Random Thoughts on a Friday Morning

Sun.  New Shades, Maxi Skirt and Lipstick. A very yummy chocolate cake.  Whitening Lotion.  Beach.  Tan.  A bright nail polish.  New job?  Magazine/Writing career. 

Just My Luck.

Will I finally win? 

Are you lucky when it comes to raffles and draws?

We had gone to buy some stuffs yesterday at the grocery store and I was so happy when the cashier handed me some coupons for a raffle draw.

The prize? A brand new car!

It's not bad to dream.

I myself have never won a single thing even a small/cheap one.

I am hoping that at least I'll win something even a consolation prize.

A friend of mine is so lucky that every time we have a raffle in the office, it is a guarantee that she will win something.

Hopefully, this time around, I'll win something.

Wish me luck!

XoXo,

Joana 

On Working, Deaths on Other Stuffs

It's been a week since I came back to work.

It was pretty much busy: attending to mails, updates on procedures and processes, etc.

Suddenly, I realized that my life is mostly about working, earning enough to support my family back home.

Most of the times when I am just sitting alone at home, I cry, and I cry a lot.

I feel tired and wish that I could at least have a vacation - in the truest sense of the word, and I don't have to think about other stuffs...just enjoy and have fun.

Being the eldest in the family comes with great responsibilities - that is if you choose to be responsible enough or you can simply walk away.

For me, I can say that I had chosen the first one.

I wish that I would stay healthy so that I can still work and get that well-deserved vacation that I've been meaning to have soon.

It was also a couple of days back when an uncle died.

He is the father of my cousins - the closest ones that I have.

Our family is mourning but I cannot do much but to pray for his peace and happiness in eternal life and strength to those who are left behind.

Today is September first by the way.

That means, only a few more months and it'll be Christmas yet it'll be another holiday away from home.

I have vivid memories on the last Christmas that I had spent with my whole family.

It's sad to say that I haven't spent with them any since I had started working.

Am still hoping that I'll be able to do so in the coming years.

I really do hope so...

XoXo,

Joana

And I'm Back!

Yes, I am back!

I've missed lots of entries on my blog and I'll try to make up for the lost times.

It's been awhile and lots of things had happened personally and professionally.

So first things first...umm, where should I begin...

My team mates and I were moved to another project.

And as expected, it's not easy.

I was teary-eyed when I said "See You Soon" to my "Kuyas" and colleaugues with whom I had spent every single working day in Doha for almost 5 years.

Things are going quite well except for some issues with HR which in the end, was also sorted out.

Our new teams are ok, so far.

With all the movements and changes, I am not closing my doors still to other opportunities which might come my way too.

Lives were lost in a recent fire incident in Villaggio Mall.

It was really devastating and heart-breaking; words are not enough I think to describe how those who had lost their loved ones feel.

The summer heat is still scorching HOT.

I am working mostly on afternoon shifts so as expected, I have to brave the high temperature and have my daily doze of sunblock.

Wheeewwww...

And I am back, hope to tell you more about my adventures and all...

XOXO

Joana

Life...Oh, Life!

My Christmas Wishlist

Oh, ‘tis the season to be jolly…lalalalala…lala…lala…

It’s another Christmas spent away from my family.

And I got used to it.

Since I started working, I had spent Christmas at home only once.

Most of them are spent in the cinema, in the office or in the flat enjoying whatever is shown in the TV.

I still believe that one day, I’ll be able to spend Christmas at home.

I have some wishes this Christmas (and these are included in my daily prayers too).

A Job for Hamude

My boyfriend was just let go from work – they said they cannot find a role for him in the company anymore.

You know, these are tough times… and yes, it’s getting tougher.

The most that I can do is to be by his side, constantly cheer him up and give him high hopes.

We signed up for almost every single job hunting site that we can find and checked the daily papers for opportunities.

I am still positive that he’ll get one – a better one soon.

Good Health for Me and My Loved Ones

“Health is wealth” as the old saying goes.

