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[I know I should have posted this before February ended but I just did not have the time to write about this.]

Okay, here are the "something new" for the month of February.

New bed. Beginning February, I sleep on the floor. I let my roommate use my bed for the meantime (perhaps until my posture is corrected). Actually, we just exchanged positions. I do not have any regret because I am enjoying my sleep on my new bed.

Hair cut. I wanted to color my hair but since it is very expensive, I just decided to have it trimmed. I already stopped trimming my own hair. I like the idea now of going to a hair parlor every now and then. I think that is why this people are trained to cut hair, so I just let them to their job.

I broke my eyeglasses (the one I was wearing in the above picture) I was careless. I removed my eyeglasses with just one hand then its temple broke. So the following day, I got a new one. It was very expensive and it was not in my budget for the month but my eyeglasses is an accessory that I should always have or I could not see clearly (I can't always wear my contact lenses especially when I am on travel).

Joy ride. Early in the morning of February 18, I started traveling to Pangasinan. I was with a friend and a mentor. It was my first time to really go to Pangasinan and travel around the province. We went to visit some people from town to town. We also went to see Hundred Islands. The next day, we continued our way to Nueva Ecija, then to Nueva Vizcaya and finally to Isabela where I stayed for 6 days attending a conference. It was, indeed, a tiring week but I just enjoyed the view of the provinces —something I can not always experience.

It's 20 minutes before I go home. I just finished my first folder topic outline. It is very difficult to look for topics especially when you are aiming that everything in a month is related to each other. I want to write something more substantial than this but I just do not have the time yet. I just want to post something today after a long hybernation from this blog. By the way, I am drinking coffee again but in moderation. I am still struggling with acid reflux. Well, I guess, I just have to fight with my sleepiness.

I will be writing to another magazine for the next volume. It is already final or is it? I am very busy again and I hate it but it seems that the spelling of slow down is f-a-s-t-e-r. I need to move as there are so many things to accomplish especially things related to our national youth conference. Ahhh, I am trying to be more creative for this. I am shifting now from becoming a writer into a graphic/design artist. I have to try my best.

Where is my writing discipline now? I have not updated my blogs since last month or last year or so. I got so many things in mind but I just can't sit down and write anything. I hope to give you an update of my something new for this month before it ends. I got a lot to share as for my personal developments. I was gone the the whole week last week and have travelled to different provinces. I just got back to work yesterday though I felt dizzy. It seemed that I was still inside the bus. I knew I needed to go to the office and cope with my back logs. Back logs? I do not think I have them.

I got a rewriting project yesterday but sadly it was cancelled. I need to write and earn more this time to cover up my absences. I may only have a thousand pesos for next month and I do not think I can survive with that. As much as possible, I do not want to withdraw from my savings. It is already allocated for my tuition fee if ever I would be qualified for master's degree. Besides, I need money in processing my US visa (praying it will be granted).

It's almost time and I need to end this entry now as someone may be waiting for me downstairs. (A chat window popped up!)

I am suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a more serious form of gastroesophageal reflux (GER), which is common. GER occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) opens spontaneously, for varying periods of time, or does not close properly and stomach contents rise up into the esophagus. GER is also called acid reflux or acid regurgitation, because digestive juices—called acids—rise up with the food. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. The LES is a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus that acts like a valve between the esophagus and stomach.

When acid reflux occurs, food or fluid can be tasted in the back of the mouth. When refluxed stomach acid touches the lining of the esophagus it may cause a burning sensation in the chest or throat called heartburn or acid indigestion. Occasional GER is common and does not necessarily mean one has GERD. Persistent reflux that occurs more than twice a week is considered GERD, and it can eventually lead to more serious health problems. People of all ages can have GERD.

"Persistent reflux that occurs more than twice a week is considered GERD." I took not of that, I know mine is serious because it occurs almost every after meal. It is also induced when I am brushing my tongue. It has been long since it started, I was just afraid to consult a doctor but this time it is chronic so I had no choice.

