Archive for July 2004
Gala Photos
Posted on July 5, 2004 by Ching under Family.
Here are some highlights from the annual Filipino ball which was held at the Marriott last month.
Click here for pictures from last year’s ball (2003). And here for previous years’ ball (2002 and 2001). We’ve been attending these annual gatherings every year for almost ten years. If I find any other pictures, I try to add the links here so you all can view them.
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Independence Day
Posted on July 4, 2004 by Ching under Life.
Happy fourth of July, everyone!
Incidentally, today is my boss’ birthday. I was going to get him this book entitled The Present by Spencer Johnson but I was afraid that he already had it. He really liked Who Moved My Cheese? (a book by the same author) so I thought of getting the other book. But then these things so easily backfire on me.
We hardly ever see each other anymore because he is so busy. With the upcoming separation, things have been really hectic at work. Our supervisors are all over the place. At least we have our occasional team meetings.
He did come by last week and he told me about this Mega Gigantic Giveaway. Sounds like really exciting stuff and I am anxious to participate. We’ve always got our cameras ready to go. It’s only a matter of finding time since Brian and I now only have one day off from work in common (Sundays — except for today because he is working).
Anyway, we also got to talking about blogs because he knows about mine. So that’s what I figured I’d do for his birthday. I made him his own blog on Blogspot (remember I made one for Matthew last Christmas, I did the same thing just a different layout). I think of him as an introspective, journal-writing type (I could be wrong but that is the impression I get) so I figured he might like it. Who knows? At any rate, I think you all should go leave him a birthday message.
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Can’t Go Back to Sleep
Posted on July 1, 2004 by Ching under Games.
While I shouldn’t stay up to late, now that I work days, I shouldn’t go to bed too early either. I wake up in the middle of the night and I can’t go back to sleep. I think my body is used to only four hours of sleep and once that has been reached, it thinks I’ve had enough.
The last couple of nights have been horrible. Brian and I went to bed around nine on Tuesday night. At around two o’clock in the morning we awoke to the incessant ringing of his phone. His reps have a habit of drunk-dialing him in the middle of the night. I’m glad that he is well-liked by his work group but I would actually consider this type of behavior inappropriate.
In their drunken stupor they figured that since they all (Brian included) didn’t have to work on Wednesday they could come over and hang out with him. Brian told them not to come because I had to go to work early the next day.
After that, I could not go back to sleep. It was already four or five in the morning before I finally zonked out.
Last night, I went to bed early again. Only to wake up around midnight because of the light coming from the TV. Brian was nice enough to wear headphones but it didn’t keep me from waking. He was watching Die Another Day (James Bond) and, when that finally ended, he began to watch Quantum Leap (one of his favorite old shows, go figure). It was then that I finally put my foot down and decided to do something. No one should have to endure an episode of Quantum Leap.
He finally turned off the TV and we both went to bed — only to wake up an hour later. I couldn’t sleep and Brian was kind enough to keep me company in the office. We ended up playing a couple of rounds of gin. I won both and he got frustrated and quit. I think I was more alert than he was at that point.
We tried to play Rise of Nations but he said his computer would not work. I think it is a poor excuse because he is afraid that I’ve actually improved my Rise of Nations strategy. The last time we played he suffered a horrendous defeat. Only made worse by the fact that he was actually the first one to attack.
Anyway, that’s why there are two blog entries from the middle of the night. Mom and dad (and Jen for that matter) are probably thinking that I should work on the gala pictures tonight if I suffer another bout of insomnia. They’ve been hounding me for it almost everyday for the last couple of weeks. My next day off is Sunday. I will try to get them done by then.
Well, it’s time for me to head to work. Until next time.
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Debate
Posted on July 1, 2004 by Ching under Life.
Ahh, the things you find when your’re playing on the internet in the middle of the night because you can’t sleep! This is a discovery that is truly worth bookmarking. Merriam-Webster Online. You can’t say I don’t give you cool links. LOL!
