Zone of Solitude

Besides the usual busy workload in the office, rainy season is finally here. I went on a Facebook hiatus for more than a month mostly because of personal reasons. After more than 30 days of no status updates, I'd limit status updates to once or twice in a day and in a few day intervals. Nowadays, I limit internet usage to reading some blogs and checking just two accounts on Instagram. I know this is nothing new but then, I never thought shutting my online life temporarily has its positive benefits.

I am currently on vacation leave to rest and relax. So how are things going for me the last month without hardly any status? These "photo essay" will tell.

Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-nana :-)

I joined in to the bandwagon of the Minion craze. And while my office mates have a lot of these little yellow creatures, I just got one and I'm just fine with it..

My godchild/niece Hailey turned one and I've received little yet prophetic gifts :-)

I've finally gone into physical therapy to ease the pain caused by Tennis Elbow. I've completed the six sessions two weeks ago . My therapist is also from my hometown. The treatment gave some sort of relief but then the pain would still come every now and then. My ninang whose occupation is also in the medical field said it could already be because I have been working for a long time and my age (aka pains of getting old).

Watched a movie (the fifth for this year) that is The Breakup Playlist. If you're in for loads of Piolo Pascual-induced kilig and an inclination on music then better see this one (and you'll be surprised how the movie's title came to be).

I also finished Jennifer Smith's The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight which I brought in March.

And I tried my hand at art through this adult coloring book. So far, the experience was nice as I never dared engaging in any art activity before for the belief that it is not my cup of tea.

As of today, I still have unread notifications. I only get those reminders on my email. While I post a couple of status messages, I still am still unsure as to when I'll resume with my online life but so far, I am enjoying this uncomplicated, simple and productive life free from cyber-stress.

And I guess I'll let that be for sometime.

I am in the verge of laughing at myself as I type this entry today. I am no beauty blogger nor do I consider myself kikay. In my younger years, while girls my age (as young as 15) can apply liquid eyeliner and mascara effortlessly, I can't even befriend the hairbrush to fix my then long locks. Nor was I an avid fan of cosmetics. If there was one thing I tend to use during those "awkward period" it would be the lipstick but even the only gadget that gave my puckers a pop of color became something i don't like wearing.

But a decade or so would change that. I realized being in a corporate world would entail stress-filled days and affording to look haggard and stressed is a no-no. I only started with the usual lipstick and pressed powder. But as I inspected my bag, I found out I have a make up kit equipped with the basics:

Clean and Clear Oil Control Powder in Natural- My face tends to acquire oil build up especially at the middle of the day so this helps a lot and also makes wonders in taming too much makeup color.Who would have thought a drugstore brand priced at PhP127.00 (for a refill) can do that?
Maybelline Blush Studio- I tried different brands of blush and next to a local brand that I once used, this one suits my skin color. The shade gives my cheek a pop of color without looking too artificially applied. At PPp 349.00, it was worth the money.
Clinique lipsticks- While I had this love-hate relationship with lippies before, it's funny to find out that my kit has not one but a a couple of shades: Rubelite which I use for formal functions ,workdays and when I want to look sultry whenever I go on dates. The other one, Watermelon is the alternate shade I use when I feel like it. The lippies are a bit pricey at PhP1,495.00 per tube but it's worth the price as you don't have to reapply them several times as the products are long-wearing lipsticks.
Fashion 21 eyeshadow- Just to put a pop of color for my eyes. I use the pink shades as they are basic and fit for daily use too.
Chapstick lip balm- This is also a dual purpose item on my kit, as a base before applying my lipstick and to protect my lips from painful chapping which tends to happen given that I am in an air conditioned room 9-10 hours a day every week
Myra BB Cream- This works both as moisturizer(with Vitamin E) and as a makeup foundation base. At PhP 99.00, it's light, non-greasy formula on skin and not to forget it does not leave a heavy stain on my compact powder sponge too.

