Twenty Three New Things

I am officially twenty three. Well I don’t know about last year being the pinnacle but I think this past year became an important turning point in my life. I considered the year that was as the start of my wild glory days but everything happened in a blur. Last year, I gave thanks to all those who made my 22nd birthday special. Today, as I hit the 23rd mark I have listed down twenty three things new (that I personally have and some important people have pointed out) that were different from the AL that you would have met last year.

1. I smoke

-(for the whole gory detials, please read Operation Nicotine entry on May 1 2009) The habit started with Marlboro Green Menthol (for wusses), gradually progressing to Marlboro Lights (commoner for call center agents) then settling to Marlboro Reds (the "manly" cigarette as I deem it, though Tan said it's for tricycle drivers, I really don't care) to my rare inclination to Gudang Garam. It's not actually an addiction yet as I can stop at will and I can go on for weeks or days withouht a puff.

2. I drink

-started with San Mig Light. I hated the taste of beer at first but I got used to it eventually. I really like "hard" drinks more, like all the "-dors" known to man, (Gran Matador, Fundador, Emeperador, etc) courtesy of our drinking escapades in Hadasah's house. Hard drinks are sweeter and has more lasting effect on me than beer. And who needs a chaser? haha Most recently though I grew quite fond of Red Horse (kasi ang mahal na ng hard eh). The sweet bittery taste of the ice-cold golden liquid slides down your throat after a long hard day at work is all you need to wash the stress away.

3. I have three ear piercings and 4. I have a tattoo

-(for more information kindly refer to entry April 16 2009). Did both on the same day with my best friend as a celebration of the changes in my life. It felt really good.

5. I use profanity in every single sentence

-not surprising being a call center agent. When you get to talk to stupid and racist idiots on the phone for 8 hours (or more) 5 days a week (or more) you adapt a subconsious sense of hostility that even the littlest of things would make you utter blasphemy. This is a bad thing and I know I should totally eradicate it from my system.(are you f*ck*ng kidding me? what kind of an a**hole would do that?! LOL)

6. I have become such an a**hole agent

-from being one of the top goody goody agents on the floor, I have learned to even the playing field with my customers. If at the first 2 minutes and you sound like an a**hole, i'll be more than willing to put you on hold for eternity until you drop the call, transfer you to an Indian rep or to release your call. Goodluck on dialing the number again and waiting for ages to get the next rep. If you're a jerk customer i'll be a bigger jerk agent and you won't get anything from me. (Pero if mabait ka naman, kahit 3 hours tayo sa phone walang problema basta maayaos ang problema mo)

7. My female appreciation skills are a bit heightened

-thanks to Aldous peripheral vision skills and his "clock-hand technique",I have acquired a more sensible appreciation of the fairer sex. I only look lang naman, I never touch, well not yet. hehe

8. I have collected jackets

-I think I got this habit out of Tristan. I used to wear a blanket on the floor if the temperature suddenly falls into freezing point, but eversince I've known Tan, I've acquired his habit of buying jackets with hoodies (and still wear the jacket even after shift). I dunno. I thought the jackets looked kinda nice. :)

9. I have developed an instant craving for Starbucks® Chocolate Cream Chip Frappe or Raspberry Frappuccino

-since the only main hang-out place in the building where my work was recently rellocated to is Starbucks (next to 7/11), this shouldn't come as a surprise. I used to detest Starbucks and I strongly believed that the coffee wasn't good at all and the hefty price is just because of the name. Apparently, its still true but since some of my new friends are addicted to it and since I really don't much of a choice we have entry number 9.

10. I practice EOP (English Only Policy) even after work

-subconsiouly! Before, I had NEAOP (No English After Office Policy) but speaking in English comes so naturally that I sometimes forget that the person whom I'm speaking to is not in the same industry as I am. Rest assure, I'll do my best to minimize this. It's not yet drastic to the point that I'm conversing in English even with  manong driver and manang kwekwek. LOL. Hindi pa naman.

11. I stopped going to Yahoo® Chat rooms

-I hardly go to chat rooms anymore simply because I do not have the time. When I was in training before (which ends at around 1 AM) I was able to go online when I get home and go to MMB6 in Yahoo Chatrooms where my cyberfriends are but since I have a different schedule now I can't.

12. I abuse my older siblings more for money

-especially my older brother. If my paycheck isn't enough to cover my partying expenses, there's always my ever trusty big brother to ask money from. hehehe

13. I am considering on finding “the one”

-Since everyone is curious as to why I haven't found a girlfriend yet, we have entry number 13 to shut them all up.

14. I really abandoned my dreams of becoming an aspiring a U.P. Pharmacy graduate

-who am I kidding? 2 years AWOL+ X years MRR in this school with the hopes of still finishing my degree? That's a first! Maybe someday I will finish my Pharmacy course, but it would be in a different school. I don;t know yet. I simply just can't let go of work now as I'm expected to contribute to my family's dire financial needs. Who needs UP anyway? It's just a school. Maybe a degree in business...I don't know yet.

15. I became less and less of an internet junkie
-When my internet connection is brand new it was like surfing like there's no tomorrow. But now, since I have ran of websites to go to ( I don't know that many) and simply because I can't find the time, the only one happy that we have an internet connection is my older sister.

16. I became more open minded

-more open minded than I was in college, since you get to meet more and more people as you grow older you learn to accept their flaws and their personality.

17. I am a bum
-or I will become a bum in less than a week as the 30-day effectivity of my resignation date comes closer. When you work 40 hours a week I think you earn the right to be a bum. (at least for a day or two)

18. I go out more with friends

-Live like there's no tomorrow. Cherish your friends today. Life is too short to stay at home. Party with friends. You don't know if they're still there to stick around tomorrow. (Huskies Friends, Tonio Go, Kamikami, The Brotherhood....all you need are good friends to get through life)

19. I became less and less up-to-date with current mainstream music
-unlike when I was in college  when MYX was god. Right now, there simply isn't enough time to listen to new music. The only time I get to hear new music is when I hear it on the bus or when I think my ipod playlist song is outdated.

20. I became more and more laid back with life
-one important thing I have learned this year to simply sit back and enjoy life. Let the pieces fall where they may. Life is too short to stress out much.

21. I think of sex less often
-not enough time. enough said. LOL

22. I appreciate the value of my earnings.
-when you ran out of cash due to excessive mall trips and partying you learn the lesson of valuing money. You learn the lesson the hard way. And since you're working yourself to the bones, you become more and more aware that it took you 8 frustratingly long calls to buy the cool shirt that you really don't need.




23. I feel more responsible on the choices I make everyday.
-beause I think I'm getting old, and I am. hehe

So lads there you have it! Twenty-three new things about me to hate or to celebrate this year.