End

Out of cycle staff meeting today, primarily to celebrate the birthdays for the July babies, as it's the last day of July.

Surprisingly, full attendance. All showed up in person, none opted for online call in. Wow. I am impressed.

Anyway, this entry is not about that. Just feel like noting down that feeling of many closures this month.

Elder son officially started his foundation year. Still many years to go, praying hard that it will be smooth. But the journey has started, a box ticked.

Wifey no longer feels the need to manage younger son's computer usage time, and has given him the password. He can now uses the computer whenever he likes, primarily for gaming really. One less thing for us to handle, one step further in his self-discipline and time management. Another box ticked.

MyVi sold, money banked in. One less thing to worry about.

Completed the 21 thermal simulation cases, prepared and posted the assessment. One big task completed. Hopefully the last of this particular project. Can now concentrate all effort on the other project.

And if possible, start to work on that innovation idea. Time permitting, of course.

Just grateful of the many things that got done, and the sense of closure.

Last day of July, end the month feeling fulfilled and accomplished. Good, will start August less burdened.

Other |temperamental thoughts| category entries.

Part

When I changed to my current car, I traded in my first car, a 2007 MyVi.

There was another MyVi in the house, originally belongs to my younger brother, but when he migrated, the ownership was passed to me.

Wifey's the one using the car all these years, until she got her new car end of last year. Then it's the elder son who has been using the MyVi since he finally got his driving license.

Elder son started his university foundation year this June, and he doesn't want to drive there, so the MyVi has seen little use since then.

Younger son is year end baby, so by the time he can take his driving license, his high school years would be almost over, and if all goes as planned, there would be little time between the end of his high school and his tertiary education.

So we see little reason to keep the MyVi, and decided to sell it. Vehicle is liability, not asset, especially vehicle that's not regularly used.

When wifey was getting her new car, we asked about the trade in value for that MyVi. We didn't opted for the trade in since elder son could use the car, and the trade in value quoted was underwhelming.

We sold the MyVi to Carro, and we got 1.75x the price quoted seven months ago by Perodua. Yup, 1.75x, seven months after, says a lot about how bad the trade in price was, and how greedy Perodua is.

Today is the hand over day. So this entry is mainly to mark the date for future reference.

Good car, MyVi. Thanks for all the years of service, may you go on to serve your new owner for many more years.

Other |hyped up heads up| category entries.

Bothered

Honestly, climbing the career ladder is not my thing.

My job satisfaction doesn't come from the position I hold in the company, or my grade level.

Ultimately I work for the money, feeding the family is my top priority and responsibility. So high salary is always a good thing, no denying that.

In my company, the salary ceiling is tied to the grade level, so unfortunately upon reaching the ceiling, the only progression is to get a promotion to the next grade level.

Naturally, higher grade comes with higher expectation and responsibilities. That's not conducive to my wellbeing given that I already feel being stretched so thin, I am not sure I have more capacity to give.

Anyway, this entry is not about me getting a promotion. Like I said, I don't care about the grade, I just want the salary. This entry is actually about a sudden realisation that hit me when I checked my payslip for July.

Received the latest patent award money in July's payslip, that's a happy thing. Not quite sure why the amount seemed to differ from previous awards but I am not complaining.

And then it suddenly hit me, in my 18 years career with the company thus far, I have more patent awards than I have promotions. It feels... strange.

Don't get me wrong, I only have a few patents to my name, nothing like the impressive numbers my colleagues achieved, so that makes my number of promotions seem even more pathetic.

I shouldn't be bothered, but I am.

Other |temperamental thoughts| category entries.

轻轻一个吻

代价是两千两百二十九令吉二十仙，预估值。

和一整天的时间来回车厂、警局、家里拿相关文件、车厂。

然后等待保险通过了才能修车。

就因为那年轻小伙子停在红绿灯时没有换N挡和拉手刹车，然后据他说是要拾起掉落车上的东西时车子向前滑动，碰撞情人老婆仔的后保险杠。

是的，就是那样轻轻一个“吻”。

现在的物价和维修费也实在太夸张了吧？

没人受伤，但情人老婆仔很心疼她的新车，唉～

随兴随想 |系列|

家有学霸

小儿子跟大儿子的学业成绩，真的是天渊之别。一个全级倒数十五巴仙内；一个全级前十五巴仙内。

同样的生活环境、一视同仁的对待，却来个天和地的差别。

态度，果然决定一切。对或错的态度，完全由我们自己决定。

很庆幸小儿子的选择，还在盼望大儿子的醒觉…

刚过的学期，小儿子伸到了全级第六名。神啊，学霸！

我中学时期，成绩算是不错的，全级也有几年是前十五巴仙内的，甚至有一年在前十巴仙内。但我的全级排名从来没有进入前三十名内过。

有关联的差异是在我的时代，初中全级有五百多位学生，高中理科有近四百位。小儿子初中全级有三百多位学生，高中理科有近两百五十位。但怎么都好，全级第六名绝对不是简单的事！

情人老婆仔问学霸儿子要些什么奖励，他说要一辆摩托车…

可以明白年尾出生的他到可以考汽车驾驶执照的时候他的中学生涯也快结束了，然后很快就会进大学，是有可能根本没有机会驾到车。他想要出入自由，不麻烦父母载送，摩托车驾驶执照早汽车一年。

