Multiple interests

Posted on 26/04/2022 by admin

*Waking up to this. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I gave myself permission to start the day late even though I woke up earlier than usual…I slept early without the aid of sleeping agents. Pure exhaustion is the answer to insomnia. I just love my bed. It used to feel empty but now it’s full of…ME! I don’t think I can share it now with anyone. Except for the cats.

And I gave my cats some morning exercise with the help of the laser pointer. After shredding that paper bag, they needed to expend their energies on other pursuits.

Weekly calls, editorial chores, etc occupied the rest of my day. Still didn’t manage to finish any of my pending articles left stewing in my leads list.

Then the DIY bug hit me again.

This time I fixed my closet door that hasn’t been closing for 2 years. Now I was able to fix it and the only missing tool to accomplish this was a cordless electric screwdriver so I can install the roller catch. Geez! 🙄 I waited that long.

*It only needed the help of a cordless electric screwdriver.* *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I finally am able to close it! *Hahaha! Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Now the eternal cause of irritation when dressing daily is finally no more. It now closes.

I am multi-talented but an idiot. 😂😂😂😂😂

I am reminded by this passage I saw on my Twitter newsfeeds.

This made me feel a little bit better. I have so many interests but I doubt if I am exceptional in any of them so I hid them from other people, especially my drawing. Only a few people knew I drew in high school. No one in my high school knew I was already a published writer. I didn’t let people know much about that because I was afraid they would think my efforts were not good enough. Same with my visual art. People my high school only knew me as an actress and a singer. Then when I became an adult, only very few people knew I sang, played the piano, and acted on stage. Zero knew I drew. I was known to be just a journalist.

I always thought I had to be excellent in all of those things I am interested in. I thought I had to be good but Kurt Vonnegut assured me that it’s ok to be mediocre. As long as I enjoy them, who the fuck cares, right? I enjoy watercoloring so I should be happy that I can do it. I keep buying frames for my drawings/paintings because it makes me happy. As I told my shrink this weekend, art therapy melted my anxiety and helped me lift myself out of the doldrums.

All these things—my multiple interests—are helping me heal. I’m enjoying life again. It took a while but, hey, I don’t have to rush.

P.S. I should buy Kurt Vonnegut books. An editor I know is a fan.

I’m back in my element

Posted on 25/04/2022 by admin

Chasing executives, scooping competition, producing stories back to back on the menu for today.

This is my first face-to-face annual general meeting for the year and it seems like others will follow suit. I woke up early this morning to attend to some admin stuff before heading out.

*Lighting a scented candle for good vibes. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

It only took me 50 mins or less to reach Conrad since I took Skyway 3. I didn’t have to deal with horrible Edsa.

*The shoes hurt less this time. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I spent gruelling hours attending back-to-back-to-back earnings briefing and AGM press briefings. All three overlapped so it was a feat that I was able to listen to all of them and ask questions and write stories. Whew! My copies were not super clean but my aim was to publish ahead of competition.

*Writing and listening to a presscon while awaiting the start of another one in the other conference hall. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I arrived here early so I can start working on other things but I had to jump in one meeting right after another. Whew!

I wrote two time-sensitive stories back-to-back and edited some. I missed this adrenalin rush. Meeting the execs after a long time. One of the company owners told me I had slimmed down. Hahahahah! I told her we just hadn’t seen each other for two years that’s why you think that way.

I missed this.

*Beautiful sunset again. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I have no problem working here at Conrad because the view is always lovely. It’s just unfortunate that I couldn’t sketch because I was trying to beat the buzzer and needed to publish these stories ASAP.

*Sunset over Manila Bay. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I couldn’t drive back home now because my car is banned from the streets from 5 pm to 8 pm during Mondays. Now, should I waste my evening shopping around or should I waste money ordering coffee again? ☕️

Oooh, the president of this company just walked by and remarked to me, Oh you’re still working? Yup, gotta be fast, I replied.

Ahhh, I missed this kind of interactions. The small talk, the chismis, the market talk. This is why I have been doing this job for more than 16 years now. ❤️

Back to civilization

Posted on 24/04/2022 by admin

Edsa is such a nutcase even on Sundays. Road repairs were left unfinished, causing major roadblocks that choked Edsa near Ortigas area. Now I remember why I don’t want to go back.

But I want to sleep in my own bed. *Sigh* Hopefully next year I don’t have to confront Edsa daily.

We should have been at home by 1:09 pm but I decided to drop by SM Makati to grab stuff that would keep the girls occupied now that their classes are over. They have their birthday money to use for whatever so they were free to buy even useless things.

Then we decided to eat out and not bother cooking at home. After four days of resort food, we had some comfort food.

*Salmon roll.* *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*Demolished. She’s so proud of herself.* *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*Her comfort food.* *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I’ve been trying to book Zennya massage 💆 but couldn’t find any available therapist. ~~I think I may have to walk to the nearby spa to have my diving-induced body aches attended to~~. I’m too tired to bother now. Tomorrow I will be so busy (I have to drive all the way to Conrad Hotel) to attend a stockholders meeting and press conference. No time for massage. 😔

I had my consultation with my shrink yesterday (via Google Meet) and she said I’m making good progress now that I can handle myself without alprazolam. The stress and anger I had when I discovered the unfair treatment at work didn’t cause me the same level of anxiety as much as J did, so I didn’t have to take alprazolam. I’ve been handling work-related stress and anger for 22 years so in the grand scheme of things it has been inconsequential compared to the triggering effect J has on me.

