munsta ramblings: November 2006

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Short Cut

FIL has been discharged from the hospital but whilst waiting for the bypass scheduled on Dec4, needs to make daily trips (once in the morning, and once in the evening) for some injection which is required to thin his blood and ensure that no evil blood clots lurk in his arteries/veins

Unfortunately, gout has also mysteriously struck, rendering his right foot swollen an angry red and making limping the distance to the Cardio Therosic Ward (CTW) for his shots a very painful exercise indeed.

We've worked out a routine though - hubby shall drop me off at the porch closest to the CTW, wherein I shall dart up 4 flights of stairs to borrow a wheelchair. Leaving my identity card and a friendly wave with the nurse-on-duty, I race the wheelchair down the corridor and take the 0h-so-slow lift 2 floors down. I will then fly down the corridor towards the porch to collect my FIL and perform the above routine in reverse.

Once the injection is administered, I shuttle through the above motions again - this time depositing FIL back into the car before returning the wheelchair and reclaiming my identity card.

Yes - it is a lot of activity to just get a shot...and repeated twice a day, is exercise aplenty for normally sedentary me

However, as hubby and I shall be returning to work for the next week, we had briefed and handed over duties to my brothers-in-law who had arrived back home last Friday.

Last check with both confirmed that FIL was getting his injections as scheduled. However, was told that they made FIL walk to the CTW on his own because "it is good for him plus it is considerably a lot more convenient for us!"

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Being Strong

A relationship which counts is one where the presence of the other makes you feel stronger in hard times of emotional turmoil - you have always been there for me in past uncertainties and I hope that I can be the same in the next couple of weeks to come.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Stupid phone calls

Phone Call 1, received at 9a.m.:

Ms Tai-Chi Mistress (TCM): Sorry to call you so early
Me: Its OK - am already at the hospital
TCM: Oh!! You mean condition is that serious eh?

***

Phone Call 2, received at 11a.m.:

TCM: Are you busy?
Me: Am currently in line to donate blood
TCM: Wah...so free to do charity
Me: Er...actually, need to replace blood pint-by-pint for FIL's operation
TCM: OIC

***

Phone Call 3, received at 1p.m.:

TCM: Does your husband have no siblings who can take over?
Me: We are the closest at short notice.
TCM: That's why you should have brought your in-laws over to KL to stay with you guys
(implicit message: so that i don't need to be saddled with your work!)

***

oooh...she really needs to brush up her PR skills to mask her insensitivities!

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Marketing 101

Can you believe that I was told I did not qualify for a standby seat on an earlier flight, just because the ticket I had held was purchased this afternoon? Nevermind that there are empty seats available? Nevermind that I told them it was an emergency?

Was told that they couldn’t do anything as “it is programmed as such in the system” – hello!?!??!? Are there no exceptions??? You’re not a system are you? Surely your brain is superior to that of artificial intelligence!!??!! Plus, do I look like I will for some reason be a security threat on the 6:10p.m. flight?

“Ahh…we are sorry mam, but if you had purchased your ticket yesterday, things would have been different” – Yeah, if I had purchased my ticket yesterday, it wouldn’t exactly be the emergency I am describing to you now, would it?

Doesn’t make sense as it would not cost them a thing and in reverse would actually earn them quite some goodwill, and perhaps even some extra revenue should a person turn up later desperate for a seat on the flight that I am scheduled on.

Weird public relation skills some firms have – you would have thought they would have trained staff to think on the spot rather than be bound by rigid rules and procedures. But I guess it is a case that when you pay peanuts you get monkeys.

Monday, November 20, 2006

Cracking up

Just can’t concentrate at work. Furthermore, things don’t sound good on the phone…have given up and decided that sod work…family comes way before…and I think that this time around, it is important enough as compared to the stupid business plan, which most people around me don’t give a damn anyway.

