Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Oh Dear... And other random musings.
It looks like I have been consistently hitting writing plateaus. Hey, at least I deliver exactly what I promise: a highly inconsistent writing schedule. Winter is here, Seattle has been uncharacteristically kind with the weather, and life, in general, has been slow and gentle. However, things are due to pick up again pretty soon, as I prepare to relocate (yet again) in order to avoid the five miles of traffic that I hit on my way home from work. The bad thing about this is that my blog should technically be renamed into "Klueless in Lynnwood," since that is where I will be moving. Sigh. There was something romantic about living in the city. Now the romance will be wiped out in favor of 1. cheaper rent 2. shorter commute and 3. savings on gas. But hey, I'll have a whole new area to explore! The good part about moving is that I will be able to run during lunch hour now. My running habit has been nearly eradicated by early nightfall. Call me a wuss -- not wanting to run when it's dark. I like to think of myself as safety-conscious. In the meantime, I use the access card graciously given to me by a property across the street from where I work to utilize their fabulous fitness center. Speaking of which, it's treadmill time. Off I go. Hopefully to return relatively soon and not in another 6-12 months.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Where Do I Begin... Again
It's been 9 months since I've written a post. Life has a way of flying by. When I realized what my last post was about it made me crack up. If anyone is curious, I only lasted in that job for three weeks after posting my "Signs It's Time To Quit Your Job." Not because of the post, but because I was lucky enough to finally score my dream job. Right before and after that, life became a whirlwind. Between moving apartments and learning new responsibilities I've abandoned a lot of the things I used to love before, such as writing. But in the process I've also picked up a few new hobbies, such as running. Life is tremendously different from a year ago, and frankly I don't know where to start with my thoughts, but I guess something is better than nothing at all. I think I'm ready to include my old hobby in my new schedule again. Once again, no promises to write on a regular basis. But I will try my best.
Still loving my Seattle. Still dreaming of New York.
Still loving my Seattle. Still dreaming of New York.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Signs it's Time to Quit Your Job
• You function best on days when your brain is completely fried and you can’t think.
• Your supervisor seriously suspects that you’re a spy planted in the company to observe the ED.
• No matter which direction you turn, you see gray cubicle.
• Your first thought in the morning is a GL code.
• The thought of being fired brings an underlying feeling of relief.
• You drink 8 cups of liquid a day. The liquid is coffee.
• You’ve been meaning to update the Assistant Manual. For the last two and a half years.
• It takes you longer to write down what you are doing/have done and communicate it to everyone who needs to know than to actually do it.
• The ten minute run to Jimmy Johns is the best part of your workday.
• Nobody notices when you don’t show up one day.
• However, the next day the director calls you into his office to discuss how irresponsible of you it was to be three minutes late.
• Three meetings with various members of “the team” are required to approve the new kitchen duty schedule.
• You ask the “online specialist” about a simple excel formula. Three days later he and the director are discussing whether it is safe to recruit IT department for help with the formula. You google the formula and get it in ten minutes. The information they are trying to keep confidential from IT is public record.
• You volunteer to become an integral part of a new process. After completion of the process director hosts a lunch to thank everyone involved in the process. He thanks everyone involved in the process by name, except for you. He thanks YOU for arranging the lunch.
• You have an idea and share it with the team. Two months later your supervisor “comes up” with the aforementioned idea. A year later the director “comes up” with it as well. Two years later the department implements the change and calls themselves an “innovator.”
• You are looking for a client e-mail to get them some information. Instead you stumble on their obituary. You laugh and think it’s great that they’re now all set and don’t need the information anymore.
• Your supervisor seriously suspects that you’re a spy planted in the company to observe the ED.
• No matter which direction you turn, you see gray cubicle.
• Your first thought in the morning is a GL code.
• The thought of being fired brings an underlying feeling of relief.
• You drink 8 cups of liquid a day. The liquid is coffee.
• You’ve been meaning to update the Assistant Manual. For the last two and a half years.
• It takes you longer to write down what you are doing/have done and communicate it to everyone who needs to know than to actually do it.
• The ten minute run to Jimmy Johns is the best part of your workday.
• Nobody notices when you don’t show up one day.
