Bobo's Life

People in my Heart

2011-04-07T16:02:00.003-04:00

My family! Cannot wait to see them again!

I never realised how much my family meant to me until I moved to Canada. Sometimes I miss them so much here that my heart aches.

Is this the feeling one gets when one has to finally grow up and leave her home?

Hurts so good

2011-04-06T11:11:00.000-04:00

O.M.G.

2011-04-01T13:39:00.002-04:00

It is already April! Time is passing so fast! We are done with the first quarter of 2011!

Positive things about April:
- Exams will be over!!
- Spring is here!!
- I am going home soon!!
- I am going home soon!!
- I am going home soon!!
- I am going home soon!!
- I am going home soon!!

I had to repeat that several times because I miss home A LOT!!

But I look like this cat right now because I have to do several things:
- Buy souvenirs back for family
- Pack
- Study
- Study
- Study
- Study
- Study

Did I mention "study"?! Grr... *tries to prevent myself from tearing hair out*

Need to remind myself about my personal mantra below... POSITIVITY!!! I can do it!!

Soul Sisters

2011-03-31T11:34:00.003-04:00

This was taken at the farewell party the Firm threw for me.

Our working life together seems like a lifetime ago. But I will always cherish those times we had together, how we cried together and lived through our first few years of practice together. Somehow we always seem to get each other. I am so glad that things have turned around for you and that you are finally truly happy.

Cannot wait to visit you soon!

Personal Mantra

2011-03-30T12:20:00.002-04:00

One of the hardest things I have to do is remind myself to be positive and to find something good in every situation I am in.

I am getting a new toy!

2011-03-02T09:10:00.001-05:00

And I am really excited about it!

The Daily Conversation

2011-02-16T22:18:00.003-05:00

Boy: Hon, P just invited me to the Auto show with A on Friday. Would you like to go to it? Say Sunday? If not I may go with them.

Me: I wanna go to the auto show!! But I come at 6pm! Is the show still open then? If not, then why dun you go with them?

Boy: it's only until 10pm... I think Friday is out. it will leave us like 2 hours for the show by the time we get there. How about Sunday?

Me: Sunday is ok but I think you would enjoy yourself with the guys! Why don’t you go with them?

Boy: happy wife, happy life :)

To my funny valentine...

2011-02-14T16:21:00.003-05:00

Perspectives

2011-02-13T19:41:00.002-05:00

Sometimes it is so easy to get carried away in one's problems.

For the last few months, I have just been fretting over whether I am going to find a job, if I have made a bad decision to come to Canada, if I am losing valuable work experience, etc. All these bad feelings were like a black hole threatening to overwhelm me.

"Where is the light at the end of the tunnel?" I wondered.

And I realised that maybe I should stop all this self-pitying and recognise what I have been blessed with. Firstly, my relationship with the Boy has been developing pretty nicely. After all that long distance, we tried living in much closer quarters and it turns out that we can live together, farts and all (phew!). Secondly, I have started catching up with things I have been meaning to do during the three years I was slogging away at work. I have picked up exercising again (bikram yoga is all sorts of awesome and a welcome oasis from this frigid winter), brushed up on my cooking and baking skills, caught up with the books I had been meaning to read but had no time for (hello, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series), etc.

I guess what I am trying to remind myself is that I should not overlook the wonderful little things I have in my life. Yes, the job situation is still precarious, but not working for about 1.5 years is not going to dictate how the rest of my life is going to turn out. And I am going to start enjoying these carefree months as a student! :)

The first thing I do in the morning...

2011-02-09T11:19:00.003-05:00

is look out of the window. Winter has got to be hands-down my least favourite season. It is cold and depressing. It also irritates me that I have to wear so many fricking layers before I can safely step out of the house!

I miss the warmth of the sun and my legs miss being uncovered. Winter, I don't care what the groundhog says (apparently, there is going to be six more weeks of winter)... please go away! Please? Cos I asked nicely?

For the Boy

2011-02-08T18:04:00.000-05:00

"When all my faith is gone,
You bring it back to me.
You make it real for me."

Note to self

2011-02-07T15:52:00.001-05:00

Feet on ground,
Heart in hand,
Facing forward,
Be yourself.

Hello once again!

2011-01-08T12:54:00.003-05:00

Some friends have lightly admonished me for not updating this blog more often... especially since I am not in Singapore!

So let me just give a quick roundup of what has been going on with me...

I moved to Canada in September 2010. It was a move that had been contemplated for about a year. Even though I thought I had everything planned out, I guess that one cannot never plan for every eventuality.

So why did I move? The Boy and I have always planned for our long-distance relationship to eventually culminate in one of us moving to the other person's country. Unfortunately, plans for him to move to Singapore fell through when a personal tragedy struck his family. So I decided to take the plunge.

What am I doing here? By some miraculous act of God, I was accepted into a Canadian law school to complete a number of modules to attain the Canadian equivalent of an LLB or JD. The course runs for a year. Thereafter, I will be eligible to take the requisite exams to pass Ontario Bar.

Do I regret it? I won't deny that there were times, particularly in the first month, when I felt like I had made a huge mistake. It is one thing to visit a country and quite another to build a life there. And it was really hard adapting at first. But after overcoming this hurdle, I have no regrets. Our relationship has somehow overcome the odds, as cheesy as it sounds. And I am actually starting to like life here.

Do I miss my family and friends back home? Every single day. For the first time in my life, I am living alone and I now appreciate my mum so much more now. My super mummy used to do all my laundry and do all the housework at home on top of her day job. Gosh.. how she did all that and still take care of us is just amazing.

I think that should succinctly set out what's been going on with me so far. I will try to update more often. :)

Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street

2011-01-05T21:30:00.000-05:00

This song brings me back to my primary school days. We used to tune in to Class 95 FM while waiting for the school bus to pick us up to school and this was one of the songs I first remembered listening to.

Classic.

It's been too long...

2010-12-12T13:46:00.002-05:00

since my last post.

With work, I stopped blogging as much as it took over my life. I have been toying with the idea of starting a new blog in a new address in cyber space, just like I have pretty much started a new life in the real world. Anyhow, I will decide after I am done with one more exam paper.

In the meantime, I hope everyone is looking forward to Christmas. Just the other day, I read somewhere that the highest rates of suicide occur around Christmas time! That is so sad! So my wish this year is that everyone who feels sad or hopeless during Christmas this year (or in any part of the year for that matter) will find his or her silver lining.

On another note, this is the first time I am away from home for Christmas. These months away from home have really taught me a lot. I am truly appreciative of my family and Singapore. Funny how it takes one big move to realise what you take for granted all your life! But that is not to say that I am unhappy here. The Boy and I have progressed nicely into living together. And slowly but surely, I will conquer the Canadian winter. =P There is always much to be thankful for and I am looking forward to the next year!

On the night before the last day of work...

2010-08-30T11:02:00.002-04:00

I am worried about life without my blackberry!!

:(

The Life that I have

2010-08-30T02:00:00.000-04:00

The life that I have
Is all that I have
And the life that I have
Is yours

The love that I have
Of the life that I have
Is yours and yours and yours

A sleep I shall have
A rest I shall have
Yet death will be but a pause

For the peace of my years
In the long green grass
Will be yours and yours
And yours

- Leo Marks

Inspiration

2010-08-23T04:36:00.002-04:00

"Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it."

Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love

From the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians (12:31 – 13:8)

2010-08-10T09:11:00.002-04:00

"Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is better than any of them.

If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing, If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever.

Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.

Love does not come to an end."

I did the above reading during YYY's beautiful wedding mass. What a wedding it was! I cannot even express how much I really enjoyed the whole process and how much fun it was bonding with the girls. I cannot wait for the next one among us to tie the knot!

And to the lovely couple - I wish you both a blissful marriage!

Boys are like chocolate cake

2010-06-14T10:29:00.002-04:00

Feels so good but so bad for you!

Some food for thought from my dear friend, DK. =P

Doss Saroun

2010-06-12T03:51:00.003-04:00

Our very very knowledgeable and hospitable guide when we were in Siem Reap.

This trip to Cambodia really touched my heart in no way any other place has ever touched me. It was amazing how happy the people were despite their poverty. Kinda puts your own life into perspective and how small your own problems really are in the grand scheme of things.