It was February this year when my Dad had a heart attack and he was in and out of the hospital since then.

I felt bad when my mom told me that the first thing that the receptionist asked her when they rushed my Dad one time was if she has money for the deposit fee.

So, it’s just like shutting off the chances of living for those who cannot afford to pay.

Sigh.

Thanks be to God as during that time, I have enough money to cover the expenses and all.

I got a bank loan even if I don’t have any specific plan yet for the money and it was just in time!

Last month was the 3rd time that my Dad was hospitalized.

I have had to let my brothers who are in college to stop from school for the mean time as I cannot bear all the expenses – my Dad’s medicines and checkups, all other expenses at home.

They are broad minded enough and said that they could just continue come summer next year.

I am positive that my Dad can recover and be healthy again one of these days.

I wish that I will be as healthy still as I am now.

I also believe that my brothers can finish school with flying colors.

Financial Stability

This 3rd wish of mine requires time, careful planning, budgeting and good decision making.

I had recently applied for another bank loan and plan to use up the money as additional capital to the business that my Mom had started just recently.

We are selling rice in our place and hopefully, can start working in a relative’s farm.

Rice, as a staple food, is a good business.

Farming on the other hand needs enough capital for the seeds, fertilizers, labor cost and the like.

I am also working on saving enough for the rainy days.

I am currently starting from scratches as all my hard-earned dough are gone.

Sometimes I feel sad whenever I remember this but come to think of it, it was the best thing that I had spent my money on, more than the sale in the mall or the discounted prices I got – it helped me saved my Dad’s life.

I am hoping that my plans will materialize soon enough.

An Apple iPad 2

Yes, I want an iPad 2!

I had given my Acer Laptop to my brothers so that they can use it for school too.

Now, I am using a mini laptop – which drains my energy as I cannot connect to the internet, and sometimes I am using Hamude’s laptop.

I want something that I can carry around, put in my “closet” bag (Yes, I always bring around lots of stuffs), something handy but still serves the purpose of a journal, digicam, organizer and a laptop.

Isn’t it nice blogging from an iPad or reading e-books on it?

I am positive that I can get one by the end of the year.

Have a Happy Christmas!

P.S.

Tell me what’s on your Christmas List?

Thoughts on a Saturday

I was feeling a little down these past few days.

I have lots of thoughts racing in my mind: career, finances, family and getting one, business and the list goes on.

Wheeww…

By the end of the month, I will be travelling home and is hoping that I will be able to unwind and relax even for a short time so that I will be fully recharged when I go back to work.

I am planning on starting another business or “raket” shall I say.

I was able to research on the business that I am planning and just need to check the suppliers back home.

My mom’s small rice business is doing well.

I have another thing in mind but I will be able to carry that one out once my brother is here with me.

Hopefully, he will apply for his passport soon.

Once I get home and visit some relatives and friends, I will go shopping.

I will be visiting my university too.

There is a grand feeling every time you go back to your campus: it brings a smile on your face, remembering the days – good and bad days that you had spent there.

I am on a tight budget but that does not mean that it will hinder me to have a good vacation.

I will have a blast!

Ciao!

Life is Like Driving…

Where are you heading?

Honestly, I don’t know how to drive.

I’ve been meaning to learn but I am too scared.

Wheeew…I can barely cross the street.

My boyfriend will be going to a Driving School finally (after months when he was telling me he will go) as he has a friend who will go to.

I wish him luck and am hoping that he’ll pass – I told him he has to so that I don’t have to hail a cab every now and then and his reply – a silly smile.

I will get my chance; I need to have all the courage, in the future.

It made me think: Life and Driving has a lot in common.

Let me point them down:

You Have To Learn First

Ideally, one should go to a Driving School – you need to learn the basics, the traffic rules and the best part – the hands on before they handover that gleaming license of yours and let you go off the road.

Just like when we were young. We have to go to school and spend years trying to learn as much as we can – from writing, reading, doing the math’s and finally taking a degree which is more likely what you will pursue after school. I dreamed of being a teacher when I was in Grade School; a Chemist when I was in the Junior High; a Writer when I was in College – I am now working for a TelCo-owned company as a Customer Care Supervisor.

