Thursday, November 10, 2011
Shindigs
Thanks to the "shindigs" of the team at the office, I get to eat at really yummy restaurants. The latest was a dinner at Chef Laudico Bistro Filipino. It's Filipino food Top Chef version. It's your most nostalgic local dishes made fancy and utterly unrecognizeable. A bit pricey but yummy nonetheless. Will I go back? Probably.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
How to look busy without ever really trying
Here ere some useful strategies that I have actually observed from somebody. Sad but true.
1. Sigh regularly or let out loud grunts and sounds of frustration due to work overload. Alternate this with sighs of relief to give the impression that you are accomplishing a lot of challenging work. Make sure you do this when everyone else is quiet to ensure maximum audibility. Try this trick also during meetings and group presentations for maximum audience coverage. The louder the better. Do this every 5 minutes.
2. When spacing out during discussions or presentations, learn to use the dead air technique. Every time the presenter pauses, use this short silence to talk. You can do one or more of the following, all of them if you are a fast talker:
i. Repeat words that the presenter just said. The more difficult the words the better. Do this with while nodding your head to give the impression that you understand exactly what was being discussed
ii. Rephrase sentences or phrases that you were able to remember, understanding them is not a requirement. As long as you have a proper sentence construction, this would work.
iii. Make emphatic sounds like grunts, “uh huh”, “hmmmm” (like in deep thought), “Tsk,tsk,tsk…” (if there was a debate during the discussion), “But what if…. (pause as if thinking)… ah, ok” (as if you have solved an impending problem about the item being discussed all on y our own)
iv. Remove your glasses (if you have one) and put them on again. Do this every minute as this gives the impression that you are deep in thought.
3. During presentations or every time an image or document is being projected on the wall, point to random images on the wall during the presentation. Just make sure that you are pointing to the image area only and only when the presenter is discussing.
4. Tell everyone you meet how busy you are. Do not go into details because you might get busted. Keep it high level and do pantomime of keyboard typing if necessary. Do also tem number 1 with this for full effect.
5. When being asked a question that you do not know the answer, do not answer right away. Cases are listed below:
i. If you are on a one on one discussion, you need to say or do something. If the question is a yes or no question, this is easy, but may also be a double sided sword. First, pause for fifteen seconds and pretend to be deep in thought. This delay will buy you time and will prompt the other person to expound or to further explain the question. Next, rephrase the question using the most words that you can think of related to the context as much as possible (this is assuming you understand the question). Use complex words and keywords that makes you sound technical and smart. If this is difficult for you, you may make use of your idiom stash – ex. Carrot technique, blue sky point of view, apple to apple, etc. Remember, any other word other that “I don’t know” is acceptable. If you blank out- just grunt.
ii. If this is during a group discussion or brainstorming, dodging questions that you do not know the answer to is easier. When asked a question, just pause and pantomime that you are deep in thought. Do this until a.) the person who asked the question gives clarifying and leading statements. If he does this, just vaguely agree to whatever he is saying. This is only safe if you see the others nodding or agreeing as well, b.) the other individuals in the room will get impatient in waiting for you to answer and they will answer for you. When they do this, rephrase their answer and make it sound more original by delivering it with more gusto, hand movements and examples.
6. When you come back from a vacation or a leave, make sure to tell everybody of the amount of work that you will be putting in to catch up because of the humongous amount of backlog that you have.
7. Learn to delegate. Everything. Just make sure that when mentioning it to the bosses or to peers (make sure you do not let the co-workers or the subordinates that you have passed on the workload do not hear you) that you use the word “I did this”, or “I thought of this”, if you are feeling like a team player, exchange WE for the word I.
8. Before responding to queries of the boss, get the comments from your co-workers or team. When you get all their answers, consolidate or choose a best answer and send to the boss, replacing their name with yours so that you will get the credit. Make sure that you do not CC your “sources”.
9. It is okay to answer a non-open ended question with a “yes and no”. This is a noncommittal answer that doesn’t blatantly say that you have no idea what they are talking about. Make sure that you do not explain. Oh, and put a smiley face for more effect. The smiley face will imply that you are expecting them not to ask anymore confusing questions.
