548. adapting

Rant of the day: Weather is so unpredictable now. A day of rain and a day of sun. What the heck?

It's been quite a couple of days since I've last updated. Watched "Underdog" yet? Not exactly notable for a movie but should be quite a ride for the kids. But it's featuring my favourite breed though -- Beagle.

Anyway, like I've predicted earlier, this week was a DAMN F**KING hectic week. And when it's finally weekend, I don't even know if I can really enjoy it when I've got homework to clear. Adaptation to part school life is on it's way but it's really tiring. The cohort is fantastic though but some are just simply too quiet. Or maybe I look unapproachable perhaps? And of course, in this course of study, we shouldn't be too quiet. Else how to communicate? Mass communication right? Haha...

I've found my first project mate. He's a nice guy and hopefully we can work well. Thinking if we should look for another project mate. Well, this module's assignment requires a maximum of 3 man group but we can still make-do with 2. We shall think about it...

Completed my first 2 out-field seminars outside Revenue House. Shall I say that it's quite fun but tiring. The travelling and concentration. Damn! It's so taxing on both mentally and physically. Just some photos from the first day.

It's really different to conduct seminars outside. I'd really tried to make the presentation as relax and fun as possible. And those participants are really participative.

TY (our FAQ saviour for the first day), Sharon (whose last day happens on the seminar day too) and me.

Haven't been eating at Maxwell Food Centre for quite some time. Their food is good. Love the claypot rice. Didn't have the chance to shoot the "Bread Pit" store. From it's name, it's quite self-explanatory right? They sell bread. Duh...

547. 笑饱睡觉

Rant of the day: Are the new gals trust-worthy? Only time will tell...

人生里充满这各市各类的方程式。以下供大家参考……

人 = 吃饭 + 睡觉 + 上班 + 玩
猪 = 吃饭 + 睡觉
人 = 猪 + 上班 + 玩
人 - 玩 = 猪 + 上班
结论：不懂玩乐的人 = 知会上班的人

男人 = 吃饭 + 睡觉 + 挣钱
猪 = 吃饭 + 睡觉
男人 = 猪 + 挣钱
猪 = 男人 - 挣钱
结论：男人不挣钱等于猪

女人 = 吃饭 + 睡觉 + 花钱
猪 = 吃饭 + 睡觉
女人 = 猪 + 花钱
猪 = 女人 - 花钱
结论：不花钱的女人是猪

综合以上结论：
男人为了不让女人变成猪而挣钱。
女人为了不让男人变成猪而花钱。
男人 + 女人 = 吃饭 + 睡觉 + 挣钱 + 吃饭 + 睡觉 + 花钱 （花钱 = -挣钱） = 2 x （吃饭 + 睡觉） = 两头猪！

好啦！笑饱了吧？去睡觉吧……

546. foresee super busy week

Rant of the day: I'm applying the minimal or no eye contact with *ahem*. Hope it well help me not get so irritated.

Somehow, I foresee this week will be super busy for me. I had my third session of the basic income tax course today. I'll be presenting tomorrow and then school after work. Wednesday prolly the only breathing day this week. Thursday again will be presenting but this time is somewhere out there and school again after work. Friday again presenting somewhere outside.

I've got new website content writing up and new application testing on-going. Plus, Sharon's last day of work will be this week, which is actually a very bad news for me and Isaac. Sharon's work prolly will be handed over to the superiors and if they can't handle them all, they might "delegate" to us as the new gal doesn't seems to be ready yet.

I have a bad feeling that I'll be exhausted this week.

Anyway, upgrades around office is also on-going. And we've benefited a lil from it.

I'm all excited with the new 19-inch LCD monitor. Now, I've finally got more space on my desk!

Dear's calf and ankle is injured, prolly due to the long hours on her not-so-stable heels. It's swelling up but luckily not too badly. She's on MC today though. Can't really walk around and since her movement is limited, she actually limit herself to kitchen today instead.

She's back into her baking mood. Honestly, she bakes wonderful chocolate chip cookies! Had "stole" a bite at her place just now. Yummy!

Help dear to apply some cream on the swells. Years of injury experiences at Taekwondo do benefits. Hope it helps. Get well soon dear! Muacks!

545. post birthday celebration

Thought of the day: The morning rain feels so nice to hide under my blanket.

Had a post birthday celebration for Likeng with dear and Angela last night. A simple dinner with a KTV session. It's been ages since I've last sang in KTV. We've all enjoyed ourselves I hope and the KTV is much cheaper then what we usually spent. A new outlet at Hougang Green, B Box. Low price with pretty good service and decent environment.

