Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Girlfriends

I can't seem to recall when was the last time I met this old schoolmate. Maybe it was during one of the festivals I think when she visited me with her darlings, big and small.

I must say I was pretty ashamed that I had to text her asking if she was still working at the old place. Hmmm....friends need to know other friends workplaces...just in case. Anyways, upon confirming, I asked if we could meet up for lunch. And despite of having to drive at 110 km/hr, I made it to her office within 12 minutes but parking my car took longer than that. Calling her, I complained about the parking and there she was at one of levels, holding two spots just for me..lol

And there she was. I used to call her "Momma C". I've known her since we were both 18 and she was always in charge and had full control of things. Though we've grown into motherhood and I sooner than her, she'll always be Momma C to me, she's the thinker, the resolver.

I only had about an hour of her lunch time. But just in that 60 minutes, we exchanged notes as quickly as we would put on our shoes. Into our conversation, we pulled in other people of importance in our lives, our dear friends, our family, our jobs...ow, just about everything that matters, I guess. Maybe this is what set us women apart from men. We get right to the point and out.

Lunch was simple but wonderful. Exchanging of ideas were great. To tell the truth, driving at 110, wasn't actually to beat the time. But rather an anger that had built up that morning. Having lunch with Momma C changed my mood. Thanks to you :):)

Girlfriends are rather unique. They may not be related. But somehow, they're connected.

Friday, March 19, 2010

I find it rather offensive and of poor taste that people do the following on facebooks and blogs:

  1. are very specific on the dates they missed their periods
  2. take photos of their pregnancy test kits and display it on their blogs. I'm sure you know where the test kits have gone to, before the result is displayed on the little window, the hygiene factor
  3. people who post themselves with their spouses on their beds looking dazed as though the photo was taken right after their bed workout
  4. photos of spouses snuggled together on their beds
  5. employees who slam their colleagues on facebook, whereby the slammed colleague is also on the facebook. Ahem...where's the integrity here? Is that person worth being a friend on the facebook? And a whole bunch of other friends commenting on the same post
  6. office politics
  7. people who swear that their friends will diminish from the face of the earth

Hmm...i mean, those are very personal stuffs, personal opinions, personal beliefs. I strongly stand by the fact that these social marketing tools are meant for social use. Not office, not in bedrooms, not in politics (where ever that applies).

It is after all SOCIAL, remember?

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Bottled Up

Bottling up feelings, making assumptions and not being able to get through to people is very frustrating and hurtful.

Friday, March 5, 2010

The Boss That I Had

I've been away for quite some time from my musings, mainly because the pressure of work and the decisions that I've been forced to make. It is quite ironic that while we ponder of what to decide and how to convey, others have already decided for you. I find that simply outrageous. But outrageous it may be, it has been decided, like it or not.

So here I was caught in a very unpleasant situation, between two people I admired and have worked with. I secretly wished that this situation happened say 20 years ago and I was in the center of 2 gorgeous hunks..mmm...that would have been an incredibly wonderful experience. Sigh....20 years later it was a tug of war between 2 individuals, both in the range of 50 year olds. While I had to disappoint one, the other seemed like a hungry tiger. Just waiting....

Tomorrow will be my last day serving the boss whom I have been with since Nov 2001. The boss who made me laugh and frown, angry and sad, who also made me work late. I still recall a situation on January 5, 2007. I was expecting my third baby and was due anytime. He insisted that I should be the only one drafting a letter to the CEO of one of the biggest investment company. Till to date, I don't understand why it had to be me. But there I was really really pregnant working till 10 pm that night. But I did ask him though "what if go into labor?". His reply was "I will take you to the hospital, even if it means you mess up my Benz. But you need to complete this letter". He really doesn't know what it means like to have a baby, typical of men. The next day my gynea gave me a week long medical leave. And exactly a week later on January 12, 2007, I gave birth to a beautiful girl.

This boss also had the welfare of his staffs close to his heart. On two occasions when our bonuses were good, he ensured that a portion of it was kept away for staff activities. One year we went on a trip to Pangkor Island and the following year we flew to Tioman Island. I must say that those were some of my best vacations. Though I was in the organizing team, I had so much fun. Unfortunately, those bonus payout years have long left us. But the memories are still vivid. Imagine going on rounds on jet skis, banana boat rides, midnight boat rides, snorkelling, island hoping, endless hours spent in the water (both the sea and the pool) and all those freaky but fun telematches. Sometimes, it's just simply fantastic to get away from work and from home. Just good to let your hair down, literally.

Of course, there were times too that I wondered what I was still doing at the office at 5.30 am. Where was the practicality of working 12 hours non-stop. I simply hated the last minute preparation that had to be done. Weirdly, I keep asking the same question year in year out, but this trend has never changed, much to my disappointment. This year, I shall break that trend.

Well, so many things have happened professionally, that is. I must say that I had grown too to a much better position and have been able to gather lots of experience. Times were good and times were bad. But life goes on. Yes, in a way I am sad to leave this boss behind. At the same time, I am kinda looking forward to better times with the new boss. Hmmm....expectations are running high...

Monday will see a new beginning for me, right or wrong. I shall take in the new portfolio positively. Here I come Mr.....