same old

It's disconcerting to know that I am absolutely useless with the spoken word. I can speak but I cannot speak well to save my life! I prefer the written word. At least when I write I know how to be eloquent and get my point across without fumbling.

nostalgia

Once I got it in my head that maybe I should look up old friends and classmates, I really go for it. What I wasn't expecting was to get hit with this severe case of nostalgia for days gone past, for actions that should have been and not have been, regrets, memories...

Heck, seeing most of them married and/or (mostly and) with children, it gets one thinking. It really gets one thinking...

I have no idea where this sudden compulsion to look up old friends and classmates came from, but I really hope that some good comes out of this. I'm really hoping to reconnect with the people in the outside world. As it is, I feel like I'm trapped in this existence. Heck, my schedule usually just calls for me to go to work, go home, play a bit of travian, watch a bit of TV, eat, sleep. Repeat ad infinitum ad nauseum. It's bloody boring. Sure I can go out but what's the fun in that if you're alone?

I've got nothing against being alone. With the way my life is going, I might as well get used to being alone, what with my (retarded and underdeveloped) social IQ and emotional IQ and sense of self. Even though I keep telling myself that I'm good at where I am, that I'm content... it's not effing true. I'm just forcing myself to believe that so I won't be the object of pity, either by my id, ego, superego, or other people. It's the one thing that I hate being, and I can't help but be pitiful in my current state of self.

Sometimes, you really just want to have someone right there with you as you experience life and all it's trials and tribulations and successes and accomplishments. Sometimes, you just want to have someone hold you as you think. Hugging a stuffed toy can only hold you for so long, and even that gets old really fast.

suddenly

I was feeling somewhat giddy last night -- doing double shifts can do that to you, I gather -- and I did what an officemate suggested and looked up someone, a friend from college, that maybe I was interested in. At one point I thought he was too but let's just say that society's mores got into my head and that's that. So I looked him up -- it's really a wonder what you can do with the internet -- and I got a sudden dose of depression.

He's effing married.

Gods. I thought it wouldn't be serious when he started going out with her but apparently, I was wrong. And yes I know it's the same girl he went out with that he married.

Bloody social mores. I am never listening to them again.

I wanna fly!

See? I'm not gone! It's the second time that I've updated in a week! Or less than a week. But heck, I can't sleep even though I have work later tonight. It's rest day overtime coz of our increased workload since October. I think they missed me when I went to HK hehehe

Ah well, tis the season to be happy anyway, right? Christmas and everything that goes hohoho and bah hunbug. Oh wait, bah humbug is for later when you feel bloated and fat.

it's brand new

So. It's been a long time since I last posted, and considering that my last post was about something that happened in the office, I figured I'd better change the address of my blog just in case someone from IT wanted to snoop around. I read in Reader's Digest that some companies do spy on their employees' computer use, and I figuer better err on the side of reason (is that even the right saying?)

Updates on me...

Hmm... Still with the company, nearing my second year with the company (yay!) The people there are... well, still the people that were there before with a bunch of new faces.

I really think I should consider a diet and exercise regime, coz even my annual physical exam said so. Don't know how to go about that considering that my job is as sedentary as you could imagine. The only way I get to walk around is for bathroom breaks, lunch breaks, going around our aisle when they ask for me, and going to the IT room if and when something happens to the computers. Boring.

I'm still crazy mad, don't worry. I still write but not as often and as prolifically as I would like to be. Usually when I get to my place, I just turn the TV on for a bit then sleep. Wake up the next day, go to work, go home, repeat ad infinitum. Even my rest days are sometimes work days coz I get called to the office since the volume of work increased and well... Yeah.

Oh yeah, I still have to post the HK trip pics hehehe I really have got to allocate some time to edit those pics into something cohesive.

Ciao!

I got a reprimand

Oh yeah, so there I was, really close to being pissed off and what happens? I get pissed off, but not totally pissed off enough, so I get a reprimand from the HR Director who happened to be the one to do the something that pissed me off.

Let's start at the beginning.

I basically woke up on the wrong side of the bed, so to speak. That means, I get irritated easily. On the upside, I get amused easily as well, as I found out when I was in the jeepney on the way to the office. Behind the jeep was a car driven by a "matronly" woman who kept honking her horn. It was irritating and it kept reminding me that I was really close to being late to the office. Hah. Another ticker in the temper.

stupid arse

But there was this gay guy and his friend in the jeep who kept "insulting" the woman and I couldn't help but smile. Hey, they were funny, in a not so clean way.

