Thanksgiving, a time to be safe and warm. And shop. And sleep.

(taken from: www.ctrlaltdel-online.com)

Turkey Day is coming up soon, and a close friend is visiting Boston...great time to catch up on the years since we all left university.

Somehow, when it comes to holidays, I have the tendency to end up as the airport-express driver, the house-keeper, the pet-watcher and keeping the entire company running. Literally. And everybody else goes home.

As Ric Flair once said, "Whether you like it or not, learn to love it, because it's the best thing going. Woooo!"

I guess it isn't all that bad after all..
Having a pet again without the long-term commitment, learning to maintain an empty house during winter, keeping the company running in and out..
It's like a crash course on time management in December.

No, really...I'm not being all sarcastic at this point.
To quote Jeremy Clarkson, "How hard can it be ?"

This is what I get for being really broke and responsible. And for keeping my word.

...

I actually have a darn huge table calender for people to write down when and where they'll be leaving...because I have no idea what their times are.
It starts this Wednesday, then Thursday, and Sunday, finishing on Monday.

It continues in December and January. In total, I'll probably travel to the airport about 12 times.

However with my friend tagging along, I'm eager to get out of this place for a day...probably visit 4 hour south, if plans actually pan out..which I hope it will.

I'll be at work on the 30th really tired, and wonky...probably questioning everybody about twigs at the wrong places, like a quarter-of-a-century-old man lacking the luxury of sleep.

...

So this is an early Thanksgiving note to the world, since I'll be tired as heck from endless driving up and down for hours in a day...

If the drivers have to drink, suck it up and sleep on the couch. Or call a cab.
Let the cops and local authorities have some well deserved time off. They have families too, you know.

Death knows no holidays. Be safe.

...

Downtown...Chinatown...I get around..





(taken from youtuber yermaan)

Top 10 most aggravating type of drivers

Was taking a break from studying when I remembered this gem:
(taken from: http://www.autoinsurance.org/blog/agg-drivers)

The Time-Waster was probably born in Foxboro, you know, those who think their car will run out of electrical juice if they flip the signal. Seriously, I have to go through this damn intersection every time I get to work.

And of course some use their signals and decided they wanted to go straight through the intersection.

Some days, it's like playing roulette of death.

Or I can use the highway and get run off by everyone who uses the inner lane to overtake at 80mph.

Also, my workplace area has this set of lights which turns green only for 6 seconds to drive across this huge highway, and you have to wait for trees to grow and shed leaves before it turns green again.

Very annoying. And even more so, when the dude in front looks for CDs on the floor or the girl in front looks for her makeup kit when it turns green.

But the Time Wasters...I see them every morning.

Just have to be extra careful around here...

It makes my heart sings, just thinking of it...like having hot tea in the cold

The fire hydrant. With a painted stick. It's meaningless during summer, but extremely useful during winter. Shows how deeply screwed you are because this is where I get off after work.
Could be my imagination, but it's actually taller this year. Oh joy.

When I first came to the States, I dropped myself into the deep end of the pool by going to Upper Peninsula in Michigan. Of course seniors encouraged us, saying winter is like soft snow flakes falling gradually...as seen on TV.

It's like bringing a 21 year old on his birthday to the bar, and getting him a cocktail of random stiff hard liquor, telling him it's just like beer.

The first sight I saw before winter, was sticks sticking to hydrants and curbs.
I told myself, "nah...it couldn't be, could it ?" Conveniently avoiding that feeling, enveloped in false hope..of course until everybody told me, "why yes...it's there so people don't crash into hydrants or curbs when it snows...the markers above the hydrant hows how high snow gets typically."
Typically. Sweet.

It's that gut feeling and instinct when I saw it. I knew what it was but wasn't sure what to make out of it. Until everyone points out the obvious, because behind my mind I'm on the fence...as I could be right or wrong.
Ironic isn't it ?

