Addicted to blogging

This would be my 47th post for the month which surpassed last 2009's total number of blogposts XD.

Yes, blogging is really addicting especially if you have nothing to do in the office on a Sunday night. XD

Swabeng Random Thoughts Part 1

1. I missed 2 events (UST's foundation week as well as Mapua's foundation week.) Toinks!

2. Got 12 thoughts to blog but I don't know what to start. 

3. I should have got at least 3 hours of sleep so I could have focused on Master Jo Avila's Post Processing Technique (I might attend make-up classes for this XD). 

4. Planning where to spend our advanced Valentines Day for me and my wife since I'll be in the office on the night of Feb 14.

5. Buy Lowepro's Fastpack 250 on Tuesday. Fastpack 350 is way big for a backpack to me as of the moment. XD

6. Have my eyes and lungs check as soon as possible. 

7. I've been working 7 nights for the past 8 and I need a break XD. 

8. I hope FHM Philippines would have an autograph signing this month XD. 

9. I hope after running some errands on the 1st of February, I could take my wife to the Photoworld Asia in Glorietta to show to her my wish list XD.

10. I missed my bed back home. 

XD

The week that was (January 23 - 29)

Sunday: I got up at 3:00am after only 4 hours of sleep. I got to go online early to check other blogs as well as check my mafia XD. Probably I was online for almost 6 hours before doing my laundry and read Sunday's paper. After hearing Sunday's mass, me and my wife went back home to have lunch before hitting the bed for my work at night. I forced myself to get up at 7:45pm as I got only a few hours of sleep. Going to the office was ok even if I got late by a few minutes. Since its Sunday in the US, I know I'll be having so much fun on my first day XD. 

Monday: Work was very light as I got only 1 call which I was able to fix. After my shift, I went home right away to see my lovely wife. I went online for a few minutes before taking her to the LRT for her ride to the office. I was able to get some good sleep though for the past few days, it seems its not enough for me. At 7:30pm, I'm already up and getting myself ready for work. I was quite surprised that I got in the office early even if I left home at almost 8:45pm. It must be with my timing with the LRT's arrival XD.

Tuesday:  Phones are in night mode which means calls are coming right here XD.I got a few calls that I was able to manage. Then I went out at 6:30am to have some breakfast since I got really hungry. After my shift, I went home right away to accompany my wife to the hospital. To my surprise, I got home earlier than I expected, probably because I took an fx ride at Shaw Blvd. When I got home, my wife was almost done fixing herself as I relaxed for a bit and watched tv. We left at almost 9:00am and got to the hospital an hour later. After she submitted some tests, we took a cab going to the office since she will be reporting for work. I stayed at her office for a few minutes before going home. I took a quick stop at Gateway for lunch before finally going home. I took another quick stop at the drugstore for my wife's vitamins. Probably I got to bed at around 1:30pm. I got up at 8:30pm still felling sleepy. Even if I'm not 100%, I left home at 9:45pm knowing that my colleague will be there by 10:00pm. When I got there, my colleague wasn't there until he told me he wont be reporting for the next couple of days. I know I'm gonna be working solo for the next few days XD.

Wednesday: So far, work is smooth and steady as I got 3 calls while the US Team is on lunch. I got 4 calls before my shift ends. I went home after my shift since I feel very tired and sleepy. When I got home, my wife was still sleeping and I woke her up. Then I went downstairs to read some blogs and look for fresh ideas. After taking my wife to the LRT, somehow I felt really tired as it takes it toll on my body. Good thing I was able to fall asleep right away. I got up 7 hours later, still feeling sleepy, I went to the drugstore to buy some medicines for my wife before reporting to office. Good thing I got there early.

Thursday: To my surprise, I didn't have any calls while the US team was on lunch. But still, my mind was not 100% focused because I'm not feeling very well =(. I might work for 10 days straight if I would be unfortunate since there might be no one to fill in the Fri-Sat night schedule which happens to be my rest days. I left the office at almost 7:30am because of one call I got at 6:15am. It didn't took that long but I didn't have any idea how to fix it until my colleague from the morning shift came. After shift, I went home via Crossing Quiapo route but had to stop by at Tropical Hut to have some breakfast. My wife was still sleeping when I got home. Then I went online for a few more hours until my wife was ready for work. Then I went up to bed and get some sleep but it seems I'm having a hard time sleeping. Though I was able to get 5-6 hours of good sleep, it feels like I need more. I left home earlier so that I wont be late for work. As I reach the office, My colleague told me the bad news the the wife of my fellow colleague in the night shift has passed away (may God bless her) and I'm not sure about the status of his baby. I hope everything will be alright as I got worried with my own as well.

Friday: Work was quite ok though I had 3 calls throughout my shift. I had to wait for mt TL to arrive at the office since no one will be manning the stations if I leave. Instead of going home, I went to CBTL to have some breakfast there. Actually, I wanted to see how it feels to relax at their Greenbelt 3 branch compared to  Salcedo. Its quite ok as I took pictures of my lensmug as well as my breakfast. Then, I proceed to Glorietta to wait for its opening at 10:00am but its still too early so I stopped by at Subway to have their sub of the day. Thinking I've killed enough time, I continued to go to Glorietta and waited there until the store opens. As soon as the mall opens, I wasted no time in going in and heading to the Photoworld Asia event where there are free camera and lens cleaning from Canon but to my disappointment, they said that free cleaning will be on weekends only from 1:00pm onwards. I left the place dismayed for the first time in years that I have attended Photoworld Asia. While boarding the bus, I was thinking of where to go next. In a blink of an eye, I went to SM Megamall to get myself a Giottos Air Blower to add to my cleaning tools for my camera. I got home probably past 12 noon and I went to bed to get that much needed rest for my 6th day in the office. I got at least 6 hours of sleep but since I feel a little bit sick due to coughs, I took my time slowly and waited for my wife to come home before leaving for work at 10:00pm and got there an hour later.