Who says beauty should be about heavy make up and have to be heavy on the budget? Beauty need not be expensive. How about you, what are the kikay products you rely on? Drop me a note. I'd be glad to know and even try it myself. :-)

On the fifth day of being MIA. It's only now that the groove is starting to return to my system after weeks of not blogging and days of being away from work. Right now, I have been MIA from the office for five days after being sick since Wednesday. But given that this is the 500th post since having this blog (it's been 6 years na pala since I wrote my first piece), I'd rather put up something meaningful. In this case a few things that I realized since being away and recuperating (which is still the case as of today).

No human can outdo an Enegrizer Bunny. I don't always get sick. And when I do, I normally need two days maximum and I am well enough to return to work. But this time it was different. While I was really wanting to return to work last Friday (and badly wanted at that), my body this time would not simply cooperate. And when the body fails to do what you want, you have no option but to waive the white flag even for once.
The need to slow down when one gets older is necessary. Prior to going on an unexpected sick leave, I have been going through a stressful time at work. Something which is unknown to some of my colleagues. They'd been telling me to slow down, get some rest or even go on a vacation but I dismissed it opting to just work my body out. But after what I've gone through, I guess I'll make use of my vacation leaves.
It's better to be 30 and healthy than to be 30 and flirty. I have been getting busier at the same time that I am indeed getting older. Unfortunately, there had been times that my body could not keep up with the pace of my busy schedule. My mom and one of our family friends who is a physician had been warning me about going on a slow pace and with what I had been through the past few days, the advice could no longer be dismissed but instead be taken into serious consideration.
It's not always love that makes the world go round. Sometimes vertigo could do it. Now this was the real reason why I went MIA from work since Wednesday. I've never been bothered by vertigo but for the first time I did and I know now how it feels like to go through that malady. I'm still on medication but as per the doctor's advice, given that I lessen stress and live a healthy lifestyle, another attack won't appear until after three years (although I prefer not to be bothered by the ailment anymore for good).
One has to be ready to receive an unexpected but wonderful compliment at a certain time. Okay, this is actually a rather personal note which I learned from a recent incident (read two days ago). as much as I'd like to narate how this happened, I guess this piece of advice would be best say it -- or perhaps it deserves a separate post in the future.

So there goes my 500th post. I shall get back to making the most out of the recuperating period (though I feel much better now compared to the last few days) and I'm looking forward to returning to work by tomorrow.

Besides finally seeing a rehabilitation medicine physician for symptoms that have been bothering me for a month, one of the highlights of my week was returning to my alma mater, University of Rizal System Angono to grace this year's Recognition Day. Contrary to the past two instances, my schedule this year had allowed me to accept the invitation given that I was informed two months prior to the event. Next to my week-long vacation last February, I had to extend my vacation this month for one more day as the ceremony fell to the date next to Easter Monday which was an Australian Holiday.

Time for a photo op just before the ceremonial march starts. This is me with the campus director, Dr. Hermy Estrabo (formerly from URS Morong campus) and my former History professor, Ma'am Achie Elvina who is.currently the dean of College of Arts and Letters, the department where I belonged back during my student days. A lot of things had seriously changed given that I had left the university 10 years ago. Case in point, in 2005, I was the one listening to the guest speaker and fast forward to last Tuesday, all eyes and ears are on me.

I wouldn't hide it, I had a wonderful time attending the said event. Part of me still could not believe that it has been a decade. As I was being ushered and escorted by faculty members who used to be my teachers, I was having this recollection that I used to walk through these halls as a 20-year old student back then. Where did 10 years go? It is not something in my bucket list though, but being a guest speaker, just like attending an event with someone in politics (in formal outfits) was once among my wishes. And those were accidental wishes that eventually became a reality.

I've always felt nervous with public speaking but this one unexpectedly changed that. Delivering a speech right in front of a lot of people have always been a scary task for me but when I pulled this one off during the Recognition Day, there was no fear pumping my veins at all -- which was a weird thing to me. For once, my spirit felt so serene in front of the students who were listening to my story as a student then and as a professional now. All the stress of thinking what to tell the students and how to inspire them eventually became worth it after seeing my former professors and being encouraged by my boss and my family too.

