Well, I’ve realized that movies are literally missing from my schedule – watching at the cinemas or at the comfort of my home with my usual uhmm downloads and DVDs of favorite stuff. At least I’m still able to catch up with my favorite TV shows – most of them are currently on hiatus anyway – but whatever happened to my plans to purchase movies, like my dream to have a complete Disney fairy tales collection?

Well, nothing that can’t be rectified. Excuse me while I prepare my TV for some movie marathon.

Repeat after me: It’s going to be a freaking awesome year!

Not just ok, not just good, not just great, but LEGEN – wait for it – DARY!

And I’m not even on mood enhancers. Although I think it’s a bit outdated to be quoting Barney Stinson, if you get my drift that should be forgivable.

So, how’s your New Year’s resolutions coming along? Do you have a list in your head? Have you written them down? Or are you adamant those are just silly nonsense? I’m sure there have been years when I’ve raised my eyebrows – or worse – at people blabbing about resolutions for the new year. But I’ve decided I’m not going to be that person this year. I already have my planner, with pages thus far filled. I’ve managed to sync my calendars across my devices. I think all I need to worry about is the follow-through. If I can just keep on going, and never lose the momentum, then at least I’ll finish 2012 knowing that I tried to make every second count.

I spent my 2011 in a somewhat autopilot state mostly because I didn’t allow myself to prioritize something else other than work. I don’t think I’ll put work in the backseat this time (being a self-confessed workaholic, among other reasons) , but I want to try injecting some variety into my day-to-day existence this time around. I’m not yet sure how, but I have some ideas. Starting with taking care of my health. This sedentary lifestyle has reached it’s limit, it’s time for phoenix weight loss. I’ve also been wasting my gym membership so that should definitely change. Beyond that, there are other things to focus on and to discover.

Here’s hoping that we’re all feeling hopeful, in the very least. A very happy new year to all!

I’ve written so many times before about the online discount deals that seem to be very successful worldwide in luring people to buy products, travel vouchers, food vouchers, and all those stuff – things that people don’t really have a need for, more often than not. Like this eyelash growth curler I just saw in my e-mail (yeah, I subscribe to a lot of these sites).

But reading this article, I couldn’t help but nod about most of the comments people have forwarded about the price of getting these big discounts. Well, for one, sometimes the vendors bloat the actual selling price just to make it look like you’re really getting the deal of your life. Terrible, but that’s business for you. Then there’s bad customer service where, upon claiming your product, you’ll be treated like a second-class buyer just because you didn’t get a priced item for it’s actual value. I’ve felt this more than once, but my thought at the time was “as long as I’m getting value for my money.” After a while I felt bad, but then again, I can sacrifice my pride for such stuff, no big deal.

So do I still buy stuff from those sites? Of course. I’m less excited than I was before, but looking at my purchases, I think I still manage to have at least one purchase per month. And I’m hoping it stops there.

So every week a new tropical depression visits the Philippines. It’s really depressing when we think about all the losses  – not to mention the loss of lives and the impact on thousands of others. I remember when I was very young, although I fear the howling winds that seem to be ripping out our house’s roof, I relish storms because that means no classes, cold weather, hot soup, and all members of the family are staying at home for the whole day. Back then it doesn’t flood that easily and you can sleep through it in your heated blanket without worrying that you’ll wake up soaked in water with all your possessions floating around your home.

I guess it’s a good thing, then, that I work from home. Although the possibilities of power interruption and loss of Internet connection are my worst enemy in such days.

Generally, that now is the official start of the -ber months holds no special meaning for me. Except maybe it means it’s not going to be all hot weather anymore, or at least that’s what I hope. But I see people in my various social networks are excited about it, so I’m going along. Like Greenday will say, “Wake me up when….” yuck, why am I quoting that?

Anyway, happy -ber months to you all! Whether you’re starting your Christmas lists or looking for halloween accessories first, have a blast! They’re meant to be the most exciting part of the year anyway, so let’s have some more fun before we get all introspective about a coming new year all over again.

This Sunday was not supposed to be a “lazy” day. I am so behind one of my projects that I scrapped all other things I was planning for the weekend just to be productive on this front. Alas, I was unsuccessful. If I write the things that went on in my head today into thought bubbles, they will look like this:

- Eff, my deadline is so close and I am soooo late on my projected schedule. Eff.

- But I’m so sleepy. All the time. I just want to lie down the whole day.

- [Waiting for my bestfriend in Singapore to reply to my urgent messages] How is it possible that someone living in a very progressive country can be so hard to reach with all my technological aids working in full force?

- Eff, my deadline! I can see blinking projector bulbs giving warning

- More coffee please.

- I am so not making progress this month. I hope the next one is going to be better.

- I give up; I’ll try again to be productive tomorrow

- Goodnight

I was watching The September Issue – well, not really watching but more like I was letting the film play in the background while I was doing some (light) manuscript editing. Briefly, it’s about the empire of Anna Wintour and a glimpse at all those glamorous people working on the production of the September issue of Vogue magazine. That’s all you need to know.

Only two things that stood out for me – One, Anna’s opening statement about how fashion can scare the hell out of people that they either mock it  or resort to stereotyping fashionistas into the pretty-but-not-so-bright group.  Two, Anna’s daughter saying that she’d rather be a lawyer because she finds the fashion industry to be a weird industry – especially when people in there take it too seriously when there are so many other things out there.

Who am I kidding, I’d always be someone who would rather spend my hard-earned money on a MacBook Air plus altec lansing speakers than on a thousand-dollar handbag.  I do understand the pull of the industry – I mean, everything there’s so pretty; I appreciate the art in it. But to make imitating fashion icons your main goal in life? I dunno. I side with Anna’s spawn, if she hasn’t changed her mind by now.

Digital video recorders is not something I see in appliance stores here in the Philippines. In fact, I don’t even remember seeing one before. And I don’t wonder why. We hardly have any show that you would be too awesome to miss. Ok, maybe that’s just my own opinion and my own reason. Maybe it’s also because the majority of the population is home for primetime, when the supposedly best shows in town are being aired. Maybe it’s also because others like me stream and download foreign TV shows instead of waiting for their late broadcasts in cable channels. You don’t need to be living in metal buildings to know how to do that. I know many OFWs get their soap opera fix from online streaming sites. Oh, how far we’ve gone because of the Internet. It’s not the best thing that’s happened to me, but it’s definitely one of the better ones for more than a couple of reasons.

I was finding it extremely difficult to sleep last night; I think my eyes and finally gave in by 3 am. That I woke up at 7 am today is a nice surprise for me, although it was actually a bit irritating at first because I didn’t wake up on my own accord but because my sister was moving around me too much while preparing for her work. It’s a good thing I feel I had enough rest; I must’ve had a good sleep regardless. Anyway, so it’s the start of another week. I wish I can start this day by taking a pre workout supplement and getting a bit of cardio at the gym, but now that I’m in front of my laptop, I’ll have to force myself to prepare my stuff with all the work stuff that’s waiting for me today at the back of my mind. I never learn, tsk, tsk.