Little webs stringing my thots..

I've moved on

2008-06-30T22:16:00.001+08:00

Cya over there!

Hmm.

2008-06-17T21:15:00.002+08:00

You are the kind of girl a guy wouldn't mind bringing home, I was told.

It got me thinking, should I even take it as a compliment? What does it mean anyway, that I'm docile, ordinary and run-of-the-mill?

And is that a good thing at all?

A Psychometric Test

2008-06-15T21:50:00.003+08:00

At her mother's funeral, a woman fell in love with a man at first sight, but she didn't manage to find out who he was or obtain his contact details.

A week later, she killed her sister. Why?

A riddle to identify the psychopath in you. I didn't get it right, will you?

Work

2008-06-05T20:41:00.002+08:00

Lunch is sad at the Biz Park with limited choices. It is on the other end of the earth. The train is so packed at the end of the day, you don't even need to think about getting a seat. There are reportedly 2500 Indian nationals working here.

And so this is how we keep sane.

AXN Beyond

2008-05-28T20:19:00.002+08:00

Want a slice of dark adventure and tingling suspense in your life?

Tune in to Starhub Ch 100 for the free preview till 1 June!

Got to say...

2008-05-22T23:15:00.002+08:00

hearing my voice recorded in an interview makes me cringe.cringe.cringe.

and

the heat clings to your body like a second skin. Really buay tahan.

Quake

2008-05-15T21:10:00.005+08:00

So somewhere in China, the ground shook and trembled.

So did the carpeted floor beneath our office armchair. Not just once, but several times a day. Tiny trembles, like a sudden whirlpool appearing under you, which disappeared just as quickly. And mind you, we are just on the third floor. Office management said it was likely to be due to the construction sites around the area, but we are not very convinced. Not at all.

Maybe it's time we get worried.

And here's a few favourites from recent shoots:

What a way to start the day

2008-05-05T10:38:00.003+08:00

I've the habit of catching a quick nap on the way to work these days but I realise that it is indeed unnerving when you open your eyes and find that your friendly neighbour is nonchalantly digging for snot and flicking them in your direction.

And you wonder (while desperately hoping against hope), if any had landed on you while you were having a little snooze time.

Unenlightened

2008-04-26T00:31:00.003+08:00

So I was on the crowded train, yawning incessantly cos I was really sleepy after a long day and an even longer movie. Sitting in front of me was this uncle in his fifties, a little balding and whatever was left on his head was graying. Then abruptly, he got up... and offered his seat to me. I was stunned. But I insisted that he take the seat instead.

The incident left me deeply disturbed. Whenever I give up my seat to someone, it is to someone in need who is defined as:

1) The elderly and the sick
2) The handicapped
3) The mothers - either preggie or with kids in tow

Now now, which category do I fall into then??

The 180 Degree Panorama

2008-04-21T23:41:00.000+08:00

So I have the best seat in the house. Right smack outside the pantry, the photocopying room and the exit to the loo, where the human traffic is the highest and where anyone approaching me from an 180 degree spectrum can view me and my PC screen in great clarity. Regardless of their intention to do so, for I am simply thrusted into their faces and their eyes have to take me in unwillingly, willingly.

Many a time today, I have literally jumped out of my skin when someone just stood behind me and started a conversation. I wish I have eyes at the back of my head, like the multi-faceted eye of the fly, so I can pre-empt myself for any sneak attacks. I wish I wouldn't feel so vulnerable, as having my back undefended makes me insecure.

I wish... I didn't have the best seat in the house.

Journey to the East

2008-04-20T21:35:00.000+08:00

So the big move is tomorrow.

Hail the ends of the Earth.

The All-New Jurong Lake

2008-04-04T15:30:00.001+08:00

Kayaking, Dragon-boating, Offices, Hotels and Private Homes?

Soon, we'll have it all in our Jurong Lake!

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20080404/tap-339270-231650b.html

Definition

2008-03-29T14:10:00.002+08:00

If I met you once and we spoke briefly, that makes you an acquaintance and not a friend.

Get it right.

It's Good Fri?!

2008-03-21T02:29:00.003+08:00

I think this must be one of those few times when a public holiday doesn't register on my radar. These two weeks of break have been heavenly, to say the least, since I've been having luxurious 3am late nights and blissful sleep-ins on rainy mornings. Even the hyper kids downstairs didn't make a beep to disturb my beauty sleep!

I made my kimchi fried rice last week, mainly to satisfy my craving for kimchi. Coffee Prince whetted my appetite for kimchi fried rice, cos it looked really yummy on screen. But the biggest satisfaction comes from being able to fulfill your own food cravings. Nothing beats that, really.

And I've been through a few beginner blading lessons and can sort of do a heel stop and an A-frame turn. I'm wondering if I should get my own pair cos I know for a fact that I might very likely just lose whatever progress I've made these few lessons in a few weeks, months? Sooner than I can lose 2kg definitely.

Well, I haven't hit the gym at all, which heaps double the guilt on my shoulders since the reason I gave myself for not going since CNY is cos of hectic work schedule. I got to make it a MUST.

So many more things to do and time is running out on me again!

Where time stands still

2008-03-18T18:01:00.003+08:00

Being in a darkroom is an eye opener. The fumbling in total darkness as the film cannister rolled out of my reach, to the endless tossing and dunking with eyes-on-the-clock, and the strip tests for print enlargements.

I must say, hours flit by when you are in that dimly-lit enclosure, surrounded by others who are intent on their own film-developing. And of course, not forgetting the sense of accomplishment at the end of it.

Time-consuming but mighty fun!

A Chilli-Lover's Woes

2008-03-05T23:43:00.003+08:00

It's only 23 years later that I find out I'm sensitive to extreme hotness in dishes e.g. the super spicy ramen (which you can pick the level of hotness you want) and the ChongQing chicken I had at SiChuan Douhua today.

It was super duper yummy but my tummy suffered later at night. :(

Pictures that make my stomach growl

2008-03-03T20:17:00.010+08:00

I used to plant Broccolis just like that in my bowl of rice! But nowhere near as artistic as this, of course.

What a yummy house!

Still can't believe all these are designed with strategically-placed food!

~~~

And by the way, the toe has swelled. How wonderful.

Sunday again!

2008-03-02T20:26:00.003+08:00

So I stubbed my toe on a kitchen stool, like putting out a cigarette in an ashtray and it is still throbbing madly now. Clumsy me, yes.

Yesterday was blading class again bright and early in the morning. Still in a sleepy stupor, I stumbled over a yellow bar in a carpark lot, one of those installed to stop cars from retreating too far in. Almost fell face flat. Argh. But well, I can glide forward now and sort of stop my blades and only fallen once in classes so far! haha I consider that an achievement.

And then I get this question all the time, from friends, from older relatives who have no inkling what public relations is. What do you do, they ask, and when I explain, the frown on their faces only gets deeper.

As defined by answers.com, PR is a form of communication that is primarily directed toward gaining public understanding and acceptance. It tends to deal with issues rather than specifically with products or services. Public relations uses publicity that does not necessitate payment in a wide variety of media and is often placed as news or items of public interest. Because public relations communications are placed in this manner, they offer a legitimacy that advertising does not have, since advertising is publicity that is paid for. The practice of PR is used to build rapport with the various publics a company, individual, or organization may have (i.e., employees, customers, stockholders, voters, competitors, or the general population). Publicity releases, employee-training seminars, and house organs are examples of instruments used in public relations.

Then how is it different from marketing, they ask again.

Well, marketing is more product-related, and deals with developing relationships with the customers through the 4Ps - product, place, price and promotion. Very textbook-based, but precise.

Oh well, if anyone can help me translate the definition of PR into chinese, I can explain it to my mum too. That work in a bank does not just mean being a bank teller or doing the accounts.

Back to work on a Sunday

2008-02-24T22:55:00.000+08:00

I whipped up the remaining tang yuan in the fridge this afternoon, after I came back from work. Yes, on a Sunday. Belatedly, while I was returning the pandan leaves to the fridge, I spotted a moving splash of brown on the plastic. Upon closer scrutiny (I was half-blind cos I wasn't wearing my specs), I discovered that it was a teeny snail. Eeks!

Bro and his pal were engrossed in their PS game when I butted in and sought their kind help in removing the eyesore. His pal gamely plucked it up (since Bro wouldn't) and then all three of us agonised over ways to dispose it.

Should we trash it? How inhumane!
How about leaving it in one of our potted plants? Hmm..wouldn't it eat up all the healthy leaves then?

And then, Bro and pal went out of the house to find a solution. When they came back after a few minutes, I asked, "So, where did you guys leave it?"

"In the neighbour's pot of plants!" And we dissolved in laughter. Oh so evil, I know!!

