Still Busy

I am working at the Arena this weekend, so that would mean Im gonna be busy though its a weekend. I still wasn't able to blog the parties that we had at work last week, a baby shower for Nicole and a bridal shower for Lily. How I miss having parties. There were lots of food prepared by my office mates ,from appetizers to main dish, name it. And we even have a really nice cake which was actually made from cupcakes. I will post pictures once I have the time.Need to catch some sleep, its cold now and thats the best thing to do at night, hit the sack early.

Feels like Forever

I'm still here.. Its been really slow lately at work. I guess we can really fell how bad the economy has has been lately.. We have few customers at the bank and most times we don't really have stuff to do anymore after the reports are done in the morning.. Its been so BORING...

I feel like getting dumber by the second, since I don't have anything to do most of the day, my mind as well basically decided to just stop.. Ugh! for some people they might think I'm crazy for basically demanding to work when I should be thankful getting paid for doing nothing.. But then there's no growth, no productivity, I won't learn anything just by sitting the whole day... I've been trying to keep myself busy.. Answering phones, helping out planning for upcoming birthdays and other surprise events that were having but still its not enough for the whole eight hours..

Hay, I don;t know its just that it feels like forever at work sometimes and for how long its gonna stay this way I don't know.. But I am surely thankful that I still have a job every single day.. But just when people think that this is one superpower, indestructible, financially stable country.. well guess what?? you guys got it wrong...

No weekend-weekend

Sunday.. 8:40 pm.. So I have 3 hours and 20 minutes left of my weekend.. It was pretty tiring having to work seven days straight.. I worked at the bank Monday to Friday, and since the circus is in town, I worked Thursday till today at the arena.. The first two days I had to go directly from the bank.. Good thing my work at the arena is only part-time which is about 3-4 hours and all I need to do is count money.!! No shopping for me this week..

So what am I gonna do with the remaining part of my weekend??

- I'm watching episode 9 of Hot Shot at youtube..
- At the same time watching the Emmy's
- eating cotton candy I got for free at the circus!!! ( buti na lang inantay kong matapos kundi nagbayad pa ko ng $ 12 for a cotton candy with a paper hat!! haha!)
- here blogging about my week!

Cranberry&Vodka plus Tokyo Tea Friday

my new fave... Tokyo Tea...

Not really drunk, though but a bit tipsy... But hey, I'm back!!! It's been a while, I've been really busy.. It was audit week at work and the auditors grilled me for the last couple of days.. Thank goodness that the audit went well.. So we decided to have drinks after work.. And that's why here I am.. blogging drunk!! hahaha.. We went to the Valley Brewery but since I'm not a big beer drinker I opted for Cranberry and Vodka for my first drink.. And of course I had my second one... I wanted to try Long Island Iced Tea which apparently is in no way just tastes as iced tea.
So my co-workers suggested Tokyo Tea as it goes all out with my "asian" craziness lately.. : ) It was really good though I should say.

Its been a while since the last time and we went out for drinks and this one was really fun!
Have a good weekend everyone!!!!

** woohoo Michael Phelps just won his 7th Olympic Gold... **

series of unfortunate events..

Last week was pretty tough week at work, since were shorthanded everyone has to step up and help. Aside from doing my job, I'm helping out our Exchange Department where I worked for a little over a year. And I set up a teller station since were down to only 5 tellers, far from our usual 12 frontline tellers.. But of course just my luck, things are not working out for me..

- the computer on one of the teller stations won't start up AT ALL! and people were asking me to print the screen and I was like, it won't even get to the desktop page! so how in the world am I gonna print it?!? duh!

- moved to another unused station.. thank goodness I was able to log in, but when I opened the program for the teller desktop.. guess what?? NOT COMING UP! there was an error and I'm not able to log in.. ok so now on this one, I can print the screen! oh and we have this whole procedure to got through if we computers that's not working. and this does not guarantee that someone will be there immediately to fix it..

- after the third attempt at long last, I was able to set up my teller station and log-in.. just when I thought its going smooth.. The validation machine is not working!! Everything has to be done twice! what a waste!!!!

- and lastly as I was typing some GL tickets all the upper keys on the typewriter was not working!

Hay, what a day! Friday was really a bad day for me.. Thank goodness I don't have work on my second job because I was just so ready to scream my heart out!! ( i don't know is it me? or i think i'm just PMSing?? haha)

Here's to hoping that this week will be better, although I know I have to work the teller line again.. All I want are working computers.. Is it too much to ask? : )

Tired.. Confused.. Nervous..

TIRED... i started on second job last night at the Arena and it was pretty tiring... got a chance to glance at the Gary V concert, although i didn't see him.. wow! its pretty tiring.. especially because its the first night.. got off from work at 12 AM!!!! maybe later on it won't be this tiring once i get the hang of it.. the task of counting the money is easy, but going around the arena to get thei money was a pretty long walk....

