Don't be trapped in a bubble.

2009-06-27T12:23:00.003+08:00

And so, I've decided to move my blog and at the same time make it a space to express positive thoughts.

Find me at www.alittlepastbedtime.com

On being a missus

2009-01-07T00:48:00.002+08:00

So the morning after the wedding, while we were knackered and resting in bed, I suddenly started crying. He, of course, was startled and asked what was wrong.

"Don't know. I think I'm just happy," I croaked.

Pause.

"Then wouldn't you be crying every day from now on?" he asked.

And then I bawled.

*embarrassed*

Ok I know I'm slow

2008-10-31T21:59:00.002+08:00

But I only just recently discovered OneRepublic and it was only because their song was featured on Gossip Girl. *lol*

Here's a current favourite. It's called Come Home.

Hello world
Hope you're listening
Forgive me if I'm young
For speaking out of turn
There's someone I've been missing
I think that they could be
The better half of me
They're in their own place trying to make it right
But I`m tired of justifying
So i say you'll..
Come home
Come home

Cause I've been waiting for you
For so long
For so long
And right now there's a war between the vanities
But all I see is you and me
The fight for you is all I`ve ever known
So come home

Gasp

2008-10-31T21:22:00.002+08:00

Over the last year and a half, I never counted the number of stories I had to file each month.

Well, I made an exception today and shocked myself in the process.

14 write-ups to file

In 2 weeks

No wonder I can never finish everything in time

Granted not every one of them is that time-consuming

But still...

I'm so glad this is the last time I have to do this.

This is my workstation

2008-09-15T19:53:00.002+08:00

Ain't I organised?

I heart Charlotte Ronson

2008-09-09T22:11:00.003+08:00

Sigh... If only good clothes and shoes were more affordable!

Dominique Boot with Knit Cuff, US$268

Shearling Bootie, US$260

I was bored

2008-09-09T15:24:00.002+08:00

Thanks to yz and my kaypoh-ness, I've agreed to do the following meme (my first I think!). Here're the rules:

I can only send you the questions if you promise to do the meme!

1. Next to each number, write only the name of the person who fits.
2. Answer one question with one name.
3. Don’t tell the questions to anyone who isn’t doing the meme.

***

1. YZ
2. YZ, XW, Doreen, XY, SH and other babes from sec sch
3. Any travelling musician, maybe Jason Mraz
4. Huang Zheng
5. Janan, H's 5-yr-old nephew
6. Me (though I mostly keep these things to myself!)
7. YZ
8. Hopefully Monster or Ashin
9. H
10. Huiling (NJ)
11. Hollywood celebrities
12. Anne Hathaway
13. er... don't know what to make of this
14. Many girls I know/ Andy Lau
15. Probably Feng Tian Wei from the national table tennis team. Cos she seems like she'd make a super cool dude.
16. No one at all
17. Everyone to a certain extent
18. Don't know...
19. Huiling (NJ)
20. Denise, YZ, ZY, XL
21. Doreen and Huang Zheng (back when we were all childish - though we probably still are now)
22. That'd be scary!
23. Myself
24. Hopefully no one
25. Ashin
26. I don't want H to kill me!
27. H and most mothers in the world
28. Er no one in particular
29. It's a toss-up between Ryan Lochte and Ashin. I'd have said Monster but he smokes and I don't like the smell of cigarettes.
30. If your name is up there, I probably like you.

:-|

2008-09-07T20:19:00.003+08:00

And just like that, my one week leave is almost over. Saying I dread going back to the office tomorrow is a complete understatement. It's going to be such a long day tomorrow. :-(

On a brighter note, because of the free time we had this week, we (H and I) managed to tick a couple of items off our wedding to-do list. Here's what we've managed to do so far:

1. Confirm our booking of Villa Halia
2. Buy wedding bands (finally! and we are so in love with the design!)
3. KIV-ed a dress for the wedding
4. Booked the photographer
5. Booked the hair/makeup artist
6. Kinda figured out what wedding favour we'd be giving out

What's left to do:
1. Buy the dress (and H's outfit)
2. Tailor a cheong sum for the tea ceremony (maybe)
3. Firm up the invite list
4. Find a florist
5. Chinese customary thingies (thingies because I have no idea what to expect)

I'm not an optimist so I'm sure cock-ups are going to happen and the to-do list will grow far bigger than we ever expect. But hey, I'm finally getting a teensy bit excited about being a bride. So that's progress!

Satisfied

2008-09-05T13:02:00.003+08:00

I don't think I've ever gotten an A for art in school. Nor was I particularly inspired in art class. Now, at the ripe old age of 25, I actually tried dry felting for the first time - on my own accord! You must be thinking, dry what? Felting is basically taking a bunch of raw wool and punching your needle into it repeatedly to firm it up and form a shape. And here, shamelessly presenting my virgin attempt (don't laugh ok):

There's this thing...

2008-08-30T13:56:00.003+08:00

I always had a penchant for shadows cast on the white wall in my bedroom. Love the lines (faint as they are) that are formed by the window grilles. Once in a while, I'd snap a picture, then tweak the colours and contrast in photoshop to see what kind of effects can be achieved. Of course, my profile picture is probably a much better example than the one here. Maybe I should start a "white wall snapshot" collection sometime down the road.

Anyway, finally managed to squeeze in a one-week break from work (and the rainy weather) next week. Off to Redang tonight for some sun and sand. Everyone be good! =)

Do we always have a choice?

2008-08-27T13:05:00.003+08:00

Choices, options, alternatives - these are just ideal ideas to a not-so-ideal world.

For instance: Theoretically I should and could quit my job if I were unhappy in it.

Actual situation: When you've got debts, bills, loans and other things to pay off each month, the cash-strapped situation will bring upon yet another wave of unhappiness. Isn't it such a vicious cycle?

Rights are also undermined these days.

For instance: It is our right to get X number of days off a year.

Actual situation: If our right is truly respected, why are we still expected to torture ourselves right before a block leave by completing an insane amount of work in an insane amount of time just so we can "rightfully" go on leave without "inconveniencing" someone else?

I'm so sick of ranting. I really don't want to do this. Is it time to do something radical?

Pensive again

2008-07-27T18:26:00.002+08:00

It seems the older I get, the more easily moody I become. I worry about many things. And I worry that my worries keep me from living the moment and regretting it when I'm in my retirement years.

I think it's time to start making a list of what I want to accomplish before I turn 30. I don't know if I should be glad that off the cuff, none of the things I really want to achieve involve career advancement. Hah!

Zzz

2008-07-12T02:06:00.007+08:00

Sleep deprivation really builds upon itself day after day. I wish there was a greater time difference here so we could at least catch more Zs before starting work!

