It's time of the year again, raise your champagne glass, watch a firework display, follows by a loud cheer when the clock struck midnight. It's a routine most of us know too well, but does it mean anything other than a bloody good excuse to drink yourself silly? Hmm...
I have been through a few New Year's eve events over the years, as time goes by they are becoming blurred images in my mind now, some are more memorable than others.
I still think Sydney's firework display is the most awesome I've seen so far, a house party thrown by some leftists (with a giant Ernesto Che
Guevara's portrait at its door) in a Melbourne suburb was the most unforgettable, and serving drunken ravers behind a bar at an Auckland New Year's Eve dance event was the funniest.
The last day before the New Year is now just another day to me now, I've grown tire of the crowd and the drunkenness, and then the mess. I think the celebration of a New Year should fall on one's birthday, it is more meaningful for the individual but on the other hand, I guess celebrating birthday lacks a sense of togetherness when everyone can celebrate together on a common New Year. The cleaning up on New Year's day will continues.
To sum up, 2008 has been a roller coaster ride for me to the highest of high and lowest of low. It was an intensive and exhilarating ride with exhausting slow climbs, breath taking bends, unforeseen drops, followed by quick lifts to the top, and again. I was lucky not to suffer a heart attack in the process!
Tonight, let me bid my farewell to 2008. Adios!
You will never look at your teddy bear the same way again.
The funniest and probably the most disturbing clip I've seen from the hit TV show Supernatural, to share with you.
Enjoy!
Or rather, in my case, the lack of it. Given the current economical outlook, with downsizing and redundancy both on a vengeful path towards crisis point, I think I'll get to keep my current job title (as an unemployed bum) for a bit even though I've came quite close to losing it twice.
The first one took place about 5 months ago, my very first job offer in Hong Kong, needless to say, I was very excited. I was also naive enough to believe the company would be open to contractual negotiation, well, apparently not in this case (or place)! I was shocked by the company's quick rebuff to my counter proposal, the initial disappointment has worn off but has left a bad taste in this experience.
I guess in a densely populated place such as Hong Kong, there must be hundreds of hopefuls out there who would be grateful for this opportunity. I also imagined the person-in-charge probably sneered at my effort and thought what a fool I am! Ho hum!
The second one happened just a few weeks ago. The role itself sounded very interesting and is in line with what I've been desperately seeking in a job, the company is a globally known firm and everything else look very good - they like me and I like them, except that I will need that in writing. It never came.
Well, I received news after a brief delay that the company is currently facing a recruitment freeze, meaning they are not able to make the hire. It also mentioned that the company will have a policy review early next year on this matter but nothing is certain.
That was a real disappointing blow. When I was told about the offer verbally, it was the best news I've had for a long time; I imagined how my life style would change for the better, I imagined all the things I will be able to achieve, I imagined all the freedom I will have, and I imagined how proud my loved ones would be of me. Alas, it was not meant to be.
Being an unemployed bum hasn't exactly been a cruise for me. No matter how hard I've tried, I still find myself swimming against the tide, not quite winning my fight with the griefs of unemployment - boredom, stress, lack of financial freedom, and loss of self-esteem. Unlike fine cheese and wine, unemployment don't age well, one just don't forget
about unemployment, it is always at the back of my mind gently reminding that me I am not supposed to be unemployed.
The morale of the story for me is: employment is good, unemployment is not.
Everyone give them and everyone get them, excuses are like little white lies, except excuses are usually less creative.
I've been getting lots of really lame excuses lately. One advise, please, don't take me as a gullible fool when comes to electronic communication matters, having worked in the e-commerce sector for 5 years, I really don't believe the system the mother of all woes. System glitches
? Come on, even I don't use that line back in my customer service days.
I think honesty is the best policy, I always try to be real when I give excuses; like, why wasn't there a single entry in FULL ECONOMY CLASS 14 DAYS RETURN in the month of November? It was because I was lazy! It is true that I had a few more things going on than usual, but procrastination was more fun, it still is!
The lamest excuse I have received so far goes something along the line of I was out of the country
when I quizzed the quoter about a non-urgent but reply is required email (the quoter was already back in the country for some time too). I was almost shocked when I heard it. Er, isn't that what emailing is for? Emails usually sit patiently in the Inbox until the user hit the delete button, to top it up, it was a social utility email too!
The second most lamest excuse was I have no time
. I have only two words to say - make time! In this case, I'd rather be given I-didn't-because-I-can't-be-bothered as an answer instead.
So, the moral of the story is, give it more thought when giving excuses, think about how the other party would feel. Be considerate, if you can't, then, at least be creative