On Maundy Thursday (is that right?).  It was a day of good news... I received news that I got the new job and also Slowfoot got his visa for Saudi Arabia.

Job
I have a new job! Hurray! It's for the 'Transitional Aged Care Program', so basically we follow-up patients who have been discharged from hospital.  Home visits and stuff.  My team is composed of allied health staff (physios and OTs).

So I've started working for them for the 2 days that I am free.  So yes, I will start working full-time.  Good for me.  Lol.

My office is just in the hospital next door to my hospital now.  So that's good.

I started last week, I've only done one day so far but I already love it (so far anyway, it's only been a day).  And since I don't have my licence yet, my assistants drive me around.  (Yes you heard me, I have assistants!).

So yeah, I'm quite happy.

Boy
Slowfoot officially finished from KPMG last week.  He's just waiting for all his visa paperwork to go thru and then he'll be off to Saudi Arabia.

I don't know how I'll be able to take it.  I've started crying already (not in front of him).  Just the thought of watching him disappear into that corridor into customs at the airport is killing me.

He went to his grandparents' in Newcastle for a few days last week.  And I was a wreck.  I was anxious at the mere thought that I will go home to an empty house.  I slept in the middle of the bed again.  And I didn't like it.

He was away for two nights, how can I survive two years?

I am amazed that Monday is a public holiday, despite the fact that majority of the Australian population don't care about Jesus.  Stop free-loading my my holiday people!

Anyway...

***
These past few weeks have been an emotional roller coaster.

***
Some days I feel so emotional I randomly burst into tears.  Leaving Slowfoot confused and powerless.  The other day I was stressing about my credit card bills.  He tried his best comfort me, in the only way that boys know how.  Humour.

***
I found a new job.  It's for the "Transitional Aged Care Program" in my area health service.  It's the job that I blogged about, the one where I was recommended by my senior dietitians.  Woohoo! Homeless no more.  LOL

But my main issue with that job was I knew I had to drive.  I was shitting myself when I toldmy new boss I couldn't and was expecting her to take the new job away.  But all she said was "don't stress about it too much".  Wut?!  I wish I knew that in the beginning.

***
The same day I got a job, Slowfoot received his visa to go to Saudi Arabia.  Yes, he's really going.


***
So I've had my 1st driving lesson on Saturday.  Went well.  Fuck I really don't know how I'll make up my 50 hours of driving!!!

***
Slowfoot just went to Coles to get ingredients for breakfast.  Where the hell is he, I'm hungry!!!

He said he would be home by 730.  He'll just have a drink with clients then he'll head home.

So I toiled in the kitchen and made sure dinner was ready by 730.  Then it was 745.  I called to see where he was.  He rejected my call and texted "Sorry, I will call later".

I was hungry already so I ate.  He calls later sounding very apologetic and assures me he'll come home soon.  Dinner is cold and I am still waiting...

He cooked chicken cacciatore tonight.

Highlights include:
I had to almost restrain myself and sat down and just watched him.  He was making too much of a mess in my pristine kitchen!
***
He cooked A LOT for my standards.  Aina was home and so he plated her portion.  He put way too much.  I keep having to remind him:  "We don't eat as much as Dave" (former flatmate)
***
He was shocked that all the ingredients only cost him $20 - he did use to live 4 other boys who are all 80kg+ rugby players (well 3 of them were).
***
Me: Can I have it with rice?
B: Are you kidding?
Me: No! I need rice!
B: But that's why I put lots of potatoes
Me: Yeah but it's not the same!

Chicken with no rice?! Sacrilegious!!
(Yes years of living overseas has not changed my ways and I will NEVER change my ways either!  I need my rice!)

I almost cried at work cause I felt loved and appreciated.  For the past few weeks I've been down and blah and felt very unappreciated, then today happened.

My contract at work is expiring in May, I was extended before, but we all know now that I won't get extended again because 1. the girl I replaced is coming back and 2. global financial crisis (yes it has affected hospitals too!).  This has been a big cause of stress and anxiety from me and the people at work know it.

Turns out there is a position within my area health service (I won't go on and try to explain how NSW health services work - cause only Trish will probably understand me. lol). Anyway, so there's an available position, and they want to fill it internally, they need a current part-timer. And that where I come in.