I've sent wrong messages across 'cause my instincts decided to go all sarcastic on me...
I'm having this constant feeling about it over the distance.
Is it what it is ? I'd rather let time show me which path to take again.
I'll take all the time in the world over another mis-judgement.

Time to snap out of it and get back to my studies...after making somemore hot tea. Oh lovely.


(taken from youtuber : nieznajomy84)
Jem - It's amazing

Do it now
You know who you are
You feel it in your heart
And you're burning and wishing

At first, wait, won't get it on a plate
You're gonna work for it harder and harder
And I know 'cause I've been there before
Knocking on the doors with rejection
And you'll see 'cause if it's meant to be
Nothing can compare to deserving your dream

[Chorus:]
It's amazing, it's amazing all that you can do
It's amazing, it makes my heart sing
Now it's up to you

Patience, now, frustration's in the air
And people who don't care
Well it's gonna get you down
And you'll fall
Yes you will hit a wall
But get back on your feet
And you'll be stronger and smarter

And I know 'cause I've been there before
Knockin' down the doors, won't take "No" for an answer
And you'll see 'cause if it's meant to be
Nothing can compare to deserving your dream

[Chorus]

(lyrics referenced from: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jem/itsamazing.html)

Growing up with patience and grace

I don't feel like 25 years of age though I feel like quarter of a century old...
It's all relative, really...numbers no longer carry any weight. Not like I any issues with that now...

Not going to write much, but I'm definitely looking forward to start the new year after a crazy one.
The past year felt like a meal served with carefully prepared garden salad, entree made from sushi drowned in curry, garnished with slabs of bacon while having kahlua mixed with tea...and finishing it off with fruit tarts and coffee when I wanted creme brulee and wine.

Sometimes I look back, where I came from...appreciating closed ones, near and far away.
Oh and I'm glad I have the interest to pick up a musical instrument...not quite as good as i'd like to be, but there's always room for improvement...same goes for everything perhaps..

I'm not sure where home is anymore though...my childhood seems like a distant past from home..wherever home will be...

Have good vibes for the coming year. Oh yes..


(taken from youtuber: juliomeliani)
Foo Fighters - Home

wish i were with you i couldn't stay
every direction leads me away
pray for tomorrow, but for today
all i want, is to be home

stand in the mirror, you look the same
just looking for shelter, from cold and the pain
someone to cover, safe from the rain
all i want, is to be home

echoes and silence, patience and grace
all of these moments i'll never replace
No fear of my heart absence of faith
all i want, is to be home

all i want, is to be home

people i've loved, i have no regrets
some might remember, some might forget
some of them living, some of them dead
all i want, is to be home

Using headphones to drown out your mind...behind a secured door

This is a door handle. Simple and secure. Security with just a twist to secure the bolt. As obvious as opening a bag of peanuts with warnings about the contents containing peanuts.
...

This. This is over-kill. Starts with a chain lock...thingy...a bolt lock, a latch and the actual door knob which is not in the picture because it's below the picture.

And this is from my colleague's apartment. Great fun to open the door when you're stuck at a tight corner (bad stairs placement) and it's freezing cold (bad weather)...because you have to unlock the latch with the key while turning the knob (not in the picture) in perfect harmony to get that piece of heavy wood to budge.

God knows how many profanities I picked up in Italian just because of that door.
I call it the cheerful door. Opens the door to endless teasing..

Of course it eventually becomes a norm and it goes smoothly in a breezy coordinated fashion.
...

Sometimes having one too many locks isn't any more secure than a good one. It's like getting too carried away from reaching that inner comfort zone..
But it's all relative, isn't it ?

Having that feeling is welcoming, and all too familiar again...
..



