I Love My Job!

Really I do indeed...it's not sarcastic or anything. Despite the long hours I have to invest, without any OT pay or anything, or the dung coming from clients that I have to put up with, on the whole picture, I do enjoy my work.

For starters, I'm a photo-journalist, which means I write, I interview, I report, I take photos and I cover events. Interesting huh? At least I do think so...*grin* But before you call me a paparazzi, I'm not ok? I just have an avid interest in writing and interviewing people.

Right up till Junior College, I was clueless about what I want to do for a profession. All along, I am linguistically proficient and bilingual, and I love to be able to speak in different tongues. In fact, one of my goals is to learn and be sufficiently proficient in as many languages as I can help it. I won scholarships for topping my languages and I knew that languages are my strengths. But I just didn't know what faculty to go into. I mean, I realise that what I'm going to study in Uni will very much affect, if not determine, my profession. At one point, I was even considering to be a court translator. Ha! Close enough. Then one of my teachers pointed out to me that perhaps I should make full use of my linguistic strength and ample people skills. I am a very people's person. I love mixing around with other people and I hated being lonely. Of course, that would probably equate to lack of security. Ha! Anyways...

Then again, I realise that I wanted to be able to communicate with other people, to be able to meet different people and not be confined to the desk all the time. So voila, it suddenly struck on me that I could combine my strengths, my interests and my likes! And yes, I'm inquisitive enough to ask lotsa questions everytime about everything. *kpo*

Some people would probably tell me to go do sales. But no way, sales is not for me. At least as far as I know at this point. I dislike cold calling, and I do admire those who are thick-skinned enough to do it. After-sales and Customer service yes, that's one of my strengths too.

Right now, I'm in the midst of the production of a newsletter (interviewing & writing stage), and already, my next two assignments are in the queue. Despite this, I'm looking forward to a particular assignment which my boss just passed to me. We just got a new job, producing newsletter for SAAA (Singapore Amateur Athletics Association). My boss is handing me where one area of my strengths are - profiles. She wants me to interview 2 school girls who are also runners for their school. Of course, there are some inside scoop which we have just picked up, and I'm gonna follow that lead in order to pick up my story. Anyways, I'm really looking forward to interviewing the girls. Can't wait.

Monday

My boss left a belated birthday gift on my table yesterday, which I found out, was a "Precious Moments" Bible! I've been wanting one for quite awhile, and during one of our weekly sharing sessions some 2 months ago, I had mentioned in passing that I thought the "Precious Moments" Bible was rather sweet and nice to have. Imagine my surprise! That my boss bothered, and that she remembered (Most of the time she can be either a scatter-brain, or who doesn't waste time remembering - Hence, I have become her other brain.)

I joined a colleague for the movie yesterday evening - War of the Worlds. Rather a disappointment despite the hype that it was a big production and blah blah blah...The storyline is loose, and alot of things are unexplained (They just conveniently happened to be so), and the ending is abrupt, leaving me to wonder if Steven Spielberg was eager to end the movie just as some were eager to leave. Sigh...

I'm quite a movie buff, and granted that I form my opinions of a movie in the aftermath of watching it, I'm no critic either. Just my two-cents' worth. Saw some trailers of movies that would be screened soon, like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory starring Johnny Depp. Looks promising. The island too is screening soon. Some others include horror shows, including a local production. Not sure what the story is about, just that it's something about maids. Touchy topic. Aiyoh...

My quiet birthday in 2005

Had a quiet but nice birthday this year. A rare occasion. Normally I would be out frolicking about town during weekends, much lest on my BIRTHDAY! Past years, it's either been my friends OR a bf OR friends and bf who celebrate my day with me. But yeah, this year I spent my birthday alone. Well sort of. I basically did some house chores in the daytime and lazed around the house after that. I was SUPPOSED to resume my gym sessions, but I ended up dozing off. *sheepish*

My dad took my brother and I out for a nice dinner. Though he didn't say that it was meant to celebrate my birthday, I could feel that the dinner was "in my honour", so to speak. We went home after that, then my brother and I set forth for the city at around 9pm. Terrible jam along the AYE just before the Rochor exit. Not sure if it was major, but there was ambulance, tow trucks and the police cordoned off a lane. When we pull up past the "accident" area, I (the passenger) didn't notice anything amiss, except some kpos who had slowed down to watch with glee (thereby explaining the jam).

