Bizzzeeeeee Ramblings

Been a hectic week for me at the office. The holiday shortened week didn't help, what with various reports due, bankers knocking on the door asking for meet ups to present something or rather, and other unending things to clear. For the unit, having about a quarter of the team resigned, dampened working spirits somewhat, and I am sure my other colleagues who are left holding the work, are even more stressed. A few bonds undergoing restructuring, some primary issuances, reviews due, issues with a convertible bond, and my colleagues sure have it up to their necks! I can't imagine how smaller companies with only a staff force of one or two in the team can cope. But then again, they may not be as stringent as us. As a friend would say it, "HAIZ"! enough bitching about work... Have to look on the positive side, at least I still have a job in a market which is short of manpower. Economics theory at work... demand vs supply.

Other than that, had a gig or two, be it with WP, or singing at church weddings and getting a bit of extra pocket money, and then, blow it all away shopping! Bought a tie at RAOUL in KLCC. "A bit" overpriced at RM199, but had a 30% discount voucher. How to resist? Sigh... To make myself feel better, I checked out other ties at Parkson, with differing price ranges, and I saw one at about RM235 for a freaking tie! Nice though, but not within my budget at the moment. Think I need to upgrade some of my workshirts. Some are kind of wornout looking but comfy, so hard to recycle, or heavens forbid, throw away. Then, after all these, I read in the newspapers about some families living at the fringe of society, barely scraping by, malnourished, and living in a one-room apartment, and I feel truely blessed indeed.

Actually, was conducting interviews (hiring staff) with my boss, and once after an interview session, my boss commented, "We are very blessed and lucky", and I couldn't agree more. Why? Some candidates are struggling to look for a suitable job, we wish to help, but alas, does not match our criteria. We put an ad out about 2 weeks ago, and within 5 days, there were a lot of applicants. What does that say about the job market out there? How can I say that there's a shortage of supply? Well, I need to rephrase it by saying, shortage of supply of people with the relevant experience. Sure, we are willing to hire "fresher" staff and train them, but the immediate contribution to the team in already a short-handed position, will be slower in coming. Ok, ok! I digressed, and am bitching about work again... but seriously, that's not the point. The point is being THANKFUL. Being thankful that we still draw a pay cheque, being thankful that we have a roof over our heads, being thankful we are still alive (especially after reading about the terror attacks where over 130 people were killed in Pakistan).

Being thankful also for friends and family, and of course, the almighty. Talking about friends, finally signed on to Facebook, and managed to find a few lost college/university mates, and even some family members who I hardly contact. Still have my friendster account, but hardly utilise nowadays. Didn't play around with Multiply, too many'lah of such networking sites! Tiring'leh, having to keep track of so many community accounts.

Oh, found out I have another nephew this month, Jayden. My cousin Rufina gave birth to a baby boy. Family tree is expanding and hard to keep track, especially given that I have so many cousins. I think another cousin set up an online family tree mapped out somewhere, so that will be good for a name refresher course given the ever expanding next generation, and ever critical in the various family functions. That is, of course, provided I can find the link somewhere...

Finished reading "Fall of Kings", by David and Stella Gemmell, and thus ended the TROY trilogy. Will start on book 3 of "The Malazan Book of the Fallen" saga, entitled "Memories of Ice" soon, by Steven Erikson. Another friend recommended me to read Haruki Murakami's books, and lent me "Norwegian Wood". Hmmm, will get round to it soon I hope. Oh, am also "stuck" on the Essentials of Dr. Strange Volume 1 (comic book), but it is not holding my interest. Will somehow also plow through.

In between all these, I run around meeting friends (and bankers!) for lunch, dinner, raya gatherings, etc. So, am reminding myself to exercise. Alas, this running around doesn't count as exercise though, a pity really. Eat, eat and eat even more. How? Yeah, I have heard it before, eat in moderation, make sure I take my medication, yadayadayada...

Was singing for a church wedding this morning, after having taken my car in for a service. You know ah, the service centre officially opens at 8:30am, but luckily, I recall the sales lady informing me that I can come at 8:00am (sadly, they don't take service bookings). I got there about 8:10am (groan, have to wake up early on a Saturday morning! but at least I have Sunday to sleep in - have sunday plans all mapped out though from 2:30pm onwards until the evening! bizzzeeeeeee - weekend, oh weekend, why do you pass so fast?), and I was already like in queue at number 6! I noted that by 8:30am, the queue number got to 16! Wah!... Ok, back to topic - or some semblance of it (singing in church for a wedding), one tune keeps humming in my head. It's a new hymn/song, but beautiful music if sung well. Of course out of the 5 singers, some were miked up, while one or two didn't require a mic - those who can project their voices'lah and sing with proper support, given the good acoustic design of the church. Oh how I wish can sing in four-part harmony in such a location... but that will have to be with a different choir group. Sigh... But, on the bright side, have started learning our jingles and what nots, in preparation for December gigs. Yay! Hopefully more pocket money, and in time for christmas pressies.. :P