Long weekend

Next Monday is a replacement holiday for Deepavali, and I am taking next Tuesday off to make it a four days long weekend.

Only this is not a potato mode long weekend, as I will be joining the traffic jam as well as working most of the time.

The usual, simulation results that are wanted today, of which I haven't even completed the model generation. I am not denying that I am slow, but getting the yet again updated, n-th revision of the final final final mechanical CAD last Saturday, which I am only aware of this Monday, did not help. Nor is the complexity and the amount of changes and details added since the last CAD provided for my previous model generation.

I was on leave last Friday, the annual leave hitting max thing, every month I have to take a day or two to stay below. Sorted out some bank stuff as well as went to the pet shop to get new hamsters.

Initial plan was to write an entry about the hamsters this weekend, but that's not going to happen now.

This weekend will be a tiring one, spending time and energy on the road, working in not so ideal set up, and most likely poorer quality sleep.

I am tired already just writing about it...

Other |temperamental thoughts| category entries.

Recharge time

Back after a week away, Chinese New Year visit to the in-laws.

Back alone, as wifey and the kids decided to stay a few days more.

Abandoned is too strong a word, but I can't think of another word. This is not the first time anyway, and I am fine with it.

I like the reunion, the gathering, the yummy food, the laughters, the fun time. I am close to the in-laws, so these are quality times.

Unfortunately as an introvert I expend energy in such social activities, and I only have a finite energy reserve. The lower quality sleep and being sidelined by wifey as usual when she is with her family did not help. I am severely lacking in hugs and kisses, cuddles and caresses.

While I understand and anticipated being ignored, what drained me is her bad-tempered, irritated and angry tone, specially reserved for me when we do get to talk. Like I said many times over, how I wished she could use the tone she speaks to her parents and siblings with me, instead of reserving the worst for me.

So after seven days out and left to dry, I am completely drained and am desperately in need of some 'me time' to recharge.

Socialising is tiring.

Other |tiresome travels| category entries.

想念

喜欢新年一大家人聚在一起。

但是…

想念我的仓鼠「可可」。

想念我的家、我的房、我的床。

也想念我的电脑…

随兴随想 |系列|

Short trip

Just got back from a three days two nights trip. Home sweet home.

It's more like 51 hours away from home but I am exhausted. Physically, mentally, emotionally.

Especially emotionally.

Travelling is stressful for me, what with the motion sickness, the bad back, the difficulty in sleeping in other's bed.

I am very glad that I get to see mommi and pappi, the aunties and cousin. Gladder still that pappi decided to stay with us for the two nights and spent many quality hours together, including celebrating his birthday. It has been many years since we got to do that.

But I am also saddened after seeing mommi. She can no longer recognise me, and there is that great sense of helplessness and hopelessness.

Initially I wanted to get some work done in the remaining of the day, since I have been working many weekends now to keep up with work and management wants some results as soon as possible, but I am drained.

Both my head and my heart are heavy.

Other |tiresome travels| category entries.

