Blinded

After the gusty wind whipped me of my contact lens (directly from my right eye) on my annual pilgramage to my papa's hometown, I've been seeing things like the one-eye pirate.

I'm supposed to report to work today. But I think my condition will cause too much strain on my eyes at work, so I extended my leave. I will not wear my glasses in public if I can help it cos I look almost repulsive when bespectacled, especially with my current scratched and faded pair of specs. See for yourself.

So while waiting for my new funky specs to be fabricated, I'm home pigging out on the fantastic goodies I bought for myself - 64 pieces x 2 tins of 凤凰卷 and more!

Fergie Better Lift The Cup Next Week

My right ankle has grown to gargantuan proportions to celebrate Man U's triumphant season.

I wanted to don a Man U T-shirt when they lift the cup next weekend along pubs of Lan Kwai Fong. So after work on Tuesday, I trekked from Mohd Sultan to Tanglin, hoping to get something nice. Because there was no direct bus, the only sensible way to get there was to walk. It was a trecherous journey, with road works and eerie, overhanging branches infested with insects acting as obstacles.

Of course, I reached Tanglin to realise that the store has been replaced by a jewellery store. I jumped about in frustration about the wasted trip, as I was pespiring and panting more than slightly by the time I got there. I knew the Devil's Bar was closed, just didn't expect the merchandise store to close too. It must be a premonition to Man U's exit from the Champions League one day later.

On Friday, when I put on the same pair of pants that I wore on three days earlier, my right ankle started to itch and swell appallingly. I suspect a bug hid among the folds of my pants and lashed it poisonous teeth out at me on Friday. Now, the infected area not only itches, it's painful as well. If it aches anymore, I'm going to need crutches already. To make matters worse, I'm down with flu and cough, causing already chubby cheeks to puff up more.

And I'm supposed to go on holiday in a few days' time.

You Haven't Caught Up With Me For So Long, I Might Have Popped A Baby

Call me. Ask me out. I miss everyone!

The Gruu Predicts

FA Cup goes to Chelsea
Premier League goes to Man U

Champions League goes to Liverpool if AC Milan goes through, otherwise Man U wins. (He thinks Milan will win tonight.)

Let's see if he lives up to his name, although when the predictions turn out to be inaccurate, he will just shrug and say his predictions always fail when he make them public.

My Mum Is A Closet Liverpool Fan

She actually got up in the morning to watch the match against Chelsea last week, and said it was a pity they lost cos they played really well. I suppose she was talking about the second half because I watched the first half and thought they were terrible.

And why else would she exclaim "Well done!" when Liverpool won Arsenal 3-1, and only scorned when Man U won 4-1 (I forgot against who) in the same week.

Anyway, I just want to say that it's annoying that Liverpool fans seem to spring out from all corners since I knew my boyfriend, a Reds fan himself.

I Also Want To Be Pretty, A Doctor And A Model!

Working on my very first TV commercial production, I had to assist my client to choose the perfect model.

One particular candidate who turned up for the casting made a deep impression on me. From her portfolio, she looks especially fab in lifestyle shots, where models give their happiest expressions e.g.

Like the typical sweet, young thing, she said things like, "Oh reee-ally," and giggled a lot.

Delivery of the her introduction was nothing spectacular. And she was a little nervous. However, I was slightly impressed by her resume, which made me envious - Modelling since 19? How very glam. Fourth year in medicine? Practicising medicine is what I want to do in my next life. And only 23? Like me!

My green-eyed monster failed her immediately. And I enthusiastically discouraged my client and Creative Director from selecting her for our TVC. After all, but she really only looked average. My Creative Director even asked her if she had a nose job, "It looks fake," he commented. Besides, her skin was flawed. My client is in the skincare business, so good skin is of top importance.

And that's that.

I'm Loving It

I am now so used to clocking 12 hour (or longer) work days that the sunset is a view much missed.

And today is the sixth weekend in a row that I am in the office. Nothing but passion and optimism is driving me. Thank goodness for good bosses, fantastic colleagues, bright prospects, great industry.

And my mother has to ask, "Do you have such poor time management that you need to go back to work every weekend?"

How encouraging.

