Feels like an idiot

I don't know why am I working so hard, when people don't even appreciate it.
I am working in an no-man-land, whereby I don't belong to any department now.
It is a dangerous situation, because the operation between departments are not transparent, hence no one knows what I am working on, and why am I so busy.

I am actually killing some of the potential issues way before any of them got it. I handled the sales and technical supports, which are where problems are first reported. I usually figured out by then, which department would be pulled into the picture, and if I am also involved in those departments, I would reply those requests before it reaches to those departments, based on my knowledge.

And today, I was blamed that I did not follow the procedure of the engineering department, just because our sales rep was too efficient, by sending her requests to various departments... and just because I identified the need for engineering work, while replying the requests from the technical support role, and take the initiative to pick up the engineering work at the same time.

Heck, this is the first time the HQ have someone coming in here for cross-functional training. Just because your old junky process doesn't accommodate this, doesn't mean that the person isn't doing the right thing. Process are man-made, though men should follow the process, but we also ought to realise that the process should be flexible to adapt through time.

I have to say, those engineers are too busy following their procedures, and logging down the work they have done, than putting their hands on the work itself. I am typically handling 3-5 different jobs, each with the complexity touches more than 3 departments, yet I still have time to attend all the meetings, and have time to stop by some colleagues' desks for short chats. While those engineers who handle 3-5 projects, all within their job scope, finding it hard to take on anything more...

May be I haven't dug deep enough...

Anyway, the engineering department already has their own issue to deal with. As a guest, I think what I can do now, is just to follow their process.

Ambank Online Banking

Not sure if you can see the message above, click on it to view the original picture. It said:

Kindly be informed that the AmOnline will not be available daily between 11.45pm to 06.00am. Thank you for banking with Ambank Group.

This happens every so often, it makes me wonder what is the purpose of having online banking?

And worse still, how about their overseas customers? Do I have to wake up in the middle of the night to do the banking?

Malaysia really boleh...

Sweet November

Still in the recovery process, but I decided to take a morning jog in a cold windy November morning.

The rain yesterday reminded me of UK, the cloudy weather today reminded me more of UK. The lingering wind stiring the fallen leaves, it is not as strong as those in UK yet.

The jog turned into a walk when I came into the woods.

I love walking in the woods, especially in a quiet morning like this. The air is so fresh, that when you inhale, it pinches your sinus. The trees shiver in the wind, while the leaves seem to enjoy the dynamics and made sound as if they were clapping happily, it even sounded as if they were welcoming your visit. The energetic splash from the river brings sweet rhythm. No more sprinkling system noise at people's backyard.

Eventhough there isn't any sunlight to glaze the path gold, you get leaves to colour it. Red, yellow, brown, purple, all fell onto the deep green grass. I never appreciate purple that much, until I come here. Unlike gold, it gives you a majestic, opulent, yet down to earth feeling.

The scenery also becomes clearer. The bridge that is few turns away, is now so clear in front of you.

If summer is about joy, I think winter is about setting a target for next year. Because this is the time you can see through the woods... although this is just the early winter...

This is something you can't get in the steel forests, you can only get reflection of yourself through the mirrors and windows, it is like entering a maze, and there is no way out.

Greeting Winter with Flu

Daylight saving has just started a week ago, and I am down with flu.
It gone from mere migraine to sore throat to running nose, till totally down in bed.

I hate how Americans cover their cold by telling people they have allergies. Because when I interacted with them, I felt the virus attack, because of the bad breaths from the illness, which pinch my throat.

I don't know how come there are so many people having allergies here, but over the summer, when I exercised a lot, my body was way more healthy. The stupid flu attacked me when I am unable to exercise now, thanks to the short daylight.

I hope to recover as soon as possible, so that it won't affect my trip to the east coast over the Thanksgiving.

At times like this, I am really thankful that I am in the US office, cause I don't need to take medical certificate to proof that I am ill, and entitled a day off work. I can just tell the boss that I am ill, purchase any flu medicine from the supermarket, and stay at home to recover.

But I still have to go to work tomorrow, because I already took last Friday off due to migraine, work load piled up, and I need to get it done before the vacation. Just that I can take it easier than if I were in Malaysia.

Long Live the Smoke Alarm

After listening to my neighbour's dog barking at 4am on Friday morning, suffered migraine due to lack of sleep, which also affected my sleep on Friday night, had a very busy Saturday... When Saturday came to an end, the day light saving finally started!

Just when I thought I finally "earned" one extra hour of sleep, the dang smoke alarms woke me up at 4am with beeping sound every 20-30 seconds. I have two in my house! -___-!

I tried reset it, it won't help. I slept with ear plugs, the only thing that made me feel good was, I hope my neighbour's dog heard it. Because I really hated the Americans with dogs -- To me, if you don't know how to control the behaviour of your dog, then don't own one. That dang dog bark when sees car passing by, heard me playing violin, and most importantly, when the owner leaves the house, which is the worst offence, because it would bark for 2-3 hours non-stop.

I woke up first thing in the morning rushing out to get batteries. But the darn smoke alarm won't stop blinking, and still beeping away after replacing the new batteries.

Googled for the manual to reset it, but only good enough to get rid of the beep, the flashing red blink still going on until now.

I tried disconnect it from the mains, took away the battery, man, the darn smoke alarm was like having a life of its own, it continues to beep, as if taunting me for being so naive, thinking it would be quiet by unplugging it.

Anyway, I am going to let it blink, until the next beeping event occurs. For the time being, I am not keen to contact the management, as it takes them forever to solve problems. Especially the front desk lady, who spends long time chatting with young and handsome tenants, and ignoring others. She even told me -- I am busy with XXX, if you can wait, I will be with you in a minute. I waited for 15 mins, hearing her trying to ask that guy out, and how that guy just wanted to get things done and got out of there. I gave up eventually and left. This was not her first, but was the worst to me.

Also, I am not comfortable having people entering my house when I am not around -- I don't have any place to lock my important belongings. As safe as it seems in America, I don't come from a safe and trusting place, a place called "the rest of the world" -- Human being is as good as human being, you never know when or what would make the person decide to behave otherwise.

Birthday coming

Saw JW's message, reminded me of her birthday in October. Happy birthday JW!

Most of my friends are celebrating their birthdays towards the end of the year. All starting around October, through December.

Mine is coming soon, and it is not the first time I spend my birthday overseas. But it will surely the first time I spend it in America.

I am starting to think of what I have done this year, and what I want to do for next year... let me start by digging out my list from last year.

Generalising Engineers

While writing my previous post, something striked my mind:

I find that Mechanical Engineers are pretty nonchalant, Electrical and/or Electronic Engineers are very picky, Civil Engineers have huge ego, Chemical Engineers are very stubborn.

I guess it has something to do with the job we have. Mechanical engineers are usually required to do a little bit of everything, up to the point you just can't be bothered about many things; or rather eating too tall of a sandwich, which one can't be bothered with the bread crumbs that dropped everywhere.

Electrical Electronics engineers are usually dealing with minutely small stuffs, that they tend to amplifies small imperfections. They would be those that cut the lettuce and tomatoes to exact size before stacking them nicely in between the bread. They would be too busy picking up the crumbs while eating the sandwich.

Civil engineers build things that are visible to the rest of the world, which I think, indirectly fed their ego. They would be the ones that would make sure the sandwich are built tall and stout, eating it or not is another different story.

Chemical engineers mostly deal with processes, which usually operate under standard procedures. It takes a lot of challenges to change standard processes. They are the one that would make sure it started with bread, then butter, then lettuces, tomatoes, ham....