Life Lately

In the format of The Sunday Currently.

Lovely break of day

Blogging on Sundays just doesn't work for me anymore as I'm mostly out with family. The only time I get to blog is when it's down time in the office, which you know, happens quite a lot lol. So I'm sure to always have time hahaha, thing is, when it's kinda lax at the office, what am I gonna blog about? Hehe

I haven't gotten time to make reviews too. I guess I have a couple pending in my drafts but I don't think they'll be up, ever lol. I gave up reviewing beauty products because I gathered it isn't too helpful reading someone's opinion on makeup, you need to have a face to show for it too, and I'm not quite ready exposing my bloody face to the world. I'm also done reviewing restaurants after realizing I suck at being a food critic. Everything either tastes good or bad to me and I can probably say I like this resto better or not. But to expound more on the matter? Which is probably why blogging, in its written form, has died. People have moved to other, more suitable platforms that don't require them to write paragraphs to express approval or distaste over something. Where visual content is the main product and captions don't need to relate to it. Urgh.

It's cool though, suddenly the blogosphere is back to its original form. A small community of those who like to overshare through writing.

ANYWAY. Before this turns into a bitter account of how "influencers" have littered the blogosphere with bad captions and unacceptable grammar...

Reading
Sophie Kinsella's I've Got Your Number
Funny, so far! And I'm enjoying my new PDF reader, Foxit, because it integrates with Google Drive where all my ebooks are stored. Couple that with reflow, night mode, and customizeable themes and I don't think I'm getting a Kindle anytime soon!

Writing
Uhh, this

Listening
To the loud hum of the fans in the server cage

Thinking
About my parent's anniversary celebration! I booked a one-bedroom suite at Kasa Luntian Tagaytay, after failing to find suitable accommodations at Nurture Wellness and Narra Hill. I guess it's about as much "nature" as I can get given the 2 weeks notice. Tagaytay is just so frkn booked. I'm quite hesitant about Kasa Luntian actually, mainly because it just looks like our current condo with the way the pools and outdoor amenities are designed. But oh well, it's probably much better than Citiland, Serin, or Wind lol.

Smelling
Nothing

Wishing
I had so much money right now. Don't we all.

Watching
Alternating between Youtube vlogs and Netflix's Instant Hotel Season 2

Loving
That I was able to salvage this bridesmaids dress I'm gonna use for my friend's wedding in 4 weeks. It's a mint green chiffon infinity dress that's not very flattering because of its super short wrap.

There's not much cloth you can use to style it with so unless you're okay with plain strapless or awkward halters, it's gotta be improved.

It's also very flimsy. First time I tried it on, the zipper broke. Next time, the corset boning shot through the fabric. Argh. I had the zipper repaired, managed to hide the boning, then I bought a long-ass fabric in a similar color and tried to make a shawl from it.

Now I'm okay with it!

I used the super long shawl as a wrap-around and did an off-shoulder style. Yey.

Wanting
To do something worthwhile.

Needing
To save more moneyyy.

Feeling
Excited to go home! Look at the time!

OC with my PC

Photo from Unsplash

Whenever I get a new desktop, whether at work or at home, I always make it a point to setup my computer according to my specifications. This includes installing 3rd party productivity tools, tinkering my start bar, creating keyboard shortcuts, and keeping the desktop clean at all times. I try not to keep stuff on the desktop, whatever's originally there can stay (My Computer, Recycle Bin, and other proprietary company software that persists upon restart that there's no point in removing them) and I'm not adding to it. I hate stickies and basically anything that clutters the wallpaper haha. Organizing my computer helps me work faster and more importantly, keeps my PC performance optimized. I'm a big keyboard user and as much as possible I try to use shortcuts for everything. Clicking on Start, typing Calculator, then clicking on the Calculator to launch it is a pain for me. I'd rather type Win+R, Calc, then Enter to launch the damned calcu.

So here's what I do when I get a fresh PC:

1. Request for admin rights (if it's a company PC). Easy for us in the tech team to get clearance for this. Important for installing software.
2. Setup my Taskbar. Small buttons, enable labels, never combine. Classic.
3. Cleanup Start Menu by removing the live tiles. They're annoying. Here's how.
4. Create a personal folder inside my user profile, like this: C:\Users\username\Personal
   Because items directly under your user directory can be run automatically from the Run dialog.
5. Create a Notes file. Basically an Excel file where I jot down my work notes.
   In my line of work, notes aren't really necessary but I like to keep em for future reference.
   I usually create a new tab per project, then add 3 columns namely Date, Item, and Description. Every tab is color coded according to Pantone's Color of the Year hahaha. This helps me keep track of the projects I've worked on per year, which is crucial when it's time to work on our annual performance report. Every time I work on a project, I add notes to it.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Install productivity tools
• Notepad++ because it's the best code editor, supports several languages, has session backup, and pretty themes.
• Screenhunter because I don't like the Snipping Tool lol
• WordWeb because I need a dictionary hehe
• WinRar because it's more reliable than Window's default compression software
• WinMerge for diff-ing code changes
• Google Chrome because duh
• Adobe Photoshop Portable for fun hehe sssshhh
7. Create shortcuts for my most used apps. Shortcuts are run dialog keywords I use to launch a certain app. Because it's easier for me to type Win+R, ie, then enter to launch Internet Explorer instead of navigating using the frkn mouse. Here's how. I create new shortcuts for the apps I installed, and also edit those I think are hard to remember
   
   
   
   
   
