樓下搬走了?

夢想成真!

老婆星期六傍晚回來的時候說樓下終於要搬了,她看到那家人在搬沙發.

星期日,看到屬於那家人的三輛車只剩下一輛,雖然這兩晚晚上燈還開著,而且patio還有東西在,但晚上已經聽不到樓下傳來的噪音.

記得上個月我向房東老太投訴樓下的噪音時,她跟我說那家人時常欠租,她也很想踢走他們.現在看情況應該是真的搬走了,希望不是空歡喜吧.

Mouse手

最近右手食指一用力便有點扯痛,是不是用mouse click太多,形成了mouse手??

查查wiki,原來真的有滑鼠手這個症狀,正稱腕隧道症候群!!當然,任何病嚴重起來都可以很恐佈,老婆昨晚幫我貼了寶樹堂的藥貼,今天真的好了很多.

是時候shop for ergonomic mouse了.

Short-Term Disability?

最近公司看似很淡靜,但原來發生了很多事.首先是講了成年的reorganization,終於在8月,即下星期一,正式執行!我將會under new manager,講真雖然聽過他的名,但還是搞不清楚他是誰,人老了認人能力變得更差!

接著就是我那個舊舊manager,有5女1仔那個,剛剛才放完每年一個月的"親子假"回來,誰知過了幾天他外父蒙主寵召,結果又要放假去搞funeral.

另外就是常常給我task的stanford中東佬,他終於升了manager,但卻被調去Rancho Bernardo,希望他仍會記住我們,在這不景氣的情況下繼續找多些funding給我們吧!

最後就是,香港同事原來9月便做爸爸了!Congratulations!最近真是無論朋友網友或同事,都宣告做人成功,2012不是世界末日嗎?

不講不知,原來生BB是屬於Short-Term Disability (STD)!

Maternity STD Benefits
If you have a vaginal delivery, you will be considered disabled for a minimum period of six weeks beginning on the date of the birth, unless you return to work prior to the end of six weeks. If you have a Cesarean section, you will be considered disabled for a minimum period of eight weeks beginning on the date of your Cesarean section, unless you return to work prior to the end of the eight weeks. Childbirth is considered a disability due to sickness and subject to the 7 day elimination period.

How Your STD Payments Are Determined
The claims administrator will follow the processes outlined below to calculate your STD payment.
1. For the first six weeks, multiply your base weekly earnings by 100%.
2. For the next 20 weeks, multiply your base weekly earnings by 50% or 70%.
3. Compare the answers of the first two items to the weekly maximum benefit. The lesser of the two amounts is your gross disability payment.
4. Subtract from your gross disability payment any deductible sources of income. This is your weekly STD payment.

條文好像只適用於母親身上,但同事明明說HR叫他claim disability!因為生BB原來是unpaid leave,只是我搞不清楚原來男士都可以claim maternity STD.

其他公司明文規定的有薪paid leaves:
Jury duty - max 10 days/year
Bereavement - 3-5 days

希望不是詐糊!

今天一早老婆告訴我她終於再次找到工作了,是附屬CSULA的charter school!這次終於感到高興,一來脫離了危險的South Central,二來不用駕車太遠!

雖然還未簽contract,但這次應該不是詐糊吧,因為明天便會去HR搞paperwork,下星期便是new teacher orientations!

Congratulations,老婆!

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同事復活

今天香港同事告訴我在公司的IM上驚見我那被炒的同房同事蹤影!!我跟他說是不是IT人早前把他的電腦抄家了,剛好那時IT人working on it所以才有上線假象??後來經查証後原來他真的被Maryland的分公司rehire了!!

最初得悉他被炒真的有點替他擔心,老婆在家揍兩個小朋友,只得他工作做經濟支柱,小朋友又好像有甚麼mental illness,樓價見頂時買的新屋現在變了廿萬負資產...想深一層,這擔心還是多餘,外父是公司前高層老臣子,只要send個email想在那間分公司工作"話都冇咁易"!

還是擔心自己多一點好過吧!

報警

國慶日看過煙花回家,車位卻被別的車泊了.

已經不是第一次,通常我都是寫字條貼車窗要他儘快移走車子,但那時已將近午夜,兼且停車場有警告牌寫著違規泊車會被拖走,還有Monterey Park Police的電話.我唯有打那個電話報警.

20分鐘後有兩個警察來了,車子還在我的車位裡.警察問我有沒有見過那輛車,我說從來沒有.然後他們討論應否叫拖車還是拍鄰居的門,結果他們選擇了拍門.

原來那輛車是屬於我對面那戶大陸夫婦的其中一個訪客,她連忙say sorry然後駛走車子.

