I am just feeling so freaking tired these few days.

Kudos go to my zany colleagues who never fail to make me laugh till my sides ache. People who don't know them probably need an introduction. Let me just give them all fake names so that they will not feel paiseh and kill me for making them 'famous' on my blog.

Starring:
Prince 'Charming'
XCB (which stands for Xiao Cha Bor)

Guest Starring:
Uncle Lim

Anyway, we have lotsa laughs everyday, thanks to them being so damn corny, and having prince charming who can't really pronounce his words properly.

Scenario 1
Enter Prince Charming who walks over to Uncle Lim's mac and checks out his latest wallpaper. It was a poster of a slasher flick.

Prince Charming: Wah, what show is this ah?
Uncle Lim: Hiyah, you don't know one.
Prince Charming: Who says i don't know? (stares at the screen real hard) It's Texas Chainsaw Mascara hor!
Uncle Lim: Mascara your head ah! It's Texas Chainsaw Masquerade lar!


Scenario 2
Working in the publishing industry, we encounter many different publishing houses from all over the world.

Prince Charming: Oh by the way, did you receive the package from OTAH press?
Me: Huh? What? (with a totally incredulous expression on my face)
Prince Charming: Neh, the OTAH press lor!
ME: (after 10 secs)..... ORH, u mean Otter Press ah!
Prince Charming: .......

Of course, by this time, me and XCB were rolling over with laughter.

Scenario 3
Had my hair in curls awhile back, and they constantly made fun of my perm, saying stuff like: Oh you ate too much instant noodles ah? Soon it was 3 months and my confirmation date was drawing near.

Uncle Lim: Eh tomorrow can rebond your hair already.
Me: Why leh, i still like my curly hair.
Uncle Lim: Oh, cos you PERM staff already mah, no need to keep the perm already.


Suddenly i think it's only funny if you actually hear them say it. I wish i had an audioblog thingy. Haha, it's hilarious. Well, it's thanks to guys like them that work is actually bearable. Laughter is really the best medicine for stress. If i could, i would put a dial-a-joke hotline, and you guys can call Uncle Lim at anytime of the day and he would give you a punchline.

I am supposed to be preparing for that big fat deal of a presentation tomorrow, but somehow i got distracted and decided to come online for a little blog-fest.

It's been a great week, really tiring but filled with love.

I gotta catch up with Gwennie, my dear couz from Aussie-land when she came back for a week-long holiday. Amidst all the chilli crabs & chwee kuey, we gotta talk quite abit, and understand abit more about each other's life. She is really one strong gal. Taught me alot about understanding yourself, listening to others and following your heart. To me, Mel & Gwen are like the big sistas i never had. For that, i lurvvveee them to bits.

Of course, meeting up with the pri sch gang is always good. We went to have buffet at Yuki Yaki, or is it Yaki Yuki? Haha. Had a whole lot of meat and sushi, and of course great conversation. Walked along the stretch along the Esplanade and just took in the sights n sounds. Sometimes maybe i tend to take a back seat, listening to their lives, rather than sharing mine. It's still a great feeling having them there for me. They watched me grow up, they understand me, and they have always been here for me. I couldn't ask for more.

Met Yun for coffee yesterday. She is my good girlfriend, and maybe she is going through a rough patch now, but i think everything has a way of working out. I can only hope that she reaches the end of her rainbow soon and find that pot of gold. Maybe it's because we've went through so much together as childish teenagers in the past, that now, i really feel like i need to be there for her, i wanna be there for her.

I am beginning to appreciate the things around me a little more. I appreciate my family and my friends a whole lot more. All it takes is a bit of effort and a bit of heart, to show that you care. I am constantly looking at myself and thinking that i really was too much of a self-absorbed bitch in the past, when i could have done alot more for my friends and my loved ones. I hope it is not too late now, to better myself and care more about the people around me, with my heart.

It does feel good to love the people around you. Try it.

When you're at peace with your life, i guess you don't really blog.

I have been busy but everything is just great. Life is good, work is a tad stressful (cos of stooopid presentation), friends are chummy, weight is constant, appetite is growing (not good), hair is abit off today, and love life, well, i wouldn't say it's non-existent, but it is stable, all good and slow. O n e s t e p a t a t i m e.

In our wise Mike n Daniel's words, we're kinda in the SOS stage. (as in Sort-of-Seeing) So all is good, and i'm happy. =)

All i wanna do now is...... go learn diving!