Miss Me?

I swear I've outgrown my narcissism :)

Do Not Disturb - Busy With Bachelor

28/4

Anyway, I didn't turn up in the end. But the invite's still sitting on my desk. Good distraction for a hard day's work :)

I got an invite to the party.

*Overwhelmed with lust*

Taxis and Claims

It's 9pm and ticking. I'm blogging from the office, waiting for 10pm, the eligible taxi claim time.

Last September, when I was greener than green in the company, the taxi claim time was 8pm. Perhaps it was I who submitted dubious claims, my boss decided he was being too lenient by allowing claims from 8pm. Starting from November, the rules were changed to 10pm.

Inevitably, the new law sparked much protest from my colleagues. Angry emails (some written in caps) flew back and forth (The announcement was unwisely done through a cold email and it was not accompanied by an explanation). The management decided to relent a bit by allowing dinner claims from 8pm. Taxi claims stayed at 10pm.

10pm is an impossible time to get a taxi. Taxis pass by all the time but none will stop, not even those with the Taxi sign lit. Even when I prepare to fork out $4 on booking fee, it takes 30 minutes just to get through to the automated operator (and no taxi will stop during this period).

How ridiculous. We are already slogging so hard, working 14 hours a day. What we want to do is to quickly get home and bathe and rest. And we have to spend 30 minutes just to wait for an available taxi who will pick us up?

And why won't the empty taxis stop?!?

I'm gonna see if the situation improves or I may start a petition to get the management to bring forward the claim time to a more reasonable 9.30pm. It's 9.38pm now. Time to start calling the taxi company so that I can get one at 10pm.

Personal Ad - An Idea For My Dear Friends

Found in a magazine:

How to meet that special someone

Create a personal name card and slot it in your favourite book from the library or book store. The next person who opens the book is likely to be someone who shares similar interests with you. Who knows, you may just receive that special call!

Very cool gimmick! Being forward without being too brash :)

Movie Mania

The sudden influx of Oscar-worthy movies during January and February does no good to a busy girl like me. How am I supposed to watch all of them before they end their run?

Being seriously deprived, I vowed to catch all of them (those still showing) during the CNY break, irregarding the costs involved. Until I caught a glimpse of the Channel 5 promo on TV - a contest to win a pair of tickets to the Oscar Extravaganza Movie Marathon (5 at a go!). Because I only caught a glimpse, I didn't notice how to take part. I badly want to win so that I can watch all at once. In fact, I was very prepared to pay if such a package is offered by the cinemas.

Anyway, I went to great lengths to find out the contest details. I contacted someone I knew from Cathay (ah... the power of networking) and was informed that I had to take part through Channel 5, the organiser. So I scrolled the website and it told me to send an SMS with my particulars and the reason why I should win the tickets.

My reason? Too corny to publish here. But corn works. And I won :D How time-saving. It's free too! Lalala~~

But sad to say, I missed the Oscars because of work. Although it wasn't much of a loss, according what I read from the reviews.

Just To Show Off A Bit

Look what I got today? He remembered that I liked lilies :)

It's the size of a toddler, and bigger than all the bouquets I've ever received from other boys added together.

I wasn't expecting it at all. In fact, I was at a client's place when it arrived. When the delivery girl called me to collect "a package" from the reception when I returned, I thought it was from a bogus company trying to offer me a prize with conditions attached.

The bouquet garnered a myriad of responses from my colleagues. There was the jealous one, the envious one ("Wah..."), the sulky one ("I don't have..."), the inquisitive one, the teasing one, the practical one ("Enjoy it while you can. You won't get such surprises after your wedding.") and the indifferent one.

I quite enjoyed the attention :P

P/S So I got a bouquet of lilies which is half my height for our six month anniversary, I wonder what's in store for the one-year celebration. Heh.

"I Lost 5kg In 3 Weeks!"

I started work at the end of last August. Without much time to exercise, much of my muscles turned into fat. Actually, I prefer to blame my medication for my unfitness. So my weight increased, increased till I finally fell ill due to my heavy workload in December.

Two weeks ago, my sister's weighing scales read my to pre-hyperthyroid level. Whoopee!

