Punzi's Corner Blog

A close first cousin from the north who is a dentist came over yesterday afternoon to measure (cast) my teeth.

He's studying implantology once a week until the end of this year. Since I had some missing teeth, he said I was a good candidate to receive a dental implant to replace them. I'm going to be his test subject.

As it turns out, he will operate on that part and let my jawbone assimilate a Bicon(tm) implant for about three to four months. After that, he will stick a tooth from the plug that will be stuck in this implant.

It will be a tedious process, I know. But being a test subject, it will be free. And I know those implant things are expensive because if they were cheap, I would have gotten them by now.

And put it this way, anything to help my cousin, my friend. Heheheheheheheh!

We used our new LCD TV in the office to watch the big fight live on pay-per-view.

It's a very different experience watching it live and with minimal commercials. The whole thing just seems to flow better and the experience is exhilarating. That's the way to watch a fight, which may turn out to be Manny Pacquiao's greatest. He really showed class today and he beat the guy convincingly. Just look at how the guy fell down. He literally kissed the canvass.

What's funny is, we all jumped in excitement when Manny knocked David Diaz out and immediately got out celphones to text people of the result.

Those commercials, I think are bordering on vexatious. That may backfire on the advertisers, on sheer volume alone. There are even advertisements while the fight is in progress, occupying at least 1/3 of the screen. Good grief!

I know as I write this entry, the fight is not yet finished. It may come to a point where there may be a commercial for every punch the fighters will make. At that point, the sport will die a natural death, from suffocation.

Anyway, I look forward to the next pay-per-view. It was a good experience for me, not only watching the fight like that, but for the bonding session I had with my partners. That, I think, is the more important point of this decision of hours to get the fight live.

And all of these were happening while my kids were partying with the children's party of our associate's kid. So they had a bonding session of their own, as it turns out.

A good day today, indeed.

Don't you get the subtle hints?

He does not want to meet you.

And why would he want to?

And what makes you think you're so important that he would want to meet you?

You were given the runaround... isn't that enough hint to get the message?

Let me spell it out for you again:

He does not want to meet you.

And is this the correct time to meet in the first place?

So stop running around and chasing him.

Try to have some dignity.

It's not fitting for someone of your stature.

But then again... never mind.

And don't make a big deal about having talked to him over the phone instead.

The guy is just being polite.

And don't bring that "hell hath no fury" bit.

Even if you are furious, what can your fury do to him there?

... is nearer than I think.

Just checked my Adsense account and I'm just a few more dollars short of getting my first-ever Google Adsense paycheck. Imagine, my blog is almost four years old and at the rate I'm going, it will take until the end of this year before I get my first paycheck from blogging. Better stick to my day job.

Don't get me wrong. No less than the Philippine Blogging Guru taught me how to make money out of blogging. I know how, to say the least.

But I basically don't do what has to be done because it will severely compromise the content of this blog.

I want this to be my personal journal first and foremost. I want to put here my pure, unadulterated thoughts and to a certain extent, feelings. And if you have followed my blog for some time now, I have stood by my thoughts and opinions even at the risk of getting the ire of some people. So basically, I don't want to play the "keyword" or the "SEO" game. Not in this blog, at least.

Sometimes, I even have objections about the ads Google put here. I know these ads are context-sensitive and computer-controlled. But sometimes, their computers put in ads that go against my beliefs, my thoughts and my opinions or just plain inappropriate.

So why put in these ads given what I have stated above? I don't know why I put them there, actually. Probably out of curiosity. I'm curious if Google will actually pay.

So why do I still put these ads? Why not?

After a business meeting in the morning with an old colleague and friend, I spent a lot of time at the car shop where I took the new one for much-needed body repairs.

Spend most of the time there talking to the insurance and the warranty guys. Of course, I talked to the insurance guy about the damages the car suffered in my February mishap. Then, I talked to the warranty guys about the premature rust on the car doors.

The body repairs will not take too much time but the door replacements will... Let's just hope I will not need that car too much next month.

But in the end, they told me to take the car home first as they need to process the paperwork I just submitted. With any luck, I could bring the car in by Monday.

Anyway, that gave me more time to go immediately to my consultancy this afternoon instead of commuting home first to get the other car.

And that, in turn, allowed me to go home earlier than usual.

