Li Rui

That's my Chinese name from now on. Li is the family name. Rui means flower bud, connoting beauty and elegance. Amen, Chinese people, amen! HeHe.

I had my business card translated in Chinese and that's the name that was given to me. I'm curious to find out what my Japanese name will be. I hope it doesn't translate to "Hello Kitty Freak." ;P

Say No To Drugs

See, this is why I don't believe in taking medicine when you're sick.

I came home on Tuesday feeling not so good. My throat felt weird and my temperature seemed to be higher than normal. I decided to take care of the problem right there and then by taking a dose of Nyquil. Did I feel better the next day? Nope. Five days later, I'm still sick. Although, after gargling salt water the past two days, my throat doesn't hurt as much anymore. However, that ailment was replaced today by a very red, and watery, left eye. I have no idea what viruses trespassed against me, but I hope they go away soon.

So, the next time you have the urge to offer me Midol, Tylenol, Claritin, or what-have-yous, please remember that modern medicine for some reason does not work on this body of mine.

Miss Universe

I would like to introduce our newest employee, Romina, to the team.

Romina is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor's
degree in business administration - marketing, with a communications minor.
She has worked in numerous internships, including a summer serving with the
U.S. Department of State/Embassy in the Philippines.

Romina is new to the seafood industry, and is very enthusiastic about
working in her new capacity as the Asia Marketing Specialist. Please join me
in extending her a warm welcome.

That e-mail was sent out today to both local and international people. Who says I'm not Miss Universe?! HeHe!

So the e-mail makes others think that I'm this dignified person...little did these people know that earlier this morning, I was locked out of our office for a good 45 minutes. I was so happy that it only took me a surprising 30 minutes to get from the boonies to the city, but the smile on my face quickly disappeared as I found out that my office key doesn't work! I had to wait until everybody got there at 8:30. See what happens when I try to defeat the forces of nature? HeHe!

Day One

I need to learn how to be an alcoholic.

Okay, okay, that's not something you guys expected me to say after the first day of my new job, but really, I need to learn how to drink in the next few months before I set foot in Japan unless I can come up with a believable excuse for the Japanese. After twenty-something years, I can't believe my good girl image is going to get tarnished! LoL.

New laptop. Flat screen monitor. Cellphone (with a camera, but I don't know how to use Motorola phones!). Own office. Window facing the street. New chair. New chair mat. New desk. Frequent flier miles pending. Don't bother asking me how my first day went. HeHe!

Eventhough the vent in my office is blowing cold air 24/7, I can't complain; I just need to bring all my winter clothes to work everyday. HeHe. As long as I get introduced to people and everything I need in order to do my job properly is set up, you won't find me complaining. We'll save the topic of traffic for another day. ;P

And to those who are always thinking of me, no, there are no cute boys in the office for me. Shame on you for keeping the hope alive! LoL.

Analyze This

Fighting Stance

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do." -- Mark Twain

The wretched woman wrote me back: she's not giving me back my $500. The question now is whether or not I should take this matter to court.

My mind right now: It's $500; it's just money; I can still earn that. Crap, though, that's $500...that's a digital camera and a whole lot of stuff. She's an evil woman; She deserves to feel like crap as I have about all this. How badly do I want the money back? Can I handle prolonging this? It won't cost me that much money to try; I just need to pay the $25-$50 filing fee. But I do want to move on from all of this. Is peace of mind priceless, or can $500 buy it? Are lessons about life really worth $500? If I don't accept this challenge, what else will I back down in the future? There won't be any lawyers; just the judge, me and the wretched woman...I can handle that, can't I? Will the judge not focus on the signed agreement, but the breach of oral agreement, as well as my interpretation of the law? Will I find enough comfort that God will take care of this woman in the future? How many people have been wronged before, but backed down just because they were scared eventhough they were right? Do I believe that the law helps the good people and not the bad?

If you were me, what would you do? Let it go? Or, go "Judge Judy" on this woman?