立春

今天立春，壬寅（水虎）年的开始，今天出世的宝宝就不再是属牛尾而是虎头啦！

两天前妈咪生日，所以和她视频通话祝贺她，她没有反应…

除夕傍晚喉咙痛至今还是没有痊愈，病着过年。

今天从娘家回自己的家，感恩路程顺利，没有像去时那样塞车。

还是自己的家最好，希望今晚能有高质量的睡眠。

只剩周末两天来休息，然后又要开工了，想到就显。

根本都没有休息到，倒是觉得更累，而且还病了，唉…

这就是命。

随兴随想 |系列|

初一

今天初一，祝大家农历新年快乐！

昨晚团圆饭后开始觉得喉咙痛，没有其它症状，但没有测试器，所以…

我喉咙痛，小瓜也时而流鼻涕时而鼻塞了两天，所以今天没有像以往那样和岳父一起去他老家拜年。还是小心谨慎为上。

和身在他州的父母视频通话拜年，妈咪依旧认不得我，加上得知爸比团圆饭独自一个人吃，心里很难受…

呆在岳父母家里无所事事，生蘑菇。一样是宅在家里，但始终都还是自己的家比较方便自在。

新年就是要吃个不停，但现在喉咙痛，连这都不行了，唉…

初一到此时，不是很好。

随兴随想 |系列|

出差笔记

终于，有一天是晚上九点前就回到酒店的了！

还是吃饱晚餐那种，我莫名的感动。

不算刚到的那一天啦，因为那天我到酒店虽然还早，但我已是只剩半条命。

我连晚餐都没吃就死尸般躺到晚上十一点半才起来吃个苹果，然后继续做死尸…

都不知道我第二天开始去工作时是不是怨气很重，像幽魂那样。

欸，不要长气，快快写完可以早点去见周女。

和工作狂同事一起出差，我认命，每天等他们收工。

累了的精神状况更容易晕车，所以我常常想静静。（但静静都不想我…）

静静的让那很不爽不安不对劲的肠胃肚子决定它是不是要强烈抗议。

周末和同事到台中。

是的，反社会反交际的我竟然做这样的事，我也觉得自己有毛病。

背包客的旅行方式，公共交通和民宿。

由衷感谢计划一切和带我们这三只野猫的导游同事，真的谢谢了！

偷偷说我比那另外两只还好点啦，她们可不是普通的大头和迷惘…

日月潭：连绵细雨、厚雾朦胧、湿、冷。

刚到台中时是蓝天白云的，到日月潭时是被欺骗了感情的感觉。

只记得那好好吃的茶叶蛋。

民宿：很别致舒适的一栋楼。

羡慕那些能够像电源开关那样一关就入睡的人，真好命。

睡眠很浅很醒睡的我欣赏打呼噜交响曲，我想我应该也有被自己的打鼾吵醒吧？

怎么没有别人欣赏我也有贡献的交响曲的呢？

生气气！ =P

清境农场：羊咩咩、羊味、羊粪。

蓝天白云！蓝天白云！蓝天白云！

重要的东西要讲三次。

车程很要命，又让我想静静。

西门町夜市：很多人。

阿宗面线、苦瓜汁、珍珠奶茶，还有那有点美中不足的卤肉饭。

过后在别处吃了很满足的卤肉饭，不再眷恋。

别傻了，金鱼记忆的我当然是忘了那好吃的卤肉饭店名和地点。

台北101：到此一游。

拍照打卡走人。

迷惘野猫：太阳下山后会突变邪恶。

有潜质，在继续修炼应该可以白天都邪恶。

分享中学时期的一段骑单车事故，竟然被冠了一个花名。

虽然说名字都是给别人用的，但给我个英雄的花名有损我邪恶名誉。

所以决定不睬。

嗯，迟了，累了，不写了。

出差对我来说就是累。

每天要抱抱几次的拥抱爱好者我已经死了一大半，想念我的情人老婆仔…

哦，情人老婆仔，其实我不认识叫静静的人，真的！

随兴随想 |系列|

有感而发：出差前夕

二零一九年十二月四日。

明天要出差公干了…

不要不要不要不要～！

>_<

有感而发 |系列|

Not my thing

Travel.

The anxiety, the many security checks, the wait, the uncomfortable chair, the confined space, the stress...

So darn exhausting, what a bloody drain.

Stomach acting up today didn't help, which is probably stress related...

Had a bowl of soup, a few pieces of fruits, a chocolate bar, and a small tub of icecream as sustenance for the whole day.

Bollocks, just bollocks.

I am sure there are many who like to travel, I am just not one of them.

Travelling incurs so much wasted time, and is just so freaking exhausting.

I am feeling very heaty now, and the stomach is still acting up.

Bollocks!

Other |tiresome travels| category entries.

Be there

Mommi, I am going to see you tomorrow.

Nothing much I can do to make you better, really.

Such sense of helplessness.

*Sigh...*

But I will be there.

Just to be there.

Other |sane side| category entries.

家

没有瞬间移动的能力，也没有小叮当的任意门，所以我无法每天工作完就回家。

只能等到出差整个星期后才坐飞机回家。

那一大堆机场的手续、长龙、和等待。

还有那总是迟到的飞机和闷死人的飞程。

浪费精神、浪费时间。

好无奈。

终于都回到家了。

累，但好开心。

回家真好。

家真好。

随兴随想 |系列|

System purge

My SkyDump utility decided to have a full system purge, I believe due to the copious amount of yogurt drink I had these few days.

I am lactose intolerance.

SkyDump requires the user to be attached to the good old EarthPot hardware, also known as the toilet bowl, else suffer the messy corruption. A nightmare to recover from, I tell you.

Let's not go there.

My system is still purging at the time of writing this. SkyDump works slowly, intermittently, and whenever it feels like it.

A lot like... nevermind.

Awesome! Sorry, just had an urge to say that.

Hope it will have run its course before my flight tomorrow.

Other |nutty nuts| category entries.

调理生活

一次工作出差，搞乱了我的生活节奏和规律。

时差的适应期间总是在不适时困倦，三更半夜时清醒。一整天都头重脚轻，很不好的感受。

每天的体能锻炼也中断，几天前才再次开始。

平时的一些活动和习惯也因为错乱的睡眠时间而错过。

我是有规律的人，不喜欢这样。

希望可以快点调理回来，人老了连这都慢了，唉…

我出差回国也一个星期了，那超级败的研究室管理还是没准许我的通行证。我会一直留意几时才会被准许，到时写篇讽刺性的报告。

随兴随想 |系列|

Return trip

Sunday, 11th September 2016

12:00 hours Arizona time (Monday, 12th September, 03:00 hours Malaysia time): checked out and left hotel, heading to airport

14:30 hours: checked in, had lunch, passed the security. Settled down to wait for the 17:00 hours flight to LA

16:10 hours: finished reading Quidditch through the Ages

18:12 hours: touched down LAX

18:55 hours: reached international departure terminal, LAX has craptastic signage. Cathay Pacific counter only resumes service at 19:30 hours, pfft...

