A Curse?

If it happens again, I'm gonna be very convinced that Boxing Day is cursed.

I know it's probably nothing compared with fatalities...or if you are running your own business you are the one suffering the loss. Still, personally, the shitty thing is that it left us operations staff very crippled. No thanks to our company for not having a contingency plan. Kept asking me if it can be done manually. Fuck...any other choice? Of course manual can be done, afterall it's back to the drawing board so quit asking me Boss!

And so, the last working day of the year wasn't something worth blogging too much....

Retail Therapy...NOT

I had half-day off...I spent it with M, having a sumptuous but very expensive lunch at Sushi Tei (let's wise up and have steak at the Russian place next time lah).

We were like a couple of slobs, always looking forward to 'tea break' at 4pm. We really couldn't bring ourselves to enjoy shopping. I marvel at people thronging the malls, feverishly rummaging through bargains, poring themselves over apparels at branded shops. WHERE DID THEY GET THEIR ENERGY FROM? Or rather, WHERE DID MY ENERGY GO? Oh, I do have energy a'rite...just not in shopping. It's confirmed - I hate it.

It wasn't entirely fruitless though. We bought 2 sets of bedsheets. Time to change the sad ones...

Curse of the Golden Flower

No curse at all. In fact let me rephrase - I watched the movie and enjoyed it! I owe it to the fact it's a drama starring 2 of the most charismatic leads I've ever seen, regardless the era, regardless how painful watching Jay Chou's facial expression was, regardless how distracted I was by Gong Li's mammaries (very distracted).

The Motorcycle Diaries

Since I can't get the real thing, I can always find it on screen.

I've seen the DVD on the shelf for the longest time, aware that it's highly-acclaimed. But not recently when I gave up the business trip to Brazil and realising my colleagues are finally returning from the almost-2-week trip that I believed it is time.

The Motorcycle Diaries features a South American roadtrip made by 2 friends with similar aspirations. Though it doesn't include Brazil, it still shows the sights and people of other countries like Peru and Chile. And like most other foreign films, it's always the narration (quotes) that impresses me.

PS: And yes, my colleagues are back from an almost-2 week long, almost-40-hour flight journey, all in 1 piece.

Over?

I dare say "The Cold War" is quite officially over. Hohoho!!!

Boxing Day

It's simply spelt M-I-R-A-C-L-E.

It's been raining dinosaurs and gorillas since early morning but there was NO traffic jam on CTE. I reached office on time. I think this can only happen once a year.

The Birdpark

Dun forget what Singapore has - Jurong Birdpark.

We couldn't bring ourselves to stay in (home, sheltered and boring shopping centres) when the weather was so good. I dun remember how the birdpark looked like but when we arrived there, I knew 3 places to hit - penguins, birds of prey and the owls. Very sad for the big birds though. Birds are meant to be free....but they were all caged for our viewing. Sometimes I wonder if it isn't enough just watching and reading National Geographic.

Seeing the waterfall brought back memories of a photograph taken of my class of 1986....2 friggin' decades ago.

I'm glad we visited.

House-warming

It was so rushing but I'm glad we dropped by D&E's place at Bishan St 22.

This is a couple who bears no grudges, harbours no illwill towards people they know and tries their best to be the host with whatever limited means.

I'll see you again for sure.

(Not) In the Mood for Christmas

I really dislike Christmas. I may sound like a grinch if I go on .... actually it's more the (artificial) mood that is created nearing the festive season that I really dislike.

DJs sounding more perky than necessary, colleagues around me claiming excitedly they have 'no mood' to work (thank you very much - me too but I am still not well and have tons of work and a stoooopid deadline to meet for the e-project so please shut up), people talking about drinking and being merry, etc.

I was listening to this crisp angelic voice on Symphony 92.4 this morning, singing a melodious tune about returning home for Christmas....and I thought about the homeless. People having only garbage bags to use as blankets in the cold (in countries having winter now). I remembered Say once said (something like that) - having a White Christmas can be beautiful but the cold is a double-edged sword.

It's a strange sudden thought. Maybe it's just like why people dun eat meat, dun eat sharksfin. I can't rejoice because I remember the less fortunate (logical?). Are they forgotten already? Surely they must feel so much worse than me.

