Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The one where I felt out of my league

Can't believe that's my title today. And amazingly it has nothing to do with girls.
So before my official move, I spend my afternoon trying to learn the trade at my new desk. Theoretically I think I can pull it off. But practically I have no bloody idea what I'm doing. Really felt out of my league there. Anyways, all this I will have to learn and pick up as I go along. Its like I said in the earlier post, I'm a rookie again.
As for fitting in, I think I will just have to adapt. Here I know my witty one-liners and jokes would not be appreciated. Would probably fall on deaf ears. As my current colleagues pointed out earlier, this will be the last days you get to tell your jokes to people who actually listen. Yes, its a totally different group of people. Just hope I won't go nuts to bonkers, but I guess weekly karaoke sessions are in order to de-stress.
One thing I learn about my new team, I can't trust anyone. Currently market is not really moving, so they are nice and teaching me what I need to know. But once market moves, it will be a mad gold rush just to reach profit targets. So I need to let loose a ruthless killer instinct which I know is in me, somewhere. But as a friend once said, "keep your friends close, but your enemies dead".
I think soon I really have to keep my head up with a whole lot of positive motivations.


Monday, July 28, 2008

The one with the Monday

Another Monday, another excuse to be the tabby fat cat.
Anyways, a continuation from my last post, I've decided to take the offer to move to another desk. I tried to look at the positives. Try to make the best of it. It would be a definite boost in my career. in terms of value. I would learn something new. I'm playing a whole different ball game now. Suddenly I feel like a rookie trying to make a name for myself. I know I will struggle in the beginning, but I've been through it before. I think I turned out alright. If not, well maybe I can test if man can truly fly.
And tomorrow is another day.

Friday, July 25, 2008

The one with what next?

Thank Go its Flyday. Another crazy week has gone by.Glad to see the end of it. Even though its just for a couple of days before it starts again.
First of all, just want to mention, I've watched the Dark Knight three times already.
So back to the topic at hand. Went for a mini-informal-interview a couple of days ago. Same job, same market except it's a new place and have to build up from scratch. Meaning establishing lines, networks and client base. A former colleague also went for the same interview earlier and we both agreed that we need each other on this. Because there is no way we can pull this off on our own. So far nothing has develop since.
Yesterday, I was offered an opportunity to move to another desk. It wasn't where I originally wanted to go. Had a discussion with my current boss about this. He said it would be a good move for me. To learn something new. To be rid of the external issues that hunt me at where I am now. I agree it will be a good change for me. And provide me with a new challenge.
So why am I not jumping for joy? They are not forcing me to move, but technically I am FORCED to move. Its one of those things. By moving, I know I have to give up what ever means I have of a social life. I might not be actively involved in futsal and gym. The hours will take me away from MY time. I for one don't work like them. I am not about work-first and work-last. There is more to life than work. I want to enjoy playing and hanging with my friends. Unlike them I have friends outside the office walls.
As I know I have no choice (unless the other offer comes along) I know I will regret moving. I probably shot myself in the foot then.
And next Monday will be one Monday I dread most.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

The one with the Dark Knight

Finally the movie everyone been waiting for. Might I add the anticipation and hype was justified. The movie ran for around two and a half hours. And after the week I had, it was the best two and a half hours for me this week.
So where do I begin. Let's begin with the actor which made the movie what it is. The late Heath Ledger. His performance as the Joker was simply out of this world. I can't really think of any superlatives for his performance. His chilling display was reminisce to Anthony Hopkins performance as Hannibal Lector from Silence of the Lambs. And in my book, Ledger's rendition of the Joker is the best villainous performance of all time. When the Joker first appeared on screen it sent chills down my spine. And judging from his references for the role (Clockwork Orange and The Killing Joke to name a couple), he really played the part to heart. A lot has been said about a posthumous Oscar for Heath. And seriously I wonder who can really top what he did as the Joker.
As for Christian Bale, his Bruce Wayne/Batman role was an internal struggle. He didn't want to be Batman forever, and longs to be just Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy. With the character introduced in Batman Begins, this movie sees Batman delve into the detective role. Even had a scene which was very CSI-like. He had great chemistry with all the the other co-stars and played the Batman/Bruce Wayne voice very convincingly.
As for Gary Oldman and Aaron Eckhart, they both want the same thing, but they have different ideas. The Batman-Gordan-Dent team-up see Gordan play a bigger role in this movie than the previous one. And Eckhart's Dent too like Batman/Wayne was an inner conflict. Only after having half his face burnt did he play the Two-Face role to perfection. Even like Bale, he had a different voice.
Maggie Gyllenhall played the role as the love interest for both Wayne and Dent. And the end she had to break someones heart. With the help of Alfred, that someone didn't have to find out.
Morgan Freeman and Micheal Caine's role as the eyes and ears for Batman was one of the show stealers. Both had a array of witty one-liners.
Also William Fitcher of PrisonBreak had a small cameo early in the film.
As for the film itself, it was just bigger, better and longer. The storyline was well thought of and only in the end did we know the Joker's true motives. And the last showdown between Batman-Two-Face-Gordan defined the Batman role Bruce had to face.
Now I wonder how they are going to top this one for the third movie.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

