And the Competiton Fades . . .

Yet another development at the workplace. It's like a turn-wheel, going round and round. I've just been told today that my buddy has tendered his resignation. And in the interim while TL hires a new Accountant, I'm going to be taking three teams. She wants me to go over to the US team to whip them into shape . . . What? When did I became the defacto troubleshooter of the team? Or the company in that case? Shit happens and everyone goes to one person, me . . . While it is a good testament to the work I do, but seriously . . . what are all these managers doing? And I don't mean TL, she is stuck with me. Hahahah. But what? Other 'managers' expect to send an email or give me a call and solve the problems for them while they sit back and wait for everything on a silver platter. Come'on . . . you guys are managers! You are paid way more than me.

Phfff, over with the rant and back on topic. So my buddy quits and now I am tasked to take over US team. Damn this is going to be one long hard road. I am seeing Nov to Jan all over again. Late nights, stress, immense pressure and more crap. This had better be worth it . . . TL mentioned last week a promotion for me in April. But as with what it is now, it's just saying. Nothing concrete, nothing written. So being the eternal skeptic, I doubt it's going to happen until I see it. Well, nothing lost if it is just a ruse to get me to stay for the time-being. Time will tell and come April, if I'm not promoted, I'll know how the company and TL treats her staff and move on. No biggie, there are other fishes in the sea. But in the meantime, I'll put my all into making it work. I've not failed so far and I'm not about to start.

Back from the Abyss

The past 3 months have been a momentous challenge on the work front and consequently my personal front as well.

TL finally came back from her maternity. Phew! Thinking back on the past 3 months, it was one long horrible story. Not that I screwed up anything, just that so much has happen in such a short time I don't know where to start.

But taking the good things from this experience, I must say I've learned alot. And I'm thankful of the opportunity given to me. Who gets to stand in for another team, help with his manager's task and represent a major project all at the same time as an Accountant. Hopefully this will help in my drive to climb up the corporate ladder.

At the same time though, I'm well aware that I have to be careful not to neglect the very reason I'm putting so much effort into this, my Meimei. She has been an unwavering pillar, patient and caring while I put in my hours. Many times she has had to wait for me for dinner. I could sense a certain frustration and sign of disappointment everytime I've had to cancel our plans at the last minute. But seriously, this is a chicken and egg situation.

I thrive hard in hopes I can give Meimei the flexibility to choose to work or not in the future. I work hard so we can have a better life next time. Yet at the same time, these hours are creating an unspoken tension which might lead to not having that future. I doubt it'll ever get to that, ever. But I can't seem to put away this fear . . . I can't afford to lose her. And I can't give up my job either. *Frustrated

Guest Post - Random Wynsical Post #1

We love iTouch! *Chant after us... "We Love iTouch!"

"why?"

Seven Pounds.

**SPOILERS AHEAD**
A beautifully-aching drama we caught, half on MY iTouch and half on the laptop..

The 7 gifts...
1. lungs for his brother
2. right-half of liver for Holly
3. house to Connie
4. Bone Marrow for little boy
5. one kidney for coach
6. eyes for Ezra
7. heart for Emily

"With her, he realised he can save himself, but he must die to save her.."

Gifts of Vouchers

Haiz I really should have done better. I seem to keep saying I should be doing better, but not showing an improvement . . . Bah . . .

Today is Meimei's Birthday. And I didn't do anything special. No flowers, no cake. She was questioned by her friends on why she was at home at night. That put her in a very awkward position. *bangs head on the table*

All I did was to give her vouchers. Special ones though. I had actually wanted to buy a LX-3 ViewFinder for her. But I searched online, called all the stores I can think of and none had it in stock. I'm not surprised though, that thing cost $329 at Best Denki . . . that sort of money could get you a low end digital camera!

Anyways I 'bought' some vouchers for her birthday from this blog. They were made of simple coloured paper. They were:

1. $300 cash voucher
2. 1 Lap Dance voucher
3. No smoking after a meal voucher, valid for use once a day
4. 1 Silly Dance voucher, anytime anywhere
5. 1 ****-*** voucher, infinite usage (-Censored-)

Naturally all of them had expiry date (well, except one of them) and specific conditions. I'll not list them here. The vouchers also came with instructions on redemption procedure. 1) Flash the card 2) Give Pokpok a big fat kiss. Heh.