10. Do not read your emails as the effort to understand them and think will only add to your already nebulous workload. When you need answer to anything just ask your subordinates. Better do this verbally so that they cannot use outlook to symbolize your “inability to comprehend”.
11. Limit and control the email that you forward to your team. In doing so, you can control what they know and leave all the information to yourself. Worry later on what you are going to do with the information. Remember, the more information all to yourself, the better. So that when your teammates ask, YOU can give them answers for a change. This will give you a sense of power and superiority and add buoyancy to your already overinflated sense of self (ego?)(It doesn’t really matter if your answers are right or wrong, they have no idea about what your talking anyway.
12. When you see a bunch of people huddled together discussing, immediately squeeze in to the clump of people and do number 1 or 2, sometimes even 3. Heck, even try doing 5 if you are feeling good.
13. When you hear a phrase or even a word for that matter, about a topic that you actually know something about, talk you ass of and milk it. Milk it, baby.
14. When spacing out and doing absolutely nothing (i.e. staring at your laptop screen to pass the time) make sure that you move your mouse at least once every 30 seconds.
15. Organize meetings and trainings apart from the scheduled employee trainings. Attend all trainings as much as you can. This helps bide the time. It is not important four you to take into consideration your co-workers’ workload or schedule because they are unimportant.
16. Read every other line of your email out loud so that everybody can hear. Do this only for work related emails.
17. Reply to every email with “thanks”, this will ensure that your co-workers know that you are actively using outlook. Remember, there are some companies who uninstall software due to lack of usage.
18. In between bouts of spacing out, do follow ups on your co-workers. It doesn’t matter if you are CC’d in all their correspondences. It is your self imposed responsibility to make sure that they are doing your job for you.
19. Arrive early before everyone else (to have more time for internet browsing) and leave only after the boss leaves.
20. In attending meetings and brainstorming sessions, DO NOT GO ALONE. Always make sure you have somebody a co-worker with you h=who you can expect to pay attention to the discussion. Afterwards, you can just your co-worker to explain the issues and resolution to you. When they do so, reply by saying “Yeah, yeah…” as if you already know what they are talking about.
21. During discussions, do not hesitate to veer out of topic. Remember, you are still being paid by the hour and the company assumes that all your inputs are relevant.
1. Sigh regularly or let out loud grunts and sounds of frustration due to work overload. Alternate this with sighs of relief to give the impression that you are accomplishing a lot of challenging work. Make sure you do this when everyone else is quiet to ensure maximum audibility. Try this trick also during meetings and group presentations for maximum audience coverage. The louder the better. Do this every 5 minutes.
2. When spacing out during discussions or presentations, learn to use the dead air technique. Every time the presenter pauses, use this short silence to talk. You can do one or more of the following, all of them if you are a fast talker:
i. Repeat words that the presenter just said. The more difficult the words the better. Do this with while nodding your head to give the impression that you understand exactly what was being discussed
ii. Rephrase sentences or phrases that you were able to remember, understanding them is not a requirement. As long as you have a proper sentence construction, this would work.
iii. Make emphatic sounds like grunts, “uh huh”, “hmmmm” (like in deep thought), “Tsk,tsk,tsk…” (if there was a debate during the discussion), “But what if…. (pause as if thinking)… ah, ok” (as if you have solved an impending problem about the item being discussed all on y our own)
iv. Remove your glasses (if you have one) and put them on again. Do this every minute as this gives the impression that you are deep in thought.
3. During presentations or every time an image or document is being projected on the wall, point to random images on the wall during the presentation. Just make sure that you are pointing to the image area only and only when the presenter is discussing.
4. Tell everyone you meet how busy you are. Do not go into details because you might get busted. Keep it high level and do pantomime of keyboard typing if necessary. Do also tem number 1 with this for full effect.
