Change always comes bearing gifts.
~ Price Pritchett

Last week, I submitted my resignation letter. I stated in it that I would stay with the company until the 31st, but since we have a string of holidays here, today ended up being my last day at work. (More like my last hour, but more on that later.)

It wasn’t an easy decision to make, and I did have a lot of debates with myself. But in the end, I chose to leave my job and the security it provided, partly because of that - it had become too secure, too predictable. You know that story about the frog in the pot of warm water… The frog got a bit too comfortable and when the H2O started boiling, it was already too late for the little amphibian. Something like that. Well. I don’t want to become like the frog in the story.

Though there were times when I felt like I hated my job, I don’t really have bad things to say about it, nor about my superiors, coworkers or workplace. It’s just that I’d rather be doing something else. I’ve decided to follow my heart (cliché! cliché!), and enrolled in digital arts classes which will start next month.

So back to this morning. I was told that the last day of work will be the 24th. I showed up at the office at 9 to find that no one was there yet. Erratic schedules are not uncommon at our workplace, so I thought that maybe my coworkers (those that weren’t on vacation leave) were just late.

I cranked the music up and started clearing my desk and drawer. Put my stuff in the paper bag that I had brought. IM’d some friends. As time went by, I got the feeling that no one else was gonna show up.

I texted my managers that I was going home, got my things, and hightailed it out of there at 10:20. Model employee or biggest tool in the toolbox? LOL. At least my last day/hour at work was memorable.

Happy holidays!!

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

This morning was kinda weird.

I had joined the Secret Santa on this vegetarian/vegan forum that I’m on (my second year participating), and today I brought my giftee’s presents to work so that I could mail them at a FedEx later. When I got to the nearest FedEx I was greeted with a “sorry we’re closed” sign. And it was 10+ am! o_O

Slightly annoyed (but just a wee bit), I walked back to the office. On the way I saw a black guy coming towards me from the other direction. Then he was like, “Hey ni hao ma?” (Hello in Chinese.) I didn’t say anything and just kept walking. This is my standard reply to strangers who greet me on the street. =P

Back at the office, I called FedEx customer service for the nth time (I had rang them up a few times before, it’s likely that I’m well-known among the CSR’s now), and asked them for the phone number of the branch that I had just been to. Well the number didn’t work, so I phoned customer service again and asked for the number of a different branch (not as close to the office as the first one but still nearby).

After I had called the second FedEx branch and  made sure that it was already open, I grabbed my giftee’s presents and headed out once more. And right outside our office door… Was the black guy again, waiting for the elevator with his friend. I was like, WTF?? o_O

We piled into the elevator and he started talking to me. o_O
Him: Are you Japanese?
Me: No.
Him: Korean?
Me: No.
Him: Chinese?
Me: Yes.
Him: Then why didn’t you say anything when I greeted you in Chinese earlier?
Me: I was in a hurry.
Him: I lived in Shenzhen for a year… What is your name?
Me: Why?
Him: Because we’re friends, right?
Me: (the elevator had reached the ground floor and I was on my way out) Hmm I don’t know.
He and his friend just laughed.

Anyways. I got to FedEx and had my giftee’s presents shipped. I made some of the items myself, and I will post pictures after the 25th. (I think it’s highly unlikely that my giftee will see my blog, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.) I put so much effort into my giftee’s presents that I still haven’t thought of what to give my parents and bro. Haha oh well… I’ll come up with something.

P.S. I know the title doesn’t really suit this post, but I spent five minutes racking my brain for one. Really. Unfortunately this is the best that I was able to come up with.

• The Essential Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire by Deepak Chopra
• The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho

[still reading]

Maybe I should change the title to “Read a Book a Month”. o_O

Previously:
January
February
March
April
May & June
July
August
September