Saturday: Work was quite ok though I got reprimanded by my US Helpdesk Supervisor for missing an email that should have been done a few weeks back. I got surprised since I never seen that email in one of our inbox as probably he thought I put it somewhere. Then I went down to but some food for lunch (or probably breakfast) and I saw FHM's latest issue with Misa Campo on the cover.I bought it out of instinct but didn't noticed the damaged part on the sides. I went back again and continued working. My Helpdesk Manager gave me more tasks to do which requires me to call the users for software installation. I called them but none of them were answering. I left a voice message to them and documented it on the ticket. After shift, I was kinda confused where to go next. I took a cab all of a sudden to go to Intramuros to have my chicken meal at manang' stall #9. After eating, I went home to see my wife as well as take a breather before going back to SM Manila to do some bank transactions. I got another copy of FHM but this time, a better and sturdier one. I got back home again to get some more rest before leaving again for Greenhills to attend another session. That took me 4 hours before going back to Glorietta in Ayala to meet my friend Vince and have my camera bag sold to him. That was a good deal for me considering I'm selling at at 30% off from the original price I've bought it. We strolled around at the Photoworld Asia for a while before calling it a day. I took the MRT-LRT2 route and took a quick stop at World Chicken for a quick bite. I got home finally at 9:30pm after being awake for more than 24 hours (25.5 hours to be exact). I surrendered to my bed and fell asleep finally XD

Too much too many

Current mood: A little bit depressed and worried. 

It seems the year started with a lot of bad news and tragic endings. Starting from bombing of a bus in Buendia Avenue in Makati to the death of 10 construction workers in Quezon City even with the passing of my officemate's supposedly 2nd baby and just a few hours ago, my other officemate's wife passed away after giving birth to their baby girl. I was happy a few days back even if I'll be working solo for the next few days until this came. It really saddens me and makes me worry at the same time. 

Could it be a sign that there are other tragic things to come? I hope this would be the last.

Swabeng Food Trip: Banoffee Pie at Banapple in Katipunan

Last Saturday, I went to my wife's office to pick her up and have dinner outside. But I was thinking of a good place to have dinner without having to spend too much. While I was blog hopping last Thursday and Friday, I chance upon this restaurant/bakeshop from a blogger and how much she raved for their banoffee pie. Curiosity crawled in me and I suggested this to my wife after her office work. I also checked their website. Their menu was inviting but the question is it really good?

Our first time and definitely not the last XD

After my Saturday session, I went to my wife's office in Katipunan and waited for her to log-off. Though it took me a while to wait, It was worth it since I made sure I'm starving when we go there. Then we took a cab and head off to Banapple along Katipunan. We got there in a few minutes and noticed that place was small. It would probably for 25-30 people at the most. We had to wait for a few minutes before we got our seats. When you order there, you have to tell the cashier what you'll be ordering, which is more of a self service style except that the food will be served to you after.

Grandma's Corn Chowder

First, we had Grandma's Corn Chowder (75 Pesos). The soup was warm enough but I hope they would provide more options on the soup part. She ordered Cafe Latte (75 Pesos)  thinking its not sweet but it is. My bad. XD

Cafe Latte

Next served was the Baked Creamy Cheese Penne (175 Pesos) for me. This one is for the books because this dish alone made me feel full. The pasta was just right (not over-cooked) plus the cheese was so gooey it sticks like gum. The sauce was flavorful and warm though I noticed most of the Hungarian sausage was at the bottom of the dish.

Baked Creamy Cheese Penne

Together with the pasta, my wife's dish was the Garlic Beef Tapa with Creamed Parsley Eggs (160 Pesos). I didn't had the opportunity to taste the dish there because I got full with my dish (NOT so me since it would take me several plateful of dishes to get myself full). Though I got to eat my wife's leftover the following night and it was really tasty. The beef was flavorful and the scrambled eggs were just right.

Garlic Beef Tapa with Creamed Parsley Eggs

And last but not the least, our dessert. Bannaple is famous for their Banoffee pie. Their Banoffee pie consists of graham for the crust, chunks of sliced banana, layers of whipped cream and chocolate shaves that really makes the dessert very presentable. My wife likes banofee pie since she usually gets some whenever were at Starbucks. However, theirs are much more affordable than those purchased in coffeeshops (NO offense but its also tastier too XD). At 85 Pesos, I was able to have a slice and share it with my wife.

Their famous Banoffee pie

Though she doesn't like sweets, this one is exempted as she takes a bite and she loved it. We were supposed to order a slice of banana starry-berry crusted cheesecake but we were beaten to the last slice. Probably on our next visit we will get some. 

Our experience there was pleasant enough despite the place was jam-packed on a Saturday. Once my wife gives birth, we will try to go back there soon. ^^

There's a Bomb on the Bus

Taken from Yahoo

This was about what happened yesterday at Edsa between Ayala Ave and Buendia. When I was about top leave for work last night, my wife told me about the shocking news leaving two to four people dead and several others injured.

I don't know much details about it but you may want to check it on Yahoo. Our US counterparts were worried since they heard the news on CNN. From my opinion, we should be VERY VERY careful moving forward so no other casualties will occur in the future. 

Going Solo

Taken from Google.

At least for the next few days that is. XD

I reported late in the office since I had only a few hours of sleep. I thought my colleague for the night was already there but apparently he's not. Our colleagues from the mid-shift asked us if we were coming. I responded but I'm gonna be late. When I got here, my other colleague was not here yet. I was suppose to call him about his whereabouts when our mobile rang. It was him.He told me he won't be able to report for a couple of days because his wife just gave birth to a healthy baby girl. I told him not to worry and focus on his wife and his newborn before discussing our schedules for the next few days.

I'd be telling my boss about the good news early in the morning and worry my schedule for the next few days. XD

Again, Congratulations! 

Of Originals and Re-Posts

 Taken from Google.

When I was starting to blog here, I made sure this would be my outlet of my inner thoughts, rants and raves. But when I ran out of ideas (sometimes), I look for other inspirations online and add them to my posts. Though not original in content, I make sure to include a link back to the original website to give due credit to the owner as well as put my insights into the post.

Looking back this January, I have already 38 posts. Almost half of them were edited re-posts. I know it bad to copy (Bad Marky). But definitely, I don't think I've committed plagiarism am I? Unless the original author requested me to remove my posts, for now, I'll let them stay here until further notice.

