TGIF!

I am glad this week is finally over. It was very stressful at work. I finally realize how service company is different than product company. In a product company, when we are behind schedule, we can easily decide what feature to remove to meet the schedule or push the schedule within the company. But with service company, it is not that easy. Customers always want everything to be completed perfectly and on time. And with software, it is almost never the case. So this week, we finally behind schedule and I have to update the customer on the progress. Since the project is very short duration, losing a day mean a lot. And for one component we are a week behind already and the second component we are at least 3 days and counting. You can imagine how tense I am every time going into the meeting with the customers. I am totally freaking out that my head will get chopped off right there and then. And I was relieved every time I walk out alive. Last two days was especially bad cause we are closed to a delivery date but from what we see on the test server, it doesn't seem working at all. That part was done by the Russian team and since we haven't worked together before, we haven't developed trust yet. I don't want to overreact without really understand how much work has done. So last two days I set up a server and test it myself. And I felt so much relieved after seeing most of the stuff are really working. Hopefully next week will get better. This is indeed more stressful than I expected.

Wanted: A Humanoid Punch Bag

I somehow really miss one of my friends from previous company today. Not that I am all emotional all a sudden. But because I really want to beat up someone today and he isn't around. I tried to use the alternative method which is to yell at him online but he isn't online this morning, which made me extra mad. When we worked together, I usually would stomp into his office if I am upset or anything. So I could rant, whine, complain, and sometimes (actually most of the time) use my plastic hammer just madly beat him up. That is part of my stress relieve. But we don't work together now. Who should I run to instead? :(

PS. My friend later got online and we chatted for a bit so I can get my frustration out. I nicely asked him to drive over so I could beat him up but he refused. How rude!

Всё о Google

It sure was extremely annoying that the network connection at work was extremely flaky last few days and the Internet connection was slow because of the proxy server in Russia and the connection was down at least once each day and I can't use MSN anymore and have to switch to web MSN (this probably annoyed me the most! but not just to talk with friends but I talk to customers too :P) But one interesting discovery though, which is I never know Google would redirect you to the local mirror site. And even blogger does that! I was completely amazed by it (I know I know, probably most people out there know but I didn't!) I guess Google detect the Russian proxy server and assume I am from Russian site. Even though that mildly amused me, I really hope our network problem will be fixed soon cause I basically have nothing to do if the network is down!!!!!

Happy Day

I am so happy today. Finally a friendly face at work. One of my friends started in my company today. (Though it is sad how happy I am for that loser to join, but still it is a friendly face) Even I know most of my coworker, I don't know them too well. I finally have friend at work :) I finally have someone I can go to lunch with. I do sometimes eat with my coworkers, but mostly I am a loner. But now I finally can bug someone when I am bored at work. So happy :)

And a perfect way to end my day is the email from my brother. He said he probably coming to visit in May. I am soooo happy now! Even I just saw him in November, I miss him already :D

What To Do? What To Do?

Somehow I think God keep teasing me today, or last few days. As I mentioned before, I am helping my church to organize a team to go to Peru. Though even from the beginning that I doubt we can find a team of 15 people, I am still highly disappointed that only 4 people can commit so far. Originally I have about 10-11 people said they are interested, but then they start dropping out either because of vacation or money issue. While I can understand that, I am still abit upset. My original thought was to still go but joining with other people no matter what. But some guys think it already defeat the purpose if we only have 4 people to go as a church team. So I was going to email the team and see what they think tonight. While I was sitting on my couch procrastinating on writing the email, 3 more people told me that they can join but depends on the date. I can't help to think, seriously God, do You want me to go this trip or not. If this whole process is just to teach me to be patient, it isn't working well cause I am getting more impatient. If You want to tell me that You are in control, then at least tell me what You want me to do! I want to get this trip going and it doesn't seem like so. And when I was going to cancel it, then more people said they can. I am really not sure what I should do now. I feel like having an anxiety attack. :(

Night Owl No More

One of the hardest thing with my new job is the early meeting. Ever since I started this project, I have to meet with my Russian team every two days at 8am. For other people, it may be nothing. For me, it is killing every single cell of mine. I was never an early person. When I first started in my previous company, I did go to work pretty early. I usually went in around 7-8am. But then I found out that I didn't really get to leave early anyway and I usually stayed pretty late. I may as well just go in late. Since then, I start going to work later and later. My usual time to work would be 10am. That way I won't stuck in traffic. I even refuse to attend meeting earlier than 10am. However, ever since starting this project, I have to get in earlier. I don't have an excuse to not go in anymore, especially I am the project manager. I tried suggesting to the Russian team to meet at 11pm instead, but people seem to more willing to meet at 8am instead. Aiii, I wonder how long my body can keep up.