• However, the next day the director calls you into his office to discuss how irresponsible of you it was to be three minutes late.
• Three meetings with various members of “the team” are required to approve the new kitchen duty schedule.
• You ask the “online specialist” about a simple excel formula. Three days later he and the director are discussing whether it is safe to recruit IT department for help with the formula. You google the formula and get it in ten minutes. The information they are trying to keep confidential from IT is public record.
• You volunteer to become an integral part of a new process. After completion of the process director hosts a lunch to thank everyone involved in the process. He thanks everyone involved in the process by name, except for you. He thanks YOU for arranging the lunch.
• You have an idea and share it with the team. Two months later your supervisor “comes up” with the aforementioned idea. A year later the director “comes up” with it as well. Two years later the department implements the change and calls themselves an “innovator.”
• You are looking for a client e-mail to get them some information. Instead you stumble on their obituary. You laugh and think it’s great that they’re now all set and don’t need the information anymore.
Friday, July 23, 2010
How to stay out of a Chase Bank’s “Helpful Associate’s” Credit Card Chair.
The irony of this post (but perhaps such that gives me even more credibility) is that I don’t bank at Chase. I have no idea or opinion about their services. But I have walked into the bank many times with a complacent friend of mine and had to wait up to 20 minutes for her to get out after an inevitable attack of associates left one afraid to enter the edifice of Chase. Due to this, I have developed an excellent strategy for getting rid of them. I am now officially her bodyguard. No associate has been able to make me open an account with Chase or even get me in their Chair. Moreover, she banks in under 5 minutes now. Below are the helpful steps that will keep you safe from opening another credit card that you have been “pre-approved” for and getting out of the building faster:
1.Prepare all materials you will need to bank ahead of time.
2.Upon entry into the bank, immediately locate and go to the self-service table with slips.
3.DO NOT make eye contact with any bank associates lurking outside the glass-protected counters.
4.If asked what brings you in today, make your answer short and sweet. Preferably one-word.
5.When the associate says “I can help you right over here” politely decline and state that you will be all-set at the window.
6.Whatever you do, do NOT go to their desk!!!
7.If prompted more aggressively, stop being polite.
8.Even if there is a line at the windows, I guarantee you that you will get out of there faster by waiting in line than by being helped by an associate at their desk.
9.If possible, bring a friend responsible solely for interacting with aforementioned associates and getting rid of them while you calmly fill out your forms without making a mistake on one of them.
10.“Chase Bank” is clearly called so because their associates chase after you as soon as you enter through the door.
1.Prepare all materials you will need to bank ahead of time.
2.Upon entry into the bank, immediately locate and go to the self-service table with slips.
3.DO NOT make eye contact with any bank associates lurking outside the glass-protected counters.
4.If asked what brings you in today, make your answer short and sweet. Preferably one-word.
5.When the associate says “I can help you right over here” politely decline and state that you will be all-set at the window.
6.Whatever you do, do NOT go to their desk!!!
7.If prompted more aggressively, stop being polite.
8.Even if there is a line at the windows, I guarantee you that you will get out of there faster by waiting in line than by being helped by an associate at their desk.
9.If possible, bring a friend responsible solely for interacting with aforementioned associates and getting rid of them while you calmly fill out your forms without making a mistake on one of them.
10.“Chase Bank” is clearly called so because their associates chase after you as soon as you enter through the door.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
A Trip To The Oregon Coast
There’s no better way to spend the weekend for a Seattlite than a road trip down the Oregon Coast with a friend. That’s exactly what my friend and I decided to embark on one warm weekend at the end of March. We have carefully planned out a hefty supply of food and took an ample amount of blankets and pillows along, fully intending to sleep in the car and not spend any money eating out. With an adventurous mindset, and a load of promises from me that it will be the most spectacular scenic drive in ages, we got into my beat up Corolla and drove off into the sunlight.
