This and That

It's been such a looong time since I can stay up THIS late and still not worry about having to wake on time tomr morning for work...only because I'm on leave! Ha...feels great indeed. For once, I can indulge in my nocturnal instincts. Heh...

I was feeling hardworking about three hours ago (that's 1am), and in fact had settled down to finish an article that was alredy 97% completed. I was gonna move on to start on the next one when I got distracted by Blogger, and I actually logged in to change some feature. Well, you would have noticed that I've transported my blog to the new system that supposedly boosts easier template movement and stuff like that. I've actually moved my blog a couple of days ago, but I wasn't really in the mood to try to fiddle with the features I originally had, so I left it at that first. Somehow, I got into the mood just now, and thought I would spend a little time tweaking the details. And that little twiddling actually took me some 3 hrs. -.-'' But well at least it wasn't entirely in vain. I've tried putting back most of what I used to sport on the old blog, though some stuff I think I shall not put them back, so as to accomodate the new stuff...ie. PHOTOS on the side bar! Yayy...well, not that I can upload the full album here, but at least I can put a "preview" sort of shot and if you guys are interested, well, u can just click on the link and there you go! transported to the full album where u can enjoy the photo splash. As you would alredy know, I'm such a "camera-girl" *big grin*

Ok, do check back regularly for new stuff, esp the pictures. Coz I've still got so many pictures and albums not uploaded on the photo site, so that means I can't link it here as yet. Once I get those up, I shall link them here too, in chronological order.

Time to go back to my work, then get some rest before I wake in the morning to start my packing. -.- Didn't I say my life has spiralled into a monotony? *blech*

Happy Lunar New Year...

...to one and all =D

So are we all on an angbao windfall? Haha...well sadly, not me. My angbaos have shrunk. But well, I'm still ok about it. I mean, everyone likes money (c'mon, who doesn't), but it has more or less gotten to a point where you wouldn't whine and kick up a fuss about smaller angbaos...the first grumble that sort, but after which even you would forget about it =)

Every year my new year is more or less the same. We don't have to go from house to house to do visiting, because all of us will congregate at my grandma's place. That's the relatives on my dad's side. We don't do my mom's side coz firstly, there was never such a 'tradition' and secondly, well, we aren't close. We are close to the relatives on my dad's side. So, the first day settles it.

And following that, Monday and today, I stayed in in the earlier part of the day to do packing. I was supposed to do visiting to two bosses' place today, but one girl couldn't make it, another couldn't confirm if she could make it, and the other isn't in Spore. Oh well...we'll probably do dinner after work on one of the evenings after work (as per invited by one of the bosses). So stayed in to do packing in the earlier part of the day. I went for a movie with my bro in the evening - the local show "Just Follow Law". Not too bad for a local movie with a local budget. Haha...Ok lah, it's really not bad. Funny scenes, but basically I've always felt that Jack Neo is able to see (and employ) beyond the normal/usual layers of society and present perspectives that's synonymous with the society at large, yet still acceptable (probably) with the authorities. Kudos to him.

Yesterday's programme was waaay more fun. For the first time, my sister, my brother and myself brought my parents to KTV! We were hesitant initially, whether they would like it there. But my mom is always curious to see new/different things (that either she's read/heard about..not necessarily that she will like it though. So it was a 50-50 thing). The first "surprise" was that my dad was game to say ok about going the night before, and even though on the day itself, he didn't take his usual nap in the afternoon, he didn't even suggest/indicate that he was tired/rather stay in. Digress: My dad wakes really really erly in the morning coz of work. And by early, I mean really early - 430 in the morning, and he's outta the house by 5-530. He takes a nap in the afternoon after he comes home, and he doesn't sleep before 12 every night. I can barely handle the lack of zz when I go to bed like 2 and have to wake in the morning for work at 8. Shame on me, I know.

