ramblings, random musings, fascinations, rants, raves and revelations

There are various meanings to the word BOSS - one of them is AN IDIOT!

But MY BOSS - YOU proved to be nothing close to the meaning of that word and having you as my BOSS - the only other meanings which I can associate you with the word BOSS is :

FRIEND, MENTOR, GUIDE, ASSOCIATE, COLLEAGUE, LEADER, MOTIVATOR, INSPIRATION, CREATIVE, TASK MASTER, ACHIEVER, SUCCESS and MORE!!

It’s nice to work for someone who knows the secret to being a good manager… being a good person.

Happy BIRTHDAY!! Dont BLAST but HAVE A BLAST! Haler?!

You might be wondering where I am right now, I’m at Figaro ShangriLa. I’m just waiting for my friend to finish her order, infront of me is a wall picture of gorgeous male models wearing nothing but their soul and black smoke which deprives me of what I really want to see. I also have a full view of my least-favorite species in the animal kingdom: Homo sapiens sapiens.

I think I’m the only one of my sex genre with zero fashion sense: I’m just a jeans-shirt-jacket-cap fellow. The only way I know how to “spice up” my usual non-fashionable self is when I’m wearing my regular plaid shorts, statement tee, flip flops and aviator shades which are annoying nowadays because everybody seems to be wearing plaid shorts. I don’t know how it all started and what started the craze. I used to be the only one wearing plaid shorts before. Whenever I go out, it will always be in my trusted plaid or checkered shorts. But now? Lahat nalang! However, my jologs fashion sense had me developing a rather keen eye for the fashion sense of other people.

Consider call center girls or party girls who wear ultra-short miniskirts and shorts even if they have ensaymada dough for legs.
And then there’s the fashion sense of fathers everywhere: the collared, short-sleeved polo shirt. Nothing speaks more of corporate fatherhood than wearing a Lacoste polo shirt, jeans, and leather loafers. I think the inventor of the Daddy-Do should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for changing the way we look at fatherhood in general.

Or that annoying trend of today, Abner Mercado’s abel Iloco scarf. I don’t know what’s up with that, and I certainly don’t know what’s up with emo kids wearing it with their skinny jeans and Paramore t-shirts. Then they take pictures of themselves at comfort rooms at Gateway… I just hope they don’t go to Recto.

Which might beg the question… who the f**k do you think you are? Okay, I am AL and I’m just saying what my observations are. This is my blog. The same way you have your mind. Just that you can’t write yours. See? So stop reading this if you’ll take it against me or better yet, check the concept of blogging.

Stay happy.

The usual weekend craving got the best of my original plan to start dieting. Not wanting to go more into specifics on how we [the weekend group] agreed to go out, let me just say that “So, nag-Glorietta nga kami”. After checking out some shops and visiting Kiko’s optometrist for his black contact lenses, we started our usual practice of cruising for a restaurant and soon decided to check on Veneto Pizzeria Ristorante. We were really craving for pasta but Kiko didn’t like the place. We were already seated with the menus and the utensils in front of us so we were really having second thoughts and at the same time thinking of a good excuse to leave but we made it. I can’t remeber how we did it. We then soon settled at Dampa Macapagal.

Earlier, Z texted that he’s craving for Italian Pasta. He said that he’s just strolling around Greenbelt and so invited me to join him. Since I can’t go back to sleep anymore, I obliged. Red and green colors of a nearby dining place caught our eye and we stopped to read the menu. It was impressive at first glance. The name of the place is A Veneto Pizzeria Ristorante. I then remembered that it was the same restaurant last Sunday. Having such a name makes me think authentic italian and italian always makes my mouth water. We entered excitedly and hungrily.

It wasn’t really a beautiful place and I mean the interior. It appeared to want to look more high end but ended up short. The sign at the entrance said “Please wait to be seated”, but no one greeted you at the door so Z just charged in and picked the nearest table there was.

We were given thick laminated menus that were neither chic nor cheap. The selection though was interesting. There were several choices for appetizers, salads, pasta and pizza. Everything sounded delicious even though the pictures on the menu were far from enticing. It may have been to z though, because he ordered enough for 6 people [we were only 2].

We chose the A Veneto Family Platter, the Baked Zitti with 3 Hungarian Sausages, and two sliced of pizza - Bacon Cheeseburger and New England’s Best.

