Some Economics to Explain Why I Cant Write College Papers on Sunday Afternoons

I've always been a moody writer. I have to be in this "mood" to get my writing done. And and, even when I am in this "mood" and I only manage to come up with flimsy arguments on paragraphs, I stop writing. Yeah, Imma perfectionist writer -- now that's what I tell myself. On bad days though, that tiny voice in my head argues with this self-confident part me and just tells the other that: it's not perfection -- in plain Tagalog, it's called "tamad".

I've always struggled with this thought about myself. About whether I can write more, do more if only I tried harder at it. And then comes this article! Saves meee from misereeee :P Hahaha! So the difference lies in the "manager's schedule" and the "maker's schedule". I was a "maker" then :P Read up through the links and you will see really interesting thoughts.

Stephen J. Dubner in the Freakonomics blog writes about hating meetings, read it right here. Dubner's whole article was inspired by this article from Paul Graham on the "Maker's Schedule, Manager's Schedule" which you can read here.

It's interesting how Graham explains the difference between splitting you work days into units according to the type of work you do. The "manager's schedule" uses hour units. The "maker's schedule" on the other hand, uses half day chunks. Hour units are good for when you go to meetings. That's why managers (usually people of power) divide their work days into hours, it's a convenient measure for things like meetings. Half day chunks on the other hand are good for people who create since, as in Graham's words, "makers" shift from mode to mode depending on what they create. It's difficult for "makers" to divide their days into hours because its just impossible to box activities like say, writing, into hour blocks because creativity doesn't really work that way. And I just have to say, that I love this man's thoughts for making sense out of this whole thing.

This is good to know because apparently, I am not alone with this feeling of unproductivity. I used to think that I was just slacking off when I couldn't finish tasks during those in between times in the mornings and the afternoons. you know how during the weekends you have to go to places and things and it doesn't eat up of the day, you have those bits of time after you get home and before you hit the sack. Or that time between waking up and leaving at an odd hour in the morning. I thought when I scheduled well, I can gun through my to-do list like a battery-operated toy soldier.


I used to always end up frustrated just because I couldn't find that power in me to use up small fractions of the day. Apparently when you "create", you cant plot time by the hours against productivity because you can't "sulit" the small chunks of time. Because as Paul Graham says, you move from mode to mode. I'd like to think this explains that thing with me and Sunday afternoons. Now I don't feel so bad.

Nice thought :)

Some Cheesy Song for When the Going Gets Tough :P

All real today -- outright rejections over the phone, raised voices in the office, pressure from expectations pounding like crazy in your chest, and sometimes in your head. This morning alone had its fair share of "things".

In the midst of all this "grown-up-ness" all I can think about is petty teenager stuff -- like the "somebody" in this Kings of Leon song :P Let's all take a break for a bit and feel all broody and sing Use Somebody. Yeah, it's the rain. Yeah, no it's just me and my grade school giddy self. Hay, sending out hellos to the "somebody I could use" :P

Use Somebody

Kings of Leon

I've been roaming around
Always looking down at all I see
Painted faces fill the places I can't reach

You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody

Someone like you
And all you know
And how you speak
Countless lovers undercover of the street

You know that I could use somebody
You know that I could use somebody
Someone like you

Off in the night
While you live it up I'm off to sleep
Waging wars to shape the poet and the beat

I hope it's gonna make you notice
I hope it's gonna make you notice

Someone like me
Someone like me
Someone like me
Somebody

Someone like you
Somebody
Someone like you
Somebody
Someone like you
Somebody

I've been roaming around
Always looking down at all I see

***

This song never grows old :)

Hay

I rue the day I said, "okay lang manual". Sometimes being a little too ~principled (at least I'd like to think that's what it is) gets in the way. Lesson? When you're offered small conveniences, don't feel guilty about giving in.

Some things you don't know you want until...

"Tom, when we are in line at the convenience store can I put my hands in your
backpockets and my lips and nose in your baseball shirt and feel the crook
of your shoulder blade?"

