Other than the very unpalatable idea of not doing what you are really qualified to do, underemployment has some salient quirks about it, not all of which are negative (I know, incredible) -
* Just because your job doesn't deserve you, you cannot very well show up at work in your PJs and slippers. Getting up and ready for work feels that much more difficult (not worth the effort) but it is also good that you have to, otherwise you never might.
* It is actually irritating if you get a task that requires you to use your brain. Hey, if you want all this jazz, pay up!
* You don't feel guilty about doing non-work related things at office - checking your personal email, chatting, taking a coffee break, etc. Similarly, you don't feel the need to exceed expectations.
* Every day, you wonder if your time could not be put to better use.
* Every time you think you have made up your mind to quit and look for a real opportunity, someone or something will remind you that it is always better to be somekindofemployed other than un.
* Most lunch options irritate you - Bah, for the peanuts I make, I am actually having to spend money on this fancy pants lunch.
* You don't care to hide the fact that you are actively seeking other opportunities.
* Filling out time sheets feels strangely depressing. Oops, that's one more week.
* You think thrice before getting that ridiculously over-priced Starbucks mocha to satisfy your entirely ignorable, mid-afternoon caffeine drenched chocolate craving. In fact, you skip it on most days. Good for the wallet and the body. Tastes even better on the days you do buy it. Win-win-win situation.
* Your boss is actually nicer to you than he probably would be if he were paying you what you deserve (to be fair to him, this is just a logical deduction - I am, obviously, comparing him to other bosses I have had in the past). It's almost as if he knows that the money is not enough to keep you if anything else pisses you off.
* There is no need to participate in office politics. Meetings are really to the point. There is no pressure to make an impression on the 'right' people. Sweet.
All in all, it is a mixed bag. Just like... about everything else.
Showing posts with label reason to blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reason to blog. Show all posts
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Mind over matter
In spite of my passable aptitude for cooking, I have always been intimidated by rotis, when I am solely responsible for making it from scratch. I have helped others make rotis (mainly flipping while they roll) but just the thought of kneading the dough, rolling and roasting (in parallel, that too) is overwhelming. One fine day (a few days ago), I decided that this is simply a 'mental issue' that can and should be overcome - I love rotis! ;)
I worked on my attitude first. Roti might be a 'simple', everyday dish for majority of Indians, but it is still challenging to make if you don't have practice. So, I started out telling myself that it is a hard task but I could do it, if I followed a methodical process and didn't get frustrated during the process. However, if I managed to screw up, it was OK. I could always try again tomorrow. Here goes my process ....
I took 2 cups wheat flour, 1/2 tsp salt and 2 tbsp oil in a bowl and mixed these for a few seconds. Added about half a cup of warm water (in two installments) and just mixed it to make a non-sticky mass. I know... looks weird but hang on!
I left this dough covered for a little over half an hour. Then, I kneaded the dough to make a nice, pliable mass.
Made little balls(!) out of the dough and rolled each one out. I am not exactly proud of the shape but I am not ashamed enough to not post the picture!
I, of course, wanted to capture the roasting of the roti as well but I had to take a call between a picture and a unburnt meal. The obvious option won.
Oh, and I am having this with a whole moong - chana dal curry. One difference was - I soaked the chana dal along with the whole moong overnight, since I am a little afraid of chana induced indigestion.
More than just getting over my cook's block, I am extremely happy about the timing. Today is a special day (not for bloggable reasons) and I couldn't have chosen a better day to let go of my roti demon. Yay!
PS: By the way, I am a camera phobe and still picking up the reins of using the most basic point and shoot features (another potential mind over matter issue but for later)
Update: Though I was happy with getting over my phobia, I was not completely happy with the output. It was nowhere close to as soft as it could or should be :) I think I have figured out what was wrong. In my anxiety to not make the dough sticky, I have in fact been using too little water. Today, for 3 cups of flour, I added close to 1 cup water and the resulting rotis were W.A.Y. better.
I worked on my attitude first. Roti might be a 'simple', everyday dish for majority of Indians, but it is still challenging to make if you don't have practice. So, I started out telling myself that it is a hard task but I could do it, if I followed a methodical process and didn't get frustrated during the process. However, if I managed to screw up, it was OK. I could always try again tomorrow. Here goes my process ....
I took 2 cups wheat flour, 1/2 tsp salt and 2 tbsp oil in a bowl and mixed these for a few seconds. Added about half a cup of warm water (in two installments) and just mixed it to make a non-sticky mass. I know... looks weird but hang on!
