We had the despedida for R and R, r and r for Ted and Yann and Tony's B-day celeb yesterday at Music-Match over at Hobbies of Asia. I got there early at around 6:40 having left the office at 5:35pm. Dada and I left at 10pm. Some learnings:
Don't mind the scores on the KTV monitor. They're silly, stupid and plain don't make sense. They're only there as a source of amusement for the group.
Stand to sing. Those comfy couches are there for chatting. If you gotta sing, either sit upright at the edge of the seat or stand.
Stick to the list of songs you do know and enjoy. If others don't like 'em, tough. You're there to enjoy. Don't mind the trend or types of the songs being sang. They're all pretty much predictable anyway from the head-bangers and so variety's always good.
After several days of denial, hoping and what have you, I was surprised to see the bunch of keys this morning at the table. It turns out DH misplaced them in the cleanser supot in the cabinet under the refrigerator. Argggh!!! I turned the garage, the car, my office cabinsets inside out! How was I supposed to search it THERE? Grrr!
I'll have to improve my Key Management practices, somehow. There was never a time where its importance was highlighted than now.
Arrgh. I spent a total of an hour yesterday (in 2 trips) trying to saw the Yale padlock at the 3rd gate of the apartment. Why? Well, my set of keys were gone. After all that updating, sorting and labeling, that huge chunk of keys just disappeared. Pffft, without a trace. Yup, I felt REALLY bad about it. I've ransacked all the contents of the car, all the contents of my drawers and cabinets, JUST to give me a clue as to where it is. And I did this ALL WEEKEND. But... nada. I've asked the guards at the office lobby at the "lost and found". I've asked tenants, the neighbors. Still nothing.
Anyway, I bought a new hacksaw blade on the first trip and on the second trip I was ready to saw away. Gosh, the Yale brand was so different from the Union one. The blade on the Yale just slipped on the shackle making only fine scratches. Several more minutes of huffing and puffing, a guy on a motorcycle stopped to watch me. I would've shooed him away but I was too tired and, who knows, maybe this guy knows someone who can help. So I asked him if he knew someone who can open the padlock. He asked if it needs to be cut, and I said, yeah, might as well destroy it. He disappears and comes back with a bolt cutter! Almost like 4 ft long, that cutter cut the 50mm shackle in a snap. Amazing! Gosh, what are the chances that someone in a motorbike would showup exactly at the time seeing poor me sawing and sweating AND has an access to a boltcutter! That guy, Randy, is truly heaven-sent.
I'm now thinking of buying a bolt cutter for these odd, seldom but difficult jobs. After all, I've needed to destroy 2 padlocks already. Fred says though that, for their cost, it's cost effective to just borrow boltcutters like from Meralco or PLDT or from the office.
I was just too glad that the padlock has been cut. One of my worries gone, at least. In the pingpong match last night, I lost. So the scor is 3-1. Ah well.
Have not been swimming lately. The bad weather and my allergies are not helping any. So I'm still on Virlix.
A few times, I've been asked by toastmasters in my present club why my old club, the ON Semiconductor Toastmasters Club died. Typically, they'd ask after they learn I used to be in another club with Doc Noy. I suppose there are several reasons why that club just couldn't sustain itself. Here are a few that I could think of:
Demand for good communication skills in the company is just lip-service. I don't think anybody gets rewarded because of the skills. It's appreciated, yes, but recognized and eventually rewarded? Ha!
There are only a few employees who'd want to put in the time and effort to improve. Sure, many want to improve - but they don't want the effort involved. Yeah, what the heck is that? Some mistakenly expect a teacher to come in and lecture them - classroom style.
The present management, in general, will discourage taking even a little of company time for Toastmasters meetings. In other words, management won't actively influence the sustaining of a Toastmasters Club.
Given the above, who'd want to "waste" time for meetings. There are probly just a couple of us still dedicated and committed, but with so few attendees, what's the point in regrouping the club?
My swim today was mostly freestyle and it helped clear my sinus. It also made me feel a little better as I've been having colds since Tuesday. There was a lone PE stude today. She must've been wondering why there was no PE class. I've begged off for tonight's Toastmasters meeting as I probably would strain my voice and worsen my throat.
We were supposed to go swim yesterday but the kids have so much to do: Dada has exams, Che has her egg Science project, poems, etc. And so we settled for Blue Corner as my treat for my ACB graduation. And it was the better decision coz it was very windy with the impending typhoon Goring. Here's what we had: Sizzling Pusit, Sizzling Liempo x2, Sizzling Blue Marlin and Pinakbet. Renz is happy and shows it.
Tita Gay's taking the pic. See how strong the wind was.
Renz was already happy just with the free soup!
After lunch we went to Speedo where Tita Gay bought a new swimsuit on sale.
