2 More Days!

It's Sunday, 29 October. You know what this means? TWO more days! Two more days and Ed will be back from NZ. :)

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Yea, I know I've been neglecting my blog. Blame it on macros! I've been going crazy writing macros every single free second of my time. I'm totally hoooked!?! It's almost like being hooked on smoking or drugs. Except, this doesn't do any bodily harm ... I think. Does lack of sleep count as bodily harm? Hmmm.

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Got an email from Catherine today. Hi Cat! (if you're reading this) :)

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Okay, time to get started on some work. You know what this means? MACROS! ;p

Some Things Never Change

Opened an account with POSB today. Felt so proud of myself, felt like an adult. :)

Then got home and realised that I'd left my handphone in the office! Dang. :(

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Thank gawd my colleague found the phone and will keep it with him until tomorrow.

Ed in NZ

Ed and cow.

Ed's road.

Errorline!

I'm sooooo annoyed with Aeroline. I was making an online purchase for 2 bus tickets from PJ to Singapore but, when I got to the section on credit card details and payment, the website hung! So I closed the window and started again but, once again, when I got to the section on credit details and payment, the website hung!! So I gave up. The following morning, I got the shock of my life when I opened my email account and found that I had purchased not two but FOUR tickets!?! What am I going to do with FOUR TICKETS from PJ to Singapore?

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Anyone out there planning or interested to make a trip down South between now to the end of November, feel free to contact me.

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Price negotiable.

A Horse in a Colt

Eeeeek!!!!! I just paid the deposit for a Mitsubishi Colt!!! This will be my very own first car. :)

Latest Haze Update

The haze is getting pretty bad :(.

The latest PSI (as at 9am, 7 October) reads at 119. An index value of 1-50 indicates that the level of air pollutant is in the good range and within the USEPA annual mean ambient air quality standard. An index of 51-100 indicates that the level of air pollutant is in the moderate range, but still within the USEPA 24-hour ambient air quality standard. So, what does an index value of 119 mean?

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Good news for pharmacies.

Shhhhhh

It's official, I'm a closet geek. I absolutely LOVE writing macros! And I reckon I'm getting pretty good at it too. Been writing heaps of macros in the first 2 weeks at my new job. :)

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3 more weeks before Ed returns. Interestingly, I think I'm getting used to my independence. Wonder if that's good or bad.

Car Shopping

Test drove a Chevrolet Aveo today. I like!

Early Bird

It's Friday, and I'm first to the office today :).

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TGIF!!!

Most Dangerous Home Appliance, 2006

And the winner is ...

My sis' IRON. I'm not kidding, this iron is highly dangerous. Each time I use it, I end up burning at least one of my fingers. :(

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My regard for clothings sales assistants has just gone up one notch.

I Will Survive

Yesterday was my first day in my new job, turned out to be a scary experience.

Arrived at the office 10 minutes early and waited for the HR Director to show me my seat and introduce me to everyone (anyone who was around at that hour, anyways). Spent the next hour or so filling up forms, then the HR Executive offered to accompany me to a nearby clinic for my medical checkup (as part of the requirement for my employment pass application). When we got to the clinic, the nurse-on-duty dropped the bomb: BLOOD TEST. For as long as I can remember, I HATE blood tests :(.

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Somehow - I don't know how - I survived.

An Un-Birthday

My birthday came and went like a thief in the night. The only significant thing that happened was that I went to see 'The Banquet' - I didn't quite like (or perhaps, understand?) the ending though. Had pizza with my sis and bro-in-law in the night.

Saturday Night Blues

It's Saturday night and I'm home alone.

There's nothing good on TV and there's a party going on downstairs (I can tell by the loud music and laughter).

I had McDonald's for dinner.

Sigh.

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Room Without a View

Settled comfortably into my new room at my sis and bro-in-law's place - I'll be staying here for the next 6 weeks until Ed returns.

Even have a furry companion (on loan from my sis) to keep me from missing Patch too much.

Dog-less and Man-less

Got back to Singapore today. I feel so lost! Patch is in Malaysia, Ed is in New Zealand, what in the world am I doing in Singapore!?!

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I Am Truly Blessed :)

Went out for lunch then returned to find a package awaiting me. Wondered who it was from ...


It's my early birthday pressie from Eeleng - a Green Tea flavoured cake!


I'm so touched, sniff.

Special Request

A special request from the (belated) birthday gal to include the following picture.

Happy Birthday, May

Celebrated May's birthday with some of the gals last night. There were 6 of us: May, Lynn, Eetan, Hsiaoley, Sookyian and me. Went to Gin Ryu Tei (Japanese) at Mid Valley Megamall for dinner. Spent most of the night taking pics with our phones and cameras.

I think Lynn really liked my phone ...


And I really liked Sookyian's birthday pressie packaging.