There are just some days when you feel a little pensive, a little introspective and i guess today is one of those days for me. Maybe it is the pain from the excruciating facial session just now, or maybe it is just the rain beating down the windows in the afternoon that made me look out to the world and reflect upon my own life.

Life is so not a bed of roses. Everytime you turn one way, a thorn pokes you in the arm. Turn the other way and other thorn hurts you in the knee. Am i really contented with the way life is now? I guess i am to a certain extent. Yet i really yearn much more. I want so much more in life and i am not contented with leading life the way it is now, just sitting on my arse, letting the days go by.

Everytime i think of my own life, i would say to myself "next time when i am ?? old, i would want to accomplish this and that..." I used to think that way when i was younger, back in secondary school, about how when i started working, my life would be sweet and everything will be the way it is supposed to be.

Now, i am in the working world, a jungle-like place they say, and yet somehow it isn't really how i envisioned it to be. Will i just wanna sit here and wait for life to happen to me? I really admire the people who take the road less travelled, and i wish i had the same courage to put down all that is familiar and do just what my heart tells me to.

I wish.


THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet, knowing how way leads onto way
I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less travelled by
And that has made all the difference

- Robert Frost

It has been a great fantabulous birthday week.

Above are some pics that i have collated from the week, with many more to come!

I really do feel loved having so many special people take time off just to celebrate your special day with you. Sometimes when you think of it, actually any age after 21 is just going downhill and there is no special number that you actually look forward to anymore. For me, i think that is a mentality. I was so dreading my 23rd birthday this year, so afraid that it wouldn't be special as i didn't have a special someone to celebrate it with. Well, i was proven so wrong.The really special people in my life have made it a point to tell me that i'm actually worth their time to just hang out and blow out some candles together.

Highlights of the week in random manner (most of the time, involving food):

• Lotsa curry at Hotel Rendezvous + Coffee at Mr Bean's with Council Folks
• Lobster Sashimi plus truckloads of sushi with Mike, Shijie, Daniel, Lichuan at Sushi Tei.
• Dinner + Ice cream fondue at Haagen Dazs with Ernie
• Meeting Pam & Esmond at HV
• Tai tai Dinner at Marmalade Pantry + Drinks at Indochine with Huijia
• Afternoon tea at Delifrance with Yun
• Esmond's gig where Leon and I shared a song dedicated to us, aptly titled "Happy Birthday"
• Surprise cake and presents from the colleagues at the office.

I guess there are many more people that i wish i could spend time with to share my special day with them, like my Dim Sum Sistas, (1/4 of whom is in Aust), my Musketeereens (whom i have yet to see) and of course many special individuals which i would love to hang out with.

But i guess, it's good to feel loved and i know i am blessed to have all these friends who made the week sweeter than any ice cream flavour in the world. I wouldn't trade this feeling for anything. So thank you guys, for all the well wishes, smses, presents, hugs, songs, or for even remembering. THANK YOU for making this birthday one of the most memorable ones.

It's not difficult to see that i have a newfound appreciation for love and friendship, having lost so much in the past few months, and realising that all is not lost afterall. Things may have happened for a reason, and i guess losing something once makes you appreciate it more. I will now tread carefully and treasure what i have, not taking anyone or anything granted ever again.

Appreciating life and love now. Every minute and second of it.

23 years ago, on this very day, a little me was born.

Time really flies, as cliched as it sounds. Just yesterday i was the bright-eyed kid in Pri Sch, hitting boys and getting really irritated with them. Well, life jus zooms by in a flash.

While i was tossing and turning in bed last night, i was thinking about life in general. There are so many ups and downs in life, and you never know when it's going to hit you right smack in your face. Sometimes, things you always viewed as UPs in your life may suddenly just become a DOWN in a split second. It works vice versa too.

Went out with Mike, Chuan, Daniel n Shijie last nite. Daniel suddenly asked if anyone is happy with their life. Pretty much everyone is, and he said that it was refreshing to hear, instead of how "life sucks" and "i hate what i am doing" etc.

Thought about my own life, and i think things have settled down quite abit. There are no major UPs nor DOWNs. I think i am just pretty much contented, which i think, isn't a bad thing.

I am happy, just by getting well wishes from all my friends and family, i love you all.

Feeling loved and blessed. Thanks!

