Waiting For The Stupid Bus

Waiting for 174 to come so that I can go to school. When I first reached the bus stop, it says, 22 minutes and 39 minutes. Sigh. But fair enough, I'll wait.

25 minutes later, it says 44 minutes! What the hell!

I Need More Insecticides

Why are there so many cockroaches? I need to buy more cans of insecticides!

To hell with them

My bosses called me this morning, asking me why my team is not at work.

Apparently the big boss of the company came by from his other office, only to realise, horror of horrors, that my entire team is AWOL.

They called, demanding an explanation.

What could I say? Well I am in school, and I cannot be at two places at one time?

In the first place, no one ever told me I need to work 5.5 days week here. And since I cannot afford the extra day, maybe it is a good time to start contemplating to send me back to my own office to work. That way, I neednt worry about missing the first 30 minutes of class every day.

After next week, we will be moving into the site office at sentosa and my traveling time between there and school is pegged at 1.5 hours.

Which is totally unfair to me. I didnt ask to come over to this office, and if I need more time to travel to school, it is obviously not my fault! But it is no surprising news to you that my bosses doesnt give a damn.

Anyway, was saying that they asked me why I wasnt at work. And then they asked why is it, then, that my entire team is not around?

Wow, what a weird question! Last I'd heard, the taiwanese boss is back and is happily taking the reins. And I am dancing in glee that I no longer have to be in charge! This project is an entire mess and the less I work in it, the more likely I will emerged clean of shit.

So I told them that the team has been working on saturdays for the last 3 weeks, and the reason why they are not around today, is totally not my call.


Then they drop the killer question. How is the work delegated now.

Hallo! I am no longer in charge leh! Can someone drill that fact into their minds. Or the front of their foreheads, I seriously do not mind. I told them that the taiwanese boss had re-delegated work, or at least promised to, and I am doing what I am told to.

Of the 9 shops, I am doing 2, of which one is currently on hold. But I am not the one who selected these 2 shops! It's not like I chose the easiest of all to do. But even if I was, so what? On top of the work I have to do, I had to supervise the team last 2 weeks and I had to attend not less than 10 internal + external meetings, each lasting between 1 hr to 8 hrs.

And while I did only one shop, I had do drawings of each of the shops on ad-hoc basis, when they cannot complete per the schedule.

What now? Blame me for not doing enough? Thanks a lot lor! If they think this is not good enough, too bad! There will be bosses out there who appreciate what I'd did.

Bloody hell.

Meeting Arranged. Then Cancelled. Then Re-arranged. Then Re-cancelled.

The japanese designer is asked to leave this time round, after the taiwan boss was asked to leave 2 weeks ago.

This entire company has a complicated system.

First there is an US designer, then there's a japanese designer beneath her, and then it will be us singaporeans and taiwanese.

Anyway, to cut the long story short, the japanese designer is deemed as the cause that the project had come to a stop.

I have no direct conflict with this japanese designer, but my bosses want me to testify against him in the higher-higher-up's management meeting, so that my testimonial is on par with the rest of the team.

Japanese designer's departure equates that the taiwan boss is coming back. I am having lots of problems with the taiwan boss as well, but at least I didnt have to do so much ot when he was around, because he was responsible for what he promised.

In the past two weeks, I am worked to bones for promises this taiwanese boss made, and although I did secretly thought it is possible given that I put in full force, and I've got 3 guys to help me, I didnt make it either.

I was supposed to be stopping all work and just scuntinise the 3 of them. But they are so slow and if I dont do some of the work myself, then it doesnt seem possible that things get completed.

And then when I dont scuntinise them, they take ages to finish simple drawings.

In short, I failed.

I only finish say 90% of what was required, and though it is not perfect, I also have to console myself that this is probably the best anyone could have done, given the unfamiliarity, and the amount of meetings I have to attend.

I digress.

This meeting with the higher-higher-ups was to take place last saturday, at 6 bloody pm. I dont have to work on saturdays, but for the past 3 saturdays, I have been at work, so there's no much difference anyway.

