hmmm chalk another one up for the red sox

The New York Times > Sports > Baseball > A New-Age General Manager Helps End an Age-Old Curse

Has a twin, son of a twin, grandson of a twin, just about two years older than me, and chiselled good looks. And GM of the Red Sox. Gaah. Sorry, Joe Torre, I think this guy's winning me over!

Last Song Syndrome : Sound of the Underground - Girls Aloud

and after the storm...

...come many little things that contribute to a relatively good day. Which is great after that not-so-splendid day yesterday. Okay, so my screen protector didn't go on quite that well on AchTungBaby, and I don't think I consumed anything remotely healthy today, but still.

Things that made me break into a smile:

the prospect of lunch with besprens on the natal day

was able to find a download of a good Sergio Mendes song (Magdalenha)

we are suddenly able to access our Yahoo! accounts, which we have been unable to do since Big Project Weekend

R.E.S.P.E.C.T. suddenly comes on LAUNCHcast (which I am listening to because I have been able to log onto Yahoo!

Maleen suddenly giving me a Kitkat bar

the BawalPikon barkada all know it's nearing my birthday although they don't really know anything except that it's sometime around Halloween

relatively good presentation for user training

Sigh. Maybe it really does have to do with your own personal wellbeing, how you deal with circumstance. However extenuating circumstances may seem to be, they still, after all, are a test of character. Feh. I think I lost mine somewhere since starting Big Projects.

Last Song Syndrome : Pardon Me - Incubus

fohtah, they've done it...!

Yahoo! Sports - MLB - A catch, a celebration, a dynasty of disappointment is over

The Red Sox are the World Champions!

'Nuff said.

i am in a strange blue funk

It's funny how I could start a day

and now feel so


People can just really clash, even people who apparently like each other and go out on gimmicks with each other. It's hard when you put so much importance and exert so much effort on your work, because someday, sometime or another, it will let you down. You will have a bad day; it's just that it's something I could really do without now, not after being at work the entire weekend and finding out that the PDA that I wanted to buy on zero-percent installment wasn't on zero-percent installment anymore (talk about vague advertising--apparently some products are available until the 31st, but the majority, well, aren't).

Immediate Director-Boss sent me and JP an email reprimand because we came back from lunch late (after buying the Tungsten E, by the way). And then the matter of the training scheduled for this afternoon, which was well-attended. However, this funky little tongue of mine let slip a statement that wasn't well-received by some people, these friends of ex-Medium Immediate Boss (ex-MIB). And now, ex-MIB, with whom we were supposed to meet tonight, suddenly cancels, heaven knows where she is.

CB wanted to meet up after the training but I'm in no mood to socialize right now. So there. I'm going home. I'm watching The Grid and then CSI: Miami and then I'm tuning out. The hell.

Last Song Syndrome : nothing. i can hear nothing.

hands on manila

The zeester#1 is taking quite an active role in some of these charities. Maybe you could also help make a difference in other people's lives. I like that it isn't very much philanthropy but more of assistance--the whole teaching a man to fish shtick. Anyway, the various project descriptions are listed here, from story-telling at Museo Pambata to Habitat for Humanity. Hands On Manila is your Megamall for volunteerism. I'm all for giving it a try.

something stupid
I did something utterly stupid a few hours ago. JP was asking me for help tweaking his file and I accidentally erased everything that he had done for the past hour or so. He was peeved. I know he was. You know when people say, "No, I'm not mad..." because it's what's expected; but they're really seething. I stopped saying sorry after about 10 tries. It wouldn't get anywhere. I feel so stupid for having caused him additional strain, not like the stress at StingyCo's enough. Right now the peer-relationship is a little strained; we haven't directly spoken to each other since (aside from the apologies). Sigh. Takes one little thing to ruin a day.

Last Song Syndrome : All Apologies - Nirvana

advice for the young at heart

a.k.a. a certain someone who is problematic right now

Note: Yours truly is no Dr. Love, nor have I enough life experience to actually give good advice. I just thought this over.

I still go back to my basic concept. Do whatever makes you happy. Don't do anything out of paranoia, or out of fear that someone is going to end up with someone. Listen to your head, too; take that advice from someone who's constantly listened to her heart and has nothing to show for it. What have I learned after all this? Sometimes doing the right thing is hard; you will regret it, but never for very long. Sometimes doing the right thing will lead to heartbreak but in the long run you will realize that it was for the best. Sometimes, on the other hand, doing the right thing will require you to swallow your pride and endure countless jabs at your heart, your ego, your self-esteem. Either way, doing the right thing will be hard sometimes, and you need to think it through and pray it through.

