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And I am talking about a hospital. Outside, the National Kidney and Transplant Institute is so shrouded by trees and greenery that it looks old and decrepit. But I had the surprise of my life when I stepped in for laboratory tests. The lobby can rival that of a 5-star hotel. And if you didn't know it was a health facility, you could actually mistake it for some luxury accommodation.
I was totally impressed with their laboratory section because it was far better than an airline office or some bank. Come to think of it, there is no bank that looks like it, nor offers such efficient service. You get a number, wait for it to be called then follow the instructions given to you. In case you miss out on the number, not to worry, it's up their on an electronic board. So the only bothersome thing while inside is the constant pinging sound to signal another number is being served in the 8 counters. Inside the booth, it's almost paperless and the very spacious so you know the customer service crew won't be whining about their conditions. Very efficient, too.
I was using a health card so I skipped the payment part and just had to wait a bit to be called for the actual blood extraction. There, the medical technologists ask you you to step inside one of several cubicles that has two seats for two patients. The seat has cushioned arm rests to allow you to hold your arm out for the actual extraction process. No sweat. In about 2 minutes, you're done (provided you ain't squeamish about the procedure).
Everything at the NKTI is so efficient, you could actually enjoy going there if not for the fact that it means you have some ailment or another. I personally don't like hospitals but because of a condition, I've had my share of going in and out of them in the last several years.
Kudos to the NKTI and I guess the government for turning it into the kind of facility it is today.
I'm currently working on a site which will contain everything I am up to that is Web related. If you've got nothing better to do, you MAY WANT to visit it. It's evolving because I keep adding and adding stuff to it.
And if you're thinking of making your own site for free, it's something you will be interested in.
Visit: PinoyEarner
Two or three years back, when I was in the doldrums, I found the internet to be a good companion. It allowed me to explore a world that took me to places I had never been and see opportunities I did not think were possible.
So I discovered about pay-to-click, blogs, HYIPs, forums, MLMs, YouTube and everything else that you can find on the world wide web. And because I did not think I could lose, I joined a lot of programs and sites and even when I had little by way of cash, I spent and spent and eventually lost and lost. SCAMMED is a pretty good word. Of course, I also discovered there are real programs that are reliable and until now still exist.
A week or so ago, I had to go on leave from work because I needed rest following another bleeding episode. Not having much to do, I was on the Net as often as possible just to keep me busy. And so it is that I've been discovering yet new programs and traffic generators and what have you. But I will say I am now wiser and more cautious than I was years ago.
I've also gotten back to blogging and writing and trying to earn through these exercises. Of course, to do so, I need the numbers. I need the people to visit my blogs or check out whatever it is I've written. Admittedly, it is a long and tedious process. While I may not have as much free time now as before (because of a regular job) I try to still keep at it in the hopes that I will finally earn from something.
What has me caught up these days are marketing sites that are helping me generate the traffic I need to get my blogs out there and read. It is a bit surprising because going around, I seem to be making teeny weeny headway and hope to really get a big kick out of my efforts. I need to work out a plan so that I can go about this systematically. But I am just winging it at the moment.
The truth is my preoccupation with all this clicking and surfing and browsing has left me with little opportunity to write down anything sensible in this blog. So this will have to do for now.
My sister and I, along with our young niece, attended the birthday party of a cousin's kid. For a long time, this cousin had been in crisis with no job (thankfully, his wife had one, though) and a young family to support. He's always been a tough guy, but even the toughest of them break under very trying times. Fortunately, late last year, he finally landed a respectable job and from the looks of things is well on the mend.
I think he feels he owes the clan thus the decision to hold the celebration of his two kids (whose birthdays are just a few days apart) nearby where everyone can drop by. It was, in a sense, an impromptu reunion, made more special by the appearance of cousin's sister.
Now this long, lost cousin, has not made an appearance for a very long time. Oh we would hear about her some from her brothers, but that was few and far between. The one time that really had all the family worried was when she supposedly suffered a heart attack (at 30 something) and she did not inform any of her folks about it until it was over. What if she'd croaked! She'd been avoiding us for a very long time so it was a pleasant surprise to see her present.
Our family (especially the father's side) is very clannish. If we can get together as often as possible, we do, with the flimsiest of reason. We do keep tabs on each other, particularly when someone is in crisis of one kind or another. So it was really both frustrating, annoying and worrisome when dear Cousin refused to put in an appearance.
