Cheer me up

Someone sent a vase of lilies to my office today.

The scent of the lilies filled up the entire office.

It is lovely.

I hope they last as long as they can.

Tis the reason I can't stop smiling

Hang in there.

The long hours are coming to an end.

Satisfaction report

Finally done with client presentation on this 3 country, satisfaction reports

clients seemed happy with the findings

more so because it ascertained their views of the market

and would be something useful for them to work on

hopefully raising their value add to their customers.

I'm happy,

knowing that the number of hours, and late nights i put in is valued.

I'm happy,

because, this project presentation

is bringing me back to Hong Kong and Bangkok

again.

=)

I'm happy too soon

because

my part two of my crazy working nightmare has just begun.

my mind in a mess

I dreamt that i was back in mexico city

walking around the zocalo

and it rained suddenly

very heavily

but the rain is coming from the sides

not from the skies

I pulled an umbrella right out of my arm

and used it as a shield

Someone knocked into me

and the next moment

I was hanging on to a pole

like a monkey

it was a bottomless pit

that someone was on another pole

right next to me

he offered his hand

and told me to loosen my grip one step at a time

it was still raining from the sides

I lost my grip

and I fell

and then there were children surrounding me

laughing

Can anyone decipher my dream?

Dear Lucky Winner... Congratulations

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Yet another spam email.

I'm still in the office. Tonight will be another working til midnight.

Couldn't take it anymore yesterday. Had to leave the office at 7. Not productive at all, so might as well.

Boss spoke to me about efficiency and management and the issues we should have noticed since the start of the projects. It's tough when you feel like you're working all on your own? Management hardly has time to manage you, and your colleagues don't support you. It's tough.

and i need to be rid of distractions.

Yah right.

I received this in my inbox this afternoon

Good Day
I am Mr Patrick Chan Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of the Hang Seng Bank Ltd.I have a business suggestion for you worth $30,000,000.
And I will prefer you reach me on my private email addressbelow;
Email: mr.patrickchan_2008@hotmail.com
Kind Regards,Mr. Patrick K. W. Chan
mr.patrickchan_2008@hotmail.com

I may be tired, overworked, and hallucinating a bit

but this is really a joker man.

4th late night in office

I'm going nuts.

It's friday night.

I want to party.

Private party in town.

BYOB (bring your own booze)

Call me

and we can blast the music in my office.

On a lighter note:

Qn: Why do farts come out from your butt?

A fart is an anal escape of intestinal gas. We should be grateful that we are not crinoids. The crinoid is a marine creature with a U-shaped gut, and its anus is located right next to its mouth.

EWw.

Haha.

Let the midnight oil burn bright

The race against time has begun

my 20 nights of midnight oil burning

I actually felt good being so hardworking

yes tired I am

but having a focus at work

drives me

I just pray I won't run out of oil so soon

pump pump pump.

Journey to the East

Was at East Coast Park
two days in a row

I miss this part of Singapore
nothing seemed to have changed
except for a few new eateries

families still hang out at the beach
teenagers still pitch tents and BBQ
some walk their dogs
others walk with their lovers

Seafood dinner was good
a treat by Mr Goh
'cos he was promoted last month
I miss chilli crab
the last time i had it was when Fion came by to visit

sunday had been planned for catching up lost time
to do up one of my many reports
initially wanted to wake up at 8
but my body ached from combat and jam
11-ish got a call from Dr. Poon
'want to go blading?'

YEAH BABY.


the weather was perfect.



and i miss spending time with Dr. Poon.

we need to do this again. =)

thunder claps

It rained so heavily
and the thunder was so loud

i thought the sky was going to crack

in that drowsy moment
i wondered where i was

i wandered in my thoughts

and i didn't know if i want to be here
or there

and then the thunder clapped again

all you women..independent... throw your hands up at me!

my conversation with J tonight
got me thinking about my
'independence'

I have 'grown' so much over the past 3 years

(or at least I think I've grown...)

From crying helplessly alone in my hotel room

during my first overseas business trip in Taipei,

to flying 20+ hours across the globe,

making all arrangements by myself,

a single female traveller

in unknown, untrodden lands.

I have always thought I learnt to be independent,

all by myself.

How else can you be independent if you're leaning on others?

It didn't occur to me that this independency
may have been rubbed off from the support of others

the ones I know who will always be there for me

so subconsciously I know
that's certainly something I don't have to worry about

and then I can focus,
and go be my own independent woman.

am I making sense?

Which Sex and the City character are you?

I am..

60% Carrie

30% Samantha

10% Charlotte,
0% Miranda!

