I think one of the problems that my boss & I face is walking the fine line between work & play. I believe that one of the issues lie in the fact that we do work on a global scale. Therefore, even though we're already off the clock locally, the day's just begun somewhere else. This is exceptionally bad for him and to a lesser degree, me. Right now, I'm waiting for a conference call to start later tonight. And yes, so much so that when I know I need to deal with global projects, I shelf my personal life. Which I can because unlike my boss, I'm not married. Every day at 7pm, my boss gets a call from his wife and that's his cue to quickly pack up and leave the office for dinner with his wife. I think that's sweet and from seeing him the whole day in office, I know a giant effort on his part.

I guess because I don't have the ball & chain, I don't have that restraint. I don't have that governance. I just work as I please. So much so that our tag life is 'go have a life'. Even though by most appearances, we don't. So whenever I can I do try to schedule my 'life' between work. So I try to complete something, then go off for some downtime, then come back to work again. If anyone asks me why I don't keep 9-6 hrs in office, I dare them to try and make me comply. See how much work ends up being shelved. I think everyone knows and would rather let me work my own hours. So I get left alone.

So in a bid to have a life, I went off for a movie last fri. The location was this relatively new cinema near my place. In a bid to try to be more adventurous, my friend suggested we go there instead of our usual haunt. So we drove there and amidst the terrible signage, we managed to find the carpark entrance and were surrounded by what can only be described as erm, modified cars with their 'bodyart'. (I'm being very pc here)

We walk in the place and I take in the general crowd demographic. Right, so this is where all the people we don't usually hang out with hang out. We stuck out like sore thumbs. So I go buy the ticket at the box office and the gal who hands me the tix reminds me gently that the show I'm watching is for those above 16. Erm, ok, thanks? I didn't know that my dressing was so casual that I was mistaken for a 15 yr old...

So we got our snack and walked into the theatre to be hit by what can only be described as the smell of feet. Yes, feet. It smelt like musty feet came to die in there. Really eww... Believe it or not, halfway through the show? I still could smell the feet... Best words that heard all night was when my friend leaned over and whispered the magic words into my ears 'we're not coming here again'. Thank you!

Anyway, it was an interesting experience that I guess gave us a few hrs of entertainment before she went home to sleep and I went back to work. ®

I'm so tired that I can barely think at the moment. The only thought going through my head is 'do I really need to go into the office today?' Reason for this? I've woken up at 5plus to prepare for a 6am & 7am call yesterday morning. And this morning I'm also up at 6 because they've arranged a 7am call again. All I can say if thank God it's already friday!

All throughout yesterday I was walking around like a zombie, so much that by 2pm, I could not function anymore. Yes, I'm not a morning person. I'll rather take 3am calls then wake up at 6. Anyway, one of my colleagues told me that she was surprised to even see me in the office. Truth of the matter is that I can really work from anywhere with a broadband connection & a mobile network. So I'm hearing for not the first time that I could have chosen to work from home. Yes, I know that...

I think I might do just that today and crawl back to sleep until about 9-ish before I start working again. I need to get something out by 11pm tonight and I'm only going to get it after 6pm today. Damn, why did I give them until COB?

Ok, just for laughs since it is a friday afterall. I was doing some testing on one of the systems that another region has already rolled out and this is live data by the way. A person by the name of 'B.Smiley' submitted an entry. His parents sure have a sense of humour. Ha... ®

It's been a strange couple of weeks for me. The couple of projects I'm working on, requires me to work with people in different timezones. To be honest, I barely or don't actually work with anyone in my timezone currently. And it sort of sucks and screws up my bodyclock. My busiest time of the day? Between 3-7pm & 11-1am. I'm just clearing emails in the morning when I walk in. Come about lunchtime to after lunch, I just sit there, desperately trying not to fall asleep.

But you know what, I'm sort of bored. I want to tell my manager that I have extra bandwidth, but after hearing what he's currently doing, I hesitate. He's currently working on some marketing collateral for our new range of solutions. Not exactly something I'm dying to work on. But it's definitely something up his alley. I prefer the practical work, he prefers the paper work.

Anyway, we're in the final phases of trying to roll out the new solutions and we had a quick chat. Especially seeing as the boss was just in town last week. Apparently, corporate is looking to expand our department. By department I'm talking globally. I think currently there're less than 10 of us in the department. So each region is looking to add staff to the team. For some reason, instead of felling thrilled, I'm a little worried. If I'm bored now, then what will it be like when there's someone else to spilt the load? I'll be fast asleep at my desk!

So anyway, a couple of questions just come to my mind. Humour me if I sound totally self absorbed. It is afterall my career I'm talking about. Firstly, is this person going to be on the same level as me or am I going to have a new boss? I see my colleague's new boss and I'm a little worried if I'm getting a new boss. I like the independence that I'm getting from my manager currently. This suits my working style completely and it suits him not to have to babysit anyone. What if my new boss requires me to babysit him?

Secondly, does this mean that I'm getting promoted? Which ultimately links back to point 1 if I am not. Thirdly, who gets what project? Who gets the regional projects and who gets the global ones? I'm obviously more keen on the global ones, great for building up my portfolio. If I don't get promoted that's fine with me. But if someone new comes in to be my new boss, I'll admit I will have an issue with that as I would have to end up teaching my boss the ropes. I know I need to grow up. But I need to get promoted too...

