Confessions of a (Non) Shopaholic

I have a confession to make. Yes, I am a non-shopaholic.

Don't get me wrong. I do shop for myself every now and then. And if I shop, it is usually on sale.

But I am not a shopaholic. While I do admire great clothes, shoes and bags, I just could not bring myself to shop that much.

I might as well share the following thoughts:

1. Cleaning up my Closet - I clean up my closet every two months or so. Aside from arranging my clothes, putting them in hangers and folding them correctly, this exercise makes me aware that I still have enough. I do segregate clothes which I should already donate, which I hope I could still fit into some other future time (mamayat unta ko .. hehe), which I could have repaired and which I could still wear. Knowing that I still have enough clothes to wear surely makes me second guess about buying that nice blouse ;)

2. One Two Buckle my Shoe - Wearing rubber shoes while "malling" discourages me from trying out sandals and other shoes, unless of course it would also be rubber shoes. I have also noticed that if I wear sandals, it would easier for me to try out shoes until I find myself falling in love with a pair. Then, I would try to convince myself that I do not need it and that it costs too much, hehe. It also helps that I don't know how to walk in heels. So, my eyes don't really twinkle with those type of shoes. Matapilok jud ako ba. I don't know if it has something to do with my back, my posture or I was just born that way, hehe.

3. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Having sisters with almost the same body frame and almost the same shoe size (my feet are a half-inch longer than theirs) surely help a lot since we get to share clothes, shoes, bags and accessories. Admittedly, my sisters are more fashion forward than me and so it helps that I have them around so I could borrow stuff from them and get fashion advice as well. They do shop more than I do, but I don't think they're shopaholic, hehe. Sometimes we get pasalubongs from our parents or relatives, and we get to share it. It helps to know that I have those clothes and shoes to borrow whenever I need to. So, there is no point in buying new stuff.

4. Mother knows best - My mom loves to buy stuff for us and through the years, my mom surely has noticed that I do not have this penchant for buying for myself. Yes, I know I am kuripot in that way. So, when my mom sees a nice blouse with a good price, she buys it for us. And my sisters and I could share it. Having a mom who still buys stuff for someone who is Forever31, rather than one who goes for Forever21, is kinda cool.

5. Goal - Whenever you find me shopping, it's most probablt because I already had that in mind. Before going to the mall, I already have a goal that I'm going to buy this kind of stuff with this type of price range. I don't go around "malling" and then whenever I see something cool, I go buy it immediately. It would take a lot of guts on my part to do that since I really did not plan on it.

Oh, for those who shop, please don't take this post against me. I mean, it is your money and as long as you do no go overboard, why not?

Until my next post! Ciao!

Trivia

I love trivias!

I remember I was always excited and nervous (sweat and cold palms with heart beating at a faster rate!) for our GP2W (Great Place to Work) Fridays in my previous workplace. My team would win every now and then (free pizza, ice cream, etc.)

I also attended a baby shower and bridal shower wherein my classmate, Sol, prepared trivia questions. I think I could say "kinareer ko", hehe.

Anyway, I would always see this ad at Bigby's Abreeza about their Wednesday Trivia Night. I was interested although I know it wouldn't work out since I had classes Wednesday nights.

Last Wednesday though was different as I decided to call off my classes in lieu of the victory party of my students. I also had to attend a meeting which finished at around 6 p.m. Allan likewise did not hold classes that night since they had a meeting and he had some work to do so he could not leave early for his class.

And so, after our respective meetings, we decided to meet up and went to SM. We weren't really hungry but we wanted something to eat. While strolling, I saw the Trivia ad of Bigby's - meron din pala sila.

Allan and I ordered food and waited for the trivia contest to start. Allan started asking what time it would start, considering that we have almost consumed our food. They said in a few minutes (I realized later that they were waiting for the host). Then, one of the waiters mentioned that the group next to us was the champion last week. I warned Allan that I would get nervous when the contest starts and he was just simply amused with me.

It was our first time so I did not have any idea how we would go about or how many questions were there. White board and markers were later distributed and I decided to name our team "jazdoit", hehe.

First category was ad slogans and I think I only got one right - the slogan for Carlsberg. I almost got Obsession for CK, but due to lack of time I was not able to change my first answer, which was Lust, hehe.

Next category was Dustin Hoffman and I was able to guess "The Graduate" (although I never got to watch it!) and "Rain Man" (I also never got to watch it!). Most of the teams did not get it (most of them are younger than me). I was waiting for Kramer vs. Kramer but it wasn't asked.

Hematology was next and all I was able to answer was it was the study of blood and another question regarding white blood cells (leukocytes).

For countries beginning with A, I give credit to Allan for Austria and Algeria.

I think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was my favorite category for the night. Although I was not able to get the real names of Shredder and Master Splinter, I answered each of the specific questions referring to the Ninja Turtles themselves. And I was able to answer Rhinoceros but I forgot Warthog - referring to Rocksteady and Beebop. I forgot Technodrome though. (I think the other teams were not that familiar with TMNT - younger generation, hehe)

I got two wrong answers for Celebrity Mugshots. I wrote Snooky, instead of Snooki and I confused Gary Busey with Nick Nolte. I got the rest correctly (I was just lucky I got to read it on Yahoo news a few days before).

I think I only got one correct answer about those authors with their cats.

Fairy tales category was a fair game for everyone.

The last category was Autumn and I got "Autumn in New York" and "Carrie Bradshaw" correctly.

