Gossip girl E18 / Mr M.

"sometimes fate throws 2 lovers together, only to rip them apart

sometimes the hero finally makes the right choice but

the timing is all wrong.

but as they say timing is everything. "

So perhaps and maybe, there are some people who we can't or won't get out of our lives. And those people, somehow we could never get our act together or draw down the curtains after the finale.

But the post production party might actually be better than being life's actor on a stage.

The competitor's company III

Got word today that the underwriters there might start a 5.5 work day week. If that isn't bad enough, it means a full day 8.30-5.30 on sat and the half day will be given on a weekday. That's horrible.

I don't understand why the need to put in the extra hours when they have a team of underwriters in malaysia to do the case and they're the back up in times of back log.

That place seems quite a bitchy. Quite a bit of office politics too. People seem somewhat narrow minded in their thinking.

All factors considered, I guess I'm happy that I didn't jump over.

Growing older

This not a vanity post but one of realization of the ageing process. Realizing that even if one could pass off years younger physically, the body doesn't lie.

As we age, medical problems seem more real. That strain back might last longer that it usually does. It becomes a chronic lower back pain. The next thing you know you're going for a MRI scanning for any slip disc or degenerative discs.

That pain from pissing, starts to get you wondering if you're suffering from some STD or there's a kidney stone or some prostate problem. And before you know it, you're taking blood tests, doing biopsies.

And that's where one starts to watch one's diet, i guess that's the significant start to it all. The only good advice I have for anyone is to make sure you have a hospital & surgical insurance plan.

He's hot!

This sounds stupid but...

I think he's hot cause he(pri sch friend) works in aslyum~

Skye Edwards

She came down as part of the mosaic heineken green room. It was a really casual, laid back event. Pity it was only an hour, really short! And it wasn't like those mega madonna, kylie concerts where people got Estascy high. This more like a weed high concert.

And unlike Britney, she sings live. Well she forgot the lyrics to gorilliaz feel good inc. It's one of the songs that she does a cover for. And for the first time, I see a singer drinking whisky during her concert. That was uber cool. And her arms, super duper tone!

Performance Bonus II

Got my letter today. In contentment, I should be happy. I like the figure (in terms of amount). In such times, it is quite a good amount. The percentage of annual base salary however isn't that great. It's 12.13% out of a max of 26%. But i guess it's a good start for the first year there. Hopefully with all the additional things i'm doing this year, I'll get more next. But then the economic situation being the way it is. It's not going to help with a fatter bonus next year.

And no salary adjustments whatsoever for me.

Wakeboarding

Finally got down to trying it. It's really the cost that's a deterant, that and the lack of company. Anyway, got a good deal at 60 for half a day, shared with 4 other people.

Thought I'll be good at it. It's something I always wanted to do and so the mindset's right. But it's a semi success. Managed to move up. Once up, splash. So not a complete failure, yet definately not successful either. I also thought I'll be able to do it, since I've learnt wind surfing before, both sports use boards. Retrospectively though, I wasn't that good at it either.

It's a good workout. Worked the arms, esp the lower arms, wrist. Whatever muscles there are there. The abs feel worked on the next day. So it's a feel good feeling, to have exercised. Maybe that's the addicitive part for gym going people. Once you feel the 'high' of it, you just can't get enough.

PS: Would be better to move around the boat topless in trunks. Get a much better, even tan than clothes on.

Income Tax

The government gives me 200 in March as some relief from the current economic situation. A month later, income tax is due. Here they charge me 247.91. So in essence they earn a profit of 47.91 from me. Say the 200 given to me equates to a loss of interest bearing income for them. For a month, they get 47.91 in interest. This equates to an interest of 23.95%. Economic crisis? For who?!

Bubbly

In my own little way, I'm proud to have contributed to SG being on the top 20 list of bubbly consuming countries! And We're the only asian country to be on the list! I'm certain fab sundays contribute a significant % to being on the list! And despite the slow down, I'll pledge to do my best I can.

Performance Bonus

They declared that they'll be giving performance bouns still this year. How much, no one knows. Rightfully it's suppose to be cap @ 26% for execs. No job cuts for now, No intention of jobs cuts as well.

Haven heard of underwriters getting retrench. Just like no one hears of doctors gettin retrenched either. But if pilots can get retrenched, i guess anything's quite possible.

