Friday afternoon saw the latest of a series of altercations with the boss regarding why we weren't making more of an impact. I told him for the umpteenth time that he really needed to start taking the US market more seriously, since breaking through there will give us the resources to hit the ground running in almost any other country (and we definitely don't have that yet). This time, though, he listened. I'm not sure why I got through to him this time where I was never able to before, but I did.
He agreed with me. And then he asked me to write up an itinerary for a two month trip to the US, starting shortly after the New Year. So, in January, it's off to San Francisco for a few weeks, then Las Vegas for a conference in February, and probably at least three other cities. I don't know which cities yet, but I could be visiting as far afield as Boston. The idea of traveling with my boss for that long isn't the most appealing thing I've heard. But for reasons that aren't important here, it would have been a big mistake for either of us to try to pull this trip off alone (and I was deeply afraid he was going to try), so dealing with him will be an acceptable price.
Whatever the drawbacks, San Francisco is one of my favorite cities, I've never been to Las Vegas, and I haven't been "home" in over three years. So this was quite the early Christmas present. Stay tuned for more details.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Just what are the Christmas-in-the-tropics blues?
Since I got in a bit of trouble on Facebook for saying I had "the Christmas in the tropics blues" (and I truly am sorry I made my friends in Denver read that!), perhaps I should elaborate a bit here. There's a limit to how much I can do so without betraying some personal confidences, so I'll have to be circumspect. Here goes.
I like Singapore, and I like my job. In this economy, I like just having a job at all, if it comes to that, but for the most part I really do like my job in its own right. But sometimes a job can't help but make you feel rather blah, and I've been working my way through a case of that this week. (I was quite sick the week before that, so that probably has something to do with it.) And yes, while a 30 degree C/90 degree F December is a hard thing for a guy whose other homes have included New Hampshire, Iowa, Colorado and Northern Europe to wrap his mind around, I'd rather cope with the weather here than in any of those places at the moment. My best wishes go out to those who are there now!
Here's where the circumspection (is that a word? it should be) comes in. Since I finished Part I of my novel last week, I finally got to work on Part II this week and it's off to a great start. But I wrote a really good line the other night that made for a rather stark revelation for me. It was something a lead character said about some of the choices he's made in his work- and personal-life, and after getting it down on paper I realized I was really thinking of myself. It made me think about my job and how things have gone in Singapore and certain decisions I've made since I've been here and the results thereof. And yes, it triggered a rather bad case of the blues. When I first came here, I wasn't at all sure I'd be here long, and if I had to guess as to whether or not I'd be at this company beyond the six month internship I had initially, I'd have guessed no.
But here I still am. For the most part, that's been all for the better. As I noted over a year ago, I'm a lot better off here than I'd have been at most other places I might have ended up working. The company has grown quite a bit, and things are looking very positive. Logically, I know this was about the best outcome that could have happened compared to the other places I looked into moving to.
Of course, not all in life is logical. I have always liked Singapore and I still do, but the place can be a bit oppressive in how businesslike and button-down it is, and it's also awfully remote from most of the people I care about. That has had its share of costs, and this week I accidentally brought a reminder of that upon myself when my art imitated my life. More than anything, I wish at some point I could have my career follow my life instead of the other way around. I guess there's no reason why that can't happen at some point down the road, of course. This too shall pass.
Yeah, I know this is one of the more self-indulgent posts I've ever put up here, and that it's also rather cryptic. Sorry about that. I just had to write it down for my own sanity at this point. And somewhat surprisingly, I do feel better!
I like Singapore, and I like my job. In this economy, I like just having a job at all, if it comes to that, but for the most part I really do like my job in its own right. But sometimes a job can't help but make you feel rather blah, and I've been working my way through a case of that this week. (I was quite sick the week before that, so that probably has something to do with it.) And yes, while a 30 degree C/90 degree F December is a hard thing for a guy whose other homes have included New Hampshire, Iowa, Colorado and Northern Europe to wrap his mind around, I'd rather cope with the weather here than in any of those places at the moment. My best wishes go out to those who are there now!