This Is Not A Good Way to Start

It's been poo-poo and poo-poo all over this new year. I'm guessing she is angry with me because:

New Year's Eve:

- I had to work full day. She had to wait alone at home for me and weather was very hot. We went for dinner and then I went home because I needed to work on New Year's Day. She couldn't go to a lively countdown party because of me. Basically I ruined her day as she couldn't make plans.

- I didn't message her at all during the day.

New Year's Day
- I had to work full day. She had to wait again at home for me. We were going to attend my friend's wedding party at night. Ruined her day again as she couldn't make any plans.

- I wore jeans and made her wear them too for a friend's wedding dinner. She says we were not dressed appropriately. She tried to make a point by pointing to a little boy who wore jeans, "Hey there is a little boy wearing jeans." Majority of people were in pants and long sleeved shirts.

- I forgot to bring my long sleeved shirt even though I've prepared it and left it on the dining table the night before.

- I was being obnoxious during the wedding dinner.

- I didn't ask if she wanted the door gift before giving it to someone else who was looking for one.

- I didn't message her at all during the day.

2 Jan 2009
- I had to work till 10 plus on a Friday night. Ruined any plans she could have made if she didn't wait for me. I was supposed to join her for dinner to show her the new shirt she bought me.

- I didn't give her a kiss when she tabao-ed dinner over for me.

- I forgot to go to her place to kill the cockroach terrorising them, even though I said I would.

. . . . . This is not the way to start a new year. Last year was already so bad. Dammit! Buck up Pok pok. I am damn hell not going to have another bad year. No WAY!

Dusty Blog

Wow, it's been more than a month since my last post. Oopsie. Well things have been busy and very interesting at the office.

Hmmm, what's nigging feeling I'm getting . . . wait . . . has something to do with the New Year. Which happens to be 2 days away! I remember something about exerc... hmmm? Oh ok . . . you caught me. Yes yes . . . the resolutions I made at the start of 2008. Darn . . . How many have I accomplished? *Tatata Drum-rolls~~* NONE! Phhffff. This isn't good at all.

But then again on the 'bright' side, hey! I don't have to make new ones this year!! Muhahahhaha. Yeah yeah I know, this is not the right way. But but . . . I need to comfort myself somehow that something went 'right' . . . =P

The Sailor Has Lost His Spinach

What in the world is going on here . . . Tasteless chicken, medicore cajun fries, soso mash potato and new coleslaw recipe. This is simply the more expensive version of KFC! Wait . . . it's not even up to KFC's standard! Blasphemy!!!

My darling and I have been regulars at Changi T1's Popeye's. We would drive all the way there just to savour the chicken. And they used to serve great tasty chicken. Even though their coleslaw wasn't really up to par, we gave KFC a pass just because the chicken was juicer, more succulent and downright tastier than KFC's. It even made it into my foodplaces list.

So the shock and agony of today's dinner at Popeye's really made me pissed. First, we noticed that they had made changes to menu. Our staple menu selection was a 4pcs chicken set with 3 sides and 2 drinks. But now they changed it to 4pcs chicken with 1 side and 1 drink . . . Crap. We had to order the 2pcs chicken set and top that off with another 2 sides to meet our usual order.

Next was the stab in the heart. What happen with the chicken!!?? I took one bite of it, and straight off knew they had done unspeakable nonsense to the famous chicken. It was totally tasteless . . . just plain fried chicken, not even with salt! What happen to the herb marinated chicken which they used to serve?? Bah! It truely boggles my mind to understand the reasoning for changing the recipe of a proven favourite to something so medicore . . . Are they trying to lose their business?

Whatever they are trying to do, they are losing this one customer . . . Unless they wake up and revert back. I might just try again in another month to confirm the change, but only because I wanted it so much to be untrue, to be able to say that it was just an unfortunate blip. Nonetheless, Popeye's status on my food list is now put on temporarily probation. Oh, I hope it's just a case of him missing his dose of spinach . . .

So This Is How Dolphins Communicate . . .

Poor Meimei. She has been besieged by a serious bout of ulcers. And these are the big bad nasty ones, the ones that hurt with the slightest move of the tongue. It was so bad, she had to use her HP to type out her messages when we had dinner together today. Poor thing *kiss. Hmmm but on the 'bright' side, I did learn how dolphins communicate from this, hehe.