I know this is kind of nerdy of me but I’m an avid user of Dictionary.com — I even have the toolbar built in to my Internet Explorer browser for easy access. The main deficiency that I have found is that when you want to hear pronounciations of things, you have to pay for a premium membership of some sort. The option is available, but only to paying users. I always thought that was BS because Brian and I have argued about the pronounciations of things many a night and our arguments have gone unresolved because I cannot prove to him that I am right. He assumes that because he is American and he can speak American English he’s pronouncing it right. Yes, I admit, due to my noticeable accent sometimes I mispronounce certain words but I know the words that I feel uncertain about and I know the words that I feel sure of..
The Merriam-Webster website is the solution to my dilemma. It not only gives you the meanings of words, it pronounces it for free! Yay! For instance, I pulled up “dilapidate” because Brian always says “dilapitate” and I insist it’s “dilapidate” because there is no such word as “dilapitate” but he won’t believe me. I mean, I should know. I came come [thanks, mom] from a country where the word is used with considerable frequency. Everything, and I mean everything, in my old neighborhood was dilapidated!
Anyway, I put the link in my favorites under study tools. I think it will prove to be very, very useful. Not just for actual school work but it will help to settle many, many domestic debates in the future.
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Job Interview
Posted on July 1, 2004 by Ching under Life.
I dressed up all spiffy for an internal job interview today (I guess now that it’s three o’clock in the morning that would be yesterday). Brian made me wear a suit and everything.
I was like, “But it’s jeans day, baby! I don’t want to be overdressed if they are in jeans..” Protestations aside. I took his advice. I guess we’re old school that way. Dressing appropriately for an interview is a definite must. I wish that he would be as receptive to my (often unsolicited) advice as I am to his.
I kind of have mixed feelings about the interview. I was informed of the appointment on Tuesday, so it was kind of a short notice. I wasn’t quite as prepared as I wanted to be but I was just grateful for the opportunity to even be interviewed so I tried to be as flexible as possible. First it was at 8:15 AM on Tuesday, which of course I didn’t know about until I arrived at work on Tuesday morning (my current days off are Sundays and Mondays) and by then it was too late. David reschedules the interview to Friday at 8:30 AM. The new date and time would require me to come in at least a half an hour early but I didn’t really mind. Then he comes by very late on Tuesday afternoon (as in right before he leaves for work) and reschedules the interview for 2:30 PM the next day. Much sooner than I would like but better because it’s within my work hours. At least, I wouldn’t have to come to work extra early. Then on the day of the interview (yesterday) he sends me an instant message (via Sametime, we are on Lotus at work) to ask if we could move the time up to 2:15 PM. When he first asked if we could reschedule for the fourth time, I thought I would get an extra couple of days out of it. The major pro: I would’ve gotten additional time to prepare for the interview. The minor con: I only have one good suit! LOL! I would have welcomed the extra day or two to prepare (not that one can really prepare for interviews; it’s kind of like taking the SATs, you either do well or you don’t — in my opinion) but things don’t always work out in our favor.
Anyway, I think the interview went okay. I think that I could have done and said certain things better. I’m just not as eloquent (or full of BS) as Brian is, I guess. That’s a skill that I will definitely need to develop.
There were so many things that, looking back, I wanted to cover but (alas!) I did not think of it at the time, didn’t know how to incorporate it in my replies to their line of questioning or I was just too timid to share the information. I think because of my inability to toot my own horn and my humility I cannot sell myself as well as I should. My only hope is that the quality of my work will speak for itself.
Either way (whether or not I am awarded the position), it has been a great experience. I always welcome every opportunity for learning and growth so even if I don’t get the job at least I learned from my experience. I have always encouraged others, particularly my friend Misty, to apply for these opportunities. I mean, you may or may not get the job but at least participating in an interview is an excellent opportunity to improve your interview skills. Something that I have to continue to develop because it’s not exactly my forte. Not having the gift of BS and not really going on interviews on a regular basis (maybe once every couple of years at that), what little interview skills I possessed have gone to the wayside. It’s wonderful to have been given the opportunity of an interview if not to get the job at least for practice.
As always, it’s a wonderful day in Ching’s neighborhood. Even though our yard isn’t exactly manicured and there skies seem cloudy. I have shelter, food and clothing so I can’t complain.
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