Job Hunting to Job Hopping

I posted here about my new job at Quizno's Subs and how lucky I was to finally been "jobful" from jobless (get the joke?). But now I am in a very difficult situation because I have to choose between my new job and my old job. And by old job I mean Tim Hortons. Yup! My manager just called asking if I was interested in looking for a job at Tim Hortons. Well I knew she would call (not to be cocky and all) because my friends and co-workers asked me if I wanted to work with them again and that they would speak with the manager for me.

Well I did love working at Tim Hortons. The only thing I hated at Tim Hortons was the fact that they keep switching my schedule and that they sometimes send me to work at the other branches of Tim Hortons.

Well as I said I'm in a difficult situation because although I want to work again at Tim Hortons, it's too late since I already ahve a job and it would be too rude for me to just quit like that and that the store owner of Quizno's Subs really trust me and they are so nice to me. They always ask me if I'm ok or if I'm happy. Has Tim Hortons even care if I was happy or not? Not at all...

What's the worst part of all this ordeal? Well I somehow said that I'm dedicated to my work and if ever I made a commitment I stick to it. Literal translation? Well I told him that if ever someone hires me I won't quit at Quizno's. It's hard to quit because as I said, my current employers are nice to me, and they even help me if I'm too slow at the job that they have given me. work at Quizno's is so easy as compared to Tim Hortons and they always ask me if the schedule works for me... what better employer could I ask for?

Now my problem doesn't stop here... how can I say no to the job offered by Tim Hortons when my friends have gone all through that trouble to convince my manager to hire me...

I wonder what other people would do if they were in my place. Would they choose a good employer but with lesser pay and they suck with their job or wouold they choose an employer that pays good and they do great in their job?

Well I have never been a good planner or decision maker so I'm having a difficult time taking in to consideration the consequences...

Well I did only work 4 days at Quizno's subs and it's not like they have stopped hiring so they can find another replacement. And I have agreed that they will delay my pay for 1 month so that they can have assurance that I won't quit like in this case after 1 or 2 weeks of work. But I don't want to hurt the people who respected and looked after my well being and who fully acknowkedges my great work.

I have thought of my actions tomorrow and I haven't thought about them that hard so I'm not sure of the consequences... but this is what I'll do tomorrow:

1. At 8 am I'll give my manager a call back about her message that she left on the answering machine: If I was interested in working at Tim Hortons again.
2. I'll tell my manager that I do have a job already but I am still interested in coming back.
3. I'll tell her that I have three requests though (they are actually demands or conditions but request sounds better). My requests are (1) I only work at the 3-11 PM shift, (2) They don't send me to other Tim Hortons except for the one at 23rd Ave (that's where I live, Lol!) and (3) If possible (translation: MUST!), I could be paid $10/hour since I've already have worked at Tim Hortons for three months (even though I quit at such a short notice).
4. Now there are two possibilities: (a) My manager says I'm over demanding and I should hit the road or (b) My manager falls and crumbles to my demands (or requests).
5. If a: I stay at Quizno's Subs and live happily ever after and b: I quit at Quizno's and end up being hated and hurting two great people and I go back to Tim Hortons serving nasty customers their coffee (and being with my friends of course).

Either way I end up hurting people... but honestly I'd like it if my manager would choose Possibility A so I wouldn't have to quit and hurt my current employers. But if my manager chooses Possibility B then thios is what I'll do:

1. I won't lie to my current employers: I'll tell them how I think that how great of an employer they are and how this job is great but I have to quit because my friends have asked me to come back at Tim Hortons.
2. Get ready to be shouted at and be kicked out of the store.

All seems so easy but putting this plan into action is the hardest part... let's just see what happens tomorrow...

What Every Blogger Needs

You may have already guessed what I am going to blog about today as I have already given you very leading clues at the start of my blog entry. But you must admit that I am really right when I say that Dragon Naturally Speaking is indeed what every blogger needs.

I know that this speech recognition software is indeed a need for every blogger because I am a blogger and one of my reasons why I skip a day (or weeks) of blogging is because I am too lazy to encode. With Dragon Naturally Speaking at my side, it's like having a personal assistant jotting down my every thought and encoding it for me.

Ok, this software is not just for lazy people like me. It's most especially suited for people who have to type thousands of words each day. With Dragon Naturally Speaking you could just talk and talk and your encoded work will be ready for printing whenever you're done talking. If you're a novelist or a student writing that 1000 essay, this software can help improve your productivity as you get more words typed in less the time it takes you to type. Dragon Naturally Speaking can literally put into typing your words in 150 words per minute! I can type 40-50 words per minute. But if you think that you can beat the Dragon Naturally Speaking software, then I dare you to take the Dragon’s typing speed test!

