HazyDaze

2 days ago I had to do my own performance review. Yes, do my own. Basically, you have to be thick-skin and write about the last year and how well you have done. It’s really for the end year performance appraisal (aka pay raise or climbing the corporate ladder).

Well, while writing it, I pretended to ask my boss if this was the one with the appraisal, hinting to him that due to the recent events at work, I am not going to write a short simply one. Immediately, he pulled me aside to talk about it. He explained that although the performance appraisal is the company’s way of increasing pay and level, he has spoken to the big boss about my special circumstances. No, not about being pregnant and going away on maternity. But about my recent poach in a rival company who offered me a higher pay.

So, boss wants me to know that he is trying to up my salary to market value instead of the standard pay raise (sometimes known as the “minimum-percentage-increment-for-not-fucking-up-thank-you-very-much”). It really eased my concern that they might not consider it because about 2 weeks after the normal increment announcement, I’ll be going on maternity leave. Apparently, boss and big boss have both discussed this issue. They fear that I might not return after maternity leave and instead seek elsewhere.

With quite a substantial increment, makes me reconsider being a stay home mum. I love money too much. I love the freedom of my own income. Of coz I love the baby just as much. Now, I have to see if I can make it work and how soon am I going back to work.

Of coz, like before, I won’t count my chicken till it hatches. I would like to see that increment in my bank account. No, confirmation letter is not good enough.

Been having bad time at work lately and I have been seriously thinking of taking a whole year off to be with Baby. Before Baby, we were already one man down and I was doing two person’s work. It has since gotten worse.

I not only have to do 2 person’s work, I also have to be “office manager” and “baby sitter”.

Last Friday, Boss flew off for a meeting in another state and I was second in command. I had to attend meetings on his behalf, handle his clients and keep the kids entertained. That is on top of my usual work. He came back on Monday and I gave him a low-down on the meetings and complaint about a particular meeting I co-chaired with another department. The SM in that department was in the meeting with me and I was getting frustrated because she was talking non-stop and even answered on my behalf the questions that client asked me. So many times I had to be abruptly interrupt her and gave my professional opinion on the matter. I told boss that she didn’t need me anyway since she can answer all questions relating to our work. Of course, it was illegal to give advice because she is not qualified. Guess what? That afternoon, she called my Boss and complaint about me. About how I wasn’t helpful in the meeting and kept very quiet. Luckily, my boss told her off. He told her that that wasn’t what he was told. He also warned her that she shouldn’t be giving such advice relating to our work to client. HAH! Goodness, if I haven’t told my boss about her in the morning, he might be thinking I am only giving excuses. But still, boss agrees she tends to be a chatterbox and know-it-all during meetings.

The whole week at work have been really stressful with the workload. Today, I snapped at boss. It all started in the morning when the kids screwed up the system and was all stressed out. Boss wasn’t around in the morning and I had to deal with it and do damage control while trying to calm the kids down. Then before lunch, boss returned and I told him what had happened and he flipped. He was swearing and jumping around fuming mad even after I told him I had a temporary solution to tie us over until the system is up and running again. I remained calm thru-out. But he made me more stressed. I took an extended lunch break and when I came back… I lost it.

Boss wasn’t helpful when he handled me his work causing clients to be pissed off at me. I asked him for more details only to be more frustrated with him. He continued to hand me more work and I completely lost it. I slam my file shut and he said, “You looked crossed.” And I yelled, “I AM!” Got out of my seat and walked to the photocopy machine. I noticed there was a lot of people looking my direction. I hear my admin lady (sitting beside me) telling boss that I have been very stressed especially today and to “lay off”. While trying to contain my rage, he came to the copy room and tried to make peace. I really don’t want to see his face but didn’t want to cause a commotion. I said, “Don’t worry. I’ll deal with it.” Guess what? He had the cheeks to say that all of us are stressed and blah blah blah… I lost it again and yelled, “ARGH! OKAY! I SAID I’LL DEAL WITH IT.” He walked out and the kids in the room was looking rather concerned and even offered to let me cut the queue. One of the girls asked if I was alright and I smiled.

Walking back to my desk, one of the kids came to offer help. I guess she heard me. But there is little the kids can do for me. In the next half hour or so, Boss kept coming to me and tried to make peace. He really don’t understand that I really don’t want to see his face as it will make my blood boil. I told Co later in the evening about it and she reckons that at home, he has to grovel and beg for forgiveness from his wife. For me, you have to leave me alone to cool off.