之後老婆擔心會否被人報復??我說雖然估到會是他們(因為深夜還在露台聊天),但我一定不會去拍門,慢一別人拿槍我該怎麼辦??更何況錯在他們,到處都有警告牌還要亂泊,就算車子被拖走都是咎由自取吧!

看來我們還是要儘快找地方搬了.

槍打出頭鳥

槍打出頭鳥,這個在華人社會的常見現象,居然在L.A.的小圈子發生...

故事始於一個好心人發出的email:
I am wondering if you guys know that there's gonna be a CACCLC reunion after the Prism Concert on 7/9. Please see the attached message for more info.

講真如果不是這個email我也不知道這件事.誰知過了一會卻收到一個"槍打出頭鳥"reply:
St. Bridget and the Prism Group did know about the Reunion Party. CACCLC notified the Prism Group and St. Bridget two weeks ago about the Reunion Party after the EV Concert.

問題來了﹕
1. 假如不知道,還以為發reply的是St. Bridget或Prism Group的一個高層人物,因為用"St. Bridget and the Prism Group"做開頭,一定能代表那兩個團體吧.誰知發reply的只是St. Bridget的一個小朋友!
2. 這個reply有甚麼目的?除了炫耀自己"晨早就知啦!"和暗諷那好心人"多餘"外,根本看不出有甚麼建設性.
3. 我事前不知道,那即代表我不屬於St. Bridget??

我看不過眼,於是便reply:
Thanks for letting me know about the reunion, I did not know about it because there's no formal announcement during mass or on the bulletin. Hopefully I'm the only one who didn't know about it.

當然這個小朋友不會就此罷休:
Please understand about the CACCLC Reunion is a separate event just happening after the Prism EV Concert on the same day, and the reunion is organized by the CACCLC Exco Committee. Both events do not have the conflict from each other and do not affect us as well.
Let us pray for both of the events so that it will lead more people to know about God!

這reply再次突顯這小朋友白痴之處:
1. 全人類都知是separate event (還要bold),否則宣傳海報上一定會提及!
2. 好心人的email是想告訴大家reunion的存在,根本不是討論是否separate event或有沒有conflict,很明顯小朋友要轉移視線!
3. 最後還要又pray又God,很明顯自己理虧要搬神出來撐腰吧!

最後好心人的一個reply.
Thanks for the clarification. Guys, sorry for the confusion.

我不得不替好心人感到難過,她只是好心的提供一個FYI,卻無端端要道歉.但我相信明眼人都能看清那小朋友的行徑,我也無謂再火上加油.

還好現在80/90後都已經不怕這類槍打出頭鳥的討厭行為,還懂得回應一句:"曾蔭權不代表我".

溫馨提示3.0

(看來公司有人要在國慶假期開OT...)

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延伸閱讀: 溫馨提示1.0

失憶

今早老婆出門前已提醒我:"記得2:30去洗牙!"

誰知2:45老婆打電話來,問我是否在開車去洗牙,原來牙醫那裡打電話給她.還在家的我才恍然大悟,因為我真的忘記了!

我媽現在經常把"老人痴呆"掛在口邊,常說只記得我和妹妹小時候的事,近期的卻不太記得.

電視劇和電影也經常有老人痴呆或失憶的情節,強如高錕也患有老人痴呆,我契婆也有老人痴呆.

說真的,我真的害怕有朝一日會突然失憶,甚麼都記不起了.可能那時我已不會感到難過,但最難過的人一定是老婆,因為我們真的共同擁有無數美好的回憶.

但願那一天永遠不會來臨.就算那天來了也能記起這個blog,重拾那些失去了的記憶.

我真的不應該早上班...

無言...



* Message/Item Delivered South Comm Ctr 4:43 AM
* Truck Rolled Over in Lanes 4:43 AM
* Overturned Vehicle in #2 4:43 AM
* 2nd Traffic Collision Just Occurred Or Occupants D White Ford Epd Traffic Hazard 4:45 AM
* Message/Item Delivered Pepes 4:47 AM
* No Answer at Broncs Tow 4:47 AM
* Per Dup Vehicles Swerving to Avoid/vehs Hi Speeds 4:51 AM
* 2nd Traffic Collision Due to Traffic Hazard V * Black Honda Acc Traffic Hazard in Middle Lane 4:51 AM
* Dupe Caller Advise 6-7 Vehicles Invlvd 4:52 AM
* 3 a for Black Honda Civ * Message/Item Delivered 3 a So#20680 Ca Tow ETA Hot Call 4:55 AM
* 75-202 Advise Confirmed Possible Fatality 4:57 AM
* Message/Item Delivered Pepes With 4 Flatbed Tow Truck 5:01 AM
* Total of 4 Tows Needed 5:01 AM
* Issue "sig Alert" East 10 Just West of 215 2, 3, 4 Lanes 5:04 AM
* Ca Tow 97 for Black Honda Accord 5:10 AM
* Message/Item Delivered Hq, Snt Dty Pg 5:12 AM
* #1 Lane Opn 5:13 AM
* Message/Item Delivered Line 39 to Tow Truck Required 5:15 AM
* Per 202 Not on Right Shoulder 5:15 AM
* Message/Item Delivered 8 X10 5:19 AM
* Confirm Still 1 Lane Open Only 5:44 AM
* Start 3 City Tow Flatbed Tow Truck for Evidence 6:14 AM
* Message/Item Delivered City Tow for 3 Flatbed Tow Truck 6:16 AM
* 202 & ETA on City-Within Next 5 Min 6:34 AM
* #1 Lane Still Opn, 30 ETA to Open the Other Lanes 7:01 AM
* Roadway Opn 7:43 AM
* CHP Unit on Scene 7:56 AM
* Per Amr They Did not Pronounce the Possible Fatality Party-They Believe It May Have Been Loma Linda Fire Personnel-Checking with Comm Ctr 8:00 AM
* Thomas Guide Map Coordinates: 606 6G

