实用性) 大过于漂亮的外表

那天因为需要和客户开会，所以坐上同行的跑车。

车子外形拉风，线条漂亮。相信是很多人梦寐以求的车。

我却不喜欢，因为车顶低，后车窗小，搞到我觉得受困于密闭空间，被压顶了。

这和我一向来的生活习惯很符合。对我而言，外形漂亮不比实用重要，十足的 functionality over form. 我对于购买的东西，和收到的礼物，都有一样的要求：一定要实用。

这样务实的个性，也不知道是几时养成的，反正就是让人觉得不会享受人生，不识抬举。

但是这样是好的吧，至少我对想要的东西很清楚。

走天涯) 都应该自己走

我很想出国玩玩，可是找不到适合的旅行伴侣。

两个人一起出国费用会比较便宜，而且如果是两个十分合得来的人，这样一趟旅行将会很有趣。

其实，不仅仅是要合得来，更重要的是要互相迁就和原谅。一起去旅行基本上就是两个人几天下来的相依为命，如果不能放开自我主义，很容易会搞得局面很僵。

我从来都不是一个很会和别人相处的人，所以这份自知之明提醒我，出国还是自己上路的好些。自己去，行程由我拿捏，饮食由我选择，时间由我控制。

要不然，另一个最好的方案，就是和一个也想自由行的人一起出国。每天只是睡在一起，天亮到天黑都在各自精彩。可是这样完美的想法，是不可能发生的。

你想，怎会有两个人，愿意安排自己的年假来配合对方的时间，然后到了国外却分别玩乐？谁都会认为这样的假期安排，不符逻辑吧。极力配合对方，就只为了省下那一点点的饭店住宿，太耗精力了吧。

所以呢，我说，还是放下想省钱的心，宁可多花一些，让自己开开心心的出国玩。没有压力的玩，才能真正的享受难得的假期。

To travel alone

I want to go traveling (as usual, duh), and I want to travel alone because I find it troublesome to accommodate to another person's likes and dislikes for itineraries.

But apparently, the world hates single travelers, because I keep seeing "not valid for single travelers" as a disclaimer at the end of the page.

I guess I just have to pay much more. Bleah.

Effort is SO overstated

A friend told me that she is awarded with less year end bonus than she expected, and I consoled her, telling that what she'd got is pretty good already, considering it is almost 8k.

She insist that she had worked hard in her job, and hence expect nothing less than 10k. She also insist that her boss is doing her a disservice. I argued that many people work hard in their job too, but never get the award they deserve. Sometimes bosses are not able to offer fat bonuses simply because the company cannot afford it.

And then, she went up to her boss, and demanded that she get the 10k bonus and guess what, the boss conceded.

She came back to me, gloatingly, saying that this is the least she should receive, and in the first place, her boss shouldnt had shortchanged her.

I was happy for her, not only for the windfall (wait till she hear I use this word, 'It is not a windfall, it is ALL my effort!' I can almost hear her threaten with a voice too shrill) and also for a boss who recognise her effort enough to want to appease her.

"No lor. It is all my effort. I worked hard ok?"

Suddenly I was very pissed. Putting in effort at work is a basic requirement at work, no? Since when is putting in effort a magnanimous accomplishment? But having a boss to acknowledge your effort, however little, is an important criteria to getting good rewards.

Your boss can jolly well ignore your request and leave you to munch on leaves and earthworms, and eventually watch you leave the company, or your boss can pay you well and retain you. But it is him/her who has the say in what bonus you get, and what monthly salary too.

So, get a bad boss, and remain cursed, like how I had suffered previously.

Maybe it is because she had never worked with a lousy boss enough to be appreciative of good ones, but I had always heard her talked about him, and felt that he is unreasonably nice. Hahahaha.

And I always wish I will eventually work for a boss who is just as nice. Luckily I do.


I am irritated at how she is so unappreciative of her boss, and always complains that he treats others better than he treats her. And in this incident, how can she just dismiss her boss's generosity? I cannot comprehend.