There's something about this line. It's so raw and real. Damnit, I want this :P

***

I hate it when Tin writes stuff in her blog/ FB notes. It's always ALWAYS good. This one's by Carolyn Creedon in The Best of the Best American Poetry (Harold Bloom, Ed.) Yeah, now I found something to pine for. Hay. It's so raw, it feels like my own thought. I have this warm fuzzy feeling in my tummy reading about it. Hay. Had no idea what I was missing until Carolyn Creedon. Dear Carolyn, do you have to be sucha badass writer?

What My Daydreams Are Made Of

I have been doing way too much window shopping than necessary -- in the mall and when I trawl the internet for stuff. My, what loot I found! But for the cash-strapped, it's a struggle as much as it's a joy. You know, you can look but you cannot touch. Bah. Ohwell, even with the struggle the shopper's delight kinda makes up. Although for me, it's more of a window shoppers delight. Hay.

This Steve Madden dude knows how women want their feet looking like. Am betting more than we actually do. This suede booties will probably make any drab-looking pants zing. Seeing shoes likes this makes me cross my fingers I have enough disposable income to buy all the shoes I want. My secret shoe dream is to be rich enough to buy non-functional shoes -- these are the types that go in really outrageous colors and designs, you have to buy clothes to go with them. Money makes me think of shoes. This pretty brown one makes me wish. And sigh.

This smartass shirt I saw on Threadless over here. I want this baaaad. But am still an Online Purchase Virgin, so itsa scary thing. Imma think about the difference between the bad-ness of my wanting this shirt and the real-ness of my fear of online shopping. If the Bad-ness is greater than the real-ness, itsa go for me. Let's see. Isn't this shirt is the reason why banner shirts are way cool? :)

This slipper/ bootie is inspired by this wrong purchase I made post-Sg. I had this surplus of cash (naks ang yaman! Haha! But really, its just that am crazy kuripot kaya I dont think I got to the minimum of spending the allowance. Which is cool cos I go back to the Philippines and I have this spare shopping money. Anyhoo, long story short, I bough these open-toed booties with my spare cash because i was trying to be uh, fashion forward. The purchase was very uncharacteristic of me. I read in a "rad" magazine that booties will be the thing for quite a while. So in an attempt to get on the trend before other girls do, I go with this heeled open-toed bootie. Fail. Fashion laggards shouldn't pretend to be early followers. Now, Itsa struggle to find clothes to go well with it. Boo. Imma post a foto sometime.

This flat bootie/ slipper is more me. It think this one I can rock, more than my heeled open toe booties. I think. I waaaant.

Oh, brown platforms. I think you and and my feet will have a ball. Kebs na kahit am taller than everyone else when am in heels/ platforms -- yes even the boys. Long-legged legs are the way to go. I've long been wanting platforms like these, just haven't found the one I like like. This one also comes in a floral version. If I had all the disposable cash I want, I'd probably go for that one. But since am cash-strapped (and well uh, boring), I go for the safe (but still all pretty) dark brown one :)

My gold PrP gladiators are screaming (note, not silently asking. It's screaming) for replacements. Not entirely because I'm sucha fashion forward kid, but more like because they're dirty and my Mum says they look um, pretty hideous already -- even with well-manicured toes. I'm betting this will look really nice with the ever-reliable jeans. Hay, writing about it makes me want it even more. Oh dear heavens, more disposable income please :)

Last words from the cash-strapped kid: drool, drool.

I Wonder If I'll Ever Feel This Way About Someone

Photocredit: PostSecret

The Trawl Theory

I've been trying, for 3 weeks now, to get some little work tasks done during the weekend. Given that it's only been barely 2 months into the work grind, I still have a lot of filing, organizing, record keeping to do. I keep thinking I can do these small tasks during the weekends. I'd like to think that that's when I'll find my quiet place and my 'quiet' away from the busy office bustle. But NO. FB gets in the way. Twitter gets in the way. Mindless things like MorphThing get in the way. I sit down, open my work lappy, with all intents of doing 'work' but Safari gets in the way. Once I open the pages, the Gmail-Twitter-FB combo, there's no turning back. Next thing I know, it's waay beyond bedtime, I'm just super sleepy with just enough energy to slink into jammies. Tapos, knockout na. Hahaha.

