T time

After a few late nights and one overnight in my cold, heartless office, I finally claimed my off. I must say that I'm extremely lucky to have not got re-infected from all the hard work and stress. It's over, and I hope that the next cycle is too far off even for my imagination.

While having high-tea with Mum at Goodwood today, I read up on the most buzzed-about dining hotspots from Tatler. And surprise surpise, Number 1 happened to be a joint Kimono and I visited last weekend.

From its humble parking space, one would hardly be able to imagine the hidden haven at the top of the hill. We were greeted by a friendly waiter who gave us a short tour of the haven's premise - the Library was the room that left the deepest impression on me (maybe coz I'm a geek :D) He sat us at the Balcony, overlooking the greens and fountain.

I did not have high expectations of the US-Viet fare on its menu, coz it was touted as more of a watering/chilling joint, than a dining spot. Boy, was I surprised yet again. The skewers, burger, down to the fries, were so well-cooked and thoroughly marinated, that even the near-recovery me wanted more :D The only not-so-satisfying dish was the Guiness Pie - maybe coz it was served after we finished our mains (when it was meant to be a starter :p)

I'm glad that we forsook going to Dempsey >:)

Infection

I was struck by a vicious viral infection for exactly a week. Oh boy, was it unbearable. It started with me losing my voice, then my sense of smell, and then my sleep. The hardest part of it all was...I never had a good rest. I went to work in between, drifted in and out of drowsiness and walked like a zombie amongst colleagues. The treacherous weather served only to make it worse.

By Friday, I had almost recovered. Nonetheless, not wanting to risk a re-infection, and with Blossom in Goa, Kimono suggested staying in to cook for me. We went grocery shopping after work to pick out the ingredients. We had spaghetti, bacon, ham, french beans, beef fillet, potato and fresh mushrooms all in one night. That was the best meal I had in a week - having been deprived from all sinful and tasty food. We were paid a surprise visit by a baby lizard in the midst of our meal, so I doubled up as a pest exterminator :p

By Sat, I felt chummier. So I was rewarded with Underworld Evolution on the big screen. Man oh man...Kate Beckinsale was HOT. Haha...seeing her first time on big screen in her birthday suit was sweet :D She really has a good bod >:)

As the sun set, we drove to Dempsey once again to try our luck. As before, we were greeted by Mr Gay Waiter and disappointed with a full house. This time round, he passed us his calling card and made sure we called before we came. I think the next time I will give Dempsey a miss to try out One R :p

Dinner became seafood which wasn't fantastic. Nevertheless, my senses recovered, and along with it, my appetitie came back and I lost 2 kg. All of the above, combined with fantastic company, should make up for my whole week of suffering :D

Sin

I was hacking away before the play, during the play and after the play. In short, I felt like I was coughing my lungs out :'( How I wished I could take them out and give them a real good scratch before stuffing it back again :(

Never the Sinner is the true-crime story of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb. Nathan, also dubbed as Babe, was madly in love with Richard (better known as Dick), who is an egocentric, promiscuous guy. However, unlike in Porcelain, Dick reciprocates Babe's feelings, and sulk at the idea that they are not able to be together, be it in jail or in death.

I have mixed feelings towards the end of the play. On one hand, I'm sadden by the fact that the judicidal system in U.S. is very much skewed by the influence of politics, mass appeal and moral pressure. Even though it's so blatant that the boys committed cold-blooded callous murder, the judge will never set himself apart from his predeccesors to pass a fair judgement for fear of suffering from moral guilt.

I'm however, cheered by the fact that Dick and Babe's love for each other was strong enough to withstand trial, and not crumble under the pressure - well, other than the time where Dick wanted Babe to admit that he was the one who carried out the killing for fear of upsetting his Mum. This, I guess was requested more out of fillial piety than selfishness. Dick's suave farce however does crumble bit by bit, and he starts to feel empty and lonely as the trial proceeds.

Overall, I would say that this play is just fine. It's not intense as Porcelain, and not as witty as Saving Face. Nevertheless, I'm happy that I got to spend some quality time with Kimono. Oh, and Blossom got me sugar roll :D These made me wanna pledge to be their lifetime lightbulb changer :p

Ah Boy gets a break

Ah Boy is going to have a break soon. Hopefully the work does not pile up when Ah Boy is back. *Crawls to bed. Ah Boy is going to have a break soon....