But before going home, I dropped by my neighborhood Yamaha dealer to pick up a flute-cleaning kit they failed to include when I got my new flute.

It's a good thing they gave me that piece of kit early. I was having a hard time cleaning the flute by just using some flannel cloth. Now, I can give my new flute the proper cleaning and polishing it deserves.

Now, if I can just put in some practice time today so I can get used to playing without the plugs sooner than later...

This is what I think a love song should be these days. Sung by The Cure, of course.



Love Song
by The Cure

Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am young again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am fun again

However far away I will always love you
However long I stay I will always love you
Whatever words I say I will always love you
I will always love you

Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am free again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am clean again

However far away I will always love you
However long I stay I will always love you
Whatever words I say I will always love you
I will always love you

So there I was, yearning to practice my new flute (without the plugs) after a long hard day's work.

Did some scales, some arpeggio runs, some passages and some music pieces.

Then, all of a sudden, the flute gave out when I played E. Could not play it again, try as I may. I even reapplied the plugs...

Went to the adjustment screw and got some relief but not much. E1 and E2 sounded, yes, but the quality was way down.

And then I noticed the post at the offset G... it was loose. And lo and behold, the screw holding the G mechanism came loose, perhaps because of vigorous playing. But then again, I really don't know why that screw came loose.

Quickly re-tightened that screw and re-adjusted the G keys. Problem solved.

Whew! I though I had to bring my brand new flute back to the shop for repairs.

And so, my daily practice on my new flute moves along to get me used to playing without the plugs. Hopefully, there will not be any more problems.

Day three tomorrow. And happily, I'm getting used to playing it without the plugs. I just have to practice on it some more...

(Bear with me if you cannot understand some of the things I'm saying. Perhaps someday, if I had more time. I can illustrate the parts of the flute I was talking about.)

Believe it or not, I had to work yesterday, albeit from home.

I had to prepare a presentation for my consultancy, to be presented in none other than the Supreme Court. Had to research, write the paper and make the Powerpoint presentation in one day, yesterday of all days.

Fortunately, we did not lose power, despite the strong wind and heavy rains and I was, more or less, inspired to do it.

Then, I had to show up at my consultancy today for most of the morning and some part of the afternoon to discuss the presentation with the boss.

Afterwards, it was off to the office for some desk work. But that ended early, so here I am at home. Did not even get to meet my partners today. Two of them got stuck up in the north when the storm broke over the weekend and I got news that they're on their way home. That's a relief.

Because of the storm, and the work I did despite it, I really did not get some rest yesterday. So I'll probably catch up now.

Until tomorrow...

(And oh, you don't make up for your absence in the country at its time of dire need by berating people left and right... but enjoy the fight, anyway...)

So now we're in a middle of a storm. The winds have picked up considerably and it's pouring rain from where I am.

We prepared last night by boarding up the potential spots where the wind will affect the house. Unfortunately, we did not stock up on food. I was supposed to do the groceries today, but apparently, I cannot do that now.

This storm has been brewing and wreaking havoc in our country the entire week.

And where are our government officials? They all went to the United States, ostensibly to work. But actually, they will all be in Las Vegas next Sunday for the big fight. Must have placed heavy bets there because apparently, that fight is more important to them than their constituents.

Ah yes... only in this country...

Started this day early with our lawyers meeting that should have been held yesterday.

Then on to what we call our "files day" where we spend half the workday fixing our physical files and backing up our computer files. I did not participate in that much, because I did some of the work the day before.

Afterwards, I rushed to my chamber sessions and arrived about 30 minutes late. It was no problem, though. In typical manner, they were just starting.

Of course, they could not help but notice I was carrying a new flute case. And of course, I had to take my new flute out for a spin in my chamber session today. And it plays really, really well, although I still had trouble playing it without the plugs. I was still grasping at a comfortable right hand position where I can cover the three ring keys and still play D and C.

The sweet tone of this new flute really showed during its first mass. Again, it played really, really well and it really sounded like it's three times more expensive than my old YFL-221 (which it is).

But I mustered enough courage to play the first half of the mass without the plugs. Ran into some difficulty but managed just fine.

Of course, I played way better with the plugs during the second half of the mass. Fittingly, the recessional song tonight was a definitive song that showcased the flute.

