Freshen UP.

Timeline update: April 30, 2012

I drafted my sixth entry yesterday when I was in this coffee shop in LB. I thought I can post it ASAP but unfortunately they doesn't have an internet connection. :( The bad part is, I already ordered my coffee (rocky road as always in this coffee shop). So I decided I'll draft my post while  first: I'm still in the mood for writing; second: to kill time while I charge Mino's laptop, my iPod and phone; and, lastly to cool down a little because I think it's almost 35 degrees Celsius outside.

And because I drafted it in LB yesterday, the time usage is yesterday obviously. ;)

Timeline: April 29, 2012

I missed UPLB. It's been a while since I went here. The smell of the campus never fails to make me feel at home.

Today is the first day of the Aggie Board Review or the review for the Licensure Examination for Agriculturists on July 2012. Mino finally decided to take the Licensure exam so he attended this review to help him freshen up his memory of the topics in our course. And because his sessions are held during weekends, and this is their first day, I decided to tag along. :)

The review was held on the same place where I attended mine a couple of years ago. Different Agriculture students all over the country who wish to refresh their knowledge banks and also to learn some more gather here in preparation for the Licensure examination. Acclaimed professors and university researchers in their respective fields lead the sessions.

First session of the Agriculture Board Exam Review held @ Old Agronomy, UPLB.

Weekend sessions run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with 10-minute breaks in the mornings and afternoons and lunch break also. You can eat though the course of the review, but of course, not that you may attract too much attention. One can bring their food or if you woke up late and hurried to the lecture hall and didn't get the chance to grab some munch, there are available food items that you may buy inside the lecture hall. During my time, coffee was always the number one on the favourites. Why coffee? Well, there are some drowsy moments. May it be due to the speaker or the topic itself or the weather perhaps? One should be very patient and focused because one can never tell if that topic or concept may come out of the exam.

She's the same ate that sells this stuff during our time.

The water dispenser for coffee and instant noodles  - the savior of us sleepy heads. :))

Back in our review days, there is a lecture manual of the topics presented by the speakers. I had my own highlighter before, the neon yellow one. Mino told me he never used highlighter back in college but I still gave him a green one so that he can remember the terms well. Additional information was scribbled on every side of the manual but he said it's better to keep a separate notebook.

Mino scribbling away. :)

Mino decided to take the Licensure exam only this year. Why? Because, first: he worked immediately after his BS degree and doesn't feel the need to take the exam that time; second: after those months at work, he decided to take his Master's degree and still doesn't feel the need to take the exam; and lastly, he doesn't have me yet that time to have all his inspirations. ;) (Ha ha! The last part was just me). Now that he is graduating this summer, and some of his job applications (not-so) require a license, he finally decided to take the exam. I teased him that it's another valid ID and the promotion will be easier if he has a license. So I am all supportive and promised that I'll help him during his reviews. Maybe give some tips on questions and jitter problems. :)

                                                         

The future licensed Agriculturist. ^_^

Metro life.

I had this thought yesterday afternoon while I'm (briskly) walking along PhilCoA. 

PhilCoA. While I'm waiting for something.

As usual, random thoughts flooded my mind and I decided I'll write again. I had the same idea last March, jotted them down and sent it through my email because I don't have a blogsite before. Here's a peak:

~~~

March 9, 2012

09:04 am

Fifth day. I survived the Metro. And continuously surviving.

I never liked the Metro. Never will.

The hassle of traffic is very stressful. I am impatient, yes. That's why whenever I'm stuck in traffic, I easily get annoyed. I don't want my precious time be wasted because of violators on the street, lousy drivers and stupid commuters.

The cough-causing (and so many other diseases you can name) pollution from vehicles of all types is also very stressful. I don't normally carry handkerchief because I lose them easily but here it's more of like a requirement. The hanky never leaves my nose/mouth.

I am a paranoid commuter. All the time! Most especially when I'm travelling alone. I haven't experienced a hold-up (and please, I don't want to experience it ever) so whenever I travel, I always have this idea that I will be picked on by someone bad. That's the reason why I really want to have my own car. :)

This is the first time that I stepped out of my comfort zone. I spent my early years in a very serene island of Alabat, Quezon. I went to college in a very comforting university, UPLB. My first work was in IRRI, just a minute away from UPLB. After IRRI, I transferred to Canlubang for my second work, still in Laguna. It was a very happy lifestyle. I am very close with my loved ones. I can visit the org anytime, whenever there's a chance. I can visit my sister whenever I want. We can do our food trips as long as we can manage our cash (ha ha!).

Currently, I am 40 kms away from Mino. And that's a first. I mean, for now I am temporarily living in Quezon City and he's in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Of course my trip to Davao and Boracay are exemptions. :) We can't have our unexpected dates whenever one or both of us are stressed from our daily work. We used to hang out at Starbucks, have our favorites over daily update. We always celebrate our monthsaries, be it watching a movie or just a simple dinner, we always have our happy moments. And now I terribly miss him. It was just five days since I last saw him and it seems a month already!

Opportunity brought me here in the Metro. I once refused this offer because I am hoping for another work on my first job. But that moment's not really for me really, so this is the time. I hope this opportunity will be a good one.