Last Song Syndrome : Broken - Seether

sunday at stingyco

Or 'Things to Do in StingyCo When You're Bored (and still at work on Sunday evening)'

yay red sox
It might actually be a Cinderella season after all. Yay for the underdog!

birthday celebrants on friendster
Apparently, friendster has a new feature showing your friends with upcoming birthdays. Because of this I have received birthday greetings from a couple of people whom I don't always come into contact with. It was nice, actually.

people who share my birthday

• Markee - okay, so he has better-shaped eyebrows than I do (natural yun), but this founding member of the LasPinyeros is one person whom I can always count on for droll, frank comments and advice that more often than not are true.
  
• y_slaybelle - Ms. Russia, PinoySlayer, Digital Dave-owner and inveterate blogger all in one! One of the first PinoySlayers to welcome me to the fold... wonderful person.
  
• Tristan - former student and volleyball varsity player, now based in the US. Funny and fearless.
  
• Shirley from the lower batch - don't really know much about her... just that we share the same birthday. Hahahaha.
  
• According to The CelebrityCafe, I share birthdays with the following notable people: Ezra Pound, Ruth Gordon, Louis Malle (husband of Candice Bergen, right?), Ivanka Trump (aak! daughter of The Man), Diego Maradona, Henry Winkler (hey Fonzie!), Harry Hamlin, and Gavin Rossdale. Not so notable: Snow (1, 2, 3: inFORmer! watermelon-watermelon-watermelon...)
  
• A check at IMDb yields two more interesting personages with whom I share a birthday: Gael Garcia Bernal (yummy... exactly the same age as Markee, by the way) and Adam Copeland, known to wrestling fans as Edge.

There can be absolutely no truth to people with the same birthdays having the same characteristics.

And now, back to work.

Last Song Syndrome : White Houses - Vanessa Carlton
For some insame reason, I like this song.

still at work

I've just about had enough of dividend balances and reconciliation. Would that it were reconciliation between me and Z.

(Lagot ako nito kay g! at kina Besprens D, J and M. Hehehehehe.)

Last Song Syndrome : Mr. Jones - Counting Crows

this can't be true...

Got this from magnifique_f8h:

You are 10% geek

OK, so maybe you ain't a geek. You do, at least, show a bit of interest in the world around you. Either that, or you have enough of a sense of humor to pick some of the sillier answers on the test. Regardless, you're probably a pretty nifty, well-rounded person who gets along fine with people and can chat with just about anyone without fear of looking stupid or foolish or overly concerned with minutiae. God, I hate you.

Take the Polygeek Quiz at Thudfactor.com

Moi, self-confessed geek, algebra-lover and avid Star Trek: Voyager fan? Apparently it takes more than that to be a certified geek. And Drew is the poster girl for this level. Kyut.

Last Song Syndrome : No Blue Sky - The Thorns

red sox, stephen king jubilant

Yahoo! Sports - MLB - Red Sox 10, Yankees 3

For the first time in major league baseball, a team has clawed back from a 3-0 playoff deficit to win the series. And for a storied team that hasn't won the World Series for 86 years, it was a wonderful story indeed, one that will reverberate for ages. The mighty New York Yankees were struck down by the Boston Red Sox.

I don't really follow major league baseball all that closely now, although I used to cheer for an Andy Petitte/Tino Martinez-lead Yankee team as well as Tom Glavine and Chipper Jones over at Atlanta. That was half a decade ago. The Yankees are still mighty, but nowadays I prefer European football to the American national sport. When the Yankees raced to a 3-0 series lead, it was almost a done deal. And then when I was home recuperating, I watched as the gutsy Red Sox fought through 12 innings to win Game 4. And then 14 innings worth of Game 5. The series was actually shaping up to be exciting.

And now this. It's the perfect cap to a historical series. Diehard Red Sox fans Stephen King and Stewart O'Nan chose a great season to chronicle. Props to the Boston Red Sox. They really deserve this.

Now, back to soccer, where there are a lot of cuter dudes.

Last Song Syndrome : Take On Me - a-ha

matinong usapan

An email exchange ensues:

Bespren D: pwede ba akong mag-request...ng baby shower

Ri: kelan? kelan ba usually ang baby shower? ilang months?

Bespren D: ay hindi ko alam pero 7 months na ako next month kaya time na rin for me to buy stuff (actually dapat 8th month pero alangan naman i shop during the christmas rush!). and i dont know where to start.

Bespren M: Sure ba! Hello.... I may not be around when the baby is born (you're due in March, tama ba?)