Anyway I conclude that my pictures do not do justice to the Maldives or the resort at all. But here're some shameless self-gratifying shots for now:

Our little extended patio...

Walking down the patio steps to test the waters...

A little R&R on the hammock...

If only you were here

2008-07-11T05:17:00.002+08:00

The Maldivian sky was filled with stars big and small. By 2am Singapore time, we were completely beat after a 4-hour flight and a long delay at the customs. But sitting on the yatch that brought us to the resort, with the wind and salt water in your face, time really did seem to stand still for a bit (as old-fashioned as it sounds) as I gazed at the beautiful sky.

I thought we were going to get their cheapest beach villas but turns out we got the water villas. It's gorgeous but too dark for pictures now. Hope to post more updates soon. Miss everyone.

Hmpf

2008-07-08T11:56:00.002+08:00

It's so convenient to lay blame on someone (no prizes for guessing who) when you have the memory of fish. #%%%#^

It's so ironic

2008-06-30T23:37:00.002+08:00

Every month, I tell women what to eat, drink and do to keep themselves happy, healthy and glowy. But yet I feel like the least balanced person in the world now.

Fatigue - Check
Crabby mood - Check
Sore throat - Check

No idea how I'm supposed to survive both the work trip next week + the run the weekend after...

Oh well at least the boss managed to arrange for me to have my own room at the resort. Have to thank her for that. Hopefully spending a week with the sun and sea will toss out some new perspectives to things.

Dream Big

2008-06-29T12:08:00.003+08:00

Caught a rather interesting movie yesterday called 21. It's about how a group of MIT undergrads (all Math whizzes) makes a killing in Vegas by counting cards at Blackjack. After a few weekends, the originally poor struggling students were soaking up the high life in Sin City by staying in high roller suites, buying designer gear, leaving big tips at clubs. As Ben Campbell in the film put it: "Nothing was too expensive" and "I'm having more fun than I ever had in my life".

Not that playing BJ became their long-term vocation but I couldn't help drawing a comparison between them and myself.

They had:
- Above-average intelligence
- At least a degree from MIT if this BJ stint didn't work out
- The guts to dream BIG

I have:
- Average intelligence
- A Bachelor's degree from a university in SEA that most foreigners probably haven't heard of
- The guts to dream but the lack of execution

Dang.

I know it's ridiculous to compare myself to a bunch of almost-entirely fictional characters and I most definitely do not need high-roller suites and designer gear to be happy. But when you're caught in a career rut, all you want to do is think of a way out - and fast. Tell me I'm not the only one who feels this way?

U know u need help when...

2008-06-11T14:50:00.002+08:00

1. All you can think about during work is playing Harpoon Lagoon.

2. You subconsciously start blog-surfing and completely forgot which story you were supposed to be researching on.

3. You'd rather be out taking pictures for your new photo blog.

It's a start...

2008-06-09T19:22:00.002+08:00

After many weeks of excuses, I finally put on my running shoes and hit the tarmac this evening. Lotsa training to do before the run (next month!) if I want to finish in one piece.

2008-05-15T08:55:00.002+08:00

I don't enjoy the feeling of being pulled in different directions all at once, including my own. Why can't things be simpler? Why does everyone I can make my own choice when really I don't, for multiple reasons? Why must we be bound by so many physical and emotional limitations and end up pleasing everyone else but ourselves?

Maybe, as Mich said, we're literally chained to this world we're born in. There's only this much freedom we're accorded. When all the difficulties close in on me and grab me by the neck, I just wish I could get away from it all. If I ever could that is.

Delirium Part 2

2008-05-07T20:29:00.010+08:00

OMG OMG OMG

Thanks to XL and YZ, the pictures from Mayday's concert are in!!! To those who don't have a clue that sensible MY can be a crazy groupie too, here's the proof:

Pre-concert shots

We were sitting right next to the runway people. We could just stick our feet out and step on the stage they were jamming on!

The mandatory high five.

Tinkerbell wand courtesy of Xueli

During the show

Yes we were this close. See all the outstretched arms? We were right there. Brushed our fingers by all of them! (Cept Guan You the drummer who didn't run on this side of the runway. But it didn't matter. hah!)

They sang many songs from their new album and skipped some old favourites so even though the concert ended past 11, it felt short somewhat. But you know how rockalicious they are when even after more than a week, you're still reeling from the effects of their high-octane performance. By reeling, I mean breaking out into their song out of the blue, obsessively checking their blogs for updates and searching high and low for their old albums. (I've been a fan since day one but mp3s made more economical sense to me when I was a student!)

Post-Concert

After much deliberation, we decided to head to Sin Hoi Sun, their "official" supper place here. We were so worried about looking crazed or despo but really on hindsight, there was no need to. The place was swarming with fans! We did keep a polite distance. And most importantly, we totally satisfied our curiosity cos we've been talking about it for so long and finally worked up the guts to follow them there!

We didn't do anything really: just sat, ate (a little bit cos the food was expensive and we weren't hungry) and watched them from a distance, albeit with a pillar in our way. But it was enjoyable in kind of an odd way. (I guess we really can only do such irrational things when we're young.)

Top of my wishlist now:
1. That they'd put up a show in Malaysia for this round of concerts
2. That they'd quickly finish their next studio album so we can quickly learn up the songs
3. That they'd come to Singapore again real soon

To those who missed the concert, here's a couple of videos for you. Doesn't beat the real thing though!

Taking It Easy

2008-05-05T02:16:00.002+08:00

If there's anything I learnt from listening to Mayday songs all of this evening, it's that I shouldn't take everything so hard. Some things are worth biting your nails and tearing your hair out for; most are not.

《九号球》
词：阿信曲：怪兽

逃走翻过围墙我只能逃走从教室里头
奔向自由熟悉角落有人在等我有挑衅的笑容

今天谁先开球让谁常点苦头
绿色地平线上我撞著彩色堕落

也许我这一杆又没办法进球
就像我的生活一直在出差错
也许我这一生始终在追逐那颗九号球
却忘了是谁在爱我
却忘了是谁在罩著我

从前书包很满装不下的梦就丢了一些
未来我们要怎么活凝视著白球暂时我不去想

天空渐渐变红影子爬满球桌
输赢没有结果像人生难以捉摸

也许我这一杆又没办法进球
就像我的生活一直在出差错
也许我这一生始终在追逐那颗九号球
却忘了是谁在爱我
却忘了是谁在罩著我

Delirium Part 1

2008-04-28T00:39:00.005+08:00

As expected, the Mayday concert was nothing short of fantastic (and heart attack-inducing) because we were just centimetres away from them when they ran up and down the runway (more on that in another post when pictures from last night are all sorted out).

