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| I know I should start writing again. And drawing, and training seriously and all that good stuff, but alas, the lazy bone of an inherent gamer always gets in the way. Sometimes I come home and all I can stand to do is watch anime, read a bit and surf Facebook. Yes, I'm hooked on Facebook and there's not a damn thing I can do or want to do about it. And I will admit to that!
But, all kidding aside, here are some of the highlights of the past couple months.
Work:
It has been quite a ride, let me tell you. First I traveled to Edmonton, then to Toronto for business trips and during those trips, I learned alot about myself. I learned that I was ready to be on my own, to take care of myself. I learned more about the serious fighter in me. You know how the Art of War can be applied to business? Same sort of thing. In the corporate world, I can no longer afford to be that young grasshopper anymore, especially as I just reached my one year mark and alot of newbies actually do look to me for some example or guidance. Time to tighten my skills and stop joking around so much. Time to be more philosophical about my actions, to put more thought in the team's development as a whole and to examine my own career path. Time to build that business network, to truly live and breathe the team's methodology of using technology to leverage the business. Time to stop being an obedient code monkey but instead, to stop and analyse the business as a whole and do what's right for the company, not for that particular business unit.
You get my point.
So lately, I've become more focused, more of a corporate whore, if you will, learning the ropes of playing political games when that needs to be done, cutting to the heart of the matter when appropriate. I'm not quite there yet, but I think I'm well on my way. Many of my coworkers, including my manager, have commented that I have seemed to...well...matured. I guess a huge pay raise also reflects that.
All in all though, I think I've done some pretty amazing things career-wise in the past year and have changed alot. In partnership of one of my closest friends now at the moment, I pulled off launching a part of the largest project of its kind in Canada. I've fixed over 100 bugs, I've gone around establishing partnerships with old "enemies" of the team, if you will. Learned and taught. Started a marketing campaign for our team. Tried my best to help other people be their best. There has been ups and downs, don't get me wrong, but at the end of the day, I do have a huge sense of achievement and a better sense of self as well.
Aikido:
Yes I'm still training, though less frequently than I had hoped. Sensei is being tougher on me, more and more picky with what I do and demanding everything to be done faster and faster. And you know what? Despite occasional fear and frustration, I'm loving every bit of it. There's nothing more fulfilling than having control over your body, of getting just to that peak of excitement. And end of the year perhaps, I will have practiced enough to earn my black belt, hopefully. My skill level is not there yet, but hopefully at some point, there will be a light bulb that turns on for my muscle memory. I've seen that happen to other people before their black belt test.
I'm not going to worry too much about it though and just take it lesson by lesson.
Relationship:
Yes I am currently in a relationship with someone pretty cool. He's someone I knew for years but never quite grew close to until approximately this time last year. We're pretty different people, with interests in very different things, but we have some commonalities as well. The relationship is not all sweet roses, far from it. We have our own issues, our own things to deal with, but we always talk it out, we're straight forward with each other, and we set all expectations from the get-go. The thing I appreciate from him the most is his honesty, even when he knew it's not things I want to hear. Maybe that's why so far, it's worked out. All I can say though is one day at a time, and let's see where the road takes us.
Family:
Things as always, have been lots of ups and downs. Most notably though, unfortunately, is my grandpa's declining health. He just came back from the hospital recently, but seeing his CT scan was very frightening, especially when some vessels were clogged up to 90%. He is very depressed but there is little we can do to cheer him up. I wish there was more, but sometimes, whn you reach a certain age, there are certain inevitabilities that one just has to accept.
So you can see and hopefully forgive why I do not write as often. I can no longer promise anything, just that I will go where the roads take me.
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| I know I've always been the type to work alot. I know I've always had a heavy sense of responsibility with school, and now work. But it's really sad when the newbie, after meeting me one day, already calls me a workholic. le sigh!
It's not that I love work. I enjoy it, but I don't want to be married to it. Dan H puts it perfectly though. "You tend to take on too much." And that's true. Well, not exactly. I can say no, but I want to get involved in everything. Everything looks interesting and I don't want to miss out. Maybe it's my dabbler nature. Besides, work is the most important thing in my life right now, the area I truly want to concentrate on.
Still, I know I am breaking down more often than not, with my maturity level decreasing to that of a 10 years old at work. Not professional, not good. It's why everyone, including my manager and the directors, are insisting that I take this weekend off. But unfortunately, because I have aikido (which I haven't gone to as often as I'd like due to over time and business trips) and acupunture, going away is out of the question.
On the bright side, the money is nice. Very nice. I just got a brand new computer, Navi. Beautiful thing, 22inch wide screen, dual core, Vista Home Premium, and the most gorgeous video card, a GeForce 7500. Guild Wars and Second Life actually works without much lag now. I can actually kill monsters and not have to wait 5 mins for the textures to rez. It's beautiful, and what's more, for the first time, it's a machine in my room where I can work with the sun coming through the windows instead of being holed up in the basement. And this is my place, my sanctuary.
So, what else is up with me? Dating casually, nothing serious. But being the "muffin" I am, it's hard to keep my feelings casual and it's something I have to work at every day. Still, I know that the guy I'm dating and I, like he said, will go down very different paths in this life, so what ever we have this moment is okay.
Besides that, and work and aikido (where sensei keeps calling me and senpai "black belt candidates"), that's pretty much my life. I'd like to do more though. Draw again, write again, play with Photoshop for fun, wander around the city more. Just slow life down a little and enjoy the sakura blossoms.
