more Mos Eisley pics!

You're all invited to check out a few pics I got from The Return of Mos Eisley.


Click this to view my online album.


Here are a couple:



wizards: Saruman and Gandalf


Tolkien folks in Mos Eisley

Happy Halloween!

'tis time, 'tis time.



Round about the caldron go;
In the poison'd entrails throw.--
Toad, that under cold stone,
Days and nights has thirty-one
Swelter'd venom sleeping got,
Boil thou first i' the charmed pot!


Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and caldron, bubble.


Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the caldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg, and howlet's wing,--
For a charm of powerful trouble,
Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.


Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and caldron, bubble.


Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witch's mummy, maw and gulf
Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark,
Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark,
Liver of blaspheming Jew,
Gall of goat, and slips of yew
Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse,
Nose of Turk, and Tartar's lips,
Finger of birth-strangl'd babe
Ditch-deliver'd by a drab,--
Make the gruel thick and slab:
Add thereto a tiger's chaudron,
For the ingredients of our caldron.


Double, double, toil and trouble;
Fire, burn; and caldron, bubble.


Cool it with a baboon's blood,
Then the charm is firm and good.


By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.


Open, locks, whoever knocks!

~"Witches' Chants", MacBeth. Shakespeare W.

The Return of Mos Eisley

Now that was what you call FUN!


Spent the evening and early hours of the morning with friends, music, stories and laughter! It's been a while since I got that mixed up in one night. My decision not to attend work that night (Halloween party in the office. Ugh!) was definitely worth it.


A few more happy memories added in my life. Thanks to my friends and new acquaintances. Congratulations to the New Worlds Alliance especially to the Star Wars Philippines for a successful event!


Cheers! (One glass of oh-so-yummy Mudslide for you!) :)


Here are some of the pics taken by U l a n. (View her online album.) Mine's will take a low-tech and slower process, so please bear with me. Will link it up ASAP. :)




view of the stage



the costume contestants (that 12-year old girl in an C3PO costume won 1st place)



special prize went to the youngest cosplayer, 3-month old Baby Joey



an elf-maiden in a Gandalf hat?



is it really a Gandalf hat or a sorting hat? Hehehe.

TPTS Halloween Party

Two of my fave pics taken by a friend. Sa uulitin.




Me, Miao, Sunshine DOP (a.k.a. Jasmine the "TPTS Idol"), Hector




Reitch, Aldrin, Miao, Ayene, Me, Ayn, Sunshine DOP, John Ray




Ayn, Me

Oktoberfest

October is about to end and I haven't even experienced Oktoberfest (Read: booze, music and lotsa FUN!).


Last Saturday, I went to our TPTS Halloween Party and I enjoyed it a lot. Food, food, laughs, stories, LOTR and more food! I miss hanging out with my TPTS buddies, especially when I'm just having fun-- no thoughts and worries about Org plans and activities. Whew! It was a swimming/overnight party. We played trivial pursuit and I won a Legolas bookmark. Since I got one already, I gave it to a friend, who is also a Legolas fanatic. I do believe in good karma because a few moments after that, another friend gave me her Legolas pillow (that I wanted so much)! Yay! I was torn because I can't decide whether I'd swim or just stay dry and listen to stories. Since I don't play frisbee, I stayed dry (although I miss swimming). It was even the first time I got to watch the extended edition of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers". Imagine that. I guess I am such a loser since I don't have a DVD player.


Anyways, after that fun weekend, I went back to work and I was so disappointed. There were some changes in the attendance policies, break schedules that I think I felt that "dreaded feeling"-- similar to what I felt before I resigned from my previous job. They even started "flagging". Sheesh! I caught myself thinking about changing jobs again. Oh I wish there is an opening for a CSR in Singapore so I can leave that place. I felt suffocated there. It's like they're watching my every move. Why can't people just honestly do their jobs and not mind anyone else's business?!


Last Friday, I got a free invite for "The Return of Mos Eisley Night: The Halloween Menace". I was having second thoughts to attend since I have work that night starting 9PM. But after work Tuesday morning, my delivish side decided to attend the party and make use of my "sick leave". Yes, I am sick of work and I need a night of partying. It's been almost two years since I went to a great night spot (like Hard Rock Cafe) and party with my friends. Since I am a member (inactive though. Hehe!) of Star Wars Philippines and TPTS is also an invited ally (from the New Worlds Alliance), I am going to get my well-deserved and well-earned leave from work and party all night! Woohoo! =)


Anyone from work who read this and has a problem with it, don't tell my supervisor. Deal with me personally, ok? Hahaha!


Thought for the day:
"Don't try to fix me, I'm not broken."

Happy Birthday, Lisse! :)

moving on...

Yes, I am indeed. I attended a seminar yesterday and I did not go to work last night. To summarize what I learned from the information an immigrant lawyer told us, as a Physical Therapist I can apply for an immigrant visa if I have enough finances for processing. I would need about US$6,000. Now tell me, where am I going to get that kind of money? Sell my soul? Too bad for PT's since employers will not pay for the processing. Nurses on the other hand can be sponsored by an employer all-expense paid. All they need to do is to pass the required exams and that's it. They can even get reimbursements for what they paid when they took the exams. Made me wish I took up Nursing instead. Oh well.


