The powers of a power nap

Time check... It's 2:19AM and I am awake. Not exactly wide awake... but with quite some energy. I just came from the Mina residence, where Mau-cky and I worked on the script of Mau's debut party tomorrow. I think sometime between 12:30-1AM, I was misspelling some common words. Hence Macky's urging of my going home. I opted to take a power nap. Which spanned for about 10 minutes. I know my body's trying to tell me to slow down and rest. The power nap was good! I'm still awake and blogging aren't I?

The past few days have been all about shopping, get togethers and sporadic outings (hello Pesem! Yes! Favorite word ko talaga ang sporadic!).

Monday was the MDC Christmas Party and I have pics! I have a growing list of backlog blogs! Tuesday I was on sick leave. I attempted to have my driver's license renewed. But my pee-shyness delayed that. Deng. Wednesday... I went to Galeria to meet up with my final ARD. And I ran into Bebet! So we chatted, went around the mall, and then eventually transferred to Metrowalk. We were looking for a restroom when we passed by a Tarot Card reading booth. Oh yes... despite the fact that I am strapped for cash and waaaay into too deep with credit card debt, I shelled out 350 bucks for a reading! It was pretty interesting! I have so much love to give daw! Haha!

More activities in the pipeline these coming days! I'm pretty excited about our annual family dinner this Monday. I do need to prepare for the games though! And for Lola Pacing's video coverage. Hope I can manage... and still get a few Tequila shots in between.

We bought new furniture for the family room! Our 20+ year old couch has retired (transfered to Tita Molly's Cabuyao home). We now have a couple of leather couches! They're awfully comfortable.

Okeh... so the power of a power nap is slowly subsiding. I'm pretty sleepy now...

Grabe na weekend

I think every new weekend trumps the previous weekend. And my runny nose is good indication that my body is catching up with the fatigue.

Yesterday, I was late for Zoe Eusebio's baptismal. She looks sooo much like her parents! I made a quick trip home to pick up Kuya Jerry and to chat some zzzzs. I then met up with Marchae and went to the Carl Edwards bazaar. Two empty wallets later, we went to Powerplant to get some more presents. Finally quitting shopping after Pplant, Chae and I went to Tomas Morato for dinner in Little Asia. I was waiting for Irene to be done with her simbang gabi, so I decided to get a full body massage while waiting. And wow! Just what I needed! I met up with Irene and Carol in Saguijo a little past 11. We chatted all night, and what a treat it was for me that Up Dharma Down performed. I was singing "Oo" with sooo much feeling! Haha! I got home at past four!

Today was really meant for Rissa's baby's baptismal and Beegee's wedding. But I only ended up going to Beegee's wedding. It's pretty cool to see Keysi's basketball barkada all made up and dressed in their pink and purple gowns! I also picked up a few wedding reception ideas. Like that "Name that tune" game for the bridal bouquet throw. And the multiple choice thng for the guys. I enjoyed the moments when I was just relaxed and seated! Something that rarely happens with weddings and me!

Random thoughts for today...

How ever well you plan for something, the way it will turn out exactly is something you'll never predict to the 'T'. A wedding is a perfect example. I'm also pretty amazed at Beegee and Shierwin's love story. Two famous lines from two of my favorite movies apply.... From 'When Harry Met Sally', "When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible." And from 'Bridges of Madison County', "This certainty comes once in a lifetime." When you know, you just do. And when you have found him or her, or that certainty, don't let it go.

Sleep is precious. Dengit. Not very deep. But I just want to say it! Hehe! I've been quite tired these past few days and I truly value sleep. Which is why I should be hitting the sack at 12:17 AM!

Focus First Christmas Party

Last December 8, 2006, we had our first ever team building and project Christmas party... where else but in Casa Geocaniga! Hehe! Two years in a row baby! (Last year, ERP5 had a luau here as well)

Anyway, the party started waaay past 8 p.m. We all had to traverse the crazy holiday traffic to get to Paranaque. Even with no alcohol yet, Ceasar could not take his hands off the Magic Sing. Here he is with Tammy.



Everyone was in the mood for group photos!





After a very late dinner, we had a couple of activities (most of which were recycled Dow-games!). The team charades, where the Siebel L3 and Dev team won, was a pretty laughter-intensive activity! Each of the teams did their very best to act out movie titles. I couldn't stop laughing at Angelo's "Gorilla?! Chewbaca?!.... Chewbaboy!" guesses. Then there's Spiderman and Superman (d best kayo Welmer and Yas!). Another activity we had was the Focus Slambook. We will forever remember Rey's "Nahulog me sa manhole". Bad Santa had all thirty plus of us receiving and exchanging gifts. Glue gun anyone??

Post official activities, there was more singing and playing! Felix Dude proved to be some solid singing competition for Ceasar! Alex, Michael, and Edwin played some billiards. And Angelo loved, loved, loved his beer!





More singers in the house! Yas sang "Crazy For You" (She left her heart in Sydney!). Newbie RJ and veteran Siebel-ster Welmer happily grabbed the microphone and rendered those left in the party with a song.





Mark also made a very special announcement that night, which was greeted with a chorus of "huwaaat?!"s. But we wish him well and admire him for the crazies thing he's done for love. Haha!



Of course, crazy picture taking was in order. After a couple of vodka red bulls (tsalap!), two song numbers ("Uptown Girl" and "More Than Words"), Mike was in a posing mood.





Some more singing and some more snoozing later, the guys finally called it a night.





Merry Christmas Focus peeps! We still have a bottle of Absolut Citron, Artic Melon, and Jose Cuervo Tequila!