You see, she was making sounds of the words she wanted to say because she couldn't move her tongue or mouth. So there were the squeek squeek, ummm ummm, hmm hmm, aihuh aihuh sounds. Even the usual muack became muah muah. Hehehe so cute. Most ladys would be in bad mood and throwing tantrums because of the pain. But not her. She was able to find the funny side to lighten things up. Thats why I love her to bits, the bright sparkle in my life.

Staying Afloat

So it's been close to a month since I was tasked to take over TD. With the P2P project in full force and other projects needing my constant attention, the transition with KL has been kinda slow. On hand I have roughly 4 major projects and many more minor ones. G*ru and T3resa have also been directing issues and problems my way too instead of WH. Hmmm, are they thinking I'm superman? Oh well, at least I am the go-to person right now. Which is good considering there have been alot of lay-offs in the company due to the impending recession and dismal financial results of the past 2 quarter. So my job is safe for now.

I'm threading carefully though, cos I know there is a good chance I might burnout. Having to juggle so many things at the same time, I've had to delegate some stuff to my supervisors. Thankfully they are rising to the challenge but as always things are never permanent but only temporary. One wrong move and things can come tumbling down real quick and spiral. This is the final drive to the year end and financial closing, so things are going to get rougher from here.

I've only had the time to blog today cos Meimei gave me a "Me Day" today. The pressure is coming from all sides and it's good to be able to sit infront of my computer and game without having to think of anything else. I'm surprised that being the lazy person I am, I'm still staying afloat. *cross-fingers* Let's hope it'll continue.

The Big 30 . . .

One-third of my life has passed. One-third!!! Seriously, it's shocking how fast time passes. Thinking back the last 30 years of my life, most of it is a blur. I'm not one for pictures or memories, but now I regret not chronicling them. Memories, in the end, it's what we have to bring along with us.

My birthday passed with out much fanfare. I had to work on the day like I've always had to . . . having birthdays on the last day of the month and working in Finance doesn't mix well. Meimei brought me to this nice cozy restaurant at Central. Good ambience and service, though the food was passable. I like low-key and *kiss thankfully Meimei knows me all too well.

So 30 . . . hmm a weird juncture in life. The next few years are going to be very exciting. Yet I dread having to turn 30 so soon. Guess I just like the boyhood comforts and the carefree-ness of youth. Good thing I get to share the next two-thirds of life with Meimei. That's the biggest encouragement to take the step towards the future.

2 Times the Accountant

Interesting development at work today.

I just sat down after morning coffee and out of the blue T*resa walked into my cubicle. "Huh?" I thought. Nevermind let's see what she has to say.

"Ivan, you are a ACCA graduate right? Have you done GL before" "Yahh . . . ??" I was scrambling to think of where she is going with this. "Ok, not sure if you have heard about it, but KL just tendered last Wednesday the 15th and her last day is next month 14th." "Oh shit . . . I didn't know about that." "As you know I'm going for my maternity leave so I can't get a replacement for her right now. I've talked it through with HR and I want you to take over TD Finance till I come back." "Oh ok . . ." "In the meantime, we are proposing to ask CY to come over to take over your team temporarily. Then when I come back we'll hire another person to take over AP and you can come over permanently."

Up to here I was kinda on the receiving end, mostly due to minor shock of hearing KL leaving and more importantly that someone else is coming over to take over my team, which I've painstakely build up over the past months. I would think my team is the strongest at the moment among the 4 under T*resa, and to have it taken away jolted me.

"Hmmm, I think I can take over TD at the moment while still managing my team. My team is very efficient and I'm sure I can manage both teams." In retrospect, most people would say I'm crazy to be taking 2 teams, but I didn't want to give up my team, yet I can't say no to T*resa. Thus I took the risk and said I wanted both . . .

"Ok, set. I'll go propose to G*ru now to have you take over TD and CY to come over." "Oh ok . . ." Wait, didn't she hear what I just said? Bah . . . it was more of a "informing you" conversation rather than a discussion up to now.

So off she went to G*ru's office. Then half an hour later she came back. "Ok just discussed with G*ru. He is not comfortable with CY coming over and having a look at our things. So we have decided that you will take both teams temporarily. Are you able to cope with that?" "Hmm should be ok." "How about I transfer P2P project to WH?" "Nope, it's ok, I want to run the project." "Ok, then we'll transfer the payment checking to him ok?" "Yup, sure." And that was it. I have to now break into 2, sharing my time with 2 teams. Hopefully this pans out.

