Absurd thought for the day

I am buried in paperwork (blue print paper kind of work), and as I sat in my 700mm x 700mm personal bubble (yes, it is that small, I am not exaggerating), I had this sudden absurd thought: what if I had magic powers like Harry Potter? I could just summon the missing blueprints into my hands with one "Accio Drawing S-ORT2-509!"

[poignant pause]

But given that there are thousands of blueprints lying around the office, I could probably end up literally buried in more paperwork.

Hehe.

Told you it was an absurd thought. :D

What is dedma?

I have been using this domain name for years. Since college (I won't say how many years ago that was...just trust me that it was a long time ago. Haha). I have used this as my mantra ever since my good, good friend Kayan (my tree-mate!) gave me this piece of advice during one of our CR crying sessions. "Dedma lang!" I forget the context of our conversation (I think it's safe to say that it was about love...or the lack thereof), but the gist was that I shouldn't get too affected by it, hence the usage of the term "dedma."

But what exactly is dedma?

I stumbled across this very useful site, wherein they got an excerpt from Jessica Zafra's Twisted. Dedma 101:

The etymology: Dedma is the attenuated form of the English words dead malice. Dead malice, in turn, is the literal translation of the Tagalog expression, patay malisya. It is conjugated thus: dedma, dinedma, dededmahin.

Huh. I never knew that! Hehehe. We learn something new everyday! :)

To break it down more specifically, there are 3 definitions of "dedma:"

1. To completely ignore/feign ignorance of the existence/presence of someone/something.
   
2. To snub, reject, or toss in the trash.
   
3. To pretend deafness or blindness in order to escape a sticky situation.
   

I have been trying to apply definitions 1 and 3 in my life. I am just too affected by everything around me; I'm an emotional sponge; I'm too empathic for my own good...if that doesn't emotionally drain you, then I don't know what will.

I have been struggling with this topic for years now (as proven by my "Good Guys Finish Last" entry, written 4 years ago. Haha), and I still don't know whether I have achieved my goal to be a dedma person. Some say that, yes, I am dedma (Hello Diane, ikaw to), but some say that, no, I'm still too affected/emotional/totally-the-opposite-of-dedma.

I now realize that the ultimate goal isn't to be dedma all the time...I just wanted (emphasis on the past tense) to not be affected all the time; to only care for what really matters; to not throw a hissy fit every time something doesn't go according to what I expected; to use my energy towards happiness and not towards worrying about things that don't worry about me back. :)

If that's the case, then I think my mission has been accomplished. At least, I think I have greatly improved. :) Or maybe I'm just too damn happy to have anything to be dedma about. :)

Yeah, maybe that's it. :)

First Day High

As the previous entry suggests, I started working for a new office just last Monday (the first Monday of June). Of course, like every new adventure, my first day has to have a story. Not necessarily an interesting one, but one that I would like to tell. :) 

This is going to be a really long account of my day, so if you have a short attention span, I suggest that you leave now. Haha. 

* * * *

Ok. So, Monday.

I woke up at 4:50 a.m., so that I could have enough time to prepare for my first day of work. Problem was, I really didn't know how to prepare. What the hell does one wear to a construction site? My dad said to wear "smart casual," but that could mean many things. Rugged office attire? Smart but rugged? Rugged but smart? I gave up trying to think and settled on jeans, a sleeveless button-down polo (pin-stripes pa, to give that office-y feel), and my most "rugged" shoes that are not sneakers: closed black sandals with kitten heels (my shoes are either chucks, strappy sandals, or peep-toe stiletto heels eh). Astig diba. Kitten heels to a construction site. My feet are doomed.

At 5:20 a.m., I was done with my shower, and my wet hair was soaking through my crisp, pin-striped polo. I sit down for a breakfast of Frosted Flakes and cold low-fat milk. I feed the dog. I grab my stuff (my bag, 2 pieces of tuna pandesal, a water bottle, and my planner), kiss my parents goodbye, and I head towards my car...which was, I realized as I drew nearer, the dirtiest thing in the world. Wooh, great. I had to drive around Metro Manila in a car covered in plant spores (If you do not live under the canopy of 6 eucalyptus trees, you wouldn't understand).

Anyway, I left promptly at 5:45 a.m. (because I had to be at work at 7:00 a.m. Tuh). Wow, I get to listen to the beginning of the Morning Rush! Hurrah! :) I get to EDSA-Guadalupe at 6:10 a.m. (wow, aga, mali time estimate ko. Haha!), and I drive into the site office lot at 6:15 a.m. I parked, put on a little make-up (can't afford to look sloppy on my 1st day), and waited. I got to listen to the first batch of the Morning Rush top 10 ("Top 10 Grammatical Errors that give you a headache." Ahluvit), and then I got out of the car.

The guard made me wait outside, because the person I was looking for (my supervisor, an architect-nun. Haha) wasn't in yet (it was only 6:30 a.m. Duh). A few minutes later, a 40-ish looking guy told me to wait inside. So like a very trusting puppy, I followed him inside the office, and there were only a handful of people in there. Tuh. Everyone's late? It was already 7 a.m. by that time.  I started doodling on my planner for 30 minutes before a guy came in and told me I was waiting in the wrong office. The office I was supposed to report to was next door. Ohmygod, I was late. I woke up early, I got to the site early, and I WAS LATE. How annoying is that?!?! Or how stupid. Hahahaha. *sigh*

So I went in. My supervisor was on sick leave, so someone else had to brief me about my work responsibilities. Ok naman. It's a lot different from what I was used to, but I can handle it (I think). I spent the morning just reviewing the floor plans and the project description of the buildings we were constructing. Then someone toured me around (the tour lasted around 5 minutes. The office was that small), and introduced me to some of the people there. I have office mates with names like Charisma, Melchor, Modesto, and Fundador (that's a winner). Hehehe. Ok ba? 

During lunch time, I ate one pandesal and then, being anti-social me (and because no one was around anyway...they were either eating in the pantry, or sleeping in their seats), I walked to the nearby (very nearby) mall to do some window shopping. Ang saya. Ang lapit ko sa mall. The perks. :)) The downside? Having no money, in a mall full of really expensive designer brands. Torture. Kulang nalang talaga eh umiyak ako sa loob ng Zara. Those long, summery, flower-print dresses!!! I need them!!!

*sigh* 

After lunch, there was a staff meeting...and it lasted for 4 frickin' hours. After the meeting, uwian na! Yahoo. So I went to the mall again. :)) My credit card is going to bite me back some day...(in approximately 1 month, when the bill comes).

* * * *

So yun. I guess that wasn't really a complete account of my day. Tinatamad lang ako to recall every single detail. Basta yan na yung gist. :D I think I'm going to like this new job. It's very technical (very construction-y, obviously), but I think I can do it. My body still has to adjust to the new hours (7 a.m. naman kasi!!! Waaaahhh), and to the new environment (I have to learn to use the site office restroom, rather than walk all the way to the mall to use their really nice, tissue-equipped restroom...maarte ako sa banyo, sorry. Pero kawawa bladder ko, since I can only go to the mall during lunch time. Hahaha!). 

But this is bound to be a very interesting ride. :) Hurrah, I'm excited. Bring it on!

Next time nalang

It's Friday night, and I'm about to go to bed.

Why?

Because I have work tomorrow.

Not overtime, mind you.

My work is from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (but people don't really leave till 6 p.m.), Mondays through Saturdays.

Nice.

I have a loooong, detailed account of my first day at work. Watch out for it. :))

For now, I want to sleep.

(or maybe check my mail...Hehe)