~~~

Back to work today, the Apple Daily reporter thought I was a fellow taiwanese.

Maybe I should go explore opportunities out there after all. But it is almost definite that we earn more than our counterparts in Taiwan. Oh well, and they are envious of Singaporeans! We should really count our blessings.

I could have been in the clouds

2008-02-12T00:39:00.001+08:00

Would have loved to go on the Singapore Flyer tonight.

But instead, was stuck in the hotel ballroom for the entire night, coordinating photoshoots for an unappreciative co-worker who was most uncooperative and gave me dark looks.

Hello, this is your event. We are helping you out. So why are you demanding this and that -
"I want the shot with the confetti.. are you sure they are all smiling?... I want a big big picture in the papers tomorrow" and unreasonable demands at that?

We do not oontrol the size of the editorial coverage, nor can we influence editorial decision on what goes into the papers.

Bah, you don't know what I missed out tonight just to secure media coverage for you, madam.

But unpleasant co-workers aside, I still love the adrenaline rush as you scramble to pitch stories to editors. And then succeed. Ah, the satisfaction, is immense.

Portraits in time

2008-02-10T18:52:00.000+08:00

Another CNY comes and goes (soon) and popo is getting older. It's probably something that's from the olden days but older folks don't really know how to smile naturally in photos. They stiff up in front of the camera when the frame you want to capture is that happy grin you have seen before on their faces.

Perhaps it takes a professional photographer to loosen up those facial muscles effectively. Like this one who takes super quirky heartlander photos, yet somehow strikes a chord with you.

Courtesy of Jing Quek

See more at http://www.superhyperreal.com/

I love his shinyhappyppl series!

Not too late, am I?

2008-02-04T23:27:00.000+08:00

While packing up my room, I realised that I'm two things. A clutter-maniac and a sentimental fool.

So I resolutely chucked away old letters, old playthings, old things-I-thought-would-come-into-use-someday. Thus my apologies to that boy who gave me the first present... I've ever gotten from a boy. I knew you handmade it and spent time labouring over it. You made my 15th birthday memorable but all the same, fond memories need not be physically present.

Wherever you are now, thank you. :)

I didn't say it then, but I hope it's not too late now.

I'm such a procrastinator!

2008-01-31T22:50:00.000+08:00

Just thought I would do up something short for my HK trip, before it drags beyond a month since my trip. Haha oh well, time flies!

Some sights and sounds of the cities:

Hong Kong

Freezing my ass off while waiting for the Symphony of Lights

My favourite sight at Disneyland! With the aid of the tinted lenses provided in the goodie bag, we could see snowmen wherever there were glowing lights. This was actually a tree filled with multi-coloured lights, but it's so magical with all the snowmen illusions!

The panaromic view from The Peak, 428m above sea level. Great place to enjoy a fireworks display!

Oh yes, I neglected to mention, the fireworks displays at Disneyland were spectacular!

We nibbled on Krispy Kremes at The Peak while waiting for the sun to set. Yummy as the donuts were, we were half wishing that we had brought piping hot porridge up instead! It was so cold up there, it felt like my nose was about to drop off!

At Macau

The iconic St Paul's Ruins

I heard sniggering behind my back while I posed for this pic, but it wasn't till I got down to check the cam that I realised that I had company. Haha, oh well.

I love the look and feel of the Macau streets!

The breathtaking Venetian. A little Venice in itself, with gondolas on the 'river' and Victorian sopranos aweing one and all with her sweet voice and lungpower. I've always wanted to go to Venice for my honeymoon, or rather, it's more like a childhood dream to visit the place. Hopefully, I make it there before the sea level rises too high. *Crosses fingers*

Okay folks, here's a short clip on the lovely soprano. We were actually drawn by her voice from miles away and then spotted her, in all her Victorian finery singing from a window above a growing crowd of admirers.

Pls tilt your head to the left and enjoy the show. (Cos this girl doesn't know how to rotate her videos!)

See the rest of the pics here ---> http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27423&l=21ada&id=708476797

P.S. And... I think the travel bug is back! =X

Let me rant please

2008-01-31T22:25:00.000+08:00

Please do not act all high and mighty when you don't have the necessary background and knowledge where media is concerned.

You want a story? We are helping you to get it. But please please, don't tell us what to do.

Their boss can do a houdini, can yours?

A True Story

2008-01-30T21:29:00.000+08:00

A 15-year-old boy sleepwalked, climbed onto the window sill and toppled three storeys down to the foot of his block. He lay sprawled among smashed bamboo pieces, his heels broken and in great pain.

His sis, upon looking down from the window, asked him, "What are you doing down there?"

The boy grimaced: "I fell lah."

Sis asked: "Pain anot?"

The boy: "Of cos pain lah!"

What was supposed to be really tragic had me laughing so hard in the office today. Thanks to TNP!

Why I want to work in Japan!

2008-01-28T23:51:00.000+08:00

Nobody understands women more than this company.. it's my dream workplace!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080128/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_japan_leave

2008 Vibes

2008-01-14T01:16:00.000+08:00

This may sound weird but I'm getting funny vibes from being on the receiving end of frequent smses from a female acquaintance. Bumped into her in a shoe boutique and I've been asked out a couple of times, to East Coast for bowling, over to her place for Christmas among others.. despite tactful declinations.

But well, she might just be the most sociable soul around. Who knows?

I think the fact that it's 2008 has not quite sunk in yet. Having to refer to 2006 as the year before last still doesn't roll off my tongue smoothly and there is more than a certain amount of grief at the thought that I will be turning 23 this year. Where did the years go? :(

Being squashed in the peak-hour train that day brought back my last unpleasant memory before the year ended. It had been exactly a week since I had returned from HK and it was a blessing that I had almost forgotten entirely about the incident. In fact, it hardly came to mind till that instance, when I looked around and found that I was surrounded by male passengers, and hugged my bag to me protectively.

The memory of it makes me shudder. We were in one of the markets browsing through the stalls that afternoon. That sensation of warmth behind me after much jostling in the narrow aisle, which I didn't pay much attention to till I turned around and found him practically spooning me while pretending to browse the goods. I moved away in alarm. But this one was skilled. While we were staring at him accusingly, he ignored our gazes and continued his browsing for another few minutes or so, before he walked off nonchalantly.

Argh. I've never been so blatantly taken advantage of in Sg and this had to happen on the first day of my trip. Thank goodness though, that it didn't mar my holiday mood and we still had a good time nonetheless. Nice HK folks we met told us to beware pickpockets. I say, be more wary of perverts!

The Pearl of the Orient

2007-12-29T05:52:00.000+08:00

So here I am, at the airport in the wee hours of the morning.

The airport officer, after glancing at my passport photo, then at me, furrowed his brow and began to speak. Before he could finish pronouncing my name, I grinned at him and joked, "I know, that doesn't look like me right?"

He nodded and exclaimed, "Totally!"

Oh well, I suppose that is a compliment... who among us would like to look as dorky as we were in our teens? Haha.