A Letter

I got a letter from my second sponsored kid today. I start child sponsoring thru World Vision several years ago. My first kid is from South America but I never bother writing to him. Ever since I came back from Cambodia, I really want to do something so I decided to sponsor a second child from Cambodia. When I first got his picture, I was a bit disappointed because he wasn't very cute looking (I know I know, I am shallow). But I was sad after I read his description. His parents both passed away and he stayed with his relatives now. As people already struggle with daily necessity, taking care of another child add extra burden to the family. I felt so sad for such a young kid to go thru that (He is only Grade 1) but yet I know it is very common in third world country. Anyway, when I got his letter today, I am pretty happy. I never got a letter from my sponsored kids. He didn't say much except to thank me. But somehow that make the whole thing more personal. He isn't just a picture that I sent my money for. May be I will be less lazy and write him and my other sponsored kid back.

An Interesting Bubble Tea Experience

I went to a bubble tea place on the weekend which turn out to be quite interesting experience. You are thinking, "How interesting can a bubble tea place be? You almost can find 5 bubble tea places in every block in Richmond." Here is how it all started. So I was meeting up with my friends on Sunday for bubble tea. We walked in and the lady in the front desk asked if we have made a reservation. I thought "That is weird. Never heard that you need to make reservation for bubble tea before." So we said no and she said it would be 20 minute wait. Since we were still waiting for our friends, we figured it was fine. And then a waitress walked by. My friend immediately said, "We are staying and wait for a table. We are not changing places." Why? Cause that waitress was wearing a french maid uniform. We were all surprised to see that. So after we sat down, we were all very busy looking around. Except the front desk lady, all the watiresses dressed like a french maid. And the dress isn't very long so they can't really run or bend down. And half an hour later, one of the waitresses changed uniform. She now wore a traditional Japanese dress but then the dress was a miniskirt. So all of us were like "Wow, do they change uniform every hour? Should we order more food so we can stay longer and see how many uniform are there?" We are in this big dilemma how long we should stay. Later we found out from the newspaper posting at the front door that this place is actually a cos play cafe. They only have 3 uniform so far: a school uniform, a french maid and Japanese skirt. The owner was hoping to get more uniform later, like sailor moon ones. Definitely interesting experience, but I am not sure I would go back though.

If you don't know what cos play is, here is the definition from wiki:a contraction of the English words "costume" and "play", is a Japanese subculture centered on dressing as characters from manga, anime, tokusatsu, and video games.

And the History Repeat Itself :'(

I can't believe history would realy repeat itself. How many times can a person scratch her car against a parking column? For me, at least twice. Yup, in order to end the long weekend with a bang, when I drove home today after having dinner at my parents', I decided to drive my car against the parking column and see who is made of harder material. Conclusion: the column won! Lucky this time I didn't make a huge dent like last time (I was pretty sure I posted it in my blog before but I can't find it now) But the paint still got off and the scratch was kind of deep that I have to fix it or my car will rot :( May be it is time to think about getting a smaller car :(

Ready! Set! and Go?

I finally finalize most of the detail for this year mission trip from my church. That's right. I took on this role to organize mission trip for my church. I have been working with Samaritan's Purse last month to get all the detail finalized and now most of the thing is set. Now come to first of the hard part, to form the team. Every step into organizing the trip, I got more and more scared. First, I have to form a team of 15 people. My congregation has around 60 people and half of them are students. So 15 people is alot. I don't have the confidence that I am able to form a team. Second thing is we have to raise money for the project we are working on. For this particular project which is helping an orphanage to build a bakery, it is around $7000. I did gasp when I heard that number. Though it is not a lot to share among 15 people. It is still quite a bit of money. I don't know if people would be more hesitate about going. There are alot of times I keep thinking that it is so much easier if I just go by myself with any organization out there and why do I take on such a not easy role. It is hard to please everyone and people may not even be interested. There is very high possibility that the plan will fall through. Then all the work will become trash. Even like today, I prepare for awhile to do the presentation this week and since the sermon run over time, I didn't get a chance to do that. And next week is Easter special worship mean that I may even have less time to do that. And losing two weeks to recruit people mean alot cause the trip is supposed to be in July. I sent an email to all fellowships instead but I know how much attention people pay to email too. That basically mean nothing can be done much for two weeks. I know in the end it is all up to God cause I am only doing His work, but I have to admit that I am really worried how this will turn out.