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Thursday, March 24, 2005

inducted and induced

The first step of my firm's 3 year career progression program - the graduate induction, held at Melbourne's Crown Casino is officially over. I am now "inducted" into our firm. In theory the past 2 days should have completely brainwashed me into a 'green dot' loving maniac who thinks that there should be 7 lights in the traffic signals (lame i know....). The reality is, i'm as (if not more) cynical than ever!

Hearing inspirational stories from the old fart national leader partners, the work-life balance stratagies of a 30 something pregnant partner, and a (incredibly spunky looking) young bloke who made partner at 25 really just made me more aware that.... well its just not going to happen. Or at least, it doesnt happen for everyone as easily. Dont get me wrong, i dont beleive i have no chance at all - i'm just more realistic, and i dont like to be presented with things through rose-coloured sunnies. Everytime i hear a story of sucess, i think of the unspoken sacrafice which inevitably must come with it. I really have to wonder how many of the grads were 'induced' into beleiving that shit!

But its not all bad... knowing that these people do exist in our firm is good (especially when they are 25 and incredibly handsome!!). And without doubt, the best part was definitely the free booze and the consequential 'bonding' with my fellow grads. I must say, i'm incredibly fortunate to be in such good company - and to put it simply, these grads are top ppl and is awesome fun to hang out (and get drunk) with. And the best part?? i made (sorta) friends with one guy i had a major crush on during uni - he, however turned out to be a complete nerdy freak - but is also wonderfully nice and very talented.

Despite the fun i have had, i feel like complete shit right now. So tired.... must sleep...

Friday, March 18, 2005

Never again...

i hereby solemly promise myself NEVER to stay out til 3am on a weekday (even if it is a Thursday nite). I must remember that Friday, albeit a more 'relaxed' workday, is still a work day. I must not be lured by the free beers and the 'group consensus' that if your partners are still there partying, so can you. I must also note that although a sleep in has been granted by the above group consensus: waking up at 8.30am is still NOT enough.

Most importantly, i must not think that just because i have survived it once, i will survive it again. Because i am sure, that there is some damage that even the more expensive SK-II cannot repair.

Never again...

i hereby solemly promise myself NEVER to stay out til 3am on a weekday (even if it is a Thursday nite). I must remember that Friday, albeit a more 'relaxed' workday, is still a work day. I must not be lured by the free beers and the 'group consensus' that if your partners are still there partying, so can you. I must also note that although a sleep in has been granted by the above group consensus: waking up at 8.30am is still NOT enough.

Most importantly, i must not think that just because i have survived it once, i will survive it again. Because i am sure, that there is some damage that even the more expensive SK-II cannot repair.

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

I just got home from work...

Yep, i did... and its past 10.30pm. My mouth is incredibly dehydrated from the MSG ladened dinner, and my stomach is slightly funny due to the excessively spicy noodles i had consumed. This is the first night (no doubt of many) that i stayed back to work late. And to be honest, i actually quite enjoyed it.

Now i can truely call myself 'a part' of my group: a group notoriously known for our late nites (and late mornings), our beer & chips (and our morning coffee break), our loud chattering in the midst of day, but a group which also... well... works damn hard. Though today my role in our project was rather minimal and incredibly mundane, i still felt proud that i was there to do it. That it needed to be done and that we can charge the client a shit load for it. Plus its always nice to have a free meal on the client - even if it is greasy chinese!

So here i am, my working life.

Sunday, March 06, 2005

Little Miss Stubborn

I've been feeling very stubborn lately. My friends have commented that it is a highly odd 'feeling' to have. But I (true to form) stand-by my decision that i'm feeling stubborn.

I guess last night i was just stuck in a room (quite literally) with too many people i didnt like. Everywhere i turned i felt like i had to look away. It was tiring, not to mention suffocating. But that is the price to pay for being stubborn. Of course, i could well have chosen to grin and bear it: to be friendly and gracious, to by-pass our differences and to have a good time. But what's the fun in that? Instead i chose to be snooty and reclusive. Choosing to be grumpy and stubborn all night.

To be honest, it's not quite reflective of my normal self. I'm usually much more agreeable. But i was tired, and sleep deprived and had just survived a whole week of work (albeit one full of long lunches), so i therefore deserve to be stubborn. At least for a day.

Saturday, March 05, 2005

Exercising my analytical skills.

Well, since my official role as a 'tax analyst' has begun (*gulp*), i'd thought it's time to engage in a little analytical exercise to brush up on my... hmm... skills in the area. Of course the most direct and logical way to improve my skills and to enhance my working career would be to open up the Tax Act, and choose a subject to analyse from there. Instead i will examine the photo in my profile/avatar.

I had actually come to realise that the little image actually saids a lot more about me than i had thought. To put this into context, the photo was taken randomly last September whilst we were having our group conference (read: junket) in the HUnter Valley. My colleage was playing with my digital camera as, being a mother of a child aged 3, she had no time or money to invest in such things.

Now for the analysing: Not only does the photo feature a pair of jeans and shoes (things which are in undeniable abundance in my wardrobe, and in my life), it also features me holding a shopping bag. The image screams "i am a shoe and denim loving shoppaholic". And for the more delicate observers, they will note that whilst the shoes are a sport-y sneaker type Diesel pair, they actually serve no practical function if i actually had to - god forbid - run, due to the thin velcro straps. This is indicative of my utter un-sporty-ness, though subtley hinting my constant desire to improve my sporting finese.

And finally, to top it off, unbeknown to most, the shopping bag actualy contains a bottle of wine.

'nuff said.