~~~

One of the things I realize yesterday, I am starting to like to live here. Not that all my rants have vanished in thin air, they're still there. I think I just blended with the environment, a little.

The thought that Mino will be working also in the Metro soon, made me less anxious. That moment I thought I'll start to appreciate. I am starting to love this place. I have to, because this is where I am now. But, (yes, there is always a but) there are still things that I know I can and will never cope with.

Okay. Even I'm an ex-Food Tech stud, I learned some concepts from Microbiology 180. E. coli, Salmonella, what else? Street foods are a no-no! I eat isaw and hotdogs only when I really crave for them and when the place is "somewhat" clean IMHO. I witnessed how a manong vendor prepared his buko juice and it's really nasty. After puffing his cigar, he added a block of ice and water into the buko juice container, without washing his hands! I hope the drinkers won't have a tummy ache that night.   

vendors of different stuff  and regular passers-by along PhilCoA.

I really want a shot of this place before - how people manage to walk through vendors on both sides. This scene is very common on most over-passes. At least people here strive to make a living and not opt to steal. Though I know it's somewhat illegal to stay in this place. Oh well.

overpass @ PhilCoA.

So I happened to witness one of the many rallies conducted along this road. I just wonder if they're from UP Diliman. I didn't paid much attention because I was actually in a hurry going home to Sta. Rosa.  

shout out to the concerned people. i hope they hear them. i hope.

The Quezon City Circle is on the far side. I wish to jog there more every weekends, soon. With my Mino of course. 

northbound via PhilCoA.

turn right going to UP Diliman. straight ahead going to SM Fairview. ;) (ha ha)

L O V E Letter.

Back in the days, love letters were written on fancy stationery and delivered thru snail mail or given directly to loved ones. Some may still practice this style today, as we may call it "the old fashion way". But during this era of technology, love letters evolved from paper to emails or sent via SMS or MMS.

Let me share this love letter I received couple of weeks ago. No matter in what form they may be, love letters still make our hearts skip a beat (cliche yes, but true, right?) and smile the widest thinking of the person who wrote the letter.

