After reading my cousin Ann’s blog, I was inspired to write my own 2007 year-end report. Unlike hers, this will be short (I hope), hehe.

It has been a great year for me regarding work. I’ve been talking about work all the time, because it has been my life when I started living here in the States . It may sound pathetic, but in a way it taught me so many things. Being independent and deciding things for myself was a huge transformation for me. Back in the Philippines, aside from work, I partied all the time, night-outs with friends, overnights here, ovenights there. I don’t know if i’m still adjusting here or not..but it’s different! I might just be exagerating, I still manage to have fun every now and then. Maybe I just miss my friends back home. I have grown to really love my work now, even though its far different from the work that i used to. Unlike on my previous job, where I sit infront of my computer all the time,designing, drafting, editing, print here, print there..and the only time I get to see the outside world was during site visits…were I guess…alright. But I wanted some more…I wanted to communicate more, to serve more and to “move” more. So when I had the chance to land this job, I embraced it and at the same time praying that this will give me insights on what I really want to do. It’s different..it was a total shock for me…it’s energy consuming, time consuming. But I like it…I really like it alot. 2007 was roller coaster ride for me, I was promoted, became an empolyee of the month (again), was awarded an employee of the year (for the past year), travelled, met important people…made more friends.

2007: the year of shopping…dot…com
I think I have shopped more online than in an actual store in 2007 (well except for the groceries). I was cleaning up my desk and found this stack of receipts from mailed packages…and thought…”my gosh, I think i did alot of shopping this year…online shopping!” Bought my cds and dvds online (from my favorites music store yesasia.com). Bought lotion, sanitizers and other beauty products online (from, where else…my fave…bathandbodyworks.com). Bought stuff for my computer online, softwares and hardwares (from circuitcity.com and corel.com). Bought magazines, perfumes, watch tool and other knick-knacks online (from ebay.com). Bought shoes online (from zappos.com –>my place of nirvana, hehe). Bought my ipod and ipod accessories online (from apple.com). Purchased songs for my ipod online (i-tunes store). Bought feng shui items online (from fengshuiweb.co.uk). Upgraded to a better plan from my web host (the best web host ever–>site5.com)..etc .etc.! But I think the best purchase that i did in 2007, was my ipod…Oh, my ipod how can I live without you! LOL. At first I was really hesitant to buy one, but through the convincing powers of my bestfriend Edc, I finally did it with no regrets at all! I use it all the time, not just for music but for other entertainment as well. Plus, it’s a good tool if you want to isolate yourself from the annoying public, hehe. As of this moment I have 948 songs, 100 videos and 10 podcasts.

2007: the year of lost and found
Well, I really didn’t lose anything important that year. But I finally found the person, that i’ve been searching for a long long time. Fely was my closest friend way back in highschool, we’ve lost communication for more than 10 years. Through the power of the internet and the world wide web, I found her again, and I’m so happy. We have alot of catching up to do…unfortunately we have to do it online. I was extra happy that my bestfriend Edc have finally met her in person giving the opportunity to represent me, I felt like i was there meeting her again. Edc is like the other half of me…oh he’s the best!
Met new friends in 2007, and I mean a diversity of friends…Japanese, Italian, African-American, Latinas, Turkish, Russian. I love making new friends from all over the globe. Learning their language and culture excites me alot. Hmmm, did I use the word ‘excite’? lol. It’s fun to learn a new language! I have started studying the japanese, spanish, italian languages years ago (and still in the learning process), but now i’m into russian. What a beautiful language, but it’s a tongue-twister for me…zdrastv-oo-tye! (hmmm, not sure about the spelling though, hehe)

2007: the year of web designs…and graphics
You all know by now, that web design is one of my passions. I’m not a proffesional nor an expert on this part, but I learned it through self-study. And I’m hooked!. I did alot of web designing that year, not just for my own homepage but for others as well. It’s a natural high for me when someone wants my ’services’ to make their own webpage. Aside from my ccastardust site, I made some designs for Edc, the AFLS group, the 750 connection group, the seasoned writer Sabine etc. etc! But the best thing that happened to me in 2007 is when I won the logo design contest for this organization in Texas. I was extremely overjoyed when they have chosen my design.

