Kape on a Worknight...

It was quite a lax Wednesday since all I did was to create a training module, chat with Angel and update my Facebook account... hehe... Oh, and how could I forget my "mini" meeting with my papable manager :-D

Anyway, I was about to go home around 6:30 when Shawie texted me that she's at Northpark in Greenbelt with Chris! Yes, Christine Joy has arrived and will be on vacation for a month and a half! Yahoo! Looking forward to an out of town trip with the Marnix guys...!!! =)

Before going to Greenbelt, I remembered a promise I made to the CMAs (customer management associates) that I'll treat them to Starbucks on payday, so there... Ai, Rhegie, Meg and myself went to Pacific Star Bldg. and ordered 3 Caramel Frappes (for them), Hot Caramel Macchiato (for me), and 4 Belgian Waffles (c/o Meg). I had fun talking to my officemates and found out a lot of things about the office, former Workforce Analyst and their first impression on "Ms. Principal"-- that's Me. Sabi nila, when they first saw me, they somehow felt nervous because of my "appearance" (powerdressed kasi ako that time with my glasses.. hehe...). They actually thought I was strict, uptight and they never expected that they'd be able to talk to me as Me and not as Ms. Avee or Ms. Principal. I felt good hearing these words from my agents kasi di ko naman inexpect na they will be as "open" as telling me those things... AND, I was relieved talaga knowing that they actually understood my position as WFA. Yung iba kasi, sobrang kontrabida ang dating ko sa kanila... Duh...



So yun na no, after ng gigian portion sa Starbucks, gora na ko sa Starbucks (again) Glorietta to meet Ceej and Shaw naman... na tipong sinabi ko sa kanila na stranded ako sa Pacific Star... hehehe... Sorry Shawiwor... Yun, gigian ng walang humpay with Shaw and Ceej then dumating si Keat... kainis nga lang wala kaming pic. Siguro around 11 PM na kami naghiwahiwalay and super worried pa ko kasi maaga pa ko gigising the next day for church service... Ayun, 12 MN na ko nakarating sa house tapos 12:30 na natulog... kasi naman, yung usual 30-minute ride from Makati to Better, eh naging 1 hour kasi di alam ni manong driver yung daan kaya binibigyan ko pa ng directions (na nagkamali pa ko dun sa isang turn... hehehe), tapos ang dilim dilim pa... scary ang biyahe... Ayun, puyat on a worknight ang drama ko... haaayyyy...

Blepharoplasty (from www.cosmeticsurgeryconsultants.co.uk)

Blepharoplasty is one of the most popular cosmetic surgical procedures. Eyelid surgery is a procedure to remove fat - usually along with excess skin and muscle - from the upper and lower eyelids. Eyelid surgery can lift drooping upper lids and reduce the puffy eye bags that form below your eyes. This procedure can be done alone or in conjunction with other plastic facial surgery procedures such as a facelift.
Eye Bag Removal Surgery Procedure
For the upper eyelids the incision is made in the natural crease line that occurs 1 cm above the eyelashes. The incisions might extend into the crow's feet or laughter lines at the outer corners of your eyes. Working through the incisions your surgeon will separate the skin from the subcutaneous layers and remove excess fat and trim sagging muscle and skin. The incisions will then be closed with very fine sutures.
For the lower eyelids the incision starts underneath the eyelashes and extends out 1 cm or so outwards into the crow's feet area, the skin is then lifted upwards and outwards, gently tensioning the area and overlapping skin removed. Again the incisions will then be closed with very fine sutures.
How long does the surgery take?
Blepharoplasty surgery is an operation that usually takes 1.5 to 3 hours to complete using a general anaesthetic and normally includes an overnight stay at the hospital. In certain circumstances it can be performed as a day case (usually if just the upper eyelids are operated on).
What can I expect from the surgery?
Your expectations need to be realistic. The positive results of your refreshing eyes and reduced tired appearance will benefit your self-esteem and confidence and should last for years.
Recovery after Blepharoplasty Surgery
What will happen in the recovery period?
After blepharoplasty surgery, the surgeon will probably lubricate your eyes with ointment and may apply a bandage. Some bruising and swelling will be experienced during the first and second weeks, however the majority of the swelling usually subsides after the first 10 days. Your eyelids may feel dry at first, but eye drops can help with this. Any sutures are usually removed after 5 days. Scars will form as a result of the surgery. Overall these scars heal relatively well, but will differ in each individual patient.
What is the recovery time?
Recovery varies from patient to patient and it is advisable to take it easy for the first week after surgery. Most people are ready to go out and return to work after a week to 10 days. You should keep your activities to a minimum for three to five days and avoid more strenuous activities for about three weeks.
BEFORE and AFTER (Blepharoplasty) IMAGES:

Sclerotherapy and Blepharoplasty on My 30th Bday?