But well, finally, the trip is here! Cheers to dimsum, portugese egg tarts and 15 deg weather!

Seeya folks when I'm back next week! :)

Acrobatic Feat

2007-12-27T00:41:00.000+08:00

Sometimes the most menial tasks are the most challenging. For a photo story for The Business Times, we had to call in a favour to borrow some much-needed props to stage the show.

Balancing 10 fragile champagne flutes on a tray took two years off my life. From the 60th floor of the plaza, where Sichuan DouHua is, into three different lifts and umpteen flights of stairs, it had me in cold sweat literally. Especially when the champagne flutes trembled most precariously just with the slight motion of the lift vibration.

As my colleague exclaimed, after the champagne flutes and I reached our destination in one piece (phew), "No shit!"

Damn right.

Merry Xmas, all!

2007-12-25T23:38:00.000+08:00

And 3 days more to HK! :)

The Dulux Mascot

2007-12-18T00:33:00.000+08:00

There's something so endearing about the English Sheepdog. Those long floppy hairs over the eyes, those moist puppy eyes peering out from underneath and that sloppy lick up your cheek.

Now, if only I live somewhere with a huge garden for it to roam, I would get one in a heartbeat.

Supremely Bored @ Work

2007-12-10T21:48:00.000+08:00

So I couldn't do anything at work today, cos the outlook server was permanently down and we could neither receive nor send any emails out at all.

Jumping for joy, shouldn't I be? Well, I was.. initially.

Till I finished reading six sets of ShinMin Daily and LianHe WanBao, three copies of The New Paper plus two days' worth of Today and the day was still far from over.

I was virtually bored to death! Makes me wonder how people ever did work in the 1980's, before the advent of technology. Calling and faxing? Typing documents out laboriously on ancient typewriters and sending them by courier, stamped Confidential?

I bet we were really productive back then!

Vacuumed

2007-12-09T21:49:00.000+08:00

I like reassuring silence. The kind where you are hearing nothing and everything at once - like swimming underwater, watching people drift past you out of the corner of your eyes, in slow motion. You are alone with your thoughts, thinking nothing and everything.

Recently, I found another such haven - the steam room at the gym! Sitting in the tiny cubicle, clad in a towel, surrounded by warm steam, with random human company but not speaking... comforts me.

And sometimes, in a group of people, you are torn between loyalties. Who is giving the true account of things? Who is the one withholding information? Whose side should you take? I don't know, so I don't. The fence is where I sit, till the truth comes to light.

Been thinking of random stuff, like trying out new things and new experiences. So if opportunity knocks on my door, I'll definitely grab it. No point hanging on to old ideals eh?

Emo-ing

2007-12-04T00:33:00.000+08:00

I've been in touch with my emo side lately.

Reading about the Cambodia tragedy, of five of our national dragonboaters brought me close to tears. Thinking about their young lives, what they have yet to achieve, brought a deep ache to my heart.

Then, the story of Irin Gan's grandma passing on due to a freak mishap, before she could bear witness to her granddaughter's impending wedding, also did funny things to my heart strings.

It is at times like this, when I should feel so fortunate, to be living, breathing, feeling. When I give a second glance to the random disadvantaged person hobbling along on the streets, I think, isn't it a blessing that I can take such big steps with my two healthy feet? I might not be able to do cartwheels, wink properly or sing like an angel but hey, ain't I whole?

Thus, my new resolution for the upcoming year (haha, I know it's a month too early for this) will be Carpe Diem! Live life to the fullest, for you never know... what might befall you in the next second.

Christmas Cheer in the CBD

2007-11-28T14:59:00.000+08:00

An 11-metre tall Christmas tree lighted up at UOB Plaza, bringing cheer to the Central Business District. Believed to be one of the tallest in Singapore, the tree is lit by 30,000 LED lights, adorned with 100 red ribbons - the icon of UOB's Christmas campaign, and topped with a one-metre high star. In addition, six 10-foot tall tin soldiers encircle the tree, completing the magical experience.

From today until 5 January 2008, there will be a five-minute light show every hour from 7pm till midnight.

Knackered

2007-11-24T01:32:00.000+08:00

For some reason, tonight's media party totally wiped me out.

Maybe it was having to stand in my heels for hours and my feet were totally screaming for mercy. It was sweet relief when I finally sank into the wonderfully cushioned seats.

Maybe it was me still recovering from my recent bout of flu... on top of that irksome ailment that plagues us girls every once in a while.

So there I was, going around the bar, flitting from group to group exchanging business cards. Couple of hours later, I was feeling the strain. Grin plastered, trying hard to look engaged in the conversation I was having, while taking deep breaths to rid myself of that stuffy feeling in my chest. Not that the company wasn't good; met quite a few new journos, put a few faces to the names and was pleasantly surprised when I bumped into the sister of a primary school friend.

I am just so damn shagged. Which is pretty abnormal. And I'm just soooo glad to be able to take a break from making small talk and type my thoughts out in peace.

I was simply not in the best form for PR-ing tonight, I think. The best thing that can happen to me now is probably a nice hot shower, followed by a soothing all-over body massage to get the kinks out and then sliding into blissful unconsciousness.

Good night world. I promise you will get a chirpier me tomorrow morning.

Amusement

2007-11-12T19:59:00.000+08:00

A piece of office mail addressed to me this morning:

Gay Tan

Groop Communications

I.am.speechless.Really.

Love in the era of espionage

2007-11-10T02:46:00.000+08:00

They fell in love, unwittingly, amidst deep suspicion and political intrigue.

Disregarding herself, she warned him of impending danger.

Resolutely, he signed off on her death endorsement...

then sat on her bed, breathing in her lingering scent, eyes shimmering in grief.

The Trishaw Uncle Saga

2007-10-31T21:56:00.000+08:00

There's lots of flaming going on right now. Against those 3 Brits that is.

Call it insensitivity, the jock mentality or plain bullying, those guys behaved like morons. Especially when they toyed with the elderly trishaw uncle and refused to pay up. And then posted the video online for all in the world to see.

To be fair, not all Brits behave in this manner. Don't we all have some black sheep among us?

All about the Bs

2007-10-29T21:41:00.000+08:00

So the Big Boss made a Boo-Boo today.

When a certain area has been assigned under someone's portfolio, you don't ask another staff to follow up on it. But he did.

Knowing it would cause unhappiness, I had to grit my teeth, approached said colleague and asked, "So where did you end off?'

Said colleague was of cos displeased. She left me with a parting shot, 'Good luck to you.'

There is a thing called ownership. And something else known as tactfulness.

Though no hard feelings resulted (hopefully),the total lack of thought really bummed us out.

The awfully cute stylist

2007-10-27T16:25:00.000+08:00

There's something nice about having a cute guy tend to your tresses.

That intense look of concentration on his face, his fingers gently massaging your scalp and those Calvin Klein undies playing peek-a-boo... i say it totally completes the salon experience.

Cute as he is, there is an 80% chance that he's a non-straight.

Guys get all the luck, sigh.

