Sometime around before Christmas, after a really tiring day shopping for corporate giveaways in Divisoria, I developed a headache. While driving home, I made a U- turn in a no- U-turn section. I've done this a couple times before in that same intersection but was never caught. Of course, at this perfect moment, while I was talking on my mobile phone, no less, a traffic enforcer saw me and flagged me down. Great.

I closed my phone, pulled to the side, rolled down my windows and reached for my license. The traffic enforcer starts explaining my violation and I put my best "I'm tired" face.

Me: Pasensya na po. Sobrang pagod na ako at masakit yung ulo ko. Gusto ko nang makauwi. (I'm sorry. I'm really tired and I have a headache. I just wanna get home.)

Traffic Enforcer: So paano yan? Bibigyan kita ng ticket. (So how's that? I'll give you a ticket.)

Me: Okay lang po. Gusto ko lang umuwi. (It's okay. I just wanna get home.)

Traffic Enforcer: Mahal ang babayaran mo pang tubos sa ticket! (You're gonna pay an expensive amount for the ticket!)

Me: Okay lang po. Gusto ko lang umuwi dahil masakit na ang ulo ko. (It's okay. I just want to go home cuz I have a headache.)

Traffic Enforcer: Susulatan na kita ng ticket! (I'm gonna write you a ticket!)

Me: Okay lang po, sige po. (It's okay, go ahead).

Traffic Enforcer: Wa- warning-an na lang kita! Christmas naman eh! (I'm just gonna give you a warning. It's Christmas anyway.)

Me: Salamat po! (Thank you!)

After that, dude just writes a note at the back of the receipt of my license, hands me back my license and tells me to leave.

Dude just wrote the date, "1st warning" and signed it. He didn't even put my violation!!! After that, I whipped out my mobile phone, called A and told him what happened (how reckless of me! I just got caught violating a traffic regulation and I'm already violating another one! Let's party on the wild side!), and went to the grocery.

But I really did have a headache!

Things I did in 2006 that I've never done before...

1) Learned the magic of downloading torrents of tv shows and music.
2) Take my brothers shopping for their birthday and Christmas presents. They enjoyed it sooo much that I'm doing it again this month for their gifts for 2006.
3) Have something really expensive bought in the U.S. (Hello, Kylie, my 60gb Ipod Video!)
4) Purchase something of E-bay
5) Set up a Paypal account
6) Get a belly button piercing! (Thanks, soul sister Kat!)
7) Getting a procedure done that most girls are scared of trying. All I can say is.. thanks to Ponstan and Advil!
8) Cried over a bag of bikinis (my mom almost threw out my collection of bikinis because she thought I was giving them out for donation. Now I know that the Christian thing to do is to clothe the naked but why would I clothe them with skimpy swim wear?! Ugh, it just pains me to think about the almost accident that didn't happen).
9) Stand for almost 8 hours for 3 days (I wasn't pulling a stunt here. The company I work for joined an exhibit expo and I had to man the booth).
10) Go to the same mall just to hang out 3 days in a row.
11) Texas Hold'em! (I swear! I love this game and the get togethers and bondings created because of this game. I used to watch movies every weekend with A but it's been months since we've seen a movie whether on dvd or in a cinema!)
12) Become a bridesmaid
13) Start a belly button ring collection
14) Book myself in day spas and spend the afternoons just primping myself.
15) Get drunk with my sister
16) Give cash to complete strangers not because they were begging but because they needed help
17) Throw a joint celebration with someone
18) Throw a poker party at that!
19) Eat at an insanely overpriced restaurant. Too bad the taste didn't live up to the price.
20) Give a check to my parents to help start my brothers' college education fund.

Note: I'll add more stuff when I remember them.

"An Unexamined Life Is Not A Life Worth Living"-- Socrates

Last year, I was supposed to do an entry about the year 2005 but never got around to it. If there was one word that best described 2005, it was FRIENDSHIP.