I spoke to boss after lunch, who after the initial exclamation of “shit” (auto reaction I guess), was quite understanding. Handed over all BP responsibilities to ms tai-chi mistress who promptly exclaimed “Wah…so many things outstanding ar?!!?” to which I shrewdly replied, “Yeah – most things are pending the outcome of your consolidation/ computations >> so it is only appropriate that I hand over to you for you to fill up the blanks!”

Anyways, I feel like I’ve done as much as I possibly can, and staying on in KL won’t really be that useful anyway coz it’s currently at the stage where we play the waiting & test-your- nerves-of steel-game. Stressful and counter productive. But have agreed to be on 24 hour standby for questions, and have even taken with me some stuff which I can work on off-site. Didn’t boss complain that I can’t delegate? Well, time to show off my delegation skills now, I guess.

Sigh, of course I’d rather not be put in this yucky situation which conveniently gives me an excuse “to run away from office for a few days” – fingers crossed, everything will turn out alright. I really fervently hope so.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Comfort me please

I don't cope with stress very well....i tend to bitch and rant, bitch and rant, bitch and rant...but granted that i will be home alone this entire week...it's just no bloody fun bitching and ranting to the four walls!! and no...unless you're married to me, I am not the kind of person who rings up everyone in her phone address book just to share the misery around

I need comfort food:
a) Ice cream - too lazy to pop down to the grocery shop to get some
b) Mashed potato - no potatoes in the house either
c) penne with baked beans and cheese - too much work...boil the pasta, open a tin, grate the cheese...argh!!
d) Celery/ mushroom soup - one step less than above option, still too much work
e) A hot steaming mug of hot chocolate ....now just maybe.

Thank god for laziness, i so don't need the additional calories just doing nothing

Antz

Even the ants in my house are depressed...can't understand why so many of them commit suicide by drowning in my kettle...every single day!!!!!

Am so frazzled by it...i HATE having ants floating around in my drinking water...totally gross. and this isn't one or two mites which can be easily fished out...its like the fucking pipe piper of hamlin in Antzville

any one out there with the same problem? more importantly, anyone with a solution?

Sod everything!

I am so stressed, deadlines are looming sooooooo near....and so many more things need to get done, information to be fished, figures to be cranked etc.etc.etc....and what do I do today?

I woke up and decided that I just didn't care to get my butt into office today. Moreover, i only managed to reluctantly drag my sorry ass out of bed at 10:30a.m, and even that was just because my bladder was absolutely bursting and I needed to move before i made a mess

Plopped myself in front of the idiot box...flipping channels but not really paying any attention to anything....shutting my eyes and dozing intermittently trying to ward off a headache....

4:30p.m. realisation dawned that i needed to stuff something down my throat if I did not want the now-escalating migrane and sickness in me swell into something more severe - i.e. a full-blown gastric attack. yeah yeah yeah...i would have brought it on to myelf...i know...but well, i just just just couldn't be tossed.

anyways, fear of pain and further discomfort motivated me to take those few paces to the kitchen - opened the cupboards to look for the most fuss free food i could get my hands on: nope no cereal but there was other stuff like good-ol maggi me...but i couldn't get my act together to even want to light a stove.

Ok....foraged my fridge for alternatives....and settled on 2 pieces of toast, a yoghurt and a coffee...now that wasn't so bad for a meal i guess...the yoghurt must have just bumped it up the health-o-meter *grin*

Another 2 hours of staring into space and i summon enough effort to log on to the Net.

Sigh..oh well, if i choose to be depressed on a Sunday...it is entirely within my rights. Bloody waste of time you say? well, who can be a hyper happy bunny everyday, rite? need a rest.

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Desktop complaint

"What funny desktop background do you have there?", retorted my boss in disbelief as I minimised my active windows to access a file shortcut saved on the desktop.

Hehehehe...what's wrong with the above backdrop? It's cute and makes me smile when I am stressed!! Anyway, am not even sitting in the open - the only people who can see my desktop are those who sit in/ stand right next to my seat! oh yeah...plus the window cleaners, of course - though am sure they wouldn't give a toss!