All in all, it was a good debut for my new flute, both in the chamber sessions and in mass. But I probably have to put in some extra time with it so I can play it without plugs sooner than later...

The flute teacher in the Yamaha dealership was probably right. I could probably play this flute comfortably without the plugs in a week or so. Well, I hope so. Just as soon as I hit that comfortable position in my right hand.

Now, for the matter of its name... my other instruments (except maybe the piano and the synthesizer) have names I have mentioned in this blog. My naming scheme and the names of my flutes are, however, secret. With that, I know what her name will be. Maybe I'll let the slip up in this blog one of these days...

Our weekly lawyers meeting got canceled today. The partners decided to move it tomorrow early morning and all went home early.

So now, I have some extra time.

Spending it with my kids first, of course. Then to get some action on my new flute. I have to practice a piece where I play solo on the melody called "Intermezzo (from Cavalleria Rusticana)" by Mascagni. It starts simple enough but gets complicated in the middle parts. It's also originally for the clarinet but I think I'll go at it with the flute first.

Then some rest. And then to some assignment I got from my consultancy that's due on Monday.

And I have that lawyers meeting early morning tomorrow.

That's all for now. I'll tell you all about my new flute's debut tomorrow.

Until then...

Spent all of my time in the office today, as opposed to spending all of my time at home yesterday.

But even if I did not got out (but actually did by the afternoon), I had a lot of work done.

I even played messenger in the afternoon because the rains kept our messengers from coming back in time for an urgent filing I had to do.

Anyway, the day did not end in the afternoon. I still had a couple of meetings in the evening. As a matter of fact, I just got home about an hour ago.

So I did not play my new flute much today. But the time I did, I got to impress some of our clients...

Tomorrow will be another full day, albeit spent mostly outside the office. A trip to my consultancy, then a board meeting during lunch lasting most of the afternoon, capped by our weekly lawyers meeting.

Then it will be files day on Saturday, along with my chamber sessions and choir.

Sunday will be grocery day. But more on my weekday on some later post.

Better get some rest, then because it will be a full day on top of another... and another.

In anticipation of perhaps the final NBA game tomorrow, my partners were hot to get a new LCD TV for the office, because cable TV was an extra feature of the second redundant DSL service we just got. So two of us trekked to Greenhills to get the best deal for around P30,000.00 budget.

And what a deal we got on a 32" Samsung LCD TV for a little more than the biggest CRT TV. They even threw in a wall mount bracket and a home theater system for free because it was a display unit.

I just got home from setting it up in the office conference room so my partners can enjoy what could be the last NBA game this season tomorrow morning.



On top of the GTA 4 I just got (and still enjoying), I got a copy of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue today, because it's price was low. I also probably got this to take my mind of anticipating my new flute, which I will get tomorrow.

But I really can't wait for my new flute... so I probably try to get some sleep by testing this new game tonight...

I can't wait. Really anticipating tomorrow...

So yes, I will not be with my partners tomorrow to enjoy the game. I will be somewhere else, more enjoyable for me, like the neighborhood Yamaha dealership...

Ripped this one out from Carlo's blog (who said it's really only 94 things). He was right. But I hunted around and found the missing questions, so this is really 100 things about me already.

Feel free to do it yourself. I don't do tags, you know. But I do the occasional memes.


1. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?
Big scar on my left knee. Got it from attempting to mount a bike that had a license plate on it. The plate sliced my knee (ewww!) and did not have it stitched.

2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?
Pictures of J.C., my kids, a wall clock, my high school and grade school diplomas and my lawyer's certificate from the Supreme Court.

3. DO YOU SNORE, GRIND YOUR TEETH, OR TALK IN YOUR SLEEP?
I'm told I snore very loudly, so loud that I sometimes wake myself up...

4. WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?
As everyone knows, everything except gospel and country and western

5. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN?
Around 4:00 a.m., according to records. Missed Christmas Day by 4 hours.

6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?
For my new flute to arrive.

7. WHAT DO YOU MISS?
Nothing really.

8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION?
It's a toss-up between Scarlett (my MacBook) and my musical instruments. Oh, I forgot, my kids if you can call them possessions, but they're technically not.

