Express Cut

It's funny how people suggest funny pics to place in my blog. :) Here's one suggested by Mags:



Express Cut barbershop! The just cut barbershop!
No more shampooing, no more styling, no more evening the sides... just cut!
(Kaya malamang "express" hehehe :P)

Game 6: AMF Tropical / AMF Eastwood Libis

It all ends here?

yes it did :)

We brought both our A games that night and though his A game is better than mine, I had better luck as I took the game at 12-8 and the series at 4-2. The first 7 games took place in AMF Tropical then shifted to Eastwood for the finale. The sudden shift of table speed proved to be a big factor as plenty of speed shots went wild. I took the early lead with a golden break, a fluked nine and a two-nine combo. Pao's rally came up short.

Told ya it ends here...

Of Weekends, NLEX and Harry Potter

Usual Monday morning question: "How was the weekend?". In this case, it's a Tuesday morning question because our pocket president declared Monday a holiday to let them listen to her 20+ minute State of the Nation Address, which i patriotically slept through by the way.

Anyways, it's hard to rate this weekend. I drove all the way to Clark, Pampanga for a drag racing event which apparently was cancelled. It was ok though because (1) I had my Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince book with me and (2) I got to see the new NLEX. :)

The NLEX is a lot better than before. No more craters, no more rough roads, no more traffic caused by the construction. I even broke my personal record for land speed: 152 km/h and I was in Clark in less than an hour. After raving about how good the new expressway looked, I started ranting when I saw the toll prices. 160 bucks to get to Angeles? #$%^&#^*(* For a price like that, I expected the toll ticket to at least include a coupon for a free drink at Select or maybe that space between the northbound and southbound lanes to have a really cool garden with fountains that spurt pink lemonade. :P You should've seen me when I found out that you have to pay around 40+ more in addition to the 160 toll fee. Ayayay.. Naknamputsa talaga o...



Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince... Hmmm. It was all I did over the weekend. Read, sleep, eat, read, sleep, eat, eat, eat, watch DLSU beat Adamson, read, read, read, sleep. So basically, I travelled 90+ kilometers just to read a book and watch TV. Sounds logical right? Anyways, back to the book, I thought it wasn't as exciting as Order of the Phoenix and the ending was somehow predictable (i had an idea he/she was the HBP and the terrible ending). Too bad the fight scene only lasted one chapter. Overall, I enjoyed the book. The ending just sucks probably because it wasn't a happy one. I wish Harry could've nailed at least one spell in the end. Just one... kahit isang Sectumsempra lang kay HBP...

hmmm... maybe it's really a good and happy weekend. Maybe it's because the last thing I did was finish reading Harry and HBP. :-/

And So It Ends...

(I just felt like there's more to write about my team than in my previous entry...)

Today is officially the last day of the R2 Backend team. After 6 months of development and 1 month of support, we'll all now be reassigned to other teams. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'll miss the R2 backend team.

I've only been to two major application development teams - one I was the project overall lead and one I was a sublead a.k.a. "The Right Hand of Ceej and the Keeper of Codes". Here are some characteristics or attitudes my team have that I wish my futures teams will have as well:

Synergy. 1 + 1 = 3. As I said before, the team isn't composed of rocket scientists. We have a fashion model for a team lead, a jolly fat comedian for one of the subleads and half the rest of the team didn't even take computer related courses in college... and yet we deployed something that some overpaid computer techies couldn't. As I said - "Very effective as a team". Notice that task assignments are most of the time sent to two or more people? ;)

Win together, Lose together. A good test for a team is to see how they treat each other in defeat. We're weren't perfect. Tao lang. We had our down moments but there was absolutely no blaming, no fighting. Not even a hint of it.

Covering each other's backs. Like I said, tao lang. It was uncanny that whenever someone missed something, it's automatically covered by someone else. Automatically. No raising to the management that you missed it, no more explanations why it was missed, no blaming - just fix (and a gentle reminder).

One's problem is everyone else's. and I'm not talking about work related problems. It's funny how everyone is so affected by everyone else's problems and how they want to help. Kaaway ng isa, kaaway ng backend :P I have a feeling that if someone insulted me, Ceej and the others will be downstairs waiting with crowbars. "The backend mafia"

We all go home or nobody goes home. If one does OT because of an issue, some are there to help and to keep you company. If he or she does have to leave, it always come with the words/phrases "sorry" or "sure ka ok ka lang dyan?" and they will text you at 11pm to check if you've completed the task and if you're already home.

... and the cool thing is, none of these were discussed, written, introduced or anything...

I'll really miss working with you guys. I know I'll just be a cube away but it won't be the same (since I'm now joining the dark side hehehe). I've been doing a lot of reflection about the team throughout the week and so I guess I have plenty of thoughts and emotion to share (para akong magreresign/maroroll-off na no? hehe). It's just that working this past week without most of you guys made me realize these things. So once again thanks for wild ride, thanks for looking out for me, thanks for making me see the bright side of dark times, thanks for teaching me things not found in books... thanks for everything.

