9/16/09
Workplace venting
I am so frustrated that I submitted a shift swap request last Friday, and told my coworker I was waiting for her to accept it (we had already decided via email it was fine). I hate reminding people like they're kids, hounding them "Did you do it yet?" I was annoyed Monday when she saw me and remembered it, but I called the office just now, and she still hasn't done it! 5 days later! This is someone who doesn't check her email often so I figured verbally is the way to go, but when it comes down to it, that's the safer method of communication, because at least it's there (if she goes thru her email) when I'm not!
I like to solidify my plans ahead of time. You would think even though this swap is my request, she would want to submit it to be accepted because I am giving her a Saturday night off in exchange for my Sunday! I think she's somewhat ADD, definitely into Twitter.
I haven't thought of who else I can meet in DC area to maximize my stay, and plain frustrating to know I'm waiting on this stupid thing. I wrote a sticky-note that I can put on her desk when I arrive, but maybe she'll defect a bitchy tone. It is the truth though: "Please submit the swap request; I submitted it 5 days ago." Basically, "I'm waiting on you, you inconsiderate, forgetful woman!" (I like this person, but in cases like this, it definitely aggravates me)
I like to solidify my plans ahead of time. You would think even though this swap is my request, she would want to submit it to be accepted because I am giving her a Saturday night off in exchange for my Sunday! I think she's somewhat ADD, definitely into Twitter.
I haven't thought of who else I can meet in DC area to maximize my stay, and plain frustrating to know I'm waiting on this stupid thing. I wrote a sticky-note that I can put on her desk when I arrive, but maybe she'll defect a bitchy tone. It is the truth though: "Please submit the swap request; I submitted it 5 days ago." Basically, "I'm waiting on you, you inconsiderate, forgetful woman!" (I like this person, but in cases like this, it definitely aggravates me)
9/13/09
Musing after 11 mos at my job
Things I have learned from a terrible, crisis-forming first year of work in
Ex. I misunderstood that I had to enroll in both Nov and for the full year for Flex account. $300 is not enough for one year, and I waited until 9 months to submit, when I learned I wasn’t even enrolled for that year
- Don’t stress. One incident, one day, is just a grain of sand in a bucket compared to the days of work I have ahead of me in my lifetime.
At the same time, appreciate the good aspects.. we don’t have much camaraderie, not being able to “visit” coworkers since we are attached to a headset, but I have enjoyed joking with my coworkers. On the negative side, I value this more so because I have few friends here right now and little social life due to working evening shift
-Don’t take a defeated approach. One has to live in the present, but at the same time, think of the future and have perspective.
- Be more confident, so that coworkers and managers will respect you. I think of what others think of me, but not when it’s important! It’s not good to think about it too much, but one does need to consider how their actions and words are perceived by others in the workplace.
9/12/09
8 years since 9/11
Can't believe it's been 8 years.
I'm waiting for Sasha to get online. She emails me without much notice, as in, the next time she'll be online is when we're supposed to talk. I see her as signed in on Skype, but she didn't answer when I called. I wasn't unable to add Skype credit before work, so called home on my break, just in case it needed time to take effect, to prepare calling her. But calling Skype to Skype is free, anyway. The second 15 min of my break (they should be an hour!) I went to the ice cream place.. going on a weekday night is better, less people. I got a cinnamon milkshake.. wasn't that great, and took a while to make.
While speaking to a French Canadian (but in English), my dad emailed my work account, and I thought "He shouldn't do that!" But I email his work email when I want an answer; that and he has so many personal "junk mail" accounts.
I'm writing stupid stuff.
I'm waiting for Sasha to get online. She emails me without much notice, as in, the next time she'll be online is when we're supposed to talk. I see her as signed in on Skype, but she didn't answer when I called. I wasn't unable to add Skype credit before work, so called home on my break, just in case it needed time to take effect, to prepare calling her. But calling Skype to Skype is free, anyway. The second 15 min of my break (they should be an hour!) I went to the ice cream place.. going on a weekday night is better, less people. I got a cinnamon milkshake.. wasn't that great, and took a while to make.
While speaking to a French Canadian (but in English), my dad emailed my work account, and I thought "He shouldn't do that!" But I email his work email when I want an answer; that and he has so many personal "junk mail" accounts.
I'm writing stupid stuff.
9/10/09
Day off
Now I have not only a faster laptop, but my desktop from college to use. I wish I didn't rely on my dad so much, but he is good with computers; the laptop I'm on now needed tons of updates.
I'm not going to want to wake up for yoga at 11:00am.
I'm not going to want to wake up for yoga at 11:00am.
9/4/09
Kings Dominion
Today my sister and I went to the local amusement park. Unfortunately, I sometimes find amusement parks a little depressing, which is the opposite of its name and what most people think! Maybe it's because it's common to see a good amount of overweight people, and man, the tattoos! I'm reminded at amusement parks that I've had a different upbringing than a lot of the people there. I don't mean to sound snobby, not at all, but it's almost a cultural (American!) experience, eye-opener.