Aside from the Hong Kong getaway plan for me and Angel's 30th birthday on January, I was also considering Sclerotherapy (removal of varicose veins) and Blepharoplasty (removal of eye bags) as gifts for myself. Eto yung conversation namin ni Angel kanina about it, just want to share...

11:30:51 AM avigailbalaag: lam mo ba
11:30:54 AM avigailbalaag: iniisip ko nga
11:31:20 AM avigailbalaag: kung sama ko sa hongkong sa 30th bday natin
11:31:37 AM avigailbalaag: o magpatanggal na lang ako ng eyebags at varicose veins haha :D
11:31:48 AM rouselleramoso: huwow naman ang saya
11:31:57 AM rouselleramoso: pag tinanong ka in the future
11:32:06 AM rouselleramoso: what did you do on your 30th bday?
11:32:10 AM avigailbalaag: may discount kasi ako sa drs dito
11:32:15 AM rouselleramoso: nasa doctor ako...
11:32:26 AM rouselleramoso: nagpatanggal ng varicose chaka eyebags
11:32:38 AM avigailbalaag: gumanda naman ako
11:32:42 AM rouselleramoso: :))
11:32:42 AM avigailbalaag: hehehehe

O di ba... my bestfriend has a point, but sayang naman ang mage-gain ko... plus ganda points pag nawala ang eyebags at varicose ko... wahahaha... CHAROT!!!

30th Birthday Plan: Hong Kong

Something to look forward to on my 30th Birthday (copied from a Hong Kong Vacation Packages website):

Ocean Park
-Lying between Aberdeen and Repulse Bay, is the largest leisure paradise in Southeast Asia, and one of the largest marine parks in the world. Covering a total area of over 200 acres, the park was built on both sides of the mountain. A cable car system links the lowland and headland sections and provides spectacular views of Hong Kong and the South China Sea. There are over 40 major attractions in this park.

Headland Rides - Games for Brave Man

-If you're more adventurous, various thrilling rides in headland should satisfy your need for excitement. The longest roller coaster in Hong Kong takes you for a hurricane speed super ride, flipping through its famous loops, twisting and turning to give you the ride of a lifetime. In addition, the Eagle Ride, Crazy Galleon and the Flying Swing, where you're swung in chairs as high as 7 meters through a gyrating wave-like motion, all offer thrilling rides that will leave you screaming for more. Think this will satisfy your need for speed?Of course, if you're not a thrill-seeker, you can relax on the Ferris Wheel, a more sedate, but still fun, ride that you can enjoy with the entire family.

Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum

Hong Kong Disneyland

-A magical kingdom of Dreams. A realm of Adventure. A place where the fantasies of yesterday and tomorow come to life. This is Hongkong Disneyland...

sMothering...

I just finished reading a book entitled sMothering... If you notice, the M is capitalized. It's because the book was about a nagging and overpowering mother. The book caught my attention when I was busy checking out reading materials at Book Sale. Feeling ko bagay na story namin ni mama so yun, I bought the book. My mom's not like the ones in the book but some of the scenes kasi parang nakikita ko yung self ko and ni mom. Hehehe... The material was very entertaining and touching... Tapos mura ko pa sya nabili. ;)

Boring...? Not...

It's a boring Saturday... I'm in the office now and I don't wanna work. Been dealing with a lot of stress for the past days and can't seem to collect my brains. Darn! I've been logged on to YM since I got in the office expecting that there would be at least 1 friend online to chat with. I was disappointed... not even my aunt in Canada is online. I wanna talk pa naman... until I got a text message from Achie. I told her that I'm online but, unfortunately, she's about to leave the house to go to Celine and get her ATM... So, ayun... I guess I'll just be stuck here in these 4-walled office doing excel templates for the Call Center. Oh well, after few minutes of thinking about what to do... I think the goddess of friendship (meron ba non?! whatever...) heard my prayers. Got another message from Achie "1 hour lang ako sa Celine tapos punta na ng SM Bicutan to pay bills". And then I told her that I'm in the office and I'll be out by 12:30... So, "Cge, gusto mo daanan kita jan at maglunch tayo" Yahoo!!! Haaayyy... Buti naman, I just need a day's off from the hustle and bustle of the office and Makati... Charot!

