Sinong Shopaholic?

I love shopping. So what?

I just read an article from the magazine Girlfriend which talks about Retail Therapy. I got worried after reading it. It talks about shopping for new things to fill in what's missing or lacking. Sounds heavy? Let's face it. When were not in the mood, a new shirt or a new pair of comfortable shoes somehow lifts our spirit. It makes us feel good. The article puts this as "comfort buys".

I checked my closet and found clothes that are still in bags that I have bought and yet have not worn. I got shirts and blouses that almost looked the same, just of different color (mostly striped & color blue). But I bought them during store or mall sales. My best friend told me that it's not an excuse that I only buy during mall sales. He pointed out the fact that I buy clothes or shoes that I don't really need. He also said that even if I bought them during mall sales and that there is almost always a mall sale in the metro that I never missed is already an issue. I'm still in denial. I don't consider myself a slave of shopping but I'll think about this and process this on my own.

There's no use in denying that this is or this can be a problem. I'll work on it. Promise!

Kapag Minamalas Ka Nga Naman

Kahapon, October 15, 2008, habang nakasakay ako ng jeep pauwi ng San Mateo. Galing ako sa trabaho kaya medyo inaantok na talaga ko. Syempre pagkabayad ko ng pamasahe umurong ako agad sa dulo ng jeep kase nga tamad talaga ko mag-abot ng pamasahe ng ibang tao.

Nung malapit na sa Batasan Bridge, nagdahan-dahan na yung sinasakyan kong jeep pati mga sinusundan nito. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, may shooting na naman siguro kaya ganun. Tama nga ako may shooting sa may Batasan Bridge. Nagminor yung jeep na sinasakyan ko kase may malaking kable na nakalatag sa kalsada. Isa pa puno yung jeep na sinasakyan ko.

Nagulat na lang ako ng may rumaragasang jeep na bumangga sa jeep na sinasakyan ko. Sa sobrang lakas ng bangga humampas ang ulo at braso ko sa matigas na parte ng jeep na siansakyan ko. Di ko muna naramdaman yung sakit kase tinitignan ko yung lalaking katapat ko sa jeep. Nagdurugo yung paa nya dahil sa lakas ng bangga. Tinamaan yung paa nya ng bakal ng jeep na bumangga sa amin. Tinignan ko yung steps ng jeep na sinasakyan ko, yupi na. Halos mawala na sasobrang yupi. Buti na lang naiwas ko yung paa ko. Maya-maya tinanong na ko ng katabi ko kung masakit yung tama ko. NUng una talaga wala akong nararamdaman hanggang sa maningkit na yung kaliwang mata ko at unti-unti kong naramdaman ang pagkalat ng sakit ng ulo ko mula kaliwa hanggang sa buong ulo ko na.

Bumaba na yung ibang pasahero pero hindi kameng parehong nasa dulo na nasaktan. Sabi ng driver ng jeep na sinasakyan namen, dadalhin kame sa ospital para matignan at yung nakabanggang driver ang magbabayad ng gastusin. Dahil nagmamadali yung lalaking nasugatan sa paa, sinabi nya na lang na bayaran sya sa sugat na nakuha nya at sya na lang ang magpapagamot sa sarili nya. Di ko lang alam kung magkano yung ibinayad sa kanya. Ako, ayokong bumaba kase gusto kong madala sa ospital para kung meron mang masamang mangyari sa akin eh merong mananagot. Mabuti kung may sugat gaya nung sa lalaki. At least alam kung saan yung tama nya. Takot ako sa internal injury. Sabihin na nating aksidente nga yung nangyare pero kung ano man ang mangyare sa ken dapat may maging responsable para dun.

Una akong dinala sa St. Mattheus Hospital kase yun ang pinakamalapit. Dahil walang pambayad yung driver, hindi nila magagawa yung X-ray at lab test. Nagpalipat na lang ako sa Marikina Valley Medical Center kase accredited yung health card ko dun. Pero di nila ako tinanggap kase vehicular accident yung case ko. Kailangan daw sa ospital na nagbibigay ng medico legal. Pinalipat nila sa Amang Rodriguez Medical Center. At dahil ospital ng gobyerno yun, na-X-ray at na-CT scan ako bandang alas dos ng hapon. Yung aksidente nangyare ng 11:30 ng tanghali. Ganun ko katagal tiniis yung sakit hanggang sa lumabas yung resulta ng 4 ng hapon. Hindi naman ganun kaseryoso yung head at arm injury ko. Salamat sa aking chubby cheek at flabby arm, walang nadurog na buto. Pero binigyan ako ng doktor ng gamot para sa sakit at sa pamamaga. Sinabihan din ako ng doctor na gumamit ng armsling sa loob ng tatlong araw para di gaanong magalawa yung braso ko.