Happiness

2010-05-23T10:23:00.004-04:00

is being able to travel with the one you love. :)

This photo was taken in a forest in Tartu, Estonia back in December when we went to visit his family. It was the first time I had ever played with snow and it was so cold that I actually wished I was back in hot and sunny Singapore! :)

Think positive

2010-05-18T09:45:00.002-04:00

I actually drafted a few posts before this, when I was feeling pissed off, frustrated, angry, irritated.. so many negative feelings!

But after writing it all out, I did not feel those feelings anymore. So I decided against posting them up.

I cannot wait for the weekend to come.. at least Terrible Tuesday is almost over!

So what...

2010-04-19T08:35:00.003-04:00

if you have a meeting with a minister?

I went to the Small Claims Tribunal today to try to claim the remaining portion of my package with a now defunct spa (no prizes for guessing which one). It was an interesting experience but definitely not one I would want to repeat!!

I did not mind the long waiting periods... I understand that the Registrar had many orders to make. What I did not understand was when this woman, who had the second last queue no. among a group of 9 of us, requested to have her claim heard first so that she can be on time for her appointment. What was more baffling was that the Registrar allowed her to "jump the queue". I also had work to rush back to. But I did not think that that entitled me to "jump queue" so I raised my hand and asked that the claims be heard in order. But this woman insisted because she was meeting some minister. And I was thinking to myself, "SO WHAT!"

I wonder then, if I would have been entitled to go first if I had also chimed in and said that I was meeting the Minister Mentor?

My point is that that the court should not give someone else priority just because he/she has an important meeting with a Minister. Aren't we all supposed to be equal in the eyes of the law? If you took a number later, and you arranged an appointment that was too close to your hearing, that is just too bad. Why cause everyone else to wait for you?

Grrr... this is a small matter but I really need to complain!

Tick Tock Tick Tock

2010-03-17T09:46:00.005-04:00

And so the countdown has truly begun after all the talking, the thinking and the planning.

I remember a very good friend once said to me, "There is no such thing as a bad decision, but you can make a decision right."

I am so excited and scared at the same time. But I am going to do my best!!

Unending Love

2010-01-19T10:35:00.000-05:00

I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times...
In life after life, in age after age, forever.
My spellbound heart has made and remade the necklace of songs,
That you take as a gift, wear round your neck in your many forms,
In life after life, in age after age, forever.

Whenever I hear old chronicles of love, it's age old pain,
It's ancient tale of being apart or together.
As I stare on and on into the past, in the end you emerge,
Clad in the light of a pole-star, piercing the darkness of time.
You become an image of what is remembered forever.

You and I have floated here on the stream that brings from the fount.
At the heart of time, love of one for another.
We have played along side millions of lovers,
Shared in the same shy sweetness of meeting,
the distressful tears of farewell,
Old love but in shapes that renew and renew forever.

Today it is heaped at your feet, it has found its end in you
The love of all man's days both past and forever:
Universal joy, universal sorrow, universal life.
The memories of all loves merging with this one love of ours -
And the songs of every poet past and forever.

~Rabindranath Tagore

Girl misses her Boy

2009-10-07T09:19:00.002-04:00

Late nights in the office do this to me. :(

Tune in my head...

2009-09-16T09:07:00.002-04:00

"So open up your morning light
And say a little prayer for right
You know that if we are to stay alive
And see the love in every eye"

I feel happy today. Actually I have been very happy for some time now and I just wanted to blog something mundane like that. :)

December Destination?

2009-09-16T02:48:00.000-04:00

I am a fighting chicken...

2009-09-15T03:34:00.002-04:00

according to Boss in her email on a corporate dept night out:

"Firstly however, I have ordered a wonderful Mexican and Spanish type dinner for us at El Toro for those of my undernourished chickens who love to EAT. Food starts getting served at 7 pm so be on time, if you don’t want to fight over the food with Cheryl!"

Something inspiring...

2009-09-08T07:55:00.001-04:00

Thanks Biks!

This was a speech made by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Anna Quindlen

at the graduation ceremony of an American university where she was

awarded an Honorary PhD.

____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _____

"I'm a novelist. My work is human nature. Real life is all I know.

Don't ever confuse the two, your life and your work. You will walk out

of here this afternoon with only one thing that no one else has. There

will be hundreds of people out there with your same degree: there will

be thousands of people doing what you want to do for a living. But you

will be the only person alive who has sole custody of your life. Your

particular life. Your entire life. Not just your life at a desk or

your life on a bus or in a car or at the computer. Not just the life

of your mind, but the life of your heart. Not just your bank accounts

but also your soul.

People don't talk about the soul very much anymore. It's so much

easier to write a resume than to craft a spirit. But a resume is cold

comfort on a winter's night, or when you're sad, or broke, or lonely,

or when you've received your test results and they're not so good.

Here is my resume: I am a good mother to three children. I have tried

never to let my work stand in the way of being a good parent. I no

longer consider myself the centre of the universe. I show up. I

listen. I try to laugh. I am a good friend to my husband. I have tried

to make marriage vows mean what they say. I am a good friend to my

friends and them to me. Without them, there would be nothing to say to

you today, because I would be a cardboard cut out. But I call them on

the phone and I meet them for lunch. I would be rotten, at best

mediocre, at my job if those other things were not true.

You cannot be really first rate at your work if your work is all you

are. So here's what I wanted to tell you today: Get a life. A real

life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger pay

cheque, the larger house. Do you think you'd care so very much about

those things if you blew an aneurysm one afternoon or found a lump in

your breast?

Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself

on a breeze at the seaside, a life in which you stop and watch how a

red-tailed hawk circles over the water, or the way a baby scowls with

concentration when she tries to pick up a sweet with her thumb and

first finger.

Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who

love you. And remember that love is not leisure, it is work. Pick up

the phone. Send an email. Write a letter. Get a life in which you are

generous. And realize that life is the best thing ever, and that you

have no business taking it for granted. Care so deeply about its

goodness that you want to spread it around. Take money you would have

spent on beer and give it to charity. Work in a soup kitchen. Be a big

brother or sister. All of you want to do well. But if you do not do

good too, then doing well will never be enough.

It is so easy to waste our lives, our days, our hours, and our

minutes. It is so easy to take for granted the colour of our kids'

eyes, the way the melody in a symphony rises and falls and disappears

and rises again. It is so easy to exist instead of to live.

I learned to live many years ago. I learned to love the journey, not

the destination. I learned that it is not a dress rehearsal, and that

today is the only guarantee you get. I learned to look at all the good

in the world and try to give some of it back because I believed in it,

completely and utterly. And I tried to do that, in part, by telling

others what I had learned. By telling them this: Consider the lilies

of the field. Look at the fuzz on a baby's ear. Read in the back yard

with the sun on your face.

Learn to be happy. And think of life as a terminal illness, because if

you do, you will live it with joy and passion as it ought to be

lived".

My Favourite Travelling Companion

2009-09-03T11:56:00.003-04:00

:)

The only person I know who can out-walk me.

Thanks for an unforgettable holiday!

So excited!!

2009-08-06T09:22:00.002-04:00

I have to complete quite a bit of work before I head off to Turkey with the Boy tomorrow night but I am so excited!! I really am! It has been more than 4 months since we saw each other so it is really difficult to contain my excitement.

On another note, Boss is back from maternity leave and her baby is so cute!!! Hard to believe that she was carrying around this little cute "blob" for 9 months! But I am really grateful that the Boss is back.. feels like some order has been restored in the banking department. :)

Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness

2009-07-03T03:59:00.002-04:00

Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles that's what you do

For the morning sun in all its glory
Greets the day with hope and comfort too
You fill my life with laughter
And somehow you make it better
Ease my troubles that's what you do
There's a love that's divine
And its yours and its mine like the sun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To the one, to the one

Have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above you
Fill my heart with gladness
Take away all my sadness
Ease my troubles that's what you do

There's a love that's divine
And its yours and its mine like the sun
And at the end of the day
We should give thanks and pray
To the one, to the one

And have I told you lately that I love you
Have I told you there's no one else above you
You fill my heart with gladness
Take away my sadness
Ease my troubles that's what you do
Take away all my sadness
Fill my life with gladness
Ease my troubles that's what you do
Take away all my sadness
Fill my life with gladness
Ease my troubles that's what you do

No prizes for guessing which song! Just heard it on the radio... and the title is my favourite line. So glad it is Friday today! Actually this week has been nice and not too busy at work. I am looking forward to the weekend's activities too.. hope to get some running in my schedule since the Boy keeps boasting about how much exercise he has been getting. Bleah.

