Offline

I guess it was just a coincidence but it occurred two consecutive Saturdays. January 17^th at around eight in the morning I deposited some money using the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) after my work shift.  The savings account is a payroll account where we get our salary 15^th and 30^th of the month.  Whenever I made transactions over an ATM, I made sure I get a receipt. I did not suspect something was amiss, as the machine accepted my deposit. After few seconds the tray where I put my money in, opened with instructions on the screen I have to get the bill the machine is not accepting. I thought of the slight dent on the bill.  I waited, I heard sort of rumbling sound, then on the screen I read HARDWARE ERROR!

I called the 24 hours hotline of my bank.  I was asked several security questions. The lady on the other line told me they will investigate the issue. I will get my money back possibly in three working days. Patience is virtue, I thought it is okay, I can wait I do not need the money for the time being. Tuesday, the 20^th I checked my online banking. I received credit on my account for the deposit I made through the machine.

Body Scrub

Last Saturday, 14^th of July, I was at the mall again with my niece. Nope, not to buy another shoes but for some toiletries and groceries.  It is nice to be with someone who could carry come of my grocery bags. My niece thought of buying a new card case. She showed me the new card from their office for their medical benefit. The card looks like an automated machine card. Once the holder is hospitalized or go to a clinic, the holder of the card should show the card. The admitting office of the hospital or clinic would swipe the card and the holder of the card gets the medical attention. 

Glad to be Back After a Long Absence

Hey folks, I had missed you guys. I was so excited when finally, after almost three weeks of waiting my internet is up and running. I disconnected my previous internet service provider to give way to the request of my nephew. We subscribed to another provider for faster internet connection. My nephew had facilitated the filing of application. That means our phone and internet is in his name. A tech accordingly called my nephew after three days of the application. The tech must have dialed a different cell phone number. After a week of waiting my nephew made a follow up. The tedious part was the waiting time for rescheduling of service order. Patience as they say is virtue.

Here is a photo I took from the small living room. Transferring to a new home is not easy especially if you have a limited budget. I am happy though I was able to get a place that is accessible to almost everywhere in Manila area. Neighbors are good. Except for the loud speaker of the karaoke and yelping of puppies, the place is quiet. I have new neighbors too, same area where the house we are renting is located. Except for one more wardrobe and automatic washing machine, I am pretty much complete with furniture and appliances we are to use. I type we for the benefits my new blog visitors.  I will share the house with my nephew and my niece. 

Princess Wardrobe

I checked on my closet for my clothes if I need to add more blouses. Normally, I do not pay much attention on what I wear. I work at night I wear jacket, sweater or shawl over my blouse because of full blast air con at the office. We are required to dress in business attire Mondays and Tuesdays only. We can wear denim jeans and t-shirts, but no rugged prints after Mondays and Tuesdays. Most of my clothes are blouses, slack and legging pants. I just have to interchange my blouses that match the color of my slack and legging pants. Not sure if my officemates noticed I only have few pairs of clothing. Hush! Please do not tell them, okay?

Sunday, I had time to inspect one by one the clothes I have on hangers. I found some blouses I could wear without the color red in them. I just added some missing buttons. I appreciated my effort buying some  branded discounted sales clothing. The colors of the cloths are just as good as new. I did not notice most of my old blouses. I hang them two at time in a hanger to economize on the space. Most of my clothes are light cotton materials and t-shirt blouses. They go perfectly with my slack and legging pants. Legging pants and t-shirt blouses are no ironed. The cotton blouses and slack pants have to be graced with easy ironing. My legging pants by the way are tight-fitting pants. They are a fashion here in Manila.

Did I not say I am thrifty? I am, not only on monies but on the use of electricity. I am an advocate of Earth Hour 60. The bottom line is no more buying of blouses. I am planning to buy two light colored legging pants. To alternate with my black, dark brown and dark blue blouses.  And that is it. I have mostly dark colored slack and legging pants. It is good I have mostly plain colored blouses. What about if they are on discounted sale again you say? Try me. I have great control over temptation when it comes to shelling out monies. ☺

The Big Breakfast

I was back to work last Friday, 17^th of Sept. I thought I had forgotten how to handle calls after ten days of absence. There were plenty of calls yet, I was thankful I received less irate callers. I arrived an hour earlier than my work shift to read some updates. However, it was my computer that acted up and slowed me down. I managed to read some important items sent to my e-mail through intranet. Yes, our e-mail address is within the company only. Our server barred us from receiving and sending e-mails from other networks. We can only receive and send e-mails from work related networks. The reason is for security of our client.