Out sick

Ok, I'm defeated. I finally called in sick. So stop hounding me with your project datelines!!! I can only do so much for you guys so that your S* don't get compromised. If it does, then you haven't been listening to me. Don't ask me to reserve one week to work on your V*. It's ridiculous. My boss doesn't even reserve one week from me. If man-effort were cash, I would have been richer than the 10mil toto winner of this season. I love my job, I just hate the pushers x(

Dusk till Dawn

The carpark attendant was signalling for me to do an exit as I entered the garden. Apparently, the lots have all been taken up. But he was daft enough to not notice that it was a one-way road - I couldn't do an U-turn without venturing into the carpark. By the time I passed him, he was waving his hand at me: "Why the hell are you coming in??". Well, lucky for us, one car came out just before I turned out. His attitude took a 180 degrees change and beckoned for us to take the lot :D Nice uncle. Stay that way. It must have been the late afternoon heat that got to you :p

The Symphony T happened to have an event. We thought it was the orchestra, so we proceeded to find a nice spot. To our slight dismay, it was just Singapore Idols wannabes throating out various solos with their guitars. Nevertheless, it did not bothered us much and it was a nice place to pass time.

By the time we got to Line, it was almost dusk. The skyline lit up with a tinge of orange against blue; with the sound of fountain in the background. The dining fare was palatable, with Italian as my personal fav :D We left the restaurant feeling so full, it was as though if we have stocked up on the whole of next week's food :p

Fighting reluctantly against the idea of walking to the cinema (I can't possibly leave the car in the carpark), I felt a little better with Canada's Mountain(s) unfolding in front of my eyes. I was under the illusion that I have scaled the heights and crossed the rivers along with the actors :p

Although I was not as touched at the end of the show, but I'm elated coz it has been wonderful having such gorgeous company (even as I stand in line to get into the theatre, Kate Bekinsale was next to me - on the screen) Hahaha >:)

Gorgeous Blood

It was 7:30pm when I alighted and turned right. "Blue building, there's only one building, just look for the Blood Bank sign". That was what Kimono said to me when I called. I thought to myself: One building...I guess it must be the main SGH block. And so, I embarked on a long walk into the main block. As I neared the main block, I looked out attentively for signs that point to the Blood Bank. Nada. Flushed, I approached a nurse who happened to be chatting with the Delifrance waiter (or rather hitting on him :p). She patiently walked me to the sliding doors, and pointed to the direction I came in. I then realised that the Blood Bank is just next to where I alighted :'(

By the time I made my way back, it was 8pm. A welcoming rush of cold air greeted me as I pushed open the glass door. An older lady smiled at me and asked if I was there to donate blood. I smiled and shook my head and walked further in. There I spot our first gorgeous, Blossom. She was reading when I entered; when she sensed my approach, she looked up and flashed a disarming smile.

I sat my bag down, and went to get a drink and some reading material. By the time I got back, I saw our second gorgeous, Kimono lying on one of the beds. I smiled widely and waved at her. She smiled charmingly back.

We waited another hour before they were done. By that time, the cleaners were vacumming the floor and offering us more mineral water. Both Blossom and I felt embarrassed to accept anymore of their kind offers :"> Kimono came out first, with an adorable blue bandage, and excitedly announced that the nurse offered her pink bandage twice to match her outfit. Haha...

Our third gorgeous slowly made her way out as Kimono went to get her refreshments. This was the second time I've seen her (I was rushing to get to my car the first time as I did not put parking coupon :p). She looked weaker, and more fragile than Kimono.

I left thinking: I wonder who will be the lucky chaps to get these gorgeous blood flowing in their veins? With these blood flowing in their veins, will they amazingly transform like the Swan participants? >:) Haha...crappy me.

I'm hurt

I thought that KTV could help vent my frustrations. I guess I was wrong - the more I sang, the more I felt. Now I think I remembered why I stopped singing or listening to music in a while (other than drivetime FM radio).

~I'm hurt [Jacky Cheung]~

The skies are dark
The music has faded
I'm starting to think of you

The lights have dimmed
The music has faded
The candy in my mouth has melted

The skies are dark
I get bored
I'm starting to think of you

The phone is ringing
You are starting to speak
I thought you are thinking of me too

Why do you sound cold now?
Have you changed?
Have you changed?

The lights are out
The music has stopped
The tears that fell can no longer be stopped

The rain has began to fall
I'm not happy
I'm really hurting this time round

I'm really hurting this time round

Sometimes, I wished there's a way to spell certain things, or to steel my heart. I wished there's something I can do to make myself feel better. At this point in time, I think gazing out the window into the far horizon is the best I can achieve.

