challenges

Eight months down, four months to go.

This seems to be the most challenging year in my life to date.

Juggling work, school and the business is hard. And not with regards to time. I could handle the work load. It's just budgeting the money to continuously grow the business, setting aside enough money for tuition, and relying on a project that moved much slower than expected that I'm losing interest. I made a business decision that cost me. I hope I won't have any more of those.

They're just shallow challenges, I know. But doesn't make them less tough.

I know that this is just a minor bump. Who knows after all these, maybe good things would happen hereon. I know I'm still so blessed in so many ways, and I thank God for them. I thank Him for these challenges too since I know I would come out wiser and stronger.

I just hope this bump would be over soon.

not okay with it

Some of my classmates are starting to tease me with NDG3. I was telling my friend, it doesn't matter what others think. As long as I know I didn't think there was anything to that movie and dinner hang-out.

I thought I was okay with it.

But who am I kidding? I don't like being linked to some guy that I'm not interested in. Somehow I feel that if I get linked to someone, any other potential guy would back out. Or is that stupid thinking?

I remember I dated a guy during my college years. He was from the same college, and I guess some of our common friends got hold of the news. They teased me about it, but I honestly didn't mind then. Because for that short time I was into the guy. And it was even sort of kilig to be teased.

But this time, it bothers me.

And I made a pledge in my earlier post. And I started today. We've hung out after our Friday class for a couple times now. So this time I made up some excuse I was going to meet someone, and that I had to leave asap. I always made it an excuse that I was going to kill time after class so the traffic would be better. But since I left after class today, I realized traffic wasn't so bad after all. I could do this from now on until the sem ends.

And hopefully the teasing would stop.

pledge

Based on the advice of some close friends, there's a chance that Non-Date Guy # 3 (who should be called NDG3 from hereon) might like me. (I added the word "might" since maybe I'm still in denial).

Knowing this, and knowing and that I don't like him THAT way, I should exercise some measures so as not to lead him on:

1. I won't hang out with him unless there are other common friends with us.
2. I will ignore his useless text messages.
3. I won't start any text conversations with him.

What else did I miss?

architectural go-see

Being an architect isn't so different from being an actress or a model. You make these meetings with potential clients just like a go-see . Instead of a portfolio of head shots, you have a portfolio of sample works. You put on your game face and try to impress. You match your attitude with the way you think pleases the clients.

Yes I've been a modeling go-see and it's one of those experiences that are so surreal I can't believe I actually did that.

Actresses go to all these auditions too. Give all that you've got, hope that the directors and the producers see something in you. (This I have no experience with. I can't act at all!)

Some people think that being an architect is very glamorous. But it's not. Especially if you don't work with high-profile clients. Some people may think that being a model or an actress is all glamor too. And with the very limited experience that I have and watching ANTM, people would know that it's not.

But it's tough going to an "architectural go-see". You try to gauge what the clients want. You try to decide if you want to pursue the project or not. Unlike a modeling stint, this one can haunt you for years and years. So it's tough.

If only each project was like an Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project and that it would be done in 7 days.

If only.

this is why.

For the past three years, I've minimized cost for the business by manning the shop myself. My mom takes my place when I'm out. (She doesn't mind since she has all these Koreanovelas to watch!) But of course I greatly appreciate her help. My dad's too.

Of course there are random days (and holidays) that I just decided to close for the day. I guess the patrons of the shop are used to it. They know they can order online, or pick up from the house even as late as 11 in the evening or even on Sundays when we're closed.

I guess until it reaches the point that I really couldn't handle it anymore, I won't hire any employees yet.

And sometimes it's quite interesting to meet all these people. I'm first-name basis with some of them. I'm met some of the kids, the husbands. My friend calls it value-added service. And it touches my heart when people appreciate it. I could quote people who have said "TCP just makes it easier," and "I admire your excellent service!"

Of course it isn't always easy. There are demanding ones. There are those who order online last minute and pressure you to ship it asap so they receive the next day.

You just get all kinds. What's good is that unlike clients for architectural projects whom you're stuck with for months or even years, I just encounter the patrons of the shop, one day at a time. It's been my life for the past few years. I'm probably the only architect in the world who set up office inside a baking supplies shop. Hahahaha. But then that's me. Sometimes trying to do the unconventional stuff!

non-dates.