I came to work and I was cc'ed to a few different e-mails from my boss and two other senior dietitians.  They had all separately recommended me for the job.  I read what they said about about me and I was tearing up.  They all had glowing recommendations and so the head of our area wants me to give her a call.

Then later that day I spoke to one of the diabetes educators.  She looked at me so worried, she knew that my contract was expiring and she asked if I had a job lined up.  I said not yet, she then said she'll look out for me.  They've got their own network and dietitian positions are advertised sometimes she said.

Moral of the story: it does pay off to be nice and hardworking.

Slowfoot moved in on Sunday night, which means I am over indulging in my not-so-secret dream of becoming a housewife.

I’ve started folding his clothes for him, doing laundry, cleaning, cooking.

In 3 nights, I’ve already had a glimpse into the far way future…

Night #1
I went off in the evening to watch ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’ with fellow *ahem* reformed shopaholic Miel (Shopaholics anonymous gold card holder).  We’ve learned our lesson… never mind that we went to Kmart after the movie. LOL.  “Underwear is a basic need”, somebody wise once said.

Anyway, so I got home late almost at 10pm, expecting him to be home. Nay looking forward to see him at home.  And when I get there… an empty house.  Whut?!  Then 10 minutes later he calls.  Sounding very tired he tells me he’s just about to leave the office.

He gets home, very tired and unhappy.  He hates his job he says.  Everyone hates their job, I reply.  Yeah, but not everyone is in the office until 10 at night.  True that.

Future scenario # 1 – Very often I will eat dinner by myself, sit in our long dining table staring at my Harry Winston diamond.  If I am lucky I will already have little Billy and Alexia to take care of so I won’t be so alone.*

*Ok for those who are unaware Billy and Alexia are my fictional future children who I do hope will become non-fictional in about 5 years or so.  Occasionally I have a third child, Liam.

Night #2
He came home early this today (by early I mean 730).  We haven’t gone grocery shopping yet so we decided to go to Woolies and buy stuff for our dinner.  He didn’t want to walk despite the fact that it’s only around the corner because he didn’t have “comfy shoes” on.  I have no idea what’s going on in that brain of his, he was still wearing suit and work shoes and couldn’t be bothered changing yet.

So we drove, and it took us one minute to get there.  The moment we stepped into to centre he makes a phone call.  And kept talking on his mobile the entire time we were at the supermarket.  Now, I had no idea what to cook, nor could I think of what I wanted to eat, it would have been good if he participated in the decision making process.  Instead he was on the phone following me up and down the aisles as I try to come up with a menu.

I eventually managed to make a decision (minute steak and vegetables).  He also finished his phone call, but we were already at the check-out.  “So what are we having for dinner?” as he peeks into the basket.  I tell him and he’s happy.  Well he better bloody be or there would have been murder at the check-out.

We get home and he talks on the phone – again.  Leaving me to do all the cooking.  And once it was all done, he finished his call and ate.

In fairness to him, he said he’ll wash the dishes.  Which I let him do… until I observed his dish washing skills and deemed it unacceptable!  He claims that I was “just seeing things” and the residual dirt I was noticing “is not there”.  Therefore I ordered him to just leave it and just have his Cornetto and go upstairs.  Which meant I basically re-did the entire dish washing to bring it up to acceptable standards.

Future scenario #2 – I will do all the housework, which is will be fine as long as I am not working as well, oh yes my not-so-secret dream of being housewife with a Harry Winston rock on my finger.

Night #3
I was meant to go to bingo with Miel and the gang.  Then I see multiple missed calls at 4pm.  Since I was working I wasn't able to answer my phone and didn't notice til later.  It was Slowfoot, so I call him.  (putting on a 'sick' voice) "I'm really not feeling well, I left work early, I'm coming home now.  What time will you come home???"

So I call Miel to pull out of bingo.  Mehn I was feeling lucky pa naman.

I get home and he looked perfectly fine to me.  "I was thinking of pizza for tonight", he says.  I look at him suspiciously, he didn't look that sick to me.  I told him I was planning on making him some sinigang cause I thinking he was quite sick.  I suspect he has a case of the "man flu".