But to give her credit, it is admirable of her to demand for what she thinks she is worth. I was telling Lynn that night that usually woman are bad negotiators for salary increase, but this friend just proved the theory wrong. Hurray to her, hurray to ladies.

Folding paper 7 times

I had known it since long long ago, that we cant fold a piece of paper more than 7 times. Ok ok, I know somebody folded 12times, and I know Mythbuster folded a piece of paper the size of a few basketball court.

But a normal person like me is satisfied with the 7 times theory.

However, do you know if anyone is able to fold a piece of paper 50 times, it would reach the sun! I can imagine 50 folds to be extremely thick, but all the way to the sun?

Always skeptical, I calculated it on excel.

At 50 folds, it would be 5629499.534km in length. Scary~

Hiding

It is 8 plus and I am alone in the office doing drawings. While I am eating this cold sandwich, I thought I'll just do a quick entry.

Actually these drawings are not that urgently needed, ie not tmr, but recently I rather stay in the office and do a bit more, than to go home and have to help my mother do the work she brings home.

Yah I know her new job duties is stressful, but is mine not?

I have to face a lot of problems at work too, and I have to solve my problems alone too, and I am still alive, no?

Sigh.
And doesnt help that she dont even know what she want to ask, and she dont phrase her question coherently.

Sigh.

买礼物) 是件麻烦的差事

圣诞佳节，向来都不关我的事。

但是变象的商业节庆，迫使我们需要跟随传统，买礼物相送。

今年，我需要送礼的对象，包括了老板和大佬。选礼物给大佬不是件难事，但是老板的礼物真的是让我伤透脑筋。

向来，我都选择买书送人，因为书籍从来都不会构成一份错误。
爱看书的人，不管你送什么书，他都会快乐。
不爱看书的人，你也能送本食谱，漫画，旅游书等等。总之绝对能找到本适合他的书。

但是，对于只认识2个月，当中有超过一半时间不在国内的老板，我真的有点束手无策。想送他的书根本还没上架，那还能选什么好呢？

真要命。

All movies watched this year

With the year coming to an end, I was browsing my entries for this year and realised I watched quite a lot of movies.

I used to think that spending money in movie theatres are quite a waste of money, because one can wait for the show to be telecast or one can purchase the dvd and watch 10, 20 times, with your whole family sitting on the couch.

But now I think it is a great way to relax! Walk into a cinema and bask in the stereos is the one reason why movie going is such a big experience in itself.

Just Follow Law

Release date : Feb_2007 | Length : 112 min
| Personal rating : ►►►►

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle

Release date : Mar_2007 | Length : 90 min
| Personal rating : ►►►►

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Release date : May_2007 | Length : 170 min
| Personal rating : ►►►►►

The Number 23

Release date : Mar_2007 | Length : 100 min
| Personal rating : ►►►

Infamous

Release date : May_2007 | Length : 118 min
| Personal rating : ►►►

Invisible Target

Release date : Jul_2007 | Length : 129 min
| Personal rating : ►►►►

Secret

Release date : Aug_2007 | Length : 100 min
| Personal rating : ►►►►

Flashpoint

Release date : Aug_2007 | Length : 90 min
| Personal rating : ►►►

Rush Hour 3

Release date : Aug_2007 | Length : 93 min
| Personal rating : ►

881

Release date : Aug_2007 | Length : 110 min
| Personal rating : ►►►►

Dead Silence

Release date : Aug_2007 | Length : 90 min
| Personal rating : ►►►

Ratatouille

Release date : Aug_2007 | Length : 111 min
| Personal rating : ►►►►►

Heartbreak Kid

Release date : Dec_2007 | Length : 116 min
| Personal rating : ►►►

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Release date : Dec_2007 | Length : 94 min
| Personal rating : ►►►►

I Am Legend

Release date : Dec_2007 | Length : 100 min
| Personal rating : ►►

National Treasure

Release date : Dec_2007 | Length : 126 min
| Personal rating : ►►►

The 'what' lor

I am always irritated, when someone have to ask me a question, and goes "Hey, you know the what hor, how I change the thing into bigger and why when I click the button, the word disappear. Where can I go to find it?"