I Love Bratwurst

2007-10-15T00:06:00.000+08:00

In the spirit of Oktoberfest, Spicy Bratwurst steeped in beer. Yum.

~~~

And just a recent peeve, it rankles me that JP has become a mini Little India of sorts.

Okay, I admit it..

2007-10-08T21:17:00.000+08:00

I'm lousy at Scrabble.

Time to take up reading again! Any recommendations??

Bah

2007-10-07T21:19:00.000+08:00

Two obligatory night events in one week.

Smile, make small talk and network over wine and food... something I wouldn't have envisioned myself doing a decade ago. And certainly not how a certified introvert (all those personality tests I've tried time and again!) should be spending her time, though it has given me a greater appreciation for wines. The only good thing that came out of it, if you ask me. Well, that and a certain matchmaking attempt, which has yet to prove if it is so.

Last sat's Anniversary Party was held in Dempsey and I was somewhat disturbed to find that these two guys at our table were non-straights. More so that I couldn't tell that they were till the day after, when a colleague revealed it in glee.

The media industry is fraught with such unconventional characters and tales of sleaze. I suddenly realise that the world is not what it seems. And that I'm the frog in the well.

Heroes

2007-10-02T21:46:00.000+08:00

Yet another photojournalist loses his life on the job.

A profession I have utmost respect for, as they are the ones who bring you the news on the frontline without fail.

Even when they fall, the camera never ceases shooting. Such is the spirit.

So with a swish of her skirt

2007-09-29T00:44:00.000+08:00

she left in a huff that very afternoon. Without even tendering.

Amid the click-clacking of fingers on keyboards, two voices rang out distinctly in the neighbouring department.

Exasperation. Unhappiness.

"It's not that I don't want to do. I only have two hands, you know!"

"Then you show me how you do it. And don't talk back to me like that!"

A muffled reply, then

"You know that I can sack you?"

Restrained anger.

The office became deathly silent.

Heads popped out of their cubicles. Popped back in. Phonecalls were made in whispers, did you just hear that?! Emails were fired rapidly, omg office conflict!

So that very afternoon, she walked away and never came back again.

Occupational Hazard

2007-09-24T23:54:00.000+08:00

Tsk tsk. This is S'pore, not Thailand or China!

Something that the creative agency missed out obviously.

Slave to your charms

2007-09-23T17:44:00.000+08:00

Funny how we are attracted to talent in others

... how we tend to gravitate towards good-lookers

... how we overlook character flaws sometimes

Superficiality is definitely inherent. Or perhaps we are looking for what we are lacking in.

And there was once, he winked and the heart gave a treacherous little bump.

The Old, The New, The Undercover

2007-09-11T22:33:00.000+08:00

How it all began:

Glancing down from the window of the meeting room, the ex-SA campus beckoned. Looking like her old self, yet seemingly different. The most glaringly obvious being the words 'River Valley High School' emblazoned onto the exterior, along with its logo and its trademark red and blue.

When the meeting ended, I thought, it's been almost four years since I last stepped into the compound. And somehow, my feet found themselves walking in that direction.

Certainly familiar but with some parts repainted and converted into other rooms. They removed the seating area in the upper cafeteria and the student centre is now a design studio.

The mugging corner on the balcony and the library - transformed into a galaxy.

And...the narrow corridor leading to the teacher's room. I remember submitting my assignment into the pigeon hole when lo and behold, Ms K walked out and started scrutinising us from head to toe. We froze in abject terror. Off came the coloured socks, the friendship band and the earrings, which she tossed carelessly into the bin in the teacher's room. When we were sure she had left, I stood guard tensely while bj rummaged the bin for the confiscated items.

They fenced up the cafeteria. but added swings and benches on the sidewalk. If the weather's cool enough (if it ever is), I suppose the kids can rest their legs while watching a soccer match or even a hockey game on the pitch. The long hours we spent there each week those days, flinging balls and perfecting our dribbling skills. Though I must say, all of it have gone to naught.

And the steep steps leading up to the lecture theatres, giving us a good workout all the time.

2007-09-11T22:32:00.000+08:00

Guess who I found on the staff board?

Mrs Lee-Teo Lak Tin!

and... Ms Ang Lee Yong!

For the life of me, I can't remember which subject they taught back in ny but it is just so coincidental!

I was leaving the campus and feeling quite pleased with myself as I had been quite lucky so far while sneaking around...when a male staff approached me. Speak of the devil. So I fibbed that I was an old RV girl back to visit my beloved teacher.

"Which teacher?" he asked.

"Ms Ang!" I blurted the first name that came to my mind.

"Ms Ang Em Lee?" he probed.

"Err, no. Ms Ang Lee Yong..."

Checking out the staff board had been a wise move indeed!

Picnik!

2007-09-09T01:22:00.000+08:00

I like long bus rides. Haven't had much chance to since ny days when I spent an average of 90 mins on the bus to and fro each day. So today was a good opportunity, though on the way to Botanic Gardens I only realised I took the wrong bus when I saw Singapore Press Holdings. I ended up in Toa Payoh! Oh well.

Tabs and I

Weeteng and Xiaowan!

And so we chomped, we lazed and we chatted till everyone else had left and the entire field was pitch black except for the bright lights of the Symphony Stage. Save for the wet butts and random ant attacks, it was great catching up with my girls. Definitely!

~~~

It's been an interesting week at work, what with the movie screening and gourmet dishes prepared by an executive chef (retailing at $48++ per set). Yum. For the first time, I reclined comfortably in the red plush armchair in the GV Gold Class theatre, as waitresses knelt by your seats to serve every course of the meal. I was sipping my red wine and feeling like a queen. It ain't often that we get to enjoy media perks of course.

And that night, deejays from Class 95 did roving reports live from the cardmembers' event. My alias Grace did a short interview for them. With kiasu-ism at its best, the buffet-style spread was finished in no time. Good food indeed!

