studio pic

The last time that my cousins and I got together to have our studio picture taken was ages ago. I think I was still in my first job then.

Last Saturday, we had an opportunity to get together and have our pictures taken. The last time we did this, one of our cousins, Christine, were still here in the Philippines. Christian, another cousin, was not yet married to Helen. Ate Hazel's kids, Pringles and Pretzel, were not included.

After getting together at Starbucks, we hooked up at a Kodak shop that only allowed 6 to 8 people to have their group picture. After begging to allow the 11 of us big folks, we got the best two pictures below printed and given to our grandmother as a very early birthday gift.

baby girl is now two

Over the past two years that I've been posting in this blog, I have been posting pictures of my cute niece.

To remind you of her first photos, here they are

Mandy at 7 Months


Mandy at 12 Months


Mandy at 27 Months
Isn't she the cutest baby girl?

Ivan and I will adopt her this weekend. =)

five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes

It's been a year since I transferred companies.

That's three hundred sixt-five days.

That's eight thousand seven hundred sixty hours.

That's five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes.

In hindsight, I know that what I did was the right choice for me at the right time. Although at that time, I seriously doubted it. This has been reinforced by me knowing that a lot of people left my previous company after me.

I took a chance taking a job that is complete opposite of what I'm used to. Work hours are longer. Before, 14hr days were project-based. In a year, I'd experience that for a maximum of two months, collectively speaking. Now, it's the norm. The long days is taking a toll on my body. The stress that I'm getting has physically manifested, as well.

Without the move, I wouldn't be doing something I really love. Without moving in, I wouldn't have met the one I love and want to be with for the rest of my life.

Last Monday, my mom suggested I resign.

I thought about it for a minute.

No way. Every single minute was worth it.

At least, Not Yet.

wishing i was a kid again

Admittedly, one of the things that's making me relax lately is watching Cartoon Network and the Disney Channel.

I try to catch as much Disney Movies as I can, even if it's late at night, and causes me to lose sleep.

I never want to go back to Highschool (God knows how much I hate that phase of my life!) But I wish I was a kid again.

Life is so much less complicated (and hectic.)

last song syndrome: highschool musical

What I've been Looking for


It’s hard to believe
That I couldn’t see
You were always there beside me
Thought I was alone
With no one to hold
But you were always right beside me
This feeling’s like no other
I want you to know
I’ve never had someone
Who knows me like you do
The way you do
I’ve never had someone
As good for me as you
No one like you
So lonely before I finally found
What I’ve been looking for
So good to be seen
So good to be heard
Don’t have to say a word
For so long I was lost
So good to be found
I’m lovin’ havin’ you around
This feeling’s like no other
I want you to know

I’ve never had someone
Who knows me like you do
The way you do
I’ve never had someone
As good for me as you
No one like you
So lonely before I finally found
What I’ve been looking for

This one's for you, babe.

stressed on not being stressed

For the past three weeks, I admit I've been stressing myself not to get stressed.

Now I'm not stressing about it anymore. I am actually more relaxed despite the volume of work I have. I take my breaks. I go out with friends. I watch movies. I have coffee.

In short, I'm taking my time to smell the roses.

(In turn, small wisps of hair is sprouting on my bald patch.)

Have a good week, everyone!

Be happy.

stressed

After 11 months in my job (and 27 years of my life!), I finally know what stress really means. After spending 14 to 16 hours a day in the office, experiencing working on a weekend, Christmas Eve, and Holy Week, it finally took its toll.

I am diagnosed with Alopecia Areata. And I found this definition on the net in my liking, Alopecia Areata is a hair loss condition characterized by the rapid onset of hair loss in a sharply defined area. Any hair-bearing surface can be affected, but the most noticeable surface is the scalp. The reason alopecia areata occurs is not completely known. In some cases it is associated with other diseases, but most of the time it is not. Research is ongoing to determine the best treatment for this sometimes-striking disease.

On a more serious note...

Alopecia areata (al-oh-PEE-shah ar-ee-AH-tah)is considered an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, the tiny cup-shaped structures from which hairs grow. This can lead to hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere.

In alopecia areata, immune system cells called white blood cells attack the rapidly growing cells in the hair follicles that make the hair. The affected hair follicles become small and drastically slow down hair production. Fortunately, the stem cells that continually supply the follicle with new cells do not seem to be targeted. So the follicle always has the potential to regrow hair.

So what exactly caused this?

Temporary hair loss may result from any shock to the body's systems, including starvation, systemic infection, childbirth, thyroid or immunologic disorders, drugs (especially chemotherapy for cancer), or stress. Hair follicles can be destroyed permanently by scarring from burns, severe scalp infections, X-ray therapy, or skin disorders. Damage may also result from tight hairstyles over a long period of time, chemical treatments such as hair coloring or permanents, or the habitual pulling out of the hair. A fungal condition called tinea capitis ("ringworm of the scalp") also results in hair loss. The causes of alopecia areata, or patchy hair loss, are not well understood. It tends to happen in times of stress.

Enough of this mumbo jumbo, I am now being injected in my bald patch every two weeks... I asked Ivan to take a picture of my Alopecia and I never thought my scalp could be sooo white.

So how does it look like?

It's too gross to post here. But I can show you when we get to meet up. =)