Simple Pleasures

I used to be a fan of little transparent glass trinkets given out during weddings or displayed in armoires. But after yesterday, I had a different experience with these "trinkets" after our cab ride from IMM. We rode this cab full of these not-so-little glass trinkets on the car dashboard and back panel behind the passenger's seat. Most of these trinkets has LED blubs to goes on-and-off similar to christmas lights, only powered by the car battery. Can you imagine the patience of this guy wiring all these trinkets? There is even a centerpiece, which looks like a mini version of the ball that falls off during new year in times square, hanging from the rear view mirror.

At first, I found it very cute to see something flashy. However, sitting inside the cab in the dark with all the lights flashing before me gave me a nasty migraine. Even looking outside the window, we can still all the little twinkling things within our peripheral vision. We patiently waited for the cab to arrive at our place and calmly talked to each other out of not throwing up inside the cab.

After the dizzying travel with the "carnival" cab, we criss-crossed our way through the lift, relieved to know that we have finally escaped the wrath of the dashboard trinkets.

Lesson learned: Do not underestimate the power of the trinket with LED lights powered by car battery. One alone can be deadly enough.

Jojo and I went out for a date at Marche in Vivo city. It's been a while since we have gone out on a real date after Jojo moved to Sony for work and I became busy for Friday nightcaps.

We queued up at 815pm on an empty stomach. Fortunately, one waitress in her swiss maid dress was going around serving almond raisins and mini watermelon/orange coolers for waiting customers. Of course, Jojo and I indulged ourselves with the free food.

After consuming so many almond raisins for the past 40 minutes, we finally got ourselves a table. I immediately went to the Rösti stand to order my serving of Rösti with Chicken cheese sausage on the side. Jojo helped himself with a plate of savoury crepe with mushroom, ham and chicken.

We went back to our tables and ate our meals with gusto. I am guessing that either we were so happy to find ourselves eating after waiting for so long or the food is simply great. We can't seem to get enough that Jojo ordered some sirloin steak while I shared with him my four scoops of Mövenpick ice cream.

And while all of this is happening, I can't help gushing at the idea of being out on a date. It does pay to make an extra effort to make time for each other despite of spending almost each waking moment together. We agreed that we will do this more often to keep the "fire" alive and burning. What can I say? I love this guy for being so sweet.

It has been a couple of days since I got back from Manila. Despite of my short-lived vacation, I am happy that I did fly up to see my family and Ate Desi who came all the way from Australia. I also met up with some of my very good friends and felt guilty that I never had enough time to visit some more of them. If I can only extend my 24 hours into days to make sure I have seen and reconnected to all family and friends I left behind.

While relishing the remain of my days in Manila, I can't help but miss the kind of life I had before going overseas. I met with Honey and Cha one Saturday and walked into a nail parlor to have my pedicure done, which I have done for the longest time. The one who did my nails just loved all the stories I've been telling her. For the first time in a long time, I felt so relaxed enjoying this laid-back lifestyle in Manila. I started remembering my old routines: usual dinner and gimmicks with friends, inuman on Friday nights, coffee on Saturdays, beauty day every other week, shopping, figuring out how to fill my schedule for weekdays and weekends. I miss how I took good care of myself and live that quality kind of life I have always enjoyed.

Living here on the other hand felt so different. For one thing, the kind of service that I get around here is not at par with the kind of experience I had in Manila. I never seem to connect with the people who does my nails, hair, food or whatever. My time is consumed mostly with work. I kept bring home proposals and demos to finish. I signed up to gym which I never go to because I never had enough time or energy to exercise. Acid churns in my stomach because of stress. Life here is entirely different than what I had back home.

But strange enough, I'm getting used to this kind of toxicness. I found this sense of self worth that has somehow left me satisfied and clamoring for more challenges. Manila maybe home sweet home but here in Singapore is somehow my self realisation of what I am capable with. And if I can prove to myself that I can make it in this city, I guess I can make it anywhere.

I got an approval letter on my application for permanent residency in Singapore. Kahit wala nang pera sa bulsa, at least, I got something to celebrate that Singapore is giving me the opportunity to:

- Save up for my CPF (a better equivalent of SSS)
- Hopping jobs without worrying of my visa expiry
- Getting my folks to stay here longer
- Buy my own house when I have enough money in my CPF
- Buy my own car if my CPF allows it
- Give up OECs once and for all
- Get tax exemptions when I start making my own babies
- Upgrade my work pass but same fugly picture
- Look at my CPF contribution to cheer me up when I'm broke
- have my own NRIC that links to my every transaction, movement, etc.

Did I miss anything?