Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Cyber diarrhoea

Oh man...This is like the most boring week ever. I've never been so bored at work before. I'd like to think I'm a fast worker. But really, I'm so free because CEO's on a month long leave and my bosses are in holiday mode themselves. Heh.

So...hmmm...I had dinner with some friends a few nights ago at Pizza Hut. It was such a nostalgic feeling eating with these people. Talking rubbish and not having to worry about what we say. Indulging in glorious food after a long tiring day. (Ooh, that rhymes!) Reminds me of the days when life was so carefree and we weren't bogged down by so many responsibilities and limitations =)

On Monday, my colleagues and I went to Harbourfront for lunch because we had to collect our camera which was sent for repair. We were so tempted to take urgent half day leave and head to Sentosa for an afternoon of sun-tanning on the sandy beaches. And guess what? We didn't. Like duh...But the up side was, we had Subway sandwiches which I never knew tasted so delicious. After two hours of rendezvousing, we reluctantly headed back to the office...with very full tummies and breaths of sea water.

Yesterday, Gen and I went to Bras Basah with our boss to look for some ad banners. We ended up eating lunch at a coffeeshop opposite the complex. My jaw dropped when the sotong I ordered cost $5. All these ridiculously priced chinese food...That stupid sotong better be honoured that it is worth so much...because it isn't! Ggrrhh...

In light of my holiday being cancelled this weekend, I was supposed to go to Malaysia for a one-day shopping trip...BUT...now, I'm not. My mum can be quite a prick sometimes. First, she tells me to go for the one-day trip and the next minute, she is asking if I'm really sure I want to go. So in the moment of fed-up-ness, I told her that I don't want to go anymore. And she was like, ok then. Mothers... (-_-)

Last evening, I gleed with pride just thinking of how nice my new handphone is and how I'm such a good owner. (I haven't dropped it yet.) Ha...You'll probably guess by now...Yes, I dropped my phone...on the bus this morning! Talk about being 'suay"...

(Going for lunch now. Be right back!)

I'm back from lunch. Met Rachel and Ben today. Thank you guys for always making the effort to meet me for lunch and having to endure my whining and groaning about work. Means a lot to me. Anyway, tom yam was delicious today. I made sure my dealings with the tom yam uncle was strictly no-rubbish so that helps to lessen his trash-talking a little.

Speaking of trash-talking, I'd better stop now and start doing some work. Feeling kinda drowsy after lunch. Zzz...

Posted by Jo at 1:46 PM

Monday, June 20, 2005

.d.i.s.a.p.p.o.i.n.t.e.d.

I'm so terribly, deeply and extremely disappointed. Was supposed to go for a weekend holiday to an island near Batam (Coral Cove), but it has been cancelled due to rough seas and unpredictable weather conditions. *sigh* Just when I thought I could have a short escape...Ggrrhh...

Posted by Jo at 2:42 PM

God speaks

After leaving office at 5.30pm last Friday, I was deciding on where to go because I had arranged to meet Maria for dinner at 7pm. It suddenly occured to me that perhaps I should attend mass since I was early. So I walked to the bus stop and waited. It was 5.50pm and the bus hasn't arrived. So I thought that perhaps I should forget about going to church because I was going to be late. And while thinking of where to spend the next one hour, a car suddenly stopped in front of the bus stop and honked. I looked in and saw my colleague, who then signalled for me to hop in. He gave me a lift to AMK and I eventually ended up early for mass.

It was a very peaceful feeling, having a God-sent chauffeur and knowing that God wants me to be in His presence. I sat through mass, waiting for a sign, an answer...I needed so much to hear His voice telling me that He will lift me from my weariness. Incidentally, the gospel reading for the day was about storing up treasures in heaven. And this phrase kinda struck me hard - "For where your treasure lies, there will your heart be to." I guess I have, in recent times, been so caught up with what the world can offer and I forget about doing God's work. Perhaps that is why I'm feeling so empty and tired, because I've steered away from my purpose and reason for living.

