Sunday, March 30, 2008

HELLO DARKNESS, MY OLD FRIEND

It was uncomfortably warm yesterday, maybe a small unconscious reminder of the effects and impact of global warming as a result of all the development that has been going on ever since the industrial revolution. According to the radio show I was listening to in the morning, the usage of power (in the form of electricity) seems to be one of the highest contributors to global warming.

So, it was only fair that yesterday people all over the world were urged to turn off the lights (and air-conditioning, or any other electrical appliance) for one hour at 8:00 pm (local time). Some countries which were actively participating even had plans on turning off decorative lights along the streets and buildings, with the hope that at least 1 hour of conserved energy would help make the world a better place.

I was out at 8:00 pm yesterday, but where I was, lights were still brightly lit, and no signs of the air conditioning unit being turned off. Oh well!

Saturday, March 29, 2008

HOW TO MAKE LIFE MORE INTERESTING

Despite the fact that you may be quite self sufficient in making life interesting, it's always a good idea to have a backup plan of making it all a bit more interesting, because you never know when you might need it... So here goes Tip no 1:

Try to say something outlandish from time to time. It makes good conversation, and even if it doesn't, the baffled expression on your victim(s) is well worth it. Take this case for instance, my friends and I were at a friend's wedding (Indian style) last year, and for some reason (which I shall not reveal here) we found ourselves very near the dais (usually we tend to gather at the back and use it as an excuse to catch up with each other) and I observed that:

a) The groom and best man go up the stage, and do whatever the priest asks them to, and then disappear backstage (to change into the proper wedding attire?)
b) This is then followed by the bride and her bridesmaid doing whatever the priest asks them to, and then its off to the changing room for a quick change into the wedding saree.
c) Then the bride and groom come together for the 3rd part of the ceremony

I've seen this done many times before, but this time I decided to allow my mouth to open first before thinking, and said to my friend with utmost casualness...

Me: Don't you think it's more convenient if they got the bride and the bridesmaid up first before the groom so that she'll have more time to change into her wedding saree later?
Friend: You want them to change tradition for convenience?
Me: Ummm... why not?

In my defence, I'd say it's because tying a saree can take very long. But, just as I thought... the surprised look on her face was well worth it!

May be continued if any new idea surfaces...

Saturday, March 22, 2008

INTRODUCING UNFINISHED BUSINESS PART 2

When your so called secret identity is no more a secret and the original purpose of your blog is not applicable anymore, the next best thing to dumping it into the dustbin (that will be tragic, by the way) is to give it a new identity and a new name...

Therefore, I introduce to you the new name of this blog: UNFINISHED BUSINESS PART 2, because Unfinished Business (Part 1 doesn't come along with it, but that's how it may be referred to, if you like) will be still around, although probably not as much as it would like to be.

Of course the content is most probably going to remain along the same lines (because I haven't changed in the least bit - except that I may have adopted a more morose persona, but then, that's inevitable)

Sunday, March 16, 2008

I USED TO BE HEALTHY, SNIFF, SOB! SIGH...

Oh! What is pain?
When it appears again and again,
All I can do is complain!

(That's an almost haiku by the way as it doesn't fit into the 5, 7, 5 rule)

Oh well, the hip is at it again. This time around, it's the left hip that groans in protest at any sign of movement. About two weeks before that it was the right hip that was in pain. This continuous cycle of pain in the hip is driving me insane. Fine, I know I have to walk a lot (about a few kilometres) each day at work, but that doesn't mean the hips have any right to hurt.

I can't imagine that of all things I'm complaining about body aches (besides the hip, the back as well as my calves hurt as well), and I'm reminded of the time about two years ago when I went to see the doctor regarding my leg pain. The doctor asked my age and laughed. Of course that was two years ago, and he gave me some medication but the very thought of being laughed at again has deterred me from making another visit to the doctor.

Anyway, as I found out from a few others at work, they've been facing similar problems as well... we collectively agree that it is most probably due to the overwhelming quantity of tasks to complete and the stress that follows. I'm beginning to doubt if it will ever end!