Anyway, it's not like there's company policy for sprucing up your own computer at work is there? well...as long as copyright laws are not breached i guess, if you insist on drilling right down to the fine print....

some folks have their kids/ families on their computer desktop, some post their mtv/bollywood/hollywood idols, some opt for breathtaking sceneries whilst there are others who like cute pets. As for me, my little cartoon suits me just fine!

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Lost in space

The headline cries: Malaysia's first astronaut to do what no one has ever done before

*drumroll in anticipation of ground breaking disclosure*

to play batu seremban!!??!!!

and to teh-tarik!!??!!

WTF!!??!!

One fleeting glance at the pics above will tell you that these activities heavily rely on Newton's Law.

Maybe, the bright spark who mooted these brilliant Malaysianised ideas did not realise that there is no gravity in space. [Note to boys and girls: This is exactly why it is important that you should pay more attention during your science classes in school]

Did it not occur to him why no-one ever thought of these great ideas first!??! Malaysia Boleh!

Well, he certainly is putting Malaysia on the world map...nevermind if for the wrong reason. Afterall, didn't someone say there's no such thing as bad publicity?

Poor astronaut - after so many trials and tribulations to qualify to be sent to space and finally, to be subjected to such a circus act!?!?

I just cringe in embarassment for that poor sod, I really do.

Personality Cocktail

How to make a little munsta

Ingredients:
3 parts jealousy
5 parts brilliance
1 part empathy

Method:
Add to a cocktail shaker and mix vigorously. Add a little cocktail umbrella and a dash of lustfulness

I am obviously damn bored, and sleepy, and tired, and grouchy...but I need to wait for the dumb washing machine to turn round and round, round and round, round and round...desperately need clean clothes for tommorow...ouch!

Munsta's Believe It or Not

A NEEDLE CAN SAVE THE LIFE OF A STROKE PATIENT

Keep a syringe or needle in your home to do this - it's amazing and an unconventional way of recovering from stroke.

When stroke strikes, the capillaries in the brain will gradually burst. Stay calm. No matter where the victim is,do not move him/her. Because, if moved, the capillaries will burst.

Help the victim to sit up where he is to prevent him from falling over again, and then the bloodletting can begin. If you have in your home an injection syringe that would be the best, otherwise, a sewing needle or a straight pin will do.

1. Place the needle/pin over fire to sterilize it, and then use it to prick the tip of all 10 fingers.

2. There are no specific acupuncture points, just prick about a mm from the fingernail.

3. Prick till blood comes out.

4. If blood does not start to drip, then squeeze with your fingers.

5. When all 10 digits is bleeding, wait a few minutes then the victim will regain consciousness.

6. If the victim's mouth is crooked, then pull on his ears until they are red.

7. Then prick each ear lobe twice until two drops of blood comes from each ear lobe.

After a few minutes the victim should regain consciousness.Wait till the victim regains his normal state without any abnormal symptoms then take him to the hospital. If he was taken in the ambulance in a hurry to the hospital, the bumpy trip will cause all the capillaries in his brain to burst.

If we can all remember this bloodletting method and start the life-saving process immediately, in a short time, the victim will be revived and regain 100% normality.

I was plenty cynical when I read the e-mail circulated but my parents are absolutely sure it saved my dad's life with minimal damage to his body system. In the absence of a sterilised needle/ syringe, he had actually used a compass!!

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Total Bullshit

It sucks when we have to comply to a deadline set in stone, nevermind that what had initially been a tight space of 2-weeks allocated for us to consolidate all work has now been considerably depleted because of delays by others who:

should have finished what they were supposed to do 3 whole weeks ago
happily tell you that you're to deal with their delays otherwise you should feel free to "shoot" them
are not the least threatened by any "repercussions" you press upon them; nor swayed by any pleas to hurry up on grounds of compassion for others (i.e. us!!)
are NEVER blamed for any delays in the entire process just because they are not visibly the last guard for compiling and handing over the deliverables

It sucks when said deadline above is brought forward by one week so that some privileged individuals get to schedule a round of golf at their convenience.