Then we went to National Book Store (new to us) for some supplies and where I bought the business inpsirational book "Go Negosyo". We then went to a sports shop were I bought a new pingpong racket (Dunlop) for Php299.
When Che was about to leave for Math Review today, she was was asked by DH today to buy crab meat. She scoffed at the idea and was protesting. Well, DH reminded her that at Grade 5, DH was already commuting by jeepney to go to Paco market. After being told that it's only at Save More in Festival Mall, Che relented. Che just had to write it down though. And soon, the grocery list became longer. Here's Che with her grocery bag after getting home. Renz always wants to be in the pics.
Djok Taym It was a special Mass (Our Lady of Sorrows?). And it was a concelebrated mass. One assistant was carrying that incense thing and was swinging it everywhere: to the altar to the people, to the priests. Incense smoke was everywhere. Finally, the assistant was swinging it to the bible at the lectern, just before the Gospel. Renz noticed the smoke.
Renz:Sinisiga po nila? DH:(half laughing) Anong sinisiga? Bine-bless muna nila, bago basahin. Renz:Ah... Para pong 'magic spell'?
Went for a swim today coz I was feeling lethargic and I have a pingpong game later in the evening. I can't understand these PE studes. They come early and those in the pool either play or camwhore. Those out of the pool either text or camwhore. But all of them understand that they need to get the swim skills to pass! Maybe their PE should be called PE-Camwhoring and not PE-Swimming.
Every PE day is typical. There's lots of playing, laughing and teasing and little learning. Then there's the squealing and hooting when one is forced to get into the pool. WTH? Maybe they ought to just break into groups of 2, like buddy-buddies and seriously try to swim. None of this "hey-we're-a-gang-let's-party" attitude.
Here's a pic I took of a group, chatting away when they could just practice and TRY to learn. How do you expect to pass? Besides, they've already paid the fee just to enter.
Tonight I was overjoyed as I received my Advanced Communicator Bronze Award in Toastmasters. Firstly because I've been anticipating the TM pin for sometime now. Secondly, I was so excited (not nervous) to deliver my graduation speech. This is Advanced Speech #5 from the Storytelling Manual - Bringing History to Life. The title of my speech is "A Palette and a Plate". Why was I excited? Well, I've researched a lot for this speech project. That included finding out the works of Juan Luna, his biography and the details surrounding the controversial Juan Luna painting bought by GSIS. I learned so much about the man.
But my biggest challenge was weaving my fictional Dinner story with the entire Juan Luna backdrop (paintings, exposition, awards). The way I've heard the story before was very simple and straightforward in a dinner setting. For this speech project though, I had to put some embellishments to make the story so believable. These are the small details that I thought of to make the story interesting and blend logically with the background historical setting. These included details like:
Big studio bag to conceal the painting he did on the plate.
His leaving a business card to show he was no "balasubas" and that he intended to pay.
The JLUNA signature below the painting.
The snobbish attitude of the Spanish waiter.
Research on the Spanish phrases used in the dialogue.
Another challenge was segueing the Juan Luna story with GSIS controversy which I used as introduction AND THEN relating it back to the controversy towards the end. I must admit it took me a while to come up with the appropriate message for the conclusion. I thought I really uplifted their spirits on how it is to feel like a proud pinoy. Here's some of the feedback from the group:
Alfred: As usual, it was very enjoyable. The story was very good. Henry: I thoroughly enjoyed it. Neil: You mean it was a ficitonal story? Wow, I really thought it was real! It's very good. I've always thought that your best speech was "That Extra Mile". Now, I think this is better! (note: After some alterations, "That Extra Mile" eventually became my contest piece in the 2006 Quartethlon where I became Area 78 Champion.) Lolet: It captivated me that I just couldn't write the evaluation just yet. I didn't want to miss a single detail. Your gestures, vocal variety to depict the waiter and Juan Luna were excellent! You were so creative for tying a fictional story with these historical events.
Wow, I felt so amply rewarded with their evaluation. I did tell them that I felt like writing a mini-play for this speech project - complete with the dialogue and scenes.
After all the prepared speeches, we had a brief awarding ceremony with Gov. Lolet awarding me with the ACB pin. Gov. Lolet was also happy coz our pictorials now show our club banner. Too bad, Ann couldn't make it last night. We were supposed to discuss a demo meeting for a proposed TM Club over at Cummins.
Here's a part of the group we had last night.
Here's the new pin (bronze) as pinned on my clip. The picture is a bit fuzzy, I know.
In recent weeks I've been wearing the pin on the collar and it's quite a hassle pierce clothing. Over time, I suspect the sharp point of the pin will eventually become dull.
