Her Vivid Memories

THIS BLOG IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. She's a wanderer, dreamer and a lover of books, photography and adventures. Lover of simple things, priceless happiness and beautiful minded people. In constant search for something new and fun things to do. No approved therapeutic claims. Keep out of reach of children.

[mauriiinology]

First Tattoo

I finally did it, and am so happy with how it turned out. Achievement unlocked! I just got my first tattoo last Monday. I've had so many things in my mind: what design, how big, would it all words or just symbols, everything!

And then it happened. A friend's sister has a friend who's a tattoo artist, his name was Migs, he's the one who did it. The original plan was doing it last Sunday but no. At first, I was both so anxious and excited. Super nervous but I knew I can do it. Which I guess is just normal because it was my first time. I have always wanted a mandala or a wolf with dream catcher or an owl, but I ended up with text tattoo as my first tattoo. Less pressure because if I'd get a "symbol" tattoo, I might regret it shortly afterwards. So I have to think it over and over before getting it.

So as far as the actual tattoo process went on, it hurt. Like, A LOT. The pain was excruciating at first but oddly satisfying at the same time. There were parts where I felt like he was just writing on my back using a fountain pen and there were parts that he was . After a while, it became almost meditative that I felt like I wanted to sleep. Good thing Lean was there beside me and when I was feeling the pain, I had his hands and arms to squeeze. He also got his own tattoo that same day.

And when it was finally over and done, I felt happy. I felt proud of myself because I have overcome something like that. Also, tattoos hurt AFTER they’re done too but that's fine. I just had to sleep on my side for about 2-3 days.

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Well no, I have gotten any tattoos from her yet. But it’s something that I would really wanna have and that’s included in my wishlist.

I have wanted to meet her, not necessarily for the tattoo but to actually talk to her and know things about traditional tattooing. This  mambabatok (tattoo artist) is already 96 years old and I’m always amazed by people that have lived longer than 90 years, even 80.

But as what I have heard, she can’t really speak that much Filipino words but that’s not really an issue. I admit, this is really one of the things in my wishlist: to meet Apo Whang Od and get a tattoo from her. I wonder how would it feel like. I don’t have any tattoos on my body yet but aside frm the identical tattoos that me and my boyfriend would like to get, I would like to be inked by her. I am such a big fan of tattoos especially those meaningful and artistic ones. Ugh! It would be such an adventure, even the travel going to Kalinga would be something I’d be excited about.

Image source: lookingforstories.com (Google)

[mauriiinology]

Let's take time to appreciate the little things. #sunset

[mauriiinology]

It has been a roller coaster ride.

For the past few weeks I have been in a situation where I didn't exactly know where is it heading to. And there were things that I don't want to really recall and say here, especially the not-so-good ones. But, ok. My social networking accounts and emails have been compromised because my phone was taken from me and all my accounts were logged in even before I have managed to disable it remotely. I lost my Facebook, email access and a lot more. But that's not actually the biggest of my worries at the moment. I guess I can live without those things or I can even create new ones, good thing this blog is still within my reach. I don't wanna say anything more about what happened because I don't want to read this blog in the future and remember it again. I want to start making good and happy memories.

At this point in my life, I can say that I'm happy. I want to begin a new chapter in my life. And this time, when I say new, I mean it.

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Life is like playing the game of opposites with me. When I’m in a rush everything seems to go in slow motion, people, transportation, time, you name it and it’s moving at half speed. But during the days when I’m happy, when I’m with friends or loved ones, and I let life in all its glory engulf me for a day, everything speeds up. Life is too short, I wake up, I blink and then I would realize, the day is gone. It’s such a stupid game to play.

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October 2015

Started the month just as normal as before. I'm enjoying my job more and more everyday. First friday of the month and we had our regular friday nights with the team again. It's unending, haha! But it's different everytime, that's why it's never boring and these people are one hella fun to be with. Also I forgot to mention that our office has a movie room/lounge that has a couch, 3 huge beanbags and loads and loads of movies. I can probably stay there like a whole day. Literally, it really feels like home to me. Plus all the people around.

October 3-11

Got my dental braces complete up and down. Watch Heneral Luna, that was a good movie. Really. I given myself enough sleep which I have been deprived for the last few days and the week prior to that. I had to go back to the denstist to fix my braces. I have visited Manila again. It feels nice to be back, the last time that I got to enjoy Manila was when I was in college. Sta. Mesa, Recto, and even Divisoria to name a few. Paotsin!! And there would be my lazy days and going to Fairview to be with my beloved sister. I was also with Eioua one weekend, I missed him so much. He's such a big boy now.