A family kinda space and not some sleazy KTV joint with bunny tail swimsuit waitress.

Likeng gave me a birthday pressie for this year which came by as a surprise as my birthday this year was over for soooooooo long. But thanks gal for that tie and cuff link set. I'll use them. Hope dear and my pressie for Likeng gets to be put into good use too! Make-up brush kit and a simple blusher.

It's a Sunday now and yet I'm home alone. Oh well, never mind. I'll do my patching for my MapleStory. Haven't played for quite a while so I think it'll definitely need some patching. And thinking tomorrow will be back in office and on chourse with *ahem* again truely irritates me.

I'm loving A*Mei so much. Her song is so good. Enjoy too. A*Mei's 《如果你也听说》.

It's a KTV version so sing along with the lyrics. Simply love her voice and technics...

544. 表现失望

Rant of the day: 很讨厌这儿中被忽略或被遗忘的感觉。

不知道该说些什么。对自己的表现大为失望。今天在新传媒的笔试，真的完全难倒了我。在没有字典的辅助下，要求我以完整的华文句子回答问题，简直是难如登天。两个眼珠瞪着试卷却无法下笔。勉强的作完试卷却知道错误百出。真的希望新传媒会联络我去面试吧……

就这样，一整天的心情差投了。Isaac一知道我对自己的失望，就很积极的开导我。午餐时就稍微的透资了一点，尝试让自己开心一点。功效不大，但至少有尝试过。大概也就只有Isaac还记得我今天在新传媒的笔试。他也是第一个开口关心一下，让我很感动。至少我不是完全的被忽略、被遗忘的……我衷心的感谢他。At least he made me feel that I'm remembered.很讨厌这儿中被忽略或被遗忘的感觉。觉得自己很渺小、很不被人放在眼里。

话说回来，活了整24年，第一次到新传媒。真的好大！没看到什么明星，但名车到看了不少。跑车一辆接着一辆从眼前溜过。好羡慕也好无奈。我会到了何时，才有这种机会拥有名车机部。也就只能在合周公会面时，要他送我几辆名车吧……让我发一发白日梦也不错。

周末终于来到……

希望能好好的放松身心。

希望能好好的陪dear。

希望能被在乎。

希望下一周能从“心”开始。

希望等一下能安稳的睡一觉。

543. 心情郁闷

Thought of the day: My classmates seems great. Hope they will be great company for the rest of my 2 and a half years.

不知为什么，最近心情有一点郁闷。身边很吵杂，但心里却有一点寂寞。就算身旁有朋友、同事和同学，仍然觉得孤单。你会有这样的感觉吗？仿佛世上只剩自己孤军作战。

突然就觉得自己好渺小。世界是如此的大，而我却站在着大世界的哪儿个角落？

我好寂寞……

我好孤独……

我好孤单……

生命是如此的脆弱，情绪是如此的柔弱。风干的眼睛欲哭无泪。可能是我太累了。思绪很乱。

经天的一通电话让我喜出望外。新传媒打电话邀请我明天到新传媒接待处，为我所应征的娱乐新闻撰稿员做笔试。在无字典的情况下，想必是凶多吉少。希望会有转机……祝我好运！

542. first lesson

Quote of the day: 思念是一种病。

First lesson starts with a class of 52 and mostly females but I can't help to feel "lost" during the lesson. It reminds me of my first day back at NYP. Lotsa lecture mates have media background but a handful like me with nothing on hand.

A brief self-introduction and the lesson starts. Tried mingling around but somehow, I'm just not really a true social butterfly. I've like only chatted with the 2 gals and a guy seated behind me. I thought that they are really good company to start off with. Well, at least in mass comm, everyone shouldn't be too hard to strike a conversation.

My lecturer is great fun. At least I don't foresee myself dozing off in his classes but I can't tell for the rest of lecturers. He's quite understanding to his students as he know most of us are working adults.

First lesson wasn't that hard to comprehend but I seriously thinks that the rest of the chapters are not simple. But I'll work on that. Will grab a copy of Today everyday as he STRESSED that we should read more newspapers (not including TNP) and watch more TV, especially the news segments.

Talking about Today newspaper, peps here just love to queue for anything free. And in most instances, I don't think those in queue read the papers. Those ah mahs and ah peks will rush to the nearest Today kiosk and queue. No mater rain or shine, they will be there queueing and even asking for more copies if possible. So many copies for what? 1 copy or 2 copies are still the same copies what. Spare a thought for the rest of the rushing working crowd who prolly needs the paper more then you laa.

Catched the MTV Video Music Award 2007? Well, the controversial Britney Spears performed her new song -- Gimme More.