A Veneto Family Platter - This barkada appetizer included french fries, onion rings, breaded crabsticks and chicken wings. It came with catsup and sour cream for dipping. The first piece I tried was one of the onion rings. It came big, round and floured. Someone though forgot to put in seasoning and the whole thing just tasted like fried flour. The sour cream did wonders so it was bearable enough for me to wolf down a couple. The crabsticks tasted… well weird and soggy so I stopped at one piece. The fries tasted like the frozen one I buy at the grocery for my kids or those that are cooked by Potato Corner using a turbo broiler. The saving grace of this dish is the chicken. It was fried crisp and salty and doused with chili sauce. Yummy.

Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza - Large, thin and oh so bacon-ly. It might have been my love for anything bacon but this pizza tickled my fancy. I am embarrassed to say I finished every last bite. It was thin. It was sweet. It was salty. It was soo yummy.

Baked Zitti with 3 Hungarian Sausages - The dish came very hot and oozing with cheese. That was about it. You could have eaten 3 spoonfuls and not notice anything. It was that forgettable and disappointing. Z kept nibbling trying to find some sort of flavor. I told him “hayaan mo na”. I advised him to eat some sausage with the pasta and it worked. He said it indeed tasted better. I still beg to differ. The sausages added flavor to the dish, but it could not hide the fact that it lacked taste and quality.

I no longer tried the New England’s Best pizza. I thought if that was New England’s Best, I do not want to imagine their worst. The pizza looked like a bigger version of a Greenwich pizza, only bigger. Tsk tsk.

You may think I am being too harsh and I do not mean to be. But naming your place A Veneto Pizzeria Ristorante, one would expect some sort of authenticity in your establishment. There was nothing authentic about the place. It was all store bought and assembled. From the sauce which tasted like canned tomato paste cooked and seasoned, to the canned mushrooms spread on top of the pizza, to the fries, and even the black pepper. We saw the servers earlier spooning black pepper into McCormick containers from a big pail of black pepper [not sure if it was generic or just tons of McCormick black pepper in a pail].

Ok I will say one good thing about the place. You get what you pay for. The dishes are served and priced enough for sharing. To me, it was more a like a casual place where you took your friends if you want to and save money. The place feeds hungry diners and that’s about it. If you wanted to eat pasta or pizza and enjoy it, why not just go to TOSH. Its got a simple name but delicious food at least.

I was not really a bad experience in all. I don’t think there’ll be bad experience with him. Chot!

I have here the new addition to my wish list. Nice no? I want the white one and the green too.

http://kathydaylightful.multiply.com/photos/album/86/Ion_Sports_Watch_and_Bracelet - Here’s where you can get them.

Soon as I posted my last entry, my boss asked me “ako ba ito?” which I replied “nyek!”, she insisted by asking “ako nga?”, I immediately replied “hinde! di ka naman nakipagharutan dtio. Haler?!”.

I maintain a good relationship with my boss. I can approach her and talk to her with my face held up high because I know I didn’t say anything negative against here. Not that I’m trying to be sipsip but I really don’t find anything bad about her. I understand that we can’t avoid negative impressions and I admire her on how she handles such.

I have been called and referred to by many names. People have viewed me as someone who feeds the boss all the information because we’re friends.

You know what the funny thing there is?

Of all people, I’m the one who can’t just open those things to her.

I’m just thankful that despite all the issues and problems on my job I’m still enjoying it. Sometimes the thin line that makes the difference between a nightmare job and a dream job is a good relationship with your boss. I’ve had one too many friends who complain about their jobs. All of them acknowledge, though, that their jobs will be a whole lot more fun if their bosses didn’t have that “I am God and you’re just a mere maggot” aura.

The most important policy is respect. Under any circumstance - in success or failure, you should always show some form of respect to your boss. Sure, it’s pretty tough to do if the bastard’s like Dilbert’s Pointy-Haired Boss. Of course it’s more ideal if you become friends with your boss, but even though you joke around with each other, always maintain that level of respect so that you never do anything below the belt.

Cope with your boss’ leadership style. It might not work for you at first, but s/he’s the boss so you’ll just have to make it work. You can either adjust or resign. One of the best values of professionalism is being able to cope with different leadership styles. In the long run of your career, you will come across different leadership styles. And the best that you can do is to make yourself efficient under any leadership style.