Slowfoot wanted a pizza from Norton st.  But Aina was home and she wanted Domino's.  So out went my seafood sinigang and in came our large Domino's pizzas.

Future Scenario #3 - I'll probably get fat from all the pizza I'll be eating.  And I will join all the women in the world who have to deal with the man flu, but I refuse to be one of those people who can't leave the home without their partner.  That's just not how Slowfoot and I roll.

Anyway,I have to go and do some laundry.  Apparently he has a presentation tomorrow and would he would like to wear his "#1 shirt".  Geez housewife-dom here we come!

 

blah.

That's how I felt the entire day.  No real reason, I was just down.  Unhappy.  If we want to be medical I felt like I was walking around with a flat affect.

I was so blah that Caroline, one of the dietitians could tell through the phone line.  We were talking about work when she suddenly asked if I was alright, cause I didn't sound like "myself".

I didn't really know what to answer.  I had no reason.  "Is your mum ok?" Yes.  "Is everything with Blake ok?" Yes.

I should have been happy today, one of my wards was closed (because we had no patients), which meant my workload was cut in half.  

Although I am increasingly becoming annoyed with my boss.  I just feel that I am being under-appreciated and unfairly pressured with regards to projects.  Ok, my patient load always come first, extra projects second.  I understand why he wants these projects to go through.  The GFC (global financial crisis) has affected hospitals too.  The government is trying to save money where they can, and labor is always the most expensive.  So the more efficient and more productive our department is, then we'll have less chances of budget cuts.

Sometimes it doesn't pay off to be hardworking.  My boss has identified who the hardworking dietitans are (Caroline and myself), therefore we get the most pressure to do stuff because he knows we'll do it.  While the others, get away with doing minimal work.  It's just not fair.  I could of course learn to say no, but the hard worker ingrained in me refuses to do so.

I was in such a funk that I decided that I would quit being a dietitian. Maybe this doesn't make me happy anymore, maybe I should try other things...

Anyway, I got so busy in the afternoon that I forgot about these quitting thoughts and my blah-ness.  Until I made my way home, and the blah-ness has returned, perhaps it's the full moon?

I called Blake and asked him to come over.  Talking to him made me feel better, but what I need is a cuddle.  He was still at work and is still there now (it's 830pm now), he'll be there for a while but he'll try to finish soon he says.  Hay, the story of my life.  I blame the full moon.

 

I was in the city today and did so well cause I only bought $5 hair clips.  But oh it was NOT EASY.

I am giving up shopping for Lent, by the way.  It was also one my new year’s resolutions.  Yes I say I’ll stop shopping every single new year and lent, but you know I really mean it this time.

Just ask Miel and Len.

I was with Len from 3pm today, and we did so well in not buying anything, despite all the temptations.

Then we discovered the Marcs sale… two business shirts for the price of one.  Ohmyged.  If you know me at all then you would know that I love love love Marcs work shirts.  I already have four, and I would love to have more.  Their fabric is fabulous and they fit me so well.

So I initially was able to walk away, but then we came back and tried them on.  And in a surprising turn of events, I said NO.  The girls bought their shirts and I was quite proud of my restraint.  I am doing so well (so far).

Then it hit me like a rock.  The meltdown.  Shopping withdrawal.  I got so angry and anxious.  Even started yelling at the girls.  It was like I was a junkie and my stash had just been taken away.

But I kept telling myself the truth.  This won’t kill me.  Not buying more Marcs shirts will not kill me.

And it’s not just about the shirts or the new strict budget that I have put myself on.  It’s about the behaviour itself.  My excessive shopping habit that has gone on for almost my entire life.

Talk about quitting cold turkey.  Walking away from a good bargain of my favourite shirts.  Haaay, it’ll get better, I know it will and I will be a better person after this.

Here they are!  6 weeks worth of shopping...

The Shopping Inventory

I love shopping (that could possibly be the understatement of the year).  Yes, I went nuts in the Philippines and Singapore, you can always count on me to find 'shopping opportunities' anywhere.  I've been really good since I got back.  So far I've only bought 1 flower hairband from Equip, and that cost only $4.50.  (under $5 hence that doesn't even count).

