From 周杰倫's song 稻香:

追不到的夢想 換個夢不就得了

Sounds like a good idea....

^_^

Grandpa turned my day around...

The day was a really rough one today... so much that I really don't feel like talking about it.

But things slowly turned around close to the end... with a good kick-fit session when I got to punch instead of being the punch bag.
To top it off, the highlight of the day was when Grandpa came out of his room close to 11 pm as he was having problem sleeping.
He threw himself on the couch, the way he usually does because of his weak knees, and suddenly started sharing this dream he just had: He was fighting with a younger schoolmate. Eager to jog his memory, I asked him all sorts of questions I could think of relating to the dream. Before long, he was sharing me about his childhood, how he spent some time studying here in Singapore, before the Japan occupation.

While he talked, I had to fight tears that were ready to roll down my cheeks.

I couldn't help thinking and wishing just now I can have more opportunities like this... when he's fully alert and sharp. Less of his senile dementia symptoms and more of these miscellanous stories of how he managed to be in the top three in the class despite failing English, which he had never been exposed to and could never pick up no matter how hard he tried. How he bravely grabbed hold of strangers' hands to gain free access to the Great World at River Valley on those free weekends when they get to leave the dorm for leisure activities. How he had to move out of his school into a cleaned up chicken coop when Japanese troops came.

Then Grandma came, and ended our chat, insisting that Grandpa was bugging me and telling him to go to sleep instead. Grandpa obediently went back to their room, after making a stop first at the bathroom, as suggested by Grandma.

Thanks for turning my day around, Grandpa.

I remember our conversation a while back in the car, when I had to send you to meet dad to see this one chinese physician.
There were only two of us in the car, and you suddenly blurted: " I dunno what's happening with my brain. It's really weak... I have so much problem remembering and recalling things.... I'm really behind your grandma."
I laughed and told him I was having the same problem, and that I was very much younger than her.
He shook his head and replied:" I think I over-used it when I was young and now it's run out of battery."
I agreed:" Yea... I think I over-used it in school too..."
And we both laughed.

I will forever remember this conversation, Grandpa.

The past 3 days have been very interesting.



After a high-intensity Thursday at work, I went out for KTV with the Investment babes plus KF from Valuation. Dang!These chicks can really sing! They also threw in a surprise for me, bringing in a really yummy b'day cake for me halfway thru the ktv session, just after the (fake) sharks' fin at the $10 KTV. I would've loved to stay longer but I was concerned about my car which was parked at the other end of Chinatown, so I had to leave early. All in all, it was a good one.



Then yesterday, I had my very first encounter with the ugliest side of my job.

While the fight is still not over and I have a feeling the worst is yet to come, the nasty experience however also gave me the chance to experience first-hand the difference of being led by a real leader.



When I got attacked, one of my bosses, whom we sometimes lovingly refer to as the Power Puff Girls, not only backed me up but took charge and whacked people left, right, front and back. On hindsight, it was kinda funny actually to see her "charge" all the way to protect me, in the rather angelic off-white outfit she was wearing yesterday.



I was very nervous at first when this problem popped up, not exactly because I was afraid of the other party as I was actually quite prepared to charge. I was more nervous because I was not sure I would get my bosses' support.



Honestly though, I can hardly recall any other time I have ever felt so protected at work.

While I am not sure how long I will get to enjoy this support and protection, I am greatful enough for yesterday. Regardless of this thing will turn out in the end (especially with another nasty confrontative email just in about an hour ago), I have learnt a very important lesson in leadership. To learn from my Power Puff Bosses was along the objective I have in mind when I chose to join this supposedly very "xiong" department, as an ex-colleague described, and yesterday only strenghened my belief that I made the right decision.



One of my Ds told me that it's a good place although there are lots of ups and downs, and some people don't survive ( I think she was referring to the recent departure of an ex-colleague). I told her, even if I don't survive, I am happy enough to have braved the choppy water and picked up the valuable lessons.



Anyway, after a really tough day, the evening was spent with some very sweet ex-colleagues who have been my support network here in this city. I am a very, very lucky girl to have come across such sweet people everywhere I go. Seriously... I wonder how one can be so lucky....

I'm blogging standing up at one of those free internet access points in Changi.

Never done this before but totally dead bored coz I forgot to pack a reading material.



It was a very last minute decision to go back for a wedding back home.

Only booked the ticket during lunch time yesterday and swung by to pick it up on my way back to office after a site inspection.

I'm so looking forward to seeing Bule again. Can't even remember the last time I saw her.