Anyhow... Ash and I went to Glorietta for lunch... na di ko naman din naenjoy ang ulam kong Beef Salpicao kasi hilaw pa ang beef (eeww...), at si Achie, sa pagaakalang beef ang naorder nya, eh nadisappoint din kasi Lengua pala yung kinakain nya... ano ba yan. After lunch, nagbayad si Ash ng bills and we went to SM para tumingin ng halaman. Then yon, on our way to Bicutan, sinuggest nya kung gusto ko pahula kay Migs... eh since mejo magulo pa rin ang utak ko about something, I said "yes". Migs will arrive by 5PM pa daw so we went to Maria's Hardin muna to, again, check out on some plants. Then, while Achie was talking to "Tita Cora" (owner) a butterfly caught my attention... so there, I took a picture of it! =)

Migs is about to arrive na so we went to Bastille and had our merienda. I had Cafe Latte and Chocolate Cake, Ash had her Oreo Smoothie. Then kwento kwento about Achie's Ex... who I thought na OK, yun naman pala eh... nuknukan ng pagka-immature... So yon... Mejo 1 hour din kami naghintay kay Migs non so pinicture-an ko muna yung kinakain ko... I just realized, bakit kaming dalawa ni Achie eh walang picture, e date naming 2 to... hehehe...

Dumating na si Migs so... start na ng hula session... eto lang ang maiilagay ko ditey sa king blog...

• It's up to me if I want to go abroad, but if I decided to go, I should beware of the offers na marereceive ko. I should be on the look out daw of the offers na maganda sa pandinig. And, kung magaabroad ako, masasacrifice ko daw ang aking motherhood. As of right now, I still don't know daw if I'm ok na with my work.
• Sa love... I have a very young love daw for a guy and that ang status namin ngayon eh naghihintayan... Tapos I have to forget about my Ex na financially stable and should focus more on career (di ko na naman iniisip si Gian ah...).

Hanggang dun lang ang aking isheshare... =) So... I guess this is not a boring weekend after all... ;)

Paolo Operado...

I just want to share these photos... Taken last night sa house when our churchmates visited Pao (who has just undergone Appendectomy last Monday, August 11, 2008). Payat na ni Pao, good thing though, he's already in good shape at least. Ayun nakalimutang may tahi sya, tumawa ng bonggang bongga kagabi, biglang sumakit yung tahi sabay sabing "ate, pag bumuka ba yung tahi ko sa balat, bubuka din yung tahi sa intestine?" eeeewwww... hehehe...

Green Team

This was a coincidence... promise... =D

Kuha to just a few hours ago. Napagkatuwaan namin ng mga agents na mag-picture since all of us were wearing a Green top... :)

(guys at the back L-R: Rhegie, RC; girls L-R: Me, Aileen, Meg)

With Love, Everything is Possible...

*HOPE is a Waking Dream ... with LOVE everything is POSSIBLE *

An incredible love story has come out of
China recently and managed to touch the world.
It is a story of a man and an older woman who
ran off to live and love each other in peace
for over half a century.

The 70-year-old Chinese man who hand-carved
over 6,000 stairs up a mountain for his
80-year-old wife has passed away in the cave
which has been the couple's home for the last
50 years.

Over 50 years ago, Liu Guojiang a 19
year-old boy, fell in love with a 29 year-old
widowed mother named Xu Chaoqin..

In a twist worthy of Shakespeare's Romeo and
Juliet, friends and relatives criticized the
relationship because of the age difference and
the fact that Xu already had children.

At that time, it was unacceptable and immoral
for a young man to love an older woman.. To
avoid the market gossip and the scorn of their
communities, the couple decided to elope and
lived in a cave in Jiangjin County in Southern
ChongQing Municipality.

In the beginning, life was harsh as hey had
nothing, no electricity or even food. They
had to eat grass and roots they found in the
mountain, and Liu made a kerosene lamp that
they used to light up their lives.