The week that was (January 16 - 22)

Sunday: Got up at around 6:00am or probably later than that. I was able to go online for a while before doing my laundry. I was able to do some grocery as well as have my breakfast at Chowking since food wasn't available at home. I woke my wife up while reading Sunday's paper. After mass, we went back to the grocery store again to get some more items that we really need. Then lunch was mongo which made me a little bit sleepy (that helps XD). I was able to sleep from 2:00pm to 730pm and prepared for another work week. I took three buses to go to work (that's common) and I got there ahead of time. My shift started slowly and quietly as I was able to relax and monitor some servers as I do some stuff as well. XD 

Monday: Well just like last Sunday, I was able to do some personal stuff online and offline as I got my only at at around 5:30am which I was able to fix right away. I went home via MRT-LRT but I had to pass by Subway in Glorietta 3 since I got hungry. I noticed that taking the MRT-LRT route takes longer than any routes I take when going home. Probably, I'll consider this as my last option since the Crossing-Quiapo is way uh faster for me to go home. My wife was still sleeping when I got home so I woke her up and turn on the laptop while I waited for her to get herself ready. After taking her to the LRT, I went back home to continue blogging until 11:30am. I was able to doze-off from 12:30-7:30pm and get myself to senses for work. Again, I got to the office early as the US Team was just starting their week. 

Tuesday: Work was quite smooth though I feel I'm getting busy as each Monday goes by. I feel that every Monday, I always got swamped with work with some lags from the weekends. When I got home via cab, I slept for four and a half hours before getting up at 12:30pm to accompany my wife to the hospital for her monthly check-up.We left at around 2:30pm and took a bus to The Medical City. Every time we go there, it takes a while because the bus stops at Robinson's Galeria to pick-up more passengers en-routing to either Antipolo, Cainta or Taytay in Rizal. What we did instead of waiting for the bus to load more passengers is we jump off the bus and went to the nearest jeepney going east. In no time, we were able to get to The Medical City instead of waiting for our bus to go there. Good thing we her doctor doesn't have much patients as she was in our previous visits there. Our stay there didn't take that long except that my wife will undergo Urinalysis again to check her urine and her condition. Then we went to Robinson's Galeria to have our late lunch/early dinner there. We tried Goodles (Pasta in a bucket) but I didn't like the pasta I ordered. I didn't know that it has only edible flowers and no meat plus its too salty for my taste. Then we went home right away and I went straight to bed to get some more sleep. I got up at around 9:30pm and prepared myself before leaving at 10:00pm. I was late for work but my colleague will be there already so its ok. Instead of taking a cab, I took the Crossing-Ayala route and I got there in less than an hour.

Wednesday: Work wasn't that heavy as I concentrate on remote installation of some software to our US clients. After shift, we went home right away to our respective wives. When I got to our place, I bought some medicines the doctor prescribed to my wife as well as had my breakfast since I'd anticipate that there is no food at home. The weather was quite cold as it drizzled for a while. I got home finally at 9:00am and woke my wife up. After taking her to the LRT Station, I went back home to go online until 11:30am. By 12 noon, I already in dreamland XD. I got up at around 7:30 but I still wanted to get some sleep. Before I left for work, my wife texted me saying that she needs additional medicine because the results of her urinalysis wasn't that good =(. I was able to buy the medicines that she needs. But when I was on my way, I noticed that the medicine pack says 500/125 instead of 625mg. I informed my wife right away about the notice and told her to call the doctor if its ok to take the medicine. I got late by a few minutes since I had to go to the drugstore to buy some needed medicine.

Thursday: Work was quite slow and steady. I was able to have a hearty lunch at 2:00am and I got really full XD. I was also able to do some online work by blog-hopping and updating my own as well. After shift. I went to CBTL in Salcedo to get my planner there and claim my free frozen swirl. An hour and a half later, I went back to the busy streets of Ayala to go to 6750 to deposit my payment at BPI for My Awesome Life Planner 2011 by Anton Diaz. It was my first time to do such transaction where in I pay though bank instead of face-to-face XD. I noticed that it was almost 10:00am so I waited for Glorietta to open so I could buy some magazines to add into my collection. Good thing I was able to get a copy of Playboy November-December 2010 issue and UNO December-January 2011 issue. Then I went home to get some much needed rest. The path going to SM Makati via Glorietta was closed so I had to go to a longer route. When I got to the MRT, I saw a long queue which I did not bother to join. Instead, I took the bus going to Ortigas. When I got to Ortigas, I got hungry again so I had my lunch at Sisig Hooray by the food court. I tried to check if Playboy Jan-Feb 2011 was already available but to no avail. Finally, I went home via G-Liner. When I got home, I didn't sleep right away. I went to Llanas to buy the things I need to make a Grilled Liempo. Then I tried my luck in preparing the perfect marinade since my mom didn't tell me the exact amount of the ingredients that I need. Then I went online a again as long as I can to keep myself awake. At 7:30pm, after being awake for 24 hours, I now slept soundly XD.

Friday: Got up at around 4:30am after being in bed for 9 hours (the longest in a while XD). I went online to check my facebook since I know a lot of people will be greeting me on my birthday XD. Then I did my usual online stuff and did some blogging as well. I waited for my wife to get up before taking her to the LRT. Then I went to Intramuros first to have my lunch there at Manang's before going to Harrison Plaza to meet my mom there. Then I went to SM Manila to do some Grocery. It took me a while before I got back home because there was a rally at Mendiola. When I got home, I went online again for a few minutes before preparing the thing I need for grilling. At 5:30pm, I went to church to pray and give thanks to my Almighty Creator for giving me another year to live. Then, I started grilling. But I was having a hard time having the flame started until my brother-in-law gave me a helping hand. At first, I found the foldable griller too deep but when the heat was more than enough I'd say the depth was just right. I was able to enjoy the rest of the day and got sleepy at 11:00pm.

Saturday: I got up at 3:00am after sleeping for four hours. I was suppose to get some more sleep but I had to adjust my body again for tomorrow night's work. I went online and did some blogging again. I went out and took some snapshots for my Project 52. Then I woke my wife up since she'll be late for work. I got myself ready since the session I'll be attending starts at 1:00pm (an hour ahead) for the day. After that enLIGHTening session, I went to my wife's office in Katipunan to pick-up my wife. Then I took some snapshots from the balcony of my wife's office from the 15th floor which was quite scary since the the railings doesn't look safe enough. After my wife's shift, we went to Banapple in Katipunan to check their famous banoffee pie. Then we went home after dinner very stuffed and very sleepy. At 8:30pm, was totally knocked-out XD.

What is your ritual on your birthday

Taken from Google

I vividly remember when I was young, my mom takes me to a church on my birthday at exactly 5:40pm. Why 5:40pm, I asked my mom. She said that's the time I was born. That was the time my mom was so happy that she had a good, loving and thoughtful son (Shucks! XD).

