Mar 22 2011

Day 2: Inverse Proportionality 101

Day 2 » A photo of something you ate today

According to Wikipedia (skipping all the yada yada details):

…the concept of inverse proportion means that as the absolute value or magnitude of one variable gets bigger, the absolute value or magnitude of another gets smaller, such that their product (the constant of proportionality) is always the same.

If the formula for inverse proportionality is:

y = k/x

Then the value of x would be the time I spend in trainings and conference calls; and y would be my appetite.

Work, work.

Anyway, here’s a photo of what I ate today.

The first iced tea drink I liked. Ever.
American black coffee in a coffee shop named Paodora.
Five pieces of a meat goodness. I don’t know what it’s called, but we call them “squirting meatballs”.

Yum.

Mar 21 2011

Day 1: No to rainy Shanghai

I decided to restart the 30-day blog challenge. So here it is.

Day 1 » A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was

Thank you, Lomo Lomo Pro for this vain photo.

I had trouble waking up today at 7 in the morning because of several reasons: I watched a movie last night, I played Fruit Ninja in Zen mode, it’s raining and of course.. it’s Monday!

I took a bath (which is a BIG struggle today because it’s raining = colder), wore three layers of clothing and with the help of my room mate’s umbrella, we’re off to the first battle of the day: the Shanghai bus ride. It’s usually crowded in bus stops in the morning, but I think people opted to take taxi rides because of the rain. It was particularly a good start of the day for me.

Coffee really helps jolt my energy so I bought one before going to my desk. The baristas at the Chinese coffee shop know my usual coffee and how many sugars they should put in it. My friends and I also taught them the English word “sugar”, which is tang in Chinese. Next word English word to teach them is creamer.

Today is a better start of the week compared to last week. Last week I went straight to work day after I flew back to Shanghai from Manila so I really didn’t have the luxury of sleep. Vacation hangover. The last week had been so dragging and boring and I wish it were weekend already. But the start of this week had been good. Good vibes.

Work’s okay. More responsibilities are being given to me and I don’t know if I should be happy or feel bad about it. At the end of day, it’s still work and I get paid for what I do. And hey, it’s fun to use your brain every once in a while.

I got off work, got home and heard that there was an earthquake back home. I’m sure glad everybody’s safe.

I miss him more everyday.

Today was good, except for the rain. I sure wish it would stay this way all throughout the week.

Jan 13 2011

The long wait, a.k.a. teh bum life.

It’s my first bum-monthsary in five days.

I can’t really say it has been a productive month, but I managed to do work-related and leisure-related stuff altogether. I’ve known the ins and outs of most of the processes in acquiring different documents from different government agencies (I can help you with DFA, Chinese embassy, POEA concerns).

The challenging parts of being a bum are staying fit and maintaining funds. Being unemployed will just let you wake up when you’re not sleepy, eat when you’re hungry, go to the mall when you’re bored.

But still, nothing much will really go on. You lose track of time. Most of the time, you talk with your new Shih Tzu pet named Bruce. You become familiar with moisturizers, day and night creams, toners and cleansers because you stared at yourself in the mirror yesterday and you thought you looked ugly. But fortunately, killing myself is and will not be an option.

But teh bum life is about to end. Shanghai is almost, almost here. Aja!

Dec 9 2010

Recap.

Busy busy busy. Too bad I didn’t have the chance to continue the 30-day blog challenge.

But the past weeks have been really overwhelming. I have been offered a job in Shanghai, and everything else just fell right into place.

Blessing #1: A site called monster.com

Last September, I was so disappointed at how my salary increase turned out. I’ve been working for 4 years now, but I’m still in the same place I’ve been in 2 years ago. I don’t feel much growth. I can’t help but compare myself with other people’s successes. Because of much depression and dilemma, I decided to update my resume and post it in monster.com. I’ve been receiving several calls from several companies, but there’s this one job opportunity that I’ve singled out and decided to try out. I was not expecting to get the job, but I did, thanks to depression and monster.com. New adventure, good pay, check.

Blessing #2: A Singapore trip on impulse

A friend and I were craving to travel to Singapore so we’ve booked tickets last September (our flight will be on March next year). I don’t have a passport at the time they booked the tickets, so I have no choice but to renew. I applied for passport renewal. I got the job offer a week after. Passport, check.

