...On life’s ups and downs, triumphs and failures, of moving on and looking back, and everything else in between.

• I’m quite bent on moving to another company. My professional career seems to be on a standstill and I can’t seem to find ways for career advancement at my present employer. It’s not a question of not having room for improvement but of a personal detachment to all the negativities going on at the present. I try hard to be oblivious of the fact but it certainly doesn’t drive away the current ordeal I’m in. A former colleague once said: “If you’re that damn good, leave. If otherwise, try at least to be at par before you go.” I honestly believe that I am not an expendable employee and that I can jump into a greener pasture anytime I want. I just don’t want this job-hopping syndrome to became my habit and try at least to spend an ample time in one company. Aside from not having to work my ass off during the probationary period, I have yet to experience getting a full vacation leave credits, 13th month pay and bonus (hopefully) come year end. I just hope that this will be enough reason for me to stay for the meantime and postpone those applications and job interviews by January next year.
  
• The last decent [and full-pledged] shag I had was almost a month ago, with Jim. I’m not sure if this is something to celebrate or whatever because I really have very active hormones. I’m not on a sexual abstinence or celibacy [far from it] because I managed to somehow release those hormonal heats every chance I get – but mostly of quickies and plain encounters. The next best thing to doing the nasty in the bedroom, taking the shower together ending up at round two and anticipating the dreaded morning after. But without a serious boyfriend, partner, significant other or a fuck buddy at least, I guess I have to settle with these momentary pleasures for now.
  
• I got colds. And it really sucks! I was sneezing the all day at the office for the last three days and having a Donald Duck-on-helium voice is definitely not something you’d wish to have. As if adding insult to injury, I ran out of tissue and forgot to buy a roll. I filed a leave half the day and decided to take some rest.
  
• Someone told me to stop smoking for a while because of colds. Not a bad idea, but an impossible one nonetheless. I really wanted to for health reasons, I just can’t.
  
• Was able to watch the primetime news yesterday and I find this showbiz news snippet really funny. A local male bold starlet, member of a second-rate, trying hard Chippendales copycat, cried foul when he apparently did not receive the ‘agreed’ amount promised for all the stripping [all the way, he claims] he did for their promotional video shoot. When asked if he’s doing it as a publicity stunt, he retorted: “I am not doing this for publicity, sawang – sawa na nga ako sa publicity eh.” As if! I religiously watch The Buzz every Sunday and I can’t seem to remember a single issue/publicity about him. I can’t even recall what his screen name is. I guess I have to buy that video just to find out. Hmmnn…
  
• A dear friend way back college days, Leslie, is getting married on September 4th. And she assigned [forced] me to call and inform everybody [our college core group/barkada] about this. Its not hard telling everyone, its hard to convince everyone to actually set aside their time for a friend’s most memorable moment. Some friends! Do I have to force them into going when it’s a silent rule of friendship for being there through ups and downs? I don’t have a very good convincing power. Personally, I follow this belief: If you do, well and good. If you don’t, good riddance! But since it’s the bride-to-be special requests, I’m working on it. Yes, I’m working on it. Really working on it. Convinced already?