Vacant Mind

I’m Engaged September 1st, 2008

I asked her.

She said yes!

Everyone is celebrating.

What do I do now…

Tags: Life, Marriage, Personal
Posted in Life | 1 Comment »

Not much progress August 5th, 2008

So I haven’t come very far, I have only myself to blame.

Should I try again or try a different strategy, most of the mistakes I’ve made and tried to fix I’ve done on my own without the intervention of others. I doubt that this is going to be any different.
I have thought about getting a gym buddy or someone to help me with food (my biggest problem) but this thought faded quickly. I just don’t like the idea of anyone helping me or having someone to rely on…or is it rely on me.

My main moment of weakness is dinner, I come home after work and desperately hungry and just start eating food. I have noticed a pattern though and this may come and no surprise, the worse my sleep the worse my eating. This morning I got up late and skipped breakfast, ate too much for lunch. The only upside is that I didn’t get hungry in the afternoon like I normally do.

I think that I’ll get a soup for dinner as this should tide me over until I have to go to sleep.

Measurements

• Weight: 93 Kg
• Waist: 106 cm
• Chest: 105 cm

Tags: Body, Diet, Exercise, Food
Posted in Health | No Comments »

Seen only once July 31st, 2008

There are quite a few times that I miss haveing my camera around, I mostly don’t carry it because it can be a pain to carry if I already have a work bag and a suit. I try to make an effort one or two days a week usually on a Monday or Friday.

Doing this means that I miss out on rare opportunties like today. Walking out of the office and just missed a bit of a shower or drizzle but looking up towards to the Paris end of Collins Street I saw one really strong rainbow, there was another but the colour was weaker.

It wasn’t just the rainbow that was stunning, the light was this light sepia colour everywhere, the air had this great wet fresh smell about, the clouds around the rainbow that this look like someone had dragged a rake across the snow.

I wish that I had my camera to capture that moment and the sight, I couldn’t describe it well enough which is why I take photos and not write poetry.
Hopefully I’ll get that chance again.

Tags: City, melbourne, Photo, Photography, Rain
Posted in Life | No Comments »

My New Body July 7th, 2008

Today is the day that I start, I have been lazy for too long and I have made all the excuses in the world but it has to start sometime and now is better than any time before and anytime to come.

• I no longer sleep well
• I am loosing concentration at work
• My eating patterns are unstable
• I cannot control what I eat
• Cravings are driving me crazy
• I’m in danger or not fitting into suits
• My immune systems isn’t as strong as it used to be
• I am out of breath more often
• Constant headaches

I should have done this years ago when I tried the gym workouts but couldn’t stick with it and I’m going to try again. I have to get a food right otherwise none of it is going to work, I have make a habit of exercise otherwise it is in vain.

Measurements

• Weight: 92 Kg
• Pants Size: 36/38 Inches 92/98 cm
• Waist (belly button): 106 cm
• Chest: 105 cm

The area that worries me the most is by waist, this has to drop or my health risks will continue.

I will start today, not by drastic exercise or a fad diet, but by just saying that today is the day that I have to begin.

Tags: Body, Day 1, Diet, Exercise, Food
Posted in Health | No Comments »

Global Corporate Challenge June 20th, 2008

Do you walk? To work, competitively, home, to the station, bus or just after work because you want to.

I don’t walk, I don’t really like it and I find it slow and boring. But quite a few people at work have gotten together to take on something called the Global Corporate Challenge (GCC), a quick warning that the website sucks, slow flash and badly designed.

Now I’m walking more, not because I enjoy walking but I suppose to try to be competitive. I heard that 10,000 steps per day is the quota to be healthy. I have heard of those that are clocking up 25,000 per day which is a lot of steps. I have noticed a problem though, walking everywhere is great, even if it is freezing cold outside, walking in a business suit. Also active walking can work up a sweat, turning up at a meeting or to the start of the day sweating isn’t what I’m after.

It is though a fair indicator of how much I don’t get around, even if I don’t reach the magical 25,000 steps mark I’ll try to aim for 10,000

Tags: Competition, Exercise, Work
Posted in Health | No Comments »

Working with others June 8th, 2008

I’m not sure about the whole team work thing, I’ve had a horrid couple of weeks trying to get a group together to get a project started and running. Everything I have tired hasn’t worked and they just aren’t motivated.

