Wasted Attitude

One of my pet peeves is when people choose the "print receipt" option on ATMs, then immediately throw away the receipt after it's dispensed by the machine.

Such a waste of paper.

What makes things even more upsetting is when they carelessly throw away those pieces of paper. That act creates a situation like this:

Such a waste! Figuratively and literally!

Trash Talk

As Mark would sometimes say: "This is why we don't deserve nice things."

Throwing trash isn't a difficult thing to do. Actually, not only is it correct, it's also the decent thing to do. That's why it irks me whenever people throw trash on streets and sidewalks. And when they do it nonchalantly and proudly, the level of "irkness" increases exponentially.

That said, these 2 things really got my goat.

Exhibit A:

This was at the Unionbank ATM near the office. Gosh! How can people just throw their receipts all over the place. People, there's an "no print out option." if you're just going to throw it, then don't print it.

Exhibit B:

This was at Serenitea in Megamall. The duo who sat on this table was a mother and daughter tandem. The daughter was gathering the trash when the Mom asked her to just leave it there. So much for leading by example.

Gosh! People who have that kind of attitude are just...

Carmaggedon

I've heard of that term a lot. But last night was the first time I experienced it.

Yes, I'm one of the thousands of people who were stuck in traffic. I was supposed to attend a print shoot in Fairview, and I ended up spending around 7 hours on the road - both in the car, in a bus, and walking.

This is something I never, never, never, NEVER want to experience again.

Confessions of a disenfranchised voter

While most Filipinos are out exercising their right to suffrage, I'm home sorting out clothes to send to Bicol.

Yes, I'm not voting. Not because I don't want to, but I simply can't. Such is the case for both 2010 and 2013.

Don't get me wrong. I've always voted. Heck, I've always wanted to vote. One of the reasons why I looked forward to my 18th birthday was the fact that I could vote right after. Since then, I've never missed an election.

In fact, it was because I never wanted to miss an election that I registered as an overseas voter when I was still living in HKG. Upon my return to the Philippines, I found out that my name has been removed from the voters list in my former precinct. Thus, I wasn't able to vote last 2010. (The only option would have been to go to HKG and vote there, which I could've done, but didn't.)

I should've learned my lesson back then and re-registered prior to the 2013 elections. It was really my plan, but as some plans usually go, it didn't materialize. So, for the 2nd time around, I was disenfranchised. Boo!

That said, I can't complain about the results of today's mid-term elections. After all, I'm not part of it. But 2016 is another story. That's the year that we'll choose a new president who'll lead us for another 6 years, so the need to register is greater.

With something that monumental, I'd like my voice to be heard.

Failing in College

I've always been a Top Model fan. I think I've watched every cycle from 6 to 17. When I worked for the CW, I even got to watch them in advance, which was way, way cool.

Heck, I even have favorite contestants per season. There was Melrose from Cycle 7, Marjorie and Joslyn from Cycle 11, Rae from Cycle 13, Raina and Angelea from Cycle, Esther, Jane and Liz from Cycle 15, and Alexandra from Cycle 16.

While ANTM British Invasion was such as bore, I was willing to give ANTM College Edition a chance. 

But that chance ended after one episode. I'm sorry Ms. Banks, but this cycle is the most contrived of them all. The judges look like they don't know what they're talking about, and the creative director isn't creative at all. Makes you miss Jay, Ms. Jay and Nigel even more.

So, if I were to give this cycle a grade, it'll definitely fail.

Of service and sarcasm

On my way to Shash's office, I passed by SM Department Store in Makati and decided to browse for a bit.

There were a few pieces that caught my eye, so I stopped to check them out. While I was doing this, there were 2 salesladies who were chatting away, unmindful of a customer checking out the merchandise.

I began scouring the racks, checking out shirts and jeans. Normally, at this point, the saleslady would come to assist me. They'd usually ask what size, who is it for, what other colors are available, and what not. But no, the 2 salesladies continued on with their conversation about boys and what he texted her and so on and so forth.

Seriously, I was there for about 20 minutes and they just stood there, talking to each other.

Finally, one of the ladies took a break from listening to her friend and looked at me as I was reaching for a pair of jeans. She stood around 10 feet away from me, and from where she was, asked me:

SALESLADY: Ano po yon?

Mind you, she didn't even make an effort to come near me. She asked the question while still standing in front of the other saleslady who was yapping away. Miffed by their lack of customer service orientation, I gathered all my sarcasm and said:

ME: Huwag na miss, mukhang busing-busy kayong dalawa diyan.

To which the saleslady answered:

SALESLADY: Ah, okay.

Then, she proceeded to continue her conversation, still not moving from where she stood.

Gosh! Someone should teach these ladies the concept of customer service. Or just plain good manners for that matter.

Perfect Timing

Because of last night's heavy rain that left part of Taft Avenue flooded, (a flood that I had to wade through) I waited for advice this morning before going to school for my Saturday classes.

At 6:00am, there was no answer on the school's trunkline. At 6:30am, I started coordinating with Ellen just to make sure that there were classes. By 6:45am, she said that there was no announcement from the school administration, so we should take that as "business as usual."

So, off I went to school. Actually, today's lesson is fun and I was excited to go there and teach.

When I stepped inside the school gate at 7:40am, that's when the SMS came in: "No classes today."

Perfect. Just perfect.