Giving is Glorious

Kris Kringle is heard of during the joyous Christmas holidays and the traditional secret gift giving are done in schools, offices and within friends and family.   Actually we are not spared because we had started it last month with our officemates.  Every week our “baby”  receives something based on the theme of the week.    The baby referred to is the name of the person whom we had picked and it will be kept secret till the Revelation day which is on Christmas day.

This is the list of what I received:

• 1st week- Something sweet- I received a box of cube sugar
• 2nd week- Something long and hard – Barbecue stick
• 3rd week- Weird and funny – a keychain and a banana!?
• 4th week- Soft and round – a small round pillow and make up sponge

Truly, all of what I received seemed to be funny and boring but my ‘mommy” during the revelation day surprised me with a Swatch watch. She told me that on week 1 to 4, she purposely gave those things to test my patience and she had all it planned that she will give me something special on the day of revelation.  I was surprised and touch because it cost more than the agreed amount of gift to give.   And I love the watch…

It was  good of me, that I did not react or comment on how boring those gifts were because I still follow what my Mom told us when it comes to receiving gifts that we don’t expect or like at all.  She told us to exercise the following traits:

• Kindness
• Patience
• Happiness
• Manners

And I was sure glad to have applied the above, because I received what I never expected in the end.

When an enterprising cousin decides on something, expect her to do her utmost best!  Operating and running a big and sophisticated hospital in the city seemed to be a very ambitious dream but it became a reality when finally, a general hospital in memory of her mom opened last year.   She needs  to treasure her share of inheritance by pouring her heart into her business and making good at it.  So for almost a year that  I haven’t seen her,  most of us her relatives,  wondered  how she works at the top, how her meeting is  like and her earnings.   Some even commented that she appeared untouchable or unreachable.    ”Lady luck” seemingly had not left her side from then on.

When cornered one time by an elder relative who too owns a Maternity hospital, she unselfishly shared the “secret” behind her success.   She was quick to share that even though she and her sister did not made  it through their careers in Medicine, because they opted to pursue Business Administration studies and earned a degree tucked on their sleeves, nonetheless, their medical frustrations were fulfilled by the hospital business they both  loved so much.   Initially, she started with a dozen high caliber nurses from Soliant Healthcare staffing agency and  an obviously extremely satisfied client that she is, her hospital is presently staffed by health care professionals of various discipline from the agency.

Undeniably successful, Therese showed up in a chauffeured -driven limo to a family reunion we had last week!  While waiting for her, we can’t help but talked about  how prestigious her hospital is,  citing  patient’s testimonies about the exceptional services provided by qualified and conscientious staff  under her Administration.

An aunt was quick to get her endorsement to Soliant Health.  It seems that she too is going to give her Maternity hospital a much needed facelift and it will start with her staff.

Some  people can be so lucky with their careers!  I will wait for my turn… soon….

My husband and I were helpless  upon hearing that my daughter was “held up” the other day.  Our initial reaction was to run fast to her rescue but it is impossible because of the distance.  As our daughter recounted, it was  7:00 am on her way to school when she alighted from the train and was about to leave the Light Railway Train station in Recto Avenue, Manila when two men apparently followed her and poked an icepick on her side and demanded for her Samsung Galaxy cellphone.  Since, we had repeatedly told them in the event of hold up, hand what is demanded to avoid further harm. And she did…

Thankfully, she was not harmed but she was traumatized by the experience.  But still,  I told her that she was partly to blame because we’ve been reminding them not to use their cellphone in public places knowing that high end cellphones are very “hot” items.   Those lawless men know how to spot expensive gadgets and my daughter when her phone rang, answered it, thereby, exposing it to public view much so to the hold uppers.  And that was it…

It would be no cellphone days for her… I don’t know if we will replace it soon because it was only 3 months old when her Dad gifted her the Galaxy phone  last June  to replace the Nokia brand which was stolen during a swimming party with her HS friends.

Who would not take interest on high end brand of cellphones?

my daughter will surely miss this Samsung Galaxy phone

Nokia phone stolen too!

Times are really hard…  What to do but to hope and pray that no similar incident will happen again to our daughter and pray for those men who took the cellphone.   Bless their souls…

True! Hubby is upset!  Who wouldn’t if one is already geared up and ready for work out only to find out that the electronic treadmill is not working?  He wondered why there was no power though he checked on it  many times, plugged it on and off.  He was evidently getting irritated and impatient figuring out why all of a sudden it was  out of service,when he had just used it few days back.

