Archive for November, 2010
Saturday, November 20th, 2010
This past week was a mixed bag. I was distracted, uncomfortable, tired, happy, excited and a whole lot in between.
So Monday I was in the HR manager’s office to troubleshoot a notebook related matter. I took the opportunity to note my interest if a new position would arise.
I was apparently a bit overexcited and wasn’t very clear. (The position doesn’t currently exist as the work is outsourced.)
She told me to go think about what I wanted to say and come back to her.
A bit deflated, I went to speak to another manager and asked her opinion on how I could articulate my thoughts.
She was great! Gave me some excellent advice.
However, I waited a few days to clear my head and then wrote an email which my colleague edited.
So now I’ve gone and done it! I’ve made my intentions known.
Of course the decision to create the post is not up to me. And they might not believe I’m suitable.
I nevertheless thought of how much things have changed over the last year.
And how much it might change over the next year.
The new position will be very challenging, unlike anything I’ve done before. And there will be educational gaps I will have to fill.
I’m excited to be doing something I never even dared to dream about and afraid that I might fail. Or worse, succeed!
But the process has been set in motion.
I’m proud of myself for daring to take the first step.
It helps to have the support and love of people who believe in me even when I lose a little faith in myself.
Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
Tuesday, November 16th, 2010
I’ve been keeping a low profile where my Mitchell’s Pain, uhmmm I mean Mitchell’s Plain aunty is concerned. What with the wedding coming up at the end of the month and all.
However, two Sundays ago my sister persuaded me to go with her and my mother to a hen party planning tea.
Only in my family, I tell you!
“Not a kitchen tea?” I asked, very surprised that my aunty agreed to anything as informal as a hen party.
I pictured us all – on a Sunday afternoon, naturally – in flowery sundresses (and straw hats with big flowers) around my auntie’s famous dining room table with all sorts of cream cakes and fancy sandwiches. Politely applauding every time my cousin opened a gift.
That of course after secretly partying the night before.
Instead we’re going to a club a week before the wedding and getting down and drunk, or that’s how my aunty described the grand pre-event.
As usual the subjects of conversation varied vastly.
“I want to go on Twitter!” My aunty declared out of the blue.
“What???” we all gasped. “Why???”
“Julius wants to ban Twitter,” she said. “We all have to save it.”
“We must stand together and go on Twitter.”
She vowed to persuade all the ladies at her sewing group to join Twitter.
“Abby, “she asked, “Are you on that Twitter?” She figures I’m the most pc literate of the bunch. And I am, but that doesn’t say much.
“Oh, and what is Twitter?” she asked before I could even answer her original question.
“Uhmmmm,” “Twitter is on the internet.” “And yes, I am on Twitter.”
“You can tell people what you’re doing all day long. Or you can read with famous people are doing all day long.” I tried to give the shortened version. Actually the only version now that I think about it.
“You have interesting things to share?” She asked skeptically! Helloooooo…sometimes. Okay, almost never, but still. Did she need to say that.
“Twitter is like Facebook,” I tried to end the conversation that was getting rather personal.
“In that case, let them ban it,” was her reply.
Posted in mitchells plain | 3 Comments »
Sunday, November 14th, 2010
We humans are weird, I tell you. Or maybe it’s just me.
I already feel like the cat who got the cream, but what if there was more?
Look, I’m contented at home, have my dream job and have put the whole gossip stuff behind me.
(Btw, it was very freeing to let all that stuff go. However I am more careful with my interactions at work now.)
The things that make me happy overtake the bad moments 10:1 on any given day.
Simple things make me smile…
For instance, my sister was complaining to me about my 13 year old niece who refuses to do anything around the house when she’s engrossed in a book. A book I gave her! LOL I’m so proud!
Sharing a private joke with my guy. Amongst a whole lot of ordinary things he does that makes me smile.
Anyway, here’s the crux of the matter.
Can one be to contented with life. Or will the other shoe drop?
Because last week someone mentioned another opportunity that might be opening at work. And I got butterflies! I was that excited.
I just got my dream job this year, would it be greedy to want more. And we’re not talking more money, just a different more challenging portfolio.
Plus I want to keep the exciting parts of my current portfolio.
The two people I spoke to about it suggested I go for it.
But could I handle getting everything I ever wanted from life and in a job?
Weird, hey.
It’s so much easier to get into action mode when the chips are down.
But what happens when things are going well?
Go with the flow and hope for the best?
Geewhizz, I’m a fountain of cliches today.
Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
I was nearly at work this morning when I realised that I had forgotten my cellphone at home! With no choice but to continue onto work, I tried to use positive thinking.
“It’s just one of those lessons in mindfullness.” I tried to convince myself.
“I’m too attached to my phone and that’s not a healthy way to live,” was another justification I tried to use.
“Try thinking positive thoughts,” I kept reminding myself. “Or meditation techniques.”
So I got to my desk and tried watching my breath. But my colleagues were in the mood to chat! Non-stop!
I tried ignoring them by breathing in and out, in and out. To no avail. I felt a rising in panic in my chest.
“I need my freaking phone!!!!!” my unordered mind kept telling me. No hint of peacefulness anywhere to be found.
And then my computer refused to print, because guess what, I have a so-called virus on my computer. WTF…when I have my phone nothing like this happens.
My colleagues kept chattering on…
I started to realise how a junky feels when they need a fix!!!!
I ran the virus scan, got up to make tea, went to visit a few colleagues for a chat. Came back to my desk, checked Facebook on the computer. Checked Google Analytics.
Visited more colleagues for work related chats. Worked on a work related questionnaire. Did some other tasks – but everything took three times longer than usual.
But still in the back of my mind I wanted my cellphone. That extention of myself. I just had to hold it in my hands.
Without my phone time is actually standing freaking still. After what feels like an entire day of work it is only 11.30am!
I came here to blog. Another 10 minutes gone….
This is going to be a long day!
Posted in Life, work | 5 Comments »
Sunday, November 7th, 2010
Well, well, well. Look who’s having his biography published on Monday. None other than previous Proteas coach Mickey Arthur.
The book is entitled Taking the Mickey. Just as inspiring as the man himself.
So far, from extracts in the Sunday Times and on Cape Talk Mickey Arthur has taken shots at:
1. Makhaya Ntini – accussing him of playing the race card when he was dropped in 2008/2009. And saying Mickey and Smith didn’t want black players in the team.
Arthur was apparently hurt by comment. Ag shame!
Funny how it was okay for the Proteas and CSA to use the race card by using Ntini to represent transformation as a success, until it no longer suited them.
2. Herschelle Gibbs for refusing to dislodge himself from a bar and inebrating himself during a tour. Soft target hey. Not an exactly shocking revelation.
3. Norman Arendse for calling him (Arthur) a racist and a bigot. I wonder why.
I bet Graeme Smith won’t be sending his former b#*&h Arthur any SMSes like he did with Gibbs.
Whatever.
I have very little interest in what Arthur has to say. It’s not like he ran that team anyway.
Unlike Herschelle Gibbs’ book, I’m sure we will only read sweet nothings about the Proteas alleged clique.
The bad guys all have tanned skins for some reason. I wonder where Makhaya Ntini would get the idea from that Arthur doesn’t like blacks in the team.
Except Gerald Majola of course.
Posted in Uncategorized | 11 Comments »
