(Arcade Fire - The Wilderness Downtown)
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Back in TO
(Eminem - Love The Way You Lie)
4:30 am back in TO. Jet lag in full effect right now and I'm watching some youtube videos to pass the time. Sometimes I wonder why I continue to do this. Travelling back and forth between continents for work. If I hear another person say, "you're so lucky to get to travel to exotic places for work!" I'll punch them in the mouth. I know I always have the choice to quit but sometimes it doesn't feel that way. People tend to set a standard for themselves and then they're unwilling to fall back from that standard. You never want to take a step back in anything you're doing. You're either in it to win it, or you fall to the back of the pack. That's the way I feel about my career. It's not that want or need to make more money. It's that I don't want to fall back to where I started. Seeing my friends all graduate and head off to work, while I struggled to find a job was one of the worst times in my life. It's probably this fear of going back there that keeps me going. I hope one day I can overcome that fear and walk away happy with what I've done in my life.
(Eminem - Love The Way You Lie)
4:30 am back in TO. Jet lag in full effect right now and I'm watching some youtube videos to pass the time. Sometimes I wonder why I continue to do this. Travelling back and forth between continents for work. If I hear another person say, "you're so lucky to get to travel to exotic places for work!" I'll punch them in the mouth. I know I always have the choice to quit but sometimes it doesn't feel that way. People tend to set a standard for themselves and then they're unwilling to fall back from that standard. You never want to take a step back in anything you're doing. You're either in it to win it, or you fall to the back of the pack. That's the way I feel about my career. It's not that want or need to make more money. It's that I don't want to fall back to where I started. Seeing my friends all graduate and head off to work, while I struggled to find a job was one of the worst times in my life. It's probably this fear of going back there that keeps me going. I hope one day I can overcome that fear and walk away happy with what I've done in my life.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
More Tidbits from KL
(The Egg - Wall)
In Kuala Lumpur, if I want to buy a shirt that looks like it's been painted on my body, I buy a medium. If I want to buy a slim fit shirt that helps me do a standout robot impression, I get a large.
If I want to buy a regular fitting shirt, I need to go to a "western" store where I would buy a medium.
I feel like a fat westerner here. Which makes me want to get some exercise and lose some weight.
However, no one jogs in Kuala Lumpur. In fact I've been told no one but westerners jog in all of Asia. What is it about Asia that deters jogging? Are people less concerned about physical health/appearance here? Are the streets and sidewalks less safe for joggers? The sidewalks are definitely narrower and more congested. The cars on the street definitely do not give right of way to pedestrians. It's also 40 C here everyday. The gods are definitely conspiring against me getting back in shape.
...
I have a "special" coworker that ranks probably a 15/10 on the scale for unintentional comedy. We attended an awards show for our client's sales force this past weekend. Upon arriving in the grand ballroom that seated over 2000 sales reps I noted how there were bags of balloons in the rafters. I then commented about what time those balloons would be raining down on people. Her comment was this...
"Balloons don't fall down, they go up."
Sometimes I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Here are some famous sayings from her in last 2 trips we've made to KL.
"You should try to see things from a different ankle."
"A hole is a hole, it doesn't matter which one." (while playing pool)
"Maybe I'm just acting dumb."
...
Today a random stranger stopped me in the street and passionately said to me, "you know, you are a very lucky man but you think too much."
Prophecy or just a random crazy stranger? Makes me wonder. My mom also had my fortune told recently on a trip back to Vietnam. She said that the fortune teller told her that I would be very lucky and prosperous in my 30's but there's a risk that I would lose it all in my 40's.
Now I'm not one for destiny and such, as I find destiny just makes people lazy as they wait for their own fate rather than work towards their goals/dreams; however, it still makes me nervous.
...
Late next month, I may be blogging tidbits from Korea while I hunt down Hyori Lee and Yuna Kim.
(The Egg - Wall)
In Kuala Lumpur, if I want to buy a shirt that looks like it's been painted on my body, I buy a medium. If I want to buy a slim fit shirt that helps me do a standout robot impression, I get a large.
If I want to buy a regular fitting shirt, I need to go to a "western" store where I would buy a medium.
