Is there a nice way of doing this to your email contacts?
As the world today becomes increasingly dependent on technology, one of the pitfalls is the inevitable abuse of such mechanisms. A few months or years ago, this took the form of SMS. At the time, it was a free service. People kept forwarding useless messages to other mobile phone subscribers...and so now we paid the price when telcos decided each SMS should be charged accordingly. That step drastically curbed keypad-happy texters to become more prudent in their SMS activities, but of course, certain promos such as "unlitxt" still satisfies their compulsive texting needs.
And now the most logical alternative to SMS-ing would be emailing. It's free, and it's now very accessible to every Tom, Dick and Harry. Or Jane, Mary and Sally.
Don't you hate it when people send you messages with this subject: "Fwd: Fwd: Fwd: Chain letter...don't break it unless you want to die!!!!!!!" How utterly childish and nonsensical! I may sound like an old prude but I really hate it.
Come on, do we seriously believe that committing a "sin of omission" (such as deliberately not forwarding chain letters) would really be enough cause for us to keel over and die? I may be a non-practising Christian, but, hey, I have a high opinion of God. He's not gonna strike me dead just because I refuse to forward a useless message, which, for all I know, contains a Trojan virus or a worm that could do some effing damage to my friends' motherboards or files.
I will not play hypocrite and say that I've never done this before. Like I said, it's a pitfall. I did that in the past, but I guess I matured and thought that I might possibly be pissing off my email contacts!
From time to time, I have to be honest that I forward email messages on occasion. But that's when I really think the contents are worth sharing. Otherwise, I don't even bother reading them. I've actually identified a few of my email contacts as "spammers" and automatically delete their forwarded messages.
And FYI, sending forwarded messages doesn't exactly fall under "keeping in touch". If you ask me, I would rather receive a short "hi, just dropping by to say good morning" or something like that, rather than get slews of crappy "Fwd: fwd: fwd".
So there. If you're really my friend, please, you MUST know me better. Don't wait for me to tell it to you straight, and then run back crying for your mommy when your feelings are hurt. Choose the things you share.
Or better yet, GROW UP.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Tagged by Dementia: 5 factoids you may not know about me blogtag game
I've actually been tagged before but I never got around doing it. Today, I got tagged by my good friend Dementia, and so, what with all the free time I have on my hands, now may be a good time to pass on some factoids about moi:
1. I like eating hotdogs fried in butter and sprinkled with sugar. It's good, really. You should try it sometime (given that you have a sweet tooth, of course). The trick is to cook the hotdogs till they're almost done, then sprinkle the sugar just until you're about to take them out of the pan. That'll give it a sweet, slightly caramelized shell. Yum. (note: for some reason, this only works with regular Purefoods TJ hotdogs).
2. Most of my friends know that I went to a Catholic school for my primary and secondary education. What people don't know is the first question I asked when I took up Religion as a subject. I was about 5 years old, we were having a conversation over dinner, and my contribution was: "Mama, why is Mama Mary called "Virgin Mary"? What is a virgin?" Needless to say, dinner ended quite early that day.
3. I almost did not make it into this world. My mom didn't know I was there until about five months into her pregnancy. Then her doctor suggested an abortion because the risks were too high; she just had two major kidney operations and had an artificial ureter. There was a possibility that we would both die. My mom refused and signed a waiver, to absolve that Makati hospital from whatever responsibilities. Funny how they (hospital) never thought about their moral obligations. And now I'm here...wreaking havoc, hahaha.
4. I sniff each and every article of freshly laundered clothing, just before I fold them. (Don't give me that look...I will not wear them unless they smell like fabric conditioner)
5. I used to be a lefty but my parents "corrected" it and now I'm a righty. However, it is still apparent, in that I use my left hand for things that require force (such as opening a bottle of soda). It also shows in my target shooting, as I am cross-dominant (I hold the gun in my right hand but look at the target with my left eye).
So there are my factoids. And here are the rules of the game, copy-pasted from Dementia:
1) Once you are tagged, you have to give 5 factoids about yourself that other people may not know about you.
2) You have to acknowledge who tagged you by putting the name, alias or blogsite of the tagger on the subject of your blog, together with the title of the blog game. To illustrate, your title should appear like so..."tagged by iluzionada: 5 factoids you may not know about me blogtag game"
3) You have to enumerate 5 factoids about you that people may not know. These could either be personal stuff, embarrasing moments in your life, weird habits, a funny pet name and so on and so forth.