Know when to assert and when to back off. Your boss needs your ideas, your efforts, and your full cooperation in every project. When it comes to brainstorming, planning, and execution, be at your best and give all you’ve got to contribute to the success of every project. Equally important is to know when to back off. Your boss needs space when s/he comes to office in a bad mood or when s/he seems overly stressed. Be observant and sensitive. Just wait for the tempest to ebb a little before you give him more things to stress over.

There’s nothing really wrong to be friends with your boss especially if you can both keep things isolated. You take professional matters as they are and so do you with personal matters. One advantage of being friends on the professional side of things is that, it totally creates a better line of clear and honest communication. You probably wouldn’t get that I’m-about-to-wet-my-pants feeling when the boss asks for you.

So there it is. Make her/him your friend. Maybe then you’ll realize BOSS ko nga siya.

It has been raining hard since yesterday. Many of my officemates called in for their SLs [Sick Leaves]. I wasn’t feeling good also but of course I’m not the type who would just give in and succumb to the heavy feeling.

I’ll wait out headaches and deal with muscle ache and a host of other ailments. I head to the doctor once in a while if some problem doesn’t really feel right after a while. I don’t usually medicate unless I’m a complete mess and can’t function, such as the other day when my nose just would not stop running.

After the minor hassle obtaining medication yesterday, the only thing I can say about Advil Multi-Symptom Cold is that it works. Oh man does it work.

I always have a back up of anti spasm, Tylenol, and paracetamol at home but the geniuses at Wyeth have shoved an antihistamine, ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine in the same pill. How good is that? I took two over an eight hour period yesterday. An hour after taking the first one my nose just stopped running without clogging up my sinuses. I slept through the day soon as I got home around 10am without waking up needing a tissue. I felt good when my timer alarmed but took another one just to be on the safe side before heading to work. I shoved an extra in my pocket in case I needed it, but didn’t. I was skeptical because 10 of them cost the same as 20-30 of the regular Advil Cold & Sinus. Good thing it really did the works, damn if they didn’t.

I’m full of life today. Energetic and happy. I feel like my body stored up all of the energy that I didn’t have yesterday somehow, then released it today. Very groovy indeed.

So for those who need it or to those who acts as if they need medication [hahahaha] try mo ang Advil. Thanks Advil.

I have been thinking of starting to diet again. For these past few months I have been eating all I want. As you may have noticed from the pictures posted from my previous entries and the most recent ones, I have gone literally big from -this- to =THIS=.

A large number of people often eat relatively healthy during the week, however, when the weekend comes they seems to let their hair down a little too much and negate all the hard work they did through the week.

I still remember the last time when we were eating at French Baker, Jay told us -

“You should try to work on prioritizing Quality over Quantity”

or something of that sort.

It is an easy thing to do, if you go out with your friends, have a few beers or wines and the next thing you are snacking down on potato chips, lollies or you find yourself in the queue for McDonalds.

The weekends for many are seen as time off, time off from work yes, from being healthy NO! before you go out with your friends make sure you eat a healthy meal at home, or at least some healthy snacks, this will help curb your hunger cravings as the night progresses.

You also need to ensure that your house isn’t filled up with unhealthy foods. Because your home more often on the weekends, if the junk food is there, then there is a greater chance that you will eat it. So ensure you get your fridge and pantry stocked up for the weekends, and ensure you keep to your healthy ways even if others around you are not.

Yes! I’m trying to make sense here. I want this blog to at least be of use for my readers… so nevermind what we look like, just try to get what I’m trying to say. I may not be the perfect example to live a good life but at least my thoughts and my words can be used to attain that. I’m trying to do the same.

On the other hand [hahahahaha] here are our pictures from last weekend’s food binge-ing. I told you I’m just trying to make sense.

Another visit to Dampa, Macapagal [1st time for Ralf though]

Having fun at Glorietta and a visit to MAC

Coffee after a full meal

Wanna know what these guys are really checking?

