what I want for christmas...

These are what I want for Christmas, errr, either of the two ... guess, I'll just have to dream on.

How I love you...

Since we have just turned 1 year and 10 months, I want to share my favorite poem. I even stole the book from our library just to get myself a copy of this writer's poems. But sadly, the book got stolen too .... from me.... yup, I can be stupid.... :) Anyway, go on, read ...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise,
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints -I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

One Live Walking Joke

You are one LIVE WALKING JOKE who make people sick with your made-up stories, half truths or whole lies, either way they are LIES. So that also makes you a LIVE WALKING LIE.

PACIFIC CEBU RESORT and their TRASHY CUSTOMER SERVICE

July 5, 2009

The Manager

Pacific Cebu Resort

Cordova, Lapu-Lapu City 6015

Dear Sir/Ma’am:

I would like to file a complaint against your Supervisor, Mr. Arnold Maspara.

This is in regard to the unethical conversation I had with your restaurant supervisor yesterday around 6:30 pm when I asked for a glass of “tap water” to quench my thirst after I rendered my service to one of your clients having a 2-day beach event in your resort.

Allow me to introduce myself to you. My name is Al-Joffri Bacolod. I work as an Executive in a multi-national European company and a sole proprietor of AXEL Audio Excellence as well.

I was really offended when I was turned down just for a glass of tap water. I can always buy bottled water since he gave me the impression, clearly implying, that water is not at all free in your restaurant. But a little consideration won’t cripple your business income. Very drained and exhausted I must say, since I just had all my heavy sound equipments and band instruments transferred in your Cordova office in preparation for the 2^nd day of event. Still I insisted to have the glass of water with a soft-spoken voice (“nang-hangyo”) because I was given a “tap water” prior to the refusal, around 2:00 pm I think. When I told him, “gi-hatagan man lagi ko ganina ug tap water? Ok ra man lagi?” He gave a sarcastic answer in verbatim, “Well, you’re a lucky guy!” I was awed when I heard his reply! But then again, I continued to say, “Hangyo lang ko sir for a glass of water ‘cause I’m really thirsty now. Naa man mi event dinha sa _________.” He answered me with an egotistical voice saying: “Yeah! I KNOW!”

Never had I experienced an exemplary behavior from your “customer-oriented” Supervisor! So to speak! I have a sister who happens to work at Plantation Bay, and some relatives and friends who work in Burj Al Arab in Dubai. They treat every customer, whether a Filipino or a foreigner, with equality and utmost respect. It doesn’t even matter what hotel and resort you’re working at, but I believe it is how you treat your customers so they may have a happy memorable experience in your establishment. Respect begets respect. I can only hope it won’t happen to your other clients.

Sincerely,

Al-Joffri Bacolod

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I know some people who had experienced the same treatment from resort employees (not all of them behaved SHAMEFULLY though ). I am deeply saddened that they treat their Korean and Japanese guests better than Filipinos. Their customer service to FELLOW FILIPINOS is EXEMPLARY in RUBBISHNESS, absolutely the opposite of what we were expecting since WE, the CLIENTS are patronizing a resort that is staffed by FILIPINOS.

One colleague was able to observe that they treat foreigners better, so to get treated nicely (since they do not speak Korean or Nihongo) nag-Tagalog sila, at ayun, ang tatamis ng mga ngiti na mga taong naghila sa kayak, they showed off "Customer Service" because nananagalog ang mga "panauhin". What a TOTAL BULL!

Prologue: The Time Traveller's Wife

CLARE: It's hard being left behind. I wait for Henry, not knowing where he is, wondering if he's okay. It's hard to be the one who stays. I keep myself busy. Time goes faster that way.

I go to sleep alone, and wake up alone. I take walks. I work until I'm tired. I watch the wind play with the trash that's been under the snow all winter. Everything seems simple until you think about it. Why is love intensified by absence?

Long ago, men went to sea, and women waited for them, standing on the edge of the water, scanning the horizon for the tiny ship. Now I wait for Henry. He vanishes unwillingly, without warning. I wait for him. Each moment that I wait feels like a year, an eternity. Each moment is as slow and transparent as glass. Through each moment I can see infinite moments lined up, waiting. Why has he gone where I cannot follow?