See this for the full details. My very first official press release. *Beams*

~~~

Why is my foot still swollen after two weeks? :(

@ Work

2007-08-30T00:50:00.000+08:00

It was one of those days that ended with a pleasant buzz. There was donuts-devouring in the office, the girls gathered round the table ooh-ing and aah-ing, debating about which flavour to try next and getting a bite of each just so we can pick our favourites.

Then there was the talk with the boss. It's a new ritual he's beginning for the newbies, a casual chat after the confirmation process. My colleague had his turn yesterday, a full-hour chat and today, I headed down to Penny Black's for my session. However 'casual' he meant it to be, it still revolved around work and whatnots.

I'm getting into the swing of things at work, making more friends, having more fun and hopefully, it will all last.

A recent card launch... Just wave-and-pay with the UOB One Card!

Guess where this is? The washroom at the top floor of the plaza!

And... the view from the top, after the downpour. Peering down from all 62 floors and thinking, what a lovely place to watch fireworks!

Words

2007-08-28T20:51:00.000+08:00

Just want to let you know that you are doing fine. Keep it up!

It's a wonder how a few words can brighten up what... was a demanding workday.

Early Morning Amusement

2007-08-22T00:01:00.000+08:00

This happened some time last week.

It is a feat when you wake up laughing. Wifey smsed me early in the morning and it took me a few seconds to comprehend her sms.

"I just dreamt that you and XX got together! OMG...Pls don't!"

Next time round, can I pick the male lead in the dream? :p

Sometimes...

2007-08-21T21:53:00.000+08:00

I feel like I'm growing up too quickly.

Boogeyman under the bed

2007-08-20T12:27:00.000+08:00

Last night, I dreamt that I was an insomniac. I was afraid to sleep, for there seemed to be something sinister lurking in the dark night that would seize upon me if I were to give in to sleep. What it was, I know not.

My windows were shut tight. Under my pillow, I had praying beads, a cross and some other charms but I still dare not sleep. My bro discovered a peeping hole in the floorboards under my bed and used a metal ruler to scrape at the eyeball peering through it. It screeched in pain before disappearing.

And then strangely, the dream evolved to be set in a hotel, with one of my ex-JC schoolmate working at the reception.

I woke up this morning spooked and feeling like I haven’t slept much. How I wish for dreamless nights.

The Excursion

2007-08-16T00:39:00.000+08:00

The pics are finally up... lots of which are courtesy of Sj's cam. I think I can clearly see the diff between a 4 megapixel and 5 megapixel cam now. Argh, it's definitely time to upgrade mine!

YY and I at our first stop. YY's a rare guest, the last time we met up was about a year ago? =X

One of the new-borns in the zoo - baby hippo wedged protectively between rocks by mama hippo

Majestic white tigers

Grooming session in progress.

I'm just very disturbed by that red lump of butt.

2007-08-16T00:38:00.000+08:00

Check out that look of absolute bliss!

The Stand-off

Frolicking

2007-08-16T00:37:00.000+08:00

With the baboons

Orang Utan - Is this Ah Meng, no?

Rhino!

2007-08-16T00:36:00.000+08:00

Us girls, minus three!

Inuka pacing in his enclosure before meal time

All 45okg of a polar bear! They can weigh up to 800kg

The one which buries its head in the sand

2007-08-16T00:35:00.000+08:00

Zebras look best in B&W, don't you think?

Dozing lions in the afternoon heat.

The Meerkat family

Always on the lookout.

I love this pic and how it seems almost like a painting!

2007-08-16T00:34:00.000+08:00

Now we know how Growie came about!

At the Reptile Walk...The Cotton-eared Marmoset!

It reminds me of The Gremlins!

An icky green and most probably venomous...

2007-08-16T00:33:00.000+08:00

Strikingly Green Snake

Hear it rattle!

Giant tortoises! we missed the photoshoot with the real stuff..so..

And then over at Kids' World...

The Three (Not-So)Little Pigs

2007-08-16T00:32:00.000+08:00

Minature ponies!

Black Beauty look-alike!

With our zodiac animal. :)

2007-08-16T00:31:00.000+08:00

An overgrown foal seeking milk from his reluctant mum, which kept hustling him away.

Donkeys are surprisingly gentle and are much more appealing than sheep (which were baa-ing noisily away in their pen and...stink big time!), I feel.

Gorgeous little pony!

The Penguin and I

2007-08-16T00:30:00.000+08:00

Coming to the end of our Zoo excursion... the Night Safari next! :)

We're going to the Zoo Zoo Zoo

2007-08-12T00:39:00.000+08:00

One of the highlights of the zoo trip today - 450kg polar bear, Inuka, shows off his skills at a feeding session. Inuka was the first polar bear to be born and bred in the tropics. And thankfully will not be deported after Sheba passes away!

Had fun today despite my recent zoo trip last year... especially with new baby animals in the zoo!

Meanwhile, enjoy the video while I figure out why I haven't been able to upload any pics recently. Till then!

Seeing Double

2007-08-08T23:55:00.000+08:00

And so... I turned 22.

The first thing I did? I stubbed my little pinkie toe on a stool and earned myself a swollen, bruised toe. I spent that sunday night tossing and turning, drifting on the edge of unconsciousness. My poor toe was throbbing throughout the night and at 5am, I dragged myself out of bed to rub some medicated oil on it. By the next morning, it had turned a dark shade of red, like a natural birthmark.

Other than this lil misfortune, it was a rather pleasant coming-of-age, with well wishes from friends and dinner gatherings. Isn't a nice feeling when people whom you don't expect to remember your birthday takes the trouble to do so?

And then Monday night was The King and I. It's the third musical that I have been to so far and I am still impressed. Impressed by their strong vocals, the elaborate costumes and the versatile set. Guess it isn't that much of a chore even when we were there specifically to host the media. I must say, despite the long hours and hard work involved in the media industry, they do have their perks!

Somehow, I can't quite believe I'm already 22. And my misbelief deepens when I look at my little brother, who just turned 18 yesterday. Where did that little boy go? And when did this little girl grow up so quickly? I think...I will always be a little girl at heart.

So I was trying to be cheeky earlier, telling my ma about my blouse which had lost its elasticity around the waist. (My ma has a passion for my clothes and occasionally some of my stuff find its way into her wardrobe.)

Me: "Eh ma, this top is no longer elastic leh. Is it coz you wore it?"

Ma: *Eyeing my blouse speculatively* "I don't know.. maybe I will try it on later to see if it fits..."

Me sputtering: "I'm asking if you wore it, not asking you to wear it!"

Sheeesh.

Echoes from those days

2007-07-30T20:07:00.000+08:00

This is it.

I'm overcoming my phobia tomorrow.

That white-masked face, that evil glint in the eye, that black plait, those hairy arms and that reproaching voice - sums up my primary school dental nurse and also the only one I've had so far.

I can still hear her stern voice echoing in my ears.

"You still don't want to brush your teeth? How often do you want to see me?"

*Cringes*

A Physical Ache

2007-07-28T00:49:00.000+08:00

I was msn-ing with tuck, who was staying at VN guesthouse (where I also put up at when I was there in Feb) and I felt this intense tug at my heart. The travel bug. Again.

I think I got more animated than he was as we chatted about what he had seen and done in Kanchanaburi so far. I was reliving the entire experience - the Erawan Waterfalls, elephant trekking, water rafting, the Death Railway and sleeping on the bobbing raft rooms!

Gosh, I miss Thailand. Or perhaps I miss travelling entirely.

liJiN says:
dun u sense my excitement!!

liJiN says:
hahahah

da bai says:
ya ya

da bai says:
it's veri RARE

liJiN says:
hahhahha

da bai says:
tt u are replyin so fast

Damn.

Hahaha!

2007-07-26T01:02:00.000+08:00

Drained, bone-tired and ready to conk out after OT-ing yesterday night, I was most bothered when I received a phone call from one of those persistent telemarketers. Initially meant for my pa (who was not in), the saleslady refused to take up my suggestion of calling back later and started pitching her sales talk.

I was in no mood for niceties and cut her off. So she asked,"Am I speaking to a family member?"

And solemnly I replied (suddenly with a thickened accent), "No, I'm the maid.
I don't know what time Sir will be back. Probably quite late. You call back later?"

I doubled up in laughter after she hung up hastily. What a way to turn a bad day right. :p

Moments in time

2007-07-22T03:34:00.000+08:00

It was a movie marathon night with tension in the air, tinged with some dollops of guilt. We evaded the bouncers dressed in red as we sneaked into the 2nd theatre and stiffened each and every time someone passed our seats. As luck would have it, we got our way. Firstly, a dose of magic with Harry Potter, followed by distasteful killing sprees with slasher flick, Vacancy. The movies were not that great but gleeful we were indeed.

The rain started pattering a couple of miles after we left Vivo. Seated in the cab before the onset of the downpour, I was caught in that special moment - that instant in time when you were halfway on dry land and moving into the veil of falling water. I call it the in-between place. I can't help but be entranced by what seems to be so otherworldly. That in-between place where you might get to some other world or some other time in space. Harry has his pseudo phone booths and green flames in the fireplace as his travel portals, so for us muggles, that seems to be the closest thing we have.

There's something nice about sitting in a car in a heavy downpour. So heavy that the world around you is blurred in a semi-blinded fashion and you hear nothing but the hectic patter of the raindrops on the window panes. Alone with your thoughts, with no one else in sight or to make small talk with. As a kid, car-washing booths in petrol stations used to fascinate me. Those huge, blue revolving brushes sweeping up and down, left and right. I still am, but to a lesser extent of course.

I miss that heart-skip-a-beat feeling. I miss comforting bear hugs. I miss heart-to-heart talks on anything and everything. I miss being myself. Maybe coz these moments have been too few and far in between.

I wish for more magical moments.

Friends

2007-07-20T22:01:00.000+08:00

It's probably funny coming from someone living in Singapore but I was counting that day... and the number of non-chinese friends I have only makes up one hand! (including the two in pic) =X

Believe it or not?

2007-07-15T18:54:00.000+08:00

She came to me at the traffic light, a plump, middle-aged figure looking anxious.

In halting speech, she asked, "Sisss-teerr, caaaan...can you give meee $10 for me to take taxi?"

Taken aback, I was speechless for a few moments. Then I asked, "What do you need it for?"

"I am going to... Changi. I need... need to buy food for my mother and father..." she beseeched, walking towards me till we were two steps apart and then knelt down.

The sweat was glinting off her face. She was simply too close for comfort. I had to retreat a few steps away from her as I wondered if she was telling the truth. Did she need the money? Or was she pulling a quick one on me?

In the midst of my indecision, I noticed an old lady gesturing to me in the background, shaking her head at me.

And so, my common sense took hold of me as I rejected her and she promptly took off in search of the next target. After which, the old lady with the kind intentions pulled me aside and advised, "Don't entertain this kind of people in future." I murmured a heartfelt thanks.

Even now, there is still the slightest doubt nagging at me. Did I deny help to someone who desperately needed it? How do we tell them apart from the scammers?