Then that day itself, they cancelled the meeting and said that it will be held today. I was already bent on taking mc today because, well, lao niang is bloody tired! And I already dutifully pia-ed until the deadline! What more do anyone wants from me?

So I smsed the higher-higher-up's secretary to tell her I am on MC today, and when she knows of the meeting time, smsed me and I shall go back to the office.

But at least 3 hours in advance!

Then?

Meeting cancelled again.

What the hell?

This company is so crappy that I dont know how to help to clean it up. Super kns.

Fucking pissed

My boss had the cheek to say that the company did well only for the first half of the year and the second half had been very slow. Hence he halved the bonus. Meaning I got a paltry 1.5 months.

Including the half month I'd gotten in midyear, I only received 2 mths bonus this year. Fucking hell. What's the point of working so hard? Therefore for one week now, I had been leaving at 6pm, or no later than 6.30pm.

I know you will say that I wont stick to this for long.

I will. Because I am angry.

And he even said that there might be a pay cut next year. Hey look. If I were to take a pay cut, I might as well not work. Given the miserable pay, I might as well eat grass or jump off the building.

Fucking hell.

And meanwhile, I swore to make life difficult for him. No more OT, therefore if things cannot be finished, everyone can die with the company, instead of me slogging my ass off to pay the slackers in my company the same bonus I'd got.

Look! I am just trying to help!

It's confirmed. The past week must be the most frustrating week I had since I joined this company. There were crappy days, but didnt come as close as 5 consecutive days.

As a matter of fact, I look forward to next friday when I report here that this is the most frustrating fortnight I had since I joined.

I can already presume what accusations will occur next week, based on what is happening in this one.

Nothing had seemed to go right, and skeletons I am not even aware of are climbing out of my closets. I was subjected to many forms of scrutiny, which I tried to defend, but everything just keeps falling apart.

Sometimes I wonder am I doing too much. I bet if I checked my weekly horoscope last weekend, it would say:

Stick to what you are supposed to do, and do not, I mean do not attempt to provide more information than the bare required. All extra work will morph into shiny knives that you find plunged into your stomach. Yes. Frontal assassination.

The perils of price comparing

I spoke before on how I wished to upgrade to another phone, but I never got to it due to plain laziness.

And now when i'd decided that it is no longer funny to get screamed at by friends when they are urgently trying to contact me.

(I mean, do I really want to stop playing minesweeper on the comp just because friends concluded without me that meeting time is adjusted to 1 hr earlier.)

The one phone that I simply adored was w960i, but my cousin beat me to it by purchasing it within the week it was launched, god forbids! Me looking like a copycat? No way!

So now the other phone that I considered married to, is g900.

Only that m1, the teleco I still have a contract with, is selling the phone at $398, when singtel is selling it at $198, for a limited time only.

Isn't that exasperating?
I don't mind paying $398, as a matter of fact, I was prepared to pay $500 or so for it. But I can't be, not after I know that it costs 1/2 the price somewhere else!

*Proceeds to tear hair out*

Junior

This junior of mine stays 15mins from work, and she wakes up at 8.30am and reaches office at around 9:20am. But our official working hours begins at 8.30am, leh!

Obviously she didnt tell me that she woke up at 8:30am every morning, but she's the one who previously told me it takes her 30mins to get ready and 15mins to travel to work.

She is not willing to do OT, and when I forced her to, she'll make excuses, saying she is tired (what? I'm not issit?).

This junior mainly operates the visualisation software in my office, and Boss or myself will supply her the completed layout plan and design, and she'll translate it into a visual for us. When we require her to do a certain feature, if she couldn't work out that effect, she'll just say she cannot do it. No, and she's not willing to try.

When I was a junior, there's nothing known as "I don't know how to do" accompanied with a shrug. Instructions are meant to be carried out, not ignored.


So. Why is it that she gets more concessions than me? It's ok when she say she cant do something. But when I even dare to ask for a deadline extension due to the change in design/requirements, I can slapped up, down, left and right.

How fair.

They never do

Dont tell me you take me as your sister, 我受不起。

You are the one who says I can say what I want, then take a U-turn and decree that I am to watch my words. And I am not even being rude yet, only being defensive against being wrongly accused.