Would like to highlight a part of the concert that was unexpected and touching. It was when Stone (the guitarist) sang a song he wrote for his one-year-old son. It was just the keyboard, his guitar, his voice and a lot of heart. I don't know why but there's something about a sweet rocker dad that makes me go all soft. Listen to the song here.

《咿呀呀》
词曲：石头（五月天）

呀咿呀呀咿呀呀
宝贝说的话咿呀呀
不要担心你很快就长大很快你就会叫妈妈

转眼你已经一岁了
宝贝还不会弹吉他
相信有一天你也会大声唱哥哥爸爸真伟大

你的微笑是魔法你的眼泪是我的慌张
你会有烦恼也会有悲伤有我在这里别怕

呀咿呀呀咿呀呀
宝贝说的话咿呀呀
我会担心你很快就长大很快就不会找爸爸

你会爱上你的她你会拥有也会失去啊
未来的路很远很漫长心痛的伤就让它去吧

你的微笑是魔法你的眼泪是我的慌张
你会有烦恼也会有悲伤有我在这里别怕
未来的路很远很漫长有我在这里别怕

On another note, it was during this song when one of the ushers came down and told us to sit down and that we could only stand if the others were standing too.

*mouth agape, utterly wtf-are-you-talking-about speechless*

It's that time of the month again...

2008-04-24T22:42:00.002+08:00

when I feel especialy worn out and jaded. (Deadlines, not PMS.)

The silver lining on the cloud is the Mayday concert this Saturday. We've got front-row tickets, people. FRONT ROW. That means we'll be the first to grab a piece of Ashin if he jumps off the stage. Rip his shirt, ruffle his sweaty hair, beg him to marry us or -fingers crossed - pull him in for a hug and a picture! =))))))))))))))

Yep, so thinking of the concert makes this week just that little bit more bearable. Work expectations can really be crushing. It's going to be 1 year on the job on 7th May. Haven't been an A-grade performer, but neither have I dropped the ball. Yet. A friend said I should try, just for the heck of it. Haven't quite worked up the guts for it. Hur hur.

What am I turning into?

2008-03-17T22:08:00.003+08:00

This morning I received another one of those calls from Prudential, asking me to attend their recruitment workshop or something.

For the first time, I actually paused and thought for a moment before saying no.

And the story continues...

2008-03-09T22:41:00.008+08:00

Boy meets girl.

They hang out. First over kopi at hawker centres.

Then to pretty restaurants. You can say they hit it off.

They travel.

They get a place together (no, it's not a big house).

Boy buys girl a fancy piece of jewellery.

They wonder what the next chapter holds.

Relieved

2008-02-28T00:45:00.003+08:00

Finally got 90% of the next issue done. Sometimes I find myself such a walking paradox. I bitch, I whine and I sulk every month about being underpaid and overworked. But at the end of the day, I still feel compelled to hand in my work on time. Even if it kills me in the process, a deadline is a deadline is a deadline. I guess I'm rigid this way.

Breathe

2008-02-15T22:12:00.003+08:00

Completely swamped at work. Please let me get through this month alive.

Exactly a year apart (well almost)

2008-02-10T21:35:00.000+08:00

From this:

To this:

The second picture was taken in Dec 07. Right now, they're concurrently working on the interior fittings and painting the outside. Can't wait!

This entry is x-posted on westtoeast.livejournal.com. We've decided to set up a blog to log entries on our home. (Hopefully we're conscientious enough to keep this up!) Also trying to find a cool template for the blog. Any livejournal experts?

Not good enough

2008-01-29T11:02:00.000+08:00

I hate coming up empty during discussions (especially impromptu ones). It's like I'm never knowledgable or eloquent enough to smoke through anything. It's a lousy feeling. I really should be working harder to improve myself.

First post of 2008

2008-01-28T00:55:00.000+08:00

Yes, I know I haven't been diligent in blogging. Considering my profession, the last thing I want to do after office hours is write. But I guess tonight I feel a little different. A bit thoughtful, pensive maybe, but mostly sentimental.

Met up with the beloved Aunties tonight. It's been a long time since all four of us sat down for a meal together. We were at Giraffe, laughing and yakking as if we were still the silly JC kids from 7 years ago. Only now our conversation topics revolve around husbands, mothers-in-law, career, housing - and even kids. (I can't wait to spoil their newborns rotten!)

There was a time when I thought we were invincible, as if age would never catch up with our spirit. But lately, I've had doubts about that. Besides the first signs of fine lines, I'm starting to understand a little bit of how jadedness feels like. I don't rant as much (I think). I don't pick fights. I just give a little sigh and plod on, come what may. Perhaps, this is what they mean by "growing up" - learning to accept that we're not all-powerful, that being contented with what you have is really what's most important.

P/S I really miss my friends and the days we were drunk with youth.

TGIF?

2007-11-30T23:42:00.000+08:00

Yet another weekend beckons. Fell asleep on the way home and it hadn't even hit 10pm. Think my body's getting old.

Back from Beijing

2007-11-09T11:59:00.000+08:00

Thought I'd be able to thoroughly enjoy the long weekend but ended up nursing a fever and sore throat last night. Bummer.

Restless Soul

2007-10-16T00:29:00.000+08:00

I've been logging on to Facebook so often that I've neglected this space. FB provides me with endless hours of mindless fun. I guess I'm starting to enjoy activities that don't require me to move a single brain muscle. Work tires me out mentally and emotionally even though I know I can still hang on to it for a while more. What keeps me going always is the reminder of our home in the making, our little paradise that will make every bit of sacrifice seem insignificant when completed.

Pictures

2007-10-07T14:11:00.000+08:00

Finally got around to picking and posting pictures from the trip. All images are on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=8997&l=29a3b&id=650128860). Too much work to put them up on the blog. Heh.

Home Sweet Home?

2007-09-30T16:12:00.000+08:00

How I wish the plane could make a U-turn and land at Siem Reap again. Especially when I know I have to be back at the office tomorrow. Reality really bites. The trip made me want to do many things. Maybe one day I could leave this country and make it all happen. Not that many pictures (as usual) on this trip. Will try to sort them out asap!

Wheeeeeeeeeee

2007-09-24T19:40:00.000+08:00

At this time tomorrow, I'll probably having a cheap and good back massage at the Siem Reap night market or downing US$2 tequilla shots along "bar street". Hehe. Till next week... tata!

Guess where!

2007-09-21T23:15:00.001+08:00

*grin*

On another note, I completed the Shape Run (5km la) a couple of weekends ago and managed to finish it in one piece! Here's the evidence:

38 minutes ok! For someone who could barely pass the 2.4km run in sch, I consider this a mighty feat! =p

Talk about coincidences

2007-09-04T23:10:00.000+08:00

The cab driver who sent me home tonight was the same guy who drove me to work this morning.

