Play the game
April 28, 2005
I give people the benefit of the doubt. I think people will do good if left to their own devices. Sadly, I’m always let down by some.
Unfortunately for all, my company has set arbritary rules that punish the group for the misbehaviour of the few. I’m certain this is not isolated - I’m sure companies do it all the time. As part of my duties, I am to reinforce and uphold these rules. I personally think most of them are ridiculous but it is my job and I will do it.
It’s very easy dealing with me. All I need from you is to hear the words: “You’re right Jerry, I won’t do it again. I’m sorry.” I’ll even take, “I’m sorry, I didn’t know about this rule but it won’t happen again.” Say the words. Let me hear them from your lips. Maybe there was a good reason for the situation - explain it to me: “Sorry Jerry but this happened because (reason).” Whatever it is, I don’t care if you’re bullshitting me or if you’re sincere. Say the words and I’ll be out of your hair. Just don’t do it again. When I’ve walked away, feel free to laugh and joke about what a crock of shit you just said. Doesn’t matter, it’s all about the delivery of those words.
It helps to be respectful. I show everyone a certain level of common courtesy - all I ask for is for you to show me the same level of courtesy. Again, I will give people the benefit of the doubt but when people respond to my courtesy with rudeness, sarcastic remarks, or just stupid responses, it ups the level on my part.
It’s a game. It’s just a fucking game. Like every game, there are rules. Play the fucking game, follow the fucking rules. Simple as that. It’s not worth standing up to make a minor point. It’s not gonna pay off to make smart-alecky remarks when I’m still within earshot. No matter how stupid a rule is, it’s still part of your fucking job - you agreed to abide by company rules.
Some others will be vindicative and find twisted ways to extract “revenge”. I won’t. I don’t have the time for it because I’m swamped with work. You’re not worth my effort. I will however remember you on my ‘list’. When I choose between two people for something good - one of whom I don’t know and one of whom is on ‘the list’, I will choose the one not on ‘the list’. When I need to give something bad to the same people… who do you think I will give it to? I’m not being vindicative - I’m being normal. I will treat those whom I like better than those I don’t. Being a sarcastic prat isn’t going make me like you better.
Sigh. Sometimes I think it’d just be easier if I were to treat everyone like shit. Fucking principles get in the way.
Starstruck
April 26, 2005
Today I had the pleasure of teaching a rather famous person in Japan. I don’t speak Japanese so well but having the toob on most of the time to break the silence really gets me into the entertainment world. I know this famous person is on TV pretty much everyday in a commercial or variety show. It will be my claim to fame (after being the voice in some of the lessons). In all honesty, I was rather starstruck for this lesson. I haven’t been nervous like this in a long time. For someone so well respected in the entertainment industry, she was really down to earth and a lot of fun to speak with. She did great!
For my nihongo-capable friends, here’s her official site - you may recognize her.
Train accident
April 25, 2005
There was a pretty bad train accident this morning in Amagasaki, Hyogo prefecture, not too far away from Osaka. As of right now, there are 49 deaths, 350+ injured, and 10 still stuck in carriages. Apparently the express train ran a curve too quickly, derailed, and slammed into an apartment building.
Mainichi News has a clip and a pretty scary picture. Note one of the trains wrapped like paper around the apartment. On tv right now, the apartment building looks intact except for some balconies which look pretty damaged.
No word as to the exact cause of the accident.
Anyway, just in case the non-Japan people who might hear about this accident in “Osaka”, I’m OK. I was nowhere near the accident this morning.
Protected: Ambition vs. Friends
April 19, 2005
Why?
April 14, 2005
Why is it that anytime I start an update, I write several paragraphs straight from the heart, look over them, then delete them because I don’t think I want people reading this stuff?
The Gym
April 04, 2005
Spurred by Dennis, I too will make an entry in my forsaken ‘blog’. I hate that word. I too will write about what the woman and I did together.
After many months of careful planning and deliberation, we decided to join a gym. It was a big step forward for us because neither of us had been in any exercise for years and years. It was such a couple-ly thing to do but it had been a long while since we’ve done something other than eat, watch movies, go shopping, and uh hold hands.
The closest decent gym near my apartment is a good 15 minutes by bike or a quick stop away on the Hanshin line. It’s pretty nice gym - small enough to get the attention of unwanted trainers, and big enough to allow us ample use of the equipment. There’s a pool and a studio too. Best of all, there’s a punching bag but to my disappointment, we weren’t allowed to use it. So we both worked out. I actually was able to run a fair amount on the tread - much more than I’d thought I could. Muscle-wise though, yeah, I’ll leave it at the running.
The gym is in a nice area with a Mr. Donuts right next door (in case you want to erase all your hard work at the gym), a used book/game/furniture/stuff store, a Conan department store, and some other useless stuff. The only drawback is that there’s a stupid sewage treatment plant closeby. You can really smell it. Everytime we’ve walked past this park area, I mention to the woman that, “There’s a little bit of your poo in that water.”
I am such a fucking poet.
Till the next entry!
