everyone is travelling except me...

my ad agency is having their company trip tomorrow... the whole company is going to Hong Kong for 3 days... their newest member of the team is leaving for her US trip on monday and my colleague will be taking tomorrow morning's flight for a 2-weeks break in Seattle.

sigh... everyone seems to be going for holidays except me! ok... i know i shouldn't be complaining since i just came back from Europe... maybe it is because i super tired and stressed out at work... and looking at the upcoming projects and shoot dates, i will not have a break till Chinese New Year... and that is only the 3 days holiday before i go back to mad rush for the start of my promotion!

when can i go for a break? i wonder too... my boss will be going for maternity leave soon... so i was looking at my leave plan for the year... my break will only come in May! how will i manage for the next few months? i still have to clear 4 days of time-off! oh dear... with my work piling up, our team being short-handed... how am i going to find the time... oh well, will have to just take 1 day at a time.

how do you determine entertainment value?

when the news of RAIN is coming to Singapore for a concert, the talking point was not so much that the biggest name of Korea's entertainment is coming to town, but how expensive his concert tickets were!

yes... the prices were the most expensive in Singapore to date... ranges from S$188 to S$888... no... it is not an typo error...of course... the S$888 and S$688 tickets were not for sale and used for corporate bookings as reported.

it got me to wonder... does the prices of the tickets equate to how entertaining the show will be? i got the chance to evaluate the notion as i got the free ticket for RAIN's concert tonight (actually, it belongs to my CEO, then given out to my colleague who forgot she had a farewell dinner to attend, so it landed into my hands!)

since a picture paints a thousand words... here are the pictures i took from my camera phone...

well, i am no RAIN fan... doesn't even know a single song of his... but decided to go for the concert as it was supposed to be highly entertaining. well, i was impressed from the start with the stage set-up with multiple screens... the whole production was planned and executed with precise timing from the lighting, pyrotechnics, water effects, the dance moves etc. as usual, the sound system in Singapore Indoor Stadium was a disappointment... it either drowned RAIN's weak voice or made him sound like he was screaming to fight off the music. well, it was definitely entertaining visually... there were special videos that lead-in to most songs, he had a great bod, not a bad dancer himself but his dancers (8 male and 4 females) were brilliant! they were stylish, cool and gave a high energy performance. i think i yawned twice, and both was when RAIN was on stage alone! haha... he definitely knew how to charm his fans, calling them babes like how he calls his girlfriends (as he said so!). and yes... every single word of his sounded so scripted! guess english was his strongest language, but if he wants to make it big in US, he should at least start speaking the language so that he doesn't sound like he was reading a page his publicist wrote.

oh well... it was entertaining, but i don't think it is worth that much... even madonna will not cost that much! i think i was much more entertained at local musicals / drama that cost 10% to 20% of the ticket i got today!

if there are any RAIN's fans reading my blog, i apologise for not appreciating it as much... so don't hate me for that :)

beating the blues...

pardon my pun... but trying to be creative in my writing once more!

first of all, woke up this morning feeling much better! maybe it is because the weekend is here... or maybe i finally got a good night sleep (woke up at about 11am). it helped to beat away the "my best friend at work just quitted" blues...(hey gal, it doesn't mean that i stopped missing you ya?)

the best part of the day came at about 8.50pm (Singapore time) when Dirk Kuyt scored the first goal in the 4th minute of the game versus Chelsea. Pennant's brilliant strike in the 18th minute was his first goal for Liverpool. final score 2-0! my favourite REDS beat the blues! Yoo Hoo!

the beautiful part of football was that it brings people together! just after the match, i received a sms from an ex-colleague (also a Liverpool fan) whom i had not contacted for about 2 years. just to say what a great game it was. then shortly, my supplier msn me "screaming" about the game and its great goals.

p.s: sorry if my pun sucks... but i am in a happy mood and nothing can take that away from me!

feeling drained...

haven't been sleeping well for the past week... slept for an average of less than 4 hours a day since Sunday! i have been going to work feeling like a zombie for so many days. it doesn't help that it was a crazy week at work... there were meetings after meetings... even after office hours for 2 consecutive days! had intensed meetings from like 6pm to 9.30pm! I was zonked out for the first day... not sure how much did the discussion was registered in my head! haha...

how physically drained was i? i almost couldn't wake up for work every morning... so i am still taking cabs to work haha... 3 weeks into the new year and my resolution to take bus to work is nowhere in sight!

