Friday, January 27, 2006

Happy Birthday, Maximus!

The cutest, sweetest, fatest, laziest yellow labrador retriever stud this side of the globe is six years old today! I loooooooooooove my Dogbert! He's the world's one and only dog-cow-frog-pig-kitty cat! Love love love! Mwah!

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Chuck Norris

I don't understand this sudden "revival" of interest in Chuck Norris. Miggy found this website - http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/ - it's hilarious!

Remember: Guns don't kill people. Chuck Norris kills people.

Monday, January 23, 2006

Mabuhay ka, Manny!

Check out this photo taken by Mark J. Terrill of the Associated Press on this article from MSN -http://msn.foxsports.com/boxing/story/5268964



Technically, it's a fantastic shot! Beautiful, human. Terrill was in the right spot at the right time. Sports photographers rock for bringing the drama to print.

You gotta feel for Morales, man. The guy took a beating, and HOW! It was a fantastic fight! When Manny cried at the end, I cried, too! Last time I did that was when Rubens Barrichello won a Formula 1 race three years ago. The Pacman is our new national hero - a good, humble, God-fearing man who won a clean fight.

Manny Pacquiao, saludo kami sa 'yo!

Saturday, January 21, 2006

The Long Goodbye

It's official (yes, I can finally blog it!). Our Managing Director made the announcement during yesterday's Town Hall and our HR Team released an official email shortly after.

2/ Carla Vargas has resigned as Associate Consultant effective February 15, 2006.

Carla joined Watson Wyatt as a Compensation & Benefits Assistant on January 1, 1996. She was primarily responsible for providing technical assistance in various HCG projects. Her improved competence and consistent performance merited her first promotion in April 2000 [actually, I was promoted to Consulting Analyst in October 1998 - CSV]. She was again promoted to Specialist in January 2001, and eventually to Associate Consultant in July 2003. In the ten years that she has been with Watson Wyatt, Carla has contributed significantly to her practice. She has now decided to pursue a career in line HR as a Compensation & Benefits Manager for a multinational company. She will be on terminal leave starting February 10.

Ten years is a long time. And if you count the time that I spent as an intern back in my college days, I've been in consulting for more than ten years. I cannot find the words to describe what Watson Wyatt means to me (although "overtime" comes to mind). Watson Wyatt is a learning organisation that has provided me with "tools" and wonderful growth opportunities as both a professional and as a person. My time in Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City were humbling experiences that taught me more about who I am than the business of human capital consulting itself. But change is also a good thing. It is always a good thing. I will definitely miss the camaraderie (the noise!), the professionalism, and the true passion for excellence in customer service of the office I grew up in.

And now...I look forward to my life as a gas girl. Don't forget to gas up at a Caltex station near you!

Friday, January 13, 2006

Health Tips For All

I got this from Jen today. Enjoy!

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!!. Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO ...... Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.

And remember: "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand, chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Can You Tell I'm Bored?

Knight Rider Hasselhoff





You are Knight Rider Hasselhoff. You kick ass, you're dead sexy, AND you are the proud owner (or perhaps life partner) of a talking black Trans-Am. What else could one ask for?


Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Which Half-Blood Prince Villain Are You?

You are Lord Voldemort





You want Harry dead, and you’ve decided that the best way to do that is to kill off all of Harry’s friends one by one, until he has no one left to protect him. But look out, because unlike you, Harry has the ability to love.




Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Save Your Pets!

Please read today's headline on MSN Health regarding toxic pet food, Diamond (click on link below). I'm not sure if Diamond Pet Food is available in the Philippines, though. Max eats Holistic Lamb and Rice woth Green Tea for Adults. His vet has also warned patients to avoid generic dog food sold at PriceSmart (not enough nutrients).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10771943/?gt1=7538

Monday, January 09, 2006

I.O.U.'s

I just realised that I haven't blogged about a lot of stuff like...

- Christmas 2005 and all the reunions that come with the Holiday season.
- Singapore: It Ain't All That Clean.
- The Big Break-up and The Long Goodbye.
- Rit-rit's Big Night Out at The Fort.
- the film version of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.
- my first almost all-night game of Texas Hold 'em with Rosabel "The Killer" Cui, Gabby "Can't Shuffle" Cui, and Mike "The Money Man" Garcia (and I'm Carla "Danger Girl" Vargas...Esquire!).
- the new Power Books branch here at The Enterprise Centre in Makati.
- Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys.
- The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.

So I owe you (yeah, like everyone's really interested).

