October

Today. I'm just happy about finally having a book case. But I don't want to keep wanting things and feel unsatisfied after I've gotten them. Nothing is eternal.

Next month. Feels hectic. Even the last half of this month...so help me God.

I just watched Bones... how can a mother ever not want her child and call other gang members her family. #alamna It happens and when it does, it just breaks your heart. Poor kid. I know there's a lot out there and that's were all the crime and violence come from. Tsk, poor kid.

Time to sleep, lots of work to do tomorrow.

Let's see how everything falls into place.

Emergency Numbers

I read so many self-help books before but retained nothing for actual use in my life. I realized that there is only one book or instruction manual that is really applicable for living one's life.. and that is the Bible.

Someone posted this in facebook and i just 'called' number 11 and 12.
11. When you grow bitter and critical, 12. For how to get along with other men.

I am bothered by my reaction to people for the past days -- getting annoyed easily, feeling self-righteous and indignant. I'm happy though that I still have enough sensitivity to realize that something's amiss.. too much complaining, too much analyzing who should really be responsible or how something should be done instead.

I'm happy to have read 1 Corinthians 13. It's the LOVE verse. People usually think it's only for lovers, but reading the NCV (New Contemporary Version) of the Bible pinpointed that it's applicable for everyone. I may have so much faith, so much gifts and talents, and so much knowledge, but I gain nothing if I do not have LOVE.

Romans 12, on the other hand, is about treating your enemies well. Show them kindness even if they are mean, love them even if they hate you.. this appreantly is like pouring burning coal over their heads.

I need to exude more love at work and with my family, especialy with my dad or whoever tries to give me something to do. I wish I could be as loving as my mom. When trouble befalls me, I want to be able to give love and not burden other people with my stress and frustration. Because I cannot speak or express myself well verbally, I hope God gives me the talent to express good things through my actions and my facial expressions.

May I also learn to pray for others and not just for myself.

End of Project

Just found out today that I'm getting rolled off from my project of almost 4 years on Dec 29. I was shocked coz for some reason I thought i was untouchable but well budget cuts are tough and someone can do my share of the work.

I was shocked and a bit insecure but I'm glad that God prepared me for this event. The End of Project email was sent yesterday but I somehow did not receive it and went straight to the career group year end meeting last night. The testimony shared by Glenn apparently was not only applicable to Edward but to me too. I also liked what Bro JR and Kervin shared about expecting more challenges to come in our life. Although having a comfortable life is not bad, we also need the tough times to help us be stronger so that we can grow and mature.

Those words were really planted in my heart and mind so when I read the End of Project mail, there was already a  stronger me that cushioned the blow.

And also, it's not really a bad thing coz they were happy with my service and just had to remove some people. My manager also told me that I'm already lined up for another project (possibly with her) so that's one less thing to worry about.

Whatever is in store for me, I know that it's part of God's plan. If it's gonna be challenging, I know that He will help me through it. So help me God.

Pwede bang mag LOA?

I'm bored with my work.. there's no job depth... I need some job enrichment according tot he Trajano Job Satisfaction model

Updating Business Requirements

I've been tasked to update business requirements due to some rule changes

I like this work, it feels important.

Maybe I should consider branching into Business Analysis together with Quality Assurance.

Hmmmm...

I wonder what specific skills and years of experience I need? --> http://www.softwarecertifications.org/qai_csba.htm

I know that one of my problems is not having a firm grasp of programming language / logic.. and I still have no interest in learning one hehehe

We'll see.. just a passing thought though 

Night Creature for a Week

I volunteered to be on night shift for the whole of last week and it was an enlightening experience-

I learned that I'm quite a nocturnal person. My shift mate would fall asleep but i was always awake and alert. Of course there are bouts of sleepiness, but nothing like thesis-times' head-dropping-to-the-keyboard kind of thing.

I guess it also helped that whenever i felt any signs of a major sleepiness attack, I'd have my mini-Nescafe mixed pack in hand: Nescafe Gold, Nesacafe Decaf, and Nescafe Protect. To complete that is Nesvita Non-fat powdered milk and my packets of Splenda Sugar substitute (This is not an Ad) hahaha!

And all in all, night shift isn't that bad (at least for me) especially since our work is not tedious. We're just running batch jobs and validating output files which is simple and mechanical. Not much brain cells are needed unlike when creating Test Case requirements, you'd have to map lots of documents and spreadsheets in your head.

Starting Monday, I'll be back on normal creature shift already and will be looking after my teammates during the day. By some twist of fate, I got moved up to Backup Team Lead and I think it's a really great opportunity :) It's like going back to where I was before in Accenture and in a matter of 2 months!

