ORD - Finally

D-Day.

Just when I was about to send off the last email, the Man walked in. And so, I had to stay back another 30 mins to "entertain" him one last time. Anyway, the conversation went ok. We spoke about organisational philosophy. His favourite topic. As usual, me the student.

Back to the topic.

I spent the last day briefing folks who had to take over some functions from me as well as finishing off the last assignment.

I had mixed feelings. Happy, relieved yet sad. I tried hard not to look back. The cube, the printer, the meeting rooms, the folks. Eight years. Kind of like my second home, especially since I usually came in pretty early and left pretty late almost everyday.

The folks on my floor acted normally, though a few close ones were happy yet sad to see me go. Happy that I am out of the current situation. Sad that they have one less person to pour out their unhappiness and frustrations. You see, I sometimes part-time as Aunt Agony.

It is always sad to say goodbye. But this place has been a meaningful one to me. I wouldn't be where and what I am today without the folks I had encountered in this place.

As mentioned, I am appreciative to all and will miss most.

ORD - Second Last Day

Second last day at work.

And I submitted three pieces of work to boss. Plus the completion of a new task that was given to me late last week.

Don't ask me why like this.

I also wonder.

=_=

ORD

3 more days to D-Day, minus Sat and Sun.

8 years in a single place. Neither short nor long.

It has been a good place. Really. From the bottom of my heart.

Yes, there were frustrations. But there were happiness and enjoyable times too. The gatherings, the gossips around the printer, pantry, toilet, along the corridor, at one's cube, the "bang table" sessions, the flying arrows and many more. They were interesting experiences, which made me what I am today. I will take away the fond memories and bear in mind the learning points.

To all, I wish them all the best. To many, I thank them for the guidance and support. I will miss all. The good and the bad.

========

Folks were asking why I am still hard at work. Even the Man asked.

The Man: "You are still clearing your work? Why are they still behind time?"
Me: "They were new issues. =_="
The Man: "^_^ You could just channel to others to follow-up."
Me: "^_^ It's ok. They are swamped with other issues too."
(The Man looking at the SYT besides me)
The Man: "Why don't you take over? What are you busy with?"
SYT: "Planning your trips. =_="
Me: (Trying very hard not to laugh)

The News - Exit Interview #2

Had the final exit interview with the Man Upstairs today.

Nothing dramatic. Decided to be politically correct about things.

Even if there were unhappiness, they were the past.

There is no need to burn any bridges as we never know when our paths will cross again.

And so, it ended on a happy note.

For the organisation and for me.

The News - Exit Interview #1

Had an exit interview with the Man today.

Standard questions. Standard answers.

In any case, it went ok.

That should be good enough.

Now waiting for the last interview with the Man Upstairs.

The News - The Day

A decision is made.

A news is broken.

I will look ahead.

Be it good or bad.

A choice is made.

Yes, I have tendered.

The News - Trailer

Something is going to happen on 1 Sep 08 ...

... It is time ...

Hopefully for the best ...

Work-Life Harmony

We are going to talk about this tomorrow. Basically, what the organisation could do to achieve greater level of work-life harmony.

I don't wish to be a wet blanket.

This could be another lip service exercise.

Franking speaking, helping people to work smarter would probably go a longer way.

Clearer directions => less ding-dongs => issues settled faster => less time spent at work

You get my point.

My Value

I have learnt one thing today. Even though I knew it long ago. But today just makes it more apparent.

I am "valued" when there are urgent tasks to do.

Or at least, to cough out the draft by hook or by crook.

Don't you just hate the feeling of having to rush out stuff within super tight deadlines? And such situation could be avoided if people are willing to plan their work well?

I do. Very much.

Just like the two issues that I was asked to do together with a newbie today. I had long expected that this will happen. And newbie was clever enough to use meeting as an excuse to escape the pressure temporarily.

Sigh.

Grammar Lessons

Folks at my workplace are picky about the level of grammar proficiency lately. It is getting harder to deliver results. Not when you have to spend a fair bit of your time checking whether the choice of word or phrase you used in your work is grammatically correct, on top of presenting your recommendations in a logically and defensible way.

The decree has been so important that we would be quizzed of common usage of phrases or words at each meeting. For instance, what is the difference between a transitive and an intransitive verb? If this is not challenging for you, try explaining the following words:

• Previously vs Earlier
• Presently vs Currently
• Presently vs At Present

For those who are interested to know more about the former quiz, you could visit this website: Review of Transitive and Intransitive Verbs. For the latter quiz, I will update everyone once I am told of the answers by the person who has been tasked to look into it.

Mind Set

I have made up my mind.

First step.

Rotation request put forth.

Yesterday's shelling (and maybe later this afternoon for another round) was the last straw.

Best still, I am now stuck with an issue whom that person should be dealing and I don't have a good answer to the problem created before my time. And the person is now happily watching movie. >:(

Loss of Motivation

I have been wondering lately whether I should take the bold step to improve my current state. I am not someone who complains at every single thing. My tolerance threshold is generally high and I could adapt pretty well to most circumstances. I could even sacrifice my miserable personal time for official things that need to be done.

