Momentum
(Sara Bareilles - Gravity)
So I've been travelling the last few weeks with a coworker of mine. She's a 27 year old girl who's lived her entire life as mommy and daddy's only child. As you know I have a penchant for being completely filterless (aka tactless), I told her that she lived a sheltered life and called her bubble girl. Now most of you would probably call me mean and I wouldn't blame you. Some of you though, might actually think that I'm trying to be helpful (would like to buy you guys a drink). In actuality it's probably a little of both.
It frustrates me to see people who can't see outside of their own little world. These are the people in arguments who can't see the value of another person's point of view. The people who are convinced that the way they live is the only way to live. These are also the same people who miss out on all the great opportunities life provides us.
If you are not running with your opportunities, then you are not running. Those who don't run quickly find themselves left behind.
It's hard to change, no one disputes that. Working towards change is something everyone struggles with. The attempt to change one's own momentum so that inertia acts in your favour is something I think everyone should be doing. To not even make the attempt is disheartening to me.
Inertia can be your friend or your foe, it really is up to you. If you are in a shitty place and you let inertia weigh you down, then you're giving into your own dispositions. If your relationship is broken, make changes, work on the relationship. If it ultimately does not work, be brave enough to walk away.
If you're in a great place and you're travelling a 100 miles an hour, lose yourself in the moment. Don't let life's worries and stress take it away from you.
As you get older inertia plays a bigger part in holding you back. When you've got a routine going it's really hard to change with all the intertwined responsibilities you've got. At work, at home -- it becomes something so hard to disturb and so difficult to break free of. So when you get the opportunity to change the everyday norm - suit up and gather some speed. Because you'll love the wind in your hair.
Take the opportunity to do something outside your normal routine/comfort zone. Get out. Have fun. Spring is in the air.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
My Life - A Work in Progress
(Dragonette - Pick Up The Phone)
It's been 10 years since I've graduated from university. Can’t help but look back at how awesome this decade has been for me. The two biggest changes in my life? – my career and my wife. I was pretty consumed in university of finding a) my calling; and b) my partner in crime.
Finding your calling is really a smaller subset of figuring out who you are. I used to think the sooner you found yourself, the quicker you'd be able to enjoy your life. So much of defining myself after university was based on figuring out what it was I was good at and how I would make that my career. I spent my entire post secondary education trying to live up to my parents dreams instead of figuring out my own. It wasn't easy but the moment I let go of the notion that I had to follow someone else’s footsteps, I quickly paved my own path. I went back to school, did a post grad in database management and here I am today with a successful career in software and one that even my parents are proud of. Parents want you to succeed and sometimes they think the only way for you to do so is to follow the path they've laid out for you. Well, I’m telling you that you can pave your own path and most of the time this is in line with what your parents want for you. If it isn't, at least you did it on your own terms.
Similarly finding your partner in crime is also reaffirming who you are. If you can find someone who you enjoy spending your time with, who can understand your worries and fears, who can share the things in life you find important, and can share in your dreams -- then you’ve got a great grasp of what are the components of your life that make you happy. That’s you in a nutshell. And all the painful iterations of loving and losing seem all worth it in the end.
It really has been an incredible decade for me.
I’m waiting for someone to interrupt me here and say, “Khiem, I’m happy for you and I’mma let you finish but my decade was the greatest decade of all time. OF ALL TIME!” Anyone?...anyone?...no…I didn’t think so.
(Dragonette - Pick Up The Phone)
It's been 10 years since I've graduated from university. Can’t help but look back at how awesome this decade has been for me. The two biggest changes in my life? – my career and my wife. I was pretty consumed in university of finding a) my calling; and b) my partner in crime.
Finding your calling is really a smaller subset of figuring out who you are. I used to think the sooner you found yourself, the quicker you'd be able to enjoy your life. So much of defining myself after university was based on figuring out what it was I was good at and how I would make that my career. I spent my entire post secondary education trying to live up to my parents dreams instead of figuring out my own. It wasn't easy but the moment I let go of the notion that I had to follow someone else’s footsteps, I quickly paved my own path. I went back to school, did a post grad in database management and here I am today with a successful career in software and one that even my parents are proud of. Parents want you to succeed and sometimes they think the only way for you to do so is to follow the path they've laid out for you. Well, I’m telling you that you can pave your own path and most of the time this is in line with what your parents want for you. If it isn't, at least you did it on your own terms.
