"Me Proposes GOD Disposes"

Many a times, I ask for things which I have no say in and I am turned down, most probably for my own good, hence the title of this blog.

A at work is leaving and I was eager to see who would replace him. I never liked A, he is a pompous, fellow who likes to gloat and has host of other qualities I don't like. So, I was looking forward to see whom I would to get to work with. And as luck would have it, it is MA. Here is a little background about MA.

He was one of the guys who was trained with me. In the beginning I got along with him quite well and thought it would be a good and mutually beneficial professional association. But no. That was not to be. He said things like "You should have just stuck to engineering, I don't think you would do good in Computers", "You do not have any experience, how do you expect yourself to understand these things" what does he expect of someone straight out of college,these and many such comments pissed me off big time. I think part of his attitude can be attributed to the fact that he comes form a remote part of Pak where women do not have much of a say and one doesn't expect them to do anything more than run a household and make babies. As if that was an easy task in itself. Anyways this kind of attitude is a big no-no with me, and I just cannot stand it. By the end of the training he had to eat his words, I finished my training project much before everyone, gave my final presentation much better than everyone, and was placed before anyone else. I was prepared to forget his very existence... but like I said "me proposes and GOD disposes"

He did a couple of short term stints, and with A leaving and he becoming available my firm decided to send him here.

Well, now that he is here, I think I just have to deal with it. Probably this is one of TLC kind "Life Lessons" where I deal with people I don't like on a daily basis with out losing my cool. Sid, said just that. For now I have decided to ignore him, of course I can be nothing but be polite (until I am provoked to my face).

I know I sound mean and all, but trust me I am not going to hurt him in anyway its just that I can not forgive nor forget people who have wronged me or looked down on me ....

Anti-Climax

Finally I got my Master's degree in my hand. It was not sent on the Jan 25 like I was told but the Feb 5. It was a bit of an anti-climax though. I did not feel this ecstasy like I thought I would. I am glad it is finally here, but my level of happiness did not match up. I expected myself to be out of this world happy, jumping with joy, rather I was just glad it was over. Now the next thing would be getting the VISA, hope thats uneventfull too.

P's wishes came true yesterday. I finally made friends with a neighbour family. It was nice. And they have little son. The lady is nice and down to earth. I am glad I met them. There was this false fire alarm last night and the building was evacuated. Thats how we met.

I am back at work, bruise and all. Yes, had a bizzare fall a couple of days ago that left me with a black eye and a cut lip. And I looked worst than I felt. I am just glad to be back at work.

Downtime ..... Catching up

The last two weeks when my boss, D was on vacation, where so hectic. And I enjoyed every bit of it. The stress, the excitement, the sense of accomplishment, everything.

I like my work. I truly do. I get to learn new things everyday. I just want to learn more. Besides work, nothing much going on.

The weather is bad, and me being a new driver, I get anxious sometimes. Especially this morning, temperature in teens, with snow last night was a bad combination. I don't mind temperatures even in single digits. Just that it snowed and froze. It dint help that I had a bad case of cold and sore throat. Was up the whole night and my TV was tuned to the weather channel of all things. So many accidents were being reported on the roads I take to work, because even the anti-skid something and salt were put, because of the low temperature it just refreezes. I am no stranger to bad winter weather, having lived in Illinois until recently. But I seem to pay more attention to it now then before.

I was half a mind to take the day off, not as much the cold weather but my cold. Somehow I dint want to stay home.

There is train dock close to my home. I hardly notice it as it hardly makes any noise. But last night at about 10 there was this loud train honk and ambulance sirens. My first thought was someone hit by the train. And I was right, heard it on the news someone was in fact killed, "no foul play suspected". I would like to think I have awesome intuition.

I am still waiting for my degree. It was sent on Jan 25, it has not reached me yet. My dad some papers from India on Jan 31 and I got them on Feb 3rd. He was asking me why would it take so long within US. If only I could understand my University and the repeatedly lamented about, grad school. I called them last week, spoke to this lady Pat who is the main contact person about the certificates.She could not give me anything more than the single syllable answers which is a regular feature of our grad school. Especially when the student who calls happens to have a non-American accent.

The conversion went something like this

Me: There is a typo in my address.

Her: OK

Me: So.... is there a way to track

Her: No

Me: Can you do something about it?

Her: No

Me: Should I just wait and see if it comes?

Her: Yes

Her: 1-2 weeks, if it cannot be delivered it will come back. I saw your email and got you corrected address. We will send it again.

Me: Thanks

I could not believe it she spoke three whole sentences. I could not believe it, it takes 1-2 weeks for it travel from IL - PA (a distance of about 800 miles. Well, I have waited for for so many years and few more days will not kill me .......