My friends know that I find it hard to say no. Which is probably why I've been scammed before, a particularly memorable one being this ah peh who asked for coins to take the bus. When I opened my wallet to retrieve my spare coins, I caught him eyeing the rest of my cash. I promptly regretted my decision to help. Strange that all these incidents have happened at traffic lights so far. Danger zone indeed.

Just the thing to lift those Mon blues

2007-07-09T22:09:00.000+08:00

I love it when I open my eyes in the morning and hear the pitter-patter of raindrops. I love it even better when I can snuggle into my blanket and sleep the morning away.

But of course, reality is not made of the stuff that comes from dreams. My alarm rings, I open one eye and hit the snooze button. A few minutes later, it rings again. I snooze for a second time before I stumble out of bed blearily, a full 18 minutes after it first rang.

If only alarms sound like Connie Talbot, I think I would start my mornings with great relish.

The little angel with the toothy grin. :)

Say 'hello, a stranger beauty from Ukraine'!

2007-07-03T20:31:00.000+08:00

I am often spammed in my yahoo account as some sneaky fellows still seep through the webs of my spam-filter. Today's spam mail beat the whole lot in terms of hilarity. One which assumed firstly that I am a (hunky) man and secondly, that I have a soft spot for Ukraine ladies.

Hello, my dear friend

I am writing to you this letter to say that I want very much to meet you in real life and to get acquinted with you.But it is impossible at present day that is why let's start from romantic letters to each other.I do this first step because i don't want to miss a chance to loose acquintance with such man like you.

Tell me, please, what is this life without love? it is dull, unbearable and useless. You live, but you don't know why; you work, but don't know the sense of it; you come at home, but you don't feel comfort and cold bed makes you feel disgust... do you have the same unpleasant feelings and need love in your life as I need?The whole life is wating for me and you in future. But it is died if you are alone and you can't share a new day with beloved person. Do you agree with me?If I don't give love, if I can't share passion and romantic feelings with beloved, I feel that I am dying every moment, every hour, every day.

Don't let me die at all, write me, please, and just say 'hello, a stranger beauty from Ukraine! yes, i want to get acquinted with you too!" and afterit, let me do the next step and you will see that I will change your lifeand wave you in the cradle of my love.I close this letter now, but i am waiting for your reply, Dear Stranger whom I liked and I hope that you will like me too
http://worldmeetlove.com/waityou

Sweet goodbye
Rhoan S.

What say you? I shouldn't be one of those heartless jerks and not reply to this sweet Ukraine lady rite? Especially not when I can save her life!

Dead: Chris Benoit

2007-06-27T17:42:00.000+08:00

Don't be mistaken, I'm not some hardcore WWE fan. My bro used to be one though and I guess I was somewhat influenced, especially when I had to sit down and watch with him as he hogged the TV at night.

The most horrifying moments were when he decided to practise his WWE moves on me, as he prepared to jump onto my limp body on my bed. Or when he grabbed my leg in a mock-leg twist and waited for me to surrender on the count of three.

But the fun moments were when we played the WWE game on his PS. I used to assume Chris Benoit's persona and found perverse pleasure in smashing characters like Chris Jericho with a chair. The cage and coffin matches were especially entertaining.

WWE fans must be mourning the loss of one of its superstars.

6 Weird Things About Me

2007-06-24T01:34:00.000+08:00

Okay, this tag has been running around for some time and I've finally been tagged.

The weirdest part about me is perhaps that I actually took more than a week to come up with 6 items. Haha, okay but that doesn't count.

Let's see.

1) I can cycle but I can't control my direction well. So imagine, I can be going straight one moment, and then swerving erratically the next. I am a very dangerous cyclist.

2) Cockroaches are my arch nemesis. I'm afraid of all flying bugs, including butterflies. But lizards, rats are manageable for me. My theory is that at least they can't fly so you can still put yourself further away by climbing onto a stool or something.

3) I used to believe that girls get pregnant when they consume the saliva of a guy. Okie, now it sounds rather dumb but I was misled by this tv drama, I swear! Of course, this was when I was a wee kid.

4) I think about morbid things. I stand at a window and visualise myself falling off the building, with the wind in my hair and arms outstretched. I wonder if my eyes will be closed or wide open and I will see the ground coming up to meet me before I land with a splat.

That is why buildings built with ceiling-to-floor glass panels make me weak in the knees. Especially when you can look down from a great height. Eeks.

5) I have had white hairs since I was really young, like pri school?

6) I can't whistle , I can't wriggle my ears and I can't really wink with one eye, so I guess that makes me a rather talentless person.

I can't do anything with my tongue either, other than rolling it up (which everyone can!). So I'm pretty impressed with what other people can do with theirs.

See what this pretty lass can do! I like the wave trick. And the smiley face one!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ta4W3WEWOc

And this one is likely to give me the worst nightmare ever. =X

On a sidenote, I'm going to tell you guys something you will find hard to believe. My dear twin actually believed that babies are delivered through the anus. Up till tonight that is, when we gave her a short Bio lesson after we got over our incredulity. *Slaps head* But how typical of twin. haha.

Okay, to end this off, I tag jenn, amy, cat, shijia, jiuan and doreal! And whoever has not done it before.

So who can I morph into?

2007-06-23T12:52:00.000+08:00

Found this on Jiuan's and I had fun the entire morning trying different photos. So now I know whose picture to bring if I were to approach a plastic surgeon! But my luck's not too good. It looks like I will turn out more like Jay Chou than Fiona Xie. =X

http://www.myheritage.com

O Manly Tears

2007-06-23T02:37:00.000+08:00

I went to work today, eyes puffy, not from lack of sleep but coz I cried last night.

You know how korean dramas, no matter how comical it may be at times, often have those few episodes which are heart-wrenchingly sad? I was finishing up this drama series before my brother returned it to the rental shop and it so happened that the last two eps were such. By the time the disc ended its run, my nose was blocked and my voice was husky in that tear-drenched manner.

How silly, you say? I agree.

Perhaps my bro knew me best. Earlier in the afternoon, he smsed me while he was watching the drama, "Better get ready some tissues tonight..." But when I questioned him afterwards, he insisted that he didn't shed a tear coz "he's man". Bah.

I realise I tend to tear harder when I'm watching alone. I remember years back, I was watching A.I on DVD, with headphones on my head and tears running down my cheeks.

I'm not the kind of girl who cries prettily. Actually, I find it hard to believe that anyone can. But actresses often prove me otherwise. It's like some elusive art form that I will never achieve. Someone teach me if you know how, please?

The Guy-Next-Door

2007-06-18T13:20:00.000+08:00

My lovely cousin and her hubby at their wedding two weeks ago. Didn't she look like a princess? While her hubby definitely looks like a typical guy-next-door.

The few of us were chatting the other day and we came to the conclusion that all we need is a normal, run-of-the-mill guy. Not too rich, not too good-looking, as long as he's good to you.

We fantasise about eye candies all the time but ultimately, girls marry the dependable guy-next-door.

What a strange world.

Impulse.Imp opens!

2007-06-17T13:31:00.000+08:00

In the spirit of entrepreneurship, my galpal has set up shop. It's still in its infancy but upcoming collections include Bling! accessories and Girlie Frillies. Worth checking out definitely.

Do give your support! :)

Wedding Bells!

2007-06-09T17:24:00.000+08:00

This year seems like a good time to get married. Cousin's wedding tonight, a colleague's big day the following week and two other upcoming weddings in the next half-year. I'm rather looking forward to one of them, as it will be my first church wedding! The trail of the long white gown tail on the red carpet, to the tune of the Wedding March, to the beaming groom at the front of the aisle and the mother dabbing her eyes with nostalgia. Aww. Church weddings romanticised in my mind, I admit, is largely due to all that exposure on tv. The yam-senging, drum-beating at void decks seems just a lil contrived. But of course, all weddings are happy affairs.

Been meeting up with old friends recently, and we have been talking about how quickly time flies and how lots of folks are actually getting married at 24, which is like two yrs away! In another 10 years, we might be turning up for gatherings with little toddlers in tow. I really can't imagine!

For some annoying reason, the Gatsby jingle for its moving rubber wax ad has been on replay in my head at the weirdest moments. If not for 木村拓哉 , I don't think it would have stuck so firmly. I used to be fond of Takuya Kimura, and which girl wasn't? Then it kind of faded over the years (or rather he was overtaken by others) till I started watching the ice hockey jap drama on Sat afternoons. As the charming, headstrong, act-like-he-can't-be-bothered-but-actually-cares-deep-down team captain, he swept me off my feet again. Just like that, you ask? Of course of course, this is 木村拓哉 you know!

And then there's Rosie Thomas, whose songs I just got acquainted with:

Hmm.. can anyone figure out why the following are linked to my blog?
1) multiply.com/movie sex old man
2) the salty fresh air overwhelms me

*Shrugs*

The Lil Red Dot

2007-06-02T01:22:00.000+08:00

Xiaowan, who's in the work-and-travel programme in Ohio currently, related an incident to me. Angmohs are still ignorant about Singapore's existence!

AM: Oh, are you Korean? or Japanese?
XW: I'm from Singapore. It's a country in South-East Asia.
AM: Hmm.. are you from China then?
XW: I'm a Singaporean.
AM: Oh...! I know Singapore. I watched Pirates of the Caribbean!

Sheesh, now their idea of S'pore must be that of pirates living in hidden dungeons, of Chinese men who fancy blonde chicks. The misconceptions Hollywood portrays of our tiny island, though it did place us on the world map.

And other than barbaric pirates, we have other dangers in our safe little haven. The killer trees who have so far, taken the lives of three unfortunate souls. The most recent being the guy in his 20s, who had a deadly branch fall onto him near the MacRitchie Treetop Walk. And to think that I was actually planning to go there with flop!

Shudders. Trip cancelled!

Wisecracks of the day

2007-05-28T00:03:00.000+08:00

Sorting out my mail the other day, I came across the World Vision envelope. I had once toyed with the idea of adopting one of the World Vision kids together with a friend but it didn't come through in the end. That was a few years ago. And seeing that I actually have greater financial ability to do so now, it has become something that I can seriously consider.

When I mentioned it to my bro, he muttered, "Why not you adopt me instead?" Then, he cited all the things he wanted, including a piano and music lessons. Faint.

My lil bro is capable of shooting his mouth off, leaving you speechless. Earlier, he related to me something which he said to the auntie at the bakery today. This particular auntie was a rather aggressive sales person who was promoting the cookies on 50% discount. While I was getting my waffle (yum!), my brother was loitering inside the bakery. It was a swelteringly hot afternoon. So when the auntie approached my brother, he told her in jest, that he was just in there for the aircon.

I had to laugh when I heard the story. You simply don't need to tell people the truth sometimes! What a zai sibling I have.