In the year 2005, I formed and nourished a lot of friendship. I formed a relationship with Seph, my former graphic artist, and Kat, the former singer of the band Unity, who have become really close friends of mine. I formed friendships with Iya of San Miguel Corporation who I always enjoy hanging out with simply because she has a shallow sense of humor and all my jokes are a hit with her. I also formed friendships with Ramon, our part time IT personnel, and Gino, our commisary manager, who I hung out with Seph during anniversary parties. I also developed friendships with John Paul of Unity and Drizzle of Escape.

Even if I was making all sorts of friends, I was also nourishing the ones that I already had. I frequently had dinners with my high school bestfriends, Jeane and Glady. I had monthly dinners with my college blockmates, the Boo Family (Aubrey, Jane, Marika, Anna Rox and Champ). I also had dinners with my college barkada, Cel and Riz. I chatted almost everyday with Cristy in the US to the point that she was more updated with my life than some of my close friends.

For the year 2006, I would describe the year with the word GENEROSITY, especially in the latter part of the year.

There was that moment I gave a Sampaguita vendor in the gas station I frequent P100. I found out that his family was being relocated to Bulacan and he needs money for the roof of his house. I asked how much was the roof and he said it was P200. I gave him half a roof.

There was that time I gave P100 to a foreign backpacker who lost his wallet in a jeepney. His story may have sound sketchy to some but my cousins gave him the benefit of the doubt and helped him with good intentions.
There was a time earlier in the year where an officemate found out that her husband has been gambling and up to his neck in debts and out of anger and frustration, she decided to buy a house secretly so that in the event she decides to leave her husband, she and her daughter would have a home. I lent them money for their downpayment.

Another officemate's rent was due but since her sister abroad was delayed in sending payment, I also lent her money.

For my birthday and my anniversary with A, I donated a 5 digit amount to our parish church. Half of which went to the construction of our church (Thank God I love the adoration chapel!) and the other half went to the catechism program for the poor in our community.

For Christmas, as a gift to my parents, I gave a check to start the college education fund of my 3 little brothers. Placed in the right time deposit account, it would probably be enough to pay for their tuition fees in 10 years... hopefully!

And for A's 26th birthday/ our anniversary/ Christmas gift and 27th birthday gift, I gave him something he has been desiring. And because whenever I want something for myself, I can easily save up for it, I, in turn, want to give him something he's been wanting in return. I gave him an Xbox 360 (modified version) with 20 games. Yes, it's very expensive. Hence, the collaborated occasions all in one gift. It took me months to debate whether to give him this as a gift. In the end, seeing his happy reaction and the want to give him something he's been desiring ruled.

So you're probably thinking, "God! How arrogant and obnoxious of her to list down all her good deeds! She's practically flaunting her wealth."

Trust me. I am not wealthy. I just happened to have a really good job that pays well. Plus the fact that I grew up in a setting wherein my family just got by and my dad made enough to pay for the bills, put food on the table and placed us in good schools and therefore, never asked my parents for money to go out, buy clothes, etc. I learned how to save and developed the discipline to live within my means and only buy items that had quality but were affordable.

This entry serves to remind me again and again that I have many blessings because God trusts me to share it with others. Read this entry to further understand this lesson. They say that when you give, it comes back to you a thousandfold. Good karma. While that may be true, this entry serves to remind me also to give, not because you want something in return, but because you feel it in your heart the desire to help out and give.

Fr. Mar, the priest who we see on tv celebrating mass every 9am on Sunday mornings, who also happens to bless all our outlets who said it best, while blessing the coins during our grand opening ceremonies and blessings, "While we aspire for these material possessions, may we not be possessed by them."

Blogger, you are just so damn annoying!

I was posting a new entry and when I hit the "Publish Post" button, what do you do?

You go to the Login page. Thereby, erasing my entire entry about how 2006 went.

Was that your way of welcoming the new year to me?