my return to work this past week was filled with three comments, most of which were mentioned when my colleagues and co-workers saw me for the first time in 10 days:

"you've lost some weight!  what did you do?"

"you look better now!"

"there's something different about you…"

i never imagined that a 10-day vacation would give rise to such comments.  i mean, i never felt any different during those 10 days.  well, except for my voice slowly returning to normal, but for me to actually look like i lost weight still puzzles me.  i even stopped going to the gym the whole time i was on hiatus.  so, is bumming around the house considered a weight loss plan as well?  still, i'm not convinced.  the most i did to myself was get a haircut.  and i do that on a regular basis, which is every month, with six weeks at the most.  i guess not thinking of work–and all the attachments that come with it–did help in some way with my physical appearance.  i mean, i do believe that stress of any kind affects the body, so in some point, how i look today is the result of a stress-free environment.  even for at least 10 days.  heck, i even seldomly reply to text messages from the office!  during that time, i didn't care about work, how my team was doing, what's been going on at the office, absolutely nothing.  i wish it was that way always, but that ain't possible now, would it?  at least, not while you're getting paid.  in any case, i take the compliments in stride and just say "thank you."  it's nice to hear good things once in a while.

on another note, i saw ocean's thirteen this past thursday with my sister.  i'd have to say that the third installment is the best.  no julia roberts though, but story-wise, it's good.  though you really have to sit and pay attention to the babble because if you don't, you'll get lost.  this week, it's f4:  rise of the silver surfer.  only this time, i'll be watching it alone since the screening time is a couple of hours after my shift, so there's no one to ask to tag along.  friday is still empty on my social calendar, so i guess it's another stint at home for me this weekend.  and to think it's payday weekend!