Thanks Phyllis, for sending that email. I kept thinking I was hitting mild depression (every year end of the year??!!)...but the answer is clear now. I am gonna do my bit, within my very limited humble means but it may mean I can finally get 'in the mood'. :)

Happy Birthday...

...to M!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, do the Math yourself - you are 32 this year (how can you even ask me?). No more, no less.

"Golden Shower"

Mong is long toilet-trained (day) already.

But of course there are moments of forgetfuless. Yesterday when he was watching Hi-5 on my lap, I felt warmth...he freakin' pee-d on me! I swear that he will be the only male person in this lifetime of mine who can do the "golden shower" on me!

PS: There was a very careful choice of words up there in case anyone misconstrues and accuses me of perversion. :P

Torture

My throat feels like it's been stabbed 1,000 times. With a recently-sharpened dagger. I wonder how long and how many more lozenges I have to suck.

Talk about pain, I can think of several. Listening to "Square Rooms" over and over (anybody remembers who sang this?), going to Mambo Zouk (yes, you are getting the idea I dislike retro songs), trying to perfect my Mandarin whenever I speak to PRCs or Taiwanese (i.e. my system vendor), pretending to look interested in what O has to say and having to face her trying-to-appear-angelic face at the same time, realising I'm hitting 33 and zits are still sprouting...

**************

I brought the Taiwanese guests to Vivocity for dinner yesterday evening. We ate at Modesto's...for lack of ideas. It turned out that the service and food were good enough to make the dining experience very pleasant. We were given a table with a good view...but as usual, it was spoilt for me...with me, myself and I ended up ordering the wrong kinda pasta, cursing. They didn't have much chance to take it all in except that of course, they noticed the place was huge and crowded.

"Geek meeting" ends today! Yay!

Note: I dun fear making decisions and can be pretty confident in most of them. But when it comes to ordering Italian food, please do not get me involved.

Welcome Aboard!

Just a quick word to welcome my bro for jumping on the bandwagon finally (what what....???) - blogging.

Hope you keep it up because I've always enjoyed your views on many matters and it would be wonderful to share it online with many more people. And I'm glad that despite a vast improvement in technology whereby friends may forget how to talk to one another over the telephone or meet up face-to-face anymore, we have not completely allowed advancement to overtake our basic mode of communication and friendship.

Cheers.

The Similarity...and reading

If I knew, I wouldn't want intensity in my life within such close intervals. Luckily the drama is just fictional... *crossing fingers*

Re-watching Award-winning movie, In The Bedroom over the weekend and reading (yes, you read right - reading. me.) Jodi Picoult's The Pact draw similarity to parents experiencing the loss of their child.

Separation by death is painful as it is but to outlive your own child must probably be the MOST torturous.

I'm barely done with the book but I like Picoult's style so far. If I'm finished, I will proudly claim it to be the 2nd one since June 2004. :P I think people hardly read these days. Always on the go. Swept by the hustle and bustle of life. And so, in wading through a hectic lifestyle, one completely loses interest. Then there remains no other reason or excuse why one doesn't read anymore. Simply, NO more interest.

Hence I marvel at M's unwavering interest...that has certainly survived through time. :)

When the going gets tough...

...the tough feels like giving up (but can't)?

2 very* trying mornings (6am mind you)...and counting.

* maybe 'very' now cos I'm sick!!!!

Ramblings...

Back to the 'discussion' I mentioned yesterday. I must say I appreciated O's input. Though better known for her kpo-ness, she did have good ideas which I shall adopt and give her credit for (if/when the time comes). But as I had an inexplicable insomnious moment between 2-4am this morning, her ramblings *oops* came to my mind again...and I realised how personal she has gotten. And she even added: "It can enable one to become a better manager...." (hey, clever. The discussion was initially intended to be about YOU!)

IRRITATING!!!

Now I'm thinking - what defines a 'good manager' in the first place? We all have our own set of definition. I googled it and had so many weblinks popping up. And I thought even if one possesses all of that, if he/she has one irritating face that rubs most people the wrong face, sorry mate.......................