6 Weeks!!!

Ed's leaving for New Zealand tonight. He'll be there for 6 WEEKS! Which means, I don't get to see him for 6 WEEKS! And, I'll be all alone in Singapore for 6 WEEKS! Sniff.

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Thank gawd for my sis and bro-in-law.

Pushed to the Limit

As a Sunday School teacher, there was always one thing that bothered me above all else: bullying. Each year, without fail, there would be one or two kids who used their physique or intelligence or social status to push other kids around. What annoyed me most was that they (the bullies) would intentionally pick on the quiet, shy ones - the very kids that my heart go out to and I work harder to reach out to. The bullying is typically physical in nature, but can sometimes be emotional - WORDS - and just as, if not more, hurtful. Bullying bothers me immensely because it represents UNFAIRNESS in its highest form --- what gives one person the right to inflict pain on another and get away with it???

Ironically, over the weekend, I made the shocking realisation that I've been a victim of bullying without so much as realising it. How's that possible, you may ask. Well, it's always easier to diagnose a illness when you're not the one afflicted by it, isn't it? I think I was in a state of denial. I even made excuses for the bully! I kept reasoning, she's just not very tactful therefore I should not hold it against her. But there's a limit to everyone's patience, and there's a very clear line between being tactless and outrightly picking on someone. I knew she had crossed that line when I observed how she treated different people differently - she only ever tries her nonsense with selected persons i.e. the seemingly "weaker" ones.

Well, enough is enough. I've had it with her nonsense. It's time to stand up for myself (if no one else will).

Heartbroken

Ed brought me out for an early birthday celebration (MINE, not his) last night. Spent most of the night mucking around with my new cam-phone at Du Viet.


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Ed's now on his way back to Singapore. Sniff.

Looking Ahead

Ed's coming back tomorrow. Counting down the hours.

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Taking a Gamble on the Road

I am so pissed off!!!!!

Got caught speeding on my way back from the skin clinic - I was going 92kph on a 80kph freeway. What pisses me off isn't the fact that I got caught. What pisses me off is the fact that I was driving in the middle lane and there were heaps of cars going faster (easily 120kph) on the right lane yet THEY didn't get caught!

The stoopid cop explained that detection is done by a radar gun, which transmits signals at fixed intervals. If however a car passes the radar gun between intervals, the driver goes undetected. Basically, what this means is, we have a system that is based on pure luck - if you're lucky, you don't get caught; if you're not so lucky, you get caught. How utterly dumb!?! Worse still, logic dictates that the faster you drive, the lower the chances of getting caught. So from now on, I'm just going to drive either very slow or very fast. ... And this is a system that, according to the same cop, costs RM1 million.

House for Sale

I'm back home in KL. :)

Unfortunately, Patch and I are confined to the study room because we have a prospective buyer checking out the house --- not all humans are fond of dogs, shrug.

Any interested buyers, feel free to contact me. ... Serious buyers only, please.

Free Labour

Helped Ed's cousin paint his new apartment today. My first time (painting, not helping). It was fun ... for like the first 10 minutes. Thereafter, it was plain tiring.

If the Shoe Fits

Went shopping with my sis at Orchard Road today.

Picked up yet another member for my growing collection of shoes. :)

Amazing Grace

Tried a new contact lens brand, Biomedics. For some reason or another, it didn't suit my eyes and I was forced to go around with blurred vision for a couple of days --- I seriously wondered if my power had increased!

Then I switched to yet another brand, Mediflex.

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I was blind, but now I see.

McHorror

Was horrified today to learn that McDonald's Grilled Chicken Foldover* is not as healthy as I'd thought!


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Ended up having Filet-O-Fish.


*Source: http://www.mcdonalds.com.sg/?q=nutritional_info

Brawns over Brains

Just saw 'Miss Teen USA 2006' (rerun). Rather disappointed. Of the 5 finalists, I was rooting for Miss Virginia --- nothing personal, she gave the best answer to her final question. As it turned out, Miss Montana won.

Okay, let's try and be objective.

Here's Miss Montana's (winner) key achievements to date*:
- National Junior Honor Society Secretary 2002-2004
- Best/Most Original Fashion Designer 2005 (competition at her high school)
- FCCLA President 2005 (Future Community and Career Leaders of America)
- Prom Queen 2006 (nominated and chosen by peers)
- "Most Likely to Star in a Sitcom" out of the Class of 2006 at Billings West High School

And here's Miss Virginia's (3rd runner-up) key achievements*:
- 2006 Brooke Umbel Citizenship Award
- Graduated High Honors (3.8+)
- National Honor Society (3.7+)
- Academic Excellence Award – AP Environmental Science
- Academic Excellence Award – Algebra III
- Academic Excellence Award – Statistics
- Academic Excellence Award – Chemistry
- Academic Excellence Award – Calculus
- Highland School Community Service Award
- Presidential Youth Achievement Awards – Gold, Silver And Bronze

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Guess that's why it's called a beauty pageant.