Congratulations and best wishes to Joey Mapa and Ciara Lazatin who got engaged over the Holidays!

Photo Me Ops

Check this clip out from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

http://youtube.com/player.swf?video_id=vEWLwz6JRNE&l=357

Monday, January 02, 2006

Looking Back

It’s the end of another year – a lot has happened – there is always change. Most of me feels better, some of me not at all, but there’s no such thing as a happy ending, only another beginning.

December is a good time to take stock and to reflect. It is a good time to be thankful, a good time to ask questions. Don’t let the month just fly by before you collapse over a turkey. Use the time – it’s precious.

- Jeanette Winterson, December 2005 Column on www.jeanettewinterson.com

At some point towards the end of the calendar year, Gars and I would normally review the year that has passed and see if we have achieved what we had set out to do. We didn't do that last year (i.e., December 2005. You know, a few days ago. Haha). I stopped making New Year's Resolutions because I just get disappointed in the end. So, in retrospect, this was my 2005 (thanks to Bianca, Alia, and Jay Ig for the idea):

What is/are the best thing/s you did in 2005?
Lived through Search-In Alabang's 100th retreat. Visited St Rita's Orphanage on Jen's birthday (I've been back twice since). Visited Fatherhood in Pittsburg. Spent some quality time with my youngest sister Julia. Took Jeric and Melisse up on their offer to extend my business trip to Singapore .

What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Visited Singapore. Drove to Monterey Bay. And something that made Andaya call me long distance in the middle of the night. Hahaha!

Did anyone close to you give birth?
My sister! Gabby and Rosabel had their second baby.

Did anyone close to you die?
Millette and I weren't exactly close, but I was very affected by her passing.

What country/ies did you visit?
Singapore and the US.

What are the best place/s you visited in 2005?
Baguio - once for the heck of it and another time to attend Miggy and Tanya's wedding (I still prefer the beach). The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco - second time there. I just looooove that place. Singapore Science Centre - to check out The Art of Star Wars Exhibit =)

What is/are the best meal/s you had in 2005?
I ate a lot when I was in the US, I can tell you that, and almost everything was good. And I tried the kimchi fried rice in Kaya (Korean restuarant in Paseo Centre) - it's my new favorite semi-fastfood dish.

What is/are the best drink/s you had in 2005?
Thanks to Jerome, I "discovered" Starbucks' Sugar-Free Vanilla Soy Latte.

What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
Money? Hahaha! Seriously, my answer is Time. Time to do everything I wanted to do, especially to contribute more to Search-In.

What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
There are 2, actually - when I met Neil Gaiman (9 July) and when my niece Layla was born (29 October). I love them =)

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I survived!

What was your biggest failure?
Do I really want to answer that? It really has a lot to do with time. Or lack of it. And a domino effect takes place from there.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Thank God, no. I had more migraines, though.

What was/were the best thing/s you bought?
A garlic peeler (I'm serious. Ask Bianca), a Harry Potter Hogwarts scarf, and a map of Middle Earth on parchment.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
I honestly don't know. Bono's?

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The ex-girlfriend of one of my friends, the ex-boyfriend of another friend, my friend the philanderer, this guy whose manners are so lacking (to say the least) that there are days I want to hit him on the head, and a man who simply needs to grow up!

Where did most of your money go?
Max (my dog) and Luke (my car).

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Meeting Neil Gaiman, going to The Art of Star Wars Exhibit in Singapore, and Layla's arrival.

What song/s will always remind you of 2005?
"Layla" by Eric Clapton and "Govinda" by Kula Shaker.

Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
-- It's not "sadder". It's "more sad". Hahaha! But I'm somewhat happier. Heehee.
ii. thinner or fatter? -- Fatter. Lech!
iii. richer or poorer? -- The same.

What do you wish you'd done more?
Attended more Search-In Alabang retreats, some work-related stuff that I can't explain, and worked on my photography skills.

How many one-night stands?
Yeah, right.

What was/were your favorite TV program/s?
My favorite new progams were The Contender, Rockstar: INXS and House, M.D. I still love watching CSI. When we got "etc" on cable, I got addicted to Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.

What was the best book you read?
"Weight" by Jeanette Winterson (many thanks to Bianca, Alia and Jay Ort).

What was your greatest musical discovery?
DRT, Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian, The Killers, The Mars Volta, Morningwood, Up Dharma Down.
What did you want and get?
A Harry Potter Hogwarts scarf. Yes, I'm THAT mababaw.