If only I could cross paths like this with Mayday.

Occasional Perk

2007-08-29T23:13:00.000+08:00

Spent close to an hour on the Go-Kart track today, all in the name of work. Whoppie!

On repeat... even though I haven't caught the movie

2007-08-26T17:14:00.000+08:00

Feeling kiddy

2007-08-16T18:42:00.000+08:00

I don't have any friend, relative or aquaintance who is a doctor, so I was pretty awestruck lunching with 3 specialists today. It was such an adult social gathering that I felt underaged in that room. Luckily the ed was around to make some intelligent conversation with those experts. Like wow.

Higher and higher

2007-08-06T17:07:00.000+08:00

I know I haven't been too diligent in posting images of the new place though we still make it a point to visit every month. It's definitely getting faster now. They're starting work on the 7th level!

On a side note, my recent string of blog entries has attracted quite a fair bit of attention from concerned friends. Just to let you guys know, I'm really ok now. I have to apologise for all the outbursts. The maniacal side completely possessed me! Hope it doesn't happen again next month. Really appreciate the well wishes and advice and thanks for just being here! =)

Thumb twiddling

2007-07-31T19:26:00.000+08:00

Finally got sometime to sit down and space out for a while, now that the stories are almost cleared. The fatigue from the last two weeks seems so far away now though really they're not and we'll have to start panicking for the next issue again soon.

It's been about 3 months since I started this job but I still feel awfully new. There're still so many things to learn and maybe as YZ said rightly, I haven't settled into my comfort zone yet. I long for the day when my stories are okayed on my first drafts and I can quit going for so many events. The day when I don't give myself so many headaches at work.

Alright, time to go meet the ex-colleagues for prata and gossip. Good food and good company, yippie!

Tearing my hair out

2007-07-25T19:16:00.000+08:00

It seems the more stressed out I am, the more I blog.

Don't know why I'm always running out of time every month. Is there a problem with my time management? Is it the 10 thousand events/luncheons/spa reviews that I'm expected to attend every week that's wasting the precious office hours that can be used to work on my stories? Is it that I'm overly anxious over the quality of work that I produce, worried that my stories will get thrown back at me with tons of re-working to do? (oh yes, it happens.) Or am I just overly sensitive and easily aggravated? I simply don't know.

I'm feeling so blah right now I don't even know how to express it in words, in sound, in tears, in anything. At this rate, I think I'm going to need to see a shrink soon. Either that or I can ask for an extension of deadline which is something I do nOt wish to do!!! *slams head on keyboard*

I wonder why...

2007-07-23T21:55:00.000+08:00

... I can't seem to avoid procrastination.

... I can't stop feeling stressed out (though I really have no reason to).

... it feels like ages have passed even though I've only been working for less than a year!

(I'm weighing the option of being a private tutor + freelance writer now. Very very appealing, but no, not just yet. Need more cpf money first, not to mention year-end bonus. Please let me stick it out for at least 1.5 years or until the flat is ready. Please.)

I heart Mayday forever

2007-07-21T21:20:00.000+08:00

Went to the KTV this afternoon. Re-visited some old songs, disovered some new ones. Still can't get over how songs written by Ashin always manage to tug at my heart strings, even if the tune is so ah beng and reminiscent of 80s canto-pop. haha. I can't help it la. The words just make so much sense to me. Pardon the poor sound quality of the clip.

丢掉手表丢外套丢掉背包在丢唠叨
丢掉电视丢电脑丢掉大脑再丢烦恼
野心大胆子小跳舞还要别人教
恨得多爱的少
只想越跳越疯越跳越高把地球甩掉

And the following is one of my favourite ballads by the band. =)

我为何要存在为何要感慨为何颤抖停不下来
你为何要推翻为何要离开为何给我这个答案
我们曾经那么精采我们曾经那么期待
最后你把回忆还我要我好好过

你话中的计算准确的伤害像精心打造的对白
我划开了动脉也许不醒来至少昨天无法毁坏
我们曾经那么精采我们曾经那么期待
最后你把回忆还我要我好好过
我们最后这么遗憾我们最后这么无关
时时刻刻每个现在都在嘲笑我

Note to self

2007-07-16T17:47:00.000+08:00

1. Be patient - It will only be a few years before some dreams can be realised in brick and mortar.

2. Be brave - Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

3. Be confident - You can only achieve as much as what you think you can achieve.

4. Be focused - You know the big picture, you know what you want. Don't be swayed by anything else.

Things that make me grumpy

2007-07-13T00:08:00.000+08:00

1. Long work days, especially when the work load doesn't seem lighter at the end of the night.

2. When PRs don't reply their emails fast enough or when they're never at their desk when they're badly needed.

3. When people think my job is all about free lunches, free cosmetic/skincare products and attending event launches.

4. When people think writing is easy.

5. When I recall the size of my paycheck.

Indulgence

2007-06-26T23:29:00.000+08:00

I hate (well, not really) getting hooked onto TV dramas. The entire day flies by and you realise all you've done is watch 10 back-to-back episodes of Ugly Betty. Sheesh...

A Strange But Wonderful Dream

2007-06-23T22:57:00.000+08:00

I was attending a campus concert of some sort. The show was about to begin so the audience were quietly seated.

Until the 2 emcees walked out, one of whom was Ashin. I could recognise his built and golden hair even though I was seated pretty far away from the stage.

There was instant pandemonium, as if no one knew that he'd be making an appearance. Everyone surged forward to snap pictures. I did not have a camera with me but while scurrying to the front, someone passed me a pink digicam (yes, v weird I know).

When I finally managed to elbow my way to the front, I caught Ashin's eye. He flashed the cutest smile ever and started striking goofy poses for ME. He puffed his cheeks out, flashed the v-sign and made funny expressions. At ME. For ME. *faints of happiness*

After a few quick shots, I ran back to my seat. At that moment, my eyes opened to reality and it was only then that the thrill of that dream took me over. It felt so damn real.

And that was probably as close as I can ever get to any idol. *sigh*

It's only this pretty in the movies...

2007-06-17T11:10:00.000+08:00

It's another one of those tragic love stories where one of the protaganists inevitably meets an ill-fated end. As bummed as I am about the sad ending, the film (現在只想愛你) is still incredibly romantic (if you disregard the awkward acting). I've always loved the notion of sharing a secret place with the love of your life. It's like an exclusive club that the couple forms between themselves and others are not privy to the experience. In that little space, no one else can come in and no one else can judge the worth of your feelings. Isn't this the most wonderful thing that can happen in our time?

many things to do, many things to see...

