Title is something that I always get on the comment portion of the evaluation sheet I give out to each of my participants after handling a training class. I think it's apt for my entry today. Bwahaha.


Rakenroll today. First time to be in the 8-5. Left home at 6:15, but hell, the traffic sucked. There were no cabs available (24/7 AND Basic), so I had to go to Tramo (with my laptop) to wait for a mega taxi. Guess what! NO MEGATAXIS! Shiet. Because I planned to be at the office before 7, I was compelled to take the jeepney. Got off at the back of Robinsons Galleria, then had to walk all the way to RET. When I finally got to sit down, I smelled my hair. Reaked of EDSA. Ew.


Now that I'm doing a SITEL outbound foundation training (MMIG), man, I hate to admit this, but I miss the hype of calling customers out and closing sales. Shit! Gone are the days of calling Americans and persuading them to buy from me.

I take this as a refresher course simply because the last time I handled outbound was a couple years ago. Good thing I'm only co-facilitating with Marc -- I'll be handling the English training part, he'll take care of the sales part. After this one, they'll most probably give me my own OB class. After a year and a half of teaching customer service -- you know, being polite and courteous and all -- I sort of miss the times when I was still THE one calling and shouting at the customers, hahaha.

Just to share with you, I used to be a top seller (along with my friends Mia, Jonnel, and Dada). I don't know how it happened, I mean, before joining SVI, I practically promised myself that I will never venture into sales. But I was drifted there, and before I knew it, I was getting Php 8,000 a month for commissions alone (an average of 4 days/week due to absences, harrr). I did outbound for almost 2 years before I moved to technical support. Inbound was cool, only because it was technical support (SBC Yahoo! DSL), but otherwise, if I were assigned to billing, etc., I don't think I would have enjoyed it. I would have been bored to my wits. Outbound rocks! That's where the money is, and oh, the feeling is just sooo amazing whenever you close a sale.

I always tell this to my participants, though: the challenge of being in outbound is CLOSING WITHOUT SCAMMING.



Sometimes, I feel I need more floor time, more calling time, more time in operations, in order for me to sound more credible. But no. I don't want to even talk about going back to the industry. I'm okay working WITH them. Not FOR them.

... but I'm writing on my journal instead.

I just finished a tiring class yesterday (why tiring? I dunno. I feel they sucked all my energy up), and to celebrate, Marco, Joie, and I had a very dinner (@ 4PM!) at one of our favorite restaurants, Bangus. The bill was something like Php 690 or something, but it was worth it. Marco and I both got a chance to get to know Joie more, especially him, because they'll be working together next week.

Speaking of next week, I've a lot of pending things to do which are all due on Monday. How I'm ever going to accomplish that, I don't know. And with the TeleReporter on the side, it looks like I'll be spending extra hours in the office, which, by the way, isn't my thing anymore. I'm also finishing the IF report for the previous class (16 pax!), plus Ms.O needs my feedback on Marco's performance the past year.

And I've another class next week. SITEL MMIG. No idea what that is.

I'm having a hard time with my 6am-3pm sked. Good thing Darwin's being really supportive. Cooked me breakfast this morning -- egg, maling, fried rice, coffee. Panalo diba? Shet. :) I had all the energy I needed to finish the class because of that. Naks. Hahaha. Seriously. Unlike kagabi, tangina, sobrang pagod na pagod ako. 7:30pm pa lang ata bagsak na 'ko e.

Class was ok. That's it for now.

I've been working on the TeleReporter since I came back last Monday, and it's looking great so far. Badtrip lang because this copy is for PDF and not for print. We'll have a print version, alright, but it won't have the same black background (which I think adds to the professional look of the whole thing). But anyway, here's the front page:


You may also visit my deviantArt site for more collaterals and other photos (some for sale).

Anyway, Kaitlin slept over at Mom's last night, and will come back tomorrow (yay!), which means Darwin and I slept soundly last night (thus, my late time-in -- woke up at 8:30am) and will sleep soundly again tonight. I don't know what happened to Kaitlin, basta she's become this brat who doesn't want to be told what to do. Darwin handles her with a lot of patience, though. Pero ako, I think I get ticked off easily.

Speaking of Darwin and Kaitlin, he's been taking care of her since I started working. Nahihiya ako at some point because, number one, di naman nya anak yun. But he treats her like one. At yun din naman ang sinasabi nya... na Kaitlin IS his daughter, too, not just mine. Grabe si Darwin. I haven't been waking up in the middle of the night to prep Kaitlin's milk -- he does that himself. And if I do wake up, he'll just look at me and tell me to go back to sleep. Galit pa yun ha. Wag na daw ako gigising pag ganun, sya na raw bahala. In the morning, he'll cook breakfast personally (if none's available), make coffee, at ipaghahain pa ko nun. Pag iinit na rin ako ng tubig. When I'm putting on my boots na, lalabas na yun to grab a trike for me. After I'm gone, alagaan na nya si Kaitlin -- sya nagpapaligo, palit diaper, tali ng buhok (na hindi pa nya namamaster), hugas pepe at pwet, pakain, et cetera, et cetera. Pag dating ko sa gabi, ipaghahain ako nun, init ng tubig, and will insist that I go to sleep and he'll take care of Kaitlin. You get the picture. Walang wala sa totoong tatay ni Kate.