As I grew up, I make it a point to visit any church that I can find before 5:40pm every year on my birthday. I missed doing it at least once or twice in my entire life. But as the day is getting nearer, I make sure to free my afternoon to go to the church and thank my Almighty Creator for all the blessing he gave me and all the challenges he threw on me to conquer and make me a better man. 

This is my Birthday Ritual. Whats yours?

Signs that you're getting OLD

I put OLD with a capital O-L-D for emphasis. XD

1. You'll be experiencing back pains, joint pains rheumatism, arthritis and some more discomforts that your parents had. 

2. You'll be more careful with your health especially with what you eat. So no more Sisig, Crispy Pata, Dinuguan and the likes.

3. Hanging out at coffee shops are your means of relaxing instead of grabbing a bottle of beer.

4. You use your planner more as you forget things more often especially important birthdays.

5. You will be surprised with how kids act and react.

6. You will realize that you want to have a house of your own.

7. You are saving more for your retirement fund.

8. You will be having difficulty understanding your kids on dealing with their assignments.

9. You prefer simpler things in life to lessen complications especially with technology.

10. You will forget some people whom you don't interact often. More so, your past flings that still cling on you. XD.

I think I got some of them but hopefully not all of them. XD

32 Things I'm hoping I could do better this year.

Thirty-two being my age, I have a list of the things I hope I could do better this year. These 32 things were products of my life's experiences for the past 31 years committing mistake after mistake and learning from it. Though there were some regrets along the way, eventually I never regretted doing the things I did before. And probably if I knew I did the right thing, I'll do it again XD.

Anyway, here are the 32 things I hope I could do better

1. Be a better husband to my wife as always XD.   

2. Be a better dad to my soon to be son/daughter.  

3. Re-certify myself in CCNA.    

4. Learn more basic technical stuff.    

5. Travel to at least 2 out-of-town destinations with my wife (and kid).     

6. Be better at focusing on specific task (especially at work) XD

7. Manage my time more efficiently.

8. Manage my finances better (Probably, I'll let my wife hold our ATM XD).

9. Keep my self in the pink of health.

10. Learn more photography techniques to take better photos.

11. Do better post-processing techniques.

12. Take time to read real book. XD

13. Go offline more often (opps. Blogging is not included here XD).

14. Forget all tragic past and learn through its experience.

15. Look for a better house for me and my family.

16. Be a better writer since I'm blogging more often.

17. Be more responsible in keeping the surroundings clean and pollution free.

18. Be more productive at work.

19. Visit my folks in San Pedro more often.

20. Get connected Spiritually more often

21. Try different restaurants outside malls together with my wife.

22. Stop thinking of negative thoughts and concentrate more on the positive ones.

23. Listen to old music as what I was doing even before back in high school.

24. Re-connect with old friends and create friendship with new ones.

25. Learn to fix some house problems like a handyman XD.

26. Take time to clean our room more often.

27. Try to learn Video Editing when I can.

28. Get 7-8 hours of sleep in a day.

29. Check the nutritional contents of the food that I eat.

30. Never stop learning and searching for answers.

31. Life life to the fullest and always seize the day.

32. Take time away from everyone. Relax and have a cup of coffee in a place that is so serene. 

There you go folks!

My First Planner from CBTL

My first CBTL Planner

After my shift, I went to Four Season's in Salcedo street to hang out at CBTL. I find that place quite as if I'm some where in the suburbs. But when I got there, there were people already. There goes my quiet time there. XD

I got inside the place and ordered a Double Chocolate Latte and Sans Rival to help me keep awake. I handed to them the stamp card and claimed my very first CBTL Planner. I have no Idea what this planner look like until I saw this blog from Ruth. I share this with my wife through Yahoo Messenger and she liked the planner even telling me not to complete the other sticker from its competition =P.

After completing my stickers for the other planner. I immediately started collecting stamps for this one. One fact is that their products are a bit more expensive than its counterparts. But I'm willing to try each one of them and probably give my comment or feedback about it (I'll blog them soon enough XD). Almost everyday I went to CBTL to try out their products. Some were ok, others aren't.

And they come up with a double stamp promo. For each drink you order (limited to those that are indicated in the stamp card), your card will get two stamps. I didn't waste time to have my card stamped twice on different occasions. In no time, my card was almost full of stamps.

With the unfortunate incident that happened to me recently, I was looking forward that they would do much better in setting customers' expectations as well as making their customers satisfied with their products and services.

After claiming my CBTL Planner, I checked its pages for any loose leaves and torn pages. I found none. In fact, it was really reading the details of the planner while I sip my chocolate latte. I was able to take pictures of it as well as experiment on some of my shots since I wanted to take pictures in RAW.

All in all my recent experience with them was ok since I haven't encountered any inconvenience on my part as well as the management and crew from CBTL Salcedo gave me an unforgettable experience.

I liked my planner so much, I'm looking forward to next year. XD

Why I didn't force myself to ride the MRT home....

Is because of this.  

Good thing I took the bus going home. XD

So better be careful when taking the LRT or MRT. And to the management, screw you for asking for increase while causing inconvenience to thousands of passengers. 

The Beacons of Change: The UCC Vision Logbook Launch

Taken from Mr Pusangkalye

I've heard this logbook while reading The Manila Bulletin one Monday morning last December (last year that is XD). Since I've been hooked in collecting interesting planners, why not include this one after getting one from Starbucks, CBTL and one from Navi since it looked pretty much interesting. Though I wanted to blog this way back, I wasn't able to do so because I can't seem to find a sample picture of the UCC vision logbook until now (Thanks to pusangkalye for the picture).

As I was reading through that paper, I was impressed on the contents of the logbook. Its not your usual planner because it also contains some insights from no other than the top business coaches in the Philippines which includes Francis Kong, Prof. Jay Bernardo III, Hubert Young, Raju Mandhyan and Randell Tiongson. To get this vision logbook, you must have an accumulated receipts worth 5000 pesos. 

After meeting my mom at Harrison Plaza, my wife and I went to Robinson's Place Manila to try out UCC there. Also my other motive was to check the logbook myself and get the feel of it if this was meant for me or not. As we were waiting for our order, I went to the counter to ask one staff over there if I could take a look at their UCC Vision Logbook and she said yes. 

