wonderment

I never got to sleep much last night …

I BROKE OUT IN FREAKING HIVES!!!

I’ve never seen so many big ugly red pelts … I look like hordes of mosquitoes attacked me and bit a flower-like pattern on my back, my stomach, all over my legs and my hands. .. It’s seriously gross.

And so itchy, can? Coupled with a terrible cramp in the stomach, I just didn’t get much shuteye until I sunk into an uneasy snooze on the sofa, sitting half upright.

Gonna have to go to work later still though… gaaaahhh

Personally, I rate today the worst day I’ve had in a while.

Oh no, nothing major happened. But when you find yourself crying in the shower it’s probably an indication that something’s not right somewhere.

Now, I don’t need any coddling from this, I’m not trying to illicit sympathy or attention. Frankly, I don’t know why I’m feeling so miserable - probably an accumulation of disappointment at not doing well in the project presentation even though we’ve spent so much time and energy on it … fatigue from starting the week being super late for work and spending an entire week’s transport allowance on a single cab ride … maybe it’s general burn out from running for so long. I don’t know, frankly I don’t. It’s a myriad of different factors that I could account for but cannot bear the thought of having to figure out which one’s the main culprit. The tears came, I let them go and the water washed them away.

I was feeling so bad, I  wanted to cancel my birthday party this weekend. For a moment, I felt how pathetic it was to plan my own party … but as I walked around the house a bit, I realised, that if I don’t, I was going to let my milestone year slip away unnoticed. I did that for my 21st birthday, I ain’t gonna let it go for my 25th.

So I sat down and started doing up a shopping list and the more I wrote, the more ideas came to me. And as I thought about the different things I would do to make this party special, I felt my spirits becoming a little more uplifted. I love the fact that I am blessed enough to be here at 25, living healthy and free and being surrounded by the people I love. I love the fact that I can do something special for them in return for the grace they have given to me.

I just wish however, that I had 3 other friends to celebrate with. Too bad they’re scattered faraway overseas … Funny that 2 of them should email me today. Perhaps my sadness is from missing them too.

As I was coming into work, I noticed how sunny and blue-skied today is. Reminds me a little bit of Melbourne. So nice.

My birthday party has been settled. A nice little KPT (kueh pie tee) party with my near-and-dears. Yay! After an entire month of just running around, I’m looking to enjoy finishing it with a nice night of celebrations.

I’m on my way to purchase my first second hand big-ticket item. I’ve done enough research (I hope!) to not be taken for a ride.

It has been a very emotional experience.

On one hand, you have all these nasty reviews and then you have the glowing ones. You really have to concentrate on what you want out of what you’re buying and are satisfied that the not so good bits don’t affect what you do want.

I’m meeting the guy later and let’s hope what I’m getting is really a good deal and not a lemon to throw out of the window.

I’ll be back to blog about what this mysterious “big ticket item” is …

P.S: I’m still scratching my head on what to do for my birthday! I’m a quarter of a century old, surely that’s something to celebrate with a bang!

Having dinner with Andrea and Jason.

I could kick myself for forgetting to take a photo with them, so you’ll have to imagine along with me.

Andrea and Jason were/are my closest friends in  Melbourne, and I laughed, cried, cooked, prayed and spent hours chatting with them. They stood by me when I first broke up with the boy (another story for another day!), challenged me into ministry, inspired me on in my faith. Andrea who stayed round the corner from me, was my chatting buddy. We often stood at the porch of her apartment and chatted for up to 2 hours in the freezing Melbourne nights after OCF. You can say, without those 2, my life in Melbourne wouldn’t have been so interesting and colourful.

Andrea’s back in Singapore for a short bit and we had to catch up because I rarely get to see her. I chose Bakerzin at Paragon because I’d heard about its wonderful chocolate lava cake and seafood pasta.

I don’t think we were really interested in the food as much as we were interested in catching up. We probably sat there for a good half hour before ordering dinner and spent another 15-20 minutes yakking before ordering dessert. It was all very good and fulfilling to hear about how Parkville is changing under a few people who are burdened enough to change things. As I listened to Andrea regal me with stories about our friends and ministry, I could just feel myself being transported back to Melbourne, walking down Swanston Street to go to OCF at Arrow Heights.

Oh the memories… I’m glad though, I was scared I’d gradually forget about Melbourne, but with people who bring me back news, it’s always a refreshing experience.

I love my Aussie friends today!!!

I’m so inspired I’m going to write a few emails to the some other people who’ve emailed me but I never got round to replying …

Toodles!

Happy New Year Y’all!!!

May your some of your dreams and wishes be realised in 2008  and new ones borne this year.

Have a beautiful one!

I seriously like working at night. I’ve been happily sending emails for work. On a Sunday night. At 1130pm. I know. Don’t start hurling stink bombs at me.

The very thought of being able to plan my timetable and when I’m going to do work thrills me. I can finish my work tonight and go out to play tomorrow morning!

The Em’s like me too. Just after I sent her an email about something else, she just sent me an email about her kaput email … which doesn’t make sense because how can I get her email if her email isn’t working?

Anyway, back to work. If I can finish some stuff tonight, I can go out and run errands tomorrow morning before everything shuts down for the holidays.

