I only realized I skipped lunch when I got home and was famished. There are tons of meat in my freezer. It’s not even funny. I’ve got to cook them all off and have friends over. Tonight, it’s going to be lamb steak with rosemary and honey and garden salad. So much for sticking to only vegetables this week.
I enjoy cooking and it’s much more fun when friends and family come over to share. I use my cooking skills, or not, to entice sometimes. Recently, I tried to bribe a smoker to quit smoking with my cooking. Sadly, it didn’t work. It works most times on other people though.
It’s heart breaking to see lives lost and the devastation in Burma/Myanmar caused by Cyclone Nargis. Imagine, over 22,000 killed by a single cyclone. Simply tragedy. A friend can’t get through to her sister and her family in Yangon. Her parents live in the south of the country and she is hoping they are ok. But, not being able to get in touch must be nerve wreaking. I’d have gone out of my mind. It’s the not knowing that’s thousands times worse than knowing the fate of your loved ones.
My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected and their families.
OK, here is a little Tuesday music. The video is a little creepy but it’s tech, can’t beat that. Here’s Daft Punk’s, Technologic. I had to make my music page password protected because I was getting all weird emails and got tired of deleting them. What’s music if one can’t share? Oh well, here is to sharing -
I can’t wait to take time off. I’m now leaning towards being away for the rest of the year, extending planned travel to over 2 months. I so need to get away. I just want to switch off. Even if I’m not able to build the work structure that I’m hoping to before my departure, I’ll fall back on plan B: manage from my virtual base. All other aspects are merely materials that can easily be organized to be managed ahead of time.
I do enjoy Atlanta and it has been my home for the last 8 years. But, who knows how long it will continue to be so. I love to travel but am not thrilled to be relocating anymore. I’m tired of it. On the other hand, there isn’t anything substantial to keep me grounded here. Businesses can run on their own. It doesn’t require me to be present at one location at all times. I don’t know; I’m tired. Maybe I’ll get my answer when I’m away.
I love good humor. Give me humor and my music, and the day will fly by no matter what. I used to receive great jokes in my inbox nearly every morning from a friend. Starting the day off with good humor used to lighten me up. I miss that. Oh well. I was surfing the other night and came across some funny comedians. I never heard of them before but I found their Axis of Evil dvd hilarious. Just for a little laughter here is an Iranian’s, Maz Jobrani humorous perspective on current affairs related to Iran.
I’ve slipped a little this weekend with steak and party food, not to mention chocolate ice cream all of last week. Stress was the contributing factor. I need to compensate during the coming week. I’ve got to stick to being vegetarian. Of course, no sweets.
Events of the weekend included the error of me getting into political conversation at couple of gatherings. Big mistake. Oh well; life goes on.
My lunch with one of my business advisor on Sunday was the highlight of the weekend. I’m often asked the secret to my strength in starting on my own. The answer is being bold and never stopping to believe in yourself. Think big and go after your dreams. My advisor and confidante stressed just that. He reminded me it’s the vision and strength of one person that changes course most times. He urged me to remain relentless in my pursuits.
I would add, form an advisory board. Pick advisors wisely; leaders in their fields and people who share your vision. Surround yourself with people who make you feel good. Personally, I don’t like complainers and am not a fan of can’t-do attitude. I could go and on and on but for now that’s my two cents.
In the words of Confucius: Wherever you go, go with your heart.
I’m having a technically challenged day, from dropped calls to dropped wireless network. It’s late afternoon and I don’t feel in the least bit accomplished for the day. If I had a private jet, I’d fly to another city right away for a change of scenery. Everything is getting on my nerve at the moment. I wonder if it could be the caffeine.
I’m going to go for a long drive and find something close to a beach. That will help or if I can teleport myself to a beach. Wishful thoughts.
I’m back on coffee this week. I hadn’t brewed coffee for so long at home, I forgot the measurement, or how I like it, to be more exact. My third try was a charm. It’s Wednesday night, or rather early Thursday morning, and I’m far behind at work. It’s going to be a working weekend.
