Chameleon

An unexpected visitor paid visit to my office window cill yesterday!! :)






All photos courtsey my BlackBerry Curve 8800 camera phone...

Marc Faber June 2008 Montly Bulletin

This morning I read this piece in half of the fin world blogs I read. It is an extremely intelligent and caustic take!

"The federal government is sending each of us a $600 rebate. If we spend that money at Wal-Mart, the money goes to China. If we spend it on gasoline it goes to the Arabs. If we buy a computer it will go to India. If we purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.

If we purchase a good car it will go to Germany. If we purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan and none of it will help the American economy.

The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it on prostitutes and beer, since these are the only products still produced in US. I’ve been doing my part."

:)

Don't Read. It's just what I needed to put down in words for clarity...

I want to write a lot but don't know how.. or where to begin really.

I keep remembering the times when I had discussed with a couple of friends and even a cousin sis her/their work problems. Crazy schedules, mad clients or customers, unhealthy organisation culture, petty politics, maniacal bosses and sometimes all of this because of factors that are truly out of your control. I had given a kind ear, sympathised and offered simple advise to keep cool. Easy enough it had always seemed! Because I was, then, working in a setup where my failures or success had relatively little to do with how certain other people behave/react/perform etc. My failures were mine and so were my successes. And the failures were only led by my negligence(which was inexcusable in any case) or market/extraneous factors - which were visible to all! Believe it or not I was able to garner sympathy for a failure! I mean, wherever does that happen??

But I changed a job since then and it has been a little over an year in the new setup. In this setup my worth is entirely driven by other's work! I can holiday in Bahamas(money permitting!) if I can get the lot working in my absence!! And it is only now that I am tasting an iota of the frustration people were talking about. I keep reminding myself time and again of simple advise that I thought made sense from a third person's perspective and try following it as much as I can. But I think I was blissfully unaware of the way you feel bushed when in such a situation. I am learning.

I always thought if I had to face such a situation I would have no patience to deal with people, their problems - genuine or not, egos, unavoidable circumstances...basically the works in a calm and composed manner. I did not think I had it in me to keep my voice levelled even if the person across the table is enraged. I did not think I possessed an ability to be caustically stern. It has been a pleasant surprise, however! I am a different person when dealing with problems at work and personal problems. In person I am a complete impatient person who loves to clear her lungs and taste her vocal chords more often than not.(Aai and S bear it most of the times...closely followed by baba me thinks) But funnily enough that is not the case at work. I think because deep down I know I am right(however convoluted this might sound) in keeping my cool, giving situation time, giving people a chance, understanding and overall just keeping your head down and working at it(as kaka rightly said today morning), being truly committed to the work, caring.... Acknowledging that I am working for myself beyond everything else. It is me who wants to work hard and love the project! And I(possibly arrogantly) know that I am not particularly doing it for money...phew! See I said it! However arrogant, I said it. Money is directly proportional to my 'worth' and if I do not stay worthy I won't get it. And I think we(Read I and S) get enough to make ends meet. If we want anything fancier in life we better be bloody good at what we do!

And if what I do is get judged by other's work. So, so be it!!

Something so difficult made so easy!

There is a fellow blogger I read in the universe. I don't know who led me to her blog but her sarcasm, wit and insight has made me stay put! In this latest post of hers she has very succinctly captured what a good manager is. Something I was grappling with these past few days because of the work scene. She very simply says and I quote, "Someone who provides the support I need, and gets out of my way"! I mean damn right, right?? I have had pleasure of reporting to a guy who was just this. And I think I am fighting with the guy I report to who is neither, understands he is neither, sincerely tries to do both, but is not so successful at it! I am hopeful though!!

Wonder what kind am I? I try you know.. .

PS Thanks a ton TSTT

Mixed Bag

Why does it normally happen that when I want to write most, I realise it is not 'appropriate' to do so? Mostly these cases are when I want to criticize something severely.

Somebody said to be that I hardly ever am my fun loving and giggly personality in the office. Duh! Is it not how it is supposed to be??

Or am I losing myself and a chance of being my age as the responsibilities and expectations to conform are enormous??

Normally I am not the kind of a person to conform to the expectations but here I understand that it is required to be done. (or is it not???)

My sheer presence is scandalising enough!! If I start being 'me', then ya sure!!! That should be fun!!!

So what?

Some people have a lot of friends in and around the place they are and only a few friends away.

But I have only a few friends in and around where I am and a lot of them away.

So what??

It is only geographic, you know. Much better than 'distance' irrespective of geographical nearness.
'Cos then they are only 'so called' friends.

Fallout of Friendship Day this is. Yup.

I miss them...

Posting from the other side of the Wall

i.e. the Great Wall of China.

I was in China this week and as I wait on the swnaky new terminal 2 of Shanghai-Pudong Airport, I have nothing better to do but blog!!! Especially since its 2:20 am and my flght's not scheduled to take off till 3:30am....

So here's what happened/I learned in this trip:

Sweet gentleman that I was travelling with picked up Femina Magazine to read when he had plenty others that are supposed to interest men!
Jet's international service as well as aircrafts are truly international. Lovely experiance!
The 180degree flat seats are amazingly comfortable! You can sleep like a baby!! (Oh, how I wish they start boarding and I hit the sack...hmmmm)
I like Shanghai more each time I visit here.
Saw a Volkswagen's Beetle in convertible format on road. I want to buy one. Maybe not convertible though.
Ferrari sounds better rev-ing past on road than the race car counterpart through the idiot box. Why does a red Ferrari seem to - even, sound better?? Any ideas??
Watched an amazing Acrobatics show today evening at Shanghai Central Theatre. Awesome stuff. The write up hardly does justice to the quality of the show. Its quite superlative. Try this You Tube version. Watch this as well. We got fourth row seats and watching these artists perform right in front of you is even more mesmerising than the you tube versions. After this 90-100mins show was over I realised that throughout the show either my hand was clasped on my mouth in amazement or I was clapping!
Discovered a few more nice cafe s on Nanjing Street and enjoyed dinners there. My lovely little Italian place that was closed when I visited last time was found to be operational again this time around and needless to say I hogged there! Didn't miss breakfasts at Wagas-my fav diner either!! Went out to a 'lovely old bungalow converted into a fine dining restaurant' with ECADI team and ate most amazing lobster I have ever had! Whoever says decent food's a problem in China?!!!!! Ohhh and had lotsa Starbucks as well, as per the custom!
I want to find some report on whether the malls make money in China. The shear amount of retail space has once again defeated all my 'understanding' of retail real estate.
We have planned really nice lofts. I enojyed the process of design after an long time!! And also the heated discussions!!
Bought a whole lot of Architecture and Landscape books. The system ECADI has for buying the books is ultra-convinient. A lady brings a boxful EVERYDAY to their office!! The flip side of this, though, is my bag is now supernaturally heavy. And not only that I have had to purchase additional bag to fit it all in!
And the JET is boarding now~~ so Goodnight!!!!