World Famous Unknown

World Famous Unknown

Printed on a canvass bag I saw some dude carrying while crossing Ayala.
Sayang! Gusto ko sanang habulin ang mama at sabihin fa-fiktyur!

Can you really be world famous and unknown at the same time, in the same universe?
Mind boggling.

True to Character

May coup attempt sa Manila Pen.

Everybody outside of Makati seems to be in panic. At least, that's how those who are calling us at the office sound. Parang malapit na magkagulo.

Syempre, tuloy ang trabaho sa opisina. Walang nagmi miron sa labas. Walang sumisilip sa bintana.

May sumabog sa Glorietta, lumindol, kahit mag coup pa sila sa labas ng pinto ng 1503.

Tuloy ang trabaho sa Connor.

This is honestly the most dedicated bunch of employees I have ever known.

And I'm so proud to be part of it!

Lindol at the 15th floor

Lumindol. Nayanig ang buong 15th floor ng Security Bank building. At least yung mga nasa suite 1503. {Kami yun!}

Nayanig, tumigil ang trabaho {oo, para kaming government office, may nagtra trabaho kahit lunch break} pansamantala. Tumayo ang mga tao, nagtinginan, naghintay tumigil ang pag sayaw ng building.

Natapos ang lindol.

Balik sa mga upuan.

Trabaho na ulit.

Kitty-land

Japan trip went very well. Thank you for asking.



So many Hello Kitty stuff, so little money (arrgghhh!).


Tokyo is one clean place.

The air was cold.

The water soft.

The people ... well, daming Japanese!



To my disappointment, I didn't bump into any authentic japayuki or yakuzi.. i mean, yakuza.



But I did learn to use a push button toilet with warmed seat and automatic bidet and pi-pi shower {seriously}

Eiffel Tower

Wall Art by Pottery Barn.

{free hand sketch done by Pottery Barn designer}

My 7-year old daughter's version

Work Equations

• Coffee = State of Mind. Good coffee = Happy. Bad coffee = Grumpy.



Inbox volume is not equivalent to effectiveness. {Could it be that the 3000 emails is representative of the 3 million pending?}




Desk clutter - or unclutter for that matter - is not representative of output. {Perhaps clutter is a really a representation of work undone?}




Earphones in my ears means too much distracting noise around. {Spare me your conversations with other people please}

Bragging about what you do is not the same as being effective in what you do. {If you are good, it will be known - regardless of}

Digging Gold

http://howardlindzon.com/?p=2725

Made my day.

Semantics

It's all a play of words. You say something when you mean another. It's not like a dialect accent where etlog would mean the same as itlog... aw, you get what I am saying.

• There is no such thing as constructive crticism. A criticism is a criticism is a criticism. You may truly mean well, but still, you are pointing out something bad about a person. It IS a criticism. Don't hide behind that "constructive criticism" crap.
• "Nothing against you" is truly a bad way to start a sentence. You know that the whole litany following this will be all about being against you.
• "Puttting in my two cents worth" is a segue to a long marathon of self-righteousness and sometimes a desperate attempt to fish for compliments.
• "Here's some unsolicited advice". Now, this takes the cake. If nobody is asking, please do not give away your opinions about somebody else's life. The fact that it is unsolicited means it is not needed.
• And there's that thing that some do when they want to know something, but dont want to appear obvious that they want to know. Like trying to be nonchalant when the eyes are all goggly and the voice is so high pitched?

It's tiring and stressful tyring to keep up and reading between the lines. I would rather go head on with sarcasm than with goodie-two-shoes hiding a knife.

Big Brother is reading you!

They say the best writers are the ones who write from the heart. They must be awf'ly brave to do so - spilling innermost thoughts to people they do not know {Probably why pseudonyms were invented}

I cringe at the thought of people knowing me - as in, really knowing ME. It has never been my cup of tea {or brewed coffee, for that matter} --- letting people into my daily thoughts and emotions. {Not that they would enjoy hearing about the deepest, darkest, dirtiest things that float around my grey matter.}

While I would hope my blog is more "up close and personal" - I just can't. Well, I do gripe and vent sometimes {most of the times??} but those are just the tip of the iceberg that hit the Titanic.

So to all of you out there who has made blogging a real Big Brother experience for everybody else, my hats off to you! You satisfy our peeping tom fantasies!

Travel and a few other stuff..s

• My Japan visa arrived yesterday. I am off to Hello Kitty's Land of the Rising San {sic}!
• An old friend has an "opportunity" in mind. I am ticked pink with excitement.
• My cubicle is spotless clean that notions of me not doing anything worthwhile is not surprising. I joked about putting up a disclaimer - "Just because I keep my space clean, it does not mean I am not doing anything!". But a friend had a better line - "A clean space is a sign of a sick mind - so back off!"
• Shrek's plastic head sits on top of my desktop monitor. Reminds me not be an ogre.{Most of the time shrek is unsuccessful though}
• Moving on does not necessarily gives me the license to "come clean" and "let it all out" - but heck, I've endured pain longer than I would have expected me to, so I believe I earned the right to be brutally frank. And I was. I told my former boss that while I love working with my buyers, I never liked working with her. I hope that struck real deep.
• My LSS - Gabriella's Gotta Go My Own Way.
• Repetition is a good marketing tool. Disney Channel is way, way too much into this strategy.
• 13th month pay is out. The ATM machine is going to get real busy today.
• My average daily email has trimmed down from 500+ to a measly 50 since I moved to the Neiman Marcus family. Fun! Fun! Fun!
• Somebody asked where I bought my Lacoste shirts. I was seriously tempted to say "Giordano!"
• Is a starfish a "star" or a "fish"?

