All in the name

As many of you know, I am horrible with names.  Shake my hand right now and unless I actually get to talking to you, I won’t remember your name when you walk away.  I will however remember what you look like.  This makes me a horrible networker. May be I’m compensating for not remembering people’s names by naming inanimate objects in my possession instead. I’m not particularly good at naming things but I go for it anyway.  My mom’s BFF Aunty Sida is brilliant with names.  For example, she named her vacation house in the mountains of Khao Yai in...
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Keep Calm and Carry On

Wise word from UK government during WWII.  The propaganda poster that went missing since which had just resurfaced back in 2000.  Nowadays, you see it in all shapes and forms.  Like these guys. Cupcake: The Lobster Pot / Rock: The Poster List I have a copy printed out with a smiley face wearing the crown, and posted in my office to look at.  Because, just like everyone else, some days you need a little bit of a mantra to get you through.  (And yeah, the view does help a little bit.) Outside of the office in the tower, things do...
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Getting a perspective

There has got to be a better way to learn to appreciate life than having 3 dead colleagues in 3 months. I lost a former colleague in December. The guy retired in the summer and took up part time with another company. Friday he was at a conference as healthy as he could be. Sometime over the weekend he died in his sleep. Brandon lost a coworker in January. The health nut and gym rat played tag football with friends the evening before. Sometime that night he had a massive heart attack and died in his home. And I just...
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I had a pig named Mike. Or did I?

Piglet by Christine Eaves on Flickr. I had a dream last night that Brandon and I bought a condo at a place where it turned out to be more of a spring break co-ed dorm than a quiet grown-up residence. Despite the commotion, I took my pet piglet named Mike for a walk. Yes. A pet piglet. Named Mike. When I came back from a trek through the pool party going on in the middle of the complex, something horrible happened in the condo. I don’t want to talk about it. It was bad enough for me to wake up...
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My car dependent life

Say hello to Robin Hood, my 2011 Hyundai Sonata. My first new car since 1996. My first car ever was a 1995 Acura Integra coupe. Dark green. Leather interior. 6 CD changer. All decked out. My brother Onk who was living in Oklahoma at the time bought it for me per my dad’s order and had it shipped over to me. Since he got to drive that car for a while before shipping over, he decided to get *me* a flashy, sporty car. Obviously, he ignored my plea to please buy something sensible since I was living in the dorm...
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Hello Young Lurkers Whoever You Are

As always, Rude Cactus sent up his Delurk signal, and we all answer. It’s Delurking Day 2011, people. So show yourself, friends and readers. Kindly leave a comment below if you’re here today and join the many friends of Mister Cactus in exposing ourselves! To make it easier, perhaps I should let you chime in on a question. What’s your hidden talent? Here, I’ll go first. I can burp on command. Your turn!...
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