Give me a break

I have never had backlog. Now I'm piled with so many reports I'm going to faint.

Everyone is seeking my opinion. This is good. Keep it going. But don't come at the same time! Give me time to consolidate, internalise and consult. Quality, not quantity.

Chinese New Year is just round the corner. Why am I not in a festive mood? Maybe it's too near to the Christmas and New Year that just passed. Or maybe I'm simply too over-worked to indulge myself?

I need a break.

To Terraform

A recent good read left a deep impression on me. The author sewed terror, religion and fiction all into one seamlessly. He was a fan of Eliot's, whose many quotes fall nicely into the modern day, post Terraformed plot. Here is my fav:


There I saw one I knew, and stopped him, crying 'Stetson!
'You who were with me in the ships at Mylae!
'That corpse you planted last year in your garden,
'Has it begun to sprout? Will it bloom this year?
'Or has the sudden frost disturbed its bed?
'Oh keep the Dog far hence, that's friend to men,
'Or with his nails he'll dig it up again!
'You! hypocrite lecteur!—mon semblable,—mon frère!'

~ The Waste Land - T.S. Eliot

My letter to Santa

Dear Santa...

I have been pretty good for the past year. I have been competent and meticulous at work. I have spent quality time with family. I have been a good Gaboo to Kimono (I hope :p). I have done charity work (including cleaning windows and raking leaves). I have fixed up my new dru-810a (despite my Dad's "encouragement") and cut my first fav DVD (but I promise I will not be a pirate :D). And I have....been many many more..

So...here's my "12 gifts of Christmas" wishlist (some tangible, some non-tangible)...which I hope that somehow, one way or another, they will be able to find a way into my paws :">

1) A fun watch
2) A Wilson tennis racquet to replace the one I lost
3) Some nice V-neck tees
4) A fun wallet (I thought the Gucci one was pretty nice, hehehe :D)
5) A silver pen
6) Good reading material
7) An interesting Masters course to take
8) More moola, more moola, and more moola :D
9) A job of my passion with more moola and bonus and benefits and..well, you get the drift ;) (the current can stay, provided they give me more moola!!!)
10) Good health for family and loved ones and myself
11) Smooth sailing year to come for Kimono and I ;)
12) To be happy for the year to come

Note: The list is not in chronological order, nor ranked in importance, so anyone (best is to have ALL) of them will make me as happy as the other :D

Where have all the pretty girls gone??!!

It seems that as you grow older, the less pretty people you meet. I used to think so. Now I beg to differ. This is because I have finally realised where all the pretty girls have gone to. And it's definitely not at my workplace, nor are they at my estate x(

Most of them seem to congregate in one industry - the food industry. I spotted one while I was buying beef noodles at Wisma, and another one while I was tim-summing at Palace with Mum. And Mamamia! boy, were they hot. I almost wanted to ask the Wisma babe why the hell was she not parading down the aisle of a runway along with other top models, when I realised that these days, top models themselves no longer looked as good as they used to. Ahhhh....now I know why. Coz top modelling co.s no longer look for hot babes - their standards now lie between the likes of effeminate boys and flat chested androgynous girls. Christy Chung standards are now glazing fat-free slimming centre billboards instead of DKNY billboards. I wonder how many people remember that Guess models used to look like they had enough breasts to spill over the whole of Big Apple? Now, they just look like they are all ready for a mass orgy with their semi-naked scrawny bodies.

Now that gives me a whole new inspiration. My new outfit doesn't have to be on alternative lingerie nor cutting-edge floral services. I may venture into setting up a modelling agency - with a catch - my recruits will no longer be scrawny pretty boys or handsome girls. I wanna be the present day modelling agency to discover a new Gia. :D

One billion Chinese people, 2 degrees of separation

I bumped into a colleague at SITEX just the other day. Expo was bursting with people, and I took a shortcut with less people, and *bam! there he is...

One billion Chinese people, 2 degrees of separation.

I wonder why is it that we never seem to bump into the right people, i.e. people we want to bump into, and instead we keep bumping into people whom we are not so keen on meeting.

That aside, I managed to get my new DRU-810A. It is touted as the best and latest. Little did I realise that it's only the start of the deprivation of my sleep...with the physical drive in, I could not make a copy of any DVDs at all. Then I realised it is the writing software that has been causing the problem. Now the 4GB files are just lying in my harddisk waiting to be burnt. I will have to look at it again tonight *Arggghhhh.