Similarly finding your partner in crime is also reaffirming who you are. If you can find someone who you enjoy spending your time with, who can understand your worries and fears, who can share the things in life you find important, and can share in your dreams -- then you’ve got a great grasp of what are the components of your life that make you happy. That’s you in a nutshell. And all the painful iterations of loving and losing seem all worth it in the end.
It really has been an incredible decade for me.
I’m waiting for someone to interrupt me here and say, “Khiem, I’m happy for you and I’mma let you finish but my decade was the greatest decade of all time. OF ALL TIME!” Anyone?...anyone?...no…I didn’t think so.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
(The Stars - Undertow)
Haven't listened to the Sad Robots album by the Stars in awhile. Great album. The irony isn't lost on me because I know a thing or two about being a robot.
Speaking of robots...I wish this robot had some heavy artillery so I could use them to shoot my clients.
While here in Malaysia starting a new project with another client. An old client of mine emailed me this...
Hi,
We need to resolve the issue of transposing the result of “TST298734” - AccountPlan data into 12 columns at the earliest since the natives are getting restless.
We also need to close out the following with your help:
1) TST00073987 - UAT: Query Library Accruals Report Issues --- since this has been tracked for a while. I think the resolution is as easy as checking all components and making sure data comes up.
2) TST00064821 - Formal: ReportsTo Tree --- show how to add people to reports to tree as the Task generation does not add any new payee. Also you cannot create new rules under reports to tree.
Please advise a time that works for this discussion.
Thanks
Client
Now if you're wondering who the natives are -- they're Indians that live off the land AND work for my client.
So here's the typical responses that go back and forth between us...
"I'm not sure I have time to look at these items this week as I'm at a client site and I am 14 hrs ahead from you guys. When do you need these completed?"
"Oh we need this fix by yesterday...we need it urgently for the next release that's happening this week...when can you work on it? You're 14 hrs ahead of us?...then you should be available to do a quick meeting at 7 am your time/5 pm our time right?"
"Ughh...yeah I guess I can be available at 7 am my time for a quick meeting. I can't guarantee I'll have time to work on it this week but I'll see what I can do. If you need this urgently, I would suggest you contact _____ and he can help get a resource to work on this right away."
"Great...and we'll send out a recurring meeting every night at 10 pm your time or 8 am our time to get a status on the progress."
"Ughh...I'm not sure I'll always be available but sure."
"Well we'll schedule it and if you're not available, just let us know and we'll reschedule."
"Sure."
"Great!...Really appreciate your help on this!"
Now this is usually how I get roped into doing an extra 10-15 hrs of work each week at night after I get home from working at my existing client office. And after I complete the items, there's usually a few days silence before I get the next wave of requests the following week. Sometimes I'll if I'm lucky I won't get responses from them for months.
Then 3 months later we'll have this typical exchange...
"We need a fix on this test item because it needs to be completed for our next migration."
"Didn't I fix this 3 months ago?"
"Yes but we just tested it and didn't see any results in the report...it was blank."
"Did you test in DEV or TST?...cuz my fix was in DEV and I told you guys how to migrate it to TST the last time you had an urgent release."
"Ughh...we tested it in TST. Oh we see the results in DEV now. We must have forgot to migrate it last time."
"Wasn't it urgent that it made it into that release 3 months ago?"
"Yes...and it's even more urgent for this phase. Can you help us migrate it?"
This is why I need fricken lazers on my head. FML, I'm going to bed.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Durian Durian - Hungry Like a Wolf
(Paramore - That's What You Get)
I love durian. It's an exotic fruit that smells pungent but has a buttery sweet taste to it. The great thing about Asia is that it's readily available almost anywhere and in many different forms. The bad thing is, even some Asian people can't stand the smell.