I am currently under medication and my doctor advised me to avoid the following foods:

• citrus fruits
• chocolate
• coffee, tea and alcohol
• fatty and fried foods
• garlic and onions
• mint flavorings
• spicy foods
• tomato based-foods
  

Well, no more coffee and tea (haven't taken since Friday). That's the reason I am always sleepy (might be a withdrawal syndrome). My can't go a day without coffee or tea. If I miss drinking at home I make sure that I got a cup in the office. But now, I can't even have a sip.

No more chocolates, no more oranges or even citrus fruits, no more spicy foods (I love spicy!), no more spaghetti, no more ketchup... no more. What can I eat, lahat na lang bawal!

I want this to end immediately! It seems that my life isn't normal anymore. One more thing, the medicines are very expensive.

January is about to end. As planned, I want to try something new each month. So here are some of the new things I tried for this month.

I wore a dress last Sunday. Well, this is part of my trying to change my boyish image. It may be just right to be more presentable especially that I am dealing with a lot of people in our church. Other than that, I hate to be always mistaken for a guy (though I am already used to it) just because of my name. I want people to see that the person behind the guy's name is a [beautiful] lady (cheka lang!).

New activity — working in the media center. On January 17, I was asked to observe how to set-up and use the recording interface in the new studio of the media center at the UMC headquarters. I helped in setting up the gadgets and other computers outside the studio. After that, we needed to try the equipment. So, feeling recording artist, I started singing a hymn — that makes me the first person to record in that studio. The media center is my new office and hang-out especially every Monday. Now, I also hope to record there my own songs...very soon!

Visited the dentist. After about two years, finally, I was able to find a new dentist. I had my teeth cleaned and repaired last Sunday. As usual, the dentist commented on my small close-contact teeth (that even a floss can not go between them). I was hurt when she tried to remove the stains and clean some decayed areas for filling. After the long process, I felt very clean but well, I had difficulty eating my meals.

Met new friends. Finally, I was able to meet some of Jong's friend last Saturday. I have been asking him that he will let me meet the people he always mention in his stories so at least I will have the idea of who they are. Most of them are fat and it seems that I do not belong (haha)!

Groceries and bills. Beginning this month, I will be going to the grocery to buy our  household stuffs, pay the bills and house rent. I took away the responsibility from my brother (after an argument) to save him the hardship of budgeting. I am not telling that I am better at it but at least I haven't went over my budget yet. God's providence is always pouring.

New arrangement. I wanted some change so I rearranged some stuffs in our house. I dragged my computer out of my room. It's already in the living room. I want to feel that my room is a resting place and not an extention of my workplace (or even others' workplace). I easily transfered the whole computer table (monitor, cpu, printer, etc.) but transferring the phone and dsl cable was difficult. I had to stretch out to reach the ceiling, remove the stable wires and bring them back again, only the other way. I did not know home to put it back, since I can not reuse the staple wires. Instead, I used push pins and hammered them on the side of the wire; now we have a colorful ceiling! I had a backache after.

I cooked gelatin. I just missed cooking/making gelatin. So I bought two green gelatin bars, dissolved it in boiling water, mixed sugar and milk, and topped it with pineapple! It was not that sweet, though. I will try it again, soon.

Finally, I learned how to text wrap using html code, just today!

By the way, let me introduce you to

2007 is over. Admittedly, that could have been the longest year for me. The schedules were heavy, the struggles were indeed difficult; and my life has become a bumpy ride with so much ups and downs. Thank God, I survived. So here comes another year — a year of new visions, a year of realizing some of the dreams. This is another year of challenges; though, I do not want it to be like last year, I want it new. I am excited how this year will turn but I am more excited on how I will accomplish everything I set for the new journey.

A Master's Degree. Hopefully, I will be able to enroll at the graduate school next school year. I still do not know where to find finances or scholarship for that matter. But school year opening is still five months from now. I have some in my bank account (not enough though) and I am hoping to earn more. A mentor told me to enroll a Master's in Ministry, which I think is really needed now. I mean I need a more professional background in doing my ministry in the church. Though, I am also hoping to get a Master's in Applied Media Studies, so far only available in De La Salle University, which I do not know if I can afford it without a scholarship.