The one with something pointless but lame attempt to take up space

Another day and things still haven't been on the up.
Actually the morning was good, woke up earlier to buy Dark Knight tickets online. So now I'm looking forward to Friday. I was more of myself, with those witty one-liners. Felt a positive change in me.
However it all turned around after lunch. And these is one of those days where you just want to tell people "do I look like I give a damn". Also weather I'll be charge for homicide. It is also a good time to see if man can really fly (I work on the 23rd floor).
I myself had good exercise today. Lifts were messed up after lunch. In the end took the stairs to the 23rd floor.
In this time of madness and unpredictability, I'm glad I have one colleague who can back me up work wise. She understands what is required of our main tasks. Its not easy when everyone thinks there is an 'I' in teamwork. At least with two players running the ship, we get things done. If not, killing someone would be too easy.
Once I had a colleague from my Affin Discount days, where we just clicked. We knew what we had to do, we always had each others back. Now we are in different organizations (she's my client now), and we both miss the days where our job was fun.
Nowadays I wouldn't mind getting hit by a bus to get out of work.


Tuesday, July 15, 2008

The one with nothing

Haven't been active on the blogs of late. Actually there is a lot to tell. Loads to tell and bore you with.
As to why I haven't been active. Well lets just say I'm in a place right now where life really sucks and lately I've kept to myself. I prefer to be on my own lost in my own world.
So in short that's why.


Thursday, July 10, 2008

The one where I feel I do way too much at work

A lousy day at work post. Actually there's been a lot of these, but think I should let you be the judge. Don't get me wrong. I am grateful for the opportunity to earn a living. But lately, I feel I do way too much. May I add, waaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy tooooooooooooo much.
Okay, maybe its due to the fact that we are very shorthanded. One is on honeymoon, one on a week's MC, one extending his mandatory leave and another is the bank's superstar for tennis. Due to the absence of these colleagues, the ones left behind have to deal with the daily positions. We still get it done (somehow).
But then, due to one fellow on leave, system testing is now my gig. And I don't understand the test scripts left behind for me from my colleague. Today, the second cycle of phase two kicked off, and it took me a while to get started. Add that to a stupid progress report which is no longer relevant, but since finance department what to act busy, I have to get that done. Both of the above due tomorrow. Add that to the fact that (somehow) I'm in charge of the stupid loans rollovers which does not impact our daily positions. But reasons for the credit department to waste paper and destroy the environment. Also the fact that I'm the fall guy for everything that goes wrong by the operations. The way they call me out is via e-mail (at least save paper) and cc-ing it to all my bosses. And somehow clients look for me. Clients who have weird and funny instructions and with long maturity listings. Seriously, why me?
I'm grateful that in the time of shorthanded-ness I at least have one colleague who can act in the same wavelength. Unlike one, who complains and whines and complains and whines and kiss-ass. He picks his spots, picks his clients, picks his work for the day. Even when I ask him to help out, he complains and whines.
By the way, I've fallen sick.

Monday, July 7, 2008

The one with a title I can't think of

Been some time since I posted something. Within the period since my last post a lot has happened. Things and events which I should have posted there and then. And not now as its already so last week.
In brief, Malaysian politics took centre stage again for all the wrong reasons. Spain were the champions of Europe. Roger Federer lost to Rafael Nadal (again). Work really sucks big time and should really plot an exit soon. Also work really sucks big time. Hmmm, deja vu. I attended a colleague's wedding in Muar, hence breaking the rule that I don't attend weddings outside the Klang Valley radius. Also work really sucks big time (didn't I already mention that?). Almost unleashed the villainous rage at work today. Only held back because the one who would be on the receiving end is the favourite among all the bosses. And also since he is the star player for bank, he's enjoying some sort of diplomatic immunity. Like I said, if I really played tennis since I was a kid, I think I would thrash his ass because I'm a different breed of athlete.
Lastly, I have no idea what I wrote. Guess it's just for the sake of posting something.