Kanina when we woke up, una nyang sinabi sa ken, wag ko raw sya iiwan. Hindi na talaga. Nope. Di na talaga.

The TeleReporter special edition is almost done. Nailatag ko na lahat ng articles. Badtrip lang internet connection. Yes, Globelines Broadband. For some stupid reason, the connection became intermittent after the earthquake (what earthquake? Don't ask me). I think TDS is already planning to switch providers. BILIS! Our business operations are heavily affected already.

Anyway, speaking of the newsletter, I'm practically done with it except for the images that I'm supposed to get on the net. Arrgh. Yun na lang, then convert na to PDF, and my life will be less toxic.

I've an AST class next week. SITEL, CapOne. Co-facilitating with Rachelle. Kewl. That would take my mind off the useless net connection.


PS. Lokomotiv with BASTI on vocals, BTW. That LA guy Ryan who replaced him just SUCKS. Blech.

Life's been really easy on me in spite of the tragedies I have been through. And now that we have a new year (is my little speech too late now? haha), I look forward to the blessings that will come my way, and I'm pretty sure there'll be a lot.

Well.

I'm back at work, started yesterday. No laptop. Was assigned to Rachelle. Still waiting for it. Should be here by lunch. So... I'm here dilly-dallying at Netopia with Nathan.

Oops. Gotta run. Will meet Marco over at KFC for lunch. Cheerio!

PS. Will post some more once laptop's back. Promise.

Christmas this year is a lot merrier... Coz Darwin, Kaitlin and I are together. :)

Have been staying over at Darwin's for the past week... Only today have I had the chance to go online and also visit Kaitlin after a week. She's been having asthma and I feel just too weird not being able to take care of her.

Well, I have to be away for some time and heal physically. I've a mark FIVE fucking inches long on my tummy and it's realy ugly. (Is Contratubex effective???) But that's besides the point. Point is, I have to take care of the stitches, otherwise I might just see my insides. Ew.

I miss Kaitlin terribly. During the afternoons, I would see Sean (Darwin's neice) play with Darwin, and I just feel so... inept and useless, and... I don't know. Sad. Depressed. He'll never have a kid (if he stays with me). I caught him talking in his sleep once, saying exactly that. And believe me, in one split-second, I cried. That woke him up, and prompted us to talk.

Sabi nya, he's just happy we're back together. Sabi nya he's already accepted the fact that we're not gonna have a baby ever. Maybe it really wasn't meant to be. The first time was a failure... The second time says never. He said he doesn't want to be sad anymore, dahil 'naubos na lahat ng lungkot at luha' nung nawala ako. He just wants to be happy... Happy to know that I'm with him now. He said he loves Kaitlin like his own anyway, and he's working on giving her his name.

Staying with the Lopezes has its perks. It's really quiet there. Food all the time (I think I eat every two hours or so). Mama and Papa take care of me, and everyone else is really nice to me, kahit si Kuya.

Oh well.

It feels odd being here at home and not having anyone talk to you. Welcome to my world.

ADIK.

Badtrip, nakita ko na yung finish product ng tarpaulin. Ang ganda. I feel bad lang kasi I wasn't paid. Charity work. Waaaah! Nakita ko na rin yung short courses brochure, which was printed on glossy paper costing Php 50 PER COPY. Matte sana kaya lang mas mahal daw. At least yun may bayad. Less tax nga lang, bwishet. Hahaha.

Ang dami ko na palang nagagawa for TDS, iniipon ko lahat ng designs sa DevArt para pag dumating ang araw, pwede ko sila singilin, wahahahha. As if.

I just finished Letterhead 1 and 2.

* * * * *

Darwin and I are super busy planning the wedding. Well. Pirmahan lang naman.. Pero, basta. :)

Gear Acquisition Syndrome.

I was on the verge of swiping my card to buy that Canon A430 this afternoon. Shiet.

Good thing my mom talked sense into me and had me check the US websites, and guess what??? The Canon digicams there are waaaaaaaaaay cheaper! I mean, the one I was eyeing (Php 35,900++) was only Php 12,900 when I converted. F*ck.

Who'd do the honors of buying me a digicam in the US????

I only have two. And I don't think I can get them, but anyway, here goes!

1. Canon Powershot A640




2. High-end iBook

Do you know a good school here in the PH that offers crash courses on either the following: Photography (but of course I'd need a cam, dammit), Photoshop CS, Digital Photography, or Adobe InDesign CS?

Let me know. Waah.

CAN I JUST SAY I HATE THE NEW INTERNET EXPLORER???

UGH! DON'T DOWNLOAD IT!!!!

Ugh, I'm getting addicted to DeviantArt again. Hahaha. I had an account with them before, but it was just all play. This time, it's more work than play.