I left this dough covered for a little over half an hour. Then, I kneaded the dough to make a nice, pliable mass.
Made little balls(!) out of the dough and rolled each one out. I am not exactly proud of the shape but I am not ashamed enough to not post the picture!
I, of course, wanted to capture the roasting of the roti as well but I had to take a call between a picture and a unburnt meal. The obvious option won.
Oh, and I am having this with a whole moong - chana dal curry. One difference was - I soaked the chana dal along with the whole moong overnight, since I am a little afraid of chana induced indigestion.
More than just getting over my cook's block, I am extremely happy about the timing. Today is a special day (not for bloggable reasons) and I couldn't have chosen a better day to let go of my roti demon. Yay!
PS: By the way, I am a camera phobe and still picking up the reins of using the most basic point and shoot features (another potential mind over matter issue but for later)
Update: Though I was happy with getting over my phobia, I was not completely happy with the output. It was nowhere close to as soft as it could or should be :) I think I have figured out what was wrong. In my anxiety to not make the dough sticky, I have in fact been using too little water. Today, for 3 cups of flour, I added close to 1 cup water and the resulting rotis were W.A.Y. better.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
This should have been part of
this post. But, it totally slipped my memory, somewhat like lacunar amnesia, but clearly not quite, since I remembered it again. After I got up on stage and before I walked across to get the degree, I was supposed to hand over a small piece of paper to the class marshal who reads my name off of it. Not that he doesn't have a list himself (thankfully, as I later find out), this is just to help him with the correct pronunciation. So, guess what? I drop the chit of paper. In a fraction of a second, I kick myself hard and try to pick it up. But, it is not within reach. I take a quick decision to ditch it. And, proceed with as much dignity as I could muster. And then completely forget about it, till a while ago. However, right now, I am actually a little proud of the fact that I am not beating myself down about it, which I am (OK fine, anyone is) completely capable of doing. [By the way, does that make me a completely sad person? No, don't answer that one, it is a rhetorical question.] I mean, it could have been worse. I could have tripped over, one of the heels could have come off, dress could have slipped, hair could have come loose... I could go on. Moreover, come what may, when it comes to on-stage blunders, I am never going to beat this* Err... Please, God, please don't prove me wrong on this one.
* I should have linked to the standalone version of the video but this one is just too good!
* I should have linked to the standalone version of the video but this one is just too good!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Graduation day reflections
Now that I have drawn your attention by this earth shattering title, let me go on to reassure you that it is worse than it sounds.
I have noticed that people usually start any speech they give on a campus with, "This is a great day to be on campus." Yesterday was no exception. I usually don't give it more attention than a mere shake of the head (not in the affirmative sense). But, this time, my reaction was like, really? What is great about this day, for God's sake? I don't feel great. I am apprehensive about walking out of the academic cocoon into the real world (for the second time). I know the real world is not as tolerant of my inadequacies, as indulgent of my experiments, as appreciative of my meager accomplishments. Even my own role is not as defined as it was in school. So tell me, what is great about this day?
************************************************************************************
In spite of my apprehensions, it is difficult not to be influenced by the excitement floating around. It is not unlike the excitement you feel when you walk into a theme park or watch a match (any sport, for that matter) in the stadium. You can just feel the energy in the air. You cannot help but let go of your reluctance, participate in the goings-on, get pulled into innumerable pictures...
************************************************************************************
I am the extremely sentimental type. If you are comparing me to the average cave man. However, when the dean mentioned during the acknowledgments that we should applaud our families for the sacrifices they made during the last two years so that we could get our degree, I thought of my parents sitting thousands of miles away and... felt a little choked. I may or may not have dabbed at my eyes for a brief second.
************************************************************************************
The day itself was an epitome of operational efficiency. The last few weeks have a little bit of a blur, so I did not think too much about what I was going to wear (under my graduation robes) for the Dean's reception party. As G-day got really close and I didn't think I could go shopping, I decided on a simple black skirt and a blouse. But, the day before G-day, I couldn't help wishing I had a nice dress to wear. So, I decided I would look for a dress, the day of. I know, I know, recipe for frustration, insanity and the like.
G-day dawned. Not that I was up at the crack of dawn.
9:30a - I have overslept. But, I am determined not to give up on my brilliant plan.
10:05a - I catch the bus.
10:12a - I am at Target.
10:30a - I have tried on 4 dresses, one of which fits and I am as usual thinking if I should take the next larger size instead.
10:37a - Try both sizes, again. Contemplate.
