Its almost amazing how I manage to screw up my body clock the first day I go on leave. Feaking 2.33am and I am as awake as an owl.

I was perching and puking for 12 hours before, which meant I slept all the time, thus the alertness now. Its the Godiva milkshake, I tell u, they probably used stale milk. A 8 dollars a pop, it was so not worth drinking. I tossed and turned about in bed before trying to do something more useful, like do my malay homework.

Its frustating. I am starting to doubt my initial motives for learning the langugae. I wanted to be able to read all the malay signs and understand when the malay speaks. Not that I have any malay friends anyway. It just pisses me off that the Malaysian chinese can speak 3 languages and us, only 2. At the rate I am going, I will hardly be able to converse in Malay. I do my homework by checking the dictionary for almost every single word. It is not that I do not commit to memory the words, I do, I really do but the vocab is just so vast. Not to mention sentence construction. The Zhao Ju baffles me totally.

Sigh

Anyway I was thinking its about time I looked at my Dec 2005 post to see if I achieved anything this yr. So far its not bad. Thats mainly cos I made so general statements. I still feel a bit aimless about life, about if there is more to life then just contributing to a MNC where you are but one in the big picture. I guess most of 2006 was spent at work, going home, going out with Alboy and going to work.

Nevertheless, lets see

1) I want to excel at my new position. I have to. Its a brand new position and I am scared shitless but I really want to prove to everyone I can do it.
Well, I'm still working on it. I need time to prove this.

2) I have to be more absolute and procrasinate less. I have decided to pen a to-do-list.
Hahah, I had a to-do list. For like 3 months before I gave up. Thing is, I do not have much to do. I see it as a bad thing. Like I said, my now revolves around going to work, waiting for weekend and sleep.

3) To visit new cities. Toying with the idea of bringing my mum to korea, but that may conflict with my new job scope. See how. I want to go somewhere with Alboy too.
No Korea, we went hk instead. I figured it was cheaper even though we stayed at a very expensive hotel. Where did I go in 2006 - KL, Pg, BKK, Manila, LA, Vegas, Austin, HK. No new countries. New cities include LA, Vegas and Pg though. This is prob the yr I spent the most months travelling. Considering I went to the States for a month. Pg twice. Alboy was with me for 2 glorious week in Austin, LA and Vegas.

4) Meet up with my friends more.
Not too sure about this. Seems to be having lesser and lesser friends. Been going out with work colleagues a lot, which I still have not figured out if its a good or bad thing.

5) Save at least 10K. 15K would be nice although I think it will be pushing it.
Hahahaha.

6) Sleep less, wake up earlier.
Since my life revolved around going to work (notice I say going to work, not work), I wake up at 744 am for most part of the year. I still sleep through all weekends though.

7) Make my parents less pissed with me less often. This is going to be a tall order though.
Am not sure about this.

Things that happen in 2006
You know what I do not know. Last year, I could write things like I cut my hair the most times blar blar, frivulous as it may be. This yr, my mind draws a blank slate. I remembered wanting the year to go by very fast at the start of the year, that was mainly due to my unstable state cos of work issues and partly cos I was eager to get out of the training phase and go to US. Now that the year has indeed raced past me, I am at a lost.

Either that, or things just do not mean that much to me anymore.
Does baking muffins for the very first time in my life count? I took pictures, but I forgot how to post them on blogger. Too lazy to go meddle.

I browsed through my blog enteries for the year and this is what I concluded happened in 2006
- I spent the most time away from home in a foreign country.
- I actually spent a lot of time at work at the start of the year. My early postings were all " I left the office after 8", probably part of the reason why I wanted the year to whizz by.
- I seemed to be buying a lot of shoes.
- Alboy got me a lovely bday present this time. This was solely due to the fact that I finally managed to verbalised myself and told him what I wanted. I even got pass the uneasy feeling of choosing the design with him and making him pay for it. Something I would never do before.
- Probably the year I watched the least movies.
- A blog entry got featured on Digital Times. I forgot about it until I reread my entries. See, thats how significant things are to me these days.

What I want to do in 2007
I do not know yet.
- Start tennis lessons maybe?
- Do something on the side. Maybe just learning how the stock market works or some new programming language, or just something, some money making scheme.
Will post when I think of more.

Season Greetings

So, the torrential 3 day rain finally stopped. I was hoping it will still be raining when I woke up this morning. I think its kinda cool to have it rain all the time. I love the rain and I'm not even complaining that I forgot to bring my brolly out when I rushed out of the house yesterday and had to walk in the rain. I even ate ice cream while walking in the rain. I had this melon ice cream craving for weeks and I just had to eat one melon ice cream regardless of the weather.

Its very amazing how the mud is still so soft even after 12 hours of sunshine. Usually, the mud here is super hard, now my heels sink into the mud every step I take.

The pool was super cold today, I think its all rain water in the entire pool today. Its quite cool actually. Now that the sun is out, its so so so hot again. But, then again the rain doesn't cool things down much because the humidity is still so high.

Town was crazily packed yesterday even at 5pm. I went to La Senza and they had this lovely sale. I am so tempted to go back and get things in all different colours. I got some xmas presents already. I'm a bit shocked that my colleague gave me a 100 dollar Metro Voucher as xmas present and a separate birthday present. Considering I only bought a 30 dollar gift for her for xmas, now, I need to get something good for her birthday next year. Maybe I should even stop complaining about her going on and on about her wedding plans.

I need to enjoy my birthday tomorrow. Sleep in, and look ahead to the next week because I do not have to go to work. Yippee. December is always good.

A good read

After sending out the last post, I decided the solution to all that rambling is that I need a good book.
I am one issue behind my weekly reading of Times, but I so need a good book.
Any recommendations? I'm looking along the lines of books like Tipping point, Freakanomics  etc etc...

Yet another wedding.

I attended my cousin's wedding yesterday and again I have this mixed thing abt wedding dinners.

Before the wedding, my stand towards wedding was to make it as simple as possible since nobody will be remembering it.
After my cousin's wedding, I changed my take. Now, its either as posh as possible or as simple as possible.
I was amazed at how much I bitched to myself about my cousin's wedding. Considering it was held at a restaurant, it was a tad different from all the fancy hotels I've been going to. Do not misunderstand me, I am not saying that it is in anyway inferior. It was just different. The crowd was different, more rowdy and dialect speaking. It actually felt more knitted considering there are only half the usual amount of tables. The music and lightning were so ching chong, but the food was actually ok. Hotel food are such horrid.

But, the whole thing was just so strange. I think I been to too many posh weddings. None of my relatives made snide remarks which was kinda surprising. My mum was convinced that at 550 a table it was expensive. I was thinking to myself, omg, if all my uncles think this way too, I will make a huge loss when its my turn. I cannot really verbalize what I feel cos I do not really know. Its just very weird, all I know at the end of the day is that I do not ever want to hold mine in a restaurant. So high class eh. *chides myself*  Mainly because , I do not want cheesy ching chong music, 80s Mission Impossible kinda tuntuntun lightning, cheapo looking gowns and albums. Sigh.  Double Sigh again because this totally contradicts my "I don't care" stand.  

Since my take on it is so extreme - either as posh as possible or as simple as possible. I feel extremely irritated.

Anyway, my take on it is that I am still not interested in all these wedding stuff. The more I am exposed to it, the more irritated I get. Why can't society except two people eloping or having different partners at different stage of your life. Although I stayed with a guy for a long enough time, sometimes, in fact a lot of the time, I just want to be alone. I don't like a lot of things that come with a r/s but I guess its a give and take kinda thing.

Enough rambling, Its Friday, my weekend should be approaching fast. Can't wait to get to my bday and the last week of the year.

As time goes by....

Its one of those days where I wake up absolutely exhausted. I slept well during the weekend. I slept pretty decently last night but still I feel like crap. I conclude again that I am not a morning person. My shoulder no longer aches that much after that lady gave me a absolutely fantastic massage. I hope it lasts.

Recently I grown to detest certain people. Its hard to say why why what what but this is a public blog afterall. Once I put effort to password lock it then I will write more. But really, I do not understand why some people can turn out so different in the years, or why some people think that they are superior/inferior than what they really are. Someone recently had a issue at work where all the colleagues were quarrelling over the 'Best Friend' issue. I thought 'Best Friends' were beyond our time and only existed when you were in primary school. I told her that and that you will probably have different friends at different stages of your life. Unless your characters are a perfect match, two friends will probably at same point in time lag behind each other, which sucks.

Too much undercurrent at work makes me so tired too, or maybe its a combination of the cold air, pc screen and noisy colleagues.

Santa baby...

Santa baby, all I want for Christmas is
- new sony camera
- nice earrings
- new mattress
- non aching body.

Nah, actually Santa baby, all I want for Christmas is peace, quietness and a smile on my face.

Off

So, off to HK back in Sg for 7 hours (in the middle of the night)  before going off to Penang. I feel tired already.
Penang was so last minute. I don't even think I have enough clothes.
Boss is going too so its not going to be fun. Aiyah. Headache. Need to go home. Tataz.

