EXAM Time!!! (テスト)

First of all, I'm taking 2 papers on the same day! With only an hour break in-between. Luckily, they are related topics but I find it silly to be tested twice on similar topics. However, I can look at it on the bright side that I have more hours to complete it or that I have more questions to answer.

Anyway, I've started my study leave today. I still went to work at 8.30am and left only around 3.30pm. As mentioned, my body was already retaliating and now it's upgraded to a full-blown flu. Voice has changed, throat is gone and nose is leaking. And the thing I fear the most, especially in an exam hall - Sudden cough attacks!!

Think I can forget about studying and just concentrate fully on recovering first.

Rest & Relax!!

Sleepy Monster (モンスター )

A combination of long hours and lack of sleep has drawn out the monster that was hiding deep inside me. They are all linked. It's a cycle. Lack of sleep leads to grouchy me at workplace. Grouchy me means loads crappy encounters. Crappy encounters leads to sleeplessness. You know the rest.

I was so drained that I actually could fall into deep sleep at 3pm yesterday. I bore with it til around 9 and really slept. Woke around 9am today and that is almost 12 hours of sleep. Well, I am still dead tired! It's as if I didn't sleep at all!

Isn't this bad enough? No, my body thinks otherwise. It protested with flu! Now I have a cold headache, stuffy nose and body aches. Brain is on the verge of shutting down.

Oh Lord, please have mercy on me. I need to finish everything by tomorrow. If not, how to study for my exam in peace! *pray*

Can't Stand MCP (男性優越主義のブタ )!

To all the Male Chauvinist Pigs (aka MCP) out there,

You're so VAIN that you think this is all about you?

Well, for once, it is INDEED about you!

So pay ATTENTION!!

The world does NOT revolve around you!

No one cares about what YOU think!

Face the fact that you are NOTHING without us women.

Wait a minute.

It is ME that the world revolves around!!

*GRIN*

(Toned-down Version)

Another Work Rant (不平を言う)

Slowly, I am beginning to notice more and more misalignment in our thinking.

My workplace's and mine.

It started like a slight irritation of the skin which I've quickly brushed away with plenty of plausible excuses.

Then it has grown into growth that cannot be ignored, like cancer.

Maybe it's not my workplace.

Maybe it's me.

I've changed.

Whatever it is..

..it's time to cut it free.

Nope, it's more like I have to cut myself free from it.

Soon.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wellcomeimages/ / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

This Passion = My Pain

Before you start thinking weird stuff, this passion I'm talking about is my passion for driving.

Let me share this story from the start. That would be 31 May, I think. That's when I realised that my available credit of about $1k has disappeared. It occured to me that I've wasted good money on stupid expenses. It was time for me to take extreme measures. The biggest sponge of my $$ is of coz my car. The combination of petrol, ERP & parking charges. Thus I was VERY determined not to use it from then on.

My workplace is very near home. I didn't drive even though my co-worker said it doesn't take much petrol to travel such short distances. I actually walked and even carried my notebook all the way there. Seriously, 1km is no joke in the hot sun. I liked the fact that I've exercised and it's a healthier lifestyle!

I took free rides from others, MRT and bus! And you know what? I actually enjoyed it! First of all, I feel like I'm a student again. You know, that carefree feeling! Secondly, I enjoy the scenery & do my things. Finally, I don't have to deal with the stress of maneuvering the car in the traffic. Give me traffic jam anytime! I don't give a damn! Ha!

So since then, I've only driven three times out of practical needs. Nope, my skills/confidence didn't dispel. However, my road rage flared more often and indepth. On those three days, after I have reached home, I would feel constant pain in my chest. I made the conclusion that driving could be the culprit of these pains and might even be the root cause of my migraine. After all, my migraine started about the time I passed my driving test.

Nah, it's either nothing, as in it's only temporary. Or that it has more serious complications which I can't be bothered to find out. I rather die not knowing if that is the case. So no point seeing a doctor who will only refer me for further tests that would waste my time (and test my patience).

Anyway, my mum ridiculed me for the above saying since driving is my passion (taking up more than 60% of my salary), how can it be the cause of my problems? Well, I did mentioned to her that I hate driving now because of all the problems and headaches. It's true. I'm so much happier taking public transport. But a car is needed at times, like when I have to fetch a trolley full of groceries back. Also when I'm going to totally out of the way places (I took 138 to the zoo!) and fetching family around.

