URBAN GEEK'S GUIDE

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Here's the reality of my life:

Every morning I wake up at 5:00 a.m. so as to be ready to leave the house for work at 5:45. From the Fairview area, I wait for a bus / jeep / fx going to Lawton / Kalaw / Buendia. En route to work, I inhale all kinds of exhaust fumes. I am jostled by a mixture of people --- some clean smelling, some doubtful looking. At 7:00 a.m. I reach the workplace and proceed to live a zombie life for the next eight to eleven hours in the office, unless of course, I'm on field, then I'm completely alive. AT 5:30 / 6:00 / 8:00 p.m. I leave the office and do the commuting thing all over again. I reach home by 8 p.m. / 9 p.m. / 10:00 p.m. and I am so drained it takes a herculean effort to clean up, eat dinner (yes, even to eat!) and climb the stairs to my room.

Can I be blamed for trying to find something to spice this life up?

Sometimes, it takes a huge effort to be interested to live each day. But there are times you just need to focus on a few things to brighten the hours up. I find that these things are usually small ones. I figured I could make a small list of list for urban geek essentials to share around, just in case other people are also trying to find stuff that can make them smile even it's only as long as three seconds. :) Now, who wouldn't need that smile, right?


TOP 3 BEST WAYS TO WAKE UP EACH MORNING:

3. To wake up and smell breakfast being cooked by your mother.
2. To wake up and snatch back from oblivion the last traces of an excellent and happy dream you dreamt all night.
1. To wake up feeling the cool cotton sheets on your skin and you realize that it's drizzling outside.


TOP 3 BREAKFAST MEALS:

3. Tocino, sinangag and fried egg
2. Bacon, fried egg and sinangag
1. Pancakes shaped like Mickey Mouse.


TOP 2 DRESSING TIPS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD THE WHOLE DAY

2. Choose clothes according to what you're supposed to do for the day.
1. Wear at least one article of clothing or accessory you love everyday.


TOP 5 STUFF YOU NEED TO PUT IN YOUR BAG

5. Your wallet (goodness!) with enough change to avoid hassles when paying for your ride so early in the morning.
4. Something to munch on during sudden hunger pangs or when boredom attacks.
3. Your FM transmitter / walkman / discman / mp3 player / ipod to provide you with a soundtrack for your day.
2. A handkerchief (believe it, your momma's right about always needing one)
1. A book to read for those indeterminate hours of waiting for various things


TOP 3 RADIO STATIONS TO LISTEN TO ON A WORK DAY

3. Home Radio 97.9
2. Mellow Touch 94.7
1. Jam 88.3

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TOP 3 STRESS RELIEVERS AT THE WORKPLACE

3. Buy and play with a stress ball.
2. Talk to a colleague who looks like he / she needs a break too.
1. Stand up from your desk / computer monitor and putter around for five minutes to rest your eyes and your mind.


TOP 3 MUNCHIES

3. McDonald's Chicken McNuggets and fries!
2. Pringles Original
1. Pepperidge Farm Chunky Chocolate Chip Cookies!!!


TOP 3 THINGS THAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD AT THE END OF THE DAY

3. A check beside every item under your To Do list for the day.
2. A ride home / to the nearest bus stop
1. A good joke / story you heard from your colleagues during the course of the day.

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TOP 5 SONGS TO LISTEN TO ON YOUR WAY HOME

5. Somebody to Love by Queen / Elliot Yamin
4. Bad Day by Daniel Powter (if you had a bad day)
3. Fix You by Coldplay
2. Home by Michale Buble / Elliot Yamin
1. Put Your Records On by Corinne Bailey Rae


Top 3 Pasalubong for the Little Sister / Brother (even if they're not little anymore)

3. Pizza!
2. Donuts!
1. Rented VCD / DVD of movie she / he wanted to see

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Top 3 Ways to Fall Asleep

3. Read a Book or listen to soothing Music
2. Count your blessing, thank the Creator for another day lived
1. Dream lucidly until you cross the bridge to dreaming in your sleep.


Of course, these are just a few things and I'm sure a million other ideas make other people smile. Feel free to share what makes you smile in a day -- share it around to make sure there'll be more toothy grins than ferocious frowns. It wouldn't hurt, right? :0

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