As I went back to the table together with the vision logbook, I flipped through its pages and it was like WOW! This really packs lots of useful stuff. My wife even agreed to it that this thing has a lot to offer. We scanned through the pages together and we can't help it but feel amazed. We were so amazed, we didn't notice how time pass by and before we knew it, we had our food at the table.

While we were eating, we discussed the possibility of getting this vision logbook since it will only be available until February 11 2011 as mentioned by one of the staff there (contrary to what I have read saying it would be until February 28). I was almost sold to the idea that I must have this since I find it very helpful.


However, getting this would require me to collect 5000 pesos worth of receipt (accumulated) and our lunch there costs us 1300 pesos. That means I have to spend 3700 pesos more to be able to get this vision logbook for free. Five percent of the proceeds by the way goes to the Christ's Commission Fellowship, a movement with outreaches for ethics and values formation for the government, prisoners, school children, cancer and substance abuse patients and other sectors of society.

I have to decide until then whether or not I have to get this vision logbook.

The week that was (January 9 - 15)

Sunday: I got up as early as 1:00am and hoping to get some more sleep but I wasn't able to =(. I got up instead at around 3:00am to go online and do some blog reading.I sent a notification to The Boutique Bread and Breakfast to inquire for a possible reservation on the 14th of February. I was able to get reviews (both good and bad) from this place and I must say more people liked the place than those who didn't. Then I went out at 9:00am to buy some groceries for my weekly consumption. I tried Quaker Oat's rolled oats and so far, its ok for me. Then I picked-up Sunday's paper for me to read at home. I went upstairs to read Sunday's news while my wife was still sleeping.When she woke-up, I prepared myself since we will be attending the 12:00pm mass at St. Anthony Shrine. After mass, we went back home to have our lunch and for me to get enough sleep since I'll be working that night. I think I got at least 5 hours of good sleep which made me feel energized. I left home at 8:45pm and got to the office with a lot of time to spare.

Monday: Good thing there were no calls which allowed me to do other things online and offline XD.After shift, I went straight home but not without stopping by at Intramuros to get my breakfast at Manang's fried chicken at stall #9 while having a good view of the people there as well XD. I got home at around 9:30am only to find out that my wife was still sleeping soundly. I woke her up and told her she's getting late for work. After taking her to the LRT station, I went back home to go online for a couple more minutes before getting some sleep. I was already thinking of my assignment for Saturday's class and I was able to got an idea. I got up at probably, 7:30pm and prepared myself for work. Traffic was quite ok as I got to the office on time as well as do some personal stuff before the US team switched the phones to me for their lunch time (that would be 1:00am here XD).

Tuesday: Work was quite fast and steady as phone calls kept me busy for a while. Then after their lunch, I was able to free myself up and respond to email concerns as well as do some monitoring procedures as well.  After my shift, I went home via Ortigas-Quiapo route. It took me while to get home though but I was able to travel within an hour and a half. My wife was still sleeping when I got inside our room.I woke her up telling her to get up and she'll be late for work.After taking my wife at work, I went online at home again for a few more minutes before finally going to bed at 11:00am.Good thing I was able to get enough sleep for me to stay awake and active throughout the night. When we got to the office, our US counterparts told us that they will be passing the phones to us since the weather there was getting worse and worse.

Wednesday: The phones were sent to night mode at around 1:00am since the weather in the US (Delaware, OH) got worse. Though they were able to go online for our group chat, we're the main contact until our shift ends.We got a lot of calls but the good thing was it didn't come all at the same time. Probably we got 2 calls per hour.Our shift was still okay since our US counterparts were working from home which means we can escalate some calls to them just in case the problem would be beyond our control. After shift, we went home right away since we got so tired taking calls for the night. My wife was still sleeping when I got home so I woke her up and waited for her to get dressed before taking her to work. I was able to go online before going to bed at high noon. I got up seven hours later getting ready for work. Good thing work was quite smooth and steady when our shift started.

Thursday: Work was a little more fun since we don't have the phones the entire shift (US). We had 2 calls each and was able to relax a bit. My colleague (Recently got appointed to TL) told me that I'll be having a different schedule for that night since I need to speak with my IT Manager about my performance. I suggested a 1:00am to 10:00am schedule for me to be able to talk to them after my shift and they agreed. But I had to wait for the confirmation from our manager for the discussion to go through. I went home right away but I had to pass by Tropical Hut to have some breakfast before finally going home. I told my wife about my possible schedule for the night and I saw he a little bit worried. I told her not to since I'm used to traveling at night as long as I know my way. I waited for the confirmation until 1:00pm but it didn't came. I slept throughout the day and probably had my eyes opened at 7:00pm and checked my cellphone for the confirmation. The sms was sent at around 2:00pm and they called me at least twice and waited for my confirmation. I was thinking I could have just worked from 10:00pm to 7:00am to get the full benefits of my night differential. I left home at 11:15pm and got there an hour later. 

Friday: I got here in the office at 12:10am for my 1:00am to 10:00am shift. So far, I was able to do some End-of-Lease (EOL) audits as well as a few emails before doing some blog-hopping again XD. Good thing work was a bit slow so I was able to do some personal stuff online and listen to music XD.At 7:00am, I went down to have breakfast since eating oatmeal wasn't able to satisfy me. Then I got two calls between 7:00am to 10:00am. My body somehow doesn't agree with that kind of shift I had for the night as I yawn more often. At 10:00am, my IT Manager wasn't there in his office yet and I'm starting to feel a little bit impatient. I even tried to stay online to blog-hop but I was very cautious that someone might be looking at the back XD. I went out first to buy something at the Enterprise Tower (something I haven't done in a while). Then I got a call from my colleague saying my IT Manager was looking for me. I went back right away and waited for my turn (I'll create a separate blog for this). After our discussion, I left right away and went to Harrison Plaza to meet my mom there. It took me at least 45 minutes to go there. Despite feeling sleepy, I used all my energy to go there and keep myself awake. Then we had lunch at Tokyo Tokyo before finally taking a cab home. I thought it would take me a while since traffic was really horrible. Good thing I got home in less than 30 minutes. As I change into comfortable clothes, I took some shots for my assignment hoping to get less criticism and learn from it. After a few clicks of the shutter, my body finally gave-in making my eyes shut at 3:30pm. Then my wife woke me up at 9:30pm telling me to get up for dinner and watch TV. I went online for a while until probably 12:30am.