2007: their nine-lives are over
Isis and Gertrude past away. First, it was Gertrude, she had some sort of illness or something and then the adorable Isis, my fave. They were really old cats and I guess their nine-lives are over. I miss them alot.

2007: the year of ‘goody bags’
I think I have received more gifts in 2007. Thanks to my family and friends. I especially love the gifts from Edc and Richie, most of them were unexpected ’surprises’. These guys are good! They can really make this girl happy and excited, hehe..and now this girl is craving for more, LOL..you guys started it, hehe. It’s not just me who got goody bags but them as well. I think it has become our (the three of us) tradition to do this every year…excites ourselves with the exchange gifts of goody bags. Some are ‘expected’ but the best part are the hidden surpises in the bags. You’ll never know what you’re gonna get!

2007: the year of the comeback ‘Kit’
He finally did it this time! Kit is back in the motorcross racing again. It was an exciting feeling for me as well, coz it’s the first time that i’ve seen him racing, not just in photographs. I admit it, I had mixed feelings about this, I wanted him to go back to racing, but at the same time scared, because it’s kinna dangerous…accidents might happen you know. But thank God he finished with no broken bones or something…only missing bolts from Hodie, hehe. It’s so exciting to watch these guys race their bikes, and i’m thinking of joing them in the future, but I need my own bike first.

I think I have written enough, whew!…did I say, it’s gonna be short? LOL. But I know there are more stuff to write, i just don’t wanna bore you guys.

2007 is a good year for me and I hope 2008 will be the same as well, even better. 2008, is the year of the rat (in chinese astrology) will it bite?

This entry should have been posted several weeks ago…i was sooo busy at work and tired all the time…I forgot to post it. 

When I first heard the news that my boss is going to send me to Ohio, I was so thrilled, excited and a bit nervous. Nervous because, I was supposed to go there alone…for five days. And I was like…”oh no! no computer for five days? can I handle it?”

“It’s all gonna be hard work, but it will be fun. And I want you to go there because it’s a good exposure for you, to get more contacts and to learn more new things from the company.” That’s what he said.

Change of plans.

The trip was cut to three days and I wasn’t going there alone afterall. The company decided to send another assistant manager to go with me and my boss will be there too. That was a relief! I was so excited about the trip but my main problem was going back and forth from the hotel and the store. Riding a cab was my solution but i know it’s gonna be a hassle…Good thing I have a ride now,hehe.

Meeting time: 5:30 a.m.
Meeting place: Preston
Luggage…check…yahoo maps…check…ipod…check hehe

On those three days, we were able to visit three stores: the one in Columbus, Lancaster and the main store where the corporate office is also located (I forgot the name of the place, all i know it’s way up north) .The two department stores are huge! (Columbus and the North). The one in the north (with the corporate office) was the biggest that I’ve seen, they even have a small cafe inside the store, that was neat :-)

One of the highlights of my trip were the lunches and dinners with my bosses.  It’s nice to see them just being themselves and not in their “work” modes. Listening to their funny stories, about their families, their hobbies, their other jobs etc…Laughter just filled the air. Thanks Mr. T, Mr. M and Mr. J for not ‘isolating’ me, they really made me feel a part of the group :-)

It was truly a learning experience for me.I enjoyed the trip…learned so many things, discovered new stuff that I can apply to our store, and most especially,got to shook hands with some “higher personalities” too…that was fun.

“LEO-Looking back gives you confidence to move forward. Learn from all your mistakes.Looking back can be very educational and enlightening today. You’ll notice a real pattern of behavior that will help you move forward. This is a day to be confident of your decisions — don’t worry about what other people think of you. Walking forward with confidence might take a bit of false bravado at first, but once you get a sense of comfort with your new swagger, you’ll never be meek or mild again. Your growing strength will ensure that mistakes you’ve made in the past will not be repeated.”

That’s an excerpt from my daily “prescription” of horoscope. I have to admit, I read horoscopes. It’s not that I believe in them, but for me it’s like a form of a guide, especially if the reading is good. But if the reading is bad, I don’t dwell on it, I take it as a challenge to improve myself.

For some reason, it seems like my horoscope reading always come true and most of the time tells what exactly the situation that I’m in. Horoscope reading for me is just an entertainment for the brain. It could be some sort of food for thought also.