Blessing #3: Stolen wallet

God bless the kids who stole my wallet while we were attending mass.

After my wallet was stolen, I went to the bank to acquire a new ATM card. While waiting for the teller to process my request, I came across a credit card application form on the teller’s desk. I tried applying though I have a bad credit history. When I asked the teller about the required documents, he said that our company’s employees can just submit the filled out the form even without the requirements. I wasn’t thinking about the credit card application nor waiting for it. But now, the credit card has been approved and will be delivered to me next week. Credit card, check.

Blessing #4: Cousin’s wedding

My cousin’s wedding will be this month so my aunts from the states will coming here in Manila for the Christmas vacation. Since I have no idea what to buy for Shanghai’s winter season, my aunts suggested they bring winter clothes for me. Winter clothes, check.

So much to do, so many things to buy, several things to work on.

I’m so happy with how things turned out. I’ve never really been a good person, but I feel like so much blessings are being handed to me one by one. I’m so lucky. 2011 will be my year. Aja!

P.S. Remaining entries for the 30-day blog challenge will be continued on mid-January. At least that’s what I’m aiming for.

Nov 8 2010

Day 7 & 8: Surreal.

» Your dream wedding

I want a simple wedding. All girls wearing white dresses with black ribbons tied on their waists. Guys will wear coats. For my first dance with the husband, I want Stevie Wonder’s Ribbon In The Sky played by a super good jazz band. I don’t want the traditional lineup of wedding reception activities. I’d like everybody saying how happy they are seeing me happy.

I want a wedding photographer who can take photos like this. Vintage-y, lomo-ey (I don’t even know if these are valid words).

» A song to match your mood

Lazy Daisy by Up Dharma Down

She’s a lazy daisy
Watching the sun turn
Into rain and maybe
Waiting for something
To take the pain
She don’t know why
It doesn’t shine
In her rainbow sky
Everytime
She won’t say
How the word can play
She won’t say
How you can stay
She’s a lazy daisy
Painting pictures in her head
Sweet like candy
Loving all of what is said
She don’t know why
It doesn’t shine
In her rainbow sky
Everytime

I’m not sure what this song means really, but every time I listen to Lazy Daisy, I feel dreamy and hopeful.

Nov 1 2010

Day 1: Loving The Rain?

» A photo of yourself and a description of how your day was

Today was not the perfect day to visit my dad in the cemetery.

I have always been excited when November is just around the corner. We always camp out on the eve of All Saints’ Day ever since my dad passed away. But unlike last year, there were no tents, no ghost stories, no strolling around the memorial park. It was raining hard the whole day so we just ate lunch in Daddy’s grave and left. Bye too early Daddy.

To pass the time, my cousins and brothers and I decided to watch Wes Craven’s My Soul To Take 3D. I’m so glad this movie was only a thriller 3D movie. No monsters for me for the next nights.

I was also craving for a Fruitas orange smoothie and I can’t find a Fruitas stall in SM! I bought Zagu Jamocha Almond instead.

While driving our lola, my brother and I are discussing about me taking a masteral degree. Aside from lack of time and money, I’m sure my company won’t allow me. I really don’t see taking an MS degree helping me in my career, but I think it’s worth considering.

Rain, rain, go away. Seriously.

May 3 2009

Conclusion of another week.

Last week..

Monday. Too frustrated to work. Was given a simple task since last week and got stuck with an unknown configuration problem blar blar blar Java Spring blah blah. Still not talking in my seat.

Tuesday. Still stuck with the same task. Hoping my superior would not be too impatient. Still shy to ask questions. Had a team meeting which made me talk to the team. This is a good start.

Wednesday. STILL stuck with the task. Still scared to ask questions. Still want to try resolve the bug myself before asking. Self deadline is Thursday before asking for help.

Thursday. Was given a new task with the old task still at hand. Worried that I might not be able to deliver since this was the last day of the week. Asked a team mate to help me with the new task and was able to finish it in two hours. Asked him to help me identify the problem with what the original task that I’m doing particularly the meaning of the error message I keep on getting in my console. Problem solved! Happy! Asked kumares to go out and celebrate and we did. Awesome night.

Friday. Holiday! My brother’s birthday! Fiesta meal at a friend’s house. Got all blushed up after just one glass of Red Horse beer. Videoke with two of my favorite friends. Happy.

