DOW IS down

777 points! can you believe? God is already brewing something. It's so obvious!

today i heard our office's BIG boss scream. sya yung pinaka mataas sa buong western region. when it looked like the bailout plan was not going to pass, he stormed back to his office, screamed "aaaaaaaaargh!!!!!" and slammed the door shut.

talk about frustration!

in the 5 years that he's been our boss, i have never seen him lose it like he did today. he's always calm and cool and collected, pero today...grabe! nakakakaba. e super bait talaga nung taong yon. he also has a very deep relationship with the Lord and so I look up to this guy in so many ways. pero, tao lang din sya tulad ko na nafufrustrate.

kala ko magcoclose ang trading ng maaga kasi baka magtuloy tuloy ang bagsak ng dow jones industrial average. sabi sa news, that 777 point drop was the equivalent of $1.3 trillion in lost value of stocks. grabe no?

mini-moon

paul and mimie's 3rd anniversary mini-moon

don't panic!

Our need is not to prove God's faithfulness, but to demonstrate our own, by trusting him both to determine and to supply our needs according to his will. FAITH is refusal to panic.

very timely sa situation ng mundo ngayon no? my friend ron shared this with me this morning. he was listening to pastor rick warren's podcast (of purpose driven life fame) and he felt that the Lord was speaking to him directly and it blessed and reassured him so much he had to share it with people he knows....and i am sharing this with you also. when the urge to panic starts creeping up on you, remind yourself that God is truely faithful!

the bright side of things

i have so much to be thankful for! (didn't i say the next blog was positive?!)

on sunday, my husband and i will be celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary! yey!!! no gifts this year. we opted to skip the gift and just stay at the four seasons on saturday night and enjoy several good meals throughout our stay.

i got spoiled during my stay at the beverly wilshire (a four seasons hotel) for my birthday and i wanted paul to experience it too so we decided to celebrate our anniversary the 4 seasons in sf. yesterday, i called the concierge desk for a request...

'i have a question/request. my husband and i attended a wedding there last year where the appetizer that was served was white truffle ravioli. i checked your restaurant's menu but i didn't see it there. do you think we could have that as our entree` for dinner on saturday night? my husband and i are celebrating our anniversary.' i told the concierge.

'do you have the name of the wedding party?', she asked me.

'yes. the groom's name is _____ _____. his wife's name is ______ but i forgot her maiden name. they got married in august 2007,' i replied.

'let me talk to the chef and see what he can do. i have your number, i will call you back shortly.'

a mere 30 mins went by and my phone rang.

'hello ms. almira, the chef said it shouldn't be a problem. it might not be exactly what was served at the wedding but he will do his best to replicate the ravioli. do you have reservations for dinner yet? i can arrange that for you and make sure you get the ravioli for your entree,' said the concierge.

'that's great! thank you very much! dinner on saturday, 630 pm. thanks again!'

four seasons is awesome! i hope they come through and have that ravioli ready for dinner on saturday. super sarap talaga yung ravioli na yon. paul and i wouldn't ask for it if it wasn't so good. 1 year after the wedding we attended, we are still talking about it. =)

God has blessed me with a wonderful husband. very patient to his impatient and moody wife. a doting father to his amazing daughter. he's a good son, good brother, and a good friend. i love you beb!

we are [again] one step closer to purchasing the house we want. the first lender has approved our offer, but the second lender has yet to give their verdict. it takes faith to purchase a house in this current market with so many uncertainties...pero like i said many times before, when the Lord blesses, he will add no sorrow with it. God will provide!!!

o di ba? maraming dapat ipagpasalamat? =)

hangin' tough

today was a tough day at work for me. i'm not the type to get stressed very easily but i just felt exhausted and my back was hurting so much. the breakroom discussions revolved around the merger and what the future holds. i felt like i was part of 'camera cafe' minus the punchline. we have a similar coffee machine at work and a lot of conversation took place around the coffee machine. coffee fuels our office as most of the employees are in by 530 am.

here is what you will hear in the breakroom:

'hey how's it going?'
'all things considered, not that bad.'

