**Our Home**

 Looking out through the window as the sun starts to shine after a rainy morning, a nostalgic feeling creeps in as memories of days gone by starts rolling before my eyes.  I dare not say those days were perfect, but at least for me it is worth remembering.  Papa was then so full of life and used to make us "champorado" or chocolate porridge on a rainy day like now.  Mama would be very busy doing household chores and scolding us for not helping.  Albeit the rain, the house is so alive with the noise and buzzing of us children playing.  It is my picture of a house I can call home.

Ahh, I remember times we sneak out and play in the rain.  We even go swimming in the rice fields as rain water slowly fills the paddies.  I can only imagine now the frustration on the farmers faces after seeing us playing and running over their rice plantation.  At times we hear them yelling from afar which would set us running back to the house so quick like lightning.

A memory can only remain a memory.  No one can ever bring back the past.  Still memories of our home will live forever in my heart.  The joys of the past and even the not so joyful ones keeps me moving forward.  Papa's passing a long long time ago may have then marred a thread of optimism as if the days ahead would be gloomy like a stormy sky.  But, his memory pushes me to continue his bright and sunny disposition in life.  Like, Papa, Mama may not be as quick now as she was before, still, I am grateful we children are still able to share these new days with her.  We keep creating memories that hopes to inspire our future and the future of our children and the children of our children and even the children after them.  These was, are and will be the memories of "our home".

*My work life in the here and now*

Reflecting upon "it", my work life now that is, I have realized how much writing I have been doing in the past seven (7) years or so.  Well, preparing written reports is not totally new to me as I have been a government employee for fifteen (15) years.  Reports then were prepared for various audiences with specific interests.  Needless to say, I am used to formulating reports base on my audience/s' interests and expressed needs.  It is the same in my current venture as a freelance consultant. I mostly prepare monthly review narratives on business operations.  There is a bit of financial analysis and some financial report preparation as well.  

I have no qualms in making written communications.  I write from the truth set before me and my truth is the data presented for review and the result of thorough validations and verifications.  Thus, I make disclosures as to review limitations and the accountability of person or persons responsible for the data I am provided.  What is most demeaning is the client's fickle mindedness and propensity to back down from what has been decided and agreed.  I do not pursue a specific area for review without the client's consent.  More so, I do not write anything that cannot be supported by data made available by the client.  Oftentimes my reports is taken against me, as though operating results is my responsibility.  I report on the numbers as can be extracted from existing data but how these numbers are realized, example sales, is no longer within my control.  If sales are low, responsibility is upon the salesforce.  Part of the job I signed up for is to evaluate how the salesforce are doing in view of the business' desired bottom line, thus, the numbers reflected in narratives.

I am more inclined to business writing.  One of the reasons I registered to an online class is I want to hone my skills even more and be my best at writing business communications including business reports.  I wanted to learn more ways to be more convincing and straight forward but not offensive in my narratives.  Also, I want to explore earning opportunities through academic writing.  I attempted to sign up for one but unfortunately I did not qualify.  I am optimistic that by attending online classes I can widen the reach of my writing skills.