Today after lunch I bought some durian mochis and brought them into the client office. Within 2 minutes I had sent half the office scrambling around to find out where the smell was. When they saw me eating the mochis, they looked at me and started to laugh.
I didn't care though. I have no shame.
Since last week I've had the following durian products...
durian mochis, durian ice cream and durian cake...
I wonder if they sell durian body lotion. My skin gets really dry in the winter.
(Paramore - That's What You Get)
I love durian. It's an exotic fruit that smells pungent but has a buttery sweet taste to it. The great thing about Asia is that it's readily available almost anywhere and in many different forms. The bad thing is, even some Asian people can't stand the smell.
Today after lunch I bought some durian mochis and brought them into the client office. Within 2 minutes I had sent half the office scrambling around to find out where the smell was. When they saw me eating the mochis, they looked at me and started to laugh.
I didn't care though. I have no shame.
Since last week I've had the following durian products...
durian mochis, durian ice cream and durian cake...
I wonder if they sell durian body lotion. My skin gets really dry in the winter.
Hello From Malaysia
(The XX - Intro)
So whenever I tell people I'm going to such and such, they're always like, "I'm so jealous!" or "I want your job!" I really have to remind people that work travel != vacation travel. The equation looks a little more like this work travel = working in a building that's located in another city. Sure you're a few steps from enjoying an exotic country but that's like working in an office with a great view of a sunny summer day you can't enjoy. It's one big cock tease. My job is basically learning to cope with blue balls.
Anyhow, I've been in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) since last week for work. I also visited some friends in Singapore this past weekend. Haven't seen much while I've been in either countries but I have enjoyed the food and people here. Some of the things I've eaten...durian mochis, chilli crab, laksa (spicy soup), Singaporean chicken rice and bak kut teh (pork soup).
The general population for both countries is about average looking. The only reason I mention this is because I found Hong Kong surprisingly below average. It's almost like they banished all the ugly people to Hong Kong island. Wait...maybe that's why my work sent me there! Damn them! All kidding aside, after a few weeks in HK, I barely noticed this. When I got back to Toronto though, everyone looked like supermodels.
Back to KL and Singapore -- they love their shopping. There are a ton of huge malls here. All with very couture brands like Chanel, Burberry, Versace, etc. Prices are comparable to N. America with no significant discounts even with the great exchange rate.
So I hear the new George Clooney movie "Up In The Air" is a good representation of my last year of travel. I think I'll have to see this next week when I'm back in Toronto again. I should be grounded for the next few months. It'll be nice to get back to a normal local routine again.
Missing everyone in TO. See you all soon.
(The XX - Intro)
So whenever I tell people I'm going to such and such, they're always like, "I'm so jealous!" or "I want your job!" I really have to remind people that work travel != vacation travel. The equation looks a little more like this work travel = working in a building that's located in another city. Sure you're a few steps from enjoying an exotic country but that's like working in an office with a great view of a sunny summer day you can't enjoy. It's one big cock tease. My job is basically learning to cope with blue balls.
Anyhow, I've been in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) since last week for work. I also visited some friends in Singapore this past weekend. Haven't seen much while I've been in either countries but I have enjoyed the food and people here. Some of the things I've eaten...durian mochis, chilli crab, laksa (spicy soup), Singaporean chicken rice and bak kut teh (pork soup).
The general population for both countries is about average looking. The only reason I mention this is because I found Hong Kong surprisingly below average. It's almost like they banished all the ugly people to Hong Kong island. Wait...maybe that's why my work sent me there! Damn them! All kidding aside, after a few weeks in HK, I barely noticed this. When I got back to Toronto though, everyone looked like supermodels.
Back to KL and Singapore -- they love their shopping. There are a ton of huge malls here. All with very couture brands like Chanel, Burberry, Versace, etc. Prices are comparable to N. America with no significant discounts even with the great exchange rate.
So I hear the new George Clooney movie "Up In The Air" is a good representation of my last year of travel. I think I'll have to see this next week when I'm back in Toronto again. I should be grounded for the next few months. It'll be nice to get back to a normal local routine again.