Detour: I was tasked as the P2P project representative for AP ahead of WH a few days ago. WH didn't take it too well. But I'm not giving up this opportunity, considering he was supposed to be the Workflow project lead but I did most of the setup instead. I think G*ru and T*resa saw it and decided to appoint me as the project lead instead, rather than giving WH a name in the P2P project, like what happen with Workflow.

After thought: Am I taking more than I can handle? Hmm maybe. But this is also a very very good opportunity to show my abilities. It's kinda do or die thing. If I survive, I suspect I can go further in this company. Fail and it's byebye. So the next 6 months are the most critical period in my career at this company. I'm going to try my best and pull through it. *Jia you!!!!*

The Police Car Mystery

Ok, finally the mystery of the white land rover with the electronic signboard has been solved! It is indeed a police car, abit looking nothing like one when it doesn't turn on it's sirens. See: This is police vehicle

I chanced on the police car again on PIE today. This time it had 4 police escort motorcycles with it. You could see it from a mile away with it's siren lights on. Hmm I didn't notice them the other few times I saw it, well I guess mostly because they weren't turned on and it was dark in the night.

Anyways, it has a SGX XXXXL car plate number. I still find it weird that a police vehicle would have normal car plate. Nevermind, at least one of the mysteries of the Singapore roads have been solved. Now . . . what could a real life American-sized cow be doing on the expressway?

Nicotine Termination Notice - May 2009

"My dad just mentioned to me to ask you to quit by May next year." "Huh???!!!" "My grandmother is celebrating her 85th Birthday next May and wants to meet you." "What???!!! How did this happen???"

I've just been given a deadline to quit my puffing. May 2009 . . . 8 months from now. Apparently I was used as a bait to get Meimei's grandmother to celebrate her 85th Bday at a restaurant. A bait . . . without my consent! Oh well, it's kinda nice that Meimei's papa actually thought of me. At least that shows I have some kind of standing now. But bait??!! Darn I feel like a little worm on the end of a fishing rod. But nevermind, the more important thing is May 2009. *faint . . . "You've been served."

Let Me In Honey!!

Weird weird thing happen today.

Day started out a normal saturday. Then it got worst and worst by the hour. First I woke up with a sniff. Then right after coffee my nose starts to drip. Drip, drip, drip, Achooo!!! Oops, feel a sneezing pan coming.

Before leaving the house to meet Meimei, tried looking for the $150 Robinson vouchers. I know I misplaced them. But now after ransacking the house and car, it's no where to be found and finally dawned on me that I losted it. Darn it . . . $150 gone. I could have just went there and bought useless stuff . . . At least I have the useless stuff, not like now, empty handed and a foul mood instead for being stupid.

Lunch was at Simpang Bedok Yong Tao Hu. I'm not sure if it was my cold or general lousy mood but it tasted bland. I didn't complain about it to Meimei as the day was already bad enough. We were hit with bad traffic and went in circles to get here. Nevermind I thought, must be me . . . seriously it tasted bad, but I could just be me . . .

Went to Courts to check out cameras. Bought a cutesy pink wireless mouse for Meimei. Oh and tried the Latte and Cheesecake at the O'Brien outlet in Courts . . . Crap nonsense . . . the cheesecake Meimei made was so much better than this! Anyways we went walking around, looked through the warehouse sale. All this while I was sneezing badly and Meimei finally made the call to go home. I was too weak by that time to protest and went along.

We went back to the car and as usual I stick my key into the keyhole. *Twist . . . eh? something is stuck . . . I can't turn my key all the way . . . *try again. Oh shit . . . something's not right.

Apparently my car's central locking system just went kuku . . . I can't open the door on the driver's side. Which means . . . I have to climb in by the passenger side and squeeze into my seat! What in the world is happening! Everything is breaking apart! Honestly . . . is it because I just got my pay? So much crap has happened since the turn of the year that it's no longer funny. Phhhffffff.

Shanghai Ren Jia

Lao Da brought us to a new place today. It's supposedly reputable for it's authentic Shanghainese Food. We ordered several items, like the usual Xiao Long Bao, Jia Xiang Mien, Fried Bao, etc.

The item I loved the most was the Black-Butt Bao aka Fried Bao. . . Yum! haha. This is seriously good, though I got burned on the lips by the hot oil while trying the first one. The filling is normal, but it's the aroma of the bao-bread that struck a cord with my taste buds. Definitely one to come back for.