4) You have to tag three other bloggers to do the same. To do this, you have to call them out in your blog and make sure they get the message by however means necessary. (Suggest that you comment in their blogsite, or send them a text or email. Show them your blog and hope that they keep this rolling.)
5) Once a blogger has been tagged, then he or she can no longer be tagged again.
And now, the responsibility to keep this game going falls on these three friends:
http://teopaco.multiply.com
http://purplewalrus.multiply.com
http://19sodashop.multiply.com
1. I like eating hotdogs fried in butter and sprinkled with sugar. It's good, really. You should try it sometime (given that you have a sweet tooth, of course). The trick is to cook the hotdogs till they're almost done, then sprinkle the sugar just until you're about to take them out of the pan. That'll give it a sweet, slightly caramelized shell. Yum. (note: for some reason, this only works with regular Purefoods TJ hotdogs).
2. Most of my friends know that I went to a Catholic school for my primary and secondary education. What people don't know is the first question I asked when I took up Religion as a subject. I was about 5 years old, we were having a conversation over dinner, and my contribution was: "Mama, why is Mama Mary called "Virgin Mary"? What is a virgin?" Needless to say, dinner ended quite early that day.
3. I almost did not make it into this world. My mom didn't know I was there until about five months into her pregnancy. Then her doctor suggested an abortion because the risks were too high; she just had two major kidney operations and had an artificial ureter. There was a possibility that we would both die. My mom refused and signed a waiver, to absolve that Makati hospital from whatever responsibilities. Funny how they (hospital) never thought about their moral obligations. And now I'm here...wreaking havoc, hahaha.
4. I sniff each and every article of freshly laundered clothing, just before I fold them. (Don't give me that look...I will not wear them unless they smell like fabric conditioner)
5. I used to be a lefty but my parents "corrected" it and now I'm a righty. However, it is still apparent, in that I use my left hand for things that require force (such as opening a bottle of soda). It also shows in my target shooting, as I am cross-dominant (I hold the gun in my right hand but look at the target with my left eye).
So there are my factoids. And here are the rules of the game, copy-pasted from Dementia:
1) Once you are tagged, you have to give 5 factoids about yourself that other people may not know about you.
2) You have to acknowledge who tagged you by putting the name, alias or blogsite of the tagger on the subject of your blog, together with the title of the blog game. To illustrate, your title should appear like so..."tagged by iluzionada: 5 factoids you may not know about me blogtag game"
3) You have to enumerate 5 factoids about you that people may not know. These could either be personal stuff, embarrasing moments in your life, weird habits, a funny pet name and so on and so forth.
4) You have to tag three other bloggers to do the same. To do this, you have to call them out in your blog and make sure they get the message by however means necessary. (Suggest that you comment in their blogsite, or send them a text or email. Show them your blog and hope that they keep this rolling.)
5) Once a blogger has been tagged, then he or she can no longer be tagged again.
And now, the responsibility to keep this game going falls on these three friends:
http://teopaco.multiply.com
http://purplewalrus.multiply.com
http://19sodashop.multiply.com
Sunday, September 28, 2008
A Bright Morning
Since childhood, I had been the type to hide my real emotions. Call it a defense mechanism, but I've programmed myself to respond apathetically to things that would normally reduce us to a pile of jittery nerves. In fact, I have received many a compliment on being cool in the face of tremendous pressure.
I was probably a bit more upset with the changes than I have let on. I'm guessing my Divine Writer played a little trick on me to force me to face my issues. He uprooted me and took me away from all the things and people I had clung to for security. He left me all by myself. He literally put me in front of four white walls, and made me listen to my heart.
I was shaken. But I never resented Him for it. In fact, I woke up this morning feeling better.
He was wise enough to rouse me awake, to leave me alone to confront my fears, yet He threw in a lifeline or two. I was able to talk to my husband. And strangely, He showed me that one of the people whom I thought could never be a real friend offered her support.
He really moves in mysterious ways. I have been purged of many of my uncertainties and now have a fresher outlook. I was taught to trust completely and nothing can ever go wrong.
He just gave me my first speaking line on my Script: Let go and let God.
And what a beautiful line it is!
I was probably a bit more upset with the changes than I have let on. I'm guessing my Divine Writer played a little trick on me to force me to face my issues. He uprooted me and took me away from all the things and people I had clung to for security. He left me all by myself. He literally put me in front of four white walls, and made me listen to my heart.
I was shaken. But I never resented Him for it. In fact, I woke up this morning feeling better.