Say hi to ickle and lardie!

2009-06-30T04:37:00.001-04:00

Aren't they adorable? :):)

Visit My Milk Toof.

Never saw blue like that

2009-06-29T02:44:00.002-04:00

Today we took a walk up the street,
We picked a flower and climbed a hill above the lake
Secret thoughts, u said aloud,
We watched the faces in the clouds
Until the clouds have blown away
Were we ever somewhere else u know
It's hard to say

I never saw a blue like that before
Across the sky, around the world
You're giving me all u have and more
No one else has ever shown me how
To see the world the way I see it now, oh I
I never saw a blue like that

I can't believe
A month ago I was alone
I didn't know u, I've never seen you, or heard your name
And even now, I'm so amazed it's like a dream
It's like a rainbow, it's like the rain
Some things are the way they are and words just can't explain

I never saw a blue like that before
Across the sky, around the world
You're giving me all u have and more
No one else has ever shown me how
To see the world the way I see it now, oh I
I never saw a blue like that before

It feels like now, it feels always,
And it feels like coming home

I never saw a blue like that before
Across the sky, around the world
You're giving me all u have and more
No one else has ever shown me how
To see the world the way I see it now, oh I
I never saw a blue like that before

Oh, oh I, I never saw blue like that

A simple love song from a Girl to her Boy.

One second he was there, and the next he was gone.

2009-06-15T12:26:00.002-04:00

I cannot wait to watch this movie... esp since I really like these 2 actors. This is one of my favourite books... it always makes me cry. :)

Destination Turkey!!

2009-06-08T09:58:00.002-04:00

I cannot wait I cannot WAIT!!!

Leave just got officially approved so the Boy and I are headed to Turkey for some adventures together in August! Work has been incredibly stressful so this is going to be a welcome break for the both of us! I am SO EXCITED!

It is nice to have something to look forward to when your day starts just after 5am and ends near midnight.

The holiday will also mark the (almost) 1 year since we decided to plunge into couplehood. Fast-forward almost 10 mths later and I am still a happy lark.

Ok, enough rambling... back to this agreement I am supposed to review...

I wanna rock...

2009-05-24T09:30:00.001-04:00

I miss the (too short!!) time spent in New York City last year. The weather must be perfect right now to walk around the city. It has been 1 year since we got called. Time passes so fast when you are busy working.

Anyway, I was checking out this musical on Broadway called Rock of Ages (check out the cheesy 80s rock songs here:). Wish I were there right now.. maybe next year with the Boy? (*hint hint*):)

Happy, Bruce Springsteen

2009-05-17T11:55:00.005-04:00

I found this song just a while ago and I like how the lyrics express exactly how I feel about you (even though they are sung to a woman). :)

Happy Birthday Darling. And thank you for the happiness your love brings to my life.

Some need gold and some need diamond rings
Or a drug to take away the pain that living brings
A promise of a better world to come
When whatever here is done
I don't need that sky of blue BABE
All I know's since I found you, I'm happy when I'm in your arms
Happy, darling, come the dark
Happy when I taste your kiss
I'm happy in a love like this

There's a house upon a distant hill
Where you can hear the laughter of children ring
Guardian angels, they watch from above
GAURDING over the love that they bring
But at night I feel the darkness near, I awake and I find you near
I'm happy with you in my arms
I'm happy with you in my heart
Happy when I taste your kiss
I'm happy in love like this

In a world of doubt and fear
I wake at night and reach to find you near
Lost in a dream, you caught me as I fell
I want more than just a dream to tell

We're born in this world, darling, with few days and trouble never far behind
Man and woman circle each other in a cage
A cage that's been handed down the line
Lost and running 'neath a million dead stars
Tonight let's shed our skins and slip these bars
Happy in each other's arms
Happy, baby, come the dark
Happy in each other's kiss
HAPPY IN A LOVE LIKE THIS
(HAPPY)
(HAPPY)

Let them talk

2009-05-04T05:20:00.002-04:00

Let Them Talk - Harry Connick, Jr.

Whoops... been MIA for a month or so. I like this song. Great for slow dancing or just listening to while reading a book.

April was a fairly busy and "happening" month. I came home from a holiday, immersed myself in cheerleading practice for sports day (feeling like I was back in junior colleage again), and even went off to Beijing for a whirlwind tour and conference rolled into one. Over the last week, I was fortunate to be treated by the bosses to great food (Turkish Cuisine in Suntec and Donna Carmelo in Greenwood) and a scrub-massage-facial package at Aramsa Spa. The spa and dinner trip was a great chance to get to know some of my colleagues better too. The last weekend was spent pampering my feet with a cute shocking Barbie-pink pedicure and just spending time with the family. :)

The next long weekend is going to be in August which is a long way off! Hopefully, my leave will be approved and I will be in Turkey with the Boy then! :)

Rejuvenated!

2009-04-06T07:21:00.003-04:00

Fresh off my getaway to the Land of Maple Syrup and I miss it so much already! Toronto is a really wonderful city but my boss thinks that I am seeing it through rose-tinted glasses. heehee. Apparently, I look very well-rested (despite the jet lag). :) What a lovely lovely and refreshing holiday it was. Wish I took a longer break but alas, work is a-calling.

The suckiest thing was having to say goodbye to the Boy again. But I shall try to think of the happy times we had the last week and a half - talking about anything and everything, long walks, holding hands, reading the news together, delicious meals, shared laughter, etc. I cannot wait till we reunite again. :)

And I shall avoid taking american carriers and flights with 2 transit stops (as far as possible). The flight home was a killer. I am biased. I really think that asian airlines are a much better (and saner) way to fly. Plus airplane food would taste better too.

Ok, back to work. I want to go home earlier to sleep.

Parents

2009-03-24T17:11:00.003-04:00

My parents woke up at 3.45am this morning to send me to the airport together. It was so sweet of them. They were both blurry-eyed and sleepy but still insisted on giving me a ride. I made sure I hugged them extra tight before going in.

Ok, off to spend quality time with the Boy.

PS: I am so enamoured of my new BB toy now. Need to get used to typing on it though. It is not meant for people (ie me) with fat fingers!! :( But it more than makes up for the convenience!

Ok, gotta run. Have to check in.

BB (ie Blackberry) Talk

2009-03-23T10:55:00.003-04:00

Me: Btw, I am getting my BB tmr!! *excited*

Boy: ooo... a toy for Princess. :)

**PS: Princess is his dog!! :(

A few days ago on MSN...

Me: I am getting a BB!

Sister: YOU ARE HAVING A BABY!!?!

Me: ......

Reacquainted

2009-03-17T09:53:00.002-04:00

Just chatted online with one of my oldest friends and it felt nice. We were pretty close as kids and in our teens. Then, we both got busy with our other lives and our paths just diverged. But it is nice to know we always have something to chat about (still!) and we have our years of history to dig into when we reminisce together about old times past and reacquaint ourselves about where all that time apart went. Sometimes I miss my childhood and the carefree feeling that came with it.

The laughter and the tears
The shadows of misty yesteryears
The good times and the bad you've seen
And all the others in between
Remember, do you remember

First time in a long time...

2009-03-16T11:11:00.002-04:00

since I stayed back after 11pm on a weekday night at the office. It felt a bit strange picking up the Chubb Security call that comes in at 11pm every night even though it used to be a habit to pick up the calls last year.

Anyway, I guess I have been a little bit spoiled lately. Been either going home earlier (by ten) or doing work at home. There is still quite a bit to go... but I am thinking of packing up soon and coming back early in the morning.

Ok, back to this mortgage agreement...

2 weeks...

2009-03-11T10:17:00.002-04:00

to seeing the Boy again!! Yay! I am so excited!

