Work-life Balance

I was advised on aspects of work-life balance which I assume many people in Singapore will probably never hear from their supervisors.

"Do not work at night - you probably wouldn't be as efficient as you are if you had a good night's rest. Anyways, you might not even be able to reach the people you need to get in touch with."

"Do not turn on your work laptop at home tonight. There isn't anything that urgent that can't wait until tomorrow."

I feel so fortunate.

Calgary Stampede

The Calgary Stampede is a yearly event where the cowboy culture is embraced for 10 days in Calgary. It's such a huge event into it's 98th year*, that the company HQ is closed on the opening day, and it's a tradition that every team in the company would have a Stampede event. My team's Stampede event is to head down to Calgary Stampede grounds for the rodeos! These people sure do know their stuff.

If anyone is unsure of when to visit Calgary, Stampede season is a great time - though the whole city is filled with people from outside Calgary, and is sooo crowded (albeit not as bad as Singapore).

* When it's the 100th year, it's going to be insane!

BR&

I went to this dope steakhouse for dinner today. It used to be a bank until the 60s, then became a night club, a restaurant, and now a steak house! Also, the washrooms used to be safe deposit box rooms, and it's so cool!
This is the interior of the restaurant - so much space. I should have taken a photo of the washrooms though. Check it out at http://www.brandsteak.com/homepage.htm and yes, it's called BR&.

Work

The past two weeks have been intense - I was given so big a work responsibility over a short period of time that I didn't know what to expect.

Well, I actually knew what was coming, but I did not anticipate everything to go so wrong at the same time. It was almost like the stars aligned to my disadvantage all at the same time.

I am now on call, ready to act and fight fire whenever something goes wrong. I think my team and I have implemented all precautionary measures. I just want the weekends to pass by peacefully so I can recuperate.

Don't get me wrong, I still love my job.

British Columbia

Was at BC lower mainland and Vancouver Island last week for work. I must say... I'm in love with the Island.

Seeing the random wild deer while traveling on the road..

Having lunch on a patio, overlooking the waters...

How can anyone not like this place?

World Cup - Australia vs. Germany

Been almost a year since the last post. Not sure if anyone is still reading haha... I only remembered I still had this address when I was trying to create a edmondwu.blogspot.com, found out it was taken, and wondering which douchebag took it - that douche is yours truly.

Watching Australia getting their asses kicked by Germany now. I -think- World Cup is on a free-to-air channel - not too sure because I'm watching it on cable. The channels had companies sponsoring, for advertising spots. Maybe because soccer isn't a big thing here, unlike ice hockey.

Friendship

"Between friends, the buy/sell equation usually takes the form of exchanging favours. A invites B for tennis. B takes A to the airport. B fixes A's dishwasher. A helps B to write his resume. When they go out to dinner or to a movie, A and B split the tab down the middle.

For friendship to survive, it needs to be guided with care and endowed with generosity. Both sides must also perceive the mai3/mai4 (買賣) as being fair. If party A feels that she is continually giving and giving without receiving sufficient (money, affection, time or favours) from B, A will eventually act out her resentment and lash out at B. In the course of our lives, we all go through different phases. As children and teenagers, most of us have many acquaintances with whom we are thrown together at school. Between the ages of twenty and thirty we start choosing as friends those with similar goals, interests, education or pursuits. From thirty to fifty we are usually too preoccupied with children, spouse and carers to cultivate new friendships. After the age of fifty, as children grow up and leave home, friendship assumes an increasing importance (in terms of happiness and emotional satisfaction) until the end."

-- Adeline Yen Mah, in Watching the Tree

I am not inclined to agree fully with the part about A and B splitting the tab down to the middle. There are times my friends choose to pay for my dinner or movie tickets, but that's probably because I paid previously for something else, or it is an expression of his/her value of this friendship. Hence, it proves the buy/sell relationship. On another personal note, I guess that is why I tend to want to treat my friends to meals at times, because I have received so much, I want to give him/her something back.

As practical as it might seem, the buy/sell relationship does seem to hold in friendships. I remember reading in a psychological book 6 years ago, that humans are reward driven creatures. The reason why we enter into relationships (including friendships) is because we expect a reward (companion, happiness, etc.) from such.

It is always tiring when one party gives more than he receives, which the author describes aptly as "eating a loss" (吃虧). From personal experiences, such friendships usually end up dead after a while. However, those that have a healthy buy/sell relationship, that include a reciprocal in the equation, usually last, and are valued. It is nice, knowing that as you sow into someone, you reap something. Reflecting upon the current friendships I hold dear, it seems to be the case.

Seems harsh to place friendships and transactions in juxtaposition, but somehow, it's true, isn't it?