Here's where the circumspection (is that a word? it should be) comes in. Since I finished Part I of my novel last week, I finally got to work on Part II this week and it's off to a great start. But I wrote a really good line the other night that made for a rather stark revelation for me. It was something a lead character said about some of the choices he's made in his work- and personal-life, and after getting it down on paper I realized I was really thinking of myself. It made me think about my job and how things have gone in Singapore and certain decisions I've made since I've been here and the results thereof. And yes, it triggered a rather bad case of the blues. When I first came here, I wasn't at all sure I'd be here long, and if I had to guess as to whether or not I'd be at this company beyond the six month internship I had initially, I'd have guessed no.
But here I still am. For the most part, that's been all for the better. As I noted over a year ago, I'm a lot better off here than I'd have been at most other places I might have ended up working. The company has grown quite a bit, and things are looking very positive. Logically, I know this was about the best outcome that could have happened compared to the other places I looked into moving to.
Of course, not all in life is logical. I have always liked Singapore and I still do, but the place can be a bit oppressive in how businesslike and button-down it is, and it's also awfully remote from most of the people I care about. That has had its share of costs, and this week I accidentally brought a reminder of that upon myself when my art imitated my life. More than anything, I wish at some point I could have my career follow my life instead of the other way around. I guess there's no reason why that can't happen at some point down the road, of course. This too shall pass.
Yeah, I know this is one of the more self-indulgent posts I've ever put up here, and that it's also rather cryptic. Sorry about that. I just had to write it down for my own sanity at this point. And somewhat surprisingly, I do feel better!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Bess Lomax Hawes, RIP...and who knew?!
I'm sad to hear Bess Lomax Hawes died last week (I've been sick and also busy with other things, and hadn't kept up with the news), though I have to confess I'm a bit surprised she was still alive. Now, I know who she was, since her family is just as important to folk music as the Kennedys are to politics and because she was a member of The Almanac Singers. (That picture on the obituary, incidentally, is the only picture of them I have ever seen. It pops up every time they are mentioned. You'd think there must be at least one other one out there somewhere.) But somehow, I had no idea she wrote "Charlie on the MTA".
Actually, I had no idea anybody wrote it, if you will. I thought I read somewhere that the original version was a wire recording by an unknown male singer sometime in the 1940s. I suppose that could be true, actually, and the account I read simply didn't bother to mention that not only was the song's authorship known even if the singer of the earliest known recording wasn't, but that said author was a member of one of the most important families in American music. Strange omission, though.
I did know that she lived in Topanga Canyon back before it was taken over by rock stars (or even before there was such a thing as a rock star), because I've read about Woody Guthrie staying at her house on his last trip across the country, after he'd already been committed once. She apparently cut his visit short because of his habit of lounging around the backyard naked when she had little kids. How much more hip could a person be in the early fifties, huh?
Anyhow. There are a number of people I really admire for living a truly full life even if they never become household names, and she was one already. How strange that I didn't know that key part of her life story, though!
Actually, I had no idea anybody wrote it, if you will. I thought I read somewhere that the original version was a wire recording by an unknown male singer sometime in the 1940s. I suppose that could be true, actually, and the account I read simply didn't bother to mention that not only was the song's authorship known even if the singer of the earliest known recording wasn't, but that said author was a member of one of the most important families in American music. Strange omission, though.
I did know that she lived in Topanga Canyon back before it was taken over by rock stars (or even before there was such a thing as a rock star), because I've read about Woody Guthrie staying at her house on his last trip across the country, after he'd already been committed once. She apparently cut his visit short because of his habit of lounging around the backyard naked when she had little kids. How much more hip could a person be in the early fifties, huh?
Anyhow. There are a number of people I really admire for living a truly full life even if they never become household names, and she was one already. How strange that I didn't know that key part of her life story, though!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Every now and then, petitions do pay off...
Emma Thompson will remove her name from Polanski petition, and good for her! Already one of my favorite actresses...although my appreciation is tempered by the fact that she had to be talked into it. Still, great news.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Oh, and the elections?
Gail Collins nailed it. I don't have much else to add.
