Friday, July 29, 2005
Goodbye 4D...
Oh man. I'm sad. 4D is dead.Before lunch today, I saw 4D having some difficulty climbing up the platform. He looked weak. And when I visited a moment ago, his eyes were closed and his head was sagging. I tried shaking but he didn't respond.
After being with us for barely three months, 4D is gone. We're now left with Toto. I hope she isn't depressed that 4D is dead. We will be having a simple burial for him after work, outside our office.
*sigh* God bless his soul...or whatever he has left.
Click here to see 4D & Toto in happier days...
Posted by Jo at 4:46 PM
We've got it!
This week is finally coming to a close. Much to my relief of course.The hospital got the accreditation. Yipee! After months of gruelling preparations and sleepless nights of documentations, we've managed to pull through with a successful audit. Not that I've done much to contribute to the success, but it definitely is a nice feeling of camaraderie and achievement. Seeing all the staff cheering and hugging each other when the surveyor announced the results. It was an intense moment, kinda like when Gurmit Singh was announcing the results of Singapore Idol. And me being me (so 'suay'), somehow managed to land a last minute emcee job for the mini celebration. Felt like I was the host of the National Day parade. Ha.
Wow...Looking back at the past year and a half spent here, it is going to be difficult leaving this place. The serene environment, the people, the culture. I like working in the healthcare industry. Being in the business of saving lives, I guess people are generally a nicer bunch. When the time comes, I hope I can bring myself to move on.
Posted by Jo at 2:06 PM
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Zzz...
I feel so sleepy now I don't think matchsticks are enough to keep my eyes from shutting. Zzz...I've been working so hard and it's only Wednesday! Hmmm...Looking forward to Jason Mraz's new album coming out soon.
My colleague sent me a picture of a baby porcupine. So adorable...
Posted by Jo at 4:07 PM
Monday, July 25, 2005
I don't know what to name this entry
This is going to be one heck of a week. Two church meetings to attend. One dinner appointment. An audit at work, which makes everyone panic like ants on a hot wok. I need to be at work at 7am from Monday to Thursday. That kinda sucks, since I'm not a morning person. Ironically, I was awake on time today. It's strange because I'm never up before the sun. Such a feeling of deja vu though. Somehow, the morning air is different - Refreshingly cool. Mornings have a magical way of taking away all your weariness. People look so peaceful and surreal at that time of the day. Can't believe I'm saying this - I love it.Played mahjong two nights in a row. Lost on Sat, to Elvin. Darn. Won on Sunday, when I spent time with my secondary school friends. It's nice to know some things will never change - Like this friendship we share. But friendships aside, it's also nice to know I'm $6 richer. Ha.
The Island is a good movie. One of the best I've seen this year. It's so captivating that it left me at the edge of my seat most of the time. The plot is futuristically high tech, but a good one nonetheless. I've never been a fan of sci-fi but this one is faintly realistic, which makes me ponder about how life will really be like with clones giving us a new glimpse of hope. Even now, I'm wowed by it. Few movies have been able to wow me. You ought to catch it. Wow...
Posted by Jo at 3:44 PM
Monday, July 18, 2005
Yahoo auctions
Times are bad. Pockets are empty.I'm selling a printer, zip drive, camera, shoes and a book online. Click here to view.
If you are interested, can contact me. Prices are negotiable...Thanks!
Posted by Jo at 3:03 PM
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Happy Birthday Jo
It was a stark contrast to my twenty first birthday, but I enjoyed my hatch day nonetheless...For the record, here it is.
The celebration commenced at 12 midnight when my mum, dad, bro and Hil sang me a birthday song, took some birthday pictures, ate the birthday cake (It's chocolate...at last!), and of course, turned me a gambling god and made me pick numbers from a bowl. (Didn't win btw).
After that, I went to bed because I was very tired. Zzz...
My day then started again at 8.30am...with Hil picking me up at my place. He had planned a surprise birthday programme for me. (I love surprises! Good ones that is...)
Our first stop - Chinatown. Mr Hoe then realised that he was lost and took me a couple of circles around the shophouses while he frantically tried to locate "it". After about fifteen minutes, he finally found "it"...which turned out to be a spa centre. It was a pleasant surprise and a great experience, having a facial spa done with him. The lady who was giving him the facial kept promoting the latest packages and promotions to lure us back. Thankfully, the Chinese-speaking lady doing my face gave up trying after realising how it was quite impossible to converse with me in Mandarin. All thanks to Hil's bunkmate (whatever your name is!), the facial came free because it was a voucher from OCBC. Heh.
By the time we were done, it was around noon and we proceeded for lunch at Sakae Sushi, Marina Square. I was looking forward to the buffet lunch but had to be disappointed when I realised that the buffet only starts at 3pm. We eventually settled for the ala carte menu. This new outlet has funky seats and a super high-tech ordering system. (You can select your orders from the flat screen panel and the food will be sent to you. Goodbye waiters.) Well, the food wasn't the best, but I guess it'll do. I chose the location anyway.
