My boyfriend now has a new job! So proud of him. ^_^

From Din Tai Fung. Sooo cute! It's like what Water Wally would look like if he were reincarnated as a xiao long bao.

My first week of permanent, full-time work. I think it went well. Though I got some information overload today (and also, rather ridiculously, some work overload after mid-day on a Friday - supposedly our most slack day), I shall have the audacity of hope that all was good and will continue to be good. In the end I realised that I don't really have to make a judgment about my day, or week; even individual events or my own efforts. I just have to make a decision - to make it better, or simply try my best to.

Shall thank my lucky stars for this good start. And you, each of you who encouraged me and are going to encourage me in my moments of darkness. :)

Just watched Blue Valentine. It's one of those movies with very 生活化 yet beautifully shot scenes paired with some wonderfully surreal music that I love. I thought only Taiwanese arthouse films could be like this. Of course, I need revelations like this to remind me that I know nothing at all, to be 谦卑. =)

May I always be reminded, through this movie, that I would rather have a simple exchange of wedding vows so full of love and passion and sincerity that it touches everyone in the room, even if it's just us and the officiator, than an elaborate one which makes the both of us so tired and/or angry we don't feel the rush of love roaring through our veins at the moment we say "I do".

'Twas a good first day! :) :)

Absolutely amazing how much this article on Lifehacker (one of my favourite websites, it dishes out tips and downloads for getting things done) speaks to me, just when I really needed to hear it:

It’s Normal to Take A While Before Your Work Is as Good as Your Ambitions [link]

I heart Lifehacker.

I've been keeping a list of what I want to do/buy when I go out to work for real, and for good. Stepping into the working world is a long long journey and I have to reward myself every now and then to stay a happy camper. And I've learnt that many a time when work piles up or induces dread, it's about kidding yourself that it's not all bad and looking at things from a more positive perspective. And maybe also distractions like these.

It's not a long list right now because I only add to it once in a blue moon, when inspiration strikes me.

What's on it so far:

1. Give parents a big big big angbao (but after reviewing my finances after CPF contribution and repaying my London loan, I think I can only afford a few hundred per month for now)
2. Donate to FanFiction.net/Fictionpress.com (so many wonderful people there who've made many of my days, and encouraged me so much)
3. Buy at least one great CD every 3 months. (I really need to refresh my playlist and nourish my soul...musically. Think I'll start with Cheer Chen and Mayday.)
4. Redecorate my room (storage and beautifying solutions needed)
5. One vacation and one weekend getaway per year. Must. attend. 春呐 or equivalent!
6. Treat family and friends to stuff occasionally
7. Read one book every month - could be a non-fiction one that gives some insight to whatever current problem(s) I'm currently tackling.
8. Blog more often - since working only leaves the weekend for meeting up, I imagine there'll be shorter meetups with more time elapsing in between them, which makes it important to update each other about our lives through other avenues, this being my preferred one for non-Twitter friends.
9. Watch a movie at least once every 2 months - make sure it's good or has potential, though. Go to Picturehouse or rent one if there's nothing good showing in the regular theatres.
10. Have something to look forward to at the end of the work week at least once every fortnight
11. Meet friends on a weekday at least once every fortnight - don't want to become a bore and seriously, just the weekends is not enough. Shall fight fatigue and "but-I-have-to-work-tomorrow" for as long as I can! And for as long as there are friends willing to fight this battle with me. ;p
12. Change the desktop wallpaper every week to add spice and variety.
13. Try 2 new restaurants every week.
14. Subscribe to food magazines.

Labels: lists

3. A bath for my teddy bear, without the fear that my mum would secretly just throw it away instead of sending it to the laundry.


5. A mind-blowingly good book that I haven't read yet, such as Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer and Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.


6. This shirt!!! Been looking for it forever. The tie's printed on.



7. Some way to wear this bowtie without looking stupid/mismatched. I also have a red one.



8. Cat Socrates to open another branch.

Received my first birthday present of the year from Cheryl last Saturday!


I'd been looking for this ring ever since I got my ghost one from Bell a couple of years ago! Found one at Arab street but it was way too expensive. I told all these to Cheryl and her reaction was "If you're acting, you're doing a really convincing job." -_- Hahaha. I had this cool idea for a couple ring - one of us could wear the ghost and the other, the Pacman. That's why I wanted one that was together to last me through my single days first.

She also bought the best cheesecake I've had so far for only $5 for a long slab from someplace called Bakery World (www.bakeryworld.com.sg - I think they deserve to be advertised). It is the perfect mix of sweet and sour - I hate food that's too sweet, and I have a low threshold for sour food so I prefer it to be like 80% sweet and 20% sour.

She specially came down to my house to have a sleepover as my birthday celebration. ^_^ Our HTHT was one of the best presents ever, too. Thanks, bosom buddy! =D Felt a lot less alone with my first-job woes after our 3-hour chat. Also, Bee deserves special mention - she would have come too if not for a stomach bug. Thanks bestie! =)