First (Taiwanese) Love Never Dies

After listening to your new CD, I found out that this still holds true: Wo ai ni, Ken!

I have no idea what Track 9 is about (or any of the tracks!), but I've been playing it all night. All I ask is for you to refrain from cutting your hair like Jerry, dyeing your hair like Vic, and dressing up like Vanness. Stay away from all the metrosexuality! Afterall, I love you just the way you are. LoL.

And before I forget to tell you, I'll be in Hong Kong in May...*wink *wink. HeHe!

Surviving The Beach

Today was my first day on the South Beach Diet. You know what, it's not so bad. Okay, the V8 vegetable juice I had to drink for breakfast was nasty as hell, but everything else was fine (Whoever thought of making vegetables into juice must not have any tastebuds!). If you're Filipino, I would suggest eliminating rice way before you start this diet. Otherwise, I don't think you'll survive the first day. HeHe.

The book did mention that most people who don't become successful with this diet are those who travel. Thanks, thanks a lot. HeHe. Even I'm worried just surviving week two of this since I'll be working by then. It's fine and dandy right now since I'm just bumming around the house and I got nothing better to think about than my spinach quiche in the oven, but when things start getting hectic, all hell breaks loose, you know?

Anyway, here are a few of my mantras for the next two weeks: Thou shall love proteins. Thou shall cook for thyself instead of eating what's on the dinner table. Thou shall think about Zara's wedding. Thou shall remember that thy metabolism isn't what it used to be. Thou shall think about the possible cute boys in Asia. Thou shall keep the hope alive!

Around The World

My tentative travel schedule according to the new boss:

April 22-29
Brussels, Belgium

May 8-13
Hong Kong

May 14-20
Guangzhou, China

June 22-29
Alaska, USA

July 13-15
Tokyo, Japan

November 10-12
Guangzhou, China

November something
Washington D.C., USA

I better learn how to eat with chopsticks soon. HeHe.

Movie Fest

A summary of my two-day movie marathon:

1. Feng Shui (Filipino)
I almost didn't make it to Disc 2. HaHa! I watched the entire movie behind my two hands with only small spaces between my fingers and I made sure not to stare at any of the scary-looking characters. I think this is my last scary movie ever; my heart is getting too weak! HeHe.

2. Untold Scandal (Korean)
I am sooooo disappointed! That is all I'm going to say because my site is PG-13 afterall. HaHa!

3. Dance with the Wind (Korean)
Totally reminded me of Dancing King. See, people? There *are* straight male dancers out there! I just haven't come across any!

4. Now That I Have You (Filipino)
All I want to know is where Bea got all her outfits for that movie. Also, are there really cute guys who ride the MRT? I sure didn't see any in 2002!

5. My Little Bride (Korean)
Kim Rae Won will have to duke it out with Bayong. HaHa! Despite the wispy, dyed hair, he's still a cute youngin. Anyway, how many times do I have to say that guys don't need to spend a lot in order to make a girl happy? Yes, painting a wall can make all the difference in a relationship! HeHe.

Brighter Days

I'm in much better spirits today. I met with a counselor and she pretty much agreed with my interpretation of the law. After my letters to the property owner and Better Business Bureau, I hope this matter will be resolved. If not, the Small Claims Court is an option. Yes, my life turned from uber boring to uber dramatic in a span of 7 days. That's what happens when you interact with horrible people! How interesting though that my first big lesson had to do with the law. Is law school calling me? ;P

So, in a nutshell, I will not be moving out. I decided not to pursue my plans of living in the city for now. Yes, please tell Bayong and Christian that they still will not be able to come to my place anytime soon. LoL!

And what may have made me a little bit happier today: I'm going to Belgium next month! My new boss e-mailed me, asking me if I would like to join the staff in Belgium for a tradeshow. Hello?! Of course! My passport is ready to be stamped!