Missing everyone in TO. See you all soon.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Yesterday Denial
(Owl City - The Saltwater Room)
I used to be in yesterday denial. Yesterday never happened. Today is great. Tomorrow will happen but I’m not sure if it's going to be great or not. I suppose it will probably be better than today, assuming that tomorrow I’m still in yesterday denial.
I have more than a few issues in my past that I totally regret. I know they say you shouldn't have regrets but I challenge you to name one person who's completely regret-free.
I think the reason I have so many regrets is because I've made so many regret-inducing decisions (RIDs). I guess a normal life in general involves a lot of RIDs and one of the goals is to gradually become wiser so that we can get rid of the RIDs in our lives ;) That or make enough good decisions to offset them. Either way I'm nowhere near as wise as I should be and I'm nowhere near regret-free. Though I have made good decisions recently. If all goes to plan somewhere down the road I'll be enjoying memories from the past instead of denying them.
I hope you're a part of those enjoyable memories.
(Owl City - The Saltwater Room)
I used to be in yesterday denial. Yesterday never happened. Today is great. Tomorrow will happen but I’m not sure if it's going to be great or not. I suppose it will probably be better than today, assuming that tomorrow I’m still in yesterday denial.
I have more than a few issues in my past that I totally regret. I know they say you shouldn't have regrets but I challenge you to name one person who's completely regret-free.
I think the reason I have so many regrets is because I've made so many regret-inducing decisions (RIDs). I guess a normal life in general involves a lot of RIDs and one of the goals is to gradually become wiser so that we can get rid of the RIDs in our lives ;) That or make enough good decisions to offset them. Either way I'm nowhere near as wise as I should be and I'm nowhere near regret-free. Though I have made good decisions recently. If all goes to plan somewhere down the road I'll be enjoying memories from the past instead of denying them.
I hope you're a part of those enjoyable memories.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Shanghai Surprise
(Blonde Redhead - 23)
You never know what you'll find in foreign lands. I found this on Absolutely Fobulous.
Great conversation piece...as is evident from the following...
Khiem: I wish I found this before you guys got married...I would've got this for you as a wedding gift!
Friend: she's on travel but I suppose i can still use it for personal use
jeez...4-6 weeks delivery. patience is a virtue...how ironic
Khiem: well before you couldn't wait to lose your virginity...now you have to wait to get it back...sounds fair to me.
Friend: i don't actually understand what you're supposed to do with this thing
Khiem: I'd like to help you out there
but it's a bit graphic for this time of day
Friend: the thing looks like a rorshach ink tests or something
i think i see fallopian tubes
Khiem: you are really examining this thing aren't you?
Friend: i've saved it to my desktop
why do you ask?
Khiem: why stop there...this would be great on a christmas card
I couldn't look at it for more than 5 sec
Friend: hey, great idea. my wedding thank you cards are still on the 'to do' list
Khiem: awesome...nothing says thank you like a hymen
Friend: correction, nothing says thank you like a broken hymen
this is interesting. did you click the link the company site?
it says the package contains 2 x artificial hymen
obviously, we know why you would need 1
but the second one seems, i dunno, superfluous
Khiem: in these parts of the world...you might have 2 wives
Friend: we can split the costs..in?
$15, that's a fair price
Khiem: just becareful cutting the package in half...I want my hymen intact
Friend: damn, too bad you didn't find this thing earlier. we just missed halloween
Khiem: it's never too late for a costume party
you could go as a virgin magnet or a de-virginizer and just have a few of those sewn on your shirt
Friend: costume party? i was going to drop it in the kids' loot bag
that was too much. i don't feel good about that last joke
Khiem: the kids are much more mature these days
if you decide to get this...just make sure the wife is not using it when she goes horseback riding
I hear you can lose it that way
or riding a tractor
Friend: you are right:
Main causes of hymen tore or break:
* Strenuous exercise (Gymnastics, sports, martial art, horse riding, etc)
* Premarital Sex
* Childhood accident (Hard object)
* Wearing a tampon for the first tim
from the website
Khiem: you really thought I was making that up?