I postponed my travel anticipating delays at work. My goal is to set a better structure by July so that I may be away for a month or two without loosing it. Nothing is impossible though I know it maybe a little ambitious. Oh well, that’s my goal and I better reach it.
Brad planted the Camellia tree that was a housewarming gift from Edwina and him. I learnt a thing or two about planting. It looked therapeutical and fun. I was tempted to put my hands on it. I couldn’t find my cotton gloves. Latex plays havoc with my skin. OCD and allergy to pvc/latex. Go figure. I’ve learnt to improvise. I wear cotton gloves underneath the latex ones. That keeps my skin happy while I can dispose the outer layer. Smart, huh?
Every time I go to the backyard to enjoy the Camellia up and close, my neighbor’s dog barks like crazy. There is only the fence that separates him and me and my Camellia. He never used to bark before. Is he allergic to Camellia? When I’m watering the poor Camellia, I’m filled with guilt for upsetting the dog. I try talking to him over the fence to calm him down. It works for few brief seconds before he looses it again. I’ll have a chat with my neighbor this weekend.
In the midst of my crazy week, economy has slid further. Imagine all those Atlanta city workers loosing their jobs over night. It’s very irresponsible. People must be given notice before being let go. I always keep that in mind. One’s got to do what one’s got to do at work, but at least have the decency to let the employees know ahead of time.
It’s a lesson I learnt from my father and great-uncle when I was a happy-firing person. My father always overruled my “tantrums”, as he called them, and I don’t think I really had any firing authority. I think it was my father’s way of testing my leadership qualities. Whatever it was, it’s paying off now what I learnt then.
To make it worst for the unemployed and the struggling society, Shell and BP reported record first-quarter profits. While consumers are burdened with high oil cost, leading to inflation, these idiotic and criminal corporations are lavishing in luxury. Am I the only one seeing this distorted picture? All these politicians need to stop pointing fingers at each other and regulate the gas price immediately. Or, whatever needs to be done.
From time to time, my mind blanks out. It usually happens when I’ve too much to do. The amount of files I need to look into is not making it fun to focus on one project. I’ve made a resolution during the weekend: I’m going to restore to my early days and be intricately involved from scoping to rollout of every project. I’ll step back again when hiccups are minimized.
Maybe I’ve been delegating too much work to others. I don’t micro manage so when the responsibility of a task is taken up by someone, I expect to see the result on schedule. People work best when they are entrusted with responsibilities. But, I’m beginning to think that may not be the case with everyone. Sometimes holding hand may be required. So, my solution for now is to go back to doing what I do best: oversee the entire projects myself.
It’s Sunday night and I’m stressed because 3 reports are still not in my inbox yet. I should have definitely had 2 reports by Friday. I’m making myself available for all the meetings tomorrow. Being client-centric means that it’s vital every project meets deadline and are rolled out with precision.
It’s going to be a long week. But, with me in the driver’s seat I’m confident we can work much faster.
I just visited a Middle Eastern store to get a CD for an associate who is leaving the US. I took Azi’s advice and got him an Arabic CD. The owner of the store informed me she is out of basmati rice. By out, I mean there is a shortage of rice supply in the country. She stocked Jasmine rice as a substitute. Middle Eastern and South Asian cuisine use basmati rice for all rice dishes. I wonder how those restaurants will manage now?
Imagine shortage of food in the US! I heard a few comments in the store how the US will now know what it is like to have food shortage. Perhaps they were referring to Iraq, Palestine and other war torn countries, where US either started or are a direct sponsor of those wars. And wars mean no food and chaos, to put it mildly. Of course, one cannot compare starvation due to war with shortage of rice only.
Isn’t it then past time that billions of dollars be spent in restoring the economy rather than spending in wars?
On a different note, Fleetwood Mac’s Peacekeeperis running in my head.
