It’s really a perfect timing because my other contract, Article Writer for Green Tea, has just ended. This particular job was offered by Mr. ST from UK who employed me last March to write for a toys website. He decided to employ me again because he thinks that I am courteous, prompt and my articles are of high standard.

Another contract that I won last Holy Friday was the Sen Content Writer. In case you’re curious, the rate is 3 dollars per hour, maximum of 20 hours per week. Please allow me to share the story on how I got this job. Well, the employer was looking for someone who is knowledgeable with Magento. It’s an open-source software which is used by online stores. So, if you want to build a website that sells products like shoes and bags, you will definitely need Magento.

Anyway, I didn’t know Magento before I applied for this job posting. It wasn’t specified in the job’s description that it’s a requirement. Here is a screengrab of our conversation:

You see, Odesk is like a big online jungle where only the bravest and the fiercest contractors survive. I was crazy enough to take a job that is outside my area of expertise. But I will learn, that’s for sure. There are a lot of tutorials in the internet. I just have to READ! So, I’m learning and I’m not afraid to learn new things. Anyway, they can always terminate the contract in case I turn out to be useless for this job. But I doubt if that will ever happen. Hehe. I’m going to give my best!

In a slightly disappointing news, my application for the job posting “Looking for an Outstanding Blog/Article Writer” was declined. MMmn … it’s okay. I’m not outstanding, anyway. I’m just one of the best, if not the best. But I was never outstanding And what about the invitation for a job interview that I received? I ignored it. For some reason, I can’t work with just 2 dollars per hour. I have $2.70 per hour contract but that’s just it. In the next few months, I plan to raise my asking rate from $5 to $10 dollars per hour. Why not? I’m one hell of a hardworking freelancer I deserve to get paid according to how much I feel right. But before that happens, I will have to work harder on my portfolio.

Truth is, I’m not very much active in Odesk. It’s just recently that I started sending applications again because I’m so inspired by my online friends who are making it big in freelancing. I am more active doing jobs for direct employers and I also write for TCA. I love TCA, though the rate is very low, at least I don’t have to apply or bid for a certain project. I just have to log in then start writing. But, because I presently have 3 active contracts in Odesk (1) Web Content Writer 5 dollars per hour, (2) Sen Content Writer 3 dollars per hour, and (3) Article Writer / Researcher 2.70 dollars per hour, I think I will spend more time in Odesk from now on.

Happy Easter!

Facebook makes me sad. I honestly think it’s just a place to show off one’s successes and achievements. Obviously, I have nothing to boast about that’s why I’m bitter

I think I now understand why I was never addicted to Facebook. It doesn’t really matter to me if they have this and that in life, which I obviously do not possess. I do not care a bit if they are rich and famous. It bothers me that nobody is liking my status! HAHAHAHA! Poor me Well, there’s M and R and J and another M who are constantly liking my non-sense shout outs but I envy those who have 100 + likes and comments in every quote or joke they post on their walls.

They are the real human beings while me … I’m like the wind. Invisible and quiet. Facebook only shows the boring personality that I have Truth be told, if it weren’t for Ms. V.L., I wouldn’t have bothered to activate my FB account. OMG this is me!  I’m scared that only a few will accept my friend requests. These are my insecurities!

Like, a few days ago, there are two persons who didn’t confirm me as friend. That made me a little angry, very upset and so disappointed. My sister told me “so what?! shrug it off! they don’t matter!” Yeah. Got her point. But I’m still upset. Later on, to console myself I said “haaay! they’re so mayabang! GRRR!” On the second thought, maybe they don’t know me. I was very quiet back in high school so they probably don’t even remember my name. *Sigh This is my life …

So, anyway, enough for self pity. Guess what? I have a new baby!  She’s actually my first love and her name is Love is Paris. I know the name is not very original but I like it! Do you know that two years ago, I wrote a blog which was entitled Vanilla Ice Cream? I thought it was unique but then I found out that there were at least a hundred other blogs named Vanilla Ice Cream. Hehehe. Now, I couldn’t care less if Love is Paris has 1000 namesakes

There are three things:

1. this new blog is also for commercial purposes. sorry about that. I know most bloggers are against blog advertising but I need it.
2. I started this blog intending to write about my dreams of going to Paris and hopefully making it happen by becoming successful in writing hehehe
3. I made a Facebook page and a like button in the sidebar. I want 1,000,000 likes! As in 1 Million!

ONE MILLION. How am I going to achieve that target? I have 130 plus friends in FB/Friendster but I’m too shy to suggest my page and I would never do that, even in my wildest dream.  My sister told me she’s going to ask a few friends to like it hehehe. I have to be realistic. One million likes in 5 years Please like my page! Look at the sidebar or see below. THANK YOU!

Love is Paris

And because I feel so special, I will jokingly ask for Caviar Gifts on our next date to annoy them. Kidding. Although I’m really curious about the taste of Salmon eggs, I will never ask for a birthday present because even if I don’t ask, they will surely give me something nice. LOL. Like last time, they got me a replica of human stool from a toy store which made me laugh like crazy.

I have been wanting to set a separate date for Kaye and Em since August but my schedule is so unpredictable. First, I have a full-time job. Second, I have a writing gig which is requiring me to submit articles in 48-hour turn around time. Third, I want to spend my spare time with my nephew and niece. The remaining few hours for reading and blogging

I hope within this month or early October, I’d get the chance to be with my friends because I miss them so much.

In truth, I always try to look at the silver lining. First, being pierced on the foot is such an excruciating pain but at least now I already got an anti-tetanus shot which is good for ten years. Somebody told me “ganon?! kailangan mapako muna bago magpabakuna?!” LOL. Second, because we are so scared of dengue, we tried harder to keep our house clean and dry, plus mosquito spray every morning and Off lotion for the babies (Note: don’t apply the lotion directly on baby’s skin). Third, I realized that revisions should not disappoint me. Mr. X is very professional in correcting my work. He said my grammar is correct but I could have written some of my phrases in a better way. He’s actually doing me a favor because he’s pushing me to improve my writing skills

Everything considered, I am so blessed. The fact that God is so kind to me has been my favorite thought during the past few days. I am still alive! No tetanus. No dengue. Best of all, my hands are full of writing assignments. I couldn’t care less if people are thinking that I’m not doing anything to improve my life. Haha.

Funny is that we used to call him Baby Justin Boom Boom Pow because he dances every time he hears that popular Black-Eyed Peas’ song. Now that he’s turning one, we changed his nickname to Baby Justin Boom Boom Bakulaw. Bakulaw as in monster Not that he looks like one. My nephew is kidnap-worthy cute! But the fact that he already has four front teeth makes us feel that he’s growing fast. He started walking two weeks before he turned eleven months old and he’s very smart, you can’t trick him.

We want to invite all his cousins and some of our neighbors’s kids. Basically, it would be a small family gathering but we also want to invite a few close friends. They are still undecided if invitation cards are needed since most of the guests live very near our house. I think it would be great to send personalized invitation cards such as the ones I saw from luau invitations website. My sister is an artist so it would be very easy for her to design invitation cards for her son.