OK, I know that is a lousy cliched title, but I really do mean it!
I went to sign up for an aerobics dance class and a hatha yoga class at my community club yesterday. Time that I shaped up. I feel that I cannot go on living life like this anymore. I used to hike a lot but ever since I fell out with my ex-housemate (cum friend), I could not really find any other person who is as accommodating as she is. You see, my legs are not long. When a person is taller than me (which is often the case), their one step is my two steps. I take twice the effort. She and some of my old hiking friends, were the ones who would stop or wait up for me a little. I get a little out of breath too, given my slightly asthmatic condition and so, I was very appreciative.
Since I am going to live a life of celibacy, might as well just get used to the idea of doing things alone. Or, if I do not want to live a life of celibacy and want to attract the opposite sex, then I better start shaping up. Actually, I am now doing this a lot more (90%) for myself as I do not want to be ridden with illness when I grow older.
These two activities only cover two fifths of the average exercise days that I should be having, which is 5 out of the 7. So, I am still trying to look for other activities to fill my evenings and perhaps, weekends.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Thoughts about the Japanese Tsunami
It's been a long time since I blogged. It feels like an eternity. Sometimes, I am so tired, that I do not even turn on my computer. No actually, I am not turning it on for the sake of my health. It is said that using the computer at night will make one too awake to want to go to sleep.
Yes, I have been suffering form insomnia, a little. Not sure whether it is due to the usage of the computer or because of other issues.
The reason why I am blogging now is because something big has stirred up a lot of emotions inside me. I was cooped up in the office all day and had no idea what was going on in the outside world. When taking the train back home, it has now become my habit to whip out my phone and go to facebook to check for updates from friends (another reason why I do not use the computer so much).
It was only then that I realised that there has been an earthquake and tsunami in Japan. News really spread quickly and we do not ONLY rely on tradition media such as the television or the radio to receive information anymore.
At first I was quite nonchalant about it all, thinking that it was all happening in a land faraway from here. But reading the news and receiving messages from friends commenting on the magnitude of the whole incident suddenly made me think that one day, in the not so faraway future, this could actually be happening to us, an island country that is but a dot in the map of the world.
Then I thought about my friend all the way in Europe and about her story on her relative that was connected to the tsunami of the recent years that passed. I suddenly had so much emotions welling up in my chest that I immediately sent a message to say "hello".
Perhaps it could also have been the message that was sent out by L'oreal Paris Singapore on facebook to ask everyone to pray in their own way for the people of Japan. That really touched me as well. At that point of time, after 12 midnight, laying on my bed, I just felt that no matter what hardships and difficulties that I was going through, it all seem to minute to be important. It was less important than the warmth and love I felt from family and friends; less important than the fact that today, I am still alive, while someone else's life had been swept away, perhaps even without them knowing that it would be their last.
No, I have never really felt like this before. Or perhaps, I refused to be too 'involved' when such natural disasters happened. Somehow though, this time it was a little different. Maybe because it felt so real as everyone was talking about it over facebook.
I will keep praying for those who are in Japan now. Just like how I know my proper fire evacuation procedures, the Japanese are well prepared from their years of practice with their own emergency evacuation exercises. They will find a good way out of this situation right now.
Yes, I have been suffering form insomnia, a little. Not sure whether it is due to the usage of the computer or because of other issues.
The reason why I am blogging now is because something big has stirred up a lot of emotions inside me. I was cooped up in the office all day and had no idea what was going on in the outside world. When taking the train back home, it has now become my habit to whip out my phone and go to facebook to check for updates from friends (another reason why I do not use the computer so much).
It was only then that I realised that there has been an earthquake and tsunami in Japan. News really spread quickly and we do not ONLY rely on tradition media such as the television or the radio to receive information anymore.
At first I was quite nonchalant about it all, thinking that it was all happening in a land faraway from here. But reading the news and receiving messages from friends commenting on the magnitude of the whole incident suddenly made me think that one day, in the not so faraway future, this could actually be happening to us, an island country that is but a dot in the map of the world.
Then I thought about my friend all the way in Europe and about her story on her relative that was connected to the tsunami of the recent years that passed. I suddenly had so much emotions welling up in my chest that I immediately sent a message to say "hello".