It's really frustrating that I only get to encounter this software now. It would have been better if it already existed when I was back in school having to encode a lot of stuff.

Loving Those Limos

A friend of mine who lives in Dallas invited me over to stay at their place for a week, a sort of short vacation from the plain and dull existence that I call my life. I actually refused to go because Dallas is very far away from Edmonton but then she caught my attention when she bribed me of fetching me at the airport in one of those famous Dallas limousine.

Who would have guessed that I would actually go all the way to Dallas just to enjoy a limo ride. Oh well, you can't blame me for wanting to ride in those beautiful and luxurious cars. For me, being able to ride in one of those means that you either have reached the peak of your life where you have gained either fame, power, wealth or all three of them.

I just love those very attractive classic stretch limos, especially those cool hummer limos like what gcslimousine.com shows and actually offer great limo service. One of these days I'll give my very cunning friend a surprise visit and I'd be cruising into her home riding one of those awesome limos in comfort, style, and luxury. Getting to ride in a limo is a great way to enjoy.

Edmonton Body Worlds

In case you are wondering, yes those are real human bodies that are plastinated (a preservation technique) and displayed to the public for both educational reasons, aesthetic reasons, and for reasons that will make us appreciate the complexity and beauty of the human body.

I've seen the exhibit yesterday at the Telus World of Science and I have to say that I was a bit shocked with the way the human bodies were displayed. They were made to do these positions and the positions were not the thing I was disturbed with, but the way the bodies were positioned. How would you imagine your dead body holding your own brain on your hands?

It was weird and I felt like I was in a circus. Plus I really believed that the exhibit should have only been reserved for the people in the medical field but then again that would be unfair, it's like keeping knowledge from the public.

Over all I was pretty amazed with the exhibit, the bones were boring but as we were half way through the exhibit the stripped human bodies were actually interesting, although I really feel that it was wrong to see human bodies displayed in that fashion.

I Have A New Job!

I went to Quizmo's Subs today for my interview and guess what? Because of my pleasing personality and severe dedication to work I have landed my 2nd full time job. Well it's not my dream job but I'll take it because looking for a job is hard (luck plays a great role here) and I'd rather work at a place where it pays only $9 an hour but the work is not that stressful (unlike Tim Hortons) and I only have to walk to work (a HUGE factor since I don't want to travel a long way when it's snowing in Winter) and it's not like this will be my permanent job (hell no).

I just have to work and earn money until I get to go to school (hopefully to the University of Alberta). I'm glad that even if my boss and co-workers are Indians, they don't discriminate you and they don't act all high and mighty like some Indians here in Edmonton. I have high respects for my boss who is very nice and who has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry but decided to go into his business instead (yeah he's the store owner/manager I think).

I'm also glad that I don't have to wake up too early and go home late for this job. My work schedule is 11 am to 3 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm during weekdays and 12 pm to 8 pm during weekends I think. During weekdays I can go home between 3 pm to 5 pm and relax, eat, or whatever so I won't be that stressed out.

I think I'm going to enjoy this job. Well good luck to me then hehehe.

I WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL!!!!

AAH!!! I hate staying at home doing nothing! I want to go to school already so that I can start living my life and so that I can reach my dream and my goal to be a nurse practitioner or even a doctor for God sakes!

Anyway I was venting just a while ago but I can let out a sigh of relief now because my friend just told me that she has already started working on the course descriptions that University of Alberta has asked for. Well I'd love to do that my self but I don't want to waste money in going back to the Philippines just to collect course descriptions for each of my subjects that I have taken.

I'm a bit pissed at the registrar of Xavier University because she didn't even acknowledge that she had received my letter (which I sent through FedEx - very heavy on the wallet) and that she needs money just to print the course descriptions. If it weren't for my friend, years would have passed by and she wouldn't do anything. And even if I did pay her to print the damn transcript of records she still requires me to go to each department to collect course descriptions... what a bad bad bad registrar... to think that she's in an institution where generosity and cura personalis (care for others) is highly emphasized.

Anyway my friends are working on my future already so I'm somehow content. Somehow things are getting better because Quizno's Subs called me today asking if I'm still interested in applying for a job. Although I promised my self that I won't work for a fastfood chain anymore because of some annoying, blood sucking customers I decided to throw away my pride and dignity and accept that job since it's near my home and I'm in dire need for a job because my bank account is drying up fast.

Oh well, just wish me lucj that I get that job tomorrow.