Anyways, I'm so so so real glad we went to KTV. For one thing, he works practically everyday so he doesn't have much opportunity to enjoy. The other days when he doesn't work (rarely), he needs to rest. But more importantly, the gathering was SUPER fun =) kinda like a bonding session. I mean, we all know that my dad likes to play punk sometimes, crack lame jokes with his poker face on, disturb my 'naive' mom..stuff like that. But we saw a side of him that we've never seen before (coz we never brought him to KTV). He can't sing, yes, but he was on and game to belt out songs. Of coz, I was mindful to select songs that he would know how to sing. To our surprise yet again, he was equally fine with singing some of the pop songs too...even though he committed endless faux pas through the night - he either dunno the tune, dunno the lyrics, sang too fast...stuff like that. Haha...and he would occasionally make us laugh by singing in some weird voice. Serious fun =D And he's a good sport too...even though he needed to wake early for work, and our session wasn't due to end till 1130, he insisted that we stayed through. So sweet of him right...Hee

I guess though my dad was never the "I love you, ah girl" type of father (after all he still was brought up the traditional chinese way), but I think he's already surpassed my expectations of a dad. Me being the sort of emo, touchy-feely sort of person, I would be sorely disappointed if my dad is a super fierce, straight-faced, expressionless person...and I don't mean just in terms of facial expression, but of outward behaviour too.

I guess I have taken after my dad in more ways than I realised. My sweet tooth (proven to be from him rather than my mom) - the ice-cream; our similar taste-buds - the mandarin oranges yoghurt, milk; my cheerful demeanor, my easy laughter (and I'm super grateful to him for those genes!); my brains (I'm no genius but I do have some thinking power still)...haha..That's not to say my mom is erm, low IQ or whatsoever...but my dad definitely is a street-smart one (super good in maths too). It's a shame he didn't get to complete further education after sec 4 (money issues typical of average households in the past), coz I'm certain he will excel.

Since I've began to realise a lot of common traits, and began to know my dad more as a daughter, I know that he has the characteristics, the traits, the personality that I want in my future partner too. Before you get the wrong idea (there's this illness about liking your own parent right), I'm sane ok. I'm just saying I want my partner to be like my dad - the family man who takes care of the family, a giving soul, a self-sacrificing person, gentle yet firm person, humourous, easy-going...the list can go on. I can use all the positive adjectives I know and it probably still won't be enough. I'm not saying he's perfect...he isn't. He has his flaws too. But his good certainly outweigh the bad. My mom is one lucky woman. Hahaha...

Anyways...didn't realise I've gone on and on about my dad. Ha! My room is in such disarray now...Piles of stuff everywhere. And oh boy...have I got lotsa more packing to go! I finish one 'section' and another would pop up that demands my attention too. With the karang guni woman I am, I hoard rubbish and stuff, so you can imagine the stuff I had to go through (whether to throw or to pack off to the new place). Officially, we are all gonna shift on 1 March, which is like, next Thurs alredy. Tomorrow is another packing day, at least during the daytime. I meeting the girls for our weekly run tomr evening at the stadium. I've been pigging out incorrigibly, that I wonder how many kgs I've piled back on *shudders*

So once again, the long holiday has come and gone. I've always loved the later part of the year, coz that's when the longer holidays are and happens in tandem. Not to mention those are my favourite holidays too - Xmas, NY, LNY...There's always something to anticipate. Heh...Well, the next holiday would be Easter Friday. Pooh...

This work week and next, I'll be on leave most of the days. Putting things in perspective, I'll be working 3 days out of the 8 days! BUT well...that's enforced leave. Remember I said I still have leave from 2005 that I was supposed to clear before 2006 ends? Well of course with things happening so rapidly, there was no way I could go on leave. My boss gave me a grace till end Feb. Well just nicely coinciding with my house-moving. Gives me time to stay home and do packing. Except that I will also be doing work. I brought all my stuff back to finish coz of the evil deadlines. -.- I can already foresee my life over the next few days - work, packing, work, more packing...Not to mention the possible calls from work. Oh yes, I have lotsa errands to run too. But really, what a bummer! Sigh...the only upside I can see? Well...I get to sleep in later I guess. I should be contented huh =) With the consecutive days of leave I would be on, it is just perfect for going on holidays man! But sadly...You know, like for instance this weekend, I'll be on leave from Fri, next Monday too - that's a long weekend. Tues & Weds I have to go back to work coz I'm covering events, then I'll be on leave again Thurs, Fri and over the weekend. Long weekend too! Though actually, I foresee myself having to cover an event on 3 Mar (That's a Sat). Oh well...can't complain. I think I will certainly suffer from post-multiple-leave stress upon returning to work "full-time". Hahaha...