As they say "share the love", I am sharing my wonderful experience. Our wonderful story. How this man capture my heart over and over again.

~~~

Random Doodles

Mino Giacomo A. Marimat

April 10, 2012, 8:08 pm

Part I: Illusion

          First of all, let me clarify that this is not me ranting about stuff that we usually argue about.

          In fact, this would be me, opening up a minor part of me entirety. And eventually, this would be a desperate plea; a need for help, for somebody to pull me out of this senseless misery that I have unfortunately developed during the past years before you colored my life.

          Let me begin by acknowledging the first frog - the bigger frog. Sure, it was a first. My first... well,  you know the rest.

          And also, my very first heartbreak.

          The only logical reason: Distance. She couldn't bear the distance, more so that she wanted to focus on her studies, one that I believe I could handle hand in hand, balanced, in harmony. But she couldn't.

          But looking at myself, I do have to admit that I had doubts of my own. Three of us bestfriends were really close, and I couldn't help but bring myself to jealousy whenever they talk to each other, with me looking from a distance. I don't know, I guess it's just me. I might be thinking too much, I told myself.

          Fast-forward to the white pout-frog. We had our ups and downs, especially during the first few months. More so when her parents found out about us. She fought for us, and eventually things were just at peace, like everything was fine even though I was around and our relationship was still obviously there. Her high school graduation came, and the distance between us became even more challenging. Eventually, she went away, and you know why.

          Another logical reason: Distance. She couldn't bear the distance, and with someone wooing her continuously, she couldn't help but appreciate the things that this freak showed her.

          But, again, looking at myself, I do have to admit that I had doubts of my own. With me being miles away from her, and the limitation of the Nokia wizardry allowing us to communicate, there are times when this sheepishly imaginative mind thinks of things unthinkable. Things that I wasn't supposed to think, but then still, my mind worked on its own. The sad part? The breakup seemed to be a confirmation of what the mind can do. It made me feel that, having felt the doubts on two independent events, two heartbreaks, it seemed like whenever I feel something like this, pain would immediately follow.

          Come the biggest frog, and I told myself I learned my lesson this time around. The distance wasn't there... at first. We were together. Day and night. But then, fate really seemed to play around me, making a fool out of myself. My own graduation came, and distance, once again, challenged the rigidity of my heart, the courage in me.

          This time, I was the one who couldn't bear the distance. I got really weak; surrendered my then-future in exchange for the distance. I gave up the chances for my future.

          But then, again, funny how fate really fooled me, as the distance that grew when we were apart seemed to have its effect on her. The butt-of-the-Chinese guy was around when I was not.

          So again, the logical cause: Distance. She couldn't bear the distance, more so that the curiosity in her grew, as how she had put it.

          But then, once again, looking at myself, I had my doubts. The guy bought her off in an online human barter in the cyber world, which she said was nothing, and confirmed to me that it was nothing. So I relented. But then, time came that she was formally introduced to him, further igniting the doubts that was growing in my mind. She said, nah. Time came when the doubts couldn't really control itself and went out of the line, admittedly, breaking the rules of privacy.

          Which seemed to confirm all the thoughts that had consumed up the remaining courage of my weak little self.

          At this point, confusion consumed me.

          I was deluded. I succumbed to the weakest point.

          My weakest point was myself.

          What made me immature was the mind.

          Which brought me to an obviously wrong behavior: Extreme doubt. Extreme jealousy. Extreme hallucinations. Extreme thought.


          Things that were brought to a level which aren't really existent.


          That's all.


Sorry love, I hope you get what I mean. Random thoughts talaga 'to, so walang direction. Point is, masyado na ata akong disoriented. I need to calm myself. I need something. But what? Help me. Take me out of this abyss. :( I'm tired of this disease. :(

End of Part I

Part II: Reality

          So earlier this afternoon... we had a bit of a fight. You know the rest.

          And so you suggested, I should look through our photos together.

          Think of the happiest times that we had.

But I thought of things beyond than those.

I thought of every smile you showed me.

Every trial we shared,

Everytime you offered your shoulder to me, as how I did to you.

Everytime I got sick and you were there.

How I couldn't even pick a spoon, and you fed me,

How we reminisced together,

             Dreamed together,

                        Planned together,

                                    And pushed each other.

How unknowingly, that sweet smile of yours was able to push me to my limits.

          How it kept me going,

          How it strengthened me.

And more importantly, how having you around me

          Have actually been a blessing from the skies.

How you suddenly appeared in front of me, as if God was telling me that

          "This girl have always been the one for you,

                   I just want you to meet at the right time, right place,

                   And have the right self."

How I became really happy nung nakasama na kita,

Nung naging tayo,

Nung minahal mo ako, at nung minahal kita.

Nung nagdecide tayo na magsama habangbuhay,

Na hindi na maghihiwalay,

Na lagi akong nanjan, at ikaw rin sa akin.

Kung paano mo pinaramdam na sa akin ka lang, at sa iyo lang ako.

Kung paano mo ako minahal ng buong buo.

Kung paano ko nakilala ang kabuuan mo,

Ang nakaraan mo,

Ang lahat ng sakit na naramdaman mo,

At kung paano ko naramdaman na ayokong maramdaman mo yun sa akin.

Kung paano ako nagdecide na hinding hindi kita sasaktan.

Hinding hindi kita iiwan.

Lahat yan, pinaramdam mo sa akin.

All those things, weren't just fragment of my imagination.

There were real.

You became real. Your love was real.

And so is mine.

I love you Jan Portia Fullante Castro. Wala na akong ibang mamahalin pa kundi ikaw lang.

Alam ko cheesy, pero yan yung reality eh.

Again, sorry, random doodles lang talaga 'to. Just had to get things out of my system para klaro utak ko.

I love you so much.