• sh for ScreenHunter
• sb for Secured Browser
• winmerge for WinMerge
• npp for Notepad++ (originally: notepad++)
• ie for Internet Explorer (originally: iexplore)
• excel for MS Excel
• word for MS Word (originally: winword)
• ppt for MS Powerpoint (oringally: powerpnt)
• remote for Remote Desktop Connection (originally: mstsc.exe)
• chrome for Google Chrome
• notes for my excel Notes file
• ps for Photoshop
• ai for Illustrator
8. Create a todo.txt and open it in Notepad++ so it stays in the current session
   It's a habit of mine to launch npp every time I start my machine. I use Monokai theme and lay out my text files these way, To-do on the left, and random notes on the right
   
   
   
   
   

Yeah, so that's pretty much how I setup my PC for maximum utility. How about you, how OC are you with PC? :D

Clearly

This afternoon I picked up my glasses from Sarabia Optical and I have to say, holey moley what a wonderful world! I never really had problems with my vision, I thought I have a pretty clear sight. I just wanted to get glasses to protect my eyes from the computer. Turns out I also have astigmatism so uhm, yey for getting diagnosed.

This cute plastic frame is by Calvin Klein. It damning how these frames cost so much. Price ran to 7k in total. Still cheaper than Owndays lol. Thank God for our optical reimbursement I only have to pay less than half yey! 

I thought it would be hard adjusting to life with glasses, but I'm enjoying it. Everything is frkn clearer. Love it.

Here's me sneaking a selfie,

Ciao!

Can we not push it?

Image by Bernd Hildebrandt from Pixabay 

After being on waitlist for 3 months, I've given up any chances that I might make it to Planit. After all, I sucked at the technical exam. It's just that I get easily hung up on thoughts of a greener pasture, especially this one, because it's abroad, and they'd take care of you and your dependent's visa. It's the most alluring package I've ever seen. I'd get on board with anything that would ship me out of this frkn country, for free, of course. Anyway. Just recently, I've come to accept the fact that I may not be the candidate they're looking for. And that there's really no opportunity for me with them. My experience doesn't quite cut it. My mishmash of skills isn't getting me anywhere. And the competition barely leaves me breathing. I don't even know where to put myself in this industry anymore.

But since I'm past the grieving phase lol, I'd like to share this timeline of how it went on my first try, yep cos there's a brief next one haha...

• December 20, 2018 - Submitted job application online (Software & Technical Testing Opportunities - Relocate to Australia & New Zealand)
• December 26, 2018 - Invitation to complete one-way video interview
• January 1, 2019 - Submitted one-way interview
• January 11, 2019 - Passed one-way interview. Got scheduled for a Skype video interview.
• January 16, 2019 - Skype interview
• January 21, 2019 - Passed Skype interview. Got invited to SG roadshow.
• January 25, 2019 - Exam details sent
• February 1, 2019 - Technical interview and assessment details sent
• February 11, 2019 - Exam date
• February 14, 2019 - Technical interview and assessment date
• March 8, 2019 - Results out, supposedly. No call/email yet
• March 11, 2019 - Still no news.
• March 12, 2019 - Still no news. Sent follow up.
• March 13, 2019 - Received regret email. I'm put on waitlist for the next 6 months.
• March 18, 2019 - Some people on waitlist were emailed for a Skype interview. I'm not one of them.
• April 4, 2019 - Another set of people on waitlist emailed for a job offer. Now everyone I know on waitlist has been offered a job. Still not one of them.

The application process with them is frkn strenuous. I went though a lot only to fail. But it's okay. That 4 months has been the dreamiest. The thought of a new country, new people, higher salary, new surroundings, fresh air, fresh produce. I never thought of leaving the country until this opportunity came along. It really made me want it so bad. But it's not for me. And I understand hehe.

Anyway, I'm feeling slightly annoyed though. Not with the application, but with some people. Because everyone I know on waitlist has been given a slot already, some people on the group chat have been urging me to keep on following up, never lose hope, it's definitely coming, so don't worry. As if I'm worried. As if they truly cared. As if I'm craving for reassurance. They're only saying that because they were offered already, see. Urgh what toxic optimism.

Waitlist period isn't over yet when they posted new relocation opportunities. I couldn't wait, so I tried my luck at Automation, even though I know I'm not cut out for it.

• June 4, 2019 - Applied for another relocation opportunity (Automation Testing Opportunities - Relocate to Melbourne!)
• June 5, 2019 - Received invitation to complete one-way video interview. Here we go again.
• June 7, 2019 - Submitted one-way interview
• June 13, 2019 - Failed one-way interview

I wasn't surprised, really. They're looking for automation testers and I offered myself as an RPA developer. I'm that thick. Plus I can't commence with them until 6-8 months. So there, let's end it. The longer I wait, the longer my experience gap becomes. The smaller my confidence grows. But it's fine. I'm at a good place anyway. ｡◕‿◕｡

And well, just when I gave up on this, one of my former colleagues asked me if wanted to work with them again. Agaaaain. The last time they asked, I went through the interview and vetting process alright and got a dreamy offer. My current manager countered, and I stayed. Now they're asking me again, considering my request for an onsite position. But hey, it's all a big blur. If only my previous manager would hire me directly and not have me go through consulting again!

Oh well.

Today

I was helping my sister look for jobs on Jobstreet when I got curious and checked jobs for my own. Haha. I have no intention of leaving just yet but I thought I'd try to see if there's anything that fits me at this point. My keyword is really just UIPath. Nothing else. Then I landed on this posting by a global logistics company looking for an RPA Developer, with, if I understood the description correctly, testing and programming skills. I got excited. Salary range is around my expected. Location is a bit worrying though. But anyway. I decided to try it out. Today I submitted an application.