So. Moving on. I was in the office. I was starting to feel unwell, still do actually, as I'm writing this. Then I get to see the other people with their company jackets and I'm wondering to myself, hey, where's mine? Didn't I get regularized before they did?

Apparently, it's not to be given to you, you have to get it from the HR. Figures.

Pantry. I saw the HR bunch having breakfast, I assume. I asked one of them where my jacket was and the other one and the HR director said something along the lines of, don't you already have one from the first batch? Why are you asking for another one?

I gotta tell you, that rubbed me the wrong way. With the way I was then and the way my mind was, I told them off. I said, If I already had one, where is it? I could have smiled so they could have taken it as a joke but I didn't coz I didn't want to. Then someone said that she thought I was being like one of the others who wanted to trick HR into giving them another jacket and I said, I am so not like him.

Then I left, with my hot chocolate and a headache.

Later, I was called to the HR Director's office and told off. She said she was offended (hey, so was I when you insinuated that I was like those who would trick you) so I said sorry.

Thought that was the end of it, but when my supervisor told me that she'd like to talk to me and that we were going to talk in the "aquarium," I knew that aside from whatever QA concerns she might have to raise, she was going to talk to me about what happened in the pantry. And I was right.

I think I ought to look for another job somewhere and in a different field. How about going back to school?

And she did. She said she had my back but that I had to be conscious of what I do and say since I was a QA now (hmm, wonder how long that'll last before she chucks me back to being an editor) and that I should be aware of how I treat the MTs and editors (I knew I should have followed that up! what the heck are they saying about me and who are saying it?!)

Yada yada

I don't think they take me too seriously here. I think I seriously need to consider getting a new job somewhere else.

I think I got promoted

Yeah, about that. See, last week, my sup called me over and said they were considering mo for the other QA position. Naturally, I was cool and collected, on the outside. On the inside, I was like, "Hell yeah! About damned time!"

Conceited much, you think?

I was supposed to start the "training" for the position today, but as ever, after the holidays, we got loaded down with work. Then later, I was told that I would have to use another computer.

*sniff*

I want my compy! I'll miss my compy! I want my compy! I'll miss my compy!

And I hope to the high heavens that the one who's going to be using my computer is not that person that I don't want using my computer.

Hmph.

Girls like to ramble

Yesterday, I had a call from -- guess who. ^__^ Yeah, that one. Anyway, she asked me if I wanted to work for her, doing home trans. You have to understand, after all the negative press she was spreading about me and the ignoring me, I would have thought she'd think twice about talking to me. Don't worry, I was civil and nice. She told me to text her if I wanted to do the job. I've already erased her cell number from my phone, so no can do. Coz, see, I don't like that I was fooled into being friends with someone who is decidedly not a friend. Oh yeah, she even managed to insult me -- however subtly -- when she was supposed to be pointing out my good qualities that would convince me to take the job.

Sorry. I don't want to subject myself to that kind of abuse ever again.

I wonder though, if just the fact that she called and was asking me and anyone else she talked to before I got the phone, is that like, inciting "treason" against the company?

Hmm... I have to remember to ask HR about that.

hah!

Got a new keyboard, something that actually looks like a keyboard and doesn't tempt me to take a very heavy blunt object to it to smash it to smithereens. And, it doesn't run on batteries. So what if it's not cordless? At least it's the same size as the one I'm used to and I won't get into a really bad mood when I want to type and I type in gibberish all because the keys are small and placed really close together.

Now, all that's missing is a computer table and chair, a printer, and a USB, and I'm all set.

After that, it's getting an internet connection, of course.

Ouran High School Host Club

The Club is now open!


I spent a weekend watching the latter half of this 26-episode anime series. I'd already spent an earlier weekend watching the previous half.

Cor, that's not right. I wasn't able to watch episode 13 because there was some error or another, so I had to acquire that first. Last night, I was able to watch episode 13 and then I had to reminisce, i.e., watch other episodes, sigh at certain scenes, squeal when certain characters come on half-naked ^__~

Yeah, so this is my latest update after a very long hiatus.

My birthday came and went. Yay!

Not. Coz I was asked to come in to the office even when I had already filed a leave just so I won't have to spend my birthday in the office. *sigh* And I was kinda sorta forced into treating the whole team to pizza.

I am not begrudging them that, but I would have liked to volunteer to treat them and not have them tease or comment about it being my birthday therefore I HAVE to treat them. Like, eh?

Foods food. So.

RoDCon 2007

^_________^

Lotsa lotsa books everywhere!!

RoDCon 2007

Day 1 : 3 February Saturday

I took a VL for the day ^__^ Later on, I found out that my colleagues in the office had to stay on until 6pm that day to finish work coz I wasn't there and the other editor was there for only half a day.

