Sunday, September 30, 2012

"Ber" You Go

September is almost ending and the last quarter of 2012 is upon us. I can't believe time flew by so fast this year. Maybe because of my new job that entails meeting targets every month.

It has been a really exciting year. Lots of changes and challenges that came my way. Probably the only thing that I didn't like about this year was that I gained back all the pounds that I lost last year. I now have to struggle in losing them again before the year ends (or at least 5 lbs as that would be the amount of weight that I'll gain during the Christmas season).

I haven't been writing that much as I have been horribly busy. Between the new job, my teaching and Basti getting sick recently, it has been really crazy. But then, I prefer this than twiddling my thumbs and whiling the time away. I feel myself degenerating everytime I get bored with what I'm doing or if I have too much time in my hands.

On a sad note, my maternal grandmother passed away last Wednesday due to renal failure, she's 84. My memories of her involve staying with her and my grandfather at their mansion in Batangas during weekends and summers. She is one strong woman to have birthed 13 children and survived  her husband who passed away due to stroke more than 20 years ago. She has been residing in the US for more than 10 years already. I'm glad I had the chance to see her one last time last year when we had a vacation at the US. Farewell, Lola Meling. You are now free of pain and reunited with Lolo Prime. Say hi to him for me and also to Lolo Ruben and Lola Pacing.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Sunshine Says...

“Severus, please fetch me the strongest truth potion you posess, then go down to the kitchen and bring up the house elf called Winky. Minerva, kindly go down to Hagrids house where you will find a large black dog sitting in the pumpkin patch. Take the dog up to my office, tell him I will be with him shortly, then come back here.” 
― J.K. RowlingHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

I'm a stickler for instructions and rules. I believe that rules are there for a reason and are meant to be followed. (Of course, I do not follow it blindly but I ensure I understand the spirit behind it before implementing a rule). It irks me no end if I encounter people who are "pasaway". I have a number of them at work and at school.

My most important rule for my department is that everyone should come on time. I cannot tolerate late-comers. Though they tell me that they render overtime if they are late, it defeats the purpose as we end up paying them more for their tardiness. I have 2-3 people in my list who are perennially late and I am fast running out of patience. I have given them so many chances to make it right and they still persist on being tardy. I have talked to them till I was blue in the face but I have yet to see permanent results. If our HR is as efficient as my previous employer then I would not be having this problem in the first place. If they cannot follow just one simple instruction then how can I trust them with bigger things? Not only is cost involved but it's unfair for their team mates who come in earlier or even on time. One of these days, I will bring down the sanctions indicated on our code of ethics on their heads without prior notice (actually, I have warned them already several times. They don't deserve another warning).

As for my class in school, I encountered also students who cannot follow simple instructions. For example, one of them did not even write their name on their midterm exam when I even reminded them numerous times to do so! I wrote a big question mark on her paper and was even tempted to not give her a grade. In the recent quiz, a couple of them also did not follow instructions. I did not even think twice in not giving them the full grade. I specifically wrote down the instructions AND even verbally repeated it but they still did not follow. I dread how they will turn out when they join the working class. They have to understand that not following directions can cost them a job.

Oh well, I just can't have it all.