tala @ so-phobic

Last post for the last day of 2005. This year went by so slowly for me. But now that 2006 is on the horizon, I kind of wish it would go on slomo. I don’t know if this is going to be my last Christmas here in the boonies of San Carlos, but it sure is one of the most trying. 26 years of Christmases and nothing has changed except for a McDonald’s and a Jollibee across each other. Suburban life, suburban life, sing it baby!

Everything is still about appearances. We are supposedly an upper class family based in the boonies, so we have to live the part. Nevermind that we slurp our soups, do not put and use serving spoons and forks, and set the table without glasses. We “try out” the fireworks bought from the best dealer in town (or in the Metro) at 9pm New Year’s Eve because by midnight, everyone else would have some other fireworks to look out, and they wouldn’t witness the “spectacular show” that was our fireworks. Last Christmas, for the 14th year, I faked my surprise at receiving a bunch of items as gifts when I was the one who bought them anyway. God, I am so sick of this.

I saw Mona Lisa Smile again on HBO tonight and once again, I was able to relate to the scene wherein Kirsten Dunst’s character, Betty, was looking at a picture of the Mona Lisa. At this point, her early marriage to Spencer is on the rocks.

Betty Warren: She’s smiling. Is she happy?
Mrs. Warren: The important thing is not to tell anyone.
Betty Warren: She looks happy. So, what does it matter?
Mrs. Warren: Don’t wash your dirty laundry in public.

This is my family’s mantra. I’ve managed to stray from it a couple of times, but sometimes, I still get sucked into it. Well, next year, it will be different.

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My present phone number used to be the number for a company called SM Prime Holdings, a part of the SM Group of Companies (they have a Wikipedia entry!) that brought us Shoemart and the supermalls. During its first week of installation, I got a lot of calls asking me for “Fax tone please, without even a good morning/afternoon greeting, or a verification of the office they thought they were calling. I’d get about an average of 4 faxtone please calls a day. Some days, the same office or person calls 4 times in a row, seemingly not able to comprehend my explanation of I’m sorry, but the number you are calling does not belong to SM Prime Holdings anymore, but to a private residence. I even add a Please check the new number with directory assistance spiel for good measure. But they just can’t seem to get it. 11 months later and the same person still calls, asking for the fax tone. What the fuck huh?

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PLDT called me last week for some promo since, according to their telemarketing CSR, I was one of their better customers. The promo ran something like if I paid my phone bill (and DSL?) for 10 months in advance, I’d get 2 months free. Or something like that. I wasn’t really listening much. I declined. The next day they cut off my phone line by mistake. ROFL.

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Prudential called last Monday, November 28, with some rewards gift that turned out to be an upgrade-your-insurance-and-get-some-credit-card promo for my grandmother. I told them she doesn’t live here, but that I’d pass the message along. The sales CSR immediately told me that the “gift” was transeferrable, so I could claim it in her stead. Then he started asking about my grandmother’s age, my age, my work status, etc. He even asked me to come by the office that afternoon since their office was just a block away from where I live. November 28 was a holiday and he was in the office. I declined, told him I was busy. He insisted that it wouldn’t take up much of my time. Are you kidding me? Filling up insurance forms? No thank you, goodbye, hang up phone and hope he doesn’t call again.

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Then some gasul seller called. I was debugging when she called. Very bad timing. I hate being disturbed when debugging. They found my number in the yellow pages. What, these people just call everyone who’s listed? I told them that I don’t use gasul. Probably hoping to catch me, she asked me what I use to cook. I told her I don’t cook. She then asked me what my maid uses to cook. Wtf! I wanted to fucking yell at her, I don’t want your gasul so fuck off! I managed to calmly but firmly tell her that I use an electric stove because using a gasul is prohibited in my apartment building, capiche? Hang up phone, debug.

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The freakiest phone call so far was from this guy who was a member of some religious order, Jesus Miracle Crusade or some such. One of those groups with their own cable channel. Anyway, he wanted to pray for me over the phone. It was a free service. I was tempted to tell him I wasn’t a Christian, but I just declined politely. He was actually pretty nice - a lot better than most of the “trained” CSR’s who’ve called me. For a brief moment I considered letting him pray for me. But I was worried that his definition of brief was different from mine, and that after the prayer he’d go on a recruiting spiel. No thanks, but God bless.

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talafallenstar: Dude, may anak ka na pala?
mecinaja: Lol.
talafallenstar: d00d, I called your house last Saturday.
mecinaja: Yeah?
talafallenstar: Your maid said “lumabas kasama yung anak nya”.
mecinaja: Seriously?
talafallenstar: Yeah, seriously.
mecinaja: Wait, last Saturday?
talafallenstar: Yeah, after lunch. I asked to speak to Jane. Magkapangalan ba kayo ng mom mo?
mecinaja: omg! I went out with my cousin Jean and her kid to watch Chicken Little.
talafallenstar: Omg! Wtf, hahahaha! =))
mecinaja: =))

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For once, I don’t have the Monday blues. I woke up early and was only 10 minutes late to work. A HUGE accomplishment for me, since I’ve lost all motivation for going to work. I beat Eds and Sir Alvin for the last cup of brewed coffee. Happy happy joy joy. 8 more days and I’m out of here! \:D/ My PM isn’t here yet, which is such a drag cause I want to start testing the latest software project. Instead, here I am, blogging.

Nix and I did the 2nd seal quest last night. It was tedious, but fun in a way. Except for that part where I kept dying. You have to talk to this Inn NPC until she tells you something about another dude named Aragam (or something like that). But she can refuse and kill you. I died a dozen times! I had to save in Morroc because it auto respawns you. You can’t ask for a resu from the friendly neighborhood priestess. Ick.

My grandparents are in the metro for another one of ‘em medical conventions. Guarantee for a great dinner tonight, lol. I hope she remembered to bring my camera. I want to take pictures of the office before I leave. I’m going to miss some of the people. And the testing. I think I’m really going to make a career out of it.

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They should’ve shown Rent today.

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