He was wise enough to rouse me awake, to leave me alone to confront my fears, yet He threw in a lifeline or two. I was able to talk to my husband. And strangely, He showed me that one of the people whom I thought could never be a real friend offered her support.
He really moves in mysterious ways. I have been purged of many of my uncertainties and now have a fresher outlook. I was taught to trust completely and nothing can ever go wrong.
He just gave me my first speaking line on my Script: Let go and let God.
And what a beautiful line it is!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Forging On
I noticed that I have become increasingly fatalistic as days pass.
People close to me know that I am not exactly religious. Quite an irony, especially since I was educated for most of my life in a Catholic school, and that my father's side of the family tree had their share of nuns and priests. Be that as it may, it doesn't mean that I am a non-believer. I think that I am in touch with my spiritual side, and I do treasure my personal relationship with my Divine Writer.
A lot of changes are happening on the family front. Things happened at a dizzying speed. We were totally unprepared, but strangely, the events seem to fall into place with precision. I am a firm believer that things are preordained, and this is no exception.
From my end, I face a lot of uncertainties. I have a lot of fears. I try my best to follow what I feel is the path my Divine Writer scripted out for me, but I am human enough to admit that I do feel lost sometimes. I do not understand some of the things that are happening now. I know, however, that I just have to keep my faith and trust that all things will be for the best.
After all, we were all promised that His plans were made to prosper us and never to harm us.
And so life goes on...
People close to me know that I am not exactly religious. Quite an irony, especially since I was educated for most of my life in a Catholic school, and that my father's side of the family tree had their share of nuns and priests. Be that as it may, it doesn't mean that I am a non-believer. I think that I am in touch with my spiritual side, and I do treasure my personal relationship with my Divine Writer.
A lot of changes are happening on the family front. Things happened at a dizzying speed. We were totally unprepared, but strangely, the events seem to fall into place with precision. I am a firm believer that things are preordained, and this is no exception.
From my end, I face a lot of uncertainties. I have a lot of fears. I try my best to follow what I feel is the path my Divine Writer scripted out for me, but I am human enough to admit that I do feel lost sometimes. I do not understand some of the things that are happening now. I know, however, that I just have to keep my faith and trust that all things will be for the best.
After all, we were all promised that His plans were made to prosper us and never to harm us.
And so life goes on...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Coming Home
Tonight, my husband returns from a week-long business trip to Amsterdam. It will be his first time to be home after two long months.
Yes, you read that right. The business trip is just for one week. And he hasn't been home in two months.
Confusing? Okay, I'll explain.
My husband is an expat. He was recently hired by a Singapore employer to join them as a Demo Artist. The weird thing about that is he never applied for the job, nor did we ever plan to relocate to another country. The details would need a separate blog entry to be able to do justice to the beauty of the story, but that's the gist, more or less.
He found himself shuttling back and forth between Manila and Singapore since March this year, for interviews, exhibits, more interviews, and finally the employment confirmation. By the end of July, he found himself in the Lion City, quite alone.
It was a blessing that he was occupied with a number of out-of-the-country trips during his first month. Barely two weeks after he arrived, he and his team went to Malaysia for some training. A week after that, he found himself in Mumbai, India for still more training.
I would keep close tabs on him the entire time he was away -- especially if he was outside Singapore. We probably spent a small fortune on call cards, considering that he wasn't always online. He complained at one point that the return trips always felt empty. He knew he was supposed to be "coming home"...but to what? A foreign land. A hotel room, maybe. Or a flat shared with people he didn't know from Adam.
The places he stayed in held an almost clinical quality about them. It was a halfway house. It was somewhere he could put his things in while he was at work. It was a place where he could catch a few zzzz's, but ironically, would not make him feel refreshed or recharged at all.
The last week of August found me on a Singapore-bound plane. I finally gave in to my husband's increasingly urgent requests to be with him. He said that he found a flat for our family, at last, after weeks of poring over the internet and countless viewing schedules. But he would need my domestic engineering abilities to make it more liveable.
And so I went.
A few days ago, we were chatting online...I, in Singapore, and he, in Amsterdam. He said that this was the first time he felt excited about his return trip. Now, he felt certain that he is, indeed, coming home.
Interestingly enough, I found a beautiful caption in one of my Facebook friend's profiles. He went with his wife to Amsterdam on a pleasure trip, and in one of their photos in that faraway place, he said: "Travel with your soulmate and you'll never miss home."
To a certain degree, that's true. However, if he may allow, I will paraphrase his statement to fit my situation: "Be with your soulmate, and you will ALWAYS be home."
Welcome home, honey.