But in the meantime, it is work work work! *collapses*

Today was really nice though. I had a very enjoyable lunch with a bunch of female colleagues and a cosy dinner with Serene before heading back to work. But the Parents called to ask if I wanted a lift home so I decided to bring my work materials home to finish the advice I was working on. Now, the Sister is entertaining me with stories about the fortune teller she visited in school today. Apparently, she might be a millionaire. I asked her to give me designer bags (preferably Chanel) so I never have to buy one for myself. :P

1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 4

2009-03-01T20:46:00.002-05:00

Plain White Ts - 1,2,3,4 -

Cute cute song for my Boy. :):)

Confessions of a bullied young lawyer (true story!)

2009-02-28T20:08:00.003-05:00

I am too lazy to type out exactly what went down yesterday with this horrible opposing counsel (hereinafter referred to as "Y") but I present to you my email to the boss explaining to her what happened. Some references to the transaction were pared down as they are confidential but I kept the email as whole as possible. Also added some of my comment in between.

Hi [Boss],

Hope you had a good flight! (Bobo: She just flew in to Europe for a holiday.)

I just want to update you on the Agreement and the events that transpired today.

I sent some additional amendments that the Client wanted to make to the agreement to Y. He called me in the afternoon to discuss the amendments he wanted to make. As we were discussing Clause XX, he informed me that he wanted to delete the mention of XXX. I asked him for his reasons (so I can tell the Client) and why it was not mentioned in his earlier amendments and the negotiations (Bobo: The agreement was to slated for signing on Friday, then Saturday and now Sunday so he really had a lot of time to make any amendments he wanted to make in the earlier rounds.). He “exploded” then and shouted at me saying that there is no room for discussions now and that his client will not sign the agreement anymore since we are so unreasonable. Thereafter he slammed the phone down. I tried to call him back to reason out with him but to no avail.

After that, I called the Client to let her know what happened. She was appalled and apologetic and after a few exchanges, I was asked to call Y to try to discuss his comments.

During our second phone call, Y said that I was unprofessional and rude towards him. He also said that he does not see why a senior corporate partner like himself has to speak to a junior and inexperienced lawyer like me and threatened to not speak to XX Firm unless a senior partner called him. So I calmly asked him if we could move on to discuss his comments so that our clients will be able to sign the agreement soon. He said ok and we discussed the agreement. He was very irritable throughout our discussions. At one point, when I asked him to speak up as I was in a crowded area, he replied that it was not his problem since I hung up on him just now (!?!!). Then when we were discussing the XX clause, I asked him if he was intending to amend one part and he again shouted at me for being rude (!!?!). So I asked him again if he preferred any other wording. He then replied how he wanted the clause to read. [Bobo: By the way, this was a pared down version of what happened. He insinuated throughout that I was incompetent, that I had an attitude and that I was unqualified. I had to literally coax him as if he were a sulking teenager!!)

I called the Client again to let her know Y’s comments and to ask for her feedback to his comments. I also told her about my exchange with Y and the Client has told the other side about Y’s difficult behaviour.

We finally got the agreement finalised (with Y being much nicer in the subsequent calls) and the Client will be collecting the copies of the agreement from me for signing tomorrow. The Clients were very apologetic but I told them that it was no big deal and no harm was done.

My thoughts are that he probably felt that he “lost face” throughout the negotiations and I think that he would not have shouted the way he did to me in front of his client. He probably needed an outlet and decided to take out his frustrations on me.

But in any case, at least the agreement is finally finalised! I will go ahead with XXX work.

Sorry for the long email. I wanted to tell you exactly what happened first in case I forget. Enjoy your holiday! :)

Kind Regards,
Bobo

I have met nasty clients before but this was an opposing counsel. Someone in the same line and whom you would expect that he would know how to conduct himself. Also, this guy is probably my daddy's age! I was seriously appalled. I must remind myself never to behave like that towards my younger juniors who become lawyers in the future. Even though I know I was just a shouting target, it still felt terrible.

Thank goodness the transaction is almost over! Hope our paths never cross again!

Do lasers DIUDIU or PEWPEW?

2009-02-26T23:50:00.002-05:00

I say DIUDIU. But here is what one of my colleague's cousins said in response:

"Wow a staggering question. It depends whether you are in space or on planet, gi joe or cobra, live action of animated. Cantonese lasers go diudiu. You know why? Because if you shoot them enough you can hear them shout diudiudiu nei lou mou! Lawyers go pewpew for obvious reasons. Pews! It also depends on laser colour. It also goes ‘wongwong’ and ‘whoomph whoomph’ if they are concentric laser rings."

I don't get the lawyer part though.

What an entertaining Friday morning this has been.

Happy 6 Months!

2009-02-25T08:59:00.002-05:00

Or Happy Half-Anniversary (according to the Boy).

I can't believe half a year has flown by just like this but it also feels as though we have been together longer.

Ok, enough mush. I am damn tired, my brains feel fried and my back is in need of a good massage. Cannot wait till the end of the week so I can rest proper!!

Since it is Lent, my Lenten sacrifice is not to shop for myself with some exceptions carved out - it is ok to shop for a limited number items when I am in Toronto in March and essentials (like contact lens solution, food, etc). :)

Off to bed.

10 little things that have made me happy

2009-02-24T05:01:00.004-05:00

Taking a mini-break at work now so I am blogging:

1. Receiving daily emails from the Boy (especially in the middle of a stressful work day).

2. The lady in Coffee & Toast City Link who knows that I will order "Kopi-O Kosong takeaway" every morning without fail so she gets my coffee prepared when she sees me standing in line and I need not wait for my turn to collect my drink after paying.

3. Walking the 20 min walk to the office every morning because the walk perks me up.

4. Getting lifts home from the Parents when I need to work late at night.

5. G-chatting, emailing and MSN-ing friends at work (occasionally from time to time) to keep sane when stressed.

6. Lunch time with the Colleagues who are very entertaining.

7. Critiquing dresses worn to the Oscars.

8. Spending a lazy Sunday afternoon Wii-ing (my arms are STILL aching!), Junk-Fooding and chatting with my lovely girlfriends.

9. Slumdog Millionaire!!

10. Thinking about my upcoming holiday.

:)

Billing Targets

2009-02-20T03:46:00.003-05:00

I am finally (almost) reaching my billing targets. At least for the first 2 months of this year. It is partly because we hardly billed in December... but still... the figures are heartening. :)

Next aim is to bill OVER the targets.

Fraud

2009-02-19T20:51:00.002-05:00

Apparently, Citibank suspects that my credit card is being used for fraud.

Oh woe is me.

I don't know why such weird things always happen to me.

Reason Why, Rachel Yamagata

2009-02-19T07:49:00.002-05:00

I was introduced to this song the other day and I really like her melancholic voice.

Work has been piling up quite a bit. I guess that it is a good thing the Firm is still being kept busy in spite of the economy. It was no fun talking to a nasty client though. Anyway, I am just looking forward to the spending the weekend with my girlfriends and talking to the Boy. :)

I think about how it might have been
We'd spend out days travelin'
It's not that I don't understand you
It's not that I don't want to be with you
But you only wanted me
The way you wanted me

So, I will head out alone, hope for the best
And we hang our heads down
As we skip the goodbyes
And you can tell the world what you want them to hear
I've got nothing left to lose, my dear
So, I'm up for the little white lies
But you and I know the reason why
I'm gone, and you're still there
I'm gone, and you're still there
I'm gone, and you're still there

I'll buy a magazine searching for your face
From coast to coast, or where ever I find my place
I'll track you on the radio, and
I'll sign your list in a different name
But as close as I get to you
It's not the same

So, I will head out alone, hope for the best
We can pat ourselves on the back
As say that we tried
And if one of us makes it big
We can spill our regrets
And talk about how the love never dies
But you and I know the reason why
I'm gone, you're still there
I'm gone, you're still there
I'm gone, and you're still there

So, steal the show, and do your best
To cover the tracks that I have left
I wish you well and hope you find
Whatever you're looking for
The way I might've changed my mind,
But you only showed me the door

So, I will head out alone, hope for the best
We can pat ourselves on the back
And say that we tried
And if one of us makes it big
We can spill our regrets
And talk about how the love never dies
But you and I, you and I, you and I know the reason why.

