Jobs & Love

Can I take an unofficial random poll -- anyone out there truly happy with their jobs? The more I talk to people, the more I realize that everyone has something negative to say about their jobs. They don't like it to a certain degree, just depending on how much... and what actions they are willing to take to DO something about it. Even the news reported that 8 out of 10 people are holding onto their jobs, but anxiously waiting for the next opportunity to change jobs. I guess I would be in that group of 8 if I was in that poll. I guess I'm going through another phase of frustration at my workplace that I begin to question why I am still here? Why can't I be strong enough to do something about it?

There are two job situations out there:
(1) You hate your job and what you do, but you get paid well enough so you hold onto your job for the money
(2) You love your job and what you do, but you get paid close to nothing so you hold onto your job because you love it

Why is so hard to find the combination of the two -- you love your job and you get paid well!! I guess I still haven't found that opportunity yet.

Read though Hung Mao's recent post about love & marriage. Being only married for 2 months, of course, I'm no expert on this topic. However, I have always wonder that same question -- when you eventually become so "accustomed" to your spouse, are you two together just for companionship? What happens when you lose that lovin' feeling?

Relocation

With some of my ex-team members relocating to other parts of the world, the topic of relocation has once again resurfaced. In my mind, I keep on telling myself that their move is only temporary... give it 1-2 years, and they will be back. They can say that they gained the international experience and move back to the States. However, I am sad to learn that some of them actually consider this move rather permanent. They will start their new lives there -- work, settle in, perhaps even buying a house there, etc. I wonder if I would ever move out of the Bay Area and start a new life somewhere else. Will I ever be faced with that kind of decision? I applaud those people who can just pack up and go, not knowing when they will ever come back. Actually, it's amazing that in America, our people can move to anywhere without the fear of government control. In most other countries, where you born and grow up is the same place you will live and die. But here, we have that option. I wonder if I should make myself move to another place just to try it out... who knows, maybe I will like that place so much and never want to come back...

My mind and heart have been really restless this week with all the news and changes going on. I hope this weekend I will manage to forget everything and enjoy the much needed days off.

The dreadful email

So today is another dreadful day at my company. I come to work early in the morning to find an email in my inbox flagged of High Importance. There was a mandatory meeting at 9:30, and that this meeting would take precedence over all others. It was definitely one of those emails everyone dread to receive. During the meeting, it was announced that some of the corporate functions located here will be, once again, relocated to another part of the world. The team that was let go was one that I was most close with, one that I was friends with, and one that I once belonged in. A handful of people were offered relocation opportunities, but majority of them would be let go by March 2004. This really hits home!! I am truly saddened and disturbed by the news. I can't seem to get my head straight and my mind focused.

In this world full of ambiguity, I can't help but wonder if we should all live each day by the day. Being raised in an Asian family, I was taught to prepare for the future, to be forward-looking. But things change so fast that all those morals seem meaningless. So you spend zillions of hours to improve business, to plan, to look for opportunities in the future, but yet, all in one day -- all on one dreadful email, your work can become meaningless. Again, it's depressing and disturbing.

Some of the people I know took today off of work so they can enjoy a nice four-day weekend in conjunction with Veterans' Day off tomorrow. For those unfortunate souls like me who had to work on both days, I feel for you 'cuz I'm in the same boat!

Trying to remember what exactly I did this weekend. It seems like every weekend is a big blur to me now... maybe because my weekends are always filled with little things. A whole bunch of little things, and no big things. So I finally finished up my Thank you cards that I have been procrastinated to do. Learned my lesson first hand that it's very hard to hand-write each one in calligraphy! Should have stopped at just addressing the envelopes. Never mind. Everyone enjoyed the cards, so I'm glad my efforts and thoughts I put into the cards are appreciated.

Re: Politics as usual

This is exactly what happened with the whole Central Freeway fiasco. The people first voted to keep it. Then opponents appealed. The issue went back onto ballots for what, 3 times? Finally this year they tore it down. What's the meaning behind the voting system if the losing party can appeal and appeal and appeal...?

Politics as usual

So today on my favorite news site, MSNBC, the headline news read:
Bush signs abortion bill

"President Bush signed legislation Wednesday to ban so-called “partial-birth” abortions, declaring that “the right to life cannot be granted or denied by government.” But within an hour, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to block the law, sharply questioning its constitutionality."

This tug-of-war between conflicting interests and opinions never seem to end. It's the same with all other issues -- no decision can ever please everyone. This non-stop battle between the court, the politicians, our president, our culture, our opinions just seem to drag on for a little too long. Just yesterday, we had 14 propositions on the ballot to vote for. I spent a couple of hours reading through them, all the pros and cons, and tried my best to make a sound judgement. 13 of the props passed with a majority vote. However, I can't help but wonder how many of these passed measures will get back on the ballot for the next election? How many of them will be overturned by the courts? Why do we even participate in elections anyways if most of the decisions become obsolete? While I am a strong advocate for exercising our privilege to vote, I sometimes feel a sense of helplessness as a voter. The deeper thought is the fact that no matter what the majority wanted, how much in % did the proposition pass by, someone will be there on the opposing side to stir the dust. Then the battle just continues on...