It's all a matter of how you look at things

In the past few days I have learned a lot about carbon monoxide safety.

The whole episode started back on Sunday night--I went to Laundry room to pick up my clothes, and somehow something just didn't feel right. I don't know why I did it but I opened the door and took a peak at the boiler. Pilot light was out. We had no heat. Knowing that the next few days Vancouver would be coming down to a deep freeze, I turned to other people for help (I have absolutely no clue about these things). My friend was so nice he immediately came to my place and helped us get the pilot light on again.

Monday morning when I checked on the pilot light (which was still on) I thought I smelled gas. Being paranoid, I called Terasen Gas to come and check it. But the person who came said that there is no gas leak--but that we had another problem. There is unusually high level of Carbon monoxide ("Dangerous" the technician said). The technician was tempted to shut off our gas, but finally agreed not to do so, knowing that we were going to have -10 to -20 oC weather in the next few days. He advised us to get better ventilation and clean our heat exchanger.

From that point on I was getting paranoid. Because CO is colorless and odourless, and ESPECIALLY because we still didn't know exactly what's wrong, I was quite worried about my Mom being at home all the time. So I ended up calling her every other hour to make sure that things are still "ok"... I read up on tons of info about carbon monoxide and natural gas... different types of CO alarms and their reviews, etc. etc. Without any hesitation I went to buy 2 CO alarms (one is supposedly the best brand and also detects natural gas and propane). I tried to sleep with alertness (didn't work very well, but I tried :P). Admittedly I was paranoid.

Two days have gone by. We still haven't had the heat exchanger cleaned yet... but we have survived the coldest 2 days--with heat and without dying of CO poisoning. So yah, it's all a matter of how one looks at things. Comparatively we are way luckier than a lot other Lower Mainland homes who may have no heat and no power... And I am very thankful because I know God's protection's behind me... and W (+other friends) who prayed for safety and peace of mind...

Listen!

Today we had the Day 1 of the 3rd module for our Project management program. The module is on communication management. Today went by very quickly, because it was no theory and was all soft-skills, experience sharing (we got to vent about all the "unpleasant" experiences / communication challenges we face at our workplace!)... it was quite relaxing.

We did an exercise in the afternoon... sort of a role playing thing. We are supposed to either talk (about a problem we have at work) for 7-8 minutes or listen for 7-8 minutes. If we are listening, then we can only ask questions and not try to solve the person's problem. Boy--I always thought I am somewhat of a good listener (at least that's what my friends *usually* say)... but it was really difficult. I had to mentally hold myself back (I even bit my tongue at one point) to try not to analyze situations and start offering solution! Listening well is not easy at all.

oh, and apparently in terms of communication style, I'm both "spirited" (high assertiveness, high expressiveness) and "systematic" (low assertiveness, low expressiveness). Then of course my class teased me for being a schizophrenic=) Funny even tho I don't see myself as a systematic person, I am starting to see traits of my systematic side... like I want to document everything at work and I like to break down tasks for people, paying attention to details of what needs to be done. Hmmm....

Too bad I have to wait till Monday to attend my Day 2 of the module. And I have to go to Victoria as well! So much trouble :(

Random Thoughts

Finally, the day has come. We are no longer AnorMEDians.

With the change of hands past Tues came a lot of depressing conversations in the hallways. People are anxiously waiting for that big date in a month where we are going to be told whether our positions are redundant. It's actually interesting as events unfold this year. Surely it has been a very tough year for all of us in the company...

Maybe I'm a little bit of an optimist. Maybe I have worked in the company for more than 5 years already--I don't know. But for some reason I still don't feel the anxiety. I mean, at times I'm a little nervous. Most of the time, however, I still feel the dedication in me to work; and, if necessary, I'll work long hours to get things done. This has raised some eyebrows from some people, but I guess I don't really care =)

These days I actually feel very content. It is as if nothing really worries me or affects me much. My friend just reminds me again today: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1). I admit I am not at this "level" yet. But more and more I see the need to lift everything up to Him. And He will make my path straight. Whatever happens He'll help me put into the right perspective and make the right decision.

Interestingly I met up with my prof yesterday for afternoon coffee. I told him things that have been going on at work, and I also told him that I'm now open to anything, that I really just want to learn wherever I am and whatever I do. He encouraged me a lot too... finally I almost feel like I have a bit of closure with my decisions years ago about not doing my Ph.D. It was important/comforting for me to hear that he thinks I will be successful no matter what my career choice is. Strangely when I was talking to him, I felt like I am a little girl again (don't ask me why), asking for advice and seeking for a bit of confirmation.

I think of my life now... there is so much I want to do and learn and experience (both at work and outside work). It's so weird that I feel this much excitement as I look forward (already) to 2007. At church there are many things I want to contribute/change (at least planning in my head)... and who knows... the next year will be a year of change I'm sure! Maybe I don't know what's ahead yet... but as Jeremiah 33 records, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Most certainly God will carry me through!