*Source: http://www.missteenusa.com/

Just Did It

Went shopping today. Real shopping, not practical shopping.

Bought heaps of stuff --- star of the day was Ed's new shoes. ;)

Bye-Bye Bluey

Ed's dad called yesterday to say that his car has been taken away by the new owner. Sigh, it's the end of yet another chapter.

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High Potential

I'm feeling very excited. Just went to see a room for rent, and I really like it! The apartment is clean and well-maintained; the room is fully furnished and comes with air-conditioner; and the rent is relatively low and inclusive of utilities.

AND I'll be just 2 floors down from Ed.

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I have until Monday to decide.

My All-Time Favourite Classic

Saw 'Beauty and the Beast' again (my third time and Ed's umpteenth time). I'd forgotten how much I love this particular animation. Sigh, those were the good ol' days --- the pre-digital era.

Sorry, Ed. ;p

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Plastic Poisoning!

Think I ate melted plastic. I was making a toasted cheese-tomato sandwich and had accidentally clipped a segment of the wire in the sandwich maker. Now the plastic around that segment is melted, exposing the wire beneath.

Do people die from plastic poisoning? O dear, I think I feel plastic-ky right now, whatever that means. :(

A Touch of Patriotism

Almost forgot it's 31 August today.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, MALAYSIA!

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I suppose this calls for a celebration.

Sexual Discrimination

The agent just called. Says the landlord prefers male tenant. Right. That's a first.

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Never mind. Called another agent and he has an available unit in the same block as Ed too. Going to check it out tomorrow evening.

House Hunting

I can't believe it! Was going through through the online postings of rooms for rent and found one located in Block 203, Floor 12, Serangoon Central --- the very same block and floor as Ed! What are the chances of that happening?

Wonder if this is a sign.

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Insomnia

I can't sleep.

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I dread going back tomorrow. :(

The Key Difference Between MNC and POC (Privately Owned Company)

The HR lady called yesterday to walk me through the contract terms and conditions. Somehow, the matter of my wisdom tooth came up. She suggested that I postpone the surgery until after my probation period. That way, the cost of the surgery will be borne by the company! Thank gawd for MNCs and dental coverage.

:)

End of a Chapter

Ed and I recently finished watching the entire 'Six Feet Under' series (on DVD).

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Feels like a part of me has died.

Bedtime Story

No, my sis isn't reading to Patch. She's reading to the baby. Patch just doesn't want to be left out.

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Lost and Found

I am SOOOOOOOO relieved!

I thought I'd lost the originals of my educational certificates and transcripts. I looked high and low, but couldn't find them!?! I vaguely recall filing them and putting them somewhere, but I couldn't for the life of me remember where or when I last saw them. I've been having sleepless nights for over a week now.

Today, I found out that Mum has been keeping my originals. Says she can't trust me to not lose them.

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Ma, I love you. ;p

Congratulations

Eeeeeek! I can't believe it. The HR lady just called to offer me the job.

:) :) :)

Interview Suicide

Went for a job interview this morning. For the first time in a long while, I actually feel good about the job and the boss. :)

She asked me what my career objective was (among other things). I hate this question. I never know how to answer this question, even after having attended more than 2 dozen interviews in my 6 years (almost) of working. I mean, what IS the politically correct answer?

So, I told her the truth. I told her I didn't have any career objective. It's funny how, when you first start working, you have all these hopes and expectations of the job, the boss, the colleagues, the working terms and conditions, etc. But then, you come to a point in life where all you really want is to have enough time to do the things that you want to do outside work hours. I guess, some people would call it "work-life balance".

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It's all in God's hands now. Que sara sara.

Attention Deficit Disorder

Can it be? It's been less than a month since I started blogging and, already, I'm starting to get bored.

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Looking forward to my job interview tomorrow morning. The job itself is nothing to shout about --- it's very similar in nature to my previous job, so I'm pretty sure I can do it well. The one thing that attracts me to this job is the BOSS. I was told by my sis' friend (who works in the same company, with the same boss) that she (the boss) is "a very good boss" and "the most supportive boss".

It's funny how long it's taken me to realise what is most important to me in a job: a NICE boss. Sure, having an interesting job scope is important as well but, if I had to choose between the two, I'll choose the former any day. Lynn says it's a natural progression as you approach the late 20s. Further affirmation that I'm growing up.

Monsoon Season is Over

Attended a job interview last week, and have another 2 lined up this week. Things are definitely starting to look up for me. :)

Interestingly, I've noticed that all 3 jobs are significantly different by nature:

1. Brand strategy consulting
2. Events management
3. Qualitative research

Possibly an indication of the lack of direction in my career path? Or perhaps, a sign of sheer desperation???