Why do I never learn? Bosses never take you as family. They never do. My intentions were friendly, but to his ears, it came across as imposing and usurping.

算了。

Bloody M1

My M1 bill came up to a bloody bomb, with half of the calls being 0.02 secs, 0.05 secs and etc.

Is it my fault that the network is super lousy and almost everyone who called me had to call again? For each time the line was bad and they hung up and redial, I am charged almost $3! What a lot of money for a fault that's not mine.

Nabei.

Kwai lan designer

Senior always call me the kwai lan designer.

Ok, I call myself that often enough too.

I am basically nice to my vendors, but I have very little patience for people who dont put in enough effort/too rude/too proud, and people whom I had a long standing vengeance.

Just today, I needed to call a vendor, whom provided a quotation for me via a contractor. I originally didnt need to call the vendor, as the contractor should be liaising all sub-contractors and vendors for me, but due to a change in plans, my boss got me to call this system furniture company.

I called back the same sales person whom my contractor spoke to, but she was on leave, and her colleague (lets just call her S) took my call. I explained my purpose, and requested she check for me on the account status.

3 hours later, since there's no response from her, I called her again, asking her what is the status. She didnt answer the call, but because I need an answer quick, I decided to call my own friend, who is in the company.

My friend promised to meet me tomorrow to help me solve the problem, then S reverted, asking me why I called. With exasperation, I asked her if she recall I am waiting for a set of answers from her?

S paused, and then said she cannot give me the answers because she lacked information, and she had more to check with me. My irritation ballooned as I dont see how she cannot call me, if she need more information. She is just merely sitting on it!!!!

That angers me.


I told her point blank, that I spoke to my friend, and she is more than willing to help, and this S, she actually had the cheek to cry foul and lecture me that I cannot pass accounts to another sales person on whim.


As though I care.

The story goes on for the whole afternoon, with me being more frustrated by the minute, no thanks to S. In the end, I am so annoyed that I fired an angry email to the boss of this system furniture company, complaining about S.

(Hallo hallo, I was very diplomatic in my choice of words in the email already ok!! I could add another 50% of viciousness into my email easily. Hah!)


Yes, I agree I can be magnanimous, and not be bothered with her. But I cannot! I am supremely angered, and I must do something in defense!

Ok lor, kwai lan lor.. Who cares.

Unlucky streak

If not for the fact that I am having an unlucky streak at work, I dont see why I cant prosper and soar. I work damn hard, and I take good care of each project and the relative client.

Then why the fuck am I paid pittance and without commission, while my sales team are enjoying the fruits I laboured?

Sigh. Life's a vacuum cleaner.

Revenge

I dont understand my boss.

Why is she so persistent to pass the crap to me when she should be handling them herself? Yah, she is the boss, so she have all the right to pass work to me.

But at the same time, unfortunately, I have the right to prioritise my own work, and leave hers to later.

So what if she cant meet clients in time? Not my problem. Not like I only have her work to do and I am doing nothing else.

Cheapskate

I hate to think that I've friends whom ask me to go smoking breaks so that they can get cigs from me.

Of course once or twice is nothing to mention about. I take cigs from friends time to time but I offer mine to them as well.

But for those who pretends to jio me for smoking breaks so that they can fish a couple of sticks from me, I am appalled.

Hallo, dont go all the trouble, beg nicely and I will still share my cigs with you, cheapskate.

What? There's no one else to shit on?

As far as I can count, there's 4 designers in this company? So why is it that I am the one whom need to take stock of company supplies?

It's ok when the other designers are free, they have all the right to surf youtube and chat on msn. But once I am free I am expected to restock.

Talk about unfairness.

Me is stoooopid

I'd just done something stupid and saw $65 disappearing from me.

*Headesk*

Sigh. I am going to take it that I'd spent $20 for 3 days of 4d, for this sat, sun and next wed. I am going to take it as I bought $10 big and $10 small for the number.... (totally randomly selecting)... 1534.


Ok. *Breathe in breathe out*

No integrity

I dunno if I mentioned before, but my company is working on an account that is the sister company of one of my completed accounts.

