welcome back old friend

The panicky, tight-chested feeling is back, what with the number of things I'm planning to get done done done before I go on leave. There's been a ton of enviro and health news lately (and property, how nice) so it's a real stretch as I'm trying my bestest best to churn out stories for the bank as well. Oh god.

Been so exhausted with the late hours and the unending stream of Stuff.

Okay, so Nerd Girl really likes this shit and is revelling and snorting, but Gopher Girl hateses it!

Need to drink and dance and be naughty tonight, but all I've got is an office-do, so I can't misbehave any tonight. Boo! May meet clairbear at Winebar, get sloshed, swear, bitch and moan about our poor undervalued gopher asses.

We like to roll our own balls...Rice balls that is

The ingredients


The technique


The Perfect (half-eaten) Onigiri


The faces of contentment

Consider this....

#1. Do I have true job security?

#2. Do I make personal sacrifices for my job?

#3. Do I earn below the 'benchmark'?

Hmmm, yes, yes and hell yeah! Well goody goody gum drops, I guess I deserve a raise! Since it's been elucidated by the Gahmen (see 23 March 2007), all I need to do now is wait for that fat paycheck to come in!

Quoted for truth(iness)

"We recognise that the nature of work in the public and private sectors are different and there is some personal sacrifice involved in public service."

Moreover...

"Ministers are not in guaranteed long-term jobs — they face the General Elections every five years. Similarly, our top civil servants are put on fixed term appointments once they are appointed to a top position."

The work week's trying to get mean on me...

Gotta work on Sat, oh woe! Oh well...On the bright side, the week's late shift has been kind so far.

Will try to have a good weekend anyhow. Perhaps some afternoon tipples at the Reap. Some Onigiri madness aka "I like to roll my own (rice) balls". Some gym, catch a movie...

It's only midweek and here I am fantasizing about the weekend. Heehee.

s the rain at night

When the rain falls
There's magic in our lives
When the rain falls
We're happy deep inside
When the rain falls
It cleans away the corners of our minds

Sleep tight my luvies

G e a r i n g . U p

It was a slowish start to the work week yesterday, for me anyway, but there's a ton to do and my wee engine's taking its time to crank up. Made a major booboo yesterday. It was nicely saved but I'm wretched over it. Oh well. There will be the few nights of cold sweat and what-ifs... self torture, I know... but it'll pass eventually.

The best news yesterday was the officially unconfirmed, informal announcement of The Cure's new tour dates to the Asia-Pacific!

Yippee!

OH GIMME THE CURE~

Need to watch

13 Tzameti

300 - Video Journal: Training Videos

Why do people assume they can punk with me by playing up personal politics? This Gulf Air lady who's been trying to resolve some things just called me to ask if I had commented in Sunday's article and grilled me a bit about who I had contacted. "It's not quite right is it?" she said. Well ma'am with all due respect, screw off. I commented as an individual, I didn't write the damn story and guess what: you guys grounded half your fleet!
This came after she QQed to me on Friday about her personal difficulties in getting the original departure dates again. Well ma'am if you read Pricebreaker as Priceline then the problem isn't really me is it? You just need new glasses.

Boohoo.

Got a wonderful present today all the way from Sydney, delivered in person by an equally wonderful Katherine G.

from Chris, Wendy & Chrisanthi

Music and Friends (it can't get any better)

Tokyo Ska last night was awesome! They blew the damn roof off the Esplanade and took my mind with it.
We got great gallery seats, the last row of four in the circle, directly facing the stage. The view was perfect, not only did we get an unobstructed line of sight of the band, we got a great view of the crowd on the ground heaving and dancing as one entity.
The set was brilliant -- Energetic, fun and cheeky. I'm no fan of Ska, but Tokyo just blew my socks off. They started out with a perennial fav. The love theme from the Godfather. And it just went crazy from there. Had heaps of fun dancing the silly ska dance and just yelling along with the crowd. The whole time I could barely understand a word they were saying though. I only caught "Are you ready?!" and "Thank you!" (they said it a lot) and "Singapore is the hottest place!". It was good enough for me! Horn sections are hawt!

Watch down beat stomp

Everyone went home after, but I caught up with Man and we just hung out till about 4am. It was nice, just the two of us, catching up after all this time. Such moments have been rare for us and I've dearly missed his company. It was a lovely last gasp of music, freedom and friendship before I head back to work on Monday.

When silence fell upon the darkened stage,
The crowd, restless, surged forward
wanting more
In the undulating sea of black below
fuschia
yellow
green
neon circlets
glowed
floated
then rained from the gallery above
The stomps and calls grew louder
More
More
We are not yet sated

Did 5 click today
Saw two parachuters float
Languidly above

Halfway through my walk
A gecko darted in shock,
Rustling the bushes

Caught The Kallang Wave today. It sure as hell was a nostalgic ride through the recent history of Singapore soccer. I relived fond memories of those exuberant games at the National Stadium, the girlish crushes (on Abbas Saad and Alistair Edwards, heehee)and sneakily listening to the games on the radio when the games were way past my bedtime.

So proud of Ng and his MOVIE!