yesterday, i was emotionally drained... too much tears... too much memories! but... i was still able to wear my contact lens to work this morning... haha

i need sleep this weekend... starting now... night night

its not the end...

it was really an emotional day today... its the last day of work for my closest confidant!

had been planning and preparing for her farewell since the day she tendered. besides the initial sense of loss, i thought it wouldn't be that difficult to handle her departure since we have became great friends and i will definitely continue to see her. unfortunately, my tears were not as controlled as i planned!

the thought of not seeing her almost everyday from now on only hit me a couple of days back... once the news of her resignation was more known to everyone, a few concern colleagues were asking me how i will feel if she left. even my boss asked me if i am affected by her departure during my appraisal! it was all these questions from everyone that got me thinking more deeply into the impact of her leaving... no one else will be able to replace the chemistry we had in the past 4 years and 7 months. too much memories of my stay in KFC is linked to her. from the moment i started working on her farewell scrapbook, i have been having recollection of the past, which were all great memories! also had a video made for her, which obviously was the tear-jerking moment today.

well, i have to learn to work without a great buddy just behind me to give me strength when i needed it most, to cheer me on when my morale is low and lift me up when i am feeling down! but hey... it is not the first time i lost a close colleague, so i will survive! besides like what we agreed... its not the end, we are still going to be great friends (unless she forgets me!!!!!haha)

so... wishing you all the best in your new job... take care of yourself without me around (haha... me so thick-skinned, just to make me feel important in your life)

spice up my life?

haha... nope... nothing drastic... but just the food I ate!

for those who know me well, you know i can't take spicy food! so Indian food was never an option for me! however due to some work reasons, i had lunch at Muthu's Curry! ate the fish head curry... and i didn't find it that spicy! only drank a total of 1 mango juice and 1 iced water! maybe my tolerance for spicy stuff has improved after years of product demo.

but, till now... i will only not mind curry fish and not the other curries!

blog addict?

while waiting for a cab, my sister called to inform me that there is blackout at my place. not the whole block, but part of it. and unfortunately my unit happened to be affected.

my first reaction... "shucks! I can't blog today!". Mermaid (who went dinner with me) laughed at me that blogging was on my top of mind. she also mentioned that i have been quite "onz" in updating my blog.

come to think of it, it is not so much of the blogging, but my daily dosage of the internet! from checking emails to surfing my regular sites to reading other blogs etc...

anyway, the good news when I got home was that the blackout only affected the common area like the lift and the lights at the corridor. So here i am... continue blogging away...

just couldn't believe it

it's so unbelievable! how could we lose to Arsenal consecutively in 2 cups matches! the results was not expected at all... how could we lose 3-6, at home in Anfield! thank god no one came to talk to me about it at work... could have been moody the whole day! but life goes on... supposed to think positive:

1) the result MUST motivate the team to go all out for this weekend's match
2) with less cup ties, we should be able to concentrate on the league and Champions League
3) at least Fowler, Hyypia and Gerrard scored!

walk on REDS!

belated birthday wishes

received a bouquet of flowers today... was shocked at first and wondering who it was from? when i saw the card, i was laughing to myself. the flowers were from my ad agency, a belated birthday bouquet.

technically it is 2 weeks late, or my joke of the day - a year late (well, it was for my birthday in 2006 and now it is 2007!). it got me thinking, is it better that they totally not send anything since they forgot? doesn't it make them look worse for forgeting that they send it now? oh well, it is all a PR game. if I wasn't the client, they won't give a damn.

But nevertheless, i must thank only 1 person in the agency - J. Neo (not Jack Neo!!!) haha... first for remembering my birthday on the actual day and her personal pressie... and also having to arrange for this bouquet of flowers...

P.S: Wanted to upload the picture of the bouquet, but something is wrong with my USB port... will try it again

finally managed to load the picture!

night of great singing

went to Eason Chan's concert tonight. although i am not very familiar with his songs, but definitely not giving it a miss because he is really a great singer. besides the tickets are complimentary!



the concert was really a fantastic treat to the ears. mostly pitch perfect singing with no frills, no gimmicks on stage. Eason hardly showed signs of being breathless in slightly more than 2 1/2 hours! with just 2 change of clothes and with only 1 song break (guest performance by Josie Ho), this is the night that I truly appreciated the strong vocals of Eason. i have to give credit to the sound system (it was definitely better than Singapore Indoor Stadium), and the fans who kept quiet (well, most of the time) whenever he sings.