Regina Spektor - Eet

It’s like forgetting the words to your favorite song
You can’t believe it
You were always singing along
It was so easy and the words so sweet
You can’t remember
You try to feel the beat

Eet, eet, eet, eet
Eet, eet, eet, eet

You spent half of your life trying to fall behind
You’re using your headphones to drown out your mind
It was so easy, and the words so sweet
You can’t remember
You try to move your feet
Eet, eet, eet, eet
Eet, eet, eet, eet

Someone’s deciding whether or not to steal
He opens the window just to feel the chill
He hears that outside a small boy just starting to cry
‘Cause it’s his turn but his brother won’t let him try

It’s like forgetting the words to your favorite song
You can’t believe it
You were always singing along
It was so easy and the words so sweet
You can’t remember
You try to move your feet

It was so easy and the words so sweet
You can’t remember, you try to feel the beat

It was easy to get into the dark side...and so I pray

The day started late in the afternoon, well, despite a work-related call in the morning...
It was drizzling, yet calm. Wasn't even a hint of temperature dip...it was perfect walking out in the rain in t-shirt...well, laziness got the best of me when I realised my trusty fleece hoodie was in-doors.

I just started the engine to burn some fuel and off I went, wandering about in Plainville. Though I did end up buying part of the dark side for $7.00.

Seven! For Darth Vader! It's cheaper than eating at 5-guys burger, which by the way i have no clue what the appeal is, besides grilling 1 day of my life away with each bite.

And a storm trooper cost $10. Hah ! Take that, Vader...it's never fair on the dark side I suppose...

Look at that...it's sweeeeeeeeet !!

...

I'm highly anticipating the new season of Top Gear tomorrow...I shall take it as an early birthday present. A great one, at that...I never wanted any gifts for my birthday.
This year won't be any different...a genuine smile mean a lot more these days.
Wishes in the past had gone in vain, maybe I was doing it wrong then.

Perhaps I know what I want this year...

...


(taken from youtuber nieznajomy84)

Jem - And So I Pray

A storm is brewing in the air tonight
So many pressures on my mind
Want to escape, just want to run away
But it's not an option, I have to stay
And so I pray

I wish that all these things would go away
To disappear if only for a day
No I can't go but I don't want to stay

I can't believe the irony
The thing I wanted is killing me
All the happy smiles I miss
Didn't think it would be like this
And I pray

I wish that all these things would go away
To disappear if only for a day
No I can't go but I dont want to stay

A storm is brewing in the air tonight
So many pressures on my mind
Want to escape, just want to run away
But it's not an option, I have to stay
And so I pray

I wish that all these things would go away
To disappear if only for a day
No I can't go but I don't want to stay
To be left alone if only for a day

I wish that all these things would go away
To be someone else's only for a day
No I can't go but I don't want to stay.

No I will not fix your computer...

...and it's time to change the alarm tone as well. Waking up to Happy Tree Friends only enraged the fury within, in the cold cold mornings.
Makes me want to throw my phone, but then again I'll be lost without one..and it would cost money to replace. Ahhh...rationalizing while getting out of bed....

Perhaps Robot Chicken would be more welcoming...

Being without a car for 2 days, I miss that feeling of mobility, eventhough I really don't have to go anywhere.
Just like my phone. Hardly use it but it's on 24/7, ringing its way to remind me to get up for another day of work...

And here's what I have to wake up to...

A chair that sinks 2 inches every hour, a pathetic shitbox which is my main workforce unfortunately...a Lets-test-it-here-and-see-if-it-crashes PC for the IT department (which I proudly hog most of the time since I stole this from another department...so it's my keep)...random prints for comical relief on the cubie walls, which offends upper management...and several dead laptops from HP, which triggered my hate for HPs in general.

Not exactly proud of my tidiness here, but it screams  "Go Away"...and that works.
Half the time.

Had quite a few thoughts lately about leaving and it's not because I hate my job.
Perhaps I'll give it another shot. I can see positive changes amidst the rough and confused times...Just pouring a little bit more hope into it...

...

I found the originating website of this video yesterday, and it just made my day.
The missing recipe to survive in my job's environment is humor. Lots of it.


(taken from youtuber: ICTDave01)

This is episode 1. They have 3 more gut-wrenching episodes...gotta buy the guy a beer if i meet him.

This brilliant take was done by the guys at http://www.thewebsiteisdown.com/