We were fortunate that their 2nd to last Friday, Labor Day weekend, wasn't busy. Only one ride had a somewhat long wait. In general, we could repeat the ride without waiting in line. My sister did this while I waited for her. I was somewhat disappointed that I'm not really a fan of roller coasters anymore.. they hurt my head!
My internet connection keeps going in and out-- annoying!
We were fortunate that their 2nd to last Friday, Labor Day weekend, wasn't busy. Only one ride had a somewhat long wait. In general, we could repeat the ride without waiting in line. My sister did this while I waited for her. I was somewhat disappointed that I'm not really a fan of roller coasters anymore.. they hurt my head!
My internet connection keeps going in and out-- annoying!
8/27/09
Final day in NYC
Ok. So V and I had gotten back to the hostel after 2:00am early Monday morning. We slept till 9:00 or so. Annoying we had to go down 2 flights of stairs to use the mirror at the stairwell b/c they don't have them in the bathrooms.
Ate at the restaurant next door again for breakfast; we both got pancakes. The fruit cup was disappointing... not fresh, probably was in the fridge since yesterday.
Then we were off to MoMA. It was a quick (1.5 hr) visit, but we saw famous paintings, like Van Gogh's "Starry Night," and ones by Gaugin, Picasso, Chagall, and Kandinsky. I'll have to go again with an audio guide.
I went with V to the bus station, and we said our goodbyes. She may be back in the States next year when her friend will be studying in Philadelphia. From there, I took the subway in the wrong direction, but decided I'd explore the W side. I just walked.. without direction. Asked a policeman Lau the best way to get back to the E. Managed to take a bus in the wrong direction, farther west instead of across Central Park. At that point, needed a bathroom. The French resto "Alouette" I saw was closed, so I went to Hunan something or other. Was a mistake to order taro bubble tea: it was just gross. The scallops I ordered came pan-fried and seasoned, pretty good, with brown rice and vegetables. I hate eating at restaurants alone! Then I caught the bus in the right direction, thru Central Park, and went back to the hostel. Took the subway to Chinatown, and figured I had time to get some Chinese snacks and dragonfruit. When I asked a Chinese woman on the street where to buy fruit, she thought I said "food." Then I said "shuiguo." The dragonfruit were $3.00 a piece (could I have negotiated?), and to my dismay when I peeled one a few days later, not sweet. So I thought I was set, waiting for my bus. Guess I was there 4:30. That was a mistake right there, because I remembered afterward how they have two locations, and try to fill up the bus, which they did, without me. I don't see how they can't not keep track of online and on-site purchase of tickets. I kept hearing buses for Philly. Then they said there wasn't room for D.C. -Richmond bus. I asked when the next D.C. (mistake) bus was, and was told in an hour. So I listened to my iPod and watched people go in and out of the gross bathroom. At 6:00 when the next D.C. bus came, I asked about Richmond, and was told frantically, "No, not til 11:00pm." That was a blow right there. I had dropped V off at 12:30. I had expected to be home after 11, and instead wouldn't be leaving til then. I was upset, and called my mom, starting to cry. Then I decided to make light of the situation: I was in NYC, afterall, albeit with a backpack. So I decided to go to Top of the Rock, which V and her friends had done last time. They didn't have a coat check, so had to carry backpack thru there. Unfortunately, my sis' old dig cam with me isn't great, so couldn't take good photos of the city. Then the battery started to die on me. I heard a father and daughter, about 18, speaking French, and spoke with them briefly. I'm rusty, and didn't "stay" with them b/c was intimidated I wouldn't know what else to say. I think they were happy to speak to a francophone American, nonetheless.
Then I had the goal of going to Serendipity, the ice cream parlour after which a movie was named. Don't remember how now, but in my wanderings, came to an across the water "subway" cable car ride, which was good fortune. While waiting, I got hungry. I had read the sign in big letters "NO EATING, DRINKING, SMOKING on this platform" a minute before, yet took out my Chinese snacks and starting munching. Better yet, I was standing against the sign. Great short-term memory I have. Hey, when the need for food arises.. I wondered why a woman kind-of glared at me. The cable car went to Roosevelt Island, where they had an outdoor movie screening of "Hairspray," which I saw in D.C. 2 years ago and didn't care for. French tourists also on that cable ride. I didn't feel like talking anymore.
I made it to Serendipity, but there was a wait line, and since it's a small place, would feel funny eating alone. Viviane joked that I could meet the man of my dreams at the parlor and more chance of that than grocery shopping in Chinatown.
From there I walked a LOT with my backpack, making my way south. I regretted not having bought the unlimited subway pass for $.25 more because I had to refill it multiple times that evening due to my unanticipated extended stay. I found a huge Whole Foods not too far from Chinatown, where I knew I could use the bathroom, brush my teeth, and take out my contacts before the bus ride. Instead of ice cream I could have had, I got Wallaby pear yogurt and cinnamon-flavored water.
