and the bar is raised

So the other night, I was telling Francis that I never got starstruck nor did I go gaga over the male celebs I've interviewed...

Me: Di ko sila type, though yung ibang girls super kilig na. Yung kinilig lang ako, yung kay Luke Landrigan. The rest, wala lang!

Hubby: E syempre, masyado na mataas yung standard na si-net ko!

Oh my. I think I married a demi-god.

no slumber party

If there's one bad thing that this new career path has brought in my life, it's this messed up body clock. 

A few weeks into this freelancing lifestyle, I've been sleeping at two or three in the morning, typing or editing away; lately, I got caught up with watching Outsourced. Then, I'd wake up early morning to prepare hubby his breakfast, then go back to sleep again only to wake up at lunch. Because I still feel too sluggish to cook, I'd end up eating lunch at two or three in the afternoon. Sometimes, I get to lazy that I end up ordering unhealthy burgers and fries. Once I get my fill, that's the only time I feel in the mood to work on my writing/editing stints. 

And then I'd get online, and everything goes downhill from there. 

The 500-word article that usually take two hours to finish would end up getting done and ready for email at, oh, one in the morning. Thank you, distraction in the form of the Internet!

It's crazy, I know! And I better start losing this bad sleeping habit. Must fix this body clock ASAP, or I'll be a walking anemia.

this afternoon

If you were here with me right now, I imagine we'd be out on the balcony looking at the white tufts of clouds slowly moving across the sky. Then we'd notice how the buildings are being washed with warm rays in this golden hour.

Unfortunately, you're there somewhere in Manila, doing whatever it is you best do as an engineer. Then you'd have to go back to your office to process all the data you've gathered in your day's field work.

But I don't have to worry. The next few weeks have holidays in store for us. Then, we can idle away looking at those clouds and taking in the late afternoon sun together. 

I can't wait.

cooking up a storm

Cooking up another book that'll come out before the holidays!

As usual, the team I'm working with is such a doll. It's the same bunch of lovely people that I worked with in the other book that I managed. I love how it's so easy to work with them, despite the fact that the deadline we're working with right now is insanely tight.

I really wish I can spill more details, but I can't. Suffice it to say that it's another reading material that will come in handy when it comes to nesting. 

I'll announce what exactly it is as soon as it's almost done. This is exciting!

a love affair with order and chaos

A couple of years ago, I could not see myself working as a freelancer. Back then, the idea of not being a part of a company did not appeal to me. I could not imagine myself working at home because that was too boring. I tried that for a month or two, when I was in between jobs, but I felt like I was growing roots telecommuting. I wanted Christmas parties and company outings. How trivial, right?

Fast forward to a few years: I was imagining, no visualizing, myself sitting at a cozy corner in a coffee shop, furiously typing on my laptop as I try to beat article deadlines; or I'm at home, waking up early in the morning to prepare breakfast for my husband, then napping again and waking up late in the morning to attend to domestic duties in between freelance stints. There's not much stress--only a degree of that that I can manage. In place of uncontrolled chaos is some kind of order that gives me the career satisfaction that I need. 

That vision came true. I am living it now. I am no longer a slave to emotional, physical and mental stress that used to box me in. I no longer wake up each morning dreading deadlines and cranky clients and Murphy's Law. My phone is no longer ringing off the hook. I am free from inhumane multi-tasking. I am free from sudden bursts of rage because of projects (and people) who drive me crazy. There's less crankiness in me now. 

Now, there's more balance. My freelancing stints interspersed with my copy editing part-time job give me just the right kind of busy-ness. In fact, I am enjoying this new experience of managing my schedule. So far, so good, never mind if I get constantly derailed by the Internet whenever I sit down to write or edit an article. My part-time work injects that kind of routinary rhythm that balances off the unpredictability of my freelance career. I don't get overwhelmed too often nor do I get bored too much. In other words, what I do now is something sane, something I should have done two years ago.

But there are really no regrets. I know it's never too late for me to be trying this. I also know that I may eventually find myself signing up for another day job, sooner or later (when that happens, I pray that I do it voluntarily and not because I don't have any other choice). 

Right now, I am basking in this new-found career freedom, and I shall enjoy every single drop of this. This is a blessing that should never be taken for granted, a kind of peace that I will always thank God for.

when the going gets tough, the tough goes dating

The Prism Plaza gets illuminated with these changing light

Francis has been so stressed lately, we've been frequenting our favorite massage place once every two weeks. His current project assignment has been much of a challenge for him. Actually, I've never seen my husband this tired and...whiny. Hahaha! It's usually me who's complaining!

But I guess me being a freelancer now is of good timing. I can't imagine both of us coming home from work, grumpy and all stressed out and ready to lash at each other because we're already at the end of our respective rope. At least now that I have a relatively relaxed work pace, I can readily attend to his rants and needs. I try my best. Whenever I can (and I'm glad I can do it often), I prepare dinner so that by the time Francis gets home, all he needs to do is plop down on the dining chair and attack his grub. I volunteer to do the dishes even on those days when it's his turn, because I know such a simple task can add up to his physical stress.

Honestly, it's pretty alarming to see him looking all harassed. Like I said, it's usually me who's in that state. Sometimes, I feel helpless, but I remind myself that I'm in a better position to do something about his situation and help him cope with things at his work. And so in another attempt to ease up things for him, I took dear hubby out to dinner last Sunday at the Prism Plaza in Two E-com Center, MOA Complex. There's this good Thai restaurant there called Just Thai, and I thought he'd appreciate good food amid a nice place like Prism Plaza. (Good thing I discovered the area when I had a meeting for a project a couple of months back.)

From top: Interesting lighting fixture in Just Thai; and their delicious fare: crispy tilapia and broccoli flowers with carrots

 I'm glad he actually liked the place and the ambiance. Prism Plaza is located at the quiet side of MOA Complex, away from the busy crowd and jam-packed restaurants in the mall. There are a few people loitering around, taking pictures of the nice area overlooking Manila Bay. 

I was actually intending to bring him there just right before sunset, so we can be all cheesy together watching the horizon, haha! Unfortunately, we were both distracted by the Internet, hence, we were late. Oh well.

Anyway, dinner had been great, and the food equally satisfying. We lingered for a couple of minutes, then proceeded to stroll in the mall. (Quick shopping grab: a loose cardigan in mustard yellow from Forever 21, which I got for about 60% off!!! Plus, two back issues of Real Simple and one Travel + Leisure from Booksale!) I was coercing Francis to buy some polo shirts, but I guess his shopping mode was turned off (unlike mine, which seems to turn itself on by its own will, hahaha! But I promise to just buy small stuff, since I'm on a self-imposed shopping sabbatical again.) An hour or so of strolling tired us out, so before going home, we walked to One E-com Center to grab some coffee/dessert (Starbucks there is less crowded).

Seeing Francis looking less worked up and more upbeat a few days after our dinner date means that I succeeded in my attempt to somehow help him de-stress. That's enough to make a wifey like me feel very happy.

an afternoon with National Artist BenCab

It took me two years to post this four-part entry (such an atrocious, lazy blogger that I am, no?), but it's finally up on my other blog! 

Ladies and gentlemen, my impromptu interview with National Artist Benedicto "BenCab" Cabrera!

Please be patient and watch for the other three parts, which will be posted this week. I promise it won't be a long wait. 

Hope you enjoy it!