Deb and I made our way off to work drinks this evening, both happy in the knowledge that the other would be there and that a good time was guaranteed. We sat in a corner looking at the view out the window from scarily high above the other buildings and it suddenly became apparent to both of us that we really weren't socialising with anyone else at all. In fact, we really didn't have much interest in doing so.
A conversation ensued and it became apparent that Deb's understanding of the aforementioned monthly drinks was vastly different to mine. As a marketer I looked at the room and saw many potential networking opportunities. The only problem on this occasion was that I already knew almost everyone on the room.
However Deb saw nothing like this. I will leave it for her to confirm her opinion of the gathering's purpose but I'm assuming she felt it was more a chance to drink and chat to your closer colleagues.
So whilst it had been enlightening for her and a reminder that I really shouldn't be sitting in a corner, neither of us thought about moving for one moment. Then something happened and we were on our feet...our champagne ran out! So off we went to the bar.
It does beg the the question though: Are work drinks a time to relax or are you still on the clock? And if you're still on the clock, how do you leave to return your personal life (of which you have just given precious time) without being frowned upon by your superior?
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Thursday, October 30, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Reflections in the waters of Hawaii
It's funny how things turn out in life. Have you ever taken a moment,
paused to reflect on where you are or what you are doing, and more
interestingly, how you never imagined you would be in that moment?
paused to reflect on where you are or what you are doing, and more
interestingly, how you never imagined you would be in that moment?
It happened to me recently, whilst on holiday. Nearing a state of
relaxation akin to unconsciousness, I contemplated my current
situation. On a beach in Hawaii, missing my boy, I wondered how I had
got there. And whilst I know not everything is always planned I think
most people know the types of places they want to visit or activities
they want to do. And so I was able to appreciate a whole lot more the
fact that I wasn't doing something I had waited forever to do. Instead
I had proceeded to do something somewhat out of the plans i haf for
myself and that in itself was rewarding!
Al
Sent from iPhone
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Left Of Field
A friend of mine told me of such an usual comment that I am not sure what else to do but put it up here and invite comment. I'm sure MD, Deb and my usual commentators will have something to say on this!
The friend at the cente of this unusual story was asked to find someone with particular IT skills to do some work for her organisation. In contact with someone she soon signs him up for the job, and informs him via email that he's got the contract. He replied very happy to have the work.
Being a social person and good motivator of her staff she informs the new contractor via a short email that he should join them for drinks on Friday night. The response was something I did not even see coming. "thanks but I already have a girlfriend". What the...???
I was lost for words. What man possibly thinks his new boss I'd planning to take him on a date the first Friday he starts work?? In fact even if it was just a colleague, surely this assumption is not normal!
No wonder so many men are SO single if this is how they carry on! Do they really think that everyone wants to get into their pants? Do they think it's that easy to play the field?
Surely not?
Al
Posted with LifeCast
The friend at the cente of this unusual story was asked to find someone with particular IT skills to do some work for her organisation. In contact with someone she soon signs him up for the job, and informs him via email that he's got the contract. He replied very happy to have the work.
Being a social person and good motivator of her staff she informs the new contractor via a short email that he should join them for drinks on Friday night. The response was something I did not even see coming. "thanks but I already have a girlfriend". What the...???
I was lost for words. What man possibly thinks his new boss I'd planning to take him on a date the first Friday he starts work?? In fact even if it was just a colleague, surely this assumption is not normal!
No wonder so many men are SO single if this is how they carry on! Do they really think that everyone wants to get into their pants? Do they think it's that easy to play the field?
Surely not?
Al
Posted with LifeCast
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Admirable.
A friend of mine seriously impressed me the other night...doesn't happen that often with my friends so I was pretty happy with the whole experience.
Sick of being in a relationship she couldn't see any future in, she called it what it was and ended it. Sure it might have taken a while to get there, but never is it 'too long'. Sometimes you need to get to that point of finality yourself, but when you do it's incredibly empowering.
Another friend ended a seven year relationship a couple of months back after finally realising the guy she was seeing was never going to propose and didn't seem to want anything more from her than he already had. No kids, no house together, nothing to plan for. So despite what must have absolute heartache, she also called him on it and threw him out of their house - or should I now say 'her' house. The first month was understandably hard, alone at home was an unusual and upsetting scenario she had not envisaged she would be in. Two months on she is a changed person. Empowered by taking control of her life, rather than just going along for the ride, she is determined, focussed and ready to move on. Admirable.
Al
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Sick of being in a relationship she couldn't see any future in, she called it what it was and ended it. Sure it might have taken a while to get there, but never is it 'too long'. Sometimes you need to get to that point of finality yourself, but when you do it's incredibly empowering.
Another friend ended a seven year relationship a couple of months back after finally realising the guy she was seeing was never going to propose and didn't seem to want anything more from her than he already had. No kids, no house together, nothing to plan for. So despite what must have absolute heartache, she also called him on it and threw him out of their house - or should I now say 'her' house. The first month was understandably hard, alone at home was an unusual and upsetting scenario she had not envisaged she would be in. Two months on she is a changed person. Empowered by taking control of her life, rather than just going along for the ride, she is determined, focussed and ready to move on. Admirable.
Al
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Dangerous Travel
I am not a huge risk taker, certainly not where my life is concerned. Sure I race a car from time to time out on a track, but I am completely in control and never go faster or push harder than the known bounds of my ability. So why is it that everytime I get in a cab I feel like I have just made a very foolish decision?