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| So I'm stuck here on a Friday evening instead of going up clubbing or catching a movie (the one I really want to watch is 300) or even having the regular bubble tea. Why you might ask? I'm part of the big launch of one of the biggest projects in the telecom industry. Wheeee....
Alot of it is waiting around, calling into the conference bridge and giving updates. Most of the initial work is done already, but there's always a few bumps along the way and sometimes there's not much you can do about those bumps but call in what you hope to be the right people who can help. Fingers crossed.
So I'm chilling at my project lead's home, waiting around, half falling asleep, drinking 7up in a last attempt to stay awake. It's quite a challenge as you can tell, this post has no structure whatsoever and is just mostly ranting. Still, I suppose being part of a project this big can be exciting..that is if you're not on an empty stomach and half falling asleep already.
Don't let the complaints fool you though. Things have been good, really good. Work is the usual of course, with the peak of some crazy hours. I've stopped aikido for two weeks though because of OT and because of some pain in the joints after the last accupuncture. Other than that, it's been alot of hanging out whenever possible. So yeah, things are good.
Okay, on to actually working once more! | | |
| My knees (as well as my elbows and back) has been getting progressively worse lately, due to my continual abuse of them through martial arts and occasional snowboarding. So, after much 'encouragement' (consisting of threats and taunts from Boss Chris), I finally went to see an accupuncturist. The first time, in December, did me wonders. I was able to go through my entire X'mas trip without much hurting. But when I came back, it got worse again so I've been to see Dr. Ed consistently. Mostly, I think it's because I'm learning how to walk in heels lately and my balance is not quite right. Anyhow, I had 7 needles in each knee today plus one at the inside of my ankle.
 
For those that have never had accupunture, I can assure you that it doesn't actually hurt. There may be a bit of prinkling pain if you have sensitive skin like I do, but mostly, it doesn't actualy hurt. Instead, if done right, you would sense a kind of current running up or down the area, and a general stiffness, tightness or even numbness. When the needle stimulates the spot, your muscles begin to tense up like crazy. It's really quite a thing to experience, to feel as though electricity is going through you though, in my case, there is no electricity involved.
What else have I been doing in my spare time? I've been shopping and buying too much lately. My credit card bills give me heart attacks now so I have to really cut back on my spendings. Sometimes, I think to myself "I work so hard, I deserve something" and especially with the recent events, I definitely want to pamper myself. Dangerous path to go down! Then the little devil in me goes "but I need work cloths!" It's all quite an internal controversy.
As for work, this week has been a hell week. I broke a program by accident and it took ages to fix it because I had no idea what it was supposed to look like. Let me give a warning to all. When you leave a job, make sure before you leave, you clean up after yourself. Make sure that you make things tidy so that the person that takes over your job would have an easier time and not end up wanting to shoot you. Because that's precisely what happened to me and how I feel even now.
To a developer, that means make sure all your code is checked in, and that what you checked in actually compiles and works and matches the version on the production site. If not, detail exactly what changed and make sure you have a back up that the new person can roll back to.
Okay, done my work rant now. Other than that, all is good, I suppose. Over and out.
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| Awww guys, I feel so loved.
Yes, I learn to not have such a big ego with dogs anymore. Just an update. Under the persuassion of my coworkers, I went to see the doctor just in case and got a shot to prevent infection. My arm still feels like it got punched hard, but all in all, all's well that ends well. Now let's hope that Aikido doesn't kill that arm again.
Yesh, we may be looking at a small trip next year to go train! Exciting! Michelle (my kohai) and I are talking about making a trip next year. I feel better if I'm going with someone else so that we can both be clueless with the language together! Mom's not so eager about letting me go because of the old Japanese men syndromn, but I shall wear her down a little, bit by bit.
Seattle on Saturday was super fun though exhausting. We went first to the beach where I satisfied my oyster cravings (though I'm still craving an actual oyster burger.) Then we headed over to Pioneer Square where we first wandered then took the underground tour where we learned about the history of Seattle. It was quite an interesting story and the guides were very entertaining. Lots of jabs about Tacoma though which was funny in itself.
Next, we headed over to Belluveu Mall where we met up with Boss Chris' friends and hanged out for a bit. Shopping at Hollister was quite disappointing as everything was too small for me, but I did end up buying a beautiful necklace that makes me look like an elf now. It's a single green tinted piece of metal shaped to be like a leaf, hanging around a brown cord. The most beautiful thing and probably one of the more expensive pieces of jewelry I ever owned, but I'm pretty sure I don't regret it. I was attracted to it when I first saw it at Pioneer Square and then again at the mall. Connie said I would have regretted it if I didn't get it and Boss Chris said it was fate, so ah, what the hell, right? I can afford to splurge just a little. I'll include a picture later.
Which reminds me. I did splurge on another item which is a lolita goth dress that I bought on Ebay and had it custom made. It's the most beautiful thing and I will be wearing it on Halloween for sure. Here's two photos of it:
 
As you can sort of tell from the blurry pictures, the dress is quite elaborate. There are actually three layers to the skirt to make it that puffy and the bow is actually premade already and the sleeves are stenciled with white and black butterflies. The dress cost about $140 but you can sort of tell why it costs that much.
Sunday was spent doing some work and lounging around, gaming back on Furc a little and just watching anime. Finally, the last episode of Blood+ finished and it was so fan gratifying. I am well satisfied and practically cheered in glee when they decided to use the first opening song with a new sequence. I woke up humming to that song but will refrain from talking about all the other parts I cheered at in case I spoil anything for anyone.
That's about it for now I suppose! And yes Phoenix, let's do lunch some time this week.
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