It sucks when fickle-minded but powerful persons in the organisation who were entrusted to approve key items core to the entire process all the way back in September oh-so-conveniently "change" their minds 1 week from our new deadline, resulting in whatever few submissions we've painstakingly coaxed (or rather begged for in the last week) useless and requiring rework...nevermind the bridges we shall burn when relaying the "wonderful" news to the persons-in-charge!

It sucks when you are expected to perform wonders in mere minutes using limited and flawed information available >> haven't you guys heard of the simple concept of garbage in, garbage out?

It sucks when you know this happens every single year without fail and yet matters never seem to improve and on the contrary, expectations seem to sky-rocket and our emotional health deteriorates drastically during the last few months of the year...not that anyone gives a damn

And it sucks MAJOR when told simply that we cannot whinge because we are "born into this"

I so seriously don't need to put up with this fucking bullshit.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Sociable me

I was roped in at the last minute to attend a subsidiary company's meeting and was marginally late as I had been entasked to make copies of some presentation slides.

Everyone was already seated when I gingerly pushed the conference room door ajar. All heads tilted towards me as I tried to tiptoe my way into the room as inconspicuously as possible.

The tax consultants were the first to break into smiles, chorusing in unison with a cheerful "Hi!". My ex-colleagues had not expected that I would be there. Neither was I aware that they were handling tax matters for my subsidiary either.

The audit managers were next to get over their surprise and one girl even grinned and waved goofily at me over the conference table. Ah....another few acquaintences I'd made in some social outings. Definitely weren't expecting each other either!

And as all these brief exchanges were going on, my Chief Financial Officer looked on with amusement whilst my General Manager's face twitched in bewilderment as to how I could possibly know more people in the room than her!!!

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Home Sweet Home

I grew up here!

Monday, November 06, 2006

Gates of Hell

Am currently amazing-racing-on-line and am ranked "1-368"

Done 2 roadblocks and am currently waiting for the Gates of Hell to open....hurry up!

Gut feel that website will inevitably be crashing coz there are just too many teams waiting to enter at 11:34p.m....sigh.

Upside: It allowed me to keep my date with Dr. Gregory House :)

PS: It's now 12 midnight...and I still can't get into Hell!!!! My ever enthusiastic partner has since been snoring his head off since 11:00p.m. so I guess I shall call it a night and join him in La-La-Land too! Nite-nite

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Life isn't fair

Why is it that it is absolutely compulsory for me to tell you everything about the significant details of my life and yet, not vice versa.

* yeah...but you're in KL and there's nothing you can do about it except worry.*

But I'd still like to be in the know and not find out when it is an after-the-fact incident which you accidentally let slip when you gloat of your "amazing recovery" over the last couple of days. Or when I chance to speak to who-doesn't-know-what-I- don't-know-Gramps instead of either of you on the phone.

After all, I obviously would not be able to do anything about something I don't know, would I? *duh*

Instruction to bro: Please keep me updated about going-ons at home, regardless of the impression that mum/dad are on the phone with me 24/7 anyways.

Since when was it custom to recruit siblings as special agents!!??!

Sheesh...parents!

Chill pill

This article had me nodding intermittently in full agreement.

Having worked at various companies in Selangor-KL, I have a theory that the number of working hours an employee puts in has a strong negative co-relation with the distance of his/her office from the epicentre of the Central Business Unit of KL.