 

Thus far..

Lets see, it has been quite fruitful.
I cut my hair. Finally.
Started Malay classes.
Went to a baby's 1mth old at the far side of the island.
Edited a video clip.
Arranged to play tennis on Friday.
Not bad.

I just need to find a regular tennis coaching kind of thingy.

On another note, my colleague has been going on and on about her wedding/house/photos I am getting so OD. It has been like this for almost a year. She started looking for a place a yr ago but has yet to find one. Then, her bf proposed, it was more like a forced one imho, so there starts the wedding hotels.bridal talk..yadar yadar. I wonder why these people are so obsessed abt getting married.

Sure, getting married is a joyous occasion but really, how many wedding have you attended that you really really want to go? My count so far is none, maybe 1/2.  So my point is, whats the point in making such a hoo haa about your wedding when no one really wants to attend/will remember it.

If I had a choice, i would not even want to have the dinner. Then because its not very likely that will happen, it will be a chop chop affair. No cheesy photos, no dance, no singing, no surprises. Just eat ,hand over your angbao and go! Alboy says I'm heartless, but I really don't care.

Meanwhile, its back to hearing all the wedding ramble day in day out till my colleague gets married. Yucks.

Yet another sigh post

Sigh. I do not know if its another pre-monday blues or what, but I am getting this general I do not know what to do with my life now again.

If this were qaurter life crisis, it better be over in the next mth, am finally turning 26.

 

I feel so restrainted. To say restrained is not the entired truth. Its more like I want to do a lot of things but I am not doing.

Even simple things. Like CUT MY BLOODDY HAIR!!!  Can you believe I procasinated for months. I am so disugsted with myself.

My usual slew of reasons:

- swam in the day, so I do not want to wash my hair many times a day.

- leave office too late, too lazy to take cab, no pt stlying my hair at night

- weekends - I just fall back in to slumber.

- its a money saving action to not cut my hair

 

And then, before you know its its six long months since my last hair cut.

 

 

I just found out my cousin is doing his MBA. He around my age and graduated a yr or two later. I used to be the academically brighter child, but now even he is doing a MBA. In a pathetic way, I feel so sorry for myself. I do not know if its procasination, but I have no idea if an MBA is useful for me. I still do not think its worth the money, but then again, imagine the price of no education. You can't really tag a monetary value to knowledge.

 

And, I cannot get my firewire port to work. Mega sigh

 

Good news is I am starting malay lessons twice a week.

 

I am looking for a tennis buddy, to play on weekday nights. Mon thurs out cos of malay classes.  Possible coaching lessons, rate is $50/hr for two. Anyone interested? Intricate details are not worked out yet.

.

Song of the day - "Baby baby hit me one more time"
Fwah- yes, I shall stop lamenting.

Knock me on my head.

I need to be knocked on the head.

Just on monday and tuesday, I was in this semi-conscious state, falling back into slumber every 10minutes or so. I slept like 16 hours a day I think. I told myself, this is not good, I need to go back to work. I even went on to think, thank goodness the next p.holiday is christmas.

Please bash me up today.

The horrid feeling of peeling myself out of the bed at 730am is just too much. I am so not a morning person. I blame the humid weather for making me think that way in the past two days. If the weather were cooler, I prob have no qualms lying in bed the whole day.

I finished book 11 of lemoney snicket and can't wait to know what happens in the end.  I am half tempted to buy the whole series. Its 160 a set. Its quite ok considering there are 13 books. What puts me off is that I know that if I wait, there is prob going to be a 20%, 30% discount some time soon. Also, I already have book 1,2,3, 11, albeit in a different cover. Plus, I know the fact is that my irritating siblings are prob going to rip the collect apart, that happened to CS Lewis and all the other collections I have. I would hesitate less if I have my own place, my own library.

I want to be the 4 in 10

Headlines in ST today were to make p.transport so good that 'My other car is public transport'

 

To that I say, "Xiao eh"

 

Our transport minister must have never taken p.transport on a regular basis. I hate people who make/says such comments.

 

Till today, except for the super rich people that say, oooh I don't need a car because the MRT is so convenient, everyone else wants a car!

 

IMHO, the public transport no matter how fantastic it becomes will never compare to having your own transport.

 

Imagine these scenarios,

 

Would you rather wake up 1 hr early every morning, stand on the train with smelly bodies squashed against you for one whole hour every single working day of your life,  or, sleep in and drive in heavy traffic to your workplace. If it rains, its ok because you park in an underground carpark. With p.transport, good luck to you.

 

Would you rather take the train, carry 1 litre of water everywhere or drive and leave the water in your car. I have to drink a lot of water so I get very frustrated when I have to carry my water around. Firstly, I need a big enough bag to dump my nalgene in, the 500ml one, plus water is really heavy. Oh say, you want to go for a swim/tennis/some random sports before meeting your friends, would you want to lug all your gear around in p.transport.  Fwah, hell no.

 

The shuttle bus from the mrt takes 30mins(not inclusive of waiting time)  to reach my house. A car trip takes 5mins. Would you still want to take p.transport?

 

After you are dead tired from a long day, do you still want to stand 1 hr on p.transport. 1hr is the average time it takes to get to anywhere from my place. You stand on the train/bus, jerking forward backward as the train moves, your bag becomes increasingly heavier.

 

Yup, driving can get maddening when the road jams up. You hear drivers complain abt the horrid jams every morning. These people have driven too much too long that they forgot what it is like to take p.transport. Next time you hear someone complain, just ask them. would you want to take p.transport instead. What makes you think buses do not crawl in the traffic too. The yellow lane thingy makes only a slight difference, that is if you can squeeze your way up the bus first. So many times buses have zoom past me because they were overloaded.

 

Sigh, these ministers. They probably did so well in life they forgot what it is like to take p.transport. Its ridiculous really.

Whatever, keep doing your job and hopefully when I finally own my set of wheels, the road will be totally free for me. The other 6 in 10 people can go take the train to work.

Where have all the dogs gone??

Its was really strange.

I been walking around in orchard and I always notice people decked in the latest designer wear, carrying handbags that cost 1k a pop, perfectly manicured nails and oh-so-diva hair. There seems to be so many of these people all around. Majority of them are young, probably plus minus my age. I always wonder how these people manage it all. Its either they were born rich, willing to spend, doing very well in their careers, or just people like me maybe except that they are more willing to spend.

 

Today, I came to the conclusion that they probably were all born rich. Its really crazy. I took the train from expo all the way back west, on the whole journey I did not even see a single designer wear on the train. ziltch. Totally Ziltch. Do all these people drive? or take cabs? Maybe my timing was a bit early for fancy people to arrive but still, totally none. What I see on the train is familes wearing sandals you buy from the heartland, pvc worn out bags, tired faces.

 

On a side note, I bought or rather Alboy bought the game Articulate. Now, lets gather a few people and play!

Barks Howls Bites

I am so blooooooody pisssed.
I hate people who rummage through my stuff. I hate people who don't give me the privacy I need. I hate people who happily draw conclusions based on whatever they conjure from rummaging through my stuff. I hate people who talks too loudly. I hate people who don't listen. I hate people who thinks they are super ill treated when they are not. I hate people that compare apples to oranges. I hate people who work as if they have monument tasks when I see minimal output. I hate people who make negative comments on stuff they have no part in. I hate people who behave overly flustered because it irritates me the whole day to see them 'dash' in and out with a pursed look on their face. I hate having to smile and say hi to people. I hate people assuming as if having to care for everyone is my responsibility. I hate people making a mountain out of fa molehill when in actual fact it does not make any difference. I hate that I am feeling this week is getting too long. I hate people saying that swimming is fun. It is not, its my kind of activity and I swim cos I really enjoy it not cos its fun. You cannot say its fun when you do not even know how to peddle in water. I am in such a bad mood today. Fuck Fuck Fuck

 

It must be the hormones

I'm in a really foul mood. I have no idea why too, in fact I shouldn't be but I can't help feeling totally foul.

I just took a $25 cab ride. Thats what happened at the end. So, it happened like this. Alboy was totally exhausted and took a 'nap' after agreeing to sending me back home after that. He was impossible to joslt awake, so I offered to take a cab home myself. I really don't mind because I do not do it very often and I know that he is really very tired.

He told me to call a cab but I refuse, I always do because I feel it is pointless because there are always so many cabs just a short 3-4 min walk away. I'm a bit anal at having to pay extra for cabs that are already so expensive. I left and walked myself out. It wasn't a very well lighted road but I was fine. However somehow my mood was starting to get crappy. Its a girl thing, you say no but if no really happens, reality bites and its painful. The difference is, I know I said no so I had no right to complain.

On an ordinary night, it would have been the end of the story and I would hop onto the cab on my way home. Not tonight though.

After walking for a minute, I realised that having spent almost 40 bucks on cab the previous day, I might not have enough money for midnight charge. I checked my wallet and I only had $15 left. I definately do not have enough money. It usually cost about $14 without the midnight charge.

