Thursday, March 30, 2006

Perhaps maybe

Have you ever heard someone tell you that he's doing his job just because it pays the bills? Well, that's exactly what I'm feeling right now. No matter how I try (I'm still trying), I still can't get myself to be passionate about my job. Maybe it's because my work is purely maintenance. Maybe because there's no growth in this project. Maybe because there is nobody in this project who is passionate about his or her job. Maybe it's all of the above.
 
Perhaps, the People's Hour will shed some light into the dark future of my career. Perhaps, but I'm not hopeful.
 
This project is slowly killing me. At this rate, I'll be a zombie in a month.
 
I've know the difference between good and bad projects. This one's neutral. LOL

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

free lunch

I'm having a hard time thinking of what to blog about. I don't want to keep ranting about my new project and that decision eliminated most, if not all things that's been going on in my mind. A few more post about my new project and my blog's name would have to change to "10 things I hate about my project."

Anyway...

I signed up for a *omitted* session last week and I got the confirmation of enrollment yesterday. It is an activity wherein a Sr Exec of the company sits down with the employees and discuss their issues and concerns, whatever they may be. Don't get me wrong. I'm not about to discuss my issues in this session. I'm just here for the free lunch.

By the way, whoever said that there's no such thing as free lunch doesn't have rich friends... or work for a large multi-national *omitted* company. LOL

Monday, March 27, 2006

V for Vendetta

I have been itching to watch a movie these past few days but could not find the time. Last Saturday, I finally did. F and I watched V for Vendetta.
 
It's a nice movie. I wouldn't have watched it on the big screen hadn't it been mentioned in Q_DVD that the script was written by the Wachowski brothers (the makers of The Matrix). Being a [sorry excuse for a] fan of the brothers, I put the film in my Must Watch list.
 
Overall, I was not disappointed in the film. (I seldom do.) In fact, I enjoyed the film simply because it is about revenge and kicking the government's ass. I especially liked the scene where a resident punches a party member for shooting a girl. I felt that scene. LOL. I didn't like how the parliament exploded. It was supposed to be one big explosion from below the ground. Instead, the parliament had multiple explosions. Not very realistic but, it could be forgiven though. I only wish someone would make a Pinoy version of the movie. That would be nice... and timely. LOL
 
Now, is this movie about anarchy or freedom from oppression?
 
Pwede both?
 
No! This is not a diaper commercial.

Japanese 101

I signed up for free Japanese lessons.
 
Two weeks from now, I'll be speaking basic Nihonggo. Yahoo! =)
 
Hai! ^_^

finger instinct

Fourth week into my project and still, I found myself typing my NAI ID onto my* workstation. I've gotten used to pressing the same sequence of keys that I have to make a conscious effort to log-in my new ID. Oh well, it's trivial but anything is worth blogging, anyway.
 
*It's mine only because I'm the one using it.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

settling-in... slowly

Finally, after more than two weeks in my new project, I have my own cube. I'm expecting the key to my mobile cabinet anytime today. After that, only one thing is left before I could say that I'm completely settled in. And that is my own WORKSTATION. Yep! I'm still a "squatter" in this project. Moving from workstation to workstation day after day.
 
I consider myself lucky though. One of my teammates have been here for more than 6 weeks and he still "squats" on other workstations. =)

Friday, March 17, 2006

brighter side

If there's one thing I like about my new project, it is that my new teammates are so friendly. Being isolated from the rest of the company (well, this is an exaggeration), they have retained their innocence. There's almost no politics in this project. No gossips. No quarrels. No scandals. It's a very friendly and somewhat welcoming environment.
 
This is what I initially thought about my previous project... until I got in on the little dark secrets. Hmm... now, I'm wondering. Are there any dark secrets in this project? We'll just have to see about that.

Monday, March 13, 2006

DIY iced tea

I was kinda bored so I tried to make an iced tea using ingredients available in our pantry.

 
Iced Tea Ala Pantry
 
Ingredients:
1 Lipton Tea bag
1/2 Cup hot water
1 spoon of Creamer
1 spoon of Sugar
A lot of tube ice
 
Instructions:
Dip the tea bag into the hot water until the water turns dark brown. 
Mix 1 spoon of creamer and 1 spoon of sugar into the concoction.
Stir.
Add ice until your cup is full.
 
