After so many attempts at posting a profile image in my blog, today I have been successful. I'm so dummy in techie things and I always fail to acknowledge that I should read up on the How To? section to help me navigate through this. Anyways, today I accidentally clicked on the help section and I finally got the idea how make make a picture posting in my profile.
But it took me three trys to achieve it. Nonetheless, I am happy.
Christmas time is always difficult in terms of doing some shopping. Malls are too crowded, parking is too precious, and you just can't seem to find the things that you wanted bought. Maybe it is always wise to christmas shop ahead of the rush. But, it is not easy to make a listing of what give your love ones before then. I tend to always make up my find for the gifts I should give almost in the nick of time.
Maybe that's how life really works. And you always don't have enough of the time you needed.
When I was younger, time doesn't fly by as fast as it seems today. In my childhood, I had the opportune to linger and smell the roses so to speak. I do remember lying on my back in the meadow nearby and make out familiar animals and creatures formed by the passing clouds. I could day dream and never felt I wasted some precious time. But today, it doesn't feel that way anymore.
Maybe I am growing old to fast. Or I just haven't figured out the purpose of my being. Maybe I should be get married and have a family. But building a family does not seem to easy for me nowadays. Am I too picky or just too damned to even try to make one.
It can get lonely sometimes. Especially if you don't feel right in your system. I can always long for a company or companion.
If God has a plan, maybe I never figured out yet what it is...
Will I, I really hope so.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Thursday, December 08, 2005
A Day at the La Mesa Ecopark
The last week of November had long weekend. I decided to call my sis and bro for a day trip to the picnic grounds of the La Mesa Reservoir ecopark. Tita readily agreed as it her day-off on a Sunday. Cathy, her daughter is also excited to go. I asked Kuya Mike if he is interested to go with us. I called him on a Friday night to check his availability. He told me, he is scheduled actually to report for work that Sunday when we are bound for La Mesa. However, after some thought, he said yes. The condition though, that I provide for the expenses for the picnic. I told him I can take care of it. I told him the best time to expect me to pick him and his family on Sunday. And then, I bade him goodbye.
That Sunday, I went to Novaliches to pass by my brother's place. I arrived at around 9 to 930am. Mabelle, the common law wife told me that Kuya went out to have his "tari" sharpened and that Kuya will be expecting me to arrive at around 10am anyhow.
So I waited at their place, chatted briefly with her wife about her plans to work in South Korea and some stuff about baby Mykah. After waiting for a while, she decided to check out where Kuya went. After about 20 minutes, she came back to tell me and Kuya actually went to the garage and that he had tried to test drive his bus which had recently been repaired. However, Kuya will be with us in a very short while.
So I waited still. I was able to contact Tita and she is ready with preparations and is expecting me already to pick them up. I told her, I am waiting for Kuya Mike still. I waited some more until about 1130am. Then Mabelle decided to check Kuya as to what takes him so long to arrive. After about 15 minutes, Mabelle told me that Kuya has begged off for the occassion and was sorry. And Mabelle also tells me, she won't join us any longer. By God, I can't believe I waited this long and was too exasperated at that time.
I quickly drove off to Tita's place really angry with myself. After about 20 minutes, I was joined by Tita and Cathy. We chatted about the bizarre behavior of Kuya for a short while and the hesitation of his wife to join us instead without Kuya. Anyways, I bought some softdrinks and ice cream along the way and proceeded to the La Mesa Dam.
Cathy had to ask her friend about the directions to the ecopark and off we go. The La Mesa Reservoir is huge and teeming with water. During that time, the depth I believe, was about 79 feet. It is a huge lake that's created by the dam. And the view is just spectacular. Very green and stately trees all over the horizon. I can't believe there is such a thing as a verdant forest in Metro Manila. Although by any standards, it is not a large forested area, I still consider 100 hectares very large indeed.
We ate our lunch underneath the shade of a large tree. We came in late like 1pm and all the picnic tables have already been taken and occupied, so we had to content ourselves in communing with nature. And true enough, a many groups and families have laid down their picnic mats just all over the place.
It was fun and very refreshing. The ecopark boasts of a hiking trail, a swimming pool, a fishing area, a boating area, an orchidarium, an atrium, a bike trail and rental and a children's playground. Or you can just pitch a tent someplace, somewhere and enjoy the forest.