The following day, I met my nephew. Yeah, he is the one who graduated from college last May this year. He started working full time as a web designer, last 1^st of Sept. Like me he also works at night time. Our difference is that, he does not wear headset and no direct communication with their client. He received his first pay and he treated me for breakfast at McDonalds. His boyish face lit up as he showed me his pay slip. I likewise gave him the part two of my cash gift on his graduation. The budget I set aside for him was used for the helper of my mother. Mother will not need a helper in heaven anymore. I was able to give the balance of the promised cash gift to the favorite grandchild of my mother.

My nephew likes his job. He bought rubber shoes, a brand that is a bit expensive part of his salary. Then, gave his ATM card to his mom so he will not be tempted spending his hard earned monies on not so important items. Good boy! Like me, he gets his salary by withdrawing the money from the bank opened by his employer. Most big companies in Manila provide their employees with ATM card. It is up to the employees as to when they would like to withdraw their salary. This is I guess is for their convenience and likewise for the convenience of their employees. I ordered a big breakfast and caramel sundae at McDonalds. The story part is more than the food we ate. We parted ways after I guess an hour or two. Ahhh! I lost counts. It was a nice bonding time. ♥

It's Your Choice

I was glad to learn from our team captain last Monday, a day after our office sports fest. Our account emerged as the champion for the volley ball. We did not make it on basketball and cheering. However, the high spirit of camaraderie accordingly was present during the awarding ceremony. I take my hats off for all players who gave their best effort. Life is like that, we win, sometimes lose. The good thing is we are given another chance to win. I hope the sports masters will include swimming relay or bowling next time. If they do, they will probably find me as one of the participants. 

Congrats to the winners!

Our sports masters prefer group game rather than individual event. This is probably to encourage us to get rid of work related tension, through sports instead of going to our smoking area. We have smoking area we call lung center for those who are unable to control the habit of smoking. I am non smoker but it amazes me to learn that most of those puffing cigarettes during break time are my lady officemates. You know that women never run out of ideas and stories to tell. The place as dominated by the ladies is really noisy as they exchange banters with our gentlemen officemates. In a way, I have to be thankful for not developing the habit of smoking. Cigarettes are getting pricey these days. 

Wonder why some are unable to simply get rid of smoking? The presence of nicotine in cigarettes is addictive. Nicotine releases beta-endorphins that make us feel good and calm. Habitual and long term smokers may become immune to nicotine. To attain the calming effect these smokers need more intake of nicotine so the more they crave for cigarettes. On the other hand, aside from not being environment friendly, smokers are destroying their bodies. According to studies, life span of a smoker could be reduced by twenty years. Heart disease, stroke and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are major examples of long term harmful effects of smoking.
 
I believed in life you are given choices. Take the risk for a short lived pleasure or get rid of that pack you treasure inside your purse or pocket.

Lifestyle

I came home at around eight in the morning Tuesday after work. We have new work schedule every week. You get lucky if you get the most convenient work schedule for you.  I have the earliest work schedule this week same with my team mates. There are advantages and disadvantages with the earlier work shift. The advantages, I do not have to bring my umbrella or my sun block lotion to protect me from scorching sunlight. It is cooler when I come home. To name few disadvantages- having to fight traffic jams on my way to work. It is rush hour for those who wanted to be home from their work. Shopping malls are still closed. I just got lucky the place  I lived at has nearby Mini Stop and Seven Eleven.  These stores are open twenty four hours. There is also  a grocery store that opens as early as eight in the morning. In case I need something. They are the most convenient places to go.

This rose  is for my sister. Today is her birthday!

Housing in Manila is another big expense that you may not be happy setting aside your monthly pay. If you want to stay close to your place of work you have no choice but to pay for higher rent. I live in a big house run by Catholic nuns that suits me just fine. I get to see them all the time because we have same work area like living room and kitchen. My land ladies are of different nationalities, but most of them are Spanish. Oh, they were so happy winning the World Cup. There are at least seven of them assigned in Manila and most are assigned in Mindanao for their mission. Most of them are on vacations since early this year and went back to their respective countries. There are three of them in Manila right now. Normally when I get home, Miss India, as I teased her, would be busy preparing lunch. She goes to school in the afternoon. She has to take her lunch ahead of her colleagues.

For several months our house had been silent unlike when the other four ladies were here. At dinner time after their prayers I would normally hear them, telling stories and laughing by themselves. They never ran out of stories to tell. They are just happy and contented with their lifestyle. They are provided with housing and all they needed by their congregation but they do not have monies of their own. Miss India told me she has a sister who is also a nun, assigned in Rome studying. Later her sister will be assigned in Africa for missionary work. Such a simple life, yet they are happy and contented for what they got. No readers, I have no plan of being one of them. I have a different vocation. I just want to share a simple contented lifestyle. On the other side of the coin, I wonder why there are some people who fight for monies and fame. However at the end, they are still losers.