I'm not the boy that cried broken hymen
Friend: loved that story, can't wait for them to make the movie
Khiem: they're rating PG-13
like I said...kids are much more mature these days
Friend: the product description for this thing is fascinating
there are so many spelling mistakes
and the grammar...my goodness
my favourite line: The artificial hymen will melt inside the vagina so will not fall out
Khiem: at least it doesn't say "it melts in your mouth, not in your hands"
Friend: Hymen-M's
Khiem: Wow...we might be taking this too far...
Friend: That boat passed awhile back.
Khiem: The little man in the boat passed awhile back.
(Blonde Redhead - 23)
You never know what you'll find in foreign lands. I found this on Absolutely Fobulous.
Great conversation piece...as is evident from the following...
Khiem: I wish I found this before you guys got married...I would've got this for you as a wedding gift!
Friend: she's on travel but I suppose i can still use it for personal use
jeez...4-6 weeks delivery. patience is a virtue...how ironic
Khiem: well before you couldn't wait to lose your virginity...now you have to wait to get it back...sounds fair to me.
Friend: i don't actually understand what you're supposed to do with this thing
Khiem: I'd like to help you out there
but it's a bit graphic for this time of day
Friend: the thing looks like a rorshach ink tests or something
i think i see fallopian tubes
Khiem: you are really examining this thing aren't you?
Friend: i've saved it to my desktop
why do you ask?
Khiem: why stop there...this would be great on a christmas card
I couldn't look at it for more than 5 sec
Friend: hey, great idea. my wedding thank you cards are still on the 'to do' list
Khiem: awesome...nothing says thank you like a hymen
Friend: correction, nothing says thank you like a broken hymen
this is interesting. did you click the link the company site?
it says the package contains 2 x artificial hymen
obviously, we know why you would need 1
but the second one seems, i dunno, superfluous
Khiem: in these parts of the world...you might have 2 wives
Friend: we can split the costs..in?
$15, that's a fair price
Khiem: just becareful cutting the package in half...I want my hymen intact
Friend: damn, too bad you didn't find this thing earlier. we just missed halloween
Khiem: it's never too late for a costume party
you could go as a virgin magnet or a de-virginizer and just have a few of those sewn on your shirt
Friend: costume party? i was going to drop it in the kids' loot bag
that was too much. i don't feel good about that last joke
Khiem: the kids are much more mature these days
if you decide to get this...just make sure the wife is not using it when she goes horseback riding
I hear you can lose it that way
or riding a tractor
Friend: you are right:
Main causes of hymen tore or break:
* Strenuous exercise (Gymnastics, sports, martial art, horse riding, etc)
* Premarital Sex
* Childhood accident (Hard object)
* Wearing a tampon for the first tim
from the website
Khiem: you really thought I was making that up?
I'm not the boy that cried broken hymen
Friend: loved that story, can't wait for them to make the movie
Khiem: they're rating PG-13
like I said...kids are much more mature these days
Friend: the product description for this thing is fascinating
there are so many spelling mistakes
and the grammar...my goodness
my favourite line: The artificial hymen will melt inside the vagina so will not fall out
Khiem: at least it doesn't say "it melts in your mouth, not in your hands"
Friend: Hymen-M's
Khiem: Wow...we might be taking this too far...
Friend: That boat passed awhile back.
Khiem: The little man in the boat passed awhile back.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Halloween Pictures
(Monster Mash)
So I'm up at 4 am in HK. Jet lag still hasn't subsided. Here are some picture from the Halloween party.
The rest of the picture can be seen here...
i am stanadian
(Monster Mash)
So I'm up at 4 am in HK. Jet lag still hasn't subsided. Here are some picture from the Halloween party.
The rest of the picture can be seen here...
i am stanadian
Monday, November 02, 2009
faster than we thought we'd go
(Smashing Pumpkins - 1979)
This song always reminds me of driving around the neighborhood during my teenage years with the window down, the music blasting and my head stuck out the window. That's the key to a great song. It captures a period in time and brings back waves of memories you would have never remembered on your own.
So I'm back in the Honger. I mean Hong Kong. Day 1 of 25. It's gonna be a long month for me. This will be the longest I've been away from my family and friends since the early 2000's when I moved to Virginia to live with uncle. Luckily Sonia is flying down to visit in 9 days. Something to look forward to. I do have some friends in the area as well so it'll be nice to catch up with them.