Serves 1 - 2 persons depending on the size of your cup. Hehehe.
 
Okay, I have to get back to my training now.

From COBOL to VB to Oracle

Last week, while I was updating my project-specific training plan, I realized that I have been retooled and in fact, I have been retooled twice. Damn! First off, I was trained for Mainframe capability. I attended a one-month course on Mainframe programming (COBOL). I didn't like the thought of staring at a black and green screen for 8 hours so I wished hard not to be deployed to a Mainframe technology based project. Luckily, I was deployed to a project that used Client-Server technology. That deployment changed my capabality to Graphical Environment. Now that I have a new project, I am expected to develop my Oracle PL/SQL skills. I've been retooled twice. I don't know what to say. I'm not sure whether that's good or bad. What I'm sure of is that I don't want to be retooled again. I want to stay in Oracle.
 
Please don't offer me VB.NET training. That would be excruciatingly tempting.

super proxy

Change can sometimes be very difficult, especially if the change involves extremely restricted internet access. You can't check mail, can't blog, can't visit forums, you can't even visit vehicle-related websites.
 
Lucky for me, I have a proxy server that has less restrictions. Look Ma! I'm blogging. Hehehe.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

This is shocking!

I may have been deployed to a BPO engagement. Why else would there be no development or programming involved?! (note: this is not SEPG) This is really, really, really alarming. My new project manager hasn't even set up an expectation setting session which was supposed to be today. Arrggh! I want to scream!

If this can't be fixed, I might resign.

Monday, March 06, 2006

first day at my new project

Here's what I have found out so far. In chronological order.
 
Buses going Cubao ilalim bypass Araneta Center, the location of my new project. I had to walk a kilometer to get to my project.
Rumors about tremors in Gateway are true. I felt it. It made me nauseous. For a moment, I thought it was another earthquake. hehe.
The guards don't know the names of the employees. They probably don't log them as they enter.
The project has more or less 30 personnel.
One cube accomodates 6 - 7 persons. Can we say cramped? hehe.
Gateway Mall cannot compare to Glorietta. Probably why it's almost empty.
They're restrooms are nice. hihi.
Access to web-based mail is restricted. Shhhh... hehe.
 
Uhm.. I have more but I want to stop now. I'll try posting again tomorrow, after my expectation setting meeting with my new manager.
 
I have yet to see the wonders of this project. (Is this a mean comment?)
 

Thursday, March 02, 2006

middle class

I got this email. I agree with most of it if not all. I am part of the middle-class and I work hard. I pay my taxes (VAT and everything). I follow the law. And what do I get? I get to be in the middle of the chaos caused by politicians! I'm sick and tired of it.
 
 
Ako ay isang middle class Pinoy, isang officer sa isang malaking korporasyon at may asawa...dalawa anak. Di na importante pangalan ko kasi parepareho naman tayong mga middle-class....trabaho 9-5, inom konti tapos uwi sa pamilya, laruin si baby, itutor si ate/kuya tapos Tulog na, pag wala na pera intay nalang ng sweldo.

Sa nangyayari ngayon sa ating bansa, lahat nalang ng sector ay maingay at naririnig, tayo lang mga middle-class, tax paying at productive Pinoys ang di naririnig. Subalit, buwis natin ang nagpapaikot sa bansang ito. Pag may mga gulo na nangyayari, tayo ang tinatamaan. Kaya eto ang liham ko sa lahat ng maiingay na sector na sana makagising sa inyong bulag na pag-iisip.


Sa Mga Politiko: Diyos ko naman, sa dami na nang nakurakot ninyo di na ba kayo makuntento kelangan nyo pa ba manggulo.

Sa Administrasyon: Hayan ayus na ha pinatawad na namin ang pandaraya nyo sa eleksyon, pruweba dito e di kami umaatend sa mga panawagan ng people power, kaya sana naman gantihan nyo kami ng magandang serbisyo at magaling na pamumuno at malaking bawas sa kurakot naman please para kahit papano maramdaman naman namin na may napupuntahan ang binabayad naming buwis.

Saka Madam GMA, step down ka na pag parliamentary na tayo sa 2007, tignan mo, i-announce mo mag-step down ka kapag parliamentary na tayo, resounding YES yan sa plebiscite at tigil pa ang mga coup at people power laban sayo. Try mo lang.........

