Caught Doodling

As the boss of two very experienced PR girls and a smart PR boy at the continent, I should not be caught doodling during a press event.

Unforutnately, I was. By the organiser who thought I was copying the slide contents, no less. *blush*

Had to fib my way through to say that the slides will be appreciated and if the organisers could send it to me for reference much later, I'd be much obliged.

The event was held at a swanky hotel in town which Girl 1 liked. I only liked the chandelier, the chocolate eclair and mango mousse that they served. The chandelier crystals twinkled ever so beautifully in a blaze of lights.

Enthralled by the chandelier, I began to sketch it. The presentation at the press event was so boring, I just had to fidget. After the chandelier was completed, I went on to attempt a list of EU and ASEAN countries. While Girl 1 and I were trying to figure out the missing member states, I was caught.

Sheesh.

The musical at the 2nd event was surprisingly quite good. Girl 2 displayed a strong precense of mind in managing the media and the event.

I'm glad the 2 girls are quite sharp about stuff. :) As for Boy, well he's new in the trade, but has already displayed a lot of tact in handling nasty callers to the continent.

With a strong team like this, Tall Man is sure to get stuff done.

The Saga Continues

G called me for the past 3 days to pour out her concern about PB. She felt that PB is truly spinning out of control. I mean, she's been dissing herself and others!

Just a sampler of the disturbing comments that she's made. Some understandable given her agitated state of mind, others, I find it offensive and out of line.

"Do you find me gross in looks?"
"What about P? You think she likes S? I find her too skinny, she ought to plump up?"
"What do you think he meant when he said this? He's a scounderel right?"
"I'm going to confront him! I don't want to wait! I want to send off emails clarifying my name because I'm a conservative woman with values!"
"G will never dump you and treat you in such a shabby manner right?"

*shakes head and throws up arms in exasperation*

I straightaway told G that such comments are unnecessary and out of line. It's terrible! Why should PB rehash the failed romance between the 2Gs, when G is offering her solace?! And what irks me was the way she is talking about P's looks, suspecting that P likes S. I can bet my last dollar that P doesn't like S - S is precisely the kind of man that P detests!

Even G is stunned at the virulence of her comments, and that we are all seeing a side of her that we've never witnessed till now.

An angry, bitter, suspicious, paranoid side that is no different from a rampaging, bellowing elephant.

I mean, we are all friends, need you because of your grief, be blinded to our concern for you? Is not our concern for you far worthier than the scrap of attention that he's showering upon you?

Really, when women are dating, they ignore their friends. How many times have I seen this? Even worse, I've also been guilty of such behaviour in the past too.

Hindsight is always 20 20. She should really thank God that she's freed of this cesspool of a person. Definitely her self-esteem has taken a knocking, but she really should not put down herself nor another in comparison. It's quite uncalled for really.

A serious lesson lies for all of us here. I guess caution is to be exercised especially at the getting to know stage. Prefaced with prayer, one has to make a choice. And poor PB certainly had a very painful lesson.

My poor girl.

The Lunch

Lunch, apart from the fact that it's an hour where you could fill your tummy, is also a time for you to get to know someone better.

I was getting cold feet over lunch with P. I almost wanted to pull out, but he said it's ok and that we should meet. The only thing was that he's had a heavy breakfast and said that he'll watch me eat instead.

Over lunch, conversation flowed around my doings, if I liked work at the continent (while hearing him moan about his). Was telling him that working for the magazine proved something in me and I wished it was something more long-term and better paying. He then went on to discuss about the need to acquire more knowledge in the field that I wrote about.

On new discoveries, I think he seems to be rather reserved. I'm not sure was it because I said the wrong thing, or he's too tired (as I found out later). He seemed to cherish a first love about his occupation which he's obviously not fulfilled at the current job. Yet he hesitates to name it.

I mean, I don't expect confidences at this lunch, but it seems to me that he's in a terrible hurry to get back to office.

I have to admit I'm a little disappointed, but to keep my foolish heart from straying off track, I did pray that the lunch will be an edifying one between me and him. And it was, and it yielded some answers. One thing I did like about him was that no matter how tired he was, he still took time to listen and respond.

It was such a charming difference from all the other fellows that I've dated. There is a great sense of comfort during lunch that made me forget about many things.

Like me, he too, is going through his own seasons of his life, assessing whether this is the time to do some things, and not others.

May it be that both of us wisely recognise the seasons that we are in, and learn to glory in and make full use of them, with God's help.

Time to Sound the Alarm, All Right

Alarm bells were ringing in my head as I heard what PB is planning to do with the man currently known as the scoundrel (S), formerly known as the intellectual.

The short-lived romance (if it could be termed as that) between PB and S has hurt the poor girl badly. However, to have S rehash it in cold blood to a 3rd party without an iota of decency about truth and consideration for the feelings of another borders on a rat's behavior.

