Jobs & Blog Patrol...*and I'm back*

3 days in Taiwan was a blast. Yes, it was a business trip but we don't forget that 'self' comes 1st under any circumstance, right?

Before I get there to explain how I ended up feeling so pooped and sore (my legs!) today, I would like to thank my friend, Keathan for alerting me about my blogsite (yes this one) appeared in The Straits Times on 28 Nov. His sms came in the middle of my wonderful breakfast at the hotel, something about doing 'damage control'. I was so freaked out.

But ah...I found out it's not the swearing that will land me in jail (or Xiaxue would have gotten there already and long time ago), not any insensitive remarks that will land me dissected by netizens, not any hideous pictures posted that will land me lose face....it was just a harmless and very honest personal comment I entered.

So...phew. My 15 nano-seconds of "fame". :P

And so it leads me to wonder the people behind the scenes - the ones on blog patrol. It must be a visually straining job to read through blogs after blogs, sussing out key words, key materials of the moment, sensitive and insensitive ones, etc. I think people going for movie and food reviews have it more interesting.

I visited the Zhongzhen Memorial Hall in Taiwan and there stood 2 guards, opposite each other, with a poker face to match. They don't flinch, they stare ahead and just blink their eyes - you get the picture. It's a feat to deal with the monotony! I hear that every hour they swop places (OK, there must be a more honourable way of terming this) but that should be about their only highlight of the day.

Then again, a job is a job. A toast to it for simply helping us pay our bills.

Taiwan

27-29 Nov: OoO & OoB

Eww...

There are things which make me go 'ewww'.

I'm not talking about the regular things like bloody wounds, squashed-up snails, etc.

I drink soya bean milk every morning; I'll buy a cup from this stall on my way to office. I'll usually heat it and let the wonderful warmth of the beverage flow down my throat. Today, not sure why....perhaps the temperate was really set too high but there is this thin crumply layer that lies on top of the drink. VERY disgusting to me.

For those who know me, they know I'm a little weird of sorts. I cringe when I see blood on chicken drumsticks (cannot eat anymore), I cringe when I see bubbles floating around my Milo/TT (must remove them first), I used to cringe when I see anything yellow and wobbly (think egg custard tart and egg yolk - could not eat at all), I instinctively gag (and can almost puke) when my tongue touches some food soft and which I'm not aware of existing (think fats in a kong bah...hence kong bah remains my worst nightmare as a food).

Luckily I'm a girl, not a guy who needs to be enlisted in the army (combat unit). I'd rather have periods. Thank you very much.

TGIF!

Laughter, the Best Medicine

Nothing like humour to perk up your day.

Here I am in my seat, looking stoned from reading boring work emails when I decided to check out Kenny Sia. Kenny is one blogger whom I dunno personally but whose blog I enjoy reading. I read my friends' to keep myself updated on their lives, to be familiar with what they feel and think, to spot their grammar and vocabulary mistakes (haha! KIDDING), etc. I dun read strangers'. I mean they can be self-indulgent (they'll use the same defence line - "hey, it's my blog. I can post whatever I like and keep going on about me, myself and I.........") but irritatingly self-indulgent. If not, the more serious ones will be ranting about the GST increase. I mean, forget it lah. It's gonna happen. That bowl of bar chor mee is going to cost from $3 to $3.50 soon. Nothing we say, do, rant, complain, blog, sing, rap will change this impending doom.

I dunno what this entry is for anyways. Maybe it's just a message to remind all that laughter is indeed the best medicine. Heck the laughing lines...dun forget to stop and smell the roses.

A Bond

I'm upset when we have disagreements.
I cried when I knew what you are going through.
I'm definitely bringing the secret to my grave.

Dear friend, we are tighter than I thought.
I'll be there for you.

Lip Service?

I risk posting this because she knows my blogsite. But because of her insanely busy life and that she's overseas (she's practically selling her soul to the company!), whatever little time she has left, she will devote it to her other half, eating, sleeping, pee-ing and shitting.