This means Belgium in April and Hong Kong in May. I was hoping that my first business trip will be to Japan so that I can snag a brand spankin' new digital camera to catalog the rest of my trips, but that is clearly not going to happen. I went to Best Buy yesterday and in fairness, the digital cameras being sold in the U.S. are quite tiny now. Hmm, I guess we know what I'll do if I get my money back from the wretched woman! But anyway, I'm going to Belgium! ::jumping up and down again:: Oh man, what language to they speak there?

Justice for All

I've never been the assertive type. When I've been wronged before, I don't make a big fuss over it. I simply walk away and forget that anything ever happened.

Well, $500 isn't that easy to forget.

I'm putting away my new 12-piece stainless steel cookware set, green and yellow dishes, tiramisu-scented candles, and the dream of living independently. For now, my armor consists of the Washington State Landlord-Tenant Law, my checking account statement, and your boss' home address that I got from the phonebook (I hope it's correct).

In the last few days, I wished so much that I had a friend who was a lawyer. But today, I realized that this is *my* battle. I picked this one on my own and I'm ready to fight.

I'm not willing to spend anymore money on you, but I'm willing to sacrifice my two weeks off for this cause. I just want to make sure that your boss knows what you've done (or been doing to others before me). Maybe he would like to give me back my money.

I have learned my lesson. I hope that you will, too.

And I Thank You

After one whole year, I'm finally free. I have reached the end of a very, very dark tunnel. I wish I'm in a better emotional state to celebrate, but hey, we can't have everything.

Isn't it amazing though that we only find out how others feel about us when it's time to part ways? In the last few years, I've learned to show my gratitude towards others. I don't use "Thank you" sparingly anymore because I'm truly thankful for those genuinely nice people that I come across. It is so hard to find nice people these days. Trust me.

I think this is why I value the following entry written about me one year ago: I think it's the first time someone told me right away what he thought of me. I completely forgot about this entry since I didn't bother to document it on my very own website. But thanks to the power of entry archives, I was able to find it again on his site:

March 7, 2004

last night, just when i was doing my last minute checking of emails, blogs and forums. i saw this girl online on my ichat. i added her few weeks ago after reading about her blog but totally forgot about it. i send her a greeting telling her that i like reading her and that the design of her blog was "cute". she replied and the next thing i know, it's almost 4am.

just like her blog, she's funny, interesting and it was so effortless to talk to her.

woke up and saw her online again. by that time, it seems that i've known her for 10 more years in the span of 7 hours of sleep (ok fine, i woke up past 11am, it's a sunday!) we chatted a bit more but i had to leave for a shoot in makati.. interesting person.

Now if only I could find a guy in Seattle who thinks that way about me, man, I swear I won't be single. How in the world did this topic come back to my being single?! LoL.

Anyway, my point is simply to value the good people in your life. Maybe this is my way of trying to find a reason to smile again, but in the last 24 hours, I'm really thankful for those who were there. They weren't able to take the pain away, but at least, I know that there are good people in this world. ::group hug:: ;P

O, happy days, where the heck are you? *SIGH.

Growing Up Pains

At the end of the day, I only have myself to blame.

I signed on the dotted line. I wrote the check. I have to face the consequences.

I made a big mistake. I hope I have learned my lesson.

I'm trying to find some comfort in the fact that it was "only" money, that God has seen everything, and that tomorrow is a brand new day.

It hurts like hell, but I'm going to be okay.

What Would MiNA Do?

I never knew I was capable of being an impulsive shopper.

• 750 square feet apartment
  
• 1 block away from Green Lake
  
• 1 block away from Starbucks
  
• 3 blocks away from a grocery store
  
• Washer/dryer in unit
  
• Full-size kitchen
  
• LOTS of closet space
  
• Open plan
  
• Water/sewer/garbage included in the rent
  
• Basement level (Shut up, Rick! LoL)
  
• $50 off the asking price (Because the landlady wanted to go home after 2 hours)

What would you do? Would you pay the $25 application fee? Would you pay the deposit? Would you tell people that you did all of that?

I did all of the above.