Good friends backstab

I have not laughed so hard in a loooooong while. Maybe it's because I have always been the one making ppl laugh while I grin. Tonight's dinner literally turned the tables on me.

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Some classic *farts:

TN: ...you mean you are walking again?? You cannot make it lah, you can't even teleport here with a blink of your eye...call yourself an engineer!
Fish: Hey, engineers do not teleport, only mad scientists do *roll eyes
TN: What's the difference between these two???
Fish: *roll more eyes

SL: ...she's her good friend, and will always "bao to" her...
Fish & TN: "Bao to" is not to cover up!!! It's to backstab!
Fish: TN! You take her front, I take her back!

TN: ..she's the kind to act blur and will pretend she did not receive your email...
Fish: ..you mean she doesn't know a thing called Read receipt that you got already and she still denies??
SL: *wahahaha

When Mr Ah Bui Ah Neh sings terribly off-key, off note and swallows his lyrics..

TN: Stops mid track in her sentence
SL: *bursts into laughter again
Fish: Raise eyebrow and frown, heh heh heh

Fish: ...she mentioned you have nice features...in spite of what you wore..
TN: I duno if you sld take that as a compliment or insult..
SL: *giggles
Fish: You really have nice features...you just need to dress up and make up *with hands flagging up gesture...
SL: Fish!!! Don't do that!! I'm already "big" enuf...no need to maximise or push up!!
Fish: Don't you know that to maximise simply means to push up and squeeze tog?? Not increase in mass!
TN: Laughing uncontrollably...
SL: really?? TN, really? I didn't know that...
Fish: slaps forehead...yeah, you should dress up...*with hands moving vertically gesture...
TN: *as she's laughing hard..you know, now sld be a good time to do that flagging up thing...

TN: I give up on this engineer..gong lah you
Fish: ...what's wrong with engineers? You gers seem to have something to say about every profession...what's there to say about marketing SL?
SL: ipod
Fish: ???? Why ipod?
SL: coz it's for posing!!!
TN: *fumes

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That should be it for now..I think SL's sides have already splitted, and TN's burning smell should have followed her to bed.

Side note: Raku's isn't raving-good, Mohd Sultan stretch is better. Fosters resident singer is really incorrigible. Never ever go there when he's around >:) I have also realised that I should not be sitting beside SL while I make fun of her, I will get whack. *Oooouch...

Damn Golden Horse

Damn the Sg 42nd Golden Horse awards!! They have snipped away ALL Michelle Krusiec's appearances!! Now I really wonder if the Sg editor AND/OR Taiwan cameraman is homophobic or simply rude. She is at least a Best Actress nominee...and they didn't even give her a decent headshot before the annoucement. The only scene I caught of her during the awards was a dark headshot (does that spell dark horse?) during the "drumroll". That's it. I saw a bit more of her when the credits rolled - which included all other highlights of the evening. And since they are highlights in the first place...why did they snip her?? *Fuming..

PS: I like her hair, even if it's said to spoil her look. I like her gown, even if it's said to be ugly. :p

Taking a break

I have had it up to my neck this week, I worked at 4 h* consecutively, and on top of that I had to support impromptu breakdowns, work on countless reports, and prepare for more V*. I'm elated when I finally get to knock off :D

My lifeless week aside, my first break came in the form of a movie sub-starring a Chinese girl. Well, not just any Chinese girl (sadly, not Michelle K either), but Cho Chang, the current muse of Harry Porter.

When I first saw Cho Chang's picture on the Internet, I thought she was pretty cool. At least I would like her if I were Harry Porter's age. But after watching the movie today, I decided that I prefer Hermione. That's coz I will want a gf who thinks of me first when she's in need, and appears first by my side when I'm in need. I will not want someone who looks at me and think of someone else, worse, someone who has died.

I find that even though the critics (since when are they accurate??!) commented that this installment of Harry Porter is the worst amongst it all, I liked it the best. Maybe because it's starting to tilt towards the darker side, and with more twists and turns in the plot, I find that the details no longer bore me, but rather draw me further into the film.

Harry Porter is a very very unlucky chap, who always meet the right people at the wrong place - at the right time. He is terribly misunderstood, and is destined to lead a lonely life as a dark hero. Sometimes, it's really tiring being him. As part of the audience, I feel tired for him. I feel his anguish, his frustration.

On a lighter note, I'm seriously wondering why he isn't choosing Hermione as his gf, when they are obviously soulmates of one another. She can read his mind, give him a piece of sound advice when he's down, while he can be there for her, and protect her. When the reel-life chemistry between Harry and Hermione is so in-your-face, it really tickles me to see Hermione getting jealous and upset over the not-so-glam Ron...*yawn...