I've been really good, until today that is.  The Best and Less clearance store opened last year at Leichhardt Marketplace* right in front of my favorite coffee provider (Wendy's - yes they are famous for ice cream and hotdogs, but I discovered that the man makes awesome coffee too)

*For those who don't know (basically everyone except for like 3 people). I live in a suburb called Leichhardt and the Marketplace is just around the corner from my house.  It's like a mini-mall that has grocery stores, butcher, Target, pharmacy, clothes stores, etc etc.

Now, I go and get coffee very often, so often that the people who own the place know who I am, and even asked why I was gone so long after Christmas.  (Nice to know someone was looking for me, perhaps coffee sales went down during my absence).  So I've seen the Best and Less, but have decided that I will not enter it.  I usually just wander into EB games while waiting for my coffee.  Nintendo DS games are expensive and I have never impluse-bought a DS game (ok except once I bought a game called 'Dogz' hey it was only $10 - played it once and forgot about it. lol)

Aaanyway,geez I keep getting sidetracked.  So today I went into Best and Less.  I was loured in by a sign over Rio bras that said "5.00".  Wut?! $5.00 Rio bras?! Must investigate.  And it all went downhill from there.

Jacket: $7.50 (I fell in love with the lining of the boys' jacket.  How cute is that?!)
Grey camisole: $6.75
White shirt: $3.75
Striped singlet: $3.75
Bra: $7.50 (yes, Len I am a C. ok?!)

Can you believe it?!
Granted these are all from the kids' section (except for the bra of course, lol)

I'm coming back to hoard the singlets.

I left the shop on a high.  Nothing makes me happier than finding AWESOME bargains,and that is why I love going thru Supre sales racks. There is A LOT of shit jologs clothes in Supre, but when I manage to find a panalo dress, I get so ecstatic.  

I often rock out in $10-20 dresses from Supre and people love them, assume that it cost me hundreds.  If only people knew.

Yes, I also buy ridiculously priced clothes and bags, but I'm just as happy with my $3.75 bargains as I am with my $300 outfits.

I am a professional shopper, there's no denying that fact.

 

Here is the tip of the shopping iceberg:

I loved shopping in Singapore.  It was made even better by having Val, a friend from high school, as the ultimate shopping consintidora (enabler).

We only had one day to shop, there was no time to eat or pee - we stopped only once, for Starbucks.  Then we rushed off to the night safari.

I haven't seen Val in years, but it felt like we were never apart.  Laughter and shopping?  Good to know some things never change.

***
I almost never left my hotel room, I was not liking Singapore because to me it was just standing between me and my impending homecoming.  I'm glad I left the hotel.

(Although the hotel room was pimpin' 5 star luxury y'all, eyeloveit!)

***
Watch this space, inventory of the entire shopping loot will be posted soon.

 

Jojo and I decided to "meet in the middle", since he is in Luzon and I am in Mindanao, the "logical" choice would be of course somewhere in Visayas.

It all began with:
Homaigad Uhndee!! Lars said you were "stuck" in Davao?  Everything ok?  Ginsalvage ka ba ng Abu?  Can I visit you?

Since he's back to work, he can only do a weekend, so I said yeah, let's meet in middle!  He wanted to go to Davao, but I wanted to go somewhere else!  Besides I've NEVER been to Visayas, kawawa naman ako.

First choice was Bacolod, then I found out that there are no direct flights from Davao.  (From Davao you can only go to Cebu, Manila, or Zamboanga - how sad).

I suggested Cebu, but then Jojo has just been there recently and he said he was ok with it but it's pretty much "like Manila except people don't speak Tagalog", so scrap Cebu.

Bohol?  A possibility, neither of us has been there... but could we do it in a day?  After much research that was scrapped, cause we didn't really want to be stressed out jumping from one activity to another.

We went back to Plan A - Bacolod.  Getting there was fairly easy, I'd just have to take a connecting flight from Cebu.  But then I was having trouble with going back to Davao, it was either I leave Bacolod waaay to early on Sunday or I'd have to stay in Cebu overnight, neither appealed to me.

