CONTEMPLATION: The Workaholic in ME!

Wow, this is actually my first night in two weeks straight that I can retire early ( if you can say that 1220am is still early). I got this new contract on my online job that keeps me awake all night just to hit the required quota per week. And mind you, its quite a challenging one. Not because the task is so, but because the process is tedious and time-consuming. I work even on my off hours, but hey, I aint complaining. It is extra money for me, and I believe I can juggle my time between my daytime job, my son, my apartment duties and this one. Oh, not to mention the household chores and time to take a bath. Hahahaha!!

Seriously though, I accepted this contract because I feel the need to save for my plans next year. Hmmmmmm..in one of my contemplation moments, it got me to this point where I miss my love for travel. I traveled heavily the past years and it stopped when one financial crisis led to another. My savings were used up and there are still bills to pay. So I thought of a way to help myself. I found this one to be a good solution. I can put my internet connection to good use finally than just hitting FB and Twitter.

Right now, I am under contract with 3 employers for my online job. I write, I tweet and I recruit. Yeah, how do you think I can manage all that? Well, I spend my first waking hour checking my emails for my recruiting job, sort them out and once done I head to my office ( After having a good bath..got you!)

At the office, I dont work much for my online job out of respect to my company, although I still check my emails...to continue sorting them so that when I get home, it is already organized. My tweeting job takes around 2.5 hours to complete for 5 accounts and letting TweetAttacks run by itself. As soon as I am home, I start making invites. That's when I dont keep track of the time anymore as I have to aim for 250 invites a day. It sounds easy really, but the process is the one lagging me. The exact process is this: I check my pipeline assignment, read the description and find a good candidate based on the qualifications specified. When I find my candidate, I paste the permalink to the Inviter Tool and see if he/she has been previously invited or not. If so, I skip that and find another one. If the prospect can be invited, I have to send an invitation letter with the job description attached. Once the candidate accepts the invitation, I then send an offer for Testing. In between that, I have to check my emails for replies and declines. I have to reply to the queries which some of them are really so senseless, so there are times I curse myself for ever finding that candidate...( shhhh...*wink*). Once the candidate accepts the offer for testing phase, I have to put them into the tracker with their details so that the closer can handle them from then on. That is supposed to be the last step of my responsibilities, but I have to continue to process the other invites, imagine how many candidates I have to get into the tracker everyday? Can you even begin to imagine?

I do not accept a job that i know I cant deliver for. So to make sure I hit the quota, I put in extra hours to process them fully. So far, my eyebags are 5 kilos heavier...I dont know the week after this, so wish me luck!!! Now your question is, is it worth it? Well, I am not really a day person, so spending sleepless nights is okay with me, what I fear is that my body might surrender more than the mind can take. And of course, the extra income is a nice welcome to my pocket. It is like having a 100% raise with my current regular job, so again, I aint complaining!

My plans? I want to travel outside the country!!! I want to see long lost friends, relatives and the places I got to know through my readings. Touching base is always important to me, and how could I ever materialize that plan if I aint got dough to start with?? So, the workaholic in me is pumping energy out of my breath just to fulfill that. Dont forget that I have a son who wants to tag along..so actually Im saving for two!! But I promised him, only one out-of-the -country travel per year for us. God help me!!

I could say that I did fairly well for the 2 weeks that passed...hah, with the heavy eyebags now, I think I do not only deserve a pat on my back but a standing ovation as well!! One friend of mine told me that I am becoming so anti-social because my routine is now home-office-home.....and in front of the computer all the time!! I guess, its partly true. But in time, I would learn the ropes of inviting in the most efficient way and maybe could spare my weekends again to myself!!

My contemplation is this, to earn money is tough, to do the process is even tougher, so guys love your job. Dont complain the long hours required by your bosses for the same salary you get, instead be thankful that you have paydays to wait for. Dont complain for being tired, instead be thankful that you got tired because you worked, not because you looked for one.

When I feel like giving up, I just listen to my fave songs, and right away it gives me the urge to sing along....( you thought this was another hey guys line...;-). Seriously again, I am thankful that I can use my resources to earn money..and extra at that. So why complain??

