Swiss missing

This morning, while I was working on our mugs of hot choco for breakfast, I subconsciously told Vincent, "Sana pala nag-uwi ako ng Swiss coffee mugs...bigla 'kong na-miss ang Geneva a!", to which he replied, "Well, it's been a year."

Yes, it's been a year. This time last year, I was just counting the days until I'm finally back home. But I still very well recall that, along with the excitement of coming home was the ripping feeling that I was leaving Geneva, and was not sure if I'll ever get to see Switzerland again. I remember telling Tet and LK (always had lunch with them at work) a few days after my internship was over, that I'm going to miss Geneva after all. It was a totally out of the blue remark, a half-banter in between, and I knew I blew them away with it. Si Teng ba 'yan?! They knew how much I desperately wanted to fast-forward everything just to get home, and then there I was, having my touching moment. I, too, was surprised at myself when I expressed that.

That was so a year ago. But the Swiss links are still very much on fire! We still have choco dragees in the fridge and enjoy the fruit tea every so often (Thanks, Peachie!). Above all, the amazing memories and friendships will never be taken away from me.

Craving...

...for this:

This used to be my staple snack (besides Maltesers) during my "quiet times" at my office space at the ILO. Been bugging my husband to bring me home a box of this. Sana lang 'di malusaw agad. 

All in a day's work

The challenge of a true manager is really, to manage. To administer. To be on top of everything.

The manager's challenge is to be a manager, no matter what happens. Just as doctors are to their patients, to be objective about decision-making does not mean one is being heartless. And when decisions are made, they are justified. The heart is there.

In the end, it's just all in a day's work. And for some, going home at the end of the day is the best happy ending of all.

Not for barfing

My first encounter of an air sickness bag not used as such was when a friend gifted me with VCDs wrapped in a PAL barf bag for Christmas years ago. I thought it was "economical and resourceful". Imagine, all he needed to do was to nick a barf bag from an airplane and then turn it into a gift wrapper. Cool, diba? Wala pang gastos

However, my fixation on barf bags took off when I was on my first flight out to Geneva. And no, I wasn't thinking of converting it into a gift wrapper. I was meaning to use it for packaging my lunch kit when I start going to the ILO. I was able to take home two barf bags from Etihad (the airline I boarded). I was pleased with their sturdy bags.

Etihad's

When a friend in Geneva went to Johannesburg for a mission trip a few months ago, she not only brought home for me a barf bag. She even gave me Air France's amenity kit, as she travelled business class. Air France's barf bag isn't the durable kind, but the amenity kit is definitely a hit! I still use the purse, minus the blinders, socks, earplugs and all.

Air France's

Since then, I would always ask my husband, my friends or whoever I know will travel by plane to bring me home a barf bag. When Vincent and I went to Palawan last December, we were able to bring home four PAL barf bags. This bag is classy:

PAL's

Vincent is going to Geneva for a meeting next month. I'm curious if KLM's barf bags are tough or not. As early as now, I wouldn't quit bugging him to bring me home four of these:

KLM's

I'll think about barfing next time

Still remember Serg's?!

Chico and Delamar's top ten yesterday morning was about extinct brands or products. Vincent and I were just laughing at breakfast while recalling them. Napaghahalata ang katandaan! Hahaha! It was fun, though.


Some brands that were texted in were (from what I can randomly summon up):

Superwheel (bar detergent)
Ola -- ang pinong panlaba (that pink bar detergent)
Klim (it's milk spelled backwards. Lea Salonga was just in ponytails when she endorsed this)
Dahlia -- ang sabon ng mga artista (beauty soap)
Nano nano (that sweet, sour and salty candy)
Pritos ring (junk snack)
YC bikini briefs (sige na, kantahin n'yo na)
Mighty kid (rubber shoes)
Prell (shampoo)
Gee, your hair smells terrific (manang, pabili po ng...gee, your hair smells terrific)
Stayfree (sanitary napkins)
Tarzan and Bazooka Joe bubble gum
Benson's éclairs
Nutri bun


And then there's Serg's chocolate bar. Now this is my blast from the past! Bigla 'ko itong na-miss. In high school, I used to eat two bars (yes, two!) of Serg's after having lunch. Lunch was not lunch without it. It was something I can't live without at that time. How simple were my pleasures back then, ano?

Grateful

I thought I lost it, as I didn't have it two years ago. Maybe I was too happy to worry at that time. But the New Year jitters didn't spare me.

I usually get emotional and anxious, more often, about the incoming year. Anxious about sickness...and even deaths in the family. What will the challenges be in my life and family in the year to come? Since getting married nearly thirteen months ago, may nadagdag sa anxieties 'ko. Will I be ready for motherhood this year? Will the goals I share with my husband materialize at the end of 2009?

I knew I was too focused on the negative and I didn't like myself being that way. I was in my moping and brow-crossed state, until I heard the message at church at New Year's Eve. And then it hit me. If I was able to entrust my 2008 to God, why can't I do the same with my 2009? Instead of being apprehensive, why can't I just be grateful for 2008 and excited for 2009? I wouldn't get a year back of my age if I wallowed away my new year, would I?

2008 was a year of blessings and trials for my family, but overall, it was a good year. For starters, my husband walked with me all throughout the year, and he will be with me from that year on until we grow old! My husband and I had the best first anniversary honeymoon, I had no problems with my health, I was able to cut back my major loans, I was able to see Europe again after four years, and had the best international internship experience in Switzerland! I may have struggled big and small, but I've also had so many answered prayers to compensate all that. No room for complaints.

I am claiming 2009 as yet another awesome year for me. I can't wait to rake it all in!




P.S. I haven't blogged in anything here since November, but ever since coming back home three months ago, everything is bliss