Just a while ago, HJ was doing some research for her article about palmistry. Before i knew it, we were examining each other's palms and trying to tell our fortunes.


"An interesting secondary line concerning relationships is called the Line of Attachment. Some call these lines Marriage Lines. These lines appear just above the heart line. Light, fine horizontal lines found here are thought to indicate affairs that are not deep commitments. One long, clear line suggests a long-standing and happy marriage or commitment. When there is more than one long, deep line, the lower one is thought to describe the earlier relationship in the person's life."

I have one deep clear line.

I guess it made my heart do a backflip. That's great news eh. However, things like these are weird, we only believe what we want to. I guess it makes life easier and at least we are momentarily happy.

"A swooping semicircular line around the base of the thumb shows great strength and enthusiasm, as well as an improved love life."
My palm really looks like that lar! Yeah! =)

wow... i've just been v tired from the excessive partying... and i've been eating way too much for my own good. However, it's a beginning of a new week and the partying ensues!
Here's what went on last week:

Thursday:
Met up with the pri sch gang at Breko's at HV ( our fave place in the world) cos Ren is back. Nice getting updates about love n life. We missed Yan n Bro Hao though. Exchanged funny stories and i can't wait till the next time we meet.

Friday:
Went for dinner at my favourite Black Angus and got discounts n free mudpie! YEAH! Kinda choc overdose cos went to watch Charlie & the Chocolate Factory after that. Willy Wonka, Willy Wonka... Argh the song is still stuck in my head thanks to the oompa loompas and a certain someone who kept singing the song. Bleah.

Saturday:
Met the CY gang for Porridge buffet at SUNTEC! It was quite nice. Ate alot of achar, ikan bilis, duck, salted eggs etc. Of course, it was great meeting up with uncle, ah po, and YW. It was like having a really extended lunch like the good ol' days.




After that, went for dinner with my family at the NUS guild house near my place... The dinner was quite sumptious, and we had dessert buffet there as well. Hmmm those chocolate eclairs... yummy.
Also had a bout of karaoke where we started singing retro songs at the top of our lungs and had a good laugh.


Sunday:
Was supposed to meet Mike for lunch, but ended up cancelling cos of a spell of insane rash caused by an unknown allergy. Had to stay home soaked in calamine lotion.
Then, got dragged to the new Marina Square for dinner at Pariss (wat's with the extra S?) International buffet. The food there, though really quite nice, scares me. I was full just by looking at it. The plus point besides seeing my cute little cousins, are the FIREWORKS! Yes, somehow we got tables near the corner overlooking the esplanade, so the view was just perfect.

Well... the partying continues tonight. More updates n pics soon!

Well, oh well.

I am just eagerly looking forward to the weekend and the whole of next week! Nothing can champion a special week like a BIRTHDAY WEEK! I celebrate my birthday for the whole of one week, cos i think one day is simply too short to celebrate life! I know the whole brouhaha about the fact that u can feel special anyday of the year, and birthdays are just like any other day. BUT, I don't buy it. Birthdays are still special! Been arranging to meet up with people and i'm just looking forward to a fun-filled week ahead.

"You don't hafta spell out everything in words. Somethings are better left unsaid."

I'm sorry for being cold and aloof.

Sorry for being a mean bitch.

Sorry for doubting.

Sometimes pain and suffering begets inspiration. When i am feeling down, inspiration strikes.
I will somehow end up in this ultra-reflective mode, and the words just start pouring out whenever the day doesn't go like i want it to.

I haven't been blogging as regularly as i want to, maybe cos i was on top of the world for a few days. Sometimes being on top for too long, you will have to come down eventually. Nothing in particular made me depressed or upset, it's just a general mood thing, and it just makes me wanna bury myself in my pillows and sleep. Maybe i am just being silly to think that everything i've known in the past few days has changed. I think i'd rather believe. Everything is still the same. After the huge storm, the basic feelings are still there, and i choose to believe in that. Maybe it will make me feel better.

Watched Dim Sum Dollies last night. It was a hoot, though a tad commercialized. It would have been better if i didn't quarrel with the stoopid usher! ARGH. Totally loved the Indian accents on the girls.

Rushed off to meet my dearest council bunch for supper at Newton! My namesake is back! It's always good to meet up with dear Pam, and had a great time catching up. She updated me on her stint in New York, where she led the seemingly glamourous life, but made to do lotsa shite as an intern. Sounds like an amazing load of fun. I wish i could jetset around the world like her, pursuing her dream. I am proud of her, for she came so far, and being the smart and totally sassy girl that she is, she deserves it all.

