OC Mode

Doesn’t it bother you when you can’t find a particular item in your room when you know that you always keep it in the same place as before? Or when you open a drawer it so full of junk that something might be living inside it already? Or when you arrange things a certain way, then when you get home, it now has a different setting?

For quite some time now I haven’t been on my OC mode. (And we are probably talking about 2 years) it’s just that there is too much work and I do lack the time to be on OC mode. On every spare time I get, I’d rather do something else. Just a sample of my “OCness” is that for my DVDs, I had custom-built a library shelf and organized the DVDs into categories and are labeled in numerical order in each category. (Please don’t ask why not alphabetically, I just might do it. It was easier to do the labeling since it is numbered to the most recently purchased and watched)

But lately, I just couldn’t take it anymore. I feel like my surroundings are in total disarray.

Whenever I come home from work and go up to the 2nd floor, the first thing I would notice is the family room. I bought this TV/DVD remote holder so that when nobody is watching, you put back the remote in the holder. But for some apparent reason I always see the remote on top of the TV. Most of the electronic appliances such as TV, DVDs and computers have voltage regulators or AVRs and surge protectors that you can switch off when you are not using it, but again, for some reason it’s left on.

As simple as turning the lights out when not in use sometimes ticks me off. So I keep reminding everyone that if you are not using the lights, then turn it off. So the funniest thing happens every now and then, when it’s my turn to use the bathroom and I am in the middle of either brushing my teeth or taking a shower, suddenly the lights go out. Or when I am inside the room and they leave the room, they turn off the lights. Ah, hello??

It also bothers me when something is borrowed but never returned. I have this vanity kit, (yeah, yeah, so what if I am vain) it has nail cutters and all. I swear I am getting everybody vanity kits for Christmas because it used to have like 7 pieces, now it’s missing four. I bought myself a set of scissors, but behold I can’t find them anymore. So I bought each room their own sets of scissors, thinking that would put a stop to it, but oh my God, I am chaining that damn scissors to the desk.

Putting things in order doesn’t necessarily mean you have an Obsessive-Compulsive behavior. It’s not literally a bad habit either. I mean, having order makes things simpler, right?

Ok, I have to admit, it may seem petty but that’s just how I want things to be. Just like how I organize my computer table. I want the PC speakers parallel to the monitor, beside the right speakers would be the iPod dock, beside the left speakers is the family picture, and underneath the monitor is a pen and a flash drive. I have that sense of peace when things are in that order. But most of the time when I come home, the speakers are behind the monitor, the iPod dock is underneath the monitor, and the family picture is on top of the scanner.

There is so much clutter right now and it will take hours and days to get things in the right order, which I don’t have the luxury to do so. Especially with the new baby coming in 3 months, things really need to be organized. That’s when I came up with the idea to do my OC Mode on a staggered basis. I did one drawer today, tomorrow probably one shelf. At the same time making sure that the areas that I already “OCified” are maintained…

How boring.

“Order is never observed; it is disorder that attracts attention because it is awkward and intrusive.” – Eliphas Levi

Featured Clips of the Day: Find your Beach

How I wish everyday I can have this steady chillax feeling....let's all find our beach.



Having a Flu is Good?

The past week I have been suffering from fever and mostly cough and colds. Up until now I am still taking medications. It may be the sudden change in weather, or an unknown virus that just wouldn’t want to go away. Was literally immobilized last Wednesday when the fever and height of the coughing happened. (I wouldn’t want to go through that ever again), didn't play any basketball either during the weekend, totally sluggish and exhausted from the coughing.

Anyway, I got so bothered with the cough and colds; I did some research on what actually causes the phlegm and mucus. (Yes, gross, I know, but I was so pissed at how I was feeling, I wanted to find out what I can do to prevent it from happening again.)

To my surprise, did you know that phlegm and mucus are actually vital for good health??

Mucus is a defense mechanism of our body that protects us from allergens, viruses and bacteria. We may have been under the assumption that having a clogged/runny nose and non-stop cough or phlegm is actually the virus itself; it’s actually the mucus that helps us get better faster.

Mucus is a substance consisting of 95% water and 5% carbohydrates, fat, salt and proteins. The mucus captures and traps harmful substances through our nose to prevent it from making their way to our lungs. And to be more scientific, the mucus contains antiseptic enzymes and immunoglobulins that help fight these viral infections.

When we have a prolonged runny nose, the reason for this is that the mucus has not effectively cleared out the infectious particles, thus our system pumps up the production of more mucus in an attempt to flush out the infection; If it is a virus or bacteria, our immune system responds by increasing the blood flow, which can cause the surrounding tissue of the nasal area to swell. The mucus may thicken and get stuck behind the swollen nasal passage and that’s when we experience a clogged nose.

Indeed, these are the wonders of the protective Elements of our human body.