But if she really does read my blog and chance upon this, she may confront me.

I finally saw her online yesterday...very excited since it's been months we chatted.

(1) AL: Hey..........just the other day, I've been thinking about how long we haven't chatted.
*THEN WHY DON'T YOU EMAIL INSTEAD? YOU NEED MSN TO MAINTAIN A FRIENDSHIP OR JUSTIFY YOUR EXISTENCE WITH ANOTHER FRIEND?????*
Miffy: Oh, yea, I definitely have been...in fact, I sent you a birthday greeting but no reply.

(2) AL: You didn't get my reply? I thought I sent you...
*WELL YOU THOUGHT WRONG.*
Miffy: No, I didn't receive any. No matter.

(3) Miffy: Let me know when you gals come to Singapore....it'll be fun.
AL: Dun be pissed when you hear this............
Miffy: What? You will never come to Singapore again?
AL: We've just gone...2 weeks ago. I tried to call you at your cell but it didn't reach you.
Please dun get mad.
Miffy: Till another time I guess.
* YAH RIGHT. MY CELL DIDN'T REGISTER ANY MISSED CALLS. NEITHER DID IT HAVE ANY PRIVATE NUMBERS COMING IN IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS. AND EVEN WHEN IT DID DROP INTO THE TOILET BOWL, I HAD A REPLACEMENT IMMEDIATELY (readers, dun look for loopholes, OK?)*

Why do this? I mean, say things which I want to hear (read)? I dun buy it anymore. I'm fuckin 32, not 18. I just need some honesty and sincerity. I like AL but I hate to think she's falling into the category of the above.........sigh.

Beauty with no Beast

We all know the classical Disney story of Beauty and The Beast which was also made into a movie many years ago. I wonder how it originated - art imitating life or life imitating art? Today we think Beyonce & Jay-Z and Julia Roberts & Lyle Lovett (thankfully this is past).

What I want to share is this morning, I saw a couple - 2 beauties, side by side with no beast in sight. 2 beauties sleek as hell, purring softly as the traffic light stood red.

2 dark maroon Peugeot Coupe 406.

:D~~~~~~~~~~~~

Un-organic...YUM!

Why go organic when there's still ham chin peng (with red bean paste) on the surface of this earth?

And that was what I ate right after lunch...after many moons. I can't remember it can delight my palate so much. Thinking about sweet foods, I'm reminded that it's been very long since I last ate cold tau huay. It was usually enjoyed with :B when she was working just a stone's throw away.

Passion in food can only be ignited with the right company. Guess I can only find it during weekends now...with M. :)

VivoCity

We finally checked out VivoCity. Considering it was quite early and its massive space, we didn't develop any claustrophobia. The biggest mistake though, was having the play area built smack in the middle where the hot scorching sun would shine. HDB estates do it so well - playgrounds are sheltered at the peak of noon, hence children (and teachers) from childcare centres get to enjoy them.

DUH.

And I am in love....with Natalie Portman. For those seeking subtle humour, friendship ties and romance, please watch Garden State. Finally I rented one right movie in weeks. :)

Lunch with "Nanny"

Remarkably impromptu. Remarkably nice. Remarkably we-must-do-it-again-soon.

PS: I'll see you, David Lee Choon Hoe in my next life...
PPS: I wanted to say more nasty things about this David (cos mainly he doesn't know my blog. Haha) but I shall stop in case you readers think I'm so warped and critical these days. Yes, PMS!!! :D

The Cold War

I really mean The "Cold War"....and not the Soviet-American struggle that emerged after WWII.

I hate to think of myself as one of those many petty women but well, it is still ongoing. I didn't blog that it started, when it started, how it started...with my Corporate Planning-cum-HR Manager, infamously known for her nickname - CF (Cauliflower (hairstyle)...or maybe it's just a bunch of pubes up there) - and her hunger for power.

