Alrighty people, I, yours truly, has turned 28 this January the First. So what have I accomplished the past year? What has changed? What will I be doing next?

Well, let's see. With my poor memory recall, I'd say I could take on a few significant events. Perhaps I'll just let my brain let out a whole stream of thought. At the start of the year, I planned on putting my hands on some business ventures. Unfortunately, that can never follow through. One, I have no prior experience with it, and second, nor do I have the mind set (and maybe patience) for it. Not that I'd completely ditch the whole idea, since it's always nice to have additional source of income. Though, I'd rather use my time for leisure for that.

A signficant, but gradual event was that I am the only one left in the project for our client. The original team I was in was a wacky bunch, and their leaving off for the things they decided for themselves kind of remind me how I _don't_ want to change. My passivity with my career is the result of my years long quarter-life crisis. Come July, I am the only veteran left in the project. New teammates came in, and a new cool team leader.

My new teammates however, though not so like as the last, is actually a happier crowd. With the introduction of friends who play Starcraft, I found myself enjoying work again. Since I don't have a gang of my own, this little 'team building during off hours' turned into occassional sessions to beer joints (working on strip joints, lol). Which is nice, since, you know, I'd get to hang out once in a while.

A significant thing that happened this year, ofcourse, was my promotion. I have no use really for names that sound big (like senior, supervisor, manager, etc.), but anything involving the giving of more money to me is always a joyous event :) With that in mind, let me state a rather ironic situation -- I don't use money much. The only things I just spend for are basic necessities -- food, rent, that's it. I do my own laundry, either hand wash for foot wash (imagine this one), and I don't date that much around anymore. And like I mentioned, my gang are geeks -- we're gaming nuts. And well, such hobby is usually free :D

Which leads us to my second accomplishment this year -- I helped buy the family van. The things we can do with this toy are endless. At least I've given something mom and dad could grin me for. In actuality, I wouldn't want to call it 'my' van which my mother insists on doing so. If they knew my intent, it's really just for them like a gift. Besides, I cannot drive it anyhow. Will get my own car someday :)

Ahh friends. Ofcourse, I must mention this part. I've said this over and over again, I have the propensity of being a hermit. When I make friends, it's more on a shallow level of amicability. If you're cool, then you're cool, let's laugh together over coffee sometime. But when it is time for me to move on, I say no goodbyes nor would a thought be occuring for me to even consider saying it. I don't keep in touch and all that boring shit, and like I said, if you're cool, then you'll stay cool even after five, ten years. Dig?

However, there comes a time when you do come across people who, when I was about to leave and move on again, kicks my ass so that I can remember that I still have cool people behind me. Yeah, to those beautiful people, I have to thank that you came around while I was throwing my heart in every directions as bait for dates >:D

Dates! Ah yes. The dating game. I have loved and hurt and loved again. And still want to be hurt again (eh?). I don't know how it all happened, but by gollies, I couldn't imagine how much I've figured it all out. Hah! Watch me mummy, I'm gonna make you proud :D

I do need, to relate a story about the past week however (Chilu, Mesai, and Jaz knows this already ... oh wait, and yeah, the rest of my family). I had a date with a friend who came from the US. We were already having a fun time chatting away while walking around the mall. We played Tekken 4 even (gorsh, she is such a cool, fun date), and her paranoid of a brother had to ruin EVERYTHING for us (well, maybe me at least). He seem to have gotten my light-heartedness all wrong and came storming to the mall thinking I am sort of a 'threat' to her sister (threat? She's 29 for heaven's sakes, is she like someone who always gets in trouble? Just how low does he trust his sister anyway?). And he had the GALL to 'talk' to me? Was he expecting a decent conversation if he starts out with cusses? I mean, see here, her sister, well she is pretty in her own eurasian-gene way, is a decent, kind and sweet person. I was expecting her brother to be at least the same. Who would've thought he's a frankenstein? If I didn't control myself, we could've come to blows. Not that I know I'd win, but I do know how to hit where it hurts. And God knows how much I freak under a pounding adrenalin rush. Since I still had my wits intact, I had to be concerned for his sister whom I felt helpless as she watched us pop our veins while snarling at each other, as I know she loves her brother very much and it hurts her seeing us this way in a situation nobody intended to happen. So I ended the confrontation by 'ignoring' her brother. *sigh*

I've spent the next half hour walking around trying to cool off my fury. And up until the next morning, the scenario is replaying endlessly in my mind still feeding off like a forest fire. Up til now, I have no communication with her. I don't know if I still should, but she's still my friend, first and foremost. I'd give some time perhaps to settle things out on their side before I even attempt to patch things up.

Alright, not to make the year end miserably, though knowing me such things only serve to toughen me up which I welcome anytime, I had a date with someone who's growing on me. We watched Entend Kabisote, though a family movie and has a few shining moments, is a ho-hum for the likes of me. We just went for a bite at Gonuts Donuts and had a discussion about life so far, relationships and stuff, her car accidents, my weight gain, her weight gain, until we trailed off and started talking about all of it again :)

Simply put, it was an immensely enjoyable time together. She still has some stuff to deal with herself though (read: still cynical), but the important thing is, it was a happy day for both of us.

Ok. For the last paragraph. Just a moment ago was my birthday celebration. It's a funny thing here in our family is that, New Year is a more joyous event that Christmas. Why? It's like the reunion date for the clan. This year, we had the regular visitors, my brother's, my nephew's, and my cousins'. I find it nice that we get to spend it this way, even though all throughout I'm treated like a prince and basically useless (uhm, ok, I'm always useless around here :D). It's also one of the few times I see mom laugh so hard she turns red.

Our beloved auntie who came from Australia had a couple of little games for us that, not only fun, it was also uhh, very fun. How? Just involve throwing away money and you get the picture. The best was the one in which she hid 20 peso bills all over the house for people to search for. They were all fits and giggles trying to rearrange the furniture just to have something to bet on Tong-its or Pusoy later. I, who don't have an affinity for money, flushed a bit when my cousin gleefully caught me looking for prizes around the house as well.

Whew. Ok that's that. I'm tired. It's 4:00 am and they are still outside playing Tong-its. I know I have left out other important details, but I couldn't list them all. I couldn't even check what I just wrote.

May this year be a good one for us all !