Is this the "sign" that I've been waiting for?

For the record it's not an IT job. It's totally different.
But I'm willing and interested.

As I told my friends before, if ever I would quit
my current company, I would no longer apply
for a similar job.

It seems that these events were laid out perfectly.
Too good to ignore... That's how I see it.

It's going to be a tough decision...
But it's no longer a question of "where".
It's just a question of "when".

Cold Sores Update

I went to the dermatologist this morning for another checkup.
She told me that I can already stop the anti-viral cream.
The wound is already drying and healing, but...

It seems that it was infected and so it's producing pus.
She prescribed an anti-bacterial cream for the infected wound.

She also noted that it's not as contagious like chicken pox.
But even so, I've decided to take a week long vacation just
to make sure I don't make any physical contact with my friends.

I'm looking forward to going back to the office next week. :)

BoAのブログ

This is great! She's already blogging!

http://blog.oricon.co.jp/boa/

And it's Japanese!!! :) :) :)

HSV-1

The dermatologist confirmed this morning that I've got cold sores.

According to some web resources,
it is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 (HSV-1 or HHV-1).

I was worried when I first found out.
That's because I immediately associated it with STD.
Maybe it's just the word "herpes" that sounds scary.
We usually hear people crack jokes about it.
Making it more scary and embarrassing.

But after I've read several articles about it.
I came to understand it more and realized that there's
more to it than what some people would know.

HSV-1 is just one type of the 8 human herpes viruses.
Chickenpox (HHV-3) is also one of them.
The virus is very common, some people might already
have it, it is just that the virus have not yet manifested
itself. It's also contagious when it is active.
Shared eating utensils, razors and towels may spread this infection.

Unfortunately, like common flu, there is no cure for the virus
and it is also recurring near the place of original infection.
After the primary infection, the virus will stay dormant.
As long as your immune system stays strong or until you
crack or injure your lips.

This site http://www.herpes.org.uk/ provides good information
about herpes viruses.

Since I'm having cold sores right now.
I've decided not to go to the office for a while,
in order to prevent myself from infecting other people.

Early Vacation?

Looks like I'm going on an early vacation...
Just for a different reason. T_T
Some stroke of bad luck huh?

I'm getting a doctor's opinion tomorrow just to make sure.
Hopefully, it's not as bad as it looks to be...

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Cold Sore Facts

Approximately 40 million people are effected by cold sores each year.
Cold sores generally appear around the mouth and on the lips.

Factors that can activate a cold sore or fever blister

• infections
• over exposure to sunlight - Beach party?
• fever
• refined sugars - Chips Ahoy? Coffee?
• stress - Family?
• fatigue - Japanese Bosses?
• hormonal changes

Symptoms and stages of cold sores

• 1) Tingling discomfort or itching - Yes
• 2) Redness and swelling - Yes
• 3) Eruption of lesion - Soon?
• 4) Oozing of lesion
• 5) Lesion dries and forms a thin yellowish scab

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http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/coldsores.htm
http://healing.about.com/cs/conditions/a/coldsores.htm
http://www.dentalhealth.org.uk/faqs/leafletdetail.php?LeafletID=56