Monday, March 31, 2008

Sophie Kinsella

Phew! Glad Mich has heard of and even has a collection of Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella! Hope she likes my gift...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND!
I love the author. Ever since I've stumbled upon her books in the library, I've been zooming straight to the KIN shelf to check if there are any others not on loan. She's nice-looking and she's got a great sense of humour. Now how many of our girlfriends belong to this category? :PPP

A Picture Paints A Thousand Words

While I was battling with my sinus on the way to work - as usual! - I couldn't help but glance at the packet of facial tissue from which I had been pulling continuously pieces and pieces to save my morning. "Cutie" says the plastic...with a picture of a baby with black curly hair in diapers (wait, or is it a rikishi???).

I am amused. Who comes up with the designs? Imagine a group of guys in smart black Hugo Boss suits coming together for a meeting, working overtime daily, brainstorming designs that will capture the hearts of consumers. And finally, the CEO goes : "I like the baby! We go for that one!"

Thursday, March 27, 2008

My Neighbour

There are some people in this world whom you should never have a run-in if your life depends on it. In-laws (especially MOTHER-in-law. It is an innate quality for most women to not forgive and/or forget), colleagues (you see them more often than you see anyone else), boss (you are f*cked! Forget about that increment...) and neighbours (they know who lives in your unit, what living style you adopt, what your underwear looks like).

I went through it, albeit a slight one (actually how should I define 'slight'? It's not like there's a meter to measure this sorta thing) last weekend.

For months I had tolerated with their frequent drilling, the screechy sound of furniture being dragged across the floor, their dog pit-pattering across, marbles dropping on the floor at anytime of the day...and night, etc. So while I was watching a movie in a blissful state and my troops were napping, this sudden loud drilling came directly above my head! I was shocked and angered. True enough, the troops were jolted from their slumberland and Mong was shrieking, inconsolable. That angered me even more, so I trudged upstairs immediately and rang the doorbell.

Once, twice...nothing. Then I heard a child's voice inside so I was certain at least an adult was home. I knocked on the wooden door a few times and finally, a crack opened. The face that met me wasn't polite. The attitude that accompanied it was even worse - she was haughty and defensive while explaining to me about decibels and that 'drilling was community noise'.

Community noise??!!! Drilling??? I told her I wasn't convinced because there are time restrictions and since it was a Sunday, actually no prolonged drilling should be allowed. She was almost close to slamming the door when she kept going, "You can check with NEA. OK?....OK?!" What was I to do? So I said "OK" and with that, she closed the door. *bitch!*

Seething, I called the neighbourhood police to confirm there is no 'acceptable decibel' but for drilling works to be carried out, it boiled down to how long and if the resident/s was tolerant enough. *ha! I win!* A few exciting options swam my mind. I could either get the police to check on them or slip in a note, quoting so-and-so about her being wrong. Well, luckily I managed to calm down and stay rationale within 10 seconds. No sense in worsening things with your neighbours. Also, I still had that lovely movie to complete...and Mong was already pacified and resuming his nap. So I went back to my normal life and decided to close the case.

The highlight of my Sunday.

LIFE

RJ told me she has been thinking about life. Well this was through sms so I did not ask further and neither did she elaborate. The first thing that went through my mind were a couple of words - osteoporosis and calcium.

Osteoporosis is one disorder that hits women and we should all be very concerned about delaying the process. Calcium is the key, right? I don't suppose the milk in my teh tarik and teh si counts, so other than that, I really don't consume milk or any other dairy products.

I need to get calcium pills pronto. What's a good brand? All the same isn't it??? It's just a matter of aggressive marketing and hence, different retail pricing (what does sis' voice keep ringing in my ear? FYI - she is in product marketing). So first, to battle with the Devil Procrastinator in me. *the problems that I have.....life...*

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

User Acceptance Testing

For a module which was going to be launched on 1 April and having presented to about 25 companies already, the fact that we are still going through UAT and the 3rd one is a fucking worrying sign.