But it was also such a huge relief to finally see her in the flesh and know that she is all right. I do hope she stays in touch. Geez, we're not gonna hit on her for a loan or something. We just want to spend time together, because that's the way we are.
So does everyone else. Because problems are part of humanity. Think about it -- how are we supposed to learn about ourselves if our life was always 100 percent fine and dandy? And what a boring life it would be!
Sunday's sermon was very simple, direct to the point yet thought-provoking. God bless you, Fr. Rommel. It was in relation to God always being there for us, especially when we need Him most. And usually this is when we are burdened by problems of whatever kind. He said during those times, there are three realizations: first, we find out who are real friends are because they are the ones most willing to stand by us. Second, we learn of our limitless capacities to overcome whatever problems we are faced with. And third and most important, that God is always there for us. Not necessarily that we can see Him, in as much as we see Him among those who rally for and support us in these times.
What Fr. Rommel said is true. We may not realize them at the time we are in the midst of crisis, but looking back, we learn how problems enable us to become better persons. Sometimes, the answers we seek or want may not be the ones that come, but however we resolve these challenges or obstacles are the way that God has intended for us.
And just to lighten the load, everyone, I mean EVERYONE of us, experiences having problems at one point or another. It knows no class, no gender, no culture. Some are more difficult to hurdle than others, and some we think are far beyond our capacity to handle. But please know that when you think yours is the biggest burden, there is someone else with a more difficult task to face.
I was almost contemplating not coming in to work today. On one hand, maybe I shouldn't have. But then again, the Boss needed a couple of things to be prepared for a very important meeting tomorrow. I don't know if it's the result of hormones, since I went to the doctor over the weekend and she prescribed medication. But it seems that the whole world was at the office between 2- 5 pm and in such cramped space, it was like a zoo.
I especially hate the fact that people just take it for granted that it is actually a work space and there are people who need to W-O-R-K there and would appreciate having some peace and quiet! And the things they come for can sometimes make you scream.
Then the staff had to get into the fray, deciding to act up at this time when everything around is almost going crazy. I feel like they left a bit of themselves over the weekend and they're not as sharp as they usually are.
I almost appalled myself because I was snapping at most everyone! So is it hormones or what? I really need to take a break... I wasn't even able to sneak in a few minutes to post in the forums, boohoohoo!
What a bummer day.
It's funny because there have been days when as a result of stress, I'd be contemplating on leaving the Boss. But I am really more inclined to find some work-at-home opportunities if ever I will leave. Am not sure if I'm closer to that goal or not.
So it came as a real surprise when last month, two very real job offers landed on my lap while I least expected them. And if I were really very serious about calling it quits and gave any of them a lot of thought, both were more up my alley and closer to what I've been doing for most of my work life: WRITING.
The first offer, which was so unexpected thus it came as a shock, was made while meeting with two long, lost friends. I knew where they were connected but had no inkling they actually planned to tag-team me to consider their offer. I gotta admit It was a decent and interesting offer, but honestly, there was absolutely no feeling of enthusiasm on my part. No "I really want to do this" feeling. Otherwise, I would have made some form of commitment when they were really pushing me to report to work the next day. But nada. My friends were so persistent so I would give my instant "YES"; thankfully, they relented and allowed me to "sleep on it." Well, I have been -- sleeping on it, that is -- but there's still no compelling reason for me to accept.
My hesitance actually stems from a very important factor: my health. At this time, I'm not very certain how healthy I am and if I can keep up with the demands of the job, which will require a lot of field work. Another reason is the coming and going at my own pace, as opposed to having a strict 9-6 job. While it is true I am on call 24/7 now, I still have a lot of leeway when I have to report to work. What is more important is that I get the job done, wherever I am.
Yesterday, I received another offer, stranger than the first. A neighbor previously asked if I was interested in a part-time job to edit manuscripts for a publishing company. I said sure. But she comes back to me saying the company now needed a full-time managing editor on board! Worse, she even committed me to meet the big boss, ASAP. That was low! Doing part-time work at my own pace (or passing it off to my sister) is a whole lot different and that I'd agree to in a snap. But coming in as a regular employee to figure out how to put in place a new office system is an entirely different ballgame. I'd rather stick it out with the Boss and quit if I can get online work to be my own boss.
So there... It is, however, very nice to know that my market value in the work force is still pretty high for people to think of me and seek me out. And it is a relief to know I still have a choice to accept or decline an offer.
Thank you, God...
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