'how are you guys holding up?'
'it's tough but you gotta do what you gotta do.'

we ordered a bunch of new business cards for our employees, one email i got said, 'i hope we get to use them!' i'm not witty enough to respond to that. i just said to myself, 'i hope so. it will make a good souvenir though.'

speaking of souvenirs, i went to this website that sells our company's wearables and accessories and shoped for several things, they might not be around by january.

i was on a conference call this morning about a new rule that SEC wanted to implement. different people from the industry were on the call, not just people from our firm. there was about 150 of us on the line but only 10 people did the talking. the press was strictly off limits. i have never heard such frustration in all the conference calls i've been on, it was depressing.

and then there's just these random things in the office that makes me want to pull the hair out of my head. just little things that push my buttons but in the end i still said, 'no worries! that's ok' when in truth i wanted to say, 'seriously now! are you being ridiculous!?'

*sigh*

i need a massage. i'm desperate for a massage!

erase! erase! so depressing! my next entry will be purely positive. i promise!!!!

watching wall street go by

the reality of america's financial crisis has been very real to me. gas prices are astronomical as well as other goods and services. but it hit too close for comfort when news spread on sunday that a major bank was discussing a merger with our company.

as i read the headline on msnbc, my jaw dropped and i immediately texted my boss. 'have you heard the news!???!?!?! _____ is going to buy us!?!?!?!? did you know!?!??!!?' i was obviously in a state of shock! i don't think i've ever used that many question marks and exclamation points in a single text message. my boss, cool as always, texted me and said, 'i just found out today as well. i'm keeping an eye on the news because that's where all my information is coming from.'

i was heartbroken. i am very proud of our company, the culture, it's outstanding employees, the name, the brand. it is a great company to work for, maybe not the best, but i think we are still compensated well and the benefits are good. i can't believe that by january, out stock ticker will seize to exist. word is that we will be keeping our brand name but below it will probably say, 'a subsidiary of (name of our buyer)'.

in the office monday morning, you can tell that there is a dark cloud over everyone. it was business as usual but it was a struggle to get through the day when so much seems so uncertain. the whole company tuned in to our ceo as he held an town hall meeting from our headquarters in new york. he answered several questions with, 'we don't have the answer to that yet...' and 'that has not been discussed as of the weekend' i understand that this is all brand new to everyone and not all the bases have been covered (that's why the process isn't complete until january) but uncertainty brings about fear. there were some tears on the trading floor yesterday...tears of frustration and sadness. we still believe in our brand and we know for a fact that we are still a highly profitable company, but after seeing bear stearns and lehman brothers crumble to pieces, we dare not follow their footsteps. our ceo and the board had to act quickly before it was too late.

g.s., one of our biggest competitors, just reported an earnings decrease of 70%. rumor has it that they and m.s. (another competitor) have been advised by the fed to find themselves a buyer by next year. none of the independent brokerage firms will survive this crisis. wall street is changing before our eyes, and it's not a pretty picture.

where do i stand in all of this? like i said, i was heart broken and i am saddened by the whole thing. but at the same time i am thankful that our company is finding a solution before it's too late. am i worried? of course this news will shake me a little bit. but i know that God is in control and i know His plans for me is to prosper me and not to harm me, to give me hope and a good future. All things work together for good, to them that love the Lord. He reminds me of Job who lost everything he ever owned, his family and his friends, and yet one thing he held on to so dearly was his faith in God. God saw how much Job trusted him despite everything that happened in his life, and so as a result, God showed his wonderful glory in Job's life and restored everything back and more. The Lord gives, and He takes away. everything i have is the Lord's, i am but a humble steward. if he chooses to take away the livelihood, then His will be done. i will continue to praise him and tell the world of his goodness. i know he has wonderful plans for me. the psalmist writes in psalm 37:25, "i once was young but now i am old, and yet i have never seen the godly forsaken nor their children begging bread'. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. i know that He will always be my strength, and my provider. there are many things in this world that i do not have control over, but i serve a faithful God who is always in control. he is our greatest treasure. no great job, not even all the money in the world can provide the security that he can.

so, i tell my self over and over, if God is for us, who can stand against us?

the french fashionista

tada!