Yes, you read that right. The business trip is just for one week. And he hasn't been home in two months.
Confusing? Okay, I'll explain.
My husband is an expat. He was recently hired by a Singapore employer to join them as a Demo Artist. The weird thing about that is he never applied for the job, nor did we ever plan to relocate to another country. The details would need a separate blog entry to be able to do justice to the beauty of the story, but that's the gist, more or less.
He found himself shuttling back and forth between Manila and Singapore since March this year, for interviews, exhibits, more interviews, and finally the employment confirmation. By the end of July, he found himself in the Lion City, quite alone.
It was a blessing that he was occupied with a number of out-of-the-country trips during his first month. Barely two weeks after he arrived, he and his team went to Malaysia for some training. A week after that, he found himself in Mumbai, India for still more training.
I would keep close tabs on him the entire time he was away -- especially if he was outside Singapore. We probably spent a small fortune on call cards, considering that he wasn't always online. He complained at one point that the return trips always felt empty. He knew he was supposed to be "coming home"...but to what? A foreign land. A hotel room, maybe. Or a flat shared with people he didn't know from Adam.
The places he stayed in held an almost clinical quality about them. It was a halfway house. It was somewhere he could put his things in while he was at work. It was a place where he could catch a few zzzz's, but ironically, would not make him feel refreshed or recharged at all.
The last week of August found me on a Singapore-bound plane. I finally gave in to my husband's increasingly urgent requests to be with him. He said that he found a flat for our family, at last, after weeks of poring over the internet and countless viewing schedules. But he would need my domestic engineering abilities to make it more liveable.
And so I went.
A few days ago, we were chatting online...I, in Singapore, and he, in Amsterdam. He said that this was the first time he felt excited about his return trip. Now, he felt certain that he is, indeed, coming home.
Interestingly enough, I found a beautiful caption in one of my Facebook friend's profiles. He went with his wife to Amsterdam on a pleasure trip, and in one of their photos in that faraway place, he said: "Travel with your soulmate and you'll never miss home."
To a certain degree, that's true. However, if he may allow, I will paraphrase his statement to fit my situation: "Be with your soulmate, and you will ALWAYS be home."
Welcome home, honey.
Monday, June 4, 2007
Another Miracle
Last June 1, my best friend gave birth to her baby boy via c-section. The little baby was born at 35 weeks -- 2 weeks shy of being a full-term baby. Although, for a preemie, he was remarkably well...he weighed at 5lbs 5 oz, so that's not bad.
It really is a miracle for them (my friend and her husband) because they have problems conceiving. They have this rare condition where their genes are too much alike, so the mother's system, instead of nurturing the baby, rejects it. But given the odds, the Lord still found a way to bring the tiny being out into the world. Truly a miracle.
My husband and I visited them a day after. We were looking at the baby at the huggery, and we were amazed at how tiny he was. We were transported about a year back, when the tables were turned and it was I who just gave birth. It's funny because at about the same time last year, my best friend and her hubby were our visitors...looking at our tiny miracle from through the window. How fast time flies.
When we came home, I took my little angel into my arms and marveled at how big he has become after only a year. I found myself showering him with hundreds of kisses...with the thought that in several years' time, he would probably be too embarrassed to be kissed in front of his friends by Mommy. Sigh.
At least, for the time being, my friend and I can both enjoy our little miracles as long as they would allow us. And I guess that, deep in our hearts, they will always be that tiny baby that we cradled in our arms when He decided to bless our homes with their shining presence.
It really is a miracle for them (my friend and her husband) because they have problems conceiving. They have this rare condition where their genes are too much alike, so the mother's system, instead of nurturing the baby, rejects it. But given the odds, the Lord still found a way to bring the tiny being out into the world. Truly a miracle.
My husband and I visited them a day after. We were looking at the baby at the huggery, and we were amazed at how tiny he was. We were transported about a year back, when the tables were turned and it was I who just gave birth. It's funny because at about the same time last year, my best friend and her hubby were our visitors...looking at our tiny miracle from through the window. How fast time flies.
When we came home, I took my little angel into my arms and marveled at how big he has become after only a year. I found myself showering him with hundreds of kisses...with the thought that in several years' time, he would probably be too embarrassed to be kissed in front of his friends by Mommy. Sigh.
At least, for the time being, my friend and I can both enjoy our little miracles as long as they would allow us. And I guess that, deep in our hearts, they will always be that tiny baby that we cradled in our arms when He decided to bless our homes with their shining presence.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Breakthrough Moment
I just had a breakthrough while I was walking to my husband's office a while back.