Halloween Break

I had a good holiday break. I am not so sure if it's p.c. to call it "holiday"-"holiday" since it was meant to be days of remembering dead people and deluding ourselves that these dead people were all sugar n' spice n' ev'rythin' nice when they were alive. { Isn't it baffling that when someone dies all we remember are the good stuff about them? Dying, apparently, brings out the best in us. }

So what was I up to during the long break?

1. Caught up on Stand Off and Grey's Anatomy. Emily and Matt are cute. Grey's is so feel good for me. I had Prison Break, but I decided against it since I almost always feel depressed after watching it.

2. Did some shopping.

3. Visited lola and tita - both crossed over years back, and I really do feel weird sitting on mowed grass while waiting for candles to melt.

4. Did not check my work e-mails. Well.. I checked on Thursday, but I steered clear from hitting the reply button.

5. Finished coloring the pages I started on Gail's coloring book.

6. Slept a lot.

7. Did the grocery - this time with a real grocery list that I managed to successfully ignore.

8. Watched a lot of Mr. Bean {Gail held me hostage!}

9. Brewed a lot of coffee. Ate a lot of tuna sandwiches and chocolate cakes.

10. Cleaned up a lot of my daughter's mess - stored toys, books, crafts, pens, erasers, paper according to categories.

It was a really good break. Something I wouldn't mind doing again real soon. (wink wink)

Life Goes On..

A couple of us were in the office last night, past 8pm, typing away - trying to get the 500 emails down to a manageable handful. We knew this was wishful thinking of course, as one email sent out equals 5 emails coming in. This is the way of life for us in the buying office industry. We are so accustomed to unexplainable maths - where 1 minus 1 equals 5.

Anyways, we were chatting over our cubicles about the day's big event - the glorietta bombing. Glorietta - being a 5 minute FX ride away - was literally close to our hearts.
Amidst keyboards clicking, we tried to make sense of what has happened. The discussion being serious and earnest. This was no joking matter.

Then I realized something that we all have unknowingly accepted as part of our corporate lives - there we where, late at night - WORKING. Not even a bombing so close will get us to go home.

Talk about dedication.

Appreciation

My heart is bursting with happiness. My William Sonoma/Pottery Barn/West Elm buyers have made me feel so appreciated. It feels great to leave knowing that you did not disappoint.

I am posting their messages here for my sake - I know that whenever I feel low, I will need to remember that there will always be people out there who appreciates what I am doing.

-----Original Message-----
From: Brett Kladney
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 08:04 AM
It is with sweet sadness that I hear this news. I am very excited for you and your new projects! But It is with sadness as I will not be working with you!You have done such a great job for us, I greatly appreciate all that you have done for us here at Pottery Barn!Take care and hope to see you in the Phillipines!All my best,-- B

-----Original Message-----
From: Frank Millero
Sent: Thursday, September 27, 2007 09:05 PM
Dear Kathie,
Congratulations on your new position! We will miss you!
Best Regards,
Frank Millero
Designer, Tabletop/Table linens

-----Original Message-----
From: George Vollmer
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 07:50
Kathie
We will truly miss you. You have been such a great asset to our team. We really appreciate all the support and help. Best of luck to you with your new endeavor at WECA.
Best
George
george vollmer sourcing director hardlines pottery barn kids

-----Original Message-----
From: Lina Restrepo
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 07:40
Kathie!!
I am CRYING! I am going to miss you so much. You have been a pleasure and joy to work with. You will be a huge asset to your new group. They are lucky to have you!
Best of luck! You will be missed
Lina

-----Original Message-----
From: Megan Patricia Smith
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 08:00 AM
Kathie- Best wishes in you new role at WECA.
We will miss you. You have been very patience with us through the easter basket nightmare.
All the best,
Megan

-----Original Message-----
From: Tracy Henderson
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 07:40 AM

Kathie – Where are you going??? We will miss you! You are so talented!
Best,
Tracy L Henderson Sourcing Manager, Pottery Barn Kids Dec Accessories

Early bird catches the ....

Got to work early. 7.02am to be exact.

Office quiet, only 1 overhead light turned on.

Ate Jo and Kuya Paul still down at the jolly jeep station waiting for breakfast to be served.

I was not bothered. It usually is this way when I come in real early.

So I walk towards my space thinking of the day ahead.