After lunch, it was time for surprise no. 2...We walked in the direction of Suntec City...Any smart guesses where we went?...K-Box! Yups. We made our way to the branch at Suntec City and sang our lungs out. Apart from me constantly stealing his lines, I had a lot of fun trying to be Whitney, Britney and...heh...Spice Girls! "...if you wannabe my lover..."
By the time we left K-Box, it was already 7pm. Time for dinner...and with little difficulty, we headed for Thai Express at CityLink because I had a $15 voucher to spend and a free bottle of red wine to redeem. I ate Phat Thai. He ate minced chicken with rice. (Apparently it's a secret dish that's not in the menu). We shared a mango salad and stuffed chicken wings (not very nice). And of course, growing a year older has made my skin thicker as well. I asked if there was any free desserts.....and so, we had mango-cum-rice pudding...for free! When I finished my main course, my stomach was already filled to the brim so as the dessert came, we played "chee-koh-pah" to determine who has to eat. I, of course, won the game. Ha. Just kidding. I lost most of it and ended up eating a lot of mango, rice and coconut milk. Didn't know my stomach was that expandable.
So ya, that pretty sums up my 22nd birthday. Although my entire birthday was spent with Hil, I enjoyed every single minute of it. So, Hil, thank you for everything you've done for me. You mean the entire universe to me and each time, you never fail to brighten my day, show me the way, and amaze me with your sincerity, love, humour and everything else. I love you...even though you look like a dork sometimes!
Oh yes, one last thing. I really want to give thanks to God for blessing me with my 22 years of life. As I was going to bed the night before, I prayed very hard that it wouldn't rain on my birthday...and it didn't. It may seem like a small thing but if you've noticed, it has been raining a lot...So when my day was lit with rays of sunshine, I'm pretty sure God played a big part in making it happen. That, to me, is His birthday present to me. So ya, thanks Big Guy!
To Michelle, Jac, Rach, Addison, Theresa, Matt, Maria, Elvin and Hil, who were coincidentally at Café Cartel the night before, thank you for spending the last day of my 21st year with me. You are a bunch of very special people to me and I dare say that my life will not be the same without you.
And to those who remembered my birthday, thank you for remembering me. It means a lot that you sent me a simple sms or drop me a note. I'm truly touched by it and you've reminded me of how friendships can work wonders.
Oh, for those who forgot...it's ok...I forgive you. It's never too late so pick up your phone and do it NOW. Ha...
Peace out yo'all.
Posted by Jo at 11:33 PM
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
The candles have gone out
This shall be my last entry as a twenty-one year old. *sigh* Turning a year older leaves behind such bitter-sweet memories. It has been a heck of a year. Seems like only yesterday that I celebrated my 21st - Striped-tees party.A lot has happened since. I have to admit, it wasn't an easy year. If I could sum it up in two word, I guess it was a year of self discovery for me. Began life as a working adult. Learnt the ropes of office dos and don'ts. Got promoted. Became entangled in a web of politics. Felt the strain of service in church. Took over as the president of the youth council. Watched as friends come and go. Reached a crossroad and not know where to turn.
In truth, Hil is right. It has been a trying year. A glimpse of what adulthood brings. A taste of things to come.
I'd be lying if I said that I'm not afraid of what lies ahead. I'm scared shit. But as I thought about it more, I came to a slow but certain submission. Not one of defeat. Nor one of cowardice. But of a conviction that our lives are ours to lead. This sounds passé but really, there is always two sides to a coin. Two ends to a rainbow. It always depends on which road we choose.
So I've decided, that instead of crying over unspilled milk and being the worrier that I am, I ought to start leading and enjoying life in all its fullness. Come what may, as long as we lead each day without regrets, the battle's half won.
As I close the twenty-first chapter of my life, all I have are memories, lessons and stories to tell. Life may not be very fair. Hard knocks and bruised feelings are expected. But at least my life is one that's surrounded by a loving family, an awesome boyfriend =), close buddies, a fulfilling career and...yadda, yadda, yadda...
Yours truly,
Miss Forever Twenty One
Posted by Jo at 11:51 PM
Nip/Tuck
Due to popular demand, here's the 'plastic surgery' I performed on the doctor's picture. Hee...Before
After
Posted by Jo at 4:29 PM
Friday, July 08, 2005
Smell the weekend
TGIF! Hil and I were talking last evening and we both agreed that this week feels rather long. I then asked him why this week would feel longer than, let's say, the previous week, since every week is 24/7? Anyway, we couldn't think of any logical reasons. So if there're any smart-alec out there, pls feel free to share your theories with us.The weather is so irresistibly hot today. (*sigh* I have to resort to talking about the weather!) But seriously, the weather today is purrrfect for some outdoor fun in the sun. I think I'm an outdoor person. Well, not exactly the outdoor-outdoor kind, if you know what I mean. I'm the sort who likes the great outdoor but not the Indiana Jones / climbing Mt Everest kind. Being in the sun makes me feel so carefree and happy...Healthy too, from the free intake of Vitamin D...or E...(Can't quite remember.) The one thing I can't stand about the sun is of course, the consequences. Especially after a day at the beach. Looking like a lobster and feeling burnt isn't exactly a nice feeling, in addition to the little voice at the back of your head telling you, "Skin cancer, skin cancer..."