2007-06-10T15:05:00.000+08:00

I was looking at the big puffy clouds from the train some mornings ago and suddenly wanted to fly among them. I miss the anticipation of touching down at an airport I've never been in, of taking in the first breath of a foreign city I've never visited before.

(Guess Italy's not on the cards for this year anymore but still looking forward to the Cambodia trip coming in a few months!)

I heart Mayday

2007-06-04T21:09:00.000+08:00

Yelled our throats raw and jumped our legs sore on Saturday night for the Mayday concert. Totally excruciating but worth every bit of pain! The only bitter part was not being close enough to the stage (damn the record company for holding those pre-sales!!). Wish I could have been one of those girls in the first row who managed to get a piece of Ashin when he came down for one song.

Love Mayday, love their songs, love their words. Always gives me a renewed sense of purpose after listening to them.

Life's too short to be doing something you don't like. Search for your dream, chase that dream, or die trying.

If money ceases to be an issue, life would be so much more meaningful...

2007-05-30T00:50:00.000+08:00

I'd love to say money's not important to me but the truth is the complete opposite.

From birth till adulthood, we've chalked up a huge chunk of debts owed to our parents without feeling the slightest pinch. Now, at the start of our careers, the reality hits: Utility bills, tuition loan, some extra allowance for mom, transport costs, meals, computer installments, housing loan, etc. And what about money we need for meals with friends? Entertainment costs? The occasional shopping? Overseas trips?

And did I mention we still need to save up for rainy days, housing renovations, wedding (if ever), car (if ever) and eventually retirement?

I get depressed pretty much every time I think about my financial situation. Is life going to stay this way forever? Will I continue to squeeze with thousands of people on the trains and buses every day because I can't afford to splurge on taxi rides everywhere? (And mind you, Singapore's taxi fares are one of the lowest in developed nations!) Will I continue to pick chicken over fish at the cai fan stall because fish costs at least a dollar more? Will I ever be able to provide for my parents adequately in their later years? Will I ever think of my job as a vocation and not a means of survival?

I know odd job labourers or factory workers earning much less can support an entire family. Even without high educational qualifications, our parents have managed to feed and clothe us and put us all the way through university. I berate myself for complaining but yet...

Are our wants really excessive? I hardly think I'm a materialistic person by most measures but yet life just feels difficult at times. Sometimes by mid-month, I'm already scraping the bottom of the pot.

Living in Singapore really sucks at times. And I'm feeling the heat more than ever now.

How could I forget...

2007-05-25T02:55:00.000+08:00

those late nights when you toss and turn and just have to finish the writeups before you can get peace of mind...

Procrastination should be a sin.

So going to need 10 cups of kopi tomorrow.

Today was the first day...

2007-05-07T19:54:00.000+08:00

... of my new job.

... since APJ days that I woke up before the sun was up.

... in a year that I drank coffee.

Last day of work

2007-04-30T20:04:00.000+08:00

For eons, I had been waiting for this day to come. Now that it's finally here, there is actually a tiny part of me that is reluctant to leave. The colleagues had been totally sweet, giving me a treat, shopping vouchers + the most gorgeous card (made in-house, no less!). All I had for them was a jar of homemade Tollhouse Cookies. This bunch of people will be soooo sorely missed!

Meanwhile, we paid our monthly visit to Tampines last Saturday. They're in the middle of building the 3rd level now. Our unit is on the 5th. Speed it up already! =p

30 April 2007

2007-04-20T11:37:00.000+08:00

It is 7 working days to the end of my tenure at my current company.

A little irked that I won't be able to live out these 7 days in peace.

It is tiring when visuals keep getting rejected.

At least, it won't be my problem anymore in a while. :)

Slowly but surely

2007-03-29T21:23:00.000+08:00

24th March 2007

Determined

2007-03-29T21:07:00.000+08:00

I've typed my resignation letter, signed it and put it into the envelope. All that's left to do now is to give it to my boss, sit through another speech of his, serve 1 month's notice and leave - for greener pastures.

Things have never felt more right these 4+ months. I'll miss all the folks at the office but I suppose there's always MSN.

And to dear ZY, I'm deeply sorry for the screwed up surprise. You must have thought I was a nut until the 2 other nuts (you know who you are) appeared with the dripping candle. Next year will be much better I swear!!!

And to dear ZY again, I owe you a million thanks. Your single email last month was my life-changing opportunity. Next meal is on me. :)

Reminisce

2007-03-25T00:41:00.000+08:00

It's funny how people like to look back in life and miss everything about the past.

Like how we once hid in the school toilet just to avoid attending the canoeing festival...

Like how we feigned illness to skip lessons just because we felt like it...

Like how the most important thing every day was to get to the 6th Avenue ice-cream place as early as possible...

The 2nd most important thing was to spend as much time as we could at the canteen... followed by skipping PE...

The list is long and possibly inexhaustible. It's been quite a while since then. Let's hope we never forget these little stories. Let's hope we continue being us. Let's hope our dream can come true. :)

50/50

2007-03-19T19:06:00.000+08:00

When you've put your best foot forward, the only thing that's left to do is to hope that things will turn out okay.

Frustrated

2007-03-11T01:20:00.000+08:00

It feels like I keep running around in circles, not knowing what I want, not knowing what is the right thing to do, not trusting my instincts, not satisfied with anything... I don't want to keep going on a wild goose chase for nothing. Don't want to waste any more time. I'll give myself a couple more months and I'll decide for good, I hope.

(On the bright side, the new laptop will be ready for collection tomorrow evening. Whoopie!)

This one's for you YZ

2007-03-09T21:26:00.000+08:00

Nowhere near the top 100 but it's just a matter of time!!!

New home in the making 3

2007-02-25T05:16:00.000+08:00

While waiting for my hair to dry and for Clarinase to take its effect on my woozy nose, I thought I should do something constructive like post up the 3rd picture of our new place. For the 1st time in 3 months, our block has risen over the metal fence!

On a side note, the steamboat session/ bday surprise was wonderful. Think we brought the house down (again). A million hugs to the WAT bunch! :)

Machu Picchu Dream

2007-02-15T10:34:00.000+08:00

One day, I'll be there.

Random lunch time musing

2007-02-05T18:09:00.000+08:00

It really doesn't matter if you hit 25, the dreaded 30, half a century or even 90. What matters is that at each point in time, you can look back in pride and see that you've achieved something for yourself.

Apples of my eye

2007-01-29T22:42:00.000+08:00

Yesterday afternoon just when I least expected it, the girls came bouncing into my room and cozied themselves into my bed. *beams*

Thanks to H, this was the 1st time I took a picture with the 2 terrors. :p

They had hell lot of fun hiding themselves under the covers while we kept grabbing their legs and pulling the blanket off them.