詐糊

一早已有不好的預感.

兩天前當老婆告訴我她被South Central的某間學校聘請後,我不但沒有感到高興,還反問她可不可以不要去?結果今天証實原來只是個詐糊,那個職位somehow給了別人.

一日未簽contract,都不可假設自己已被聘請.只是老婆已經把消息告訴所有親朋戚友,連在香港的都知道!現在只好瞞著他們繼續努力搵工吧!

Blue Monday

NBA史上最壞惡人LeBron James奸計最終失敗,本應值得高興才對,但今天整天都有點悶悶不樂.

Check Check黃石公園的天氣預測,weekend竟然有isolated T-storms,真掃興.

老婆5pm打來說她明天可能要interview,去不了機場接外父,於是我連忙去請明天的假.

最震憾的還是回家的時候,當我跟carpool同事說這幾天不能carpool了,他竟跟我說以後都不能跟我carpool了,因為他調識去Azusa,下星期便開始在那裡上班!!

在這間公司工作了快十年,和他carpool了最少有5年吧,誰知就這樣突然結束,以後每天都要自己駕車上班了.

心同感受

From 肥醫生:

每天返工，就是為有地方住而賺錢；
但回到住的地方，就因返工的壓力而睡不著；
為了安睡而第二天可以返工賺錢，
我們把各式各樣的安眠藥、鎮靜劑送進口中；

每晚我們努力地找方法去睡，
為的不是能夠得到休息，
而是為了明天能夠繼續返工。

日復一日，循環不息。
我們用健康和青春來賺取金錢，
但金錢卻買不到健康和青春；

我們為著工作而煩惱非常，
終日廢寢忘食，
但工作為你所換來的寢居，
你卻不能安睡；
工作為你換來的美食，
你卻無福消受。

人生的虛空，莫過如此。

最後，工作沒有為你換來生活甚至生命，
卻為你的身體累積更多的毒素。
你的金錢，換來的不是時間和空間，
卻只有一粒又一粒的安眠藥和鎮靜劑，
這又是何故？何苦？何必？

(I just want a good night of sleep without noise, but I'm getting used to ear plugs nowadays...)

放假,小病了

再一次証明我是辛苦命,一放假便惹了老婆的感冒,幸好不是太嚴重,還可以活動自如.

今天獨自回家洗衣服,我媽見到我一臉病容,非但沒有安慰我,還"嫦娥"上身,一邊說都怪我平時少做運動,以致抵抗力弱,接著還扯到甚麼因為我時常待在家,活躍的老婆也被迫留在家,搞到兩個人都不健康云云...

就這樣一個病人被連珠發炮"哦"了十多分鐘,再一次証明當有甚麼不好的事發生時,在家裡我不但得不到維護和安慰,反而立即被責怪,做錯的一定是我!!所以有很多事我都不會告訴父母,因為就算他們知道了都沒用,反而換來一頓落井下石式的臭罵.

可是我並沒有反駁,只是默默的承受著.自從我媽情緒病發作後,便一直充斥著很多負面情緒,不斷提起她過去的艱辛痛苦經歷.而我只好不斷的提醒她,過去已成過去,要記都應該記一些快樂美好的東西.但我媽退休後很多時間都是獨自的一個人,那些負面情緒總要找個出口抒發出來,而身為兒子的我做她的出氣袋也是理所當然的.

也許有一天,我也會像我媽一樣因為接受太多負能量而"谷爆",但為了她著想,現在我只能忍氣吞聲了.

想早點返工,可是...