Thanks, really.

Ceej's farewell dinner @ Gilligan's (from top left: mags & des; ceej, mags & ching; knoll,gegs & des; knoll, gegs & ceej; me & ceej; ceej & mags, des & ceej, me & ching)

*not included: Les, Iris and Allan. Di kayo sumama e :P

Game 5: AMF Eastwood Libis

It was a close game as the score was knotted 6 or 7 times throughout the game. Pao was able to string up some consecutive racks for a 9-11 advantage. I tried to muster up a big rally but came up short at the end as Pao took game 5: 12-10 but is still down in the series 2-3.

He just played better, period. I had the flu that time but it was not
an excuse to take the bonehead shots I tried. Oh well, I get another
chance at Game 6. :D

Deployment Weekend from the 22nd Floor

My official entry to the FUCION newsletter... I wrote this one while running some DTS packages.

The structure looks awfully familiar doesn't it? :) Any Edgar Allan Poe fans there?

Deployment Weekend from the 22nd Floor

Three-thirty in the morning, weekend to deploy, I was working
Never have I even attempted to work this late before
My brain was off and sleeping and yet somehow the rest were working
Struggling, barely breathing, working in the dark twenty second floor
Sounds of keyboard keys clacking and the whirr of the fan for my Pentium four
Just that and nothing more

Russell of Fidelity, IM’d that he’s done with step twenty three
Twenty three completed steps from an SR that had twenty four
The end so close so near, I begin to pack up my stuff, my gear
With just a mind to clear and one last step, ETC is set to four
The one last step: “Run a DTS located in server .154”
Just that and nothing more

Before Russ started sleeping, he had the DTS up and running
Logged off the Reports server and left it for me to monitor
And so at four, I was watching a gray progress bar progressing
Animated gear was moving, percent complete of twenty four
“A few more minutes and I’ll be out of the twenty second floor”
Go home, sleep and nothing more

Five minutes it was fifty and five more minutes it was eighty
My gear was packed, trash thrown out while waiting for just twenty more
Eighty became eighty-one, as the start of the end has begun
Three more percent were gone as I was staring at an eighty four
But after thirty minutes, gear was moving but still showed eighty four
Never moved, never more

“Ah! A test of patience!” I walked around and soaked in the silence
Silence that was rare in this always lively twenty second floor
No pantry meetings, no keyboards clacking, no cheerful morning greetings
Quiet, dreary and boring, nothing else here for me to explore
I went back to my cube, with the DTS still showing eighty four
Never moved, never more

Panic level somewhere near Max, “Ok lang yan” sit and relax
One hour has elapsed, never has this package run so long before
I promised not to start worrying but one hour this has been running
Finally, progress bar moving, no longer was it eighty four
To my horror, it restarted! And now it displayed twenty-four
Just that and nothing more

Four different languages of shouting and cursing with stomping
Killed the silence that used to linger in this twenty second floor
The words still echoing as my eyes saw but never believing
It was just there blinding as it moved and stuck again at eighty four
“Move! Get this thing over with!” I impatiently started to roar
Quoth the DTS “Nevermore”

“Put an end to this sorrow, I promise to optimize you tomorrow”
More promises I made, but all seemed the package shrugged and ignored
Whiteboard marked pointed, “Avada Kedavra” I shouted
But again it restarted, and muttered “Act like you’re twenty four!”
“Commence kicking” said my brain but then a loud beep – someone’s at the door
‘twas my lead, Lure and no one more

A lighter beep sounded, “DTS Package successfully completed”
Lure said “O, tapos na pala,kala ko uwi ka ng four?”
“Completed na migration, pero bago ang celebration,”
“Dapat may verification, lalo sa server .154”
I said, “Sure, pero bakit ka nagra-rhyme? Para kang tumutula.”
He just worked, smirked and nothing more…

Q and A

1. pick 1 of ur scars out now.. how did u get it?
I have one in my finger when I crushed it in my brake pads while changing tires... and I still have that one from our African lovebirds

2. What's on the walls of ur room?
Dust bunnies. Oh wait... Dust Dragons!

3. Would u rather play or watch football?
American football or soccer? Doesn't matter. I'm on the IL :D

4. What sport would u say you're good at?
Is bente-uno a sport? If not, closest would be 9-Ball.

5. What was ur worst nightmare?
Noli being president (wala pa kong Pres. De Castro jokes)

6. Apples or oranges?
Hmmm... mas cute si Orange. :P

7. Grapes or watermelon?
Who are they? Are they related to Orange?

8. wolves or tigers?
Wolves. Go Garnett! :P

9. What sort of music do u listen to?
Acoustic, Pop-Rock Alternative, OPM

10.have u ever written poetry?
yes of course
always, sometimes
it just sounds better
when it rhymes

11. Do u remember birthdays?
Nope.

12. do u know what time u were born?
7:01 am (late as usual)

13. Do u have a birth mark? where?
I don't think so.

14. Are you a sweet person?
Nah

15. What were u doing b4 u started filling this in?
Updating a SQL Task in our archiving SQL Server DTS package while reviewing a remapping SQL script.