What to do? I called Alboy and told him I had no money and wanted to loan from him. I was even ready to walk back, he didn't even have to walk out. Somehow I think he heard me wrongly and replied in a most irriated tone, "I already told you to call a cab".

That totally tripped me. We have never agreed on the calling of cab issue. He always call a cab and thinks I should. To me, its just a waste of money. I bet he thinks I am trying to be misery, something along that line.

I retorted, told him nevermind and hung up. He tried calling twice but I hung him up. I switched my phone off after that. Somehow, irrational as it may sound, something inside me just flipped.

I took a deep breath as I analysed my dire situation. Alone, dark, no money and now too proud to ask for help. I walked and walked and rembering that now all Esso stations have ATM in them, I walked towards an Esso. I thought I was saved.

BUT, as if to mock me, the atm was 'temporaily out of service' when I reached Esso. If the aem were human, I would have given it two tight slaps. Whats the point of an atm if it does not spit money out. Fwah.

I went back onto the road and started walking, before I decide that I should just flag a cab and hop in. Suddenly, it dawned onto me that I could pay by credit card. So, I flagged a cab, make sure with the driver I could pay by card and hop on in. Afterall, I heard so many horror stories of how cab drivers refuse to accept card. The uncle was unbeliavblly animated and he did lighten my mood a little. He was telling me about his drunk customers and how you need a degree in botany before the government gives you a permit to grow vegetables these days.

I went home, switched on my phone and saw 10 missed calls. My phone has been quiet since. I guess Alboy must be sound asleep now and I am unsure what to feel about it.

Since, I have no one to complain to considering I hardly have any friends, its all out here, which actually sucks because I feel I do not have to let the entire www know. Then again, I typed so much, it seems like a waste to just delete it all.

Good Tuesday to all

Its a strange phenomenon really. At 11-12midnight on Sunday, one by one my friends log off and say they need to sleep. After donkey years of working, I still cannot get used to it. Hey, these people used to chat with me till 3/4am. Nowadays I find myself totally tired by midnight too, no amount of lingzhi pills seems to be helping. I try to calculate to see if the number of awake hours are the same, but somehow I cannot seem to get the maths right. The level of physical activity during the day has definitely dropped too considered I used to have to walk to the bus stop, up and down slopes, walk everywhere. These days, my lunch time swim do not really count. I sit on my butt the whole day and mostly take a cab home.

I go to the office and I hear office aunty talk. Its like you want to shut the crap up of those people who talk, but yet want to listen intently cos the stuff they talk about is pretty out of the world. I just learnt that one of them irons her bedsheet. Who in the right mind does that? Firstly, I would want my bedsheets to be cool, ironing just gives this trapped warm air feeling. Plus, don't you toss and turn at night. Ahhh, I know why,  old hags don't make out or have toy boys to mess up the beds. Later, someone was mentioning that someone's husband made someone starched the bedsheets too. Crazy. And then the boss walks in and silence falls as they all pretend to work.

Good Tuesday to me.

So much angst

Welcome dear body to another day where everything feels like stone.
I figured I probably need to sleep at 10pm everyday to feel like a million dollars the next day, else no matter what time I sleep, I probably feel like crap unless I wake up at noon.

Anyway I have been feeling super irritated these days. I hate working with incompetent people. I hate it that people complain about their work all the time and whole day say they want to go on holiday. I want to go on holiday tooo, but I do my fair share of work. These people want to quit but are hanging on cos there is a possible chance of a trip to somewhere in the coming months, then they quit right after.

Dang has been really busy of late so its also getting irritating that he is mostly dead tired. I think I am just short fuse these days. Maybe its the mooncakes, I only like Raffles hotel cognac mini snowskin mooncake,  but people keep sending substandard mooncakes to the office and my colleagues keep forcing me to eat them. With the exception of Raffles hotel mooncakes, I hate all other mooncakes. Why force me to eat them. I want my gelatos not mooncakes. We should have a Gelato festival or something instead.

Of day and night.

So, I stopped playing lemmings and by right should be wide awake today since I slept  7 hours yesterday. But but but, my head is still fuzzy.
Today my colleague came back from her holiday and started polluting my mind about how the grass is greener on the other side. Seriously, I am so sick of such things. I know my pay is not necessary the highest but hearing about such things just make you distracted and sad. I do not need such crap. Work is one thing but there are other aspects of my life I want to be happy with. I need to start finding myself a passion. Swimming hardly qualifies cos you can only swim once a day.

I had the strangest dream last night. This guy (I have no idea who), but it seems like I was in a relationship with him. So, this guy had a ring and it seemed like he was trying to propose to me, so he came really close to me and I deliberately drop the ring on the floor. The ring was like rolling around and people around me were gushing because a diamond is hard to find on the floor. I was shocked too cos I didn't want to be responsible for the lost of the ring. Eventually someone found it and  gave it to him. Then as he came closer to me, I took the ring and place it back in his hand, telling him it was just not meant to be. I could feel sadness as I did so. Then, I ran off and my good girlfriends followed. Again, I  had no idea who these girls are, they didn't even resemble anyone I know in real life. They were like shocked but erupted into merry making to cheer me up and we decided to tour the world. I think my dream stopped there or I woke up.

It was really strange.

Things that I hate

I hate it when I procrasinate because I get very pissed with myself and I don't like it. I hate it that I keep thinking of the long overdue task when I should be enjoying myself.

I hate it when everyone around me is so busy you have to arrange for outings months ahead. I hate it when everyone does not keep time. A dinner date should start on time. Rubber time is no good.

 

I hate it that people only come to you when they need help. I hate it when poeple take you for granted. I hate it that people have to multitask and schedule so many things at the same time. I hate it when I trudge through Mondays to Fridays. I hate it worse when I realised midweek that the week is going too slowly. I hate it that you have to play tennis with two people. Why can't every tennis court have a practising wall.

 

I hate it that weekends are so short.

Monday Monday....

Only monday morning and it has been a slurry of activities. Already mentally strangled some of my colleagues many times over.
Its too exhausting to describe the events but I cannot believe how dense some people can get.

My stomach is all knotted up again and the new toilet at the new office is not very conducive for shitting. Firstly there is this stupid motion sensor that is supposed to keep the light on. Problem is that it goes off every 10 sec. So, you either wave ur hands frantically every 10s, or shit in the dark. If you are in the cubicle further away, there is no way you can activate the motion sensor.

Thank goodness its almost noon and I am going to swim. I am a little against the hot sunthough. I hope its shady.

 

Back!

Back Back Back! In Fact back for a week.

LA was a mess, minus Disney the happiest place on earth. Even Disney, I felt Tokyo’s Disney was much better. The staff were more polite and I felt happier.

Vegas was good. Won Money at the penny machines and Grand Canyon was just humbling. The 5 hr drive to and fro was killing though. I never driven so much so fast in my life.

 

Back to the routine of work. We have a new office now. I am still undecided on how I feel about my new seat. Right in front of me is this huge red pillar that blocks my entire view. To my left is this big hole that leads to the pantry. I try to position myself so that I am in between these two structures and can see some view. My colleague next to me types too loud and it is irritating me. My boss is very near me now and my stingy office manager is of hearing distance too. I suspect they can hear my phone conversations. Have to be extra careful now.

 

Although I just got back, I would not mind traveling again. Not too sure if I can take leave. I have like 30 days of leave. There are so many places I want to go.

Yeah only 2 more nights in Austin!l

then, I am off to LA and Vegas. I hope the trip would be fun. I mean, afterall I am so sick of the US of A. I wonder why anyone will come here long term.
Yesterday I met up with my project mentor again, and I felt like bashing him. After the longest time of getting the fact that sg is not part of China into thick skull. He exclaimed,  "How come this is in English?" when I showed him newspaper cutting of The Strait Times.  I wanted to knock his head. Helllo, please do your research. I later sent him the Wikipedia entry of Sg for him to read, if he reads. I wanted to tell him that we probably have a much higher literacy rate than his country, and that we cane americans who come and vandalise our property. Such a kok.

I do not like classical music.

So, I been going out with the Korean guy because I rather he drive. It is so pathetic. He plays the oboe and he actually brought his classic CDs here and he has been playing them in the car all the time. Its getting on my nerves. Then, I have no idea why he is so uptightek can about time. Its like I tell him meet at 11am, he has to call me at 1045am to ask me again. So duh. Then whenever we go out, he just wants to return to the hotel asap. I have half the mind to abandon him. He behaves like this other hongkong guy I know. Kinda glad to start work tomorrow so that the week can pass faster. 1 month here is too long.

Big things.

Yes, I am still here. There is nothing much to do except what terror warnings repeatedly on TV. I hope things are not as bad when I go back. I do not want to miss my flight. I went to the grocery store yesterday, the chips I wanted were on the top shelf, and you know what... I couldn't reach the shelve at all. I jumped and jumped but still couldn't reach it. Thats how c giangantic things are.

