My Acnetrex Journey

Day 0 (Jan 24) - While Ma was with her EENT to see about her aching ear, I ran my way into getting to my Dermatologist in time. When I got into the clinic, she has just closed her PC and reluctantly boot it up again when she couldn't get a decent answer from the questions she asked me about my last medication. With a quick look at me and my record, she deemed me ready for Phase 3 of my treatment. She's has given me some erythromycin ointment and sun block to go with my new soap to peel off dead skin and remove the scars left by acne of years past. To retard oil production of my sebaceous gland and tighten my pores for a healthier and younger complexion, she added an oral medication which I agreed to test. It will run for a month and I am excited to see the changes that it will bring.

Doctor's parting words were "Don't get pregnant".

Day 1 (Jan 25) - I took my first pill today.
Day 7 (Jan 31) - I will take my fourth pill tonight. Literature mentioned a lot of side effects of the medicine. Thankfully I don't seem to experience any of it (Cheilitis, dryness of the mucosa, pruritus, dermatitis facialis, sweating, reversible alopecia, hirsutism, hyperpigmentation, photosensitivity; muscle and joint pain, depression, headache; visual disturbances, dark adaptation disturbances; nausea, inflammatory bowel disease; bronchospasm; hyperuricemia; lymphadenopathy, hematuria, proteinuria/ http://www.mims.com).
I rarely look myself at the mirror but during the times that I do, the most visible change on my face is the absence of dark spots on the sides of my nose and in the dent between my lips and chin. So far, so good!
Day 11 (Feb 4) - Headache was listed among the side-effects of oral medication. By around noon, I felt so hot and feverish on the way to lunch with KZ. Luckily, I had some Panadol left inside my drawer. I had a pill before I had the sense of looking up if there's any contraindication involving paracetamol. Research showed none.

the reluctant jogger

It's a matter of motivation and inspiration, jogging is.

Yup, it's the start of the year and that means graduation day is on the loom.

With my current size, finding a dress (yes, dress because wearing slacks was not an option) I like that will fit my form was a nightmare. It took me three days last year to find a top with the collaboration and suggestions by three friends/colleagues.

Mockery (well, it sounded as one) from the one you least expect for it to come from also proved to be a very good wake up call. The darkness and chilly air brought about by the tail of the cold front seemed not to matter anymore.

In the pretext of giving my little one fresh air and change of environment, to Cristina I found myself half-walking(carrying my bundle of mischief) and half-jogging for a little more than 30 minutes.

After my near syncope, I'm taking it slow this time. That includes a little sacrifice like just looking instead of ingesting something that I know will make me feel good (in that certain way).

Sinulog 2013 (Kabankalan)

Talk about being in the wrong place at a seemingly right time.

The old streets of Kabankalan teemed with young people, mostly schoolboys and schoolgirls who giggled at being painted with oily soot. A minority consists of men and women my age, with kids in tow.

With our jiving changing minds and spur of the moment decisions, KZ and I agreed to meet at noon and see what Sinulog in Kabankalan is all about.

Maybe I've just grown to be a cynic in the passing of years that nothing pleases me anymore. Well, besides the heat and the throng of people pushing each other to get around, the concession stands (which are not that many), tourists, incessant picture taking, there's nothing really new to be so excited about.

I was on my best self though and actually enjoyed my ferris wheel ride (with the just-out-of-nursing school tweenysomethin).

Before leaving (with the thought ofnot going back for the same) I Crossed an unwritten item in my bucket list: getting a henna tattoo (I got a cute butterfly design which the 'artist' did not do justice on my right wrist I was close to grabbing the pen from his hand and do the thing myself).

What is Syncope?

According to the American Heart Association, it may be caused by emotional stress, pain, pooling of blood in the legs due to sudden changes in body position, overheating, dehydration, heavy sweating or exhaustion. 

The first one held true. Thankfully it was only a near syncope for me. Otherwise, I cannot begin to think of the consequences. Alone and unconscious, without any form of identification, amidst the Sunday throng at the mall.

It was stupid really. To get so upset to the point of fainting.

Life of Pi? I don't know if I was glad I watched it or not. But it was, in a way, a party to my almost sad end.

Sigh!

Bucket List 2013

TRAVEL
1. Boracay (again) with another company
2. OOTC

ACTIVITY
1. Skywalk
2. IMAX - poor thing (I know)
3. Comedy Bar

ADVOCACY
1. Volunteer - GK (having just finished my stint as HOA Secretary)
2. Fun Run - at least three 3-kms
3. Feeding Project

UPGRADE
1. Portraiture
2. Professional Teaching

OTHERS
1. Loan Payment
2. Savings

Fresh Start at Filimags

It has been three days since our PLDT 3mbps connection started acting up.

KZ called them up about the issue on the first day.

I called them as soon as I got into the office switched everything on. Something was wrong on their line. DSL and Internet lights were off so there's nothing we can do but wai. We were advised to keep the modem plugged and switched on, which we didn't do (safety first).

To curb being unproductive, I channeled my energy to giving the place a modicum of cleanliness. By the end of two hours, the office was cobweb-free, swept clean of dust and aerated. The glass windows sparkled clean from vigorous wiping.

As a reward to a job-well-done, kz and myself too the 30-min bus trip to Hinigaran (2 towns away from home) for a meal at Mila's. The lunch crowd filled the place but we managed to fined a table for four at the back.

We were seated for almost half an hour already and wondered why nobody's taking our order. So I went up to the cashier and asked. We were supposed to place our order out front and get a "letter". Waah! The waiter should have told us that but he merely asked us if we had a "letter" already and left us when we just looked back at him with wonder.

Anyways, we had their much talked about "kansi". I did not fall off my chair with wonder but maybe it's just the time. Sis described the soup differently. Maybe I will try it again at an earlier time. For dessert we had their equally famous potato cake which I liked despite the crust being too sweet. It's the coffee that they need to work on to make better.

Back at the office two and a half hours later, the internet worked.

All is well.

12 Days of Holiday Bliss

20 Dec - Redeemed Starbucks 2013 Planner
21 Dec - Christmas Party
22 Dec - Trip to the Vet/In "Cyberia"
23 Dec - Making Plans
24 Dec - Watched "The Hobbits" in 3D on an Unconventional Christmas Eve
25 Dec - Snooping at Dawn on a Death Defying Christmas Day
26 Dec - Boxing Day
27 Dec - Coffee and Sandwiches
28 Dec - Expensive Dinner and Cheap Coffee
29 Dec - Coffee and Blueberry Sandwich for breakfast after jogging
30 Dec - Coffee at Westown
31 Dec - Last Day of BBM

as Adele would belt out "you can't have it all"
live with what you have and make the most out of it...