But for now, I really got to sleep as my body is telling me to do so. Hey, I aint complaining..the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak..so please understand!

Have a good week ahead all of you!!

Loving the nights with my son...2

Yesterday Zach wrote his father a letter saying:
"Pa, I went to Mama's house. Call me if you have plans to go out tonight or tomorrow. Love, Zach".

Zach upon hearing that I had yummy food for dinner hurriedly wrote that letter and came to my house. Another night well spent with my son...he gave me a nice massage, cleaned my ears, plucked my eyebrows, and brushed my hair and for a little boy whose interest for the moment is interactive internet games he did all these without complaints and still managed to watch tv with me...who could ask for more?

Bad Customer Service

I was up to my wits waiting for my number to be called yesterday at Globe Business office....I waited for almost 2 hours just to submit my enrollment form for auto debit ( to credit card ). Earlier, I asked an employee there if I could just submit my form and leave without waiting for my number...but she said I HAD TO WAIT FOR MY NUMBER TO BE CALLED. So as patient as I was, I did wait....while waiting, my friend Kirk and I cannot stop but notice how bad service is in this office. Here's what we talked about:

1. Airconditioning is very poor, I have seen 2 split types a/c just above me, but none of the two were functioning, there was a stand fan working, but not enough to give comfort to the waiting customers.
2. Only 1 cashier to accept payments...
3. After sales people are just two, when every complaint or inquiry will take around 15 to 30mins...
4. I waited 30 minutes to pay my bill, they gave me another number to submit that stupid form and have them photocopy my card...it took only less than 5 minutes but I waited for almost 1.5 hours for my number to be called!!!
5. None customer service people dont bother to help you at all, I asked one girl ( well, she was wearing a shirt with "Globe" on it), if I could just submit the form and leave as I have been waiting for an hour already, but she said I had to wait for my number to be called...why cant she just accept it when thats basically the thing that happened when it was already my turn, the customer service person just accepted my form...no ifs no buts!
6. Very small office...either you get lucky to find a seat or you remain standing til your number is called...or you may sit on the steps outside, not unless you are wearing your office skirt...
7. There was a TV, but it was OFF all the time...so you end up staring at each other while waiting for ages...

The only good thing about this office is the GUARD..he was very helpful, very considerate and very polite...but the rest, NEVER MIND!!!

10 CHOICES for '10

I finally found time to commune with myself in a very different way. Well, the time was accidentally set due to my leg cramps, so I had to call in sick and thought of finally doing my soul-searching-mind-penetrating-body-relaxing kind of way...

I woke up the usual time that Zach is with me...I made breakfast..( the easiest one), sent him off the gate to his waiting father and I went back to my room...got the book, New Moon ( oh well, im behind, who cares?), read few chapters when my eyes suddenly wanted to close, so i went to sleep...

I woke up with a flicker of hope, (from the depression im dealing with since Monday this week)...coz of a very nice dream...but thats a secret for now ok? Eventually, after gazing at my ceiling for awhile, i decided to make breakfast for myself and write email to someone...i originally planned to spend my time home cleaning and beautify it again, but the lazy bones in me stopped me from doing that, so i just played Vacation Mogul and run through pages in the book alternately...between reading and playing, i realized, i havent written my commitment for this year...so here it is:

1. More vacation destinations this year - up north and out...hopefully with good friends in tow..

2. More books - I have started my Twilight saga series, it can be finished in a huff, no problem with that, but have to buy more books if i want to stimulate my brains again...i have to meet new authors, just bought Cecelia Ahern's "There's no place like here"..hopefully, i can buy her other books...

3. More time with Zach - play boardgames( coz he already threatened me to sell them if i dont play with him), cuddle more under the sheets, prepare healthier food for him, ride airplane with him again and bring him up north...

4. Be more patient - with people who are slow, who are stupid, who are immature, irresponsible and who are amoral....coz patience is one virtue im short of!

5. QUIT SMOKING - I envy one friend in FB when he quit 5 months ago and has been nicotine-free since then...I will do it NOW...not later!