CONFUSED.... haircut day for me today!!! and still haven't decided on my style that i wanted.. i'm going towards short hair again.. like Ella Chun from Hana Kimi.. (too much asian fever huh?! : ) we'll see.. i just don't want to get to the salon totally clueless.. but since the triple digits temperature started to hit and having two jobs, i don't think i have the time to fix my hair every single morning.. so.. i don't know... will got with the cut? or chicken out at the last minute and still settle for my old hairstyle? well, here's the cut i wanted: (sort of)

Just wish me luck.. I'll probably change my choice once I get to the salon.. Hay, and I'm working again tonight!!! tough times huh?!

Happy weekend!

Second Job for me!!

When I got back from my vacation last May, I realized how broke I am... AGAIN!!! One of my friends at work is working part-time at the Stockton Arena.. When she said they might need a couple of new people, for whatever reason I wanted to try for it. So during my lunch time, I went there with two more people from the bank to fill out application. I know that its almost a guaranteed slot but of course we still have to go through drug testing and background check. Too bad the other two backed out..

So TODAY... I received a voicemail from the sports manager asking me if I wanted to work this Friday!!!! Hell yeah! I'm so excited especially because this Friday the event is Gary V's concer together with Martin Nievera and other guests!! I was able to secure tickets for my mom and dad for the concert since our bank has its own suite (or they call it a box I think?!). Really didn't have plan to watch it but I heard also that Alllan Pineda from Black Eyed Peas will be there.. So if I can start work this friday.. That means I can take a glimpse of the concert. I AM SO EXCITED!!!

I know people were asking me why I wanted to have a second job.. It might be tough since sometimes I have to work, right after my job at the bank and sometimes depending on the event, I won't be able to go home until 12 am. But hey, its something I have to try. The work itself is not hard, I'll be counting the sales from the concession stand and souvenir store.. I've been counting money since I first step foot at the back so its not really a big difference.. I just want to experience having a second job. There's really nothing to do here when I get home from work.. No new TV shows to watch as well. I'm given the opportunity so might as well grab it.. Right?!?

and besides... A girl's gotta shop.... right?!? : )

Still Alive

Yup.. I'm still here.. still alive... just plain busy.. busy with what huh?

busy with work.. since I've been feeling like a F@#cK!n ping-pong ball, working three desk jobs.. pretty tiring really, but kind of overwhelming. I sometimes feel they basically need me! Hahaha..

THINKING... yeah, been spending some of my time thinking about stuff.. not because I am bored but just because I think that there's some things that needed to be at least thought of if not dealt with right now.. I've been thinking about my future.. really... tough times in here right now.. dollar is not worth that much as it was before. economy's really bad and not really getting any better.. fReAk!N RECESSION! I'm just weighing my options, it's no use staying in here if that's the case.. so yeah, lately I have been seriously thinking..

PLANNING.. my trip to Manila is all set.. it's planning on how to meet everyone in just 15 days.. what to do.. where to go... I just wanted to see all of my friends.. from HS to college.. shildhood friends.. just everyone..

SHOPPING... nah NOT REALLY... just some last minute stuff to buy.. need to buy some "reserve" pasalubongs just in case I forgot anybody....

So yeah, I'm still here.. still existing.. still alive and breathing.. Although each and every single day.. every moment I wake up.. the only thought that runs to my mind is.. HOW MANY MORE DAYS???

Write Impression

It's been busy lately at work so I wasn't able to blog for quite some time. We will be having auditor's for this month, and we have tons of meeting to attend, and reports to finish. I was assigned to look for some souvenir items for our clients too. I thought of these advertising pens that could help us promote the bank, and at the same time, I find it useful for the receiver. They can attach it to their checkbooks too. I presented sample pictures of different pens to my supervisor, and we are just cgossing the pen brand and colors. I wish heavy work will be lessened byt his week. I feel so tired.

Working in a Stormy Friday

It was all over the news that there will be a storm to hit Northern California yesterday. So of course being from Manila, I immediately shoved the thought that it will be so powerful and worst as how the news predicts it to be. I figured, its just the media hype trying to make a big deal of it. I mean the bagyos we have in the Philippines are really strong, lumilipad na nga ang bubong hindi pa din signal number 1! But I guess I was so wrong!

