Long weekend holiday

Sept 4 is Labor day in US. We have lots of plans to do on this long weekend but end up doing nothing.

One of the plan is to take the 3-day tour to DC and Niagara Falls and the other is to go to New York. None of the plan materialized instead we end up again in Rockaway mall where I spend quite a few in Aeropostale (50% off on all tops but I got a cargo pants for $14.99).

I've been here for one month now and I've been to New York once. Next weekend, come what may, I'll be in New York.

When you're the one left behind...in NJ

When I arrived in Jersey, I was used to seeing the staffhouse full of people and the environment is so jolly and noisy. I thought that this will always be the case until the day that people starts leaving to go back to Manila.

It started with Liza leaving on a Friday night. I find it weird that I felt sad saying goodbye to her. I only knew her for a few weeks and we're not even close. The next day, Alfred, Cathy V, Romy and Ron fly out (though Ron and Romy is stoll coming back to catch their flight). A week after, another wave of returnees went home(Ron on Thursday, Carl leaving on Friday, Robin, and Romy on Saturday and Mario on Saturday). That leaves me, Darrix and Roslyn left in the staffhouse on a gloomy weekend (Patrick and Benjie went to Niagara on that weekend).

On Saturday, since Darrix is meeting his wife's cousin in New York. Roslyn and I decided to go with Cathy A and Mario to New York. But we have a late lunch and the it seems like it will rain so Roslyn and I decided to go to Rockaway Mall instead.

The next day, more rain came and we cannot go out. Because it is so cold, we opt to watch the 4400 season 3 marathon in TV.

A laptop loan incident

I have no intention of buying a laptop when I went here. But when I see the prices and the specs of the latest model, not to mention the fact that I could loan it from the office, I decided to buy one.

I wrote to Miss Luz in Manila and inquire if I am eligible for the loan. She replied to me asking me to coordinate it with Miss Cez who asked me to fill in a form and sent it back to Manila which I did promptly bacause I am so excited to get one. Days passed and I got a mail from Miss Bam (from the 77 Softwares office here in Rockaway ) that I could drop by the office to purchase the laptop. I quickly browse for a model of the laptop, do comparison and check prices and specs. It is my second laptop. The first one only lasted for a good 3 years and cost me around 2000 USD. There's no way that I wouldbe wasting such money again. After a couple of comparison, I finally decided to purchase a Toshiba laptop A105-S4084 (see specs here) and went quickly to the office to make the purchase.

The next week, I was so excited everyday to have my laptop. I discovered that the price went down from 949.99 usd to 849.99 usd. I called up Circuit city to ask if they could make price adjustment and they did. They also inform me that the laptop will be delivered on Wednesday.

Come Wednesday. So excited to claimed it but my bubble is burst when I was told that it was put on hold because it still lacks approval. WTF?! That is so stupid. If there are lacking forms or approval, why would they allow me to make the online purchase? What's the point of putting the laptop on hold? What good does it make?

I was pissed by the incident and by the person who put that laptop on hold. I was so pissed that I need to go to the the park to release the disappointment.

New York, New York

Woke up excited today because we are going to New York. Yes! New York baby!

Since we missed the 10 and 11 am bus, we took the 12 noon bus and have an 1-hour trip to the Big Apple. We took the subway to go to Central Park- a very large park. While walking, we noticed that we can be paired by the color of our shirts. Liza and Roslyn are Pink Team, Ron and Robin are Blue Team, Alfred and Romy are White Team and Cathy and I are Yellow Team. After a long but enjoyable walk, we settled in one of the picnic area and have our lunch of rice and chicken afritada that Ron's cooked the night before. For dessert, we have macaroni salad.
Lunch is followed by more walking and from Central Park, we decided to go to Metropolitan Museum of Arts.

After the Musuem, we went to Chinatown where we buy souvenir shirts and ate dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Then another walk to see Empire State Building along Madison Ave.

First day at work in NJ

Around 8:30 am, Carl, Darrix and Cathy A picked me up then head to Geraldine's Court for Tom. Since it is my first day at work, Cathy A accompany me and introduce me to everyone.

The campus is a very large area with several buildings surrounded by tall trees. Our group, Derivatives, were in building D while the other group (Robin, Romy, Ron, Alfred and Roslyn) as well as the cafeteria, is in Building C. There's also a breakfast cafeteria in Buiding D.

It is nine o'clock am and there are only few people in the office. Since Dea is not yet in, Cathy introduced me to some people I used to know only in email or phone call like Dom, Jim, Murray, Walter and Jeff Ong. We also went to Shawn for my cube assignment and to Jordan to arranged a meeting with John O'niel for the id. I was set to meet John at one pm.

Dea came and I got into my cube. I can't believe that I am occupying a cube all by myself. A cube complete with upper shelf, rolling bin and a cabinet. How I wished I could bring all of this in our Manila office.

I started working and catch up with emails. I got so engrossed with work and new environment that I forgot about the meeting with John. I just realize it when Cathy came and asked me if I went to John. OOOPS! It's my first day and I am giving an impression that Pinoy are not respectful of other people's time. What a blooper! I went to Jordan to asked if the meeting can be resched. He arranged for me to meet John the next day at 09:30.

My day in the office ended at around 05:30.

What happened the next day? I got a mouthful from John (but he's a nice person) and have my id.

First Gimik in NJ- FITG Picnic

On my second day in Jersey, I attended the Filipino IT Group picnic. Pictures on the event are posted in here .

My home in Denville

Here are some photos of the house and room in Denville.