What's with using 'what', 'thing', 'something', 'there' and other ambiguous terms to ask questions? Isnt it basic courtesy to phrase questions properly as a form of politeness to the person you are seeking help from?

Sigh. No wonder there are many people who lament that they cant communicate with others. There are just too many people who are not specific in what they are asking.


But I am not without faults in this scenario :

Sometimes I realise I do the same thing, but mostly it is because I am distracted with something else, and I hum and haw. I probably will say, "Hey, for the storyboards for Elaine, uh........" when something else attracted my attention and I let my question drift off.

Senior will say "What lah!" sharply, and I will regain my sense and repeat my question in entirety.

But to my favour, the above scenario seldom happens because when I have a question to ask senior, I usually grab all the necessary documents and my sketch pad, and approach senior with full attention.


Ok, enough of ranting.
I think I will just ignore her for now and I wont be so irritated.

Ktv : 我不配

Recently learning :
周杰倫 - 我不配

Jewelbox artificial xmas tree

I was with Lynn that night at vivocity, when someone came up to us, point to afar and asked us what was the blue-lit-structure is.

It looks like it is on elevated ground, but should be at least 15 meters tall. It looks like it is rectangular based, and it tapers off towards the top of the structure.

It is lit up in blue lights, possibly the single colour blue running lights kind.

Judging from the location, I estimate that it should be the jewel box. I wanted to take a picture to show friends so that someone may shed some light, but my camera phone is too lousy.

But ahha, the wonders of internet! I found what I wanted to find just by goggling 'jewel box'! Isnt that amazing?

Isnt it pretty? Read here about Jewel Box's planned activities for this xmas.

Oh, I googled some more and realise it is 61 meters tall!! And those are not runnng lights, those are expensive LED lights! Oh my gosh.

And follow this link to see this picture on flickr, which shows you how distinctive this artificial christmas tree is in the night.

Oh, and see this too! It cant be prettier, can it?

Movie : National Treasure

Compared to the last movie, National Treasure is a much watchable movie.

Ben Gates needs to defend the name of his ancestors, and went in search for the hidden treasure to prove that his great-great-grandfather is not one of the mastermind to the assassination of Lincoln, the then president.

The movie moves along with fast pace, but the puzzles solving are not as engaging I hope they would be. The riddles are supposed to lead between one to another, but while they do, it seems a little far fetched, like the 'resolute twins'.

Maybe it is because I am always skeptical, but look at it this way, how can the two french cops, while needing to translate the french riddle into english, would choose 'resolute' as a translation term?

Well, it might be that my english is poor and I imagine everyone's english to be as poor.

But I think if it was an equivilent in chinese, and I need to translate it to english, I probable would say it is "determined twin" or a similarly common english word.

It would be a translator's job to make sure the meaning gets through, hence I believe a translator would choose the simplest and most common word out of all possible choices when he does a translation.

In short, I find it very ridiculous that the french cops translate the riddle into 'resolute', which made Ben narrowed it to 'Resolute Desks'.

And this repeatedly happens in the show.

But ignoring this, the show is a good enough for your money. This christmas session, if you have to watch a show, choose either this or Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Movie : I Am Legend

For christmas, my holiday celebration is to catch movie! Ok, make that movies. Hahaha.

Will smith plays Robert Neville, the only survivor in a virus-plagued NYC. The story line is obviously made-up, because it it too far-fetched.

The movie is 100 mins long, and for the first 60 mins or so, it is purely how Robert portray his isolation, and from then on, first his doggy companion died, then he met another 2 person who are immuned, and together they faced the last attacks from the dark beings.

Robert died a noble death in the end, and supposedly he was to be respected and admired as an icon from now on.

For a movie that is only 100 mins, it is one of the shortest I had watched recently, but yet I keep wishing it ends faster and end my misery.

The story line is too lax and I almost feel asleep during the first half. On top of it, the camera man must be an amateur because the scenes are shaking and flying all over the place.