It doesn't end. There were still observations to be rectified! By when, by when??????

The system developer seemed to be losing their steam. To be fair, they were very competent and great to work with at the start. After 2.5 years and a continuous series of phases, I guess every normal human being will get burnt out. But professionally speaking, should it even happen? Can we get our money back? :P

Zzz

I go to work today, bleary-eyed. It's been some time since my physical endurance has been put to the test. Mong had a temperature of 39C at 3:30am. After medication and sponging, by the time he fell asleep and I fell asleep, it must have been close to 6am already (I dared not look at the time!).

Luckily there is nothing major going on today. I have mastered the art of sleeping with my eyes open afterall..........

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Get Butt Naked!

I have to post about one of my very few close friends who have not yet been claimed by exhausting motherhood and/or auntiness, one still with a lot of zest and healthy sense of fashion and entrepreneurship.

I met her over lunch and teh-si, always enjoyable with our crappiness, bitchiness, seriousness. She showed me a few pieces of accessories which she has bought for her e-shop, something which was conceived many years ago I believe, and finally born out of creativity, hard work and risk-taking.

Kudos, Mich! And congrats for finally taking the leap!

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Beauty is Impermanent

Following M's footsteps, after watching Daniel Day-Lewis' sterling performance in There Will be Blood, I found myself interested, curious in fact to see him again in The Last of the Mohicans.

It actually felt weird to find him so attractive in the latter movie because he's not really there now. Then I did the Math and realised when it was filmed, he was a good 34 years old only (*hint hint* I turn 34 this year). No wonder the aura of manliness!

Beauty is truly impermanent. Hell 'yea! What did I expect??? At this point, some people may think I'm being shallow and cliche...the artsy people will go "his looks may have left but his craft gets better with age".

I don't disagree.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

For ole times' sake?

Just met the gals for lunch and we were thinking up a list of secondary school classmates whom we wanted to see, either out of curiosity ("let's see who got fat and ugly" or "are you really that pretty or successful as so-and-so had claimed?") or genuine interest ("are you doing fine in life? I'll like to see you again after this").

The combination ended up seeming odd. I wonder if it can materialize!

F.A.T.

I saw my photos taken 4 years ago....thought I'd never say this about myself - I got fat!

Friday, March 14, 2008

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Que Sara Sara

Lunch was with my boss at Ma Maison Restaurant @ Central. It was organized personally to break the news officially to me that he is leaving on 1 May. I thought I was soaked in hell already. Looks like the journey to the ultimatum is nowhere near ending yet. It is likely I will report directly to the MD... petty emotional power-hungry...any more substitutes for HORROR?

Que sara sara....................................

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

To be or not to be...married

A few secondary school galfriends have located me in Facebook recently. I wonder why their first question tends to be: "Are you married? Have kids yet?" One of them was amusing. She added - "I'm not and don't intend to be."

OK OK! I wasn't asking!
(I don't care even if you die a virgin)

Saturday, March 08, 2008

Taiwan (4-7 Mar)

I am easily coaxed in the company of energetic gal friends. Energetic for retail therapy, grooming, etc, that is. I did nail art for the first time. In Taiwan no less. All 10 fingernails in leopard spots, bright as day.

RRRRoarrr!!!

The business trip was mentally gruelling but thankfully, the testing completed half a day earlier which enabled us some free time. We woke up at 6:30am on the last day to catch a train to Taipei City, then to Danshui. Picture this....Raffles Place to Boon Lay.

No regrets. The weather and the scenery were fantastic.

Monday, March 03, 2008

Uppity Gourmet

On a lighter note, the dinner at Shang Palace on Friday night wasn't bad if you focus on the food SOLELY. I heard it cost about S$200 per person. I can live with that, given that I'll never splurge that kind of money on food.

Out on a LimP

5 days and Mas Selamat is still out there, on a limp.

It's really a big jolt to everything about Singapore. Can we reset? And how far back...in order to restore people's confidence?