“Fun”

Now don't get the wrong idea about the word "fun". What I want to say here is that things are getting "fun" at work. 

It's the period of planning for the new fiscal year and there are many many ideas floating around about what new things we should be doing. Challenge here is that many tasks that had become "biz as usual" have become accepted as a cultural norm and cannot be removed even as they become underrated and under appreciated. And yearly, we are asked to develop new ideas and tasked to take on new and more initiatives (that we do not necessarily agree with). I do not think this process is wrong per se. But this time round, it gets utterly crazy when the workload and responsibilities gets more than doubled, and no additional headcount is given and the budget cut by half... 

Crazy is the word. Overwhelmed is how we feel. Positively, I thank the recognition and the acknowledgment that my team can deliver but there is only so far positivity can get me and my team going. Things are getting fun...

Indeed.

Not a good year

According to the Chinese zodiac, this will be the second consecutive bad year for those born in the Year of the Horse.

The negative predictions include Horse people will experience ill health and falls if not careful. And whether it’s a coincidence or not, I had a super bad fall last week. Bad enough to have multiple bloodied cuts and bruises on my buttocks, knee and elbow. I also suffered several days of body aches and pains. On top of that, I had non-stop diarrhea on the first few days of Chinese New Year. Even today, I still have one or two runs daily. Whether the fall and the diarrhea are related I am not sure. I think I’ll have to seek medical help if this go on.

Sheer coincidence? I don’t know. Whatever the case may be, it’s better to err on the safe side when it comes to safety and health. And oh, Day 7 of the Lunar New Year is commemorated as the Day of Man (人日) and is considered every man’s birthday. So,

Happy birthday everyone!

Mother of ironies

America was great until the MAGA came about. America will never be the same again after 45.

Lunar New Year 2021

This is the first time since my mum’s passing in 2015 that I’m decorating my place for Lunar New Year. Been a while... Happy Lunar New Year to one and all. May this new year of the Ox be a better one for all!

Spring cleaning II

By right, we should have completed spring cleaning by now (it should have been done before 23rd day of last lunar month of the year, before we send the gods back to heaven - well, that’s according to Taoist practice and that’s what my mum did years ago).

But these days, I am not too sure who else observe such practices. I’m a more practical person and I do my cleaning on weekends, regardless of day of lunar month. Heh... and today, I threw away many correspondences of mine since the 80s. Frankly, I had been doing that over the years and as I do, I would retain those that I could not bear to discard. So, only those that reminded me of defining moments and people really close to me stood the test of time. Until today. Frankly, it as nice to see these artefacts again - the annual birthday cards, my 21st birthday cards, hand written letters, photos, thank you cards from people whose lives I’ve touched and whom I had made an impact, etc. I decided to discard most of them today. It was not easy, being a dead sentimental person that I am. But I must say - once I cross the psychological barrier and start throwing one, the rest became easier. I still keep a couple of items. But I do believe they will go one day, just not today. I certainly felt a lot lighter after the whole process. Once done, I will start wiping, mopping, cleaning etc. the whole works. 

And yes, I had also packed and move my mum’s bed to the storeroom, discard quite a bit of old clothes, donated most, rearranged my cupboard and it’s content, cleaned and pack my cabinets, etc etc. And this morning, I reached into the depth of my cabinet and took out the ang cai (a piece of red banner that is supposed to ward off evil and welcome good tidings after the gods leave the house) and hung it at my front door. Have not done it since my mum’s passing but I thought it’s about time I start to observe lunar new year more deliberately. 

It’s a good workout for a Saturday!

Tossing your salad

Well... I just found out "tossing the salad" is a slang for rimming. 

OMG. 

And in Asia, tossing the salad is something we do every lunar new year! And I really mean - tossing the salad - in all its literal sense!