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I've decided I'm going to have to be less fussy. Ed is right, I'll just get a job for now and, if I'm not happy, at least I won't be jobless while I look for another job.

And that's the story of my life.

Separation Anxiety Syndrome

Dreamt of Patch last night.

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I miss Patch. Sniff. :(

You Know You're Growing Up When ...

You spend an hour in the supermarket and all you end up buying is:

1. Colander










2. Cling Wrap










3. Sink Strainer


Ed said the most horrid thing to me. He said I was becoming "domesticated". Yuck.

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By the way, it's my sis' birthday today (yea, the real thing).
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Che!

Of Vampires and Werewolves

Saw Underworld: Evolution last night.

Storyline was weak, effects were lousy, acting sucked.

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But I loved it. :)

Al Dente

Cooked dinner for Ed and myself last night: macaroni in carbonara sauce.

Over- (or is it, under-) estimated the macaroni. Check out the leftovers below! ;p


Learned 3 things:

1. Macaroni expands in boiling water. (Hey, no one told me this in home science!)
2. Al dente means to cook until firm but not soft.
3. Macaroni must be dried using colander. (Yes Lynn, I can hear you laughing.)

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Shrug, we learn something(s) new everyday.

Rub a Dub Dub, 2 Gals in a Tub

Check out my 2 nieces. First they said the older one (Tasha, left) looks like me when I was younger, then they said the younger one (Lysha, right) looks like me when I was a baby. But they both look completely different. Go figure.

I Can Cook!!!

I still can't believe it, I cooked myself a meehoon soup for lunch! And no, I didn't just cook instant noodles. I first boiled the soup with chicken meat (shredded, mind you), bones and anchovies then I added the meehoon and waited until it was soft enough before breaking an egg into the soup. Last but not least, I put in the fishballs and VOILA! Mum's good ol' recipe. :)

This marks history.

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He's Mah Man!

I don't care what they say, I think the new Superman is way cool!!!

And so, I wasn't really upset when I discovered that Ed had gone and got himself a miniature version of the Man of Steel. Hey this way, I get to hold Superman's hand! (literally)

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Ed and I were talking the other night. Ever wondered what Superman looks like without his boots? What is it with Superheroes and tights anyways!?!

Mark of the Beast

A bit of drama over the weekend.

Mum's new Jazz (car) got scratched! Not just a teeny-weeny scratch, but a deep, long scratch stretching across the two doors on the right side. Clearly, evidence of MAN's wrath :(. We discovered the unsightly work of art on Sunday morning and suspect the crime had been committed the night before. Mum, Dad and I had gone to Old Town for bak-kut-teh and Dad had parked the car partially in front of one of the houses just behind the bak-kut-teh store (Heng Kee). We suspect that the owner of the house must have been really miffed and decided to take matters into his/her own hands. But with nothing more than our gut-feel and hypothesis to go on, Mum and Dad have decided to let the matter go. Admittedly, we were partly at fault for parking illegally to begin with.

The moral of the lesson: to all you bak-kut-teh lovers, don't go parking in front of others' homes.

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To Tell Or Not To Tell?

Just arrived in Singapore. Had a pleasant enough trip; sat next to an elderly lady who was rather chatty but nice, am proud to say that my command of Cantonese has improved somewhat . ;)

I'm quite excited at the moment. Sent in a job application email yesterday and this morning a lady called to arrange for an interview. It's been awhile since I'm this excited about a job interview --- guess it's a combination of the job scope (brand consulting, yippee) and my having been jobless for so long (nearing 2 months now).

There's only 1 thing bothering me: I'm not sure how honest I should be in the interview. I had deliberately left out my latest job and company from my resume (given my very short tenure of 2 months only) therefore, as far as the interviewer is concerned, I am still under the employment of my previous company. I suppose I'll be upfront and say that I left my previous company at the end of February and joined the latest company in April but left in June due to a "company-person mismatch". This is where it gets tricky: the interviewer is bound to ask for more details. Do I say it is entirely the company's fault? Because it is! Do I say that I was tricked on more than one account?? Because I was!! Do I say that my boss is a manipulative, scheming woman who played psychological games on me??? Because she is and she did!!!

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Or do I just say that I was not the right person given the job requirements and expectations?

Sigh.

Home Sweet Home

Going back (to Singapore) tomorrow. Or is it, going home? I'm not even sure what the correct term is anymore. Technically speaking, home is where the heart is (or so says Ed). But where is my heart??? In Malaysia, with Patch and my parents? Or in Singapore, with Ed?

Feeling torn, as usual.

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It's A Happy Day :)

Just got my stitches removed by the dentist. Yay!!!

Took some pics of Patch falling asleep last night.



Good night, darling.

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