10:42a - Heck, I am choosing the smaller one.
10:48a - Am on pins and needles. There is a bus at 10:55a and the next one is at 11:35a (frequency sucks on the weekends). There is a line at the checkout counter (leisurely Saturday shoppers w/ families). Thankfully, the family just ahead of me are shopping for a party they are attending (probably graduation) and have purchased just a few gift cards. Sigh of relief.
10:50a - I am out of there.
10:58a - Bus is late by three minutes. What ever happened to punctuality and efficiency, I say.
So, here goes.. the fruit of all my meticulous, mission-critical planning..
Oh, before I forget, I also cooked, ate, got ready and reached on time at 2:10p for the photos and line-up, all of which is, of course, not worthy of more than one sentence. Favorable comments on my efficiency are highly appreciated and most welcome. Suggestions of a gym subscription as a graduation gift, not so much. (I am willing to share the limelight though, if you have stories of your own efficiency).
And thus ends my G-day saga.
I have noticed that people usually start any speech they give on a campus with, "This is a great day to be on campus." Yesterday was no exception. I usually don't give it more attention than a mere shake of the head (not in the affirmative sense). But, this time, my reaction was like, really? What is great about this day, for God's sake? I don't feel great. I am apprehensive about walking out of the academic cocoon into the real world (for the second time). I know the real world is not as tolerant of my inadequacies, as indulgent of my experiments, as appreciative of my meager accomplishments. Even my own role is not as defined as it was in school. So tell me, what is great about this day?
************************************************************************************
In spite of my apprehensions, it is difficult not to be influenced by the excitement floating around. It is not unlike the excitement you feel when you walk into a theme park or watch a match (any sport, for that matter) in the stadium. You can just feel the energy in the air. You cannot help but let go of your reluctance, participate in the goings-on, get pulled into innumerable pictures...
************************************************************************************
I am the extremely sentimental type. If you are comparing me to the average cave man. However, when the dean mentioned during the acknowledgments that we should applaud our families for the sacrifices they made during the last two years so that we could get our degree, I thought of my parents sitting thousands of miles away and... felt a little choked. I may or may not have dabbed at my eyes for a brief second.
************************************************************************************
The day itself was an epitome of operational efficiency. The last few weeks have a little bit of a blur, so I did not think too much about what I was going to wear (under my graduation robes) for the Dean's reception party. As G-day got really close and I didn't think I could go shopping, I decided on a simple black skirt and a blouse. But, the day before G-day, I couldn't help wishing I had a nice dress to wear. So, I decided I would look for a dress, the day of. I know, I know, recipe for frustration, insanity and the like.
G-day dawned. Not that I was up at the crack of dawn.
9:30a - I have overslept. But, I am determined not to give up on my brilliant plan.
10:05a - I catch the bus.
10:12a - I am at Target.
10:30a - I have tried on 4 dresses, one of which fits and I am as usual thinking if I should take the next larger size instead.
10:37a - Try both sizes, again. Contemplate.
10:42a - Heck, I am choosing the smaller one.
10:48a - Am on pins and needles. There is a bus at 10:55a and the next one is at 11:35a (frequency sucks on the weekends). There is a line at the checkout counter (leisurely Saturday shoppers w/ families). Thankfully, the family just ahead of me are shopping for a party they are attending (probably graduation) and have purchased just a few gift cards. Sigh of relief.
10:50a - I am out of there.
10:58a - Bus is late by three minutes. What ever happened to punctuality and efficiency, I say.
So, here goes.. the fruit of all my meticulous, mission-critical planning..
Oh, before I forget, I also cooked, ate, got ready and reached on time at 2:10p for the photos and line-up, all of which is, of course, not worthy of more than one sentence. Favorable comments on my efficiency are highly appreciated and most welcome. Suggestions of a gym subscription as a graduation gift, not so much. (I am willing to share the limelight though, if you have stories of your own efficiency).
And thus ends my G-day saga.
Monday, May 10, 2010
The end.
The most time tested way of describing (a.k.a. cliche) something that whizzed past - it seems like yesterday when I walked into my post graduate orientation invoking all my favorite gods and beseeching them to make me not look painfully shy and not act like a blubbering mess. (I honestly believe it is difficult even with their combined efforts to make me a social butterfly) Lo and behold! I am graduating this weekend. Where did the two years go? Have I become old enough for years to slip past? Or, have so many things been happening? Regardless, me thinks it is not a bad idea to have a log of the present as it happens. And then, what are blogs for?
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