My first job was in a company located right smack within a 5-minute walk from KLCC. Most employees worked diligently throughout the day in attempts to meet ludicrous deadlines set by bosses who unfortunately have no clue as to what it takes for completion of a task and instead assumes wonders can be achieved with a wave of the magic wand - tsk tsk...impressionable individuals who have probably been unwittingly disillusionised whilst watching too many re-runs of Cinderella with the little princesses at home - come on, deep within us, we all know that Disney cartoons are the evil root of rosy hallucinations of how the ugly real world ticks - you didn't think that "living happily ever after" just happens without you having to exert any energy whatsoever, did ya? (and no, yelling at the top of your lungs for a job to be be done only contributes further to noise pollution and does not count as energy exertion in this instance)

An example of how painful it can get sometimes when you report to a manager who merely "manages" but does not have the pre-requisite knowledge to even be aware of the work, time and effort sometimes required for a job, is as such:

Boss: Can you work out the Group's projected cash flows for the next 30 years?
Employee: OK - will try to revert to you by end of the week/ early next week
Boss: No can do - I need the figures urgently for my meeting with PM in an hour
Employee: But...that's impossible!
Boss: What's so difficult - it's only 30 numbers fitted on one line - just use the projections you made for Company A for the same period

Sigh....rant to be continued

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Tired feet

My feet are tired to say the least. I have trawled the entire 1 Utama shopping mall today and realised how few music stores there are. Furthermore, the handful I found stocked way lots more commercial pop than any other music genre, let alone "ol boring classicals". Even the selection at Tower Records was disappointing. The section reserved for classical and jazz seems to have shrunk since my last visit there - perhaps I need to check out the bigger outlet in KLCC . Sigh.

Nevertheless, like a true girl out shopping, it would have been absolutely scandalous if I had returned home empty handed. I ended up purchasing Ratu's album - in my opinion, one of the coolest acts around the region. Check it out yourself.

Teman Tapi Mesra Video - Ratu lyrics

Ratu Music Video Codes

Music Video Codes by VideoCure

Free Layouts

Long Lost Pal

Hubby splurged on a brand new CD today. His choice was delightful - he had picked up The Butterfly Lovers and The Yellow River Concertos - two of my absolute favourite works of all time.

Am particularly fond of the delicate melodious theme in the former with a romantic story to boot and the rising patriotic emotions the tinkle of ivory keys stir in the latter. The distinct Chinese themes and orchestration suits the traditional er-hu and di-zi to the T and yet, does not seem out of place when performed by their Western equivalents - truly a classic case where East meets West

Was completely astonished though when hubby confided that he had not heard these 2 works before! What?? Such a confession from a seasoned musician who'd travelled the world a couple of times with AYO was a shocker indeed. Pure blatant ignorance - poor dear, you have no idea what you're missing out on!

Immersed in the rich strains of music played by the Shanghai Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, I closed my eyes as the violin's lyrical solo spliced the air. Waves of nostalgia gently rocked me back to when I was a 12 year-old girl who put her first radio to good use by putting a cassette on every night when she climbed into bed. Amongst my favourites then were a trio of tapes of (then) current Chinese pop songs (whereabouts currently unknown), which were not only creatively arranged for the orchestra but were also beautifully interpreted by a Japanese violinist.

Hmmmm...come to think of it, the musical style of the violin soloist struck a familar chord. Could it be? Was it she? Casually flipping through the booklet in the CD casing, the reunion with my long lost pal was confirmed.

My mission this weekend will be to hunt down the CD-versions of the following:

Three Wishes of the Rose - Everlasting Chinese Love Songs
Chinese Popular Hits for Violin and Orchestra - Love is like a Mysterious Dream
Chinese Popular Hits for Violin and Orchestra - Love for a Man Who Never Comes Home

Wish me luck!

Thursday, November 02, 2006

A Chicken Rice Story

During my last balik-kampung trip, I had told her:

Cooking needn't be a laborious chore. For example to whip up chix rice...