One thing I noticed from my 3 weeks of failed attempts at working is this -- the mindlessness and the uselessness of an internet activity is directly proportional to its entertainment value. Let's call this the "Trawl Theory". Makes sense yeah? Hahaha!

Anyhoo, one of my favorite favorites is this thing in Morphthing. It's very mindless, more importantly, its infinitely useless. You put up a photo of yourself and "make babies" with other fotos in the site. So fresh from TF3, it's just got to be Shia. In all fairness, I think we make pretty good "babies" together :P Hahaha!

Here is my and Shia's "baby":

Right right? Hahaha! Okay, I think this is my Sunday dose of vanity. With this out of the way, cross your fingers with me I get some work done :)

Vain Sunday Morning

I have this habit of reading and re-reading things I wrote. The weird-er thing about is, I read to check to see if I find myself, according to measure I use on others, witty :P Sick I know, but I guess I'm vain like that. This one particularly stood out. And I must say, this is me being witty and funny. I called this note on FB "Risking dreamy and swoon-y." Read up, pick my brain -- and well see the senseless things I spend time thinking about. Haha!

Tagged by Tin. I had to erase her answers cos reading through hers felt like I was reading my answers.

BOYFRIEND POTENTIAL SURVEY:

1.dapat ba gwapo?
- I'd have to say yesss. Baka kase if sabihin ko keri lang na no, fate goes all technical on me and says, "Keri lang pala eh, etong sayo!" and then gives me someone uh, un-gwapo :P

2. matalino?
- Yes. Smart is the new sexy.

3. preferred Age?
- Older

4. preferred height?
- Waaay taller than i am

5. How about sense of humor?
- Like Tin says, must.

6. How about piercings?
- Keri

7. Accepts you for who you are?
- Comes waay before sense of humor. This is the pre-req of the pre-req :P

8. Pink hair?
- Um, one day only AND washable.

9. mushy or not?
- Once in while is fine. Everyday's pushing it. Pag minsan lang it's cute, overdo it and it's irritating.

10. Thin or fat?
- Hmm. Fit?

11. Moreno or chinito or mestizo?
- No preference.

12. Long hair or short hair?
- Just be able to pull it off.

13. Plastic or metal?
- Um?

14. Smells good?
- Yes. Yes. Yes! :)

15. Smoker?
- No

16. Drinker?
- Erm.

17. Boy-next-door type?
- Keri.

18. Musically inclined?
- Yes.

19. Plays piano?
- Okay lang

20. Plays bass and/or acoustic guitar?
- No question about drummers?

21. Plays violin?
- Okay lang din.

22. Sings very good?
- Pwede rin. Videoke all night long! Haha!

23. Vain?
- No

24. With glasses?
- No. Sana. But if your'e a catch, with glasses, then I can live with it :P

25. With braces?
- Sana matanggal na. Agad. Haha.

26. Shy type?
- Cute at first, at least as opposed to cocky. Pero nakakinip din.

27. Rebel or good boy?
- The right answer has to be good boy.

28. Active or passive?
- Active.

29. tight or bomb?
- Huh?