So essentially, I am less than pleased about new arrivals. I guess until I know what's going to happen to me. Uncertainty breeds insecurity. But yet I guess it means I need to work harder. Bye bye sleep... ®

Hello, gorgeous!

(Your pick whether I'm talking about the dog or the phone) Ha. ®

This must be a good time for lovers or it's simply that time in your life. I've just had the pleasure of being informed that another friend of mine is getting married. And the running count is? 5. 1 more this year (that I know of) and 4 next year. Wow. I have to say it does seem like a lot. Yet another one is 'growing up' and settling down.

To just recall the antics that we all used to get up to. Just imaging them settled down as wives. I still can't see that. But no, still don't feel any pressure. Still cool. Like cucumber... But prettier (lol...) It does actually begin to feel like, well, shit someone's got to say it. We're getting old, ok wiser.

I guess things just can't stay the same forever. That's how everything gets stale. Life's about moving on, progressing. But it also takes courage to move forwards. Too often it's just so easy to sit there and become stagnant because it's comfortable. But the greatest joy is found by moving ahead and finding joy in the unfamiliar, making something out of it. ®

I'm in love again.

Isn't it gorgeous? Can't wait to get my hands on it. ®

After a long dreary season of clothes that suck, the spring/ summer collections are finally out in stores. And I've just done my part to stimulate the economy and will be surviving on water and air for the rest of the month. What have I bought? Erm, stuff?

Somehow, autumn/ winter collections really aren't that great if you can't buy them and wear them without looking absolutely stupid. Did I mention that it's so bloody hot now? All I have to do now is to wait for the spring/ summer end of season sale then my wardrobe will be complete. I think between my mom & I, my dad has resigned himself that we need all these clothes. And I've conditioned him not to wash any clothes until it's all be separated and packed neatly into their nets. Or to wait for me to wash it. Last time he washed, I lost a white top and gained a green one. Rather have the white top.

On a sadder note, I can't buy anymore shoes. Even though I've found the perfect silver one to match my new silver dress. I've maxed out shoe closet space. As in, no more space and I've been slowly migrating my dad out of the closet. Really, this wouldn't be a problem if he hadn't put his foot down and stopped us from buying a bigger shoe closet. Isn't the solution to no more space to add space? I'm telling myself that the hot silver shoes need to be higher if I'm going to wear them for dinners. You know, look taller.

It's social season again, now that it's sort of a lull for me at work. I've watched all the movies I want to and I'm meeting up with everyone I've neglected for a while. If I've missed anyone out, then give me a ring, we should do dinner sometime. Especially if like me, you have cravings for a certain pizza & chicken wings & some ice cold beer? That would be just perfect after a day at work. ®

Yes, I know. I just came back from one. But surely you cannot have enough vacations? Ok so just a little recap. The vacation was perfect. Just what I needed at just the right time. Only wish? I wish I wasn't sick on my vacation. Good thing, it was just a cough & sore throat. I really didn't need my voice especially when I couldn't speak the language right? So what did we do? Nothing tourisy. All we did was shop and shop & eat. My idea of a perfect vacation. So at the moment, I am very 'shopped-out'. I never thought I would say this, but I'm not keen on shopping at the moment. As soon as I get my ballet flats, I'm done. Honestly.

Oh, I have to say this. The highlight of my vacation was when we accidentally caught the Olympic torch relay! Yes! We were looking for the restaurant for our lunch when we were met with road blocks. We just kept getting stuck on the opposite side of our restaurant. Until we saw the red t-shirts and tv cameras. I think we were really in the right place at the right time. I managed to catch the passing of the olympic torch from 1 runner to the next all on video! Definitely highlight of the trip.

So basically it was the perfect weekend. Even the weather was perfect. It was neither hot nor cold. Just cool and balmy. Yes, now you see why I need another vacation? And on monday what did I come back to? Well, I cheated. I started checking my emails on sunday nite. I just couldn't stay away. So all issues were attended to before the week started. I think I might just have a problem with work. I can't stop thinking about it. I need another vacation to take my mind off it! ®

The big project that I have been working on for the past couple of months has finally launched this evening. I should be jumping for joy and be extremely excited. Yet, we have a call with the client early tomorrow morning and it's not a 'congrats you've done a good job' call. We're going in with full armour because we're just going into battle. In a nutshell? Client's asking for more than they paid for. We foresee problems and we want to cover our ass, the client doesn't want us to cover our ass.

This past month has been crazy especially last week. On average, I worked till 12plus sometimes 2 every night. I'm extremely exhausted. I miss my friends and I miss my free time. I've been working weekends too but fortunately it's from home so I have some flexibility with my time. But still, I'm really tired. The one thing that's been keeping me sane through the madness? My upcoming vacation! Of course the little pampering treats like my pedi's help keep me sane.

I'm so looking forward to my vacation next week. It's a 3 nights trip with 3 old friends. It's going to be interesting. One wish? I wish we were going somewhere cold. It's insanely hot here at the moment. I need my fix of coldness. I should start planning my next vacation!

Anyway, after this project, it's the post morteum. I guess this is where all the hindsight comes in. I don't think after so many deployment issues my manager is going to let things just slide. But to be fair, it's problems from both sides that have caused this problem. But being project lead, I guess I have a lot to account for. Sigh. ®