5. When being asked a question that you do not know the answer, do not answer right away. Cases are listed below:
i. If you are on a one on one discussion, you need to say or do something. If the question is a yes or no question, this is easy, but may also be a double sided sword. First, pause for fifteen seconds and pretend to be deep in thought. This delay will buy you time and will prompt the other person to expound or to further explain the question. Next, rephrase the question using the most words that you can think of related to the context as much as possible (this is assuming you understand the question). Use complex words and keywords that makes you sound technical and smart. If this is difficult for you, you may make use of your idiom stash – ex. Carrot technique, blue sky point of view, apple to apple, etc. Remember, any other word other that “I don’t know” is acceptable. If you blank out- just grunt.
ii. If this is during a group discussion or brainstorming, dodging questions that you do not know the answer to is easier. When asked a question, just pause and pantomime that you are deep in thought. Do this until a.) the person who asked the question gives clarifying and leading statements. If he does this, just vaguely agree to whatever he is saying. This is only safe if you see the others nodding or agreeing as well, b.) the other individuals in the room will get impatient in waiting for you to answer and they will answer for you. When they do this, rephrase their answer and make it sound more original by delivering it with more gusto, hand movements and examples.
6. When you come back from a vacation or a leave, make sure to tell everybody of the amount of work that you will be putting in to catch up because of the humongous amount of backlog that you have.
7. Learn to delegate. Everything. Just make sure that when mentioning it to the bosses or to peers (make sure you do not let the co-workers or the subordinates that you have passed on the workload do not hear you) that you use the word “I did this”, or “I thought of this”, if you are feeling like a team player, exchange WE for the word I.
8. Before responding to queries of the boss, get the comments from your co-workers or team. When you get all their answers, consolidate or choose a best answer and send to the boss, replacing their name with yours so that you will get the credit. Make sure that you do not CC your “sources”.
9. It is okay to answer a non-open ended question with a “yes and no”. This is a noncommittal answer that doesn’t blatantly say that you have no idea what they are talking about. Make sure that you do not explain. Oh, and put a smiley face for more effect. The smiley face will imply that you are expecting them not to ask anymore confusing questions.
10. Do not read your emails as the effort to understand them and think will only add to your already nebulous workload. When you need answer to anything just ask your subordinates. Better do this verbally so that they cannot use outlook to symbolize your “inability to comprehend”.
11. Limit and control the email that you forward to your team. In doing so, you can control what they know and leave all the information to yourself. Worry later on what you are going to do with the information. Remember, the more information all to yourself, the better. So that when your teammates ask, YOU can give them answers for a change. This will give you a sense of power and superiority and add buoyancy to your already overinflated sense of self (ego?)(It doesn’t really matter if your answers are right or wrong, they have no idea about what your talking anyway.
12. When you see a bunch of people huddled together discussing, immediately squeeze in to the clump of people and do number 1 or 2, sometimes even 3. Heck, even try doing 5 if you are feeling good.
13. When you hear a phrase or even a word for that matter, about a topic that you actually know something about, talk you ass of and milk it. Milk it, baby.
14. When spacing out and doing absolutely nothing (i.e. staring at your laptop screen to pass the time) make sure that you move your mouse at least once every 30 seconds.
15. Organize meetings and trainings apart from the scheduled employee trainings. Attend all trainings as much as you can. This helps bide the time. It is not important four you to take into consideration your co-workers’ workload or schedule because they are unimportant.
16. Read every other line of your email out loud so that everybody can hear. Do this only for work related emails.
17. Reply to every email with “thanks”, this will ensure that your co-workers know that you are actively using outlook. Remember, there are some companies who uninstall software due to lack of usage.
18. In between bouts of spacing out, do follow ups on your co-workers. It doesn’t matter if you are CC’d in all their correspondences. It is your self imposed responsibility to make sure that they are doing your job for you.
19. Arrive early before everyone else (to have more time for internet browsing) and leave only after the boss leaves.
20. In attending meetings and brainstorming sessions, DO NOT GO ALONE. Always make sure you have somebody a co-worker with you h=who you can expect to pay attention to the discussion. Afterwards, you can just your co-worker to explain the issues and resolution to you. When they do so, reply by saying “Yeah, yeah…” as if you already know what they are talking about.