Perhaps it could also have been the message that was sent out by L'oreal Paris Singapore on facebook to ask everyone to pray in their own way for the people of Japan. That really touched me as well. At that point of time, after 12 midnight, laying on my bed, I just felt that no matter what hardships and difficulties that I was going through, it all seem to minute to be important. It was less important than the warmth and love I felt from family and friends; less important than the fact that today, I am still alive, while someone else's life had been swept away, perhaps even without them knowing that it would be their last.
No, I have never really felt like this before. Or perhaps, I refused to be too 'involved' when such natural disasters happened. Somehow though, this time it was a little different. Maybe because it felt so real as everyone was talking about it over facebook.
I will keep praying for those who are in Japan now. Just like how I know my proper fire evacuation procedures, the Japanese are well prepared from their years of practice with their own emergency evacuation exercises. They will find a good way out of this situation right now.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Happy CNY!
Woah! It's been a long time since I blogged. Feeling so lazy and tired of thinking actually.
Anyway, Happy Chinese New Year (CNY) everybody. It has been a long year and now, there is still more to go on for. Some people have their 5-year plans but I tend to not follow conventions. There is a little rebel in me that wants to go against things, you see?
Anyhow, it is somehow time to think about some future directions: my career, my relationships, my life (if and when my parents are no longer around anymore). Sorry, but festivities tend to make me think of such morbid stuff coz the relatives get fewer and fewer and I am forced to see the reality that my parents will not be there for me forever. This also makes me wake up a little and treasure them a lot more.
Well, other than having a happy CNY, the most important thing is to have good health, everyone. This is another area that I want to focus on for this new year. It is tres important as it allows me to do a lot more things more efficiently.
Anyway, Happy Chinese New Year (CNY) everybody. It has been a long year and now, there is still more to go on for. Some people have their 5-year plans but I tend to not follow conventions. There is a little rebel in me that wants to go against things, you see?
Anyhow, it is somehow time to think about some future directions: my career, my relationships, my life (if and when my parents are no longer around anymore). Sorry, but festivities tend to make me think of such morbid stuff coz the relatives get fewer and fewer and I am forced to see the reality that my parents will not be there for me forever. This also makes me wake up a little and treasure them a lot more.
Well, other than having a happy CNY, the most important thing is to have good health, everyone. This is another area that I want to focus on for this new year. It is tres important as it allows me to do a lot more things more efficiently.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Book launch
Got asked to go for a soft launch of a book called Face Hunter. Really interesting coz this guy likes to take pics of people. This guy's name is Yvan Rodic. Go google him as he has got a blogspot going on.
The launch was held at this place called "A curious teepee" at *Scape (next to Orchard Cineleisure). The whole place was selling somewhat quirky, artsy stuff and there was free flow of alcohol and finger food. There were mini quiche lorraines and fusion peking duck-shredded duck skin (with a little meat intact) stuffed with shredded cucumbers and oyster sauce in a mini ice cream cone. Lovely!
Most heavenly though, was the panna cotta. It was so yummy, I had 2 helpings. Of course, nothing could have been yummier than the author himself who spoke with heavily French accented English. When I asked my friend, turns out he is a Swiss living in France. Just perfect.
It was a perfect unwinding evening, my girl friend and I. We just looked at the merchandise the shop had to offer, saw the bartenders perform their shake-shake-shake (twice or more) and later on, sat down to people-watch. There were indeed lots of beautiful people tonight. Thoroughly enjoyed myself. Now I can sleep with a smile :)
p/s: the reason that I am still up and typing all this, is solely due to the expresso martini that I had. Hick!
The launch was held at this place called "A curious teepee" at *Scape (next to Orchard Cineleisure). The whole place was selling somewhat quirky, artsy stuff and there was free flow of alcohol and finger food. There were mini quiche lorraines and fusion peking duck-shredded duck skin (with a little meat intact) stuffed with shredded cucumbers and oyster sauce in a mini ice cream cone. Lovely!
Most heavenly though, was the panna cotta. It was so yummy, I had 2 helpings. Of course, nothing could have been yummier than the author himself who spoke with heavily French accented English. When I asked my friend, turns out he is a Swiss living in France. Just perfect.