Today I will be passing my requirements for the callcenter job in Singapore. Whichever opportunity comes my way first, I'll grab it. Wish me luck! :)


------------
Interesting fact:
The authors of "The Dead Sea Scrolls Deception" and "The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail" are Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh. Notice their last names can be re-arranged to form this character's name: Leigh Teabing. If you've read "The Da Vinci Code", you'll know what I mean. ;)

Masskara Festival

This is one of the events I am missing since my family left Bacolod City and lived here in Manila. I miss the crowd and the smiles. I miss the food and the company. The last time I was in my hometown was about 8 years ago. It's been a long time.


Yesterday was the highlight of the Silver Anniversary of the Masskara Festival in Bacolod City. The good thing about local TV networks is that they were able to telecast the event live via satellite to those people who couldn't go to the City of Smiles and watch the event up close. The local government saw to it that it would be a successful event and will live up to the title "Philippine mardi gras".



picture by Bernard Billedo


For those interested in knowing a short history of the Masskara Festival, please click this. More pictures of the event here.

crossroad

I woke up earlier and did not eat anything because I was still upset. I prepared for my training (Saturday OT) tonight and when my Ma saw me she asked, "Where are you going?" In exasperation, I half-shouted, "I told you yesterday I'll have training 'til 2AM tonight!" Aside from the hunger my stomach is feeling right now, there is also an uneasy feeling inside because of that. Now, I remember why when just graduated college, I had this impulse to run away from home. I want to feel independent. As long as I'm there, I won't feel that. Chained.


It's been one awful week. This day topped it all. For the next two weeks, certain options will be presented in front of me. I will pass my requirements for a callcenter job in Singapore to this placement agency. Next week, I have this interview by immigration lawyers for a possible sponsorship as a PT in the U.S. from another agency. I filed for leave but it was denied. So, I will absent myself that day. It's do or die. Literally.

Argh!

I knew from the start that this day is one of the most awful days this month. It all started with a cab driver who did not use the meter on my way to work. Hello? As if I'll give you a tip. I ride on a cab to work every night for the past couple of years and I know an asshole cab driver when I'm with one. I was almost late because someone used my PC and changed the settings. So, I had to retrieve my preferences before I start taking calls. I also learned that they implemented this "stick to your break sched" policy which means no more sharing of breaks and lunches with friends and no more sharing of stories. Imagine having breaks every hour then taking calls for four hours straight! No wonder my throat's dry and sore. It was a dragging 10-hour shift talking from one stupid caller to another.


Here comes the climax of this stupid and sad tale. My mother did not remember my telling her yesterday that I will be arriving home late today. I told her I'l go out with friends after my shift and will be home about lunchtime. My phone's battery was drained so I didn't know she was trying to call me. I received a bombardment of text messages upon charging my mobile's battery asking me where I was and that she's worried, blah blah. Typical Ma. I am used to that. I know she gets paranoid when it comes to us not coming home on our specified time. What I never expected (and I think was too farfetched!) was when she called my office to verify if I was still there. I couldn't believe it! (Considering the situation with the people in the company right now, THAT type of attention is not wanted.) I dunno who she spoke with.


Konting tiwala naman sana. It's not like I'm only 16. I'm 24 and as far as I know women my age are old enough to take care of themselves. I understand her concern but I was so embarrassed with what she did. It's not like it was past 12 midnight. It was only past 12 noon and the sun is scorching hot. I really couldn't believe it.


I went home really upset and reminded her that I DID tell her I'll be arriving late. She would not have worried. She is indeed getting old. :(

Chuckie

All work and no play makes me a mere toy.




Wanna play? Hehehe.


Oh and by the way, 19th month on the 11th. Great.

quake!

My shift barely started when I heard our Ops manager shout "Don't panic!" At first I didn't know why. I was standing in front of my workstation ready to take calls and I suddenly fell back on my chair. I had to grab the table in front of me and I thought it was just lack of sleep that was taking it's toll on my balance. But I was mistaken. I saw all things shaking, including me on my chair. I was so dizzy I had to close my eyes and I can still feel being moved without my will.


A few weeks ago, we experienced an earthquake too. I knew deep inside that it will stop, like all other earthquakes I've experienced. That confidence wavered when the shaking became stronger and it lasted for about a couple of minutes. Yes, it was stronger and longer than what we experienced before. After that, I had my dizzy spells again (what I call my "mental aftershocks") for about another minute. It was scary!


I got hold of my mobile and asked my Ma how there were. I also asked him if he was ok. I mean, I was on the 20th floor and we were shaking! I cannot imagine how it would have felt for him to be on the 34th floor at that time.