What Car Do You Drive? Or Which One Would You Want To Drive?

I know people who are excited and scared at the same time during their first day on the road. Excited - as finally they have the power behind the wheel and scared - wishing and hoping not to hit something and have violations on his first day.

There are also those who have their car already and decided to learn how to drive later on. There are those who want to learn how to drive before they get one. One maybe driving a Porsche or a Lamborghini or a Toyota one or one prefers to have a simple car; One maybe looking for style while the other wants functionality.

Once I got out of the university, I was excited to work and earn my own money and scared – praying that there will be enough work opportunities. There are those who want to work immediately after school and some had chosen to relax after years of studying. There are those who had chosen another career path – different from what they had studied; and there are those who had extremely excelled in their chosen profession.

Who Will Seat Beside You or Be With You In The Car?

I normally seat in the front seat if I know the driver is a gentle/safe one but if not, and he is a speeding type (the one who thinks he is on a race track), you will see me scrambling to the back seat.

Given the chance, if I will be the one to drive, of course I will let someone close to me to seat beside me.

It could be my family, my boyfriend or dear friends. I am the type of person who is a little aloof and shy at sometimes – I can say.

I do not trust people easily however I can easily read people – yeah I am a Psychic. Seriously speaking, I am a keen observer. I want to thank my college professors for that. Ha! Ha! Kidding aside, I easily have ideas about people if they are for keeps or not.

Some people may prefer to be alone in the front seat and have passengers seated at the back.

One may also be kind enough to let in hitchhikers or one may not be. Some feared that they might be pretending to be one and they are robbers and the like. We cannot blame them for thinking that way as there had been several instances of such on the road.

In life, we are also sometimes afraid to let some people in as they may not be of good influence and worse, may only lead us to danger.

Obey the Rules

As a driver, of course, one is expected to follow the rules and regulations on the road. It is not only for your own good – think about the one sitting beside you, your passengers and the others who happen to be on the same road as you are. In short, be safe.

In life, we need to abide the rules, mores, norms that we had been used to or told, or are perceived to be the right thing to do.

Checkpoints, Humps On The Road and Traffic Jams

There are times cars are asked to stop for sometime – for security check. There are also humps on the road wherein you need to slow down. A driver’s nightmare might be traffic jams – one might be stuck there for minutes or worst, even hours.

There are times in our life when we need to check on ourselves and slow down. We all have destinations or things to achieve however, we may need to take it slow. As they say, it is better to drive slowly than sorry. There are also points wherein we are just stuck in a situation and we cannot get out – no turning back. There might be cases wherein we will be asked to re-route. We just need to be patient and hope that things will go smoothly, or find ways on how to find a shortcut and if God permits, we shall reach our destination/s still.

The Traffic Light and Signs

I am really fond of the traffic light. I am curious how many combinations are there and it’s so smart that it does not give out the same color at the same time (Yeah. See the wonder of computer programming). It will tell you stop, go or hold on: you will take your turn later. This is exactly what happens in our lives – either we get what we want, or changed what we want or just wait for it.

There are traffic signs on the road to guide us or flag us. These can be people in our lives – reminding us and makes sure that we are safe.

A driver should also focus on the road. A driver is required to look on his left, right and back side. In life, we also have to look on our past but we need not dwell too much on it. We need to keep an eye on the road, this present moment, so that we will reach where we wish to be.

Joy Ride

There are most of us who wants to have a joy ride every once in awhile: the silence and emptiness of the streets during dawn; the blood rush that we feel when we don’t know where we will be if we follow a certain track. We might be lost at sometimes but we always find our way back.

Same like driving, some times we need to sit back, relax and just enjoy the ride!

P.S.

I had submitted this as a guest post for Nat's Blog :)

The Boy Who Wished...