Registration was at 8am. I was hoping to get there earlier so I could get the better goodie bag, and I got there a few minutes after 8am, I guess. I registered and waited, coz they were supposed to open with the speeches at 9am. They didn't, but we waited and waited and browsed through the goodie bag that I got.

There was anticipation coz this was the first of its kind in the country so it was exciting to be there.

Finally, the doors to the Hotel Intercon's Grand Ballroom opened. Books, books, and books galore! And people too, but hey, I was there for the books and the interesting forums.

Goethe Institut was the first booth you see on the right side. Turn to the left and there was Avalon Publishing. Next to them was a booth selling second hand books that I have forgotten the name of. Next was Ex Libris, and the booth with the the comic sketches and the artist of the Elmer comics was there, forgot his name, only that he was in a panel on the second day and Joy chatted him up as well as the other comic book artists there.

Following that when you turn, still on the left-hand side, was the book donation booth and the swap booth. Continue on and there's PowerBooks up to the stage.

In the center area was the Read or Die booth, Solidaridad, Booktopia, Comic Quest, National Book Development Program, Adarna, Mango, and a few other publishing houses that I have forgotten. On the other side was the UP press, UST press, Ateneo press, and the other booth ^__^ hehehe as ever, forgot the name.

Purchases made on the first day: 2 Agatha Christie novels, Hercule Poirot mysteries.

My plan was to make the first day a recon mission so I can scout what's available and for how much. The second day was for the buying ^__^

Met with Joy. Made new friends. Of special note would be Anne and Jen, and the four of us went to lunch at Tsoko.Nut where we made tentative plans for a trip some time this year to the North. Backpacking trip. I will admit I am so game for this coz I really want to travel and see places.

Note to self: Buy digicam before trips.

Trips coz Tin, Fe, and I are planning on a trip as well later this year. Hopefully, Emma can join us as well.

Speakers this day included the director (I think) of the AHON foundation, the one who will benefit from the convention, and National Artist Rio Alma.

^___^

And there were a few Jedi Knights running around!

Panels attended:

Philippine Folklore -- Really interesting! It was too bad we were late but heck, they wouldn't let me in to the panel I signed up for, the New Worlds Alliance panel coz I was late (only by a few minutes!) and the room was full already. The Philippines has a rich treasure trove of folklore that is way better than the recognized western ones.

Goethe Institut -- I like the German people and German literature. Never mind that I can't understand what they're saying but I do know a few words of German. The discussion was about German literature, on the Grimms Fairytales. Too bad they weren't selling the book coz I like fairytales. I'm thinking of pursuing further studies, maybe in Germany or somewhere, but it would be nice to be a student in a foreign country.

British Council of Manila -- Performance poetry. We had to wait a bit coz the guest from the British Council of Manila wasn't there. He made it though, Roger Robinson, and he read his short story Tree and it was hilarious! Joy and I bought his two books and 1 CD, and we're sharing custody of them.

I would have gone to the Publishers Forum, but Joy had to go and I stayed with her until her Dad came coz they were going to the province that night.

Anyway, really fun.


Day 2 : 4 February Sunday

I got there really early, 730 am, and I got a new goodie bag ^__^

Today was buying day so I made sure I had enough money with me.

My first purchase was for my sister-in-law, book 1 and 3 of the new Nora Roberts trilogy, Circle Trilogy. I got 2 magazines free coz of that and the booth next to Emerald gave me 2 magazines as well for free.

I went by the second-hand books booths coz my sister-in-law gave me a list and I had to look for them there. Instead, I found 2 books by this author that I had been looking for ever since highschool! JT Edson.

Shout-out: To anyone who would like to dispense of their JT Edson books, contact me please!

Then it was PowerBooks. One more book for my sister-in-law, and the rest of the purchases were mine, mine, mine!

*cue evil laughter*

Of course, that meant lugging around a really heavy bag, and my messenger bag broke.

*wails*

I fixed it some though but it's really broken now.

*sniff*

It's only now that we can get to the speeches. The last speaker was F. Sionil Jose, and oh gods, was he a funny old man ^__^ I bought a book of his so I could have it autographed and I chose one of his collections of short stories. I like stories. I'm writing several, aren't I?

Anyway, we had to line up for his autograph and 3 storm troopers helped make it ordered. Not to mention the few Star Trek crew and a Slytherin student ^__^;;

So, F. Sionil Jose signed my book, he asked if I was related to this person he knew who shared my last name -- unfortunately, I was not, but I told him she must be from the other branch of the family -- and he told me to read the book that inspired him to write one of the short stories in that collection of his that I bought *sweatdrop*

Panels attended:

Local Historiography -- Not as interesting as the Phil. folklore and I had to leave early for the next panel anyway.