ATC with Suzie and Paolo

Last December 6, I met up with Paolo and Suzie in ATC. The girl from up North (Pasig), was kind enough to oblige me with a visit. We had dinner at Italianni's while Suzie told us (with all her Kumon energy) about her most interesting students and day-to-day tutorial activities.

Here's me (girl who can't live without the color green) with Suzie.



Here's the happy couple!

Backlog Blogs and a Crazy Weekend

Still in the office... Blogging while trying to keep the work juices flowing. I can't believe it's been almost a week since I got back from BKK... and I still have the case of tamad-itis. Maybe it's the holiday spirit combined with fatigue.

Okeh... Backlog blogs...

Yes Keyce! I still owe you our BKK Pics!! I have uploaded Day 1 in MY ofoto account. Haha! I will upload Days 2-4 today! And hopefully stitch them all together and create Fantabulous Bangkok Adventure entries here. It's a good thing we wrote all our happy memories down in TOSH.

I met up with Suzie and Paolo (in ATC) last week and we just talked and talked and talked. Suzie has the most interesting students! I have pics! Will post 'em here.

My Hannah Montana girls (Iris and Ina) still want to see those Tagaytay pics from our Tagaytay adventure almost two months ago! Oh girls. Tita Ten will post the pics... soon!

The first ever Optus Focus Christmas Party was held in Casa Geocaniga (the auxiliary house that is) last Friday and we all had a rocking good time... 'Cept for the part where a lot of the peeps threw up (upset stomach). Just as Brandon Flowers sings... "For Reasons Unknown..." We think it might be the combination of the Seafood Pesto, the brownies, the hard drinks, and the fact that we all ate at 10 P.M.! Not exactly a decent time for dinner (on a day where we came to the office before 7 A.M.!). Memorable moments off the top of my head... Superman Returns, Rey's "Nahulog si me sa manhole" and the videoke showdown.

A Crazy Weekend

Dengit! So the Focus Christmas party last Friday accounts for 1 very late night! I hit the sack at 5 A.M.! Saturday, I visited Dra. Imelda Cabral-Villar. My second official dermatologist. She's quite a pretty lady! And all the scientific talk! She's very convincing, in a subtle way. Can't say no to her products! Haha! I'm on Stage 1 right now. Let's see if my asthma of the skin will improve. Facials (or rather, TREATMENTS!) I have yet to try. Although I know of a someone who had a facial last Saturday... Hmmm....

Saturday evening was one of the funnest evenings I've had in quite some time! It was Beegee's bridal shower and my first 'show with a stripper' experience! I think all of us who attended are virginal stripper-viewers. The promise of a Jericho Rosales look-alike was... broken? Hehe! The dance was kinda weird too. Slightly robotic. Barre was a blast! And Keysi... the numero uno bridal shower organizer!!! Kicked ass! She had a few dance moves of her own. Thanks for organizing this super fun evening Keyce!! I went home at past 4! I was pinching myself while driving. I swear! I was sooo close to dozing off.

Sunday was more of a relaxed, please-get-some-sleep day. I just went to Makati Supermaket Alabang with Ate Henny to buy our household groceries. It was pouring pretty hard late last night, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the Artetas when I arrived at home. Fonzie is such a blessing! He was running around, on his knees, praying with his eyes closed. Jeez... Super irresistable kid.

I'm sure the coming weeks will be pretty hectic (not work-wise though! haha!). I've a couple of parties to attend to and a couple more gifts to purchase. Two baptismals this weekend, too! And Beegee's wedding!

I have a feeling that this December will simply fly by. And alas 2006 will be over. What a year it's been... Ok! This thought merits a separate blog entry.

Back from BKK and Snoozing

I am super sleepy today! I'm almost done with my first cup of coffee and I think I'll doze off any minute. Zzzzz...

Back from Bangkok! Since last Tuesday! The trip was majorly fun! Retail Therapy! My wallet and credit cards are badly injured. But all in all, I think it was all worth it. Keysi was a crazy as ever. Our day to day activities mostly consisted of... 60% shopping, 30% eating and 10% resting. Hehe!

I'll be posting pics soon (Yes Keysi! I will upload them in ofoto using Login Name kerlynne.b.maliwat... mwahaha!).

Tooodehls

Time check .... 12:40AM! Today is December 2, and I'm still blogging... while waiting for my Christmas List to finish printing. Deng.. That list has grown. I officially have 16 god kids! I almost forgot one. It's a good thing Mama remembered. Hehe!

I need to be up in about... 5 hours? Hehe! We leave the house at 7. Terminal 2 here I come!

Thank you, dear Lord, for making Reming go away. No cancelled flights for these travellers!!!

See you guys in a few days!

Toodehls!

Night out with Lukey

Focus teams represented ('cept Middleware), we had dinner with Luke at Good Earth (The Fort). Luke surprised us all when we showed up in the Manila office Monday morning. Of course, for being all nice and helpful to us in Aussie, we took him out.

Here's happy Lukey, flashing his pearly whites. And beside him is Accenture's very own Recruitment model. Haha! Thriple Threat yan!



Luke with the boys!



And here's Mr. Optus with all of us. We enjoyed telling him stories about Manila and some of our Sydney adventures.



After dinner, we had drinks at Vodka Bar, Greenbelt 2, where Luke showed us his very special dancing talents. I think if he's thinking of changing careers, he will do very well as the sixth Backstreet Boy. He got the moves! He should've included "Professional Dancing" in the ESS KT plan.

Typhoon Reming was in the background of course. But it's not as bad ... so far. The worst is yet to come, they say. Tomorrow morning Reming will hit its strongest (in Manila). We really really hope he just get it over with! No cancelled flights this Saturday please!