I think the same thing happens with the brain. The part of my brain that deals with handling mechanical machines is positively aching after the intense few days of driving lessons.

So I finally paid the deposit for a little red fit.

There’s still some nervousness about me handling a machine, but hey, driving’s a good life skill to have right? *cue little positive voice in my head*

Like swimming, cycling, baking and peeling potatoes.

Sure, there’s some corridor chatter, and water-cooler talks, but it’s strangely quiet and calm – no word/email from corporate. A normal day at work. Everyone’s huddled at their work station, continuing with the daily grind. Life goes on. Stuff still needs to be done.

But I guess that’s how it’s supposed to be, isn’t it?

His biggest legacy was not in building the best products, but in creating a system and institutionalizing processes that can continue to run even without him at the control button.

If we had all descended into chaos today, I think I would have been more afraid and he would have failed as a leader.

• The segment of the parade which I always enjoyed the most was the military display, with our F15s planes, Apache helicopters, coast guard vessels, and the guards march-past. I still do. I’m sure it’s part of a grand strategy to remind the world we have one the most sophisticated (and expensive) pieces of metals to blast the enemies even though we are small. But it’s nice to see these traditions being parade evergreens. I don’t really care much for the songs and dances that change year after year. I usually forget about them “in a heartbeat”. [Theme song for the 2011 parade is coincidentally named "In a heartbeat".]

Routine for the past few weeks

• Read Techcrunch: Mr. Cinical concludes I’m a newly-inducted geek, since I can now sprout the technical difference between OS Snow Leopard and Lion. Have you heard about reverse scrolling?

• Scan through SG Car Mart: Hmm, still in 2 minds about getting one. And even so, should I choose a car of my lemming, or a zippy one that gets me from Point A to B, since I only have a “functional income” (phrase credited to Audrey)? Did I mention that I now watch Top Gear too?

• Watch MasterChef Australia: I love this show! It’s showing every weeknight on Starworld at 1045pm. I’m even more inspired to sign up for a cooking/baking class. Time to use the voucher from my ex-colleagues at Shermay Lee’s cooking school.

• Read: I rediscovered my love for fiction, specifically of thrillers from Tess Gerritsen and John Grisham. I like chick-lit, but I can only take *that* much whining from the characters. Let’s see, I finished 4 thrillers in the past 2 weeks and I’m craving for more!

In other news… I have managed to wheedle a supplementary credit card from Mr. Cinical, after many many years of dating and marriage. Audrey reckons I should use it on the car…Good idea.

• Knowing how the computer worked (typing “command + C” as opposed to “control + C” if I want to copy a phrase in the document);

• Knowing the places that each unmarked door leads in the maze-like layout with the long corridors (the building used to be a factory);

• The limited lunch options and the in-house cafe that’s rather expensive (but a life-saver for the rainy days);

• The concept of the “smart casual” work attire all day, everyday. “Smart casual” is a misnomer here, this phrase translates better into “come whatever you are comfortable with”. I have seen co-workers dressed up to the nines in their maxi-dresses, or constantly pushing the boundaries of workplace dressing, complete with bermudas, grubby T-shirts and thong-slippers. No one bats an eyelid as to what you wear. It’s liberating, this freedom.

But I’m not yet in that comfort zone, where you can know instinctively how to react to emails and situations. A new colleague (who’s been around for the past 6 months) assured me that it took her a long time, around 3-4 months to get used to the working culture here, whereas it usually takes around a month or less in her other workplaces.

Oh deep breath, exhale – I’m not such a laggard after-all.

Epiphanies and solutions will come when your head and your attitude is calm.

**There must be a better english translation that what I have written.

Not so in real life.

Our coexistence with the birds* has reached a “containment” (to use a Cold War term) phase. We are arming ourselves with the “Super Soaker Tornado Strike”  (under the Lethal Weapons Section in Toys R Us) to scare them off.

Note*: The original 2 baby pigeons have grown up and flew off, but the pigeons are refusing to leave. They are coming back with more twigs to build a bigger, better nest. Just this week, we had to clear off a dead decomposing baby bird in its nest. 

I ended Thursday with a client meeting that lasted till 4pm; no lunch; hurriedly returning the laptop; rushing to human resources to get my last pay cheque and a farewell dinner with the ex-colleagues.

I started Friday with 2 meetings with new colleagues; attempting to get the new computer working on my own (including setting up the email account and downloading all relevant applications – nope the computer do not come preloaded); trekking through an open field to get to lunch under the hot sun and just figuring my way around the building.

No decompression zone.

It’s somewhat similar to jumping straight into a cold icy pool without any warning, or when you drink a slurpee at too fast a pace.

I’m still having a brain freeze, but I tell myself “Keep Calm and Dive On.”

Been catching up on my reading for the past week:

• 4 weeks worth of Newsweek and Businessweek;
• June issue of  Havard Business Review;
• S. Jayakumar’s “Diplomacy” (a farewell gift from my colleagues);
• Gerald Giam’s “Singapore Version 2.0″ (I was rather surprised that the Museum Shop carried this title so I bought a copy)
• The 1st of Inspector Singh’s Series titled “A most peculiar Malaysian murder” (I chanced upon this series in the Singapore Collection in the National Library. Sure, it’s not as sophisticated as the “western thrillers”, but it’s written with a distinct Singapore flair. Will probably pick up the other books in the series.)

Also picked up another 8 books from the library, including the ever-favorites thrillers from John Grisham and Tess Gerritsen and my favorite Aussie chick-lit writer Maggie Alderson.

That should keep me away from the DVD shop for a while. Too much TV kills the brain cells…