Organized a gathering last nite for my classmates and was quite happy with the turnout.

The first session at the Wine Co @ Evans Rd was extended to the prata joint next door,with Iggy treating us to teh halia, teh tarik and milo dinosaur.

It was so great catching up that we didn't realize it was already well past 11 pm. I really wish we could do this more often.



One of the constant comment I got from those I haven't seen for a while was:

"What happened to you? Where's your American accent? "

Sigh....

"I admit it's tempting to wish for the perfect boss - the perfect parent - or the perfect outfit. But maybe the best any of us can do is not quit, play the hand we've been dealt, and accessorize what we've got. "
-- Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City)--

In the spirit of Christmas

This was floating around in our email server at the office this morning. So in line with the Christmas joy the malls and shopping centres are trying to spread in order to get people to spend, here is the latest Christmas song out there:

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town.

It's hitting you once,
It's hitting you twice
It doesn't care if you've been careful and wise
Recession is coming to town

It's worthless if you've got shares
It's worthless if you've got bonds
It's safe when you've got cash in hand
So keep cash for goodness sake, HEY

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town!

Finance products are confusing
Finance products are so vague
The banks make you bear the cost of risk
So keep out for goodness sake, OH

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town.

Sigh.....

On another (brighter) note, I had a really great time today at the gym with this trainer, LT.
I have seen him around and I thought he was quite good.
Actually, I've been wondering if there was anyway I could arrange to get back to my muay thai training under him.
Somehow one thing led to another and I ended up training with him today.
He was really good and I think he managed to push me a bit further. Another few sessions I think I may be more comfortable and hopefully slightly more dynamic.
While it was a one-session kind of thing, I think I will be be talking to him again very soon.
Now let's just hope my knee problem doesnt kick in tomorrow.
So looking forward to learn muay thai again....

Crossing the line

Gramps are back in town today.
One of my uncles had to accompany them for the trip as Grandpa seems to be having some health problem and Grandma couldn't possibly have managed by herself.

It really breaks my heart to see how much more fragile he is since the last time I saw him around my cousin's wedding. Especially since I can't seem to do anything much to help take his pain away.

Seeing him also reminded me of another issue in hand. Something which is actually quite critical, but is now conveniently dragged on by who else but the selfish me, myself and I.

"Uncle" couldn't have been more right....I seem to have crossed that thin line between persistence and stubborness....

The Call

Another missed call on Sunday morning.
Checked the number and returned the call immediately.

Was half awake so didn't bother opening my eyes.
It was close to an hour later before I did, with swollen eyes.

Times like these I sometimes wish I would wake up to find it was all just a dream.

11.11(pm)

That was the time shown in my car (which is actually about 10 mins too fast).
And I made a wish while driving along this bend near Outram.

00.50. That was the time shown on my pc.
And I got (part) of what I wished for.

God is really nice to me : )

Substitution

In this nonsensical nonsense-kind-of-life, can a chocoholic actualy substitute a Snickers bar with Mars?

Do you think the Mars bar will be upset to find out that it is only a mere substitute?
Assuming chocolate bars have feelings, of course....

Anyway, all the chocoholic knows is that there is definitely not any direct substitution around as it just never is quite the same with any other chocolate bars.

So the search continues, for the perfect substitution.

Talk about over-commitment....

Wonder if I'll be overdoing it this coming week:

Monday: Hair-cut @ 6pm, followed by gym @ 9pm
Tuesday: Mamma Mia, the movie, @ 7pm (since I have been advised that learning tennis will be strenuous on my knee now)
Wednesday: Boxing @ 8 pm
Thursday: Steamboat dinner with RCF+ (time TBC)
Friday: Gym @ 9pm
Saturday: Cousin's wedding dinner, followed by Attica

Wonder where I should squeeze in time to clean up my room by Friday, since I have really wasted my weekend....

GIRL POWER!!

I'm in love with 神木與瞳's 為你而活 and 草戒指!!!
Just find Jane Huang's powerful vocal particularly refreshing, especially with the tons of typically soft, girly-girl chinese pop singers out there.
And watching the two kids go through the Taiwanese talent show, they just look like pretty cool kids. The guy, Yuming, is also good and he can be quite funny too....

Another hero in the making

"Chocoholic! What happened to you? How come you're so singlish now???!?!Like this how? I was planning to ask you to be the emcee for my wedding next year since I thought your English was very good...."