What more can I ask for when I have these darlings to brighten my weekends?

New home in the making 2

2007-01-26T23:56:00.000+08:00

21 Jan 2007

At least some things still make me happy. =)

Caught in a rut

2007-01-16T10:12:00.000+08:00

Feeling somewhat dissatisfied with my life at the moment. I wake up every morning feeling like I haven't slept though I did, eagerly (make it desperately) jump into bed for a 15-min nap before I leave the house, drag my feet to the train station, struggle to hold my balance on the crammed trains when there's no pole or handle within arm's length, spend the morning at my table waiting for lunch, sit at my table in the afternoon waiting to knock off...

Life shouldn't be like this, shoud it? Other than for the purpose of saving up money for the flat and to pay off the bills at home, I have no idea why I am doing what I am doing.

Please let me find myself soon.

Lost sheep?

2007-01-10T23:20:00.000+08:00

I've been tired lately. The weeks surrounding the start of the year were unexpectedly loaded with deadlines. Gone are the days when I could leave the office at 6 sharp. These few days, even the boss leaves earlier than I do.

Really, it's good to be given some pretty important tasks to do but I'm conflicted as to whether I made the right choice in choosing this job. Well, okay, maybe 2 months back, there wasn't much of a choice because I was desperate for some income. Now, it seems diving head-on into an industry I am not familiar with is not that great an idea. I never expected how so little satisfaction can be derived (for myself) from doing something that's not related to writing or photography. (Well, basically things I'm familiar with and trained in.)

Now I juggle multiple roles as the boss's personal secretary, an account service exec and a slab of sardine between 2 persons I shall not name for professional courtesy.

H says I'm lost and I guess I really am. Not knowing what I want to achieve for myself in life is scary. I want to live life with passion... but passion... for what?

2006-12-31T15:10:00.000+08:00

New home in the making

2006-12-26T15:22:00.000+08:00

23 Dec 2006

We're All Going to Hell - The Bastard Fairies

2006-12-21T23:48:00.000+08:00

(Thanks Dor for telling me about this song. Great to sing-along to at parties. wahaha but be forewarned, the lyrics may be offensive to some people! Listen to the mp3 by clicking on the link above or scroll down to watch the video. :p)

All you Mormons who like cussing
You are going to hell
All you preachers who like fucking
You are going to hell
Little boys that choke the chicken
You are going to hell
It's the nature of evolution
The dinosaurs went to hell

Hell, hell, hell
It's a wonderful place
It's a place of fire
And brimstone

All you Christian politicians
You are going to hell
Magic Jesus apparitions
Send you to hell
Buddhist monks without god
You are going to hell
Those of you dissecting frogs
You are going to hell

Hell, hell, hell
It's a wonderful place
It's a place of fire
And brimstone

(Interlude)
I need a beer.
That was pretty good.
Ah. Okay.

All you Catholics wearing condoms
You are going to hell
All us fatties eating bonbons
We are going to hell
Unbaptized babies learn to limbo
Purgatory's hell
And your religion is a gamble
And you are going to hell

Hell, hell, hell
It's a wonderful place
It's a place of fire
And brimstone

Check this shit out
(check this shit out)
It's gonna change your life

There once was a man who thought that if he ate
All the the pages of the Bible he can kill almost anything
And after thirteen he died of a stroke
When he tried to eat the book
Of ... kings... eat the book
Of ... kings... eat the book
Of ... kings...

A good ending to a bad day

2006-12-18T19:52:00.000+08:00

I don't normally enjoy it but there was something strangely therapeutic about running home in the rain today. The water hit me relentlessly as I dashed across the road for the sheltered walkway back to my estate. For a few seconds, I was small and helpless against Mother Nature. But consequently, all other matters felt smaller too. :)

Helsinki Complaints Choir

2006-12-12T00:31:00.000+08:00

Thanks to zy for recommending me this clip. Take a listen and you'll find people from all over the world are more alike than they are different.

"My flat is tiny but it eats all my money...", "Idiots don't know which side to stand on the escalator...", "Women are still paid less than men...", "Bullshitters get on too well in life..."

Loved every second of the song.

zzz

2006-12-07T17:28:00.000+08:00

Oh please, I want a heavier workload. I mean it.

Migration confirmed

2006-12-03T00:07:00.000+08:00

So, it's official. H and I will be moving to Tampines in about 2.5 years. *waves to the east-siders*

After 2 hours at the Premiere showflat today, we finally decided to go for it. This has to be the MOST adult purchase of our lives. (Think lots of $$$$$$) H was so nervous he asked me how to spell "feefty" when he was writing out the cheque.

But it was probably the best decision of our lives, even with our limited budget. We couldn't stop talking about it after leaving the place.

"Let's get some rattan chairs for the balcony..." "How do we hide the ugly bomb shelter?" "What should we put in the 3rd bedroom?" "Let's have a cushioned window bay so we can read..."

I've never been more keen on busying myself with details.

With an aim now, it gets easier to prioritise when it comes to money. It may suck sometimes, knowing that we can't splurge on gadgets and overseas trips as and when we want it, but this life together is more precious than anything else we could ever have.

I can't wait the day when we can have friends over as house guests, when we can have a bbq/steamboat at the balcony, chill over homemade cocktails or maybe have a mahjong session. =p

So if you're my friend and you're reading this right now, start thinking about the housewarming gift okay! *just kidding*

To look at the place we got, click here.

So... I am ku-ku?

2006-11-29T10:17:00.000+08:00

You are The Moon

Hope, expectation, Bright promises.

The Moon is a card of magic and mystery - when prominent you know that nothing is as it seems, particularly when it concerns relationships. All logic is thrown out the window.

The Moon is all about visions and illusions, madness, genius and poetry. This is a card that has to do with sleep, and so with both dreams and nightmares. It is a scary card in that it warns that there might be hidden enemies, tricks and falsehoods. But it should also be remembered that this is a card of great creativity, of powerful magic, primal feelings and intuition. You may be going through a time of emotional and mental trial; if you have any past mental problems, you must be vigilant in taking your medication but avoid drugs or alcohol, as abuse of either will cause them irreparable damage. This time however, can also result in great creativity, psychic powers, visions and insight. You can and should trust your intuition.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Migration

2006-11-21T09:55:00.000+08:00

I may really be moving to the East in a few years. OMMFG. Still shocked by the ballot results. Going to be exciting times from now on!

Work Life

2006-11-16T17:52:00.000+08:00

Increasingly, they're giving more tasks for me to handle. I'm more than thrilled - finally I can be useful to the team!

