Peace and Quiet

It is amazing the sense peace and serenity you feel in here when just right outside the perimeter of this 4 walls, there is a world going crazy. – Ryan

 

Peace – something a lot of us seek and yet we do not always find it. In the hustle and bustle of city life, everyone is in a hurry. It feels like we're in a competition every waking moment. Who's faster, who's better, who's richer? It feels that all we do is to rush here and there. In the 7 months I've been in the metropolitan city, even I couldn't resist the suction of hurry burry and mere flashes of presence. I'm here and yet not here at all.

 

Peace: like a million stars in the sky smiling down at me, the quietness of an entire galaxy filled in my head, the sound of my very own breath; slow and steady. The fulfillment of my thoughts, aspirations and dreams. The bubble I am in alone, serene and pure. Nothing touches me. And I feel I am my own world.

 

And every Wednesday evening, I find peace; I feel it in depths that will never be replicated. It is in the house of worship that I feel I'm in the laps of God hearing His words from the hymns and prayer. My whole world of chaos gets checked in the gate and for two hours, I am at my calmest.

 

We take the time to smile, nod and savour the moments that pass. Time slows down in here and no one is in a hurry. Some things can wait for later.

 

And after the two hours of tranquility, I am ready to brave the frenzied world.

Epiphany

Oh nothing all that wow but it really did me a whole bunch of good knowing what the hell is causing all the suction sound from the air conditioning vent that has been driving me crazy for the last 2 days…

 

So all the ruckus of the very loud suction sound comes from

 

*drum roll*

 

… sensor reaction to every time someone enters the smoking room! OMG, how revolutionary is that!

 

Apparently this is to improve ventilation in the tallest building in Malaysia. While there are ventilation vents for the dedicated smoking rooms, they're making it better. But with the downside of not considering the other people (like me!) who sits close to the sound source.

 

Hey, I'm all up for improvement but can this really be called one when it is affecting so many other people by it? I mean, can't there be a sound-free solution to this?

 

Today, I'm taking a new approach to the problem. The last 2 days has seen me becoming this whinny ass which I'm not and I do not like complaining because it ain't helping me. My solution: I plug in my earphones, listen to some very comforting tunes and concentrate mega hard on work hoping that when someone opens the smoking room door, I would not be able to quite hear the suction sound of the air-cond vent. Verdict: so far so good.

 

My only concern is this; how long do I need to continue to bear with the condition? Adjusting is not an option because I do not see why should I adjust to something that was not ergonomically designed in the first place, taking into account when just last week ergonomics was what we were talking about. Ppfffttt…

 

Smokers – pls quit smoking so I can pretty please have some peace and quiet. And my dire need to get rid of the pounding headache I have from all the unnecessary sound. *sigh*

 

 

 

When the mind draws a blank

I really do not like it when the mind just refuses to function at optimum level. I catch myself day-dreaming of absolutely nothing. I've been staring at the white screen displaying Word Documents just screaming for attention.

 

And the stupid air-conditioning is driving me nuts. It goes on and off at 15 minute intervals. The annoying part is this, when it is on, i can hear the sound of air coming through very loudly and when it goes off, its quiet, just plain silence. And that makes it worse coz I can tell the tremendous difference of noise levels. The whole episode repeats for the whole day. Why can't the damn thing just shut up and do its job?! It is extremely distracting. *geram*

 

I want a holiday. An escape. To hide or temporarily hide from doing the same thing day in, day out. Routine is boring, it kills creativity and generates redundancy. Casual fridays would be nice change for a start.

 

The air-conditioning that works silently and constantly would be great. I can get rid of the pounding headache from the blardy noise. Haih...

When Things Die

Technology does make our lives easier isn't it? We have washing machines for laundry, ipods/mp3 players for music everywhere we go, GPS so that men who stubbornly refuse to ask for directions will no longer get lost (pun intended), computers for a gazillion functions they do etc.

 

But what happens if they break down?

 

Just yesterday, my laptop crashed on me. The blue screen of death appeared and the very nice IT dude could not fix it. The diagnostic revealed my laptop was not attacked by virus and its hardisk was perfectly fine and yet it refuses to budge when attempts of reformatting it was made. So it had to be a hardware problem. While I'm cool with the fact that the nice IT people are doing their best to solve the problematic laptop, it is frustrating how handicapped I have become.

