New Year's Eve Dinner

Yey! Am fulfilling my resolution of not being Mr. Grumpy anymore by organizing our family New Year's Eve dinner. Now this year would be very different as my folks are in China; so it's just my 2 sisters and their families + me + TDK girl staying in our home. I didn't let all of that stop me from being chit chatty and generally enjoying myself. Part of this joyous attitude can be due to being in a good place for dinner- Gaudi in Serendra. The Chuleton de Villagodio can't be beat!



(Got the photo from dessertcomesfirst)

Now I'm at home just hanging out alone waiting for the clock to strike 12. Other people might be depressed at this situation but I so don't mind. Love the quiet and chance to do some contemplation of the year that's about to end and the new one that's beginning soon.

Social life is flourishing! Got an New Year's Day invite to Embassy by K (but with her friends who I don't know at all!) and to Government by Erik (who I hardly know at all!) Not sure if I'll go to either; I might end up being really lazy na.

In any case, here's to a great, joyous, fantastic year ahead!

My One Main Talent

That St. Jude education really pays off...

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Busy Post-Christmas

Wednesday--had to work this week but tried not to stress out too much. Had a family dinner in Gloriamaris GH for my grandma's birthday. Was over an hour late since I picked up my personal Christmas gift--a slightly used Shure e3c earphone set. Retails for P10k, got it for P4k :)



Anyway, dinner was ok. Got to chat a bit with my siblings and bros in law especially about the "spirits" that we sense in our house. Grandma looked really weak but at least, healthy enough to go out and celebrate another year! I pray for her continued long life and health.

Thursday--got invited by Tim for a poker game at 9PM. Was able to sneak in a quick gym routine but had half a mind to not go anymore and just snuggle up at home with a good book. But was very mindful of my 08 WIGs so ended up forcing myself to go. The whole J&J gang was there which was great. I ended up at 4th place out of 10 which was not bad, except I still ended up losing money. Made a lot of obvious, embarrassing mistakes which I seem to keep doing all of the time :( Really have to play better in the future. Got to down a lot of Johnny Walker though :)

Friday--had work lunch at Florabel in Podium which was great since it was a freebie. Enjoyed the roasted pear and gorgonzola salad a lot. Split a P1600 (!) wagyu burger with Karen. Was definitely tender, melts in your mouth and "malinamnam", but was so chockfull of fat that we both got a bit dizzy and needed coffee right after. Well it's supposed to be mostly monosaturated fats and omega 3s which I hope is true! Went to Roel's annual party that evening and enjoyed myself even if I was a bit uncomfortable with some of the people. That's so my weird quirk that I feel everyone is judging me when in fact, they probably didn't really care less. I really just need to chill and enjoy the moment more. Anyway, stayed a bit late (1AM) just chatting mainly about work (oh God I really need a life).

As such, ended up vegging all day today--sleeping and watching TV shows. Did get to go to the gym tonight. Would love to go to a bar or dance club but no one's invited me :(

PS. Still reminiscing about Mamou's wonderful USDA Prime rib-eye steak 1 week after:



Will be having New Year's Eve dinner with siblings (as my folks are in China and I didn't want to go with them hehe) in Gaudi. Yey! More steak!

Year in Review

Lifted from TJ's blog. Some pre-work before 08 life planning:

What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Travelled to Cambodia and KL. Ran 10k. Bought a major asset--condo.

Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Sorta. Was able to focus on key priorities--career and fitness--as planned.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Can't think of any.

Did anyone close to you die?
Our maid. Most traumatic experience of the year.

What countries did you visit?
Thailand (2x!), HK, Malaysia, Cambodia. Locally, Palawan, Bohol, Bantayan.

What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A lovelife. Better spiritual life. Stronger relationships with important people.

What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No particular date stands out.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Being responsible enough to buy a condo. Running seriously and regularly.

What was your biggest failure?
Lousy love life. Sungit to the max this year.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Have weird leg infection now (see previous blog).

What was the best thing you bought?
My condo. Nike +.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
Karen. Super impressive at work.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Wag na nating balikan. Basta work people.

Where did most of your money go?
My Condo payments.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My condo pa rin!

What song(s) will always remind you of 2007?
Umbrella! Maroon 5's new album.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner (just a little bit)
iii. richer or poorer? Richer (coz last year wala akong trabaho!)

What do you wish you'd done more?
Focused on spiritual life. Met more new people. Saved more.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Be masungit and always frustrated.

What was your favorite TV program?
Pushing Daisies.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Yep yep. But kinda let go na.

What was the best book you read?
Oh no...can't think of any!

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Paolo Nutini

What did you want and get?
My job back

What was your favorite film of this year?
300!

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Oh God. Was in a boring CIP workshop in the AM. But had a nice Crustasia chili crab dinner with BFF that night.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being less emotionally immature. Letting go more.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Same old angsty me. Tighter shirts though!