My laptop is cranky too. Its hard to type. The cursor jumps back 4 words every 5 words. So, I keep having to retype. Then, I cannot move the laptop. I cannot on it after I transport the laptop. So duh.

I wonder if I am homesick yet..

So, I am out of the country and I get sms saying that my blog was quoted on Digital Times. Ahha.  I didn't even get to see the article!

Obviously, I went to check my google analytics to see if there is any spike in traffice. So, I got about 65% new readers, thankfully  u readership isn't too high. Else, i have to be start being careful about what I write, because if you know me, you will know its me.

 

Yup, I am in US now, the land where everything is super big but nowhere as nice as Singapore. I love my country man. I hear there is late night shopping now and tons of fireworks going on. There is absoutley nothing to do here. Driving on the other side of the road is a tad scary,  and I hate it that the signs are so tiny, or blocked by some big trees and that everything is on the right.

 

K, the internet sucks here, so thats it and I'll be back in a month!

Gone 3D2N

I am going to our neighboring country for boot camp *crys*
Actually for my company's team building, but after I took a look at the photos I think its more like boot camp.
Doing orientation games that are sooooo outdated, leaving in so-called chalets that are in the middle of the jungle. Grass, Mud, Insects everywhere. You get the picture. The kinda days where your underwear is never dry cos you constantly get thrown into the murky yellow brown river water.  Yucks.
WhywhydoIstillhavetodoallthesewhenIhaveoutgrownthisstage???? *wails*

 

I am Singaporean

Inspired by Mr Brown

My name is Handsel and it doesn't mean anything.

I live in Singapore and studied here all my life.
I followed through the competitive, merciless education system, emerging a graduate with little sense of the future.
I take the MRT everywhere, now I can repeat the terrorist warning messages in English, Mandarin, Malay and even Tamil (at least the numbers 999).
I love the national flag, and can recite the pledge in both English and Mandarin.
I sing Majulah Singapura proudly, although I do not understand what the malay words mean.
I read every sign in all three languages and stare hard at the Tamil words, hoping one day I will recognise the word 'Fine'.

I love my country and hate being mistaken for nationalities that I am not.
I silently sing Kit Chan's "Home" and queue proudly at the "Singaporean-Welcome Home" lane when I am back at the best airport in the world.
I am afraid to say my real name incase I kena the sedition act and I am a Singaporean.
So say we all

Of cars, buses and helis....

Yawn Yawn Yawn. Yet again, I am falling asleep.

I have been so bothered by details of planning for LA and LV that I'm frustrating myself.
And to think I was never a 'need to know all the details' person. I think some people I know will hyperventilate over this. *winks*

Having said that, I think it is still important to know my itinerary in general and how I am supposed to get from place to place.
Things like whether driving makes more sense, or getting a bus, or taking an expensive helicopter ride. If moolah were aplenty, things would be easier. However, I feel it will be stupid if unnecessary money is spent when it could have been saved with a little more research.

Now, the plan is to tentatively drive from LA to LV, then drive the next day to Grand Canyon. Easy enough right.

Here comes the part that complicates the whole thing,  my flight back home is from LA at noon. So, I have to make that 6 hours drive, more if I get lost, back.  Plus time to check in, this means I have to start driving at a ridiculous 3am in the morning. This makes paying for an extra hotel night so dumb. Oh, did I mention that I so wisely booked my hotels already?

Either I drive at 3am, or take the 1am bus, which makes more sense because its safer and less tiring.  Then, the money factor comes in because it is cheaper to get a round ticket trip instead of a single ticket. See how this totally negates my initial plan of driving.

Confusing right.

and, I yet to check out the car rental rates, bus schedules, helicopter trips......

 

Time..

Sometimes I think time isn't enough.
I left the office at 8pm last night. It was not too late though. In fact, I deliberately waited for 8pm to leave. I had finished my swim at 720 and figuring it makes no sense to go back at that time, I went back to the office to read the newspapers.
So, I reached home at 8.15pm. Dinner and it was like 9pm when I was done. Watched a bit of the shows my brother recorded for me and it was 10pm.
10pm was desperate housewife time. Mull over my claims , surf for hotels, at 11pm and it was like time for bed.
Crazy, I felt like I had no time to myself. You may disagree, but I hate it when I am too tired to even read.  I didn't need to bath because I did that before going home.

So, I resolved to leave office at like 7pm latest today.

But, my mum's incessant nagging when she sent me to work today made me change my mind. If I could freely surf and do my general administrative stuff in the office. I will finish it all and go home only for dinner. My mum is downright ridiculous. She happily spins stories and starts believing in it and accusing the whole world. Sometimes I wonder why I keep pushing off plans for the next overseas trip with her. I am not sure if I can take it.

Now I understand why I hardly miss home when I am travelling. And, lets see what time I will leave the office today.

 

From LA to LV...

Am planning to go LA then LV.
Anyone has any tips for me. Which hotel is good?
I have been surfing and I am looking at Ramada Inn Hollywood in LA and Harrah Hotel and Casino LV.

Looking at not too pricey hotels, but I do not mind paying a bit more if the location is good. No point paying for a really cheap hotel and then paying through the throat for transporation.

And, how do I get from LA to LV? Someone told me drive. I googled and saw that there are bus trips but the timings will prob not make it in time for my flight. My flight is at LA airport.

Advice Advice anyone?

Finally back.

I am finally back after 1 week in Penang and 1 week in KL.
I had enough of Msia, nothing beats being back in your own country.
The trees look greener, the ground cleaner and the sun brighter.

Am so tired. Even after sleeping for 12 hours. I love my country.

Lunch is exciting.

Lunch was an eyeopening affair today.
One of my Thai colleague was telling us about his gf, and then revealing that he/she is transsexual. We were like gaping in astonishment when he went on to graphically describe their sex life. He claims that the girl/guy can have orgasms I was like huh, really ah. If he had been a better looking guy, I might have been so grossed out but he is like pimply, in short ugly.

Then, another colleague received a present from our Thai colleague, It was a dildo/vibrator. Seriously, I have no idea whats the difference although she claimed there is. Woa, it was like rubbery, kinda thick and big in my opinion, it was like weird feeling it. I cannot imagine stuffing something like that into myself just to climax.

I am not particularly conservative but I am still reeling from the whole experience. *shugs*

 

In reality,

730am: I woke up and stared at my phone. Turns over to look at Alboy and he is deep in sleep
731am: Fell back to sleep
800am: I woke up again. Turns over to look at Alboy and he is deep in sleep
801am: Fell back to sleep
830am: I woke up again. Turns over to look at Alboy and he is deep in sleep
831am: Fell back to sleep
845 am: He finally stirs and went to wash up.
846am: Since I could not do anything, I fell back to sleep again.
915am: I woke up and washed up
930am: Left the house
1015am: Arrived at Redstart
1115am: Paid the bill. It was pouring heavily so Alboy immediately fell back into slumber in the backseat of the car.
1145am: We drove off.
1215pm: Both of us fell asleep in the car at his workplace carpark
1pm: Alboy woke up to start work and I continued sleeping

Amazing eh, I am so amazed at myself at how I/we sleep.

 

The plan

730am : Alboy wakes up and starts washing up
800am: I wake up
845am: Reach Red Star
1000am: Finish Breakfast

Isn't it great to have everything done by 10am.
Then, we can laze around, town, catch a movie. nap. Nice.

However, what most likely will happen
730am : Sleeping
800am : Sleeping
845am : Still Sleeping
1000am: Still Sleeping
1200pm: Waking up
1230pm: Wake up and start to wash up
1pm: Alboy is still washing up
1.30pm: Alboy dresses
2pm: Leave for Redstar
3pm: Reach Redstar for breakfast just as it is packing up

Well, I'm not exaggerating Such things has happened before because Alboy and me are such deep sleepers. We belong to the rare breed who can sleep for 16 hours straight even after sleeping a full 24 hours prior to that.

Lets see, and I will update on Monday how things go.

 

Smile and show your teeth!

So, my nose has been leaking non stop for 2 days now. My lungs feel so clogged up. Its crazy and I haven't swam for 3 days. I bet I just lost all my stamina. It happens when I go under the weather. I need to weight myself. I wonder if I lost weight.

Recently I  been told that I grind my teeth at night when I sleep. Alboy told me it was this hideous loud grinding noise. Of course, I dismissed him. One week later, my dentist asked me the same question. Apparently there are some tell tale marks on the inner side of my cheeks. Damnit. Now, I either risked my teeth eroding or I have to wear a guard to sleep. Like a muzzled dog. My dentist told me to monitor the problem - I wonder how, I wouldn't know if I grind my teeth in my sleep eh.

I  been exceptionally conscious of it since then. I loosen my jaws before I sleep. However the thing is, my jaws feel extremely tight when I wake up and I am pretty sure I grinded them in my sleep. Alboy says the trick is to stuff a carrot into my mouth at night.