Lately, the self have changed.

I found myself grumbling more, so much so that sometimes I sort of dislike the self. Nothing seems to interest me too. Not even the K-lessons which I used to enjoy very much. At times, the thought of coming to work irritates me and I could even develop Monday blues three days in advance. At the extreme, I was contemplating to just throw in the white towel or even taking a sip of those medication that could make me sleep better at night.

I have tried to look on the bright side and take things easy. Somehow, somewhat, things and/or people with or without dealings with me just like to cross my path. No matter how hard I steered clear of them.

It is really unfair.

I am not asking for the sky or trying to outdo anyone. They can take the credits all they like. I am just asking for a sense of reasonableness, fairness and justice.

Perhaps the time is not ripe for the retributions.

Or maybe I should just take the bold step now.

Round 2 - Done

Yes! I am done with Round 2.

Yes yes! Boss turned up. No need to find excuse for him.

Triple yes! Buddy forwarded final installment of the itinerary for my trip.

Just need to endure for another 2 weeks. Will hang in there!

Round 1 - Done

It has been a tiring day. Correction. It has been a tiring week.

I am so glad that today's event is finally over. Bosses had kind of left everything to me to ensure that things will be taken care of. Nonetheless, it could be quite a thankless job, compared to those that bosses were involved in this week.

Today's event went pretty well with no technical glitch and the big guy got his opportunity to mingle with almost everyone yet still in time for his meeting with his boss. It was also nice working with the team, especially when everyone had the same objective in mind and adopted a "let's help each other out" mentality.

Anyway, I still invited feedback from two big bosses. One felt that there was room for improvement for the logistics arrangements while the other wanted us to issue a CD capturing today's event to all attendees as a souvenir. The latter arose from a feedback from an attendee and I wasn't given an opportunity to explain to the group that the cameraman was not employed by us but was from the media. And so not to embarrass the big guy in front of everyone, I nodded my head and mentioned that I would follow-up on the feedback. Anyway, we couldn't follow-up on the feedback as the media couldn't sell a copy of its recording to us. Nonetheless, this will be an area of improvement for the next team to look into.

And the interesting part.

Bosses were so busy with their work that they were unable to attend today's event and I had several people asking for their whereabouts. Among them include bosses' bosses. I have to admit that I am pretty good in shielding my bosses. Told bosses' bosses that they were busy looking to the arrangements for the meetings that bosses' bosses would be involved later in the day. Thereafter, quickly sms-ed bosses to update them that their bosses asked for their whereabouts. In case you are wondering. Yes, no word of thanks. But luckily, no scoldings from them. Yet.

In any case, it is over. Round 2 will continue tomorrow. I hope bosses will turn up as their bosses will be there again. I am running out of excuses for their absence.

Ups and Downs

@ 8.48am

An extremely irritating morning to start the day with.

I wouldn't have rebuked the comments if not pushed to the limits.

Someone should just try fronting the matter and see how easy it is to get things done.

How was I supposed to value-add if I don't know what I don't know. And worst still, misinterpreting the policies in the process.

========
@ 4.37pm

At least, there is an interesting email that brightened up the day.

Buddy just updated us that all tours for our trip are settled.

Yeah!

Thankless Job

Lately, I can't help feeling that I might have been doing a thankless job all this while.

People don't give a hoot when nothing happens but offer you a shelling when they received it.

It always amuses me to see them trying their best to make it looks like "It's all your fault for not anticipating and managing the outcome". When you have already anticipated it and highlighted to them earlier on.

At the same time, it perplexes me that they can forget their role in the matter without a sense of guilt. When the shelling is done, they get a third party to find out how you are taking it.

Sometimes I wonder if it is all worth it. On the other hand, it is not a job that could be neglected.

Perhaps they have found a wrong person to do this.

Or I might have been in a wrong fit.

Or maybe my intellect is just so way below them to anticipate/manage the outcome they want.

Change

Change. The process of becoming different.

When an object changes, it always changes in some particular way.

A question then arises. What sort of change happens after the object is destroyed?

Like the ship in the story below.

" In ancient times, there was a ship called the "Theseus". As the years wore on, the Theseus started getting weak and creaky. The old boards were removed, put into a warehouse and replaced with new ones. Then, the masts started tottering. Soon they were also warehoused and replaced. In this way, after fifty years, this ship now has all new boards, masts and everything. "

Is the ship in the harbour now called the "Theseus"?

Few changes have taken place lately. Old folks left and replaced with new ones. For those who left, it is either a case of non-negotiable or self-realisation.

The next level is thinking and already one is leaving. It was not much of the former case and yet not totally the latter. The hints were there.

I have been thinking too. I am not sure if I have read the hints correctly.

I may go down that path.

It is just a matter of timing.

Yours.

And mine.