November 08

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--what keeps me busy.--

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scouting for a stable 8-5 job because, quite frankly, this freelance thing is getting to be a bit of a bore already (plus the fact that you work 20hrs. a day... or night). it would be great to be in an office atmosphere with real officemates you can interact with. not just merely colleagues and clients on YM.  there ARE a few offers lined up, and i'm waiting for their calls.  i hope they don't bang at the door all at the same time.  but heck, i'll be thankful if they bang at the door at all!


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--what keeps me busy.--

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online shopping has been around for as long as the internet has invaded homes and offices. most popular is the e-bay fad where "shopping becomes more exciting..." or so they say.  haven't tried it out.  i'm a bit wary about doing business online.  bogus sellers abound you know.  you send a couple of thousand pesos, and faster than speedy gonzales, the seller vanishes.  it's now one of the modern-day women's (and men's) nightmares. 
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happened to my dentist's wife once.  he was busy telling his assistant how depressed his wife was that morning (judging by how painful my entire mouth was after that visit, he's attention was focused more on relating his wife's misery than trying to minimize my own under his drill) about a certain e-bay swindling.  apparently, she chanced upon a PC unit with specs of such and such, priced at P25,000.  they said you had to see first how much feedback and hits a certain e-bay seller has as a vouch for credibility.  sadly, she overlooked this aspect, sent the whole amount...and the next day, POOF... "seller not listed"/"cancelled e-bay account".  fancy that.
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my sister has done so much online shopping since she moved to australia more than 20 years ago.  but mind you, she only shops at official sites with names such as Manolo Blahnik, Neimann Marcus, Louis Vuitton, Lambertson Truex, Bottega Venetta, (should i go on?)...  chances of getting a bogus sell is zero to none.
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then here comes MULTIPLY.  primarily a photo-sharing website. with video features, friendster-like networking, pimping, customized themes, and the like.  my multiply had a sole purpose of showcasing the exciting events in my life.  nowadays, it's still that...and something much more.  you see, last september 19, a contact (friend) request came in my inbox.  someone named FABRiChild wanted to be my "business contact".  normally, i don't accept people i do not know.  but her avatar and the description of her site tugged at my curiosity.  vintage fashion, dresses, etc.  well, i thought, wouldn't hurt to take a peek.
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well it HURT... a LOT!  correction... it hurt MY POCKET & SAVINGS ACCOUNT a lot.  i never knew shopping could be so exciting online!  it was something so new to me.  at first, i thought i just wanted to try it out and probably get over it after my first purchase.  at least i could say i DID buy something online.  but you see...the more you explore, the more you see things you like... things you crave...things you lose sleep over because you're afraid that someone else might buy it. 
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i reckoned it was the thrill of being the first to reserve an item and be smug about it because 30 other users were pinning for that same piece.  but according to COSMO Phils. Oct. '07 issue (and on the month of my binge-buying, it just happened to have a "ARE YOU A SHOPAHOLIC?" article in it... really...) shopping has these effects on a person:
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"Shopping defeats or at least circumvents, boredom, but not only because it fills idle time.  Consumption is an exercise in hope, hope for more happiness, more beauty, more status, more fun."
(ouch. meaning i have THAT much idle time???)


**"Shopping has a direct effect on the brain's pleasure centers.  In addiction-speak, it gives you one hell of a good "trip".  Going to the mall can flood the brain with dopamine, which is released when faced with something new and thrilling."
(YES. that, i can vouch, is true.)
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so i guess i know why i can't stop browsing from site to site.  i kept on thinking...if i don't check this other new site, i might miss out on some fabulous stuff!  so this constant thought keeps me clicking, and clicking, and clicking, and buying, and buying, and buying.  it was on sept. 19 i made my first purchase, and now, almost 2 months later, i check my closet and count the new stuff:


2 long-sleeved tops
1 sleeveless top
1 tube top
3 skirts
1 jacket
1 dress
3 bags
1 belt
1 bra
2 necklaces
2 collectors' item neckpieces


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in two months, i managed to purchase a year's worth of mall-shopping.  i rarely shop.  my splurge time is only during my birthday and christmas, and usually that only means 1 new blouse and 1 new skirt, or simply dinner with friends or a day out with my beau.
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and TO THINK, right at this moment, i still have a blue jacket, a white beach top, and a bracelet coming in the mail!  i guess i just dived too deep this time because i knew out of my monthly investment of P4,200, my only sure expenses are the water bill and my debt to doris, which only amounts to P1,500 per month.  last month, i told myself, "it's my boitday, i'm entitled to a bit of splurging."  now it's, "it's almost christmas, i'm giving these to myself as a christmas gift."
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i never run out of excuses for myself...that would happen only when i do run out of money to spend a few months from now.  and that is HIGHLY likely.
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sharleen is in a pit as well.  she's hooked on it as i am and has more items than i have.  we are hoping this is just a phase we can crawl out of...eventually.
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but for now, this is what breaks my monotonous life and helps me forget that ryan is an hour an a half away by plane (manila) + an additional 5 hours away by bus (batangas).


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--what keeps me busy.--

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i treat myself to a hearty laugh everyday by watching and downloading a 3-part episode of The Golden Girls via YouTube.  i don't care if i have 10 YM windows lighting up during the session.  when i'm watching TGG, everybody has no choice but to wait 'till the whole 25-minute episode is over.  when a friend incredulously asked, "you're picking TGG over me???", i said, "unless you're Blanche, Rose, Dorothy, or Sophia... then, YES".


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--what keeps me busy.--

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being a daugther, a grandaugther, a niece, a cousin, a friend, a confidant, an admin, a girlfriend, a sort of "daughter-in-law", a sort of "sister-in-law"... 
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being someone everyone else depends on can be tiring at times.  but incredibly rewarding, with the thought that you have helped unconditionally.  being of service to people i deeply care about has become one of the things i do on a regular basis.  i really don't know the exact reason why i go through great lengths to at least ease their troubles.  i guess it's innate.  and it's partly my life's motivation.  takes lots of effort...but makes my life worth living for.