Xu felt that she had tied Liu down and
repeatedly asked him, 'Are you regretful? Liu
always replied, 'As long as we are
industrious, life will improve.'
In the second year of living in the
mountain, Liu began and continued for over 50
years, to hand-carve the steps so that his
wife could get down the mountain easily

Half a century later in 2001, a group of
adventurers were exploring the forest and
were surprised to find the elderly couple and
the over 6,000 hand-carved steps. Liu
MingSheng, one of their seven children said,
'My parents loved each other so much, they
have lived in seclusion for over 50 years and
never been apart a single day. He hand carved
more than 6,000 steps over the years for my
mother's convenience, although she doesn't go
down the mountain that much.'

The couple had lived in peace for over 50
years until last week. Liu, now 72 years,
returned from his daily farm work and
collapsed. Xu sat and prayed with her husband
as he passed away in her arms. So in love
with Xu, was Liu, that no one was able to
release the grip he had on his wife's hand
even after he had passed away.

'You promised me you'll take care of me,
you'll always be with me until the day I died,
now you left before me, how am I going to live
without you?'
Xu spent days softly repeating this sentence
and touching her husband's black coffin with
tears rolling down her cheeks.

In 2006, their story became one of the top 10
love stories from China , collected by the
Chinese Women Weekly. The loc al government
has decided to preserve the love ladder and
the place they lived as a museum, so this love
story can live forever.

The One Who Got Away...

The One Who Got Away
In your life, you'll make note of a lot ofpeople. Ones with whom you Shared something special, ones who will always mean something. There's the one you first kissed, the one you firstloved, the one you lost yourvirginity to, the one you put on a pedestal, theone you're with... andthe one that got away.
Who is the one that got away? I guess it's thatperson with whoeverything was great, everything was perfect,but the timing was just wrong.There was no fault in the person, there was noflaw in the chemistry,but the cards just didn't fall the right way, Isuppose.
I believe in the fact that ending up withsomeone, finding a longtimepartner that is, does not lie merely in theother person. I can actuallyargue that an equal part, or maybe even thegreater part, has to dowith the matter of timing. It has to do with youbeing ready to settledown and comm! it to someone in a way that goesbeyond the little nicetiesof giddy romance.
How often have you gone through it without evenrealizing it? Whenyou're not ready to commit in that maturemanner, it doesn't matter whoyou're with, it just doesn't work. Smallproblems become big;inconsequentials become dealbreakers simplybecause you're not ready and it shows.It's not that you and the person you're with areno good; it's justthat it's not yet right, and little thingsbecome the flashpoint of thatfact.
Then one day you're ready. You really are. Andwhen this happens you'llbe ready to settle down with someone. He or shemay not be the mostperfect, they might not be the brightest star ofromance to ever haveburned in your life, but it'll work becauseyou're ready. It'll workbecause it's the right time and you'll make itwork. And it'll make sense,it really will.
So that day comes when! you're finally makingsense of things, and youfind yourself to be a different person. Thingsare different, yourapproach is different, you finally understandwho you are and what you want,and you've become ready because the time hastruly arrived. And mindyou, there's no telling when this day will come.Hopefully you're singlebut you could be in a long-term relationship,you could be married withthree kids, it doesn't matter. All you know isthat you've changed, andfor some reason, the one that got away, is thefirst person you thinkabout.
You'll think about them because you'llwonder, "What if they were heretoday?" You'll wonder, "What if we were togethernow, with me as I amand not as I was?" That's what the one that gotaway is. The biggest"What if?" you'll have in your life.
If you're married, you'll just have to acceptthe fact that the onethat got away, got away. Believe me, no matterhow fairy tale you thinkyour marriage is, this can happen to the best ofus. But hopefully you'remature enough to realize that you're alreadywith the one you're withand this is just another test of yourcommitment, one which will juststrengthen your marriage when you get past it.Sure, you'll think abouthim/her every so often, but it's alright. It'snever nice to live with a"might have been," but it happens.
Maybe the one that got away is the one who'salready married. In whichcase it's the same thing. You just have toaccept and know that yourmemories of that person will probably bring anice little smile to yourlips in the future when you're old and gray andreminiscing.
But if neither of that is the case, then it'sdifferent. What do you doif it's not yet too late? Simple...find him,find her. Because the veryexistence of a "one that got away" means thatyou'll always wonder,that if you got that one?
Ask him out to coffee, ask her out to a movie,it doesn't matter ifyou've dropped in from out of nowhere. You'd be surprised, you just mightbe "the one that got away" as well for theperson who is your "the onethat got away."
You might drop in from out of nowhere and itwon't make a difference.If the timing is finally right, it'll all justfall into place somehowand you know, I'm thinking, it would be a greatfeeling, in the end, tobe able to say to someone, "Hey you, you're the one that ALMOST got away."