HENRY: How does it feel? How does it feel? Sometimes it feels as though your attention has wandered for just an instant. Then, with a start, you realize that the book you were holding, the red plaid cotton shirt with white buttons, the favorite black jeans and the maroon socks with an almost-hole in one heel, the living room, the about-to-whistle tea kettle in the kitchen: all of these have vanished. You are standing, naked as a jaybird, up to your ankles in ice water in a ditch along an unidentified rural route. You wait a minute to see if maybe you will just snap right back to your book, your apartment, et cetera. After about five minutes of swearing and shivering and hoping to hell you can just disappear, you start walking in any direction, which will eventually yield a farmhouse, where you have the option of stealing or explaining. Stealing will sometimes land you in jail, but explaining is more tedious and time-consuming and involves lying anyway, and also sometimes results in being hauled off to jail, so what the hell.

Sometimes you feel as though you have stood up too quickly even if you are lying in bed half asleep. You hear blood rushing in your head, feel vertiginous falling sensations. Your hands and feet are tingling and then they aren't there at all. You've mislocated yourself again. It only takes an instant, you have just enough time to try to hold on, to flail around (possibly damaging yourself or valuable possessions) and then you are skidding across the forest-green-carpeted hallway of a Motel 6 in Athens, Ohio, at 4:16 a.m.,Monday, August 6, 1981, and hit your head on someone's door, causing this person, a Ms. Tina Schulman from Philadelphia, to open this door and start screaming because there's a naked, carpet-burned man passed out at her feet. You wake up in the County Hospital concussed with a policeman sitting outside your door listening to the Phillies game on a crackly transistor radio.Mercifully, you lapse back into unconsciousness and wake up again hours later in your own bed with your wife leaning over you looking very worried.

Sometimes you feel euphoric. Everything is sublime and has an aura, and suddenly you are intensely nauseated and then you are gone. You are throwing up on some suburban geraniums, or your father's tennis shoes, or your very own bathroom floor three days ago, or a wooden sidewalk in Oak Park, Illinois, circa 1903, or a tennis court on a fine autumn day in the 1950s, or your own naked feet in a wide variety of times and places.

How does it feel?

It feels exactly like one of those dreams in which you suddenly realize that you have to take a test you haven't studied for and you aren't wearing any clothes. And you've left your wallet at home.

When I am out there, in time, I am inverted, changed into a desperate version of myself. I become a thief, a vagrant, an animal who runs and hides. I startle old women and amaze children. I am a trick, an illusion of the highest order, so incredible that I am actually true.

Is there a logic, a rule to all this coming and going, all this dislocation? Is there a way to stay put, to embrace the present with every cell? I don't know. There are clues; as with any disease there are patterns, possibilities. Exhaustion, loud noises, stress, standing up suddenly, flashing light-any of these can trigger an episode. But: I can be reading the Sunday Times, coffee in hand and Clare dozing beside me on our bed and suddenly I'm in 1976 watching my thirteen-year-old self mow my grandparents' lawn. Some of these episodes last only moments; it's like listening to a car radio that's having trouble holding on to a station. I find myself in crowds, audiences, mobs. Just as often I am alone, in a field, house, car, on a beach, in a grammar school in the middle of the night. I fear finding myself in a prison cell, an elevator full of people, the middle of a highway. I appear from nowhere, naked. How can I explain? I have never been able to carry anything with me. No clothes, no money, no ID. I spend most of my sojourns acquiring clothing and trying to hide. Fortunately I don't wear glasses.


It's ironic, really. All my pleasures are homey ones: armchair splendor, the sedate excitements of domesticity. All I ask for are humble delights. A mystery novel in bed, the smell of Clare's long red-gold hair damp from washing, a postcard from a friend on vacation, cream dispersing into coffee, the softness of the skin under Clare's breasts, the symmetry of grocery bags sitting on the kitchen counter waiting to be unpacked. I love meandering through the stacks at the library after the patrons have gone home, lightly touching the spines of the books. These are the things that can pierce me with longing when I am displaced from them by Time's whim.

And Clare, always Clare. Clare in the morning, sleepy and crumple-faced. Clare with her arms plunging into the papermaking vat, pulling up the mold and shaking it so, and so, to meld the fibers. Clare reading, with her hair hanging over the back of the chair, massaging balm into her cracked red hands before bed. Clare's low voice is in my ear often.

I hate to be where she is not, when she is not. And yet, I am always going, and she cannot follow.

=======================

I want to get hold of the book the soonest time possible ...

Not For Sale

Not For Sale
Tina Arena

Here we are
Face to face
Who would have ever believed we could
End up in this place
You and I
We've come so far
And darlin' though
You're amazed
That I keep on loving you more everyday
But there's something I want you to know
Even if all my dreams should come true
Even if I should fail
I made you a promise
So don't you worry
This soul is not for sale
Not for sale
You're the one
When it rains
Who I can run to for cover
And comfort from my pain
And bloom like a rose in your sun
And we hold on
To what is real
Not willing to sacrifice this love that we feel
Cause we know where our joy comes from
Even if all my dreams should come true
Even if I should fail
I've made you a promise
So don't you worry
This soul is not for sale
Even if all my dreams should come true
Even if I should fail
I've made you a promise
So don't you worry
This soul is not for sale
This soul is not for sale
Not for sale
Baby it's not for sale

He's Just NOT That Into You...