to sum it all, it was definitely worth my 1 hour & 15mins journey (yes... I took the bus and MRT) to EXPO and the $21.40 cab ride (not by choice as the last train had left the station...swear it is not an excuse)

ok.. the FA Cup match between Liverpool and Arsenal has just started... Go REDS Go!

is getting presents a chore?

just wanted to express a thought - do you feel that it is a chore to get presents for friends or loved ones? maybe the word "chore" is a bit too strong. troublesome? difficult? nerve-wrecking?

it all began with a conversation between my close friends during Y's birthday celebration. after opening the presents, someone commented that it is getting more difficult to buy presents for each other. afterall, we have known each other since 1994. we have bought most categories of presents from bags to clothes, from accessories to soft toys etc... so what else can we get for each other?

but the most shocking to hear was: are we going to continue buying presents for each other till we are 50? I don't understand? why must we be deprived of the joy and happiness of getting a little surprises from opening presents just because we are above 30!!! that's not fair! I love birthdays and special occasions! I am not expecting expensive presents, it is the thought that someone actually had you on their mind that they spent some time and effort to get or make you something.

oh well... just a thought to ponder about... maybe turning 30 is really a turning point for me! haha

phew...

had to take 1/2 day leave this morning to go to my gynae. nope, I am not pregnant!!!!! its just some woman issues... taken a blood test and scan 2 weeks back, so I am expecting my report today. was a little nervous as I hope it will not be something serious like a cyst or growth etc... after about 45 minutes of waiting time, I finally got to faced the truth! thank god everything is normal! so i just have to monitor my cycle for the next 4 months before my next appointment in April.

also woke up without a voice! not sure what happened, but the throat was itching late last night, didn't think much about it. so I had this coarse voice throughout the day... didn't even have much voice to scream at people! haha... hope it doesn't get worse, that's not how I want to start the year!

its raining cats and dogs since late evening! just the perfect weather to cuddle under the blanket and sleep! so maybe I should call it an early night today?

last hours of the holidays

sigh sigh... after practically not working in December (first the Europe trip, followed by Christmas, then cleared another 2 days of leave and finally New Year's Day and Hari Raya Haji), I must finally get over the holiday mood and get ready for work tomorrow!

2007 will start off differently... I have to be mentally prepared to lose a good colleague in Jan (but wishing her all the best in her new job!) and also be irritated by someone who has to work closer with me in the coming months... oh well, let's hope I can do what I listed in my "to-do" list for 2007. Be more patient!

the hours are ticking, but I don't want the day to end!!! more like I don't want the work day to begin! haha... will keep this short and sweet!

resolutions?

hmmm.... I never believed in making any resolutions... why? coz most likely, it will be thrown out of the windows within days!!!! haha... tell me 1 person who truely sticks to his / her new year resolutions?

ok... so it may really resolutions... maybe just some wishes for me to fulfil, some things for me to accomplish in 2007

1) try very hard to start saving money? those who knows me, knows that I sucked at that!!! always believe that life is short... why not buy what I like, go where I want for holidays? but I also see age catching up with me... with no man in my life, I better start thinking about the future...

2) linked to the 1st thought... take more buses and mrt!!! haha... since cab fares and surcharges are increasing, I should really give me wallet a break! besides, after the rainy season and festive madness - I should really take buses home from town!

P.S: my dear mermaid, we can do this together!!

3) be more patient! ok... I admit, i snapped easily this year (especially at selected people at work)... I should mellow a little, just a little... can't lose my personality right?

4) make it a year that I get it right at work! haven't been very motivated at work for the past year, not even with the promotion... never seemed to understand why... was it the job, was it the people or just me? oh well... I got to make this year the year I excel in everything I do! not for others, but just to prove to myself that I am not losing it!!!

5) learn a new skill? in 2006, I told myself to give golf a try... hey... it is an exercise, can train my patience and a good skill for PR-ing in the future (see... i am preparing for bigger things in life). otherwise I can always learn another language, Spanish maybe? hehe... you never known if I am going to Spain again? hey... at least I know the gracias and hola! haha!

6) yes... I must make a trip to visit my friend in San Francisco!

that's a lot of things to note right? but like i said, they are not new year resolutions!!! so if none of these worked out, just too bad :p

oh yes... what a better way to start a new year with Liverpool's win over Bolton! 3-0 win at home! looking forward to a great 2nd half of the EPL season! more goals from our strikers will be great! you'll never walk alone...