The sunlight lasted for about an hour and a half. Just enough time for us to get off the freeway and onto one of the smaller roads leading to the coast. The rest of the day was covered by grey clouds with some sort of light beaming through, but nothing that would qualify as sunlight or beautiful. By the time we got to the coast it began to rain. After driving for a couple hours to a lighthouse I’ve wanted to check out for a while, we have finally arrived at the desired viewpoint by Cannon Beach. By then it was windy and hailing. To the point that up on top of the viewpoint both of us leaned on the wind at a 45 degree angle without falling down! The ocean roared as waves crashed against the rocks with freaky magnitude. Cool, yes, but not so much considering we were expecting glorious sunsets and warm beaches accompanied by a gentle splashing of waves on the sand.
After taking a few attempts at photographing the madness, we got cold and went down to Cannon Beach – a small coastal town filled primarily with retired rich people and young families with children and dogs. For a little while we wandered around, trying to figure out if there is a place we could park for the night. Soon feeling like complete bums, we looked at each other and instantly decided that we will end up getting a motel room for the night after all. Settling on a safe-looking , not too pricey place, we unloaded the blankets and the food in our trunk… And went out to eat in a local sea-food restaurant. The dinner was spectacular, as was our walk on the beach afterwards. With the shops closed and the town emptying out completely by 9p.m., there was nothing left to do but go to sleep, which we gladly did.
We were awoken at 3a.m. by tapping on the window. And by tapping I mean something along the lines of a jackhammer breaking into the roof. My friend sat up in horror and asked what the heck I think it is. “Seagulls.” I don’t even know how I knew that while being half asleep and half panicked from the noise myself. The tapping continued throughout the night, accompanied by rain, hail, and the roaring of the ocean. The morning revealed a beautiful painting of seagulls hanging above the bed that neither of us paid much attention to the night before. Either the irony of life was incredible or someone decorating that place had a very good sense of humor.
You’d hope that my story ends by saying that the next day was beautiful and we got to see the sun and the scenic views after all. Prepare to be disappointed! No such thing happened. In fact, at one point we passed what seemed like it should’ve been an incredible viewpoint. There were three large entrances, and it was located on a cliff. “I guess this is supposed to be beautiful,” my friend mumbled. The road was covered in fog from top to bottom. We couldn’t even see the water, much less separate it from the sky! We drove down for another hour and a half, visited another rainy, windy lighthouse, and went home. I highly recommend that everyone visit the Oregon Coast at least once in their lifetime! The scenery is beautiful and the sunsets are unmatched. Just don’t do it in March :)
The sunlight lasted for about an hour and a half. Just enough time for us to get off the freeway and onto one of the smaller roads leading to the coast. The rest of the day was covered by grey clouds with some sort of light beaming through, but nothing that would qualify as sunlight or beautiful. By the time we got to the coast it began to rain. After driving for a couple hours to a lighthouse I’ve wanted to check out for a while, we have finally arrived at the desired viewpoint by Cannon Beach. By then it was windy and hailing. To the point that up on top of the viewpoint both of us leaned on the wind at a 45 degree angle without falling down! The ocean roared as waves crashed against the rocks with freaky magnitude. Cool, yes, but not so much considering we were expecting glorious sunsets and warm beaches accompanied by a gentle splashing of waves on the sand.
After taking a few attempts at photographing the madness, we got cold and went down to Cannon Beach – a small coastal town filled primarily with retired rich people and young families with children and dogs. For a little while we wandered around, trying to figure out if there is a place we could park for the night. Soon feeling like complete bums, we looked at each other and instantly decided that we will end up getting a motel room for the night after all. Settling on a safe-looking , not too pricey place, we unloaded the blankets and the food in our trunk… And went out to eat in a local sea-food restaurant. The dinner was spectacular, as was our walk on the beach afterwards. With the shops closed and the town emptying out completely by 9p.m., there was nothing left to do but go to sleep, which we gladly did.
We were awoken at 3a.m. by tapping on the window. And by tapping I mean something along the lines of a jackhammer breaking into the roof. My friend sat up in horror and asked what the heck I think it is. “Seagulls.” I don’t even know how I knew that while being half asleep and half panicked from the noise myself. The tapping continued throughout the night, accompanied by rain, hail, and the roaring of the ocean. The morning revealed a beautiful painting of seagulls hanging above the bed that neither of us paid much attention to the night before. Either the irony of life was incredible or someone decorating that place had a very good sense of humor.