You know, I envy my cousin Michelle. She knows a whole lot about digital art, and, well, that helps when you're seriously trying to make your way in the advertising industry. Now, I've been thinking, why didn't I take Advertising in college?? Darn. My dad could very well support my studies back then. Haaay. I took Management, and until now, I don't really know how much that course has helped me attain what I have right now.

Let's face it. I can't train forever. I don't want to be Ms. Linda, who gets paid by the hour, simply because she's already, what, 70?? I don't really want to put up my own business, because I feel like I'm a free-spirited woman. I want different things all the time. I hate routine, and much more being stuck in one place doing the same thing. I hate math, I hate numbers. I like working at my own pace, my own time. Shucks. I'm 25 and yet I still am undecided on what I want with my life.

But the love for the arts has always been present since I was a kid. Just really did not pursue it. Stupid me.

Well, it isn't too late to start. Is it?

For more details and audio streaming visit the OFFICIAL WEBSITE

http://kjwan.net
http://myspace.com/kjwan
kjwan_online in yahoogroups

text KJWAN to 2910 and 286 for mobile updates on the launch!

Announcement courtesy of: The Kjwan Street Team
For applications and inquiries contact us at streetteam@kjwan.net
For general inquiries on the band please send us a message at info@kjwan.net

It's been so damn long, I can't remember the last time I spent November 1 at my lola's place. At the graveyard, I mean. Darwin picked me up at 6PM, and we were planning on eating there (Pasig City Cemetery has the best foods on All Saints' Day) and spending a few hours chatting and reminiscing. But, alas! Rain started to pour a few minutes after we got off the jeepney.

So we stayed there until 8, and, needless to say, we didn't get to eat. Darwin was being a bit difficult earlier tonight (or was it me?), lakas mang-asar. But anyway. Wala lang.

You'd think there was nothing special about this whole thing --spending time at the cemetery, watching people run around, watching the rain... But it's actually therapeutic. I love hanging out at my lola's tomb because, even with the noise all around me, I still experience peace inside of me. I can't really explain it.

Plus, it's been ages talaga since I last went there. And went there with a guy. I think Darwin nga was the last guy I was there with e. Tagal na nun. Although... Oh never mind.

Basta. I may not have had the fun that I was expecting, but it is the same peace in my mind and heart, as always.

You know I have talked to Michelle about the whole brochure thingie, right? And she obliged to do the layout and all.

I know she's busy with so many other projects, so while waiting for her free time, I tinkered with PhotoShop the whole afternoon (after I got my hair cut in the morn) and, voila! I came up with the design. I never thought I'd make one. Okay, I knew I could, but didn't want to because it was sooo time consuming. But anyway. I pulled it off. *takes a bow*

Now, here's my dilemma. Well, not exactlyyyy. I showed Michelle the designs and she said, "Pwede na yan!" and sent me a quotation for Php 3,500 for execution of design. The fair share? Let's just say, fair enough. *winks* I sent the design to Marco, and he and the others just have some minor concerns, like the shadowing of the font (they find it neurotically disturbing; I find it artistic). I'll also be adding a... bleed? ... at least that means 'allowance' ... of 0.125 per side. You know, printer cutting flaws can make the most gruesome effects. Ugh.

Anyway, to view the mini-portfolio, click on the image!

I finished the tarpaulin designs, and they're pretty ok, I think. No, they're amazing. And sophisticated.

See them here: http://teacher-rachel.deviantart.com/

Those are big files. But anyway.

My point is, Marco and I keep on doing these projects without extra pay, and yes, just a pat on the back. Ok lang naman e... I mean, we're used to the pressure and last minute assignments. Eto lang ang nakakabadtrip: I told them that I can't do the flyer design kasi, according to my cousin Michelle, who's a graphic and layout designer, I need to use Adobe InDesign or Macromedia Freehand before I can actually execute it professionally. I told this to the management, and said that Michelle's willing to do it, as long as we pay her the professional fee of Php 3,500. For execution ALONE. Wala nang conceptualization ito ha. And they said that's reasonable enough. Ugggh. Tapos pag kami, walang extra pay??? This job is not part of our duties and responsibilities as trainers.

Marco and I ought to talk to management about this soon. We just need to review our contracts and stuff, para di naman kami mapahiya, baka nga naman mali ako.

We spent the weekend at Darwin's again, simply because we had to go trick or treating early Sunday morning. Here are some of the fantabulous shots from the trip. :)


Ang saya talaga. Family affair. Kaitlin didn't really get a lot of goodies, simply because naubusan na yung mga stores. Bummer. But we had a lot of fun esp sa Toy Kingdom. Dun kami naglaro nina Darwin. Heheh.

I love life!

I have spent enough number of hours here at the office creating this ad:

( 6 hours of labour. )

I have to get some rest now. I still have to do the following:

• Tarpaulin design - archer theme, deadline 30-Oct


• TDS video loop, at least just minor editing, deferred


• TDS Short Courses Flyers, deadline 31-Oct


• Theme for the December event, deadline 03-Nov


• Invites for the December event, deadline 06-Nov

Help.