~~~

<3

The Prince and the Frogs.

On my first blog post, I mentioned that I will include here my past doodles. One boring lunch break last month, I created this doodle. Inspired by the "frogs" in our life, me and my beau decided to post this one here. :)

~~~

March 12, 2012 

12:49 pm 

The Prince and the Frogs 

Unlike the children’s story of the Frog Prince, the Prince and the Frogs is: first of all, not a children’s tale; second, it’s not a love story; and third, it doesn’t have a happily ever after. 

                Once there was a Prince in a not so far away land. He is very popular. Why? Well, he’s handsome, very athletic, joins so many extracurricular activities and very active in religious events. He is surrounded by so many friends. A friendly lad he is. But despite of his gorgeousness, he is lonely inside. He doesn’t have a special someone on his side. Though he has so many friends to talk to, to laugh a lot, he doesn’t have that special someone whom he can lean his shoulder during his lonesome hours. 

                One day, the Prince started to feel comfortable in one of his surrounding friends. The first frog came along. They always talk and eat together. Whenever the group goes out on trips, they are the ones hanging behind. Laughing all by themselves, whispering with each other, tickling each other until they almost cry of laughter, these are some of the things the group observed with the couple lately. They've been doing this for quite some time until one night, the first frog decided to end their relationship. The only reason she gave was she’s really not yet ready for that kind of relationship. Saddened by this revelation, the Prince just stood there, unable to move. Devastated, the Prince wept. He shared this sad event with his Queen and the Queen in turn consoled her son until everything turns back to normal again. 

                Good thing the Prince is a jolly person. After months of coping with his first break up, he started to enjoy his friends company once again. Mingling with the whole group seems to bring back the joy in his heart. His circles of friend widen. And from these circles he met new people. The second frog came from this new circle. Better than the first frog, physically. The Prince, thinking that the second frog was way better than the first one, gave all his best to keep their relationship strong. Even in their young age, the Prince already understands how to handle relationships. Their story seems perfect until one day, the second frog declared to end their relationship. Hearing another painful goodbye, the Prince demanded for explanation. The second frog sobbed while telling she wants to focus on her studies. That she doesn’t want distraction. Knowing he doesn’t have a choice, the Prince walked away. 

                Having two heart aches in this span of time, the Prince is having a hard time trusting new friends. He seems rebellious when dealing with some other frogs. Some of the frogs were dealt only for a little time, just to make up with his broken heart. All the playing stopped when the Prince met the third frog. She was the biggest frog among all the frogs he met. Physically. After his failed relationships, the Prince wants this frog to be his last. So he devoted all his time, his efforts and resources just to keep their relationship going. They’re spending all their time together, going to places, attending events. The Prince is happy. He believed this will be the last. He was confident that he will spend all his life with this frog. He didn’t know that this frog is just like any other frog out there. The day came when the Prince has to go farther to continue and develop his skills and talents. Because he was confident, he gave all his trust to the last frog. But the last frog can’t handle the distance. She entertained an ogre. Too bad the last frog has very poor eyesight. She barely gave importance to what the Prince gave her. She didn’t even realize how much she is loved and taken care of. The last frog threw away a very special person. The Prince felt the sudden coldness from the last frog. Alarmed by this, he asked the last frog: “Are you alright? Is there a problem?” 

For the last time, the Prince thought he found his Princess. He didn’t realize sooner that what he found was another frog. Just like the others. What hurts most about this last frog was being left because of someone worst. When the Prince found out that an ogre came to the scene and captured the last frog’s attention, he wants to fight back. He wants to get back the last frog. Still hoping, he continues to cling to the last frog even when he knows she’s with the ogre now. The time came when he can no longer hold to that thought that he can have the last frog back. The Prince grew tired. On and on until he finally let go. Months passed. He continues living. By and by, he moved on. He enjoyed his solitude. The Prince danced again, with his friends and family, with the happy people around him. 