December 18th, 2008

“I was crying because I have no shoes until I saw a man without feet…”

I was watching the TV last night, what else, it was The Filipino Channel.

Unfortunately, our Showtime subscription is not working (it’s silly because we are the dealer here in Qatar).

My boyfriend would tease me and my flatmates, because the shows on the said channels are mostly games.

I reasoned out that it’s like our “makes me feel at home” treat.

It was Wowowee that am watching that time and the portion called “Willie of Fortune”.

They used to have players’ categories such as beauticians, street vendors, those whose partners are working overseas, etc.

The players last night are the kids of the helpers at home.

There are a total of 6 players but the one that touched me the most is the last player: a little boy aged 12, who’s still at 2nd grade in school.

When asked why it was so, he answered naturally, “Because am always sick…”

His mom is also there. She is also sick (she’s got asthma, the little one has a lung disease and the dad has Polio).

When Willie, the host, asked him what would be his wished this coming Christmas.

The boy said, “I would just like to have a new pair of school shoes...”

Then Willie asked, “Don’t you have one?”

“My shoes are not good now; they’re already worn out because of the rain… any shoes will be ok; the one that is not even for rich people will do…”

There…

A simple wish coming from a shabby little boy who you would have mistaken younger than his age…

It brought me and my friend Mimi to tears…

Here’s a boy, who’s got a simple wish to make up his Christmas.

Not even a PSP as any kid ought to receive this merry season or an iPhone or the super thin Mac book for the “tech-savvy” people…

Only a pair of shoes…

Sigh…

Then people from the audience started coming towards him giving him money so that he can buy one.

The line got longer and longer…

That time, I realized that hey, it’s not true that nowadays people are apathetic or self-centered…

It also made me feel blessed and thankful for everything that I have:

I have my family back home waiting for me to come and take my vacation;

I have friends living with me here;

I have a boyfriend who could bear with my mood swings;

I have a job: a stable I can say and good one;

I was able to send money to my family and have some left for myself;

I have a blanket to keep me warm this cold season;

I am able to eat at least 3 times a day;

I am able to speak and write…

I am healthy…

I wake up each morning…


I just can’t count them all: the one that I had received and still receiving up to this very minute.

It reminded me the true spirit of Christmas: being thankful for everything, be it good or bad; loving each other unconditionally and giving what you can without expecting anything in return.

I will never forget this little boy…

The little, innocent boy who was not ashamed to wish and hope… and got more than what he’d wished and hoped for…

International Wedding Exhibition

I am so excited to attend the International Wedding Exhibition and Fashion Show on Thursday.

Am not really a big fan of weddings but I love it when I see brides wearing one.

Admit it; Brides are really on full bloom on their big day.

I used to watch America’s Next Top Model and Project Runway.

Oh, how I so love Tyra Banks and Heidi Klum - how gorgeous they are even in white shirt and jeans.

Hope to post F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S photos after the event.

Blackberry Says…

I was feeling a little down because of the flu; was also sad as Mohammed is struggling with lots of pressure at work.

While browsing the photos in my iPhone, I stumbled on this picture that I had taken last week.

Hmmm… Very well said…

Thoughts and the Like

After days of waiting, finally our ADSL subscription was already transferred.

We had moved from 5th to the 6th floor.

Still, I am lucky enough as it was moved earlier compared to a friend's; she had waited for almost a month and she has no choice but to look to the supervisor to have things sorted out.

I am alone now, my flatmates are at work...just finished off the "Inday" duties: doing the laundry, washing the dishes after eating dinner, ironing the clothes and fixing my room.

I found time to update my blog...yipee!

Mumu was back from vacation and I had decided to take mine earlier than scheduled: I will take it on June instead of November.

I would love if he can go with me but he cannot as he will take his on August or September I think.

Last Vday, he, again to my surprise, met an accident.

I shall say that he's really accident-prone.

After almost burning himself as he had used this laptop spray cleaner near the scented candle, now the car driven by his friend hit another one and thanks God, they are safe.

I had gone home and had fallen asleep after pigging out at Chowking.