You scored 60% Carrie

Your answers peg you as a Carrie-type, much influenced by the Air Sign qualities associated with Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Like confident Carrie, you're curious and perceptive, always seeking answers and never satisfied with the superficial. An Air Sign influence can lead to indecision and an avoidance of tough issues, like with Carrie and her on-again, off-again attachment to Mr Big. Forward thinking, incredibly intelligent and witty, you exude quirky charm. You'd be utterly bored by someone who's just a pretty face or a hot body - though you don't mind looking and flirting. You're more turned on by an equally smart and funny mate, someone who challenges your mind and makes you laugh. You love to talk, so you need a good listener who's open to playful and eccentric ideas about love and lovemaking.

You scored 30% Samantha

You identify with Samantha's bold and liberated Fire Sign qualities, characteristics associated with the Signs of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. You're strong, audacious and larger than life - and you take what you want! Sometimes you can even be thoughtless and selfish, as you get so caught up in craving immediate gratification and excitement that you overlook someone else's feelings. Your personal style probably reflects your desires: sleek, low-cut, revealing just a bit more than might be considered acceptable. Watch out that you don't come on too strong, though. You could scare potential suitors off with all your drama. If you seek so much attention, the more basic qualities of the Fire Signs could be burned right out of the picture. Show less skin or cleavage and more of your creativity, your vibrant leadership skills and courageous generosity.

You scored 10% Charlotte
You're a romantic at heart, strongly influenced by the intuitive, profound and sometimes naive Water Signs - Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. You're like a mother, a mystery and a poet all in one. Though on the surface you may seem innocent and all about seeking the good in people, beneath the surface, you hide secret yearnings for intimacy, for attachment and ideal love. You're looking for a knight in shining armour, a soul mate, someone who will complete you and tether you to the earth when you get carried away with your fantasies. You're super-sensitive, soaking up the moods of others; you're free with your emotions, crying at commercials and sad movies. You also provide a shoulder to cry on and open arms for hugs. Be careful that you're not so wide-eyed and trusting that you get taken in by some cunning wolf in sheep's clothing.

You scored 0% Miranda
You chose many of the same answers that Earth Sign, like Miranda, the cynical but pragmatic lawyer, might have chosen. Like her, you don't give your heart up to just anyone. She shies away from a relationship with Steve because he's 'just' a bartender, not something more conventionally ambitious or stable. Those with powerful Earth Sign qualities - characteristics associated with Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn - are cautious in love and seek stability and status over nearly anything else. Earth Signs provide a steady, realistic attitude and they can bring order out of chaos. You're incredibly sensual, and beneath that smart, expensive business suit of yours, you yearn for intimacy. But you are hesitant to give up your material needs, your career ambitions or your responsibilities for a passionate moment that might not turn out the way you'd hope.

Once again...

Once again,

I'm home.

This 2 months (and a little more)

of being away from home

felt like a good loooong time.

I've been to the other side of the world and back

and also back to the living the last few nights in hk

infused with alcohol

drenched in delirious happiness

fed with empty calories

and slapped with guilt.

I wonder if it's starting to become a pattern.

oh well,

different lifestyle in different places.

now i'm home,

work and family becomes priority again.

more updates later

Spinning

Finally made my first visit to the gym after 2 inactive months.

I can barely keep up with the instructor.

I want to be gym bunny again.

I want to shed 5kg in 6 months

but I had a 4 course dinner, and wine

right after 45 min of spinning

30 min of bodyjam

and 10 min of steam

argh.

I hate numbers.

I am still awake

good grief.

concussed when I got home at 730,

only to wake up at 11pm

and i'm up til now.

I need to sleep.

popped a pill

sweet dreams

world

Never liked farewells

It's hard to imagine the bonds I made with people I only know for a week

the last weekend in Sao Paulo was the best time I spent in the city

Dinner and drinks at a local pub

with Norberto and wife, Alex and Elina

Lotsa beer and laughter

New portugese vocabulary learnt

I love these people

and it disgusts me to know our locals don't treat one another this way

I probably drank the most beer in my entire drinking history

the beer man just keep shoving glasses to you once you've finished your glass

and we still managed to go for desserts afterwards

at Ofner - 24 hours Brasil cafe

where Elina and Alex shared stories of their lives in Sao Paulo

how they met and fell in love (7 years!)

they're such a lovely couple

I'd really want to be at their wedding when the day comes

By the time i got back to the hotel

it was 5.30am

I took a shower and the sun had risen

Didn't sleep the whole night - packed my luggage - which is ready to burst

Lunch was at a Churrasco restaurant with Alex and Elina

lotsa meat - mr goh would have loved it

tried chicken heart and i didn't like it - haha

I didn't have time to visit downtown Sao Paulo

so Alex drove around downtown and explained the various history and buildings

and showed me the ugliest building in Sao Paulo

and introduced me to the exotic fruits of Brasil

I really like the high caloric Acai =)

I was going to take a taxi to the airport myself

but they offered to send me there

Alex: 'okay, i'm now going to turn my taxi meter on'

he's such a funny guy

he shared his experiences of missing flights

and i laughed until my stomach hurt

'a boy stuck in grown man's body' - is what mr goh calls him.