9. HOW TALL ARE YOU?
5'4.5"

10. DO YOU GET CLAUSTROPHOBIC?
Only in elevators in power shortages

11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?
Not really. I just hate bumping into things.

12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?
It's not actually she who will not be named. It's actually G.T. from way, way back (around 1992, think).

13. WHATS YOUR WORST FEAR?
Something bad happens to my loved ones

14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Anything that's long and well-groomed.

15. WHERE CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF PROPOSING / BEING PROPOSED TO AT?
Next question, please.

16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK?
Coffee at times, but not everyday. Energy Drinks are reserved for special extreme situations and used very sparingly.

17. FAVORITE PIZZA TOPPING?
Pepperoni and extra cheese.

18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Lechon.

19. FAVORITE COLOR OF ALL TIME?
Blue.

20. HAVE YOU EVER EATEN A GOLDFISH?
Nope.

21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST MEANINGFUL GIFT YOU'VE EVER RECEIVED?
I can't remember.

22. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?
Not right now.

23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED?
No.

24. FAVORITE CLOTHING BRAND?
LaCoste.

25. WHO IS THE HOTTEST FEMALE/MALE CELEBRITY?
Toss-up between Scarlet Johannson and Katherine Heigl

26. DO YOU HAVE A PET RIGHT NOW?
No.

27. WHAT KIND IS IT?
N/a

28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?
Yes, I did.

29. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU?
Straight out.

30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED:
88.

31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES?
Brunettes, probably because of their availability.

32. WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL MOST OFTEN?
The office.

33. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST?
Noise.

34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY?
Yes.

35. YOUR WEAKNESSES?
In college and high school? No known weakness.

In law school? Political Law.

In life? I can't tell you, of course.

36. MET ANYONE FAMOUS?
Yes. Adrian Paul (Duncan McCleod of the Clan McCleod) in Bataan.

37. FIRST JOB?
Underbar legal assistant.

38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?
No.

39. DO YOU THINK EVERYONE OUT THERE HAS A SOULMATE?
Of course.

40. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED THIS OUT?
Quality time with my kids

41. HAVE YOU EVER HAD SURGERY?
No. But I was under general anesthesia already.

42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
I don't know.

43. HAVE YOU EVER HAD BRACES?
No.

44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
World peace... seriously, my kids to be happy.

45. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT?
Two. Which is exactly what I have.

46. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Oliver Twist.

47. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST TURN OFF OF THE OPPOSITE SEX?
The vain, self-absorbed and the bimbo-brained.

48. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU MISS ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL?
The drugs... just kidding, the times together singing "In Between Days" by The Cure.

49. WHAT KIND OF SHAMPOO DO YOU USE?
Johnson's Baby Shampoo, since my age was in single digits.

50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Have you seen it? Or the better question is, would you understand it?

51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Spam.

52. ANY BAD HABITS?
Who doesn't?

53. ARE YOU A JEALOUS PERSON?
No jealousy in my body whatsoever. That contributed to the downfall of my marriage, I guess.

54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I like to think so.

55. DO YOU AGREE WITH FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS?
It's a good deal. Especially for me.

56. DO LOOKS MATTER?
In this world? Sadly, yes. Unfortunately. Form and function is the rule.

57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE ANGER?
Musical instruments.

58. WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
In my parent's house. Now stop laughing!

59. WHATS YOUR MAIN GOAL IN LIFE?
To be rich and powerful is the firm motto.

60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TOY AS A CHILD?
My Voltes V robot with actual 5 ships that volt into the huge robot.

61. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE?
I think a little less than 2000. Sorry, part of work.

62.WERE YOU A FAN OF BARNEY AS A LITTLE KID?
No Barney when I was a kid yet.

63. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Whenever I can.

64. MASHED POTATOES OR MACARONI AND CHEESE?
Mashed potatoes.

65. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
I go for looks now.

66. WHAT ARE YOUR NAMES?
Punzi, Noel, Punz, and some expletives as I have been called by she who will not be named, I guess.

67. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE BAND/SINGER?
Don’t really have one in mind at the moment.

68. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW?
Shark, X-Play, Cinematech, Mythbusters, American Chopper, Star Trek (all of them but Voyager in particular)

69.WHATS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH YOUR ENEMIES?
Pray for them.

70. WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
Vanilla, with chocolate syrup and some nuts.

71. DO YOU HAVE ALL YOUR FINGERS AND TOES?
Yes, and I'm grateful for that.

72. DO YOU HAVE A COMPUTER IN YOUR ROOM?
Yes.

73. PLANS FOR TONIGHT?
Work, some TV, blog and sleep.

74. WHAT'S THE FASTEST YOU'VE EVER GONE IN A CAR?
140+ kmh.

75. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
If they want to.

76. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO?
Audio of Pros vs. Joes.

77. LAST THING YOU DRANK?
Water.

78. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
A client's secretary.

79. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX?
This is a wholesome blog...

80. WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?
Musical pursuits, internet-related activities, TV, computer games.

81. FAVORITE THING/PERSON TO HATE?
Paris Hilton. Used to be Kris Aquino, but I only have pity for her now, considering what she's been through.

82. FAVORITE MONTH OF THE YEAR?
December.

83. WHATS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF CANDY?
Butterfinger.

84. HAVE YOU EVER REALLY AND TRULY HAD A BEST FRIEND?
Yes, several. Ironic, isn't it? Several "best" friends...

85. WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOR?
Black.

86. EYE COLOR?
Brown.

87. SHOE SIZE?
Between 7 and 8.

88. FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE?
Jollibee. I was a kid when they started. But now it's a toss-up between all the pizza places.

89. FAVORITE RESTAURANT?
Triple V for food binges. Any pizza place, I guess.

90. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI?
Only tuna, salmon, tamago and kani.

91. LAST THING YOU WATCHED?
Now watching Pros vs. Joes.

92. FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
December 25.

93. PLAY ANY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS?
Flute, saxophone, clarinet, keyboards.

94. REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT?
Politics here is all about personalities.

95. KISSES OR HUGS?
Both.

96. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS?
Neither.

97. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU BOUGHT?
Paid the balance of my new flute today.

98. DO YOU HAVE A LOW SELF ESTEEM OR A HIGH SELF ESTEEM?
Don't know.

99. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?
None. Last book I read was "The Secret."

100. DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE:
What love life?

Looks like my kids were busy and gave me their Father's Day present for me yesterday:



Happy Father's Day to all the fathers and single mothers (who are also technically fathers) out there!

God Bless us all!

I have to admit, I know and/or played most of, if not all of them...

There are some definitive video games missing here but hey, nobody's perfect...

... to temptation, because after so much pondering and indecision, I got myself a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV. I started playing it tonight to test it for defects and I was immediately immersed in the sights and sounds of Liberty City. It was relatively easy to get started here, unlike in San Andreas where the first mission was already difficult, causing me to quit it immediately. The graphics and sound are fantastic and the playability is the same one that made the Grand Theft Auto franchise a household name. My only problem is it's really not for kids. They shouldn't even watch or listen to it when played.



... to glee and anticipation on the music front, because this will be the last time I will play my old YFL-221 in choir as my main flute. My new flute arrives this Wednesday after lunch and I have cleared my schedule to get it. Fortunately, I saved enough to take it out of the shop after plunking down half its price to have it imported from Japan last January. The picture you see above is not yet my actual flute. I just got it from the net somehwere. I'll post a picture of my actual flute (and probably do an unboxing entry) once it arrives.

... to gratefulness on the professional front because while the work is mounting, the client quality is improving exponentially. Fortunately, we could get two new lawyers to help us attain the level to meet these new foreign clients. First, we may get an old colleague who is a pure corporate lawyer from a big and famous Makati office. Second, we may get another associate. With these new additions, we may be get to the next several levels of the firm's practice.

... to exhaustion as this week, short though it may seem, proved to be very tiring. It seems that two week's worth of work was compressed into the four-day workweek that was. And it does not end there. I may have to work through the weekend to meet another hectic week ahead. So if you'll excuse me, I think I'll doze off to dreamland a little early...

Looks like we have to hire another lawyer with the ever-increasing work.

Seems like we're attracting very good applicants these days. We don't know if we offer a competitive salary because I really don't ask other law firms how much they pay their associates.

But I guess their salary would depend on their experience level. Of course, we wouldn't pay an underbar the same salary as a lawyer that passed the bar. And of course, we wouldn't pay a lawyer who just passed the bar the same salary as one with more than year's experience.

