Sunday, July 28, 2013

What the hell is a 'hot dog test'?

On the Straits Times today:

Mr Philip Yeo recounts an occasion when he and Mr Lim Swee Say - then working with him at the Economic Development Board - were queueing up for their boarding passes at an airline transit counter in Chicago. 

As there would be no food on the plane, he asked the young officer accompanying the to get three hot dogs from the nearest food stand.

"Swee Say and I got our boarding passes in less than 15 minutes, then we went looking for our missing officer," said Mr Yeo.

"We found him at the hot dog stand - patiently putting ketchup, onions, condiments, etc etc onto the three hot dogs! I expected him to bring the three 'naked' hot dogs to us. The officer failed the hot dog test. No more future trips with us."


So what the hell is this 'hot dog test'? Is there anything wrong with a subordinate doing this for his superiors? I pity for the guy for being condemned on Mr Yeo's whim, probably having absolutely no idea why he was not selected for future trips.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Three months without Garfield

Today is the third month of Garfield's death anniversary.

It has only been three months since you left us, but these three months seem so long, so empty, so wrong. Home will never be the same without you. Sometimes, I still expect you to be there when I come home from work, waiting for me at by the front door. Or when I switch on my room lights, I half expect to see you curled up on your bed, your lovespace. 

I dreamt of you several days ago. In the dream, which probably only lasted a few seconds, I recall telling someone - I don't know who - that you were not that skinny anymore. Hopefully it was a sign that you are doing well in the other world. I hope that you are able to run freely there, with no pain, no worries, and no unhappiness.