Everyone's dressed funky at work today. Pauline's in a purple man-gen top. Connie's dressed like a S'pore flag and Mavis has a super obiang neckace. (I HOPE THEY"RE NOT READING MY BLOG). Bim's not at work today but if she is, i'M SURE she'll be clad in bimbotic bright colours and flamboyant accesories. (I REALLY HOPE THEY'RE NOT READING MY BLOG!)
Pirates are so ridiculous. For the sake of imitating famous brands, they think of all ways to trick customers into buying their products. I was eating, what I thought was OREO the other day. Tastes a little different, I thought. When I flipped it over to see the black surface, instead of reading "OREO", it reads "STEREO". What the heck...
I was doing some touch-ups for a doctor's photo for a magazine and he has requested to have his eyebags 'removed'. So Pauline and I sat in front of the computer and she watched as the eyebags 'miraculously' disappeared. The wonders of Photoshop. Then...*tink*...(lightbulb appears on top of our heads), we started removing everything else! I mean, he's quite a good-looking doctor...just a little shabby with the moustache and goatee and long hair. So I removed all those and wow...he looks ten years younger man! Unfortunately, doctors being doctors, he wanted everything put back except the eyebags. Ha...what a vain-pot.
All righty. Going for lunch now. Meeting Maria for dinner this evening. Can't wait! Been a long time since we last chilled out together. Effort lar, effort... =)
Posted by Jo at 11:54 AM
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
It's not easy to be me
I feel like a little girl
trying to conquer the whole wide world
Everybody wants a piece of me
and I just don't know where to turn
I've got work piled up to my head
all I want to do is jump into bed
and wash away my troubles
with lemonade
Roaming the streets
and the shopping malls
Fly away to New Zealand and
imagine how the world is truly
a nice place
All I need is a good disguise
One where nobody can recognise
that I am who I am
All I need is a secret weapon
I've gotta have faith
zapping idiots into outer space
I'm wanna be a superhero
I feel like a little girl
trying to clean up the whole wide world
I'd be a better president
preach about a God that's cool
I'd give mum and dad all the treasures
turn loved ones and friends into millionaires
End war and discrimination
topped up with a smile and good ol' hug
Turn the prideful and gossip-fools
into pink poodles that bark,
but don't bite
All I need is a good disguise
One where nobody can recognise
that I am who I am
All I need is a secret weapon
I've gotta have faith
zapping idiots into outer space
I'm wanna be a Superhero
Little Superhero Girl
Little Superhero Girl
Save me
Little Superhero Girl
Little Superhero Girl
Save me from myself
I feel like a little girl
Trying to conquer the whole wide world
Adapted from Corrinne May's Little Superhero girl
Posted by Jo at 4:23 PM
Monday, July 04, 2005
Crossroads
Before I arrive at a road junction, my driving instructor would always tell me which direction to go – Turn left, turn right or go straight. His favourite line is "mai you liao", which, when loosely translated, means easy on the accelerator.In life however, we aren’t always so blessed to have someone sitting beside us, telling us where to go. More often than not, we probably don’t even realise we’re approaching a crossroad until we reach one.
For us as Christians, I would presume our ‘driving instructor’ is God…Most of the time at least. But I guess every now and then, we, being the cocky, egoistic creatures that we are, think we know the route pretty darn well…so we drive along on our grandfather’s road, nonchalant about stuff. That’s where we get lost.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is often said that God speaks to you in unexpected ways. Ha.
You see, it is a Friday night, and Friday nights for me, are rather routine. I’m either out ‘chilling’, winding down at home, or in church for charismatic. So anyway, I was in church, buried in my unworthiness, trying to worship and praise an awesome God. I so badly needed to let it out but I didn’t know how. Then, standing right in front of me was my Godpa. (Thank God for godparents…) Somehow, he seemed so in-my-face, like God was trying to tell me, "He’s not your Godpa for nothing, use him silly."
And so I did and I’m glad, because he provided some directions, which gave me a better picture of my life. What made me even happier was his mere presence. Silent yet comforting…Superficial but deep.
Back to my point…I guess there are many crossroads in our life. Some are more difficult than others. Some are bumpy. Some are confusing. But when you’re at one, simply take out the ‘street directory’, read it and stay rooted. You’ll find our ‘driving instructor’ soon enough.
Posted by Jo at 10:17 AM
Friday, July 01, 2005
Joey, Thursday, 7pm
"Effort lar," he said, "effort". And I totally agree with him. It takes a lot of effort to keep a friendship going.It was a nice Thai dinner. Fire noodles. Mango salad.
But he was such a 'ku-niang'. Couldn't eat spicy stuff or his lips will swell. I ended up finishing the whole plate of mango salad...(Much to my delight)
In the dimly lit restaurant, we shared memories of poly life. Shared stories of the latest electronic gadgets. Laughed about life, love...and silly relatives. (Not you Rach, don't worry...)
All's good. He's considerably a new friend, but a good one nonetheless.
God bless Joey.