Somehow, I personally thinks that she had lost that "shine" in her. There's no punch in her dance that she use to have. She seems uncomfortable in whatever she wore on stage. Maybe too revealing? She seems unconfidence with herself. Maybe too fat? Maybe her really ugly hair? It's quite a pity actually for an artiste to turn out this way. Wishes her all the best and hope things will eventually turn out right.

Well, I think I should logoff now and go to my lalaland. It's late and I'm really really tired...

541. a good start

Rant of the day: Talking to her is a chore!

I'm not sure if dear detects it but her dad is finally not giving me the cold-shoulder now. Well, at least he acknowledged my presence when I greeted him and I can see a faint hidden smile on him. F-I-N-A-L-L-Y!!! It's a good start... really... and you don't know how much this means for me. It's like you are in a dark tunnel and finally see a faint light coming from a far far exit.

It's also my second tax course today and it's terrible but the information are beneficial though. I really cannot stand *ahem* anymore. She is super destructive in class, at least to me because I'm sitting next to her. She loves to act as if she's damn knowledgeable when she's not exactly on "that level" yet.

Here's some instances of what happened:

When we are doing our pop questions, she'll be like "whispering" to me, "I dunno how to do leh. Don't understand what is this about." and she'll start scribbling something that doesn't seems to be legible. But when others are giving the answers in class and got stuck, she'll "whisper" again, "Haiya... it's this and this this mah. So simple also dunno." and then making those "zhig" sound as if she's irritated and others are damn dumb.

Also, she'll suddenly asked me those questions that's NOT related at all. As if she's trying VERY hard to strike up a conversation with me. She happens to know that I'm taking up Mass Communication with RMIT and commented "Wah, good good. Entertainment industry earn alot leh! Can get a job easily also." I'm totally speechless when she commented that and gave her that "as if" look. Plus, she's totally not convinced that entertainment and media industry don't exactly earn that much, and kept insisting she's right. If by doing media and entertainment stuff can get all the riches in this world, then there will be thousands of millionares on the street now! Duh... I really feel stupid when I'm talking to her.

Talking about communicating, Kalpana was also chatting with me on some staff communication issue and she suddenly "blurt" out that she don't like talking to XX because he always "shoot" her down in her email. She really thinks too highly of herself. Practically NOBODY in office like to talk to her in the first place. Talking to her is a chore!

Oh well, like a Chinese saying -- 一种米养百种人. It simply means that there are so many different kind of people in this world.

Anyway, my first lesson starts tomorrow. I'm worried but at the same time excited. It's back to school whether I'm prepared or not. I've made the first move and now it all depends on the subsequent steps that I'm going to take. Will I make it? I have to... and with lotsa mental support.

Enough of reading and enjoy some music that I think it's perfect for our ears. Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie.

540. short weekend

Quote of the day: 不管就跳钢管。

The weekend is short. So short that I can barely feel it. I was doing OT yesterday and it took up almost the entire day. Dear was working this afternoon and there goes another afternoon. But we managed to spend some quality evening today. I needed those time together.

Clubbing plans were postponed till infinite terms as dear and I are seriously not sure when will we be free.

My swimming plan today was cancelled again due to the irritating weather but it's really fantastic to laze on bed though. The rain. The cool breeze. The not so humid air. It's just so good to snudge under the blanket and to the lalaland. Talking about lalaland... *yawn*

School starts on Tuesday and I'm quite nervous. I'm really not sure if I'm good enough to handle the situation. Handling both work and study ain't an easy task and it's gonna eat up alot of my time. I'll try my best.

*yawn*

Need to work again tomorrow. Monday blues shouldn't be that bad as will be on course. Hmmmmm... 2 new girls coming in tomorrow. Just hope that they ain't as irritating as *ahem*. For those in office should know who I'm referring to laa. Always asking those "duh" questions. It makes me feel stupid when I'm talking to her.

*yawn*

Ok, time to snudge into my bed now. Night peps!

539. no motivation

Do you know: UAE has no individual income tax!

I'm getting sick of my job. I am serious. I'm sick of doing the testings again and again and again. I feel so brainless everyday. There's no motivation at all. There's nothing for me to look forward to in office everyday.

Ramy's gone. Sharon's going too. All my buddies leaving... Should I go too?

Plus, I'm still sick! My flu condition is not getting any better. My mucus just keeps discharging and it's soooooooooo irritating.

I hope such days ends fast. Get me a better job!

School starts next Tuesday and I'm getting worried. On one hand, I'm very excited about going back school and do what I've always wanted to pursue but on the other hand, I'm afraid that I can't cope well on both work and study.