And so I summarize a 'good manager' in one paradoxical definition - 'male minus his ego'. I think I've just made many enemies in a split second but relax, think about it. What I'm implying is simply, it doesn't fuckin exist.

********

Currently listening. Loving it. Jack Mannequin's Dark Blue.

A saying...

I stand firm: Ignorance is bliss.

Dammit. After a 2-hour discussion which I initiated, now I have so much more work to do................

Happening Aunty

I saw this aunty with no make-up, in her 40s, hair dyed too blond, too frizzy (you get the picture)....She was wearing a tight T-shirt with words - Be Mine.

Whoa. Very bold. Very shameless. I like.

People...and their cars

It's funny how impersonal our neighbours have become. I'm not an analyzer, going into how globalization has taken most of our time working, shifting our focus on different things, usually material. Or maybe the newer flats have units more spaced out such that we don't seem to make the effort to get to know our neighbours now.

Now our neighbours aren't Mrs or Mr So-and-So with a face. They are solely identified with the cars they drive or even their carplates.

Miffy *seeing a car drive by*: Oh, EU 8111.
M: Yea...ex Mazda 6 driver, now Toyota.

OR

Miffy: Oh SBR666 changed car...to an MPV!
M: Yup, it was a Tuscani coupe.
Miffy: Likely a new addition in their family.

And I don't ever know how they look like.

Unconditional Love

"The forest is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence, that makes no demands for sustenance and extends generously the products of its activity. It affords protection to all beings, offering shade even to the axeman who destroys it."

The profanity definitely does NOT originate from me. Just quoting from a board which M brought my attention to, yesterday, at the zoo (yes, yet again. We have renewed our FOZ membership for 2007. Ha). It was a truly beautiful message of unconditional love. I thought only parents are capable of that. I forgot about Mother Nature.

Going to the zoo on a Monday is highly recommended. FOZ members get free tram rides too. I think I need a break. Just catching the breeze while I ride on one already thrills me.

I know I have been out of Blogger for a few days in a row...it's been a tough period at work and home. I hope I get to enjoy the holiday season a little bit. I still haven't spoken to my mom yet.... :P

ATM Card

And for more than a week, I was convinced I lost it (having searched all places I could think of). Maybe my 3rd time this year.

So finally, ridden with anxiety that people may have withdrawn most of my hard-earned savings already, I finally called Customer Service to cancel it. "Ma'am, I would like to confirm it will be cancelled with this call." "Yes." *click*

Next day, a voice told me to look into the side pocket of a bag. There it was.

This is the part when I bang my head against the wall. 100 times.

The "Nightmare" is over

Very very slowly and cautiously, we gave Mong his 1st-again drink of milk. He was elated. There was no turbulence in his small tummy and neither did he regurgitate. Happy he was....happy I was too. Finally I can look forward to 1 decent night of sleep...

How much is too much?

I met QT at the museum. She stays next to Tao Nan Primary School so naturally I thought she was sending her son there next year. No, it's Catholic High. "According to the educational psychologist" she's sought to determine which environment would best suit her son, she has decided to send her son to a non-coed school. And since she stays faraway, she has bought a car to chauffeur him to and fro everyday. Well, thank God for low COE now, isn't it?

I apologize. I like QT. In fact she has given me very valuable advice in what steps I should take when I expressed my anxiety over Mong's slow speech development. But she NEVER fails to set my panic button.

Speaking of this, my congratulations to Germ. I doubt she will have the energy to read my blog for some time now that Baby Darius is born. Now you know *snicker*. Welcome aboard!

Never equal

I love my dad so much more than my mom.

Murphy's Law

"Everything that can possibly go wrong will go wrong".

I have to conduct a presentation in 2 hours' time to about 35 people, some of whom I have not met before. When I woke up this morning, I thought of the above law when there it stood, bright and cheery (bah!), a big zit on my nose. Nothing from 1 Jan to 5 Dec...only today! When I have to meet a lot of people!

Then I thought of another (or extended?) version of Murphy's Law: "Anything that can go wrong, will, and at the worst possible moment". I will only know that in 2 hours' time. And so the praying begins...

Wish me luck!

