Chronicle 94 - Unity in division

So I am now an Adobe Certified Associate for Photoshop. After going through a 3-day crash-course, I took the bloody examination. The examination was incredibly difficult and even some “cheating”, I could only very barely pass. Well doesn’t matter, got the certificate now.

It must be quite a struggle to be headstrong and yet fickle. LAB recently, at the peak of her frustration, applied to another agency and when the agency reverted, she kinda decided she didn’t want it anymore. She applied to the banks and when she realised the KPIs they need to hit, she backed away again. Oh well, sometimes I really don’t understand how the morale in the company can get so low, and how the higher-ups are oblivious to everything. Not just LAB, but LT and AS are also currently on the lookout for jobs. I have made my peace with people leaving the company and this time, I am actually happy for them. After SO left, there was MC. After MC left, there came LT, LAB, and AS. I had a hand in their training and I guess as time went by, there came a sense of attachment to them. I am quite glad that there is now a clean break between the new hires and me, and I am no longer in charge of training them. This might make leaving considerably easier.

We have recently hired a new intern and she seems very quiet, sitting in the corner doing her own work. It is regrettable that I don’t really have the time (nor motivation to be honest) to guide her properly as her writing test was spectacular. She’s now helping out with the daily tasks as and when she can.

Anyway, recently I introduced LAB to the drama series, Lucifer, and she got hooked. She finished it in a single weekend. She has also developed a crush on the lead actor, which is rather annoying considering how she won’t shut up about him. Well, whatever makes her happy and takes her mind off work. I might pass her Sense8 next.

The politics in office is also getting from bad to worse. You can very clearly see the Ang Moh/ Asian divide. For now, I am still considered a neutral party of course.

My harmonica kind of broke, or at least I thought it did sometime back. I tried to unscrew it to fix it but failed. Left without a choice, I decided to buy another one online. 5 minutes after I confirmed my order, I felt this urge to try and repair the harmonica again. I succeeded... Oh well, life's like that.

LAB is helping me to sew a cover for my punching bag. The skin of the bag has detoriated to the point where it would start flaking whenever I punch the bag, and will need to do the annoying task of cleaning those flakes up thereafter. LT thought of the idea recently and LAB volunteered to sew it. How nice.

I met A, ZY, and CW sometime back to catch up on a particular development. With all things, I try my very best to remain and maintain neutrality. It was simply a chance to catch-up with friends I guess. Then came the next meeting with my University friends where I heard the same story from a different side. I have always portrayed myself to be neutral and am confident others see me as such. I really wonder how some be seen to take both sides. Playing both sides is extremely dangerous.

So for our trip, C, F, and myself have decided to go for a trip to Finland after some rounds of voting. We’ve got most of the accommodation done; what’s left are the train tickets which we’ll book later.

I also recently watched Captain America: Civil War. It was quite a disappointing movie in my opinion as I felt that the story didn’t really flow.

I had dinner with MC recently to catch up and talk about the good old past. Sometimes, I really wonder if my time at Tulchan is well spent and I also wonder that should I decide to leave, what would I be able to bring with me? Have I learnt or gained anything from my time here? I guess that question can only be answered when I do eventually leave and test myself in a new environment.

LT, LAB, and AS recently set up a profile for me on Paktor, despite my resistance. It seems that it is possible to set up a profile for someone and just use their photo to play around with the app. Sounds very scary. Anyway, after the girls had their fun swiping around on Paktor with my fake profile, they deleted it at the end of the day (Thank God!). I was stressing over how I was going to get them to delete it before their mischief gets me into trouble.

I attended an friend’s wedding a few days back. It seems like everyone around me is getting married! I have quite a few weddings lined up this year already.  At the wedding, I was introduced to this guy sitting beside me. When I found out he was a head-hunter, I straight away gave him my card and asked him to help me keep a lookout. Always good to cast a wide net.

DZ also offered to introduce me to a girl at his company. It seems that she’s a keen volunteer at some group that advocates the prevention of animal cruelty. Not sure which one it is. Apparently, they are looking for people to help them with their marketing/ communication efforts. I suppose I don’t mind helping out to vet or give input to their communication and marketing materials but I do need to have a sense of what level of commitment is required. After all, my belief is that while social work can be a hobby, without commitment, it is nothing more than window dressing.

[Quotes]

"There is a circle of humanity... and I can feel its warmth. But I am forever outside." - Susan Griffith 

“The battle you are going through is not fueled by the words or actions of others; it is fueled by the mind that gives it importance.” - Shannon L. Adder