Yeah, we're ok now. Kinda. We saw each other last Thursday and he treated me out for lunch and a movie. All-expense paid. He looked happy. He talked a lot about his new job. I hated to spoil the moment with me asking him about "the issue" I couldn't get over with. I guess I had to wait for another timing. I can wait. I've been waiting for a lot of things all my life. A little more waiting wouldn't hurt.


It was like the earthquake. Everything was fine after waiting for a while. It was dangerous for a few seconds but when I opened my eyes, everything was the same. It's as if nothing happened. No casualties, no loss as far as my eyes can see. What matters is I'm ok. We're ok. Thank God.

tired

They say what matters is right now. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is just a dream. But I already stopped dreaming. Consciously, that is.


I'm just tired, that's all. Tired of the same boring routine. Tired of the work I don't enjoy. Tired of the responsibilities. Tired of thinking 'til my head hurts. Tired of wondering. Tired of waiting. Tired of being criticized. Tired of being taken for granted. Tired of being stepped on. Tired of my life. A friend told me, maybe I need a drastic change. How drastic?


I just need a real break. Is that so difficult to ask?

2nd year blog anniv!

I just noticed, it's been a month and two years now since I started blogging. Cool.

Here's to two years of scribbling down the details of my mundane existence! Hahaha! Thanks BLOGGER! :)

techy me!

What the mind can conceive, the body can achieve.


So despite the very strict I.T. Department in our company, I was still able to find out a way to change the LAN settings (Shhh...) in my and my friends' PC's, so we're here in the office right now, an hour after our shift, enjoying the company's resources. Wahahaha! *evil grin*


Our other officemates went to some "gimmick" places this very early Sunday morning since Saturday night parties are not over yet. I prefer to stay here though. I think I won't enjoy it. Probably depends on the people I'm with. That's why I miss my friends from school. Saturday night "gimmicks" seem more fun when I'm with them. I could let my hair down. *sigh*


Thank God this week is over. :)



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Happy Birthday, JOY!!!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The Warrior

No, my week has not ended yet. I still have work tonight. Yes, six days straight. I am not just tired, I am also disappointed. I was planning to file for leave on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. I want to make sure that, as early as today, I'll be spending my holidays with my family unlike last year when I cried myself to work because it was the saddest Christmas Eve in my life. For the first time in my life, I did not spend Noche Buena at home. That was last year. I don't want it to happen again.


A Warrior of the Light can distinguish between the transient and the enduring.*


I was informed that our account does not allow leaves filed on December 24 and 31. I was thinking, "What the f%$k?! We earned those leave credits!" I was even informed that they gave warnings to those who will absent themselves and pay is triple on New Year's Eve. I don't care! I will file a leave and if they don't approve it, I will use my unplanned leaves warning or no warning! Even if it affects my attendance rating!


Sorry I got carried away. It's just that if I were to choose my job and my family, I'd choose my family without any second thoughts. I can find another job. But I only have ONE family.


A Warrior of the Light does not spend his days trying to play the role that others have chosen for him.*


I can't see myself still taking calls next year. I don't want to become stagnant and gather moss. My brain's kinda rusty now and I have to make some changes. But how? Only my path will tell. Kinda tough trying to make decisions when there are no options to choose from. But hey, if that Singapore thingie pushes through, I'll do it. I mean, if Bush loses the U.S. elections, goodbye to most callcenters in Manila! Why? 'Coz Bush is pro-outsourcing. If he loses, no more outsourcing here in the Philippines. From the looks of it, the callcenter industry is in danger (unless it's an in-house callcenter that is). But then again, we'll see...


A Warrior of the Light knows that he is free to choose his desires, and he makes these decisions with courage, detachment, and-- sometimes-- with just a touch of madness.*



*taken from Paulo Coelho's "The Warrior of the Light".

Emotional IQ

After the Brain Test, here's the EQ Test.


My Emotional EQ is 114.


Your Emotional IQ score is much more than just a number: it's an indicator of success.

Research has shown that people with high emotional intelligence scores — not necessarily those with the highest IQ scores — tend to be the most valued and productive employees and have the longest and happiest romantic relationships.

So, where are you most emotionally smart? Your test results show that your strongest suit is perception — your ability to pick up on what others are feeling.

Because of this, you are unusually good at reading people's verbal and non-verbal cues. You're especially aware of the subtleties of people's actions, and can feel out the vibe of a situation better than many. That gives you and edge many wish they had. People with high perception skills like yours, however, tend to rely on them to the exclusion of others. As a result, they sometimes have underdeveloped abilities in other realms of critical emotional intelligence like managing emotions, empathy, and being expressive.

To truly excel in life and know how to relate to different people, you need to balance out the different kinds of emotional intelligence.

Research indicates that if people who are strong in perception can work to increase their overall emotional IQ score, they can prepare themselves to handle any interpersonal exchange with amazing skill — especially by learning to be empathetic and by being able to express what it is they are feeling or trying to say.

And the good news is that people who try to improve their emotional IQ have far greater success than people who try to improve their IQ.


Take the test here.