I kind of feel like that right now.  Once again … I have gone thru a week where the earliest I have gotten to sleep is 1045pm … and have gotten up every morning promptly at 315am.  You can do the math – that means the absolute most sleep any night this week has been 4.5 hrs …. and several nights have been less.  Overall, I don’t feel unduly tired – tired, yes – but not so much that the quality of my work is suffering.

The pace at work is gruelling right now  – and we are trying to stay focussed only on priority activities – its just that there are so many right now.  It doesn’t help that yesterday I had a Technician (level is somewhere between Admin Assistant [current term for secretary] and professional) refuse to do some work yesterday because he thought it was below him.  I almost went ballistic.  Its not like I wasn’t working until 830pm on Monday MAKING COPIES of a presentation because he went home at 430pm.  If I am able to make copies to pitch in and help the team … surely this guy can help organize 27 upcoming meetings.

Before I fully engaged with this individual, however, I needed to clarify with his supervisor whether or not the scheduling of the 27 meetings should be done by the Technician or the Admin Assistant.  Last night it was confirmed – the TECHNICIAN.  Hopefully I will not be “too strong” today when I tell the individual that they WILL schedule the 27 meetings – but let there be no doubt – it will be clear to this person that they will be expected to work as a team.

Other than the above, really nothing to blog about.  Still waiting for official word of the change in my “Job Family” …. although I have heard unofficially that it is a done deal and the paperwork is already showing me being in the “Planning and Commercial” family instead of the “Controller’s” family.  Everything is supposed to be in place by 1 April.

Ciao ciao.  GBU.

GBU. Ciao Ciao.

The above is how yesterday went.  And, I am further behind today than I was going into the week.  I have several key things I need to work on and reach critical milestones … just can’t seem to get there … and just can’t put any more hours into the day.  I do have physical limits and I am pretty much at the limit based on “sustainability”.  If I work much more, then I will go into “the spiral” where my body starts losing momentum and eventually grinds to a halt … not a good place to be and a place I haven’t been since 2004.  I have tried very hard to stay short of my limit.

A key element to staying on the “safe side” of my limit is regenerating my strength on the weekends … which is going pretty well with Sunday afternoons dedicated to Decy’s salon.  However, another aspect of “staying safe” is energy/frustration release.  This aspect is not going well - Decy and I haven’t been clubbing since 4th of July and even then it had been months … clubbing was a big release for me.  And, I’m not in a position to exercise more …. ahem.

Well, I better close this short blog. Sorry.  As there are several things I need to work on.

Ciao ciao.  GBU

Saturday I was dragging and never could get my mojo going.  I did start the day with a massage … and then worked at the computer until about 730pm.  Afterwards, I called my sister and mother and that kept me busy until about 9pm when Decy got home from the salon.  We ate dinner and before we knew it, it was 11pm.

I really wanted to run on the treadmill on Sunday but was unable to wake up early – alarm went off at 4am because Decy needed to go help Irma and Tri (two employees at her salon) get ready for their wedding.  By the time I was able to drag myself out of bed (730am) it was too late to run … given that a) I had a bunch of work to do, b) I needed to go to Tri & Irma’s wedding reception, and c) I wanted to go to Decy’s salon and spend some time there with her.  Thus, at 730am I just got up, shower, shaved, and then began work.  By 1245pm I was on my way to the wedding reception in a taxi that didn’t want to use his air conditioning.  I’m not sure that was such a big deal because it was incredibly hot at the wedding reception (outdoor in a tent).  I did manage to work thru all that and then went to the salon and tried to cool down and relax.

Decy’s doing a great work with her salon and staff.  They continue to improve in their skills and service … and business continues to grow – even if some days / weeks can be slow.  Yesterday the salon had 17 customers.  Some day they are going to break thru 20 …. congratulations Decy.  GBU.

And so, it is now Monday morning.  I have a gazillion things to do at work and I know that it will be pretty much a blur the whole week.  Nevertheless, I will try to stay focused.  Try to work on the important things.  Try to balance work vs rest.  Try to survive.

I am excited about this coming weekend.  Tom Rapson will be here for a week on a business trip.  Tom and I worked together in Angola and we went through a lot together.  we became very close professionally and as friends and shared many experiences together.  He arrives early evening on Saturday …. I will pick him up at the airport, take him to the hotel to check in, and then bring him to the house for dinner and scotch tasting.  Tom will spend the night with us … and on Sunday we will have massages, go for a drive and then out to the salon.  We will both work through the week … and then on the following Friday Tom and I will go to Singapore for the weekend.  Should be lots of fun.

