Words of the Mad

I made a sudden decision last month to make a job switch, barely a year into my current (previous from tomorrow) job. I was feeling stagnant at the workplace despite the short time I’ve been there.

No doubt there are still skills and knowledge for me to learn and pick up and my boss is more than willing to teach, but things just ain’t moving fast enough and I’m not getting any younger. Prospects ain’t any good.

It helps that my new company in the private sector is willing to hire me despite my lack of experience, with a bump in the paycheck no less and seemingly promising prospects. *fingers crossed* Such opportunities don’t come along often so it doesn’t make sense for me not to take it, and thus I did.

The only down side is the location; it’s all the way in Changi while I’m in Jurong. It’s gonna be like those years when I was in Temasek Polytechnic, except that I now drive and I can’t just skip work like I skip classes when I feel like it. Need loads of discipline to get up early and arrive on time.

I’m starting tomorrow and the usual jitters and apprehensions are getting to me. It’s self-doubt phase all over again. I hope I’ll be able to keep up with the pace in the private sector. I’ve been too comfortable in the public service. No culture shock, hopefully.

Good luck to me!

There is this very old cleaning lady in my office building; I reckon she’s in her 70s, slightly hunched but doesn’t walk too slowly. Everyday at about 12 noon, she would knock on my office door (e-passkey system and she doesn’t have access), come into my office and collect our trash. On Mondays, she would come in twice; once more in the early morning at about 9.30am to vacuum the office.

Initially I was pretty friendly, like I always am; stopping whatever I was working on, making small talks, asking her if she needs any help. I mean, considering her age, it feels like it is something that I, as a younger person, should do. Probably out of respect.

I suppose she felt some sort of a connection and decided to talk to me about everything; ranging from my education background, my pay (!!!), her complaints about her terrible management and how stupid they were (don’t we all?), her grumblings about inconsiderate people whom she collects trash for, all the way to whether my boss is hei-gu (Hokkien dialect for asthmatic).

All is fine to me, really (maybe not the hei-gu part, because, HOW THE HELL WOULD I KNOW??), but my gripe about her is: SHE DOESN’T KNOW WHEN TO STOP!

I can be working hard on a file and giving her monosyllabic answers to whatever she’s talking about after I have said my usual “Hi” but she just couldn’t get the hint. I can be at the lift lobby running an errand for my boss, or trying to get to a lunch appointment, or on my desperate way to the loo and she would chat me up. I have tried giving her the awkward “I don’t really have time to talk to you” smile and look but nope, she can’t take the hint.

There was once I even bumped into her in the men’s loo!! She was getting toilet supplies (somehow it’s stored in the men’s loo) and ain’t she glad to find someone to talk to. I quickly hid myself in a cubicle (I use the cubicles for everything because I don’t like to use urinals – don’t ask) and she went like “ok, ok, you go 大便 (shit)”. =,=” Like I would when she’s around! (Well, I wasn’t going to, but that’s besides the point, ha ha).

My politeness had become annoyance.

Now, I have to say that I had no problems with the cleaning ladies in my previous office. I would very gladly wave and greet them whenever I see them along the corridor. They’ll talk to me, yes, but briefly. They know when is the appropriate time to do anything, which is very nice.

So, at some point in time, say, 2 months ago, I decided guiltily with restitute that I shall avoid and ignore this cleaning lady at all possible circumstances. By avoid I mean not meeting her gaze to encourage her to talk to me, greeting her hastily and quickly focusing on something else, or, simply, avoid her literally.

You don’t have to tell me I’m rude, but really, there are times where you just can’t stop yourself from being annoyed, however you tell yourself not to.

That worked. She finally got the hint and since then, we’ve only been nothing but cordial to each other.

I appreciate the work the cleaning ladies are doing. I have all the respect for this old cleaning lady, doing such a laborious job at her age, but I think I want to draw the line at just that. Silently.

I haven’t written anything for a while and it’s 2010. I’ve no idea why I’m still holding on to this domain, considering I haven’t been blogging much since 2004. 6 years!!

I did a major spring-cleaning of my room today. Something that I haven’t done for at least the past 3 to 5 years. 80% done and leaving the rest for another day. Before the CNY. It isn’t meant to signify having a clean slate for the ‘new year’. Just a deadline for myself so that I would get round to it.

And lucky I did today. I found a ToTo slip from 2005 (5 freakin’ years ago!) and I decided to buy the numbers on it. Won 60 bucks. It pays to clean! Or, does it actually pay NOT to clean for 5 years? Hmm. Food for thought.