The bus ride back was better than the way there.. the guy next to me got off somewhere before Baltimore, and I slept most of the time. We got to Richmond around 5:00am. My dad wasn't there yet. An African guy waiting said his phone didn't have service and asked to use mine. He left VMs with two people who were probably sleeping. I felt bad leaving when picked up, like maybe we should have offered a ride. I got home and slept til 10. The end.
Ate at the restaurant next door again for breakfast; we both got pancakes. The fruit cup was disappointing... not fresh, probably was in the fridge since yesterday.
Then we were off to MoMA. It was a quick (1.5 hr) visit, but we saw famous paintings, like Van Gogh's "Starry Night," and ones by Gaugin, Picasso, Chagall, and Kandinsky. I'll have to go again with an audio guide.
I went with V to the bus station, and we said our goodbyes. She may be back in the States next year when her friend will be studying in Philadelphia. From there, I took the subway in the wrong direction, but decided I'd explore the W side. I just walked.. without direction. Asked a policeman Lau the best way to get back to the E. Managed to take a bus in the wrong direction, farther west instead of across Central Park. At that point, needed a bathroom. The French resto "Alouette" I saw was closed, so I went to Hunan something or other. Was a mistake to order taro bubble tea: it was just gross. The scallops I ordered came pan-fried and seasoned, pretty good, with brown rice and vegetables. I hate eating at restaurants alone! Then I caught the bus in the right direction, thru Central Park, and went back to the hostel. Took the subway to Chinatown, and figured I had time to get some Chinese snacks and dragonfruit. When I asked a Chinese woman on the street where to buy fruit, she thought I said "food." Then I said "shuiguo." The dragonfruit were $3.00 a piece (could I have negotiated?), and to my dismay when I peeled one a few days later, not sweet. So I thought I was set, waiting for my bus. Guess I was there 4:30. That was a mistake right there, because I remembered afterward how they have two locations, and try to fill up the bus, which they did, without me. I don't see how they can't not keep track of online and on-site purchase of tickets. I kept hearing buses for Philly. Then they said there wasn't room for D.C. -Richmond bus. I asked when the next D.C. (mistake) bus was, and was told in an hour. So I listened to my iPod and watched people go in and out of the gross bathroom. At 6:00 when the next D.C. bus came, I asked about Richmond, and was told frantically, "No, not til 11:00pm." That was a blow right there. I had dropped V off at 12:30. I had expected to be home after 11, and instead wouldn't be leaving til then. I was upset, and called my mom, starting to cry. Then I decided to make light of the situation: I was in NYC, afterall, albeit with a backpack. So I decided to go to Top of the Rock, which V and her friends had done last time. They didn't have a coat check, so had to carry backpack thru there. Unfortunately, my sis' old dig cam with me isn't great, so couldn't take good photos of the city. Then the battery started to die on me. I heard a father and daughter, about 18, speaking French, and spoke with them briefly. I'm rusty, and didn't "stay" with them b/c was intimidated I wouldn't know what else to say. I think they were happy to speak to a francophone American, nonetheless.
Then I had the goal of going to Serendipity, the ice cream parlour after which a movie was named. Don't remember how now, but in my wanderings, came to an across the water "subway" cable car ride, which was good fortune. While waiting, I got hungry. I had read the sign in big letters "NO EATING, DRINKING, SMOKING on this platform" a minute before, yet took out my Chinese snacks and starting munching. Better yet, I was standing against the sign. Great short-term memory I have. Hey, when the need for food arises.. I wondered why a woman kind-of glared at me. The cable car went to Roosevelt Island, where they had an outdoor movie screening of "Hairspray," which I saw in D.C. 2 years ago and didn't care for. French tourists also on that cable ride. I didn't feel like talking anymore.
I made it to Serendipity, but there was a wait line, and since it's a small place, would feel funny eating alone. Viviane joked that I could meet the man of my dreams at the parlor and more chance of that than grocery shopping in Chinatown.
From there I walked a LOT with my backpack, making my way south. I regretted not having bought the unlimited subway pass for $.25 more because I had to refill it multiple times that evening due to my unanticipated extended stay. I found a huge Whole Foods not too far from Chinatown, where I knew I could use the bathroom, brush my teeth, and take out my contacts before the bus ride. Instead of ice cream I could have had, I got Wallaby pear yogurt and cinnamon-flavored water.
The bus ride back was better than the way there.. the guy next to me got off somewhere before Baltimore, and I slept most of the time. We got to Richmond around 5:00am. My dad wasn't there yet. An African guy waiting said his phone didn't have service and asked to use mine. He left VMs with two people who were probably sleeping. I felt bad leaving when picked up, like maybe we should have offered a ride. I got home and slept til 10. The end.
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