Having said all that, it isn't so easy leading a God-centred life. Each day, we're bombarded with people and products which tell us it's ok to indulge in materialism and wealth. Well, don't get me wrong, I think it is perfectly fine to be rich and materially-satisfied. The problem is, many of us can't handle God and money at the same time. It's usually one or the other. That's where we get caught in the fence...

Although I'm fully aware that God loves me and blah blah blah, I'm still yearning for Him in my heart. Still waiting for Him to fill me and recharge me so that I can be His faithful instrument. I know He will touch me one day...just like the 2,000 year-old seed which scientists have just managed to germinate =)

Posted by Jo at 10:30 AM

Friday, June 17, 2005

Dry spell. Part II.

An extract from Joey's blog. Took the very words out of my mouth...

"...serving in church is gets me really jaded these days. It's sad. I used to really enjoy serving. But now, it somehow feels more of responsibility and a commitment to whatever ministry that I've given my word to. But I guess all this is due to my spiritual life (or the lack of). I'm in my all-time low currently. Never felt lower, never felt drier, never felt lazier, never felt so unwilling to move and make things better. The inertia is just unbearable. Yet, I'm not moved to move..."

Posted by Jo at 11:16 PM

My brudder

For some reason, I've never really been close to Aloy. In our younger days, I used to bully him and scold him a lot. (Harmless one lar...) Even now, I feel we still have a gap between us.

My mum took out the photo albums last week. Looking through it, I can't seem to recall my little brother ever being so adorable. At the same time, I suddenly realised how much he's grown through the years. Besides shooting to a towering 1.7 metres, he has grown from being an irritating crybaby to a God-loving and decent young chap. Sad to say, I've never exactly been there for him nor have I been a good role model.

He is in Sarawak now. On a mission trip. And since we aren't very close, I don't really miss him a lot. Ha...On the day I sent him off, I even told the organisers to leave him in Sarawak. Jokingly of course. Strangely enough, I feel a silent emptiness in my heart. To be frank, life after he returns from the trip is probably not going to change much, but this little instance has at least made me sit up and remember that I have a baby brother. *awww*...

Posted by Jo at 5:00 PM

Fantastic Friday

Today is a historic day in this life of mine.

CEO is on leave.
Director is on leave.
Manager is also on leave.

Hahaha...Life is good...

*can't stop grinning*

Posted by Jo at 11:57 AM

Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Dry spell

I feel so dry...Spiritually, that is.
And things seem to be done with ten times more inertia when I'm using my own strength.
And there is nothing I can do about it except wait for a miracle to happen.
Because I don't feel like doing anything about it.
Because I'm simply too tired. Too lost. Too jaded.
Help me......
Lord?

Posted by Jo at 4:22 PM

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Anecdotes from the workplace

"Dear Joann,
How are you! I and my family reached New York already few day. Now is summer but whether still very cold. If you received my cheque, I hope it will be in the flag day box. How is flag day? I belief must be a good day! See you soon. Love, Neo"

I received this postcard from a nurse I met at work. I interviewed her last year for an article in the newsletter. Ever since, she has been showering me with a lot of love and concern. Along with the postcard, she gave me a key chain which she bought from Niagara Falls. Good to know that nice people still exist.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My colleague Gen has an expensive pure-breed Yorkshire terrier dog which she constantly speaks of. While having lunch one afternoon, we somehow got to the topic of races, dialect groups and religions. So I proudly turned, gave her a 'haolian' face and told her that both my parents are Chinese, Teochew and Catholics. That makes me an expensive, pure breed Singaporean!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is a deliciously yummy Tom Yam stall at the coffeeshop near my office. When it closed down a few months ago, I was devastated. Recently, a brand new Tom Yam stall opened and it tastes just as nice as the old one. Unfortunately, the stall owner happens to be super chatty and talks loads of crap, so that sorta kills my appetite. One day, he asked me why I'm not eating Tom Yam and off the top of my head, I just told him that I'm having a sore throat. Then, he pointed at my bowl of laksa and walked away. Oops...