It has been days since the event but things still linger on. And the whole thing to me is new and overwhelming given that I was not used to it. I am not used to the attention as I have kept and trying to keep a low-key life. Receiving congratulatory messages from people and hearing from them how proud and inspiring I became made me feel (silently) overwhelmed at one point it made me cry.

The day before the event I remember telling a former professor, I don't know what they saw in me to choose me to be the one to speak at the event. At 30, I don't own a car, nor do I own and lead a company or have the title like Dr. or Atty. on my name. I only have a job that I treasure and community volunteer activities to devote time to. Whatever it is, I just learn to think that it was what God wanted for me. Despite my fears that I won't be able to attend and not knowing what to say, He made things to work according to His plan. While I was looking for answers if I really am successful 10 years after leaving the school, God made a way to make me realize that my life can be an inspiration too--success, trials, handicaps and all.

If schools give away loyalty awards to students during graduation rites, our office on the other hand has this so-called Palit Lanyard tradition. Each year, the company provides each employee a new one of a different color corresponding their years of service. I don't know for sure, but wearing a color-coded lanyard seemed to be a status symbol separating "newbies" from the "veterans" especially to those who had been with the company for years.

I just had a rundown of my things a few weekends ago and as of now, I have four of those lanyards in my possession. The gray one as a new hire, gold during my first year and blue for being in the company for two years. Instead of giving them away, I make sure that I keep them in a box together with my other things. I also have a separate document folder which contains all the documents issued to me by the company.

This one came as a surprise more than two weeks ago while I was on the phone with a client. We normally wait six months after our anniversary before receiving a new lanyard but mine arrived after my anniversary last March 5. I have been working for one company for three straight years thus the orange color code.

Four color codes, a couple of thousand case files, one excellence award and few scheduled vacation leaves later and here I still am. During a meeting with one of our operations officers, I was asked, "what made you decide to stay?" I don't have to seek for answers. Despite the physical pains of getting old, the fact that I can see that I am able to help people every day, I have a kind boss and I still am happy with what I am doing those are more than enough reasons for me to want to stay and stick to the job.

Now, the funny part was when a colleague inquired, "paano yan pag inabot tayo ng 10 years in service? Eh di ba seven lang ang kulay ng rainbow?" (what if we reached 10 years? The rainbow only has 7 colors?) That's a question but then, I'd rather stick to the plan for now. :-)

I am writing this entry right from my bedroom nursing another bout of allergic rhinitis that has been bothering me since Friday. I'd like to think that the change of weather combined with pollution and a few stressful days earlier during the week to be the culprits of this malady. I am already eyeing the possibility of having this health issue attended by a a specialist by the coming weekend. I have been going through occasional bouts for years but that were bearable compared to what I've been having lately, which tends to bother me even at work.

Anyway, since I chose to stay home today (just to stay safe, so I won't hopefully have to call in sick tomorrow), I decided to have a quick update as I rarely get the chance to catch up with my writing.

I finally have a copy of James Patterson's novel First Love that was given to me by a friend as a Valentine's gift. While I'm not much of a fan, I got enticed after reading one of his books, Sundays at Tiffany's in 2011. I've previously seen the large print format of this book and I found it quite expensive so I postponed buying it. But thanks to a friend for spoiling me, my craving for this literary pleasure's solved. And the gift came with a box of Kleenex, just in case reading would cause me to become all too weepy.

Another thing is this ongoing project. It was last year when I came across the idea of keeping a memory jar. It's an interesting endeavor which I tried last year but got unsuccessful given the turn of events (read: getting both all to busy and exhausted that I just want to sleep when I get home). This year, I tried a hand at it again and luckily, I am able to religiously update it.

It's a good thing to find out that if there's one thing that this little project taught me, it's learning to see the good in everything; that despite of what has happened the whole day, it's a challenge to look for something worthy to be thankful for. It's good though that not all days are the same. If a day has been exhausting, you get to look for something worth thankful. And if a day contains a lot of good things, I get to pick one that's the best, write it and keep it in the jar.

I hope to maintain the habit though. At times it scares me to think, I had gone past two months with it and there are 10 months remaining. But something to be grateful has to be present every single day and that would be more than enough to keep me going. :-)

MABUHAY!

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