bisou! bisou!

hmm...where should i shop next?

yes, i think she is very adorable. =) i am one proud momma!

a lot of the pics were blurry because i was laughing so hard as i took them.

more here

EVERYTHING's been keeping me busy

i have work.

i have family.

i have school.

i have baking.

i have church.

all keeping me busy. i felt so so so bad! nakalimutan ko yung practice ng music ministry kahapon!!! urgh!!!! nainis ako bigla sa sarili ko! naalala ko 9 pm na!!!! haaaaaaay!!!!

perry's celebrating his bday today at a club somewhere. syempre nagdecline ako. feeling ko i'm too old for that scene. well, even when i was younger naman hindi ko nagustuhan ang clubbing clubbing na yan. lalo na ngayon na meron na akong asawa't anak. i'd rather have dinner and drinks with friends rather than do the whole club thing. tsaka, di ginarote ako ng parents ko. iiwan ko ang anak ko sa kanila para lang makapag disco?? parang mali yun di ba?

now that i'm back in school, i realize if i want to really finish and do well at the same time, i can only handle one class at a time. my schedule is so full, sa work ko na nga lang ginagawa ang mga school stuff ko. pag nandito kasi sa bahay, mangungulit si michelle. sinubukan kong pagsabayin ang baking at doing homework, muntik na masunog ang crust nung pie.

tsk tsk. pero dahil busy ako...i'm getting a lot of things done. i FINALLY finished the final line up of songs for the wedding video. YES! after almost two years, ngayon ko lang natapos. sue me!

i also finished editing michelle's videos from birth to december 2007. yey!!!!

Video of Tselogs on Adobo Nation

Tselogs Tapas Cafe was featured on Adobo Nation on The Filipino Channel on August 31, 2008. Here is the video of the segment.

happy birthday michelle

my dear daughter celebrated her 2nd bday today. daddy was in portland so mommy only had two hands to take these few photos and a very short video. but it captured the joy of being a kid, doesn't it?

estudyante blues

Months ago, I decided to go back to school and get a masters degree in…well, anything! I got in touch with an old professor from college who said she will gladly write a letter of recommendation for me once I decide on what I wanted to pursue. After going back and forth between getting my masters in English, International Relations, or getting my MBA, I decided not too long ago to get my MS in Human Resource Management.

Ha???? Ano yun? Where did that come from?!

I honestly have no idea! I was desperate to go back to school. I was eager to polish this rusty old brain and see if it can still handle the demands of ‘higher learning’. Since I already am in management, I feel that this will help me become effective and good at what I do. I wanted to pursue something along the lines of what I do without really getting my MBA because deep down I really don't think I'd be happy if I did. Why? I don't know. I just wasn't comfortable with an MBA. (weird no?) Another incentive to go back to school was the fact that the company will reimburse my very expensive tuition at the end of the semester, it was a deal too good to pass up. But I have to get an A if I want to get 100% of my tuition, 80% if I get a B, 50% if I get a C, and zero if my grade is any less than the latter.

I signed up for just one class this semester. I wasn’t ready to dive right into it so this is my way of ‘testing the water’. It’s an online class, too, (or distance learning if that’s what you want to call it) which is a first for me. I wonder if I will succeed as a student with an already demanding schedule (work, family, and oh yes, the buko pie!). So today, I logged into my class with my heart beating so fast you’d think I was actually going inside a class room for the very first time. There are at least 12 students enrolled in the class and each one of us had to write an introduction. There goes my heart again! “What do I write about? I want it to be short but tells them everything I want them to know about me. Hmmmm…” After minutes of thinking, this is what I wrote:

Hi Everyone!

My name is Almira, I am 28 years old, living in the SF Bay Area and working as the office manager for the Institutional Sales and Institutional Advisory Division for our firm. I have been married for 3 years, and have a daughter who turns 2 years old tomorrow. I received my bachelor’s degree from UC Davis in 2003 with a degree in Political Science and Anthropology. How I ended up in the financial industry is a mystery to me! This is my first class towards getting my MS in Human Resource Management. I am excited and nervous at the same time…excited because I’ve always loved school and nervous, too, because I’m not sure how well I’ll be able to manage my time between work, family, school, and helping my best friend with her new restaurant business.