I'm optimistic about things and determined to tackle and challenges that lie ahead.

Enjoying the 8 to 5

This should be noted down in history! It's my first time to go home between 5:30 -6pm for one week straight in almost 4 years! Imagine that!

I certainly enjoyed my first week, since I'm still on training mode and not yet doing actual client work..just practicing until Feb 18 comes along..

Our TL is still at the client site and he'll be back on tuesday...half of me wants for the 8 -5 to stay that way forever but half of me also does not want to expect too much. This is the IT industry, after all.

Anyway, I just wanted to share my happiness. This week, I slept quite earlier than normal, coz it seems that I'm tired from really thinking or studying haha! ("really", being the operative word here). I felt really good when I woke up on saturday morning :) I felt like i could do so much..plan my life out..take on new challenges..

What a great first week!

I've Left Accenture...

After 3 years, 7 months and 4 days....I said goodbye to my first company...and my first project..Requisition To Pay - ARIBA.

My last day was a Friday and I started work for RCG Information Technology immediately on the Monday after that! That's why it hasn't fully sunk in that I've already left the company..Whenever I learn of new testing techniques, my mind goes on auto-pilot in assessing the relevance of the technique to ARIBA...sheesh!

Anyways, new things always excite me and of course, moving to a new company after 3 years definitely falls under this category!!

New Office, New Officemates, New application...but still the same analysis and dedication required :)

What really excites me is the opportunity to learn new things, new applications, new techniques related to testing to further enhance my knowledge---earned solely through experience. After 3 years in the same project, it's not uncommon to wonder if I really know anything that's not related to my project. Are the things that i know applicable to the outside world? Am I good just because I've been here for so long and am already super familiar with the application? These things definitely crossed my mind and moving on to a new company will answer some of those questions...

I've been attending testing methodology knowledge transition sessions for my first 3 days and since I'm still feeling my way through the application, I'm focusing on the techniques right now.

Assurance # 1 - I understand the techniques, I've done them before through logic and personal analysis but never knew what they were called and that they had a formal 'QA standard' type of names. So that definitely made me happy.

The next step for me is to familiarize myself with the application so that both can go hand in hand. I long for the adrenaline rush whenever new requirements come in! It would be time to analyze...to assess...to gauge....

Meanwhile, i have my Management Accounting lessons on budgeting to keep me pre-occupied...i actually like it better than Financial Accounting coz it has a more practical application in life!

Starting Anew

This could well be a major turning point in my life...

- Looking for a job elsewhere meant that I wanted more and felt that i could do more
- Getting hired in a company other than Accenture meant that I am actually worth more than the JSE that i was hired around 3.6 years ago...it means that although Accenture taught me everything i know about IT..i was able to translate it and make it my own

Just a few days left until Feb 4 when I move to a new company. I have no reputation whatsoever except maybe as the experienced hire from Accenture. Then again, all new hires are experienced hires in RCG...

I hope to recarve my niche in testing...that's it for now, i don't want to pre-empt anything or expect too much on my first few months :)

Last 30 Days in Accenture

I missed blogging!

Anyway, the cat's out of the bag! I have passed my resignation from Accenture effective Feb 2, 2007. So my last day is Feb 1. That's still 3 loooong weeks from now!

3 loooong weeks where I'd still have to review Test Conditons and Test Scripts of Chicago peeps! I pray that it'll be easier this time around hehehe

3 looooog weeks where I'd have to transition every single thing i know to other people. Hmmmm, I hope that's enough time!

I am looking forward to certain more exciting deadlines

• Jan 14 - deadline of my articles for the GP2W Newsletter - a feature on the CIO Christmas Fair which my floor won and a travel feature of my Star Cruise experience
• Jan 18 - deadline of my Leadership book review for Manila LeAP about The Wizard and the Warrior, leading with passion and power
• Within January - Ops Teambuilding @ Red Box!
  
• Jan 28 - Lunch out with Start Group for my last 'monthsary' with them in ACN. It's also my farewell treat for them. We'll be eating at AMICI
• Feb 1 - last day of work! woohoo!
  

Ohhhh i so wish that PT deliverables would be bearable... i wish that our APM has transitioned what to do well to the PT Planners...i think this would be my biggest challenge before i go.. wish me luck!!

Power Struggle

There seems to be a struggle for power at the top

One who has been placed there because it is his time and the other because it is but right

Yet even if the appointed one's passions lie elsewhere.. his merit surpasses his heart's desire and he still emerges victorious in the battle albeit unintentional

The other, while rightful, is unnatural for the throne.

such is the story untold...