Cathy had fun taking most of the pictures. We trekked to the reservoir and took some pictures. A day after, the rowing and traditional boat race of the the 23rd Southeast Asian Games will be held in La Mesa Dam. We saw the preparations at the dam for the race, had my pictures taken with the boats and had the day filled with gladness.
That Sunday, I went to Novaliches to pass by my brother's place. I arrived at around 9 to 930am. Mabelle, the common law wife told me that Kuya went out to have his "tari" sharpened and that Kuya will be expecting me to arrive at around 10am anyhow.
So I waited at their place, chatted briefly with her wife about her plans to work in South Korea and some stuff about baby Mykah. After waiting for a while, she decided to check out where Kuya went. After about 20 minutes, she came back to tell me and Kuya actually went to the garage and that he had tried to test drive his bus which had recently been repaired. However, Kuya will be with us in a very short while.
So I waited still. I was able to contact Tita and she is ready with preparations and is expecting me already to pick them up. I told her, I am waiting for Kuya Mike still. I waited some more until about 1130am. Then Mabelle decided to check Kuya as to what takes him so long to arrive. After about 15 minutes, Mabelle told me that Kuya has begged off for the occassion and was sorry. And Mabelle also tells me, she won't join us any longer. By God, I can't believe I waited this long and was too exasperated at that time.
I quickly drove off to Tita's place really angry with myself. After about 20 minutes, I was joined by Tita and Cathy. We chatted about the bizarre behavior of Kuya for a short while and the hesitation of his wife to join us instead without Kuya. Anyways, I bought some softdrinks and ice cream along the way and proceeded to the La Mesa Dam.
Cathy had to ask her friend about the directions to the ecopark and off we go. The La Mesa Reservoir is huge and teeming with water. During that time, the depth I believe, was about 79 feet. It is a huge lake that's created by the dam. And the view is just spectacular. Very green and stately trees all over the horizon. I can't believe there is such a thing as a verdant forest in Metro Manila. Although by any standards, it is not a large forested area, I still consider 100 hectares very large indeed.
We ate our lunch underneath the shade of a large tree. We came in late like 1pm and all the picnic tables have already been taken and occupied, so we had to content ourselves in communing with nature. And true enough, a many groups and families have laid down their picnic mats just all over the place.
It was fun and very refreshing. The ecopark boasts of a hiking trail, a swimming pool, a fishing area, a boating area, an orchidarium, an atrium, a bike trail and rental and a children's playground. Or you can just pitch a tent someplace, somewhere and enjoy the forest.
Cathy had fun taking most of the pictures. We trekked to the reservoir and took some pictures. A day after, the rowing and traditional boat race of the the 23rd Southeast Asian Games will be held in La Mesa Dam. We saw the preparations at the dam for the race, had my pictures taken with the boats and had the day filled with gladness.
Continuation of a brief encounter with an Ex
During the early morning hours, I asked Ellen if she's ready to leave Embassy. She agreed, and I asked her if she wants to check out my place which is just nearby. We walked to my car and had some profound conversations about our past. We kissed some more and I confessed I am not ready to enter into a relationship at the moment. She voiced the same concern, that she isn't gonna expect something also, especially, a long distance love affair.
At about 3am, we reached my flat. And there it is.
I did not call her or texted her the following day or the day after. I just thought, maybe it's not the right thing to do. Besides, I got sick with a flu virus after that fateful Saturday. After 2 days, I sent her a feel good sms, she did not respond. Ok, maybe she was just busy as she is visiting her family and friends also during her two week stay in Manila. Another 2 days after, I called her phone and she did not answer. Hmmp, I got the mother fucker of a snub there. The bigger pride in me tells me, it is ok. If she doesn't want to talk to me, it's ok. My world will not stop revolving if she won't be there.
She left for New York that Friday and we have never talked.
The following Monday, I checked out our egroup at yahoo and she had posted our group pictures already. She didn't say anything other to say sorry to Sali for not being able to see her at the airport when she was about to leave. Ellen completely ignored me.
I took the last ounces of courage to send her a private message, what just happened? And if our friendship will end the way it is, that I am sorry for whatever I have done to cause it.
