Ika 12 ng Disyembre 2008: Recommendation

It's our boy assistant off today.... So I had to fill in some of the pet chores which I miss anyway. My other helper who also does pet chores and tidying up the outside premises had to do all things by herself. It's better that my boy assistant's off fall on a weekday as weekends are really action-filled days.

The work on our gate and other parts of the home have also started as I negotiated with the contractor and confirmed the job order yesterday. He has a very nice design for our gate. I can't wait to see it installed. Our home will be secured comes Christmastime.

With all the things going on, part of me wants to stay home but I also need to make a living. On this cool and rainy Friday morning, I rode a van going to work. I was sleeping and yet I hear voices. There was a man at my back talking about construction on the phone all the time. I was able to sleep through this. Then, an elderly woman got a call and spoke rather excitedly. I was up in no time listening to her recommendation of a staff to another organization. The woman was all praises about the James, the applicant, who appeared to be one of their staff. She said he's learned and capable of doing everything rating him a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10. She added he will be an asset to any organization. Now, that is how you give recommendation to people....clear, specific, and with conviction. Later, however, she would realize and lament that she would be losing a valued staff.

This made me think........ what kind of recommendation will my bosses give me? I have dealt with all kinds. There were pleasant and unpleasant experiences. Sometimes, more than the monetary rewards, praises and pats on the back are just as important for employees to know that they are valued. These latent motivators go beyond the temporal satisfaction provided by monetary considerations and is forever stuck in the psyche of an individual. Fortunately, I have received my fair share of these rewards that gives me an arsenal of armory to draw from when I need validation and something to hang on to on those times ........

I have likewise given some recommendations to friends, former colleagues, students in their pursuits of goals and aspirations. The fine lady taught me how to give a real recommendation. Sometimes, I feel it's just doing what is expected of us like a reflex....... all too mechanical and laden with superlatives I couldn't even comprehend. Yup, all too insincere. I am asked and I give. With this encounter, I will begin to be more circumspect in my own recommendations starting today.


PS: Maganda and masaya ang kinahinatnan ng aming spa day ng kaibigan kong si V....... Sulit ang binayad namin at maganda ang nakuha naming serbisyo sa mga mababait nilang crew. Tamang tama pala at nagkita na kami dahil paalis na siya papunta Canada para makapiling ang pamilya niya sa Linggo. Sa Enero na ang balik niya.

Matapos and lahat ng gagawin ko kahapon, nakarating din ako sa Going Straight kung saan magpaparebond ako ng buhok ko ng mga alas-3 ng hapon. Nauna ako sa kaibigan ko na pumasok sa opisina at hindi kami nagkaunawaan sa aming date kahapon. Pero ok lang at mahabang proseso ang dadaanan ko. Humigit kumulan sa 5 oras ang pagpaparebond ng buhok. Titiisin ko ito at di ko na makayanan pa ang aking bad hair days.

Inooverhaul na ang buhok ko ng dumating ang kaibigan ko. Hiniling ko na pagtabihin kami para makapagkwentuhan. Matapos makapagpahinga, nagpasiya siya na magpamanicure at pedicure. "Yan lang!", sabi ko sa kanya. Kasi daw kakatapos lang niya magpakulay at pagupit. Matapos ang manicure at pedicure niya, naisip niya na magpahighlight ng buhok. Sinabihan ko ang mga hair treaters na ihighlight na ang buhok ng kaibigan ko. Wala na siyang nagawa.

Maya-maya naisip ko na rin pamanicure at pedicure na para hindi na ako lumabas ng weekend. Konti lang naman ang dipresiya ng presyo. Maya-maya pa ulit habang minamanicure ako, naisip ko na magpa-foot spa na. Hay........ medyo nakokompleto na ang spa treatment ko. paano kaya ang masahe namin? Gabi na at baka sarado na ang mga spa na me nagmamasahe.

Nang matapos ang lagyan ng kung ano-anong kemikal ang buhok ng kaibigan ko, minasahe siya na kasama sa hot oil treatment na package sa paghighlight ng buhok niya. Me hot oil treatment din ang pagpaparebond. Di ayos na. Ibig sabihin, mamasahihin din kami kahit likod lang. Pero me foot spa din pala ako at mamasahihin din ang paa at binti ko. Di talagang ok na ok na at kokonti na lang parte yun hindi minasahe.

Dumating ang panganay na anak ko na uuwi ng bahay galing sa dorm niya. Sinabi ko na magpagupit. Una, ayaw pa pero kalaunan ay nakumbinsi rin namin ng kaibigan ko. Medyo hindi adventurous ang anak kong ito at kailangan udyukan sa mga bagay bagay. Sinabi ko sa naggugupit na ilayer ang buhok niyang mahaba at wala na sa ayos. Pagkatapos magupitan, ang ganda ng anak ko. Sabi ko na baka mainggit ang pangalawa kong anak.

Ako ang huling natapos sa aming tatlo. Masakit na ang pwet ko sa pag-upo ng mahigit 6 na oras. Lumabas kami ng Going Straight pasado alas-9 ng gabi na me ngiti sa aming mga labi. Naging matagumpay ang aming spa day. Malaki din nagastos namin sa dami ng pinagawa namin pero kailangan din namin na isipin ang sarili namin paminsan minsan........ habang me ngipin pa kami......