Hubby was busy tinkering with the power supply while I was also busily thinking of reasons on the sideline.  He was silent but I bet he already knew who caused the problem.   It was only the me and him in the house and who else would he suspect?   Alright, it was me!  But for some reasons I hesitated telling him beforehand that I had mistakenly plugged the 110 V to 220 V.   The machine sparked and that was it!     I was actually looking for a chance to break the sorry fate of the treadmill and thought of telling it this week end but it came too early that he found the problem.   Funny, but I was like a small child trying to cover up the whole story!

So, a technician was called.  The motherboard was found burned and need to be replaced.  For the meantime, what else can I do but do my stretching and jogging in place while the treadmill is awaiting repair.  And hubby understandably got lazy to work out.  He too is out of service… lol.

Oh dear.. it was all my fault!

Flu season is here!  And the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is promoting their slogan as “Flu Ends with U Vaccination Pledge”! The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year. Everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated.

I wondered why I was the only one in our department who availed the flu shot offered by Family Medicine in the hospital.  They are now going from one department to another realizing that only few staffs take time to go to the unit for vaccination.   I can swear that it works for me unlike my other colleagues who said they had flu after getting vaccinated so no amount of encouragement would make them change their mind.

Oh well, “different strokes for different folks” holds true!  I can only speak for myself.  Flu vaccination really protected me every year and I will avail of the shots regularly.   So, we need to protect ourselves and those around us– get a flu vaccine.

Thought of posting the Vaccination Pledge:

• I pledge to get my flu vaccine.
• I pledge to get my flu vaccine and take a friend or family member to get theirs.
• I pledge to get my flu vaccine and take my family to get theirs.
• I have already received my flu vaccine but will encourage my friends and family to do so.

 When I got home yesterday, surprisingly, hubby was already sick.  He had symptoms of impending flu and it was too late for shots.   I was surely glad that I had mine earlier that day, at least I can rest with the thought that the there will be a slim chance for me to have flu.  But still, I am taking precautions because getting sick is the least thing ,all of us wanted to experience.  Work, leisure and services will be affected and hopefully hubby will recover fast.   Even while he is still on sick leave, he doesn’t have any choice but to drive me to work and I pity him getting up early morning. 

Well, the woes of overseas workers like us.

One fashion designer in a fashion segment of a local TV program when interviewed last night announced that this season polka dots will be the “in” thin.  His models paraded gracefully  in dotted dresses in different cut and designs.   I was so excited when I saw one blouse worn by a pretty model happened to be similar to what I bought a week ago.  In fairness, she did justice to the blouse as she carried it very well.  I then remember the blouse which I hid in the cabinet because I felt I erred in buying one.   I did not come to like it when I tried it on because I felt I looked more of a Dalmatian with it’s black and white spots and my family might tease me.

Admittedly, I usually regret purchases did on impulse, like the dotted blouse.   I searched for it  after watching the show hoping that maybe it will now look good on me.   I’ve learned too that there are some rules when choosing dotted clothes like:

• only wear one polka dot item at a time and the best option is to wear dotted blouse paired with a solid color pants or skirt
• don’t wear biggies or loose styles and if you will wear dotted dress,  make sure that it is body hugging
• try to stay within the small to medium size of dots because big or large dots will make you look like a target
• don’t go overboard…don’t allow yourself to be overwhelmed with dots because they might tease you as a clown

Just last night, I tried on  the hooded dotted blouse and  how come I can’t still shake off the thought  that I looked more of a dalmatian dog.  So again I tossed it far behind in the cabinet .. the usual hiding place for all my impulse purchases.

the Dalmatian look!

Nail art is the ” in”  fashion these days and I really admire nail technicians who have the patience and creativeness in designing nails.  It requires hours of putting designs of choice and I am in awe everytime I see nails come alive with different color and textures.   But lately  this nail art no longer pleases me.  Why? It only make my daughter including her cousin lazy because since they want to protect and extend the life of their pricey nails- the bottom line is they don’t want to do even simple house chores.  Everything is up to me to do so I have this feeling of  resentment towards this nail art.

Yesterday, I’ve spotted both cousins were giggling and excited over their nails.  Oh no! not again… I hate it!    The dishes are still in the sink, the fridge defrosted and who else  is going to do all of those but me.   Though, I appreciate nail arts but I hate it for making my daughter untouchable (meaning she won’t dare do the dishes, cooking and laundry).

Wahhhhhh.. I can cry a bucket now!

… the nerve to post their  nails

I am ready and hoping to do brisk business in personalized Christmas giveaways.   Just last night, after I have finished the last piece of sample, I immediately posted ads for friends to see and I am now anxiously waiting for the first order.  Actually, a handful already showed interest and was asking complete details about the giveaways.