And that was the end of that very brief encounter with an ex. Crazy but memorable too.
At about 3am, we reached my flat. And there it is.
I did not call her or texted her the following day or the day after. I just thought, maybe it's not the right thing to do. Besides, I got sick with a flu virus after that fateful Saturday. After 2 days, I sent her a feel good sms, she did not respond. Ok, maybe she was just busy as she is visiting her family and friends also during her two week stay in Manila. Another 2 days after, I called her phone and she did not answer. Hmmp, I got the mother fucker of a snub there. The bigger pride in me tells me, it is ok. If she doesn't want to talk to me, it's ok. My world will not stop revolving if she won't be there.
She left for New York that Friday and we have never talked.
The following Monday, I checked out our egroup at yahoo and she had posted our group pictures already. She didn't say anything other to say sorry to Sali for not being able to see her at the airport when she was about to leave. Ellen completely ignored me.
I took the last ounces of courage to send her a private message, what just happened? And if our friendship will end the way it is, that I am sorry for whatever I have done to cause it.
And that was the end of that very brief encounter with an ex. Crazy but memorable too.
Thoughts on that long weekend Plans
Nah, it didn't push through. The planned swim at Loriland with my sis and bro and their families did not happen last October 29th. I opted to cancel it anyway as Grace is reluctant to go ahead with the plans.
Very interesting things happen though. An ex-girlfriend from New York came to visit Manila. Last October 28th, I organized a get together with some of our former officemates. We decided to have dinner at the Prince of Jaipur at The Fort. Ellen Alcantara, Sali Yamamoto with boyfriend Eric, Carole Ong with hubbie Ringo, Hazel Gutierrez with hubbie Rod, and Edgar Alforja all came. The resto put on a belly dancing show during the early parts of the evening. When the clock hits 10pm, it got turned into a R&B bar. They cleared the dine area of the tables and chairs and put on the loud music when the younger crowed starts to fill the place.
But that is not the close to the interesting thing that I am talking about. Of course, I got to chat and get updates on the lives of friends especially Sali whom I haven't seen for more than 10 years. She was even sexier this time around. Amazingly enough, no one has change a bit other the age marks on our faces. We talked of the same things, probably believed in the same principles that we have way back then. Me, Ellen and Sali were the singles in the batch, except for Manny and Malou who did not make it to the get together, both are in blessed singlehood too.
After dinner, everyone has to say good bye to each other. Sali has to run to another party with her boyfriend at the Temple Bar in Greenbelt, Makati. Carole has to be home to her kids with the hubbie. Gee, Carole did not even attempt anymore to dress up for the occassion. Hazel and hubbie have to disappear also. That left me, Edgar and Ellen, my ex with no commitments for the night.
Edgar begged off to stay with us for the rest of the evening, as he feels he needs to give us time to reconnect. So I asked Ellen if she wants to try the hip bar in town where the young and the not so young yuppies in the Metropolis crowd during the weekend. We checked-out the Embassy and it was classy indeed. Except for the dizzying music and the laser lights, I kinda liked the place for its simplicity and lay-out. Very classy in its design with two bars situated on both ends of the open area cum dance floor.
Me and Ellen, got the flavored vodka drinks that sponsored that night. It is an easy drink as it more sweet than vodkadish in taste. Besides, I was drinking vodka sprite all evening at the resto. To make the night even better, Ellen voluntered to try out vodka sprite too. She had a good drink vodka sprite aside from her usual cosmo drink which had probably set the general mood of the night.
I hold her hands while we talked in one corner at the Embassy. After a while, we decide to try the dance floor and I hold her close to me. She didn't resist at all. Hmmp, old feelings aren't always gone. While dancing, I begin to kiss her lips, and she responded back. Before I knew it, french kisses are traded without inhibitions at all.
To be continued
Very interesting things happen though. An ex-girlfriend from New York came to visit Manila. Last October 28th, I organized a get together with some of our former officemates. We decided to have dinner at the Prince of Jaipur at The Fort. Ellen Alcantara, Sali Yamamoto with boyfriend Eric, Carole Ong with hubbie Ringo, Hazel Gutierrez with hubbie Rod, and Edgar Alforja all came. The resto put on a belly dancing show during the early parts of the evening. When the clock hits 10pm, it got turned into a R&B bar. They cleared the dine area of the tables and chairs and put on the loud music when the younger crowed starts to fill the place.