Whenever Wherever Whatever

2009-02-14T23:25:00.002-05:00

Whenever whereever whatever - Maxwell

For my Boy who gives me happiness. :)

Schleepy

2009-02-02T19:06:00.002-05:00

I am blogging in an effort to stay awake. Came in to the office early this morning as I got a lift from my Dad.

I just wanted to say something about my younger sister's 21st birthday party that was recently held on Friday. It was a joint birthday party held with her best friend, who invited along a bunch of idiotic boys that I wanted to beat up. I found out later that they were soccer jocks from my junior college. How shameful to find out that the wonderful down-to-earth Victoria Junior College that I knew has produced such ill-mannered students. ARGH!

Ok, I don't have much to update on except that the cause of my dark eye rings the past few days may be attributed to Coffee Prince! I know I am a little behind time since the show has come out for some time but I suddenly remember why I love Korean dramas - good-looking leads, nicely-paced storylines (love the well thought out lines), gorgeous scenaries (which is why I am dying to travel to Korea), and the fabulous wardrobes/set designs. :)

Ok, off to start my day with the mandatory cup of black coffee.

You know you have too many clothes...

2009-01-28T21:13:00.002-05:00

when you see a top in your wardrobe you don't remember buying or wearing before. :(

Do you know...

2009-01-12T09:33:00.002-05:00

that Conseil de Prud’Hommes (from old French meaning Council of the Wise Men) is the specific French jurisdiction dealing with all Labour Law matters?

The little geek in me giggled when I saw the above while doing some work-related research today. Council of the Wise Men... I don't know why the image of Gandalf-looking men in long Dumbledore robes kept popping in my mind.

When Love and Hate Collide

2009-01-07T07:04:00.003-05:00

WHEN LOVE & HATE COLLIDE - DEF LEPPARD

*SQUEAL*

The hair! The heartrending lyrics! The banging head movements complete with sweep of the forehead with fingers to express frustration! The scrunched-up look of despair! The cheesy set! The emo elbow in the middle of the video! AND the HAIR! (it was longer and curlier in "Two Steps Behind" and "Love Bites" by the way!) Sorry I keep repeating myself.

Nobody sings like this anymore!!

WJ kindly reminded of the existence of this Def Leppard song and I got all excited. I must remember to sing this song at our next marathon karaoke session.

Ok, the lyrics below for your listening pleasure:

You could have a change of heart, if you would only change your mind
Instead of slamming down the phone girl, for the hundredth time
I got your number on my wall, but I ain't gonna make that call
When divided we stand baby, united we fall

Got the time got a chance gonna make it
Got my hands on your heart gonna take it
All I know I can't fight this flame
You could have a change of heart, if you would only change your mind
Cause I'm crazy 'bout you baby, time after time

Without you
One night alone Is like a year without you baby
Do you have a heart of stone
Without you
Can't stop the hurt inside
When love and hate collide

I don't wanna fight no more, I don't know what we're fighting for
When we treat each other baby, like an act of war
I could tell a million lies and it would come as no surprise
When the truth is like a stranger, hits you right between the eyes

There's a time and a place and a reason
And I know I got a love to believe in
All I know got to win this time

[Repeat Chorus]

[SOLO]

You could have a change of heart, if you would only change your mind
Cause I'm crazy 'bout you baby...Crazy...Crazy

Without you
One night alone
Is like a year without you baby
Do you have a heart of stone
Without you
One night alone
Is like a year without you baby
If you have a heart at all
Without you
Can't stop the hurt inside
When love and hate collide

POLVORON HEAVEN!!!

2009-01-06T02:13:00.002-05:00

My dear colleague just gave me a box of GOLDILOCKS POLVORONS from the Philippines!! AHH! SO HAPPY! They remind me of my childhood playmates who were Filipino expats living in the same neighbourhood. There are several flavours! Original, cashew, pinipig (rice crisps), choco, cookies and cream and peanut! Yummy! (And after gorging myself, hopefully I will be motivated to go to the gym!)

Oh yeah, Happy New Year to everyone. I am a bit late and I have been meaning to write something about the new year... just that well, I have been busy with a myriad of things/personal projects.

Such is life. :)

Sequin Leggings

2008-12-29T20:43:00.002-05:00

This is going to be a very frivolous post.

The above leggings are on top of my current "want" list (bah, I want too many things)! I don't know why I am obsessed about getting a pair for myself and matching it with a pair of over-the-top-high high heels! heehee. Too bad it is so impractical for the Singapore weather. :(

Flaws and All

2008-12-26T01:41:00.003-05:00

I just heard this song a couple of days ago and I really wanted to play it for my Boy because the lyrics are quite spot on (whoops). :)

By the way, a blessed Christmas to one and all. :)

Flaws And All - Beyonc?

Verse 1:
I'm a train wreck in the morning
I'm a bitch in the afternoon
Every now and then without warning
I can be really mean towards you
I'm a puzzle yes indeed
Ever-complex in every waaay
And all the pieces aren't even in the box
And yet, you see the picture clear as day

Chorus:
I don't know why you love me
And that's why I love you
You catch me when I fall
Accept me flaws and all
And that's why I love you
And that's why I looove you
And that's why I looooooove (hmm)

Verse 2:
I neglect you when I'm working (ha ha ha uhn)
When I need a attention
I tend to nag (oh oh ha uhn)
I'm a host of imperfection (ha ha ha uhn)
And you see past all that (hm hm uhn uhhhh uhn)
I'm a peasant by some standards (ha ha ha ha uhn)
But in your eyes I'm a queen (oh oh ha uhn)

You see potential in all my flaws (ha ha ha uh uh)
And that's exactly what I need

Chorus:
I don't know why you love me
And that's why I love you
You catch me when I fall
Accept me flaws and all
And that's why I looove you
And that's why I loooooove you
And that's why I looooooooooove you (ah)

My Boy thinks he is funny...

2008-12-21T23:27:00.002-05:00

Me: i just opened my present from the Boss... I got a wallet! Maybe she is trying to tell me that i need to change mine...

Boy: What's wrong with your wallet? It's just mildly morbidly obese. haha

:(

Twilight Fever

2008-12-18T05:40:00.002-05:00

From: Anonymous Colleague
Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 6:16 PM
To: Cheryl Tan
Subject: 加油!!

Robert Pattinson is waiting for you tonight!

-----------------------------------------------

I am actually still in the middle of amending this agreement but tickets for the movie have been bought so I shall continue whatever I have not completed after that. There is just something about this hot teenage vampire actor which makes me squeal like a schoolgirl (although I must reiterate that my Boy is still no. 1). :)

Cannot wait for the weekend!

Miss my Boy

2008-12-13T21:04:00.004-05:00

I am back from a nice week off work and emails to spend a week with the Boy. How wonderful the week was... and how I wish it passed slower.

Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you to my Boy for the wonderful time together, for being the special someone my parents and friends approve of, who treats me tenderly, who makes me happy, who makes me laugh, who puts up with my tandrums, who makes me feel like the luckiest girl alive, who loves me and so much more.

I am such a sobbing mess, I hope my eyes will not swell up tmr morning. Gosh... maybe I should check the emails waiting to be checked. *gulp*

Thursday Thoughts

2008-12-04T06:06:00.002-05:00

I had a really nice mid-week dinner with Biks and Jia yesterday. It was the perfect break to a really really stressful week. It is nice having a little support group of friends who understand perfectly how you feel about private practice. I enjoy work a lot but I really really wish I were more competent and efficient. I guess I just need a lot more experience and hard work. :)

I wish Saturday would come sooner. I am really excited to see my boy! :)

Ave Maria

2008-11-30T08:35:00.005-05:00

ave maria -

I love the Josh Groban version of Ave Maria but for some reason I cannot post the entire song on blogspot so here is another version. I am in a Christmas mood so I was searching for Josh Groban songs off his Noel album. I was torn between this and "It came Upon a Midnight Clear" which is such a beautifully done song. I think one of the wonderful things about being from a convent school during my primary education years was the yearly tradition of singing Christmas songs and putting up the traditional nativity play. It was something we all looked forward to after our end-of-year exams. Because of those 6 years in the convent school, I learnt these songs and others like O Little Town of Bethlehem, Joy to the World and Hark the Herald Angels Sing by heart. :)

ok, one more week to my boy and my leave! :)

But I still have this agreement to amend and a thousand other little things to settle. OMG. I just want this week to pass really fast and for the week I am on leave to pass as slowly as possible.

My weekend was a lot more productive than the past 2 weekends. Spent time with the sister who is back for a vacation, blew some cash on a package for dermalogica products (they just opened a shop in my usually not-so-happening Heartland Mall!) which should last me at least 1.5 years, went out for some dim sum at Geylang and actually doing some work at home (because I refuse to go back to the office in the weekends unless it is absolutely necessary).

Ok, need to go back to work...

Results of the Championship Name Game...

2008-11-30T08:12:00.003-05:00

Well... here was the result of the Championship Name Game...

From: Anonymous Colleague 2
Sent: 25 November 2008 16:30
To: Anonymous Colleague 1; Cheryl Tan
Subject: RE: THE CHAMPIONSHIP NAME GAME
Importance: High

Hallo,

I actually find Little Firefox to be a really cute name. But it’s a little bit too generically cute – and Cheryl hasn’t provided any good reason to add any depth to the name.

The qianbianwendati is very funny indeed and I really thought Anonymous Colleague 1 meant 浇花 instead of 狡猾hahhaa. Which adds more meaning since the fox likes to putter around the garden! But before Anonymous Colleague 1 gets too gleeful, I think it is quite mean to stereotype the fox as jiaohua just because it is a fox. It can’t help being a fox and really not all foxes are wily sneaky creatures I think. This one looks rather harmless!

So how. I think you all better come up with a proper name. Haha.

Like Fei Fei the Fleet-Footed Fluffilicious Fire Fox.

Thank you.

Kind regards

Anonymous Colleague 2

XX Firm

And FYI, my little fox is now Master Fei Fei 菲菲 (since I always imagined him to be a retired pugilist) – the Fleet-Footed Fluffilicious Fire Fox.

The Championship Name Game

2008-11-24T05:00:00.004-05:00

From: Anonymous Collegue 1
Subject: THE CHAMPIONSHIP NAME GAME

Dear Anonymous Colleague 2,

Once again, we need you to be the final arbiter in the name game. As you recall, Cheryl won the first time when she named the scrunchie Poof while I attempted to call it Foom. The second time, I beat Cheryl when I named the penguin-shaped kitty in my dream Pitty as opposed to her Penty (!). And NOW *drumrollllll* is the final instalment of the NAME GAME. As we are now in a tie, this game will determine the CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE and the bragging rights that come with it.

So read carefully. Cheryl has currently changed the theme on her google inbox to the “Teahouse Fox” theme. This fox goes around tending the garden and raking the yard and meditating on life. Cheryl has enlisted my expert help in naming the fox. So I said that the fox should be named Jiao Hua for 2 reasons. Firstly, there is this qian bian wen da ti that asks why does the hu li keep falling down and the answer is because its JIAO HUA. Get it? So I think its funny. Secondly, the fox looks oriental so he should have a Chinese name.

Cheryl wants to name it Little Firefox. She has no good reason.

And NOW you have to decide who has the better name!

p.s. Cheryl requests that you go see the fox in her room. Please ask me to go along if you are doing so.

Kind regards

Anonymous Colleague 1
XX Firm

I need to COMPLAIN!

2008-11-21T04:55:00.005-05:00

Ok, I need to really let this out of my system once and for all.

The Firm has a tea lady who is quite old and eccentric. We used to get along fine (fine as in civil) but we are officially AT WAR.

So here is a chronology of our run-ins so far:

Sometime this year, on an innocent Friday night, I walked into the toilet cubicle with the toilet seat (as the door was unlocked) and lo and behold, she was squatting on the seat doing whatever we do in the toilet. I left with a bad visual in my head and well, things between us were never quite the same again (although this is probably unrelated to what happened later on as described below).

So anyway, after I came back from my holiday in late August/early September, my roomie KM told me that the tea lady was washing her cup every morning now (she never used to do that for either of us) along with the other cups she washes for most of the other lawyers. Honestly, it never really bothered me because washing my cups is something I can do on my own.

But I started to come into work much earlier than usual on some mornings and she would take KM's cup and tell me that she has too many cups to wash so she cannot wash mine. And this is repeated EVERY SINGLE TIME I come to work early (which is fairly often). OMG. I got so irritated but I still kept quiet.

There was even once when she washed my cup once, stopped a few days, then washed it again. Look, I hate it when people do things half-heartedly. Either you wash it all the time or you don't at all. Don't make it look like you are just doing me a favour. And for the record, I really do not mind washing my cup myself although it would admittedly be nice to have it already washed in the mornings (like most of my friends in other law firms who do have very nice tea ladies).

Then last Friday happened.

I went to the pantry to wash my cups and she saw me doing it. Again, she told me that she has too many cups to wash so she cannot wash mine. I ignored her when she said it the first time round because I was not in a great mood then and wanted to avoid looking like I am being nasty to her. Then she walked to my side and repeated that same line again. So I looked at her and said (in a very neutral tone) that if she did not wish to wash my cups, she need not wash it. That is when she got all defensive and said that there are just too many cups in the firm. So I again replied that really, if she does not want to wash my cups, I am ok with it. With that, I walked out of the pantry.

So this week, she stopped washing KM's cup (which I feel pretty bad about because it was obviously because of what I said). And this morning, while away for my presentation, I asked KM to ask the tea lady to take away my breakfast rubbish (a styrofoam coffee cup and bread wrapper in a plastic bag because she does not like people to throw foodstuff in the bin) when she does her rounds to collect the rubbish. Usually, I would do it myself (ie walk to her thrash bag when she is clearing our rubbish).

She refused to throw it away.

ARGH! I know she is an old lady but I do go my way out to make her job easier for her. I do still thank her (even this week) for taking our rubbish out when she enters our room. I don't antagonise her whenever I can (except for last Friday when I just snapped). And the worst thing is that I cannot try to reason with her because it will look like I am bullying an old lady and there is no way I would apologise to her because I wounded her stupid pride.

And I cannot believe I am blogging about such an idiotic thing. I do realise that staying angry with her would also be very childish on my part. I guess I can live with this tea lady and her idiosyncracies. My colleagues in the Firm more than make up for her "unfriendly" ways anyway.

There! It is now out of me and I feel SO MUCH BETTER.

Stress!

2008-11-19T07:31:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I get a little high from a stressful episode at work but it does not happen all the time. Anyway, when it happens, I feel rather accomplished. Today for example, was one of those days when I felt quite "on the ball" (as my boy likes to put it). And Boss just asked me to do a presentation for some important clients on Friday. SW, who has also been tasked to do a part of the presentation is freaking out with me. I just want Friday to come and end quickly... and for 6 December to arrive soon! I cannot wait to see my boy! :)

Starbucks Dark Cherry Mocha

2008-11-18T01:59:00.002-05:00

I am so obsessed with thoughts about this drink that I have to blog about it. It is supposed to be a weekly treat and right now, I am thinking about getting the "venti" sized one to tide me over this "sian" Tuesday at work. The venti-sized drink might be an overkill but ooh how lovely to sip one now as I pore over banking laws in my brrr cold office.

Funniest thing I heard tonight

2008-11-14T11:12:00.001-05:00

If you voted for Obama, you should shave your pubic hair and make a statement: "NO MORE BUSH!"

Lucky...

2008-11-13T06:28:00.005-05:00

to have you in my life and for making me feel like I want to be a better person...