Unless it is intended, otherwise this shaky camera handling technique must be the worse aspect of this movie, and with that, I can only give it a 2.5 star out of 5.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone, hope you are having fun whatever you are doing and wherever you are.

Movie: Alvin and The Chipmunks

The plotline of the movie is almost as weak as I expected, but with the fuzzy cozy moments, it redeemed the monotony of the story.

It is difficult not to like Theodore, but Simon and Alvin's characteristics are not as distinctive.

A movie that is lighthearted and funny is definitely suitable for anyone. Catch it or grab the dvd when it is out. =)

The very capable senior

Of course senior will never see this blog, but I really want to say that he is really amazing.

I am going mad with the workload at work, but at least I have senior to help me along. But he used to work alone, through endless projects, ploughing through endless emails.

He have my respect. Really.

He told me just now that, teaching a junior isnt difficult to him, cos while skills and knowledge is helpful, more importantly, the person should be optimistic and have a can-do attitude.

Yah, I dont have that attitude. I am a damned pessimist.

Conversation in a padded cell #6

Me : 好冷啊！好想喝咖啡！喂，如果我叫你冲咖啡给我，可以吗？还是你会揍我？

Senior : （思考）我想我会的。

Me : 会冲咖啡给我？？

Senior : 会揍你。

I hate mondays

Nah, not the its-the-dreadful-start-of-the-week rants.

I hate mondays simply because there's a lot of things that was carried over from saturday and sunday! My boss is a little bian tai, checking emails every single day and every single waking hour.

And while I am reading emails as they come in every day, I have to read 2 days' worth at 8.30am on monday mornings, and that alone can take me 2 hours.

And while I am slaying these emails, new emails come in every 5 minutes or so, making the first 3 hours on monday morning totally useless.

I heard a guru mentioned before, that sometimes we really ought to ignore emails to maximise our job efficiency. But while my job efficiency is improved, it doesnt help that my responsiveness
is that of a dead corpse.

Actually I tried my best already! I give emails attention only when my name is in the 'TO' field. If my name is only in the 'CC' field, I will conveniently give it a 5 second glance through.

(That is why I always make it a point to double confirm the 'TO' field in the emails I send has the names of people whom I want attention from.)

But at this moment, I can tell you this is still not good enough. I must quickly find more efficient way to work. "QUICKLY" being the operative word.

Favourite lyrics

View slideshow externally

Movie: The Heartbreak Kid

Watched The Heartbreak Kid with a friend yesterday while having no prior idea what the show is about.

Eddie married a woman he barely knows, and began to see her real side only during their honeymoon.

Lila smoked cocaine, sings too much (=_=" me also guilty of this charge), doesnt like to be challenged, and loves sex too much. Doesnt sound like it is that scary, and Eddie cant convince his father of how he was traumatised too.

But watching the show, you can really see how creepy she really is.

In the entire show, I guess I laughed the most when Eddie just blabber off lies as though they are nothing but the truth. It is almost like he has a vault of lies ready to be utilized.

Not too bad a show to watch, and you can consider it if you are above 21.

Handwriting Test

I find it quite accurate.. Or is it because it is ambiguous?

What Your Handwriting Says About You

You are a fairly energetic person. You know how do pace yourself, and you deal well with stress. You are somewhat outgoing, but you're not a natural extrovert. You think first before you act. You tend to be independent, rational, and logical. You are balanced and grounded. You know how to get along well with others. You need a bit of space in your life, but you're not a recluse. You expect people to give you a small amount of privacy, and you respect their privacy as well. You are somewhat traditional, but you are also open to change. You listen to your head and your heart. You are a decent communicator. You eventually get your point across, but sometimes you leave things a bit ambiguous.

What Does Your Handwriting Say About You?