So the story goes that this sister company - lets just call them NI, short for no integrity - apparently request for our input in their new office.

They are currently squatting at my client's office, and using their facilities, and hogging their limited space. My clients are not happy about it but there's nothing much they can do to invite NI out.

Now NI is looking for a space of their own, partly because my client no longer have space for them to eat into. Another designer was assigned to this account, much to my relief.

I am definitely on my client's side and there's no way I will withhold information from them, like how NI requested. My sales team now is very secretive towards the whole project, fearing that I might divulge certain information to my own client, and make them lose this new one.

But even so, so what? I have all the right to protect the interest of my own client, much to they have theirs. We should just draw the line clean and let my colleague to start on an account with fresh ideas, in mind, instead of being restricted by my earlier configurations.

My sales team keep asking information from me regarding my client but refused to speak a word to me about NI. I know their stand, and I know they wont recognise my stand, because to the sales team, once an account is closed, it is goodbye, pass me the money and please fuck off for them.

Sigh. It's difficult to work with people with double standards, worse when they insist I comply.

Pissed!

I organised a BBQ for my birthday and invited my colleagues. The idea was to create a gathering which may serves to promote better relationship between us.

The whole planning didnt take that long. I formed an idea about having a BBQ and then asked them whether they are interested.

All of them were, and hence I went ahead with the booking of the pit and asked around to see if anyone know of BBQ food supplier.

My colleagues were ready to give me a few contacts, and all I had to do was to compare to see which supplier would be the most economical (seeing that I would be the one footing the bill, with none of them mentioning splitting the bill).

My planning was rushed, partly because I was very busy at work, and partly because the headcounts were never confirmed. Most of them cannot give me a straightforward answer, and some of them who could, eventually decided to boycott because of a tiff with another colleague.

I nurse my headache while trying to keep my temper in check.

I'd already spoke to them previously that I would be in charge of ordering of the food, but drinks had to be purchased separately because the BBQ supplier dont have a drink list.

I reasoned that if I was already footing the bill for the food and for the pit booking fee, it isnt that unreasonable that the rest of them share the cost for the drinks from NTUC.

But no! They are actually expecting me to pay for the drinks as well. Not only that they tick the food items on the food list unreservedly, they still decide that they want to buy 4 or 5 different types of food juice, plus half dozen of 1litre mineral water, and etc.

To them, by volunteering to bring a bottle of whisky from home is a huge favour already. Yah right. It is not as though I am the one whom want to drink it. If they are the one who want to drink, then yes they should bring their own beverage.

But that is hardly considered as contributing isnt it?

It is like going to potluck bringing your favourite chou tou fu. You like to eat it yes, it is food yes, but you are still not contributing to the potluck what!


Come the actual day, and we meant to leave the office at 6 sharp, but I just returned from a meeting and I still had work to follow up on. I quickly work on my stuff, while feverishly trying to handle the flood of msn-s asking me what time can we leave.

I told each one of them to start packing the necessities first, for I still have a few emails to send. All of them decided that ignoring me is the best thing to do at that time, and began to surf their friendster and etc.

By 6.30, the time which we should be leaving the office, nothing was packed but I am hardly ready to go because I still had to talk to a vendor on the phone.

(We should reach by 7 because that was the time the BBQ food supplier would reach the pit with my food. If I am not there, then what if the supplier leave? Then great, all of us can eat grass straight off the soil.)

I finished the call hastily, and began to do the packing up myself. I shouldnt, I know, but I started slamming doors of the cabinets while I retrieve food from them. Those surfing friendster then drifted towards me, sheepishly offering help.

We reached the BBQ pits by 7.20 only, and by then, it began to drizzle, as though I am not irritated enough.

The BBQ was a crap on its own, because there's no butter, no honey, no chili sauce, insufficient charcoal, and it was drizzling.

Ok, I cant help the drizzling part, but I am not apologetic about the rest either. No one wanted to help, and expected to just turn up and eat. Hallo! I paid for everything, planned the BBQ (when it is not that beneficial to me anyway), packed, prepared, and then have to take care of each and everyone of them?