I don't know if the kind of experience we offer our associates is conducive to their growth. But we do get the typical cases (collection, bouncing checks, etc.), but once in a while (but becoming frequent), we get big and complex cases. Our corporate and special projects work is beginning to catch up, too because we are getting big, international clients these days. This is the reason we may need to hire.

In any case, I can think of two reasons we are beginning to attract applicants from the good schools. First, we had our first firm outing in Boracay, who knows where we will go next year? Second, we issue MacBooks to our associates.

Question: What do you call 20,000 lawyers under the sea?

Seriously, though, the first day of this workweek was just that.

We met with a potential client yesterday in Makati that can represent the big break we are looking for. If this relationship is successful, we would hit the big leagues.

This potential client maybe the biggest we have so far. And what it's asking us to do may double our lawyer complement as early as next month. So you can imagine how big this one is.

And no, it's not a call center.

A good start to this week, don't you think?

Now if you could excuse me, I have some more work to do...

Serendipity.

That was the operative word for our entire trip.

And we almost did not make it to Boracay because of the hairline schedule we had to keep. It was wise of us just to keep moving without a break. We did not even stop to eat breakfast and lunch.

We had to make it to Roxas port by 10:00 a.m. because the next ferry was on 4:00 p.m. If we did not make that ferry we may have been stuck in Caticlan for the rest of Saturday.

We arrived at Roxas about 10 minutes late. Good thing the ferry left late, as if it waited for us to arrive.

Because of traffic at the Caticlan Port, we got to Boracay only at around 3:00 p.m. That's was the time we took our breakfast and lunch. And to think we left Manila at around 1:00 a.m.

That 14-hour trek is something I'm willing to do only once. Next time, we're taking the plane.

Anyway, with that out of the way, one dip at the waters of Boracay and it was all worth it.

And who would have thought that in just a few months from inception, our firm could take its entire staff to Boracay? I know of firms that have lawyer's meetings abroad. But our firm managed to take its entire staff to Boracay in just a few months.

And who would have thought I would get to do there what I would have missed doing in Manila at the time? Who would have thought I would get to play flute in the local Singles for Christ Choir of the Holy Rosary Parish, Boracay?

With these serendipitous events, who knows? There may be a firm branch in Boracay. It's not unlikely anymore.

With these events we are truly grateful. At least from now on, the office staff would not have any reason to slack off.

Anyway, it's back to work today... that vacation, and my adventures and my decision to leave all work behind for the past few days has left me recharged.

And when I got back, my dad already bought his new desktop (a Dell Vostro 200), where I'm writing this entry.

Also, it's back to school for Bea today... and me back to being school bus driver...

Who wouldn't want to play like this on a keyboard like this?

We ended Friday last week with exciting prospects.

Actually they are not prospects anymore. They have translated into actual work for this week.

Things are piling up. But in a good way. The week we face coming out of vacation will be very busy. But who's complaining? Only our associates, the number of which we think will grow by one (or even two).

Anyway, this week will keep me busy enough to take my mind of my impending new flute...

We are all excited. And grateful.

We hope you have the same productive, fulfilling, albeit short workweek ahead.

With work piling up in his practice, my Dad is again on the market for a new computer aside from the fine and dandy laptop I got him.

But now he's shopping around for desktop.

It has to be the same, or better specs that the laptop.

But I can't recommend that he get a Mac. He runs an architectural practice which is essentially CAD work, which, in turn, is essentially PC.

The iMac that can run Vista argument will not work either because he'll end up spending twice for something he can achieve with a pure PC. He does not need the premium features of Apple because he won't even use it much. His employees will.

Anyway, for the warranty and the tech support, we're getting him a branded desktop PC. He really does not need the top of the line specs. He basically needs a reliable machine.

But since I'm on vacation now, we will deal with that when I get back.

At least the frenzy of work has caught on. Even with my Dad, which is always a good sign.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

By the time you read this (or more accurately by the time this post is published, thanks to Blogger's new delayed publishing feature), I'm on my way to Boracay, my first time to go there. No, this is not work. It's actually our firm outing. Our first firm outing. We may even go further the subsequent years, judging from where we're going now. Maybe next year it will be out of the country already...