Because of my progress, my shrink said we would only meet every other month. Great! My shrink was happy that I was finally happy. When we were talking, she saw I was dripping wet as I just came onshore from my dive that afternoon. She said it was good that I am finally doing things that I loved to do and was no longer living inside my head. I was no longer stuck. She said I have already entered the stabilization phase.

I hope there would be no more triggers. But just in case my shrink said if something happens like in February, I shouldn’t wait two months before I talk to her—I need to schedule a session with her, ASAP.

Magandang umaga

Posted on 24/04/2022 by admin

*Breakfast by the sea. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

The best breakfast is breakfast by the sea with the sound of waves and sea breeze ruffling your hair.

The tide is fast coming in, rising to engulf the rocks again.

Very clear waters. ❤️

*Posing for Instagram/Facebook.* *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

In a few hours we’ll be driving back to the real world and I will be facing a hectic Monday again. 😔

Jumped to Eagle Point

Posted on 23/04/2022 by admin

*View from Eagle Point. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

We transferred to Eagle Point this morning because we decided to extend our stay in Anilao but Blue Ribbon no longer has rooms for us. Because you know, revenge travel.

But before we left Blue Ribbon, we had to consume our breakfast that came with our room.

*Breakfast of champions. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I had calories. Lots of it. I knew I would be expending energy when I dive in the afternoon.

*Of course, the obligatory selfie. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*Leni Robredo watch. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

My sister bought 4 of these as part of the campaign fundraising for Leni. Most of the campaign funds for Leni and all campaign sorties are arranged and funded by volunteers. My sister gave two to my twins and I tried one. Looks cute.

Meanwhile…

*They just won’t quit swimming. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Despite the multiple application of sunblock, these kids still got toasted. Well, they started swimming in the morning until sundown everyday. 🙄

We waited for the waves to calm down and for the tide to ease before snorkeling in front of the resort. I couldn’t dive much because I needed to guide my mom as she latched on to the diving buoy. She didn’t last long though, probably just 30 mins.

My older sister was with me but I still couldn’t dive because the resort didn’t have the rope and weights that would keep the buoy in place. It would be such a hassle if that thing escapes. Next assignment: buy rope and weights.

I was in the sea for 2.5 hrs though and it made the trip here worthwhile.

*Another beautiful Anilao sunset to take home with me. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Hopefully we will have more sunsets like this before the southwest monsoon starts. I’ll take a leave probably next month and bring the girls here again. I’ll check another diving resort that is near a marine sanctuary, probably Arthur’s.

Here’s to more freediving, mountain climbing, and camping. ❤️💪🏕️

Flexible office

Posted on 22/04/2022 by admin

This has been my office since yesterday. Sometimes I work at the restaurant but it’s quieter up here in our room’s balcony.

The long fins are wonderful! I can go deeper with less effort compared to my old fins. The length and the material (sort of rubber?) that makes the fins flexible do make a lot of difference. Now all I have to work on now is my breathing so I can stay near the corals longer before ascending. The diving buoy was also worth every peso I paid for it. I don’t have to swim so hard to reach the spot where I want to dive and it’s so convenient to have the baby shampoo within reach when my goggles need defogging. It also helped when the currents were strong this morning at Sombrero island and at Sepoc beach.

*Maricaban island*. *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

We left the resort at around 7:30 am. It was high tide so the currents were strong around Coral Garden so we were brought to a place that has less currents with corals that are not as bright as those in the Coral Garden. But still, the currents were strong and we had to battle with these while we dived. That’s why my body is aching right now.

*Cave at Sombrero island. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Twin I has become an excellent freediver now that she has my old fins. She has been swimming on her back and flipping underwater. Twin A has improved a lot and has been diving for the corals as well but she preferred to stay close to me because of the strong currents.

*That’s someone else’ kid on the sand while Twin I snorkels for shells. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*Clear waters. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*With my mom. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

We went back to the resort at past 10 am since my nephew still had online quizzes and classes. My twins enjoyed the pool for a bit and they took a nap with me. Of course, I still worked and edited a lot of stories today. The resort’s internet connection is decent for emails and browsing but for video calls, better use your Smart data for steady connection, which I did.

*Anilao always had lovely sunsets. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

To cap the day and to give me energy (I didn’t have lunch because I slept), I had this…

*Chocolate milkshake, fish and chips. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Tomorrow we transfer to Eagle Point Resort and we got a loft unit that has a lot of beds and is near the restaurant. We don’t have to go far to dive in a marine sanctuary because it’s just right there in front of the resort.

My body is aching. Diving with strong currents is definitely a whole body workout But I won’t exchange it for anything else in this world.

Stories from the sidelines

A journalist has a life other than news

Author Archives: admin