~~~

And here's pics from the most recent pri. sch outing at The Wine Company, with us inappropriately decked out in tees, denim and even... slippers.

Hail the Alcoholics! Who persist with their hobby despite Doc Foo's disapproval.

Getting ready. Everyone's primping!

Watch out, we have an up-and-coming doc, lawyer and engineers in there! Plus a pillar of society imparting the best moral values to little acs boys. I sure hope they turn out to be good men.

The girlies. :)

The end of all womanly troubles

2007-05-25T17:26:00.000+08:00

lies in Lybrel, a new contraceptive which helps to eliminate menstruation over time!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18745930/

This is something I've always dreamt of... Imagine no blood, no cramps, no more pads, no more mood swings, no more yuckiness and ....

you can swim any day you want to!
eat ice-cream everyday!
wear white undies, pants, skirts, dresses without a care in the world!

I even used to fantasize about finishing a lifespan worth of menses at one go. Then I probably would have to bleed for months on end before I would be done. How enticing.

But strangely, given all the perks, I feel a little uneasy. Would I still be a woman without the monthlies? It kinda feels like a woman without boobies, in a way. Would you then, still be considered as one?

What makes a woman a woman?

The Legend of Narcissus

2007-05-22T23:45:00.000+08:00

The Alchemist picked up a book that someone in the caravan had brought. Leafing though the pages, he found a story about Narcissus.

The Alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus, a youth who knelt daily beside a lake to contemplate his own beauty. He was so fascinated by himself that, one morning, he fell into the lake and drowned. At the spot where he fell, a flower was born, which was called the Narcissus.

But this was not how the author of the book ended the story.

He said that when Narcissus died, the goddess of the forest appeared and found the lake, which had been fresh water, transformed into a lake of salty tears.

"Why do you weep?" the goddess asked.

"I weep for Narcissus," replied the lake.

"Ah, it is no surprise that you weep for Narcissus", they said," for though we always pursued him in the forest, you alone could contemplate his beauty close at hand."

"But...was Narcissus beautiful?" the lake asked.

"Who better than you to know that?" the goddess said in wonder. "After all, it was by your banks that he knelt each day to contemplate himself!"

The lake was silent for some time. Finally it said:

"I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty reflected."

" What a lovely story," the Alchemist thought.

[Prologue from The Alchemist]

Sunday Mundanes

2007-05-20T22:31:00.000+08:00

Call me anything you want but I really dislike taking sides.

Working on a Sunday is always a not-too-happy affair, especially when it's scorching hot and you are surrounded by sweaty dragon-boaters. But at least, it didn't pour! And the captains of the losing teams were walked off the plank with the rival captains prodding them with a pirate sword.

Now I have time-off to clear and I'm thinking of some friday to do just that! Anyone up for a short weekend getaway soon?

Quick whisk me away before the temptation of online shopping overwhelms my bank account!

Best wishes for my dearies

2007-05-14T11:33:00.000+08:00

If dreams are any indication, dear Dor, you must be in my thoughts more often than I thought.

I was going for two back-to-back interviews, with you accompanying me. The first one ran late and so, we were rushing to the second venue with all haste. But… then as all dreams go, the weird part happens. I didn’t know where the venue was, nor did I have the contact number of the HR person. There was a mad scramble to try to locate the place and time just ticked by, past the interview time scheduled at 11am. I think there’s something about the timing 11am, coz it just stuck out so clearly in the dream. My folks would want to try their luck in 4D if I were to tell them about it.

I didn’t make it to the 2nd interview, coz the alarm rang then. Argh, can’t believe I’m so blur even in my dreams!