 

The laptop has all my data and documents in there. Without it, I can't do my work or check my emails. And yes, this is all work stuff. It feels like my right arm has been severed as the laptop is being nursed to health. It is frustrating to not be able to work as productively when I don't have all my stuff with me. And I feel awful having to keep referring to my colleagues for copies of documents.

 

It is amazing how the collapse of a single item can halt and delay my daily activities. Me no like this. Me hope the nice IT people can fix it. Quick. Pretty Pretty Please.

Testing Testing

On this beautiful Sunday afternoon, the lil itchy fingers in me started to explore ways to blog post via email. This is because I no longer can access (almost) anything with the word blog or blog related sites at my workstation. Seeing that i get most inspirations during the day and whilst taking a break fro, w.o.r.k., I really hope this works. It will provide a much needed alternative than coming home to post blogs coz i would be too lazy/tired. and seriously after staring at the computer screen for hours in the office, i really hate being in front of the pc anymore than necessary. so here goes something, hopefully.

Comfort of a Lazy Saturday Afternoon...

... lies in a glass of Coca-Cola, munching tortilla chips while propped on the dining table with a book I doubt I'll be able to finish by tomorrow.

Because when Sunday comes, it serves as a reminder that on Monday, my whole world of hecticness, busyness and rushing will start. again.

I’m already missing home. Sigh

The Mother of All Jobs

If you advertised for a mum this is what the ad might look like. And applicants can forget about holidays …..

By MAGGIE GROFF

Wanted: MOTHER
Remuneration:Nil
Essential Criterion: Female
Desirable Criteria: Income from family trust. Relative who owns a bar.
Qualifications:

Driver’s licence.

Applicant must be able to control vehicle with broken air-conditioner in heavy traffic while listening to choking baby in back seat. You will have the ability to concentrate while singing “Incy Wincy Spider” and know the location of every public toilet. You will be experienced in loitering outside youth venues late at night.

Catering

Must be capable of pre-planning menus for varied appetites for at least 18 years. Supply of own milk to infants is required, as is frequent dinner preparation for large numbers.

Administrator

You will be directly responsible for control of budget estimates, complaints and negotiations.

Nurse

Must be able to exist without sleep for up to six days while completing other duties. Must display proficiency in caring for the sick in the early hours of the morning. Stain-removal ability is highly sought after in this category.

Early childhood educator

Must be able to recite the complete works of A.A. Milne and be cognisant of everything written about dinosaurs. Ability to make necklaces from macaroni and dental floss will be well regarded.

Tailor

Must be able to design and sew rabbit outfits for concerts.

Hairdresser

Applicants must have ability to detect and treat headlice, remove chewing gum from hair and cut straight fringe while receiving verbal abuse.

Bike engineer

Will need to be conversant with all aspects of bicycle maintenance, including fitting and removal of stabiliser wheels. Applicant must be able to repair punctures at a camping site. A first-aid certificate is required.

Veterinary assistant

Must care for and train a variety of pets after owner has relinquished ownership of them. Frequent feeding and cage cleaning required. Must be well-versed in neighbourhood resolution and conduct occasional burial services.

Painter and decorator

Will be conversant with removal of sticky products and graffiti from doors. An ability to paint ceilings while cooking an advantage.

Telephonist

Will have the ability to hold discussions on the telephone while someone is hanging off leg and someone is banging a tin with a wooden spoon. Must provide sustenance to teenagers on the phone to avoid medical effects of prolonged stasis.

Landscape gardener

Must be able to start lawn mower, operate gardening equipment and keep house plants alive. Must know and keep abreast of latest methods of composting, pruning, seed cultivation and tree surgery. Must know location of every mouse that has died and been buried.

Entertainment officer

You will coordinate sporting functions via telephone and trips to the school office. You will be required to coach games in all weathers and encouraged to enter into strong discussions with opposing fractions. Purchase and maintenance of equipment required. Must be able to hold parties, make jelly and invent games where everybody wins.

Adapted from Reader’s Digest January 2001 (pp.97-98)