Be A Smart Shopper

My friends had always described me as a wise shopper because I never buy anything directly with out researching about it, it's specs and how other current owners like the product. And I am somehow like my mom because I always check the prices of the product I want to buy and compare it with the prices in other stores. I do all of these to make sure that I am satisfied with the product and the money I spent was not wasted.

Well my friend from the UK is the same like me and when he bought that laptop of his online he did not only find himself a great deal he also successfully managed to make me drool in envy.

I wished that I could have done the same thing that he did when I bought my computer because I could have saved my self the time and effort in researching about product reviews and going store to store comparing prices when I could have done all of that in one click in the comforts of my own home...

So this time my friend one and took the crown from me of being a smart shopper. Next time I'll take his advice and visit Shopping.com and Dealtime.co.uk when ever I need to buy something because with just one click of the search button I get access to the hottest deals, compare prices between several stores, and I get to read product reviews from real people who bought the same product. Plus you can search by category so you can easily find what you are looking for.

Well, I better start saving since I'll be doing a lot of online shopping.

Reminiscing Before I Sleep

It's 2:00 am right now but even if I am already very sleepy, nostalgic memories are overtaking me. I can't help but let out a heavy sigh as I remember all the people who made my life fun and interesting.

When I left the Philippines for Canada, I left a very important part of who I am, my pride and joy of being a nursing student. Sure the sleepless nights and stressful tests and projects where nerve wracking but at the end of the day I wouldn't choose any other way to live my life. I am still proud to be a nursing student but I wonder how the feeling of being a student nurse would be without the people (my colleagues... my friends) who have made me strong to endure the hardships of nursing.


You see these people in this picture? These are my group mates and we went through all sorts of hardships together. We fought, we cried, we laughed, we shared dreams, we said goodbyes...

And my friends... I miss my friends. These are the people who accepted me for who I am and decided to stick with me even if I was moody and a bit unreasonable. They said good bye but this doesn't mean that we won't see each other again...

My friends... who shared my interests and likes... who believed in my skills and in my abilities... who believed that I can be who ever I want to be... we painted beautiful memories...

And of course my beloved Missy, who I loved unconditionally even if she jumps and bites me at times... you will always be in my heart...I may have left big chunks of me in the Philippines that it's really unbearable and that I feel depressed and empty. But I brought with me something that will overcome my loss and loneliness... my will to finish what I started and the hope that someday I will come back to the Philippines and be reunited with the people who have helped verify my existence... because with out them... I would be nothing.

Locked Out of the House!

Seriously! Being locked out of your own freaking house is so infuriating that it's not even funny anymore (I wonder where I copied this sentence, hehehe). I hate it because it's not even my fault why I can't enter our apartment. My stupid brother left his keys at the house and then borrowed mine while I was at the mall looking for a job. I thought that it was already 5 pm so my mom would be at home already only to find out that my mom won't be coming home until 5:30 pm. Seriously, I am not going to let my stupid brother borrow my key again. Like he left it on his bed and maybe he didn't see it because of all the mess and clutter that he always makes. Seriously my day to day headache is my brother, sharing rooms with him is hell. We should have taken that three bedroom apartment rather than our two bedroom apartment.

Anyway I've managed to be not a bum today and I was able to drop off 5 resumes. I was going to work at the store that my friend is working but I had to walk so far to get there and it's already so cold. The temperature here is already below 0 degrees celcius and I feel my hands and head freezing everytime I go out so I decided to work at the stores at the mall near our house since the walking distance is lesser. I could ride my bike but I'm already so traumatized to do so because I have been almost hit by a car so many times. When I'm on a bike I'm considered to be another car that's why it's so frustrating having to try so hard to balance myself on the bike while waiting for my turn to cross the road.

Anyway, I really hope that I get a job at that sports store because there aren't many customers and just arranging stuff is kind my thing hehehe. I don't care if they pay me less than $9.50 an hour, just as long as the work isn't that hard and I'm not stressed out. I'm kind of demanding huh? Well, let's just see what turns out.

An Update on the Job Hunt

Well I could say that today's job hunt went pretty well... well not really.

I mean the only job hunting I did was search online through jobbank.gc.ca and monster.ca and although out of my resumes sent I think only 3% or less responded to my application and asked for an interview.

Although the job offers where good I realized that waking up really early in the morning and taking the bus to work was not my idea of fun.

Well call me lazy (I know) but I really did not want to work far from home with a salary that isn't worth the stress of traveling. Well after several weeks of being jobless I finally decided to apply once again to Safeway as either a cashier, store clerk, baker, or meat wrapper. I didn't really care if I earned around $9.50/hour (the same wage I got with Tim Hortons) because the work is not that stressful unlike Tim Hortons and the earliest time I have to go to work would be 9 am and the latest would be 9 pm or 7 pm.