Bespren D: confused ka talaga M, pero excused ka dont worry. magbilang ka iha--7th month = november, 8th month = december, 9th month = january...11th month = march -- baka nagsasalita na ang baby kung patagalin ko hanggang march sa tyan ko ;)

Last Song Syndrome : Stay - Lisa Loeb

dissatisfaction guaranteed

As dicussed in our human behavior in organizations subject, in a work environment, there are satisfiers and dissatisfiers. Satisfiers are items in the work environment that make an employee happy with their presence; dissatisfiers on the other hand are those items without which an employee becomes unhappy. Satisfiers may be absent and the employee would not be dissatisfied, for example vendo machine in the pantry. Dissatisfiers are items like medical benefits, without which employees could grumble.

Call me spoiled, but I consider internet access in my workplace as a dissatisfier. When I was with the green-and-white, I would spend an average of at least 2 hours a day on the internet. To think we shared PCs back then. Since I was at work early and more often than not went home late, I could use the PC that AMJ and I shared without remorse, or without supervision, for that matter. When I transferred to StingyCo, I realized that there were network admin who actually had the power to remove internet access. Once adminDude removed my internet access because one of the bosses of another department complained that she passed by my cubicle in the middle of the day and I was surfing. Feh.

After a while, my access was restored (after a few friendly chats with adminDude) and I learned how to be more discreet. However, we have never been able to access any instant messenger services due to the firewal. Then, last year, our office email started blocking yahoogroups mail; more debilitating was the start, just last Monday, of our proxy server blocking Yahoo! mail and other services. Aside from having to check mail at home (and not at lunch hour -wink, wink- as we were wont to), we would not be able to check if there were any urgent mail, and I would no longer be able to access my LAUNCHcast personal station. Gaah! I can only listen to so much of The Big Hits station.

If I consider this a dissatisfier, does this mean I'll be on the lookout for new work then? Who hasn't been on the lookout for greener pastures, really? I was just really disappointed that suddenly this policy was implemented, after four years of relative freedom. This also means less sleep, because I will now be forced to surf during the offpeak time of the wee hours of the morning. Oh well. In any case, though, if a better prospect for work comes knocking, who knows? Internet or no internet.

Besides, with a 20% pay differential I will be able to afford unlimited broadband.


social animals we are
Got this from Patty:


Category I - The Hub

You're a 'people person'. Networking runs in your
blood. Consequently, you can move through most
social circles with ease.


What Type of Social Entity are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Apparently I am a 'people person'. Well I do have a lot of acquaintances (just not on friendster), and I believe I can move through most social circles with ease (except the extreme class A, and some communities especially in say, Tondo). I can't say I network well, though. I think I would have jumped StingyCo at the first chance if I did network right. (Hastily looks around to check if anyone has been reading over her shoulder.)

Last Song Syndrome : Building a Mystery - Sarah McLachlan

signing off for the week

Apparently last Wednesday's shivers were the portent of a full-blown case of influenza. As it is, I'm heading home because I can't function right here anymore. Got some things done and am I now going home to rest. Tomorrow we have the final despedida of the Medium Immediate Boss, which I hope to be able to attend.

Here's hoping for a peaceful and healing afternoon's rest as well as a good weekend ahead. Have "pseudo-date" with BB on Sunday; four-odd years after our first pseudo-date for Mickey Blue Eyes. Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow looks interesting, if only for the star value. Besides, am such a sucker for JUDE-LAW-AND-ANGELINA-JOLIE-IN-THE-SAME-MOVIE! Oh well.

I leave you with a cute Calvin and Hobbes comic. Here's to us all, insignificant specks, but we make the most of it.

-oOo-

I know someone important to me (or used to be, at least) has his/her birthday today. I can't remember. Feh.

-oOo-

Big-time agent is looking for me. Good thing she doesn't know me by face. I will escape now. Have a good weeekend.

Last Song Syndrome : Sweet Home Alabama

in the air

Apparently, Bespren J is also under the weather. Tsk tsk. There must be a bug going around in our little barangay.

despite all my rage i am still just a rat in a cage

Pohtah. Ayoko na magtrabaho.

Ang lamig pa dito.

Last Song Syndrome : Bullet with Butterfly Wings - Smashing Pumpkins

procrastination

Yes I have a lot to do. Yes I am at work trying to do it. But I have been at work since 7 this morning so I wanted to sneak some time to fill this up. In between work. Because the brain is on overload and may explode sometime soon.