Anyways, we got what we wanted, then drove around to Loyang then lastly to Changi. For some cheap thrills. Yep, I was guilty of wanting to see some transvestite. And I must say some of them are really....woah!

Day before my birthday

Saturday is my birthday! Yesh, the 9th of July, born twenty-four years ago (now u know my age)!

My colleagues took me to a Jap restaurant for lunch yesterday and gave me a birthday cake to add...Initially I actually forgot what the occassion was about, and was wondering why on earth everyone happened to be in the office at the same time during lunch time (some of us would be out on assignments and so forth). Really sweet of them to make it back to the office just to have lunch with me. We always hold birthday lunches for the birthday girl/boy. We used to give presents too, but everyone agreed that it was quite a hassle, so vetoed against it. Honestly speaking, I would have loved to get a present. But well, guess I'm too old to complain..hahaha

I had plans at first to go out with my brother and sister, but the plans fell through coz my sister wasn't feeling well. Oh well, I thought I would just go home early for once. My colleague, Amy, actually invited me to go club with her and her friends at Balaclava, and I must say I was at least 50% keen to go (surprisingly)...normally I wouldn't have thought of it coz afterall I dunno her frens. Then again, I was tempted coz I thought it would be nice to know more people that way. The only problem was, I had to wait till 10 in the evening, which was quite a torture for me coz it would mean that I have to stay in office ALONE till 10 in the night. Apart from creepiness aside, it was quite sad too isn't it? I mean, I would normally have been a workaholic during weekdays, but not certainly on a Friday nite!

Things took a turn when my boss was leaving with my other colleague (aka her best fren too). They told me they were going for dinner, and invited me to go along too. I thought, why not? Since I don't have anything on too. So yes, we ended up going to Old Airport Rd for some nice Rojak, Fried Oyster and Wanton Mee; and ta-bao some back for my parents and bro.

It was nice of them to have asked me along. We talked and chatted and laughed about all sorts of crappy stuff (no talking about work though - a relief). I just hoped that I didn't interrupt their twosome-evening nite out. My boss listens quite alot to her best fren when it concerned stuff or even decisions. Strange yah...the best fren seemed to be the domineering one in the friendship; not that my boss is submissive, she is more of an anything-goes person. At one point there were speculations flying around that they may be more than "best frens". But I refuse to think of them that way. For one, both of them are staunch Christians. I like my boss alot (not in the crooked way), both at and away from work; and I believe that she isn't into such stuff. Though I may not always agree with her way of doing stuff sometimes, but I think we both have alot in common, enough for us to clique well. Apart from the age factor, maybe if we both got to know each other outside work first, we may have become v v good frens too. But I guess there will always be this barrier between us..unless I stop working for her.

Anyways, I digress again. What I want to say is that I'm glad to have met and know her, even if it was through work first. At work, she gives me guidance without any holds, and off work, she tries to be a friend and a guardian, tries to be there for me and share problems, and protective at times. Sweet yah, especially coming from someone who is your boss. Hehe..

My ex-colleague tells me not to be too friendly with them, not to put too much into the friendship. I guess in a way she's right, but then I'm just not that sort of person. Maybe I'm gullible, but I like and want to be frens with everyone; make as many frens as possible, and if we can be better or best frens, why not? So long as we can clique and if you want the friendship as much as I do, I won't hold back too. *grin* Much as I'm not doing what my ex-colleague advises me (I don't think she means any harm too), I hope I'm not wrong doing things this way too.