Because she interfered excessively in my Division's recruitment (I heard she is doing the same in others) and in the event passed a harsh, totally IRrelevant and personal criticism, I had let her know it wasn't tolerated. And so we stopped talking, stopped being the pals we were before, going for lunches, going home together, exchanging friendly teases.

I guess she reigns in areas (simply put, cock-sucking) where most of us can't and won't. The 'power' that she's been entrusted has gone to her head....and so it swells to a proportion that I (and the rest of us) can no longer find socially and professionally acceptable.

And so it rages on.....

PS: I was kidding about the "Make love, not war" entry a few days ago. Pui....

End of one milestone...

Today marks the last day of school for Becks. It is another strange feeling again....When school reopens next year, she is going to be in Kindergarten. I cannot believe how time flies, how quickly she is growing (yea yea, and how quickly we are ageing...).

Travelling (part 2)

Speaking of travelling, I know I mentioned about letting the photos speak for themselves when I visited our neighbour last week. There were a lot more. I particularly like one where all 4 of us squeezed ourselves to death while Michelin's cam was on auto mode but alas, that one wasn't up yet. Anyways, I love these too, for different reasons.

Top: Unbelievable Photo1 (me in k'ok?!), Unbelievable Photo2 (:B served us rice!)
Bottom: The Dearies, Us 3

Travelling

The Brazil trip is finally confirmed, with 2 people in my Division going.

It's going to be one loooooong trip given the travelling and transit time (10-21 Dec). And due to being such good sports *duh*, they will be having time off at Amsterdam on the pretext of viewing our Europe Distribution Centre (this would probably take only about an hour...hence, it's all BS but why not).

Yes, I have consciously given up the chance. And just like how my friends had prepared me for any regrettable feeling for not attending my own convocation many moons ago, again, I'm sure I'll have none this time. :)

SGH...again

I just made another appointment at SGH next week. I dun care how it's gonna be done, whether the pain would be worse than before. JUST GET IT OUT FROM ME.

Smelly~~~

NEVER EVER consume onion for lunch. I mean not as the main meal lah. The bloody thing wasn't visible in the food I ordered....but when I discovered it, it was too late. Now no Mentos mint can save me. Not even the super strong one.

Lunch was with YC. It's been a year since we met. I knew her 8 years ago. She was a bar hostess before and was with a divorcee (or was he married?) even before she turned 21. Today, she's doing well in her job but still trying to shake off her ex-husband who refuses to stop stalking her. Few years ago when he was still in Singapore, he was given a restraining order and was even detained for domestic violence. He jumped bail, left the country and hasn't been back since. But he has not stopped hounding her at her cell, home and worse of all, office number. Hence, most reluctantly she's on an active search for 'the next ideal' job so that once she leaves, she can change all her other contact numbers.

I am just thankful I dun have detestable people in my life whom I'm desperate to shake off....for now. :P

Make love, not war.

Strangeness

It is a strange feeling. For lack of vocabularly, I would say it's like missing something.

The last time I experienced such strangeness was 4 years ago. When I just gave birth to Becks. An addition in my life. Talking about her was surreal.

Like any other thing, I hope I get used to this soon...

:(

There's just supposed to be one big news...about :B's departure tonight. She leaves for Japan to work for 3 years.

But before I get there, I got another one this morning.
GST hike: 5% to 7%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Perhaps just like the last time, consumers will scramble to buy things before the hike. I'm trying to think of a list for myself, for the kids, for the house, for anything and anyone around me. I have been looking at the dreary curtains in the rooms. They do a pretty good job blocking out the sunlight...but the blue. A sad sad blue.

Anyways! Yes, today marks :B's departure. Michelin and I would not be sending her off, hence we popped a surprise visit at her place last night. Not forgetting the farewell gift, not forgetting the TT which I tabao-ed.

We spent time going on a 'house tour', looking through her childhood photos (I was expecting her to look fat and pimply...but alas, it was all anti-climatic. You really didn't look too bad, :B!) and laughing at the usual silly jokes.

I have had many friends who's left Singapore to work but I think this time it's pretty different in that the friendship is still 'at a high' when this friend of mine leaves. It's strange how things do seem sweeter.

