Wipe your harddisks clean

I've mentioned from my previous post that I've been working on a linux desktop. The pc came from PLDT as a freebie for subscribing on a DSL biz plan. Due to licensing costs (perhaps), they loaded the desktop with a linux OS. I thought it shouldn't really matter much, as I can easily re-format the HD if I wanted to use Windows. I worked on it for almost two weeks, but due to some limitations (sorry linux fans), I decided to say goodbye to Linux.

So when I inserted a Windows CD, it didn't boot to CD, proceeded to Linux OS (I am using Ubuntu, by the way). I even made sure that the first boot device is the CD. Tried a couple of times, no luck. Checked some guides on how to do this thing over the internet, but their instructions, which appear so easy, don't work on my system. Before I threw the HD, I tried using Darik's Boot and Nuke (DBAN)

Darik's Boot and Nuke ("DBAN") is a self-contained boot disk that securely wipes the hard disks of most computers. DBAN will automatically and completely delete the contents of any hard disk that it can detect, which makes it an appropriate utility for bulk or emergency data destruction.

It took almost 2 hours to completely wipe the HD, and it came out clean indeed.
So now, I am back to working with XP. But the linux experience was good. Hope there would be more improvements. Linux is a pretty OS though. I hope I won't miss it that much.

Chic Lit Review: Lost Dogs and Lonely hearts

Few of the things I missed when I got married was reading books. I am a chic lit addict before, but never got the luxury of time to read books since I signed off singlehood.

Last month, I decided to free up some time to be back with my old hobby. I picked a chic lit from the bookstore. And being a dog lover, the book by Lucy Dillon caught my attention. Lost Dogs and Lonely hearts.

The story is about a London girl (Rachel) who retreats to the country after she inherited her maiden aunt's estate, including a house, a border collie, and a kennel. Though apprehensive, she had no choice but to manage what her aunt has left her. There she met a handful of people with heart for dogs, and dogs that changed her a lot. There she also found, after 10 years of failed relationship, her true love, the local vet.

Other than Rachel's character, the author also introduced other characters which played equally inportant roles. There was Zoe, a divorced mom of two kids. She was forced to take care of a labrador Toffee given to her kids by his ex-husband. This totally impossible labrador led her to a handsome doctor Bill.

Natalie and Johnny, a couple who, for the longest time, trying to conceive, found happiness on the basset hound (Bertie) they adopted from the rescue shelter Rachel's aunt (Dot) left. Though a busy couple. Natalie found a reason to adopt Bertie when she was laid off from work. They focused their attention to the dog, while trying to conceive. When Natalie decided to get back to work, the couple's dilemma of keeping or releasing Bertie to a new home started. I felt strongly for these character because my husband and I also take care of dogs while we don't have kids yet. And it is indeed a painful decision to let your dog go.

I was surprised that the author was able to pull off with the interwoven plot. All of the characters came from a distressed circumstances, crossed paths to meet their four-legged friends, and through them, complete void part of their lives. The book is a must read, for dogs and non-dog persons alike.

Scramble Craze

  Anyone probably of my age (or at least the same generation) knew this popular pinoy dessert. Pinoy childhood will never be complete without experiencing scramble (Iskrambol), especially right after our classes.

And it has been years since I last tasted one. I've been quite particular with how they were made since I've been seeing blocks of ice being dragged on the streets (dirty streets, mind you). And these ice, being the main ingredient of one of my favorite pinoy street food, made me realize it isn't safe to consume one from there.

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a long queue of customers in SM Megamall Foodcourt. Tracing where the long line start, I saw it was from a scramble foodcart (The original Manila Scramble). I would love to try it as well since I've been missing this food a lot. But since I am on a hurry, I have to pass on to this one.

Good thing there was a stall in Robinson's Pioneer (which is near my workplace). Though I tried a couple of times to buy, I've been discouraged so many times as well because of the long queue.

Just today, I dropped by the mall at 10:45 in the morning, and tried my luck to buy a scramble. I wasn't expecting a long line since the mall had just opened. But when I got there, I was 8^th in the line, and the staff was not yet done preparing the ingredient. I smacked my forehead in annoyance because it took them around 15minutes since I got there to serve the queue. I said to myself it must taste good to make my wait worth it.

I ordered medium sized scramble (php10), that includes the milk and choco syrup. I requested an additional rice crispies topping (php4 for each topping). You can choose from other toppings like chocolate crispies, fruit loops, candy sprinkle, cereal crispies. You can also request for an additional milk, just add Php4.

And so,after so many years, I got to taste again my favorite scramble. And it was just like how the scramble we buy outside the school tastes like. It was a trip down to memory lane. Now I understand what the long line in Manila Scramble is all about. More than the food, almost all of us have stories we remember while we finish the dessert. And for first timers, it was a bridge to have them connected to what scramble-lovers got to tell.