Gosh.. the cold weather is making me extra mushy. :)

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

2008-11-09T06:52:00.002-05:00

Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered - Silje Nergaard

I love this version of Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered as introduced to me by Buns (aka WJ and yeah she has many names). I like it that is it slightly whiny but not overly so. And my mother is quite funny.. when she heard me playing this song, she asked me if I was singing it!!?!! As if she does not already know how tone deaf I am. :(

This song indirectly reminds me of something YY said to me today - that love is irrational. It is so easy being an outsider and advising a girlfriend about relationships but when it comes to myself, sometimes I can be so deaf to the good advice I regularly dish out. I feel like I am too old to be learning the way relationships work... surely I cannot behave like a childish teenager experiencing first love? But I guess the learning never stops no matter how many relationships one has been in or how old one gets. And it helps having an understanding boyfriend who never fails to patiently hear me out even when I am being difficult. :)

Anyway, I foresee a pretty busy week at work this week! But there is always the weekend to look forward to. I had high tea at Chihuly Lounge in the Ritz today (my first time there since prom!!)... feels nice to pamper myself with these girly tai-tai gatherings from time to time. I drank too much coffee and became a bit too hyper but other than that, a lovely time spent with my Lovelies. I recommend the fish cakes, chicken sandwich infused with tea, salmon with roe, chocolate cake with oolong pear, macaroons with pi pa kow (I kid you not), pumpkin paste with kueh lapis and this tea called Life and Beauty (makes you feel like you are tingling with zen-ness everywhere).

Ok, I think that is it... need to get some work done now.

Avenue Q...

2008-11-02T09:41:00.002-05:00

was really good fun! The singing was pretty impressive and I enjoyed myself quite a bit. Also, we bumped into so many acquintances, sometimes Singapore can seem so small...

Anyway, after the show, Biks and I headed to shop for our respective boys. It was actually quite fun picking out stuff for them, choosing the colour, the size, etc. I hope our boys will like what we got for them. :) After the shopping, we fed ourselves and did some catching up over dinner. I miss the good old days in law school when we could all see one another everyday!

So before Avenue Q, I caught up with the SCBs. As usual, we were way too loud and I just hope that the kids nearby could not understand our x-rated conversation topics.

What a wonderful Sunday it has turned out to be. Back to the grind on Monday. :(

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2008-10-30T21:25:00.000-04:00

BOO!

My dear colleague WJ decided to plaster herself against my glass window today to frighten me early in the morning! :(

Anyway, the Boss has decreed that we could all come in costumes to work today so I shall flutter around in my pink wings as a fairy.

Cannot wait for Quiz Night! :)

Cookies dipped in Coffee

2008-10-29T21:59:00.002-04:00

Just had some cashew nut cookies dipped in coffee... my favourite cookie-coffee combo. The cookies are buttery crumbly and soak up the coffee so well. Comfort breakfast food on a cool Thursday morning. :)

Hokkien Humour

2008-10-26T01:00:00.002-04:00

I was just reading through my old emails and found this!

What's the difference between Ang-mor and Hokkien fairy tales?

ANSWER: Ang-mor fairy tales begin with "Once upon a time..." and Hokkien fairy tales begin with "Lim Peh ka li kong..."

How true... :)

Impatient...

2008-10-21T09:51:00.002-04:00

for December to come.

I miss my Boy.

Word of the Day

2008-10-19T05:28:00.004-04:00

This is going to be a geeky post.

I am drafting an agreement and just came across this word, "POIND". Doesn't it look like it is not a word? I had to look up the dictionary for the meaning and here it is, courtesy of The Free Dictionary.

POIND
v. t. 1. To impound, as cattle.
2. To distrain.

And some usage of "POIND" according to Lexic.us:

1. A Digest of the Law of Scotland: With Special Reference to the Office and by Hugh Barclay, Scotland (1855)
"If the above sums be not paid within four days from this date, at the office of , street , the poinded effects will be appraised and sold in terms of the ..."

2. An Institute of the Law of Scotland: In Four Books : in the Order of Sir by John Erskine, George Mackenzie, James Ivory (1828)
"10524); June 1727, Macwhirter, (not} reported) ; because it is the sentence of the messenger, adjudging the subject poinded to the creditor, which transfers ..."

3. The Scottish Jurist: Containing Reports of Cases Decided in the House of by Great Britain Parliament. House of Lords, House of Lords, Parliament, Great Britain (1843)
"114, § 26, requiring the Sheriff to grant warrant to sell the poinded effects " by public roup, at such time, and at such place, with such public notice of ..."

4. The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland by Scotland Privy Council (1902)
"have poinded them, he and the persons foresaid with Robert ... the said Alexander Garioch messenger for lawfully poinded eleven nolt and ninety sheep ..."

5. A Handbook of the Sheriff and Justice of Peace Small Debt Courts with Notes by John M'Kie Lees (1884)
"... ing and sale sna^ be carried into effect (a) by the officer in poinded a summary way, by getting the effects sequestrated or ..."

If I were a boy

2008-10-17T23:32:00.002-04:00

I am in love with this song now! The video is really nice (check out the twist).. Beyonce is really pretty here! I think that the lyrics are especially poignant because they hold true for many relationships(and no, this is no reference to my boy because he has been a very good boy so far, haha). Anyway, enjoy!

If I Were A Boy - Beyonce

If I were a boy
Even just for a day
I’d roll outta bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted then go
Drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls
I’d kick it with who I wanted
And I’d never get confronted for it.
Cause they’d stick up for me.

[Chorus]
If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I’d be a better man.
I’d listen to her
Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
Cause he’s taken you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed

If I were a boy
I could turn off my phone
Tell evveryone it’s broken
So they’d think that I was sleepin’ alone
I’d put myself first
And make the rules as I go
Cause I know that she’d be faithful
Waitin’ for me to come home (to come home)

(Chorus)

It’s a little too late for you to come back
Say its just a mistake
Think I’d forgive you like that
If you thought I would wait for you
You thought wrong

(Chorus)

But you’re just a boy
You don’t understand
Yeah you don’t understand
How it feels to love a girl someday
You wish you were a better man
You don’t listen to her
You don’t care how it hurts
Until you lose the one you wanted
Cause you’ve taken her for granted
And everything you have got destroyed
But you’re just a boy

No Money No Honey

2008-10-15T02:24:00.003-04:00

I was chatting with a friend, Anonymous Friend or AF because I promised to keep her "utterly and completely unidentifiable", and I showed her this website on the 5 Love Languages. So I got her to do the quiz and she told me her results. Here is the conversation that ensued:

AF: Score and Love Language
4 Words of Affirmation
10 Quality Time
4 Receiving of Gifts
8 Acts of Service
4 Physical Touch

me: you like quality time most too!

AF: the quality time is tops for me as well

me: actually i think most girls treasure that

me: it is rare for a guy

me: most guys would want physical touch hahahaha

AF: eew
ok that is tied with gifts for me
so if they want me to touch them, they better give me a present first

HAHAHA.

A Thousand Splendid Suns

2008-10-14T02:07:00.002-04:00

"Laila remembered Mammy (the mother) telling Babi (the father) once that she had married a man with no convictions. Mammy didn't understand. She didn't understand that if she looked into the mirror, she would find the one unfailing conviction of his life looking right back at her"

- "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

I love the way this author writes. His language is simple yet his words just seem to touch me to no end. Of course the above paragraph would make more sense if I explained the whole background behind the words. So I highly recommend this book to anyone interested. :)

Reading so much about Afghanistan makes me wish I could have been fortunate enough to visit this place before it was ravaged by years of war. Sounds like it was a beautiful place.

And it was such a bad idea to read this on my way to work... I had to hold back some tears or risk bawling in front of bewildered fellow passengers in the train. :(

This Woman's Work

2008-10-12T02:40:00.002-04:00

This Womans Work - Maxwell

I was just randomly searching Imeem for new songs and I found this version of "This Woman's Work" by Maxwell! I have heard the version by Kate Bush but I think it is better sung by a guy because it is supposed to be telling the thoughts and anxieties behind a new father's mind when his wife is giving birth to their child. However, in this video, Maxwell's interpretation is of his girlfriend/lover passing away. Anyway, she looks a bit freaky in the beginning of the video. Other than that, he has such a nice voice!

