Ladiladida

2 SMSes, Saturday night and Sunday evening. Set the tone for Monday. My goodness, it is gonna be one helluva Monday. Buzzing with activity I assume. Gonna start from the word go. Before that, I shall get some sleep.

Damn it, I haven't completed my appraisal documentation. Oh well. :P

Inverse

I think my exam results have an inverse relationship with the amount of time I put into studying. Now, with my busy schedule this year and lack of holidays and annual leave to study, I received suprisingly better than usual results. Funny. Very funny.

Perhaps I thrive in adversity? That would be ideal but I think that's wishful thinking.

I just started on something new. Very exciting. Yes. This is so cool. From scratch. Yay!

Definitions

Now, in my books, emailing, following-up via emails, news scanning, printing and reading articles are not really work work. So with this definition, I actually stopped working at 9.30 p.m.

15 minutes a day is a good enough improvement :P

Step by Step

Left at 9.45 p.m., inching towards 9 p.m. by end of the week perhaps?
Baby steps, baby steps.

At least I can sleep earlier tonight.

Stuck

An earlier than usual Friday night. They walked out of the lift, separate directions unlike if it was a later night. And he noticed a slight figure, her hands pulling at something, struggling to take it away from the jaws of the tightly closed lift. He recognised her, she was the same girl who struggled with her laptop in the mornings walking from the open space car park into the building. At least twice he saw her struggling with that.

He walked over. Tried pressing buttons to see if the lift is the next one to open up for human traffic. But it did not. He then held out his hand, and offered his helped as she slowly let go of the object to his firm hands. Slowly with an up and down outward motion, he carefully extracted the black metal rimmed notebook, trying hard not to damage it. They couldn't speak to each other, the sound of industry strength drills emanated through the lobby, chipping away. But she mouthed a big thank you and he, a no worries.

He remembered that he left something so he stepped into the next open lift. And she did too. And so did someone else. In the what was supposed to be a silent trip up, she giggled continuously, finding the whole incident amusing. He felt slightly uncomfortable, for the other occupant must have thought he did something silly. She walked out halfway through. As the lift sped up to the top, he wondered, how on earth do you get a notebook stuck between the elevator door?

Deja Vu?

She studied him. Yet she couldn't read him. A confident person but one who does not let strangers into his mind. A strong voice, masculine. Mannerism which belies his young age. A conviction of the mind yet is there a heart somewhere in this battle weary soldier of fortune?

The evening ambled along and as they parted. She wondered, "Did I know him before?"

Oversized

He walks into a secured section of the building. The glare of white fluorescent dulls the colour of the air. Sound of an office, tapping iof keyboards, shuffles of paper, conversations, soft. He sat in a room overlooking the city. The evening moves along, little vehicles queing ant-like, weaving along the streets heading to sugar-heaven, or maybe a warm home or a night of debauchery. Each with their destination, their addiction which they do not know of.

The person he wanted to see walked in. But came along a petite lady too. In an oversized coat. And a party of people. He had no sense of her age, it was confusing. He could usually tell. Their eyes met. Locked for a split second. Thick rimmed glasses, straight brown hair to the shoulders. And the discussion was carried out. He tried engaging the room, at the same moment she listened attentively, with the sort of confident non-intrusive manner. It was comforting in a challenging situation.

He caught her name. But he never knew who she was. And may never know. Maybe.

Treading On Your Path

A Year Ago

Physical

Physically tired. I think I need to sleep in this weekend. And oh use my discount vouchers on a couple of books, this is the last weekend to use it. And shoes.

Hmm, maybe I shall call it a day earlier than usual. Was chatting with a colleague yesterday night about cutting the habit of working till 10 p.m. at least. It is not an old habit, but it has been like this since end of May.

9 p.m.? 8 p.m.?

We'll see. Now, back to some interesting decision-making process. :D

Block

Am stuck. Need to frame this but nothing is clicking even though I know it well. Erm, framing block? It hasn't been a good day except for the nice wedges and sandwich (found a decent sandwich place, good when I am on the go and when I am in that area) for lunch. Environment is changing a bit, for better or worse I do not know. All I know is I must put in my worth, and that I am supposed to start imposing my personality, whatever that means. Actually, I know what that means. However, I must tread carefully and always be prepared for all eventualities.

Back to my mental block. Now, I know what the variables are and I have analysed it over and over again using various methods and approach. I know I need more information. I have to decide what the parametres are first. Then move to decide how I can fill up the informational needs for preliminary recommendations. I should not look too far into the future and worry about other linkages and issues. Must concentrate. Must must must.

Late Nights

You know you should call it a day when you knock into a pillar which has always been there.

I need a vacation yet I don't feel like I want one. Makes sense?

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Narrowed it down.

Option 1
Pros
Cheapest.
Low fuel consumption
Discount
Quick delivery due to available stock
Cons
Gearbox known to give problems/whining sound
Insulation (sound)
No safety test records (but used in Japan too)

Option 2
Pros
Only 3k more than Option 1(5k more if discount taken into account)
Better torque
6 stars Japanese NCAP, 4 stars frontal and 5 stars side for US NHSTA.
More spacious
More solid and better build quality
Newer product - 2 years worldwide while Option 1 has been around for 5 years with facelift nearly 2 years ago
Cons
1-2 months waiting period
More expensive
Seats not that comfy

Option 3
Extras compared to Option 2: Better seats, electronic retracting mirrors, lights for visor mirror, map light, overhead storage (sunglasses size), front and rear armrest, wood trim, foldable rear seats
Pros
Better torque
6 stars Japanese NCAP, 4 stars frontal and 5 stars side for US NHSTA.
Spacious
More solid and better build quality
Cons
10k more than Option 1
5k more than Option 2
1-2 months waiting period

Any opinions welcomed.