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Time check: 1730 hours. I have definitely survived the day :)

Movies (my kind)

Zihuatanejo. This is not a word you see on a regular basis. I kinda liked it when I saw it on TV. It is also uncanny that the 2 movies which I saw back-to-back the recent weekend were related to Mexico.

It was from The Shawshank Redemption. I watched it on the big screen about 16 years ago. With whom I can't remember...but I wonder if at 16 then, I could feel it as much as I did now. The narration was intelligent and moving.

The other Mexican movie was Y tu Mama Tambien (whatever the hell it means, however the hell you pronounce it). I borrowed from sis who, like me, seems to have a 'fetish' for anything non-Hollywood. The more indie the better. The more non-English the better. I appreciated its blatancy.

And the last watched and recommended one was Dorian Blues. Like any other gay movies which I've seen, I thoroughly liked.

So seriously, please don't talk to me about Korean dramas. I'm just not interested. Nothing wrong with them but just not interested. :D

Wonder Woman

I'm really referring to myself (not very modest ain't I?).

I mean it. Considering that my nights had been lousy for 2 consecutive times, having woken up at 3am this morning and being in the office looking sane and awake is one mean feat (and did I forget to mention I conducted a 2-hour system training session to the department this morning?) Yes, Mong's turn to fall ill. He vomited all the milk and plain water we fed him 30 minutes before.

So what is parenthood? I believed I mentioned once it's not for the weak-hearted. It is also defined as the role filled with the most guilt traps. But it keeps you grounded. You are reminded how strong you can be, when challenged physically, mentally and emotionally.

Having 2 troops gives me the chance to witness empathy at a young age. Mong and his sis share this silly game which I call The Bonding Game. I noticed that whenever Becks cried or was in agony (eg. when she vomited), Mong would start the game, attempting to cheer up his jie jie. Damn sweet.

PS: OK, I'm cheered. Angie my colleague just called me to say "4pm". That's code word for our pantry session. Teh tarik time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Down!

A Sunday that starts at 6am can't be wonderful....unless you are taking part in the StanChart marathon (then again, I believe that's considered LATE).

No, I was woken up by Becks who tossed and turned for an hour already. Then she vomited whatever she consumed, including plain water. It was a loooong loooong Sunday.

4some

The regular Saturday lunch (again WHAT are you thinking?)....I'm gonna miss it!

Sis is getting posted to Ho Chi Minh end Jan 07. It appears she will have large shoes to fill, after some manager in his 40s will be demoted (by her no less!). She was getting restless in Singapore, with most of her closer friends being overseas. Also, the very single her just wants change. Lucky her, some people dun get their dreams come true in the same lifetime.

About Taiwan...not really.

I lost my mood to blog about my (personal) trip to Taiwan. I was actually waiting for the pictures taken by my vendor to be sent to me but she's probably not gonna do it anytime soon....

What I really wanted to post was the dinner they took us - fine-dining. I wanted to show a picture of the steak I ordered. A steak as thick as a Harry Potter book. A steak which I struggled to finish. A steak I never saw so many tendons on. A steak so friggin expensive which I would regard as a sin just to order. Then there was soup, dessert, exotic tea and more exotic tea. By the time we were done, we were practically floored! But it was an unforgettable experience.

Taiwanese are polite. A lot of 'xie xies' in everything they do. They are also disciplined (queue to board trains, stand on the right on escalators (they stand on the right)) and mind their own business. I found myself staring/studying them a few times, perhaps out of habit. It set me thinking that people with physical and mental handicap really don't have it easy in Singapore. Maybe this is a bold statement but a look around many public places reveal that they are objects of ostracization. Luckily we are wising up, getting more sensitive towards their needs now. :)

Anyways...............SW makes great travelling company. Basically, we share the same objectives - not shopping, not eating a lot, just exploring. We really maxed out personal time, finishing the meeting by noon, taking the train to the city and then reaching hotel close to midnight, only to wake up at 7am the next morning for more walking.

Hence, as kinda promised yesterday, I complete my 'explanation' for soreness (my legs...again I say. What were you thinking?). Taiwan I like...without having to pay myself for the major expenses. I can say I'm pretty done with that country for now....unless the photos come my way soon. Now to push for a Europe business trip next year... :P