Then it hit me like a rock (AS IN), I should just stay overnight in Manila! Duh I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner. (1) I'd have no issues finding a place to stay (2) I can go shopping one last time (3) I can meet up with people I didn't get to see that time (4) There are like 7 flights from Manila to Davao daily so that'll be easy.

So off we went to plan our mini-break.  I asked Jojo if we could go to a beach - the only one I found online was Guiamaras Island.  Which looked awesome.

How about this as a rough itinerary?
 
Friday night:  Arrive, mini-gimmik on Lacson street
Saturday: Day trip to Guimaras
Saturday night: Big Gimmik on Lacson street
Sunday: Brunch at Aboy's (Temple of Negrense food), depart for Manila
Sunday night: Dinner at Greenbelt (bejewelled and fabulous)
Later on: You leave for Davao (whenever)

Have you told Gutsy pala?!  Let's bring her too!!!!  Hope she's free.  Mini sydney reunion in D'Bisayas. Ka-cool man gid!!!!

Gutsy can't make it sadly, but Jojo's gf is coming with us.

***
It was all going to plan until...

Hi Undee!  I texted my friend in Bacolod about our plan.  He says Guimaras is doable from Bacolod, but kinda far (I think it's closer to Iloilo than Bacolod) so baka ma-hussle tayo.   He recommended Lakawon island instead as our beach trip out of Bacolod city.  It's just an hour away and it's got some pretty good reviews on the internet. What do you think?

So I did some research and I fell in love with this "unknown" island, so I said yes let's go there.

Dibaaa? Then we can come back to Manila and hang around Greenbelt and tell people "what??? You mean you HAVEN'T been to Lakawon??"

I told him to tell me which flight to Manila he's getting, I provided him with all the available PAL flights, cause I knew he dislikes Cebu Pacific with a vengeance.

So I was shocked when:

Jojo: I booked Cebu Pacific departing at 4:20.
Me: What?! Cebu Pacific?!
Jojo: Yes, I might have given up everything that I believe in in life by booking this flight.
Me: Hahaha, you'll be fine.
Jojo: There's a big price difference.  Sumabay ka na tapos diretso tayo from airport to greenbelt para jetset talaga.

***
Then came accomodation, he suggested a hotel, then he asked if I wanted to share a room with him and Madeleine.  I said it would be cheaper, but that would be so weird, so no I'll get my own room nalang. 

Yuck! Ka-O.A. man gid!     Huwag kang ma hiya.  If you want you can sleep between us para cozy ka. Sige, I'll book a triple.

Anobuzzz Jojo!

***
I love random trips.  Siempre kinareer pa ang "meet in the middle" between Davao and Manila eh!!! Literal talaga - eh di Visayas bala!  Can't wait!

Amen to that! 

 

You know you are bored when you have time or even consider doing this:


Pimp my camera anyone?

Next victim: my Blackberry (I promise it won't be this exag)

 

I haven't been posting anything despite having all the bloody free time in the world.

A normal day is as follows:
- wake up between 10 - 11am
- have coffee and breakfast/brunch
- simultaneously check e-mail, surf internet, and watch tv. (if nothing is on watch "the hills" on dvd)
- dad comes home from "work"
- have lunch (either at home or somewhere out)
- run errands (pay bills, etc)
- shopping and/or beauty activity of the day*

* we go to one of the malls and I look for something to buy.  Once I've bought something we'll go home.  For example today's purchase was a pair of dove grey satin sandals for me and an ipod usb connector for my dad.  Yesterday I bought a Nike sports bra, day before was a heather grey cowl neck dress.  Tomorrow will probably be a Plains and Prints top I saw yesterday.
* If I don't go shopping I'll have a beauty activity i.e. mani/pedi or facial or something (considering getting my hair relaxed)
* We are also on a search for the perfect body wash (dad's obsession - more on that later)

- once we get home dad will usually play golf, I will watch tv (or the hills) and/or internet
- mom and I will go for a walk around 530 around the golf course (I get bored so I run) HOWEVER none of this has been happening for the past few days cause it has been raining!
- more tv/the hills/internet
- dinner
- more tv/the hills/internet
- talk to Slowfoot
- sleep

Hay, I should really be doing more productive things. Oh well.