You’d hope that my story ends by saying that the next day was beautiful and we got to see the sun and the scenic views after all. Prepare to be disappointed! No such thing happened. In fact, at one point we passed what seemed like it should’ve been an incredible viewpoint. There were three large entrances, and it was located on a cliff. “I guess this is supposed to be beautiful,” my friend mumbled. The road was covered in fog from top to bottom. We couldn’t even see the water, much less separate it from the sky! We drove down for another hour and a half, visited another rainy, windy lighthouse, and went home. I highly recommend that everyone visit the Oregon Coast at least once in their lifetime! The scenery is beautiful and the sunsets are unmatched. Just don’t do it in March :)
The "Beautiful Sunset"
"Scenic Views"
Monday, April 12, 2010
Books To Read While You Wait For Me To Write A Novel
I have read plenty of horrible books in the past. But my latest discovery (apparently now a major motion picture) has left me seriously wondering: can I write a better novel?
The plotline of the story is technically good. But the language…. Whether it’s because the author is Irish and the dialect is dissimilar to what we are used to in the United States, or because the writing is truly horrible, but I just can’t get through more than a page without thinking how “corny” a phrase or a scenario is. Why am I still reading the book? Because the plotline is technically good! Which is exactly my problem: if I decided to write a novel, what would it be about?
Granted, my own life provides ample material for a multivolume work. But somehow, I am highly reluctant to offer certain carefully-unpublicized details of it up for the general publics’ leisurely perusal on its daily commute. (Something tells me though that those details would be exactly what brings high-profit royalties to amateur authors).
Whilst I ponder the possibility of truly putting down a pen to paper and whipping out a masterpiece of never-before-seen calibers though, here is a list of ten books that I think are worth your time which are already published and available for your perusal on a daily commute:
1. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. It sounds like a fat uninteresting book. In reality it’s a very easy light read. Although yes, quite chubby for a book.
2. Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. The movie is also good.
3. The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky. Cliché, but seriously… the depth of his though and psychological analysis is mind-blowing. If you can, read it in Russian. So much gets lost in translation…
4. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas. It’s an adventure story. Will keep you hooked for hours! (Also best to read in French though.)
5. Voices from Chechnya by Politkovskaya. She was killed for reporting the truth. Not for emotionally feeble. You might find yourself coming back to it again and again.
6. The Alchemist by Pablo Coelho. You can finish it in an hour (unless you’re trying to read it in Spanish with no previous experience in the language…) and gain profound wisdom from it. Although I’d advise to be well-established in what you believe before you take on the magic volume. Some wisdom should always be taken with a grain of salt…
7. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. This book definitely leaves a lasting impression.
8. The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. This book will drive the clash between traditional and western medicine home. You will cry.
9. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway. I don’t know why I liked this book. It was weird. But I just did. Maybe because I didn’t HAVE TO read it.
10. The Bible in a language you understand but have never read in before. It makes the familiar passages stand out in an entirely different light.
Happy Reading and look out for that novel of mine!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Why Am I Always Happy?
The short answer to that is because I am a Christian who has a real relationship with Jesus and my identity is in Him. But life would be boring if it consisted only of short answers to questions like this. So I'm going to go ahead and get into the analytical depths of this topic.
The truth is that sometimes people who have a real relationship with Jesus aren't always happy. And I most certainly didn't get there until after a bunch of life lessons, realizations, and epiphanies. But it makes me very happy that people tell me that what they like about me is that I'm always happy and smiling. It also makes me happy that my happiness is for real -- I don't do it just to put up a front.
There are several reasons for it. First of all, my life is richly blessed and I really think it'd take an extremely stupid individual not to be happy in my circumstances. I have two mega nice jobs in this economy, and even though I hate one of them, I will admit that it's a pretty good deal that some others only dream of. I have a lot of people who are ready to be there for me if I need them, and who truly care. The people I love all love me back and want me in their lives. My family is incredible. I have an apartment with a mind blowing view that I can easily afford. I'm healthy to the bone. I have endless opportunities to pursue my hobbies and aspirations. I say that's enough for happiness already, yet I see people out there who have it all, and more, and still can't find the happiness within them. Therefore, it's obvious that it's an emotion rooted on the inside of us and does not depend on the circumstances around, even though we might think it does.