6. SAVE - my mom is dead set on this, she wants me to save so that i can take care of myself in the future, which is very practical but this one is harder than quit smoking...so i will really need a helluva lot of discipline on this one. I should now bury my cards to where i couldnt find them, 1 down, 4 to go on this.

7. EXERCISE - no excuse for adding more pounds sideways on the belly, cut on beer and carbs, then stretch some muscles....i guess this one should top the list!

8. Be more appreciative - of little things....coz those things matter most!

9. RECONNECT - TOUCH BASE - with people i care about, people i miss, people i want to meet, people who matter to me!

10. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE - I want to love again...i want to feel that electrifying notch on the stomach when someone holds my hand or someone whispers something to me..i want to see the sparkle in my eyes whenever that special someone's name is mentioned...i want to make my heart pump more blood, that is! It always feel good to be in love, and I want to feel good this year...so good luck to me!

There you have it, my commitment written in my heart, with my blood sealing it....Hope my friends could lend a hand to make these things happen...Its a new decade in the new millennium....39 years of my life has passed...im nearing my 40...another decade sealing its glory...My 2010 will be a better one, that I vow to make!

Amen!

It's been awhile...

Gee, never realized that it has been months since i last wrote my entry here....y'know, a girl who is out to get me tried to deface me by telling my boss that i wrote an entry to malign his character...a complete lie that i had to process for quite sometime...what does that bitch wants from me? Is she so threatened by me? Envious perhaps? Ask her...

Anyways, so much had happened since then, I stopped blogging ( in all 3 sites), a friend of mine who is nursing a heart ailment just found out that he has stage 4 cancer, an intelligent but yet unfocused friend just vanished, I have travelled much this year and enjoying each time...I missed a lot of mini-reunions with my batchmates, and just realized that a friend is not worth keeping if he/she doesnt treat you the same way...( like all friends should be....understands, forgives, acknowledges, open and compassionate)..

well, this is all for now, i just got inspired reading some entries of nappykaye after i heard her name on tv...guess, we have to deal with our own struggles with conviction...and move on..

i gotta work now...OT mode..

FLIPPING OUT ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON: the gsm pineapple side-effects

Mixed at 445pm


Started at 5pm


Alcohol starts kicking in...



Dinner break 7pm


Second round 8pm



Are we having FUN yet?


Side effects started 9pm


You will never know for certain what is next to come..


When Being DEMURE and PROPER are two alien words...


Yes, gimme more, gimme more!



We NEVER learned our LESSONs, huh?

Another Mom like ME!

I was alone yesterday for Mother’s Day celebration…hmmm…actually, I don’t celebrate the occasion….i just greeted myself and all other mothers I know in this world…but nevertheless, I was greeted also by many, it just that I was alone savoring the glorious day specifically dedicated to mothers like me.

The day started with me waking up my son Zak coz his dad was about to pick him up for Sunday service…then I also prepared sandwiches for my niece who was going home same day. When they were all gone, the power went out along with my water. ( that’s usually the case on Sundays)…so first half of the day was spent fanning myself and smoking…(YES, im back to smoking….bad girl!) Anyways, I couldn’t stand the heat inside so I went out to my garage to settle myself there with my apple tea that was still iced inside its bottle…there, my doggie umbrELLA as if on cue, rested her head on my lap as if to tell me “Hey, you aren’t totally alone my dear master, IM HERE”…There I realized that ELLA needs my greeting too being a mother like me…You see, the past owner of ELLA sold all her puppies for money….then she was left alone by her former owner most of the time, that’s why she is with me now ( I sort of revoked all her owners rights of her)…ELLA is a great help to me when in comes to securing my house…..after that incident when my house was ransacked twice early January ( that was when I left ELLA to my neighbor because I went on a trip)…I never trusted my house sitting alone again…so everytime Im on a trip, ELLA would be there barking at all times for any noise or sound she hears….really good girl! But I noticed too that if someone dared to pet her, she acted very friendly too, so I wonder if the robbers and thieves already petted her??? Hmmm, ELLA is never a guard dog by nature anyway, she is a RETRIEVER, so they are very friendly. She dances with joy when I come home, she acts this gesture as if bowing to me (but I asked a friend later on and he told me that the dog was just stretching ) stretching her body to the fullest and bowing down her head, but whatever it is, I still regard it as her respect to me like saying “Good evening Jubang, welcome home” coz she does that everytime I enter my gate….everytime I came home from work…she often put her head on my knees and stare longingly into my eyes. Or sometimes, she creeps inside the house and just lie down there wherever I may be…when im doing my laundry which I do in the garage, she jumps to me as if to tell me “hey, lets play.” Ah, Im guilty to some degree, coz the love and loyalty that she so richly deserve but so rarely receive is my doing. I got her last November and during those times Im alone, shes just outside of my room, giving me that look that says “ IM HERE, don’t worry”…so for Mother’s Day, I decided to give her a BIG TREAT…..I cooked a meal for her, with rice, ground meat with beans, and corned beef loaf which was Zak’s fave too…so that day ( and by the way, power came on a few minutes after 1pm) I was celebrating the day with another mother…in the person of ELLA. Happy Mother’s Day, sweet umbrELLA…Cheers!