Things I love TODAY …

Top on the list, definitely the bouquet of cherry-black tulips Hsien surprised me with when he dropped by after church. They were languishing in the summer heat but when your boy is sweet enough to bring over flowers to cheer you up, they’re beautiful no matter what state they’re in. Anyway, now that I’ve switched on the air-conditioning in my room, they look revived and fantastic.

Another thing I love is the Intensive Night Time Hand Serum from Marks and Spencer.  John and Pris got me this for Christmas. They actually called me in the middle of work and asked what I wanted for Christmas. My hands perpetually feel like sandpaper so on a whim, I said “hand cream” and didn’t think too much about it. Then when I actually got hand cream, I had to try it out and this light, hydrating floral-scented cream has got my hands actually feeling soft! I hope M & S always carry it!

…

My cousin and I were talking at our weekly gathering at our granddad’s house. Her birthday and mine are pretty close together so we were talking about how we were going to celebrate our “mid-fifties” - midway to fifty. Ewww, I prefer to just call it “turning 25″. So anyway, I celebrated it last year with a bunch of close peeps and had a ball of a time at my “What is Special to you” themed party.

It’s another 28 days to the big day … what shall I do to make this party exceptionally memorable? Ideas anyone?

I’m down with a sickie, a nasty bout of the cold, caught from the Empress, who’s down with a worst bout. Poor Val was sandwiched between a coughing her and a sneezing me but the great thing is that the Em has given us the day off on New Year’s Eve … to work at home. Whatever it is, not having to haul myself out of bed at 630 on a Monday is a great way to say bye to 2007.

Talking about the final hours of 2007, I look forward to the 08 … My schedule is chock full of things, but I have to stop being lazy and procrastinate-y. I’m learning how to take “later” out of my vocabulary and start having “now” to stuff I want to do. Of course, that’s in direct competition with the Em saying I have to “slow down” and “consider all aspects” but I think 08 will be a year I’ll learn to:

• Be nice but know when I’m being taken for a ride … and get off it immediately.
• Seeing the total picture and considering the steps to get there, before diving into something blindly (which I particularly love to do, it isn’t so scary when you don’t know how many hoops you have to jump through just to get to the end)
• Check my diary every Monday morning so I know what’s coming up and stop thinking I can be at 20 places at once
• Lower my expectations - drastically. It’s tiring me out trying to keep up with everything I want perfectly.
• Take time out to organise, categorise and philosophise. With my increasingly acrobatic schedule, thinking time is precious.

I think that’s about it. So as I end off my post to go, here’s a site that offers something which I really think could work here, in the land of overpriced public gym memberships and underused home ones. Your very own portable personal trainer!

It’s rare to find good memes, so when Andrea did one recently, I knew it’d be a winner!

What defines a good meme? Perhaps when the answers speak about the person. Some of the most terrible memes I’ve seen don’t relate to the person nor to the person reading them.

But maybe it’s because I’ve always known Andrea to be a foodie that’s why this meme works. Well, read my answers and see if you agree this is a good meme!

Here goes …

I give you money and send you into the grocery store to pick up 6 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments… what is it?
1. Produce: Baby Bok Choy
2. Bakery: Whole grain rolls
3. Meat: Honey baked ham
4. Frozen: A certain brand of pizza which I forget
5. Dry goods: Brown rice
6. Dairy: President’s Butter

Let’s say we’re heading out for a weekend getaway. You’re only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what’s in your bag?
1. shorts
2. underclothes
3. t-shirts

If I was to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 5 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?
1. HAHAHA
2. wah rao
3. dunno lar
4. aiyoh why like that
5. ummmm….

So, what 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn’t get to do, you probably wouldn’t be in the best mood?
1. sleep an extra 15 minutes
2. have breakfast
3. seeking attention (so narcissistic, I know!)

Sweet, you just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We’re talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?
1. Watching TV
2. Cooking/Baking
3. At the beach/park/swimming pool
4. Shopping
5. Doing QT

We’re going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it’ll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?
1. Penguins
2. Elephants
3. Farm animals (lambs, hatching chicks, sheep dogs)

You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on t.v. of your choice. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?
1. The Amazing Race
2. Survivor
3. Miami Ink
4. Kimora Lee Simmons - Life in the Fab Lane
(I just realised what a reality show junkie I am! Well, if there’s one non-reality show that I would love to go watch, it’ll have to be CSI: SVU)

You’re hungry for ice cream. I’ll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone.
What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?
1. Vanilla Bean
2. Strawberry Cheesecake
3. Matcha

Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what’s in there?
1. Life Bookshop Discount Card
2. PDL & driving instructor schedule
3. NTUC link card
4. Passport photos
5. Stash of namecards

You are at a job fair, and asked what areas you are interested in pursuing a career in. Let’s pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?
1. Celebrity cook
2. Image Consultant
3. Movie Director
4. Social worker for underprivileged kids

If you could go back and talk to the old you, when you were in high school, and inform yourself of 4 things, what would you say?
1. Relax and let go, life’s too short to be so serious
2. Everything happens for a reason
3. Love like you never loved before
4. Don’t be afraid to express yourself
5. Watch your words: they have the power to cut where you never intended.