I was sick for a week. After doing hardcore cleaning on the dirty kitchen the whole Sunday afternoon last week, I just felt ill come sun down and bang! I got the flu. NOT SWINE FLU!

What happens when I get sick is that my nose breaks out with zits and I cough relentlessly like a dog. Yeah, what a bummer! On top of that, I still had to work with my regular shows and do rush projects for a Chicago-based client.

Now I’m back (well technically I was never gone, i was just hiding) and still busy as ever. Ooops! But wait, there’s more! Lookie what we bought last Saturday…

A 32″ Samsung Series 3 LCD TV. It’s not exactly my dream TV, but what the heck!!! It’s way better than our first 21″ Sanyo color TV! WOHOO!!!

We cashed out 5K and we paid the rest by using my one month debt-free credit card and PJ’s  card for a good deal. After roaming SM stores for the past few months and all of Trinoma for the past few weeks in search of the best priced LCD TVs, we came across this store called Theaterworks in Trinoma that sells about 5k pesos cheaper (10k if you buy in cash) compared to other stores like Appliance Center, Anson and Abenson.

Next on my “TO BUY” list… a butt-kicking home theater sound system!

I did not realize that house cleaning can be so expensive. We spent around PhP 2,000 on cleaning materials, disinfectants and insecticides. Since we moved last Sunday, all I did was do major cleaning! Since I am such an OC person, I would not stop scrubbing and washing anything I touch until it turns white. LOL! Anyways, there are still a few more areas in the house that needs cleaning and lots more boxes to unpack. (Ugh! I wish we had a helper!) It’s only Tuesday and I feel tired already. But it’s alright, I’m still happy. I’ll be back with more good news!

Two days ago marked the sixth year of my being a responsible citizen when I filed my ITR.

Every day I work my butt off to make sure that there is food on the table, that we can pay for the bills and save some for the rainy days. Every payday I check my pay slip and smile at the fruits of my labor. I dare not look at how much tax is withheld for the risk of heart attack. Since I left my regular job, I have to go through the rigors of filing my own ITR every year.

I take pleasure in everything that I do… except filing my taxes. I will not even waste my time and effort elaborating why. I just want to make it plain and simple to make change feasible.

It would really really make this annual filing of ITR a pleasant chore if…

1. They stop posting those streamers of their greetings and their priority projects in every corner.

2. They stop excavating and repairing roads that are not broken.

Are these too much to ask!?

It’s just a matter of coping with changes and grabbing opportunities fast.

Since I lost a TV show to cost-cutting reasons, I had the privilege of enjoying two rest days in a week. On such days I would enjoy the comfort of my bed and think of money-making ideas. One such idea is moving nearer to EDSA. It’s not exactly a money-making move, but it’s more of a preparation for the opportunities that will be knocking on my door.I guess it is true that only when you are aligned to your heart’s desire, everything will fall into place. True enough, I still haven’t moved to my new address in Project 8, but I already have enough projects on my plate until June.

My project line-up made me realize that I still can do other things aside from what my present job is demanding from me. Only, I need to be pushed to the wall to get my brains working in top shape. By working in top shape, I mean getting myself to do serious writing and conceptualizing. The downside of working at home is that I have no one to compete with. So the job gets less challenging and the brain exercises less compared to that of having a “real” job. Anyways, I’ve always been a sponge for new information so I guess getting on new work experiences will be a breeze.

Recently hubby and I have also decided to venture into franchising. Right now we’re still saving up for the initial capital and franchise royalty fee. We’re thinking if we can get at least two of these franchise businesses running within the year, we can expand into other businesses and then we can save up for our dream house. Not like the first house that we initially bought last year. But if not for that house, we wouldn’t have been wiser. Truly, everything happens for a reason.

So, while most people are talking about this recession thing, I’m keeping my hopes up because that’s the only way to beat it. I thank the Lord for leading us to the right decisions and to the right connections. Truly, his will is for us to prosper and to enjoy the fruits of our labor. I’ll end this note with a passage from the Bible…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

I don’t know why but for some reason, I can’t get my mind off the idea that the new address we’ll be moving into has a “mumu.” I got this crazy idea from this man (about my age) who used to live in that house, who claims that he is a “manggagamot.” No offense to our “manggagamot” friends out there but I just don’t believe in ghosts.

Don’t talk to me about mumu, especially now that I’m almost thirty years old. Especially after shelling out a quarter of my month’s income for two months of house rental deposit.

Let me just be rational about it for a few seconds. Let me tally. Ghost stories heard = countless. Ghosts actually seen/heard/felt = ZERO. So what’s wrong, exactly? If I don’t believe in it, why the heck am I fussing to much about it?

A light worker once read me and told me that I have a strong spiritual belief system. I want to remember that. And if it still holds true I want to keep my faith so I could see and feel only the good energy around me. So help me God.