Jamaican Gimlet Effect

My niece arrived last Saturday and since her entrance tests ( for 4th year h.s. entry) started Monday yet, we had two days to just laze around. So on her fist night, I treated her and Kirk to a Jamaican Gimlet...( gin plus jamaican lime juice)..Although I used to drink hard when I was younger ( OUCH!)...I couldnt tolerate it now than I used to, but it was what my niece liked, so I succomb to their wishes. I can take the gin, but the lime I couldnt. It tasted sweet yet tangy yet bittery ( is there such a word???)..I really couldnt come up with a perfect word to describe it, but I hated it period! Anyway, we finished one bottle of gin and an equal amount of lime...at the end, I have requested for my ever reliable Red Horse beer...which Kirk and I shared. The night went one with ITunes music playing and interrogating my niece on her lovelife ( very nosy aunt huh???)...and of course, I am a camwhore, so pictures where taken left and right. I posted here pics that is obviously the images of drunk..oooopppss, wrong word...TIPSY people....and guess how many shots were taken in one night??? Go, figure!




Anyway, thinking about my niece living with me gives me mixed emotions..Im happy because I will now have constant company at my small abode...but at the same time overwhelmed with the big responsibility that is about to face me..Of course, I have to think about her safety, her schooling and her general well being once she's here...I am always worried about how I care for my son, how much more to someone who is not mine....dont you think? Hmmmm...I will take this one as another challenge...and will win it!





I have already booked my flight to Manila this end of the month...I have decided to take a break and see my friends there...I have also plans to personally hand in my resignation...I know..I know....my office's closure has been moved til end of the year..but that is not even final yet...they can shorten it or extend much longer...my problem is I already gave my word to the other company, and actually I want to take a respite so that I can think things through...I am still in delimma whether to wait for closure or transfer now and start a new career path....I love my company now, I have maintained close relationships with most of the people at Head office...and I cherish it, so its hard to let go of the memories...but on the practical side, I have to think of my growth too..and thats when my heart and mind debates constantly...I just hope that my vacation will help me..unless the Jamaican gimlet effect follows me there....hmmmm...Take care all!

another busy SUNDAY

This was one day full of work...As soon as I woke up, I prepared breakfast for Kirk and me. Zach wasnt able to eat bcoz his papa picked him up early to attend the Sunday service. Kirk practiced typing again as i was doing my chores. We talked and laughed while we ate...I continued finding work around the house while Kirk went back to typing...I loaded some laundry, cleaned umbrELLA's bed ( my beautiful doggie), folded some clothes while checking Kirk's progress from time to time. He was in the range of 27 - 30 wpm, so I kept pushing him to practice more. At around lunchtime, I told him to take a break and talked about our diet...so right then and there, we decided that we should take it seriously...I prepared some coleslaw and tuna spread, then we ate it with crackers and Thai tea. The tea was refreshing, I tell you.