16. Fave chocolate?
Snickers.

17. Fave candy (non chocolate)?
Hmmm... Maxx?

18. Chocolate or vanilla ice-cream?
Vanilla

19. What is the first thing u notice on sum1 (opp sex).?
confidence.

20. Fave sound that u hear often?
"Ding!" lunch's heated na! :P

21. What r u thinkin about rite now?
"Bakit pula ang tawag sa gitna ng itlog kung yellow naman talaga ito?"

Man, I have issues.

22. What color r ur eyes?
hazel

23. Have u ever slept with a stuffed animal?
No! Those were only rumors! Friends lang kami! We just had coffee that's all...

24. What's the name of the stuffed animal?
"Lumpy". It was previously "Huggy" but then I rolled over it.

25. Who was ur first crush wen u were little?
Claudine?

26. What kind of hair do u like on the opp sex?
Half pony with ipit. Hair lampas shoulders. :)

27. Who out of ur friends (same sex) have u known the longest?
Pao, Pope and Jomo

28. Sunrise or sunset?
Both

29. Where can u c urself goin for ur honeymoon?
Singapore? Taiwan? HK? Depends on how much I saved that time. :)

30. Can u play an instrument?
The triangle!

31. How do u like ur coffee?
Choco Mocha. Number 8 sa machine namin.

32. What's ur fav phrase to use?
(thumbs up). Well it's not really a phrase.
"D'oh!"

33. Dragons or dinosaurs?
Dragons fighting dinosaurs! :D

34. What is your cellphone unit?
7210

34. where is your favorite place?
Antipolo overlooking Manila.

35. have u gone to the beach this summer?
Nope. Pero plan ko next next wee... oh crap di na pala summer.

36. have you at least gone swimming at the pool?
yup!

37. what time is it?
12:54 pm. Haven't eaten lunch.

38. the most amazing thing u learned today was...
Pandora's box was actually a punishment for mankind disguised as a (poisoned) gift. Pandora was given several traits from different gods and Epimetheus (Prometheus' bro) fell in love with her. He told her never to open the box but she did anyway only to shut it to keep one thing in: Hope. This was released some other time in the future.

The stuff I learn from doing DTS packages...

39.the unluckiest thing that happened today or yesterday was..
Marlon Manalo lost :(

40. the luckiest thing that happened today or yesterday was..
So did Ateneo :)

Pinoys Love Picture Taking

It was a typical Friday morning traffic when it suddenly crawled to a snail's pace along C5. I was listening to Chix and Delle that time so I didn't really mind. when I reached the C5 flyover, I finally saw the culprit - an accident. This one's different though. There was a stalled car with hazards on, a crashed motor bike and about 8 people standing around.

Sheesh. This was the reason while I'll be late? Then I realized that there was a dude under the bike. I think the car may have sideswiped the him. The biker didn't look good. Sad. Hope he's ok now.

Anyways, so what did a good citizen like me do? Hehe syempre I stopped and took pictures. :P Actually, I didn't stop just for that. The car on my right cut right in front of me then stalled (middle pic). Jerk. >:(



(Hey don't get me wrong here! There wasn't anything I could do anyway, he was already being carried to a car by these two other bikers.) Yea I know it's meaningless story, but I didn't want to post anything else related to work especially how stressful it has been lately. :S

Game 4: AMF Tropical

Back to where it all began - Tropical. It was in these tables where we first learned about the game of pool. The speed of the cloth is a lot slower here and the environment isn't that good anymore but it has this home court feeling for us.

Anyway, I took game 4: 10-8. Again it was an ugle game filled with missed easy pots, 9 balls rattling the jaws and out of control breaks and jumps. In the end it was just luck. Could have gone either way.

But who cares? I won. :p Game 5 will be in Eastwood sometime next week. I hope I could finish off this best of seven series.

Body Meeting

BODY MEETING :

All the organs of the body were having a meeting, trying to decide who was the one in charge.


"I should be in charge," said the brain , "because I run all the body's systems, so without me nothing would happen".

"I should be in charge," said the blood , "because I circulate oxygen all over so without me you'd all waste away."

"I should be in charge," said the stomach," because I process food and give all of you energy."

"I should be in charge," said the legs , "because I carry the body wherever it needs to go."

"I should be in charge," said the eyes, "because I allow the body to see where it goes."

"I should be in charge," said the rectum , "Because I'm responsible for waste removal."

All the other body parts laughed at the rectum and insulted him, so in a huff, he shut down tight.

Within a few days, the brain had a terrible headache,the stomach was
bloated, the legs got wobbly, the eyes got watery, and the blood was
toxic. They all decided that the rectum should be the boss.

The Moral of the story?

The asshole is usually in charge !!