I do know that working with Safeway means that I have to get into a Union and all but that's ok. It's also ok with me if I start as Part time and then slowly move to full time and move my way up. In Safeway the time slots for work are based on seniority or the time you worked for Safeway.

I'm actually not that confident that they would call me again since I didn't appear the last time I was called for an interview. I didn't show up since I already had a job at Tim Hortons.

But if they don't take me then I will go with Sobeys, which is nearer to my house. And if Sobeys do not take me then I have no choice but to go back to Tim Hortons. Well I think they still would take me in because my manager (actually she asked my co-worker to call me) just called this morning asking if I would want to work for them as a part-time employee. Well I would love to earn money but I really don't want to work in the morning because that's one of my reasons why I quit.

Well the job that I'm really aming for was the call center job at Convergys since it's very near and taking calls from customers (even if they are rude and annoying) isn't that hard because I don't really see them so all their hate I can just ignore since they are hating the company and not me. A call center did offer me a job but it was so far that I refused it. I went to Convergys but they were closed to the public so I didn't have the opportunity to submit my resume. I have to ask my brother's friend how his sister was able to apply.

But if Safeway does offer me a job, I'll have no second thoughts and I'll take it immediately.

***
Image credit goes to imagineeringezine.com

Shaman King

During the past few days of being jobless I have been keeping myself by watching some good Japanese Animation or anime. I was watching Shaman King, an anime series which I didn't have the chance to finish watching during high school because my life was dedicated to studying back then (ewe... how nerdy hehehe).

Anyway I'm almost finish watching Shaman King and what could I say? It's a great anime! Some people would say that anime are just for kids or it's nonesense but it does have some special messages like do what you must to achieve your goals, but never ever think that it's ok to step on anyone to reach your goals. I know, it's not that inspiring coming from me but watching Shaman King is inspiring for me and it fits the genre of the movies and games that I love watching and playing: fantasy & supernatural.

It is through watching anime that I am released from this world, worrying about nothing. But I do know that I need to face reality, such a troublesome fact.

So What's Up?

My job hunt has served to be futile (for the moment at least). Well I did only started sending my resume yesterday and I know that they might be waiting for more applicants before they contact me. But the thing that quite bothered me was when one possible employer e-mailed me and asked me if I was here on a work permit. It bothered me because I might be confusing possible employers with my resume that I am a contract worker or something, that is why on my next resumes that I e-mailed to possible employers I placed there on the more info part: Canadian Permanent Resident. That way they won't have second thoughts about my being able to legally work here in Canada.

Well tomorrow I planned that I won't be staying in the comforts of my home watching Shaman King (but staying at home and bum around isn't a bad idea either). So to make my day tomorrow productive, I plan on getting myself a Police Information Check. I will need this in my future jobs and in my college application.

Speaking of college applications, I'm glad that some progress has occurred with my MacEwan application. But I still have some documents that I need to submit but I'm wondering if I could just give them a photocopy because I'm also applying to University of Alberta and I might need those documents too.

Tomorrow is also going to be an important day because I've asked a friend back in the Philippines to check with our Registrar at Xavier University if she received my letter and what she needs (money of course) so that she can speed the process and send my documents to University of Alberta via international express mail.

Oh yeah, maybe I can squeeze going to MacEwan tomorrow and maybe cutting my hair. If I'm going to leave my house, it's best if I make use of my time wisely right?

I think that's all that has been happening to my now boring and dull life. Oh yeah my brother was fired for always being late and as usual he is still a narcissistic, ego-centered, selfish, irresponsible, brat.

Cheapest Text Books

When I was still back in the Philippines, living my life happily as a college student who didn't have to worry about money and expenses and only depended on my mom for money... well I actually did worry.

I'm even more worried more about expenses in college because if you think that college was expensive in the Philippines, wait until you try going to school here in Canada! My gad! I am still thinking how I would pay back the government for the student loan that I have to pay back. but at least finding cheap textbooks wouldn't be a problem.

Yup! I manage to cut down my college expenses by a very significant amount by buying at stores with the cheapest text books. I also buy used textbooks because even when they were used by someone else, the content is what matters the most. Especially in my field of study, books related to health and nursing are very very expensive!

That is why I have found CheapestTextBooks.com! I can find nursing books that are usually expensive at bargain prices and I get to spend the money I saved on text books on medical supplies that I need while I'm on duty at the hospital. Plus it's so easy to sell my used and old textbooks that I won't be needing anymore. I get to rid of junk, earn money, and help other future students all in one! How great is that?