I realized why I'm having problems with my current job. It's because I have to adapt to an existing system. In my previous jobs, I always had the leisure of doing things my way. I always started from scratch. But now, I have to pick up where others left off.
I guess this is where I will have to learn -- and unlearn -- some things.
It's also timely that I found a document a few days ago, near the photocopier in the office. Maybe my guardian angel placed it in my line of sight, just to offer me comfort and support:
"10 Tips on How to Succeed from Failure:
* Failure doesn't mean you are a failure...It does mean you haven't succeeded yet.
* Failure doesn't mean you have accomplished nothing...It does mean you have learned something.
* Failure doesn't mean you have been a fool...It does mean that you had a lot of faith.
* Failure doesn't mean you've been disgraced...It does mean you were willing to try.
* Failure doesn't mean you don't have it...It does mean you have to do something in a different way.
* Failure doesn't mean you are inferior...It does mean you are not perfect.
* Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your life...It does mean you have a reason to start afresh.
* Failure doesn't mean you should give up...It does mean you must try harder.
* Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it...It does mean it will take a little longer.
* Failure doesn't mean God has abandoned you...It does mean God has a better idea!
God looks at you and sees a beautiful person waiting to be born! If you could see in a vision the man God meant you
to be, never again could you be quiet...
You are God's idea and God only dreams up beautiful ideas. He is expecting great things from you. Cooperate! Believe
in yourself, now, and draw the possibilities out of your being."
Sound inspiring, doesn't it? I'm trying to keep a positive attitude. I still have my moments when I feel lost half the time, when I feel like I'm committing a lot of booboos, and when I feel that the people around me swear I'm just plain stupid. But I guess I just have to keep rereading what I've written above, and prove that I can hurdle this.
It also helps, that, going back to my mobile phone's inbox, there are so many messages of support from people I hold dear in my heart...such as my good friends, my husband, and my mother. They absolutely believe in me. Sometimes, when I read their messages, I wonder why I have lost faith in myself, when all they can see is how fully-equipped I am to face up to the challenges.
Of course, when all else fails, I could always looks for a new job. But can I ever rest, knowing that I backed down?
It just takes a little more work than I anticipated, but -- for the moment -- it looks like I can lick this helluva job.
I realized why I'm having problems with my current job. It's because I have to adapt to an existing system. In my previous jobs, I always had the leisure of doing things my way. I always started from scratch. But now, I have to pick up where others left off.
I guess this is where I will have to learn -- and unlearn -- some things.
It's also timely that I found a document a few days ago, near the photocopier in the office. Maybe my guardian angel placed it in my line of sight, just to offer me comfort and support:
"10 Tips on How to Succeed from Failure:
* Failure doesn't mean you are a failure...It does mean you haven't succeeded yet.
* Failure doesn't mean you have accomplished nothing...It does mean you have learned something.
* Failure doesn't mean you have been a fool...It does mean that you had a lot of faith.
* Failure doesn't mean you've been disgraced...It does mean you were willing to try.
* Failure doesn't mean you don't have it...It does mean you have to do something in a different way.
* Failure doesn't mean you are inferior...It does mean you are not perfect.
* Failure doesn't mean you've wasted your life...It does mean you have a reason to start afresh.
* Failure doesn't mean you should give up...It does mean you must try harder.
* Failure doesn't mean you'll never make it...It does mean it will take a little longer.
* Failure doesn't mean God has abandoned you...It does mean God has a better idea!
God looks at you and sees a beautiful person waiting to be born! If you could see in a vision the man God meant you
to be, never again could you be quiet...
You are God's idea and God only dreams up beautiful ideas. He is expecting great things from you. Cooperate! Believe
in yourself, now, and draw the possibilities out of your being."
Sound inspiring, doesn't it? I'm trying to keep a positive attitude. I still have my moments when I feel lost half the time, when I feel like I'm committing a lot of booboos, and when I feel that the people around me swear I'm just plain stupid. But I guess I just have to keep rereading what I've written above, and prove that I can hurdle this.
It also helps, that, going back to my mobile phone's inbox, there are so many messages of support from people I hold dear in my heart...such as my good friends, my husband, and my mother. They absolutely believe in me. Sometimes, when I read their messages, I wonder why I have lost faith in myself, when all they can see is how fully-equipped I am to face up to the challenges.
Of course, when all else fails, I could always looks for a new job. But can I ever rest, knowing that I backed down?
It just takes a little more work than I anticipated, but -- for the moment -- it looks like I can lick this helluva job.
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