I kept seeing Garrett going on and off early on...so we also talked about him too. As to what,-------- SECRET!!!! Later, I had a chance to chat with cool old fart Bill and we had few laughs....especially when I began teasing him...(hehehe)..

Anyways, I also did some online booking for some friends...( yes, I am the designated travel agent of my friends....so, should I open a ticketing agency???) I messed up one booking though, but the problem is I cant have it changed anymore since the flight is already confirmed, unless they will pay the rebooking fee which they wont.....( now Im having second thoughts of opening that TICKETING AGENCY!!!)

After lunch, I asked Kirk same questions that were asked of me during my final interview..( for those who do not know, I applied for another job last week, took the series of exams one after the other for one whole day, and was lucky enough to pass the final interview too...yippeee!) Soon enough, I got tired and let Kirk check his blogs or whatever..and i watched tv....but then, the electric went out...so we took some chairs on my garage, pour some glasses of cold Thai tea and we just talked and talked while playing with umbrELLA. The power outage was taking forever so I decided to clean my garage, Kirk followed lead and trimmed my carabao grass both at the back and side of my yard. We then trimmed the jackfruit tree and really cleaned the place up...I could feel the sweat dripping, wetting my underarms, my neck....and that hmmmm, never mind...

Okay, so much about that grass trimming and sweating......the power came back at 630pm...I missed some Sunday shows...but its ok coz it gave me time to clean my backyard...we now feel so stingy, filthy and stinky..but Kirk still needed a lot of practice at the pc, so he want back to that, while I washed some dishes and again prepared our meal...( didnt I tell you, I am also the designated cook of this household???)

We also watched a mushy movie.....awwww! Then later in the evening, I told Kirk to buy us some beers and food so that we can celebrate his bday (ummmm, what happen to the DIET, may I ask???)...( BTW, his BIG day is tomorrow yet)....

This time we were the MUSHY ones..Kirk shared his insecurities...as a person, as an out-of-school-youth now and as a GAY...I felt for him..so i cried too..huhuhu...we managed to laugh in between the sobs though...and thats one thing I thank Kirk for..he makes my life one notch lighter, easy and bright...He is like Sunshine in the middle of snowstorm...ooppps, I think that phrase is patented to someone I know...

Well, thats it! my ever busy SUNDAY!!! Good night Zach, good night all

GRRRR!!!

I hate my afternoon. I was put under the spotlight. Too hot. Too tense. I hate the person that caused this. I hate to defend myself for nothing. I hated it, really. The pressure is mounting. It suffocates me. It should stop. I hated the fact that I am in a pit. No way out. Its choking me.

This person has caused me so much grief. So much anxiety. I am learning to hate...really HATE. And I hate feeling this way. Im not this kind of person. I am NOT!

I hate writing this blog, I really do. But i have to let it out. Spit it out. I cant contain my hatred. I am losing my patience.

I need to unwind. Relax. Think Happy Thoughts, like Peter Pan. I need an antidote to my hatred...its toxic, its scary.

Give me a BREAK!

whattaday!!!

I woke up really early yesterday for a job interview. I sent my resume the previous day and was told to come back the day after for the battery of exams and interviews. I took along with me, my gay friend, Kirk who also wanted to try it.

We arrived at exactly 8am...We were first of the few applicants who were also trying their lucks like us..We chose the farthest spot from the guard ( who seem to be having a bad morning...watch out!) to wait. Since my bag was confiscated along with my Ipod, mobile phones and other things...we passed away time by talking and singing...sometimes we would get glances from the other applicants who were so still and quiet all the time..