As if that is not enough, I have recessed gums too. That leads to my dentine being exposed and thus the most painful sensation everytime I been eating sweet food. For the longest time, I thought I  had a cavity and all my dentist tell me otherwise. So, now its because my gums are recessed. Sounding like an old woman eh. I now have to use a soft toothbrush and a sensitized toothpaste. I been using a whitening toothpaste which I shouldn't because it will cause the gums to recess even faster. Crap, how to have white shinning teeth like that??

Give me a break. I'm not that old to have all these teeth woes.

 

Alas, the guilt of work

I was expecting myself to type. It feels great, but instead I think I will do a - It feels strange.

Yes, my weak self gave in and I took MC today. It wasn't all that unjustifable. I had been having this nagging pain in my throat for about a week. Yesterday, I felt slightly feverish as if I might fall sick. That however did not happen and I broke out of it before I went to bed last night. This morning, I simply lost all motivation to work. In fact, I debated about it for a precious 20 mins at 7am this morning, ultimately convincing myself that it was no harm. Afterall, I had not taken a single day of leave or mc since the start of the year.

This time I did not have to wait 1 hr for my mc, since I had fully grasp the routiness of the doctor's schedule. I went right before he closed for lunch and waited only 15mins. The doc was a bit of a strange thing. He actually gave me an MC for tomorrow instead of today, and argued with the nurse when I pointed it out.

I dutifully spent the whole day sleeping after finishing the last chapter of "The rule of four". Not a recommended read. Perhaps its because the book is authored by 2, that makes the flow somewhat strange. It never fails to amaze me how much I can sleep. I ate dinner on a full stomach and feel werid.

Perhaps, I should have just taken mon and tue off and scotted off to hk with missy y. Alas, the guilt of work.

Am planning to take next friday off, however, I have a feeling I might be on standby for an event and that my leave will not materialise.

GSS is starting, when does Club 21 start it sales? I saw some oh so pretty but pricey stuff, the stuff that is only worth buying during a sale.

Cinderella outfit

Today I wore a skirt to work and its amazing how many comments about it I got.
They think I look pretty in a skirt , which baffles me because essentially I am the same person. I didn't apply any make up or style my hair. My tiny eyes were half closed, I still feel like a slump when I entered the office. There must be something about the skirt, or maybe that its the first time I wore a skirt on a normal work day since I started work.

More on my outfit, I have named it the 'Cinderella outfit'. Its knee length wrap flare skirt - green with purple trimmings paired with a whitish beige singlet. Seemingly apt eh. If you cannot picture it, go watch Waltz Disney Cinderella. Its what she wears when she does her household chores.

Am going to watch DVC code later. Yippee

 

Music feeds the soul

I was never a music bluff. Most of the time I listen to songs without knowing the lyrics or the singers. An mp3 player has no use to me. In fact, I only have 1 mp3 (my ringtone) in my sony walkman phone. A waste really.

Today I made myself a 7 thousand dollar radio. Yes, using equipment meant for more advanced applications, I made myself a radio. It was fairly simple considering all you needed was to capture the correct radio frequency signal and strip it down.

I love the sound of music at my work place. At my old seat, my malay colleague keeps the radio on all the time. Subconscioulsy, I was kept fairly updated with the latest release. Eversince I moved into the quiet serious corner, I didn't dare bring my own radio in the fear of breaking that intense silence. I started to lose touch with songs - which was good only in one way because Beyonce "Check on it" was just so painful to the ears. I call it the niam keng song. It just rants and rants. Now that I hear it less often, its actually not too bad.

Today I had an excuse to build the radio because it was needed for some demostration purpose. Also, half the people ard were not in. The other half were newbies who I know I can override. The sound of music. Fatabulous.

Tomorrow, I will try pushing the line to see if I can keep it on during the day.

The DVC Race

Yes, I raced.

In an oversized T-shirt too. Two L shirts were stuffed into the race pack that I got and I was too lazy to change it into a smaller size. I knotted the shirt at the waist but it just keep coming apart as I ran, thus slowing me down a lot.

It was fun. Alboy was so hyped up about winning that I was amused. He ran from station to station. I never seen him run so fast before. In fact, I wasn't even sure he could run because he has one prone to injury knee. He was really fast. Most of the puzzles were solved by him.

He solved them even before I could take a proper look at them. So much so for being short. I could hardly peer over other's shoulder. So, I decided to take on a different approach. While Alboy looks at the puzzle, I will go towards the race marshal and blatantly look at the answers others have, rush back to tell Alboy. I guess I am better at cheating.

It was a mad rush from station to station. I lead on the trains as Alboy almost never takes the train. Yet, I still was baffled as to which was the only yellow mrt station around. I asked all my friends and everyone told me commonwealth. I thought so too. It turned out to be Toa Payoh. Well, it figures, all of us live in the West and hardly go further than Orchard.

Anyway, it was great fun. The downside - My legs actually ache today from all that running. and to think I swim almost everyday and just paid 400 bucks to renew my pool membership. Crap.

Symbols

I read this somewhere:

$ is just a symbol but I need it. Damn it!

In response, the next one read:
I luv symbols.

 

Home early

Today I was home early from work. However early has evolved to take a meaning of leaving at the office at 8+pm.

Crazy eh. I used to feel that my day has streched too long if I stay beyond 8. Now I feel, eh, not bad. Bad Bad.

In a way, I cannot wait for these 3 mths to be over soon. Then I be offcially doing stuff I am paid to do instead of being in the training phase. 3 mths, 4 mths max. The though of an extra month is tortorous though.

I forgot that I left work early today, I should have made a trip down to get my hair cut. Now, looks like I have to wake up early on Sunday to go cut my hair. Its too long and out of shape.

You know what, I need some gelato now. I have grown out of eating ice-cream unless they have a gelato kinda quality. It has evolved to the state where if you put a tub of Ben' and Jerry beside gelato, I am not sure what I will choose.

Its a rich man's world.

I was going to blog about how great it was to have Fridays feel like Saturdays because this means that we have 2 more days of rest.

But, while waiting for blogger to load, I checked my bank account and got a little depressed. My insurance payment is dued this month and that adds up to almost a thousand for both my mum and I. The problem is I have done my usual transfer of money to my savings account and I barely have enough to pay from my normal account. Confusing eh. Well, like most people I have 2 accounts to make finances clearer. It distresses me to think that I have to transfer money back to my normal account. That would equate to not saving for this month. It makes me mentally imbalance.

Anyway I saw this ncie dress. It wasn't exactly a snug fit but I could still wear it without alterations just that I have to be extra carful not to expose my cleavage too much. I would have bought it if it were much cheaper. I initally thought there was a 15% discount but apparently this dress was in the excluded list. Why do nice things always have to cost so much.

I'm so happy, oh so happy today....

Really so happy...

It’s the happiest day in my worklife since I started work!
Why? Cos I skived!

I skived! I skived! I skived!

Before you prejudge me as someone who finds every opportunity to skive, I don't. I do my fair share of work, just that sometimes things plateau and your morale is on the low side, it feels really good to skive.

I did not work the whole day at all, although I did check and reply my emails when I got home.

I bought a cinderella skirt. Its a green skirt with purple trimmings. I was wearing my $5 coat white singlet today. Pair it together with the green skirt and I look just like cinderella singing while doing her household chores. I will wear for you guys one day. Its the longest skirt I bought. At knee length - even longer than my school uniforms.

I went expo for the bookfair. I love books. I bought Life of Pi, The rule of 4, Black Beauty, The Orange Girl, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Douglas Adam, Alice in Wonderland at $39 in total. Lovely.

I reached home at 6.30pm. Imagine its wonderful. Usually 6.30pm marks the start of the 2nd shift at work. The evening sun was so warm to the skin. A lovely kind of warmth. I took in the sights and sounds as I see office workers carry food home, smelly school kids with their mums. Its really lovely. Although I did wonder how the office people actually manage to reach home so early. I conclude that to have a healthy lifestyle or in fact to have a life, you should be out of the office by 6 and indulge in other stuff. However I do not think that will happen at my workplace.

Also in between, I manage to try on some dresses for all the weddings I have to attend. Nice dresses but so ex, so I am on a wait n see mode. The irritating thing is most other girls wear the same size as me and the dresses get sold out so fast. The dress I saw was really nice, in fact it was featured in the SFF recently.

Oh, the best thing was. I was actually sitting on the bench in front of the shops waiting for them to open at 10am. I went in immediately after they opened. It was a wonderful feeling. No queues at the fitting rooms and all the service staff at your attention.

I was smirking at I made my home at 6pm when I saw all the office people start their shopping.
Oh, so happy. Really.

STM?

I have just finished re-reading catcher in the rye and it really is a lovely book. I read it once long long time ago in secondary school but kinda forgot the storyline. I love Holden.

I still cannot figure out how I can forget the intricate details of books that I read. I remember everything I read before age 10 perfectly. I start to forget details from age 12 to 20 , and I simply do not retain anything from age 21 onwards.

Its like I know SCUBA stands for Self contained underwater breathing apparatuses, Yahoo stands for Yet another hierarchal officious oracle but I cannot for the sake of my life remember what laser stands for. I distinctly remembered learning it in JC. Yet, I cannot remember.