Friday, March 14, 2008

POLITICAL MUSINGS OF A 28 YEAR OLD or HOW I CHOSE TO CELEBRATE MY 28th BIRTHDAY

"Politics is for old people..." Well, lets say it was what I used to think right until 2006 when I started 'seeing the light from a different angle'

So, last Saturday (which was co-incidently my birthday, though I daresay it has been my birthday for the past 27 years, and it has only been the polling day this one time - except if there was any other time in the past when polling day was held on the same day, but which I wasn't aware of, then sorry. Ok now I've confused myself... but what I wanted to say was, I think I should have said that it was my birthday, and co-incidently polling day was on the same day) witnessed Malaysia's 12th GE.

Instead of having a birthday bash (which I usually don't except for the time I was one, and that too because I was forced to - didn't know how to say 'no' back then... hehehe) I sat at home in front of my crazy laptop and hit the refresh button like a hundred million times. I didn't even want to have dinner. As one of my work buddies put it "Yeah, real cool! Like watching horse racing" Although I've never indulged in watching horse racing ever, I coulnd't agree more. It was one of the most exciting things ever, and I guess it's partly due to the fact that my vote was counted! (I did vote the previous time, because I was forced to register as a voter as soon as I hit 21 by my very conscientious father, but I didn't care about the results that time!)

Now at the same time, if I had relied on the tv for the results, I might have slept off in front of the tv, like one of my friends did. They were hopelessly slow (most probably waiting for their version of good news!) But then again, I was awake until 5 am, just waiting for the official results (because you couldn't possibly sleep through a horse race not knowing whether the dappled grey horse came in the first of was the it the lovely brown horse with big beautiful eyes and a star at the side)

The results are obviously exciting. The people have decided to try the new flavour (not so new because it has been around for a bit) and are not the least bit afraid. The silent majority has made its voice heard. As for the shock (and maybe humiliation) suffered by some parties... I guess the only thing I can say is that they perhaps took the phrase "Ignorance is bliss" a tad too seriously!

(Yes, I know this is old news... everyone else I know who blogs put up their posts on Sunday itself)

Saturday, March 08, 2008

ON THE 2nd WEEK OF MARCH

Time ceased moving as it should. Instead of a steady pace, it dashed through our lives (mine and a few others) as though it was preparing for a 100-metre dash. Under normal circumstances it wouldn't be such a big issue seeing that the 100-metre record is 9.74 seconds. But this time around it seemed like time was intent on keeping it (the 100 metre dash) in a never-ending loop, thus a weeks worth of time had disappeared into oblivion!
Besides that, it was a strange week at best. Signs of illness bore down lightly, but never stayed put (Once again I lament about the wonderful antibodies which keep me healthy. What the?) I just wish those virus/bacterium would make up their minds to either completely infect Terra or just bloody well leave her alone! What's with the half baked effort, huh?

(Aside: When I was a kid about 6 or 7, I used to think that the word 'bloody' was spelled as 'blady'. Now I realise that this was mainly caused by the fact that words like 'bloody hell' could only be used by adults - at least that was how it was in my family (double standards to the max!) and I doubted that any word derived from 'blood' and added with a 'y' could produce the effect of getting glares from the parents back then)
Anyway, in about an hour or so, I officially turn 28. Eek! It's scary, I tell ya! But for now, on this Saturday afternoon I'm spending my last few minutes being 27 by blogging like how I usually like to do. I had a plan for a birthday post on its own earlier, but me thinks it needs a raincheck. I also happen to share my birthday with International Women's Day. Today, droves of unhappy folks will be out voting, me being one of them. I have a presentiment that the results are gonna be interesting.
On another note (and this time I will be intruding the 1st week of March, though), I met up with an old primary school mate of mine (we haven't seen or heard from each other for the past 17 years) over lunch last Saturday. How cool is that?

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Too harrowed in mind, body and soul to think of a proper title for this post, but I need an outlet badly. I'm in pain! The head hurts, fingers are numb (well, sort of), vision is blurry, muscles in every other part that needs to move feel like jelly.

Ah! So this is what SAP does to you!

I hope to get back to my normal blogging self soon

IT's THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN

Time for the Annual Appraisal again.  It's a cloudy Sunday afternoon, and I had just finished giving scores to my subordinates on their ...