Paul Dateh

Since I had no job, I was basically bumming around the house and then had one of my spontaneous ideas... why don't I listen to violin songs on the internet since I love the violin and I dream of playing the violin but I have absolutely no time (not to mention money) to learn the violin.

Well, I was on YouTube and I typed the keyword "violin" and old videos of old musicians but then I came to Paul Dateh's YouTube page and I was amazed. It was a mix of hiphop and classical violin. It's super great! My eardrums is sure loving Paul Dateh right now.

But to hear is to believe, Lol! So ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the talented, the amazing, the spectacular PAUL DATEH! The voice, the writer, pianist, and violinist.

I Passed the Test!

You might be wondering what test I passed. Well it's definitely not the board exam that's for sure. I, ladies and gentlemen, am a proud passer of the Knowledge Test for the Alberta Class 7 Driver's License!

Yup! I took advantage of the week I was jobless and instead of becoming a couch potato or the common household bum, I was able to make use of my time into something productive.

But the truth is I actually bummed around the house all week. I only studied for the exam in like a day (a few hours really). And I barely passed the exam too. The test had 30 questions and the passing point was 25. And I got 25 of those very difficult and confusing questions right! One more wrong and I would have failed and my $8 examination fee would have gone to waste.

Well, guess I'll be waiting for my driver's license in the mail. In the mean time I have to find myself another job so that I can afford a driving school.

Breaking Free

When we turn on the TV, the headlines are always the same... it's either prices of consumer goods are rising, houses being foreclosed, or the most recent headliner: the Wall Street Crisis. Let's face it the economy is pretty bad right now and it's only going to be worst if consumers (that's us) become knee deep in debt.

But first of all let us talk about the reasons why we are in this current situation. Well let's just say that with oil prices hiking up and more jobs are lost because huge companies go into bankruptcy we can't help but use our credit cards. But on the other hand, even if the economy was good, we would still be using our credit cards. There's actually nothing wrong with the use of credit cards, in fact the use of credit cards is very handy and convenient. The only thing that we should know is that we shouldn't spend more than what we earn.

Unfortunately, their are thousands of people take up the habit of over-using their credit cards that they make late payments, minimum payments, or they don't pay at all because they don't have the funds. Therefore they end up being buried with debt as the interests pile up. And what does bad credit mean? Well you won't be approved for credit that's for sure. You can't get new mortgages and let's just say your life would be a living hell. You will work and work but the money you earn won't be enough to provide you a happy life because you can't pay your debts until you die.

But never lose hope because getting credit card debt help is not far away. Credit card counseling is a service provided to help you and your family break free from the chains of debt and continue to live and enjoy life.

Limketkai Center: The SHAME of Cagayan de Oro

Limketkai Center is said to be the "Pride of Cagayan de Oro City" but after what they have done to my friend, I don't think so!

It all happened when my friend was shopping at Limketkai Center when all of the sudden a crazed maniac security guard pointed a gun at my friend and accused my friend of stealing. If that scene is very uncomfortable, try being surrounded by a crowd of people staring down at you and shouting "kawatan!" or thief in English.

My friend was harrassed and humiliated in front of a crowd (it's a mall for crying out loud located in a not very big city). The character and public image of my friend was tarnished. If my friend really did steal anything then why didn't they find the object which they accused my friend of shoplifting? What, cat got their tounge?

Well they picked on the wrong person when Limketkai threw a public spectacle because they messed with the wrong person. My friend and my friend's family won't back down and won't be oppressed. Here starts the legal battle between the large business entity, Limketkai Center versus my friend.

My friend and my friend's family would have settled for an amicable settlement but Limketkai Center won't back down and instead of paying for damages they don't want to lose any money (typical of money-hungry companies). And guess what? Limketkai made the security guard lie and made up stupid stories to portray an image of my friend as a little kid who didn't listen to my friend's father and stole what ever they accused her of stealing. Limketkai even gave out the statement that if she was really innocent, why didn't she just flee the scene because she wasn't being detained anyway. Yeah right! You call a gun being pointed at you as not being detained? And besides, only the guilty would run away at the scene of the crime.

The security guard of limketkai has NO REMORSE at all and still believes that accusing people of shoplifting and humiliating them in froint of the public and threatening them with a deadly weapon is all fine and dandy.

I hate companies like LIMKETKAI CENTER who have no conscience or whatever! They should take the responsibility of their employee's mistake and make a public apology to my friend. But instead of doing what's right, they just decided to save the money and back up the claims of my friend.

If I were only in the Philippines right now, I would gather people and take this issue to the media and let everyone know how morally corrupt LIMKETKAI CENTER is and instead of being called the "Pride of Cagayan de Oro" it should be called "The SHAME of Cagayan de Oro".