Yesterday was ‘inventory day’ at work. And that’s a ‘first’ one for me, especially now that i’m in the retail business. I’ve done inventories (or audit) before, but this one is very different (very different from an office environment)…it’s very tiring and stressfull! not to mention that the inventory finished around 2:30 am! whew! I was soooo tired.

Last night was like an initiation of fire for me, I was working alone for the most part of the night, and while doing my preparations and stuff, i was constantly thinking of how the inventory for my department would look like. I was also nervous, coz I didn’t know what to expect.

And then the mayhem started…”SKU check!”…”SKU check!”….”SKU check!”…my gosh! I thought it will never end. I realized that I made several mistakes and ‘oops’. ‘Oops’ that me and my team mates should have corrected before. But that’s a water under the bridge now… i have to move on and  i’ve learned my lesson. Thanks to my fellow workmates who helped me, kudos to you all!

It’s been a while since I have written a blog…I really don’t know what to write actually…Don’t wanna bore you, hehe.

But for the past week, aside from busy with work, i’ve been busy doing some ‘revamping’ on my website…yes another design and another ‘remodelling’…I can’t help it, I just love web designing…it’s very addictive.

For a preview, here’s the image  or better yet click the link. You should be viewing the newest version, which is version 22 with a theme title: Coffe-Lovers. If you’re still viewing the older theme version, no problem…you can always click the ‘theme swticher’ and you’re good to go ;-)…just pick ‘v22: coffe-lovers’.

Now, for the newest addition to the site…I added, a new page ‘honeykins’…a page dedicated for me and kit, but it’s restricted, it’s a ‘for friends only’ page…So make sure you request a password to enter :-)…i’ll give you one as long as you’re a friend, hehe.

Well, that’s it about my web designing…About work…There’s this funny incident about a little boy and his younger sister, doing some shopping with their mom. it was funny coz the boy was about 7 or 8 yr. old (and his sister was, I guess, 4), singing while browsing some ‘pink’ shirts for his sister…I was thingking ‘hmmm, this boy has a ‘tendency’ of you know…hehe’…He was actually singing and trying those pink shirts on him! and he also tried a pink lacy hat on, and a matching little shoulder bag!…showing his sister that it might be good on her..but it’s funny coz he’s all ‘pink’!

That’s was funny…

I just got home from another job interview, same company, but this time with the engineers. Be warned again coz it might be boring for you hehe.

I came earlier to their office, 45 mins. ahead of time. So I sat at the lounge and waited anxiously, read Architecture Digest magazines and snooped a little to the people at the pantry watching a basketball game. I met Architect Berry again, really nice guy, has a very pleasing personality, he told me to wait just a little while coz the engineers were still interviewing another applicant. I got nervous again, coz the applicant was taking too much time in the conference room, I was thinking, “what are they’re talking about??”. So after the applicant left the room (with a very serious face), I knocked and stepped inside.I Said hi and hello, shook hands and sat comfortably. The two engineers were very nice,easy to talk to. They first asked me about my life here in Louisville and how did I get here,hehe. They explained to me the project that I might get invovled with. It’s a “huge” project! I was really overwhelmed by the size of it.They showed me some drawings and explained to me some details. The interview was very casual, it’s just plain talk and explanations of stuff . There were loud laughs in some instances. I had fun, actually. They asked me if I’m interested, I said, “yes, of course!”. They also told me that it’s just a temporary job, I said,” that’s alright”. Actually any job will do right now(i didn’t say this to them, of course). Then after all the questions and everything, they thanked me, we shook hands and I left the room. Before leaving, I also thanked Architect Berry and he told me that they’re(the engineers) still not finished interviewing the rest of the applicants, and I will be hearing from them, hopefully next week. After all the interviews and test, I was inspired again. Coz for the past few years, I was not “that” enthusiastic with architecture anymore and was thinking of a career change. And my Autocad program was even gathering dusts and cobwebs, coz I haven’t used it for quite some time (except the other day).If they won’t pick me, that’s alright, there’s no hard feelings…

Ok that’s it! end of my story…by the way, Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!! are you wearing your green shirt today? hehe :-)