I super have the urge to go East Coast...or Sentosa...somewhere "beachy" =) just to have fun. But well...while I'm on leave, most of my friends would b working. Like who will be "clearing" leave like I am...

I super have blown my budget this month...My heart has bled to death that it no longer feels anything when I shell out $ for this and that. I've got stuff I want to buy for my new place, I'm buying a new mobile, and not to mention the essentials too that I'm low on supplies. I've exchanged my prezzy with my fren - he got his new toy, and he gave me vouchers to buy my new toy with. Kinda like I'm buying for myself of coz, but well, that's all in the name of good fun & thoughtfulness =D I've to top up some more too of coz...that explains the pocket bleeding further. And I can't prolong the purchase of my new toy, coz I've to return the mobile to him before he goes away. Anyways, I keep telling myself that my high expenditure is taken care of by my bonus - it's additional cash, it's not eating into my savings. Yeah right...

Right, time to go back to my work now. I'm slipping back to my nocturnal nights again these days due to the holidays and leave. I hope I'll be able to revert to the earlier biological clock that I have had a hard time tuning previously when I go bck to "full-time" work eventually.

Will do some pictures next if I have time =)

Boring Update...

So how did u spend your Valentine's Day?

I spent mine with a group of singles. A girlfren actually brought me to a gathering organised by another of her fren, who in turn brought along her frens...interesting huh =) This fren of hers, let's call her Ms D...she's a high-flyer, in her erly-thirties (I think), and still single. This is actually the second time I'm going out with a party/gathering she organised. The first one was the New Year's Eve party at Marina Mandarin, during which she gathered some 10 over people for the countdown party. She's seen the world, enjoy the finer things in life, and certainly knows how to have fun. I guess for a sua-gu like me, it's good that I know someone like her. At least it enlarges my social circle a little more, and have some harmless fun in the process.

Anyways, we went to railmall and sat down at Denise the Wine Shop. Well as you would have known by now, I can't handle alcohol. A bad drinker in the very least, but the bigger problem is one who is allergic to alcohol. Yep that's me. But I still had a little to drink. Just have to learn to pay the consequences that's all (rashes and itch)...Heh...

Yesterday's gathering was smaller, but more cosy. Cosy settings, easier conversations. Was fun, I must add. And I ended the day by succumbing to my weakness at 12 in the morning - a lime popsicle! *Bright grin!* No regrets...I swam it off today with 11 laps...hopefully. Haha...

Anyways, Ms D said she intends to organise another CNY party sometime during the second week of CNY. I must say I'm looking forward to it! I hope it doesn't fall through =D

Hmm...have got more to blog about this gathering, but am feeling a little sleepy now...140 and I've gotta work tomr. It's Friday...the last Friday before CNY. Have a client to meet tomr (sianz)..I've got lotsa to do, both at work, at home - packing and clearing for house-moving; and articles for church magazine to write too. Everything's due; nothing's done, no time; my fault. But interestingly, today (friday) is the only day this week that I don't have anything on after work. No plans, no dates. Monday - JB dinner; Tues - Run with the girls; Weds - V-day Outing; Thurs - Swim with Fen...and Friday's here now. I think I probably will head to town to get some last min stuff. But there is still a slim chance that I will stay back in office and OT. Hmm...

I've told 2 different persons today, that I think I'm getting addicted to shopping. Not that I wasn't before, but I think it may be becoming a problem worth worrying over. You see, lately I haven't exactly been in my best, and I head for shopping therapy. So much so that I buy almost everything I see/I like/I look ok in. Yeah I noe..-.- I need to learn to rein myself in and curb myself more. Mabbe when the credit card bill comes, that will jolt me to my senses. Taking 'refuge' in shopping...think I remb reading an article before about it being an escape for some ppl. It actually is a medical problem for the serious ones. Good grief, I sure hope I won't degenerate to that.