I did not noticed that he had been calling me and found 16 missed calls from him.

He was somewhat furious and asked what I am saying about his parents.

I had shown my blog and then everything else follows.

It may have been a sad Valentine's Day but still I am not losing hope.

I am always thankful that he can be honest to me.

As the lyrics of the song, Broken Strings says:

"The Truth hurts and Lies Worse..."

I have faith in him and hopefully he will not fail me.

If he will, I cannot do anything but move on with Life.

I always cry during Valentine's Day and I am praying for a change for next year's.

I try most of the time to be happy and lift my spirits as I cannot rely on somebody else but myself.

What would tomorrow bring me?

I hope it's another day of fun and life...

V-Day Plans and Wedding Blues

After barely making the day yesterday, here I am crunched on the couch in the flat.

You know the girl’s thing that comes every month.

It was just recently when I had started feeling too much pain, Dysmenorrhea.

I used to have it but the pain now is excruciating.

I already planned to go to the hospital last night to get shots of the pain-killer, thanks God, it subsided after taking 2 tabs of Mefenamic Acid.

Then come 3 AM, I still can’t sleep, the pain had resumed and there I was up until 30 past 7 in the morning.

I got up at 3 in the afternoon, feeling soreness in every muscle.

Damn.

I hate being a girl.

Sigh.

During those moments, when I was suffering from pain, I was chatting with Mumu and Ate Barney, talking about stuffs.

Ate Barney, a friend and colleague, and I were talking over Blackberry Messenger about how her day had gone: she went out with friends, bought a dress for V-day and we were joking about our Horoscopes for the day. It said something about making the first move. We were joking about proposal lines since I will have to make the first move and we were laughing to death.

I told her, I will propose to him on Valentine’s Day and say:
Me: Mumu, will you marry me…
Mumu: Whhhaaatttt???!!?
Mumu: I am giving you options; will you marry me or marry me?
Hahaha!!!

After minutes of almost farting because of too much laughter, I was talking to Mumu about it.

A little serious conversation.

I was asking him when he plans to marry and the like.

He told me after 2 years and asked me when I would like.

I told him point blank: NOW.

He then added: I might make it 3.

I said, “2 Years is long enough and my eggs might be rotten by that time”.

He then replied that I am crazy.

I answered back with a very proud “YES I am” hahaha.

He then said “You know what? You can leave me now and go; I don’t like to be blamed for the rotten eggs”.

I said, “I don’t like; I have choices. I can leave you and go home after a month’s time, but I had chosen to stay and wait what will happen next”.

Sigh.

Maybe I am just pressured as almost everybody around me is getting married or had settled down already.

Married Girls No. 1a, 1b and 1c

Dianne, a best friend since High School, now happily married with a classmate as well, now has 2 kids.

Jheng, a good friend, now enjoys the company of her Sweety and Baby Julia.

Ate Khaty, whose married life I adored so much, has a pretty perfect and normal life: a lovely son who knows how to pose in front of the camera and a husband who seems like her boyfriend/bestfriend forever.

Getting Married No. 2

Ate Reyn, a cousin, another NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth), will be wed on 01/10/10 with her boyfriend of 2 years.

To Be Married Soon No. 3

Ceejh, a bestfriend as well, will get married in 2 years time with the love of her life, Mike.

Pressure…Pressure…

I know I will get married, if not now some other time anyways, so I have to wait patiently and pray that everything will be fine between me and Mumu.

Instead, I will just plan on how I can save enough and do something special on V-Day.

I am thinking of getting a new dress, place reservations for a romantic dinner and buy him the bracelet that I had found at Villaggio Mall.

Sigh.

Hopefully, everything will be fine…

For now, I will just stay in love and watch Wedding AVPs. Hehehe.

Ceejh and I used to watch Jason Magbanua’s Videos then would talk about our Big Day.

I am leaving you with one of my favorite videos by Jason, sorry I just have the link but take a quick look.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxcyBK5oMQQ

Stay in love.

XoXo Jo