Frankly, this isn't the sort of job I ever imagined myself doing. It is pretty desk-bound. It involves quite a bit of documentation and other administrative responsibilities. (I have newfound respect for secretaries and accountants, i.e. my mother.) I do get to do a fair bit of creative writing of course but mostly, the environment is far more structured than anywhere I've ever worked in. (hm.. guess that's only the newsroom)

Surprisingly I like the job so far. I enjoy being able to leave the office at 6pm sharp every day. I enjoy the knowledge that no one is going to make me do last-minute jobs 10 minutes before I am prepared to knock off. I enjoy writing without worrying that my pieces will be filtered down layers of editors, resulting in a write-up that is unrecognisably my own.

I know I am right in leaving journalism behind though I remain open to suitable opportunities in future.

The only thing I miss though is photography. Much as I whined endlessly about APJ assignments, I liked going through the exposed frames, wrecking my brain over what I did right, what I did wrong and how I could make it better for my next assignment.

Alrighty, it's 6pm now. Hope to be able to post up some new pictures soon! Till then!

melts

2006-11-12T00:03:00.000+08:00

Thanks to yz for sending me this song... Ashin's lyrics never fails to make girls go glassy-eyed...

可乐戒指 ~ 梁静茹

你把我喝完的可乐
来换当作戒指
轻轻套上了我手指
你问能不能一辈子
那一秒突然爱上了你
傻傻的固执

Mraz rox

2006-11-10T09:12:00.000+08:00

I cannot wait to call you
And tell you that I landed somewhere
And hand you a square of the airport
And walk you through the maze of the map
That I'm gazing at

~Plane by Jason Mraz

Day 3

2006-11-08T17:32:00.000+08:00

Third day of work and I am finally given something substantial to do even if it's only a simple assignment. It's been months upon months since I've picked at my brain to do any creative work. Quite happy to reboot that part of my brain again.

Now I am task-free and just waiting to go off for dinner with C. Can't even recall the last time we met up so I'm looking forward to it.

The girls at work have been nice. Given that I am a block of ice when it comes to new environments or people, this place is surprisingly comfortable for me so far.

I am fairly determined to make this job work for me. No pain, no gain. If I want a good life, I'd better work my ass off for it.

:D

2006-11-04T16:08:00.000+08:00

These days, whenever I feel nervous/excited/anxious, I'll get this weird sensation. This morning after breakfast, I was lying in bed and suddenly I felt holes being bored into both my palms, tummy and chest. It's a little reminiscent of the day before my driving test but it's happy butterflies this time. I can't wait for Monday to come. Have no idea what to expect of my first REAL job!

>_<

2006-10-29T10:17:00.000+08:00

It annoys me when it is apparent that some people don't listen carefully to the important FACTS that I tell them. It annoys me further when the same people rephrase important FACTUAL statements that I write.

And why ask me to put in so many details and bother my friends for interviews (i.e. put in extra hours) when these things are eventually useless?

I feel used and wasted. This line is not for me.

ROTFL

2006-10-12T14:04:00.000+08:00

To those who are not offended by Chinese profanities, you can't miss THIS.

September 18, 2006

2006-09-20T22:13:00.000+08:00

At 10:45am on this day, I obtained my Class 3 driving license.

Full House hangover...

2006-09-05T05:21:00.000+08:00

While many friends think of me as being completely pragmatic, there is a huge part of me that gets easily swept away by romantic drama serials. Which girl doesn't like a fairy-tale romance once in a while? Throw me some mushy dialogue, a great soundtrack, a white-washed house by the sea, the his and hers slippers, the roomfuls of love, pain and memories and I am sold. Completely.

A graduate at last

2006-09-03T01:46:00.000+08:00

An almost pictures-only post... After sorting out all the pix, I am left with no energy to think and write...

Guess who...

One... two... three... JUMP!

As promised, more pictures from WAT days...

When we first got to Orlando...

The obligatory Disney picture...

Daytona Beach!!!!!!!

Oh yes, people can drive on this beach...

Seaweed royalty...

The girls...

Niagara Falls by day... (We did not manage to cross over to the Canada side where you can get a full frontal view of the falls...)

The Canadian sky at sunset...

The Falls by night...

Our first meal in NYC... We were at this place called Broadway Restaurant where Brad Pitt filmed Meet Joe Black!

Another obligatory pic...

Times Square... (the glitzy night pictures are in my friends' cameras so here're the day pix...)

Skyscrapers... duh...

Fake Spydie...

Horse carriage at Times Square... (anything is possible in NYC it seems...)

And of course, how could I pass up the chance to visit Trump Tower?!!?!?

Alrighty... all the girls drool now... This must be the most brilliant idea ever... having a dishy hunk welcome visitors into the Abercrombie store...

Sights at Central Park...

This bunch of people were filming some Osama spoof apparently...

Sunbathing...

Santa Monica beach, LA...

Colleagues at Kings Dominion...
Bottom L-R: Ryan, Tarronce, Juan
Top L-R: QY, Danielle, Jessica, Cyn, Dawn and me!

XY, me and WH before taking the Extreme Skyflyer... basically we get strapped together, suspended 2000 plus feet up into the air, one of us pulls the cord, and we FLY... a cross between bungee jumping and committing suicide by leaping from a tall building... will post up the video of us on the ride once I learn how to...

And more pix! hehe.. just miss the gd ol' carefree days... miss seeing everyone in school or meeting up for projects (yes, strangely enough, i do miss ALL my fyp mates LOL....) On a more tragic note... look at how much thinner I was just a few months ago!!! The American diet has ruined me....

Random but true.

2006-08-14T15:17:00.000+08:00

meiyan --
[noun]:

A level headed person who always makes the wrong decision

'How" will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Home Sweet Home

2006-08-13T23:08:00.000+08:00

After 3.5 months of slogging, travelling and bumming, I am finally back in Singapore. We touched down on National Day and I am glad to find that most things have not changed. The biggest changes are probably that I am now tanned like an athlete (haha!) and I have the cracked and dirty feet of a construction worker. Nevertheless I finally feel ready to move on with my normal life. The job hunt probably isn't going to be easy but when the going gets tough, the tough get going! Will post more pictures of my travels the next time. Love you all, xoxo.

Some long overdue pictures...

2006-07-03T10:38:00.000+08:00

Decided again not to work till closing time because the weather was too darn hot. It was about 35 degrees celsius today at the park. (w)

Anyway, here are some pictures taken from many Saturdays ago. Decided to post them up before leaving for Orlando tomorrow morning. I really can't wait for July 20 to come so we can start travelling! That aside, I do want to get home asap so I can continue living my regular life. :p

First up, the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart which QY, L and I wandered into on our first Saturday off.