*****

The Gruu started work at a new company at the beginning of the year. Being self-employed for more than 20 years, working under a boss is a drastic change for him. Getting regular pay may be assuring to some, but to him, the need to get to work on time is misery. You see, he used to be able to start his work day at any time he pleased.

It seemed that the new daily routine has quickly taken a toll on him. On the second day of work, he had the runs and needed to visit the bathroom numerous times. And in three weeks' time, he exclaimed disbelievingly during one Sunday brunch, "I lost 5kg!" and laughed.

We stared at him, not sure if his laugh meant joy or regret. But we all agreed that he didn't look any different.

Under the interrogation, my mum asked, "How did you know you lost 5kg? When did you measure your weight?"

The Gruu replied, "Hoi Kei's (Baby's) weighing scale."

There was silence as we all nodded in agreement, when Baby said, "But my weighing machine reads 5kg less than your actual weight."

The Gruu said, "Choy."

Drats. And I thought I've regained my slim self -_-

Party Time

Update (22 Dec):

There must have been at least 5 mugs, 6 photo frames and 3 notebooks in the pile of gifts. And I got.......... a photo frame. Thank goodness it's not recycled.

The party invitations kept coming in. For those that I'm reluctant to go to (e.g. company party), I've half a mind to buy ornamental items for gift exchanging. Just to piss off the recipient. What's the point of spending effort to buy something meaningful when you may get a recycled photo frame from someone you don't know. What exactly is the point of such parties? I wonder.

The Night Ride

With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls;

For stony limits cannot hold love out,

And what love can do that dares love attempt;

Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me

- Romeo

*****

Many kisses to the girls for the cosy birthday dinner.

A hearty spread of sushi followed by a tall cup of night coffee kept me wide-eyed in bed for hours.

At 3am, an idea popped into my head and I had to do it then or never.

Heart pumping at the fear of waking my mother and being stopped, and trembling with anticipation of the journey ahead, I stealthily carried the bicycle out of the house. Armed with a thick chain (to lock up the bike later), I started rolling down Kaki Bukit at a scary speed. It being a slope, I couldn't really control the bike except to steer it away from manholes. I was wary that the covers might give way or worse, not covered at all. Stopping at every red light, even when there was no traffic, I turned into Ubi. I didn't want to become the victim of a speeding car that was taking advantage of the empty stretch.

Still going at full speed, I manoeuvered my way into Paya Lebar. I was so possessed by the speed demon, I actually rode over kerbs so high I think would intimidate me if I was in a clearer state of mind. And just 200m of my destination, I ultimately tripped over. Although I couldn't stop in time, I have anticipated the fall. Thus, I was able to jump out of the bike before I hurt myself badly. Still, I didn't escaped unscathed. My right calf is marked with painful bruises.

But I picked myself up quickly, like a brave little girl, and rode on to the gas station, where I bought a carton of milk and carrot juice. Then, momentarily crippled by the accident, I slowly pedalled to the office building behind the gas station.

The Boyfriend was still working at that hour in that building and I had brought some refreshments to him. He was very touched :)

*****

I'm clearing leave from now till Wednesday. Expect a few more posts before the dry season returns.

Days Without ESPN

In an attempt to boycott our cable provider for charging us, loyal sports channels subscribers, the World Cup package, the Gruu has cut off the sports channels from our subscription (after resignedly watching and paying for the World Cup package).

His feeble attempt has caused immense frustration within my family. My mother gets extremely irritated that he would rather stay at the coffeeshop downstairs for straight six hours than subscribe to the sports channels. She also blames him for giving me an excuse to skip to the Boyfriend's place to watch the matches.

I am frustrated too. Besides nothing on TV to watch after ten, I get accused of using it as an excuse to skip to the Boyfriend's place on weekend nights. And, how should I watch the important late night matches? I can't possibly stay over at his place. My mother has taught me well, to feel ashamed to impose on others -_-

And the family has lost the jovial bonding times when watching the matches together.

*****

Then came a time of a must watch match between MU and Arsenal. It was a Sunday match and it was set to end after midnight. The prude in me told me that I shouldn't watch it at the Boyfriend's place. The next best alternative was to tag along with the almighty Gruu to the coffeeshop.