Facts I read from my Charlie Brown Encyclopedia I remember them all. Now when I read "The handy history answer book" I remember nuts. Not even the next day. I know I read about Saladin few nights ago but now I cannot even remember what his significance is. I only remember he appeared in the show 'Kingdom of Heaven' Duh, see I cannot even remember the show's title. I only remember that his father slapped him when he made him a knight and the father died.

I was going to comment last week here that I seemed to be taking the lift at work in the morning with a bunch of guys. I am usually the only girl in the life. I was about to comment that it really is a guy's job to earn the dough. Really, 4 days in a row, I was the only girl in the lift in the morning. Then yesterday, I took the lift with a bunch of girls. No guys at all. Today, I took the lift with two heavily pregnant ladies. Sigh, there goes my theory.

Of afternoon sun and getting darker.

Today one of my colleague came from a 2 week reservist and it seemed so long since I saw him. Within that span of time, so many things happened - so many things that seemed so long ago.

Let see, I last saw him when I went MoS. Since then, I went bought so much stuff (short for shopping and listing out my purchases cos it scares me such), took time off, bought 2 pairs of shoes, attended a malay wedding, a colleague's wife gave birth. It just seemed so overwhelming. Am going to watch west side story on Friday. Yeah!

I'm getting tanner from mid day scorching sun swimming. Its so hard to swim after work these days with the stuff I get to do. If I miss my mid day swim, chances are i dun swim. Two reasons, I get plenty of flake plus the people ard me work so hard, it seems so wrong to go swim. I am under sever peer pressure. I try not to swim every day during lunch because I hate the lunchtime crowd(apparently day gym is cheaper) and because it is so not good for my aging skin. I have to keep reminding myself that I am no longer 18. Should make it a point to moisture myself after afternoon sun swim.

Thus, I only swim like 3 times a week. Last week I swam only twice cos it started raining the 3rd time I wanted to go.

V for Vendetta

Remember Remember the Fifth of November.
Gunpowder Treason and Plot
We see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should be forgot!

Its so hypnotic.
This has been in my head since last night after V for Vendetta. Fantastic Show. Go watch it.

Is the weather really too warm?

I think I am getting lazier.

I want to go out to shop but yet I lull around at home using the warm weather as an excuse. I hate going out when its so hot. Then I think, I always enjoy it termendously when I am out on weekends afternoon.

OG's having a 20% sale and I bought a pair of shoes yesterday, before they darken the store lights to chase us out. I know OG is a auntie place but heck, they sell things that the other swanky dept stores sell and I will go anywhere that is cheaper. I want to go back today to look see but I am way too lazy to move my butt.

Sometimes I think having my own transport will make me more mobile but everything comes with a price.

Why is it so hard to get nice simple black shoes?

Ya why?

n you think with Charles n Keith, URS and the hordes of shoe shops it should be easy.
Its not! So not easy

I do not like CK, everyone wears them plus they are really uncomfortable. I have so many pairs when I used to exchange my UOB pts for their vochurs. I have been royally pissed off enought with the feetache I have to endure whenever I wear their shoes to avoid CK. I will only buy if its really cheap or really nice.

URS is crap. The designs are mostly ugly and the shoes never fail to blister my toes.

So, I finally saw a nice pair of black shoes at Seiyu Bugis, by some obscure brand called Antonio Club. I would have bought it but guess what, no size. There weres 2 pairs that I liked, the nicer one didn't have my size and I didnt bother asking about the other pair because it was closing time and they were chasing me out. They told me the Seiyu at CKK or J8 might have the size.

What did I do??
I went down to CCK after mulling over it the whole day. I even gave up my swim to go down. If you know me, you will know that my daily swim is very very very important to me. I went down even thought I hate CCK. I hate the whole area. The place makes me feel uncomfortable. I just do not like CCK.

The Seiyu at CCK was pathetic. It was super small and it did not even carry that brand at all. So the sales assistant offered to help me call J8, they told me they have the brand but may not have the size. So, I was like ok.

I left CCK, took the train down to causeway pt. Walked a bit around. Then I thought why not just go J8. So I went. I even took a cab. Its ok cos I am going to claim for it.

I reached J8 Seiyu. The Seiyu there was equally pathetic and you know what, they didnt even carry the brand I wanted. The idiots at CCK. I was so damn bloody pissed. I was super mang zhang. So angry. I don't even like going to J8. Its like the 2nd hated place after CCK. So so so so pissed.

I don't even like heartland malls. I like going to malls in town. So so so irritating. So pissed.
Maybe I should just go sew back the strap on my broken black shoes. Whatever.

Wed Noon. Mid-week.

I woke up a few mornings ago thinking that 9am would be the best time to wake up everyday if I were not working. Today I want to change my mind.
I hit my alarm clock and promptly fell back into slumber. I jolted up in shock at 8.10am. I start work at 8.45am. But hey, I still managed to reach work on time. That is the advantage of working near to home.

Also, I take about 1 hour to warm up after I wake up. At home, I would start getting sleepy and plonk back to bed.
Am going MoS later. Should be a fun night.

 

A very good monday in a long time.

Its Monday and suprising my monday was pretty good. I'm not talking about work obviously.
I shifted desk to make way for a new colleague since I am in the hazing period. So I am not right at the back of the office at a corner, at a corner so quiet where everyone works so seriously. Unlike my old place where the radio plays in the background and the people livier. Enough about work.

When I woke up in the morning, my plan was to work swim go home watch desparate housewives and sleep at 11pm. But, I forgot my Thai colleague was coming to Sg and I was so obligated to go out with her.

So, I was in Orchard after work at Din Tai Fung, walked around, had tons of fun. Sg colleague was darn funny, Thai girl was fun so it was great company. The best part of weekday outings is that the company pays for transport. We will find some way to claim it back, in a way we are totally spoiled. Taking cab is such a luxury. In comparision, taking p.transport sucks. I love taking cabs and not paying for it. P.transport is just so weary.

Looks like I am going to dine out the whole week. My tue is free. Have to go eat some dinner with some angmo coming down to the office on wed, might bring Thai girl to MoS too. Thurs I am eating out with Thai girl n other colleagues again. Friday its facial at pink. Its a damn ex facial and I wasn't too keen but since the company is going to be good. Once is ok.

Looks like my afterwork activity is set. The funny thing is, its all with work people. People I usually avoid to spend time with out of work hours.

I only wish time at work would be as fun.

Back and I love my country

Ok I am back from the filipinas.

Its crazy. I vomited and vomited and vomited the first two days I was there. It was eat puke sleep vomit. I do not even remember vomiting so much in my life. I guess it was a combination of eating creamy choco (Max Brenner) on an empty stomach + some form of food poisoning.

The hotel's toilet bowl was so low, I literally sat on the floor and vomited into the bowl. I had no strength to stand up and bend over. It was a routine of jump out of bed, sprint to the toilet, sit down and purge. It was uber gross. I was so sick I had to see the hotel doctor. Which loser sees the hotel doctor overseas?

My blood pressure was so low, I felt dizzy the whole time and could not make sudden movements. It didn't help that I had to present nonstop for 4 hours in front of 50 people the next day. She gave me a jab and I slept and slept. I have yet to weight myself but I think I might have lost a bit of weight.

After the vomiting subsided, the shitting started. I shat 3 times during breakfast. On any account, shitting is so much better than vomiting. It’s much easier and less tiring. My shit is still not back to its normal state and I am still very much flatulent now. It’s so gross. It’s the kind where your fart really stinks.

The last time I was in the filipinas, I had serve diarrohea for 2 days. Something about that place does not work for me.

I am much much better now. My shit should go back to normal tomorrow. A good way to judge your body's well being is by its shit. My shit never fails to change its form, colour, smell whenever I step out of sg.

I love my country. I love it so much that although the other Qs at the immigration counter had almost no q, I obstinately queued at the Only Singaporeans Welcome Home Q.

Thus far part 3

Ok, the last 2 posts were written on the dates reflected but I only managed to paste them in blogger today. Somehow the email thingy does not work for me. Ya, thats how often i on the computer these days.

I am going to manila eventually. Some bugger had to help another pest do work so I am going in his place. Do I look like a football to you? But whatever, time out of the office helps the week go by.

Thus far part 2

Gosh, another lazy afternoon. Drowsy and perfect for sleeping. Except that I am at work. Crap.

The week is passing by exceptionally slowly. I suspect its because I spend too many hours in the office. I am here till 8 everyday, and yet I am the first few to leave.

I need to do something different. Like...go to Maldives! I saw a Club Med advert, its about 1200 including almost everything. I thought it was reasonable. Now, to find people to go with me and the time. I am not sure of my schedule at work so its hard for me to plan when to take time off.