19:37 hours: done check in, luggage drop, and passed security thanks to Cathay ground crew who started work early and a shorter queue for business class at security, else probably a 45 to 60 minutes process. Had dinner and settled down to wait for the midnight flight to Hong Kong

Monday, 12th September 2016

14:16 hours Arizona time (Tuesday, 13th September, 05:16 hours Malaysia time): landed Hong Kong

20:38 hours (11:38 hours Malaysia time): landed Penang

21:01 hours (12:01 hours Malayia time): passed immigration, collected luggage, passed custom

23:00 hours (14:00 hours Malaysia time): had lunch en route, reached home

Journey from Arizona hotel to home took 35 hours.

Other |tiresome travels| category entries.

Hug deprivation

I think I did quite well in the first week away from home, away from wifey, since it's mainly work and jet lag.

Then there was that day off after working straight through the weekend and the hug deprivation hit me full force.

I am so ready to go home, to hugs and kisses.

Other |temperamental thoughts| category entries.

There is a first for everything

Flying business class, a first for me, after so many business trips throughout the years.

Somehow, this feels more like being on a business trip, heh. =P

personal space

plenty of leg room for my height

The seats are like personal cubicles, with plenty of leg room for me since I am not a tall person.

seat modes

The important thing about the space is that it allows the seat to go into "bed mode", which is a lot nicer compared to trying to sleep sitting. Of course the seat can be in any other form of inclination in between upright and flat.

arse numbing flight distance

For a 13 hours flight, bed mode is very much appreciated. That said, I still didn't get to sleep, the noise (even with ear plugs), the vibration, did not help.

Oh, the three course meals are nice too.

So yea, just wanted to record this down, my first ever experience flying business class. =)

Other |tiresome travels| category entries.

Going home

One week. Over.

One more night, and I am going home.

Can't wait. =)

I did what I could for the business trip, wanted to do more but there's a part that needed someone else to fix before I could proceed, and that fix never arrive before  I ended my last working day.

Oh well.

I did collected 107 configurations worth of data and hopefully that will give me a good understanding of this new system. Probably will take me a few days just to crunch and analyse the data though.

Regardless, I rewarded myself with a bubble bath tonight. I like submerging with my ears under the water, with just the mouth and nose above, and with my eyes closed to take a nap.

Pretty relaxing really.

Well, it's good that I am going home tomorrow, as I haven't been sleeping well these few days, I miss my bed, hugs, and goodnight kiss.

And I am almost done with the novel I brought along, how to sleep without my bedtime reading? =P

Oops I did it again

So there is this new stuff, new system, work stuff that's the reason for my current business trip.

And since I couldn't proceed with the original plan due to an issue that I need support from others to resolve, and the support on the other side of the globe didn't manage to resolve it before it's bedtime for them, I ended up with some bonus time on the system.

I really want to understand more about how this new stuff on the new system behaves so I went ahead to do a bit of data collection.

A bit. You know, just a few configurations to see the response, the trend, that sort of things.

But as usual when I got free reign of the system, I kept having more and more "what if...?" So this 'a bit of data collection' turned out to be 70 configurations, almost 1 GB of data.

Sometimes, I frighten myself.

Koh Samui footprints

Went to Koh Samui in early June, it's an in-laws' family trip.

A bonding trip. A fun trip. A memorable trip.

As I said upon my return: it's not where we go, but with whom, that matters.

Anyway, this is not meant to be a wordy entry, so here are some photos taken with my aged entry level smartphone, while it has a first class processor, the camera is just... meh!

I stayed faithful to my travel photo style, but this time I postprocessed them into black and white.

Behold! Photos mostly of the villa we stayed in at the InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort.

bird-cage-like chairs at the front of the villa

the villa has five rooms, three stories

the living room on the top floor

the top floor living room from another angle

again the top floor living room, looking towards the kitchen and dining area

inner stairs to the second floor living room

the beach with clear sea and corals. Yes this is in colour =P

a treasure chest full of card and board games!

me and my bubble bath ^_^

understandably wifey spent most of her time with her family, so here's the rare occasion when she indulged me

Back to Earth

Five days four nights at Koh Samui. Over.

Waking up in my own room this morning, had that strange feeling of being back to reality.

The non-vacation version of reality. The I-am-going-to-work-tomorrow reality.

Bollocks.

Seaside vacation is my ideal kind of holiday.

Actually, as long as it's centred around peace and quiet, relax and chilling out, it's ideal.

With the little monsters around though, peace and quiet remain just a dream.

While I didn't get to lie down reading or napping on the beach or beside the many swimming pools with wifey at my side, I did get a couple time-outs chilling in bubble bath.

The waterfall was a let down, and the rest of the humanmade stuff that we visited were the usual same old same old.

The company was gold. Really, it's not where we go, but with whom, that matters.

Back to work tomorrow. So again I have to say...

Bollocks!