Featured Clip of the Day: Baby Got Back - Sir Gilbert and Sullivan Style

There have been so many remakes in the music industry, but for me, this 90's rap hit remix really tops them all...Har har har.

Baby Got Back - Sir Gilbert and Sullivan Style:

Baby Got Back - Sir Mix-A-Lot Original:

Recruitment Goobledygook

Here are some funny Recruitment jargons that I came across on the Internet, and thier possible true meanings...

"COMPETITIVE SALARY"
 - We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors.

"JOIN OUR FAST-PACED COMPANY"
 - We have no time to train you; you'll have to introduce yourself to your coworkers.

"IMMEDIATE OPENING"
- The person who used to have this job gave notice a month ago. We're just now running the ad.

"SELF-MOTIVATED"
- Management won't answer questions

"SEEKING ENTHUSIASTIC, FUN, HARD WORKING, PEOPLE"
...who still live with their parents and won't mind our internship-level salaries.

"FUN WORK ENVIRONMENT"
- Your coworkers will be insulted if you don't drink with them.

"A DRUG-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENT"
 - We booze it up at company parties.

"MUST BE DEADLINE ORIENTED"
- You'll be six months behind schedule on your first day.

"SOME PUBLIC RELATIONS REQUIRED"
 - If we're in trouble, you'll go on TV and get us out of it.

"SOME OVERTIME REQUIRED"
- Some time each night and some time each weekend.

"FLEXIBLE HOURS"
- Work 40 hours; get paid for 25.

"DUTIES WILL VARY"
- Anyone in the office can boss you around.

"MUST HAVE AN EYE FOR DETAIL"
- We have no quality control.

"COLLEGE DEGREE PREFERRED"
- Unless you wasted those four years studying something useless.

"SEEKING CANDIDATES WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE"
- You'll need it to replace three people who just left.

"PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS A MUST"
- You're walking into a company in perpetual, systemic chaos.

"GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS"
- Management communicates, you listen, figure out what they want and do.

"ABILITY TO HANDLE A HEAVY WORKLOAD"
- You whine, you're fired.

Don't Quit - Author Unknown

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don't give up though the pace seems slow--

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,

It seems to a faint and faltering man,

Often the struggler has given up,

When he might have captured the victor's cup,

And he learned too late when the night slipped down,

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out--

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far,

So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit--

It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Featured Clip of the Day: Samsung Profile Pictures

Can you really trust those profile pictures?



Most Beautiful Lakes in the World - by Beth Collins

Though you can't really swim in most of them, but the sight can be breathtaking and relaxing...

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Lake Garda, Italy

Taal Lake, Philippines

Plitvice Lakes, Croatia

Lake Malawi, Malawi

For more beautiful lakes, click here: Beautiful Lakes in the World

My Little Princess

Having two boys, we were praying to have a baby girl. Just last week, our prayers were answered.

I can't wait to hold you in my arms, my little princess, Julianna Kassandra.

Featured Clip of the Day: Too Much CSI

Interrogations can be fun....

Father's Day Triple Treat

After hours and hours of work during the weekdays, you really look forward to that weekend to relax. Last June 17 to 20, was one of those weekends that I would really cherish.

Technically June 17 and 18, I was attending a 2-day HR Congress, though it seems that it sounds like work, it wasn't for me. The talks were able to enrich my mind with knowledge about my job and the teambuilding activities were fun. (More on my HR Congress experience: First Pacific HR Congress)

On the eve of Father's Day, my family treated me dinner at Isabelo's Garden. (Here is their website: Isabelo's Garden) The food was delicious but what really caught my taste buds was the Key Lime Mini Pie. (What can I say, I'm a sucker for sweets.)

Orange Herbed Chicken



Pugon-baked Porkloin

Double Smoked Bacon and Quattro Formaggio Pizza

Watermelon Sorbet

Key Lime Mini Pie

On Sunday, We had a steak dinner at my Ninong's house and the usual drinks of course at the Garage.

Mmm...Rib Eye Steak



Cold Cuts & Cheese Platter

And to cap the night, Finlandia Lime Vodka

But it does not stop there. Post Father's Day, my Mom had a couple of free lunch buffet vouchers at The Escolta in Manila Peninsula Hotel. Talk about gaining a few pounds over the weekend.

Sushi Bar



Seafood Bar

Mmm...Prime Rib

Life's Little Sweetness

Thank you to my family for such a wonderful Father's Day treat.

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." - Desmond Tutu

Beat'Em Up Babe of the Day - Tao / District 13

A group of street gangs try to stop a government from dropping a neutron bomb on their district. They enlist the help of Tao, who at first, her unit helped them out by hacking into some data, then later teamed up with the gangs to infiltrate a base of operations for the said government, and in one scene, Tao kicked the living hell out of 4 soldiers.

Tao Fight Scene - Preview