I don’t know how to motivate zombies, is it even possible. Uni has all been about ‘working with others’ and you will never work along and always in a group. This is true and while didn’t really doubt this I am now only realising how hard it is working with those that do not want to work.

I could always pick up the slack in Uni groups when those that did nothing but now I’ve got enough to do myself that I don’t have the time or energy to pick up that slack.

I did find out that I’m a bit to soft to be leading people at this stage, I tried to be a bit tougher but I think that I’m a little afraid of offending people. Something that I’m going to try to develop over the coming year, which adds to the ever growing list.

It might be little to late but I’ve had enough of trying to save face while the end goal suffers, I will have to live with the fact that I might not be the most popular person when I start make people responsible and that they are litting the whole team down.

I guess that I just care too much what others think of me, I will have to get over that.

Tags: Leadership, Lessons, Life
Posted in Corporate Life | No Comments »

Working Hard May 21st, 2008

I have become aware of the proper defination of ‘hard working’ or ‘working hard’ I suppose I always thought that the harder that you work, the more that gets done. But this is not the case as I have found out.

There is so much more to it other than just putting your head down and working. There are the relationships that are built but also your perception as a worker can also be dependent on how you fit in with the team.

I kept my head down and worked, because that’s the way I know now to get things done, how to complete projects and produce results. Consequently it was also another way to loose sleep and stress more. Maybe in another time or another company being tired would be a badge of honor but these days I doubt that.

I have quickly learned that being tired = non-productive, so instead of trying to hammer out that report at the end of the day I’m going home getting rest and coming in early the next day and doing a better job.

While I’m an advocate of the ‘head down bum up’ work ethic, I’m becoming aware that it might not be percieved as the best method. I occasionaly put in the odd 10 – 12 hour day, this might be fine in some cases but I wouldn’t want my peers to think that I’m incompetent and have to work long hours to keep up.

My two big reasons for changing my attitude towards work hours and how I work.

Tags: Work
Posted in Corporate Life | No Comments »

Corporate Life May 17th, 2008

Many things have changed over the course of this year.

• I now have more of a spine
• I have realised that I’m not as intelligent as I thought I was
• That people are the most variable factor is anything that you do
• Face to Face conversations are more important
• Integrity doesn’t win you friends
• You are judged, not matter what you do

How did I learn all of this…my new corporate life. It is amazing how the prioites in my life have changed, work now is the major factor that I consider when making decisions on what to do during the week or weekend. Since having a full-time salary now means that I have started looking for a new place to live and buying the ‘stuff’ that fills our houses to fill the new one.

Since the majority of my time is taken up by work and possibly a few other minor activities, that is mostly what I’ll be posting about.

I hope that it won’t be too boring.

Tags: Life, Work
Posted in Corporate Life | No Comments »

Obsession with Japan April 27th, 2008

It seems that my obsession with Japan is set to continue, since returning I was thinking of starting up Taiko (Japanese Drumming)  & learning japense as well.

Now there is something else that I might be set to attend. The Japan Festival is being held in the later part of May and is set to showcase a lot of popular culture about Japan.

The only question that I have is why the Japan Club of Victoria would only have their website in Japanese and not English, does a Victorian club not want others (besides Japanese) to join. Do I sound annoyed…well I am. I suppose that it’s typically Japanese but I feel a bit hindered to join because I don’t feel welcome – a bit much from just reading a website.

Either way I’m going and have a great time!

Tags: Japan, Japanese
Posted in Festival | No Comments »

The story of 3 train lines April 25th, 2008

I have had the fortunate ability to have traveled on 3 (possibly 5) different train lines.

Glen Waverley
Belgrave/Lilydale
Carnbourne/Packenham

They are listed by the way in order of the one that I want to travel. I have always used the Glen Waverley line because it was closet to home, but recently I’ve had the chance to house sit closer to two different train lines.

Our train systems really are a mess, when at 6.30am there should be a minimal number of people it was standing room only. I know which line I won’ t be eventually living near (Carnbourne/Packenham) I thought that it was hard on the Glen Waverley, hardly ever express, doesn’t come often though and over crowding on somedays.

I have previously heard of the Public Transport User Association,  but now I’m seriously considering joining and helping where I can. I know that Connex has started to bring in changes I just hope that they will work as effectively as Melbourne desperately needs the change.

I can’t tell you the tension in the train some morning (actually most of you might know what I’m talking about) and it would be great to have a normal train ride one day.

Tags: Transport Melbourne Trains
Posted in melbourne | 1 Comment »