不用carpool便想早點返工,未夠7:30am便出車.出車前check過traffic沒問題,誰知:

Traffic Collision - Ambulance Responding - 10 East Before S Pepper Av 7:45 AM
* Message/Item Delivered Comm Cnt, Mc Rider not Getting Up 7:46 AM
* Mc vs Brown Toyota Cam-Blocking #3 and 4 Lanes 7:46 AM
* .k/0338d0524.d/1039 Sbcc 7:47 AM
* Message/Item Delivered California Towing 7:47 AM
* Message/Item Delivered South Cc 7:47 AM
* Per Witness L338 Vehicle Spun Out & Mc Didnt Have to Swerve or Miss It, Hit Vehicle & Rider Flew & Hit Pavement Hard, Slow Lane Blocked 7:48 AM
* Per Camera Closer to Pepper/ Only #1 Lane Open this Time/ Rider Being Attended the Right Shoulder By Citizens 7:54 AM
* CHP Unit on Scene 8:05 AM
* #3 and 4 Lanes Blocked-Soon to Be Open 8:13 AM
* Svs Fcn 4491114401221 8:44 AM
* CHP Unit on Scene 8:52 AM

結果塞多了30分鐘.我發現越早上班便越大機會遇上交通意外,是不是要鼓勵我不要太早上班??

再見了,天堂見!

追思彌撒過後的第二天,教會內的一位太太還是很傷感,她說最近教會內不少跟她很要好的朋友都離她而去了,格外悲傷.

我不禁在想:難道朋友多也是一件壞事嗎?也許我還年輕吧,在這之前從來沒有這個想法,也不會忽然去幻想認識的朋友一個個離去時的傷感."多一個朋友總好過多一個敵人",從來沒聽說過有人會嫌朋友太多的...

稱得上朋友的,一定會有至少一段美好的共同回憶,所以就算只是一個不相熟的朋友離開了,正常人不免會感到傷感的,更何況是要好的朋友?!而要好的朋友通常都跟自己年紀相若,假如朋友"太多"的話,數十年後他們又不幸的一個又一個比你"走先一步",那種打擊真的可以倍數增長,難以想像!!但假如是你"走先一步"的話,豈不是要你眾多的朋友為你悲傷??這是不是意味著:每交多一個朋友,即代表你會在將來要為多一個人感到傷感,或是會有多一個人在將來為你感到傷感??

也許有人會認為"不在乎天長地久,只在乎曾經擁有",美好的回憶總能蓋過一時的傷感吧,但假如跟那人美好的回憶越多,傷心的指數會否越高呢??但沒有朋友也是不可能的吧,那是不是代表著,到了某個年紀便要跟朋友疏遠一點,以免到最後彼此為對方太過傷心嗎??

信教的也否會想到,離去的朋友只不過是時候回到天主的身邊,總有一天大家會在天堂再見的,心裡會感到好過一點吧;只是,這個人在現世從此消失,卻是一個不可否定的事實.

生離死別,真是一個艱難複雜的課題.

Random Observations

• 今日去公司附近的shell入油竟然見3!!87 $3.99/gal!真想不起上次入油3字頭是何時...
• 上次去Atlantic的舊Edwards戲院看$3舊戲的時候,發現竟然沒有人收戲飛!!!也許是頭場1pm的關係,全間戲院彷彿只得兩個員工上班,一個負責賣飛,一個負責賣爆谷!很明顯,賣爆谷汽水一定好賺過賣$3一張的戲飛.當我們看完兩場離開的時候(~4:30pm)已經有人站崗收飛,要看免費電影真的要趁早.
• 繼google instant後,另一樣annoying的東西就是MS Office Ribbon,至今我還是無法適應!!幸好有免費的UBitMenu add-on,把慣用的menu bar加回來!
• 用word打中文時發現,word會無端端在中文字和非中文字之間加空位,i.e.,"o靚"會變成"o 靚"!!這畫蛇添足之舉花了很多時間才找到解決方法: Format->Paragraph->Asian Typography, uncheck "Automatically adjust space between Asian and Latin text" and "Automatically adjust space between Asian text and numbers".但default behavior是兩個checkbox都是check了的,要徹底解決,必須modify style "Normal",或Normal.dotm,非常複雜!!
  

粵語大全

最近公司冇野做,便突然心血來潮研究一下廣東話寫法.當然有好多粵語字都唔知邊度走出黎,想用電腦打但根本冇嗰個字!

身為香港人,除左識講廣東話都應該識寫!結果搵到呢個粵語字各種打字法及解釋大全,以供參考!

囍事成雙

昨天是大學同學的婚禮.

還記得大學時代只有你幫我搬apartment,還記得有一晚你打來問我轉學系的意見,還記得你回香港前我差一點便買了你的Audi...

好像只是不久之前才發生的事,不得不承認人老了時常緬懷過去,現在你也成家立室了!祝你和愛人百年好合,永結同心!

老婆的好友終於等到男朋友的求婚,7月3日正式出閣了,恭喜恭喜!!