Ingredients needed:
Rice
Chicken
Ginger (sliced)
Garlic cloves (with skins on)
Lemon Grass
1 star anise (bunga lawang)
3 cloves (bunga cengkih)
Fried shallots
A dollop of margerine
Sesame seed oil and salt to taste
Chopped spring onions to garnish

Method:
Dump all ingredients in rice cooker, sit back and relax!

Honestly - it is just as simple as that! Cynical she hadn't believed me then - but two days ago, she called, triumphantly trumpeting her success.

Mum: It's really easy!
Me: Glad it worked out on the first try
Mum: Yeah...rice, chicken, star anise, cloves and ginger...could not remember whether I was supposed to put cinammon in as well though
Me: Nope - no cinammon needed. By the way, how much margerine did you put in...was the rice too oily?
Mum: What margerine? -oohhh...no wonder it was a little dry
Me: Oh ok...how about the shallots?
Mum: Oh, I skipped that...too much work
Me: And the sesame seed oil, lemon grass and garlic?
Mum: Well...your dad doesn't like sesame seed oil and I had no recollection of the rest.

What chicken rice was she cooking?!?!?!

Mum: Anyway, your dad didn't complain! So it's good enough for a repeat.

P.S. Dad called today, "Any more handy recipes for Mum?"
Oh well, guess she must have done something right!

Spam sms

Received:

"Dear all, kindly take note to include me in all your future social/ professional gatherings - need to extend my dating pool."

Tempted to reply:

"Dear C, kindly note that if I am expected to render services similar to that of dating agencies, similar charges shall apply."

However, since I suck in promoting causes/ products which I do not believe in - I thought it was better to let the sms slide as if I'd never ever set eyes on it.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Confession

I have always taken pride in that I rank my priorities right - preferring to spend time interacting with others than sitting in front of the TV/ computer.

However, my judgement lapsed during the last Raya break. What begun as a seemingly innocuous test run of the DVD player on Dad's new flat-screen idiot box, ballooned into a serious addicition in a blink of an eye.

My defences crumbled as Moses Chan, Bowie Lam, Charmaine Sheh, Maggie Siu and Ada Choi popped up in quick succession on the silver screen. Like a junkie, I (rather unashamedly) craved for more.

Conveniently making myself cosy amongst Mum's fluffy pillows, I ploughed through episode after episode after episode. Hooked by the loaded double entendres, witty repartees, drama and clever twists and turns generously sprinkled throughout the ingenious plot, I just could not bring myself to stop.

Episode 1....just a little more....
Episode 2....maybe a little bit more....
Episode 3...will stop soon...
Episode 4....this is too good, not now, not yet....
Episode 5....aiya, forget the pretences - next episode please!

Have set a new personal record - 30 episodes in 2.5 days

Seriously, a must watch

Indecision

5 months later and I am still tied to my current job. The lady is still here - but supposedly not for much longer as her postponed transfer is scheduled to be effective 1 Jan 2007 (we shall see!).

Sigh....to move or not to move...indecision still despite having 2 tempting job offers dangled in front of me:

->> pros:
- better mobility in event I need to move between countries
- will look good on my CV
- promotion prospects less likely to be hampered by non-meritocracy based considerations(or so I believe)
- job scope will be very much skewed towards a niche which I (currently still) like
- more efficient colleagues

->> cons:
- longer working hours
- potentially immersed in kiasu environment
(yeah, yeah...i know - no pain, no gain)

So....I do what i do best - procrastinate - again! After all, damned if i have to repay a single cent of my stewpid bond

Also worth mulling over are 2 interesting options suggested by well-meaning acquaintences in the last couple of days:
>> emcee-ing
>> training consultant
Huh?? I can also qualify for jobs like that meh?
Sometimes, I wonder why I can't have the same confidence others have in me - just close my eyes and do it! Must be the damn accountant in me - risk taker am not!

Of course there is that golden job which I've been applying for numerous times and yet, have been rejected again and again. According to prospective employer, he can't afford to pay me the salary I demand to keep me at home :(

munsta ramblings