From this popular tale, came the popular phrase, "You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your handsome prince." In the Prince’s case, he got to kiss a lot of different frogs before he finally found his one and only Princess (I didn’t include the time when the Prince finally found his one and only Princess because that is a different story – and the Princess does not belong with these awful frogs). Even though he felt a lot of pain from the previous failed relationships, the Prince learned lessons from all of them. And what matters most now is that the Prince is finally happy with his one and only Princess. THAT story is the one with the happy ever after. J 

Unposted task on myLot.

It's been four weeks since I joined this site where you can post comments, photos and start a discussion while getting paid. Well, for quality posts/comments that is. I decided to join this site so that I can maximize my idle hours during work. I can't settle for just sitting there whenever I finished my assigned task. So during my wee hours, I do posts and comments on myLot.

Here you can also do tasks and get paid as well. Normally, tasks have higher pay than just simply posting or commenting on a topic (it's really hard to compare since I don't know how much rate for a single post/comment since it's not stated) because there is a specific amount on every task. When I plan to do a task, I normally read it first then do it before accepting the task. THAT was my mistake.

I am writing this post because of this one task that I did but unfortunately wasn't accepted (officially). I am posting it now so that my efforts won't go to waste (I hope). The rule of the task is simple. You just have to rephrase the whole article without taking its essence. Below is my version of the article. Too bad I didn't save the original copy for comparison.

* I wrote this (#1) per se so as not to ruin the article but I think it is the introduction part.

Tips to find a dentist whom you can trust 

1. One of the vital accessory organs of our body is our teeth. And to keep our teeth clean and healthy, we should periodically visit a reliable dentist. Finding dependable dentists to take care of our precious incisors is a hard task. In order to search for that right doc, here are some tips to take in searching for excellent that service.*

2. A specialized dentist should finish a tertiary course and proper training before he or she can operate. You can background check a dentist’s profile through the internet where you can see their license status, trainings undergone and services offered. 
3. You can also check the dentists’ performance from previous clients mentioned on the site. Just read and analyze carefully for the site may only maintain positive feedbacks for that said dentist. 

4. If you want to read some more about the dentist’s profile, you can visit other sites with reviews and blogs. Looking for reliable dentist make take some good readings.  
5. One of the considerations in choosing a good dentist is the place where he does his work. A clean and well-groomed clinic reflects a clean dentist as well. And a good quality clinic should contain up-to-date equipments and machines. Given the technology today, the equipments and machines should be well updated for better delivery of services. The bottom-line for a well-rounded clinic is its hygiene.  
6. Dentistry not only involves general cleaning, flossing, fillings and round-up check for cavities but it also dwells on orthodontics, restoration of implants, sedation, wisdom tooth removal and other more complex operations for the teeth. 

7. The best way to choose a dental clinic is to find a clinic with multiple dentists. Not only it will aid you in what your teeth really needs, it will also address what is the real problem you are dealing. One example of a good clinic is the presence of an orthodontist that may help children especially for their braces needs. 

~~~
There. You've read the task that was supposed to be posted (ha ha). Is it worth paying for? ;)

One step forward.

04.23.2012.

This day is another so-so day yet I felt light and ready to write some more. I never wanted to blog until this day. First, I only write when I'm in the mood. Second, I have this bad habit of starting short stories and not finishing them. When I have the urge to write, I grab a pen and any paper available then scribble away. When the urge disappears, I'll stop writing even in the middle of the story. Then it will be so hard to continue afterwards. But this day, I decided I will have my own blog. For all the doodles and random thoughts that may pop in the way.

I also love taking random pictures. I will include them here in the future.

So whenever I'm in the mood for writing, I'll stop by here. I will also include my past doodles for the sake of sharing.

P.S.

This blog is also inspired by my beloved other half ~ Mino :)

Doodle some more! :)