Friday Morning.. I get up at 6:00 am to get ready for work, and the wind was really blowing hard that I thought it will break our windows. One of our neighbors car was hit by a plywood that was blown off, he was so frustrated upon seeing it. I was so bundled up, I am wearing a turtleneck top, with a pink warm sweater, and then I still have my raincoat complete with a hood! Too bad I have to work, and what's worse was one of my officemates called in that day, so I have to fill in for him. Here's what he do: Every hour he has to get the deposits and other works from each of the tellers, get the outgoing and inter branch mails, then he walks across the street to the other building to bring over the works. That's what we call a "run". So I was there basically thinking to myself "how in the hell am I supposed to do this?" I'll get knocked over by the wind. According to the news it was blowing 50-60 miles per hour. One of my co-workers, got knocked up and fell on the bushes by our parking lot on the way to work. And she is probably five foot nine! Sa liit ko, feeling ko e kayang-kaya ko tangayin ng hangin! Too bad, a job is a job! There are some procedures that only me and my friend Lily could do, and means we have to get out in freezing rain! I had one of the tellers do the first run and when he came back, the umbrella was totally destroyed! He came back soaking wet since the wind basically broke the umbrella he was using, and mind you he was the biggest and tallest guy we have.

*** for more pictures and stories, please click this***

It was such a mess, for a short while our front parking was a bit flooded and I have to brave the storm and did the rest of the runs. I had one bad experience with the wind that I even thought it will knocked me out or will blew me away! I totally hate my co-worker for not showing up to work! The news and the pictures they have on tv were really surprising, trees were uprooted, trailer trucks on the freeway were knocked over.

So at the end of the day I was telling myself, all these I have to do just to earn a dollar! See, hindi pinupulot ang pera dito, pinaghihirapan din! Hehehe! Even if it means, you'll be soaking wet and getting beat up by a 60 mile per hour wind, you have to do your job! Its still raining right now, I think we'll catch a break on Monday but another storm will probably hit again on Wednesday.. Oh gosh, just please send me back home!! =)

** Photos on this post was from the Sacramento Bee**

A Christmas Dinner

**we hit the bar right away.. my big margarita definitely an evidence!!**

Last December 12, Wednesday we had our annual bank Christmas party, which for me personally is just a formal dinner since I believe "party" entails fun, music and dancing! Our party always fall on the second Wednesday of December, open bar starts at around 5:30-6:00 pm, then dinner, then a speech and awards from the President of the bank and by 9:00... Time to go home!! Although we do have a pianist for background holiday music. For me I am always looking forward ti this, since I take a lot of pictures and this is the only time we really get to dress-up and glam up a bit from our usual looks at work.

*** lily, benita and me.. and don't be surprised of benita.. she really goes all out!***

*** my two work mommies.. Benita and Lynette (the QVC/bare minerals addict)***

I decided to just have a nice top and pants for the party, since I'll be coming directly from work and won't have time to really prepare. I do have to thank my co-worker Misty for fixing my hair! I ordered my top online at forever21 and the pants I got for only $15.95, my shoes are from last year.. So basically I didn't really spend a lot..

Holiday Spirit at Work

*** with Benita, Connie and Lily after a crazy Friday at work***

I cannot forget this Friday, it was such a crazy and busy one that at the end of the day when we decided to take pictures, I felt that we look so stressed out! I do have some more pictures on this link. Christmas is so fun around work since everyone is so much into the Holiday spirit, and I know that its always around this time of the year that I gain a lot of weight since goodies are just everywhere.. From homemade cookies, to cakes and brownies, candy canes and boxes of See's Candies! The bank orders boxes and boxes for each branch and then we get some from our customers too.. See's Candies have become such a tradition like how big Christmas Tree and the old toy train are for the bank. So here's some more pics:



I have a lot more pictures to upload but its Survivor China season finale.. So I'll just post some more later!!! Hahaha

Where's my Money..

I just cannot believe this... Payday was last Friday and I'm pretty excited since I felt like I've been running short on cash since my shopping spree last month. So I checked my account balance and started to budget my money. I have been pretty much independent since I got a job. I pay my own bills, my share of the rent, I buy things I wanted from my own money. So from what I have last friday I have to take out a couple of bucks for some expenses.. And I was so surprised!! After writing checks for my phone bill, two credit cards (yeah, I know not a good thing!), and of course I have to send money back home.. All that's left on my account is roughly around $200!!! What!!!!! What in the hell just happened?! Where is my money??! And I am saying that was left on my account, not just from my pay. And I've got to say, I do get paid a pretty substantial amount.. Ugh! I was so furious! I have been thinking of at least buying something for myself as a Christmas gift, something a little bit expensive, but I think that will have to wait. (Although I did get a new pair of Michael Kors shoes on sale!) Does that mean that in a span of 2-3 days my money's already gone?!

So what I did after realizing how I have been spending my money, I dig up a couple of past month;s bank statements and to my amazement.. I was right! Definitely! I have been spending as much as I am earning... My debits match up my credits, sometimes even more! So being an accountancy graduate, I'll say that its just always break-even, which is not good! I have to make so changes or else I'll wind up broke!