Saturday. Watched Yes Man, Taken, Kung Fu Panda The Secrets Of The Furious Five, Wall E, Knowing and The Holiday at home. Happy.

Sunday. Bought new DVDs. Went home far, far away. Started watching America’s Best Dance Crew Season 2. Pacquiao’s amazing!

I hope this week’s gonna be great. My spirit’s up. Go go go!

Apr 25 2009

First week down, forever to go.

If I were to pick my favorite day of the week, it would definitely be Friday. I love Friday nights because I get to go home and the thought of having two more free days will be stuck in my head before I go to sleep. Saturday and Sunday for me are my panic days.

My first week at work had been both great and blar blar (I use blar blar when I can’t describe what I feel). I hope everything will turn out from blar blar to okay in no time.

An hour ago, I was anxious and panicky just thinking about being in the office after tomorrow. I feel like I’m running out of time. Good thing I started drinking beer with my boyfriend an hour ago. Really helped me calm down and think everything through.

On other news, I’m recently hooked with American Idol 8. Only five weeks left before the show ends. I’m hoping Danny Gokey would win over Adam Lambert.

My to do’s for next week :

Learn Spring MVC
Fix my closet in the apartment (looks like garbage at the moment)
Download Paramore’s Final Riot
Start using my Nikon D40 again
Start using my Holga 120 CFN again
Start blogging about life, not just opinions

And I realized I’m starting to miss the bum life now.

Apr 10 2009

Goodbye sweet life.

April 15 marks the third month I have stopped working.

After I lost a job three months ago, it was difficult to adjust at first but I got the hang of it after a few weeks. And now, I’m used to waking up at 10 in the morning unlike before where I have to wake up two hours before the office hours. I wake up, go online, check my mail, socialize with people in Plurk, play online games (JamLegend, Restaurant City and Word Challenge to name a few), watch American Idol and sleep late at night (insert two meals in between all of these, eaten whenever I feel like eating). Not productive but fun.

I have mixed feelings. I’m sad because this phase in my life will be ending after several days. I’m also excited with the new things I’ll be experiencing. And I’m nervous too.

I have ten days left. Minus one day for the medical exam. Minus four days for the family trip in Baguio. Five days left all in all. And I don’t have a clue what I missed out doing in the three-month vacation.

I’ll miss being unemployed. I’ll miss all the free time I have. I’ll miss being in the one place I love. I’ll miss everything.

Now, what to do?

Apr 2 2009

Finally.

A job! My second, technically.

I had my taste of rejection with one company I’ve applied to. I’ve always wanted a company with a three-day application processing, but after receiving THE rejection email, I thought the process was too fast and left my head spinning. I’ve really worked hard on scribbling Java codes on the whiteboard to impress the interviewer, but I guess it’s not enough. I’ve been irate the whole day after knowing the news. I didn’t even get a reply after asking in which interview I failed (HR or the technical interview). I don’t deal with rejections too well.

But a harsh reality is much better than waiting and guessing if the result is harsh at all. I’ve been in the hardest technical interview (ever!) and I never heard anything from them after that. I felt that I’ve been too desperate for the result after realizing that I’ve been texting the recruiter several times asking what the result is. That was everyday for almost two weeks. No answer. I guess it’s a sign.

So now, this company. They’ve been patient with me from the very beginning. My application was processed after two weeks. I’m excited to work. I was hesitant to accept it at first, but I was attracted to several things:

The office location. It’s in a street in Ortigas with lotsa establishments! And most importantly, Starbucks!
The workplace. Modern motifs never fail to be attracting.
The receptionist. From day one, the company’s receptionist was friendly not only to me, but to all other applicants, I think. She has a very contagious jolly mood.
The general manager. In my final interview, the GM was so down to earth and very interested with my career development. He’s thrilled with me working for them. He’s open and honest with everything about the company.
The dress code. The company doesn’t require employees to be in business attire. Woot! I’m gonna miss my old wardrobe though.
The work itself. I’m still aligned with Java development work, so yay for me.

Naive as it may seem, I’m liking the company mostly because they’ve been nothing but friendly and patient with me. Work environment and co-workers are big chunks of my work motivation formula.

I’m onto processing pre-employment requirements which I think is the most stressing part of being employed by a new company. I still have 18 more days to enjoy what’s left of my unemployed life.