I had a feeling we were either second or first. Winners were announced. The previous champion was second place with their Midnight Chocolate Cake for garnering 23 points. Team Jazdoit won first place for 27 (or was it 29?) points and we got P600 worth of Gift Certificate.

Allan found it amusing that I was like a one-woman team since I was practically the only one who answered the trivias for us. The other teams had 3 or 4 members in them.

It was a fun night indeed! We will be back by sem break .. hehe! Thanks Bigby's! ;)

Work It!

I chanced upon this one while "facebooking".

Not leaving the office on time - been there, done that! And I am actually "proud" of myself having undergone such process, like a badge on my sleeve.

I am not saying that everyone should choose to experience working endless hours in the office or wherever their workplace may be. But to go through such phase is quite an experience and you get to appreciate life more!

"Work is a never ending process. You can never finish all the work" - I remember one of my Indian team mates telling me "When I leave the office, you are still here. When I arrive in the morning, you are already here. Work will always be there, you will never run out of work." I laughed and gave him a big smile and to this day, I will always remember what he told me ;)

I can even remember those times when I had to leave work at around 12 mn to 2 am and be back at the office the next day at 8 am. I even found it "amusing" that the bus still had passengers at around such time because it was during December. One time, the bus was even quite full - all seats taken!

One time, I was at the office for 24 hours! I was supposed to leave earlier but the one who should relieve me woke up a bit late since she also worked overtime the day before. I didn't take it against her though because I understood her situation. I wasn't ready for that overtime so I had no extra clothes with me, no toothbrush! I just didn't know what to say when I met one of my managers on my way out and he was just coming in for work and I was still wearing the same clothes from the previous day. He gave me a funny puzzling look and somewhat said "You're only leaving now?"

I even remember that time my last day of work before the Christmas vacation. I reported early on a Friday and my flight for Davao was the at around 5 or 6 am the next day. I do not know what got into me but by Thursday night, I had all of my stuff ready. Maybe I already had a feeling that I was going to work late. And work late I did! I asked my housemates, who would be on the same flight with me to please bring my luggage and fetch me at the office at around 2 am. And off we went to the airport, with me wearing the same clothes I wore the day before. I tried to sleep while waiting for our flight but I guess I, together with my Davao friends, was just excited going home for a vacation. When we were seated, I immediately dozed off. I woke up and thought we were already in Davao. My friend told me we were still in Manila and apparently, there was a problem with regard to a baby who was a passenger in the said flight. I was just so tired that I went back to sleep .. hehe

I try to come to work early - at least before 8.00 or 8.30 am because I do not want to get caught up in traffic or find myself waiting for a ride for quite some time. Admittedly, there are times when there is not much work, but I still stay at the office because it is so hard to get a ride when the bus or the jeepney is full plus I have to consider the additional time I have to spend in traffic. So, I would rather stay late.

And there was even one whole month wherein I spend every single day at the office - yes, including Saturdays and Sundays! I know! Tsk, tsk

I also read one time that the overtime we do is usually the reason why we need to work overtime the next day or why we need to work more hours. Our average capacity is 8 working hours. Beyond that, we are prone to errors and mistakes - in other words, despite the long hours, we are actually less productive. Beyond the 8 hours, we think less clearly and become less focused. As such, errors and mistakes will arise. Thus, additional hours will be needed for reworks and remedies.

As I look back to those days, I do not regret experiencing it. I have learned a lot from my experience. But I am happy that it is over, hehe.

Nowadays, I rarely do overtime work as a practicing lawyer. Although, I usually arrive home late, it is because I teach at night. I do some teaching work at home though - checking papers, preparing test questions and studying for my lectures. But teaching gives me such joy ;) So, it's not really overtime .. hehe

True Blood

A week ago, while waiting for the elevator ride to the 7th floor, I noticed that there was this blood donation activity by the Nursing Division.

I was curious since I wanted to donate blood again since 2 years ago. I even promised my friend that I will do it again for her, although I did not give any deadline ...

Anyway, I proceeded to the area, all by myself, with my bag and transcriptions. Blood pressure was around 110/90 (I think) I was weighed (55 kilos minus 2= 52 kilos - that's what the nursing student told me after I was weighed.)

I filled out the form and then waited for my turn to be pricked.

After my finger was pricked, blood was dropped in this container with blue liquid.

Then, I was told I could not donate because my hemoglobin is just enough for me.

I was curious and I asked why. The girl from Red Cross told me that it is common for girls, considering that we have our monthly period. I see.

I was wondering since this is my first to be refused from donating blood. The first two years ago was without any hitch.

The other one was way back in 2003. I was asked to donate for the brother of one of my closest friends since we had the same blood types. It was my first time and I was excited. I did not have any doubts since I do not have any tattoos. I also do not drink and I do not take drugs. I was also feeling healthy that time.

So, off I went to St. Luke's (my first time there!) Everything went smoothly. I found out that time that one  cannot donate if he weighs less than 50 kilos. I was at 52 kilos at that time.

I laid on one of their beds. I thought that I would feel the blood coming out from my body. I didn't feel anything and after a few minutes, I discovered that one bag was almost full. After eating and drinking lots of fluid and visiting my donee, I went back to the office to finish some stuff for our Christmas program.

The second time was in 2005 (I think). The baby/toddler of a friend of my housemate needed blood and my housemate knew I had the same blood type. This time I went to Makati Med. It was a Sunday. I didn't get to meet the baby/toddler. After donating, I went back home and started to cook for our dinner.

It was just too bad that on my third try, I was not allowed to donate. Hopefully, next time!