Mental Blabberings

I've recently been going to the gym, and I must say my body is sore. I'm feeling pain in places I never thought I had in my body -- or that I've taken for granted. Glutes, Hamstrings, Quads, Triceps, Biceps, Lats, and Abs. They all hurt one time or another, but I'm still determined to look the best I can before the summer. I'm not doing this for vanity's sake, I'm doing this for my health -- and the benefits of looking better as well. :D I shall document progress accordingly. CHill...

The only constant in the world is change. Even though I had been having fun in the company I am still currently working with, I had been offered a chance to contribute to an endeavor where the skills that I've been developing for the past decade or so of my life would be very useful in another company. And that I would finally get the chance to work on something that's interesting to me: large scale high performance computing. Although the work I'll be doing wouldn't be "rocket science", I will be working on a vary challenging problem (or set of problems) which I look forward to working on. I've been pretty busy lately working for a company who's goal and vision is very similar to Orange and Bronze Software Labs' goal and vision which is to put the Philippines on the map in terms of software development -- especially in Free/Open Source Software development. I very well hope that I've been able to contribute the best work I can do, and that I...

I cannot remember. I haven't had a real weekend where I would just rest and relax -- I finally caught up with some movies, did some shopping, and got the chance to actually rest. I spent the long weekend which I was able to enjoy for the first time in a long time with family, friends, and alone sometimes. It's all good and I definitely look forward to having more of these weekends. Friday, I had lunch with the top 2 of the new company, and was enlightened as to how things came about. I got to get to know them a bit better and establish an open line of communication with them -- which is always a good thing. I also watched Casino Royale which is a definite must-watch for Bond fanatics and the uninitiated. Casino Royale and Daniel Craig actually made James Bond look like he's really human -- compared to all the other James Bond movies that have come out in the past. Saturday saw Brian Ross (my cousin's son) getting baptized in the catholic church. I am now Godfather Dean ...

After a few months of going full-time with Orange and Bronze Software Labs, Ltd. Co. I've learned a lot of lessons I wouldn't otherwise have learned hadn't I jumped into O&B's mix. The people there are great, and I cannot ask for a more productive team to work with there. I certainly will miss these people as I work with another company now with whom I also share a vision and mission with. It's day 1 for me here at this new company (I will not mention which company this is until they get the website up and running) and I'm enjoying myself very much. The people are very nice, and the environment is very professional. This is a new environment for me and I definitely hope I can grow and learn more as I go along. If day 1 is an indication of anything, it's that there's a lot of work to get done, and exciting times ahead. I'm definitely looking forward to adventures and challenges that I know I will be facing in this new world I'm moving into, an...

I've recently felt really distracted and out of the rhythm in work, in life, in sleep... However, I've just recently confirmed that it's as simple as turning the damned TV off. Now I'll get some sleep. CHill! I'll write more about the spending thingy, but I'd just like to summarize it with: what a disaster. More on this later.

It's really hard to stop spending. When you get started, it's like a disease. You don't stop until it hurts. It starts with a couple of books, then you go on to make bigger and bigger purchases, and you don't stop until it really hurts. And only when we've been burnt that we learn -- you don't know what hurts until you feel it. Now I mark the last day I keep spending. Starting tomorrow, I will track my spending and make sure I don't spend more than 100 pesos a day. That means I'll do my groceries during the start of the week and keep the food I eat per day under 100 pesos, stop eating the junk food, and start saving more money each month to put into an equity fund I already have money in. I vow to put in Php 1000 pesos a month to the equity fund. Starting Monday next week, I will only drink water, will take my daily vitamins, and eat at most 70 pesos per day (that's 20 pesos a meal plus 10 pesos for merienda). I'll put in 30 pesos a day for other...

“ Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is —- his good, pleasing and perfect will. -- Romans 12:2 (New International Version) It's not easy not conforming to the pattern of the world. After all, we live in it. But making a commitment to try and follow God's will is -- and listening to Him everyday -- is definitely a challenge Christians face as long as we have faith. Nobody said walking with the Lord is easy. CHill!