October 12-18

Kuya Rod, is one of the great guys in the office. He always bring food especially when he's craving and everybody gets to join the fun. From fastfood chicken meals, to ice cream, to pizza, name it. I also had to experience arcade games again, Tom's World, Timezone, World of Fun. It's so much fun to do those things. October 16, MIT had a LAN Party in Imperium in Metrowalk, some of the guys join the LAN games competition, some of us just joined the party, and the after party was in DG's place. It was one hella night. The morning after, I went to Manila again, to buy the ukulele that I have always wanted to have! Happy kid here! My weekends were very well-spent. I also got to meet up with Fergie again, my friend who's a QA in the preivious company that I have worked in, some catch up sessions.

October 24-31

I went to Manila again, but this time, to meet up with my girlfriends from college. We had some small talks @Cafe Travel. It's a nice coffee and pastry shop in Taft Avenue. The next day, sleep sleep sleep! I got to buy a jeans-and-shirt combo again after several months. I had my braces adjusted again and went to Don Bosco after that to meet my sister and my lolo that came home after so many years from Ethopia. We had a great time. I also had some catch-up time with Sasha in Shaw. We also had our Trick or Treat with some kids in the office. The kid that I am with in the photo above was the cutest that I have seen during the Trick or Treat. Super! October was very full for me. It's like, I get to do something great or new everyday.

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September 2015

I know I have to make it up for the days that I wasn't able to update my blog. I have been quite busy these past few months and I really had lesser reasons to access my laptop which includes laziness plus the fact that I have internet in my phone. And blogging through mobile can be inconvenient sometimes.

So, September. I had my hair color retouched. And this time it was in Feigh's house. I had a lot of activities during the month, not to mention the friday nights with the whole MIT Group almost every week which somehow becomes a tradition. Haha! It's like, a Friday wouldn't be complete without it. also, I started playing online games again, DoTA and LOL, with Monika, Jed, JB to name a few. And I even tried FPS like Assault Fire. 

I got my backpay from SiTEL. Yey! And there comes the Global Olympics. I was a marshall there. My first year and first time trying to join as one of the organizers, it was exciting. I got full access pass and free food and a shirt! And speaking about shirt, I got my Dutdutan 2015 shirt from the mail. It's glow in the dark baby. I also got my braces by the end of the month. Which was really painful as heck. On weekends, I'm mostly asleep or in Fairview with my sister.

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August 2015

It has been quite a ride for me for the past few months, but I’m happy with what’s happening in my life right now. I think couldn’t ask for more. Life has been very very surprising, no matter how much you say that you’re ready for whatever happens, no one has ever been ready. Sometimes, maybe when we think that things are falling apart, it may also mean that they’re falling into place. Which is quite a good thing especially when you’re not expecting too much. 

 I started working in a different company. I can say that it’s better. It’s a better workplace for me. It’s a nice feeling, it’s something light and happy. Lesser people, which makes it more of an intimate type of environment which also makes it easier to deal with people around.I have pretty much isolated myself in the first half of the last month or the month. I literally enclosed myself in the four walls of my room and spent the days thinking about how I’m supposed to get out of that drowning situation, I felt like I lost everything. I was the one who left but I feel like I’m the one that was abandoned. Or maybe this is just the aftershock of what happened. I honestly didn’t want to leave at all. My teammates were like family to me. But maybe that’s what I thought it was.

I started the training with the web hosting company that I have started working in. The people are nice and I've come to think that I want to stay long in this company. I love the feeling of having them around. It's so much fun in the office. But I've still made time to be with my previous teammates, like Leny and Dexter and Nichii. We’ve had some chit chat time.

And one more thing, I have colored my hair RED. Like, bloody red! truth is, it was a group session with my wavemates. Some of them were blue and purple and brown. Para kaming power rangers. LOL! The next day was our company trip to Laguna. It was a fun trip, not to mention that I was thrown to the pool. The hell! I had to borrow clothes because I had no extra clothes left to use before going home.