Just saw this movie yesterday. It made me wake up (as should other girls too ... ) to the reality that guys have their own minds and to control them would just push them to get more elusive, intended or not.

The film starred Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Connelly.

I particularly like the part where Gigi is extrapolating the Exception and the No-Exception rule... Bottom line is, if you are fated to end up with each other then you will end up with each other. Nothing can break you apart. Even if time separates you. Commitment does not always mean getting married. It has got something to do with the willingness of one party (or both) to work to make the relationship work without being told and without being coerced, just do things out of one's own free will, no binds whatsoever.

If you have time, this film is a must see.

================

A friend over-reacted... Girl, you know that I am still on your side. My point here is don't rush things. They will just eventually fall into place. Now, if it did not happen the way you wanted it to, then it was not meant to be. Who knows, he could come back after 5 or 10 or 15 years. That, will make you an exception. For now, stop rushing things and live one day at a time.

People Management ...

Been a team lead for several months now. It has been really hard for me to lead a group of people, more so because these people have their individuality intact and honestly, I am not a people-person. But thank goodness I have a supervisor who cares enough to show me by not leading but making me understand that there is "No Free Lunch". He said that respect is given because it is deserved and NOT COMMANDED by any position or by the bearer. He has only one rule:

SET AN EXAMPLE AND YOUR SUBORDINATES WILL FOLLOW...

Which actually makes sense. Why? Go figure...

An Insult to One's Intelligence... Sad sad thing

Below is article of Mr. Chip Tsao (first time I've heard of him), a writer for a very respectable magazine...
Read on and learn something...

The War At Home March 27th, 2009

The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. We can live with that—Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That’s no big problem—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke. But hold on—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter. As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China. Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings. Oh yes. The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout “China, Madam/Sir” loudly whenever they hear the word “Spratly.” They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, “Long live Chairman Mao!” at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that’s going a bit too far, at least for the time being.

http://hk-magazine.com/feature/war-home#comment-2675.

==========================================================


It's quite sad and disappointing. I was hoping that this article will spark a more mature, intelligent and sensible talk about the Spratlys. But all I got is dirt and cheap street talk, slapstick. He just insulted his own intelligence...

Next please.

Hale and Toads

I got stuck in the muck again. The ticket was there and why did I not check on it! How stupid... This day could not be more perfect... From morning until evening, all I have were hale and toads.. Just right. More than just right.

The Horse in the Year of the Ox...

2009 year of the ox predictions for the Horse (1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990) should be prepared as his luck would go to both extremes in the year of the Ox. Lucky stars shining on him in 2009 would be able to help him achieve success in his career, however some unlucky stars are also shining that could bring him tragedies and difficulties. These difficulties he should all pass before he will be able to taste the fruits of his hard work.

One lucky star that has influence on his work and career is the lucky star Jiang Xing. This star represents bravery, stamina and persistence in achieving success. This star also signifies better social status and leadership skills, which would benefit the Horse who is involved in the upper management, disciplinary teams and key positions in large corporations. They can expect satisfactory performance this year.

The star Di Lie could bring the Horse major problems, but with the help of influential people he would be able to face all the problems and solve them. Another star, Di Jie signifies moving. This could mean a new house for the Horse, a new real estate or new furniture.

Bai Fu is a star that signifies animal bites, Horses who have pets or who are working closely with animals are advised to take extra caution. Another interpretation for the star Bai Fu is a woman without sense who might bring great annoyance to the Horse.

One star that means good luck in wealth and career is the star Jin Gui. However the Horse and his family members might suffer poor health and injury on limbs and some teeth problems. Overall, the Horse can expect to make progress in the year of the Ox, as he can also look to have some changes in his environment. However, special attention should be given to his own physical and mental health and he also need to take care of his family members.

PISCEAN HORSE

Piscean Horses get swept up in the opinions of others. They like to know what other people think of them and can be quick to make changes others see fit.

============

THE OX in the Year of the Ox:

The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. As one might guess, such people are dependable, calm and modest. Like his animal namesake, the Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in his work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint

People born in this year are also said to be stubborn, narrow minded, and with low public relations skills.

Interesting combinations, I must say. These and lots more are sure in store for us in the Chinese Year of the Ox 2009. So let’s see what other things are coming for the Ox as well as those in the other animal year.

