Still Alive

It's almost a week since I started work as a Purchaser. Think I'm getting used to wearing a shirt and pants again... meaning I don't sweat as much getting to work and getting home. Either that or I've adapted by lowering my metabolic activity (and speed) whenever I am out of range of air conditioning.

Work wise... it can get really busy and the volume of orders are way way higher than I have been used to. What's more, the amount of paperwork is simply intense! Even though we live in a high-tech electronic society, we somehow cannot seem to avoid reverting to paper as a reliable form of backup.

I was so used to having a free reign in doing ordering of goods. I switched suppliers as and when I liked (depending on their attitude) and I tried to maintain as little paperwork as possible to save on filing space. Almost all my backups were on the computer in the form of Word or Excel files. Now, the computer system specifies only one supplier per item and if you want to switch a supplier for any reason (eg. usual supplier has no stocks), you have to go through at least 5 pieces of paper, 4 signatures and at least 30 minutes of extra work. And once the regular suppliers' stocks come in, you have to go through the same procedures in reverse to switch back, unless for some reason, it's more beneficial to stick with the new supplier.

Still, I am quite happy with all the extra work. It's what I felt was lacking in my previous job... Order and Proper Procedures. I guess it's how my mind is wired. I can't stand chaos and disarray. I like things neatly arranged and in line. (That's why I was so happy in the army. Regimental discipline!) I can be flexible when the situation requires me to be but I'd rather follow rules and procedures. Don't ask me why. It's just the way I am.

Ok... I admit I'm an order freak. I remember freaking She She out when she saw me rearranging some messed up candy bars while shopping at the supermarket. She said I had an obsessive compulsive behaviour. I don't think that's justified though. My freakiness only shows up selectively. My room's a mess most of the time. I tidy it up only once in a couple of months when my mind goes into neat freak mode and I can't sleep until the room is clean and everything is neatly in place.

*Theme song from Psycho*

Ok... enough about my obsession. The point is... I'm really happy with the new job. Perhaps it's still early and people are still taking things easy with me but my greatest joy is that I do not have to worry about anything other than a single purpose... Purchasing. No more juggling between roles. And it's really great to work in a company with AN ACTUAL HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT. I'm going to be sent from AN ORIENTATION next month. I see my name on the company intranet staff directory ON MY FIRST DAY OF WORK. What's more, that same day, the company call centre called looking for me to inform me that they were informed of my presence in the company and they wanted to know my phone extension so that calls for me can be transferred appropriately. PLUS... two days into the job, my department head puts in a request for name cards and a name stamp for me. These are things that make an employee feel welcome and important. Something which was missing in my last workplace.

Ok... on the downside... my nametag is a makeshift one with my name printed on a sticker but I was promised a proper one once my probation is over. Best thing is... my name tag gets me a 10% discount at the foodcourt in the building. Heh heh. Yes... the building has a decent foodcourt and not one but TWO different types of coffee joints.

What's more... I have a direct bus service from home which is only a 15-20 minute ride away (depending on traffic conditions). Weeeee!!!

Now I know how Weng felt when he got his new job after leaving us. Thanks by the way... this was one of the job openings that you shoved in my face. Heh heh.

Doo di doo di doooooo....

In other news, I've decided to stop greeting my father. He only replies to about 5% of my greetings. Here are some typical senarios:

Senario 1: TV's more interesting.
Me: Hi Dad.
Him: ... (Eyes doesn't leave the TV)

Senario 2: Computer's more interesting
Me: Hi Dad.
Him: ... (Eyes doesn't leave the computer)

Senario 3: What was that buzzing noise?
Me: Hi Dad.
Him: ... (Looks at me and back at the TV/Computer)


When he does respond verbally, it's not always a greeting in return:

Senario 1: Tech Support
Me: Hi Dad.
Him: The computer keeps hanging. Do you have the windows CD?

Senario 2: Cleaner
Me: Hi Dad.
Him: Your dogs made a mess.