Will go there by road trip (an adventure in itself) but will go back by plane because I have to be back early Monday to prepare for the start of classes next week.

It's also a good timing that we won't have choir today. Even my chamber session is canceled, because most of us cannot attend. And I was hoping I can use my new flute for the next sessions. And that wish may even come true.

Will not bring a computer there (why would I? I don't even want to bring a phone, if I had my way), will probably be offline for my entire stay.

So I will be back soon on Monday. With pictures.

And don't fret. There will be posts for Sunday and Monday. I promise (or more accurately, Blogger promises.)

Have a nice weekend.

Don't know what came over me today but I decided to bring my kids to the office yesterday.

The problem is, Nico's nanny (who is also the household cook) could not join us because she had to cook my parents' supper. The other household help could not join also, because she had some urgent ironing to do before her day-off tomorrow.

So for the first time, I took my kids out, just the three of us.

It's also the first time since that horrid 31 December 2003 experience that I was left alone to tend to my kids. And unlike that time, I chose to be in this situation.

But somehow I think I must be doing something right because my children proved to be easy to handle, even precocious Nico.

So that episode, in a nutshell, went well and I was able to play the part of a true solo parent, something I have not done in a long, long time. Even fed them myself at a nearby fast food store.

Also only goes to show my kids are growing up and growing up well.

Yay me! Or more accurately, "Yay us!"

A hearing yesterday morning.

Some meetings throughout the day.

A partner's meeting that early evening.

Then overtime work on a big case we are handling.

The same case I attended that morning.

It's a good thing I decided to change out of formal wear and then wear my Crocs to work. At least my feet were comfortable throughout that busy day. But of course, I must not develop that habit.

Two more days to vacation time. I hope that vacation is as relaxing as the work is hectic.

I thought this week was supposed to be wind-down week before our Boracay vacation.

I was wrong.

There are new developments in a big case we are handling. So it's off to a hearing in the morning and some overnight work tonight.

And then another meeting in another big case in between...

But of course, these "developments" are all welcome.

Work hard, play hard as they say. But I always believe in business first before pleasure.

So we'll work hard and put business first for the workweek. But then play hard and enjoy our vacation time over the long weekend.

... four days to our firm outing in Boracay...

... fifteen days until I get my new flute... (They confirmed the June 18 pick-up date for the flute. At first it was June 15. Anyway, I waited for more than four months for it. I can wait for another half a month.)

But the excitement is already eating me up... (more for the flute than for the Boracay trip, though.)

Midnight Train To Georgia

(As recorded by Gladys Knight & The "New/Old" Pips)
JIM WEATHERLY

L.A. proved too much for the man
So he's leavin' the life he's come to know
He said he's goin' back to find what's left of his world
The world he left behind not so long ago

He's leavin' on that midnight train to Georgia
Said he's goin' back to find the simpler place and time
I'll be with him on that midnight train to Georgia
I'd rather live in his world than live without him in mine

He kept dreamin' that someday he'd be a star
But he sho' found out the hard way that dreams don't always come true
So he's pawned all his hopes and he even sold his own car
Bought a one-way ticket back to the life he once knew

Said he's leavin' on that midnight train to Georgia
Said he's goin' back to find the simpler place and time
I'm gonna be with him on that midnight train to Georgia
I'd rather live in his world than live without him in mine

Oh he's leavin' on the midnight train to Georgia
Said he's goin' back to find the simpler place and time
I've got to be with him on that midnight train to Georgia
I'd rather live in his world than live without him in mine

All aboard, all aboard, all aboard
On the midnight train to Georgia
I got to go
I got to go
I got to go

Just came back from my first gig with Al.

It was a birthday party of one of our valued clients. My partner volunteered us to play one song, with him in the keyboard and his wife singing, "The Way You Look Tonight."

We have been practicing the song since Friday night and I have been putting some extra effort on the runs I had to do yesterday.

Then we put in an extra hour of practice early tonight before heading out to the venue.

Anyway, everything went smoothly, thanks to the practice we put in... and (more than) a few shots of Johnny Walker Gold Label to calm the nerves before the performance.

Next year, we'll probably do two songs... Well at least, I know I can play Al well enough to perform some songs for friends... not bad for a little over a year of playing the saxophone.

Here's to another fulfilling week for all of us. It was a good start, at least for me...