Continuing with our discussion of the Ox, the male Ox can look forward to a better year in 2009 compared to their female counterpart, as far as the romance department is concern. The female Ox can only expect for short term romances, and she even have to take initiatives at times. On the other hand, with the star Tai Yin shining on them, which represents females with influence to help them out, the male Ox can expect to have better luck on love, and is likely to meet someone he likes.

Aside from the love factor, Tai Yin is also known as a Star of Wealth which means that it can influence his luck on wealth positively. So if the male Ox is working under a female supervisor, he can expect more support and recognition, with a better chance of progress and development in career. But while Tai Yin signifies progress, it is slow yet steady. This means that the Ox should not be pushy or rush his way, if he does, his luck might go the other way.

Another lucky star shining on the Ox (1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 2009) in 2009 is Guo Yin, which is an authority star is also known as the seal of the General. This can be interpreted that his progress and developments will be recognized and achieved with much authority.

Unfortunately, unlucky stars are also shining upon the Ox. These stars are Guan Suo, Gou Shen, Di Sha and Tian Sha which could cause annoyance because of poor interpersonal relationships and some disputes. Guan Suo, for one, represents financial disputes and blackmailing. These unlucky stars can cause turbulence to the Ox’s otherwise beautiful career path for the Year of the Ox 2009. It is advised that he should work on and improved his interpersonal relationships skill, as this is his weakest department, and the area he is likely to go wrong.

PISCEAN OX

Sensitivity influences the toughness of the Ox to produce a delicate personality, with unlimited creativity and perspicacity. Piscean Oxen are artistic and would rather work behind the scenes than be a visible member of the team.

Back to Work...

Got back to work today. My wound still throbs painfully once in a while but it's tolerable. My team welcomed me warmly and they kept on asking where I'd been. Just told them that they'd surely not going to want to be where I got stitched... They smiled but you know they still had a lot of questions to ask judging on the looks on their faces. Luckily, they did not pound me with their questions, instead they gave me space... I heard someone said "yehey! Escalations will be worked on...". Yup, I'm working... Working again.

excision of multiple fibroadenoma...

I just had an operation last Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, my surgeon Dr. Juanito Dy called the operation as excision of multiple fibroadenoma. The ultrasound image displayed above are the "things" taken out. The ultrasond machine only saw 5 adenoma or growths but when my surgeon opened up my chest, he saw 6, the sixth is just about .02 cms, comparatively small compared to the others taken out, the reason why it was not detected by the ultrasound machine.

Are you wondering if it was painful? Yes, it was. He injected anesthesia 4 times before I went numb. But then when he snips the growths out of my other tissues, I still feel a stabbing pain surge through my chest, before I knew it I had tears flowing at the corners of my eyes, but I was not crying. The pain was just sharp. I was awake the whole time, I tried to sway my attention away from the pain. I opened up a conversation with Dr. Dy, in the background I can hear scissors snipping away something, seems like I am hearing cloth being cut... but then I kept on talking. The operation just took a little over an hour... Finally it was over. I got 31 stitches. I'm amazed I was still able to stand when just a while ago, I saw myself bled.

This whole thing actually made me realize something. I am nothing compared to those people who had stage 4 C's, sure there's Cobalt and chemo, but then there is more to it... Life indeed is a mystery. You thought you had it all figured out but then suddenly it all comes in a rush and you get left with nothing but cold feet.

I also realized that I am still blessed, the people who matter to me love me. I still have a lot to thank for.

One thing more... I'm waiting now for the lab results for the adenoma. Hopefully, it's not what I am afraid it would be.

Hopeless

I may hurl jokes. I admit I make pranks just for the heck of it. But I don't belittle people... It's a mortal sin.

Before you say the other person is a moron, measure your intelligence first. How come he understood "it" right away and you didn't?

Before you say you are a "guy", shrug off your being a girl first. Isn't babbling a girl's trait?

Before you speak, make sure your mouth does not smell like a sock that has been worn for a week. It all boils down to the "intelligence". The mouth is just under the nose, but why is it that you were not able to smell the stink? Brain malfunction?

I can just guess. Hopeless me. A simpleton. Arghhh!

85

Are You in Love?

Your Love Score Is: 85

It's truly love. You have an amazing partner and a wonderful relationship. Your relationship isn't perfect, but you know how to work with each other to make it better. You both listen to one another, give freely, and do your best to make things work. While you have ups and downs like any other couple, you're good at getting through the bad times together. And although you find it easy to love your partner, you understand that lasting love doesn't come easily. You are both willing to give this relationship everything you have. And luckily, that's all it takes to make it work.