Saturday: I was able to get a good sleep as I got up at around 6:30am (the latest in months XD). Then I went online again to check some personal stuff and do some blog-hopping. Then I had my breakfast outside since there is no food available at home. As I comeback, I opened the TV and I was able to watch DDP-TV. Its a TV show made for aspiring photographers by the best in the business. I learned something from the show though its almost over when I flipped on the remote. I'll make sure to watch it next week. After taking my wife to the LRT station (she got work on a Saturday), I prepared myself to attend another session at Annapolis Street in Greenhills. Going there didn't take me that long but I got there to early. So I looked for a place to hang-out for a while before the session started. After the session, I went to Robinson's Galeria to attend the FHM Autograph signing of Carla Humphres. I had to cut my bonding time with my friends since my wife was waiting for me back home. As I got home, I fixed my things and soaked my laundry so I could wash them the next day.

Another long post. Sorry XD.

My Performance Review at Work

After my shift last Friday, my IT Manager talked to me together with one of the people from Grow and discussed how I fare at work for the past few months. Its quite nostalgic for me since it has been a year and a half since I had my performance review at my former job that gave me nothing but false expectations. Because of that, I didn't set my expectations high so as not to get myself disappointed.

During the talk, they discussed to me my strengths and AFIs as well as some perks I'll be getting for being loyal with the company. It was an enlightening talk that made me think of staying longer and probably it will give me some sleepless nights thinking about it XD. 

I saw an article about this a few nights back, I noticed that it was published at probably last 2007. It could have been my eyes because, I saw a similar article about the 13th Zodiac Sign on Yahoo and got a little bit surprised. For those who are really into the stars, this could be a shock of their lives.        

 

To me, it DOESN'T matter is we have 12 or 13 zodiac signs. They're just stars to me that can form various figures anyway XD.        

You may read the next few lines below or you could here or there.    

Horoscope Hang-Up: Earth Rotation Changes Zodiac Signs

If you're the type of person who relies on mysterious-sounding locations of stars to determine your personality and outcome in life, get ready to be shocked.

The field of astrology, which is concerned with horoscopes and the like, felt a major disruption from astronomers, who are concerned with actual stars and planets. The astronomers from the Minnesota Planetarium Society found that because of the moon's gravitational pull on Earth, the alignment of the stars was pushed by about a month.

"When [astrologers] say that the sun is in Pisces, it's really not in Pisces," noted Parke Kunkle, a member of the group's board. Your astrological sign is determined by the position of the sun on the day you were born, so that means everything you thought you knew about your horoscope is wrong.

It turns out that astrology has had issues from its inception. (Aside from the fact that it tries to link personality traits with positions of the stars.) Ancient Babylonians had 13 constellations, but wanted only 12, so threw out Ophuchicus, the snake holder. Libra didn't even enter the picture until the era of Julius Caesar.

According to the Minnesota Planetarium Society, here is where the real signs of the Zodiac should fall. Get ready for your world to change forever.

Capricorn: Jan. 20-Feb. 16.
Aquarius: Feb. 16-March 11.
Pisces: March 11-April 18.
Aries: April 18-May 13.
Taurus: May 13-June 21.
Gemini: June 21-July 20.
Cancer: July 20-Aug. 10.
Leo: Aug. 10-Sept. 16.
Virgo: Sept. 16-Oct. 30.
Libra: Oct. 30-Nov. 23.
Scorpio: Nov. 23-29.
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29-Dec. 17.  (Yep, this one is new — read all about the Ophiuchus way of life here)
Sagittarius: Dec. 17-Jan. 20.

At the end of the day, its still ME who will be creating my future XD

I haven't understand it that much but I think its good news to all broadband users. XD

NTC scraps broadband cap proposal

TJ DIMACALI, GMANews.TV

01/12/2011 | 07:32 PM

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) released on Wednesday the latest draft of its Memorandum Order (MO) on Minimum Speed of Broadband Connections, but without a controversial clause that, if approved, would would have allowed telcos to place restrictions on how much information can be accessed by individual users on any given day.

The most notable change between the latest revision, dated January 12, and the previous draft released last December was the removal of the following clause:

"WHEREAS, it has been observed that few subscribers/users connect to the internet for unreasonably long period [sic] of time depriving other users from connecting to the internet; NOW, THEREFORE... Service providers may set the maximum volume of data allowed per subscriber/user per day."

Even as the NTC removed the clause, the government agency also underscored an earlier directive for telcos to specify and commit to a minimum level of service:

"Broadband service providers shall specify the minimum broadband/internet connection speed and service reliability and the service rates in their offers... (and) the service offers shall specify the service rates for a minimum broadband/internet connection speed and the service reliability," the revised MO said.

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Now there is still Good News. XD

Weight-loss strategy for bride and groom

Two Thousand and Ten is already a part of history. But for those who will be getting married this year, it would be another chapter for them as they make preparations for their upcoming wedding. Be it next month, the month after or before the year ends, it is important that both bride and groom to be healthy and fit (something that my wife and I weren't able to do so XD).

I saw this article from Weddings at Work only to ponder that if I could have discovered it early, I could have looked better in our wedding pictures XD. Anyways, to avoid the same fate that I had, here is the article on how to lose weight for both bride and groom via Inquirer Online.

Weight-loss strategy for bride and groom

By Mitch Felipe; Philippine Daily Inquirer; First Posted 21:27:00 06/01/2009

MANILA, Philippines – It has been a practice of busy women preparing for their wedding to eat less and neglect exercise. If you resort to starvation, you’d regain the weight during honeymoon.

The best weight loss strategy combines regular physical activity and a sustainable eating plan even after the wedding.

Early preparations

Your wellness program should be planned at least four to six months before your wedding.

Set your lifestyle goals. How much weight do you want to lose? If you have 10 pounds to lose, you should target at least two pounds every month. If you have 30 pounds to lose, better start sweating it out as early as now so you can lose an average of five pounds per month. Avoid over-dieting and using weight loss pills.

Set a budget for wellness. Allocate at least five to 10 percent of your budget for your wedding wellness program. Enroll in a health club or buy exercise equipment which costs less than P5,000.

Hire a credible fitness/wellness professional to coach you every week or every two weeks on your six-month eating and exercise program so you can get faster results.

Spend time for exercise. Delegate the wedding tasks to your friends and family or get a wedding coordinator.

Start your weight training program so you can get a toned body, especially your arms and back. Full body weight training can be done 30-45 minutes two to three times a week. Include all exercises for the back, chest, shoulders, arms, core, buttocks and thighs.