I need to clear out 5 days of overdue leave (leftover from 2004....ha!) by end of Feb. And considering next week being a 'holiday' week (3 work days only), and the subsequent week is half Feb, doesn't seem I have a lot of choice about selecting the days. I haven't decided which 5days yet, coz I need to ensure that they don't clash with those days that I need to cover events (which is quite a number coz of the festivities). The other thing is, I can't really afford to too. One of my colleague is on leave till next Thurs, and the snr designer is away on honeymoon all the way till early/mid-March. Rather short-handed already. My boss oso dunno how to let me take leave coz of a tight deadline coming up. But I've assured her that amidst my packing and house-moving (on leave), I will be bringing work home to do. Of coz she's ok with that...hmpt -.-

I dunno what rubbish Im rambling now...some random crap. Guess I shd b going to bed then. It's 2! Long day tomr...Happy New Yr first (in case I don't blog any entry next couple of days...I intend to, but u'll never know huh)

short update before bedtime....

Something different on a Monday evening - going into Johor for some cheap dinner =D

One of my bosses drove myself, Tricia and Isabel into Johor just now for some cheap seafood. Cheap yes...but so-so only. Nothing yummilicious like Taman Sentosa (not sure if this is the right spelling). True, Taman Sentosa isnt that clean or nice; a little on foul-smelling side, some would even say. But the last time I went there for seafood (which was quite a while ago I must say) was not too bad really.

This place we went just now was 20min away from the second link through Tuas, at a place called "Skudai" or something like that (not sure if the spelling is rite). Four of us had chilli crabs, prawns, frog (them, certainly not me), 2 plates of beancurd tofu (quite nice) and this fancifully-named mushrooms (which is nice too). All these for RM82, which works out to be approx RM20 each - that's like SGD10. Cheap indeed =D Would have been more satisfying had the food been great. And for now, with all those cholestrol and fats in my system, I just have to do the additional 5 rounds tomr (on top of my usual) *faint*

But anyways, the trip itself was good. We had lotsa laughter along the way, cracking silly jokes and talking crap. And because of the not-so-satisfying chilli crab, we actually made a pact to go AMK Ave 2 to try the famous big chilli crabs on the first Monday after CNY, possibly followed by frog (eewww) at Geylang, and mabbe Tow Huey at Rochor. Haha...all courtesy of Tricia's wonderful idea.

I guess it's the gathering and time spent that I relished more than the food itself. Of coz, I'm not saying that I don't appreciate the food, I do. Just that the company certainly makes the food tastes so much better =) Like just now, though the food wasnt tip top, but it was still a great, fun experience. Our morale dipped when we made our journey back to Spore. SIgh.

*****

V day is just round the corner, so what grand plans are in store? I was talking to a fren that day, and we ended up chatting about the 'window' period I have gone through - 2 yrs. A tad too long. But not of my choice.

I've more or less decided that I shall either meet up with a best fren whos single too, then mabbe we'll do dinner; or, this is my plan - holed up in office doing OT till at least 10pm, then take the lonely journey home alone on the mrt. Primarily, I have absolutely no wish to see lovey-dovey couples strolling down town hand clasped in hand, or cuddling one another. Hopefully doing that can help me avoid these heart-wrenching moments that may just make me turn green with envy.

*****

I haven't been in the greatest mood these days. Things have been happening, and I've been hurting. And the pain is more poignant at night, when certain memories come haunting back.

The could-have-beens, the what-ifs, the if-onlys...I had asked God to guard my heart, and all was well initially. But I guess I had let my guard down. Now all I can do is to hate myself for that, for putting myself through this. When will I ever learn?? Never, I guess.

I try not to think about it, hoping for the best that time will heal this little wound. Yeah, that would mean patience on my side. In the meantime....I guess I shall continue hurting then.