What kept you sane?
Yoga every Sunday. Running every Sunday.

What political issue stirred you the most?
The crazy Trillanes incident.

Who was the best new person you met?
Probably the BFF gang. Gave me a whole different set of friends.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007 :
Plan it and it will happen.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
Uhm...wait lang..

Do you have a new years resolution for 2008?
3 WIGS--social life, spiritual life, family life

What was your favorite month of 2007?
March

How many concerts did you see in 2007?
Oh shit. None. Watched Avenue Q though...

Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2007?
Not as much as before :( No gimmick friends.

Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
A lot.

How much money did you spend in 2007?
A lot.

What was your proudest moment of 2007?
Running 10k.

What was your most embarrassing moment of 2007?
Being teased by BFF gang about one particular vice...

If you could go back in time to any moment of 2007 and change something, what would it be?
Definitely all the snappy remarks I've made

What are your plans for 2008?
Spiritual life--mass weekly, pray daily, retreat quarterly, join a group
Social life--accept more invitations, join groups, meet up with old friends
Family life--be nicer to folks, be closer to siblings

How are you different now that the year has ended?
More conscious of strengths and faults.

What are your wishes for the new year?
Contentment and a Selfless Heart

Amputee

Ugh...Just found out that this weird infection on my leg which I thought was just a wart is actually more serious and rare than I thought. Bad sign that my BFF derma got shocked (never a good sign when doctors show emotion). I'm starting off with heavy duty (and super expensive) antibiotics but may require more serious treatment/biopsy. Shit shit shit!

2 Parties

Had 2 Christmas parties--dinner in Chelsea last night with the BFF gang and lunch in Mamou today with the Johnson's team. Really wasn't in the mood last night, especially since I wasn't really close with most of the folks. Food was pretty blah as well. It did become more fun when we moved to that wine place in Serendra. Alcohol always makes things better! hehe. In fairness, they're good people; maybe I was just tired. Would love to hang out with them again soon and maybe be more friendly and energetic!

Mamou was great because of the wonderful steak! Strangely enough, couldn't eat a lot; felt quite full quickly. Maybe it's all the chatting that was happening, or the fact that I had a telecon right after lunch so I couldn't fully enjoy the food. Anyway, we did some fun exchange gifts with matching stealing powers which was a blast! I ended up with generic Marks and Spencer's toiletries though :(

Anyway, got a great gift from Karen and Bea. A white fcuk shirt with the line "No fcuking worries". I super love it! It's so fucking me!

Did some shopping right after the telecon in Fully Booked, and hung out with Juni for a while. My sungit equity got emphasized again. :( Also, we got to talk about how to expand one's social life. Essentially, there's should be an innate, fundamental interest in other people, which will make it easy to ask questions and keep a conversation going. But if it's innate and I don't have it, what happens now?

Will finish my Christmas shopping tomorrow. Meanwhile, have another telecon tom at 12nn. Drats!

Past 2 Weeks in Review

Lousy blogger...Will just summarize the last 2 weeks:

Went to Palawan for Strat Planning and Team Building. Strat Planning was very painful, ending at 1 AM. What made it even worse was being so close to the beautiful beach but being locked up in a fluorescent lit, windowless room for 3 days straight! Main learning here as well is to not show my frustration with boss too much as it is perceived by the bosses as immaturity and therefore, I will never be promoted to god level. Also to identify my anger/frustration trigger points so that I'm conscious of the need to control my emotions during these times.

Teambuilding was fun too. I felt quite sad though that I'm no longer one of the more popular folks in the team. It seems that the new folks are turning out to be the life of the party while I'm seen as the sungit, bitchy, whiny, negative guy. Can't say I'm not jealous of them, especially with my need to always be at the center of attention. Several learnings here: Need to be a nicer person, as this seems to be what people value more than competency or smarts. Move away from need to be noticed and affirmed by others, just relax and enjoy the company, regardless of whether I'm the star or not.

I'm so not feeling the Christmas spirit yet, as I have still to relax and even get my gift shopping done. Work is running at it's usual pace with no signs of slowing down this week or next. Haven't gone to any Christmas mass either.

Anyway had dinner with Lynette, TJ and Alex yesterday and the main topic was life planning, specifically reviewing 07 and planning for 08. Some realizations this year:

1. Having a basic plan at the start of the year really works. I was able to achieve a lot of things I was setting my mind to--focusing on fitness, running 10k, going to Cambodia, focusing on career, buying a condo, etc.

2. Biggest failure is in relationships--either strengthening important ones, building new ones, or not breaking off old ones. This will be the No. 1 priority in 2008, which really goes back to being a nicer, more selfless, more genuinely caring person.

3. Spiritual life was a real failure as well. Will be another key priority in 2008.

Will work on life plans over the holidays next week.