I seriously promise this is the last time I ever organise something for them. With the money spent, I might as well had bought a few more pair of shoes, or treat myself and mashi to a good dinner.

As a matter of fact, they wanted to plan a weekend trip to phuket 2 wks from now. I will tell them tomorrow that I do not want to go anymore if nothing is booked yet. Actually even if it is booked, I rather waste the money than to go msia with them.

They are just a bunch of people who keeps their own benefits as the foremost important. I hardly feel safe travelling with them.

Talking to the boss

I had a hectic day today (well, which day isnt? *rolls eyes*) and I was smoking a cig every half an hour.

To a hardcore smoker, this is chicken, but I seldom smoke so much in a short span of time.

I had a client who had a ridiculous timeline for me and I had to rush out work. I spent sunday working on this layout and another one yday at work. My first option eventually got amended by my manager much to my irritation, but luckily the design of the reception area reminds mainly untouched.

Amending drawings always pissed me off because sometime what my manager says really doesnt make sense but I cant reject doing the job according to her ideas.

She scares me sometimes. Some of her ideas are brilliant while others stink. She seldom have ideas that is in between though.

I digressed. I meant to say I had a hectic afternoon and it didnt help when my boss announced that a fellow colleague, the one who hates his job, had just gotten confirmed and reminded us to get him to treat us lunch soon, seeing that he received a pay adjustment upon confirmation.

I think I've never blogged about it before, but I didnt get my pay adjustment upon my confirmation because my 2nd tier boss said that it is the company policy (suddenly in place) that no one would get an adjustment until cny, where we would get our bonus too.

He explained that things dont work the same anymore, though it was a mere 3 mths prior to that when he spoke to me during my interview that an adjustment is definite.


I was fuming, but I still got my work done. I brought it to my 3rd tier boss's room, left it, and then went for another smoking break. When I could feel my anger subsiding with some time away from work, I went back to the boss.

I started the conversation asking him about work. And then I got into topic.


K : Boss, can I talk to you for a minute?
B : (Stops working though he's out of time) Yes?
K : I dont mean to be rude, but can I ask you one qn?
B : What happen? Tell me, it's ok!

(My boss cares a lot about boss-employee relationship. Or at least that's what he always claim... I usually believe him, but let's see this time.)

K : P got confirmed right? And he received an adjustment?
B : Yes.... (suspicious) why?
K : Well I didnt get mine at my confirmation.
B : How can that be?
K : Well it's true. During interview, [2nd tier boss] said that I would receive a pay adjustment upoin confirmation. But at confirmation, he said that nobody will get adjustments anymore until cny.
B: Actually I am not sure, because for your team I leave it to him to arrange.
K : I really dont mean to be rude, and I can accept your reason if you have a good one. But it doesnt make sense to be that CM, TH, EB, C, TX, W, H and now P all get their adjustment but I am the only missed out. Can I have an reason for it?
B : Dont worry, I will look into it. I left it to [2nd tier boss] and sometimes he will forget things. Rest assured that I will check it out.
K : Thanks boss.


I told mashi later, that if the boss have a VERY VERY VERY good explaination for me, and refused to up my pay, I would accept it too. But this explanation must be DAMN good before I will consider.

It is not the fact about pay being low. It is the fact that they overlooked me! I dont overlook my work do I? As a matter of fact, even if I am not the best employee in the company, I should easily made it into the top quarter!

So why is it that the rest got their rewards and I got deprived?

I told mashi I will give the boss some time to act it out. I've decided to give him approx 1 mth, which would also mark the 1 year mark of my confirmation (which is on 3rd aug). If I do not get an answer from him, I will begin to reject work that I know will eat into my personal time, and will plan leave during the peak of the industry.


We shall see what happens.

Tactless few

I am flabbergasted at the lack of tact among my colleagues. Apparently it is the case of the amount of indiscreet is directly proportionate to the issues that would rub me the wrong way.

The more sensitive I am towards certain issues, the more likely do I find them rubbing salt on it.

It had reached a stage where it is not even funny anymore. So I cant handle the fucking jobs. And so? Stop pretending you are capable, especially when you are not NOT.