I have been playing Christmas songs soon as the BER months started. Some find it weird and some, especially Mhel feels the same way as I - excited. I don’t know how you guys feel about the Christmas Season but it’s an uplifting feeling for me to know that Christmas is just around the corner. You will usually see me head banging with house music on my earphone but this time, it’s all about

Away In A Manger, Jose Mari Chan’s, Coca Cola Christmas Theme [Yes! the one you get to see every year on their TV commercial], Deck The Halls, Feliz Navidad, Himig Ng Pasko, Let It Snow, Little Drummer Boy, Chestnut Roasting In An Open Fire, O Come All Ye Faithful, Pasko Na Sinta Ko, Sa Araw Ng Pasko, etc…

Maybe alot have just renewed their membership to SMAP [Samahan ng Malalamig ang Pasko]. Every time you hear the song “Pasko Na Sinta Ko” played on the radio, you want to go out and shoot your neighbor’s dog. Okay, so you don’t have a boyfriend this Christmas. What are you going to do, sort of hiring a macho dancer as your boyfriend to present to the relatives for the Christmas Day reunion? Eeeewwww…

Well, first of all, make sure you pay him at least a thousand bucks. Just kidding!

You are not alone in this world. I know a number of people who have husbands, boyfriends, or family who still don’t feel the Christmas spirit at all despite the grand day being just few months away. So I can just imagine what it must feel like when one is all alone with no one to share a special romantic gift over the holidays. I also have spent numerous occasions being alone. It is true that this is the time of the year when suicide rates spike up as people either don’t have money or don’t have loved ones to turn to. If you let the Christmas blues get to you, you will likely feel empty, wretched and miserable. At the end of the day, the only one who would be most affected by your blues is YOU. So why let it happen?

I, for one, have always been thankful that, despite some years when I have to cough up my membership dues to SMAP, I still have my family around me. It will be a bit different this year,maybe because I lost some friends and BFs? [pun intended], but I know we will all pull together to make Christmas still meaningful despite their absence. Having kids around helps as their wide-eyed innocence and belief in some bearded fat man in a red suit bringing them gifts just makes us work harder to make the holidays extra-special. My nephew knows him already and that adds to the joyful pressure.

There is no reason, however, to feel lonely on Christmas just because Prince Charming seems to have lost his way trying to find your house. [Baka na-traffic].

Focusing on other people instead of yourself eases the loneliness. If you become self-absorbed and keep obsessing about your loveless plight this season, you will likely need more than a bottle of Paxil to lift your spirits.

While shopping malls have all but eroded the real meaning of Christmas, try to remember that the season is all about giving love and joy to all, and making peace with others. It is also the time to count your blessings and realize just how lucky you are. You may not have Prince Charming by your side, but you’re healthy, are able to eat three meals a day, have a roof over your head, and good friends [or family] around you.

You have every reason to be happy.

As I was playing/baby sitting to my nephew ealier, I received an SMS saying “kapal naman ng mukha mo to call me panget and bobo, di mo pa naman ako nakikilala, bakla ka rin naman ah!!!” Yes, with three exclamation points.

I decided to just ignore it but he kept on bugging me by his incessant text messages and missed calls. If you know me, you’ll know how I responded. I called him up and started my “talak” - “So how would you like me to call someone who uses somebody elses picture on his profile and still have the nerve to invite me for meet up, face me, talk to me and invite me to come with him as if I wouldn’t recognize the big difference of his claimed picture and the bullshit atop a shoulder stinking infront of me?”. He was speechless after my tirade and later on muttered - “Putangina mo, napaka-pintasero mo!”. Duh!

I admit being pintasero. I’m not afraid to laugh out loud and poke fun at my own gender’s stupidity and complexities, as well as our counterparts’ stupidity and simplicities. No subject is taboo, I claim no expertise, and my writings are merely opinions from the perspective of an opinionated person enjoying what life can at least offer. You’ll get an honest opinion without the filters of youthful insecurity, bitterness or overt political correctness. Basically, I’m happy to tell it like it is. And you must be a friend to hear all these. Trusted friends who wouldn’t take such words against me. Trusted friends who know what jokes are and what they are for.

So if you’re reading this [in case you will still continue reading my blog everyday], I didn’t make pintas on you. Panget ka talaga at bobo. Next time, gamitin mo totoo mong mukha.

And yes, I also write about subjects discussed during girl’s/boy’s night out, but they are well aware of my right to steal any story that exits their mouth regardless of alcohol consumption [names at times will be changed though to protect the not so innocent].