So was it worth the wait? Yes. But I just hope they improve their service a little more. Who wants to wait by the way?

Photos courtesy of ManilaScramble Facebook page

Win Make up from Body Shop

Bodyshop has released their new line of makeup products in bright, shimmering colors. The Baked to Last collection is handmade in Italy by local artisans and baked in small batches for 24 hours, to ensure that the pigments are bound together to create a smooth sheen of color. Check these Baked-to-Last Color collection here.

Want to give these a try? FemaleNetwork is giving away 2 sets of these makeup products, check it out.

Changing Gears

It has been more than 3 years since I started working as a software engineer (aka programmer). Looking back, it was a job I refused to accept after I graduated college. I thought I was not made to be one.

I graduated college with a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering. After graduation, my preparation for my board exam and the exam itself, took me almost a year. Halfway through my preparation, I was offered by an IT company a position as junior software engineer, despite the fact that I am not an IT graduate. The compensation package was so attractive that I would like to say yes. But second thoughts came as I consulted my parents about my pending decision. I can't accept the offer because I was scheduled to take my 3-day board exam in a couple of months., which would fall on a weekday. By that time, I would still be in probationary period, and won't be allowed to take any vacation leave yet. So I had to say pass on this offer for the mean time.

After successfully passing the board exam and acquiring my license, I worked as an environmental engineer for a couple of months. I accepted the job though the pay was minimum. Like many first timers, I bit the bullet because I am after the experience I will be able to add in CV. Ironically, days after I was hired, I was contacted by the same IT company and offers me the same position, just in case I am still interested. Too bad they came a couple of days late. I find it unethical for my current employer for me to leave them. So I missed the same opportunity for the second time.

Later that year, I quit my first job and landed on a another job in a plant somewhere in Laguna. The compensation was definitely higher but didn't make me a bit happy. The work is so demanding that I have to stay somewhere near my work to board. I felt sad to be away from my home and family.

I never saw myself working in a plant laboratory not longer than a month, really, that quick. I took the bit between my teeth, before they forcely give more reason to stay. I contacted the IT company who previously offered me a job, and inquired if they still have opening slot. I would admit that I just want to find a way out of a job I find myself miserable with. The recruiter told me she would contact me as soon as she found my records. It was a shot in the dark.

The following day, I received a call from the recruiter, asking me to report to their office to sign the job offer. I was so relieved that I don't have to spend what seems to be lifetime for me in the plant. That was my 4th day in my job in the plant. I resigned the next day.

That was the start of life in the IT bandwagon. Armed with a very minimal programming background, I turn up trumps on the bootcamp I attended, landed on a project that I am still with for 3 years now, and, honestly and surprisingly, loving it.

I thought that once you finished a degree in college, somehow, you have drafted at least 70 to 80 percent of what you would become in the near future. It didn't happened to me. I guess it wasn't true all the time. Even we reach that point, we could all be clueless.

Though I missed working on laboratories, the scent of the chemicals, and my lab gown, I would still prefer working on a corporate environment, because honestly, this is where I found my worth, and my happiness. Something I had never predicted all along. 

 

Busy Bee

I've been AWOL online for a couple of months already. Since my laptop broke down (and yes, I am still having thoughts of having it repaired), I haven't spent much time doing regular posts here in my blog at the same time, been inactive on my social networking accounts. Been randomly checking it but never took time to post status or linger longer than I need to.

Anyway, I would like to schedule regular posts here, and I am currently working on how to implement my plans. Been swamped with work. I am currently on a 2-week training for another programming language (yes, I am a programmer). This is what is keeping me busy at work. The first week just ended and looking forward to finish the last leg soon. Enjoying it anyway. Our class' instructor is a singaporean national, so we're sort of picking up his Singaporean-English (Singlish as he calls it). One of the stress-free trainings I had so far.

I am also currently working on Linux desktop, and trying to learn the OS beyond being a linux user. Trying to make some programs work, and studying if Linux has an OS can create a market in Internet Cafe industry in the Philippines. Don't have much to share yet but I've been making significant progress in two days. Sure will share something worth knowing on the next couple of days. I'll be working on my future post as strictly scheduled.

Will be logging off for now.

Get a vacation, Fly Cheap!!

Looking forward to November of this year... we are flying to Cebu, cheap!!!

We are few of those who were able to purchase sale seats last June 29-30, via Cebu Pacific's celebration of Noynoy's inauguration (haha, at least I have a thing to thank Noynoy for :))

We are bound to Cebu on the the 23rd of November, early morning flight, and will return on the 24th of 8pm. This will be the first time for me and my husband to travel somewhere in Visayas together and take a few days off our work. It will be a short trip but we'll make sure it will be really worth it. I'm starting to draft our itinerary. Yey!!

So, how much did our airfare cost?
Php 317 for 2 pax, roundtrip. GoLite :)

You can frequent Cebu pacific site to check for their promos. They are on seat sale for this month of July: