Stay

I saw a post on social media (can’t remember if it was on Instagram or Threads) about a girl begging for her guy to stay. Thinking about the things why he didn’t stay.

Girl, don’t beg. Nobody is worth that much (maybe except your children). If you have to beg, he’s not worth it. The people who are worth your love, time, and effort are those who chose to stay despite everything. If they leave, that meant they have made their choice a long time ago. Nobody leaves on a whim.

The only time I asked someone to stay was when my college boyfriend broke up with me. I made him a copy of Jars of Clay’s song, Tea and Sympathy, and sent it to his apartment. I didn’t get any response (either he was dense or he just didn’t care anymore). But I knew what I did was not right because it left a bitter taste in my mouth. I felt like I humiliated myself.

I haven’t repeated that mistake.

I did ask some of them why because I wanted to understand so that I won’t seek answers and linger for a long time.

But you know, you will never get answers and better leave it like that. Eventually, the truth will come out. It usually does and when you finally learn that, you are better off knowing that you didn’t lower yourself to their level, especially if they’re a cheater and a liar.

And no, I don’t recycle.

If they hurt, disrespected me, and/or abused me the first time around, what is my assurance that they won’t do the same again? I am basically the same person and the same reasons for leaving me will continue cropping up.

It’s almost three years since I have become solo. I’m much stronger and wiser but I carry with me so many scars and my skin is already battle-hardened. What I went through were just stepping stones to something bigger that is enough to destroy a weaker person.

I’m not that girl

I’m so sorry I missed Wicked when it was shown in Manila.

It’s really nice how Stephen Schwartz, the composer and lyricist of Wicked, talked about how he wrote and composed Wicked. I love the chord progression in and the emotions that came with the song “I’m Not That Girl” that it sticks in my brain. At 14:20 min

Hands touch, eyes meet
Sudden silence, sudden heat
Hearts leap in a giddy whirl
He could be that boy
But I’m not that girl

Don’t dream too far
Don’t lose sight of who you are
Don’t remember that rush of joy
He could be that boy
I’m not that girl

Every so often we long to steal
To the land of what-might-have-been
But that doesn’t soften the ache we feel
When reality sets back in

Blithe smile, lithe limb
She who’s winsome, she wins him
Gold hair with a gentle curl
That’s the girl he chose
And Heaven knows
I’m not that girl

Don’t wish, don’t start
Wishing only wounds the heart
I wasn’t born for the rose and pearl
There’s a girl I know
He loves her so

I’m not that girl

Meanwhile, it’s hard to sing “Defying Gravity” while suspended in air. Idina Menzel had to keep up with the sped up version of this song while battling asthma.

https://youtu.be/O5V9KwppMfs?si=7KVhU1GAilgbbVrB

And that is one heck of an Elphaba.


Got reinforcement. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Got a new JBL soundbar for the living area. My girls are having friends over to hang out and watch netflix. But basically this is for me while I work in my pseudo-balcony or when I cook. I want my music to follow me. Because, yes, I am obnoxious, I don’t care about my neighbors. It’s just my mom there. 😁

Back on the road

At almost 10 am. Still on the expressway. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I tried to be early, but you know, I needed a nap after making breakfast for my 7th graders or else I may fall asleep on the wheel. I got to the tailend of the presentation of one company that I got to interview.

I could have doubled the number of stories I produced from this two-day conference but I’m just not up to it. There is no incentive to do so.


Looking for Christmas decor that I could add to my tiny home. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I went to Ikea, which is just across SMX where the conference was, to have lunch and work. The restaurant there is huge so it’s less embarassing for me if I stay there for hours to finish work than compared to, let’s say, a coffee shop. I just stayed by the window so I would be away from people energy and I could write and edit with less distractions.

That’s the thing, it’s embarassing to work nowadays in coffee shops because people will get annoyed since I had been hogging the table near the electrical outlet for hours. It’s not that I want to; it’s just when I write or edit, I’m so deep into my thoughts that I’m really not conscious of time passing by so fast.

Kimchi invading my bed before I left for Manila. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

5 hours of sleep

It’s cold in the conference hall. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Last night I was chasing the chairman of a conglomerate in a dinner party in Ortigas. I buttered up the personal body guards of the chairman, held up the elevator to ask him a critical question. Then I got a scoop! I drove all the way from south just for that one question. 😂 But it was all worth it.

Sometimes I do wonder where I get my gumption to do such things.