So, I've devised a clip so that the pin need not pierce clothing and it cost me Php14. It's actually an ID holder. I cut out excess plastic sheet and then punched a couple of holes for the 2 pins. A Toastmasters pin actually has 2 pins, one to punch the clothing to where the clasp is fastened and another pin to latch on to the clothing so the whole TM pin doesn't rotate. Here's how the improvised clip looks like.
Actually, 3 more TM pins may be added but then the clasp of the TM pin is too bulky that maybe just a second TM pin UNDER the existing pin is more practical. Here's the reverse side of the clip. You'll see the bulky clasp on this back side.
This was inspired from a clip I saw from the Toastmasters catalog. But the clip I saw on the catalog is USD2 or Php110 (shipping not yet included). Here's a closeup of my Competent Communicator Toastmasters Pin, 18K gold-plated and 1/2" diameter, as it is pinned to the clip.
Here's the clip as I'm wearing it now everyday. It's much more convenient clipping it to the shirt's flap as shown below. I don't wear t-shirts at work so I always have a flap to clip it on. My only problem with the clip's position on the shirt is the pin brushes with the seatbelt. Hmmm. Maybe I ought to just take it off everytime I drive.
From afar, the plastic sheet is hardly visible. I suppose the TM pin itself is more visible more than anything else. Hopefully by next meeting, I'll be receiving my Toastmasters ACB (Advanced Communicator Bronze) pin to add to the clip. I'm excited.
Here's a pic I caught last week. Dada went with Tita Gay to Divisoria and went home with some goodies. Everybody seems happy and jumping here. That's some wild hair Dada!
I was just elected as Vice President in Karen's class. It's just nice that the parents are very supportive of the cause to raise funds. They managed to collect Php4,300 already. Plus I've pledged to contribute Php100 per month.
I suppose the PE studes are gone for good. So today, I used 2 empty coke plastic bottles for practicing flip turns. When I put them in the pool, the wind just swept them away. And when I tested them, they were much more buoyant than I thought and so I put pool water inside - maybe halfway.
Of corz there's still the initial pain in the sinus. But the bottles work well. I still have this problem of not turning into a tight ball and end up still too deep. There was a couple there today with a kid. Looked like the lady had bronchitis as she kept coughing really bad.
GM Update Update That was one of the most UNINSPIRING presentation pieces I heard at yesterday's GM Update. Charts with lots of data were shown but they didn't strike a chord with the audience. It was an "I-talk-you-listen" affair. He didn't engage the audience at all. About the only time there was a bit of interest (heads nodding, moving, whispers) was when a list of employee names were shown (promotions, recognition). Funny thing is, in between some mumbled words of recognition were constant reminders or calls for cost savings, cost reduction and calls for increased productivity. Goodness, how could you rally or motivate the employees for your cause if you can't even excite or inspire them?
The Compensation Officer was no better. Her slides showed "Good News". But surprisingly, either nobody understood or nobody cared. Surely if it were good news there would be some applause... but... nope. The only applause heard was the customary courtesy clapping after a change of speakers.
And then there was the Q&A part. Slips of paper were passed around for those who had questions to the GM but would rather not go to the microphone. The acting HR mgr read a question written on one slip of paper and proceeded to answer it. Hey, lady, the question wasn't addressed to you! Sadly, it came across as a rather lame attempt to impress the big boss.
The worst is, judging from the feedback I gathered, I don't think many understood the presentation. The key takeaways were not there. Guys, I'm sure you all are technically competent but you already lack charisma. Why don't you join a toastmasters club? Might do you some good. Oh I forgot, your support for improved communication skills is just lip service. Yes, this is the stuff that make me always want to AVOID the GM Update.
Well, so much for that. Here's a real cool video I saw. Maybe the kids will like it. You may have to click on the play button TWICE. Check it out! It's also a chance for me to test blogger's video feature.
There were no PE studes today. Just three Grade 6 kids from Laco. How'd I know? Well, Dada didn't have school today and I was wondering what these kids are doing swimming on a weekday. So I asked one if they were from Laco. Turned out they where and 2 of them knew Dada from a previous school club. "Yung nakasalamin po?", asked one. Yup that's her alright.
Ugh. Talk about pain in the nose! As the pool was virtually empty, I proceeded to do my flip attempts. I did FOUR lengths doing 4 to 5 flips a length. I realized it was the first length and the first few attempts that were really painful. Successive flips is another thing coz the pain just built up. It helps to do bubbles. Well, in reality, no one does successive flip turns in swimming anyway.
Another cue that helped was to imagine holding a rope and then skipping into this rope. I also observed that if I'm too extra conscious of the flip, I twist and don't flip upright. I also remembered today to tuck in tighter so that I roll-up into a ball, thus making me turn faster.