The Dream... The Fantasy... The Wish...

In this world where everything is bland and repetitive... in this world full of hate and apathy... in this world where injustice and pain thrive...

I want to break free... I want to run... run fast to anywhere away from here.

Maybe this is why I love anime and role playing games because for those few minutes I get lost in a dream where I forget my responsibilities my worries and my fears. But who am I kidding? I don't really have any huge problems. I know that I am very fortunate to have this life and there are thousands more who are really suffering. But why? Why do I feel empty and deprived? Why do I have the need to be more than who I am now. Why do I want to be more than a human being?

Honestly just thinking of my future life makes me bored. Work to earn money, money to buy foods and some vanity stuff. and then work more for more money to spend. Is that what life really is? Is life just work plus money plus spending?

Maybe I'm missing one very important element in life... other people. Maybe it is the people around us that makes life worthwhile.

***
Photo credits to *Yue-Iceseal

Shooting People is Fun

I live in a world that is bland and boring, nothing new or interesting ever happens. My job is a high-paced environment filled with agitated and grumpy people and the increasing oil prices and the bad economy are not doing any good in reducing my stress level either.

My friends and I have thought that if we don't do anything we will just simply go insane... that is why we have decided to shoot each other with paintballs . Yup! Who ever thought that shooting people would be such fun. Just think that you're friend is your boss or any one that makes your day such a mess and just gun that person down.

Having paintball parties once in a while is awesome! It's such a great way to vent and release all the stress and negativity from day to day life and just go berserk and shoot away. Just because I work in a serious boring environment doesn't mean that I can't have fun and be crazy during the weekends right?

I just love holding those cool spyder paintball guns and just have fun with my friends. I'm not much of a sports fan but paintball is an exception, it's just too extreme that I can't help but get myself dirty in the war field.

Garfield is this You?!

While I was searching for pictures that are related to being a food lover I encountered this picture of this huge (but very cute) cat. Woah! I never knew that Garfield did exist, well the kitty does resemble garfield.

What a HUGE house cat. It's surprising that even house pets are becoming obese and are having high risks of death from eating disorders.

It's weird how a good and comfortable life would have it's own share of negativity... ah the old rule of Ying and Yang... Without balance there is chaos.

***
Photo credits to Telegraph.co.uk

For the Love of Food

It can't be denied. I love food! That's why I'm growing fatter and fatter each day. One thing I hate about Canada is that food is so affordable. One could afford to buy food for a week with just one day of pay from working. And people buy food here by the bulk because buying by bulk is way cheaper than buying by a piece.

Every day in our house is like a feast because we always have at least three kinds of dishes (or viand) and I am forced to east because I don't want to leave left-overs because left-overs just are just left in the freezer to become stale and inedible and food just go to waste.

I admit that I binge eat and I guess I have to get control over my hunger and impulses. I should remind me that food is just energy and it's not to be made a reward or a source of pleasure. But food is just too enjoyable to resist.

But at least now I exercise... well I just started today but I know that if I stick to my exercise routine and if I eat healthy and nutritious foods then I will be on the right track to success ei? Well, we will see.

Updating Drivers

For most people out there, they have absolutely no idea of what a driver is. Nope I'm not talking about a person that operates a car or any vehicle (or even animal) for that matter. I'm talking about device drivers, the computer programs that works together with the operating system so that the operating system can find and control the hardware (be it a keyboard, mouse, graphic cards, etc).

If you still don't get it and need a little bit more explaining, let's just say that the operating system (OS) is a person, the driver is the person's senses, and the hardware is a guitar. The person wants to play the guitar. But in order for the person to use the guitar, one must see the guitar, one must feel and touch the guitar, and hear what the sound the guitar is making. In other words without the person's senses, the guitar would be useless.

Sometimes you would experience some problems with your computer or you want your computer system up to date, this is why updating drivers is very important. But the thing is your computer have several hundreds of drivers and not every one of them is from the same manufacturer so does this mean that you have to go to each manufacturer's website to download an updated driver?

Wrong! Because you can actually get your drivers regularly checked and the needed drivers are automatically downloaded with a driver update management software! You can get a free driver scan with Uniblue. And if you like the driver scanner so much by Uniblue you can purchase it for a discounted price of $29.95 so that you can have the peace of mind that your computer won't slow down or crash because of updated drivers.

Paid To Go To School?!

I was watching the news on TV when I almost fell of my seat when I heard the plan that children here in Canada (especially children of the First Nation) will be paid to go to school! Like what? What an absolute rubbish idea. But this is not the first time this crazy idea was thought of, bribing kids to go to school was already discussed during the not so far past.