Looking forward to a great week ahead. My birthday is looming and it's gonna be a whirlwind week meeting up with all the peeps. So, forging on with much enthusiasm and gonna party like mad!

Wheeeee I'm back.

31 hours with mixed feelings of pleasure and pain. I can never forget the hard floor poking up my back, the sore asses, the hot and humid weather in the day, the prickly cool breeze at night etc etc. Somehow time flew by faster than the last time. It was almost what i would call, perfect!

The bonding experience with total strangers was also great and really unexpected. You know how they always say, people bond through pain and suffering, it's really true. I would never forget nice braces guy on our left, funny artist aka 'Shaun' on our right, studious RV boys hanging out with Barker boys, poseur guys in black who smoked like chimneys etc. It was a hoot people-watching for 31 hours. The weird things these guys do.. are enough to keep our conversations flowing through the night.

I couldn't ask for a better companion for this 'ordeal'. I walked away from the whole experience feeling light-hearted and happy. I guess i haven't been truly happy in a long while. It put a smile on my face to know that i was the preferred choice for a queuing companion too. Everyone knows that it's difficult to find people that u click with, and u can yak to for a long consecutive number of hours and yet have so much to say. It is equally difficult to find someone with which you have shared so much in the past, and still have so many similar shared ideals in the future. It's comfy to find that feeling.

There's just so much unknown in the future, and nothing is for sure. There is still no certainty but at least this is one more shared memory that won't be erased or deleted for a long time.

Why i went? I do not know. I just wanted to.
What's going to happen? I still do not know.
Is all the pleasure and pain worth it? Hell Yeah.

At least the bottom line is, I walked away feeling on top of the world, peaceful and happy.

Oops kinda neglected my blog for awhile.

Anyway i am feeling great today. Managed to schedule a food review for a nice seafood place, and was able to leave the office early today! Ended pretty early so HJ and i manage to sneak in some much-needed shopping time! We shopped from Bugis all the way to town. It was kinda my day cos everywhere i went, there was something special that caught my eye and surprisingly, all the stuff i tried, FITS! That itself, is quite a FEAT. (pun intended, hehe) Spent over a hundred bucks in less than 4 hours. Miss Spend Alot In An Instance, somehow didnt manage to get anything until we were going home, and i felt really bad.Haha , luckily for the cool straw bag that caught her eye at the last moment.

Ok gonna go catch some shut eye now, more updates tomorrow. :)

Along with revamping a room, comes the massive amount of packing to be done.

I have just realised that i am too much of a sentimental fool. I have loads of junk because i can't seem to bear to throw stuff away. Every single piece of item i keep is either from someone really special, or from an event that meant a whole lot in my life. The quirky items that i keep is enough to make me a modern day karang guni woman. I have a crazy amount of letters dating back to 1994, written by a whole host of people from mere acquaintances to real good friends, to the crush from the next class etc etc. I also have the random stuffed toys, postcards, neoprints and other knick knacks like my number tags when i used to run, a 40 cent pen that was given by my first crush, numerous Brad Pitt and Take That posters etc.

Looking at all these remind me of the snippets of memories of my 23 year existence. Every item tells a story, every item is an episode on its own. I can't help but feel the wave of nostalgia wash over me just looking at them and letting myself relive the good ol' days. Some letters made me roar with laughter, some brought a warm smile to my heart, and some made me tear.

I realise how much emotion each item carries. Friendships were built and forged over all these. I will treasure each piece of memorabilia and savour the experience that came with it, good or bad. These items will never allow me to forget how i felt at that point in time and the people in my life, who made me what i am today.

Word of advice for those indulging in a little spring cleaning, BE CAREFUL! I broke something i really love and it broke my heart. It was a nice piece of blow glass that spelt my name. The glass was a really nice shade of blue with a little blue rose at the side. Being the klutz that i am, i placed it a little too hard on the table and the last letter of my name "a" got detached from the base. I was extra careful while cleaning it, until the last part when i was putting it down onto the table. ARGH. It was a gift, one that i hold dearly to my heart, and it really is kinda sad to see that it's no longer the same. I can only pray for some some really kick-ass super glue to see if things can be fixed.