While I have to admit that both parties have their own faults (he laid it on her too thick, she fell into it too fast and blindly), it really shocked G and me on how virulent the personal attacks have become. Terms like witnesses, confrontation, closure, loose woman etc were hurled at the 3rd party, who is supposed to act as a mediator between the 2 warring ex-lovers.

It seems to me that the whole thing is descending into a name-calling, who's more righteous fest, with me and G possibly been dragged into it as witnesses for PB.

I'm not sure if confrontation is doing PB any good. Why reopen up your wounds again, when you knew how difficult it was for you to move on? And come on, one should really take S' claims with a pinch of salt, in these times and age.

Add to that, the unending phone calls that PB is making to us to get us to support her. Despite our advice, I doubt she's ready to listen.

Come to think of it, who would when your reputation is slurred? Yet I think it's best to approach the issue delicately, as you certainly don't want to be known as the scorned woman, do you?!

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. And how true this is.

Pompous? Am not!

I hated the way the ex colleagues made a big deal out of my designation.

They were so surprised about this new post that I've taken up at The Sphere and its title. To me, it was no big deal. I mean, just barely a month ago, I was a quiet unemployed freelance journo, and was a senior exec before that. The so-called leap to fame was pretty unexpected.

Ok, I'm grateful for what the title brings - better pay, respect for my professionalism, and intelligent and sharp colleagues. But the whole standing up and greeting me was so unnecessary. Neither was the constant asking of whether M's wife is my subordinate or colleague at an equal status. I mean, it doesn't matter!

Not at all, not when I'm still new to The Sphere.

Even worse, an ex colleague of mine actually emailed me to congratulate me and actually had the cheek to ask me to treat him to dinner. I certainly don't miss him and had no intention of furthering our acquaintance in the future. Current relations, though formal, are adequate.

However life at The Continent is slowly taking on a pattern of regularity and shape. The colleagues are young and gung-ho, and very experienced. Even the clerical staff are knowledgeable and very "on".

I certainly have a lot to learn from my colleagues and yes, I do like them a lot.

Tall Man is so lucky to be working with a bunch of nice and smart folks such as them.

The Jury Is Not Out Yet

Post-retreat, I woke up in the middle of the night dreaming about organising the Christmas Party based on the theme of Bollywood Hollywood - Where East Meets West. Such a fusion confusion will be quite fun, especially when you allow folks to dress up in glamor or kitsch. Bonus points must go to the fashion-savvy ones if they go Bollywood!

Anyway.... back to post-retreat.

So I'm right in my guess in who S is keen on. Her dear friend's relentless advertising and questions are a dead giveaway.

But, I'm not so sure about P and what he's looking for. Ultimately of course, everyone knows why we are here in this group (come on lah, spare me the motherhood statements, though I do share the same view as he does). But why the lack of activity, or is there something I have quite missed out?

An informal check with him shows that he'll be ok to do lunch. Guess we are just fine with lunch, till we further develop. *ooooohhhhh!* But sorry, folks, I'm not getting my hopes up. As I said, too many arrows firing at the delectable fella.

Men. What a mystery. And what a marvel.

I'm Past My Expiry Date

Can't help feel that my usefulness at the continent has expired long before I even stepped foot in this place.

Actually, they have the system down pat. Even if Tall Man is going away for a course, his opening gambit, "Ermm, actually nothing to do with you, but really, things are more or less tapering off and under control..." is but a cold welcome to someone who's still figuring out her role in both The Sphere and the continent.

"And besides, you don't have to tell your bosses that I'm giving you extra work. It'll be good exposure for you, you know."

Well, then, I'd rather go back, thank you very much indeed. I don't mind so much the extra work, but rather the extent of my usefulness in a place when you have declared that I'm NOT useful afterall.

But, the bosses think that I'll be doing the continent a power of good if I were to stay on and eke my living there for a month.

Just the other day, my bosses paid me a visit during the regular weekly meeting. At the end of the day, both men asked how I am coping. Managed to smile and say, "learning as much as I can, before Tall Man disappears."

In the end, they waved goodbye to me, feeling that they've left me in good hands.

Watching their retreating backs, I felt that it was kindergarten all over again. Me, the wailing, pensive, petulant child of 5, hating every moment of school, yet unable to flee as my parents have felt that it's the best course of action for me.

Time to sing que sera sera... while keeping myself busy. Bracing myself for any challenges that would come my way...

A Small Consolation

The only consolation was the possible meeting of P at the continent during lunch break.

I'm a little hesitant. P is highly eligible and by all means a good catch. Even many girls came up to me and sing his praises.

I really didn't want to go through the whole routine of interest, kai kai and ultimate rejection.

It's far too painful and makes me ache inside just to think of it.

Guess lunch will have to wait till after the retreat, in order to better assess the situation. So far, I was only a few keystrokes away to emailing P to tell him that I'm in the same building as he is and to meet up.

I'm sure being the nice man that he is, he won't reject me. The only thing is, will my foolish heart put more meaning to it than what it's worth.

Which is precisely why I hesitate to contact him in the first place, though I sorely need a lunch partner.

Sigh.