21. During discussions, do not hesitate to veer out of topic. Remember, you are still being paid by the hour and the company assumes that all your inputs are relevant.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Robomouse
Who would've thought that a mouse can fly?
They can't, but this one glows!
Haha! My boyfriend always finds it funny how I get attracted to lights and colors when it comes to choosing new gadgets. Sure we debate endlessly on specs, pros, and cons, and price but add a glowing colorful light to any gadget ( or anything for that matter) and you got me. I will even tie a leash around my back and hand it over to you. I will even give you my wallet. (Do not exaggerate, I think the point is quite clear). I'm just saying that my purely visual sense of judgement kicks in.
Check out the Razer Naga Epic mouse! I'm not going to do a tech review here because I would just be insulting the item. Just know that I am an average tech savvy person who loves computers, who can usually troubleshoot but would also pick up the phone to call a friend for help. I do games but my choices range from the simple bejeweled to the sims to a cute mmo rpg angels online. Still, this mouse rocks!
Love the 12 programmable buttons on the mouse, the configuration software with cool macro recording, the glowing light that cycles the color spectrum, the wired/ wireless capability, and the ergonomic grips that are changeable. I use the claw.
It's agood thing that there are vendors of Razer products here. Two days after, I got the Kabuto mousepad which is just awesome for mobility use.
So now that I don't have time yet to play games and do combos and record macros, I just programmed the buttons for basic keyboard shortcuts and app launches. Sometimes I just turn off the lights and stare at the mouse. It's now one of the contenders in my happy thoughts list...
They can't, but this one glows!
Haha! My boyfriend always finds it funny how I get attracted to lights and colors when it comes to choosing new gadgets. Sure we debate endlessly on specs, pros, and cons, and price but add a glowing colorful light to any gadget ( or anything for that matter) and you got me. I will even tie a leash around my back and hand it over to you. I will even give you my wallet. (Do not exaggerate, I think the point is quite clear). I'm just saying that my purely visual sense of judgement kicks in.
Check out the Razer Naga Epic mouse! I'm not going to do a tech review here because I would just be insulting the item. Just know that I am an average tech savvy person who loves computers, who can usually troubleshoot but would also pick up the phone to call a friend for help. I do games but my choices range from the simple bejeweled to the sims to a cute mmo rpg angels online. Still, this mouse rocks!
Love the 12 programmable buttons on the mouse, the configuration software with cool macro recording, the glowing light that cycles the color spectrum, the wired/ wireless capability, and the ergonomic grips that are changeable. I use the claw.
It's agood thing that there are vendors of Razer products here. Two days after, I got the Kabuto mousepad which is just awesome for mobility use.
So now that I don't have time yet to play games and do combos and record macros, I just programmed the buttons for basic keyboard shortcuts and app launches. Sometimes I just turn off the lights and stare at the mouse. It's now one of the contenders in my happy thoughts list...
Goodbye prs. How dare you die on me?!
My trusted prs 505 just said goodbye. Wait, it didn't even say goodbye. It just flopped upside down like a fish. After almost three years, it gave up. I'm guessing it's because a friend sat on it in the car. Next day when I turned it on the screen is split into two. Good luck to me in having it repaired here in the Phils. I got it when I was in the US and I left everything, box, cd, receipts there. Also, based on feedback from users with similar cases, Sony sucks when it comes to support and customer service. So now I say goodbye to you prs. I will lovingly caress your blue leather cover that has tons of scratches as a result of being headbutted by my keys and pens and pointy things in my bag because I bring you with me all the time. *tear*
So now, moving on... Hello Kindle!
So now, moving on... Hello Kindle!
Monday, April 18, 2011
As fast as the polar caps are melting
Wow I am blogging at a glacial pace. I just read my last post... and this just means that my rate is one post per year! No rush. Taking my glorious time. Fabulous!
Got a new job. Have the same qwerty slide phone. House burned down. Lost everything. Saved the phone. Ok, so not " everything". Moved to a place in Makati. Saved up again. Financially stable again. Whoopee. What a ride! All with me yelling from the top of my lungs with both arms raised going " aaaayyyyyyeeeeeee! Let's free fall!" Kinda insane but I got stronger after all of it. Had to.