Other than the above, not much to blog about … plus, I am running a bit behind today.  Seems to be the case on Monday mornings.  Anyway …. take care.

Ciao ciao.  GBU.

As for the weekend, I will do my usual massage and treadmill run.  Plus, I will attend the wedding reception of a young couple from Decy’s salon that is getting married Sunday.  And, of course, I will be doing “work” work.

On a much more personal note, a very good friend of mine Tom Rapson, who use to work with me in Angola and currently works in Sakhalin Russia will be coming to Jakarta for a business trip.  He arrives on Saturday 13 March.  He will spend the weekend at our house … work during the week.  Then, he and I will travel to Singapore to have some guy time on the 19th.  I return to Jakarta on Sunday the 21st and then enjoy a weeks vacation.  On the 22nd Decy and I will travel to Bogor and spend some time there just the two of us (Thasya will be in Bali enjoying spring break with some friends).  Decy and I return on the 25th … so she can work the weekend at the salon … and I will putz around the house for the rest of my “mini-vacation”.  The plans aren’t fancy … but, the give us a break from work and time together.

*** On a completely different subject – although I know my sister and brother-in-law are not fond of publicly posted diaries, blogs, letters, etc., I need to at least acknowledge that March 6 is my sister’s birthday … I love my sister very much and I know she loves me.  We have been through a lot together over the years – and as is always the case, siblings don’t always see eye-to-eye.  Nevertheless, our love and mutual respect for each other have grown over the years.  Happy Birthday Norma !!!  God Bless You …. I will try to call you this weekend for a more personal Birthday wish.

Other than the above, not much really going on.  Thus, I will close this email and will work on some finances I need to take care of.

Ciao ciao. GBU.

Physically, I can handle these hours, although at times I’m a bit frazzled.  Emotionally, is another story.  If I get another disappointing  raise that (in my opinion) doesn’t reflect my contributions – then it is going to be very very tough for me to carry on at this pace thru the planning process.  On the other hand, a good raise, demonstrates that the company recognizes my contribution and is willing to reward me for it – sometimes this happens … sometimes it does not.  We shall see soon … and I am hopeful that I will be getting a raise in the next month or two. Stay tuned.

Other than the above, there really isn’t too much to blog about today …. I have a little “mini-vacation” coming up, but I will save blogging on that for another day.

Ciao ciao. GBU.

Actually, not a whole lot to talk about.  Work yesterday was an incredibly long day starting promptly as 6am and going until almost 8pm.  Adding in the commute, there really wasn’t any time for “me” or Decy or Nathasya … in fact, I haven’t even seen Nathasya since Sunday – and even that was only for a few minutes.

I attended a very interesting meeting yesterday.  While I can’t (won’t) mention my company’s name – I can say that the information that was conveyed to us is our view of the world’s energy supply and demand outlook through 2030.  Folks can find this information in the public domain if they look for it – I believe you will find it if you go to our company’s website.  There are some new an interesting trends in the outlook – which is updated annually.  If one looks carefully at the information … and they think about the things that our company is doing, then the pieces become much more clear both from an internal (my) perspective as well as an external (others, investors) perspective.  Further, it reinforces the fact that we believe there are ample opportunities for growth in our industry … and one of the reasons that the company is looking strongly at how they manage the careers of people like me.

Yes, I am the “Old Man Morgan”.  I am no longer the “young, wet behind the ears, whippersnapper with a sharp tongue”.  I am a seasoned, trained, and highly capable employee.  I can plan, execute, train, mentor, build.  I can do many things.  The question then becomes – how can the company best use my skills … that also provides me with a rewarding career and keeps me from walking out the door when I turn 55.

I have seen the demographics for our company … and I have seen the demographics for folks with my skill set.  We have a huge slug of folks that are 60-65 which will be walking out the door in the next 5 years.  Then, because of the severe oil market downturn of the 80s we have very few folks in their mid 40s to 60.  I am 52.  We do have a lot of young 20 somethings and 30 somethings coming in … but they lack the breath and depth of experience that many of us have.  Bottomline is, when the 60-65 year olds leave … and it is happening in droves (but got pushed back a bit due to the 2008-9 market debacle), there will be this huge hole to fill in senior technical, commercial, and project related activities.  Plus, SOMEBODY has to train all the new folks coming in and ensure that institutional knowledge is retained and passed to the next generation.