Lovely day

Spent another wonderful day doing 'regular' things. Hit the gym, then went shopping and picked up the new Neverwhere* (in graphic novel form) and the cutest red dress today (on sale at $19 down from $69! Shhhh!).

Stepped into HMV for the first time in ages and had a shock when I saw CDs priced less than $20. Yes, it's been that long. I have literally been living under a rock for the last couple of years. The temptation to buy up the whole store was overwhelming. I did in fact pick up a few but gritted my teeth and abandoned them in the end.

After, I sauntered into a comic store and was beset by volumes of as yet unacquired graphic novels. Tried to restrain myself, but not very successfully. (See *)

Anyway, then D came down town to meet me and we stuffed ourselves silly with sushi buffet. Wasn't such a good idea in retrospect seeing as now it's gonna be hard to fit into my new dress... sigh.

Watched Letters from Iwo Jima, which was very good, though a little plodding at parts. But found it beautifully shot and very human. Sick of mainstream war movies which are usually too focused on narrow (Western) concepts of heroism, honour and bravery all chucked into a formulaic trajectory. Letters was ever so slightly different; it still Orientalised the Japanese versions of these concepts, but it wasn't so blatant with the hero thing. Not enough action for D though, his input: Less QQ and more Pewpew. (Translation for non-gamers)

After the movie D decided we had enough seriousness for the day and we headed home to watch Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny. Right on baby! Nothing to take your mind off war than porno guitars and cock pushups.

A taste of Saturday...

Ska me crazy

Yippee!

Almost perfect...

What a nice day today turned out to be. Had a great two-hours at the gym; Pump, followed by Muay Thai. It was my first time doing Muay Thai but it was easy to pick up and very very fun. Also think I can finally increase the weights on my squats, chest and triceps routines, so am well pleased with the progress.
Retreated for a massage and facial -- very relaxing and restorative, save for the lousy massage bed which creaked the entire massage session. Bah! Ended the day out with a lovely slice of walnut encrusted Cedele carrot cake with Earl Grey tea -- two of my favourite comfort foods (among many).

Home early to rest (some more) and perhaps watch a DVD or two. *beams*

Yo La Tengo was great! It was kinda strange to just be sitting there though. My first concert where I wasn't trying to hurl myself on stage or standing in a sea of bodies.

In addition to foodie goodness, I got a very enjoyable dose of eye candy today. Caught 300 with D, Joe Boy and Ng.

Having loved the graphic novel, I wasn't quite sure how the movie would pan out (cf. Hellboy, Constatine, The Hulk, Daredevil (this one broke my heart into a million pieces and I didn't even watch the movie; the trailer alone was devastating to watch).

But 300, probably learning its lesson from the amazing Sin City, fucked not with the original storyline in the graphic novel and thus was gorily, bloodily and violently amazing. It also helped -- in this pervy girl's opinion -- that six packs in 3D sure as hell beats them in 2D. Oooh-la-la. *Woof*

Didn't much like the extended sappy bits with the luff and stuff, which I found soft (and totally irrelevant and unnecessary distraction from the fighting - according to D - and for once I agree).
And although I understood the need for narration (the movie wouldn't have worked without one), I found the narration slightly stilted and disconcerting -- voice lacked a certain gravitas and the script, which was taken almost wholescale from the graphic novel, came of sounding a tad overblown as spoken word. The narrator's lack of gravitas made sense towards the end of the movie, but by then I was a little annoyed already. Perhaps they should have tweaked the narration a bit rather than lifting it straight out. I dunno. But these are but wee grouses. This is one movie I wouldn't mind watching again!

5 spears! FOR SPARTA!

Belly Happy

Good Eatin Today

Lunch:
Super spicy Volcano Ramen
Agedashi Tofu

Dinner:
Chicken rice at Hoe Sin (near Rochor Rd)
Rochor soyabean curd
You Tiao

Post-Dinner Treat:
Home-brewed Viet coffee
B&B pudding
(But not for me, I'm way too stuffed)

All my favourite foods!

Thas my happy you tiao face!

The Aftermath...

My foot is a yucky blue colour

My ears are still ringing

They are also inexplicably filled with water, making me suspect I somehow dozed off in the shower last night

Rather sore in strange places -- left calf, right bum cheek and neck

Apart from these discomforting hassles, I've well recovered from last night. I hydrated before, during and after the madness, so as not to put too much stress on poor old Lumpkid. Not too sure about Mr Liver, but s'ok, he's got regenerative powers.

Meanwhiles... in the spirit of recuperation, I made a bread & butter puddin' cause there's something comforting and homely about B&B pudding. Instead of raisins, I chucked in some of the leftover Christmas mincemeat (the fruit kind, not the pig kind). It's been ageing nicely in rum and brandy for months now, refreshed every one in a while with a generous glug of rum. It gave the pudding a wonderful flavour that made up for my disappointment that it tasted nothing like the heavenly B&B pudding at Brewerkz.

Blowing the weekend right open

Oh man we all got so wasted last night. First time in years.

Was stuck in the office till late and by the time I ended work at 945 or so, all I wanted to do was get out of my head. D opened the first bottle at the onset and after my second or third drink I think I started to lose it a little, being a cheap drunk and all.