I will say that I'm less than delighted with Bill Owens winning in NY-23. He's anti-choice and uncertain at best on gay rights (the official Republican nominee was actually better on both issues), and we really don't need another Democrat like that in the House. Besides that, the whole thing did start with Obama nominating a Republican to be Secretary of the Army, which is a wonderful way to reinforce the already-widespread mentality that Democrats just aren't capable of handling national defense. But at least Owens is a dependable vote on health care, and I can't deny the symbolic value of picking up a seat that includes territory last represented by a Democrat when Ulysses Grant was president, not to mention that the Republicans are now down to two districts out of 29 in New York. It wasn't that long ago that they had almost all the districts outside NYC. That brings the total Republican share of the Northeast House delegation down to 16 out of 92 if I've counted correctly. Has the mainstream media stopped clucking about how Democrats can't win in the South yet?
I will say that I'm less than delighted with Bill Owens winning in NY-23. He's anti-choice and uncertain at best on gay rights (the official Republican nominee was actually better on both issues), and we really don't need another Democrat like that in the House. Besides that, the whole thing did start with Obama nominating a Republican to be Secretary of the Army, which is a wonderful way to reinforce the already-widespread mentality that Democrats just aren't capable of handling national defense. But at least Owens is a dependable vote on health care, and I can't deny the symbolic value of picking up a seat that includes territory last represented by a Democrat when Ulysses Grant was president, not to mention that the Republicans are now down to two districts out of 29 in New York. It wasn't that long ago that they had almost all the districts outside NYC. That brings the total Republican share of the Northeast House delegation down to 16 out of 92 if I've counted correctly. Has the mainstream media stopped clucking about how Democrats can't win in the South yet?
Work updates, and an invitation
I do try to keep this blog focused on my personal life (stop that laughing - travel, politics, music and occasional angst about stuff in general...that is my personal life), but, well, there hasn't been much of one lately, as work has been quite hectic. No complaints there, given how hard it is to find a job these days. In any case, that, coupled with the fact that my job involves spreading the word about my company's services all over the world, has gotten me thinking I should put out a plug for those services here.
You'll notice I don't mention the company by name. Although I probably wouldn't get in any trouble for naming it here, I do want this to remain mostly a personal-issues blog, so I'd rather it not turn up on a Google search of the company name. But I can and will link to it here. I'd like to encourage everybody to create an account for yourselves. It is free for consumers, with no hidden costs whatsoever, and you can start saving information about your purchases (such as date of purchase, warranty expiration dates, and even saving a copy of the receipt) right away. At participating stores, they'll enter the information for you at point of sale and even register the warranty online. Odds are there are no participating stores where you are unless you live in Singapore; but if I do my job, there will be soon. Now is a great time to get in on the ground floor.
Note we also maintain a blog, on which almost all the recent updates are from me, so you can see I haven't been as silent as you think on the web lately! We are also on Twitter, and yes, all the tweets so far are from me. I hope you'll give us a try, wherever you are, as we will be reaching out to retailers near you shortly. (Next stop, the US beginning in December - I might even get a trip to San Francisco out of it, which you will of course read about here!)
You'll notice I don't mention the company by name. Although I probably wouldn't get in any trouble for naming it here, I do want this to remain mostly a personal-issues blog, so I'd rather it not turn up on a Google search of the company name. But I can and will link to it here. I'd like to encourage everybody to create an account for yourselves. It is free for consumers, with no hidden costs whatsoever, and you can start saving information about your purchases (such as date of purchase, warranty expiration dates, and even saving a copy of the receipt) right away. At participating stores, they'll enter the information for you at point of sale and even register the warranty online. Odds are there are no participating stores where you are unless you live in Singapore; but if I do my job, there will be soon. Now is a great time to get in on the ground floor.
Note we also maintain a blog, on which almost all the recent updates are from me, so you can see I haven't been as silent as you think on the web lately! We are also on Twitter, and yes, all the tweets so far are from me. I hope you'll give us a try, wherever you are, as we will be reaching out to retailers near you shortly. (Next stop, the US beginning in December - I might even get a trip to San Francisco out of it, which you will of course read about here!)
Thursday, October 29, 2009
It's October 29
...and Starbucks has its Christmas drinks out.
I'm rejoicing at the availability of Peppermint Latte once again, of course. But still, it's not even November yet!
It did give me a good idea for a marketing gimmick for the company. I'm going to see about setting up a registration drive at my favorite mall in the near future.
I'm rejoicing at the availability of Peppermint Latte once again, of course. But still, it's not even November yet!
It did give me a good idea for a marketing gimmick for the company. I'm going to see about setting up a registration drive at my favorite mall in the near future.
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