And today's silence inducing response...

Senario 3: Maintainance
Me: Hi Dad.
Him: The (new) washing machine you bought doesn't work properly.


Ok... to be fair... he does occassionally ask if I've had my dinner and when he does cook, he usually makes it a point to cook extra for me. Still... those are painfully rare and the majority of his responses (or lack of response) really has dug a deep and wide chasm between us.

Needless to say, I am not close to my father.

Ok... back to studying. Took a longer break than I expected writing today's entry. Clinical Biochemistry Exam tomorrow morning. I bought a text book in a desperate attempt to achieve understanding of the subject but I am still just as lost. Looks like nothing short of being possessed by the ghost of some Genius Biochemist during the paper is going to help me get good grades.

Bleh...!

Back in the Rat Race

It looks like my days of sleeping in till noon are disappearing again for quite some time. I've managed to get a job with a private (human) hospital as a Purchaser. It's an admin position so I'll be back in the corporate world which I've abandoned 5 years ago upon entering the veterinary health care industry.

It feels so weird to be wearing shirt and pants again after 5 years of jeans and t-shirts. When I first started wearing a shirt (for interviews), I found myself unbearably uncomfortable, especially with a tie on. The heat was my major bane. While making my way from one destination to another in a shirt and pants, I found myself ducking into air-conditioned buildings whenever and wherever I could. Also, it's a major pain in the butt trying to make sure that your clothes stay wrinkle free and neat before you even get to meet your interviewer. As soon as the interviews were over, my sleeves went up and the top button came unbuttoned... something that I can foresee happening in the near future after work everyday.

Despite the discomfort, I'm quite happy to have gotten a job finally. Some might say that just slightly over a month is not such an unbearably long time to be unemployed but I beg to differ. To me, it was EXCRUCIATINGLY LONG. I have not been without a job since I finished my stint with the army. In fact, the time gap between jobs was never more than 12 hours. I started my first job with the finance company while I was clearing my leave with the army, and I started working at the clinic the day after my last day with the finance company. Furthermore, one of my immediately family members was, until recently, unemployed for more than a year and I simply refuse to fall into the same situation.

Still, by accepting this job, I have made a choice that any plans or ideas I've had for pursuing my dream job (which, to-date, I'm still not sure exactly what it is) will be shelved again. It's a constant battle of being practical and being true to your passion and once again, practicality comes out victorious.

I guess that in order for me to be adequately motivated and committed to pursuing my dream career, I have to first figure out what it is. So if anything, I mostly have myself to blame for being too indecisive. (The rest of the blame falls on fate. Heh heh.)

Besides a new job offer, here is a quick summary of my recent life events:

1. Just completed the presentation on SLE yesterday. Worked on the PowerPoint from 12am-7am but the end result was oh so worth it. Good job guys!
2. Lost a good classmate to bureaucracy crap.
3. Gave up trying to keep myself updated on the en-bloc saga happening in the estate.
4. Overcame claustrophobia (Gasp!!!) briefly by forcing myself to squeeze into the recent PC show at Suntec during rush hour on the event's last day with Weng. Rewarded myself for my achievement by buying (on impulse) a brother Laser printer/copier/scanner.
5. Sat through a 6-hour long SpongeBob-A-Thon (Recorded) last Saturday. Thank you DVR.
6. Celebrated mum's 60th birthday by bringing her to No.3 Crab Delicacy with Dad, Weng, Kimmie and Voon. Butter Sauce Crab and Claypot Crab Noodle Rocks!!!
7. Caught Pirates of the Caribbean and Shrek 3 at the movies. Pirates wasn't as bad as the critics said it was. Full of action and the occasional laugh.

Ok. That's all for today. Have to catch up with all the sleep I've lost the past 2 weeks though I've been told that you cannot actually catch up on sleep... meh... who cares? After all, less care and concern = less worry.

I really believe that ignorance is bliss.