MANILA, Philippines — To use the cliche, I can't believe time flies so fast! We're now at the tail end of 2011 and ready to greet 2012. Today, like before, we give thanks to technology for making our lives amazingly simple & easily accessible with just one swipe and click.

As an avid internet surfer, there are times when I get symptoms of Information Overload but I realized that we really have to use our time well instead of loitering aimlessly in cyberspace. Despite the omnipresence of gadgetry and the net, a person still needs to find proper work-life balance in order to be sane. Okay, the title of this column might be a little misleading. They actually pertain to the issues I've had to deal with this holiday season that are related to my mini-techie life. Here goes:

It's a common dilemma around this time when people have extra cash to spare and gadgets become the most coveted things on this planet. A little greed comes in because despite our overexposure to all kinds of computers, phones and gizmos, we always want to buy new ones or upgrade to the next.

For instance, am already happy with my Samsung Galaxy S II but certainly felt lustful when I saw the Samsung Galaxy Note. I already have a Canon DLSR (which I don't use, btw) and now I feel like throwing money on another one... a Nikon this time. I feel guilty and I ask myself: is it just me or does this apply to others as well?  And if you say yes, where is this world going to? (*facepalm)

This past week, I was sullenly watching DJ Mo Twister trashing his ex-girlfriend Rhian Ramos until I fell victim to such bullying myself. This was by way of a gay acquaintance who sent me very nasty messages in my Facebook and Yahoo Mail for no reason. I actually had to check my FB privacy settings to know why he was able to message me after blocking him before.

It can hurt when somebody attacks your person and your character. It's also counterproductive because you waste your time pouring out your misery to other people or plotting your revenge. I had actually thought of blogging this guy to make him searchable to employers but was restrained  by my husband from doing so. Oh well....

Publicists are already a part of bloggers' lives. Some look at PRs with disdain while some of us build relationships with them because they somehow still provide info that can be useful for our SEO undertakings. This Christmas, meeting angel PRs is part of our wish list. The type who wouldn't bug us when we will come out with their articles after feeding us meals we can also afford.

The type who won't just religiously email us their press releases without letting us see, touch and feel whatever objects they're promoting. Treat bloggers with respect because we're humans, too and most especially because we don't get a salary for all the online work we do.