I think it's nice that my new colleague, Amy, tries to be more than colleagues with me. I think she is sincere about being friends (I'm sure many agree that there's a difference between frens and colleagues), suggesting things that we can do, like going to the movies together or going to the gym or like clubbing. Though honestly, I do still have some reservations about her. Like I said, I THINK she's sincere. Meaning, I'm not sure. So I'm still holding my guard against her; not in a bad way though. I think I still need time to assess her. hahaha...But I must say as days past, we learn more about each other and things are certainly much more relaxed than initially of coz. I certainly hope she's really nice and doesn't have any ulterior motives. Ha...

That SMS

The first SMS I got once I stepped off the plane upon touching down in Singapore was from my ex, the one who "borrows" and extorts money from me. At first I thought he wanted more money again. After all, he kept messaging me non-stop while I was in Australia, saying that he needed to talk to me. Like I said before, I really dread receiving his calls and sms and whatever. If I can help it, I really wish I could shut him out of my life...ever! I wished I had never known him.

ANyway, I digress. The first part of his sms beat about the bush, saying how we would always be the best of frens, how I can always depend on him (like I want to), blah blah...THEN, the main point came. He has a new gf already. What the...?!

I am upset and pissed, but allow me to clarify. Upset coz he owed me a bomb and yet he had the nerve to hook up with some other girl. C'mon, I don't think he is going to let the girl pay when they go out yah? At least not for now (but he eventually will). So, rather than returning $ to me, he is going to spend it on that girl!

All my anger came rushing back at that moment. I mean, for one thing, I was relieved that he finally can be off my back now that he has a new girl to occupy him. But for sure, I was pissed. I had stood by him for the worse part of the his life, our relationship underwent hardships and suffered (sort of like poverty-related issues)...and now that he is coming out of it, he hooks up with another girl and that girl benefits from it all! Ok...whatever.

Of course I'm not gonna tell him all these, lest he thinks I'm jealous (I'm 1000% not) or that I still have feelings and therefore am reacting in such a big way. Initially, I intended to reply to his sms and wished him the best. But somehow, I was too pissed to even pretend that I was happy for him. So I ended up doing nothing. ANyways, he doesn't need my blessings nor approval. He can go pimp for all I care now.

My only constant worry is my pet bunny. I really am not sure how to settle the issue. Especially now that he has a new girl. I can't be going by his house as and when as I darn pleased, can I? He said that "his girl knows about us and is okay with it"...What the FISH! One, I wonder what she knows (the lies he feeds her with). I'm already guessing that the picture he painted of me is damn ugly and smudgy. Whatever. She can learn the truth about his lies eventually. Just hopefully not in the same way as I did, bless her.

I've been seriously considering to give her up to someone who can really love her. My circumstances doesn't allow me to. My heart aches whenever I talk and think about her. But, given the present situation, that seems to be the most feasible solution. God, what should I do? Show me the way please!

Back to HOT Singapore...pooh!

Oh how time flies...I'm back from my vacation, which means I'm returning to work soon. Very soon actually, in less than 12 hours' time...Sigh! As expected, I'm already feeling blue, so blue!

It was an enjoyable trip indeed, despite having holidayed in Australia before. My bro's frens were a wonderful bunch of people, and they wasted no time in making me feel comfortable and almost like one of them, despite having known them like only now.

They got their results back, and some of the frens didn't make it thru their papers while others did (my bro did...whew!). So, my bro is back in Singapore now, flipping papers, surfing the net for job openings. Yeah, he's gonna join the ranks of a pencil pusher!

Let's see, I spent some close to A$2K during the 2 weeks there...isn't bad at all. Thought I would sink in more. Thank God for that. Coming to think of it, I spent more on food than buying stuff. The food there is costly man! I wish I could buy more stuff. Some of the things were really nice and lovely, but becoz I didn't want to bankrupt my bank, I had to hold myself back.

The weather is one thing I would rave about. Being winter there, it was cold...very cold sometimes. But I love it! I'm the cold weather sort of person, and I hated to be hot and sweaty (except when at the gym). San Francisco is another city I love its weather for. Guess I would certainly consider one of these countries to retire in when I'm all wrinkled and old. Ha!

Man, I'm feeling sleepy again...guess that's why I can't seem to organise my thoughts and everything doesn't seem to flow nicely. I'm hopping back to bed. Talk again...