What aided my happiness was a piece of advise someone somewhat wise once gave me: don't expect anything from anyone. Brilliant! I've stuck with it for years now, and it has worked incredibly well. Not only does it eliminate dependence on others to make you feel a certain way, but it also makes those around you happier because there's no pressure on them to make you feel good. Instead, you can cheer them up just by being cheerful! It also makes the moments when people come through for you extra special. Since you don't expect anything from them, it's a nice surprise when they do something good, and it makes you happier than you would've been if they simply met your expectations.
The final reason for my happiness most certainly drives some people insane because they feel like they don't ever have all of me. But oh well. My parents taught me to give my all, but never feel like I own something or someone. This way if I am forced to let go, I am not too attached for that to make my world crash. Of course, this has been difficult in the past, especially with people. There were a few on whom I depended entirely, whose actions and words set my mood, and who destroyed me when they left. But I learned my lesson. I now love without expecting anything in return, and if people don't want me in their lives, I won't force myself on them. My life is not identified by anyone or anything in it. Learning that was a breakthrough for happiness.
And last, but not least, is the aforementioned fact that I have a relationship with Jesus. However, having a relationship and rooting an identity are two entirely different things. My God is the only one who loves me unconditionally and on whom I can depend to take care of me in all aspects -- emotional, physical, and spiritual. He is the only one who never changes and who has and will always be there. There is no risk of Him leaving, and whatever He does in my life, although sometimes painful, I can be assured is for the best. He has given me all the tools for happiness. I just had to learn how to use them.
The truth is that sometimes people who have a real relationship with Jesus aren't always happy. And I most certainly didn't get there until after a bunch of life lessons, realizations, and epiphanies. But it makes me very happy that people tell me that what they like about me is that I'm always happy and smiling. It also makes me happy that my happiness is for real -- I don't do it just to put up a front.
There are several reasons for it. First of all, my life is richly blessed and I really think it'd take an extremely stupid individual not to be happy in my circumstances. I have two mega nice jobs in this economy, and even though I hate one of them, I will admit that it's a pretty good deal that some others only dream of. I have a lot of people who are ready to be there for me if I need them, and who truly care. The people I love all love me back and want me in their lives. My family is incredible. I have an apartment with a mind blowing view that I can easily afford. I'm healthy to the bone. I have endless opportunities to pursue my hobbies and aspirations. I say that's enough for happiness already, yet I see people out there who have it all, and more, and still can't find the happiness within them. Therefore, it's obvious that it's an emotion rooted on the inside of us and does not depend on the circumstances around, even though we might think it does.
What aided my happiness was a piece of advise someone somewhat wise once gave me: don't expect anything from anyone. Brilliant! I've stuck with it for years now, and it has worked incredibly well. Not only does it eliminate dependence on others to make you feel a certain way, but it also makes those around you happier because there's no pressure on them to make you feel good. Instead, you can cheer them up just by being cheerful! It also makes the moments when people come through for you extra special. Since you don't expect anything from them, it's a nice surprise when they do something good, and it makes you happier than you would've been if they simply met your expectations.
The final reason for my happiness most certainly drives some people insane because they feel like they don't ever have all of me. But oh well. My parents taught me to give my all, but never feel like I own something or someone. This way if I am forced to let go, I am not too attached for that to make my world crash. Of course, this has been difficult in the past, especially with people. There were a few on whom I depended entirely, whose actions and words set my mood, and who destroyed me when they left. But I learned my lesson. I now love without expecting anything in return, and if people don't want me in their lives, I won't force myself on them. My life is not identified by anyone or anything in it. Learning that was a breakthrough for happiness.
And last, but not least, is the aforementioned fact that I have a relationship with Jesus. However, having a relationship and rooting an identity are two entirely different things. My God is the only one who loves me unconditionally and on whom I can depend to take care of me in all aspects -- emotional, physical, and spiritual. He is the only one who never changes and who has and will always be there. There is no risk of Him leaving, and whatever He does in my life, although sometimes painful, I can be assured is for the best. He has given me all the tools for happiness. I just had to learn how to use them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