Finally, we were called for what seem to be the first phase of the interview. We were led to a small room with a round table good for 5. I, along with Kirk and 2 others were interviewed by Thirdy ( thats his name, probably...Juan III? or i dont know...) Thirdy is a young guy from the recruitment team,,,and my, he was cute..ssshhhh!) He asked us basic info about ourselves one by one making sure that he takes it down to our file every answer we give him. That only took around 10 mins...easy I said! Then, he led us to a bigger room this time, with computers and other members of the recruitment team...we had to take 3 exams on the computer. Kirk and I skipped the first one since we already answered it via online last week...The 2nd phase was an interview by a virtual person...I have to spell out my name letter by letter aloud as well as other information about myself....then that virtual recorded voice named Christie ( yes, she has a name!!) gave us 3 phrases to repeat...Mine were: " Please verify that", "How may I assist you?" and " "Your papers is in process now"...Passed that with flying colors!!!
Then, the final phase for that morning was the situational exams where I have pick out among three choices the best answer to the question. It was composed of grammar, listening and reading comprehension. I passed it too, whew!! I was told to wait outside for my results, but i knew that i passed it since there was a button to click to see the results..which i clicked without telling them..hehehe.

Unfortunately, Kirk failed the exam and was told to come back 7 days after to retake it...and I was told to come back at 130pm for more exams...( whaaaat??? that wasnt enough yet?)We went back to my office, and because of excitement, I felt full all the time, so we didnt eat lunch. Since I heard from the hush hush talks of other applicants who were ahead of us that theres typing skill exams, I tried the online test...I got 58wpm while Kirk failed again...

Anyways, we were back at 130pm...Only few came back from the morning batch. There was one who went to get his appointment letter which stated that he can already start working in May...good for him huh?? And since the guard looked like he really hated us, we took the same spot we had that morning...and as usual, we were the noisy ones....An hour passed and everyone was being called except me..I began fidgeting on my seat praying that they'll call me....ok, maybe they are busy or is giving me the last spot...I am beginning to get impatient...i can see applicants leaving the building one by one and there was one lady there who was already waiting for her final interview, meaning she passed the 2nd set of computer based exams....and to think that we started on the same day...so what happened to me??? I began asking Kirk if we heard the instruction right for me to come back that same day? Was it really today Kirk, I asked...Kirk kept assuring me that yes, we heard it right...that was my cue to remind the recruitment team that I am still waiting to be called and I have been there for more than 2 hours already..grrrr!

The girl from the RT( Thirdy seem to be in a bad mood also like the guard) apologized to me profusely. She explained that they have highlighted my name by mistake and thought that I already passed all...Anyways, I took the exams...this time i was given recorded actual calls by their clients..and I had to answer the questions to gauge my customer relations skills....I passed that and skipped the 2nd set...the third and the last one was about my knowledge in computers...CHICKEN!

Its obvious that I would pass that last exam...hehehe...so once I was done, I called the attention of that girl and she asked me to stay awhile for the final interview..Well, guess who was gonna conduct it??? Yes, Thirdy again....That cutie guy who got a cute smile and cute eyes and cute shades...yessirree, its him again!
Thirdy asked me to go to the last cubicle and read the sample conversation that was printed on the laminated paper on the table. He gave me 4 minutes to go over it and wanted me to read it aloud for him when he comes back...So I did, 30 minutes later ( yes, he kept coming in telling me to wait, wait, wait that seemed forever...that on his last check i told him Im gonna go out and wait for him at the reception area and when asked why, I told him it gets pretty boring in there..which he replied with a cutie smile...lol)

I was the last person on that testing area and was the last one being interviewed..Thirdy gave me hard time, barraged me with a lot of questions...one after the other...continuously...that at one point before we closed it, I told him i felt he was giving me a hard time and wanted me to fail...Thirdy then showed me the paper where he was writing his observations and let me read the words: "Ok to Hire"...So there, after spending practically whole day in that building, it paid off..I can only sign contract with them though after i show proof that Im already resigned from my current company. Thirdy told me that my status will remain active for the next 6 months...So Im given until September to decide to take it or not..

Whew!!! I went home really tired after that, Kirk cooked while I rested. After we ate, I told him that Im gonna take a nap while he should practice typing online...The nap turned out to be my much needed rest after weeks of being sleepless...I woke up from time to time checking on Kirk's progress..but would fall asleep as soon as my head hits the bed...Finally, I woke up at around 1230am...checked the doors...the lights....the beer that stayed untouched inside the ref...and went back to sleep again...To sum it all, I slept for 12 hours...wow! Whattaday!!!