We actually walked into a wedding. The ceremony was over and all but technically we still crashed the event I suppose. Luckily they just ignored us as we went trigger-happy.

The pipe organ was da bomb. Never seen anything like it.

Some dusty attic on the 3rd level. The door was locked but there was a hole at the bottom so I could stick my head in to randomly click my camera. Regretted not crawling in all the way. The stairs might lead to the bell tower.

After exploring the cathedral, we walked to Maymont Park. We probably walked for at least 5 hours in all that day.

A lamb we saw at the children's farm at the park. Awww.

The waterfall at the Japanese garden.

My favourite picture of the day. ROTFL.

Taking a break

2006-06-25T03:45:00.000+08:00

I took a walk to the Hollywood Cemetary today. It is nice to do something alone for a change. I haven't been to a cemetary in Singapore so this was the first time for me. The property was so huge that I lost my way, along with some other people. With some help, we all managed to find our way to the exit.

It seems weird but I enjoyed the tour through the cemetary. This is like THE cemetary because many famous people lie under it. There are ex-presidents, governors, celebrities and soldiers who died in war.

And it was slow and peaceful. :)

Some sights on the way to the cemetary...

Summer has officially started over here. What better way to kick it off than to take a trip to Virginia Beach? Needless to mention, it was a blast because of the people. Now we can't wait for our Orlando trip in July!

Last Saturday, we went exploring downtown. Headed to Farmer's Market and the Edgar A. Poe museum, the Holocaust musem and actually watched bull-riding at the Coliseum! Unfortunately, I lost a whole bunch of pictures because the camera connector screwed up on me. Must be all the bad karma accumulated... (w) super heartpain. Here are some of the pictures salvaged. Will try to post more as I scavenge through my friends' laptops tonight for pix that I may have uploaded.

XL and I at the Farmer's Market. We bought apples. 2 for $1. Considered cheap over here.

Don't remember what this place was... the new City Hall maybe?

XL, ZK and I outside the Coliseum right after we collected our tickets. Whoopie!

And some other pix from previous off days.

QY and I at Maymont park. I really love wearing shades now. LOL.

Goofing around at the costume store at Carytown. :P

uggghhhh

2006-06-10T21:12:00.000+08:00

Things I am missing out on by coming on the WAT:

1. Coldplay concert in Singapore
2. Mayday concert in Taipei on July 23 (like again?!?!?!!?)

*clutches heart and faints*

Finally a real update...

2006-05-27T16:01:00.000+08:00

So it is now 4am on Saturday. We just finished a mahjong game and there are about 8 hours before we board the bus to go to work. For some reason, I feel real alert right now so I figured I should probably do something constructive... like update my blog. *lol*

It is hard to put in words what has happened over the last few weeks. It actually feels like we've been here for months and months on end! The people on this trip have been nothing but great. The work at the park, well, it's just something we have to get through to get our shopping allowance so I'm not complaining.

Anyway, last Wednesday we headed to DC for a day of sighseeing... *stifles yawn*. We stayed in the same area from 10am to 7pm looking at monuments and more monuments. I couldn't figure out one white structure from another but as usual, it's the people that made the trip enjoyable. This is such a photo-whoring bunch of people we have here. *duck*

The White House is behind us. This is as near as we could get. Some other lucky ones managed to get a glimpse of Jon Howard when he left the White House with his entourage.

The tall structure behind us is the National Monument. It is not evident in the picture but there's a similar one in Singapore at City Hall.

Some boy goofing around near the National Monument. I wonder why.

XY and I outside the Lincoln Memorial. This historical sight-seeing thingy really ain't our cup of tea.

Some random animals. haha.

Following last week's DC trip, we explored Carytown this Wednesday after opening our bank accounts with Wachovia. I liken Carytown to Holland V, only nicer and more unique.

This is Lester trying to look prim and proper while the rest of us steal the limelight from behind him.

The next day, we headed to Williamsburg for like 10% sight-seeing and 90% shopping!!! Factory outlets!!!!

At about 7 plus in the evening in the middle of our shopping spree, you get 4 happy girls.

At 9pm, you get 2 car-loads of broke kids who are still feeling heady over their buys. hahahah. OK the photo looks a bit dark but you see the shopping bags, you see the point.

More photo-whoring ahead.

On the way to work Friday afternoon.

This is the Ranger Jeeps, one of the kiddy rides that QY and I operate.

I have no idea why we did that. Really no idea at all.

Work is going to get real crazy starting today but I hope to post pictures of our dorm room and around the area soon so I'm crossing my fingers.

Peace out for now. I need to sleep.

paiseh

2006-05-25T22:42:00.000+08:00

i really really really want to blog... i really really want to reply to emails... i really really want to chat with my friends in sg more often... ahhhh... i promise i'll try harder...

Warm and fuzzy

2006-05-13T08:57:00.000+08:00

So today 17 of us headed to Merchant's Walk to have lunch. After the stomach-splitting 2-hour Chinese buffet, we headed to a budget apparel store called A.J. Wright and did the usual girly shopping.

On my way to the cashier, I ran into a black man in his 30s. He was big and burly with some serious macho stubble and he was holding a tee-shirt and a bright blue capris. The clothes looked like they could fit a 12-year-old.

He stopped me in my tracks and asked, "What do you think of this?" He was holding the clothes up for me to see. He looked and sounded unsure of himself.

"They go together really well I think," I answered with a smile.

He looked unconvinced though and continued walking around the store, looking as lost as a goldfish in a new glass bowl.

After sometime, he eventually decided to buy those clothes anyway and I could not help feeling touched. I did not know who the clothes were for but I knew that he was buying the clothes for someone important to him.

Perhaps a part of me wished that I had someone did that for me when I was younger but it never fails to melt me when I see a man display his tender side of his personality.

:-)

In New York!

2006-05-06T12:49:00.000+08:00

After n hours of travelling, waiting, and aching neck from sleeping on the plane, we are finally in New York! We're now in the transit hotel. I'm using WY's laptop. Thank god she brought one. :)

It was 4 hours to Taipei, 4 hours of transit, 8.5 hours to Anchorage then another 6 hours to NY.

3 take offs, 3 landings, some bumpy, some smooth, some aerobatic stunts which made our hearts dip.... What you get after that is three mentally messed up but happy girls after the final landing.

Even though it was a pain to have so many stopovers, Anchorage was beautiful! The glacier mountains in the background, the calm water and the meanders on the plains. It would be wonderful to visit Alaska someday.

Anyway, short post today. Really stoned. Here are 2 random pictures to share.

Random picture of the sky in Taipei

Mountains in Anchorage taken from our plane