Nasabi ko ba na Nanay ko muna nag-abono para masimulan yung X-ray at CT scan ko? Wala daw pera yung driver na nakabangga. Kame halos nagbayad ng lahat ng gastusin sa ospital. Nangako naman yung driver na babayaran kame pag nagkapera sya. Kailan kaya yun? Di na namen alam. Sabi ng nanay ko mas importante ligtas ako.

Kaya eto, nangingitim na yung braso at pisngi ko. Di ako pumasok sa opisina kase pinagpahinga ako ng doctor para di raw masyadong magalaw yung bugbog ko.

Andame kong nasulat noh? Apat na oras ko tong sinulat kase kanang kamay lang ginagamit ko. Bawal magalaw yung kaliwa.

Passion for Something

I envy people who are passionate about a certain craft or hobby. Apart from their busy schedule, they're able to squeeze in other things that they love to do.

Take for example the mountain bikers that I see very Saturday morning in San Mateo. I'm sure they have work the whole week and yet they wake up early to bike and hang out with fellow bikers. I'm sure they've also spent a lot on this hobby considering how good their bikes looked and how they had something on thier cards to attach their bikes thereafter. These days I also see a lot of people getting into photography. They carry those high-tech cameras and use different lenses. They even go out-of-town to capture the best photos. Because of these, their shots are really impressive. I also know someone who's into triathlon (or even decathlon) and would join competitions around the country. Imagine the training that he does. One time he showed me his watch and it's 14k pesos worth (if I remember it right). It looked liked a regular digital watch to me but he said it measures his speed as he trains. Aside from that, his bike is worth (or even more) a downpayment for a new car.

What am I passionate about? SLEEPING! I think I'm best at sleeping. Hehehe! Most often than not I am asleep. When others look forward to weekends to hang out with family or friends or to pursue their hobbies, I look forward to weekends to sleep. I know I'm missing out a lot because of my sleepiness (more like laziness) but I'm already used to it. You see, I used to suffer from insomnia and slowly I'm becoming narcoleptic. Not really! It's just that sleeping gives me a certain euphoria. I am happy when I sleep.

I am also passionate about shopping. But let me make it clear that I only shop during mallwide sales. I don't really own anyhting that I bought on it's regular price. It has to be discounted. Whether it's a mall in QC or Makati, Pasig or Mandaluyong. I'm definitely gonna be there. I'm always updated to upcoming mallwide sales and I try as much as I can to be there early. It's a battlefield during mall sales. I have so many clothes, most of which I have worn only once or not at all. Ewan I just enjoy shopping.

I love to dance. I've been dancing since I was a kid and it's something that I really enjoy. I love performance dancing. But these days I am confined to dancing in my own room. I can't rehearse or dance extensively as before due to my slipped disc. If given a chance I'd like to continue dancing, enroll in a dance class or whatever. Dancing is a great exercise and I definitely need to exercise nowadays. Actually I've started scouting some dance studios. I am also interested in doing Capoeira. I have checked out some classes but none of which fit my schedule. It's something new for me and I'm eager to get into it.

Not many people know but I had piano lessons when I was 8 years old. I can read notes and play a little. Amongst all the musical instruments, I show more promise on the piano. I want to continue learning and playing. I have to brush up my skills so I can play on my own. I envy people who are musically-inclined especially those who can play the piano and sing at the same time.

Over all I love music. I have been exposed to different kinds of music. Growing up and spending summers at my Lola's house in Marikina, my cousins and I wake up to standard music on Sunday mornings that my uncle plays. Did you know that one of my favorite songs is "Misty" by Johnny Matthis? My cousins also exposed me to 80s music. Can you blame me if I listen to Friday Magic Madness over at 89.9 or Wave Back Wednesday over at 89.1? I have a wide-range of MP3 music. I listen inside my car and sing at the top of my lungs or gyrate to the music.

I am so passionate about a lot of things which actually equates my passion for life. My hobbies may not be as extreme as others but these are the simple things that I like. I may not be the expert at all of these but I sure do try my best and enjoy the time that I have while doing it.

Sleepiness is attacking again. My most favorite thing to do. Better be hitting the sack!