It was a perfect unwinding evening, my girl friend and I. We just looked at the merchandise the shop had to offer, saw the bartenders perform their shake-shake-shake (twice or more) and later on, sat down to people-watch. There were indeed lots of beautiful people tonight. Thoroughly enjoyed myself. Now I can sleep with a smile :)
p/s: the reason that I am still up and typing all this, is solely due to the expresso martini that I had. Hick!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Yoshitomo Nara
Went to the S.A.M @8Q yesterday to watch a documentary about Yoshitomo Nara. His paintings are quite amazing and it reminds me of the ones that Carrie Chau (the Hong Kong artist) does. I just wonder who is copying who. Or maybe, nobody is copying nobody. They just look child-like.
I find that there is so much more that the museums here are offering now and I really feel I can just go to one of them and soak in all the artsy stuff that is around me and stay there for ages. Going to more documentaries of artists next weekend. It is all part of the Trans-Cool Tokyo exhibition that is going on now at the 8Q.
Got a discount off the documentary tix and free museum pass too! Discount coz my friend works there and free pass is due to the buying of the tix. There ARE ways and access to arts and culture in a more reasonable way :)
Here's a linke to info on Nara:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshitomo_Nara
I find that there is so much more that the museums here are offering now and I really feel I can just go to one of them and soak in all the artsy stuff that is around me and stay there for ages. Going to more documentaries of artists next weekend. It is all part of the Trans-Cool Tokyo exhibition that is going on now at the 8Q.
Got a discount off the documentary tix and free museum pass too! Discount coz my friend works there and free pass is due to the buying of the tix. There ARE ways and access to arts and culture in a more reasonable way :)
Here's a linke to info on Nara:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoshitomo_Nara
Re-discovering stamps and sending snail mail
I just sent out a parcel last Thursday. It gave me the funniest, tingly,warm, fuzzy, feeling ever, that I have not felt for the longest time. I used to send parcels and such, but that was a long time ago.
I must say, I was even nervous when I was sending it. I was not quite sure how I should place the stamps and what I should do. It did not make it any easier that the post office was going to close in about less than half an hour. There just simply was not enough space to put all the stamps. I suppose it was partly my fault and that of the customer service officer. Hee, we got carried away with the different designs of the stamps.
When she found out that I liked different stamps and that I knew a little about the different series (I was just pointing out the limited edition festive series of stamps) and she was so nice to decide to give me a whole melange of stamps to send to my dear friend in a far away land.
I suppose it is not what everyone would do in this day and age of digital world but I think sending and receiving a parcel is such a traditional and yet simple way of cheering oneself and the receiver. I don't know about you, but I would be cheered up no end :) In fact nowadays, receiving a letter cheers me up no end already.
The only funny thing is how they try to persuade you into paying for your mail to be registered. Another customer service officer (not the one who sold me stamps) told me that if I were to go by regular mail, then it would be impossible to trace if the parcel got lost. Slowly thinking back, I think this is a little like a slap on their own faces by indirectly telling me that there is no guarantee of good, efficient and reliant service as our parcels may get lost.
Besides, if I really wanted a guaranteed, registered mail, I would have just gone to DHL, FedEx or the likes. I would not have wasted time queueing up to buy stamps.
Anyway, I suppose this is their way of up-selling, just like how in the hotel industry (as I have learned in my course before) that you try to up-sell by suggesting similar but higher priced products.
Well, I am off to write those Christmas cards and sending them off soon! So that hopefully, I can receive some of that Christmas cheer in the mail.
I must say, I was even nervous when I was sending it. I was not quite sure how I should place the stamps and what I should do. It did not make it any easier that the post office was going to close in about less than half an hour. There just simply was not enough space to put all the stamps. I suppose it was partly my fault and that of the customer service officer. Hee, we got carried away with the different designs of the stamps.
When she found out that I liked different stamps and that I knew a little about the different series (I was just pointing out the limited edition festive series of stamps) and she was so nice to decide to give me a whole melange of stamps to send to my dear friend in a far away land.
I suppose it is not what everyone would do in this day and age of digital world but I think sending and receiving a parcel is such a traditional and yet simple way of cheering oneself and the receiver. I don't know about you, but I would be cheered up no end :) In fact nowadays, receiving a letter cheers me up no end already.