Ktv: 手心

Recently learning :
卓文萱 - 手心

Ktv: 一秒钟的永远

Recently learning :
潘嘉丽 - 一秒钟的永远

Ktv: 印象派的爱情

Recently learning :
潘嘉丽 - 印象派的爱情

Ktv: 在世界中心

Recently learning :
潘嘉丽 - 在世界中心

Cramp of the 2nd toe

The 2nd toe on my right foot is having cramps every other minute. NB.

By the way, I had decided to just throw caution to the wind and blog in the office. I use to only send via gmail only, but sometimes doing that, it feels like I am writing an email to a friend and I tend to be too irregardless on choice of words.

Not a good idea.

Blogging on blogger feels much more 踏实 and I can easily type chinese on this pc, so I can quickly say what I want to say!

But then again, it's not everyday that I have 20mins to spare like today. Ok I'll get back to work.

Colour pens

With many to-dos everyday, I grew a habit to religiously write a tasklist every day.

Yes I use to do that too, but I usually do it once a week.

Over here, the things to do are aplenty, and if I do not note them down one by one, I will forget about them!

I use to pride myself for having a good memory, but it seems that I had used up all the cells in my last job. Recently I am suffering from memory lapse, and my migraine isnt getting any better.

I write my tasks in the right hand column that I determined, on a stack of recycle paper that have bits of gossip in the form of recycled email printouts.

I then highlight the tasks in different colours, categorizing them by the project account. Everyday I assign different colours to each account, hence you can see that I have a stack of very colourful drawing paper.

The remaining space on the paper is used to take notes when I am answering calls, or when I am doing sketches. But honestly, half the time this space is quite empty.

I write down numbers with no names tagged to it. I will sketch out construction details when I am facing something new and unfamiliar, then the moment I grasp how it can be drawn in AutoCAD, I'll drop my drafting pen and transfer my attention to the monitor screen.

Look at the range of colours! I feel positively better just by looking at these colour pens.
(They belong to my boss, but I indignantly snatched them away from him, stating reason as that I need colours to function. Actually that is the truth.)

Papervoice #3

分手后

车子经过那个路口，
不由自主想起那时候。
那时你我爱乱逛乱走，
吃吃甜品，偶尔喝喝啤酒，
总是嫌相聚时间不够。

后来我们为何分手，
是不懂事还是不成熟，
发脾气时都不假思索，
一夜之间，决定不再联络，
我们到底赌气些什么。

我常常想起那时的我们，爱玩的我们，爱吵的我们。
当时一直埋怨你不了解我，
分手时那无语的默契
有份心照不宣的解说。

这些年来希望能有个解脱，
那分感情仍然侵蚀我，
一直以来都没有放手。

开车的他问我还好吗？
我点头微笑却没回答。
后车座的礼服和婚纱，
不让我说出伤人的话。

Christmas decoration

Her (Pointing at afar) : 为什么那只鹿是全白的？鹿不是应该是褐色，加上陈色的斑点？

Me : 哦，那只是一只麋鹿。（圣诞装饰来的啦！）

Her : 迷路？迷路所以吓到变白？ 哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈。

Me : （无语）

Blur look

One of my newest additions to my daily reads - audrey's blog - is highly engaging.

She writes witty anecdotes of her life, and observations of people she knows.

Of which, I was groaning inwardly when I read this. I am exactly the kind of person she hate, because I tend to frown and maintain a blur expression when I am, yah, blurred.

Senior loves to pick on this exact expression of mine. He stretches out his hand in a mock attempt to knock my head, lamenting "Oooi, dont look so blur leh!"

But I also realise, I never have this problem previously. Apparently, I never have the habit of showing this blur look. I guess it is because looking confused emphasize the fact that I am really really lost in the woods, and I do not want anyone to realize that.

It is always important for me to be in control. Hence even when I am utterly confused, I will keep a straight face and nod knowingly, as though I am an expert on whatever that was discussed.

Then how come I am willingly to show my weakness in front of senior / boss? I guess that is because I trust them enough to let down my guard.

Yet, I know I shouldnt wor.

害人之心不可有，防人之心不可无。

I need to remember to protect myself.

AutoCAD - Revcloud

I learned a new AutoCAD function from senior today, which is the REVCLOUD function.