Start a journal on your food intake and physical activities. Combine your wedding notebook with the wellness journal so you are always reminded about your commitment to health and fitness.

Two to four months before:

Ask your fiancé to exercise with you at least once a week so you will get the chance to talk more about your lifestyle goals. This fitness bonding is important so both of you will avoid the “after-wedding” weight gain.

Include fitness and wellness items in your wedding registry. This is a good idea for your outdoor getaway like a tent for hiking and camping.

One to two months before:

Shop for clothes in smaller sizes as reward. This will motivate you to continue your wellness program by moving more and eating healthy.

Treat yourself in the spa. Enroll in a yoga class with your fiancé to learn how to breathe properly.

A few days to two weeks before:

Do the easiest and most accessible type of physical activity you can do at home or around your village like walking or jogging.

Avoid saucy and fatty foods. Get enough rest so you can physically and mentally prepare yourself for your most-awaited day.

How to become the (UN)official wedding photographer

As I was doing some rounds of blog-hopping at work XD, I got into one of Dino Lara's post on how to become the (UN)official wedding photographer. Since I have a possible opportunity to attend at least two more weddings this year, why not try his advice and give it my best shot. ^_^

How to become the (UN)official wedding photographer

by Dino Lara Photography on Wednesday, March 31, 2010 at 6:07am

You may have purchased your first digital SLR and have been shooting almost everything in sight to learn everything about camera. You may have even attended a photography class. You are now attending a friend or relative’s wedding and you feel you want to prove that you can also do what the official photographer can do.

I’m here to give you some tips on how to become an effective (UN)official photographer.

First, I have to remind you that the couple has made a considerable investment in their photographer to capture everything according to their style and budget. Scrambling for position with the official photographer would be a bad idea. The couple also intended you to enjoy their wedding. So, just enjoy the wedding.

Tip no. 1 - Shoot the things or moments that the photographer is not shooting. We can’t be in all places at all times, so you have many choices on what to shoot.

Tip no. 2 - Wait and watch the photographer move and position. That alone is a learning experience. Shoot the photographer while at work. Most couple can’t see how we work and it would be nice to document it.


Tip no. 3 - Shoot at different angle. Different from usual eye-level shot.

We, photographers shoot at low level or we use a chair to get a high level shot.

Tip no. 4 - If the photographer is doing the pictorial with couple, better not shoot there. But if you insist, concentrate more on in-between poses. Those are natural moments most couple would love to see.

Tip no. 5 - Use one fixed lens. A 50mm/1.8 is a very cheap lens and is very good. Your natural instinct is that you may feel you are limited a certain angle. Most photographers use zooms during weddings. No zooms have 1.8 aperture, so you have an advantage already. Work within the limitation of a fixed lens and you’ll discover that it has no limitations after all.

For photo journalistic shots, fixed lens has its advantage. For moments that happens in split seconds, we don’t have the time to zoom and recompose. If we do that, we miss the moment already. Our eyes are trained already in different focal length which means if we feel a moment is about to happen, even if we are not looking at the viewfinder, we know already how to compose. Zooms gives us too many decisions to make which are unnecessary for split seconds moments.

Tip no. 6 - Shoot the people around you. Make fun with the camera with your friends. Do your own pictorial. We are mostly concentrated with the couples and we just do few poses with other guests. All guests prepared a lot for the wedding and they would want more pictures as possible. It would also be nice to put that in facebook!

Tip no. 7 - Shoot a lot of details. Shoot the flowers, decorations, everything you think the couple have spent on. We also shoot that but it would be a nice practice should you become the official photographer in the future.

Tip no. 8 - Invest a lot of time in selecting and post production. This is the hard part but even if you have the best camera and best lens, you still have to push a little to reveal the real impact of your photos.

Tip no. 9 - Print it. We are in the digital world and most pictures are left unprinted. Have it printed at least a few favorite ones.

Tip no. 10 - Seek critique from friends. This is the only way to learn. Seeking critique from professional photographers is a good option but for weddings, it is more valuable to have the opinions of friends and relatives.

Well I hope I get to practice this more. XD

My 2011 horoscope for the Horse

Again, just for fun, I checked my other fortune for this year this time base on the Chinese Horoscope.

2011 horoscope for the Horse

The freedom-loving and passionate Horse in the 2011 year of the white Metal Rabbit will plunge into the ocean of their own passions, and even the most prudent and calm representatives of this sign will experience an overwhelming desire to plunge into all serious ones and go with the flow of love experiences. Do you think Horse will surely fail yielding to emotions? Far from it! It is too strong to give in to circumstances, while emotions and feelings will only fuel his positive desire to create and build. This year will be good for Horses both in the professional and in the love field, though there will still be some difficult situations present there. Horses need to be more prudent and cautious in making decisions: everything that is dictated by emotions and feelings must pass through a cold filter of reason, and then he will not have to make reckless decisions whose consequences will have to be correct for a long time. Since love in the year 2011 of the metal rabbit goes through the life of a Horse like a red thread, he will not rest on one romance, but will leaf through partners like an interesting book, with each page where the story will become more interesting. Well, the strongest is always chosen - and the Horse this year will be as strong as ever - he shines at social events and works for five people having inspired by his hot passion.

2011 horoscope for Horse of fire element

For the Fire Horses, 2011 is simply magnificent in all respects. In your work, you excellently know how to make best use of available opportunities. In your personal life, there will probably not be any change, except that you will only stronger seal already existing relationship with a loved one.

2011 horoscope for Horse of earth element

In 2011 year of the white rabbit, the Earth Horse has every opportunity to achieve or accomplish something truly meaningful. However, to gain success in 2011 will not be easy. In particular, representatives of your sign should not dissipate their energy but focus all attention on what really matters.

2011 horoscope for Horse of metal element

The most important thing is that in 2011 year of the white rabbit, you will not only lose, but gain even more confidence. It is this incomparable state, when you think you can do anything, that will be a key driver that leading you to success in 2011. Moreover, if your heart is free, then in 2011 you have a good chance to encounter an ideal partner on your way.

2011 horoscope for Horse of water element

In 2011, the Water Horse will feel a sharp need for harmony, and moreover, such a need will cover virtually all areas of your life. However, as is often the case, desire and reality are strongly separate. Negative aspects of your character will continue to prevent you in achieve an ideal. The chance of getting rid of such negative aspects in 2011 must surely be present. Everything depends on you. 

