college life

And so I went back to my dear alma mater after so many years. I think the last time I was there was around nine years ago, when I picked up my diploma, transcript, true copy of grades, etc.

I was very excited of seeing my old school. It seems surreal. After the guard opened the gate, I picked a specific area on where to park, right in front of our usual tambayan. I sat for a while and checked the documents I have, and remembered how much my friends and I shared in that space. Funny how it seems so small now. I guess I grew somehow.

I also noticed a few other cars in the parking lot. Back in my day, there were very few people who had cars. The car park then was mostly empty except for the university-owned buses and vehicles needing rv repair. I guess many students can now afford nice cars.

The engineering building was the same. Our department still occupies that same little office. The small alley at the back of our department that we use as shortcut to the other building is still there.

Actually, very little changed.

After filling up the required forms, I spent a lot of time waiting for my turn at the cashier. No more lines like in the old days. Similar to banks and most payment centers, you are given a number and wait for your number to flash on the digital screen to see which window to proceed. Quite convinient, but I wish there were more payment windows open. I also spent some time in the canteen drinking cold Milo.

I guess it’s but normal to feel nostalgic. This school had five years of my life. And it feels good to somehow see it all over again and remember our days. Those were pretty damn good days.

Maclaren

I think strollers are a must for every baby/family. Just think of the ease of having one. No need to carry the baby when you’re out (shopping or doing the grocery). And when the baby needs some fresh air, set aside that treadmill and get some exercise yourself for a little ride along the village.

I did mention that Yuan left behind a ton of baby stuff, right? And one, actually two of those are his strollers. Now let me clear that those strollers are perfectly functional and in very good condition. But they’re kinda bulky. And truth be told, I had a hard time fitting the bigger one in the car’s trunk every time we’d take it. So naturally we’re looking for one that lightweight and easy to handle yet sturdy and safe. And our current favorite is Maclaren. They’re very light and easy to handle, just what we are looking for. We saw one at the mall a few days ago. But it’s very expensive. Maclarens cost about 15k at the minimum. And to think we want to buy a car seat too!

Now if only a kind soul can give us one. Hmmm..

empower people

You know me. I’m a sucker for good reads like pronexin reviews. So when blog friend Oodles of Goodles mentioned via Twitter this link about 26 lessons, I made a quick peek and got more than I hoped for. It’s a 26-year-old guy writing about the 26 things he has learned in his life so far. In addition to that, I came to know that he has this goal of living a debt-free life, just life me and my wife. I dare say that this guy is onto something. Something we can all learn from.

It’s an awesome read. It’s so insightful that I thought I’d share it here again. My favorite is number 21:

Empowering other people is what really matters in life.  I want to empower.  I want to empower Courtney to be the most amazing and fulfilled person she can be.  I want to empower Milligan to do whatever passions are currently bringing her joy (right now she really likes playing with her purple ball, playgrounds, and taking naps).  I want to empower complete strangers to see opportunities in their own lives that they’ve buried under mounds of stuff, debt, and excuses.

Good stuff huh? If you’re itching for a good read, read the rest here.

first kick

I guess every first time would-be parent is as paranoid as us. We sometimes get so full of it that we want to pull a Tom Cruise (buy an ultrasound machine). Weird huh? But when we learned how much one costs, well, let’s just say we took the paranoid meter down a notch. Then came this urge to get a fetal monitor so we can at least hear our baby’s heartbeat. Lots of people are doing it. so that’s not weird, right? But again, a fetal monitor is very expensive too, so we gave that a rest.

Our latest paranoia is that my wife doesn’t feel the baby moving inside. At her stage of pregnancy, some kind of movement should already be present.

But yesterday, while we were sitting in the garden, she felt a light thud in her lower abdomen. She was surprised, and so was I. We waited for another one but I guess the baby went to sleep. But while watching TV later, the baby made kick. And this time, when I leaned over to get a feel too, the baby kicked again. It was such a feeling finally being able to really know that the baby is healthy inside and growing. At the same time, it’s weird to know that there’s another human being growing inside there. It’s just amazing how babies are made.

And you know what, all that worrying is all for nothing. But that won’t stop us to fuss over the little things. I don’t mind the slight stress, I can always take hgh supplement. And I daresay we’ll always be worried about everything.

happiness

I am yet again left in awe at how great He is. I am, as always, thankful of the blessings and favors He has given. My wife and I weren’t expecting a lot when we heard news of performance incentives being handed out. A little sum would be great. But we were not prepared for that bountiful harvest yesterday. It was a lot more than we expected.

Frankly, I spent most of the day dreaming of what to reward myself. A nice pair of shoes and some new clothes (and underwear!) would really, really be nice. A nice summer vacation with the family somewhere near and cheap sounds good too.

And then I thought about the people who would greatly benefit from this bonus. I thought about our officemates who needed to pay some debts. I guess they can now afford the best eye cream for dark circles from all the sleepless nights of worrying. I thought about Mordsith and her family. We’ve included her and her family in our prayers ever since we learned of her dilemma. And I know that this bonus would somehow ease her burden.

It’s amazing how a little money can do so much good. How money can make one happy. Now if only the company can do this every month.

money, money, money

It’s bonus season here in the office. Yay!

We are set to receive our yearly performance bonus in a few days. Or maybe even tomorrow. I’m not really sure. There’s a lot of rumor going around. Anyway, in a few weeks, half of the 13th month pay will be given too, just in time for enrollment I guess. All in all, we’re set to receive a huge sum of money. And when there’s money, there’s sure to be some shopping. And since it’s summer, I’m sure there’s a summer vacation or outing planned/hidden somewhere in the back of everyone’s mind too.

I hate to burst your bubble but have you really thought on where that money will go? Ever thought about paying that huge debt you have? Ever thought of saving maybe even a portion for the rainy days? Do you even have an emergency fund? If you don’t, maybe you could use some to start one?

I hate to rain on someone’s parade (though we really could use some real rain) but these are real hard truths we need to face. Doing things and going places on a whim just because some money turned up is being reckless. Sure, you need to loosen up, relax, and have your moment in the sun. But after that what do you have? I’m pretty sure you’re back to your old worrywort self.

What I want to say is to go easy on the money. Try not to spend it all in one go, you know. Budget. Set aside some for savings, some to pay some debts, and some for a little fun with the family. Consider options and cheaper alternatives.

We initially had this family outing planned out. We were supposed to spend the night at a resort with outdoor fireplace. But after much thought, we considered that a day trip would suffice. Our real goal was to spend time with family and get some pool time, and a day trip would give us that without spending too much. And with this prudent decision, we got some money left to add to our savings. I think you just have to really think what you really want and then consider options and maybe cheaper alternatives.