Here's the plan I've come up with:

1. For my next pay this month, I will only spend for bills I have to pay.
2. I'll ask my sister that we need to stop browsing at online stores!! Please!
3. I will TRY not to shop and just save money from January to March! Let me just clarify this one, maybe I'll just take cash with me.
4. In connection with number 3, every Friday I will lock up all my plastics ( my debit and credit cards) inside my safe deposit box at the bank! Great idea!! Hahaha
5. I have to tell my sister that if she wanted something for Joaquin, she has to tell mom because I AM NOT BUYING!!! Nah, maybe one shirt at a time!

This has to work, I have to save money since I am planning to go back to Manila next May for my vacation.. And oh no, I am not going back broke! This is a major challenge for me! I probably have to strap myself to the couch on weekends, just so that I won't hit the malls. I guess its time for me to save..

Been a While

I know! It feels like forever since my last post. I have so busy at work this week. My supervisor is on vacation, leaving us a little bit shorthanded at work. I had to do a couple of reports for the last month and ugh I hate those! This is really a stressful week and I've been meaning to posts stuff that has been happening lately. I will this weekend! Here's some things that I will be posting:

** Bank's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting- happened last monday!

** Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - it was on last night!! definitely a must-see! especially because of the Spice Girls first performance in years!!! Woohoo!!

** I need help on my Christmas Party outfit! - the dinner's next wednesday.. duh?!

** My Christmas Wishlist - just in case somebody wanted to buy me one!

I just hope I'll be able to survive the rest of the week without going crazy!

Who knew Work is this Hard

Four years ago, I was a happy-go-lucky college girl, living the life in Manila.. Weekend parties and long hours on the phone! Wow I definitely missed that! Then I moved here to California, and the next thing I knew.. THE PARTY IS TOTALLY OVER!! Ugh I hate it! I remember the first thing I had to do was to find a job.. And FYI: I have never worked in my entire life! I did get a part time job though, a week after I got here. Never even got the chance to be a tourist a for a while, I wasn't able to see places since people were very eager for me to work. Although I did learn things on my first job I wouldn't consider it a hard one. Not until a little over two years ago, when I was hired to work as a teller in a bank. I did have my share of mistakes but there were opportunities for improvement and I was blessed that in three months I got the chance to do something different, like wire transfers and foreign exchange and the good part is I'm only a back-up teller! Thank goodness, because sometimes the teller job is not that easy especially if you're dealing with large amounts of cash. Last July I was once again blessed to be offered a new position and this time around I am totally not a teller anymore! And just when I thought the stress was over I am totally wrong..

I still work at the Operations Department, which I think is really stressful, I helped out the tellers and I have my own reports to do. But lately, one of my office mate tends to be so hard on himself, and I have to admit that it is kinda taking a toll on everyone. For whatever reason, I tend to overworked myself (or I guess that's how they see it), I just wanted to get things done, sort of a Filipino thing huh? LoL! But today Oh My! I just wanted to scream, get out and leave! It is hard when you don't know where to put yourself in a situation wherein people are just in a bad mood! It's like walking on eggshells and I just literally don't know what to do and where to go. I wanted to yell at my co-worker to stop the pity party and start working on finding his mistakes because its dragging everyone down. When I'm stressing, rashes will start appearing on my neck, and it will be so red and hot that I have to calm down and relax myself.

So while frustrated on how this guy at work was acting, I was telling myself: Why do I even need to stress myself this much and try to finish everything at the end of the day, when here you have somebody that will just give up if a mistake was made?! When I was in college, I didn't even wanted to work. But here I adapted their culture of being workaholic. I tend to work a lot so that at the end of the day, I will be so tired that when I get home all I wanted to do is sleep..It kinda eases the boredom though!

I just never thought working is this hard, especially for me who works in a totally different environment with a totally crazy work dynamics. I am glad I was able to cope up with it considering I was never exposed to this kind of set-up. And for two years I am still here, working with the same group of people which I consider my second family. I guess I just never imagined that when you're thrown out to the real world, its not all parties and funs.. It's not all fantasy and ideals.. There's differences: cultural, personal, environmental..And other factors that I may not want to like but I am left with no choice but to deal with it! Yeah it does suck! But what eases the stress is knowing that you work with people that will always have your back, and that will help you every step of the way. I just hope that my office mate will get to realize this before we ruin the pleasant work environment we have right now. Believe me, I do love working with this people, we may have one of the most stressful departments since we deal directly with the customers, but what makes the work light is working with the people you like. But on times when I feel like I'm stressing out or working too hard, I probably should stop and re-think: Do I really need to work this hard?