I was drifting off to sleep when my phone alerted me of a text message. Being one who cannot ignore a message once I knew it was there, I groped for my phone in the dark and was suddenly wide awake.
In all caps were these words WHERES UR NOVEL? from my thesis mentor.
I froze.
I tried to think.
Okay, breathe. It would make you think better if you breathe. In. Out. There you go.
So I remembered that sometime immediately after the Vigan trip, I sent The Great One a text message that I'm aiming to provide him a copy of my second draft on the first week of October. It is, of course you know this too, already the last week. Since he didn't reply to that message, a small silly part of my brain continued to hope that maybe he didn't get the message. You know how unreliable these telecom companies are.
So fast-forward to last night. I managed an "Oh no! Um, I'm still revising it, sir. I've decided on changing the pt of view, just as u suggested. Super major rewriting siya."
And because I wasn't sure if he was convinced, I tried again, "I promise to work on it and send u a copy asap. Hehe, promising writer. :)"
Yes, I attempted to be funny. That's what I do when caught in uncomfortable situations.
I didn't lie though. I really am rewriting the whole thing since I'm changing it from the first person to the third person point of view and good god, it's not easy. Then again, if I'm devoting more time to it, it'll probably be almost over by now. So you see where the guilt is coming from.
And don't get me wrong because I need that guilt or else I'd really just sleep the whole day. And I love it that The Great One cares enough to send me an all caps one-liner to ask about the novel. And that's really how he texts. Still rattles me every time: What? Is he shouting at me? Is he mad? Oh no! Oh no! After about a minute of the near-panic wherein I do the breathing exercises, I'd try to be funny. It's a cycle.
So now yes, off I go to change the I's to she's.
This morning, I took an online quiz over at Facebook to determine what one word best describes me. Surprisingly, the test told me that I'm "happy." So maybe I am.
It must be right because just last night as I was walking to the terminal, there was an undeniable spring to my step while I hummed a toneless tune that I invented on the spot. I would have swayed my head from side to side but my little song number already had people looking at me funny. It was then that I realized that I had finally and completely gotten out of the dumps of my most recent heartbreak. Happy!
So I got home and was greeted with the new modem box that promises unlimited Internet access where we only had dial-up connection before! Yay! Happy!
Naturally I had to go online. I checked my multiply, my mail, my friendster, my facebook, my shelfari, my tagged, etc etc when a brilliant thought entered my mind: cyberstalk my semi-crush! Yay!
So I found out that he's in a long-term relationship. Seven-f*cking-years! *wails. Life is so unfair!!!
Then I got to work this morning. Well, well, the fact cannot be denied that I am now an office girl. Work starts when I time in at 9am and ends when I time out at 6pm. In between, I have an hour for lunch in which I have to time in and out again. In between 9am and lunch and lunch and 6pm, I get to have a fifteen-minute break each. Such is the reality of an office girl's life.
But guess what makes an ordinary office girl's life happy? Office supplies! I love office supplies! Today being a Wednesday, the day reserved for requesting the much sought after office supplies, I came out of the storage room heavy with a corkboard, colorful push pins and paper clips (in two different sizes, mind you!), a magazine holder, a stapler, a tube of glue, a tech pen, a roll of magic tape, a cutter, folders and envelopes, etc. So what if life is unfair? I have so many new things it's like the first day of school! It's like coming home from a shopping spree! Except they're free! Yay! Happy again!
So now I'm busy decorating my work area. That makes me happy. So yes, I must be happy considering how little it takes to make me one. If you don't mind, I'm gonna go put some cute colorful little post-its all over my work station now. After that, I'mma rearrange the magazine cut-outs on my new corkboard. *giggles
And so I found out yesterday that a certain connoisseur on women is making monthly assessments on the female staff in the office. He has a top 20 list of the best-looking ladies, complete with comments and/or suggestions for the enhancement of the said ladies' beauty. The rules are strict. For one to be included in the exclusive list, one has to be single, presently employed in the company, and well, biologically female.
He was kind enough to show me the controversial list, which was prominently posted in his work station. While I was reading it, he nonchalantly informed me that I'd be included in his next list, which was due to be out tomorrow. Now years of feminist readings taught me to reject the very concept of objectifying women. The principled thing to do should have been to tear the list into shreds and file a complaint with the HR office.
I did reject his offer of putting me on his list but not for feminist reasons. I was afraid I wouldn't make it to the top 5. Or top 10 at least.
Now excuse me while I jump out of the window.
Now that my new job grants me Internet access, albeit limited, I couldn't be happier. While it is true that I won't be able to download or upload pictures or music from and to Multiply, I am nevertheless overjoyed that it fulfills my blogging needs, which is the foremost reason for my Multiplying.
Which means I'll be more active in the blogging world again. Yay!
Oh, and since I can't access yahoo mail at work. You may send me messages through my work email: joni.cham@vhs.com.ph. I like receiving mails so go go go, email me!
UPDATE: I am no longer connected with VHS Philippines since February 2008. Instead, I may be reached at sanapakaininmoko@yahoo.com.
I'm keeping myself busy: fulltime office work, language teaching at the Bridge around two nights per week, freelance writing for the UP Law Center, the novel. Whenever I find the time, I sit in Spanish and Chinese classes too. Next in line are piano and arnis lessons. My friend who teaches piano (and is willing to teach me for free!) is still juggling his schedule to accommodate me. (Nice, nice person. That's why I still believe that the world is populated by nice people.) And I'm still looking for an arnis training center in the Makati area, preferrably within walking distance from Rufino St. Holler if you know of any.
So there.
A part of me is giddy because I like being busy and feeling productive. Plus I get to do things that I've always planned on doing (like learning Spanish!).
Another part of me wants to sleep.