What was/were the best movie/s you saw in 2005:
Batman Begins - it was so worth my $20!
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - saw it twice.
Mean Girls - I didn't think I'd enjoy it, but I did! It was hilarious!
Sky High - big surprise! I saw it on the plane and never thought I would enjoy it - let alone finish it.
Spanglish - saw it on the plane, too. I just love Singapore Airlines.

I know there should be more, but somehow I can't remember....

Now, consequently, the worst movies I saw were:
Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros (The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros) - actually, it's a really good movie. The story is great, the casting and acting - fantastic! However, the film suffered from HORRIBLE editing. Thus, it dragged on and on and on, and I sat there waiting for all these issues to be resolved when the movie could have been scaled down to an hour)
War of the Worlds - I was just waiting for it to END!!!

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Threw a drinking party at home. Ageless.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
It's work-related and, again, hard to explain.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
A wee bit dressier thanks to An-an, Andaya and Tricia's prodding. Hey, I wear heels now.

What kept you sane?
Coffee, cigarettes, red wine, and Max. Well, some of my friends helped, too.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Marty Casey!

What political issue stirred you the most?
That whole "Hello Garci" thing, the UAAP scandal and the SEA Games.

Who did you miss?
Uh...No one? I got to see my Dad, my cousins, Lorraine, Celso, Gars,.... Oh. But I didn't get to see all the Bangkokians =( Next time!

Who was/were the best new person/people you met?
Layla Ortega and Neil Gaiman.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
I can't be SuperKulot ALL of the time. At the end of the day, even if others say that the only person I can totally trust is supposedly myself, my family and friends will always have my back. And I've got theirs. Oh, and I learned that the secret to healthy skin is to moisturise, moisturise, moisturise!

What was the nicest thing someone told you about yourself:
My old busmate texted me, "Remember u r warrior princess jedi knight. all girls should be jealous of u;-)".

The most touching experience you've had this year?
Kissing Neil Gaiman? Hahaha!

What did you like most about yourself this year?
I like to think that I kept certain people from saying any more hurtful words, pulling out knives and killing each other! Also, after I did Sobee's speech for her at Miggy and Tanya's wedding, Joel said "That was scary!" because he thought Sobee was really there. I thought that was a compliment.

What did you hate most about yourself this year?
I lost some of my Fire.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Oh well do you, do you do you want to?" - Franz Ferdinand

Was 2005 a good year for you?
Overall...yes!

What was your favorite moment of the year?
Meeting Neil Gaiman. Sorry, I was just really kilig! Ask Benjor, Sid and Jay Ig.

What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Haaay, too many mention!

Where were you when 2005 began?
At home...then an hour later, I was on my way to Makati.

Who were you with?
My family...then Gars...then Sobee, Martin, Eric and Angel. Then we bumped into Jemen and her friends. Then Chittina passed by. Then Patrick was there, and I met Neysa. Then....

Where will you be when 2005 ends?
I was at home. First time I didn't go out in 10 years!

Who will you be with when 2005 ends?
I was with Bianca, my Mom, Tita Girlie, and Max.

Do you have a new years resolution for 2006?
Nope. But I promised Andaya and Gars that I'd get my finances in order! Exercise?

What was your favorite month of 2005?
I always enjoy December, hands down!

What was your favorite record from 2005?
Wait...I think I set the office record for express job matching and speed comfile checking. My favorite new CDs are "Kasabian" by Kasabian and "Inner Resort: UK Dub Lounge" (some chill out compilation thingy from Singapore, like their version of Anton Ramos' "The Chill Out Project" series).

How many concerts did you see in 2005?
You know what...I don't remember. Did I see any concerts last year? I went to a lot of DRT gigs.

Did you drink a lot of alchohol in 2005?
Oh yeah! First time I tried Jack Daniels. Ewww....

Do a lot of drugs in 2005?
Nope. Although technically nicotine is a drug, isn't it?

You do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Not really....

How much money did you spend in 2005?
A LOT!

What was your proudest moment of 2005?
I really don't know....

What was your most embarrassing moment of 2005?
Do you really think I'm going to put that online?

If you could go back in time to any moment of 2005 and change something, what would it be?
Maybe I wouldn't have kissed Neil Gaiman's cheek. Instead, I could've done a lot more damage. Hahaha!

What are your plans for 2006?
I'm saving up for another trip to the US and - finally! - a trip to Europe. We'll see....

How are you different now that the year has ended?
I can't pinpoint what it is...but I feel good!

What are your wishes for the new year?
I wish...I wish...I thank you.