Tradition (supposedly) sez' to buy something special with your first paycheck: some lasting reminder of that transition from penniless to professional. Fearing for my juju, I went out of my way to visit Hobbes in GB3 hoping to score me some odd memento of my first paycheck.
A few steps past the strange pet-stuff Hobbes seems to have started selling, on the second shelf with his date ball cousins, there he rested: an old box faded by the countless hands of the curious. He was the last of his ebony brothers here, seemingly awaiting my purchase all along. I took that as a sign and promptly got my receipt.
Mr. 8-ball is open for business, 24-hours a day, 7 days a week (and yeah, we don't have locks installed). He's very much able to predict possibilities and very much willing to make ya' flinch at the future.
The little bastard doesn't seem to like me much though. Once while discussing better code implementation with a colleague, I sought Mr. High-and-Mighty-8-Ball for affirmation: "Ganun nga yun! Tara, let's ask the magic 8 ball."
He bit the hands that fed (read: bought) him and swirled up his answer: "Outlook not so good."
Waw. Attitude problem and awkward phrasing. If he doesn't turn a new leaf soon, I predict myself writing about Mr. Tragic-8-Ball. All signs point to yes!
Siguro, kung si God ay frugal, natuwa na yun sakin. Sulit-na-sulit yung buhay ko nitong nakaraang linggo, kada-minutong lumipas ay mas matimbang pa sa mga taon pang nakaraan.
Simulan natin sa sabado, nagpaka-egoy sa company outing sa Batangas. Sa iisang araw na yun, nakatakas ang inner-taong-gubat sa pag-snorkeling at jungle hopping. Sabay balik sa civilization at humabol pa sa choir nung gabi, sunburn and all.
Sarap pa nang tulog pagkatapos. Tipong tulog ng pagod at yung mga ala-ala ng mga kaibigan at saya yung naghahatid sa panaginip.
Nung linggo naman, nag-outoftheblue-lakwatsa with tito Cesar sa Sucat (at naka-buena mano siya ng 5k, haha) at nagpakabait akong anak at nanlibre ng magulang sa Mother's day (pero gabi na talaga). Kumain kami sa Conti's in spite of the post-mass horde. Minsan lang daw kasi ako manlibre kaya kahit umagahin kami, ayos lang daw, haha. Nahiya pa nga parents ko... ayaw mag-dessert!
Natapos yung linggong yun sa bahay ni Ralph, nanonood ng 'The Virgin Suicides'. Waw.... emotional rollercoaster! WOOT!
Come monday, went with Ralph para mag-pagupit (coz it's safer in groups) at tumambay at nagkuwentuhan maghapon sa kanila (yung aircon nila yung deciding factor). Nanood naman ng 'The Family Stone' (dahil nde na namin alam ang bibilhin sa ruins) at kaya pala ganun yung title kasi pangalan ng pamilya 'Stone', nde dahil meron silang tinatagong bato. Haha. Parang ako lang ata nde nakaintindi.
Tuesday ayos lang talaga na normal na araw, kaso yung pekeng normal pala yun. Trabaho sa umaga, glorietta sa gabi. Nadurog sa tekken uli (pero ayos lang dahil defeat is a learning process, pero I hate you pa rin, Lily). Nung gabi na, nalaman ko na lang na nasa ospital si mom. Rush ako to Makati Med to discover na na-high-blood pala si mom (dapat siguro nde tsokolate yung mother's day gift) at nag-bantay ako for that night.
Next day, (dot dot dot) dash-dash-dash (dot dot dot) to work galing ospital kahit mapungay pa ang mga mata at nag-prepare ng report on Linux Bash na tipong "Waw! Hindi ko na maalala to a!" at "Lagot ako!" Pero nung gabi nainis ako (pero ngayon natatawa) dahil sa sooper suwabe moves ni itay. Nung gabing yun sa ospital: "Anak, anung dadalhin kong damit sayo bukas. Text mo na lang."
Implied na daw e: mas kasya siguro ako sa bench sa tabi ng bed ng mom ko.
Okay lang naman sakin magbantay. Pero yung dad ko parang nde naman laging may ginagawa kapag hapon, ako naman may work (at report) kaya sobrang nabanat yung oras ko. Haha, siguro kung nag-alok lang yung dad ko magbantay. Kahit pabulong lang. Hindi ko lang talaga trip yung napapagawa ako ng bagay dahil wala akong choice (at mas lalo pa kung meron naman talagang better options).
Hangang Friday yun. Work. Hospital. Repeat. Pero ayos lang, basta ba para kay inay.
Nung friday, nakipag-gimikan with office buddies sa g4 at nasubukan ang aking drum maniax skillz (or lack thereof). Umuwi na may 50% off Jipan bread sa tiyan, ayosh.
Yung saturday, nakapagmeet-up kay kumparing iwi before she did a John Denver. May konting brush with the authorities pero lahat ng kasalanan napapatawad sa saturday.
At finally, tinapos ang linggo with the highschool barkada:
Habang naglalakad sa daanang batong tinahak sa madilim na hardin ng 19East, nagkuwentuhan kaming dalawa at nakinig ang aming medyo tipsy-ng kaibigan:
"Ganyan pala malasing."
"Hinde ko rin talaga alam e, pero kung ako nalasing, natutulog na lang ako. At kung medyo matindi, nang-yayakap na."
"Haha! Ba't ka naman nang-yayakap?"
"Para maramdaman ng mga kaibigan ko na mahal ko sila."
... sige, tulog na to, mukhang kelangan na. Salamat sa saya at at tuwa! Later dayz!