Oh, Alboy suffered from mental burn out finally. I thought he would go on and on, he has not taken a break since we started work (minus 1 week in Japan). He works 24/7, as in really 24/7. He refused to go to work yesterday and slept the whole day. Slept 20 hours right through. Only waking up to pee. Like a camel storing sleep. Crazy. However, he still doesn't get the idea that Sundays are meant for rest and you do not need to fall sick to justify resting at home. Its the self-imposed guilt thing I tell you. Thank goodness I am not made of such strong moral fabric.

Thus far...

So I havn't blogged in a really long time. In fact I hardly on the computer at home. Somehow I get home late enough to be tired enough not to want to on the computer. I been in BKK too.

Spent 4 days there, the usual work walk around home thing. Nothing much about the city attracts me anymore, except the cheap earrings,8 for 100baht, and the great southern thai curry. I had major cravings for it the few days I came back. I even popped a thai chilli padi into my mouth just for the kick of it. It wasn't too hot at first, but once you drink water, oohooo the hotness spreads. Its more of the peppery kinda hot than chilli hot. I was uncontrollablely tearing and sniffing. And mind you, I do think my chilli standard is quite high. I eat a whole lot of chilli compared to people around me and I hardly find anything the least bit hot. But that chilli padi, shoik!

I will be goign to MOS tomorrow. Lets all hope I can stand the smoke. The last time i was at the entrance, I felt so repelled. I hate smoke. I hate smokers. Anyway, its ladies night and I am dying to take a look at its interior. Better do so now before the couches and everything get all dirty grimy stained with alcohol spills and vomit.

Another update, I am no longer going to Manila next week. Turns our that my colleague manged to get his reservist deferred and I am staying put in sunny sg.

Budget report

I looked at the Budget release today and I am only eligible for $400 dollars, or is it $200. Depending on the AV of my hse, which I have no idea the amt. I guess it would fall in the $400 range. Yes, so its $400 out of dunno how many billions.

They say that help goes to the people who needs it most. Agreed, but somehow it seems to target old people, or those earning less than $1500 a mth. Most people I know earn more than that. Since we are on the topic of average income, let me digress a little, my boss thinks that the average income of sg is 1800 a person. I almost fainted when I heard that. I thought I rememberd reading the papers that it was 2500, because I distinctinly remembered the argh in my heart when I read that. Woe betides me if my boss thinks he is overpaying us.

I can understand why most of my peers are not interested in anything the gahmen does. Because, it doesnt have an effect on us directly. I read through the whole budget report and was a little dissapointed. Ya, we earn a decent amt, enough to not starve but yet so many of us feel its so hard and things oh so expensive.

Another thing I do not like is the propaganda. The papers feature stories of people who are so happy and that the budget report is all but a good thing. I dun see any reports of people lamenting. The one that pissed me off most - the one liner on the single unmarried girl that went "oh i am so glad i am getting $600, its the biggest amt the govt has given. This shows that single unmarried girls are not neglected"

Duh, in fact, I feel that most single unmarried girls are neglected.

Don't get me wrong. I still love my country and am glad the pap keeps the country lawful - although they allowed the murderer of the Serangnoon mureder to leave the country even after an island-wide net was cast almost immediately.

I have my views on that matter. I think the police are efficent, as in efficent to following the handbook cos handbook says that in such situtation, cast an island wide net. So, the net is cast, but the actual people doing the job have no idea what to do. They lack the experience of spotting a murderer, that glint in the eye or the sweaty palms etc. They are simply following protocol. Whatever. I fear to imagine how things will be liek if the terrorist attack. Touch wood.

Back to topic.
I am glad that the gahmen is helping the needy, but people like me - the whole thing is like a big hoo haa. I wished more could have been done.

Mid of Feb, almost

Twelve days since the last entry. Well it didnt seem that long. I wonder why all the time has went.

I have nothing much to blog about really,except how jaded things are.
I be going to BKK soon. Very much a work trip with not much time for shopping because boss is going. I dun realy care too, BKK has lost its attraction for me. I guess after you go there 3 times in a yr, its just about the same. I love my SG.

I did place a bet for the 10mil draw toto. Infact, the outlet that I bought from produced a winner. It had done so a few years before too. Well, I striked one number on each ticket. Two ticket, mine and Alboy. If I did win 10mil, I would be out of the country by now. Touring around the world. I guess I will prob just pack 2 sets of clothes and be off. I will buy everything at each destination. Since I won nothing, it would be back to work on monday.

It was the first time I placed a bet. It was mildly exhilirating and addictive. I think the next time round, if I were waiting for somone or killing time and there is a outlet ard, I might just go in to place a bet. Its called buying a hope. The draw of a windfall is really great.

Oh, Vday's coming. I still do not understand the fuss attached to it. I betted with my colleague that Alboy will not remember its Vday because of his busy schedule and I on my part will not mention a single word to him. What I like about Vday is seeing people prepare for it, joining in the fuss as I ooo and aaa bout their plans. Its more of a conversational topic for me. When it comes to myself, its like eerrr ok.

1.41am and my mum is not asleep yet. I am waiting for her to conk so that I can snuggle up to Alboy.

In a turn of an eye (directly translated)

So cny came and gone, at least the holidays. But then again, cny is as impt as the holidays eh..no?

Back to boring work week. No hoildays till Good Friday which is in April? Thats 2 whole good months. Waaaa. Someone told me that Vday is coming but that seriously means nothing to do. No phol, so means nothing eh.

I was noting that today is the end of January and somehow I wished the yr will go by faster. I just want it to go by fast. I have no idea why too. I guess I still miss the Xmassy mood + the cool weather.

I had intially planned to go to town on Friday but my uncle switched his house visiting day last minute. Now I have to go to his house for dinner instead. It the uncle whose wife cannot cook for nuts.

I have two more weeks of cny dinners to eat before the whole cny thingy ends. I guess its good, time away from Alboy. We are talking now but I think I have OD-ed on the whole thing.

My mum had asked him to come to our place this Sat because it is our turn to host the dinner. I told him not to come, but it seems like he will. I cannot stand all my noisy relatives questioning him and me. Just keep him away, its not as if he will become part of the family anytime soon. Dud. I hope he doesnt come. I told him that if he comes, he will have to help clean up after the guests leave. That means vacuum mop scrub, you know the drill.

I had fun with my cousin's kids. They were 6 and 2. I kinda envied them. I wished I were their age. They seemed so happy, running around, full of energy, no worries, laughing. I cannot seem to remember a time when I was like this.

Now, I hestitate abt running ard because it wil make me pespire.
I do not laugh that much or easily find mirth.
I seems to be tired all the time, not much energy.

When I watch them sleep, its so peaceful. Now when I sleep, I grouch about having to wake up early and grouch again when I wake up. Life as a child. You smile play laugh go back to sleep.

I remembered the times when I looked forward to cny, because I could play with my cousins. They seemed so far away, but looking at the little kids today helped me relive some of those memories. Some, most memories have faded away.

.....

So, I went shopping today and bought shoes, top, bags and undies. Not bad.

The best part was, I did it with my girlfriends. Thanks gals!

I had a tiff with Alboy, I guess most would know the details. Its too lengthy to word it here.
Anyway, the main pt is I did not speak to him today. Did not call him. He did not call me either. I think this is the longest I went without speaking to him. Even when I am overseas, we still call each other.

The thing is, I had totally no urge to talk to him. I really didn't feel like talking to him.
Usually, even when we disagree, I still give in and call him after a few hours. Now, it didn't even bother me.

He finally called me near midnight and I wasn't even excited to hear the phone ring. My tone of voice was so deadpan I couldn't even believe it myself.

Anyway, we are still not talking because I couldn't get him to see from my pt of view. Either I couldn't get him to, or he sticks to his viewpt, or its me sticking to my viewpt. I think its a combination. Yet, I am not asking him to ahere to my view, I am just asking him listen to what I have to say and he keeps rebutting me. So, I told him rather curtly that I do not want to talk to him any more and hung up the phone adruptly.

I doubt he will call. He's prob too tired and will fall asleep immediately. Whatever, you know what I do not really care. In fact, he has been so tired for such a long time I suspect it is eating into me.

Or perhaps, 3 and a half years is too long a time. Yes, 3 and a half years to the exact date itself.

Cny soon.....

Sunday night, Monday technically.

Yet another work week ah. I know no one likes hearing me complain abt the work week but yet i think I am entitled to. 5 days. Boss will be back on Wed. The week passes really fast actually. You just have to know how to skive. Nowadays I am quite good at spending 2 hours staring at my screen doing no work, but appearing like I am hard at work. Its a waste of time really. With the combined job scope, I really have no idea wtf I am supposed to do.

5 days to cny. The qns in my head is whether I will get a half day on Friday. I doubt so. Coy's exteremely stingy. We didn't have a half day on the friday before xmas and ny last yr, and we apparently did very well last year, brought in a lot of money. So this cny, I am not expecting much. Stingy. I wonder if the schools are having half days.

Anyway, if I were given half day, I prob go swim go to town and go home the normal time. Will just tell my parents I have to work at usual, lest I be embroiled in all the non stop spring cleaning.

