what does 'feels like Christmas' mean?

More than once, I've heard somebody say that it doesn't feel like the holidays this season. I have to agree. But as to how the holidays should feel exactly is puzzling.

One thing that hasn't changed at all about the holidays is how much money has been literally sucked out of my pocket.

So hooray for the holidays. Boo for being broke.

i know what fun is

I had the very rare opportunity to party last night! A former student celebrated her Oscars-themed 18th birthday at the Manila hotel which, in my party-deprived humble opinion, was by far the best party I've ever attended! Even if I didn't know more than half of the guests and came with a colleague who left me sometimes (as expected...we're fraternal---I'm supposed to be the older sister), I hung out at the open bar---yes, open bar--and had so much fun drinking wild mojitos like it was my first time! The fact that I got to see one of my favorite bands play made the whole thing fun-ner.

So, yeah, I know how to have fun...although, come to think of it, I may potentially become an alcoholic. That and I left the party early. Because, I think I got tipsy...and I promised my husband that I'd come home early.

I had fun and I kept my promise. Good, semi-clean fun, if you ask me. ^_^

dolor-o-phile

Dolor means pain.

I think I'm addicted to it...I think. Or maybe it's simply drawn to me. Stressful situations too.
In barely two weeks I experienced physical & emotional pain like a wannabe martyr flagellating himself during Lent. It's so difficult to keep a straight face and professional demeanor at work while your mind is constantly enumerating ongoing & potential problems in your life.

The reason why in spite of sleep-deprivation, heaviness in breathing and lack of practice, I agreed to perform in a piano concert last saturday was because playing the piano is the closest release and "other dimension"-type of activity that could provide me the antidote to depression. The pieces I chose were not the highly complicated type but the easy, emotional, abstract kind. I didn't really care if the audience practically snored or what. It's not about dexterity and bragging my piano knowledge; it's about temporarily transcending into a more peaceful mode. It's my drug. That and caffeine.

I just delivered my tenurial lecture yesterday and managed to deliver it without ever hurling. Yeah, delivering lectures is part of my job description but not really in front of colleagues and the college dean. I should pat myself in the back but the real motivation for me is the salary increase I could get for being tenured. Ka-ching. I didn't just write that out loud? *It's 2016 and I cringed when I read this post*

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On our way home, my husband and I encountered mother-and-child beggars and missionaries seeking alms. I still get that stabbing pain in my chest when I see them. I don't care whether they're professional beggars or whatnot but I still feel disheartened. There's nothing wrong with giving them alms and thinking straight. My grandfather always emphasized that if you have a little extra you should share it with someone whom you know can never pay you back, because when your time of need arises you just somehow miraculously end up getting what you need.

jeepneys tricycles fxs

My daily routine involves traveling via PUVs (public utility vehicles). Normally, I take a tricycle and 2 jeepneys to get to work and ride a Tamaraw FX to go home or ride a jeep to attend graduate school. It's typically boring and tiring.

Anyway, one late afternoon, while I was riding a jeepney I noticed a very interesting fellow who was sitting almost alongside the jeepney driver. He was looking at his reflection on the right side mirror and was incessantly fixing his damn hair. When I initially observed him, I didn't think it was a big deal until 5 minutes later I realized that he hasn't ceased his hair preening frenzy! Geez. Maybe I was tired, maybe I was hungry, maybe I was having a hormonal fix but MYGAD, that dude is VAIN!

Why am I even making such a big fuss over a narcissistic commuter? I dunno. I was just annoyed, I guess. I mean, yeah, he wasn't bad looking but ugh. That scene deserves to be on my list of top 10 turn-offs!