I left work early today and went for my prenatal yoga. I am actually more relax at class and realised that I rather spend time with Baby. I have decided that I am going to write a brilliant appraisal for myself and ask for a pay raise in July even though after that I would be going on Maternity Leave. I am going to tell Boss that if the money is not satisfactory, I might consider returning after my maternity leave and even seek my worth elsewhere.

So, as of today, I am looking forward to my maternity leave. Maybe I should be looking forward to my holiday in SunnyLand at the end of the month first. Whatever it is, I am looking forward to be NOT at work. See if he die without me. See if he can do and extra 3 person’s work. GOOD LUCK!

I had the worst day yesterday at work. Not my morning sickness but work related.

I struggled the whole day and was completely stressed out. My fone rang and I answered. It turned out to be a HR from a rival company asking if I am interested in going for an interview for a similar position.

I realised I have been head-hunted. I asked where he heard of me. He said that I came highly recommended by the people in the market. HUH?

So, I agreed to see them tomorrow morning. Not that I am unhappy with my current job but my work is really specialised and only way to know my market’s worth is to go for such opportunities to find out.

Will be taking the whole day off tomorrow. Morning interview, afternoon doctors appointments.

Have I mentioned that my office is currently very “Productive”? I don’t mean as in efficiency. I mean as in Pregnancy.

There are a lot of women pregnant in my office lately. The number is shocking. The last I counted, there was a total of 6 girls pregnant in the half of 4th Floor.

I went to a Birthday party of a colleague on Saturday and another colleague announced that she is 12 weeks pregnant. Because she is an Admin Assistant and damn free, she said that she counted and there is a total of 9 pregnancy this year in the office. She is Number 9.

I reckon I am Number 10 since the year is coming to an end and I haven’t heard anything otherwise.

I’ve been telling my boss that I believe its the water. I am contemplating on putting up a sign at the water cooler - “Drink at your own risk”.

Dad called me today and ask me to do BS a favour - Dad wanted me to bottle my office water and courier it back for BS or NL.

Hehee… I might consider.

BS, you want or not?

Apparently more and more people knows/suspects I’m pregnant.

I didn’t tell anyone or puke in public. I just came back from my floor Xmas party. I wasn’t drinking a drop of alcohol. And that causes suspicion. DAMN!

2 weeks ago, there was a mini function at the office with free booze. I didn’t drink.

People then was already suspecting but I merely said I was driving later.

KL says I have a reputation for drinking and if I didn’t, people suspect something is wrong. But in my defense, when anyone ask why am I not drinking, I always say I am driving. Most people know my stand on drinking and driving so they usually stop further questioning.

I’m no alcoholic. Really! I never got pissed drunk in an office function. However, I had to admit that there was once I had a bottle of cold refreshing beer at my desk after 5pm on a Friday afternoon. That was because I was with everyone at the office drinking until I remember I had to send out an important email before heading home. I didn’t want to waste good beer so I brought it along with me back to my desk. It’s not my fault if people saw me with my beer. It was already after office hours, technically.

There, I simply refuse to admit I have a reputation.

I went for a 4 hours lunch today. At this fancy place called, “The Point“.

I started with a glass of sparkling wine, then white, followed by red and ended with a dessert wine.

I had nearly 4 glasses of different wine. Well, nearly, 4. I barely finished the dessert wine.

I went back to the office at 4.30pm. But I left the office at 6.45pm. Yes, in my drunken state, I continued to work.

I have a headache now. Hangover start before sunrise.

I am going to bed now.

*The restaurant is very nice and the food is fantastic. I must bring KL there.

Boss came to me today and told me that his neighbour went to Crazy John’s funeral.

Apparently, he came back and told my boss this:

“The service was okay but the reception was bad.”

WAH LAU!

I am addicted to my Nintendo DS Lite that I wish I have more time with it.

I even hid in the office toilet today and played with my Nintendogs. Hahaa.

Hi, I’m a Nintendo DS Lite addict.

This is not a good week. To think that my boss and admin person is away, I can skive. I wish!

Plus, I am getting shit from everyone. ARGH! Looking forward… looking forward…

Last month, I went Addy for work for a couple of days. As previously mentioned, I only saw the hotel and the airport. So, stop asking me how was Addy.

So this is the picture of my really crappy room. Its supposed to be a 5 star hotel - The Hilton. One word to describe it - *Pui!

The shower. I have seen some HDB flats with nicer shower.

The highlight of the room.