All my lovely party people were there last night, including Jass and April, which was wonderful because all the songs played were the ones we grew up together with. Danced like a maniac and must have been screaming/singing a lot, cos my throat is killing me.... I got my foot stomped on somewhere in the process cos it's blue.

It was crazy and so much fun. Both the girls passed out before me, so I WIN. Nevermind they had two shots of absinthe. For the first time, I wasn't the one to sleep in public.

There are mad drunken pictures somewhere in my camera, but I gotta QC them before I upload. Haha.

//UPDATE:

Okay, thas it. It's the only decent photo of the night. LOL

FRIDAY!!!

Oh joy! It's Friday, that means the last day of the work week, the arrival of the weekend, and five days of blessed leave!

I'm not entirely sure what I'll do with myself -- in all probability drive self/D crazy from lack of work --but I am looking forward to the Adventure!

Have to help a colleague out with a big weekend thingo, but thas okay. Lined up all the calls/emails. As always, the philosophy is: there's only so much space to fill, no need to kill myself over it. Will prolly end late-ish, then hop on over to Home Club for Beat and some indiepopslut fun.

Oh joy!

Took the bus instead of the train to work today (being relatively early). As I was gazing reflectively out the window, a shower of leaves rained down around the bus and all around the street. It reminded me of those blustery Sydney days when the wind would whip up tiny whirls of leaves that would swirl playfully around me (and when the wind was mean, them leaves would viciously attack me and try to take an eye out, or flip skirt up to expose undies -- and somehow always when I'm wearing unglam ones -- to passersby). I was also reminded of a poem an old friend of mine once wrote, likening our lives to leaves in the wind, how we were really just these helpless fragments tossed about on the whim and whimsy of arbitrary elements... Then the lady behind me punched me in the head for no reason and I lost my train of thought...

Coffee culture

Woah.

Yesterday was a great day. Finished two (count 'em one, two) pieces before lunch. Had an extended lunch break (eating away from my desk is becoming a strange new habit), was well on the way of doing my third piece, when I was told I could hold it for the next day (today). After I got over the initial shock of suddenly being done with work before 4pm, I skipped out for more snake-eating and coffee drinking!

Woah.

I even met up with Joe Boy again, saw D for a brief but lovely spell, and sat around like a normal person after work hours (i.e, still coherent and not cursing at the world/work). [NOTE: Would like to state for The Record, my vociferous and multisyllablic objection to D's watching 300 before me. Again, he has gone and done a cooler thing before ME.]

Today I shall be a good girlie and not bludge (too much).

Next week will be awesome! I've already planned gym, concerts (caved and bought tix to both Yo La Tengo and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra -- how can I not watch a band with a name like that? OMG), dinners, picnic, movies....

The plan is to cram whatever life I miss out on into a whole week!

The call of Duty

Today I risked Death for my Work, my Calling, my craft and sullen art... Despite the tremors and the rash of semi-hysterical (and opportunistic) 'evacuations' in Raffles Place, I - the Brave - stayed in the office to do my work and watch the Big B. All FOUR hours of it. Okay, so the entire office couldn't give a toss either. Us gopher/vultures are hardened creatures.

On a more serious note, the initial death toll of the 6.3 tremblor that hit Indonesia's has killed at least 82 people. Sigh. More death, more destruction.

Life's a real peach ya?

then work came and made us free...

Another Monday swings around... and the grind is back. This week will be tough with so many things going on and only so many brain cells in my wee head. Oh well. Just gotta hang in here till the weekend ... a whole week of leave awaits!

I forgot to upload this on the weekend. OMG largest bag EVER! I want! (yes I know, bag whore. But I'm really only a shoe slut)

Met up with Joe Boy for dinner today as he was passing by the area. It was a nice respite from work and the lonesome (sometimes non-existent) dinners at my desk.

Just four more days to go. GAMBATE!

Goddamn right it's a beautiful day

It was a lovely painless almost carefree week. This lucky girlie got to go home early all four work days this week! *beams* How's that for a record!

Weekend was also lovely, got to go to the gym yesterday and today. Met up with friends, hung out, chat, ate, laughed, gossiped, bitched, moaned and laughed some more.

We're having BBQ steamboat again as it's the last day of CNY and we're feasting yet again! YAY!

It appears I tend to stuff myself everytime I go to the gym... wahahaha!

Moni darling, you'll be v please to know I'm now the 'poo expert' at the office. I just hope they don't mean that I'm full of it...

Not ready for drowning...

Innundated, drowning, sinking, floating... and all the while, the rain pours down outside. Don't mind the melancholia, but it's getting a little hard to keep afloat around here -- literally and metaphorically.

Anyhoo... on the bright side, I'm planning to go to the mosaic moosic festival with ma mates. Now we're only to decide which act. Seeing as I've been living under a rock called T***Y, I have no idea who to go for, but have, with the help of Cool 'H' McScout (aka Paradigm Shift) narrowed it down to Yo La Tengo and the Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra. *twiddles thumbs*

But I still cannot decide! Helps!

Morning moosic: Manic Street Preachers, This is my truth tell me yours