TOP 3 Frequently visited sites
1. mail.yahoo.com
2. blogspot.com
3. livejournal.com

TOP 3 Foods
1. penne al telefono
2. ebi tempura
3. salted garlic squid

TOP 3 Drinks
1. mirinda orange
2. raspberry tea frapp
3. water

TOP 3 Snacks
1. oishi ridges bbq
2. brazo de mercedes
3. kettle corn microwave popcorn

TOP 3 Indoor activities
1. internet
2. TV
3. sleeping

TOP 3 Outdoor activities
1. driving
2. walking
3. badminton

TOP 3 Accessories
1. cellphone
2. earrings
3. badminton racket

TOP 3 Major expenses
1. groceries
2. cable
3. badminton

TOP 3 Books that you like
1. Einstein's Dreams
2. Mists of Avalon
3. Dragonlance

TOP 3 Movies that you like
1. The Princess Bride
2. Lord of the Rings trilogy (hehe, 3 in 1)
3. Good Will Hunting

Last Song Syndrome : Why Not - Hilary Duff

spinning, spinning

How do you handle it when things somehow seem to spiral out of control, and you can't take a step back, even for a moment? Things are a bit stifling at work nowadays (evidenced by my sporadic, not to mention erratic, blogging). Everything is coming to a head within the next two weeks, when StingyCo and Acquistion#4 are going to merge systems. There are two other major projects, and production support for current systems. Then there's also the industry exam that I'm taking on November 3rd, for which I haven't even started studying. Not even opened the book. Not once.

How does one stay sane in times like these? I don't want to go back to 70-hour workweeks and no social life, not when I'm starting to actually have a set of friends at the office, getting close to CB again after all this time, and being able to spend time with my family. I know it's a matter of time management (like I shouldn't be blogging right now); but sometimes it really seems there aren't enough hours in a day. I don't even get to surf and download as much anymore. Sigh.

Last Song Syndrome : If I Am - Nine Days

earthquakes notwithstanding

I am at work on a Saturday evening. We finished a planning session a few hours ago and now we're doing the work that we're supposed to have done this morning if we hadn't had that planning session. In the planning session, we were made to go through a "tunnel" under a row of chairs, in pairs, simultaneously from separate ends of the "tunnel". HR Facilitator was quick to point out that our team, Sir N and I, were heavyweights. What an understatement. Alone, I would have a hard time going through that tunnel--and with another person? Just too much to handle. I ended up "breaking the rules" a bit. Apparently we were all "obedient" because we didn't question the need to do it. I did, but I kept it to myself. And in a jam, I readily break the rules. I knew that. And now, it's back to work, obedient people that we are. (Well, right now it's pretend working. Blog first, work later.)

Meanwhile, on earthquake-related stuff: I was at Starbucks Glorietta 4. Ate J. and I were looking at the plastic Starbucks glasses (the ones that come in the plastic tote bag) when Maleen pointed to the ceiling. Ate J. thought I was being mean when I suddenly looked away from her mid-sentence and stared at the ceiling. The (paper? fabric?) lantern shades of the Starbucks lights were swaying ominously. Then I felt it, a gentle rocking. Everyone had left by this time, but we had just taken our orders and I, for one, didn't want to waste a good raspberry tea frappucinno. So there we were, glued to the spot. Like prophecygrrl, I do not know whether it's safe to go up or down; in any case, we would just have taken our chances and run out to the smoking area. I would have wanted to experience this at one of the upper floors of Oakwood, though, knowing in hindsight that it wasn't a fatal quake. That would have been fun--motion-sickness-inducing, but fun. Supposed nightcap quickly became an earthquake-story-fest, with Vanj having the most interesting story, having been a student in Baguio during the fateful July 1991 earthquake.

N., the former SO, was in Cavite and started texting me, asking where I was and with whom. Another text said that he was concerned and to let him know when I was already home. I texted him, "Hello, OA ka!" I don't want to be mean, but I don't see the need to be answerable to him in any way. It's been more than a year since we've broken up, and I'm not exactly keen for him to be back in my life. Why is it the people we don't really want sticking around do stick around, while those that you wish were still with you don't want anything to do with you? Am I wrong to push him away because, heck, he's the only guy who'll have anything to do with me right now?

Last Song Syndrome : Trouble - Pink

if i were for sale...

"You are worth exactly $1,841,366.00"
I found this out at
Human For Sale

Swiped this from Patty again.

movie weekend

Posted reactions on Saved! and Raising Helen. Quite an interesting combination, actually.

Last Song Syndrome : Whip It - Devo

oh yeah, this is not a gloat post

Green Day: DLSU Reclaims UAAP Men's Basketball Crown

Last Song Syndrome : Confessions Part I - Usher