I lasted two years in that previous job... The one where I had to wear suits, skirts, and heels all the time. It was an incredibly stressful and tiring job. Top it off with obnoxious bosses. Now I have a new job and the workload is like candy compared to the old job. It's like unicorns and fairies. Ooooh, and there's also free coffee.
30th birthday is coming up! No use in ignoring it anyway. Come on! Give it to me!
Marriage bandwagon, I am locking you inside a cage as you wait for me. I wrapped the key in a soft taco shell, sprinkled it with cheese and had it for dinner.
Got a new job. Have the same qwerty slide phone. House burned down. Lost everything. Saved the phone. Ok, so not " everything". Moved to a place in Makati. Saved up again. Financially stable again. Whoopee. What a ride! All with me yelling from the top of my lungs with both arms raised going " aaaayyyyyyeeeeeee! Let's free fall!" Kinda insane but I got stronger after all of it. Had to.
I lasted two years in that previous job... The one where I had to wear suits, skirts, and heels all the time. It was an incredibly stressful and tiring job. Top it off with obnoxious bosses. Now I have a new job and the workload is like candy compared to the old job. It's like unicorns and fairies. Ooooh, and there's also free coffee.
30th birthday is coming up! No use in ignoring it anyway. Come on! Give it to me!
Marriage bandwagon, I am locking you inside a cage as you wait for me. I wrapped the key in a soft taco shell, sprinkled it with cheese and had it for dinner.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Hello stranger
Hey stranger.
Wow. Last post was 2 years ago. This only means one thing. I'm 2 years older than I was when I last blogged. Booo.
Oh and yes, I am now working in Makati (again). The place that I previously swore off is now laughing its ass off and stabbing me at the back. Back at you becaue you're the one who is paying me big time for this. Reality check.
My job is hilarious. It's challenging both mentally and physically and to top it all of I have to strut my butt in a uniform and high heels. Who would've thought... HEE LAR YUS.
Oh well... I am learning a lot though.
As for the marriage bandwagon... more friends are tying their knots up and getting married. I am still picturing that wagon to be up and running for at least 5 more years... just waiting for me to catch a ride. Stay, wagon. Stay. I will whack you up so badly with a bat if you do not wait for me. Seriously.
And after occasional marathons of Fringe, Leverage, and American Idol, I manage to squeeze in downloading some DVD rips of new movies via torrent.
Got a new laptop. Got a new Phone. Lost a fine colleague. Gained some new friends. Drifted off with some... Rehashed my game plan for my life.
Easy does it.
Wow. Last post was 2 years ago. This only means one thing. I'm 2 years older than I was when I last blogged. Booo.
Oh and yes, I am now working in Makati (again). The place that I previously swore off is now laughing its ass off and stabbing me at the back. Back at you becaue you're the one who is paying me big time for this. Reality check.
My job is hilarious. It's challenging both mentally and physically and to top it all of I have to strut my butt in a uniform and high heels. Who would've thought... HEE LAR YUS.
Oh well... I am learning a lot though.
As for the marriage bandwagon... more friends are tying their knots up and getting married. I am still picturing that wagon to be up and running for at least 5 more years... just waiting for me to catch a ride. Stay, wagon. Stay. I will whack you up so badly with a bat if you do not wait for me. Seriously.
And after occasional marathons of Fringe, Leverage, and American Idol, I manage to squeeze in downloading some DVD rips of new movies via torrent.
Got a new laptop. Got a new Phone. Lost a fine colleague. Gained some new friends. Drifted off with some... Rehashed my game plan for my life.
Easy does it.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
PEYUPS SURVEY
Student number? > 98-01591 - swerte sa descending first three digits. =)
College? > Eng'g
Ano ang course mo? > BSIE
Nagshift ka ba o na-kick out? > Nope.
Saan ka kumuha ng UPCAT? > Yikes! Nakalimutan ko na.... NEC yata.
Favorite GE (General Education) classes? > Creative Writing, KOM II (hehe)
Favorite PE? > Street Dance.