I was promoted last year to my role but I felt that I needed more tools to help me succeed as a manager so I decided to hit the books again. After reading everyone’s introduction, I think this course (and the many others I will take) along with the professional experience from everyone in the class will help me become an effective manager.

When I have the time, I like to travel, cook, and read all sorts of books (whatever I could get my hands on) and watch the news on TV. My parents and I moved to California from the Philippines 11 years ago so I still feel a very close connection to the Philippines and its people. I am blessed to have the perspective and the experience of living in two very different countries with very different cultures. Having two ‘homes’ has already enriched my life tremendously.

Do you think the above sums me up?

2 days away

my daughter is two days away from celebrating her 2nd birthday. i always gush when i write about her. of course, to me, she is the smartest, most beautiful girl in the whole wide world. nothing can compare to the love i feel her. to me, she is just, perfect!

but in the two years of being a mother, i still ask myself whether i am doing the best job i can. have i been relying too much on technology to help me take care of my daughter? in this modern world we live in, where standards of living are higher and wages can't seem to keep up with inflation, we don't have the luxury of having household help or even be a stay-at-home wife/mother. sadly, i am not like other mothers who have the time and patience to play with their children and read to them for hours on end. i told my husband shortly after my 3-month maternity leave that i don't think i can handle staying at home. my daughter would be so bored with me because i'm the type who just reads or watch tv. but i do make it a point to bond with her - i still play with her, i read to her every day, and i watch her pre-school tv shows with her so she's not just glued to the tv but i point things out to her and encourage dialogue between the two of us. you'll be surprised how extensive her vocabulary is at age 2. we sing, we dance, and play with her little piano. our favorite outdoor activity is blowing bubbles on beautiful sunny days and watching them being swiftly carried away by the wind. now that i'm writing all of these things down, i realize we do a lot of things together, and i don't feel so bad anymore. but still, it feels like my time with her is never enough, like i should be doing more but i'm not sure i know how.

michelle is the spitting image of her father but her behavior and mannerisms are exactly like mine. she loves to sing and dance as much as i do, loves to read, and unfortunately, has the same impatience as her mom's. she is taking an interest in cooking because she often sees me cooking up some buko pie in the kitchen. she would insist i give her something so she can 'luto-luto' like mommy. but michelle is everybody's girl. she's very friendly and outgoing and has a ready smile for anyone, especially at the one holding the camera. =) our neighbor, jordana, once said, 'your daughter is very lucky. i can tell she feels very secure. she knows that so many people love her.' jordana used to work as a social worker before she retired and so she's been around children who received less than they deserve. i am thankful that so many of my friends and family give her so much love and attention. as a result, michelle is not selosa. even if i play with or carry other children in my arms, she would just smile and ask if she could carry the baby, too.

each night before she sleeps, i tell her, 'michelle, pray muna tayo'. she puts her tiny hands together and waits for me to say a short prayer. it's almost always, 'dear jesus, thank you for this beautiful day. bless me, mommy and daddy, and lolo and lola. in jesus name..." she always says 'amen.' if there is one thing in this world that i want her to learn, it is to love the Lord with all her heart. michelle can be the most successful, the most intelligent, even the richest woman in the world later on in her life, but if she does not have the Lord in her heart and at the center of her life, part of me would feel as if i have failed as a mother. the Lord knows my husband and i cannot raise her on our own. so we pray for her, maybe not as often as we should, but when i do, i always feel tears welling up in my eyes. i am truly blessed to be her mother and the only way to show the Lord how grateful i am is to raise her in the way of the Lord.

so michelle, i know you are too young to read this and who knows if this blog will be around when you are able to read and understand everything, but i would like to say i love you with all my heart. you are the Lord's most precious gift to us, and your dad and i will love you forever. may you grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. and may you learn to acknowledge that He is your Lord and Savior and the only way to Life. you are blessed to be a blessing to others and you are created for a purpose. may the Lord show you His way and may you follow His way everyday. we love you so much, but the Lord loves you more than we ever could. happy birthday!