Yes, it’s been quite a while since I’ve updated my blog. It’s the usual story – work and lots of it. Which is a good thing. I have between 8-9 open projects at any given point in time and there’s been a new wrinkle added to the mix. Alma has picked up two assignments on oDesk under her own account (!) This means that I also have the added responsibility of looking over her work before she submits it. So, that’s one more thing that I need to spend time on.
But don’t get me wrong. This is a great development. The two assignments that she has only amount to 15 hours per week (3 hours a day times 5 days). But get this – the pay for these assignments works out to approximately 23,000 pesos per month (!!) To put this in perspective, a college-educated call center agent is considered to be a well-paid and fortunate employee, here. Yet, the typical pay for an experienced agent is only around 18 – 19,000 pesos per month before taxes. The 23,000 pesos that Alma will be earning is net. Not bad for 3 hours a day and not having to leave the house to earn it. Plus, she works off my old laptop and can move around the house, while she works, since her Internet connection is wireless. But she usually works in the air-conditioned master bedroom with me since our bedroom is quite large and easily accommodates another table besides my computer desk.
The only hassle, right now is the noise from the renovations that are being conducted next door. This has been going on for a few weeks, now. My neighbors are using the “bargain basement” contractors. This means that they don’t really have the proper equipment to do construction work. It appears that the tools they’re using were developed at some point during the Bronze Age. Seriously, with the exception of electrical connections, they seem to be using the same building methods employed by the ancient Egyptians. With the exception of the fact that the Egyptian slaves would probably have done a better job. Craftsmanship is not the forte of the Philippines. Oh well.
Other than that, things are going well. Next week, I’m attending the baptism of the latest addition to our extended family. Yours truly will be the Godfather (!!) There is a reception scheduled afterward. It should be a pretty nice affair. See the picture below for my grand-niece, Casey, (the one who appears on television regularly) and the new baby (Christina Kylie is her name)…
Quite adorable, no?
I think the family room goes here.