So, I found this Doraemon clock collecting dust in a corner of my shelf. Gave it a good wipe and popped in new batteries. It works, except for the alarm. It’s fine though. I’ve been surviving fine using my phone alarm the last few years.

Anyhow, I’m giving this clock a special mention because I remember vividly how I got this clock. It was in the year 2000. 10 years ago. I just started my short-stint in JC (dropped out without completing year one) and my Mum was admitted into the hospital for an op. I was afraid no one’s gonna wake me up for school, so I bought it. I can’t remember how much it cost though. Should be less than $20 since I didn’t have much pocket money then.

I also found the receipt for my first iPod. It was a 30GB iPod Photo – the first iPod with a colour screen. It was a short-lived model because very soon after, every iPod came with a colour screen.

I’m still using this iPod. It was partly sponsored by Cara as my birthday gift in 2005. 5 years ago. I don’t know if iPods generally lasts this long. I’m thankful that mine did and hope it’ll continue to.

They just released news of the Apple iPad today. For once, I can’t think of any reason to want one, when my iPhone has sufficient capabilities and functionality for me. As it is, I can read and surf on it, and I prefer my movies in HD on big screens. So I can’t really think of a reason to lug one around. Maybe only when I’m travelling I guess, but as it is, I have an underused MacBook.

Oh, and that was bought in 2007, 3 years ago, when I decided embark on a part-time undergraduate programme. I dropped out half a year later.

I just changed my job 6 months ago. I don’t know how I survived these 6 months. Not getting enough job satisfaction. But i’m holding on though. I believe there’s much more I can learn. Even if there isn’t, the length of time I’m here will look better on my résumé.

And this is my first blog entry of the year. I don’t know how many there will be later, so enjoy while it lasts, whoever is still visiting this abandoned site. Do drop a note if you are. I’d love to hear from you. May even motivate me to blog a little more.

Happy new year!

Wow!!! I can blog using the Wordpress app even though I’m hosting my own Wordpress! How cool is that?? With this maybe I can blog a little more often!

IN TOTAL LOVE WITH MY iPHONE!!!

Gonna love Wordpress for its one-click automatic upgrade to the latest version (though I can’t see any obvious differences). If only they make the downloading of themes easier.

Anyhow, I made myself see the big picture since my last post but it seems kinda blurry now. I’ve left my job of two and three-quarter years (excluding National Service at that place) and joining a new one next Monday. Gave myself a break for a week and a half (I LOVE VERONICA MARS!) and it’s onward to jittery learning curve.

Big step.

I should be proud of myself for landing 3 offers, but somehow I wonder if my capabilities are overrated. Ah, the usual self-doubt of self-worth, but really, what do they see in me?

A career switch definitely wasn’t on my list of New Year resolutions. I must remind myself not to make any more resolutions. I hardly fulfilled any of them over the last half of the year, other than the enjoying parts.

I am glad that the switch happened anyway. I’m turning 26 and I don’t know enough about the trade. It’s time to explore and decide where I should go and what I want to do in life. I don’t have my life planned out for me, so I’ve got some exploring to do. I know I should go on and get a degree, but, well, I don’t think I want it on my plate right now.

I am hoping that I’m not going to disappoint at my new workplace. I put down reputable names as my referees, so reputations other than mine are at stake. I better work hard.

Good luck to me.

Just as the stars seem so aligned and life is moving the way I want it to be (albeit a little slowly, grrrrr), there just had to be a red herring to complicate matters a bit.

I will focus on the big picture. I will. I will. Big picture. Big picture.

I don’t know why I bother renewing my domain for yet another year. It’s not like I blog any more than I used to for the past, hmm, 5 years? Who even comes here anymore?

I’m expecting some significant changes in my life around July / August this year. I have made and am trying to execute some plans to make life a little better. It hasn’t been a very good year I must say, other than the month I was away overseas, of course. Anyhow, now is a good time for a change. The stars seem aligned.

Will update again. If you’re here, do let me know.

I’m officially moving Les Misérables up to the 4th place with Chicago. I seem to remember more than what I thought I remembered about the musical, after listening to Susan Boyle, the latest sensation on the internet for her performance of “I Dreamed A Dream” from Les Misérables on “Britain’s Got Talent”. It’s like everything that I saw came flowing back and seem very enjoyable on hindsight. I wonder why that is. Very weird.