Good luck for your interview today, dear Dor. If I’m already dreaming about it, then it must be a good sign. I will be keeping my fingers crossed!

~~~

And of course, to someone who's soaking in the fresh air in NZ,

Happy Birthday to binbin! You are 23 today!

Hope you got my card. *grinz*

Muacks,
Pipi

No more

2007-05-13T17:02:00.000+08:00

I must remind myself not to be too gung-ho in future.

After that nasty fall last week, my back seemed to be much better yesterday. And looking at that piece of wasteland on my belly, I decided to do some sit-ups. The very first one had me grimacing.

I think I aggravated it again. Sure hope this wouldn't become one of those aches and pains that gets carried over in old age.

Argh, no more sit-ups for me.

Hmm...

2007-05-12T14:54:00.000+08:00

Ignorance is always bliss, no?

It makes the world a happier place.

Loss

2007-05-12T14:48:00.000+08:00

They say the first pair is always unforgettable.

I say you don't know how precious till you lose it.

I don't know where it is. I've searched high and low for it. Raided every closet, every nook and cranny and it's just not in the house.

I think a random bird stole it from my clothes pole.

My poor Levis.

[EDIT: Okay, this sounds really silly. But I just found it in a deep dark corner of my wardrobe. This despite three thorough raids of my closet!]

The five people you meet in heaven

2007-05-10T16:25:00.000+08:00

Is a simple, nicely-crafted novel which makes you think.

After I finished the book, I lay in bed wondering who the five people in my life were. Or more aptly, the ten people in my life - the ones who would guide me and the ones I would guide. All of us are tied by invisible threads and even without our knowledge, the cause and effects of our seemingly trivial actions play a big impact on the way our lives turned out.

I can think of quite a few right now. Some who encouraged me to strive for greater things, some who dampened my enthusiasm and some who were just there when I made certain decisions. I wonder if they might be the ones.

On a side note, Phantom of the Opera was impressive. The pyrotechnics, gorgeous costumes and beautiful voices blew me away. Though I was taken aback by the Phantom’s looks after he shed his mask! The crashing chandelier was a disappointment. Simply because it swung gently onto the stage instead of that earth-shattering crash I had envisioned. Hah. But I suppose they would have to replace the chandelier for every show if they had done so. Parts from my favourite track of the musical, All I ask of you:

RAOUL
No more talk of darkness, Forget these wide-eyed fears.
I'm here, nothing can harm you
-my words will warm and calm you.
Let me beyour freedom, let daylight dry
-your tears. I'm here,with you, beside you, to guard you and to guide you . .

CHRISTINE
Say you love me every waking moment, turn my head with talk of summertime . . .Say you need me with you, now and always . . .
promise me that all you say is true
-that's all I ask of you . . .

Feeling the age

2007-05-06T15:26:00.000+08:00

Spending your weekend at ECP is particularly relaxing in the evening, when the sea breeze is all cool and inviting. Makes me feel like moving to the East! But then, thinking about it, there shouldn't be a reason why there's no beachy area in the West. Save for west coast, but that isn't anything to crow about. Sigh.

My virgin attempt at skating yesterday but I ended up having a stiff back and a bruised right leg. The former resulted from a really hard fall on my back, after which I couldn't get on my feet for minutes. I think I should have picked this up when I was younger. It must be the age.

If not for xiaowan, I think I would have fallen non-stop throughout the day. Argh. It was fun nevertheless, especially when QX spotted this foreign worker riding on a bicycle behind his Filipino companion, grabbing onto her assets for leverage. How... innovative!

Plus... Phantom's tonight! Woot!

A happy girl is one...

2007-05-02T23:40:00.000+08:00

who is on mc!

Nope, I'm not faking. An infected eye, along with flu-ish symptoms. Not in the pink of health indeed. But I'm still ecstatic coz this is going to be a super short week, plus I can probably spend some quality time getting down to things that I had not managed to settle for the longest time.

The clinic staff, in their rush to close shop, changed my name to Moktu Hossain Abdul Bare on the medicine label. I huffed and puffed my way to the clinic after work, stepping in at exactly 8.25pm, 5 mins before they pulled down the shutters. This got me a beady stare from one of the middle-aged clinic receptionists who muttered 'so late' under her breath not so discreetly. At 8.30pm, my alter-ego (Hossain) snuck in under the half-closed shutters and earned greater displeasure from the two fort-holders. Everyone was in such a rush to get home. Even the doc scribbled my prescription with much haste.

The clinic called my house to apologise for the error in name, my bro told me, and to assure that the medicine dispensed had been the right ones. Not once, but twice! hoho... somehow this gives me some perverse satisfaction.

But the highlight of the day was still the donuts! Those elusive donuts that I had been hankering for! Tuck the Great queued for 2 excruciating hours and got them. And for once, he turned heads, the envy of all who passed him on the streets. I must say, they were good but still not so great that you would go back time and again and queue for hours at end!

Now now, what shall I do tml? *Grinz*

Ah Kong

2007-04-27T00:10:00.000+08:00

I suddenly miss my ah kong.

Those rough, callused hands, that hearty laugh and his usual greeting in Teochew when I open the door, 'Jiak ba buay?' To which, we would chorus, 'Ah kong, jiak ba liao!' My ah kong spoke only dialect and my brother and I being dialect-illiterate, couldn't really communicate with him except for those standard phrases. But we looked forward to his visits coz he would bring us either tubes of M&Ms or Sultana raisins. And my brother and I would almost always fight over the golden raisins.

There was once when my bro was still a little boy, ah kong playfully pulled my bro's pants and it slipped down over his knees. My bro howled instantly, much to the surprise on everyone's faces. That was a really classic memory. I still grin when I think about it.

One of my favourite childhood pics is that of ah kong balancing me on his thighs, with one hand cradling my tiny baby head and looking down at me. I was clinging to his shirt with one arm, with a look on my chubby face that spoke volumes of my confidence in his baby-handling skills.

I didn't shed a tear when he passed away. I still don't know why. Back then, I understood that he was gone but everything seemed so surreal. The entire clan gathered around the hospital bed cradling his lifeless body, sobbing. Ah kong, dressed in his black suit and lips etched in red, looking so still in the coffin. Us watching from a distance, as the coffin was pushed into the incinerator and his body reduced to grey ashes.

I didn't get to say goodbye to ah kong. When he was hospitalised, the adults didn't allow us to go visit initially. Germs, they say, and little kids have weak immunity. I was there with the rest the day his heart stopped. One by one, we went over to hold his hand and talk to him, as he lay there unconscious. Then, there was that fateful long beep from the life-signs monitoring system and the howling began.

There is one question which I've thought about long and hard . If there were to be a fire, the first thing I would grab would be my childhood photo album. Coz that is where all my most precious memories are. That is where I can flip back in time when my memory fails me. That is where I can show my kids, this was ah kong with mummy on his lap.

Hellos

2007-04-26T23:15:00.000+08:00

What I hate more than anything is my affinity with chi ko pehs.

I stroll along the streets in my casual tee and shorts and once in a while, I get lucky and get hellos from uncles when they walk past. This has been happening more often recently and so gets on my nerves. I swear, if I encounter something like that again, I will give that person the evil eye.

This has made me wonder about guys picking up girls in clubs. It just occurred to me that it's the same ball game. What is so different about a random guy coming up to say hello to you in a club and a random chi ko peh doing the same on the streets? You tell me.

And pls guys, I haven't been on dates! Haha all I do is hang out with Moomoo all day long. Moo is my one and only, cross my heart.

Miracle

2007-04-17T23:13:00.000+08:00

I was having lunch with this colleague for the first time the other day. He was a lanky fellow and so, I just blurted out what had been on the tip of my tongue for ages. 'Eh, you should eat more you know, you are too skinny!' To which, he replied a little sheepishly, that he used to be overweight.

My brows shot up into the air, I'm sure. He had been in TAF club all the way from primary school onwards and it was not only till after JC that he lost weight. At the height of his 'glory', he was a magnificient 98kg. And now, he looks like a beanpole. Okay, visualise hossan leong. A hossan leong with a model's legs.

That was at least 30kg shed! And kept off! Makes me feel really motivated for sure. The secret to his success? He runs really long distances.

Here's a living testament as to what really works in keeping the extra pounds off. Time to chuck away those ads by slimming agencies, folks!

I think my brows were still up there when we parted ways that afternoon.

What's your secret?

2007-04-17T23:10:00.000+08:00

Everyone's deep dark secrets on a postcard. What's yours?

Crave of the Week

2007-04-13T15:28:00.000+08:00

I wanna watch 'The Hills Have Eyes 2'!