This is one of the first few things my buddy, Mr Bunny, told me over the phone when I called him up just the other day. This after we lost contact for a few months.

Gosh....

If you're familiar with the hit TV series, Heroes, you would know what Peter Petrelli can do.
I think I have something comparable or at least somewhere within the line of his power, except that it has become one of my biggest weakness.

I am referring to my ability to "absorb" any accent or twang from people around me and mimic them. I definitely cannot do it at Peter's at-the-touch-your-hand kind of pace, but I think I can be quite good at it.
Within the first year of my stay here, I had already started receiving occassional comments from strangers, new acquaintances or cab drivers, that they thought I was local.
As time goes by, I do realize I'm getting better and better -- or worse and worse, depending on how you look at it.

I think the fact that in my current job I have to communicate with a large number of Singlish-speaking so-called prospects, clients rep or site staff doesn't help. Somehow speaking with the local twang I find closes the gap and any awkwardness. I dunno...

Bloody hell! (There you go... something else I've picked up from the past few months from work)
What the heck is happening to me? I don't want to be singlish, can or not?
It's not that I'm that crazy about the suggested idea to be an emcee at my friend's wedding, as I know for sure that I cannot handle it, but I sure did not spend so many years of learning English just to turn it into Singlish in less than 3 years!!!

So, I have made up my mind.
I will make the conscious effort from today onwards.
27 August 2008 is the first day of ......
"Chocoholic's Proper English Programme"

No, I'm not going to be over ambititious about the whole thing, and I don't intend to lose the ability to somewhat connect better with some of my local friends and colleagues.
My goal is to control, not to eliminate this weakness of mine (or power, as I tend to think on those days I feel HERO-ic).

So, help me God!
I think I'd take Chocoholic Nakamura as opposed to Chocoholic Petrelli, anytime anyday....

--------
I have just remembered that I did try to do something about this when I caught the earliest symptoms of my singlified-english. I went to the British Council and tried to enroll myself (in any class they would let me in). Took the placement test, and guess what? They didn't have any class for me. Out of curiousity, I suppose, the staff asked why I wanted to enroll myself, and I explained my predicament, how I was alarmed at how I seemed to have managed to pick up Singlish way too fast for my own good.

I'm quite sure they would have something for me now, but then again I remember the cost was probably enough to revamp a significant part of my wardrobe.

Hmmm.... (lightbulb moment!!!)

I suppose a cheaper way around this would be to find a native-speaker boyfriend huh?
But then of course, there is another stumbling block: How the hell am I supposed to turn myself into an SPG to catch my own angmoh?

Sigh.....I must say...there doesn't seem to be any easy way out of this dark tunnel at this point in time.

Ladies @ the gym

I'm finding the changing room at the gym to be an increasingly interesting place:

• Lady 1 to lady 2: Aiyoh... that boss of mine is such a bitch lah...everything also I must do.
• Lady 3 to lady 4: My therapist recommended me this exercise *show action*... very helpful leh... can feel much tighter now....you see this? you see?
• Lady 5 on the phone: I've had it.. it's over. He told me " I miss you" and all that, but enough is enough.
• Lady 6: Whose smelly shoes ah?
• Lady 7 lays down on the bench with a piece of towel on her face and did not budge a single inch (and fyi, air circulation is not all that great in this changing room cum shower cum toilet, if u know what I mean....)
• Lady 8 queueing for toilet: Wah so long? What are they doing inside?
• Lady 9, aka cleaning lady, picks up one of the mats from the shower rooom and starts picking up hair strands
• Lady 10 to lady 9: Did you throw away my clothes? I left them on the bench over there....
• Lady 11 to lady 12: Aiyohhh... long time no see!! *pecks exchanged* Where have you been, honey? You look great! Looks like you have lost quite a lot of weight there....
• Lady 13 walks in with with lady 14 after a class: Now that I've paid for my prata, I can go for dinner....Yay!!
• Lady 14 to lady 13: But what about the ice cream you had earlier?

And the list goes on...

Ignorance may not be a bliss....

An American ex-colleague: What?!?!?! Deep-fried butter squid?? I'm not sure I can take that, chocoholic....
Ex-boss: What are you talking about? You love calamari!

Just a funny snippet from my previous life, that came across my mind while looking at a Caucasian mother and son munching on calamari at fish& co yesterday.

Growing Pains?

Nothing is worse than having to watch your loved ones struggling without being able to do anything.
I hate feeling so helpless and small....