We'll see...

538. bento

Rant of the day: Drowsy...

It's really not a good day to work when you are on medication that causes drowsiness. That was what happened the entire day today. I can't concentrate during meetings. I can't follow on what I'm working on in front of my PC. But, I'm getting better now. At least my voice is SLOWLY recovering.

Since I'm still on the road to recovery, I think I shall sit out for tomorrow's community involvement at East Coast. It's just rubbish picking activity but we're doing on sea. Cool right? But I seriously don't think that I'll make it under the sun. It might aggrevate my flu.

Anyway, haven't had Japanese Bento for quite a while and dear had sudden craving for them. So, one of the best place to get them will be at Liang Court. That's where lotsa Japanese stuff are selling. Went to B1 in front of Meiya Supermart and bought 2 bentos.

Nice bentos. Though it's a lil cold but everything just taste good, especially the seasoning. Simply love the cold side spinach with sesame oil. It's D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!

Not only their bentos are nice, their custard puddings are OUT OF THIS WORLD! It simply slips down your throat smoothly, without leaving a trace. The scent of the custard and egg just filled up your mouth instant on every spoon.

But, do eat them in moderation. They ain't that cheap. Occasional indulgence is ok though. Haha.

I finally don't need to work through the weekend. Phew...

537. colorgenics

Rant of the day: Everyone's gone... What about me?

Saw this from Alvin's blog and seiously think that it's quite accurately (for me). This test prolly shows the closest to what I'm feeling or going right now. You should take the test too! So, take the colorgenics test now.

Enough is enough - and you feel that you've had enough for a while. You don't need any more battles. You just would like to be able to shout 'stop' and experience a little peace and calm - even if it be only for a little while. This doesn't mean that you need to cut yourself off from the rest of the world - it just means that you are seeking some respite, some physical or emotional relaxation that could release some of the the tension and possibly reduce the internal conflict.

You don't really give in. You follow your beliefs and ideals to the bitter end. You are the personification of stubbornness and whatever may transpire, right or wrong, you refuse to compromise or make concessions.

You have a high opinion of yourself. It is perhaps because of this self-centredness that you become exasperated when you feel that your needs are misinterpreted by those around you. When this happens - and it does quite often - you feel that there is no-one that can understand the way you feel and it is because of this egocentric self that you are quick to take offence.

You are feeling full of uncertainty and worrying over what you consider as missed opportunities. This is causing considerable stress and tension. You feel that there must be more to life than the constant pressures and anxieties - that surely life must hold far more opportunities than that which it has to date presented to you. You sincerely believe that there must be a simpler way to tap life's hidden recourses and should you be able to find that way - you could achieve your hearts desire. It's the not knowing 'how' that is affording you the constant worry. You are constantly probing and seeking - trying to ensure that at all times you are on your guard against missing any opportunity. 'Enough is enough'. You are anxious to avoid further setbacks. You are strenuously trying to make sure that you will not be overlooked and you badly need security.

There is an inherent fear that you may be prevented from achieving the things you want. This activates your subconscious desire for peace of mind and mental security. It is increasingly obvious to you that the environment that you are in is not conducive to your well-being and so you are seeking fresh fields - somewhere free of conflict where you can RELAX and THINK.

536. sayonara

Question of the day: Just how much mucus can a person create per day?

My nose is protesting the entire day today. I simply can't breathe well and was sneezing away in my freezing office. Coughing is making it's way to me and my voice are so coarse right now. And I've got 2 datelines. Looks like it's gonna be rest-cum-work at home day tomorrow.

It's my buddy's last day at work today. Somehow, it's a lil sad to see one of your comrades leave. To think that it was roughly 3 months back when he's the first person in the branch I've met. But sometimes, the tide is just simply to rough to continue and leaving will be the best option. That's what happen when your boss(es) is/are ____ (fill in the blanks yourself) and the workload is just ridiculous. Let's just plainly put it across as too much unrealistic ideals and expectations.

Anyway, sayonara buddy. You will have better luck else where. I hope mine luck comes soon too.

The wonder team but Sharon was not available at that point of time. Now showing from left: Isaac, Ramy with his soft toy, Me and Hasanah.

Here goes... Sharon with the big boys! Gosh... I look so pale and sick!

Hasanah's hair kept on blocking Ramy's face. But the lighting is just nice though.

Hmmmmm... What's with the middle finger WM?

New scandal in office? What's with the arm hook, skimpily dressed TY and the heart shaped pillow at the *ahem* place? Haha...

Adelena just love to display her sweetest smile. But how come Ramy's not smiling naturally? As usual...