But that is not the close to the interesting thing that I am talking about. Of course, I got to chat and get updates on the lives of friends especially Sali whom I haven't seen for more than 10 years. She was even sexier this time around. Amazingly enough, no one has change a bit other the age marks on our faces. We talked of the same things, probably believed in the same principles that we have way back then. Me, Ellen and Sali were the singles in the batch, except for Manny and Malou who did not make it to the get together, both are in blessed singlehood too.
After dinner, everyone has to say good bye to each other. Sali has to run to another party with her boyfriend at the Temple Bar in Greenbelt, Makati. Carole has to be home to her kids with the hubbie. Gee, Carole did not even attempt anymore to dress up for the occassion. Hazel and hubbie have to disappear also. That left me, Edgar and Ellen, my ex with no commitments for the night.
Edgar begged off to stay with us for the rest of the evening, as he feels he needs to give us time to reconnect. So I asked Ellen if she wants to try the hip bar in town where the young and the not so young yuppies in the Metropolis crowd during the weekend. We checked-out the Embassy and it was classy indeed. Except for the dizzying music and the laser lights, I kinda liked the place for its simplicity and lay-out. Very classy in its design with two bars situated on both ends of the open area cum dance floor.
Me and Ellen, got the flavored vodka drinks that sponsored that night. It is an easy drink as it more sweet than vodkadish in taste. Besides, I was drinking vodka sprite all evening at the resto. To make the night even better, Ellen voluntered to try out vodka sprite too. She had a good drink vodka sprite aside from her usual cosmo drink which had probably set the general mood of the night.
I hold her hands while we talked in one corner at the Embassy. After a while, we decide to try the dance floor and I hold her close to me. She didn't resist at all. Hmmp, old feelings aren't always gone. While dancing, I begin to kiss her lips, and she responded back. Before I knew it, french kisses are traded without inhibitions at all.
To be continued
Monday, October 24, 2005
Plans for the Weekend
It will be one hell of a long weekend. October 31 and Nobember 1 are holidays. These are four days to waste, man and I got no plans yet.
I e-mailed my sis, Lynn Eva, in Dubai to check out the contact numbers of Club Serene. My sis used to work for the Company that operated the resort and I thought, maybe I should be able to get hold of the number to make my reservation. In two hours time, my sis replied and she had apparently lost her phone book months ago. But she gave me instead persons I can call like, Russo or Beng Juanico to check out the resorts number. I was successful in contacting Russo, and he still works for the resort. This is good news. I decide to give him a ring tomorrow to finalize the reservation.
I called up my sis, Grace Baldomar, in Rosehill Antipolo to check if she is available for a swim on October 30th. After talking to her officemate, Lerio, and given a number to get hold of Grace, I was not able to make contact of her. In a little while, my mobile was ringing with Grace on the other line, quite worried if there is some emergency going on(I don't normally call my sis without any really important matter at hand). I told her that it was nothing, but I wanted to know if her family has made plans for the long weekend. She decided to ring me back on my landline so we can talk much longer without worrying about phone bills.
When I told Grace that I was thinking of going for a swim on the long weekend, she said, she's good to go too. I mentioned to her about Club Serene (we had a swim there with Lynn's family also a few years back), and she's not to excited about it. She suggested instead another resort in Antipolo, quite near her place called Loriland. We decide that we take a look at prices and compare thereafter before we make a decision.
I checked Club Manila East, a resort also near Taytay, at the foothills of Antipolo. Its rates for a villa that will allow 4 people to occupy runs at Php4,000 with no outside food allowed. Grace called me up again and she said that Loriland costs Php3,600 for a four bed, with extra four pull-outs bed room. The resort will allow from as many as 10 to 15 people to occupy the room. Wow, right there, it is a bargain, although it borders on the convenience and well being of the occupants. Anyways, the resort would allow bringing in food too, and they even have a barbeque pit. Nice...