Times are hard so to augment the family’s income, I decided to utilize whatever skills I have coupled it with patience and dedication.  Since, I know I have an innate talent and creativity to fuzz with giveaways, I wasted no time in designing photobooks, customized bags, cosmetic cases, luminous cups, mouse pads, etc.  which I believe will make good Christmas presents.  This idea cropped up during casual conversation with friends who raised their concerns (not complaints) of receiving duplicate gifts every year.  It is really true that choosing the best gift is a cause of concern and finding an ideal gift for loved one is a nightmare.

So I made some gift suggestions that will surely warm the hearts of the receiver knowing that they are well thought of because of the personal touch added into it.   And the effort of giving customized gift will make them feel special.

a classic handbag for your officemate

a compact mirror

a compact digital camera case for your loved ones

cosmetic case

huggable teddy bear

The ber month ushered in yesterday and many Filipinos are already excited!  Did you know that one third of the year is Christmas in the Philippines?  As early as yesterday, September 1, the spirit of Filipinos are lifted up knowing that holiday season of giving and receiving is just around the corner.  Christmas tunes are a welcome break just like this morning when a neighbor had ” Winter Wonderland and Frosty the Snowman” blurting out of his sound system while the temperature outside was hovering at around 40 deg. C.   Well, maybe in a way you can feel the chill with thoughts that Christmas is near and that made you forget that it is hot outside.

I am in the thick of things completing personalized photobooks which I have carefully thought of to give as Christmas presents to to friends. Actually,  early this year, I started to stock up pictures of that particular friend or family whom I intend to give the photobooks for.  I made it a point to socialize often to have more pictures taken to complete the photobook.    Best to give something different this year instead of the usual frames,  candle holders, figurines which I believe they too are tired of receiving duplicate gifts each year and I am one hopeful to be a wise giver by presenting something unique in the sense that they were made only for the recipient.

Who doesn’t want to receive a personalized gift anyway?   Giving photobooks which I had personally and lovingly designed would project an afterthought that they are special.  Actually, my friends are special that is why I have to brave the sleepiness everytime I stayed till the wee hours just to finish a book.  Well, the eyebags too are already getting prominent but never mind… I will soon finish my projects which I’ve been doing without let-up especially this week that we are on 7 days Eid holiday in celebration of the end of Ramadan for our Muslim brothers around the world.  I took the opportunity to make myself productive and so I was glad I had accomplished 4-5 photobooks so far.

Hmmm.. I wonder what my friend have prepared for me?   Hubby reminded me it is better to give than to receive… I know!  But it would be a bonus to receive, isn’t it and why not!

1st batch of  finished photobooks – product of staying up late

7 am-5pm, 5 days a week is my normal work routine.  I will leave home before the sun shines and arrives home after sun set.  My job as hospital assistant (or medical secretary) in a multi  racial environment allowed me to grow professionally and  I am exposed to different people at work especially to cardiac surgeons of different personalities. Well, I am aware that stress is attributed to how I work in the office and the fact that I spend most of my time infront of my work station I had overlooked on some safety rules to follow that will increase comfort and avoid strains.   I am having back pains that persists for sometime now which I believe due to wrong posture at work and extended computer use resulted to what I am feeling right now.  An Occupational Health Nurse in the hospital’s Family Medicine where I had my check up reminded me that while it is true that our office has a responsibility to provide a safe working environment to the staff, we also have a responsibility to work safely.

Nurse Jane pulled out an information leaflet for me to review and I found it worth sharing it here. I know that a lot of people also regularly use computers in extended sessions and way beyond working hours just like me who still works infront of my computer till midnight.  It is mostly “computer socialization” like chatting, browsing, blogging…

This is only a reminder because sometimes we are so engrossed in what we are doing that we tend to forget to check on our posture, how our work station is set up and used.  Then in the end we will find ourselves having back pains and wrist strain, eye fatigue and discomfort.

So, remember to work safely by:

1. Prioritize the layout of items on your desk.  Position things that you use most often closest to you.  Organize your work so that you will continually reach and bend to find items you regularly need.
2. Use a document holder to minimize eye and head movement if inputting large amounts of data from paper.
3. Reduce glare and reflections on the screen by adjusting blinds or curtains.
4. Adjust the contrast and brightness of your screen to suit the lighting conditions in the room
5. Use keyboard short cuts to keep keystrokes and mouse clicks to a minimum particularly if your work is of a repetitive nature.
6. Do use a light touch when holding and depressing the mouse button.
7. Keep your elbows close to your body at all times when keying or using the mouse- don’t extend your arms.
8. Keep your feet flat on the floor or footrest- don’t sit with your legs crossed or with your feet hooked around the chair base for long periods as they will reduce your circulation.
9. Take short breaks if sitting for long periods.
10. Do gentle exercises to relieve aches and pains caused by tension in shoulders, arms, wrists and hands.

I hope this will be of help to you too in a way.