Some Kinda Chinese Water Torture

One definite upside of this whole not having a job thing is having the luxury of time -- time to do things I've been putting of when my schedule was crazier. One of those things would be to relentlessly hound people whom I have a score to settle with.

First up is my former employer, an English-language teaching school that's connected to an antiquated news outfit. It's been two years and a month to the day since I last worked for them and I have yet to my last pay from them X(

I've followed up with Feeling Wife, the meddlesome, self-appointed officer-in-charge when the boss is away. I've been calling her everyday for the last couple of week to amp up the pressure for a 'progress report' about my last last paycheck and she she does is hide behind the pitiful receptionist. It's not only an exercise in futility (on my part) but also of inanity (on her part) as the receptionist rehashes day after day the same old excuse on why she can't come to the phone.

Last time I called, Feeling Wife speaking through the receptionist said the boss is out of the country and that he'll be back sometime this month. Called again first thing in the morning this week and again, via the receptionist, said something new (finally!) - no news from the boss yet as he now hold my record.

Stupid cow... now trying point the finger to someone else so I would stop bombarding her with calls. Ruining her day by pestering her endlessly's no longer fun so I think I'll just go straight to the boss' boss to create wonderful fireworks from a new front.

Next on my list is Cebu Pacific and the missing refund on my credit card for the cancelled flight of my cousin (it was placed online using my credit card). I've asked non stop to talk to somebody from the Management and I've gotten nowhere. I'm thinking of marching on to their corporate office 'til I get what I want from them.

Any other ideas how else I can go about it?

Bamboo Babies

The other day I found myself stressed out from all the studying I was doing for my upcoming TESL class. I started reading my 600-plus page textbook and had the biggest case of information overload. I took a break to destress myself from the pros and cons of Communicative Language Teaching vis-a-vis Task Based Learning and the various teaching approaches by tending to my new babies -- the bamboo plants we have at home.
Not really sure if it were the plants themselves or their being green but hey, that did the trick. Come meet them --

Bindi

I got this name from how bendy most shoots are from this bunch

Mike

I was watching Space Jam the other night and this one shoot reminded of Michael Jackson because of how strong and sturdy it looks

Ty

The type of bamboo in this bunch looks like it is all dried up from the light brown color of its stalks. Ty was the name I came up with because it rhymed with dry :D

Lush

This is the densest bunch that we have in our plant box, hence the name.

Skip

This bunch has some gaps in between them. I'm kind of excited because there are 2 new shoots that have sprouted from the ground :)


Wade

Another product of wordplay... hehehe. The distinguishing characteristic of this bunch is that one shoot that have wide branches

Tracy

Percy

Lucy

For the last three -- Tracy, Percy and Lucy -- I just felt naming them that way since they don't have that much distinguishing characteristics from the others