[mauriiinology]

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

Matthew 5:44

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I have realized one thing about myself today, I changed a lot. I now see myself doing and saying things I haven’t been able to do before. I have learned to say no to people and things I can’t reject before. I have started to care less about what other people think about me, and started thinking about myself and what I can achieve. I became less expressive, physically and emotionally. I started writing again, a lot. I guess it’s true that the more that life reveals the reality to you, the more you appreciate the little things and the things that matter.

#LettersToNovember

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For all the things that I have learned and still learning, thank You so much Father. No matter how many times I mess up, You never failed to show me that it's not about how the world sees me, or how can I please other people, but it's about how You see my heart. You know me so well that you give me everything that I need more than the things that I want.

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Dear November, We meet again. You usually make the air chillier and somehow it makes me excited that my birthday is near and I start evaluating my life as the year draws to a close, sort of a new year’s resolution in reverse. I glanced over my shoulder, only briefly though, to look back at who I’ve lost along the way and who I gained, and which parts of myself do I need to improve or develop. For instance, I lost some of the intensity I used to feel behind wanting everyone to understand me. I’m not gonna lie to you November, it’s been a tough year, really tough year. But I’m better and stronger then ever before.

[mauriiinology]

I have got a new toy. I've been wanting to buy this for the longest time now and good thing I got the chance  to go to Manila and I saw a few shops there where I can buy. So I finally decided to buy one last October 17. It's fun playing it and it's super handy because it's pretty small.

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I'm in a new place now. I just moved in 2 weeks ago. The place is nice.

[mauriiinology]

EOM

I am lost for words right now. I just had a very exhausting month from work and with "exhausting" I mean like, after a month's work, I just want to snuggle up in my bed and sleep for about 18-20 hours like a cat and just enjoy the time I have for myself. That's the beauty of rest days. Days when you can just put on your favorite oversized shirt and pajamas, have a cup of your favorite drink and say no to all plans without feeling guilty about it because it's the day when you have the perfect excuse to do absolutely nothing. I know I just said that I am lost for words now but this might be the exact indication that my mind is louder than my mouth. I think twice as I talk. I can be very silent and still have a lot of ideas in my mind all talking at once and I can't listen to them one at a time. It's like a room with a lot of screaming children, how can I possibly pick a favorite? The past month (June) has really taken all the energy from me. I've been out of focus and almost out of my mind. My mind has been buzzing with million of things and idea, pardon my exaggeration. But now, I need to have a concrete reason to get my focus back and to boost my will power. I need lots and lots of booster for my will power. I don't want to wake up everyday asking the same question to myself, "what can motivate you to do better at work?". To be honest, I don't know anymore. I haven't known for a while. Though I haven't realized, I must have lost that part in me that pushes me everyday to do better in what I do without me literally dragging myself to get out of bed and do something productive. The first week of July has triggered me to re-think everything, re-evaluate myself and ponder on things that I need to improve on. I know I need to help myself, no one else in this world can.

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Sometimes, a time alone, a time that you give yourself is exactly what you need.

The beauty of spending time with yourself gives you a certain kind of fulfillment, it’s when you don’t have to pretend, it’s when you don’t have to force yourself to smile when all you want to do is to stay in bed and read a book or sleep. Sometimes, we strive too much to connect with other people that we forget to give time to connect to ourselves, to reflect, and to know what we really want. For me, personally, it helps me rethink the things that I do and the things that I have done. What I would’ve done differently, what could have happened if I did this or did that. And later make some changes in me and how I deal with life.

One thing that I love being alone is I can read more books, the latest that I bought was “Aleph” by the bestselling author Paulo Coelho. The book is about the adventures in life, taking the journey of finding out what your purpose really is, the journey of discovering yourself. I just started reading it and I’ve done about 27 pages as of this time. I still have a lot of books in mind that I’d really want to read once I’m done with this one.

One thing that I also enjoy spending time alone is the time that I have when it’s my rest day, a day or two off from work. It’s like a day off from everything. Being alone doesn’t mean you’re lonely. All the time we spend alone, and discovering ourselves will always be worth the fear.

[mauriiinology]

And there it was, saying goodbye. My phone’s glass protector finally was replaced. I had about a number of events when my phone had some serious facetime with the floor, even rocks from the beach, the last time that we had an out of town vacation. It had caused a couple more cracks which really led me to finally decide to buy a replacement. Which I did this afternoon. But I still kept this one just because why not?? HAHAHA. So there.