Ang INK -- I want to be a member! I have to prepare a portfolio of art work though, and I don't know if I'll have the time. Heck, make time! Life's too short to dillydally as it is.

Speculative Fiction -- Really interesting group of people from LitCritters. I don't know if I'm going to be as into spec-fic as they are, but I do read a few from the fantasy genre. Interesting points of view.

Comic Book Panel -- 4 comic book artists talk about their work et al.

All in all, I had fun, even though I am as close to being bankrupt as I would like to be.

-o-o-o-

feifu: Saw Paul with his girlfriend at the convention. Also saw Joyz, Jun, and Sasa, if you remember them. Lots of books! You would have loved it!

-o-o-o-

Office aside: I'm supposed to be on VL today, but Donna asked me to take my VL tomorrow instead coz she said she was worried that the workload for today would be as severe as it was when I was on VL last Saturday and yesterday.

It was not.

And I am going to take my VL tomorrow, that's for sure.

The McDreaminess of Daniel Radcliffe

Bear with me.

I am going on full fangirl mode.

*screams in the inside coz I'm still at the office*

I was late at the office yesterday, by the way. And I lay the blame at the feet of Dr. McDreamy. Him and the fact that I bought DVDs of Season 1,2, and some of 3 of Grey's Anatomy, and I had to have just another look at this fine specimen of the male kind.

You have got to love the eyes and the hair...

*swoons*




















And then last night, just as I was convincing myself to go to sleep, I caught this HOT picture of Daniel Radcliffe on TV. I ask you, how can a girl get to sleep with THIS image imprinted on her eyes? I mean, really...



Yes, I know he's jail bait still, but that doesn't mean I can't look at publicity photos, aye?

He's starring in the EQUUS play at West End.

Ah me, for Goku's instant transmission ability... maybe then I can sneak in a peek at the live performance.

^___^

Among other things to take a peek at anyway

^___^

Should I pre-order a copy of Harry Potter and the DeathlyHallows?

Issues @ Work

Just a little something I found while browsing... This is so appropriate for me and yet I read it too late...!

Office politics: you’d better watch your back

No matter how far you are able to distance yourself from the internal politics in the office, it is still possible that you will be affected by it.

Someone in your organisation - maybe someone you have long thought of as an ally - may suddenly see you as a threat to his own career path. When this happens, this person may start acting in ways designed to undermine your reputation and effectiveness.

Of course, you have to be careful not to jump to conclusions. But don't be dumb, either. If you have any reason to suspect that someone is sabotaging your efforts in the office, don't be passive.

Make it your business to discuss the situation with him. But be careful. Skilled players at office politics are good at covering their tracks. So, if you have to, be prepared to provide concrete evidence to back up any suspicions you may have.

In the meantime, keep your guard up whenever you are dealing with anyone who does the following:

• Speaks negatively of you: Watch out for poison tongues, especially when they encourage you to talk negatively about others in the company or about the company in general.

• Steals your ideas: Beware of co-workers who frequently come to you to pick your brain but never give you credit when presenting your ideas to the bosses.

• Breaks their promises: Steer clear of people who make commitments but do not tell you until the last minute that they cannot meet them, thereby making you look bad in the eyes of others.

I've got myself a new PC!!

Technically, it's an old CPU and monitor but newly repaired. I did score on a new CD combo drive, and the optical keyboard and mouse ^__^

Oh yeah!

The only thing missing is the internet connection but since I didn't apply for a phone line when I moved in... hehehe I'll have to figure something out for that coz I really, really, really like the internet ^___________^

Oh. Happy New Year!!

Even though it's more than half a month already into the new year. Year of the Pig. Huh.

I'm buying speakers later today, for my new PC. Since today is the last day of the work week for me, I have two days in which to watch anime!! Yay!! I can finally see Kyoya-kun, live! In a manner of speaking, of course.

Norton!

I have Norton antivirus!

Actually, at this point, I'm just plain happy for having an antivirus program, any antivirus program since my laptop got infected with that blasted trojan horse *grumble*

Happy days though, as I have a new PC!!

Mine!!

*evil laughter*

Oh yeah, I'm going to the Read or Die Convention. I took a vacation leave for that from the office. I have 7.5 leave credits more to use before my one year anniversary here, otherwise it'll be taxed when converted! Hehehe I think I'd rather have the nontaxed converted leaves, and I'll just take those free days, thank you very much.