I went chinatown. It was not as crowded as I expected. I didn't pespire. But it was a hassle trying to find a place to park. Why is it that everyone can afford cars???? We shall not even go there. Anyway, I spent $40 bucks on sweets, those taiwan sweets. I belived I was conned. I mean they were 1.80/100g. I couldnt have bought so much. It was actually $36, but the guy refused to return me $4 and just threw more sweets into my bag. It wasn't even in the flavour I wanted. Got slightly pissed and helped myself by just dumping his display into the bag.

So maybe, I did buy $40 worth in total.

Besides that, I do not feel the cny mood at all.

Not the least bit. I have no new clothes. I loathe going to buy. Shopping, as I always maintained, is tiring. Its more of a social activity to me. I hate the blasting dong dong chiang music they have to play in every shop. It drives me out of the shop immediately.

I do not feel joyous, no mood. Its like ok. p.hol and then the drought. In fact I am dreading it.
Same old routine every yr. Even the though of collect ang baos does not entrall me any more. No doubt I collect quite a fair bit each yr. Its like ok lor, you want to give you give lor, else nm. Becuase to me, that money I get from the ang baos is no longer enough.

When I was schooling it was great, extra pocket money, bank account got bigger. Now, its not as if the bit of ang bao money will help me buy a car or a flat. Its all relative I guess. Now, its like, I get my regular pay, no difference. I guess my wants and needs perhaps have changed.

This one colleague of mine has been anticipating cny since dec. I do not understand him. But then again, he is malayisan. and comes from a kampung. I really hate that innocence abt him. When we were complaining that we hated the dong dong chiang songs, he said he liked them. I really felt like strangling him then. When we were lamenting how we hated renunion dinners, he said he enjoyed them and was looking forward to it. He talks abt cny as if he were living in the 80s. My 80s. MAybe his hometown is indeed that backwards. Anyway, the look of him pisses me off, but yet I have to smile.

Besides him, I dun really know anyone else who truly enjoys and looks forward to cny. Sad isn't it.

Eat and puke

Today I ate till I vomitted. As in v o m i t t e d. Sounds anoexic doesn't it.

I had dinner at Brazil Churrascaria at Chimes. The plan was to eat BBQ Jap food but it was too crowded, so we looked at the directory and headed for BC. Afterall, its a meat place and I am a meat person.

At BC, they cook theur meat over a griller. The passador will then come to your table with a large skewer of one type ofmeat and start slicing pieces onto your plate with a sharp knife. The knife is really sharp, its a bit intimidating at times imho. Then, another guy appears with another skewer with another type of meat.

I think I ate soo much meat. I was quite enthu about it at the start cos I was relatiely hungry. I never said no when they came the first 10 times. Each time they slice off meat, its at leat 3 chunky slices. After 20 mins, I felt so faint. My head was light and all the blood was in the stomach. I got so so so sick. The meat was tasty but after a while, it all tasted the same.

Then, I started feeling like i needed to burp. Thankfully I can burp unlike susu. I felt so queest. It would have helped if we left and walked about, but no, Alboy continued eating. He even had to undo his pants button. When he was finally done, I had to like stop myself from vomitting at least 3 times.

We walked out, I burped and immediately vomitted. I think I vomitted the fruits at the very end and like 3 mouthful of meat. Not too bad. I thought I would empty my whole stomach.

We were the only chinese there, and the smallest size. The rest were fat angmos. There was this one guy that was at least twice my size. It figures anyway, only angmos can gorge themselves like this.

For $39, it was not too bad but I don't think I ever want to eat there again.

After I puked, I had this big craving for bubble red tea with pearls. I so miss those bubble tea crazy days. I really enjoy bubble tea.

Sleeping beauty

Its amazing, I sleep 16 hours a day and I feel sleep now. How wonderful, except that I have stuff to do.

I got arrowed big time at work. Because I am in between job scopes, I do everything. Plus they never had a position like this before, so no one knows what my new job scope, including my boss and me, is. Thus, they load me. Its nothing much at the moment, but I do hate programming so, and I have been arrowed to write a program. I dun even know what the main function of it is. Sigh. Help. Enough about work.

I did a $8 pedicure. It was great cos it was $8, else it was nothing fantastic. I hope the colour lasts till cny. As usual, they tried to sell me a package. $380 for 10 times pedi +mani. It was quite cheap really, esp after I bargained it to 15 pedi +5 mani instead. But then again, why would I want to pay so much at a go? I mean its nice to get your feet done, but I don't need to do it every month. I rather do it as and when I feel like it.. so it will feel more like giving myself a treat then a routine. No doubt I pay more per time this way, but I feel it makes more money sense. I think I only went for 5 , 6 pedi in 2005. At least 2 of which were promotional prices.


I am going to BKK at the end of Feb. For work but I guess I will get to play. If I had remained at my old position, I would be going Austin again in 2 weeks. This time, I will arrange to stop by at LA. I so want to go LA. I guess I have to give that up. I might be going Austin in August, but if I do, I be travelling with my boss and I would not be able to stopby anywhere. Its too tiring just going all the way there and back. The perk is to be able to stop by at a fun city.

Bought tics to MOAG tomorrow. Yeah.

The day before p.hol

So, I thrilled my dad by packing my room today. I guess he was half expecting me to go out because tomorrow is a p.hol. My room really doesn't look any neater, I just took things off, wiped the dust and put them back, throwing away junk in the process. No matter how hard I try to arrange my things, its just that messy.

Then, my dad kept popping into the room to see how long I would last. Usually I attempt to clean for 5 good minutes and I take off. I cleaned for almost an hour today. In his own words, "waa i never seen you like this". Man, he doesn't know that I been cleaning my room in sections, I even packed my wardrobe the other day. The clothes are all neatly stacked up, not like in the rolled up ball they usually are.

Lets hope this last 2 weeks into cny, when my relatives stomp my house. We go to each other place for dinner till we complete everyone's house, my mum being the youngest so we are always last and about 2 weeks into cny.

I just spoke to J on msn, he is my colleague from hk. I met him briefly in Austin and we toured SFO together. He was absoutely sticky and my sg colleague thinks he has a crush on me. I think so too actually but I cannot possibly admit it. Alas, he falls into the freako category of people that I somewhat always manage to attract. Alboy blames it on my teeth, but thats another story all together.

My point is that J is also moving out of his position to do some other role. It just reinforced and made me happy that I moved too, else I be like this big loser that is still stuck.

I been spending too much money on cabs. I spent a total of $50 since the year started. $30 of which I can claim. The other $20 cos Alboy had to drop me at absoulutely ulu place, places where there are no train stations ard and places where its so not worth trying to figure out the buses cos its was too late at night. Thus, I cabbed. It cost at least $10 from anywhere in sg to my house.

Its riduclous. Tiong Bahru to here is $9.70. YCK to here is $13. Holland V to here is $9. Orchard to here is $10. ECP is $15. Airport is $19. It baffles me.

2006 so far so good

Ok, I been wanting to blog since forever but have yet to do so.

Point 1: Do not ever go to Imperial Treasure Nan Bei Restaurant on the 5th floor of Ngee Ann city to eat. It the one just beside Seoul garden. Its terrible terrible terrible, horrible. Trust me.

First the seats were placed so closely to the next table, to close for you to really eat without listening in to the conversations around you. It did not help that they placed us next to gays and we had to endure listening to their exploits. Its the first time I hear gays talk abt their exploits and who was a good catch because he drove a Beemer 5 series and who wasn't. Gross.

The food and service is really really bad. The roasted goose meat was fatty cold tasteless. The veg and pork ribs took 30 mins after to arrive. 30 mins leh. I was fuming. Service was so bad. Guess what, the veg, pork ribs were tasteless too. Its that kinda tasteless that make you feel like vomitting. Its that gross. Really really bad. The more I ate the more pissed off I got.

Alboy actually went to complain to the manager in charge. So, take it as a sign that the food is really really not worth eating. Ususally I bitch and he is the nice one. This time round, he was furious too.

We had to wash everything off with Haagen Daaz ice-cream afterwards.

It was terrible.

Point 2: One of my resolutions was to meet up with more friends this yr. Well, I met up with my JC mates and would have went to Settlers if they did not close so early. However, my dad was bellowing at me at going out so much. I counted and it was just Thurs and Friday. So dud. Ok, I prob be out sat and sun too but its like so dud. I dun like doing the cny spring cleaning much anyway.

Point 3: So, I got back into my regular swimming routine now that I am no longer on leave. I swam 3 times this week, there were only 4 working days. I went to cut my hair on the missing day cos it was raining. Finally eh. There was an increased number of people in the gym. Esp the ladies. It so irritating. I bet it was everyone's new yr resolution. I expect that increase to last prob 1 mth after cny before everyone starts procrasinating. Usually I am the only one in the pool or maybe 2 more stray cats. Now there are like 5/6 people there not counting me. The pool only has 4 lanes. 2 of which does not end properly, meaning you have to an awkard turn to swim back.

Verdict: 2006 so far so good.