Took me 1 hour to queue and have my luggage checked in,

and i slept while standing in the line (alex: you're not allowed to sleep while queueing in brasil)

When it finally came to my turn,

the airline staff told me the gate is next to mackerdollagie

I: Huh? Do you speak english?

Airline staff: Yes. gate next to mackerdollagie.

I: what mackerdollagie?

Airline: yes, mackerdollagie.

I: Errrr... okay. mackerdollagie.

Turns out mackerdollagie is macdonalds in portugese.

then the worst part came

farewell

the hugs, the 'take care', 'i'll miss you', 'i'll write', 'i'll send you the pictures', 'thanks for taking care of me'

and i know it's going to be years before we ever meet again on the same land.

and tears just rolled down uncontrollably.

Last night in Sao Paulo

Once again

before I know it

it's time to leave another city

Sao Paulo and its Paulistas have been too kind to me

The people I interacted with, held meetings with

they're such friendly and outgoing people

Met a Japanese Brazilian today

who truly inspired me

with his entreprenuer story

-how many of us have dreams which really did become reality?-

You need to have a sharp eye for market opportunities

and seize them before they slip away

perservere

and give something back to society

he's only 32.

For a quick second,

I thought about working on this side of the world,

but just for a fleeting second.

Should I really spend more time thinking about it?

Anyway, Helder is extremely helpful

together with his gf,

we went Havaianas shopping

and I bought 13 pairs of slippers!

There's more to get

but I paisay to let them wait for me to choose.

They also took me music shopping

Axe (pronounced as A-cher) music

Forro music

Samba

Such happy tunes

but some apparently tell of sad stories

I love this one by Kid Abhelha very much

'Quero te Encontrar'

'I want to meet/find you'

If music be the food of love,

play on.

Music, food, love, culture, language

this international experience

cannot be bought;

the ties I made

I'd cherish so much.

when will i be back in this part of the world again?

LDR

I told Mr Goh this LDR is not working

when I'm awake, he's preparing to leave the office and sleep



when I'm sleepy, he's just woken up

=.=

Thankfully, it's only for 2 weeks.

I'm really impressed with those who made it.

Reporting LIVE from Washington DC

yes.

I've survived two legs of my flight to Sao Paulo.

12 hours non stop to San Frans - sat beside LaVelle, who loves Singaporeans more than Hong Kong people. Met Steven Loh and wife (both lovely Singaporeans) who are visiting their daughter (LaVelle thought he was visiting his 'doctor'- heeheee) - San frans, LA, then San Diego for 16 days. I did feel a bit home sick and thought of where to take my mum for holiday.

Planned to do some work on this flight but ended up sleeping most of the time - which is good, cos now I'm quite accustomed to the time difference.

And my new jetset neck cushion, head cushion, eye mask were put to good use. =)

Security at the US airport is tight. You remove shoes, belts, jackets - I'm surprised i passed the detector test, my braces are on me so long they've become a part of me. I've learnt to declare if I'm bringing foodstuff. The customs people were gonna chuck my 'chicken feet' away because they were made in china. (Chicken feet bought from some jap store okay - made in china... tmd.)

Officer: I'm sorry, you can't bring these in.. they're chicken and they're made in china. We're still very wary of the avian flu outbreak.

I: Hm... ok... (heart pain cos they're two big packets, and not cheap)

Officer: Oh wait... you're going to Brazil?

I: yea. I'm only transitting in San Frans and then DC.

Officer: oh, that's alright then. Take it to Brazil!

haha. I don't know what to make out of this.

Watched Enchanted on my way to DC all the while trying hard not to sleep. I think my nights of partying have trained me somewhat.

Another 2 hours of waiting, and 10 hours flight and I'll be in the land of the Paulistas.

Alex offered to take me around S.P. =)

I can't wait.

and I do miss you dear, and I'll try not to fall in love with the Brazilians.

Now, time for a cup of Starbucks.

Fly high

It's been such a crazy week

their secret is now in my hands

their words can't and won't bring me down.

I'm leaving for Sao Paulo, stopping by San frans and washington dc.

thanks all my dearies for your kind words and support.

I will have a great time in latin america.

=) it's really much better to be in my position than theirs.

祝我生日快乐

Of course,
he had the cake
and ate it too