It was already midnight when I arrived home. 🥴

Then I woke up at 5 am to cook breakfast and tended to my cats’ needs and litter box 😭. Had a 20-min nap at 7 am but I was only able to get out of the house at 8:45 am because you know, mommy things. 🫠

I worked non-stop at the conference, chasing government officials from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. I was supposed to stalk one Thai exec but, nah, I was writing stories and editing at the same time.

I’m exhausted.

I was just fuelled by the adrenalin rush that I get from being able to get scoops and write good stories.

This is m one of the two reasons why I am still here with this company for almost a decade: I like the work. The other reason is the flexibilty since I can work anywhere and however I want.

The drawback, however, is that I have forfeited the chance to quadruple my salary or increase my pay by ten-fold. That’s the only way you can jack up your income when you stick to being an employee—jump companies/jobs every two years.

I did try apply for other jobs or entertained those who wanted to pirate me. However, things didn’t pan out. Or maybe I was half-enthusiastic.

Speaking of income, I just realized I am so heavily invested in equities; I should start diversifying my portfolio this month. Start by buying units in mutual funds invested in global bonds, money market instruments, and a bit of equities. You know, the balanced fund.

I was just set back by medical expenses of my daughter but that’s ok. I still have 20 years to build up my retirement funds. Moreover, I shouldn’t stop working; I can still be a consultant until I’m old and gray.


Errr, I need to book my flight and hotel to Singapore for next week. I have already meetings and interviews lined up. My last hurrah for the year.

What was I made for?

At least once a year I’m allowed to have an existential crisis.

I used to float, now I just fall down
I used to know but I’m not sure now
What I was made for
What was I made for?

Takin’ a drive, I was an ideal
Looked so alive, turns out I’m not real
Just something you paid for
What was I made for?

‘Cause I, I
I don’t know how to feel
But I wanna try
I don’t know how to feel
But someday, I might
Someday, I might

When did it end? All the enjoyment
I’m sad again, don’t tell my boyfriend
It’s not what he’s made for
What was I made for?

‘Cause I, ’cause I
I don’t know how to feel
But I wanna try
I don’t know how to feel
But someday I might
Someday I might

Think I forgot how to be happy
Something I’m not, but something I can be
Something I wait for
Something I’m made for
Something I’m made for

Somewhere deep down it hurts. I don’t know why. Maybe I’m super hormonal right now. There are so many maybes. I’m super tired. I’m lifting the whole world above my head and I need to keep doing this for eternity.


Changes

My girls are no longer little anymore. They are now more conscious of their appearance and young teenaged girls these days are more self-conscious and insecure of how they look compared to my generation as social media magnified this. While I was also very much self-conscious at 13, I couldn’t do anything about my looks because money was tight. Haircut was very basic. We shopped for clothes only twice a year—start of the school year and before Christmas.

Since I have more resources now compared to my parents when I was 13, I have permitted myself to treat my girls a few luxuries to lessen their insecurities. For example, a hair treatment and a haircut.

Hair treatment to tame the frizzy hair. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

All my life I have always thought of myself as ugly or unattractive at best. Part of that is because I didn’t have cool clothes, shoes, and nice hair. At least I could ease that anxiety by giving the resources for my girls to have good haircuts.


Meanwhile, our adopted cat has settled in her box that I have provided. In the meantime, she will stay there to keep warm and be less exposed to other bully cats in the neighborhood.

Ampon (adopted). Photo by CallMeCreation.com

Our vet says we shouldn’t adopt quickly because it would wreak havoc to our household as my indoor cats are very, very territorial. We should make Sushi and Kimchi get used to her. After my cats’ own vaccines and deworming are done (one more session to go), I will have this cat spayed and vaccinated.


This morning I went to the community market to buy 10L of eco-friendly dishwashing liquid and 1L of liquid handwash. Of course, it goes without saying, I bought food for the entire Sunday because I don’t want to cook. I cleaned the entire day yesterday (cleaning lady is off) so I don’t want to be a domestic slave this weekend.

Vegetarian streetfood. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Spicy sisig (with green chilis and red bird’s eye chilis). Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Vegetarian spring rolls. Photo by CallMeCreation.com
Christmas decors. Photo by CallMeCreation.com

I had too much calories last Friday when I drove my SIL and nephew to a city 30 mins away from us that I am toning it down today with vegetarian fare.


But this was what I needed that day. Photo by CallMeCreation.com