Anyway I found myself calling my brother on the phone out of desperation.
I could barely finish asking him if he was already asleep (since it was quite late), when I burst into tears.
(What can I say, I'm the only daughter of a super drama mama)
I knew there was nothing he could do, but I really needed to talk to him.

Somehow, now it just reminds me of my kindergarten and early primary school days.
Back in those days, I used to have problem sleeping at night and I always managed to somehow spook myself with my wandering mind.
Most of the time, the thoughts involved my biggest fear then: Death.
(It still is, I suppose)
I remember crying and climbing up to his bunk bed above mine, and insisted that he wake up and listen to my problem, while I try to squeeze words between my sobbing and sniffing.
I would tell him how I couldn't sleep, how I was worried about our next life, after we die and supposedly go through reincarnation.
I told him how I didn't want to be anyone else's kid. How I wanted to be Mom & Dad's kid, how I wanted to be his sister again.
I think I remember at one point he told me noone can guarantee that.
And I asked him if there was a way I could look everyone up then.
I don't recall any conclusion from the discussion, but I recall he let me sleep beside him coz I was too upset to go back to sleep.

I was once the youngest kid in our English tuition class.
I cried once when an older girl in the class made fun of me.
I don't remember exactly what my brother said to me but he sat next to me while I sobbed away.
(By the way, he didn't want to take the class but my mom forced him to go with me as I was really keen to learn English and I was a bit young compared to the rest of the kids)

My brother was always the (somewhat) rebellious smart kid. I was the (somewhat) obedient average student.
He was the popular kid. I was the fat outcast.
As we grew up, slowly but somewhat surely, one tiny step at a time, I tried my best to get out of his shadow.
I was the typical younger sibling, trying to avoid being referred to as so-and-so's sister.

But I suppose as I grow older, I'm only beginning to learn to appreciate how I can just be someone's kid sister.

Just hope he doesn't see this blog.
His head is big enough as it is. It sort of runs in the family, you see....

I'm officially in love....

Meet my new love:

(Cover needed as he was still a bit camera shy)

Now, side by side with my ex:

When he finally was more comfortable in front of the camera:

















Gosh! I wish I was half as sleek and as slim as my new baby.

But I suppose old flame dies hard. I cannot bear to trade in my ex, one of the rare gifts my brother got for me.
I don't think it'll fetch that much in the market anyway, considering how fast the market moves, so I decided to just keep it for sentimental reason.
Yea.. the sucker me does have an issue with letting go and moving on with life.
The 5-year old Dell notebook I'm using this very second is a living proof of how "stubborn" I can get, when I decided to be. I told myself when I spent my then one month salary on this thing, that I would make sure I squeeze at least 5 years out of this thing.
Guess what? It will be our 5th anniversary in 3 months!!

I suppose most people really don't plan for their divorce..., but what can I say?
I need to make sure at least some parts of my life does move on....


^_^

O well...
suppose I'd better go take a "nap".... only have a few hours till another day starts @ work.
As I was telling a friend earlier: Just gonna take it one blow at a time. One day at a time. One breath at a time.


Sin of the day: Spent over $100 on CDs. Bloody hell! What was I thinking?

ARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!

What the heck did they do to Sam Lee ?
What's with the haircut?

Gimme back the scruffy-looking guy, please....
Please... I beg you....

After about 10 days of total chaos, the place is awfully quiet tonight.
After sharing my room with as many as 5 other heads at one point, I now have the room back for myself.
YEAY!!!!!!
.....
*look around*
.....

On second thought, gimme back the 5 heads... ok 4 will do ..... I don't really need my niece & nephew's nanny. And throw in the additional 2 (Dad & Bro) who had to sleep in the living room.

I sure miss the nightly "live" entertainment by the two goofballs, whenever I was home from work.

My Tarot Card of the day

The Wheel of Fortune deals with the unpredictable situations in life. Your path in life takes many detours, often directed by forces and events beyond your control. This card represents change in your life, so be ready for unexpected challenges to come your way. This card usually denotes that good luck is coming your way.

I like this card too.

Sex and the Cities

I don't care what others think. I love Sex and the City - the movie.
Simply because it just reminds me of the fun I have with my girlfriends.
Female support really does wonder, I tell you.

Back home in the new Atlantis-to-be, I had it in bucket loads.
In the windy city, I had roomie and Miss M (wonder if I should count Mr G in? Hahaha).
Now in this tiny blip in the blue planet, I also have Miss Su & HB. Not to mention, the others are just an msn buzz or an sms away.

Wonder what I did in my previous life to deserve this....