I know I ain't the sort who would chat at home regularly, get a webcam (just tell me if you have grown fat, changed your hairstyle, pierced your nipple, grown a mole, more pimples, etc) but I can be damn darn sure that we will not be out of touch.

Heard of the ole (tacky) saying during primary school days? Friendships Remain And Never Can End.

ALL THE BEST buddy!!!!

Beach

Sunday

M and I just wanted to be good parents, fulfilling a little girl's wish to go to the beach. When we set off at 10ish, it never occurred to us how ill-prepared we were.

I am being kind. I meant how lunatic we were.

With no cap/hat, no sun glasses and no sunscreen, we were out in the middle of the beach, feeling the sand and waves with our feet. Becks seemed to be enjoying herself scooping sand, pouring more water, scooping more sand and making shapes with the toys. Then the heat became really unbearable...and I looked around and saw NOBODY doing the same as what we did.

Well, it was an effort. We believe Changi Beach would be better. I remembered more matured trees with wider canopies = more shade. Till next week... :D

R.I.P.

*plop...!*

There goes my handphone, into the toilet bowl.
I was cutting my nails over the sink on Friday night, believing that Mong would be completely occupied with the videos on my handphone. No. He had to walk right into the toilet, stand next to me and conduct his Science experiment on density.

I scooped up the handphone *thank God no poo nor pee then* and tried ways to salvage it.

I believe it is officially dead...

Lizards

My biggest personal fear factor.

I heard on the radio the other day that lizards have personalities. I was totally amused. Some have mood swings, some are sociable, some are scheming....what?

Miffy sees lizard on the wall of living room.
Miffy (at a distance): Hello, I see you around often.
Lizard: Beat it. No mood to talk.
Miffy: *ok, unfriendly one*

Sleep

I just dun get it. Sleep...sometimes it comes easily, sometimes not. Ceteris paribus. Why???

People would generally advise: "Dun think so much lah. Just close your eyes, relax, count ....."

Thing is, I can't sleep and hence I think! Not the other way round! And so last night, sleep eluded me after 4am. I was wide-eyed, thinking about what to do in the next few hours. Where my mom will be bringing the troops today (since Becks has no school), what time I am meeting :B for TT, which I should watch first - Sex, Lies and Videotape or The Hills Have Eyes (thanks to :B) this weekend, time to call up the aircon place to service the aircon (when?), when I'm sinking my teeth into a juicy steak, etc. You get the picture. An assortment of things. Chaos.

And so, after 2 hours later, I slept again....an hour before the alarm rang. I dun feel so bad now...maybe not yet. And luckily I brought my spectacles. No more blurry images today! :)

TGIF!

PS: M is taking part in The Bull Run this evening. Heh. Ganbate!

Help...

I am giddy, I am nauseous, I am tired and I am tearing....

No, I am not pregnant! I forgot to bring my spectacles today. With 3 pairs at home, I brought none of them out when I left for work this morning. None. So much for lack of "optimum management"...

Pissy Pissed

Rude people vs Hypocrites: Which do I detest more?

At least hypocrites don't give it to you in your face...your anger may not be fuelled.
*actually can I not choose? I hate them fucking both*

OK, I'm done with the venting. Any good news to blog about, you ask early in the morning? Well..................................................

1. MM Lee made it to the Top 60 Asian Heroes' List (I believe it's TIMES)
2. Singapore is reviewing the penal code after more than 20 years. They are going to de-criminalize anal sex between 2 consenting hetereosexual adults *wink*
3. I haven't chewed on my nails for the past 2 days (I think I've discovered the trick).
4. Boss is still out of office, making today my 2nd official day of zen.

"Mission" Accomplished!

We finally did it. We took a bus into JB.

It may seem lame and a daily affair to some but trust me, to arrive at this date for all 4 of us to get to the point (actually especially the 3 of us) wasn't easy. In between, many unexpected events had arisen which I must admit dampened my enthusiam and faith in materializing the idea.