For now, I will continue to let my car rot in the carpark. I think I've already saved about $100 since that day. Isn't that cool? I'm even considering the option of downsizing/CNGing/weekending my car.

Ja!

She's Not On Vacation Leave Meh???

That's the question my sister asked my mum. Cause she will wake up the few days she's in Singapore, to find me gone. Gone where? Gone to work lah.

I'm fortunate to be working with my neighbour co-worker, Roza (who's sitting next to me). Making plans to meet to discuss work has inspired me to go head there in the morning. There are a few projects we're working on together. So the time we set aside to work never seem to be enough and somehow end up meeting quite often.

I've been staying daily from 9 til 5, majority of the days, coz of other things also. Like my own projects that i'm still busy working on. So it's been a busy month. Which is also good lah. Else i will be bored to death at home. Or thinking up activities to do. Bad thing is that i'm missing out on all the sports that i usually would do during the holidays.

Which leads to what i've been wondering for the past few days: How do the bosses do it? I'm amazed that they, who have more responsibilities and projects to complete, can afford to finish their work and not head to work during vacation time. Whereas workers like me are staying daily to rush finish the work.

Guess that only mean one thing. That i will only qualify to head that position once i figure it all out. So my goal for 2008 is to be zen-like in my dealings to people at work and to be able to work smart and finish work quickly without compromising the quality.

At least i did some adventurous sports like my skiing in korea and windsurfing. Those few sessions have strengthened my muscles, which i previously didn't noe i have. Haha.. Now i do realise that strength/weight training is indeed very good at toning and weight lost. Those few sessions is equal to many sessions of my usual cardio workouts. Can you imagine i'm still eating as much as i did in korea and still have muscles to boast about(well.. hidden under my fats anyway..hee..).

By the way, Korea is so breath-taking that i can't find the words to describe it. Maybe cause it's the only country i've been to other than those typical Asia places. It's more amazing than Australia(which i backpacked in for 1.5 months) because of the ski resorts and the Japanese-like SPA/bath places that they have. I can imagine Japan being the same or even better. So once i get inspiration enough, i will plan one trip to Japan.

You can find my Korea trip photos either in FaceBook(a few selections) or Sabby's Album (the whole thing which will be upload later on).

Of course, since i like the people and scenery in Korea so much, i plan to make a solo free & easy trip back there. I've realised that i rather travel by myself, rent car and explore different places. So while i was in Korea, i kind of familiarised myself (mentally) with the roads there. Took photos and notes of places that i would need to know or want to visit. This so that i can go back there and travel by myself confidently.

Korea is rather safe and secure, either as good as Singapore or even better. Drivers are many times better than Singaporean in many ways. They are courteous, considerate, safe and yet skillful. They are able to speed or at least travel harmously without causing obstruction to any other road users.

In Korea, it's so hard to find 'turtle'-drivers who are crawling at the fastest lane or purposely blocking others. Yet these speedsters are able to give way to others when they see a faster vehicle. They give way to road users who need to cut across them. I'm so impressed that a good 10% of my photos are of roads & cars.

The country is also very clean! They have recycle bins EVERYWHERE! And it's not for show!! The locals actually are very conscientious about putting their trash in the right places. Thus the country is so much more cleaner than Singapore! They also make a very serious habit out of returning all plates & cups after they makan. How i wish we could somehow instill this in our new generation.

However, the only problem that i have with visiting this country alone is that i have a language barrier. haha.. Yes i do know some basic korean words & totally at ease with names of places but can't really speak or understand the beautiful language well. So i must make sure that in 2008/2009 i must go learn Korean til i'm able to converse and read confidently. I need to know how to read for easier understanding of warnings, although all major road signs do include the english versions of places' names. However parking rates and minor warning signs are only available in Korean.

So already i have my New Year resolution for 2008:
1) Work smart.
2) Learn Korean at a language school.
3) (Optional) Lookout for my SOULMATE.
4) Obtain Sailing Level 1 certificate.
5) Obtain Windsurfing Level 1 certificate.

Don't you think 5 is already a handful? Okay, think i will not be too ambitious and just stop at that.

Finally....HAVE A BLESSED & MERRY CHRISTMAS!