I feel like a fat westerner here. Which makes me want to get some exercise and lose some weight.
However, no one jogs in Kuala Lumpur. In fact I've been told no one but westerners jog in all of Asia. What is it about Asia that deters jogging? Are people less concerned about physical health/appearance here? Are the streets and sidewalks less safe for joggers? The sidewalks are definitely narrower and more congested. The cars on the street definitely do not give right of way to pedestrians. It's also 40 C here everyday. The gods are definitely conspiring against me getting back in shape.
...
I have a "special" coworker that ranks probably a 15/10 on the scale for unintentional comedy. We attended an awards show for our client's sales force this past weekend. Upon arriving in the grand ballroom that seated over 2000 sales reps I noted how there were bags of balloons in the rafters. I then commented about what time those balloons would be raining down on people. Her comment was this...
"Balloons don't fall down, they go up."
Sometimes I don't know whether to laugh or cry.
Here are some famous sayings from her in last 2 trips we've made to KL.
"You should try to see things from a different ankle."
"A hole is a hole, it doesn't matter which one." (while playing pool)
"Maybe I'm just acting dumb."
...
Today a random stranger stopped me in the street and passionately said to me, "you know, you are a very lucky man but you think too much."
Prophecy or just a random crazy stranger? Makes me wonder. My mom also had my fortune told recently on a trip back to Vietnam. She said that the fortune teller told her that I would be very lucky and prosperous in my 30's but there's a risk that I would lose it all in my 40's.
Now I'm not one for destiny and such, as I find destiny just makes people lazy as they wait for their own fate rather than work towards their goals/dreams; however, it still makes me nervous.
...
Late next month, I may be blogging tidbits from Korea while I hunt down Hyori Lee and Yuna Kim.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tidbits from KL
(Arrested Development - Mr. Wendal)
This week's theme is GHETTO and I AM OLD. You know what I mean? Holla at yo boy! I've always wanted to say that. I've also wanted to spill a 40 for all the boys I've lost in the hood. To date that number would be zero. Hurry up and die already fools! Sorry, that got dark. I got nothin but mad loves for my peeps!
So I'm in the hood this week. Yup, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Managing my first project. Exciting times I tell you. The only difference I've noticed so far is that I get to boss more people around than I normally do. High five for being bossy. *smack* For realz tho, it's nice to be able to delegate work instead of having work delegated to you. Though I will tell you this, there is legitimately a lot of things to do as a PM. There's a lot more responsibility involved in managing a project than I would've given any PM credit for in the past. It's funny how you actually appreciate what another human being goes through when you walk a mile in their shoes. You so crazy ninja!
Ran into some body/hygiene issues today...
1) I noticed some wrinkles that weren't there before on my forehead this morning. What the hell?? Damn you old age! So I bought a big quicksilver sun hat at lunch to hide it. Problem solved.
2) I also noticed one long nose hair growing out of my right nostril. Unfortunately I left my nose hair trimmers at home and could only find a pair of tweezers in my travel pack. I had to make the tough decision between waiting til I could find a safe pair of scissors or go through the excruciating pain of plucking the offending hair out. Cuz seriously, there's nothing more distracting than when you're talking to someone and their nose hair is waving at you.
3) While plucking the long nose hair out, I noticed a white nose hair. What the hell! Damn you old father time!! I didn't pluck this one out. I'm still waiting to get over the pain of the first pluck. Plus this one isn't waving at anyone.
So about to get ready to go have some dinner with the project team and then we're headed to the sky lounge to have some drinks and get krunked. It's been a long week and I think I deserve it.
Another week before I head back to TO. Can't wait. I miss you crazy cats.
(Arrested Development - Mr. Wendal)
This week's theme is GHETTO and I AM OLD. You know what I mean? Holla at yo boy! I've always wanted to say that. I've also wanted to spill a 40 for all the boys I've lost in the hood. To date that number would be zero. Hurry up and die already fools! Sorry, that got dark. I got nothin but mad loves for my peeps!