Saturday was the Halloween party and SD and I dressed up as Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon. I'll have to upload those pictures some time in the next week. Was a fun party but definitely felt rushed since I had to wake up the next morning and pack to leave. I really need to learn to cherish those times a little more. Live in the moment and not the future so much. I don't mind living in the past so much since reflection never hurt anyone. That is as long as you don't reflect and regret so much.
Sunday I got on the plane and bumped into Irene. She's here for work as well and she does this trip every other month she says. Is this the trend of our generation or is this just a trend within my circle of friends? It seems we're all jetsetting all over the world for work. I don't remember my parents ever traveling for work. Then again, they were never in technology/business. They were also married with children at a much younger age. My generation is all about career first, family second.
So if you're ever on a plane full of old Chinese people, try not to freak out at the really odd behaviour and poor manners. This one old guy kept leaning up and rubbing his groin against my shoulder as he got things out of the overhead compartments. He did this about 5 times during the flight and not once did he say "excuse me". There was also this lady in one of those face masks who kept getting up in the aisle near my seat and doing stretches for 10 minutes at a time. I'm sorry lady, it's not a pilates class. When we landed, I think I opened the door for at least 5 people at the airport and hotel and not a single thank you. Such a culture shock for me but I'm learning to deal with it one awkward moment at a time.
I just hit the 7/11 here to stock up on snacks and supplies. There's a 7/11 on every corner and they're very convenient. Especially convenient for a jetlagged North American who just woke up from a 5 hr nap in the evening. The terriyaki chicken with cucumbers and instant noodles definitely hit the spot. Now time to do some reading and back to sleep so I can be semi-conscious in front of the client tomorrow.
Good afternoon N. America.
(Smashing Pumpkins - 1979)
This song always reminds me of driving around the neighborhood during my teenage years with the window down, the music blasting and my head stuck out the window. That's the key to a great song. It captures a period in time and brings back waves of memories you would have never remembered on your own.
So I'm back in the Honger. I mean Hong Kong. Day 1 of 25. It's gonna be a long month for me. This will be the longest I've been away from my family and friends since the early 2000's when I moved to Virginia to live with uncle. Luckily Sonia is flying down to visit in 9 days. Something to look forward to. I do have some friends in the area as well so it'll be nice to catch up with them.
Saturday was the Halloween party and SD and I dressed up as Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon. I'll have to upload those pictures some time in the next week. Was a fun party but definitely felt rushed since I had to wake up the next morning and pack to leave. I really need to learn to cherish those times a little more. Live in the moment and not the future so much. I don't mind living in the past so much since reflection never hurt anyone. That is as long as you don't reflect and regret so much.
Sunday I got on the plane and bumped into Irene. She's here for work as well and she does this trip every other month she says. Is this the trend of our generation or is this just a trend within my circle of friends? It seems we're all jetsetting all over the world for work. I don't remember my parents ever traveling for work. Then again, they were never in technology/business. They were also married with children at a much younger age. My generation is all about career first, family second.
So if you're ever on a plane full of old Chinese people, try not to freak out at the really odd behaviour and poor manners. This one old guy kept leaning up and rubbing his groin against my shoulder as he got things out of the overhead compartments. He did this about 5 times during the flight and not once did he say "excuse me". There was also this lady in one of those face masks who kept getting up in the aisle near my seat and doing stretches for 10 minutes at a time. I'm sorry lady, it's not a pilates class. When we landed, I think I opened the door for at least 5 people at the airport and hotel and not a single thank you. Such a culture shock for me but I'm learning to deal with it one awkward moment at a time.
I just hit the 7/11 here to stock up on snacks and supplies. There's a 7/11 on every corner and they're very convenient. Especially convenient for a jetlagged North American who just woke up from a 5 hr nap in the evening. The terriyaki chicken with cucumbers and instant noodles definitely hit the spot. Now time to do some reading and back to sleep so I can be semi-conscious in front of the client tomorrow.
Good afternoon N. America.
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