essential tidbits

Asking help from an expert via the Internet

February 27, 2009

I admit I’m no techie. So when some challenging technical problem happens, I turn to the web and search for the particular error I’m getting. It’s surprising to get search results with almost the same problem as I do. After reading the results, I would then select which pages are relevant to my problem and choose the best explanation or solution. Well-written pages and informative articles are really helpful. When all else fails, that is if I can’t seem to get it from the search results, I turn to my “online consultants” and they’re only two – my techie bro and the Prague connection. Okay, you don’t know these guys but they’re geeks and it’s nice to know that you can ask help from them, although when they’re busy, you have to wait for your turn. :)
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Quadrant III time management concept

February 23, 2009

It’s so frustrating when you lose an opportunity because of the fault of others. We do our best to make things work out great as it should, but we have no control of the situation sometimes particularly if the matter rests with others and not with us. For instance, mistakes and errors caused by others resulting to a disrupted work. Ugh! That incident almost made me think of considering a sales career instead of working in front of my laptop.

I can very well remember Stephen Covey’s explanation about the Quadrant III time management concept where you invest time in planning, building relationships, anticipating future situations, organizing and other management strategies that when put into practice could minimize work crisis to happen.

I now realize that the mistakes of others could not have affected my work if I have made some serious planning ahead to avoid some loopholes to happen. The Quadrant III time management concept may be difficult to implement at the start but when practiced faithfully will surely produce successful results in one’s career and personal life.

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I need more disk free space

February 17, 2009

Thanks to cutie sis! I now have an 8 GB USB flash drive to store my picture files. My laptop’s hard disk is almost full, with only 5 GB free space left. Nope, I don’t need to buy memory since my 2 GB RAM is just fine. The only complaint I have is the fast diminishing hard disk free space. Even my flash drive is slowly being filled up with files. Oh well.

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Pre-Valentine shopping at SM

We didn’t know there were some freebies for us last February 12 when we shopped at SM. We were there to buy a plastic box for big sis and some personal care items for me and didn’t really care if there was a Pre-Valentine sale or not.

While at Watson’s, I was busy choosing some items and was almost done when a saleslady told me that if my purchases would reach Php700 or more, I would get a free hand soap. She then showed me the bath soap, a liquid soap in a pump container. Really enticing offer huh. I laughingly told her that my purchases can’t possibly reach Php700. She took a calculator and computed the total and to my surprise they amounted to Php700 indeed.

So I was happy that I will have a free item as a bonus for shopping at SM. She let me choose which soap variant and suggested the purple one. Then guess what, before handing it over to me, she said that I should have to buy one of the items in their display to qualify for the free item – a Sunsilk shampoo, a Head and Shoulders shampoo, etc.

Aha! First she enticed me about the free bath soap but there was one condition that she didn’t tell me, and that was having to purchase some products before I can get the free item. “Great offer” indeed. Good thing Dad added a toothbrush set to my cart which was one of the qualifying products.

Anyway, at the cashier, I was also given two Yellow Cab discount coupons. Each coupon entitles the holder to Php20 off for food bill worth Php300. And since my shopping amounted to more than Php1000, I was also entitled to a free scented fan.

So I got three freebies from SM that day. Just one of life’s simple pleasures when shopping. 

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Getting back on track with my dance-exercise routine

February 16, 2009

I’m glad last week I was able to find time to do my 30-minutes dance-exercise moves. I would always end up feeling energized after each session and sweating all over and I like the feeling of being alive and kicking! I still am eyeing for one of those electronic treadmills and dumbbells though. Thankfully, I’ve lost some pounds ever since I started on a controlled-carbohydrate diet. 

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On Valentine’s Day: Giving from the heart

February 13, 2009

I saw on TV earlier this evening the preparation of flowers (Malaysian mums, roses, etc.) for Valentine’s Day (that’s already tomorrow). Even with the current financial crunch, flower shops still get loads of orders for bouquets which cost a lot compared to their usual price during regular days. For example, a dozen red roses usually cost Php200, but could have a price tag of Php500 tomorrow.

Guys still find ways to please their loved ones with flowers and romantic gifts despite the economic crisis. There are even stores and restaurants offering low-priced Valentine’s Day packages for couples who want to celebrate this special occasion with a limited budget.

Most ladies would appreciate any Valentine’s gift as long as it’s heartily given. So, whether it would be a pricey jewelry, a romantic handmade card or one of those funny talking watches, what matters most is the act of giving from the heart. It conveys a message to the recipient that he/she is special.

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Shopping can be so tiring

February 12, 2009

Whew! Dad and I just came from SM, the city’s biggest mall. We were mainly there to deposit some money in Banco De Oro (thankfully they close at 7pm) and find some plastic containers to organize big sis’ stuff. Well, there were other minor things we bought at Watson’s Health and Beauty, and we also dropped by for some groceries. Tsk. If only these things can be bought by clicking my mouse (think online shopping, online auctions, and everything online) I won’t have to tire my feet looking around for them especially since SM is such a big mall and going from one department to another really needs you to walk a lot. This reminds me of a shopping mall in Thailand where you can just order the items by phone and they will deliver it to your doorstep. Yup, grocery items delivered straight to your house, aside from pizzas and burgers.

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How can I afford it?

One of the ideas that came up my mind during our recent Cebu trip was investing in a condominium unit. This has been a long time dream of mine, to have a place to stay in Cebu. Sad to say, until now it’s still just a dream. Sighs.

I was in the kitchen this evening having a chat with my mom about it particularly about the monthly payments and membership fees and I was tempted to say, “I can’t afford it” but then I mentally stopped myself and asked loudly, “How can I afford it?” I could almost see Robert Kiyosaki nodding in agreement. Well, I still remember the valuable financial lessons I’ve read from his bestseller “Rich Dad Poor Dad”. The book was an eye-opener for me as I read about the cash flow quadrant, the different kinds of businesses such as franchises and traditional corporations, and other financial concerns such as assets and liabilities.

Until now, whenever something expensive entices me, I would always remember Kiyosaki’s teachings about not closing your mind to the possibilities of attaining it. According to him, saying you can’t afford it closes you to the many opportunities that are just around. It limits what you can do and is the easy alibi of a lazy mind.

On the other hand, asking yourself how you can afford it stimulates your mind to work, to THINK and find ways… and then circumstances will align to your mind’s thinking and make things happen the way you want them to be. The magic word is “HOW” and not “I CAN’T”. So, this evening I will be subjecting my mind to a lot of how’s before going to sleep. tee hee.

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Farewells and birthdays

February 9, 2009

Whew! It’s been more than a week since I last posted here. Right now I’m in Cebu and staying at my big bro’s house talking to my nephew, an electronics engineering student, on some techie concepts such as bluetooth, barcode scanners, GSM and URLs. We just sent off cutie sis and her baby early this morning for Europe. Tomorrow, we will be going back to Negros… no more baby C walking around the house. huhuhu… I wonder when we’ll see her again and when that time comes, she might be talking a lot with her newly learned words. Today is also my niece’s 20th birthday, so there’ll be some simple dinner celebration later. Of course, we will be attending a Mass as thanksgiving for this special day. Birthdays are truly blessings from Above.

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