我不反对他考摩托车驾驶执照，毕竟那也是一个一生人可以受用的技术。但真的很担心现在的交通情况，有太多那些不应该在驾驶的问题司机。

当然要为了一年使用量买一辆摩托车也是要慎重考虑的事，毕竟经济能力是有限的。

随兴随想 |系列|

病

病了，非常不舒服。总是喘不过气的感觉。

干脆死掉算了，不想受这样的苦。

情人老婆仔不屑一顾，就是感冒喉咙痛罢了嘛，她说。

是，我病了的时候就是这么菜、这么烂、这么脆弱。怎么样？

至少只是病的时候才这样。我是这样认为啦…

病了要多点关爱照顾，很过分咩？

真的是喘不过气和头昏脑胀，一整天都精神不振。

自己真弱。

心语细述 |系列|

贱（后续）

三天半长周末，有三天我加时工作。

昨天让自己休息了一天，感觉成功的同时，也隐隐感到不安。

其实虽然三天加时工作，但是整体算是不长的时间。今天最短，也就加时工作了一个小时左右而已。最近状况不佳，大多数时候能量都很低。

感觉不安，因为两个大项目同时进行，我这几天都只是做着一个项目的模拟，完全没有碰到另一个项目的模型。

明天复工想必又被另一个项目催工，很烦。

有那蜡烛两头烧的感觉，唉…

累。

随兴随想 |系列|

Digital detox

Made aware of digital detox from a variety show, in which a lady went through three days without smartphone, which I think she definitely needed it as she was racking up a 22 hours daily smartphone usage. That's just insanely unhealthy.

Digital detox is not just about smartphone, though nowadays that's probably the main facilitator. In short, it's a conscious effort to disconnect from the constant stimulation of technology, be it smartphone, computer, social media and other digital stuff, to prioritize offline, real-life connections and activities.

Look it up to get more details if you are interested. Personally I think many of us could use some digital detoxing, on a consistent and regular basis.

I know within my family there are definitely those who spent way too much time glued to the smartphone everyday, with no sign of reducing the daily usage but unfortunately doing the exact opposite.

Smartphone, device that makes life easier and more convenient. Couple with mobile internet availability it becomes a tool that many cannot live without.

And therein lies the problem.

The many ergonomics and mental health impacts are happening everywhere. So are the social isolation, brain drain and shorter attention span. Smartphone addiction is real.

So ya, I truly believe we all need to be mindful of our daily usage, and exercise restraint. Don't be the slave of a tool.

Other |sane side| category entries.

贱

这个月我需要拿至少一天半的年假，不然月尾就会自动报废。

下星期一是补假，所以今天（星期五）我拿了半天假，午餐后开始的半天。

命贱如我，午餐后我还是在工作，几分钟前我才刚刚放工，所以我那半天假其实就是一小时半左右而已…

这周末依旧还是要加时工作。

是的，就是那么的贱。

唉～

不写了，要准备出门赴约。

随兴随想 |系列|

徒劳无功

花了这么久来更新我的热流模型，已经好几个周末都加时工作那种，昨天终于都完成了。

以为我前一个版本的热流模型应该很靠近这最终版本的了，所以应该不需要更改很多。怎么知道那些机械工程师给我之前的版本和现在这版本差了这么多。

真的是除了外壳尺寸，键盘摸组，和散热交换模组没有变动以外，其他部件都需要修改、更新或新加。基本上跟建一个全新的模型没差多少，真是的。

好啦，终于都建完了，最靠近实体模组的热流模型，可以用来和实测数据验证核对。

可是… 我的电脑无法胜任这模型，需要公司里比较高性能的电脑才有足够的系统资源来跑这模型。我已经把我的模型上传到高性能的电脑确认了，模型没有问题，模拟顺利进行。

但我能不能使用那高性能电脑其实是有点灰色地带的，暂时我还是有权限啦，但那权限原本只是给我短期使用而已的…

我花了这么多时间和精力建了那个很靠近实物的热流模型，很好，我很满意，应该是我至今最完美的一个热流模型了。但做了个寂寞，徒劳无功。

我今天又花了一整天来搞砸那模型，把它改得没有那么精确，删除和简化部件，牺牲精准度来减少网格数量，要减到我的电脑可以跑模拟为止。

真是的，建得美美妥妥的，然后又需要自己搞砸它。完美主义的我非常十分不爽咯！

随兴随想 |系列|

Embrace the beast within

Diablo IV season 9: Sins of the Horadrim has started a few days ago.

Been busy working overtime recently so haven't really got much game time, and since being hounded relentlessly these few weeks, I will be working overtime this weekend as well.

Meaning still not going to have much time for gaming for a while. Sad. =(

Anyway, I have decided to play the druid class in this season, as it has been a while since I last played the class back in season 1, like, two years ago.

To me, druid is about shapeshifting. Sure there is that nature magic spellcaster playstyle but shapeshifting is what makes druid unique. I am going to play a shapeshifting druid this season, werewolf and/or werebear. Hence the title of this entry.

Also, Diablo Immortal has just introduced the druid class as well, so expect to see a large amount of players and their familiar playing the druid in coming days, since knowing Blizzard, the newly introduced class will be overpowered until a few patches down the road.

Maybe I will class-change to druid in Diablo Immortal too, finally joining the bandwagon for once. Goodness knows I haven't even played the Blood Knight and the Tempest thus far.

Hmm... maybe I will do just that, embrace the beast within in both games.

Other |geeky gaming| category entries.