My aching butt

I sat on treacherous seats today. No, I did not attempt to sit on a fire bed in Little India after a fire walking stunt. I sat on a bike's seat - through Ubin's bumpy terrains, and the Esplanade's Waterfront stone benches. It was worth the ache though, coz not only did I managed to get some sun on my soon-to-be pale skin; I found a short cut to Chek Jawa (where I once got trapped on a large boulder in between tides) and I heard a song that touched me :'(

Window is a song written by Shirlyn in Jan 2005 (courtesy of our friendly cyberhood search engine). It depicts lost love. Normally, a sad song isn't sad unless the singer is able to bring the sadness and longing out. Singing live, Shirlyn was able bring the longing out, but not the sadness. I browsed her CD sleeve after the gig but I couldn't find the song, I guess it's not released yet :p

Saving Face!!!

Woo Weeee Yeeeee Haaaaaa! I have not seen a movie I ABSOLUTELY LOVE so much...now I really want it for keeps =p~

It's on the top on my Christmas wishlist..oh..wait a minute, I don't think I can wait that long :(

Living

Life has been kinda good for me of late.

-Work-

Though I have been slogging my life away at work, I thoroughly enjoy what I do. I used to be very involved in D* services, which totally put me off. I was so pissed at my boss's sudden switch of decision to put me in D* when in the first place she hired me for S* services. Nevertheless, I suffered in silence and abide by her wishes. Recently, new hires have been made, and they are being integrated into our D* services team. Slowly but surely, my boss has taken me outta D* (though not totally, since I developed a Sun comparable I* for their use) and put me on so much S* services, I hardly have time for a breather. This change is good. Stay.

I have also come to realised that being experienced in D* services is good. In the past couple of interviews I went for, interviewers are generally interested in my S* capabilities, and also very interested in my expertise in D*. One even went as far to tell me that I had an edge over other candidates coz I was experienced in D*. Alas, as fate wld always make fun of ppl, I became the point of contact of my co. to handle their POC - and this, killed any sorta interest they had in me :p

To date, I have a whole year's worth of leave to push forward.

-Play-

One wld wonder how I can squeeze out time for play in my hectic schedule. I guess a person like me will just have to adapt quickly and promptly. Most fun nowadays come in the form of being a Singapore traveller. I gather info on the tourisy spots in Sg and I venture out, taking pictures, and discovering parts of Sg through a tourist's eyes. This is kinda fun in a way - it can sorta satisfy my greed for travelling outside Sg at this moment. I go to the Zoo to see Ah Meng, the Birdpark to see the Tallest man-made waterfall, Sentosa for picnic, Arab St for kebabs, Pulau Ubin to cycle and see the flora and fauna, Botanical Gardens for bfast, the airport for ice-cream and soon Geylang Serai to see the Hari Raya lightings.

I play tennis to stretch my body, and to laugh (when my balls fly outta the court). Recently, I go to Wala on Sats to wind down - which, is pretty enjoyable, other than the times when I got a $50 summon for parking at the pool carpark and smelling like stale cigs when I leave for home :p

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I took leave on the coming Monday - not sure for what though, since my mind is still on the pending BBT next week - *Haha..snap out of it, you workaholic :p

Procrastination

Most people would procrastinate work to play. I - am the exact opposite.

I work hard. So hard that the services I charged for the last month can last me for the next half a year (in man months of coz, I would be in the Caribbeans sipping umbrella cocktails if they were in cash). I need a break. Somewhere serene, scenic and away from the buzzing sounds of servers and pushy clients.

Aside from Mondays to Fridays, I have been whiling my time away at somewhere old(new) for the last month (apart from the Saturday when my throat was so infected I wanted to take it out and disinfect it before stuffing it back in again). Kimono and I have been watching Shirlyn at Wala Wala. What was first a determination to have her requests played, developed into interest for Kimono. She annonunced to me that she will be going to Wala Wala for the many weeks to come - till further notice. I have no objections to that, since I need an outlet to unwind as well.

With this, I think I should hit the sack. I do have a lot to write about, esp after Kimono urged me strongly to start on my biography (I'm really tempted to buy her the whole of Young and Dangerous series instead :p). I need to organise my train of thoughts before I can start on it. Also, I need to settle on what I want to do next - further studies or my own outfit. I need time - to rest, to recharge, to holiday, to plan, to think, to roam, to get in touch. Time - wait, for me.