Back to reality

It is a Wednesday and we are officially back to reality and must go back working. Before leaving the house, I thought that it would rain but barely 20 minutes off from home, I was cursing under my breath the humid weather. For a start, I’ve decided to pair again my khaki pants with these Red Wing boots because I think they were a perfect combination. Besides, I know that I should be more smart and stop spending on clothes and there’s nothing wrong with repeating to wear the things you love over and over again. =D

Checkered shortsleeves polo, skinny khaki pants, Red Wing 875 boots, Prada nylon and saffiano backpack - Manila, Philippines

I arrived in the office and saw that Mon was wearing almost the same thing as me again. However, his was on red while mine was on… whatever color mine was. It was not the first time that such thing happened because last September, we had the same thing on. He also began wearing his glasses because of astigmatism. And again, we have the same style of frame but in different colors.

And we got identical glasses

Of course, just like everybody elese, I had to drag myself to work because four days of rest seemed very short. =D Not that I wanted to start the year off in the office marred with laziness but I just can’t stop thinking of my bed, our dining table and our fridge. LOL In all fairness to me, I was able to exercise for an hour by riding my bike again, and even gave our two dogs a bath. I think I’m off to a good start because I seem to start shaking the lazy bug off and get a move on with the things needed to be done.

The year that was — goodbye 2012!

To say that 2012 was eventful was an understatement. A lot of things has happened this year that it is futile to recount all of them one by one. From finishing graduate school, going to Seoul once again, experiencing a natural calamity first hand, etc., all of these has made 2012 a meaningful year.

A lot has been already said about the end of the world on the 21st but it did not happen. To give my last two cents on that overworked story, I think we people of the modern age put too much in store to ‘predictions’ of past civilizations.

Take a chance --- New Year 2013

I have a lot to be thankful for for the past year because it has turned out to be one of the best. If there is one thing I hope to do the following year, that will be having the courage to take a chance. I am fully aware that I am quite comfortable with the mediocrity I’m currently experiencing with my everyday life and I should begin challenging myself. I made a list on last year’s New Year’s Eve of the things I hoped to accomplish for 2012. Out of the seven I have listed down, I was only able to accomplish to get two things done: 1) finish my last semester with specific grades I hoped for; and 2) finish graduate school. These two things were extremely great but I could have done better. So for 2013, I should really work hard in achieving my two language certifications for French and Italian. I already have one for the latter but it was only B1 and the certificate was already lost. I should really get a move on with these things, if I were to consider taking ‘serious chances’ with the months ahead.

I didn’t want this post to sound like a New Year’s resolution post but I also hope to put in more discipline with the things I do. Nothing looks more lousy than a weak-willed person.

Anyway, cheers to 2013 and a HAPPY NEW YEAR to everybody! Bye 2012! You have been generally good to me! <3

Glasses and Papers

It is the last Friday of 2012 and I had to make sure that our medical/optical allowance did not go to waste. Mon and I met past lunch time in Farmers Cubao to get our glasses done in Spectrum Eye Express, found at the Ground Floor of the mall. We originally planned having them done in Paterno St., Quiapo, Manila but as we did not have enough time to got there, out best bet was Cubao.

Spectrum Eye Express in Farmers Plaza Cubao - optical shop

Mon has been complaining over his astigmatism for years and we only had time today to finally have his eyes properly checked and corrected. Out of all the shops there, I knew right away that Spectrum Eye Express has the lowest price on their services. A normal lens with frame starts at Php 995, and additional Php 1,000 for multicoated ones.

Getting a new pair of eyeglasses

Mon getting his eyes checked by the optometrist

I was the first to be checked and the optometrist checked my glasses as well. To my surprise, the grade of my right eye has increased. It was just checked last month during our Annual Physical Examination in the office and it was deemed okay. Mon was checked next and it took him a shorter time. We chose the same style of frames (and I got my old frames back), except the color. For him, the dark red ones, while I got the dark blue pair. It will took two more hours for them to work on the glasses, though, she we’ll just come back tomorrow.

We finally got to eat in Dunkin' Donuts Farmers Plaza

Bunwich and coffees

We then went to the same Dunkin’ Donuts café where I hoped to bring him months back. We only had 30 minutes to eat our snack and Mon even bought three pieces of doughnuts to bring back to our office. The bunwich was as good as ever but I only have one gripe. We ordered two 12oz coffees and they gave out four sachets of sugar and two sachets of creamer. I asked Mon if he could ask for two more sachets of creamer but I was infuriated to hear that they charge Php 1.50 each. What the hell was that about? I understand that some people might be too excessive with their sugar and creamer cosnumption, but can they just at least serve two sugars and two creamers as a standard serving? That was a rip-off and it was ridiculous to put just a sachet of creamer n a 120z cup, unless you like your coffees black (then you don’t even need a creamer at all). I was so disappointed with Dunkin’ Donuts. Yuck.

Orange kitty mini-notebook and 2013 planner from National Bookstore

When I first converted this congo leather Mulberry wallet into a planner

The 2012 planner's cover even has sequin details

Anyway, before our short time eating ended, I had to rush to National Bookstore a floor above to buy a 2013 planner. Since  the end of 2010, I have refused to join the Starbucks planner bandwagon and started using a vitnage Mulberry wallet that I bought from Ebay as a makeshift planner. I still have the 2011 planner with me and I will soon be removing the 2012 one and replace it with the 2013.

Comparing the 2013 and 2012 planner

However, I noticed that they did not have the same ‘style’ of planner that I’ve been using as a filler. I could be wrong, though. Last week, when I bought Mon’s Christmas card, I’ve seen a 2012 version of the same filler. I’m now kicking myself on why I did not buy one when I already saw it. In all fairness to the 2013 planner, it is thinner and less bulky but it will be definitely more tricky to work on. As you can see from the previous pictures, I ‘murder’ the planners as they have sturdy cardboard first  pages. I still don’t know how can that be achieved with the 2013 one as it does not have the same cardboard material.

Closer view of the three kitties in this notebookI also bought this very nice-looking orange notebook, with sketches of three smiling cats. =D I still don’t have an exact use for it, but maybe it can be my ‘idea notebook’. I look forward to being more organized (than the usual) and inspired this 2013, and hopefully my new paper purchases can give me a headstart on planning for the year ahead.