I came home late yesterday as has been the case since the start of 2008. pogiBoy was still wide awake and was bouncing up and down when I came in the door. He looked at his dad with a knowing smile and asked him “How about upstairs, Dad?”

Hubby nodded his approval and pogiBoy led me upstairs all the while shouting “Close your eyes, mum!!”

He switched on the lights in the room and shouted “Surprise! Happy birthday, mummy!”

Of course, it wasn’t my birthday. It is our 7th Wedding Anniversary this coming Sunday and hubby thoughtfully prepared the surprise in advance. He’s working on the 23rd.

I was so surprised I thought I forgot our anniversary again! Hubby’s trying to make up for his behaviour on Mothering Sunday. And it did hit the right spot. I got a bag to boot! The tag on the card says “… shopping ka na mummy, lipat ko na savings natin sa card mo?…” Loko talaga.

He also wrote his most open and heartfelt letter to me. I guess I was so happy he finally admitted his weaknesses and pride that I ended up crying buckets of tears.

I do love my family so much. They’re my treasure and strength and they’re the reason I keep getting up in the morning to work & persevere.

Marriage can be a bitter pill to swallow. After 7 years I can’t say I’ve enjoyed the entirety of the ride. A lot of times I’ve been tempted to jump ship. But Love can overcome anything, I know.

I took over a project when the manager tasked to oversee it went on holiday. The handover was smooth and I thought it’s no big deal. Yes, I’m neck-deep in work already but I didn’t think the project will take much of my time.

The only only truth in the above is “I didn’t think”.

The project is really a simple web portal. So simple that it’s biggest feature is AJAX and all I need to do is conduct a UAT (User Acceptance Testing). Please ignore the techno-babble. The point is it’s not supposed to be frustrating me this — MUCH (((arms wide open))).

The supplier is a small software house, who we’re looking to be Partners with. So I’m stuck between reaching down their throats & pulling their guts out and being diplomatic but stern.

The third-party’s project manager got sick and didn’t notify me. How inconsiderate of this guy to fall sick, I’m now thinking. He managed to email me late in the day that he was in fact ill and I should email someone else. He failed to say who the effing elf is taking over. I trawled thru the contact list from the handover sheet and called each one. No one knows what’s happening.

Then one worker ant told me he’s just a “grunt” and as far as he’s concerned his job is done and he doesn’t know what happens to the other 90% of the effing project!

I emailed bossing, should I really be chasing these a-holes?!

Every other person in their company, including the CEO seemed to wash their hands off the entire affair. I’m not even sure why they’re bothering to be software providers when they don’t effing deliver. None of them seemed to care what happens with their relationship with us.

You thought this bahala na attitude is unique to Pinas? I’ve had the misfortune of actually working with foreigners like these even in the past. Patumpik-tumpik lang. I hate people who slow me down.