I've been meaning to write about this for a while now. It came about when I met up with some old friends and I remember I had a non-date with one of them a few years back. I remember because it's one of the best non-dates I've ever been to. (Not that I have been to many). But it's connected to some other non-dates I've been to recently. And about to have. But before that, here's some background.

Urbandictionary.com gives colorful definitions to non-date:

When a single heterosexual male and his single heterosexual female friend go out somewhere (a movie, dinner, etc.).

The male is interested in dating the female but hasn't worked up the courage to tell her yet.

The female thinks they are going as friends.

Guy #1: How did your date with Tina go yesterday?
Guy #2: Oh, it was a nondate since she thought more people were coming.

I was laughing reading this especially with Guy#2's remark. But I think the line that's most important is the one that says the female thinks they are going as friends.

Which is true in my case. I've been to four non-dates so far. With three different guys. (Now that I write this I'm wondering about those two non-dates with that one guy...)

NON-DATE # 1

I met up with a former officemate who happened to be in Singapore when I was visting. Living in Singapore, "meeting up" was such a common thing among Filipinos. You meet up with visiting friends, friends of friends, etc. There wasn't any meaning with any of those meet ups. It was just one way to pass time and make life a tad more interesting.

I agreed to meet up with this guy. It was just dinner and walking around the city. I even remembered that since it was at the tail end of my Singapore trip I only had $10 left with me. And thank God the guy offered to pay for dinner. But that's not the point. That didn't make it one of the best non-dates I've been to. I just remembered the really good conversation. I just remembered riding the bus back that evening, thinking I had a rather pleasant night.

But it wasn't the kilig type of pleasant. It was just time well spent, catching up with an old friend. I don't know if the guy was ever interested in me. It doesn't matter anyway.


NON-DATE # 2

This one was a couple years back. I was asking some friends who wanted to watch this certain concert with me. One guy wanted to watch too, no one else did. I have to admit I hesitated then because I knew a few years back he was interested in me. But during our past conversations, he kept on saying he was going to set me up with one of his friends. So I erased any thoughts that he was still interested in me. And I was glad that we have become purely platonic.

But it didn't end well. After that the guy thought he had a chance with me. Two years later it just isn't the same. We're just civil towards each other. What a pity.


NON-DATES # 3 and #4

I grouped this because it's with the same guy and happened recently.

The first non-date with him, we were going to meet up with a couple other classmates at this bar. It seemed very harmless to me. What's so unusual about meeting up with common friends?

The second time, he asked me if I wanted to watch this movie. This was after our class. While waiting for the movie we had dinner. He paid for both. I offered to pay my share, really. But I did pay for the milk tea to bring in to the cinema.

The guy's intentions are still questionable. This has been part of my conversations with a couple of good friends. But we never really came up with a conclusion.

One minute I think it's purely platonic. The second I think maybe he's interested. But for the record, I prefer that it's the former.

Does it mean anything when the guy buys you dinner and treats you to the movies? Or is he just being generous?

Or is it me being dense here? Or instead of being dense, am I trying to convince myself and everyone that it doesn't mean anything since I don't want it to?

But as my other friend said, just go out. There's no harm. I just hope I'm not leading anyone on.

starting afresh.

I have this new blog. And I'm loving it. It took me a while to finally put up one when I've been spending the past few months with lots of thoughts to share but didn't have a medium for it. I miss blogging, so here's my new attempt.

I've let go of my former one since it was focused on the chapter of my life spent in Singapore.

So much has happened since then.

I tried to summarize my life now in the blog url. Why plasteredcake? I merged two terms from two fields I've been into -- architecture and baking. Two fields not directly connected but maybe Chef Duff Goldman of Charm City Cakes (Ace of Cakes) would say otherwise. But this has been my life for the past three years: designing, construction, and running a bakery supplies store.

And I made sure they were from different fields. I didn't want to do a business that was directly related to architecture. I need to protect my sanity. I had the business when I was stressing out over a project, and vise versa. It has managed to keep me sane for the past years.

And if you didn't know, plastered also means "drunk" in slang. I'm no drunkard but this is fair warning that maybe at times my posts will not make sense! :P

Welcome to my new blog!