YA night... =)

Nag-YA kami ng YA nung Saturday... Di dapat ako sasama kasi wai ng andalei... eh gusto ko makasama ni Ann para complete daw kami (and marami rami na rin akong di nakukwento sa kanila na kailangan na rin nilang malaman), ayun ni-treat na naman nya ko... Bawi ako sa yo Ann talaga, promise... =) we had dinner at Carlo's Pizza, I had Chicken Alfredo pasta (yum)... ! =) Tapos, may nadiscover na naman kaming bagong kapihan... Blenz ang name nya... at doon ay nag-try ako ng Floral Oracle (tama ba?). I can't remember na the questions I asked sa Oracle but, I really find it weird kasi sakto talaga yung answers sa questions... my goolay! And, I will never ever forget the last question I asked...

"Of the two persons I have in mind, who should I prefer" ( I won't say the guys' names, but I know you know who they are...)

Oracle's Answer: "The Younger One..."

Kinilabutan ako... I sweeeeaaaarrrr!!! =)

Patay na sya...

Patay na... Wai ng Tulip =(

Bon Voyage Fudra!

Just early this morning, nag-coffee kami ng AIG friends ko sa Coffee Bean to somehow celebrate Jaymi's despidida coz he's going to New Zealand with his family na... Ayun, I had my Mocha Latte and chismisan to the max with Kate, Arlene, and Jaymi... Jaymi tagged along his cousin CJ, pero di naman sya nakikisali sa usapan... kasi naman, di nya naman alam yung pinaguusapan namin... hehe... Syempre, pumayag na si Jaymi na isend ko sa kanya ang resume ko at ng matulungan nya ko makahanap ng work don... and, plan nya na invite kami on his graduation sa police academy... yahoo! =)

So, to Fudra Jaymi... Bon Voyage!!!

Haaaaayyyyy...

"We oftentimes hide our feelings from the one we really care about. We
don't know why, but love makes us so unsure of ourselves... We think about what
is right too much that we forget to show how much we really care... Until it's
too late..."

Panalangin ng Isang Kapatid

Naka-schedule ang family hour namin either Saturday or Sunday sa house. What's happening ba during our family hour? Bale, babasahin ni mom yung Bible message na naka-assign na basahin then magpepray kami... that's how we do it.
Last Saturday, August 2. After magbasa ni Mama nung Bible entry, it's Bonet's turn to lead the prayer... Ah-ah! Talaga namang napaluha ako eh...

"Ama, kayo na po ang bahala sa amin. Si Mama at Papa na nagsusumikap para
sa amin, pagpalain Niyo po sila. Kay Kuya Carlo, ngayong nasa China na sya
ay bigyan nyo po sya ng magandang kapalaran, ganun din po si Kuya Paolo na
nagtatrabaho. Si Ate Bigel po ay ipasumpong nyo ang biyaya at magandang
kapalaran sa kanya. Pagkalooban nyo na po si Ate ng mapapangasawa
kahit hindi nya hinihiling sa Inyo."

And then I learned from Mom, everyday kasama ang pagaasawa ko sa prayers ni Bonet.

Internet Access and Me

Wow! It's been ages since I last visited my blog... As in... Oh well, at last, I already have an Internet access here in the office... Friendster and Multiply are blocked though but who cares, as long as Blogger is not... ;)
A lot has been happening and has happened since June. I won't go into details anymore but here are few points about me right now:

• I've been dealing with the Employees' Union because they hated the schedule I've given them... Darn! Good thing though, the schedule will be implemented on Aug. 11, by hook or by crook (according to my Gwapong Manager).
• Almost half of the number of agents hated me.
• I'm in the process of nursing a broken heart.
• My gray hairs are increasing in number.
• I'm maturing everyday.
• Pimple break-out.
• I'm beginning to be workaholic.
• Mama wants me to get married next year, Bonet thought so too...
• My cellphone's turned off since August 7.