I cannot remember the last time I was in a cab where the driver was piloting the vehicle in a satisfactory manner. I am also unable to recall a time when the cab driver knew where he was going despite directions from the passenger(s) and completely in defiance of the sat nav's suggested route.
As someone who likes to develop in their job, I find it hard to understand how these people go about their employment with the most basic level of understanding possible. Granted many are migrants who are studying at night, but does this mean they should be allowed to perform their job negligently? If a crane oprator approached their job with same level of commitment they would be fired immediately - and they don't even take passengers! So why then do we allow taxi drivers to do the same??
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I cannot remember the last time I was in a cab where the driver was piloting the vehicle in a satisfactory manner. I am also unable to recall a time when the cab driver knew where he was going despite directions from the passenger(s) and completely in defiance of the sat nav's suggested route.
As someone who likes to develop in their job, I find it hard to understand how these people go about their employment with the most basic level of understanding possible. Granted many are migrants who are studying at night, but does this mean they should be allowed to perform their job negligently? If a crane oprator approached their job with same level of commitment they would be fired immediately - and they don't even take passengers! So why then do we allow taxi drivers to do the same??
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Monday, September 8, 2008
Equilibrium Of Hot
When I was in Year 8, I decided I wanted to be a porn star. What's so interesting about that I hear you ask? Well I saw nothing wrong with it either and felt so comfortable with it that I announced it my accounting class. Needless to say that at one of the top private schools in the state, renowned for delivering exceptional academic results every November, it was not received that well by staff and a flurry of concern ensued.
I did genuinely think it would be a great job. Work a few hours a day, hang out with hot guys and without a doubt in my mind I would be doing something I truly love!
I have often had discussions with my friends on how they would cope if they somehow manage to fall in love with a porn star...and when I say fall in love I mean the type that is reciprocated - not fantasizing whilst watching his latest offering (so to speak!) on DVD. I'm by no means the jealous type but I just don't think I could do it. The notion of someone else portraying what I consider to be the most intimate and personal act with your partner, would make me physically sick. Ironic it is that I couldn't date one but I could be one myself!
And so begs the question, if you want the hottest guy or girl out there, are you happy to take what may come with it? Every guy I have dated has been a model at some point and whilst I wouldn't consider myself a modeliser, there is no way in hell I am walking down the street with someone average. The last one started to become annoying when walking down the street as people would actually stop what they were doing to look at him. Novel at first, annoying after a few months.
The fine line between exceptional and high maintenance seems ever elusive...lucky I already found that equilibrium! Those who give up on finding it are easily identified - they are the ones who 'go for brains not looks'. Rough translation on this: I settled because I couldn't do any better!
Al
Posted with LifeCast
I did genuinely think it would be a great job. Work a few hours a day, hang out with hot guys and without a doubt in my mind I would be doing something I truly love!
I have often had discussions with my friends on how they would cope if they somehow manage to fall in love with a porn star...and when I say fall in love I mean the type that is reciprocated - not fantasizing whilst watching his latest offering (so to speak!) on DVD. I'm by no means the jealous type but I just don't think I could do it. The notion of someone else portraying what I consider to be the most intimate and personal act with your partner, would make me physically sick. Ironic it is that I couldn't date one but I could be one myself!
And so begs the question, if you want the hottest guy or girl out there, are you happy to take what may come with it? Every guy I have dated has been a model at some point and whilst I wouldn't consider myself a modeliser, there is no way in hell I am walking down the street with someone average. The last one started to become annoying when walking down the street as people would actually stop what they were doing to look at him. Novel at first, annoying after a few months.
The fine line between exceptional and high maintenance seems ever elusive...lucky I already found that equilibrium! Those who give up on finding it are easily identified - they are the ones who 'go for brains not looks'. Rough translation on this: I settled because I couldn't do any better!
Al
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1.5 People
So I am officially over fat people. Luckily I have never been under one, now that I think about that horrifying thought.
I spent $230 on a ticket for a seat at Mardi gras back in March, only to get to my seat and find that I couldn't sit there because a rotund lesbian who would interpret a 'Long mac' as a massive truck, not a coffee, was taking up not only her seat, but at least half of mine too.
This is becoming a more frequent situation I seem to face on the train coming to work. Fat people, little seats and not enough room for my perky butt.
In the ten years between 1985-1995, obesity in youths aged 7-17 tripled. The implications of this concerning statistic is being felt now. These youths are adults who now frequent my train! As the fattest nation in the world this is surely only going to get worse. So as the people get fatter, we are trying to squeeze more and more people into each carriage in the hope that one day the train operator might actually do something about it. I wonder if, were we to remove these mountains of unused energy from the trains, would there be room enough for the rest of us aboard our daily commute?
Al
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I spent $230 on a ticket for a seat at Mardi gras back in March, only to get to my seat and find that I couldn't sit there because a rotund lesbian who would interpret a 'Long mac' as a massive truck, not a coffee, was taking up not only her seat, but at least half of mine too.
This is becoming a more frequent situation I seem to face on the train coming to work. Fat people, little seats and not enough room for my perky butt.
In the ten years between 1985-1995, obesity in youths aged 7-17 tripled. The implications of this concerning statistic is being felt now. These youths are adults who now frequent my train! As the fattest nation in the world this is surely only going to get worse. So as the people get fatter, we are trying to squeeze more and more people into each carriage in the hope that one day the train operator might actually do something about it. I wonder if, were we to remove these mountains of unused energy from the trains, would there be room enough for the rest of us aboard our daily commute?
Al
Posted with LifeCast
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