So stop horsing around and get yours XD. But remember, YOU still create your 2011

My 2011 Fortune according to my Horoscope.

While waiting for my wife to get herself ready for work, I stumbled upon this website that show's your future this year (2011). I just have to get myself amused since I'm gonna fall asleep any minute now. XD

Here's my 2011 Horoscope according to The Web. Try to find yours and remember, have fun. XD

The 2011 Aquarius horoscope

The year 2011 of the white rabbit (hare, cat) is meant to change Aquarians internally. For too long, Aquarius were closed to new ideas, being a prisoner of their own egoism. 2011 gives Aquarians a chance to find a new path for their development, get rid of bias and sharpness in judgments in respect of those people who do not share their ideas. For some, these fundamental changes are not acceptable, other Aquarians will simply not be ready in 2011 to meet their destiny, waving off proposed changes. However, incredible prospects await those Aquarians that are ready for change. Starting from 2011, Aquarians will be able to actualize previously failed projects, change their marital status, and acquire new knowledge. 

Aquarius love 2011 horoscope

In early 2011, Aquarians will not encounter any obstacles in their interpersonal relations. They will either create or destroy their happiness. In other words, Aquarians will have to make some difficult choices concerning those around them. Love or hate, marry or divorce will be decided by themselves. Such decision will be instrumental in their life for many years.

In spring, situations will be slightly complicated. Now, not only they will determine their emotional and sexual life. Spring is a period of agonizing, resentment and excessive demands from others. The families of some Aquarians against this backdrop may witness painful break ups. However, there will be easy reconciliation.

Aquarians can rest in summer. Although there will still be problems in volatile families. For the rest, love and affection will play a role in their sensual life. Single Aquarians will fall in love and some may even marry. But this requires caution because Aquarians should marry those that are understandable, do not hide anything and has no secret that they cannot or will not tell their beloved.

The end of the year will see Aquarius often not in the best of mood. They should try and take people as they really are instead of criticizing them. 

Aquarius career 2011 horoscope

Business interests of Aquarians will go on well. Unemployed Aquarians can find a good way to realize their professional abilities and receive a reward. All others will be able to improve their job, get a work, which will bring both revenue and moral satisfaction.

In spring, Aquarians will actively be engaged in social communication in a professional environment. Aquarians will learn to respect the chain of command, and understand what to do to be praised. At this time, their intellectual capacity will rise.

In summer, Aquarius will very much want to prove that they are strong in professional terms. They will have everything to make sure this desire is fulfilled. They will make hasty decisions sometimes.

At year-end, Aquarians will reap the fruits of their labor. They will be congratulated and rewarded. But they should note that they will be offered a new position with more authority and duties. 2011 will end in great expectations and with the highest impatience to go further and do more.

Well, its just a guide guys and gals. YOU still have the authority to control your future.

I got a call similar to this yesterday and the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of our company just called together with his assistant XD. 

However, I'm not that good (probably I don't really know) how to tweak some settings on the display to make your work viewable with multiple monitors. Good thing I was able to ask my colleagues from the US (who were working from home due to bad weather there) and they were able to take the call as I escalate it to them. 

Since I never encountered it, I was totally clueless on how to do it. After the call, I asked the AMER Help Desk Supervisor there and he sent me a link on how to expand your workspace with multiple monitors. 

Thank God there is Microsoft for dummies like me. XD

Expand your workspace with multiple monitors

Published: September 7, 2006

One of the best ways to improve your productivity is to double your desktop workspace by adding a second monitor to your computer. Using multiple monitors makes many computing tasks easier by allowing you to keep more windows visible. If you do any of the following things, you can benefit from multiple monitors:

•	E-mail and instant messaging. Work on one monitor, and keep your e-mail and instant messaging clients open on the other so you don't have to switch between windows when a new message arrives.
•	Research online. Open a Web browser or other research tool on one monitor, and have a Microsoft Office program open on the second monitor for note-taking.
•	Browse and edit digital pictures. Quickly browse your digital images by displaying thumbnails on one monitor and full-sized previews on the other.

The directions for connecting a second monitor vary slightly depending on what type of computer you use. You can connect a second monitor to a desktop computer, or you can connect a second monitor to a laptop or Tablet PC. Once you've connected a second monitor, you'll need to enable Dualview.

Connect a second monitor to your desktop computer

Many desktop computers have built-in support for multiple monitors. Look at the back of your computer to determine if you have an available VGA or DVI port. If you do, you can probably connect a second monitor and enable Dualview to take advantage of it.





If your desktop computer doesn’t have an available VGA or DVI port, you can buy an additional monitor and a second video adapter.

Note: Make sure that the video adapter connector matches the connector on your new monitor.
Monitors use either a VGA or DVI connector (or sometimes both). S-Video connectors are used to connect to a television.





Once your second monitor is connected, you need to enable Dualview. If you're not connecting a second monitor to a laptop or Tablet PC, you can skip the next section and enable Dualview.

Connect a second monitor to your portable computer

If you use a notebook or Tablet PC, your computer probably supports using both an external monitor and the computer's built-in display simultaneously. Simply plug a monitor into the external VGA port of your laptop and enable the Dualview feature of Windows XP.





If you have a docking station for your portable computer, it may support multiple monitors. Look at the back of your docking station to see if you have an available VGA or DVI port. If you do, you can probably connect two external monitors and enable Dualview to take advantage of them.

Note: You may need to close the lid on your laptop to use multiple external monitors.

Alternately, you can add a USB video adapter to your portable computer to support an additional monitor.

When choosing a USB video adapter, make sure that it supports your new monitor's ideal resolution and has a connector that matches your new monitor.

Once you have connected your second monitor, you need to enable Dualview.

Enable Dualview

To turn on Dualview:

1.	Right-click the desktop, and then click Properties.
2.	In the Display Properties dialog box, click the Settings tab.
3.	Click the Display list and select your external monitor. If you do not see multiple monitors listed, your computer hardware may not support Dualview. Contact your computer manufacturer for more information.
4.	Select the Extend my Windows desktop onto this monitor check box.
5.	Click Identify. Windows XP displays large numbers to identify your monitors. Drag and drop the monitor icons to match the physical arrangement of your monitors.
6.	Click OK.

With Dualview enabled, you can drag windows between monitors as if the two monitors are connected. When you maximize a window, it will expand to fill the current monitor.