Paying kids to go to school here in Canada is such a stupid idea. Rather than making students develop some sense of responsibility and independence, the government is putting up the wrong image that the government will provide EVERYTHING for them! This is why there are already so many bums out there who just sit doing nothing and then expect to get help from the government for welfare.

The thing is students here in Canada are given FREE and of GOOD QUALITY education. Other students in third world countries would kill to get an opportunity to go to school and the students here are just taking that for granted.

Rather than using money (which could be used for other better cause) to encourage students to go back to school, why not show them the harsh reality and FACT that if they don't go to school their lives would be miserable and hard because they won't get a better future because they are uneducated.

I'm Officially Jobless!

Yup! Today is the first day that I'm finally free from the stress and extreme unhappiness that I get from my old job! I've finally resigned and this is the best thing that I have done for myself! I've actually applied to some jobs in the University of Alberta that is related to health care and the pay and time is pretty good.

There are a lot of better high paying jobs out there and resigning from my old job opens so many doors to better opportunities. But before I go out job hunting again I think I'm going to give myself a week's vacation so that I could finally have the time to study the driver's manual so that I can take the exam this week for my learner's permit! I promise myself that I will succeed! Hehehe.

Anyway this was suppose to be my last day of working but I didn't want to wake up 8 in the morning after working 3 to 11 pm. So you know what I did? I've made a deal with my co-worker that I'll buy her a pink 8GB iPod Nano if she works for me today. She hits two birds with one stone! She get paid more from her job and she gets a freebie, lucky her! Well I didn't pay that much for the Ipod. We agreed that I'll only pay $100 and she'll pay the remaining $78. I didn't pay much because I had a $45 gift check from the store that I bought the iPod from hehehe.

Yup that's what I did on my first day of being jobless. Spend money... but now I have no money hehehe. Having a credit card sometimes suck because when your paycheck comes it only goes to pay the bills. Think I'm not going to use my credit card in a VERY long while.

I Choose Money

Call me selfish or what ever you want but I just chose the practical way. You see I was going to be hired (I passed the exams and my supervisor liked me) as a customer service representative for an advertising company. I was going to go door to door to promote a child sponsorship program.

As honorable as the cause is, I still couldn't do it even if I was qualified to do the job because I thought to my self that the pay was too low for that kind of work. I mean walking around a neighborhood and knocking on every door to get someone to sponsor a kid? And the work place is too far from home too so it was best if I didn't accepted the job.

It would have been a great job but I guess that my main priority now is to earn money for my future needs. I don't want to rely on my mom for my financial needs that much. How can I help others if I can't help myself right?

Cosmetic Surgery: To Do or Not to Do

Cosmetic surgery has been a controversial topic for years now and like always, people are divided: people who are pro-cosmetic surgery and the people who are anti-cosmetic surgery. There are some people who approach cosmetic surgery in a religious and self-righteous way. They say that people should not have cosmetic surgeries like boob jobs because we are already perfect and we are beautiful as we are because this is the way that God wanted us to be.

But in my opinion, I approach this issue in a scientific way and practical way. What I mean by this statement is that I am for cosmetic surgery and I will want to have a surgery done to me like a liposuction. Many people have already done several cosmetic surgeries to their body and this is why they are now beautiful or even more beautiful than ever... who are they? The celebrities of course.

Some would say that they would prefer real "natural" beauty but they are being hypocritical about this when the people they idolize and even obsess about are products of cosmetic surgery. I am happy that cosmetic surgery is available because with this science we are able to correct any flaws that we may have in ourselves thus making our lives better. Because of cosmetic surgeries people who sometimes see themselves as ugly are given the chance to live life again to the fullest without being restrained by the thoughts that people will judge them and their physical flaws. With cosmetic surgery, people become more positive and happy as well as confident about themselves.

I'm Back! Well Sort of...

After being MIA (Missing in Action) for so many days I've finally returned to my little home in cyberspace to blog about stuff that has been happening to me lately. Well a lot of things have happened since I was last here and I kind of regret not being to blog each one of them after they happened. Now I have to recall what happened the past few weeks and make an entry about them.

Well for starters, I just realized how lazy I am. I'm amazed how quickly time passes by and how many hours I lose by being a couch potato. Yup I just lay there in the couch watching TV and time passes by and I never accomplish anything worthwhile unlike when I am blogging.

Anyway I guess I'd quit this ugly habit of mine of just lying on the couch watching TV. The TV and the couch are not my friend! I should really remember that.

Anyway I'll try to make it a habit to write a post in my blog at least once a day. That's not too hard to accomplish right?