So I'm in the hood this week. Yup, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Managing my first project. Exciting times I tell you. The only difference I've noticed so far is that I get to boss more people around than I normally do. High five for being bossy. *smack* For realz tho, it's nice to be able to delegate work instead of having work delegated to you. Though I will tell you this, there is legitimately a lot of things to do as a PM. There's a lot more responsibility involved in managing a project than I would've given any PM credit for in the past. It's funny how you actually appreciate what another human being goes through when you walk a mile in their shoes. You so crazy ninja!
Ran into some body/hygiene issues today...
1) I noticed some wrinkles that weren't there before on my forehead this morning. What the hell?? Damn you old age! So I bought a big quicksilver sun hat at lunch to hide it. Problem solved.
2) I also noticed one long nose hair growing out of my right nostril. Unfortunately I left my nose hair trimmers at home and could only find a pair of tweezers in my travel pack. I had to make the tough decision between waiting til I could find a safe pair of scissors or go through the excruciating pain of plucking the offending hair out. Cuz seriously, there's nothing more distracting than when you're talking to someone and their nose hair is waving at you.
3) While plucking the long nose hair out, I noticed a white nose hair. What the hell! Damn you old father time!! I didn't pluck this one out. I'm still waiting to get over the pain of the first pluck. Plus this one isn't waving at anyone.
So about to get ready to go have some dinner with the project team and then we're headed to the sky lounge to have some drinks and get krunked. It's been a long week and I think I deserve it.
Another week before I head back to TO. Can't wait. I miss you crazy cats.
Friday, August 06, 2010
We've Only Just Begun
(PSB - Being Boring)
She was never bored because she was never boring.
One of my favourite pet shop boys songs is about the ideals that you have when you're younger and how they turn out as you grow older. Kind of interesting to think back to that age and what you thought the world would be when you grew older. How completely naive we were and yet how completely convinced we were that we had a solid grasp of the differences between right and wrong. And then comparing it to what we believe today. For me it's night and day.
Just for a good laugh, I'll tell you this -- at around age 12, I thought I'd wait til I found the right girl and was married before I had sex. By age 16 I had revised this belief to waiting til I was 18, the legal age of sexual consent. I might have made that up. By age 17 I thought, what the heck, I don't have to wait. It was ok because I had met my one true love and would marry her one day. And by age 19 I thought she was a lying, cheating, fat whore. That just got awkward. Some people call me a cautionary tale. :P
So what does it say if the difference in our beliefs is radically different today than what it was back then? Have we grown and matured along with some of our ideals? Have we revised our beliefs to justify our actions? Or have we become jaded and lost hope in those pipe dreams? They're probably all correct for different people or even different points in a person's life. I just find it interesting to chart the natural path of our beliefs and ideals.
Before I get too serious, I'll tell you this. Even though I feel as though I've grown immensely as a person over the years, I really miss being a kid. Kids are highly impressionable which I think is completely to their benefit. Being impressionable means you can easily find inspiration. Being inspired is the first step to finding your passion.
(PSB - Being Boring)
She was never bored because she was never boring.
One of my favourite pet shop boys songs is about the ideals that you have when you're younger and how they turn out as you grow older. Kind of interesting to think back to that age and what you thought the world would be when you grew older. How completely naive we were and yet how completely convinced we were that we had a solid grasp of the differences between right and wrong. And then comparing it to what we believe today. For me it's night and day.
Just for a good laugh, I'll tell you this -- at around age 12, I thought I'd wait til I found the right girl and was married before I had sex. By age 16 I had revised this belief to waiting til I was 18, the legal age of sexual consent. I might have made that up. By age 17 I thought, what the heck, I don't have to wait. It was ok because I had met my one true love and would marry her one day. And by age 19 I thought she was a lying, cheating, fat whore. That just got awkward. Some people call me a cautionary tale. :P
So what does it say if the difference in our beliefs is radically different today than what it was back then? Have we grown and matured along with some of our ideals? Have we revised our beliefs to justify our actions? Or have we become jaded and lost hope in those pipe dreams? They're probably all correct for different people or even different points in a person's life. I just find it interesting to chart the natural path of our beliefs and ideals.
Before I get too serious, I'll tell you this. Even though I feel as though I've grown immensely as a person over the years, I really miss being a kid. Kids are highly impressionable which I think is completely to their benefit. Being impressionable means you can easily find inspiration. Being inspired is the first step to finding your passion.
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