By the way, being asian, whenever I enter a room/house, I always remove my shoes. For this hotel, I paved the floor with spare towels from the door to the bed. I know I can wear my shoes inside but I only brought my work shoes and I have been on my heels the whole damn day already. Stupid hotel don’t even have those disposable slippers. Even China have those!

To make matters worse, my window has no view. It is on the same level as the tennis court. As in, if i open the window, I can actually walk out into the tennis court. Or rather, if I didn’t draw my curtain, people playing tennis would be looking at me.

This entry serves as a reminder to NEVER book myself in this crappy hotel on company’s expense.

I was in Addy for work for a couple of days.

People asked me how was it.

I said, “I only saw the hotel and the airport.”

My boss asked me today when am I having kids. This is not the first time he’s asked. I really wonder why.

Anyway, his enquires made me more upset day by day that I realised I might not be pregnant with a healthy child soon.

Another thing to add to my long list of ‘Things I regret not doing before I die’.

Oh my god, I finished the book. I can’t help feeling sad.

Earlier today, I cancel my lunch appointment to go to “The Hut” with the cube gang. They were pretty much disgusted with me but I couldn’t be bothered.. I wanted to stay in for lunch and attempt to finish my book. Yes, I know, it screams “LOSER!” So they left giving me the ‘evil eye’.

Jeremy came to ask me out for lunch and he had that vein throbbing in the middle of his high forehead, I knew he was stressed. And with Kenny away today, I abandoned my book and went lunch with him. Upon returning, I was looking forward to continuing my read. But my book was gone from my desk. No one else was at the cube. I saw my boss in his room, door closed and on the fone. He looked pretty stressed - perhaps he’s on the fone with his crazy wife. I ran to the other end of the cube and asked the PA if she knew where is my book. Laughing, I said, “He who stole my book, will die a horrible death.”

By the time, slowly some of the people came back from “The Hut” and I told them about my book. They think it’s funny and was sure it was a practical joke. I’m sure of it too. I yelled, “But my bookmark… I won’t know where I read until..” Everything thought THAT was funny. I wasn’t joking.

They asked me if it was my boss and I defended him by saying, “But he is not funny that way.” Everyone laughed again. Seemed like everything I said was hilarious. The last part of the gang came back and also thought it was my boss. Someone shouted, “He is not funny that way.” Everyone roared into a hilarious fit.

We searched everywhere including one of the boys sitting near me. Everyone from the cube returned except him. I suspected him coz he was the only one around when I left for lunch, but we already searched his bag and drawers. I gave up, waiting for him to return. Sitting down, planning to call KL about the missing book, one of the girls yelled out and said that Nick had it. He hid it behind his computer. Brilliant I thought. Everyone had a good laugh and I wrote a note - “YOU ARE A DEAD MAN!!” and pasted it on his computer and then left for a meeting.

I came back from meeting only to realised Nick just came back 1 minute before me and asked who left him the note. Apparently, he had forgotten about practical joke and left for a meeting. Hahaa..

Funniest practical joke ever.

My Harry Potter adventure day haven’t even ended when I returned from an office meeting with a bottle of beer and sat at my desk reading away. It was close to the ending. People soon returned back getting ready to go home. Rose, one of the kids, walked by me and scream, “OH MY GOD!!! YOU ARE SUCH A LOSER!! CAN’T BELIEVE YOU ARE MISSING DRINKS JUST TO SIT HERE AND READ HARRY POTTER!! I DON’T KNOW YOU!!”

I explained that I had a bottle of beer accompanying me and that makes me less a nerd. Still, I have to agree with her since I’m not upstairs gulping large quantity of free alcohol.

Soon, more people returned and I merely explained that I’m just waiting for my husband to pick me up. That was less humiliating.

My boss is a crazy fan of Harry Potter and finished the book in a day. Due to the harry potter maddness in the office and his way of encouraging me to finish it, he wore his potter glasses today.

He told me that he won’t be in the office tomorrow and I will have time to read my book (in the office). He doesn’t realise that I’m busier without him in the office.

The kids in my office have been coming to my desk and chatting with me. They call me “Big Sister” - but not in a gangster manner.

Kenny, one of the boys, have been coming to my desk and “stealing” my fruits. On Friday, before I left for home, I left my mandarin at his desk because I didn’t have a chance to eat it and didn’t want it to go to waste.

Monday morning, I came to work and saw this. It says, “Hi Hazy, Do you speak Mandarin?” Hahaa… it cured my Monday blues straight away.

Everyone who walked by my desk thinks its hilarious. I took MC for a couple of days and discovered this on my shelves when I returned.

The girl mandarin says, “Hi, I’m your new friend.”