It kinda sucks being in the Philippines, but NOT being in Manila, cause I don't get to catch up with my friends.  I mean there were so many people that I didn't get to see. Oh well, I went home for mom so here I am.

I would be including going to the beach as an activity, except it has been raining! Which sucks, cause it was boiling, sticky, sucky hot last week (and I scheduled in "beach" this week).

Luckily, my dad' business associate has kids my age sooo we went out briefly last weekend and we're having dinner tomorrow.  I'm hoping we're going out next weekend cause I want to suss out the "Davao night life", if it exists.

***
To do list:
1. Road trip to Camiguin
2. white water rafting
3. suss out Mt Apo

***
Dad also has been hinting that he'd be glad to let me take over the company if I wanted it, so he can have a long vacation.  I considered it for for a moment then went WTF, don't really think a dietitian can run a tile adhesive company.

Or maybe I could??

I am going to be in Davao for the next 3 weeks.  “Mega vacation” according to some.  “Pain in the ass” if you ask me.


Ok, in bullet points:

• It all began when I did not get my passport renewed on time.  This machine-readable passport chuvacheness is really annoying.
• My choice was either go back to Sydney earlier (way too early) or apply for my passport in Manila and stay a bit longer (now way too long).
• My sister's friend's mom is dating the undersecretary of the DFA, so he can help us, BUT we had to do the first step which is submit the form to DFA.
• So we went to DFA on Roxas Blvd, where it was absolute PANDEMONIUM.
•  
• I paid P180 for pictures (yes I was scammed)
• Strange men were following me (dad was not with me yet he parked the car)
• We lined up, then dad couldn't get it cause it's not allowed.
• “Sasamahan ko lang anak ko minor pa.” said Dad. “Ilang taon?” asked the guard. “18” “Ay 17 po cut-off” Anobuzz, mali pa!
• I went in, by myself.  There were people everywhere.  Different signs for different things, each person I asked had a different answer.
• In the end I just couldn't take it anymore so I just left and considered other options
•  
• Then of course everything closed down over the holidays, so that delayed my plans even more.  And by the time offices open again, I'll be in Davao already.
• Passports thru travel agents take 7 days IF you are in Manila.  But in Davao it takes 15 days.

And so here I am. In Davao. Waiting.

To be continued...

 

Be careful what you wish for cause you just might get it.  Haaay maybe you can't have your cake and eat it too after all.

Anyway, speaking of cake...

I have a giant Tiramisu here at home, from Pasticceria Papa (the fabulous Italian patisserie/cafe in Haberfield).

So Sydney people if you want some please come and have some because I DO NOT want to end up eating an entire cake.

Yun lang, I'm sleepy and very busog from the Tiramisu. Lol.  But I want to stay up and watch Louis Theroux, I love him!  Tonight he has a documentary about a brothel in Reno, NV that's like a 'resort style'. Kakaiba.  Last week he had Nazis which made me very angry.  But not as angry as I was after the "most hated family in America" documentary.  Anyway, more on Louis some other time.

Good night!

 

So I was doing some egogoogling today (i.e. searching for your name on Google - because I'm vain) and there it was... my baby. 

I carried her for 6 months, nurtured her, loved her, watched her grow and then set her free... my masters degree research project.

I spent countless sleepless nights, traveled to the outer regions of Sydney, overdosed on caffeine, did double overtime at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit, developed migraines and anxiety attacks.  But it was all worth it.

I have never been more proud of anything else, I have never loved a university project before, and I will probably never love again. Lol.

 

So I was thinking about what to do with my hair next, as I'm not completely happy with it right now.  To help me I decided to look back at what I've done so far. 

My storage of digital photos seem to have only begun in 2003, and looking through 5 years worth of photos was an absolute crack up.  I've had some bad looks! Lol.

But I guess looking through the photos just made me remember, not only of what I looked like.  But also of how I've "grown up" so to speak.  I remembered that 19-year old girl, who I was, what I was doing, who I was with, what I believed in.

That 19-year old certainly didn't know that she would eventually be a 24-year old living in Sydney (un-married with no kids).

I think the 19-year old would be depressed if she knew what was ahead but I'd tell her, don't worry, the 24-year old is happy (most of the time).


Let me know what you think!