Saan ka nag-aabang ng hot guys/girls sa UP? > ??? Hahaha focused ako nung college! Sa Eng'g?
Favorite Professors? > Crisostomo, Tolentino, Ocampo, Roldan
Least favorite GE (General Education) class? > KAS series. elk.
Did you sign up for Saturday classes? > I think so... waaaah i don't remember... pero malamang lamang!
Nakapag-field trip ka ba? > Sa Banahaw.
Naging CS ka na ba or US sa UP? > Once upon a time.
What Organization/Fraternity/Sorority were you a member of? > UPCIEM, UPREP, SVCF
Saan ka tumatambay palagi? > Ciem tambayan. Rep tambayan. 2log sa lib. haha!
Dorm, Boarding house, o Bahay? > Bahay. SM. =)
Kung walang UPCAT test at malaya kang nakapili ng kurso mo sa UP, ano yun? > Uhmmmm... yun pa rin cguro.
Sino ang pinaka-una mong nakilala sa UP? > blockmates- Pero half of my blockmates were hi-school friends
First play na napanood mo sa UP? > UP REP play. =)
Saan ka madalas mag-lunch? > Ciem tambayan - cart.
Name the 5 most conyo orgs in UP. > No comment.
Name 5 of the coolest orgs/frats/soro in UP. > Ciem. Rep. SVCF.
May frat/soro bang nag-recruit sa yo? > wala.
Masaya ba sa UP? > of course!
Nakasama ka na ba sa rally? > yes, once lang.
Ilang beses ka bumoto sa Student Council? > Every time nagvovote ako kasi we need to support the representatives of the org...
Pinangarap mo rin bang mag-laude nung freshman ka? > Laude? Haha hindi pumasok sa isip ko yun... weird.
Kanino ka pinaka-patay sa UP? > Haha... kay ____
Kung di ka UP, anong school ka? > Ateneo. UA&P
College? > Eng'g
Ano ang course mo? > BSIE
Nagshift ka ba o na-kick out? > Nope.
Saan ka kumuha ng UPCAT? > Yikes! Nakalimutan ko na.... NEC yata.
Favorite GE (General Education) classes? > Creative Writing, KOM II (hehe)
Favorite PE? > Street Dance.
Saan ka nag-aabang ng hot guys/girls sa UP? > ??? Hahaha focused ako nung college! Sa Eng'g?
Favorite Professors? > Crisostomo, Tolentino, Ocampo, Roldan
Least favorite GE (General Education) class? > KAS series. elk.
Did you sign up for Saturday classes? > I think so... waaaah i don't remember... pero malamang lamang!
Nakapag-field trip ka ba? > Sa Banahaw.
Naging CS ka na ba or US sa UP? > Once upon a time.
What Organization/Fraternity/Sorority were you a member of? > UPCIEM, UPREP, SVCF
Saan ka tumatambay palagi? > Ciem tambayan. Rep tambayan. 2log sa lib. haha!
Dorm, Boarding house, o Bahay? > Bahay. SM. =)
Kung walang UPCAT test at malaya kang nakapili ng kurso mo sa UP, ano yun? > Uhmmmm... yun pa rin cguro.
Sino ang pinaka-una mong nakilala sa UP? > blockmates- Pero half of my blockmates were hi-school friends
First play na napanood mo sa UP? > UP REP play. =)
Saan ka madalas mag-lunch? > Ciem tambayan - cart.
Name the 5 most conyo orgs in UP. > No comment.
Name 5 of the coolest orgs/frats/soro in UP. > Ciem. Rep. SVCF.
May frat/soro bang nag-recruit sa yo? > wala.
Masaya ba sa UP? > of course!
Nakasama ka na ba sa rally? > yes, once lang.
Ilang beses ka bumoto sa Student Council? > Every time nagvovote ako kasi we need to support the representatives of the org...
Pinangarap mo rin bang mag-laude nung freshman ka? > Laude? Haha hindi pumasok sa isip ko yun... weird.
Kanino ka pinaka-patay sa UP? > Haha... kay ____
Kung di ka UP, anong school ka? > Ateneo. UA&P
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