The only funny thing is how they try to persuade you into paying for your mail to be registered. Another customer service officer (not the one who sold me stamps) told me that if I were to go by regular mail, then it would be impossible to trace if the parcel got lost. Slowly thinking back, I think this is a little like a slap on their own faces by indirectly telling me that there is no guarantee of good, efficient and reliant service as our parcels may get lost.
Besides, if I really wanted a guaranteed, registered mail, I would have just gone to DHL, FedEx or the likes. I would not have wasted time queueing up to buy stamps.
Anyway, I suppose this is their way of up-selling, just like how in the hotel industry (as I have learned in my course before) that you try to up-sell by suggesting similar but higher priced products.
Well, I am off to write those Christmas cards and sending them off soon! So that hopefully, I can receive some of that Christmas cheer in the mail.
Being supportive (altnernative title: Doubts)
Last night, one of my good friends finally tied the knot. Actually, she and hubby had already registered for marriage some years back, but in the traditional Chinese eyes, one is not really married until they have had a banquet. This is usually a Chinese dinner at a restaurant or hotel ballroom.
As usual, the question about jobs turned up and I started talking to another close friend (let's name her K) about it. I was telling her how my Dad had sold the car and stuff like that simply because he feels that it is too much for him to upkeep. She then said that I could have taken over the payment of the car installments and I told her that with my current salary, I can hardly pay for myself.
I really do think that my professional is really hard to sustain as one would need like 200% of passion in order to continue. I think I still have it but it is just discouraging when my own Dad does not even feel supportive of what I do. Now, can I blame the government, the market out there or myself for choosing this profession? I suppose it is everything rolled into one.
It is a little of the government's 'fault' for taking so long to up the status of my present profession and it is a case of "too little, too late". It is the local market's fault as my profession did not need degree holders to do the job before (they still don't but they make the diploma real tough that one would have thought one was taking a PhD). It is also my fault for feeling so comfortable where I am working now that I do not feel like stepping out to look for the same job but with higher paying bosses.
Then of course, K said something that also discouraged me a little: She said that "I don't know, I think it is important to have a good-paying job".
Well, I suppose from her point of view it is true for what she goes for is quite different to what I go for, plus she does have a family to support.
I would very much like to say that I totally love my pay and my job and that I do not have any doubts about changing professions but that would be very fake of me. I do have my doubts and worries as my parents ARE getting older and I must have more savings. What I can say now though, is that I still have got enough passion to continue with my profession but I am not eliminating the possibility of changing professions in the near future.
Yes, I know, my market value, be it as a life partner or in the workforce, has now de-valued with age, but I think one thing that my present profession has taught me is to be contented with many things and not ask for too much :) That means, I am not in panic mode yet. Haha!
As usual, the question about jobs turned up and I started talking to another close friend (let's name her K) about it. I was telling her how my Dad had sold the car and stuff like that simply because he feels that it is too much for him to upkeep. She then said that I could have taken over the payment of the car installments and I told her that with my current salary, I can hardly pay for myself.
I really do think that my professional is really hard to sustain as one would need like 200% of passion in order to continue. I think I still have it but it is just discouraging when my own Dad does not even feel supportive of what I do. Now, can I blame the government, the market out there or myself for choosing this profession? I suppose it is everything rolled into one.
It is a little of the government's 'fault' for taking so long to up the status of my present profession and it is a case of "too little, too late". It is the local market's fault as my profession did not need degree holders to do the job before (they still don't but they make the diploma real tough that one would have thought one was taking a PhD). It is also my fault for feeling so comfortable where I am working now that I do not feel like stepping out to look for the same job but with higher paying bosses.
Then of course, K said something that also discouraged me a little: She said that "I don't know, I think it is important to have a good-paying job".
Well, I suppose from her point of view it is true for what she goes for is quite different to what I go for, plus she does have a family to support.
I would very much like to say that I totally love my pay and my job and that I do not have any doubts about changing professions but that would be very fake of me. I do have my doubts and worries as my parents ARE getting older and I must have more savings. What I can say now though, is that I still have got enough passion to continue with my profession but I am not eliminating the possibility of changing professions in the near future.
Yes, I know, my market value, be it as a life partner or in the workforce, has now de-valued with age, but I think one thing that my present profession has taught me is to be contented with many things and not ask for too much :) That means, I am not in panic mode yet. Haha!
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