All the best dude! Gambatte! Ok gals, he's single and available (don't say I don't help you "advertise").

535. past few days

Rant of the day: Leaving is the best option...

The branch that I'm in is pitiful and pathetic. My future here seems bleak. Time to move on... but what a time when my school is starting this month!

My sore throat had developed to cough and flu. Body is really weak right now and actually, a lil feverish too. Tried drinking lotsa water but besides peeing alot, my body doesn't seems to get any better. Took vitamins and lozenges but verdict proved not much improvement.

Anyway, have you went to Comex last weekend? Such exhibitions are always packed with people. It just so happens that dear's monitor failed on her last week and had no choice but to buy a new one. She managed to get a pretty good deal from Samsung, a 19inch LCD monitor with glossy finishing. The stats are pretty good as well and it's going for $299.

Wanted to get a better thumbdrive but was too engrossed with dear's LCD comparison. The Toshiba laptops offer were pretty enticing too but sadly, I'm not ready (financially prepared) to buy one. The stats were quite good and it's going only for $1500! Awwwww...

Donuts craze is burning more wildly now. Plaza Singapura had a new outlet opening. AMK Hub also has one. But their queue is never as bad as the infamous Donut Factory at Raffles City.

But we managed to bought some last Sunday. It took us 45min to just grab a couple of boxes and it's not cheap. But we think we were quite lucky as many waited for more than an hour! Many had sung wonderful praises for this shop but only to taste it yourself to know. Still, it's oily... Well, donuts are still donuts and they're meant to be fried. But the dough taste much better then most of the other brands outside.

Top picks from me -- Double Chocolate and Lotus Mocha. Double Chocolate is stuffed with generous dark chocolate and coated with a thick layer of white chocolate. Lotus Mocha as a generous mocha kaya at the centre of the donut and is coated with a layer of mocha chocolate. Good... Mum complained that the strawberry flavoured is a lil too sweet though.

Shan't go on. Body is not responding well. Nitez peps... *sniff sniff*

534. fantastic movies

Quote of the day: HIV = Holy Innocent Virgins... Right...

2 movies on 2 days. Both movies are fantastic.

Yesterday was Ratatouille (ra-ta-too-ee), a story about a rat that can cook and a man who can't cook. Though I'm already 24, but I'm always a big fan of Disney's and Pixar's animation. Caught the movie with dear but wasn't my initial intention to watch as I've got planning to cut my hair and back home to work on my left-overs. But due to some last minute hiccups, I accompanied dear instead for the movie.

Ratatouille storyline was damn sweet for an animation but somehow, it touched my heart. Though the plot is a lil far-fetched but the way it was presented was fantastic. Logically speaking, rats DON'T cook and even if they do, I seriously doubt that I'll try.

There's alot of laughing points throughout the entire movie.
- beginning of the movie on the alien appearance where a newbie alien doing some sort of test
- the lightning which didn't kill Remy (the lead rat) and his brother on the roof-top
- tough female cook making sure the new guy don't get in her way
- bad guy keep "hallucenating" of seeing a rat in his restaurant premises
- when Remy tries out to taste the "essence" of food
- the food critic, Ego, flashes back memories after eating Ratatouille
But my all time favourite is when the entire colony "kidnapped" the rat inspector when they were all in the restaurant kitchen preparing food. Right... Haha...

Today was Bweh Bweh Yeoh (881 in hokkien) with Mum and dear. Mum's treat though. One word for the movie -- BRAVO! Somehow, I felt that it's not really a standard kinda movie but rather, a hokkien musical. I think Royston Tan (director) is a damn talented man! Who will ever try making getai as their movie? And he did...

Story was about 2 gals who inspired to be getai singers. They met while watching getai and later, grouped together to perform at getai. One, was seriously lacked of care and concern by her family. The other, seriously ill and life is running against time. They got together to form a gal duet named Papaya. The movie was filled with alot of laughter and tears. Tears of joy, pain and touched. And of course not forgetting, it's filled with hokkien and I was quite dependent on the subtitles. My dialects are pretty bad even though I'm a hokkien. Haha...

Songs are fantastic, even though they are all in hokkien. The vocals are amazing. The songs were sung with lotsa feelings. The actors are fantastic. The plot was touching and I teared in the final few scenes. There wasn't a happily-ever-after ending fyi.

Please applause peps! *claps* Support this fantastic local production!

Gosh, the movie really brings back some memories. When was my last time watching a getai? Hmmmmmm...

Now... I wanna watch Evan Almighty, Beowolf, Underdog and Bee Movie. But will I have the time and cash?