I did some clouding of works before, but most of the time I prefer to print a window of my layout, and send it as a part plan.

As usual, AutoCAD is a very smart software, and it doesnt take much skills to manipulate it, but rather, plenty of time to practice.

Senior laughed and told me that this is ONE function that he knows better than me, and we guffawed. My AutoCAD skills are my tan jia. I may not be the best in this skill, but I know roughly 80% of all the functions, hence I am quite efficient with it.

I am better at AutoCAD than senior, but like I told him, I am not as capable as him, being able to double the role of a designer cum project person. Since I only have one skill (how pathetic), I just have to ensure the blade stays sharp. =)

Conversation in a padded cell #5

Senior (over the phone) : Hey I know what files I need you to send to me so that I can work on it from home this weekend.

Me : Ok, which ones?

Senior : Blah blah blah. Can you send it to my company email and my personal email too? In case I never receive?

Me : Ok. Your email address is?

Senior : I sms to you, dont worry.

Me : My pen and paper is ready, just read it out.

Senior (suddenly aware) : Hahaha. Actually it is name.surname@gmail.com.

Me : =_=" that's the same as the company email address what!

Conversation in a padded cell #4

Senior : You know, it's a good thing that you have relevant experience in this industry.

Me : In what sense?

Senior : When we were deciding on the person to hire back then, we were just looking for anyone. We were so busy that anybody would be helpful.

Me : =_=" that means I wasnt hired because I am good lah! KANASAI!

Senior : You are doing better than we thought. That's good what.

Me : That's not the point mah. That time boss say that he hired me because I am cheerful, now you say I am hired because it was convenient. Wah piang ooi!

Senior : More of like giving everyone a chance lah.

Me : Chey! Good lor, just need to concentrate on being a clown.



Actually though my ego is a little bruised, to think of it, it is not such a bad thing. By them not treating me as superwoman I will not expect to be so helluva busy from now on.

And since they had very low expectations of me, I can easily meet it and surpass it. That's nice.


Still, I happened to mention it to boss today, he laughed it off, but still assuage my worries, saying that I was definitely hired because of my capabilities and potential.

But how come I dont quite believe? Wuahahaha.

No one's around

Boss is out since 5.00pm, and wont be back for the rest of the day.

Senior is out since 11.00am, and wont be back for the rest of the day.

I should be slacking, but I am not.
No thanks to the list of things - which has 9 more items that I hadnt complete.

But I guess it doesnt hurt to spend 3mins writing a short entry. So here I am.

I am kinda hungry, and very cold. I wish someone can make a cup of hot milo for me. But there's no one around. But there's no milo in the cabinets.

Sian.

Ok. I need to get back to work. I hope to leave office by 7pm latest. I had been working late every single day.
I need more time to sleep.


P/S: As I read through the above entry before I click my send button and I realise I am writing incoherently short sentences. Looking at it this style of writing, I immediately know that I am very brain-dead. Sheesh, the perils of working too hard. >.<

Double leave

Boss announced this morning that he will close the office on christmas eve and new year eve!

Double yay!

Not only I get more rest, I will be able to avoid the orchard crowd. =)

But I told senior that boss probably will take the whole week off to go on holiday, hence senior have no chance. He gloated that he is going on leave one month after that, at the end of january, and soon after he is back, it would be the chinese new year break.

Sickening. I no leave, so I have nothing to plan. Hmpphh.

Btw, anyone have suggestion what to buy for boss and senior for christmas?

Busy

I want to blog but I dont have the time to do it, save for a few lines.

Meant to go out for lunch today, park myself in macdonald and blog an entry using the free wifi, but ended up reading work-related materials.

Sigh.

And I just reached home. I am ready to go to die bed already. Good night.

社会学) 不是那么容易上手的

工作里，
有时， 无过就是功；
有时， 无功就是过。

好希望我的老板是认同没功劳也有苦劳的。虽然说我现在和老板没问题，但是打工的人，总是会为能不能获得老板青睐而苦恼。