I still need my job but I am not giving up the possibility of becoming a full time student, especially that the demands of my ministry may increase this year and may require a lot of time for field work. Rumaket na lang muna, so far, I am doing well with this; though I need a stable source of income.

Career. Before 2007 ended especially when I became part time employee in my current job, a realization came to me. I have already accepted that my church ministry is my career; and that is my calling. That is where God wants me to be. I am not dreaming anymore of having a stable job in a company, rise to the corporate ladder, earn high wages and so on.

My resistance to it for the longest time may have just caused me to be tired and took everything as a task rather than enjoying it and acting in the service of God. I have so many accomplishments but rarely that I have enjoyed. So for now, that I have accepted that truth in my life, I am expecting that I will enjoy more and have the feeling of fulfillment.

Another Book. I am not giving up in publishing another handbook for the UMYFP. If it were not possible until the end of my term, I still want to be a part of it until it is printed. I am having hard time pooling writers but I know it should be taken one at a time. Besides, there are more projects that need be accomplished before it.

I am also planning to continue writing my (semi) autobiography; or maybe a start another personal book project and publish it in 2010. Well, I am still looking forward to finishing the curriculum for young people so we can start writing study and  modular materials.

Priorities. I have already mentioned a lot about my ministry and plans. But this year I want to prioritize people; mend relationships. I have become more focused with work last year and least about family, friends and myself.

I want to give more time to them this year. I want to reconstruct my relationship with my mom and make us closer to each other. Praying, though, that she will learn to treat me more like a grown up and not her baby anymore.

My boyfriend and I is also trying to have more time together. Honestly, I just put him aside last year in place of meetings and projects. Though he did not complain, not once, I just realized that we need more time together. Time with him could be considered time with myself.

For my friends, I think I need to catch up with them; or maybe look for them. I already do not know where they are, what they are doing or whatever they are in. Perhaps, I need to attend one get together or to ask them for a dinner or whatever.

Something New. I also want to try something new each month — travel to new places, do new activities, eat new food, try a new line of clothing, or whatever new to me. That I think can give me extra motivation to go on.

Part of this something new is my desire to learn playing the guitar. There are a lot of people around me now who can teach me. I really want to set aside time for it. This is a new craft for me; something I should have learned long time ago if only I was determined.

Rest. Of course, this is one aspect I almost did not have last year. I want to have more time for it this year and I am promising myself not to tire it so often. I have been always sick and still harvesting the fruits of my not being a good steward of myself.

At the end of the year, I want to travel and have a vacation!

Read More, Write More. I have not accounted how many books or journals I finished reading last year but I know they were not many. This year, I am expecting more. I also want to write more, more than what I am writing in the office or from clients but something to enhance my skills and share a lot to my readers. I have started writing in Filipino at Pinoid. Hopefully, I can also regularly update my blogs.

This could be a very promising year; and I am praying that it will indeed be. Many are the plans in a (wo)man's heart but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails, says Proverbs 19:21. 

So, I was back to the old city of Manila, Intramuros. A day after New Year, Mighty and I toured Rev. Mike Ratliff, the Assistant General Secretary of the General Board of Discipleship. It was his first time to come to the Philippines and it was good that he had a glimpse of the cultural heritage of Filipinos.

Sinubukan niya ang aking historical knowledge.

We went to Quiapo (Ilalim), Intramuros and Luneta. In the end, he thanked me for the informative tour. Was I informative? Haha! It was a long day but it was fun!

So it's new year. Let the journey starts where the beginning is.

Tightly,
     she held the bag of bread in her hands.
Faster,
     she walk and run towards their house.
Suddenly,
     there was darkness and silence.

Her eyes were wide open but everything was dark;
Neither she was able to hear anything;
She can not even take a step forward;
She anchored herself in a bollard; and
                                continued breathing.

Every workman knows the necessity of keeping his tools in a good state of repair...

We are, in a certain sense, our own tools, and therefore must keep ourselves in order. It will be in vain for me to stock my library, or organise societies, or project schemes, if I neglect the culture of myself; for books, and agencies, and systems, are only remotely the instruments of my holy calling; my own spirit, soul, and body, are my nearest machinery for sacred service; my spiritual faculties, and my inner life, are my battle axe and weapons of war.