A Time and Place for Everything: This Season

Well, now that time is on my hands - what else is there to do once I already have my home sorted to be mac wireless?? - I have gone back to doing what I love best. Reading :-)

Awhile ago, I had a long list of books on my list to get through, so I stopped buying books for a season. Then after I'd read through them, I kinda stopped reading for a little while as my life got mumble-jumbled by my (then) new job, engagement, wedding, setting up a new home. I think my life is in a good place right now. Not everything is as we would like it to be and that has led me to many prayers but that is probably the best thing to be doing anyway.

I am more or less settled and comfortable at work - FINALLY! After 1.5 years - but I suspect they are going to rock my boat again and not in a good way. There are people moving out and the work still needs to be done so rumours have it that they will 'stretch me to grow' so that I 'can' take on a larger portfolio no matter that I don't really want to.

The home is also more or less settled. Everything is in its rightful place, including the bookshelf which makes me feel more complete and like myself. I can see the books I want to read instead of having to trawl through boxes in the store for what I'm looking for.

It's also coming to our first wedding anniversary. In a way, its a big step. But when I'm realy honest with myself, its only our first year and there are many more we intend to travail so its not such a big thing. Not say like my folks' 25 years of marriage. We agreed at the start that our first year would be sacred, put aside from most obligations to dedicate to building strong foundations. Now that the time is nearing, we are slowly moving into one or two new ministries to serve in.

I'm so thankful for the DG fellowship group that we are part of. In the past year, we have forged some strong and encouraging friendships and we are looking forward to supporting and playing with each other in the years to come. But before we get too comfortable, we're thinking of expanding our circle of blessing, working with others in the church, networking people to one another in and especially out of church.

So, this is to say that I'm so glad I've finally found a 'place' in my life again to read these books as well as all the flicks I've missed, then bought to watch but haven't. More importantly the resource of time to do so during the school holidays.

My booklist this season in some general order of reading preference:

- The Coffeehouse Gospel by Matthew P. Turner
- To Become One by Chris Seay
- Speaking With the Angel edited by Nick Hornby
- Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin
- God's Gravity by Craig Borlase
- Handbook on Faith, Hope and Love by St. Augustine
- The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
- A Thousand Splendid Suns by Kahlid Hosseini.
- The RELEVANT Nation: 50 Activitists, Artists & Innovators Who Are Changing Their World Through Faith edited by Heather Zydek
- How Movies Helped Save My Soul by Gareth Higgins

The 20/80 rule

The last time I looked at my blog, I realized I had it going since 2003. That is long! Before that, I actually had a blog that went back all the way to 1995, right after I graduated from school. No 'blogging' then, they were called online journals and I had to write every single code for it.

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I'm home today because I got married one month short of one year ago. As part of policy, I get 3 days off - most people use it if they get married during the school term, but we decided to do in November so I didn't have to execute it. It's only valid for a year so I thought that since my kids are on their own pretty much to their national exams and most teachers are either busy marking, invigilating and reporting (all of which I had already sweated through in the 3rd quarter of the year), I would take the whole lot in one fell swoop before its invalid.

It really is a world of difference teaching the graduating class - I would definitely do it again. You sweat buckets but you reap well... and early. Not meaning to gloat, but over the last 2 weeks I've been scheduling consultations for those that need help (no more classes), reviewing their work with them (no more marking) and hiding away in my little cubicle while I try to clear the administrative work in advance (no meetings). I also don't have to invigilate or mark or write reports because we had to do our 'share' so early in the year.

Sometimes I feel like, just because I'm more free than the next person, I somehow feel guilty or obliged to be doing more work. Although it feels that way, it is completely irrational because I shouldn't be penalized for having finished my work ahead of time. Still, I somehow feel I ought to be 'helping' those out who are 'too busy' because they are doing one thing or another. I also don't like it that because I seem so much more 'carefree' since I have less things to do now that it follows that I should be given more work to do. B*******t!

It's the 20/80 rule. If I keep doing this, then I will be the 20% who do 80% of the work, I will get an increment and they may groom me for 'Leadership'. NO THANK YOU! I don't want a promotion and I certainly don't want more money. Money is no tradeoff for my time, thank you very much. I do however want to do my job damn well and to do it efficiently but I don't want to be penalized for doing just that.

Today there was a presentation that I was asked been involved in, tomorrow there's a meeting that I was asked to help the newbie in analyzing stats and on wednesday, there's a photoshoot that I was asked help because the rest are "busy with checking of scripts, lots of meetings and remarks". I am not trying to skive on my work and I know its hard and painful to do all that because I've done it too, but I should'nt be penalized for having sweated so hard so early! You can't say no except to not be present.

I have already done what was within my capability up to this stage and a lot of this stuff is really the responsibility of a department head, of which we are missing in headcount. I want to do good work that gets rewarded in the accomplishment (and not getting rewarded for work that looks good), I want my life to be simple and I want to have time to spend on my own pursuits. It seems like these three things are in direct contrast to the working ethos of our society.

And year, I also want an iPhone for my birthday.