It was a nightmare.

I was surrounded by dirty men (from their appearance at least) who gawked at my presence and blew cigarette smoke into my face. Not only were the men filthy, the seats and tables and walls were dirty too. I am particularly squeamish to unidentifiable blotches of stains near me. I had to keep perfectly still, to be least in contact with the surroundings by not leaning against the chair. At the same time, I had to watch out for the big, fat cats that were roaming the area for bits of food dropped by the spectators. My behaviour at the coffeeshop was pretty much restricted. I couldn't yell, shout or run about in response to the match.

And I had to witness in misery the men (the Gruu included) waving their betting tickets triumphantly at the 88th minute.

I had to deal with all these, while at the same time, trying to ignore my mother's incessant demands for me to go home.

Somebody, please knock it into the Gruu's head that a $15 reduction in revenue will not be detrimental to the sole cable provider in Singapore.

Socialite Back In Action

If last month was time to work, October will be time to play, my astrology prediction says.

Indeed. A number of events and activities and gatherings have already been lined up for the month:

• Tay's birthday dinner
• Ong Hui's birthday gathering
• Hall of Fame Awards gala dinner
• Supper with Jo & gang
• Minxiu's Halloween party
• Paintball War with Co.
• Client's press launch event
• Drinking/Networking session with regional counterparts
• BBQ with Wilson & gang
• Dinner with jk
• Movie with Qing
• Date with Leo Di

I may not have contacted all of those involved yet. Either wait for me to contact you or volunteer yourself for any of the above, espcially for Hui's birthday and mahjong with Qing.

Actually the list is really just for me to keep track of my busy social life :D

People On Diet, Beware Of Me

After gorging on the worst assortment of junk last night, I am paralysed in bed, weak in the knees from diarrhea.

Junk included marshmallows, mooncakes, chocolate cookies, Friday's leftovers, stale tofu mixed with super sour oranges in the span of three hours.

Since then, I've downed nothing but water, to clear my system of toxins. It only exacerbated my cravings for everything good.

Yes, yes, I am constantly craving for a dish or another. But cravings has been escalating since I started working. There's just no time to satisfy my cravings. And it doesn't help to have an extremely displined boyfriend who abstains from sinful food to, you know, maintain his figure. Lol.

It takes all my persuasive skills to coax him into ordering that very tantalizing chocolate mudpie that comes with vanilla ice-cream generously topped with chocolate fudge or that enormous, greasy murtabak and a big piece of curry chicken.

Strike One: I managed to break down his defences in the face of double (triple?) servings of his birthday cake. It was Pure Addiction. In fact, I managed to get everyone swooning over it. Hehe!

Strike Two: Birthday dinner (without candles) with the best Italian fare. We floated a little around the al fresco dining area in gastronomic bliss. It's a fight with your romantic weekend dinner, Qing.

It's always satisfying to get people to eat what I feel like eating. I think I have become a witch obsessed with enchanting people to eat what I like :D

Now, Baby is a more difficult case. She has been eating very little to slim down before school starts. If you remember, the fortune teller once said if one of us lost weight, the other would gain. I cannot let her lose too much weight, or I'll have to bear the consequences. Thus, I have embarked on an evil plan to entice her to eat. Success rate is pretty low so far. She's really perservering, and results are showing. I need to double up my efforts before things get out of hand.

300g of Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies are stashed in the fridge. See how long she can resist. *Evil grin*

Yay, It's The Weekend Again~

Now that my weekdays (and nights) are burning away like the forests in the region, Saturdays and Sundays have become unbelievably precious. Five movies in a week is no longer possible, nor are regular meetings with friends. Thanks goodness for birthdays that make attendance at gatherings mandatory.

Physical exhaustion has shaped me into a domesticated little creature. I'm content being confined to the neighbourhood - having weekend breakfasts, taking walks at the reservoir, cheering on Man U and getting all the rest I can. The only visits to town are on Sundays when I go yum cha with my family.

Sigh... Yet I love what I'm doing :)

Oh, and I'm waiting for someone for call me for mahjong. Call me! I'm itching!