For me, I see the upcoming change in my job classification as an excellent new opportunity.  Something that I believe will restore freshness to my career … something that will return me back to how I viewed my future prior to year 2000 (recall it was in 2000 that I was moved from the Business Line into an Accounting type function).  Time will tell (of course) regarding how the remaining 3-13 years of my career will unfold.  But at least for now, I’m not thinking about the “end game” but again about the “future”.

Ciao ciao.  GBU.

Really not much to blog on today.  Yesterday was one of those “blur” days.  Got up bright and early at 315am … started working at 6am in the office – continued working non-stop until 730pm.  Made it home at 845pm …. did a couple of quick things on the computer, ate dinner, and next thing I knew it was 1015pm.  Decy and I worked our ways towards the bedroom and I laid down about 11pm.  Turns out it was a very short night - received an accidental phone call at 230am … and then up again at 315am.

Today will be a very busy day - first have a telecon beginning at 630am.  Then have a business meeting/luncheon that will take me out of the office for 4 hours.  Then, have my basic work to do.  Its hard to believe that we are already gearing up for our plan processes.  There is so much to do …. and we have limited resources.  However, I understand that we may get an additional person or two … which will offset the loss of our Commercial Analyst beginning ~1-June due to a 3 month pregnancy leave of absence.

Well friends, family, other readers (if any) … Need to close this blog and work on some other things.

GBU.  Ciao ciao.

************

About a week or so ago Decy gave me a glass of greenish water and suggested that I drink it.  It had a bit of funny flavor, not bitter, not sweet, just greenish water with an ever so slight flavor of “something”.  I jokingly accused her of slowly poisoning me.  She advised me that the water/stuff was good for my health and would help cleanse my system.  I drank a glass a day for about a week …. still joking with her without knowing what she was really giving me.

Finally she gave me a pamphlet on the “stuff” that was in the water.  However, the pamphlet was in Bahasa Indonesia – thus, of limited value.  But, the name of the “stuff” was in English.  Thus, I googled the go-go juice name, which by the way is called K-liquid Chlorophyll.  Although you are welcome to go google the go-go juice yourself, for all intents and purposes the stuff is liquified alfalfa.  Yep alfalfa juice.

Now, I’m still trying to figure out whether or not I like the stuff and whether or not it is helpful.  But, at least at this point, I don’t see any downside in drinking the stuff.  Its kind of like drinking super concentrated veggies.  In the meantime, I am feeling pretty good, my system seems fine, and my weight is good.  Of course, all of these attributes might have been apparent without the go-go juice.  But, nevertheless, I shall abide by Decy’s wishes …. and drink it.

On another subject, had a pretty good 3 day weekend.  Really didn’t do much.  Thursday night we were at the Whitehouse saying good-bye to a friend transferring to Australia.  Friday I got a massage and putzed around the house.  Friday was a quiet night and we watched the movie “Dark City” (thanks Josh !!).  Saturday I ran 16.2 kms on the treadmill and then Saturday night Samantha and Baby came over for dinner.  Sunday I did a bit of work and then went to the salon.  Not a bad weekend.

Gotta go. Its already 513am. Ciao ciao.  GBU.

Decy did some further inspection of the TP and reached some conclusions.  She then went to Danny, her brother, and confirmed that it was he who bought the TP.  Decy commended Danny for trying to save money but suggested he never buy that type again and that from now on he only buy appropriate TP.

So what was the Root Cause of the TP issue?  Well, as some folks know, Indonesia restaurants have napkin dispensers (like most restaurants around the world).  In Indonesia there are several types of napkins and dispensers.  One in particular is a rolled style, fits into a round plastic container and you pull the paper out thru the center … in many ways like “wet wipes” (thus no center cardboard).  The other kind tends to be more like individual facial napkins.  Anyway, it seems that Danny had mistakenly bought facial nakpins (rolled style)  rather than TP.  Danny is not an expert on TP … and thus, did not recognize the difference.

As you can appreciate, it was a lively discussion when Danny asked what the difference was between the two types of paper and Decy’s response was … one is for your face, the other is for your butt !! Ahem …. I think he was asking about the technical differences not differences in use.

With that note, I will close my blog.  Have some things I need to work thru.  (BTW – Friday is a holiday, I may not blog over the extended weekend).

Ciao ciao. GBU.