30. Singer or dancer?
- Either's fine. Hindi naman ito talent search, so keri.

31. Suplado?
- That's cute :)

32. Hiphop?
- Not a fan of the baggy pants and chains on boys.

33. Earrings?
- Not too many naman.

35. Torpe?
- Again, cute at first pero irritating pag sobra.

36. Mr. count-my-ex-girlfriends-until-you-drop?
- No.

37. Dimples?
- Don't mind. Don't care.

38. Bookworm?
- Reads enough.

39. Mr. love letter?
- Letters in long hand are the way to go :) Sigh.

40. Makulit?
- Sakto lang.

41. Flirt?
- No.

42. Poem writer?
- Not a fan of poetry.

43. Serious?
- No.

44. Campus crush?
- Wouldn't hurt.

45. Painter ..?
- Aren't painters extra moody?

46. Religious?
- No.

47. Alaskador?
- No.

48. Computer games geek? Or internet freak
- Eh, pwede bang neither? Pushed to the wall, I'd pick the geek.

49. Speaks 20 languages?
- Eh ako two lang. English works just fine.

50. Loyal o faithful?
- Both.

Waz. Ang haba pala nito.

~ I hope that was as fun for you, as it was for me :)

June Stories

So, it's been almost a month since this blog has seen new random thoughts. I have a lot of stories really. They're all pretty much written inside my head. It's just that, I never get to the writing part. One may be because I'm a little too busy with the work and other sophisticated sounding grownup stuff like that. Or for another, which I'm more likely to believe, it's because I have a fat lazy ass. Yeah, I think the latter's more believable.

I have Sg stories. Not too many, just enough to fill an entry (photos coming up soon). I have stories about how giddy I was when I found out we were billeted at THE Ritz-Carlton, which I by the way found out was a 6-star hotel -- take that recession 09! Hahaha! More stories about how I was jumping like crazy on the couch because I was little too excited about the pretty room -- okay, I think I may have shamed myself enough about the crazy kid my company brought to Sg for training. And then there also was seeing PV part. We were able to go out two nights, and it was just all steady, for the most part sleepy, and frantic search for airtime. The whole thing felt like we were just hanging in Manila because the people inside the malls there pretty much resemble the mall-going set here. Malyasians look v much like us brown brothers here in Manila, and the Chinese, well, it was just like shopping in Greenhills. And then there was the part where I met these grownup people who we went there for. I felt like a real adult dealing with them on my own :P

And then there was this part about me struggling with these things inside my head. Totally not part of the Sg XP, but things I had to deal with there anyway. Gullible sucks. Okay, if I were to indulge this once and for all -- power's such an aphrodisiac. Yeah, I think that's about the most I should say. No more messing with my head, I'm messed up enough on my own.

Screw that part, back to my Sg stories. The last most exciting part is THE shopping. We flew to Sg in time for the Great Sg Sale, so you can just imagine the tremendous shopping activity bustling everywhere. The best part? Just when I thought i flew broke, I apparently did not :) That was goood. It was one of the best weeks since a really long time. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

On other stories, the week after the Sg week is, let's call it, "Let's See If You Learned Anything In Sg" week. Manila beckons with back to back client calls which were all tagged my responsibility. How do I tell you about it? Day 1&2 in brief would be entitled, "Wow Kid Where Do You Get The Audacity to Go Back to The Office and Chat Up Your Boss After Tuesday and Wednesday?" Let's recap, Tuesday, meeting#1 here's a list of the things I forgot: brochures, my laptop, and pretty much that it was my presentation pala. But wait, there's more! Wednesday meeting#2 was like a big placard saying, "hey boss, look at how dumb I CAN be, this is how low I can go." Let's do a roll call of the things I didn't get to bring: brochures AGAIN, my laptop AGAIN, the attache case with all the samples, and the common sense to realize that this was high time I learn my lesson that when you forget to bring necessary requirements for a Tuesday meeting, you make sure, with you life, that you bring it on the Wedensday meeting. Boo.

The worst part about this whole thing is how theyre still all v niiice. Shame eats you up and the least they can do is give you a scolding. At least in your head you get to find an antagonist. But when you screw things up and theyre still nice and dont get angry, YOU are the only bad guy even in you own head. It was just baaad.

Ohwell, tomorrow's another day. Like my last tweet, "I think that's enough disappointing for the week. Tomorrow's just right about for some wow-ing. To do that, no sleeping muna tonight."

Please cross your fingers with me.