Inner Strength

I hate seeing it when the person I love the most is vulnerable. I hate to see my mom being meek when she's in public. I hate it because I know that she will be an easy target for people who are nasty and who loves to bring down others.

There are times that I wish I could be able to provide everything our family needs so that my mom won't have to work or go outside the house. There are times when I wish my mom had a stronger character... I mean she should be more confident enough to be able to speak louder and be more aggressive with dealing with people.

But I know that my mom has a different kind of strength that is not shown physically. And this is her inner strength. I know that she had gone through a lot to get us where we are now that's why I will always respect her for that strength to overcome all to reach her goal. But she reaches her goal with out harming or stepping down on others, and this is very respectable.

But maybe it's not my mom who lacks strength at all... maybe it's me. She has learned to accept who she is. I know that I accept myself for who I am but the question is have I completely accepted myself? Maybe not. I have to be honest. I hate going out of the house because I sometimes feel insecure. I feel inferior to the white people and that I feel like I have to prove my worth all the time. I want to get through this problem of mine. Maybe it's just because I'm still young and I need a little bit more of experience... well... we'll see.

Scared of Changes

In this world... the only thing that doesn't change is the fact that everything changes... nothing lasts forever...

Even if I know this fact it still strikes fear into me. I'm afraid of what may happen. But then if I don't know anything nothing will happen to me... I won't move forward. Change can be good. It may be good or it may be bad but change must happen for the world to move forward.

I'm tired of working for Tim Hortons and I'm tired of earning just $9.50 an hour. That's why I looked and searched for jobs... and guess what? A potential employer has contacted me and I had scheduled an interview with them. If I am accepted and hired I may work on a fixed schedule as a customer service representative working Mondays to Fridays at 1:30 pm to 9:30 pm. And the best part about it is that I might actually earn $20 an hour (well as they claimed). I know that it's too good to be true so I'm going to be cautious.

I do have fears with this big move... like what do I do? How do I quit my current job without burning bridges if Ace 1 Advertising and Acquisitions hire me? How do I get to my job since it's very far away. Will there still be buses available at 10 pm? Will I like my new job? Will I even be accepted?

Anyway if I'm unhappy with my current job and if I want to preserve my dignity and sanity well I better grab any good opportunity that appears right?

I'm the Baker

Yup you heard me life. I'm officially the baker... well for today anyway. Yup I'm a trainee baker but I was able to do some solo work back in the kitchen.

I actually love being the baker because I don't have to serve any customers face to face. I don't like dealing with people... but then how can I be a nurse huh? But being a nurse is quite better than being a food store employee because most stupid people think that just because we are low earners we are uneducated.

Anyway on with my rantings. One thing that I don't like about baking is the cleaning part (aside from the going into the freezer to get stuff). Yup I hate cleaning the oven because the oven cleaner is so noxious and it's too bad that my employers don't even bother providing us with gloves and masks.

Anyway I told my manager that I couldn't work mornings anymore because I had a second part-time job as a call center agent (which of course is a lie). Good thing that it was my good manager that was working and not my bad manager who we Pinoys call Jessebel which I don't know why... maybe I'll ask tomorrow.

Well that's all for my updates today as a hard working person living out my life and slowly dying... I'm so dull sorry but that's plain old me. Simple and boring... peace out!

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Photo credits to ciaprochef.com

Identifying the Unknown

Do you hate it when there are unknown callers to your home? Well you do have the caller ID but then it's not that good because most annoying and sometimes harassing phone callers have the ability to cloak their names.

I had never experienced telemarketing this invasive way back home in the Philippines. Heck, we didn't have telemarketing in the Philippines calling and disturbing us in the comfort of our home. What's worst is if you answer the phone and you just hear a recording.

That is why it would be great to be able to trace a phone number and call up that caller saying I know who you are and where you live. Stop calling me or I'll take legal actions against you.

Yup you can have the power to know who called you even if their numbers are unlisted and you can be sure that it is 100% confidential. They won't know that you know who they are. With reverse phone lookups offered by phoneinfotracer.com you can trace a phone number and even know the exact location of the caller even if they are using a cellphone. Isn't that great? It's like having your own personal FBI agent tracing unknown callers for you.

Winter Hell

It's not yet winter but damn it's already so cold! The temperature here in Edmonton is now single digits. I can't bare to imagine how life will be where the temperature will be below 0.

I have wished before when I was back home in the Philippines that I can see and feel snow. But now I take it back and I don't ever want to get near any snow at all. I just want to stay at home during winter and I don't even want to set foot outside. Maybe I'll just order groceries online... but then if I don't work how can I afford it? Hmm... we should really get a car soon.

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Photo credits to FreeFoto.com