Feeling the pressure of our job, I reminded Zinnia today, “Huy! Check mo bank account mo! Sweldo na. Para naman may passion ka nang mag-trabaho.”
“Ay oo nga pala! Para naman sipagin akong mag-OT sa Sabado,” she answered.
After a few minutes, Z came back to me and said, “May sweldo na nga! Nakaka-inspire na magtrabaho.”
When I was on my Singaporean leave, Z asked me, “Orlee nakakamiss ang may kasamang Pinoy dito sa office. Wala akong kakwentuhan.”
I told her, “Sorry, Z, di kita miss. Zinnia is equals to work. Eh I don’t miss work kaya I don’t miss you.”
“Ganun?” she told me.
Today is Zinnia’s biggest day. She’s getting married in the Philippines and currently enjoys Christmas Season back home.
I told her online, “Z! I miss you!”
She replied, “Orlee is equals to work. I don’t miss work kaya I don’t miss you.”
Ouch! That hurts!
Congratulations and Best Wishes to Archie and Zinnia!
Sharad, my Indian colleague asked, “Orlee, why do you write like that? I cannot understand.”
It is a known fact that I quite move quikcly at work and it doesn’t differ in the way I write so I have a tendency to write illegibly.
“Ummm…. That’s how we write. Filipinos write that way.”
He thought for a moment and answered, “I can read Zinnia’s hand writing but yours are really bad.”
“Dinamay mo pa ang buong bansa sa panget mong sulat,” Zinnia said after I told her the story.
Since our boss is about to take a leave next week, Z told me…
“Next week ka na mag-OT… Ay wala pala si boss next week, tama ngayon ka na lang magpasikat.”
“Ayoko na mag-review,” I told Zinnia while we were on our taxi going to the CII Foundation of Insurance Exam, “Ok na siguro ‘yung pinag-aralan ko.”
“Ako rin,” she answered, “Tama na ‘yun.”
Arriving in Dubai World Trade Centre for our exam, the people outside the exam center were busy reviewing their notes. Zinnia commented, “Aral pa tayo.”
“Na-pressure?”
Lee Ann shared a funny story to Zinnia…
Lee Ann: ‘Yung katabi ko sa FX, biglang pumara, “Manong, sa pb.com po…”
Zinnia: Pb.com? Aaaahhh PB Com (Tower)!
Lee Ann: Muntik na talaga ako matawa ng malakas! Naranasan mo na bang bumaba sa isang website?
“OT (Overtime) ka?” Zinnia asked.
“Hindi no!” I denied, “Once a week power lang ‘yun. Nagamit ko na ang power ko nung Tuesday, next week na ulit.”
To save money (’cause you know how thrifty I am), I gave out food assignments to my friends for my birthday party:
Jade and Marish – Cake
Susan – Ice Cream Cake
Patrick – Ice Cream
Cathy – Sisig
Zinnia – Paella
Connie – Pork Dish
Che – Menudo
Marie – Igadu
Karen – Banana Cake
And the rest was prepared by me, Ronald, Bing and Beaula at home.
For every dish offered, I would say, “Oh, kuha kayo ng ice cream, courtesy of Patrick. Menudo oh, thanks to Che-che.”
Zinnia teased, “Orlee! Ang saya naman ng birthday potluck party mo!”
“Excuse me, ma’am, wala pong middle name ang birthday party ko. Hindi po s’ya potluck.”
Then how come it is.
All in all the party was successful foodwise. Thanks to my sponsors. 