The other bigger mandarin says, “Hi, I’m your future you. Get well soon.”

I have since left the following in Kenny’s drawer:

- a banana with a note saying, “Hi, I’m straight!”

- a Kiwi Fruit saying, “Hi, I’m Hairy Potter!”

This morning while fighting in the car, we saw many police car zooming pass us.

I arrived at work and rushed to a meeting straight away only to return back to my desk after 9.30.

Waiting in my inbox was this internal email:

Shooting in Melly CBD

News has just come through of a triple shooting in the CBD this morning. The incident took place near the corner of William Street and Flinders Lane and the perpetrator/s have not yet been detained.

All Partners and staff are advised to stay clear of that area until further notice and note that traffic will be totally blocked in the immediate area of the incident.
We will provide more detail as it comes to hand.

What a commotion! Shortly after, dad called me to tell me about it. Its on CNN.

Pearly wants me. Melly knows it. So, its asking a high price for me. Yes, they are still pimping me out.

Yesterday, I was told that Melly big boss told Pearly big boss that I’m too valuable to go for 3 months.

*Pui! Melly is playing hard to get.

Today, I heard that Melly is asking 3 times my worth. Have to see if Pearly wants me that badly or not.

Btw, I have a 10% pay increment. WHOO HOOOO!!!!

I’ve received news that our office in Pearly really wants me and has offered me a 3 months secondment to their office. Its great news because it would be good for my career.

The bad news is, they want me for the whole of the 3 months and my boss is really stressed about it. Because there is no one else to backfill for me here in Melly. In addition, my admin clerk is telling him that she is only part time and not going to do my work while I’m away.

KL is pretty supportive with it. I’m alright I guess. It’s work and really bo piang. But I think I will be able to come back every weekend or every other weekend. SHE told her boss that I have a husband in Melly and its not fair for me. She told me that her boss wants me so badly, this is probably one of his ploy to get me over, even if its temporary. In fact, he is insisting to get KL a job there based on his many contacts.

To top that, Sinny been telling my boss that I’m really good and boss is worried that they are trying to poach me too. It’s really great to know that everywhere wants a piece of me. Hehee…

I spoke to SHE’s boss yesterday and he “officially” offered me the secondment. He sounds like a nice person, jovial type. He said, ” What if I give you an offer too good to refused?” and laughed away. I wasn’t sure if he was joking so I laughed and said, “You haven’t even met me yet!”

I told KL about it, he said if the offer is really good, he would quit and go Pearly to be tai tai. KANASAI!!! That’s my dream! Co says that if they are buying me a house in Pearly, I should consider. SIAO! If they buy me a house, I go straight away.

Anyway, other than SHE and her boss in Pearly that is really happy I’m coming, my dad is also too. In fact, he has been looking into cheap airfare to join me there. I told him to shut up about my secondment in Pearly because I know my relatives (including, Sharon) would want to come along if they knew. Pearly is like a second home to my family. Really, you have no idea.

I don’t know if I would really be going Pearly. If it is confirmed, I would probably go pretty immediately. They basically need Okays from 3 person. Me, my boss and my boss’s boss. Apparently, my boss’s boss is negociating a price for me. Yes, KL says that Melly office is “pimping” me out. Boss says that if they offer me a good price to go Pearly, Melly office would actually earn money by “selling” me to Pearly office for 3 months. WHAT THE HELL???

So, that’s the story of my life. I would like to go for a short while. Just to see how is Pearly like. The last time I was there, I was only 16 years old. I think the weather would be warmer. It’s much closer to Sunnyland, which can be good and bad. It’s nice to know whereever I go, there will be a job for me. But I think at the end of the day, KL likes Melly, so I guess it is likely we’re staying poot (haha).

I received in a long chinese email this morning at work. I have no clue what it said. Luckily, they was an English translation at the bottom.

Sent it to Co for laughs. She wrote back and said, ” You do realise that you are part of the ‘China Team’ right?”

I emailed her back, “PUI!”

Co replied, “I’m not joking. Scroll down.”

“Please forward this to the China Team”

I wrote to Co, “Craps! I can’t even read the first line. Let alone understand.”

Co emailed back with this:

“Tats alright. U’re still part of the china team. They love you and will overlook your ’shortcomings’. They might just make you china team leader, for your ability to chit chat with them and attend long dinners with them. Hehehehehe *snigger*”

ARGH!

Today is my 1st anniversary at work.

I can’t believe I survived 1 year.

Oh, and I’ve been employed for 1 whole year - how come I still feel poor?