Saw a figure go out the other way. Didn't think twice about it.

Then I backtracked - wait! nobody else comes in this early!

Went back, looked at all the other cubicles and found no one.

It hit me. I just saw a ghost!

My head went all big, my hairs stood on all ends. I was near tears.

I casually walked out. When I reached the door, I walked faster.

Tried calling hubby, but he was not picking up. Probably still driving.

I waited outside, looking over the makati skyline. Wondering what to do next.

Got tired waiting. Went back in, turned on all the lights.

Back to my space, downloaded my emails and tried not to think about it.

Then Ate Jo and Kuya Paul arrived - only to confirm that indeed I was the only one in the office until they got back.

So that is how my day has started. How was yours?

Things happen

When I started looking for a job, my only requirement then was that it not be in Makati. I was still living somewhere North then, so Makati meant a really really loooooong ride.

So I ended up working for Sy's commercial bank, eventually moving on to lodge an almost solid ten-year career with a food ingredient manufacturer-exporter giant.

Then I did a short but successful stint with another manufacturer-exporter somewhere up in the rural mountains of Rizal.

For reasons I can only attribute to a Higher Being, I quit that job, got an interesting offer and I landed in Makati. The very place I wanted to stay away from.

Of course, logistics are different now. I live near the area.

And as if these small miracles are not enough, just when I am starting to want to move on, a new opportunity opens up. Talk about things happening at the right time and at the right place.

In my heart I recognize that all the decisions I have been making as I trudge along my life were guided decisions. I never know where the path I choose will lead me, but I know that wherever it will be, it is where I am planned to be.

Gail

Orange FUN Day

It's another fun FUN Day in school!

Gail was the color bearer for the Orange Simba Team.

All excited to go beat the Red Tigger team.

Cheering it up for the team

The Orange Simba Rythmic Dance Squad

My Will

I love to write. I have written a good number of stuff, but I am guessing that when I die, my most precious written piece will be this. My will. {Not that I am dying, but heck, we take out life insurances, why not do our will at the same time?}

======

* My cat, Muningning, I am entrusting to our househelp. (Assuming I happen to take on a cat, and if I do, I am pretty sure I will delegate the feeding and cleaning tasks to the help so it's really going to be technically mine - since I will be buying the catfood - but it's emotionally my yaya's cat}

* My boxes and boxes of fashion jewels and rolls and rolls of elastics goes to my favorite girl cousin, Inah, as she needs something to do at home when her Tatay and Kuyas scare the bejesus out of the guys wanting to date her.

* My collection of pirated cds and dvds I entrust whole heartedly to long-lost relatives who I see only when a relative meets the light.

* All my eletronic gadgets must go to hubby, since he was the one who bought them for me in the first place.

* My treasured lacoste bags will be the family heirloom - so my daughter gets them.

* My secret sinangag and pritong hotdog recipe will be a family kept secret, so I guess, my daughter is burdened with it.

* Hubby will also get my pochim (my thin cuddly pillow), my havaianas (we have the same size), my jurassic photo albums, my computer and all its viruses.

* My small collection of jewelries will be Gail's. So she has something of mine that she can wear everyday.

* My mom will get all my clothes, shoes and all the non-lacoste bags. Oh, and she also gets all those lotions, body scrubs, facial masks that I keep at the back of my drawer unused.

Sadly, these are all of mine that I can rightfully give away. Apparently, I am not much of a gold mine. Either I make so gaddang little money to buy more, or I just spend way too much on hot fudge sundaes.

Green Green Grass

"The grass is always greener at the other side of the fence".

Wherever we go, there's always someplace else that looks to be a whole lot better than where we are. But when we get there, we find worms and a bunch of critters. Then we go scooting over to another fence, searching for that greener grass.

It's a cruel truth - you will never find that green grass.

There will always be something amiss, something you prefer to be otherwise.

The search is fun, the travel exciting.

I think the trick is to know when to stop, enjoy the grass you landed on and have fun with what you have.

Eventually, when you get tired of it all, you pack up and go with a cheerful heart knowing you did good at your last stop.

Uno!

Gail has found a new past time. UNO! She's so good, I swear, I have not won one round against her - and I was not even losing on purpose!

A Day at Mommy's Office

I bring Gail to the office whenever I need to work on a Saturday. Multi-purpose activity actually - I get some work done, she gets to play with all the toy samples I develop and we get to go shopping afterwards! Really good quality bonding time for us!

Oh yes, she has soooo much fun at work!

Cat Nap

Our newest addition to the family - intsik na kitty na natutulog.

Seven

Yummy cake!

Stop dance!

Ang di gumalaw, talo!

Tsimisan muna. Wala pa yung food.

Ang hindi mag-greet ng happy birthday, walang goody bag!

with teacher

Busy Bee

What keeps Gail busy?

My Little Star

O.B. Montessori's Grade School Parent Orientation Day.
Gail was the Grade School model for their "sunday's best" attire.
Sabi nga ni Nel ng PBB Season 2 -- BONGGA!