I would just like to say it was time well-spent with close friends. I love JB's KFC chicken (no blood!), I love the space without the crowd (think VivoCity...what a putoff), I love the wide variety of DVDs *oops* (I actually found Jackie Brown after 9 years!), I love the comfort of the karaoke room which didn't smell like a chimney and had seemingly new leather seats (and it's confirmed I am not tone-deaf).

And so, I shall let the photos speak for themselves (soon...).

Conversation of the Month

Miffy: Mummy loves you.
Becks: I love you too.
Miffy: Thank you for sharing this with me.
Becks: So now we can get married?
Miffy: *????!!!!!!!!!!*

Bus Rides

My advice is - if you have a car, dun forget to learn how to take the bus. Or rather, dun forget how joyful a bus ride can be.

I know some of you may think I'm crazy or if I'm paid by the government to go 'green' in my blog. I jump to my own defence - I mean this applies to buses which travel along the expressway, hence have few stops yet long enough to enjoy the ride, preferably with close friends and family.

One of such buses is 161. I take it from the bus stop right across my block and it goes via TPE/SLE to Woodlands' Causeway Point. Seated at the upper deck, it gave the troops a very good view of a river, thick undergrowth and different kinds of building.

It helps that I love the library there too, with a much greater variety of Adult and Children's books and a huge area for them to roam. We will definitely do it again. :)

"Independence Day"

Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot;
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.

Thanks to JC for the history lesson. When I watched V for Vendetta, I did not realise it was based on Guy Fawkes, brilliantly played by Hugo Weaving. It isn't my usual kind of entertainment but it's still recommended. Very cleverly written by the brothers who created The Matrix cult.

Talking about movies, this weekend fell rather flat. I was watching all the movies which I went x2/x4/x8 (fast forward at different pace) and hence, probably killed the essence. No offence :B. Maybe I wasn't in the mood. Or maybe it's really not easy getting the kinda movie I fancy. I couldn't imagine watching Audition at the original pace the movie was shot. GOSH! I had been so patient and forgiving?????

It was a 'feat' though, to have had this much personal space to watch the movies. 'Cos Sunday marked the 1st day of my maid's day off after being with us for 7 month. It has also been a long time for us considering my previous one was not granted one for a whole 2 years. So in a more significant manner, it marked the 1st day of our independence, of my independence.

It ended up with M cooking for Becks' lunch *haha!* and me feeding Mong - I dunno which is more difficult for me. Anyways, it went well and we managed to squeeze in time to bring the troops to the pool.

TGIF

'Twas a nice nice lunch with :B and her boyfriend (who is also my colleague). Good ole oily prawn mee and consistently-milky-and-hence-tasty-TT.

Thanks :B, for lending me Audition. I can't remember the details of the show, just that it was soooo sick. I think I can have a mini-film fest at home this weekend.

Also, the suaku me is feeling excited about the JB trip already. Not having been there for almost 5 years, my adrenalin rushes just the thought of spending time at a different place with good friends, spending some Ringgit (i.e. half price for the same product..or manicure?!), eating some chilli frogs (if we can find the place!), going for karaoke (if we can book the slot + please do not FORCE me to sing more than 1 Chinese song!), etc.

I am attending Becks' first-ever formal school graduation concert this evening. The letter states we have to put make-up on her. Er, her mummy doesn't even have a complete make-up set...maybe her Popo can lend hers. :P

TGIF it is!

Quote of the Month

"What eeeeeemo...izzat?" (What animal is that?)

- from Mong (surprise surprise)

Moving on...

Not that I wasn't. I am living life the only way I know how.

While I was at SGH staring at the number counter, waiting for my queue number to appear, it felt like I was waiting for my life sentence. Surprisingly, my heart did not pump extra hard. I wonder whether Took Leng How feels the same - nothing.

Anyways, with the results out already, I can finally say - yay, I'm at peace once again ... for now... :) I look forward to the JB trip with :B and Say next Tuesday.