This weekend has been rather slow-going but I liked it. Went to perm the lashes with Jia and had dinner with the SCBs at Marutama. I feel like I have not eaten really good Japanese food for some time. Yesterday's ramen was nice but it was not fantastic. Hopefully I get to try some good sashimi soon. Anyway, thanks to my girls for the rather erm, thoughtful gift. *giggles*

Also, some special mention to the Boyfriend who never fails to make me happy. :):)

Not as We

2008-10-05T09:18:00.002-04:00

I just came back from BINTAN over the weekend! So now I feel very well-massaged and "chao ta". I think I am going to have weird looking tan lines for a few months. :( And unfortunately, I slipped and fell at some rocks and landed on the bum. So now the back does not feel too great. Other than that, a lovely weekend spent catching up with my girls. Thank you for making this trip so enjoyable! :):)

And some tips about Angsana Bintan: The food is not too great other than the Asian food and breakfast. And the prices for the food were exorbitant. Give me coffee shop food anytime! Ooh and the massages are "to die for". Particularly the view out of the villa. Very romantic for couples. Awesome for a girlie getaway too. Porks and I were greeted by some stunning fireworks outside our villa in the middle of our massage! Unfortunately, I thought they were gunshots at first. hahaha. Ok, too paranoid. Another pointer, service is great but really slow... loads of patience needed. Other than that, wonderful white sandy beaches. The water looked really clear too. Too bad I am not a fan of water sports but I think anyone who loves the water will enjoy the beach.

Ok, I end this post with a sad song. I know it is a bit weird to end my post this way but I just saw the video and the lyrics were so sad I had to share. :)

"Not As We" by Alanis Morissette

Reborn and shivering
Spat out on new terrain

Unsure unconvincing
This faint and shaky hour

Day one day one start over again
Step one step one
I'm barely making sense for now
I'm faking it 'til I'm pseudo making it
From scratch begin again but this time I as i
And not as we

Gun shy and quivering
Timid without a hand

Feign brave with steel intent
little and hardly here

Day one day one start over again
Step one step one
with not much making sense just yet
I'm faking it til I'm pseudo making it
From scratch begin again but this time I as i
And not as we

Eyes wet toward
Wide open frayed
If God's taking bets
I pray He wants to lose

Day one day one start over again
Step one step one
I'm barely making sense just yet
I'm faking it til I'm pseudo making it
From scratch begin again but this time I as I
And not as we

All about Food

2008-09-30T13:29:00.003-04:00

Ever since I managed to make this Molten Chocolate Cake recipe work, I have been obsessing over finding Valrhona chocolates to make the recipe. Hopefully I find it in Singapore in the 2 places mentioned online. If not, I just have to wait till the next time I want to bake and order it online.

Anyway, it has been quite a day. Just came home from a wedding dinner (my 3rd this year!). The bride looked absolutely gorgeous and the groom looked nervous (haha). But I was more interested in the food. I arrived at the reception starving and really hungry but food was served (to the song "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast!!) about an hour later. I thought I was full by the 9th course but dessert (OR-NI aka Yam Paste!) was served and I had to eat 2 servings because it was the best Or-ni I had eaten in a long long time. So now, I feel like a ball and I cannot fall asleep. :(

So here I am blogging, after surfing through tons of recipe sites and settling on my menu for tomorrow's guests at my place. I plan to cook just one main dish so if it fails, I would have to order pizza. (*crosses fingers*)

Viva La Vida

2008-09-25T12:55:00.003-04:00

Viva la Vida - Coldplay

My favourite song at the moment... Happy 24th to me! :)

The Last Day

2008-09-25T08:25:00.002-04:00

of my 23rd year of existence. What a year this has been. As some friends have rightly pointed out, this has been quite a "happening" year for me.

As always, I like to ponder on the past year the night before my birthday. Each year keeps getting better and better. Maybe with age comes some sort of maturity to appreciate what life brings.

Ok let me recap some highlights:

First on the list, getting attached to the Boyfriend. How it is possible for a girl like me to find a boy like you still befuddles me. Someone up there must really be looking out for me.

Next, and not too far from first place has got to be the Job. The Firm is such a wonderful place to work at, with great bosses and colleagues.

Third, the wonderful vacations I have been privileged to take. New York/Toronto/Boston was a real treat to the senses. And so was Phuket/Bangkok/Hong Kong (incidentally, the most enjoyable trip ever!)

Fourth, getting called to the Bar. It felt more momentous than graduating. And it came with a corresponding increase in the salary, which is always welcoming. Now I don't know how I managed to survive and save for New York on the pupillage allowance!

I think that is about it. Along with many happy memories of gatherings with the family and friends which would be impossible to write down in detail. I actually look forward to getting older because I like to think that we all get better with age.

But it would be nice if wrinkles were not a part of that package. :( Thank goodness for Estee Lauder Night Repair eye cream, occasional indulgences in SKII masks and SPF! :):)

Proverbs

2008-09-23T09:34:00.003-04:00

Proverbs 21: 1 - 6, 10 - 13
1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but every one who is hasty comes only to want.
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The righteous observes the house of the wicked; the wicked are cast down to ruin.
13 He who closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself cry out and not be heard.

I don't know why but I really liked this excerpt from Proverbs when I read it out for Lunchtime Mass today. The Bible is truly a treasure trove of inspiration.

Adieu to the White Rabbit Candy

2008-09-21T21:50:00.002-04:00

:(

This is my favourite sweet of all time and now it is banned.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

2008-09-14T02:55:00.002-04:00

Some colleagues and I went to ECP to cycle, cam-whore in our pit-stops, admire the moon (though we were a night early), light lanterns, eat up a storm and chit chat last night. It was a very enjoyable outing. I have not cycled in ECP for so long and wow! What a difference 5 years (yeah, it has been THAT long?!?!) has made to the park! I highly recommend cycling a lot further than Bedok Jetty towards Changi. You can see airplanes taking off, there are a lot less people and it is a lovely place to picnic or just be by yourself.

Anyway, I should have learnt my lesson by now but I never do. The tummy simply cannot take an overload of oily food at one shot but I insisted on stuffing it with too much oily goodness for dinner. So it had to be that I had the mother of all tummyaches after dinner. Have to eat light for the next few days... :(

Kiss Goodbye

2008-09-11T01:33:00.004-04:00

Kiss Good Bye - Lee Hom

I love this song! I know it is quite old but the lyrics are just so apt right now.

Anyway, I just saw this pair of shoes in a website and it was lust at first sight. Love the colour! :)

It has begun...

2008-09-08T12:24:00.002-04:00

the late nights again, I mean.

:(

Phuket Paradise 3

2008-09-07T11:18:00.000-04:00

Sigh-inducing. :)

Phuket Paradise 2

2008-09-07T11:14:00.000-04:00

So pretty!

Phuket Paradise

2008-09-07T11:10:00.000-04:00

I never thought that Phuket would be so lovely! Look at the sky and the clear water! It is so sad that such a beautiful country is facing political turmoil now. We were very blessed as the airports only shut down after we left. But still, hopefully Thailand recovers and we can all go back there with peace of mind.

Favourite Picture

2008-09-07T09:29:00.003-04:00

Out of all the pictures that I took using my trusty Canon during my recent holiday, this is my favourite. It was atop Lantau Peak and we were catching sunrise after waking up at an ungodly hour to trek up the steep slopes. Hong Kong is surprisingly a really nice place to hike. The views we caught were really gorgeous!

I like watching sunrise even though I rarely (if ever) catch it. To me, it represents hope and optimism; as well as the beginning of something wonderful. Also, I like pictures (and paintings) that show the backview of people. There is something very alluring and mysterious about seeing only the back because you can only guess what the person is feeling at that time.

Anyway, I want to digress and say that my entire left upper body is very very sore. I cannot even laugh properly. :( Must be the way I was sleeping last night. The weekend really passed too fast (as usual).

Small Resolutions...

2008-09-04T10:19:00.002-04:00

After my little break from work last week, I resolved to be more efficient at work and to spend less late nights in the office. Of course, if there is a need to, I will be most willing to do the late nights. I think it is quite unhealthy to keep staying back as it starts to become a vicious cycle of inefficiency and leads to later hours. So for the past 2 days, I have been keeping really good hours! Except that part of the reason is also due to the fact that my bosses have been slowly easing me back into work so the workload is pretty light.

I have also resolved to gym more so that I actually make full use of my gym membership, have a healthy body and mind and be able to use it as an outlet for any stress or frustration. So far, I managed to run a bit and use the steam room. Feels so good sweating it out before having a nice shower. :)

Ok, that is it for the moment. Always good to remind yourself how to treat yourself better every once in a while.

Positive thought: The weekend is almost upon us! :):)