So we decided to proceed and make the reservation at the Loriland. I volunteered to call Tita Ahmie and maybe Kuya Mike as well to join us. Am not too sure though, if Kuya Mike's kids will join in the foray. I had some difficulty contacting Kuya Mike these past few days. His phone is always on the voicemail mode. And Tita's phone too, just keep on ringing. No one is actually answering. I tried to send a SMS both to Tital and Cathy, just in case they are around to read their inboxes.
I'm still waiting for the return messages from them...
So far, it is fixed, we will go for a swim on Sunday at the Loriland. Yehey, at least, I was able to make some "walk" for the long weekend.
Finally...
I e-mailed my sis, Lynn Eva, in Dubai to check out the contact numbers of Club Serene. My sis used to work for the Company that operated the resort and I thought, maybe I should be able to get hold of the number to make my reservation. In two hours time, my sis replied and she had apparently lost her phone book months ago. But she gave me instead persons I can call like, Russo or Beng Juanico to check out the resorts number. I was successful in contacting Russo, and he still works for the resort. This is good news. I decide to give him a ring tomorrow to finalize the reservation.
I called up my sis, Grace Baldomar, in Rosehill Antipolo to check if she is available for a swim on October 30th. After talking to her officemate, Lerio, and given a number to get hold of Grace, I was not able to make contact of her. In a little while, my mobile was ringing with Grace on the other line, quite worried if there is some emergency going on(I don't normally call my sis without any really important matter at hand). I told her that it was nothing, but I wanted to know if her family has made plans for the long weekend. She decided to ring me back on my landline so we can talk much longer without worrying about phone bills.
When I told Grace that I was thinking of going for a swim on the long weekend, she said, she's good to go too. I mentioned to her about Club Serene (we had a swim there with Lynn's family also a few years back), and she's not to excited about it. She suggested instead another resort in Antipolo, quite near her place called Loriland. We decide that we take a look at prices and compare thereafter before we make a decision.
I checked Club Manila East, a resort also near Taytay, at the foothills of Antipolo. Its rates for a villa that will allow 4 people to occupy runs at Php4,000 with no outside food allowed. Grace called me up again and she said that Loriland costs Php3,600 for a four bed, with extra four pull-outs bed room. The resort will allow from as many as 10 to 15 people to occupy the room. Wow, right there, it is a bargain, although it borders on the convenience and well being of the occupants. Anyways, the resort would allow bringing in food too, and they even have a barbeque pit. Nice...
So we decided to proceed and make the reservation at the Loriland. I volunteered to call Tita Ahmie and maybe Kuya Mike as well to join us. Am not too sure though, if Kuya Mike's kids will join in the foray. I had some difficulty contacting Kuya Mike these past few days. His phone is always on the voicemail mode. And Tita's phone too, just keep on ringing. No one is actually answering. I tried to send a SMS both to Tital and Cathy, just in case they are around to read their inboxes.
I'm still waiting for the return messages from them...
So far, it is fixed, we will go for a swim on Sunday at the Loriland. Yehey, at least, I was able to make some "walk" for the long weekend.
Finally...
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Very Office Pictures at Enterworks
These are one of the early pictures with the office and colleagues at Enterworks.
Former Colleagues at SGV
Picture during the send-off of Maria to Singapore. One of those rare occassions that us friends had actually the time to see each other. It was surreal and nostalgic at the same time to re-connect with old friends alike.
This is a profile of me, joeblack. I'm thinking to myself, I should have a post every month showing the same profile. Then I can look back, a year of so from now, how time flies and how much years are etched in my face. It should become a living reminder of how much I grown, hopefully, in wisdom too, through these years to come.
First Post
This is my virgin post! I'm totally new and clueless on how this blogging works for me. I resolve, I will try my very best to make regular postings to update my "journey" and hope this will help me in committing to memory how my life turned out to be.
I am not gifted with the art for words nor for composition. However, may this be the avenue by which I can train myself to babble my thoughts and hopefully, at the end of it all, it may make some sensible meaning to the innermost workings of my wired brain.
Let the journey begin...
I am not gifted with the art for words nor for composition. However, may this be the avenue by which I can train myself to babble my thoughts and hopefully, at the end of it all, it may make some sensible meaning to the innermost workings of my wired brain.
Let the journey begin...
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