Sa Oposisyon: Di nyo pa ba nakikita na dalawang klase lang ng tao ang nakikinig sa inyo....isa ay bayaran na mahihirap kungdi man ay tangang mga excited
na reporter na parang naka-shabu lagi....mga praning e at naghahallucinate.

Bago man lang kayo maglunsad ng kilos laban sa administrasyon, pumili muna kayo ng magiting at nararapat na ipapalit sa liderato ngayon.


Hirap sa inyo paresign kayo ng paresign wala naman kayo ipapalit na maayos.

Advise lang galing sa isang middle-class na syang tunay na puwersa sa likod ng lahat ng matagumpay na People Power, magpakita muna kayo ng galing bago nyo batuhin ang administrasyon. Wala na kaming narinig sa inyo kundi reklamo, e wala naman kayong ginagawa kundi magreklamo....para kayong batang lagi na lang naaagawan ng laruan.....GROW UP naman...sa isip sa salita at sa gawa.

Please lang gasgas na rin ang pagrarally nyo na katabi nyo ay mga bayaran na mahihirap, magtayo nalang kayo ng negosyo at iempleyo ang mga rallyista para maging productive silang mamamayan. Sige nga, pag nagrarally kayo yakapin nyo nga at halikan yang mga kasama nyong nagrarally!! Nung People Power namin nagyayakapan kami lahat nuon.

Wala naman mangyayari sa mga rally nyo nakakatraffic lang, kami pang middle-class ang napeperwisyo. Di nyo kayang paghintayin ng 3 araw ang mga rallyista nyo kasi kelangan nyo pakainin at swelduhan ang mga yan. Kung gusto nyo tagumpay na People Power kami ang isama nyo....pero pagod na kami e, sori ha.

Sa Military: Alam nyo lahat tayo may problema, pati US Army may problema, 2,000 plus na patay sa kanila sa Iraq na parang walang rason naman, pero nakita nyo ba sila nagreklamo? Wala diba kasi professional sila na sundalo.....yan dapat ang sundalo di nagtatanong sumusunod lang. Kasi may mga bagay na di kayang maintindihan ng indibidwal lamang, at ang mga nakatataas lang ang nakakaintindi ng kabuuan, kaya ito ang panuntunan ng lahat ng military ng lahat ng bansa. Pero parang military natin yata ang pinaka-mareklamo.

Sabi nga sa Spiderman "with great power comes great responsibility".....kaya maging spiderman kayo lahat at protektahan ang mamamayan. Sa totoo lang natatakot kami kapag nagrereklamo kayo, kasi may baril kayo at tangke, kami wala.


Wala ako comment sa mga mahihirap, di naman kasi sila maingay na kusa e, may bayad ang ingay nila. Saka wala rin naman silang email. Kaya paano na tayong mga middle-class?? Eto hanggang email nalang tayo kaya ikalat nyo na ito at magdasal tayo na umabot ito sa mga dapat makabasa nito at makiliti naman ang kanilang mga konsyensya.

Signed,

Isang Middle-Class Pinoy na walang puknat na binabawasan ang sweldo ng Buwis!

goodbye alliance

Top 3 things I will miss when I leave this project:
 
Laptop
I'm gonna miss having this wonderful machine. I will no longer be able to watch DVD's anywhere I go. I won't be able to burn CD's with a click of a mouse. I won't be able to work from home (not that I do, but still... hehehe).
 
Access to web-based email
I'm going to have to unsubscribe to quiapo_dvd group because I won't be able to access my gmail everyday.
 
Proximity to Glorietta
Though I'll still be working near a mall, I would definitely miss Glorietta. Well... sort of.
 
 
P.S.,
The person I will miss the most when I leave this project is Cheng. She's professional, friendly, calm, intelligent, and so on. I'm lucky to have had her as my team lead. Heck, even some of the developers from other teams would agree!
 

hello windtalkers

Only two days left before I say goodbye to my first project. In the span of more than two years, I could say that I have grown. Unfortunately, not so much as i had wanted. I have a lot of regrets. Things I could have done but didn't. Things I did not do but should've. I would like to think that this new project is a second chance in my career as a developer.