Here's the Catch 22, situation: There won't be any salary increament. But there will be wage adjustments and internal adjustments. Which means your salary will increase, but it's cause you have been underpaid, bluntly put. So is that a case to be rejoicing or to feel really indignant?

Unfortunately for me, it'll be the 2nd year without pay increament, cause last year i wasn't confirm and this year there isn't any.

Horse hung

Today I witness (virtually) what it means to be hung like a horse. And I say, it's freaking scary!

The competitor's company II

Over a table conversation, the topic was sleeping you way up.

The inside joke being to get promoted in my company, sleep your way up, while his will simply hire without really looking at how qualified or not the person is.

So he said he would sleep his way up when asked if i would. I said unlikely. Then he mention, to get promoted to SE will take me forever. That's where he realize my next grade is SE and he's 2 grades away. But our pay difference isn't that much.

So really, I'm not quite sure at the end of the day, who the joke is on. But then again, I don't really care.

Catch 22

Learnt something new today. Kinda. like (her)Trinity put it, i knew about it just not what's its called.

Which in simple terms it means: damn if you do and damn if you dont.

Background info:
Catch-22 is a satirical, historical novel by the author Joseph Heller, first published in 1961. The novel, set during the later stages of word war II, is frequently cited as one of the great literary works of the twentieth century.

The prototypical Catch-22, as formulated by Heller, involves the case of John Yossarian, who wishes to be excused from combat flight duty. In order to be excused, he must submit an official medical diagnosis from his squadron's flight surgeon, demonstrating that he is unfit to fly because he isinsane. In order to get the diagnosis, he must approach the surgeon to ask for one.

A logical formulation of this situation is:
1. (Premise: If a person is excused from flying (E), that must be because they are both insane (I), and request an evaluation (R));
2. (Premise: If a person is insane (I), they should not realise that they are, and would thus have no reason to request an evaluation)
3. (2, Definition of implication: since an insane person would not request an evaluation, it follows that all persons must either not be insane, or not request an evaluation)
4. (3, De Morgan: since all persons must either not be insane, or not request an evaluation, it follows that no person can be both insane and request an evaluation)
5. (4, 1, Modus Tollen: since a person may be excused from flying only if they are both insane and request an evaluation, but no person can be both insane and request an evaluation, it follows that no person can be excused from flying)

The above describes the concept commonly referred to by the phrase “Catch 22”. The book adds an element of complete absurdity to the situation, adding that the same regulations also stipulate that (because flying combat missions is so dangerous) any sane person would not willingly fly combat missions. Thus, any person who flies missions must be insane and thus should only need to be evaluated in order to be excused from flying. However, because requesting an evaluation is a sign of sanity, no pilots are grounded for insanity. The “catch 22” statement is the only reason anyone is in the air at all.

The competitor's company

So company P has been on a hiring spree, despite their lacklusture efforts to bid for company A. It was splash in the papers months back that they're interested to buy over the asian operations of company A, but just this week the papers said they put in a bid was below the estimated price.

Back to the Hiring spree. They got a crop sales person from my company, and an adminstrator from my prev company to be Snr Execs for Underwriting! These are people with NIL underwritng experience and they get to be Snr Execs?! This is a company that's well known for not taking the effort and time to train people, they take in people with experience. And now this?! It's absurd, really!

Previously I thought I was under qualified for the position. Thought 1 year of experience just doesn't make the cut! Now seeing the way they hire, I feel more than qualified. In retrospect, if I had applied then and was offered a Exec position, I'll be indignant to the core! But in the long term, I'm concern if i'm being marginalized as well. These people are now at a Snr Exec level, when it comes to climbing the crop ladder. I'm one step behind, despite me having more experience.

Run! Further now.

And today the words were "baby" and "love sick".
I'm signing up for Aviva's Ironman now.

Run!

I decided says (10:52 PM):
was thinking of u today, i been thought of things we had done
Sethology says (10:52 PM):
gd or bad?
I decided says (10:53 PM):
think is somethin gd
was not with sex buddies turn into this so far, i guess u being more den wht u had done on bed


While most people will awww and have thier hearts melt, my usual tendency is to freak out, put on my running shoes and run! Its just my normal reaction.