Frankly, I miss the time I spent in London watching musicals a terrible lot. I want to go back there. I can’t imagine taking another 13-hour flight, but I really want to go back there. Sighh. Good times.

The dreams I had when I was young; they do come true, in all ways you can imagine, or not imagine actually. Everything just seems so surreal now, if not for some annoying upsets some idiot is causing.

It’s ok. It’s alright. I shall be zen about it. I shall be “ML” about it. She’s great inspiration, this (soon-to-be-ex-) colleague of mine. Gonna miss her.

May some good things happen soon.

February and March have come and gone. Time simply flew! I’ve spent my 2 weeks in San Remo (Italy) and 1 week in London. It was over so quickly! Too quickly, in fact.

I’ve had a lot of fun both in San Remo and London. Many friends made in the former, many musicals seen in the latter. Life was very fulfilling and I get to shop like some rich tai-tai in London because I was helping my sisters get their Guccis. Fun!

I didn’t mind the cold and very cold, but I hated the rain in London. There was a hailstorm in London on my last day there though. Good thing I was indoors, but it’s not everyday you get to see the sky raining ice.

Photos from San Remo can be found in my Facebook – Part 1 & Part 2.

Hardly took any pictures in London though. However, I do want to talk a little bit about the musicals I’ve seen there. Just to document some thoughts down, before I forget them.

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8 musicals in 7 days. Quite a feat, I must say, though I could have done another 1 or 2 if I researched a little bit more. Nevertheless, quite a feat. I’m a very happy boy.

21 Mar 09 – Avenue Q
22 Mar 09 – The Lion King
24 Mar 09 – Phantom of the Opera & Chicago
25 Mar 09 – Les Misérables & Hairspray
26 Mar 09 – Mamma Mia!
27 Mar 09 – Wicked

And to rank them in terms of my favourites:

1. Wicked

The story and plot were great! The music and singing were EXCELLENT! The Act (“Defying Gravity”) just before the interval was so overwhelming and powerful that I couldn’t stop feeling the emotions during the entire interval! AMAZING! Till now I still can’t shake off the feeling of “defying gravity”. It affected me a lot!

2. Hairspray

It was such a happy show! I was having a really lousy day (didn’t enjoy Les Misérables very much, and the weather was so cranky with the rain-sun-rain-sun getting drenched and all) but this musical just lifted my spirits ALL THE WAY UP!

3. Mamma Mia! & Avenue Q & Phantom of the Opera

I have to say I would have preferred Mamma Mia! over the other 2 if not for the fact that there were minor technical glitches (mic wasn’t turned on) and non-fantastic singing from the main cast (Donna & Sophie), AND the theatre allowing late-comers to enter disrupting the show a bit.

I love the songs still, and the Sam Carmichael’s singing here is definitely better than Pierce Brosnan’s Sam, but I expected more. Still, having the entire theatre to stand up and dance after the Final Act was a great experience.

Avenue Q was very funny and the talented cast and puppeteers were definitely a big plus-point. Very enjoyable, but less the memorable.

For Phantom of the Opera, I must say I went in with low expectations; Cara said it was hard to understand with the opera-singing and I thought the movie version was a little draggy. Was surprised that I actually appreciated the performance throughout and after. Again, I’m very impressed by their singing and music.

4. Chicago

I realise after the musical that I never actually liked the story of Chicago from its movie version. It was the songs I was attracted to. I enjoyed the live singing and dancing, and the performers were YUMMYYYYYYY (*slurps*). But that was about it.

5. The Lion King

Kudos to the set and props design. It was really an eye-opener for me with the “human-giraffes”. How did anyone even think of that? That said, I dozed off a little bit during the show. That explains why it’s ranked here.

6. Les Misérables

I dozed off a little longer than I did during The Lion King. Period.

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That was my overseas trip for the year. I don’t know if I’m going anywhere else again later this year, but 3 countries in 4 months (I just went to Taipei in Dec 08), I think that’s about enough for a while (long-haul flights suck! I hate flying now).

Would love to go back to London again in future for the musicals and maybe San Remo to get away from the hustle and bustle. I’m not a scenery-looking-appreciating person. I’ve no interest in photography either. My idea of a holiday is just to take a break from work and do the things I like, which is mostly eating, sleeping and shopping or walking around aimlessly. That’s mostly what I’ve been doing for the overseas trips I’ve had thus far.

And I enjoyed myself.

我不喜欢所谓的 “逢年过节”。
什么传统，习俗，似乎离我好远，好远。