asiandad.net » ramblings

The End of Camelot

asianDad — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:43:00 +0000

Here I go again driving to the edge of town
Need to be alone when I’m thinking with no one else around
I’ve always been a dreamer and from here I dream a lot
And now I see the end of Camelot

If anyone could have a change of heart
Maybe you could change your mind
But if you’re giving up – If you’re letting go
Don’t let me be the last to know

Here I go again walking down the same old streets
I don’t wanna see anybody, I wanna be discreet
I’m a firm believer and I once believed in you
But now I can’t believe all the things
You’re putting me through

I’m not thinking straight – I’m not feeling great
I’m not sleeping too well
I’m not doing what I know I can – I can’t help myself
Only time will tell…

The End of Camelot by Peter Cetera

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racism in anytown USA

asianDad — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:15:41 +0000

well it appears that average everyday racism is alive and well in anytown USA. How do I know? I’ll give you a recent example. There’s an assigned school bus stop at the end of our cul-de-sac for my seven year old’s elementary school. and I’ve noticed over the last year, a mom that lives in the cul-de-sac down the road takes her two kids to the other bus stop even though it would be closer for them to walk over to ours. In other words, she’s forcing her kids to walk further to a different bus stop rather than stand with me and my son at our stop. It really doesn’t make any sense for them to do this other than it’s because they have some sort of aversion for asians. whatever, I didn’t think much of it. you know, it’s just par for the course here in the predominantly white ‘burbs. A couple days ago, those two kids from the other cul-de-sac thought they were late for the bus so they ran over to our stop since it’s closer. Since they know my son they start chatting away about video games and such and then all of a sudden the mom come roaring out of her cul-de-sac in her minivan. She starts yelling at her kids from her van:
“I thought I told you never to go to this bus stop! You’re suppose to go to the other bus stop!! Why don’t you ever do as I say!!! You’re NOT suppose go come here!!!!”

she’s screaming at the top of her lungs and doesn’t even acknowledge that I’m standing right there with my own son hearing and seeing all this.
Thankfully the awkwardness of the situation was interrupted by the school bus showing up. Once the kids got on, I politely told the crazed woman that her kids are welcome to come to this bus stop in the mornings. But the woman didn’t seem interested in speaking to me. Maybe I threw her off with my fluent english with no noticeable accent. she probably assumed I didn’t know a lick of english. that ignorant piece of white trash.

heh. I wonder if she knows that her kids sit together with my son in the same seat on the school bus? She’d probably “freak out” if she knew.

It’s not like we have a contagious disease you ignorant bitch! Just because we don’t have blonde hair and blue eyes doesn’t make us less of a human, you idiot.

You know that dream that some people have of a world where people will come together and unite as “one”? I can safely say that it ain’t ever gonna happen. sorry. but that’s reality.

Christmas lunch in January

asianDad — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 03:30:21 +0000

Since our department didn’t have the annual Christmas shindig due to all the layoffs that occurred at the end of the year, the bigwigs decided to have a “christmas luncheon” for the surviving colleagues today (January 30th). I guess, the managers realized that they needed to spend the allotted Christmas party money that was budgeted for last year or else *lose* the amount in this year’s budget. Since all my closest buddies got let go, I didn’t have all that much fun at the luncheon (which was held at a nearby hotel). I guess, I need to make an effort and form new bonds with some of these other colleagues but that takes extra *time* and *effort*. and I just don’t have the energy to do that kind of shit. Just call me an old grump.

argh. I better snap out of it and get to schmoozing. I suppose I do NEED to elevate my profile around here or else risk getting the ax the next time the bigwigs decide to cut more of us.

I'm a survivor

asianDad — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 20:49:42 +0000

I don’t have much time to blog but I wanted to post a quick update. I still have a job. But man, friday was just all doom and gloom around the office. I left right after meeting with HR and my boss so I don’t have the full body count at this point. All I know is some of my closest colleagues at work didn’t make it through the cut with me.

I’ll be sure to post more on this later…

should I stay or should I go?

asianDad — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:30:19 +0000

So you gotta let me know, should I stay or should I go?
-The Clash

After weeks and weeks of waiting – I’m finally going to learn if I have a job or not tomorrow. ugh. wish me luck!

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call me Lester Burnham

asianDad — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:29:29 +0000

For the last couple weeks, I’ve been taking the boys to an indoor pool for swim lessons every saturday. It’s run by a local swim team and the instructors happen to be volunteers for the team. Initially, I dreaded being the designated chauffeur for the kids but then I realized that their swim instructors were fit, young girls in swimsuits. Yes, call me a dirty ol’ man but sometimes I still feel like a horny teenager. Is it so wrong to be watching my kids learn how to swim and not turn away when their instructors’ toned bodies get in the way? my favorite part is when she comes out of the pool to show the kids some techniques. Come on, is it not akin to watching “Dancing with The Stars” for the eye candy? Just call me Lester Burnham, the sad middle aged dad in the film American Beauty.
.

an awkward moment at lunch today

asianDad — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:29:08 +0000

yikes. I just spotted my ex-girlfriend from high school while eating lunch with my coworkers today. we were trying out a fairly new eatery nearby when I happened to notice someone that looked vaguely familiar. It took a moment or two but it finally clicked. It was indeed the girl I dated for two years while in high school (and overlapped into the first year of college). Of course it ended badly way back when so I didn’t want to risk embarrassing myself in front of my colleagues by trying to say “hi” to her. Boy, did she look old(er) now. but I suppose she’d probably say the same about me. I tried not to stare and I’m not even sure if she noticed me there or not. It sure did feel awkward knowing she was in the same room. I couldn’t even enjoy eating my chicken panini…

Waiting is the hardest part

asianDad — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:11:01 +0000

Man, I really thought that the experience of blogging all these years would help make it a little easier writing up twenty-odd pages about how I’m qualified for one of the remaining positions left at work. I was wrong. It was still pretty difficult to write out my job experiences and expertise without sounding like it’s a bunch of BS. Well, I’m still not too sure if I’m coming across as a big headed nincompoop or not. But I’m just glad I’m through with the forms. and now it’s just a matter of waiting for the decisions to come down from on high. As Tom Petty sang oh so long ago, the waiting is the hardest part.

work update…

asianDad — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 17:26:13 +0000

Well, things are getting a bit solemn around here at work. We just had a meeting where we were presented the proposed structure of the new group and the positions/grade levels for each spot. As expected, it’s a bit awkward knowing that I’m competing with my colleagues for the available slots. I guess I should be glad there’s a position that I’m eligible for. Some folks down the hall were told their roles have been completely eliminated and that they’re not in the “candidate pool” for the remaining positions. To add insult to injury, these folks are required to stay here until they get the official notice in December. That truly sucks. But back to the proposed structure for my group – there’s a role that seems tailor made for me so it seems that I’m a shoe-in. But I won’t boast about it or even think it until I see it in black and white. I suppose anything can happen from now until the final decisions in December.

But it’s clearly evident now that some other groups in our building have already been through this process because when I come in to work in the mornings now, the main parking lot, which normally is pretty full when I get there, is now half empty. It’s now a daily reminder of what’s going on in this company at the moment. ugh.

just in time for the holidays…

asianDad — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:12:00 +0000

well, as expected we received some bad news at work. our work group will be cut back by 50%. The difficult part is that the whole process will take weeks. At the earliest, we all might find out if we have a job or not in December, right in time for the jolly holidays. ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas indeed! We essentially have to “apply” for the remaining positions so it’s going to be a bit awkward to be competing with colleagues that I’ve known and have become close to over the years.